September 22, 2021

The Emory Wheel Since 1919

Emory University’s Independent Student Newspaper

Volume 102, Issue 10

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Printed every other wednesday

Emory unveils first Asian identity space

By Ulia Ahn Asst. Multimedia Editor

found they did not find a safe space or one with specific resources.”

The Emory community celebrated After years of advocacy from the opening of the Asian Student students, Emory University unveiled Center and the renovation of the its first and only space dedicated to other identity spaces with a ribbon cutting ceremony Asian students on and remarks from campus on Sept. 8. who The Asian Student “I now have a space individuals helped create the Center is part of that affirms my Asian Student Center.

Emory’s broader identity, a home on Asian students Identity Space Project. have traditionally The first phase of the campus.” made up a large Project also involved renovating the four — Stephanie Zhang (22C) portion of the Emory community. For the other identity spaces, class of 2025, 22% which have been of accepted Emory around for years: College applicants Centro Latinx, Center for Women, the Emory Black Student identified as Asian or Asian American.

Union and LGBT Life. All locations are This is the second largest racial in the Belong and Community Justice demographic group, behind white space on the first floor of the Alumni students which comprised 31% of the students admitted to Emory College.

Memorial University Center.

Students proposed the creation of “I now have a space that affirms my identity, a home on campus,” an Asian affinity space to University Stephanie Zhang (22C), a member of administrators in 2019. This push the student group that advocated for prompted the University and Assistant the Asian Student Center, said. “This Vice President of Campus Life Dona is a product of the activism of Asian American students on campus who See STUDENTS, Page 2

A lly Hom/Staff

Stephanie Zhang (22C) (Left) cuts the ribbon unveiling the University’s first Asian identity space on Sept. 8.

Local businesses still feeling Amid rise in COVID cases, economic impact of the pandemic some professors move online

By Lauren Baydaline Contributing Writer

Photo by A lly Hom

The General Muir, a deli in Emory Point, has experienced staffing problems during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Businesses around Emory University are still vying to keep their doors open nine months after the Wheel last spoke to them. While the full return of students to campus offered an optimistic glimmer, the

Delta variant and the national labor shortage have since dimmed that hope.

With the mass rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine in the spring, many business owners felt a sense of relief as sales started to creep back up and some pandemic restrictions eased.

“For the first half of 2021, we were down about 25% from pre-COVID [revenue],” said Jennifer Johnson,

owner of the General Muir at Emory Point. “In recent months, like June and July, we were down only about 15%, so we were definitely on the uptick. Then, obviously, there’s the Delta variant, so that put a pin in the business continuing to work its way up.”

In a January interview with the

NEWS Emory installs

EDITORIAL Emory,

A&E Arts groups perform

By Maya Deogun Contributing Writer

tampon dispensers

PAGE 3 P

say no to

Cop City

PAGE 4

See BUSINESSES, Page 2

in person once more

PAGE 7

based on establishing eligibility for accommodations under the [Americans with Disability Act], were After more than a year of virtual approved to move to online teaching learning, many students and faculty for the fall 2021 semester,” Roy said as members were eager to finally resume of Sept. 9.

A first-year student told the in-person instruction. However, some faculty members recently decided to Wheel that they had one day of their switch their in-person classes to an Biology 141 class moved online in online format amid a spike in campus early September. In an email to their cases, leading to mixed reviews students provided to the Wheel, the professor credited from the Emory the move to concerns community. regarding COVID-19 The University “I have a young transmission, writing reported 51 positive child at home who’s that it would allow COVID-19 cases unvaccinated and them to experience among students on class virtually should Sept. 2, matching the goes to school.” the University move record-amount of online. positive cases from — Jason McLarty, S i m i l a r l y, February. While cases assistant professor of Assistant Professor have decreased since linguistics of Linguistics Jason earlier this month, McLarty switched 46 students and 16 faculty and staff members have his upper level anthropology and tested positive over the past 10 days, linguistics courses to an online format according to the Emory COVID-19 for two weeks due to rising COVID cases.

Dashboard on Sept. 21.

“I have a young child at home who’s The increase in cases led Emory College to give faculty the option to unvaccinated and goes to school,” he move their classes online, Senior added to his list of reasons.

McLarty noted that this wasn’t a Associate Dean of Faculty Deboleena difficult switch, as he taught both of Roy said.

Some professors said they have these courses online last year and been motivated to move their courses designed them to be “easy to flip online based on the number of online.” He added that a professor’s students in isolation or their personal responsibilities during a pandemic quarantine needs. Others moved include trying to “keep everybody as online as a preemptive measure, safe as possible.”

While professors have viewed the should even more COVID cases arise and the University switch to entirely- potential transmission of COVID-19 with caution, students have responded virtual classes.

“Eleven [College] faculty … have to this switch from in-person to virtual registered with the Department See MIXED, Page 3 of Accessibility Services and,

EMORY LIFE Coping

with mental health in person PAGE 9

SPORTS Soccer ties

school record

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Wednesday, September 22, 2021

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Students encouraged by new space, but Blood drive to honor late professor say ‘there is more work to be done’

By Ankita Acharya Contributing Writer

Continued from Page 1

Yarbrough to take a more active role in supporting Asian students, meeting with the student group once or twice per semester to discuss how the space can come to fruition.

While construction of the initial center ended in summer 2021, further renovation plans are underway to move the five identity spaces to the third floor of Cox Hall by fall 2023.

The Asian Student Center has already made efforts to connect with students. At the center’s Sept.

16 open house, various Asian student organizations, including the Chinese Undergraduate Student Organization, Asian Student Organization and Asian American Pacific Island Desi Activists, had representatives from their respective clubs talk to visiting students.

The space houses tables, desks and a whiteboard for organization meetings and individual studying. There is also a lounge area with a couch and a TV on the other side of the room.

Scattered around the room are open bookshelves with books by famous Asian American authors or centered around the Asian experience.

Students can also find a water heater with complimentary tea and instant coffee from a plethora of Asian tea brands.

“I’m most excited for any kind of collaborations that we do with different organizations,” said Daisy Kim (22C), an identity space ambassador and Asian Student Center intern.

“Hopefully a lot of organizations want to collaborate and build a bigger community instead of distinct ones.

I feel like if you don’t see it, you don’t realize how much you need it. Maybe this will bring more communities together and make sure people know they have the resources they need.”

Christopher Lee (23C) said that he feels “Asian voices have really been unrepresented in southern schools,” a distinction from his home state California.

Ulia A hn/A ssistant multimedia Editor

The Asian identity space is located in the Belong and Community Justice space in the AMUC. “Obviously the Asian American identity is not monolithic,” Lee added.

“I would like to see what students do with this space since [they] shape the identity of the room, but I’d like to see the school take an active part in that as well.”

Zhang echoed Lee’s sentiments in her remarks at the beginning of the identity spaces’ opening ceremony.

“As we honor the legacy of student

activists on campus through these spaces, it’s the possibility for change that keeps Emory moving forward,” Zhang said. “We look to these spaces not as a finished product of our work but as a reminder that there is more work to be done.”

— Contact Ulia Ahn at ulia.ahn@emory.edu

The Goizueta Business School is hosting a blood drive in memory of Ted Rodgers, a former Associate Professor of Accounting, in room W525 of the Goizueta Business School from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 23. Rodgers passed away on July 18 following a five yearslong battle with cancer.

The blood drive was organized in collaboration with The American Red Cross by Professor Emeritus of Accounting Grace Pownall, Senior Associate Director of MBA Admissions Heather Holland, Senior Event Manager Emily Lawrence, Assistant Professor in the Practice of Accounting Usha Rackliffe and Ted Rodgers’ son, Patrick Rodgers (22B). The Emory Red Cross Club, Beta Alpha Psi and the GBS Dean’s Office will also support the event.

Pownall explained that she felt moved to create the drive as tribute to Rodgers’ five-year battle with cancer, three of which he spent suffering from aplastic anemia and required numerous blood and plasma transfusions.

“We were all involved with him with his struggle against cancer and probably all thought that he would make it,” Pownall said. “But he didn’t, so we want to do something to honor his memory and support his family.”

Pownall said that the support of accounting faculty, students, and the late professor’s family members have made the drive possible. Additionally, she said that The Red Cross has been a major supporter of the drive due to the increased need for blood donations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Right now, the need for blood is critical because organizations that typically have blood drives fairly frequently have been unable to have them because of COVID,” Pownall said.

“The need for blood continues, but the supply of blood is diminished, so The Red Cross is urgently supporting our blood drive.”

Patrick Rodgers told the Wheel that the accounting department’s idea to create the event “touched” his heart.

“Giving blood can have an enormous impact on peoples’ lives,” Rodgers said. “In the same way that

random strangers gave me extra time with my dad, if there’s any way I can give that to other people, I would want to.”

In an effort to advertise the event, Pownall said that organizers have sent out flyers to the MBA programs, the BBA program and the masters of professional accounting program, asking them to donate blood at the event. “[The committee] really did amazing work getting the word out to alumni,” Patrick Rodgers said.

“Alumni out in California have reached out and asked how they can help with the initiative, which I think is really amazing. They’re not even here, but they got the word and they want to help.”

Currently, the drive has all 57 donor openings they were allocated filled up and are looking to add more spots.

Pownall said that they are waiting for The Red Cross to expand capacity and that their ultimate goal is to bring in 100 to 120 donors.

“We are looking for as many donors Ted Rodgers, former Associate Professor of Accounting

Courtesy of Emory University

as we can get,” Patrick Rodgers said.

“I know The Red Cross can expand their capacity to match how many people we have signed up, so I’d encourage anybody who’s interested in participating to sign up to give blood and help give time back.”

Patrick Rodgers hopes the blood drive can become an annual event so it can continue to touch the lives of cancer patients like his father, explaining, “While we can have a great impact right now, ultimately, the real impact comes from [...] making this a recurring event so that we can continue to get the blood products that are critically needed by The Red Cross to The Red Cross.”

— Contact Ankita Acharya at ankita.acharya@emory.edu

Businesses continue to experience staffing shortages Continued from Page 1 Wheel, Johnson discussed altering her business model to “reexamine the pay structure for all employees.” Yet, months later, she still faced drastic staffing issues. While Johnson said she wished that the General Muir could be open seven days a week, they resorted to five due to a lack of personnel.

“The restaurant industry definitely has its work cut out for it to say: We are a good place to work, we do provide benefits, we want you to have a good lifestyle, this is a safe place, this is not the hostile environment that you hear about,’” Johnson said. “To win people back into this industry is our next big project.”

Wagaya, a sushi restaurant in Emory Village, shared similar staffing concerns with the General Muir. Like in January, Wagaya is still not open for lunch Monday through Thursday.

“As much as we would like to serve as many people as possible and see peoples’ faces inside the restaurant, because of the short staff situation, we decided to close certain sections of the restaurant and accept more takeout,” said owner Takashi Ostuka.

While many restaurants prefer to operate at a full capacity to bolster sales, several said they currently lack the ability to do so due to a lack of

personnel. This is a stark change compared to January, when staff members were vying for more shifts.

However, with all students invited back to campus, there are now more customers than these businesses have the capacity to serve.

Otsuka attributed “a drastic increase in dining” to more students living on campus this year, and indicated that the surge in demand began the weekend students moved into dorms.

Although the General Muir and Wagaya have survived this tumultuous time, many businesses around Emory haven’t been so fortunate. Tin Lizzy’s Cantina in Emory Point and Lucky’s Burger and Brew in Emory Village permanently closed in May 2020.

Rise-n-Dine in Emory Village also closed in November 2020.

Many returning students have not been on campus since the start of the pandemic and could already feel the absence of their favorite restaurants surrounding Emory.

“The most notable change, at least in Emory Village, is the closing of Risen-Dine,” Cece Rose (23C) said. “I was very disappointed. It was tragic.”

Despite the return of students, foot traffic reduced compared to pre-pandemic times, Johnson said.

Regardless, she described the owners

A neri Patel/Staff

Rise-n-Dine, a popular restaurant for students, was one of the Emory Village businesses that closed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. of Emory Point as “supportive.”

In an attempt to safely increase gatherings at Emory Point, there are movie screenings on the lawn outside the General Muir every Friday in September at 8 p.m.

While efforts to attract consumers are being made at Emory Point, Otsuka finds himself concerned for the restaurant’s future in Emory Village.

“Emory Village might not be the best location for us because tenants are leaving with reasons,” Otsuka said.

“We need to find out why. Is it the landlord? Is it the community?”

Otsuka noted that the nature of operating a business in a college neighborhood has proven difficult because during the summer months and the winter break, there is far less business. That raises the question of whether the rise and fall of student customers is profitable enough for businesses like Wagaya to stay.

In contrast, a twinge of optimism emerges for business owners like

Johnson.

