11.29 Issue Red & Black

Arts & culture

Indian Student Association Hosts a Diwali Event

T. Kinkley Red&Black arts and Culture Writer

OCT. 28 - Washington and Jefferson’s Indian Student Society (W&J ISA) hosted it’s first event of this semester, a Diwali celebration. Pairing with Ac tive Minds, the Asian Culture Associ ation (ACA), and the Student Affili ates of the American Chemical Society (SAACS), ISA created many activities and freebies for the students and staff to learn more about Diwali and Indi an Culture. This event was funded by the Student Government Association (SGA), ensuring that each part of the event went smoothly and was properly allotted funding.

Diwali is an event that multiple religions celebrate. Some of the core ones include Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. It is considered a festival of lights. It celebrates light over dark, good over evil, and the thankfulness of victory and freedom. Most house holds celebrate the third day of Diwali as the biggest, lighting the Diyas and clay candles on this day. The celebra tion generally takes place over five days, but some cultures shorten it to just one day.

When W&J’s (SGA) members vot ed on this, there were no members who said no to sponsoring this event. The event began to be promoted and built-up excitement throughout the student body. Posters were hung and social media posts were made.

Diwali at Washington and Jefferson included food, sparklers, activities, and lots of take-home items. The ISA brought back fan favorite foods, such as mango lassi, and brought new foods like pav bhaji. Samosas were brought to this Diwali event as well. Henna was also popular at other cultural events, so it was brought back thanks to the ACA. Active Minds handed out dif ferent spiced teas and sheet masks for information on ayurvedic medicine. ISA quoted that sparklers are a Diwa li must-have and credited SAACS for sponsoring them. They also had paint able diyas, which were a big hit as they are a major part of Diwali and the cel ebration of culture. These diyas bring light to outweigh the darkness during the celebration.

This event came as a success. Stu dents took to YikYak, the anonymous posting app, to speak of how much they enjoyed it. One student posted, “ISA more like ISSlay”. Another stu dent posted, “THIS INDIAN FOOD GOES CRAZYYYYY”. These were only two of multiple comments that had been posted to YikYak, as well as posts on students’ Instagram stories. This success came to no surprise, as other ISA events over the last academ ic year had been considered to be suc cesses around campus. Last year, after their Chaat & Chat event, a student posted a comment under the club’s “thank you” post stating, “ISA food > comms”. Even ISA claimed Chaat

& Chat to be a success, and hearing students approval of how well they did helped them continue to bring more culture to W&J.

To keep up with the ISA, you can follow them on Instagram, @wj_isa, and keep a look out for their posts. You can also find the helping organi zations on Instagram. ACA: @wj_aca, SAACS: @wj_saccs, & Active Minds: @activeminds.wj .

Lekhya Kollu & Pooja Potluri celebrate Diwali at the ISA event. (CourtesyReganCarlson)

“...hearing students approval of how well they [ISA] did helped them continue to bring more culture to W&J.”

One Show, Two Artists: W&J’s Latest Art Exhibit

Alyssa Beckett Red & Black Contributor

NOV. 21 - The Olin Art Gallery re cently had two artists in the gallery. The two artists were Hannah Parrett and Britny Wainwright. In this show the two of them work together to cre ate one show, which is a bit different from past shows. In past shows, one show was seen or the gallery was split into two parts, but never two coming together in the same show. This [joint show] creates a unique environment for the viewer to explore.

I asked both artists “how do you make it, so your own individual ideas come through in a group space?”

Wainwright said “Interior Facsim iles is a partner exhibition, meaning that the work isn’t collaborative, but it is in conversation. In this exhibition our works support each other’s ideas while building on our own studio practices.” Wainwright’s work looks at domestic space, such as items you would find in your home, that carry a feminine culture and brought these items into a galley setting by changing them.

Wainwright even said “Cushions become quilted images, and vessels are a stand-in for our bodies. This partner exhibition allowed us to react to and complement each other”. Here she talks a bit about how her pieces come together and change. How her work in this partner exhibition allowed them to complement each other in building the space.

Parrett’s work comes from a very different background than [that of] Wainwright. Parrett said this about her work and how she thinks it works so well together “… rooted in painting

histories that focus on representation of landscapes and interiors. I think the individuality that comes from the works echoes in how each of us re peats a specific formal or symbolic language of pattern, color and image in the objects within the space. With in my practice I recycle a codex of images as a form of language, such as the patterned pine trees, the cowgirl, and most recently these saw-toothed waves that resemble either grass or water.” Here we see her talk about her process and how it compares to Wain wright’s work. She talks about patter and color, and while walking through the space, these elements truly carried you through.

Parrett and Wainwright both used this [presenting at the Olin Art Gal lery] as an opportunity to open doors and to bring their work together to expand on their own ideas. Parrett said “Our initial proposal focused on conceptual undertones of interior space, and how this might translate in a shared gallery setting between our different practices. I don’t think either of us altered our processes too much to fit this idea…”. Here she talks about the proposal they put forth to use gal lery space here in Olin. She talks about how they both did not need to change much about their work.

For anyone who is going into the art world, this show was a great eye open er in how one can work with another to create a joined space. “Why” they both came together, how they built both art into the same space, and the way Washington and Jefferson helped them by giving them time in the Olin Art gallery is fascinating.

Both Wainwright and Parrett came to W&J to talk on Oct.28. Their joint exhibit was here from Oct.28 to Nov. 20.

