March 19, 2025

The Emory Wheel

Q&A: Deborah Lipstadt returns to Emory

By Lauren yee Managing Editor

Content Warning: This article contains references to antisemitism, Islamophobia and racism.

Deborah Lipstadt, one of only four people ever named as Emory University Distinguished Professor and the former U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, will return to Emory at the end of this month. She is the only current holder of the professorship, which Emory has awarded to Lipstadt, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, author Salman Rushdie and poet Kevin Young.

Lipstadt, who founded the Tam Institute for Jewish Studies and served as its first director from 1998-2008, came to Emory 30 years ago because of its “distinguished” Jewish Studies program. She said that Emory was a place she wanted to be and has had a “great experience” in her time at the University.

Beyond Emory, Lipstadt was a historical consultant to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The biographical film “Denial” (2016) was based on Lipstadt’s book “History on Trial: My Day in Court with a Holocaust Denier” (2005) about her experience as the defendant against Holocaust denier David Irving in a libel suit.

Ahead of her return, Lipstadt sat down with The Emory Wheel to share her perspective on antisemitism at Emory, last year’s nationwide campus protests and her hopes for students and the University.

The Q&A has been edited for clarity and length.

The Emory Wheel: How have you seen antisemitism within Emory?

Lipstadt: Well, I haven’t been at Emory now for three years, so I can’t really comment on Emory specifically, and I don’t like to surmise. But I have seen the tsunami of antisemitism, and more than a tsunami of antisemitism, I’ve seen the normalization of antisemitism. That it becomes okay to go on [The Joe Rogan Experience] and say overtly antisemitic things. I’ve just seen a lot of it around in places where you wouldn’t have seen it, where it might have existed before, but now it’s in more mainstream places, and that’s very disturbing.

TEW: Reflecting on your time as U.S. Special Envoy, what goes into the day-to-day?

Lipstadt: It could be a day where I start off in the morning talking about something going on in Poland and then I turn to something going on in London, and then a trip I have to have. It could be any one of a dozen different things. It moved very quickly. It was a lot of things happening, and I really enjoyed that because it was just so diverse.

It could be if there was an antisemitic event in a country, it could be if we were trying to put together a resolution or a new program, it could be working with the administration on a statement they were making that would include some reference to

antisemitism. It could be sometimes unpredictable, sometimes I knew exactly what was going to happen. It was a lot of diplomatic meetings, a lot of meetings with ambassadors, foreign ministers if I was traveling abroad or ambassadors here in Washington. It was very, very variegated and very exciting.

TEW: How will your time as ambassador influence your interactions at Emory?

Lipstadt: I’ll be able to bring to students more real-life experience. What was it like, sitting in the Oval Office talking about antisemitism with the president? What was it like talking to the secretary of state? What was it like speaking before people at intelligence agencies, Department of Justice, FBI, about this issue, talking to them, hearing from them? Too often in the academic world, we live in the rarefied ivory tower, where we think that’s real life. And I got to see a little more of what passes for real life coming from Washington.

TEW: What courses will you teach after you return?

Lipstadt: Well, I won’t teach for about the first year and a half because I’m going to be finishing up a book on my experience, but I probably will do some seminars, maybe a freshman seminar on antisemitism, the history of antisemitism, and maybe, a course on the Holocaust, but that’s yet to be determined.

See FORMER, Page 3

Department of Education investigates Emory over race-based discrimination

By Siya Kumar News Editor

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced it is investigating Emory University and 45 other higher education institutions for possible violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The OCR initiated its investigation on March 14, citing allegations that graduate programs engaged in university partnerships and diversity initiatives that may involve “racial preferences and stereotypes.” Title VI prohibits institutions that receive federal funding from discrimination based on race, color or national origin.

The allegations against Emory center around the University’s partnership with The PhD Project, a nonprofit organization that aims to support students earning doctoral degrees in business. OCR claims that the organization limited eligibility based on participants’ race and potentially disadvantaged applicants who do not identify as underrepresented minorities.

OCR is also investigating six other institutions for “impermissible racebased scholarships” and one university for allegedly administering a segregated student program.

The investigation comes as U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration reevaluates diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in

higher education. Additionally, in 2023, the Supreme Court ruling ended affirmative action in college admissions in June 2023.

Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a press statement that the department is committed to ensuring that students are assessed based on merit rather than race.

“Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin,” McMahon said. “We will not yield on this commitment.”

Just over two months ago, Emory and OCR reached an agreement concerning allegations of anti-Muslim discrimination.

The complaint centered on alleged violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act related to harassment, doxxing and vandalism targeting Muslim students. The agreement was reached under the Biden administration.

As part of the resolution, Emory agreed to take corrective actions, including revising its nondiscrimination policies, improving its anti-discrimination training and clarifying its campus protest policies. However, the agreement did not determine whether Emory had officially violated the statute.

Emory did not provide comment by press time.

— Contact Siya Kumar at siya.kumar2@emory.edu

Emory signs new waste management contract, community advocates for more publicity

By Pooja Sanghvi Contributing Writer

Emory University signed a new contract with Waste Eliminator, a fullservice waste management company, this semester to increase landfill diversion rates, according to a University press release. As part of the Office of Sustainability Initiatives (OSI) and the Sustainability Visioning Committee’s Sustainability Vision and Strategic Plan, the University hopes to divert 95% of construction waste from landfills by the end of the year. The plan states that the committee’s goal is to prioritize sustainability to improve environmental practices.

During a tour of the recycling facilities in October 2024, Professor of German Studies and Linguistics Hiram Maxim said that he learned that Goodr, Emory’s previous waste management vendor, only diverted 51% of waste from landfills.

The Emory Wheel reached out to Vice President for Campus Services and Chief Planning Officer Robin Morey for more details on Emory’s contract with Waste Eliminator, who redirected the Wheel to the press release. In the March 12 statement, Morey said that the new recycling facility will use gas capture technologies to decompose waste in landfills.

Maxim said that Emory has successfully diverted pre-consumer waste

made in kitchens and pre-consumer laboratory waste in the past. However, Maxim said that post-consumer waste has not been properly diverted into compost, plastic and metals, mixed paper, white paper and landfill bins around campus.

“One of my big concerns … is the sentiment among a lot of students that I’ve talked to, a growing cynicism towards Emory’s claims of sustainable practices, and the belief that Emory is engaged in greenwashing,” Maxim said.

Emory Climate Coalition (ECC) and Emory Ecological Society member

Benji Jackson (23Ox, 25C) said that because people do not trust Emory’s waste management, many community members do not separate their trash correctly between the bins, leading to contamination of compost and recycling. Once a certain amount of a bag is contaminated, it can no longer be diverted from landfills, according to Jackson.

Sunrise Emory member Taylor Black (28C) said she often tells her friends to be mindful when separating trash between bins.

“Most of the people I talk to just dump things in random bins because

they just don’t think it matters,” Black said.

Jackson said that doubts about Emory’s sustainability practices have existed for a long time, and the last contract’s failure to meet the 95% diversion rate by 2025 only added to the skepticism.

“There’s pretty widespread doubt across the university about the current waste sorting and with landfill diversion rates,” Jackson said. “A lot of that existed prior to the widespread knowledge of how the previous contract was failing.” Jackson said he and other ECC

members are advocating for increased transparency and publicity about the new waste management vendor to ensure the community contributes to sustainability efforts.

“What we’re turning towards now is different routes of publicizing new details of the contract and different ways of reassuring faith in the system,” Jackson said. “Also trying to work with OSI and other bodies on campus to implement new measures of making sure what happened in the past doesn’t happen again to the same degree.”

Maxim emphasized the importance of raising community awareness about proper waste sorting.

“We need to do more educational efforts, but we also need to pay more attention to what we are putting where,” Maxim said.

Additionally, Maxim praised the University’s commitment to sustainable practices amid growing political dissent over green initiatives.

“It’s always been one of the sources of pride as a member of the Emory community that Emory’s committed a lot of resources, time and effort to sustainability,” Maxim said. “I know the current political climate is not friendly towards sustainability goals, but I’m hoping Emory can stay true to its goals.”

— Contact Pooja Sanghvi at pooja.sanghvi@emory.edu

Emory increases tuition by 5.8% for 2025-26 academic year

By Lauren yee Managing Editor

Emory University will increase its undergraduate tuition from $63,400 to $67,080, a 5.8% increase, for the 2025-26 academic year. The total cost of undergraduate tuition, fees, room and board will rise from $83,708 to $88,536, according to a March 18 press release.

The Board of Trustees approved the tuition increase based on University President Gregory Fenves’ recommendations.

Emory will continue to meet 100% of demonstrated financial aid for all domestic students. Currently, the University awards $211 million to undergraduate students through internal grants and scholarships. Emory expanded the Emory Advantage program by replacing need-based loans with institutional grants in 2022 to help students graduate with little or no debt.

This year’s increase matches last year’s 5.8% hike for the 2024-25 academic year, a larger jump than previous years. Tuition increased by 4.9% in the 2023-24 academic year, 4.5% in the 2022-23 academic year and 3% in the 2021-22 academic year.

Since 2020, tuition costs have jumped from $53,070 to $67,080, a 26.4% increase. Additionally, Emory’s total cost, which includes tuition, fees, room and board has jumped from $69,440 to $88,536, a

27.5% increase.

Peer institutions have seen their cost of attendance increase at higher rates this year compared to Emory. Duke University (N.C.) announced a 5.93% increase for the 2025-26 academic year in late February, following a 4.35% increase the year before.

Emory’s total cost of undergraduate tuition is similar to that of some peer institutions. Carnegie Mellon University’s (Pa.) undergraduate tuition, including rates for a standard double room and a first-year meal plan, is $85,914 for the 202526 academic year. The total cost of undergraduate tuition, fees, room and board at Dartmouth College (N.H.) has increased to $91,935 for the upcoming academic year. Similarly, the University of Southern California has increased the total cost for undergraduate students to $99,139 for the 2025-26 academic year.

— Contact Lauren Yee at lauren.yee2@emory.edu

Oxford embraces first-year study abroad trend

By irene john Oxford News Chair

Studying abroad has become a staple experience for university students, and college applicants are searching for unique opportunities to explore the world during their undergraduate education. Universities across the United States have created programs that align with this trend.

Emory University’s Oxford College has recently embraced this shift, partnering with the Institute for the International Education of Students to develop Oxford Launch in London. This program will allow 50 first-year students to study abroad in London for their first semester.

Like Oxford, many other higher education institutions have started offering first-year study abroad options to encourage studying outside their campus’ usual borders.

New York University offers the Global Liberal Studies program, which invites students to spend their first year in cities such as London, Florence and Madrid. In 2021, the Georgia Institute of Technology began offering 50 first years the opportunity to travel abroad for their fall semester to Metz, France or the University of Oxford in England.

In particular, Northeastern University (Mass.) has made an effort to prioritize global learning. Out of the 2,759 first-year students, 850 spend one of their first two semesters at the school’s campus in Oakland, Ca. and the other semester at the University’s London campus through the school’s Global Scholars program.

Alyssa Castaner, a Northeastern first-year student in the Global Scholars program, said that studying abroad in her first year has been a “unique experience.”

“I always said that I wanted to go to college to see something different and live somewhere new,” Castaner said. “With this specific program, I’m

Northeastern offers another 1,000 students the chance to study at nine locations throughout Europe through the N.U.in Program. Between N.U.in and the Global Scholars program, 67% of Northeastern students study abroad in their first year.

