Red & Black
The Free
s t u d e n t n e w s pa p e r o f w a s h i n g t o n a n d j e f f e r s o n c o l l e g e w j r e da n d b l ac k . c o m W a s h i n g t o n , P e n n s y lva n i a December 8, 2017
WHAT’S IN THIS WEEK’S PAPER... LIFE “Everyone who feels lost or disconnected from their phones should give this app a try. It was designed to get people to have a healthier relationship with their phones.” -P. 9
Men’s and Women’s Basketball Face Saint Vincent PAGE 17
CULTURE
“As a result, Monet grabbed a knife and paintbrush and destroyed fifteen of his paintings. This was not the only time the artist would destroy paintings right before they were shipped to exhibitions.” -P.12
OPINIONS “...students were asked their opinions on whether or not taking an Intersession course should be a graduation requirement. It seems that there is no majority opinion and that students have mixed feelings towards the subject.” -P.15
SPORTS
“Knowing that he has a whole unit that is hungry to win alongside of him makes him eager for the rest of the season.” -P.18
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Courtesy gopresidents.com
2 CAMPUS NEWS
8 december 2017
Red & Black
Shatter the Silence: Brave Women Speak Up Karli-Ann Sanders Red & Black Editor
An event called “Shatter the Silence” took place Nov. 29 in the Rossin Ballroom at Washington & Jefferson College. It was held as a way for people to speak out about their experiences with sexual assault. The event was created by Danielle Shellgren ‘18, Tara O’Toole ‘18 and Alex Scalise ‘18 who received the Vira I. Heinz award last year. This award was for a chance to study abroad and dealt with learning about women in leadership. A part of the scholarship was intended for the recipient to put on an event in which they believed strongly. “We all talked about it and thought that focusing on sexual assault, especially within the W&J community, would be extremely powerful,” said O’Toole. The women wanted to “shatter the silence” surrounding sexual assault and provide a chance for people to speak up and realize they are not alone when it comes to sexual assault experiences. There were three key speakers, two of which were students at W&J. Christina Bazzano ‘18 shared her story in which she said she was raped during her sophomore year by a senior. After a breakup, Bazzano said she turned to an acquaintance who ended up assaulting her. In her story, she explained how horrible it was for her afterwards and how she missed months of school. The effects of her sexual assault were lasting due to emotional damage, but also
due to physical effects that required medical care. She explained that sometimes it still seems so fresh even though it was over two years ago. Unfortunately, Bazzano felt that Title IX failed her and the attacker was not found guilty. She had to face him on campus and take different routes to classes. She said she still struggles with the emotional damage that her experience has left her with. Bazzano does not drink or go to parties and often avoids GnT’s at night due to the anxiety it gives her. She knows her experience has changed her forever, but also said, “every day, I get stronger.” Scalise also shares her story about a sexual assault she said happened when she was only a sophomore in high school. She said she was taken advantage of sexually and bullied as a result. She missed school for weeks and was unable to eat after it occurred. Re-
gardless, she said she had never spoken up about this experience until a few months ago. This means that she dealt with her assault mostly alone. She said she has struggled emotionally for the past five plus years since it occurred. Recently, she has starting being more open about her experience. “I have never said some of this out loud, but saying it now feels like a weight is lifted,” said Scalise. Unfortunately, those two heartbreaking stories are not the only ones on this campus. There were ten other women who wrote their stories of sexual assault in letter form. Most of these letters were written anonymously, but all were written by W&J students. The women hosting the event sent out messages to friends and acquaintances who were asked to share their stories if they were willing. These ten women all experienced sexual assault in various ways, but one thing that they all had in common was
Courtesy Karli-Ann Sanders
The twenty-four hour hotline for sexual assault victims can be reached at 1-888480-7283.
that they were shattering the silence surrounding it. Another segment of this event was “What She Wore.” This was an effort to address the victim blaming that occurs, by showing that what a girl wears has no impact on the acceptability of sexual assault. Women displayed the clothes that they were wearing at the time of their assault with everything from pajamas, to athletic clothes to formal dresses. The women wanted to show that no matter what a person wears, says or does, they are not at fault for their sexual assault. The only person at fault in sexual assault is the person who committed it. The speakers explained how they wish the resources on campus and off campus were more well-known and better established. While W&J provides resources, these students said they seem to be inadequate, especially because of how unknown they are. A booth was set up for STTARS, sexual trauma treatment and recovery services. This service is located in downtown Washington for anyone who needs it. They provide counseling, legal and medical advocacy and prevention education in regards to sexual assault. There is a twenty-four hour hotline at 1-888-480-7283 that people can call whenever they need to talk or when they need help. At this time last year, there were around 30 cases filed regarding sexual assault within W&J. Many like to believe that because it is a small campus, sexual assault is less likely to occur, but that is not necessarily the case. This event started to bring some of these cases to the forefront in hopes to change the dialogue from one of denial to one of hope and help.