“We feel very fortunate to be in the community that we’re in,” Johnson explained.

As the future of the pandemic remains uncertain, the same can be said about the businesses surrounding Emory.

— Contact Maya Deogun at mdeogun@emory.edu

NEWS

The Emory Wheel

Emory installs tampon dispensers

3

Biden nominates professor, alumna to trade roles

By Katie Bartlett Contributing Writer Emory University launched the Free Menstrual Project Initiative this fall, which installed free tampon dispensers in bathrooms across all campuses starting July 2021. Since then, all 1,264 dispensers have been fully installed.

The installation is a result of five years of student planning, starting with graduate students circulating petitions in 2016 and several pilot programs launched in an effort to make change. In 2019, SGA collaborated with the Oxford SGA and a few key administrators to bring about lasting change. In a 2019 pilot program, a total of five dispensers on the Atlanta campus were installed in Dobbs Common Table and Cox Hall, and several more were installed in the Oxford Student Center.

SGA President Rachel Ding (20Ox, 22B), who was president of Oxford SGA when the initiative was started, has been heavily involved in this issue ever since the bill first passed in 2021.

“This was the first time we had permanent free dispensers,” Ding said. “These items are as essential as toilet paper or napkins, so we worked with Business Residential Services to constantly stock [the dispensers.]”

The pilot program was a success, and through continued work with administrators and Building Residential Services staff in 2020 and 2021, SGA was able to make the permanent program a reality.

Ding explains that the initiative provides a basic need for Emory community members. “[Free menstrual products] are a necessity,” Ding said. “We’re not providing a luxury service; these are essential products. And it’s helping community members who are experiencing period poverty.”

Period Poverty refers to inadequate access to menstrual products stemming from financial barriers, stigma and a lack of education. According to a 2021 study from BMC women’s health, this inequality affects a large proportion of college students, with 1 in 10 students affected by it.

The study, based on a sample of nearly 500 students enrolled in undergraduate programs, also found that period poverty disproportionately affects Black, Latinx, immigrant and first generation students. Affected students were also more likely to

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

By Max Sankey Contributing Writer

Gabriella Lewis/Digital Operations & Podcast Editor

Emory installed tampon dispensers in all bathrooms across its Atlanta and Oxford campuses this summer. experience depression and more likely to have to take time off from school as a result of their periods.

The machines have been placed not only in the women’s bathrooms but also in the men’s, so the initiative is also serving the menstrual needs of transgender and nonbinary people, who are often overlooked in discussions of menstrual equality.

David Forbes, the Associate Vice President of Facilities Management and key person of contact for SGA regarding this initiative, explained that all administrators, involved students and community members were on the same page regarding this decision.

“This program’s goal is going to be universal, so that means access wherever you are regardless of identity,” Forbes said. “The fundamental point of this program is to provide menstrual equity and equal access to basic sanitation tools, so we were going to equitably apply it.”

SGA has only received supportive feedback regarding the initiative, and most community members feel that it has built a more inclusive environment, according to Forbes.

“I think [the dispensers in mens’ bathrooms] are great,” Joel Schmitz

The Emory Wheel Volume 102, Issue 10 © 2021 The Emory Wheel Alumni Memorial University Center, Room 401 630 Means Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30322 Business (404) 727-6178 Editor-in-Chief Isaiah Poritz isaiah.poritz@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.

(22G) said. “This is an all gender issue, and it’s not just specifically females that need to use these products. It makes the Non-Binary and Transmasculine people feel a lot more comfortable knowing that the community is looking out for them and having these resources for them to use at their disposal.”

Layla Aberman (22C), president of Emory Pride, further emphasized the positive effects that this decision will have on the Emory community. “[This initiative] makes it clear that Trans students are just as important as every other student and deserve the same necessary resources that every other student is provided,” Aberman said. “It should be as simple as if someone needs a tampon, they’ll have access to one.”

The dispensers are currently empty because a napkin disposal process needs to be implemented prior to the dispensers being stocked, according to Facilities Management. The disposal units are set to be installed and the dispensers stocked by the end of next week.

— Contact Katie Bartlett at katie.bartlett@emory.edu

President Joe Biden nominated an Emory professor and an Emory alumna to key trade positions on Sept.

13. Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Law Kristin Johnson was nominated for commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and Senior Fellow and Director of Congressional Affairs at the German Marshall Fund Reta Jo Lewis (89L) for president and chair of the ExportImport Bank of the United States.

These nominations bolstered Biden’s attempts to shore up liberal majorities in two major federal agencies.

The CFTC regulates the U.S. derivative markets, including futures, swaps and other options. Financial options are stocks where their value depends on future estimates, not on current amounts. This allows holders to gamble on a company’s future prospects. The CFTC’s mission statement is to “promote the integrity, resilience, and vibrancy of the U.S. derivatives markets through sound regulation.”

After a flurry of regulations at the end of last year, the agency has recently come under fire for lack of regulation of cryptocurrency markets.

While the Biden administration has acknowledged this as a priority, partisan deadlock has prevented many new regulations from being enacted.

Kristin Johnson Johnson is internationally recognized for her work on financial market regulation and corporate governance. Her recent work investigated new financial technologies such as blockchain and digital assets.

Johnson’s nomination is expected to spur the commission to introduce new regulations for cryptocurrency and break the deadlock that has emerged, two priorities for a Biden administration eager to bring governmental control to the cryptocurrency market.

Johnson joined the University in 2021 after working as the McGlinchey Stafford Professor of Law and associate dean for faculty research at Tulane University School of Law (La.). Prior

to her work at Tulane, Johnson was an analyst at Goldman Sachs and then an assistant general counsel at JPMorgan Chase, advising clients on foreign and domestic financial transactions.

Johnson graduated from Georgetown University (D.C.) and the University of Michigan School of Law, and is an elected member of the American Law Institute and an American Bar Association Fellow.

Reta Jo Lewis Founded in 1934, the ExportImport Bank supports U.S. exports through various programs, including guaranteeing loans to foreign buyers, credit insurance and direct lending to foreign companies.

The bank previously came under fire from Republicans and was almost disbanded. However, a reversal by former President Donald Trump in 2020 led to the agency being renewed for seven years. U.S. companies became more supportive of the bank as Trump sought to decrease the U.S. trade deficit.

If confirmed by the Senate, Lewis will become the first person of color to lead the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

A 1989 Emory University School of Law graduate, Lewis holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Georgia and a Master’s of Arts from American University (D.C.).

Lewis is currently a member of the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations and serves as a Steering Committee member on the Leadership Council for Women in National Security. Previously, she was an attorney in private practice and served as special representative for global intergovernmental affairs in the U.S. State Department under thenSecretary of State Hillary Clinton. She has also worked as a special assistant for political affairs to former President Bill Clinton.

Both Johnson and Lewis will need to be confirmed by the Senate in order to fill their roles. They have been asked by the White House to not give any comments at this time.

— Contact Max Sankey at max.sankey@emory.edu

Mixed reactions to online transition Continued from Page 1 teaching with mixed perspectives.

“It would have been more convenient to have it in person for my first year, so I could have that interaction with the professor and other students,” Merom Arthur (24C) said of her class.

As a freshman last year, Arthur struggled with her decision to take her Biology 141 course online. She explained that the combination of in-person and online this year makes it easier to balance classes.

Like Arthur, Hope Jackson (23C) had a difficult relationship with virtual classes. So when her philosophy class switched online, she was frustrated.

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“I personally at first was very disappointed,” Jackson said. “I struggle a lot with online learning in that format. I connect much better with people in person, which helps a lot with engagement and learning.”

Although many students prefer in-person classes, several said they understand faculty’s decisions to switch to altered course formats.

“It has ended up being pretty beneficial,” Jackson said about her class moving online. “I didn’t expect to enjoy it this way, but I do now. It’s allowed for a bit more freedom.”

Despite student and faculty concerns over COVID-19 transmission, Roy explained that classrooms remain safe

because of the University vaccination and mask requirements. More than 97% of students and 92% of faculty and staff are fully vaccinated, the Emory COVID-19 Dashboard reported Sunday.

“The evidence is showing that if there is any kind of transmission happening, it’s not happening in the classroom,” Roy said. “It’s happening outside and mostly when students are going off campus and are not masked.

The classroom remains one of the safest spaces for both faculty and students on campus.”

— Contact Lauren Baydaline at lauren.baydaline@emory.edu

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O������ W��������, S�������� 22, 2021 | Opinion Editors: Sophia Ling (sophia.ling@emory.edu) & Martin Li (martin.li2@emory.edu)

EDITORIALS

Emory students, say no to Cop City The Atlanta City Council sentenced a large swath of DeKalb County to environmental devastation on Sept. 8, all in the name of building the massive police training facility dubbed Cop City by activists and Atlantans. Now, the mayor and law enforcement celebrate their newest infrastructure.

The story of the new training complex began in April 2021, when the Atlanta Police Foundation (APF) published its first set of plans. After briefly tabling the concept in mid-August in response to public outcry, the Council finally passed it this month. The extent to which Cop City ever had or did not have majority support among Atlanta residents remains unclear, but council members’ environmental and political failures paved the way for a destructive expansion of police power.

Following months of controversy, council members voted 10-4 in favor of constructing the $90 million fire and police training center. The current plan will preserve over half of the 381-acre property as either green space or public park space. However, its weapons testing and training facilities have serious negative implications for the safety of the local environment. Though the ordinance may have passed, it has the potential to poison residents’ food and water, exacerbate en-

vironmental racism and worsen relations between Atlanta’s police, city council and residents.

The only glimmer of hope has been the tremendous efforts of local community members, activists and organizers that have rallied against the City Council and the APF. As members of the greater Atlanta community, Emory students should not only understand the nuances of this historical issue but should also get involved in rallying against the council members who allowed this to occur.

The facility’s future home is a 381acre plot and one of the last remaining large parcels of undeveloped land within I-285. According to the most recent published plans, its explosives testing site and firing range will sit near both a planned urban farm and a local stream known as Intrenchment Creek.

A shooting range means lead bullets could be lost in the woods which is particularly dangerous considering that the Environmental Protection Agency advises against building shooting ranges near water sources. In fact, public water quality data indicates that Intrenchment Creek, which connects to many other waterways in the south, already carries unsafe amounts of heavy metals, likely because of the two existing APF shooting ranges nearby. As a result, the lead, met-

als and other chemicals found in munitions could poison residents.

Another reason for strong opposition against Cop City is the expansion of police power and the devotion of resources toward law enforcement, despite public

Cop City only bolsters the surveillance system and instills unnecessary fear in the people of Atlanta. opinion shifting away from police power.

The city’s inane commitment to using corporate sponsors to fund these projects only further speaks to its disregard for systemic racism in Atlanta. Yet this is not the first time: the APF has a history of over-policing and buying equipment to surveil innocent citizens, allocating $2.3 million of tax funds into Operation Shield, the city-wide surveillance network. Cop City serves no purpose other than to bolster the surveillance system and instill unnecessary fear in the people of Atlanta.

Police and city council members in support of Cop City have actively worsened tensions with the community. In response to a minor peaceful protest outside council member Natalyn Archibong’s house, Atlanta police reacted with overwhelming presence and arrests. The use of force demonstrates the City Council and the Atlanta Police Department’s unwillingness to address activists’ efforts and quick deference to violence — the central issue underlying Cop City’s development.

Moreover, APF and City Council have intentionally disseminated misleading information about Cop City to the community. Recently, City of Atlanta Chief Operating Officer Jon Keen was instructed to form an advisory council composed of community members and partners. However, a report from Mainline Zine, an Atlanta-based labor press, showed that the ‘Public Safety Training Center Recommendations Report’ lists no community members. Instead, it includes members of the APD, APF, Atlanta Fire Department and various people from the Department of Enterprise and Asset Management and Department of Law. Clearly, Atlanta’s government only cares about trumpeting community feedback, not actually listening to it. Despite 17 hours of public comment, much of

which spotlighted opposition to the building of Cop City, the local government and police institutions remain undeterred.

The facility should not be built at all.

Environmental concerns aside, the APD never needed $30 million of public funds for a glorified playground. Expanding law enforcement’s footprint in the area flies in the face of yearslong agitation against police brutality and dishonors the memory of its many victims. The City Council could have stood against systemic racism in Atlanta, but ten of its members instead chose to entrench it.

Cities across the U.S., let alone a majority-Black one like Atlanta, need less police presence, less police funding and less police worship. But now that Cop City’s construction is all but assured, what can we do?

First and foremost, Emory community members should visit the area. See for yourself what the city is willing to destroy for the sake of a police training facility. If you want to get more involved, volunteering with local activist organizations, such as Defend the Atlanta Forest, is another great way to hold lawmakers accountable. We are a part of the fabric of this city, and we must understand the ramifications of such decisions. Now is the time to break the Emory bubble and help our Atlanta community.

