Red & Black The Free
s t u d e n t n e w s pa p e r o f w a s h i n g t o n a n d j e f f e r s o n c o l l e g e r e d a n d b l a c ko n l i n e . c o m w a s h i n g t o n , p e n n s y lva n i a April 15, 2016
Delta Gamma Hosts 36th Annual Anchor Splash by Mario Tiberie Page 2 Courtesy gofundme.com
OPINIONS: GAP YEAR PAGE 14
SPORTS: ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT PAGE 19
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Delta Gamma’s 36th Annual Anchor Splash Red & Black
Courtesy Mario Tiberie
Mario Tiberie Red&Black Staff
In a battle of speed, strength and speedos versus tighty whities, which W&J Greek House came out on top? Last weekend, the W&J Epsilon Delta chapter of Delta Gamma (DG) held its 36th annual, “Anchor Splash” competition in the Henry Memorial Gym. This annual philanthropic event raises money for Service for Sight organizations such as the Washington County
Blind Association. Open to students, faculty and the Washington community, Anchor Splash is an aquatic competition consisting of team relays, synchronized swimming and more! Many Greek-affiliated students participated in the event, each having fun while supporting a worthwhile cause. “I really enjoyed the whole competition,” said Richard Habgood (class of 2019). “The best part was making our synchronized swim routine as funny as possible!” From ping pong relay races
to a huge banner contest, this year’s Anchor Splash ended up being not only a huge success, but also one of the best in recent years. The event ended up collecting close to $2000, DG Ashley Phillips (class of 2017), worked extremely hard, along with her sisters, to bring this all to life. “This year our philanthropic efforts worked to bring together both the campus and the community at large, and thus far we’ve exceeded our past years’ average funds by $500,” explained Phillips. “It goes
without saying that Delta Gamma would not be able to make such a large contribution to Service for Sight without the members of the W&J community and the help of local sponsors Buffalo Wild Wings and Rita’s Italian Ice,” she continued. And although many greek houses competed, only three could rise to the top. After calculating the scores from the different competitions and events, Beta Theta Pi, finished in first place with Alpha Tau Omega, taking second and Delta Tau Delta, claiming third.An
event such as Anchor Splash truly demonstrates how administration, Greek life and the community at large can come together to make a difference for those in need. It is also a great way to take a study break and enjoy some swimming! If you would like to make a donation to Service for Sight, please contact Phillips, whose email is phillipsar@jay. washjeff.edu. And if you didn’t get a chance to make this year’s Anchor Splash, save the date for next year’s, which will be even better!
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Professor Spotlight: Michael Tarutis Nathan Repine Red&Black Contributor
This week’s professor spotlight highlights Michael J. Tarutis, J.D. He has been actively teaching at W&J since 2012. Mr. Tarutis specializes in a variety of things and has worked with several companies including heading his own law firm. Some of his specializations include corporate governance, drafting contracts and agreements, registering corporations and LLC’s, mergers and acquisitions and many other things. He has worked with companies such as Mobile Authentication Corporation, Premier Innovations Inc. and Spilman Thomas & Battle PLLC. I personally had the honor and privilege of having Mr. Tarutis every semester I have attended W&J, and I can say with certainty that he is a man of great integrity, character and willingness to help his students learn and grow into the best individuals they can be. He is passionate about what he teaches, aims to make sure students learn the most they can in every session and maximizes every minute of classroom time. He utilizes a variety of teaching styles and constantly keeps students engaged in the learning material.
Not only that, he has a unique ability to bring students together and turn strangers into friends in the environment he creates in the classroom. In talking with some of the students who know him, I have heard nothing but positive things. Chris Frydryck (class of 2018), said, “During the fall semester of 2015, I had come to visit W&J as a transfer student from Costal Carolina University. I recall sitting in the admissions house whenever Mike Tarutis walked in, and he greeted my mother and I with open arms and was genuinely interested in my life and what I had accomplished. By the time we walked to Burnett, he already knew my hometown, my work experience, and my love for business and my computer programming experience. He talked to me as if I was his best friend, and he didn’t even know my last name at the time. Upon arrival at the classroom, he had invited me to sit in on the class and feel welcome to participate. I firmly believe that his impact on the students at W&J is so impressive that I wish the prospective students to come may gain an ounce of what I have learned from this man. If there were any more enthusiasm in the room when he walked in, there would be a standing ovation. The man was the epitome of the center of attention, and everyone wanted to gravitate towards him.”
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Courtesy wvexecutive.com
Another perspective was offered by Veronica Aboujaoude (class of 2016), who said, “Mr. Tarutis is an unconventional professor who truly understands and connects with his students. He genuinely cares about his students and is willing to give them all the attention necessary both inside and outside of the classroom. Professor Tarutis makes a difference in the lives of those that are fortunate enough to work with him.” Jake M. Harrison (class of 2018) had a similar account of his experience with Mr. Tarutis, and reflected, “[He] has been a mentor, friend and inspiration from the first
day of my college career, and I will continue to look to him for guidance long after graduation. Within his approachable, informal demeanor is decades of real business experience and a desire to help every student of his achieve their dream, whether it be an entrepreneurial venture or acceptance into graduate school. A truly unique asset to this school will soon be lost, but his impact to the students he has had will continue to shape their lives. His teachings will become the pillars of which each and every one of his students will build the foundations of their own success. From me personally, and
the school at large, thank you Professor Tarutis and we will miss you sorely.” Unfortunately, Mr. Tarutis will be departing the school at the end of this semester. He is being replaced by Mr. Miller, whom some students may know of already. Mr. Tarutis will remain very close with many of his students. We are sad to see him go and his contributions to this school will forever be remembered. On behalf of the students who have learned so much from him, thank you so much for what you have done for us, and continue to do for us for the remainder of your time here.
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Magellan Spotlight: Bailey Mudrick Abigail Pipcho Red&Black Staff
W&J’s distinctive Magellan Program attracts many students to the school. The program gives monetary aid to those wishing to study a certain research topic or intern anywhere in the world. Bailey Mudrick (class of 2016) received a Franklin Internship Award and spent her summer interning at Tiffany & Co. in New York City. At W&J, Mudrick is Communication Arts Major with an emphasis in Film Studies. It was her passion for film production that inspired her to apply for her Magellan. At Tiffany & Co., Mudrick spent her time in the communications department. While living and interning in the city, Mudrick also devoted
a month in New York City to meeting with W&J alumni, and interviewing them. She focused the interviews on how well W&J prepared them for their current careers. Her first interview was with John Pendleton (class of 1981). Pendleton is now a lawyer for a global business law firm. Mudrick’s second interview was with Taj Lewis (class of 1996). Lewis is the current production manager for CBS sports network. Mudrick compiled the footage from the two interviews and then produced a promo video for W&J’s communication department. Mudrick’s second month was spent creating news outlets for the company. These focused mainly on changes and events within Tiffany & Co. “I felt well
prepared working on these flyers because at W&J I work for the Red & Black. This experience writing, editing and formatting articles gave me the confidence to write effectively for Tiffany & Co. and have my work published on a global scale,” said Mudrick. Overall, Mudrick had a positive experience in her internship, “Working for Tiffany & Co was something I highly enjoyed and I learned a lot about the industry. The company really values all of their employees, which is amazing considering how many they have. My team was helpful and always willing to help. I will take everything I learned from them and apply it to any job I may have in the future.” Mudrick gives accolades to W&J and their
unique Magellan program. “The purpose of a Magellan is to put you outside of your comfort zone. Living in a big city and learning how to navigate the subway system proved to be difficult to
understand at first. I still have not mastered it, but I did get better at it. Living on my own has helped me grow an individual, and I think that is the main purpose of a Magellan.”
