3/11/21 Full Edition

News: Winston-Salem schools on track to reopen Page 4

Opinion: English majors are beholden to subjectivity Page 8

Sports: Women's basketball nabs crucial win over UNC Page 11

Life: Student defends warm cheesecake Page 17

Old Gold&Black

WAKE FOREST’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1916 VOL. 107, NO. 18

T H U R S DAY, M A RC H 11 , 2 0 21 “Cover s the campus like the magnolias”

wfuogb.com

Group forms to address RA concerns Following last month's protest, administrators seek to improve working conditions for RAs

BY AINE PIERRE News Editor pierav20@wfu.edu

Katie Fox/Old Gold & Black

Several employees of the university have already gotten vaccines, and the university has gotten approval to vaccinate students on campus, once they become eligible, according to top administration officials.

University employees get vaccinated, students next Wake Forest applied for and received permission to become a COVID-19 vaccine provider

BY CATE PITTERLE News Editor pittcj20@wfu.edu As the days have grown warmer and the quad is once again crowded with students, Wake Forest seems to be experiencing a renewed sense of optimism, due in part to the rollout of vaccines across campus.

Faculty and student workers — who are included in North Carolina’s Group 3 of vaccine priority — are already vaccine-eligible. That includes resident advisors and employees contracted with Aramark.

As the university prepares for a largescale effort to vaccinate the student population, it is relying on its relationship with Wake Forest Baptist Health, which has been holding temporary vaccine clinics for those eligible.

“A temporary vaccine clinic, operated by [Wake Forest Baptist Health], was set up on [March 8] at Sutton Center on the Reynolda Campus to provide 320 doses of the Moderna vaccine,” read an email which was sent to faculty and obtained by the Old Gold & Black.

At the time this article was written, the university also hopes to provide 500 additional doses of the Moderna vaccine at temporary clinics today and tomorrow.

The university expects to deliver 200 doses Thursday and 300 Friday.

There are alternative ways to get the vaccine, however. Walgreens is also sup-

plying vaccines to those eligible in Group 3, though availability may depend on the location and timing.

The COVID-19 Community Vaccination Center at the Four Seasons Town Center is also distributing vaccines to Group 3 eligible patients.

Finally, an event planned for the weekend of March 13 and 14 is open to those eligible for vaccination. The Forsyth County Department of Public Health will be administering those vaccines.

However, Vice President of University Advancement Mark Petersen clarified that this event is open only to those in Group 3 — Forsyth County is not prioritizing students, even those who live in congregate housing. Most students living in dorms will be in Group 4 and are not currently eligible to receive the vaccine.

See Vaccines, Page 6

In the wake of a spike in COVID-19 cases and mounting anxiety over the university’s quarantine policy last month, communication between resident advisers (RAs) and the administration reached a boiling point. This frustration culminated in RAs and other concerned students launching a protest aimed at the administration. Following that critical point, the administration, led by Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Jose Villalba, put together an action group to evaluate how the university can more effectively communicate with RAs and create a better environment for them.

The resulting RA Concerns Action Group, which is chaired by Villalba, consists of multiple student and administration stakeholders, convened for the first time on Feb. 22.

The group’s members consist of RA Rue Cooper (who helped organize the protest last month) and Presidential Fellow Isabella Ryan; one professor, two assistant deans (Jim Settle of student conduct and Shonda Jones of the divinity school), and two administrators, Stephanie Carter from Residence Life and Housing and Laura Giovanelli from the Office of the Dean of the College.

The Old Gold & Black reached out to Cooper for comment, but could not immediately reach her.

“The group … will meet for the next four-to-six weeks, [we will focus] on coming up with (a) clarity on what actions have already been taken to address the needs and lived experiences of RAs at Wake,” Villalba wrote to members of the group in an email obtained by the Old Gold & Black. “And (b) direction for what actions are yet to be taken and how the institution might carry those out.”

The action group’s main task will be to sift through accounts of RA experiences with the university’s COVID-19 policy (as well as other, longer-standing issues) in order to create a clear action plan, as Villalba mentioned in his introductory email. Villalba reached out to RAs on Feb. 24 to solicit feedback and invited those with concerns to meet with him.

See RAs, Page 5

OGB

A year of“ COVID: the fight goes on This column represents the views of the Old Gold & Black Editorial Board.

One year ago, life at Wake Forest underwent one of the most drastic shifts in our university’s storied history. On March 11, 2020, an email was sent from the university stating that students would not be returning to campus as usual following spring break. Instead, we were to receive an extra week off while the administration decided the most prudent course of action as COVID-19 began to wreak havoc on colleges across the United States.

One year ago, all semblances of normalcy crumbled around us. Our airwaves grew saturated with doomsday messages; the little things we had once taken for granted — sharing a meal, hugging a grandparent, attending a live lecture — became unthinkable.

Today, we cherish each and every opportunity we are given to hug a loved one, dine in with a friend or don a mask and attend an in-person class."

The world around us changed dramatically, the lives we lived had to as well.

The virus is here, the news anchors told us, and it’s not going anywhere.

Few among us understood the gravity of the situation at hand — how the world was slowly coming undone all around us — nor the devastating impact the virus would have on our beloved community.

One year ago, Canvas and Zoom became the backbone of our academic careers, the cornerstones upon which the foundation of our remastered

college experience was constructed.

Packed lecture halls were replaced with virtually raised hands, blank stares and muted microphones. Like the surrounding world, our college experience seemed to transform in an instant. Yet, with the perseverance of typical Wake Forest students, we worked to make the best of an unprecedented situation.

Today, the Wake Forest community continues to climb the seemingly unconquerable mountain that is COVID-19. We mourn the loss of over 2.6 million people worldwide, and we continue to work diligently to eradicate the virus from our community.

Let us not fail to applaud the noble efforts of the medical community, as each vaccine distributed represents a

step upward and onward towards this peak we aim to crest.

Today, we cherish each and every opportunity we are given to hug a loved one, dine in with a friend or don a mask and attend an in-person class.

Our moments together have been limited, and each carries twice the worth it did a year ago. We sit on the quad and feel the sun’s warmth, grateful for the progress we’ve made as a student body.

We see the fog begin to clear, and we look forward to a future in which we can all again congregate without fear.

Today, our Wake Forest community is stronger than it has ever been. And we here at the Old Gold & Black are confident that this strength will continue to grow as the semester stretches on.

Old Gold&Black

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF WAKE FOREST UNIVERSIT Y SINCE 1916 ALEXANDRA KARLINCHAK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF karlae18@wfu.edu

BEN CONROY PRINT MANAGING EDITOR conrbd19@wfu.edu

>> NEWS

Cate Pitterle, pittcj20@wfu.edu Aine Pierre, pierav20@wfu.edu

>> OPINION

Connor Mcneely, mcnecb19@wfu.edu

>> SPORTS

Christina DeNovio, denoca20@wfu.edu Essex Thayer, thayse20@wfu.edu

Asst.

Jake Stuart, stuaja20@wfu.edu

>> LIFE

Micah Porter, portmj19@wfu.edu Selinna Tran, transn19@wfu.edu

>> PHOTOGRAPHY

Katie Fox, foxkg19@wfu.edu

>> SOCIAL MEDIA

Anna Bloch, blocae19@wfu.edu

>> ADVISER

Phoebe Zerwick, zerwicp@wfu.edu

CHARLIE BENEDICT BUSINESS MANAGER

benecc19@wfu.edu

WILL ZIMMERMAN ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR zimmwj19@wfu.edu

>> POLICIES

The Old Gold & Black is published Thursdays during the school year, except during examinations, summer and holiday periods, by Triangle Printing of Durham. © 2014 WFU Media Board. All rights reserved. The views expressed in all editorials and advertisements contained within this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the OGB. As part of our commitment to reporting news fairly and accurately, we will not remove any previously published content. If an error in either our online or print content is brought to our attention, we will revise the originally published article with an appended correction. In order to facilitate thoughtful and appropriate debate, profane, vulgar, or inflammatory comments on our website are not allowed and will be deleted. For more information on our commenting policy, please see our website. We reserve the right to reject advertisements deemed inappropriate. Our full policy, and how to advertise with the OGB, can be found on our website.

>> SUBMISSIONS

The OGB welcomes submissions in the form of story tips, columns and letters to the editor. Letters to the editor should be fewer than 500 words, and columns should be around 500 words. Send yours via e-mail to karlae18@wfu.edu the Monday before publication. We reserve the right to edit all letters for length and clarity. No anonymous letters will be printed.

>> ONLINE MEDIA

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Page 3 | Thursday, March 11, 2021

Old Gold & Black | News

Deacon Profile: T.H.M. Gellar-Goad

BY JULIA OCHSENHIRT Asst. News Editor ochsja20@wfu.edu

Beyond Whiteness is now a permanently offered course and it will be required of every classics major or minor.

T. H. M. Gellar-Goad is an Associate Professor of Classics and Zachary T. Smith Fellow. He is a co-organizer of the Classics Beyond Whiteness program, which seeks to decolonize the Classics Department. He will be taking a sabbatical in the fall to work on a book about religion in ancient Greek and Roman comedies. He earned his Ph.D. in classics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Are there other social justice-related changes happening in the department?

What was it that first drew you to studying classics and what do you think students can gain from the discipline?

I took Latin in my first year of college because I was interested in classical music, specifically Verdi’s “Requiem Mass.” I liked Latin, so I took more of it, and I had professors who supported me through independent studies and classes at a neighboring university that had more Latin classes than UNC did. I grew up with that early millennial thing of parents saying that you can do whatever you want, so long as you dream and you work hard.

That, combined with the privilege that I had as a middle-class white [man] and a lot of luck, meant that I was able to pursue classics successfully as a career.

Classics, like any study of culture, offers an opportunity to see things from different perspectives, ask enduring questions about society and what it is to be human, engage with issues of oppression and resistance and explore ways of thinking that are different from one's own. Classics isn’t unique in that way — you can gain this kind of understanding from studying culture with a critical, academic approach — but classics is a discipline that has a lot of interesting work happening now. That’s something that I think Wake Forest is really strong in: having a variety of perspectives and asking tough questions of ourselves and of the history of the discipline.

Can you talk about the Classics Beyond Whiteness program?

Classics Beyond Whiteness is a series of curricular and co-curricular events. It started in the fall of 2019 with a course with that title that I taught, but there was also all sorts of programming — guest lectures, book groups and an exhibit of new public art commissioned by local artists. The goal of the program is to decenter the whiteness of our field. Classics, as a discipline, is bound up in the history of centering whiteness and this false idea of “Western civilization,” which I and other

Photo courtesy of BiddingOwl

scholars in my field believe is a damaging white-supremacist concept. This has been a growing matter of discussion in my field for the past five or ten years.

In response, we organized this series of events to try and put non-white classicists in the spotlight. I think one of our signature achievements has been commissioning three paintings of Black classicists with ties to North Carolina. Each of these scholars had never had portraits done before. The portraits were done by a local artist, Leo Rucker, and they bring new attention and honor to classicists who often have been written out of the history of the field. We’re really excited about the portraits and we're working on getting them installed in Tribble Hall. They’ll be there as long as classics inhabits Tribble.

The second goal of Classics Beyond Whiteness was to discuss the role of classics in white supremacy. You can think about this with the insurrection on Jan. 6th: there was someone dressed up in Roman garb, people wearing laurel wreaths like Julius Caesar used to wear and appeals to Athens and Sparta. All of these

show how classics have been weaponized for white supremacy.

The third goal of our series was to look at race and ethnicity in the ancient world.

Often, when we’re looking at the past, the default way to think about it is as a raceless society. This is not true. Every society constructs race in some way or another.

The Greeks and Romans did it in a very different way than we do: the things we think of when we think of “race” would make no sense to the ancient Greeks and Romans and vice versa.

I taught the course Classics Beyond Whiteness for the first time in the fall of 2019. I assumed it’d only get ten or 15 signups, because it didn’t fulfill any requirements. We ended up with almost 30 students — as many people as I could cram into Tribble A303. It was a really exciting, busy and talkative group, and I thought we learned a lot together. Then, this summer, after the protests over the police killings of Black people, my department decided to make sure that all of our students study race in the ancient world using Critical Race Theory. Classics

Definitely. First off, the department has requested approval from the Office of the Dean of the College to hire a faculty member whose specialty is race and classics. Whether or not that is approved is up to the Dean. If they say no this year, we’ll ask again next year and every year until it’s approved because that’s how important we think it is. Additionally, our department has people who have been trained through the DEAC Allies Program, and we have adopted a policy of providing additional support for faculty of color, who often provide advising and other support structures for students of color. We’ve issued statements of solidarity and support for the Anti-Racism Coalition of student organizers and Black Lives Matter, too.

In May 2022, we’re hosting the quadrennial Feminism in Classics conference, which is an international conference. This will be the eighth iteration of the conference and we’re slated to be the most inclusive and equitable conference yet.

We also have faculty who are affiliated with the Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies department, and Amy Lather and I co-teach a course on women, gender and sexuality in antiquity pretty regularly. On top of all that we have reading groups, book groups and guest lectures related to feminism and social justice.

How will you be spending your sabbatical?

Basically, I’ll be working on my next book, which is a study of religion in ancient Greek and Roman comedy. These comedies are one of the earliest kind of sitcoms. They’re not necessarily as funny to modern readers, but they have a lot in common with domestic family dramas.

There’s never been a systematic study of how religion is used in these comedies, and my book argues that religion is a much more fundamentally important part of these comedies than has been previously recognized. Reading these comedies gives you unparalleled access to the daily experience of religion for ancient Greeks and Romans in a way that you don’t get from monuments, temples, artwork or big, fancy poems.

Editor's Note: This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

POLICE BEAT COVID-19 Violations/Underage Consumption

• Officers responded to an off-campus party on Feb. 25. Several attendees fled the location upon the police's arrival. Officers advised the student resident of the location of a Winston-Salem city ordinance violation. The report was filed at 11:46 a.m. on March 1.

• A community director notified police after finding a water bong in Poteat. The report was filed at 2:38 p.m. on March 5.

• Campus police assisted the Winston-Salem Police Department in responding to reports of a 100-200 person gathering behind 874 Ewing St. All attendees had left before police arrived. The report was filed at 5:35 p.m. on March 6.

• Police broke up a mass gathering of people at Magnolia. There was a COVID-19 violation, and underage consumption of alcohol occurred.

• Police responded to reports of loud music and students gathering in Dogwood.

Numerous bottles of liquor were found in one of the suite's rooms. The report was filed at 12:47 a.m. on March 7.

Miscellaneous • An unknown subject took various items from a victim's room. The report was filed at 10:26 a.m. on March 3.

• Police responded to a call reporting a disturbance at Johnson. The offender was asked to leave the area. The report was filed at 11:22 p.m. on March 3.

•An unknown subject removed a catalytic converter from a vehicle in the Sophomore Lot. The report was filed at 12:02 p.m. on March 4.

• A trespasser was caught and issued a warning by Winston-Salem police on Ewing St. The report was filed on March 4 at an unspecified time.

