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T h e 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 Free w j r e d a n d b l a c ko n l i n e . c o m w a s h i n g t o n , p e n n s y lva n i a F e b ru a ry 1 0 , 2 0 1 7
WHAT’S IN THIS WEEK’S PAPER... LIFE “The DEP does not believe that the contaminated water system will last for long, but they strongly advise for citizens in the Pittsburgh area to follow their advice to avoid consuming toxic agents.” -P. 8
CULTURE “Donovan has a fascination with art that integrates suspension and balance creation with resistance. The turnout for the opening night consisted of students, staff and locals.” -P.10
OPINIONS “In all, the Intersession term is a staple of W&J’s education. Students get excited for the term each year. Without Intersession, W&J would lose a part of its identity.” -P.15
SPORTS “With numerous PAC wrestler of the week honors and having just been named among the most dominant wrestlers in Division III Collegiate Wrestling, Blanco thought of his own future, but, more importantly, that of W&J College Wrestling.” -P.18
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Intersession Fun On and Off Campus Courtesy Shannon Adams
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10 February 2017
Freshman Spotlight: Jenelle Senske Genea Richardson Red&Black Contributor
Jenelle Senske ‘20 is a sociable and active student at Washington & Jefferson College. Senske is from Buffalo, N.Y. and is now on W&J’s dance team. In her free time, Senske plays tennis and is an avid ping-pong player. When finalizing her college decision, one of the main reasons Senske chose W&J was because of the traveling program known as the Magellan Project. She plans to do a Magellan this summer and every other summer that she can. Senske is hoping her first trip will be through the Franklin Internship Award, where she will stay in the United States and work for the Senate in Washington, D.C. Over the Intersession term, Senske had the opportunity to travel to Africa
as a student in Dr. Misawa’s Political and Social Systems of Africa course. Senske said the whole trip was a beautiful learning experience. “It was super funny and crazy. We learned a lot, traveled to a lot of villages, laid on the beach and so much more. Overall it was great time,” said Senske. In addition to her passion for travel, Senske is a double major in International studies and Spanish on the pre-law track. As an 18-year-old who has so much ahead and so much planned for her college career, Senske has some helpful advice for incoming freshmen. “Keep your options open and don’t rush yourself,” she said. Senske reflected that in her initial college search, W&J was not her first choice. However, once she visited the campus, she fell in love with the atmosphere and the nature of a tight-
Courtesy Jenelle Senske
Senske ‘20 is originally from Buffalo, N.Y.
knit community. “Do not be caught up in the ‘outside’ stuff, like the name of the college or that it is not very well known outside of Pennsylvania,” Senske said. She also shared some “fun facts” about herself and her firstyear experiences. During her second week of college, she broke her foot
during dance practice. However, this is nothing but a mere speed bump for Senske: she has broken a whopping five bones before. Senske is looking forward to what is in store for her second semester of college and taking advantage of all of the opportunities provided by W&J.
Intersession 2017: The Fullbridge Program Amiti Sharma Red&Black Contributor
This year, Washington & Jefferson College collaborated with the nationally recognized Fullbridge Program to provide students with the unique experience to participate and learn from fully educated and experienced coaches in the ways of business. The program specifically focused on en-
trepreneurship and the process of developing and operating a newly found business. In my experience, this program was extremely advantageous to anyone pursuing business, marketing, research, accounting or finance. The skills I acquired during this program were highly beneficial and will stay with me for many years. While the program is known to have a rigorous and fast-paced curriculum, the material and content of the course was delivered to us as students in a very thorough and meaningful way. The platform, or student portfolio, was easy to maneuver and very in-
sightful. For example, with each lecture, there were several videos, news articles, passages from novels and summary questions to ensure that students were fully comprehending and retaining the material, as opposed to just reading lectures all day and memorizing vocabulary terms. This program offered unlimited advice and knowledge over a wide variety of subjects, from learning how to properly conduct oneself during an interview to improving my presentation and communication skills as well. While the program was truly helpful and instructive, the greatest part of
the program was getting to work with the coaches. Ray Griffin and Carmen Franco were both individually and collectively incredible teachers, and their continuous support, dedication and loyalty to their students made this program very efficient and engaging. On the first day of the program, Franco said, “Follow your dreams, and do what you find pleasure doing because you can’t fake passion.” I genuinely had an incredible experience by participating in the Fullbridge Program, and I would recommend it to any student interested in the field of business.
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Intersession 2017 In Photos
Courtesy Tiffany Dittrich
Courtesy Maddi Stevens
From left to right, Taylor Andres ‘19, Tiffany Dittrich ‘17 and Kyla Feliz-Williams ‘17 play in the streets of Pompeii, Italy.
Courtesy Tiffany Dittrich
W&J visited the Pittsburgh Bar in Rome. Courtesy Molly Kellam
Top: Maddi Stevens ‘18; Bottom: Molly Kellam ‘18. Both Stevens and Kellam studied in Greece this Intersession.
“I think Intersession is great because it introduces students to a range of different classes and opportunities that students would not encounter in the regular semester.” - Katie Campbell ‘18 Courtesy W&J English
Dr. Harding’s Plantation Women course had a cooking day during the month of January. Each student had the chance to prepare colonial recipes.
