2015 Gateway Issue

September 2, 2015

Red & Black

The Student Newspaper of Washington & Jefferson College

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT LIFE “I wish I knew that every student goes through similar experiences as a freshman.”

ARTS

W&J Welcomes Incoming Freshmen

“No matter the genre, music can often help students focus and retain information while studying or writing a paper.”

OPINIONS

“The beauty of this, at a minimum, is that you are evaluated by more than an impersonal percentage.”

THE SUPERBURGER “The second most important thing to do while interacting with upperclassmen is to be the exact same person you were in high school and make sure they know that you have not changed.”

INDEX: Campus-News ..... 1-4 Life ......................... 5-6 Arts .................... 7-8 Op-Ed ............... 9-10 Satire............... 11 Sports ................ 12 PLEASE RECYCLE THIS PAPER

Courtesy washjeff.edu

From the Red&Black Staff The Red&Black Staff extends a warm welcome to the Class of 2019. We hope this issue provides some insight into life at W&J and makes your transition from high school to college a bit easier. Although freshman year comes with many new and exciting opportunities, there will also be a handful of challenges to be faced as you begin your life away from home for the first time.

Every college freshman has endured these challenges: it is part

of the college experience. Be patient during this adjustment period, push yourself to break out of your comfort zone and know that the W&J faculty, staff and student body will always support you as you make your way through this new chapter in your life.

For everyone, we wish an accomplishment and fun-filled first semester and an enriching next four years. Congratulations and best of luck to the class of 2019!

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2 S eptember 2015

Security on Campus: Is Our Campus Really Safe?

Courtesy washjeff.edu

Brittany Graft Red&Black editor

One of the biggest concerns for incoming freshmen and their parents is their safety on the campus that will be their home for the next four years.

Many new students have questions about how to stay safe or where to go if a problem should arise.

Washington and Jefferson College’s Department of Campus and Public Safety is devoted to maintaining a safe environment for its students and faculty. They are happy to

protect and assist you in any way they can do so.

The Campus and Public Safety office is located on the first floor of Old Main and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

They have also implemented many other utilities to assist in keeping the campus safe for everyone, other than just the regular safety patrols performed by the security officers.

These officers have 24/7 card-only access to each dorm and building on campus, so you may seem them strolling through your hall one night just to check in on things.

While walking across campus, you will also notice black emergency call boxes with a blue light on top.

If for some reason you feel unsafe, especially walking alone at night, just go up to one of these boxes and press the button.

Campus security will be there in just a few minutes to assist you. Another great utility is that the campus security also has a 24/7 escort system.

This means that if you are somewhere on campus and have to walk back to your room alone and you do not feel completely safe, call

campus security and they will be happy to drive you to your dorm.

In addition to these services, there are also many security cameras placed throughout campus, wellmaintained lighting on the outside of buildings and along sidewalks and low cut shrubs and hedges.

One thing that is important to keep in mind is that you should not feel afraid to contact security if something should happen.

Campus Safety is here to protect all W&J students and you should never be afraid of reaching out to one of the

officers. If you need to report a crime, there are several ways to go about it. You can call the Campus and Public Safety office directly at 724-2236032 or use one of the campus emergency phones that dial directly to that office.

You may also talk to your RA about the situation.

You can choose to remain anonymous when contacting security about an issue because they do have a confidential reporting system.

If you have concerns over any policies about security on campus visit www. washjeff.edu/safety for more information or visit the office.

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CAMPUS NEWS 3

What Is There To Do? Activities On and Off Campus Shannon Adams Red&Black editor

The beginning of your freshman year at college can be scary and intimidating, but the best way to get associated with the new environment is to get involved with activities in the area and on campus.

W&J offers many opportunities for students to become involved on campus and there are a number of ways to keep yourself busy within the town of Washington.

The best way to jumpstart your involvement on campus is to check out the Fall In-

volvement Expo, which will be held on Wednesday, September 9 on the Rossin Patio.

This is a great way to learn about new clubs and the activities they sponsor and also serves as a way for incoming freshmen to meet the rest of the student body.

