Red & Black
The Free
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 7 , 2 0 2 0
WHAT’S IN THIS WEEK’S PAPER...
Seinor Student Spotlight: Kailee Havrda
DIVERSITY “We are all human. We all have dreams. We all have struggles. But to what degree are we given authority to judge and persecute others for their dreams?” -P.8
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CULTURE “The New York Times and International Bestselling author, Jennifer Niven, tells us a heart-wrenching story of two teenagers who face the biggest inner conflicts anyone can ever really face in her popular and emotional young adult fiction novel.” -P.11
OPINIONS “Last night, the Iowa caucuses occurred and they did not immediately present their results. This has been blamed on inaccuracies in the results and the failure of a phone app.” -P.16
SPORTS “On Sunday, Jan. 26. Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, GiGi, did not survive a helicopter crash on a hillside in Calabasas, CA. The father, daughter duo were on their way to a basketball game and were accompanied by 7 other victims.” -P.19
WJREDANDBLACK.COM
Courtesy Erin Herock
2 Career Services
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7 February 2020
Huntington Learning Center Information Table Date: Monday, February 10 2020 Time: 11:00am - 2:00pm Location: G&T’s Lobby
Courtesy flickr.com
Description: Tiffany Krupa, Director, at the Huntington Learning Center, will be on campus to present employment opportunities to students.
The US Census Bureau Information Table Date: Friday, February 21 2020 Time: 11:00am - 2:00pm Location: G&T’s Lobby
Courtesy Wikimedia
Description: Bill Van Divner will be on campus to offer employment opportunities to students with the US Census Bureau. The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting thousands of peiopl across the country to assist with the 2020 Census count.
7 February 2020
Red & Black
3 Security Logs
Security Logs: January 25 - January 31 Saturday, January 25, 2020
Monday, January 27, 2020
3126 – Informational/Removal – Henry Memorial Center
3144 – Informational/Found property – G&T’s
3127 – Informational/Odor of marijuana – Monroe Hall
3145 – Informational/Suspicious activity – Lincoln Lot
3128 – Informational/Noise complaint – Bica Ross Hall
3146 – Informational/Other – 127 E. Chestnut St.
3129 – Informational/Unsecured door or window – Washington Hall 3131 – Informational/Odor of marijuana – 127 E. Chestnut St. 3132 – Disciplinary referral/Alcohol consumption/possession by minor – 135 E. Chestnut St. 3133 – Informational/Odor of marijuana – 211 E. Chestnut St. 3134 – Informational/Odor of marijuana – 325 E. Chestnut St. 3135 – Informational/Noise complaint – New Residence Hall
Tuesday, January 28, 2020 3147 – Informational/Suspicious person – Tech Center 3148 – Informational/Vehicle battery jump – Grant St. Lot
Wednesday, January 29, 2020 3149 – Informational/Medical – Health Services
3136 – Disciplinary referral/Alcohol possession by minor – 211 E. Chestnut St.
Thursday, January 30, 2020
3138 – Disciplinary referral/Other – Penn House
3150 – Informational/Unsecured door or window – Buchanan Hall 3155 – Disciplinary referral/Disturbance – Bica Ross Hall
Sunday, January 26, 2020 3137 – Informational/Noise complaint – Bica Ross Hall 3139 – Disciplinary referral/Other – 325 E. Chestnut St. 3140 – Disciplinary referral/Other – New Residence Hall 3141 – Informational/Mental health – CPS Office 3142 – Informational/Building check – Off Campus Properties 3143 – Informational/Vandalism – Adams Hall
Friday, January 31, 2020 3151 – Informational/Noise complaint – Alexander Hall 3152 – Informational/Odor of marijuana – Monroe Hall 3153 – Informational/Noise complaint – Bica Ross Hall 3154 – Informational/Transport – Off Campus 3156 – Informational/Found property – CPS Office
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7 February 2020
Any woman who wants to learn and grow in their Christian faith is welcome to study and discuss the Bible. It is important to voice our feelings and have a space to empower other women.
7 FEBRUARY 2020
Red & Black
CAMPUS NEWS 5
Senior Student Spotlight: Kailee Havrda
Courtesy Erin Herock
Last fall, Havrda ‘20 enjoyed visiting Simmons Farm with some friends.
