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 September 27, 2019
WHAT’S IN THIS WEEK’S PAPER... DIVERSITY
Public Relations Student Society of America
“The term Latinx is an agent for social change and breaks inherent binary biases and patriarchal roots in the spanish language. It grants other human beings existence in a language grounded in western ideals.” -P.6
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CULTURE “For those unfamiliar with the show, AHS is an anthology horror series that adopts a different theme each season, breaking up the plot while often times utilizing the same actors.” -P.8
OPINIONS “Iran denies taking part in this attack, but after analysis, Saudi Arabian and American officials claim that the drone and missiles originated from Iran.” -P15
SPORTS “The Washington & Jefferson College men’s football team traveled to Carnegie Mellon University on Sept. 21. The Presidents were coming off of two big wins against Thiel College and no. 18 Wittenberg University.” -P.18
WJREDANDBLACK.COM
Courtesy McKayla Rollison
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27 September 2019
Red & Black
Public Relations Student Society of America McKayla Rollison Red & Black Contributor
The Public Relations Student Society of America is an organization for students interested in communications or public relations. It is the nation’s leading professional organization for the communications community. The society was founded in 1967, but Washington & Jefferson College’s very own chapter was founded in 2017, with Dr. Melissa Cook as the advisor. With the club being relatively new to campus, many students may be wondering what exactly it is that PRSSA does. Networking, of course. One benefit of being a PRSSA member is getting to attend a national event, such as the International Conference, National Assembly, or Leadership Rally. Each of these events allows students to meet with experienced professionals concerning the public relations field. Every connection made counts - it only takes one to recommend you for a job or internship. “PRSSA is a great opportunity for students to connect with people within their field. I have had fun at all of the networking events with people from other schools and people within the communications field. Also, learning new skills with friends? What could be better,” said Abigail Tolbert ‘20. the social media relations manager for PRSSA. Not interested in public relations, or even communications? That is okay. W&J’s founding chapter boasted an executive board made up of business,
Courtesy McKayla Rollison
PRSSA had a table at the recent involvement expo to share information about their club.
neuroscience, and communications majors. The club is for anyone who wants to broaden their educational background. PR can apply to any field. Additionally, merely having a membership with the PRSSA gives students access to tons of useful information via the PRSSA website. Students can access webinars, workshops, study presentations, and
more to further their professional development. The 2019-2020 school year will be an exciting time for PRSSA members. The club will be participating in, Make a Difference Day at Washington High School on October 26. They also will be hosting workshops teaching Canva, InDesign, and more useful skills. The club also hopes to Skype with alumni that are now in
the PR field and gain insights into the graduate job hunt. “Because W&J is so small it gives us an opportunity to be a hands on, involved, and subsequently successful chapter. I’m super excited for what PRSSA has to offer and all that we will accomplish,” said VP Rebecca Valencia. If you are interested in joining PRSSA, do not hesitate to contact any of the members or the advisor.
27 September 2019
Red & Black
3 CAMPUS NEWS
Whittaker ‘21 in Greece Spotlight: Fisher ‘22 Sammy Massimino Red & Black Contributor
Zack Mindel Red & Black Contributor
Rather than remaining on campus during her time at Washington & Jefferson College, Meagan Whittaker ’21 decided to study abroad in Athens, Greece during the 2019 spring semester. Whittaker always knew she wanted to study abroad, but she just did not know if it was possible for her. After consulting with Sara Kochuba in the study abroad office, she figured out which program she worked for her. Whittaker decided on Greece because the program was small, taught in English and seemed more exciting than going to France or England. Regarding the academics in Greece, Whittaker said her classes focused around Greek culture, literature and language. She noticed that all of her classes tied in some philosophy. The academics were much easier compared to W&J, and they focused more on the class’s understanding of the material rather than how much material was covered. In Athens, Whittaker lived in a four-bedroom apartment whose occupancy fluctuated between six and eight residents. Whittaker really enjoyed that she lived right by a local market where she could buy black olives, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and avocados. Reminiscing, Whittaker said, “This sweet little old man olive vendor would always give me extra olives because I only shopped at his olive stand.” Taking advantage of being abroad, Whittaker also travelled all over
Benjamin Fisher ‘22 is a very active member of the Washington & Jefferson community. He is a double-major in economics and philosophy. Fisher decided to study both majors to increase his attractiveness for his future application to a variety of law school programs. Fisher wants to attend a prestigious law school and his efforts so far at W&J have advanced him to be well on his way to be accepted into a top-tier law school. From a very young age he has known that he wants to pursue a career as a judge and a law professor. He is very interested in litigation and adjudication. Fisher also has a strong desire to give back to the community and as a judge and professor, he will do just
Courtesy Meagan Whittaker
that. In the summer of 2020, Ben’s goal is to obtain an internship at one of the top ten law firms in one of the major cities such as Chicago or New York City. “It would be a very special opportunity if I was hired as an intern at a top-tier firm because this would allow me to build powerful connections that will help me down the road,” said Fisher. One organization that Fisher is particularly involved with is Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. He anticipates running for a leadership position in the house this year. Fisher is the treasurer for mock trial, the Chair of Integrity for Washington Fellows, a link mentor, and the founder of chess club. “Being involved on campus is a great way to meet a lot of new friends and here a variety of perspectives,” said Fisher. It is clear that Ben enjoys occupying his time with various clubs and organizations at W&J, but he has a number of hobbies that he enjoys during his limited free time. He enjoys reading books, spending time with his family and riding his motorcycle.