Another great way of learning about activities and events that happen on campus is to read the W&J Weekly that is sent out via email at the beginning of each week. This email is composed of all the activities happening on campus that week; such as sports events, club sponsored events or vol-

unteering opportunities. The best part about this is you can easily access all the dates from your phone so you can always know what is going on at W&J. If the events on campus are not catching your eye you can walk a little bit and wander into town. You can find many restaurants and shops along Main Street, which is only a block away from W&J. You can find a small coffee shop named Chicco Baccello, where they have the best pastries and coffee including Butter Beer flavored coffee! Also on Main Street is the Main Street Farmers Market on

Thursday evenings from 3 to 6PM. They have a wide variety of fresh and local produce as well as locally made products. The Market always has live entertainment for you to enjoy as you browse through homemade soaps or eat some delicious BBQ. Sometimes you might even spy W&J’s Jazz Ensemble playing in the gazebo.

If you want to travel a bit off more off campus you can drive about 20 minutes to Mingo Creek Park. This park is right of I-70 W and is a great getaway from college life. Bring your bike or a pair

of running shoes and check out the trail that runs through the park. Or, if you are feeling adventurous, take one of the paths that lead you up and through the trees. If you are not up for exercise, take your homework and sit down at a bench and work in the great outdoors! It can be much more peaceful than the library on campus.

Whether you want to stay on campus, take a small walk into town or hike in the woods, the opportunities at Washington and Jefferson College are endless if you go out and seek them.

You’ve Got Mail: Accessing Your Campus Mailbox Brittany Graft Red&Black editor

At first, getting mail at college seems like one of the best things in the world because for many of you, it is your first time having your own mailbox.

The feeling of looking in the window of the box and seeing you have received your first piece of mail is exciting, but there is just one problem: You cannot seem to unlock that door, and now the look on your face just describes the feeling of pure sadness.

The mailroom is conveniently located on the lower floor of Rossin Campus

Center, just behind George and Tom’s.

During orientation, you will receive your campus mailbox number and combination, just like your locker in high school.

However, you are not able to set your mailbox lock with a pencil so you are actually going to have to remember these numbers.

It is best to record these two pieces of information into your phone or planner.

Unlocking your box can be tricky at first; even upperclassmen forget their combination and take multiple tries to get to their mail.

The employees working in the mail office will be happy to help you if you are struggling to open your box.

Just remember: Spin to the left and stop at your first number, turn one full turn to the right and then stop at your second number and then finally turn to the left to your last number.

Is Grandma already asking for your address so she can send you a care package?

Many students assume that their address is the same as any office address on campus; however, this assumption is incorrect.

Make sure you give family and friends the address for all student mail, which 50 S. Lincoln Street.

This is different from many campus offices which are 60 S. Lincoln Street, so it is important to keep this in mind if you want to receive your mail as quickly as possible. If you are an online

Courtesy pakmailolemiss.com

shopper, you are probably wondering how you can get packages if your mailbox only holds about three envelopes.

If you do receive a package on campus, you will have a little yellow square in your mailbox telling you to pick it up in the mailroom, which is just back behind the office.

You will need to have your Student ID with you in order to sign off on it.

Need to send out a birthday card or package to a friend?

There is a U.S. Postal Service box located in the Rossin Circle outside. Still have questions? Do not hesitate to ask a campus mail employee!

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ClubSpotlight:IndianStudentAssociation Amiti Sharma Red&Black editor

Every semester, Washington and Jefferson holds the semiannual Involvement Expo where booths resembling all the available clubs can introduce and explain themselves.

This year’s Involvement Expo will be held on Wednesday, September 9th in the Rossin Circle and Patio. Among the several different clubs, In-

dian Student Association will be having a table where those interested can come and sign up to receive e-mails regarding becoming a club member.

Indian Student Association, or ISA, is a club dedicated to embracing the Indian community on campus.

One can learn all about Indian culture, traditions, customs and values by joining ISA! The popular events held each year by ISA are mango lassi night, Bollywood movie

night, the Diwali festival, Night in India, and more. As an introduction and a welcome back to existing club members, mango lassi night is one of the first ISA events of the year where the club officers will present themselves and talk about future plans while students can try the refreshing, traditional Indian drink called mango lassi.

