Georgetown College’s Student–Run Newspaper
August 28, 2019
Volume CXXXVIV Issue 12
Opening Convocation kicks A Letter from the off fall semester 2019-2020 new GC President
By ROBERT BIRD
keting major, and is heavily involved on campus. He is a member of the football team This past Tuesday, Georgeand the Kappa Alpha Psi fratown College hosted its 2019 ternity, just to name a few his Opening Convocation, which many involvements. officially kicked off the In his opening address, 2019-20 school year. Zach set some of his goals Opening Convocation for this school year as SGA was held in the John Hill President, including getChapel, and was very ting everyone on campus well attended by stuinvolved in SGA activities, dents, faculty, staff and and trying to be a voice for alumni. This Convocation every student on campus. in particular was an extra In concluding his opening special day, as newly remarks, Zach then introhired President William duced the other members A. Jones was given the of SGA and they were very prestigious honor of given an extremely warm giving the Convocation welcome by those in attenAddress. dance. To kick off this special One of the biggest day, Professor Andrea highlights of each year’s Ratliff, lecturer of mathOpening Convocation ematics, gave an invocais Dr. Rosemary Allen’s tion prayer, which was introduction of new facGEORGETOWN COLLEGE followed by the singing ulty members and her Dr. Rosemary Allen presents Dr. Roger presentation of the John of the hymn “Great is Ward with the Manning Award. Thy Faithfulness.” The Walker Manning Distinhymn was led under the direc- opening remarks, Dr. Curtis guished Mentor and Teacher tion of new Choral Director Sandberg, Vice President of Award. There were several and Visiting Professor Chris- Student Life and Dean of Stu- new faculty members recogtopher Powell. After the con- dents, introduced the 2019- nized by Dr. Allen, including clusion of the hymn, President 20 SGA President, Mr. Zach the previously... Jones welcomed everyone to Dampier. Zach is a junior MarContinued on Page 2 Staff Writer
Inside
this issue
this momentous occasion, and reminded of the championship level excellence that comes as a result of being a Georgetown College Tiger. Following President Jones’
GC Welcomes Largest Incoming Class Since 2011 page 3
Impressive Start for GC Men’s Soccer page 5
national championships from last year: one in forensic Dear Georgetown College accounting and the other in Students, men’s basketball. And, our faculty, staff, and coaches Welcome back! You help are remarkable professionals to make Georgetown College who are highly committed to exceptional. your success. It is great to be a This fall, we are welcoming Georgetown College Tiger! one of the largest new student As the new president of groups in nearly a decade. Georgetown, I am committed Retention is up from last year. to ensuring that we continue We have a strong and support- to offer a championship-level ive board of trustees—and so education of both the mind many of our alumni support and heart. the college with their gifts. To more specifically get We are celebrating two at this aim, I have been busy working with the Executive Cabinet and the new Expanded Cabinet to identify a set of core values for the cabinet’s work together. Mission statements are often about the who, what and why of a college, an organization or a business. A vision statement outlines where an organization hopes to go. A set of core values spells out “the how.” The cabinet has identified GEORGETOWN COLLEGE 10 core values for this first President Jones welcomes the year. By PRESIDENT WILLIAM JONES
freshman during orientation.
May It Please the Court: Mock Trial page 6
Continued on Page 2
Appalachia is Still Being Forgotten page 11
News
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Global
Headlines Compiled by Andrew Alvey Ariana Grande’s “Boyfriend” declared Song of the Summer at the MTV VMAs, while Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” declared Song of the Year. A doctor used a small camera to examine the inside of a patient’s ear who was complaining of severe ear pain and found a large bee in the ear canal. Instagram has released a messaging app to compete with Snapchat titled “Threads.” The parent company Facebook says the app is meant to promote sharing between its users and their close friends.
Opening Convocation kicks off fall semester 2019-2020 By ROBERT BIRD Staff Writer
Continued from page 1 mentioned Christopher Powell, Director of Choral Activities, and Madame Lodz Pierre-Juanso, professor of French and General Studies. After introducing the new faculty members, Dr. Allen recognized Dr. Roger Ward on his receiving of the Manning Award. In recognizing Dr. Ward, Dr. Allen mentioned his striving for excellence in his academic field, and his ability to build close relationships with his students that help them to succeed in and out of the classroom. Dr. Allen also mentioned Dr. Ward’s involvement with the Christian Scholars Program, and how he, along with Dr. Sheila Klopfer, have undertaken many mission trips and retreats with those in CSP and helped these students strengthen their relationships
A Massachusetts police department responded to a call about a skunk with a yogurt cup stuck on its head. After removing the cup the officer was rewarded with being sprayed by said skunk.
with God and their fellow students. After the presentation of the Manning Award, Dr. Allen then introduced President Jones as giving the Convocation Address. In President Jones’ address, he re-emphasized the excellence of Georgetown College and its championship level education and experience. President Jones recognized several of our outstanding students who have achieved championship level success while at Georgetown. Two of these individuals recognized by President Jones were students Isaac Mathis and Lauren Roy, two accounting majors who won the national championship in Forensic Accounting for Phi Beta Lambda over the summer. The returning members of the 2019 men’s basketball National Championship team were also recognized, along with the baseball team for their accom-
Continued from page 1
Source: Georgetown College
President William Jones speaks at Opening Convocation 2019.
plishments last season. For many students, one of the highlights of his address was when he broke out into an impromptu serenade of the Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus hit song “Old Town Road.” On a more serious note, President Jones also discussed in detail the many ways that students here at Georgetown are able to get involved on campus, and how we can each use our championship level talents to make Georgetown College the best place that it can be. On attending Opening Convocation, sophomore Tyler Evans said, “It was quite an enjoyable experience getting to witness the kickoff of the new school year. President Jones’ address to the faculty and student body was particularly enlightening, and it challenged me to excel for a championship level mind and attitude while I am a student here at Georgetown.”