Whittaker ‘21 enjoyed Greece’s views.
Greece, Venice, Rome, Florence, Brugges and Amsterdam. When asked what her favorite memory was from the trip, Whittaker described a night in Athens when she was sitting on a rock, watching the sunset and listening to music with her roommates and some local Greek people they had befriended. She described the experience as being “like a cool kid in a movie.” Overall, Meagan believes that her experiences she had while studying abroad in Athens were worth the trip, and she would certainly go again if given the chance.
Courtesy Zach Mindel
Fisher ‘22 can be found in Old Main studying after his classes.
4 CAMPUS NEWS
Red & Black
27 September 2019
World Peace Day Interfaith Worship Service
Courtesy Sammy Massimino
The Interfaith Leadership Club celebrated International Day of Peace with the Washington community and students.
Sammy Massimino Red & Black Contributor
On September 21, the Interfaith Leadership Club hosted an event to celebrate International Day of Peace in Old Main’s chapel. This day, established in 1981 by the United Nations, provides a globally
shared date to commit to peace above all differences in the world. This event also featured members of Hillel, Student Christian Association, the Newman Center, and the Muslim Student Union Committee. The event included readings from each group’s religious texts as well as a hymn performed by Washington & Jefferson College’s Jaybirds. A number of W&J students were in attendance as well members of the Washington Community. In each faith present at the event, light and fire have strong meanings.
Because of this, every leader brought a candle to represent their own faith. Each candle was then presented around a “guiding light,” which is a flame lit by all. The “guiding light” was used later in the ceremony. One of the main themes of the ceremony, provided by Trent Somes ’21, President and co-founder of Interfaith Leadership Club, was that “we must resist the temptations of comfort at the expense of others and must instead be willing to sacrifice our personal privilege so that all may experience true peace.” At the end of the service, the
attendees were welcomed to Rossin Patio to witness the unveiling of the “Peace Pole.” The pole was created by the clubs involved in the event and included messages of peace in multiple languages spoken by students on campus – a physical representation of a global and cultural effort to strive for peace and unity. Overall, the event symbolized that positive change can happen in the world and that individuals can one day hope to see everyone respect each other’s differences.
27 September 2019
CAMPUS NEWS 5
Red & Black
Career Opportunity Making a Career Connection with W&J Alumna, Alex Sossi ’13 -Explore upcoming student Opportunities -Summer Associates Program -Finance Management Rotation Program -Information Services and MANY MORE!
Wednesday October 2 Burnett 109 7:00pm
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Courtesy UPMC
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Diversity 6
DIVERSITY Red & Black
27 september 2019
The Difference Between Hispanic & Latino Carolina Velazco Red & Black Contributor
In the United States, these two terms are often thought of as racial categories and are commonly used to describe race, in the same way, that we also use white, black, and Asian. However, the population’s people describe are composed of various racial groups, so using them as racial categories is inaccurate. When asked the difference between the two, Mariana Reyes ‘22 said, “I think being Hispanic is if you descend from a Spanish speaking country, and speak Spanish. But being Latino is if you descend from a Latin American country.” They work more accurately as descriptors of ethnicity, but even that is a stretch, given the diversity of people they represent. To clarify this even more, Kenny Jimenez ‘21 states that “Latino is anyone in Latin America while Hispanic
Courtesy NPR.org
Hispanic and Latino are used interchangebly, but their meanings are different.
is like countries that speak Spanish, so Brazillians can be called Latino but not Hispanic because they speak Portugese.” That being said, they are as important as identities for many people and communities and are used by the government to study the population, by law enforcement to researching crime and punishment, and by researchers of many disciplines to analyze social problems, economics, and political trends. For these reasons, it’s essential to understand
what they mean literally, how the state uses them, and how those ways sometimes differ from how people see and use them socially. The word “Latinx” is becoming used more due to what it strives to achieve. It can either be pronounced using the same pattern as Latino (lah TEE nex) or in English (LAT in ex). The word was created as a gender-neutral alternative to “Latinos,” not only to better include those who are gender fluid but also to push back on the inherently masculine term used to
C o n tac t
E d i to r i a l P o l i c y 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.
describe all genders in the Spanish language. This move towards dismantling the default masculine is called inclusive language. There are other non-binary or “genderqueer” folks. In the US, we struggle to find a way to make Latino/a plural, and we hit upon a solution that includes our non-binary folk as well. The term Latinx is an agent for social change and breaks inherent binary biases and patriarchal roots in the spanish language. It grants other human beings existence in a language grounded in western ideals. The best part is that you do not have to use these words. You don’t have to use Hispanic, Latino, Latina, or Latinx or Latine. You can use Chicano, Mexican American, or Boricuan or however, you choose to identify. However, you cannot decide for others. This is not an easy concept, but it doesn’t mean we should stop trying. We should do this with respect, a desire to understand, and acceptance of differences.
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.
