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 October 2, 2020
WHAT’S IN THIS WEEK’S PAPER... CURRENT EVENTS For many women and working-class Americans, [RBG’s] death is also the loss of an icon and inspiration revered for her decades of work in gender equality and the law. -P.8
BSU Hosts Celebration of Black Life PAGE 3
DIVERSITY
Political redlining is the process of restricting the supply of political information with assumptions about demographics and present or past opinions. -P.10
OPINIONS At the heart of Biden’s plan is a call to triple the money sent by the federal government to low-income schools and districts from a current amount of $16 billion per year to about $48 billion. -P.14
SPORTS
The [last Steelers] game also was the first time that J.J Watt (Houston), T.J Watt (Pittsburgh) and Derek Watt (Pittsburgh) were all playing on the same football field. -P.19
WJREDANDBLACK.COM
Courtesy Katie Hahn
2 CAMPUS NEWS
Red & Black
2 October 2020
Campus Changes Post- Quarantine Alexandra Wagner Red & Black Staff
With new COVID-19 regulations, everyone has been forced into a new kind of college experience. Something as normal as going to a football game with friends or meeting up with others to hang out and relax has now been taken away from students this new semester. Rebecca Valencia ‘22 noted how peculiar her new routine feels. “Everything feels a little off this year. One of the things I miss most is being able to meet a few of my friends and grab a bite to eat. So, walking into the Commons to see minimal seating this year made me a little sad.” Although the 2020 fall semester may feel abundantly different, thankfully Washington & Jefferson College has found some ways to keep some sense of normalcy around campus. As of this last week, the Commons rearranged their indoor seating in order to allow slightly larger groups to enjoy a meal together. What used to be strictly two-person tables, has now been altered to allow three people to a larger table. Valencia was very happy to learn about this new change to the school’s dining system. “Although it isn’t the largest difference, being able to bring one more friend to dinner is great. Especially with the weather starting to get colder day by day, our outdoor seating
will soon be taken away.” Another major difference this year is our school’s new gym regulations. What used to be a workout facility open for all at any time, is now managed through a signup system online. A time slot sheet can be found on the school’s website for those who want to exercise. Student-athlete Colin Robinson ’23, mentioned how thankful he is to even have access to parts of the gym, considering some schools have abolished their workout facilities as a whole. “I was so relieved to hear not all of our gym would be closed. As a member of the mens’ golf team, I became used to having access to our indoor golf room for additional practice.” Robinson is one of the lucky athletes on campus who is still able to have daily practice for his sport. “The golf room only allows one person at a time, so I’m super grateful our home course is open for our team this fall.” With only about six hundred students living on campus, we cannot help but notice how empty it feels to walk around our school grounds. Signs cover every other table and chair, reminding students to socially distance. Classrooms are spaced out with desks taped together to create a safer learning environment. Even then, many of our fellow classmates might be seen not in person, but on a projector from a Zoom call. It is safe to say W&J feels quite different this year, however it seems that those students still on campus have found ways to make the best of the strange situation. With the safety of all students as priority, our school may never look the same.
Courtesy WashJeff.edu
The Eaton Fitness Center is one of the places affected by post-quarantine changes.
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2 October 2020
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CAMPUS NEWS 3
BSU Hosts Celebration of Black Life Katie Hahn Red & Black Contributor
“Silence is Violence,” were the words that set the tone for a vigil led by the Washington & Jefferson College Black Student Union this past weekend. Framed by photos with flowers and lit candles, Tamia Mickens ‘21 and Jasmine Dey ’23 led a powerfully somber celebration of Black life on Sunday in order to address the issues of racial in-
justice still prevalent in today’s society. The ceremony occurred on Sept. 27, at 6 p.m. at the Amphitheater here on ampus. The candle-lit vigil followed the recent court decision regarding the case of the murder of Breonna Taylor and intended to honor the lives that have been lost due to racial injustice. On-campus students were welcomed to attend, given the restraints of social distancing and proper safety etiquette in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite only a little over 24 hours of notice for the event, dozens of students were in attendance. The majority of students were welcomed to sit on the stones and grass of the amphitheater, but the
unexpected number of students were permitted to line up in front of the Tech Center to witness the ceremony. Dey, vice president of the W&J BSU and host of “Cuethe Convo,” a podcast that discusses social justice issues, human rights and politics, opened the event. “The message we were trying to get across with the vigil is the importance of Black life, and the impact of Black Death,” Dey explained after the event. “We wanted to create a space where people could come and openly grieve with others who are feeling the same way, as they were all paying respect to the life that was taken.” Mickens, the president of the BSU on campus, then addressed the
Courtesy Katie Hahn
Many W&J students gathered outside the Tech Center for the BSU Celebration of Life.
ways that improvements can be made, and how society can better itself as a whole. Following a candle-lit moment of silence, the participants of the vigil were invited to come and place a flower upon the easels that framed the speakers which were filled with images and names of those whose lives had been lost. “The BSU Celebration of Life was one of the most impactful ceremonies I have ever been to,” said Ava Smith, a sophomore at W&J who attended the vigil. “From the remembrance of all the Black people who have lost their lives to police brutality, to the call of action that Tamia and Jasmine left us with was so powerful.”