A letter from the new GC President
By PRESIDENT WILLIAM JONES
A New York state man defended his trash by yelling at an approaching bear who wandered onto the man’s porch. A bungee cord on a slingshot ride at a Florida amusement park snapped before the ride took off.
The Georgetonian
This list is likely to change over time, but currently it reads: lavishly communicating, actively building community, regularly spreading joy, strategically thinking and acting, gratefully serving, diligently caring, enthusiastically persevering, transparently leading, professionally trusting, and persistently solving. You are a critical part of our campus community. I hope you will join me in thinking about “the how.” How will you participate in class?
How will you live in community in your residence hall? How will you plug-in on campus beyond your team? How will you care for a hurting classmate? These are important questions. Please take a few minutes to chat with a friend or two about them. I look forward to hearing what you think. In the meantime, please stop by my office or stop me out on campus if you would like to chat about your core values for this year or another topic. I am thrilled to be with you at Georgetown College. Warm regards, Will Jones
Issue 12
News
August 28, 2019 Page 3
Georgetown College welcomes the largest incoming class since 2011 By TYLER EVANS Staff Writer
As of Fall 2019, Georgetown College has seen an influx of about 319 students, making this freshmen class the largest incoming class in almost a decade. As said by President Jones during the Opening Convocation on Tuesday, “This is the most academically qualified and most diverse group of students that has stepped foot on our lovely campus.” What President Jones said is shown with the average GPA being raised by over a tenth in comparison to past years and with a majority of the freshmen enrolled in honors programs. Not only is President Jones excited about this new class but so is Dr. SandsWise. He said “These are exciting times for GC! To bring in a class that is simultaneously our largest, academically strongest and most diverse in many years shows that what Georgetown College offers students— excep-
tional academics in a vibrant Christian community that prepares students for amazing success – continues to appeal to all sorts of different families.” With this being the second week of school, most freshmen have already met the standards to which Georgetown College holds them to. Members of this group of freshmen have stated that they feel like they have blended in with their older peers due to both their maturity and academic prowess. One freshmen in particular, Jesse Morrow, who is a part of the Oxford Honors Program and Cheer Team feels like he has studied at GC for years. When asked how he felt to be a part of the largest freshmen class so far, Morrow said, “To me it doesn’t really feel like I’m a part of a very large class because my graduating class was from 500-600 students, I came from a pretty big high school.” Morrow, when asked how hard the transition from high school to college
Source: Georgetown College
The Georgetown College Class of 2023 on the steps of Giddings Hall has been, said “the transition has not been too difficult but I do have to make sure that I am using my time more efficiently.” Morrow further commented saying “In a way college has matured me even though it hasn’t been too long since I have gotten here.” Morrow is set to
graduate in 2023. Given this freshmen’s take and the thoughts of the administration, there are high hopes for this incoming freshmen class. Thus far it looks as if they may even exceed our expectations that have been set for them, meaning that the future of GC is in good hands.
The current state of the Democratic and Republican primaries By COOPER ADKINS Opinion Editor The democratic primary field is rapidly shrinking due to the fact that some cantidates have dropped out and others haven’t reached the threshold required for the next debate. Former Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Cory Booker, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro, Senator Kamala Harris, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Beto O’Rourke, Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Andrew Yang have all qualified for the debate. To qualify for the September debates, a candidate must have reached at least 2% in four separate national polls, and have 130,000 individual donors.
John Hickenlooper and Jay Inslee are the only two major candidates who have dropped out of the race already. This leaves around 11 major candidates who are still in the running but have not qualified for the September debates. A few are on the verge of getting into the debate, but with the deadline being this week, odds are they will not be able to qualify. If no more qualify for the debate, the debate will happen on only one evening; as opposed to the two night debate format the previous debates used. The candidates who don’t qualify for the September debates still have a chance to qualify for the October debate. Since most have the funding
due to either donations or their own wealth, odds are that they won’t drop out until the Iowa Caucus in the spring. On the Republican side, former Congressman Joe Walsh announced this week that he would be running for president. He joins former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld in challenging Trump in the 2020 Primary. However, these two candidates have been polling poorly against the incumbent president according to a USA Today poll Trump was polling at 90% while Weld polled at 5%. This is mostly due to the fact that the President holds a high favorability of 88% among Republicans according to recent Gallop polling. Additionally, history is on Trump’s side; no incumbent has ever lost a pri-
mary challenge. Currently, Biden narrowly leads the Democratic field, followed closely by Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Senator Kamala Harris and Mayor Pete Buttigieg close out the top five with single digits. President Trump has a massive lead over former Governor Bill Weld. The Iowa caucus, the first state to vote in the primary, is still five months away though so both primaries could significantly change by then. Of course, one should still keep in mind Donald Trump was not leading at this time in 2015. There is still a long way to go in this race.
The Georgetonian Sports & Recreation NBA Free Agency: Parity Shoot Your Shot: Georgetown Archery Transitions from Sport to Club Makes a Return
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By GARY LUKENS Staff Writer What a summer for professional basketball. The free agency had every bit of potential to completely shift the landscape of the NBA, and it did not disappoint in the slightest. Just about every major player who could have moved teams, did so. Another change occurred with the NBA season now tipping off in late October. A who’s who of NBA players such as Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis, Kemba Walker, Kyrie Irving, Paul George, Russel Westbrook, and many more excellent players, shows that plenty of players will have new homes at the beginning of the season. Within the single dribble of a basketball, juggernauts have fallen, contenders have risen, and the balance of the NBA has fallen back into place. Now, sights are set on the Western Conference. The city of Los Angeles has the two teams who appear to have had the best fate in free agency: the Clippers and the Lakers. Long gone are the days of the Clippers being the little brother team as they pulled the best free agent of the summer, Leonard. Nothing else needs to be said about this man, he is fresh off an NBA Finals MVP after defeating Golden State. The whole NBA world sat and waited for Leonard to make his decision, until it was announced that he chose the LA Clippers.