News | Old Gold & Black

Thursday, March 11, 2021 |Page 4

Winston-Salem schools begin reopening Under a new state law, elementary, middle and high schools start the slow process of resuming in-person classes

BY ALEXANDRA KARLINCHAK Editor-in-Chief karlae18@wfu.edu

Though Wake Forest University has been offering inperson learning opportunities to students throughout the 2020-21 academic year, other Winston-Salem-based students have not been so lucky — but this is about to change thanks to the leadership of Governor Cooper and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Superintendent Tricia McManus.

As highlighted in Gov. Cooper’s school reopening plan that was published over the summer, there are three phases within the North Carolina school reopening strategy: Plans A, B and C. Plan A states that all students are allowed to attend school at the same time, though teachers and older students must wear masks. Plan B limits school capacity to 50% and calls for students to alternate between engaging in in-person and at-home learning. Plan C calls for fully remote learning with no opportunity for students or teachers to work within the school building.

When COVID-19 cases soared across the state in July, Cooper only allowed schools to open using Plan B and Plan C guidelines.

Now, change is on the horizon.

On Wednesday, March 10, Governor Cooper and a bipartisan team of North Carolina Senate leaders announced a plan that would push all public elementary schools to reopen.

According to the legislation Cooper and the North Carolina legislature released, all elementary schools must operate under Plan A. This bill will take effect 21 days after Cooper’s signature hits the page, and the changes it discusses are expected to be instituted sometime around April 1.

The legislation that Cooper and his team released on Wednesday stated that individual districts will make the decision of whether or not middle and high schools will operate under Plan A or Plan B. In a press release posted directly on the Winston Salem/Forsyth County Schools website, it was announced that per the recommendation of Superintendent Tricia McManus, a number of WS/FCS high schools currently using a four-cohort model will transition to a two-cohort model beginning Monday, April 12.

But the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school district serves a far larger population than a handful of high schools.

The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County district is home to 80 magnet, non-traditional, elementary, middle and high schools. The school district serves approximately 55,000 students and employs over 7,200 people. According to the WSFCS website, the district is the fourthlargest in North Carolina.

So, while the majority of high schools and elementary schools are slowly preparing to transition back to in-

Aine Pierre/Old Gold & Black

R.J. Reynolds High School, located about three miles from Wake Forest’s campus, is one of many that will be affected by the new state law. High schools will gradually reopen across the state, including in Forsyth county. person instruction, some middle schools are being left behind in the process.

Jefferson Middle School, Meadowlark Middle School and Southeast Middle school are three schools within the district that will continue operating as four cohort programs.

Jefferson Middle School is only an eight-minute drive from Wake’s campus. However, the in-person attention that students receive at Jefferson is nowhere near comparable to the treatment that university students receive.

Jefferson houses over 1,200 sixth, seventh and eighthgraders. Due to the number of students the school serves, the school cannot currently offer in-person instruction to students more than twice a week, every other week.

Taylor Hamby teaches sixth-grade social studies and language arts at Jefferson Middle. When asked about the blended curriculum that Jefferson is currently employing, she considered the changes in teaching methods that the school has endured since COVID-19 shut down inperson instruction throughout the state last March.

“Not only did we [start remote last March], we were mostly asynchronous,” Hamby said. “So, there weren’t Zoom meetings or a regimented schedule. It was just us posting lessons and work on our learning platform, and then it got completed at [the students’] own pace.”

Hamby explained that, while she is grateful to be back in person and see each of her students a few times a month, this past year has been emotionally draining for her and her co-workers.

“Today, for instance, I only had six kids in my firstperiod class,” Hamby said when asked what one of her typical days teaching looks like. “So, I would have those six in person and then 24 students calling in through Zoom. And that is such a challenge. Just trying to answer questions in person and on Zoom and keep kids engaged and all. It’s a lot.”

Aine Pierre/Old Gold & Black

As schools begin to reopen, some parents and teachers have expressed gratitude to state officials and school administrators for working to resume in-person learning safely as the pandemic continues to affect daily life.

Eleasa Allen is the parent of a Jefferson Middle student and understands firsthand the impact that the extended period of online schooling had on students and families.

“My daughter is going to school two days every few weeks,” Allen said. “I guess that’s better than nothing.

But in my mind, that’s not ideal.”

“I candidly thought about just opting for online instruction, which was an option,” she continued. “But [my daughter] asked me to go back to school. She needed it for the mental and social aspects. And I want her to have that.”

But navigating the first few months of completely online schooling proved difficult not only for Allen’s daughter, but for students around the district and state.

According to test results shared with the North Carolina State Board of Education, the majority of high school students across the state did not pass state-mandated end-of-course exams administered in the fall. Additionally, some North Carolina school districts are reporting that 23% of their students are facing potential academic failure and will not advance grade levels at the end of the year.

The issues of inequity and school crowding perpetuate these difficulties.

“COVID-19 and remote teaching illuminated so many issues of equity not only in the county, but even within our school,” Hamby said. “We’ve got kids who don’t have Chromebooks, they don’t have internet access at home. But our school — God, I love it — we’re addressing the issue the best we can. We have such a variety of experiences shown in our school and, like I said, these gaps are definitely illuminated and some change will hopefully come out of it.”

Hamby believes that teachers, administrators, students and parents alike understand the implications that this unprecedented year of learning has had on the future of education.

“My feelings about how the last year or so have gone are not a reflection of my dissatisfaction with the school system or of any of the teachers or administrators who are running the schools,” Allen said. “But I think for me, it also 100% solidifies that schools are overcrowded. You know, the fact my daughter’s school is so large that they can’t maintain physical [social] distancing to allow them back to school says something. I think it is very telling for where we put our priorities going forward.”

Despite the issues of virtual learning and the slow process, teachers and parents are grateful for the work that politicians, school administrators and educators have done to ensure the eventual safe return of their kids to the classroom.

“I am in awe of the children — my kids in the classroom — who have been so resilient and are learning so many skills that they would have never had to learn,” Hamby said. “And that’s both a positive and a negative.

There’s always going to be two sides of that coin. But it has pushed all of us to be better teachers.”

Old Gold & Black | News

Page 5 | Thursday, March 11, 2021

RAs: New group addresses working conditions Continued from Page 1 “For those of you that have been RAs for three years, I know many of these experiences and concerns are not new for you; you’ve grappled with them for some time.

And I’m also aware that some of you have engaged in discussions already with others on campus, such as Carter, [Dean of Residence Life and Housing Matt] Clifford, and [Vice President for Campus Life Penny] Rue,” wrote Villalba in the Feb. 24 email, a copy of which was obtained by the Old Gold & Black. “The group I’m chairing will build on those discussions, [we will be] planning a path forward that builds on what you’ve already articulated and [exploring] multiple options for improving your experiences, and that of your residents.”

According to an email blurb sent out to action group members, the gathering of feedback went successfully.

“Thanks to [Carter’s] work with Matt Clifford and Penny Rue,” the email reads. “There is lots of awareness for what RAs are experiencing, in relation to COVID-19 and beyond.”

According to multiple RAs, there has been no followup communication about the group’s work beyond the initial email.

Residence Life and Housing has continued to work on addressing the immediate concerns of RAs. As of now, COVID-19 cases on campus have dropped and the need for quarantine-in-place has disappeared, which solves one part of the problem. In terms of hazard pay, which was a main concern of RAs at the protest, those discussions were in the works but did not result in any pay raise beyond a $150 bonus, which, according to Clifford, was already planned before the protest.

With COVID-19 nightmare spikes (hopefully) behind Wake Forest, the action group is now looking beyond the horizon of COVID-19.

“There are long-term concerns that can be addressed,” Villalba said. “This group is committed to providing clarity on what additional resources and directions are needed to improve the experience of RAs on campus.”

The group’s work is slated to end between late-March and mid-April, and it remains to be seen which policy the action group will endorse. However, the university seems to be answering the demand for a listening ear.

Katie Fox/Old Gold & Black

RA Rue Cooper, who now serves as a member of the action group, helped organize the protest last month that brought RA working conditions into the spotlight as a campus-wide issue.

Triad Abolition Project promotes anti-racism The locally based organization has been at the forefront of discourse on WinstonSalem criminal justice reform

BY ISABELLA MASON Staff Writer masoif20@wfu.edu Throughout the past year, discussion of an abolitionist versus reformist mindset has become mainstream. There has been nationwide discourse on criminal justice system abolition that stemmed from the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, though the conversation about the abolition of law enforcement has been around since long before Floyd’s death.

Winston-Salem is home to the Triad Abolition Project, which, according to their website, is an organization that “maintains the vision to abolish the carceral state.”

Nia Sadler, an organizer of the Triad Abolition Project, described abolition as “dismantling, existing in community and dreaming. It’s also accountability. Abolition is difficult yet creative work. In dismantling institutional and systemic oppression, we have to create other ways to support communities that do not involve law enforcement and prioritize care-based initiatives.”

Sadler referenced care-based initiatives, or initiatives that put the community first, because caring for one another as community members is essential to the framework of the Triad Abolition Project.

“Law enforcement cannot be reformed. We cannot reform a system that was created to protect property and not people,” Sadler said. “We need an understanding that the system of policing harms everyone, but especially and disproportionately Black, Brown, Indigenous and Queer/ Trans folks. We understand that folks feel safe when they feel loved, cared for and that their needs are met. Keeping people alive and living, not just surviving, is the driving force. This work is intersectional and multi-dimensional.”

Sadler noted that people of color and other minority groups are harmed by this system at a much higher rate than those who are not part of those communities, and that the Triad Abolition Project seeks to abolish the systems that cause and participate in this oppression.

When asked about new initiatives that the Triad Abolition Project has taken on, Sadler described the Forsyth County Police Accountability and Reallocation Coalition (FCPARC), which is a coalition of five local organizations that share similar demands for local government.

Sadler also noted the importance of acting on a local level when dealing with government-related issues.

“We understand the implementation of these demands are initiated at city, county and the state level,” Sadler said. “These are long-term demands and goals that are attainable because of the will of the people and [they will only occur] when local officials and stakeholders are willing to create meaningful and radical change.”

Sadler, when asked about how students can get involved with the initiatives of the Triad Abolition Project,

encouraged students to allocate extra funds to the Forsyth County Community Bail Fund. Donation sites can be found on the Triad Abolition Project website. She also encouraged students to pay attention to what is going on in the community. This includes monitoring city council and county commissioner meetings and following FCPARC organizations on social media.

Sadler also promoted awareness of the housing crisis in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County.

“According to court records, there are up to 140 eviction hearings in a single day. Housing Justice Now conducts court watch for those facing eviction,” Sadler said.

“HJN is on Instagram and Twitter, so definitely contact them on those platforms to see how you can participate.”

The Triad Abolition Project’s website lists many other ways to get involved, and states there is a great need for involvement in these community-centered causes. The organization believes there are a multitude of initiatives in the area that are in desperate need of help from people, and particularly from young people with resources.

Photo courtesy of Triad Abolition Project on Facebook

According to their website, the Triad Abolition Project “maintains the vision to abolish the carceral state.” Their work in criminal justice reform focuses on dismantling racism.

Old Gold & Black | News

Page 6 | Thursday, March 11, 2021

Vaccines: University becomes distribution site Continued from Page 1

“That means that [students] will become eligible around March 24, but have a lower priority than others in the congregate living category (nursing homes, prisons and homeless shelters, etc are ahead of students),” said Petersen of the Fairgrounds event. “Realistically, that means that students can hope for their turn in early April. Which is great news!”

Wake Forest has also applied and was accepted to be a vaccine provider. Ideally, they can start inoculating students within the next couple of months. According to Petersen, Wake Forest is preparing to administer any vaccine, whether it is the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, which are more difficult to handle due to temperature restrictions.

Though there is a light at the end of the tunnel, Petersen emphasized that students not currently eligible should allow those more at-risk to receive the vaccine first.

“It is important that [Group 4-eligible students] not flood the fairgrounds and take spots that are intended for at risk and frontline workers in the county, including Wake Forest employees and contract employees,” said Petersen.

As vaccines roll out, the university looks ahead to a transition to Yellow operating status on Friday. If cases continue to trend downward and the vaccine continues to circulate among the campus community, Petersen said the university could even see a change to Green operating status in the future.

“If we stay below 1% [virus prevalence on campus] for multiple weeks and we have a critical mass of faculty and staff, especially our front-line workers, who are vaccinated,” Petersen said, “we think a [conversation about transitioning to Green status] is in the offing.”

Katie Fox/Old Gold & Black

Stidents have had varying success at off-campus vaccination sites, which offer extra doses on a dayby-day basis. This is the only way for students to get vaccinated until group four becomes elligible.

OCCE tutoring program helps K-12 students The Office of Civic and Community Engagement’s tutoring program benefits local Winston-Salem students

BY MADDIE SAYRE Contributing Writer sayrmm20@wfu.edu Wake Forest was one of the first universities in the U.S. to establish a virtual tutoring program when schools first closed in March 2020 as a result of COVID-19.

As the program developed throughout the year, assistant director of Community Partnerships, Camry Wilborn, has used it as a model for other universities, like North Carolina State University, University of Central Florida and St. Norbert College, where administrators are seeking to organize programs similar to Wake Forest’s.

Wilborn believes the program has not only supported students in regard to their academic learning, but has also served as an aid to parents.

“When our district moved to remote instruction, there was not a lot of assistance for parents,” Wilborn said.

“They really did feel isolated and needed a lot of support and so this is one of the few programs that was offered early on to students in our district.”

When Wake Forest’s virtual tutoring program was first launched, it stated its commitment to serve students regardless of their economic status.

“One of the interesting things about virtual tutoring is that we don’t have any requirements for families that want to receive a tutor,” Wilborn said. “A lot of free programs in the city require you to meet a particular income threshold, or they require your child to attend a particular school.”

As a result of this commitment, the virtual tutoring program serves a wide spectrum of students, including those who attend private schools and lower-income, Title-I schools.

The initiative was directed by the Office of Civic and Community Engagement two weeks after schools moved to remote instruction in order to offer support to elementary through high school students in the Forsyth County community. Since the program launched last spring, 752 families have been matched with an undergraduate, graduate or medical student virtual tutor.

Hannah Bulman, 36, is the mother of second-grade student Jacob. He has received tutoring through Wake Forest’s program for nearly a year.

“He’s definitely made so much growth this year in his reading. If we hadn’t had this tutoring program, he would just be so far behind,” Bulman said. “Virtual school is just a whole other ballgame.”

Although the virtual aspect of tutoring is beneficial to parents who would usually have to take time off of work or transport their students, tutoring remotely has raised other challenges for students with learning disabilities, like Jacob.

“With him being dyslexic, it was really hard for him to add another element of constantly using a screen and typing,” Bulman said.

Since the beginning of the spring semester, 287 students have been matched with a virtual tutor. Wake Forest University tutors meet approximately an hour per week with their assigned student through an online platform like Zoom or Facetime.

