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s T u d e n T n e w s pa p e r o f w a s h i n g T o n a n d j e f f e r s o n c o l l e g e w j r e da n d b l ac k . c o m w a s h i n g T o n , p e n n s y lva n i a m a rc h 3 0 , 2 0 1 8
WHAT’S IN THIS WEEK’S PAPER... LIFE “Not only can the home be constructed in less than 24 hours, but it covers roughly 600-800 square feet, features a fully function porch, living room, bedroom and bathroom and only costs roughly $4,000.” -P. 9
W&J Students Travel for Spring Break PAGE 5
CULTURE “Woolf developed over 1,000 photographs on a Frena camera and organized them into six photo albums, the first dating to 1890.” -P.11
OPINIONS
“The decision between homeschooling and public school should be carefully analyzed based off the child’s personality and what parents value in their child’s education.” -P.15
SPORTS
“With the loss of Pittsburgh Pirates center field and batting star Andrew McCutchen, the fate of the team was unknown heading into spring training. Many fans expected the team’s performance to decline.” -P.17 Courtesy Adriana Rodriguez-Ruiz
WJREDANDBLACK.COM
2 CAMPUS NEWS
Red & Black
30 March 2018
Senior Spotlight: Ashton Grimm Takes Advantage of Travel Opportunities Marcy Saldivar Red & Black Staff
Ashton Grimm ’18 has had an athletically and academically fulfilling three years at Washington & Jefferson College. Grimm is from Connellsville and she is a neuroscience major. Grimm initially attended Saint Francis University upon high school graduation,
Week, PAC President's Honor Roll and ECAC Academic Honor Roll. On top of these honors, she finished second in the conference in goals. The team will miss her contributions next year. Off of the soccer field, Grimm took her academics very seriously. As a science major, she stayed disciplined and gave every course her all. After testing out several branches of science, she decided to pursue a neuroscience major. “I chose neuroscience because it connected everything I was learning in my other science classes and it was interesting to me. Learning about the brain and central nervous system ties together everything with the rest of the body,” Grimm said. Grimm intends to
“I chose neuroscience because it connected everything I was learning in my other science classes and it was interesting to me. Learning about the brain and central nervous system ties together everything with the rest of the body.” - Ashton Grimm but she soon discovered it was not the right fit for her. She played soccer at Saint Francis and it, too, was not what she wanted. After her freshman year, she transferred to W&J after coordinating with W&J women’s soccer team’s head coach. During her three years at W&J, Grimm made a significant impact on the women’s soccer team. She was an outside forward and striker that contributed to nearly all the goals scored. This past fall, she was awarded with the All-PAC First Team, PAC Offensive Player of the Week, ECAC Division III South Offensive Player of the
become a physical therapist. She made this decision because she would like to see the patients’ improvements and form a better relationship through their treatments rather than be the breaker of bad news as a physician. Grimm plans to get a Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree at Campbell University in N.C. In addition to her scholastics and athletics, Grimm is very involved around campus. She is an active member in Green Club because she enjoys spending time in nature and values the environment. She is also in Neuroscience Club, which is fitting with her major. Grimm made a point to travel
Courtesy Ashton Grimm
Grimm and friends (pictured above) pose in Ireland while exploring the view from the Cliffs of Moher.
while at W&J. She completed a Magellan project in Calif. and she went on the first Greece Intersession trip ever offered. Grimm believes the Magellan Project is a great opportunity everyone should sieze. During her Magellan. she studied the effects of muscle fatigue. She studied this during her own process of hiking a piece of the Pacific Crest Trail. This trip taught her to adapt to the conditions given and to make the best of all adventures, even when they do not go as planned. Grimm also attended the Greece Intersession trip in Jan. 2017. On this service trip, she had the opportunity to work with sea turtles at Archelon Rescue Center and with refugees at Cari-
tas in Athens. During this experience she learned about the effects of stress and how to cope through her valuable experiences at both Archelon and Caritas. She made her last semester at W&J special with a trip to Ireland over spring break with her close friends. “I have just returned from Ireland for spring break. I tossed around the idea last year after spring break and knew it’d be so cool to be there for St. Patrick’s Day, so we made it a reality,” Grimm said. Grimm is very satisfied with her decision to switch to W&J. She will always appreciate the qualified professors, the amazing people she has met along the way and the endless opportunities and connections they provide.