The same night, it was announced that the Thunder and Clippers worked out a deal to send Paul George to LAC. Within a matter of hours, the Clippers went from a borderline playoff team, to one of the most feared teams in the NBA. The Paul George trade ultimately lead to Russell Westbrook wanting out, and they shipped him to Houston for Chris Paul. That leaves us with the Lakers. In conversations with the Pelicans all season about trading Anthony Davis, they were finally able to make that deal happen during the summer. The Lakers missed out on Leonard, but were still able to put together a miryad of solid role players around Lebron James and Davis. Including Quinn Cook, Caldwell-Pope, Javale McGee, Danny Green, DeMarcus Cousins and Jared Dudley. The big losers in this conference were undoubtedly the Warriors. They lost Kevin Durant who has been a clear cut number two player in the NBA for the past 6 seasons. Even with missing the next season due to a torn achilles, his presence in the bay will be missed for years to come. They were, however, able to somewhat heal from this loss by re-signing Klay Thompson for 5 years and working out a deal to bring DeAngelo Russell to the bay area. The door is finally open in the NBA, and, as a fan, I personally cannot wait to see what happens over the next season.
By TYLER EVANS Staff Writer Archery is one of the most popular sports in the world, especially in good old Kentucky. Since the dawn of time people have used bows and arrows to obtain food for their families or to win wars, but now it is one of the fastest growing competition sports around. Two years ago, Georgetown made archery a competitive sport on our campus, supplying the newly-formed team with uniforms, rides to competitions, individual member scholarships and a practice location. Team members simply had to provide their own bows, arrows, and, of course, commitment. I not only shoot competitively, but I also hunt using a bow and arrows as a way to help carry on a family tradition. As someone who has been shooting a bow since I was twelve years old, I was excited to find a college that would provide financial compensation for a sport I love.
Having an archery team here on campus made it feel more like home, as archery really is a little piece of home for me. I quickly signed up for the team last year as a freshmen ready for plenty of new experiences and wonderful teammates that eventually became friends. As a team, we enjoyed competitive shooting in a wide range of places, from Cumberland Falls, Kentucky to Foley, Alabama. Recently, however, necessary budgeting for the college and a redistribution of funds led to the decision by the campus to end archery as a campus sports team. Upon hearing this news, it initially felt as though a part of Georgetown that I loved was vanishing right before my eyes. Once I arrived on campus, though, I soon learned that there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Rather than disappearing altogether, archery is making the transition from a sport to a club, which means there is still plenty of opportunity for those on campus that are interested in
archery to make connections. Though many may view this as a “downgrade,” the truth is that this transition will greatly help everyone involved and those who wish to become involved. As a club, archery will have less strenuous scheduling, commitment and requirements from members. I am sure many of you can relate to the idea that although there are plenty of things here on campus that I enjoy, such as being a member of the band and part of the Maskrafters, some things just don’t fit into my schedule. As a club, rather than a sport, archery allows for a more free-flowing sense of involvement and community, so this strain on schedules is virtually gone now for those wishing to join. If anyone else hopes to become involved in an engaging, interesting and entertaining club here on campus, shoot your shot and ask around for the Archery Club. Or, email me using my student email.
GC ATHLETIC SCHEDULE
AUGUST Wed 28 5 p.m. Thu 29 5 p.m. Thu 29 7 p.m. Fri 30 TBA Fri 30 TBA SEPTEMBER Mon 2 12 p.m. Mon 2 2:30 p.m. Mon 2 6 p.m. Tue 3 6 p.m. Tue 3 7 p.m. Wed 4 4 p.m. Fri 6 11 a.m.
Women’s Soccer JV Volleyball Volleyball Men’s Cross Country Women’s Cross Country
@ Union College vs. Brescia University vs. Brescia University @ Berea Cross Country Jamboree @ Berea Cross Country Jamboree
Women’s Soccer Men’s Soccer JV Men’s Soccer JV Volleyball Volleyball JV Women’s Soccer Volleyball
vs. vs. vs. @ @ vs. @
Trinity Christian College Trinity Christian College Spalding University Asbury University Thomas More University Midway University Huntington University
Sports & Recreation
Issue 12
Impressive Start for Men’s Soccer By ADAM BETZ Staff Writer The Georgetown College Men’s soccer team is off to a fantastic start since the addition of many skilled players to an already strong roster. This past weekend they hosted their first two matches of the season. On Friday, the Tigers welcomed the University of Michigan at Dearborn to Toyota Stadium and came away with a fast-paced 6-4 victory over the Wolverines. Returning leading scorer and senior center midfielder Noel Roman, scored twice for the Tigers on Friday. Freshman winger, Seba Bocaz Canales, also scored twice. The other two goals were scored by freshman winger, Luca Zellman, and senior striker, Logan Sparks. It was a great start for the young Tigers, as they avenged a close loss from last season. In a Saturday showdown with Freed-Hardeman, the Tigers took down the Lions 6-0. Junior goalkeeper Jacob Roberts kept a clean sheet for Georgetown, and the offense put the game away early. Freshman striker Jake McKettrick led the charge for the Tigers with two goals. Seba
and Roman both scored their third goals of the season. Zellman added his second goal of the season and freshman winger, Nico Huidobro, got his first goal on the year. The Tigers dominated play, and will soon welcome Freed-Hardeman to the ranks of the MidSouth Conference. When asked how he felt about the start of the season, Jacob Roberts said, “It’s always a good feeling getting off to a good start, especially with a lot of youth on the roster. Starting 2-0 for the first time since 2009 is an amazing feeling and we’re showing how well we can play after only a few weeks together. This team is special and I can’t wait to see where this team goes this season.” Roberts’s statements, alongwith the team’s performances this weekend, show that these Tigers are flipping the script on previous shaky starts. For his efforts on the weekend, Canales was named MidSouth Conference player of the week, his first player of the week honor. He scored three goals and added two assists over the first two games. The Tigers are back in action Tuesday the 27th at 6pm against Brescia at Toyota Stadium.