Sammy Massimino Red & Black Staff
Kailee Havrda ‘20 is a senior here at Washington & Jefferson College, majoring in history while also on the prehealth track. She is graduating a whole year early because she came in with enough credits to cover all The College’s breadth requirements and she has stuck to the plan she had upon arriving here at W&J. Havrda stated that she of-
ten is asked question such as: “Kailee, why are a history major if you’re prehealth.” Havrda says that she has always had a love for history and replies: “I enjoy it. And why not enjoy what I’m doing in college?” In addition to History Club, Kailee has a deep love for theater. She is the historian of Theater Company, Treasurer of Improv Club and the secretary for Jaybirds. She has always been involved in the theater; “I have always enjoyed singing and performing and I have a goofy personality. I love being able to create something from words and make a show.” Havrda is also a member of History Club, Outdoors Club and the Student
Government Association. Havrda’s favorite thing about W&J is the value that is put on learning through travel. Kailee was lucky enough to participate in the History and Culture of London intersession course as well the Borderlands Jayterm class. London was perfect for Havrda’s love of theater and history. She was also inspired to help with policy and people in a bigger way after visiting Arizona for her Jayterm trip. One important thing she learned while in Tucson is: “you can change things through one on one interactions, but in order to make long-term impact, policy needs to be changed.” After graduation, Havrda plans to go into a graduate program to fulfill her
master’s in public health. She has always wanted to be in the medical field in order to help people, but believes the system is broken. She acknowledged that she does not want to feed into this system, and asserted her stance when she said, “I have a new love for policy and procedure and would rather do that than become another broken piece.” To her peers, Kailee Havrda advises, “Have fun and study what you enjoy what you enjoy no matter what your path may be. Don’t feel like you have to do it the stereotypical way. It all works out in the end.” Havrda looks forward to her last semester at W&J and plans to enjoy every moment.
CAMPUS NEWS 6
7 FEBRUARY 2020
Red & Black
Jay-Term on the Air Nicholas Krugh Red & Black Staff
Michael Graziani ‘21 is a business administration major at Washington & Jefferson College. Post-graduation, he plans to get into real estate. He grew up in a family that runs a business; therefore, he always respected and learned more about being an entrepreneur. He is also involved with the W&J baseball team, the outdoors club and now WNJR, the school’s radio show. Graziani decided to take advantage of one of the many JayTerm classes offered on campus this January. He took COM 242: Jay-Term On the Air. Dr. Nicholas Maradin taught the class around everything they needed to show about running a radio show. Graziani described Dr. Maradin as being “very open to questions, a great communicator, very knowledgeable, and overall a great representative of the W&J communication department.” In this class, the students were taught to produce their own radio shows, which includes running a sound board that operates three mics, using an on air computer, using the Megaseg that controls the music and host calls on air. The classe learned how to integrate promotional spots and commercials into their shows. They also learned the rules of the FCC and how to make smooth transitions. The goal of the class was to use methods that bettered their communication with the audience; this includes the use of annunciation, pauses and voice fluctuations. “This experience has enhanced my public speaking
skills that I can apply in class, during interviews, and during future work-related presentations. I sound far more professional, now,” explained Graziani. Because he and a classmate had such a good time doing it and their Jay term show was so successful, they are currently producing a show every Monday 6-7pm. It is called “The Graz and Worm Show” and will air throughout the semester. On this student run show, they discuss professional and collegiate sports. They follow the National Football League, National Hockey League, Major League Baseball and NCAA sports. The show also focused on W&J sports and provide insight regarding the success of the W&J baseball team. They engage the audience by taking callers and asking trivia questions. Listeners can tune in to WJNR on 91.7 Washington or on WNJR.org.
Red & Black Established 1909 Editor-in-Chief Publication Manager Managing Editor Campus News Editor Diversity Editor Culture Editor Opinions Editor Sports Editor Distribution Manager Adviser
Courtesy Nicholas Krugh
Graziani ‘21 is a host on his created show “The Graz and Worm Show.”
Ricky Delprato Marcy Saldivar Brie Sutherland Erin Herock William Tucker Lauren Phillips Amanda Fitzpatrick Reilly Oliverio Vinny Orrico John Santa
7 February 2020
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7 Campus
Study Abroad Spotlight: Julia Schaffer ‘21 Nicholas Krugh Red & Black Staff
Over the fall semester of her junior year, Julia Schaffer ‘21 studied abroad in Burgos, Spain. Schaffer went to high school at Central Cambria High School in Ebensburg, Pa. before she pursued her undergraduate education at Washington & Jefferson College. At W&J, she is on the pre-health track and double majors in neuroscience and Spanish. Schaffer has enjoyed being busy on and off campus as she is “very passionate about traveling, volunteer work, and the sciences. Being about to speak another language as a doctor is something I believe will be beneficial and would allow me to pursue a career in global health.” To advance her professional plans, fulfill a Spanish major requirement, practice
her Spanish-speaking skills and explore a new culture, Schaffer spent an entire semester in Spain. The first time Schaffer had left the country was when she was 16, and she has since visited over 15 countries. She went to the European cities of London, Paris, Florence and Rome in high school. She did a Magellan project in Norway after her freshman year at W&J. In addition, she has gone on vacations to Canada and Aruba with friends. This eagerness to travel was evident during her semester abroad. She visited countless European cities during the semester, including cities in France and Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Ireland, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Gibraltar, Belgium, and the Netherlands. When she first arrived in Burgos, she overcame culture shock regarding food because “as a picky eater, the food was definitely an adjustment, as well as, the eating times. Lunch and dinner are much later, and most restaurants did not open until 8:30 p.m.” Schaffer enjoyed making new friends from
Courtesy Julia Schaffer
Schaffer ‘21 enjoyed the many landscapes and cities Europe.