Once on campus, study-abroad programs can cause first-year students to feel isolated from their peers who started on the main campuses. At Northeastern, students in the N.U.in Program have described struggling to break out of the “N.U.in bubble,” as they feel disconnected from the university community.

Alexandra Paez, a second-year student at Northeastern who spent

semester in London through the Global Scholars program, said she found that most of her closest friends were those enrolled in the program.

Former Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Ravi Bellamkonda admitted there are challenges to having a campus abroad. He mentioned the challenges he faced with sending students to study in China when he was employed at Duke University (N.C.).

“Most of those universities … have found that it is very hard to replicate the quality and experience of the home campus somewhere else,” Bellamkonda said.

Hilario MoraleS/ConTribuTing illuSTraTor

by hospitals or community service and other aspects within Atlanta’s city,” Sim said.

Campuses abroad are often structured differently, which can be an adjustment for first-year students when they return to traditional college life. Paez said it was “difficult” for her upon returning to Northeastern due to the lack of extracurriculars and clubs in London.

“It’s like zero to 100,” Paez said. “I was just bombarded with so much stuff. I was very overwhelmed.”

Oxford College Dean Badia Ahad said in a press release that launching a first-semester study abroad

program is a step toward helping Oxford students succeed in an interconnected world.

Despite his concerns, Bellamkonda also spoke about how the world is growing “increasingly connected” and that Emory University should embrace this change.

“It is important for us to, as a part of a good education, to experience other cultures on our own campus, as well as through travel,” Bellamkonda said.

Bellamkonda emphasized that while first-year students studying abroad may face challenges, the purpose of the Oxford Launch program is to experiment with how global experiences can allow first-year students to bring unique perspectives back to Oxford.

“Oxford is very innovative,” Bellamkonda said. “I think of it as an incubator for new ideas for Emory.”

Bellamkonda said he hopes those involved in the Oxford Launch program will return to the Oxford campus with insights that will diversify the experiences of their peers.

“When those students mingle with other Oxford students, some magic is going to happen,” Bellamkonda said. “So that’s the spirit behind this, that we recognize that the world is interconnected.”

Associate Professor of Latin American and Caribbean Studies Pablo Palomino, who will teach one of the Oxford Launch courses, said the program is an interesting way to redefine the traditional college experience.

“I cannot think of a better way of starting the university experience if you are 18 years old, living a semester in one of the most interesting cities on the planet,” Palomino said.

Editor-in-Chief Spencer Friedland (26C) contributed to reporting.

— Contact Irene John at irene.john2@emory.edu

Former U.S. Special Envoy discusses, antisemitism, return to Emory

TEW: How will you serve as an adviser to University President Gregory Fenves and Emory College of Arts and Sciences Dean Barbara Krauthamer?

Lipstadt: When there are issues that come up [on] how to address certain issues what my perspective is, I’m just going to be freely available to the leadership of the University. They’ve been so gracious to me that anything I can do to bring back and help them understand a very complicated conspiracy theory, because antisemitism is not just a prejudice, but it’s a conspiracy theory, I’m anxious to do.

I have great, great affection for Emory. I have tremendously enjoyed my time here. I’ve grown as a scholar, as a person, as a teacher. The idea that I’m now going to have a chance to give back in this manner, over and above interaction with students and colleagues, is very, very meaningful to me.

TEW: Could you elaborate a little more about your perspective and your characterization of it as a conspiracy theory?

Lipstadt: Well, antisemitism is like prejudice. Prejudice means you look at someone, and if they do something bad, “Oh, that’s how that group all is. That’s how you people,” whether you’re talking about Blacks, you’re talking about gays, you’re talking about Asians, etc. And if someone does something good from that group, “So that’s one of the good ones. That’s one of the exceptions to the rule.” The other thing about most prejudices is that you want to keep the person down. You think about the term that racists use specifically in the South about Black people would be that “they got uppity, they moved out of their station. The station is down below.” Or you called the grown man boy, because he should be remembered that he’s boy and you’re man, that kind of thing.

And you have that with antisemitism, looking down on Jews. “Jews spread disease. Jews are disgusting, especially vis-a-vis ultra-orthodox Jews.” But there’s an added element to antisemitism. It doesn’t exist in the other prejudices, and that’s the conspiracy theory, the notion that

Jews are conspiring as a small group, smaller number, but smart in a crafty way, in an evil kind of way of conspiring to do harm to non-Jews. So if you have an enemy that you know is conspiring to do harm to you, your obligation is to stop them by any means necessary. And that’s where it’s a conspiracy theory.

TEW: Why did you turn down an offer to teach a course next year at Columbia University (N.Y.)?

Lipstadt: [The role] wasn’t to teach this year, but to come back to Emory, and then maybe in a year and a half go to Columbia just for a semester. I looked at the things that were going on at Barnard College, which is a constituent part of Columbia, and some of the reactions of Columbia to the overt antisemitism there. I just thought my coming may be used as a fig leaf so they can say, “How did we deal with antisemitism? We brought back Deborah Lipstadt.”

I don’t want to be used as a fig leaf or as a cover. I had very positive conversations with Columbia University Interim President Katrina Armstrong, very amicable, but I just decided now was not the time for me to go there. It got a lot of attention. I must say, it stirred up quite a hornet’s nest in the press, especially with everything going on in Columbia now. Barnard seems out of control, or those protesters seem out of control.

TEW: What are your thoughts on the protests on Emory’s campus last spring?

Lipstadt: I watched them from afar. I wasn’t there, so again, it’s hard for me to comment any more than what I saw in any other university. I’ve been struck by what I’ve heard attributed to President Fenves and other university presidents, after some of the protests and the encampments, laying down the rule. No encampments on campus. The University has a policy that doesn’t allow for encampments on the campus. No wearing of masks on campus unless you’re ill … But if you’re asked to ID yourself by an official, you do that.

But, for people to walk around with masks, they can do things and then you can’t identify them. They can break the law. They can attack you,

and so no masks. No demonstrating in the middle of the night, keeping students up.

This should be issue-neutral. It doesn’t matter if I’m talking about abortion, climate change, Cop City, Gaza, whatever it might be. There’s certain rules and I think that those are important.

People are talking about free speech. No one is talking about cutting off the free speech of protesters. We have that pesky thing called the First Amendment, and it protects people to say unpleasant, or what we might think are unpleasant or unpopular, ideas and that should absolutely remain as it is. But that doesn’t give you the right to stop another student from studying. That doesn’t give you the right to stop the university from functioning. That doesn’t give you the right to block the entrance to an academic hall, a dormitory or a library, as we’ve seen on other campuses. I think free speech absolutely, but that doesn’t give you the chance to deny free speech to other people. So if someone’s trying to say something, you can’t drown them out. Yes, legally, that’s free speech, etc, but that means you’re afraid of hearing their ideas.

TEW: There have been instances of antisemitism and Islamophobia on campus. What do you think about these sentiments as you return to Emory?

Lipstadt: On many campuses, we’ve seen a great deal of antisemitism. We’ve seen far less of Islamophobia. I’m against Islamophobia. I think Islamophobia, hatred of Muslims, persecution, discrimination against Muslims is totally unacceptable. But what we’ve seen on most campuses and throughout the United States is far more instances of antisemitism and it worries me a lot. All discrimination and all prejudice worries me, but of course, this sudden normalization of antisemitism. I think that’s something I really want to stress, that things that wouldn’t have been said in earlier days or expressed in venues not so long ago are now okay to say in public and that’s very disturbing.

I have met many university students, I haven’t met Emory students, but I haven’t been on campus for a while, who have felt obligated to change their routine. To take the Mezuzah, the little thing you put on the outside a

Keith Burns to deliver 2025 Oxford

By Catherine nan Oxford Events Desk

Oxford College announced that co-

Chairman and co-CEO of Lullwater & Co Keith Burns (99Ox, 01B) will be the keynote speaker at Oxford’s 180th Commencement ceremony on May 10.

The Emory Wheel

Volume 106, Issue 5 © 2025 The Emory Wheel Alumni Memorial University Center, Room 401 630 Means Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30322 Business (404) 727-6178

Editors-in-Chief Ellie Fivas and Spencer Friedland ellie.fivas@emory.edu spencer.friedland@emory.edu

Founded in 1919, The Emory Wheel is the financially and editorially independent, student-run newspaper of Emory University in Atlanta. The Wheel is a member publication of Media Council, Emory’s organization of student publications. The Wheel reserves the rights to all content as it appears in these pages, and permission to reproduce material must be granted by the editor-in-chief.

The statements and opinions expressed in the Wheel are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Wheel Editorial Board or of Emory University, its faculty, staff or administration. The Wheel is also available online at www.emorywheel.com.

Jewish home with blessings and verses from the Hebrew scriptures, from the Torah, to move it inside their room. Because students see “Oh, a Mezuzah, must be a Jew” and start knocking on [the door] at all hours of [the] night.

I’ve seen Jewish students who are afraid to wear the Jewish star. I’ve seen Jewish students, again, not this is not Emory, this is across the United States and in other countries, who when they go to Friday night services at a Hillel, they don’t tell their roommates where they’re going. They don’t tell their suitemates where they’re going. They just slip out and go. I have seen students who’ve been harassed in class and forced to [answer] “Oh you’re a Jew, explain Israel’s policies.”

As if you ask the Chinese person or student of Chinese origin, “Oh, tell me about what's going on in China,” and you’re holding them responsible. That’s not being politically supportive of one side or the other. That’s antisemitism.

TEW: What can we do to address antisemitism at Emory moving forward?

Lipstadt: We have to take it seriously. Take antisemitism, in general, take it seriously. Speak out. Condemn and not say, “Oh, what are they complaining about? What’s the big deal?”

It is a serious issue. Let me say this, no country which has tolerated extensive antisemitism has survived as a democracy and a place of rule of law. Think of Weimar, Germany, … the entity in Germany between the two world wars.

Antisemitism is like the flashing yellow light at the traffic stop — red is coming, something dangerous is coming. It may not be more antisemitism, but it’s bad stuff.

Antisemitism is the harbinger, the announcer of bad things to come. So it has to be taken care of, taken seriously. Whether you’re Jewish or not Jewish, it doesn’t matter. It’s a threat to democracy. It’s a threat to the rule of law. It’s a threat to security and stability.

TEW: How can Emory community members best navigate the current political climate?

Lipstadt: To educate yourself, do not become lemmings. “Someone said this; I’m just going to follow it.” It’s a

CourTeSy of eMory uni V er SiT y Emory University

Distinguished Professor and former U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Deborah Lipstadt speaks about antisemitism in the U.S.

complicated situation. Educate yourself. See what’s going on. Don’t chant things if you don’t really know what their implication is. On too many campuses, I’ve seen smart kids acting like little robots. … When you ask them the details of things, they can’t even answer. Do what you’re at the university to do. Get an education on issues. Speak out on prejudice, all kinds of prejudice, including antisemitism. And don’t say, “Oh, it’s coming from the left, or I’m on the left and that’s coming from the right. I’ll criticize it, but I won’t criticize the antisemitism from the people next to you.” It’s especially the people you’re closest with if they engage in antisemitism that you should respond to.

TEW: What are some of your future goals for Emory?

Lipstadt: Just to enhance the learning, to challenge my students, to challenge them to think about issues and not to simply parrot what I’m saying. I want to challenge them and I want to be challenged by them.

If you or someone you know experienced hateful language or slur use, you can call the Emory Police Department at (404) 727-6111 or reach Emory’s Counseling and Psychological Services at (404) 7277450. You can reach the Atlanta Police Department at (404) 614-6544 and the Lines for Life Racial Equity Support Line from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. at (503) 575-3764.

