Red&Black (9-19-14)

September 19, 2014

Red & Black

The Student Newspaper of Washington & Jefferson College

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT LIFE

“If you are a minimalist, the Barista is a great place to grab a small meal or a snack because it offers a lot of fruit and drinks like tea...”

ARTS

The History of Freshmen Residence, Beau Hall

“Hip hop finds it strengths in raw emotion. Sure, I can’t relate to popping bottles, buying a Rolex or driving a ‘Mayonnaise colored Benz..’”

OPINIONS

As Dr. Mark Swift said, animals can “serve as a humanizing element in student-faculty relationship,” and they can contribute to the school character of “friendly, caring...”

THE SUPERBURGER

“Just days after the piles of dead squirrels lining the perimeter of campus confirmed the functionality of the radioactive waste emissions....”

INDEX: Campus-News ..... 1-5 Life ......................... 6-9 Arts .................... 10-13 Op-Ed ............... 14-17 Satire............... 18 Sports ................ 19-20 PLEASE RECYCLE THIS PAPER

Photo Kyle Sossi/Editor-in-Chief

Catherine McAdoo Red&Black Contributor Washington & Jefferson College is a place filled with history.

From the lawn, to the flagpole to the library, everything has a story. But what about the dorms? What have they been through?

What have they seen?

At some point, everyone has been told about the story of McMillan, whose ghost used to haunt his portrait hanging in Mellon dorm. But no one ever seems to tell about the dorms that the

rest of us sleep in. Assumedly, nothing interesting or exciting enough has happened in them for people to care. But as it turns out, that isn’t quite true.

In the late 1960s, construction began on a new set of dorms on the corner of Lincoln and Beau, temporarily named the Beau III until they could be individually christened. The architects were to be the same who also designed the Commons and the Library, the McAnallen Brothers.

Continued CAMPUS NEWS, PAGE 4

19 SEPTEMBER 2014

CAMPUS NEWS 2

Involvement Expo Two Students Simply Walk to Mordor An Opportunity to Connect Red & Black

Magellan Spotlight Shannon Adams Red&Black Contributor

The Magellan program is a once in a lifetime opportunity we have been told, and a wonderful chance to make connections. The best way to see this is to sit down and listen to some of the students that did a Magellan over the summer, like Kylie Burk (’16) and Joe Otteni (’16).

Burk and Otteni went to New Zealand to walk from the Shire to Mordor. Yes, that is that thing from Lord of the Rings and yes, one does not simply walk to Mordor.

The decision to go on the trip was a mutual agreement that they both come to. It happened when they were watch the Lord of the Rings movies together and Otteni said that it would be really interesting to see if someone could walk from the Shire to Mordor.

But, just wanting to walk from the Shire to Mordor is not enough to go on a Magellan, they needed to think about what they wanted to get out of the trip, what they would learn along the way. Burk decided that she was going to look at the economic impact of the Tolkien tourism in the area while Otteni was going to study the environmental impact of the tourism.

Aside from the educational aspect of their trip, Burk told me that their goal was “to walk

from the Shire (Matamata) to Mordor (Whakapapa Village) while conducting research in the areas where the movies were filmed. The walk is about 120 miles and we intended to do the whole thing with 40+ pounds on our backs because we carried all of our gear.”

Now the real question is, how difficult was it to get all that supplies over to another country in order to backpack 120 miles. Otteni and Burk both agreed that it was difficult to get everything ready.

“It was a lot of coordination with who was buying what, what days can we make it, what the weather going to be like, where should we go, etc. We ended up talking about it all the time anyway, it just came up in everyday conversation,” said Otteni.

Once they got to New Zealand, Otteni described his experience as ‘surreal’ even though they were both extremely jet-lagged when they first arrived. There time in New Zealand consisted of walking from sun up to sun down and sometimes they couldn’t find a place to make camp until after it was already dark. Keep in mind that they did this during New Zealand’s winter. However, the trip didn’t go exactly as they planned.

“At one point it became very obvious that we wouldn’t be able to continue the walk, so instead we started taking buses and sleeping in youth hostels, so that we could

explore during the day. We became part of this program called WWOOF (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) and stayed with a family in Wellington for about a week.

We did a few odd jobs for them and in exchange they shared their food with us and gave us a warm place to stay.

They were really amazing people,” said Burk.

Because of that bump in the road, the pair of them were given a new opportunity to explore a different part of the country and to get a one of a kind experience.

I asked each of them if they would do another Magellan if they had the chance and where they would go. Otteni said that he would love to go to a Buddhist Temple in India while Burk would love to return to New Zealand and continue her work there.

Burk gave me a piece of advice for any students looking into going on a Magellan, “For anyone who is even thinking about doing a Magellan, I say that you should definitely go for it. To anyone who is a fan of any movie trilogy or series such as Harry Potter, come see me because I would love to see someone continue with the type of work that I did in New Zealand.”

If anyone would like to see more on their story and adventures, you can check out their blog from the trip at http:// magel l anp or t folio otteni. blogspot.com/.

Siddhanta Bista Red&Black Contributor

Most often, college freshmen come onto campus not knowing many people. While beginning to meet new people in dorms or classrooms, student organizations are also a great place to make new friends.

At Washington & Jefferson, a similar idea of student organizations are highly encouraged. It is most commonly referred to as SAIL - The Office of Student Activities, Involvement and Leadership.

Last week, the fall involvement expo took place in the ballroom, featuring over 70 organizations for students to participate in.

Club leaders had prepared informative posters for the expo, and students flocked around different tables deciding what organization they wanted to be a part of.

The expo ranged from American Mock Trial Organization to Asian Pop Culture and even the Star Wars club.

For some it seemed a bit overwhelming with a handful of club commitments and assignments that could conflict.

“I am a bit worried with signing up for 5 different

organizations as they may conflict with my class assignments. However I am satisfied with the clubs I am joining,” said Gregory Krinock ‘18.

While for others, it meant using time effectively engaging in something, other than forcefully taking naps in the afternoons.

“I look forward to next week as we begin meeting with the signed up organizations because normally after my classes, I do not really have anything to do; other than taking a nap,” said Sam Schaub ‘18 The freshmen class agreed that the student organizations provided a myriad of benefits and opportunities.

Joining an organization is beneficial in terms of a potential leadership position.

“Gaining experience and knowledge to then becoming a leader is remarkable,” stated Sam Horowitz Soyos ‘18.

Furthermore, being able to balance the responsibilities of an organization with the course load ensures good time management.

The more you are able to manage well, the more likely you move up and become a great asset to a future employer.

All in all, the expo concluded successfully with a large number of participation across the various organizations!

3 CAMPUS NEWS

Red & Black

19 S eptember 2014

Housing Issue Over the Summer Upcoming Events Community Blood Drive September 18 - September 19, 2014 All Day Theatre SLAM September 20th, 2014 7:30pm Monte Carlo Casino September 20, 2014 8:00pm Big Bingo September 20,2014 10:00pm

Courtesy washjeff.edu

Mike Hornak Red&Black Editor For the past two years, upper-class students have lived in North Hall. That’s why it came as a surprise to several students when Tyler Kowcheck, director of Resident Life, politely asked students to relocate to Filmore Hall.

Kowcheck says that he had sent an e-mailed this summer asking these students’ opinions and personal preferences on living accommodations. He also stated that he ultimately received little or no response and a group decision among the staff was made accordingly.

Kowcheck mentioned that, during last semester, Washington & Jefferson College was without an official

Resident Life director. He was the director of Res Life from 2009 until 2012. He returned to W&J at the end of this past summer.

“Last year’s freshman class was small” he said, and was quick to mention that he had absolutely no statistics on last year’s class. To make housing matters worse, W&J recently had a very fortunate influx of the number of International students, due to the English Language Institute Program, and the fact that the freshman enrollment this semester skyrocketed from the previous year.

Kowcheck’s first goal was to house all the first years together, thereby keeping them in close proximity of one another and allowing them to grow together as an incoming

class. In June, Kowcheck reached out to the North Hall upperclassmen about possibly relocating to Fillmore Hall, located in President’s Row, and asked for feedback from students.

Unfortunately, nine students still weren’t placed.

“Two students happened to be happy with their new housing assignments and were housed in Marshall while one student moved into New Res.” Kowcheck’s hope was to have students communicate, reach out and ultimately feel comfortable with their housing accommodations.

Other options were given; five students preferred not to live in Fillmore and were accordingly placed elsewhere.

Kowcheck believes he was able to learn a great deal

Steelers Game @ G&T’s September 21, 2014 5:30pm from students on how to better perfect the housing selection process and said this experience opened a dialogue and encouraged conversations with students.

When speaking with students, however, their stories seemed to fluctuate.

Mia Capuzzi, a senior International business and German major, was originally registered to move in to North but was asked to move to Fillmore. She wasn’t upset whatsoever, since two of her potential roommates were unable to live with her this year for personal reasons.

Catherine, as we’ll call her, was another student relocated to Filmore Hall that said she had to write an essay just to be considered for housing in North Hall. She was registered

for that dorm this semester but was told in mid-July that she was to move into Filmore.

This led to feelings of utter frustration and anger, which were evident in her retelling of the story. She even stated that she had not, in fact, been given a preference or even asked her opinion on the matter of housing selection whatsoever.

Evidently, there was a slight lack of communication and misunderstanding on both side of the equation which will now serve as an example to all students.