Courtesy Nicholas Krugh
When Schaffer ‘21 is not busy traveling, she can be found researching in a lab.
around the world. She now has contacts in Spain, France, Scotland, Italy and Belgium. She enjoys speaking to natives and learning about their culture and everyday lives. One of Schaffer’s favorite interactions was when she was trying to find a way to get to a certain overlook in Austria. Near this location, she “met a man who did not speak much or any English while not familiar with German. Despite this, he figured out where I wanted to go by pictures I showed him. He quickly grabbed a paper and drew me a map of the city and where I should walk.” Julia explained that this interaction happened many times throughout this semester, but she says it will always amaze her how two people without
any common language can still interact and communicate.Her favorite site was the view from the top of Mount Titlis in the Swiss Alps. She is a fan of hiking, so she got to exercise that hobby while abroad, too. Schaffer is extremely glad she went abroad for a whole semester. She offers advice to any student considering study abroad, “It truly does not matter where you study abroad. Being in a new place allows you to grow as a person and become more independent. The world is so diverse and there are more mindsets than the ones you encounter in your college or hometown. I would just recommend breaking out of your shell and see as much of the world as you can.” Schedule an appointment with the study abroad office in The Hub to learn more.
8 Diversity
Diversity Red & Black
7 FEBruary 2020
Arizona Trip: Feeling the Impact at the Border Kiley Miller Red & Black Staff
We are all human. We all have dreams. We all have struggles. But to what degree are we given authority to judge and persecute others for their dreams? The struggles we have may dictate the dreams that we dream, but dreams are far beyond our circumstances. That is the reason we dream. We even make sacrifices to get closer to the dreams we have. What sacrifices would you make if your family’s lives depended on it? In the eyes of an immigrant, they make a sacrifice to leave their family in order to find a place to make a greater income to provide for their children and husband or wife. They dream of a life greater than their circumstances. To what degree do we look wrongly at this dream? We all have dreams of a better life if we
are not comfortable with the life we have. A pregnant woman crossed the border near Nogales, Mexico, hoping to provide her child with a better life. She gave birth to a still born child, and unfortunately, they both passed away. Faith guides these heroes to have courage to find their broken dreams in a broken world. Until you see things firsthand, it may be difficult to truly understand the border crisis as a violation of human rights and international law in the perspective of a human facing the issue. In most cases, these migrants and refugees embark on a journey in search of security and protection, away from violence and hunger. A 16-year-old boy, José Antonio Elena Rodríguez, was shot by Lonnie Swartz, a border patrol agent, 10 times and collapsed on the sidewalk across from the border. The exact location is shown in the image taken from my perspective. The border agents defense was that he opened fire in response to people, in-
cluding José, who were throwing rocks at the border wall. Are we protecting the wall or are we protecting human lives? This is only one story of millions that few people know about. Stories were told from all perspectives. From remarks of border patrol agents, they assured us that aid always goes before law enforcement. They work hard and
Courtesy Kiley Miller
Steel fence covered in barbed wire: Nogales, Mexico | Nogales, Arizona
C ontac t
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.
diligently to keep our borders safe from terrorism and crime. With this statement, it is easy to wonder why border patrol is not first helping these victims instead of searching for them crossing the border. If the country administered its funds to the root of the cause, the border wall would become irrelevant. [Continued on Next Page]
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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7 February 2020
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9 Diversity
Feeling the Impact at the Border (Continued) Kiley Miller Red & Black Staff
Families are starving for food, income and security to live in their own country. Instead of allocating more funds to the border wall, the money could be used to slow immigration. How much money would the United States have saved if they first tried to solve this issue instead of beginning a new one with reinforcing to the border wall, including the endless streams of barbed wire? As these questions filter through, spread through the mind, I viewed life on the other side of the border. Music was playing, cars were passing by and the sounds and activities of life continued on both sides. Children were joyously playing soccer outside at recess. I wondered what they thought about the wall – a wall that was there long before they were born. This issue is not only a human crisis, but an environmental crisis. The walls prevent migration and mating of animals like coyotes, foxes, and deer. It separates the gene flow of organisms. Insects can barely cross the wall, through the tiny holes of the border. There used to gaps large enough to fit a hand through the border, as loved ones could greet and hold hands, yet that soon changed. Today, there are sheets of steel over beams that once allowed the holding of hands. Now there is nothing left to hold, besides the tears of precious lives separated by a wall. Regardless of the border wall, it is important to decide what we are actually trying to solve in this chaotic and broken world.
Are we trying to prevent innocent people from seeking asylum in our country or are we trying to ban illegal drugs from entering? There are two different issues to the border wall, yet our laws are treating crime and innocence as one. When asked what they think is the main reason migrants come to the United States over the southern border, Sam Stangl 20’ said, “To have the opportunity for a better life.” When asked the same question, Maria Albert 21’ said, “In search for a better life.” I asked these questions separately, yet both students provided the same answer. It is interesting that we know what migrants want, yet direct aid is not provided by the government, and instead, we continue to construct a large steel border wall armed in barbed wire.
