College Council VP fired for 'data leak' of ES J P budget
By Spencer Friedland and eva roytBurg Managing Editor & Senior Staff Writer
Mira Gurock (26B) was fired on Monday from her role as College Council vice president of budgets for actions resulting in a “data leak” of a section of Emory Students for Justice in Palestine’s (ESJP) budget, according to an email College Council President Jannat Khan (25C) sent to the governing body. Gurock leaked the image to a former Emory University student who works with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, raising concerns that the budget indicated ESJP had plans to host a “flag memorial” on Oct. 7 in honor of the Palestinians killed during the Israel-Hamas war.
In the following days, Gurock’s actions have been debated by those involved. Gurock maintains that she did not violate the College Council Constitution, noting that the document does not have a provision ensuring the privacy of data related to an organization’s budget. On the other hand, Khan said that Gurock was in the wrong for sharing the budget, pointing to the fact that privacy concerns related to financial information are confidential according to the Student Government Association Constitution, which College Council operates under.
The leaked image also included the name of the ESJP member who was serving as the group’s treasurer at the time the budget was submitted. This comes amid allegations of hostility toward pro-Palestinian students on campus, with the ESJP member noting that the leak creates privacy concerns. The member
requested to remain anonymous to avoid harassment.
Gurock said that it was not her intention to spread the ESJP member’s name and pointed out that the group’s roster is already accessible to any Emory community member on the Hub.
The ESJP member said that even though Emory students can find their names on the Hub, people not affiliated with Emory cannot log in and see the roster, so it is still a “breach of trust.”
Khan also emphasized that sharing both budgetary information as well as students’ personal information with people outside of College Council broke established expectations of privacy. Specifically, the image broke down ESJP’s proposed budget for an event on the Emory University Quadrangle, which included red, white, green and black flags, Palestinian flags and tarps, to put together a memorial for those “killed at the one-year anniversary of the current genocide,” according to a copy of ESJP’s budget obtained by The Emory Wheel. The budget listed Oct. 7 as the event’s date.
However, the ESJP member told the Wheel that Oct. 7 was a tentative date, and the group is currently planning the memorial for that week but have not picked an exact day yet. They added that it is still possible ESJP will hold the event on Oct. 7, which would mark the one-year anniversary of when Hamas killed over 1,200 people in Israel. Since then, Israel has engaged in a bombing campaign that has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to Palestinian health authorities.
Harris, Trump spar in spirited debate
By Spencer Friedland Managing Editor
Former U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris faced off Tuesday night in Philadelphia for their first and currently only scheduled debate. ABC News anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis moderated the debate, which covered topics such as abortion, immigration, the 2020 election, the Israel-Hamas war, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Harris’ race, Obamacare and the economy.
Associate Professor of Political Science Zachary Peskowitz said that the three key issues of this election are the economy, abortion rights and immigration.
Associate Professor of Political Science Bernard Fraga believes that voters are more likely to choose who they vote for based on the candidates’ perspectives about future issues rather than the candidates’ views on specific policies.
20-minute wait for a $20 lunch: Community dissatisfied with food trucks
By Spencer Friedland and eva roytBurg Managing Editor & Senior Staff Writer
Several Emory University students and faculty are disappointed with the new Atlanta campus food trucks due to their “20 to 30 minute” long wait lines, increased prices and smaller portion sizes.
Emory brought food trucks and “Swoop Eats” mobile vendors, which include old Cox Hall Food Court locations such as Twisted Taco and Raya, to Asbury Circle to replace Cox Hall’s food court while it undergoes renovations throughout the 2024-25 academic year. According to Senior Director of Campus Dining Chad Sunstein, Emory Dining partnered with the mobile food company Food Fleet to organize the assortment of food trucks.
However, in the first few weeks of returning to campus, several students and staff members have said that while the food trucks provide variety, the food is overpriced, and lines are much longer than last
year at Cox Hall. During lunchtime, Asbury Circle fills with lines of people waiting to order their food.
Emory Dining worked with multiple student groups in the creation of this year's dining plan, Sunstein wrote in an email to The Emory Wheel. He added that Emory Dining launched a survey yesterday to allow students to give feedback about the current dining options.
“We will continue to use the information we gather to increase the volume of food trucks as necessary and work with vendors to expedite their processes and minimize wait times,” Sunstein wrote.
Nicholas Hobbs, a cardiac device engineer at Emory Healthcare, said he often spends 20 to 30 minutes waiting for his food in line, which takes up most of his 30-minute lunch break. He added that he waits much longer in line at the food trucks then he used to at Cox Hall.
“It’s frustrating for us because it definitely makes it where our lunch break is spent waiting in line rather than eating,” Hobbs said. “It makes it a little harder for us to get our food
day to day.”
Sunstein said Emory Dining is working to speed up the process of getting food as well as possibly increasing the volume of food trucks. He added that both faculty and students can buy food from the Eagle Emporium, which includes former Cox Hall staple Nom station. Additionally, Banjo Coffee at Robert W. Woodruff Library has increased its selection this year, according to Sunstein.
“We are constantly making tweaks and adjustments to our dining plans, especially in these first few weeks, as we are learning which cuisines our campus community likes and what times they are showing up for meals,” Sunstein wrote.
Although Hobbs had complaints about the food options this year, he added that the quality and variety the food trucks provide is better than that of Cox Hall. However, he said the prices for food are about $5 to $10 more, leading Hobbs and his colleagues to get lunch in Emory Village
Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, abortion has become a key election issue for women voters, according to Peskowitz. He sees the issue of abortion as a winning issue for Democrats in the 2024 election.
“There are a lot of moderate voters and women voters who are quite troubled by the reversal of Roe versus Wade,” Peskowitz said.
According to a Pew Research Center poll from May, 63% of U.S. adults believed abortion should be legal in all or most cases, compared to 36% of U.S. adults who did not.
During the debate, Trump did not answer whether or not he would veto a national abortion ban if he were elected president. Harris maintained that the government should not interfere with a woman's ability to decide to have an abortion.
Peskowitz said that on the issue of immigration, Trump had a “natural advantage.” In 2021, U.S. President
Joe Biden selected Harris to deal with immigration on the United States border with Mexico. Politicians such as Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) have criticized Harris for her handling of the issue. According to Peskowitz, there is concern among moderate swing voters about the level of unauthorized immigration.
According to a recent Pew Research Center poll, immigration is the second most important issue for registered voters who are Trump supporters and the sixth most important among all registered voters.
In defense, Harris said that Trump rallied Republicans to vote against a deal on immigration that she hoped would help secure the southern border of the United States.
“Harris has to kind of go through this complicated explanation of, well, we had an agreement with conservative Republican members of Congress,
Oxford changes outside credit policy, sparking worry among some students
By aaruSh Kumar Oxford Campus Desk
Starting this fall, first-year students at Oxford College can only count eight credits earned through Advanced Placement exams, International Baccalaureate exams or other colleges toward their Associate of Arts degree. Previously, students could apply up to 18 outside credits to the degree.
Oxford requires nine general education requirements before a student can move to the Atlanta campus. While students can still earn and apply up to 18 outside credits to their eventual bachelor’s degree, limiting the number of these credits that can specifically apply toward the associate’s degree could affect students who aim to graduate early from Oxford. Over the past five years, over a fifth of Oxford students graduated early.
Oxford made the policy change to promote fairness in coursework.
“Oxford made this change in the interest of equity and to ensure that the quality and rigor of outside coursework meets university standards,” Molyneaux wrote.
Some students feel the new policy may jeopardize their goals, including Grace Liu (26Ox), who is considering graduating from Oxford a semester early. She explained that the extensive selection of classes offered on the Atlanta campus is “more appealing” to her.
“Ultimately, this is removing some of the students’ choice and ability to decide,” Liu said. “People are going to try and want to graduate early … whether or not they have a low or a high amount of credits they can transfer in.”
Ethan Miller (26Ox) said that the credit limit was a way for the University to make students stay at Oxford longer. Mac Dixon (26Ox)
See FOOD, Page 3 See NEW, Page 2
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Valerie Molyneaux stated in an email to The Emory Wheel that
Former College Council vice president raises concerns about possible Oct. 7 event
Continued from Page 1
“That day was very sad for Israel, but also, it was the start of a oneyear bombing campaign and invasion campaign for Palestinians, so that day is just as important to Israelis as it is to Palestinians,” the ESJP member said. “I’m not against putting it on the seventh … I don’t think it would be the wisest day to put it, but … I’m always open to having a conversation with people.”
“That day was very sad for Israel, but also, it was the start of a one-year bombing campaign and invasion campaign for Palestinians, right, so that day is just as important to Israelis as it is to Palestinians.”
In an interview with the Wheel, Gurock said she sent a section of the budget to a former student because she was concerned that a memorial for Palestinian lives on the one-year anniversary of the attack on Israel would cause “unnecessary and unfortunate conflict on campus.” Gurock clarified that she was solely concerned with the date and was not against the event itself.
“Having an event that is to memorialize the murder of Palestinians on the anniversary of a day that many more Israelis were murdered is insensitive,” Gurock said. “It’s intentional.”
Gurock said that she tried to organize a conversation with ESJP leaders about moving the date from Oct. 7 but alleged that Khan did not allow her to do so. Khan, however, said she never
told Gurock that she could not have a conversation with ESJP but rather said that College Council upper level executives could not make a statement condemning the memorial.
In the email to College Council legislators, Khan added that she believed in second chances when executives make mistakes.
“As such, we assumed best intent and set up a meeting with the VP,” Khan wrote. “We did not receive assurance that a breach wouldn’t reoccur, nor was an apology issued to the students implicated.”