8 december 2017
Red & Black
CAMPUS NEWS 3
English Professor Spotlight: Dr. Todd Verdun Marcy Saldivar Red & Black Staff
summers teaching in the Duke Talent Identification Program for gifted junior high school students. Additionally, he worked various jobs in banks, in libraries, as a researcher in a law office, as a pianist for musical theaters and at a country club on weekends. Dr. Verdun’s research focus is 19th century British literature and poetry. As a result, he has taught classes titled British Literature II (1660-1901), Faith in Poetry, Vampires and Other Bloodsuckers, The World of the Brontes and The Gothic in addition to introductory composition and literature courses at W&J. At higher levels, he has taught classes titled Romantic Science, Romantic Mythologies, Faith & Doubt in Victorian England, The Poetics of Place and Rebel Angels: The Byron-Shelley Circle, among other 19th and 20th century British literature courses. Having interests in a vast variety of subjects, Verdun narrowed his studies to literature because it is intertwined with every area of knowledge. “My love of music brought me to poetry, and various poets and fiction writers drew me into their rhythmic worlds. My interests, though, have
Dr. Todd Verdun is an English professor that has been teaching at Washington & Jefferson College since 2005. He grew up in Thibodaux, Louisiana, a town 60 miles southwest of New Orleans and the eastern edge of Cajun Country. He attended undergraduate school at Duke University and he is still very much a Duke fan. Dr. Verdun received his Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Before ending up at W&J, Verdun taught in the Duke University Writing Program and taught literature and composition courses at UNC. These classes included summer honors courses in London, Paris and Greece. Prior to that, he spent several
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always ranged from the arts to the sciences and back again, so when I decided to pursue this career -- it was sophomore year, sitting under a tree on Duke's campus and reading Byron -- it was because I knew that I could continue studying and learning about as many fields as I could, since all forms of knowledge can matter to our understanding of literature,” Dr. Verdun said. Dr. Verdun chose teaching because he wanted to help students bring literary texts to life. He chose to teach at W&J because he believes it is an ideal place to teach and work with students closely. “I love the variety of courses I teach here and the opportunity we have to design new courses. The faculty have always been welcoming and supportive, and the students are earnest, driven and a pleasure to work with in multiple courses. I value witnessing the development and maturity of students through four years here,” said Verdun. On top of teaching, Verdun is involved in governance committees, the Newman Center and, most importantly, being a first-year student Magellan advisor. He enjoys helping students cultivate their interests into life-chang-
ing experiences and then later having the pleasure of hearing about the trip. When he is not doing work affiliated with W&J, Verdun is enjoying time with his wife and kids. He says that they are “both center and circumference of a joyful life.” Dr. Verdun is always happy to help students engage with literary texts in a meaningful way.
Courtesy Marcy Saldivar
Dr. Verdun studied at Duke University for his undergraduate degree.
Weekly Word Search
See if you can identify all of the articles that the words relate to!
Word List:
LITERATURE
ASSAULT
SECURITY
CHRISTMAS
SILENCE
FOOTBALL
4 CAMPUS NEWS
8 december 2017
Red & Black
SECURITY LOGS
Student Spotlight: Will Lovell Marcy Saldivar Red & Black Staff
Incident report number: 2475 Date of report: Nov. 18 Date Occurred: Nov. 18 Classification: Disorderly Conduct, Alcohol possession by minor Location: Marshall Hall Narrative: W&J CPS discovered students possessing alcohol in the residence hall and they were minors. CPS investigated. According to officers, students were identified and turned over to the College Disciplinary Conduct Officer for sanctions. Incident report number: 2478 Date of report: Nov. 19 Date Occurred: Nov. 19 Classification: Alcohol possession by minor Location: Theme House Narrative: W&J CPS discovered alcohol possession by a minor at one of the theme houses. According to officers, the student was identified and will be turned over the College Disciplinary Conduct Officer for sanctions. Incident report number: 2479 Date of report: Nov. 19 Date Occurred: Nov. 19 Classification: Alcohol possession by minor Location: Theme House Narrative: W&J CPS discovered alcohol possession by a minor while on patrol in one of the theme houses on Chestnut Street. The student was identified. According to officers, the incident will be forwarded to the College Disciplinary Conduct Officer for sanctions. Incident report number: 2480 Date of report: Nov. 19 Date Occurred: Nov. 19 Classification: DC,Trespassing Location: Theme House Narrative: W&J CPS discovered an individual who was attempting to gain entry into a theme house on Chestnut Street. According to officers, the individual was stopped and identified by CPS. The individual was not a student but was an acquaintance of a student in the house. According to officers, Criminal Charges are to be filed. Incident report number: 2481 Date of report: Nov. 19 Date Occurred: Nov. 19 Classification: Illegal Drugs Location: Theme house Narrative: W&J CPS responded to a theme house for an odor of Marijuana. On arrival, CPS officers detected an odor of Marijuana. A point of origin was identified. Two students were identified, CPS is investigating.
Will Lovell ‘21 had high expectations to play football when coming into his freshman year at Washington & Jefferson College. Unfortunately, on the first day that classes started, he suffered a season-ending injury. Born and raised in Aurora, Ohio, Lovell had always dreamed of being a physical therapist. At W&J, he is on the pre-health track and is a biology major. He chose W&J because the postgraduate job placement is incredibly high and he enjoys the small school atmosphere. Lovell has been playing football for 12 years and he has put everything into his football career. With a solid preseason behind them, disaster struck for Lovell in the first JV game. “My injury happened during the second kickoff of the first JV game. I was running down the field when a kid hit me on the back right of my shoulder pads and lifted me off the ground enough for my left leg to roll over and as I fell to the ground another player hit me, snapping my leg in three places,” said Lovell. The injury ended his season, resulted in surgery, put him behind in his schoolwork from the start and limited him to his dorm room. Despite the struggle, Lovell had a large support
system around him. The entire football organization, Mike Lesako, the professors at W&J, his friends and his family stood behind him and encouraged his recovery. Lovell plans to come back by doing physical therapy and building his leg back to what it once was. He expects a full recovery and an opportunity to play football again next year. Through it all, the lesson that Lovell took home was not to take anything for granted. “I have learned that anything can happen to anyone and to cherish what you have because in an instant it could be taken away from you,” Lovell said. For anyone experiencing a similar setback, Lovell’s advice would be to always keep your head up because, no matter how bad the injury might be or how your life is affected by it, things will always get better and you will come back.
