Georgetown College’s Student–Run Newspaper
March 4, 2020
Volume CXL Issue 6
Super Tuesday: Biden surges after South Carolina By ANDREW ALVEY News Editor The Democratic Presidential Primary has changed significantly in the past few days. After his campaign was called dead by many in the media, former Vice-President Joe Biden came back with a very strong showing in South Carolina winning the state by almost 30 points. Following Biden’s win, entrepreneur Tom Steyer, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Senator Amy Klobuchar have all announced that they are suspending their campaigns. The latter two flew to Dallas, Texas where they took the stage to endorse Vice-President Joe Biden, alongside former presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke. These three were not the only ones to
South Carolina voted to a 65% chance of winning the most delegates afterwards according to FiveThirtyEight. With the other moderate candidates dropping out that he has increased his numbers in all of the remaining states, and his wins on Super Tuesday may not have been as significant if Buttigieg and Klobuchar had not dropped out. It is important to note that just because an individual has won a state, they will not THE GEORGETONIAN / LAURA CALLIHAN receive all of the state’s delVoter outcome for Super Tuesday. Orange represents the states egates as the delegates will won by Biden and purple represents the states won by Sanders. be given out proportionally to all candidates who receive endorse Biden with a large ident. over 15% of the vote. number of Democratic repBiden’s late surge has funThe results of the elecresentatives, and other party damentally changed the race leaders such as Senator Tammy with his chances of the nomi- tions of Super Tuesday are Duckworth and former Senate nation having gone from a 32% as follows: Biden wins in the majority leader Harry Reid chance of winning the most majority of the states, includendorsed the former vice pres- delegates in the primary before ing Minnestoa, Oklahoma,
Arkansas, Tenneessee, North Carolina, Virginia, Alabama, Maine, Massachussetts, and Texas. Sanders wins in California, Vermont, Utah, and Colorado. Overall, Biden won the majority of the states on Super Tuesday with Sanders being the second-most popular candidate. Bloomberg did not the majority in any state on Super Tuesday, and the New York Times reports that Bloomberg will be reconsidering his continuance in the presidential race. Earlier on Tuesday evening, he reportedly told the Washington Examiner that “I have no intention of dropping out.” However, a defeat like this could change his mind.
to enjoy your time off these tips will help you have a safe experience. Always keep your doors closed and locked; This includes on campus housing, hotels or wherever you may be staying over the break. Never accept food or drink from someone you don’t know. Drugs are used often
to disorient and incapacitate a victim to make them an easier target. Don’t leave food or drink unsupervised by yourself or a friend even to go to the bathroom! Always travel in a group of at least two or more people when possible because individuals are more commonly targeted. Be cautious of
strangers who pay to much attention to you or “always seem to be in the same place as you.” If you do drink, please drink responsibly as you want to maintain control of your decisions and actions. Don’t use illicit drugs or any substance that removes your ability to make good decisions
and protect yourself. Always let someone know where you are going to be and when to expect you back. Be extremely cautious if you are leaving the country or are in large cities as these areas especially during Spring Break are magnets for human traffickers. Continued on pg. 2
Coronavirus appears in several states page 3
GC Men’s Basketball wins MSC page 4
Dr. Czarnecki launches new book page 6
Pokémon and the “satanic panic” of the 1980s page 11
Campus safety tips on staying safe over spring break By JOSH MASTERTON Director of Campus Safety
Happy March, Georgetown College! As we approach Spring Break next week, I wanted to provide some tips and suggestions to help you have the safest break possible. Whether you will be remaining on campus or heading out
Inside
this issue
News
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Headlines Compiled by Andrew Alvey Annual exploding hammer festival leaves dozens of attendees injured in Mexico. The event involves attaching a mix of sulphur and chlorate to the ends of sledge hammers and then slamming the hammers against rail beams. Police offcers chased an escaped goat down Lambs Road in New Jersey. The officers reported that the goat was very friendly after being caught. Penn State students gathered at the site of a recently closed Taco Bell for a vigil mourning the loss of the fast food restaurant. A New York couple welcomed their second Leap Day baby. The birth was a surprise as the mother’s due date was not until March 4. An English mother is debating on changing her son’s birthday to a different date as she says it is inconvenient that they can’t celebrate properly. A New York subway rider protected his personal space by spraying ketchup on the floor around his seat.
Coronavirus takes first US lives as the virus spreads By WILLOW DOVE Staff Writer The latest popularly known outbreak, the coronavirus, has officially become a pandemic as it spreads from country to country. The virus, first identified in Wuhan, China, has officially been named coronavirus disease 2019, abbreviated as COVID-19. Although there are other forms of coronaviruses that have been seen in humans, this strain has not previously been detected in humans before and thus has no current vaccine. Although the virus was first linked to a live animal market, it is now being transmitted person to person and is spreading easily through communities. After its origination in China, the virus has spread to other Asian countries including: South Korea, Japan and Singapore, as well as countries in the European Union such as Italy, Spain, France and Germany, and has even spread to the US. In Washington state, the death toll has already reached nine with a total of 27 confirmed cases. The two first deaths here were likely the first to die in the US from the disease, although there have
been cases reported elsewhere. A long term care facility in King County called Life Care Center of Kirkland Washington, is considered to be the site of the outbreak, as both the people who died last week were residents of this facility, and many of the other cases and deaths have been linked to the facility as well. Staff and patients who were present at the care center are being monitored closely and as of yet, it does not seem that the pathogen has been further transmitted. In response to the increase in outbreaks, the FDA is distributing as many as one million more coronavirus tests across the country by the end of the week. As of now, there have been over 110 cases reported in 13 different states, many of whom are from Washington and California. Furthermore, about 25% of the cases that have been reported were transmitted through American communities and were not due to travel. Many precautions are being put in place to help cease the spread of the virus including quarantines, information about how to prevent being infected and even polling safety measures. For Super
Tips on staying safe...