Moreover, we will have the opportunity for students to come to the Hub and watch Bollywood movies to

SAB’S UPCOMING EVENTS • Friday Sept. 4: HUB Open House (Monti’s will be open) -9pm • Mini Bingo -- 9pm in the Alley (Lower Level of the HUB) • Sunday Sept. 6: Concert on Old Main -- The Lava Game Band 7-9pm on Old Main lawn • Monday Sept. 7: All Campus picnic -- 5-7pm on Olin and Burnett lawn • Tuesday Sept. 8: Hub Re-launch Bash -- 5pm-12am • Wednesday Sept. 9: Involvement Expo -- 5-7pm Rossin Circle and Patio • Wacky Wednesday Patio Party -- 8-10pm on the Rossin Patio • Thursday Sept. 10: Pittsburgh Themed Dinner -- 5pm in the Commons • Meet the W&J sports teams -7:45pm on Henry Lawn • Steelers game on the inflatable screen -- 8:30pm on Henry Lawn

get a sense of Indian culture through cinema!

Diwali, the celebrated “festival of lights,” as it is referred to, will also take place in the Hub where students can come experience the importance of this holiday and make mementos remembering the experience.

Lastly, Night in India, ISA’s biggest event, typically takes place in the spring semester.

It is an event that occurs in the Rossin Ballroom where students can come to try In-

dian food, listen to Indian music, mingle, and see special performances, including a “Bhangra-style” dance put on by ISA’s own members. The ISA Exec Board has stated in the past, “Normally, the most popular activities of Night in India are getting henna tattoos by a professional artists that Washington and Jefferson hires.”

If you love culture and traveling, Indian Student Association is for you, so don’t miss out on the experience!

Red & Black Established 1909

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Social Media Chair Recruitment Chair Campus News Editor Life Editor Arts Editor Opinions Editor Sports Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Business Manager Distribution Manager Adviser

emily sterk amiti sharma lauryn halahurich bailey mudrick brittany graft shannon adams carolyn tomilson katherine campbell siddhanta bista lauren lamm carolyn wilson jack myint mackenzie jakobs mike kovak

5 LIFE

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2 S eptember 2015

Going Greek at Washington and Jefferson

Emily Sterk Red&Black editor-in-chief Your freshman year comes with a lot of decisions to make: you select your course schedule, declare a major, and decide if you will join the Greek community at your college.

Oftentimes, students enter college with mixed feelings about Greek life. Some enthusiastically sign-up for every recruitment event with certainty, while others are not entirely quite sure what a fraternity or sorority even is.

W&J is home to four sororities: Delta Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma and Pi Beta Phi, and six fraternities: Alpha Tau Omega, Beta Theta Pi, Delta Tau Delta, Phi Delta

Theta, Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) and Phi Kappa Psi. Students with a 2.50 GPA or higher become eligible to join a Greek organization during their second semester at W&J. Both fraternities and sororities will hold recruitment events during the fall semester in order to meet potential new members and for interested students to become more familiar with each Greek organization.

As your first semester at W&J progresses and you learn more about Greek life here on campus, you should note pros and cons in order to make your decision easier in February. Belonging to a Greek organization comes with many advantages and professional and social

opportunities.

For one, joining a fraternity or sorority provides you with an instant support system, which is especially imperative during your first year of college as you come across the challenges presented to you as you live on your own for the first time.

Being a part of a Greek organization also provides you with various opportunities to connect across W&J and the local community.

Not only are you able to form relationships with likeminded people on campus, but you also have the ability to network with past members who are now professionals in your career field, which is helpful when it comes to finding internships or employment after college.

Furthermore, belonging to a fraternity or sorority allows you to develop your leadership abilities both within your organization and as a representative of W&J and the town of Washington.

There are many ways for individual members to lead social and service events all while being a mentor within your fraternity or sorority to newer members, which can be a rewarding experience.

However, belonging to a Greek organization can be quite a time commitment; sororities and fraternities require service, philanthropy and academic study hours and many social events are mandatory.

However, unlike many colleges and universities who schedule formal recruitment

before the first semester of college even begins, W&J’s formal recruitment does not occur until a student’s second semester.

Therefore, you are given some time to adjust to college life and the busier schedule that comes with being a college student before you add Greek life to your list of daily responsibilities.

Going Greek is a personal choice that only you can make.

