Feb. 28, 2023 Issue Red & Black

Red & Black

WHAT’S IN THIS WEEK’S PAPER...

ARTS & CULTURE

Club Spotlight: Indian Student Association..2

Campus Club Spotlight: Asian Culture Association......................................................3

Black History Month Kickoff Hosted By BSU.....4

CAMPUS & COMMUNITY

The Dissolving of the Student Activities Board.....5

Jayterm Students Visit Senegal & Gambia..............6

W&J Greek Life’s 2023 Rush Week Ramps Up.......7

Pre-Symposium on Democracy Thoughts............8

2023 Symposium on Democracy Garners Wide Turnout.................................................................................................9

Summary of SGA’s Feb. 16 General Assembly......10

Black History Month Jeopardy Hosted....................11

Black Maternal Health Crisis in Alleghany ......12

CURRENT EVENTS

Tragic MSU Mass Shooting Kills 3 Students...13

Opioid“Pill Mills”Linked to Thousands.............14

New Military Opportunities for Taiwanese .....15

Former Brazilian President Returns Home for an Insurrection Investigation............................................16

The Killing ofTyre Nichols Sparks Protests..........17

How Accessible Are Abortion Pills .......................18

A Pound of the Gavel & a Fate Sealed........19

An Honest Review of W&J’s Winter Tales..20

Discussing abortion doesn’t have to be scary....21

OPINIONS SPORTS

W&J Swim & Dive: The Road to PACS...22

W&J Men’s Wrestling Season Nears End..23

What Do W&J Students Think About The 2023 Superbowl?........................................24

Courtesy Regan Carlson, Red & Black Photojournalist

ARTS & culture

Club Spotlight: Indian Student Association

T. Kinkley Campus Arts & Culture Staff Writer

At Washington and Jefferson College, we have a lot of diversity. One way that we continue to promote diversity is our multitude of clubs representing different nationalities, races, ethnicities, identities, etcetera. It is important to educate and spread information about the diversity on campus.

This week, I spoke with the treasurer of the Indian Student Association, Dev Kartan. He also helps with graphic design, posters and some financial committee items. Kartan is a student of the class of 2025. The Indian Student Association was created by the current executive board. I asked Kartan a few questions to get more information on ISA.

The first question I asked was “What is the purpose of this club? What is it intended to do for the school?” Kartan responded, “The purpose of ISA is to raise awareness for and share our culture with the community on this campus.“We want to center education as a tool against bigotry by allowing students to glimpse the beautiful parts of our culture through our food and festivities!”

The next question I asked was about when and where they meet. “We meet monthly, we use the GroupMe to organize that and the meetings are just for event planning.” Dev said.

Following that question, “Is there a favorite event of yours that the executive board planned that you are hoping to see back?” Dev is most excited about Diwali, saying, “We do wanna diversify the events we do in the future but I’m looking forward to Diwali again, we want to plan it to be bigger and better than before.”

Diwali was a big hit with the students, as ISA had posted on their Instagram after the event. “Thank you all for coming to our Diwali event and making it such a vibrant experience!” the caption said, with a slideshow of images from the event.

The final question that I asked was about the hopes for the future of the club. Keeping it short, all Dev said was “Hopefully some other people can take over the club when we’re gone!”

To learn more about the Indian Student Association, or join their GroupMe, visit @wj_ISA, and their GroupMe link is the link on their profile. ISA’s Instagram page also contains recaps of past events and posts about future and upcoming events.

“We want to center education as a tool against bigotry by allowing students to glimpse the beautiful parts of our culture” ~ Kartan

“We do wanna diversify the events we do in the future but I’m looking forward to Diwali again, we want to plan it to be bigger and better than before.” ~ Kartan

ISA hosting “Chaat and Chat.” Photo Courtesy Wj_isa instagram

To support ISA, you can

- follow their Instagram @wj_ISA - join their GroupMe Chat (link in their Instagram bio)

Campus Club Spotlight: Asian Culture Association

T. Kinkley, Campus Arts & Culture Staff Writer

FEB. 5 — With all of the diversity filling the Washington & Jefferson College campus, it is important to highlight some of the associations and clubs that we have on campus to provide education and resources.

This week I had the pleasure of speaking with Linh Khuat, the president of the Asian Culture Association. I got to ask her some questions and learn more about the Asian Culture Association.

The first questions asked were “What is the purpose of this club? What is intended to do for the school?” Khuat responded by saying, “Our missions are cultivating, appreciating and preserving diverse cultures and unique values of Asian descents.”

People may want to join after reading!” Linh said, “GroupMe. If you want to see updates on meetings and events, please join our GroupMe at Asian Culture Association!”

about the Asian Festival that occurs this month. We will have a lot of Asian representatives and we guarantee that you will have an amazing time there!” Many good things had been said across campus about their events and many students enjoyed the boba, bibimbap and Diwali events that they hosted throughout the fall semester.

that any Asian students and faculty can feel at home. We also hope to spread culture awareness to everyone else.”

The next question asked was about the members of the executive board, about the names and positions of each person. “I’m glad we got Oyunsuvd as the Vice President and Mai as the Secretary!” said Linh.

The third question asked was “When and where do you meet?

I also asked about a favorite event of the executive board that they hope to bring back. Instead of giving a certain event, she responded with, “It’s hard to choose our favorite event from last semester because each of them had a unique value and experience to the W&J community and us as executive

Following that question, I asked about how the club was created and if the current executive board started as members or if they were the founders. Linh told me that they were members first, “We all joined as members at first because of the close community we have at ACA. We all feel that our cultural identities got embraced strongly here.”

The final question I asked was about what they would like to see for the future of the Asian Culture Association. Khuat said “We hope we can create a stronger Asian community at W&J,

If you would like to keep up with more of the Asian Culture Association events, you can follow their Instagram, @wj_aca, and you can join their GroupMe by going onto the GroupMe discovery tab and finding their group under the Washington & Jefferson College bar.

“Our missions are cultivating, appreciating and preserving diverse cultures and unique values of Asian descents.” ~ Khuat

“If you want to see updates on meetings and events, please join our GroupMe at Asian Culture Association!”

“We hope we can create a stronger Asian community at W&J, that any Asian students and faculty can feel at home. ~ Khuat

ACA President Linh Khuat waves at the 2021 Fall Involvement Expo. (Courtesy W&J College)

Black History Month Kickoff Hosted By The BSU

T. Kinkley, Campus Arts & Culture Staff Writer

FEB. 2 — On Jan. 31, the Black Student Union hosted the kickoff event for Black History Month in the media room. Four out of five of the executive members spoke, as well as Gloria Johnson, one of the executive members acting as an interim vice president for Dylan Joachim, the elected vice president who is currently on a study abroad. President Jas Dey was the main speaker. Gloria Johnson, secretary and interim vice president, Quay ParksThomas, treasurer, and Courtney Morton, parliamentarian, also spoke and interacted with other attendees.

To begin the event, the executive board started out with a moment of silence for Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old who was killed by police earlier this year, and for all other victims of state violence.

explanation for each reason, as well as background for each reason

Following the reasons why we celebrate Black History Month, the executive board put on the first part of the CrashCourse videos for Black History Month. Jas suggested that if anyone would like to know more, that they should watch more parts of the playlist. They said that it provides a lot more background than many schools or even that the club can go into during their events.

After the moment of silence, they went over a few reasons to celebrate Black History Month. These reasons included cultural, community and historical reasons. Jas gave a brief defintion and

Jas also took time to ask about how much education everyone had gotten in school on Black history. Most people stated that they only got the minimal: Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Slavery. Some students who went to schools in areas where they had more Black and African American students had stated that they got more education, including reading books written by Black authors about Black characters, or even full history lessons that many schools do not teach about. After they asked everyone about the lessons they had learned,

they spoke about how there is a current attack on Black history education. They listed a few items, which included how people are beginning to disagree with and protest critical race theory, which is an examination of how laws, social movements, political movements and media are shaped by the social concepts of race and ethnicity. Other included topics were Florida’s ban of the Advanced Placement African American Studies course from being taught in schools and the “Don’t Say Gay” bill that twenty states have now passed. Though it may not seem like the “Don’t Say Gay” bill has anything to do with

Black history education, the Black community and the LGBTQ+ community are very intertwined, with mostly Black transgender women working to organize the Stonewall Riots that granted LGBTQ+ people more rights.

When asked about the event, Rome Oliver, sophomore, said, “Jas did incredibly well on the presentation. The room felt very energized.” As Jas

spoke the most, he believed they did very well conveying the message. Oliver also said, “It was nice to see all the diversity. Although it was an event for BSU, there was a wide range of ages, races and identities.”

Over the course of February, the Black Student Union will be holding many events to educate other students about Black History Month and Black history itself. The schedule of events can be found on MyW&J, on BSU’s Instagram page, or at wjredandblack.org under “Campus updates”

“the executive board started out with a moment of silence for Tyre Nichols, a 29-yearold who was killed by police earlier this year,”

“the Black and LGBTQ+ community are very intertwined, with mostly Black transgender women working to organize the Stonewall Riots”

W&J BSU has been hard at work planning eight events to celebrate Black History Month on campus. (Courtesy W&J BSU

campus & Community

The Dissolving of the Student Activities Board

T. Kinkley Campus Arts & Culture Writer

JAN. 27 — On Dec. 7, 2022, Ty Laughlin sent out an email through the Student Activities Board Sakai page announcing that the board would be dissolving as of the end of the fall semester. Many people who volunteered took this as a surprise. It is said via the statement that was sent out that it was in deliberation for a while and that it was not an easy decision.

