Red & Black
The Free
s t u d e n t n e w s pa p e r o f w a s h i n g t o n a n d j e f f e r s o n c o l l e g e w j r e da n d b l ac k . c o m W a s h i n g t o n , P e n n s y lva n i a September 13, 2019
WHAT’S IN THIS WEEK’S PAPER... DIVERSITY “A diverse space is where equal representation is seen in a general sense, but an inclusive space is where there is representation, recognition and celebration of all different backgrounds and identities.” -P.6
Support for Students of Color at W&J PAGE 7
CULTURE
“For people who like fantasy, English majors, or people just curious about mythology, the book is an excellent study of how ancient people would use stories to recount history.” -P.14
OPINIONS “As the average global temperature continues to rise, natural disasters occur more and more often, such as hurricanes. The best way to resolve any problem is by fixing its cause rather than its symptoms.” -P.16
SPORTS
“Although the W&J Presidents were facing a higher-ranked opponent, Coach Sirianni was able to lead the presidents to a 16 -8 victory.” -P.18 Courtesy wjsister2sister
WJREDANDBLACK.COM
2 CAMPUS NEWS
Red & Black
13 September 2019
Letter from The R&B Service Day Opportunity Welcome back to the weekly publication of the Red & Black, W&J’s student run newspaper. We have undergone many changes including moving our office location, adding the Diversity section and welcoming many new members to our editorial board. With all of these changes, we are extremely excited to start the new year.
Service day at Tom’s Run trail clearing project. Looking for excited environmentally driven college students to come and participate. Refreshments may be provided. This unique opportunity can also count towards the Biology Community Engagement hours. This event will take place on 21 Sept 2019.
The Diversity section was created to increase awareness of resources available to members of our multicultural community and provide a voice to the entire student body. As the student newspaper, our main goal is to respresent every aspect of campus, including academic departments, athletic teams, clubs and extraordinary students. This year, the paper includes Campus, Culture, Opinions, Diversity and Sports sections. We are also working to create a more interactive connection between our social media accounts and student opinions, hoping
Courtesy waterlandlife.org
to include real-time updates from students. This way, our
For more information please contact Maggie
publication will better reflect the thoughts and opinions
McQuaid at mcquaidma@jay.washjeff.edu or
of the student body.
Andy Zadnik at azadnik@paconserve.org
13 September 2019
Red & Black
3 CAMPUS NEWS
Club Spotlight: The French Club
Courtesy Alondra Martinez Osorno
The French Club participated in the first student-organized International Fair.
Alondra Martinez Osorno Red & Black Contributor
Students at W&J are required to graduate with an equivalent of two foreign language courses. In some cases, students test out of the foreign language requirement, but it is more common for students to continue a language they learned in high school or earn their credits by learning a new language. As a result, students take an interest in foreign cultures that
go beyond the classroom lessons. Fortunately, foreign language clubs have taken the initiative of organizing cultural activities for students. Some foreign language clubs on campus include the German Club, the Spanish Club, and the Asian Cultural Association. However, in the spring of 2019, the French Club joined the list. Under the guidance of Dr. Frenchik-Crampton as the French Club advisor, the French Club was reinstalled. The club presented a proposal in front of the Student Government Association (SGA) before initiating any activities. Not long after being approved, the French Club started establishing its
presence on campus. The French Club participated in the first-ever International Fair. It prepared homemade crêpes with fresh strawberries, bananas, Nutella and hand-whipped cream. In addition to food, there was a perfume making station that included traditional scents found in France. The crêpe event was a hit, and the students requested the event to be organized again later in the semester. The French Club’s priorities include French culture and exposure to French topics discussed outside of the classroom. There is no previous language knowledge required, but it brings students of all French-speaking levels
together. Freshman Montzerrat Martinez is eagerly looking forward to what the Club has to offer. Being a student who has studied French for a while, she wants to get a more in-depth understanding of French culture — more than she got in high school. The French Club President, Kiley Miller, extends the invitation to all students interested in the francophone world. “For languages, you either use it, or you lose it. This goes for anything. If you have a passion for French cuisine, film, music, language or anything of the culture, this is a place to have the limitless opportunity to align it with your interests,” Miller explains.
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13 September 2019
Red & Black
Student Spotlight: Grace Abror ‘20 Genea Richardson Red & Black Contributor
Meet Grace Abror. Her friends and loved ones call her Gracey. Abror is a sociable and active student here at Washington & Jefferson College. Now that she is a senior, you can find her most of the time in Swanson or tucked away studying as her degree in Pre-med and Biology is peeking around the corner. Recently she has been thinking about ‘throwing on’ a chemistry minor since it would only require her to take a few more courses. Even with her rigorous course schedule, Abror still is very active in the community and on campus. Her passion for biology is fueled by her strong desire to help others. In her free time, Grace enjoys relaxing, spending time with her boyfriend, who is a ’19 graduate, or she facetimes her family. “My nephews are my life. They are the cutest, hands down,” Abror explained. Abror was also a member of the cheerleading team for the football and basketball season, holds a place as Community Outreach team leader and, volunteers and works at the local Teen Center and Turning Point three-quarter home. Being a Matthew Brown and Charles West scholar has provided Abror the opportunities to give back to the community through places like the
Courtesy Genea Richardson
Senior Grace Abror featured above is ready to cheer on the football team this season.
Women with Children sector of Turing Point. However, that’s not all; she is also a member of the co-ed fraternity, APO, and has held a Global Ambassador position over the summer. Though Global Ambassadors have a ‘beginning’ and ‘end’ date on paper, the job continues throughout the year. Being an ambassador allowed Grace to
develop a strong relationship with the International student community and has taught her about different cultures and their “everyday routines.” Abror said, “There are so many things in this world I am passionate about, and I’d like to be of service in any way that I can.” Abror has a big heart. Her plans to be a pediatrician
and eventually do mission work for children across the world shows only a portion of her kindness and desire to help communities. If you see Grace around campus, get to know her before you miss the chance. She is involved in a lot, and it is a bonus to know such a genuinely kind person.