Even if you are not certain if joining a fraternity or sorority is for you, it does not hurt to try it out; if anything, you will just become more familiar with the rest of the student body at W&J. Going Greek can be just one more way to make your time at W&J as exciting and memorable as possible.

Essential Dorm Items You Probably Forgot to Pack Shannon Adams Red&Black editor Now that you are on campus you can take inventory of all the items you have brought to campus with you.

You know you have the essentials, but now you need to answer one simple question: what did I forget?

Being inside your new dorm room can spark a million ideas of things that would make your time here easier.

For example, did you bring a mattress pad? The provided mattresses can

seem comfortable at first, but buying a mattress pad for your bed will make every night feel like you are sleeping in a comfy hotel bed.

The comfort of your bed will matter to you at two in the morning after coming back to your room from a long night of studying.

An Ethernet cable is also an essential for any college student. Our campus does have Wi-Fi; however, Wi-Fi is not always very reliable in the dorms.

If the person down the hall from you has a wireless printer that he always leaves

running, you better hope you have an Ethernet cable so you can connect to the valuable internet.

Water is also another packing item that is often overlooked. Buying bottled water to drink can get expensive on a college student’s budget.

Look into purchasing a filtered water bottle or a filtered water pitcher. This way you can fill it your bottle up at any water fountain or sink on campus and have clean, drinkable water.

Did you know that it is a perpetual rainy season on

campus some months to the point where everything is completely saturated ?

Buying a pair of rainboots will prevent your feet from becoming shriveled up raisins and trust me, you do not want that.

This next one may seem cliché and silly but a robe is a definite must. You will be in the shower getting ready for bed when the fire alarm goes off.

You know it is just a drill, but you have to get out anyways. There is soap in your hair and your clothes are sticking to you in the most

uncomfortable way because you did not have the time to dry off. All of this unnecessary fuss and time could have been saved with a simple robe.

Finally, cleaning supplies should always be in your dorm, including a broom and a dust pan.

Dirt does and will accumulate on your floor over the year. It will stick to the bottoms of your socks. It will end up in your bed because it was stuck to your socks. Just buy a broom.

Forget anything? If you did, Walmart is just five minutes away!

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LIFE 6

Dear Freshmen: Laundry Tips Red & Black

A Message from an Upperclassman to First-Year Students Emily Sterk Red&Black Editor-in-chief

Dear Freshmen: Your freshman year will be an exciting endeavor full of new friends, mentors and experiences.

However, throughout the course of the next few months you will face a number of challenges that you may not expect or be prepared for.

Upon entering my freshman year, I assumed I would immediately find my niche within moments of being on campus.

I would not be homesick; I would find that everyone around me shared equal ideas and values; I would love college.

We continuously hear from older friends and family members that college will be the “best four years of our lives.”

I discovered that college is not exactly what it is hyped up to be in the movies, but it can be if you put yourself out there and “make the most out of it,” as the other piece of clichéd college advice goes.

There are many things I wish I knew as I entered my first year of college. I wish I knew that homesickness is natural for all college students. No matter how far away

you live, you will find yourself wanting a home-cooked meal or a night in your own bed.

Being homesick is perfectly normal and it does not make you dependent on your parents nor does it mean that you were not ready to leave your home when you did.

I wish I knew that every student goes through similar experiences as a freshman.

Even if a student does not show it, she is probably struggling with the new environ-

pear. Go out, join a club, or say hello to your hall-mates. Sitting in your room and watching Netflix every weekend will not help you make friends.

Like-minded people exist, so find them!

I wish I knew that people change and there is a possibility that your high school friends will be completely different when you see them for the first time during Thanksgiving break.

Change is inevitable and it is okay if you feel as though You hve to make an effort to you cannot to your find friends - they just do not relate old friends appear. Go out, join a club, or anymore. if say hello to your hall-mates. youEven feel like Sitting in your room and e v e r y o n e around you watching Netflix every weekend is changing, will not help you make friends. you probably are changing Like-minded people exist, so too.