However, Gurock said that Khan never requested or gave her the opportunity to apologize. College Council Vice President Finn Johnston (25C) corroborated this claim in an email to the Wheel.
However, College Council Chief of Staff Grecia Perez Gomez (26C), who
attended a meeting between upper executives and Gurock to discuss the leak, said that Gurock had multiple opportunities to apologize during the meeting but did not do so.
“We obviously expressed our disappointment in [the privacy breach], and then also remained open to the idea that there needs to be a discussion about this event,” Khan said. “But there was a lot of blame placed in … why are were allowing the event to happen when we couldn’t authoritatively go and stop it.”
Khan said that the executive board of College Council unanimously decided to fire Gurock, but she feels as if Gurock is singling her out, which Khan alleged could be due to her Muslim identity.
“It was a decision between four people, and we were very clear in citing the policy and privacy viola-
Debate does not impact election, professor says
Continued from Page 1
and then Trump blew it up,” Peskowitz said.
Regarding the economy, Peskowitz said it was a “mixed bag” under the Biden administration. He mentioned there has been very high inflation under the administration but that unemployment is very low.
During the debate, Trump attempted to link Harris to Biden and his poor approval ratings on his handling of the economy. In response, Harris referenced some of Trump's economic proposals, which include his tariff proposals. Harris argued that Trump’s tariff plans would increase the cost of living.
“The interesting part of the back and forth, and that was a bit challenging for Harris, is Trump made this point that while [there were] tariffs on Chinese goods, the Biden administration has kept many of them in place even after Trump left office,” Peskowitz said.
Another issue that may sway moderate voters when deciding between Harris and Trump is Trump’s stance on the aftermath of the 2020 election, according to Peskowitz. During the debate, Trump denied that he had lost the 2020 election. Peskowitz believes that Trump talking about the 2020 election and defending the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection is a winning issue for the Democrats.
“Clips of him … claiming that he won the 2020 election in this debate tonight and … sarcastic comments about just losing by a whisker,”
Peskowitz said. “ I think that that's going to give some moderate swing voters pause about Trump.”
Additionally, during the debate, Harris called for an immediate return of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and an immediate ceasefire with an eventual path to a two-state solution between Palestine and Israel. Peskowitz said that in her answer, Harris was attempting to play a “balancing act.”
On platforms such as X, conservatives, including podcaster Ben Shapiro, Donald Trump Jr. and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), have called out Muir and Davis for not holding Harris and Trump to an equal standard when factchecking, claiming that they insufficiently fact-checked Harris.
“The moderators might as well be on the DNC payroll. This is ridiculous,” Graham wrote on X.
Former CNN host Don Lemon praised the moderators for fact-check-
ing Trump.
Peskowitz said that the moderators were “reasonable.”
“They've asked a broad set of questions, did a little bit of fact-checking, more on Trump … He made some claims that they argue were incorrect,” Peskowitz said. “I don't think that's going to dramatically sway anyone's interpretation of the candidates.”
Fraga said that coming into the night, Harris and Trump appeared virtually tied, with FiveThirtyEight interactives showing Harris just 2.7 points ahead entering the debate.
Peskowitz said that he thought last night's debate will not have a drastic outcome on the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.
“Both candidates kind of performed at the level that everyone expected,” Peskowitz said.
— Contact Spencer Friedland at spencer.friedland@emory.edu
“Many have agreed with me that having an event that is to memorialize the murder of Palestinians on the anniversary of a day that many more Israelis were murdered is insensitive. It’s intentional. ”
— Mira Gurock
tions as the reason for that,” Khan said. “So unfortunately, it just feels discriminatory.”
Gurock, however, said that she was concerned by the lack of religious diversity in College Council. When asked if College Council is a safe space for Jewish students, Gurock thought for a moment before responding: “No.”
“I don’t feel unsafe as a Jew on this campus, but I think that I wouldn’t be surprised if Jewish students are feeling discouraged by College Council’s decision and by the lack of religious diversity,” Gurock said.
Johnston told the Wheel that students should feel safe expressing their concerns to College Council.
“Students are free to criticize our personal choices and urge us to do better,” Johnston wrote. “While I have not heard from any student before that CC is not a safe space for Jewish students, I would be happy to have a conversation to improve our environment if that is how people are feeling.”
— Contact Spencer Friedland at spencer.friedland@emory.edu and Eva Roytburg at eva.roytburg@emory.edu
New credit policy causes concerns about early graduation
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said that although the change is not ideal, it is not “entirely negative.”
“I understand that the school doesn’t want people rushing through their time at Oxford,” Dixon said.
Jack Steffen (26Ox) believes that the decision will not be negative as long as Oxford is committed to providing the same opportunities available on the Atlanta campus.
“It’s unfortunate to see students desiring, from a perspective of necessity, to graduate from Oxford a semester early in an attempt to succeed in their personal or academic careers,” Steffen said. “From what I've seen, the Oxford campus administration is heavily committed to the success of every student. I believe that this elite college is fully capable of ensuring the same opportunities that students who choose to graduate a semester early are gravitating towards on our Atlanta campus.”
However, Oxford Student Government Association (OxSGA) Arts and Academics Committee Chair Braden Newsome (25Ox) criticized the lack of student input in the decision.
Newsome and OxSGA Spring Start Liaison Isabella Chow (25Ox) were especially concerned with spring start students’ ability to graduate on time under the new credit policy, so they wrote a resolution calling for an exception that would allow students in the spring start Class of 2026 to apply up to 12 outside credits to their associate’s degree. Specifically, the resolution indicates that, under the new policy, spring start students will need to enroll in 19 credits per semester to graduate on time if they want to avoid summer school.
Newsome emphasized the importance of student feedback on the issue.
“We want them to talk to us about issues, and we want them to make their voices heard,” Newsome said. “I am going to be working on this, on trying to see what we can do, both in the short term and the long term, to make this credit policy more equitable for Oxford students.”
With the policy implemented, students like Elie Lee (26Ox) have considered the best ways to verbalize their concerns.
“They definitely should have an opinion because, at the end of the day, it’s their quality of life on campus and their academics,” Lee said.
— Contact Aarush Kumar at aarush.kumar@emory.edu
“The way they announced this, to me, just seems unfair because … they didn’t give all the information to the incoming class — Oxford Class of ’26, Emory Class of ’28 — that they should have had when making their decision,” Newsome said. “OxSGA was not looped into this until after it had happened.”
JAck rutherford/NewS editor
Emory Students for Justice in Palestine organize a flag memorial on the Emory University Quadrangle last academic year.
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris debated on Tuesday night.
(26B)
— Emory Students for Justice in Palestine member
By JacK rutherFord and eva roytBurg News Editor & Senior Staff Writer
During their first meeting of the semester on Monday night, the Student Government Association (SGA) passed a resolution 9-3 denouncing the way University President Gregory Fenves “unilaterally enacted” a new addendum to the Respect for Open Expression Policy on Aug. 27, according to a copy of the resolution obtained by The Emory Wheel.
“The 58th Student Government Association is writing to express its concerns in University Senate’s failure to propose changes to the Respect for Open Expression Policy and the unilateral codification of the Addendum to the Respect for Open Expression Policy,” the bill’s authors wrote in a letter to Fenves and University Senate President and Professor of Law George Shepherd. “We find both events unacceptable.”
SGA Vice President Pranay Mamileti (26C), Ranking Member Sohan Bellam (26C) and Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Belonging Guyberson Pierre (25C) authored the resolution.
“This is about whether students are going to have a voice in University policy, not just now, but going forward,” Bellam said during the meeting.
The resolution comes about two weeks after Emory University codified restrictions to student demonstrations — including banning encampments — without consulting the University Senate, as has been common practice.
Mamileti said during the meeting
that he initially wanted the resolution to call for a complete withdrawal of the addendum, but that he did not think Fenves would listen, referencing last semester’s no confidence vote on the president as evidence.
“Over two thousand students said that they wanted Fenves to not be in the job, and nothing happened,” Mamileti said.
Mamileti added that he and SGA President Abigail Dubinski (25B) had asked university officials at several meetings over the summer about what changes they would make to the open expression policy, but never got an answer.
“We didn't learn anything about what was going on,” Mamileti said.
In a previous interview with the Wheel, Fenves said that Emory implemented the measures with an addendum because he felt it was a “priority” to codify the clarifications before the
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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.
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tral” toward policy changes to open expression and called for Fenves and Shepherd to attend a town hall hosted by SGA to answer questions from students and SGA members.
“Shared governance is important, not just as a formality, but through the creation of policy which not only guides the Emory University community but collaboratively reflects its consideration, values and participation," the legislators wrote.
At the Monday meeting, Mamileti emphasized how he felt that the administration owed students a conversation about open expression after last semester’s protests ended violently and that lack of conversation was “unacceptable.”
fall semester began.
Committee for Open Expression
Chair Ilya Nemenman and Shepherd both previously expressed concern with how the administration codified the addendum.
“The way that these changes, this addendum, were implemented further erodes trust between the administration and the rest of the University community,” Nemenman said. “I believe that any kind of policy is a community compact where it only works if most of the people on campus adhere to these policies.”
Now, members of SGA are denouncing the University administration’s actions, arguing that not working with SGA or the Senate when changing University policy is “unprecedented” and creates the “perception of illegitimacy.”
The legislators argued in the resolution that SGA should have been “cen-
“Speaking personally, as someone who was there [on April 25], who was shot at with red pepper bullets multiple times, and who watched students get arrested that day, and faculty members of our community get arrested that day, I think it's fair to say the changes to that policy are necessary,” Mamileti said during the meeting.