Global
The Georgetonian
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Protecting yourself against legal issues. Never accept or carry any items for anyone you don’t know. Know and obey the laws for the area you will be visiting. This is really important for those of you traveling outside of the US. If you are staying on campus or leaving your vehicle parked on campus this week, please remember to remove all valuables and keep your vehicle locked! Removing temptation by not
leaving any valuables (this includes loose change, sunglasses and even small items that could easily be sold or pawned) and making it more difficult by locking your doors is usually enough to discourage a would be criminal. When parking your vehicle please use the tips that were given on campus parking. Be aware of where you park! Park only in lighted and clear areas where you have a large field of view. Observe vehicles around you, and don’t park next to vans, RVs or other
Tuesday, in some states, officials are expanding the number of curbside ballot drop offs so that people can drop off their ballots without ever leaving their cars. Polling machines have also been thoroughly disinfected. For the general public, information is constantly being presented on how to stay safe. Since there is no current vaccine, the CDC is cautioning people to avoid contact with people who are sick, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, stay home when sick, use a tissue to sneeze, and disinfect or wash your hands regularly. Following simple precautionary actions such as these will help reduce the likelihood of contracting the virus. For those who might have seen people wearing facemasks, this is not actually a vital precaution and is not necessary for people without the disease. Facemasks are only necessary for those who already have shown symptoms of the virus, or for health care workers or caretakers who are in close proximity to those who have been infected. For more information on how to protect yourself, visit the CDC website. vehicles that you can’t see inside of. As always, make sure you are parked in a legal spot to avoid tickets or towing. Remember, even if you are off campus, in another state or even another country, I am available to help you if you need it. If it is an emergency, dial 911 or the equivalent in another country, and then call me. You may contact campus safety 24/7 at 502-863-8111 from anywhere. You may also reach me on my campus cell phone at 502-316-1837 at any time during the break.
Issue 6
News
March 4, 2020 Page 3
Mayor Pete suspends presidential campaign
By ROBERT BIRD
Staff Writer After the results from the South Carolina caucus on Saturday showed a victory for former Vice President Joe Biden, Mayor Pete Buttigieg suspended his 2020 presidential campaign. The announcement came Sunday night after the South Carolina results showed a defeat for Buttigieg, specifically his inability to connect with black Democratic voters. Buttigieg, who is the first openly gay major presidential candidate, has since endorsed Joe Biden for the nomination. Buttigieg’s decision came just several days prior to Super Tuesday, the biggest day of the voting season where fifteen states and territories are up for grabs to the candidates. It was highly expected that the results from Super Tuesday would show him greatly behind Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders, who have emerged as the two leading candidates for the Democratic nomination.
Buttigieg canceled plans for a Sunday night rally in Dallas and a Monday morning fundraiser in Austin to return to South Bend. He told supporters to loud cheers, “Sometimes the longest way around really is the shortest way home, the truth is that the path has narrowed to a close, for our candidacy if not for our cause,” he said, adding “Tonight I am making the difficult decision to suspend my campaign for the presidency.” Buttigieg, 38, skyrocketed from obscurity into the top tier of a field of more than two dozen Democratic presidential candidates largely on the strength of his robust fundraising totals early last year. He collected more than $24 million in the threemonth period ending June 30, more than any other candidate in the field. The campaign spent nearly all of its funds to deliver its virtual tie for first place in Iowa and a narrow second-place finish behind Sanders in New Hampshire. But the rush of contributions the campaign expected
after Iowa and New Hampshire never materialized. The Iowa Democratic Party’s vote-counting issue caused Buttigieg to lose some of the expected momentum and media attention after the state’s caucuses, and Senator Amy Klobuchar was the big story after her surprise third-place showing in New Hampshire. Also at the announcement, Buttigieg directed some criticism towards Sanders without directly naming him, which has been Buttiegieg’s tactic over the last several weeks on the campaign trail. Buttigieg said, “We need leadership to heal a divided nation, not drive us further apart…We need a broad based agenda to truly deliver for the American people, not one that gets lost in ideology. We need an approach strong enough not only to win the White House, but hold the House, win the Senate and send Mitch McConnell into retirement.” On Monday night, Buttigieg flew to Dallas, Texas in order to endorse former Vice-President Biden. In his
endorsement Buttigieg said, “When I ran for president, we made it clear that the whole idea was about rallying the country together to defeat Donald Trump and to win the era for the values that we share, and that was always a goal that was much bigger than me becoming president and it is in the name of that very same goal that I am delighted to endorse and support Joe Biden for President.” In response to the endorsement, Biden said, “I don’t think I’ve ever done this before, but Pete reminds me of my son, Beau. I know that may not mean much to most people, but to me it’s the highest compliment I can give any man or woman.” He clarified by stating that “he has such enormous character, such emotional capacity and such a commitment to other people.” Since the endorsement the two have made it clear that from here on out they would be campaigning together and that a Biden administration would have Buttigieg as an important part of it.
information as well as prizes and giveaways. This will take place this Thursday, March 5, inside of the Jones Hall Nelson Suite running from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is also an easy NEXUS credit, so drop in and prepare for some fun. If you are unable to head home or travel for the break, there are still fun things to do in Lexington that will make your spring break fun and memorable. Breakout Games in Lexington is an escape room complex that has 10 different rooms to choose from and escape. The rooms vary from a Mystery Mansion to an Island Escape and even a Derby Heist. With an hour to escape, teams must work together to solve a series of puzzles and games to solve
the final clue and win the game. The price for each game depends on how many people you bring with you, but a minimum of two is required with up to a max of 7 or 8. For directions and more information check out breakoutgames. com/lexington. If you are looking for something less stressful and intense, there are a couple of places in Lexington that offer a variety of fun things to check out. Malibu Jack’s offers go-kart riding, mini golf, bowling and other arcade games. They are open until 10 p.m. on Sundays thru Thursdays and until midnight on Friday and Saturday. Champs Sports Complex offers mini golf, laser tag and roller skating at relatively cheap prices. On Wednes-
days, Thursdays and Fridays, you can purchase an “all you can play” package that includes all these games. Get Air Trampoline Park located in South Lexington is a trampoline park, offering different activities all on trampolines. They have a specific area for dodgeball, slam-ball, a fidget ladder and a slack line. They also have casual trampolines and a foam pit for wanting to relax. Prices can be expensive, though. Another fun activity to check out over the break is indoor go-kart racing at MB2 raceway in Central Lexington. Walk-ins are welcome with prices varying depending on which package you choose. This is a fun way to let loose and beat your friends.