I ask for nominations for Student Employee of the Year, and we usually get 1215 nominees each year,” said Shaffer. “One student is chosen by a committee here on campus. Our Student Employee of the Year for 2016, Anna Cook, works at Citizens Library. Our library here on campus is displaying boards showing nominees and winners from the past five years. A reception is held during [National Student Employment Week] recognizing all nominees, and awards are given.” All week
long there will be activities for everyone to enjoy. Including a scavenger hunt, trivia night and Minute to Win It games, plus lots of chances to win gift cards, chocolate and W&J gear. A list of dates and activities for National Student Employment Week can be found on the W&J weekly and W&J’s Facebook, Twitter and Spire page. Many student employees have found great connections to their work study job and their employer at W&J. “Student coaching for W&J
athletics has been a very beneficial experience for me,” said Brian Brust (Class of ’16). “Coach Prairie does a great job offering opportunities that have allowed me to grow as a student, athlete and an individual.” Work study jobs are not only in place for students to earn extra money, but they are also here to offer students a chance to build relationships with their employer and receive work experience according to Shaffer. “Everyone on campus who has a student employee will
tell you how important they are to each department. We really rely on them to help us keep the College running smoothly,” said Shaffer. “Not only are the student employees helping us, but I hope we are giving the students a glimpse of what it is like to be an employee once they graduate. We also form long lasting relationships with our student employees.” Whether you are a student employee or not, National Student Employment Week will be a great time for all of those who participate.
Courtesy Abigail Pipcho
National Student Employment Week Carolyn Wilson Red&Black Copy Editor
The week of April 11-15 is National Student Employment Week at W&J. Chris Shaffer, with the generous donations of various W&J departments, is in charge of this week for the fifth year in a row to celebrate the hard work of the student employees. “It was created by the National Student Employment Association, and I learned of it at one of their conferences.
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KKG's Bra Drive for Victims of Sex Trafficking Carolyn Wilson Red&Black Copy editor
Bras are there to support more than a chest; they also have the ability to rebuild the lives of former sex trafficking victims. During the weeks of March 27 to April 8, W&J’s Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority (Kappa) held a bra drive to donate gently used bras to Free the Girls, an organization that helps sex trafficking victims build their own business while also restoring their lives. “I got the idea to hold the bra drive due to the success of the Coat Drive we held with ATO over Intersession. College students are generally pretty broke, so we don't have
spare cash to donate. However, living in small dorms, we often find our space cluttered by all of our belongings,” said Danielle Shellgren (Class of ’18), Kappa’s Philanthropy Chair. “Therefore, item collections are a great way to give back to the community! I know I personally had a handful of bras in my drawer that I only wore once or twice because they just didn't really fit right or they were uncomfortable. It's a win-win when we can declutter our spaces by donating items to those in need!” The bras donated will help sex trafficking victims start a business selling second-hand clothing. This will allow the
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women, who were previously abused by men, to work with other women; providing women with a sense of security. Free the Girls also works around the women’s schedules, allowing them to go to school and/or care for a family. If you missed out on a chance to donate this year, Kappa hopes to bring back this event next year as well. “This is the first year Kappa has done the bra drive, and hopefully not the last. I would definitely like to let everyone who participated in the drive know how grateful Kappa is for helping us make a difference in the lives of many women! We sincerely appreci-
THIS WEEKEND'S EVENTS
Friday • 11:30 am - Feel Good Friday (until 1:00), Campus Ctr. Circle • 1:00 pm - Free Bowling with W&J ID (until 3:00), Alpine Lanes • 2:15 pm - INTL WEEK: Model United Nations at W&J, Burnett 103 • 5:00 pm - Battle Ball Bubble Soccer (until 10:00), Olin Lawn • 6:00 pm - W&J Senior Show I, Olin Art Gallery • 8:00 pm - PRIDE WEEK: Pride Prom, The Alley (Hub LL) • 9:00 pm - Monticello's, Hub LL
Saturday • 1:00 pm - Women's Lacrosse vs Saint Vincent, Alexandre Stadium • 6:30 pm - Pittsburgh Pipeline (6:30|8:30|10:30), Campus Ctr. Circle • 9:00 pm - INTL Week: International Dance & Karaoke, The Alley • 9:00 pm - Monticello's, Hub LL Sunday • 1:00 pm - Baseball vs Thiel, Ross Memorial Park • 4:00 pm - INTL Week: A Night in India (until 7:00), Rossin Ballroom • 7:00 pm - Mass, Newman Center
ate each and every donation,” said Shellgren. If you would like to make your own donations to Free
Courtesy Danielle Shellgren
the Girls, you can check out their website at www.freethegirls.org to see how you can get involved.
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15 April 2016
Marijuana Housing the Homeless
courtesy of cpapracticeadvisor.com
Abigail Pipcho Red&Black Staff
According to the Los Angeles Almanac, last year alone almost 45,000 people were living homeless on the streets of Los Angeles. Year by year this number grows, and lawmakers are brainstorming ideas on how to slow this growth. Following the passage of the legalization of medical marijuana in Nevada,
lawmakers have proposed a specific tax on medical marijuana to generate money in order to fund a housing project targeted specifically for the homeless population. Lawmakers have proposed a 15% tax on medical marijuana and from current statistics, this tax would generate approximately 17 million dollars a year. With talk of legalizing recreational marijuana use, this tax could generate millions more for the housing cause. In order for the proposal to pass,
citizens must first vote on the bill and it must pass with two thirds of the votes. Officials do not see the bill’s passage as a major problem due to the severity of Los Angeles’s homeless issue. “I think that the tax is a great idea. If medical marijuana is already taxless, why not apply a tax to a product that people are already going to purchase. The tax is helping the homeless problem and I see no problems with it,” said McKenzie Merenick (Class of ’18). If the tax is put into
action, the revenue generated from it will only cover 0.85% of the two billion dollar project. Therefore, lawmakers have also proposed several other solutions to cover the cost of the project: raising real estate taxes, increasing the city’s sales tax by 0.25%, a new billboard tax and a parcel tax. The 15% tax on medical marijuana is, however, possibly a step in the right direction for solving Los Angeles’s homeless problem. The plan to convert old
rundown buildings into housing projects for the homeless will aid in slowing the 12% growth rate per year. With certain prescriptions already being taxed, it is little to no difference to the patient to be paying the small tax fee. If recreational marijuana is legalized, that too can be taxed since it is a nonessential consumer good. The taxes on these products ultimately will aid overall in solving the city’s homeless population problem.