Jenna Mayer, a Wake Forest senior and elementary education major, became a virtual tutor last spring and has been tutoring Jacob over Zoom. Replicating strategies online to help students with dyslexia has become a new challenge to Mayer, adding an element of creativity to her role as a tutor.

“I definitely have some level of experience in the curriculum, but I will say my experience, tutoring a student with dyslexia, has greatly increased my knowledge of specific reading instructional strategies,” Mayer said.

The program’s impacts are evident. Mayer believes that the virtual tutoring program is one of the best ways

a Wake Forest student can serve the community while learning remotely.

“I think it’s an incredible way for students who do tend to stay in that Wake bubble to have the opportunity to connect with the greater community without even having to leave the bubble,” she said.

Similarly to Mayer, Wake Forest sophomore Jessica Mark is majoring in elementary education and believes the tutoring program not only complements her aspirations to become a teacher, but also provides an opportunity to give back to her community.

“I just really wanted to use this program to reach out and help kids who were feeling isolated during this time,” Mark said. “I wanted to help them not only with their classes but also with whatever they’re dealing with, and give them reasons to laugh and smile.”

Parents are grateful for the program and continue to refer Wake Forest’s tutors to those who may benefit fron the service while schools continue to operate remotely.

“I just hope that they will continue the tutoring,” Bulman said. “I think it will really help just enhance learning if they can continue. I’m just really grateful for it.”

Katie Fox/Old Gold & Black

The OCCE’s tutoring program pairs Wake Forest tutors with Forsyth K-12 students.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

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Research Spotlight: Dr. Joshua Currie Dr. Joshua Currie is studying axolotl DNA to uncover its mysterious regenerative abilities

BY SEAN JONES Contributing Writer jonesd19@wfu.edu The axolotl is a remarkably silly creature.

Some people mistake it for a fish with legs, others find it distinctive by its pink pipecleaner haircut and others remember these amicable amphibians by their ever-goofy grins. Native to a few lakes in Mexico, the Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is remarkable to biologists as well, especially for its incredible ability to grow — or to regrow, that is.

Biology professor Dr. Joshua Currie has taken a particular interest in these impressive amphibians and what makes them so special. His research involves trying to pinpoint the specific mechanisms that facilitate their unusual regenerative properties.

Axolotls have outstanding means of healing in response to severe physical stress. If someone cuts off an axolotl’s limb, its body can coordinate a response to regrow another one that is fully functional. If you crush a part of an axolotl’s spine, it can

re-form that too. Remove parts of its brain and the axolotl can recover from even that.

Part of Curie’s research is determining how the axolotl’s regenerative process differs from that of other organisms. Many organisms form a scar when they undergo physical stress — axolotls take a more unconventional approach.

“Instead of the wound healing over and forming a scar, you actually get this accumulation of cells that we call a blastema,” Currie said. “That group of cells will go on to fully reconstitute the missing parts.”

Many hints about the axolotl’s regenerative process can be found in its DNA. By sifting through axolotl DNA using novel annotation and modification technologies (like CRISPR Cas-9), Currie’s lab is able to find links between regenerative processes and the instructions that guide them.

“Our big goal is to try to connect the genes that are involved in regeneration to the process [of regeneration] and how they function together,” Currie said.

The problem is that making sense of the axolotl’s genome is not a straightforward task. Genes are very interdependent, and silencing or removing genes often changes other cellular or organismal processes.

“You can remove something from an ecosystem and see that the whole thing

collapses,” Currie said, “but it doesn’t necessarily tell you why or how.”

The complexity of the axolotl’s largely unannotated genome is a challenge, but it is also an opportunity. Currie says the genome provides many interesting questions.

“There are just so many questions we have,” said Currie. “There are so many wide-open things to look at.”

Currie also praised the role that Wake Forest’s Biology Department has had in supporting his research.

He mentioned that he is “really excited to be” at the university and that he thinks “that the strengths of the biology department and also Wake Downtown are really going to aid us in a successful launch” of his research.

Photo courtesy of Blue Reef Aquarium

Dr. Currie’s research, which centers on the genome of Mexican axolotls (Anvystoma mexicana), and is investigating the secret of their strange regeneration abilities.

New vaccines are over 300 years in the making Centuries of science have led to the creation of the three FDAapproved COVID-19 vaccines

BY ANNA GARTNER Contributing Writer gartas20@wfu.edu It has been over a year since COVID-19 changed the way the world functions.

During the course of these past 12-plus months, the scientific community has pushed the boundaries of what we know about infectious diseases and how to treat them. Several vaccines have already been developed, approved and put into circulation to combat COVID-19, a remarkable feat considering the novelty of the virus.

The new Johnson & Johnson vaccine, approved last week for emergency use by the FDA, may seem like it was only one year in the making. In reality, it and its companion mRNA vaccines — the brainchildren of Pfizer and Moderna — are the result of three centuries of work.

Vaccines first emerged in the late 1700s when Edward Jenner developed the first successful vaccine to treat smallpox. Since then, many other vaccines have been developed to treat infections ranging from polio to measles to the influenza virus.

Techniques for vaccine production have also evolved throughout the years. The first vaccines inoculated people using sim-

ilar, but less severe versions of the virus.

Today’s methods have begun to experiment with incorporating the genetic code of the virus — such as DNA or RNA — in the vaccine to create more effective protection.

Vaccines typically work by exposing the body’s immune system to a pathogen.

This method allows the immune system to produce the antibodies that will grant the body immunity if it comes into contact with the actual virus. The pathogens in a vaccine are typically weakened or killed. Vaccines, therefore, are an especially effective type of treatment because they prevent a disease rather than treating it, thereby curbing the spread before it affects too much of a population.

Two specific types of vaccines have become especially relevant thanks to COVID-19: mRNA and viral vector vaccines.

Both types of vaccines utilize a portion of genetic code from the disease that they are meant to prevent. mRNA vaccines, such as those developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, are a fairly new type of vaccine. They use a piece of mRNA to instruct the body’s cells to make a spike protein, which is a portion of the virus found on the pathogen’s surface. By itself, a spike protein is harmless. But when the body produces these proteins the immune system recognizes them as foreign, and an immune response is triggered. This immune response involves the formation of antibodies, which

grants the body a higher level of immunity from COVID-19 if it ever encounters the actual disease. However, the difficulty with these vaccines is that they require two doses, spread weeks apart in order to gain a high enough level of efficacy.

In contrast, viral vector vaccines, such as the one Johnson & Johnson developed, use an adenovirus as a vector to introduce the needed gene to the body’s cells. Like mRNA, the vector carries the genetic code for the COVID-19 spike protein, allowing the body to produce an antibody response to COVID-19 without actually being infected. The adenovirus used as the vector is engineered to be entirely harmless and only delivers the needed gene without harming the recipient of the vaccine. These types of vaccines are especially convenient because they only require a single shot.

All of these vaccines are entirely harmless and, according to the CDC, may only cause short-term side effects including pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site and tiredness, nausea, fever, chills, muscle pain and headaches throughout the body. Furthermore, despite the use of genetic code in the vaccines, neither the mRNA vaccine nor the viral vector vaccine induce any alteration to the DNA of human cells. Vaccines are invaluable in helping stop the spread of disease and keeping the population safe.

According to the New York Times, President Biden is “directing the federal

government to secure an additional 100 million doses of Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 single-shot vaccine,” which may allow children to be vaccinated and additional booster shots to be administered in order to better address new strains of the virus. With any hope, the vast majority of the U.S. population will be vaccinated by some point this summer.

Aine Pierre/Old Gold & Black

The newly-FDA approved Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires just one shot.

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Academics

English majors remain beholden to subjectivity Coursework for writing-based classes often contains an underestimated amount of difficulty

BY ANSLEY MCNEEL Staff Columnist mcnear19@wfu.edu

We all know math is hard. Even for people who find it satisfying to finish a difficult problem, it is widely acknowledged that STEM subjects are of a clearly impressive baseline difficulty. While this holds true, it's also worth acknowledging that English and humanities are at least equally difficult.

As an English major and creative writing minor, I feel that I am never done with my work. There is always another paragraph I can add, a grammar mistake I can fix or an interpretation to which I can add nuance. In this way, I believe that it is harder to feel a sense of accomplishment or finality in English and writing-based classes because there is no universal finish-line.

When I write papers, I often start by creating a brief outline of the essay’s path in my mind. From there, I write a vague introductory paragraph because I know that I must allow for the chaotic and short period between conceptualizing an idea in my head and physically writing it down on paper. This common writing process shows how the fluid nature of a writing assignment encourages a constantly changing finish line. Instead of writing an outline, adding details or finishing the essay as it is, most strong writers know that they must go back to their introduction in order to populate their analysis with newly discovered ideas throughout the course of the writing process. Writers do this to achieve a higher degree of specificity and quality in their writing. There is also a higher level of analysis exhibited when a writer follows both the text and the whims of their own analytical mind, instead of strictly adhering to their own individual interpretation.

With these methods of writing, I have found that my process of work is almost always cyclical. I write a paragraph and then I must immediately change all preceding paragraphs to reflect these variations. When I find a word that has been repeated too many times, I must comb through my entire essay looking for interesting synonyms that may replace that specific word. If I realize that I have written too little for the page requirement, I must then dive deeper into the words which I have already explored, or delve into the source text in search of another interesting tidbit that might add to the work. If I realize that I have written too much, I must select the paragraph which contains the least compel-

Photo courtesy of Steve Stephens/ Dispatch

Students with many English and writing-based courses must become well acquainted with their own tastes. The ability to judge writing quality requires a well-read mind.

ling argument, the least interesting nuance or the least applicable content and delete it.

This is ordinarily done after I have sunk time and energy into perfecting the existing parts of my work. It is exhausting to chase perfection on an assignment that is graded in a subjective manner, only to realize that it will still feel like what you did was not enough.

All of this is not to say that STEM classes aren’t difficult. Of course, I recognize that I abhor the subjects which force me to do math, science or applications of those subjects because they are so challenging.

I still find myself relieved when I am taking at least one STEM class per semester. These classes allow me to feel done with my work at least once per day. I can turn in a problem to TopHat for my physics class and rest well knowing that I have earned a certain score on my homework for that night. I can doublecheck my final result and see that a number that I have calculated works when I plug it back into an equation. My grades are released almost immediately after my exams in these classes because my answers are either right or wrong. These classes do not operate on a gradient. There is a question and there is a right answer. I know exactly where I stand, even if I am not doing well.

In my essay-based classes, this is not the case. There have been times where I have turned in work that I perceive to be the best of my young career, only to receive poor marks. After I have turned in work that I see as wholly undeserving of praise, there have been days in which I was asked to remain after class to discuss how strong my work

was. There is seldom a consistent indicator of how my work may be received.

In my advanced poetry workshop class from last semester, I actually wrote my final project paper about this topic — about how “beauty” and “worth” are perceived in literature. My professor, Marream Krollos, raised the following questions: why is it that students have no problem with purchasing poetry collections written by poets such as William Wordsworth, but when it comes to modern poets, they refuse? Why is it that we place such worth and value on some artists and are unwilling to consider other strong artists as their equals?

These questions have haunted my literary thoughts, and I can see no other answer other than that beauty and worth are perceived in different ways by each individual. What I see as worthy and lovely is not what you will see as worthy and lovely. Our conceptions of what is worthy can be shaken and reformed by the cultures around us, whether that be an FYS professor who asks each student to avoid passive tense, a high school teacher who disliked any version of “to be” phrasing or anything else which might define what is “good” in a paper.

When we do not all share the same perspective of what is much less beautiful, then how are writers ever to feel that they are truly done?

We can always re-read the text, add nuance to analysis, or find another way to answer the same question. How are we to feel accomplished in our everyday assignments? The simple answer is that oftentimes, a writer is incapable of feeling finished with their work.

Opinion | Old Gold & Black

Thursday, March 11, 2021 | Page 9

“ mandate paves way for destruction End of Texas mask COVID-19

Governor Abbott’s decision to lift safety restrictions exhibits gross ignorance Evan Daane

Staff Columnist daanep19@wfu.edu

Last Tuesday, Greg Abbott — the incumbent governor of Texas and tool of the Right — said that he was going to lift the state-wide mask mandate and occupancy limits on restaurants on March 10.

Abbott was quoted as saying, “It is clear from the recoveries, vaccinations, reduced hospitalizations, and safe practices that state mandates are no longer needed.”

As a Texan, this has me incredibly frustrated. With that being said, I do know that there are people who will disagree with me, so I shall break down Abbott’s main points arguing why the state mandate is unnecessary, in his view.

Let’s start by looking at the number of recoveries in the state. Texas ranks second in total COVID-19 cases across the U.S., this is partly due to its large pop-

Just because things are getting better doesn’t mean you drop everything and proclaim total success.” ulation, but also because of a botched relief response from the government. In spite of these facts, the number of total recoveries is high due to the relatively low death rates associated with COVID-19.

Abbott is correct in saying that more people are recovering at a faster rate than before. But Abbott’s bullishness on the recovery rate begs the question, why does he think individuals are recovering in the first place? It isn’t a mystery.

Those who have recovered and are recovering got COVID-19 because it’s a highly contagious virus. With more and more variants appearing, it’s clear more people are going to contract the virus.

Removing the laws that enforce masks and venue occupancy limits is going to cause the spread to swell again.

So what if more people are recovering?

More people have COVID-19 in Texas than any other state besides California.

It’s faulty logic to say that more people are recovering when more people are getting it because of Texas’s population size. And with the way that COVID-19 works, recovery is not the same as be-

ing completely healthy. COVID-19 scars the lungs and harms the immune system, potentially leading to lifelong damage.

I couldn’t tell you why Abbott brought vaccination numbers into the conversation. He knows that Texas ranks no. 48 out of 50 states in terms of vaccination rates. Abbott knows that he is wrong, and if for some reason he didn’t, he could just watch the news because the facts are all there. He could have done some simple research, which is what I did. He’s willfully ignoring reality, and because of this people will die.

Abbott is technically right about reduced hospitalizations, but there’s more to the story. Although hospitalizations are down, numbers are far from zero.

200-300 people die every day in Texas hospitals from COVID-19 [per the New York Times]. Just because things are getting better doesn’t mean you drop everything and proclaim total success.

You don’t stop treating cancer when it’s starting to slow down. You wouldn’t put out most of a wildfire.

Texans are many things, but as a whole, COVID-safe is not one of them.

In fact, this truth isn’t even specific to Texas. Most of this country suffers from an acute lack of empathy. For Abbott to say that Texans have been using safe practices must mean that he really

never leaves his office. During the summer and over winter break, I saw many people maskless, eating inside crowded restaurants and getting together for group events. In most of the big cities, there were many illegal club openings that you could watch if you opened up Snapmaps and tapped on any of their promotional stories.

It’s not just the cities, either. On my drive back to campus through more rural areas, I stopped at gas stations in Texas and saw an abysmal lack of safety precautions being taken in all of them (including Buccee’s). Colleges in Texas aren’t doing great either. If a smaller North Carolina school like Wake Forest can’t stop the floor of Chi Psi from collapsing, the massive state and private schools in Texas have no chance of stopping parties. To say that Texans are being safe is a lie on Abbott’s part.