This comes after the Oxford College Student Government Association (OxSGA) passed a resolution on Sept. 5 calling on Fenves to withdraw the new open expression addendum.
“It directly diminishes students’ ability to peaceful free assembly,” the resolution states. “Not cooperating with the University Senate when introducing impactful policy is bad precedent and is unrepresentative to the constituencies the University Senate serves, including the Oxford College student body.”
OxSGA President Kenan Bajraktarevic (25Ox), who introduced the resolution, said that an email from Shepherd to Fenves, on which Bajraktarevic was copied, drew his attention to the issue.
“What I would like to see, and what the rest of the Oxford Government Association would like to see, is for the addendum to be withdrawn and for it to go through the correct process that has been occurring for years,” Bajraktarevic said.
OxSGA Vice President Kieran Rafferty (25Ox) said OxSGA presented the resolution to hold the University accountable regarding the process of introducing the addendum. Rafferty said he did not believe Emory should have introduced the addendum in the manner it did.
“Precedent is really important, especially during these times,” Rafferty said. “When you do not go through precedent, it sparks change and distrust among the students and the administration.”
The resolution calls for Fenves to immediately rescind the changes to the policy and only modify the policy when new changes are approved by the University Senate.
“We affirm students' rights to assemble freely and peacefully, as well as students’ rights to safety and security,” the resolution states. “Appropriately introducing changes to University policies and practices is critical to protecting these.”
— Contact Jack Rutherford at jack.rutherford@emory.edu and Eva Roytburg at eva.roytburg@emory.edu
Food trucks bring longer lines, high prices
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more often.
Another Emory Healthcare worker agreed that the lines were long but said that if he gets lunch when undergraduates are in class, it does not take too long to get his food. He added that the food is “delicious.”
Sonali Wagh (26C) agreed that the variety of the food trucks is nice but said the wait lines were “a lot longer” than what she was used to. While standing in line for a food truck, she said that it takes 15 to 20 minutes to order and receive her food.
Tai Jackson (27C) said that he would prefer more options in the $10 to $12 price range.
Jackson said that at certain food trucks, an entree can cost up to $20, which according to him “is way too much.” He added that he waited almost 20 minutes in line at a food truck during dinnertime for someone to take his order. Jackson said with the price and wait time, he did not feel like the meal was worth it.
According to Sunstein, Emory is trying to keep price increases “minimal” while providing “top quality food and service.”
“We are continuously monitoring the variety the food trucks offer and are working with each individual vendor on menu items that balance price, speed of delivery and quality,” Sunstein wrote.
Prices at trucks in Asbury Circle are higher than many alternatives that can be found within just a few miles of Emory’s Atlanta campus.
One of the food trucks that has significantly higher prices than competitors is Five Finger Philly, which charges $17 for its 10-inch Philly
cheesesteak. Competitors such as Woody’s CheeseSteaks and Philly Cheesesteak Place sell their cheesesteaks for under $10. Additionally, alternatives within walking distance include a 7-inch or 15-inch cheesesteak at Emory Village’s Jersey Mike’s Subs for $9.75 or $16.95, respectively.
Comparing the prices of the food trucks at Asbury Circle to similar restaurants in the Atlanta area, the Wheel found that most food trucks priced their food at rates about 10% to 25% higher than similar options, with Flavor on the Fork’s Chicken and Waffles being the cheapest entree relative to options found in Atlanta.
At some food trucks, a burger can go for nearly $20, Kosi Udochukwu (25B) said. He added that that is far too expensive for a lunch meal.
Though he didn’t reference a particular food truck, at A Little Nauti Food Truck, a surf and turf burger costs almost $17. A regular cheeseburger and fries at the same truck costs $14, making it the cheapest entree available at the truck.
Geoff Point-Du-Jour (25C) said that the cost of the food trucks deterred him from buying there.
“Just seeing the prices are like $15, $20 when I used to be able to go to Cox and just pick something up for like $10 to $12, it just really turned me away,” Point-Du-Jour said. “I might as well just go in my car and go off campus or go to Emory Village and get Chipotle or Cava.”
Udochukwu expressed concerns with whether food trucks would be sustainable in the colder months or on rainy days. He added that he
wished the renovation’s timeline was shorter so that Cox Hall could reopen during the spring semester.
Ashley Yeung (23Ox, 25C) said another oversight with the food trucks is the seating. She said that during the most popular lunch times, there are very few seating areas available for people to eat their food. Young added that Asbury Circle had become overrun by large crowds. Activities normally held on Asbury Circle, like Wonderful Wednesday, had to be moved up closer to Few Hall, she added.
The lack of a central meeting point to eat lunch has a socially disruptive element, Isabel Vélez (23Ox, 25C) said. While she used to simply ask her friends to meet her at Cox Hall, now she has to plan ahead and find other places to meet for lunch. Velez said that it’s not “a huge obstacle” but that the prices are enough to make her bring more food from home.
To provide more seating options, Sunstein said that Emory invested in expanded seating options in the Emory Student Center and Dobbs Common Table for students.
Josh Slate (26B) said that while he missed Cox Hall for its convenience, he was excited to see how the renovations would look.
“I'm also curious to see what the remodeling looks like and how it's different,” Slate said. “I feel like campus keeps changing. There’s a lot of change each year.”
- Contact Spencer Friedland at spencer.friedland@emory.edu and Eva Roytburg at eva.roytburg@emory.edu
JAck rutherford/NewS editor
Protestors erect an encampment during last April's protests.
Last night, during the first presidential debate between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, moderator David Muir had to remind the candidates: “Let’s turn to policy.” Exchanges between the candidates were riddled with attacks from both sides. The debate focused heavily on each candidate’s past rather than on their envisioned futures for the American people. However, amid the personal attacks, Harris articulated her key policy points, including on abortion, foreign policy and the economy, while Trump was left angry and rambling.
The issue of abortion has been a cornerstone of the Harris campaign and has contributed to increases in Democratic polling since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. This is for good reason, as a May Gallup poll found that 32% of voters would only vote for a candidate for major office who shares their view on abortion. Similarly, a June Associated Press-NORC poll found that 70% of American adults believe abortion should be legal in most or all cases.
Harris tugged on viewers’ heartstrings while showing a clear grasp of the issue at hand. She emphasized the necessity of national abortion protections, citing that some abortion restrictions don’t make exceptions for victims of rape or incest. She also painted a vivid image of a woman “bleeding out of her car,” unable to get the healthcare she needs, and of a “12 or 13 year old survivor of incest being forced to carry a pregnancy to term.”
Trump walked the line on the issue of abortion, deflecting multiple questions surrounding whether or not he would sign a national abortion ban, while praising the “genius and heart and strength” of the justices who voted to overturn Roe and leave abortion law up to states. In recent months, Trump has softened his view on the issue of reproductive rights, leaning more than ever toward the center by avoiding direct endorsements of national abortion bans that he previously toted during his presidency.
Still, with her unwavering commitment to protecting abortion rights, , Harris is on the side of the majority of Americans, while Trump may find himself losing the votes of the prochoice evangelical Christian groups that have backed him for his previous total abortion ban support. Overall,
The Emory Wheel
Harris did a good enough job sustaining her point on the issue and not allowing Trump’s diversions take her off track.
The economy is almost always an issue on the top of voters’ minds, and this election is no different with 74% of American voters naming the economy as a “very important” issue in an August Economist/YouGov poll. While the economy has been a catchup issue for the Harris campaign, she told voters about her economic plans, including a $6,000 child tax credit and a $50,000 tax deduction for small businesses. By emphasizing her plan of an “opportunity economy,” she connected with middle class Americans whom she has repeatedly identified herself with during the campaign.
Both candidates got sidetracked on economic issues, with Trump rebuking Harris’ attacks on his plans for tariffs, which include increasing current trade duties on foreign nations like China, and attacking her on the issue of inflation. However, Harris was able to iterate her key policy stances by addressing her economic plans under the Trump administration, and that gets her the win on this issue.
Immigration is another contentious issue, especially given that Trump has blamed Harris for high numbers of undocumented immigrants at the U.S. southern border, calling her a failed “border tsar.” While President Joe Biden’s administration attempted to pass comprehensive immigration changes earlier this year, Trump mobilized his allies to shut the bill down in Congress. Still, current polling shows that voters prefer Trump on the issue. While Harris’ initial response about prosecuting transnational criminal organizations and the blocked bipartisan bill was effective, her argument strayed into pursuant attacks on Trump’s rallies; Harris was not able to fully defend herself or the Biden administration on the issue. On the other hand, Trump returned to the issue of immigration multiple times throughout the debate — this was
also done problematically at times, for example, by referencing the false claims that migrants were eating pets in Ohio. Despite telling total lies, he will likely worm into the minds of voters who are concerned about the issue. Still, the fact that Trump’s attacks were disconnected and filled with lies means that Harris did not likely lose too many swing voters on the issue.
With the war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war, foreign policy is on the forefront of many voters’ minds this November, especially on the left. Currently, Harris is walking a tightrope between voters who support the Biden administration’s support of Israel and those who are calling for her to break with the Biden camp and advocate more strongly for Palestine. Harris did an effective job of appealing to each side of the conflict in Gaza, not only stating Israel’s right to defend itself but also calling for a ceasefire and end to humanitarian suffering. Additionally, she evoked calls for a two-state solution and respect for the security of both Israelis and Palestinians. On the other hand, Trump told lies when attacking Harris on the issue, claiming that she “hates Israel,” which Harris has repeatedly denied. Trump, of course, also reiterated tired rhetoric about how the war in Ukraine would not have started had
he been in office.