30 march 2018
Red & Black
CAMPUS NEWS 3
Student Spotlight: Biology & Economics Major Abbey Eich Marcy Saldivar Red & Black Staff
Abbey Eich ‘19 is from Greencastle and attended St. Maria Goretti High School. She also plays volleyball. Family is an important aspect to Eich’s life. When she is not at school, she is at home in Greencastle spending time with her brother, DJ, sister, Beth, and mom, Debbie. She describes her family as being very close and best friends. At school, Eich is an economics and biology double major. She is consider-
ing pursuing a career as a physician’s assistant. She was never certain about what she wanted to do with her life, but her mom suggested physician’s assistant and the idea has resonated and stuck with her. Eich is a middle hitter for the W&J women’s volleyball team. The team had a very successful 2017 season in the fall. Some of her individual successes were highlighted with season highs of eight digs against Geneva College, 15 kills against Capital University, 16.5 points against Chatham University and three aces against Bethany College. Eich was also on the PAC Academic Honor Roll and the ECAC Academic President’s Roll. Her most cherished
“I love being a health coach because my visits to my patient’s house are the best part of my week. She’s adopted me as a grandchild and just welcomes me with a smile and candy every time I check up on her.” - Abbey Eich ’19 F U N A L L E G A M C B O U M
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accomplishment was being named on the all-PAC second team. With the opportunities presented at W&J, Eich has taken advantage of Intersession to see the world. Two Intersession periods ago, Eich traveled to Italy. It was a life changing experience for her. “We got to experience all of the great food, culture, and nightlife of almost ten different cities across Italy. It was an unbelievable experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life,” Eich said. For her 2018 spring break, Eich travelled to Mesa, Ariz. to visit her dad. She had a great time visiting and wants to take another trip to Ariz. soon. Off campus, Eich works at a physical therapy office. This job continues to support her decision to go down the pre-med track. She is also a student health coach through the Jefferson Hospital. “I love being a health coach because my visits to my patient’s house are the best part of my week. She’s adopted me as a grandchild and just welcomes me with a smile and candy
every time I check up on her,” Eich said. Upon graduation, Eich plans to go to medical school, but she is unsure exactly where yet. She is very grateful for the opportunities and memories W&J has allowed her to create.
Courtesy Marcy Saldivar
Eich plays for the volley ball team as a middle hitter.
Weekly Word Search
See if you can identify all of the articles that the words relate to!
Word List: CULTURE
MAGELLAN
ENERGY
SOCCER
IRELAND
SOLAR
KNOWLEDGE
VOLLEYBALL
4 CAMPUS NEWS
Red & Black
30 march 2018
Upcoming Event March 28th: Upper Ohio Valley Solar Co-Op Sofia Carrasco Red & Black Staff
With solar energy on the rise, becoming cheaper and more accessible, more and more buyers, both residential and commercial, are choosing to install panels. According to Solar Energy Basic, solar energy is radiant light and heat from the sun that is harnessed using a range of ever-evolving technologies such as solar heating, photovoltaics, solar thermal energy, solar architec-
ture, molten salt power plants and artificial photosynthesis. Essentially, the job of a solar co-op is to bring together a group of interested people in close proximity to “go solar” together, therefore adding in the perk of a community discount while still installing a high-quality solar system due to their group purchasing power. Henry McKay, the Pennsylvania Program Director for Solar United defines the name as “a nonprofit that helps people go solar through bulk purchase campaigns called solar coops.” Solar United has been helping people fight for their energy rights since 2007. Shortly after, in 2014, former president Barack Obama named
Solar United Neighbors Executive Director Anya Schoolman a White House Champion of Change for her “innovative and groundbreaking work to expand community solar and low-income solar deployment in D.C.” The Champions of Change program was created as a way for the White House to showcase standout individuals and their great works and achievements to “empower and inspire members of their communities.” Washington & Jefferson College will be partnering with Solar United Neighbors of Pennsylvania, referred to by the W&J website as “a nonprofit that provides unbiased, installer-neutral support.” Together, they will work together to create the Upper Ohio Val-
ley Solar Co-Op. This co-op will cover Washington and Green Counties in PA, the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, and parts of Ohio. Mckay stated in a correspondence email that, through the cooperation, W&J is making an “immediate, tangible impact on bringing solar energy to the community.” Mckay will be delivering an informational session on Solar United’s coops, the mechanics of solar energy and how going solar can save homeowners and small businesses money. The session will occur on March 28th at the Swanson Science Center, room 005 at 6:00 pm. The event will be sponsored by Community Engagement.
2018 Intersession Course Spotlight: “Knowledge is Good” Marcy Saldivar Red & Black Staff
This Intersession, Dr. Shaughnessy offered the course “Knowledge is Good,” where she taught about the diversity on campus. Gabe Ludwig ‘21 took full advantage of the class and the information it offered to change his perception of Washington & Jefferson College. Ludwig is from Selinsgrove where he attended Selinsgrove Area High School. He is a math and physics double major at W&J because he loves math’s application to the real world and, to him, the most interesting form of math application is in physics. He plans to
pursue a career working with a space agency, such as NASA or SpaceX. Taking a break from mathematics, Ludwig decided to take the gender and women studies intersession class “Knowledge is Good.” The class consisted of roughly 20 other students, and its material was structured around in-class movies, clips and shows. There was an emphasis on stereotypes in the class. When the students watched a film, they were to mark down every time a stereotype emerged. The class was discussion-based. Dr. Shaughnessy furthered the discussions by asking the students about their experiences on campus. The class exhibited a wide range of diversity which made discussions interesting for Ludwig as he got to hear the many perspectives of students with different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, especially to ones that to
which he has never been exposed. The students took it upon themselves to make every class a fun occasion with food and friends. “By far the best part of this Intersession course was watching the movies with friends. We would make it an event with a couple friends from the class to watch these movies, order pizza and enjoy it,” Ludwig said. Although he liked the idea of having the sheets for stereotypes, Ludwig began to feel like they were busy work after watching five or six movies In the end, he believes that this repetition reinforced the common theme that every movie about college has stock characters that portray a stereotype. “Take a [GWS] course. Get a bunch of friends and try to take the same one. You’re schedules will be really similar, and doing the homework with friends usually helps. Also, you won’t struggle going right from break to classes be-
cause you’ll already be back taking a class,” said Ludwig. Ludwig recommends taking a GWS course because they have such eye-opening effects.