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10 Februrary 2017
Press Release: Washington Symphony Orchestra “Homegrown” is the fruit of Washington County’s musical roots. On Feb. 12, 2017, the Washington Symphony Orchestra will perform a concert featuring dozens of local performers. When looking for a way to mark the Washington Symphony Orchestra’s (WSO) fifteenth anniversary season, the WSO Artistic Committee decided to “stay home.” With so much talent right in our backyard, it was easy to fill an entire concert with performers and music with local ties. Actually, the challenge was fitting it all in. Breaking from tradition this year, the WSO’s February concert
“Homegrown,” will be held on a Sunday afternoon, Feb. 12 at 3 p.m., instead of the usual Saturday evening offering. One of the ways the WSO will mark its anniversary at this concert is by having Dave Owens, the WSO’s first conductor, lead the orchestra in “Appalachian Folk Song Suite.” Local acts to be featured include Dan Baker and the Washington Jazz Society, the Washington Community Theatre and the Mon Valley Push Polka Band. Kyle Simpson, who has played with the WSO several times throughout the years, wrote a special arrangement of Henry Mancini’s “Moon River” and will play the trumpet
Courtesy Washington Symphany Orchestra
The Washington Symphony Orchestra will perform on Feb. 12, 2017.
solo for it. Simpson also composed another “Homegrown” piece, entitled “Journey into Wissamaking,” which was originally debuted by the WSO in 2010. Another encore performance will be that of “Journey Beyond Earth.” The short film, a collaboration by two local artists, filmmaker Ron Hankison and composer Dominic Carrola, shows images from outer space set to a score played by the WSO. The Faith-Filled Singers is a large choir that is being gathered together for the first time to perform for “Homegrown.” Members come from 10 different Washington County Churches. They include Jefferson Avenue United Methodist Church, New Hope Church, Nazareth Baptist Church, Church of the Covenant, First Presbyterian Church, First Christian Church, Saint Patrick’s Church, Immaculate Conception Church, First United Methodist Church and Center Presbyterian Church. A longtime supporter of the WSO, Washington Financial, has stepped up to be the presenting sponsor of “Homegrown.” Washington Financial was the first corporate sponsor of the WSO back in 2004 and has made contributions, both financially and in-kind, every year since then. Their support has made it possible for us to share our music with many in the community who might not otherwise attend. “The consistent support that the WSO has received from Washington Financial is a significant reason that we are still here and happily celebrating our 15th anniversary,” said WSO Board President Monica Merrell. “From the
beginning, they had faith in us and saw value in what the orchestra brings to the community. We are deeply grateful for their foresight and partnership,” she said. Keeping with the “Homegrown” theme, the concert will also feature 11 talented musicians from three Washington County high schools. These young musicians will play wind, brass, string and percussion instruments side-by-side with our orchestra members. Also representing our local schools will be the Trinity High School Chamber Choir and Peters Township’s Rowdy Rhythm. The latter is an acapella group known for its creative renditions of popular music. As pre-concert programming at 2:15 p.m., Max Gonano and Judith Sutton will present a short video and talk about Pittsburgh legend Henry Mancini’s life and music. The presentation is part of the “Steel City Grooves” series, a project of the Jazz Committee of the Senator John Heinz History Center’s Volunteer Ambassador Program, in association with the California University of Pennsylvania Music Department. Tickets for Homegrown start at $17 and can be purchased online at washsym. org or by calling 1-888-71-TICKETS. Tickets can also be purchased at the following locations: Citizens Library, the Peters Township Public Library and the WSO Office at 11 South College Street in Washington (WSO Office by appointment only). For further information about the symphony, visit www.washsym.org or connect with the WSO on Facebook (facebook.com/washsymphony) and Twitter (twitter.com/washsymphony).
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What is your dream career? “I want to earn my doctorate in psychology and treat people with chronic pain disorders.” — Kyla Feliz-Williams ‘17
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“I want to write for BuzzFeed. It combines my love of writing with my love for popular culture.” -Taylor Andres ‘19
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“I want to write the next bestselling novel.” -Shannon Adams ‘17
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Emily Sterk Katherine Campbell Leah Segal Tiffany Dittrich Shannon Adams Kayla Marasia Christopher Frydryck Karli-Ann Sanders Abigail Pipcho Lauren Virgin siddhanta bista Samara Wendel John Santa
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10 February 2017
The Controversial Commercials of Super Bowl LI Samara Wendel Red & Black Staff
The LI annual Super Bowl games took place on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017. Along with watching the game, viewers were able to enjoy a plethora of traditions to go along with the game. While people enjoyed their wings and nachos, they also were able to enjoy the commercials. There had been a wide variety of highly anticipated commercials from many companies for this year’s Super Bowl. Some of the commercials were controversial and touched on current political issues. Others featured unexpected appearances by famous singers and actors. Many viewers were expecting commercials from Doritos and Butterfingers, but this year, T-Mobile, Tostitos, Tide and even Budweiser delivered some interesting commercials in place of these common companies. There was a lot of controversy swirling around the first Snickers live com-
mercial and one commercial presented by 84 Lumber. Some people were more interested in the commercials than the actual game. Commercials that were among the top favorites this year were from T-Mobile, Honda, Tostitos, Budweiser and Tide. As a recap, the T-Mobile commercials consisted of Justin Bieber showing the history of touchdown dance celebrations and a creepy parody of “Fifty Shades of Grey” to emphasize their new data plan with taxes and fees included. Tostitos encouraged people who attended Super Bowl parties to drive sober or have a designated driver while also promoting Uber. One of Honda’s more memorable commercials showed a high school yearbook with pictures of famous stars talking. Writers of The Washington Post said this commercial was “Really sweet and innovative.” There were multiple humorous versions of the Tide commercial. Budweiser featured a commercial about the American Dream. The Washington Post said, “[This commercial was] one of the most polarizing commercials in the Super Bowl… But regardless of how well it aligned with your political beliefs, Budweiser’s retelling of its origin tale
Courtesy Awful Announcing
Super Bowl LI took place on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017. Commercials that were among the top favorites were from T-Mobile, Budweiser and Tide.
was a true story.” 84 Lumber was the most controversial commercial that aired during the Super Bowl. Originally it was rumored that the commercial had such a conservative message that Fox News even asked them to scale back the intensity of it. In the end, the commercial ended up being re-filmed. Instead featuring a segment of a girl from a Mexican family collecting pieces of cloth while traveling with her
family to an unknown destination. At the end of the commercial, 84 Lumber provided a link to watch the entire commercial on their website for those who are interested in seeing the rest of the little girl’s story. These were only some of the commercials aired on the biggest night for football. Many of these commercials dealt with current political issues, as well as popular social trends in society.