Make your voice heard, politely, in a direct and an understandable manner. It will allow your listener, people such as Kowcheck, to better understand what needs to be done in order to compensate both parties’ interests.

19 SEPTEMBER 2014

Red & Black

CAMPUS NEWS 4

Freshmen Residence Halls and Where They Got There Names Continued from COVER

Beau I was named Alexander Hall, after Park J. Alexander, WWI veteran and member of the Board of Trustees. He received this honor because upon his death, he left in his will the “largest bequeath [Washington & Jefferson] had ever received.” How inspiring.

Beau II was named Marshall hall, after Judge Elder W. Marshall, another member of the Board of Trustees who left the school a slightly less large sum of money. Apparently, if you want to have a building named after, you have to give the school large amounts of money. Noted. Beau Hall

is distinguished as the only dorm from the project to never be renamed. It was Beau III at its conception, and Beau it shall remain until the time of its fall. Each of the three

Courtesy of W&J Archive

Judge Elder W. Marshall, the namesake for Alexander Hall.

dorms has had its phases over the last half century. Alex used to be all boys and Beau was reserved only for girls.

Alex also used to boast a pool table, which was (unfortunately) later removed to make room for the PAL program.

Alex and Beau have certainly had their fair share of excitement over the years.

In 2003, a water pipe burst in Alex hall, flooding several dorms in inches of water. In a noble act of responsibility, the dorm’s RAs gave up their own rooms to the displaced students until the water could finally be cleaned up. Let us have a moment of respect for these people who really did care about their charges.

Two years later, a fire was lit in Beau Hall. Alarms went

off all across the campus.

Except, naturally, in Beau itself. Due to a malfunctioning alarm system, the students sat studying, completely unaware that the building they were in was on fire. Fortunately,

Courtesy of W&J Archive

Park J. Alexander, the namesake for Alexander Hall.

no one was hurt. During repairs, administration took the opportunity to replace the side doors to the building.

Apparently, until this point that had been easily forced open even when locked, giving the public at large open access to the building 24/7.

A public which, evidently, included an arsonist who may or may not have started the blaze. The cause was never confirmed.

So be thankful for the dorms you live in now, with the working pipes, locks and alarm systems. And try to keep in mind that one day, everything that you do there will become a part of the history of W&J. Just please, try not to set anything on fire.

We have had enough of those for one college.

SAIL Do It Yourself Series Kicks Off With Dry Erase Calendars Shannon Adams Red&Black Contributor

The start of a new school year here at Washington & Jefferson College means that SAIL is back with its monthly Do It Yourself series. The first weekend of each month features a small craft or activity that is free to students.

Many of the crafts are quite useful for college students, such as the most recent craft hosted on Sept. 5: Picture Frame Calendars.

The craft gave students the opportunity to choose to make one of two styled

dry erase board calendars with whatever creative flare they wished.

When asked about his opinion on the craft, J o s e p h Sarsfield ‘17 said “Personally, I don’t have enough extra money to go out and make something like this, and it really helps me plan out my schedule, know what assignments I have due in which classes and what

events are going on or coming up.” The calendar event was

Sarah Fiore alongside two students (Jordan Dinsmore ‘16 and Jessi Price ‘16), who d e m o n s t r at e d how to create the craft, as well as set up and distribute materials.

S o m e previous crafts that SAIL has hosted as a part of their DIY series include: tie fleece blankets and pillows, scarf knitting Lauryn Halahurich/Red&Black and cupcake decorating.

If you’re interested hosted in the Hub Alley and was led by SAIL and Hub staff in upcoming DIY events, stop

by the Hub and check out the bulletin board or ask the student worker on duty.

Upcoming scheduled DIY events for this semester include “Get Healthy” on Oct. 3 at the Hub, a Photoshop Lesson on Nov. 7 in the Tech Center Lobby for advanced users as well as beginners and Calligraphy on Dec. 5 in the library.

Students can sign-up online by going to SAIL’s website www.washjeff.edu/sail in order to secure a spot at any of the DIY events coming up.

Join SAIL on the first Friday of every month for a creative and useful do it yourself craft/activity as part of the DIY series.

5 CAMPUS NEWS

Red & Black

Alumni Spotlight Tyler Tenney Back At W&J Siddhanta Bista Red&Black Contributor There is a wide variation among schools across the United States, in the percentage of the graduates who give back to their institutions.

In a similar manner, when Tyler Tenney received his bachelor’s degree from Washington & Jefferson College in 2014, he decided that he did not want his involvement with W&J to end.

“On the day of my graduation when I received my degree from W&J, I decided right then and there that I was going to give back to the school and become a staff member here”.

Washington & Jefferson College is proud to welcome back alumna Tyler Tenney ’14 as the Coordinator for CoCurricular Innovation.

During his time at W&J, Tyler pursued a double major in International/Global studies and French. Furthermore, he was a member of the Model United Nations, International Student Ambassador, International Student Orientation Leader and also completed an International Study abroad in France; just a few of his many involvements.

When asked why he decided to return to W&J as the coordinator for

the Magellan Project, Tyler indicated that his four years at W&J were phenomenal and he wanted to give something back to the college. He was moved by the many stories that his friends told him about their Magellan projects.

If he was given the opportunity of going back to college and doing a Magellan Project, Tenney stated that he would want to take a project to France where he would explore the urban and rural dialects.

“Magellan”, this is a word that is often thrown around the campus. To briefly explain, the Magellan project is a W&J based funding and support p r o g r a m Courtesy of Tyler Tenney to engage unparalleled experiences such as internships, research or study abroad programs during the summer months.

Tenney believes that W&J is unique in relation to the Magellan project; individuals are able to create, write out their own story and then bring it to life. In ten years, he sees himself going to a graduate school but at the same time, being a staff member here at W&J. “So far working here has been great! The transition from a student to a staff member is not too hard.

However, becoming a staff member, I do empathize with the students but expect them to work to a certain level.”

19 S eptember 2014

S E C U R I T Y LO G S Date: 9/7/14 Incident: Information Security was alerted that a student may have ingested a drug given that the student was sick and dizzy. Security attempted to locate her, checking the Commons and George & Tom’s before checking their room where there was no answer at the door. Later that night, the student and their roommate came to the Security Office. The student stated that they had one drink at a residence hall and later went to another residence hall where the student was mixed a drink by another student. After drinking only half of the mixed drink, the student poured it out because they didn’t like the taste, and later became dizzy and needed to be helped back their dorm room.

Date: 9/7/14 Incident: Fight At 4:30am, Security was called to a reported site outside of a residence hall.

Upon arrival, two males were found outside of the hall. They stated that a verbal fight was started between them and a student that lived in the residence hall. The two males left the scene without any problem and the student that lived in the hall was told to go to bed. Later, the student was on the front porch and started yelling again. Upon arrival, the student was back in its room, and officers left the scene.

Red & Black Established 1909

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Production Manager Business Manager Campus News Editor Life Editor Arts Editor Opinions Editor Sports Editor Photography Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Distribution Manager Adviser

Kyle Sossi Emily Bitting Bailey Murdick Amiti Sharma Lauryn halahurich Carley Adams Brittany Graft Emily Sterk Thomas Marcotte Caitlynn Gilles Mike Hornak Carolyn Tomlinson Gabriella Porazzi Dale Lolley

6 LIFE

Red & Black

Neurotechnology: Scientific Mind-Reading Alli Kovacevic Red&Black Contributor

Houston, We Have a Smash-Up! Alli Kovacevic Red&Black Contributor

NASA’s Spitzer Telescope is gathering unprecedented data on the formation of rocky type planets like Earth.

A study is being conducted using the heat-seeking, infrared equipped telescope; the device is pointed toward NGC 2547-ID8, a star 1,200 lightyears away.

When the star was previously observed, the amount of dust around the star was noted to be different at various times, hinting at possible ongoing asteroid collisions.

So, in May 2012, scientists pointed Spitzer toward the star to see what it would see, sometimes on a daily basis.

Unfortunately, due to the rotation of the Earth around the sun, the telescope had to be pointed away from the star for five months.

Our sun was hiding it from view. When Spitzer resumed

19 S eptember 2014

observations, the team was shocked by what they saw.

While the star was out of sight, a huge smash up seems to have occurred.

We have seen asteroid collisions before. This one is different; the huge dust clouds forming around the star, under the astonished eyes of the scientists at NASA, is the kind of cloud that could form planets.

“We are watching rocky planet formation happen right in front of us,” said George Rieke, a University of Arizona co-author of the new study.

“This is a unique chance to study this process in near realtime.” The current theory of planetary formation is called accretion.

In accretion, the planets begin as dust grains in orbit around the central gravity source, in this case a star.

The dust particles are drawn to each other through physical contact to form larger chunks up to 200 meters in

The average college student knows what a pensieve is due to the popularity of the Harry Potter franchise.

Harry Potter and his mentor Albus Dumbledore use one to review memories as if they were watching them happen again in real life.

The effect in the Harry Potter universe is achieved through magic; we can now achieve it through science.

You can watch it play back on a screen like a DVD recording or watch it in your mind.

It’s all through the workings of a US-based company Millennium Magnetic Technologies (MMT) and its founder and Chief Science Officer, Dr. Donald Marks.

In 2003, Dr. Marks read a paper that showed how the brainwave patterns of test diameter, which in turn collide to form planetesimals of 10 kilometers.