13 September 2019
DIVERSITY Red & Black
Diversity 5
Multicultural Student Representation at W&J
Courtesy wjdiversity Instagram
Multicultral clubs allow students to have a support system throughout their academic careers at W&J.
Carolina Velazco Red & Black Contributor
Making the decision to go to college means that you have taken the next step on your educational journey. Reasons to go to college may vary. For most, it’s a chance to find themselves, meet more people, make new friends
and learn more. However, when a person of color (POC) chooses to go to college, they may go to create new spaces for other students of color and beat stereotypes. When thinking about the concept of representation in an institution, there are many questions that come to mind. Are the students being accurately represented within the faculty, staff, student body, school events,
cultural events and even the material being taught in classrooms? A lack of adequate representation from a racial, ethnic, and cultural background and identity can be discouraging and affect the college experience. When asked about diversity initiatives on campus, Leo Ofili ‘21 found that “true diversity initiatives are ones which aid the development of these very individuals who have been disadvantaged by previous systems.” “These multicultural organizations led by students serve as a major step in aiding this development, unlike normal diversity initiatives that simply seem welcoming” said Ofili. Overall, students of color do not feel accurately represented at Washington & Jefferson College, but the lack of representation does not need to be our demise. Joining multicultural organizations on campus can help with connecting minority students while building a welcoming community. When asked about multicultural clubs on campus, Jasmine Campuzano ‘20 says, “W&J has clubs that allow students to learn
C o n tac t
E d i to r i a l P o l i c y 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.
and teach others about different backgrounds and cultures. It’s the students’ job to be willing to educate themselves and become intellectually diverse. It would be nice for all classes to require students to attend at least one event of a different multicultural club a month, because, sadly, some students do need a push. I wish they would be willing to do so, because the students in these multicultural clubs are excited to educate their classmates.” For those that take part in these multicultural clubs, including myself, we hope to see professors and other staff members attend meetings and events; in general, we hope that they engage with the student body both in and out of the classroom. Like Campuzano and Ofili, students that join these multicultural clubs at W&J encourage others to join. Students of multicultural groups should encourage others to take their narrative and share it. They should let their voices be heard, break down cultural barriers, and take up space that they truly deserve.
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.
Telephone: FAX: E-mail: Mailing Address:
(724) 503-1001 ext. 3381 (724) 503-1049 redandblackstaff@jay. washjeff.edu Red & Black 60 S. Lincoln St. Washington, PA 15301
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Red & Black
13 september 2019
The Overall Diversity of W&J as a Campus Carolina Velazco Red & Black Contributor
Washington and Jefferson College has come to be a diverse campus due to the voice of its students. Clubs, organizations, sports teams, and greek life are the voice of campus, and they help create the culture of W&J. When one talks about diversity, one must also think about inclusion.However, these terms cannot be used interchangeably. A diverse space is where equal representation is seen in a general sense, but an inclusive space is where there is representation, recognition and celebration of all different backgrounds and identities. Students want to be represented on campus in every sense of the word, so the intersectionality of the diverse backgrounds and identities of all students should be considered. Jasmine Campuzano’20 said, “I feel that visibly, when I walk around campus, there is a lack of diversity. It is not 100 percent the fault of W&J due to the geographic location we are in. But I believe that we can also take that and use it to our advantage. W&J is a small college, meaning our communities and spaces are small as well. Students, professors, faculty and staff are able to carry their narratives and teach others to be intellectually diverse. Being intellectually diverse means being aware of the communities and identities on campus.”
Courtesy washjeff.edu
The Office of Diversity and Leadership aids in the representation of underrepresented groups on campus.
Campuzano participates in the Latinx Cultural Association, Sister 2 Sister and the Community Engagement Office. She is a student that has maintained her involvement on campus and with the Washington community since her freshman year. As a senior, Campuzano and many other students, professors and faculty have witnessed the changes on campus. No matter who is new to campus, there is no doubt that W&J strives toward a more diverse campus. However, W&J still has a long way to go in order for many students to feel
accurately represented, as it is difficult to feel a sense of inclusion in an instution that is predominantly white. When asked about diversity on campus, Kelsey Julien ‘21 said, “The term diversity has been overused and now serves as a symbolic pat on the back for all of those who seek to make their administrations seen more inclusive.” Sister 2 Sister is a fairly new organization that was brought to campus by Julien in 2018. Clubs like Sister 2 Sister are extremely important to W&J because it creates spaces for both current and
future students. By creating inclusive spaces, celebrating all cultures and informing others, students can take part in making W&J a more diverse campus. There are also some W&J administrators that deserve recognition. The Office of Diversity and Leadership continues to do amazing work to accurately represent multicultural groups on campus. With efforts of students, professors and faculty members, W&J can become a college that represents, celebrates and recognizes every background and identity on campus.
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7 diversity
Students of Color Look for Support at W&J Genea Richardson Red & Black Contributor
Diversity can be somewhat of a buzzword to Universities Admissions Offices and students. Small liberal arts colleges that are historically less diversely-populated face the challenge of creating a multicultural student body. Colleges such as Washington & Jefferson College often have to prioritize recruitment for students of color to bridge the diversity gap. According to collegefactual.com, W&J is ranked slightly above average in overall diversity at #759 nationwide. Specifically, having an ethnic diversity ranking score of about 30 in comparison to a national average score of 45. Many college students value the opportunity to meet and learn from others from different ethnic and racial backgrounds. Given the scoring, W&J is not soaring the charts in Ethnic Diversity, but the college continues to progress forward, providing students of color with a support group in hopes that it positively impacts the on-campus experience for minorities. For instance, the Charles West Scholars is a selective scholarship that educates, engages, and empowers black-identifying students at W&J. Although the award was initially for AA-identifying male students, in recent years the program has expanded to include female students as well. The program often collaborates with another minority initiative that has similar goals, the YES Prep program.
