Catch the Cure | 5/5/2016 | Red&Black

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s t u d e n t n e w s pa p e r o f w a s h i n g t o n a n d j e f f e r s o n c o l l e g e 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 M ay 6 , 2 0 1 6

Kappa Kappa Gamma’s Catch for the Cure

Courtesy Kappa Kappa Gamma

LIFE: REMEMBERING PRINCE PAGE 4

OPINIONS: TUITION INCREASE PAGE 15

2 CAMPUS NEWS

6 M ay 2016

Our Final Edition of the Student Spotlight: Breanna Todd Elizabeth Bean Red&Black Contributor

Breanna Todd (class of 2017) traveled to Rome, Italy last semester and studied at Temple University Rome.

Breanna is a Political Science & International Studies double major with a Religious Studies minor. She stayed in an apartment with two other students from her program during her studies and walked about 30 minutes each day to school. “Taxis are expensive in Rome: starting at 17 euros in the day and 22 euros at night, so I mostly walked everywhere,” Breanna explained. She took Italian classes during her semester and learned enough to

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communicate with people, which was useful for everyday activities like grocery shopping.

Breanna now has an extensive network of Italian friends who took her on fun adventures along the west coast of Italy from Cinque Terre to the Amalfi Coast.

Along the way, they went sailing to the Island of Capri and then cliff jumping on the islands rocky overhangs. They visited vineyards in Siena and Tuscany, and taught Breanna how to make coffee with a French press.

There were some cultural differences that Breanna found hard to accustom to, like the general disorganization of Italians, as well as the way they shout on the street and do whatever they want without adherence to rules or

laws. Breanna also described that older Italian men are, “creepy as f***.”

Breanna enjoyed daily doses of Italian food, gelato and good wine, as well as Gypsies trying to pick-pocket her and her friends. Luckily, nothing was ever stolen from her. She took cooking classes where she learned how to make authentic Italian pasta and pizza.

While in Italy, she traveled to many towns including Rome, Naples, Florence, Venice, Tivoli, Sorrento and others. She visited friends from high school who were also studying in Italy and fellow W&J student Felix, in Florence. She also met up with friends in Belgium, and her best friend in Amsterdam. After school, she went to The Netherlands,

Courtesy Elizabeth Bean

the UK (London), the Czech Republic, Hungary and Octoberfest in Germany.

Before her semester started, she flew into Lisbon, Portugal and then backpacked to Madrid and Barcelona, and

from there she flew to Rome.

Breanna describes that her favorite place in Europe was Spain and she enjoyed the good food and culture there

Kappa Kappa Gamma’s Catch for the Cure the most.

The sisters of Kappa Kappa Gamma hosted their annual Catch for the Cure event that all Greek Life participated in. Together, they raised over $2,500 for Susan G Komen!

Courtesy Liz Holmes

Courtesy Juliana Ingham

6 M ay 2016

3 CAMPUS NEWS

WSO will rock Trinity High School on May 7 Red & Black

Courtesy Adam Shaffer

Adam Shaffer Red&Black Contributor

Last concert of the season features music from Beethoven to the Beatles Wanting to give the audience something to remember over the summer, the Washington Symphony Orchestra will end its 2015-2016 season with “We Will Rock You” on Saturday, May 7. The concert will begin at 8 p.m. at Trinity High School in Washington.

Just because the evening’s theme is “rock ‘n roll,” doesn’t

mean that the classics will be left out. For example, SaintSaens’ “Danse Bacchanale,” comes from the Romantic era (1820-1900), a time period in music that has much in common with the modern era.

“In many ways Romantic composers were early rock stars of music,” said Yugo Ikach, WSO Artistic Director.

“Louder was not loud enough; softer was not soft enough; the orchestra got bigger and added many strange and wonderful instruments that were not utilized in the days of Mozart, Haydn or Handel.”

Also featured will be Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, First Movement. “Beethoven

was the Romantics’ founding father or patron saint,” said Ikach.

“His music was revolutionary. After mastering the paradigms of classical form, he started breaking the rules of musical form and led a movement that truly ‘rebelled’ against the established norm of symmetry, form and simplicity.”

Fast-forwarding to the modern era, the WSO will play medleys of Beatles and Moody Blues tunes, along with David Bowie’s “Space Oddity.”

The Washington Festival Chorale will be on hand to help out with a couple of

Queen tracks. “If you’ve ever wanted to sing ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ out loud with an orchestra, this is your chance,” said Ikach.

Another special guest for the evening will be Cal Ubased rock band, The Vics.

As the winner of the WSO’s Battle of the Bands contest back in February, The Vics will perform a couple of their original compositions with the WSO. Preceding The Vics’ set with the WSO will be a short film by Pittsburgh-based filmmaker Ron Hankison featuring The Vics and other contestants from the WSO Battle of the Bands. Tickets for We

Will Rock You start at just $17 and can be purchased online atwashsym.org, by calling 1-888-71-TICKETS, or at the following locations: Citizens Library, the Peters Township Public Library, and the WSO Office at 11 South College Street in Washington (WSO Office by appointment only).

For further information about the symphony, visit www.washsym.org or connect with the WSO on Facebook (facebook.com/washsymphony) and Twitter (twitter.com/ washsymphony).

Note: Admission to the concert described below is FREE to all W&J students with current ID.

4 CAMPUS NEWS

6 M ay 2016

Broadway’s Next H!t Musical Comes to W&J Red & Black

Courtesy broadwaysnexthitmusical.com

Lauren Lamm Red&Black Copy Editor

“Every song is fresh. Every scene is new. Every night is different.”

On Wednesday evening, the W&J Arts Series brought a never before seen musical was to the Olin stage. Broadway’s Next H!t Musical—an improvised musical comedy, featured four improv actors, an emcee and an improv piano player. These improv professionals from New York City have the collective stage credits of the most seasoned Broadway stars, yet they travel

the country improvising songs, and then a musical, from audience song title suggestions.

At the entrance to the theatre, guests are asked to invent a song title and put it into a bowl. These suggestions are periodically drawn from throughout the night as the actors present songs for the all-important “Phony” award.

Along with the song, the audience is given a snapshot of the plot of the musical, providing hilarious context for their nominated performance.

Though the songs are solos, they are truly group endeavors as other actors fill in other roles in these songs, such as the wife of the golf-aspiring

sheep sheerer, exasperated boyfriend of a Nashville rapper, women who remind a cigarette lobbyist of his purpose and jungle animals.

After each song was performed, the audience voted to give one of the performers the Phony, and to then watch as they improvised a musical based off of that song.