The Met Gala: a celebrity symposium of theatrics Last week, Rep. Alexandria OcasioCortez (D-N.Y.) stirred up controversy on both sides of the aisle over the dress she wore to the annual Met Gala, which donned the mantra: “Tax the Rich.”

Ocasio-Cortez’s dress has provoked questions about her authenticity as a woman of the people, praise for her commitment to confronting the wealthy and doubts as to whether she should have been there in the first place, since entrance to the event is $30,000. However, whether or not the debate has merit misses the triad of ever-creeping existential issues which strike at the core of American society: the reverence of performative over substantive action, adoration of celebrities and ignorance to broader problems faced by everyday Americans.

Rather than focusing on the theatrics of politicians and celebrities, we should underscore what the Met Gala fiasco missed about the evening: the superficial nature of celebrity culture, the threat of COVID-19 and the brutalization of protestors outside the Met Gala.

For quite a while, Americans have extolled performative acts by politicians and celebrities alike, which only served to perpetuate a cycle of inaction. Many celebrities and politicians publically jump on the bandwagon of issues out of self-interest. Yet their assurances and commitments often do not disrupt their comfortable way of life. The Met Gala is a prime example of this superficiality.

Held amid a pandemic, the organizers took little to no action demonstrating their awareness of the health implica-

No hint of the pandemic that killed millions was apparent at these events where high society displayed their priceless outfits.

tions of the lavish event. The Met Gala was not the first instance of this, and it won’t be the last. From the Emmys this past Sunday to the upcoming Tony Awards, parties for the rich continue to signal their detachment. No hint of the pandemic that killed millions was apparent at these events where high society displayed their priceless outfits, further highlighting how little the rich care about everyone else.

During the ceremony, at least nine Black Lives Matter protestors were arrested outside the Gala. They were there to protest the New York Police Department’s (NYPD) $11 billion dollar budget and bring attention to the lack of resources spent on Black and brown communities. However, compared to OcasioCortez’s dress and the rest of the

celebrity intrigue at the event, this received little coverage. The difference in attention reveals that U.S. society values flashy shows of pomp and grandeur over substantial change.

By and large, Ocasio-Cortez’s dress and the Met Gala are symptoms of a wider reverence of celebrity culture and theatricality that distracts the public from real issues. Instead of glorifying politicians and celebrities who are pretending to better society, we should redirect our focus to the plights of the protestors, to those who are and have suffered from COVID-19 and to advocating for real change. It would behoove us all to bring attention to pressing issues and ensure that politicians understand that we refuse their platitudes for no return on investment.

The above editorial represents the majority opinion of the Wheel’s Editorial Board.

The Editorial Board is composed of Viviana Barreto, Rachel Broun, Sara Khan, Martin Li, Sophia Ling, Demetrios Mammas, Sara Perez, Ben Thomas and Leah Woldai.

The Emory Wheel Volume 102 | Number 10

ISAIAH PORTIZ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ANJALI HUYNH EXECUTIVE EDITOR BRAMMHI BALARAJAN MANAGING EDITOR JESSICA SOLOMON MANAGING EDITOR CAILEN CHINN CHIEF OF DIGITAL OPERATIONS PHYLLIS GUO Copy Chief NINAD KULKARNI Senior News Editor MATTHEW CHUPACK News Editor SARAH DAVIS News Editor SOPHIA LING Opinion Editor MARTIN LI Opinion Editor LAUREN BLAUSTEIN Emory Life Editor KATILIN MOTTLEY Emory Life Editor SARU GARG A&E Editor

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The Emory Wheel

Wednesday, September 23, 2021

5

Emory, work harder on climate action

College grading is overrated

Emory’s current climate commitments are woefully insufficient. The most recent University-wide climate action plan was published over a decade ago.

Although Emory has since updated its emissions goals to a 45% emissions reduction by 2030 (from 2010 levels) and net-zero emissions by 2050, no new climate action plan was released to outline how the University will achieve these reductions. These goals are also inconsistent with the best available climate science. Although the world needs to reach net-zero emissions no later than 2050, a recent report from the Climate Crisis Advisory Group asserts that the 2050 goal is “now too little too late.” Emory must act quickly and urgently.

Despite being one of the state’s

universities should be encouraging students to discover themselves by experimenting with classes outside their major and joining clubs for pleasure. By taking What student hasn’t experienced the journey of academics slowly, stusome form of the ever-invasive academic dents will be able to get a grounded sense stress creeping into their lives and affect- of what it means to cultivate a lifelong ing their mental well-being during their state of learning — there won’t likely be time in college? another chance like it again.

Colleges serve as bastions for propAnother component negatively imping a competitive culture that pits stu- pacting students’ mental health are the dents against students and degrades men- ways we assess students’ capacity to retal health without offering much in tain knowledge. At Emory, a healthy porreturn. Universities take a business-esque tion of courses use two midterms and a approach that cuts the soul out of educa- final exam as a set point to weigh a stution, exposing students to different sub- dent’s performance in class. However, jects, challenging perspectives and exis- such a system is reliant on using small tential questions, all to create windows of opportunity to exhibit stuknowledgeable members of society. dent skill, which leads to cramming and Emory is no exception to this phenome- added stress that fails to benefit the stunon. dent intellectually. Many of these exams To bring college academics back to are often catch-alls that fall short of actheir core duty, universities ought to re- counting for different learning styles or duce factors that prioritize the school’s creative ways to display knowledge. Inimage over students' mental health. To do stead, colleges should favor smaller cuso, institutions mulative assessneed to reduce ments that could stress culture by show the studispelling the dent’s growth myth that stuwithin the course, dents must be top lower stress and performers, reyield better reforming antisults. quated grading During the schemes and takpandemic, some ing to heart the Emory profeslessons learned in sors made their pandemic teachclasses more acing. cessible by Progressively, changing grading ILLUSTRATION BY ALISON BARLOW greater awareschemes and College grading systems are class designs to ness of students’ antiquated. use small papers mental health crises within the and group last few years, esprojects over the pecially during the pandemic, has sent traditional system. Such changes to adapt colleges scrambling to adapt and provide to student conditions are noble, and this resources. Often these include measures mentality should persist into future such as increased hours for mental health semesters irrespective of the return to inservices, crisis hotlines and teaching cop- person teaching. The point of academics ing skills. Yet, admittedly they’ve missed is to inspire students to want to learn, not the mark. Most college students continue cram the night before an exam to get a to cite academic stress and a need to decent grade. maintain a sense of competitiveness as Universities, including Emory, are key sources of stress. To remedy such, failing their core responsibilities to nurcolleges ought to cut back on promoting ture and protect students’ minds. Instead, cutthroat environments that push stu- these colleges have sidelined these redents to be nothing less than perfect. sponsibilities to promote frivolous markFor instance, college environments ers of success and elitism that serve as push students to overcommit to clubs, vie figures to boast about in brochures at the for the best GPA and gear them up for the cost of their student’s mental health. If workforce. While none of these are nec- college administrators and professors are essarily terrible, they should be done in serious about aiding student mental moderation with respect to time and indi- health, they should consider different revidual sanity. Some colleges have made sources to offer and adapt the nature of gearing up for the workforce a priority academics to fit with the times. over making varied educational outlets, such as Howard University (D.C.) phas- Demetrios Mammas (23C) is from Ating out its Classics department. Instead, lanta, Georgia.

Jack Miklaucic, Clare McCarthy and Ben Levitt We are living in an age of climate crisis. Emory University, despite its good intentions, has neglected its responsibility to address this emergency with the urgency it requires.

The Emory Climate Coalition demands that University President Gregory Fenves and the Board of Trustees substantially address Emory’s role as a significant contributor to the climate crisis. Together, the Emory community will be rallying on Friday to call for meaningful changes to the University’s climate policies.

This summer, we watched in horror as natural disasters exacerbated by the rapidly changing climate took hundreds of lives in the U.S. and affected the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people around the world.

A barrage of wildfires, floods, droughts, hurricanes, extreme heat events and more will threaten every corner of the globe, and the southeastern U.S. will not be spared. Climate change will also disproportionately affect the Global South despite its vastly lower emissions footprint, with one recent example being the first climate-change caused famine in Madagascar. Humanity is facing an existential threat as the effects of climate change continue to escalate. Rapid action is imperative to stave off the worst effects of this climate emergency.

The Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, published last month, addresses the need for immediate and drastic action worldwide.

Because the U.S. is much to blame for historical greenhouse gas emissions and possesses much of the resulting wealth, our institutions must not only achieve but go far beyond these emissions targets to give the world a viable chance of meeting these ambitious targets on a global level.

By failing to take sufficient action on climate change, Emory is neglecting one of its most important social responsibilities.

largest employers, Emory has failed to exert its influence over its primary energy supplier, Georgia Power, to transition more quickly to renewable energy sources.

Georgia Power lags behind several other utilities in the southeast in terms of its clean energy portfolio.

Emory’s primary energy supplier produces only three percent of its electricity from renewable sources and a combined 63% from coal, oil and gas.

In order to reaffirm its commitment to addressing the climate change crisis, Emory must demand Georgia Power step up its renewable energy infrastructure.

As a nationally esteemed academic

institution, Emory University must lead by example by drastically reducing its emissions. We demand that the University officially declare a climate emergency and update its climate action plan to exceed the necessary global emissions reductions outlined in AR6.

As the Emory Climate Coalition outlined in our April 2021 op-ed, we are also calling on the administration to join the Race to Zero Campaign and the Climate Leadership Network to prove its global climate leadership, demonstrate solidarity in combating this crisis, and ensure the University remains transparent and accountable.

Importantly, we urge Emory to place pressure on Georgia Power to transition to renewable energy, as Emory cannot feasibly achieve its emissions goals if our primary electricity provider continues to rely heavily on unsustainable energy sources.

There is a social imperative to address the climate crisis. By failing to take sufficient action on climate change, Emory is neglecting one of its most important social responsibilities. Climate inaction will inflict disproportionate harm on Black, Indigenous and communities of color in Georgia and the U.S., as well as communities in the Global South.

We are living in the midst of a climate emergency. Without immediate and concerted action, this crisis will continue to have increasingly dire effects, particularly on the most vulnerable populations in society.

On Friday, students, faculty and staff will call attention to Emory’s inadequate policies and demand a full-scale, crisis-level mobilization to address this planetary emergency.

Jack Miklaucic (23C) is from Charlotte, North Carolina. Clare McCarthy (23C) is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Erin Phillips (22C) is from Greenville, South Carolina.

Ben Levitt (22C) is from Toronto, Canada.

Demetrios Mammas

California’s flawed recall system needs an overhaul now Chaya Tong I wasn’t excited to vote in my first election. In fact, I almost didn’t vote at all. I cast my first and last ballot as a Californian the night before I came to Emory. On Sept. 14, I watched from Atlanta as the country’s eyes turned to the gubernatorial recall in my home state.

Despite electing Gov. Gavin Newsom by a 62% majority in 2018, he was already up for a recall by April 2021. The recall movement gained traction in November 2020, amid a COVID surge, when Newsom attended an indoor dinner party without a mask at the high-end restaurant, the French Laundry. The incident defied his own admonishment to the public to stay home and exposed himself as a phony.

Faced with a choice between Newsom and his horrifying hypocrisies and a long list of challengers who ranged from amateur to alarming, I almost wished I had not

turned 18 in time for the election. But beyond the list of grossly unqualified candidates was the feeling that my vote didn’t matter. In a recall system where a candidate could win with under 20% of the vote, representative government was failing. Though Newsom won in the end, the takeaway from the past few months is clear: California’s recall system needs an overhaul.

California recalls give minority factions the upper hand. Voters answered two questions on the ballot: whether they wanted to recall Newsom and if he was recalled, who they wanted instead. If 50% or more voted against recall, he would remain in office. But the second question was decided by a plurality.

Even if Newsom received more votes than the challenger with the most votes, he could still lose the election. For instance, if 49% of the voters cast a ballot in Newsom’s favor, he would still lose to the candidate who received the most votes among the challengers, even if

that challenger only received about 20% of the vote. Newsom’s name was not allowed on the ballot, and he was not permitted to win as a write-in candidate.

Thus, the recall system presents a troubling loophole in California’s electoral system: Republicans could win control of an overwhelmingly blue state with only a fraction of the state’s support.

The voters in a recall election are not representative of the electorate at large. Since recall elections happen in off years, they draw fewer voters, most of them from the minority party.

Fearing apathetic voters would give Republicans the win, California Democrats pulled out all the stops for Newsom, including visits to the state from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, and televised endorsements from former President Barack Obama and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

In the last California recall election, which took place in 2003,

Republicans successfully replaced the Democratic Gov. Gray Davis with actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. This time, the Democrats were able to beat back the challenge, with almost 9 million votes cast in Newsom’s favor.