Courtesy Marcy Saldivar
Ludwig took Dr. Shaughnessy’s course this January.
30 March 2018
Red & Black
Campus News 5
What Did W&J Students Do for Spring Break?
Courtesy Julianne Rotunda
Courtesy Minh Le
Courtesy Alia Leonardo
6 CAMPUS NEWS
30 March 2018
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Speak Out: What is your favorite G&T’s Special?
“Pastabilities is my favorite G&T’s special.” - Danielle Parker ‘19
F I ND U S ON L I N E WJREDANDBLACK.COM
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“Pastabilities by far.” - Kyle Peterson ‘18
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“My favorite is Cinnamon Roll French Toast.” - Marcy Saldivar ‘21 Courtesy gopresidents.com
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life
30 march 2018
LIFE 7
Red & Black
GM Plans to Start a Personal Car Rental Service
GM plans to start a version of Airbnb for cars which will allow GM owners to rent out their cars to people looking for transportation.
Sophia Carrasco Red & Black Staff
Air-bed and breakfast, or Airbnb for short, has been simplifying and encouraging travel since its founding in August of 2008. According to Google, Airbnb is an online community marketplace that connects people looking to rent their homes with people looking for travel accommodations. This way, travel-seekers do not have to stay at a hotel or worry about commercial lodging - they simply communicate with the
owners of the house they are renting and can easily find places to stay in 192 countries worldwide. Pulling from this idea of simplifying the market exchange, General Motors Co. plans to start a pilot program similar to what Airbnb does for lodging, but a version for cars. Essentially, this system will enable car owners to rent out their cars to people who are looking for self-transportation when they travel. GM’s Maven car-sharing unit will begin testing in the early summer. The members of the unit have asked to remain anonymous due to the privacy of the plans. These tests will allow GM
vehicle owners to rent out their cars to other platform drivers, sharing the revenue with GM. If the pilot tests are successful, GM plans to grow this idea into a fully-developed business, marking a step in what Bloomberg LP calls “GM’s transition from manufacturer to mobility provider.” Now, there are other companies such as startups Turo and Getaround which already do exactly what GM is proposing. However, GM’s name and company assets overpower these names with its current market value of almost $53 billion. GM has yet to release an official statement on the
Courtesy Flickr
launch of their Airbnb-like program, but a company representative told Engadget, “at Maven, we are always considering new, innovative ways to make sharing easier. We have no plans to announce at this time.” If GM goes forward with its proposal, given successful results of the pilot-run, there would be some obstacles for the company to overcome. The American Car Rental Association, which identifies itself as The Voice of the American Auto Rental Industry, is urging lawmakers to eliminate “unfair loopholes from taxes” that big car companies, such as GM, Turo and Getaround, have all avoided.
8 Life
Red & Black
30 march 2018
Trump Fires Secretary of State Rex Tillerson
Courtesy Flickr
Rex Tillerson served as the United States Secretary of State for a year before being replaced by the Director of the CIA.
Sofia Carrasco Red & Black staff
Since Trump’s taking over of the Oval Office in early 2017, there have been 17 notable officials either outed by or that have resigned. Among these individuals are James Comey, former FBI director, Sean Spicer, White House press secretary, and Reince Priebus, former White House chief of staff. Most recently added to this group is Rex Tillerson, former United States Secretary of State, making him the second agency secretary to leave Trump’s
Cabinet. For many months, Trump and Tillerson have shared a tense relationship, struggling with tumultuous points in their past. ABC News reflected on these points of conflict through their recalling of Tillerson’s comments about Trump in October, calling him a “moron” in a public dispute. President Trump said to reporters, “we got along quite well but we disagreed on things,” specifically about strategy areas in foreign policy, which the Washington Post identified as the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, the approach to North Korea and the overall tone of United States diplomacy. Rumors had been circulating about Tillerson’s potential loss of position, but it was not
until Tuesday, March 13 that Tillerson learned of his firing. Tillerson had been in Africa, where White House Chief of Staff, John Kelly, called to wake him up to alert him of his termination. Trump told Kelly that he wanted to announce the news on Twitter, but Kelly advised him otherwise. “Mike Pompeo, Director of the CIA, will become our new Secretary of State. He will do a fantastic job!” reads the tweet. The tweet then mentioned Tillerson as an afterthought when it said, “Thank you to Rex Tillerson for his service!” More than three hours after his termination, and after his firing had already been reported by the Washington Post, Tillerson received
a call from President Trump, formalizing his dismissal in a more personal manner. After the political drama, Tillerson thanked diplomats for what he called their “honesty and integrity,” and the American people for “acts of kindness.” Tillerson also specifically mentioned Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis for their professional relationship and support of diplomacy. President Trump was not mentioned in his statement. It has been reported that Tillerson will remain at his post until the March 31, but Deputy Secretary John Sullivan will take charge of the State Department to ensure “an orderly and smooth transition.”
30 March 2018
LIFE 9
Red & Black
Texas Company Prints Cheap, Affordable 3D Houses
Courtesy Pixabay
The Texas company, ICON, has created a prototype of a house that can be printed in less than 24 hours and costs around $4000.