The winning song, “There’s No Slice in My Golf Swing” narrowly beat “My Angst, My Thighs,” and the audience was then treated to the full production of “I’ll Be in Scotland Before Ye.” This musical followed the aspirations of a sheep shearer who felt the burden of family and work weighing down

his dream to be a pro golfer.

Between the hilarious, albeit not always accurate, Scottish accents, the full costuming and the inventive songs, the audience was kept on their toes as they watched these four actors play off of each other’s energy and implications.

Mackie Jakobs (class of 2016) couldn’t speak highly enough of their performance and stated, “I was left completely astounded. Every single member of their troop was so incredibly talented and, after having the chance to speak with them after the show, incredibly friendly as well. I found it amazing that they were able to take their extensive classical training in

music and theatre and apply it in such an impromptu and creative fashion. As the captain of our own resident improv club, they gave me, and hopefully every improviser, something to strive towards.”

Even those outside of theatre could appreciate their performance, as Seth Rimdzius (class of 2017) said, “I liked them. It was a nice change of pace from what’s usually brought to campus.”

If anyone would like to see pictures or videos of the cast, head over to their website: http://www. broadwaysnexthitmusical. com/ where you can download music and still see a photo from their visit to campus!

6 M ay 2016

THIS WEEKEND'S EVENTS

Friday 11:30 am - Feel Good Friday, Campus Ctr. Circle 12:00 pm - Senior Week Ticket Sales (until 2), G&T's 1:00 pm - Free Friday Bowling with W&J ID (until 3), Alpine Lanes 6:30 pm - Pittsburgh Pipeline (departs 6:30|8:30|10:30), Campus Ctr. Circle 9:00 pm - Monticello's, Hub LL 10:00 pm - Kappa Alpha Theta's Late Night Snack Sale (until 1), KAO House Saturday 11:00 am - Pittsburgh Pipeline (departs 11:00|1:00|3:00), Campus Ctr. Cir. 1:00 pm - Baseball vs Thomas More (DH), Ross Memorial Park 2:00 pm - DUBJAM, Olin Lawn 6:30 pm - Pittsburgh Pipeline (departs 6:30|8:30|10:30), Campus Ctr. Circle 7:30 pm - Doors Open for Kid Ink Show, Henry Gym 9:00 pm - Monticello's, Hub LL Sunday 12:00 pm - Baseball vs Thomas More, Ross Memorial Park 7:00 pm - Mass, Newman Center

5 CAMPUS NEWS

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6 LIFE

Red & Black

6 May 2016

Remembering a Legend Tyler Phillips Red&Black Staff

Music fans all over were blown away by Prince’s unexpected passing on April 21.

The pop music icon was experiencing flu symptoms and took an emergency flight home in the few days preceding his death.

Fans took his death as a shock, with some reporting he was seen riding his bicycle outside his Minnesota home just days prior.

He was 57 years old. Known for his androgynous and overthe-top stage appearances, Prince innovated pop and rock music over his fourdecade career and released several successful albums with his band The Revolution.

Many of the tributes to Prince by unexpected artists show how he truly transcended musical genres.

Corey Taylor (vocalist of nu-metal group Slipknot) opened a solo show with an acoustic cover of “Purple

Rain” the night of Prince’s death and David Gilmour (former Pink Floyd guitarist) included the guitar solo of the song in the middle of a performance of “Comfortably Numb.”

The Minnesota Wild opened their April 24 NHL Playoff game with a moment of silence for their hometown hero under purple light and his name spelled out in hockey pucks. The Wild also played “Let’s Go Crazy” at every goal.

Some of Prince’s most famous performances have grown in popularity since his passing.

His performance at the Super Bowl XLI halftime show has been called one of the greatest – if not the greatest – performances in Super Bowl history.

Prince took it as an opportunity to perform just for the sake of the music and not worrying about his own stardom, covering Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary,” Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” and Foo Fighters’ “Best of You” before

ending with “Purple Rain” in the rain – a Super Bowl first!

His guest appearance with Tom Petty at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame while performing George Harrison and Eric Clapton’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” features one of his most famous guitar solos and is being hailed as one of his best.

A 2014 “Saturday Night Live” performance included an eight-minute medley of songs which was a highlight of the show in terms of musical guests in recent years.

The Chappelle’s Show sketch of Dave Chappelle portraying Prince is also experiencing a resurgence in popularity. The sketch depicts actor Charlie Murphy’s story of meeting Prince and getting embarrassed by the star in a game of basketball.

To quote Murphy: “That cat could ball!” Chappelle nearly cancelled a stand-up show after learning of Prince’s death but instead took the opportunity to spend much of his four-hour show honoring the relationship they shared.

He commented on Prince’s

courtesy of liveforlivemusic.com

reaction to the sketch by using a picture of Chappelle in costume as the cover of a 2013 single: “You make fun of Prince in a sketch and he'll just use you in his album cover…

That's checkmate right there.”

The music industry has lost some amazing talents in the past few months; Stone Temple Pilots’ former singer Scott Weiland overdosed on drugs, followed by Motörhead founder Lemmy Kilmister losing a brief battle to cancer, both in December 2015; Rock

and roll legend David Bowie passed in January 2016 and country star Merle Haggard passed of double pneumonia in April.

Prince’s estate is in question now as he did not leave behind a will but has made it clear in the past that he has a vault of unreleased music spanning decades of work.

After the vault was drilled this week, this was found to be true. Prince’s legacy will continue for many years to come. Rest in Paisley, Prince.

6 May 2016

7 Life

TheTechnologyofSmell Red & Black

courtesy of hypebeast.com

Above, Cyrano scent speaker. It is small enough to be placed into your car’s cupholder. It releases pleasant smells for the driver while they are driving to change the driving experience.

Christopher Frydryrk Red&Black Staff Technology today is primarily visual, and although it has its moments in touch and is prominent with sound, technology has been lacking on one of the five senses we recognize on a typical basis (unlike kinesthetic senses or balance, acceleration or time).

Smell is sometimes overlooked in our responsive senses, and although we credit photographs or physical mementos of our past as the greatest methods of nostalgia, scents are just as influential on triggering the brain.

Dr. Yaara Yeshurun of the Weizmann Institute of Science studied how scent affects the

brain. Stimulating the brain certain smells and making World’s “25 Worst Tech with scents, Yeshurun found them an everyday smart air Products of All Time.”

Even after the failure of that it is easier for people freshener. the iSmell, dozens to remember of others jumped unpleasant smells For those of you looking for and air into the sensory than pleasant ones of when subjecting freshener 2.0, the Cyrano is beginning in a technology scent. people to odors.