But how and why did a state special election become so high profile? Since 1960, at least one recall attempt has been made against every California governor.

This recall attempt was Newsom’s fifth. Disrupting a sitting governor’s term should not be so easy, nor should it be a partisan tactic. For one, California’s low signature requirement for gubernatorial recall petitions is part of the problem. The signatures of a mere 12% of the number of votes cast in the last election are needed to get the recall on the ballot, compared with 15% in Georgia, 25% in New Jersey and 40% in Kansas. Twelve percent of voters should not be enough to trigger a special election in a state the size of California.

California needs to reform its dysfunctional recall system. One improvement would be to allow the incumbent's name to be on the ballot, which would eliminate the problem of challengers winning the office even if they received fewer votes than the number of people voting for recall. Another would be to raise the recall petition’s signature requirement to 25%, an option supported by 55% of polled voters.

Making recalls harder to materialize wouldn’t allow a disgruntled minority to force an expensive recall onto the state.

Recall elections should not, however, be completely abolished. They give voters a second chance to replace corrupt leaders and ensure that lawmakers remain loyal to the will of the majority.

When executed fairly, recall elections serve to uphold democracy, not take it away.

Chaya Tong (25C) is from the Bay Area, California.

The Emory Wheel

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

6

Insects: The revolutionary future of the human diet Sophia Ling Haven’t you ever wondered about the taste of the enoki-pine nut, wax moth caterpillars and the baconchanterelle of bee larvae? Maybe not, but maybe it’s time.

The American diet is simple and uninspiring; it chooses to respond to a Eurocentric culinary perspective and ignores millions of different species that could be available to us. As the repercussions of climate change and resource limitations continue to catch up to us, eating insects as a meat alternative is the perfect answer.

From an environmental perspective, insects are significantly more sustainable. A pound of crickets uses 1000 times less water than the same amount of beef and produces less greenhouse gases. Farming insects can also occur on smaller, urban plots of land, offering greater economic efficiency. However, insects that could be helping us are instead subject to habitat destruction, highlighting the ramifications of human actions on our world. The results of our carbon footprint may be predictable, but the extent of it is not. Regardless, we can’t wait around for our resources to deplete. The Earth does not have the capacity to indulge in our human hubris, nor is it able to reasonably produce enough food for everyone in the world. We need to search for new, sustainable sources of protein that can accommodate the rising global consumption.

Businesses are already popping up around the world to popularize entomophagy, the practice of eating insects. The French firm Ynsect raised $225 million to open the

world’s largest insect farm to produce 100,000 tons of protein per year. The newfound alternative is profitable as well. The edible insect market is predicted to grow to $6.3 billion by 2030. If not for any other reason, economic profitability should be incentive enough to consider insect eating as a revolutionary future.

Union approved dried mealworm powder as a safe food to eat. Before this, eating insects was never seriously considered as a viable option for a green alternative. We still joke about the high protein content of bugs, but why not turn it into reality? Crickets offer the same amount of protein as beef, and are not only full of essential vitamins and amino

In fact, fear of eating insects is more of a mental barrier than anything else. It’s normal to be reluctant to eat them as our food laws and policies condition us to feel this way.

The Food and Drug Administration considers insects “filth” and discourages insect-based foods from ever reaching the market.

Growing up in the U.S., my initial

ILLUSTRATION BY ALISON BARLOW

Insects are the revolutionary food of the future, and humans should start to adjust their palate to incorporate bugs and other edible insects like crickets and grasshoppers.

Eurocentrism plays a major role in shaping food trends, leaving the onus on the U.S. and Europe to adapt and open our minds up to foods that might seem unconventional to us. Chefs are experimenting with cicadas and crickets in their cooking and industries are realizing the value behind insect-based products. In May 2021, the European

acids, but also carry fats that may help reduce the risk of heart disease.

Though they tend to digest slightly slower than the meats we are used to, their benefits grossly outweigh the negatives.

We are constantly changing our diets to become more attuned to the environment around us. Moving toward entomophagy is no different.

reaction to the prospect of eating bugs is — “ew.” But the Western diet is in many ways the minority. For centuries, humans have been eating insects and continue to do so. About two billion people around the world today regularly include them in their diet. Cultivating insects in the U.S., however, is rare and deemed “ancient” and “barbaric.” Unfortu-

nately, Western ideology permeates every corner of the world. Insecteating is still stigmatized as a poor person’s food, driving us further from potential food sustainability strategies.

Local traditions continue to be disregarded as developing countries fall victim to Eurocentric standards of haute culture. But to embrace entomophagy, we should look to rural communities that are familiar with the edibility of different insects. Perhaps by stepping outside our comfort zone, we can foster better appreciation and relationship with cuisines of people around the world, rather than dismissing it as abnormal. I understand that it is difficult to disassociate ourselves from the norm that we have lived with for so long. Western standards of food neglect so many opportunities to experience new things and have left many with bland, elementary palates.

The argument for entomophagy to be ubiquitous is strong, but our ignorance still bodes a number of unanswered questions: are insects sentient animals? Are they appropriate for vegetarian or vegan diets?

And if they are animals, should they be offered the same level of moral consideration that we give livestock?

Growing to accept insects and entomophagy will take time, but knowing that most insects will probably have a nutty flavor makes it a little better. Just imagine the next thing you spread on your toast might be a creamy peanut butter made with cricket powder: it will be revolutionary.

Sophia Ling (24C) is from Carmel, Indiana.

Jewish high holidays are a queer religious intersection Zimra Chickering When one hears “religious holiday,” the first word to enter their mind is not typically “queer.” However, as a bisexual, queer Jew from a queer household, the Jewish high holidays have always felt like a unique way to connect to one’s LGBTQIA+ identity, spirit, body and space.

The high holidays begin with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which looks a bit different from a traditional American New Year celebration. The holiday involves joyous communal meals and synagogue services, where we pray, reflect, join and sound the shofar, a ram’s horn turned musical instrument. We eat sweet foods, like apples and dates, to symbolize our hope for a sweet and healing year to come, even after antisemitic attacks, personal struggles, pandemic losses and much more. This reflects the hope in the queer community after months and years of difficulty and perseuction.

Whether it is with a spoonful of honey or a raucous pride parade, there is this sense of positive resilience, a way to preserve and celebrate our identity as we continue forward.

Rosh Hashanah services, in my mind, are also characterized by a deep sense of belonging to community. Even

if you are new to a particular synagogue, new to Judaism or new to attending services, there is a rooted communal belonging. As Rabbi Nikki DeBlosi explains, this profound sense of belonging arises “through word and deed, through symbol and role, that we are accepted as we are in the present, that we were preceded by resilient ancestors, and that our actions will continue into the future of our communities and our traditions.”

Reflecting upon the resilience of those in the past and accepting ourselves and others in the present is a critical call for both Jewish and LGBTQIA+ communities. For all teachers, rabbis, cantors, organizers and community members, Rosh Hashanah is an opportunity to accept yourself and those around you, through word, deed, role and symbol. In Judaism, there is a extensive emphasis on ritual being backed up by action and change to repair the world (“tshuvah” in Hebrew). While the high holidays are filled with ritual, we are still reminded to take radical inclusive action, including the welcoming and celebration of queer identity in Jewish spaces.

While the next holiday, Yom Kippur, reads as tiresome and a lot more boring in its immediate description, the nuance behind the practices of the

holiday provide a beautiful reflection for connecting to and defending queer bodies and identity. It also happens to be one of my favorite holidays. Yom Kippur practices include a day of fasting and attending services, focused heavily on the concept of “teshuvah,” often translated as “atonement” but literally translated as “returning.” This idea of “return” signifies the process one goes through to return to your truest self, your most cherished values and a blank slate for the new year.

To reach that point, examining previous mistakes and traumas is never an easy task, but it can reveal the power in what queer Jews and non-Jews have survived. The commandment to reflect on Yom Kippur also extends to asking those in the Jewish community to atone for any homophobic, biphobic or transphobic statements they may have made, which can help heal the community as a whole, especially as more traditional religious spaces may have felt historically unsafe for queer Jews. We are asked to return to more whole versions of ourselves individually and communally on Yom Kippur.

As writer and non-profit fundraiser, Shelly Jay Shore, eloquently explains “It’s [Yom Kippur] a returning to the broken places, where we can still find the endless possibilities of wholeness.”

Fasting on Yom Kippur is also a very

difficult act that demands this same journey of “return,” forcing us to acknowledge and become intensely aware of our bodies. This process of fasting can be quite difficult for those that have enduring trauma, especially queer bodies who have historically been attacked and ridiculed. This intense connection to the body is actually quite a radical act for those in the LGBTQIA+ community, and Yom Kippur not only offers you a space to inhabit the body that feels right to you, but also demands that everybody around you respect and safeguard that process.

While the next holiday, Sukkot, is not technically a high holiday, it falls in the Jewish high holiday season and becomes an integral part of the experience as a whole. Sukkot also happens to feel like one of the most joyful, and queer, holidays one can have. It is quite literally about creating safe spaces, which is a chief tenant for many LGBTQ-aligned groups. Sukkot is a week-long holiday in which Jews build and conduct daily practices in a sukkah, a hut reminiscent of those that the Israelites lived in as they wandered the desert for 40 years after their escape from slavery in Egypt. Sukkoth may not be incredibly sturdy, but we are nonetheless meant to celebrate with intense joy while occupying these

spaces. Rabbi DeBLosi effectively articulates the ways in which that ritual translates to action, explaining that “Jewish tradition mandates that we create a sense of home and belonging precisely at this time of year, squarely in the face of our vulnerability, our temporality, our mortality.”

While both the queer and Jewish communities are inherently vulnerable to attack and each of us is vulnerable to our own mortality, we are called to create vibrant spaces that act as a safehouses for our whole selves to reflect, gather and celebrate our identities joyfully. On the high holiday rollercoaster through hope, reflection and celebration, there are always moments of difficulty, fatigue and misunderstanding that can be barriers to religious practice, especially for queer Jews, but there is also oppurtunity to be found in each of these holidays.

We can acknowledge our resilience and set our intentions for LGBTQIA+ empowerment, reflect upon the mistakes we’ve made, connect with the bodies that feel most comfortable for ourselves and live vibrantly with joy in the face of persecution or vulnerability.

We are here, and here to stay.

Zimra Chickering (24C) is from Chicago, Illinois.

&

The Emory Wheel

ARTS ENTERTAINMENT WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2021 | Arts & Entertainment Editors: Saru Garg (saru.garg@emory.edu) & Stephen Altobelli (saltobe@emory.edu)

Paul Schrader plays smart with ‘The Card Counter’

BY RHETT HIPP Staff Writer

Emory University Symphony Orchestra Rehearsal.

COURTESY OF

CHUNJUN PARK

The return to the main stage: what it means to perform in-person

BY EYTHEN ANTHONY AND ISABEL PACKARD Senior Critic & Staff Writer Ceremoniously picking up his clarinet, Chunjin Park (24C) took a deep breath and performed for an audience of ghosts at the end of his first semester.

Not real ghosts per se. But what else can we call those intangible eyes lurking behind the camera? Those eerily silent pixels of performance disseminating from an electronic screen through the teleconferencing software of Zoom.

It was a strange year for us all, and art students were no exception.

Though art in isolation has its place (who hasn’t written some embarrassing poems they would never share with the world) there is something about being an artist that asks you to share your work with others.

Art organizations at Emory navigated this relationship between the personal and the public in the best way they could.

For Park, that looked like recording numerous auditions for Emory’s Symphony Orchestra from his room while he worried his hallmates would hear him practicing as they passed by.

“Transitioning from having unlimited takes in the safety of my room to experiencing in-person auditions in front of Dr. Bhasin, I realized how the return to normalcy feels unusually, well, abnormal,” he said.

Yet in the end, Park argued that the twists and turns of the pandemic “have pushed us to become better musicians.” This semester, he’s looking forward to being in front of a live audience again.

Emma Chatson (22C) felt a similar excitement for the promise of inperson performances.

A senior and Oxford continuee who has held memberships in Oxford Chorale, Concert Choir and a cappella groups Oxcapella and Aural Pleasure, Chatson’s experience in vocal groups is extensive. When Emory first sent out the email her sophomore year that things were going to be moved online, she was devastated.

But with in-person rehearsals this

year, Chatson said she couldn’t be more excited. Already, she has performed with Aural Pleasure at Emory’s Best in Show talent performance and at the ongoing tradition of First Fridays.

Chatson says that “it’s nice to finally be back with all the members and meet all the new faces in Concert Choir” that she only previously saw on Zoom.

She is looking forward to the upcoming First Fridays which feature all six of Emory’s a cappella groups, and Concert Choir’s performances in October and December.

Dominique Jones (24C) felt lucky that she was able to have dance classes in person last year as part of the Emory Dance Company.