If you’re interested in becoming a writer for the Georgetonian, contact Dylan Pruitt at: pruittdr@georgetowncollege.edu
August 28, 2019 Page 5
Leaving America’s Pastime in the Past: Baseball’s Declining Popularity By DYLAN PRUITT S&R Editor Though it is known as “America’s favorite pastime,” baseball seems to have lost its touch on Americans. Just last year, the 2018 attendance report from Major League Baseball showed that total numbers were the lowest since 2003. Though there was a 2015 peak in numbers, that is only in reference to the already low numbers prior to that year. Furthermore, since 2015 the MLB has been experiencing an attendance decline for three straight years, with 2019 predicted to continue this trend. Many have tried to explain this phenomena, with reasoning ranging from rainy weather, to boring games, to picky millenials. At the end of the day, however, there really is no definitive answer for America’s pastime being left in the past. Since the beginning of the sport, there were claims that it was nothing more than an old man’s sport, with many people disliking the long and slow nature of many games. It seems apparent that even the MLB agrees on this point, since a multitude of rule changes have taken effect in recent years. Conveniently enough, many of these changes coincided with events that had low attendance during the years of decline mentioned previously. Despite these changes, games still out-time much more popular TV choices like
Game of Thrones and Stranger Things in terms of runtime. Whereas one episode of those shows might last around an hour, the longest MLB game in recent history lasted almost three hours. Though it might be considered unfair to place blame on specific teams for the decline in attendance, Baseball-Reference provides an interesting look at which teams have had the most dramatic decrease in the average number of attendees. The worst offenders in terms of number decreases, the Toronto Blue Jays, saw average attendance go down a considerable 501,090 people. Even the team in tenth place as far as attendance losses go, the Houston Astros, were close to losing an average 100,000 people. This list provides an interesting perspective, and not because it allows for finger pointing regarding a decline in popularity. Rather, it helps show that there truly is no easy answer as to why attendance has decreased so steadily in recent years. Though many rebuilding teams like the Blue Jays make up the list, there are also well-established and well-positioned teams like the New York Yankees and the aforementioned Astros on the list as well. The explanation that might, and perhaps should, come to mind is the relatively recent 1994 strike that resulted in the cancellation of the World Series. At the time, the World Series was
headed for an all-time record for attendance. Following the strike and subsequent cancellation, attendance didn’t reach heights anywhere close to that level for another decade. Similarly, the revelations of drug use by Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, and Mark McGwire certainly took a toll on attendance. After all, the ever-popular attempts by these three to chase homerun records by former greats were essentially ruined for many fans after it was discovered that steroids were involved in those efforts. The best, and perhaps most reasonable, explanation for the decline in attendance for the MLB is noneother than the economy. Since the recession in 2008-2009, the same timeframe in which baseball took its first big hit in attendance, numbers haven’t been the same. Though other sports were also affected, baseball requires a different perspective on economic efforts like the recession. This is due to the fact that, whereas the NFL and NBA can rely on the one-percent and occassional spending from average consumers, the MLB’s higher number of events requires a dependence on repeat customers, something that naturally declined in the recession and never really returned to normal. Whatever the definitive reason, baseball’s attendance has taken a huge hit recently, and doesn’t seem to be on the recovery just yet.
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Features
The Georgetonian
Good thing I like reading! I’ve written many a direct examination, cross examination, opening statement and closing statement. Last semester while doing debates in Ethics, when the possibility of closing statements came up, I proceeded to write a trial worthy closing in 30 minutes. I then went ahead and asked my professor, and she confirmed that a debate closing and a trial closing were different, and we probably wouldn’t have time to do closings anyway. I’ve been known to throw legal jargon around in casual conversation and in an intense game of Mafia. Several of my online accounts, characters and plushies have been given names of witnesses since
they are written to allow any my time as a mocker, and I gender to portray them. will always be proud of my As silly as this is, Mock Mock Trial experience. Trial has actually helped me If you have any questions in more ways than one. It about Mock Trial in general, has confirmed my desire to or are interested in joining, go to law school and greatly please email me! improved my writing and reading comprehension skills. I have found great friends in my teammates and made lifelong memories at the practices and competitions. It has been a great conversation starter and even a fact I can use when I am asked during ice breakers. I don’t regret any of the headaches, tears, THE GEORGETONIAN/AIMEE HOUVENAGLE frustration, panic or stress The Georgetown Mock Trial Team of 18/19 pose after a long day of competition! I’ve experienced during
May it please the court: Mock Trial at GC By AIMEE HOUVENAGLE Staff Writer
Every Thursday night, you will most likely find me on the 3rd floor of the LRC at Mock Trial practice. This is my 7th continuous year of Mock Trial, having started as a high school freshman. If you don’t know what mock trial means, here’s a quick Crash Course: Mock Trial™. Teams of six to twelve members get a case packet containing 60+ pages of witness statements, exhibits and pre-trial documents. They also get a set of rules of evidence that one can use to object and get evidence in with and a set of guidelines for teams and competition set by the American Mock Trial Asso-
ciation (AMTA). It is then the team’s job to write material for both sides of the case, and the team(s) compete as both sides at least once during scrimmages and twice during official competitions. Mock Trial has shaped a lot of my personality and identity through school, but it has also taught me so much. Of course, there is the public speaking aspect, which is extremely useful in any profession I may choose, but there is the less glamorous side of it— a LOT of reading and writing. If you assume that each case is 60 pages each, I’ve poured over 300 pages of dense legal wording, not counting the ones I did in class that I didn’t take to competition in high school.