Change is find them! good! College is about opening ment in some way or another. yourself up to new ideas and College is not meant to be activities, so just go with it! an easy transition and everyI wish I knew that after all one has her own way of cop- of my struggles, calls home ing with change. to Mom and transfer applicaIt may seem that you are tions, I would finally end up the only one who is having finding my niche at W&J. difficulty, but that is far from And, I wish I knew then true. that I would see the rest of my I wish I knew that making time as a college student being real friends takes time. You those memorable years of my have to make an effort to find life that everyone assured me friends - they just do not ap- they would be.

•If you live in Beau or Alexander Hall, the best place to do your laundry is in Beau. The door is found along the back of the building and you do not need to go into the dorm itself.

•Living in North or Upperclass Hall? Do your laundry in the laundry located in North Hall. The door is located on the side of the building facing Mellon Hall. There are stairs leading down to the door.

•The best times to do laundry are during the day on Tuesday and Wednesday and any night after 10PM. Friday and Saturday nights are particularly good nights to do laundry. The busiest times for the laundry rooms are usually during weekend afternoons, particularly Sunday.

•Athletic wear, underwear, socks and any clothes that are smelly or soiled should be washed in warm water unless their tags specifically state that the article of clothing can only be washed in cold water. The warm water will help to wash out the smell, dirt, or anything else that might be in your clothes.

•Girls, wash your bras in cold water and do not dry them. If you do, they may shrink.

•Check all cotton shirts and all sweaters to see if they can be dried. If you dry something that isn’t supposed to be dried, it may shrink.

•Do not wash anything that is made of suede or leather. It will ruin the material.

•Wash your sheets in warm water at least once a month.

•Wash your towels in warm water at least once every other week.

•Do not wash shoes in the machines. If you need to get dirt or mud off of your shoes, do so with a damp paper towel.

•Take off all accessories such as belts and pins before washing your clothes. You could lose these items or damage the machines if they go through the washing machine.

•Set a timer on your phone so you can get your clothes as soon as they are done washing or drying.

Courtesy of Katherine Campbell, Red&Black Editor

7 ARTS

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2 S eptember 2015

Stepping Outside of Your Comfort Zone With Theatre Lauryn Halahurich Red&Black Staff

College is a time to try new things and if theatre is something you have a yearning to do, Washington & Jefferson offers many ways to get involved. Regardless of your level of experience, any student can join in the theatre community here on campus.

For those interested in acting, the easiest ways to start getting involved with the theatre community is to participate in Theatre Slam or join the improv group, Common Integrity.

Both are student run and tend to lean more towards the comedic side of the theatre.

They are ideal for busy students because they are the smallest time commitments.

Theatre Slam is a 24-hour theatre experience in which students lock themselves in Olin Theatre to write, edit, cast and direct a series of short plays.

The following evening, the students entertain the college

with their sleep-deprived creations. If you are not sure whether you want to act or stay behind the curtain, Theatre Slam offers the opportunity to try the different elements of theatre in one fell swoop.

If staying up for 24-hours isn’t your cup of tea, you can also consider Common Integrity, W&J’s Improv Group.

The club meets in the lobby of Olin Theatre on Monday evenings and members can build their improvisation skills with games like “Two Line Dialogue” or “Sportscaster.”

Common Integrity includes many active members of the theatre community as well as non-theatre students.

The club offers students the opportunity to perform shows in Monticello’s or The Alley as a group, during which there is audience interaction, just like “Whose Line is It Anyway?”

If you prefer writing to acting, W&J also has a playwriting competition every spring semester.

Winter Tales, which is now in its fourteenth year, allows the W&J community (students, alumni, faculty, administration and staff), to

Courtesy washjeff.edu

W&J students perform in the 2014 fall production of “These Shining Lives.”

submit original ten minute plays for the chance to have their work read in a concert reading.

This year, Winter Tales will take place the first weekend in March.

If you are interested in being a part of a full theatre production, there are a few options: the Communication Arts Department productions and/or the Alpha Psi Omega (APO) production.

These shows are a bigger time commitment because rehearsals usually start around one and a half to two months before the performance date.

Students have the ability to

audition for acting roles or ask to work backstage as stage manager or stage crew.

Department productions are performed every semester and are directed by a professor in the Communication Arts Department.

The fall production, directed by Dr. Karin Maresh, is the Broadway musical, Avenue Q, which will be performed at the end of November.

The spring production is the premiere of Consider the Circle, written and directed by William Cameron.