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Creating Langauge for Aliens
courtesy of channel.nationalgeographic.com
Christopher Frydryck Red&Black Staff In 1977, NASA and Carl Sagan worked together to send out both Voyager 1 and 2 to space and travel across the solar system. Assuming both spacecraft would reach significant distance in space, they contained a copper vinyl record that was gold plated. The voice of former president Jimmy Carter is on the record exclaiming, “This is a present from a small, distant world, a token of our sounds, our science, our images, our music, our thoughts and our feelings. We are attempting to survive our time so we may live into yours.” Apart from his voice is information on how to play the record, images of humans, our knowledge of space, natural sounds of Earth and music from Bach, Beethoven and Chuck Berry are all included in this sign of intergalactic peace. All of this sounds like fun and games, but what if some intelligent
lifeform outside of us could understand this message? This attempt is looked upon today as a failed attempt by SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence), due to its rudimentary information and selfcentered belief that other lifeforms speak our language, understand Morse code and even have eyes or ears to listen or see what we have provided. All of these are assumptions that these lifeforms are carbon copies of the homo sapiens and that they should be able to perform at least at our intellectual level. Recently, Russian billionaire Yuri Milner donated $100 million USD to scientists willing to study the extraterrestrial field and alleviate SETI’s primary funding issue with continuing their research. SETI has being continually studying in a field that many find hard to take seriously since communication with foreign beings is much more difficult
than finding where they are or adapting a language to communicate with them. Early ideas for communication were quite humorous, one including digging deep holes into the Sahara desert, filling them with water, pouring a layer of kerosene on top and lighting it afire to send flaming messages to nearby aliens. Apart from this pyromaniac, we also believed sending two space satellites with a golden record on it was a fantastic way to communicate with foreigners in space. It wouldn’t be until Hans Freudenthal released a book explaining Lincos (shortened from the Latin name “lingua cosmica”) that one could possibly create a mathematical language that other beings could possibly understand. Many astrophysicists, including Yvan Dutil at the University of Quebec have acknowledged Freudenthal’s exceptional work; however, Dutil exclaimed despite Hans’
genius, “Freudenthal’s book is the most boring I have ever read. Logarithm tables are cool compared to it.” This is most likely why Lincos never gained the popularity it deserved despite his grand founding before the Voyager shuttles in 1960. The language included everything from basic mathematical statements from “4 < 5” to explain human emotion and love. It was quite peculiar, but also advanced compared to even today’s standards. Sadly, Freudenthal died on October 13, 1990 before being able to finish Lincos and still to this day nobody has been able to master the mathematics behind this language to the level of simplicity that Hans had. The SETI community today has readopted Lincos as a “metalanguage.” This artificial language acts as a mediator between foreign and native languages of two separate beings. Overall, however, the
attempt to reach between the divide of unknown life-forms out there is rather bleak. SETI member Stephanie Dumas stated, “The creation of an interstellar language to communicate with an alien civilization is interesting, but in the end not very practical since the communication would occur over decades.” It seems that overall, we are searching for the wrong way to communicate with other lifeforms. Some at SETI assume that if there are other lifeforms out there, they WILL have a similar or greater intelligence level than us. This is a rather bold statement for any scientist to assume the unknown. It seems that SETI needs to revamp the way we think about communication with extraterrestrials. But for now the only footprint we have left on intelligent beings in the universe is a couple golden records, pictures of us eating and sounds of nature and “Johnny B. Goode.”
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Nine-Year Old Crime Reporter Leah Segal Red&Black Staff
The field of journalism just grew a little, and with it came a huge response. In the small town of Selinsgrove, Pa., Hilde Kate Lysiak, reported a murder that occurred just blocks away from her home. However, the outcry of disbelief and outright revolt from her work did not stem from the quality of the report, rather from the mouth it was coming from. Reporter and creator of Orange Street News, Lysiak is only nine years old. That being said, such hatred seems quite uncalled for and unjustified. In a world where we praise child piano prodigies and applaud the entrepreneurship of rosy cheeked little girls selling lemonade, why do we criticize Lysiak’s professional work? According to the reporter herself, “[people] were upset that I was reporting on a serious crime, rather than doing – well, whatever it is they think nine-year-old girls should be doing.” The incident of the murder brought her into the limelight and sparked the outrage. In an article by The Guardian, Lysiak goes on to explain it was “April, 2nd [and the homicide] took place just a few blocks from my house, where I run my newspaper.”
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Quick thinking and a good tip from locals led her right to the crime scene, so Lysiak was able to ask pressing questions to witnesses. Outsiders hearing this story eventually became enraged. The idea that a little girl could have the audacity to report news deemed heavy hitting seemed “inappropriate” and “out of place.” But, for Lysiak, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. For the young girl and her many supporters, she feels it is her duty to share her talent, which just so happens to be journalism. After the initial report of the homicide, Lysiak struck back at protesters. “I was able to keep the people of Selinsgrove informed about this very important event hours before my competition even got to the scene. In fact, some other news sites run
courtesy of heritagetalon.org
Above, nine year old Hilde Kate Lysiak editor for the Orange Street News in front of some notes from her newspaper.
Orange Street News was at the scene doing the hard work to
from this spunky reporter. We should not judge someone on
“For those of you who think I need to mind my place, I’ll make you a deal. You get off your computer and do something to stop all the crime going on in my town and I’ll stop reporting on it. Until then, I’m going to keep doing my job.”
by adults were reporting the wrong information or no information at all while the
report the facts to the people,” said Lysiak.Overall, a valuable lesson can be extrapolated
the physical attributes of their person, rather their talent and gifts they can bring into the
world—regardless of race, gender or age. To assume Lysiak has nothing better to do than play with dolls and host tea parties not only underestimates the power of work, but exposes how narrow minded we as adults can be. As for Lysiak, she only has one thing to say to her critics: “for those of you who think I need to mind my place, I’ll make you a deal. You get off your computer and do something to stop all the crime going on in my town and I’ll stop reporting on it. Until then, I’m going to keep doing my job.”
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The Original Facebook: Pompeii’s Graffitied Walls
courtesy of bbc.com
Christopher Frydryck Red&Black Staff
Mossack Fonseca, a law firm located in Panama City, leaked sensitive documents pertaining to companies, public political figures, business professionals, athletes and celebrities. The documents exposed their acts of avoiding taxes by using offshore shell companies as a tax haven from their native country. This process is actually quite simple. A company or a person gains a lot of funds that should not be tax deductible, but instead forms an offshore entity in either the Cayman Islands or the British Virgin Isles. These areas help hide and protect the person from paying any taxes on money collected overtime by hiding
it in a purposefully difficult financial system and thus making the user tax exempt from any of this money. Many may ask themselves, “then why are offshore shell
rather unfortunate that many use these countries financial laws to evade taxes on taxable income. So, the issue is not the shell companies, nor is it the
Party Politburo Standing Committee… King Salman of Saudi Arabia; Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson [Now former prime minister of Iceland]… President Mauricio
“With 128 politicians, 12 current and former leaders and numerous public figures, the offshore industry of tax evading citizens was undoubtedly exposed.”
companies even legal?” Well, they do hold an honest purpose for those who want to own land in a foreign country, but are not allowed since they are not a legal citizen, nor do they own a business in this country. Shell companies provide a loophole to those who want to own property by being a native business in that specific country. It is just
country themselves since they are allowed to constitute any law they deem suitable. Whose fault is this then? The people involved. These people include, “close associates of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, the father of Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain and relatives of President Xi Jinping of China and members of the Chinese Communist
Macri of Argentina; and the soccer star Lionel Messi.” The list goes on, and although some may be correct, many are denying the allegations. With 128 politicians, 12 current and former leaders and numerous public figures, the offshore industry of tax evading citizens was undoubtedly exposed. Although not everyone using offshore shell industries
is not attempting to evade tax or commit money laundering, many of these figures had no business to be held in the country. It was still quite suspicious why there so few United States citizens on the list. It seemed too good to be true. The newspaper that reviewed the Panama Papers before their release, Süddeutsche Zeitung, had been confronted about the lack of American individuals on the list, and their response was, “Just wait for what is coming next.” In wake of recent political scandal outbreak around the world, it seems almost planned that the United States’ tax fraud list is coming out near the presidential election. These papers could easily expose politicians running, their families or currently active members in the United States. All we can do now is sit and wait.