— Contact Lauren Yee at lauren.yee2@emory.edu

commencement address

As a member of Oxford’s Board of Counselors (BOC), Burns reviews the College’s performance and shapes future strategies to support Oxford’s future. Beyond his role on the BOC, he also serves on Oxford’s Alumni Board and reunion committee.

Burns said he was “humbled and excited” about the opportunity to share his experiences with the Oxford community in the press release. Burns expressed his gratitude for his time at Oxford, an exp erience that enabled him to meet inspiring and compassionate individuals.

After Emory, he continued his education at Columbia University (N.Y.), earning a Master of Science in Real Estate Development and a Juris Doctor degree. He was previously an adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

In his role as co-chair and co-CEO of Lullwater & Co, Burns oversees operations of the Baltimore-based

as the co-executive chairman of One Physics, the largest outsourced medical physics services corporation in the United States.

Oxford College Dean Badia Ahad said in the press release that Burns’ commitment to service makes him an ideal speaker for this year’s commencement ceremony. She also noted his role in creating the Judge Horace J. Johnson, Jr. Scholarship Endowment for need-based scholarships as part of his merit.

“Keith’s journey from a first-generation college student to a nationally renowned entrepreneur and business innovator is an inspiration, as is his dedication to sharing his success by mentoring others,” Ahad said. “We look forward to Keith’s continued partnership with Oxford and the wisdom he will share with us at Commencement.”

CourTeSy of eMory uni V er SiT y

Co-Chair and CEO of Lullwater & Co Keith Burns (99Ox, O1B) will deliver the keynote address at the 180th Oxford College Commencement on May 10.

The Emory Wheel Opinion

Stand up to Trump: The United States does not need

By Caitlin Williams Contributing Writer

In his first two months in office, President Donald Trump has started tearing down U.S. systems of government accountability and asserting power outside typical presidential bounds. The Trump administration exhibits this emerging corruption through their quid pro quo with New York City Mayor Eric Adams. With advice from a court-appointed lawyer, a federal judge is expected to dismiss corruption charges against Adams soon — just in time for the mayor to start planning his reelection campaign.

In late September, Adams was charged with bribery and fraud for accepting illegal campaign contributions and gifts from Turkish officials in exchange for lobbying on their behalf in the years preceding his 2021 mayoral campaign. In early February, head prosecutor and former interim U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Danielle Sassoon stated that there was “concrete evidence” of Adams committing these crimes.

Two weeks after Sassoon’s statement, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a motion to dismiss the charges against Adams, signed by Emil Bove III, former acting deputy attorney general and a former member of Trump’s legal team. Concerningly, Bove stated that the move to dismiss charges was not based on the case’s merits but rather on the concern that the case was distracting Adams from enforcing Trump’s new immigration policies.

In exchange for this legal amnesty, Adams has agreed to comply with Trump’s immigration policies and has already signed an executive order allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to search Rikers Island, a prison facility off the coast of Queens. This compliance represents a significant rightward shift from New York City’s historical stance as a sanctuary city, where laws barred city officials from communicating information about undocumented immigrants to federal officials. This change in

Adams’ policy and governance does not reflect the values of his constituents, who have consistently elected officials who uphold and expand laws providing leeway for undocumented immigrants. Instead, Adams’ choice to trade favors with Trump comes as a betrayal of Adams’ constituents for his own gain.

With the expected dismissal of Adams’ corruption case, worries surrounding the rule of law in the United States are intensifying. The Trump administration is functioning as a dictatorship, subsuming the authority of individual U.S. attorneys like Sassoon. There is no end in sight for the administration’s authoritarian action, and opposition from the congressional and judicial branches of the government is necessary to stop this backslide. Unfortunately, that opposition does not exist in the actions of Congress or the U.S. Supreme Court.

However, the DOJ’s move to dismiss charges is not the only indication of a corrupt deal between Adams and the Trump administration. Before the DOJ’s motion, the department attempted to task seven other prosecutors with filing the motion. Rather than comply with the order, these prosecutors, including Sassoon, as well

as five attorneys in the DOJ’s Public Integrity Section, opted to resign. In her resignation letter, Sassoon accused the DOJ and Adams of engaging in an illegal “quid pro quo” — the possibility of which is incredibly concerning and undermines the integrity of the U.S. judicial system. If no one prevents government officials from trading favors to avoid criminal charges, the ways in which people can hold the government accountable will continue to wane.

The Trump administration has pushed the bounds of executive power consistently during its tenure. Trump’s executive orders have tested constitutional pliancy by offering federal employees unprecedented buyouts, firing over a dozen inspectors general and ordering the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development. According to legal scholars, many of these actions require an act of Congress, raising questions about why the administration believes it has the power to broaden its power so decisively.

One explanation is that the other branches of government are either unable or unwilling to use the system of checks and balances to stop this radical expansion of presidential power. Congress is providing no

resistance, acquiescing to these broad actions even though they are not under a president’s typical purview. This is a massive oversight of one of the main duties of separate branches of government: Our Founding Fathers designed the branches to hold each other accountable, not sit idly by as one rapidly attempts to establish more and more power.

Courts can check Trump’s power, but the Trump administration continues to subvert their authority. Most recently, on March 16, the Trump administration deported hundreds of immigrants to a mega-prison in El Salvador against a federal judge’s order. These breaches of judicial oversight dangle on the edge of a slippery slope into dictatorship and action is needed now more than ever to stop it. Openly defying court orders would historically be grounds for impeachment, but the problem lies with the Republican-controlled Congress’ unwillingness to impeach Trump.

Disobeying the rule of law has farreaching effects — including the indiscriminate and unmediated slashing of funding for research institutions like Emory University. Cases headed toward the Supreme Court may not act as an appropriate check on Trump’s

power either, seeing as the court is filled with his appointees. During his first term, the justices showed a willingness to erode processes of accountability in Trump’s favor.

With the inclination of equal branches of power to acquiesce to his actions, Trump believes that he and his administration are above the law. In a bright spot, Chief Justice John Roberts delivered a rebuke of the Trump administration’s action in resisting the norms of rule of law following the El Salvador deportations. Now, we can only hope that this backbone extends to the Supreme Court’s actual decisions.

Exemplifying his bravado and contempt for the law, Trump wrote in a Feb. 15 post on X that “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.” Fears of a constitutional crisis are not conjecture. Trump’s viewpoint in this post and in his sweeping executive actions are not only ridiculous but also exorbitantly dangerous.

As the Trump administration broadens its power and challenges typical presidential limitations, Republican lawmakers must recognize these actions are not simply bad for Democrats — they are bad for our country, destructive to our democracy and are disintegrating our system of checks and balances in front of our eyes.

Congress must insist that the president functions within his power, even if it means crossing party lines, to ensure the prosperous, law-abiding future of the United States. This includes Georgia’s five Democratic and nine Republican representatives in Congress, as well as Senators Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), who should all publicly work together to denounce this broad overreach of power and counter these new, terrifying breaches of constitutional rights. Emory students must work with and protect each other from sweeping changes threatening our students and cutting funding for our universities.

— Contact Caitlin Williams at caitlin.williams@emory.edu

maDeline shapiro exeCutive editor

Catherine gooDman Managing editor

Will peCk Managing editor

WenDy pelayo Managing editor

JaCk rUtherForD Managing editor

laUren yee Managing editor

Emory students: Ditch rideshares, take MARTA Democrats lack courageous voices

By ethan JaCoBs Opinion Editor

Watching the first primary debate of the 2020 presidential election season, I was excited about the future of the Democratic Party’s leadership. The stage featured 10 candidates sparring for the party’s nomination. At the time this dizzying number felt like a sign of vitality rather than disarray. As a teenager, I was drawn to the younger faces on the stage — former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, former Vice President Kamala Harris and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) — all of whom were youthful, spoke with clarity and passion, bringing confidence-boosting energy for the Democrats’ future.

I even attended Buttigieg’s October 2019 town hall in Rock Hill, S.C. Carolinians turned out in droves, eager to see one of the new standard-bearers of the party. But now, only five years later, our democracy is under siege by U.S. President Donald Trump’s ultraconservative agenda, and that energy has dissipated. Despite having a deep bench full of potential candidates, the Democratic Party lacks a clear leader to rally dissatisfied Americans. In a time when bold and spirited opposition is required, young liberals like myself are politically homeless.

In his first two months in office, Trump launched a nonstop barrage of attacks on civil liberties and liberal values. These include eliminating 200,000 federal jobs, effectively gutting the U.S. Agency for International Development and numerous other federal agencies and implementing isolationist economic policies that are triggering a mass stock sell-off. Amid this historic assault on liberal American values, the Democrats have been caught flustered.

During Trump’s State of the Union speech, Democrats made headlines for wearing coordinated pink protest outfits. That same night, the House sergeant at arms removed Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) from the chamber after disrupting the president’s speech. But, these attempts at protecting Americans from Trump’s harmful agenda were only symbolic. These are empty gestures and fall far short of what this moment demands — a relentless policy-driven offense without performative politics. As Trump continues to reshape the country with little resistance, I worry that

our children’s history books will not record a bold Democratic response to authoritarian overreach. I worry that these textbooks will elicit bewildered laughter from students when they learn that as Americans’ fundamental rights were eroded, the opposition wore pink and heckled from the sidelines. Concerningly, only 27% of Americans have positive views of the party, according to a recent NBC poll. Additionally, a majority of Democratic voters want party leaders to fight back rather than compromise. In this vacuum of serious resistance, many young Democrats are deeply frustrated with the lack of urgency and clarity from their Democratic representatives.

Since the 2020 primary and Buttigieg’s town hall, the progressive rhetoric and future-oriented Democratic leadership has disappeared. Right now, Democrats are constantly playing defense as party leadership has facilitated one compromise after another. On March 14, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) shockingly voted with Senate Republicans to pass a conservative funding bill and avoid a government shutdown — a last-resort measure to mitigate Trump’s power to deconstruct federal agencies.

Even though Trump allies openly laid the Project 2025 playbook during the 2024 campaign season, Democrats lack a unified strategy to counter it and protect the public. It is hard to mobilize voters around outrage when Trump’s agenda was never hidden — and Democrats, even with the playbook in hand, are spending too much of the Trump era compromising or yielding ground.

To inspire Americans and bog down the current administration, Democrats need to move beyond reactionary opposition — they need to lead. We must proactively rally around young progressive candidates who embody the energy and spirit of the 2020 primary. Leaders like Buttigieg and Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) have already demonstrated their political acumen in galvanizing young voters. These leaders represent exactly what the party needs: a shift away from defensive opposition toward a young, inspiring vision for the future.

While Trump dismantles U.S. institutions and breeds public cynicism, Democrats must go on the offensive to regain public confidence, and that starts with reclaiming the mantle of governance for working Americans. Progressive voices need to speak up in the Democratic con-

versation — ones that champion universal healthcare, robust entitlement programs and bold investments in education as the new administration undermines these programs. The party should actively engage with federal workers and young communities hurt by Trump’s policies, offering an attractive economic rescue plan that does not shy away from government spending programs.

Thin margins will likely determine the battle to retake Congress in 2026, and now is the time to shift resources to uplift newer, more energized voices. This means showing up in town halls with real policy solutions, deploying relational organizing rather than just TV ads and building a narrative rooted in renewal rather than nostalgia. The old playbook of donor-class messaging and avoiding moving too far left will not cut it — this moment demands a new vision.