This production is scheduled for the middle of

April. APO is the student theatre society on campus and produces a student-run show at the beginning of the spring semester.

As of yet, no show has been decided, but show dates and auditions will be announced in the near future.

Whether you have been a part of theatre your whole life or have never set foot on the stage, there is some place for you in the W&J theatre community.

If you don’t have the time to act, build sets or write, you can still be a part of the community by supporting your friends in theatre.

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ARTS 8

Red & Black

Netflix While You Work Best Music to Listen to While Studying Sarah Peterson Red&Black contributor

As the semester begins and classwork is assigned, you may find yourself wanting to watch Netflix instead of typing a five page paper.

Although procrastination is never a good idea, especially with longer papers, it is always good to set aside some time for a break.

Netflix is always a good goto option!

As you look for your newest show to binge watch, here are some of the series that students at Washington & Jefferson College are always talking about.

American Horror Story (Seasons 1-4) is an extremely popular show on campus.

In case you’ve never watched it before, each season has new characters and plot, but uses the same actors.

The first season is centered around a haunted house and the mysterious events that happen to the family that moved there.

The newest season (season 5) premieres on FOX, Oct. 7 and is centered in a Hotel.

This season the cast includes Lady Gaga as one of the hotel guests.

Instead of reading your Organic Chemistry book, learn from Walter White on

the Academy Award winning series, Breaking Bad. As a high school chemistry teacher sick with untreatable lung cancer, White teams up with his former student, Jesse Pinkman.

The pair produce and sell crystallized methamphetamine in order to ensure the White family's financial security before his death.

The spin-off of the show, Better Call Saul, is now on AMC, so catch up on the full series of Breaking Bad during some free time.

The complete series of Gossip Girl is also on Netflix for those who love a bit of drama.

The show features Leighton Meester as Blair and Blake Lively as Serena.

It begins with the mystery as to why Serena came back from boarding school and why she left in the first place.

Throughout the series you will become entangled in the lives of these Upper East Side girls, their families and the continuous string of drama.

Let yourself imagine your future life as a doctor while you put studying on hold and watch the hit series, Grey's Anatomy.

This medical drama set in Seattle, Washington, follows Meredith Gray as an intern through residency at Seattle Grace Hospital.

Learn why people talk about the terms “McSteamy” or “McDreamy” and the meaning of “your person.”

Catch up on all ten seasons before Season 11 premieres on ABC in the fall.

Carolyn Tomilson Red&Black editor

A college workload can seem daunting; exams, papers and hours of homework quickly pile onto a student’s desk within the first week of classes.

Oftentimes students, overwhelmed by their full schedules, begin studying or writing papers with their minds elsewhere.

Fortunately, music can be helpful in situations like this.

Many studies suggest that there is a link between music and productivity.

A Stanford study claims “music engages the areas of the brain involved with paying attention, making predictions and updating the event in memory.” Many of these studies don’t claim a certain genre is more helpful than another, however.

Though some students prefer to listen to their favorite songs on repeat while getting schoolwork done, others, such as myself, find well-known lyrics to be a distraction.

My personal music choice when studying is the Classical Music for Studying station on Pandora.

This station includes artists such as: Beethoven, Ludwig, the Piano Guys and Debussy.

The songs are all instrumental and almost no song is off limits. The station features church hymns, the occasional current

Courtesy broadwayworld.com

YouTube's The Piano Guys are known for blending classical music with today's pop hits.

hit, little known songs and well-known classics such as Beethoven’s Moonlit Sonata.

For students that enjoy contemporary music but find lyrics distracting, another option is the Dallas String Quartet.

This Texas-based group features contemporary classical music as well as pop, with covers played on electric string instruments. The Quartet has released three albums to date, “Electric” (2011), “Red” (2012) and “Between Us” (2014), and include songs such as: Clarity, Rolling in the Deep, All You Need Is Love and Moves Like Jagger.

One last station option is for the movie-loving student.

Pandora offers stations featuring the score of all seven Harry Potter movies.

The downside: all seven scores are not combined

on one station, so you must choose the station by the movie.

The upside: regardless of the movie score selected, the station with play the other six scores on that station.

The second upside: the station also features the scores from other popular films such as: Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean and the Hunger Games.

