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s t u d e n t n e w s pa p e r o f w a s h i n g t o n a n d j e f f e r s o n c o l l e g e w j r e da n d b l ac k . c o m W a s h i n g t o n , P e n n s y lva n i a F e b ru a ry 1 9 , 2 0 2 1
WHAT’S IN THIS WEEK’S PAPER... CURRENT EVENTS Netflix in Feb. 2021 has brought aboard some worth-watching new shows and movies already. -P.8
Students Enjoy the Snow at W&J PAGE 2
DIVERSITY
It’s time we reassess the ways our sex education programs are hindering goals of equity and inclusion of all in society. -P.12
OPINIONS In President Biden’s inaugural address, he appealed to Congress and the American people alike, calling for an end to the extreme partisan politics that have become all too common -P.15
SPORTS
The NHL is working overtime to try and fit games into the schedule later to make up for the games that [the teams with COVID-19 outbreaks] are missing. -P.17
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Courtesy @wjcollege on Instagram
2 CAMPUS NEWS
19 February 2021
Red & Black
Students Enjoy the Snow at W&J John Kiebler Red & Black Staff
With the COVID-19 pandemic preventing large indoor gatherings, it can be difficult to find activities to do with a group of friends during the winter months. However, at Washington & Jefferson College, there are ample opportu-
nities for outdoor fun in the snow. As long as there are a couple of inches of snow on the ground, students can sled ride, build snowmen and have snowball fights outside while adhering to CDC guidelines. There are several hills on campus that make for great sledding hills, but the Old Main lawn seems to be the most favorable spot. Every day of the week, you can find groups of students meeting to sled down the steep, long Old Main hill. Alex Strain ’22, who joined some friends sledding over the weekend, stated, “Old Main has the best hill for sledding. It was exhilarating. I felt like I
was ten years old again.” Strain and his friends also discovered the snow was able to be packed tightly and made for great snowball snow. They held a mini snowball fight with each other. Other students noted that outdoor snow activities are an escape from the challenges of the pandemic. Katelyn Walzer ’22 said, “Going sledding made me forget about the craziness and anxieties caused by the pandemic for a minute; It brought back some normalcy and fun that I haven’t felt in a while.” Katie Hahn ’22 mentioned, “While the pandemic guidelines are tough on campus, being able to go outside in the snow with
some friends brought me a lot of fun, and I can’t wait to do it again.” Some students have utilized snow activities, even simply going for a walk in the snow, as a break from schoolwork and studying. Cam Spicer ’22 spent time outside this weekend as a study break. Spicer recommends wearing several layers of clothes and gloves. He added, “Sledding was a fun treat last weekend. I suggest having hot chocolate ready as a post-sledding beverage. It was a great way to end the night.” With several more days of anticipated snow this week, the weekend looks good for more sledding and snow fun.
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@wjrednblack Courtesy @wjcollege on Instagram
Washington & Jefferson College has seen an unusual amount of snow this winter.
19 February 2021
Red & Black
CAMPUS NEWS 3
Student Spotlight: Liam “the Beef” Sullivan Reilly Oliveiro Red & Black Editor
Liam Sullivan ‘21 is a senior attending his last semester at Washington & Jefferson College. He is from Hingham, Massachusetts which is just outside of Boston. He attended the prestigious all-boys school Xavierian Brothers in Massachusetts. Along with being a fan of Boston sports teams, like the Celtics, Patriots and Bruins, he keeps to his New England roots by drinking Dunkin coffee daily. Sullivan is majoring in history. When asked about why he choose this major, he responded, “There are many reasons why I chose this major. To begin with, I was always interested in history in high school and always wanted to pursue my education in that direc-
Courtesy Liam Sullivan
Sullivan is finishing his senior year.
tion. There were also some awesome teachers that helped me lead the way such as Dr. List who ended up becoming my advisor and a big help in my education.” Once Sullivan graduates, he is planning on attending grad school. His main preference is to attend school at Colorado University Boulder. When asked why that was one of his main
“I am so grateful for the relationships I’ve made and friendships that have been created” preferences, he said, “Along with it being such a good school and having the academics I desire, I also think it would be a great opportunity to experience life in other parts of the United States. The mountains and landscapes of Colorado make me quiver with joy and excitement.” Sullivan is a brother of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity and the W&J men’s lacrosse team. He has been a part of these associations since his freshman year and plans on going through with both until he graduates. When asked why he joined a fraternity, he said, “It was not something I was typically interested in when I entered the school. However, it was a great opportunity to get more involved on campus and also be with some of the best friends I have made on this campus.” When asked about lacrosse he said, “I have been playing lacrosse for the majority of my life. Where I grew up, it is a big sport in the area and when I had the opportunity to play at a high-
Courtesy Liam Sullivan
In Sullivan’s off-time, he enjoys puzzles and dazzling his friends with card tricks.
er level, it was something I absolutely wanted to do. I have had so many great memories playing the sport and spending time with my teammates on and off the field.” Sullivan is very excited to graduate this spring and it has been something on his mind during this very interesting year. He said, “Although this has been a strange and unconventional year I have loved my time at school and I am excited to finish this journey that I started four years ago. I am so grateful for the relationships I’ve made and the friendships that have been cre-
ated during my time at Washington & Jefferson College.” When not practicing, studying, or playing outside, Sullivan enjoys a multitude of hobbies. Along with reading and writing poetry, he loves doing magic tricks with cards. “I have always been a person that has sought out to amaze those around me and after I watched David Blaine I thought to myself ‘I want to do that.’ The reactions I get from my friends make all the hours of practice worth it!” Sullivan also likes to complete puzzles on his off time especially of his favorite things: puppies.