Hannah Parret and Britny Wainwright discussed their art displays with the W&J community in the Olin Art Gallery on Oct. 28. (Photos Courtesy Regan Carlson)

“She [Parret] talks about patter and color, and while walking through the space, these elements truly carried you through.”

Carley Lyons’15 returns to direct W&J’s 2022 production“Crimes of The Heart”

T. Kinkley Red&Black Art and Culture wrter

NOV. 4 - Last year, the students in Washington & Jefferson College’s (W&J) theatre department met Car ley Lyons, an alumna from the class of 2015. Carley was brought on as a guest director for the show Everybody by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. Carley has also directed at local theatres, such as Little Lake Theatre in Canonsburg, PA.

The show had an overwhelming amount of support from the Commu nication Arts department, as well as a good amount of audience support.

Many actors in the show spoke of the good experiences they had with Carley as a director, so much so that Karin Maresh (the chair of the Com munication Arts department) and Dan Shaw (both a faculty member of the Communication Arts department and the manager of Olin Fine Arts Center’s theatre) invited her back to direct a second show.

Crimes Of the Heart by Beth Hen ley is the show that Carley chose to put on for this year. The show only features two men out of the six total characters. Both men are only featured in two scenes.

The characters who are considered the lead characters are three sisters, all struggling through different experi ences. Audiences get to see how each deal with their individual circum stances, along with one collective sit uation between the sisters.

I had the opportunity to sit down with Carley for an interview to ask a few questions about her experience in directing, other theatrical experiences, as well as some questions about W&J.

I posed this question: “How did you guys come about picking Crimes of The Heart of the show this year?”

Guys was referring to Carley, Profes sor Shaw, and Dr. Maresh, as all three are involved in the show.

Carley explained to me that it was a decision made because she wanted a show that featured strong female char acters. She also spoke with Professor Shaw and Dr. Maresh about what the needs of the company were and what the student population was like, so that she could get a feel for what sto ries needed to be told.

W&J’s theatre program is primarily made up of people who identify as fe male, with a smaller mix of non-binary and male-identifying individuals. This made the show a good pick, as stated above how the characters are majority female-identifying individuals.

The next question that I asked was “Did you ever think that you would be back at W&J to be a guest director af ter you graduated?”

Her short answer was no. She did not think that she would ever be a director, as when she was younger, she primar ily acted in shows rather than directed them.

with the show, she asked if she could be involved in some tech crew aspect. The director asked her to be an assis tant director. She took on the challenge and ended up thoroughly enjoying it.

I then asked the question “If you could give advice to someone who would like to be a director, what would you say?”

She said that there are a few skills you need to have to be a director.

“The number one thing is to be able to juggle many things at once, and if it seems unappealing, then directing might not be for you.”

She told me that multitasking is a key part of directing, and that is some thing they do not seem to get enough recognition for.

The performances of Crimes of The Heart will take place on Nov. 17- 19 in the Olin Theatre. Each show is at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m.

If you missed the show, there may still be a chance to see Carley’s direct ing if she comes back to guest direct again.

Before she worked at Little Lake Theatre as a director, she auditioned for one of her favorite shows, Arcadia by Tom Stoppard and she did not get in; however, wanting to be involved

Carley Lyons’15 is returned to W&J to direct “Crimes of the Heart” after leading W&J’s 2021 fall theatre production as well. (Photo Courtesy Regan Carlson)

“Carley explained to me that it was a decision [choosing “Crimes of the Heart”] made because she wanted a show that featured strong female characters.”

“She [Lyons] told me that multitasking is a key part of directing, and that is something they do not seem to get enough recognition for.”

“Crimes of the Heart” was originially written by Beth Henley. (PhotoCourtesyW&JTheatre)

Campus & community

Holidays Around the World was a W&J Success

Vaishnavi Peyyety Red & Black Contributor

NOV.19 - Directors of Belonging and Engagement, Ryan Smith and Margie Schill collaborated to create a well- organized “Holidays Around the World”, a campus wide event centered around celebrating various cultures. The Office of Belonging and Engage ment sponsored this event on No vember 18th where students shared holiday traditions from cultures and religions around the world. Specifical ly, this event included Asian Cultural

Association (ACA), Black Student Union (BSU), French Club, German Club, Hillel, Indian Student Associ ation (ISA) and Spanish Club. Addi tionally, there were sample holiday treats from local vendor markets in Washington, Pa.

ACA hosted a jeopardy game for prizes; ISA brought Chilli Paneer from a local restaurant; Spanish club offered homemade Mexican hot chocolate; BSU educated students about Kwan za while Hillel celebrated Hannukah; French and German club brought de licious food for students to try as well. This joyful collaboration of various

student organizations proved to bring the campus community together as seen by the great turnout for the event.

Improving cultural awareness and promoting acceptance is vital to help ing people feel comfortable and safe at W&J. Students of cultural organiza tions feel genuinely happy to see peo ple make the effort to understand dif ferent cultures. Board member Pooja Potluri shared that she felt particular ly touched when people came to this event and showed interest in learning about Indian holidays. “It makes me hopeful that we are fostering an inclu sive environment at W&J.” Overall,

Expanding knowledge of winter holidays beyond widely-recognized Christian holidays helps create a more inclusive & representative environment. (CourtesyVaishnaviPeyyety)

there is enthusiasm for more cultural events on campus!

“This joyful collaboration of various student organizations proved to bring the campus community together as seen by the great turnout for the event.”