Courtesy Katie Hahn
4 CAMPUS NEWS
Red & Black
2 October 2020
W&J Hosts Opal Tometi Meet the Editorial Board Molly Kilbourne Red & Black Editor
On Monday evening, Washington & Jefferson College hosted co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Movement and committed champion of justice Opal Tometi through a Zoom meeting. Dr. Jennifer Harding and Adia Muhammad’22 hosted the meeting by asking questions from various classes. The first question answered by Tometi was whether there was a specific event that inspired her to become an activist. Tometi explained an incredibly traumatizing series of events in her early life: as a young child she witnessed her parents almost suffer deportation from the United States. She listened to the court hearings as her parents fought to keep their livelihood and wondered, “Why would this country do this?” Tometi articulated the powerlessness that overcame her because of her parents’ experience as well as other community members who faced deportation. This powerless spurned her into beginning work in high school to both emphasize and celebrate diversity. Over time she realized that she needed a system of protection for both herself and her community because, in her words, “power is at play”. Tometi continued to build on her initial experiences in the conference, highlighting that “we can’t have honest conversations about environmental injustices without discussing race”. Of the top ten countries most affected by climate change, six were in Africa. To invest in
our futures, Tometi told us that Black voices must be a part of the decisions as well as the Black Lives Matter movement. Of the other questions asked, Tometi spoke to the ways in which we can prevent discouragement surrounding the progress of the movement: “social media for social good” was a particularly excellent point from her. As college students, we are often bombarded with social media access, but Tometi explained how it could be used as a tool for allyship and activism. She also emphasized that self-care is paramount while remaining part of the fight for justice. Overall, Tometi left the audience with resounding empowerment. If nothing else is taken from her testimony, “there is no neutral” should be internalized. There is no neutral in our society and Tometi is leading citizens into a future of protection, reparation and hope. Justice is a vastly intersectional entity, and Tometi masterfully addressed its complicated nature.
Current Events Section Editor: Molly Kilbourne Molly is a senior English and gender & women’s studies major. Along with being an editor for the Red & Black she is the visual arts editor for the Wooden Tooth Review. Molly is a member of Sigma Tau Delta and the Franklin Literary Society along with being an ASAP advocate. Molly stays involved on campus as a class representative for SGA and a member of the Black Student Union. Molly stated, “I am excited to work alongside such lovely people, and to share my joy of writing with them while we connect our campus during such chaotic times.”
Courtesy Opaltometi.org
2 October 2020
CAMPUS NEWS 5
Red & Black
Upcoming Career Service Events
Event: Event:
WestPACS
Job,
Internship
Grad School Panel: Understanding
Graduate School Virtual Fair
the Graduate School Admission Date:
Wednesday, October 21
Process & Writing an Effective Time:
11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Personal Statement
Type:
and
Virtual Event - You can now register at
Date:
Tuesday, October 6
Time:
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Type:
Virtual Event
fair, usually hosting 160-200 employers
Description:
Worried about applying for graduate
across many fields, will be virtual this fall
school? Don’t know where to start?
on Wednesday, October 21 from 11am-4pm.
Participate in this interactive workshop with awesome W&J Professors Bennett, Leonard & Troost! This will be a VIRTUAL EVENT. Register, through Handshake and you will be sent an invite to join, via Zoom.
https://westpacs.org/
Description:
This job, internship and graduate school
You can now register at https://westpacs.org/ After registering you will be able to schedule virtual sessions with employers that fit into your schedule throughout the day on Oct. 21. We are hopeful that this virtual event will be of interest to even more students and employers than we typically see in person in Monroeville, Pa. With no need to travel and the ability to work sessions around class schedules, this will provide access to more students. Check out the Handshake Events Calendar to see a full list of Employers that have already registered to attend.
6 Campus News
2 October 2020
Red & Black
Career Service Events Continued
Event:
Vector Marketing Virtual Information Sessions
Date:
Tuesday, November 3
Time:
12:30pm, 1:30pm and 2:30pm
Type:
Virtual Event
Description:
Scottie Brown, Division Manager for Vector Marketing/Cutco Cutlery, will be hosting 3 Information Sessions via Zoom to provide students with employment opportunities.
Email careerservices@washjeff.edu for the Zoom link and we will email it to you, along with an online form to register
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
2 October 2020
Red & Black
Current Events 7
Current Events
New York City Unveils “Climate Clock”
Courtesy of The New York Times
The clock counts down in Times Square, New York City.
Lily Bonasso Red & Black Contributor
On Sept. 19 at 3 p.m., a new installment was unveiled on the south side of Union Square in New York City. What has previously been known as the Metronome, is a digital display that typically shows a combination of the current time and the time left in the day. Through a two-year project by climate activists Gan Golan and Andrew Boyd, the clock has been
transformed and unveiled as the “Climate Clock”, which counts down the years, days, hours, minutes and seconds until the world experiences a climate crisis. The Paris Climate Agreement seeks to prevent the Earth from warming above 1.5 degrees Celsius, at which point the environment will suffer catastrophic damage. The Climate Clock, therefore, demonstrates the projection that, without change, the Earth has just over seven years to control the emission of greenhouse gases before this climate crisis becomes eminent. Golan and Boyd have noted that the clock is intended to act as a daily reminder to the multitude of New
York civilians of the science that consistently warns the public about the inevitability of climate change. They hope to expand this project to other cities across the country in the near future. Although their desire to draw attention to climate change is admirable, this installation has faced criticism regarding its target population. Chase Weiland ‘20, who majors in environmental studies and history, says, “I think the intention was good, but it should be targeted towards politicians and big businesses rather than the general public. The general public has a relatively minor role to play in comparison with the effects of environmental policies and business regulations.” Studies have
indicated that only 100 companies are responsible for as much as 71% of global emissions. This raises the issue that civilians should not be forced into a constant anxiety over an issue that is largely out of their control. With the upcoming elections in which the candidates continue to debate the United States’ response to climate change among other issues, the installment of this Climate Clock has successfully raised a reaction in the media. The eminent climate crisis, however, cannot be avoided simply by the actions of civilians, but must be addressed by the businesses that contribute heavily to the global emissions and the policies that govern these corporations.