One of many Upon further limited run of 500 units at $150 per unit. that stood out inspection of the during the flood study Yeshurun of new scent exclaimed, “It technology was makes good called the “Cyrano. ” evolutionary sense Produced by Vapor for people to remember A company called Cyrano unpleasant memories. But DigiScents made the iSmell, Communications, the findings show that there a USB connected scent was a Bluetooth enabled is something 'particularly synthesizer received $20 cylinder that would fit into a special' about early million USD in venture cup holder, allowing different memories of smells.” Since capital and seen as a “Web scents to be sent out, the 1999, technology has been Revolution.” By 2001, the goal was to give a driver and attempting to harvest the company had gone out of any passengers the scent of power smell by replicating business, leaving it in PC summer, the beach or even

coconuts. The Cyrano shifts scents every eight minutes, giving the driver a sensory overload on sweet and natural scents.

For those looking for an air freshener 2.0, the Cyrano is beginning in a limited run of 500 units at $150 per unit.

These scents are seen as a new muse to drivers upon their daily commute, and was explained by co-founder of Cyrano, David Edwards, exclaiming, “Up till now, we’d been treating digital scent as information… Now we’re thinking of it more like music.”

He later goes on to exclaim that we may send scent messages to others but we just aren’t there yet.

8 LIFE

6 May 2016

WhyAreSmartPeopleSoDepressed?

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courtesy of thecrimson.com

Above, A cartoon depicting an academic trying to learn how to be happy.

Leah Segal Red&Black Staff

Perhaps the old saying “ignorance is bliss” reigns true in this crazy world, as a recent study shows that intelligent people are more likely to suffer from depression.

Who would have guessed that prodigies such as Albert Einstein to the modern day genius of Elon Musk, would’ve been at an increased disposition to suffer from mental illness?

Luckily, there are a few theories for this odd occurrence, as well as ways to combat depression (for all those smarty pants out there). In an interview by The

Atlantic, Raj Raghunathan, a professor of marketing at The University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business, wrote If You’re So Smart, Why Aren’t You Happy?, which contemplates the depression behind the mind of these geniuses, and the role success has to play.

In essence, Raghunathan harps on the fact that success is highly personal, with each individual defining what it means to be a success in their own terms in accordance to their own life.

And, by default, our society has come to correlate intelligence with such selfdefined feats: which is the first red flag. In the book, Raghunathan ties the

metaphor of “a yard stick” into the mix stating, “People judge the best professors by the number of awards they get, or the salary that they get, or the kind of school that they are in, which might on the face of it seem like it’s a good yardstick for judging how good somebody is, but at the same time it’s not really relevant to the particular field.”

People choose to define their own success within the narrowest terms, causing even the most intelligent human beings to undermine their own success because they may not have measured up to their own yardstick.

Interestingly enough, such a dynamic can be seen across college campus’ worldwide.

One hard working, smart student may define success by receiving only A’s on their transcript.

However, even if they receive an A-, still an impressive grade, they will still feel disappointed with themselves because they did not measure up.

There is a “cure” for this self-induced depression, which Raghunathan expands upon in his book.

Apparently, the biggest way to combat the “yard stick” is to “become a little more aware of what it is that you’re really good at, and what you enjoy doing.”

He goes on to discuss the “when you don’t need to compare yourself to other

people, you gravitate towards things that you instinctively enjoy doing, and you’re good at, and if you just focus on that for a long enough time, then chances are very, very high that you’re going to progress towards mastery anyway, and the fame and the power and the money and everything will come as a byproduct, rather than something that you chase directly in trying to be superior to other people.”

Overall, no matter if you were the valedictorian of your high school, or just a hardworking student, everyone can take a valuable lesson away from Raghunathan: intelligence shouldn’t only be measured by success, but happiness.

6 May 2016

9 Life

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NewReligion:NoReligion courtesy of thebestvibes.com

College Freshman Regains Control Leah Segal Red&Black Staff

courtesy of reddit.com

Abigail Pipcho Red&Black Staff

According to the New York Times, 25% of today’s millennials are atheists.

This is a huge rise from only 17% of baby boomers.

Statistics like this are similar across the globe as more and more of the population is choosing to identify as either atheist or agnostic.

In simple terms, an atheist is someone who does not believe in the existence of a God or gods. Agnostics, on the other hand, do not either put belief or disbelief onto the existence of a God. Across Europe and North America, churches, mosques and synagogues have been “going out of business,” or combining with others in order to account for smaller congregations. In a world

where science is advancing rapidly and children are learning the natural reasons behind evolution and the creation of the earth, religion is becoming less relevant with the belief that God created earth and all of its inhabitants.

Now, people have scientific reasons as to how and why everything came about.

Another reason as to why the population seems to be straying away from the labels of religion is the controversy and legal scandals of religions.

In today’s world, we constantly and consistently see headlines of sexual abuse often including young children.

Behind that, we see endless wars being fought over conflicting religions and specific groups of people being targeted against.

In the United States, approximately a quarter of the population identifies as being homosexual.

With the abhorrence they receive from various religious organizations, the population

is becoming less and less likely to identify with a religion that promotes hatred and rejection.

As atheism grows across the globe, people will have changing views on how they vote.

Today’s candidates for various offices in the United States are becoming more and more likely to not identify with a religion and to be more accepting and tolerant.

Democrats and Republicans, including Arizona US Representative Kyrsten Sinema, Massachusetts US Representative Barney Frank, and California US Representative Pete Stark, all were open about their beliefs and were still elected into office.

In the past, someone being an atheist or agnostic was seen as a negative and adverse feature.

Today, not only are these people becoming more accepted, but their numbers are also growing – rapidly.

In a country marked by the political disarray of the upcoming elections, I am sure we could all use an uplifting story.

Ian Burkhart, a 24 year-old man from Dublin, Ohio, just regained the ability to utilize his hands after a freak accident when he was just a college freshman. Vacationing in Outer Banks, N.C., Burkhart dove headfirst into a wave, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down.

However, through a surgery that implanted a chip in his brain and extensive physical therapy, Burkhart was able to utilize his hands (and even able to play Guitar Hero). In an interview with the New York Times, he states, “It’s crazy, because I had lost sensation in my hands, and I had to watch my hand, to know whether I was squeezing or extending my fingers.”

Although he is still unable to possess any feeling sensations, this is a huge step in the right direction; not only for Burkhart and those like him, but for science.