10 February 2017
New Semester Tips Leah Segal Red&Black Editor
There is nothing quite like cracking open a fresh notebook and breaking out a beautifully sealed pack of pencils for the start of a new semester. However, along with the excitement of new classes and the anticipation of what the future will hold, everyone undoubtedly slips into the same stressed and exhausted pattern semester after semester. But fear ye not! From waking up five minutes earlier to a small change of diet, here are five tips to banish school struggles. Change sleep schedules: After the holiday season and Intersession, it can be difficult to revert back to a normal sleeping pattern. Such a bad habit can catapult a student into an exhaustion that lasts the entire semester. With that in mind, forcing oneself to get to bed at a reasonable time, setting the alarm clock a few minutes earlier and not hitting the snooze button can positively affect energy levels and therefore make for a happier, stressfree semester. Press Pause on Procrastination: Everyone is guilty of pushing even the most menial tasks to the last minute, and it is not rocket science to know that such behavior causes stress. With the heavy course load of a W&J student, such stress can compound quite quickly. Instead of taking
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Life Advice Life advice given to you from the mouths of the Red & Black Editorial Staff.
Study less, study smart
Courtesy quickmeme.com
Tiny changes in your day can help relieve stress.
that nap and setting readings and work aside, tackle those assignments. Eat Healthier: While junk food and soda reign supreme in the snack hoards of nearly every college student, even a minute switch from carbonated beverages to water greatly impacts not only energy levels, but attitude and skin clarity. That being said, students do not have to give up a candy bar crutch to get through the semester with flying colors. Get Organized: Don’t wait to get supplies together; a tidy workplace helps to expedite the process of completing arduous work. Additionally, starting out the semester organized will help to get into a routine more smoothly. Be More Open-Minded: Instead of allowing oneself to become enclosed in a web of stress and self-doubt, remember that the new semester is a chance to break bad habits and become open to changing up routines. After all, students may just discover their true potential.
“To complete my homework in a timely manner, I set my phone on ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode.” -Tiffany Dittrich, Campus News Editor
“Create deadlines for yourself. It will motivate you to get your work done and stay focused. ” -Emily Sterk, Editor-in-Chief
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10 February 2017
Contaminated Water Found in the Burgh Samara Wendel Red&Black Staff
In the city of Pittsburgh, there was a warning issued on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017 for everyone to boil their tap water. This problem is still being seen in-
side the city this month. This warning was given initially as a “precaution,” but the Department of Environmental Protection later found traces of toxic chemicals. They found chlorine in the water treatment plants, along with evidence of a bacterium called Giardia. This bacterium can lead to an illness that includes symptoms such as vomiting, itchiness, nausea, stomach cramps and other flu-like symptoms.
The Department of Health believes that these chemicals were found in the water systems because of poor water treatment. The contaminated water has affected areas surrounding the city and the DEH is warning the people living in the affected areas to boil their water before consuming or to use bottled water. Several days after the issue was found, the DEP released a statement that said, “Through an ongoing investigation into PWSA’s treatment practices, DEP found that PWSA is not achieving adequate disinfection levels for Giardia in water distributed from the Highland Park facility. DEP not-
by the contaminated water are on the eastern side of Pittsburgh and can be seen on the map provided. One area especially affected by the contaminated water is the University of Pittsburgh and surrounding universities and college campuses in Pittsburgh. The students on campus have to take precautions when doing simple tasks such as brushing their teeth or cooking food. One student from the University of Pittsburgh, Angela Kodokian ‘20 said that the whole thing was “inconvenient and expensive.” Other students found the comedic aspect of the ordeal by making stories
The DEP does not believe that the contaminated water system will last for long, but they strongly advise for citizens in the Pittsburgh area to follow their advice to avoid consuming toxic agents.
Courtesy pittsburgh.cbslocal.com
The map above shows the areas in Pittsburgh that were possibly affected by the water contamination issue.
ed that the disinfection processes and concentrations for water going into the distribution network are insufficient, and as such PWSA must alert customers to the breakdown in treatment and the need to boil water before consuming. Customers are reminded to flush their systems by letting the tap run for several minutes before boiling to reduce possible exposure to lead.” The DEP does not believe that the contaminated water system will last for long, but they strongly advise for citizens in the Pittsburgh area to follow their advice to avoid consuming toxic agents. The townships affected
on Snapchat that made fun of the fact that they had to boil their water and ration out water bottles for showering and consumption. A student that attends Carnegie Mellon University, Rick Fincham, said, “It was not super bad. I just had to boil water or use bottled water.” When asked if the water contamination had been an inconvenience for him, Fincham said, “Not really. I do not cook or drink tap water so I only really needed it for brushing my teeth.” The water treatment plants in the area appear to have the situation under control.
10 February 2017
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Starbucks to Hire Refugees Ricky Delprato Red & Black Contributor
Starbucks plans to hire approximately 10,000 refugees in addition to the thousands of individuals that they have already given better work opportunities. This specific pledge will aid in the reaffirmation of Starbucks’ “commitment to create pathways to meaningful employment for veterans, military spouses and opportunity youth.” Shannon Adams ‘17 said, “I think it is a great idea that Starbucks is giving this opportunity to refugees, veterans, and the younger generation alike. Starbucks is a very forward thinking company and they are not afraid of what the media has to say about what they think is right.” This dedication is not a new concept for Starbucks, as they have previously supported the employment of individuals who have issues with attaining careers. Starbucks launched an effort to employ veterans and military spouses back in 2013. The program was originally designed to hire a smaller subset of individuals in need of work. However, now Starbucks has done many things in order to accommodate our service men and women and their spouses. Starbucks both constructed and runs 32 military stores that are in close proximity to bases in an attempt to normalize our service men and wom-
Courtesy ABC 7 Chicago
Starbucks CEO, Howard Schultz, promises to hire 10,000 refugees for this company.