If the Democratic Party will not elevate new voices, then we — as students, organizers and voters — must demand it. In 2020 and 2021, students at Emory University helped flip Georgia blue. We volunteered, phone banked and turned out to vote, ultimately paving the way for progressive policies by electing Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and Ossoff to the Senate which determined Democratic control of the Senate. We must show up again in future elections and invest even more in protecting and expanding Democratic seats in Congress. Emory students should start volunteering for midterm campaigns such as Ossoff’s, push for local voter engagement and encourage leaders in Washington to prioritize bold, generational leadership over political survival.

During this moment of political disarray, I think back to that Buttigieg town hall in Rock Hill: the packed crowd and the sense that we were on the ground floor of something new taking shape. That moment was full of promise that progressive leadership was ready to take the reins. Five years later, however, voters are still waiting for Democrats to deliver. We cannot idly stand by while the old Democratic guard fails us. The future of the party and our country depends on whether we are willing to fight for leadership that will bring the United States into a progressive future.

— Contact Ethan Jacobs at ethan.jacobs@emory.edu

By Josselyn st. Clair Contributing Writer

Coming to Emory University as a first-year student meant embarking on a new chapter of my life – without a car. But, I was not afraid — I was confident that Atlanta, a bustling metropolis, would have a state-of-theart public transit system to whisk me away wherever I wanted. Before arriving on campus, I searched online for my transportation options.

I found that my best option to travel outside of Emory’s campus was at a bus stop for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) station across from Woodruff Circle. I began imagining taking the bus to Piedmont Park for a picnic beneath the Atlanta skyline or the train up to Buckhead for window shopping at fancy boutiques.

Yet, whenever I expressed to any seasoned Emory student a desire to travel by MARTA, I was always met with a disappointing response. They told me MARTA was too slow, disconnected and dangerous. I imagine you have heard these criticisms, but after using MARTA myself, I find it has proven itself to be the opposite.

Less than a month into the year, I knew rideshare apps were not a sustainable option to access Atlanta. Costs quickly began adding up for these rideshares — it cost roughly $25 for a one-way ride to The Masquerade, Atlantic Station and Lenox Square around rush hour, excluding tips.

As Uber and Lyft were holding my bank account hostage, I boarded MARTA for the first time in October, going against everything I heard about Atlanta’s public transportation.

Part of the college experience is exploration — discovering what lies beyond campus so that one can learn how to be a better citizen of that community — and we, as students, should not be weighed down financially to experience that part of our education. Thankfully, MARTA does not impose that burden: A MARTA ride totals $2.50 for three hours of travel, including four free transfers. One can navigate the entire city for less than the price of a coffee. MARTA helps me explore Atlanta without worrying about money. Rather than fork over money for rideshares, I wantEmory students to acknowledge MARTA as a transportation option and lift that financial weight from their own shoulders.

You do not have to fall in love with MARTA — all I ask is that you give it a chance.

MARTA’s low prices initially attracted me to public transportation, but people’s criticism of MARTA’s lengthy wait times complicated my perception of the Woodruff Circle stop.

There is no denying that MARTA is slower than ridesharing, but when traveling inside the Atlanta perimeter, delays are typically only 10 to 20 minutes. These delays may not be ideal, but the money saved in the process outweighs the consequences.

Furthermore, people have often told me that MARTA is not expansive enough and that riders may have to trek several miles to their destination even after reaching their bus stop. While someone may not arrive directly in front of their intended destination after taking MARTA, most major attractions in Atlanta are only a short walk from a MARTA stop, such as Little Five Points and the Fox Theatre.

If we, as Emory students, can endure the 10-minute walk from the Cava in Emory Village to the Emory Student Center, the short walks from MARTA bus stops do not pose an unfamiliar challenge.

While longer travel times may not be the biggest issue for many, I have had trouble reconciling with MARTA’s safety issues, even after I began regularly commuting through MARTA.

I have grown used to seeing people experiencing homelessness on Atlanta’s public transportation, and I have previously encountered riders having mental health crises at MARTA’s bigger stations.

For those who have never lived in a city, I understand how these conditions may bring unease. However, as of September 2024, there have only been roughly five crimes per one million unlinked passenger boardings on the MARTA system.

Compared with Chicago’s topranked public transit system, the “L,” which experiences roughly 13 crimes per one million riders, the public transit system in Atlanta is safer. MARTA’s low crime rates indicate that you are statistically unlikely to become a crime victim and should expect a safe ride.

Moreover, feeling discomfort on public transportation is something that all Emory students should experience before graduating. The median annual income for an Emory student’s family hovers around $140,000, with 58% of the student body coming from the top 20%.

Atlanta’s public transportation is by no means perfect, but that is exactly why you should experience it — in the spirit of applying knowledge in the service of humanity, Emory students should use experiences in MARTA stations to put our education to use. For those entering the healthcare industry or public service sector, we must better understand the communities we are preparing to serve.

You do not have to fall in love with MARTA — all I ask is that you give it a chance and recognize that the benefits outweigh the shortcomings of this system. I hope you board a bus at the stop by Woodruff Circle and have the opportunity to see where MARTA can take you, and also where you can take the Atlanta community.

A more efficient MARTA system is possible only when we use our ridership to show that there is demand for expansion. I do not want Emory’s future classes to continue to worsen the cycle of overspending on expensive rideshares by being scared off from MARTA without using public transportation themselves. A better way to immerse ourselves in Atlanta is already waiting for us, but the opportunity is only there if we recognize it.

—

sasha eMMeriCh/staff illustrator

Welcome to my crib

By Natalie SaNdlow, JuStiN whiteNiNg, haNNah Xu, & giNNa NeBrig Senior Staff Photographer & Staff Photographers

Each year that Emory University students return to campus, their lives are full of possibilities to take new classes, meet new friends and explore new extracurricular organizations.

Jenny Tham

Few Hall

Jenny Tham (27C), a Robert W. Woodruff Sscholar and hopeful nursing student, finds both relaxation and motivation while living in her single in Few Hall. With posters tacked across her walls, LED lights that illuminate the room in a purple glow and appliances that are both entertaining and functional, Tham has created the perfect cozy and productive atmosphere for a busy student.

After living in a cramped double bedroom in Dobbs Hall last year, Tham knew she wanted the autonomy to decorate and organize her own space during her sophomore year.

“My experience last year really encouraged me to decorate my room however I want,” Tham said.

From the massive dorms of Raoul Hall to the tight-knit community at Dobbs Hall, dorm rooms are integral to each student’s world at Emory.

Sometimes, students’ unique decoration choices transform their cus-

Each year, students receive a blank slate with their housing: a dorm room to express themselves and unwind after a stressful day of class.

tomized rooms into a piece of art.

“Welcome to My Crib” highlights four dorms that epitomize the creativity of Emory students to personalize their rooms and carve out a new home away from home.

— Contact Natalie Sandlow at natalie.sandlow@emory.edu

“The first few weeks I was here, I kept thinking I was at home whenever I lay down.”

Tham’s posters range from Studio Ghibli art to plant diagrams and skull paintings. Tham excitedly pointed out her favorite posters: two vibrant postcards from Barcelona she purchased during a volunteer trip with the Woodruff Scholars program. When asked about her other posters, Tham mentioned that she painted the skull image above her bed during her firstyear Introduction to Painting class.

She explained that the work was influenced by one of her favorite pieces by the artist Vincent Van Gogh, entitled “Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette” (1886).

Among her artistic creations and memories, Tham reflected that having a space to herself has significantly

improved her mental health, noting her decor choices mirror her commitment to self-care. She intentionally used lighter decor around her desk to keep her motivated as she studies and put darker elements around her bed, making it easier for her to relax. Tham describes these two corners as the “day” and “night” sides of her room, with the separation allowing her to keep academics separate from self-care.

Ultimately, Tham’s night and day dorm, filled with posters, trinkets and self-care purchases, can sometimes keep her secluded, but it is a necessary way to unwind when needed.

“I like having a space to myself and somewhere I can like know I can go to without being interrupted and I could just do my own thing,” Tham said.

Upon entering, Nate Cohen (27B)’s room encompasses visitors with a sense of calm. With dim lighting, the space has a quiet yet intriguing atmosphere. As colors reflect across the room, each piece of decor catches viewers’ attention equally.

Cohen is the ultimate poster fan.

From posters of Simone Biles to mushroom species to all kinds of music and bands, he carefully fits all of what he loves on these walls.

The corner of the room with his bed is one of his favorite spaces. Along with being the most comfortable spot in the room, it is also home to a collage of his family.

“My photo collage that I have is a nice way to remind me of the people that I love,” Cohen said.

In the other corner of Cohen’s room sits a large and inviting bean bag. At times, it acts as a place for his

roommates to admire the decorations scattered throughout the room. More comfortable than a chair but smaller than a couch, a bean bag is the perfect addition to the dorm for rest and relaxation.

“I always have called my dorm ‘home,’ and I think if you can’t call your dorm ‘home,’ then you are doing it wrong,” Cohen said.

Nate Cohen Woodruff Residential Center

Elaine See Toh & Erin Ford

Hamilton Holmes Hall

It’s Christmas every day in Hamilton Holmes Hall room 306. Elaine See Toh (28C) and Erin Ford (28C) have been able to create their own world full of Christmas spirit and a gingerbread house aesthetic inside their small room, with a little help from old Residence Hall Association event decorations.

Ever since they put up lights and a small Christmas tree for the holidays last semester, their decorations have not only stayed up but have continued to grow. From a Valentine’s Day letter board to a lifesize cardboard BMO (Niki Yang), the robot sidekick from “Adventure Time” (2010-2018), each little piece around the room creates a homey holiday vibe.

Li Lin, Lumina Lu & Hannah Yin

Having these decorations has made their first year feel more complete for both roommates.

“Coming back and being like, ‘You’re living in a gingerbread house’ is a good feeling,” See Toh said.

The walls are covered in personal items from different aspects of See Toh and Ford’s first year at Emory. As an international student, Ford describes it as having “almost like a scrapbook just on the wall,” complete with her boarding pass from her flight to the United States as well as photos from her home, family and friends.

The room shines at night when all the LED and string lights are turned on. It can even be seen from outside when completely lit up. Inside, surprises are all around the room. Cowboythemed blowup props from Halloween are nestled in the closet, the star on top of their Christmas tree is a photo of Luigi Mangione and toy gingerbread sponges are hidden in many different nooks and crannies.

Ford and See Toh have wrapped themselves up in this room as if it were a little present topped with bows and ribbons. They have transformed the blank canvas of a dorm room into a distinct and fun place to come home to at the end of the day.

207 in Alabama Hall, home

Li Lin

Lumina Lu

and Hannah Yin

is known as one of the most well-decorated dorms on campus by their hall neighbors. Each roommate brings their personal touch to the dorm, creating a vibrant and welcoming sanctuary that feels like home.

When walking in, it is easy to feel the room’s eclectic vibe. The walls adorned with artwork and photos showcase not only the residents’ personalities but also their close-knit friendships.

“I really wanted to take a lot of stuff from home and art posters and make it really colorful, especially with my Pop Mart [toys],” Lu said.

In addition to her toys purchased from Pop Mart, Lu’s favorite decoration is the scented Lego flowers gifted to her by Yin. These flowers showcase Lu and Yin’s friendship. All three roommates even have matching stuffed animals.

These familiar items create a homey and nostalgic ambiance, with small plush toys and personal photos of family and friends scattered throughout.

“Most of my decoration is actually food from back at home, so it just

reminds me of home,” Lin said.

