theJohnsonian Serving Winthrop University and Rock Hill since 1923
Winthrop University
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Rock Hill, South Carolina
DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLICAN
THE CANDIDATES Photo courtesy of Marc Nozell
Photo courtesy of Michael Vadon
Donald Trump donaldjtrump.com
Hillary Clinton hillaryclinton.com
“Hillary Clinton has served as secretary of state, U.S. senator from New York, first lady of the United States, first lady of Arkansas, a practicing lawyer and law professor, and an activist. But the first thing her friends and family will tell you is that she’s never forgotten where she came from or who she’s been fighting for throughout her life.”
“Donald J. Trump is the very definition of the American success story, continually setting the standards of excellence while expanding his interests in real estate, sports and entertainment. He is a graduate of the Wharton School of Finance. An accomplished author, Mr. Trump has authored over fifteen bestsellers, and his first book, The Art of the Deal, is considered a business classic and one of the most successful business books of all time.”
see POLICIES pg. 2
see POLICIES pg. 2
LIBERTARIAN
GREEN
Photo courtesy of Johnson’s website
Gary Johnson johnsonweld.com
“Gary Johnson and Bill Weld offer a breath of fresh air to a presidential election that is otherwise consumed by divisive partisan rhetoric. Both Johnson and Weld are former two-term Governors and both won re-election by appealing not just to their party, but to all voters. In fact, Gov. Bill Weld won his second term with the largest margin of victory in the history of Massachusetts.”
see POLICIES pg. 2
mytjnow.com Serving Winthrop since 1923
theJohnsonian
Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore
Jill Stein jill2016.com
“Americans deserve real solutions for the economic, social and environmental crises we face. But the broken political system is only making things worse. It’s time to build a people’s movement to end unemployment and poverty; avert climate catastrophe; build a sustainable, just economy; and recognize the dignity and human rights of every person. The power to create this new world is not in our hopes; it’s not in our dreams — it’s in our hands.”
see POLICIES pg. 2
Index: News 3 | Science & Tech 5 | Sports 6 | Arts & Culture 8 | Opinion 10
theJohnsonian
2
November 2, 2016
Who will you be voting for in the 2016 Presidential Election?
Catherine Cross
Maggie Goldin
Jackilyn Fuller
Freshman Elementary Education Major (Republican Party)
Freshman Musical Theatre Major (Democratic Party)
“I am voting for Trump because to me, Hillary has been in power for too long, and she knows what the masses want and she votes for the masses, not what she says or what she believes in.”
“I am going to vote for Hillary Clinton because in my opinion, what I think is at least we are going to be going in the right direction with Hillary. I just think Trump is just going to be a dead end.”
Savanna Bannio
Senior Digital Information Design Major (Undecided Party) “I’m pretty definite on Hillary Clinton. Mainly because most of the things she is going for, I agree with. Definitely not Donald Trump, and I don’t think it is worth it to pick a third-party candidate. ”
Sophomore Early Education Major (Republican Party) “I am voting for Trump just because of my religious views. I’m a very strong Catholic, and I have to vote with the party that will most support my religious views.”
POLICIES • from front
STEIN TRUMP JOHNSON CLINTON TOPIC OPI FISCAL
• • • • • •
IMMIGRATION
• •
Create more jobs in 100 days Make college debtfree Raise minimum wage Companies that export jobs give back tax breaks Make tax shares more fair Equal pay/paid leave
•
More technology and personnel in immigration process Install more border patrol and sanctuary cities
•
•
•
•
•
HEALTHCARE
• • •
Smaller steps to health care Believes medicare for all is not feasible Managed competition vs. single payer system
• • • •
Create 25 million jobs Reduce taxes and cost of childcare out of taxes Make business tax rate more competitive
Prevent Muslim immigrants from entering U.S. Cut down on illegal immigration by building a wall Does not believe in birth-right citizenship
Implement universal healthcare Repeal and replace Obamacare Expand medicaid Create V.A. mental health division in order to reduce veteran suicide rate
• •
• •
•
•
• •
Budget by cutting entitlements and defense Cut unnecessary laws and taxes that take from the resources businesses require to grow
• •
•
Make work visas easier to get One-strike and you’re out for legal immigrants who break laws Share costs of legal immigration between federal and state governmen
•
Allow states to experiment with medicare and medicaid laws Wants free-market insurance
•
•
•
Guarantee a living wage job for all. Set a $15/hour federal minimum wage, with indexing. Break up “toobig-to-fail” banks and democratize the Federal Reserve. Support immigrants’ rights. Create a welcoming path to citizenship for immigrants. Demilitarize border crossings throughout North America. Eliminate the cancer of health insurance, which adds costs while reducing access to health care. End overcharging for prescription drugs by using bulk purchasing negotiations.
*Above are brief, unbiased, bulleted points of information that are meant to communicate the presidential candidates’ main policies to our readers in order for them to decide whom to vote for on November 8. More information can be found at the campaign websites for each individual candidate.
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NEWS
theJohnsonian November 2, 2016
What to expect when you’re electing Cheyenne Walsh Staff Writer Just a day before the Winthrop’s first homecoming concert, an email November 8 marks the day when people from around the United States will go to the polls to cast their ballot for the upcoming election. For many of Winthrop’s students, this will be the first time that what they have to say about the presidency and other offices will count. Jessica Perkins, 18, has high hopes for her first voting experience. “I like it. I’m excited. This is a crucial election, so I’m glad that I can vote in this one especially,” Perkins said. For many first-time voters, however, they do not know what to expect on the ballot. According to Sydney Soldner, 18, she did not know what to expect when voting absentee. “I was surprised about how many other parties there were and so many other things to vote for besides president,” she said. Voting for the first time can be intimidating if one does not know what they are walking into. When first walking into a polling station, the voter will most likely stand in a line waiting to receive a yellow card. The card is then inserted into the machine in order to cast the vote electronically. On the ballot there will be many types of offices and parties within those offices. Choices for the major parties for President, Senate and the House of Representatives. In each district, however, there will be smaller offices that will vary between locations. These smaller offices could include state legislative races and local races, such as choices of school board officials as well as different district officials, such as sheriff. Within each office, no matter if they are a major office or in the district, there will be different parties present. The major parties, Democrat and Republican, will be evident throughout the ballot. The only additional party that will be available will be the Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson, who is listed under the choice for president. There will also be a “write-in” option, which simply allows the voter to write down a possible candidate that was not on the list. You will also see “incumbent” written next to certain names in the offices. The word simply states that the individual is currently in office. Soldner also acknowledged an aspect of the ballot that many first-time voters will not expect: ballot initiatives. According to Dr. Adolphus Belk Jr., Winthrop professor of political sci-
ence and African-American studies, “The ballot initiatives put public policy questions before voters.” Belk stated, “In years past, voters have been asked everything from criminal justice reforms like truth in sentencing or ‘three-strikes and you’re out’ to the use of race as a criteria in university admissions and employment at public institutions and in public jobs.” Ballot initiatives will differ between states, but it is important to know some of the current issues in the government today. At the end of voting, you will take your yellow card back to the desk and leave the polling place. Your vote is now being counted, your voice is now being heard.