en’s time away from the United States. Additionally, Starbucks has several partners that have helped them provide free coffee to the troops that are currently deployed overseas. More recently, Starbucks has once again extended their efforts to help to the “Opportunity Youth.” The coffee chain is currently trying to hire more employees that are between the ages of 16 to 24. This desire to hire individuals that are younger
is derived from the necessity to show America’s youth that they can do anything if they put in the necessary amount of work. The last long-term goal that Starbucks is working towards achieving is making an “investment” in low to medium income communities. They have created specific work fronts that are designed to help teach the less fortunate, as they provide workshops that are available for the use
of the community. Additionally, these stores are located in lower income areas to try to provide more jobs. Each store provides approximately 20 to 25 additional jobs in the community. Some of the stores that have been created include locations in New York, Missouri, Arizona and Illinois. Starbucks also has plans to create more locations in this upcoming year. Starbucks’ pledge to help is as refreshing as one of their many handcrafted
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10 February 2017
culture Olin Art Gallery Debuts ‘Implements for Respite’ Nate Repine Red & Black Contributor
The art gallery had its first opening show of the semester this past Friday, Feb. 3, 2017. The featured artist, Michael Donovan, focuses on the art of preservation and larger-scale sculptures, and this was made clear in his newest show, “Implements for Respite.” His academic background consists of a bachelor’s degree from Southern Connecticut State and MFA from the University of Connecticut. Donovan focused this display on a variety of different aspects, including physical resistance and balance between objects. The five pieces featured at the opening night all embodied these traits and an inclusion of the two closest things in his life: his wife and his child. The pieces primarily consisted of bronze wire, steel, red oak, poplar and hardware. Many of the works only took a month or two to complete when they were the primary object being worked on. Donovan has a fascination with art that integrates suspension and balance
creation with resistance. The turnout for the opening night consisted of students, staff and locals. The artist himself preached that he has a “fascination with physicality and balance with suspension,” and that this is the main theme of all of his work. Donovan mentioned that he experimented with different mediums of art in college, but he learned that he felt most at home doing sculpture. He is also largely influenced by family life and the sense of responsibility he feels for loved ones. His wife, child and pet acted as his main synergy of his recent piece integrating cement slabs. The largest piece featured, labeled “Implement Including Flexure,” was the largest piece Donovan has ever created, and it was made in 2009 after Donovan completed graduate school. The piece’s dimensions are 77 x 171 x 110 inches and was a reincarnation of his “dangerous” desire to work with large scale works and resistance. Students like Brandon Wilson ‘18 were very impressed with the pieces featured; of Donovan’s clean lines and industrial style, he said, “everything is very neat.” The Art Gallery features pieces that are unique and tell stories of many interesting and passionate artists, and is open seven days a week, from 12 p.m.
Courtesy Nate Repine
Michael Donovan, above, gave an impassioned talk at the gallery opening about the inspiration for his pieces, and he mentioned his wife, daughter and dog as major influences. Many of his pieces are inspired by the subjects of responsibility, the passage of time and life’s trials.
to 7 p.m. Donovan’s featured show, “Implements for Respite,” will be running from Feb. 3 until Feb. 26. Students are encouraged to come down to Olin and take some time to indulge in some very marvelous pieces
if they were not in attendance on opening night. These artists put a great deal of time and energy into their work, and would be proud to know their art is admired and seen by as many as possible.
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Culture 11
Album Review: Starset’s ‘Vessels’ Released Alex York Red & Black Staff
set’s “Vessels,” released on Jan. 20, 2017. “Vessels” offers a unique take on the typical formula through a hybridization of rock, electronic and cinematic sounds, creating a whirlwind experience not to be missed by anyone looking to add a bit of well-needed variety to his or her library. Following a short lead-in with “The Order,” “Vessels” immediately demonstrates its unifying tone through “Satellite,” a screaming, science fiction-inspired track that guides listeners through a roller-coaster of emotional highs and lows. Courtesy Loudwire Throughout the album, Starset cap“Vessels” was released by Starset in January of 2017. italizes upon this diversity of intensity found within each individual song: In the world of rock music, there are the ambient synths of “Starlight” are plenty of albums that excel at the regularly contrasted by heavy guitar now-standard fare propagated by clas- and drums; the high-energy “Into the sic groups like Soundgarden and Ra- Unknown” lapses into quiet between diohead. anthemic choruses. The hurricane-like However, few manage to surprise balance the band strikes between the and excite quite the same way as Star- seemingly incompatible elements of
dynamism and tranquility is arguably one of the album’s greatest strengths. However, despite these determined efforts to break convention, “Vessel” ultimately falls into patterns of its own, cyclically progressing through sometimes predictable sequences of rock and electronic segments. While the album never becomes repetitive, since the band displays its vast array of musical styles in each song rather than devoting individual tracks to each, most songs ultimately sound too alike to be particularly memorable. Thankfully, this problem lessens in severity as the album nears its end. Several later tracks, such as “Last to Fall” and “Bringing It Down,” conclude with orchestral segments akin to film score, providing a distinctive theatrical flair. Songs like “Monster” refocus their efforts on more refined melodies, while “Telepathic” stands out as the only song in which the usual guitar-
and-drums instrumentation is absent. Finally, “Everglow,” a three-act, eight-minute odyssey through each of the band’s main styles, provides a noteworthy conclusion to the album. Each section allows Starset’s various talents to rise to prominence, from the sweeping electronic tones that make up the song’s first half to dramatic guitar and a symphonic finale. Whereas these elements sometimes find themselves lost in each other throughout the rest of the album, here they are all given an equal chance to shine. Even though “Vessel” struggles at times to provide any standout examples of its quality, Starset’s unique musical profile alone is enough to push the album to excellence. On a track-by-track basis, “Vessel” may fall flat, but as a complete album, it provides a refreshing and exhilarating experience for those looking to escape from the same tired rock.