The room is organized but inviting, a perfect reflection of their shared experiences. One standout item on Lin’s side of the room is a 3D-printed yoga-posing Labubu plush toy, a Valentine’s Day gift from Lin’s boyfriend, giving the room a quirky, sentimental touch.

The three have a triple-sized bedroom, making it larger than most dorms, so the three roommates added an entertainment corner for hangouts with friends.

Lu explained that they added a couch and table to make the space more inviting, as their room is also a regular spot for movie nights, karaoke and study breaks rather than just a place to sleep. With their projector, they watch movies and even screened Super Bowl LIX with friends in the dorm.

The room has become a true reflection of their lives at Emory University and is a space full of memories and laughter that will stay with them long after they move out.

Alabama Hall

Room

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The Emory Wheel Arts Life

Q&A

Olivier, Peyser reflect on term as editors-in-chief

By Alex Gerson Deputy Editor

After four years of writing and editing for The Emory Wheel across a variety of sections, Madi Olivier (25C) and Sophia Peyser (25C) ended their terms as co-editors-in-chief (EICs) on March 10.

The duo’s tenure as co-editors-in-chief was marked by a flurry of protests about the Israel-Hamas war and coverage of the 2024 Presidential Election.

Their term also saw the Wheel win multiple awards, including being named Best All-Around Student Newspaper by the Society of Professional Journalists.

During her time at the Wheel, Olivier served as a writer for the news section, eventually becoming a section editor for the news section and later managing editor of news and diversity, equity and inclusion. Later this year, Olivier will graduate with a major in Psychology and a minor in Rhetoric, Writing and Information Design.

Peyser began writing for the Wheel at the beginning of her first year, initially serving as an opinion writer and an Editorial Board member. Eventually, she became the section editor for both the Opinion section becoming managing editor for both the Opinion section and the Editorial Board. This spring she will graduate with majors in both Creative Writing and Environmental Science.

After graduation, Olivier hopes to work in the victim advocacy field before pursuing a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and Peyser hopes to pursue a career in journalism. Olivier and Peyser sat down with the Wheel to discuss their time at Emory University and their experiences as EICs.

This Q&A has been edited for clarity and length.

The Emory Wheel: Going into your term as co-editors-in-chief, what would you say your main goals were and how do you feel like you’ve executed upon them?

Olivier: Our main goal was to foster more community at the Wheel, was one of the big ones, because there was a lot of difficulties with that the year before, a lot of people quit. I don’t remember the number, but several editors hightailed out of there. We wanted to correct that and make sure it was more of a fun place where people were friends first and foremost — because then that, in turn, would make a better environment where we could produce better work, which I think we achieved pretty well. I’ve heard a lot of people say that they’re better friends now and people seem to have more fun at meetings. So we’re very proud of that.

Peyser: Our logic was people are going to be spending like 40 hours a week here and they’re not going to keep doing it if they’re not having fun doing it.

So we’ve got to make sure there’s a good community and people are friends, which was really cool to see, ultimately, the fact that people are goofing off in editors meetings and are actually having fun together and people like to be here super-duper late, which is insane to us … Beyond

that, we had some more aspirational goals like most editors-in-chiefs do like forming an alumni board or changing the finances of it all, but we had a pretty crazy term from the second we entered office, so we didn’t have much extra time to actually implement any long-term changes like that.

Olivier: Our goals had to shift a lot as we started, which is the nature of the job. And our goals shifted from these long-term, foundational organizational goals to just surviving each day, … especially during the protests and doing the best we could, remaining as unbiased as we could and making sure we were covering both sides and trying to cover the protests on the ground whenever.

It was our first few weeks as editor-in-chief and Sophia was abroad in Ireland, editing on the side of the road in a party dress, was kind of difficult. So we were trying to figure that out as we went and we’re both very proud of how that played out and the work we did.

TEW: Can you talk through the protests of last spring and how navigating it was, especially with one of you being abroad and one of you being in Atlanta?

Peyser: At times, abroad wasn’t ideal because there was only one person who could be awake at certain hours and it was only Madi who could be in the office, on the ground. But from a different standpoint, because there was this insane, 24/7 news cycle happening, it was good to have us on different schedules.

I would get to stuff really early in the morning or really late at night, Atlanta time. And then Madi would take the other shift when I was asleep. There was somebody awake at all ti mes for any news that was happening.

And it was kind of tough because I remember during this protest, there was always uncertainty about what would happen at midnight, because that’s when people could get kicked off the Quad. So we had to make sure somebody was up at midnight.

Olivier: It actually helped a good bit, especially with doing print too on top of all of this. Sophia would usually wake up as we were finishing up print, so [she] could kind of look over things.

So it helped actually, a good bit. But at the same time, obviously, there was difficulties with us trying to coordinate everyone and make sure we had someone on the Quad at all times. Her being abroad wasn’t as much of a difficulty as I expected it

PROFILE

Journalist Jeremy Young uses stories to bridge political ‘Fault Lines’

By Hunter BucHHeit Arts & Life Editor

Storytelling has never looked the way it does now. For most young people, the days of getting the news from a paper picked up at a local newsstand or sitting down to watch a few hours of nightly news on cable television. Today, short blurbs laid atop eye-catching Instagram graphics or easily digestible minute-long TikTok explainers have replaced long-form text and talking heads. Attention spans are shorter and so are the mediums through which younger generations consume the stories that shape their view of the world around them.

to be.

It was mainly just the nature of the protests is gonna be difficult to cover regardless: 24-hour coverage, people on the Quad at all times.

There’s a lot of ethical calls that come with that. We had some mistakes.

We also had some really good coverage. That’s what kind of comes with it with us learning. At the end of the day, overall, we’re very proud of how it ended up. We got a lot of national media attention for our coverage as well, so I think we did a lot of good work that people recognized.

Peyser: A lot of that is credit to the really good staff as well. The fact that people were really willing to get on the ground, be in the action was so important.

We had really, really good photographs that [Managing Editor Jack Rutherford] (27C) took and [Editorin-Chief Spencer Friedland] (26C) took that were publicized in national photo essays.

And that was because they were willing to get up close with it, which I think is a really good journalism lesson for everybody, that you should be in the action as opposed to outside observing it.

Olivier: We had a lot of editors. We had people shuttling over from Oxford. We had a Sports editor from Oxford coming over, Arts and Life editors were doing it.

We had sports editors doing it, copy editors, it was an all hands on deck situation. A lot of people stepped up to help cover the news that normally wouldn’t write stuff for that section.

We all definitely really appreciated how all the editors who were on campus at that time really stepped in to help us navigate all of it, even though it wasn’t normally their responsibility, so we would not have been able to do it without the whole staff there helping out.

TEW: What have you both enjoyed most about working with one another?

Peyser: Everything about working with Madi is awesome. I told Madi this, that my dad was like, “Thank God you did it with her.”

Madi and I have come to share one brain when it comes to editorial decisions, where I know exactly what she’s gonna say to something and I think that she knows what I’m gonna say to something, which is super useful, especially when we’re doing sometimes things separately, where only she can go to this meeting or

Jeremy Young (00C), senior investigative producer at Al Jazeera’s “Fault Lines”—an investigative documentary series in which each episode tackles a different domestic or international issue—has witnessed firsthand the seismic shift in journalism away from traditional forms of media.

“It’s true that the media landscape, it’s not in a good place,” Young said. Despite recent changes in media consumption, Young and his team have found success through the documentary-style approach “Fault Lines” employs. Their YouTube channel usually garners over 100,000 views per episode.

However, Young did not immediately hone in on his distinctive journalistic style in his career. Young’s journey — like many Emory University students exploring their studies through a liberal arts lens — was not linear.

“I really had no idea what I wanted to do with my life,” Young said. “I just knew that I liked to travel and I wanted to use my passport and here was this journalism program that had a trip to South Africa was a component that you would go be able to work in South Africa. So I just applied for the program and got in.”

As a student in Emory’s now-defunct journalism program, Young initially felt unsure of his future in the industry.

“I didn’t work at a school newspaper in high school or anything prior to college,” he said.

However, after an internship at CNN Atlanta, Young landed a role as a production assistant at MSNBC and relocated to New York City. Within a short time of working at MSNBC, Young came face-to-face with national tragedy and the uncertainty of living and working in New York following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

“A few weeks later, our team wanted to send a group to Pakistan and Afghanistan to produce documentaries in the wake of Sept. 11, 2001,” Young said. “My recollection was nobody was willing to go. And at the time, I was 23 years old. I didn’t know any better. I certainly didn’t have the experience to take on this assignment. But I was willing to be a warm body and travel over there.”

In line with his longtime aspiration to cover international news, Young ultimately took on the role. During this period, Young saw the importance of covering news for an international audience.

This experience ultimately drew him to Al Jazeera; he began as a Pentagon producer before working on a 25-minute show covering Barack Obama’s first presidential campaign in 2008.

“That show ended up being the forerunner to what we launched in 2009, which was ‘Fault Lines,’” Young said.

Since its inception in 2009, “Fault Lines” has followed a similar blueprint to the Obama show. Each episode is around 25 minutes long and delves into the lives of a few people affected by larger issues, like a U.S. farm worker affected by grueling temperatures and a prisoner wrongly convicted of armed robbery.

As Young explains, its structure is not only innovative in the documentary world but also challenges the general public to see the merit of consuming more intensive journalism. Merging for multimedia reporting with in-depth storytelling, “Fault Lines” takes an approach that appeals to people’s new tastes in media.

“If you really want to understand the complexities in this world that are driving major issues, then it takes a little bit longer,” Young said. “There’s just so much value in people turning off a phone and sitting down and watching a 25-minute documentary film and really watching it and paying attention and getting a lot out of it.

With each installment, the “Fault Lines” team tackles an issue through the eyes of one or a few main “characters” — real people living through the crises each episode aims to cover. “Fault Lines,” created with global audiences in mind, spans the globe in its coverage, from episodes on current attacks on journalists in Mexico to the history of forced assimilation of Indigenous people in America.

In his nearly two decades of filmmaking, Young considers the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic some of the most impactful stories he has worked on.

“One of the stories that I worked on during the pandemic that was really important to me personally was about poultry plant workers who were exposed to COVID-19 during the early stages of the pandemic,” Young said.

As is the case in every “Fault Lines” episode, Young and his team viewed the issue of essential worker exploitation in the poultry industry through the personal lens of Reyna, a poultry plant worker whose husband – a worker in the same plant –passed away from complications with COVID-19.

As Young explains, “Fault Lines “ is, at its core, about the modern-day challenges people face and how they overcome them.

“A lot of our work deals with trauma and people who are going through traumatic experiences, whether it’s their own health, whether it’s their security situation, whether it’s an addiction, whether it’s losing a loved one,” Young said. “Whatever it is, one of the things that we try and highlight is resiliency.”

Despite the episodes’ emphasis on hardships and injustices, Young wants his viewers to find hope.

“Anybody that we spend time with has the same concerns, struggles, challenges that anyone else has in this life and in this world,” Young said. “There’s a way we can connect viewers to our stories when we do it properly, that allows there to be an exchange of understanding and information that can be really valuable.”

–Contact Hunter Buchheit at hunter.buchheit@emory.edu

Natalie Sa Ndlow/SeNior Staff Photogra Pher Olivier, Peyser pose with their executive board members the

‘Invincible’ season three: Shouldering blood, burden of power

By PAiGe HoGAn Film & Live Art Desk

This review contains spoilers.

Soaring into its third season, “Invincible” has become one of the highest-rated original series on Amazon Prime.