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Red & Black
2 October 2020
RBG Passes the Megaphone for Gender Equality
Courtesy of Jabin Botsford / The Washington Post
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg sits during an official group photo at the Supreme Court on Nov. 30, 2018.
Akansha Das Red & Black Contributor
The passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg due to cancerrelated complications came as a shock to those who she had given basic freedoms ranging from healthcare to reproductive rights. But for many women and working-class Americans, her death is also the loss of an icon and inspiration revered for her decades of work in gender equality and the law. Justice Ginsberg grew up in the Bronx, N.Y. before attending Cornell for her undergraduate degree. Starting her studies of law at Harvard Law School (as one of only nine women in a class of five hundred) but finishing
at Columbia Law School, the stirring of a nationally-renowned lawyer and feminist can be seen here as she broke down barriers to become the first women to be published in two major Law Reviews. When no law firm would hire her after graduation, she became a law professor at Rutgers University where she spearheaded an equal pay movement upon learning she was not earning the same as her male counterparts. It was at this point that she began volunteering for the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project where she became director and ended up fighting some of the most landmark gender equality cases of her time. Justice Ginsberg came at a time when women’s marches were sweeping the country. However, marching was not Ginsberg’s style. Known for her quiet, analytical demeanor she instead
used her wits and clever moves to convince the nine male Supreme Court Justices that sexism existed in America. Creating the legal precedent of gender discrimination by citing the fourteenth Amendment, she fought for women’s right to serve on a jury, to gain financial benefits and independence, to gain admission into state-funded schools and to have equality in the workplace during pregnancy. But beyond this, she showed the country that gender equality was not simply a woman’s problem. In Weinberger v. Wiesenfeld, a case in which a recently widowed father was ineligible to claim widow benefits because he was a male, Ginsberg very strategically had widow, Mr. Wiesenfeld, sit next to her while speaking in court to put a human face to the way gender inequality hurts everyone. But extrapolating from her
professional career, Justice Ginsberg took on the role of an icon for youth especially in the last two decades. Along with the prolific adaptations of her characteristic robe collars and merchandise bearing her quotes and face owned by many women, every dissent she wrote would “blow up the internet” as people took inspiration from her “icy” comments and opinions as the most liberal senior justice on the court. The “notorious R.B.G” was a hero for women at a time when they couldn’t have needed her more. Justice Ginsberg’s passing is unfortunate. But even in her death, she broke down barriers as the first woman to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. What’s more, though Ginsberg may not have eradicated sexism in America, she’s inspired and motivated generations of women who most certainly will.
2 October 2020
Red & Black
Diversity
Diversity 9
The Impact of the Criminalization of Poverty Akansha Das Red & Black Staff
It is no secret that BIPOCs are significantly more likely to be impoverished and end up in prison because of it. But due to inaccurate stereotypes and false narratives perpetuated by the media, many believe that this disparity is because people of color themselves don’t “work hard enough” or can’t pull themselves up by their bootstraps. However, what many can’t see are the deep structural faults within American systems eroding away at the mere presence of these “bootstraps.” Poverty’s accepted definition is earning below a certain median level income. But beyond finances, it is the inability for individuals to live a good life. One of the most frustrating aspects of poverty is the fact that it is a persistent, systemic cycle that can span generations and social structures. So, before the criminalization of poverty among POCs can be comprehended, the criminalization and proliferation of poverty in general must first be understood. Starting in the 1980s under President Ronald Rea-
gan’s “trickle-down economics,” (a system in which individuals at the top of the economic pyramid get more money in hopes that this money will “trickle down” to lower levels) American structures began favoring the rich by extending tax breaks and exemptions while working class Americans bore the brunt of these systems. This business-first mindset infiltrated the prison system causing a decrease in politically unpopular taxes of the rich and higher fines and surcharges to individuals who were incarcerated. In other words, prison systems paid for the expansion of their prisons with money from the people they were jailing. Simultaneously, the concept of “broken window policing” was being implemented most notably in New York City. This 1982 social science theory claimed that the best way to reduce crime was to address the smallest root of the crime. For instance, it claimed that the key to stopping lawlessness and civil unrest was fixing every broken window, the key to stopping the formation of gangs was hunkering down on every minor drug offense and the key to beating homelessness was targeting every person sleeping on a park bench for the night. This business-first mindset and “broken windows policing” system combined with the racial wealth gap means that people of color are more likely to spend their life working up to
the starting line that white people were born at. So, while they are getting to this starting point, they may not be able to pay their parking ticket, may have to lean on drugs for a little while for money and might not have the resources to get that headlight fixed— all things that they could be stopped and frisked for under “broken windows policing”. So, when POCs become part
of the prison system and become compounded with fines and often bail they can’t pay, their only options are to stay in the prison system while their credit worsens or lean on their support system who barely have enough resources to support themselves. Both options deepen their poverty and neither adequately give them the help that welfare systems could provide if properly funded.
Courtesy Appeal
Fines and fees criminalize poverty and disproportionately impact BIPOC (Black, indigenous and people of color).
