3/24/22 Full Edition

NEWS | 3 Wake Forest celebrates Women's History Month

FEATURES | 7 Momentum Dance Club performs for inclusion

OPINION | 8 tice presents ethical dilemma

SPORTS | 11 Men's basketball moves to

LIFE | 16

Old Gold&Black

VOL. 108, NO. 23

WA K E F O R E S T ’ S S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R S I N C E 1 9 1 6

MARCH 24, 2022

“Covers the campus like the magnolias”

Campus reacts to end of classroom masking MADDIE STOPYRA Staff Writer Monday, March 21, marked the first day that face masks were no longer required in Wake Forest classrooms since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic over two years ago. Since returning to in-person instruction in August 2020, students have been required to wear masks in all academic settings. This de-masking is part of a phasing out of COVID-19 mandates.

After leaving campus and completing the remainder of the semester online classes in the spring of 2020, students and staff returned to classrooms in a hybrid format in August 2020. A major reason why students were able to return to on-campus living and hybrid classes in 2020 was the implementation of the mask mandate in all indoor spaces.

This requirement had been enforced until March 5. As of March 19, students will only be required to wear face masks in healthcare facilities and on university transportation.

This new change spurred mixed emotions from students across campus. Junior Christopher Quiroz conveyed his anticipation for the changing requirements, despite his earlier apprehension.

“Originally, I was concerned because [masking] was what we were used to,” Quiroz said. “I am now looking forward to [the mask mandate] dropping. It does feel a little weird though."

Freshman Ellie Howell was eager to demask in classroom settings.

“I think it is definitely time to start moving past COVID-19, so I am accept-

Katie Fox / Old Gold & Black

After two years of wearing masks in classrooms, Wake Forest University students had the choice to attend their classes without a mask, starting March 21. ing that we are demasking,” Howell said.

“I am grateful that we waited a little past spring break because everyone is coming back from traveling.”

While masks are no longer required in classrooms, individuals have the choice to

continue to wear them. When asked if he would continue to wear masks indoors, Quiroz responded with a cautious approach.

“I’m not sure [if I will continue to wear masks],” Quiroz said.

He continued: “I might at first, but I would like to move away from it. I am thinking about having a gradual shift over the next week.”

See Masking, Page 3

Wake Forest School of Business names new dean Former Wake Forest Assistant Professor Dr. Annette L. Ranft will return as dean of the School of Business JACKIE THACHER Staff Writer

Wake Forest University has selected Dr. Annette L. Ranft as the new dean of the School of Business.

Ranft comes to Wake Forest from Auburn University, where she has served as a dean and Wells Fargo professor at the Harbert College of Business for more than three years.

Provost Rogan Kersh, who headed the search committee, is confident that Ranft’s extensive experience in business school administration and

scholarship will greatly benefit Wake Forest.

“She can bring experience that might not be represented at Wake Forest,” Kersh said. “She started her career with us, she knows us and has also been elsewhere.”

As a first-generation college graduate from the Appalachian region of North Carolina, Ranft has always exceeded expectations. She earned her doctorate degree in business administration from the UNC Kenan-Flagler School of Business and became an accomplished scholar of strategic management. Her research focuses on acquisitions of

high-tech firms, strategic leadership, merger and acquisition integration; and knowledge management.

She has authored or co-authored more than 40 scholarly publications, and her work has been featured in top business journals.

In 2012, the Wall Street Journal named Ranft to its list of top female business school administrators. She has served in a leadership role for more than half of her career in higher education.

One of her first teaching roles was as an assistant professor at Wake Forest in 1999. She accredits much of her current knowledge to those early years.

“I learned a lot about how to be a professor, teacher and a scholar,” Ranft said.

After leaving Wake Forest, she then went to work at Florida State University where she first gained experience working in the FSU administration.

“I was able to grow a lot and was able to work with doctoral students,” Ranft said. “[At Florida State], I first got into administration and got the opportunity to be a dean, which is an experience I have carried with me.”

See Dean, Page 4

Old Gold & Black “

This column represents the views of Old Gold & Black Editor-in-Chief Connor McNeely.

A letter from the Editor: Student leaders deserve respect As the elections for Student Government conclude, I would like to offer congratulations to all elected candidates in executive positions and a thank you to those who have served and continue to serve the student body.

As Student Body President Ally Swartzberg said in a Student Government Senate session Tuesday night, the executive offices of Student Government are not simply meant as accolades to an individual’s resume. These positions require sacrifice and an abundance of hard work that is oftentimes far more difficult than what any college student should be dealing with.

This is the responsibility of all student leaders: to strive to be a positive example towards others as you work.

Unfortunately, many students on this campus have not realized that becoming a leader isn’t always won through an election or an application process. Leadership is born by working as hard as you can for positive change right now, regardless of where you are or what your title is. Leaders are those who see their position as a tool to do right by others, not those who obsess over accomplishments and use their recognition to put their fellow students down.

This Student Government election has been a difficult process for all parties involved.

Despite the challenges that have arisen during this time, the most disappointing aspect of this event has become the rampant spread of bullying and defama-

tion directed toward multiple students involved with the Student Government elections.

The words, conversations and actions surrounding these individuals are hateful and disgusting. They make me ashamed to be a part of this student body. Those who are spreading this slander over social media are showing how little they care about the mental health and dignity of others.

The students that are the targets of these posts, comments and gossip are those that have been working tirelessly to advance the interests and needs of the Wake Forest community. It is shocking to witness a campus that has persevered through many difficult, life-changing trials split apart and devolve into a place where members of its

It is shocking to witness a campus that has persevered through many difficult, lifechanging trials split apart and devolve into a place where members of its community are made out to be less than human." community are made out to be less than human.

I am hopeful that the student body can move forward from this issue having learned an important lesson. We cannot give in to the opinions and approval of others by tearing down our fellow students. Choose to look for the best in people. Wake Forest needs this optimism more than ever.

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>> OPINION

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News | Old Gold & Black

Thursday, March 24, 2022 | Page 3

Masking: Students and faculty express mixed emotions Continued from Page 1 Faculty are also given the opportunity to request that their students continue to wear masks inside their classrooms. Chair of the Classics Department Dr. Mary Pendergraft explained her decision to keep her and her students to remain masked.

“As I understand it, faculty members may request that their students wear masks but not require them,” Pendergraft said. “I have asked [my students] to wear masks and explained that we simply don’t know enough about one another to assume that no one will be at risk. I have students with chronic health issues; I know people who have children too young to be vaccinated, who are in the middle of chemotherapy.”

Philosophy professor Dr. Christian Miller plans to allow his students to choose whether or not they are comfortable de-masking in the classroom.

“I will not continue to require masks, as I will be following the university’s policy of making them op-

tional,” Miller said. “Of course, I will completely support any students who prefer to keep wearing them, and I have stressed this point in class this week.”

Some academic departments are making decisions as a whole. Chair of the Mathematics and Statistics department Sarah Raynor described department-wide regulations.

“Our department has agreed that in any course where any one member of the course wants to mask, the course will be masked,” Raynor said. “I am currently polling my students and based on the results I will announce a decision over the weekend.”

As the Wake Forest community enters this new phase, many individuals expressed their belief in the benefits of de-masking. Miller explained multiple positive effects such as being heard clearly when teaching as well as seeing his students’ faces.

“It will be much more comfortable for me to teach without having my voice muffled, and I suspect I am not the only professor who feels this way,”

Miller said. “Also, it will be great to see my students’ faces. There are some students who I have had in two classes already, and sadly, I don’t know what they look like.”

Other faculty members, such as English Department Chair Dr. Jessica Richard, expressed that a lack of masks in classroom settings would not be especially beneficial to an academic community.

“Because I don’t think that masking in the classroom was particularly detrimental to most, I don’t personally feel that unmasking would be especially beneficial,” Richard said.

More information about the current updates to COVID-19 policies can be found at ourwayforward.wfu.edu.

Contact Maddie Stopyra at stopmf21@wfu.edu

Katie Fox / Old Gold & Black

Wake Forest faculty members and academic departments voiced opinions regarding the lifted mandate.

Wake Forest celebrates Women’s History Month The Women’s Center hosts events focused on women’s wellbeing and professional development KATHLEEN KERR Staff Writer

March is Women’s History Month (WHM), and the Wake Forest Women’s Center has been sponsoring events — and will continue to partner with other campus organizations — to highlight the accomplishments of women and educate students on women’s issues.

This year’s theme is “Legacy”; and the Women’s Center will work to feature women in leadership positions on all levels from local to national. One woman in a prominent leadership position on campus is President Susan Wente, whose inauguration will be held during WHM on March 25.

“The ‘Legacy’ theme emerged partly because of the time we are in with our first female president of Wake Forest as well as many women in leadership positions around campus,” Women’s Center Interim Director Erin Adamson said.

“Women’s History Month is a chance to shine a spotlight on all the political, social, scientific and environmental contributions of women and femmes to our everyday lives. I would like stu-

dents to take away how women in our Wake Forest community are making a difference and making history.”

She continued: “I think that representation is really the first step. I think the more you can see someone who looks like you in a position of power, the more it might encourage you to pursue that,” Adamson said.

For the rest of the month, the Women’s Center will host events to support women’s wellbeing in all aspects. On March 26, it will host “Yoga Flow for Feminine Empowerment” in partnership with the Black Student Alliance. It will also co-sponsor “Sexual Education 101” on March 28 with the Office of Wellbeing.

In addition to events focusing on women’s health, they will also host events for women’s professional development. On March 31, alongside the School of Business Board of Visitors and the Women’s Leadership Forum, it will host the “Women’s Networking Forum”. Also on March 31, the Wellbeing Center will host “Breaking the Stereotypes: Women in STEM!”.

The Women’s Center encourages students to attend Dr. Susan Wente’s in-

auguration on March 25 at 3 p.m. via live stream. On March 27, there will be an inauguration worship service in Wait Chapel sponsored by the Women’s Center and Wake NOW (Network of Women).

“I hope that some of these events will inspire our female students to speak up for themselves in the workplace and [also inspire them to] remain confident throughout their job searches,” said senior Julia Caravello, Student Communications Coordinator for the Women’s Center.

Photo courtesy of Wake Forest University

Caravello has been working in the Women’s Center since she was a sophomore and has found it to be a comforting and safe space. She hopes this month will catalyze student discussion surrounding gender.

“Working in the Women’s Center has opened my eyes to so many aspects of gender that I would have never even considered,” Caravello said. “This month, I hope that all students take the time to consider gender roles and maybe even start discussions about those roles amongst their peers.”

Outside of WHM, the Women’s Center regularly hosts programs such as “G-Chat” or “Gender Chat”. G-Chat is held biweekly in Benson 314 for undergraduate students to discuss how gender issues affect students. Their next event, “G-Chat: Gendered Language in the Classroom”, will take place on March 28 at 12 p.m. and will focus on bias and stereotypes in classroom settings.

To learn more about the Women’s Center and WHM programming, visit their website: womenscenter.wfu.edu.

A self-portrait of Kwame Contact Kathleen Kerr at Brathwaite taken in Harlem. kerrke21@wfu.edu

POLICE BEAT Larceny: • •

Unknown subject(s) took a victim’s bike from the rack in front of Farrell Hall. The report was filed at 11:37 a.m. on March 17.

Unknown subjects took “Subway” letters from the wall in the Subway on Hearn Plaza. The report was filed at 2:20 a.m. on March 18.

Miscellaneous:

• •

An unknown subject grabbed the victim’s arm while she sat in her car in Reynolda Village. The report was filed at 5:46 p.m. on March 17.