In-person classes allowed her to make friends in a way that she said her virtual academic ones did not.

This year, she’s looking forward to having more people in her classes so she can get to know other dance majors at Emory.

“I’m just excited to see what the dance program is like in a normal year, as we’re getting closer to normal,” she said.

COVID-19 presented many athletic and artistic challenges to dancers last year.

Jones cited the struggles of breathing in the mask while doing physically challenging dances, the difficulty of conveying emotion without your face and the altered atmosphere of studio classes.

“The studios had like six foot boxes taped on the ground, so each person had to stand in their own box.

The teachers couldn’t touch you at all to correct you,” she said.

This year, boxes have been removed and dancers are able to experience physical communication and cooperation in their classes. The Emory Dance Company performance will be in November, which Jones imagines will look different from the limited-capacity, outdoor performances put on last year.

The AHANA dance performance in December will also hopefully be moved from a virtual to in-person format, which Jones is looking forward to performing in.

Ruth Korder (23C), treasurer of

Emory improv troupe Rathskellar, experienced joy at the return of in-person performances. She began performing with the improv group during her freshman year and discussed the sorrowful reaction toward transitioning to an online classroom along with Rathskellar’s thoughtful response.

“I was on spring break really looking forward to relaxing and not thinking about classes. Then all of sudden I had to think about my housing and how life was going to change in the next couple months,” she said. “I do appreciate Rathskellar for giving us space to focus on existing and doing our classes.”

The group did not perform any shows in spring 2020, but began online performances the following semesters. Although the group experienced complications with performing in a virtual format, they were able to present seven shows throughout the 2020-2021 school year.

However, Korder couldn’t be happier for the return of in-person shows, especially given the group’s poignant response to seeing each other during practice.

“We are ecstatic to be back inperson,” she said. “It was honestly emotional during our first rehearsal to be back and be able to check in on each other… I think we’re all excited to have all the dimensions of improv back in our grasp” Rathskellar is hoping to continue having comedy performances every month in person.

While a majority of performing art groups found limitations with their technological confinement, others discovered newfound benefits. Jane Chakraborty (24C), a member of Emory’s Jazz Combos, considers the positives she found while practicing jazz online.

“It fine-tuned a different set of skills than what would have been fine-tuned in person,” she said.

“Especially with having the ability to hear back what you’re playing.”

Nevertheless, Chakraborty is excited to be back in person and indulge in the spontaneous and high spirited-energy of in-person jazz. The department has been taking strict

See EMORY on Page 8

development, and a welcome performance from Tiffany Haddish as La An intense logic underpins the Linda, the financial backer for pro tone of writer/director Paul gamblers like William. In contrast to Schrader's latest feature, "The Card William, who always appears in Counter." While the film has its barely distinguishable variants on eccentricities, occasionally indulging the same grey outfit, La Linda in tangents or dangling threads, it encompasses a myriad of fashions, never shows its whole hand and effortlessly bringing out the humankeeps an unreadable poker-face the ity that was so desperately missing whole time. At first the film may from William’s life. seem random, but beneath the surAnd while it could be argued that face lies an utterly methodical con- actors like Haddish and Willem struction that brilliantly dissects Dafoe, who plays Major Gordo, a some key issues of present American military contractor from William’s society. past, should have received roles with “The Card Counter” opens on more depth or complexity, every plain credits which play over an character feels as though they are extreme close-up of a felt blackjack used just as much or as little as the table, each thread neatly packed into film needs. place. As the cards begin to fall into More than anything, this is truly place and the numbers and faces Schrader's film. His sense of pacing move around the table, the film's and direction are the driving force lead, William Tell (Oscar Isaac), behind what makes this film so laments about how he never thought compelling. While I hesitate to use a he would become used to term like "21st century 'Taxi Driver'" confinement. when describing this film, the two are During a stint in prison, he found certainly great companions, as "The he liked its sense of repetition or Card Counter" certainly feels like a staleness and in his film made by an free time he learned artist who has had to count cards. He 45 years to grow and “The Card now drifts from develop his skills casino to casino Counter” opens from "Taxi Driver." earning just enough Schrader and on plain credits Director of Photogto keep himself out of trouble with Alexander which play over raphy management.

Dynan eschew the Much of the film an extreme close- grungy aspects of unfolds through "Taxi Driver's" cineWilliam’s narration up of a felt black- matography and as he writes in his strike an excellent jack table, each balance of minimaljournal, explains card games and ism in their camerathread neatly relates odds and work so that small algorithms to the packed into place movements like a audience. As he simple pan across a travels, he meets motel room or a people who bring to push on Isaac's face light the truth of his past but simulta- (along with more dramatic flourishes neously inspire him to move toward which I will refrain from spoiling) a brighter future. feel all the more gripping.

Compared to the high-stakes bets Schrader's unique blend of characand the edge of your seat tension of ter study and social commentary other gambling movies,"The Card through William’s identity as an Counter" embraces the mundanity of American, a former convict and a gambling, the mathematics that gambler makes the film immensely underpin the scheme of it all and the relevant, which is only deepened repetitious and contrived nature of through its similarities to its cinethe gambling life. Tournament halls matic predecessor. are packed full of tables, each neatly The film’s meticulousness, sense in its place, crowded with ordinary of logic, as well as the impact on our people hoping for their chance to win identities, succeeds in capturing the big, each face as joyless as the last. complexity of its societal criticisms.

Most miserable of all is William. "The Card Counter" is bookended With hardly a smile, he goes from with Isaac's narration about confinecity to city, traffic lights blurring with ment and how he's used to it. casino lights. He may end up in For William, and thus the film, the different, dark motel rooms, but each world is that felt poker table, its very one he meticulously fashions into the being and everything that happens same drab grey as his clothes and his atop it defined by these strict rules, former prison cell. This sense of algorithms and patterns. The film monotony would nearly bely Isaac's does not ever seem to suggest that talent as an actor were it not for a few these confinements are escapable, key scenes that show he and but it does beg the questions of how Schrader have some tricks up their we’re confined, who is responsible sleeves. for those confinements and how we Many of these scenes are catalyzed can live our lives with the awareness by his co-stars: Tye Sheridan as Cirk, of these confines. the runaway looking for revenge, — Contact Rhett Hipp at who acts as the impetus for William’s rhett.hipp@emory.edu

The Emory Wheel

A&E

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

8

In memory of Groggs: Injury Reserve’s new album beautifully says goodbye to their beloved member

BY LIAM SHERMAN Contributing Writer It would be impossible to review “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” without first addressing the death of the massively talented rapper Jordan Alexander Groggs, stage name Stepa J. Groggs, a member of Injury Reserve who is dearly missed. The tragic loss serves as the album’s overarching theme; the darkness from this misfortune seeps into each song, setting a very grim tone.

On June 29, 2020, Groggs died at the age of 32, leaving Injury Reserve’s loyal and dedicated fan base both anguished and worried about the future of the group.

Groggs’ razor sharp one-liners and fierce bars were major components that separated the trio from the norm. With an integral member of the cast gone, how could rapper Ritchie with a T and producer Parker Corey ever retain their punchy, catchy sound? Injury Reserve’s answer comes in the form of total self-reinvention.

“By the Time I Get to Phoenix” is a chaotic, haunting and wildly experimental hip-hop record. I am hesitant to even call it hip-hop because its untamed instrumentals almost recall an electronic rendition of free form jazz.

The album is incomparable to their previous discography (all phenomenal projects that you should listen to) since there is no song with a truly discernible pattern. The record consists exclusively of powerfully disorganized beats that crash into you with the force of a truck.

The opening track “Outside” kicks off the LP with a tumultuous slurry of synth piano keys, some racing through the song, others crawling at an unsettlingly slow pace. Blaring horns ring out accompanying an ultra-aggressive performance by Ritchie, who explains his anger with a world that does not allow him to privately deal with loss. By the end of the song, we understand that he will air his grievances on this album when he begs, “As we walk through this valley of death/ Listen please listen, listen, listen/ Y’all wanna have two-way conversations/ But let’s put everything on the table.”

COURTESY OF EARTH AGENCY The members of Injury Reserve (Left to Right): Stepa J. Groggs, Parker Corey and Ritchie.

After his weighty performance the beat changes, and heavy breathing inundates the track, implying that Ritchie needs to catch his breath.

Trust me, he has plenty more to say.

A bass drum, layered with melodious and oddly cosmic sounding synths, rings forth and gives us a brief minute to digest his words before we are whisked away to my favorite track of the year.

“Superman That” is a breathtaking piece of music. While wholly original, its chameleon musical qualities inspire thoughts appertaining to vocals from a scrapped “808s & Heartbreak” track layered over hyperpop/mathcore drum blast beats. If the percussion section of this song was inspired by a Dillinger Escape Plan record, I would not be surprised.

As the beat uncontrollably spasms, Ritchie croons, “Ain't no savin' me, ain't no savin' me or you.”

His vocals wrap around us like a

velvety blanket, becoming the only thing to comfort and protect us from the violent instrumental. This track also marks Groggs’ first appearance, as he joins Ritchie on the verse. The juxtaposition of the dead singing with the living adds so many layers of grief to an already heartbreaking song.

“Ground Zero” instills a profound sense of dread in your soul. It sounds the way I assume robbing your own grandmother feels. Fists pound against a door while Ritchie whispers his chilling, poetically esoteric lines.

If Tom Waits made a rap album, I assure you, this is what it would sound like.

Alternatively, “Smoke Don’t Clear” gives us a brief moment of respite from the pain. Sonically, it is the group at their toughest. It pumps you so full of testosterone that it will make you want to invade and conquer the Balkans.

Injury Reserve quickly plucks you

from these soaring heights with an anvil wrapped around your ankle in the form of “Top Picks for You.” To say that it took all my strength not to sob in the school cafeteria when I first heard this song would be an understatement.

With my headphones in, I asked for chicken as I heard Ritchie cry out, “I scan the room, I see bits and pieces of you scattered.../ Grab the remote, pops up something you would've watched, I'm like ‘Classic’.../ Just workin' so that you can just, jump right back in/ But you ain't jumpin' back here.” I sucked back a tear, and I assume the person who served me thought I was very disappointed with the portion size.

“Knees'' and “Bye Storm,” the two closing tracks, ease the album’s tension with their sluggish, almost laid back rhythms. Like a bereaved person going through the five stages of grief, we began this album with isolation and anger. “Knees'' marks

the project's turning point toward acceptance. Ritchie breathes out with reluctance, “Knees hurt me when I grow/ And that's a tough pill to swallow/ Because I'm not gettin' taller.”

Ritchie’s knees ache, but his unchanged height reveals emotional growth rather than physical. This song also has one of the few solo verses from Groggs, who speaks about his troubles with alcohol (a frequently mentioned topic on past Injury Reserve projects). While troubling to hear, the emotion comes from the futility of his words, the substance abuse no longer being an issue.

“Bye Storm” leaves us with a small glimmer of hope. The melancholic tune is accompanied by Ritchie explaining how when “it rains, it pours,” but still “the show must go on.” Though it is raining hard and Injury Reserve is patiently waiting for their storm to end, I can only hope this line means that we have not seen the last of them.

This album should set the artistic standard for other modern rappers.

A glaring issue with many current rap artists is their banal sense of safety once they have made it in the music industry.

Artists like Drake, Lil Uzi Vert and Migos, who once pushed boundaries, have ended their respective eras of hard-hitting rap experimentation in favor of producing consumer-safe tracks. These artists have lost their drive, choosing to become complacent with their level of monetary success.

However, what happens when you have an artist that has not yet made it, has not lost their hunger, and has not sold their souls to the corporations? You get a once-in-a-lifetime hip-hop collective called Injury Reserve. A group whose staggering and uncompromising vision since 2015 has now culminated in their magnum opus: “By the Time I Get to Phoenix.”

Rest in peace Groggs, may your memory be a blessing and live on through your phenomenal talent that became a large part of the soundtrack of my life.

— Contact Liam Sherman at liam.sherman@emory.edu

Emory arts groups celebrate in-person events Continued from page 8 precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, primarily emphasizing varying mask regulations dependent on the section. For Chakraborty, who is involved in the rhythm section, her time wearing a mask is more consistent than that of a brass player. Along with these protective measures, Emory Jazz Ensembles will continue to put on outdoor shows, including Jazz on the Green on Oct. 7. Adam Weisman (22C), a member of Theater Emory’s student advisory board, was not only concerned about his future after the transition to online courses, but also the future of theater.

“I love theater, but this is a roadblock I’m not sure how to overcome because Zoom theater is not something I’ve done before the pandemic,” he said.