Grubfest brings a refreshing twist on a treasured tradition By SONDRA VERNENGO Staff Writer One of Georgetown’s most favorite traditions and NEXUS events, Grubfest, underwent a facelift this past year. Before , this was a time where freshman and upperclassmen alike were encouraged to get down and dirty (literally) with games meant to break down walls, create friendships and leave all cares (and nice clothing) behind. Gone are the mud, dirt and Cheeto Puffs we all came to know in the time-honored tradition of Grubfest. It’s no secret that Grubfest’s attendance was down in recent years as most students realized that they were not
loving the feeling of dirt of mud for months. to see the new Freshmen take all over their bodies and in Grubfest H2O was such an interest in this event.” their residence halls. a huge hit full of water Needless to say, Grubfest is The tradition, ran by games, laughs and mem- back and better than ever and Georgetown Activities Counories. Though the evening will hopefully continue to be cil, needed work or the longof the 23rd was rainy and one of the most fun and highly held tradition would be cut by cool, over 150 students attended NEXUS events on next year. were in attendance play- this campus for years to come. GAC took all problems ing games, throwing balwith Grubfest into considloons and going down eration when deciding how the slide. The weather, to make it something enjoydespite the rian, had able and something people no impact on the fun THE GEORGETONIAN/SONDRA VERNENGO want to attend. The Quad Freshman ladies loved showing their tiger spirit at Grub- had in the Quad that yard should not be torn fest H20! day since everyone up, residence hall showof their dorms again. With all was already soaked! ers should not be full of mud of this in mind, Grubfest H2O GAC President, Tatum and the Cheeto Puffs needed was born. Taking away the Wessling said, “The attento be eaten and not wasted in mud and dirt made room for dance this year has been one THE GEORGETONIAN/SONDRA VERNENGO the mud. The campus needed slip n’ slide kickball, water bal- of the best out of all of my Sondra Vernengo and Olivia Burton enjoy “floating on the quad” something fun, engaging and loons and a giant water slide. four years here at Georgeintriguing to get people out The Quad was no longer a pile town. It was really exciting
Features
Issue 12
August 28, 2019 Page 7
SGA Meal deals offer students stressfree food discounts at several locations By BENJAMIN ROBISON Staff Writer
The first few weeks of school can be stressful for everyone, especially for freshman and transfer students. For the freshman, the stress begins long before the first day of school. It starts when they are at home deciding what to bring to college. It continues upon first arriving at Georgetown and as they begin to fill dorm rooms. New faces, new classrooms and new professors can be daunting obstacles to hurdle as well. The good news is that the first week of school has gone by and most of the early stressors are gone… except for one! The biggest stressor of all
will be the question you ask all year long, “What am I going to eat today?” The Caf is an obvious choice but, believe it or not, it can get a little stale. For those who are looking for other options besides the cafeteria and dorm-room ramen, keep reading. Returning students may know some of these already, but regardless, a reminder is always helpful. The most well-known food deal for Georgetown students is Chick-Fil-A’s free chicken sandwich with a purchase of a meal on Wednesday’s. Other deals include Zaxby’s offer of a free Zappitizer with the purchase of meal on Monday’s, Buffalo Wild Wings 15% off of a meal on Saturday’s and
Rooster’s 10% off any day of the week. If chicken doesn’t sound good but pizza does, then there are a few options where students can get discounts as well. MOD Pizza offers 15% off all purchases any day of the week, while the new Rolling Oven on Main Street offers 25% off food purchases. If chicken and pizza aren’t on the menu for dinner, McAlister’s Deli offers students 10% off all purchases any day of the week. If the food at the cafeteria is treating you right, but you are tired of the soft-serve ice cream then head to Dairy Queen. The most popular dessert deal is Dairy Queen’s BOGO blizzards. Buy one
Movies On Us: this weekend! Don’t miss “Movies On Us” this weekend, Saturday (8/31), from 1:00pm-9:00pm at Theatres of Georgetown. This event is sponsered by GAC, and will be ending the Weeks of Welcome. The first 100 students will recieve a free ticket to a movie of their choice! The movies being played are Angel
Has Fallen, Ready Or Not, 47 Meters Down: Uncaged, The Angry Birds Movie 2 and The Lion King. As always, don’t forget your G-Card!
get one— of any size. Also, a healthier option would be The Wooden Straw offers a variety of healthier shakes at $1.00 off a shake any day of the week for students. Finally, for those who are willing to stay up until 2.a.m, GAC occasionally offers a dozen free donut holes at Donut Express (more com-
monly known as Hong’s Donuts). Wherever you choose to indulge, take a moment to enjoy the stress-free environment and the discount that goes with it. Make sure you remember your Student ID when you go to get your discount!
THE GEORGETONIAN/BENJAMIN ROBISON Though a great reference, make sure to bring your own card for the discount to be valid!
If you are interested in becoming a writer or photographer for the Features section, contact Abby Sparkman at asparkman@georgetowncollege. edu
ArtsEntertainment Sony and Marvel battle for “Spider-Man” rights Page 8
The Georgetonian
By BECKY GRAY Copy Editor If you haven’t been living under a rock over the past few days, you have probably heard that the Sony and Marvel agreement which allowed Spider-Man to star in several Marvel Studios films fell through this past week and it has caused quite an upheaval in the realm of Marvel movies. The original agreement between Sony and Marvel guaranteed Marvel 5% of the first-day gross earnings of every standalone “Spider-Man” movie and all merchandising revenue, where Sony would maintain all other profits. However, before the previous contract’s closing date, Marvel expressed an interest in renegotiating the current deal.