Washington and Jefferson’s Student Activity Board was a student organization that had the goal of planning and promoting on and off-campus events for the student body. They were very well known for running the DubJay Diner in The Hub and many different bingo events. Many people were involved in volunteering with both bingo events and the diner. Every few weekends, an organization/club would take over DubJay Diner and students from the organization/club would volunteer to help serve, make milkshakes and make food.

The Student Activities Board clarified

that the DubJay Diner will continue to run and be able to be reserved to be run by clubs. They have passed the responsibility to the Office of Student Involvement and Engagement, with the only possible change being the operating hours. They also assured in the email that this does not mean that student events and activities would decrease.

planning events on campus. There is also a greater emphasis being placed on clubs and student organizations to help plan events on campus.”

As for the reason that the Student Activities Board is disbanding, they gave a few answers but not much explanation behind them. “This choice was made as a result of many factors, including funding issues, lack of experience on the board, and lack of support. Overall, running SAB has become unsustainable for our board members.” Many people who attended Student Government had heard about the funding drop compared to last year, due to them trying to divide their money up in a more efficient way.

SAB Statement

In order to push the idea forward, Ty stated in the email that “the Office of Belonging and Engagement will be hiring a group of student interns and staff, with a structure very similar to SAB’s, who will be responsible for

Over the course of this semester, it is hoped that more information will come out about what had happened, and further explanations for the choices that decideed SAB’s fate, so that the student body can learn more.

The Student Activities Board is centered in the Hub, located near Old Main on campus. (Courtesy W&J College)

“This choice was made as a result of many factors, including funding issues, lack of experience on the board, and lack of support.”

~

“it is hoped that more information will come out about what had happened... so that the student body can learn more”

Jayterm Students Visit Sengal and Gambia

Carmen Loner Campus Staff Writer

FEB. 3, 2023 — On Jan. 5. 2023, students embarked on a trip abroad with Professor Buba Misawa of Washington & Jefferson College. Students went on a trip to Senegal and the Gambia to become immersed in the rich culture of the African countries. While there, the students participated in African culture getting to know the core of each respective country.

While on the trip they visited an array of important cultural, colonial and historical sites integral to both countries. Dr. Misawa explained that his goal of the trip was to immerse the students in the nations and understand what happened and what Africa can be. Among the many sites that they visited; Dakar in Senegal was the first. From there, they went to Gorée Island which is a notable site for its colonial history and its role in the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

Dr. Misawa went into detail about the site, describing students and their reactions to the island. “It’s

uncomfortable, but it’s necessary to visit,” Dr. Misawa said. He continued recounting how students were very moved by the island and its surrealness. Dr. Misawa went into further detail about the nations. He wanted students to notice the differences between the Senegalese and the Gambians. Both populations were originally similar but were colonized by two different nations. Senegal by the French and the Gambia by the British.

students took drumming and dance lessons.

Dr. Misawa explained, “Students in Africa are willing to take challenges.” The students are eager for education and value it extremely. Then they visited villages where students stayed with host families and were introduced to eating customs in Senegalese and Gambian culture.

As Dr. Misawa put his intentions of this trip, “I wanted students to get out their comfort zone.” This trip continued with the students going on a tour of Senegal’s capital, Dakar, where students saw the Presidential Palace and government buildings, monuments, and open markets throughout the city. On the same day,

Additionally, among other activities the students did, they were taken to Tendaba Elementary and Middle Schools where the students and the college provided school supplies, books and shirts for the students. “I wanted students to learn to understand other people’s needs and struggles,” Dr. Misawa said. While there in the classroom Dr. Misawa even told a story about how a Tendaba student interrupted the lesson to ask the teacher to teach them.

Students ate Gambian, Senegalese and Nigerian food. They learned the different methods of eating in those cultures, and notably, the families waited until after everyone ate. Dr. Misawa spoke of an old saying in Africa, “Nobody in Africa really goes hungry.” His reason for saying this was that they share their food as much as possible and make sure everyone is attended to.

In the two countries, students saw much of the geography of the nation. Additionally, the students got to see the wildlife of these countries on a safari. Another notable location that they went to near the end of their trip was Laybato Beach, where students got to enjoy the Atlantic Ocean. On the last day, Jan. 20, they arrived back in Pittsburgh after two weeks of immersive learning in Africa.

Dr. Misawa’s jayterm traveled to the gambian and senegalese societies (sene-gambia) to discover and understand both the indigenous and modern african politicalcultures. (Courtesy of wikiwand)

“He continued recounting how students were very moved by the island and its surrealness.”

“I wanted students to get out their comfort zone.”- Dr. Misawa

“Students in Africa are willing to take challenges.” - Dr. Misawa

W&J Greek Life’s 2023 Rush Week Ramps Up

Carmen Loner Campus Staff Writer

FEB. 3 — Coming on Feb. 13, rush week comes for the fraternities on campus. As rush week comes, Travis Okeefe, sophomore and president of Delta Tau Delta (Delt), is excited for the coming rush events and what is to occur at Delt. Among some of the things that he is excited about, he says that at Delt that one of the events that they do is that they watch the Super Bowl together.

brothers from diverse backgrounds come in and they join the fraternity. It’s one of the aspects of rush week that excite him because he gets to meet new people and learn about different people.

To Okeefe, Delt is special because of how close he feels to his brothers. He thinks Greek life is a great opportunity for those who want to better themselves, join a community and want to be surrounded by people who will hold them accountable and encourage them to do better. Though not everyone wants to join, he also said, according to his own observation “88% percent of people who say they wouldn’t join Greek life in college has joined Greek life at W&J. I think that it’s a testament to how different our Greek life is from other campuses.”

Another event that they do at Delt is that they all go to the local Drover’s Inn and Tavern. While there, the brothers get wings and get to know each other a bit more. Okeefe describes the wings as being good and the incorporation of the Inn and Tavern into this yearly tradition to be a testament to how tasty the wings are.

Okeefe also added, “The rest of the events are classified.” That leaves much of the events to the surprise of incoming brothers. He is excited to meet new people as with each incoming year, new

For more information about joining a fraternity or sorority, information can be found on the Washington & Jefferson website. Recruitment registration needs to be completed by Feb. 10. Recruitment then takes place on from Feb. 13 to Feb. 17 for fraternities. Meanwhile, for sororities, registration must be completed by Feb. 11 and recruitment takes place Feb. 15 and Feb. 19.

Sisters of Delta Gamma host at table at the 2021 Fall Involvement Expo to recruit more members.(Courtesy W&J College)

“at Delt that one of the events that they do is that they watch the Super Bowl together.”

“To Okeefe, Delt is special because of how close he feels to his brothers.”

Two members of Delta Tau Delta host at table at the 2021 Fall Involvement Expo. (Photo Courtesy W&J College)

“he [Okeefe] also said, according to his own observation ‘88% percent of people who say they wouldn’t join Greek life in college has joined Greek life at W&J.’”

Pre-Symposium on Democracy Thoughts and Opinions

Vaishnavi Peyyety Current Events Staff Writer

FEB. 17, 2023 - The Symposium on Democracy, an annual event held by Washington and Jefferson College, explores the relationship between justice and democracy while understanding various challenges faced in our society. Through group discussions, seminars, workshops and discourses from notable individuals around the world, this event focuses on fostering collaborative conversation. This year the symposium will feature the following people:

- Author Paul Loeb

- Endocrinologist Dr. Mary Ryan

- Reproductive Justice and Queer Activist Bekezela Mguni

- Interfaith Leadership Studies Professor Dr. Cynthia Hogan

- W&J Coach Megan Foster

- W&J Art Professor Dr. Carolina Alamilla

- The Center for Coalfield Justice

- The Black Student Union of W&J

- W&J Russian Professor Dr. Susan Vdovichenko

- W&J Accounting Professor Dr. Tiffani Gottschall

- The Red & Black

- W&J Political Science Professor Dr. Joel Kersting

- Keynote speaker Former U.S. Rpresentative Adam Kinzinger.

The symposium is a well-respected event that has been hosted by W&J since 2018 that allows individuals of a variety of backgrounds to explore democracy and understand its necessity.

Some students had particular talks they were especially excited about. Sophomore psychology student Ainsley Huang shared this: “I am especial-

ly looking forward to representative Adam Kinzinger’s speech on defending democracy and defeating toxic tribalism.”

Pooja Potluri, a sophomore student athlete, said she is excited to see her coach talk about sports, ethics and society. “I am really excited to hear what Coach Meghan has to say during her talk. I read that she’ll be talking about fair play, performance-enhancing drugs and gender equity.”

Many are curious to know about Kinzinger’s decision to go against his party. “I was also wondering why he made the decision to go against his own party. What lead him to that? How did he feel about changes in our government? And where does he see our country in a couple years?” said Huang.

other areas.”

W&J staff members are also interested and promoting this event to their students.

While there seems to be support for this event, some students are not as interested in attending the meetings.

One senior stated “I have been here for four years and while I totally get that it is important to stay current and aware of societal issues, I am a political science major, so we talk about these things a lot...It kind of feels like we have no option but to attend the symposium events because it’s not like I can go home or anything. I’m from Philly!”

These quotes reveal that while some are anticipating this event, others are not so interested in attending. To learn more about this event you can visit the following website: https://www.symposiumondemocracy.org/ The Red & Black will also have post-event coverage. Stay tuned!