4 CAMPUS NEWS
19 February 2021
Red & Black
Upcoming Career Service Events
Event:
Fridays Food for Thought: Career
Event:
Pathways Lunch & Learn Series –
Career Pathways - Virtual Information “Table” - Southern Teachers Agency
Leveraging LinkedIn
Date:
Wednesday, March 3
Date:
Friday, February 26
Time:
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Time:
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Type:
Virtual Event: Virtual – Go to the Handshake
Type:
Virtual – Go to the Handshake Events Calendar to access the Zoom link
Description:
Events Calendar for the Zoom link
Description:
Career
Pathways
is
Virtual
Career Pathways presents Friday’s Food for
Information
Thought, a Lunch & Learn series designed
semester, since employers cannot come to
to strengthen your skills, benefit you as a
you on campus, we are bringing them to you
current college student and into the years
virtually!
after graduation! Join Jami and Rachel each week to hear about a variety of relevant and useful topics!
“Tables”
hosting
throughout
the
Ali Buchanon, Recruitment Coordinator, will be hosting this session, to present you with information and employment opportunities with Southern Teachers Agency.
This week Jami will be discussing Leveraging LinkedIn! So, grab your lunch and “Zoom” in!
Southern Teachers helps independent schools in the South hire talented teachers and leaders so that our member schools may offer the best possible education to their students.
To access the Zoom link, go to the Handshake Events calendar!
For more information visit: https://southernteachers.com/
19 February 2021
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Follow @wandjcareerservices on Instagram!
Campus News 5
Speak Out: What did you enjoy about the Winter Fair? “Seeing a lot of people enjoying themselves. It’s something that you don’t get to appreciate during the pandemic, so it was special to see a socially distant gathering of happy people.” - Devin Black ‘22
The Career Services Office would like to know if you are following us on Instagram? If you are not, you definitely should be! Not only will you
“Going ice skating at W&J was something I never thought I would do, but I had such a fun time attempting to not trip and fall over my friends.” - Garrett Barilar ‘21
be kept well-informed about the events and programs we sponsor, but you will be entered into raffles all semester long. Names will be drawn from our followers for great prizes such as: a limited edition HydroFlask, Starbucks gift cards, W&J swag, and much more!
“Hot Bunz served delicious cinnamon buns, and it’s not every day you get to wear ice skates on pavement.” - Casey Ruppen ‘21
6 CAMPUS NEWS
19 February 2021
Red & Black
Meet the Editorial Board
Distribution Manager: John Kiebler John will be our distribution editor this semester. John is from Baltimore, Maryland, and he is a junior at Washington & Jefferson College. He is an accounting major and Spanish minor. John is the President of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Additionally, he is involved with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. John stated, “I am excited to get involved with the Red & Black this semester and play a role in getting campus-related information out to students, professors, and faculty members.”
Red & Black Established 1909 Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Campus News Editor Current Events Editor Diversity Editor Opinions Editor Sports Editor Social Media Manager Website Design Manager Distribution Manager Interim Faculty Advisor
Marcy Saldivar Erin Herock Reilly Oliverio Lauren Phillips Amanda Fitzpatrick Paul Collier Nick Krugh Grace Depaul Raheem Clemons john kiebler Kellin Cavanaugh
19 February 2021
Red & Black
Current Events 7
Current Events
Avalanche in Utah Kills Four Skiers
Courtesy RootsRated
Four skiers die in a Millcreek Canyon avalanche and four are rescued.
Lily Bonasso Red & Black Staff
On Feb. 13, 2021, an avalanche occurred in a backcountry ski area of Millcreek Canyon near Salt Lake City,
Utah. Two separate groups of ages ranging between early 20s to late 30s had begun skiing that morning despite warnings of high-risk avalanche conditions. Authorities indicate that the avalanche was most likely caused by these groups, totaling eight people. Sgt. Melody Cutler states that a hang-up call was received by the Unified Police Department of Salt Lake City around 11:40 a.m. followed by a report of an avalanche in the Wilson Basin region. A Life Flight helicopter responded to the scene and
were able to rescue the four skiers that had been able to dig their way out of the avalanche. The other four skiers were deceased and buried beneath the snow. Utah has had three fatal avalanches already this year, and authorities stress that it is imperative that skiers pay close attention to warnings especially when venturing into backcountry areas. Utah Governor Spencer Cox made a statement, “We are grateful to the first responders and others who engaged in this rescue and recovery effort.