Courtesy Marcy Saldivar
Will Lovell ‘21 is a biology major.
8 december 2017
CAMPUS NEWS 5
Red & Black
Speak Out: What is your favorite part about Christmas?
“Being with family and continuing Christmas traditions with going to church, cooking and listening to Christmas music.” -Lauren Wiles ‘19
F I ND U S ON L I N E WJREDANDBLACK.COM
Courtesy gopresidents.com
“Spending time with family and loved ones, and the Christmas Spirit that surrounds it.” -Andrew Reo ‘19 Courtesy gopresidents.com
“My favorite part about Christmas is spending time with family.” -Taley Dunaway ‘18 Courtesy gopresidents.com
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Katherine Campbell Christopher Frydryck Kayla Marasia Lauren Markish Brianna Floryshak Hannah Kail Holly Sauer Ricky Delprato Karli-Ann Sanders Hannah Kail Taylor Martucci John Santa
life
6 LIFE
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8 december 2017
How to Shop for Christmas on a Small Budget
Courtesy Pixabay
Instead of worrying about how to afford Christmas gifts for everyone on your list, save time and money by making homemade presents that are individual and personal.
Alia Leonardo Red & Black Staff
It is that time of year again where everyone obsesses over list making, cookie baking and decorating. For a lot of people, for example poor college students, Christmas time can be extra stressful because shopping for everyone you love can get pricey, and with very little cash to spare it might even seem impossible. However, there are some very simple ways to cut costs
when it comes to Christmas shopping for your friends, families and secret santas. The first, and possibly the simplest, way to save some money is to hand make or personalize cheap gifts from craft stores. It is an easy way to make sure you spend the same amount of money on everyone, and give everyone something sentimental. Puffy painting and decorating those gifts costs next to nothing, so getting those little things for twenty people may only cost $20. Another idea for saving some cash is doing something very similar with
T-shirts. It can be easy to make little things personal for a lot of different people. However, if you are the type of person who can spend just a bit more money, buying little things in bulk and putting together gift baskets yourself takes very little time and makes cheap gifts appear much more well thought out and expensive than they really are. Writing personal cards also adds a nice touch to any gift. Heartfelt messages can go a long way, especially when it comes to gift giving. Finally, a much more obvious tip for saving money is to use coupons and take advantage of Christmas sales.
Shopping at thrift or discount stores really helps to cut costs, so if you are not obsessed with brand name gifts, check out some local shops that would really appreciate your business. Unique, local shops might not be the most popular, but that in itself is one of the best things about them because you never know what you might find, and that adds a lot of originality to your gift no matter what you pick. Overall, Christmas is a time for peace and joy, so try not to stress too much about giving gifts to everyone you know. Spend your time with the ones you love and enjoy their presence.
8 december 2017
Red & Black
Life 7
Good Vibes: Campus Spreads Holiday Cheer
Courtesy Washington & Jefferson Twitter
Campus is beautifully decorated for the holiday season and everyone from students and professors to the new president and his wife have embraced the holiday spirit.
Alia Leonardo Red & Black Staff
With all of the happiness and cheer around during the holiday time of year, it is hard not to feel the good vibes on campus. Despite finals coming up, we all know afterwards is family, fun and well-deserved sleep. Until then, keeping a joyous attitude on campus is very important. The cheeriest part of cam-
pus is currently Chestnut Street. All of Greek life has seemed to share their Christmas cheer by decorating the fronts of all of the houses. The houses each show some individuality to the organizations. Taking a walk down Chestnut Street will make anyone feel warm and fuzzy inside, looking at the lights and festive decorations chosen by each house. On-campus festivities might even be more exciting than going home for winter. Free hot chocolate, staying cozy in our dorms watching classic Christmas movies, pretty decorations everywhere and awaiting the first snowfall
when our campus will look absolutely gorgeous is so exciting. Our new president and his wife have also hosted holiday tea with students, and decorated their house beautifully. There are several holiday concerts and recitals coming up on and around campus. There is also many volunteering opportunities around Washington this time of year, where making a difference in some people’s lives, especially around Christmas, is absolutely heartwarming. A great idea for everyone this Christmas season is to simply find
self-fulfillment through spreading the joy and good vibes to one another. As it was once said in the movie “ELF,” “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” Whether it is through gift giving, volunteering or participating in holiday festivities like Christmas caroling, find ways to connect with others, and take away more than just material things from this Christmas. Finals may be rough and stressful for everyone, but try to remain positive for what is going to come directly after. Happy Holidays, and spread the good vibes,
8 LIFE
Red & Black
8 december 2017
The App that Enables Users to Stumble Upon New Ideas
Courtesy StumbleUpon
StumbleUpon allows users to choose categories of things that interest them and then creates recommendations of articles, music and books that the users might like.
Alia Leonardo Red & Black Staff
What is the best way to learn about new trends, music, stories, or styles? A lot of people use social media, or base their personal tastes off of what their friends or parents like. Most social media is heavily influenced by who you socialize with. For example, if your parents are Republi-
cans and are active on Facebook, you are more likely to see Republican biased news shares on Facebook than any other party, unless you have a lot of Democrat or Tea Party friends. Watching or reading an unbiased news source can keep you up to date on politics, but what about the fun things in life? Sometimes media like Facebook, YouTube, Vine or Snapchat introduce us to new jokes and fading fads, but how do people find more intellectual or personally interesting things? Where other than school are we introduced to inspiring works of poetry or seriously underappreciated novels?