Courtesy wjsister2sister
Sister 2 Sister is a newly founded organization aimed at increasing inclusion.
YES Prep Scholars centers around Latinx students from the YES Prep school system who chose to attend W&J. The committed initiative goal is to strengthen cultural awareness, diversity, education, and development. Members of these programs are often a part of other diversity-based communities such as the Black Student Union(BSU), Latino Cultural Association (LCA), Asian Cultural Association, and a newly introduced organization, Sister to Sister. The blended attendance of these organizations
creates a type of “secondary” support system on campus that allows for the growth of minority student leaders. Joshua Lacks ’19 says, “The recent addition of S2S [Sister to Sister] is evidence that W&J is progressively supporting the different aspects of minority students. As a black student on campus, it was not only important to me that we were supported as a whole [community] but, that the different experiences of the [black] male and female were recognized as well.” As diversity hopefully continues to grow on
campus, so does the need for inclusivity and minority engagement. An anonymous source states, “It is one aspect to have the programs in place but, hearing the voice(s) create a greater impact amongst us, students.” The office of Diversity and Inclusive Campus Engagement, coordinated by Sammie Walker and located in the HUB, strengthens cultural awareness through a variety of student and staffled organizations, not only limited to ethnic diversity but other minority demographics as well.
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1 3 September 2019
How Climate Change Is Affecting Us Directly Kiley Miller Red & Black Contributor
Climate change is not something that we have fallen victim to. Humans have impacted and progressed the rate of climate change. As a result, carbon monoxide and dioxide emissions from vehicles, planes, boats, industrial plants and countless others have impacted global emissions for centuries. As humans continue to make their mark on the planet, our carbon footprint continues to heat it up. In 2018 alone, global temperature was recorded to be 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the 1951 to 1980 average (NASA, NOAA). That may not sound like a lot, but it is a major concern to scientists. In the past, the average global temperature across time periods is shown to be steady. Any change in the environment causes enormous shifts in various niches. Organisms are adapted to a particular environment, which includes climate, sources of food, landscape and many other constituting factors. The Great Barrier Reef shows the marks of climate change as the sea temperature continues to rise. Coral bleaching is one of these marks. According to Guldberg’s 1999 study, this occurs when the thermal tolerance of corals and their endosymbiotic relationship with algae is exceeded. When organisms do not easily adapt to a change in the environment, it is “survival of the fittest,” a phrase coined by biologist Herbert Spencer. When asked if we can possibly fix or reverse the damage inflicted by humans on the environment, students at Washington & Jefferson College
offered optimistic responses. “I definitely think we can fix the damages. It starts with one person at a time. Everyone has to do their part,” said Saul Martinez ‘23. “This reminds me of a great inspiration of mine, Assad Razzouk and his start to clean up Mumbai’s Versova beach. I feel that some think they are above picking up trash and recycling because it is mostly taught that only volunteers should be taking part in that. But I feel we should not be afraid to get our hands dirty and pick up the trash we see, even if it is not ours, since it will only benefit is as a whole.” When asked the same question, Donnie Finney ‘23 emphasized the urgency of the situation. “Yes, but
it must be done within the next few years. We need to elect representatives into office who are going to change the effects and care about our environment. We need to put limits and restrictions on big companies that create major pollution,” said Finney. Climate change will affect us in more ways than we think. We cannot be ignorant to what is happening in the environment. Take action and avoid looking for an overarching solution to the problem. Carbon dioxide emissions should be the starting point. Carbon dioxide is released when fossil fuels, like oil, are burned to yield energy for homes, cars and industries. To limit the progression of global warming, we could
look to renewable resources as sources of energy and refrain from using many fossil fuels. We must act quickly. In June 2017, President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, which created restrictions on the emission of greenhouse gases. Trump withdrew from it to protect against loss of jobs within fossil fuel industries. Does short-term wealth or longterm life weigh more heavily in the equation? It is up to you to decide. Any small act to help the environment is better than no act at all. Change starts with one person and continues in a chain. Decide today if you will lengthen the chain for change.
Courtesy Erin Herock
Climate Change is affecting not only us, but animals and organisms that live amoung us.
13 September 2019
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9 Diversity
What “Diversity” Means in the World
Courtesy of Flickr
Diversity encompases much more than just race and it is imperative that we view it in a broader way. Thomas Nicewicz Red & Black contributor
To me, diversity means a high variance with respect to something within a given environment. High biodiversity, for example, implies many different species within a given ecosystem, and high cultural diversity is associated with many different cultures apparent within a population. The world in which we live is full of many types of diversity.