Rajesh Rao, the director of the Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering at the

University of Washington stated, “It’s quite impressive what they’ve shown, this sequence of movement to pick up and pour something, and pick up a stirrer-- it’s an advance towards a goal we all have, to provide these patients with as much independence as possible.”

Luckily, for Burkhart, this surgery has given a small (but important) piece of just that.

However, the surgery did not come without its risks. For Burkhart, the reality that he will need to be taken care of for the remainder of his life, is a stark reality; which is why he opted for the surgery, as it would provide him with a degree of independence. But the in-depth nature of placing the chip in his brain was a cause for concern.

If it was not for the chip, Burkhart would not have needed the brain surgery, the physical therapy and the recovery time; which his father stated “in the long run doesn’t benefit Ian an iota.”

Nevertheless, even though Burkhart will never completely regain his independence, the regaining of his arm movement is a big step in the right direction, and his contribution to science will ultimately bring generations further scientific breakthroughs.

10 arts

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6 maY 2016

Actress Amber Tamblyn Visits Campus Kayla Marasia Red&Black Arts Section Editor

Although the W&J community has plenty of star students, last week the campus became even more star-studded with a visit from renowned actress, poet and feminist, Amber Tamblyn.

Known especially for her roles in “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” “House,” “Two and a Half Men” and “Joan of Arcadia,” Tamblyn first ascended to fame with her role as Emily Quartermaine on “General Hospital” when she was twelve.

Now 32, Tamblyn has had plenty of experience both in life and in the show business.

However, she does not only dedicate herself to her acting career: Tamblyn is also a skilled poet and has published multiple books of poems.

Her most recent publication is “Dark Sparkler,”

a collection of poems about childhood actresses who died at an unnaturally young age.

Tamblyn has seen firsthand the effects of the entertainment industry on people’s lives, and she felt inspired to draw attention to the harm that can result from constant pressure.

She began to Google actresses from varying decades of films and was startled to find that she did not recognize many of these famous names, which she felt showed the dangerous fleetingness of fame in the industry.

“I started to feel like gravitating toward people who were dead, which I think was ultimately a little scary and questionable,” Tamblyn said in an interview about her writing process for the collection.

“One of the many great things about my husband is he never questioned that.”

The poet spoke more about both her poems and her acting when she visited W&J. Tamblyn spoke about how her own life inspired her to pursue her passions. A strong voice

in social activism, Tamblyn spoke during her visit about issues like race, sexuality, and gender in the industry.

She hosted multiple receptions during the day, attended a dinner party with a small group of Washington Fellows and held an open poetry reading in DieterPorter on April 26.

In the reading, aptly called “Not-Your-Typical-PoetryReading: Poems and Musings on the Creative Life,” Tamblyn spoke about her inspirations and read several pieces from “Dark Sparkler.”

In a poem about actress Brittany Murphy, Tamblyn wrote, “Her body dies like a spider’s / In the shower / the blooming flower / seeds a cemetery.”

Murphy died in 2009, and while Tamblyn did not know her personally, she often saw her at mutual auditions, and she felt compelled to tell her story.

While the subject matter of her poetry is dark, Tamblyn herself is endowed with a sunny disposition and her

Courtesy marieclaire.com

own brand of humor.

“When I met her, I thought she was so down-to-earth,” said W&J student Sarah Janczewski (class of 2019), who attended a reception and the poetry reading with Ms. Tamblyn.

“She has a claim to fame, but she was so welcoming and funny. She’s also a feminist icon, so it was really interesting to be able to interact with her in a personal setting.” After speaking at the poetry reading, Tamblyn took questions from the audience.

Audience members asked

about anything from poetry writing techniques to favorite film roles; to the delight of several fans, Tamblyn still feels partial to her iconic role as Tibby in “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.”

By speaking at W&J, Ms. Tamblyn exposed students to a new way of thinking about society.

With her powerful words, passionate soul, and humorous personality, Tamblyn advocates for social change in a way that will likely have lasting effects on her listeners and readers.

6 maY 2016

11 arts

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Female Empowerment in ‘The Huntsman’ Diana Ciarallo Red&Black Staff

Those who are familiar with the film, “Snow White and the Huntsman” (2012), may have thought that they had seen the last of the evil Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron).

Her reign of poison was brought to an end by her fair stepdaughter, Snow White (Kristen Stewart).

Snow White enlisted the help of an army, a band of seven dwarves, a handsome prince (Sam Claflin) and of course, the roguishly charming Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth).

“You thought this was just a game?”

The story did not end with the victorious Snow White’s coronation and a dark force does not simply just die.

It finds a way to come back.

The game isn’t quite finished yet.

Just like a game of chess, there are still more pieces to be played, more moves to be made and the queen rules the battlefield.

“What does the mirror show you, what do you see?”

There is a story that comes before happily ever after. The story is of Queen Ravenna’s

ice-hearted sister (Emily Blunt), whose long dormant magic power is awakened by a terrible betrayal, and of a young man named Eric and how he became known to others as The Huntsman.

In the first film, Hemsworth acts a haunting scene over Snow’s sleeping form wherein he mentions Sara, his wife who died tragically.

In an interview, Hemsworth expanded on this thread that connects the two films. “It’s a prequel…

It’s the backstory where, my character in the first one, he’s talking to Snow White about his wife. It’s filling in those

blanks. But also, where the Huntsman came from.”

“Love is a lie. It is a trick.”

Raised amongst the many

“Some evil cannot truly be vanquished.”

- The Huntsman: Winter’s War

children kidnapped by Queen Freya’s soldiers, Eric has spent nearly all his life training as

one of her personal warriors, while living under the only law that she has in her frozen wasteland kingdom: don’t fall in love.

Yet this did not stop him or the bow-wielding Sara (Jessica Chastain) from falling head over heels with each other.

This, of course, does not sit well with the queen who puts a barrier, literally and figuratively, between them and their love. Believing her to be dead, Eric and Sara’s story ends there. Or does it?

Years later, the evil forces of Queen Ravenna has been defeated and Snow White’s kingdom is prospering with

Courtesy rushesmagazine.com

her loyal Huntsman by her side.

Problems arise, however, as the evil powers that still reside in Ravenna’s mirror begin to exude their corrupting influence onto others. Under Snow White’s orders, Eric is to take the mirror away to a sanctuary where it can’t harm anyone.

Yet there are others who want the mirror and its power, and will do anything to get it into their hands.

Despite the title, this movie is just as much about its powerful, leading women that dominate the film as it is about Eric.

“We’re seeing women in more empowered roles, in roles that would be considered more masculine,” said Blunt.

“I feel quite positive about the shift that’s going on.”