While Harris narrowly won the debate, ultimately the American people may have been left with more questions than answers. Harris’ consistent attempts to return to policy were admirable, but even she got stuck in the personal politics, giving in to some of Trump’s instigations and going on the offensive at multiple points, such as with Trump’s ongoing criminal cases.
Often, candidates are more focused on winning debates through rhetoric than through policies that America needs, and Trump and Harris both displayed this shortcoming at times during the night.
Harris’ ability to rile Trump and slip in her policy along the way made her stand out against Trump’s nonsensical lies. However, she must focus on policy if she truly wants to turn the page for American politics. After all, she said at the conclusion of the debate: “The true measure of the leader is the leader who actually understands that strength is not in beating people down, it’s in lifting people up.”
Ellie Fivas (24Ox, 26C) is from Cleveland, Tenn.
Pierce McDade (27Ox) is from Bloomington, Illinois.
Courtesy of the offiCe of senator K a M ala h arris
Vice President Kamala Harris smiles and waves to a crowd.
WiK iMedia CoMMons/lia M enea
Former President Donald Trump dances by American flags.
Open Letter: Fenves, drop charges
Sharon Strocchia, HIST, ECAS
Julia C. Bullock, REALC, ECAS
James B. Hoesterey, REL, ECAS
Devaka Premawardhana, REL, ECAS
Dear President Fenves,
We, the undersigned faculty and students, call on you to publicly request that charges be dropped against all those arrested on April 25, the morning the Emory University administration called in outside and heavily militarized police forces to disrupt a gathering on the Quadrangle that wasn’t prohibited by Emory’s open expression policy. 28 people were arrested that day, including faculty trying to protect students from being brutally assaulted by the police.
Emory faculty have been charged with disorderly conduct or simple battery, and Emory students have been charged with criminal trespass, among other charges. These students include international students who may be afraid to leave the country lest their visas be rescinded. Now, these community members are in legal limbo as they await a court date, a process that could take up to two years. Given that the majority of arrestees are closely affiliated with Emory, we ask that you do the right thing and call for all charges to be dropped. Please do so now.
Signed,
Falguni A Sheth, WGSS, ECAS
Harshita Mruthinti Kamath, MESAS, ECAS
Dilek Huseyinzadegan, PHIL, ECAS and LGS
Patricia Brennan, PYSC, ECAS
Jed Brody, PHYS, ECAS
Patricia Cahill, ENG, ECAS
David Nugent, ANT, ECAS
Clifton Crais, HIST, ECAS
Jason Francisco, ARTVIS, ECAS
Cathryn Johnson, SOC, ECAS
Peter Höyng, GER, ECAS
Michael Peletz, ANT, ECAS
Levi Morran, BIOL, ECAS
Emma Davenport, ENG, ECAS
Lisa Paulsen, THEA and DANC, ECAS
Martine W. Brownley, ENG, ECAS
Eric Reinhardt, POLS, ECAS
Tanine Allison, FILM, ECAS
Steve Batterson, MATH and CS (Emeritus), ECAS
Gregory Catellier, THEA and DANC, ECAS
Judith A. Miller, HIST, ECAS
Gyanendra Pandey, HIST, ECAS
Ellen Idler, SOC, ECAS
Justin C. Burton, PHYS, ECAS
Allen Tullos, HIST, ECAS
Michelle Armstrong-Partida, HIST, ECAS
Neha Gupta, MATH, ECAS
Sean Meighoo, CPLT, ECAS
Craig Perry, MESAS and JS, ECAS
Lisa Lee, ARTHIST, ECAS
Daniel Bosch, ENG, ECAS
Jennifer Feldman, SPAN and PORT, ECAS
Marjorie Pak, Program in Linguistics, ECAS
Peter Little, ANT, ECAS
Daniel LaChance, HIST, ECAS
Leah A Roesch, NBB
Stefan Boettcher, PHYS, ECAS
ECAS Dept. of REES
Valerie Loichot, FREN and ITAL, ECAS
Tracy L. Scott, SOC, ECAS
Kate O’Toole, BIOL, ECAS
Lynne Huffer, PHIL, ECAS
Andrew J. Mitchell, PHIL, ECAS
Carolyn Keogh, ENVS, ECAS
Leah Thomas, ENVS, ECAS
Walter Kalaidjian, ENG, ECAS
Maria Arbatskaya, ECON, ECAS
Ross Knecht, ENG, ECAS
Jola Ajibade, ENVS, ECAS
Subha Xavier, FREN and ITAL, Institute of African Studies, ECAS
Sara McClintock, REL, ECAS and REL, LGS
Tara Nancy Doyle, Visiting Research Scholar, CST
Elizabeth W. Corrie, CST
Jacobus de Roode, BIOL, ECAS
Joonna Smitherman Trapp, ENG (Retired), ECAS
Susan E. Hylen, CST
Alison Collis Greene, CST
Yanna Yannakakis, HIST, ECAS
Eric Daniel Villalobos, REL, LGS, 2nd year PhD
Shaunna Donaher, ENVS, ECAS
Matthew Payne, HIST, ECAS
Shiva Urella, REL, LGS
Gilha Lee, REL, LGS
Emilie Casey, REL, LGS
Anuj Sah, ICIVS, LGS
Jessie Washington, REL, LGS
Candidate Noëlle McAfee, PHIL, ECAS, and Psychiatry, SOM
Kristin Giordano, BSHES, RPH
Maggie Pustinger, BSHES, RPH
Ibrahim Jouja (22Ox, 25B)
Emil’ Keme, ENG, ECAS
Brittany Fiscus-van Rossum, REL, LGS
Letitia Campbell, CST Asia Lerner-Gay, REL, LGS
David, Religious Studies, Emory Mujahid Osman, REL, LGS
Ahana Narayanan (23Ox, 25C)
Timothy J. Dowd, SOC, ECAS
Kevin Lazarus, REL, LGS
Rajit Hegde (23Ox, 25C)
Jessie Potts, BSHES, RPH
Aanya Sethi (25C)
Anya Fredsell, REL, LGS
Urvi Vallapareddy (25B)
Daniel Ballon-Garst, REL, LGS
Shromona Mandal, WGSS PhD
Student and REL, LGS
Jadelynn Zhang, SOC PhD, LGS
Michelle Navarrete, REL, LGS
Madelyn Carlson, BSHES, RPH and LGS
Tasfia Jahangir, BSHES, RPH
David Meer, PHYS PhD, LGS
Maggie Jones, ECON, ECAS
Riti Bahl, MATH, LGS
Prathiksha Srinivasa, REL, LGS
Elizabeth M. Bounds, CST
Gauge Thacker, PHYS, LGS
Jacqui Brown, CPLT, LGS
Haylen Gerhard, PHYS 2nd year PhD Student, LGS
Rachael Orbeta, CPLT, LGS
Waad paliwal PHYS, ECAS
Sahand Emamian, PHYS, Phd Student, LGS
Angela Tharpe, ENG PhD Student, LGS
Dez Miller, CPLT, PhD Student, LGS
Margy Adams, ENG, LGS
Alex Vargas, PHYS, 3rd year PhD Student, LGS
Shraddha Bandlamudi (26C)
Aishwarya Ganesh, PHYS, LGS
Ella Myer, REL, LGS
Andrew Kaplan, CPLT, LGS
Astrid M. Eckert, HIST, ECAS
Em Nordling, ENG PhD Student, LGS
Conor McCann, ANT and BSHES 3rd year PhD Student,
William Boose, ANT, LGS
Ahmed Elhadi, ANT 3rd year PhD Student, LGS
AJ Jones (24LGS)
Sameena Mulla, WGSS, ECAS
Walter Rucker, AAS and HIST, ECAS
Chris Suh, HIST, ECAS
Federico Sanchez, ANT, 2nd year PhD Student, LGS
Aisha Finch, WGSS, ECAS
Thomas Rogers, HIST, ECAS
Julia Tulke, Institute for the Liberal Arts, ECAS
Bayo Holsey, AAS and ANT, ECAS
Vani Kannan, Emory Writing ProgramECAS
Umaymah Mohammad, SOC, MD/ PhD Student, LGS and SOM
Elizabeth Egger (25C)
Carolina González (25C)
Megan G. Massa,NBB, ECAS
Isabelle Meyer-Ensass, CPLT, LGS
Maria Barreto, ENG, 3rd year PhD Student, LGS
Geraldine Higgins, ENG, ECAS
Summer 2024 was first step to reclaiming female sexuality
Josefina Logrippo
Like many students at Emory University, I spent a huge portion of my summer doing what I could not do during the academic year: scrolling endlessly through social media.
Although this was probably not the best way to pass the time, it allowed me to participate in viral social media trends this summer, particularly those revolving around pop music and female artists. This meant seeing Charli XCX on my TikTok For You Page constantly and going down the spiral of “Brat Summer,” an aesthetic inspired by Charli’s provocative and rebellious album “Brat.”
We learn about the concept of sex through the learned ideas of what a woman does during sex, what she looks like during sex and how she reacts to sex.
As a feminist, I loved seeing the girls and the gays blow up this trend and make it the emblem of summer 2024. But if we look closely at “Brat,” we can see something much more important happening in culture: a transformation in female sexuality. Charli’s popularity shows that we are moving on from tolerating a patriarchal definition of female sexuality that was exploitative of women’s sexuality and bodies.
In our patriarchal society, women are fed a specific gender dynamic from the moment they are born. Little boys are constantly encouraged to face the world and create their own reality with so-called masculine toys, such as cars and spacecrafts, which are meant to reassure them that they will be seated in real-life versions of them one day.
Conversely, girls are confined to stereotypical dolls and hot pink cooking utensils that reduce them to the social impositions that come with female genitalia.