By either actively lying or willfully ignoring the current condition of Texas and reopening the state, Abbott is emboldening those who do not care for the lives of others. This decision will undoubtedly increase the spread of COVID-19, leading to death and permanent physical damage for many Texans. Governor Abbott is responsible for the 45,000 deaths that have already occurred within Texas, and anyone who ignores safety measures is just as guilty.

voter turnout. However, the Republicancontrolled state legislature of Georgia has moved fast to propose laws that would make it disproportionately harder for Black Georgians to vote.

Two bills recently introduced by Republican state legislatures attack automatic voter registration, drop-boxes for mail ballots, the broad availability of absentee voting and early voting on weekends. All of these measures would overwhelmingly affect Black Georgians, with the restrictions on weekend voting being the most obvious.

A common Georgian tradition is “Souls to the Polls,” where Black voters vote in droves after Sunday church. While racism might be an easy explanation behind the Georgia Republicans’ Jim Crow-era restrictions, a more statistical answer can be found by looking at the tendencies of Georgia’s Black voters. Black voters in Georgia constitute around one-third of the state’s population and vote overwhelmingly Democrat, as 88% voted for President Biden and more than 90% voted for Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in the January runoff elections. Black voters were the crucial factor in flipping Georgia.

Unfortunately, Georgia is not alone when it comes to Republican voter suppression. As of Feb. 19, Republican state lawmakers have pre-filed 253 bills that restrict voting access in 43 states. The recent

actions taken by Republicans throughout the country should frighten everyone, not just Democrats. It is impossible to have only one party that is beholden to public opinion in a two-party system. If one party does not fight for public approval, then there are not two parties. There are simply obstructionists and the rest of us.

This bill is important because it will force Republicans to contend with public opinion, which in turn will make it impossible for them to win majorities in Congress.

Sadly, the For the People Act (HR-1) faces an uphill battle in the Senate. Republicans plan on filibustering the act, taking advantage of a Senate rule that was also abused in the past by Southern Segregationists to stop civil rights bills. Any attempt at passing the bill will require an end to the filibuster, which is protected by Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema.

This bill scares McConnell. It scares McCarthy. It scares a Republican party that has lost the popular vote in five of the last six general elections. It scares a Republican party that has become so nationalistic, so anti-minority and so against the general public, that they have attempted to infringe upon our most sacred and important right: our ability to vote. A political party that suffers due to high voter turnout must rethink its role in politics rather than fighting to suppress our voices.

“ Act targets voter suppression For the People American Politics

HR-1 Bill fights the essential battle against Republican inhibition of minority voters

The recent actions taken by Republicans throughout the country should frighten everyone, not just Democrats.”

Jacob Schaffer

Regardless of the numerous bipartisan benefits, HR-1 was passed along partisan lines. House Minority leader Kevin McCarthy called it “an unparalleled political power grab,” and Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell dubbed the bill the “Democrat Politician Protection Act.” Why is it that Republicans are so against expanding voter protections? Why are Republicans so fearful of more people voting?

The statements of their leaders speak volumes. It is clear that many of these protections are being introduced for a simple reason: voter suppression.

In recent years, Republicans have become increasingly more authoritarian. Instead of changing their principles and policy agendas to match that of the country, they have decided to attempt to win elections by lowering voter turnout, especially among minority communities. Republicans do this through partisan gerrymandering and restrictive voter ID laws, while also limiting who can vote by mail, how late a mailed ballot can be accepted and the amount of time allotted for early voting Take Georgia, for example. In 2020, Georgia Democrats flipped a traditionally conservative state blue by increasing

Contributing Columnist schajj19@wfu.edu Last week, the House of Representatives passed one of the most comprehensive voter protection bills since the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This bill ensures that there are national standards for voting by creating new rules that simplify the voting process and aim to diminish voter suppression. The bill contains many provisions on individual voter protections, such as new national requirements that weaken restrictive voter ID laws, a mandate for automatic voter registration and expansions on early and mail-in voting. Additionally, HR-1 requires states to use non-partisan commissions to draw districts instead of elected officials. New transparency laws on campaign dark money have been included as well, which support public financing options for congressional campaigns. All in all, this is a bill that will update American voting standards, ensuring that our republic is more representative of all our citizens.

Opinion | Old Gold & Black

Campus Life

Thursday, March 11, 2021 | Page 10

“

Lack of a spring break leads to undue pressure Letter to President Nathan O. Hatch voices mounting stress and concern of students Katie Fox

Contributing Columnist foxkg19@wfu.edu

To my dearest Natty O, I hope this finds you well-rested and enjoying the beautiful weather. I’m doing terrible, thank you for asking.

I knew this semester was going to be difficult as soon as I learned our spring break got canceled. Just as I predicted, in the middle of my Friday Night Breakdown™ (a fun new tradition I started this semester), my calendar reminded me that Saturday would have been the first of a sweet seven days off. As I struggled to keep track of the deadlines and readings that I missed this past week, all I could think about was how nice it would be to have a few days where I wasn’t trying to catch up on assignments or reply to yet another discussion post.

Last Tuesday was a sorry excuse for a day off since everything on campus was still open, including faculty

My question is this: how did we decide that students would only get two days out of fifteen weeks off? ” office hours and tutoring appointments. And just so we’re clear, it was purely a day off from attending class because everyone else on campus still had ‘normal’ working days.

I’m sure you imagined that we’d spend our first “Wellness Day” doing face-masks and watching movies that our professors recommended in class, or maybe even getting COVID-safe lunch with the girls at Campus Gas. I personally had two essays due Thursday, so instead of relaxing on the 24-hour break from the synchronous classes that the university so generously graced us with, I spent the whole day feeling guilty that I couldn’t force myself to be productive. A lot of students that I’ve talked to about this issue have light Tuesday schedules anyways, so, for many of us, it felt like just another work-filled day.

Mental health is something we often highlight at the Old Gold & Black because it is crucial to physical wellbeing. The university has about a million programs dedicated to improving student mental health.

Even though I don’t utilize the UCC, I do have a therapist at home that I see for mental health services. Last Wednesday, I gave her a play-byplay of my week and, I kid you not, this woman said, “I’m surprised you haven’t found a cliff to jump off of. I would have.”

Though my therapist regularly gives comments on how overwhelming my schedule seems, this statement still shocked me. When I mentioned our Tuesday Spring Break to some middle schoolers that I tutor, they asked, “Wait, spring break was one day? That doesn’t seem like enough.”

President Hatch, I could refer you to about seven unbiased sources who could tell you that this Wellness Day was a sham. This Saturday marks one year since Wake Forest extended our 2020 Spring Break in light of the rapidly developing pandemic. By the way, why do our transcripts only reflect one pandemic semester? This is semester three, so jot that down, too. I guess it’s possible that you thought that the extra week last year used up our days for this year?

In all seriousness, I understand that the university took away our weeklong break to minimize the spread by discouraging students from traveling to Florida or Texas and bringing COVID-19 back to Winston-Salem with them. That’s a fair point. I

understand that a lot of colleges are worried about that.

My question is this: how did we decide that students would only get two days out of fifteen weeks off? How does that decision make sense? Also, the kids that you were so worried would travel are going on “much-needed” trips to their family’s beach house on the coast, anyways. The privileged students who haven’t taken this pandemic seriously since last March are screwing the rest of us who don’t have the luxury (or lack of conscience) to take a beach vacay in South Carolina for the weekend.

I’m not asking for time off to go to Punta Cana — I just want a break.

All I want to do is touch some grass and cry to Phoebe Bridgers without the feeling that I’m wasting time I should be spending on coursework or attending seminars and meetings.

College is brutal enough and Wake Forest was overwhelming even before the world fell apart. I know it’s difficult for the administration to make all these decisions, especially when students have disregarded our community guidelines and beast-moded past last semester’s COVID-19 casetotal in our first month back. But I am exhausted. This isn’t healthy or sustainable for students or faculty.

Please give us a real break.

confirmed the existence of atomic particles and created new instruments like satellites to aid our infinitesimal understanding of the universe.

However, it seems as if the early 21st century has had little to offer when it comes to new earth-shattering ideas and innovations. Besides the realization of the Internet, we have this muddled perception that there is a lack of new theories or ideas that could give us an upper hand when it comes to formidable adversaries like diseases in cancer, and Alzheimer’s; a need for clean renewable energy; waste management solutions; and even space exploration. Many scientists and economists even claim that the rate of technological innovation is decelerating, using Moore’s law as a moot point. Even co-founder of PayPal Peter Thiel made a snarky remark, saying, “We wanted flying cars, instead we got 140 characters.” Yet, it is politics that has blindsided us.

An example of this political intervention is that — due to government meddling — many health-specific legislations require extensive background checks before they can enter the docket on one of Congress floors. This results in the delay of enactments of certain contingencies, like the approval of COVID-19 vaccination trials.

Companies like Moderna and Pfizer that applied for Emergency Use Authorization had to wait weeks for the green-light from

the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), while other countries progressed much more quickly. This arduous process of regulation becomes a deterrent in the grand scheme of things, especially in consideration of the global health crisis.

Not all government intervention is ineffective. Some subsidies represent examples of this. We like government subsidies that let science thrive and grow. With the gross funding of $22 billion from the Department of Health and Human Services, vaccination testing and distribution productivity have skyrocketed, decreasing the time necessary to develop a vaccine from 10-15 years, to a mere year and a half. This is a noteworthy feat, considering the government gave the reigns to public and private companies to fight for a common goal. NASA, after its termination of the Space Shuttle program back in 2001, teamed up with private companies like SpaceX to create commercialized spaceflights. NASA sponsors SpaceX to create their own spacecrafts and in exchange, SpaceX will send NASA astronauts to space.

However, we can also see the downside of regulation. NASA recently sent the Perseverance rover to Mars. The launch itself cost $2.7 billion. We have not sent a single soul to the moon since 1972 due to egregious costs. This indicates that the government and its agencies have sole control of funding, and that is unbeneficial to the development of new scientific innovations.

“ obstacle to scientific progress Politics represents Technological Innovation

Bureaucratic regulations impede crucial discoveries in the 21st century Joe Cho

Life Editor choyy19@wfu.edu

I would like to start by reminding you readers of last week’s opinion issue, in which Cap McLiney considered the positive ramifications of federalist principles that the United States government has upheld since the era of our Founding Fathers. For the most part, I can sympathize with his sentiment.

However, I would like to examine the key aspect of his argument which prioritizes individual agency within organized society.

In Cap’s article, the individual agency he addresses is represented by entities such as citizens and the state governments. Each has the liberty to choose what is best for them, personally under a central government. I would like to tackle a similar topic of devolution, but instead, I will replace the former subject with individual companies. Because Cap

Many scientists and economists even claim that the rate of technological innovation is decelerating... ” implies that a small government is the result of a healthy republic, I would like to make the point that economic liberalism produces a similar result.

Companies and their respective industries motivate the progress of civilization. It is the collaboration of thinkers and tinkerers that make up the neural networks of companies, which in turn produce great scientific innovations. In spite of this theoretical truth, we are in a new century — we’re witnessing the tortoise, and not the hare, when it comes to companies churning out resourceful products. The blame falls largely on government regulation and the intervention of politics with science.

For much of human history, the greatest scientific discoveries and research transpired in the 20th century, and the rate of those advancements was expeditious. With the advent of penicillin and the creation of pharmacotherapy, we have found effective and reliable treatments for deadly diseases. With the discovery of quantum mechanical phenomena via the double-slit experiment and the equations of relativity, we have

SPORTS

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Online at: www.wfuogb.com Twitter: @sports_ogb Editors: Essex Thayer, thayse20@wfu.edu Christina DeNovio, denoca20@wfu.edu

OLD GOLD & BLACK

Women's basketball downs UNC With the win, Wake Forest may from three, giving them a 25-16 edge the end of the first period. have done just enough to secure at The second quarter began inauspia bid to the NCAA tournament ciously for both teams, as UNC and

er, bringing UNC within three points.

Spear responded with another conversion from behind the arc, her sixth of the day.

From there, the Tar Heels turned on the gas, going on a 12-3 run. That run took them into the lead for the first time since the beginning of the first period. The streak was highlighted by consecutive defensive breakdowns by the Demon Deacons, which allowed Utsby to break free for several easy layups in transition. With the Deacs reeling, Head Coach Jen Hoover called a timeout to settle the team. Out of the timeout, Wake Forest rattled off six-consecutive points, including an and-one from Conti that had the Demon Deacon bench, Hoover included, screaming at the top of their lungs in jubilation. Despite UNC finding a way to shove Wake Forest back on their heels, the Demon Deacons were able to regain their momentum and found themselves leading by a slim four-point margin going into the final period.

At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Utsby converted another layup for the Tar Heels, bringing the deficit to within two, but Spear quickly responded with a make of her own. On the following possession, Conti stole the ball from Utsby and found Scruggs for the finish, forcing North Carolina to call a timeout. Following the timeout, the Tar Heels went on a 6-2 run, shrinking the Wake Forest lead to two points.

Sophomore Olivia Summiel brought the Demon Deacon faithful back on their feet with a three-point shot, but Watts quickly responded with a threepointer herself. With four minutes re-

maining in regulation, Wake Forest began a 5-0 run that proved to be the final dagger.

Trailing by 11 points with just over a Wake Forest combined for three turnminute left on the clock, North CaroBY ESSEX THAYER overs on the first three possessions. lina began to foul Wake Forest, hoping Sports Editor With 7:45 left on the clock, Spear they would miss their shots from the thayse20@wfu.edu broke the spell, draining her fifth free-throw line. The Demon Deacons three-pointer of the game. She went did not, converting every free-throw In a hard-fought battle that at one on to score 29 points including seven down the stretch. They only missed point had the Demon Deacons on the made threes — an ACC tournament one free-throw in the entire game. ropes, Wake Forest found a way to pull record. Spear drew three defenders to When the buzzer sounded, the Wake out a massive victory against UNC- guard her on the following possession, Forest bench erupted, streaming onto Chapel Hill. The win may have just so she found senior Gina Conti behind the court in celebration. The win gave been enough to squeeze the Demon the three-point line for a shot of her much power to Wake Forest's tournaDeacons into their first NCAA tour- own. Conti's made three gave Wake ment hopes, a hump they have not nament since 1988. Before the game, Forest a 31-17 lead and forced North gotten over since 1988 when Hoover Wake Forest was in ESPN's "First Four Carolina to call a timeout. herself was a player on the team. With Out," but after the win, they were Following the break, Deja Kelly the win possibly sending the Demon moved to "Last Four In." stopped the Tar Heels' bleeding, hitDeacons back to the dance, Hoover After a defensive stop to begin the ting her own shot for three. Spear's hit another important milestone: 126 game, freshman Jewel Spear pulled streak finally came to an end on the wins — the most in program history. up from behind the three-point line next possession, as she missed her first After the game, she was awarded with to knock in the Demon Deacons' first three-point attempt of the game after a Gatorade shower in the locker room points on the day. Stephanie Watts re- making her previous five. With roughand the game ball by Athletic Director sponded for the Tar Heels, scoring back- ly half of the quarter remaining, North John Currie. to-back buckets. After a three-pointer Carolina began to shift the momentum In the postgame press conference, from senior Ivana Raca, with four min- in their favor. Kelly scored six straight tears streamed down Hoover's face. utes remaining in the quarter, Spear points for the Tar Heels, knocking "I think this win meant the world to once again hit a three, her third of the down a shot from behind the arc and us, especially coming off of what we game, to cap off a 6-0 run. After the then converting on an and-one opporwent through just with such a rough score, Wake Forest went into the first tunity. Raca responded with two contrip last week to Florida," Hoover said.