This new frontier did not halt the creative minds of Theater Emory for too long. Over the course of the 2020-2021 school year, the group rehearsed and performed a variety of productions over Zoom. The Viral Plays Project, made up of strictly student playwrights and led by Lauren Gunderson (04C), wrote and designed plays meant to be presented digitally. Other productions played into the online format through the use of digital backgrounds and animation, such as in “The White Plague” and “The Infernal Machine.”

Weisman is excited and hopeful for the return to in-person theater.

The upcoming shows this fall have been designed to be performed in person, but have the ability to be moved online depending on COVID-19 cases.

Among these include the Brave

New Works festival, Ozzy Wagner’s (22C) honors project “Everyone Calls Her Grace” and “Macbeth: An Immersive Audio Experience.”

A strictly online curriculum has posed a variety of problems for artistic individuals and groups alike.

While overcoming the boundaries of Zoom is one thing, the ability to adapt to this environment highlights the malleable nature of the performing arts. This capacity to continue presenting, even in such a restrictive setting, is an example of the power found in the arts. Although much can be learned from this year-and-a-half online, a return to some type of normalcy is deserved for the performing arts community of Emory.

— Contact Eythen Anthony at eythen.aaron.anthony@emory.edu And Isabel Packard at Isabel.packard@emory.edu

COURTESY OF Mac Downey, Flickr

Stepa J. Groggs performing at the Rivoli in Toronto in 2018

The Emory Wheel

Emory Life

Wednesday, September 22, 2021 | Emory Life Editors: Lauren Blaustein (lblaust@emory.edu) and Kaitlin Mottley (kaitlin.michelle.mottley@emory.edu)

The ‘new normal’ and student mental health Chain of change: Students

By Sophie Gern Contributing Writer The return of students to Emory’s red-roofed campus relieves many stressors that came with an online education: poor internet connection, unengaging classes, microphone mishaps and awkward breakout rooms.

However, the return also comes with a whole new set of anxieties.

For many students virtual class has become the norm over the past year and half, and maintaining mental health, staying on top of work and fostering relationships all while adjusting to a full return to campus can be a difficult feat.

The return to campus has left some longing for the silver linings of online school. For Jaylen Green (20Ox, 22C), moving back to in-person classes was an overwhelming adjustment, especially because he returned to a full-capacity campus that he had not known before.

As an Oxford continuee, his first experience with living on the Atlanta campus came last year, when dorms were sparsely populated.

“I got to meet people without the stress of thousands of people on campus,” Green said. “This does not feel anything like the old Emory. There are still similarities, but this is definitely a completely new scene.”

For some students, the return to in-person classes comes with the loss of predictable, comfortable routines.

Instead of limiting the individuals they see, students are now faced with packed lecture halls full of strangers.

In some ways our day-to-day lives were far more predictable.

Natalia Szalay (24C) found that in some ways, the difficulties she faced as a first-year on campus last year

Even so, Pomerance is excited to be able to sit in class, and it has improved her mental health in some regards. But, while students contend with their mental health, many have questioned the adequacy of Emory’s mental health resources. Handling of mental health on college campuses has often come under scrutiny, and Emory isn’t exempt from that.

Major resources at Emory include Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and clubs such as Emory Unmasked.

“From what I’ve heard no one has great experiences with CAPS, and I’m not sure I would personally go, which is disappointCourtesy of A ngel Li ing,” Pomerance said.

Szalay heard simiactually prepared her for the return to lar reviews of CAPS, but she hasn’t normalcy. gone herself. When asked how they “I was forced to work on my men- cope, Szalay, Pomerance and Green tal health last year, that’s why it’s did not mention Emory resources but doing so well now,” Szalay said. “It’s did acknowledge that professors have hard not to get distracted and over- been very accommodating.

And while none of us could have whelmed, but that’s small compared to how great it is being back in classes, predicted the last year and a half, meeting my teachers and talking to we’ve all done our best to stay sane, connected and motivated. Whether upperclassmen.”

However, the transition back to in- last year was one of the hardest of your person classes is still a daunting task. life or if this year has proved to be far For others like Ivy Pomerance (24C), more tolling, we must remember the universality of our experiences. last year was an easier experience.

“You have to remember to be true “I think having such a structured environment and having just fresh- to yourself and search for people that man on campus made the transition to match your energy and will continue college easier,” Pomerance said. “We to be real with you along the way,” had so much time and space to make Green said. friends and square out the basics of — Contact Sophie Gern at our life.” sophie.gern@emory.edu

Emory fall bucket list: 5 activities right on campus

By Xavier Stevens Contributing Writer Many students at Emory University fall into one of two categories: those who are new to a full capacity campus and those who need a refresher after a year and a half away. Autumn is routinely an exciting time for students to find new friends and discover beautiful spots on campus. And with this grand return of students, the options to explore have only increased. Emory offers many exciting opportunities to enjoy campus. A compilation of the best fall activities on Emory’s Atlanta campus will hopefully help you get the most out of this first semester back.

Show love to student athletes Before the weather starts to cool, join a student section at an Emory Athletics’ event. This fall, the men’s and women’s soccer teams, and the volleyball team have home games conveniently at the Woodruff PE Center.

Cheer on your fellow Eagles as they return to competition.

The women’s team remains undefeated in six games, and the men’s team is coming off a massive win against Lynchburg University (Va.) thanks to the late-game heroics from senior Josh Berman. With 14.5 seconds left in regulation, his well-placed shot snuck past the goalkeeper, and Berman slid on his stomach toward

the sideline, where a group of Eagles fans went wild.

Visit the Carlos Museum The Carlos Museum sits on the historic and beautiful quadrangle, but it is too often overlooked by students.

Inside its doors, you will find one of the largest ancient art collections in the United States, with pieces from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Africa, West Asia and the Americas.

On Sept. 25, the Carlos Museum will also offer a new exhibition featuring the large-scale artwork of two leading Indigenous contemporary artists titled, “Each/Other: Marie Watt” and “Cannupa Hanska Luger.”

To find out what’s going on at the Carlos each week, the museum boasts its own event calendar filled with opportunities to talk to artists or make your own art through interactive workshops. If the art opportunities were not convincing enough, students also have free access to the Carlos Museum.

Stroll in the Lullwater Nature Preserve Lullwater Nature Preserve is the perfect place to escape. Hidden on the side of Clifton Road, the on-campus park offers scenic trails in an urban forest that pass by the Lullwater House mansion and the beautiful Candler Lake. If you continue along the trail,

Illustration By A lly Hom

See TAKE, Page 10

fight against food insecurity

Courtesy of Talia Szalay

A group of enthusiastic Emory students participate in the The Emory Food Chain’s initiative.

By Lena Bodenhamer Contributing Writer Changing the world is an ambitious goal, but few act on this desire or know where to start. For Atlanta local Iris Wickham (24C) and her friend Natalia Szalay (24C), their starting point was Emory University’s Dobbs Common Table (DCT).

In 2020, Wickham and Szalay revived the dormant “Emory Food Chain” organization, which aims to reduce food waste from the DCT by redistributing excess meals to the metro Atlanta area. The Emory Food Chain — completely student led — fights against food insecurity and scarcity in Atlanta. Wickham and Szalay have specifically focused on smaller neighborhoods and cities where they believe they can have the greatest impact. Currently, they are establishing a relationship with the city of Clarkston, which has been dubbed “Ellis Island South” for its large population of refugees and immigrants.

About 31% of the Clarkston community lives below the poverty line, and many face food insecurity.

“Our initiatives focus on taking food in the dining halls, packaging it and delivering it to communities in need in Atlanta,” Wickham said.

“Predominantly low-income communities that face food insecurity in some capacity.”

Wickham and Szalay utilized the help of enthusiastic volunteers to collect excess meals from the DCT and deliver them. Using assembly-line like techniques, Wickham and Szalay packed leftover food from the dining hall into to-go containers, passing along deliveries to driving volunteers. The meals were then taken to the Clarkston Community Center for distribution.

Their work allows Emory community members to connect with one of the most diverse cities in the U.S., and Wickham recognizes the importance of this interaction.

“Emory can unconsciously be a bubble, so it’s easy to think of Atlanta as an overall wealthy city, but it’s extremely diverse in socioeconomic backgrounds and cultures and races,” Wickham said. “There are a lot of pockets of Atlanta that are very different from Emory. It’s important to bridge the gap between them.”

The efforts put forward by the Food Chain reciprocate back to Emory as well, since the redistribution of excess DCT food reduces food waste on campus. By March 2021, the organization had delivered over 1,000 meals to food pantries in Atlanta and utilized 3,000 donated Dooley Dollars to supplement their meal deliveries.

The mission to engage with the greater Atlanta area also had bonus effects for Wickham and Szalay. Due to the nature of the Food Chain, the two have been able to work closely with the DCT staff, whom they are very appreciative of.

“Sometimes we think of them as just one group because we only see them at work, when really they have different passions and different backgrounds and different reasons for being here,” Wickham said.

Even the students at Emory who aren’t directly participating in the Food Chain movement are catching on to the altruistic pursuit of the organization. Isabelle Munson (24C) has valued the impact the organization has made.

“Seeing the amount of food that’s available versus the amount that’s eaten, it’s comforting knowing it’s going somewhere where it will be eaten and appreciated,” Munson said.

During the past year, the organization has also been challenged and limited by the pandemic. Logistical questions, such as how to safely transport food from campus to donation spots, continue to arise. However, Wickham and Szalay have maneuvered through obstacles with solutions such as sterilizing cars before transportation and ensuring social distancing while distributing meals.

Wickham and Szalay have taken the remnants of an old club and successfully turned it into an agent of change. Even though the two stepped into leadership roles during a difficult semester, and their first semesters at Emory, they were both passionate about jumping at the opportunity to impact the community.

“A changemaker is someone who takes what they have and uses it in a metamorphosis to create change,” Szalay said. “They are driven, empathetic and resourceful.”

— Contact Lena Bodenhamer at lena.bodenhamer@emory.edu

10

EMORY LIFE

Wednesday, September 22 , 2021

How to communicate with your roommate: a guide

Illustration By Christopher L abaza

By Christopher Labaza Contributing Writer Fostering a genuine roommate relationship can make life at Emory feel a lot less stressful for both parties.

Some roommates might get along with minimal communication, while others become best friends and see each other constantly. There is no single right way to be a roommate, but below, I’ve compiled useful tips to help you make the most out of your roommate situation.

Be yourself Whether you’re living with a randomly assigned roommate or your best friend, adapting to life with a roommate can be daunting. Nonetheless, it’s important to always be yourself.

The goal is to create an environment that is suitable for both you and your roommate. Honesty is key to any relationship, especially when you’re living in the same place. Don’t be afraid to tell your roommate about your past, your hobbies or anything else that makes you who you are. You never know, maybe you and your roommate will share interests and have something to bond over.

Set boundaries Setting boundaries early on in the semester can help you and your roommate avoid potential conflict in the future.

Establishing a strict “lights out” time may feel unnecessary this early on in the semester, but you’ll be glad you have it in place when you have to get a good night’s sleep before an upcoming midterm.

Other areas where boundaries are important is when you are deciding how tidy you want to keep the dorm, suite or apartment; how comfortable you are sharing your belongings; and what kind of visitor policy you want.

Setting clear boundaries early on will make life much easier as the school year progresses.

Don’t let problems go unresolved For many people, confrontation and conflict resolution is difficult.

In roommate relationships, this can lead to problems dragging on for way longer than necessary. You might be intimidated or feel like something isn’t “that big of a deal,” but if something is bothering you, the best course of action is to bring it up with your roommate. Don’t rely on texting either — speak to your roommate face-to-face because texting may not convey the tone or emotion that is necessary. Yet, you can and should tell your roommate over text about your plans to have that talk to avoid surprising them with a serious conversation. However

you do it, the most important thing is that you have that conversation. The solution may be as simple as making your roommate aware of the problem.

If your roommate doesn’t know that their music is making it hard for you to study, they will never turn down the volume or put in headphones. Not confronting your roommate when the problem begins can lead to bigger problems in the future.

Be open to compromise When conflict does arise, it’s important to seek common ground. When it seems like there is no way to get exactly what you want, you may need to look for compromises. Maybe you can’t keep up with your roommate’s high standards of cleanliness, but your roommate is also tired of cleaning up after you. In this instance, you may agree to contain your mess to your half of the room and to clean up for special occasions like Family Weekend. That way, you can live your truth while respecting your roommate’s wishes.

At the same time, however, decide what is worth compromising on. If you feel like you’re always having to compromise while your roommate never does, it may be time to seek another method of conflict-resolution. You can ask your Resident Advisor for advice or see if they would be willing to serve as a mediator. In general, if you expect your roommate to change their behavior to suit your needs, you should be open to doing the same for them.

Use empathy Nobody’s perfect, and even the best roommate relationships aren’t perfect all the time.

That’s why having empathy is essential.