While boys can become astronauts and Formula One drivers, girls are subliminally told to be the beautiful women waiting for them at the finish line, which is later reflected in the job segregation phenomenon.
Starting at Emory, women must be able to talk about these experiences openly and decide what is acceptable and what is not.
Indeed, girls are taught to assume secondary roles. We grow up to subconsciously accept that our whole female existence revolves around the construct of what a woman is, something patriarchal structures have strategically created to keep us in the margins.
The most alarming part about this is that when we are past the age of playing with dolls, the belief that women are lesser than men transpires to our sexuality and how we express it.
Today’s women can no longer uphold this ideal. When girls start discovering sexuality, perhaps one of the biggest and most intimate pillars of our identity, they are even more limited by the construct of
womanhood.
We learn about the concept of sex through the learned ideas of what a woman does during sex, what she looks like during sex and how she reacts to sex. And because we have been taught to look at sex through the lenses of the patriarchy, we become unaware of the inhumane utilization of our sexuality andbody.
For example, think of the orgasm gap. It is overwhelmingly common for women in heterosexual relationships to not reach orgasm during sex with their partners, and due to the commodification of female sexuality, that has been normalized.
Just as we lacked a suspicion of the enforced subjugation that came with glorifying baby dolls when we were young, we are now not conscious of the misogyny present during sex.
We are not conscious of how sex centers masculinity — to the degree that it becomes hard for women to notice when we are taking part in sex that we do not physically enjoy. And, for the most part, women are unable to see the severity of this issue in our everyday lives.
Despite the tragic patriarchal conditioning of female sexuality, the popularity of “Brat” during the summer gave me hope that one day, women will regain their sexual autonomy. Charli’s album goes to show that women are slowly but collectively rejecting all the ways in which misogyny can sneak into our lives, which is crucial in reclaiming female sexuality. If we look beneath its surface, “Brat” explores a version of femaleness that is insolent, rebellious and unafraid of embracing female sexuality, as the title suggests.
If we look beneath its surface, “Brat” explores a version of femaleness that is insolent, rebellious and unafraid of embracing female sexuality.
It depicts themes of not only love, sex and desire but also autonomy. The awkwardness and uncomfortableness that comes with figuring out one’s identity in a patriarchal society is palpable in this album and the movement it inspired.
Above all, “Brat” creates a powerful aesthetic that compels us to reimagine female sexuality, asking women to voice what they actually like and take action to become the new sexually empowered female that Charli embodies.
Although patriarchal values are programmed into the experience of female sexuality, I am confident that we can find paths toward liberation as long as we keep demanding change and remain vigilant to sexism everywhere — especially in the bedroom and in our sexual and romantic relationships.
Starting at Emory, women must be able to talk about these experiences openly and decide what is acceptable and what is not. As young people, we must reflect on how much work still needs to be done, even in an environment that may seem safer for women than most other spaces. We must loudly call out all misogynistic behaviors we see and hold people accountable for them. By becoming aware of how misogyny can filter through sex and sexuality, we can reclaim our identities and embrace being “Brat,” even as summer comes to an end.
Josefina Logrippo (27C) is from Mendoza, Argentina.
JaCK rutherford/neWs
Welcome to Emory from the Office of Spiritual and Religious Life (OSRL)!
OSRL is a multifaith chaplaincy for all students, faculty, and staff at Emory that supports the religious, spiritual, ethical, and cultural life of the Emory community. Whether you are deeply rooted in a religious tradition, seeking a spiritual practice or home, or even intellectually curious about the role of religion and ethics in human lives and our world, all of Emory’s spiritual communities and programs are open to you to practice or simply to learn.
This fall, we are especially excited to welcome you to our new Emory Interfaith Center, located at 1707 N Decatur Road. Please stop by anytime. If you have questions about how to connect with the resources you would like, please never hesitate to reach out to us at religiouslife@emory.edu.
Dining is broken. Students are hungry for change.
Since returning this fall, Emory University students have experienced an unexpected feeling toward their campus dining experience: nostalgia. The Cox Hall food court, a fixture for student dining, is closed for renovations until fall 2025.
In its stead, Emory has brought food trucks to Asbury Circle with the goal of filling the hole that Cox Hall has left — a task that has proven more challenging than the University likely expected.
Lines for food trucks are long, the portion sizes are limited, the options are inconsistent and the Dobbs Common Table (DCT) is nearly always at capacity. While these changes are temporary, they expose Emory’s lacking commitment to food accessibility.
While these changes are temporary, they expose Emory’s lacking commitment to food accessibility.
Setting the inconveniences of the current situation aside, what has truly upset the student body is the increase in meal prices without increases in quality. The food itself is often mediocre at best — bland, uninspired and lacking in nutritional variety.
Students frequently complain that meals feel more like cafeteria food than the high-quality dining experience the price tag suggests. And rightfully so, as a single meal swipe during dinnertime at the DCT costs $22.48 while a meal from the new food trucks can cost $15 or more.
The University claims that these food trucks are meant to compensate for Cox Hall’s absence, but the only impact these trucks are having is on students’ wallets. Whether they are underwhelming options at the DCT or overpriced, subpar food truck offerings, there is a palpable disconnect between what students are paying and what they are receiving in return.
Affordable food options should be a priority for ensuring a good quality of life on campus, but this is far from the current reality. Emory may want to pat
itself on the back for its recent ranking as No. 1 in “Quality of Life” from The Princeton Review, but if the $16 chicken tenders are any indication, this ranking is nothing but a reason for false pride.
According to an FAQ page about the project, the upcoming changes will be the first “meaningful renovations”
price hikes and the logic behind the food truck initiative, Emory Dining Senior Director Chad Sunstein wrote in an email to the Editorial Board that “Emory Dining works hard to keep the increases consistent and minimal while providing top-quality food and service to our student body. The cost of dining is inclusive of the price of food,
might want to save money by cooking for themselves find limited access to kitchens in residence halls, forcing many to spend extra money on DoorDash or UberEats. One kitchen allocated for more than 30 students, which is the case in dormitories for first-years and sophomores, is not a solution — it is a logistical nightmare.
in the food court’s community facing areas in more than 20 years. This is true, and renovation is indeed a welcome reform, with Campus Life writing on the FAQ page that the dining hall was “limited by poor line queuing and customer flow.”
However, the system that Emory has implemented in the meantime is not practical, efficient or affordable. Rising costs of meal plans, when combined with inaccessible alternatives, are emblematic of a larger problem with how the University handles food access.
Instead of seeing dining as a fundamental necessity that should be readily available and affordable for all students, Emory seems to have neglected the urgency of the issue.
Emory administration’s response to student concerns offers little reassurance. When asked to comment on the
goods and labor.”
While the cost of food and labor has undoubtedly risen in recent years. Emory’s response does not address the fact that the burden of these costs is still passed directly onto students.
Inflation soared following the COVID-19 pandemic, causing other universities to implement measures to subsidize food and other essential costs for their students, recognizing that students should not be left to shoulder the financial burden of inflation alone. However, Emory has not done enough for students, instead continually hiking up prices and providing fewer affordable options with Cox Hall’s closing. Students living on campus, who are required to purchase meal plans that can cost upward of $4,000 per semester, are left with few alternatives.
Meanwhile, underclassmen who
Emory’s decision to charge full price for meal plans while offering fewer viable food options is irresponsible, especially during a time of broader economic uncertainty.
As inflation continues to rise, students are feeling the pressure in more ways than one. According to a survey by Assurance IQ, 44% of Gen Zers reported skipping a meal to save money. A study by Temple University (Penn.)’s Hope Center found that 34% of students have experienced food insecurity on campuses around the country.Emory does offer some resources for students experiencing food insecurity, such as the Community Fridge and Pantry and the Food Security Safeguard Program, which grants three meal swipes for students who fill out a form.
We appreciate Emory’s understanding of immediate- need services, but
these initiatives often fall short in addressing the broader issue of food accessibility on campus. For instance, if a student applies for the safeguard program more than once in the same semester, Student Case Management and Intervention Services is alerted, reinforcing the stigma of food-insecure students having to repeatedly prove their need for basic sustenance.
Slow Food Emory, a student-run organization, aims to address the issues of Emory’s dining practices by
We appreciate Emory’s understanding of immediate need services, but these initiatives often fall short in addressing the broader issue of food accessibility on campus.
packing and redistributing meals that would otherwise be wasted to students who need them.
Slow Food Emory President Sabrina Li (25C) said the group usually packs about 100 meals per day. “We know that if we stop, they’ll just go back to throwing away the food,” Li said. Slow Food Emory creates a more equitable, sustainable dining environment — aiding the student need that the University has left unsupported. If Emory is serious about addressing the concerns of its student body, it must start by subsidizing food costs and further supporting initiatives like Slow Food Emory. “Our model is ‘no questions asked,’” Li said. “We don’t want students to feel like there’s like a stigma associated with picking up meals.”
Instead of relying on overpriced food trucks or inflexible dining hall policies, Emory can and should create a campus where every student has access to affordable, nutritious meals. Most importantly, Emory must implement practices that are not temporal, but consistent, eliminating food insecurity in the long term as opposed to Band-Aid solutions that have the very real possibility of leaving students behind.
ivana Chen/staff illustrator
The above editorial represents the majority opinion of The Emory Wheel’s Editorial Board. The Editorial Board is composed of Marc Goedemans, Carson Kindred, Justin Leach, Eliana Liporace and Ilka Tona.