Leah Segal Red & Black Staff
For millennials and other young individuals alike, the prospect of settling down and purchasing a home like our parents and grandparents once did is downright laughable. With the state of the economy, student loan debt and the inability to hold down a job with a respectable salary, the idea of becoming a homeowner is beyond light years away. Luckily, such problems spur innovative ideas to
remedy the situation, such as Austin, Texas company ICON, who is looking towards 3-D printing to make housing accessible to everyone. The notion of printing a home seems quite radical and comedic, as the ability of a massive 3D printer to create something more complex than a glorified dollhouse seems highly unlikely. However, the prototype created by ICON is quite impressive as they incorporated all the necessary elements and amenities of a house within the confines of a sleek but small space. In addition to its unimposing size, the house can be built in record time, causing disrupting construction and temporarily uprooting oneself to be an inconvenience of the past, as the house
can be “printed” in less than 24 hours. Getting on to the detailed aspects of this quirky abode, on March 12, ICON actually unveiled their masterpiece at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference, truly shocking the crowds. Not only can the home be constructed in less than 24 hours, but it covers roughly 600-800 square feet, features a fully function porch, living room, bedroom and bathroom and only costs roughly $4,000. Such a low price is remarkable and is paving the way for a new, affordable type of real-estate. Other than sparking hope in the hearts of the youth who dream of owning a home, the 3D printed houses by ICON are also being utilized to solve the housing crisis in poverty strick-
en regions of the world. For example, ICON recently paired up with humanitarian group, New Story, “a non-profit charity that works to transform slums into functional, sustainable communities” with hopes of addressing the housing crisis in a specific region, and eventually the world. With their partnership, they hope to tweak and perfect the 3D printing process and have 100 homes built in El Salvador in 2019. Overall, such an unconventional idea truly holds a bright spot for those looking to become homeowners without the threat of being forever broke. In addition, using such technology to help greater society only further shifts the world and its people to become a better place.
10 Life
Red & Black
30 march 2018
Twin Study Exposes the Impact of Space on DNA
Courtesy NASA
NASA’s twin study revealed that long periods of time spent in space can significantly alter a person’s DNA.
Leah Segal Red & Black staff
While going to space is quite the life-changing experience for any astronaut, for Scott Kelly, this takes on a whole new meaning. NASA has recently discovered, through the use of identical twin studies, that Kelly’s DNA has been 7% altered during his time in space. Such a preliminary discovery is groundbreaking; however, it is important to note that the facts and implications of such a finding and how
it relates to gene expression or “how your body reacts to your environment,” according to NASA. When comparing Scott’s DNA to his twin brother, Mark, the fundamental DNA that makes them identical twins had not changed. Instead, the former’s year-long expedition in space had altered the way in which his genes are presented, introducing the idea of the Space Gene. A product of analyzing an astronaut’s genetic composition after landing, the Space Gene idea was introduced in 2017 and prompted NASA scientists to track the ways in which the body must readapt to the Earth’s environment after a prolonged period of time in outer space. While the outward changes such as height, weight and muscle mass are important, the
analysis of individual genes and the chemical breakdown of astronauts truly propelled this study. In the case of Scott Kelly, “researchers now know that 93% of Scott’s genes returned to normal after landing. However, the remaining 7% point to possible longer term changes in genes related to his immune system, DNA repair, bone formation networks, hypoxia, and hypercapnia” said NASA. Such knowledge is extraordinarily powerful, and it also highlights the importance of the Twin Study that makes such findings possible. While the focus is currently in the changing DNA of Scott Kelly, his identical twin brother also deserves praise. Mark Kelly, who is also an astronaut, helped scientists to use his earthbound DNA to discover the differences
that his brother harbored upon return. In fact, it was even observed that the “increasing mission duration from the typical six-month ISS mission to one year resulted in no significant decreases in Scott’s cognitive performance while inflight and relative to his twin brother Mark on the ground. However, a more pronounced decrease in speed and accuracy was reported post flight, possibly due to re-exposure and adjustment to Earth’s gravity, and the busy schedule that enveloped Scott after his mission” said NASA. Overall, the Twin Study and the discovery of DNA change upon return from outer space are important elements of the NASA program and space in general. With such information, it is exciting to see what humanity will discover next.
30 March 2018
Red & Black
Culture 11
culture Virginia Woolf was an Avid Photographer Cassandra Muhr Red & Black Contributor
Many know Virginia Woolf for her famous works of literature like “To the Lighthouse” and “Mrs. Dalloway” and pioneering feminist texts “Three Guineas” and “A Room of One’s Own.” What many do not know about Woolf is that she was also an avid photographer. Maggie Humm explores this side of Woolf ’s life in her book “Modernist Women and Visual Cultures: Virginia Woolf, Vanessa Bell, Photography, and Cinema.” “From the age of 15, photographs framed Virginia Woolf ’s world. Throughout her life she wrote about photography in her diaries, letters and essays, and used photographic terms descriptively in her fiction,” said Humm. Woolf developed over 1,000 photographs on a Frena camera and organized them into six photo albums, the first dating to 1890. There is no particular order to the photo collections, and some contain captions which contrast with numerous blank pages. Many of the photos
capture Woolf ’s life at Monk’s House, a seventeenth century cottage located in East Sussex, England where Virginia resided with her husband, Leonard Woolf, from 1919 until she committed suicide in 1941. The photographs’ subjects vary from family portraits and photos of beloved pets to vacation destinations and landscapes, including one of Woolf ’s favorite spot, her garden. Among the photo albums are also portraits of other important literary figures including John Maynard Keynes, E. M. Forster and W. B. Yeats. This is no surprise, as Woolf belonged to the Bloomsbury Group, a set of English writers, artists and intellectuals who met to share ideas and support one another and were wellknown for their support for feminism, pacifism and revolutionary social ideals. Woolf ’s photography, along with her writing, played a large role in her life. According to Humm, her photography provided an escape and an expression for her struggles with mental illness. “[Woolf] believed that photographs could help her to survive those identity-destroying moment of her own lifeher incoherent illnesses,” said Humm. Photography also functioned as a way for Woolf to establish, strengthen and represent relationships. Her letters and
Courtesy Art Net News
Virginia Woolf compiled six photographic collections of her daily life.