Courtesy Kiley Miller
“You truly have to see it first-hand to understand it.” - Kailee Havrda ‘20
Courtesy Kiley Miller
10 dIVERSITY
Red & Black
7 FEBRUARY 2020
Does Anyone Read Anymore? Is it Our Generation?
Courtesy radissonblu.com
Do you have a collection of books? What is your favorite genre?
Kelsey Julien Red & Black Staff
Some college students think of reading and internally groan, as a lot of college classes demand a significant amount of reading as part of the curriculum. This not to the say the reading is not important, but for many, the love of reading has diminished since attending college.
Reading has turned into a sort of chore that must be done, or students will fail an assessment. As kids, we were taught that knowledge is power. What better way to gain knowledge than through books? There are plenty of students who exercise their love of reading as well as maintain their own academic reading assignments. Reading is important, there is no denying that, but why does it have to be seen as something that has to be done as opposed to something that gets to be done? Many campuses have created book clubs to help spark old love of
reading again. Reading for leisure can be a transformative experience for an individual, and it is important that students do not lose their love of reading because they are forced to read a lot of content that they may not necessarily love. There are still determined students who take the step to read for pleasure as well as for their classes. Marygrace Depp ’20 has her own book review blog, and she has set a reading goal of fifty-two books this year. “I want to read one book a week,� said Depp. She is determined to reach this goal, grow her blog and review each book
she reads. It is possible for students to rekindle their love of reading for fun. However, it does take determination and discipline. A student does not have to go as far as reading one book per week. One can start as small as they would like. Reading allows you to be taken into a completely different world, and it can give you a different perspective about something that you never knew. It is important to keep reading, and students are more than capable of doing this. It will only help them in the long run.
7 February 2020
culture Red & Black
Culture 11
This Week’s Book Review: “All the Bright Places” Kelsey Julien Red & Black Contributor
The New York Times and International Bestselling author, Jennifer Niven, tells us a heart-wrenching story of two teenagers who face the biggest inner conflicts anyone can ever really face in her popular and emotional young adult fiction novel. Violet struggles with the grieving of her older sister, while Finch contemplates death and thinks of ways that he might die. When the two happen to meet on the ledge of the bell tower at their school, there is a question of who saved whom from jumping off that ledge. Throughout the book, Niven reveals the true pain of life and death as well as the role love has to play in that. As Violet opens herself up more and more to Finch, she finds value in living her life for herself, but Finch constantly battles with keeping himself grounded on Earth for anyone at all. If you have not picked up this book, you definitely should if you are looking for an amazing, heartfelt story. Published in 2015, “All the Bright Places” is soon to be a major motion picture. This movie will be out on Netflix on February 28, 2020, and it will star
Elle Fanning and Justice Smith. Niven addresses the ghosts that one faces while contemplating suicide, and it is important to highlight how she does this beautifully with her characters. At times, not all stories are true or based off of real events. This book, however, is phenomenal and rather intense because it teaches you this lesson of life, death and love through these vulnerable characters.
Marygrace Depp ’20 recommends the book to “anyone that wants a book that will pull at their heart strings.” As the world grows and changes around us, there are more and more books that are telling the stories of our reality, and it is up to us to sit down and give these books a chance. The stories of Violet and Finch are incredibly valuable and deserve to be told throughout the book, making it
an important and profound novel.Prepare yourself, as you are going to find yourself struggling to put this book down. “All the Bright Places” may pull at your heart, but it will teach a lesson that will stay with you forever. The novel can be found online, though expect a movie centering around Violet and Finch’s stories in February 2020.
Courtesy BookDepository
“All the Bright Places” is a novel from Bestselling author Jennifer Niven. The story centers around two teenagers, Violet and Finch, who are grappling with the pain of life and death.
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7 February 2020
Coverage of This Year’s Annual Grammy Awards Sammy Massimino Red & Black Staff
The 62nd Grammy Awards were hosted by Alicia Keys on Jan. 26, 2020. The awards show featured many performances by popular artists such as Ariana Grande, Lizzo, Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X and Tyler the Creator. Alicia Keys opened the awards ceremony with a tribute to basketball legend Kobe Bryant, who just had died earlier that day. She admitted that although it was a day to celebrate the music industry’s best, it equally was a day of sadness and loss. She commented on his impact while onstage: “the whole wide world lost a hero and we’re sitting here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built.” She offered kind words of support and good wishes to those affected— Keys then dedicated the show to him. The rest of the show followed through with wonderful performances and many awards given to great and talented artists. Sarah Dugan ‘21 favored the performance by Tyler the Creator. She said, “I enjoyed his performance because it mixed visual and audio art very well.” In addition to a good performance, Tyler the Creator won his first Grammy for Best Rap Album that night. Marcos Juliano ‘21 was most fond of Ariana Grande’s performance. He carefully assessed Grande’s performance and gave a favorable review: “it was my favorite because of her incorporation of ‘My Favorite Things’ and how she transitioned into ‘7 Rings’
Courtesy Business Wire
The 62nd Grammy Awards took place on Janurary 26, 2020, hosted by Alicia Keys.