Following the step back of Serena Williams, Potluri stated this: “I am especially interested to hear what [Coach Foster] will say about the impact of sports on communities because I believe we have built a strong tennis community, but I wonder how this looks with other sports and on different scales: national, international and

American Artist Rob Shetterly delivers the Evening Keynote Address at W&J’s 2019 Symposium on Democracy. (Courtesy W&J College)

“I was also wondering why he made the decision to go against his own party. What lead him to that? How did he feel about changes in our government?

~ Huang

“I try to encourage my students to be politically aware. I even offer extra credit for voting. So, I think it is a good idea that the school is bringing in leaders to promote civic engagement” ~ W&J Professor

2023 Symposium on Democracy Garners Large Turnout & Spreads Message of Individual Agency

Nickolas Bartel, Political and Current Events Staff Writer

FEB. 24, 2023—As the last student left the closing keynote talk on Feb. 22, Dr. Holiday and the Symposium on Democracy’s organizing committee can take a deep breath before preparing again for it next year. This year, the theme centered around justice and democracy with discussions on reproductive justice during the Abortion and Reproductive Healthcare Access session led by Dr. Mary Ryan, economic justice with the Center for Coalfield Justice’s workshop, learning about the causes and impact of poverty with Dr. Tiffani Gottschall and staff from Blueprints, among many other panels exploring these core themes of justice and democracy. These breakout sessions proved immensely popular as the Washington & Jefferson College community filled the Sportswashing and Navigating the Social Structures around Poverty panels’ rooms.

The high turnout in the Religion and Violence breakout session led to it moving into the larger Yost Auditorium. Participants there had an open discussion on how religion is weaponized and distorted to promote violence. A key idea from this session was that religions have hundreds of millions of followers with a wide diversity of what their religion means to them. So, when religious-based violence occurs, the actions and beliefs of one do not speak for an entire religion.

Students also reflected on their experiences with justice and democracy at W&J. At the Black Student Union’s breakout event, BSU panel members candidly spoke about their experiences as Black students on a predominantly white college campus. This special event added to their annual celebrations of Black History Month, which they are closing out this Saturday with the Black Legends Ball. In another breakout session, members of the newly formed Progress House Themed Community explained the importance of this community, the views on the state of progress at W&J, and the reasons its members joined. They also expressed hope for the community’s future to welcome more students of all backgrounds looking for an inclusive living space.

In the Promoting Democratic Accountability in Politics & Society roundtable session led by political science Professor Dr. Kersting, participants reflected on their own experiences with recognizing and addressing political misinformation in casual conversations with friends, family and strangers. Participants also learned important advice throughout the conversation, such as actively listening, ensuring that all parties understand what the other has said and acknowledging

their concerns in these discussions. The exchange also addressed the value of respecting the other person in the discussion as a fellow human being and working to find common ground.

He continued that a benefit of college is that the “more you can put a human face [to other students], the better,” as it “allows people to see past the demonization” of others.

The two keynote addresses echoed this message of hope and individual agency in promoting democracy and justice. Representative Adam Kinzinger suggested that people should “make a friend who thinks differently and challenges their own beliefs.” When talking with someone who thinks differently than he might, Paul Loeb said, “I think you try to find [and] have common ground as much as you can.” In an exclusive Red & Black interview, Loeb said that engaging with people is “not about fake civility” and that you need to “point out the blunt truth.” Kinzinger agreed in his speech, saying, “truth is truth, period.” Loeb added that we must also “treat people with respect” and understand “the genesis of this opinion.”

The W&J community heard and engaged with stories from their peers and experts about discrimination, alienation for fighting for their values and identity and ways to help address these issues. This year the organizing committee engaged students in the planning process. That decision and the resulting high turnout at the sessions show the great success the College has when students and administrators can work to create an engaging and exciting campus culture. The success of democracy and justice is greatest when the voice of those served are heard and engaged by those in charge.

The Sports & Ethics Breakout Room was filled with students. (CourtesyReganClarson)

“The breakout sessions proved immensely popular as the W&J community filled several breakout rooms including the Sportswashing and Navigating the Social Structures around Poverty session”

“The “more you can put a human face [to other students], the better,” –Paul Loeb”

“The W&J community heard and engaged with experiences from their peers and experts about discrimination”

A Summary of SGA’s Feb. 16 General Assembly Meeting

T. Kinkley, Campus Arts & Culture Staff Writer

FEB. 17, 2023 -- On Feb. 16, the Student Government Association (SGA) had their second meeting of the semester. All meetings that SGA hosts are open to any Washington & Jefferson College students, faculty or alumni. Meetings happen every other week, with the next meeting being on Mar. 16 at 7 p.m., due to an executive meeting taking place on Mar. 3.

Many topics were covered in this meeting, including new dining plans, spring concert, payment issues for student workers, constitution amendment fixes, the new Inside Scoop, a new Pool Club, Purim Carnival and many other items were discussed during the itinerary.

Last week, they signed a new amendment to end all meetings at 8:30 p.m., unless there is a motion to extend. During the Feb. 16 meeting, there was one motion to extend that was granted so that they could finish the agenda. The meeting started at 7 p.m. and ended around 8:50 p.m.

At the beginning of the meeting, we got to hear from Kerri Lacock ’09, who is a staff member in Development & Alumni Engagement. She was involved in SGA and was an editor for the Red & Black, as well as doing many other activities, clubs and involvement around campus during her time at W&J. She spoke about the Day of Giving, taking place on Monday, Feb. 20, where seniors can pledge money to go towards scholarships for other students and they can sign up to help pay for the senior gift to the college. I spoke with Stevie Grey, a class of 2025 representative, after the meeting, who spoke to me about Lacock, “Having Kerri Lacock ‘09 as a guest speaker at general assembly was very insightful!

As part of being a class representative, I aim to stay up-to-date on campus resources, and it was great to learn

After Lacock spoke, the Dining Chair spoke about what the dining committee came up with and got approved during their meeting. In the Commons, they announced that to-go boxes were brought back and that reusable to-go box

options are a project they are working on.

Also for the Commons, they announced that black bean burgers would be served at the grill station, that the gluten free station would be updated and that they would be adding a deli bar to the salad bar that is self-serve. For George & Tom’s, they have begun speaking about bringing new smoothie options to the grain bowl and smoothie side. For X’Prez’O, they have added new drink options, including iced tea, diet iced tea and lemonade. A few student representatives brought up concerns about cross-contamination of the vegan/vegetarian options that are offered on campus, as well as glove changing.

The Inside Scoop has now taken over the DubJay Diner due to the Student Activities Board dissolving. Many students in SGA were upset about the change, as no one was informed or consulted about the change. One reason that students were upset was how involved students were with the change from Monticello’s to DubJay Diner, compared to the major lack of involvement in the new change.

During the previous change, students helped to decide the name and it was spoken about thoroughly. The executive board plans to talk to Student Belonging and Engagement, who runs Inside Scoop, about everything that was brought up during the meeting.

Along with everything else that happened, there were changes made to A.R.s 2 through 6 to delete contrasting language in the Standing Rules section of the Constitution for the Secretary’s responsibilities. All five A.R.s got approved by the general assembly and will be implemented into the constitution. “This week we adopted new amendments to the SGA constitution that would help our committees and meetings run smoothly.” Jude DeWalt, class of 2024 representative, said.

The SGA Meetings are open for all to come, as stated above. You can also email any of the executive board members or a class representative to discuss any concerns, questions or comments you may have.

more about how both myself and my constituents can build connections with alumni.”

“Having Kerri Lacock ‘09 as a guest speaker at general assembly was very insightful!...it was great to learn more about how both myself and my constituents can build connections with alumni.” - Grey ‘25

Kerri Lacock ‘09 speaking at SGA meeting. (Photo Courtesy Regan Carlson. Red & Black Photojournalist)

Black History Month Jeopardy Hosted by The BSU

T. Kinkley, Campus Arts & Culture Writer

FEB. 10, 2023 -- On Feb. 8, the Black Student Union hosted a Black History Month Jeopardy game. Along with the game, they went over nominations for the awards being given at the upcoming Black Legends Ball on Saturday, Feb. 25. These categories include Black Scholar, Black Student Athlete, Black Staff/Faculty and Black Student Leader.

At the event, there were about 25 people in attendance throughout the night. The event lasted from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. They split the room into two teams: BLM and BLCK PWR. There were five categories: Hip-hop/ R&B Essentials, Overall Black Knowledge, Name That Black Movie, #millenialafricanamericanspirituals and Spotify Streams, which was the Double Jeopardy category. The Double Jeopardy question was “What is the most streamed Drake song on Spotify?” The answer being “One Dance,” released in 2016 as part of Drake’s album “Views.”

ever inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?” The answer is Aretha Franklin. “Who was the first Black person to win a Career Grand Slam in Tennis?” The answer is Serena Williams.

In the end, BLM won by a lead of 1500 points. The score was 4400 points for BLM to 2900 for BLCK PWR. The game was just for fun, so no prizes were distributed. “The atmosphere was very lively and welcoming. It felt like even if you did not know the person next to you, you had been friends for a while.” Sydney Kulsic from the class of 2025 said. “The energy built up throughout the night, and the game was a lot of fun. It made me want to look into going to more of their events.”

Wednesday’s event. These events include a discussion on solidarity with the Asian Culture Association, the Latinx Cultural Association and the Indian Student Association on Feb. 13 from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Hub, a game of “This or That?” on Feb. 15 from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Hub Fireplace Lounge, their panel discussion for the Symposium on Democracy on Feb. 22, and the Black Legends Ball on Feb. 25.