A WSPD officer responded to a call in reference to loud music on Long Drive. The officer made contact with the student, and the music was turned down. No enforcement action was taken. The report was filed at 10:28 a.m. on March 18.

Page 4 | Thursday, March 24, 2022

Old Gold & Black | News

Dean: Ranft joins WFU School of Business Continued from Page 1 She then went on to work in the business programs at the University of Tennessee, North Carolina State University and, finally, Auburn University, before now returning to Wake Forest. Ranft is excited to come back to Wake Forest, and she believes she can have more meaningful interactions with students.

After having held several dean positions at other schools, this potential for deeper connection is why she believes it is time for her to return to Wake Forest.

Kersh said there was an “astonishingly outstanding pool [of applicants]”, but he and other members of the search committee agree that Ranft was the best fit for the job.

The search committee for Ranft was selected from a formula the university has perfected over the years. Kersh explained that the university strives to have

a faculty from a variety of disciplines and also includes members of the School of Business boards and councils as well as undergraduate and graduate students.

Additionally, the university implemented a new strategy in the search process that Kersh called “radical collaboration”, where the university decided to include a dean from a different school [in the university] since they understand what is required of the role better than others.

Maria Rios, senior student chair of Wake Forest’s undergraduate business school council, was the undergraduate student representative on the search committee.

“They gave me a lot of responsibility as a member, and [I was] given as much information as all of them and felt really involved in every part of [the process],” Rios said. “I was treated like an adult and so was my opinion. Other members

of the search committee were always encouraging [students] to speak up.”

Rios is supportive of the decision to hire Ranft, and she is excited for how Ranft will represent a multitude of perspectives.

“I am so excited [for Ranft],” Rios said.

“She’ll take what other people say and add a new perspective that includes all of the different perspectives.”

Another member of the committee, Dr. Phillip Howard, an assistant professor of finance and the Joseph M. Bryan Fellow in Banking and Finance, is also happy with Ranft’s hire and is excited for the impact she will have on the School of Business.

“I’m very excited to have Ranft rejoin us at Wake Forest,” Howard said. “She is extraordinarily qualified, and I believe she will help the teacher-scholar model thrive at the business school.”

Ranft begins her position July 1, replacing Michelle Roehm, who has served as the Interim Dean since January 2021.

Contact Jackie Thacher at thacjd20@wfu.edu

Photo courtesy of Wake Forest University

Ranft will begin her new position as dean on July 1.

Chinese theatre group performs ‘Same Caged’ The Bimoo Chinese Theatre Group brings diversity to the stage through Mandarin theatre HOPE ZHU Staff Writer

The Bimoo Chinese Theatre Group performed the play “Same Caged” on March 18 and 20 in Scales Fine Arts Center’s Ring Theatre.

Bimoo Chinese Theatre Group, founded in 2020, is an organization at Wake Forest that strives to create a platform for Mandarin theatre.

According to the playbill for “Same Caged”, the theatre group is dedicated to “bringing this Chinese production, the casts and crew hope that they could call more attention to the diverse culture, voices and expressions in this community.”

“Same Caged” is a simple production: two chairs, two actors and 20 minutes. Written by TianQi Liu, a Chinese playwright, and directed by senior Freya Zheng, “Same Caged” is a Mandarin, one-scene play that follows a conversation between a father and his nine-year-old daughter who visits him in jail. During the visit, the two discuss a classic Chinese math puzzle that many Chinese students learn in primary school.

The play’s namesake is inspired by this puzzle, which goes like this — in a cage of chickens and rabbits there are 35 heads and 94 feet in total, so how many chickens and rabbits are there? Through analyzing the puzzle, the father tells his daughter that he is similar to the rabbit in the cage — outnumbered and powerless, yet impulsive in his decision to strike back.

Having faced bullying at school, the daughter also feels like she is a rabbit in the same cage. The back-and-forth dialogue reflects the core conflict of many East Asian families — the concealment of emotions by fathers.

While people’s impression of Chinese theatre is still dominated by Peking Opera — a Chinese opera from the late 18th century, in which speech, singing, mime and acrobatics are performed to an instrumental accompa-

niment — the younger generation of Chinese students seeks a way to merge western theatre with the culture and ideology of China and even East Asia at large. The theatre group offers a space of belonging for both Chinese international students who are far from their hometown and those who love and appreciate Chinese culture.

“The reason why I decided to put this play on stage is that I really liked how the playwright revealed the relationship between father and daughter through this storyline,” Zheng said. “A lot of key information was concealed at the beginning of this play through the lack of props to reflect how dads in China usually hide their emotions and their love for their family.”

Zheng chose a gender-bent casting for “Same Caged”. Both father and daughter are played by students who identify as female. Zheng didn’t want the audience to have a stereotypical image of a father-daughter relationship, so she decided to gender bend the casting so that the audiences can see their own father and daughter relationship through the theatrical medium.

“What surprised me during the process was that it wasn’t too hard to have a female actor play the father because the emotions, love and kinship are shared by all humans together,” Zheng said.

Sophomore Dawn Zhong played the daughter. She explained how she found it easy to relate to the female and daughter identities of this role but found it more difficult to play a child.

“It is not very difficult for me to be this character since I myself am a young girl and a daughter,” Zhong said. “But it is hard to go back to the scenario of being a nine-year-old. It takes time for me to be a small kid again.”

While Zhong had a relatively easy time getting into character, freshman Zewen Ma, who played the father, admitted she received the role somewhat unexpectedly. She soon discovered

Photo courtesy of Freya Zheng

“Same Caged” was performed by two female actors, Ma (left) as the father and Zhong (right) as the daughter, and the set is just two chairs. there is a lot to uncover and deliver through her interpretation of this typical East Asian father figure.

“I needed to especially focus on suppressing emotions and [displaying] the never-spoken love for his daughter because I think this is what the play aims to present,” Ma said. “They both care for each other so much but both never express their concern for each other, which I think is a very relatable point for a lot of people, especially Asians.”

“Same Caged” is not the first step taken to support the diversity of theatre at Wake Forest. Last year, the Bimoo Chinese Theatre Group pre-

sented their first mandarin play, “Kinderszenen”, which received wide praise from both faculty and students who came to see the it. Yet, for “Same Caged”, almost half of the cast are freshmen, showing the enormous potential for the Mandarin theatre in the years to come.

Bimoo Theatre Group is preparing for its next play, “Sizhangji”, an hourlong play set in Republican-era China, which will be performed in the fall semester.

Contact Hope Zhu at zhuq21@wfu.edu

FEATURES

Chase Bagnall-Koger, bagncm21@wfu.edu Meredith Prince, prinmc21@wfu.edu Asst: Una Wilson, wilsui20@wfu.edu

OLD GOLD & BLACK

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

PAGE 5 THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022

DEACON PROFILE

Dan Locklair riod where you are under the microscope to make sure that every nuance and every note is as perfect as can be. And, obviously, you don’t always get that on the first tape. So the point is, making a recording is a long artistic product.

MEREDITH PRINCE Features Editor Dr. Dan Locklair is a composer-in-residence and professor of music at Wake Forest University, joining the faculty in 1982. Originally from Charlotte, NC, his compositions are widely performed around the world, and he has won numerous music awards throughout his career, such as Composer of the Year in the American Guild of Organists’ centennial year (1996). On March 4, 2022, Locklair’s “Requiem” was released as an international album. Locklair will also be premiering a new composition in honor of President Wente’s inaugural ball on March 25.

What is your favorite piece you have composed, and why?

It’s difficult to choose because obviously when you create something, at least for me, I have to feel very strongly about it. But, there is a piece on this album that is very close to me, besides the “Requiem.” It’s the piece, “Comfort Ye My People,” and I did it for my wife’s birthday.

That word comfort is such a word that so many people are drawn to, especially coming out of a pandemic and with the tragedy going on in Ukraine. This piece was already published even before the recording was made. I got emails from our members about the impact of that piece.

When you compose, you have to first move yourself with what you’re doing. You create an expression that you genuinely feel. But the ultimate feeling is when you find that you have moved someone else.

It’s sat in a hymn that is often played very rigorously, and it means that the words take on a different connotation. When I looked at those words fresh, the connotation to me was completely different. But that’s one piece on this CD that brought tears to the eyes of performers during the time that we made it.

How did you first get into composing? In other words, what is your history with music?

Well, I’ve always been fascinated by music. I had a passion for music early on. An uncle of mine, Wriston Locklair, was a music critic and a reporter for the Charlotte Observer. After doing that for a while, moved to New York City, where he wrote for the Herald-Tribune. When he left Charlotte, he left all of his library at my grandmother’s house, and that included all of the long-playing records that were sent for review, as well as books. So he told me “feel free to take anything and listen to anything”, so I would go up into my grandmother’s attic and listen to recordings. That was my early experience, and that was even when I was in elementary school.

I was keenly interested in studying the piano at that point and also was playing the trombone.

So, my aim, keyboard-wise, was to play the organ because the church that I grew up in had a lovely pipe organ. Very early on, I was invited to do some playing there. The long story short is I wound up getting my first professional job at age 14. That was really the beginning of my career because the organ is my primary instrument.

At the same time, I was keenly interested in creating music and was actively making notes on the page even as I was just starting to gain some sort of theoretical background on things. That was really the crux of it. I just had a passion for music. When I went to undergraduate school, I went into the field of the organ while also studying composition.

I came to a position in Binghamton, New York.

In 1981, a life-changing sort of thing happened when I was still in Binghamton because I became one of the five winning finalists of the Kennedy Center Freedom Awards. That was a very prestigious thing, and I was the youngest composer to win that award. My work was performed on the stage of Kennedy Center, and it was broadcast worldwide by Voice of America and National Public Radio.

That was my first international exposure to music, and that was just one year before I joined the Wake Forest faculty.

What challenges have you faced as a composer, especially while balancing the role of a professor?

I would answer it first with just one word: time. I have been fortunate to have had almost an uninterrupted string of commissions since 1982, which all

How are you coming up with the composition for President Wente’s upcoming inauguration?

What work goes into creating a commissioned piece for such an event?

Photo courtesy of Wake Forest University

have deadlines. If you’re doing an orchestra piece, that can take a year out of your life, but you’re given a deadline when that piece has to be delivered to that orchestra so that rehearsals can begin, and then the performance of the premiere of it is already advertised.

In terms of teaching, I like to think of doing everything equally well. I carry a full faculty load, and at the same time throughout the year, I’m writing music. Yet, we all have the same hours in the day.

I was fortunate to be able to learn time management very early on and largely because of my uncle Wriston. He taught me by his example that you must be organized and efficient in what you do. I just like to make sure that everything is done with straight passion.

What work went into creating your recent international album release?

When an album like that is released internationally, every project that is done, no matter what label it’s in, has to have funding. The funding has to be secured, first and foremost. The art has to be there, though, too.

This particular recording centers around my “Requiem.” “Requiem” is a very large-scale piece. A re-

quiem is basically a Catholic tradition; it is a piece of music that celebrates the dead.

My “Requiem” was composed in memory of my parents. This piece was premiered in 2015 in Winston-Salem, and I knew at that point that piece needed to have a really outstanding commercial recording. It was a wonderful premiere here, but it needed to have that international presence.

You need to have outstanding performers who say, “we want to record that.” And that is exactly what happened with the conductor of the Royal Holloway choir in London.

Rupert Goff, who’s one of the most respected choral musicians in Britain had said, “I want to record this,” then we talked about what else should go on the recording. We decided six of my other choral works would be on the recording. So you decide that sort of thing along with trying to figure out how much is this going to cost.