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To Sleep or Not to Sleep: Stay a Night in Hamlet’s Castle Diana Ciarallo Red&Black Staff
Something is not rotten in the state of Denmark this month. On April 23, the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death, a few special guests will have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to enjoy a night that could be described as being “most wondrous strange.” The 15th century Danish Castle of Kronborg is believed to have been the inspiration for the famous royal residence that bore witness to all of the ghosts, murder, poison, treachery and madness that made the tragedy of Hamlet completely unforgettable. Open to the public as a tourist destination since 1938, Kronborg Castle has been drawing Shakespeare fans for decades and hosting performances of the play itself.
However, no one has spent a night in the castle for over 100 years. Travel website Aibnb has provided Shakespeare fans all over the world with the opportunity to spend one evening in Hamlet’s castle and enjoy a lavish banquet hosted by none other than the Prince of Denmark himself. Guests will stay in the King’s Tower, which allegedly “boasts fantastic views of the castle moat, the sound and on a starry night, the Swedish coast in the distance.” Before anyone starts packing up their skulls and soliloquies, hopeful overnight guests must first enter the website’s contest. In order to participate, each contestant must write an essay to the castle’s host explaining why “you and your lucky friend, sweetheart or perhaps your estranged uncle, would like to spend the night at my castle.” It is also noted in the contest rules that submissions
Courtesy panoramio.com
written in iambic pentameter receive bonus points. The deadline for these essays was April 13. The lucky winners will be flown in to Denmark from anywhere in the world. Whoever shall have the good fortune to win this contest will be joining at least 300 other guests for a 7-course
meal, truly fit for a king, in the castle’s ballroom. They will also be entertained by a performance of the Royal Danish Ballet. For the avid Shakespeare fan, feasting upon quail and figs in this beautiful seaside castle while rubbing elbows with famous actors, writers, and singers of Denmark
sounds like a dream. By impressing the castle host with knowledge of the Bard, iambic pentameter, justice and revenge, this dream could become reality. Guests should be careful to keep one eye open when they sleep, just in case the ghost of the vengeful king is still walking about the castle grounds.
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Album Review: Deftones Releases 'Gore' Tyler Phillips Red&Black Staff
April 8 saw the release of alt-metal band Deftones’ latest LP, entitled “Gore.” Despite its violent name, vocalist and guitarist, Chino Moreno, stated that it is, "not a completely angry record," and that there is variety in the moods that the songs create. “Prayers/Triangles” was the first track of the album that was released to the public. It features a soft verse in which Moreno has clear vocals over guitars aided by delay and reverb as the bass chugs away underneath it all. This leads to a wall-of-sound chorus with an emotional vocal delivery. Abe Cunningham
is the unsung hero of the song, providing brawny drumming that drives the choruses and bridge. “Doomed User” takes no time for introductions after segueing from the end of “Acid Hologram” and immediately jumps into a heavy, down-tuned guitar riff as Moreno shouts the verses. The chorus has a melody that is similar to other cuts of Moreno’s before his screaming begins. Its breakdown takes the descending part of the guitar riff and adds harmonics that are dirtied by distortion, similar to the bridge of “Passenger” from the band’s 2000 LP, “White Pony.” “Hearts/Wires” begins with an electronic and ambient intro as two guitar lines
start a call-and response section. Then the arpeggio leads into the verse, “Nothing can save me now / It's what I believe / The slit in the sky when you left /Is all I see.” The vague lyrics are debatable as to whether they refer to a lost loved one, drug addiction or both. This becomes clearer with the bridge lyrics, “Down deep into your veins / All the way / All the way / Down deep into your heart / All the way / All the way” before another chorus with extra lyrics ends the song. Moreno’s vocals are pushed a bit further away from the rest of the mix with an echo— another effect calling back to past works like “Passenger” again. The album’s title track opens with a tense intro and
then leads into a sludgy guitar riff that drives most of the song. The song’s structure ends with over a minute of runtime remaining, which the band uses to continue the outro notes and play lower and lower, much like a live performance. Metal guitarist and vocalist, Jerry Cantrell, of Alice in Chains, guests on “Phantom Bride,” although his signature guitar playing that has driven his career is not very noticeable until his guitar solo begins. Unfortunately, he does not sing on the track, missing out on a great opportunity to harmonize with Moreno. The final track “Rubicon” begins with the band jamming over a riff as Cunningham drives it forward with drum-
ming patterns over the toms. A bright piano is used lightly throughout the majority of the song to give it an added layer that contrasts with the distorted guitars. After the last chorus stops with Moreno’s vocals fading it ends with the main riff from the beginning, this time with an additional piano line to close the album. The lyrics are a highlight and are not too abstract this time around, which is something that has hindered some of the band’s previous releases. Its brief segues are also a nice touch when they are used between songs that are fairly different. Overall, the band is continuing to experiment in songwriting styles and has used its creativity to make “Gore” a solid album.
“has often turned to nature as inspiration for her artwork." "But instead of looking to vast oceans or forest landscapes, it’s the much smaller ecosystems that fascinate her the most.” With that in mind, Peñil gained the assistance of microbiologist Dr. Mehmet Berkmen, to help in the difficult process of creating her art. Unlike other mediums, bacteria are very complicated. In the interview, Peñil goes on to explain, “You have to imagine that these bacteria we’re using are all different species... Each one grows dif-
ferently and eats differently. Some don’t become colorful immediately, while others become old and then get their color.” The end result, however, is magnificent as a variance of different bacteria cultures transform into beautiful scenes. Interestingly enough, she, “has attempted to ‘paint’ with bacteria found on her own lips — which she collected after kissing a petri dish — as well as the germs that grew when she put her own house key on the dish.” Although Peñil is grateful for the success in her pieces, she hopes to make a larger
statement about how society views bacteria by, “shifting the public dialogue...from one of fear and disgust to one of appreciation and curiosity.” After all, try as we might, in a world where hand sanitizer is always located within arm’s reach—bacteria is a healthy part of our lives. Art assistant Dr. Berkmen also agreed, and stated, “I’m a scientist, and I appreciate this project a lot, when we do science, there is always an element of art, and while Maria is doing pure art, there is an element of science in what we are observing. We are observing scientific phenomena.”
Courtesy huffingtonpost.com
Artist's Bacteria Paintings are Contagious-Literally Leah Segal Red&Black Staff
For any artist, the goal is to create something unique and, “outside of the box.” That being said, for native Spaniard, Maria Peñil Cobo, she took this quite literally— by jumping right into the petri dish. Utilizing bacteria as her medium, this mixed media artist is able to create mind blowing masterpieces. In an article with the Huffington Post, Peñil states she,
With that in mind, Peñil’s art serves not only to exemplify her talent as an artist, but as a spokesperson for the science community. Perhaps one day we will all look at bacteria with the same appreciation and artistry as Maria Peñil Cobo.