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The naked truth about sugar consumption Kristin Streetman Staff Writer It is a cool October afternoon at Winthrop, leaves are falling and the stress of the mid semester is draining students energy. A student running late to class may opt to grab a Naked Smoothie or Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte instead of lunch. However, what many students don’t know is the adverse health effects these snacks may be having on them. The American Heart Association recommends 6 to 9 teaspoons of sugar daily, but your average grande (medium) Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks has around 12.5 teaspoons of sugar in it. This means that a student grabbing a coffee before their 8 a.m. will already be over on their daily recommended sugar before they have had a single meal. Say this student needs to work on her CRTW paper and decides to skip lunch and instead have a “healthy” Naked Smoothie. If they pick up a Naked Pomegranate Blueberry, they are consuming 61 grams or 15.25 teaspoons of sugar in one meal. To which this student may think, “it is made from fruit, it says no added sugar. It has to be healthy!” While this is somewhat true, it does not mean that smoothies such as these are healthy. Fruit Sugar Fruit naturally contains sugar, hence their sweet taste, however this sugar is not unhealthy for you because fruit also contains high amounts of fiber. So while a strawberry may contain 0.6 grams of sugar it also contains 0.2 grams of fiber. Fiber is vital for the body’s ability to process and utilize sugar. Fiber slows the body’s absorption of sugar, meaning the pancreas and liver, the organs which process sugar in the human body, aren’t overloading. This sugar is then able to be used as an energy source instead of being converted into fat around the organs. When fruit is cooked down to make juice or Naked Smoothies the fiber is cooked out. The health benefits from the fruit are lost and the products left over are toxic, empty sugar calories. The Problem Sugar is a toxic and addictive substance. The big concern surrounding the sugar addiction in America is a lack of public knowledge. Ever notice that there is no sugar daily value on nutrition labels? That is because, according to
Em Leamy | News Editor leamye@mytjnow.com
Robert Laust, 80% of foods on the American grocery market are tainted with unnecessary added sugar. This is an issue for many people, especially those who cannot afford fresh fruit and vegetables and people trying to achieve a healthy lifestyle but lack the education they need. For example, a student who may wanted to lose a little weight after their freshman year may choose a “low fat” option from the grocery store. However, low fat options are often chock full of added sugar meaning the student will only continue to gain or will remain at their current weight. Lack of transparency is an issue for all food consumers. If a person chooses to eat a cupcake or drink a coke, they actively understand that what they are consuming is unhealthy. However, if someone wants to purchase healthy foods, at our present state they lack the resources to do so. Sugar poses several health risks to humans. Sugar is a leading cause for Type 2 diabetes, in fact, according to a study done in Europe, as communicated by Robert Laust during his 2013 Ted Talk, if a person consumes one can of soda daily their risk for diabetes goes up 29 percent. This statistic, accord to Laust, is irrespective of all other dietary habits. Sugar causes fat build up around organs, which leads to heart, liver, and kidney diseases as well as increased risks for certain cancers and even Alzheimer’s. Politics There has been increasing legislation surrounding sugar, both in schools and in regards to public sale. This June Philadelphia passed a legislation increasing tax rates for soda and other sugary beverages in an effort to curb public consumption of the potentially harmful drinks. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump spoke out on Twitter stating “Crooked Hillary Clinton has endorsed Philly’s soda tax,” he posted, “which violates her pledge to not support taxes on the poor and middle class.” The GOP has also raised concerns, similar to their protests to Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign, about the government’s right and ability to “dictate personal choice.” Former presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders also opposed the legislation over concerns that it would hit lower income level citizens the hardest. “Making sure that every family has high-quality, affordable preschool and child care is a vision that
Kristin Streetman / The Johnsonian
I strongly share,” Senator Sanders said, according to the New York Times. “On the other hand, I do not support paying for this proposal through a regressive tax on soda that will significantly increase taxes on low-income and middle-class Americans. At a time of massive income and wealth inequality, it should be the people on top who see an increase in their taxes, not low-income and working people.” Democratic presidential nominee Secretary of State Hillary Clinton endorsed the tax plan, stating, “it starts early with working with families, working with kids, building up community resources,” Secretary Clinton said, according to a CNN report. “I’m very supportive of the mayor’s proposal to tax soda to get universal preschool for kids. I mean, we need universal preschool. And if that’s a way to do it, that’s how we should do it.” She said this in regards to a proposal to use the revenue from the increased tax to fund universal prekindergarten. What can you do? In order to be proactive about sugar consumption, students can start by reading the labels. Look for foods low in sugar and calculate how much of the substance is in your favorite snacks and drinks. Students may also vote for candidates which support or opposed sugar referendums, in order to let the government know how they feel about the state of the food market in our country.
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theJohnsonian
November 2, 2016
Voices of Winthrop politics Cheyenne Walsh Staff Writer
Winthrop contains different political beliefs that have manifested themselves into organizations. Three political organizations that exist on campus are College Democrats, College Republicans and Socialist Student Union. Each organization has their own thoughts on this upcoming election, and the candidates that have been under scrutiny since the race for presidency began.
on campus and within the greater Charlotte area.” They have done so by holding events that shed light on socialism and are possibly holding a few symposiums in the weeks leading up to the election. A Discussion on Candidates
The nature of this election and, specifically the candidates, has left many pondering the choice of “Who do I choose?” While the case was made for both Clinton and Trump, the organizations all had one aspect in common and that was the nature The Organization of the election. Hankinson said, The College “This is honestly Democrats at such an exciting Winthrop are looking election to be alive to get the word out for, simply because This election is about their chapter. of how unorthodox According to Parker both candidates are. obviously a very Quinlan, the chief-ofboth thrilling and controversial one. It’s staff, “We facilitate terrifying to watch. I the democratic really do feel like we’re However, I think party on Winthrop’s an important it’s important that watching campus, so the idea part of history in the is that the democratic we all do our best making.” party can have Quinlan of the to be respectful outreach on college College Democrats campuses across the and rational when had similar thoughts country and part the notion of seeing discussing it with on of what we do as a history in the making. democratic chapter is each other, even He said, “It’s been reach out to college long, long cycle. when we may not aThat’s students and help the thing I facilitate the DNC’s think people really agree. operation on college need to understand. campuses.” No matter who your Sydney Hankinson The College person is, a lot of folks Media Secretary Republicans attempt are having fatigue, to get their messages voter fatigue, and my out through the thoughts on the cycle events they host as well as through generally are it’s definitely going to social media. According to Media change the way that a lot of people Secretary Sydney Hankinson, “We look at American politics and it’s really try to get involved by hosting definitely going to change the way a debate watches, doing cold calls lot of people look at the status of the for local Republican politicians, presidency.” and interviewing those in the As for Paxton, he made a community who are leaders of the direct point on how the election conservative movement.” portrays the United States, and the They have also started their own candidates themselves. “I believe YouTube channel and recently held this election reflects poorly on an election rally in McBryde that the United States. On one hand garnered over one-hundred people. we have Donald Trump, a man A lesser known organization on who has exploited much of the campus is the Socialist Student working class for profit and who Union. Gabriel Paxton, head of the is downright disgusting in his Socialist Student Union, expresses language and actions towards the focus point of the organization. women and minorities. Clinton is He said, “The organization is a easily the better choice, however, campus political group aimed at her connection to corporate America educating the student body on the and her hawkish foreign policy is political and economic school of hard for a socialist like myself to socialism. Further we, as a group, overlook,” he said. are dedicated to fighting injustices
“”
Tea Franco / The Johnsonian
Congressman Mick Mulvaney, State Senate Candidate Mark Palmer, State Senator Elect Wes Climer Chairman of the York County Republican Party Joel Hamilton and a few other leaders stood for photos together.