Comms Gives More than Food for Commsgiving

Vaishnavi Peyyety Red & Black contributor

NOV. 19 - A special and memorable occasion – Commsgiving - on Thurs day, Nov. 17 was a huge hit. Before the event started at 5 p.m., there was a long line of students waiting at the entrance of The Commons (Comms).

Comms served various items from stuffing to pumpkin pie to a large as sortment of artisan breads. The green bean casserole was a fan favorite, and classic Thanksgiving dishes were enjoyed including brussel sprouts, mashed potatoes and corn. Students were able to enjoy these items with their friends and collectively filled up the entire dining room. Commsgiving

has been a campus wide tradition for many years that most students look forward too.

This occasion is typically a great success and attracts many students to W&J’s dining. This event is especially significant as it allows students to un derstand and appreciate the Thanks giving holiday. Also, it is important to recognize that not everyone has the chance to spend Thanksgiving with their family, so through this occasion students can spend quality time with their friends.

Comms offered a plethora of breads that some students took to-go and placed all around campus including the Presidents statue on Lincoln Street. Sophomore Michael Wageley stated, “I saw different bread loaves all around campus including in front of the rec reation center which made me laugh.”

As a vegetarian, it can be difficult to find a healthy variety of food options at college. However, I personally en joyed Commsgiving and was pleas antly surprised by the diversity food choices. Surely, Commsgiving will continue to be a notoriously enjoyable and delicious occasion W&J students look forward to!

Dr. DeBerry’s Science Info Sesion Benefits Students

Vaishnavi Peyyety Red & Black Contributor

Nov 19 - Professor of Biology and advocate for science research intern ships, Dr. Candy DeBerry hosted her annual Summer Science Information Session on Nov. 17 for students to learn about how to pursue their inter est in a science internship. Dr. DeBer ry shared information on the benefits of undergraduate research, how to find an internship opportunity, how to pre pare application essays and resumes, and ways to obtain funding for an in ternship among other information.

While finding an internship seems like a daunting process, Dr. DeBerry does a phenomenal job of assisting

students in their search and is very in vested in student success. Additionally, the Center for Professional Pathways can aid in editing essays and resumes and providing advice for students in terested in immersing themselves in experiential learning. W&J provides various internship related scholarships including Linton, Magellan-Frank lin, Maxwell, Mazingira, and Merck. Through a research internship, stu dents can explore their interests in a more hands on setting which is essen tial to academic and professional de velopment.

I personally thoroughly enjoyed my research internship last summer where I worked as a clinical research assistant at UPMC Children’s Hospital. It was a very eye-opening experience

as I had the chance to contribute to the medical field and learn more about the challenges behind conducting re search. Many students across campus have had similar experiences and are willing to share advice on how to find and approach different research inter ests. We highly recommend reaching out to Dr. DeBerry for more informa tion on the ins and outs of scientific research!

Please note that the articles on this page contain some opinions statements of the Contributor.

Summer internships can be vital learning oppurtunities. (CourtesyW&JCollege).

The community feeling and wide variety of foods are highly anticipated aspects of Commsgiving. (Photo Courtesy Vaishnavi Peyyety)

“Commsgiving has been a campus wide tradition for many years that most students look forward too.”

“Dr. DeBerry does a phenomenal job of assisting students in their [internship] search...”

Current Events

Generation Z Sets Records In Historical 2022 Midterm Elections

Nickolas Bartel

Red & Black Contributor & W&J Student Voting Coalition President

NOV. 18 - Democratic and Repub lican parties may disagree on major political issues, but they have seen the importance of youth vote. Leading up to the midterm election, nonprofit groups such as the NextGen Ameri ca, nonpartisan Campus Vote Project, and conservative Turning Point USA were focused on getting young people registered and turned out to vote be fore the 2022 midterm elections. Tuft University’s Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) reported that there were 7,000 new young voters in Pennsylvania (PA) since 2018.

These efforts rallied the youth interest in the election, as a week prior to Election Day, Data for Progress poll ing reported that two-thirds of young PA residents and 80% of young people in college were either “enthusiastic” or “more enthusiastic” about voting. Both the Democratic and Republican youth voter bases were particularly

excited about the upcoming election as 74% of young voters in each party reported being either “enthusiastic” or “more enthusiastic” about voting.

This excitement continued to Election Day as CIRCLE reported that 2022 was the second highest youth voter turnout in nearly three decades. The youth vote allowed the Democrats to remain in control of the Senate. Senator Cortez-Masto (D-NV) won by a tight 8,000 vote margin as she also won the youth vote by 120,000 votes. Without young voters in Nevada, the Democrats would have lost the Senate. In Pennsylvania, youth voters played a significant role in Senator-elect Fet terman’s 190,000 vote victory margin as he won the youth vote by 120,000 votes.

Frost’s key campaign issues listed on his website include “ending gun violence”, “Medicare for All”, and “pandemic preparedness” (Photo Courtesy www. frostforcongress.com/meet-maxwell )

“74% of young voters in each party reported being either “enthusiastic” or “more enthusiastic” about voting.”

Generation Z Sets Records in Historical 2022 Midterm Elections...ctd

for six years and former U.S. Repre sentative Corrine Brown who served for twenty-four years, among other candidates. After the primaries, fellow progressive Senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Ed Markey en dorsed Frost. His victory marks him as the first member of Generation Z to become a U.S. Representative.