12 ARTS
Red & Black
15 A pril 2016
Columbia Students Protest ‘Ugly’ Sculpture Christopher Frydryck Red&Black Staff
Art is one of the most subjective works, and as such, serves as the poster child for the phrase, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” While one may look at a piece by Degas or Warhol as artistic excellence, others may see it as a poor excuse to make money. Either way, art speaks volumes to people in sometimes more than a visual medium. Students at Columbia University have recently expressed their hatred towards a new sculpture taking space on their green lawn. Henry Moore, an abstract American
sculptor and artist had his work placed on the lawn called “A Reclining Figure.” Criticized by Columbia’s newspaper, the sculpture seems like a poor rendition of, “a woman with her legs outstretched before her, propping herself up with her forearm.” The paper later suggests that the sculpture represents, “a dying mantis or a poorly formed pterodactyl.” In fact, the $4.2 million USD sculpture was so ugly, that when thieves stole Moore’s original cast for the sculpture, they had chopped it up and sold the pieces individually for scraps. Since the uproar began, over 1,200 students
have protested the sculpture, which is substantial to the 700 students who protested the Vietnam War and institutions that supported it in 1968. Statistically, that would make this statue almost twice as important as the Vietnam War. Well, not exactly. The issue is not even the pure ugliness of the sculpture, but also what Columbia University has neglected to see. They have taken up green space on their campus to fit a sculpture that does not meet the feng shui of the older buildings and student’s ideologies. The students have urged the school to meet the students’ needs instead of
the campus’ aesthetic wants. The Huffington Post had exclaimed, “Some students have suggested selling the sculpture to finance a 24-hour rape crisis center.” Some may argue that this is not a protest at all, but instead a student disapproval towards the university’s
money management and selfinterest. Fitting an abstract sculpture in a neoclassical campus is no different than having someone show up to a black tie event with jeans and a flannel on—people are going to stare, judge and complain. Now it is just up to the school to take action or let it be.
Finally, imagine watching someone else play a firstperson shooter in which a plot is never fully fleshed out, the humor present is similar to what you would find in a junior high bathroom stall, and there is a constant shaky camera that disorients you. Welcome to the world of “Hardcore Henry.” Russian director Ilya Naishuller’s feature-length debut is an action-comedy movie that was released in United States theaters late last week. What sets “Hardcore Henry” apart from other films within the genre, is that it is entirely shot in the first person perspective with the use of stuntmen and GoPro cameras. A mix of both ambition and gimmick, this directorial
decision put more restraint on the film, rather than liberating it. With a title character who cannot speak and who the audience cannot see (with the exception of Henry’s flailing arms, of course), “Hardcore Henry” struggles to develop a main character who is relatable. To talk about the plot of “Hardcore Henry,” one must acknowledge that there is one, and this would be a quite generous statement. After waking up in a laboratory, now half man and half machine, Henry is greeted by his wife, Estelle (Haley Bennett), and, shortly thereafter, ambushed by a group of henchmen and Akan (Danila Kozlovsky), Henry’s main adversary during the
film. After Akan captures Estelle, Henry’s main goal of the film is to rescue her. During the ambush, Henry’s wife tells him, “Henry, fight back!” And Henry does. For an hour and a half. The only time there is any exposition following this moment in the film is when there is a short break taken between dizzying action sequences. A more accurate title for the film would be “Man Runs around Moscow and Kills People.” It is made quite clear that “Hardcore Henry” does not want the audience to ask questions. Instead, the audience is told to sit down, shut up and watch this stuff blow up through a fish eye shaky cam.
The performances in “Hardcore Henry” are about what you would expect from a screenplay so incoherently written. Kozlovsky plays Akan as a weird, sociopathic villain with unexplained telekinetic powers. Bennett’s performance as Estelle is monotone and uninspiring, and Sharlto Copley’s role as the body switching Jimmy makes one nostalgic about his District 9 days. Ultimately, “Hardcore Henry” fails because it sacrificed substance for style, and managed to achieve neither. Not even an awkwardly placed Tim Roth cameo could save the action comedy bomb that is “Hardcore Henry.”
Courtesy nytimes.com
Film Review: ‘Hardcore Henry’ Is a Hardcore Failure Ben Langdon Red&Black Staff
Imagine playing your favorite first-person shooter video game. What do you like about it? Most likely it is the immersive, rich environment that you have control over, or a storyline that grabs you and gives you a reason to survive the treacherous world that your character has been thrust into. Now imagine watching someone else play a firstperson shooter. You may still be mildly entertained and emotionally invested, but less so than if you were the person in the driver’s seat.
15 A pril 2016
ARTS 13
Red & Black
Poetry Corner Album Review: Filter's 'Crazy Eyes' “Ode To A Tragic Prophetess” Diana Ciarallo Red&Black Staff Dear Cassandra Your name ancient Rich with dark fatality Makes the tongue curl The breath gasp As the tragic syllables Leave the lips Your name is spoken Breath becomes sweet With bitterness of ancient war Rusted swords The tang of blood Tempting guile Paris’ Spartan whore The soft and hissing Letters of your name Speak of the life you lived Darkly beautiful And a lunatic Dragged from your home Littered with the dead
"Silhouettes" Tommy Felton Red&Black Contributor a soul is born in the dirt, ascending, searching for a place in the stars a silent silhouette at the galaxy's edge. it is fluid darkness, ebony lines like a pot of ink spilled upon the gauzy stretch of universe.
Tyler Phillips Red&Black Staff
April 8 marked the release of “Crazy Eyes” by rock band, Filter. This is the seventh album by guitarist/vocalist Richard Patrick’s revolving lineup of musicians, this time with an entirely-new personnel. Patrick was formerly the touring guitarist for Trent Reznor’s group, Nine Inch Nails, before forming Filter in the mid-1990’s, so he is used to seeing musicians come and go over the course of a musical career. He has described this album’s sound as, “nu-industrial” with callbacks to Filter’s original style in the beginning of its career while continuing to innovate. This time, however, incorporating electronic instrumentation. “Nothing in My Hands” contains a pulsing industrial beat that could easily pass for a Marilyn Manson production. That does not come as a shock, as Crazy Eyes was produced by Ben Grosse who has produced both Manson and Filter in the past. The lyrics are about racially-charged police brutality and are influenced by the shootings of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown. “Take Me to Heaven” is about Patrick’s father, who passed away in 2014, and despite the sad subject that inspired it, the song is full of
energy, switching between a rough verse and smoother chorus. Regarding the songwriting process of it, Patrick said, “I'm trying to find if there's an afterlife and I'm trying to believe in it.” There are references to previous Filter works in the title of, “Kid Blue from the Short Bus, Drunk Bunk,” namely 1995 debut album, “Short Bus.” That record’s follow-up, “Title of Record,” featured a song named “Miss Blue.” Penultimate track, “Under the Tongue” is longest on the album at over six minutes in length. It is an extensive instrumental, comprised of bass and drums building up while guitar riffs and Patrick’s wails, fade in and out of the mix. The drums then build up as electronic instrumentation works its way into the song. When the instrumental drops toward the end, a deep voice is heard, saying, “Look within. Be still.” This is followed by the band briefly returning for a faster jam that ends the song. Patrick’s new lineup will be touring with him in support of the album, but credit is also due to former bandmate Jonathan Radtke and Danny Lohner (also of Nine Inch Nails). Some of the setbacks to this album are the repetition in lyrics that do little to reinforce the themes, and Patrick’s strained voice after twenty years since debut album, “Short Bus.” His vocals aren’t
as clear as they were on 1999’s “Title of Record,” and his range is shorter, but the album itself is based on a new period of life and it is right where Patrick is. Perhaps it was Patrick’s aged musical abilities that inspired the change while maintaining the record’s industrial roots. In comparison to previous Filter records, Patrick noted that, “It’s like the other albums I’ve made since [2002’s The] Amalgamut let me down…if you’re not blowing your own mind then you’re not making the best music you can.” Fans may be a bit let down by his hype leading up to the album, as it is definitely more experimental than any other record that he has released. Next up for Patrick is a film score that he is composing for a currently unspecified and, “amazingly dark movie.” He has stated that he is using his guitar work in ways that he did not expect to do and assures fans that the results will be great. The "Make America Hate Again" tour is now underway. Patrick says that the title is a play on Donald Trump’s campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again,” and it is a response to his views on Trump striking fear into some voters with his campaign strategies. Filter is now banging on all cylinders for their tour with performances that should have audiences full of as much energy as Patrick has been leading up to the album’s greatly anticipated release.
