Georgetown College’s Student–Run Newspaper
February 20, 2019
Volume CXXXVIV Issue 4
Eco-friendly alternatives for things you use everyday By DEMETRIUS HARRISON
Opinion Editor We only have one planet, and while we will only live to make a fraction of a percent impact on the world, it is important we care for Earth. Saying this, we can make small changes in the products we purchase, without sacrificing anything you already own, to contribute to the well-being of our planet. It’s simple. This could be as small as using a reusable coffee filter rather than a K-Cup, or using natural ingredients when running out of laundry detergent. It is completely understandable that everyone is not ready to, or even willing to, make extreme lifestyle changes such as only relying on a food source from your garden or composting. Several small changes can equate to a couple of large efforts. Let’s dig into some everyday products in your home you could swap out to support the environment. More than 20 billion pairs of shoes are manufactured every year; however, the general process most companies use to manufacture shoes is toxic to the environment.
Inside
this issue
Many toxins, chemicals and fossil fuels are produced and leaked into the environment in the process of making shoes, harming wildlife and humans that come in contact with them. As a result, Allbirds has produced a wool running shoe, priced at $95.00. These shoes are branded, and reviewed, as “the world’s most comfortable shoes,” while also being made from sustainable wool, a naturally existent material unlike most cheaper synthetics. Another everyday item we use are dish towels that can replace paper towels. If something doesn’t have to be single-use, it most likely shouldn’t be. Using 100% organic cotton dish towels is a great replacement for paper towels as they can be easily rotated with laundry. On the other hand, if paper towels are a must for you, consider bamboo paper towels, which are also reusable. Bambooee Reusable & Machine-Washable Bamboo Paper Towels cost $11.59, and the company plants a tree for every roll they sell. Since we are in college, glass plates and dishes are rare, so consider eco-friendly cutlery sets. For $16.95, you
can receive a 300-piece cutlery set by FirstChoice, available on Amazon. These utensils are 100% biodegradable, as well as are FDA approved. Furthermore, FirstChoice donates 10% of its annual net profits to non-profit environmental organizations. Throw away your biodegradable utensils in biodegrabale trash bags! A 50-count of BPI certified, 13-gallon bags costs $15.00, but they also meet the requirements of municipal composting programs. Although this price is a little above average for trash bags, the purchase will not be as frequent being that you are transitioning into fewer single-use products. On another note, invest in a great reusable water bottle. Although it is possible to recycle water bottles, most people do not, and it may not always be possible. Besides, according to government data, 91% of the water bottles we use per year transition into landfill, and we use approximately one million bottles per minute. Furthermore, consider a showerhead that uses 70-75% less water than what you have now. According to government data, putting in low-flow
fixtures can reduce your water consumption by at least 50%, and save you approximately $145 every year. The Niagara Earth Massage Low Flow Showerhead starts at $8, going up to $399. While you’re at it, invest in a $26.99 shower timer to help keep an eye on how long you spend in the shower. LED light bulbs are 80% more efficient than traditional lighting options according to energy.gov. 95% of the energy in LED lights are converted into light and only 5% is wasted as heat. They also use less power, demanding less on power plants and decreases the accompanying greenhouse gas emissions. On the topic of utilities, consider replacing the outlets in your home with some that draw zero energy when turned off. Belkin energy saving power switches cost $17.64. For laundry, Method sells naturally derived, plant-based detergent with a hypoallergenic formula. Furthermore, the bottle is recyclable and is made from post-consumer recycled materials. A 53.5 ounce bottle, good for 66 loads, is $21.45. Consider purchasing an
eco-friendly air dryer brush from EcoTools for $8.85. This brush is designed to act as a diffuser, drying hair 40% faster for less heat damage and faster prep time. it’s also made from recycled aluminum and plastic. The packaging is made of 100% tree-free paper (20% cotton and 80% bamboo fibers), and the handles are made from bamboo, one of the fastest growing plants. Other products to consider are natural beauty products, resuable glass meal prep containers, a solar-powered phone charger, natural cleaning products, rechargeable batteries and reusable straws. To carry your new products in, consider a few reusable grocery bags, boxes, or totes. Each year, we use an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags. Don’t contribute to waste for convenience. Earthwise bundles two collapsible shopping bags for $13.97; however, several grocery stores also sell them. Overall, whether or not through purchasing one of the aforementioned, I encourage you to act on your responsbility to preserve our planet.
