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 18, 2020
WHAT’S IN THIS WEEK’S PAPER... CURRENT EVENTS One of the ship’s rear engines stopped running and when it began to be hit by waves, it capsized and sank. -P.5
First Gen College Student: Dylan Bertovich PAGE 9
DIVERSITY Dannielle Brown’s hunger strike has recently surpassed its seventieth day. -P.8
OPINIONS
Tiger King revealed a pocket of society drenched in abuse, misogyny and crime, yet one of the abusers will be on this season’s Dancing with the Stars. -P.16
SPORTS
The new football year started just as last ended, with Patrick Mahomes dominating the opposing defense. -P.19
WJREDANDBLACK.COM
Courtesy Sydney Fischer
2 CAMPUS NEWS
Red & Black
18 September 2020
W&J Hosts Rock the Lawn Event Katie Hahn Red & Black Staff
Following the end of quarantine, a beautiful sunny day set the mood for a lovely campus picnic event hosted by President Knapp and his wife. Despite the need for enhanced social distancing measures during the Covid-19 pandemic, students were able to engage with each other in a fun, outdoor concert environment. The picnic, also known as “Rock the Lawn,” took place outside at the amphitheater on Sept. 6, beginning at around 4:30 p.m. Students were welcome to sit on the lawn and enjoy a musical perfor-
“It was great... to come outside, feel the sunshine and to sit on blankets together with friends” - Ava Smith ’23 mance by the Brian Grilli Band, along with food catered by the W&J Dining Services. To maintain Governor Wolf ’s safety protocols for outdoor gatherings, the event was split into two separate groups. Upper class students
(sophomores through seniors) made up the first wave of participants. This allowed for the freshman students to attend as a follow-up celebration to their virtual Matriculation. According to the Resident Life coordinator Kevin Intihar, the turnout was roughly 200 students in total. Each student who attended received a complementary Washington & Jefferson College picnic blanket, which were each conveniently placed throughout the amphitheater lawn to ensure social distancing measures. Ava Smith ‘23, a resident assistant, was impressed with how well the event went. “I think the Rock the Lawn event was awesome,” she explained. “It was great for the students who got out of quarantine to come outside, feel the sunshine and sit on blankets together, be with their friends, listen to the band and have some pretty cool food, too.” The catering service provided to-go meals with disposable utensils so that students could enjoy the food while watching the band. The meals included popcorn, mac and cheese and hotdogs. There were also vegan options available for students with dietary restrictions. Thomas Einolf ’22 also enjoyed the opportunity to participate in the outdoor concert experience. “Live music was an event that was hard to experience over the summer, so it was nice,” he pointed out. “I really enjoyed the band, and I enjoyed that [they] did a lot of covers of different songs.” The picnic was the first of many to kick off welcome week and helped to set the stage for the new Covid-19 protocols for large campus gatherings and community events.
Courtesy Katie Hahn
Courtesy @wjadmissions on Instagram
Washington & Jefferson College takes advantage of outdoor green space in their Rock the Lawn event.
18 September 2020
Red & Black
CAMPUS NEWS 3
W&J Quaran-tales Volume I Alexandra Wagner Red & Black Staff
It has been about two weeks since all of Washington & Jefferson College’s student body has been released from the mandatory ten-day quarantine. Most classes are back and in person, and our campus feels a little less empty. So, what can you do for ten days completely alone? Benjamin Peticca ‘21 shared that his quarantine went surprisingly well. “I tried to practice healthy habits, especially for my mental health. This usually consisted of meditation.” Peticca added, “I took my time alone to really focus on my new classes. It was weird, usually at the beginning of the school year I am trying to balance catching up with friends I hadn’t seen in months on top of my new courses. Instead I was forced to really turn my attention to my schoolwork.” Unfortunately, some students were not as lucky to have their classes to keep them busy. All of W&J’s Resident Assistants were required to come to campus much earlier, in order to help with moving in and to learn the school’s new Covid-19 policies. Junior RA Rebecca Valencia ‘22 had to move in and start her quarantine on Aug. 9, almost 2 weeks before the rest of campus. Because of her early arrival, she had no classes to focus on, leaving her ten
days in quarantine very open. “While I missed being in the sunshine during my ten-day quarantine, I had no daily duties besides watching Netflix and occasional online meetings for Res Life or with Dean Eva.” said Valencia. “Most of my close friends are fellow RAs, so after the quarantine ended and only the RAs and some LINKs were left on campus, it was a fun ten days of finally catching up with all of them and finally starting the fall semester.” Overall, even if these ten days were less than ideal for students, many found a way to stay preoccupied. FaceCourtesy Facebook.com/Washjeff
“Sure it wasn’t my favorite way to start the semester, but for me it was far more important to ensure the safety of others on campus”
Students had to find different ways to remain active and entertained while quarantined.
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- Rebecca Valencia ‘22
@rednblackWJ timing friends and family, watching movies, playing video games with other quarantined students and reading seemed to be the most common distraction across campus. Valencia attested, “Sure it wasn’t my favorite way to start the semester, but for me it was far more important to ensure the safety of others on campus.”
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4 Campus News
18 September 2020
Red & Black
Meet the Editorial Board
Managing Editor: Erin Herock Erin is our Managing Editor. She is a senior and an environmental science and public policy double major. Erin is a member of the womens’ soccer team, she is the VP of W&J’s outdoors club, a LINK mentor and is involved with the Sustainability Committee. Erin shared her goals for the year, “I hope to add more sustainability focused content in the paper this year as well as create a paper that brings a sense of community to W&J during these times.”