With avalanche danger high right now, please exercise extreme caution.” Elsewhere in the country, skiers have been caught in fatal avalanches. Three local officials were killed in an avalanche while skiing in Colorado, and a body of a skier was recovered in White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire. It is vital that skiers monitor avalanche warnings closely, pay attention to the weather, and develop safety plans to ensure their well-being while skiing.
8 Current Events
19 February 2021
Best Netflix Shows in February 2021 Red & Black
Courtesy Decider
Season 2 of “Tiffany Hadish Presents: The Ready” was released in Feb. 2021.
Sofia Jenkins Red & Black Staff
Netflix in Feb. 2021 has brought aboard some worth-watching new shows and movies already. At the top of this list is the second season of Tiffany Hadish’s comedy series called “Tiffany Hadish Presents: The Ready.” The premise
of the show is that Hadish is inviting comedians to the show that have not broken A-list stardom yet. They are all up-and-coming comedians who Hadish gives a chance to show their talent on her stage. In season one, all of the comedians she brought on the show were women. In her fight to bring more chances and opportunities to women in the comedian arena. In the second season, Hadish is features all Black comedians for the same reason she had all female comedians in the first season. In the show, each of the comedians gives their backstory and performs a set on
Hadish’s stage. Since the second season was filmed during the pandemic, a lot of the comedians’ sets are centered around that. In this season, some of the featured guests are Godfrey and Dean Edwards, who Hadish begins the first episode speaking about and showing their sets. There are seven episodes in this season with each running for around twenty minutes. Not only has this show entered the Netflix arena in Feb. 2021, but so have a few other television shows and movies. These include; “Love Daily,” which is a television show that follows
12 different teen love stories; “Zac and Mia,” which is another television show which shows the lives and interactions of two cancer patients living in the same hospital; and “Invisible City,” which is a Netflix Original television show that is centered around a detective trying to solve a murder but is then drawn into an invisible world on the break of battle. After taking many movies and shows off Netflix at the end of 2020, Netflix has been working hard to add in new movies and shows to make up for it. Who knows what Netflix will have in store for the rest of Feb.!
Diversity 9
19 February 2021 Red & Black
Diversity The Cruel History of Medical Experiments Akansha Das Red & Black Staff
In her victory speech on Nov. 7, Vice-President elect Kamala Harris remarked that often the most overlooked women in women’s fight for equality and part of the “backbone of our democracy” are Black women. Sadly, this theme is not isolated to politics nor this time period. The wariness of the Black population regarding the COVID-19 vaccination is wholly understandable given the deep history of medical racism from the nonconsensual use of specimens in Henrietta Lacks’ case to the mass injections and refusal to treat syphilis among Black patients in the Tuskegee experiments. Yet the history of experimentation on Black people goes much further than that. The atrocious gynecological experimentation that occurred on Black women are the roots of false stereotypes and perceptions about Black women - including the “strong Black woman” stereotype and belief that Black women have thicker skin and fewer nerve endings. Because of this, it’s now more important than ever to examine this aspect of Black history in
order to understand how this history affects medicine today and develop solutions equally as systemic as the problem. In her book “Medical Bondage,” Dr. Deidre Cooper Owens outlines a “medical superbody” myth that emerged as she analyzed published studies in medical journals of the slave era and other historical accounts. Black women were experimented on by physicians like Dr. John Marion Sims to not only advance the field of gynecology but their own careers and reputation as well. (Owens notes that the number of studies that were published after medical experimentation on Black women began skyrocketed and the vesicovaginal fistulae procedure and Sims protractor are both attributed to Sims). As physicians began performing dangerous and painful surgeries on Black women, they became familiar with the inner and outer anatomy of a woman’s body - recognizing that Black women and White women were entirely anatomically the same - after all, they hoped to apply the methods and procedures that they used on Black women to advance care for White women they treated in practice. And yet to justify reasons why Black women could “tolerate” the procedures they performed on them without pain medication, they made myths about “the nerve endings of Black women being stronger” and their “skin being thicker” making them more likely to with-
stand pain. Enslaved women were not just experimented on nonconsensually and without pain medication. They were also used as surgical assistants to help with the very same procedures that they themselves were recovering from. Dr. Jones highlights three women - Anarcha, Besty and Lucy - the known “mothers of gynecology” - who were just as instrumental as Sims in progressing the field of women’s health and gynecology and developing methods and surgical techniques still in use today. Examining the individual stories of these Black women and the complexities they experience shed light on the true strength and pain among these women. From the woman who
left a trail of blood while trying to scale a fence to escape after just having a surgery to the women trying to raise a family with the men they loved when not burdened by slave duties and sexual abuse from their masters, their stories are wrought with trauma and pain. Yet they are also filled with daily attempts to struggle and survive and withstand the injustices they face. Truly understanding the complexities of their lives and not singularly viewing these women from the lens of a victim but also the survivors and advancers of gynecology that they were helps us recognize that while many of our institutions were founded on slavery and the backs of enslaved women - it cannot continue this way.