Trump declares national emergency over wall page 3
MLB starts Spring training page 5
Maskrafters perform interactive show page 9
Bernie Sanders announces presidency page 11
News
Page 2
Global
Headlines Compiled by Andrew Alvey Ariana Grande first to hold top 3 on Billboard Hot 100 since the Beatles in 1964 Dead mayor makes it through to final round in election in Edmond, Oklahoma Swans hold up rush-hour traffic on highway in England. Firefighters in California rescue a mountain lion stuck in a tree Hundreds of “witches’ marks” including entrance to hell found in caves at Creswell Crags World War 2 sailor in iconic Times Square kiss photo dies aged 95 103 year old becomes juinor park ranger at Grand Canyon “Tinder for cows” matches livestock in the mood for love “Pregnant” cat burglar allegedly smuggled kittens through Taiwan airport Man proposes to girlfriend with $9,000 ring he borrowed from stranger - which she has to give back
The Georgetonian
A brief overview of modern genocides
By RACHEL CHEATHAM Staff Writer
Genocide wasn’t recognized as an international crime until 1946 by the United Nations General Assembly (UN). However, from 1900-1946 there were approximately four separate genocidal incidents besides the Holocaust. Under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide Article II genocide is defined as: “any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: 1. Killing members of the group; 2. Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; 3. Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; 4. Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; 5. Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.” Between 1904-1907 in modern Namibia the Herero led a series of uprisings against German colonists, due to the German’s stronger military presence nearly four-fifths of the Herero population were exterminated. Starting in April 1915, Armenians serving under the Ottoman armies in unarmed labor battalions were separately removed and murdered. Ultimately, more than half the Armenian population (1,500,000 people) was annihilated. In 1932-33, Joseph Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union, created a law of collectivisation which forbade citizens from keeping any of their grain until the national quota was met. Due to the demands an estimated 25,000 people
were dying everyday by the spring of 1933 Ukraine. As a consequence of the famine, an estimated 7,000,000 people died. In December of 1937, the Japanese Imperial Army marched into Nanking, capital of China, and murdered 300,000 out of the 600,000 civilians and soldiers in the city. Later in the week, the Japanese received orders to “kill all the captives.” The numerous crimes against women, however, gave this genocide its name: “The Rape of Nanking”. On October 1, 1949 Mao Tse-tung’s announced the beginning of the People’s Republic of China. The Chinese Communist Party created multiple movements to “systematically destroy the traditional Chinese social and political system” (Genocideeducation.org). In 1958, he launched the “Great Leap Forward” campaign which destroyed the agricultural system, causing a terrible famine in which 27 million people starved to death. From 1975-1979, Pol Pot led the Khmer Rouge political party in Cambodia. After trying to create a “Communist peasant farming society” (genocideeducation.org) 25% of the population died due to starvation, overwork and executions. “What is rotten must be removed” was a slogan proclaimed throughout the Khmer Rouge era as ethnic groups and everyone from the “old society” were murdered. In the republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina, conflict between the three main ethnic groups – the Serbs, Croats and Muslims – resulted in genocide committed by the Serbs against Bosnian Muslims. In 1992 acts of “ethnic cleansing” started in Bosnia, a mostly Muslim country where the Serb minority made up only 32% of the population. Over 200,000 Muslim civilians were sys-
tematically murdered and 2,000,000 became refugees at the hands of the Serbs. Beginning on April 6, 1994 for approximately 100 days, the Hutu militias, known in Rwanda as Interahamwe, followed a clear and premeditated attempt to exterminate the country’s ethnic Tutsi population. By the time the tragedy ended in July 1994 over one-tenth of the population, an estimated 800,000 persons, had been killed. From 2003-2005, “Darfur was at the heart of one of the world’s bloodiest ethnic cleansing campaigns” (Foreignpolicy.com) It is estimated that 400,000 people have died due to violence, starvation and disease. More than 2.5 million people have been displaced from their homes and over 200,000 have fled across the border to Chad. The United States Congress and President George W. Bush recognized the situation in Darfur as “genocide.” Darfur, “near Hell on Earth,” has been declared the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today (genocideeducation.com). Due to the Responsibility to Protect, an agreement among member states to bridge the international and human rights law with the “reality faced by populations at risk of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity” (UN.org) nation states must act if they agree evidence of such crimes. Genocides do not naturally occur. They are calculated and systemic, especially in the modern era. Genocide is not an unavoidable tragedy. It has steps that must be noticed in order for prevention for more information, please visit The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust for explanation on the 10 stages of genocide.
Issue 4
News
February 20, 2019 Page 3
Trump declares national emergency over border wall By ROBERT BIRD Staff Writer This past weekend, President Trump declared a national emergency over his proposed border wall with Mexico. By doing this, Trump is hoping to raise funding for the border wall, in response to the billions of funding that was denied to him by Congressional vote. In building a border wall, Trump is hoping to tighten border security with Mexico in response to the mass of illegal immigrants entering the United States, while also fulfilling his long held promise of a “wall” that stretches back to his presidential campaign. In a televised interview from the Rose Garden in the White House, President Trump stated, “We’re going to confront the national security crisis on our southern border, and we’re going to do it one way or the other.” This statement was made right after Congress did not include the money Trump
sought in their new spending measure. Trump said later in the interview, “It’s an invasion…we have an invasion of drugs and criminals coming into our country.” President Trump has not only faced criticism from those in control of the Democratic Party, but also from some in his own party as well. This is especially apparent considering the Republicans have had control of both houses of Congress in his first two years as President, and funding has yet to be approved. Senator Mitch McConnell has been one of those that has been telling the president not to declare a national emergency for weeks, fearing the results of such an act, but also said he would support the decision on Trump’s behalf. Speaking on behalf of the Democratic Party, Senator Chuck Schumer and Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a joint statement, “This is plainly a power grab by a disappointed president, who
Source:National Review
President Donald Trump announces due to border security has gone outside the bounds of the law to try to get what he failed to achieve in the constitutional legislative process.” The Democrats also called it an abuse of his authority as president, unconstitutional, and have sworn to reverse the decision with the help of
those in President Trump’s own party who also disapprove of the decision. Interestingly enough, Trump has actually said that he expects a rough road ahead of him as a result of this decision, saying himself that he “expect(s) to be sued” but that he will come out national emergency victorious in the end. While this remains to be seen, we do know that because of his declaring a national emergency, Trump will have $3.6 billion taken away from military construction projects that will now be used for the border wall.
Bernie Sanders launches 2020 presidential campaign
By ANDREW ALVEY News Editor
Bernie Sanders, the independent senator of Vermont and 2016 Democratic Primary runner-up has announced his plans to rerun for the democratic nomination in 2020. As a candidate in 2016 he helped to push the party to the left with his calls for Medicare for all, tuition-free public college, and a $15 minimum wage. All of these policy positions being supported by multiple other 2020 presidential hopefuls. Senator Sanders in 2016 led a campaign that focused around his populist agenda and strongly encouraged small donors, refusing money from super
PACs. This cam2016. The losses paign strategy is in these states what propelled show Bernie the senator from Sander’s largest a candidate who problem nationtrailed Hillary ally in that he Clinton by 57 perhas traditionally centage points struggled with Source:People in April of 2015 support in states Bernie Sanders launches 2020 camto one that was with a larger Afripaign within single can-American digits in many polls in the spring of voting block while prospering among 2016. young white males. The biggest question for the SandIn 2020, Sanders will also have siger’s campaign lies in whether or not the nificantly more competition than he senator will be able to do better in the did in 2016, with 11 other candidates Southern United States where Hillary announced so far and several other Clinton swept every primary back in candidates expected to announce in the
near future. Many of them such as Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris supporting many of the same progressive positions that Sanders called for in the 2016 primaries. Sanders begins this campaign with many advantages over the rest of the announced candidates with wide name recognition, a 50-state organization, a lead among low-dollar donors that is equivalent to the donor base of all of the other Democratic hopefuls combined and a large crowd of fervent supporters from 4 years prior. Will the 77 year old self-proclaimed “Democratic Socialist” be able to compete in the crowded field of younger, more diverse progressives, or will he
Page 4
Sports & Recreation
The Georgetonian
Player Spotlight: Gary “Buddy” Lukens – Thrower on the Georgetown College Track and Field team
By GJ WELLINGHURST Staff Writer
This year’s Georgetown track team is full of hope and full of character. This week’s in-depth review of an athlete has both of those in spades. Gary “Buddy” Lukens is a bright young star poised to make a name for himself this year. Buddy is from Dayton High School in northern Kent., and he was a three-sport athlete while attending. While excelling in football and basketball, he was born for track and field. His mother and older sister were both stars at the collegiate level in the throwing events. Since birth, Buddy has worked on perfecting his 6’7, 285-pound frame into becoming a dominant thrower. He has been throwing his whole
Source: www.georgetowncollegeathletics.com
Buddy Lukens throws discus and shotput for the Georgetown College track and field team.