14 Opinions The Cleveland Indians refusal to abandon the Chief Wahoo logo says loud and clear... P. 16
Red & Black
15 April 2016
OPINIONS
...handled the presidency that will set an example for the next office holder. P. 17
The Benefits of Taking a Gap Year Leah Segal Red&Black Staff
As young college students, just a few years out from our high school graduations, I am sure we can all remember the stress of senior year and going on the prowl for your future alma mater. At only 17 or 18 years old, we were suddenly thrust into a world where we must decide what college to go to, how to pay for our education, and most dreadfully “what do I want to be?” With those
stress inducing questions in mind, it is time to take stock of the value in a gap year. While some may feel a gap year jeopardizes their chances of success and productivity,
especially if he or she does not have a clue as to the direction that his or her life is going. During a gap year, people are able to find employment and save money that can be used at
At only 17 or 18 years old, we were suddenly thrust into a world where we must decide what college to go to, how to pay for our education, and most dreadfully “what do I want to be?” With those stress inducing questions in mind, it is time to take stock of the value in a gap year.
nothing is farther from the truth. The mammoth cost of school is highly crippling for a young adult to take on,
a later date for college or even technical school. Additionally, by taking a gap year, those who need time to mature and take stock
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
of their life are able to do so, without the threat of dropping grades and the fear of wasting time and money. Speaking of wasting time and money, many high school and colleges
College or its students, faculty, or administration. The Red & Black welcomes all reader contributions, but reserves the right to reject letters of pure promotional nature, as well as letters which do not meet its standard of integrity, accuracy and decency. The Red & Black also reserves the right to edit submissions.
Letters are due on the Monday before publication and may not exceed 600 words. All letters must include the author’s name, campus box and telephone number. Names may be withheld upon request under certain conditions on rare occasions. All letters may be submitted to redandblackstaff@jay. washjeff.edu.
are jumping aboard the “gap year bus” to ensure students have no regrets. With the pressure of taking the SATS and applying to
colleges for students who do not have a will to go through the process, counselors may advise they take a gap year to understand what they wish to do in their life-- and in turn, save them money and time if they had otherwise dropped out of school. Overall, a gap year is the perfect solution for those that need to the extra time. Jumping into college with a mind full of doubt will only exacerbate fears of the future, and may lead to a college career of regret. Some may even find college is not the right path for them. By waiting a year, an uncertain youth can better understand themselves and start on the road to a life they are ready to live.
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15 April 2016
15 Opinions
Red & Black
Why the TSA Spending $1.4 Million on an App is Justified Outrage recently spiked about the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) when news rose that they paid $1.4 million USD for an application that randomly selected left or right. The application was aimed to prevent racial profiling, and to also confront flyers on the legitimacy of their travel. Yes, it did slow things up a bit, but it also simplified the three second background check. The TSA has been under fire when the dollar figures were released on their deal with IBM. Overall, the deal was $1.4 million USD, which seems quite steep for the application. But before scrutinizing the Homeland Security Agency on their mess up, let’s look into the application some more. It is a simple application on an iPad that when the screen is tapped, a random generation (typically 0 or 1) is generated. Both of which represent left and right. This tap motion decides the direction in which the person must go to commence screening. The majority of the scrutiny came from people who watched one of several videos of people making the
application in just minutes. In fact, a former IBM programmer in India finished the application for both IOS and Android user interfaces in just four minutes. This would have roughly cost the TSA $1.8 - $5 maximum. This is dwarfed by the whopping $1.4 million dollars spent. After a little research, Fox News and CNET released, “the TSA paid $336,413 as part of a larger $1.4 million contract with IBM” with IBM to continue with cybersecurity and software development in the future. The application itself costed the TSA (or taxpayers) $47,000 USD. Although $47,000 is rather steep still, let’s dive even a little deeper. During a conversation that I had with Dr. Amanda Holland-Minkley of the CIS department, I asked her, “What would necessarily dictate an application as simple as this to be worth $47,000?” Her response had shed some light on the real difficulty of devolving the application. Today, applications are one of the easiest ways to gain access to sensitive information, and cybersecurity is on the rise. It
would only be fitting for the TSA to have loads of security features in order to prevent hackers for tapping into their system, as well as sabotage to make it less random. The developers at IBM have spent many hours making this application “hack-proof,” and that takes time and money to do so. United States Representative Darrel Issa (R), as well as many other politicians have outwardly voiced their opinions. Issa
posted on twitter, “No reason taxpayers should pay $47,000 for an app any intro coder could make in 10 mins to randomly point [left] or [right].” But this is where Issa is wrong. He is not a computer scientists, nor does he understand how security, encryption and cyber-terrorism prevention measures must be put into action. Did the TSA overpay for their application? No, not really. The TSA is just an easy
target since they are seen as the joke of the Department of Homeland Security to everyone else. They are seen as an illusion to security and what government wastes their time and money on. I am not disappointed at all in the application and the TSA’s measures to confront security measures with IBM. What I am more disappointed however, is that the application is no longer in use, leaving taxpayers short with no return.
Courtesy ubertopic.com
16 Opinions
Red & Black
15 April 2016
Time to Retire the Cleveland Indians’ Mascot reduce the logo’s use, and the team’s part-owner and chief executive, Paul Dolan, said he has “empathy for those who take issue with” the logo.
Ben Langdon Red&Black Staff
It was announced earlier this year that the Cleveland Indians would further reduce the use of their logo bearing the image of Chief Wahoo during the 2016 baseball season. Although this might be considered a step in the right direction, the use of Chief Wahoo should be ceased as soon as possible. Chief Wahoo is a grinning, red-skinned caricature of a Native American that has been the Cleveland Indians team logo for decades. The origin of Chief Wahoo is a 1930’s comic strip that was laced with Native American stereotypes. Recently, the Cleveland Indians have agreed to
agree with Paul Dolan. The logo is part of the team’s history. Unfortunately, that part of the team’s history is full
should be running from, not towards. Racist imagery and caricatures have no place in America’s pastime. There has been plenty of racist logos
I agree with Paul Dolan. The logo is part of the team’s history. Unfortunately, that part of the team’s history is full of racist imagery plastered over the team’s facilities and gear. This is a legacy that a baseball organization should be running from, not towards. Courtesy beltmag.com
Despite this, the Cleveland Indians have “no plans to get rid of Chief Wahoo; it is part of our history and legacy.” I
of racist imagery plastered over the team’s facilities and gear. This is a legacy that a baseball organization
and mascots in the past, but that does not justify there being any today. Just because something is entrenched into
a culture or a shared history does not make it right. “I think our people and others have come to realize that this caricature of our people as a red-face, smiling savage does great harm to us and our culture and has done so for many years,” Philip Yenyo, executive director of the American Indian Movement of Ohio said. “Think of it this way: if this team was called the Cleveland African-Americans, would the country permit them to have as their logo, Little Black Sambo?” The Cleveland Indians refusal to abandon the Chief Wahoo logo says loud and clear that it is okay to promote racist imagery as long as you have been doing it for a long time. This is nonsense. It is time for the Cleveland Indians to retire the Chief Wahoo logo.