Courtesy Horror Fuels
In 2018, Dr. Sims’ statue was removed from Central Park due to his career in the 19th century of conducting experimental operations on female slaves.
10 Diversity
Red & Black
19 February 2021
Ending the Era of Derogatory Mascots Moll Kilbourne Red & Black Staff
Within the discourse of derogatory mascots, treatment of Native Americans must be considered with particular regard to their country’s history—both in past treatments and current. Often the first retort from white people or non-Native folks when approached with banning their depictions for sports teams, brands etc., is the mascot of Notre Dame University. While this is an example of cultural characterization being used as a mascot, regarding the past treatment of Irish people with the current treatment of Irish people reveals a stark difference from those treatments of Native peoples. The United States of America was founded on the land and through the blood of Native Americans. Every inch of “our” soil is theirs. The terrorism expelled onto Native Americans is not limited to the past either. Conditions on reservations remain harrowing. Inaccessibility to food, unclean water and overall lack of basic human resources is evident across their tribes and communities. When we regard both the past and present, it should frame our perception of mascots that appropriate Native Americans. Like many minority groups that undergo insertion to the white-supremacist gaze, Native folks experienced rampant racism still palpable in our modern society. Prime examples of this? Native American “mascots.” Take, first, the
Washington “Redskins”— this team has arguably been viewed with the most scrutiny. It is understandable considering the overtly racist name. The term “redskin” was developed into a slur as white colonists worked to erase the Native populations in the United States. Its use is a disgusting level of othering meant to remove humanity. A second mascot to be viewed is “Chief Wahoo” of the Cleveland “Indians.” Ohio chose a doublewhammy of racism with the name of the team and the name of the mascot. Colonist-in-chief Christopher Columbus incorrectly deemed Native Americans as Indians because he believed he had discovered the country of India rather than the United States. Characteristic of much of American history is this level of ignorance that becomes willful as true history is distorted to fit the white-supremacist gaze. Not only is the name derogatory, but the image that had been used until very recently of “Chief Wahoo” was horrifyingly racist. His skin was as red as red could be, with a large nose and a feathered headband. This image shows different aspects of racism that are still being consumed and internalized in our society. Rhetoric and visual aids are the devil’s pair of whitesupremacy in working to ingrain us with stereotypes. It is an added level of disturbance that a group of people that has been entirely consumed by the non-Native civilization of the United States must also be subjected to exploitation and commodification. If it takes laws that ban any human depiction to be used as mascots to prevent either of these atrocities to be applied to Native Americans, then that will be that. But it is a disservice to the Native
community to not understand their desire to not be depicted in racist,
exploitative ways that separates other human depictions in mascots.
Courtesy Seattle Times
Rep. Debra Lekanoff, D-Bow, brings forward a bill to ban the use of Native American names, symbols or images as public school mascots, logos or team names.
19 February 2021
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Diversity 11
Myanmar Coup Ousted Aung San Suu Kyi Dylan Bertovich Red & Black Staff
Born in 1945, Aung San Suu Kyi seemed to be destined to change the fate of Myanmar. She is the daughter of Aung San, who led Burma to freedom at the end of the Second World War. After the death of Aung San, Suu Kyi’s mother Khin Kyi accepted an ambassadorship to India and Nepal. Eventually Suu Kyi studied at Oxford and lived and worked in the U.K. and New York City. This is when Suu Kyi married scholar Michael Aris, later having two children. Then, in 1988, her life changed forever when she returned home to Burma to care for her ailing mother. It was this year that Burma was gripped with a change in the military junta and mass democracy protests. Suu Kyi formed the National League for Democracy (NLD) party and began to push for democracy. This led to her imprisonment in 1989. During this imprisonment she used nonviolent and traditional Buddhist protests to fight for change. This fight led to her winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 and Suu Kyi set up a health and education fund with the prize money. From this period until 2010, Suu Kyi would spend most of her time under house arrest. There were some major events during this time including a 1996 attack on her convoy in which the government paid the equivalent of $0.50 for 200 men to attack her group. In 2010, Suu Kyi was released;
this was the culmination of years of pressure from the west. In 2012, Suu Kyi ran for election and gained a seat in the Myanmar house and in 2015 she ran again, becoming the leader of the country. She had to become the State Counsellor because the constitution bars her from the presidency as she is the mother and widow of a foreigner. This
seemed like the end of controversy for the now senior Suu Kyi; however, things under military rule are not always as they seem. Since 2012, there has been great violence in Myanmar based on the Muslim and Buddhist areas of the country. This violence has led to the refugees, known as the Rohingya, having to flee Myanmar to guarantee safety. Suu Kyi,
while setting up commissions, has done almost nothing to stop the violence. It may be too late now, as Suu Kyi has again been imprisoned by junta. They accused her of fraud and stealing an election - possibly thanks to our own issues. One may hope that the Biden-Harris administration keeps the pressure on Myanmar to bring democracy back to the world.
Courtesy Oslo News
Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar democracy icon, has been ousted in a military coup and is facing charges.