with the new added harmonies.” Juliano was sad that Grande did not receive awards because he believed she had an amazing year in terms of music production. Dugan was upset at Lana Del Rey’s loss for album of the year, but was very content with the award going to Billie Eilish instead. She expressed her sup-
port of Eilish when she said, “It is important that a young woman who steps outside the norm in regards to fashion in a way that makes her feel comfortable as a performer won so many awards. It was purely based on talent.” Dugan also noted how glad she was that Lizzo also won that night because she is another artist who goes beyond
the norm in the massive music industry while also showcasing incredible talent. Juliano also took note of how many awards Eilish received that night, and was surprised, due to the fact that it was only her first Grammy Awards. Winners, clips and performances from the show can still be found online for those interested in seeing more.
7 February 2020
Red & Black
Culture 13
How To Balance School With Social Life Kelsey Julien Red & Black Contributor
There is no doubt that school is a lot to handle, and it is even harder to try to balance that with friends, family and any other social aspects of a student’s life. While getting a degree is important, it is also extremely essential to make everlasting connection with people in college, such as friends, professors or anyone else that someone may meet in school. Building connections is important, because after graduation, you are going to want to look back and remember the many great memories you made throughout your college years that were outside of your academics. Yes, it is very important to work hard and do your best in school, but it is also the things you do outside of the classroom that will have a lasting impact on you once you do graduate. When balancing the two, it is important to know that you should not bite off more than you can chew when it comes to becoming involved on campus, spending time with friends and family, and, of course, schoolwork. When asked about balancing school with a social life, Carolina Velazco ’20 said, “I live with my friends, so that makes things a lot easier for me because I can just pop into their room and say ‘Hey!’” If you are too involved, and it starts to feel like you have a million things going on at once, it is crucial to remember that you should prioritize. You do not have to be involved in every single little thing, and it is abso-
lutely okay to let go of a few things if it means you get to do everything you want and still have time to focus on school. When asked to speak on this topic, Marilyn Burkhard, ’21 said, “I try to schedule study groups or dinners with my friends, that way I’m multitasking and spending my time wisely! So, in the end, my work gets done, and I still get to hang out with friends!” When
asked about some of the things she does to take care of herself, Marygrace Depp ’21 responded, “…write, facemasks, plan my schedule.” It is important to remember to take care of yourself as you go on to juggle academic and social life. It is essential to find your balance when it comes to school and a social life. It varies from person to person, so find what is comfortable for you
to manage throughout the semester! Luckily, there are numerous ways to combine socializing and completing school work as mentioned before. However, do not forget to take a break when you feel it is necessary. It is worth it to give yourself the time and energy to work through school. Taking care of yourself throughout the process will go on a long way, so remember to be kind to yourself!
Courtesy Parenting For College
Although school may be a challenging time in life, balancing it with a social life is not an impossible task.
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Red & Black
7 February 2020
Review Of Season Two Of Netflix’s Show “You” Sammy Massimino Red & Black Staff
On Dec. 26, 2019, Netflix released the second season of “You.” This show follows the life of Joe Goldberg (alias Will Bettelheim in season two), an introverted, well-read, obsessive and murderous stalker that takes crushing to a whole new level. With a main character who would be seen as terrifying and crazy to people in real life, Washington & Jefferson College students were asked why exactly they watch the show. Rebecca Valencia ‘22 said that she liked watching because the show is “different than other shows on TV. In ‘You,’ you find
yourself rooting for the villain, which goes against everything you’ve been taught. It adds to the experience of the show.” Kailee Havrda ’20 explained, “I watched it at first because it was so unbelievable, there’s no way this guy could get away with these things. But at the same time, you don’t want him to get caught and you want him to keep going and find his happily ever after. It is weird because you almost wish you were a part of it. I also have to laugh at myself because I found more contempt for the girl he brutally murdered than for Joe, himself.” In an interview, the actor who plays Joe, Penn Badgley, said how he finds the main point of the show as displaying “how far we are willing to forgive
white men.” Season one of “You” took place in New York City, where Joe Goldberg was a bookseller and had a secret glass cage in the bookstore basement where he would trap many of his victims. However, in season two, Joe attempts to hide from an ex-girlfriend, changes his identity and moves to Los Angeles, Calif. Valencia believes this was a good change in setting. She explained that “it didn’t feel needed until it happened, and when it did it felt like the right path for Joe as a character.” Havrda agreed, saying that she felt it fit the story better than New York did: “Los Angeles just fits better. It’s the kind of place you believe the things he does would happen.” The love interest also drastically changes for our protagonist. In season
one, he fell for Genevieve Beck, a writer pursuing an MFA in English. He always found her to be superficial and would constantly catch her in lies. His purpose for the totality of season one was to clear every negative impact in her life by any means necessary. However, in season two, he falls for Love Quinn, a woman of old money who radiates positivity and has a tragic backstory of her own. Joe Goldberg, or Will Bettelheim, has to improve his trust in order to be “the right type of man” for Love. Season two better exemplifies why Joe Goldberg became the way he is. It is riddled with backstories that lead to self-discovery for both Joe and better understanding as a viewer. Both Valencia and Havrda believe that season two is superior to season one.