This is the last of the large growth leaps the emerging space bodies may expect; over the course of the next few million years, the huge space rock grows by mere centimeters a year.

For the gas planets, the theory is the same; instead of dust clouds, the gas clouds condense beyond the frost line.

In astronomy, the frost line is the point in space at which the sun is no longer hot

subjects changed when they were exposed to different images.

If the brain recorded different images in a recognizably different way, why shouldn’t it be possible to record the brain patterns?

And if one can record them, why not replay them?

Subsequent research conducted by Dr. Marks and his team found that when the brain is given a resting state MRI – meaning the brain is not being stimulated by study images – thoughts can be reconstructed from the patterns and data recorded.

Mind reading is no longer the realm of science fiction and fantasy.

While the mind reading part of the process is in place and working well, the playback is still “fuzzy,” in the words of Dr. Marks.

“The visual reconstruction is kind of crude right now but the data is definitely there and it will get better. It’s just a matter of refinement,” Dr.

Marks says. “That information is stored; once you’ve recorded that information it’s there forever.

In the future we’ll be able to reconstruct the data we have now much better.”

This technology can be used to hold onto important memories: weddings, births, momentous occasions, etc.

But it isn’t the only neurotechnology out there.

Researchers successfully erased rats’ memories; then they brought them back, and manipulated the brain signals linked to emotions so that the memories meant different things to the rats.

Already the government is looking to use these new technological break-throughs to help military personnel and veterans suffering from PTSD. Dr. Marks believes it will not happen right away. “We’re not even near that right now,” he says, “but we are part of the way because we can record the memory. Neurotechnology’s hay day is on its way.”

enough to melt the more volatile frozen compounds.

The Spitzer telescope is watching, in essence, what could have been the formation of Earth many millions of years ago, and it’s doing so in real time.

Courtesy www.spitzer.caltech.edu

19 SEPTEMBER 2014

LIFE 7

Red & Black

You Are What You Eat! Tips for Healthy Campus Eating Jake Humes Red&Black Contributor

Whether the “Freshman 15” got you down or you are trying to lose some weight, it never hurts to try to eat healthier.

However, on a college campus, that can be pretty difficult. Students here at Washington & Jefferson College are often forced to choose between the convenience of G n’ T’s and the less greasy choices of the commons. How can you eat healthy on campus?

1. Drink lots of water - Perhaps one of the easiest ways to clean up your diet. Not only are soft drinks incredibly high in calories, they are loaded

with sugar and are very acidic, making them bad for your teeth, too. Water, as you might have guessed, is not. If you need to replenish electrolytes after exercising or a sporting event, Powerade is a good choice as well.

2. Avoid greasy and fatty food - This applies mostly to G n’ T’s, since the menu is comprised mostly of fried foods, such as chicken tenders, popcorn chicken, French fries, etc. These kinds of foods are the highest in calories and the least nutritious. If you are eating at G n’ T’s, your best option is to go for a deli combo or a MTO salad.

3. Don’t forget everything the Commons offers - If you

eat in the Commons, you may be tempted to simply get whatever is in the main line, but don’t forget about everything else. There might be healthier choices, such as soup. In addition, try adding fruits and vegetables to every meal. They are generally low in calories, nutritious and healthier choices in comparison to just getting a bunch of pasta or three slices of pizza.

When it comes to breakfast, consider an omelette instead of scrambled eggs; you can add vegetables to it. Better yet, get it using egg whites only.

The taste doesn’t differ much, and you are cutting out a lot of calories (Most of an egg’s calories are in the yolk).

4. The Barista - If you are a minimalist, the Barista is a great place to grab a small meal or a snack because it offers a lot of fruit and drinks like tea, water, milk etc. Your swipes get the least value here,

though, so keep that in mind unless you are using cash.

Other than that, always keep in mind the food you are getting versus the alternatives as a general rule of thumb.

Happy eating!

Julia Price Red&Black Contributor

speed, but how can you be sure that the app you choose isn’t just a video game? Below is a list of proven apps that use established treatment methods that have been validated by independent research sources.

One word of warning however, brain training apps are not intended to increase intelligence or mood, but they are capable of improving memory and some training can provide more control over emotional states.

With that in mind, although these apps won’t provide any dramatic transformation in brain function, they are worth a try. Some of the best training apps include: 1. Lumosity - This app uses three game methods based on your goals to target memory,

attention, problem solving, processing speed or flexibility of thinking. One session a day can help to improve mental skills and Lumosity has a system that allows users to track their progress. However, it also features limits on free use and monthly/yearly subscriptions are pricey. Monthly - $15; Yearly - $80.

2. Personal Zen - This app features two characters, one who looks peaceful and happy and another who looks angry. This app aims to get the user focusing on positive outcomes rather than negative; this helps our brain with resilience and can also fight off depression by helping the user to seek a silver lining rather than dwell on negative feelings when something doesn’t go as planned.

3. Brain Fitness Pro - Like Lumosity, this app targets memory, focus and problem solving skills to improve attention and cognitive skills over long term use. However, unlike Lumosity, this app only costs $4.

4. Happify - This app aims to increase happiness by conquering negative thoughts, learning to cope with stress and empathize with others through the use of positive psychology.

These are only a few of the apps out there that are intended to train your brain, but if you want to sharpen your cognitive skills or learn some ways to beat stress and negative emotions, check these out.

These apps are available for all smart phone models.

Photo by Carley Adams

Smart Phone Apps Shown to Improve Memory and Problem-Solving Abilities

Courtesy appadvice

Courtesy twitter.com

We all know it’s important to exercise and train your body in order to maintain physical health, but training your brain in order to maintain mental health is equally important.

In this technological age, multitudes of brain training sites and apps are popping up claiming to put the ‘smart’ back in smart phone.

Research conducted in 2012 proved that by spending a few minutes a day working areas of your brain can lay down new neural pathways in your brain which can lead to improvements in working memory and processing

8 LIFE

19 S eptember 2014

Contraception for Men: Red & Black

Male Birth Control Injection Will Change Rhetoric of Sexual Responsibility Jake Humes Red&Black Contributor

Courtesy huffingtonpost.com

11 Year Old is an Artistic Genius Sara Gaskill Red&Black Contributor

Have you ever met a child and thought “Wow, I swear on my life, when this kid grows up, they will become famous one day. When that day comes, I hope to get acknowledgment for saying ‘I told you so.’”

Then, you turn around and that prediction comes true?

This seems to only happen in rare exceptions.

A Serbian child by the name of Dušan Krtolica is that exception.

Krtolica has been drawing since the age of two, with a passion and fascination of all species.

When you look at his art, you can see the very detailed painting or picture sprawled out with the outlining of multiple animals.

With every stroke of the brush or pen, he puts into context what art means to him. You can see the underlying importance to Krtolica. It seems that he began to paint

before he could even walk or talk. Adult artists even seem impressed and aren’t sure how to put this little boy into words.

His passion for animals doesn’t stop there, though; he wants to become a zoologist and follow his dreams of working with animals.

Later in his life, he would like to study and write books about them, but for now, his satisfaction comes from drawing them.

Krtolica, by the age of eight years old, had two solo exhibits and has since gained two more exhibits to display his works of art.

His recent exhibit was just released this month. Now, at 11 years old, he continues to blow everyone away with how much detail and effort that is put into his art.

Many artists are giving Krtolica credit because of his young age.

He doesn’t seem to recognize the reputation he is building for himself, as he is only focusing on the thing that makes him happiest.

Parsemus Foundation, a nonprofit medical group which focuses on developing cost efficient medical technologies, released a press release saying that a non-condom male birth control product could be on the market in 2017.

Called Vasalgel, it appears to be proving effective in animal trials.

Three male baboons injected with the product allowed unlimited sexual contact with females for six months, over which no pregnancies occurred.

Vasalgel is a RISUG (reversible inhibition of sperm under guidance).

It works via an injection of a polymer directly into the vas deferens.

This polymer will then block any sperm that attempt to pass through the vas deferens. Unlike a vasectomy, in which the vas deferens are severed, Vasalgel is entirely

reversible. A second injection can be administered which clears away the polymer, allowing sperm to once again slow through.

The innovation of this technology lies in the fact that it is non-hormonal, unlike many current female contraception methods.

Hormonal contraception often has many unintended side effects because the disruption of hormonal pathways can have negative interaction with other parts of the body.

In the case of the pill, high blood pressure and depression are just a few examples.

Vasalgel does not inhibit the production of sperm or hormonally affect any part of the male anatomy.

In the years to come, this method, which is quite possibly much safer and just as effective, could bring rise to a shift in the role of birth control responsibility in a relationship.

Because the injection lasts for a large amount of time, as opposed to the pill, which many women may forget to

take, etc., we may see a shift in emphasis from the female birth control to the male side.

And of course, let’s not forget the socio-economic impacts of Vasalgel on, for example, the infamous Hobby Lobby case. The case ultimately ruled that corporations can provide healthcare to employees without covering contraception.

How would such a new method that perhaps will become increasingly popular, fit in to the healthcare picture?

As for cost, Parsemus says its starting price will be “less than the cost of a flat screen television.”

This, of course, may be subject to change as it is actually introduced into the market.

Indeed, many funders of the pharmaceutical industry are ambivalent on the subject, saying that the market for selling pills to a woman from time to time is just better than paying once for a long term injection on a male.