12 Diversity
Red & Black
19 February 2021
Sex Education Needs Diversity Courtesy Yale School of Medicine
Akansha Das Red & Black Staff
We’ve all heard the jokes about the ways high school and middle school does very little to prepare us for the real world. Yet, arguably, giving youth information about sex that critically shapes their attitudes about their own sexuality and sexual practices throughout life is one of the most important aspects of school. The lack of emphasis on pleasure, sex-positivity and rape and sexual assault in school sex ed has been increasingly highlighted in recent years and such negative messaging around sex ed can impact attitudes about one’s own sexuality later in life. Yet sex education’s correlation to diversity, or lack thereof, is not talked about to the same degree. It’s time we reassess the ways our sex education programs are hindering goals of equity and inclusion of all in society. Sex education has long been disturbingly heteronormative, and this is clearly failing America’s LGBTQ+ youth. The GLSEN 2013 National School Climate Survey reported that only five percent of students have
received positive representation of LGBTQ+ related topics. The Human Rights Campaign reports that LGBTQ+ youth are two to three times more likely to report having gotten someone pregnant and are more likely to report contracting HIV than their heterosexual counterparts. Additionally, LQBTQ+ individuals report being more likely to be sexually assaulted, experience dating violence, have sex while under the influence of drugs and alcohol and are less likely to report using condoms. Every LGBTQ+ individual has their own timeline and journey to coming out and providing medically accurate information, acknowledging multiple gender identities and sexualities in positive lights, and using gender-neutral terms such as “partner” and “they/ them” benefits all students. Additionally, the sex education boys receive is vastly different from what girls receive. According to educator and author Rosalind Wiseman, 46 percent of sexually active boys did not receive formal instruction about contraception in comparison to 33 percent of sexually active girls. With the U.S. having the highest rates of teen pregnancy in the Western world (according to the CDC), this gender disparity in sex ed is highly troubling. Beyond snippets of “no means no,” boys are not taught to get consent to the degree that is justly necessary. Sexual encounters that fall in the “gray-zone of consent” in which the one person felt the encounter was consensual and the other felt uncomfortable are all too common and reducing this requires more comprehensive education about what consent truly looks like. Due to its taboo history and the inherent discomfort of the subject matter, sex ed can lend itself to biases and
the teacher’s own opinions when being taught. Yet, it’s important that school districts not only implement comprehensive and unbiased sex ed but do implement LGBTQ+-inclusive sex ed that educates all genders equally. Arming students with information about STI protection, contraception and pleasure does not increase the likelihood that teens will start engag-
ing in sex earlier, but rather ensures that when they inevitably do start having sex, they will be safe and at reduced risk for pregnancies, STIs, and abuse. It’s time we take steps to ensure ALL individuals are included in that reality. Originally published in The Women’s+ Health Collective Blog (a comprehensive gynecological and sexual medicine clinic in West Michigan).
Courtesy Akansha Das
Education about gender and sexuality is critical to include in sex education in schools.
19 February 2021 Red & Black
Diversity 13
The LGBTQ+ Movement Under Pres. Biden Molly Kilbourne Red & Black Staff
It is a common misconception for us to view representation as progress. While I celebrate the leaders who have succeeded in their work to attain their leadership roles, it does not end the work that still needs to be done. Those who exist as minorities in our society must always be active in spaces where political decisions are being made. Their absence has allowed for centuries of injustice to be carried out. For this reason, I also celebrate the new LGBTQ+ leaders in Biden’s administration. However, it must be noted that while these are powerful positions, our governmental structure still affords the most power to President Biden and so they are not guaranteed decision-making status. We should all internalize this so that we can check Biden when he inevitably fails. He should not be cast as some hero of civil rights when his history as a politician is rampant with racism: when discussing mandated school integration, Biden stated it was, “the most racist concept you can come up with.” In reference to Barack Obama, Biden described him as, “the first sort of mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean.” While this article questions the LGBTQ+ movement and how our country could be a global leader on this front, I criticize Biden because he is our commander-in-chief which marks the highest seat of power of the United States. We cannot be a global leader on any civil rights front, especially not the LGBTQ+ movement,
with a corrupt president. The Black community has always been at the forefront of civil rights’ movements— race and LGBTQ+ alike, so Biden’s racism prevents any progress on either. Citizens have always carried the burden of progression. Those without power must fight for it, another aspect of governmental corruption. If we ex-
isted in a true democracy, privileges and rights would not be intangible entities—these are not things to be taken away or given. They are essential. To ensure that oppressed groups maintain power and autonomy, our entire country must be dismantled and reconstructed. In the short term, we must check Biden. We must speak
out when he does not act in our favor. We must speak out when he does not act in others’ favor. Above all, he must be held accountable for actions that infringe on our existence. Then, and only then, can we begin to push the LGBTQ+ movement, and all other civil rights’ movements, forward.
Courtesy Education News
President Biden must be held accountable to support the LGBTQ+ movement and all civil rights’ movements for progress to occur.