This Week in Georgetown: March 4 - 15
By BENJAMIN ROBISON
Staff Writer This upcoming week at Georgetown is exciting for everyone. Students, Staff and Faculty are all looking forward to the wonderful week off from school. It seems like many students have plans to get away from the college for a bit by heading back home or traveling during the break. Popular spots to head to during spring break are Hilton Head, SC, Destin, FL or Nashville, TN. Before you head out to the warmer weather, it is important to keep in mind some simple and easy tips to keep you healthy and safe while in the sun. The Student Health Advisory Council (SHAC) is having a Spring Break Safety Fair to provide students with safety
The Georgetonian Sports & Recreation Draftees shine at the GC men’s basketball captures the 2020 NFL Combine 2019-20 MSC regular season title
Page 4
By JACOB CLEMONS
Staff Writer Over the past week, the nation’s top college football prospects competed in a series of tests in front of head coaches and scouts representing the 32 teams in the NFL. The Combine is a high stakes competition for athletes fighting to prove their worth in the NFL. Some performances in particular from this past week stood out among the rest. This year’s draft class has proven to be full of talent, containing several potential franchise-changing quarterbacks, athletic offensive linemen and arguably one of the best edge rush and receiver classes in recent history. Some athletes stood out such as Chase Claypool, a wide receiver from Notre Dame. Claypool measured in at 6’5” and 238 pounds, by far the heaviest receiver in the draft. Claypool ran a 4.42 official 40-yard dash and jumped a 40.5” vertical. Claypool’s numbers were historic for a receiver of his size, drawing comparisons to the Detroit Lion’s great receiver, Calvin Johnson. Another talented showing was from Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts. Hurts was expected to go reasonably late in the class until his impressive combine. Hurts ran the fastest 40-yard dash among quarterbacks with a 4.54. Hurts also impressed with passing drills, displaying experienced footwork and accuracy. Several NFL scouts were impressed by Hurts’ performance and
now expect him to be rising up draft boards. Tristan Wirfs, the offensive lineman from Iowa, proved to be an elite athlete at the combine. Wirfs tested as the best offensive lineman in the 40-yard dash (4.85), vertical jump (36.5”) and long jump (10’1”). Wirfs previously ranked third among offensive tackles. Arguably the best performance of the combine was from superstar inside linebacker, Isaiah Simmons. Simmons is now regarded as the best athlete in the 2020 NFL draft. Simmons’ measurements came in at 6’4” and 238 pounds. Simmons ran a 4.39 40-yard dash and posted a 39” vertical along with an 11’ broad jump. Simmons’ performance has skyrocketed his draft stock and some even expect him to rise to the fourth overall pick by the New York Giants. Much promise was shown at the combine. This did nothing but build anticipation for the 2020 NFL Draft.
Ever since winning the 2019 NAIA National Title, the Tigers basketball team has been on an absolute tear. After going a majority of this season without a loss and finishing up with only two losses total, big things are sure to be headed in the direction of the Tigers. The Tigers were looking to lock up the MSC regular-season title last Thursday (Feb. 27) in Lebanon, Tenn. against the Phoenix’s of Cumberland University. It was a back and forth affair for much of the game as there were four ties and 19 lead changes throughout the contest. However, Georgetown was able to tighten the reigns and pull ahead towards the end to come out on top 82-74, capping off win number 26 on the season for the Tigers and the regular season MSC title. Chris Coffey led the way for the Tigers finishing with 26 points to go along with 14 rebounds. Eljay Cowherd
added 15 points with 10 assists edging him closer to the alltime record of 689 that was set back in 2014 by Kourtney Tyra. Jacob Conway rounded out the leading scorers with 16 points on 6-9 shooting. Following that game, the Tigers looked ahead to a senior day matchup with Life University back home in the Davis Reid Alumni Gym this past Saturday. This was a special day for the Tigers basketball team, as they honored one of the best classes to come through the program in Chris Coffey, Eljay Cowherd and Jacob Conway who have been here for five years as all three took a redshirt at some point in their careers along with three additions to this year’s team in Nico Clareth, Hugues Mbumba and Rade Kukobat. The three additions to this season’s team have all made valuable contributions but the trio of Coffey, Cowherd and Conway have etched their names in the history books. Coffey is on pace to finish with more than 1500
victory over Life on Saturday. Kennedy Flynn, Hailey Ison, Olivia Bowling, Dasia Kilbourne and Malaka Frank were all honored on their senior day. Football: They announced the signings of 46 recruits for their team. These athletes have shown great potential and are going to make great Tigers. Lacrosse: The lacrosse
team battled through injury to give Division III rival, Centre College a tough game in Danville. Even though they suffered a defeat, they still managed to move up a spot in the NAIA lacrosse rankings. Cheerleading: The cheer squad announced four signings with the hope of bolstering their conference title hopes next season.
By HAYDEN SHEARON Staff Writer
This week in GC Athletics
Golf: The men’s and women’s golf teams traveled to Gulf Shores, AL. this week and a currently playing in a tournament. Jay Harris shot a 74 for the men to be in third individually, team in fourth. Baylee Salyers shot a 77 for the women to be fourth individually, team in sixth. Women’s Basketball: The women picked up a
points and 1000 rebounds for his career, while Cowherd stamped his name by breaking the men’s all-time assists record in the game Saturday. He now sits just 15 assists shy of the all-time men’s and women’s record while also surpassing 1000 points for his career. Jacob Conway is arguably the most improved of the three as he has always been a strong threat from the outside, but in the last two years has really developed the rest of his game to become a complete player and he was also able to become the 55th member of the 1000 point club. Saturday happened to be just the cherry on top for him as he finished with a new season-high of 33 points only two shy of his career-high. The Tigers capped off their 27th win of the season against Life on Saturday. It was a tight game early on, but the Tigers were able to open it up and come away with an 87-67 victory to finish off the regular season. Rade Kukobat was the go-to man as he finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds, while Eljay Cowherd finished with 16 points to go along with seven assists. Nico Clareth and Hugues Mbumba rounded out the scoring finishing, with seven and six points respectively. The team now awaits the winner of a game in Lebanon, Tenn. on Tuesday to see who their first opponent will be in the MSC quarterfinals in Bowling Green, Ky. All MSC tournament games will be played at Bowling Green High School.
Issue 6
Sports & Recreation
Upset in B-league intramural championship
By JACOB CLEMONS Staff Writer
On March 2, 2020, there was a legendary household rivalry matchup in the championship game of the B league Winter Intramural Basketball League. The two teams that faced off on this night were the Lambda Chi Alpha A-team against the Lambda Chi Alpha B-team. Tensions were high between the two teams entering the game Monday night. The “A” team was a favorite going in, with the “B” team losing three straight going into the tournament. The A team lost a vital part to their backcourt and wing scoring with Nick Roush, suffering a dislocated knee in the opening scrimmage this year. Their backcourt was still led by two deep threat shooters in Cole Wilson and Jax Downs. Along with those two, they had Reese Asher as a wing and post presence to solidify a “Big Three” for their team. Other contributors on the offensive end were Tatum Miler, Hunter Sears and Colton Durcholz. Defensively, Buddy Lukens and Worthie McGuire had grit and grind on the defensive side that helped to defeat many opponents this season. The B-team was headed by the backcourt of Jake Damron and Logan Smallwood who made up the majority of the scoring for the team this season with the ability to shoot it from three, drive and get others involved along with getting to the free-throw line. Parker Wells and Adam Betz were deep threats from
downtown and big defensive assets throughout the season. Jacob Roberts delivered great rebounding and post play. Off the bench, Heath Petty and Grant Norris sparked the squad as they can shoot the three and play defense. Preston Crump, a late addition to the squad, found his role with the team as a big body down low. He boxed out well along with a mid-range game that was huge in the championship game. The game started off with the B-team going on a big run early in the first half. Damron started off well with a quick 12 points that helped get the B team up 19-6. The A-team was struggling from three, but still got to the rim and got it down low to Lukens who helped bring them back in the game by halftime. It was a tight second half. The adrenaline started to rise and loose balls were being fought over left and right. In the second half, the A-team introduced a press that caused turnovers. Logan Smallwood came up big getting a few buckets to keep the B-team in a comfortable lead. Betz, Wells, Crump and Roberts did a tremendous job limiting offensive rebounds even though they were outsized in the matchup. Norris made multiple defensive plays that gave the B team extra possessions in the second half that helped to protect their lead. The A-team hit a few shots, but it was too little, too late. The B team held them off long enough and won the championship 46-36.