Janay Reece / The Johnsonian
A copy of the 2014 Legislative Manual from the South Carolina state house. A Final Note As the election continues to unfold in the coming weeks before Nov. 8, each organization have ideas they wish to convey to the students of Winthrop, and a final remark on the election that could possibly change history. Quinlan said, “We are an organization that is unique in the regards in our ability to cross cut race, gender and sexual orientation status. So we have a lot of intersectionality within our organization. And I think that the general consensus is that we are extremely excited to see that glass ceiling get broken again after having seen it in 2008 with the first election of a black president.” As for Paxton, he states the stance of his organization. He said, “Ultimately, our organization believes that we must address
the growing disparity in income and capital wealth in this nation. The capitalist system has disproportionately benefitted a few, while disenfranchising many in our eyes.” Despite the differences of the parties, Hankinson wants voters to remember who we are as a nation. “This election is obviously a very controversial one. However, I think it’s important that we all do our best to be respectful and rational when discussing it with each other, even when we may not agree. Violence and name-calling from either side of the aisle is counterproductive and immature, and has no place among civilized adults. Regardless of the outcome of this election, we are all still going to be living in this country together and we must be able to stay civil so we can make America a better place for future generations.”
Inside the voting process, after the ballot What happens with your ballot after you vote?
district gets one electoral vote, and the winner of the state as a whole gets an additional two,” Holders said. After the citizens vote, electors begin voting from mid-November
Zuri Anderson Staff Writer When citizens go to vote for the next president, it is important to understand how this process works and how the ballot is processed. When voters submit their ballot for the general election, they are voting for electors. The electors’ votes decide who becomes president. The number of electors per state is equal to the amount of representatives in Congress (Senate and the House of Representatives). 538 electors make up the electoral college in the United States, including Washington D.C., which receives three electors. “People don’t always understand that it’s not a national election; t’s 51 separate elections,” Dr. John Holder, adjunct professor in Political Science said. The candidate who wins the state gets their electoral votes. A candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes, the majority, to win the presidential election. Holder said that Maine and Nebraska are the exceptions. “The winner in each congressional
through Dec. 19 this year. A projected winner is announced on the night of Election Day, that is, the winner of the popular vote. Congress meets to count the electoral votes on January 6, 2017. It is possible for candidates to
win the popular vote but lose the electoral vote. One of these rare occurrences happened in 2000, when Al Gore won the popular vote but lost the electoral vote to George W. Bush.
turnout, voter turnout is one measure of citizen participation in politics. “It is usually expressed as the percentage of voters who cast a vote [or turnout] at an election. This total number of voters includes those who cast blank or invalid votes, as they still participate,” the study said. “Voting practices, good and bad, need examination as well. Some countries use unrepresentative or fraudulent voting to give power to undemocratic leaders, such as Putin in Russia or Mugabe in Zimbabwe,” Van Aller said. According to the Pew Research Center, the United States ranks low compared to other countries. Their August 2, 2016 study found that U.S. turnout in the 2012 presidential election was 53.6 percent, based on 129.1 million votes cast and an estimated votingage population of just under 241 million people. They would look at eligible voters, but many factors go into voter eligibility, such as residency rules, citizenship and imprisonment. The highest turnout rates were Kristin Streetman / The Johnsonian in Belgium (87.2 percent), Turkey (84.3 percent) and Sweden (82.6 “[Voting] is one part of the percent). For Belgium and Turkey, social contract wherein democratic voting is compulsory, or mandatory. governments institute the people’s “Voting is the ultimate symbol in will,” said Dr. Chris Van Aller of the a democracy of legitimacy, that is Political Science Department. the right and authority to rule,” Van According to a study done by Aller said. International IDEA on voter
Tea Franco | Assistant News Editor francot@mytjnow.com
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S&T
theJohnsonian November 2, 2016
Sustainablity and The White House Sydney Amodio amodios@mytjnow.com
With the election approaching in November, one issue that is often overlooked is the environmental stances of candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Students and faculty of Winthrop discussed the different positions of these two parties, Savannah Moritzky, co-president of Winthrop’s Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC) said, “The environmental issues we are and will be facing are problems that involve the whole world, not just the United States.” According to Clara Kress, also co-president of SEAC, sustainability issues are global and disproportionately affect lower-income individuals first. “Pacific islanders are already losing land where they live due to rising sea levels and many impoverished people that live in unsafe places due to air or water quality do not have the money to move. It’s a human rights issue,” Kress said. In a tweet from 2012, Trump claimed that the Chinese created the concept of global warming, though he later denied this in the first presidential debate. He has referred to global warming as a hoax in other tweets. Trump rejected global warming in his book “Crippled America,” stating that the belief that carbon emissions cause climate change is driving the push for renewable energy. “If you don’t buy that--and I don’t--then what we have is really just an expensive way of making the tree-huggers feel good about themselves,” Trump stated. According to Christopher Van Aller, professor of political science at Winthrop, the vast majority of scientists would not support Trump’s view regarding climate change. In a joint publication in 2014, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society of the United Kingdom stated: “Human activities — especially the burning of fossil fuels since the start of the Industrial Revolution — have increased atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations by about 40 percent.” It also stated that the global average surface temperature has increased by about 1.4 F since 1900 along with climate effects including warming of the ocean, rise in sea level and a decline in Arctic sea ice. In her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention, Hillary Clinton said, “I believe in science. I believe that climate change is real and that we can save our planet while creating millions of good-paying clean energy jobs.” Clinton’s agenda includes providing resources to prepare for climate change. “It is irresponsible for the government to not provide leadership in preparing for the disruptions that will occur due to climate change,” Marsha Bollinger, formerly the Dalton endowed chair of Environmental Sciences and Studies said. Christopher Johnson, Winthrop’s sustainability coordinator, believes that the United States should be looking for better ways to use energy
Kristin Streetman / The Johnsonian
sources and reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. “Why not utilize solar for residential and certain industrial productions? Why do we need to use electricity to cool our homes when geothermal is a long term solution that can do the same thing? Why can’t we focus on heating hot water with the sun?” Johnson asked. In his America First Energy Plan, Trump revealed his aim to revoke policies that enforce restrictions on new drilling technologies, stating that they create millions of jobs. “There is a glut of oil due to shale oil and gas, so drilling does not make much economic sense right now,” Van Aller said. “We also may wish to think about whether we want drilling in pristine areas, such as off the South Carolina coast. One heavy spill would spell the doom of tourism for a number of years, and the ecosystem might never fully recover.” According to Bollinger, Clinton understands that sustainability links economic, environmental and social justice issues, while Trump approaches issues primarily from an economic perspective. “Clinton talks about reforming the oil leasing process and revitalizing coal communities while moving away from fossil fuels. She provides alternatives to the fuels and replacements for the fossil fuel driven industries. Trump wants to open up more offshore oil leasing, encourage more extraction of gas from shale and encourage more coal production,” Bollinger said. While sustainability may not be your ultimate concern this election, it is important to remember that these issues are multifaceted and long-term. As Van Aller said, “We only have one world and we should emulate the Native Americans who stated that we must live for the seventh generation.”
2016 Scientific Debate CLINTON
TRUMP
JOHNSON
STEIN
TOPIC CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY
Plans to generate half of our electricity from clean sources with half a billion solar panels installed by the end of her first term
“There is still much that needs to be investigated in the field of ‘climate change.’”
“The very activities that appear to contribute to climate change also contribute to mankind’s health and prosperity.”
“Our Green New Deal plan prioritizes a rapid transition to 100% clean renewable energy”
MENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH
“Within my time in office as president, Americans will no longer separate mental health from physical health when it comes to access to care or quality of treatment.”
“Our efforts to support research and public health initiatives will have to be balanced with other demands for scarce resources.”
“The drug war prevents treatment - and decriminalization and legalization can remove enormous barriers to mental health treatment.”