life under the guidance of his family of throwers. Last year was a stellar freshman campaign for the athlete. His personal records in the events were: 40.04 in discus, 36.47 in hammer, and 11.20 in shotput. He looks to build off those numbers in a quest to become one of the better all-around throwers in the conference. When asked about his offseason preparations, he said, “I’ve been in the weight room non-stop since the end of last outdoor
season, and I’ve been doing regular cardio with a new diet. I hope that I can continue to improve.” Buddy is a simple man, during the week you can find him in the dorm playing FIFA and volunteering around the community. Although he is all business on the track, he is a very loose and playful personality off of it. As one of the newest members of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity here on campus, he can be found on the weekends hanging out and relaxing with his friends. He even told me that on the weekends he likes to ride his bike on new trails around Georgetown. Some more personal notes about Buddy is that he is officially certified in Microsoft office and even enjoys painting when he can find the time. He
told me that he doesn’t want just to be known for leaving his mark in the athletic field while he is here attending college. It seems that economics and political science double major has a lot to bring to the table. It is a goal of his to expand his horizon by joining different groups and organizations on campus this semester. Talking to the throws coach for Georgetown, he expects nothing but big things from the athlete. With so much time left in his young career, he has so much more untapped potential that so many people are waiting to see. While he is only a sophomore, we should expect him to continue improving and reaching new milestones in his athletic career. Look for Buddy standing on the podium when conference comes around.
GC SPORTS SCHEDULE FEBRUARY Wed 20 Wed 20 Thu 21 Thu 21 Thu 21 Thu 21 Fri 22 Fri 22 Sat 23 Sat 23 Sat 23 Sat 23 Sat 23 Sat 23 Sat 23
2 p.m. 6 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 6 p.m. 8 p.m. 1 p.m. 2 p.m. nooon 1 p.m. 2 p.m. 2 p.m. Game 2 2 p.m. 4 p.m.
Softball Women’s Lacrosse Men’s Tennis Women’s Tennis Women’s Basketball Men’s Basketball Baseball Softball Softball Baseball Women’s Basketball Men’s Tennis Softball Women’s Tennis Men’s Basketball
vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. @ @ vs. @ @
Indiana University Southeast Lincoln Memorial University Union College Union College University of Pikeville University of Pikeville Indiana Wesleyan University Judson University Judson University Indiana Wesleyan University Shawnee State University UVA-Wise Judson University UVA-Wise Shawnee State University
February 20, 2019 Page 5 Sports & Recreation NBA All-star game was MLB Spring training is underway unimpressively average
Issue 4
By BUDDY LUKENS Staff Writer As what seems to be the story of every all-star game in recent NBA history, the talent on the court did not reflect the level of play. While the game is meant to be composed of two superstar NBA lineups, the game is more entertaining than competitive. The game was similar to a Harlem-GlobeTrotters performance, rather than one of the top professional basketball players in the NBA. It didn’t accurately reflect the athlete’s competitive skill set or drive for success. Additionally, the weekend seems to classify itself as a recruiting event for up and coming free agents. Instead of seeing a competitive comradery like we did between players like Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, we are seeing players like Kyrie and KD, or LeBron and any superstar who is on an expiring contract being buddy-buddy with each other in hopes of forming a super team. Even with that being the underlying theme of the weekend, there were many entertaining things to happen that made me genuinely happy as a fan of the NBA. The first is the rising stars game which always seems to be one of the most entertaining events of the night. The rising stars game features a team of international players against American players, all in their first or second year in the NBA.This game never fails to show the
talent of the young stars in the league. There is a more competitive nature in this game because the young guys are trying to prove themselves and put the league on notice. Team USA won 161-144, Kyle Kuzma leads the game in scoring with 35. De’Aaron Fox chipped in 16 assists. Saturday saw the dunk and three-point contests. These contests have created some of the most iconic moments in the history of the all-star weekend. While these contests weren’t bad by any means, they weren’t ones that will go down in history. Hamidou Diallo scored a 45 out of 50 to win the dunk contest by jumping over NBA Hall-of-Famer, Shaquille O’Neal and hanging on the rim from his elbow. In the 3-point contest, Joe Harris took home the trophy. Stephen Curry landed the 5th highest score in the history of the contest in a preliminary round. Yet, after Curry cooled down, Harris out-shot him in the finals. Sunday featured the main event of the weekend, the allstar game: Team Giannis vs. Team LeBron. Just about all the points came from dunks and 3-pointers. It featured the typical pace of an all-star game where both teams scored in the high 100s. Team LeBron erased a 20-plus point deficit and won the game, 178-164. Dirk Nowitzki and Dwayne Wade saw honorary selections in what is the last year of their careers.