The Emory Wheel
Arts Life&
Editors’ picks: Best books of the 21st century so far
“The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins first sparked transformations in young adult literature, but the sequel “Catching Fire” solidified the series as a cultural phenomenon. Collins’ second novel in the trilogy has it all. “Catching Fire” captures the literary zeitgeist because it builds on the momentum that “The Hunger Games” established. The stakes are higher than before, and the characters are more vivid. The most memorable aspect of “Catching Fire” is how the book highlights the youth’s reaction to war and political instability. With the news that the next “The Hunger Games” prequel will be released in 2025, it’s evident that Collins’ messages about corruption still resonates with fans today. “Catching Fire” was the first book I fell in love with, making it my number one book of the 21st century.
Ellie Fivas,
Managing Editor:
Gyasi
For a historical fiction geek like myself, “Homegoing” delivers. It is raw, powerful and transcendent. Following the split stories of two half-sisters, author Yaa Gyasi charts between generations of their families, allowing readers to jump through time, seeing how the memory and legacy of colonialism in Ghana, other parts of Africa and, eventually, the United States, is imprinted on the lives of their descendants. Gyasi introduces characters with beautiful language and purposeful detail, clearly tugging on previous stories and developing future threads. I allowed the heart-wrenching vignettes to carry me from story to story. Historical fiction can be heavy and, at times, dull. However, Gyasi’s novel confronts generational trauma with seamless language and a fast pace that never loses the reader. The stunning writing, important historical context and unforgettable symbolism easily made “Homegoing” the best book I read from the 21st century, and I hope many others will have the opportunity to read it in the years to come.
As the school year begins and the reading-for-fun ceases, the editorial staff of The Emory Wheel share our favorite books of the 21st century so far.
Inspired by the “New York Times” 100 best books, our collection includes various genres, perspectives and time periods.
Catherine Goodman, Arts & Life Editor: “My Brilliant Friend” by Elena Ferrante
“When there is no love, not only the life of the people becomes sterile but the life of cities,” Elena Ferrante writes in her stunning work, “My Brilliant Friend.” As the first installation of Ferrante’s four-book series, “My Brilliant Friend” introduces a post-World War II neighborhood in Italy and two girls whose complicated friendship drives the plot. The adolescent years of Elena Greco and Raffaella Cerullo — known as Lenù and Lila, respectively — unfold shockingly yet sequentially, like a house of cards collapsing below the weight of a single finger. The narrator, an elderly Lenù, presents their story as a mutual epic, shifting between an unsuspecting protagonist and an unreliable narrator as she calls upon her muse Lila to guide the way.
“My Brilliant Friend” is as misleading as it is voyeuristic. The author — operating under the pseudonym Elena Ferrante — divulges and conceals in oscillating intervals. As the book explores themes such as theology and politics, or class and gender, it also delves into the psyche of a young girl reckoning with the reality of womanhood — the skin that will soon sag on her cheeks, the hips that will ache after bearing children and the mind that will always be left unsatisfied.
I have infinite things to say about this novel and each will fail to capture my sentiments. Instead, I will offer the phrase I have repeated to my friends, my family and a stranger in the airport — you must read “My Brilliant Friend.”
Sophia Peyser, Editor-in-Chief:
“The Year of Magical Thinking” by Joan Didion
“The Year of Magical Thinking” is Joan Didion’s brilliant account of the months following the sudden death of her husband. Her prose is unbelievably gorgeous and at times painful — she talks in painstaking detail about every aspect of the grieving process and looks back on moments in their relationship candidly. In particular, I love one line that reads, “I know why we try to keep the dead alive: we try to keep them alive in order to keep them with us.” In this book, Didion keeps her husband alive by immortalizing their relationship — the good and the bad — into writing.
I love the book “Exit West” because author Mohsin Hamid’s poetic writing and use of magical realism are incredible. As a religion major, I enjoy reading texts that explore humanity and our place in the world. Characters Saeed and Nadia’s authentic struggles with leaving their past lives behind really touched me as I resonated with their feelings of nostalgia and how it shaped relationships, provided comfort and influenced seemingly irrational decisions. As their lives become more challenging, the characters experience the circular nature of the past and future. Hamid’s prose captivates the reader to reflect on their own experiences.
The senior quote I chose in my high school yearbook is from the novel “Brown Girl Dreaming,” referring to author Jacqueline Woodson reckoning with an innate, childhood urge to write: “I want to catch words one day,” she writes. “I want to hold them then blow gently, watch them float right out of my hands.” My books from the 21st century are driven by personal narrative. What makes “Brown Girl Dreaming” so special is that, written in free verse poetry, Woodson compiles a memoir that chronicles her family history, her relationship with her Blackness and guiding revelations from childhood to adolescence to early adulthood. This novel is universally digestible and impactful, foremost in the way that it shows how memories of pain and suffering can be reclaimed through the power of storytelling. That lesson rings true as I grow up and return to passages of this novel often. This novel played a formative role in how and why I write.
“Homegoing” by Yaa
Saanvi Nayar, Deputy Editor: “Brown Girl Dreaming” by Jacqueline Woodson
Lauren Yee, News Editor: “Exit West” by Mohsin Hamid
Safa Wahidi, Opinion Editor: “Catching Fire” by Suzanne Collins
It’s difficult for me to pick my number one book. If I had to select one, it would be “Let the Great World Spin” by Colum McCann. Throughout the book, McCann weaves together a collection of heart-wrenching short stories where characters of vastly different backgrounds grapple with their feelings of love, grief and hope, all while seeking comfort in their individual ways.
Each perspective has a distinct voice and story, which allows the reader to immerse themselves into the lives of different characters without ever getting bored. Initially, it seems as though the non-linear stories are completely unrelated, but they intertwine around one event: Philippe Petit’s high-wire walk between the Twin Towers in 1974.
The novel ultimately culminates in a beautiful symphony that showcases the interconnectedness of human lives, and with McCann’s engaging storytelling, you’ll never want to put it down.
Natalie Sandlow, Visual & Web Editor: “The Starless Sea” by Erin Morgenstern
Ever since I read “The Starless Sea” by Erin Morgenstern, I knew that it was going to be my favorite book and would be hard to top. It’s a beautiful story of finding one’s place in the world and finding out that place is surrounded by magic. From this book, each chapter has a place within his journey and each magical aspect is woven into how the story progresses and ends. The imagery makes you feel like a part of the book and want nothing more than to be the main character. There’s heartbreak, romance, adventure and mystery. I read this during a time where I hadn’t read just for the fun of it in way too long. It very much revived my love for reading and creating art through either words or with my favorite form of media, photography.
Clement Lee, Managing Editor: “Never Let Me Go” by Kazuo
Ishiguro
I read “Never Let Me Go” for summer reading in 10th grade and since then, the novel has had an indelible impact on how I think about the passage of time. It raises the existential questions of why we experience loss and whether we can truly shape our destinies. Through the narration from the protagonist, Kathy H., readers get a glimpse of three friends who try to navigate the pains of adolescence, love and, most importantly, their purpose in the world.
The novel introduces Kathy H., Ruth and Tommy who are raised in a boarding school that resembles a Rousseauesque childhood. Their adolescent years are idyllic as they make art, form friendships with other students and feel emotional connections towards inanimate objects without the arduousness of academic schoolwork.
The reader can feel the tempest brewing — something in the plot is off. And as the book progresses, the characters face a harrowing truth. Upon learning it, the three main characters age, struggle with fatalism and ultimately what it means to live as a human being. The novel is open to many interpretations.
One can interpret it as a critique on the lack of transparency in scientific experiments or the pitfalls of working in a capitalistic society. Personally, I reference the book from time to time when I ponder occurrences out of my control.
That is not just limited to my own life but also situations that are simply difficult to reckon with — children who live with terminal illnesses or totalitarian leaders who encourage genocide and individuals living under the poverty line.
My top 21st century book has all the elements ranging from indescribable tragedy, an unreliable narrator, a dystopian future, the loser archetype and a remarkably horrifying plot twist. “Never Let Me Go”’s cherry on the cake is Kazuo Ishiguro’s masterful ability to seamlessly weave themes into his beautiful prose.
Alex Gerson, Arts & Life Editor: “Killers of the Flower Moon” by David Grann
“Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI” by David Grann is a masterclass in narrative non-fiction. It is a carefully told and meticulously researched story of the Osage murders in the early 20th century, but also a suspenseful, character-driven page-turner.
It documents the murder of members of the Osage Nation as a sort of whodunnit, but by the end of the book, it becomes clear that the question of “Killers of the Flower Moon” is not who committed the murders, but rather how the killers were able to get away with it for so long. The final section of the novel, which documents the remaining members of the Osage Nation today, is both saddening and inspiring.
There were over 20 Osage people killed in the series of murders, and their absence is still felt almost 100 years later.
Yet, as Grann points out, the Osage Nation is still alive, just as dedicated to seeking justice for the murders and to passing down their traditions as they were a century ago.
When I was younger, I would hang ornaments on our Christmas tree just weeks after lighting diyas for Diwali. As I added Barbies and Zhu Zhu pets to my list for Santa Claus, my parents FaceTimed with relatives in India. I could hear my aunt asking what type of fabric she should buy for my custom-stitched lehenga to wear at a cousin’s wedding. “Why do I have to wear those itchy clothes?” I thought. After all, I had my Princess Aurora dress witmatching Twinkle Toes. In “The Namesake,” Jhumpa Lahiri highlights the not-so-unique experience of second-generation immigrants in the United States. Through the protagonist Gogol’s coming of age, Lahiri masterfully highlights the struggle that is the balancing act of assimilating while staying true to one’s heritage. We ultimately learn that it is possible to reconcile two seemingly conflicting but inextricably linked cultures to forge one’s own path. As an Indian-American student reading this novel shortly before college, the themes about cultural identity and young adulthood resonated with me. This book is a must-read for South Asian students seeking comfort in shared experiences, those hoping to broaden their cultural perspective or anyone wanting a colloquial, yet captivating, read.