TV timeout leading 18-10. Following secutive scores for Wake Forest, mak"This team has this kind of grit, [a real] a layup from junior Christina Morra, ing it seem as though the Deacs had spirit about them."

UNC opened a short run, with Janelle stopped the push from the Tar Heels.

With North Carolina projected as a Bailey and Amanda Utsby scoring four But, the Heels were not done yet, scorNo. 9 seed in the tournament, Hoover straight points. With under a minute ing six consecutive points and closing believed that the win had solidified remaining in the quarter, Spear hit her the half on an 8-2 run. After leading by their March Madness bid. fourth three-pointer of the game. She as much as 14, UNC had shrunk the "I felt we were an NCAA [tournadid not miss a single shot from behind Wake Forest lead to just five. ment] team from the get-go. There's no Utsby started the scoring in the secthe three-point line in the quarter. As way they can take [North Carolina] afa team, the Demon Deacons shot 5-7 ond half by hitting a two-point jumpter what we've done to them twice this year without taking the Deacs, bottom line," she said.

After defeating North Carolina, Wake Forest went on to lose to Louisville in the quarterfinals. The Cardinals advanced all the way to the championship game, where they lost to NC State.

After a week off, the Demon Deacons will find out if they secured an at-large tournament bid on March 15.

After the Louisville loss, Hoover spoke about what it will feel like to watch the selection show.

"We've never been able to sit here and be anxious for that selection show, and this group deserves that, and we're excited for it," she said, "We've just got to be ready so that when we get in, we can win a game in the tournament. It's not just about getting in, it's about winning."

Hoover ended the postgame conference by touching on her feelings about the NCAA tournament.

"It's March Madness. It's a phenomPhoto courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics enal feeling. [Making the tournament] (From left to right) Senior Gina Conti, freshman Jewel Spear and junior Christina Morra celebrate after the was my vision when I came back to final buzzer. Spear scored 29 points off of seven made three-pointers, an ACC tournament record. Wake. Let's go, Deacs. Let's go."

Page 12| Thursday, March 11, 2021

Old Gold & Black | Sports

Kijima’s brace leads soccer to first ACC win Wake Forest won off a pair of goals from Hosei Kijima in the closing minutes

BY CHRISTINA DENOVIO Sports Editor denoca20@wfu.edu

In soccer, when a team is down 2-1 with five minutes left, the game is typically considered over. The Wake Forest men’s team disproved this notion on Saturday night when freshman Hosei Kijima scored two goals in the last five minutes of the game to bring the Deacons back from behind and beat Boston College.

When asked about his team’s performance on Saturday, Head Coach Bobby Muuss said, “Performance and result are two separate things. I don’t think we performed well, but we got a really, really gutsy result, so I’m extremely proud. The performance — we got a lot to work on.”

Following the game, Muuss stated how proud he was of his team for adjusting to so much adversity early on in the season.

“This is a brand new team and I think that’s what people don’t realize,” Muuss said. “We lost ten players from the fall, we lost two guys to injury last week [and] we lost another one today. We’re just grinding out wins in the best soccer conference in the country with a brand new team.

That makes it even better.”

Wake Forest beat Davidson 1-0 on March 1 at Spry Stadium for their first win of the season against a non-conference team. Because this game against Boston College was the Demon Deacons’ first ACC game of the season, the team was itching for a win. Redshirt sophomore Jake Swallen started off the scoring with a goal in the ninth minute. Junior Holland Rula assisted the midfielder’s goal with a pass from outside the box.

“It definitely was a confidence-booster [to get] a goal so early in the match,” Swallen said. “It was a good ball, and I just kind of opened up and struck it through two guys. Honestly, I didn’t even see it go in. I was really surprised, everybody just screamed.”

The Deacs held onto the lead until the final five minutes of the first half, when Boston College got on the board with their first goal of the match, beating goalkeeper Cole McNally on a free kick. At halftime, the teams went to their locker rooms tied at 1-1.

Unfortunately for the Deacs, Boston College scored again inside the box in the 48th minute of the match. The crowd was beginning to lose spirit as the second half clock wound down. With just over half an hour left in the game, sophomore forward David Wrona received a yellow card.

Wrona tallied four shots, one of which was on goal, and had some of the Deacons’ best chances of the night, but was not able to finish.

Some controversial calls from the referees also contributed to some apprehension from fans and players. At one point, players from both teams engaged in a shoving match that had to be broken up by teammates.

A near goal by Wrona in the 73rd minute seemed to be the last chance the Deacs would get on the night. Wake Forest was repeatedly unable to capitalize on free kicks and a couple of breakaway opportunities. Then, in the 85th minute, the Deacs were given a free kick. After much anticipation, Kijima was able to get a goal off a deflection from outside the box. The crowd celebrated, though many assumed the game would end in a tie.

When asked what he thought of his first goal, Kijima said, “All week I’ve been running in the box, hitting nice volleys during training, and I just knew it was com-

ing. The moment the ball went up, that was the result. Hard work pays off.”

But Kijima didn’t stop there. In the 89th minute, he got a pass from Wrona and sent a low shot into the goal. Kijima and his teammates charged towards the bleachers and jumped on the ledge. Fans surrounded the players and the excitement in the crowd and on the field was palpable.

“David [Wrona] fed me a beautiful ball, and everybody was shifting to the right, so I just slotted in through the left side of the goal. It was a good goal, a lucky goal,” Kijima said.

Kijima might have chalked it up to luck, but his first two goals for Wake Forest were certainly well-deserved. McNally praised his teammate saying, “[Kijima] is probably one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen in my entire life, and he earned those two goals tonight.”

When asked if he felt the energy shift after each goal, Kijima said, “After the first goal I think everyone was energized.

I have to say, it was a very good goal — I’ll admit it. I think everyone was energized from it — the coaches, the players, the fans. I think that pushed me forward to get the second goal.”

McNally gave up two goals, but his ability to refocus and tighten up the backline helped his team win. When asked how the Deacs stayed in the game, he said, “Obviously, it’s tough when you’re down a goal late. Two-to-one is a tough score to deal with, but I gotta give all credit to the guys in front. This shows the heart that they have — each and every one of them.”

Offering praise to his teammates, “They didn’t put their heads down when that second goal got scored,” he said. “Everybody was up, we were ready to try to finish out the game … that’s what makes this team so special.”

On the topic of the team’s strengths and weaknesses, Coach Muuss said, “I thought on transition we were okay. Defensively and attacking, I thought we got behind the ball well. But our compactness defensively needs to get better, our press needs to be better, and we need to keep the ball for longer periods of time.”

He continued, “We need to impose our game on our opponents a little bit more and not let them impose their’s on us.”

When asked how it feels to start the season with two wins, Coach Muuss said, “It’s awesome … to start ACC play with a win is huge. Especially when you’re down 2-1 with eight minutes left. That’s the best part of this one, just the dramatic part of it, the excitement level that went into it.”

The Deacs will have an opportunity to show what areas they improved upon when they face NC State at Spry Stadium on March 13.

Courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics

Freshman Hosei Kajima falls to his knees in relief at the final whistle.

Men’s basketball loses final game of season Wake Forest falls to Georgia Tech 75-63, ending regular season play on a low note

BY CHRISTIAN ODJAKJIAN Staff Writer odjact18@wfu.edu Entering Friday night’s game against Georgia Tech, Wake Forest had lost their last five games by an average of 22.8 points. The teams couldn’t have been crossing paths from more opposite standpoints, as the Yellow Jackets were coming off of five straight wins, injecting life into their NCAA Tournament hopes.

After a tightly contested first half, Georgia Tech took control in the second and pulled away to secure a 75-63 victory over Wake Forest. It was the first and only game at the Joel all season that students were allowed to attend.

“I’m very proud of the effort of my team tonight,” Head Coach Steve Forbes said. “We were really good defensively.

We took them out of their stuff. They really just beat us one-on-one.”

“Wake Forest is good, they have gotten

better,” said Georgia Tech Head Coach Josh Pastner. “Coach Forbes and his staff deserve so much credit. They have gotten better. They have improved. That’s a good basketball team we beat.”

Stout defense had the Demon Deacons squarely in it early, as the score was tied at 23 with less than four minutes to go in the opening half. Georgia Tech finished the half on an 8-2 run to take a 31-25 lead into the break. The lead stretched to 11 within the first two minutes of the second half, and Wake Forest couldn’t trim it to fewer than five for the rest of the game.

Michael Devoe played an excellent game for the Yellow Jackets, scoring 20 points on 8-10 shooting. Devoe has dominated against Wake Forest this season, as he scored 17 back in the Jan. 3 ACC opener.

ACC Player of the Year Moses Wright scored 17 points, while Jordan Usher and star guard Jose Alvarado joined him in double figures with 14 and 11, respectively.

Ian Dubose and Davien Williamson continued to carry the load offensively in this game. Dubose scored an efficient 18

on 7-9 shooting and also made an impact defensively with four steals. Williamson put up 15 in his 13th double-digit scoring game of the season.

A bright spot for the Deacs was the play of freshman guard Quadry Adams. Adams wasn’t able to crack the rotation until March, but has done a great job with his limited opportunity. His defensive intensity made things difficult for Georgia Tech’s Alvorado, and he also threw down an impressive putback dunk in the first half. “[Adams] has worked hard ever since he’s gotten here,” Dubose said. “He continues to push himself to become a better player. He’s a really talented player, a really great defender, a great finisher at the rim.”

Unless the Deacs pull off a historically shocking run in the ACC Tournament, the Steve Forbes inaugural season will be wrapping up this week. Even with a disappointing slide to close the regular season, Forbes seems optimistic with the direction of the program.

“The great thing tonight is that everything I’ve seen in practice from day one

carried over to the court,” Forbes said. “We haven’t always carried it over, but tonight we did. That shows you the character that these kids have. That they keep fighting. They’ve represented our school in the right way …

I wish we could’ve pulled out the win for them and for the fans, but I’m encouraged by the fight and effort that we had.”

The Deacs made Georgia Tech earn this significant win, and Coach Pastner was confident that the victory solidified Tech’s spot in the NCAA Tournament. Pastner was filled with joy talking to the media after the game, as this late-season push should send his team dancing for the first time in his five years at the helm of the Yellow Jackets.

Dubose, Jonah Antonio, Jalen Johnson, Blake Buchanan and Sunday Okeke were all honored in the Senior Night ceremony before the game. The NCAA is providing all student-athletes with a free year of eligibility because of the pandemic, so some of these players may still be on the team next year.

As the No. 14 seed in the ACC tournament, Wake Forest will face a hot Notre Dame team in the opening round.

Sports | Old Gold & Black

Thursday, March 11, 2021 | Page 13

Deacon Spotlight: Crawford Wade

BY COOPER SULLIVAN Contributing Writer sullcg20@wfu.edu

Crawford Wade is a freshman pitcher from Charlotte, N.C. on the Demon Deacon baseball team.

The 6’4” lefty has appeared in four contests this season, mainly in relief duty. The No. 14 overall prospect in N.C. is averaging a strikeout an inning and has posted a 3.86 ERA through 4.2 innings pitched.

Wake Forest’s last five games have either been canceled or postponed due to COVID-19 issues amongst the players. Wade has been in quarantine at the Best Western Plus since March 1 and will not be able to travel with the Demon Deacons to Miami for their game on March 12.

Cooper Sullivan: You have been committed to Wake Forest since the fall of your senior year.

You and your family have been Wake Forest fans practically your entire life, so what was it like when you first got that offer to play baseball here?

Crawford Wade: I originally committed to the Air Force Academy [during my] sophomore year. When I started attracting some pro attention, there was a possibility I could’ve gotten drafted after high school, so I was planning on being kind of close to home for that. With the Air Force, you have to serve afterward and it’s hard to balance baseball and the Air Force, so I wanted to find somewhere closer to home where I could focus more on baseball. I decided to decommit from Air Force after my last fall tournament in October. Wake was my first visit after decommitting, and as soon as I got to campus I thought, “Yeah this is where I have to be.”

My grandpa had always been the biggest Wake fan out of anybody — he had a whole basement dedicated to Wake Forest in his house. I have a twin brother, and there’s a photo of us at a Wake Forest football game when I was maybe a couple months old. I was in gold and black and my brother was in Carolina blue and white. My brother’s at UNC now and I’m at Wake, so it’s just cool to see. My grandpa was a big driving force in [my] coming to Wake. He passed away in 2017, but I feel like being here connects me to him. He’s one of the biggest role models in my life. Also, knowing that Wake Forest has a top-tier pitching facility was one thing that just grabbed me. It was a no-brainer once I got the call to come visit and got the offer. I was really invested in other schools like Miami, Notre Dame and NC State, but as soon as I got here I thought ‘I want to come here.’ Even since sophomore year of high school, my dream was to play baseball at Wake Forest, so I worked my ass off to make it happen.

CS: You’ve pitched four games so far this season.

What did it feel like when you walked onto the mound the first time?

CW: I was nervous. I was actually super calm the whole way up until the game, but as soon as I got the “get hot” call in the bullpen I started shaking. I thought, “Oh my gosh, here it goes.”

CS: Did you know you were going to pitch in that game?

CW: No, I wasn’t planning on it. I went out there just to keep my body warm, but then my coach came up to me and said, ‘Hey, you need to get going,’ and I thought, ‘Holy crap, this is it.