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15 April 2016
17 Opinions
Red & Black
The Political Corner
Our Next President: What to Take From the Obama Presidency Ben Langdon Red&Black Staff
Whether you agree with or disagree with the actions of the Obama administration over the past eight years, it is hard to deny that Obama has left an impact on the highest office in the land. For his detractors, President Obama has diminished the United States’ standing in the world and has enacted legislation that has hurt the U.S. economy. For his supporters, President Obama has pulled the United States back from the brink of economic collapse and has enacted meaningful progressive reforms. I do not think Obama’s legacy can be simplified in either of these ways. Somewhere between Republican obstructionism and Democratic idealism, there was a President who used pragmatism and a strong belief in the power of good government to guide the nation. From healthcare to
education to climate change, Obama’s time in the White House has most definitely left an impact. Whoever the next president is, it is imperative that he or she continues the
policy that has resulted in 73 straight months of private sector job growth and an unemployment rate hovering around 5 percent. The Obama administration’s ability to
Courtesy biography.com
progress that has amassed over the past eight years. On domestic policy, Obama’s administration has mixed both liberal and conservative ideas to create
avoid a depression following the 2008 financial collapse by using both stimulus money and bailouts should serve as an example for all future presidents. On climate
change, Obama has made significant strides to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Unfortunately, all of this progress could be undone by the next administration. “The fact of the matter is, the
Courtesy politicspa.com
next president matters” for U.S. climate policy, Bill Ritter, former Democratic governor of Colorado said last week. On foreign policy, the Obama administration has
improved diplomatic relations around the world. The Iran Deal will significantly halt Iran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon as well as open up a new market for United States goods. Improved relations with Cuba will also help a struggling country as well as provide benefits here at home. All of these accomplishments are important and noteworthy, but it is the way that Obama has handled the presidency that will set an example for the next office holder. Historian Stephen Walt characterized it best when she said, “He was most effective as a ‘normal’ president, and he helped put the presidency back on a human scale. As president, he showed that effective governing requires careful deliberation, discipline, and the willingness to make hard and imperfect decisions, and he let us all watch him do just that. Even when one disagreed with his choices, one knew that his acts were never impulsive or cavalier.” It will surely be a daunting task for the next president to fill the shoes of a man who ran the executive branch with such class.
18 Sports
SPORTS NEWS Red & Black
15 APRIL 2016
Men's Golf Spring Season KickOff Do Not Forget About the Riverhounds Jordan Toohey Red&Black Staff
Nathan Kanuch Red&Black Staff
The W&J Men’s Golf team opens their spring season in third place. In their first tournament of the season, the McDaniel Spring Invitational, they placed third out of eleven teams. The course was a par 72 with a total distance of 6,713 yards. As a team they scored a 614 (310-304) and were 38 strokes over par. The first place team, Gettysburg, won with a 598 (298300) and were 22 strokes over par. The second place team, St. John Fisher, was only four strokes in front of the Presidents. Adam Robinson (Class of ‘18) led the way for the team. In his first action on the golf course with the Presidents, he finished three strokes above par with a 147 (74-73) putting him in third place at the entire tournament out of 63 golfers. Robinson was able to finish even on 27 holes throughout the tournament, with only one double bogey. Finishing second for the Presidents was Evan Lestini (Class of ’16) who was tied for seventh place with his +7 151 (76-75). In two rounds, he finished with four birdies, and only eleven of his holes were above par, all of which were bogies. Casey O’Korn (Class of ’19) was tied for 16th place
With the Penguins about to start a run in the playoffs, the Pirates opening their season this week, and the Steelers coming off a successful season with a bright future ahead, you’d be forgiven for forgetting about the other professional sports team in townthe Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Yes, Pittsburgh has a professional soccer team. The Riverhounds play in the United Soccer League (USL), the third tier in the American soccer pyramid. Though technically below both the NASL and MLS, the USL has firmly moved above the NASL to solidify itself as the second-best soccer league in the country in the eyes of most American soccer supporters. There is a proliferation of soccer that’s available for any American’s consumption. NBC makes every Premier League game free to watch, either on television or online. Fox carries the Bundesliga and the FA Cup, while ESPN broadcasts MLS. The US National Team has every game carried live on either ESPN or Fox. But there’s something a bit special about supporting a small, local team in your own backyard.
Courtesy gopresidents.com
with his 11-over 155 (77-78). Bryce Egger (Class of ’18) was tied for thirty third (83-78161). The Presidents will be participating in the Hershey Cup Sunday April 3rd to Monday April 4th. Then they will compete at the Edward Jones Shootout in Apollo, Pa., April 9th and 10th before they compete in the Presidents Athletic Conference Spring Championship April 29th and April 30th in Grove City, Pa. Egger has nothing but positivity toward the rest of the season. “I am looking forward to a good spring season, and really believe that the team we have now is capable of making a run for the conference championship,” said Egger. The team is so far in good shape to make a strong run, especially having all five players that competed shot in the 70s. That alone helps give them a good chance at making up the deficit for PACs.
Courtesy fansided.com
The Riverhounds are not going to play the best soccer this year, especially after the departure of leading goalscorer Rob Vincent to MLS side DC United. Furthermore, the Riverhounds only have seven returning players from a team that reached the playoffs on the last day of the 2015 season. Yet, there is hope. Captain Kevin Kerr is an exciting playmaker who led the team in assists last year. Think of Kerr as the USL’s Juan Mata or David Silva, small and shifty with an eye for the killer pass. The midfield will be strong as Lebo Moloto adds a tenacious but creative presence next to Kerr. Perhaps the best thing the Hounds have going for them is the unpredictabil-
ity of the USL. You never quite know what will happen when watching the USL. The “Miracle on the Mon,” as it has been come to be known as, occurred at Highmark Stadium on the banks of the Monongahela River. The Hounds were down 5-3 and scored three goals in the last five minutes of the game to complete the comeback. Good, technical soccer? Not always. Excitement? Almost guaranteed. So get down to Highmark Stadium if you can. The picturesque setting offers arguably as good of a view as PNC Park. You can get a ticket for $10 and consume some beer. You might even find yourself enjoying the soccer.