Their menu includes different variations of milkshakes, such as gourmet, classic and sodas, or floats, as well as regular beverages. The gourmet milkshakes include specialty combinations such as BrownThe Milkshake Factory is located in ie Fudge, Strawberries and Waffles, downtown Pittsburgh and South Side Bananas Foster, Chocolate Covered Pittsburgh. Bacon and Fried Ice Cream. The menu has many delicious lookThe classic milkshakes included ing flavors, and the restaurant also sells standard flavors such as chocolate and chocolate that is made fresh every day vanilla, signature flavors such as chocin addition to the freshly-made ice olate raspberry truffle, cookie dough, cream. The Milkshake Factory hand cupcake, red velvet and some dairymakes each milkshake according to free flavors. Their sundae flavors were what flavor each customer wants. The Chocolatier, Peanut Butter Melt-
away, Belgian Waffle, S’mores and Affogato. The milkshakes were more on the expensive side, but they had a lot of flavor and are worth the price. Getting to The Milkshake Factory is not difficult and it is a great place to go to relax with friends. “It was a fun experience! Especially going with friends and seeing Pittsburgh at night,” said Sowmya Srinivasan ’20. The restaurant also sold many different varieties of chocolate, so it is the perfect destination to satisfy a sweet tooth. The Milkshake Factory could be a place to get milkshakes in the be-
ginning of the fall semester or the end of the spring semester as an afternoon treat or an evening dessert. Also, the assortment of candies could be given as gifts to family and friends. Claire Atherton ‘20 said, “It was totally worth it because the milkshake was excellent!” Anyone traveling to Pittsburgh in the near future should make a stop at The Milkshake Factory because their milkshakes are one of a kind. This restaurant has a unique style and it is a great place in the city to take a group of friends to socialize.
The Milkshake Factory in Pittsburgh Samara Wendel Red & Black Staff
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10 February 2017
‘Silence’ Depicts Religious Prosecution Diana Ciarallo Red & Black Staff
“Silence,” a brutal historical drama directed by Martin Scorcese, is a disconcerting experience. The film outwardly raises the question, “Why does God remain silent and allow evil and suffering to occur?” The audience endures 160 minutes of religious persecution, despair, graphic torture and violence, but leaves the audience with no answers and more questions. In the year 1639, two young missionaries, Father Rodrigues (Andrew Garfield) and Father Garupe (Adam Driver) are stunned to hear word of the possibility that their long lost teacher and fellow priest, Father Ferreira (Liam Neeson), who had gone missing while trying to spread the teachings of Christianity in Japan, might still be alive. Refusing to believe that their friend has supposedly renounced his faith as the result of torture at the hands of Japanese inquisitors and is now “living as a Japanese,” the two young priests make the deadly decision to go to Japan in hopes that they might recover him. The film is set in the 17th century Nagasaki Japan, but is actually shot in Taiwan. The cinematography of the region is artistic and compelling, beautiful but foreboding. The religion of Christianity has been outlawed by Tokugawa shogun
Courtesy Esquire
Andrew Garfield’s Father Rodrigues and Yôsuke Kubozuka’s Kichijiro, above, portray compelling characters in Martin Scorcese’s “Silence.” The film received mostly positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. It delivers a powerful message about religious prosecution and oppression. While the setting of the film is in Japan, the beautiful scenery was filmed in Taiwan.
and those who were caught with even so much as a tiny wooden crucifix are put to death in the most appalling ways. Persecuted and forced to renounce their faith upon the threat of torture, the Japanese Christians are made to worship in secret. They soon find their safety put at risk when they offer to keep the newly arrived priests hidden from the local potentates who hunt them down as alien fugitives. Bearing witness to the pain and suffering of the converts, the film follows the story of Father Rodrigues, who begins to struggle with his faith as a result of what he witnesses. He begins to question the silence of God to the point where he begins
to wonder if there is even a God out there. One part of the movie said, “Long years of secrecy have made their faces into masks. Why must they suffer so much?” While the film initially begins with a good deal of promise as a poignant story that depicts the horrors of religious persecution and the struggle to remain strong in one’s faith in a world that can harbor such wickedness, it is not long before the plot begins to go downhill. The movie starts to drag out and robs the film of the importance that had initially seemed so strong in the beginning. Multiple scenes asking Christians to renounce their faith followed by
punishment for those that refuse become predictable and repetitive in this long film. While certain scenes were emotional and powerful, the repetition of some scenes took away from the film as a whole. The viewer assumes that there will be a payoff or revelation for this in the end but none is forthcoming. It's unclear what Scorcese is trying to say about the titular issue in “Silence.” The film is based on historical events and raises additional questions about European religious paternalism. These questions come to mind, but the audience is left to contemplate them without exploration or resolution at the conclusion of the film.
10 February 2017
Poetry Corner Diana Ciarallo Red&Black Staff
“Deep Sea Fishing Odyssey” Poseidon rages Vengeful waves Twisting contorting Loathsome forms Rising sea monsters Inflict turmoil, tumult I'm bound to the mast Impose my will on the prey A thrashing siren Flesh-rending teeth
“Caribbean New Year” Tropical birdDiamond encrusted, Gem-studded. Soaring macaw, Saucy flamingo Swarm of hummingbirds- hibiscus, birds of paradise. Sing, Shine, Mingle.
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Culture 13
‘Hamilton’ Fans Protest Immigration Ban Ricky Delprato Red & Black Contributor
We are currently entering an entirely new era where media, politics and theater are clashing against each other in unprecedented ways. In America, there is an increasing amount of political unrest regarding many different policies and actions that are being set into place by the new administration. Directly after a halt on visas of individuals who are Muslims, citizens took to the streets in protest of this action. This time, however, protesters are using the popular musical “Hamilton” to express their disgust of the current visa halt based upon religious background. This is not the first time the Broadway musical “Hamilton” has been in the media recently. Previously, the actors of the play had verbalized their general disgust with current Vice President Mike Pence. There is a large connection between the content of the colonial world of “Hamilton” and the political unrest of today’s society. Protesters have begun to use phrases from “Hamilton” to
express their frustrations against both President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. The “Hamilton” lyrics have shown up specifically in the women’s marches around the country. Some examples of these phrases include, “History has its eyes on you,” “Eyes up rise up wise up,” “Take a stand with pride; I don’t understand how you stand to the side” and “Rise up.” As millennials grow older, the world may begin to see a different type of protest – one that has more ideas related to pop culture. Another example of this type of movement can be seen in the music of the youth. Just like the protesters who are using song lyrics to get ideas, youth listen to many different genres of music that express their feelings. More media attention will be brought to the many protests that are occurring. The method of protest will intensify in the coming months. Hopefully, there will be a continuation of the expression of rights that protesters such as those individuals participating in the hundreds of women’s marches across the country show.