“Our world has much political, economic, and musical diversity, such as communism in China and capitalism here in the U.S., and K-Pop in Korea and Arabic rap,” said Washington & Jefferson College student Colin Higinbotham ‘22. On Earth alone, there is clearly much diversity. As astronomers and cosmologists observe the worlds beyond our planet, we may well discover more diversity in our universe. Some regions of the world, influenced by others, continue to grow in cultural diversity. The U.S. becomes more culturally diverse with each day in some ways, as it is exposed to other countries and cultures. Mexican influence helps to
increase our awareness and comprehension of Spanish and Central American culture. One may argue that the world as a whole, however, is gradually becoming less culturally diverse. Many countries are becoming more and more Americanized through Hollywood’s influence in media. As a French citizen, I have personally seen France and other European countries slowly acquire American ways of life and idiomatic expressions. Climate change and suburban sprawl continue to threaten endangered species, forcing them to leave their once-natural habitats in search of more habitable locations. As more species go extinct, the world’s biodiversity
has certainly decreased over the past few decades. This decrease in biodiversity renders ecosystems and food chains less stable, which may compound into an even greater decrease in biodiversity. The world viewed as a whole system may slowly lose diversity, despite the fact that certain regions or subsystems gain diversity, such as college campuses. At W&J, we see this firsthand through our study abroad programs. “A more diverse world helps people embrace differences rendering our communities more open-minded, safe, and stable,” said Thomas Delahoy ‘22. One aspect about diversity that is clear is that it is important to our world.
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culture Red & Black
13 September 2019
Lana Del Rey And Her New Album Release Sammy Massimino Red & Black Contributor
On Aug. 30, 2019, Lana Del Rey released her sixth studio album, “Norman f*cking Rockwell” (NFR). Critics have rated this album quite favorably, and many believe it is her best work by far. Many believe that this album establishes her as one of “America’s greatest living songwriters,” according to pitchfork.com. Much like Del Rey’s previous work, NFR is centralized around the American experience. However, unlike previous albums, she leaves behind her idealistic patriotism for a more sobering and raw reflection on the tragedies of being, as she ventures through her late-night, romantic, Californian setting. The opening track, “Norman f*cking Rockwell,” starts with a somber and melodic tone as well as the brutally honest opening line, “God damn, man child.” Del Rey continues to describe the misery that this “man-child” causes her with the line “Cause you’re just a man / It’s just what you do / Your head
in your hands / As you color me blue.” However, this doesn’t push Del Rey away. As she goes through verses, outlining her lover’s flaws, she still insists, “Why wait for the best when I could have you?” The rest of the album continues with complicated, heartbreaking, and troubled themes. A definite highlight of the album is “Mariner’s Apartment Complex.” Inspired by a conversation she had with a former lover on Venice Beach, Del Rey makes a declaration of self as she refuses to be misunderstood with the verses “I ain’t no candle in the wind / I’m the board, the lighting, the thunder / Kind of girl who’s gonna make you wonder / Who you are and who you’ve been.” Considering her past work, it is easy to believe that Del Rey is a woman of complete sadness. She is known for her gloomy lyrics such as, “Yet still inside I felt alone for reasons unknown to me,” or simply, “But I wish I was dead.” However, in “Mariner’s Apartment Complex,” we see Lana Del Rey as a woman of complexity, or more accurately, she’s simply human. Her frustrations build as she finally insists, “They mistook my kindness for weakness / I f*cked up, I know that, but Jesus / Can’t a girl just do the best she can?” The final track, “hope is a dangerous thing for a woman to have –
but I have it,” is the most personal Del Rey becomes. Leaving behind conflicts of former lovers, she centralizes her own miseries and her deep desires to freely be herself. During the bridge, she claims, “There’s a new revolution, a loud evolution that I saw / Born of confusion and quiet collusion of which mostly I’ve known.” She continues, “A modern day woman with a weak constitution, ‘cause I’ve got / monsters still under
my bed that I could never fight off / A gatekeeper carelessly dropping the keys on my nights off.” Whether this refers to her own personal mentalities or perhaps society holding her back, Del Rey sees herself as a woman hindered by contemporary society. Overall, “Norman f*cking Rockwell” is a well-crafted testimony to the troubles of being alive. It is a work that has taken Lana Del Rey to even higher respectability in the music industry.
Courtesy Wikipedia
Lana Del Rey is a dark alternative pop artist. Her recently released album is available in stores worldwide.
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Culture 11
Movie Review: “The Gods Must Be Crazy” Aaron Iwinski Red & Black Contributor
Released in the U.S. in 1984, “The Gods Must Be Crazy” was one of the most popular and highest-grossing films out of South Africa in history until “Black Panther.” It was the winner of the Montreal’s World Film Festival’s category of Most Popular Film of the Festival. It also won the 1985 Young Artist’s award for best foreign film in the special category. What was it about a movie from the 80s that had such staying power? The movie is a comedy, done partially in the form of a mockumentary. The premise of the story is that a Coca-Cola bottle falls upon a remote tribe in Africa. This tribe never had contact with the outside world, and the people are interested in the Coca-Cola bottle because it seems to be harder than bone and smoother than stone. Since there was only one of it, chaos ensues when the tribe must deal with unfamiliar feelings of jealousy and anger. After the bottle causes this chaos, Xi, one of the protagonists, must walk to the end of the world to throw the bottle off, as the Gods must be crazy to send such an evil thing. Far away in the heat of the sun, a socially awkward biologist who studies manure composition is tasked with picking up a young woman from the city. His car is only partially functional, and the woman who has grown tired
Courtesy Wikipedia
The Kalahari Desert in South Africa, where the film “The Gods Must Be Crazy,” takes place. The vast desert stretches 900,000 square kilometres.
of her work in a news station is not comfortable with the rough and ready lifestyle she now must lead as a volunteer teacher. In the background of all this, the brutal guerrilla fighter Mpudi is running from the army after an unsuccessful assassination attempt. The story switches between these characters, as the biologist must confront his awkwardness with the teacher, Xi must adapt to modern society and law, Mpudi creates chaos as his guerrilla force must flee and the teach-
er must now find out how to adapt to her unusual circumstances. All of these seemingly unusual plots congregate into a comedy. The film is generally well-liked with an 85 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.3 on IMDB. My cousin Joseph said, “Not quite what I expected, but I liked it. It’s a quirky little movie.” Film critic Roger Ebert also had positive things to say about the film. “I think that reveals the thought that went into this movie: It might be
easy to make a farce about screwball happenings in the desert, but it’s a lot harder to create a funny interaction between nature and human nature. This movie’s a nice little treasure,” said Ebert. I can say without any doubt that I found the movie a blast to watch. I got a kick out of it on family movie night, and for most of us, it was on our second or third viewing. I would suggest picking it up if you can. This romp in the South African desert was more fun than expected.