diaries contain numerous exchanges of photographs with friends and family. Some of these photographs became centers of conversations, while Woolf ’s photo albums sometimes served as memorials for dead loved ones. The last of her photo albums concluded in
1947, as Virginia’s husband Leonard continued to organize them for six years following her death. The albums now reside at Harvard’s Houghton Library and have been digitized in order to be viewed on the library’s website.
12 Culture
Red & Black
30 March 2018
Paint’s Future May Lie with Bacteria
Courtesy Artsy
Creating an eco-friendly medium with the help of bacteria could be the future of painting.
Holly Sauer Red & Black Editor
The future of painting may, in fact, lie with none other than bacteria. Researchers at the University of Cambridge and biotechnology company Hoekmine BV have shown that this might be a reality in the near future. These researchers are attempting to recreate colors originally found in nature in the artist’s palette. Color appears two different ways in nature. One is through pigmentation.
This is when color appears to look the same from every angle it is viewed. Structural color is seen when this color changes upon interacting with light. Plants, insects and birds naturally have structural color. This is necessary to their survival because it allows them to engage in camouflage, photosynthesis and different mating rituals. These researchers are the first people to fully investigate the genetics of structural color, and they hoped to discover which genes were responsible for this type of coloration. Flavobacterium, the rod-shaped bacteria found in soil and freshwater habitats, were the organisms used
for this study. Scientists found that, if they altered the bacterium’s DNA, they could change the color. In nature, these bacteria are green, but these scientists could produce any color they wanted and could control the shade of each color. They were also able to eliminate color from the bacterium. The colors they produced in the lab were “really metallic, similar to the colors you see in peacock feathers,” said chemist Silvia Vignolini, who worked on the project. Scientists also believe it is possible to add a fixative to the bacteria in order to create paint. However, with this addition, the bacteria would only last
a few days or weeks at the most. Scientists are trying to rectify this issue. “We’re working to find a way where we can really use them as a sort of pigmentation and color,” said Vignolini. The researchers are attempting to create this fixative from all-natural elements in order to make a biodegradable paint. These researchers want to share their findings with artists and other vendors to have eco-friendly and mass-produced paint in homes and on cars around the world. Artists at Hoekmine BV are already experimenting and creating their own paintings with this unconventional and revolutionary medium.
30 March 2018
opinions Red & Black
Opinions 13
Should We Change How History is Taught in Schools?
Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Teaching methods in high schools have changed drastically throughout the years.
Carolina Velazco Red & Black Contributor
Current students in high school base their learning on textbooks, on a set narrative. This is a process that reinforces the mistaken idea that the past can be
synthesized into a single, standardized chronicle of several hundred pages that have been dictated by national education standards. Current generations are learning history by utilizing textbooks that compile many years’ worth of history into a few paragraphs. History classes are essential because they preserve the past and keep it alive for future generations. Primary sources are significant in order to
provide a solid foundation and to help students avoid knowledge gaps when they go on to pursue a collegiate level of education. Personally, as a student at Washington & Jefferson College, I realized during my first two years on campus how much I was not exposed to by my history teachers during my high school experience. There were so many subjects of which I remained ignorant, only to be enlightened by my curiosity and want to know more. Currently, government officials are taking this change in the teachings of history into consideration. Their views vary from approval to disapproval and utter disgust with the current public school situation. Dan Fisher, governor of Okla., recently introduced a bill that would have defunded AP U.S. History in the state of Okla. Fisher claims that the College Board, which runs the AP program, published a revised framework that focuses on “what is bad about America.”
C ONTAC T
E DITORIAL P OLICY The Red & Black is the official, registered student-produced newspaper of Washington & Jefferson College. It is published Fridays with the exception of exams and break periods. Editorials are based upon the opinion of the respective writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper, the
College or its students, faculty, or administration. The Red & Black welcomes all reader contributions, but reserves the right to reject letters of pure promotional nature, as well as letters which do not meet its standard of integrity, accuracy and decency. The Red & Black also reserves the right to edit submissions.
This calls into question the validity of the term history. Is history something that should be molded and changed? Samuel Dudley ’18 finds Fisher’s notion unjust. “History is anything but agreeable. Students must be prepared to confront divisiveness, not conditioned to shoehorn agreement into situations where none is possible,” said Dudley. Jasmine Campuzano ’20 also understands the importance of historical education in American high schools. “In the long run, these students will be better prepared and equipped to recognize weaknesses in an argument and resist the allure of a simplified narrative,” said Campuzano. History is not meant to please a certain audience; it is meant to represent the facts of our past. This being said, the “bad” and the “good” should explained in detail in these textbooks. It is essential for students to read a diverse set of historians’ accounts and to learn how this country and the rest of the world was really built.