Some other questions that were asked included “Who was the first woman

Everyone who attends any event hosted by the Black Student Union this month receives a raffle ticket for the prizes that they are giving out, which have been labeled a surprise. There are still four more events as of

To find more information on these events, you can check out their pinned post on Instagram, @washjeffbsu. The link in their bio takes you to a registration page for the Black Legends Ball.

“The Double Jeopardy question was ‘What is the most streamed Drake song on Spotify?’ The answer being ‘One Dance,’ released in 2016 as part of Drake’s album ‘Views.’”

“In the end, BLM won by a lead of 1500 points. The score was 4400 points for BLM to 2900 for BLCK PWR.”

“The atmosphere was very lively and welcoming. It felt like even if you did not know the person next to you, you had been friends for a while.”

Kulsic ‘25

BSU hosted Jeopardy in Hub Fireplace lounge. (Photo Courtesy Regan Carlson)

The Black Maternal Health Crisis in Alleghany County

Vaishnavi Peyyety, Current Events Staff Writer

FEB. 15, 2023 -- According to the Pittsburgh Gender Equity Commission, the Black maternal mortality rate in Pittsburgh is higher than that of 97 percent of U.S. cities. In Pittsburgh, the fetal mortality rate is twice as high for Black and African American babies as it is for White babies.

The issues of racism and discrimination extend into employment, poverty and college readiness for Black women in Pittsburgh and other major cities. The executive director of Pittsburgh’s Gender Equity Commission, Anupama Jain, states that “these are not surprising results to most people who live the inequality. Who [the statistics] might surprise are people who don’t recognize that they are perpetuating these inequalities.” Black men in Pittsburgh experience higher risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and many detrimental outcomes. Junia Howell is an urban sociologist at the University of Pittsburgh who believes that by combating these inequalities, we can make the city more “livable for our black residents.”

Allegheny County, which encompasses over 130 municipalities in Western Pennsylvania including Pittsburgh, enacted the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act in 2021. This federal policy aims to provide equitable perinatal care across all levels and to target “every dimension of the maternal health crisis in America.” Pennsylvania Congressman Mike Doyle and Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey have co-sponsored this act. Some of the bills within the Black

Maternal Health Momnibus Act are listed below with brief summaries:

Social Determinants for Moms Act

Addresses social determinants (economic stability, environmental health, neighborhoods & housing etc.) of health to end maternal health disparities.

Funds areas including housing, childcare access, community-based organizations, etc. to meet the needs of their communities.

Kira Johnson Act

Funds community organizations. Increases employee training for antiracism and discrimination. Begins Respectful Maternity Care Compliance Programs in healthcare settings, allowing people to report bias.

Funds programs to diversify perinatal workforce to provide culturally congruent care.

Moms Matter Act

Addresses tendencies for substance abuse accounting for maternal deaths. Increases awareness for mental health struggles of pre and post pregnant individuals by investing in communitybased programs that provide mental health services.

Justice for Incarcerated Moms Act

Address the statistic that incarcerated Black women have twice the mortality and morbidity rate than that of white women by decreasing the number of pregnant people in state and local prisons. Funds programs (perinatal health workers, re-entry assistance, counseling) in jails for pregnant and post-partum people.

Tech to Save Moms Act

Increases funding for technology services for perinatal care providers in underserved areas.

Evaluates innovative technology and digital tools to address racial disparities in new models of maternity care.

Impact to Save Moms

Determines ways in which to allow pregnant and postpartum people continued healthcare insurance coverage. Creates alternative perinatal care payment models to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities.

Establishing these initiatives and regulations can help create much needed changes in Allegheny County. It can also increase trust in the medical system. This is not an exhaustive list of bills that have been established to provide comprehensive maternity care.

To find out more, please visit, https:// www.jhf.org/docman/resources/ research-papers/417-what-the-blackmaternal-health-momnibus-means-forallegheny-county/file

Both Black and African mothers and their babies are suffering due to the Black Maternal Health Crisis. (Photo Courtesy Westend61/Getty Images)

current Events

Tragic MSU Mass Shooting Kills 3 Students

Vaishnavi Peyyety Current Events Staff Writer

FEB. 21, 2023 - Last week a gunman killed three people and injured five on the campus of Michigan State University, a large university with over 35,000 students. The victims included Brian Fraser, Arielle Anderson and Alexandria Verner. According to the University’s school newspaper, Fraser was the President of MSU’s chapter of Phi Delta Theta and a business major. Anderson was aiming to be a surgeon. And Verner was a biology student and skilled basketball, volleyball and softball player.

The suspect, 43-year-old Anthony Dwayne McRae, opened fire on the campus, fled the scene and later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The motives of McRae are still unknown and are of primary interest to authorities as they continue their investigation. Students were harmed around Berkey Hall and at the MSU Student Union, two buildings that have been shut down following this incident.

The MSU school newspaper shares “We need more time to process without a class to worry about. MSU must extend the pause they’ve given us so we can decide how we need to proceed to feel safe and secure.” To this end, the newspaper also reports a petition is circulating (now signed by over 20,000 people) advocating that classes be moved completely online and follow a hybrid schedule, speaking to the widespread feelings of shock and uncertainty present in the MSU community.

According to the online petition, “With Michigan State University being a public campus and an ongoing investigation, it is believed it is in the students’ best interests to be given a call of action to move forward with the school year.” Despite public outcry, the university has recently reopened. The interim provost Thomas D. Jeitschko in response states “no one thinks that we are coming back to a normal week.”

According to Jeitschko, the faculty will reorganize the syllabus to provide a lighter course load as students acclimate back to classes. Regardless of this change, students are still attempting to advocate for themselves. Student body president Jo Kovach states “This is our

campus, and we’re not letting anybody take that from us.”

Student Body President

This horrible incident is just one of many examples that demonstrates the need for greater awareness of firearm death rates as a large public health crisis in the US. In fact, the firearm homicide rate grew 35 percent from 2019 to 2020 and the firearm suicide rate has continued to remain high, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

The CDC states that the firearm homicide rate of 2020 was one of the highest rates over the past 25 years as there were over 45,222 firearm related deaths. Furthermore, more than 50 percent of these deaths were suicides in 2020. In people aged one to 44, firearm related injuries were one of the 5 leading causes of death in 2020.

Survivors of these attacks can experience problems with memory, thinking, emotions, post-traumatic stress disorder and physical disabilities, among other health problems. It can also affect their sense of safety in communities, which may impact daily decisions. Sadly, this may be the case for many MSU students, even those not directly affected by this shooting, as they grapple with the loss of their classmates and friends.

“This is our campus, and we’re not letting anybody take that from us.”

- Jo Kovach, MSU

“The firearm homicide rate grew 35 percent from 2019 to 2020 and the firearm suicide rate has continued to remain high, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).”

Opioid “Pill Mills” Linked to Thousands of Deaths

Vaishnavi Peyyety Current Events Staff Writer

FEB. 8, 2023 - Imagine you witness someone walk into the American Pain Clinic in Boca Raton, Fla. From an outsider’s perspective, this seems like a regular doctor’s office where people are prescribed pain medication. Little did you know you are witnessing one of the largest “pill mills” known in history.

The American Pain shop, ran by twin brothers Chris and Jeff George, was one of the most successful opioid cartels linked to the deaths of over a thousand individuals. In the CNN film “American Pain,” viewers witness the rise and fall of opioid kingpins, including recordings, undercover videos and jailhouse interviews that show the growth of a dangerous painpill empire, enabling the addiction of many across the country. Addressing the danger of opioid pill mills, retired FBI agent Kurt McKenzie said “The George brothers did not start the opioid crisis. But they sure as hell poured gasoline on the fire.”

though they were patients. The clinic was bugged, and videos of these undercover dealings were recorded. According to McKenzie “They became the largest street-level distribution group operating in the entire United States. Nobody put more pills on the streets than they did. Nobody…and they were operating in broad daylight.” Strikingly, one of the George brothers claimed their operation was like the “Disneyland of pain clinics.”

Agent McKenzie

When oxycodone from the George brothers’ clinic showed up at a drug overdose investigation, operation Oxy Alley began. Federal investigators were sent undercover to buy drugs as

Chris and Jeff ran four pain clinics, and their dealings correlate to the surge in the opioid crisis between 2008 and 2010. “Before this case, the public only knew that people were dying from drug overdoses, they had no idea how the ‘system’ worked [and] the George brothers created the blueprint” McKenzie states. Recruiting doctors to prescribe medications through large incentives, the brothers’ clinic ran in broad daylight. There were even advertisements for the clinic in local newspapers! The clinic only accepted cash and credit cards but avoided insurance plans to keep their business secret. The pills prescribed by doctors were dispensed by women hired through Craigslist.

To obtain pills, no appointments were necessary. People came from Florida to Tennessee to Kentucky to Ohio to rural West Virginia to obtain pills. Jeff George “believed [they] created a new form of tourism.”

One individual even stated how “It’s like a candy store down there.”

Throughout this, the George brothers garnered millions of dollars, living lavish lifestyles and buying expensive jewelry. Fake MRIs were conducted to make their prescription process look real. According to court documents, the prescribing physicians “did not obtain prior medical records or prescribe any alternative treatment. They did not make referrals to specialists. Virtually everyone examined by the co-conspirator physicians received a prescription for controlled substances, there was no individualization of treatment as required under applicable federal and Florida law.”