Courtesy Digital Spy
Last December, the Netflix show “You” returned to the screen with a second season. This season introduces new characters with plenty of their own secrets.
7 February 2020
Red & Black
15 Culture
Review Of Mac Miller’s Album “Circles” Sammy Massimino Red & Black Staff
On Jan. 17, 2020, the posthumous album of the late Pittsburgh native, rapper Mac Miller, was released. The album, titled “Circles” is the sixth studio album by the artist and features 12 tracks. It is said that the late artist was working on the album as a companion to his fifth album, “Swimming.” The concept of the two albums combined is thought to encapsulate the feeling the artist had when writing it: “swimming in circles.” Fans were eager to hear the album when it was announced that it would be released. Sofia Carrasco 20’ admitted to originally being conflicted about a posthumous album because such a project is delicate in nature. She stated in her response to the release of the album, “I was happy, it felt like closure. My friend and I had this theory when “Swimming” dropped that there was going to be a joint album, and when they announced “Circles,” it felt good to know there was more to the message.” Brooke Bova 21’ described hearing the news of a new album as making her happy but feeling weird: “I grew up listening to his music and when he released music you could feel his spirit and with him being gone it’s just so hard to enjoy because I still feel that his death has an impact on me and listening to new music doesn’t bring back joyful memories like his old music does.” The album does have a solemn tone. Miller delves into his emotions regarding repetitive sadness and feelings of
not being good enough. No matter what progress he makes, he ends up, as he states in the album, “right at the start of the line, drawing circles.” Overall, Mac Miller maintains a sense of weariness and deep desire to be at peace as the album progresses. Carrasco made note that the album “gives us all a better insight as to what
Mac was dealing with in the time leading up to his death.” Bova’s favorite track on the album is “Woods” and Carrasco’s is “Circles;” she says that “it feels like an embodiment of the album, almost like a final message.” Comparatively, neither Bova nor Carrasco placed “Circles” as their fa-
vorite project of Mac Miller’s discography. They both preferred earlier albums such as “GO:OD AM” or “Blue Slide Park,” which were more upbeat and soulful. Overall, fans are glad they were able to hear the artist one last time in a way that presented closure to the life of the artist.
Courtesy Leetchi
“Circles” is a posthumous album by Mac Miller.
16 opinions
7 February 2020
opinions Red & Black
Drama & Discrepancies at the Iowa Caucus Dylan Bertovich Red & Black Staff
Last night, the Iowa caucuses occurred and they did not immediately present their results. This has been blamed on inaccuracies in the results and the failure of a phone app. These failures have prevented the winning candidate their moment with a win. The winning candidate would have received a prime time speech and the morning headlines of a shock win. This delay also sent Twitter into a complete meltdown with people accusing the DNC of rigging the contest to present a desired candidate. The most likely winner based on the results shown on the NY Times last night is Senator Bernie Sanders, followed by Senator Elizabeth Warren and Mayor
Pete Buttigieg. However, these results are no longer viewable on the Times website. These candidates do not represent the majority of the party who seem to support Biden; however, this could be a reaction due to his consistently poor results in the debates. The question then shifts to what is a caucus and why does it still exist? Instead of one vote to win it all, the process is much more complicated. The voter must have enough support and try to convince their neighbor to vote for their candidate. When support has been gathered, then the math begins and each candidate will be given a number of non-superdelegates. This year, for ease, part of the voting was done by the phone app that is being discussed, and it doesn’t seem to have worked. Sydney Fischer “21 was in disbelief, stating “I don’t really understand what could have gone so wrong. I believe that if we want to abolish the Electoral College we should first
look at the caucuses and how they degrade democracy. This single contest might be the most important in the race as the first primary and not having a fair race is disastrous. The next contest is New Hampshire and that race will most certainly go to Senator Bernie Sanders. That will lead to the race becoming further away from Biden, so winning Iowa was a must. In the end the only winner from this debacle was President Trump. The president can use this to paint the Democratic Party as unprepared and inept. The Democratic Party should be able to run a simple election if they plan on running the country, Trump and his followers shouted on Twitter. When asked about her feelings on the caucus, Virginia Weber “21 stated “I think it makes the party look bad in this context.” There is truth in this statement; compared to foreign policy and climate change, an election should be
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.
Courtesy PNGItem
The Iowa caucus will take place February 3rd.
C ontac t
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
the easiest thing on their plate. In the future, I predict the race will only get more competitive and disastrous before it is over.
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7 February 2020
Red & Black
Opinions 17
United States’ Response to the Corona Virus
Courtesy Airport Technology-
The Corona Virus outbreak has recently gained national attention with a growing concern of American safety if the virus reaches the United States.