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
14 opinions
30 March 2018
Red & Black
Millennials vs the World: How Society’s Blame Affects The Demographic
Courtesy PxHere
Kids now so more than ever feel the pressure to adapt to the increasingly more adult mindset at a younger age, destroying their childhood.
Leah Segal Red & Black Staff
There are currently 80 million millennials in the United States alone. Such a staggering statistic remains quite important when discussing the harsh and endless criticisms that older generations apply to our reputations and collective character. As a millennial, I personally find such negativity towards this generation quite disheartening and disparaging to our potential successes. Whether it is a generic late-night talk show host or your lovable grand-
mother, everybody has an opinion about millennials. We have been carelessly labeled as lazy, misguided, spoiled, entitled and selfish, and all of these misnomers have fallen from the mouths of older generations to whom many of the same words could arguably be applied. This is not to say that all older generations are the epitome of evil and that all millennials are the saviors of American society. Rather, it is to say that the generalized blame that has been cast upon this group of young people is insulting, as we should not be the outlet for the rest of the world’s frustrations about the future. We deserve honest respect for our generation, regardless of our
faults. For example, people from The Lost Generation, born between 1890 and 1915, and The Greatest Generation, born between 1910 and 1924, are often revered for their valor, for their service in the war, for surviving the Great Depression and for raising families in uncertain political times. However, the circumstances of the millennials, including rising college tuition prices, a poor job market, harsh outside influences and the looming threat of terrorism, are often disregarded despite the fact that we rise above such situations in our own time and manner. While each generation deserves its praise, it is time that millennials are given the same attention. Many of us
attempt to make the best out of crippling college debt and an extremely expensive world in which luxuries of home ownership and moving out of our parents’ basement seem daunting. This attempt is quite respectable, as this generation is making great strides in technological and medical industries as well as in political uprisings. Overall, the negative associations attached to millennials only serve to degrade the attempts of this generation to move forward, as recognition for success is often tainted by criticism. Nevertheless, millennials will rise above this adversity, and we will soon change the unfair descriptions that plague us and hopefully prove our elders wrong.
30 March 2018
Opinions 15
Red & Black
The Pros and Cons of Homeschooling Children
Courtesy Flickr
Homeschooling allows children to receive one-on-one catered teaching to ensure that they are proficient in all the necessary fields.
Marcy Saldivar Red & Black Staff
Homeschooling is certainly not for everyone. It is the perfect model for parents who want to make a specific curriculum for their children, but it can also be a huge social barrier. This educational structure is ideal for parents who want to optimize family time. Not only do parents get to spend time with their kids all day, but they also have the opportunity to shape the child’s courses to fit their specific needs. If they are struggling with
math, they have the flexibility to focus on math more than other subjects until it is thoroughly understood. The parent can also watch them learn, develop and grow academically, which can be very rewarding. On the other hand, as the child starts to grow up and reach the phase of their life where they bicker with their parents, this confinement may become a problem. When a student is homeschooled, they lose most interaction with their peers, which can be a good thing and a bad thing. Being isolated from other students means isolation from bullies, ridicule and peer pressure. Children that
are homeschooled learn in a safe and positive environment, whereas public school can create serious social pressures on a student and discourage learning. However, some kids may not respond well to this isolation. Homeschooled students have less daily interaction with kids the same age as them. They may have a smaller circle of friends and limited opportunities to meet new people. Homeschooling would not be the ideal method of learning for an extrovert or someone who enjoys socializing. One of the greatest disadvantages of homeschooling is the expense. At
public schools, textbooks, paper, art supplies, computers, software and other office supplies are free. When the parent is responsible for their child’s learning, they are also responsible for the cost of education. Additionally, when a parent is taking time out of their day to teach, they are not at work contributing to the family’s income. Parents should consider this deficit when deciding whether a child should be homeschooled or not. The decision between homeschooling and public school should be carefully analyzed based off the child’s personality and what parents value in their child’s education.
16 Opinions
Red & Black
30 March 2018
Should You Be Able to Clone Your Dog Just to Have Companionship?
Pictured above are clones of a dog that has passed away and that was genetically recreated for their owner.