Film fans who have become bored and disillusioned with movies that sport macho action figures and their stereotypical ‘girlfriend,’ who is usually just there to function as the hero’s love interest, will find this film to be a welcome change from the usual maledominated films that reach the silver screen.

Charlize Theron commented on this, saying, “Audiences are loving women stepping up and doing what they’re supposed to do.

They’re doing it in society, so why is it not reflected in film?”

6 maY 2016

11 arts

Red & Black

Female Empowerment in ‘The Huntsman’ Diana Ciarallo Red&Black Staff

Those who are familiar with the film, “Snow White and the Huntsman” (2012), may have thought that they had seen the last of the evil Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron).

Her reign of poison was brought to an end by her fair stepdaughter, Snow White (Kristen Stewart).

Snow White enlisted the help of an army, a band of seven dwarves, a handsome prince (Sam Claflin) and of course, the roguishly charming Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth).

“You thought this was just a game?”

The story did not end with the victorious Snow White’s coronation and a dark force does not simply just die.

It finds a way to come back.

The game isn’t quite finished yet.

Just like a game of chess, there are still more pieces to be played, more moves to be made and the queen rules the battlefield.

“What does the mirror show you, what do you see?”

There is a story that comes before happily ever after. The story is of Queen Ravenna’s

ice-hearted sister (Emily Blunt), whose long dormant magic power is awakened by a terrible betrayal, and of a young man named Eric and how he became known to others as The Huntsman.

In the first film, Hemsworth acts a haunting scene over Snow’s sleeping form wherein he mentions Sara, his wife who died tragically.

In an interview, Hemsworth expanded on this thread that connects the two films. “It’s a prequel…

It’s the backstory where, my character in the first one, he’s talking to Snow White about his wife. It’s filling in those

blanks. But also, where the Huntsman came from.”

“Love is a lie. It is a trick.”

Raised amongst the many

“Some evil cannot truly be vanquished.”

- The Huntsman: Winter’s War

children kidnapped by Queen Freya’s soldiers, Eric has spent nearly all his life training as

one of her personal warriors, while living under the only law that she has in her frozen wasteland kingdom: don’t fall in love.

Yet this did not stop him or the bow-wielding Sara (Jessica Chastain) from falling head over heels with each other.

This, of course, does not sit well with the queen who puts a barrier, literally and figuratively, between them and their love. Believing her to be dead, Eric and Sara’s story ends there. Or does it?

Years later, the evil forces of Queen Ravenna has been defeated and Snow White’s kingdom is prospering with

Courtesy rushesmagazine.com

her loyal Huntsman by her side.

Problems arise, however, as the evil powers that still reside in Ravenna’s mirror begin to exude their corrupting influence onto others. Under Snow White’s orders, Eric is to take the mirror away to a sanctuary where it can’t harm anyone.

Yet there are others who want the mirror and its power, and will do anything to get it into their hands.

Despite the title, this movie is just as much about its powerful, leading women that dominate the film as it is about Eric.

“We’re seeing women in more empowered roles, in roles that would be considered more masculine,” said Blunt.

“I feel quite positive about the shift that’s going on.”

Film fans who have become bored and disillusioned with movies that sport macho action figures and their stereotypical ‘girlfriend,’ who is usually just there to function as the hero’s love interest, will find this film to be a welcome change from the usual maledominated films that reach the silver screen.

Charlize Theron commented on this, saying, “Audiences are loving women stepping up and doing what they’re supposed to do.

They’re doing it in society, so why is it not reflected in film?”

12 arts

Red & Black

6 May 2016

Album Review: Hozier’s Soulful Self-Titled Debut Kayla Marasia Red&Black Arts Section Editor

Cutting through the masses of shallow songwriting and basic melodies is the soulful, bluesy voice of Hozier, whose lyrical and vocal talents make him one of the most distinct talents of the modern music industry.

The 26 year-old singersongwriter hails from County Wicklow, Ireland, and first rose to fame with his hit song “Take Me to Church.”

Hozier’s self-titled debut studio album, released in September of 2014, explores religion, tolerance, social issues and intimate relationships.

He draws inspiration from R&B, blues, rock and jazz music; his father was a blues drummer, and he often played records of his favorite artists while Hozier was growing up.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, Hozier said, “I was listening [to soul and blues music] before I could walk or talk. It was always very close to my heart.”

In a unique twist, Hozier’s deep, soulful voice is often accompanied by sounds reminiscent of a gospel choir, which adds a transcendent and spiritual quality to many of his songs; however, Hozier

remains grounded in his roots and never strays too far from reality, using allusions and metaphor in his lyrics only to emphasize his messages.

In the rhythmic feel-good “From Eden,” Hozier alludes to the biblical fall from Eden when he sings about the sweet temptation of sin, “Innocence died screaming, honey, ask me, I should know / I slithered here from Eden just to sit outside your door.”

Hozier often uses his music as an outlet to bring light to social issues like sexuality, intolerance and even domestic abuse, such as in his soft ballad “Cherry Wine.”

Upon first listening, one might believe the song to be about the innocence and beauty of love.

However, the song carries a more sinister meaning: it is a sort of love song, but Hozier wrote it about the uglier, painful, unhealthy parts of romantic love that can manifest in domestic abuse.

Told from point of view of the abuser, the lyrics say, “The way she tells me I’m hers and she is mine / Open hand or closed fist would be fine / The blood is rare and sweet as cherry wine.”

While many of his songs carry dark themes, Hozier manages to poignantly capture several emotions of life throughout his work.

In “Jackie and Wilson,” named for the R&B singer

Jackie Wilson, Hozier playfully sings about a youthful, carefree relationship, “We’ll steal a Lexus, be detectives / Ride ‘round picking up clues / We’ll name our children Jackie and Wilson, / Raise ‘em on rhythm and blues.”

The Irish singer is also heavily influenced by his home in Ireland. In his sweetsounding “Like Real People Do,” he drew inspiration from a series of poems by Seamus Heaney about the northern Irish bog.

In the song, Hozier tells the story of someone digging someone from under the earth and falling in love with them. During the chorus, Hozier croons, “Honey, just

put your sweet lips on my lips / We should just kiss, like real people do.”

The lyrics are rather whimsical, but listeners can find pieces of themselves in all of Hozier’s work.

Despite the artist’s rapid rise to fame, he has not been overcome with his stardom; he manages to have a healthy dose of humor to balance his brooding lyrics.