Telephone: FAX: E-mail: Mailing Address:
(724) 503-1001 ext. 3381 (724) 503-1049 redandblackstaff@jay. washjeff.edu Red & Black 60 S. Lincoln St. Washington, PA 15301
27 September 2019
culture Red & Black
7 Culture
Book Review: Alexey Pehov’s Shadow Prowler Aaron Iwinski Red & Black Staff
Some read the Harry Potter series, others read “Twilight” for some reason, a few even read Tolkien. Amidst all the other nerds, I sat alone as I read “Shadow Prowler” by Alexy Pehov. “Shadow Prowler” is the first book in the fantasy series “The Chronicles of Siala.” The series is highly acclaimed in Russia and has even received a few rewards. The series was popular enough that it was able to get an English translation and be sold in the US. I first picked up the book when I was in middle school, and I found my little fantasy book to latch onto. The story follows the adventure of Shadow Harold, a master thief. After a difficult heist, Harold was given the task to help a small group of heroes find an artifact to destroy the endless armies of the approaching evil. At first glance, the fantasy world Alexy Pehov sets up is quite typical of high medieval fantasy. We have a big bad guy who commands spooky monsters, elves, dwarves, men, orcs, gnomes, ogres and magic, there is a dungeon to explore and all the traditional tropes of fantasy are there. However, Pehov plays
around with a few things and sets a very good pace. For example, early in the story The Lonely Giant fortress is introduced, serving as the floodgate to the endless horde of evil. The guards that work there are given a special tattoo and reputation for their incredibly difficult work. When people leave the fort, their status as a former soldier at that fort carried great recognition and a sense of brotherhood.However, when a person claimed to be a member and had a fake tattoo on his arm, some of the other members ripped his arm off. The story takes place over three books, and “Shadow Prowler” sets up the premise and begins the journey of the group. An anonymous Kindle customer enjoyed the series and found this installment to be refreshing. “I really enjoyed reading this book, it was a refreshing read. What I mean by a refreshing read was that this book took its time developing its plot slowly and creating for you a foundation for the other books. Like most books there are some flaws in the whole series, but for me I could overlook them,” said the Kindle user. The book is mostly centered on character development and the cast getting to know each other. Although the pace of the book slows down at times, having a snarky, cynical and straightforward narrator makes it
Courtesy Goodreads
The cover of “Shadow Prowler,” the first book in the fantasy series “The Chronicles of Siala,” written by Alexey Pehov.
far more enjoyable. An Amazon user named Marjo agrees with this notion in a review. “Even though Harold is a thief and has some questionable morals, you can’t help but like him,” said Marjo. Overall, the story is not terribly unique. The story does play with some
of the tropes of fantasy, but it also relies on them quite frequently. The story works only as a trilogy, and is not a standalone story, although I found a snarky thief to be a surprisingly enjoyable narrator despite the seemingly slow pace of the story.
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27 September 2019
Review: American Horror Story Season Premiere Sammy Massimino Red & Black Contributor
On Wednesday, Sept. 18, the season premiere of “American Horror Story” (AHS) aired on FX. For those unfamiliar with the show, AHS is an anthology horror series that adopts a different theme each season, breaking up the plot while often times utilizing the same actors. The theme this year is “1984” and follows the thrill of a typical 1980s slasher film. Fans of the show, myself included, were nervous as Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters, the show’s top stars, did not return. Elizabeth Mack ’21 said, “I get they want to take a break. It makes sense with Sarah Paulson being gone, because it’s all college students. And with Evan Peters, I get not wanting to be there because of personal issues.” Their absence is certainly almost tangible for longtime fans of the show, but the acting was still well executed. The plot, based on the first episode, is predictable to say the least. College students from Los Angeles plan to escape the city, which has had an increase in murders. They do this by becoming camp counselors at “Redwood” summer camp – one that 10 years prior experienced a horrific murder by “Mr. Jingles.” As the college students, dressed in classic ‘80s fashion, make their trek to this camp, they encounter various red flags, including a gas station assistant
Courtesy Wikipedia
On Wednesday, Sept. 18, Fx aired the season premier of “America Horror Story.” The theme, “1984,” parallels many of the characters and tropes found in slasher films from the 1980s.
warning them to “turn back” as well as an injured and confused hiker. Fitting to classic slasher films, the group remains oblivious and ignores all signs of danger. So far, this season is aesthetically fun to watch and is even a bit funny, but the show has lost its classic psy-
chologically haunting aura for which it was known. Many seasons prior to this latest season captured this psychological horror quite well. Though the newest season of the show instead relies on this recurring plot of a 1980s slasher film. When
asked about her thoughts on the season premiere, Elizabeth Mack ’21 admitted, “I think it seemed very surface level, just horror clichés. I’m assuming it’s going go deeper, but right now I don’t know.” For now, “American Horror Story” is available to watch on FX network.