This can all be found with the app StumbleUpon. StumbleUpon is a free app available for iPhone and Android in which you create your own profile by selecting some fields of interest, and flip through different pages of stories, recommendations and discoveries from all over the internet. You also have the option to like what you find to influence your future stumbles and share your own stumbles with the rest of the world. This app is a great way to discover some individuality because the only person influencing what you stumble upon is you. You might even find some
original things your friends have never even heard of. Being the first person in your group to hear a new band’s music before they become mainstream is every hipster’s dream. StumbleUpon has tips and tricks for everyday life as well, dealing with anxiety and depression, study habits, shopping lists, and more. To make this app even better, it is easily organizable. Every stumbler can make his or her separate lists to organize their interests and saves into different categories, so that way you are not looking back through cooking tips when you are trying to find the top 100 books that everyone should read.
8 december 2017
Red & Black
Life 9
New App Helps Users Overcome Phone Addiction
Courtesy Flickr
The app Moment was created to help people realize exactly how much time they spend on their phones in order to combat a rising problem with cell phone addiction.
Monica Park Red & Black Contributor
Ask yourself this question: What am I addicted to? If you did not already know, you can be addicted to things other than nicotine and caffeine. You can be addicted to things like your phone, for instance. It is okay to use your phone
often. We are able to go through our emails, connect with far-away loved ones, check the news and see weather updates along with many other useful things. However, when that usage starts to accumulate into hours on top of hours, and starts getting in the way of our productivity and the quality of our lives and relationships, we need to ask ourselves “Is this worth it? Could I be doing better things with my time?” The app Moment can show you just how addicted to your phone you really are. Kevin Holesh, creator of Moment, said that he originally built the app
after realizing how much his online addictions were impacting his day to day life and the relationships in it. “My main goal with Moment was to make me aware of how many minutes I’m burning on my phone each day, and it’s helped my testers do that, too,” said Holesh. Everyone who feels lost or disconnected from their phones should give this app a try. It was designed to get people to have a healthier relationship with their phones. Think about the all the wonderful moments missed in real life because you were living through the small 4x3
screen on your phone. Designed to be elusive, Moment is able to work in the background of your apps, tracking how much you use your phone and what apps you are on the most. It has the ability to help you create daily usage limits and can even give you warnings if you are approaching them. Give this app a try and at least see how much of your day is taken up by using your phone. You could be on your phone for as little as 30 minutes to as much as three or more hours, but you will not know until you actively track it and Moment can help you do that.
10 Culture
Red & Black
8 December 2017
culture The Most Famous Bookstores in the World Cassandra Muhr Red & Black Contributor
For those who enjoy a printed book, there is no experience quite like shopping at a bookstore. For some, chain bookstores are the best because it is easy to quickly find the latest title. However, for those who are searching for a superior book-buying experience, some shops are made to impress the most avid bibliophiles. Shakespeare and Company is located in Paris, and it is one of the most famous bookstores in the world. The shop features new and used books and has been a regular spot for famous authors throughout the decades such as James Baldwin, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. “I was lucky enough to visit Shakespeare and Company on my Magellan last summer while I was in Paris. I went to the shop almost every night for a week and found comfortable nooks upstairs for reading. The resident cat, Aggie, even jumped on my lap one night. It was an English major’s dream,” said Kayla Marasia ’19. Harry Potter fans will likely want to visit Livraria Lello & Irmao in Porto, Portugal. The shop boasts Gothic Re-
vival and Art Nouveau architecture, which inspired the Harry Potter series’ setting. J.K. Rowling frequented the shop’s upstairs café while teaching English in Portugal. Ler Devagar is Lisbon’s most versatile bookstore. This store also functions as a café, local art gallery, and concert and event venue. If you are in search of a new title or a rare used book in New York City, The Strand is the place to go. Located in New York’s East Village, the shop attracts tourists and locals alike. It hosts many events and houses about 2.5 million books. Among these are rarities such as a Matisse-illustrated copy of James Joyce’s “Ulysses,” signed by the author, which sells for $45,000. Also, The Strand has a first-issue copy of Hemingway’s “A Farewell to Arms” for $2,000. Scorpio Books is located in Christchurch, New Zealand. After an earthquake in 2011 left the area demolished, buildings made from alternative materials began to be built. This store is no exception. Home to one million titles and the largest selection of science fiction and fantasy books in New Zealand, this shipping container store is a must-visit. Libreria Acqua in Venice, Italy is unique in that it contains enough books that they create the store itself. The steps in this canal-side shop are built from stacks of hardbacks tied to-
Courtesy Katherine Campbell
Shakespeare and Company is a world-famous bookstore in Paris.
gether by string. Readers can stop by the decades-old shop to browse for a book and visit the four cats that call the shop home. Those who love the outdoors would love the Brattle Book Shop. Established in 1825, the three-story store is located in Boston and features a mural-lined outdoor sale lot that is a treasured space for outdoor title browsing. Atlantis Books in Santorini, Greece is also an outdoor bookstore. Every November, the small, picturesque shop hosts a book festival that attracts writers and artists alike. Known as the grandest bookstore in the world, the Libreria El Ateneo Grand Splendid, located in Buenos Aires, has made its home in a grand Italian-style theater and attracts upwards of 3,000 people a day. Shelves lined
with thousands of books lie in place of orchestra and balcony seats. If you are looking for a charming and chic store, Lutyens & Rubinstein Book Shop in London is perfect. With two floors of books and beautiful decorations, this shop is bound to be a favorite of the aesthetic bookworm. City Lights is a book shop that is located in San Francisco. Established in 1953, it features a timeless storefront and a historic past. The bookstore doubles as a non-profit publisher that focuses on progressive works and has printed numerous locally authored collections. There are countless bookstores in the world, but some bookstores are perfect for the most enthusiastic of bibliophiles to check off their bucket lists.