Paul Collier Red & Black Staff
At the start of 2020, the Coronavirus became the newest illness to instill fear throughout the world as it spreads unchecked, already covering 24 countries with 14,559 cases-- “already” being a relative term. The virus was first recorded on Dec. 31, 2019, now over a month ago. Despite having ample time prior to its discovery and international response to spread, it has only traveled to 00.0002% of the global population, and has proven fatal in only 360 cases. Only one of these fatalities occurred
outside its origin country of China, whom has already quarantined its origin city of Wuhan. They have also built a virus-dedicated hospital for research and further quarantine. Of course, the general worry concerning the virus is its potential to spread to other areas. In this regard, America is completely unprepared to respond. President Trump ended the White House’s pandemic response team in 2018. After the outbreak of Ebola in 2014, former President Obama organized a response team, led by Ronald Klain, to conduct budget research and create national defense initiatives to stop the spread of the disease. However, under President Trump, the leaders of the teams created inside the Department of Homeland Security and National Security Council were pressured into
resigning. Furthermore 30 million dollars have been cut from America’s Complex Crisis Fund, and public health officials on the federal level have not been replaced upon retiring, leaving small communities vulnerable to an erosion of America’s response system. As global health fellow Laurie Garrett ’21 stated, “if the United States still has a clear chain of command for pandemic response, the White House urgently needs to clarify what it is.” However, National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien defends an American safety position: “There’s no reason for Americans to panic.” As stated before, this is statistically true, but it is not necessarily a response. It is simply a declaration that makes Americans believe that the govern-
ment is in control of the problem, when in reality the strongest response has been a racially motivated China travel ban and growing anti-Chinese sentiments. The necessary response is not difficult to find. As opposed to the current administration’s health care policies, research needs to be funded and disease defense must become a budget priority. A careful dialogue needs to be held with other nations to fight the virus and coordinate quarantines. The systems that were in place to combat disease need to be restored for times of possible crisis. A response is needed for the American public to feel safe, regardless of the virus’s current infection rates. Sadly, this response has already been dismantled by the Trump administration.
18 Opinions
Red & Black
7 February 2020
How to Start Off a New Semester Right Kelsey Julien Red & Black Staff
The start of a new semester is very exciting because it is the opportunity to start fresh. Being in college can be stressful, and whether you had an amazing or really tough previous semester, this is a brand-brand new start to show yourself what you are made of! Having a
clean slate can be rewarding and good for your mental health. When starting off a new semester, something that can be extremely helpful can be getting organized. Even if you are not the most organized person, having something as small as a daily to-do list can be beneficial to starting of a new semester. It is helpful to write this to-do list the night before, right before you go to bed. That way, you write everything that you know needs to be done the next day. As soon as you wake up, you do not have to constantly worry about the next thing that needs to be done or what you need to do for the day. Keep-
ing track of important tasks will keep yourself organized and your mind clear and focused on being your best self. Another key thing to practice is self-care. Self-care tends to be overlooked and seen an unimportant, but this is false because if you fail to take care of yourself, then you are not able to function at your highest capacity. If you want to thrive in your classes, extracurriculars and anything else you do, it is crucial to make sure you do things that make you feel great. Most times, people worry about the happiness of others without considering their own mental health. This can be difficult to manage with classes as well, but you can be something
as simple as meditating every day before heading out to class. When asked about how she takes care of herself, Marilyn Burkhardt ’21 responded, “I love being active, so I make sure that I get to gym. I make it a priority because it makes me feel better.” Having moments to yourself and accepting all of your hard work is important to keep yourself whole! If you keep habits like these up, you are sure to have a great semester filled with fun, excitement and success. When asked for a tip to have a great semester, Carolina Velazco, ’20 said, “You have to remember to give yourself a break sometimes when you’re focusing on having the best semester.”
Courtesy washjeff.edu
Everyone has their own ways they like to prepare for a new semester, but tips such as organization and finding time for yourself are great strategies to implement.
sports
7 February 2020
Red & Black
19 sports
NBA Legend, Kobe Byrant, Dies in Crash Nick Krugh Red & Black Contributor
On Sunday, Jan. 26. Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, GiGi, did not survive a helicopter crash on a hillside in Calabasas, CA. The father, daughter duo were on their way to a basketball game and were accompanied by 7 other victims. The other victims include husband and wife John Altobelli and Keri Altobelli, their daughter Alyssa Altobelli, Sarah Chester and her daughter Payton Chester, Christina Mauser and pi-
lot, Ara Zobayan. The crash was ruled accidental and all victims are believed to have died on impact. On Wednesday, Jan. 28, Kobe’s wife Vanessa Bryant made a public statement on Instagram, ““We are completely devastated by the sudden loss of my adoring husband, Kobe — the amazing father of our children; and my beautiful, sweet Gianna — a loving, thoughtful and wonderful daughter, and amazing sister to Natalia, Bianka and Capri.” The death of Kobe, GiGi, and the 7 other victims caught the world by complete surprise. Social media was flooded with the devastation and disbelief over the news. The NBA family was hit very hard by the death of Kobe
Courtesy Businessinsider.com
Kobe Bryant poses with his daughter Gigi, who both tragically passed away.