No matter the genre, music can often help students focus and retain information while studying or writing a paper.

Music helps block background noise and, depending on the song, acts as a motivator.

While only three options were mentioned, Pandora features a range of stations that allows students to choose whatever genre works for them.

9 OPINIONS

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OPINIONS

2 S eptember 2015

All About Interssion: Advantages of January Term at W&J Katherine Campbell Red&Black Editor

Ask almost any student or faculty on campus and they will tell you, one of the best things about Washington and Jefferson College is Intersession.

Intersession is a mini three-week semester during January that falls in between the fall and spring semesters.

Everyone is required to take two Intersession courses, but you can take up to four during your time at W&J. An Intersession class usually meets between two and seven days a week for several hours at a time.

Intersession classes are often the most interesting and

diverse classes you will ever take, and the classes offered change from year to year.

For example, last year a class was offered on Grimm’s fairy tales and how they compare to their movie adaptations, while another focused on the chemistry and physics of taekwondo, and yet another taught students how to make different kinds of candies in the lab.

There are also several classes each year that will take you abroad.

These travel Intersession courses have taken students to London to study theatre, Japan to experience the food and culture, and on a Mediterranean cruise to talk about the impact of the cruise and travel industry on port economies.

Ashley Knoerdel ‘18, who took the class on Grimm’s

fairy tales stated that it was very interesting to see the “different versions and explanations of fairytales and then see the different movie adaptations.”

The students were also given a project to write their own fairy tales.

Knoerdel wrote an alternate telling to the classic tale, Cinderella. In her fairytale, the stepmother was never evil, but just trying to protect herself, her daughters and Cinderella, from her abusive husband.

My Intersession course last year was on French films and their American remakes.

In my class, we discussed French culture, how it compared to American culture, and how both cultures played into the different French and American movies.

For our final project, we had

E ditorial P olicy The Red & Black is the official, registered student-produced newspaper of Washington & Jefferson College. It is published Thursdays 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.

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.

Courtesy observer-reporter.com

Julia Price ‘16 prepares candy for her candy lab project.

to watch a French film and its American remake, talk about the similarities and differences, and explore why the differences existed.

Not only did I learn about French culture and different classic movies such as Three Men and A Baby and Precinct 13, along with their respective French equivalents, but I learned about how others perceive American culture, how filmmakers can get around copyright laws

when filming a remake, and how such things as lighting and dialogue in a movie can directly result from the culture in which the director was raised.

I learned so many different, unique things during my Intersession class, and now I know that whenever I need to talk about my transcript during an interview, my Encore in Hollywood class will always be a great topic of discussion.

C ontac t Telephone: FAX: E-mail: Mailing Address:

(724) 223-6049 (724) 503-1049 redandblackstaff@jay. washjeff.edu Red & Black 60 S. Lincoln St. Washington, PA 15301

2 S eptember 2015

Red & Black

The Inside Scoop on the Best Campus Study Spots Shannon Adams Red&Black Editor

Once classes start and assignments start rolling in, you are going to want to find a place to study on campus that is free from distractions and a swarm of talking people.

This handy guide will give you the pros and cons of the various places you can study in order to ensure your academic success your first semester.

First, let us start with the worst places to study: Your Dorm Room Your dorm room might seem like the easiest place to study because your books and computer are right there.

There is no need to carry everything across campus and run the risk of forgetting something, forcing you to trek back and get it.

While it is nice to have all your supplies in one place, that also means that you have your bed, TV, roommate, and hallmates to distract you. You might start out great studying for your first Psych 101 test until you hear your friend down the hall playing music and you decide to take a “study break”.

Trust me, your so called “study break” will last for hours causing you to pull an unwanted all nighter.

Get in the habit of collecting all of your things and

walking somewhere on campus where you will be far from distractions.

The Dining Hall I have never personally studied in the Commons, however, I have seen many people do it around Midterms and Finals.

Personally, I do not understand how they can prepare for any exam while surrounded by noisy diners.

Another problem is that you could very easily spill your drink or drop food onto what you are working on.

Imagine this: it is breakfast time in the Commons and you are taking notes on the last chapter for the test on Wednesday.

You’re almost done when your roommate tries to join you at the table.