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Red & Black
2 October 2020
Block the Vote: Voter Suppression in 2020 Bavi Makkar Red & Black Contributor
As the days until Election Day decrease, many are becoming concerned with voter suppression and redlining. America is facing an extreme election with many factors, rights and decisions on the line. With elections like these, politicians always want to gain an advantage with their people. This often ends with some sort of voter suppression
and redlining. Political redlining is the process of restricting the supply of political information with assumptions about demographics and present or past opinions. It occurs when political campaigns design information only with likely voters in mind. It can also occur when politicians identify which communities to actively discourage from voting through voter suppression campaigns. Recently, the president has tried to gain his advantage by asking for voting sights to be guarded by police and other authoritative figures in uniforms. With this, he is discouraging many people of color to go out and vote, trying to guarantee a win for the republican party. Furthermore, he has pushed
to sue North Carolina for making it easier to vote with mail-in ballots and being able to fix those filled out incorrectly. One also has to consider one of the biggest questions the country has been asking: Why is Election Day not a national holiday? Brendan Troesch ‘21, stated that “the fact that Voting Day is not considered a national holiday is just another way the U.S. systemically silences the voices of the working class.” Virginia has joined the few states that have actually declared this day as a holiday such as Delaware, Hawaii, Kentucky and New York. These states recognized the fact that many people working their 9-5 will struggle to make
it to the voting booths. Furthermore, with the newly implemented fear of mail-in ballots, states should, outside of global pandemics, try to give everyone a fair chance. Sydney Fischer ‘21, also spoke on this issue; “It creates a classist system made to give one party an advantage.” Simply stated, in many states, with no holiday, voting on a Tuesday accomplishes the goal of making it easy for people to vote, and is superseded by the desire to make it hard for the working class to vote. No politician should try to hinder a certain group of people from voting. A lot is at stake with this election and the ability to vote should be easily accessible and equal for everyone.
Courtesy The Atlantic
There are many barriers put in place to suppress voters, particularly voters of color. A new survey from The Atlantic and the Public Region of Insitute shows that Black and Latinx citizens are more likely than white citizens to face barriers at the polls.
2 October 2020
Red & Black
Diversity 11
“Diversity and Inclusion”Needs To Include the Overlooked Brianna Billingsley Red & Black Contributor
Diversity and inclusion is a concept that should encompass all marginalized identities and minorities. However, when we have these discussions, people with disabilities are often overlooked and left out of the conversation. We see ableism in our everyday lives from politicians mocking Joe Biden’s stutter to TV critics referring to the deaf students at Gallaudet University as “just like us!” Ac-
cessibility comes in many forms, some more basic than others, but all types of accessibility have been an afterthought at some point or another. For the deaf and hard of hearing community for example, captions on videos are the most fundamental form of accessibility yet there still are not universal captions. Over 3% of the US population is deaf or hard of hearing, and still American Sign Language is not seen as a real language to some. Katy Haller ‘19 says “Speaking from my personal experience, I think that an essential part of diversity and inclusion conversations that we often miss is disability. On campus, at work and in activism, I’ve consistently noticed that making our spaces accessible is an afterthought or an inconvenience. My
vision for a more inclusive future values people for their unique identities, including diversity of ability.” When it comes to creating accessible environments for all, those with invisible disabilities are often further excluded. Lillien Schaer ‘22 says “I feel like a lot of disability inclusion focuses on visible disabilities without a lot of recognition to people with nonvisible disabilities or mental disabilities.” Schaer adds, “I feel like disability isn’t mentioned enough especially in legislation, and the fact that there still isn’t marriage equality for those receiving disability.” This is referring to the fact that when disabled people get married, they sometimes lose their ability to qualify for financial support from the
government, and those people become dependent on their spouse’s income. This hinders disabled people’s ability to pursue legal marriage as the drawbacks outweigh the benefits. Our campus is no exception as an example of a lack of proper accessibility. Often the automatic doors do not open or register when the handicap button is pushed. Brendan Troesch, ‘21 notes that “as an abled bodied person, I am privileged in that I don’t need to think about the challenges that disabled people have to face especially on campus.” This brings arise to the idea that even though we may not always see the topic of disability awareness and activism, we must be able to start the conversation when there isn’t one.
Courtesy Club Experience Blog
Disability inclusion means understanding the relationship between the way people function and how they participate in society, and making sure everybody has the same opportunities to participate in every aspect of life to the best of their abilities and desires.
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Red & Black
2 October 2020
China Oppresses Uighur Muslims Dylan Bertovich Red & Black Staff
The Uighurs are a Muslim minority people in Xinjiang, China, totaling approximately 12 million people. People may be aware of this name from the trending list on Twitter or from outreach videos on TikTok. The question is: what is happening to these people that has created the #FreeTheUighurs? The answer seems to be unknown, mostly due to the secrecy of the communist Chinese government and the lack of press freedom. There is a general consensus that there has been over one million people detained in what is termed “reeducation camps.” These camps have been accused of forced birth control and even genocide. This scheme aligns with the traditional Chinese approach of removing, reeducating and replacing the people in the far dissident regions of the country. This has been called a potential genocide, in which these people’s lives and culture is destroyed. How has the world responded? The answer is really, not at all. There has been some outcry when it was released that clothes and other products produced in Xinjiang were made by possible slave labor. The United States has recently passed the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act, in which sanctions were added against high level Chinese officials that have been involved in the policies that have harmed the Uighur people. In August, the government added more sanctions that were meant to impact
the government officials and companies in the region even more. Is this enough? Simply put, no. We need to do more to prevent or stop a potential genocide that is occurring. There are ideas that have been floated to take further action, with one of my favorites being to boycott the Winter Olympic Games in 2022 and prevent American companies from participating. The participation and advertising gives China credibility and a global
standing and that should be prevented at all costs. Another widely floated idea is building a coalition of nations and taking up action at the U.N. There seems to be a general fear of China along the terms of trade and this is preventing some countries from joining the coalition. This extends to the Muslim countries, such as Saudi Arabia, that are so afraid of losing trade that they have said that placing the Uighurs in
camps is China’s right. While Saudi Arabia doesn’t have the greatest human rights track record, this abandonment of their Muslim brothers comes as a shock to many. Trade and trade wars are the biggest threat to any change as any potential coalition would be accused of action only to attack China. The current action seems to be to wait and see what happens to one of the most vulnerable people on Earth.