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Red & Black
13 September 2019
Review of Washington’s Own Mamma Cheez Kate Sullivan Red & Black Contributor
After a long day spent outside having fun with friends, my friends and I wanted a meal to satisfy our hunger. As convenient as Commons and GnT’s are we often find ourselves looking for other places off-campus, having the usual conversation of where we should go to dinner. We cycle through the usual places: Applebee’s, Chipotle, Five Guys, McDonald’s. The list of fast-food restaurants can go on and on, but to us, nothing sounded good. A trick that I learned on my Magellan was searching on the internet for “good places to eat near me,” and we did just that. Mamma Cheez came up with a 4.7 out of 5 stars on our recommendations. We had never heard of the place, yet their menu looked good enough, so we hopped in the car for the short drive to the restaurant. We pulled up to Mamma Cheez and was surprised when we found ourselves in a parking lot for a business. We parked next to a house that was next to a barbed-wire fence. Things were looking rather questionable, but we persisted because Google promised us Mamma Cheez wouldn’t disappoint. One of the outside walls of the restaurant had beautiful graffiti, and on the mailbox had blocked letters. The welcome mat had an illustration of Mamma Cheez herself. The place was not a sit-in and eat sort of deal, but the lady at the front desk waited on us. We only had to wait a short amount of time before our food was ready and
Courtesy Kate Sullivan
A view of Mamma Cheez, a local restaurant in Washington offering menu items ranging from pizza to wings.
brought out. We had ordered an assortment of things including a Small Pizza, Medium Wings, Salad, a Pizza Boat, Hot Dogs, Fries, and a Steak and Cheese Hoagie. The pizza was delicious with lots of cheese and a soft crust that melted in my mouth. The Wings had one of the best sauces that I have ever had. Sometimes Wings are all heat and no flavor, but Mamma Cheez created the perfect balance with a spicy tang,
without losing its overall flavor. My friend raved about the bread that her steak and cheese hoagie came on, and the Pizza Boat that she had tried for the first time. “I did not know what a pizza boat was, but it was $3 and worth every penny,” Mallory Weiss explained excitedly. Everything Mamma Cheez had was scrumptious, but the best part was the peanut butter pie. The pie is unbeliev-
ably good, the perfect mix of chocolate and peanut butter with a soft crust and whipped cream on top. We were so grateful for Mamma Cheez and the experience that we had. Even though we were a little scared to go inside, we were happy we did. We have since gone back and tried more delicious food Mamma Cheez has to offer. I would highly recommend Mamma Cheez when you want something delicious and homemade.
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Culture 13
Video Game Review: ‘Dwarf Fortress’ Aaron Iwinski Red & Black Contributor
“What the heck is Dwarf Fortress?” asked Hudon Byers. I was stunned. It has been in development since 2002, but it is one of the best games out there. The primary game mode is a fortress management game. However, Dwarf Fortress is an excellent game for storytelling. Let me tell you a story about one of my forts. It was the year ninety-eight in the Age of Myth. The world has been named Athira Ametha: The Plane of Wind. A small congregation of dwarves has departed the mountains on the fifteenth of Granite to strike their claim. They settle down in the Taupe Forests. With the flags of Gnetavuz held aloft, they name the fort “Lenscult” and strike the earth to begin making their home. The dwarves carve out a room into the mountains and herd their animals into the fortress. They are digging so they might get their housing figured out while it is still spring. A mushroom farm is built, and a cook and brew-master appointed. Traders arrive from other holds. After the traders departed, a wave of migrants arrived, some who had fought before among them. A militia is set up to keep an eye out in the event of mighty beasts or raid-
Courtesy Aaron Iwinski
A screencap of Dwarf Fortress, an online game initially released in 2006. To create a unique and individualized experience for the player, a large majority of the in-game elements are randomly generated.
ers. Years pass and the fortress prospers, and the fort is now a hundred dwarves strong. Now the local goblins and elves have taken notice. After many attacks, the dwarves now sit only fifty strong, yet with a mountain of bodies of elf, goblin, and beast lying at the door of the fortress. The next raid would prove fatal to my fortress. One of the master archers, Bim, was in the militia, and I had assigned him a war-dog. In the raid, Bim’s war-dog was shot by an elf slave. The elf was quickly dispatched by a spike trap operated by a lever, yet, Bim had been thrown into a mad rage. Bim decided that in his anger, he would run
about the fortress pulling every lever he could. The first lever activated the spike traps in the main hall, and so many dwarves were killed in the hall by accident. The following lever released the lava from the lava forges and resulted in the complete destruction of all the forges, and the bottom six levels of the fortress. The next lever activated the retracting bridge, and many dwarves were flung high into the sky as the bridge flew up. The final lever was the self destruct lever I had built into the fortress. The entire fort stood on one single great pillar, and Bim had now blown it
up. A mighty crash rang through the land as every dwarf, dog, cat, rat, donkey, warehouse, and stone fell into the caverns. It was here that I retired my fortress, and considered it a roaring success. “There are few games that can match the reputation of Dwarf Fortress.” says YouTuber NeverKnowsBest. Despite being initially released over ten years ago, Dwarf Fortress remains as an entertaining and open-ended video game. Online fans and followers of the game continue to praise the unique gameplay Give it a go. It is free, and one of the best video games out there.