Red & Black Established 1909 Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Campus News Editor Current Events Editor Diversity Editor Opinions Editor Sports Editor Social Media Manager Website Design Manager Distribution Manager Interim Faculty Advisor
Marcy Saldivar Erin Herock Reilly Oliverio Molly Kilbourne Amanda Fitzpatrick Paul Collier Nick Krugh Grace Depaul Raheem Clemons Alex Wagner Kellin Cavanaugh
18 september 2020
Red & Black
Current Events 5
Current Events
43 Crew Members Missing from Japanese Ship Molly Kilbourne Red & Black Editor
At 1:45 a.m. on Sept. 2, a distress call was sent from the Gulf Livestock 1 ship transporting 43 crew members and 5,800 cattle. The ship was travelling through the East China Sea, 115 miles west of the Japanese island, Amami Oshima, when Typhoon Maysak struck the waters. Japan’s Defense Ministry disclosed that the storm had wrecked the area with powerful winds, torrential rain and triggered incredibly turbulent seas. That night, a Filipino crew member was spotted in the water and was subsequently rescued by a coast guard patrol boat. The crew member, 45-year-old Edquardo Sareno, chief officer of the ship, was able to explain the nature of the ship’s sinking amidst the storm and is not in critical condition. According
to him, one of the ship’s rear engines stopped running and when it began to be hit by waves, it capsized and sank. The remaining 42 crew members have yet to be found. The storm is maintaining destruction and hindering further rescue efforts. Maysak is only the sixth storm of category two or above to hit South Korea since 1959. However, this is the fourth typhoon to hit the country during this year’s typhoon season. Maysak occurred only a week after Typhoon Bavi struck while heading to North Korea. It is rare for a storm of that nature to hit landfall, and North Korea’s state television published footage of the flooding that occurred in the aftermath. The state has not reported fatalities at this time. In addition to the 42 missing crew members, the city of Busan, South Korea has reported one death during the storm. To prevent any further mayhem, Seoul, South Korea, shut off four nuclear reactors. No radiation leak was detected. Typhoon Haishen is expected to hit southwestern Japan and the Korean Peninsula in the next few days.
Courtesy Japanese Coast Guard
Japanese coast guard rescue survivor from the ship.
6 Current Events
Red & Black
18 September 2020
The Life and Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
Courtesy AP News
Chadwick Boseman arrives and poses at the 2018 Oscars.
Anna Elizabeth M. Dubiel Red & Black Staff
On August 28, American actor and humanitarian Chadwick Boseman lost his four-year battle with colon cancer at the age of 43. Shocked reactions continue to flood the internet, as news of the unexpected loss spreads; his battle with the disease was not widely known until his Death. An inspiration and role model for many, Boseman was known most notably for his roles in “Get On Up” for his portrayal of American singer James Brown; “42,” for his role as Jackie Robinson, an
American professional baseball player; and his recent characterization as King T’Challa in “Black Panther” for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Many are calling this tragic death “The loss of a king.” Boseman became known for portraying American legends. Born and raised in South Carolina, Boseman studied at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he earned his BFA in directing before going on to pursue his first major acting role in the drama series “Persons Unknown”. Boseman has received countless award nominations for his roles in both television and film. He won many awards for his portrayal of the Black Panther including “Best Performance in a Movie” and “Best Hero” from the MTV Movie & TV Awards and “Male Movie Star of the Year” from the People’s Choice Awards. At the 25th Annual SAG Awards ceremony, Boseman spoke of the
success of Black Panther, “We [cast] know what it’s like to be young, gifted, and black. We all know what it’s like to be told that there’s not a place for [us] to be featured…That is what we went to work with every day…We knew that we had something special that we wanted to give the world. That we could be full human beings in the roles that we were playing. That we could create a world that we wanted to see.” The news of his death shattered Hollywood’s biggest names; many who worked with him over the years turned to social media to offer condolences, stories and praise, not only of Boseman’s work but also of his character. Oprah Winfrey said in ABC’s memorial documentary for Boseman, “The way he handled his life and managing cancer with such humility and grace and dignity, lets us all know that he truly was a superhero… He will be remembered, cherished and
loved in our hearts, not just for what he was able to offer on film, but what he was able to give as a human being. It’s not just a loss we’re feeling. We’re going to feel his absence.” There are many lessons we may take away from how this incredible man lived his life. Boseman delivered a diligent commencement speech at Howard University in 2018. He says, “…once you become accustomed to the climb, your mind opens up to the tranquility of the triumph…savor the taste of your triumphs today. Don’t just swallow the moment whole without digesting what has actually happened here. Look down over what you conquered and appreciate what God has brought you through.” In memory of Chadwick Boseman. Nov 29, 1976—Aug 28, 2020 Wakanda Forever.