In a live performance in London, Hozier introduced a his next song as being “based on a nursery rhyme that my parents sang to me as a child. It’s called, ‘Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene.’” Met with uneasy laugher in the audience, the

Courtesy rollingstone.com

singer adjusted his guitar cord and hid a sly smile. “It’s not really a nursery rhyme . . . What would you think of my parents?”

Often donning a flannel and twisting his curly hair into a carefree “man-bun,” Hozier is a self-proclaimed introvert who never seems anything but genuine.

With his poetic lyrics and acoustic guitar by his side, Hozier’s soulful debut is an effective medium to convey both the suffering and the beauty of the human condition.

If you’re looking to do some soul-searching, I would recommend that you add it to your playlist this summer.

6 MaY 2016

Red & Black

Excerpt of a Play: ‘Members Only’ “Members Only” is a play written in 2016 by W&J student Tim Blair, Jr. The play centers around a group of Italians living in Brooklyn, New York. Dominic and Vincenzo, two men in their thirties, have been friends since childhood.

The following excerpt was taken from near the ending of the play.

AT RISE: DOMINIC LEOTARDO is walking across the stage wearing a gray Members Only jacket, gray collared shirt, black pants, and a big spot of blood around his stomach region. He begins to crawl.

13 arts

Poetry Corner

by Diana Ciarallo Red&Black Staff

“Skull in Dad’s Office or Alas, Poor Yorrick” The maggots were found Dead in his head As he was found Lifeless in his home They ate away what was inside They raised a family there Lived happily ever after Until the medical school foreclosed

DOMINIC: Ahhhhh. Ahhh. Son of a bitch. I’m gonna die. I’m gonna die.

(VINCENZO runs onstage and holds DOMINIC) VINCENZO: Holy shit! Dom, what the hell happened?

DOMINIC: I got hit, I got hit. Is it bad? Is it? Holy shit, it’s bad.

(VINCENZO tries desperately to staunch the flow of blood) DOMINIC: I’m gonna die, aren’t I? This is it.

VINCENZO: Slow down, slow down. It’s gonna be all right. Who did this to you?

DOMINIC: His . . . his . . .

VINCENZO: Come on, what happened!?

DOMINIC: It was . . . his . . .son. I should’ve never gotten involved. I’m sorry.

I . . . should’ve never tried to retaliate. Revenge only leads . . . to more blood.

“Three Little Birds” A boat in the lake Radio croons like a dove Sun is gentle and warm Like a mother’s love Craft in water’s sway Cradle rocking me to sleep Every little thing Gonna be alright….

14 Opinions The substantial increase in our tuition would be understandable if adjusted for...

P. 15

Red & Black

6 May 2016

OPINIONS

Overall, there is no doubt GMO’s will remain a vital part of our food production...

P. 16

Thanks for Another Great Year from Us Here with the Where Is All Our Money Going Red&Black Staff!

W&J Tuition Raise: Chris Frydryck Red&Black Staff

Recent uproar on campus and anonymous posting on the app “Yik Yak” ensued during President Tori Haring-Smith’s annual “President’s Letter.” Every year, the letter holds multiple paragraphs exclaiming the success of upcoming graduates and W&J’s success at fostering students to reach their potential. This theme tends to continue until the final two paragraphs. One of which exclaiming that parents should sit in on the board of trustees meeting, and the other is always the raise in tuition.

Admittedly, every student that sees the subject of this email immediately scrolls down to the bottom.

Understanding the common trend of

raising tuition, students cross their fingers hoping that one day they will see that there is no increase in attending W&J, and every year we are sadly disappointed.

For those who have been living under a rock, or rightfully did not want to read the ten paragraph email, W&J established a comprehensive fee of $56,512 USD, which is over $2000 from the 2015-2016 school year. And before everyone just throws money at this issue, let me throw some numbers at you.

Assuming that there are around 1,500 students, a simple $2000 increase will raise the revenue of W&J by $3 million dollars.

I briefly talked with a few anonymous faculty members, all of which exclaimed Continued on page 15

The semester is finally coming to a close and, for us here with the Red&Black, that means that we are publishing our last issue of the year. Its been a great year for the Red&Black; the staff has been working hard from August to now to create a more interesting and professional source of news for the W&J community. The paper has seen such changes as the introduction of columns in several sections, a new look for the front page, and a new website. The entire staff is excited to take a break for the summer, but then to come back and continue to improve the newspaper as soon as we all return to school in the fall.

The Red&Black staff would just like to take a moment to thank everyone, from the contributors to the editors to the advisors, who works hard every week to put out a quality student newspaper. Without you, the Red&Black would not be possible. We would also like to thank you, the readers of the Red&Black, for continuing to support the newspaper. Without you, the staff ’s work would be worthless.

Finally, the Red&Black staff would like to say that we hope everyone had a great semester and good luck on finals. We hope that everyone has a great summer. To the seniors that are graduating, good luck on the next step in your life! We will miss you. To everyone else, see you in the fall!

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

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

College or its students, faculty, or administration.

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

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

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.

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

6 May 2016

15 Opinions

Red & Black

Tuition Continues the Trend of Increasing Each Year

Courtesy of hcap.artstor.org

The Jesse W. Lazear Chemistry Hall, the home of the chemistry department before the Swanson Science Center was constructed, is currently an unsuable building on campus.

Continued from page 14 something along the means of, “we [the faculty] were not even informed of this increase in tuition. This money does not go to our salaries, and sometimes we wonder where this money even goes.”

Well, I can tell you where some of the money goes. The administration. Where the other money goes, I cannot tell you.

After doing some investigative work (thanks Google), I had found that the base pay for our top officials and other administrative board is almost unanimously in the six figure range. After five years at W&J, it seems that the administrative board was given quite a generous raise/bonus. And while we are

on the topic of affordability of W&J, our administration go every year to what is called an “education summit.” It is a group of presidents and high officials of universities nationally that come together to talk about making college affordable. And while this is greatly appreciated, we beg that our administration takes action on what they learned at this summit.

President Tori HaringSmith even exclaimed in an interview with the Heinz Endowment, “You can’t say to a kid from a coal mining town in West Virginia, ‘We’re letting you into the college, but you can’t study abroad because you can’t afford it.’”

With this substantial raise in tuition, soon nobody will be able to even afford

the college, let alone study abroad.

The substantial increase in our tuition would be understandable if adjusted for inflation.

During the 2013-2014 academic year, W&J costed $49,530.00, which adjusted for inflation to day would be $49,822.07.

With the announcement of $56,512, it seems that the $6,689.93 is unjustified. For approximately $7,000 increase in the past few years, what have we the students truly gained that was so different from the 20132014 academic year?