Chris’ facilities. These are real doctors. They have real licenses … and what looked to be a real clinic.” Ultimately, the pill mill was shut down when a grieving father lost his son to an opioid addiction. A computer scientist, this father worked with the DEA to record conversations during his work at a local pill mill ran by a different drug kingpin. This ultimately led to the necessary downfall of many pill mills around Florida.

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Chris stated that the clinic made $40 million in profit, prescribing 18 million units of oxycodone. McKenzie claims that “Of the 20 highest-prescribing physicians in the entire country, five of them worked at just one of

Missed a recording? Visit wjredandblack.org to hear past interviews.

Drug overdoses killed over 70,000 Americans in 2017 with the vast majority involving opioids. (Photo Courtesy KVC West Virginia)

“The George brothers did not start the opioid crisis. But they sure as hell poured gasoline on the fire.”

~FBI

“Strikingly, one of the George brothers claimed their operation was like the ‘Disneyland of pain clinics.’”

“Fake MRIs were conducted to make their prescription process look real.”

New Military Opportunities for Taiwanese Women

Vaishnavi Peyyety Current Events Staff Writer

JAN. 26, 2023 - A democratic island, Taiwan, is now allowing women to volunteer for the military reserve force in response to Chinese military pressure. Starting in April, the Taiwanese Defense Ministry will allow 220 female soldiers to begin training. This is a temporary change, as Major General Yu Wen-cheng from the ministry states this is a “trial” that will run for a year. Previously, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry claimed they trained only male individuals due to insufficient resources to integrate male and female soldiers. This gender discrimination has led Taiwanese lawmakers to push the start of female reserve training. As reported by the CIA World Factbook, Taiwan’s military force consists of 170,000 personnel and they train 120,000 reservists annually. Previously, women mainly served in non-combat roles, making up 15 percent of Taiwan’s military.

decades, feminist movements in Taiwan have brought about much needed change. The first female president was elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2020. Furthermore, women make up almost 40 percent of elected government officials. According to the United Nations Development Program’s Gender Inequality Index, Taiwan had the highest rank in gender equality in East Asia and is number six in the entire world. Nevertheless, women continue to experience harassment and prejudice as seen through job segregation. Even though overall female employment has increased, women are almost forced into low-income sales and clerical jobs. Almost 90 percent of cases of workplace harassment were filed by women and around 50 percent were filed against bosses, according to the Modern Women’s Foundation. Sadly, nearly half of all Taiwanese women have endured sexual harassment in the workplace.

gender discrimination in Taiwan, given the increasing usage of social media. Six hundred and forty respondents were questioned about whether they believe gender discrimination is commonplace in Taiwan. Around half of the participants agreed with this statement. Interestingly, 56.97 percent of women and 46.6 percent of men agreed with this statement.

suggests that Taiwan can improve in terms of education on what may constitute harassment as laws can only prevent discrimination to a certain extent. It is important that perpetrators are unable to reoffend as well.

Interestingly, even though Taiwan is very highly ranked in terms of gender equality, women continue to experience discrimination in the workplace and beyond. For several

It is important to note that past research has shown that women may feel uncomfortable or embarrassed when reporting discriminatory behavior which may have lead to underreporting in this survey. Additionally, it is unclear what exactly defines discrimination. Some may perceive this as overt sexual harassment while others may believe it includes non-sexual workplace discrimination. Studies have found that men may define gender discrimination more broadly than women. Furthermore, this study explored the potential correlation between experiencing gender discrimination and believing it to be commonplace. The statistics suggest that people may pay attention to or ignore discrimination depending on previous experiences. In summary, this research

More women have been joining the Taiwanese military. (Courtesy Military News Agency)

“it is unclear what exactly defines discrimination. Some may perceive this as overt sexual harassment while others may believe it includes non-sexual workplace discrimination.”

“Taiwan’s Defense Ministry claimed they trained only male individuals due to insufficient resources to integrate male and female soldiers.”

“Taiwan had the highest rank in gender equality in East Asia and is number six in the entire world. Nevertheless, women continue to experience harassment and prejudice as seen through job segregation.”

A web survey by PollcracyLab at National Chengchi University’s Election Study Center asked questions re-

Female recruit being shown how to assamble and clean a firearm. (Photo Courtesy Taiwan Military Agency)

Former Brazilian President Returns Home for an Insurrection Investigation After Vacationing in Florida

Nickolas Bartel, Politics and Current Events Staff Writer

FEB. 11, 2023 — On Jan. 8, supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro stormed Congress, the Supreme Court and the presidential palace in Brasilia that echoed the insurrection in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021. This threat to democracy in Brazil was neither random nor over..

to be ineligible and he would win. The court did not accept this petition. Bolsonaro said he would “continue to fulfill all commandments of the constitution” but did not concede the election fully. His comments suggested that he would follow the peaceful transition of power.

as videos show police and military officials acting unconcerned toward the insurrectionists. Media reports note a low police presence despite their intelligence agency’s warnings of a large and violent protest. Within nine days of the attack, police arrested 727 people in connection to the attacks, with hundreds more in custody.

“This

to democracy in Brazil was neither random nor over.”

Critics state that Bolsonaro targeted women, LGBTQ+ and other minority groups. Under his leadership, he oversaw a 12-year peak of deforestation, persecuted political critics using laws from Brazil’s military dictatorship era and attacked public health policies during the pandemic. The former president claimed voter fraud in the past two presidential elections claiming to have gotten even more votes despite still winning. Going into the 2022 election, Reuters reports Bolsonaro saying, “I have three alternatives for my future: being arrested, killed or victory.”

In the October election, with no candidate receiving 50 percent or more of the votes in the first round of voting, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (commonly known as Lula) won a close run-off election directly against Bolsonaro with 50.9 percent of the vote. On Nov. 22, Bolsonaro and his party petitioned that voting machine failures would result in enough ballots

However, Brazilian magazine Vega reports this month that Sen. Marcos do Val said that Bolsonaro instructed him to record Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the Supreme Court justice heading the electoral authority with overstepping his powers. In do Val’s recorded meeting with Bolsonaro, the former president reportedly said he planned to “annul the election, Lula isn’t sworn in, I stay in the presidency and arrest Alexandre de Moraes because of his comments.” These actions further added to the multiple investigations into Bolsonaro’s administration.

Bolsonaro is seeking a six-month tourist visa as his prior A-1 visa has expired. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services estimates that it may take between March 2024 to July 2025 for processing. However, he could remain in the country with the proper paperwork. After the Jan. 8 attacks, forty-five U.S. House Democrats sent a letter to President Biden to work with Brazilian authorities and revoke Bolsonaro’s visa, writing, “The United States must not provide shelter for him or any authoritarian who has inspired such violence against democratic institutions.”

“The United States must not provide shelter for him or any authoritarian who has inspired such violence against democratic institutions.” – 45 House Democrats in a letter to President Biden

Despite his anti-democratic statements promoting election denialism and several investigations, Bolsonaro appears to have a publicly carefree life as he was spotted eating alone at KFC and making various TikTok videos in a Wal-Mart and other grocery stores. On Feb. 11, he announced to an evangelical church in Florida that he plans to return to Brazil “in the coming weeks.” If he returned, he would face a Supreme Court investigation and a divided nation.

On Dec. 30, two days before the inauguration, Bolsonaro arrived in Florida on an A-1 visa for foreign government leaders. A week after the inauguration, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed congress, the executive mansion and the Supreme Court.

Several high-ranking officials in the police and military have been arrested by police for aiding the insurrection,

While waiting for the verdict on his application, Bolsonaro has attended various conservative and evangelical events. On Feb. 1, supporters paid $50 to take pictures with him on a small stage at a strip mall in Orlando.

Two days later, Bolsonaro spoke at a Turning Point USA event at Trump’s National Doral resort in Miami. While staying at his UFC champion friend’s house, he also has been seen talking with supporters in the driveway.

Despite his vacation in Florida, his political and public power to sway the public and policy remains. Bolsonaro and Trump were not and cannot be the only scapegoats for the respective insurrections. While their actions may have stoked the flame of the attacks, the choice to be a traitor was those who chose to participate. Yet, millions of Bolsonaro and Trump voters did not choose to resort to violence and respected the democratic process. As it is a choice to betray their country, people have a choice to defend democracy. Democracy relies on everyone to ensure it will be there for everyone.

threat

“A week after the inauguration, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed congress, the executive mansion and the Supreme Court.”

“On Feb. 11, he announced…plans to return to Brazil ‘in the coming weeks.’ If he returned, he would face a Supreme Court insurrection investigation and a divided nation.”

The Killing of Tyre Nichols Sparks Protests

Vaishnavi Peyyety Current Events Staff Writer

JAN. 30, 2023 — Imagine you are driving on a motorcycle and pulled over for “reckless driving.” As a Black man who is repeatedly profiled by the police, you start to believe the worst. Will the cops arrest me? Will I be threatened and attacked? What will happen to my family? Unfortunately, this was the reality of Tyre Nichols, a father, photographer and skateboarding enthusiast from Sacramento, California. On Jan. 7, Nichols was pulled over for supposedly “driving recklessly.” When trying to run away, Nichols was attacked by the police, as seen in publicly released body camera footage. He died in the hospital three days later.

Nichols moved to Memphis, Tennessee and worked for FedEx for nine months before his passing. At his memorial service, his grandmother shared that Nichols “was one of those people who made everyone around them happy.” A truly endearing and caring parent, Nichols suffered a fate he did not deserve.