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Current Events 7
Catastrophic Explosion Shakes Beirut Molly Kilbourne Red & Black Editor
Nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate triggered an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, on Aug. 4. Shortly thereafter, the port of Dakar in Senegal, Africa, realized that the same compound was being transported away from their city. The devastation left from the Beirut explosion caused alarm for the workers when they became aware of the compound heading for Mali. Many countries have now recognized the danger associated with the compound and have begun scrutinizing its transportation. Alfredo Parroquin-Ohlson is the head of Cargoes and Technical Cooperation Coordination at the International Maritime organization, and stated, “After what happened in Beirut, many ports, many authorities are checking, reviewing their policies, and of course, what they have in the storage.� The explosion in Beirut killed approximately 137 people and injured over 5,000. Immediately after the explosion there were hundreds of people still missing and suspected dead. The catastrophic incident has prompted a reanalysis of where
ammonium nitrate should be kept; with the hazardous nature of the compound, any large city where it is held is at risk for devastation at the same level of Beirut. While the compound is harmless alone, heat and pressure precipitate its lethal abilities. There are some that have taken advantage of ammonium nitrate’s fatal capability by using it in acts of domestic terror. The Oklahoma City bomber was one of them. Police in Romania have now seized over 8,500 tons of ammonium nitrate, and the city of Chennai, India, has moved 700 tons to the city of Hyderabad to protect its port. Of the 20 million tons of ammonium nitrate produced every year, Russia contributes almost half. It is still not known what gave rise to the explosion in Beirut, but the implications in regard to transportation and storage policies have been vast. While there are internationally agreed-upon recommendations that apply to the compound, the states that contain it are responsible for their enforcement. This gap in policy is certainly a reason for the explosion in Beirut. As we mourn for the lives lost, families of deceased or injured loved ones and all those suffering after the explosion, the question must be pressed: why does such a potentially dangerous compound have so few policies regarding its transportation and containment? In order to prevent another horrific incident, officials and leaders will have to respond.
Courtesy YouTube
3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate triggers an explosion in Beirut.
8 Diversity
Red & Black
Diversity
18 September 2020
Black Lives Matter: Brown’s Hunger Strike Sammy Massimino Red & Black Contributor
Dannielle Brown’s hunger strike has recently surpassed its seventieth day. What began as a need to gain answers to find out “What happened to Jaylen Brown?” has now grown into so much more. Brown is now standing for every mother who has lost a child. 21-year-old Marquis Jaylen Brown was a student at Duquesne University. In October of 2018, Brown fell to his death from his 16th-floor dorm on campus. His mother, Dannielle Brown, has since been searching for answers and advocating for institutional change. According to the investigation done by Pittsburgh police, two Duquesne police officers, a campus security guard and a student resident assistant were in Jaylen’s apartment when he smashed his window with a chair, then jumped out. The University has since thwarted Danielle Brown’s pursuit of an independent investigation. Dylan Bertovich ’21, who completed an internship at Duquesne University stated “Knowing a lot of people in the Duquesne community, I really feel for the struggle that she is going for, and I think that the Duquesne community and administration owes
her a response. They should open up a full investigation, as she has asked for.” In light of the murder of George Floyd, Danielle Brown was inspired to take action by embarking on a hunger-strike as well as attending marches and protests. When asked about her part in the Black Lives Matter Movement, she responded “I didn’t find the Black Lives Matter movement. The movement found me.” She has taken on advocating for nationwide campus law enforcement reform, particularly for the use of body cameras, stating “I want to ensure no mother will ever have to go through this again.” When discussing police brutality, Brown illuminated an alarming fact. Many campus police officers are retired police officers; this means that colleges are fed retired and/or delinquent police officers by the local and state government. With schools like Duquesne University getting the “leftovers,” police brutality is widespread towards black communities on college campuses. According to a Harvard-led study, “officer-involved killings caused nearly 2,000 black and Hispanic students to drop out of school and these findings point to the particular salience of law enforcement in minority communities. Officer-involved killings are tail events and rarely appear in the media.” Upon being asked about Brown’s hunger strike, Brendan Troesch ’21 said “I can’t imagine the pain and turmoil she is going through. To lose a
family member like that, especially a child, must be an unbearable travesty. I hope that she soon finds justice for the sake of her son.” Amanda Fitzpatrick ’21 feels similarly. “The efforts by Duquesne University to block an independent investigation by disparaging a grieving mother are disappointing, but unfortunately not surprising given the power educational institutions have. I hope the administration of Duquesne University pulls back the red tape and
ends the creative sound bites produced by their lawyers to allow this mother the access to the information she desires. Additionally, I hope Duquesne University and all universities begin to prioritize students’ lives over their reputations.” For those interested in keeping up with Dannielle Brown’s activism or donating to help her get closer to the truth, follow her on Instagram @dannie_b2.
Courtesy Pittsburgh City Paper
Dannielle Brown stands in front of a mural painted in honor of her son, Marquis Jaylen Brown.