Courtesy Al Jazeera
The world’s next major human disaster is in China, where China is holding one million Uighur Muslims on concentration camps.
2 October 2020
Red & Black
Diversity 13
Regenerative Economies & the Future of our Climate
Courtesy Rainforest Alliance
Brendan Troesch Red & Black Staff
Living in the United States, we are so used to seeing resources being consumed to exhaustion. We are aware of the ideas of renewable resources, but what about regenerative? Until recently, many people,
including myself, have never heard of the term regenerative economy, a more specific type of circular economy. Circulab defines a regenerative economy as “a local economy that promotes interaction and cooperation between locals.” Rainforest Alliance says that regenerative agriculture “comprises a broad set of principles and practices under the umbrella of climate-smart agriculture.Taking an agroecology and integrated system management approach, regenerative agriculture aims to increase biodiversity, enhance ecosystem services and increase agroecosystem resilience thus leading to resilient livelihoods.” The key takeaway is that the main focuses of a regenerative economy are cooperation rather than competition and that resources are replenished after use rather than depleted. One example of a regenerative economy can be seen in Guatemala’s Maya Biosphere Reserve, lived in and managed by the land’s indigenous peoples. The Rainforest Alliance reports that the communities in the reserve have ex-
perienced a deforestation rate of only 0.04 percent in the past 20 years while the neighboring Laguna del Tigre National park has lost 33 percent of its forests in the same timeframe. Unfortunately, exhaustive resource harvesting likes deforestation plagues the entire world, leading to further problems like forest fires, whose effects we feel today. Dylan Bertovich ’21 commented on the prospect of regenerative economies. He said, “We are in the midst of a worsening global climate and the transition to a regenerative economy is absolutely necessary. By seeing the world in a new way, a way that shifts to an ecological world view and prioritizes that which is living rather than capital, we can create a livable climate for our future.” The “new way” Bertovich mentions aligns with the worldview that indigenous folk in the Americas have always viewed the world. Recently, there has been a notion circulating in the media that “we [humans] are the virus,” noting how nature has significantly healed while our lives were at a standstill as a
result of the COVID-19 pandemic; this was quick to be mocked and memed. This idea that humans are separate from nature stems from colonial and industrial ideas of dominating landscapes and taking their resources, directly contrasting the millennia-long philosophy of indigenous communities who sustainably borrow what they need from the Earth, giving back to the land to compensate for what was used. Amanda Fitzpatrick ’21 said this when asked about the viability of regenerative economies: “The fact is that regenerative economies work, as seen in the forests of Guatemala. By putting management back into the hands of the community and the indigenous people who have previously shaped and successfully managed landscapes across the United States, we can not only reduce harmful effects on the Earth but begin to generate real positive impacts.” For our future, we must shed traditional ideas of destructive western economics in favor of a more sustainable system.
Courtesy Rainforest Alliance
It is not enough to simply stop harming the Earth: We have to generate a postive impact and that means making a global economy that is regenerative.
Opinions 14
2 October 2020
opinions Red & Black
Biden Plans to Improve American Education Amanda Fitzpatrick Red & Black Editor
Vice President Joe Biden’s first detailed policy of the 2020 campaign was his education plan for K-12 schools, which was announced this past May. At the heart of Biden’s plan is a call to triple the money sent by the federal government to low-income schools and districts from a current amount of $16 billion per year to about $48 billion. However, Biden’s plan is not just simply an increase in money – his plan includes direction as to how the money should be used. This plan includes a raise for teachers, access to Pre-K for all 3- and 4-year-olds and rigorous coursework at all schools, such as Advanced Placement classes. Any money that remains after these
priorities are addressed could then be used to meet other needs. Biden outlined this plan at a forum with teachers in Houston to create an initiative that will provide all educators the support and respect they need and deserve and invest in all children from birth so that they are prepared to succeed. While focusing on educators, Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden promise to be partners to educators in the White House. Given that Dr. Biden has worked as an educator for 30 years, the Biden family understands the rewarding and challenging aspects of being an educator. To address the challenges, Biden promises to support educators by making sure teachers receive a competitive wage and benefits. Noting that public school teachers made 21.4 percent less than workers with similar education and experience in 2018 and public school teachers’ average weekly wage has not increased since 1996,
Biden plans to correct this wrong by tripling Title I funding, requiring that these school districts use the funds to offer educators a competitive salary. Apart from increasing educators’ salaries, Biden plans to increase mentoring and additional education for teachers to stay in the classroom while advancing their careers, allowing certifications, such as in special education, bilingual education
Courtesy WDEL
Joe Biden speaks to University of Delaware students.
C ontac t
E ditorial P olicy The Red & Black is the official, registered student-produced newspaper of Washington & Jefferson College. It is published Fridays with the exception of exams and break periods. Editorials are based upon the opinion of the respective writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper, the
College or its students, faculty, or administration. The Red & Black welcomes all reader contributions, but reserves the right to reject letters of pure promotional nature, as well as letters which do not meet its standard of integrity, accuracy and decency. The Red & Black also reserves the right to edit submissions.
or American Sign Language education. Brendan Troesch ’21, a German major, supports this initiative especially in relation to bilingual education. “Pedagogical methods are always changing. Therefore, allowing teachers to go back and modify their skills will prevent the classroom setting from stagnating,” said Troesch. Ultimately, education costs money, (continued on page 15)
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.