Gen Z capitalized on the 2022 mid terms being the first election eligible for them to run in the U.S. House. In the tossup 1st Congressional District in New Hampshire, 25-year-old Karo line Leavitt ran after her time as a pres idential writer and assistant press sec retary in the Trump administration. She was able to secure 46% of the vote in the General Election with 142,000 votes despite being outspent by over $1.6 million by her Democratic oppo nent. This followed her underdog Re publican primary victory earlier this year beating several other candidates including fellow Gen Z member, State Representative Tim Baxter.

In Florida’s 10th Congressional Dis trict in the Orlando area, 25-year-old representative-elect Maxwell Frost won his election with 59% of the vote with a nearly a 40,000-vote margin. Frost was the national organizing di rector for the anti-gun violence ad vocacy group March for Our Lives before running for office. He won his primary in August with 34% of the vote beating former U.S. Representa tive Alan Grayson who was in office

Despite differing political back grounds, young people are showing up with strong political engagement whether it is at the ballot box or run ning as an elected official. The mid terms have shown that Generation Z cannot be ignored anymore.

Leavitt’s key campaign issues according to her website include “law and order”, “the second amendment”, and “protecting the border”. (Photo Courtesy www. karolineforcongress.com/)

“In Pennsylvania, youth voters played a significant role in Senator-elect Fetterman’s 190,000 vote victory margin”

“Despite differing political backgrounds, young people are showing up with strong political engagement whether it is at the ballot box or running as an elected official.”

The Youth vote has historically been unpredictable, but played a significant role in the 2022 Midterm Elections.

American Students Killed in Seoul Stampede

Sydney Spack Red & Black Contributor

NOV 4 - South Korea a period of mourning has been declared by Pres ident Yoon Suk-yeol. This announce ment comes following the grim events on the evening of Oct. 30, 2022. In the nation’s capital, Seoul, is a smaller dis trict known as Itaewon. The district is most recognizable for its vibrant night life and eccentric events thus, making it a popular destination during holi days, such as Halloween, for younger generations.

Crowds were drawn to the area in mass amounts for the Halloween cele bration, considerably more so this year than any year prior. This is largely in part due to this particular event being one of the first to occur since the be

ginning of the pandemic.

Event goers filled the streets in col orful, ornate costumes to celebrate the night, but as they continued to flood in, the already limited amount of space for movement continually decreased. Eventually, it became impossible for participants to move at all. For Seoul, large crowd sizes are typical. No one batted an eye to the increasing crowd sizes, but once the disaster began to unfold it was impossible to stop. Cha os consumed the city in one fell swoop.

of people, the most I’ve ever seen. So many people – to the point we were being crushed on the pavement.”

According to other onlookers and survivors that the BBC interviewed, the scene was similar to that of war. Bloodied individuals fled once they were able to free themselves from the piles of bodies. Others rushed into the chaotic scene trying to find lost friends and family members. The death toll has risen to 154, making it one of the worst stampedes in South Korea’s his tory.

Of those lives, lost 26 were foreign ers. Two of them were Americans, both 20-year-old students who were study ing abroad at the time- Steven Blesi and Anne Gieske. Gieske, a junior, was attending the University of Kentucky to study nursing. Just one day prior to the fateful night, she had celebrated her 20th birthday. Blesi, also a junior,

was a student at Kennesaw State Uni versity in Georgia. His major at the university was international business.

Steve Blesi’s father told The New York Times that he had texted his son the night of the tragedy saying, “’I know you’re out and about. Be safe’”, but sadly, he “never got a reply to it.” Each of their families were notified of the devastating news by the U.S. Em bassy in South Korea.

Seoul mounrns the over 150 individuals lost in the deadliest stampede in the city’s history. (Photo courtesy Anthony Wallace)

“...once the disaster began to unfold it was impossible to stop.”

Raphael Rashid, a reporter present during the tragic event, explained to BBC, “There were tens of thousands

“There were tens of thousands of people... So many people – to the point we were being crushed on the pavement.” - ReporterRaphael Rashid

opinions

Students Shouldn’t Have to Miss Class. Period.

Cassie Carr Red & Black Contributor

NOV 14 - When I was a high schooler, my biggest worries includ ed college applications, passing my Advanced Placement World History exams, and whether I could find my favorite pair of jeans that miraculous ly vanished. Noticeably absent from this list of worries was how I was go ing to scrounge up the means to pur chase pads and tampons for my next menstrual cycle, something no teen should have to worry about. However, as of 2021 in the U.S. , as many as 1 in 4 girls are unable to afford feminine hygiene products according to a joint survey from company Thinx and the non-profit PERIOD.

Menstrual inequality, or period

poverty as it is sometimes called, is the inability to afford the items necessary for concealing and managing one’s menstrual cycle. This includes being unable to access and afford things like pads, tampons, and menstrual education. While period poverty can impact people of all backgrounds, it is particularly prominent amongst students of color and low-income stu dents (according to a “State of the Pe riod” survey commissioned by Thinx and PERIOD) populations which are already vulnerable. This is especially important when considering that in Washington County, approximately 10 percent of kids are in poverty accord ing to the 2020 U.S. Census. But why is menstrual inequality such a problem?

Menstruation is still a taboo topic in American culture. Many menstrua tors might recall being in high school and attempting to hide a tampon or pad up their shirt sleeve during trips to the bathroom when on their cycle.

E ditorial P oli C y

The Red & Black is the official student-news paper of Washington & Jefferson College. It is published the last Monday of every month in the 2022-2023 school year with the exception of December and May.

Opinions pieces 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 contri

butions, 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.

All letters must include the author’s name and designations they would like to be acknowl edged by. Names may be withheld upon request under certain conditions. All letters may be submitted to redandblackstaff@washjeff.edu.