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Red & Black
13 September 2019
The Iliad: Review of Homer’s Epic Poem
Courtesy Wikipedia
The Iliad, an epic poem attributed to Homer, portrays the battle bewteen Achilles and King Agamemnon.
Aaron Iwinski Red & Black Contributor
Through the course of human history, we have created various pieces of art that are essential to our identity. From the paintings on walls in caves, to the writing of Beowulf to the Mona Lisa, humans have created art that defines critical parts of its history and identity. So, at three in the morning, I decided to sit down with one of the greatest stories ever written, “The Iliad.” “You certainly chose no light piece of work,” said David Iwinski, an American Film Critic. The book is believed to have
been written anywhere from 1260 to 1180 BCE. The story is set in the final week of the Siege of Troy, as the Greeks laid siege. For people who like fantasy, English majors, or people just curious about mythology, the book is an excellent study of how ancient people would use stories to recount history. It also expresses faith and what values they believe. The only thing to keep mind is that it is in the form of the epic poem and cannot be read like a traditional novel. “Since so much of the literary canon is inaccessible to regular people, I thought it was relatable and refreshing that the Gods were just jerks like the rest of us,” said Kessara Iwinski. This article does, however, have some spoil-
ers so if you haven’t read it in the three thousand years it’s been out, then get ready. The Greek army continues to lay siege to Troy and is sacking its allied cities. Through all the chaos, the gods are fighting back and forth as they usually do in mythology with Apollo, Zeus, Athena, and Hermes all rushing about and guiding fate, tricking people, fighting each other, switching sides, and sending plagues. Legendary warriors like Hector, Achilles, Odysseus, and Patroclus are all tossed about in the chaos as the war forces them to fight. It sounds like one thousand pages of describing a bloody battlefield; however, it’s not just about blood and war. There are some strong emotion-
al points made in the plot, which is something that I found quite refreshing. One of the most emotional segments for me was when Priam went to the enemy camp to beg Achilles to let him take back the body of his son. If you did not have to write up some report for a high school essay on the Iliad or Odyssey, first; I envy you. Second, you should consider reading it. Yes it is lengthy, and in a non-standard form, and the translation can make or break your experience of it, just as a view of how ancient cultures could view the world, and what values they held. As an excuse to put off your next assignment, go read one of the most important stories ever recorded.
13 September 2019
15 Opinions
Red & Black
OPINIONS
Is There a Purpose to First Year Seminar?
Courtesy washjeff
Through a W&J FYS course, students visited the White House.
Aaron Iwinski Red & Black Contributor
When I was in FYS, I was a young, bright-eyed freshman with dreams of parties, academic success and open expression. Today, I am a slightly older and fatter bright-eyed senior with
dreams of parties, economic success and a perpetual fear of my student debt. Despite my life plans looming over me like I loom over a pizza, I still have fond memories of my FYS. I had the course “Choose your Own Adventure” with Dr. Kline. We essentially chose a topic that piqued our interests and created a student-designed course. I suggested to the class that we choose the topic called “The Power of
Comedy.” After a nearly unanimous vote, each student was given a task. I had the pleasure of telling the entire history of comedy. Others brought in funny movies, and some decided to focus on a specific person or era. I remember someone decided to do a segment on Charlie Chaplin, and it is still one of the most entertaining and informative presentations I have ever seen. However, my FYS experience seems to be one-of-a-kind. In the course of gathering opinions on this topic, some very differing feelings were presented. A friend of mine who chose to remain anonymous said, “I feel as though FYS was a good idea on paper and perhaps to those that had a better experience with the whole thing could say that. But for me a first-year seminar was a forced activity I had no choice in,” my friend said. “For reference, I am a CIS major and the FYS that I was assigned to was environmental sustainability and politics with a dash of science. The class was treated like a weed-out course,
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with assignments overly difficult and not on topics we cared about. My FYS experience was a 300-400 level class that I was assigned and had no overlap with my major.” Another anonymous friend also felt a bit ambivalent. “I’m not entirely sure about it. I think it really came down to what you had. I know that the guys who had things like fly fishing had a great time, but I hated my FYS,” said my friend. “Every day it was some big assignment and so much writing for something that didn’t have to do with my major. I can understand wanting to get the new students to loosen up and get used to the environment, but do it in a way that’s good for them.” FYS was an opportunity to creatively express myself and explore a topic that I was passionate about. Others were not given that same opportunity. To me, FYS does have a place at W&J. I think the solution would be to encourage more FYS courses to be open-ended and student driven. All work is improved if you are doing it on something you care about.
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16 opinions
Red & Black
13 September 2019
How Should the US Prepare for Hurricanes? Thomas Nicewicz Red & Black Contributor
As the average global temperature continues to rise, natural disasters occur more and more often, such as hurricanes. The best way to resolve any problem is by fixing its cause rather than its symptoms. Treating symptoms may provide a temporary solution to the problem, but since the cause is never addressed, the symptoms return. Ignoring the cause of a problem, letting it persist, tends to render more issues with more severe symptoms. Therefore, priority should be on stopping global climate change, not the short term resolution of the symptoms of climate change. There are numerous ways to take care of the planet, mitigating the effects of global warming. Having a zero-net-carbon-footprint serves as a great step in the right direction. Washington & Jefferson College has already started to make efforts to render its campus a zero-net-carbon-footprint environment, but there is still a long way to go. Global warming is confirmed by a vast majority of the scientific community, including NASA. Recently, the US was struck along its eastern coast by Hurricane Dorian. It came through the Bahamas as a Category 5 hurricane and gradually weakened as it moved its way up the East Coast. Cities flooded and homes destroyed. In the meantime, how can
Courtesy onenewspage
Hurricane Dorian was updated to a Category 5 storm as it struck along the eastern coast of the United States. After devastating the Bahamas, it moved up the East Coast.