18 September 2020
Red & Black
Diversity 9
First Gen College Student: Dylan Bertovich Sydney Fischer Red & Black Contributor
For many first-generation college students, attending college is an exciting time and a dream come true. However, first-generation college students face numerous barriers that result in this dream being filled with challenges. The National Center for Education Statistics has quantified this barrier, stating that first-generation students tend to graduate at lower rates than their peers with parents who earned a four-year college degree, according to National Center for Education Statistics data. The reasons for this are both social and economic; however, there are many students at Washington & Jefferson College currently overcoming these barriers, including Dylan Bertovich ‘21. Bertovich is a chemistry major with a biology minor on track to attend medical school in the fall. As a child, Bertovich discovered his interest in science through his own physical ailments. Having his ear bit off by his dog at the age of four, being kicked by a llama at age eleven, sustaining a severe concussion and tearing his hamstring through playing soccer in high school, Bertovich has had his fair share of time in the hospital receiving medical treatment. In addition, Bertovich developed his love of service through various volunteer organizations in high school. This continued in college, particular-
ly in creating community events as a club leader such as Saturday Science as SAACS president, and programming for the Day of Giving as German club secretary. This love of science and service towards his community is what sparked his interest in medicine. Bertovich continued his interest in science through his research. Rather than completing a Maxwell or Magellan, Bertovich chose to compete for a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU). He was awarded this experience in Dr. Polluck’s Laboratory in the Department of Biology at Duquesne University where he studied pain and nerve damage. This research experience culminated in a publication titled “Differential Expression of Neuroinflammatory mRNAs in the Rat Sciatic Nerve Following Chronic Constriction Injury and Pain-Relieving Nanoemulsion NSAID Delivery to Infiltrating Macrophages.” At W&J, one can always find him in Swanson increasing his laboratory experience. Currently, Bertovich is completing on-campus research through an independent study project with Dr. Polvani. Additionally, he is once again working as a lab assistant for Dr. Matsuno in the Chemistry Department. As a first-generation college student, Bertovich found it difficult being surrounded by other pre-med students. When I asked how he felt going through the medical school application process, Bertovich replied “I was never really aware of what I was missing until I started to apply to medical school and realized how much there is a barrier based on if someone in your family, specifically a parent, is a physician. While other students have parents or siblings to guide them through classes and applications, other students lack that resource com-
pletely.” Despite the barriers of being a first-generation college student, it is clear Bertovich will be successful as he already has his first medical school interview lined up and is sure to receive more. Bertovich accredits this success to his close relationships he has with so many of his professors. “I am real-
ly thankful for the relationship I have made with so many of my professors here like Dr. Kilgore, Dr. Brletic, Dr. Christenson, Dr. Polvani, Dr. Matsuno, Dr. Shaughnessy and Dr. Atzler as well as my employer Dr. McGrain and my good friend Valerie Guyton,” said Bertovich.
Courtesy Sydney Fischer
Dylan Bertovich ‘21 researching in Dr. Polluck’s Laboratory at Duquesne University.
10 Diversity
Red & Black
18 September 2020
Abolish vs. Defund: What Does This Mean? Molly Kilbourne Red & Black Staff
It is crucial for citizens (particularly white citizens) to situate themselves in this debate in accordance with the work done by the Black community for over 100 years. The debate regarding whether to defund or abolish police is not remotely new; since the founding of the American police system following the Emancipation Proclamation, Black folks have called for its reform, abolition and defunding. In the wake of the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain and the remaining 215 Black people killed by police in 2020, the Black Lives Matter Movement has attained national focus amidst this debate. Americans today have been born and raised in a state maintained by police. This fact manifests itself in starkly different ways according to the community one was raised in. For the Black community, this means that you have been raised understanding that you are three times more likely to be killed by police than your white counterparts. For impoverished communities this means that you are more likely to experience police brutality by police than those in a higher economic position. For Hispanic folks, this means that you have lost 910 community members to police violence since 2015 alone. For Latino communities, this means that you are the next group that is most highly policed after Black communities. For white people who did
not grow up impoverished, this means that you experienced the lowest police presence in your communities of any racial group. The disparities in police brutality, violence and presence between racial and economic groups will trigger different reactions to the debate around defunding or abolishing police. To understand the systemic issues at hand, these facts must be internalized. So, where to go from here? M. Adams, co-executive director for Freedom, Inc. and a leadership team member of the Movement for Black Lives, is an advocate for abolishing the police, explaining: “There are two particular things that I think are important to fundamentally change what’s happened with policing: One, the defund strategy is smart because we need to shrink those budgets [by asking], what if we put that $100 billion in education, housing, healthcare? And reduce the number of people inside of that institution who can be organized enemies against us? Second, we are here to implement and to assert that we are going to be in defense of our lives and tear down anything that is not so the combination of draining the things that harm us, as well as building the power of things that will help free us, through our Black queer feminism, abolition, through our anti-capitalist politics, I think that pairing is going to make this win possible.� Adams articulates expertly the ways in which abolition and defunding are linked. Both strategies identify the issues at hand with policing in order to protect those who have been victimized by police. Defunding, according to Adams, can be used as a stepping stone to abolition. Defunding would reallocate the budgets of police to the areas Adams specified: education, housing for those who are homeless
or victims of domestic violence and healthcare for all that need it. The job of policing actually requires a myriad of skills like interacting with folks who are disabled (mentally or physically), attending to folks who have overdosed on drugs, responding to domestic violence incidents and monitoring vehicular traffic, to name a few. Defunding would also reallocate money to fund jobs specific to these incidents. Cops should not be responding to domestic violence cases, especially when 40 percent of police officers are documented domestic abusers. Even for cops who are not abusers, it is unreasonable to think that one person could be properly trained to do all of these tasks simultaneously. Funding more social pro-
grams in communities would allow the members of those communities to be self-reliant, grow their economy and protect one another. The next step would be abolition, and this would mean that communities were entirely inter-reliant. Funding specific programs that cater to the particular areas in need removes the necessity of police. Of course, the process of getting there is complicated because of how strongly police hold onto our country, but it is entirely possible (and hopeful) that communities would become inter-reliant. It is crucial for everyone to dedicate time to understanding this complex issue and to seek out more information, because one article cannot do it justice.
Courtesy The Boston Globe
Advocates around the country have called for changing the role of law enforcement following countless deaths of Black people at the hands of police.