For over three years, all of that was actually in the works. It was postponed twice, and it was finally recorded last summer. This particular recording was done at Christchurch Priory in Dorset, England. The choir had to first learn all of the music.

Everyone had to learn all the material that could come out, and you had this intense three-day pe-

The committee had asked me, because of my role as composer-in-residence, if I would agree to do a composition for President Wente’s inauguration that would be about three minutes in length. It would have brass, organ and percussion. I decided to do this festive piece and to call it “Fanfare Pro Humanitate,” because one, it is the credo of Wake Forest University. It’s a composition that starts out in a very long, linear fashion and it goes into a fast section, and then to a very triumphal mode at the end. So, it’s really a three-part piece.

I agreed to do it with great enthusiasm, because I’ve been involved in the planning and the execution of the music for the inaugurations of President Thomas Hearn and President Nathan Hatch, and it gives me great pleasure to be involved with the inauguration of a third president. I was very eager to do that, and I will be conducting it. I have commissioned from all over, but there’s something very special about doing something on the turf where you spend so much of your life teaching and where you know so many colleagues and students.

So, to be able to do this piece attributed to this very important inauguration and this new chapter really means a great deal.

Contact Meredith Prince at prinmc21@wfu.edu

Page 6 | Thursday, March 24, 2022

Old Gold & Black | Features

Examining EPA policies related to Weaver An investigation reveals Weaver did not abide by chemical safety standards set by the EPA and NFPA SEAN JONES Staff Writer

It has been six weeks since the Weaver Fertilizer Fire, and the residents of Winston-Salem are still reckoning with the after-effects of the catastrophe. The Weaver fire, however, was preceded by a nearly decade-long struggle for legislative protections for environmental chemical disasters, punctuated by similar ammonium-nitrate disasters worldwide.

The fire at the Weaver fertilizer plant is not an isolated occurrence. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reported an estimated average of 37,910 fires at industrial properties each year between the years 2011 and 2015. These fires have caused an average of 16 deaths and $1.6 billion dollars in direct property damage per year.

At the midpoint of this timeline is the 2013 West Fertilizer Plant Explosion, an ammonium-nitrate explosion in West, Texas that resulted in the loss of 15 lives. Shortly after this fire, President Obama issued an executive order to enhance federal coordination concerning chemical storage, inspection planning and chemical-facility-use information. It also modernized standards and regulations for safety and security in a chemical facility.

This executive order was followed with revisions to the EPA’s Risk Management Program (RMP) regulations drafted in 2014. The rule required facilities that use

potentially hazardous chemicals to develop an action plan for preventing a chemical accident, spell out the effects of a potential accident and develop emergency-response procedures if a chemical disaster occurs.

One of these key proposed revisions to RMP regulations was the addition of ammonium nitrate to the list of high explosives. According to the EPA’s 2014 Request for Information regarding RMP regulations, ammonium nitrate has been the cause of several industrial explosions in the United States, including a 1947 industrial explosion in Texas City, the deadliest explosion in American history.

This explosion caused a “subsequent chain reaction of fires and explosions in other ships and nearby oil-storage facilities, [killing] at least 581 people.”

Ammonium nitrate was the chemical responsible for several other industrial explosions, including the recent 2020 disaster in Beirut, Lebanon, a chemical explosion responsible for the deaths of 218 people that left an estimated 300,000 people without homes.

The Obama-era amendments to the Chemical Disaster Rule and RMP regulations were set to take effect in March 2017, backed by a chorus of complaints from manufacturing companies and rightwing politicians.

But, under the Trump EPA, the revisions to the RMP chugged to a slow halt in early 2017. Regulations set to take place in February were delayed until June, as

“The fire at the Weaver fertilizer plant is not an isolated occurrence.”

Trump-nominated EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler claimed that these regulations were “burdensome, costly, and unnecessary.” These RMP revisions created “regulatory burdens that … fell heavily on small and medium-sized energy businesses,” Wheeler said.

He also asserted that Trump-era recessions of these regulations would “remove redundant paperwork” while still “allowing companies the flexibility to satisfy leak-control requirements by complying with equivalent state rules.”

After a series of further delays in implementing the Obama-era RMP revisions that pushed back the publishing date into 2019, the EPA released a final ruling in December 2019 that rescinded most Obama-era revisions.

Due to the sweeping recessions made

by Trump’s EPA, special safety practices and protections for handling ammonium nitrate were never added to RMP regulations.

On May 30, 2018, the EPA under the Trump administration released a proposed amendment delineating desired changes to RMP revisions. This plan proposed a recession of the following regulations: a requirement for a “root-cause analysis” after a disaster occurs (to determine the potential origin of a chemical disaster), a requirement of a third-party audit of industrial conditions that could’ve caused the accident, a requirement of the chemical facility to develop a plan for increasing workplace safety and reducing risk of disaster, a minimum frequency of “field exercises” (tests of chemical facilities, procedures and measures to notify the public and emergency response agencies of potential risks), among several other provisions.

Although Wheeler asserted that despite the sweeping recessions his EPA conducted, “accident prevention is a top priority of the EPA, and this rule promotes improved communication between chemical facilities and emergency responders,” the Weaver Plant largely did not abide

by NFPA 400 fire-code requirements.

The Weaver plant did not even submit a required chemical inventory to the NC Department of Public Safety in 2020.

Perhaps if they did, the Weaver plant would not have vastly underestimated their daily inventory of ammonium nitrate at 30-60 pounds when, in reality, nearly 600 tons of ammonium nitrate were at risk of igniting the evening of January 31, 2020.

Surprisingly, the Weaver plant’s failure to abide by NFPA fire code is not exactly illegal, per North Carolina fire code. The Weaver plant was not technically required to meet NFPA 400 guidelines. Instead, a factory like the Weaver plant can choose to meet NFPA requirements on a voluntary basis.

In reality, the Weaver fertilizer plant did not follow several specifics of NFPA code; North Carolina Policy Watch reports that Weaver voluntarily chose not to abide by the distance requirements between the industrial facility and nearby residences, regulations to keep ammonium nitrate from being “molten” or “contaminated,” or NFPA guidelines to include sprinklers in the building that stored the ammonium nitrate. In fact, these ammonium-nitrate storage facilities were constructed out of wood, in accordance with North Carolina Fire Code. But, this construction was not considered a hazard, since these buildings abided by the Building Code at the Weaver Plant’s date of construction, which was in 1939.

The 2013 fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas, resulted in the death of 15 people, an Contact Sean Jones at additional 150 people injured, and nearly 150 buildings being destroyed or damaged. jonesd19@wfu.edu

Thursday, March 24, 2022 | Page 7

Features | Old Gold & Black

Momentum Dance Club performs for inclusion The crew welcomes students from all walks of life to perform Hip-Hop dances BELLA ORTLEY-GUTHRIE Staff Writer Rhythmic beats, clean lines and electronic beats are staple features of hip hop — which includes artists such as J.Cole, Doja Cat and Nicki Minaj, they provide not just a satisfying beat but a mode of dance expression.

Momentum Crew takes that expression into their own hands. Since 2011, Momentum focuses on growing a hip-hop and urban dance crew and performing in the Wake Forest community. From hip hop to jazz and Latin music, Momentum Crew focuses on developing a strong dance team but promotes a supportive, familial and judgmentfree space.

Their performances and involvement on and off campus range from performing in various competitions and showcases such as PRSM, a North Carolina-based dance crew showcase. In addition to performing in showcases and Wake Forest events, Momentum focuses on choreographing and filming an original dance video in the fall semester, drawing from songs like Nicki Minaj’s “I’m Legit” or pop songs like “Sneaky Link.”

Zariyah Cope, a third-year Wake Forest student, heard about Momentum during her freshman year, auditioned, but thought she failed the crew after obtaining an injury

during the audition. Cope who has a background in ballet, tap and jazz, first didn’t like hip hop, however through getting accepted into Momentum, she grew a love for the dance form.

“It’s the few spaces on campus where I am able to relax and let loose … it helps challenge myself to learn something new. I’m able to be around people who push and support me as well,” Cope said.

The feeling of support is evident in their leadership. Through this diversity, everyone comes together to create a cohesive dance and a family support system. They focus on unity as a crew in their clean-cut dancing

Photo courtesy of Bella Ortley-Guthrie

Tryouts for Momentum include memorizing and performing a sample dance.

and team spirit, not excluding anyone.

“We focus on diversity, equality, the beauty of being unique. And [we also focus on] individuality, really just expressing how beautiful we all are as individuals, and how as individuals from all over the world, from all over campus, all different majors, all different minors, we’re all different,” Momentum’s president and Wake Forest Student Mariana Rocha-Goldberg, said, “We’re able to come together and then create and perform something so amazing.”

The family support system comes through in their holistic dance auditions. Auditions take place once a year in the fall semester.

The auditions act as a space where applicants can ask questions and work with the members to put the piece into their body movements and demonstrate team spirit.

The auditions do not solely revolve around dance ability but look at how well auditionees can work together as a family unit, whether they are acting as team players, encouraging others or being flexible.

“You don’t have to be the perfect dancer to join Momentum, it’s less about how you dance and more about how you are as a person,” Cope said.

The once-a-year audition isn’t meant to deter applicants but is a practical aspect because rehearsals begin straight away for the

fall video and upcoming competitions.

“It’s not about exclusivity, it’s about making sure that we are able to perform at peak performance and feel comfortable, because it really is a family, it is a huge part of our identities,” Rocha-Goldberg said.

Rocha-Goldberg encourages people who want to get involved to show support by attending Momentum’s performances, reaching out to members and following their social media pages.

No matter what background or dance experience you have, Momentum seeks to welcome all who apply, audition, and make the crew. They emphasize family support and diversity on campus, offering a safe space for those wanting community at Wake.

“Being one of the most diverse groups on campus, we all understand how difficult it is to be on campus in a space where you’re not used to seeing diverse spaces,” Mariana Rocha-Goldberg said. “And then when you come to our practices, we know that this is a safe space in all aspects, whether you’re female or male or of different religious backgrounds, different spiritual backgrounds, of anything we all know that we’re just here to dance, and we love each other regardless

Contact Bella Ortley-Guthrie at ortlbs21@wfu.edu

Women in STEM club empowers young women Group takes aim at the gender gap in STEM careers at Wake Forest University and beyond ABBY KOMISKE Staff Writer

Men outnumber women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) related careers, especially in fields such as computer science, engineering and architecture.

This is a gap that WFU Women in STEM aims to diminish.

Nationally, men hold 73% of all STEM related jobs, according to the United States Census Bureau in 2019. In 1970, that percentage was at a whopping 92%, so the diversity within STEM has significantly grown since, but there is still much to be done to create a more equal representation within the United States.

On Wake Forest’s campus, males greatly outnumber females in the STEM field. For example, women make up about 32% of computer science and 20% of engineering degrees as of 2019, according to Wake Forest University News.

“Women’s efforts have been significantly undervalued in the STEM community.

Women have a lot to bring to the table, they just need to have the space and resources to be empowered rather than be suppressed,” Vice President of Women in STEM and senior Emily Batts said.

Wake Forest’s Women in STEM promotes the sciences to underprivileged girls in Winston-Salem schools and actively helps decrease the gender barricades within science communities at large. Members of the club volunteer at Northwest Middle School and hold sessions with young female students, creating inclusive, age-appropriate science experiments and activities.