27 September 2019
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9 Culture
Game Review: Have You Played Starbound? Aaron Iwinski Red & Black Staff
The subject of fiction, fantasy, franchises and video games, space is a frontier that has long been explored in the imagination of humanity, and one of my favorite explorations of it is in the game “Starbound.” Developed and published by Chucklefish, the game is a sandbox role playing game. The premise is that you, as player, are a member of the Terrene Protectorate, an organization that spans the galaxy and is devoted to preserving peace and order, until your graduation ceremony is interrupted by some eldritch abomination. As the sole survivor of the disaster you can do whatever you want. While the game has a story, it is quite easy to ignore, as most of the game is designed to be a sandbox. After the tutorial and a few missions to repair the spaceship and its engines, you are free to roam the galaxy mostly as you see fit. Once you have the ship’s main engine repaired and you collect fuel from the moon, you can see all the different star nodes. Different stars have different biomes and sub-biomes based on its star type. Once you choose a star, you see what planets, space stations, asteroid belts and space anomalies you can choose to explore. After you either go investigate in your “mech” or beam to the location, you can do whatever you choose. According to Steam user Mashter Potato, the game’s limitless capabilities are one of its best features. “Starbound is
Courtesy Wikipedia
A screenshot of gameplay from the video game “Starbound.” Released in 2016, the video game deals with space travel among other fantasy elements.
a really fun game and a pleasing twist on 2-D Sandbox games, as you’re no longer stuck to just one base or world, but now potentially limitless ones as each planet can be its own full biome . . . everything from the cold arctic and water-filled planets to the hot volcano-covered planets, [and if you get bored], you can literally just find a new place,” said the user. Another user, Alekere.rani, shared this sentiment. “So I have had this
game for quite some time [and I] still love it. I love the fact that when I get tired of the vanilla play through there are so many mods that can change up how the game plays and get to have an almost new experience,” said the user. Some things I have found fun in my 465 hours playing include exploring the planet’s surface for loot, doing quests for the local village, wiping out the local village, building an epic base, converting the entire planet into
a planet-sized castle, making a roller coaster, hacking into the internet and fighting 80s bad guys with a neon pink aesthetic, finding a biome made only out of eyeballs and baking a cake. The game has mostly positive reviews on Steam, with negative reviews coming from a recent controversy due to Chucklefish not paying some of the volunteer developers. However, I enjoyed the game enough to sink twenty days into it. I recommend it.
10 Culture
Red & Black
27 September 2019
Spooky Story Of The Week: A Ghost Story Brieanna Sutherland Red & Black Staff
They brought me to the entrance of Old Main’s basement. The coarse cement stairs under my feet were the first indication that we had begun our descent into darkness. My first step down assaulted me with the musty smell of aging wood. Being blindfolded made no difference, even with flashlights nothing was visible more than an inch in front of you. It was as if the walls swallowed up the light. I stepped slowly, careful to place my feet, knowing that where the stairs met the earth was jagged. One misstep and your skin would resemble shredded cheese. I had only made the mistake once, it was one of the first times I had ventured down. The hand on my shoulder tighten to keep their balance, the angle of the stairs made standing upright nearly impossible. Once we were at the bottom of the stairs, the hand that had firmly held onto my shoulder loosened. It was a relief, the pressure had made me feel off-balanced. I was now trapped in the basement, knowing they would not let me go until they had what they wanted. My blindfold was removed, but I could not make out anyone’s face. Judging between the sound of footsteps and the voices I could hear, there was three of them. “What do you want?” I asked, I already knew the an-
Courtesy Wikipedia
A photograph of Washington and Jefferson’s own Old Main building, dating back all the way to the 1880s.
swer. I thought maybe playing dumb would buy me some time. “You need to find our friend,” answered a man’s voice. It seemed serious, but I could tell that there as uncertainty hidden in the words. “What if I can’t find them?” This was the question that ran through my head the moment I had been kidnapped and forced into the darkness. This time a woman’s shaky voice answered, “Where else…. could she be? There’s no... way she could have left”. She almost sounded cold, but the
air was hot and sticky. Making each breath feel like it came from a summer fog. My clothes were beginning to stick to my body. Before I could answer a different man’s voice chimed in, I believe this was the man who held onto my shoulder. His voice was more profound and solid. “You will find her, and if you don’t, we will make sure you are never found either.” I searched for an answer. How do I explain to them that I can’t find their friend? If I show her to
them, then they will surely leave me down here. “Okay… We can go look for her, but I am making no promises of finding her. She should have never been down here in the first place.” I expected them to criticize me for blaming the lost woman. I was answered with silence. Maybe deep down, we all knew the truth. The horrible, tragic truth that the basement was no place for ignorance. Continue onto page 11...