[It’s the] opening day of my freshman year, [and]

our coaches have is incredible, whether it’s Hendricks, Coach Wise (the pitching lab coordinator) or [Head Coach] Tom Walter. All of our coaches know so much about the game, how to get better and how to optimize your mechanics to be the best version of yourself. That makes it super easy to develop. They know so much more about the game and there is so much experience, especially with Coach Hendricks. He was a pro CS: What pitches do you have in your arsenal? scout for 15-plus years, and he pitched for Wake Forest. The knowledge of every single coach on CW: Fastball, changeup, curveball. The fastball our team makes it so much easier for them to has been pretty good recently. I’ve had a little teach us and help us make our baseball game so bit of a jump in velocity, sitting around 91, 93, much better. topping out at 94 [mph] in the past two games, which is something I’m not really used to yet. CS: How does having several players quarantinMy curveball is very 12-6. The fastball is a rising ing in the hotel affect the team? fastball, and my curveball is more drop-down, so they pair well. They spread apart and change CW: Well, it’s been hard. I’ve really wanted the eyesight of the batter, and my changeup is in to stay on track, but that’s been difficult. Our there just to get a guy to look silly. coaches have been there for us. I’ve gotten multiple calls from Coach Strahm — our physical CS: What are you trying to improve upon the trainer — and Coach Walt. I get texts and calls most this season? from all of my coaches saying, “Hey, do you need me to drop anything off?” We brought equipCW: My ability to gain more control, throwing ment to the hotel. We have this throwing sock so my curveball wherever I want it and [curving] that we can practice throwing without a partner, when I want it. Right now, I have my fastball for or we can do certain drills by ourselves in our strikes, and I’ll always have that extra pitch like rooms. Of course, it’s not going to benefit us as my changeup, or if that’s not working, my curve- much since we aren’t on the field. But we are doball. But I want to be more accurate with my ing the best we can do here. I know the guys that curveball and place it more precisely. I changed are on campus just started up small group activimy mechanics a lot over the fall with [Assistant] ties either yesterday or Friday. We are going to be Coach [John] Hendricks, and I still haven’t got- missing a bunch of our pitchers [for the Miami ten comfortable with the new mechanics, so game], so we will have to take some more guys that’s taking a little bit of a hit on my curveball. on our travel roster. Myself and many of the guys Once I get more comfortable and once the hinge here won’t be able to go. After that, we will proband “glide down the mound” motion becomes ably go back to normal once all of us get back. muscle memory, my curveball will be a lot better. Right now, when I go down the mound, my CS: How has this affected you mentally? front shoulder leaks open a little bit. That was why I had my worst outing against Notre Dame. CW: I hate it. All I want to do is work out and My front shoulder was leaking and I hit a batter stay on track. I’m trying to eat right and sleep on the leg, but that’s because I’m still trying to right, but my appetite is terrible right now. It figure out my mechanics a bit. sucks. It’s such a mental game. Especially since you are stuck in a hotel room by yourself while CS: The team itself is very young. There are only all your buddies are practicing and working eight upperclassmen, and ten of the freshmen out, it’s a little depressing. I just want to go out, are pitchers. Has the collective youth built team do stuff and see people. I get back on March camaraderie?

11, so right now, I’m just focusing on schoolwork. But as soon as I get back on campus on CW: As a freshman, I was prepared to come Thursday, it’s go time. in and be intimidated by those upperclassmen like I was in high school. But from day one, the team chemistry has been amazing, especially within the bullpen. From day one, I felt comfortable going up and talking to [Ryan] Cusick, Tony Menedez, Will Fleming or any of the guys in there. I can go up to any of our coaches, or any of our teammates, and just talk to them. Of course, it was scary going up to Bobby Seymour, knowing all the info about him, or Chris Lanzilli, our top guys. But honestly, they made it super easy by coming up to us and starting conversations. That’s benefited our team already because without the chemistry it’s super hard to make it to the playoffs or go to Omaha. I know it’s the same for all of our guys: we feel comfortable going up and talking to any of the upperclassmen.

We are with them every single day, and they’re honestly some of my best friends now.

I get to go in.’ I was still really anxious, especially when I heard my name called. Before I got to the mound and threw that first pitch to the catcher, I was freaking out. Every single one of my outings after that first pitch I have been calm and in the zone, I just hate the build-up. After that first pitch, it’s go time. There’s not enough time to be nervous.

CS: Besides the talent difference, what is the main difference you see between this coaching staff and others you’ve had in the past?

CW: The way they can develop us is the biggest difference. The baseball knowledge all of

Courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics

Wade has already pitched in four out of seven games for the Demon Deacons.

Page 14| Thursday, March 11, 2021

Old Gold & Black | Sports

Texas fight song sparks racial controversy UT Austin responds to complaints about school fight song’s racist history

BY CHARLES HORN Contributing Writer horncs18@wfu.edu Before and after every home football game for the University of Texas at Austin, the assembled Longhorn faithful join in singing “The Eyes of Texas.” Yet, for some of the players for whom tens of thousands cheer, the song’s roots in racist performances and white supremacy contravene the values of diversity and inclusion the school claims to uphold.

Dozens of these student-athletes organized together and refused to participate in recruiting or development events if measures aimed at increasing diversity and rectifying the institution’s history of segregation and racism were not implemented.

Some of these demands, such as the renaming of a physics and math building named for a segregationist professor, were met. However, the final request to stop the playing of “The Eyes of Texas” was refused and quickly became a cultural flashpoint.

After UT declared their intention to continue playing the song in July, members of the band responded with a boycott that resulted in the suspension of the whole group for the entire season. Additionally, players on the football team returned to the locker room instead of joining in the stadium-wide singing. The controversy over the song boiled over following a loss to Oklahoma when quarterback Sam Ehlinger remained on the field

while the rest of his team returned to the locker room.

Now, emails obtained from the Texas Tribune demonstrate how this visible depiction of protest enraged the most powerful interest group of the university: the wealthiest donors.

Donors threatened to cut off all support to the school if the anthem was eliminated, with some espousing racist rhetoric arguing that the interests of donors should be prioritized over studentathletes.

“It’s time for you to put the foot down and make it perfectly clear that the heritage of Texas will not be lost,” wrote one alumnus from the class of 1986, whose name was redacted by the university. “It is sad that it is offending the Blacks. As I said before, the Blacks are free, and it’s time for them to move on to another state where everything is in their favor.”

“Less than six percent of our current student body is Black,” wrote another donor. “The tail cannot be allowed to wag the dog ... and the dog must instead stand up for what is right. Nothing forces those students to attend UT Austin.

Encourage them to select an alternate school ... NOW!” Through the university denies the racist emails had any impact on the decision to keep the song, they remain indicative of the widespread belief that the song is immutable and irremovable. New head coach Steve Sarkisian, who inked a sixyear contract worth more than $34 million, has been outspoken in his support of the song.

“The Eyes of Texas’ is our school song.

We’re going to sing that song,” Sarkisian said, “We’re going to sing that proudly.”

Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images/TNS

Texas Longhorns standing for “The Eyes of Texas” after a game against the West Virginia Mountaineers on Nov. 7.

Before the song became a Texas mainstay, it was an indicator of the racism entrenched in 19th century American entertainment. On May 12, 1903, a quartet of students in blackface performed “The Eyes of Texas” for the first time in a minstrel show. The racist performance gained widespread popularity in antebellum America.

The author of the song, John Sinclair, was the program director for the Varsity Minstrel Show that served as a fundraiser for the track team. He wrote the song to parody UT president William L. Prather, who closed his speeches by saying, “Remember, the eyes of Texas are upon you.”

Prather has continuously cited inspiration from Robert E. Lee, the university president at Washington University, who supposedly said, “The eyes of the South are upon you” at the conclusion of each of his addresses.

But a new report from a 24-person committee tasked with analyzing the history of

the anthem cast doubt on that narrative, concluding the phrase may have been inspired by another Confederate general who told his Texan soldiers, “The eyes of General Lee are upon you!”

For the players who boycotted last summer, the debate over the song’s racist roots is secondary to the vitriol received after speaking out. In an interview with Jemele Hill of The Atlantic, junior linebacker DeMarvion Overshawn described the messages he received in response to his actions, which included threats and racist language.

“They say, ‘You shouldn’t be here’; ‘Leave’; ‘I’m going to do this and that to you,’” Overshown said. “They’ve called me all types of N-words, B-words.”

The university released a comprehensive 59-page report Tuesday explaining the complex history of the school song, that concluded there was “no racist intent.”

Two Demon Deacon athletes achieve ACC glory Tony Jones and Anna Bush take home awards for the high jump and pentathlon, respectively

BY BEN CONROY Print Managing Editor conrbd19@wfu.edu

Junior Tony Jones and redshirt junior Anna Bush made the Wake Forest community proud as they each captured individual championships for their respective events at the ACC Track & Field Championships. Jones earned his honors in the high jump competition on Feb. 25, replicating his personal record of 2.16 meters en route to the victory. Bush’s title came via the pentathlon on Feb. 26, during which she notched 4,121 points, resulting in a top-five rank in the entire NCAA and a new personal best. It was a historic achievement for the two Demon Deacons, as it had been 14 years since Wake Forest had seen two of its student-athletes come away with individual indoor track & field conference titles.

The journeys of Bush and Jones to the top of the ACC were marked by perseverance, dedication and no shortage of adversity. For Bush, in-

juries have cost her an entire year of her collegiate career to date. As such, she was forced to spend significant time recovering rather than competing the way she wanted. She was bogged down by stress fractures during her freshman year at Wake Forest, and she suffered an unfortunate injury at the ACC championship meet the following season.

Now, however, she couldn’t be more grateful to be back on the active roster where she belongs.

“I’ve had quite a lot of injuries,” Bush said. “I missed my whole first year … sitting on the sidelines was pretty hard. I think that makes it even more important for me to be able to go out and compete for Wake.”

Bush’s confidence in herself never wavered, and the moment she finally snagged that elusive ACC title made all the trials and tribulations worthwhile.

“I knew I could do it,” Bush said.

“The doing it was something else. It turned into a bit of disbelief that I’d actually been able to do it, [that] it wasn’t a dream. It was quite exciting.”

That said, Bush isn’t ready to stop now. With the NCAA champion-

ships looming on the horizon, she has her sights set on making a name for herself there by building off her accomplishments at the ACC Championships.

“I have a lot more in me,” she said.

“I’m getting better in each of the events. I’m excited to see how we do.”

Jones’ route to ACC stardom, though different from Bush’s, proved equally as circuitous. Though he didn’t immediately thrive at Wake Forest, he’s incredibly grateful for the opportunities to compete provided to him by the university.

“When I got to Wake Forest, it was trying to learn everything new, which was weird,” Jones said.

“Sophomore year, things started to pick up, and then this year I got a lot stronger and a lot more mentally prepared for the meets. It feels good to be able to bring [back] an ACC Championship representing Wake Forest.”

One of the most gratifying moments of the entire ACC championship experience for Jones was witnessing the reactions of his teammates after he’d secured his high jump victory. Even in a year where COVID-19 restrictions put a limit on how many of his teammates

could interact with him at one time, Jones still felt the love from everyone around him.

“They had more excitement than I did,” Jones said with a laugh. “When I got back to the tent, the select few that were in there just came up to me and gave me hugs and told me that they were proud of me.”

Like Bush, Jones has his gaze firmly trained on the future and the competitions that remain ahead of him. “[I’m] just trying to get better overall,” he said. “[One of ] my goals this season is to be able to make NCAAs at Oregon. I just like to take it day by day and get better each and every day.”

Photo Courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics

Bush competing on Day 2 of the ACC Indoor Championships.

Page 15| Thursday, March 11, 2021

Old Gold & Black | Sports

Dream Gap Tour makes first stop in NYC First-ever professional women’s hockey game at Madison Sq. Garden proves historic

BY WILL ZIMMERMAN Online Managing Editor zimmwj19@wfu.edu

On Sunday, Feb. 28, the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) made history, playing the first-ever professional women’s hockey game at the world’s most famous arena: Madison Square Garden. The absence of fans at the contest — the first stop on the 2021 Dream Gap Tour — couldn’t take away from the significance of Sunday night. The moment was much larger than that.

Prior to puck drop, Billie Jean King spoke to the players. “Take a moment to look up at the most iconic ceiling in all sports and entertainment,” she told the women. “You’re about to burst through it.”

Hosted by the PWHPA, the Dream Gap Tour is traveling to different cities across North America in an effort to expand the visibility of women’s hockey. Undoubtedly, Sunday’s game accomplished this goal — not only was it the first to be played at Madison Square Garden, but it was also nationally televised

by NBC. While Kendall Coyne Schofield and team Minnesota were beaten by team New Hampshire by a score

of four to three, the outcome of the game was little more than an afterthought.

“This game was bigger than what was on the scoreboard,” Schofield told The Athletic. “It was an incredible opportunity.”

Schofield is no stranger to big stages and bright lights. Playing for Team USA, she has won six gold medals at the International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s Championships, as well as a gold medal at the 2018 Olympic Games in PyeongChang.

In 2019, Schofield became the firstever woman to compete in the NHL’s All-Stars Skills Competition. On International Women’s Day in 2020, Schofield served as a game analyst for NBC-Sport’s broadcast of the NHL game between the St. Louis Blues and the Chicago Blackhawks. It was the first time a professional hockey game was called and produced by an entirely female crew.

Now Schofield is competing within the PWHPA, a player-driven organization that was developed by female hockey players who felt disenfranchised by the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL).

In 2019, Schofield was one among over 200 professional female hockey players who took to Twitter to announce that she was essentially boycotting the NWHL. “We cannot make a sustainable living playing in the current state of the professional game,” the hyperlink

read. “Having no health insurance and making as low as two thousand dollars a season means players can’t adequately train and prepare to play at the highest level.”

To address these issues and more — including a lack of access to professional-level resources like trainers and facilities — the women established the PWHPA and are now playing the Dream Gap Tour.

The PWHPA frames itself as a labor movement, rather than a league or union. The women intend for the organization to serve as a sort of bridge to a more sustainable and formalized league down the road.

According to a PWHPA press release, “the association will serve as a vehicle dedicated to promoting and supporting the creation of a single, viable women’s professional [hockey] league in North America.”

The group envisions a league comparable to the NHL. This league, the women hope, will “provide infrastructure and financial resources to players; protect and support their rights and talents; provide health insurance; and work with companies, business leaders, and sports professionals worldwide who already have voiced support for women’s hockey,” per the same release.

By accruing money from sponsors and getting a national broadcast platform in NBC, Sunday’s game was a leap in the right direction for the PWHPA in terms of gaining broader

exposure and promoting the case for fair compensation for female hockey players.

Following the game, Schofield’s teammate, Hillary Knight, reflected on what the contest at Madison Square Garden meant towards the advancement of the PWHPA’s goals and promoting gender equality in sports at large.

“Obviously, it was a game of hockey,” Knight told The Athletic. “But it meant [so much] more than [that].”

As she listened to Billie Jean King’s pregame speech, Knight told reporters she had to “try to fight back the tears [because] every word she’s saying is 100 percent true.”

The monumental role King has played in advocating for gender equality for over half a decade was not lost on Knight. A trailblazer in women’s sports in her own right, the former World No. 1 tennis player went on to establish the Women’s Tennis Association and the Women’s Sports Foundation.

As the players stood at center ice prior to the game, King’s words reverberated off the Garden roof.

“We’re going to fight for every girl and every woman who will be standing on their skates, playing on the ice right where you are — not for years, for generations to come,” King said.

“So, get ready. Keep fighting for the equality and equity that every woman deserves in every single sport.”

Men’s and Women’s tennis have varied success Both men’s (No. 12) and women’s (No. 16) tennis were ranked coming into this season

BY JAKE STUART Assistant Sports Editor stuaja20@wfu.edu

Men’s Tennis

After winning the NCAA title in 2018 and finishing as the runnerup in 2019, the stage is set for yet another competitive season in 2021.