And possibly this is poor financial management.

Signs around campus had announced that we broke our goal of $100 million by a whopping $3 million. And it is understandable the school

preferred to update buildings that needed updates/ renovations.

But instead of finishing the tech center, updating president’s row or making the chemistry building actually useable, we decided to build a third gym.

However, with the extra $3 million generously donated to us, this could easily compensate for the raise in tuition since the “uncommon bond” campaign’s first funding category is Student-Faculty Support.

Explicitly exclaiming, “The earnings from endowments can be used annually to support scholarships and financial aid to students, special programs, and faculty salaries and benefits.” This spare $3 million dollars could

easily help cover our raising tuition or give a bonus to our well-deserved professors.

While we the students are sitting here wondering where all this debt, lack of financial aid or where all of us went wrong, the school seems not to be listening to the students at all. We are the reason why this institution is able to run in the first place.

So yes, they can and will replace us in the future with other unwilling participants on their agenda to give great financial aid and then bump up the price.

But someday I hope that we the students as a collective can stand up to the issue and acknowledge the hypocrisy and blind eye that the school has turned towards its students.

16 Opinions

6 May 2016

W&J Hot Topic: Red & Black

Genetically Modified Organisms GMO’s Are a Vital Part of Our Food Production

Courtesy of henryhalse.com

Leah Segal Red&Black Staff

Imagine a single apple the size of a walnut, or an orange the size of a grape. Well, flashback to a few thousand years ago, and that is exactly what you would find.

You see, the fruits and vegetables we eat and buy at the grocery stores today are simply caricatures of their

ancestral foods from long ago.

And through a combination of “food darwinism” and the production of GMO’s— we were graced with the big juicy food we have today. That being said, I consciously believe GMO’s are in fact a good thing and can have many benefits.

While some harp on the evils of GMO’s, few actually know the history behind them. GMO, defined as an organism or microorganism whose genetic material has been altered by means of genetic engineering; farmers

and scientists alike have “played with their food” since Gregor Mendel’s pea pod theory.

With this in mind, GMO’s are actually a positive force in our environment. By genetically altering the makeup of a carrot or an olive, can make the food healthier and more abundant.

And while people argue that this is “not natural,” the modification of food has been occurring in nature since our homo-sapiens ancestors decided to settle

down. When faced with the dilemma of planting an apple tree that bared small fruit, or one that produced large fruit, the obvious choice would be the larger one. Therefore overtime, apples would naturally become larger. In the same sense, scientists take advantage of the ability to create larger fruits to feed a growing population.

Additionally, GMO’s are the future for third world countries. In the past few years, scientists have come together to create Golden Rice.

Produced through genetic engineering to biosynthesize beta-carotene, the rice enables people who lack vital vitamins and minerals a chance at healthy living.

Overall, there is no doubt GMO’s will remain a vital part of our food production.

With that in mind, hopefully the negative stigma that accompanies these superfoods will disappear. After all, in a world where people are wracked with hunger and malnutrition, who wouldn’t want to help?

6 May 2016

W&J Hot Topic: Red & Black

17 Opinions

Genetically Modified Organisms The Real Dangers Behind GMOs Carolyn Wilson Red&Black Copy Editor

America, where we eat 31% more packaged foods than fresh foods, 60% of the population is overweight or obese, 1 in 17 kids under the age of three has a food allergy, and we allow genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into our food.

GMOs are defined as “living organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering, or GE” according to the Non-GMO Project.

What perhaps is most shocking is that in more than 60 countries around the world, including Japan, Australia and the countries in

the EU, GMOs are banned or have strict restrictions on the production and sales.

When GMOs were first introduced to the food supply in the 1990’s, it was

hormones, for profitability, these cows became sick. To make the cows “healthy,” the dairy industry gave the cows antibodies.

There was no testing to

these products until they are proven to be safe. However, in America we took the approach of well, it hasn’t hurt anyone yet so we can sell it and consume it until proved

There was no testing to see if the foods would be safe for human consumption; and instead of allowing this food to be sold and consumed to the public in those 60 plus other countries, they said they will now allow the selling or consumption of these products until they are proven to be safe. However, in America we took the approach of well, it hasn’t hurt anyone yet so we can sell it and consume it until proved otherwise.

to maximize profitability for the food industry, not to provide the public with healthy, safe and nutritious food. As a result of the dairy industry injecting the cows with genetically modified proteins and synthetic growth

see if the foods would be safe for human consumption; and instead of allowing this food to be sold and consumed to the public in those 60 plus other countries, they said they will now allow the selling or consumption of

otherwise. However, there has been a 265% increase in the rate of hospitalization of children from food allergies, from 1997 to 2002 the peanut allergy doubled, America has the highest rates of cancer in the entire

world, 1 in 8 women have breast cancer with only 1 in 10 from genetic causes, meaning 9 out of 10 are caused by their environment.

GMOs go beyond our health though; it affects the planet as well. GMOs are engineered for herbicide tolerance, so the use of toxic herbicides, such as Roundup, has increased 15 times since the start of GMOs. Furthermore, the creation of GMOs comes along with “super weeds” and “super bugs” that can only be killed with even more toxic herbicides, such as 2, 4-D. I am not saying the idea behind GMOs are bad; the increased availability of food is ideally great. Yet, the testing of GMOs needs to be done to see how safe they are to eat and for the environment.

Until then, because I know asking to stop production of GMOs is an impossible task, there should be food labeling that indicates if the food was made with GMOs. Remember: you are what you eat, so eat real food.

18 Sports

SPORTS NEWS Red & Black

6 M ay 2016

Novak Djokvic and Serena Williams Win Laureus Top Athlete

Courtesy japantimes.com

Michael Nejak Red&Black Staff

The Laureus World Sports Awards is an annual award ceremony recognizing some of the world’s greatest athletes and their outstanding achievements throughout the year.

In order to find the winners of the Laureus World Sports Awards, the Laureus

Nominations Panel, consisting of professional sports broadcasters, editors and writers, vote to create a short list of six nominees for each of the five categories.

These categories include: Laureus World Sportsman of the Year, Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year, Laureus World Team of the Year, Laureus World Comeback of the Year and Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year.

Now the last two catego-

ries, Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year and Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability, are chosen by panels consisting of specialists.

The 2016 Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony took place in Berlin on April 18.

Some of the top nominees for this year’s ceremony is comprised of athletes such as Stephen Curry, Usain Bolt, Lionel Messi, Novak Djokovic as well as many others. Soccer player Lionel Messi and

basketball star Stephen Curry have been acknowledged for their outstanding recent achievements, in which both of them have been nominated for one of the most prestigious award, the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year.