March 4, 2020 Page 5
GC Men’s Tennis shows potential for breakout season
By COOPER JACOBELLI Staff Writer
School in Ashland, Kentucky, discussed his outlook on his season, this team and their future. “My season so far has been good overall. I got off to a kinda slow start with a tough loss at Bellarmine in three sets. But, I’ve rebounded pretty well with a couple of good wins in the following weeks. I had some ups and downs, but
Men’s tennis is starting their season off strong with a 5-1 record (1-0 home, 1-1 away, 3-0 Neutral). Their victories have rolled in. Midway (Record:1-5), Brescia (Record 3-3), Bethel (Record 5-2) , Kentucky Wesleyan (Record 0-4), and Milligan College ( Record 1-5). Their latest victory was achieved over Milligan College this past weekend. Sophomore Cole Wilson had a dominating performance going 6-0, 6-0 in his match. Parker Clarke and Josh Punti were also key contributors to the teams’ win, as both brougt wins in the form of a third set tiebreaker. In a sit-down interview, firsttime freshman, Parker Clarke, who Clarke on the court graduated fromSource: Jacob Clemons Paul G. Blazer High
If you’re interested in becoming a writer for the Georgetonian, contact Gary Lukens at: GLukens@georgetowncollege.edu
we’re on the upswing. I hope to go to the NAIA nationals at the end of the season, obviously, that’s the goal for the long term and big picture, but short term I would just like to win my sets every time in order to win the match overall. My expectations for this team are that we are going to compete at a high level every match and bring intensity to every point. We have to grind and put in the work, but I think we can do pretty big things this season, but we have to work for it. I hope that we can compete in some big conference matches towards the end of the season against some tough teams,” said Clarke. This season is bringing a promising outlook to the future of Georgetown Men’s Tennis. After the past two years going 6-12 in 2018 and 6-15 last year they are currently one win away from matching the past two years total wins. A winning season would be the first winning season for the team since 2011-2012. The key to their success seems to be the talent from the underclassmen. While the upperclassmen are helping lead the team, four of the 10 man roster are freshman, with only three seniors graduating this year. The future looks extremely bright for Tennis at GC!
Features
Page 6
The Georgetonian
New professor coming to Georgetown College in Fall? By KATIE SWANSON
Staff Writer The teaching staff at Georgetown College has a high likability standing. A lot of students feel like the professors have their best interests at heart, and this could be because of a few reasons. The small class sizes play an important role, because it allows the teachers to get to know the students. This helps them understand how to teach each individual student. Also, each teacher only has a certain amount of students to advise; therefore, students feel like they are not rushing to get schedules down and are focusing on what best fits them and their future. The biology department is an example of good teaching staff, and students respond
well to many of them. the future. last speaker. In the past week, there On Wednesday, FebruMany students were able have been a few lectures given ary 26, at 1 p.m. in Asher 131, to have breakfast or lunch for the position of Genetics Meredith Eckstein was the with the applying teachers to and Molecular Biology. The guest speaker. That follow- talk with them. This is benestudents have been able to sit ing Friday, February 28 at 3 ficial because students get to alongside professors to listen p.m. in the same room. Ericca know who may be coming to to their talks. Stamper came to share her Georgetown and not only base The candidates for this thoughts with the students their first impression off of position shared some of their about her plans here. And what was said in the lecture. research that they have done finally, on Monday, March 2 at Feedback from the students in the past or are currently 1 p.m., Caleb Fischer was the who attended was welcomed working on. They also by the professors in introduced a topic that the biology departwould be studied in the ment. This gives the class if they were to teach professors a sense it in the future. of what the students Another topic that think of the teacher was covered was future and how they would plans if they were to react to their hiring. get the position to teach Besides, the profesat the college. They are sors would not be the interested in keeping THE GEORGETONIAN/KATIE SWANSON ones taking the class; their research current and Students sit and listen to one of the meetings. therefore, the students working with students in opinion would be most
beneficial. In the future, when hiring professors in other areas of the college, this method would be valuable. It allows students to have a say in what goes on at the college and will minimize the negative consequences in the following year if the teacher they did hire was not compatible with the students. With this happening, next year there will most likely be a new Genetics professor. If you are interested in taking Genetics and doing extra research outside of class, speaking with one of the people that applied may be helpful for you in the future. If you do not get the chance to do this, get enrolled in Genetics and Molecular Biology to check out what it’s all about next semester!
Dr. Czarnecki launches new book entitled “The First Kristen” By ROBERT BIRD Staff Writer On Monday, Dr. Kristin Czarnecki hosted a book talk where she officially launched her debut memoir entitled “The First Kristin: The Story of a Naming.” Dr. Rosemary Allen hosted the talk in the Ward Room of the LRC, and called the event: “a monumental day for one of our very own here at Georgetown College.” Dr. Czarnecki, who is a professor of English here at Georgetown, is currently on sabbatical this semester and has spent this time finishing up her debut memoir, which according to her has taken a year and a half to write. As Dr. Czarnecki herself
says, the book is both “part memoir and part literary criticism.” She read several excerpts from the book at the reading. The novel centers around her sister, Kristin, who passed away before Dr. Czarnecki was born and who she is named after. Because they share the same name, Dr. Czarnecki’s family always referred to her sister as “the first Kristin.” Furthermore, the novel discusses the idea of necronym, which is the act of naming a person after someone who has passed away, and the repercussions that come with that decision. Student CJ Bevins, who attended the event and is an English and American Studies double major, was quoted as
saying, “As the first born child of parents whose second child was still-born some years later, her presence has always been felt in an unspoken way. From what I gathered at the reading, The First Kristin: The Story of a Naming is a conversation about life, loss and personhood that I wish my parents had.” Throughout the reading, Dr. Czarnecki explored many of the different elements of the novel, some of which were very personal and quite moving. It was a wonderful and touching experience to attend this event, and I personally cannot wait until I read the novel. Seth Skaggs, a junior English Education major, also
attended the event. “When Dr. Czarnecki read from her memoir, I found it equal parts touching and informative. “Though the subject of necronyms was dark at times, she approached it incredibly well, blending her and her family’s story with actual research, in order to explore the phenomenon thoroughly. Overall, I found it to be quite a touching experience, especially when she related her own story of ‘the first Kristin,’” said Skaggs. Many other students and faculty also found her story to be a touching experience and can’t wait to get their hands on a copy.