By REESE ASHER Staff Writer
As winter begins to fade away, we know that spring is right around the corner and with the spring season, comes baseball. Every year all thirty MLB teams report to either Arizona (also known as the cactus league) or Florida (commonly referred to as the grapefruit league) to play their spring ball before the regular season begins in March. Pitchers and catchers usually have to report mid-February, and the rest of the team will report a few days later. Since it is already February 20, that means they have been hard
at work for a few days already. With that being said, the first spring game this season will take place this coming Thursday in Mesa, Ariz. between the Seattle Mariners and the Oakland Athletics. The following day, the grapefruit league will get underway in Florida with a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays. Once games begin, the teams will have about a month to get into regular season form with opening day scheduled for March 28 to kick off the 2019 campaign. That also happens to be the earliest opening day in the history of baseball, beating out
2018 by a single day. Spring training is a time for veterans to get back into the swing of everyday baseball routine and a time for young guns to try and win a spot on the bigleague ball club, but in the end each organization must make the decision of who to send to Single A, Double A, Triple A and the majors based off of each player’s performance in the spring games. And as we know, nothing is ever guaranteed in baseball and life in general. Spring is definitely in the air, and I am very excited about this baseball season as it always proves to be one of the most exciting times of the year.
Zlatan sets ambitious goals for upcoming MLS season By DEMETRIUS HARRISON Opinon Editor Zlatan Ibrahimovic, forward for Los Angeles Galaxy, has accepted a daunting challenge for the upcoming Major League Soccer season on Sunday. Ibrahimovic has vowed to rewrite the league record book for this year. The 37-year-old Swedish superstar unveiled the new Galaxy jerseys in a flashy entrance, then announced to the crowd of fans his ambitious goals for the 2019 campaign. “This season I will bring something to you. I will break every record in the MLS this season,” Ibrahimovic said. Zlatan scored 22 goals while setting up ten others in 27 MLS contests last season, transitioning him into the new season with high expectations. Galaxy hosts their season opener against Chicago on
March 2. Galaxy 13-12 with nine drawn previous season to miss the MLS playoffs by a single point. When the club missed their playoffs, this sparked rumors Ibrahimovic could quit playing for Galaxy. In December, Ibrahimovic was heavily linked with a return to his former AC Milan, who reportedly set to offer him a 3.5m EUR per year to secure his services. However, the 37-year-old striker released a dramatic video on Twitter, revealing he was “not done” with the MLS side yet. Among other impressive MLS records, Zlatan’s vow entails him attempting to score
in nine consecutive games, assist in eight consecutive games, and score four goals in one half. Josef Martinez of Atlanta set the one-season MLS goals record with 31 in 34 games during last years’ season. Carlos Valderrama of Tampa Bay set the record for assists with 26 in 32 games in 2000. Other records include 181 shots in a season and 76 shots on goal in a season. Furthermore, Zlatan scored the MLS goal of the year with his first-ever strike for the club, launching from 40 yards. As a result, the volley earned him a Designed Players Contract for the club.
If you’re interested in becoming a writer for The Georgetonian, contact Riley Noe at:
jnoe@georgetowncollege.edu
Features
Page 6
The Georgetonian
Bye bye birdies: Bird company withdraws contract with Georgetown By SOPHIE HUGHES Features Editor
This is not a happy article, and it has nothing to do with the beloved musical. The company Bird, whom encourages clean, car-free alternatives with their electric scooters, has evoked its contract with Georgetown College. You may remember a few months ago when our Student Government Association announced the company was bringing their super fast and awesome scooters to our small campus. They even brought a sample scooter and many students enjoyed a free joy ride around town. Unfortunately, the company reached out to our SGA and withdrew the contract with Georgetown College and
every small school and town across the country where they placed their scooters. It appears Georgetown is not the popping metropolis we all know and love. However, the scooters are in most major cities if you are ever in town and get an itch to ride. They are $1 to start riding and 15 cents for every minute once you start the ride. They prove to be a cost effective and eco-friendly alternatives to driving around. Also, with speeds up to 15 miles per hour they are much faster than walking. The company placed their scooters in other small schools and towns similar to ours and the profits were not as expected. Ross Buskey, the Director of Student Engagement, gave his official statement on
the matter, “The Bird Board of Directors identified the ideal markets for sustainable growth; unfortunately Georgetown did not meet their qualifications. Bird has rescinded contracts with multiple institutions, some much larger than Georgetown. We hope that if Lexington is able to get approved that Bird will allow GC to be incorporated with their contract. SGA is working hard to find alternate solutions. I commend their efforts to help further campus life.” Many students were very excited at the prospect, including junior Mary Lou Loxley, “I was really pumped about the Birds. I know we have a small campus, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t choose to ride in luxury when given the opportunity. What do they expect
me to do, run even more than I already do? I’m only human.” Junior Jess Tapp gave her opinion on the issue, “I’ve lived on East Campus for the past two years, and I’m hon- Source: Sophie Hughes estly tired of Pictured: Birding around downtown L.A. driving to class everyday; and Georgetown students we still walking just is not really a pos- live on a small and easily sibility. The Birds would have accessible campus. Thank you solved that problem. I also tore to our Student Government my ACL a few months ago, so Association for trying your it would have given me a break best! We cannot wait to see the from walking everywhere.” next awesome thing you will These are sad times on bring to this campus. campus, but do not fret
Tree hugger of the week: Sarah Wiseman
Source: Ismael Martinez
Pictured: Sarah Wiseman doing what tree huggers do best.
By ISMAEL MARTINEZ Staff Writer Sarah Wiseman is a sophomore currently studying
Communication and Media Studies along with Sociology. In her second year at Georgetown College, she has become a member of the Phi Mu Fra-
ternity chapter and works for Admissions. She is also a member of the Cross Country and Track Team. She enjoys the outdoors and visits the same summer camp every year to inspire others to care for the environment. “I like the changes the faculty has made to reducing waste, but it is important that students also make conscious decisions about trash,” says Sarah, who is a big fan of reusable water bottles. “Even one person making the choice to help the environment can make a difference.”