“[A] 25% offer sat for half a year, and finally the conversation was the 50% [co-financing] stake, before [Marvel] called the whole thing off,” reported Deadline. While it is entirely logical for Marvel to want a larger portion of the profits of a franchise in which they have invested so many resources, it is also in the best interest of Sony to maintain the current deal as is, or at least to maintain the control that they previously had. “Spider-Man is Sony’s biggest property, so the studio has an extra incentive to maintain its control. Five ‘Spider-Man’ movies make up the [majority of the] studio’s top six highest-grossing domestic releases of all time,” reported Deadline. Seeing as Spider-Man has become such an integral member of the Sony
franchise and has often been referred to as one of the most marketable superheroes of all time, few people are blaming Sony for refusing to relinquish as much control as Marvel would have desired. Despite the lack of blame, there is still the question of Spider-Man’s fate. “‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’ had positioned Peter Parker as the embodiment of Tony Stark’s legacy,” claimed ScreenRant. Not only did the latest Spider-Man movie imply that Peter Parker would be taking on a much more critical role as Stark’s successor, but it also ended the movie with the reveal of his secret identity. Spider-Man was also framed for the crimes committed throughout the movie. This ending all but guaranteed fans another film starring their favorite web-slinger, although the
future of Spider-Man seems to be much more uncertain in this current climate. Sony maintains the position that they wish to continue the current Spider-Man storyline, but whether or not they will be able to achieve the same success without the support of Marvel remains unknown.
Source: flickr.com
Spider-Man, Sony’s biggest property
Summer Movie Blockbusters Across
3. The fourth in a Pixar franchise containing the legendary voices of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen 4. Based on a series of Japanese films, this remake stars Vera Farmiga and Millie Bobby Brown 7. Drama about the only man who remembers songs by the Beatles 8. The fourth film in the franchise, and the only one that does not star Will Smith or Tommy Lee Jones 9. Disney live-action remake starring many pop singers such as Beyonce and Donald Glover
10. Next film in a superhero franchise, starring Sophie Turner, James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender
Down
1. Marvel’s biggest summer hit with a new villian played by Jake Gyllenhaal 2. Biopic about British pop icon, starring Taron Egerton, who did his own singing for the film 5. Another Disney live-action remake starring Middle Eastern actors such as Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott 6. Reboot of a classic horror film about a killer doll named Chucky
ArtsEntertainment “Stranger Things 3”: Profound or Pandering? Issue 12
By COLTON SOSBE Staff Writer Our beloved, quirky ensemble of characters returned to us this past summer in the long-awaited third addition to the Stranger Things series. In 1985 Hawkins, Indiana, our diverse troupe of characters battles with new threats that vary in nature: puberty, Russians, maintaining friendships, otherworldly monsters and relationships. Released on Independence Day this past summer, the show resonated with millions across the globe. However, are these ratings justified? Is the new addition to the series a truly great example of television and what the series offers— a sub-mediocre attempt at grabbing audiences’ attention through nostalgia (as it’s so present in the modern era), or both? After two years, the show returned
August 28, 2019 Page 9
to entertain the masses once more. Netflix stated that 18.7 million people finished the entire new season within, remarkably, five days of release. Moreover, it managed to receive a rating of 90/100 from certified critics on Rotten Tomatoes. The Netflix original has become a phenomenon characterized by a charming and distinct ensemble of characters, the show’s accurate and alluring depiction of the 1980s and so much more. The third installment of the series does an excellent job of providing characters that truly captivate and enthrall audiences. Whether the focus of a scene is on the absolute power-duo of Steve and Dustin or the terrible and tormented Billy Hargrove, every character grips the audience with ease. Equally outstanding is the depiction of the setting: mid 1980s America. It isn’t particularly interesting in concept,
but in practice it is entirely opposite. The ambiance is absolutely stellar. The true-to-life references, from New Coke to “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” help to create a nostalgia-compelling environment; however, is this nostalgia, although effective, excessive? American cinema and television are currently in an era where reboots and spinoffs are running rampant, and the new season fits into this archetype quite well. Works like “The Lion King,” “Aladdin,” and “Pet Sematary” have recently been released (often with not much success) with the intent of pulling audiences in with “fresh” renditions of classics and providing an opportunity to reminisce about the past, and “Stranger Things 3” fits within this categorization quite well. The new season is over-saturated with references and callbacks to the 1980s, and it can certainly prove to be
overwhelming and forced at times. Without the superfluous, redundant reminiscence, the tone of the series would benefit greatly from the slightly more serious tone that it would provide (rather than the “over the top” approach). Regardless, “Stranger Things 3” was a highly entertaining and utterly fun addition to the series. Many of the idiosyncrasies that make the series special were still present though it certainly possessed a different tone that capitalized much more on the nostalgia of the audience in comparison to the previous two seasons. In the end, though it is a sublime exemplar of great television and the distinct personality of the “Stranger Things” series, the third season is simultaneously hindered somewhat by over-the-top nostalgic elements.
acteristics of the modern feminst movement, the truth of the matter is that there are many characteristics that are left out. “The Bold Type,” is designed to be a voice for women, but in reality, it is counterintuitive because it leaves out those who are not generally accepted in society, including transgender and plus-sized women. The premise of the show is that women should push the boundaries of who they were told to be by their parents and society. Although Jane, Kat and Sutton all push the limits through their professional and sometimes social decisions, the actresses’ choices and styling tells another story. Women are often put into a box of beauty and style. They must be petite or tall and skinny with no room for individuality or a less than “perfect” body. The show’s choice in actresses further reinforces this idea. This archetype is
simply not the reality of what it means to be a woman, nor does not align with the views of modern feminists. Body positivity is an integral part of the feminst ideal. It is about allowing women to be beautiful in whatever body they have, even if it’s not what is commonly seen or traditionally viewed as beautiful. This leads to the blatant exclusion of transgender women in any aspect of the show. Melora Hardin, a lead actress in “The Bold Type,” has spoken on several occasions supporting the inclusion of transgender women. While the show implies support, there are still no transgender women represented throughout the course of the show. Modern feminism is about the acceptance and support of all women despite race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, disability or non binary gender identity. The lack of representation of
transgender women undermines the message behind the feminist movement, and takes the media a step backward instead of a step forward. “The Bold Type” is meant to speak to the movement of women demanding acceptance in modern society, but the exclusion of certain groups of women undermines its intended goal. Every woman deserves representation and support from her peers. There has to be a change in the media representation of what a movement is and what it is expected to be. Feminsm is not just about supporting the beautiful, stylish journalist, but it is also about supporting the heavy queer girl from the mid-west, or your transgender classmate. All women deserve representation, and it’s time for the media to accept that. While this show attempts to display this truth, it ultimately fails.