8 December 2017
Red & Black
Poetry Corner Empowering Me Genea Richardson Red & Black Contributor
I’m supposed to be moving and going. I’m supposed to know what I want to do and who I want to be But I cannot see past right now I am a runner looking at the finish line Hoping someday the trophy will be mine I am taking my time because my God says, "Victory is mine" Victory to-day is mine. I am the daughter of King, I am capable of anything and everything. Descendant of "let freedom ring" I put my mind to it I put my grind to it and I will do it. Forever continuing a history of riding through it I am the instrument creating her own music a girl with determination a girl with a strong foundation. a girl with no stagnation I am truly God’s creation.
Culture 11
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8 December 2017
Claude Monet’s Destruction of His Paintings Holly Sauer Red & Black Editor
In the latter half of his life, near the turn of the 20th century, Claude Monet began to create his art in two different ways. In some pieces, he created images in his more traditional Impressionist style. However, it is the other group that made the already famous Monet immortal. He began building his famous garden at his home in Giverny, France with the help of the incredible French countryside, imported water lilies and Japanese bridges. He designed his precious garden with the assistance of six gardeners. Everything had to be con-
structed to the highest degree of perfection for the artist. He added ponds, had Japanese bridges crafted and flowers were artfully planted. No work or expense was spared, because this would become Monet’s studio. It was in 1895 that he first began painting the garden. For the remainder of his life until his death in 1926, he would use his garden for inspiration. The work he would do would become the Water Lily paintings. Monet created these pieces in a variety of sizes, but each one showed Monet’s sharp eye to light and detail, while portraying the beauty of his garden. There are 250 water lily paintings that are spread across galleries and private collections around the world. They are some of the most famous and widely known paintings that have ever been created. According to the
Daily Beast, some have sold at auction houses for over $54 million. However, despite their modern success the received harsh criticism when Monet painted them in provincial France. Many of these early critics were harsh on Impressionism as a movement, and some even blamed the loose brush strokes and other Impressionist techniques they did not like on Monet’s failing eyesight. However, it was Monet himself who was the hardest critic on his work. In 1908 he was sending some of his new paintings to Paris for a new exhibition, and at the last moment he believed they were not good enough. As a result, Monet grabbed a knife and paintbrush and destroyed fifteen of his paintings. This was not the only time the artist would destroy paintings right before they were shipped to exhibitions. Monet was even quoted as
Monet’s Water Lilies are some of the most recognized and loved paintings in the world.
saying, “My life has been nothing but a failure, and all that’s left for me to do is to destroy my paintings before I disappear.” With age, Monet was becoming more of a perfectionist. He wanted to portray his surroundings in the best and most faithful way he possibly could, but he thought he could not capture the beauty very well. However, modern art lovers have the artist to blame for the works of art that are lost. According to one author, Monet would rip his paintings to shreds if he was unhappy with his work. The Water Lily paintings are some of Monet’s best known works, and because there are such a great number of them, people around the world are able to see and enjoy Monet’s depictions of his garden. Even if without the artist’s temper we could have many more pieces to see.
Courtesy Wikimedia
8 December 2017
Opinions 13
Red & Black
opinions
What Is The Worst Part of Finals Week for Students?
Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Students fight to find space to study during the week before finals.
Ricky Delprato Red & Black Editor
As we now enter the last week of the semester, the dreaded time for finals is finally upon us. This time is an ex-
tremely stressful period for students on campus as they have many responsibilities such as finishing projects and papers and studying for last minute exams. On top of all that, most students also are a part of extracurricular clubs and associations on campus which also demands more of your time. Most students yearn for only one thing during the time period, that be-
ing sleep. Even if you have been diligent for the majority of the semester, finals will bring stress to your mind. At this point in the semester, students really just want to go home for Christmas break. “I really do want to go home. It has been months since the last time I’ve been home and I really miss my family. Finals usually have the tendency to break us all down emotionally, mentally and physically,” said Carolina Velazco ‘20. I do agree with this sentiment. By the end of finals week, everyone is practically a zombie dragging themselves around trying to get enough energy to pack up and head home for the holidays. Other students share their frustration and general dismay in regards to their daunting schedules during finals season. “I feel like professors pile on work at the very end and we don’t have enough time to study for their exams while also doing the additional work that they want completed by the end
C ontac t
E ditorial P olicy The Red & Black is the official, registered student-produced newspaper of Washington & Jefferson College. It is published Fridays with the exception of exams and break periods. Editorials are based upon the opinion of the respective writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper, the
College or its students, faculty, or administration. The Red & Black welcomes all reader contributions, but reserves the right to reject letters of pure promotional nature, as well as letters which do not meet its standard of integrity, accuracy and decency. The Red & Black also reserves the right to edit submissions.
of the semester,” said Jasmine Campuzano ‘20. Freshmen are voicing their concern as well being as this is the very first time that they are going to have to go through finals at a college. “I feel like I will be ready for finals but there is always that little thought in the back of my head telling me that I need to do more,” said Fransia Rodriguez ‘21. I believe the sentiment of fear is felt by all during this season, as with finals comes a sense of insecurity and fear of what may or may not be on an exam. One of the most important things for students to remember is that the end is very near and you just have to push through a little more before you are home free. Even though it is stressful, you will often find that your friends will be there to help you through all the stress. I find that planning when to take study breaks and taking them often will help you maintain your sanity. Work with your friends and keep morale up. The semester is almost done.