The series combines dark comedy and gore with engaging character development and non-stop action by embracing its subversion of traditional superhero narratives.

With each season, “Invincible” continues to push its narrative boundaries, delivering shocking twists and morally intricate storytelling that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats.

Season three premiered on Feb. 6 and ran through March 13, is no exception to the show’s consistency in its narrative prowess and artistic merit.

The animated show follows superhero Mark “Invincible” Grayson

(Steven Yeun) as he balances regular life with his heroic obligations. However, following a traumatic fight with his father Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons), a fellow superhero descended from the violent Viltrumite race, Grayson struggles to reconcile his peaceful ideals with the deadly realities of being a superhero. The series forces him to question his place as a hero in a world that constantly pushes his moral boundaries.

This season demonstrates the show’s meticulous attention to detail, with the lead creator of the original comic, Robert Kirkman, seamlessly connecting all of the story beats from the original comic.

This season, the writers carefully balance new and old plotlines without feeling disjointed.

Season three sees the return of the sympathetic villain Titan (Todd Williams), a henchman from the crime syndicate, The Order, who tricked Grayson into helping him overthrow one of the leaders of

MOVIE REVIEW

The Order, Machine Head (Jeffery Donovan). This season further establishes Titan as a complicated figure: an honorable man who desires to see his family and community safe while also acting as a villain who manipulates Grayson into doing his dirty work.

Even though Grayson refuses to help Titan overthrow another crime syndicate leader, Mister Liu (Tzi Ma), Titan tricks Grayson into helping him.

This event starts a series of narrative loops that define Grayson’s character development in season three, mainly rooted in the massacre that concluded the first season. In particular, the finale provides a satisfying narrative parallel to the first and second seasons’ finales.

In the final episode of the season, one of the strongest warriors of the Viltrumite race, Conquest (Jeffery Morgan), arrives to conquer Earth. He and Grayson endure a gruesome battle, heavily reminiscent of Grayson’s fight against Omni-Man in season one.

However, Grayson kills Conquest, showing a progression from his pacifist nature in the first season finale and his carelessness in the second when he fails to kill Angstrom Levy (Sterling K. Brown).

With a stellar cast and an ability to balance the amount of attention given to every character, both main and supporting, “Invincible” is a strong series. Additionally, no character feels underdeveloped relative to their screen time.

A great example of this comes in the addition of Powerplex (Aaron Paul) in the third season. Powerplex is a former employee of the Global Defense Agency, the government

‘The Electric State’ lacks sustained spark

By AmeliA BusH Arts & Life Editor

This review contains spoilers.

With a star-studded cast, stellar soundtrack and a budget of $320 million, directors Anthony and Joe Russo’s 2025 film “The Electric State” had everything needed to become an instant hit. While the movie began with good dynamics and editing, it soon fell into the classic tropes of a familial science fiction movie, ultimately producing an overdone, reductive film. Released on Netflix on March 14, “The Electric State” follows a high school student, Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown), in a post-war world. The war in question pertains to humanity being pitted in a battle against robots for its own survival. While offering an insightful dystopian portrait of the rise of technology, the film ultimately fails to drive its plot home.

In the movie, Michelle meets a cartoonish robot, Cosmo (Alan Tudyk), and teams up with Keats (Chris Pratt), a defector from the robot war and black market salesman and Keats’ robot friend, Herman (Anthony Mackie). The film begins with Michelle’s younger brother Christopher (Woody Norman) furiously scratching on a piece of paper while taking an exam. Much to the proctor’s shock, Christopher passes the test — one that took Albert Einstein three days to complete — in one sitting.

Later, Christopher explains the “state of electricity” to his sister, asserting that everyone is connected even if they are not physically close. The movie then makes a harsh transition to explaining the integration of robots into daily life and the subsequent war between humans and robots. The

Russos use newscasts to contextualize the film: antagonist Ethan Skate (Stanley Tucci) created a neurocaster that linked the human mind to the body of a drone, allowing humans to win the war.

Skate created the neurocaster network to allow people’s minds to be in two places at once, something he describes as “escapism for the masses.” Michelle’s brother, previously presumed dead, was at the center of the neurocaster system, with his brain being the battery that keeps the system alive. The idea of escapism calls forth fears that machines might soon take over the workforce — an ever-present question with today’s wave of artificial intelligence. The neurocaster even closely resembles modern virtual reality goggles, drawing an eerie connection to our contemporary world. While the imagery calls forth interesting associations with one’s everyday experience with technology, the absurd and ill-executed plot diminishes the film’s message.

Despite the questionable plot, the cinematography elevates the film ever so slightly. The Russo brothers employ color in their set design intentionally and effectively, especially during the first half of the film. In every flashback with Michelle and her brother, the screen is bright and vibrant. However, in the moments when Michelle believes her brother to be dead, almost all color has faded from the screen.

After meeting Cosmo for the first time, Michelle realizes the robot’s software includes part of her brother’s consciousness. With that revelation, color slowly returns to the film. Yellow emerges in the billboards that the characters pass, the canoe that Cosmo pulls Michelle in, the sign inside the steakhouse they wait outside of and

agency that manages superheroes, who turned into a villain after the death of his sister and niece in the massacre during the first season.

In just one episode, Powerplex slowly descends into madness as he attempts to get retribution from Invincible for his role in the massacre, resorting to villainy to exact his revenge.

This downfall soon reaches its peak as Powerplex accidentally kills his son and wife.

Paul’s sorrowful and throaty dialogue truly sells Powerplex’s misery and elevates the episode to a truly depressing level, making him sympathetic despite his villainous deeds.

The character of Powerplex is a morally complex take on the anti-hero trope, framed as an antagonist by society because of his bloodlust against Grayson, but a sympathetic yet misguided hero who seeks his own form of justice by killing Grayson.

Powerplex becomes a foil to Grayson during the season finale, upon Grayson vowing to kill anyone who hurts his loved ones. This moment helps broaden the perspective on what defines a hero versus a villain, furthering the show’s exploration into the complex moral spectrum of its characters.

The animation and soundtrack for this season are dynamic and topnotch. The soundtrack is a blend of rap, alternative rock and soft pop, with artists like Run the Jewels, Billie Eilish and Nine Inch Nails rounding it out.

While these artists’ styles are vastly different, each song fits its respective scene and adds an element of immersion within each scene’s action and tone.

EVENTS CALENDAR

much more. The reintroduction of color is visually appealing and demonstrates how Michelle sees the world differently upon learning Christopher is alive.

But the visual aesthetics are not the only good part of the film, the soundtrack shines as well, adding a new, engaging layer to the movie. The film’s soundtrack is purely ’90s, beginning with Tom Petty’s “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” (1993) and featuring a beautiful instrumental version of Oasis’ “Wonderwall” (1995).

The soundtrack not only elevates the film’s aesthetic but also adds to each scene, making the film feel purely American, a sentiment echoed by the American West imagery utilized throughout most of the film. Although the film starts out strong with dynamic chemistry between Keats and Herman and spunky banter between Keats and Michelle, both duos eventually lose their spark around halfway through.

The dialogue goes from cute and funny to cheesy and awkward, and the final scenes feel forced and cliché.

“The Electric State” initially leans into its family-friendly nature in a positive way, emphasizing the surprising but deep relationships the humans have with the robots. However, the film eventually falls victim to the family-friendly genre’s restraints, such as unnecessary final deaths only for the sake of character growth, ultimately decreasing their emotional resonance.

While the soundtrack and cinematography offer glimpses of a powerful film, the aesthetics were not able to carry the movie to success. Ultimately, “The Electric State” proves that style without substance leads to failure.

–Contact Amelia Bush at amelia.bush@emory.edu

The animation is fluid and energetic, shining with realistic gore. The physical results of each brawl are visceral, and the meticulous detailing in the different organs and blood splatters add realism and darkness to the series.

Although the gore can be disturbing, it furthers the show’s occasional grim tone and never feels out of place or thrown in for shock value.

While graphic violence can play a significant role in establishing a gritty atmosphere in a show, its usage heavily depends on its purpose in the narrative. For example, in shows like “Harley Quinn” and “Peacemaker,” gore is used to elevate the comedy and overall eccentricity of the show.

In “The Boys,” however, at times the gore can feel unnecessary and over-indulgent, having little purpose in the narrative other than shock value.

While “Invincible” and “The Boys” share the narrative element of morally black superheroes, the former uses gore to establish the magnitude of these heroes’ power and threat.

What sets “Invincible” apart in its usage of gore is how the show builds the tension in scenes and greatly accentuates a character’s morality and menace.

Over three seasons, “Invincible” remains consistent, with thoughtful writing, excellent character dynamics and visually stunning animation. With a fourth season on the way, this powerhouse series shows no signs of slowing down. Continuously raising the bar for itself and the superhero series genre, “Invincible” season three is a must-watch for any superhero fan.

–Contact Paige Hogan at paige.hogan@emory.edu

Date

March 19

7:30 p.m.

March 20 8 p.m.

March 21

Emory Cinematheque: I Saw the TV Glow White Hall 208 Event Location

An Evening with Music of Philip Glass 638 North Highland Avenue Northeast

4:30-5:30 p.m. Futsal Friday Student Activity & Academic Center court one

March 22 8 p.m.

March 23

2 p.m.

March 20 7-9 p.m.

Emerson SeriesWaits Chamber Music Concert Canon Chapel

Theater Emory: Two monologues about acting (and related matters)

Schwartz Center for Performing Arts Theater Lab

Global Flavors Night Market McDonough Field

Photo M a NiPulatioN by a Melia buSh

Former editors-in-chief detail ‘full circle moment’

Continued from Page 8

only I can go to this meeting. I know that we’ll say the same thing, which is a really cool thing.

Beyond that, I think that both of us hear the voices of our Wheel forefathers in our heads. Sometimes we think through ethical choices, and I’m like, “Oh my God. What would [Faculty Advisor Hank] Klibanoff do? Or what would [former Editor-in-Chief Matthew Chupack] (24C) do? Or what would [former Editor-in-Chief Sarah Davis] (22Ox, 24C) do?”

That’s a cool thing, when you can get into that headspace because you’ve worked so closely with people.

Olivier: I think it also helped that we just like each other as people. I think if we hated each other, this would have been a miserable experience. We saw each other more than our own roommates.

I talked to her before my parents most days. It just really helped that we like each other as people and we could be friends outside of the Wheel, too. Because it’s a hard job, there’s difficult decisions you have to make and sometimes the only way to get through it is that you have to be able to laugh about it or make it or make it enjoyable as you can, and having someone that you’re friends with really helps with that. It wouldn’t have been nearly as fun if I wasn’t doing it with Sophia.

TEW: What are your favorite memories from the Wheel?

Olivier: I made some of my best friends in college through the Wheel. Specifically, I’m thinking Matthew Chupack, Tiffany Namkung (24C) and Claire Fenton (24C), I’m very

close with all of them still. Meeting all of them and forming that friendship at college.

Because you hear about, “In college, you’re gonna find your people.” And my people are ultimately through the Wheel.

Also, this is recent, but I keep thinking about how I caught a ball during [kickball between the Wheel and The Emory Spoke]. I would like to point that out. That is my moment. My sports-loving dad was very proud of his non-athletic journalist daughter for catching a ball.

Peyser: I think Wheel-Spoke kickball was really, really fun, especially because I’m close with the Spoke EIC, so it was fun to see some real competition happening. But beyond that, I’ve enjoyed every single transition moment at the Wheel where turnover is happening and everyone is … celebrating the end of an era and actually reflecting on what the Wheel means to us.