“A Medicare For All single payer healthcare system would place health as the bottom line rather than industry profits.”
NUCLEAR POWER
Plans to ensure the climate benefits from existing and safe nuclear power plants, to increase research in nuclear power and to reduce weapons-grade material worldwide.
“We can make nuclear power safer, and its outputs are extraordinary given the investment we should make.”
Plans to maintain strict nuclear safety standards and investigate newer and safer lower yield reactors like breeder reactors or thorium reactors.
“Nuclear fission technology is unsafe, expensive, and dirty from the mining of uranium to the disposal of spent fuel.”
OPIOIDS
Proposed a $10 billion initiative to combat America’s “epidemic of drug and alcohol addiction.”
Plans to stop the inflow of opioids into the US and says this is a national problem that costs America.
States that opioids are over-prescribed because patients don’t have access to safer pain management alternatives like cannabis.
Plans to redirect funds for the "war on drugs" toward expanded research.
You can use the following websites to help you track the election: 270towin, Rock the Vote, Real Clear Politics, New York Times Interactive Tracker and Ballotpedia.
Sydney Amodio | Science & Technology Editor amodios@mytjnow.com
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SPORTS
theJohnsonian
November 2, 2016
Eagle of the Week: Kellen Blake Emily Gill gille@mytjnow.com A few years ago, Kellen Blake, native of Arlington, Virginia, found Winthrop through a basketball coach who thought he might be a good fit on the Eagle’s basketball team. “An old basketball coach asked me if I’d like to be a walk-on here. I had no clue what it was but figured I’d give it a shot,” Blake said. The 21-year-old business administration major is one of three walk-ons on the team and is in his third season with the Eagles. Although Blake has not had much playing time, the time he has had on the court has been impressive. In his sophomore season, he played for four minutes against Charleston Southern University and sunk the Eagles’ 17th threepointer of the game. That shot tied the school record for three-pointers in a single game. In his freshman season, he scored seven points in three minutes against Mars Hill. He also scored three consecutive free throws after being fouled in the season opener against Roanoke College. Photo courtesy of Winthrop Athletics Blake expects a good season for the Blake prepares for his senior season and is hopeful for upcoming homecoming game. team with good reason. Winthrop’s men’s basketball team was the unanimous influence as well. Point last year. preseason pick to win the Big South Conference “Playing here is more than just playing “Playing High Point at home last year this was Championship this year. basketball; it’s building a family and connections my favorite game because two of my teammates “The only really different thing for the team with other students, teachers and people in made ESPN Sportscenter by dunking on the this year is our new additions to the team, the community. That’s what makes playing for same person. It was crazy,” Blake said. some really good freshmen. Other than that Winthrop different,” Blake said. Watching the games lets people share in those the goals are still the same: winning a Big The Winthrop difference is present in team experiences. South Championship and going to the NCAA bonding too. Bonding happens day by day for “People should come to the games because we tournament,” Blake said. sports teams, but there are always moments see fans as a part of our family as well. Coach While Blake hasn’t had that specific that stand out. One of those moments for Blake Kelsey always says they are our sixth man, which dream of winning the Big South Conference was when the team went to a haunted house last is true. Their energy and excitement pumps us Championship all his life, sports have been year. up, and we really appreciate it. Also, it’s a way important to him from a young age. He played “Watching who was scared and who wasn’t for students to meet up with friends and forget football, baseball and soccer growing up, but was probably the funniest moment I’ve had about school for a while. It’s always a fun time, basketball stood out above the others. with the team. The funniest part was one of so come and join us at the Coliseum on game “To stay active as a kid my dad would always my teammates was chased by a clown with a days and not just basketball all-sports,” Blake play sports with me. Basketball was always my chainsaw at the end, and I’ve never seen [them] said. favorite since I was about three or four years old, run so fast,” Blake said The homecoming game is Nov. 12 at 4 p.m. at and it just stuck with me,” Blake said. One of Blake favorite memories from his the Coliseum. The Winthrop experience will have lasting Winthrop experience was playing against High
Politics and movements in sports Emily Gill gille@mytjnow.com Politics, social movements and sports have been linked in the media numerous times this year: Colin Kaepernick’s decision to sit during the national anthem, the NCAA and NBA’s decisions to move sporting events away from North Carolina because of HB2 and Josh Brown’s release from the Giants a year after his arrest for abusing his wife. Based on these events alone, it is clear that politics, social movements and sports are linked. Much of this is because professional athletes and athletic organizations are in the public’s eye. Ken Halpin, the athletic director for Winthrop, said politics in sports is no different from politics in actors and entertainment. “Part of what sports represents is entertainment. People pay to buy tickets to come watch athletic events like a concert or movie. It’s no different than politics with actors and entertainment. People pay very close attention, and, therefore, it’s easy to share your views with a large audience when you’re an athlete, actor or entertainer,” Halpin said. Halpin also noted that it is fair for athletes to express their opinions. “I think that all athletes, just like all humans, have the right to an opinion on political matters and right to express it. Some more popular athletes have more access to more eyeballs,” Halpin said. Popular athletes anywhere have the ability to gain people’s attention. Angela Coello Perez, a sophomore athletic training major, is on the basketball team and is from Spain. She noted that popular athletes like
Photo courtesy of Jacob Hallex
Tessa Benoit/ The Johnsonain
Emily Gill | Sports Editor gille@mytjnow.com
Alba Torrens, a Spanish basketball player, have sway over what their fans think. “People like and love what she says, so probably people are going to follow what she said only because it’s her,” Perez said. The sway athletes have is due to the number of people who hold them in high regard or as role models. Anne Cushman, a senior English major and player for the soccer team, believes that role models can use their limelight to bring about positive change. “I think that what [Kaepernick] did was totally great. I think he used his position as a role model to further things that he thought were important in society. He kind of took his power in sports and used it to influence people outside of sports,” Cushman said. That influence can start conversations about social movements, social justice and politics. Halpin said the discussion about the social and political aspects are what makes a difference ultimately. “People who passionately agree or passionately disagree are what was important in that [Colin Kaepernick’s actions] initiated a conversation that’s important in this country,” Halpin said. Cushman recognizes that not all athletes need to take a stance on each issue that exists, but she also believes their power is relevant. “At the end of the day, sports are sports, but if you can use that position to make the world a little bit of a better place I think that’s something that’s very important,” Cushman said.