In addition, the club actively involves the Wake Forest community in discussions of possible career paths and what it means to be a woman in such male-dominated fields. The club invites guest speakers to spread awareness to Wake Forest’s own community and beyond. For example, last spring the club hosted Dr. Rana el Kaliouby, a computer scientist and pioneer in technology, to discuss her book “Girl Decoded” — a memoir about her life as a Middle Eastern woman pursuing a heavilymale dominated career.

Notably, the club will be hosting a forum with President Susan Wente on April 11 in Winston Hall at 6:30 p.m. A panel will ask Wente questions about her career as a cell biologist and her groundbreaking research regarding nuclear pores.

As a leading biomedical scientist who worked extensively at Vanderbilt both in labs and within administrational before coming to Wake Forest, President Wente provides an example of female involvement and leadership within STEM to the Wake Forest community.

Many members of the club are displeased by the statistics surrounding gender gaps at Wake Forest and are working with leaders such as Wente to diminish the gaps.

Batts also noted how female professors within her own major of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology have inspired her personally.

“The professors here, specifically my female professors, aren’t afraid to share their STEM journeys to their students, which has really helped me find my way,” Batts said.

The organization believes that children require female role models within STEM ca-

reers, exposure to potential avenues of study and career awareness. With these methods, Women in STEM hopes to better empower young women to pursue STEM by fostering an underrepresented community through kinship.

Women in STEM also works to help provide a mentorship program that connects underclassmen to upperclassmen, hosts cookie socials for members of the clubs, holds annual guest speaker pop-ups and participates in campus-wide activities like Hit the Bricks and Project Pumpkin. They also work with the Office of Academic Advising to inform underclassmen about pre-health tracks and have even worked this past year with RAD to host a self-defense class for women.

Other members of Women in STEM noted the significance of such organizations that empower women in the workforce.

“The more women that enter the workforce regarse and talented workforce, aside from its inherent value, can help prevent biases in the products and services produced by these fields,” said sophomore Amy Taliaferro, another STEM member.

“It is important for women to feel they are able to have opportunities to work and thrive in these fields, and Women in STEM is helping to do that, in tangible ways, on Wake Forest’s campus.”

Contact Abby Komiske at komiak21@wfu.edu

Photo courtesy of @wfuwomeninstem on Instagram

Members of WFU Women in STEM visit The Olio to make their own glass pieces as a bonding event for the organization.

OPINION

PAGE 8 THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022

OLD GOLD & BLACK

Sophie Guymon, guymsm20@wfu.edu Maryam Khanum, khanmg20@wfu.edu

The views expressed in all opinion columns represent those of the article’s author, not the opinions of the Old Gold & Black Editorial Board

Oval Offense Justice Clarence Thomas' wife's position as a right-wing activist threatens the sanctity of the Court ROBBIE SANTOS

Staff Columnist

Above its marble steps and through its towering columns, the Supreme Court's nine justices wield tremendous power. Their role in judicial review is one of the pillars of the checks and balances system that cemented U.S. democracy as a "shining city on a hill".

However, there is reason for concern within this institution. One would be hard-pressed to say that the Court has not shown political bias in the past.

After all, the fact that its justices are chosen by the President and confirmed by the Senate ensures that some degree of polarization occurs, as presidents appoint and senates confirm justices with whom they share a considerable amount of common ground.

President Lyndon B. Johnson famously signed civil rights legislation into law, and at the same time, nominated Thurgood Marshall to the Supreme Court. Marshall became the first Black justice on the nation’s highest court. Years later, President Ronald Reagan served as a beacon of conservatism and nominated the right-leaning judge Antonin Scalia to the Supreme Court.

Nominations — and indeed the justices themselves — have been politicized in the past, but there has always appeared to be some layer of secrecy surrounding the partisan nature of the court. If justices were behaving politically, they did so in the shadows.

For some time, it has been the practice of the Supreme Court justices to refuse to make public political statements or engage in political behavior.

Perhaps there is no way to see this more clearly than in the State of the Union Address. Members cloaked in their signature black robes remain seated in their front row positions as the president makes political statements that frequently receive standing applause from members of Congress and spectators. However, much of this current Supreme Court seems to be almost brazen in its political openness, which is deeply concerning.

Much of my quarrel with the Supreme Court rests with a single justice, Clarence Thomas. Thomas has served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court for more than 30 years, filling the seat vacated by Justice Marshall.

Appointed by President George H.W. Bush, Thomas’ brand of legal thinking has always skewed to the conservative side.

The real issue surrounding Thomas cannot be gleaned from the surface, nor from just reading his opinions and dissents. Rather, one would have to pay

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Virginia "Ginny" Thomas' conservative activism may have sway in Justice Clarence Thomas' decisions, threatening the sanctity of the Court as well as U.S. democracy as a whole. close attention to whom Thomas shares his closest relationships.

Thomas’ wife, Virginia Thomas, is a conservative political activist. This fact alone does not cause any issue, as there are plenty of political activists from every side of the political spectrum.

However, not many political activists are married to a sitting member of the Supreme Court.

Moreover, there are not many activists whose spouses have the authority to make decisions regarding the very ideas for which they are pushing. The crux of the issue is that Thomas has a responsibility to objectively mediate cases, and if there is any chance that his wife is persuading his judgment, the credibility of the Supreme Court would be shattered.

Virginia Thomas’ political engagement is a dangerous reality of this current court. The type of political activism that she is engaged in draws harsh criticisms from the left — the most frightening aspect being her involvement in efforts to keep former President Donald Trump in power.

In the months following the 2020 presidential election, Virginia Thomas was among those who pushed unfounded and false claims about the election being stolen from Trump. Additionally, she runs a conservative-minded political consulting firm that pushed heavily against the results of the 2020 election.

Her involvement and close relationships with those involved in what some

have dubbed the "Big Lie" are concerning.

Besides presenting a conflict of interest for Justice Thomas, having someone with these beliefs so close to a Supreme Court justice is dangerous. I may not have the highest opinion of the people who have pushed these lies, but as much as I dislike what they are saying, they have the right to say what they believe, just as I have the right to voice my opinions about them.

But there is an added level of danger to Virginia Thomas being involved in these circles. If Virginia Thomas clearly holds these questionable beliefs, why is it difficult to believe that her husband shares them as well? This issue presents another danger: a Supreme Court justice falling victim to conspiracy theories and lies peddled by a former president, disgraced lawyers and clumsy pillow salesmen.

Virginia Thomas recently revealed that she attended the infamous Jan. 6 rally in Washington D.C., but claims that she left well before the former president spoke and before the crowd erupted into chaos and violence. Her involvement in that rally should demonstrate the pervasiveness of the lies pushed by the Trump administration.

They are so pervasive that someone undoubtedly intelligent like Virginia Thomas is trapped by their falsehoods.

Not only does her participation in such rallies and conspiracies against a legitimate election hurt her own reputation,

but it also tears down the credibility of her husband and the Supreme Court as a whole.

Supreme Court justices are the nation’s foremost legal thinkers. They interpret the Constitution and play a pivotal role in the governance of the country. In good times and bad, Supreme Court justices have the responsibility to reasonably and clearly adjudicate the cases brought before them. Virginia Thomas’ closeness to the Supreme Court is nothing less than a powder keg a few feet from an open flame. Everything seems fine for now, but if things go the wrong way, the results will be catastrophic. In other words, if Justice Thomas finds himself making decisions on cases with the same sketchy judgment displayed by his wife, the future of democracy will be threatened.

In this highly polarized state of the current United States, democracy seems to be teetering on the edge of a steep precipice. The country can either slide further away from democracy or once again cement itself as a stable, reliable democracy.

In the coming months, the Supreme Court will likely be forced to hear cases that either directly or indirectly impact the state of our democracy. It is my sincere hope that Justice Thomas either shows resolve in his own judgment or sees reason and recuses himself because of the conflict of interest brought on by his wife.

Contact Robbie Santos at santrp20@wfu.edu

Opinion | Old Gold & Black

Thursday, March 24, 2022 | Page 9

Mental Health

College students struggle “to maintain involvement Jackie Thacher Staff Columnist thacjd20@wfu.edu

Get a job. Get an internship. Pay for school. Pay for your social life. Get extra credit. Take more classes. Volunteer.

One of the benefits of the college experience in the age of the internet is the ability to get involved with so many different things. Not only is it possible to find more organizations to be part of on campus, but it’s also extremely easy to find things to get involved with outside of college.

Don’t get me wrong, I know how important it is to get involved on campus.

It is fulfilling, a good way to meet people and looks great on a resume.

A study on the involvement of college students from the Center For The Study Of Student Life at the Ohio State University found that “employers rated the students that had been at least minimally involved in co-curricular activities as more hireable than those who were not

involved at all. Employers rated highlyinvolved students as more career-ready than minimally-involved or uninvolved students.” Even more incentive to get more involved in things right? Not only do you get all these immediate benefits, but you get that much of an edge above the competition in the long run.

However, sometimes, it feels like you’re still behind everyone else even though Wake Forest has more than 250 organizations on campus, not to mention the opportunity to do an internship or volunteer off-campus.

I asked 111 college students if they felt they were involved in enough extracurriculars on and off-campus. Of them, 44% said they did not feel involved enough. A few people even reached out to me and said they felt like they wanted to do more, specifically outside of the classroom. These were people I know who are involved in things on campus, and yet we all feel as if we’re still not doing enough.

Even being involved in one organization, whether it’s Student Government or Greek Life, has so many benefits both socially and career-wise. However, we’ve

We've been taught our whole lives that to be exceptional, to be involved in so many things, is completely normal." been trained our whole lives to think that we’re not doing enough.

To get into any college, you have to demonstrate that you’re involved in something outside of academics. To get into Wake Forest — with its holistic approach that prides itself on looking at the whole person — you have to be involved in a lot. I want to emphasize that this is not a bad thing. It's amazing to be surrounded by people who are passionate and enjoy so many different things.

However, we’ve been taught our whole lives that to be exceptional, to be involved in so many things, is completely normal. From the moment we entered high school, if not earlier, it was all about doing the most.

Now that we’re beginning to consider our next steps, it feels like we’re starting it all over again. That we did it once is amazing, but we also need to re-train

ourselves. It’s ok to take a step back and realize we are all doing more than enough. Wake Forest’s academics are no joke, whether you’re a communication, business, or chemistry major. Doing anything on top of it … we’re already exceeding expectations every day.

We need to realize that we’re all doing our best and that’s more than enough.

Photo courtesy of Maryville University Online

Students feel increasing pressure to be involved on campus.

Gun Violence

“

Shootings of houseless men highlight legislative issues Natasha Heisenberg Staff Columnist heisng20@wfu.edu

On Tuesday, March 15, Gerald Brevard III was arrested for a series of attacks targeting men who were experiencing houselessness in New York City and Washington, D.C. Brevard’s crimes resulted in the hospitalization of five victims, with two dying from their injuries. These horrific acts of violence targeted at one of the most vulnerable populations in the United States disturbed and jolted the public awake. They stand as a solemn reminder of the drastic need for the reform of homeless shelters and policies regarding these marginalized individuals.

Brevard approached and shot the victims in the early hours of the morning, as they lay asleep on city sidewalks.

Surveillance footage captured these crimes and was instrumental in aiding in his arrest. However, authorities were unable to locate Brevard until his travel to New York City, where he continued his assault on those experiencing houselessness.

The brutality of Brevard’s attacks on unarmed, peaceful men was jarring and extreme, and they depicted the dangers houseless populations face throughout the country. As this story unfolded in

the public eye, attention was drawn to the limitations of the current efforts to address houselessness and actions the government could take to give those who cannot afford a living space the safety they rightfully deserve.