15 APRIL 2016
19 sports
Red & Black
Coach Spotlight: Track & Field- Dale Boring Abigail Pipcho Red&Black Staff
W&J Men and Women’s Track and Field head coach, Dale Boring, is leading the team to an exceptionally successful season alongside assistant coaches Andrew Greenslade and Nickelle Smith. The Slippery Rock native began coaching at W&J in January of 2014. From his start, he has progressively proved that his skills as a coach and mentor can lead his gifted and talent-
ed athletes to success. Boring completed a bachelor’s degree at Slippery Rock University in exercise science. He later completed a master’s degree in exercise physiology, also at Slippery Rock. From there, Boring coached high school teams for more than 10 years before coming to W&J. Recently, the teams traveled to Bethany, W.V., where the men’s team took fourth place and the women’s took fifth out of ten teams. Thus far in the season, 13 school records have been broken; 11 of those records were broke by freshmen. “We have
so many young talented athletes that I cannot name just a few,” said Boring. “They all have a ton of promise for this season!” Boring’s dedication and focus on mentorship has noticeably taken the teams to success this season. In his time, Boring has founded, and now directs, “Get FAST” camps, a program that aids in speed development mainly for high school football teams. Since its inception, Boring has trained two Pennsylvania state championship teams, one runner-up, and 18 district championship teams. With the track and
field teams’ record thus far in the season, it is obvious that the teams will place highly and continue to succeed in their upcoming competitions. With all of the training, hard work and commitment that the teams have put in, this goal is highly attainable under Boring’s coaching. “Building team unity and a healthy ‘never quit’ attitude,” according to Boring, has led his teams to continued excellence. Boring is gratified in his position as head coach and will continue to counsel and guide the lives of his athletes. He is overwhelmed with the
Courtesy gopresidents.com
amount of talent his teams possess and cannot wait to see how the teams perform during the rest of the season.
US Scores World Cup Qualifying Win Jordan Toohey Red&Black Staff Despite a 2-0 loss in Guatemala City on Friday by the United States Men’s National Soccer Team (USMNST), American soccer fans had redemption last Tuesday night as the USMNST defeated Guatemala 4-0 in Columbus, Ohio. Fears that the USMNST might not make the 2018 World Cup swept throughout the country; including thoughts about getting rid of head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. Although there should be no reasons why the United States citizens should worry because the USMNST should advance to the World Cup. This is not the first time the USMNST faced a similar situation; in fact, the past two
World Cup qualifying tournaments have turned out similar to this year’s. Both the USMNST and Guatemala have two games remaining, which will take place in September. The USMNST has a huge edge in goal differential, which is the first tiebreaker (a plus-7 to a plus-1). Once the USMNST advances to the final round (the hexagonal), they should be favored again. Having a world ranking of 30th, the only other team higher in the USMNST’s region is Mexico at 22nd, and the other teams range from 33rd and all the way down to the 80’s. It seems to be a common theme that at some point in the qualifying process that the USMNST hits a rough patch throughout the games
Courtesy ussoccer.com
and panic breaks out across the country. Fans just need to remember at this same exact stage, when the USMNST were trying to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, they started with a record of 1-1. They were tied for second in the group, having a draw to Guatemala and a
loss to Jamaica. Despite the rough start, the USMNST went on to win the qualifying division. Even four years earlier, the USMNST lost in the final qualifying round to Costa Rica, and before that drawing to El Salvador. The USMNST went on to win the group, as
Costa Rica and El Salvador ended up not making the World Cup. Despite these downfalls they have had this year, expect there to be more downfalls, although you should also expect the United States Men’s National Soccer Team to qualify for the World Cup.
15 APRIL 2016
20 Finance
BUSINESS & FINANCE
Investment of the Week: Amazon Nathan Repine Red&Black Contributor This week’s recommended investment is Amazon.com (ticker symbol AMZN). This company does its business in the online retailing market. Amazon’s current share price lies just under $600 and does not pay a dividend. This company is a giant with a huge amount of assets and a large number of consumers. Amazon has also been getting a multitude of great reviews from financial reviewing firms. One of which, InvestorPlace, says “The Sky’s the Limit for Amazon Stock.” Another, Investors, estimates that “The e-commerce giant’s bottom line is projected to skyrocket 583% when it issues its quarterly report in a couple of weeks.” Amazon has been taking an initiative for several internal changes within the company. The first is the utilization of robots in warehouses to more effectively move around and deliver inventory, specifically called “Kiva Robots.” They first became integrated into Amazon when Amazon bought Kiva systems in 2012 for $775 million. These robots are designed to help automate packaging and organization in warehouses, and Amazon exclaims they have seen great results in the utilization of them. The second recent technological change made by Amazon is the Amazon Dash.
This is a tool that consumers can put into their home and simply press a button to order their desired item. For example, if you are a frequent user of tide pods, you can buy a small device that when you push a button it automatically orders you tide pods. Finally, Amazon is taking initiative to incorporate drones in their order fulfillment process. This process will be called Amazon Prime Air. Although not yet available, this shipping option will literally have your order to your shipping address in 30 minutes or less and deliver the item via drone. Fundamentally, Amazon looks like a strong bet that it will have positive revenues and share prices for the future, but what about from a technical standpoint? It currently sits at just under $600 (as of market close Friday April 8) and has met the $600 resistance level about 2 weeks ago and has yet to break above 600 by a decent margin. Looking at the 52 week chart it shows a double bottom at the $400 mark and has been slowly rising since Feb. 9. Starting at the end of March and now the stock has consolidated in between $580 and $600. If Amazon is unable to break resistance again, I would buy at the 580 level. If it manages to beat resistance and closes at the 610 level, I would look at this as a signal to buy as well.
Red & Black
China- ASEAN tensions Ahead of G7 Siddhanta Bista Red&Black Staff
Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7), consisting of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, are set to gather in western Japan’s Ise-Shima next month for their annual meeting. This group was formerly known as the G8, however, Russia’s escalation in Ukraine resulted in suspension from the group. For the third time, Russian President Vladimir Putin will be barred from the G7 summit. The G7 represents the seven major advanced economies, reported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The G7 also represents 46% of global GDP and 32% of global purchasing power parity GDP. Host Japan hopes to discuss global hot spot issues including the refugee crisis, global economy and trade, conflict in Ukraine and terrorism with the “linking for development” theme. Among these topics, Japan also hopes to highlight other issues, such as the rising tensions in the South China Sea, and North Korea’s continued threat of nuclear arsenal. The Chinese Daily last week issued out an op-ed of Japan’s attempts to smear and stir up tension on the South China sea during the Group of
Seven (G7) foreign ministers’ meeting. “The Abe administration has used previous G7 meetings to lobby Western powers to jointly contain China,” the article stated. Among the G7, members of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are also expected to join talks, including Indonesia, Laos, and Vietnam. This event will include UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the heads of International Organizations as well. G7 leaders will express their concerns over unilateral actions following the tensions between China and number of Asian countries (ASEAN). This discussion calls forward the declaration to maintain an International order of seas based on International law. China claims most of the South China Sea, while Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also have overlapping claims in the matter. The Philippines, a political and military ally of the United States, strongly opposes China’s claims and expresses their desire to establish similar relations with Japan. In 2002, the framework agreement of China-ASEAN Comprehensive Economic Cooperation was established, “China-AESEAN Free Trade Area.” This agreement is a free trade area among ten member states of ASEAN and People’s Republic of China. The free
trade agreement came into effect in January 2010. The “China-ASEAN Free Trade Area” is the largest free trade area in population. ASEAN includes ten Southeast Asian countries with a $2.4 trillion economy and population of 626 million. Being export and investment oriented, ASEAN has benefitted from the Chinese markets, which has been a strong economic growth driver. At this particular moment, the major issue between the China-ASEAN relationship is the territorial dispute in the South China Sea. Although China has agreed to negotiations, it has consistently been accused of “stalling” these talks. Singapore has remained neutral in the matter of the disputes, and hopes to continue their cooperation with China. Foreign ministers of Singapore and China emphasized the potential for positive development in China – ASEAN partnerships. The territorial disputes continue to resurface in the relationship between China and ASEAN. China’s hegemonic power in the region plays a vital role in driving economic growth. The talks next month will be a testament to China’s relationship with ASEAN and their efforts to negotiate, without tarnishing the partnership.