Tessa Benoit/ The Johnsonain
Tessa Benoit/ The Johnsonain
Photo courtesy of Jacob Hallex
theJohnsonian
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November 2, 2016
Freshman wins big in interscholastic sports Zuri Anderson Staf Writer Freshman Nick Wellons went to the South Carolina Court of Appeals to propose a bill that limits the amount of funding that goes into interscholastic sports last Wednesday to Friday. “The purpose of the bill is to change the laws on how money is allowed to be allocated for public schools’ sports facilities and re-allocate money into other areas such as buying new textbooks or updating classroom technology,” Wellons said. A sports management major, Wellons’ inspiration came from his experience in an underfunded public school: Woodruff High School. “We’ve had technology issues every single year I was there. It’s always something breaking, something not working, something too slow. There were days where we weren’t able to do what a lot of schools are able to do,” Wellons said. Woodruff is one of the least funded public schools in South Carolina, making $9,578 per pupil versus some schools in Spartanburg County that make up to $16 thousand per pupil, according to Wellons’ research. Despite that, Woodruff is the only school in Spartanburg County to receive the Palmetto Gold Award for 12 years, the most in the county, according to the school’s executive summary from January 2016. “Woodruff has no choice. They have to throw a lot of money into education. If they don’t, they don’t have a school. Instead of putting it into education and new textbooks, they are putting it into sports facilities,” Wellons said. Wellons supports sports expansion, but he noticed that expensive contracts go to interscholastic sports, making sports activities more about profit and incentives. “That’s where you want to see more of sport for sport and not for money,” Wellons said. In 2012, a $60 million football stadium was built for Allen High School in Texas, which seats over 18,000 people, according to the Los Angeles Times. McKinney Independent School District had plans for a $70 million stadium to compete against Allen High School. Wellons is involved with the South Carolina Student Legislature on Winthrop’s campus,
a student-run mock legislature between Winthrop and 11 other colleges anduniversities in South Carolina. With the help of sophomore Heidi Hearne, president of SCSL at Winthrop, he learned how to write a bill. He started his project in early September and the bill was his original idea. Wellons also had research assistance from S.C. Senator Shane Martin of District 13. Wellons and Hearne attended a committee last Wednesday where the bill was debated in the House of Representatives and Senate. On Thursday, the Senate tabled, or put off, the bill until Friday morning due to lack of internet from low state funding. On Friday morning, Wellons’ bill passed the Senate and House with no down votes. “They believe that schools shouldn’t be Photo courtesy of Nick Wellons allowed to spend big money on sports instead Nick Wellons in the meeting room of the Court of Appeals in Columbia, SC. Wellons said. of arts and education,” Freshman Sydney Strother had similar Wellons said about the Senate’s reason for experiences when she was in the band program passing the bill. at Midland Valley High School in Graniteville, Wellons expected some challenges. Based on South Carolina. his research, Wellons found that some of the “All the money was allocated to sports. I was South Carolina politicians played sports in high in band, and we got no funding. We had a lot of school. He also participated in a mock senate fundraisers but I still had to pay out of pocket a with his bill in preparation for the Court of lot. Athletics didn’t pay anything,” Strother said. Appeals. Strother had to pay $450 a year, with an Wellons said that Winthrop was an extra payment for marching in eighth grade and opportunity to work on his ideas due to its open another $600 for doing a march in Philadelphia. environment. Strother said her bill ran to almost $3,000 for “In many regions and colleges around the participation in the small high school band. state, they probably won’t be as open. New “I just don’t think it’s fair that one organization ideas every day are being introduced, and they has to work so much harder for the money than like to nurture them and see them grow. I think the other,” Strother said. Winthrop likes to see them try and attempt,”
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There will be many college athletes who will use their American rights and go out to vote, and there will be some athletes who do not see the significance in voting. With the election coming up, everyone’s vote is a vital part of deciding between Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Gary Johnson, Jill Stein or Evan McMullin to become the next president. The election does not just affect the people in the United States and the people in surrounding countries. The election is a crucial decision that will affect many countries around the world for more than just four the new president will be in office. In certain circumstances the election may have an influence on whether foreign students and athletes will consider playing a sport and getting an education in the United States. Winthrop’s Louise Jeppesen is a junior golfer who is from Helsingborg, Sweden, where, similar to countries such as the United Kingdom, Spain, Netherlands and Belgium, they have a constitutional monarchy. In Sweden, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden has been reigning since 1973 11:41 AM after the death of his grandfather, King Gustaf VI Adolf. While the prime minister is in charge of the country and deals with all the government issues, the king is a figurehead of the country. The Prime Minister of Sweden is Stefan Lofven, and he has been in power since 2014. Louise Jeppesen said, “In Sweden the election is a big deal. It is also on every front page of every newspaper. Most people are voting for Hillary and think the world will collapse if Trump wins.” With the United States government being a democratic republic, there are many differences between the United States and other countries. Some differences include education, healthcare, immigration policies and taxes. Louise Jeppesen said, “I don’t really know what I think. The American political society is so strange from Sweden. I am for free health care and free education at any level as it is in Sweden. However, one thing everyone keeps saying back home: whoever wins, you have to remember everyone who voted for the other one.” The election has even promoted a new rule for Towson’s men’s basketball team. According to CBS, their head coach Pat Skerry and associate athletic director Antwaine Smith are having every member of the basketball team register to vote. Whether the Towson players are from nearby Baltimore or faraway Missouri or Florida, every player will be voting Nov. 8, or they will be voting absentee. Pat Skerry said, “I’m not a big political guy, or on a soapbox, but with this I think it’s important this year, more than any other, for them to cast their vote for whomever they want.” Skerry hopes making his players vote will reflect on the rights we have as Americans to choose our own president. Skerry also wants his decision not only to inspire other Towson teams but also to encourage other college men’s basketball programs to get their players to go out and vote.
Taylor Simpson | Assistant Sports Editor simpsont@mytjnow.com
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A&C
theJohnsonian
The future of arts November 2, 2016
Will art education change with a new president? Taylor Mitchell Staff Writer The 2016 Presidential Election has crept up on all of us pretty quickly, and it is our jobs as citizens not only to get out and vote but also to be well informed. For many Winthrop students i, the candidates’ stance on an arts education is an important issue.
Hillary Clinton
Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton believes in an arts education and that investing in arts is investing in the future of our children. Clinton made the point that standardized testing in our Sierra Hyer, a junior art major, working on her mug series. schools is too much of the focus. She believes that standardized tests are a great diagnostic for our educators but that they have taken over and changed how we are teaching in our schools. Trump’s Contributions to the Arts Clinton believes that arts education in the lives Trump hosted the reality shows “The of children can be transformative. Apprentice” and “The Celebrity Apprentice” for
Clinton’s Background in the Arts
Clinton’s background in the arts is quite extensive. In 1999 she won the Americans for the Arts Award for Arts Advocacy. She has also published two books and received a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for her audio recording of her book “It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us.”
Donald Trump
Republican Nominee Donald Trump believes in and supports a well-rounded education. In an interview with the Washington Post, Trump said, “Critical thinking skills, the ability to read, write and do basic math are still the keys to economic success. A holistic education that includes literature and the arts is just as critical to creating good citizens.”
a combined 14 seasons, published 16 books on financial advice and flirted briefly with attending film school at the University of Southern California.
Gary Johnson
Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson does not have a stance on arts education or has not made one apparent in the press. Johnson does believe local and state governments should have much more control over education policies. He also believes in getting rid of the federal Department of Education as well as Common Core because they were “costly and overly bureaucratic and compromise our ability to provide our children with a good education.”
Adam Caratenuto / The Johnsonian
Jill Stein
Green Party nominee Jill Stein wants to restore arts, music and recreation to school curriculums. Stein also does not support Common Core education. “OnTheIssues.org” quoted her as saying, “We need to teach multidimensionality and make schools relevant, using the arts, engaging the community, and more.
Stein’s Background in the Arts
Prior to politics Stein was a physician after graduating from Harvard Medical School in 1979. As a physician Stein served on Boston’s chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility. Stein also has recorded musical albums, playing the conga, djembe drums and guitar. In the 1990s and the 2000s she released four studio albums collaborating with Ken Selcer in the folk-rock band Somebody’s Sister. Most of the songs on these albums focus on issues Stein emphasizes now in her political career such as peace, justice and climate action.