Those experiencing period poverty, however, lack even that ‘luxury.’ They do not possess the means to conceal their period at all. Notably, when peers become aware of someone’s menstru ating status, this results in classmates viewing that individual more negative ly according to a 2003 Psychology of Women Quarterly article. Thus, when period poverty victims are forced to ‘free bleed’ (i.e. menstruate publicly without a pad or tampon), they have no choice but to experience the social stigmatization that comes along with visible signs of menstruation. There fore, for the sake of our children’s so cial development and emotional pro tection, access to feminine hygiene products is essential.

And the consequences of the pe riod stigma do not end there. Those who fear that they might not be able to access another period product in the future might wear such products for longer than recommended, a choice

which can have severe health conse quences according to a 2022 Cleveland Clinic healthessentials article. Wear ing tampons for more than eight hours can result in problems ranging in se verity, from vaginal infections on the milder end to toxic shock syndrome on the more severe. Considering pe riod poverty is especially prominent amongst low-income students who might struggle to afford healthcare, this is an extremely dangerous reality due to the life-threatening nature of these conditions, especially when they are left untreated.

“Menstruaters who are currently experiencing or have experienced menstrual inequality are more likely to report depression....”

C onta C t

redandblackstaff@ washjeff.edu Red & Black 60 S. Lincoln St. Washington, PA 15301

Students Shouldn’t Have to Miss Class. Period...ctd

Moreover, mental health concerns are on the rise for school-age children, with recent studies showing rates of anxiety and depression reaching new peaks amongst children ages 3-17. This problem is exacerbated by pe riod poverty. Menstruaters who are currently experiencing or have expe rienced menstrual inequality are more likely to report depression than those who have not experienced menstru al inequality. Period poverty victims also report higher rates of anxiety than those with adequate access to feminine hygiene products due to stress associ ated with their inability to move about with the ease of their peers while on their cycles.

Taken together, for school-age girls in particular, period poverty and all of its associated setbacks means that al most 84 percent of U.S. girls have ei ther missed class personally or know someone who has missed class due to menstrual inequality. This is import ant when one considers that consis tent school attendance is essential to academic success for students. Low school attendance is associated with decreased standardized assessment scores as well as decreased rates of ontime school graduation. This reduced educational attainment translates to decreased lifetime economic attain ment, demonstrating the wide-reach ing effects of chronic absenteeism. Amongst those experiencing men strual inequality, this might even contribute to larger cycles of poverty, perpetuating their low-income status and creating barriers to their future success. Now consider that students everywhere have already missed out on extensive class time and face-toface interactions with their teachers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This

reality makes it even more urgent that we fight factors which further limit students’ school attendance.

So menstrual inequality is clearly a problem. What can we do about it? This is where policy makers can stepin. Some states, such as Pennsylvania, have taken the first step by not taxing feminine hygiene products. But con sidering the expensive nature of these products even at their base price, this is not enough. It is urgent that Rep resentative Guy Reschenthaler takes action on H.R.3614, the Menstrual Equity for All Act of 2021. This bill is comprehensive, ensuring access to menstrual products in schools, prisons, homeless shelters, the work place, and public federal buildings. By co-sponsoring this bill, Representative Reschenthaler would ensure that no one must choose between attending school and concealing their menstrual status again.

Menstrual inequality is a pervasive issue. It impacts menstruaters in all ar eas of life, resulting in stigmatization and isolation, severe health conse

quences, increased rates of anxiety and depression, and decreased educational and economic attainment. That is why it is urgent that we take comprehensive steps to fight against period poverty. For the 14th District of Pennsylvania, it is up to Representative Reschenthal er to take the first step by co-sponsor ing the Menstrual Equity for All Act of 2021.

The “pink tax” is a “luxury tax” oten placed on pads, tampons, & other menustral hygeine products. (Photos Courtesy Northwell Health (left) & North Texas Daily (right))

“84 percent of U.S. girls have either missed class personally or know someone who has missed class due to menstrual inequality.”

“It is urgent that Representative Guy Reschenthaler takes action on H.R.3614, the Menstrual Equity for All Act of 2021. This bill is comprehensive, ensuring access to menstrual products...”

Putting the Uncommon into the Common: A Call for Action on Adding Majors to Diplomas

Nickolas Bartel & Steve Watts Red & Black Contributors

NOV. 22 - Washington & Jefferson College (W&J) is an institution that acknowledges the individuality of its students. The college celebrates the accomplishments of students across a broad range of talents from its ath letes to its artists to its scientists and businesspeople. We have a wide range of academic programs that allow us to pursue our individual goals. The school also recognizes us for who we are. Regardless of race, ethnicity, gen der, or sexual orientation, Washing ton & Jefferson has provided a place for us to call home. Indeed, we, as the W&J community, is just as incredibly unique as this college is. As President Knapp has said himself, the first-year student class (Class of 2026) is the most diverse class that W&J has ever seen.

Our school has the First-Year Stu dent program that offers support from both fellow students and professors in guiding our first-year students’ im portant decision in finding their major. We have a writing lab and PAL tutor ing where students can find academic help from their peers to help our peers along their major. Our professors know us by our names unlike at many larger universities. We know the dif ference a W&J education makes. W&J pushes us to celebrate what makes our educations unique.

However, despite that push for in dividuality, when we receive our di plomas after crossing that stage, they

will look almost identical to each oth er. They will say only that we earned a Bachelor of Arts, but not in what disci plines. We come to W&J, each looking to prepare ourselves for our next step into adulthood with the major or ma jors that we choose, but the path to get to that next step is different for every one. Yet, our diplomas do not reflect that uniqueness.