but also GiGi because of their frequent presence on the courtside of NBA games. Trae Young, Joel Embiid, Luka Doncic, and countless other players honored Kobe by wearing his numbers 8 or 24, his signature Kobe shoe, or through their performance. Never has there been a sports figure death where it touches so many different groups. The death of Bryant was felt by everyone, because Kobe was bigger than basketball. His name, brand, and mentality was and still will be a influence on all walks of line. His legacy has been recognized at other sports organizations such as, the soccer club Real Madrid to the NFL this past sunday at the Super Bowl. With the NBA All Star
break right around the corner, both teams are preparing to honor Kobe and GiGi. Team Lebron (James) will be wearing the number 2 on their jersey in honor of GiGi. Team Giannis (Antetokounmpo) will be wearing number 24 to honor the late NBA legend. No one act will do justice for these 9 victims but it is now our responsibility and duty to not be sad and broken by this tragedy. Rather, not let their lives be forgotten and keep their memory and spirit alive through us. So today go and hug the ones you love, tell them how much they mean to you. Don’t just do this in the face of tragedy but adopt this idea into your life everyday because you never know when disaster will strike.
Courtesy TMZ.com
The Lakers honored both Kobe and Gigi Byrant in the Staples Center.
20 sports
Red & Black
W&J Battles Chatham Nick Krugh Red & Black Contributor
On Feb. 1, the Washington & Jefferson College men’s and women’s basketball team travelled on the road to Chatham University for a double header. Unfortunately, the men’s team fell short, but the women’s team was able to pull off the victory. The men’s team battled back and forth throughout the beginning of the game. In the second half, they were able to score 15 points in roughly 5 minutes to pull ahead to 53-42. A few more points by the Presidents expanded their lead to 60-48 with about 5 minutes left in the game. W&J had a comfortable lead, however, the Chatham Cougars responded with grit. The Cougars scored the next 13 points, overcoming the score gap and taking the lead, 61-60. W&J bounced back with a layup, taking the lead again. Unfortunately, Chatham scored the final 7 points and the game concluded at 68-64. Primo Zini ‘22 and Alexander Skowron ‘22 led the team with 11 points each. Jonathon Devito ‘20 and Zach Queen ‘21 also contributed 8 points each to the Presidents’ score. “This game was a tough loss. The season as a whole has been a wild ride but a fun ride. We all have one goal and that’s to win a PAC championship and we are going to give our all in an attempt to get it,”Queen reflected about the game and their season. During the double header, the Lady Presidents were able to push past the
Cougars to secure the PAC win. Two of Chatham’s players are the top scorers in the PAC. Even still, the Presidents were able to prevent them from doing too much damage. Lauren Gilbert ‘21 put forth 20 points, Alie Seto ‘21 14 points, Maria Lawhorne ‘21 14 points, and Piper Morningstar 6 points. Seto also recorded her third straight double-double. This win promotes the women’s team to a 7-4 record in the PAC. “We knew coming into Chatham that it was a very important game for us. We really focused a lot in practice on how to defend their posts and the
7 february 2020
Last Week’s Scores Jan. 29:
Women’s Basketball at Geneva College: 80-65 W Men’s Basketball at Geneva College: 62-63 L
Feb. 1:
Wrestling at Penn College: 37-11 W Wrestling vs Oswego State Univesity: 16-33 L Wrestling vs Lackawanna College: 52-6 W Women’s Swim at Grove City Invitational: Pre-PAC Men’s Swim at Grove City Invitational: Pre-PAC Women’s Basketball at Chatham University: 66-53 W Men’s Basketball at Chatham University: 64-68 L
Next Week’s Games Feb. 5:
“We all have one goal, and that’s to win a PAC Championship...” -Zach Queen ‘21 shooters on their team, as well. We executed well on offense, especially Alie Seto who had 21 offensive rebounds, which helped us get up more shots. This game has definitely made us feel more confident about our team dynamic and hopefully create more team chemistry in the next following games. We have come a long way since we have played them earlier in the season and it’s definitely something to be proud about and to continue to keep working hard each day,” Gilbert described the Presidents’ win. The men’s and women’s basketball teams will participate in another double header against Westminster College on Wednesday, Feb. 5. The girls play first and tip-off is at 6pm.
Women’s Basketball vs Westminster College: 6:00 PM Men’s Basketball vs Westminster College: 8:00 PM
Feb. 8:
Men’s Track and Field at Bob Shannon Invitational Women’s Track and Field at Bob Shannon Invitational Women’s Basketball at Thiel College: 1:00 PM Men’s Basketball at Thiel College: 3:00 PM
Courtesy Gopresidents.com
Daniel Florentino ‘21 won PAC Wrestler of the Week after going 3-0.