One of the institutional inefficiencies called into question by these crimes was the efficacy of homeless shelters in major cities. While many believe homeless shelters to be an acceptable solution to the houselessness crisis, this rudimentary viewpoint only touches the tip of the iceberg and fails to address the issues plaguing the houseless population both in and outside of shelters.

Homeless shelters in the United States are notoriously overcrowded and do not have an adequate amount of space to accommodate those experiencing houselessness. The houselessness crisis has worsened over recent years, with the rate of houselessness reaching 17 people per every 10,000 in the general population, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

Shelters have not expanded to parallel this growth in demand. Furthermore, violence and crime within shelters make them unappealing options for those in need. Incidents of domestic violence, sexual assault and drug-related offenses are common in shelters and serve as preventative factors for those seeking a residence.

Not only are shelters often centers of violence and unrest, but they also

The brutality of Bervard's attacks on unarmed, peaceful men was jarring and extreme, depicting the dangers homeless populations face." lack comprehensive mental health and addiction services that many people experiencing houselessness require to overcome the circumstances and adversity they face. Therefore, rather than acting as rehabilitating safe havens for the houseless, shelters represent a concentration of the violence and lack of opportunity that these individuals have been forced to navigate on a daily basis.

While Brevard’s murders generated conversation surrounding the problems associated with shelters, they also sparked outrage regarding gun laws and firearm regulations. Having a plethora of previous charges and even previous arrests — including assault and robbery — Brevard was no stranger to the legal repercussions associated with his crimes. Yet, Brevard could maintain his access to a firearm and could use this weapon to end the lives of his innocent victims. Logically, this elicited outcry among gun reform advocates and concerned citizens alike, who questioned how someone who has clearly and undeniably expressed violent tendencies was able to purchase a gun with ease.

Although the concerns raised by these murders may hopefully pave the road toward stronger protections for indi-

viduals experiencing houselessness, the two lives lost and damage inflicted due to these senseless acts of violence cannot be undone. While a breath of relief was exhaled across the country as news outlets announced that Brevard had been apprehended, the pain of his crimes lingered like a dense fog.

In the wake of this tragedy, citizens must continue to advocate for resources to address the houselessness crisis, and must honor the victims by securing legislation to ensure that these callous acts of violence never happen again.

Photo courtesy of The New York Times

Shootings in N.Y.C. and D.C. have exposed greater issues.

Page 10 | Old Gold & Black

Thursday, March 24, 2022 | Opinion

National Football League

“

Tom Brady could still improve unprecedented career Brady's retirement would constitute a waste of potential and would leave lingering questions Lucy Roberts robels20@wfu.edu

For 41 days, it was strange to imagine a National Football League without Tom Brady. Now, we no longer have to.

On Feb. 1, Brady took to his social media accounts to share that after 22 seasons of making history through his accomplishments as an NFL quarterback, he was stepping away from his role as an athlete in the sport.

However, less than two months later, Brady announced that he would not be retiring, but that he would be returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for his 23rd season in the NFL. “These past two months I have realized my place is still on the field and not in the stands. That time will come. But it’s not now,” Brady said.

It should not be surprising that Brady’s “retirement” was so short-

lived. A crucial part of Brady’s success over the past two decades has been his competitive nature. His competitiveness has allowed him to become arguably the greatest quarterback of all time, with a multitude of accomplishments that include 10 Super Bowl appearances and seven titles.

The 44-year-old quarterback has famously said, “When I suck, I’ll retire.” That was in 2014. Eight years and four Super Bowl titles later, Brady finished the 2021-2022 season leading the league with 5,316 passing yards and 43 touchdown passes.

Because he is so clearly still at the top of his game, it would be pretty hard to imagine Brady sitting on the couch every Sunday with the knowledge that he is better than most of the quarterbacks currently playing.

This truth seemed to be in the back of Brady’s mind from the day he announced his departure from football to the day he announced his return. He consistently avoided definite statements when asked about his retirement, including on his own

For the rest of the world, we have the privilege of watching Brady continue a career that will probably never be rivaled." podcast, “Let’s Go!”, when, in response to the idea of a possible return to the NFL Brady said, “never say never.”

When one considers Brady’s refusal to commit to his original decision alongside his history as a stubborn competitor, it began to seem increasingly impossible that he could leave the game in the way he did after the NFC Divisional Round, when he brought his team back from a 27-3 point deficit against the Los Angeles Rams, just for them to come up short at the end.

At this point in his career, Brady really has nothing left to prove to the world — rather, his motivation concerns what he has to prove to himself.

A large part of what motivates Brady is his own love for the game.

If he can still play at an elite level,

the question that would plague him if he retired now would be: what if?

In 2019, I was in the stands during Brady’s last regular-season game as the quarterback of the New England Patriots. As I watched Brady walk off the field after an unexpected loss at home to the Miami Dolphins, there was a sense of finality and resignation to the idea that he had grown and accomplished as much as he could in New England.

About two years later, he walked off the field at Raymond James Stadium, home of his new team in Tampa Bay. This time, as he stoically left without so much as a glance back to the field, it was clear that there could be more to this chapter of his career, if he chose to pursue it.

When he sucks, he’ll retire. Unfortunately for the teams on the Buccaneers’ schedule, that will not be this season. For the rest of the world, we have the privilege of watching Brady continue a career that will probably never be rivaled. We do not have to confront the reality of an NFL without Tom Brady, at least for a little while longer.

Physical Health

“

Exercise addiction fosters unhealthy behaviors Tracking numbers during exercise creates negative associations and self-perceptions, setting unhealthy patterns Lauren Carpenter carple21@wfu.edu

You have just finished what you feel is the best run of your entire life. You can feel the energy of your heartbeat throughout your body and an endorphin rush courses through your veins.

You look down to check your fitness tracker and feel your heart sink when you realize you haven't burned as many calories as you expected.

Suddenly, it doesn’t feel like you finished a satisfying run. Instead, it feels like you haven’t lived up to your past standard, or like you’re regressing.

You become obsessive about exercise, and your entire body aches with the physical strain you’ve placed on it, but for some reason skipping a day seems nearly impossible.

Exercise is unquestionably good for us, but it can be extremely difficult to draw the line between healthy and unhealthy exercise.

Not all cases of unhealthy exercise equate to exercise addiction but overexercising to any extent can

easily lead to these obsessive behaviors.

Tracking numbers — whether that’s in times, distances, calories, weights or repetitions — can easily tip the scale towards obsessive behaviors. This is when a negative connotation between moving your body and numbers develops. Exercise is rarely healthy when too much emphasis is placed on the control of numbers.

Exercise for the sake of personal benefit as opposed to training for something specific should mean taking care of your body and achieving a feeling of mental and physical strength. The moment you go for an extra run because you feel numerically dissatisfied with the first one is the moment you cross the line from healthy to unhealthy exercise. It is alarmingly simple to get carried away in the world of tracking and numbers, and it can lead to some extremely dangerous lifestyle changes.

Behaviors of overexercising are commonly linked to various health problems such as an altered heart rate, bone density loss, absent menstrual cycles, persistent fatigue and an increased frequency of illness. In severe cases, overexercising is strongly associated with several types of eating disorders — as many of these behaviors coincide.

Exercise for the sake of pertaking care of your body and and physical strength."

While exercise addiction is not yet classified as a mental disorder in the DSM-5, many psychologists are working towards giving it a place in the handbook.

So, you’ve become carried away with obsessing over exercise, tracking every number and feeling constantly dissatisfied with your workouts. Now what?

Recognizing that the harms of your exercise exceed the benefits is a triumph, but making the decision to overcome an exercise addiction is incredibly challenging.

Taking time away from exercise is essential to give your body a physical break. This is also a mental game — as missing even one workout can lead to mental restlessness, guilt and feelings of anxiety. Pushing past these hurdles can be difficult, but with time, taking days off will become more manageable.

Fitness trackers are easy to become attached to, but they prevent us from relying on our intuitions.

Aside from taking a break, ditching the fitness tracker can be a lifechanging decision. Without the

constant reminder of numbers, you have a chance to genuinely listen to your body’s signals. We should not be letting a device tell us we haven’t done enough. Abandoning the fitness tracker can be mentally challenging if you’ve been excessively checking it every day, but recreating a lifestyle that doesn’t rely on this technology is a huge step in recovering from exercise addiction.

Eventually, reintroducing light exercise to take care of your physical wellbeing can be beneficial.

Starting with yoga, walks or short jogs while maintaining a mental mindset of physical well-being rather than one of tracking numbers can be very healing. It can also be helpful to do these light exercises with a friend to reinforce the idea that exercise should be about enjoyment and caring for your body.

Moderation is essential to creating a positive relationship with exercise. If you have become obsessed with tracking numbers and exercise, understanding the problem and working towards repairing negative connotations is absolutely possible and is certainly worth the work. Give yourself a break, reevaluate your mindset and make a concerted effort to exercise solely to take care of your mental and physical well-being.

SPORTS

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

Follow us on Twitter @wfuogbsports OLD GOLD & BLACK

PAGE 11 THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022

Photo Courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics

Men's basketball moves to NIT Elite Eight The Demon Deacons will face off against Texas A&M for the right to go to the Final Four in New York City CHRISTIAN ODJAKJIAN Staff Writer

Seventeen days after a Senior Night win over NC State, Wake Forest played their actual last home game of the season.

The Demon Deacons played two more games at the Joel this season than originally scheduled due to the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) and won their last home game 80-74 over Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) on Saturday afternoon in the second round.

Wake Forest has now reached the quarterfinals of the NIT, and will take on Texas A&M in College Station, Texas on Tuesday. The winner will play in the NIT semifinals in Madison Square Garden.

“We beat a fantastic basketball team today,” Wake Forest Head Coach Steve Forbes said after the game. “VCU is very well coached and a hard team to play against. We handled their full court pressure well and did a really good job guarding them on defense.”

Although the Demon Deacons went into the locker room with a 43-35 lead, VCU fought hard and kept it close.

However, VCU never whittled their lead down to less than a three point deficit.

The Demon Deacons were led by a balanced scoring attack and notched 14 assists on their 22 made baskets. Alondes Williams scored 19 points and added five assists. Dallas Walton dropped 16 with seven rebounds. Jake LaRavia, Davien Williamson and Cameron Hildreth scored 15, 14 and 10 respectively. Wil-

liamson drilled a clutch, dagger three pointer with just over three minutes remaining, stretching the lead to nine.

Forbes revealed after the game that Williams has been dealing with a turf toe injury, which explains his slight dip in production at the tail end of this season. It also makes his dunk in the final minute – in which he brought the ball down to his waist and reverse-slammed it over his head – even more impressive.

That play brought the crowd of over 4,000 to their feet.

“We had another great crowd today with unbelievable energy in the building,” Forbes said. “I’m really thankful for all the awesome fans we’ve had all year.”

VCU is one of the best defensive teams in the country, forcing the eleventh most turnovers per game (17.06), and the sixth

best defensive efficiency on KenPom. However, Wake Forest came out on top in terms of the turnover battle. They committed 15 themselves but forced 19.

There was quite a choppy nature to this contest. The officials were constantly blowing their whistles, and 49 total fouls were called in the game. VCU likes to play an “ugly” style of basketball, and that is what ended up happening. The Demon Deacons chance at victory remained at the free throw line in this game, as the Deacs connected on 29 of their 37 attempts.