“The Presidents Club: Inside the World’s Most Exclusive Fraternity” takes readers into the role of presidential history not through politics, but personality. Co-authors Michael Duffy and Nancy Gibbs focus on how different American leaders dealt with the circumstances of an office that only a few men have ever graced. The book focuses on how 20th century presidents leaned on their predecessors for guidance in a crisis. Duffy and Gibbs show readers how leaders that were bitter political enemies put down their partisanship to do what was best for their successors and the United States.
Spencer Friedland, Managing Editor: “The President’s Club” by Michael Gibbs and Nancy Duffy
Disha Kumar, Copy Editor: “The Namesake” by Jhumpa Lahiri
Angela Chan, Copy Editor: “Let the Great World Spin” by Colum McCann
Cowboys and ‘Club classics:’ 4 albums to commemorate summer 2024
By Catherine Goodman Arts & Life Editor
As an undergraduate community, we spend a lot of time together. From August to May, we share in the stress of syllabus week heat, the first breath of fresh fall air and the drudgery of early December. We share in Asbury Circle awkward interactions and many other time-honored Emory University traditions. But from late-May to early-August, the connection drops. We no longer experience the same weather, food or pollen allergies. The only exception – a mechanism that transcends time zones and fortifies human connections – is music. In an effort to make up for lost time, I present four albums from summer 2024 that we can revisit together.
‘This is How Tomorrow Moves’ by Beabadoobee (2024)
In her fourth studio album, Beatrice Kristi Laus, known as Beabadoobee, presents an eclectic and energetic exploration of early womanhood. Throughout her 14-track record, Beabadoobee reckons with her self-confidence, mental health and complicated interpersonal relationships. “Take A Bite” opens the album with a seductive percussion sequence that is soon met with the singer’s velvet voice. Soon after, Beabadoobee does a 180, turning the album’s attitude on its head with a string of emotional ballads. For example, “Real Man,” which is slow and sassy, reflects the singer’s interest in a new lover but also the disillusionment looming from her past.
“I told my mother what you did like a kid,” she sings, further emphasizing her giddiness and potential blindness.
She follows this track with “Tie My Shoes,” a potent exposé on her emotionally absent father. “Waiting for you / To tie my shoes,” she croons. Throughout the album, Beabadoobee presents a candid portrait of life as a young woman, walking the line between adolescence and adulthood, insecurity and infallibility, monotony and mania. This record is diverse, yet cohesive and definitely worth the listen.
‘Am I Okay?’ by Megan Moroney (2024)
Megan Moroney leaves no stone unturned in her sophomore album, “Am I Okay?” The country music star was thrust into the spotlight in 2022 with her hit single “Tennessee Orange” (2023). Following her epic debut, Moroney released “Lucky” (2023), her first full-length studio album. Only one year later, Moroney returned with her sophomore album, a collection of candid and catchy tunes that will have you reaching for the cowboy boots. From infatuation to indifference, “Am I Okay?” covers the vast spectrum of emotions experienced within romantic relationships. Throughout the album, Moroney narrates her highest highs and lowest lows, starting with the spirited title track. On the title track “Am I Okay?” Moroney discloses her selfaware and even self-deprecating inner monologue regarding a new partner and her uncharacteristic adoration for him. “I think I’m really happy, I think I wanna stay / Oh, my God, am I okay?” Moroney sings.The album’s standout tracks include “No Caller ID,” “Man on the Moon” and “Hope You’re Happy.” Moroney oscillates between melancholy ballads and pop-country
Spanish Lunch
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bangers, leaving the listener equally mournful and mirthful. On “No Caller ID,” a toxic ex-lover haunts Moroney despite her valiant efforts to move on. On “Man on the Moon,” asserts that if a man needs space, “Someone take this cowboy away.” Finally, the piano ballad “Hope You’re Happy” presents a not yet healed but nevertheless hopeful Moroney as she sends her best wishes to a past love. While an exploration of heartbreak might not be revolutionary, Moroney makes some exciting new assertions — I mean, is another galaxy even far enough?
‘Kansas Anymore’ by Role Model (2024)
If you are noticing a theme of heartbreak throughout this list, you would be correct. I mean, what is summer without a little summertime sadness? The sun is strong; the nights are long, the days somehow longer; and for many scholars returning to their childhood bedrooms, home doesn’t really feel like home anymore. Tucker Pillsbury, known professionally as Role Model, addresses these feelings of dissatisfaction and isolation in his sophomore album “Kansas Anymore.” Using the musical “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) for inspiration, Role Model compares his time in California chasing stardom to a fantasy land in which he did not belong. As Role Model’s discontent grows, his romantic relationship deteriorates. The singer professes his wrongdoings as a partner with candor and care. In “Scumbag,” Role Model sings, “I am not your savior / Nah / I’m hardly a man.” Nevertheless, “Kansas Anymore” is not a ploy for pity. “Kansas Anymore” is an exploration of heartache but not in the shal-
low and selfish sense we often see on albums. Instead, this record is an attempt at understanding life after a world-altering love – including seeking physical distractions, crying on your mother’s shoulders and ultimately accepting your loneliness.
As Role Model sings in “Frances,” “At the end of the day / I’m just happy I can say she was mine.” With its melancholic melodies and modest musings, “Kansas Anymore” persists as one of the best albums of this past summer.
‘BRAT’ by Charli xcx (2024)
It is impossible to reflect on summer 2024 without discussing the cultural phenomena that was “Brat Summer.”
From Tik Tok dances to matcha lattes and presidential campaigns, Charli xcx’s album took the world by storm. The intensity with which this album dominated the season led many to ponder, what exactly is “brat?” If you are searching for answers within the album, I think being “brat” is about being wild and fun. On the album’s energetic opener, “360,” Charli xcx proclaims “Shock you like defibrilla-
tors / No style? I can’t relate.” She carries this confidence throughout the electro pop album with tracks such as “Von dutch” and “365.”
Being “brat” is not a perfect state of being without difficulties or self-doubt.
Instead, being “brat” is about embracing your insecurity, then channeling this energy into bettering yourself and empathizing with others. On a slower track, “I might say something stupid,” Charli xcx divulges her anxieties to the listener, singing “I don’t feel like nothing special.”
She also speaks to a universal experience in womanhood in her track “Girl, so confusing.” The track explores how miscommunication and projection often lead to misplaced hatred between two girls trying to navigate early womanhood. “Sometimes I think you might hate me / Sometimes I think I might hate you,” she sings. “BRAT” was unequivocally the album of the summer. As we bid the season goodbye, at least we can declare the album a “Club classic(s).”
— Contact Catherine Goodman at catherine.goodman@emory.edu
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Scan for answers
Fans should remain ‘optimistic’ for new season
Continued from Back Page
receiver George Pickens in the third quarter.
“Despite the potential draft mishap and the weekend loss, fans should remain optimistic about the Falcons’ chances to end the playoff drought this season.”
While the Falcons made significant strides to improve their squad for this season, they shockingly selected quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall in the draft less than two months after signing Cousins. Penix
Jr., who led the Washington Huskies to the College Football Playoff National Championship game in his senior season and finished second in Heisman trophy voting, has been lauded for his arm talent and accuracy. But using a top-10 pick to select a backup who has his own injury history and will likely not get a real shot at being the starter for another two years seems like a missed opportunity to add a playmaker that could help the team compete right now.
Despite the potential draft mishap and the weekend loss, fans should remain optimistic about the Falcons’ chances to end the playoff drought this season after the team finished just two games behind first-place Buccaneers in the NFC South in 2023. While the New Orleans Saints and Buccaneers
each earned week one wins by a large margin, neither team made any moves this offseason that would indicate a huge jump in performance, and the Carolina Panthers seem to be headed for another year near the bottom of the standings.
As they attempt to rebound from their loss on Sunday, the Falcons will face the toughest stretch of their schedule, taking on the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 16 and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 22. However, with a revamped roster and the rest of the division remaining relatively unchanged, it seems like the pieces are in place for Atlanta to return to the postseason.
— Contact Will Peck at will.peck@emory.edu
SWOOP’S SCOOP
Time abroad with European pro athletes inspires Eagles
Continued from Back Page
Zimmerman said. “Some of our guys want to go play professionally and the guys we played with were all pros in Spain or in Europe, and so just hearing some of their experiences helps our guys.”
For Zimmerman, this experience wasn’t just about putting points on the board; it was about bonding and build-
ing the team’s chemistry.
“Being able to experience different cultures, different countries with the guys that you’re with here all the time makes it a pretty special trip,” Zimmerman said.
Shanahan and Pearce shared the same sentiment, agreeing that the team’s strong bond will benefit them in the upcoming season.
“I think all the time we spent
Student refects on volunteering at hometown Olympics
Continued from Back Page
to her.
However, at any major sporting event, there were bound to be difficulties. Chastel described how some athletes’ bodyguards got too aggressive when the hall was crowded and said one of her fellow volunteers got pushed.
“What was happening behind the scenes, I wasn’t surprised by it,” Chastel said, “Honestly, for the Olympic family, it’s like having a waitress job. You have to take their complaints and direct them to their seats and manage the space.”
Chastel also had the opportunity to interact with celebrities. At one point, famed Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton was granted access to the Olympic lounge despite not having the proper accreditation. Chastel glimpsed actress Nina Dobrev and French footballer Zinedine Zidane among the star-studded crowd, and she even got a picture with actor Tom Cruise at the closing ceremony.