27 September 2019
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Culture 11
Story of The Week: Ghost Story Continued The basement is shallow and short, and if you had a floodlight, you could see the entire length of the room. The room had a handful of broken and decaying desks and chairs and an eerie doom overhead. I walked them around the perimeter of the room. Running my hand over the walls as I walked. We stopped at the sound of a man tumbling into a desk and flipping it, tangling himself in a loud groan onto the floor. Proceeding back to where we started, I said that, that was the whole room. There is only one last place to check. I hoped that they would be ready to leave the darkness. The woman asked where else their friend could be. I reluctantly walked behind the stairs. There was a small room. What used to be a closet or a bathroom. Opening it was a risk, each time it was opened, something horrible always happened. Knowing the dangers, I insisted on going in first, and alone. The men protested, but I demanded my rules be followed, or I was not going to provide further help. The trio took a cautious step back and watched. I turned the doorknob, allowing just a sliver of the door to be open. Carefully wedged myself inside and promptly such the door.Inside the room are an old and rusting tub and a second door. The tub had dried blood on it. I could tell by the metallic rotting smell that choked my lungs. I coughed a command to the group to enter. They opened the door slowly and then filed in. “Where is she,” said the woman frantically. I dipped my head though none of them could see me in the darkness. “I am so sorry it is too late.” As the words left my lips, the other man of the group
Courtesy Playbuzz
said, “Hey, there is another door here.” Before I could administer my warning, the bigger of the two men had already discovered the handle and was pulling it open. “NOO…,” I cried out. It was too late. As the door opened a large white figure appeared. Its movements were slow at first as if it just awakened. I could not make out its face. I began to instruct to close the door, but the woman called out into the door “Caroline, are you there?”. What I had feared would happen was
coming true. Caroline was there, but it wasn’t really her. The figure of a woman emerged past the tall white figure and drifted to the woman. It grabbed her by the arm, gripping tightly. Then it placed a hand to her chin. The woman’s eyes widened, the ghostly figure’s eyes darkened. The other figure approached, and they began to bite down on her. It wasn’t blood that they were drawing, it was light. The light-flooded the room, and
as instantly as it started, it was gone. It was all over. I rushed to shut the door before anything else could come or go. The woman was gone. Only three of us remaining in the darkness.
Want to hear another story? Interested in sharing your own? Send us your input via email to the redandblackstaff@jay. washjeff.edu
12 Culture
Red & Black
27 September 2019
This Week’s Narrative: ‘Blacksmith Story’
Courtesy youtube.com
A blacksmith can be defined as a person who makes and repairs things in iron by hand and they are still around today.
Aaron Iwinski Red & Black Staff
During the summer, I work with metal. Depending on the job, I am a welder, blacksmith, designer, tool gopher and a few other things. In high school, I decided to volunteer for my uncle during the summer and do some of that work. I can still remember the day that I was freed by my work. It was a muggy day outside – so humid that I could see my sweat on my shirt, and my glasses fogged up when I
opened the door. Of course, my uncle, the chief, had bought a forge to heat up metal in the middle of summer. I got in the shop and checked my chart for the lengths of metal that were needed for the next railing or sculpture. I took out the cutting wheel for the Metabo, the power tool I was using, and got to work. Right as I got into a good groove of measuring and cutting, the chief threw open the barn door, letting in the humid air from outside, and said, “Come help me with this.” He walked me to a truck with a rack for lawn tools in it. A relative of mine works in lawncare and landscaping, and the bottom of his tool rack had broken off. My uncle said, “Fix this.” I asked him how I should do that, and
he told me to “figure it out.”He then left me to fix the rack by myself. I set it on the table, looking at the broken parts. The metal was cheap and thin, and it had rusted off and snapped. It took me a whole ten minutes of staring at the problem before I had an idea. I took the broken piece off and traced it on the table. Then, I used a tape measure to get some approximate lengths and walked to the back of the shop. After some sorting through a massive pile of scrap iron, steel, brass and aluminum, I found a good plate of metal. It was half an inch thick and only slightly rusted. I cleaned it off, cut the pieces to length and fit them to the rack. A hook on the rack had also
broken off, but all I had was a single sheet of metal. So, after I cut the sheet into three pieces to remake the hook, I welded them together, and then I welded the new hook onto the rack. Later that day, we put the rack back on the truck to see if it would hold up the weight of the tools. It did. This is a relatively mundane story of me doing some designing and welding, but to me, it was the first time I was allowed to think. In all the hours of banging my head into textbooks, I never felt a certain freedom that I felt that day, and I take pride in my work when I see that my little metal hook is still on the back of my relative’s truck. I hope everyone can get a chance to be free to think like I did in this story.
27 September 2019
Opinions 13
Red & Black
opinions
Campus Renovations: Improvement or Disruption? Dylan Bertovich Red & Black Contributor
I'm sure that you have noticed the changes that have been occurring across campus over the last few months. We now have remodeled dorms and sidewalks along with updated features in many buildings across campus. I live in a newly renovated dorm that now has independent heating in each room, cooling, and new floors. The dorm also has an updated kitchen and bottom level. The issues with my dorm lie with the fact that the rooms are pretty much the same, and eight people still share
a bathroom with the renovations still unfinished. Brendan Troesch 21' stated, "I like what is being done but I that its ridiculous that the work was still ongoing when school started. I know that it's contract dependent, but the construction can be done in a way that guarantees a deadline." That statement is valid as contracts with construction companies often have a deadline that if not met, can be a penalty. Brendan went on to comment on the fact that first-year students were moving in. Also, Beau was not even close to being finished, giving incoming students and prospective students a lousy view of campus. Sydney Fischer '21 says, "I like that the dorms are being done; however, when will we ever need an amphitheater? I think that there was much bigger issues that they could have tackled. The elevators in many buildings are out of inspection and need work.
We still have classes in Old Main that doesn't have an elevator, and even if you have a twisted ankle, it's unusable." That's an interesting viewpoint; we could have improved other things on campus. I see issues every day that causes me to think that it should have been done first. If the campus should undertake renovations again next year, they should plan better. It would prevent students from living in a dorm with live wires hanging over the shower, no water, and non-working lights. These are all things that have happened to students over the beginning of the semester. The dorms have also missed opportunities, like to provide ventilation to the bathroom and prevent mold from growing again. I have the same opinion of other students who think that changing the sidewalks and painting some walls is not addressing the actual issues that need to be resolved.