Brieanna Sutherland Red & Black Contributor
Anyone who has ever fallen in love with “puppy-dog eyes” knows there is a special place in the human heart for canine friends. Those who have watched “Marley and Me” or who have had a dog know the heartache that comes at the end of a beloved dog’s life. This a part of life and ownership of a dog. However, people have found a new comfort in the fading years of their pet. Knowing no other dog could be like the one they lost, people have begun to clone their dogs. With anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000, lab work, two borrowed dogs and a DNA sample, you can get a clone of your dog. The company in
charge of this, ViaGen Pets, provides estimates, processes and success stories on their web page. With the right technology and money, ViaGen Pets and a few other companies of this kind can duplicate your pet. What the companies omit from their online descriptions is what this process entails. The borrowed dog from which the egg is extracted and the dog which is used as a surrogate mother both go into surgery. With luck and multiple tries, hopefully one of the treated eggs will turn into a puppy. The chances end in one of three scenarios: they have to restart the whole process, a puppy begins to develop but is lost or more than one clone is born by C-section of the surrogate dog. These chances vary every time the cloning of a pet is requested. If the cloning is successful, there could
be multiple puppy clones in need of homes when an owner just wanted one clone. Companies do not share what happens to these very expensively created and borrowed dogs. Another issue with cloning is the life of the clone. If raised, trained and cared for in the same environment, the clone will have a similar temperament to the original dog. Unfortunately, they may have different patterns or colors from the original. The clone will have the same DNA, but it may be expressed differently. There are also other complications to using the DNA of an already existing dog. The DNA is aged and can cause problems in the clone that may not have shown up in the original. The aged DNA may also shorten the life span of the clone because the DNA is already as old as the animal from which the DNA was taken. This was
Courtesy Flickr
a problem for the first cloned sheep, who died of health issues that occur in sheep twice her age. Although the process has been made into a science, negative effects persist. Kayla Marasia ’19 believes that these negative effects are not worth the possibility of having a physical clone. “It’s wrong. By being unable to let go of the image of your old pet, you inflict cruel punishment upon unwilling ‘donors’ and upon the possible clone. You would be better off making new memories with a shelter dog who desperately needs a home,” said Marasia. The borrowed dogs and clones both are put at risk as a result of this procedure. The odds are that, if you are willing to pay for it, you will receive a clone of your beloved dog, but you and the dogs will pay the price for the clone’s prospective life.
Sports 17
sports Pittsburgh Pirates Wrap Up Spring Training
30 March 2018
Red & Black
Courtesy good free photos
Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
decision. During the off season, he was a free agent and played with the Chicago Beras for a short time. He unfortunately got into a car accident during the off season as well and took some time to come back to
third base that was created by the Garrit Cole trade. Moran was a former top ten draft pick, so he was the highest profile prospect back in the trade this year. He is still technically a prospect, but there is no doubt that he will debut with the Pirates this season. This spring, he batted .357/.400/.500. He had two doubles and five hits in five games. Other prospects, such as Austin Meadows and Kevin Kramer, are making favorable impressions as they record great statistics at bat. Overall, despite unfortunate losses in the outfield and infield, the Pirates are hopeful that players will step up and fill the important roles. This will will lead the team to success for the rest of the regular season.
The Pirates have undergone some major changes that make fans anxious to see the final results of spring training.
Marcy Saldivar Red & Black Staff
With the loss of Pittsburgh Pirates center field and batting star Andrew McCutchen, the fate of the team was unknown heading into spring training. Many fans expected the team’s performance to decline. They have had a disappointing past two seasons, so the loss made fans even more hopeless. Losing McCutchen and other key players actually allowed other players to step up and make a difference on the field. Last season, Starling Marte was expected to excel in the outfield alongside McCutchen, but he was
suspended half of the year for performance-enhancing drugs. When he returned, he did not live up to expectations. He turned his reputation around this spring as he has had a great start to the year. He has accomplished batting
The Pirates are hopeful that players will step up and fill the important roles that will lead the team to success for the rest of the regular season. averages of .500/.545/.600. He has also had five hits in four games with three doubles and three steals. Marte is looking more reliable as the season progresses and he gives Pirates fans something to root for. Last summer, the Pirates added Sean Rodriguez to the roster as a last minute
baseball. Now, with baseball solely on his mind, he shows great potential to contribute to the Pirates this season. During spring training, he was batting .444/.444/1.222. To capitalize his training, he hit two homeruns in four games. Additionally, during the spring, Colin Moran filled the hole at
18 Sports
Red & Black
30 March 2018
Student Athlete Spotlight: Luke Zahren ’18 Marcy Saldivar Red & Black Staff
Luke Zahren ’18 has had a strong start to the Washington & Jefferson College baseball season. So far this season, he has eight runs, fourteen hits and three runs batted in. Zahren is from Wexford and he at-
standards and the opportunity to play on a competitive team. He believes that he is getting the best of both worlds by attending W&J. The Presidents’ baseball team is currently 8-8 in the season. Zahren is slightly disappointed in the team’s performance so far, but he thinks that they should be able to turn the season around and finish with a winning record and proceed to playoffs. Zahren’s favorite part of playing at W&J the past four years is the support system of men surrounding him on
“Winning the region and going to the college World Series was the most fun I’ve ever had playing baseball in my life. The team was so close at that point and we were playing so well that every game was an absolute blast to be a part of and I’ve never had a better time on a team,” - Luke Zahren ‘18 tended North Allegheny High School. He has been playing baseball since he was five years old. Throughout his youth years, he tried every position on the field. In middle school, he found his place in the infield and he has played there ever since. He currently plays second base for the W&J Presidents. “Although it can be a struggle to command the infield and keep it organized, I thoroughly enjoy second base because I am constantly engaged in the game and the action. I like being able to make a large impact on the game and for my team,” Zahren said. After debating between several schools, Zahren ultimately chose W&J because of its prestigious academic
the team. He shares his most cherished moments with his teammates, including his favorite memory of winning regionals last year during the 2017 season as a junior. “Winning the region and going to the college World Series was the most fun I've ever had playing baseball in my life. The team was so close at that point and we were playing so well that every game was an absolute blast to be a part of and I've never had a better time on a team,” Zahren said. Zahren is eager to continue the season and try to live up to the expectations that the team set last year. The Presidents next home game is Friday, March 30, at 6:00 pm at the Ross Memorial Park against Thomas More.
Courtesy Marcy Saldivar
gopresidents.com
Luke Zahren wears No. 2 and plays second base for the Presidents.