The Demon Deacons are currently ranked at No. 12 in the country by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

It was a shaky start for Wake Forest, who dropped the season opener to unranked Oklahoma. Following the loss, the Deacs bounced back with three-straight resounding wins, including a victory over No. 20 South Carolina. In that match, senior Rrezart Cungu recorded his first win in straight sets, while redshirt senior Eduardo Nava and sophomore Henri Squire both won matchups against ranked opponents. Following the big win, the Demon Deacons suffered a tough loss against No. 4 Virginia, but

kept it close, winning two sets. Wake Forest won their next eight matches, three of which were against formidable ACC opponents in Louisville, Notre Dame and Virginia Tech. During the eight-match winning streak, Wake Forest only lost four combined sets and won 50.

For the second time this season, Wake Forest was handed a loss by Virginia.

The squad immediately bounced back and took down Davidson with a 7-0 win, highlighted by junior Siddhant Banthias’ domination in straight sets.

In the closest matchup of the season to date, No. 2 Baylor came out on top, beating Wake Forest four sets to three.

Several Demon Deacons marked individual wins against ranked opponents, including Squire, who took down No. 46 Adrian Boitan.

At the halfway point of the 2021 season, Wake Forest has a record of 13-4; they’ve gone 11-2 at home and 4-1 in conference. Besides the opening match loss to Oklahoma, all the losses have occurred against ranked opponents. Within the first two weeks of April, Wake Forest will play No. 1 UNC Chapel Hill twice, No. 15 ranked NC State and No. 31 ranked Duke.

Women’s Tennis

For a team that has had six-straight winning seasons, it doesn’t hurt to have several starters returning for another season. The Deacon’s depth led to a No. 16 ranking in the preseason. Wake Forest returned juniors Saby Nihalani and Peyton Pesavento, along with senior Eliza Omirou. Newcomers such as No. 26 ranked freshman, Brooke Killingsworth, have brought a spark as well. She plays in the No. 1 doubles spot alongside junior Anna Brylin.

The Demon Deacons opened with two marquee wins, including one over No. 18 ranked UCF and one against Charlotte. In the UCF victory, freshman Cassie Wooten secured the clinching point in the final set to march the Demon Deacons to victory. In the following match, Northwestern took down Wake Forest four sets to none. Wake Forest then fell to Tennessee and Furman, each five sets to two, before knocking off Elon and Campbell without losing a single set. Next was a trio of ranked opponents for the Demon Deacons: No. 10 NC State, No. 6

Florida State and No. 13 Georgia Tech. The Demon Deacons came away with only one win in the ranked matchups, defeating Georgia Tech.

Wake Forest has nine matches left in regular season play, eight of which come against ACC opponents. In a strong ACC, the schedule never lightens up, but Wake Forest is primed to meet the challenge head-on.

Courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics

Men’s tennis looks to go to another NCAA championship.

LIFE

T H U R S D AY, M A R C H 1 1 , 2 0 2 1

PAG E 16

O n l i n e at : w w w. w f u o g b . c o m e d i t o r s : S e l i n n a Tr a n , t r a n s n 1 9 @ w f u . e d u

OLD GOLD & BLACK

& M i c a h P o r t e r, p o r t m j 1 9 @ w f u , e d u A S S I S TA N T E D I T O R : J o e C h o , c h o y y 1 9 @ w f u . e d u

Bachelor tensions leave viewers cringing Former Wake Forest student and football wide receiver Matt James takes the stage as the Bachelor on the newest season of the hit ABC show

BY MICAH PORTER Life Editor portmj19@wfu.edu

There are few genres of shows on television today that compare to the creative genius of reality TV. From Keeping up with the Kardashians to Survivor, reality TV captivates audiences around the world with touching emotional dialogues and depictions of real life. But perhaps there are no shows as emotionally stirring as The Bachelor, where Wake Forest's very own Matt James plays the role of superintendent of love — the bachelor himself. However, shortly after assuming his role on reality television, the world became aware of James' secret — James' can't kiss without keeping his eyes open. Maybe, at Wake Forest University, he had a bad experience with Moe's salsa, forcing his eyelids permanently open. Or perhaps, the true reason runs deeper than Tex-Mex — what if Matt James had a scarring experience with a girl on campus that has left him permanently hyper-aware of girls seeking to play tricks on him.

We can all agree that kissing with your eyes open is straight up awkward. By staring directly into the eyelids of your partner, said partner is left questioning what's wrong, as the thought, "do I have a zit on my forehead?" races across the mind.

Better yet, what if James is hoping his "bachelorettes" will keep their eyes open too, as they make out, staring into each other's eyes until the sexual tension forces the girl to give up and leave the show? If it is a tactic to knockout the contestants he lacks a connection with, it's certainly working — the women on the show have found this mating strategy as odd as fans have. Credit is due to James, though. Since

The first ever African American bachelor, with a Bachelor contestant (and a national

on us! When your eyes are closed. ANYTHING can happen! It's for both of our protection." That's very suspicious, Matt, very suspicious. The only remaining question I have is just this: was it a Beta or a cheerleader that did you dirty?

Since this initial drama, James has been able to get back on his horse and meet some amazing women, several of which, he has developed meaningful connections with. One of these more promising picks is Rachael Kirkconnell, whose past history sparked controversy amongst viewers of the show.

With the show coming to an end, there are two final contestants who will compete for James' affection: Rachael and Michelle. Despite showing consistent interest in both contestants on the show, James has apparently broken his record of attentiveness by closing a blind eye to the controversies that surround the fan-favorite, Rachael. Ever since a photo has surfaced depicting Rachael in attendance at an Photo courtesy of IMDB antebellum-themed college party, controversies have Bachelor Matt James poses for the cover sprung up describing Kirkconnell as insensitive and portrait on the newest season of The Bachelor. racist.

In response, James said, “The past few weeks have he became aware of this predicament, he's taken been some of the most challenging of my life, and matters into his own hands. James said on the show, while there are several episodes left of the season, it "Maybe I need to start wearing shades? If I were is important that I take the time to address the trouto do this again, I'd probably have an eye patch or bling information that has come to light since we something. It's a learning experience." While not concluded filming. The reality is that I’m learning the best idea for wooing ladies, James could be do- about these situations in real-time, and it has been ing worse. devastating and heartbreaking, to put it bluntly.”

Bachelor hall-of-famer Tyler Cameron also made a So, in continuation with the show's consistent comment on his friend's peculiar technique. Cam- record of producing love between two individuals eron posted a photo on his social media of James' inorganically, The Bachelor might be producing yet wide-eyed make-out with bachelor contestant Lau- another picture of happily ever after, but will it be ren, chirping him in the comments. James respond- Rachael or Michelle? And, just when it seems like ed by saying, "Gotta make sure no one sneaking up the complications of this love story can’t get any more tangled, Bachelor host Chris Harrison decides to get involved. Harrison's implication ultimately caused him to step down as the show’s host, a position he has occupied since 2002. After defending Kirkconnell’s controversial past decisions, Harrison defended the contestant, claiming her history as a college student does not define her current views or impressions. Despite his reasoning, Harrison was met with anger and backlash for many, prompting his decision to step down from a role he’s grown into so well.

Needless to say, this season of The Bachelor is nothing short of confusing. From awkward kissing scenes to past histories, it would appear this reality tv show has been cursed by the anti-Aphrodite.

The one redeeming factor in this season is the fact that the Bachelor, himself, is a Wake alumnus, an incredibly capable and intelligent young man. I think I speak for the entire bachelor fanbase — and the Wake Forest University community — when I Photo courtesy of IMDB say, we trust your decision, Matt. Just please, for the Matt James, shares an intimate moment love of God, keep your damn eyes open when you audience) while staring deep into her eyes. decide.

Page 17 | Thursdsay, March 11, 2021

Old Gold & Black | Life

Food | Warm Cheesecake 2.0

Student defends warm cheesecake In a world of hate, a student dares to speak against the culinary status quo

BY SELINNA TRAN Life Editor transn19@wfu.edu

I did not think that I would end up back here. I thought that the points I made in last week’s edition of the OGB would be met with an open mind. But alas, it seems that our world is filled to the brim with negative, antipathetic, dismissive and fatalistic individuals.

I was consumed with hope following my completion of the article on ‘warm cheesecake.’ I held so much excitement in my heart for the students and community at Wake Forest to go out and venture into trying “unique” new foods.

My optimism has been met with a sharp and swift blow that resulted in a shattering of my soul. It seemed that everyone was so close-minded that they dared to not even try the delight before unleashing their barrage of insults.

This minor setback hurt at the time but has not deterred my faith and strong will.

In this article, I wish to explore some culinary endeavors in history that used to be considered equally wildly disgusting and uncommon.

Parsley. In the third century B.C., parsley used to be so common that it was considered a food of the peasants. Parsley was seldom used as it is now and was considered to be a bland, common herb. With advances in science, parsley is now used widely and actually has been discovered to have health benefits because it is rich in antioxidants.

Portions. Nowadays, the smaller the portion — the fancier the meal is considered to be. However, the cultural norm of the past was that the richer one is, the more lavish and decorated one’s plate is (more food!).

The same concept can be used for steaks and the desirability of having a large steak. Enter any steak dining establishment and see for yourself that the larger (in oz.) a cut of steak is, the more money you will find yourself

paying at the end of your meal. However, it was considered a social mistake in the past decades for members of high society to feast on large portions of steak.

I bring up these examples to say that our eating habits and perceptions continually shift as time goes on. Who knows, maybe warm cheesecake will be considered a part of the cultural norm in 20 years?

I say this in retaliation to the many “haters” and hate comments that I received on my last article. But, I also wish to acknowledge the amazing amount of positive feedback that I received — you all truly opened my eyes to the small fraction of society that is open-minded and willing to consider the other side.

Reader, I implore you once more to consider trying something new. You may find yourself to be a culinary Magellan in your own right — making discoveries about fun and exciting new ways to eat “normal” food.

Who knows? In the future, you may be praised for being able to say what everyone else is so afraid to.

Sustainability can be achieved on campus

BY KATE TENDER Staff Writer tendke18@wfu.edu

There has been a noticeable resurgence in sustainability efforts along with a greater awareness of individual contributions towards climate change in recent years.

Although it can be intimidating to consider our impact on the state of the world’s wellbeing, there are simple and easy lifestyle changes that we can adopt to reduce our carbon footprint and waste. Nobody is perfect. For many, especially college students, a zero-waste lifestyle is not a realistic option. That being said, there are still ways we can make changes in our everyday lives to lead a more sustainable lifestyle.

Meatless Mondays According to a UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report, livestock is responsible for 18% of our world’s global warming emissions. Agriculture, and the meat industry, in particular, are both large contributors to these emissions. However, not everyone will become a vegetarian or vegan instantly unless there is a massive and radical shift in ideology. Although, this should not deter the possibility of being more conscious of our daily meat consumption.

Participating in meatless Mondays (or any other day of the week) is a great in-

troduction to lessening your meat consumption. Wake Forest’s dining halls offer a wide range of options. They have also made efforts to source their meats responsibly, a factor to be mindful of when considering meat products. If you frequently eat meat, consider swapping out beef for poultry or fish — a change that can make a considerable impact.

Also, consider checking out the vegan station every once in a while.

Transportation In 2019, transportation accounted for 14% of annual emissions (including CO2 and non-CO2 gases), encompassing travel by plane, car, bus, etc. While many students on campus have cars, there are alternatives students should consider to reduce their personal carbon emissions. One option is the BikeShare program that Outdoor Pursuits and the Office of Sustainability provides for Wake Forest students. Students can take advantage of a clean source of transportation by renting bikes at a low cost for the entire semester. Another option is utilizing public transportation, such as the Wake Line, which can reduce individual transmission impacts significantly.

Shopping for Secondhand Clothing According to a BBC article, the textile industry is responsible for roughly 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, it’s estimated that 92 million tons of textile waste are created each year, and the textile industry is responsible for 20% of global wastewater. To curb

TOP TEN WORST BABY NAMES: Controversy warning, but these names are simply bad.

1.

the amount of waste produced by the textile industry, try secondhand shopping and avoid fast fashion. Doing so can help the planet, as well as your wallet. There are many options to choose from, such as online secondhand shops Thredup, DePop and Poshmark, or from local thrift stores near you like Goodwill, Plato’s Closet, Mega Thrift and others.

Donating, selling or repurposing your old clothes is a great way to avoid sending clothing to landfills. Many of these online or in-person stores will also buy clothes from you. If you’re looking to donate, you can also drop clothes at Goodwill or the Green Zone Recycling locations around campus.

Investing in Reusable Items While eliminating all forms of waste in your life might be a daunting task, there are easy and affordable changes you can make by investing in reusable products that lower everyday waste production.

Although some are recyclable, 75% of plastic bottles are not, and they can take up to 450 years to break down. Swapping in a reusable bottle for a plastic one can inspire you to be more hydrated and prevent plastic overflow. Other easy replacements you can make include reusable grocery bags, coffee cups and straws. While these may not seem like major, earth-shattering changes, implementing some (or all) of these can have a beneficial impact on lessening your waste production. Additionally, these alternatives will likely save you money in the long run.

Justin Jack (not Jack Portman)

3.

John Julian

5.

Joe Jaden

7.

Joel Jon

9.

Lifestyle Column | Sustainability

College students are able to contribute to sustainability efforts everyday

THE HOT LIST

Johnny X Æ A-12

LOCALE OF THE WEEK By: Selinna Tran

Photo courtesy of @siftedclothing Instagram SIFTED Located in Reynolda Village, Sifted is the place to be to find unique and vintage items. Sifted is a local, vintage and homemade store that features a wide range of clothing. Sifted is not far from Wake Forest, so consider spicing up your wardrobe with a new signature item from Sifted today.

Page 18 | Thursdsay, March 11, 2021

Old Gold & Black | Life

Food Review | “El Rey” Burrito

“Bagel boy” surprises readers with a burrito twist Student mixes up the palate with this week’s review of the “El Rey” burrito from The Porch

BY RAINS DRAPER Contributing Writer draptr18@wfu.edu

Review: The Porch’s “El Rey” Burrito from the Upper Quad P.O.D. Price: About $9 Rating: 7.25/10 Prep Time (microwave): 2 ½ minutes We interrupt this program with a rare, non-bagel food review!

While some may believe that my diet consists entirely of bagels due to my so-called “bagel obsession” (thank you, editors!), I do occasionally venture out into the bleaker world of slightly less carb-laden food.

This week’s subject is the “El Rey’’ burrito from The Porch Kitchen and Cantina, a wonderful Tex-Mex establishment down the road from campus.

As far as I can tell, this particular burrito is not available on their regular menu but is exclusively offered at the P.O.D.

For students without the convenience of cars, or those who are are wary of eating inside due to COVID-19 concerns, here is a treat for you.

Microwaveable food usually sits pretty low on the culinary totem pole for foodies like me. In my opinion, Trader Joe’s has the best lineup of microwavable foods, but they still don’t compare to the real deal. However, this burrito manages to make a convincing exception. It’s sold refrigerated (not frozen), which helps with both preparation time and taste, and it tastes fairly fresh right out of the microwave. For a little bit of context, the one I’ve reviewed here is the third one I’ve enjoyed devouring this semester, I doubt it will be the last.