we, as individuals and as a whole nation, prepare for its effects? As an individual, one can move further inland to the North, away from the zones most vulnerable to hurricane damage. This decision to move reduces the chances of one’s family and belongings being directly affected by a hurricane. Americans living in Florida, for example, are at high risk for hurricane destruction. As a whole nation, the US can plant more trees, shrubs, and greenery along its eastern coast, especially towards the
south. Forests may serve as a natural barrier to rainstorms and weaker hurricanes. As physical structures, trees block the wind and other debris caught in storms. Their roots also help to absorb the high quantity of water. A well-placed reservoir and wetland may also draw flooding away from residential areas. There are many possible solutions the US may undertake as a whole nation to prepare for hurricanes. Let us see what the W&J community thinks. Studious Marino Barbabella stated that “we can better
respect building codes, reinforcing structural foundations because the areas that did not were much more severely affected by past hurricanes.” Willow Shankle says that “our national authorities must communicate a more firm evacuation message to those at serious risk. Some Miami residents, for example, did not take the warning seriously and suffered deeply from Hurricane Dorian’s impact.” Washington & Jefferson has some of the brightest minds that could much serve our national community for hurricane preparation.
13 September 2019
Red & Black
Opinions 17
The 2020 Democratic Primary: Too Many Candidates?
Courtesy home.bt
Due to the large number of candidates, the past Democratic primary debates have been divided into two nights on CNN. Cutting the field in half, the most recent debate on Sept. 12 featured ten candidates on one night for the first time.
Paul Collier Red & Black Contributor
The 2020 Democratic Primary is the largest presidential primary in the history of American politics, but the size of the field has left many in the party wondering if the field has grown too large for a true presidential contender to emerge. However, history has shown that this fear may be unfounded. In 1976, a little-known Jimmy Carter emerged from a 17-candidate Democratic field to eventually defeat incumbent President Gerald Ford. Just last presidential election cycle, despite having a higher name recognition that President Carter in 1976, po-
litical novice Donald Trump defeated a 17-candidate Republican field eventually defeating a former Secretary of State for the presidency. This also implies the competition of a large primary is beneficial to the winning candidate. Joe Biden still has a considerable lead in the Primary polling. Whoever can topple Biden’s polling lead is going to be required to have a formidable base and a lot of grassroots momentum- the momentum needed to defeat a former vice-president to a popular president. This competition also helps soften the more extremist views of the party. While the media often reports on only the far-left sect of the Democrats, Gallup found in July that still only 27% of the country identifies as Democratic, compared to 29% Republican, and 38% Independent. The Independent vote is a voter base that the Democrats need. The de-
bates have also created some ethical, ideological debates across the party and have allowed lesser-known candidates, such as Hawaii Representative Tulsi Gabbard. Despite not even qualifying for the September debate, Gabbard effectively ended Kamala Harris’ polling surge by attacking her record as California’s Attorney General. By the end of the second night, those who watched the debate heard a crowd that had continuously cheered the proposals of Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren applauding a healthcare proposal supporting the defense of public options, sparked by another non-September qualifying candidate in John Delaney. Based on Gallup’s party identification polls, this is beneficial to the party, as a more extensive debate about what policies the party should pursue opens the ideals of the party to a larger portion of voters. W&J’s College Dem-
ocrats President Brooke Bova agrees, claiming, “ … a more moderate ideology is the best way to push those sway voters away from Trump and towards Democrats.” However, Bova also brings up a great point about primaries in general. Very few people pay close attention. In Bova’s words, “ … debates are helpful and pointless at the same time. They are helpful in illustrating the strengths and weaknesses of the candidates, but the minimal interest level hurts the level of impact they could have.” While debate viewing has inreased, the number of those watching the debate still accounts for 4.6% of America’s population. While Bova doesn’t think there are necessarily “too many” candidates, she presents an interesting theory of four candidates of differing ideologies so that voters can throw support behind viable candidates early on.
sports 18 Sports
Red & Black
13 September 2019
Football Kicks off the Season with a Win
Courtesy gopresidents.com
The Presidents preparing to face thier first foe of the season.
Liam Sullivan Red & Black Contributor
The Washington & Jefferson College football team entered the season with a ranking of 21st. They faced the first game of the season against Wittenberg, ranked 18th, on Sept. 7, 2019. Although the W&J Presi-
dents were facing a higher-ranked opponent, Coach Sirianni was able to lead the Presidents to a 16 to 8 victory. The offense struggled a little but was able to go up early because of caused turnover by Max Garda ‘21 followed by a 21-yard touchdown reception by Josh Burns ‘21. The offense was led by quarterback Jacob Adams ‘20, who put up 91 yards and threw one touchdown and three interceptions throughout the game. EJ Thompson ‘21 and Jordan West ‘20 had a dominant performance rush-
ing the ball, combining for 65 yards. This duo in the back field are expecting big things later down the season. The Presidents defense was led by linebacker Sean Doran ‘21 and Mike Williams ‘20. Williams had a career-high ten tackles and Doran had nine. The two combined for three sacks on the day. The Presidents’ defense showed promise for the rest of the season by only allowing six points scored against them. Later on, the Wittenberg team scored two points from a safety. Wit-
tenberg’s offense was held to 250 yards. The Presidents defense was able to do their part by making two interceptions and scoop up three fumbles for five total caused turnovers. Last year the Presidents put up an impressive 55 points to nothing in conference play against Thiel and are looking to do the same this year on Sept. 14. A big early season lead could mean a lot for this team and set a good pace for the rest of conference play before playoffs..