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Diversity 11
Red & Black Archive: Black Lives Matter is Not New In the fifth issue of volume eighty-nine, published April 26, 1995, of Washington & Jefferson’s Red & Black, alumn Michael Aaron Barnes wrote about the discrimination against BIPOC people in the country and specifically on campus. He highlights police brutality across the United States in 1995, showing that this is not new problem. Barnes also expresses a call to action, insisting society treats BIPOC communties better. Black Lives Matter. Black lives have always mattered.
12 Opinions
opinions Red & Black
18 September 2020
Biden’s Plan to Address Racial Justice Amanda Fitzpatrick Red & Black Editor
Joe Biden and the Democratic party have embraced Black Lives Matter as a slogan, but what is Biden’s plan to make it a reality? While Biden’s history on racial justice continues to haunt his White House bid today, Biden details an agenda for the Black community. This begins with a promise: “Vice President Joe Biden will make sure that people historically left out of the middle class—whether due to race, gender, sexual orientation, disability or religion—have the chance to succeed. He will be unflinching in confronting the systemic racism in our country that is built into our laws, our policies and our institutions and
will take aggressive action to correct them—ripping out the inequities in housing, health care, education, the economy, our criminal justice system and so many other areas. Rooting out systemic racism and ensuring that everyone is treated with dignity and has equal opportunity is built into all of Joe’s domestic policies.” These are grand statements that can and should be called into question. But first, let’s examine the specifics of his plan beginning with creating wealth in the Black community. Biden plans to ensure Black families can build and sustain wealth for themselves and their communities by ensuring first time homebuyers are able to get $15,000 in federal down payment assistance. The quarterly homeownership rates are revealing a lasting legacy from exclusion from lending following the New Deal. Rates by race and ethnicity of householder for the United States
list the rate of homeownership just above 40 percent without a trend of growth for individuals who identify as Black alone compared to the rate of homeownership being over 70 percent among individuals who identify as non-Hispanic white alone. Besides homeownership, Biden plans to invest over $70 billion in HBCUs and other MSIs, provide loan forgiveness for public servants and double funding for the State Small Business Credit Initiative to $3 billion to assist small businesses, particularly those owned by people of color. Housing equity appears to be a focus, but it is critical these plans are written into concrete legislation. He plans to build new and repair existing affordable housing, draw housing and community development capital to lowincome communities, end redlining and other discriminatorypractices in the housing market, protect tenants
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.
Courtesy Medium
A protestor takes part in one of 2020’s Black Lives Matter rallies.
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from eviction and expand funding for shelters and homelessness programs. While Biden has not supported Medicaid for All, he plans to protect and build on Obamacare, which he states has granted coverage to “3 million uninsured, non-elderly Black Americans.” (continued on page 13)
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Opinions 13
Courtesy YouTube
Protestors march in support of Black Lives Matter.
(Continued from page 12) The building comes from his plan to give Americans a new choice to purchase a public health insurance option like Medicare. Importantly, Biden notes that the high maternal mortality rate disproportionately affects Black women and plans to reduce this. Further, he plans to double investment into community health centers, ensure enforcement of mental health parity laws, expand funding for mental health services and make an unprecedented investment in research. In response to the disparity in quality education, Biden plans to triple Title I funding to ensure teachers are paid competitively, access to preschool is guaranteed and districts offer rigorous coursework. Additionally, Biden plans to double the number of mental health professionals in schools, build schools in Black communities, expand the community school model, fund improvements to public school buildings to free them from environmental contaminants and equip them with technology, invest in recruiting teachers of color and reinstate Obama-Biden actions to diversify schools. This dedication to education continues beyond high school, where
Biden plans to provide two years of community college or other training program without debt, tackle barriers that prevent students from completing their education, make a $50 billion investment in workforce training, create a “Title I for postsecondary education” and rectify the funding disparities of HBCUs and minority institutions with a $70 billion investment. It is no secret that environmental racism is a worldwide problem that plagues the United States, from pipelines forcibly built through Native American reservations to lack of access to clean water in Flint, Mich. Biden plans to invest $1.7 trillion over the next ten years in a clean energy revolution. Further, Biden states he will stand up to the abuse of power that disproportionately harms Black communities and hold polluters accountable while reinstating federal protections rolled back by the Trump Administration. However, Biden has been hesitant to give full support to the Green New Deal. While he believes the Green New Deal is a crucial framework, it is unlikely for the Green New Deal to be supported in its entirety by
the Biden administration. At last, Biden addresses the criminal justice system in this plan by promising to create a $20 billion competitive grant program to encourage states to focus on prevention and reduce incarcerated populations. He plans to expand and use the power of the Justice Department with legislation to address systemic misconduct in police departments and prosecutors’ offices, invest in public defenders’ offices, eliminate the death penalty and mandatory minimums, end the federal crack and powder cocaine disparity, decriminalize the use of cannabis and expunge all cannabis convictions, end incarceration for drug use alone and expand effective alternatives to detention, end cash bail and private prisons, invest $1 billion per year in juvenile justice reform, set a goal of ensuring 100 percent of formerly incarcerated individuals have housing upon reentry and expand access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment. Lastly, Biden plans to build on the Violence Against Women Act by expanding grants for culturally specific services, investing in adolescent girls of color and combatting the violence against transgender women
of color. While this plan is filled with necessary legislation, it is also filled with promises long offered to the Black community and lacks any reference to police brutality. Without a mention of reforming, defunding or abolishing in a plan titled “Biden’s agenda for the Black community,” we are left wondering where Biden stands. In Biden’s plan for strengthening commitment to justice, Biden prioritizes reform through methods such as reinvigorating communityoriented policing while restating his plans for drug policy and U.S. Justice Department expansion. Though Biden publicly has supported the Black Lives Matter movement, endorsing bans on chokeholds and advocating for community policing, he has either waivered or outright rejected the most urgent proposals, such as defunding the police. Ultimately, Biden must earn the trust of voters concerned about social justice given his political history (i.e. the 1994 crime bill). Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza has said that Biden is “far away” from the type of changes Democratic voters want, but, “we need to push him to be a better candidate.”