Unfortunately, the Student Govern ment Association (SGA) has been un able to help resolve this. Last academic year, at the first meeting of the year, former Class Representative Nickolas Bartel (’23) introduced unanimously supported legislation to have the Exec utive Board work with the administra tion to resolve this issue. Following it reaching the Board of Trustees, it was sadly denied. The Executive Board re ported to the General Assembly that the Board of Trustees had concerns with the proposal, some of them be ing about the logistics of graduation itself with passing out the diplomas or not getting them printed properly to match the accurate majors.

high-quality education and having re ceived an education uniquely designed to develop our individual potential as leaders. Our diplomas are symbols of our pride in our education and prove our uncommon qualifications in the professional workforce. Whether you graduate in May, next year, or in a few years, your decision, along with the support and care of your major advi sor, deserve to be represented on one of the single most visible representa tions of our education.

This year, despite being struck down before, the desire for changing the diplomas is still there as seen by Representatives advocating within SGA meetings for these changes. So, the question becomes why this time will be any different. We have spent time thinking about the Board of Trustees’ concerns and have another proposal to put before you, the W&J community.

process.

Our educational experience has all been unique to our major with the classes that we take and the opportuni ties pursued. Our diplomas must all be unique to our major and reflect that. We, as an institution, have an oppor tunity to recognize our students’ indi vidual achievements and hard work as they earned their major with including it on our diplomas. We call on the ad ministration to work with us and other stakeholders to quickly resolve this is sue. We call on our fellow Presidents to work with us in this conversation and bring your ideas to the table. Finally, we call on our Student Government, as our elected representatives, to join our efforts in ensuring that our academic achievements are represented when we walk across the graduation stage.

With a value of around $250,000 and 4 years of our lives, this docu ment carries the strong reputation of a

Currently, we present graduating seniors with two diplomas, one written in English and the other written in Lat in. Instead, we suggest that seniors will be presented with their diploma with Bachelor of Arts written on it in Lat in as we have now. Seniors could then be presented the option of including their majors on their English diploma or keeping it as it is. It could then be mailed to the address of their choice following graduation. This allows for all necessary grades to be entered and double checked that every student will meet the requirements for their major or majors. It also resolves the issue of not giving out a diploma or handling the logistics that a major specific di ploma would add to the graduation

“Our diplomas are symbols of our pride in our education and prove our uncommon qualifications in the professional workforce.”

“We call on our fellow Presidents to work with us in this conversation and bring your ideas to the table. Finally, we call on our Student Government,...to join our efforts in ensuring that our academic achievements are represented when we walk across the graduation stage.”

Fact vs. Fiction About Election Day 2022

Nickolas Bartel Red & Black Contributor

NOV 6 - This Tuesday is Election Day when we get an opportunity to shape our country. Whether it was from social media, the Student Voting Coalition, friends and family, or even last week’s email from the Student Government Association (SGA) Ex ecutive Board, there is a good chance that you have heard that voting is im portant. While that is all, of course, important, the world of fact and fic tion regarding voting has been made murkier over these past years. So, in collaboration with the Washington & Jefferson College Student Voting Coa lition and the Red and Black, here are some facts and fiction about elections.

using a student ID, a passport, a driv er’s license, or another valid ID. Check vote.pa.gov for a complete list.

Myth #3: Your mail-in ballot just needs to be postmarked on Election Day to count.

Fact: Your mail in ballot must be re ceived by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be counted. With how close the election is, handing it into the county elections office is likely your best option.

Myth #5: Election fraud is every where, and it will lead to a rigged elec tion.

Department of Justice, the U.S. Elec tion Assistance Commission, and over 50 court rulings determined that any election fraud that occurred did not impact the election results and that the election process is safe and secure.

Myth#6: Finding non-partisan infor mation about the election is impossible.

Myth #1: If you are still in line when the polls close, you cannot vote.

Fact: On Tuesday, the polls across Pennsylvania will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. However, anyone still in line at 8 p.m. can vote!

Myth#4: We will know who will win and lose on election night.

Fact: In Pennsylvania, election offi cials are not allowed to start counting the mail-in ballots until 7 a.m. on Elec tion Day. Pennsylvania’s Secretary of State, who oversees elections, has said that in competitive elections, it will take a few days to determine a winner as they count and report the mail-in ballots. So as a few million mail-in bal lots are being counted, the candidate winning Tuesday night may not win by the same margin or even at all and this is normal.

Fact: The Brennan Center found that election fraud rates are between 0.0003% and 0.0025%. The National Weather Service reported in 2022 that someone has a 0.006% chance of be ing struck by lightning with about 100 cases a year. So, someone is 20 times more likely to be struck by lightning than commit voter impersonation. In 2020, the FBI Director appointed by President Trump, the Department of Homeland Security, Trump’s former Attorney General William Barr, the

Myth #2: You must show valid ID every time to vote in Pennsylvania.

Fact: You must only show ID if it is your first time at the polling place

Fact: Check out Vote.org for more information about how or where to vote. If you want a snapshot of the candidates’ positions, go to Vote411. org or Ballotpedia for more in-depth information. PleaseNote:Theadviceprovidedinthisarticledoesnot,andisnotintendedto,constitutelegaladvice;instead,allinformationprovided

The W&J Student Voting Coalition aims to increase education about voting and election procedures among the W&J student body. (PhotoCourtesyNickolasBartel)

“the world of fact and fiction regarding voting has been made murkier over these past years.”