Letters are due on the Monday before publication and may not exceed 600 words. All letters must include the author’s name, campus box and telephone number. Names may be withheld upon request under certain conditions on rare occasions. All letters may be submitted to redandblackstaff@jay. washjeff.edu.
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(724) 223-6049 (724) 503-1049 redandblackstaff@jay. washjeff.edu Red & Black 60 S. Lincoln St. Washington, PA 15301
14 Opinions
Red & Black
8 December 2017
The Best Way for Students to Give Back During The Holidays
Many people during the holiday season buy presents for children that would not otherwise have or receive gifts on Christmas.
Leah Segal Red & Black Staff
The holiday season is a hectic time for everyone. Whether you are preparing for finals, getting in a few more hours of work or shopping for loved ones from your carefully curated gift list, it is sometimes easy to forget about those less fortunate. While many of us are fortunate to spend the holidays comfortably, there are many others for whom the Christ-
mas season is the most difficult time of year. There are endless ways to give back during the holiday season, even if your pocketbook is empty. First, you could always volunteer. There is no better gift than the gift of time. Food banks, coat drives and homeless shelters are in need of assistance during the Christmas season as well as throughout the year. By spending time with those who may be going through a rough patch, you will be sure to spread the holiday cheer. Also, filling up a basket for the food bank will ensure that a family is able to indulge in a quality holiday meal. You can even donate to deserving charities during the holiday season to
make a difference. Although cash can sometimes be hard to come by as a college student, there are still easy and savvy ways to donate to worthy causes. Giving the leftover change from the bottom of a wallet or purse to the Salvation Army bucket at the grocery store or adding a few dollars at the register to clothe a child in need are small ways to give back that do not break the bank. One of the easiest ways to give back is to be kind to others. An extraordinarily simple way to spread some holiday cheer is to be kind. The holiday season is a hectic time, which in turn makes it a stressful time. By holding a door for an elderly person or wishing the cashier a happy
Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
holiday season makes the world a little brighter, and in turn, a little kinder. Spending time with family can also help spread the joy of the holidays. Sometimes helping starts in your own home. By treating your family with kindness and by spending quality time with loved ones, the domino effect of happiness will soon spread to others outside of your household. Start small and call a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle to remind them that you care. It is not difficult to spread holiday cheer and to give back to the local community. With some patience and kindness, the world can be a more giving place.
8 December 2017
Red & Black
opinions 15
Should Intersession Be Mandatory or Optional?
Courtesy Washjeff.edu
One of the many perks of Intersession include the ability for students to travel in the form of a class.
Alia Leonardo Red & Black Staff
With the coming changes to the duration of semesters and Intersession at Washington & Jefferson College, students were asked their opinions on whether or not taking an Intersession course should be a graduation requirement. It seems that there is no majority opinion and that students have mixed feelings towards the subject. Some students, such as Sam Horowitz Soyos ’18, do not believe that Intersession should be a priority
at W&J. “Other schools don’t do it or anything like it, really, and we aren’t meeting certain requirements,” said Horowitz Soyos. These are valid reasons to disagree with the requirement. The Intersession term affects the schedules of W&J students, making them far different from other local schools such as West Virginia University or the University of Pittsburgh, both of which enjoy very short breaks between semesters, early finals and earlier summers. The academic schedule at W&J always seems to run a little late compared to these schools, and up to this point we have been required to participate in at least two Intersession classes over our month-long winter
break. However, on the positive side, Intersession courses in the past have provided alternative ways for students to meet more than one graduation requirement, giving more flexibility in scheduling throughout the semesters as well as options for safe, affordable and educational international travel with groups of students and professors. The overall opinion of most students is that shortening the Intersession term is a good call to align the academic schedule. As much as many have enjoyed the Intersession terms, most do not agree that they should be a requirement for graduation but rather an option to students over winter break. Many
students find it would be less of a burden if it was not a requirement, and it would be preferable if they could take classes they enjoy without having to stress needlessly about them. Students can also have the option to work, study or spend time with family over the holiday break. The amount of time given to W&J students over winter break could ultimately be put to better use if Intersession were not a requirement for all students in order to graduate. Luckily, the school has now eradicated the Intersession requirement for freshmen, sophomores and juniors at W&J, thereby giving them plenty of freedom to choose their own paths over the break.
16 Opinions
Red & Black
8 December 2017
What is The Best Disney Movie Currently Released?
Courtesy Pixabay.com
Disney World is a place where people of all ages and backgrounds go to enjoy their fantasies produced by Disney. The theme park is divided based on released movies.
Alia Leonardo Red & Black Staff
There are many different genres of movies out there, including horror, comedy, musicals and romantic comedies. However, movies produced by such companies as Disney, Pixar and DreamWorks are essentially in genres all to themselves. A recent opinions poll for the students at Washington & Jefferson Col-
lege asked, “What is the best Disney movie and why?” Although there were no unanimous winners, there were some very interesting opinions about everyone’s favorite Disney movie. “‘The Jungle Book,’ because it is,” said Cheryl Fergerson ’20. Fergerson loves the original version of “The Jungle Book” with its timeless animation, adorable story and jazzy soundtrack. The remake of “The Jungle Book” does not compare to its predecessor despite the high-quality CGI animation. “[I like] ‘Mulan’ because it made me think I was from Asia until I was, like, five. Then I found out I had a signifi-
cant chunk of Native American in me, so I thought I was Pocahontas [until I was] eight,” said Savannah Warner ‘20. Disney films have won the hearts of children and parents since 1937 with their first full-length animated film, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” The classic films seem to be the most popular among college kids who grew up watching the adventures of Aladdin or running wild with Simba in “The Lion King,” as these films were released around the time that most current college students were born. With common but relatable patterns of coming of age stories, charming musical numbers that almost everybody seems to know the words to
and humor for all ages makes Disney a very popular choice among all ages. In fact, there are even some subtle adult jokes hidden within Disney movies to appeal to the parents watching the movies with their children. There has always been an element of magic surrounding the Walt Disney industry, and it still remains in the company’s most recent films like “Moana” and “Frozen.” It has stayed true to its original label as a magical kingdom for 80 years, with hopefully many more magical movies to come. With 56 featured films to choose from, finding an absolute favorite might be tough, but no one ever said that you had to choose just one.