14 Opinions
Red & Black
18 September 2020
President TrumpFails toWork forRacial Justice
Courtesy FOX News
Black Lives Matter is painted outside Trump Tower.
Paul Collier Red & Black Editor
To President Trump, the words “Black Lives Matter” have become a “symbol of hate,” even as 123 Black Americans had already been shot by police by Aug. 30 of this year, with the rate of these fatalities being far higher than any other ethnicity. As Americans begin to fight against not only murderous discrimination, but racial injustice of all kinds, President Trump has not only refused to lead the country towards racial jus-
tice for Black Americans, but has actively fought against the progress the Black Lives Matter movement has attempted to make. Trump isn’t even able to have the optics of supporting racial justice. As a part of re-examining American culture and historical idols, Confederate and other racist monuments and statues have been reconsidered as memorials of the worst parts of American history. Most discussion of the removal of these monuments is nuanced debate weighing the value that the person they represent brought to establishing America against the horrors of the slavery or racism they committed. While Quinnipiac University found that most Americans support their removal, Trump has redirected his aides and officials to focus primarily on pro-
tecting these monuments. He went as far as threatening to veto a Defense Authorization Bill if the Bill included provisions for renaming military bases named after confederate soldiers. He also retweeted, though later removed, a video of a supporter chanting “white power.” These are the simple issues. Even racists know to not be visibly racist at all times. However, Trump is unable to quell his sentiments as he continues to rally against those that want America to re-examine its history of discrimination. Sadly, this is the least harmful part of his policies. Trump has recently ordered federal agencies to end critical race theory and white privilege awareness training. While they attempt to combat racial discrimination in the workplace and discuss how to
combat systemic racism, Trump has called these events “un-American propaganda training sessions.” OMB Director Russel Vought says these sessions claimed almost all white people contribute to racism, yet he is unable to mention a single session or organization that has made this the main principle of their training. These classes have occurred for years in private businesses and college campuses and they have helped white Americans realize where their privileges lie as they attempt to make places of business and learning more equitable. In opposing this for little reason but the fear of dealing with their own racial prejudices, Trump’s Administration has directly set themselves (Continued on page 15)
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Opinions 15
Courtesy Vox
Police protect the White House during BLM protests.
(Continued from page 14) against the advancement of racial justice and the acknowledgement that white Americans have to be willing to learn how to hold themselves accountable for creating equitable spaces and being anti-racist. Trump has also set himself against suburban housing. Housing is a key tenant of the upholding of American racial injustice. Minority communities have been segregated and left with less access to quality education, health care, public support programs, essential businesses and work opportunities. In 2015, President Obama enacted the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) mandate to combat this segregation by outlawing the denial of leases based on race. Beginning in 2018 and continuing to today, Trump has threatened the repeal of this act under the idea expressed by HUD Secretary Ben Carson that singular communities are better positioned to make housing decisions. This mandate also works
against Trump’s 2018 initiative to create Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZ) out of communities in poverty by giving tax breaks to said communities so business owners invest in the area. If more affluent white individuals can move into QOZ areas easier because the AFFH has been repealed, the benefit these zones could have had for minority communities will be lost to whites looking for easy profit. Together, these actions create a predatory environment that can lead to a lack of housing on the basis of race in a nation already dealing with a homelessness crisis. The considered repeal of this act is a direct endorsement of Jim Crow-era segregation. The final major issue surrounding Trump’s response to Black Lives Matter is his reaction to policing in America. One of the major ideals of the movement is to defund police to a point where money can be redirected into community programs that effectively keep people from needing
to commit crimes to survive, therefore lessening the need for police, a system that originates from the systemic racism of the slavery and Jim Crow eras. Trump has essentially mocked this effort. He signed an Executive Order claiming police reform that only really limited the use of chokeholds as he simultaneously affirmed the need for police and an increase in police funding. He also attacked New York City for lowering its police budget by one billion dollars. However, this budget dropped from five billion to four billion, which are astronomically high numbers that should be more than capable of funding policing for New York. Meanwhile, cities such as Virginia Beach, New Orleans, and Tampa have over 100 million dollars dedicated to policing, which makes up at least 15 percent of their city budgets. And Trump wants these amounts to go up. Our cities need help, our minority
communities need help and the Black-American community deserves justice, but militaristic enforcement and intervention carried out by police is not the help that will create equality. Trump has barely attempted to even act as if he cares about Black lives.
Courtesy FOX5DC
A protestor holds a sign in front of the White House during a BLM protest.