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2 October 2020 (continued from page 14) and many teachers have student loans. Biden plans to address this by fixing the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program to help teachers. In addition to focusing on educators, Biden equally prioritizes students. With one in five children experiencing mental health problems, Biden plans to double the number of psychologists, guidance counselors, nurses, social workers and other health professionals in school to ensure children get the mental health support that they need. Further, Biden plans to provide support for students and parents in public schools by creating community schools that will work with families, students, teachers and community organizations to identify needs and address these needs through community resources. In 2020, the safety of students is a serious concern. To address these growing concerns requires making sure teachers and students can work and learn in safe and learn in safe and healthy environments. This requires fixing unsafe schools, with public school facilities receiving a grade of D+ from the American Society of Civil Engineers and the U.S. underfunding school infrastructure by $46 billion every year. As schools themselves are made safe and are addressing health risks, it is also necessary to battle the National Rifle Association. Biden plans to introduce passage of gun legislation by championing the ban of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. By recognizing that students do not all have the same opportunity whether it be because of their zip code, parents’ income, race or disability, Biden is aware of a growing gap in the United States. To close to this gap, Biden plans to triple Title I funding to close the estimated $23 billion annual funding gaps between white and non-white school districts as well as high and low-income districts that exists today.
Red & Black
Another concern Biden recognizes is the lack of diversity of our educators. Knowing that having just one Black teacher in elementary school can reduce the probability of dropping out for Black students, Biden wants to support new approaches to recruit teachers of color. To help foster diversity throughout the school, Biden plans to reinstate the Obama-Biden Administration’s actions and build innovative schools in low-income communities and communities of color to address inequities. Biden also plans to fully fund the obligation within ten years promised by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act signed into law in 1990. Currently, the federal government is only covering 14 percent of the promised 40 percent of the extra cost of special education. By reinstating high-quality career and technical education, Biden hopes to provide students with industry credentials, opportunities to enroll in college, higher rates of employment and higher earnings. Additionally, the opportunity for high school students to take practical classes that will lead to credentials requires investment. By investing in and allowing Pell grants to be used for dual enrollment programs, high school students will be able to take classes at community colleges and earn college credits. Ultimately, education is a lifelong process so investment must begin at birth. For Biden, this philosophy means that Pre-K must be offered for all three and four-year-olds. Dylan Bertovich ’21 also recognizes the importance of early education. “Study after study has shown the importance of early childhood education and I think that currently, as an industrialized nation, we miss out on serving our youngest citizens,” says Bertovich. Further, Biden plans to provide funds in pediatrician offices by ensuring that an early childhood development expert is in every community health center and that these
experts are also in pediatrician offices with high percentages of Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program patients. Likewise, Biden plans to expand home visiting that is funded through the Affordable Care Act, where health and child development specialists make scheduled visits to help parents and provide coaching. By doubling the funding, Biden hopes to help more families every year. As college students, you may be thinking that the above plan sounds nice, but it simply does not apply to you. To address your concerns, I will now provide a quick rundown of Biden’s plan for education beyond high school. This plan begins with providing two years of community college or other high-quality training programs without debt for hard-working students. If you are reading this, you are likely attending a four-year university; you are also included in this plan. Biden plans to make public colleges and universities tuition-free for all families with incomes below $125,000, targeting additional financial support to low-income and middle-class individuals by doubling the maximum value of the Pell grant, more than halving payments on undergraduate federal student loans and creating a “Title I for postsecondary education” to help students complete their degrees at under-resourced four-year schools. Sydney Fischer ’21 is looking forward to this plan. “This [making public colleges tuition-free] will help my family a lot. This could make college affordable for my brother, after my parents helped support my brother and I through college,” said Fischer. These are only a few of the details in this comprehensive plan that attempts to address the numerous inequities disparities in opportunity to continue education beyond high school. Ultimately, these are only some of the many plans Biden has included in his education plans and I encourage
Opinions 15 everyone to explore his plans in detail for themselves. It is important to note that Biden differs from the Obama administration, which believed school and teacher quality could be measured by standardized tests and states should hold schools and teachers accountable for test results and students’ growth. Instead, Biden’s approach is to be more of a partner to schools and teachers to demonstrate to teachers that he is on their side. Differing in even greater ways from the Trump Administration and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, Biden plans to prioritize public school once again, whose consistent cuts in funding has been threatened by increases to “school choice” initiatives. In the current circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, it would be amiss to not mention how Biden believes schools should respond. Critical of Trump’s handling of the pandemic, Biden has consistently called for decisions to be made based on science and has proposed a plan to create federal guidelines for safe reopening led by the CDC. By believing science, not politics, should decide school reopening, Biden’s plans for education is refreshing in its consistent prioritization of teachers and students.
Courtesy UDEL
Joe Biden visits the University of Delaware.