Educational enemies Rickey Baisley baisleyr@mytjnow.com
This election year has brought diverse candidates to the forefront, all with very different approaches to solving national issues. One of these issues is education. The Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton, believes that schools and teachers are under funded and under supported. To solve this, Clinton’s program focuses on modernizing America’s schools and increasing the support schools and teachers receive: ·Clinton aims to launch a national program to better the pay and support teachers receive, as well as preparing them better for their roles as educators ·Clinton wants to increase the presence of computer science in the American school system. She plans, if elected, to provide more funding to states to provide programs in computer science as she believes the increase in jobs in this field requires more students trained in its workings ·Clinton plans to build on the Build America Bonds program, a program instituted by President Obama in order to stimulate the economy and create jobs, to provide the money for cities to build up schools that are beginning to fall apart. Clinton hopes her “Modernize Every School Bonds” will modernize schools and provide things such as better labs and wifi ·Clinton believes that some schools can serve as “school to prison pipelines” that greatly effect African American students. Clinton hopes to provide money to schools in order to reform their disciplinary policies and for states to use social and emotional interventions instead of heavy disciplinary actions The Republican candidate’s plan differs considerably. Donald Trump’s ideas about education focus on student choice of school. ·Trump believes that the key to a better education for students lies in the ability for students to choose where they go to learn ·Trump wants to re-prioritize 20 Billion of existing federal dollars to go towards school choice. Trump wants to give school choice to every one of the “11 million school aged children living in property” ·Trump, if president, would work with congress to provide reforms for places of higher education that would allow them to receive tax breaks and extra money in exchange for efforts to lower attendance costs and student debt ·Trump wants to make it easier for students to enter a place of higher learning, two and four colleges as well as trade schools and technical
Caitlan Walzer | Co-A&C Editor walzerc@mytjnow.com
schools, and for the experience to be cheaper for these students. Two major third party candidates have also outlined their views. Libertarian Gary Johnson is a proponent of school choice, believing that competition between schools will better their overall conditions. ·Johnson believes that education should be handled at the local level, with states making decisions about what their students are learning ·Elimination of the Federal department of education ·Reform and improvement among all schools in order to make them more advanced. Green Party candidate Jill Stein promotes heavy changes for America’s school system these include: ·Free education from pre-school to university ·Abolish student debt ·No privatization of school ·Restorative justice instead if heavy punishments in school ·Evaluate teachers with their peers ·Curriculum developed by teachers with input from parents and community leaders with hopes for less importance of high stakes tests ·Better pay and benefits for teachers, fight the effects of poverty and racism in schools While the candidates may have their plans outlined, it does not mean that they have reached the public. Levi Siniard, a junior middle-level education major, believes that the candidates were not vocal enough on this issue. “Their focus has been largely economics, I’ve heard very little about education this election season.” Siniard said. To him, it seems that “…education is the least thing they want, it’s pretty sad.” Annie Ellison, junior early childhood education major, had the same problem as Siniard. “I feel like neither candidate has adequately discussed these issues.” Ellison had to do research herself in order to find out what the candidates believed, which she found strange considering the importance of this topic on the nation’s future. However, after research, Ellison found Clinton’s policy more applicable. “I have to admit that, as an early childhood education major, Clinton’s education policy speaks most to me. She hopes to ensure opportunities for all children to attend high quality preschool programs, this aligns perfectly with my personal interests” All the candidates would likely find support for their education plans, if they made their ideas heard.
theJohnsonian
9
November 2, 2016
First time voices
I VOTED
Caitlan Walzer walzerc@mytjnow.com By age 18 rolls around, many students are worried about their studies and work and are not focused on having to make a big decision like electing the President of the United States. However, this year, students are feeling the pressure of having to vote for a new President and worry about their studies. The consensus of most students that are getting to vote for their first presidential election was a mixture of nerves, excitement and disappointment. While the students gave a mixture of responses as to why they are ready to vote or not to vote in their first presidential election, most of the students responded as to why they are disappointed in this year’s election candidates and how they as voters would rather be able to vote in a different presidential election. Carolina Hunter, a sophomore theatre education major, said that this election is causing her to feel very nervous. “I think it’s just because of who’s running; it makes it a little more crazy to think about who to vote for because it’s just a big impact on our country.” Isaiah Vorderstrasse, a freshman theatre performance major, agreed with Hunter and said that he feels “like the election is kind of sad this year” and just like Hunter, he is “a little
disappointed in this being [his] first election.” These students expressed that the candidates for President make them want to not vote. In fact, John Lynn, a freshman musical performance theatre major, said that this Presidential election is a “disappointment because I am having to vote for the lesser of two evils.” However, other students, such as Jemma Wyke-Smith, a sophomore theatre performance major, said that she is excited to vote for the first time; but, she is not looking forward to the candidates that she has to choose between. Lynn said that this election “basically is choosing to vote for which one is not going to destroy the country more.” With such strong opinions, students wanted to make sure that when they are thinking about who to vote for, that they are not only taking into consideration their futures, but also the future of their hopeful children. Ke’Shawna Brown, a sophomore theatre major, said that this election year makes “it feel like I am forced to play my hand in order to save myself and my future kids from having to live in a world where we have a President like our two candidates.” In fact, Brown said that this election has made her realize that she has no “real option in anyone that I really want to be President because I do not have faith in what they are doing or going to do for our country. I’m forced to choose someone to serve our country and be our ruler and be in control of everything that stands for America.” Hunter also said that she “shouldn’t have to be worried about who is going to be the President.” Yet, while these millennials are worried about choosing the correct candidate to fulfill the position as President of the United States, others are simply just ready to express their rights as Americans and let their voices be heard as voters. Andrew Lacey, a sophomore theatre major, said that while he is excited to be able to vote, he is entirely sure about who to vote for. “Once I figure out who I am going to vote for, I know I will be proud because I was able to do it,” Lacey said. Kayla Cook, a junior mass communication major, said “I feel like this is the best opportunity for being a first time voter just because of how the election is going so far- in particular with the choices. So, I think my vote can really make a difference and that’s why I’m ready to vote.” Another junior mass communication major,
Karina Young, also said that she is excited to vote in her first Presidential election. Young explained that she feels her vote will count although she is “not interested in voting because of the choices, but I know it will make a difference if I do so I’m going to vote.” Having a voice in this election seemed to be the concern of the millennials; in fact, T’Mani Eady, a junior english major, said that while she thinks it is “really cool” that she is getting the opportunity to vote for the first time, she feels that this election is one of the most important elections where “voices need to be heard.” Jessica Della Rocca, sophomore elementary education major, said that she is also prepared to let her “voice be heard” as she votes in this election. Yet, these “voices” that are going to be making an impact in this election, are the voices that get to express first hand who they would like to be their President instead of just sitting back and watching as others vote a candidate into Presidency. Bridget Baker, a senior early childhood education major, “I’m excited to vote this year because I can finally have a say in who is our President. As an early childhood major, this is a big impact on what goes on in schools.” One of the soon to be voters expressed his main concern with voting and that it is not the candidates, but the fact that many Americans are not going to take advantage of their right to vote simply because they do not agree with the candidates. Michael Williams, a sophomore theatre performance major, explained that “I feel honored that I get the opportunity to vote. I believe that everybody should take advantage of this opportunity to vote because it is a great honor that many Americans died and have fought for. I’m really going to take into consideration who I am voting for and cherish this moment.” Baker also stated that although she feels like this election is disappointing, she finds it the idea of students choosing not to vote in this election to be the most disturbing part. “A lot of people our age don’t really understand that if you don’t vote, then your voice isn’t being heard,” Baker said. As a whole, millennials have proven that they are wanting to vote. However, they wish to do so under different circumstances. After much consideration, many of the students have decided to vote and use their rights as Americans to put a President into power than will essentially lead this country into a great new era and will do so by putting forth their best effort.