Like it or not, the future of safer contraception may be upon us.

Courtesy scienceworldreport.com

19 SEPTEMBER 2014

LIFE 9

Red & Black

Apple Announces Three New Products at Tech Gathering

Courtesy drop.ndtv.com

Ioseb Jorjoliani Red&Black Contributor

Apple has unveiled two iPhones, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus.

Along with larger screen and a completely new design with rounded corners and ultra thin body, apple offers faster processors better cameras and new Apple payment system.

Apple’s new 4.7 inch iPhone 6 and 5.7 inch iPhone 6 plus have Gold, Silver and space gray editions and are available in 16, 32 and 128 GB capacities. iPhone 6 pricing starts from $199 and iPhone 6 plus costs $299. They both will be available for sale in Apple stores on 19th September.

New iPhones’ significant

features are major camera improvements in form of sensor upgrades, new Focus Pixel, which enables phone to select better autofocus points.

For videos there is new 240 fps slow motion video option.

The front facing camera is also improved with 2.2 Aperture which lets in more light.

The iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus both offer improved battery life, but due to the larger size of iPhone 6 Plus, it is able to accommodate a larger battery.

While the capacities of the two batteries are unknown, previous rumors pointed towards 1,810 mAh capacity for the iPhone 6 and a 2,915 mAh capacity for the iPhone 6 Plus. iPhone 6 plus’ longer battery enables the users to talk with 3G for 24 hours, while iPhone 6 can only be used for 14 hours 3G talk. To help users handle the bigger

phone, Apple has moved the on-off switch to the right edge of the phone.

And when you double-tap the home button, the entire display will slide down so users can access items on the top of the screen.

Apple also introduced the Apple Watch smartwatch, the company’s first wearable device.

The Apple Watch pairs with the new iPhones to display notifications.

It features a magnetic charger, health and fitness apps and a crown that controls zoom and scrolling with a twist and of course it tells you the time as well.

Apple said it will sell three versions of the Apple Watch: a sports model and an 18 carat gold model called the “Apple Watch Edition.”

The Apple Watch also comes in two sizes, and one of these is slightly smaller than

the other. We are not aware of precise release date of iWatch but as rumors say it will be out for sale in early 2015.

Apple also unveiled a new mobile payments platform called Apple Pay, which works with the new iPhones and the Apple Watch.

The new iPhones will be able to interact with payment terminals in a simple tap.

Apple has deals in place with the major credit card companies, including American Express (AXP), MasterCard (MA) and Visa (V), as well as several major retailers.

Apple touted Apple Pay’s security. The company said it doesn’t store your credit card information on your phone and the number isn’t even given to the merchant.

Apple Pay also works with the iPhone’s TouchID sensor, allowing people to pay by touching the home button

while tapping their phones on a payment terminal.

New iPhone 6 surely is an innovative step from Apple, it’s upgraded features respond to customers feedbacks.

Apparently, there are some negative opinions. Some are criticizing the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus.

One popular complaint is that its size is getting bigger and bigger year by year.

Steve Jobs, however, was completely against the idea of enlarging the iPhone’s size.

Its more Android-type looks makes some people think that Apple is in a crisis of innovations and is simply emulating Android producer companies.

However, new iPhone seems pretty appealing to me, the first impression from internet seems positive and I will definitely go to Apple store on September 19th to check it out myself.

10 ARTS

Red & Black

19 S eptember 2014

The Fault in Our Bars: Poetry Corner A Biased Examination of Hip-Hop Shiv Upadhyay Red&Black Staff Hip hop is a polarizing genre; to some its trashy and crass, an insult to “real” music, but to others it encompasses a huge spectrum of human emotion.

I, obviously, fall into the latter group or I wouldn’t be writing this. Hip hop finds its strength in raw emotion. Sure, I can’t relate to popping bottles, buying a Rolex or driving a “Mayonnaise-colored Benz” because I don’t drive miracle whips (Artist: Kanye West, Album: “Freshmen Adjustment”), but there’s more to it than that.

The main fault in hip hop is the massive breadth and depth of the industry, notably the libraries some artists have, like Gucci Mane or Lil B, which demotivates new listeners. The large amount of music also ensures that there’s something for everyone. I wrote this to serve as a guide for new listeners, so here’s a wide selection of (fairly) new music.

Most hip hop songs can fall into two categories: high-energy bangers that get people hyped, and “conscious” rap that snobs call true hip hop. The first artist falls into the former category, and with his March album “My Krazy Life,” YG placed himself on party playlists everywhere.

Hidden between the fat beats is a glimpse into YG’s violent life, “Mama ain’t raised no fool. / Daddy told me never leave the house without my tool.” Solid features such as Schoolboy Q, Drake and Kendrick Lamar and

strong DJ Mustard beats make this album a must listen.

If you enjoy those, be sure to check out “Signed to the Streets 2” by Lil Durk and “I Can’t Rap Vol. 1” by Waka Flocka Flame, both released as free mixtapes.

If YG is too high-energy, then Isaiah Rashad’s “Cilvia Demo” might suit your tastes. Associated with Top Dog Entertainment (TDE), Rashad is in good company with Lamar and Schoolboy Q. He is far from overshadowed among such company which he addresses in the song “Modest,” “...How you chill with Kendrick. Do you smoke with Q and Dr. Dre?” Open beats and dream-like background vocals make this one relaxing demo EP. Schoolboy Q’s “Oxymoron” and Lamar’s “Good Kid Maad City” would appeal to fans of Rashad.

The last album I’ll discuss is also my album of the year (thus far): Freddie Gibbs and Madlib’s collaboration album “Pinata.”

Remember when I said there were two general types of hip hop, conscious and hype? “Pinata” brings together two artists from the furthest ends of each section and creates aural magic.

Madlib, known from Quasimoto and Madvillany, constantly produces creamy beats for experimental albums.

Freddie Gibbs hails from Gary, Indiana, and is a tough character. When brought together, Madlib’s smoother than-cocoa-butteron-a-baby’s-bottom beats juxtaposes Gibb’s roughness to create a perfect album.

“The Shadow”

by Jake Humes

Into your dreams it pries, while you’re in bed Invisible and lurking, terror is its face, You feel its gaze, a torrent of dread, Your heart begins to race.

And then you see it A silhouette, dark and menacing, And before you blink, it is upon you, At your throat it tears in a maddening fit.

The eyes of blood will pierce your skull, With writhing vigor your flesh will crawl, And after feast of grief and life forsaken, Only then do you awaken.

Where does it live, this horrible beast? What do we do?

There is not one or two, but billions that roam, And in each of us, too, It is your own mind that it calls home.

“30- Minutes Left!”

by Siddanth Bista As I sit inside this gloomy room.

My thoughts wander, and take full bloom.

My eyes look towards the lush green view Emotions of awe and desire do brew.

The sky rejoices, clear and blue This day is special, colorful and new.

My ears are deaf to the preaching in class, Life seems easier, looking at trees or grass.

Hopes for the future, and dreams take place, Energy and excitement are triggered with every gaze.

Fun, freedom and faces lie out there.

There is so much to do, yet 30 minutes of class to bear.

19 SEPTEMBER 2014

ARTS 11

Red & Black

U2 Gives Away New Album, “Songs of Innocence,” to All iTunes Users Carey Adams Red&Black Editor

Since the release of their first album “Boy” in 1980, Irish rock band U2 has sold over 170 albums to date. In 34 years, the band produced 13 studio albums, won 22 Grammys and remains one of the top acts not only in the world of rock, but in the world of music.

So, what does a band do once it has achieved such extraordinary success? U2, in a collaboration with Apple Inc., has released their 13th studio album to all iTunes users absolutely free of charge.

Entitled “Songs of Innocence,” the album was auto-

matically added to the music libraries of all iTunes users on the day of its release. That’s right – U2 fan or not, if you use iTunes, you’ve got the band’s 13th studio album in your music library, ready for listening.

“Songs of Innocence” is U2’s first album since 2009’s “No Line on the Horizon,” which sold just over five million copies. Compared to 2004’s “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb” and its recording-breaking 10 million copies, “No Line on the Horizon” was a bit of a slump in the band’s three-decade success story.

But since there are approximately half a billion

iTunes users worldwide and each of them is getting a complimentary copy of U2’s latest release, it looks like “Songs of Innocence” will have one of the largest audiences of any album in history, whether deservingly or not.

Fortunately for U2, critical reception of the music itself has been mostly positive.

Metacritic, a music-review website that takes a weighted average of 100 mainstream critic reviews, gave the album a 70/100.

“Songs of Innocence” also received a four-out-of-fivestar rating from The Daily Telegraph, four-and-a-halfout-of-five stars from MOJO Magazine and a generous five-

out-of-five stars from Rolling Stone. Well-known rock critic David Fricke of Rolling Stone called the album a “triumph of dynamic, focused renaissance.” He also admired the band for “[telling] their own tales so directly.”

As always, there are also reputable critics who did not enjoy U2’s 13th release. Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune called the album “impersonal,” “flat” and “strangely complacent.”

The harshest criticism for “Songs of Innocence,” however, was not for the music itself, but rather, for the manner in which the album was released.

California rapper Tyler, The Creator, claimed on

Twitter that the album’s automatic iTunes download was like “waking up with herpes.”

Similarly unamused by the album’s unorthodox release, guitarist Jamie MacColl of English indie rock band Bombay Bicycle Club told New Musical Express (NME) that he found the stunt “invasive.”