After leading his team Barcelona to five major honors in 2015, Lionel Messi reasserted himself as one of the greatest soccer players in history.

Having never won a Laureus award before, if he would be crowned the winner in the

German capital coming up, he will become the first soccer player to ever receive the accolade.

Similar to Messi, Curry would also become the first from his sport to win this highly distinguished award.

Averaging an impressing 30.7 points per game, he has become a leader and steps up to the plate when it matters for his team.

Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams won the 2016 Laureus Sports Award.

6 M ay 2016

19 sports

Athlete Spotlight: Jacob “Teddy” Succup Red & Black

Courtesy gopresidents.com

Michael Nejak Red&Black Staff

Jacob “Teddy” Succup (class of 2016), goalie for the Presidents Men’s lacrosse team, has been outstanding in the first games of the 2016 season.

Growing up in the Pittsburgh area, Succop has been playing lacrosse since the fifth grade.

During his senior year of

high school, he led his team to win the WPIAL division I championship. At the end of the season, he achieved the honorable All-WPIAL and All-Section award. As a senior in college, he has won two W&J Athlete of the Week Awards.

In the 2015 season, Succop made a remarkable 228 saves in 15 games as a junior. Leading his team to a 7-7 record, he assisted in helping his team to tie the W&J Men’s Lacrosse Win-Loss school record.

Already six games into the 2016 season, he has stopped

an incredible 94 shots. On pace to break his career save record, Succop is not only looking to shatter that record but is even more enthusiastic to help lead his team win the Ohio River Valley Lacrosse Conference title.

While other goalies may feel pressure as the outcome of the game often rests on their shoulders, Succop isn’t one of them.

“I feel like a lot of goalies feel the pressure but I’m not really too worried when I’m on the field. I try not to stay as calm as possible and not

worry about anything while I’m playing.”

Succop has found success in not only his academics, but also through lacrosse.

Looking back on his time playing the sport, he remembers one particular memory fondly: “One of my favorite memories would most likely be winning the PAC Championship against Saint Vincent freshman and going 7-0 at the start of last season.”

As a senior ready to graduate, Succop remembers making the decision to choose

W&J College.

“I was most excited to come to a good academic school and still be able to play lacrosse.

I didn’t necessarily come here just for lacrosse though.”

His season high was against York, PA when he faced 65 shots.

The men’s lacrosse team finished the regular season 6-10 and 5-2 in the ORLC with a pair of one-goal losses, has clinched a berth in the conference tournament in its first year as a league member.

6 M ay 2016

20 Finance

BUSINESS & FINANCE Red & Black

Market Movers of the Week Investment of the Week: Lending Tree Nathan Repine Red&Black Contributor

Many times, there are swift changes in securities and other commodities in such a small span of time. Some stocks can jump 10% or fall 40% in a mere 24 hour period. Whether the reason is an earnings report gone right or wrong, an internal scandal or a change in management, it happens for the good of some and not so good for others (depending on their position). Some of the recent heavy movers will be discussed below.

On April 28, Amazon.com (AMZN) had its quarterly earnings report. The consensus predicted earnings per share was .61 per share. When earnings were released, the earnings showed a 1.07 EPS per share. This massive surprise caused the stock to jump close to 12% the opening of the next trading day. Business Insider writer Eugene Kim says, “It’s a huge beat across the board.”

A recent stock collapse is Valeant Pharmaceuticals (VRX). The stock once stood at $252 in August of 2015, and now sits at roughly $33.

Within the past 5 days (week of April 25 to 29) the stock fell 10%, half of which occurred that Friday. The catalyst for the main losses stemmed from the March earnings report, where it lost close to 48% of its

value within a 24 hour period.

There’s no way, however, that this all came from a report right? Take into consideration the CEO got extremely ill, a mediocre future’s guidance, and poor implementation of company acquisitions coupled with poor ROI (return on investment) on boughtout companies. Forbes contributor David Trainer wrote, “We’ve been highlighting the dangers of Valeant for over two years and we do not see them abating as long as management is incentivized to destroy shareholder value.”

On April 26, Apple Inc. (AAPL) had its quarterly earnings report. The stock has a strong track record for growth and positive earnings reports. However, this quarter would come as a surprise to many investors. When earnings were released, Apple missed Investor expectations and fell over 7% when the market opened the next day.

Many hedge funds and “safe” investment groups have this stock in their portfolios and they all took the hit. Up to date, the stock has still seen loss and expert investor Carl Icahn has to this date dumped all of his Apple stock. He states that, “You worry a little bit – and maybe more than a little – about China’s attitude,” which refers to their government ban on iTunes movies and iBooks. This could have been the precursor to Apple’s poor earnings report.

Nathan Repine Red&Black Contributor

This week’s recommended investment of the week is LendingTree, Inc. (Ticker Symbol TREE).

The company plays the role of connecting those who are seeking a loan and those who are willing to loan money. Essentially, it plays the role of a middle man and acts as a broker between loan seekers and lenders.

The stock sadly does not pay out a dividend.

The company sparked some interest recently from a big player with a lot of cash: Wells Fargo.

The giant bank, according to The Vista Voice, increased its stake in Lending Tree by 42.6% during the fourth quarter. Not only that, other hedge funds and companies have upped their ante in the company.

This includes Emerald Mutual Fund Advisors Trust, Bank of Montreal and Columbus Circle Investors.

Many consumers and users of LendingTree left positive reviews about the company on various websites as well to further boost credibility and reliability.

TopTenReviews, a company who writes reviews and critiques on different compa-

Courtesy vimeocdn.com

nies said, “When we contacted the company, we had positive experience with its customer service.”

They were also assured and proved that quotes are instant to what the consumer needed, and there was no waiting time.

The Street, a security reviewing website, says the stock is currently rated as a buy. It further states reasoning in “robust revenue growth, notable return on equity, expanding profit margins, solid stock price performance and compelling growth in net income.”

The company has an earnings report on May 4. The consensus EPS (earnings per share) is $.73, and combined expert Investor Sentiment

concluded a 68% chance of earnings beat.

Earnings Whisper, a very credible and accurate predictor of earnings reports for various companies, predicts a $.80 EPS for LendingTree.

With the increased investment by big players, the decent predictions by earnings whisper, good recommendations by outside parties and strong goal of the business, will it be a positive earnings to be released and future to come?

Well, only time will tell, and the earnings soon to come will be a decent precursor to direct the company in the short-term along with future guidance to come shortly thereafter.