When you and your roommate are having trouble seeing eye-to-eye, try to step into their shoes. Maybe they’re swamped with assignments and exams, maybe differences lie in your upbringings or maybe they’re dealing with personal problems that you don’t know about. Understanding your roommate’s perspective doesn’t always excuse their behavior, but it can help you find the best solutions and maintain a positive relationship throughout the school year. With all that said, building a relationship with your roommate isn’t always easy. But by following the tips above, you will be well on your way to solving problems and becoming a better roommate. Most importantly, avoid conflict so that you have a safe and comfortable living space while you deal with everything else that college throws your way.

— Contact Christopher Labaza at christopher.r.labaza@emory. edu

The Emory Wheel

My experience at ‘Food Terminal,’ a delicious ode to Malay cuisine

By Sophia Ling Opinion Editor As I tumbled out of the Uber and joined my friends on the sidewalk, I was instantly captivated by the glowing neon sign that read “Food Terminal.” After the grand welcoming to the restaurant, I stepped inside only to be amazed by the sheer size of the place. Flood lights and tables seemed to stretch across the entire block, and servers were bustling around to deliver food to hungry customers. The atmosphere was electrifying, hyping me up even more as we sat down.

Having only truly lived in Atlanta for the last two weeks, I haven’t had much satisfying Asian cuisine. Despite my low expectations, I remained excited about the street food-esque setup of the restaurant. But right after glancing over our menus, we started shouting simultaneously at each other, obsessing over the pictures on the menu and the many iconic dishes that reminded us of home. Then I fell silent, thinking about my family.

Like many other international students, the pandemic has restricted my ability to see my dad and my extended family in China. So for over five years, not only have I not had a chance to see my family, but I am also homesick for those boisterous Chinese holidays and eating my grandfather’s home-cooked meals. The photos of Amy Wong, the owner of Food Terminal, and photos of the food on the menu only made me miss it more.

After immigrating to the U.S. from Malaysia over 30 years ago, Wong built an impressive career as a restauranteur, finally able to achieve the food dream she’s had since she was 10 years old.

Courtesy of Sophia Ling

Savory curry chicken tossed noodles, topped with a fried egg.

“I could cook a lot of food,” Wong said. “But not a lot of people were able to eat it, so I wanted to open a restaurant and use it as a platform.”

Growing up, she juggled school and selling noodles on the street to

make extra money to support her family.

Every day, Wong would attend school in the morning, buy ingredients around noon and cook her noodles.

Then from 6 p.m. to midnight, she would be on the street, trying to sell her noodles.

Wong says that she’s always been passionate and sensitive about food, glaringly evident by her 30 years of dedication to food service.

However, Wong’s encouragement to build her business Courtesy of Sophia Ling came in part from her children. One Ling’s personal favorite, the menu item, Grandma’s BBQ Pork, is her mother’s recipe. When she first six hour braised beef soup cooked it for her children, they all have been working with her for at least loved it and urged her to sell it to the a decade. Wong has opened three respublic — and Food Terminal was born. taurants in Georgia: Top Spice, Sweet “At first, we didn’t think [Grandma’s Hut Bakery and Food Terminal. She BBQ Pork] was anything special, but in aims to continue expanding her busithe U.S., they don’t have anything like nesses around the country and bringit,” Wong said. “When my daughters ing traditional Asian food for people to tried it, they told me it was so deli- experience in the U.S. Maybe at first glance, Food cious, and we should sell it. As a result, we created Food Terminal with my Terminal isn’t everyone’s first choice mom’s dish at the center.” While Wong for a Friday night dinner. The menu loves experimenting with new ideas is exceptionally long, the restaurant is and coming up with original recipes — large and the name is nothing unique. almost all the menu items are her own But after enjoying a bowl of noodles — she also enjoys going to restaurants and talking to Wong, you’ll be dying to return. to eat other people’s food.

I ordered the six-hour Braised When she is able to visit Malaysia, Wong orders the restaurants’ most Beef Noodle Soup and shared the famous dishes. If she likes it, she talks Hainanese Chicken with a friend. to the chef and asks if she can take The beef was tender, and the noodles the recipe back to the U.S. Malay cui- reminded me of Lanzhou ramen.

The long table that my friends and sine is an amalgamation of numerous neighboring Asian countries like I sat at took me back to Chinese New India, Thailand, China and Singapore. Year dinners where so many people Despite the fact that Wong caters to a talk over each other. There’s someprimarily American audience, she still thing about reaching your chopsticks tries to maintain the authenticity of into the middle of the table to grab a food that she grew up loving. Malay piece of chicken, or across to your left curry is different from Thai curry to try some of your friend’s noodles because it borrows from Indian spices that reinforce the narrative Wong had like saffron; likewise, it differs from told me.

Chinese cuisine due to its versatile use Despite being open for two years, of coconut milk. In spicy food, Wong the history of the Food Terminal is not said, using coconut milk enhances its just about how long ago it was erected, flavor. it’s a reflection of Wong, her daughters “In Malaysia, Food Terminal is a and all their customers — not to menfusion of small stalls with different tion an ode to Malaysian food. Food types of foods that each street vendor Terminal is a product of Wong’s past, sells,” Wong said. “But my restaurant selling noodles as a student in school, combines all of them into one.” her present as a successful restauraWhen Wong works in the kitch- teur who adores her staff members and en, she inspects every dish after it’s customers just as much as she loves food, and has a future that involves all brought back.

Did they finish everything on the of those who will continue to pass on plate, or was there food leftover? If their experience at Food Terminal. there are leftovers, Wong remembers and tweaks her menu. She also said — Contact Sophia Ling at that nearly all of her staff members sophia.ling@emory.edu

Take advantage of on-campus opportunities Continued from Page 9

you will find a strange octagonal tower that served as a former powerhouse for the Candler property.

In the fall, Lullwater is a kaleidoscope of orange, yellow and red that you certainly don’t want to miss.

Visit the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts The Schwartz Center for Performing Arts is a beautiful campus treasure that not enough students have seen.

The elegant and expansive Cherry Logan Emerson Concert Hall will host several world-class musicians throughout the 2021–2022 Candler Concert Series that students should consider attending. The Center also

offers a busy calendar that features student performances, such as the Emory University Symphony Orchestra Family Weekend Concert, that are free for students. It’s the perfect activity when the weather gets too cold, and you may even see classmates on stage.

Get spirited during Homecoming Week The return of campus life brings the return of one of the most exciting weeks of the year: Homecoming.

From October 21–23, the Student Programming Council (SPC) will host activities for students that will include chances for free merchandise, access to premier food trucks and certainly

good times. The festivities culminate on Saturday with the Homecoming Parade through campus in the afternoon and a concert at night.

Keep an eye out on SPC’s social media for hints at who this year’s artists will be for the concert.

With all that said, this autumn will fly by.

As Emory campus life goes back into full swing, this fall will be filled with activities against a beautiful backdrop.

You deserve to enjoy campus at its finest and hopefully this list helps you achieve that.

— Contact Xavier Stevens at xavier.anthony.stevens@emory. edu

Underclassmen debut following pandemic Continued from Back Page time to branch out of the team and meet others. The additional challenge of COVID forces teams like ours to make conscious decisions regarding social activities in order to prioritize the season and the health of our teammates. It can be difficult at times to socialize outside of our sport, but that’s a sacrifice we took on to do what we love.

Although we face certain challenges, the upperclassmen support us and give advice, having previously been in our shoes. It is very special to be a part of a team that works hard to achieve a goal while developing skills like teamwork, problem-solving, communication and perseverance. It is this development that creates the bonds on the team that mean so much to each individual player.

It was very difficult to adapt to the time commitment of school and soccer; however, the busy schedule has become something I love. Going

20-11, and each team had seven shots on goal, separated only in the final seconds of play. The Eagles’ defense outlasted the Hornets in the end, with Hudson saving all seven shots he faced. Hudson’s clean sheet was his second of the season, his first coming in the Eagles’ first match of the season against Covenant College (Ga.) on Sept. 1.

Head Coach Corey Greiner emphasized a message of mental toughness to his team heading into their match against Lynchburg, especially coming off a heartbreaking double overtime loss to Calvin less than 24 hours earlier.

“This game was a great indication of our team’s mental toughness and growth,” Greiner said. “Lynchburg is a great team with excellent coaching. In the second half we made some adjustments and were able to dictate more of the play, with more chances in the final third. When that goal went in at the end, it was really a feeling of relief

Jackson Schneider/Photo Editor

Hendricks positions himself to make a move upfield against Calvin University (Mich.).

SWOOP’S SCOOP Wednesday Sept. 22

Grace R eyer/Staff Writer

Reyer and the rest of the women’s soccer sophomore class. to practice is the highlight of my day because I get to forget about everything else going on in my life and just play soccer. Although COVID took away a year of our collegiate career, it taught us to cherish the time we have to play soccer and adapt to the everchanging situations that life throws

at us.

I may only have two more years of playing soccer at Emory after this one, and I plan to make the most of it and enjoy every step of the way.

— Contact Grace Reyer at grace.reyer@emory.edu

Goals for everyone: women’s soccer scores 13 Continued from Back Page

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

SPORTS

The Emory Wheel

more than anything.”

The Eagles hope to build on their victory when they face Roanoke College (Va.) and Christopher Newport University (Va.) on Sept. 25 and Sept.

26, respectively, at the OrthoCarolina Sportsplex in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Women’s soccer remains lossless, ties program record for most goals in one game The Eagles played their first of two weekend games on Sept. 18 against Washington and Lee University (Va.).

After some back-and-forth, junior defender Peyton Robertson scored early in the second half with a header off a corner kick from junior forward Kylie Hall to put the Eagles ahead 1-0.

The goal proved to be the only score of the match, as the Eagles would hold their lead for the rest of the half to complete the shutout victory.

Their second game of the weekend was on Sept. 19 against BirminghamSouthern College (Ala.), and it proved to be more action-packed. The Eagles put on a masterful performance, finishing with a 13-0 victory. The team took 27 shots, 19 of them on goal, with 13 resulting in goals. The Eagles tallied 37 points in the match, the thirdhighest total in school history. Emory’s defense was also stifling from the first whistle until the last, allowing two total shots with only one on goal. With the win, the women’s team advances to an undefeated record of 6-0-1, and continues a five game shutout streak behind junior goalie Emma Miller and sophomore goalie Maddy Schulte.

Senior forward Molly Miller opened up the scoring 1:46 minutes into the match, shortly followed by sophomore midfielder Mia Han who scored three minutes later to double the Eagles’ lead before scoring again at 10:08 minutes

to net her second goal of the match.

Hall followed suit shortly thereafter, netting two consecutive goals to extend the lead to five. Before the first half whistle blew, the Eagles recorded 10 goals while only allowing one shot on goal. Freshman forward Natalie Price scored her first two collegiate goals and added one assist in the second half to bring the team’s goal total to 13, tying the school record for most goals in a game.

Head Coach Sue Patberg was pleasantly surprised by the team’s rapid, consecutive scoring to start the game.

“The first seven shots on goal in the game resulted in goals –– I don’t know if that’s ever happened in any game I’ve coached before,” Patberg said. “I was proud because they were beautiful goals –– a lot of them came off of crosses, one was a diving header, one was a half-volley and a few were uppercorner shots from just inside the 18. It was completely a team effort.”

The early lead built by the Eagles allowed Patberg to rely on her bench quicker than expected. Between playing the previous day and traveling to Birmingham, Alabama, the opportunity to rest the team’s starters and give the bench players a chance presented itself at the perfect time.

“A lot of players deserve more playing time, so it was great to allow them the time they deserved and to [give them] experience in an actual college game,” Patberg said.

The Eagles look to ride the momentum of their dominant performance and continue their undefeated season against Maryville College (Tenn.) at home on Sept. 22.

Sport

Opponent

Time

Volleyball W Soccer

@ Oglethorpe Maryville

6 p.m.

7 p.m.

Friday Sept. 24

M Tennis @ ITA South Region Champ. All Day 4 p.m.

W Tennis @ Georgia Gwinnett

Saturday Sept. 25

M Tennis @ ITA South Region Champ. All Day @ Roanoke 2 p.m.

M Soccer

Sunday Sept. 26

M Tennis @ ITA South Region Champ. All Day W Soccer @ Lynchburg 2 p.m.

M Soccer @ Chris. Newport 3 p.m.

Tuesday Sept. 28

Volleyball

6 p.m. *Home Games in Bold

Riley provides needed spark Continued from Back Page

— Contact Scott Miller at scott.david.miller@emory.edu

lineup after star outfielder Marcell Ozuna was arrested on May 29 on domestic violence charges, jeopardizing his future not only with the Braves but in baseball.

Following a dull June, the Braves’ other star outfielder, Ronald Acuña Jr., suffered a season-ending ACL tear on July 10.

This devastating injury made it even more difficult for the team to muster the firepower needed to ascend in the standings, finishing July one game under .500.