“I don’t have an opinion on the band itself,” he told NME, “but I do think the method is a little bit in your face.”

Reviews of the music itself are generally positive and the marketing stunt certainly has people talking, but only time will tell if these “Songs of Innocence” have as much of an impact on the world of music as the U2 classics of the past.

Foster the People Plays at Stage AE in Pittsburgh to an Intimate Crowd Tori Planitzer Red&Black Contributor

It has been nearly three years since indie rock band Foster the People made a stop in Pittsburgh.

Known best for their breakout summer hit “Pumped Up Kicks” that topped the charts in 2011, Foster the People arrived to Stage AE on Sept. 8, ready to show off the new tunes the band had proudly released off their follow up album “Supermodel” this previous March.

What originally was scheduled to be an outdoor concert was moved indoors last minute to a more intimate stage setting due to an unanticipated turnout. The indoor

venue holds approximately 2,500, half of the outdoor capacity. Around 8:45 p.m. the band took stage, opening with their psychedelic “Pseudologia Fantastica.”

From start to finish, the crowd lost themselves in Foster’s versatile sounds, grooving and swaying the night away.

Foster the People front man, Mark Foster, brought the show to life with his jazzy, rhythmic dance moves, multiinstrument talent and subtle grins to the crowd.

Foster spread his passion with his angelic presence and the audience found it difficult to take their eyes off of the ever-so-spiritual lead singer.

After playing seven songs with little rest in between, Foster delivered a speech in

which viewers listened to in awe and admiration as he wore his heart on his sleeve.

He thanked the opening band, The Velvet Teen, who he mentioned as life-long friends before he had founded Foster the People.

He then transitioned into discussing deep, dark memories of his past when he had just begun as a struggling musician in the city of Los Angeles, and how he had written a song about losing his roommate and best friend to drug addiction.

Foster then perked up and pointed out the audience, making them feel special.

He expressed the beauty in people finding their “first loves” and united the audience as one, reminding everyone that we all go through hard

times, but how it is the joy of music that can take us away from our struggles and bring us all together as one. Foster the People then returned to perform the remainder of the night’s set list, going straight into “I Would Do Anything For You,” a song rarely played live off of the band’s 2011 debut album “Torches.”

As the song finished, an emotional Foster emerged as the crowd watched him dab the tears from his eyes and carry on the rest of the set list before it was time for the band’s encore.

Foster the People left the stage after performing one of the most ruminative tracks off “Supermodel” called “The Truth,” returned shortly after to perform “Pumped Up Kicks” and finally closed with

an edgy, guitar driven “Don’t Stop” as their encore. As the band dispersed from the stage and the lights shined on, the audience began making their way out of the venue, feeling joy but also disappointment that the show had come to an end.

Foster the People put on a show that makes them different from a lot of other bands that perform at Stage AE. They interacted with the crowd and gave off internal happiness with their upbeat, funky melodies.

Next time Foster the People makes an appearance in Pittsburgh, I would grab a ticket.

The band may not have sold out this time around, but I assure you that next time if you do not act fast, you will be wishing that you did.

12 ARTS

Red & Black

19 S eptember 2014

“Sons of Anarchy” Has Record Premiere Episode: A Review of Past Seasons and What Should You Expect in the Final Season?

Mike Hornak Red&Black Editor “Sons of Anarchy” was a show that I personally didn’t start watching from the original air date, but, after watching this summer, became instantly hooked on.

“SOA” is an American television drama series created by Kurt Sutter about the lives of a close-knit outlaw motorcycle club operating in Charming, a fictional town in California’s Central Valley.

The show centers on protagonist Jackson “Jax” Teller (Charlie Hunnam) who begins questioning the club and himself.

The series’ third season attracted an average of 4.9 million viewers per week, making it FX’s highest-rated series ever. The seventh and final season of the series premiered on September 9, 2014.

Each season involves two parallel plotlines that intertwine and overlap: the first centers on the personal life of Teller and his immediate family while the second deals with the club, SAMCRO (Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original).

SAMCRO is involved with gun-running throughout the western United States and deals with many rival gangs, local politicians and authorities. Teller, as Vice-President and then President of the MC struggles with the dealings of SAMCRO and the legacy of

his father, the founder of the MC. The Redwood chapter is headquartered in the fictional town of Charming, California, in a clubhouse adjacent to the Teller-Morrow auto mechanic shop.

Led by President Clay Morrow and, later, Teller, they protect and control Charming through close community relationships, bribery and violent intimidation.

In early seasons they are particularly vehement about keeping “hard” drugs and drug dealers, out of Charming.

Trust me, this show is so great that—if I was anymore naïve, I’d ride out to California and expect to see the Sons working in their motorcycle shop. Falling in love with a television series, however, requires a time commitment on the audience’s part and a wellwritten script with superb acting on the production team’s part. The “Sons of Anarchy” television series contains scenes of ever-renewed strife and external conflict between the SAMCRO motorcycle club and its enemies.

The show also contains scenes of internal conflict and self-reflection within individual characters during times of less-external pressures, which helps to show a character’s arc or their ever-changing human nature as the series progresses.

This show creates a shifting and suspenseful reality which keeps audiences at the

edge of their seats at all times.

The well thought-out characterization, done through a collaborative process between writer and actor allows each individual character to take on a distinctive, life-like form of their own which, in turn, creates pathos or ethos in each viewer.

Each character’s realistic nature, whenever bad luck or more conflict happens to the Sons and their family members, is what keeps audiences engaged both physically and emotionally.

While I shan’t give out any spoilers, since I’m only on season four and would hate if anyone else did the same to me, I just want to point out that each character’s arc or development; particularly Teller’s, Gemma’s, Tara’s, Wayne Unser’ and Opie’s, depicts an almost completely different person that who they originally were in season one—a great reflection of our own human growth and ever-changing presence.

Sons of Anarchy was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Drama at the 2010 TCA Awards. Katey Sagal, most well-known for her motherly role on “Married with Children,” received the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series (Drama) at the 68th Golden Globe Awards for her role in the third season.

She also received a nomination for a 2010 Satellite

Award in the category of Best Actress – Television Series (Drama), as well as a TCA nomination for the Individual Achievement in Drama. Sons of Anarchy (Season Five) received a Screen Crush Award for having the best TV series in 2012.

One thing I learned in acting classes at Washington & Jefferson College is that stories are driven by conflict. Conflict usually involves character’s wants and desires. There are three outcomes to conflict: characters either get what they want, they don’t or they reach a mutual agreement.

Within each and every single scene in “Sons of Anarchy,” there are two or more characters portraying this act of conflict.

They try to get what they want from another character and they explicitly portray their desires to another - often wanting something completely different than that character

Courtesy fanpop.com

wants - which adds even more conflict. Sutter, the creator, is a huge fan of Shakespeare and has said of the Shakespeare element, “I don’t want to overplay that but it’s there. It was Jax’s father who started the club, so he’s the ghost in the action. You wonder what he would have made of the way it turned out. It’s not a version of Hamlet but it’s definitely influenced by it.”

Ron Perlman believes “they’re going to stick to the structure of Hamlet all the way to the end (of the series).”

The two final episodes of Season Four are titled “To Be” (Parts I and II), harkening to the famous To be, or not to be soliloquy, and episode 11 of Season Five is titled “To Thine Own Self,” which references Polonius’ advice to his son Laertes.

Season seven’s first episode was no doubt a good one— just please don’t ruin it for those who haven’t seen it yet!

19 SEPTEMBER 2014

ARTS 13

Red & Black

American Horror Story Delta Omicron Music Minute Ann Shelter Red&Black Contributor

Returning to FX on Oct. 8 is the long-awaited fourth season of “American Horror Story.” Previous seasons included Murder House, Asylum and Coven, whereas this year’s theme is Freak Show.

Set in the 1950’s, American Horror Story veteran Jessica Lange portrays Elsa Mars, the head of the show.

Many actors and actresses are coming back, including Kathy Bates, Emma Roberts and Naomi Grossman, who played Pepper in season two.

This season is supposed to be the precursor for Pepper and we hope to learn more about her life before she was admitted into the asylum.

Sarah Paulson returns as a set of twins who just so happen to share one body with two heads, named Bette and Dot. The pair battle due to one being evil and the other good.

This season the evertalented Kathy Bates transforms into a bearded woman named Ethel, a drunk who is close with Lange’s character Elsa.

The male acts include Evan Peters as Jimmy, a boy with lobster hands and Michael Chiklis as Dell Toledo, the strong man.

New to “American Horror Story” is Wes Bentley (Seneca

Crane from the Hunger Games), who will be featured in the two-part Halloween episode as Edward Mordrake, a mysterious man with two faces.

This year’s Freak Show theme is anticipated to be one of the most twisted seasons yet.

While the plot of Freak Show is still unknown, some information has been released by the creators.

According to Entertainment Weekly’s interview with co-creator Ryan Murphy, “Twisty the Clown” played by John Carroll Lynch, is unhappy with the freak show’s arrival and has murderous plans for the performers.

While I don’t foresee this season being better than the first, I do see it having many unexpected developments that we haven’t yet seen from “American Horror Story” writers.

This year’s theme gives you the best of both worlds with a close-knit group like Coven and the suspensefulness of seasons one and two.