“In 2020...over 50 court rulings determined that any election fraud that occurred did not impact the election results and that the election process is safe and secure.”

Men’s Water Polo: The Road to Divison III Championships

three times throughout the game), and Andrew Edwards scoring two goals.

Audrey Kough Red & Black Campus Sports Writer

Oct. 28 - Washington & Jefferson College’s (W&J) men’s water polo team traveled to Erie, PA the weekend of Oct. 22-23 to compete in the Division III Eastern Championships.

The team has been preparing for this all season by practicing both in the pool and weight room. The men’s per formance at the championships will determine whether the team qualifies for post-season competition.

The men’s team has a lot of depth on their offensive and defensive side. The W&J Presidents headed into post season with a record of 9-6 from regu lar season.

The championships started on Oct. 22 with the W&J Presidents play ing against Austin College. The W&J men’s team played against Austin Col lege previously in the season but lost. The team was looking for redemption.

Unfortunately, W&J fell to Austin with a score of 13-6. A slight setback to start the games off, but the men still had a lot of game left to play in hopes to redeem themselves.

W&J came back on Oct. 23 with a match up against Connecticut Col lege. Highlights of the game included Mitchell Rubio and Chris Edwards scoring four goals each, Zishuo Ma re corded a hat trick (meaning he scored

Overall, the team had remarkable success in this game. The men pulled out a win over Connecticut College with a score of 18-6.

W&J’s last game of the weekend was against Penn State Behrend, and the Presidents had hopes of topping off the weekend with a record of 2-1.

During the game, Rubio led the way, scoring a total of five goals. Ban non also recorded a hat trick, and An drew Edwards scored two goals with assists from multiple of his teammates.

W&J finished the game with a win of 14-6 over Penn State Behrend.

sweep in the championship games, W&J played well and secured a spot in the Mountain Pacific Sports Fed eration Championships (MPSFC) in November.

For MPSFC, the W&J men’s water polo team travels to California to com pete against West Coast teams. Within the MPSFC, W&J could play schools at the NCAA Division I level such as UCLA and Stanford.

As the team prepares to play their last tournament of the season, the W&J men’s water polo team continues to show up to practice and work hard. Being from a small NCAA Division III school in PA, playing against recogniz able Division I schools allows W&J’s men’s polo team to make a name for themselves inside of the MPSFC.

Continue to follow the W&J men’s water polo team and their journey to MPSFC at gopresidents.com.

A solid collective effort from the men on the water polo team set them up for success over the weekend. Good teamwork was executed through pass ing to one another and helping to cov er one another. Solid communication in communicating with one another and performing every play with pur pose helped them score goals.

While the team did not have a clean

The Men’s Water Polo practices in Henry Memorial Natatorium. (Photo Courtesy Regan Carlson)

“playing against recognizable Division

I schools allows W&J’s men’s polo team to make a name for themselves inside of the MPSFC.”

“During the game, Rubio led the way, scoring a total of five goals. Bannon also recorded a hat trick, and Andrew Edwards scored two goals with assists from multiple of his teammates.”

sports

A Series of Underrated Sports: Women’s Tennis

Audrey Kough Red & Black Campus Sports Writer

NOV. 11 - If someone were to say women’s tennis, what would you im mediately think of? For most people it would be the famous tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams. Not many people know about women’s tennis at any other level other than the profes sional level. At Washington and Jeffer son College, we have a women’s tennis team who performs well but flies un der the radar in terms of recognition.

The Women’s Tennis Team is a part of the President’s Athletic Conference (PAC), and the team practices and competes during both the fall season and spring season. The women have completed their fall season and are now out of season waiting for their spring to start for the women to get back on the courts. In the women’s fall 2022 season they finished with a re cord of 3-8 and a conference record of 3-5. While the team may not have had

a winning season during the fall, their talent and effort did not go unrecog nized and helped them accomplish some wins during their fall season.

son we had a tough fight to make it to playoffs. Due to new members on the team, we needed to try different com binations of doubles partners. It was fun playing with everyone and trying out the different possible combina tions. I found that junior Jaelyn Ken nedy and I brought the best out of each other while playing doubles.”

athleticism, stamina, hard work, and resilience to never give up. All the women who play singles on the ten nis team make all these qualities occur during their matches to help contrib ute to their overall match success, and in turn the team’s success.

The team qualified for the 2022 fall PAC Championships, however the road to get to the championships was not an easy one. A key part of playing in tennis matches is doubles, where two people work together to play against another set of two peo ple. Playing a good match in doubles requires good teamwork, excellent communication, and trusting chemis try between the two players that are on the court. sophomore Gloria Johnson spoke on this topic, “For the fall sea

While at the PAC Championship tournament the women’s team lost in the first round of match ups against Westminster College 3-5. While play ing in the championships, all the matches turned into battles that were fought all the way to the end of the match. Needless to say, the effort on the women’s tennis team is undeniable and helps to get them through match es, in hopes to set them over the edge and beat their opponent.

While doubles play a significant role in the sport of tennis, so does the playing of singles. In a singles match, a player is all their own to cover the en tire side of the court against one other player on the side of the court. To cov er the entire side of the court requires

Currently women’s tennis is on a break since their fall season has end ed and will not return until spring sport starts. Johnson talks about what the team is doing during the offsea son in order to help prepare them for the spring portion of the season, “To prepare for the spring, we work out on our own time and just take time to rest due to the season being very in tense physically. In the spring, we have some scrimmage matches planned and I am excited to get back on the courts!”