Courtesy WANE
Many citizens, shown above, are unhappy with Trump and Pence’s executive decisions, so they have taken to the incredibly relevant lyrics of the musical “Hamilton” to protest.
14 Opinions
10 February 2017
Red & Black
opinions Why Intersession is a Staple of W&J Nour Al Shishani Red & Black Contributor
Intersession is utilized by Washington & Jefferson College as a way to give students an extra opportunity to receive credits. The college offers a multitude of different classes that students can take while on campus for the month of January. Although it is not quite a break, it provides to be an easy transition into
the spring semester. Time is the most beneficial factor of Intersession. Students are more capable of enjoying their own chosen activities with whatever free time their class leaves them with. Some students choose to use this time to work in order to earn money for the upcoming semester. Others choose to spend this time relaxing with friends and getting acclimated to life at W&J. Use of time during Intersession varies among students, yet they all seem less agitated and worried. Intersession is a happier, less stressful time on campus. In addition to the general life benefits of Intersession, there are also educational benefits for the students. Although the term is a requirement, it can act as a GPA booster as well. Most of the time, students are enrolled
in one class and all of their time and efforts can go into that one class. Another benefit of the term is the relationships that students will form
In addition to the general life benefits of intersession, there are also educational benefits for the students. Although the term is a requirement, it can act as a GPA booster as well.
with their professors. Intersession classes last on average for three hours a day, five days a week, and are relatively small classes. This allows for a relationship to form between the students and professors that will be mutually beneficial. The lack of demand from a full course
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.
and explore the Washington and Pittsburgh areas. In all, the Intersession term is a staple of W&J’s education. Students get excited for the term each year. Without Intersession, W&J would lose a part of its identity.
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
load allows students to explore their world outside of classes. The three day weekend that some classes offer allows students to travel
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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(724) 223-6049 (724) 503-1049 redandblackstaff@jay. washjeff.edu Red & Black 60 S. Lincoln St. Washington, PA 15301
10 February 2017
Red & Black
15 Opinions
Why the Immigration Ban is Unconstitutional
Courtesy MarketWatch.com
84 Lumber’s Super Bowl LI commercial follows a mother and her child immigrating from Mexico to the United States.
Amiti Sharma Red & Black Contributor
Last week, the recently-elected 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump, implemented an executive order (EO) suspending aliens from the seven countries of Libya, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Yemen and Somalia from entering the U.S. for a period of 90 days. President Trump’s objective behind the administration of this order is to protect the U.S. from foreigners resid-
ing in these countries that may pose a terrorist threat. He targets the ban on specific nations as a way to hide what this is really a target of – religion. The proceedings have caused serious consequences disrupting the lives of many global citizens, including Americans. Despite the consistent rise of situations which appear to divide U.S. citizens based on differences in opinions, the EO has proved to be one of the only cases the majority of American citizens have formed a united front in order to lift the ban. Thousands of protesters and demonstrators have taken to the streets, many near Trump Tower in NYC, to support international refugees and their attempts to enter the U.S. However, the United States Senate Judicia-
ry enabled the Refugee Act of 1980, an Amendment to the Immigration and Nationality Act, which declares, “the United States [is to] respond to the urgent needs of persons subject to persecution in their homelands, including, where appropriate,…admission to this country for refugees of special humanitarian concern.” Furthermore, on Jan. 30, Trump fired the acting Attorney General Sally Yates for her bold statements of disagreement in regard to the travel ban. Upon being asked by Senator Jeff Sessions if the attorney general should speak out if the president makes a claim that is immoral, Yates diligently replied, “I believe [the attorney general] has an obligation to follow the law and the Constitution and give their
independent legal advice to the president.” Consequently, Yates refused to defend Trump’s travel ban, claiming that she herself did not believe it was ethical. American protests took a turn after these events, with thousands of citizens arguing that Trump’s travel ban is indeed unconstitutional, unethical and goes against the foundation of the U.S. Recently, United States Homeland Security has placed a hold on the travel ban, giving global citizens new hope and allowing citizens of the targeted countries access into the United States. With Trump’s clear objective to make the travel ban permanent, what awaits is unpredictable.