With the return of many previous cast members and favorite characters from other seasons, our guides for this seasons macabre story line are sure to deliver.

Just remember “Wir Sind Alle Freaks” and check out the new season of “American Horror Story” at 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 8.

“American Horror Story: Freak Show” air on the FX Channel.

Delta Omicron The fall term this year at Washington & Jefferson College kicked off with a thundering overture in the W&J music department.

Twenty-one students with musical backgrounds ranging from music majors to “Beethoven - never heard of him” are participating in a class devoted solely to the study of the great German composer Ludwig van Beethoven. The class is being taught by Dr. Susan Woodard in her final year of glorious teaching, and it promises to be fiery - like the opening of the famous Fifth Symphony.

The book being used in the class is user-friendly to those who might not know music, and is a masterfully-written account of Beethoven’s life

by Edmund Morris, who has written famed biographies on Theodore Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan. The course counts as both a writing course and an arts course, encouraging students to keep a journal on different aspects of the life and music of Beethoven. Listening to every work of Beethoven would be a tedious endeavor, so the class will sample his “greatest hits” and unique pieces that brought innovation to music.

Since the class is focused on Beethoven, it would be pertinent here for an overview and short biography of the man often considered the greatest composer who ever lived (the students from

Mozart’s class might disagree, but that is a topic for another day).

Beethoven’s life was nothing short of extraordinary. He was born in the small German city of Bonn on or around December 16, 1770. Beethoven’s father, an alcoholic, forced him to practice the piano and viola for endless hours, trying to make a musical prodigy of him like Leopold Mozart did with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Beethoven earned small gigs early in his career as an assistant to his teacher Christian Gottlob Neefe and eventually made his way into several orchestras as a violist. Beethoven soon found a passion for music and moved to the musical center of Europe in 1792, the city of Vienna.

He sought out guidance from Franz Josef Haydn, the premier composer in Europe at the time, but soon became frustrated with his lack of attention to Beethoven’s works and left his tutelage.

In 1794, he began his career as a composer and as a pianist, taking advantage whenever he could of patrons who paid him for his compositions.

Around 1800, Beethoven began to notice he was going deaf, and his antisocial tendencies began intensifying.

However, his first enormous success occurred in 1803 with the Eroica symphony number three, originally inspired

by Napoleon’s conquest of Europe. Beethoven incurred

more personal difficulties later in his life: failed romances, health issues and a nasty custody battle over his nephew, Karl.

Beethoven even considered taking his own life at one point, scholars discovered this in a letter after his death titled “The Heiligenstadt Testament.”

However, Beethoven recovered from these issues and came back to tremendous success in 1817, eventually reaching what is often considered the pinnacle of Beethoven (or the greatest piece of music ever written to some) with his ninth symphony completed in 1824.

The number of Beethoven’s works was fewer in comparison to other greats like J.S. Bach and Mozart, but it is the quality of his works that separates him as a genius among many.

Beethoven would produce nine symphonies, 16 string quartets and 32 piano sonatas, all using his universal appeal to humanism and dramatic power in unique ways.

Beethoven died in Vienna on March 26, 1827.

I visited his grave in Vienna with students on the Czech Music trip to Prague and it is amazing how many composers wanted to be buried next to him; it was quite a sight to see composers like Brahms and Schubert sitting right there next to the grave of Beethoven.

If you ever get a chance to visit Vienna, a trip to Zentralfriedhof is a must for any music connoisseurs.

14 OPINIONS

OPINIONS Red & Black

19 S eptember 2014

ISIS Advances and the World Responds Hla Hpone Myint Red&Black Contributor

Following the brutal beheading of American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, the acronym “ISIS” has become a buzz word in international media over the past few months. By now, we are all probably aware that ISIS, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, is a group of extremist Islamic militia based in Syria and Iraq.

To dig into a little bit of history, ISIS has existed for over the past 10 years but merely as a branch of al-Qaeda. Its members were primarily responsible in the fields of strategic asymmetric warfare and handling advanced weaponry.

Relations with ISIS and al-Qaeda came to a breaking

point when ISIS began taking a more controlling role over Jabhat al-Nusra of Syria and defying direct orders from al-Qaeda Central. This led to al-Qaeda officially disavowing ISIS in February of 2014.

Since then, the two terrorist organizations have been competing for influence over Islamic extremists in the region.

A research study conducted by Haverford College states that the fall-out was longanticipated and the coalition between the two organizations was “always … a matter of mutual interest rather than shared ideology.”

In fact, it is assumed by ISIS’s recent action (the beheading of Foley and Sotloff recorded on camera) was a show of force to the al-Qaeda, and, more so, its attempt at gaining world recognition.

Additionally, ISIS is known

for its brutal mass killings in the region, targeted mainly at minority groups that include Christians, Turks and Shabaks.

The Obama administration has dubbed the terrorist group “a major threat” to the United States’ national security, and, using Executive Orders, President Obama has ordered more than 140 airstrikes on ISIS bases in Iraq over the past year.

However, many of ISIS’s major military bases remain in Syria, which poses a barrier for the US to go into, given the relationship that exists between the two countries. This past year, President Obama has tried but failed to go into Syria due to its use of chemical weapons in attacking citizens and members of the opposition. Thus, getting to the ISIS bases in Syria will

E ditorial P olicy The Red & Black is the official, registered student-produced newspaper of Washington & Jefferson College. It is published Thursdays with the exception of exams and break periods.

Editorials are based upon the opinion of the respective writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper, the

College or its students, faculty, or administration.

The Red & Black welcomes all reader contributions, but reserves the right to reject letters of pure promotional nature, as well as letters which do not meet its standard of integrity, accuracy and decency.

The Red & Black also reserves the right to edit submissions.

Letters are due on the Monday before publication and may not exceed 600 words. All letters must include the author’s name, campus box and telephone number.

Names may be withheld upon request under certain conditions on rare occasions. All letters may be submitted to redandblackstaff@jay. washjeff.edu.

Courtesy nydailynews.com

certainly require sophisticated strategy and diplomacy.

The options the US can tackle include forming an international coalition in the Middle East to go after the extremists, increasing military aid to the opposition forces in Syria fighting against ISIS and the Assad government, and help-

ing establish a stronger central government and military in Iraq that would be instrumental in wiping out the reminder of ISIS bases in the country.

As we wait to see what happens in the next few weeks, let us hope that this venture does not end in major bloodshed in the Middle East.

C ontac t Telephone: FAX: E-mail: Mailing Address:

(724) 223-6049 (724) 503-1049 redandblackstaff@jay. washjeff.edu Red & Black 60 S.Lincoln St. Washington, PA 15301

19 SEPTEMBER 2014

OPINIONS 15

Red & Black

Davis Memorial Hall: 170-Year-Old Building Overlooked at W&J

Ali Jacobs Red&Black Staff Sitting outside last week and enjoying the last bit of summer, I caught a disappointing sight. Davis, the English department’s building, has a crooked shutter. The paint is faded as well, the white morphing into a yellow-beige. The most disappointing, though, is the condition of the academic building next to Davis.

Swanson sits perfectly coiffed, and the landscaping has not a single weed poking through the manicured design.

The historic Davis shows every bit of its age while sandwiched between the newly remodeled DieterPorter and the ever-shining Swanson. Now, I may be biased, as I am an English major, but the disrepair of

Davis shows a common theme on Washington & Jefferson’s campus: sciences champion at this liberal arts college.

Graduate school programs with Temple University and Chatham University catered to the sciences ensure a number of students’ spots in programs. I scoured the W&J site to find something of the like for history, political science or English; I could not find a “school affiliations” section readily available.

I enter Swanson biweekly for an English class- fairly ironic- in a room that resembles a storage room and barely has enough room for all the students in the class. I push open those heavy front doors and can just hear the enormity of the building.

The echo of science students shuffling to class can be heard from entrance, and

the long, pristine hallways seem something of a museum where one must not touch the exhibits.

The building is stunning and important to campus - that I cannot deny. Yet, when the equally-stunningin-its-own-way Davis stands beside it, there is too much of a juxtaposition to ignore.

Watching a building with such character and history go to disrepair, a building dedicated to making the campus a wellrounded liberal arts college, is frustrating from a student’s perspective.

As a student paying tuition just like any other, I want my major to be well represented on campus. I want my major to have a fair amount of resources so I can flourish academically.

I want the specific faculty members that educate me to have the same opportunities

and accommodations as those of other departments. I do not think that it is too far-fetched a request.

I do not want to be seen as bashing the sciences; the students that study biology, chemistry and physics are going to be the ones curing illnesses and creating new technologies.

Yet, there are going to be professors and writers and lawyers leaving from the Humanities departments.

The equity in resources is just not seen, though the future benefits from both are equal in importance.

According to the W&J website the “top 5 majors” are business/accounting, economics, history, political science and psychology.

The sciences are not the most frequented, and yet the resources tilt in their favor.

Photo Caitlynn Gilles/Photography Editor

The dichotomy between the sciences and the humanities can truly be seen in the numbers. Swanson was built in 2010 with a budget of $33 million.

The description of the building, found via American Builders Quarterly, states: “The contracting firm put together an exterior of classic brick, with a limestone foundation and a mock colonnade rising over the front entrance.

“Inside, double-high Palladian windows admit light into an Italian-marble atrium outfitted with built-in cherry benches and markingboard lined walls. The result is an upscale take on federal architecture.” Where is that description for one of the original buildings on campus that’s nearly missing a shutter and yellowing with age?