14 Opinions
19 February 2021
opinions Red & Black
Trump Admits His Guilt In Avoiding Trial Moll Kilbourne Red & Black Staff
It becomes almost hilarious that we have allowed Trump to disenfranchise democracy for his presidency and still afford him more after he has been elected out of office. What does it say about our democratic system that a man on trial for inciting violence on a national level can decide not to participate in the trial and then be acquitted? If democracy can be decided without direct interaction with an individual, is it not entirely devoid of substance? Trump has proven over again that he will never do anything that he does not want to do. Electing not to participate in his impeachment
trial is a slap in the face to the entire country. Most importantly, it reveals how corrupt he remains at his very core. We are responsible for electing a man into office with no political experience, after public displays of racism, after copious amounts of lies that rival Pandora’s Box, after colluding with foreign governments, and after slandering other political officials. Under his command, hundreds of thousands of human beings died during a grossly mismanaged pandemic and violence was incited on the front steps of our supposed democratic nation. And now with this refusal, he has sealed himself as the antithesis of the very country he was elected to lead. Choosing to abstain from his impeachment trial should be considered an immediate admission of guilt. It is a federal crime to fail to show at one’s trial, so on that basis,
Courtesy NBC News
Democrats argue for Trump’s impeachment.
Trump should be charged with yet another federal offense. But it is painfully obvious that he is outside the bounds of democracy. In true fascist stature, Trump will retain his social power among his followers and his political power as a dictator of
E ditorial P olicy The Red & Black is the official, registered student-produced newspaper of Washington & Jefferson College. It is published Fridays with the exception of exams and break periods. Editorials are based upon the opinion of the respective writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper, the
College or its students, faculty, or administration. The Red & Black welcomes all reader contributions, but reserves the right to reject letters of pure promotional nature, as well as letters which do not meet its standard of integrity, accuracy and decency. The Red & Black also reserves the right to edit submissions.
individual desire. His presidency, his existence, should indicate to us all the flaws in our government. It is truly unbelievable the extent to which Trump has remained outside all checks and balances designed for his exact position.
C ontac t Letters are due on the Monday before publication and may not exceed 600 words. All letters must include the author’s name, campus box and telephone number. Names may be withheld upon request under certain conditions on rare occasions. All letters may be submitted to redandblackstaff@jay. washjeff.edu.
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19 February 2021
Red & Black
Opinions 15
Bipartisanship Helps Congess Function Efficiently Cassie Carr Red & Black Staff
Congressional unity is at an alltime low. Consider, for instance, the percentage of congressional voting that follows party lines. In 1950, approximately 40 percent of votes followed party lines. This number has since spiked, however, rising to nearly 65 percent in 2020, according to recent data collected by Medium. This spike in partisanship is also visible in Medium’s data representing differences in congressional ideologies. There was
only about a 0.4 difference between the ideologies of the average Republican and Democrat in 1950. In 2020, this number was closer to 0.85, an increase of nearly 112 percent. So, what are the consequences of such a severe partisan divide? Well, prime amongst them is certainly the sharp decline in congressional productivity. The 80th Congress, held from 1947 to 1948, had 3,186 bills introduced in the Senate. Of these, 1,670 bills were passed, meaning that about 52 percent of all introduced bills actually made it outside the walls of Congress. Contrastingly, during the 115th Congress, held from 2017 to 2018, while a similar amount of bills was
introduced to the Senate, 3,874, only 583 of those bills were passed. In other words, during the 115th Congress, only 15 percent of introduced bills were passed, accounting for a near 71 percent decline in productivity between 1947 and 2017. In President Biden’s inaugural address, he appealed to Congress and the American people alike, calling for an end to the extreme partisan politics that have become all too common: “To restore the soul and secure the future of America requires so much more than words. It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy: Unity.” But with the thin majorities at play in this most recently elected 117th Congress, is unity really in sight for
the country? It seems unlikely. In the House, Democrats only hold a 222211 majority, meaning that it would only take a small group of dissenters to block legislation that might have otherwise passed. An even more dismal story holds true for the Senate, where the divide sits at 50-50, meaning any dissent on either side could also mean the end to any proposed bills. Thus, while President Biden’s message of unity is certainly a welcome change in tone from the previous administration, its weight seems minimal at present. He said it best himself, bipartisanship is going to require “much more than words,” and as of now, that appears to be the only thing at play.
Courtesy The CT Mirror
Congress votes to approve legislation for COVID-19 emergency response funding in one of the few overwhelmingly unified votes in recent years.