16 opinions
Red & Black
10 February 2017
I Packed My Shoes First Nour Al Shishani Red&Black Contributor
While stumbling upon the words of expression, I walked further and further away from the footsteps of my house, but no, I did not look back at it and weep as they do in the movies. I just marched into my fears and confronted them. Leaving my home was not a saddening occasion -- at least I did not think so. Since I already attended a boarding high school, living overseas was not as frightening as an idea to me. Despite the startling sudden change that drowned me, I managed to regulate my heartbeat. As I melted in warm goodbyes and hugs, I also could not help but smile. I felt, confused. Am I happy to leave, or am I happy to go? Am I sad to go, or sad to leave? Determination motivated me to say, “Why not?” and that is how I ended up at Washington & Jefferson Col-
lege. I packed my shoes first. Sitting for a number of hours at the airport in Paris evoked my senses of discovery, accomplishment and curiosity. Being the youngest female to leave my community to study abroad sounded absurd and perilous, but my intuition led me to the conclusion that I had just begun one of my greatest experiences in life, which is studying at W&J. Paris was the physical setting of my transformation. The time at the airport gave me a break from the world, and the place gave me a reason to think. “What am I even doing here,” I whispered to myself with the most fulfilling joy I felt in a while. Once I left the airplane and lined up for customs, a girl with three blue braids on the left side of her hair approached me and introduced herself as “Katrin Nalbantova.” My brain blanked for the first time. I did not know what to reply - as if I had forgotten my name. She waited a little and said, “Are you going to W&J? I heard you talking to Customs.” In the quietest manner, I replied with, “Yes.” I stood for seconds trying to deviate the thought in my mind that was repeatedly saying, “I packed my shoes.” I looked at Katrin and said, “Hi, I’m Nour.” She began asking me questions that might sound basic to others, but they were not to me. She said, “I’m from Bulgaria, where are you from?” I cannot comprehend how such question could be accompanied by an
easy answer. I just said I was Russian. I packed my shoes first. After arriving to campus and settling in, international students played some icebreakers. One of my favorites was standing in a group of four with question cards and picking randomly and answering each at a time. The questions, unlike Katrin’s were easy. For instance, one card held, “Who is a person in your life that aspires you the most?” Not only was the icebreaker my favorite for the questions, but that is how I met my second most special person, Ryan. Soon enough, I started to really feel home at W&J. Some wonder if I am at all homesick, and all I can think about is: “I packed my shoes first.” Disregarding the enormous amount of knowledge and wisdom that I am gaining from W&J, I also get to share my own. Back to the hard question Katrin asked me, “Where am I from?” My re-
tended schools in Jordan, I will say I am Chechen. One of the reasons is the fact that I live in a closed region that beholds a community of all Chechens whom have conserved their culture and language in the best way possible. Back in Jordan, others all know I am Chechen. The lack of diversity pin points the slightly different individuals. They distinguished us by our accent, our hair and our skin being too white in comparison to theirs. The moment I achieved acceptance of my differences and loved myself, I received acceptance from W&J. That is when I knew I belonged. I familiarized myself with the American lifestyle and individuals during high school. I learned that diversity is significant around here. Hence, the more I meet new people, the more I appreciate differences and the more I feel welcomed. I packed my shoes first. I looked for jobs in multiple offices until I found the perfect opportuni-
“[The people of Jordan] distinguished us by our accent, our hair and our skin being too white in comparison to theirs. The moment I achieved acceptance of my differences and loved myself, I received acceptance from W&J.” sponse is Chechnya. The reason I hesitated refers to my inexperience with such question. Although I only hold a Jordanian passport, lived in Jordan for as long as I can remember and at-
ty, that is the Office of Study Abroad. Having experienced change and travel, I strongly recommend all students to do one major thing: pack their shoes first.
17 Opinions
Red & Black
10 February 2017
G&T’s Future Way to Order Bring Student Work to Olin
gluten intolerance.” Also, a mobile app could be associated with the system that allows the customer to see if the food itself is completed. This will rid the necessity of screaming out numbers. If you have ever been to Sheetz before, Customers would then be able to you have probably used one of the press a button on their phone to verify self-order check-out machines. that they picked up their meal. What if there was a self-order The addition of a self-order system/ screen available for use at Washington kiosk would allow the staff of G&T’s to & Jefferson College’s George & Tom’s focus more on the preparation of the Place? meal and the cooking of the food. There are many positives and negAll of these things would help in atives for having a self-order screen at the streamlining of the ordering proG&T’s. cess, along with the preparation proThe entire process of ordering cess of the food. would become streamlined, and there Although the possibility of a would be no need to have an order re- self-order system at G&T’s has some made, as the customer would have full positives, it may also create complicacontrol of what he desires to order. tions if the system were to go down or After speaking to several students, if certain items the general run out. consensus If the “The addition of a self-order I received machines is that the system/kiosk would allow teh staff were to go school down, the s h o u l d of G&T’s to focus more on the fix would create this preparation of the meal and the be simsystem for ple as the cooking of the food.” G&T’s. staff could Addiswitch t i o n a l l y, back to some stutheir old dents bemethods of lieve that an online ordering system checkout. could be a great addition to the self-orHowever, the process of taking inder system if it were to be created. ventory and inputting such inventory This would allow for students to or- into the system could pose some more der food towards the end of their class. complex issues. After, they could come by and pick This is because there would need to it up shortly after they get out of class. be a staff member to constantly take This helps students that have a tight inventory and put this inventory into class schedule without many breaks. the system. According to Jasmine Campuzano Overall, the addition of a self-order ‘20, “The ability to check out yourself system at G&T’s may have some comwould make the experience at G&T’s plications, but they are heavily outmuch easier.” Also Sydnie Wargin weighed by the benefits that both the ‘20 said, “If I had the option to order students and staff would receive. ahead of time this would help with my Ricky Delprato Red&Black Contributor
Nathan Repine Red&Black Contributor
The Olin Art Gallery on Washington & Jefferson College’s campus features many artists and their pieces throughout the year. There are typically two artists featured per semester and a total of four for the year, not including the senior show. Should the college’s art gallery feature more student art? Should the space in the gallery be expanded for utilization of student artists? The art gallery for quite some time has primarily focused on bringing outside work into the exhibit, with occasional work being featured from W&J staff in the art department. The main feature of student work lies in the senior art shows. Here, the art-majoring senior creates a number of pieces, sets them up in the art gallery and conducts his or her own talk regarding each of the pieces. One suggestion would be to allow an art student to feature their current work in the gallery during the intersession period. During this time, the gallery is typically not featuring an artist and is closed for the duration. Therefore, the gallery could open to student work during the month of January. Another option would be to offer the top graduating art student a slot of time a year from graduation where normally an outside artist would be brought in. This would give time for
the student to create additional pieces and return as an alumnus to the gallery. Art major Cassandra made a suggestion and said, “Having some sort of show where students submit their art and it is hung up for a week might work well.” She said, “It would be a fun way to get the whole campus involved in their liberal arts studies.” In all, considering that there is an art major offered at W&J, there should be an annual period of time where students’ work is featured and appreciated by the community. The gallery is always open to recommendations for more inclusion of additional art pieces, and any suggestions can be brought to any professor in the Art Department.
Courtesy Nathan Repine
W&J’s current gallery is occupied by Michael Donovan’s work.
18 Sports
sports Red & Black
10 February 2017
Blanco Becomes Fifth Wrestler with 100 Wins
Courtesy gopresidents.com
Blanco celebrates after completing 100 career wins.