Leaving the Wheel has really made me consider how much time I’ve spent here and what it’s brought me because, like Madi, the Wheel has brought me two of my best friends, [former Editorial Board Editor Marc Goedemans] (25C) and [former Opinion Editor Saanvi Nayar] (26C), as well as Madi herself. A lot of my college experience has been spent here and there are a lot of difficult memories. Staying up until 5 a.m. working on something is not my favorite thing in the entire universe, but with that comes really really good, special times, … just chatting with people about what comes next has been really special.

–Contact Alex Gerson at alex.gerson@emory.edu

6. Pop-up annoyances

7. Lone 8. “Despicable Me” villain with a mathematical name 9. Atlantic or Pacific 10. Refuses to 11. “Or ___” (threat) 12. Falsehoods 17. Sherlock Holmes’ sister 18. “Gotcha” 19. ___-Man

23. Space cloud 26. Construction beam 27. Domesticated 28. Abates

29. Aflame

30. Sound booster

31. Affirmative word

33. Texter’s sendoff

34. Get older

35. Chair part

36. Delay

38. 2 laps around the track

41. Windshield blade

43. Trembles

44. Elec. company, e.g.

45. “Groovy”

46. Edmonton hockey team

47. Nintendo’s Super ___

48. Out of money

51. Competent

52. 401(k) alternatives

53. Spoils

54. Colored

56. The first man

58. Private aid gp.

59. “Rattlin’ ___” (St. Patrick’s Day anthem)

CAT’S COLLECTION

Follow Taylor Swift’s example, embrace change

By cAtHerine GoodmAn Managing Editor

It is no secret that spring brings transformation — the sun sets later, the branches regrow their leaves and the residual tan lines from spring break eventually fade. To celebrate this season of change, this edition of Cat’s Collection explores four pivotal albums from the queen of transformation herself, Taylor Swift.

Beginning her career as a country singer, Swift reinvents her musical identity with almost every new album. From wearing cowboy boots to sparkling knee-high Christian Loubitons, the singer is unafraid to adopt new musical identities. In following her chameleonic career, one can learn a lot about change, growth and shedding old skin.

‘Taylor Swift’ by Taylor Swift (2006)

Coming off her record-breaking Eras Tour, it is hard to imagine the superstar was ever anything but a chart-topper and all-time show-stopper. However, the starlet comes from humble beginnings — if that is what we are calling country radio. At 16 years old, Swift entered the music scene with gorgeous golden curls, an acoustic guitar and big dreams. Her self-titled debut album was released in October 2006, and the album’s lead single and opening track “Tim McGraw” became a Billboard Hot-100 charting song. This song introduces Swift’s signature diaristic songwriting and unassuming pitch. “He said the way my blue eyes shined / Put those Georgia stars to shame that night,” she sings. In the song, Swift continues to describe the phases of her heartbreak and the desire to remain etched in her ex-lover’s memory.

Another standout debut track is the now-cult classic “Our Song.” Beginning with a wiry banjo riff,

the track pulls the listener into an immersive storytelling experience, presenting a shotgun-seat perspective. “I was ridin’ shotgun with my hair undone / In the front seat of his car / He’s got a one-hand feel on the steering wheel / The other on my heart,” she sings. The song hinges on a clever and catchy conflict, that Swift and her love cannot find a track as good as “Our Song.”

‘1989’ by Taylor Swift (2014) One would be remiss to discuss Swift’s genre acrobatics without discussing an absolutely pivotal turning point in her decades-spanning career, her entrance into pop music. “1989” (2014) begins with the upbeat, though lyrically lame, “Welcome To New York.” In this track, Swift explores the sensation of living in New York City and letting go of the past. “When we first dropped our bags on apartment floors / Took our broken hearts, put them in a drawer,” she sings. “1989” received multiple Grammy awards in 2016, including the highly coveted Album of the Year designation. This academy approval solidified Swift’s successful transition into pop music.

However, the songs truly speak — rather, sing — for themselves. In the second track, “Blank Space,” Swift flirts with the public’s perception of her as a crazy ex-girlfriend out for blood, turning racy rumors into an absolute banger. “Got a long list of ex-lovers / They’ll tell you I’m insane / But I’ve got a blank space, baby / And I’ll write your name,” she muses.

Another standout track is “Out Of The Woods,” a pop ballad rumored to be about her relationship with pop star Harry Styles. In this track, Swift showcases her now-famous architectural skills, building a powerful, evocative and all-encompassing bridge. “Remember when you hit the brakes too soon? / Twenty stitches in the hospital room / When you started crying, baby, I did too / But

when the sun came up, I was looking at you,” she sings.

Every line packs a serious punch, leaving the listener wanting more, but ultimately ending up as unsatisfied as Swift was with the conclusion of this romance. “1989” is not only a phenomenal record but also marks the beginnings of who Taylor Swift is now — a multifaceted, multigenerational star.

‘folklore’ by Taylor Swift (2020)

In concluding this tour of Taylor Swift’s ever-changing discography, the natural stopping spot is her indie-folk album “folklore” (2020). A surprise album released during the COVID-19 pandemic, “folklore” explores themes of isolation, anxiety and uncertainty while also showcasing Swift’s songwriting prowess. In the album, Swift takes on a storytelling role and embodies multiple perspectives, including members of a teenage love triangle dubbed James, Betty and Augustine. The album received 80.6 million streams on Spotify on its release day, marking the highest amount ever achieved by a female artist.

However, the album did more than break records, it shattered perceptions of Swift’s capacity as an artist. For example, “folklore” proved that Swift could look outside her personal experiences for inspiration. With the record’s release, Swift conquered not one, not two, but three genres. Of the many hauntingly beautiful tracks on the album, “cardigan,” “my tears ricochet” and “invisible string” demonstrate Swift’s ability to weave intricate personal details with fictionalized characters to present a cohesive and engaging project. As spring beckons forth and transformation calls, maybe we can all take a page from Swift’s ever-evolving book.

–Contact Catherine Goodman at catherine.goodman@emory.edu

Scan for answers

By etHAn AltsHul Crossword Desk

Pearce shines in Elite Eight matchup

Continued from Back Page

munity with great pride and the competitive spirit in our group was something that I think you can see when you were there, or if you’re watching it online, or if you read about it.”

While the season ended earlier than the team had hoped, the Eagles had

plenty of success to celebrate this season. Shanahan said he was most proud of how everyone on the team contributed when called upon.

“Whenever someone wasn’t playing well, we always had the next guy step up and perform their role exactly how we need them to and that was a reason

McGonigle learns from seniors’ experience during first-year

Continued from Back Page

a season-best time of 3:48.54. Boon believes that a mixture of motivation and comfort gave the group an edge over opponents.

“We push each other in practice and we create a safe environment,” Boon said. “We create a very encouraging environment for each other where we can all thrive.”

Boon said the team doing so well was a testament to the strength of the athletes.

“That’s really impressive considering such a small amount of people that we took to the meet,” Boon said. “That just shows the quality of athletes that we have at Emory.”

Men’s team finishes in 20th with All-America finishes

While the men’s track and field team ended the indoor championships in 20th place, the team added multiple All-America finishes on day one of the championships. Junior jumper and sprinter Henry Brandstadter finished with his second consecutive national indoor runner-up performance in the long jump with a mark of 7.51 meters. Additionally, the distance medley relay team of senior mid-distance runner Marcus Cheema, freshman middistance runner Ryan McGonigle, graduate student mid-distance runner Spencer Watry and graduate student mid-distance runner Scott Masterson placed 8th with a time of 9:57.26.

Brandstadter reflected on his performance in the long jump and said that while being the runner-up was not his goal, he knows he is making progress toward his aspiration of becoming a national champion.

“I’m heading in the right direction, even though I didn’t make my goals,” Brandstadter said. “I just gotta keep it up and then reflect on what can be done better — what will allow me to

reach that goal of national champion in the long jump?”

McGonigle said becoming an AllAmerican as the only freshman on the men’s distance medley relay team was especially memorable. He said his teammates’ experience was essential to his individual growth and their success as a team.

“It was a pretty interesting dynamic between the four of us,” McGonigle said. “They were all super experienced and they’re incredibly fast, and it kind of felt like I was just there for the ride, but they were great mentors.”

Brandstadter said that everyone on the team consistently supports one another.

“There’s communities within communities on our team, but even as a jumper, I can go out and support distance. That’s just how the team operates, especially at bigger meets,” Brandstadter said.

Brandstadter said he showed support for his teammates, including Boon, saying he was happy for her but was not surprised by her achievement.

“That’s a long time coming for her, especially after last year — twotime runner-up indoor and outdoor,”

Brandstadter said. “Finally winning national titles is a huge thing and national record it’s incredible and something to look up to.”

As the team prepares to shift to the outdoor season, McGonigle said he is excited to learn more from the upperclassmen on the team.

“I’m just trying to learn as much as I can and experience and be around those seniors,” McGonigle said. “The speed and knowledge they have that I hopefully can take on so I can transfer that to the freshmen next year.”

— Contact Chloe Nam at chloe.nam@emory.edu and Sammy Brodsky at sammy.brodsky@emory.edu

SWOOP’S SCOOP

we were so good this year,” Shanahan said. “I’m really proud of everyone who came in and just impacted the game in any way that they could and really stepped up.”

— Contact Will Peck at will.peck@emory.edu

F1

season begins with dramatic Australian Grand Prix

By Kimi Weng Contributing Writer

The 2025 Formula 1 season is underway after a chaotic and actionpacked Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 16. Rainy conditions on Sunday led to multiple crashes and safety cars as six drivers did not finish. Despite the numerous incidents, McLaren driver Lando Norris won the race from pole position, Red Bull driver Max Verstappen and Mercedes driver George Russell finished second and third, respectively.

Although this was just the first race of the season, the chaos and surprising results for some drivers indicate an unpredictable and exciting season for F1 fans. Heading into the new season, there are plenty of changes to unpack on and off the grid.

Out of the 10 teams, only McLaren and Aston Martin kept their driver lineup unchanged. Six drivers will also have their first full-time seat in F1. The entrance of these rookies will make races more interesting as fans cheer for new drivers and elements of uncertainty.

“Heading into the new season, there are plenty of changes to unpack on and off the grid. ”

One of the most shocking driver changes in F1 history was seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes after 11 years to join Ferrari. Since joining Mercedes in 2013, Hamilton has won six of his seven titles and left irreplicable records for the Silver Arrows. While it might be unusual for fans to see him in red, Hamilton will make Ferrari a more potent competitor in the 2025 constructors’ championship alongside fellow Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.

Consequently, Hamilton’s move to Ferrari caused the departure of

Spanish driver Carlos Sainz. Sainz raced for Ferrari for four seasons and will now drive for Williams along with Alex Albon. Additionally, former Formula 2 driver Kimi Antonelli will replace Hamilton as Russell’s teammate at Mercedes.

Jack Doohan, who replaced Esteban Ocon in the last F1 race of the 2024 season, will have a full-time seat at Alpine. After Ocon departed Alpine, Haas scooped the driver up to pair with rookie Oliver Bearman. Bearman got to race for Ferrari and Haas in 2024 as a reserve driver and finally earned his full-time seat on the grid this year.

Lastly, Nico Hulkenberg, a former Haas driver, will race for Kick Sauber alongside Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto. Isack Hadjar will race with Yuki Tsunoda on the Racing Bulls (RB) team. Both Bortoleto and Hadjar will race in F1 for the first time this season.