16 OPINIONS

Red & Black

19 S eptember 2014

Will Tom Corbett Hold His Seat as Governor ?

Nathaniel Kanuch Red&Black Contributor

One and a half months from November 4 and Election Day and Gov. Tom Corbett already appears to be a beaten man. The latest Quinnipiac poll has Democrat Tom Wolf up 24 points over his Republican opponent, while the Washington Post has routinely described Corbett as the most vulnerable sitting governor in the country.

Despite his seemingly insurmountable lead, however, it must be made clear that Wolf is not the right choice to be the next governor of our commonwealth.

Corbett by no means is the best candidate; if looking for the best candidate, consider Libertarian Ken Krawchuk.

Wolf, however, is simply unfit to become Pennsylvania’s next chief executive, and Corbett, despite his low poll numbers, is the only candidate who can still potentially stop Wolf.

Corbett inherited a $4.2 billion budget deficit from Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell when he took office. Corbett was elected governor to make tough yet unpopular choices regarding the budget. By taking on the powerful teacher unions, Corbett proved he was willing to tackle the issues despite heavy political consequences. Pennsylvania now once again has a balanced budget. Even with

budget cuts, education has not suffered. Pennsylvania is spending more on education than any time in its history, and education spending accounts for 41 percent of the state’s budget. In fact, the US Chamber of Commerce gave Pennsylvania an “A” for academic achievement, one of only 10 states to receive that mark.

Perhaps the most convincing difference between Corbett and Wolf is their positions on taxes. Under Corbett’s leadership, the budget was balanced without one cent of the state income tax being raised. Corbett has considerably lessened the taxpayer’s burden.

Wolf has made it clear time and time again of his dedication to raising taxes.

What we do not know as Pennsylvania voters, however, are the specifics of Wolf ’s plan.

All we know is of Wolf ’s intention to implement a progressive tax and exempt a still unreleased amount of taxpayers. What is Wolf hiding? How many will be exempt from paying taxes?

What will the tax rate be?

How can middle-class families survive a tax-hike?

Many have even questioned the constitutionality of Wolf ’s plan.

The Harrisburg PatriotNews pointed out that Pennsylvania’s state constitution makes it clear that all taxes should be “uniform, upon the same class of subjects.” In other words, a progressive tax for

Courtesy themarcellusshale.com

Pennsylvania, besides being economically unsound, is also illegal. Certainly one of the most contentious issues of the fall campaign will be debate over energy and shale drilling.

Environmental questions aside, and I share many of the concerns, drilling is taking place at a rapid pace.

Rigs are popping up all over rural Pennsylvania, and it appears the shale drilling is here to stay.

Profits have been, and will continue to be immense. It only makes sense for drilling to be taxed.

Corbett has steadfastly refused to tax the shale drilling, perhaps for political purposes. I disagree with the governor on this particular issue, but Wolf ’s solution is no better.

Wolf supports a severe extraction tax, but the devil is in the details. Much of the revenue coming from the tax

on drilling would go right to Philadelphia schools. The rest of the state, particularly the rural areas, would hardly see a dime.

Wolf may seem like a man of the people, driving around in a Jeep and pledging his dedication to the middle class, but he is also an extremely skilled politician. Wolf knows exactly what buttons to push and which attacks to (falsely) make.

A Wolf governorship will result in a reversion to tax and spend policies seen under Rendell, hurting the middle class and undoing the progress we have made since Corbett’s election in 2010.

Corbett’s tenure has not been a smooth ride.

He has failed in his goal to privatize the liquor industry, and some of the more conservative members of the Republican Party have expressed disappointment

in the governor.

Corbett can, however, tout major accomplishments.

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate is currently at 5.7 percent, significantly lower than the rate when he took office.

He has balanced the budget and taken on the teacher unions. Corbett also showed his ability to work with democrats, signing a $2.3 billion transportation bill. The bill will improve infrastructure across the state.

Do not let the slick and smooth-talking Wolf fool you; he is not for Pennsylvania.

Corbett deserves to finish what he started.

Corbett is for the coal miner from Greene County, for the student at Washington & Jefferson College, for the teacher in Philadelphia, for the farmer in Adams County and for the fisherman in Erie.

Corbett is for us. Corbett is for Pennsylvania.

19 SEPTEMBER 2014

OPINIONS 17

Red & Black

Dogs Banned In Academic and Administrative Buildings Timothy Hite Red&Black Contributor If you are like me, you were lucky enough to have a fourlegged friend sit in on one of your classes at one point here at Washington & Jefferson College.

Honestly, who does not love having a man’s best friend beside them at any time?

Many students are away from their own dogs for months at a time while at school, and they thoroughly enjoy it when a professor may bring his or her dog to class. Personally,

the classes where Dr. Leslie Dunn brought her pup were some of the most relaxing and productive learning experiences I have ever had in my academic career.

Students could not hold back a smile as their dog went from desk to desk making sure everyone had an opportunity to give him attention (rightfully deserved, as he was very well behaved).

I am sure many students can attest to this experience.

Unfortunately, that is now a thing of the past thanks to the new rule banning pets from academic buildings

starting this school year. This new regulation may come as a shock to some students as pets (mostly dogs) have been an integral part to their W&J experience.

That is not to promote the idea of having animals in each class, every day of the week, but it is to enjoy the idea that maybe once this semester there will be a chance of seeing your professor walk into a class with their furry friend trailing along behind them.

As Dr. Mark Swift said, animals can “serve as a humanizing element in

student-faculty relationship,” and they can contribute to the school character of “friendly, caring, close-knit and conductive learning.”

Although he personally believes his dog may be a little too over-energetic to bring into a class, he says that applying common sense is vital to bringing a dog to class.

Due to liability issues, it is certainly understandable why there is an argument for the ban.

However I firmly believe the pros outweigh the cons.

Dr. Rob Dunn, when asked how the dog was taking the

ban, says that their pup does not get as much exercise anymore as they would walk him to the school from their home.

One can hope that this ban does not have an effect on animal obesity, but that is an argument for another day.

In the meantime, we would love to see the reinstatement of animals into the academic environment. Time will tell how much students will react to this new rule, but I personally hope that we become an institution for animals of all breeds in due time.

Anonymous: Public Danger or Friendly Neighborhood Hacker?

Jake Humes Red&Black Contributor

Whether you’re an online gamer or just use a debit card every day, you have been affected by one of the many crimes of an organization called Anonymous.

They are a loosely connected group of hackers who operate worldwide.

Members of the group can be distinguished in public (sometimes) by their iconic wearing of Guy Fawkes masks from the movie “V for Vendetta,” a declaration that what they do is what they consider to be their own style of ‘vigilante justice.’

It also keeps them truly anonymous, of course. While some have condemned their antics as acts of terrorism, sympathizers view them

as heroes. Originally, their endeavors were purely for entertainment.

However, in 2008, the group launched “Project Chanology” a multi-faceted series of attacks directed at the Church of Scientology.

Anonymous took issue with the church’s attempt to remove information regarding an interview with actor Tom Cruise, who is a scientologist, from the internet. Viewing that as blatant internet censorship, Anonymous retaliated with prank calls.

They also used black faxes: faxing an entirely black sheet of paper to the recipient in order to eat up as much printer toner as possible, all in an attempt to disrupt the Church of Scientology.

Perhaps more scary were the use of DDoS (Direct Denial of Service) attacks, an attack

in which a user repeatedly sends commands to a server or network, such as those owned by internet providers, at such a rapid pace that the server cannot accommodate normal requests from other users, essentially causing an entire network to come to a screeching halt.

These attacks got Anonymous on the board as a very legitimate threat. Attacks continued over the years, targeting companies such as Sony and its Playstation Network, Mastercard and any other group they felt threatened their values.

As time went on, however, some of their acts had a bit more moral high ground. For instance, in the 2012-2013 year, Anonymous pledged to work in unison with other hacking groups to disrupt the Westboro Baptist Church in its

Courtesy thehoustonfreethinkers.com

endeavors to protest the Sandy Hook Massacre funerals, as well as many others. More recently, in 2013, the group launched “Operation Safe Winter,” a call to all nations of the world to raise awareness on homeless living.

The call spread like wildfire to charity organizations worldwide, which spawned

massive events of food drives, feeding events and clothing collections. This raises into question the possible shift in Anonymous’s motives toward the better. They act as a double edged sword, as DDoS attacks by related groups continue today. At least sometimes, however, the good just may outweigh the bad.

18 SUPERBURGER “It’s just a joke....”

Red & Black

19 S eptember 2014

Local Murderer Afraid Of Whitworth Basement Carley Adams Red&Black Staff

Among the many changes being made on campus this semester, Washington & Jefferson students and faculty have probably noticed the ornamental fixtures constructed out of dustyrose brick that now grace the many corners of our college’s campus.

What most members of the college community do not know, however, is that these structures have been erected not for optical appeal, but out of necessity.

Each fixture is fitted with a device that emits invisible tufts of radioactive waste in order to keep unwelcome visitors from sullying the sanctity of the campus that produced honorable citizens such as beloved Tech Center donor Alberto Vilar and hunky NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Incidentally, just days after the piles of dead squirrels lining the perimeter of campus confirmed the functionality of the radioactive waste emissions, W&J received a hauntingly gauche message cut entirely out of magazine letters in Comic Sans MC stating that the college community should “watch its back.” It was signed, in extravagant calligraphy,

“Local Serial Killer.” But all of our students and faculty reside safely within the confines of the waste cloud, right? Wrong!