Tyler Phillips Red&Black Contributor
On Jan. 21, 2017, Sonnieboy Blanco ’17 became the fifth wrestler in Washington & Jefferson College history to record 100 career wins. He is also W&J’s first African-American wrestler to achieve this feat. Blanco was honored on senior night, Jan. 26, where he received a
framed picture of himself celebrating just seconds after win 100. “I’m happy about it just because I never got it in high school and it was something that I wanted to achieve when I got into college,” said Blanco. For a period of time in high school, Blanco once considered quitting wrestling entirely, citing that it was just not his sport. Clearly, his return as a collegiate wrestler has proved that wrong. In the coming weeks, Blanco will compete at the President’s Athletic Conference, followed by regional and
national meets. Here, he will attempt to break the record for the most career wins in W&J wrestling history. Currently, the record stands at 118 wins. “For these next couple of matches, I just need to stay focused on my goal,” Blanco said regarding the next record and on becoming a national champion. Achieving the latter would make Blanco W&J’s second national champion wrestler after Nick Carr ’15 first set this milestone. With numerous PAC wrestler of the week honors and having just been
named among the most dominant wrestlers in Division III Collegiate Wrestling, Blanco thought of his own future, but, more importantly, that of W&J College Wrestling. He said, “I think it’s going to be great; [Head coach Tommy] Prairie knows what he’s doing now, as far as recruiting and coaching, and it’s great that we have this new room; it’s going to help with recruiting.” Wrestling fans can look for Blanco’s next achievements after this upcoming weekend’s tournament.
10 February 2017
Red & Black
19 sports
Health and Fitness: Diet and Exercise Together Genea Richardson Red&Black Contributor
According to recent studies, Pennsylvania is ranked number 24 in the United States for the most obese state with an obesity rate of thirty percent. Although this number reflects some of the many people who suffer from obesity with underlying medical conditions, the fact that obesity is increasing shows that many are becoming obese as a result of diet and lifestyle choices. Too many citizens today are eating too much and not exercising enough. As people are surrounded by high sodium food options, they need to be self-aware of their bodies and the foods they put into them. Exercise is a great way of reducing stress by lowering the risks of health diseases and causing overall improvement in quality of life. In other words, exercise and healthy food options are essential to living a healthy lifestyle. Those wishing to lose weight do not have to join any clubs or buy any special health and fitness apps (although there are great free fitness apps available) to be their ideal size. Exercising in particular is about finding what works best for you. Technology use is also a major factory that can deter one from a healthy diet and exercise regime. While technology has made our lives easier in
some ways, it has also led us to become increasingly sedentary. Monitoring one’s media consumption is a simple way to ensure one is not wasting time in any one place. After an allotted period of time for technology has been used, consider going for a walk outside to get away from technology and get some sunshine. As a way to reward oneself for exercising or sticking to one’s diet, a student may consider catching up on Netflix or other social media sites when time permits. In any free time available, Washington & Jefferson College students wishing to be healthier can try grabbing some friends and going to Zumba on Tuesday and Thursday nights at the Hub. They can also check out the gym and watch their favorite shows while burning some calories on the treadmill. Exercise not only improves health and reduces stress, but it also relaxes tense muscles and helps aid in restful sleep. Physical activity causes the release of chemicals called endorphins into the bloodstream creating a happy and relaxed state of mind. Diamond Hamilton ‘20 said, “I try to get around 30 minutes of physical activity a day and try to change my diet wherever possible.” Though physical activity is important, it is only twenty percent of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The other eighty percent comes through diet. This does not mean that you need to change your entire diet or cut out desserts entirely; it just means you need to pay attention to what is in food and eat everything in moderation. Start off healthy changes by adjusting something little, like cutting out carbonated drinks or making a habit of going to the gym twice every week. Grab some earbuds and a water bottle and get started.
Courtesy commons.wikimedia.com
A balanced diet is an important factor in living a healthy life.
Courtesy Saul Franco
There are many opportunities for students to exercise on campus, including going to Zumba classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
20 sports
10 February 2017
Red & Black
Patriots Win Super Bowl in Overtime
43-28 Katherine Campbell Red&Black Editor
Courtesy BGR.com
The players and fans alike were ecstatic after the turnaround that led to the Patriots’ Super Bowl win.
Courtesy twincities.com
The Patriots got the winning touchdown during the first few minutes of overtime.
Football fans across the country were able to watch history in the making on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017 as the New England Patriots won against the Atlanta Falcons in the first Super Bowl ever to be played into overtime. Tensions ran high as the game began, with many football fans, especially Steelers fans, rooting for and predicting the Falcons to win. Christopher Frydryck ’18 said, “Generally, most people in the area were rooting for the Falcons, especially considering the poor reputation that the Patriots have.” The first half of the game started by living up to the predictions of those fans as the Falcons set the offensive tone during the first quarter and scored three quick touchdowns during the second half. The Falcons seemed to be the clearly dominant team as they moved into halftime with a 21-3 lead. The Patriots only were able to score their three points in the late moments of the second quarter. Viewers of the game marveled at the difference in how the Patriots played after emerging from the locker room for the second half of the game. Though the Falcons scored the first points of the half with a touchdown during the third quarter, the Patriots quickly began to gain back points. The Patriots scored their first touchdown
of the game during the last minutes of the third quarter. However, even this touchdown did not encourage fans that the team could win the game as they were not able to complete the field goal for the extra point. As the game entered the fourth quarter, the Patriots scored another three point field goal, bringing the score to 28-12 with the Falcons still in the lead. Patriots fans both at the game and at home cheered wildly as the team gathered two more touchdowns each with a two-point conversion in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, ending the normal 60 playing minutes with a 28-28 tie. The tie meant that the game became the first Super Bowl in NFL history to run into overtime. The Patriots won the overtime coin toss and chose to receive. Three plays later, the Patriots crossed the 50-yard line into Falcons territory. As Patriots and Falcons fans alike sat on the edges of their seats, the Patriots forced their way through the Falcons’ defense line to score the winning touchdown making the ending score 34-28. Leah Segal ’19 was extremely impressed with the Patriots’ performance. “I thought it was very surprising. I was not expecting it to turn around in favor of the Patriots,” she said. The win for the Patriots means that the team has gained five NFL championships. The team is tied with the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys for having the second most Super Bowl wins, right behind the current leaders, the Pittsburgh Steelers.