When initially confronted at a traffic stop, Nichols fled, leading the police to chase him to another traffic stop where he was confronted and taken into custody. He was moved to the hospital in critical condition, as he experienced shortness of breath after being physically attacked by police to the point where his face was unrecognizable. Following public outcry, the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office released the video of Nichols’ death. In the jarring four-part footage, Nichols was dragged from his car and struck with profanities from multiple officers.

After an officer attempted to taser Nichols, he tried to run and states “I’m just trying to go home.” Within 100 yards of the family’s home, the officers attack him continuously, kicking, punching and striking Nichols with a baton as he grimaces in pain on the ground. Nichols yelled “Mom” as the officers beat him to death. The family attorney Ben Crump drew a comparison between this footage and that of Rodney King in Los Angeles, California. King was an African American

at a park in downtown Memphis and began protesting down the I-55 bridge between Memphis and West Memphis. This busy bridge was shut down for almost three hours. In social media footage, people are heard chanting “no justice, no peace” and “justice for Tyre.” Some gathered in churches and small groups to pray and mourn this devastating loss. In downtown Los Angeles, a group of protestors brought awareness to the effects of police brutality and inequality. In response, the Los Angeles Police Department headquarters was blocked with law enforcement in riot gear.

As of now, five Memphis ex-police were charged with several offenses including murder and they were jailed. Additionally, two Memphis Fire Department employees were “relieved of duty” in connection with Nichols’ death. Unfortunately, this is one of many instances of police brutality. Even after the wave of Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, many African Americans eive even close to the amount of media coverage as did George Floyd.

The names of Daunte Wright, Andre Hill, Manuel Ellis, Rayshard Brooks, Daniel Prude, Breonna Taylor and many others should also be known. Tyre Nichol’s death is tragic, heartbreaking and resurfaces the debate of whether public support for BLM has waned since 2020.

Following this horrible event, many around the country took to the streets to peacefully protest. Protests took place in New York City, Washington D.C., Seattle, Detroit and Atlanta. Highways and intersections were shut down in major cities where protestors marched. Demonstrators chanted against police brutality. A group of individuals gathered

“When trying to run away, Nichols was attacked by the police, as seen in publicly released body camera footage. He died in the hospital three days later.”

“At his memorial service, his grandmother shared that Nichols ‘was one of those people who made everyone around them happy.’ ”

“Tyre Nichol’s death is tragic, heartbreaking and resurfaces the debate of whether public support for BLM has waned since 2020.”

Tyre Nichols death sparked protests nationally to both honor his life and investigative the history of police brutality against Black Americans. (Courtesy Wikipedia Commos)

How Accessible are Abortion Pills Nationally?

Vaishnavi Peyyety Current Events Staff Writer

FEB 8, 2023 - In June of 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, allowing states to set their own rules and regulations for abortion. In turn, there is no longer federal standards preserving safe abortion access. As a result, the need for abortion medication has increased for many, including people experiencing barriers to safe abortions. In specific, abortion medication involves two different drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol which can be used during the first ten weeks of pregnancy according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). World Health Organization has approved the use of abortion medication up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. Mifepristone is sold under the name Mifeprex by pharmaceutical company GenBioPro. This drug blocks progesterone, an essential hormone without which an existing pregnancy cannot progress. Misoprostol is taken 1-2 days after mifepristone, emptying the uterus by causing cramping and bleeding. To confirm the pregnancy was terminated, an ultrasound or blood test can be carried out. Clinical trials have found that this medication is effective and safe, terminating pregnancies 99.6 percent of the time. There is a 0.4 percent risk of major complications and a mortality rate of 0.00064 percent. At the end of 2021, around half of abortions in the U.S. were carried out through abortion medication.

In 2000, the FDA approved Mifeprex. The FDA later approved a regimen of utilizing abortion medication for up to 70 days, which is used to guide current clinical practice. Changes in 2011 initiated by the FDA Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy

(REMS) resulted in changes allowing only medical providers who obtained mifepristone certification to prescribe and dispense the drug. This limited the number of physicians who can prescribe the medication. Also, through this process, individuals were required to go through an in-person visit and were unable to access the medication from a retail pharmacy. However, in 2021, the FDA removed this requirement, allowing people to access the medication through certified clinicians and without undergoing an in-person visit. Nevertheless, prescribers are still required to be certified by manufacturing companies. Recently, the FDA has approved for certified pharmacies to dispense this medication to patients directly.

For example, patients have been told that abortion medication can be reversed by a high dose of progesterone after mifepristone. In Utah, some patients were told that mifepristone itself is ineffective in terminating pregnancy even though records have repeatedly proven its effectiveness.

The cost of the medication is ever changing, raising from $495 in 2017 to $560 in 2020. Insurance coverage of abortion services depends on the plan, policy holder’s state of residence and employer coverage. Additionally, the Federal Medicaid funding pays for this medication when the pregnancy results from rape or incest or is a threat to the individuals life. Including funding sources and low-income clinics, however, there are very little options for lowering abortion costs. As the political climate continues to change in this country, access to abortion medication will also change, impacting many individuals’ lives.

Following the decision in the Dobbs vs Jackson Women’s Health Organization case, states can ban abortion medication. This has taken place in various southern and midwestern states. Nevertheless, even before this decision was made, states could restrict access to abortion medication by mandating in-person visits and blocking telehealth abortion visits. Also, some states require in-person dispensing and/or limit only MDs to dispense these pills. In some states, patients must be counseled about the ability to reverse an abortion after utilizing mifepristone despite a lack of scientific evidence.

Abortion pills became available over the counter in the post-Roe era in the U.S. (Photo Courtesy Everyday Health)

“Recently, the FDA has approved for certified pharmacies to dispense this medication to patients directly.”

Abortion pills are increasingly harder to get in mail. (PhotoCourtesyPlanned Parenthood)

opinions

A Pound of the Gavel & a Fate Sealed, Jim Crow’s Continued Legacy

Rishima Mall, Contributor Red & Black Contributor

JAN. 22, 2023 — The pound of the gavel reverberated in Brandon Jackson’s heart, not only in that moment, but for the next 25 years. He had just been sentenced to life-in-prison by ten of the twelve jurors. Had his case been heard in any state other than Louisiana or Oregon, he would have walked out a free man that day.

Why? Why was the opinion of ten jurors adequate to take away Brandon Jackson’s freedom for life when that momentous decision is one that should have been made by the unanimous consensus of all twelve of the jurors?

Ten jurors found Brandon Jackson guilty, while the remaining two jurors found him not guilty, and sentenced him to life-inprison.

{At this point anyone who has taken a civics class, can I hear a collective “Say whaat?!”}

So, what happened? The Jim Crow jury happened!

A century prior to his trial, a “law” allowing split verdicts was written into Louisiana’s constitution with the explicit purpose of silencing the voices of Black jurors.

The law was successful in achieving its purpose, the two jurors who voted “not guilty” for Brandon Jackson were Black, and the ten jurors who voted to convict were white. And like Brandon Jackson, 80 percent of the people who are still in prison on the basis of non-unanimous verdicts are Black.

verdict, because the responsibility fell to him, just like it will fall upon the hundreds of imprisoned individuals like him, to convince the State to retry their case. Our ideal of justice is of one that is meted out “without passion or prejudice” to ensure fairness (Ingraham 2017).

666 people out of every 100,000 are in jail. That solidly ensures the United States’ #1 global rank in the size of its prison population.

White individuals: 450 out of every 100,000 are in jail

Black individuals: 2,306 out of every 100,000 are in jail

Black offenders are 75% more likely to face a charge carrying a mandatory minimum sentence than a White offender who has committed the same crime.

While the U.S. Supreme Court recognized the inherent injustice of nonunanimous verdicts (…duh!), ruling them unconstitutional in 2020 (more than a century after they had been written into state constitutions), the Court did not require states to give new trials to the hundreds still behind bars due the decisions made by Jim Crow juries. Huh? So…the unfair jury system is out, but the people are not?

Brandon Jackson spent another two years in jail following the Supreme Court’s

The Red & Black is the official student-newspaper of Washington & Jefferson College. It is published the last week of every month in the 2022-2023 school year with the exception of December and May.

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

There are thousands of people who continue to be impacted by the Jim Crow juries as they spend yet another day in jail.

Each day they spend behind bars is another day lost…Another day they remain separated from their loved ones who are eagerly waiting for them on the other side. It is another day that a mother goes without embracing her child.

The Promise of Justice Initiative is one of many organizations tirelessly working to vacate unjust sentences one person, one

case at a time. Everyone has the power to bring about change, by choosing to support organizations and causes such as the Promise of Justice Initiative, and the Community Policy Institute in Delaware that advocates for legislation focused on addressing racial and economic injustice. We cannot afford to forget those individuals who still await justice simply because they are out of our sight. There is a strong need for continuous action and advocacy for those who have been forgotten by our justice system. Each day that justice is delayed is another day that justice is denied.

After so many years of youth lost and moments missed, you ask what difference does it make?

To that I answer…while there are still moments left, each moment matters.

do not meet its standard of integrity, accuracy and decency. The Red & Black also reserves the right to edit submissions.

All letters must include the author’s name and preferred designations. Names may be withheld upon request under certain conditions.

“80 percent of the people who are still in prison on the basis of non-unanimous verdicts are Black.”

“Black offenders are 75% more likely to face a charge carrying a mandatory minimum sentence than a White offender who has committed the same crime.”