While the possibility of securing a playoff spot appeared up in the air, it was by no means unfeasible due to the overall weakness of the National League East division.

But without Ozuna and Acuña Jr., other players needed to step up and provide a spark.

The Braves would rely on stellar production from reigning National League MVP first baseman Freddie Freeman and All-Star second baseman Ozzie Albies, both of whom rank in the top 15 in National League hits, home runs and runs.

While Freeman and Albies have been integral to the Braves’ late-season success, the story of the year has been third baseman Austin Riley who does not get the credit he deserves. Riley has been one of the consistent bats in the lineup and has arguably been the Braves’ 2021 MVP. Although he got snubbed from the All-Star Game, he used it as motivation, establishing himself as one of the best third basemen in the big leagues. Riley ranks fourth in hits, tenth in home runs, sixth in RBIs and seventh in batting average in the National League. When he’s not coming up clutch at the plate, he’s making diving stops in the field

rendered improved distance, and Organisak stretched obsessively, typically as long as 30 minutes after each workout.

Even though the pandemic cut his final year at Emory short, Organisak shaved more strokes off his game.

He improved his final year to a 71.78 stroke average that etched his name into the No. 2 spot on the school’s alltime scoring chart.

Daily eight-hour practices translated into results on the course. In

fall 2020, Organisak captured the 112th Massachusetts Amateur Championship and lifted the trophy wearing an Emory golf shirt.

Organisak turned professional after graduating and began the process for qualifying for the Korn Ferry Tour. Organisak will travel to Dayton, Nevada, at the end of September to compete in a 72-hole tournament for Q-School where every shot will matter for his career. But Organisak is more than up for the challenge.

Editor’s Note: Mia Han is a staff writer for the Wheel.

Lee

11

and showing off his cannon of an arm at third base.

With dangerous hitters in their lineup to compensate for average pitching, the Braves would finally rise above .500 for the first time this year on Aug. 5. Amid a hot mess in their division with the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies also hovering near .500, the Braves were poised to separate themselves from the pack.

A much-needed winning streak came between Aug. 13 to 22 when the Braves won nine games in a row, finishing the month with a 70-61 record atop the division.

While the month of September is still young, the Braves have been able to hold onto first place, likely securing them a spot in the postseason next month.

Four teams from both the National League and American League qualify for the postseason, with the three division leaders and the winner of a single elimination wild card game rounding out the field.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have already qualified for the wild card game, but their opponent is still undecided.

If the season ended today, the winner of the wild card game would advance to a best-of-five series against the dominant San Francisco Giants, an opponent the Braves could evade by not qualifying for the playoffs via wild card.

Thus, to be in the best position for the playoffs, the Braves would need to win their division, which would pit them against the Milwaukee Brewers in a slightly more winnable best-offive, then worry about the Giants or Dodgers later.

— Contact Adam Herman at adam.herman@emory.edu

Organisak explains how D-III golf propelled his career Continued from Back Page ing performance. They shared a big hug on the green of the 18th hole to celebrate. In the 2018–2019 season, Organisak led the team with a 72.62 stroke average.

Before his senior year, Sjoberg and Organisak met to talk about the decision to play golf professionally.

Organisak’s path may be unexpected from D-III golf, but Sjoberg knew he had the skillset and mentality to get

there.

“The great part about golf is that nobody can care where you came from. Nobody has to offer you a contract, draft you or even think you’re good enough,” Sjoberg said. “Matt just needs to beat the guys in front of him.

Golf is the ultimate meritocracy.”

With the goal to play professionally, Organisak elevated his practice. He took detailed notes to know exactly where he wanted to place his shots.

Five days a week in the weight room

“I want to play at the highest level because there’s nothing more enjoyable than being under pressure and hitting the shots that you want to hit,” Organisak said. “I want to play with the best and that is my motivation everyday. I want to be the best golfer in the world, and I want to win. I want to win.”

— Contact Xavier Stevens at xavier.anthony.stevens@emory. edu

The Emory Wheel

Sports

Wednesday, September 22, 2021 | Sports Editor: Michael Mariam (mmariam@emory.edu)

ATHLETE PERSPECTIVE

I’m a sophomore, but it’s my first season

By Grace Reyer Staff Writer

Jackson Schneider/Photo Editor

Junior defender Cole Hendricks clears the ball out of the backfield during Emory’s men’s soccer game on Sept. 17 against Calvin University (Mich.).

Emory Soccer goes 3-1 over weekend

By Scott Miller Contributing Writer

The men’s team opened the weekend at home on Sept. 17 and suffered a double overtime 1-0 loss against Calvin University (Mich.). Despite two shots on goal by both junior for-

ward Zach Kornblum and senior forward Nate Sampson, the Eagles were unable to put the ball in the back of the net. Senior goalkeeper Jack Hudson recorded five saves but was unable to stop a one-timed loose ball from the middle of the box by Calvin’s junior defender Sam Twigg.

The match against the University of Lynchburg (Va.) Hornets the next night, however, was a different story.

The men’s team managed to bounce back from their loss and capture a win on Sept. 18 at home. Up until the last 15 seconds, the game had been scoreless.

However, with 14.5 seconds remaining in regulation, senior defender Josh Berman put in a goal to secure the Eagles’ victory. With Berman’s goal — his first of the season — and the sub-

MLB

MEN’S GOLF

After an eventful weekend full of Emory University soccer, the men’s and women’s teams won three of the four games played from Sept. 17 to 19. The men’s team lost their first game but won their second while the women’s team swept with scores of 1-0 and 13-0, respectively.

Men lose in double OT to Calvin; edge Lynchburg

sequent win, the Eagles improved to a 2-1-2 record on the season. Assisting on the goal was fellow senior forward Ethan Cohen, who tallied his first point of the season in the critical waning seconds of the match.

Berman was cool and collected following his game-winning goal, quickly shifting the praise from himself to his teammate Cohen.

“I told him ‘That was all you’ after the game,” Berman said. “It was a perfect pass, he snuck it through the defenders with perfect timing, perfect weight –– all I had to do was put my foot there. He served it up on a silver platter.”

The Eagles outshot the Hornets

See GOALS, Page 11

Ever since I was 2 years old and could walk, I have played soccer. I have dedicated practically my entire life to the sport — practicing nearly every day, watching soccer on TV and playing pickup with my friends whenever I could. I studied the game and strived to become the best player I could be; I made it my dream to play college soccer. Fast forward 16 years, my dreams came true.

When I committed to Emory University, I was beyond excited. I was going to my dream school for academics and soccer. But when the pandemic came my dreams were put on hold.

Emory canceled athletics, forcing me to wait an entire year to play in my first regular season college game. I committed to play soccer at Emory during the beginning of my junior year of high school in 2018, so after waiting two years to start college, I had to wait an additional year. Needless to say, I was extremely frustrated.

I was not used to life without soccer. I had never spent much time away from the sport. Even though I was able to train on my own and in small groups, it felt like an eternity until I could finally play in a collegiate game this fall.

While I am technically a sophomore on the team, I feel like a freshman.

This season is my first college soccer season I’m able to play in; the experience is new to me. I’ve only just begun adjusting to a new team, stronger and faster competition and the grind of playing a collegiate sport at a top Division III program while also

studying at an elite university.

I’m also not the only “freshman.”

Instead of one new class joining the team this fall, there are two — the Class of 2025 and 2024, which makes 11 of us. Over a third of our team is new and ready to make an impression.

There are also some fifth-year players on our team who used their extra year of eligibility, as well as a transfer student. As a result, we have a big team of 30 players, making it hard to stand out.

In this unusual year, there are many teams like ours who have long rosters with a large number of freshmen and sophomores who have never set foot on a collegiate field. This can present challenges for teams because the new members have to build player chemistry and the returning ones have to recreate that on-field connection.

Yet, our team has overcome this challenge by always being there for each other and working hard. We have spent nearly every day together since the start of the semester, and together we have grown.

The freshman and sophomore class have gotten very close because we are all in the same boat — we are on this journey together to learn and thrive.

Playing at the college level for the first time puts a lot of pressure on us, but we are here to do what we love.

Another challenge we faced was socially adapting to college. Since my sophomore class did not have a season our freshman year, we got the chance to meet other students at Emory and spend time with them. However, the freshmen now do not have much extra

See UNDERCLASSMEN, Page 11

Braves How an Emory golfer is turning pro look towards playoffs

By Xavier Stevens Contributing Writer

By Adam Herman Contributing Writer With about a dozen games remaining in the MLB’s grueling 162-game season, the Atlanta Braves find themselves in a familiar position. Although it seemed implausible for most of the summer, the Braves sit in first place in the National League East.

The Braves entered the 2021 season having won three consecutive division titles and were expected to four-peat as division champions. But to the fans’ consternation, their performance for most of the year has not resembled a ball club accustomed to winning.

After a mediocre start, the Braves’ record stood at 25-26 by the end of May. While there was still plenty of baseball left to be played, Manager Brian Snitker had to shake up the

See RILEY, Page 11

Matt Organisak (20C) stood on the 18th tee of a long par-4 and did the math. He had a couple of strokes to spare to guarantee his qualification for the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School, a multi-tournament event that makes or breaks the careers for many.

After three rounds of aggressive golf at the Bermuda Run Country Club in North Carolina, Organisak made his first mistake: he decided to play it safe and settle for par.

His tee shot leaked left into thick rough. Without going through his preshot routine, Organisak launched his second shot past the green into more rough. Normally a well-oiled machine, Organisak was breaking down.

Following a failed attempt to hit the ball back on the green and two missed putts, Organisak tapped his ball into the hole for a double bogey.

He checked the scorecard and then walked toward the driving range and practiced the 18th tee shot again and again. He dropped several positions into a tie for 32nd place. But it was just enough to make the last qualifying spot. Organisak was headed to Q-School.

A former member of the Emory University men’s golf team, Organisak

is now a professional golfer pursuing his dream to play at the highest level.

After improving each year in college, Organisak wanted to see what might happen if he dedicated every day to golf after graduating in 2020.

Then on Sept. 3, Organisak took his opportunity and qualified for Q-School. With this milestone, Organisak will play in three tournaments this year that provide entry to the Korn Ferry Tour with good results.

The Korn Ferry Tour is a developmental circuit for professional golfers that acts as a stepping stone to the biggest stage in golf: the PGA Tour.

Organisak’s ascent to professional golf has been years in the making.

John Sjoberg, the head coach of the Emory men’s golf team, discovered a wiry, 5’7” Organisak in 2015 at a high school tournament near Organisak’s hometown of Boston.

“I remember Matt was small,” Sjoberg said. “But I remember him hitting it far and hitting it in play. I thought he could be an asset to us for sure.”

Organisak turned down multiple Division I offers and chose Emory for two reasons — the great academics and wonderful weather. After 18 years in the cold Northeastern winters, Organisak couldn’t wait to play yearround under the warm Georgia sun.

“If I hadn’t gone to Emory, I would not be playing professional golf,” Organisak said. “I would not have improved like I did and given this a run if I had gone to a school in a colder climate.”

After qualifying for a starting spot with Emory, Organisak came out hot.

Named as the UAA Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year during his freshman year, Organisak paced the team with a 74.08 stroke per round average.

Yet, Organisak still had some adjustments to make. Three hour daily golf practices and tournaments forced him to miss several days of school.

Professors didn’t give much relief for being on a D-III golf team, so his time spent studying for classes in his quantitative science major and practicing on the course had to be purposeful.

This was a lesson he had learned from his parents long ago.

Organisak wasn’t more than 8 years old when he spent his first summer on the golf course. On her way to work in the morning, his mom dropped him off at the Nashawtuc Country Club in the morning and picked him up on the way back home. He soaked up the game and played until dark.

Growing up in Massachusetts, Organisak didn’t have time to mess around because only six months of

the year were playable. If he wanted to play competitively, even at a young age, practice had to be structured and intense. Organisak played primarily with his dad, who taught him consistent mechanics and a positive mindset.

He improved quickly, and at the age of 13, Organisak bagged his crowning achievement: he beat his dad.

As a sophomore at Emory, Organisak realized that he must focus every moment on the course like he did at home. His streaky putter became consistent, and his wedge game was dialed in. Organisak enjoyed another outstanding season and shaved a stroke to improve to a 73.20 average.

Former teammate and current member of the Emory men’s golf team Logan Ryan (22B) credits Organisak for being a mentor of hard work for the entire team.

“Matt’s a competitor, and he’s down into the process and routine because he wants to win more than anyone,” Ryan said.

Organisak’s hard work paid dividends his junior year. He achieved his first outright individual win at the 2018 CMU Tartan Invitational.

Organisak’s dad traveled to Pittsburgh to watch his son extend his lead in the final round for a calm and command-

See ORGANISAK, Page 11