8 December 2017
Sports 17
sports Red & Black
Men’s and Women’s Basketball Split Home Double Header
Both W&J basketball teams played Saint Vincent, with the women’s team coming out victorious, but the men’s team falling short.
Alexander Benner Red & Black Staff
The Washington & Jefferson College Presidents split their Presidents’ Athletic Conference opening double-header with Saint Vincent as the women’s basketball team won, 70-56, but the men’s fell, 77-62, on Wednesday, November 29. The women’s team advanced to 5-0 in total, with a 2-0 PAC record, while the men’s team fell to 1-4 overall and a 0-1 conference record. Lauren Gilbert ‘21 set the pace early as she drilled a three-pointer
five seconds into the game, the first of seven that she would make that night. She finished the first half with fourteen points, and after adding the help of Danielle Parker ‘19, Amirah Moore ‘18 and others, the score stood at 3324 at halftime. W&J then outscored
rebounds, two assists and three steals. Parker followed with 16 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks. Moore rounded the double-digit Presidents as she scored 13 points, shooting 5-of-5 from the charity stripe, four rebounds, six assists and
The women’s team advanced to 5-0 in total, with a 2-0 PAC record, while the men’s team fell to 1-4 overall and a 0-1 conference record. Saint Vincent 37-32 in the second half and cemented the team’s win at 7056. Gilbert finished the night with a game-high 26 points, one point short of her 27-point showing in her first collegiate game. She shot 8-of-15, including 7-for-11 from downtown, five
four steals. The men looked to answer with a good game of their own, beginning with a 26-11 run, but by the end of the first half, the game was tied at 31. In the second half, the game went back and forth for the first 10 minutes and the score moved to 46 all. This
Courtesy gopresidents.com
would be the closest the Presidents would come as Saint Vincent ended the game on a 31-16 run, and the game would end 77-62. Sean Stinelli ‘20 scored a gamehigh 24 points, including five three pointers. Starter Nicholas Campalong ‘21 and Brian Lindquist ‘18 ended the game with 10 points apiece, and four and three rebounds, respectively. Brian Graytok ‘18, Mike Zappala ‘20, and Jonathan DeVito ‘20 finished their nights with five points and two assists each. Football and basketball player Amos Luptak ‘21 ended up with three assists and two steals. Both teams will be back in action on December 9 as they host a double-header against Grove City, with the women’s game set for 1 p.m. and the men’s game to follow at 3 p.m.
18 Sports
8 December 2017
Red & Black
Penguins Player Spotlight: Evengi Malkin Wrestling Takes on Three Meets at Home Marcy Saldivar Red & Black Staff
Evgeni Malkin is a Russian native and a professional hockey player for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the national hockey league. The hockey star began skating at just the age of three and joined his first hockey team at the age of five years old. At age 20, he was first drafted to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2004, but an international dispute caused him to not officially begin until 2006. However, when 2006 came, Malkin surely made his mark on the National Hockey League. Malkin is a center with a knack for scoring and helping others score. Malkin was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s best rookie in 2006 as he finished with 33 goals and 85 assists. Evgeni was the first player since 1917 to score in every one of his first six games of playing in the national hockey league. Shortly after this feat, Malkin was named the alternate captain for the penguins. During his second season, he was already a standout for the Penguins, leading them into the Stanley Cup playoffs as a rookie. Not only did he help tremendously with their success that season, but he also was runner up for the Hart Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the NHL’s most valuable player. The next year his success for the team only continued when he went
on to win an award for most goals in the NHL. They made it into the Stanley cup playoffs yet again, but this year they went on to win the championship. Malkin was awarded the prestigious Con Smythe Trophy, which is awarded to the most valuable player in the playoffs. In fact, he is the first Russian player to receive such an award. His success has only continued since. The Russian standout has been awarded NHL first team honors in 2008, 2009 and 2012. He has also helped the Penguins to secure the Stanley cup in 2009, 2016 and 2017. The Penguins are currently 6-3-1 in regular season NHL play, ranking third in the metropolitan division. Recently on December 7, the Penguins played the New York Rangers, losing the game at a score of 3-4.
Courtesy thehockeywriters
Malkin wears no. 71 for the Penguins.
Courtesy gopresidents.com
Wrestling won one and lost two of their three home meets this past Saturday.