The season split into two sections pro vides the women’s tennis team another opportunity to prove what they can showcase on the courts. Watch out in the spring for women’s tennis to be back in action on the courts represent ing the Presidents.

W&J’s tennis teams practice and compete at the Janet Swanson Tennis Center, which completed construction in 2015. (Photo Courtesy Regan Carlson)

“...the effort on the women’s tennis team is undeniable and helps to get them through matches...”

W&J’s Women’s Tennis team competed at the PAC Quarterfinals at Westminister College on Oct. 11. (Photo Courtesy Regan Carlson)

Women’s Field Hockey: A Season Overview

Audrey Kough, Red & Black Campus Sports Writer

NOV 4 - Starting the season all the way back in August with pre-season conditioning, the women on the field hockey team were ready to take on whatever the 2022 season brought to them.

The women’s field hockey team is one of the few teams here at W&J that is not a part of the President’s Athletic Conference (PAC). The team is a part of the Empire 8 Conference based out of New York. This means a lot of trav elling, long hours on buses, and lots of overnight stays at hotels.

The field hockey was under new leadership this season with new head coach Maggie Fees.

. The team consisted of many fresh man students, with the number of first years being ten women compared to eight returning upper-class women.

Despite the youth of the team, se nior and co-captain Madison Devine would describe the atmosphere of the team as, “the closest we have been in all of my four years here.”

“It was an adjustment at first, but once we figured out how to work to gether, it clicked, and we were solid,” Devine said. “There was a lot of talent on the team this year, we were dynam ic, and we had a nice balance of getting to work, while still having fun because our team was so close.”

The field hockey team was able to create a close bond with each another early in the season, creating connec tions off the field that would in turn help them on the field. If the women on the team were able to communicate and trust each other off the field, that would directly translate to effective communication and teamwork on the field.

Senior and co-captain Lindsey Dig gan shared what helped the team run smoothly and operate as one unit rath er than individual players.

“Something important about the team is stressing that everyone has a role and is equally important regard less of playing time or position,” Dig gan said. “This built a respect among all players in the team to work togeth er.”

While the season started off a rocky with three loses, the women on the team turned the season around and began winning many games.

Reflecting on the season, freshman Riley Dortenzo remembers what she felt was the team’s biggest accomplish ment: “One of our biggest accomplish ments was beating Saint John Fisher as they were three-time Empire Eight Champions.”

W&J’s field hockey team has not been in playoffs since the 2019 season.

The team traveled to Utica, New York on Nov. 1 in preparation for the game on Nov. 2 against Utica Univer sity.

The team went into the game hun gry for a win and a lot of fight instilled in them. They fought hard, battling Utica until the very end.

While W&J did not win, Devine feels proud of the team’s performance.

“It did not turn out the way that we had hoped, we knew we gave it our all,” Devine said. “There is not much more you can really ask for as a senior on the team.”

As W&J’s field hockey team return to campus, they were still winners in their strength and connection as a pro gram.

“I’m really proud of the team and all of the progress we made, and I know I’m leaving the program in good hands with the team,” Devine said.

Dortenzo reinforces this belief.

~ Madison Devine

“The season ended earlier than what we had hoped for, but it was a solid season all around full of success and many opportunities,” Dortenzo said. “I feel like next season we are going to come out even stronger.”

While the field hockey season may have ended, the ladies on the team can all agree it was a great season with many highs.

The one thing that propelled them through the season and helped them fight game after game was the love they all shared for the sport of field hockey.

Continuing with their season, the field hockey team continued to fight hard and play with their hearts in ev ery game. Win or lose the women on the team knew everyone was giving their best effort.

Finishing off the regular season with a record of 6-10 and an Empire Eight Conference record of 5-4, the team was able to secure themselves a spot in the first round of playoffs.

W&J Women’s Field Hockey won 6-0 against Oberlin College. (Photo Courtesy Regan Carlson, Red & Black Photojournalist)

“If the women on the team were able to communicate and trust each other off the field, that would directly translate to effective communication and teamwork on the field.”

“I’m really proud of the team and all of the progress we made, and I know I’m leaving the program in good hands ...”

Next Week’s Games Last Week’s Scores

Men’s Basketball: W&J vs Muskingum University

Win 75-52 Washington, Pa.

Women’s Basketball: W&J vs Bethany College

Win 61-42 Washington, Pa.

Men Swim & Dive: W&J vs Chatham University vs IUP

Win Against Chatham 105-28, Loss Against IUP 160-39 Indiana, Pa.

Women’s Swim & Dive: W&J vs Chatham University vs IUP

Loss Against Chatham 106-69, Loss Against IUP 157-35 Indiana, Pa.

Men’s Wrestling- W&J Invitational Washington, Pa.

Men’s Wrestling: W&J at Messiah College Invitational

Fri., Dec. 2- Sat., Dec. 3 Grantham, Pa.

Women’s Basketball: W&J vs Saint Vincent Sat., Dec. 3 Washington, Pa.

Women’s Swim & Dive: W&J at Saint Vincent Sat, December 3 Latrobe, Pa.

Men’s Swim & Dive: W&J at Saint Vincent Sat., Dec. 3 Latrobe, Pa.

Men’s Basketball: W&J at Allegheny Wed., Dec. 7 Washington, Pa.

Photo Courtesy Regan Carlson

Photo Courtesy Regan Carlson