Due to a gross oversight on the part of the cantankerous architect who designed the brick structures that designate campus territory (a pointedly sexist alumnus of the Class of 1971 who will remain nameless), the comfort and safety of the radioactive waste bubble excludes two W&J residence halls: the Houses Wade and Whitworth.

Luckily, Wade is out of commission this year as it is being prepped for demolition so that the W&J Student Christian Association can begin breaking ground in their centennial dig for the Holy Grail.

Whitworth, however, is still full of innocent damsels who have already had unnervingly close encounters with Local Serial Killer. Facilities Services is up to their whiskers in work order SOS’s.

These pleas for help included reports of popcorn kernels being chucked in ungodly large handfuls at windows, the alleged disappearance of all cutlery in the building and a ceremonial burning of the W&J College mascot heads on the front lawn.

Then, on the evening of Sept. 13, the unthinkable happened: Local Serial Killer snatched a student ID and obtained swipe access into

Whitworth Hall. Whitworth resident Megan Crawford ’15 recounted the event with palpable distress: “Our very lives were at stake,” Crawford said, shaking with fear, “So we ran downstairs to hide… in the Whitworth basement.”

Crawford and several other residents took cover behind one of the many crumbling, termite-ridden walls of the Whitworth cellar just as Local Serial Killer descended the stairwell in a rage.

But, according to Crawford, he made it to the landing, took one look at his surroundings and stood, scared stiff, as the color drained from his face.

Whether because of the hordes of red-eyed rodents scuttling about the floor, the pitch-black hallways that lead to God-knows-where, or the terrifying shadows cast by flickering light bulbs that hang from the basement’s dilapidated ceiling, we may never know. Crawford claims that the look on Local Serial Killer’s face was that of “a man experiencing true, unprecedented fear for the first time in his life.” He never even screamed.

Unable to move due to pure petrification, Local Serial Killer was eventually apprehended by Campus and Public Safety.

Authorities say that he hasn’t spoken since the incident, but that he is showing all the signs of a criminal sobered by a truly traumatic experience.

Courtesy Red and Black

We asked several Red and Black photographers to take pictures of the basement. This is what they gave us back.

Courtesy Caitlynn Gilles

Whitworth Hall, from the outside. Winner of the Lorraine Warren Award for Pennsylvania Building Most Likely to Harbor a Vengeful Spirit three years running.

19 SEPTEMBER 2014

Red & Black

SPORTS 19

Fruit, Not Fries: Five Tips on Healthy Eating for Student-Athletes Carley Adams Red&Black Staff Though it may seem like regular exercise is the best way for an athlete to always perform at his or her peak, athletes’ diets actually play an instrumental role in developing the best possible flexibility, endurance and strength.

Here are a few foods that nutritionists are recommending athletes add to their diets if they want to enhance their performance on the field in a healthy way: 1. Quinoa. Quinoa is a whole grain that contains about twice as much protein as other grains. It is also one of the only foods that contains all nine amino acids, which assist in an athlete’s muscular recovering after grueling workouts.

It is also a source of carbohydrates and fiber, and there are plenty of creative ways to cook with it. Mixed with honey and cinnamon, quinoa can taste like breakfast cereal. But with vegetables and spices, it is a great substitute for pasta or rice.

2. Berries. Berries contain essential antioxidants like vitamins A, C and E. These can protect the body against oxidative stress, which can occur as a result of taxing physical activity. Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries… all are great sources of antioxidants and can be added to breakfast meals, desserts or simply eaten in small handfuls

throughout the day.

3. Fish. Oil-heavy fish like salmon and trout are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and lean protein. These are some of the best anti-inflammatory options out there.

Because inflammation of the joints and other areas of the body can inhibit athletes in their exercises, consuming these types of fish is a great way to enhance endurance and reduce the painful effects of constant physical activity.

Salmon, trout and other oily fish are often used in chowders, salads, fish pastas and of course, salmon burgers.

4. Beans. Beans – black, white, kidney, pinto, etc. – are one the best sources of nonanimal protein. Beans are also a great source of fiber and contain no saturated fat; they are thus known to make you feel fuller longer.

For athletes who don’t like the idea of eating a spoonful of pinto beans, there are plenty of creative ways to include them in meals. Beans can be added to salads and chili, and hummus is actually made almost entirely from garbanzo beans (chickpeas).

5. Nuts and nut butter.

Athletes perform best when they are consuming a balanced combination of healthy fats and proteins. Nuts and nut butters are excellent sources of both.

Also, for carb-loving athletes, consuming nut butters is a great way to balance out the blood sugar.

Simply eat two slices of toasted bread, and your body will turn

those carbohydrates to sugar and use up that energy very quickly.

But if you eat two slices of toast and peanut butter, then that protein and fat will help you maintain those carbohydrates for a longer period of time.

If you’re an athlete striving to reach your peak performance, add some of these healthy choices to your day-to-day diet.

Combine great workout habits with balanced meals, and you’re bound to see a noticeable improvement in your athletic abilities.

Courtesy Caitlynn Gilles

Courtesy Caitlynn Gilles

20 SPORTS

Red & Black

19 S eptember 2014

Women’s Soccer Wins 4-3 in Double Overtime Emily Bitting Red&Black Editor

The Washington & Jefferson College women’s soccer team, led by head coach Pete Curtis and assistant coach Lisa Wabrick, traveled to Greensburg to take on the Pitt-Greensburg Bobcats on Sunday, Sept. 14. The nonconference game resulted in the first win of the season for W&J, putting the team at 1-3.

The loss put the Bobcats at 2-3.

The final score was 4-3.

Midfielder Jess Skovira ’15 scored early in the game with a low shot from inside the box after just 4:49 minutes of play.

Bobcat Courtney Carroll scored later in the game to tie the score at 1-1 with a goal in

the upper 90 from just outside the box. Tatiana Ruzzini ’18 won the lead back for the Presidents. She scored W&J’s second goal in the upper-right corner off a Haley Skovira ’16 assist with just under 10 minutes left in the first half of the game. At halftime, the Presidents still held their 2-1 lead.UPG tied the game at the 52:26-mark with a score from inside the box by Alexandra Dimoff.

The Presidents answered UPG with Ruzzini’s second goal of the game 3:45 later.

The goal was assisted by sophomore Mariah Lockard and put W&J back in the lead, 3-2. The game went into overtime when UPG’s Abigail Pasierb scored a goal in the 80th minute of the game,

making the score 3-3. The Presidents held onto a slim lead in the contest, ending with 17-16.

Ruzzini had seven shots, Haley Skovira got three and Jess Skovira and Lockard each scored two shots.

Goalkeeper Morgan Kinyon ’15 earned the win for the Presidents, making six total saves with one in each of the two overtimes.

Haley Skovira scored the game-winning goal after one of Kinyon’s saves. The goal came on a free kick from outside the box at 2:25 into the second overtime, securing the Presidents’ victory at 4-3.

The Presidents’ next game will be against the Penn State Behrend Lions on Sept. 20, 2014.

with the team dealing with a few injuries, including his own knee injury. Despite the shaky start, the team was seeded second in the conference in preseason rankings and he says that he envisions, “... the team will stabilize in time for conference play.”

The hard work Vukmanovich puts in on the field is mirrored by his impressive record in the classroom.

Vukmanovich is a senior physics major planning on completing the engineering dual degree program.

This semester is a particularly tough one for Vukmanovich, with both

Electricity and Magnetism and Modern Physics. It is not unusual to see Vukmanovich in his natural habitat: the first floor of Swanson.

It may seem downright crazy that any normal person would spend the start of their weekend studying instead of unwinding from a tough week, but Vukmanovich is anything but normal.

After leaving practice, Vukmanovich showered and grabbed a deli combo to go from George and Tom's. He was ready to study.

I, on the other hand, was just shaking the sleep from my eyes after my regular midday nap when I got a text telling

Senior Spotlight: Roman Vukmanovich Shiv Upadhyay Red&Black Staff

Hearing the phrase, “I just want to graduate,” from a senior is not surprising and is usually followed by grumbling about coursework.

When Roman Vukmanovich, senior soccer player, says he's ready to graduate, it means something else entirely.

Vukmanovich plays center back on defense with the number 21 on his back.

According to him, this season has been up and down

Courtesy GoPresidents.com

me to hustle over to Swanson.

Pulling myself from my bed and through Bica's halls which were all ready lively, I made my way to Swanson.

By the time I got there, Vukmanovich was already set up; his notes gathered around him as he mumbled to himself as he read from the blue Griffith's Electrodynamics book.

As we worked--or rather as he did--he mentioned the troubles hes been having with his knee.

“I'm not 100 percent yet, but I should be soon,” he said.

As for the performance of the team as whole he said, “Our record [two wins

and three losses] doesn't really reflect our play... we're beginning to really hit our stride.”

Our talk was interrupted by security, incredulous that students were in Swanson at midnight on a Friday.

When we resumed, I asked him what his secret to success both on and off the field was.

He smiled replying, “I just stay on my grind. I don't take time to relax. I want to graduate.” Hearing that from Vukmanovich was a testament to his determination. Vukmanovich does not partake in the typical complaining that is often heard from seniors.