Important and unheard: the black women’s vote Ryan Brooks Special to The Johnsonian Black women are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to voting and presidential elections. According to data from The Washington Post and AFL-CIO, in 2008 and 2012, Black women voted at a higher rate than any other group of people. In 2012, 74 percent of eligible Black women voted in the presidential election and 96 percent of those women voted for President Obama; delivering key swing states like Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida for the campaign. This should be of no surprise to political pundits. According to a recent report released by AFL-CIO, Black women are one of the most progressive political voting blocs and have also been one of the most reliable voting blocs for Democrats with their large turnouts in the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections. But some Black women feel like the votes they cast for the Democratic party have been taken for granted and that the issues they care about haven’t been represented by either major party candidate. Winthrop students, Ashley Briggs and Me’Chelle McIntyre, are among those women. Briggs said she feels that once elected officials are sworn into political office with the help of the Black vote, they don’t cash in on the previous promises they made to Black voters on the campaign trail. “America has written Black people, in a sense, a check that has yet to be cashed; and if you looked at it that way, the Democratic Party has written the same check for Black women,” said Briggs. “They get in and say these things like, ‘we’re going to do this for the Black community, we’re going to do that,’ but when it’s time for them to get into office we don’t see the fruits of their labor.” According to a study conducted by Black Women’s Roundtable, top political priorities for Black women include affordable health-care, criminal justice reform and college affordability, with criminal justice reform and college affordability sharing the number two spot. For millennial Black women, criminal justice reform is the number one priority for 96 percent of the group and criminal justice reform rose 16 percent for Black women overall between 2015 and 2016. The shift in criminal justice reform becoming a top priority for Black women is likely due to the current civil rights and social justice movements taking the country by storm. They are pushing to organize communities and to call for reform
in both the criminal justice system and policing. These movements have frequently seen Black women on the front-lines organizing direct action campaigns, but their interests have often been left out of conversations concerning police brutality and social justice held by the public and various politicians. Briggs and McIntyer said they both want to see the Democratic presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton, and the Democratic Party take a firmer and more inclusive stance on supporting criminal justice reform. “With me being a Black woman, that’s another thing that I look at — the social injustices that are happening. [The candidates] are just now opening their eyes up and looking into it. [Clinton’s] just now starting to represent and say their names— but we had to push you to say their names,” McIntyer said. Briggs pushed even further, encouraging candidates to also speak about the Black women who have been killed by police or in policecustody. “Even when the Democratic Party is addressing the number of Black people who have been affected by police brutality, Black women who have fallen victim to police brutality — they’re not saying their names, we always hear about Trayvon Martin and Eric Garner — but what about the women? What about Sandra Bland and Rekia Boyd?” said Briggs. Despite Clinton speaking about implicit bias while answering a question on policing during one of the presidential debates and sharing the democratic convention stage with
‘mothers of the movement’ this past July, she is still under scrutiny from many for comments she made in 1996, calling African-Americans ‘super-predators,’ and for the role her husband, President Bill Clinton, played in increasing mass incarceration that disproportionately affected Black communities, through policies he advocated for. “Right now she has Black people saying ‘oh, she cares about us.’ Well, are you out there rallying with us? Are you out there speaking? What are you doing to help us? Are you passing laws? Have you passed laws that helped us or hurt us?” McIntyer said. Although there is a sense of ambivalence towards the Clinton campaign and the current presidential election in general, YouGov’s election model predicts that 90 percent of Black women who vote, will do so in support of Clinton on Nov. 8. Black women realize the political power that they hold as voters and there are many nonpartisan campaigns encouraging Black women to vote, like the #BlackWomenVote campaign, which was created by the Higher Heights foundation. The campaign aims to help Black women prepare to vote and get out the vote in their social networks. Glynda C. Carr, cofounder of Higher Heights, said she realizes the influence Black women have, not only in elections, but in their communities as political organizers. “We know that when you fire up a Black woman, she does not go to the polls alone, she brings her house, her block, her church, her sorority, and her water cooler,” Carr said.
Janay Reece / The Johnsonian
Women of color participating and leading various protests on campus related to police violence and brutality.
Rickey Baisley | Co-A&C Editor baisleyr@mytjnow.com
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OPINION
theJohnsonian
November 2, 2016
America the great?
Dave Birley Staff Writer Odd, isn’t it? We grow up in this country, being constantly bombarded with the propaganda shared by the media, our teachers, our neighbors, and our parents, that this country is the greatest, the noblest, the most loving country in the entire world. When we live inside that environment we are not well equipped to find the answer to “Compared to what?” So we have a population of over 300 million people. That’s a whole bunch for sure. China and India each have more than we do, and not too far behind us are Indonesia, Brazil and Pakistan. When we evaluate the lifestyle of folks in those countries, it appears that sheer numbers do not create any basis of “greatness”, so perhaps it is something else. Let’s see. How about “standard of living” – whatever that means. U.S. News and World Report tells us, using that term as the measuring stick, that Germany, Canada, the and United Kingdom are all above us on the list, with Sweden just a few drops of sauna sweat behind us. How about military power? Ah. There we are. Nicely on top of the heap. Our Global Firepower puts us ahead of Russia, China, India and the United
Kingdom in that category. So, “might makes right”? We’re the toughest guy on the block, and don’t go knocking down our sandcastles? Something about that does not fit in my mind with terms like “Greatest”, “Noblest”, or “most loving”. Now I’ve heard a rumor that there’s some kind of an election thing going on right now. Have you heard that? Apparently we are supposed to select one individual to lead this country for the next four, or possibly eight years. In addition, we are supposed to select folks to fill the seats in the House and the Senate for two and for six years respectively. We are told that our votes matter, that they “count.” After all, this is a Democracy, isn’t it? Dr. Lipscomb might take issue with you over that term. He might prefer that you refer to this country as a Representative Republic. In a true Democracy the general public, or at least those that measure up to the requirements to be allowed to participate, vote for almost everything. Not just who will stand up on their behalf in the governing process, not everyone from the king to the dog-catcher, but whether there should be a new stoplight at the intersection of a couple of streets. In a situation where the number of eligible voters is small enough, like a village with a population of about ten people, this can actually work, but with 300 million people? It is quite simply impossible for a consensus to be reached on anything. And so we have this wonderful noisy, messy rough and tumble system that flares into life every couple of years, and we are invited to take part in the process. ‘Course the problem is that if we don’t take part? Then the mess just gets a whole lot messier. And looking back at those lists of folks who are above us in several lists? I’m not strongly motivated to want to live under the systems they have in place. We may be a bit whacked out, especially at this short time before the 2016 election, but, know what? I’ll take it. I love my country, and fit as a fiddle or phony as a fake fishing fly, our system seems to survive all the crazy things we do to it, and the people we elect do to it too. So, rally ‘round the flag folks! And God bless the USA!