“The Bold Type” fails to properly represent By SYDNEY MULLINS Staff Writer The Freeform show, “The Bold Type,” has been characterized as a show for modern feminists. Three women: Jane Sloan, Kat Edision and Sutton Brady explore their place in the world at a feminst magazine, “Scarlet.” The television drama is designed to highlight the feminist movement of the millenium, and in general, it does an acceptable job. Kat, a social media director, explores her bisexualiy with a Muslim artist. Jane, a reserved writer, discovers her voice in speaking out for women’s health and the victims of sexual assault and Sutton, a general assistant turned fashion stylist, follows her true calling of working in the fashion industry, prioritizing herself over her higher ranked boyfriend. While these are all important char-
Opinion
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The Georgetonian
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Editor–in–Chief.............................................Laura Callihan Managing Editor..........................................Trey Smallwood News Editor......................................................Andrew Alvey S&R Editor......................................................... Dylan Pruitt Features Editor........................................... Abby Sparkman A&E Editor................................................ Lauren Parkinson Opinion Editor................................................Cooper Adkins Back Page Editor.......................................... Brinley Swears Copy Editor.......................................................... Becky Gray Copy Editor................................................... Sophie Hughes Copy Editor............................................... Mariah Addington
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syllabus shock — for all By MARIAH ADDINGTON Copy Editor As of this week, I have learned a new term that has largely affected my life. This term is not something that I have worked on to accomplish, but instead a term that has become ingrained into my first week of senior year. What term is this you may ask? It is one that many people feel on a daily basis in college. That term is Syllabus Shock. For anyone who has ever looked ahead and felt completely overwhelmed by the tasks that are before you, this term is for you. Syllabus Shock is that anxious feeling people get right around that time that classes get started and everyone is diving into the new semester. Although I could spend this whole article talking about how stressful Syllabus Shock can be, I’m sure you are already going through all of those thoughts in your head with even the mention of its meaning. So, I am going to spend the rest of this article talking about how to curb Syllabus Shock.
This task is hard, but you have time to accomplish it. It is okay to recognize how hard the task before you is. In fact, it is sobering to know that what you are doing is hard. Think of it like this, if a hiker planned to hike the tallest mountain in the world, but did not map out the way they were going, then how would they complete it well? They wouldn’t have the right tools and they would probably not have enough supplies to complete the journey. For all of us at GC, our road map is the syllabus. I know you hate to hear it, but take heart. Just as the journey up the mountain is long, so is the journey to academic success (see what I did there?). In other words, the syllabus is for the whole of the semester. Not just week one. Furthermore, our mental and emotional capacity was not made to think about and complete everything at once. We have the capacity for a lot, but at some point we MUST give ourselves a break. The task may be large, but you have TIME. WOO!
Have no fear. Now, you may be thinking, “Mariah, this is not possible,” but hear me out. Everyday people are trying new things. Today, thousands upon thousands of people started new jobs across the world. Some of them may not be qualified, while others are terribly overqualified. However, the same thoughts run through their heads: What is my role? How am I supposed to contribute? Am I doing a good job? Will my coworkers like me? The students here at Georgetown are having a lot of those thoughts as well. No matter if they are a freshman coming to a new place, a senior feeling a little excluded or someone falling in between, we all experience some form of anxiousness coming back to school. So this semester, try on some borrowed confidence. Look in a mirror and tell yourself that you’re not afraid. I’m not saying that you should fool yourself, but instead find your inspiration and then borrow their confidence. Besides, how can a flower grow without a seed made by another flower?
How do you start out your semester? Check us out on Instagram and answer in our poll! We’ll feature some of the answers in the next issue, coming out on Wednesday, September 11.
Opinion
Issue 12
August 28, 2019 Page 11
Appalachia is still being forgotten By COOPER ADKINS Opinion Editor Since mid-summer, coal miners in Harlan, Kentucky have been protesting andpreventing the coal that they mined from leaving the mine and being sold. The company they worked for, Blackjewel, went bankrupt and has refused to pay these miners and around a thousand others in this state and Wyoming their last few weeks of pay. The miners responded by blocking the traintracks, where a shipment of coal that they themselves mined was scheduled to be sold. Numerous court motions are currently in order
to get the miners their pay, but attorneys have yet to secure the full amount that the miners are owed. These miners have largely been forgotten along with the majority of the rest of Appalachians. The media continuously stereotypes every Appalachian as poor, uneducated, drug addicted, inbred and backwards. In spite of his promises to the enthusiastic electorate in the last election, President Trump has largely forgotten the people of Eastern Kentucky and Appalachia in general. Trump proclaimed on the eve of his victory in 2016 that “the forgotten men and
women of our country will be forgotten no longer.” However, he has been silent on the issue of the miners being paid even though he won Harlan County with almost 85% of the vote in 2016 and has constantly talked about getting coal miners all over back to work. He even came to Kentucky last week, yet not a word was uttered about the miners in Harlan. He instead went to Louisville for a rally (a city he did not come close to winning inn 2016) and spent time with rich Republican donors who can finance both his and Matt Bevin’s campaigns. The only candidate who has shown
any sign of solidarity with the miners is Bernie Sanders, sending them 18 pizzas this week. Pizzas are better than nothing, but these hard-working miners deserve more. They cannot pay their bills with pizza, nor can they feed all of their families on just 18 boxes of pizza. These workers need the money that is rightfully theirs so they can provide all of these basic needs for their family. For decades, politicians on both sides have visited the hills of Eastern Kentucky promising to alleviate the poverty, bring jobs back to the region or fixing the opioid crisis. President Lyndon B. Johnson even
launched his famous “War on Poverty” in Inez, KY. They have just been empty promises. Back in the county where I’m from, companies have left by the score over the past few decades; Ashland Oil, AK Steel and CSX are just a few examples. The exodus of these companies left thousands without jobs and no skills for the few jobs that actually remained. The situation in Harlan is just one of the numerous examples of the exploitation of Appalachia, and these miners are extremely brave for standing up to the people who have done this to them.