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.
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.
Courtesy Dylan Bertovich
Construction work was not completed upon student arrival in the renovated Presidents Row.
C ontac t Telephone: FAX: E-mail: Mailing Address:
(724) 223-6049 (724) 503-1049 redandblackstaff@jay. washjeff.edu Red & Black 60 S. Lincoln St. Washington, PA 15301
14 Opinions
Red & Black
27 September 2019
The Responsibilities of the Catholic Church Matías Martinez Red & Black Contributor
Over the last years, there has been an increase in the number of victims who are willing to tell the world their unfortunate cases of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and bishops. There have been about 100.000 recorded cases of sexual abuse in total, and the situation seems to be present worldwide. Some of the most affected countries are Spain, Mexico, the United States, Ireland, Chile, and Argentina. These cases of sexual abuse have gained much attention by filmmakers who effectively portray some of these stories and educate part of the population. Most people have heard about Spotlight, the movie that was awarded as the best picture in 2016 by the Academy Awards. Through several particular cases of child abuse, it was discovered that there is a massive network of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and bishops; some of them with more than thirty cases registered. Even though these movies can be a good representation of how the Catholic Church is involved in children’s sexual abuse, it is crucial not only focusing on the problem but also in the solutions. There has been some formal trials and words by the Pope, but there is still the problem of responsibilities. Some priests are still free, and others are accused of concealment and reparation to the victims is far from happening. It seems to be that Law is not equal for everybody. Some people still
consider these as not just particular cases which had happened in Catholic churches, but as a global institutional problem. Little has been done in other to assume responsibilities, especially by the Pope (historically speaking). In some cases, the Pope has remained silent while in other cases, the victims have been blamed or considered liars. When talking about this topic with some W&J students, opinions were diverse but also centered on considering effective solutions. When asked whether the Pope should be held re-
sponsible of these cases, Eduardo Ramos 23’ said, “He himself may not be morally responsible for each and every committed transgression, but his position and voice can and should have an impact. And so far, at least from what I know, there have been little to no reactions that would indicate a significant change in how these issues are handled in the system, which is obviously flawed.” His opinion is entirely accurate when considering the Pope himself may not be responsible for each crime, but it is still crucial that the entire in-
stitution find some formal and definite solutions and that has to be done by the Pope. “In the same way, governments have some internal problems, the Catholic Church also has its own, and I partially agree that is treated this way since the Catholic Church has lost many privileges. Some of the reasons why they have lost some followers and it has lost some social privileges include these cases,” said W&J International Student Cristina Olmos 21’ who also focuses on the solutions more privately.
Courtesy Asia News
Pope Francis is considered by many to be the most progressive Pope seen in the Catholic Church.
27 September 2019
Red & Black
15 Opinions
US Involvement: Saudi Arabia and Iran
Courtesy The National
Saudi Arabia possesses 18% of world’s proven petroleum reserves.
Thomas Nicewicz Red & Black Contributor
Before diving into this loaded question, let us first consider some background information. Saudi Arabia and Iran, two leading powers of the Middle East, have a decades-old rivalry between them which is only fueled by their religious differences: Saudi Arabia is predominantly Sunni Muslim while Iran has a Shia Muslim majority. Both nations
compete for regional dominance, each spreading its corresponding Muslim branch to neighboring countries. Saudi Arabia, the US, and other nations, such as Israel, view Iran as a destabilizing factor of the Middle East that must be kept in check. On Saturday, September 14th, two Saudi Arabian oil facilities were struck by a drone and missile attack, resulting in a global rise of gas prices. Iran denies taking part in this attack, but after analysis, Saudi Arabian and American officials claim that the drone and missiles originated from Iran. Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Muhammed bin Salman, wants to act
against Iran with American military support. The White House, however, is still considering its options before deciding definitively which course of action the US will take in response to this attack. Trump alluded to possibly providing US military support in exchange for financial compensation. Let us now consider how the US should respond. The US, with its close ties to the Middle East, should certainly stay involved but only at a diplomatic level, mitigating any potential course of action in the region. American military intervention could spark a whole series of undesirable events, such as a war. Aden
Dressler ’23 thinks that “the US should keep the situation diplomatic for as long as possible.” By remaining skillfully diplomatic, the US could perhaps succeed in relieving Middle Eastern tension as opposed to increasing it. Paul Collier ’23 believes, “America should do absolutely nothing about the attack because it doesn’t concern the US and could only lead to more problems.” That may be true, but it runs the risk of giving a wrong impression to America’s Middle Eastern allies. As the UN continues to investigate the attack, the best choice is to keep the situation diplomatic, taking time to consider options.
2 Cartoon
Red & Black
27 September 2019
‘Don’t Sip Our Future Away’ The Artist: Rémy Legrand ‘22 Red&Black Cartoonist
Courtesy Rémy Legrand
I am Rémy Legrand, an International stuend from France. I am currently a sophomore and I look forward to majoring in Political Science, International Studies, and Spanish. On top of that I am the Parlimentarian of SGA, The Vice President of the International Club and a member of ATO.