In addition to the numerous driver changes, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) implemented some regulation changes for this new season. The most significant was the removal of the fastest lap point, a rule in place since 2019 that allowed a driver who finished in the top 10 while setting the fastest lap in a race to earn an extra point in championship standings. In recent seasons, drivers outside the top 10 would pit near the end of the race to get fresh tires and set the fastest lap themselves, strategically preventing other drivers from scoring the extra point, even if they could not score themselves. This strategy sparked controversy among fans and media, causing the FIA to remove the reward.

Additionally, the FIA introduced a rule requiring teams to add driver cooling systems to cars if the forecasted temperature rises above 88 degrees Fahrenheit, which adds additional weight to the cars, slowing them down. Furthermore, the FIA tightened the regulations on the drag reduction system, rear wing flexibility and drivers’ ability to test previous cars. With both driver and rule

changes going into the new season, the drivers’ and constructors’ championship standings may look very different this year.

Last season, Verstappen secured his fourth consecutive drivers’ championship title, narrowly defeating Norris by 63 points. However, in the constructors’ championship, McLaren snatched the title from Red Bull as Sergio Perez struggled to score points for the team as the season progressed. Whether replacing Perez with former RB driver Liam Lawson will keep Red Bull in constructors’ contention this season remains to be seen.

“The drivers’ and constructors’ championship standings have a chance to look very different this year. ”

Verstappen’s drivers’ championship streak could end as Norris and fellow McLaren driver Oscar Piastri have a legitimate chance to earn the title. The rest of the drivers’ standings will likely be even more unpredictable as F1’s six rookies might face pressure from other drivers, media and fans. The constructors’ championship will likely be more competitive than last season. McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes will all be in the mix to take home first place. Meanwhile, Aston Martin, Williams and RB could compete to be in the top five and the lower end of the leaderboard will likely consist of Alpine, Haas and Kick Sauber.

The Australian Grand Prix was a thrilling way to start the 2025 F1 season for the many fans eager to have F1 back after the long winter break. The excitement will continue with the Chinese Grand Prix, the first sprint race of the season, in Shanghai on March 21 to 23.

Justin Whitening/staff Photogra Pher

Junior guard Jair Knight emphatically dunks during a game against Case Western Reserve University (Ohio) on Feb. 2.

Sports The Emory Wheel

Track teams earn All-America honors at NCAA indoor championships

By chloe nAm And sAmmy BrodsKy Sports Editors

Over the weekend, the Emory University men’s and women’s track and field teams competed at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Golisano Training Center in Rochester, N.Y. from March 14 to 15. The women’s team scored 19 points to finish in ninth place, the third-ever top-10 finish in program history at the indoor championships, while the men’s team scored nine points to finish tied for 20th place.

Boon, 4x400 team lead women’s team to top-10 finish

The women’s team had a stellar performance at the championships, with top-10 finishes in several events. The standout performance came from graduate multi-event athlete Nikki Boon (29G), who became the first Emory athlete to win the national championship in the indoor pentathlon. Her score of 4,061 marked the first time a women’s athlete at the DIII level scored over 4,000 in the indoor pentathlon.

Boon had top-three finishes in all five of her events, including a firstplace finish in both the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.76 seconds and the shot put with a mark of 12.97 meters. Boon said staying level and not letting previous performances affect her were key to her consistency during the events.

“With the multi, it’s really just about focusing on one thing at a

time,” Boon said. “You can’t let whatever is going to happen in the future impact you and you can’t let whatever just happened in previous events impact you. You just have to focus on whichever event you’re doing at the moment and try your best and mentally shut off everything else.”

Boon credited Emory track and field assistant coach Jessica Fritsche as her biggest helper in achieving the monumental feat.

“She has been a godsend gift to me,” Boon said. “She is the best coach I could wish for. We work so well together as a team, and I’m really excited to keep working towards outdoors with her.”

Boon also competed in the 4x400meter relay with freshman sprinter Jada Kenner, senior sprinter Dashiel Tao Harris and fellow graduate student sprinter Eva Carchidi. Together, the group finished fifth overall with

See MCGONIGLE, Page 11

Men’s basketball season ends with loss in Elite Eight

By Will PecK Managing Editor

The Emory University men’s basketball season came to a dramatic close in a March 15 loss during the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championship. This season was historic for the Eagles as the team was ranked No. 1 in the country for the first time in program history. Emory fell to Wesleyan University (Conn.) in a 61-58 overtime thriller just a day after their 80-78 Sweet 16 win against the University of Mary Washington (Va.).

Going into the weekend, junior guard Ben Pearce said the team was focused on staying true to its identity and playing as well as it had throughout the season.

“We wanted to be true to who we’ve been all season since it’s been working for the most part,” Pearce said. “We really just tried to — as the moments get a little bit bigger — make sure we’re staying true to who we are and not getting ahead of ourselves, or not trying to switch too much up and just trust in what we have.”

In the win against Mary Washington, Emory’s star guard tandem of Pearce and junior Jair Knight combined to make 52 of the team’s 80 points. The game was tight until Emory went on a 10-0 run before a triple from Knight extended their lead to 12 with just over two minutes remaining. Mary Washington did not go down without a fight, storming back to make it a three-point game with just 37 seconds remaining.

After the teams exchanged free throws, Mary Washington forced a turnover and had a chance to take the lead with an open three-pointer but it ultimately bounced off the rim, allow-

ing Emory to hold on.

The Sweet 16 game marked Emory’s 23rd win of the season, tying the second-most in program history and pushing the Eagles to the Elite Eight for the second time.

The stakes were higher in the following round as both Emory and Wesleyan were fighting to reach the Final Four for the first time in each school’s history. Heading into the game, Emory head coach Jason Zimmerman said his team knew the game would be a hardfought contest.

“We knew it was going to be a physical battle,” Zimmerman said. “Rebound and loose balls war is big in any game. ... We had to play with some force in a game like that. When you’re trying to go to the Final Four, it’s very high-level physically.”

Wesleyan got off to a hot start, going on an 8-0 run to open the game before Pearce answered back with a threepointer. While Wesleyan controlled the lead for most of the first half, the game remained close and the Eagles went into the halftime break trailing by just five.

However, as the second half began, the Cardinals went on another scoring spree and extended their lead up to 13 in the first few minutes. Emory regained some ground before Wesleyan recovered and had a 52-40 lead with 7:14 left in the game.

Despite the deficit, the Eagles hung in the game and went on a 9-0 run with baskets from Knight, sophomore wing AJ Harris and senior forward Logan Shanahan to cut Wesleyan’s lead to three. Shanahan attributed a lot of their momentum to the support from fans who traveled to the game.

“They gave us the energy we needed,” Shanahan said. “Every time we

scored or made a big play, even though it was a packed Wesleyan crowd, we got quite a reaction from our fan base as well. And we kind of played into that, as well as finding our groove as the game went on and guys just started making big plays.”

As regulation came to a close, Emory trailed 56-53 before Pearce tied the game with an impressive and one layup, and the Eagles pushed the game to overtime after a last-second Wesleyan three-point attempt missed the mark. Pearce said his and one was driven by “desperation” to keep the Eagles in the game.

“I knew we needed a big play in that moment,” Pearce said. “They were really sitting and trying to take away my three-point shot, so I saw a window to attack the basket and I knew once I would attack somebody would step up, and I just would have to finish.”

Harris hit a quick layup to start overtime to give the Eagles their first lead of the game, but that shot ultimately proved to be Emory’s only two points in overtime. The Cardinals responded on the next possession with a three and added on to it with a pair of free throws later to make the score 61-58.

Knight nearly tied the game with 0.8 seconds left on a shot from just short of half-court, but it bounced off the rim, ending the game and the Eagles’ championship aspirations.

Despite the loss, Zimmerman said his team showcased their determination by fighting until the very end.

“We didn’t surrender at all, we just ran out of time,” Zimmerman said. “Something to really be proud of. I thought they represented Emory and Emory basketball and the Emory com-

PEARCE, Page 11

Being a sports fan is inherently heartbreaking — that’s okay

By Alex gerson Deputy Editor

On Oct. 12, 2012, I experienced what can only be described as the most cataclysmic event in my life — and it was a genuine, indisputable tragedy. I was sitting along the thirdbase line as my favorite MLB team, the Washington Nationals, were one strike away from defeating the St. Louis Cardinals in a win-or-go-home playoff matchup. 2012 was the first year I paid close attention to baseball, and the Nats had a fantastic season. A new baseball fan, my 8-yearold self was confident that my team being good was the norm. The Nats would always win, right?

I could not have been more wrong. Instead of striking out Daniel Descalso and moving one step closer to the World Series, the Nats had what I can only describe as an unfettered meltdown. They came into the final inning with a 7-5 lead but ended the game with a 9-7 loss. In the blink of an eye, the season was over.

I was heartbroken. I vividly remember openly sobbing in the stadium concourse while my father, grandfather and complete strangers tried to comfort me. It was so bad that an official at the stadium asked if I needed medical attention. But the pain I felt was too deep for a bandage to heal.

Was I overdramatic? Maybe, maybe not. But I lived and breathed Nats baseball and I still do. While I

still have to brace myself to rewatch highlights from that fateful October night in 2012, in retrospect, I’m glad my team lost. That loss and the many that followed taught me the importance of the heartbreak that comes with intense sports fanaticism. Rooting for a sports team is filled with loss, and I was naive to think my team would never lose. However, those losses are crucial — they feed the intense drive to stick with your team until they achieve a moment of immortality through victory. Winning a championship is hard. Most professional sports leagues across America have around 30 teams, and only one can be crowned champion each year. You need a perfect combination of all the right fac-

tors to win: the right owner and general manager who are willing to spend on the team, the right players and a whole lot of luck.

“Losses are crucial they feed the intense drive to stick with your team until they achieve a moment of immortality through victory.”

On paper, this kind of dedication seems crazy. Surely no one would subject themselves to years upon years of losing with no end in sight.

But losing is an essential experience for any sports fan.

Losses build character and teach us how to bounce back when things do not go our way. However, I think that the heartbreak that comes from being passionate about sports gives us something deeper. It builds a sense of investment in a team and makes its eventual victory that much sweeter.

It probably was not a healthy question for me to ponder, but I remember my 8-year-old self wondering whether I would see a Nats World Series victory in my lifetime. The heartbreak I felt only strengthened my resolve and hope to experience that one moment of glory.

Words cannot describe how happy I was when the Nats finally lifted the

World Series Trophy in 2019. While it would have been nice to skip almost a decade of pain and suffering waiting to see it happen, I’m glad I went through the trials and tribulations of losing. By the time the Nats won the World Series, I felt like I was a part of the team. Never mind the fact that I made no actual contribution to the organization, this was my win, too. My years of investment — watching almost all 162 games every season, following our minor league teams, our prospects and reading any piece of Nats-related content — had finally paid off.

In the years since winning the World Series, the Nats have had an unbelievably terrible stretch. I’m not ashamed to admit that when we traded away our generational outfielder Juan Soto in 2022, I, at the age of 18, shed a tear or two. I’ve now endured five straight losing seasons since the Nats brought home the World Series. But with every loss, our hopeful return to glory seems just a little sweeter to me.

I know that investing all my energy into rooting for another Nats championship will inevitably lead me to moments of loss and despair. But it’s all worth it, just for a chance to experience that glorious World Series moment one more time. Call me crazy, but I’m ready to have my heart broken again.

— Contact Alex Gerson at alex.gerson@emory.edu

Justin Whitening/staff Photogra Pher Nikki Boon (29G) on the podium after winning.