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18 September 2020
Tiger King Glorifies Exotic Animal Abusers Molly Kilbourne Red & Black Editor
From the title of the show alone, viewers should have been flagged at Netflix’s glorification of animal abusers. Tiger King revealed a pocket of society drenched in abuse, misogyny and crime, yet one of the abusers will be on this season’s Dancing with the Stars. The show itself and the treatment of those involved in the abuse and illegal activities indicate the tendency of the media to sensationalize criminal behavior. Joe Exotic claimed that he started his exotic animal park because he loved the tigers so much, yet we also see him neglect the tigers, feed them rotten food and exploit them for profit. He breeds tigers in captivity, which is not rescuing them—he has a license for neither of those activities—and puts them on show exclusively so he can make money. Whether it is the show’s aim to sensationalize abuse or to truly leave room for speculation, one of the most horrifying incidents on the show was Doc Antle’s treatment of tiger cubs. There is no definitive answer given during the series, but it does not feel like very much of a leap to believe that Antle kills his tiger cubs after they reached a certain age and could no longer be played with or used for photo opportunities. During the segment of the show in which this was investigated, Exotic makes a point
to be angry and horrified at Antle’s treatment of the cubs. However, Exotic himself states that the way he makes the majority of his money is by selling tiger cubs. It is not revealed how exactly these cubs are transported, or to whom they are sold, but we can only venture to think that they will be sold to people like Exotic or Antle who have no license for wild animal care. Consciously subjecting animals to improper care, putting them in danger of neglect or maltreatment and selling them illegally are all forms of abuse. It is a morbid question to ask, but is one the show raises: Is it truly better for tiger’s to be bred in captivity while being subjected to maltreatment, or is it better for them to remain endangered in the wild? Viewers know from the show that Exotic is now in prison serving a 22-year sentence. He was convicted of 17 counts of animal abuse and plotting to have Carole Baskin, another woman who runs a wild animal park, murdered. But Exotic is the only one to have been charged and convicted. The show blatantly depicts the illegal acts committed by every person involved in tiger breeding, selling and the running of wild animal zoos. Tiger King failed in conveying the severity of the crimes being committed in the show by feeding into the sensationalized depiction of abuse. Referring to Exotic as the “Tiger King” instead of reprimanding him as “Animal Abuser” is only the first indicator of the issues with the show. When investigating and depicting crimes, the aim must be to support the victims and cast the perpetrators as such.
Courtesy Extra
Carole Baskin is competing in this season of Dancing With the Stars.
18 September 2020
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Opinions 17
The Recklessness of Pursuing Nuclear Energy Brendan Troesch Red & Black Contributor
As the world continues to search for new alternatives to fossil fuels, nuclear energy often appears as a viable alternative. In a short article titled “Three Reasons Why Nuclear is Clean and Sustainable,” The Office of Nuclear Energy, an agency of the US Department of Energy, promotes nuclear energy, claiming that it “protects air quality,” “has a small land footprint” and “produces minimal waste.” However, on this same website, they mention that, while nuclear waste can be recycled and reprocessed, the United States does not currently do this. Common arguments against other sustainable energy alternatives
like solar or wind energy in favor of nuclear include aesthetics (large solar panels and windmills are unsightly and ruin a beautiful landscape) and wildlife preservation (windmills kill birds who are not aware of the new structures). Oftentimes these arguments are grasping at straws, especially when organizations like the Committee on Uranium Mining in Virginia talk about the major health implications of uranium mining like exposure to harmful decay products such as radon, radium and polonium, whose radioactivity is carcinogenic and affects people of all health and ages. Is it really worth it, then, to transition to a source of limited, nonrenewable energy whose effects on the environment could be as catastrophic as the Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters? Nuclear energy zealots oftentimes do not think about people who are different than them, that is to say,
those who would experience the direct effects of uranium processing and nuclear energy production, such as miners and people who live near mines and nuclear power plants. NPR cites the devastating effects this has had on the Navajo Nation, whose land not only mining companies but the US government itself have raped to obtain uranium for energy and weapons development. Kidney failure and cancer, conditions directly linked to uranium contamination, afflict many Navajo people, NPR writes. Historically, Indigenous American communities suffer from a systemic lack of access to medical assistance, leading to their unrighteous deaths on land which was taken from them. Dylan Bertovich ’21, an aspiring cardiologist, commented on this injustice: “Like coal, and many other natural resources, uranium has been plundered from indigenous lands. Left in the wake are hundreds of
cases of various cancers and other ailments, for which the indigenous people are left without care.” This injustice also disturbs biology and psychology double major Amanda Fitzpatrick ’21, who said “It pains my heart that America’s first peoples are receiving the agonizing consequences of a capitalistic society driven by instant gratification and profit.” When American lives are at stake, they must be the forefront in the discussion of energy source transitions. Indigenous Americans have lived and taken care of their land much longer than most Americans’ ancestors have been in the country. Environmental conservation via nuclear energy cannot be discussed until Indigenous peoples are included in the conversation and the organizations which have harmed them for years begin to make amends for their devastating socioenvironmental transgressions.
Courtesy ArcGIS Story Maps
Nuclear plants converting nuclear fission to energy and using this energy to heat water. The steam from the water is spinning a turbine and being emitted.