16 Opinions
Red & Black
2 October 2020
Trump and DeVos Oppose Public Education Paul Collier Red & Black Editor
President Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ education policies are leaving behind public schools. The administration has repeatedly criticized failing public schools and America’s decreasing quality of education, but as opposed to assisting public schools, they are now acting to expand private school choice and funding, leaving many American families and children behind. DeVos plans to allow vouchers for private schools, or allocation of money to students to help alleviate the costs of private institutions. To understand how nefarious this policy is, it is important to know exactly why private school vouchers are such a problem. To begin, their origins lie in racist segregation policies. Following Brown v Board of Education, segregation was no longer allowed, but there was no national legislation enforcing school integration. As such, in 1955, the county supervisors of Prince Edward County, Va., cut funds to the legal minimum of $150,000 for public schools despite the school board’s request for $700,000. They also began allocating funds monthly, meaning funding could be cut off as soon as integration was attempted. The county closed its public schools in 1959, and simultaneously
did not levy taxes as Va. began the Tuition Grant program to offer vouchers to students. As schools closed and funding was completely erased, white children continued schooling at the private Prince Edward Academy utilizing their new vouchers. This forced black families to move to Northern Virginia and North Carolina for education. The lack of diversity continues today. While Griffin v County School Board determined Prince Edward County had to reopen their public schools, legally ending this style of racial discrimination, private schools still overwhelmingly serve affluent white families. In fact, in Prince Edward County public schools, 56 percent of students are black despite a population of 64 percent white residents and 32 percent black residents due to white flight to private institutions. This also applies to religious values. Most private schools are founded on a religious basis, allowing for open discrimination between religions in an academic community. This harms students by reducing opportunities for them to interact with students of different religious and cultural backgrounds. Part of education should be learning respect and love for others, and subsidizing de facto segregation and cultural alienation prevents students from becoming more accepting individuals. The students themselves can also be easily alienated. It is the parents’ choice on where the child should attend school, so if the child feels like they do not belong in the community they’ve been forced to, it will cause even greater detriments to their mental and emotional development
and wellbeing as they feel forced to remain in an unwelcoming culture. Trump’s policies also support private school vouchers. Within his education budget for 2021, Trump cites a desire to put $5 billion dollars into helping one million students have “school choice,” meaning the ability to leave public schools. While he also claims funding will not be cut for public schools, this is obviously not in full consideration of the future: if less students are attending public schools four years from now and Trump is still in office, it is hard to see how he wouldn’t make the claim public school funding can be cut because they have failed in educating to the point their students have left, leaving them undeserving of and not needing excess funding. Of course, his attacks on the quality of public schools are also misguided. It has been found that private school education is riskier because teachers do not generally have to be certified and are paid less, leaving the positions undesirable and the education at a lower quality. This support of vouchers also shows his hypocrisy in increasing HBCU program budgets by $44 million. He acts as if he wants to increase educational opportunities for black students while simultaneously attempting to support a private school option that has historically made it more difficult for black students to get to college in the first place. However, the worst part of the Trump Administration’s education policy is its director, DeVos. Every step she has taken has been an attack on education and education opportunities. Let’s cover some highlights of 2020: In February, she approved changes to the reporting
Courtesy Forbes
Betsy DeVos testifies at the Senate hearing on Borrower Defense.
of students in poverty, allowing for budget cuts to over 800 rural school districts that were struggling to remain open. This received bipartisan criticism. The final education budget proposed for 2021 not only redirected $5 billion to private school vouchers as previously discussed, but it cut $6.1 billion from the education budget. In March, she attempted to rewrite the Borrower Defense Loan, which would have made it more difficult for students defrauded by institutions of higher learning to receive loan forgiveness. In May, she blocked any of the $6 billion CARES Act funding for college students from going to DACA students. She also used relief funds to create a $180 million private school voucher program. In July, she threatened to cut funding for schools that will not fully reopen in the fall due to COVID-19 and claimed these funds may be redirected to private schools. Trump’s Supreme Court also assisted her in June, (continued on page 17)
2 October 2020
Red & Black
Opinions 17
Gilead Exploits COVID-19 Brendan Troesch Red & Black Contributor
Courtesy ABC News
The Trump Administration implements change in Title IX, protecting those accused of sexual assult.
(continued from page 16) as it removed the last barrier to state-funded voucher programs. All of these decisions have attempted to defund public schooling as opposed to assisting it, even though her entire purpose is to improve and protect education quality for all students, not just those that can afford and attend private school. The worst policy of 2020 is the change to Title IX as she moved to protect those accused of sexual assault. She narrowed the definition of sexual harassment from Obama’s 2011 initiative and requires schools to throw out any allegations not meeting the stricter definition, which also does not match the federal definition of harassment in the workplace. She also allows for cross examination and evidence questioning by the accused through an adviser. It is already difficult enough for assault victims to come forward, and it is more difficult to get people to believe assault occurred. Now, DeVos expects victims to still want to come forward even though
they are going to be openly doubted and questioned throughout every stop of the process. This will keep victims from coming forward, it will keep assaulters out of trouble in a country that’s already far too forgiving of assault and it will be even more mentally and emotionally damaging for those that do come forward. Trials of this nature should be fair, but she has simply rewritten the rules to tip them in the favor of the accused. If the accused is allowed for a direct gaslighting of the victim, then it will be difficult for any actual assaulter to be brought to justice. For DeVos, there is no assistance for the common student. She only desires to assist the privileged. For Trump, there is no fixing public schools. He only complains that they need fixed and then proceeds to support Devos’ guidelines that will directly harm their performance further. With these two officials in power, public schools will begin to decline alongside student protections and support.
Since late 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic has been ravaging the world. This disease, caused by the SARSCoV-2 virus, related to the original SARS-CoV(-1) which caused the 2002-2004 SARS outbreak, has caused life as we know to come to a grinding halt. Research institutions around the globe have been searching for treatments and vaccines to treat COVID-19 to varying degrees of success. Recently, the US-based pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences filed a patent for their newly developed COVID-19 treatment drug named remdesivir (Veklury®). This means that, for the drug to be mass produced, manufacturers must first purchase and obtain a license for remdesivir. In other words, there is no generic version of the drug. This fact, combined with the perfectly inelastic demand that accompanies life-saving drugs means one thing, especially in the United States: contracting COVID-19 will be expensive. This begs the question: Should Gilead’s patent on remdesivir be overturned for the good of humanity? Currently, licensing costs are waived for 36 of the 47 countries on the UN’s list of the least developed countries, says Reuters. Gilead stated on Aug. 6 that they have “entered into voluntary licensing agreements with nine generics manufacturers to further expand supply of remdesivir to 127 countries that represent nearly all low-income and lower-middle income countries.” This statement loses its
semblance of altruism, however, when one takes note of the prices Gilead charges for the treatment in the United States. “In the United States, Gilead Sciences will charge $520 per vial for patients with private insurance, with some government programs getting a lower price. With a double-dose the first day, that comes out to $3,120 for the five-day treatment course. For governments in developed countries outside the U.S., it will cost $390 per vial, or $2,340 for the five-day course. How much uninsured patients would pay is still unclear” writes Sydney Lupkin for NPR. Dylan Bertovich ’21 had this to say about the egregious exploitation of COVID-19-infected Americans: “I find it extremely disheartening that the American capitalistic situation would take advantage of the millions of people infected with COVID to make a profit. This situation has gotten completely out of hand and the patenting of live-saving drugs needs to be restricted.” Sammy Massimino ’21 shares Bertovich’s feelings about this issue. She said, “Healthcare is a human right; to gatekeep people’s access to treatment for a deadly virus is racist and classist. It is no different than making insulin $300 when it costs around $6 to produce. Free market has no place in healthcare. Why would we not provide this to everyone when it would help the common good in the long run?” These remarks reflect the sentiment of not only Americans but citizens all around the world who wonder why one company has the right to put a price on what could be the difference between life and death for those infected with COVID-19. It is time we as Americans abandon our aggressive individualism and start on the path to caring about the collective.