Alexander Benner Red & Black Staff
The Washington & Jefferson College wrestling team ended a quad match on Dec. 2 with a 1-2 record, as they defeated nonconference foe Penn State Behrend, but fell to President’s Athletic Conference rival Thomas More and nonconference opponent West Liberty. Scores for the three contests were 37-12 against PSU Behrend, 19-28 to Thomas More and 19-28 against West Liberty. Mike Heinl ‘20 and Hunter Neely ‘20 continued their successful 2017-18 campaigns as they both went undefeated that day in their three matches. Heinl (141) pinned his opponent in the TMC match, won by forfeit against PSU and then earned a major decision, 13-0, against West Liberty. Neely earned three major decision wins, with scores of 17-6, 23-9 and 157. He also wrestled in both the 165 and 157 weight classes in the quad. Other wins during the Thomas More match included Michael Nagy ‘21 (149) with a 26 second pin and William Oberschelp ‘18 (184) with a close, comeback 8-7 decision. The winners against PSU included Daniel
Florentio ‘21 (133) with a forfeit win and Sam Florentino ‘18 (149) with a 7-1 decision as tempers flared between Jacob Ognibene and Florentino. This win was followed by a pin each for Lawrence Schrott ‘21 in the 165 (4:43), Alex Miller ‘20 at 174 (1:20), Marty Shulik ‘19 in the 197 (1:01), and Josh Armstrong ‘20 in an exhibition match (1:40). Finally, Sam Florentino earned another decision, 10-1, against West Liberty, to add to Miller’s 2:38 pin. A controversial call during the day came in the form of a disqualification for W&J’s Sam Florentino during the first match, as Florentino picked up Thomas More’s Jimmy Traub, and slammed him to the mat. Traub had the wind knocked out of him, and as the medical staff scrambled for a trash can to help relieve Traub’s stomach pain, the referee determined that the slam was illegal and disqualified Florentino from the match. With the 1-2 day, the Presidents move to 4-4 on the season, and 0-1 in the President’s Athletic Conference. This match was the final one for the Presidents in 2017, with their next match coming on January 6 at the Waynesburg Invitational, slated for a start time of 9:30 a.m.
8 December 2017
Red & Black
sports 19
Student Athlete Spotlight: Mike Zappala Marcy Saldivar Red & Black Staff
Mike Zappala ‘20 is studying business administration at Washington & Jefferson College because he believes that the field presents a vast amount of career opportunities. His family has been involved in politics his entire life so he is eager to incorporate both lifestyles into a career in the near future. Zappala has been playing basketball since the age of five and he is currently in his second season at W&J. He has shifted positions throughout the years, but is now consistently a guard/forward. “Growing up I was always a big man because I was a lot
on campus. “The environment here is welcoming and the campus was completely ideal for what I was looking for in a school. The coaching staff was very embracing as well and presented me with a great opportunity to grow as both a player and a person,” said Zappala. Zappala believes the season is off to a slower start than expected, but the team is optimistic. Every member provides a unique skill set that is beneficial for the team as a whole. Knowing that he has a whole unit that is hungry to win alongside of him makes him eager for the rest of the season. He is excited to get more wins with the team. Everyone strides to get better and better every day and the coaching staff continues to provide them with what
“The coaching staff was very embracing as well
Zappala ‘20 is studying business administration.
and presented me with a great opportunity to grow as both a player and a person.” taller than the competition. Then in high school I played guard and was able to utilize my height. Now at W&J they have me at the forward position often,” said Zappala. As his favorite part of his position, Zappala likes being able to use his size depending on the opposition. If his defender is bigger, he can use his speed to go by him. If his defender is smaller, he can use his height and vision to make plays. The most challenging part of his position is defending larger players. The size and physicality of collegiate basketball is much different compared to high school. W&J felt like the right choice the second Zappala stepped
-Mike Zappala they need to win. Zappala’s favorite memory so far was winning his first game versus Geneva. He explained that the starters stepped up and then the bench provided much needed help that contributed to the win. The feeling of winning his first college game is something that he will never forget. In their win against Bethany last year, Zappala had a career high in points. He had 22 points, 5 rebounds and went 10/10 from the free throw line. The W&J men’s basketball team next home game is Saturday, December 9 at 3 p.m. against Grove City.
Courtesy gopresidents.com
Zappala wears no. 12 for the Presidents and plays guard/forward.
20 sports
8 December 2017
Red & Black
This One Time...
Courtesy gopresidents.com
“This one time we had a dance battle at practice during fall camp to see who had to run: the offense or the defense. Kraig King and I represented the offense and showcased our superior dance moves to the defense. The defense danced too, but it was a very one sided dance off because Kraig and I clearly won. The whole thing was taped and we re-watched it that night. We all had some good laughs because the film definitely did not show how good of dancers we thought we really were.” -Andrew Reo ’19 Football
Courtesy gopresidents.com
“This one time we were doing stretch lines before practice. Out of nowhere, one of our teammates who graduated last year, Tim Mulvey, hilariously wiped out during one of the stretches. We all kept joking him about it. The next day at practice, a bunch of us decided to use tape to outline his body where he fell like a crime scene. That defiinitely got a few laughs out of our teammates and the coaches. Tim had to admit that he also thought it was pretty funny.” -Clay Martin ’19 Baseball
Next Week’s Games Last Week’s Scores Dec. 9
Women’s Basketball v. Grove City Men’s Basketball v. Grove City (H)- 1pm (H)- 3pm
Nov. 29
Women’s Basketball v. Saint Vincent 70-65 Win Men’s Basketball v. Saint Vincent 62-77 Loss
Dec. 2
Courtesy gopresidents.com
Women’s Basketball v. Westminster 63-50 Win Wrestling v. Penn State Behrend 37-12 Win Wrestling v. Thomas More 19-28 Loss Wrestling v. West Liberty 18-34 Loss Men’s Swimming v. Saint Vincent 87-169 Loss Women’s Swimming v. Saint Vincent 123-153 Loss Men’s Basketball v. Westminster 56-85 Loss
Courtesy gopresidents.com