Components: There is distressingly little information available regarding what goes into this wonderful creation. Still, I’ve put my best detective skills to work in order to figure it out. Working from the outside, we have a flour tortilla, cheddar cheese, jasmine rice, ground beef, chorizo, corn, salsa, queso and various seasonings. Usually, the burrito comes

with a side of chips and salsa, but I was unlucky this time around.

The Good: -Quick and easy. If you want TexMex and you’re just looking to take something back to your dorm room, it doesn’t get much easier than this.

-Incredible seasoning. thanks to its seasoning. This thing pushes flavor to the limit for a burrito that’s essentially just rice, beef, corn and cheddar cheese.

-All-around good flavor. That’s about all I have to say about that.

The Bad: -It falls apart. If you’ve read my last two reviews, you know that I’m not a huge fan of food that falls apart. While this is a classic problem with burritos, it was absolutely insufferable this time.

Maybe it had to do with the burrito not being completely fresh, but it underwent a lot of wear-and-tear throughout the refrigerating/microwaving process. In any case, I was forced to go full weirdo-mode and eat it with a knife and fork until I whittled it down to the point where I could safely pick it up.

-Somewhat stale chips. This is understandable, given that the meal has probably been sitting in the refrigerator for a few hours. However, it’s still a bit of a disappointment if you’re expecting the crunchiness of normal Porch chips.

-No chips included with the third one. I know, I know — I just complained about the chips’ staleness, but please note that I did eat them all to discern that last point. I like a side with my burrito, so missing that little crunch that the chips provide to offset the softer texture of the burrito was a huge letdown.

The Conclusion: This is a delicious burrito. Based on the length of the sections above, you may assume that the bad outweighs the good, but I assure you, dear reader, that it does not. The cons do little but chip (pun intended) away at the flavor and convenience of this dining option, which is unexpected for a microwavable burrito sold a few miles down the road from its place of origin. I’ve given it a 7.25 out of 10, which could be bumped up to a 7.5 if the chips return.

Movie | Coming 2 America

In hilarious sequel, Murphy returns as King Akeem Eddie Murphy continues to make fans laugh with his latest antics in Coming 2 America

BY ERIC OMOROGIEVA Staff Writer omorei17@wfu.edu

The recent release of Coming 2 America has bestowed upon us a rare opportunity to witness the long-awaited sequel to the 1988 rom-com, Coming to America. Eddie Murphy reprises his role as King Akeem Joffer of Zamunda while Arsenio Hall has returned to play Semmi, the right-hand assistant to the king. After 32 years of silence, there is a decent amount of pressure from the fans on Murphy and the crew to deliver an exceptional performance that not only pays respects to the classic but also upholds the top-notch comedic adventures and jokes of the former box-office hit.

Coming 2 America is directed by Craig Brewer, known for his work with Murphy in Dolemite Is My Name (released in 2019), and is distributed through Amazon Prime Video, who recently purchased the rights from Paramount Studios in 2020 during the pandemic.

The premise of this sequel is simple, but there is a layer of interesting unpredictability that expands on the plot of the first film. Early on, Akeem is still the prince of the film as well as the father of three girls. However, there is a grow-

ing concern regarding the lack of a male heir, to carry on the legacy of Akeem’s dying father Jaffe Joffer.

Before his father dies, Jaffe reveals to Akeem that he has a secret male heir, stemming from his original trip to Queens in 1988. This is new information for the fans.

The film subtly incorporates a mix of old footage from 1988 with the inclusion of deepfake technology on the faces of Murphy and Hall to create new hybrid scenes to sell the chronological events from the original film. This information motivates Akeem to search for his son Lavelle — played by Jermaine Fowler — in America and bring him back to Zamunda for proper succession.

There have been some changes made to Zamunda, but one thing remains certain — Zamunda and its people are still very funny. Their accents are still hilariously bad and the nation’s traditions are quite amusing (though some, such as the roles of women, might not have aged well).

One notable difference in this sequel is the exploration of Zamunda’s setting. Fans were not able to see much of the kingdom in its entirety in the first film, but this is rectified in the sequel. Much time is spent exploring the country’s land, infrastructure and network, such as the news channel where Trevor Noah shows up as a cameo.

The cast for the film did a tremendous job in putting together

personalities that are as entertaining and lovable as those of the original.

Newcomers such as Wesley Snipes as Gen. Izzi, the leader of rival kingdom Nextdoria, present great chemistry within the dynamic of the cast. Snipes’ accent is good, his character is unique and he brings the classic swagger that he is known for. KiKi Layne as Princess Meeka Joffer and Nomzamo Mbatha as Mirembe also shine throughout the film, introducing a layer of female talent that was missing in the original.

Naturally, Coming 2 America has its flaws when looking at it from a critical perspective. The plot is formulaic, it relies heavily on the jokes of its predecessor and it suf-

fers from the same standard problems as many other cash-grab sequels end up having. However, it is very entertaining to watch — with featured cameos ranging from Rick Ross to Morgan Freeman — and succeeds in continuing a story that many have become entranced with over the past three decades.

For returning fans, the movie is worth the watch in terms of revisiting old characters. For new viewers, the exposition might be a bit confusing to grasp without prior viewing of the first film, which contains key plot points and jokes. Overall, Coming 2 America is a perfect movie in Amazon Prime’s Video catalog for good viewing with friends and family.

Photo courtesy of imdb.com

Eddie Murphy is known for his comedic talent through his success in various films and stand up acts. His work never seems to disappoint.

Life | Old Gold & Black

Thursday, March 11, 2021 | Page 19

Lifestyle Column |Mental Health

How the pandemic is affecting mental health &B k lac

For junior Ashwin Singh, a pre-pandemic year spent studying abroad at Oxford University quickly turned into play dates with his golden retrievers back home in West Chester, Pa. He was then forced into isolation with his roommate per Orange status restrictions during the first few months of the new spring semester.

However, like many other students, he was grateful to have this opportunity to be on campus, even if it meant adapting to a completely different mode of social interaction for the semester.

“I underestimated how fun it is to be on campus,” Singh said. “But it is not without mental health struggles.”

Life also became incredibly mundane for junior Suchi Jain, whose mental health took a hit due to limited opportunities for social interactions.

“My roommate and I started a habit of listing one thing we were looking forward to the following day,” Jain said. “But most of the time, it was nothing except for food.”

A recent report by the Center for Collegiate Mental Health analyzed data from 47,797 students and concluded that COVID-19 had varying impacts on mental

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BY KHUSHI ARYA Staff Writer aryak19@wfu.edu

health. While only 33% of student responders indicated that COVID-19 was the reason for seeking mental health services, 85% said that the pandemic negatively affected at least one aspect of their lives, including mental health, motivation, loneliness, academics and missed experiences.

At Wake Forest, the percentage of students seeking counseling has remained consistent (15-16%) even with the pandemic restrictions. However, according to the Wake Forest counseling center’s interim director, Daniel M. Paredes, more students are seeking crisis services.

Paredes said that anxiety is the top-cited issue amongst students experiencing a transition adult life and dealing with the pandemic. Trying to stay safe while also building meaningful relationships remains a social struggle for many students.

His silver lining was that Generation Z recently emphasized real relationships over social media, which he believed was the other way around 20 months ago.

“A ‘like’ is not the same as a hug, and there is nothing you can do about it,” Paredes said.

These conflicts were highlighted by sophomore Dakotah Kuhns, who disliked being cooped up with the same people in a small living space.

“I’ve gotten closer to my inner circle, but I’ve also grown apart from my acquaintances and other friends because I simply couldn’t make plans with them anymore,” Kuhns said.

The recent shutdown of the gym on campus resulted in Kuhns being dismissed from his spin-class instructor job. He be-

G ld

During a pandemic, students reflect on the state of their mental health journey on

Photo courtesy of Katie Fox

Students note that this year’s on-campus COVID-19 restrictions are causing strains on both their mental health and social life. came frustrated because of the loss of income, tighter social restrictions and nearconstant cold, rainy weather.

Now that campus has returned back to normal Orange status, Kuhn is excited to teach spin-classes again with the promise of warmer weather on the horizon.

Wake Forest offers various mental health resources through offices like the Wellbeing Center, Women’s Center, Thrive, and Campus Rec. Some of their initiatives include aromatherapy campaigns, virtual fitness classes, nutrition coaching and a new program called “A Friend in the Forest” which allows students to call in and talk to a grad student working in clinical psychology about their daily experiences.

Despite all their struggles, more students appear to be finding their own ray of light.

Freshman Alyse Harris, finds joy working

at the Thrive office where she assists with mental health programming. She has also made new friends in college through social media and has enjoyed getting lunch with them.

“My friend group has made it a routine to eat at least one meal together every day,” Harris said. “This consistency has helped us check in with each other.”

As COVID-19 cases decrease on campus and the weather becomes warmer, counselors are hopeful that students can feel more at ease during the remainder of the semester. Peer support is also expected to grow because of shared experiences. The only way to regrow the Wake Forest community is together.

“The Wake Forest community needs to get better at asking, ‘How are you really doing?’ and actually mean it,” Paredes says.

Music Review | Jhene Aiko

Jhene Aiko integrates sound healing with R&B Jhene’s latest album, Chilombo, breaks music and emotional boundaries

BY YING XU Contributing Writer xuy217@wfu.edu

This week, we celebrate International Women’s Day in a special way because, behind the glory of feminist progress, there is no success without effective healing and vulnerability.

It has been a year since we welcomed the release of Jhene Aiko’s new album on March 6, in which the LA-born R&B artist illustrates a journey of finding love, working through triggers, exploring engaging in sex and sexuality and achieving inner-peace and liberation in multi-dimensional ways.

Her song “Triggered (Freestyle)” features a protagonist overwhelmed with a nebula of emotions engaging in a pleading dialogue with her unnamed thoughts. These thoughts call her out by warning her and protecting her, but also betray her by coercing her triggers to “fall back into [her].” What’s even more groundbreaking is that, like the majority of this album, this careful and

intricate teetering between emotional vulnerability and unapologetic growth is done in freestyle, and not in the typical style of R&B. Aiko freestyles most of her songs in the Chilombo album in ethereal, vibrato-filled vocal runs that parse through almost every phrase.

Her chorale-like melodies perfectly mirror her intention of providing the rawest form of healing possible with the power of her femininity.

Subsequently, “None of Your Concern (ft. Big Sean)” makes sense of this dialogue about triggers by setting boundaries. Aiko says, “it’s none of your concern anymore” to her male counterpart, who responds sourly in the song with a heartfelt rap. With big-name collaborations such as Future, Miguel, Nas, John Legend and Big Sean, she pays tribute to the multifaceted, commercialized and culturally proud space that converts great artistry into healing not only for herself but for male figures in her life who have been inspired to explore their own emotions as well.

Later in the album, Aiko restores her comfort in her femininity in songs such as “Speak”, where she appeals to her listeners to stand up for their own glow; “LOVE”, which resonates with

the universal frequency of kinship between oneself to another despite differing backgrounds; “Happiness Over Everything (ft. Future and Miguel)”, where the clever acronym “hoe” in the title destigmatizes sex positivity and “Define Me”, which reflects the recurring theme of self-liberation and respecting boundaries.

However, the antidote to the triggers does not just stop with compelling words, but frequencies as well.

“I have been studying how sound can be a form of healing, and I played my singing bowls throughout the album,” said Jhene Aiko in a “Wake Up with Jhene Aiko” segment.

Indeed, she incorporates how each key of music integrates with different chakras in the body to provide a pathway for healing, depending on your focus.

For example, according to the artist, the song “Triggered” incorporates the keys of C and A to heal the Third Eye, which is a gateway to universal knowledge, and the root chakra, which indicates passion, anger and desire. Despite the niche nature of crystal bowl sound healing, one cannot help but become enthralled with the ways the music remains almost completely

unadulterated with autotune and synthetic instrumentals. This is an amazing switch from what we usually hear on the radio if that’s something you desire.

Without a doubt, Jhene Aiko has been nothing short of prolific across her 29 songs in the Chilombo album with a uniformed intention to bring up emotions that we have, too frequently, shoved under the rug to match the hustle and bustle of urban life, the album imparts an important message. If you are an R&B fanatic from the 90s with Sade and Aaliyah, or a new fan of contemporaries like H.E.R and SZA or just completely new to R&B at all, I promise that Jhene Aiko will transcend your expectations while validating your stories with music as a healing mechanism.

After all, the “Lightning and Thunder” of life that causes us stress and anxiety are worthwhile in the end, when “Magic Hour” occurs. Nothing is perfect, but it’s beautiful, just like all of us who have grown weary over the past year. Therefore, I invite you to tap into your inner “Lotus”, where you can open up your broken heart because Aiko did so, and a year after the album’s release, the words still hold true.

Page 20 | Thursday, March 11, 2021

Old Gold & Black | Life

LIFE [interactive]

Across 2. Created algorithm for the black hole photograph 8. Dopest editor-in-chief 9. Leader/General/Princess of the Rebellion 10. Vice President of Campus Life for Wake Forest 11. First Asian-American woman to reach #1 on the Apple Music Charts and U.S. iTunes

Down 1. Organized Georgia voters to a win for Ossoff and Warnock 3. Influential Duchess 4. Formet Associate Justice of the Supreme Court 5. Poet who wasn’t recognized until her passing 7. “You get a car!”

Hello avid Life readers! The editors are back with another edition of Life Interactive! We really hope that you enjoy seeing all of the fun and new additions we are adding to this page. In this edition, we are honoring Women’s History Month by showcasing some amazing women throughout history, contemporary women and women on campus. While we have highlighted some of the influential women in our crossword, this list hardly comes close to the vast number of powerful female figures that have led and continue to lead our world today.

There is still much to be done to combat the injustices that women continue to face in our modern age.

Throughout Women’s History Month, we celebrate the brave women who are at the forefront of every victory in the war against sexism and gender inequity.

When you look around campus, you instantly come face-to-face with the large impact that women have made and will continue to make at Wake Forest University. Around the world and at Wake Forest University, women are changing the world.

From incredible writers like Maya Angelou to accomplished administrators like Susan R. Wente, our school continues to foster the careers of many inspiring women who have changed countless lives.

Today, many more female leaders, innovators and artists are gaining power and representing a group that has been left disenfranchised for far too long.

Even after Women’s History Month ends, we must continue to make the world a place where every little girl can achieve her dreams.

Recent events have showcased figures like Meghan Markle courageously standing up against blatant racism, even if it means facing down one of the most powerful families in the world.

Wake Forest’s own Jennifer Kupcho (‘19) was the first woman to win at the Augusta National Golf Club, a course that only started admitting women in 2012.

This little crossword helps to educate anyone and everyone about the women who shape the world around us in significant ways. Please share this with a friend and help people to recognize the crucial role women play in all of our lives!

From, Life