If you are interested in becoming a writer or photographer for the Features
section,
please
contact
Sophie Hughes at shughes@georgetowncollege.edu
Features
February 20, 2019 Page 7
years during her high school Martina Lytle, a political tina is planning to attend law AAU career. Following gradu- science major from Flemings- school at either the University ation, Lydia plans to take a gap burg, Kentucky has been play- of Kentucky or Northern Kenyear before going to dental ing basketball since the fifth tucky University. school. Abbey Van Zant, Leslie Fries, a an exercise science communication major major from Crestfrom Louisville, Ky wood, Ky has been has been playing basplaying basketball ketball since she was in for 12 years. Abbey’s pre-school. Leslie says, favorite basketball “my all-time favorite memory was when memory was getting her team won the disto play for my mom trict championship while she was coachher sophomore year ing me at Fern Creek. of high school. After She is one of the best graduation, Abbey coaches I have ever plans to spend a year Source: Leslie Fries encountered.” Basketliving at home, spendPictured: the five seniors enjoying time ball is something Leslie ing time with her together during their final season. has always been a part family while making of, and after this season it will grade. When asked about her money. be time for her to move on. favorite memory, Martina said, Kaci Currens, an elemenLeslie is unsure about what “my favorite memory is when tary education major from her plans are for graduation, I hit a game winning rebound Lawrenceburg, Ky has been but she is hopeful she will put back in a game against our playing basketball for as long have the opportunity to do a district rival as a sophomore.” as she can remember. Kaci lot of traveling. Following graduation, Mar- thought back to her favor-
ite basketball memory, “I’ve been playing since the third grade. My favorite memory was being down two points and hitting three free throws in a row with 1 second left to help my team advance to the regional championship in 2015.” After graduation, Kaci will be getting married. Then, she will begin student teaching in the fall. As these five women’s basketball players wrap up their basketball careers, it is evident that they have bright futures ahead of them. Basketball has provided them all with many opportunities they could have never imagined having, and they are so grateful it brought them to Georgetown. Good luck ladies and best of luck in life off of the basketball court. Be sure to come to senior night this Thursday to support these girls, along with many other senior athletes.
Issue 4
Women’s basketball seniors take final bow By ANNA ARRASTIA Staff Writer
It is the end of an era for five Georgetown Tiger women’s basketball players. This Thursday is senior night for seniors Lydia Graves, Leslie Fries, Martina Lytle, Abbey Van Zant and Kaci Currens. It’s also an end to a way of life and basketball career for these players. These five players have had the privilege of playing together for the past few years. Not only are they great athletes, but they are also great students and role models who have bright futures. Lydia Graves, a biology major from Fort Thomas, Ky has been playing basketball since she was in the second grade. Her most memorable moment from her basketball career was going to nationals with her AAU team multiple
What’s new this week
2/21- Caf Committee 11 a.m. in Jones Hall Nelson Suite
Spring into Wellness Fair 6 p.m. in JHN
2/22- GC Preview Day- Say hello to prospective students!
GAC’s Movies On Us 6-10 p.m.
2/23- Belle of the Blue and Beaus Too- 7 p.m. in the Chapel 2/26- Chapel Service 11 a.m. *True Nude and Home Again Art exhibits open all week in Library and Art Building*
Page 8
ArtsEntertainment
The Georgetonian
“The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part”: Everything is Not Awesome By EMILY CROWE Staff Writer “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part” is a good movie. There, I said it. Surprisingly, though, I am not alone in this opinion. This move currently holds an 85% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, higher than “Green Book,” which just won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture and is nominated for the Oscar for Best Motion Picture of the Year. While I may have particularly enjoyed this film because I am still a child deep down inside, I am certainly not the only adult who enjoyed this film. The cast of this film has more big
names than I have space to list, but here are some highlights – Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Tiffany Haddish, Stephanie Beatriz, Alison Brie, Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill and Nick Offerman. What more could you want from a film? This cast works through their LEGO characters to tell a story that is drastically different from “The Lego Movie.” While this first film obviously has a villain and some dark(ish) moments, there is never really a doubt that everything will return to being awesome. “The Lego Movie 2” jumps five years into the future, where Bricksburg has become a post-apocalyptic wasteland after the arrival of invaders – Duplo bricks. The film very cleverly explores the
relationship dynamics between Finn, a teenage boy, and his younger sister, Bianca, being forced to play together by their parents. “Armamageddon,” or “Our Momma Gets In,” is when all of the LEGO and Duplo bricks are put in storage as a punishment for the siblings bickering and Finn destroying Bianca’s creations. You should go see this movie. If you’re worried about going to see a children’s movie in theatre, just don’t. This film has plenty of jokes that will sail over the head of that seven year old you accidently cussed in front of in the lobby of the theatre, but will be the funniest thing you’ve heard in a while. From the Bruce Willis jokes to the Ruth
Bader Ginsberg cameo, this film has something for everyone.
Source: gameblast.com
See “The Lego Movie 2” in theaters now!