27 September 2019
Red & Black
Opinions 17
Embracing Loneliness: How to Enjoy Time Alone Matías Martinez Red & Black Contributor
How many times have you ever felt lonely? Is it important for you to be surrounded by people? Do you consider yourself an independent person? Some of these questions are relevant when considering spending time
with yourself. It is not only important to learn how to socialize with others, but it is also crucial for your mental health to learn how to face loneliness. Being alone should not be considered wrong. Sometimes people need to be by themselves to do certain things that cannot be done when they are around others, such as reflect upon certain topics, clarify their minds, or listen to some music to deal with anxiety. It is no secret that some people are terrified of feeling lonely, but time alone is an excellent opportunity for different actions. Being alone is the best moment for people to get to know
themselves, to reflect upon their actions, to consider alternatives for their lives, to think about their future, to establish individual objectives or to spend time doing something they like comfortably. I remember the very first time I went to the movies by myself. I wanted to see that movie, but I did not want to go by myself. I would feel awkward. However, I also thought, “what if I go and enjoy that movie… I mean, no one cares, and you usually do not chat so much while watching a movie.” Being lonely is a chance to learn about ourselves and to learn how to love ourselves. I think it is even more
important to know how to deal with oneself before trying to deal with others.It is essential to build healthy relationships with friends, families, peers, and people in general. I also remember once I was hiking with my friends. Eight people surrounded me, but none of us were talking since we were focusing on the path. We walked for hours, and since I was not listening to music, I had time to listen to nature and my thoughts. Even though people surrounded me, I was also by myself. Sometimes it can be substantial to listen to your thoughts, to think about what you are doing and make some decisions.
Courtesy A Conscious Rethink
Enjoying time alone may look different for everybody. Many people enjoy to self-reflect in nature.
18 Sports
sports Red & Black
27 September 2019
President’s Football Suffer First Loss
Courtesy gopresidents.com
Mitch Dezort ‘21 getting on of his tackles against opposing quarterback
Patrick Brunner Red & Black Contributor
The Washington & Jefferson College men’s football team traveled to Carnegie Mellon University on Sept. 21. The Presidents were coming off of two big wins against Thiel College and no. 18 Wittenberg University. Despite a 2nd-half comeback, the Presidents were unable to come away with a win on Saturday. The game started off slowly, as neither team was able to find the endzone in the first half. The first points of the game came from CMU’s kicker Brandon Nguyen, who
delivered from 41 yards. The W&J defense stood tall during the 2nd quarter, but the team was unable to keep CMU out of field goal range as the half came to a close. Nguyen once again added to CMU’s lead with a booming kick from 46 yards, a career long for him. Starting the 2nd half up 6-0, CMU moved the ball down the field to find the endzone for the first touchdown of the game. Shortly afterwards, the W&J offense came alive as quarterback Jacob Adams ‘20 was able to find wide receiver Cameron O’Brien ‘21 for the team’s first points of the game. Adams and O’Brien connected once again in the 3rd quarter for a school record-breaking 94-yard touchdown. A touchdown pass from CMU in the
Courtesy gopresidents.com
Despite a strong showing from the defense the President’s lost
4th quarter put the game away, as the Presidents were unable to respond on offense. Linebacker Mitch Dezort ‘21 feels faith in his team despite the recent loss. “This past game, we did not play to the best of our abilities. However, I believe in all of our guys and I know that the sky is the limit moving forward. I have a lot of faith in all of our guys and coaching staff. I am looking forward to next week’s game,” said Dezort. “I know we’re going to come out even stronger and play like the 12th ranked team in the country. Our defense will continue to dominate.” Wide receiver Antoine Hachem ‘21 emphasized the defense’s good performance. “It was a great defensive effort. Our offense
I know that the sky is the limit moving forward. -Mitch Dezort ‘21 could not seem to find their groove, but sometimes that kind of stuff happens. I am confident we will come out firing on all cylinders next Saturday,” said Hachem. The team currently sits 2-1 overall and 1-1 in conference play. The Presidents return to action on Sept. 28 for a PAC matchup against Grove City College.
27 September 2019
Red & Black
19 sports
Women’s Soccer Fall to 1-5 Patrick Brunner Red & Black Contributor
The women’s soccer team at Washington & Jefferson College faced off against Carnegie Mellon University on Sept. 20. The Presidents fought hard throughout the game, but they could not seem to find their groove as they fell to Carnegie Mellon University by a final score of 6-0. Goalkeepers Shayla Watkins ‘22 and Gabriella Lloyd ‘23 split time in the net, each registering seven saves. The Presidents took two shots in the contest. One of those shots came from midfielder Caitlin Dra-
hushak ‘22, and the other came from midfielder Chandler Marteeny ‘20. Both of these shots occurred during the first half and both were recorded as shots on goal.