C onta C t

E ditorial P oli C y

An Honest Review of W&J’s Winter Tales

Samantha Cobaugh Campus Staff Writer

FEB. 10 - For years, Washington & Jefferson College has tried their best to support the ambitions of the artistically inclined. At this institution, students with artistic ambitions will find opportunities to expand and capitalize on their gifts, from writing to dancing to acting to painting. On Feb. 3 in Olin Theatre, I watched the collection of seven plays part of Winter Tales XXI. These were presented by the Department of Communication Arts from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. This show highlighted the brilliant young minds on campus, and provides digestible, relatable and emotional insights on life in this modern age.

The plays presented in this collection were (respectively): “Sex, Lies, and Philosophy” by Jessica Magby, “The Door” by Steve Watts, “Fairweather” by Abe Adams, “Updated Veldt” by Gage Watson, “Spring’s Breaks” by T.S. Frank, “Grown Up Monsters” by Adriana Palangio, and “Thirty Minute Thematic Therapy” by Lauren Phillips.

All the plays were unique and insightful in their own ways, but two outstanding plays were “Thirty Minute Thematic Therapy” and “The Door.”

The night opened with “Sex, Lies, and Philosophy”; a light-hearted act in which a STEM student is pressured into joining the philosophy class of a young professor. The play alludes to the student’s sexual desire for the professor battling with his “pure” urges to pursue STEM. Religion meets academia in a humorous discussion about picking classes.

Next on the roster, “The Door” made its debut. With verbose monologues and elaborate figurative language, this act left the audience with much to consider. This play explored the dynamics and personalities of a group of friends theorizing what is behind a door. It was a deeply philosophical conversation, in which all of the friends pitched their ideas of what is beyond the door: abstract art, coats, money and historical texts. Everyone’s ideas of what may be behind the door were reflected in their personalities.

Ultimately, the dilemma was solved by a simple rock. One of the friends, Chloe, states that a rock is a rock, and it has significance because they give it significance. Hence, a door is a door. This play is truly excellent in its layers of meaning, and the more one ponders the play, the more one uncovers its messages. Overall, it conveyed an important idea about life that many fail to remember; we give meaning to everything in our lives, and we decide how it impacts us. In this particular play, Lauren Phillips gave an intense, emotional performance as Wolfe, and I found myself leaning forward in my seat, hanging onto her every word. Ultimately, the writer is an artist at their core, and “The Door” is highly enjoyable.

Following this act is “Fairweather.” This play was set at a college reunion, and followed a group of friends (Nate, Dan and Scott) catching up. They have a lot of trouble recalling the name of their “close” friend they had in school. This clever act revealed that the way we view others can be a reflection of ourselves.

In “Veldt,” Wendy and her husband Brock go to visit her brother, Peter, a millionaire due to his technology position. They explain that they are pregnant and will not be visiting Peter anymore. Afterwards, Peter talks to Sally (equivalent to Siri) for comfort. It proved that technology will not keep our hearts warm at night and living in a technological world is not the same as a real world, despite skewed perceptions.

credibly creative act; the writer’s vision was clear from the beginning. The performance of the monsters -- Sydney Kulsic, Rowan Angstadt and Lauren Phillips -- was transformative. Their abilities to contort their voices to different characters was astounding. A relatable and slightly heart wrenching play, everyone has felt the fears of the monsters presented; money anxieties and fears of dying alone. I am excited to see what else Palangio comes up with.

“Spring Break” was a light, humorous, although slightly questionable play, portraying a romance between a young adult and a boy freshly turned eighteen years old. Sydney Kulsic gave a magnificent performance as Suze, with their love interest offering a sweet and naive portrayal of a college freshman.

“Grown up Monsters” was an in-

My personal favorite is “Thirty Minute Thematic Therapy.” It demonstrates the numbness that we all have felt at one point or another after the exhaustion of dealing with ourselves while attempting to help others. An emotional, funny and brilliant play that gave modern commentary on burn-out and interpersonal relationships. Ultimately, despite the therapist being a professional, she is not able to help others until she helps herself, a reminder I believe many of us could use.

Overall, I had a grand night at Winter Tales XXI, and was blown away by the talent displayed by the writers and performers.

“This show [Winter Tales XXI] highlights the brilliant young minds on campus, and provides digestible, relatable, and emotional insights on life in this modern age.”

“In this particular play, Lauren Phillips gave an intense, emotional performance as Wolfe, and I found myself… hanging onto her every word.”

“Ultimately, despite the therapist [in “Thirty Minute Thematic Therapy”] being a professional, she is not able to help others until she helps herself.”

Opinion - Editorial: Discussing Abortion Doesn’t have to be Scary

Victoria Stracci Red & Black Contributor

FEB. 23, 2023 – One thing that editor Akansha Das and I share is a passion for the field of women’s* healthcare and understanding its surrounding politics. When she approached me about writing a piece on the Symposium on Democracy’s Breakout Panel on Abortion & Reproductive Healthcare, I jumped at the opportunity to share my thoughts.

Upon my arrival, I was pleasantly surprised by the turnout; the classroom was packed! Dr. Mary Ryan, the panel leader, informed the attendees that the rest of the panel was unable to attend due to Wisconsin’s approaching primary elections and precarious reproductive healthcare situation. The panel was quickly converted to a participant-led discussion. Dr. Ryan gave attendees the choice to leave and attend a different breakout session due to the last-minute change, but very few did. I assume that, like myself, they were eager to hear their peers’ candid thoughts on this pressing issue. After a period of uncomfortable silence, the discussion launched with students sharing their thoughts on whether reproductive healthcare should be regulated at the state or federal level. Students in support of protection at the federal level expressed concern about the impact this decision has on those in states that implemented abortion bans immediately. I believe it is important to remember that socioeconomically disadvantaged women, particularly Black women and

women of color, do not have the privilege to travel out of state and access the healthcare they need, a point that was frequently mentioned among students.

ion was overwhelmingly pro-choice. However, Dr. Ryan made an admirable effort to encourage opinions from various perspectives.

We also discussed precedence in the Supreme Court, with some students pointing out that the overturning of a long-standing case like Roe v. Wade may cause concern for other previously protected rights. I would encourage those who doubt this to read Justice Clarence Thomas’s concurring opinion on the decision in which he mentions same sex marriage and contraception could be next to go.

As students gained confidence, it was refreshing to watch the chamber turn from icy, awkward silence to passionate, heated discussion. I believe that it is a good thing to bring a little heat to the floor. If an issue is important to you, as I suspect was the case for most women in the room, why not speak from the heart? As the discussion became more polarized, it became apparent that the climate of opin-

There is an inherent difficulty in navigating conversations about abortion with those who are strongly opposed. We discussed how many pro-life arguments have roots in religion, given the Christian belief that life begins at conception. As someone who was raised Roman Catholic and grew up with the notion that abortion is murder, I understand that pro-lifers struggle with seeing the pro-choice perspective. However, as many students pointed out, we have a separation of church and state in this country. I find it unacceptable for Christians to regulate the choices of those who do not share their beliefs, and concerns about creating policy based on religious beliefs were shared among students in the room.

we typically think of Democrats as pro-choice and Republicans as prolife, this issue does not seem to be as partisan as we might imagine. This gives me hope that regardless of our political affiliations, we can find common ground.

To conclude the breakout, Dr. Ryan encouraged us to brainstorm ways we might support each other in a world without Roe v. Wade. Sex education, another current issue, was brought up frequently. The consensus seemed to be that teaching teenagers how to prevent pregnancy would, you guessed it, prevent teen pregnancy. There is contraception available at the W&J Student Health & Counseling Center today! We discussed how sex education is severely lacking in most areas of the country, particularly in those that implemented abortion bans. We also spoke about other issues related to abortion, such as improving the foster care system and mental health support for mothers. I believe that if states move to ban abortion, then they must also take responsibility by putting adequate child-support systems in place.

While the event may not have gone as planned, I still found it to be a valuable and productive use of time. The first step to solving any issue is raising awareness, and I think that having open, honest conversations about these difficult topics is progress.

An interesting point of conversation was that public opinion polls reflect that most Americans (61 percent, according to Pew Research Center) do not support the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. While

*Author’s note: The term “women” is used throughout the article for simplicity’s sake. I acknowledge and emphasize the fact that not all those who identify as women can become pregnant, and not all who can become pregnant identify as women.

“it is important to remember that socioeconomically disadvantaged women, particularly Black women and women of color, do not have the privilege to travel out of state and access the healthcare they need”

“As someone who was raised Roman Catholic and grew up with the notion that abortion is murder, I understand that pro-lifers struggle with seeing the prochoice perspective.”

W&J Swim & Dive: The Road to PACS

Audrey Kough Campus Sports Staff Writer

All the way back in September the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams started their 2022-2023 season. They have had a tough season all around with athletes being out with injuries and their team numbers being low. The reoccurring theme of the season was overcoming obstacles and persevering. Nevertheless, the season went on and the athletes on the team put in the work to have a successful year and make the most of their season.

Over the course of the regular season, the men’s and women’s teams competed in multiple meets against other teams within the PAC conference and teams outside of the conference. Ultimately, the men’s team got a 2-8 overall record and a 2-4 conference record. The women’s team ended their season with an overall record of 2-9 and a conference record of 1-5. With the long season ending right around the corner, the team has one thing in their eyesight: PAC Championships. This is a four-day meet, taking place between Feb. 15 and 18. The swimmers and divers will compete in multiple sessions, in a series of events to place well in their races and get a personal best time in their events. The swimmers will have a preliminary race in the morning, where they will

try and place into an “A or B final.” If a swimmer qualifies for an A or B final, they will return in the evening and compete in finals, in hopes to secure the highest spot possible on the podium. A and B finals are two groups of eight swimmers who swam the fastest in the morning and returned to compete for a final time and fight for a spot on the podium. The athletes will compete in individual events and relays. The divers will have a similar schedule of events, with prelims and finals, competing a series of dives on both the one-meter and three-meter boards.