Can you name the musical based on its song? Across
4. “Rag Doll”, “December 1963 (Oh, What A Night)” (2 words) 6. “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King” (3 words) 7. “I Believe” (4 words) 8. “Miracle”, “This Little Girl” 10. “Johanna”, “The Barber and His Wife” (2 words) 13. “Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin’” 14. “Jet Song” (3 words) 17. “Seasons of Love” 18. “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story” 19. “The Wizard and I” 20. “Good Morning Baltimore”
Down
1. “I Dreamed A Dream” (2 words) 2. “Roxie”, “When Velma Takes the Stand” 3. “All I Ask of You” (5 words) 5. “Another Day of Sun”, “City of Stars” (3 words) 9. “This Is the Hour”, “Little God of My Heart” (2 words) 11. “Dancing Queen” (2 words) 12. “Summer Nights” 15. “Tomorrow”, “Maybe” 16. “The Invitation of the Jellicle Ball”, “The Jour ney to the Heaviside Layer”
Issue 4
ArtsEntertainment
February 20, 2019 Page 9
Maskrafters’ “Too Much Light” gets audience involved By ELLIE SMITH Staff Writer Last weekend Georgetown College’s Department of Theatre and Film as well as the Maskrafters performed their spring production “Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind” by Greg Allen. Georgetown College professor Dr. Ed Smith directed the show, which was performed in the lab theatre. The show is a very unique production that relies heavily on audience participation. The cast presented 30 neo-futurist plays in under 60 minutes. Every show is different because the order of the performances is determined by the audience. Interaction between the audience and the cast members began before the start of the actual performance. Upon entering the theatre, patrons got a taste for the theatrical experience to come by rolling a dice to determine the price of their ticket. Patrons were given a menu containing a list of each of the plays by number. While waiting for the show, audience members were encouraged to play games or receive face paintings
from the cast members. At the start of the show, sophomore Lauren Parkinson explained the premise of the show and how the actors would know which play to perform next based on the number of the play that the audience requested. Memorable titles plays include “Deja Chicken,” “How to War” and “Real Famous Last Words.” My personal favorite play of the night was “Title.” Rather than a conventional dialogue, this play consisted of descriptions of a dialogue that might take place on a first date. For example, instead of saying “Hey, it is so good to see you,” the actor would say “Polite greeting!” Thus, the play relied on facial expressions, stage directions and intonation from the actors to illustrate the course of conversation. “Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind” was senior Emily Crowe’s sixth production at Georgetown College. When asked about her experience with the play, Crowe said, “This production was incredibly fun. It was exciting because it was different literally every night. You never knew what
was coming next, but you had to be ready for anything. This show required a lot of energy and focus, but it is the show that I have enjoyed being a part of the most.” “Title” is only one example of the skill and energy required of the cast members to perform this show. The nature of the show requires both cast and crew to step out of their comfort zone of knowing what scene comes next. Everyone had to be on top of the ball to be ready to perform any play at a moments notice. When asked why he chose the plays that he did from the nearly 100 available in the original script, director Ed Smith said, “I tried to pick plays that I thought would resonate with our actors and the audience. It was surprising to me how relevant the political plays were, especially since some of them were written over twenty years ago. On the other hand, many of the plays dealt with relationships and how we communicate with each other, and those plays also seemed very prescient. Finally, I looked for plays that took on the very nature of performance, like
ending and not rely on the tropes of the genre. Why I enjoyed this movie is because while there were tropes, they were seen for what they were. An occasional clever smirk demonstrated the ability to understand the workings of the movie. Also, Liam Hemsworth played the saxophone during the end of the movie which caused my friend to laugh really hard. He knows how to play a fake saxophone, trust me. I understand the necessity for light-hearted films. As I’ve mentioned before, sometimes I go to movies to escape the monotony of my own life.
I’m a political science major and usually my classes involve human rights abuses or the failure of governments. Rebel Wilson’s character waking up in her dingy apartment, with a dog that won’t pay any attention to her and coworkers who run her over, seems like the predictable future of many college seniors. Perhaps the reason why I preferred her dingy apartment as opposed to her spacious one, is because I’m currently living in an undergraduate dorm. All of the things that make her apartment dingy, make it shine to me because it’s synonymous with independent living. I would love
Source: Lauren Parkinson
The Maskrafter cast of “Too Much Light”
what it means to perform for a live audience, since this idea of the ‘truth’ of acting and what happens on stage has actually formed part of my dissertation work. Mostly, I picked the plays that elicited a strong response from me, whether funny, poignant, or horrific. And if I could find a play that did all those at once, that was even better!” This play was extremely entertaining to watch, a real hoot and a half. It is the epitome of an engaging theatrical experience that left all members of the audience entertained. If you were unable to see this production, I am sorry to say that you have missed out.
“Isn’t It Romantic”: Isn’t it wonderful? By RACHEL CHEATHAM Staff Writer Priyanka Chopra, Adam Devine, Rebel Wilson and Liam Hemsworth, make up the spectacular cast of “Isn’t it Romantic.” I’m not a fan of romantic comedies, I believe they project unhealthy standards for relationships. I won’t go into why I dislike them, since Rebel Wilson does that for me within the first 20 minutes of the movie. Sometimes I go to movies to escape my life, sometimes I go to embrace it. This movie perfectly toes the line between the two. I think romantic comedies can be good; they just have to earn the happy
to own a dog, to live in New York, to do everything (aside from being an architect) she’s doing. Don’t get me wrong, if someone offered me a fully furnished apartment with an adorable dog and as much ice cream as I could eat, I would take it. I’m not an idiot. But I know, with the budget I’ll have post-grad, I would be lucky to have an apartment in New York without any roommates, nevermind the money to take care of another living thing. Frankly, I enjoyed it because it allowed me to see a version of my future which was attainable, and another I could fantasize about.
Opinion The Georgetonian Reaching a utopia is possible
Page 10
The Georgetonian
Editor–in–Chief..................................................Ross Smith Managing Editor............................................... Aidan Young News Editor......................................................Andrew Alvey S&R Editor............................................................. Riley Noe Features Editor............................................ Sophie Hughes A&E Editor................................................ Lauren Parkinson Opinion Editor....................................... Demetrius Harrison Back Page Editor.........................................Trey Smallwood Web Editor...................................................Trey Smallwood Graphics Editor..........................................Cameron Kenner Alumni Coordinator.........................................Laura Calihan Copy Editor.................................................... Bethany Jones Copy Editor..........................................................Mary Hines Faculty Adviser...........................................Jennifer Beckett
The Georgetonian is a free weekly newspaper published most Wednesdays during the academic year by Georgetown College in Georgetown, Ky. Its contents are written and edited by current students of Georgetown College. Letters to the editor should be under 600 words and should include the writer’s name and telephone number. Letters may be edited for clarity and brevity. Please send letters to one of the following addresses:
email georgetonian@georgetowncollege.edu
post
The Georgetonian Georgetown College 400 E. College Street Box 280 Georgetown, Kentucky, 40324
All material printed in The Georgetonian is copyright ©2018 Georgetown College, unless otherwise noted. Any republication in any form without express permission from the writer and editor is prohibited.