THE GEORGETONIAN/GEORGETOWNCOLLEGE
Dr. Czarnecki is currently finishing her debut memoir about the act of naming, legacy and her spectral sister.
Features
Issue 6
March 4, 2020 Page 7
Making spring break more affordable for all By CHARITY STOLTZ
Staff Writer Spring Break is the one time of the spring semester everyone looks forward to, aside from graduation for the seniors. It is the light at the end of the long midterm-tunnel and marks the halfway point of the semester. Many students take this time to go home, either because they want to work or save money, or because they cannot afford a fancy trip to the beach. Others make sure they get to the beaches with the rest of the college party crowd, no matter the cost. Whether you’re a penny pincher or a hasty spender, there are ways to make spring break trips to the beach more
affordable. Here are a few tips: Save money where it counts. It may seem easier to fly to your destination, but after parking expenses, Uber rides and other extra costs, a cheap flight south can turn into a pricey venture. Instead, get up early and hit the road. Sure it takes longer to drive and getting up before noon is hard, but imagine arriving in the late afternoon, unpacking your bathing suit and heading to the beach to enjoy stretching your legs out on the warm sand. This sounds a heck of a lot better than waiting in long airport boarding lines, sitting in cramped airplane seats and arriving after dinner
time. Driving also allows more flexibility during your vacation. Without having to rely on public transportation, you are at the mercy of your own desires. It is your vacation after all. Don’t underestimate how far $50 worth of gas money can get you. Split that between a few friends and for far less than a plane ticket, you can get to your destination with money left over. Another money-conscious choice is to stay in an Airbnb a little bit farther from the beach. Opt for a stay within walking distance of the beach instead of on it, and you are guaranteed to save a lot. Choose an Air- bnb over a hotel and you save on hotel fees and expensive prices
Kappa Delta intramural senior night By SONDRA VERNENGO
Staff Writer Last Monday night was the championship game for the Women’s 5v5 intramural basketball tournament, and the ladies of Kappa Delta decided to do something different to honor their seniors who have played every intramural season on their basketball team. Senior nights are often seen at sporting events for high schoolers and college students that are graduating that year, but intramural sporting events have not been known to have this same celebration. This is why Kappa Delta wanted to give their seniors a memory to hold on to at their last intramural game ever. Of course, the parents of the seniors are usu-
ally the ones to escort their senior across the field, but the Kappa Delta seniors had their sisters walk them across the court instead. Why do people decide to play THE GEORGETONIAN/SONDRA VERNENGO intramural sports? Senior Kappa Deltas get recognized Maybe it’s because before their intramural game. they played a sport in high school but tion that the actual student athnot in college, and they want letes get on their senior nights. a chance to relive the good ol’ This was a really special way days. Or maybe it is just a way to honor the senior ladies, and to stay active in college. It could there are hopes that this traeven just be for fun because all dition continues for years to of their friends are playing! come with all of our intramuRegardless of the reasoning, ral teams and athletes. Conour intramural athletes love to gratulations to all the seniors be out on the court, and they who are wrapping up their appreciate the same recogniintramural career!
since Airbnbs typically run pretty cheap. Plus, an Airbnb price can be made cheaper by splitting the cost between you and your friends. Your choice of destination can have a great impact on the price of your vacation. Certain beaches are notorious for their spring break crowd and this atmosphere causes the local shops and hotels to drive up prices. Go to places like Jacksonville Beach and Clearwater in Florida. These places may be more low key, but offer great undiscovered opportunities. Don’t seek out the expensive parties. Make your own party where you are. But, if you need that grand board-walk experience, Daytona Beach and other
popular beaches are a short car drive away. Places like Myrtle Beach in South Carolina offer the boardwalk, as well as party experience and long expanses of coastline so that you can choose a slightly less pricey location to set up camp within distance of the more expensive scenes. Finally, eat in. Especially if you stay in an Airbnb, you have a kitchen to cook up some easy spaghetti meals or make your own fresh pot of coffee. It’s tempting to hit all of the restaurant hot spots, but save money by cooking and the extra saved can be put towards a few fancier meals at the top restaurant destinations.
Anonymous donation funds professorship By ASHLYN REED
Staff Writer Georgetown College is known for its Baptist roots and values, and the school has now gotten an anonymous donation of another $1 million to establish an Endowed Baptist Professorship. Georgetown College’s press release said, “the professorship connects Georgetown College to its Baptist roots and will allow students the unique opportunity to learn about Baptist history, theology and to think critically about these topics.” So, what does this mean? Georgetown College has now gotten the money to hire a new professor simply for teaching Baptist studies and history for
the Religious Studies department. Our provost and dean, Dr. Rosemary Allen, said in regards to the donation that “this gift will have a profound impact on our religion department, allowing us to expand its size and increase the diversity of the expertise among the faculty. Our students will most definitely be the beneficiaries of this generosity.” Georgetown began as a Baptist school, and will remain a staple in Kentucky education with core values of what it means to be Christian in the modern world. The school is searching for this professor, and is sure they will find the perfect fit before next semester.
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ArtsEntertainment
The Georgetonian
“Love Is Blind” will be your new obesession By JORIE BEIL Staff Writer Our next Netflix original review this week is yet another reality show. “Love Is Blind” is a social experiment that asks the question: is love truly blind? In the series, participants spend their first ten days of the experiment living in two separate quarters, divided by males and females. Each space offers areas called “pods” which are small, intimate rooms where potential couples are able to get to know each other. The catch? In the middle of the pods is a wall that divides the couples, leaving them totally oblivious to the physicality of their “partner.” Once a couple feels as if they have found someone they could see themselves marrying, they are engaged and finally allowed to meet in person.