The matchup versus Texas A&M will be played Wednesday night at 7 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN2.

Contact Christian Odjakjian at odjact18@wfu.edu

Page 12 | Thursday, March 24, 2022

Old Gold & Black | Sports

Baseball wins series with No. 10 Georgia Tech ESSEX THAYER

After taking one game from No. 7 Florida State in a three-game series, the Wake Forest baseball team was even more successful this past weekend, earning a series win against then-No. 10 Georgia Tech in Atlanta. The Demon Deacons are now 16-4 on the season and 3-3 in the ACC, good for third place in the Atlantic Division. Despite not being ranked by the NCAA, Wake Forest was rated the No. 24 team in the country by Perfect Game.

On Friday, Wake Forest’s pitching led the team to a 5-3 victory. Sophomore starting pitcher Rhett Lowder faced strong competition and only allowed three runs — two earned — over five innings. Then, the combination of sophomore Camden Minacci and redshirt sophomore Eric Adler closed the game with four scoreless innings. “[Lowder] battled,” Wake Forest Head Coach Tom Walter said after the game.

“He had some things go against him early. I was really proud of the way he pitched in the fourth and fifth [innings]

with the game on the line, making big pitch after big pitch. [I’m] really proud of him.”

On Saturday, it was the Demon Deacons’ offense that propelled the team to clinch the series. Freshman Nick Kurtz knocked six hits and six RBIs, while sophomore Brock Wilken and redshirt junior Brandon Tinsman added two home runs each leading Wake Forest to a blowout 27-7 win. Those 27 runs, along with 28 hits, are both a program record within an ACC game.

On Sunday, to end the series, Georgia Tech finally found their stride and looked like the No. 10 team in the country in a 14-5 victory. After being the No. 2 starter to begin the season, freshman Josh Hartle was in the No. 3 slot this past weekend and was knocked around by the Yellow Jackets, giving up eight runs over 2.2 innings.

In the first inning on Friday, the Wake Forest bats went right to work, with redshirt junior Michael Turconi hitting a three-run home run to left field. Georgia Tech also got on the board in the first inning with a fielder’s choice and error bringing in a run. In the second inning,

Photo Courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics

Sophomore Brock Wilken celebrates a base hit. Wilken had two home

the Yellow Jackets inched within one run of the Wake Forest lead, as a single up the middle scored a runner from second — who was there by way of a wild pitch.

Two innings later though, Kurtz extended the lead for the Demon Deacons, bringing in freshman Tommy Hawke despite hitting into a double-play. Despite a third run from the Yellow Jackets in the following half inning, sophomore Jake Reinisch gave Wake Forest the extra cushion they needed, adding a fifth run in the top of the fifth inning. From there, with a two-run lead, Minacci and Adler closed the door on Georgia Tech, only allowing one hit over four innings.

Minacci has been especially valuable for the Demon Deacons in this early season. In 17 innings pitched, the sophomore has only allowed nine hits and two runs, good for a 1.06 ERA, one of the best in the ACC. Walter lauded Minacci’s success after the game.

“Obviously, Cam Minacci, you can’t throw the ball any better than that,” Walter said.

The following day, the Yellow Jackets were the team to get on the board early, tagging three runs on sophomore starter Seth Keener in the first inning. In the next half inning, though, Tinsman hit his first home run of the day — a tworun shot. Both teams added a run in the third inning, with Wilken doing so for Wake Forest by way of a sacrifice fly. In the fourth inning, the Demon Deacons took a one-run lead with a 2-RBI double

by Kurtz and an RBI single by redshirt sophomore Pierce Bennett.

By the end of the fifth inning, Wake Forest had extended its lead to 13.

Wilken kicked off the inning with a solo home run, which was followed by a RBI single by freshman Danny Corona.

Then, singles by Hawke, Kurtz and Bennett each brought in a run. A two-run single by Turconi increased the lead to eight. Then, Wilken and Tinsman home runs added another five runs.

In the sixth inning, a 2-RBI single by Reinisch added to the scoreline, while a seventh-inning hit from Bennett added another. An eighth-inning double by Kurtz gave Wake Forest a 23-5 lead. In the ninth inning, both teams added two runs, giving the Demon Deacons the 27-7 win. “[It was a] great team win,” Walter said after the game. “We swung the bats really well. Nick Kurtz had a huge day.

[It was] good to see Brock Wilken [and] Brendan Tinsman swing the bat really well. Those three guys were the difference today.”

In the first inning on Sunday, the Yellow Jackets picked up their game, scoring six runs. They added to that lead with three additional runs between the second and sixth inning. Down 9-0 in the seventh inning, Wake Forest attempted to mount a comeback, scoring four runs off the bats of Reinisch, Tinsman and Corona, but it proved to be too little too late. Georgia Tech added three additional runs after the Demon Deacons first got their name on the scoreline, leading to the victory.

“It was a disappointing day for us,” Walter said after the game. “We just didn’t make plays.”

Regardless, Wake Forest left Atlanta with two wins against a Top 10 team in the nation, and Walter recognized that.

“It was a good weekend series all-inall,” Walter said. “Anytime you win two of three on the road in this league, it’s a good weekend for your ball club.”

The road ahead doesn’t get any easier for Wake Forest. This coming weekend, the Demon Deacons are set to face off against another Top 10 team, the University of Virginia, who are currently ranked No. 10 in the NCAA. In the ACC, the tough contests never really end.

Contact Essex Thayer at thayse20@wfu.edu

WBB’s season ends with second-round NIT loss The Demon Deacons will now look ahead to the 2022-23 season with key talent set to return

IAN STEFFENSEN Staff Writer

Postseason play continued for Wake Forest women’s basketball as they faced off against Middle Tennessee in the WNIT second round. Despite a hardfought contest, the Demon Deacons came up short with a final score of 6755.

“For our young team, these two games and this experience will be invaluable going into next season,” Wake Forest Head Coach Jen Hoover said. “The end stretch of this season was promising and something we will continue to grow on the next few months as we head into the 2022-23 season. I am looking forward to putting the work in with this team as we look ahead to next year.”

Senior forward Christina Morra scored the first six points of the game for Wake Forest, and freshman guard Elise

Williams soon followed up with two points from the charity stripe to pull the Demon Deacons to within one of Middle Tennessee, 9-8. The Blue Raiders controlled the pace in the first half, but Wake Forest would not go away, with junior forward Olivia Summiel hitting a triple from the left wing to get them within two at 15-13. Middle Tennessee answered with scores on back-to-back possessions and ended the first up 2013.

Morra continued to be a presence in the second quarter, adding to her total of 13 points in the first half. Junior guard Kaia Harrison went 3-3 in the quarter to add six points. Yet, the story of the second half was the red-hot shooting from Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders knocked down 58% of their shots in the quarter. The Demon Deacons trailed 38-25 going into the locker room.

Williams led Wake Forest in scoring with six points in the third quarter, as the team had no answer for Middle Tennessee. The Demon Deacons couldn’t contain the Blue Raiders as they continued to grow their lead. Middle Tennessee led by as much as 27 points and continued their dominant performance.

Heading into the final quarter of play, Wake Forest trailed 59-36.

In her final outing as a Demon Deacon, Morra continued to make an impact. She hit her first career three-pointer on her first career three-point attempt.

Wake Forest closed the gap at the end, going on a 17-2 run to finish the game.

Harrison finished with 10 points, Williams finished with 13 and Morra led the team in scoring with a game-high 18 points. Despite winning the rebounding margin by 10, Wake Forest struggled with shooting, making a mere 30.6% of their shots from the field.

The loss ends the season for the Demon Deacons, who will look to build on these efforts next season.

Contact Ian Steffensen at

Photo Courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics

Senior forward Christina Morra led the

Sports | Old Gold & Black CHRISTINA DENOVIO Sports Editor

As the season progresses, Taha Baadi, a junior on the men’s tennis team, is zoned in on one final goal: redemption. The Montreal, Canada native came a long way from home in the spring of 2020 only to have his season shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, two years later, Baadi has hit his stride as his consistency has proven to be an asset to the team.

So far during the 2022 season, Baadi has accrued nine wins in comparison to six losses at positions ranging from No. 2 to No. 6 singles. With the ACC and NCAA tournaments a month away, he and the rest of the team are gearing up for a comeback after falling short last season. While Baadi is currently concentrating on playing well in these tournaments to assist his team, a strong performance would further propel his chances at a successful career playing professionally after his time as a Demon Deacon.

Christina DeNovio: When did you start playing tennis? Did you play other sports growing up?

Taha Baadi: I first started playing tennis when I was eight. Before that, I was playing soccer. I was playing soccer and tennis until I was 12, but then I had to make the decision to pick a sport. I decided to pick tennis because I liked the individual aspect of it, and I just began to like it more.

CD: Did you have a favorite tennis player growing up?

TB: It was always Roger Federer. The first ever tennis match that I watched was Federer against Andy Roddick at Wimbledon. I was watching with my dad, and that’s when I told him I wanted to try it out.

We bought some cheap rackets, and we started playing in a random park. Then, I got more and more interested in the sport, and that’s how I got into it. Federer was definitely a player who inspired me to play tennis.

CD: How did you choose Wake Forest?

TB: In tennis, you have until you’re 18 to decide if you want to play professionally or if you want to go to college and then try playing professionally after.

So during my last year of junior tennis, I was playing a lot of tournaments, and I was getting recruited by some schools. Wake Forest was just coming off an NCAA title and was No. 1 in the country.

I picked them because I thought they were the best team in the country, and I really clicked with the coaches. I didn’t even know about Wake Forest before speaking to the coaches. They told me how it was a small school and that the campus was very nice. I came to visit it, and I liked it. I liked the fact that it was small and that a lot of people knew each other and that you can build relationships with others.

CD: Have you noticed if players from different countries have different styles of play? How would you compare these styles to your own?

TB: We only have four Americans on the team out of the 18 guys. Everyone is from everywhere in the world. In tennis, depending on where you’re from, you’re taught to play a different style of tennis. For example, Luciano Tacchi is from Argentina, and

Thursday, March 24, 2022 | Page 13

Taha Baadi

Deacon “Sportlight” the way they play over there is by making the rallies very long. They try to make the match as physical as possible.

On the other hand, players from North America — let’s say Canada or the United States — play very aggressive tennis. They try to end the rally as quickly as possible, and they try to hit as hard as possible.

It’s fun to have players from different countries so you can get different game styles all mixed together.

That makes great practice. We definitely can notice the change of game styles depending on where the guys are from.

CD: How many different places have you lived in? Is there a nationality that you identify with the most, or is it equally distributed ?

TB: I was born in Morocco, and I have a Moroccan nationality. Also, I live in Canada, and I play for Canada. When I play in an international tournament, I play for the Canadian flag. Obviously, now I’m living in the United States.

I would say that when it comes to tennis, Canada has done the most for me — they’ve paid for a lot of my stuff, especially in juniors. I like representing the country — I think I owe them. I just like to say I have a mixed culture. I don’t feel more associated with one than the others. I have the Moroccan in me, the Canadian in me and now a little bit of American. It’s a good combo.

Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics

CD: What’s your favorite part of being on the Baadi and the rest of the tennis team are set to play Virginia Tech away on Friday. tennis team?

TB: The fact that we’re probably the most diverse team at Wake Forest. We literally have teammates from all over the place. These are going to be friendships that are going to last forever, hopefully. And it’s so fun to meet so many guys from different places, build connections and get to know their cultures and perspectives. We get to form very interesting relationships because everyone is so different. But we all get along so well, which is fascinating.