facebook.com/ Georgetonian
twitter.com/ georgetonian
instagram.com/ georgetonian
By DEMETRIUS HARRISON Opinion Editor
The Oxford Dictionary defines utopia as, “an imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect.” The problem I have with the definition of a utopia is the inclusion of the word ‘imagined.’ To me, this takes away the possibility of ever reaching a utopia: living in perfection. I believe a utopia is extremely capable of being created; it will just be a difficult task. The hardest part? Getting everyone on the same page. Once we fight to normalize humanity and eliminate all of the negative energy individuals carry, not only will problems such as homocide, racism and prejudice be solved, but we can also work together in loving our neighbor. I believe this to be the most important part of a utopia. We need to mature as a species before we can work together to form a society. We’re new to the universe; humans are roughly 200,000 years old while Earth is 4.54 billion years old. We have a lot to learn. On the other hand, it could be argued that humans are too flawed at our massive 7.7 billion population to reach that point. It could be argued that there is no way to get everyone on the same page. To some, it may seem like the only way utopia can be
possible is to eliminate all freedom and individuality. It seems that unless we become perfect beings, utopia is impossible. So let’s begin there. How do we go about this? What defines being a perfect human? In my mind, I believe no one can truly be perfect because evil will always linger; however, I do believe there is a point where we could reach 99.99% perfection. We will need help from the government. I believe the strife for money and power to be the root of evil. If we could somehow figure out how to live to be humans, animals of nature, and incorporate living without money or being trained to work to enter the workforce to contribute to the world’s systematical operation, this would be a major step. Saying this, I believe there are as many scenarios as people for what a utopia looks like. This means it is everyone’s responsibility to create one. Personally, my version of a utopia would be a place without money. A place where murder doesn’t exist to where it doesn’t even have to be outlwaed or in the vocabulary. A place without violence, fear, or obligations. I wouldn’t view this as lazy, but instead, time to simply enjoy being alive. A place to roam wild and just live, and be happy to be alive. I imagine this is how humanity began, and then
someone got bored of it, so striving for power began, ruining mankind. Often, I don’t think we realize how imperfect humanity is. I don’t think we realize we are slaves of the government, and we actually don’t have free will. The American Dream doesn’t really live up to our perception of it, and our society has prioritized the wrong things. If I had my way, I think I’d be a vagabond. I’d travel the world when warm, sleep outside, and just be an animal and one with nature. I would meet people just to learn about how different minds work. I would make experiences. If not a vagabond, I would live in what is referred to as a “third world country,” maybe somewhere in a safari.My only fear would be leaving behind all I am accustomed to. For now, I encourage you to create your own utopia in the easiest place possible: your bedroom. Use your bedroom as a time capsule. Decorate it to resemble the world you want to live in, so that when you open the door to your room, you enter an alternate universe. If you wish you could live on a beach, maybe decorate it as a tiki island. If you love video games, turn it into a game room. Get crafty. Make it your own world while simultaneously being a part of it. Make your utopia.
Opinion
Issue 4
February 20, 2019 Page 11
A plea for new blood in 2020 By ANDREW ALVEY
News Editor With the recent announcement from Senator Bernie Sanders that he is running for president, it is important to discuss whether a 77-year-old white man is what the democratic party needs to succeed against President Trump in 2020. The senator has already lost the primary previously, to Hillary Clinton, someone who many viewed as a flawed candidate, and has had a difficult time garnering support from anyone outside of his base, young white males. Thus, would the same not happen
again, especially in a field that is significantly more crowded than what he has competed in before? Unlike in 2016, Bernie is not the only progressive candidate anymore. In fact, according to progressivepunch.org it is Senator Kamala Harris that has the most progressive voting record in Congress while Bernie is ranked at #9. Speaking of Kamala Harris, despite having much lower name recognition than Senator Sanders, she is only polling 2 points behind the Vermont Senator in recent polls from Emerson Polling. Elizabeth Warren will also
likely take away some of Bernie’s progressive support due to her previous record and due to the fact that unlike Bernie she is actually writing the bills that she is pushing for such as her comprehensive tax plan or her plan to fund universal child care. Bernie’s only problem is not that there are other progressive candidates running though, he also will struggle in a primary field that is a lot more aggressive than 2016’s. The Clinton campaign did not air negative attack ads against Bernie, the same cannot be said for the 11 competitors Sanders has this year.
Bernie has a lot of baggage that could easily be used against him, such as the sexual assault accusations from his last presidential campaign, the fact that he honeymooned in the Soviet Union, or the fact that his wife bankrupted Burlington College when she was the president of it. However, Bernie is not the only 2020 candidate hopeful that shouldn’t run in this era. Joe Biden the 76-year-old former Vice-President also shouldn’t run. His old age and moderate stances are not representative of the current Democratic party, and it is very likely that he would not
survive the Me Too movement. Ultimately, looking at the victories during the 2018 midterm election by women, minorities and first-time candidates doesn’t it make sense that we reflect on those victories and do the same for 2020? As someone who routinely keeps up with politics, is an active member of generation Z and cares immensely about my country, I want a president who can represent me just as well they can represent the rest of the country. That is why I believe that Senator Kamala Harris is the best bet for the democratic primary and for president of the United States.
time,” said Dr. Michael Saag, director of AIDS Research at the university of Alabama, Bermingham. He continued with, “There have been many stories about it, but we’ve really had this problem over the last 30 years, and unless we do something soon, we’re facing a real crisis in health care. And the shortage is in all areas of medicine.” Reason #2: drug pushing and radiation referrals. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, prescription drug use in the United States has been increasing. In 2016, more than 46 people died each day from overdoses involving prescription opiods. This study found that the United States makes up 5 percent of the world’s population and consumes approximately 80 percent of the world’s
prescription opioid drugs. General Practitioners tend to contribute to this by pushing referrals and prescribing medication to treat the problem rather than to cure it. Reason #3: Destroying our self-empowerment. Going to the doctor is giving away our self-sufficiency. The basis of humanity, before hospitals, doctors, and any businesses existed, humans survived decades on nature’s basics. We should revert to how to survive without any treatment, re-learning what it means to be human. We should be trying as hard as possible to not support the system. Reason #4: False diagnosis. Supporting the claim that some doctors are incompetent, the MBJ Quality & Safety journal has found that approximately 12 million adults who seek outpatient medical care
are misdiagnosed every year. This figure amounts to one out of 20 adult patients, and researches say in half of those cases, the misdiagnosis has the potential to result in severe harm. Ditch the doctor so that you are not a potential victim to a misdiagnosis! Reason #5: Money. The health care industry in America is run more like a business than like caring for an individual’s physical health. A visit to the doctor is as risky as expensive. According to the federal government, we spend $3.4 trillion on healthcare, which equates to approximately 18 percent of the country’s total GDP. This means that one out of every six dollars we spent (in 2016) went to the general health care fund. Furthermore, most hospitals recive only 25 cents
per dollar in patient revenue, barely breaking even in cost for operation. Saying this, the majority of money goes to doctors: the average doctor earns $80 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2010). This statistic translates into $166,400. Conclusively, while I do not physically agree with these reasons, or the topic in general, I do understand why some choose against going on to an annual check-up, going to the emergency room, or even visiting an urgent care center or clinic when ill. So what was the point of this article? It just means your opinion on anything is never the only one, because there is always someone who thinks the opposite and you should respect that because, well... it’s just the nice thing to do.