Oxford tennis coach Jonathan Bennett said he did not find out
about Chastel’s volunteering opportunity until she said she was confirmed in the position.
“She’s a hard worker and very keen on sports in general,” Bennet said.
“She kept it fairly quiet with most people about having applied for it. She just wanted to wait and see if she would [get it]. She’s very humble like that.”
Chastel’s doubles partner, Yolanda Yang (24Ox, 26C), said she was shocked her teammate got to volunteer at the Olympics and meet celebrities.
“I was also very happy for her because that’s just such an amazing opportunity,” Yang said.
Although Chastel would have loved to have worked closer to the athletes themselves as a volunteer, she found it rewarding to learn about the inner workings of the Olympics.
“It was good to know what was happening behind the scenes and participate in making the games better,” Chastel said.
— Contact Sasha Melamud at sasha.melamud@emory.edu
together on the trip – both on and off the court – definitely made us closer as a unit,” Shanahan said. “Obviously it’s a great experience to spend time with some of your best friends on the team, and in a different country it’s pretty awesome.”
Due to NCAA rules, as Zimmerman explained, five freshmen weren’t able to join the team in Spain. However, the Eagles are excited to welcome and
integrate the newest additions.
“Adding those five guys to the mix of 11, that’s a challenge too because these 11 guys just got experiences together and now we add five,” Zimmerman said. “But blending those five guys into this mix [is something] we’re really excited about. There’s great room for growth there.”
The Eagles will tip off their season with a home game against Berry
College (Ga.) on Nov. 10 at the George W. Woodruff Physical Education Center.
“I’m really looking forward to getting everybody on the court together and being together and continuing our journey through another year,” Zimmerman said.
— Contact Pilar Rossi at pilar.rossi@emory.edu
C ourtesy of M arie Chastel
Flags fly at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games where Marie Chastel (25Ox) volunteered.
The Emory Wheel
Sports
poses for a picture with other volunteers at the
Behind the scenes at the Olympics with Marie Chastel
By SaSha MelaMud Sports Feature Desk
What began as an application a year and a half ago became the experience of a lifetime for Marie Chastel (25Ox) when she volunteered at the 2024 Olympic Games in her hometown, Paris. The application was open to people around the world, and Chastel was selected as one of the 45,000 volunteers, whose ages ranged from 18 to nearly 70.
Chastel, who also plays on Emory University’s Oxford College women’s tennis team, arrived two weeks before the Games for volunteer training. Here she learned managing techniques for welcoming guests to the Olympic Family lounge and how to redirect them if the capacity was reached during a busier session. The volunteers also had to memorize nearly 30 assigned seating positions.
Stationed at the taekwondo and fencing lounge, Chastel worked ninehour shifts where she checked accreditations at the entrance and directed people to their seats. Despite the long days, Chastel could not bring herself to leave the Games early.
“I would have a shift from 10:30 to 4 p.m., or something like that, but I would still stay for the finals because it’s still free,” Chastel said.
“The atmosphere was amazing, especially when there was a French fencer or taekwondo player.”
While having the Olympics in your backyard is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Chastel said she was concerned about Paris’ ability to host such a large-scale event.
“Paris during rush hours is a mess,” Chastel said. “So I was thinking for the Olympics, ‘Oh my God. What are we going to do? It’s going to be even more awful.’”
But that proved not to be the case. According to Chastel, many Parisians simply left the city to avoid the increased Olympic traffic, leaving Paris with uncongested streets and an easy-to-access metro. Chastel said she was proud to showcase her country in this way.
The Olympics are one of the biggest international athletic competitions in the world, but sports are only one part of the festivities. The Games include athlete and delegate traditions such as getting tattoos and exchanging personalized pins.
Chastel experienced the latter tradition when a Korean delegate from the World Taekwondo Federation gave her a pin outside the Olympic Family lounge. Chastel told him she had no prior experience with taekwondo and was unfamiliar with the rules, so the delegate explained them
See STUDENT, Page 11
Falcons falter in week 1 matchup
By Will Peck Sports Editor
The Atlanta Falcons’ 2024 season kicked off on Sept. 8 with an 18-10 home loss at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers. This underwhelming performance comes after an offseason that was marked by flashy and at times questionable moves as the team attempts to return to the playoffs this season for the first time since 2017.
The Falcons began their offseason shakeup by firing head coach Arthur Smith. Smith led the team to three consecutive 7-10 seasons where they finished in the bottom half of the NFL in point differential. The Falcons hired former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris on Jan. 25 to take Smith’s place. Morris returns to Atlanta after leading the Falcons to a 4-7 record on an interim basis during the 2020 season and has previous head coaching experience with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After experiencing subpar quarterback play since trading franchise staple Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts in 2022, Atlanta hopes to have found a solution in quarterback Kirk Cousins, who they signed in March to a four-year, $180 million deal. Cousins is coming off an Achilles tear that cut his 2023 season short, but prior to the injury, he had consistently been one of the best, most durable quarterbacks during his time as a starter for the Washington Commanders and Minnesota Vikings.
Cousins also enters an ideal situation in the Falcons’ offense under new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson. His weapons include dynamic playmakers such as running backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, wide receiver Drake London, tight end Kyle Pitts and offseason addition
Darnell Mooney, all of whom stand to benefit from improved quarterback play. Additionally, Cousins will get to operate behind one of the most formidable offensive lines in the NFL, which is more important now than ever, considering his recent injury concerns.
While the talent certainly warranted the offseason excitement, the offensive unit fell short in the opening game loss. Cousins completed just 16 passes and was intercepted twice, including once during a crucial fourth-quarter drive. The Falcons’ leading receiver was actually Ray-Ray McCloud III with London, Pitts and Mooney combining for just six catches. The offense’s only bright spot was Robinson, who had over 100 yards from scrimmage but never found the end zone.
Defensively, the Falcons improved considerably in the offseason, adding two big-name Pro Bowlers: linebacker Matthew Judon and safety Justin Simmons. Simmons will join cornerback A.J. Terrell and safety Jessie Bates III to form an elite secondary, while Judon provides the team with a muchneeded pass rush threat, although he is coming off of an injury of his own. Rookie defensive linemen Ruke Orhorhoro and Brandon Dorlus add fresh depth to a group that includes older but still impactful players Grady Jarrett and David Onyemata. The Falcons’ defense fared better than the offense against the Steelers but was still disappointing. Backup quarterback Justin Fields led Pittsburgh’s offense after a late-week injury to starter Russell Wilson. The Falcons held the Steelers to under 300 yards of total offense but still allowed them to get into field goal range six times. The defense also allowed momentum-shifting plays, like a 40-yard heave from Fields to
See FANS, Page 11
Men’s basketball tunes-up in Spain for new season
By Pilar roSSi Staff Writer
The Emory University men’s basketball team took their game overseas this summer with a trip to Spain, immersing themselves in the vibrant cities of Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona while facing Spanish all-star teams in three competitive matches.
Men’s basketball head coach Jason Zimmerman explained that per NCAA rules, the team can embark on an international trip every three years. Under Zimmerman, the team traveled to Northern Ireland in 2011, Germany in 2014 and Italy in 2017, with a planned 2020 trip postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The team kicked off their international excursion in Madrid, where they secured a 93-79 victory over the Madrid All-Stars in an impressive opener on Aug. 18.
Junior guard Ben Pearce notched 21 points, a team-high four assists, three steals and two rebounds. Pearce said the early-season matches served as a valuable opportunity to test themselves post-off-season and identify areas for improvement.
“It felt good to compete in general,” Pearce said. “Usually the last time you play a game is in March and
the next time you play a game is in October or November, so it’s a huge gap between when you actually get to test the work you’ve been putting in and play together as a team.”
Senior forward Logan Shanahan, who contributed seven rebounds against Madrid, shared one of his favorite off-court memories from the team’s time in the city.
“I think everybody contributed, which was important for us on the trip.”
— Jason Zimmerman
“On our first day in [Madrid], we went straight from the airport to the Las Ventas bullfighting arena, which was kinda gruesome because there’s a lot of history there, but it was cool to go there, see the stadium and learn about the history of bullfighting in Madrid,” Shanahan said.
The team’s next destination was Valencia, where they faced a tough 93-88 loss on Aug. 19 to the Valencia All-Stars, but enjoyed some time off
on the beach.
For Pearce, who contributed 14 points and nine assists — just shy of a double-double — in the Eagles’ second contest of the trip, savoring the beaches of Valencia with his teammates was a highlight for him.
“We pretty much had an open schedule,” Pearce said. “Until seven o’clock, we were able to just spend it on the beach or at the pool, which was just really relaxing. It felt like vacation.”
Shanahan also had a standout performance, adding 16 points and seven rebounds.
The Eagles wrapped up their international tour with a second victory, defeating the Barcelona AllStars 85-72 on Aug. 21. Senior guard Albert Fallas dominated the finale, leading the team with 19 points and shooting 6-for-9 from beyond the arc. The California native also topped the team with five assists, four rebounds and three steals.
Zimmerman was pleased with the team’s performance across all three games and is eager for what’s to come.
“I think everybody contributed, which was important for us on the trip,” Zimmerman said. “We’re really not in game form, yet we competed really well. Our guys are usually pretty good at that — competing. They
The Emory University men’s basketball team poses outside a football stadium during the team’s trip to Spain.
have a toughness about them that’s there all the time … Throughout the games, we learned lessons in each game that are gonna help us in the next two months to get ready to play a real game.”
The veteran coach said he enjoyed watching his players interact with and learn from the European players.
“After two of the three games, we had dinner with the other team,”