“We have been working very hard for over a month and I expect it to click for us soon” -Marcy Saldivar ‘21 CMU’s Maddy Lui led the way for CMU with 2 goals. Daisy Gollis, Tara Durstewitz, Alex Adams, and Taylor Cammarata also scored for CMU. Midfielder and captain Marcy Saldivar ‘21
had some strong thoughts about the team’s effort. “Although we didn’t get the result we wanted, Carnegie Mellon University is an extremely competitive team and we fought as much as we could,” said Saldivar. “We play Penn State Altoona this week and we anticipate a much better result. We’ve been working hard for over a month and I expect it to click for us soon.” The loss to CMU drops the Presidents to a 1-5 overall record and boosts CMU to a 4-2-1 overall record. Midfielder and captain Marteeny, who came very close to scoring for the Presidents, added, “After the hardfought game against CMU, we are looking forward to getting out against Penn State Altoona, building on the positives, and working for a win. We hope to add a few more ‘W’s onto our record to help carry some momentum into upcoming PAC play,” said Marteeny. Although the Presidents
have not started off quite the way they hoped they would, they remain optimistic. Midfielder Grace Rangel ‘21 touched on this optimism for the rest of the season. “As any team, it’s difficult changing coaches every season, but I am hopeful that Kendra will be able to end our losing streak. She’s a very passionate coach that was a logical player herself and has helped us adjust again. I think for PAC we will have a turn around for results due to our team chemistry improving on and off the field,” said Rangel. “The next upcoming game against Penn State Altoona we will be refocusing and going on an offensive strategy rather than our defensive approach against Carnegie Mellon.” Saldivar, Marteeny and Rangel expressed confidence in their fellow teammates and they are looking forward to starting conference play against Westminster College on Oct. 5.
Student Athlete Spotlight Jacob Duda ‘21 Liam Sullivan Red & Black Contributor
Jacob Daniel Duda, class of 2021, was born on October 7th, 1999 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Jacob lived in North Carolina until he was in the 5th grade, and then his family moved to Turkey for three years. He lived in the capital city of Ankara until moving to Peters Pennsylvania before the beginning of the 8th grade school year.
Jacob is currently a junior studying business in hopes of owning his own business someday. When I Interviewed Jacob, he said he wants to be a “businessman.” I can only believe that to mean that he wants to have investments in multiple businesses. Aside from his studies, Jacob works hard on the lacrosse field. He began his career as a midfielder in the 8th grade until his high school coach switched him to defense his freshman year. Jacob stuck with defense and is currently starting for his third consecutive season with the Presidents. When looking back on his past two seasons, he can specifically remember a win in overtime his
freshman year to be the most exciting. It was the President’s last game of the season, and even though they weren’t going to make the playoffs, the Presidents wanted to win. It was senior day for the only senior on the team, Lorenzo Rocitto, and Hanover had already clinched a spot in the playoffs. The game ended regulation in a tie, and the Presidents pulled out the win by being the first to score in overtime. Jacob especially remembers this moment because it was a great way to end the first chapter in his four-part career with the Presidents and pleased with the outcome for the only senior on the field that day. Looking forward to the 2020 season, the
Presidents will open the season against Kenyon at home. Kenyon has beaten the Presidents over the last two years but with the largest senior class in the programs in recent years, this season is looking promising. Returning coaches, Kevin Kustron and Sean Kulcyk, have a solid squad of players at their disposal. When asked about what his coaches excel at Jacob said, “they are very good at playing to our teams strengths and changing our game plan week to week to fit our opponents, I think our key to success this year is going to be able to adjust coaching wise on defense with teams graduating most of the players we troubled with.”
20 sports
Red & Black
27 September 2019
Last Week’s Scores
Sept. 20
Women’s Soccer vs Carnegie Mellon Universtiy: 0-6 Loss
Sept. 21
Cross Counrty at Lock Haven Invitational: 35th of 37 Women’s Golf at Westminster Invitationall: 5th of 7 Vollyball at Bethany College: 0-3 Loss Feild Hocky at Utica College: 0-3 Loss Football at Carnegie Mellon Universtiy: 13-20 Loss Vollyball vs Chatham University: 3-1 Win Men’s Soccer at Marietta College: 0-3 Loss
Sept. 22
Men’s Water Polo at Bucknell Invitational: 5-25 Loss
Sept. 24
Women’s Soccer at Penn State Altoona
Next Week’s Games Courtesy gopresidents.com
Sept. 27
Women’s Tennis vs Mount Union University 3:30pm Women’s Cross Country at Chatam University Men’s Water Polo vs Penn State Behrend 7:00pm
Sept. 28
Men’s Tennis vs Mount Aloysius College 10:00am Vollyball vs Geneva College 11:00am Feild Hockey vs Ferrum College 12:00pm Football at Grove City College 12:00pm Women’s Soccer at Wooster University 2:00pm Vollyball vs Grove City College 3:00pm Men’s Tennis vs Waynesburg Universtiy 4:00pm Men’s Water Polo: Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference Games Men’s Soccer at Hood College 7:00pm
Sept. 29
Feild Hockey vs Nazareth College 11:00am Women’s Tennis at St. Vincent College 11:00am Men’s Water Polo: Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference Games Men’s Golf at Peter C. Rossin Memorial Invitational Women’s Golf at Peter C. Rossin Memorial Invitational
Sept. 23 Courtesy gopresidents.com
Men’s Golf at Peter C. Rossin Memorial Invitational Women’s Golf at Peter C. Rossin Memorial Invitational
