Eboo Patel returns to campus to speak with President Hatch Page 4
Opinion: Obamacare is a necessity in our country Page 7
Wake Forest falls to NC State Page 11
A feature on fall fashion in the forest Page 16
Old Gold&Black
C E L E B R AT I N G 1 0 0 Y E A R S O F WA K E F O R E S T ’ s S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R VOL. 100, NO. 23
T H U R S D AY, O C T O B E R 6 , 2 0 1 6 “Cover s the campus like the magnolias”
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Student group teaches ASL, embraces culture For those related to the deaf community, ASL is not only a language but also a culture BY EMILY EISERT Staff Writer eiseea14@wfu.edu While the human ear houses the three smallest bones in the body, it has some of the most eminent capabilities: eliciting communication and sensations of security, safety and pleasure. But one in eight people in the U.S. do not have these luxuries, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders. Therefore, many of these individuals practice the art of American Sign Language, or ASL. The American Sign Language Club honors and engages in this art every Tuesday, practicing the alphabet and learning other signs. “It’s really an amazing experience when you don’t talk and just try to communicate with body language,” said junior Yilin Liu, vice president of the relatively new club. Liu joined the club last fall, identifying a school for the deaf near her high school in Dalian, China as the source of her interest. Club president senior Chandler Shapiro, on the other hand, joined out of her desire to become an ear, nose and throat doctor. “I want to be able to communicate with my patients instead of going through a translator,” Shapiro said. “It’s just a better patient experience if you make them feel like they’re included.” Shapiro also expressed a fascination with cochlear implants, the controversial electronic devices that restore sound for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Upon receiving the implants, individuals are acclimated to the hearing world and no longer need ASL, ultimately committing what some consider cultural genocide. “It’s a very emotional subject for the deaf,” said the club’s ASL instructor Teri Mossman, explaining she can see both sides of the argument. “I love ASL, and I don’t want to see it go. I don’t think it will, but I can see where maybe fewer will use it.” The cochlear implant controversy stems from the disruption of ASL culture. “It’s just like any other language,” Shapiro said. “Spanish has a whole culture. French has a culture. So do deaf people.
See Language, Page 5
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Those interested in a career in law enforcement join the new student patrol to work with the local police force as added reinforcements, not as undercover police targeting students.
Students and WFUPD join forces The new Deacon student patrol unit works alongside police to curb recent crime BY JACKIE PAPE Staff Writer papejg13@wfu.edu The Wake Forest University Police Department (WFUPD) is offering students a different type of learning opportunity. Unlike the typical classroom setting, this is more hands-on. Although students don’t get academic credit for joining the Deacon Student Patrol (DSP) unit, they’re employed by the university and have officer-like responsibilities. Some duties include locking buildings, checking call-boxes around campus and serving as an extra pair of eyes and ears for the WFUPD. Many other universities have had success with student officers, including East Carolina University (ECU). Major Derri Stormer, who is heading the program, worked at ECU before she arrived at Wake Forest in January 2016. “Before I got here they wanted to de-
velop the program,” Stormer said. “Now we’re getting it off the ground.” On Sept.19, four student officers joined the Wake Forest University Police Department team. The application process was similar to that of any officer. The applicants went through background checks and had an interview. Since being handpicked, they’ve trained extensively. The selected students range from undergraduate sophomores to graduate students. While Stormer sees the new student officers as a connection between the students and the department, some of the new employees view the experience as more beneficial. Dominique Barile, a junior majoring in Politics and International Affairs, explained that she was looking for an oncampus job, and this one happened to be in her line of interest. “When I was 17 years old I got a job at the Raleigh Police Department,” Barile said. “I wanted this experience because I’m trying to decide if I want to become a detective or do criminal law.” A sophomore student officer, Kayla Heilig joined the team for a different reason.
“After listening to the news about police brutality I took this as an opportunity to see the other side of it,” Heilig said. “I think a lot of people have bad relationships with officers, but if you surround yourself with them, then you can navigate that area a little better.” While DSP officers are allowed to work up to 25 hours each week, Stormer said the hours are flexible. Stormer explained that at the end of the day DSP officers are students, not full officers. She emphasized that she doesn’t want anyone throwing authority around. “They’re an extra presence,” Stormer said. “They’re not underground to catch certain things. We want to build leaders with these students.” Student Government President, Jordan Monaghan seemed less concerned with authority and more with equality. “I don’t know much about the program, but I’d want to make sure that the officers have gone through extensive bias training,” Monaghan said. “It’s important that they’re being intentionally equitable when fulfilling their duties.”’
See Police, Page 5