CD: Do you prefer doubles or singles?

who’s going to take the NCAA title home. I haven’t played in the NCAAs before because my first year COVID-19 canceled it. My second year, we lost right before the actual tournament. And this year, I think we’re in a good position to do well in it, so I’m excited to see how it goes.

CD: You’ve mentioned wanting to play professional tennis in the future. Are you looking to finish your four years or would you want to graduate early to pursue going pro?

TB: Singles. I don’t like doubles all that much, hon- TB: I mean, I only have two more years left. I know estly. If you’re playing with your best friend, it’s kind how prestigious it is to have a degree from Wake of fun, but I’d rather play singles, for sure.

Forest and to get it for free is something that a lot of people would love.

CD: How do you prepare on match day?

I think it would be a good idea to get my degree from here. People can play for a long time when you TB: I don’t have any superstitions — I just like to play professional tennis. There are guys that are in get a good meal before the match. I like to listen to their late thirties and still playing professionally. If some good music, nothing too crazy. I’m not the I graduate from here when I’m 21 or 22, I’ll have type of guy to isolate himself before a match to conplenty of time to play professionally afterwards. I’m centrate. I like to still be around people and talk.

Isolating yourself can make it too serious, which I not in a rush to leave Wake Forest. But, obviously, if don’t like. I like to get a good physical warm-up and I get some unbelievable results in the summer and I a good tennis warm-up, and then just kind of go just feel like I have to, then I would. But, we’ll see. with the flow.

CD: What’s your major? Do you know what you CD: What are you most looking forward to in the want to do after tennis? second half of the season?

TB: I’m a communication major. After tennis, I TB: Definitely the NCAA Tournament and the think maybe I’d like to be a sports agent or just to ACC Tournament. The first half included more of get into entrepreneurship. I’m not really sure yet. the regular matches of the season, the out-of-con- Tennis is really my plan A. I haven’t really thought ference matches and the National Indoors Tourna- of plan B yet. Ideally, I’d want to do something rement, which are all important as well. But, I think lated to sports and entrepreneurship. when you come to college, your first goal is to win the NCAA, and you have to get through the second Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for clarity half of the season to get your team ready to do so. and brevity.

Everyone is more locked in now because they know that NCAAs are coming up. It’s like the Contact Christina DeNovio at World Cup of college — everyone is waiting to see denoca20@wfu.edu

PAGE 14 THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022

LIFE OLD GOLD & BLACK

Adam Coil, coilat21@wfu.edu Josie Scratchard, scraja20@wfu.edu

Previewing the Academy Awards BEN WILCOX Staff Writer

some “Ted Lasso”, here’s your chance to kill two birds with one stone with a free trial.

The biggest night in Hollywood might have had some of the wind taken out of its sails over the last couple of years, but if you want to find a movie to watch or root for, or simply to win some Oscar pools, this is the place to be. I’ll be covering every Best Picture nominee in this article, telling you about what it takes to be part of the biggest night in film.

in modern cinema, created entirely new sounds for this movie. I would expect it to win most of its 10 Oscar nominations and deservedly so.

This is one of my must-watch-in-theaters selections for this year. Hopefully seeing Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya on the big screen together is enough for the price of admission.

"Nightmare Alley" This was easily my favorite movie of 2021.

It’s an understatement to say that Bradley Cooper kills it in this movie — remember that foreshadowing comment from earlier? I don’t want to give too much away other than Cooper's performance, but this Guillermo del Toro directed feature is a must-watch.

Photo courtesy of IMDb

"Don't Look Up"

Photo courtesy of IMDb

"Belfast" “Belfast” is one of those classic, feel-good romps for the whole family. Much like “Jojo Rabbit'', it centers on a child growing up in tumultuous times, who has enough heart to jump off of the screen. Esteemed director Kenneth Branagh brings this semi-autobiographical film to life with tremendous performances from Jamie Dornan, Ciarán Hinds and Dame Judi Dench, all of whom were themselves nominated for Oscars.

This black-and-white feature can be described as Branagh’s version of Alfonso Cuarón’s “Roma”. This film garnered not only a Best Director nod for Branagh but a Best Original Screenplay nomination as well. Once considered one of the frontrunners for Best Picture, the attention has subsided, but nonetheless, this was one of the most heartfelt movies I watched this year. And for our more casual viewers, you can watch the guy who played Gilderoy Lockhart in the “Chamber of Secrets” direct his butt off.

This movie was an uphill battle. Jonah Hill nails every scene he’s in, but outside of that, I don’t find the film to be too enjoyable. The movie is a slog, and I guess that’s intentional.

I know our imminent environmental crisis is what "Don't Look Up" is satirizing, but it does a terrible job in doing so.

I do not think it will win anything come Oscar Sunday, but if you are as big of a Hill fan as I am, it’s worth tuning in just for him. You could also probably just get away with watching a YouTube compilation of his scenes, but you didn’t hear that from me.

Photo courtesy of IMDb

"King Richard" Will Smith is most likely going to win an Oscar for this movie. That should be enough incentive to tune in. If you need more convincing, this tells the story of Venus and Serena Williams' rise in the tennis world and the help they received from their father, Richard Williams.

Although I think that there are stronger performances this year — this is what we call foreshadowing — “King Richard” was my favorite “feel good” movie of 2021, beating “Belfast” and “CODA”. I might be a little biased as a former tennis player, but I found this movie to be so impressive in both the acting and tennis ability of its young stars. On top of this, I felt that Aunjanue Ellis gave one of the best performances of this year as the Williams sisters' mother.

Photo courtesy of IMDb

"The Power of the Dog" “The Power of the Dog” is the prohibitive favorite to pick up Best Picture, Director and Adapted Screenplay. It has received nominations in every acting category but Best Actress.

It’s a fine movie but is definitely a slow burn.

In fact, I missed a major plot point the first time I watched it. It’s the most-nominated movie from the last year, and I expect it to pick up some awards, but I remain skeptical that it will win Best Picture.

"Drive My Car" “Drive My Car” is a tough pill to swallow.

When you look up the definition of a slow burn in the dictionary, it shows you this movie. "Drive My Car" is a very rewarding watch, and it may be the most well-made film out of all of the nominations. However, you have to be emotionally prepared for a three-hour, foreign-language drama about grief and loss.

This movie could potentially be another dark horse candidate for Best Picture, but I would not put my money on it.

Photo courtesy of IMDb

"CODA" "CODA", an abbreviation for Child of Deaf Adults, is the dark-horse contender this year. In a well-constructed coming-of-age piece, a girl with normal hearing discovers herself while living with her deaf family. Despite being nominated for only three awards, it currently has the second-best odds to win the Best Picture award.

In the other categories, Troy Kotsur, who portrays the dad in the film, is the favorite to nab Best Supporting Actor, surging ahead of another actor we’ll touch on a little bit later.

This movie has been a fan favorite, but I didn't have the same warm feeling after viewing it. This is also an Apple TV+ feature, so if you’ve had any relatives hounding you to catch up on

Photo courtesy of IMDb

Photo courtesy of IMDb

"Licorice Pizza"

Photo courtesy of IMDb

“Licorice Pizza” is another stellar movie by the legendary director Paul Thomas Anderson.

It’s already a classic bildungsroman that is the frontrunner for Best Original Screenplay.

There has been some controversy to the movie, but I would like to challenge these ideas. A lot of the controversy surrounding the movie is due to problematic scenes which some believe the movie condones. I’m of the mind that it’s more of a hang-out, coming-of-age movie set in the 70s.

Photo courtesy of IMDb

"Dune" “Dune” might have been the best theatrical experience I’ve had all year. I was fortunate enough to catch it on opening night in IMAX with my friends and experience the first part of this saga.

This film will sweep all the below-the-lines awards, especially considering that Hans Zimmer, one of the most acclaimed film composers

Photo courtesy of IMDb

"West Side Story" This might be the most impressive feat of the last year — Steven Spielberg adapted the unadaptable. With input from Tony Kushner and Stephen Sondheim before he passed on, I found this version to be even more enjoyable than the 1961 film.

Ariana DeBose will likely win Best Supporting Actress for the same role that won Rita Morena her Oscar. Although it’s not in the top three of odds (“The Power of the Dog,” “CODA,” and “Belfast”) — the Academy has had an extreme anti-streaming bias, which would most certainly affect “The Power of the Dog” and “CODA” — this film is an amazing production that has generated a lot of buzz going into the big night. Out of all these films, this is my pick to win Best Picture on Sunday.

Life | Old Gold & Black

Thursday, March 24, 2022 | Page 15

People prefer modern entertainment over reading Print readership has faced a decline as society has become more tech-focused JOSIE SCRATCHARD Life Editor Imagine you’re trapped in the prison of your fifth-grade classroom, staring longingly beyond the bars at the vacant jungle gym while your captor drags on about Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer”.

You wonder what crime you must have committed to deserve this punishment. Of course, when you fly off the school bus, the last thing you want to do is glue your eyes to any academic task — and become trapped as you have been for the past seven hours.

Why on earth would you pick up a book to read when you could play basketball or video games or ride your bike?

As you progress through the school years, books only become more metaphorical and less interesting, leading you to believe that there is nothing you could possibly read that could capture your attention. After all,

reading is just a recommendation by boring teachers and your parents, and what do they know?

Unfortunately, this mindset is far too common among kids and even many adults.

Reading has become a chore to many, leading them to not only believe that it is painful to endure but that it is not beneficial.

At Wake Forest, I’ve met several people who claim to not like reading. When questioned further, it becomes evident that they haven’t taken it upon themselves to read beyond books assigned in school — if they even read those.

Despite this claim, I refuse to believe that these students do not like to read, but rather that they have been led to think that about themselves. After all, if they have never placed their eyes on a page outside of school assignments, then they are missing all of the wonderful novels written for pure entertainment, fascinating studies conducted in non-academic settings and inspiring nonfiction stories.

When asked how many TV shows, movies, and athletic events the same people have watched in the past year, the answer is typically outrageously high. People have become convinced that reading is boring or takes too much time because their other entertainment choices enthrall them immediately and hold onto their attention for dear life. People want to see an instant return on their time investment, and reading doesn’t provide that.

If this is the case for adults, it is certainly the case for children. Books have been overlooked as a source of entertainment and learning for children's requirement of a long attention span. Children’s ability to concentrate is already short enough, so reading tends to frustrate children who refuse to accept the delayed gratification that a story’s plot provides.

This mindset appears to have originated with the development of alternative entertainment options like television. Entertainment preceding television was quite limited

Robert Pattinson's Batman displays growth After his sub-par role as Edward Cullen, the actor has stepped up his game MELINA TRAIFOROS Staff Writer Most people --- including the actor himself --can agree Robert Pattinson’s iconic role as Edward Cullen in the film “Twilight” (2008) falls considerably short of an Academy Award, including the actor himself.

Interviews criticizing his character’s cartoonish look and absurd actions — notably the scene in which he performs a cesarean section by chewing through a placenta — confirm that Pattinson despises his involvement in the

the audience feels the pain of each memory. When Wayne’s idolized image of his late family unravels, only minute expressions betray his anguish. The performance’s vulnerability grips fans well after the movie is over.

What changed? GQ Magazine recently released an article titled “The Metamorphosis of Robert Pattinson”, which shares the actor’s thoughts on his tumultuous career and a photograph of him bleaching his hair in a public restroom, among other attempts to break away from the past.

This alludes to what the story dubs a decadelong prison break from Pattinson’s career trajectory post-”Twilight”. He spent years starring in small, arthouse roles with singular filmmakers.