After the ten days are expired, those who found “love” are whisked away on a romantic vacation where they are able to further their relationships in person. After leaving their paradise, the couples move into an apartment together where they test the strength of their initial bond through meeting family and friends, the influence of the outside world and everyday life. After about three weeks, the couples are rushed to their weddings where they decide whether or not they can spend the rest of their lives with the person they fell in love with in the pods. So, what’s the verdict on this dramatic portrayal of blind love? Well, as with anything, there are pros and cons. Overall, the show encourages watchers to consider more than appearances when it comes to relationships, which
is a message that I think all of us could the experiment. Sure, couples may fall stand to listen to. in love in the pods, but being able to It is also touching to see complete see their partner after their engagement strangers fall in love in such a short may have an effect on the results. amount of time. As unrealistic as it The final review: if you don’t have sounds, the genuine relationships that spring break plans, this is definitely a these couples form are almost too sweet binge-worthy show that I would highly to watch. However, that is where the recommend. It was absolutely addictissues begin. At times, these relation- ing, and provided many twists and ships seem fake and may give view- turns that are sure to leave you at the ers the wrong impression of how love edge of your seat. should work. Also, the casting of the show could have been more representative of a more diverse population. Each of the participants is strikingly gorgeous, which almost Flickr.com defeats the intent of You can watch “Love Is Blind” on Netflix
2020 Oscar Winners Across
2.Best performance by an actor in a supporting role (last name) 5.Motion picture of the year 6.Best original score (film title) 7.Best performance by an actress in a leading role (last name) 8.Best animated feature film of the year 9.Achievement in cinematography (film title)
Down 1. Achievement in costume design (film title) 3. Achievement in directing (film title) 4. Best performance by an actress in a supporting role (last name) 5. Best performance by an actor in a leading role (last name)
ArtsEntertainment Upcoming Jordan Peele film is highly anticipated
Issue 6
By ASHLYN REED Staff Writer In 1992 our cinema screens were graced with the dark voice of Tony Todd and a whole swarm of bees. The story of Candyman and his legacy was brought to life through a scary legend and a vast amount of experimentation by a college student. The original movie is about a student who learns of the legend of Candyman. After saying his name in a mirror, Candyman shows up with a hook for a hand, and the rest of the story ends in blood, gore and bees. So. Many. Bees. The story leads the watcher down
March 4, 2020 Page 9
many twists and turns, with some parts more horrifying than others. Now, here I am in the year 2020 writing about the newest piece of Candyman lore. Last week, one of the hottest horror directors of this new era in the film business, Jordan Peele, released the trailer for his installment of “Candyman.” This is not a remake, it is not a new version of the same plot, instead this one is the next piece. The little part of Chicago that Candyman originated from has gone through a firm gentrification and now a new inhabitant of the area, an artist, wants to know more about what happened and why it hap-
pened. Except this does not bode well for him, and with even steeper twists and sharper turns this new installment will more than likely keep anyone on the edge of their seat with severe anticipation for what could possibly happen next. The original movie was enough to scare my mother in high school, then me in middle school, and now I am hoping for both of us to be scared in the exact same fashion yet again, bees and all. I am looking forward to this new film because Jordan Peele is also back at it again with the disturbing, distorted, yet highly enjoyable version of some of
the best hip-hop songs. His last big movie, “Us,” used a creepy version of “I GOT 5 ON IT” by Luniz that was even played by a high school marching band at a football game. And now he is immortalizing the melody and lyrics of Destiny Child’s “Say My Name” in reference to the idea that you must say Candyman’s name five times in order for him to appear. All in all, this movie is bound to scare newcomers to Candyman lore and the old lovers of Tony Todd, his hook hand and his massive swarm of bees.
Why “The Rise of Skywalker” is the best and worst By TAYLOR REESE Staff Writer Note: This article contains spoilers! A couple weeks ago I wrote about my experience of watching the “Star Wars” trilogies for the first time as a 20-year-old. This is my follow up experience after finally having watched “The Rise of Skywalker.” First, I am going to talk about my feelings for the first two movies in this newest trilogy and how this fed into my thoughts on “The Rise of Skywalker.” In the first movie I was intrigued by why we were following Rey and Kylo Ren. I did not understand who he was. I thought maybe he was another Darth Vader wanna be. I was truly surprised once I discovered that he was actually Han Solo’s and Princess Leia’s son. I would never have expected that, and I was very shocked. I was even more shocked when I discovered that Ren kept Darth Vader’s disfigured helmet as some connection to his Sith grandfather. Although it seems like most fans are obsessed with him, I never liked Ren. I just did not get it; he was whiny and pitched a fit every time
something did not go his way. However, his interactions with Rey were interesting. Their showdown in the woods was very dramatic and thrilling, but there was one part of the movie that made me absolutely hate Kylo Ren. He killed Han Solo, his own father, in cold blood because he was conflicted and felt that he needed to prove himself to the dark side. I have never been angrier than when Han Solo was killed by his own son; it made it much more tragic and heart-breaking for me to watch his death. In the second movie, we get to see Luke again, but it is a side of Luke that we have never really seen before: he has given up. The most interesting part to me are the times when Ren and Reyspeak to eachother through the force (or “forcetime” as I like to call it). It made me have so many questions about why they have this connection and what does it mean. I still hated Ren, but I started to see him differently when I realized how conflicted he is about the path to choose and how he woke up to Luke standing over him with his light saber.
I started to sort of understand Ren especially with Rey believing he can still be turned back to the good side. However, my hope for this vanished when Ren killed the supreme leader of the First Order, but instead of turning back to the good side he wanted to start his own empire with Rey. This showed me that he was not completely turned, as did the moments where he almost killed his mother and Luke. Now, “The Rise of Skywalker” is my favorite and also least favorite out of the newest trilogy. I could see that Ren and Rey’s connection was growing stronger, and I was not sure how I felt about it based on what we’ve seen from Ren so far. However, this movie is really the turning point, because I could tell it was leading to a showdown between Rey and Ren, and between the Resistance and the First Order. I was also astounded to discover that Palpatine was alive again, but then I remembered the story he told Anakin about the Sith who could defeat death. When Rey and Ren had their showdown, and Rey healed Ren instead of killing him, I thought, “What now? Is
he going to turn to the good side?” When Han Solo appeared and Leia died, I realized that maybe this was what Ren needed to become Ben again, and I’ll be honest, it made me happy when Ben threw away Ren’s light saber. Also, a side note: Chewie’s saddened sound at Leia dying broke my heart. I’m not kidding. I cried. The end of the movie was the best with Ben and Rey joined to defeat Palpatine, and I will say that I fell in love with Ben and his character arch. It made my soul happy when he healed Rey and we finally saw them kiss. However, when he died immediately after, it crushed me. I hadn’t shipped them the whole time, but when I finally did, he just dies. The very ending with Luke and Leia looking onto Rey and her taking the Skywalker name after Ben died was a very touching and great end to the trilogy. I look forward to future movies, although I understand that it may be a long time before we get any new ones. Still, watching these movies for the first time in 2020 has been a great experience.