Minority women at the polls Isabella Rodriguez Staff Writer Every four or eight years when it comes time to elect a new president, there are several factors we consider: their stances on social issues, their economic policies and how fit they seem to be the president. However, this election has been extremely atypical in that we have two extremely polarizing candidates with historically low favorability ratings. Just like most Americans who can vote, I am frustrated with the options. However, everything about me, especially my race and my gender, dictates who I am voting for. As a minority and a woman, I cannot vote for a man like Donald Trump who has torn down everything I am and what I stand for. I do have some issues with Hillary Clinton, but she does not insult or demean entire groups of people, including the ones I identify with. I have always understood both candidates because in the past, the candidates have been extremely qualified to be the president. There are people who want Trump simply because he is not an “establishment politician”, but that does not make up for every unacceptable thing he has said in the last year. He started off his campaign by insulting Mexican immigrants, who are some of the most dedicated, hard-working group of people this country has ever known, and has not stopped insulting just about every minority in this country. I have tried time and time again to understand the appeal of this man, but I truly cannot because he hates everything about me: Hispanic, a woman, and the child of immigrants. I have always paid attention to politics, but this election is different because this is the first time I can vote. I have never seen such harmful rhetoric from someone who wants to be the leader of the Hayley Neiling / The Johnsonian free world. I have never felt targeted by a politician until now, and it is not something I ever imagined would happen in a country like this one. For over 200 years, America has prided itself on its diversity and acceptance of people from every walk of life; candidates who run for office are aware of this and do what they can to embody these great American values. No one in this country, regardless of who they are, should ever feel marginalized--especially not by someone who wants to lead them and represent them in the eyes of the rest of the world. In the final debate, Hillary Clinton said that “America is already great because America is good”. America is good because it is made up of every kind of person anyone can think of. I cannot comprehend anyone like me voting for Donald Trump because that would be a complete denial of identity. While there are people out there who are racist and bigoted and ignorant, there is no reason to elect a president who is that way. America has long been the picture of freedom because of how well we understand the importance of accepting everyone, no matter who they are or where they came from. Make sure your voice is heard on Election Day, Nov. 8.
VOTE
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November 2, 2016
Two party system Téa Franco francot@mytjnow.com The American government runs off of the basis of a two party system which is where two political parties, in this case democrats and republicans, dominate politics. The two party system is probably one of the biggest mistakes America has made as a country. George Washington was definitely wrong about a lot of things, however he was spot on when he warned us about the two party system. The entire basis of a two party system is threatening to our democracy. The whole point of making America an independent nation and giving its citizens the right to vote is so that each citizen had a say in who would run the country and we could then get a president that most accurately represents the country. If we are confined by labels of democrats and republicans, and the two party system that makes it nearly impossible for a third party candidate to get elected, then most citizens have to pick a candidate that they do not care for. This creates the “lesser of two evils” phenomenon that we hear about over and over again in this election. Many liberals and conservatives alike are upset with the choices they have of the two political frontrunners. Despite this apprehension towards their party candidates, they still feel obligated to vote for the candidate running on their party’s ticket because Trump supporters feel that voting third party is the equivalent of voting for Clinton, and Clinton supporters feel that voting third party is the equivalent of voting for Trump. And they are not entirely wrong. It is nearly impossible for a third party to win with the way that the electoral college works. In order to get a vote in the electoral college is for a candidate to have plurality, which means
they would need at least 50 percent of the popular vote in order to receive an electoral vote. Historically, the closest we have gotten to this was in 1968 when George Wallace won five states, but even that was not enough to beat Nixon’s 301 electoral votes. The two party system is essentially set up in a way in which nobody except the frontrunners in the two most popular parties can win and this is toxic to our nation. “We all want a better government but at the end of the day, what do we still have? A two party system, a shady government, and an unbalanced economy,” said Katherine Burroughs, a freshman early childhood education major. It is apparent that everybody wants what is best for our nation, but it is evident that a two party system is not the way to achieve this. It prevents compromise and civil discussions by instead, leading to fights that have less to do with helping our nation and more to do with labels and insignificant party lines. “A lot of people have similar end goals but everyone has a vastly different way to achieve
First time voters Jaraya Johnson johnsonj@mytjnow.com
Elections are right around the corner, literally. As a sophomore, this election will be my first time voting. To be honest, I have absolutely no idea what I am going to do. Fortunately, for first time voters if you ask, you can have your parent present with you at the poll. Remember, although they are at the polls with you guiding you on where to go, do not let them bamboozle you into voting for who they did. Voting for the first time is an exciting and scary time. It is exciting because it is one of those moments in teenage years that we look forward to. It is kind of like sweet 16 parties, turning 18, getting your license and going to college. When we grow up, that is what we think about voting. On the other hand, it is scary because it is like a passage into adulthood, like we are stepping over the threshold into adulthood. Terrifying, right? This is my tip to you, first time voters, do not do it alone. Do not go to the polls alone. I think it is best to go with someone who has done it before and can walk you through it. Make sure you get to the polls though. Since we are of age to vote and express our opinions, we should all exercise our rights. People who have the constitutional right to vote should use it. I have noticed that some people who can vote do not and then they are usually the ones complaining about who wins. Voting is a big deal and first time voting is an even bigger deal. Voting for the first time gives us insight on how our government is run and how we can somewhat have a say in who gets in the oval office. This generation seems to care more and are more involved in the current election. I anticipate a pretty big turnout from the younger population. This election is going to affect us, our children, and our grandchildren. All elections are serious, do not get me wrong, but this one is one of the most popular elections in years. The outcome of this election will affect everyone. There will be happy people and there will be the “others” no matter the outcome. I am not telling you who to vote for. I am just expressing how important it is to exercise your rights. Remember, make sure you are registered and I hope to see many of you with the “I voted” stickers. Go USA!
Kristin Streetman / The Johnsonian
Kristin Streetman / The Johnsonian
them,” said Tess Norman, a sophomore graphic designer. Not only does this put a strain on citizens when they go to vote, but it also affects the way the White House runs. The Senate can never agree on anything because senators feel as though to be a good representative of their party they can only vote with their party. This mindset is harmful, because the senators are supposed to represent the American people, not a specific political party. If the two party system did not exist, a lot more progress would be made and America would be more unified.
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Our Say
Kristin Streetman Layout Editor
Kali Coleman Editor-in-Chief
Adam Caratenuto Copy Editor
Nicholas Oxendine Copy Editor
Hayley Neiling Graphic Designer
Elizabeth Ponds Copy Editor
In less than a week, the American people will face a change. As both millenials and members of various minority groups, we feel that it is our duty to vote and help the voices of our various communities. For each of us, this is the first time that we get to vote for the President of the United States. While some of us may vote for different candidates, we all agree that we cannot vote for Donald Trump. With both his lack of legitimate policy and blatant disregard for minority groups, we find ourselves in a position to be unable to support the current Republican nominee. As a collective, we do not necessarily condemn the Republican Party, as many in the party have even spoken out against Trump. We simply feel that the Republican Party has poorly chosen their candidate for this election, therefore we cannot show them our support. As some of us are women and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, we cannot in good conscience vote for Trump because we feel that a Trump presidency would threatenen our rights and safety as human beings, as well as those in other minority groups. As journalists and those involved in media, we understand that it is our duty to be objective in our professional work. Our opinions do not and should not reflect in our media coverage. However, we collectively believe that, as citizens of this nation, we should still reserve the right to express our views and opinions. *Note: members of this special edition of Our Say are not regular members of the Editorial Board
Kristin Streetman/ The Johnsonian
theJohnsonian
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November 2, 2016
CLINTON Photo courtesy of the National Archives
2015
1973
Received Juris Doctor Law Degree from Yale
1947
Born in Chicago, IL
1969
Graduated from Wellesley College with a Bachelor in Fine Arts with departmental honors in Political Science
2001
1996-2015
2009 Became Obama’s Secretary of State
2004-2015
Owned Miss America Pageant
Completed development of Trump Tower
Given control of father, Fred Trump’s, real estate and construction businesses
Announced first campaign
Sworn into U.S. Senate
1983
1971
2007
Became First Lady
Married Bill Clinton
Received Bachelor Degree in Economics from University of Pennsylvania
Born in Queens, NY
1993
1975
1968
1946
Announced campaign
Hosted The Apprentice
2004
1988
Established Donald J. Trump Foundation
2015
Announced campaign Married Melania Knauss
TRUMP Photo courtesy of The White House
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