13 September 2019
Red & Black
19 sports
Student Athlete Spotlight: Marcy Saldivar Liam Sullivan Red & Black Contributor
Marcy Saldivar ‘21 is from Darlington, Pa. where she attended Blackhawk High School. She is a double major in neuroscience and gender & women’s studies. Upon graduation from Washington & Jefferson College, she plans to attend graduate school in order to conduct neuroscience research. Saldivar is a captain of the W&J women’s soccer team. She has been playing soccer for 17 years. Saldivar
pus, so I knew I would be able to play soccer and excel in the classroom,” said Saldivar. The W&J women’s soccer team started their season 1-3. They fell short to Aurora University and Ohio Northern University in the Carnegie Mellon Tartan Cup. They were able to find the back of the net and get the win against Franciscan University. The team then lost to Ohio Wesleyan University 3-1. Although the team fell short, Saldivar was able to find a second half goal. Despite their rough start, Saldivar does not think the season is over for her team yet. “These first few games we used to work out some kinks in the starting lineup,” said Saldivar. “We have many talented girls, and once our offense clicks, we will be a strong opponent in
“We have many talented girls, and once our offense clicks, we will be a strong opponent in the President’s Atheltic Conference.” - Marcy Saldivar ‘21 played soccer for Penn’s Forest Football Club and Pittsburgh Football Club throughout her youth career. She also represented Western Pennsylvania in the Olympic Development Program. Saldivar decided to attend W&J largely because of its prestigious reputation balancing academics and athletics. “I knew I needed to be able to focus on my neuroscience major and, while I was being recruited, the W&J women’s soccer team had the highest GPA amongst all sports team on cam-
the President’s Athletic Conference,” Saldivar explained. All of women’s soccer games thus far have been out of section games, so the real test starts once they play their first PAC game. Saldivar has confidence in her team and believes they will turn their season around in order to make it to PAC playoffs. The women’s soccer team’s next game is on Sept. 14 against Penn State Behrend. It will take place at Alexandre Stadium at 1:00 p.m.
Courtesy Liam Sullivan
Marcy Saldivar is ready to lead the women Presidents to glory this 2019 season.
20 sports
13 September 2019
Red & Black
Steeler Player Spotlight: TJ Watt Liam Sullivan Red & Black Contributor
Trent Jordan Watt, better known as TJ Watt, is a 24 year-old football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is entering his third season and hopes for a great turnout after his impressive rookie and sophomore seasons. Watt is following in the footsteps of his brothers, who have also played in the NFL. Most famously, TJ’s older brother JJ Watt has been playing for the Houston Texans for nine years. The Watt family is from Wisconsin, and TJ
Watt went on to play for the University of Wisconsin for only two years due to injuries. He was originally scouted by the University as a tight end but was soon switched to be an edge rusher. Watt only played in 22 games, but in his short college career he recorded 70 combined tackles and was selected 30th overall in the 2017 NFL draft. Watt received interest from more teams than just the Steelers. Recently, Watt opened up at his experiences leading up to the draft. He had performed well at the combine, and with the looming legacy of his older brother, Watt had expectations to fulfill. In the interview, Watt seemed to have been especially impressed with the show that the Dallas Cowboys had
rolled out for him. He described it as “a surreal once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” and said he would have been extremely grateful to have been picked by them. However, Watt was happy to be drafted to the Steelers. Watt said to USA today, “I knew schematically it was a great fit for me, and that’s why I was intrigued by them so much.” Watt being taken by the Steelers meant he was going to have to compete for the starting spot as linebacker with James Harrison. “I have watched him for years growing up, and especially since I switched over to defense,” said Watt. “I have watched him more and more. He is a really good, veteran presence. He is a really good football player. I can’t wait to get under the tu-
telage of him and that locker room.” With Watt’s third season underway, all of Steelers nation will be watching this young linebacker, hoping he will be a leader on the team and that he will help prepare the most recent first round pick, Devin Bush.
Courtesy Sportslogo.com
Last Week’s Scores Next Week’s Games Sept. 1
Women’s Soccer vs Carnegie Mellon University: 0-2 Loss Feild Hocky vs Shenandoah University: 0-5 Loss
Sept. 4
Women’s Soccer vs Franciscan University: 1-0 Win Men’s Soccer vs Pitt-Greensburg: 7-0 Win
Sept. 6
Women’s Tennis vs Pitt-Greensburg: 9-0 Win Feild Hocky vs Denison University: 2-1 Win Women’s Vollyball vs Muskingum University: 1-3 Loss
Sept. 7
Women’s Tennis vs Fairmount State University: 0-7 Loss Men’s Cross Country @ Bethany Invitational: 7th of 22 Women’s Cross Country @ Bethany Invitational: T13th of 18 Women’s Vollyball vs John Carroll University: 1-3 Loss Men’s Golf @ Ohio Wesleyan Invitational: 3rd of 6 Women’s Vollyball vs SUNY Geneseo: 0-3 Loss Football vs Whittenberg University: 16-8 Win Men’s Soccer vs Wooster University: 0-1 Loss
Sept. 13
Men’s Water Polo vs Mt. San Antonio College Women’s Tennis vs West Liberty University Vollyball at Carnegie Mellon Invitational
Sept. 14
Vollyball at Carngie Mellon Invitational Men’s Water Polo at Mercyhurst Invitational Women’s Golf at Grove City Invitational Football at Theil Feild Hocky vs SUNY Geneseo Women’s Soccer vs Penn State Behrend Men’s Soccer vs Hiram
Sept. 17
Men’s Soccer at Fransiscan University
Sept. 18
Women’s Tennis at Grove City