Five reasons to not go to the doctor By DEMETRIUS HARRISON
Opinion Editor Today I feel like arguing about something I don’t necessarily agree with just for fun, so here we go! Here are ten reasons you should not go to the doctor. Reason #1: incompetence. General Practitioners are becoming less qualified as the years progress. Their ethos is focusing on the symptoms and not the root cause. It has been a trend in the past five-years that doctors are not following their Hippocratic Oath. This is a result of medical school entailing less rigor due to the shortage of doctors. Experts call this the “invisible problem,” because the shortage of U.S. doctors is not as talked about as home foreclosures or job losses. “The shortage is here now and getting worse all the
T H E B A C K PA G E A Piece of Truth Pie
BY Rachel Cheatham Staff Writer
Hi, let’s talk about conspiracy theories. First, we need to admit they’re not real no matter how badly we want them to be. The earth? Round. Vaccines? Don’t cause autism. Chuck E Cheese pizza? Fresh never frozen. While we could spend forever and a day on any of the three conspiracies mentioned, today it feels like a Chuck E Cheese day. Shane Dawson, a YouTube content creator, posted a video suggesting that the kids’ entertainment chain recycled pizzas from the day before and fed them to children the next day. Dawson has over 20 million followers on YouTube alone, usually having a strong adolescent-young adult following. The video caught enough fire to generate a reply from Chuck E Cheese, “The claims made in this video about Chuck E. Cheese’s and our pizza are unequivocally false. No conspiracies here — our pizzas are made to order and we prepare our dough fresh in restaurant, which means that they’re not always perfectly uniform in shape, but always delicious.” (Washington Post) “I think that there is a chance that the conspiracy could be true, and I would like to test it as well.” said
Source: Sophie Hughes
Chuck E. Cheese in the flesh.
Andrew Alvey, News Editor for the Georgetonian. “I would go to Chuck E Cheese with a group of people, order a cheese pizza, a pepperoni pizza, and a half cheese, half pepperoni pizza which would show proof.” Alvey, a knowledgeable friend on all things bureaucratic and democratic processes, is mistaken. First of all, his delivery of the evidence isn’t freed from confirmation bias. He’s set up the ‘experiment’ so if a result is less than perfect the conspiracy is real. If he truly wanted to determine the validity of Dawson’s claims then shouldn’t there be controlled variable? I believe a stronger version of Alvey’s proposed plan is to ask for a Chuck E Cheese branch to make the pizza in front of him. Afterwards, he can eat it, paying an additional fee for the insanity he has subjected the chain. Once he has established a base for critique, he and his band of merry men could travel to different Chuck E Cheeses across the land. Going to only one Chuck E Cheese doesn’t allow for duplication of results a key component of the scientific method. Am I being too critical of Alvey’s plan to prove a pizza conspiracy? Hardly. I look to my leaders to shed wisdom in hard times, which is why I asked Ross Smith, the Editor-in-Chief of the Georgetonian for advice. He said, “while there is a chance that a few rogue Chuck E Cheese employees have used leftover slices of pizza to serve to new customers, I think the idea that Chuck Cheese the company has a policy facilitating this
practice is an absurd theory. The “evidence” is likely staged and subscribers to this theory are bored.” While I agree with the idea that the believers are bored I decided to test this theory. Immediately after writing the previous sentence I turned to Alvey, who happened to sit a Source: Sophie Hughes couple seats away, and How Alvey sees Chuck E. Cheese pizza. asked him, “Are you bored?” “The gist of the fake theory is He turned to me, “Why what that Podesta’s repeated use of the do you need?” Not wanting to word “pizza” in emails detailed in the answer his question, I rephrased. WikiLeaks release was actually a code “Just...in general, in life, are you word for pedophilia. bored?” Comet Ping Pong was allegedly He blinked in confusion. “Not the base for secret rooms in which really, I lead a very busy life. It’s Clinton and her allies kidnapped and not like I believe in conspiracies. imprisoned children to be sexually This, this is just different.” abused, tortured or even sacrificed in Is the pizza conspiracy differthe name of Satan. ent? I don’t believe so. The basis for Democrats in both Clinton’s camthe conspiracy is a distrust in the paign and the federal government have given establishment. Once distrust colluded to hide the abuse, the theory is formed, one doesn’t need evialleges.” (Politifact) dence to condemn. The Chuck E. Edgar Maddison Welch was a Cheese conspiracy theory is rooted 28-year-old who walked into Comet in the desire to distrust innocent Ping Pong on Dec. 4 and began to open parties. After all, what’s more fire inside the restaurant. innocent than an establishment He believed the conspiracy theory designed to bring children joy? was true, and responded because he It’s also important to note, that wanted to free the kids he believed the criticism Chuck E. Cheese has were trapped inside. received since the video came out There’s a fine line between enjoycould be grounds for a defamation ment of fantasy and indulging in lawsuit. harmful falsehoods. It’s highly enterIt begs the question: do the taining to get into a heated debate with a coworker about the logistics of health conspiracy videos people watch code violating pizza, I won’t lie. But, for entertainment cause any true there’s always the darker reality of the harm? harm conspiracy theories can do when Remember Pizzagate? taken a step too far.