16 Opinions
Red & Black
19 February 2021
‘Beautiful Boy’ Shows Intimate View of Addiction Moll Kilbourne Red & Black Staff
This 2018 adaptation of two memoirs written by the father and his son who becomes addicted to drugs and alcohol will remain one of the most important pieces of art in this century. Not only are we living in a society that has never been more saturated with drug use, our college rests in the center of the opioid epidemic. Deaths from drug overdoses have risen consistently, with over 46,000 dead in 2018. To preface my review of the film, I will assert the most essential element of all three works: humanity is not something to be taken away from those who suffer from addiction. David Scheff, played by Steve Carrell, is the father of Nic Scheff, played by Timothée Chalamet. We are invited into a visual recollection of Nic’s childhood, the charmingly eccentric qualities that overarch his identity, and the complications that arise when trying to raise a child. From a young age Nic is burdened with the pain of divorce which both he and his father maintain through their entire lives. It would be redundant to state the emotional nature of the film, but I will address the precise sympathy inspired when watching their relationship on screen. The love that parents have for their children cannot be tarnished. There is nothing that matters more to David than his son so he must adapt his love for Nic to be separate from the choices that make him ill. Back and forth we are ushered from Nic’s childhood to the adolescence that marks his descent into addiction. Such a disjunct presentation conveys the impossible task of reconciling the two Nics: they exist
in one body, but are entirely different people. It is acutely painful to witness the insatiable urge to save those we love even when you cannot do so. Addiction is not contained to an individual. It is a monster that haunts all those in it’s proximity. It is unbelievable the lengths to which viewers’ emotions are pushed while we attach sympathy to David, to Nic, to Nic’s mother, Nic’s stepmother, girlfriends, siblings... In this tumult of feeling urgent questions are raised: why are we not taught about drug use? The dire consequences, the pressures, the nature of drugs as they exist? Why do we not talk about drug use outside of “just say no”? Most clearly portrayed in the film is the ineffectiveness of this mantra. Restricting knowledge and resources only secures the possibility of drug use. David and Nic both chose to make their pain visible for society to safely attain intimacy with addiction. We are allowed to see its effects, impacts, and repercussions. We are taught to extend compassion towards addicts burdened with an illness so misunderstood that tens of thousands die every year. Addiction seems hopeless (it is hopeless in many ways, as David realizes he cannot save his son) but it is not entirely. Work can be done in the smallest areas to help those afflicted with illness. Compassion should be first. I am thinking about the woman who passed away on our campus two years ago from a drug overdose. An already terrible situation was circumvented by the disgusting reaction of our peers. She was dehumanized, disregarded, mocked. Drug use is taboo because we internalize it as abstract. Even though we may not experience it first-hand, it is a terror and people need help. Go with kindness to watch this film.
Courtesy Amazon
Steve Carrell and Timothee Chalamet act in Amazon’s movie Beautiful Boy.
sports
19 February 2021
Red & Black
17 Sports
NHL Creates New COVID-19 Protocols Sofia Jenkins Red & Black Staff
During the last few weeks of the National Hockey League (NHL) season, there have been some major changes to all of the teams’ schedules. On Feb. 8, the Philadelphia Flyers became the fifth team in the past two weeks to have their games put on pause due to COVID-19 outbreaks on their team and/or staff. The other four teams on pause are the Buffalo Sabres, Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild and the New Jersey Devils. Now, what does this mean for the teams who were supposed to play these five teams? Well, the NHL is working overtime to try and fit games into the schedule later to make up for the games that these teams are missing. Also, since these outbreaks have caused a dozen different games to be postponed this week, the NHLPA has established more safety protocols to decrease this spreading of the virus. Some of these new protocols include point of care (POC) rapid testing that
will be performed on game days in effort to prevent on-ice transmission of the Coronavirus. They included this new protocol because in the cases of the Devils and the Sabres, the virus may have been transmitted during the game. On-ice officials who officiated the games tested positive as well as multiple players from each of the teams. Another new protocol is that the NHL is reconfiguring seating for previously infected players on each of the teams. The NHL thinks that seating previously infected players with never-before infected players will reduce the outbreak because of the information that a person cannot contract the virus again before 90-days after testing positive for the virus. These rules as of now are in effect until Feb. 28 and are only being enforced in the United States. This means that the teams who are playing in Canada will not have to adhere to these rules because they have not had any COVID-19 outbreaks in any of their teams. The NHL realigned its divisions, just for the 2021 season, with the divisions for teams based in the United States being geographically determined and the Canadian teams comprising one division. The teams play only their divisional opponents which is meant to limit travel and in the case
of Canadian teams, avoid traveling between Canada and the United States and allows those teams to comply with Canadian rules and regulations with respect to Coronavirus social distancing. This concept has worked very well for Canadian teams as those teams have done a more effective job at elim-
inating outbreaks in their organizations. One will have to see how many more games get postponed and how many more teams suffer outbreaks in the upcoming weeks to see if the NHL will have to make impactful and season-shortening changes to the balance of the 2021 season.
Courtesy NHL.com
The Philadelphia Flyers are the latest NHL team to have games postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
18 Sports
Red & Black
19 February 2021
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Win Super Bowl LV
Courtesy Action Rush
Rob Gronkowski scores two touchdowns in Super Bowl LV.