sports
18 Sports
Red & Black
2 October 2020
Fall Season Spotlight: Women’s Volleyball
Courtesy Sam Sonnett=
“This year our volleyball team is practicing with certain guidelines both the school and the CDC has set forth during COVID. During each water break we are required to spray hand sanitizer that our coaches provided for us, and we have to wear masks at all times. Our coaches have us tape a plastic covering over our net to prevent further contamination. Also, our trainers take our temperatures before each practice, and before we show up we are required to complete a daily screening through the school. We are required to have freshly-washed knee pads, socks, spandex, shirts and masks for each practice. It is also enforced that the players are not to come into contact (ex: high fives) and we are prohibited from playing 6 on 6, which greatly restricts our ability to simulate game-like situations. In my opinion, so far our team has done a great job in following these guidelines, and our coaches are holding us to a high standard to represent our team in a positive manner. Although the situation is not ideal, we all have decided to come back to campus with an optimistic outlook while hoping to improve in this newly found off-season. In our opinion, this extra season of practice is setting us up for greater success in our future as a team.” -Sam Sonnett ‘22
2 October 2020
Red & Black
Sports 19
Steelers Win the Watt Brother Reunion
Courtesy BadgerBlitz
The Watt brothers pose for a picture after a Steelers 28-21 victory over the Texans
Grant Allison Red & Black Contributor
The Steelers improved their record to 3-0, for the first time since 2010, this past Sunday versus the Houston Texans. The game also was the first time that J.J Watt (Houston), T.J Watt (Pittsburgh) and Derek Watt (Pittsburgh) were all playing on the same football
field. The Texans started off moving the ball really well in the first half. However, in the second half, the tenacious Steelers defense was able to hold the Texans to no points scored. Opening the door for Big Ben to lead the offense to victory. Overall, the Steelers managed to pull one out of a win-hungry team that gave them a run for their money. The Steelers’ offense managed to turn it on in the second half, overcoming a deficit and stalling star Texans quarterback, Deshaun Watson. James Conner managed to eclipse 100 yards
rushing for the second straight week. Steelers rookie, Anthony McFarland Jr., made his NFL debut, rushing six times for 42 yards. This past years’ free agent signing, Eric Ebron, hauled in his first touchdown of the year while also catching five passes for 52 yards. Young Steelers wideout, Diontae Johnson, unfortunately suffered a concussion—with the hopes of clearing the NFL’s concussion protocol this week in time for the approaching game this weekend. The next game for the Steelers is slated to be against the Tennessee Ti-
tans, who find themselves also coming off a victory and improving their record to 3-0. With the Titans organization finding out that three players and a few other personnel tested positive for COVID-19, fans around the league are unsure of what is to come of the upcoming game. However, NFL insiders report that the game is either to be moved to Monday, or to be played at its originally scheduled time. Surely, Steelers fans do not particularly care when then game is, just that the outcome is a Steelers victory.
20 Sports
Red & Black
2 October 2020
Fantasy Football: Start Them or Sit Them Start Them Alvin Kamara New Orleans Saints HB
The Saints have dropped two straight but don’t blame Alvin Kamara who has been the only bright spot on the offense with Michael Thomas hurt. Kamara had a great game last week against the Packers and this week he is in a great position to repeat his performance against the Lions. Detriot has the 30th ranked rush defense in terms of yards allowed coming into week four. With Michael Thomas expectedback this week I don’t anticipate the Lions being able to keep Kamara in check.
Lamar Jackson Baltimore Ravens QB
Lamar Jackson looked farfrom his MVP self Monday night against the Chiefs. The critics against him are coming back loudly after only passing for 97 yards. Look for Jackson to come out determined to prove a point both in the air and on the ground. I especially like Jackson after seeing the Washington Football Team struggle to contain Kyler Murray of the Cardinals last week. Courtesy Olean Times Herald
Allan Robinson Chicago Bears WR
Chicago has made a change at Quarterback, Mitch Trubisky out and Nick Foles in. Look for this to benefit Robinson. A true passer under center will allow Robinson to get into a flow and stretch the field. I like Robinson to make a few splash plays against the banged up Colts secondary.
Sit Them Austin Ekeler
Los Angeles Chargers HB
Ekeler has been very consistent this year, especially these last two games with rookie Justin Herbert starting at Quarterback. In the long run I like this duo a lot, however, this week Ekeler is a sit for me. The lack of offensive line talent doesn’t look good against the young and speedy front seven of the Buccaneers. I think the Chargers best chance to win will come through the air, leaving Ekeler only a small part in the offense Sunday. Courtesy WGN tv