Opinion
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The Georgetonian
Why March is the best month of the year By KATIE SWANSON Staff Writer Many people have different opinions on what the best month of the year is. Manychoose December because of Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Many also choose May because it is the end of school and summer is beginning for the students. However, when it comes down to it, March takes the cake! On March 2, it was World Teen Mental Wellness Day. This is becoming a relevant issue that needs to be talked about in today’s society. Many people want to avoid it and act like it is not something
that affects the majority of teens every day; however, this national day is to bring awareness and remove stigmas around this issue. Following this, on March 8, it is International Women’s Day. This is a day to celebrate the accomplishments that women have made in social, economic and political environments. Gender equality has been something that women fought for for years, and today we can celebrate how far we have come while still bringing attention to the problems women face on a daily basis. National Pi day lands on March 14. This is because Pi
stands for 3.14. So it is celebrated on the 3rd month of the year and the 14th day of that month. People celebrate by eating a slice of pie and finding $3.14 deals in many businesses. Another favorite holiday for some falls on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day. On this day everyone wears green because of the famous story of St. Patrick relating to the Holy Trinity and wearing green clothing and partying. If you don’t wear green, you just might get pinched! World Down Syndrome Day is on March 21. This day allows people to support those
with Down Syndrome and gives them a chance to shine. This day is a great way to bring people together and show that even though one has a disorder, they are not much different from us. This year is special because National Equal Pay day falls on March 31. This day changes annually; however, we are lucky enough that it comes this month. For a long time, women were paid less than men. Today we can celebrate the hardships women have had to overcome. Even though on average women are still paid less than men, the gap has decreased. At the rate we are
headed women will continue to fight, and this day is a good reminder of that. This month also holds one of the biggest basketball tournaments, the NCAA National Championships, or most commonly known as March Madness. Games start on March 17-18 in Dayton. This is a great way to bring people together and cheer on your favorite teams. Overall, March has a lot to offer. There are so many more national days in this month that it is hard to count. With that being said, it would be hard for any other month to top this one!
mances and ability to win over moderate Republicans speak volumes. The problem with both of these two candidates though is that they do not have a broad base of support, both consistently polled at 0% with African American voters and only performed well in two of the whitest states in the US. Who has a track record of bringing forward a diverse coalition of people and who has shown that they are able to get things done you may ask? Joe Biden. The former vice president of the United States under the Obama Administration has the broadest support in the race and has major legislative and political accomplishments such as leading efforts to pass the violence against women act, the assault weapons ban, the tax payer relief act which
helped end the Great Recession, lead efforts to withdraw troops in Iraq, and supported the LGBTQ+ community, specifically, same-sex marriage before any other establishment Democrat did. When looking at head to head polling against President Trump, Biden performs the best out of the candidates still running in the swing states that matter especially in the rust belt, likely due to the fact that he himself is from Scranton, PA. When looking at who is the one that will help down ballot races the most, all you need to do is look at the extensive amount of support that Biden has from members of the House of Representatives and Senate. If you look at the candidates who has the most support from Democrats who
flipped Republican seats in 2018 it is clear that Biden is the correct candidate to retain those seats. Many moderate Democrats have argued that if someone such as Bernie is the nominee then we will lose all of these vulnerable seats causing us to lose the house. In Arizona, a potential swing state where a Senate seat could be picked, the leading democratic contender for Senate, Mark Kelly, has endorsed Joe Biden for president. Some of you may argue that ole Diamond Joe is not progressive enough for you to vote for him, however, if Biden is nominated he will be running on the most progressive platform of any candidate nominated for president in the past 30 years. His platform calls for a universal healthcare
via a public option to Medicare, it calls for investing $2 trillion in federal funding to push the US to be 100% clean energy and zero-emission by 2050, it calls for a path to citizenship for all undocumented immigrants living the US, and making community colleges completely tuition. There is a good reason why in the past three days since Biden won South Carolina by 30 points, Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar have both dropped out and endorsed the former Vice President and why he has racked up over 25 endorsements including from former presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke and former senate majority leader Harry Reid and that is because he has the best chance to beat Donald Trump and will be one of the best presidents in our lifetime.
Vote for Joe Biden this November
By ANDREW ALVEY
News Editor As your dedicated News Editor and thus Political Correspondent for the past year I have made my political views quite clear. I began supporting Kamala Harris in December of 2018 - before she announced her candidacy - and still believe that she would have been the best choice to defeat Donald Trump and unify the country. However, she sadly dropped out last December and, in the months, following I was lost trying to decide which of the candidates to support. There was a bit of time, before Iowa and New Hampshire, that I decided to vote for either Pete Buttigieg, a man who evokes immense enthusiasm and hope when he speaks, or Amy Klobuchar, a woman whose stellar debate perfor-
Opinion Pokémon and the “Satanic Panic” of the 1980’s
Issue 6
By DYLAN PRUITT
Staff Writer
Some mainstream Christians during the 1980s came to believe that video games and other popular mass media contained great and powerful horrors of Hell that were actively at work and that want to entrap children in the works of Satan. This came to be known as the “Satanic Panic.” A plethora of pastors sought a purge of all things Pokémon during the tail-end of this mass hysteria, all for a multiplicity of reasons. Condemnations of Pokémon found basis in ties to the occult, references to witchcraft, a foundation in Eastern demonology and even implicit endorsement of evolutionary thinking. Before you dismiss such thinking about Pokémon and other popular culture as merely a panic of the past, it should be noted that such fearful and condemning rhetoric has not vanished from the foray. Sermons and articles as recent as 2016 have continued to actively warn Christian parents about the potential dangers that Pokémon as well as other major fixations of the Satanic Panic like “Dungeons and Dragons” or “Magic the Gathering.” More specifically, such recent warnings like those from Rick Wiles have focused on the recognition of Pokémon as virtual, digital, cyber-demons and the pervasiveness of this evil thanks to PokémonGO. The revolutionary game boasts
thousands upon thousands of active players and took the world by storm. For Christians like Wiles, however, the game presented difficulties never seen before to churches and Christians. The very inclusion of many churches as PokéStops within the game – areas where players can retrieve items useful for gameplay – is not so much of a friendly intermingling as it is an attack on the houses of God. By placing PokéStops in churches, Wiles and others claim, Satan and his Pokémon forces are declaring direct war against God’s heavenly kingdom, planting magnets for demonic powers. During the Satanic Panic, condemnations of this sort were not uncommon. In fact, entire books and television programs were dedicated to the eradication of such demonic influences upon the youth of America. Among the most popular of these fearmongers was Phil Phillips, author of “Turmoil in the Toybox” and “Saturday Morning Mind Control.” Respectively, these two major works helped spread the good word about the dangers of children’s toys and subliminal messaging within the beloved Saturday-morning cartoons. Phillips made staggering and frightening claims that around eighty percent of all cartoons and forty percent of all toys aimed at children dealt directly with the occult and demonic. Such claims, natu-
rally, had no scholarly backing and were also based on loose connections between many of the aforementioned issues that were found in Pokémon. That franchise specifically was said to lead the most innocent of children to practice real witchcraft and to begin devil worship. Many churches even grasped onto a story about a young boy enthralled by Pokémon that, upon witnessing his toy Pikachu move on its own, finally listened to his parents and throw all of the franchise’s merchandise away. There are important takeaways from the demonization of Pokémon and the Satanic Panic as a whole that point towards greater truths of religious belief. After all, what could possibly be the motivation behind condemning things as innocent as Jigglypuff or Charmander? The underlying point is this: the very nature of such panic and fearmongering demonstrates the self-defense mechanism inherent to religion. There is an inherent drive, almost a necessity, for many to identify the evil otherness that lies beyond themselves. It is why so many find it simple and easy to condemn serial killers and why monster myths are so prevalent. How much easier is it to say that Pikachu is what causes our children to misbehave rather than an admission that children are difficult or we failed as parents? Which would you rather condemn, yourself or a video game?