Sofia Jenkins Red & Black Staff
On Feb. 7, history was made. In Super Bowl LV, Tom Brady became the only player in the history of the 101-yearold National Football League (NFL) to win seven Super Bowls, but that is not even the most incredible thing about having seven Super Bowl rings under his belt. Not only is Brady the only player to have seven Super Bowl rings, but now he also has the distinction of having more championship rings than any single franchise in the NFL. The clos-
est franchises to his seven rings are the New England Patriots and the Pittsburg Steelers with six rings each. The NFL initiated the Super Bowl championship game format in 1967. Out of the 55 Super Bowls played, Brady has won 7 of them, that is 12.5 percent of Super Bowls ever. While Brady was in his element of winning, Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs was not used to losing. This was Mahomes’ first loss in a playoff game since 2016 when he was playing in college for Texas Tech and lost to Iowa in a bowl game. Now let’s break down what led to this 31-9 Super Bowl blowout. Brady connected with Rob Gronkowski twice, Antonio Brown once, and Leonard Fournette ran for another touchdown for a total of four touchdowns
for the Buccaneers, plus one field goal. Brady was firing on all cylinders and hitting his favorite guys in the endzone. Mahomes and the Chiefs, on the other hand, were not playing up to the level that we all have accustomed seeing them play over the last 2+ seasons. As much as Mahomes was throwing quality passes to receivers like Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill, his passes were not being completed. The main aspect that the Chiefs struggled with was how they could not hold on to the ball. There were countless times where Mahomes threw an almost perfect pass, but the ball would then bounce off a receiver’s head, chest or hands and would either be intercepted or incomplete. These errors resulted in one interception and many
missed opportunities in the midfield and the endzone, especially on third down. At the middle of the third quarter, Mahomes completed zero passes in seven attempts on third down, a statistic that is very unlike Mahomes. Overall, this Super Bowl was the least competitive we have seen over the last few years. Fans and reporters expected more passing yards from both teams and expected more from Mahomes and the Chiefs defense. While this game was riveting in terms of Brady breaking records, we can all now turn our focus to next year’s season and wonder if Brady will win an eighth NFL Championship or if Mahomes and the Chiefs will be able to bounce back and make the Super Bowl for a third consecutive season.
19 February 2021
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Tom Brady Ranked Among the GOATs
Courtesy The Spun
With his latest Super Bowl LV win and seventh Super Bowl ring, Tom Brady is considered one of the greatest football players of all time.
John Kiebler Red & Black Staff
Michael Jordan. Wayne Gretzky. Serena Williams. Tiger Woods. Barry Bonds. Michael Phelps. Simone Biles. All these athletes spent, in some cases still spend, their entire athletic career dominating their sports, hoisting them to ‘GOAT,’ or “Greatest of All Time,” status. When thinking of the best hockey, basketball, or tennis player ever, there is only one answer that will not raise an argument. Two Sundays
ago, not only did Tom Brady prove he belonged in this elite group, but he also proved his name would be in this discussion forever. Drafted 199th overall in the 2000 NFL Draft, Brady has been playing with a chip on his shoulder since he entered the league. Brady was on nobody’s radar. Not only was he the 7th quarterback taken in his class, but the Patriots had just signed quarterback Drew Bledsoe to the biggest contract in NFL history. So, what did Tom do? He walked up to Patriot’s owner Robert Kraft and said drafting him was the best
decision the organization has ever made. Since then? Tom is a 14x ProBowler, 2x Offensive Player of the Year, 3x League MVP, NFL Comeback Player of the Year Winner (2009), 7x Superbowl Champion, 5x Super Bowl MVP, and has been named to 2 All – Decade Teams (2000s & 2010s). As if a resume this extensive does not already put him at ‘GOAT’ status, Brady still only sees himself as the 199th pick, constantly proving doubters wrong and refusing to be complacent. Although he has taken his talent, leadership, and immense work ethic to Tampa Bay, it is safe to say what he said
to Kraft was right. In his first season at Tampa Bay, and more importantly, first season away from Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots, Tom Brady did the unthinkable. At age 43, in a new system with new coaches and players, Tom transformed the Buccaneers organization from a 7-9, middle-of-the-pack team to Super Bowl Champions in one season. To make matters worse for everyone who is tired of seeing him win, he already confirmed that he will return for his 22nd season, looking to distance himself and his legacy even further from the competition.
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19 February 2021
Last Week’s Scores Feb. 12 Women’s swimming and diving vs. Grove City: 92-124 L
Feb. 13 Men’s basketball at Westminster: 64-63 W Women’s basketball vs. Westminster: 72-53 W Men’s water polo vs. McKendree: 6-24 L Men’s water polo vs. Mount St. Mary’s: 17-10 L
Feb. 16 Men’s swimming and diving vs. Grove City: 69-112 L
Next Week’s Games
Courtesy GoPresidents.com
Feb. 19 Women’s basketball at Thiel: 6:00 PM Women’s swimming and diving at St. Vincent: 6:00 PM
Feb. 20 Men’s water polo vs. Gannon: 1:00 PM Men’s basketball vs. Franciscan: 1:00 PM Men’s water polo at Mercyhurst: 4:00 PM Women’s basketball at Franciscan: 5:00 PM
Feb. 23 Men’s swimming and diving at St. Vincent: 6:00 PM Men’s basketball at Bethany: 6:00 PM
Courtesy GoPresidents.com