Freshman Melvin ‘MJ’ McRae Jr. is new to the sport of diving. Being recruited to W&J for swimming quickly ended when McRae suffered a shoulder injury at the beginning of the season which made swimming difficult. McRae had already planned to try diving, and now that he could not swim, he took the tragedy and turned it into an opportunity to try a new sport. He gives insight as to how his first season went saying, “It was a rough start, watching my competition I felt like I was super far behind, but was reassured being that I had just started... with the pushing of coaches, a lot of hard work and painful smacks I got better. The season was full of ups and downs.”

McRae also explains his hopes for his and the dive teams performances at PACS, “I want the team to go out there without comparing themselves to the

rest of the divers... I think we must go out and focus on what we can control.”

On the swimming side of the team, captain and junior Amanda Graves gives insight as to what has been going on with the women’s team. She tells about how their season has been going, “Throughout this season the team has experienced a lot of variation. Many of us have experienced injuries, myself included. We have also had teammates step away for various reasons, but those of us who remain stay focused on each other and our own. Regardless of the fluctuation in roster size, I believe that the women’s team has done well on an individual basis.”

the women’s team at PACS, “I hope that everyone goes into PACS confident and proud of the work they have put in through the whole season... aside from racing and competition I am hopeful that the team will have a good time together and enjoy each other’s company. On the men’s side, junior and captain Matt Allgeier gives information about their team saying, “This year has been a big rebuilding for the men’s team. We graduated with a lot of talented swimmers and now have a relatively young team. With a lot of the younger guys have really embraced the rebuild and done a good job working hard and building a strong core for years to come.” Allgeier then goes on to describe the team dynamic as “The team dynamic is very lighthearted... Our team is always joking in-between sets and before practice which helps a lot dealing with the intensity of our sport.”

When asked about the team dynamic, Graves says, “We support each other and our goals regardless of team size. As a whole team, men’s team included, we are very friendly and close with one another.” Graves gives her finals thoughts by sharing her hopes for

Lastly, Allgeier shares his hopes for the men’s team at PACS, “I am expecting a lot of huge time drops and surprise performances. The goal of PACS is to beat the psych sheet, or in other terms swim above your seeded place. We have a lot of swimmers who are unknown in the conference who have the potential to make a lot of noise and surprise some people with their times and places.” Even with the ups and the downs of the season, the swimmers and divers look forward to successfully ending the season.

“I want the team to go out there without comparing themselves to the rest of the divers... I think we must go out and focus on what we can control.” - McRae

W&J Men’s Wrestling Season Nears the End

Audrey Kough Campus Sports Staff Writer

Wrestling, yet another winter sport that is nearing the end of their season for the 2022-2023 academic year. A team composed of a bunch of young men who bring 110 percent effort to the mat every day and have driven to succeed not only for themselves but for their teammates as well. Wrestling is a little bit different from other sports in the sense that members of the team compete in 1-on-1 matches and their victories in those meets help to contribute to the team’s overall score. Despite being somewhat of an individual sport, the men on the team could not have a stronger bond. Senior Logan Marko describes the camaraderie amongst the team, “The wrestling team is a family. All of the guys on the team are extremely close. Sure, there are rough patches but what family does not have some bumps along the way.”

tough match, the support and encouragement for their teammates on the side could just be the extra motivation they need to pin their opponent and win the match. Freshman and 5-time recognized PAC Rookie of the Week, Bryce Rodriguez-Uram, gives his perspective on the team’s dynamic as a first year. “The team dynamic is great; we are a very close group that blended well as a team as soon as we met.” Rodriguez-Uram, continues, “Since we are so close, everyone can hold each other accountable and that results in great practices and development of everybody on the team.”

Hard work, motivation, team chemistry and talents have pulled the Presidents through their season. The team has an overall record of 3-7, and a conference record of 1-1. First year Head Coach, Sonnie Blanco, shares his insight as to how he feels his wrestlers have been performing this year. Blanco tells, “For my first year, everything has been going very well! We have had a lot of success this year, and most importantly the guys have been having fun. As far as practices go, they have been intense but fun - the team has been working very hard. We are focused on keeping everyone healthy while actively improving.”

as their PAC Championship is quickly approaching, as it will take place on Feb. 11 at Thiel College.

Marko and Rodriguez-Uram explain how they have prepared for this tournament as well as give details as to how their regular season matches went. Marko states, “[The season] has gone well so far. We are consistently improving every day. We have very intense practices. We are really focused on developing ourselves through repetition of moves. We also focus on developing mental toughness to push through tough moments in matches and competitions.” Rodriguez-Uram backs that statement up by giving his own saying, “The season results have been pretty good so far, “the team has not got everything we wanted yet as PACs are coming up and that is the main goal, but we have been getting better every week individually and as a team.”

As far as practice goes, we start the week slow with some technique and going over what we need to change from the weekend, as the week goes on, we get into very high intensity work, then start to ease down once we get ready for competition again over the weekend.” Lastly, the two wres-

tlers give their thoughts and hopes as to what is to come for the end of the season. Marko, being a senior and wrapping up his collegiate career, says, “The rest of this season I want to see [myself] achieve all my goals. I have been doing this since I was four years old. I want to just go perform to the best of my ability and I will be able to accept whatever the result is.”

Rodriguez-Uram, someone to look out for as a fierce competitor only in his first year of his collegiate career explains, “For myself, I would like to win PACS, place at regionals and qualify for nationals. As a team the goal is to win the PACS and have as many guys place at regionals as possible.”

The potential for the wrestlers is limitless, as they have worked hard this season to put forth their best effort and ability on the mat. The team is ready to prove they are a force to be reckoned with, within the conference. Not only can we look forward to what the wrestlers will do to finish out this season, but fans should also be excited and stay on the lookout for the team, as they have proved to be competitors and to only keep improving. Not only for themselves but for the team’s greater good.

While wrestling is an individual sport in the sense of competing, it is essential to have the support of your team. If a wrestler was in a

Blanco goes on to give statistics and accomplishments of his wrestlers on and off the mat. “It has been awesome to see the hard work pay off for our guys as well in tournaments and matches like the W&J Invitational, where we had three champions and placed second as a team out of 14 teams. In addition to our leaders doing a great job leading by example, it has been great to see some of the younger guys stepping up as leaders,” Blanco emphasizes.

As the regular wrestling season quickly approaches, the team looks forward to the post season as

Raheem Clemons mid-match in the 2019-2020 wrestling season. (CourtesyW&JCollege)

“The wrestling team is a family. All of the guys on the team are extremely close. Sure, there are rough patches but what family does not have some bumps along the way.” ~ Marko

What Do W&J Students Think About The 2023 Superbowl?

Audrey Kough Red & Black Staff

On Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, Superbowl LVII will take place in Glendale, Arizona between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. The Eagles, with key players like Jalen Hurts and Jason Kelce, are looking to pick up a second Superbowl victory, as the first and only time the Eagles have won the Superbowl was in 2018. The Chiefs, with key players such as Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, are seeking a third Superbowl win, since the last time they won a Superbowl was in 2020. For the first time in Superbowl history two brothers (Travis and Jason Kelce) will go head-to-head and compete for a Superbowl Championship Title.

from around the Philadelphia area and is a big Eagles fan. Giering obviously rooting for the Eagles in the Superbowl, tells how she plans to watch the Superbowl, “I’m not going home even though it would be really fun for it, [I am] just watching it here with some friends.” With a connection to one of the teams, Giering was asked what an Eagles victory would mean to her. She responds with, “It would mean so many things. It’s awesome to just share such a special moment with your family and friends, and it’s a memory you never forget.”

but she isn’t a big football fan. When asked who she will be rooting for and why she said, “The Eagles, because my mom is from Philly.” She was asked how disappointed she would be if the Eagles did not win and she revealed, “Not that disappointed.”

Lastly, freshman Haley Black who is from Maine, says she will probably be watching the Superbowl. When

asked who she’s rooting she states, “Probably the chiefs but to be honest it won’t hurt me either way, I’m a Patriots fan.” Black reveals her connection go watching the game. She says, “In my house the Super Bowl is like a holiday or a big event. There are usually people and really good food.”

At Washington & Jefferson College (W&J), students come from all over the world and therefore they have a variety of opinions about the Superbowl on campus and people have different personal experiences with the Superbowl. Some students shared their thoughts.

Freshman, Lily Giering, is

Next, freshman Duane Pratt shares his feelings on the Superbowl. Pratt was asked if he would be watching the Superbowl he answered, “No!” Pratt then went on the explain himself by saying, “I’m only watching the halftime show, nobody actually cares about the game.” The Superbowl halftime show, famous for being performed by renowned singers and being extravagant and flashy is a factor that does draw some fans to turn on the game.

This year’s halftime show performer is Rihanna. Sophomore, Aliya Schraeder, says she will be watching the Superbowl this year,

Superbowl LVII will feature quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes, Kansas city and Jalen Hurts Philadelphia Eagles. (Photo Courtesy LATimes)

“For the first time in Superbowl history two brothers (Travis and Jason Kelce) will go headto-head and compete for a Superbowl Championship Title.”

“It would mean so many things. It’s awesome to just share such a special moment with your family and friends, and it’s a memory you never forget.”

~ Giering

Football in play for the NFL. (Photo Courtesy Treehugger)