30 March 2018
Red & Black
sports 19
Coach Spotlight: Nickelle Smith, Sprints Coach Sofia Carrasco Red & Black Staff
This week’s coach spotlight shines upon Nickelle Smith, the Track and Field sprints coach. Smith has been a coach here at Washington & Jefferson
scholarship and her undergraduate degree in psychology with an English minor in creative writing from Fairleigh Dickinson University, running track for the school. She then went on to post grad at Cal-U, where she majored in exercise science with a concentration in wellness coaching, performance enhancement and injury prevention, earning a PhD in December 2017. After graduation, Smith reached out to W&J and Cal-U for a coaching position, wanting to keep in touch with the sport she loves, and has been working here at W&J ever since. She typically trains athletes to be successful in the 60 meters dash, 100
will find a lot of closed doors.” Smith said, “I love this quote because, in life, I have learned that being open-minded is a lovely quality to have. There is so much that one can learn from others, including my athletes.” She states
that being open-minded allows her to understand student athletes, create and maintain her relationships with them. She believes this allows her to help them in their time of need and so much more.
She typically trains athletes to be successful in the 60 meters dash, 100 meters dash, and the 200 meters dash, but Coach Smith also works on speed for the jumpers. College for over three years, staying connected to the sport which she has so much “love, passion, and dedication for.” Smith originally began as a basketball player, but when her high school track coach pulled her aside after witnessing her run an impressive rookie 200m at her school’s freshman field day, she took interest in the sport. In fact, the track coach informed her that if she wanted to run track, she would not even have to try out for the team. After due consideration with her parents, Smith decided to run high school track and continue to play club basketball with her father’s team. She says that she did not know this decision would be important to her future. Smith received a full athletic
meters dash, and the 200 meter dash, but coach Smith also works on speed for the jumpers. Her favorite race is the 200m because it is strategical, and “if an athlete doesn’t have a great start, they still have more than enough time to make adjustments and run a great race.” Smith’s favorite part of working at W&J is that she gets to interact with young adults, not only serving as a coach, but as a mentor and role model. Apart from her work here at the college, Smith also works as an early childhood caseworker. In her spare time, she loves to lift weights, run, travel and roller skate. She claims to both coach and live by Mark W. Perrett’s motto, “if you don’t go through life with an open mind, you
Courtesy Sophia Carrasco
Coach Smith’s favorite races is the 200m because of its strategical design.
20 sports
Red & Black
30 March 2018
Next Week’s Games This One Time... March 30 Baseball v. Thomas More (H)- 6pm Men’s Tennis v. Penn State Altoona (H)- 6pm
March 31
Track at Bethany Invitational (A)- 10am Men’s Lacrosse v. Grove City (A)- 1pm Men’s Tennis v. Thomas More (H)- 10am Baseball v. Thomas More (H)- 1pm
April 3
Softball v. Thomas More (A)- 3:30pm
April 4
Baseball v. Saint Vincent (H)- 1pm Men’s & Women’s Tennis v. Allegheny (A)- 6pm Women’s Lacrosse v. Chatham (A)-7:30pm
April 5
Baseball v. Muskingum (H)- 4:30pm
Last Week’s Scores March 17 Men’s Lacrosse v. Earlham 26-0 Win Golf @ Mary Washington Eagle Invitational (M)5 of 13; (W) 3 of 5 Softball v. Dartmouth 3-9 Loss, v. Ohio Wesleyan 2-10 Loss Women’s Water Polo v. Grove City 17-11 Win
March 18
Baseball v. SUNY New Paltz 6-5 Win Softball v. Southern Maine 5-11 Loss, v. Alleghent 3-7 Loss Women’s Water Polo v. PS Behrend 9-7 Win, v. Caltech 16-7 Win
March 19
Baseball v. UW-Oshkosh 1-11 Loss, v. Centre 8-12 Loss Softball v. Farmingdale State 9-4 Win, v. Worcester State 5-4 Win
March 21
Softball v. SUNY New Paltz 4-3 Win, v. Thomas 2-6 Loss Women’s Water Polo v. University of La Verne 7-12 Loss
March 22
Softball v. Elmhurst 9-0 Win, v. Bowdoin 1-9 Loss Baseball v. Wisconsin-Whitewater 1-8 Loss
March 23
Baseball v. Wisconsin Stevens Point 5-4 Win, 0-6 Loss
March 24
Men’s Lacrosse v. Bethany 16-4 Win Women’s Water Polo v. Connecticut College 9-16 Loss Women’s Water Polo v. Utica 11-6 Win; v. Malcalester 4-14 Loss
March 25
Women’s Water Polo v. Monmouth 6-12 Loss
Courtesy gopresidents.com
“This one time, during soccer my freshman year we were going to an away game. We have a rule on the team where freshman are in charge of getting all the equipment on and off of the bus. My freshman year there was only three of us, which made it pretty hard because there was so much stuff. Well, at this game, everyone got off the bus, but the two other freshman (Josie and Jill) didn’t grab any of the equipment. They just started walking into the building. Our coach looked at all of the equipment and then looked at me and just laughed and walked away. He didn’t even try to help me! So I was left carrying everything and sweating and yelling ‘FRESHMEN!’ trying to get the other two to come back. We all three laugh about it now and remember it like it was yesterday.” -Tatiana Ruzzini ‘18 Women’s Soccer