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18 September 2020
The Damaging Effects of Gender Reveals Molly Kilbourne Red & Black Editor
While gender reveal parties cause physical damage in extreme cases, are they naturally negative occurrences? In short, yes. The El Dorado fire that is currently blazing through California is only the most recent case of physical damage caused by a gender reveal party; in the last three years alone, 60,000 acres of land has been destroyed by the parties. In October of 2019, a grandmotherto-be was killed by shrapnel from an accidentally-created pipe bomb at a gender reveal party. In November of the same year, a pilot had been employed by a family to drop 350 gallons of pink water from his plane for the family’s gender reveal party, but the plane stalled and crashed. The pilot did not die, but the plane itself was destroyed. There have been numerous other incidents in which people are seriously injured or property is damaged due to gender reveal parties. It should not be difficult to look at these facts and question the practice at hand. If people are endangering themselves, others and property, why are these parties occurring in the first place? Our society has been colonized into such a deeply heteronormative binary institution, that the sex of one’s baby is celebrated more than the child’s birth. Sex and gender are two separate entities, but they become blurred in the hands of heterosexual
couples more often than not. They celebrate the “gender” of their child when in actuality they are celebrating its genitalia. There is no way for us to know what a child’s gender will be until they convey their identity themselves. In addition to the tremendous amount of physical damage caused by the parties, we must look at the emotional and mental damage caused on people by having this rigid binary enforced. For a child who is transgender, gender non-conforming, gender non-binary, intersex or agender, this “celebration” is traumatizing. Imagine not only having your genitals celebrated, but having your identity completely ignored, covered up and disregarded for the sake of a party. If transgender folks had celebrations that resulted in this amount of damage, the parties would be policed constantly, and the cisgender, white heterosexual community would be raising hell in a handbasket. Even if the practices did not result in severe physical damage, the mental damage done to children growing up in a restrictive binary society marks them as naturally negative occurrences. There is nothing wrong with being excited about the birth of a child, but focusing only on its genitalia is disturbing. We must create room for children to grow up and learn freely about their identity and others’. Allowing space for them to make their own understandings of themselves prevents the mental trauma that so many LGBTQ+ youth carry for their entire lives. Ending the practice of gender reveal parties will only result in positive changes which solidifies them being a naturally negative occurrence.
Courtesy Refinery29
The California wildfire started by a gender reveal party still rages on the West Coast.
sports 18 September 2020
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Recap: Week 1 of 2020 NFL Season
Courtesy PFF.com
Steelers rookie Chase Claypool makes his first career catch.
Nicholas Krugh Red & Black Editor The National Football League is back! The first week is in the books and it lived up to all the hype. The new football year started just as last ended, with Patrick Mahomes dominating the opposing defense. The Kansas City Chiefs defeat the Houston Texans 34-20 on Thursday night football. Chiefs rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire burst onto the scene rushing 138 yards and 1 touchdown. Sunday was full of action. Russell Wilson was looking better than ever
leading the Seahawks past the Atlanta Falcons, 38-25. Wilson threw for 322 yards and 4 touchdowns on the day. Up North in Foxborough, the New England Patriots didn’t miss a beat without Tom Brady. Bill Belichick once again proves he is the best coach of all time; the Patriots defeat the Miami Dolphins 21-11. Both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Washington Football Team shock the football world defeating the Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles respectively. Both the Washington and Jacksonville are predicted to be the bottom dwellers of the league, so their week one victories many believe
are flukes. The Cleveland Browns once again where the laughingstock of the league on Sunday getting dominated by the Baltimore Ravens, 38-6. Lamar Jackson of the Ravens picked right back up off his MVP campaign last year. The New Orleans Saints handled the new and improved Tampa Bay Buccaneers, winning 34-23. Tom brady and his new team did not seam to be in sync all day. Brady throwing for two intercepts, newly unretired Rob Gronkowski only had two catches for 11 yards. Many are raising the question was Tom Brady a product of Belichick’s system. The Bills, Bears, Raiders, Chargers, Cardinals and
Rams also start the new season 1-0. On Monday night football the Steelers dominated the New York Giants. The Steelers defense looked even better than lasts squad, holding Saquon Barkley to only 6 rushing yards on 15 attempts. However, the real story of the night was the return of Ben Roethlisberger after missing all of last year with an elbow injury. Roethlisberger settled in after the first quarter, throwing for 229 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Denver Broncos lost to the Tennessee Titans 16-13 to close out the Monday night doubleheader and week one of the NFL.
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18 September 2020
Fantasy Football: Start Them or Sit Them Start Them Emmanual Sanders New Orleans Saints WR
With Michael Thomas out at least one week with an ankle injury, look for Quarterback Drew Brees to target Sanders this week against the Raiders on Monday Night Football.
Nyheim Hines Indianapolis Colts HB
Marlon Mack went down in week one with a seaon ending achillies injury. Rookie Jonathan Taylor and Hines will most likely split snaps this week, but Hines can be a factor both on the ground and in the air this Sunday aginst the Vikings. Hines can be a great add to any fantasy team looking for running back depth.
Diontae Johnson Pittsburgh Steelers WR
In week one against the New York Giants, Johnson and Roethlisberger showed a solid connection bringing in 57 yards on 6 catches. Roethlisberger is a quarterback that targets pass-catchers he is comfortable with heavily. Look for this connection to continue Sunday at home against the Broncos.
Courtesy FanSided
Sit Them Malcolm Brown Los Angeles Rams HB
Do not overreact to the week one performance of Brown for the Rams. Brown will continue to be involved in the offenese, but second round draft pick Cam Akers will be the guy in the end.
James Conner Pittsburgh Steelers HB
Obviously health is the major issue here. Even if Conner’s ankle is 100% on Sunday versus the Broncos, Bennie Snell Jr. showed he is ready to handle the load for the Steelers. Split snaps are coming for Conner in Pittsburgh. Courtesy USA Today