March 3rd, 2020 Page 11
Georgetonian
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Editor–in–Chief.............................................Laura Callihan Managing Editor.................................................... Riley Noe News Editor......................................................Andrew Alvey S&R Editor..................................................... Buddy Lukens Features Editor........................................... Abby Sparkman A&E Editor................................................ Lauren Parkinson Opinion Editor................................................Cooper Adkins Back Page Editor........................................... Carrie Jo Cecil Copy Editor.......................................................... Becky Gray Copy Editor.......................................................Colton Sosbe Copy Editor...................................................Nena Claycomb
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:
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THE BACK PAGE
Thoughts from Places: In the rain By CARRIE JO CECIL Back Page Editor There’s a Christmas song called “Winter Wonderland.” Although it only gets played in December, it’s more of a winter song than strictly about Christmas, so those of you with strong opinions about Christmas music can rest easy. It talks about all kinds of good winter activities—walking in the snow, building snowmen and warming up with hot chocolate. If you really picture the scene, you might be able to feel the special crispness of the cold on a snowy day on your cheeks and see snowflakes drifting enchantingly through the air. In this scene, everything is chilled, gleaming and freshly white. It’s absolute beauty. If I were to write a song based off scenes from this winter, the title might be “Winter--Wonder Where It Got To.” Or perhaps, “Unseasonably Warm But Not Necessary Pleasant Months I Regret Were All The Winter We’re Having, Sorry.” Winter won’t technically end until later this month, but by then everyone has already started calling it spring. We’ll be so ready for real warmth and sunshine that snow would be a nuisance instead of a treat. No, this winter has come to a close and it has been entirely defined by rain. In case you were curious, it actually has rained more this winter than average. According to the National Weather Service, it rained 4.05 inches in January and 3.46 inches in February. The average rainfall for Kentucky is 3.24 inches in January and 3.18 inches in February. That’s a difference of 0.81 inches and 0.28 inches, respectively. Okay, so it hasn’t really rained that much more than average, but it feels like it. I certainly feel like I’ve complained about the rain more than average this year. My catchphrase has practically become, “if it were any colder, we would have been snowed in all winter,” by which I mean if things had been just a little different, they
would have been nicer. can’t afford enough heating or warm The issue isn’t just that I missed clothes to make winters bearable. having snow—though I really missed To complain about the weather not the snow—but more that I missed good because it causes you pain but because weather in general. I can’t say that this it’s not pretty is the height of pettiness. winter was A n d entirely yet, my without complaint good days. continues It snowed because t w i c e , by this and the point in sun came the semesout about ter, I am as many so familiar times. I with experealized on riencing these few Georgeand far t o w n ’ s between campus days how in the rain much difthat I have ference a m e m little suno r i z e d shine and w h e r e blue skies puddles can make. will form A gray day on the of about 40 sidewalks. degrees? I know Absolutely some of miserable, those pudTHE GEORGETONIAN/CARRIE JO CECIL and it’s dles better A reflection in a puddle on East Jackson Street. exponenthan I know tially worse if it’s raining. But if it’s the some of my class material. No one, same temperature and the sun’s shin- and I mean not a soul, should know ing, I might not even wear my jacket puddles that well. every time I go out. If you read my previous article Maybe that’s what makes the differ- about the Caf, I hope you can recogence—I have to go out every day. The nize the above paragraph as kvetchweather matters more when you have ing—a continuity nod for those of you to cross campus in it multiple times a who for some reason persist in readday. Before you start criticizing me for ing these. I’m sorry the banality of this indulging in first world complaints, winter has driven you here. Hopefully let me make it abundantly clear that I the spring will come soon and you know what I’m doing. I know exactly won’t have to amuse yourselves with how privileged it sounds to complain the ravings of a woman going mad about a little wind and rain while with cabin fever. You can go for walks walking to class while some people or play frisbee or remember what it’s have to live unprotected from the ele- like to feel happy or some other pleasments. I’m aware there are people who ant spring activity instead.
For those of you wondering because you’re picking up on some key symptoms in my complaining, no, I have not been officially diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder. I don’t even dislike rain that much; in fact, I’m a fan of it every other time of year. I’m just ready for a change of pace. I’m ready for things to start looking up again. I don’t want to be so concerned with puddles anymore. I’d like to see some flowers instead, and not just those poor frostbitten pansies outside the Caf. This is the last week before Spring Break. February, the last full month of winter, has ended, and it wasn’t just Leap Year that made it feel extra long. The nice thing about the passing of time is that it passes and things become new again. By this point in the year, you’ve probably forgotten your New Year’s Resolution, and that’s okay because trying to restart your life in the dead of winter is hard. But spring is coming, and don’t let it pass by without comment. I challenge you, like I’m challenging myself, to praise the good weather that will come just as much, if not more, than you’ve complained about these gray and dreary days. There’s already been some delight days just this week. Use Spring Break, and the whole of spring if necessary, to recharge and reset yourself. I give you permission to have a second New Year if you need it. All of nature is starting over, and you can come out of dormancy with it if you’d like. That’s the point of this article, really. Not to complain about the rain, because I’ve done that plenty, but to remind myself and you, dear readers, that hope springs eternal, and that that verb matters for a lot of reasons. If nothing else, it’s a reminder to spring your clocks forward next weekend for Daylight Savings, so don’t forget like I probably will. Hopefully, though, it’s something to take to heart. Things can always be new again, if you can just get yourself through some winters of discontent.