Democrat dropout needed before next debate By ANDREW ALVEY News Editor Last semester I wrote an article titled “A Call for New Blood” about the Democratic Presidential Primary, hoping that Joe Biden would not run and that Bernie Sanders would eventually bow out leading the way for new blood such as Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren. However neither of those things have happened so let’s take a close look at the current state of the primary race. First of all, out of the 27 major candidates running, six have dropped out and only 10 have qualified for the next
debate on September 12. This is due to the fact that the previous two debates were capped at 20 candidates of which the candidates had to have 1% in three qualifying polls or 60,000 individual donors. For the third and fourth debates, those qualifications have been raised to four polls at 2% and 120,000 individual donors. The 10 candidates who have qualified for the upcoming debate are Vice President Joe Biden, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Senator Kamala Harris, Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Cory Booker, Representative Beto O’Rourke, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Secretary Julián Castro and Entrepreneur
Andrew Yang. These candidates will share the same stage unless one more person qualifies. In that case, the debates will be split into two. The most likely person to qualify is billionaire Tom Steyer who has met the polling requirements and is only one poll away from qualifying for the debate. In my opinion those who have not qualified for the debates should simply drop out by now as they have no chance of winning the election. To be quite frank, anyone outside of the top five is simply running for Vice President. As of now Joe Biden is the clear frontrunner, much to my dismay, with Elizabeth Warren
and Bernie Sanders alternating between second place accross the board. As for Kamala Harris, after a large post-debate bump up to second place after the June debate she has now settled into a steady fourth place right above Pete Buttigieg. I am very interested in the effect that the upcoming debate will have on the polls, as without a Russian agent on the stage *cough cough Tulsi Gabbard* there will be no one attacking the other Democrats with Republican talking points and using fake news propagated by Russian sources. The debate will instead be a true debate about the future of the Democratic Party and
where voters want the party to go. For example, does the party want a repeat of the Obama years through Joe Biden? Do they want extreme change through Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders? Or, do they want someone who can implement the changes they need while utilizing policy that all Democrats can support such as Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg? The key defining issue that separates these particular wings of the party are what to do with the failing healthcare system of the United States, which we will talk about more next week. My vote is...
THE BACK PAGE By BRINLEY SWEARS BackPage Editor Hey everyone! My name is Brinley Swears. I am a junior at Georgetown. I am one of the newest members of the Georgetonian Staff. My portion of the newspaper will consist of my “Life Savers.” This is my newest project, and I am very excited! I am a Communication and Political Science double major along with an English minor. My life is highly active on campus. You will usually find me buzzing around the Admissions office. I work as a Student Professional for one of our Admissions Counselors. I regularly work maintaining the office as well as giving tours. My final position there is leading our Student Call Team. I am involved with the Pre-Law Program and Christian Scholars Program as well. I am also involved in the Arabian Horse Industry. I have been a regional director for the Youth of Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia for more than five years. I have served my community by working my way through the ranks as Secretary, Vice President and most recently as the President of the Bluegrass Arabian Horse Association Youth. I am also an active Board Member for this organization. I competitively show my Arabian horse Brando V on the regional, national, and international level—earning top awards in several divisions of competition.
If you see me around campus (probably with Bristol), feel free to say “Hey!” Finally, if you have any suggestions, tips, fun things to share in the paper (etc.) send me an email: brinleys@ georgetowncollege.edu.
Recipe of the Week:
Anyone up for Puppy Chow? While this dessert has some different names— People Chow, Muddy Bites, Puppy Chow—it is delicious no matter what you call it! Here is your weekly “ON A BUDGET” and “COLLEGE FRIENDLY” snack!
Ingredients:
- 9 cups Rice Chex (or Chocolate Chex if you prefer) - 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips - ½ cup peanut butter - ¼ cup butter - 1 teaspoon vanilla - 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
Steps:
THE GEORGETONIAN/ BRINLEY SWEARS
Your Back-Page Editor with her horse, Brando V.
1. Mix Chex in a large bowl. 2. Microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter. 3. Microwave until you can easily stir in vanilla. 4. Pour your melted mix over Chex. 5. Add powdered sugar to your creation. 6. Put it in a Ziplock bag, and SHAKE! SHAKE! SHAKE! 7. ENJOY!!
Did You Know???
We are all forgetful once in a while. Let’s face it— sometimes we lose our keys, phone and the worst—your GCard. Did you know the Campus Safety Office has a “Lost and Found” for those of us who are just a little forgetful? Our officers are always there to help! Of course, this works both ways! If you find someone’s keys, notebook, anything, turn it in to Campus Safety.
THE GEORGETONIAN/ BRINLEY SWEARS
Brinley and her boxer dog, Bristol, pose together at the beach.
“W H AT ASKS BU T NEV ER A NSW ERS?”
~Riddle for the Road~
Every week, check out the back page for a new riddle. You’ll have to wait until the next issue to find out the answer!
Do You Want to Write For the Georgetonian? We Want You! Join us for an informational meeting on Tuesday, September 3 at 5 p.m. We’re located on the third floor of the Chapel and will have free pizza!
For inquiries, please email Editor-in-Chief Laura Callihan at georgetonian@georgetowncollege.edu