“I grew up liking classic movies,” Pattinson said to GQ. “I wanted to work with those people.”

dresses up in a bat costume and takes down Gotham’s criminal underworld.

Pattinson describes Batman as a freak. Yet, assuming a disguise and hiding in the shadows is not foreign to the star — he has spent a lifetime dodging paparazzi. An interviewer once joked as Pattinson sought a hidden spot for their session, that he wanted to return to the bat cave.

The actor once shared that he uniquely alters his voice for each new character. As one journalist put it, “Pattinson seems to have long been good at being at least two things at once. An authentic singular somebody to his core. But also

Photo courtesy of Free SVG

franchise. He publicly bashes the series so often that a popular Tumblr account, @robertpattinsonhatingtwilight, posts his commentary under the preface “no one hates Twilight more than him”.

The portrayal is — in Pattinson’s own words — a nightmare.

Pattinson’s lack of talent cannot be the culprit of his poor “Twilight” performance when the actor has recently ended his near ten-year hiatus from mainstream roles and delivered a haunting performance in “The Batman” (2022).

Pattinson is far from the first performer to answer to the Bat-Signal. The character has progressed from Val Kilmer’s hokey hero to Christian Bale’s hard-nosed billionaire playboy, but Batman is not meant to be charming. A trauma victim who copes by toeing the line between savior and criminal ought to be haunted.

This is the premise that makes Pattinson’s performance shine: a Batman who spends the movie in his own head.

Where Cullen’s silent stares are vacant, Bruce Wayne’s carry tortured inner turmoil. As he stares after a newly orphaned child for a long moment,

These films struck young Pattinson in a careeraltering way. He veered from blockbuster flicks to rediscover why he pursued acting. This journey led him to “The Batman”.

Pattinson describes his acting process as chaotic — he feels that he must hit rock bottom before striking authenticity.

“You have to feel the pain,” the actor said to GQ. “And then suddenly it’s like God gives you a little treat.”

His portrayal of Wayne understands pain well.

The traumatic death of the character’s parents spurs his descent into vigilante madness. Most people seek out a support group, but Wayne

someone very good at pretending to be somebody else.”

This cinematic mask allows the actor to shed his personal demons and chase a greater purpose.

Similarly, Batman is a regular man until he dons the mask and becomes a symbol of hope in a lawless city. Pattinson’s performance resonates because he understands his character.

One of the film’s most powerful moments is when Wayne’s butler-confidante, Alfred, asks what his father would think of his violent gig that is damaging the family name, to which he replies, “this is my family legacy. If I don’t do this, then there’s nothing else for me.”

Pattinson said to GQ, “It’s kind of about him trying to find some element of hope in himself and not just the city.”

When asked why he accepted the role, Pattinson simply responded, “It’s a legacy part, right? I like that.”

Cullen keeps Pattinson from this legacy; Wayne allows him to chase it.

Contact Melina Traiforos at traimg21@wfu.edu

beyond simple imagination and books. For this reason, it was not as difficult as it is today to entice children to pick up books.

At the peak of virtual entertainment and the internet, children have many more choices in which to learn academic material and keep themselves occupied. It is easier for the parent and teacher to introduce computer games and online assignments with which to learn and be entertained. This institutes the issue of reliance on technology to facilitate interest in any activity, not just learning. Thus, activities like reading fall by the wayside.

Reading is an activity that sometimes takes a special book to draw them into the activity for eternity. Those who haven’t taken the time or effort to read outside of what was required in school are missing out on the possibility of a new love, which is sincerely disheartening.

Contact Josie Scratchard at scraja20@wfu.edu

THE HOT LIST TOP 10 PEOPLE WHO CAN WRITE A BETTER 'HOT LIST' THAN THE ACTUAL 'HOT LIST' WRITER

1.

Adam Coil

2.

Life section writers

3.

OGB Executive members

4.

Other section editors

5.

Staff writers

6.

Contributing writers

7.

Students who have thought about writing for the OGB

8.

Students who haven't thought about writing for the OGB

9.

Newborn infants

10.

Your pet dog

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Old Gold & Black | Life

Page 16 | Thursday, March 24, 2022

CULTURE

Selinna Tran / Old Gold & Black

O N R E P E AT

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

As we turn to spring, there is no better time to enjoy some light, uptempo tunes.

"Another Sunny Day" by Belle and Sebastian feels like the soundtrack to a montage of a perfect date — with a romp through meadows, picnics at sunset and anything else you could want. As its title suggests, the entire track feels drenched in sunlight, with a burst of solar power in each verse that follows the relaxing instrumental breaks. Try putting this on when you are walking across campus to your favorite class.

MUSIC

FA S H I O N

Last week was such an exciting week for music. In the same stretch, Charli XCX, Sweet Trip, Blade and Ecco 2k, ROSALIA and GAYLE all released major projects.

Perhaps the most shocking release was Sweet Trip's three-hour album, which seems to serve as a farewell soundtrack, now that the band has broken up.

I am not someone who typically listens to draingang music — mainly because of the amount of grief that fans receive on the Internet—butIfoundmyselfenjoyingvarious moments on "Crest", like the penultimate track, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun".

My favorite projects of the week were "MOTOMAMI" and "CRASH". While I have just recently discovered ROSALIA's music, I find her and Charli XCX to be fresh, invigorating figures in pop music, who drew on the hyperpop genre to create gigantic sounds.

Finally,Weatherday and Asian Glow — two of the most experimental figures in the music industry right now — dropped a six-track EP on bandcamp, titled "Weatherglow".

Coming off of his latest performance as the title character in Matt Reeves' "The Batman" and a sure-to-be iconic GQ cover, Robert Pattinson celebrated his recent success during a party thrown for him by GQ and Dior.

Maintaining the dark, angsty aura of his on-screen character, Pattinson donned an all-black Dior suit with a black sweater underneath.

On the guest list were stars from various backgrounds, like Quavo, Phoebe Bridgers, Andrew Garfield, Awol Erizku and Taylour Paige.

The dinner party highlighted some of the best artists and designers today, but I think Angus Cloud — known as Fez from "Euphoria" — stole the show with his vibrant sweater vest and baggy cargo pants.

More than anything, though, "Tokyo Ueno Station" is a wonderful feat of art.

The novel flows seamlessly through time and space, opting for a more relished form over a typical linear format, because "life is nothing like a story in a book... There may be an ending, but there is no end."

I recommend this book for those readers who care more about discovering a character than witnessing a gigantic plot. Kazu is a protagonist who is going to be difficult to forget.

L I T E R AT U R E

"Tokyo Ueno Station" by Yu Miri is a novel that refuses to let a single word go to waste.

Only 193 pages, it won the National Book Award for Translated Literature in 2020 and continues to gain popularity in the west for its blend of the surreal and the painstakingly real. It tells the story of a disenfranchised ghost reflecting on his own disappointment with the afterlife, which he expected would bring him comfort if not peace.

It brings to life social issues of contemporary Japan while also unearthing major historical events. By focusing on the tragic story of a man born into poverty, Miri's work gives us a special glimpse of a relatively unnoticed

By Selinna Tran via @ogbcartoons on Instagram aspect of Japan.

Adam Coil / Old Gold & Black

FROM ADAM, My hope with this section is to curate a biome every week which highlights stories that might otherwise go unrecorded. This section is not for those moments which will go down in history books for posterity, but instead, it is meant to illuminate the microoccurrences which shape and influence the culture from the outside in.

Of course, not everything can be covered, but I aim to present you, my wonderful readers, with paths that are exciting to explore.

May this section serve not only as a rundown of special events, but a starting point for discovering your next niche.

Exploring the success of 'The Sandman' Neil Gaiman's experiment in genre-melding became a cult classic in comics JOSIE SCRATCHARD Life Editor

Neil Gaiman — an author known for “Coraline” (2002), “The Graveyard Book” (2008) and “American Gods” (2001) — has been a sensation in the comic book industry with his award-winning series “The Sandman” (1989), first published over 30 years ago. However, “The Sandman” is now more mainstream than ever because it is being released as a Netflix show this year.

DC Comics originally confronted Gaiman after publishing his short comic series “Black Orchid” (1987) to reinvent Gardner Fox’s original “Sandman” (1939) series. Fox’s “Sandman” included a typical superhero origin story in which the main character, Wesley Dodds, used a gas mask with scientifically-advanced elements to pursue enemies in his nightmares.

Gaiman altered the stereotypical hero story by flipping the trope of the superhero on its head, reinventing the original story and characters. In his version, the protagonist of the comic — called Morpheus, Sandman and Dream, among other names — is the personification of dreams coupled with darkness that creates layers of mysteries and secrets waiting to be unfolded. He acts as a common thread that connects to the storyline, winding the seemingly-disjointed story around his presence.

Morpheus is an enthralling protagonist because readers are not given his origin sto-

ry. As the comic progresses, Morpheus’ traits and past are introduced through secondary characters’ experiences rather than his own.

Due to this stylistic decision, his identity remains largely concealed to the reader.

Gaiman’s character choices create depth within the story and allow the vast abyss of possibilities to remain open for Morpheus’ character arc, simultaneously formulating an ominous air around the character.

Hot off the press, “The Sandman” became a resounding success that paved the way for a new form of visual storytelling despite the altered relations between Gaiman and his

Photo courtesy of Flickr

illustrators throughout the first several issues.

“The Sandman” story itself was an experiment in narration, as Gaiman used the elements of comics to his advantage. Pages and strips were organized to draw the reader’s eye to specific aspects of the story that added profundity to the story and characters. For instance, a continuous image would travel across the bottom of two adjacent pages, adding a linear dimension to the storyline and implying an ongoing sense of motion in the tale’s background events.

What makes “The Sandman” so successful in the art of storytelling is its brilliant weaving of vignettes which function within reinventions of comic genres. Each issue may feel like a disconnected and inconclusive tale, but the conclusion of a volume of issues ties each story together. In doing so, aspects of Morpheus’ character are revealed, and the greater motive of the story comes to light.

Gaiman’s ability to execute this method of storytelling in collaboration with his illustrators improves over the course of the comic, constantly refining and developing the narrative. Not to mention the fact that the addition of interwoven genres among these vignettes carries the reader through the explorative journey that Gaiman himself is experiencing as he creates.

The writing and presentation of “The Sandman” propelled comics beyond the status quo — literary storytelling became a plausible goal for authors who were only

ever regarded as comic writers rather than anything more. Gaiman’s work inspired a new generation of literary fiction in comics like “The Walking Dead” (2003). Additionally, his choice to intertwine horror, dark fantasy and thriller excursions placed Gaiman’s tales at the helm of a brand new ecosystem of literature in both comics and graphic novels.

It is no wonder that “The Sandman” is being adapted into a Netflix series with high hopes for success. Netflix is the perfect platform to flesh out stories told in the fashion that Gaiman has adopted — especially those functioning within the comic landscape. Each episode can be dedicated to an issue with an emphasis on subtle details that may have been overlooked in the comics, allowing for an enhanced understanding of the tale. Gaiman’s fantastical and horror elements can really shine in the silver screen format — the opportunities for added mysticism in this medium are abundant.

Alas, “The Sandman” concluded years ago, despite the wishes of many fans who would have liked to follow Morpheus for eternity. However, it was essential that the comic end with the bang with which it commenced; otherwise, its integrity may not have prevailed. Netflix has the opportunity to rejuvenate the comic in the social strata — I and others simply hope that justice is delivered to our beloved Morpheus.

Contact Josie Scratchard at scraja20@wfu.edu