Being a good friend, you move your books over to make room for her you spill your fourth cup of coffee all over your notes.

They are now an awful brown color and of course all of your writing bleeds off the page, leaving you with a sad coffee mess.

No one wants that. Avoid studying at the Commons.

Since those two places are scratched off the list, I am going to give you some places that are excellent for studying: The Tech Center The Tech Center is open 24 hours and has two floors full of computers (Mac and PC), as well as printers. The Tech Center is quiet, well-lit, and comfortable.

One of the best things about the Tech Center is that there

are couches everywhere...okay maybe not everywhere, but there are a few couches and some comfy chairs. It is not unusual to see someone napping on the couches during a study break.

The Ski Lodge Another great place to study is the Ski Lodge. It’s located next to G&T’s, in the same building as the Commons and Barista.

This is a common meeting area for group projects because of the large tables that are ideal for studying.

For a study break you can walk a few feet over the the Barista and use a meal swipe or Jay Cash to order yourself some coffee to get you through the last couple chapters for the night.

Just like the Tech Center, it’s fairly quiet in there as well.

If it ever gets too loud, upperclassmen will typically give the staredown to the offender until the noise stops.

The Library The last and most obvious place is the library. From the outside it may look small, but inside it really is a study haven.

The LoveSacs near the entrance are good for laying in while reading a novel or taking a nap.

There are also plenty of tables and desks throughout the building which you can claim for a few hours.

The library is close to most academic buildings and dining options on campus, making it a great place to study before class or meet friends for food.

OPINIONS 10

Why W&J Is Right For Me: Stories From The Students

When I came to Washington and Jefferson College (W&J) as a freshman in the fall of 2013, I was very excited and nervous to call this place home. From classes to rushing a sorority, freshman year was an amazing rollercoaster ride.

As a rising junior, I am so thankful that I chose W&J. W&J has provided me with endless opportunities to step out of my comfort zone and help me to grow as a person. I was able to have an on campus job, continue with cheerleading as a member of the W&J cheer squad, and gain so many wonderful sisters in my sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma. I am a child development and education major, and I had the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica, where I taught Social Studies, English, and Mathematics for third and fourth grade at the Cloud Forest School in Monteverde.

Without Washington and Jefferson College, none of these life changing experiences would have been possible for me. I love that this campus is my home away from home, where I always have professors that are willing to help me with my studies and friends who will always stick by my side.

-Kayla Grey, Red&Black Contributor In my opinion, the best things about Washington and Jefferson College are the faculty and, because of the college’s small size, the way they can interact with students.

Just think about it, if you went to a huge school, like say University of Pittsburgh, you would find yourself in a sea of freshman students where your professors deliver one sided “lectures” to auditoriums full of hundreds of nameless faces.

You are merely evaluated by exams and your professors won’t notice if you showed up for their class.

It won’t be like that at W&J. With small class sizes, the professors know all their students by name, notice if you don’t show up (so don’t bother making a habit out of truancy) and have the luxury of teaching in a more ”interactive” fashion.

This interaction happens in the classroom, outside the classroom, at college events and via email. The beauty of this, at a minimum, is that you are evaluated by more than an impersonal numerical percentage. More importantly, however, you are going to meet somebody who shares a passion with you and inspires you to pursue it.

-Diana Ciarollo, Red&Black Contributor

11 The SUPERBURGER “Calm Down, It’s Just a Joke”

Red & Black

2 S eptember 2015

How to fit in with Upperclassmen Katherine Campbell Red&Black Editor

Now that you are at college, you will want to try to establish yourself. You are going to want to try to earn the respect of those who have already learned the ropes here at W&J, so here are a few things that may help you fit in with them.

Probably the most important step to fitting in with upperclassmen is to

always wear your school ID on a lanyard around your neck.

As you will see in the coming weeks, everyone wears their ID around their necks. It’s just the accepted thing to do. This way everyone can see your name and your senior photo or your bewildered face as they took your picture on move-in day.

As an upperclassmen once put it, “It’s always easier to walk up to someone and bend down to get a good look at the ID than to ask for their name.”

The second most important thing to do while interacting with upperclassmen is to be

the exact same person you were in high school and make sure they know that you have not changed. Make sure you share how many friends you had in each of your four years in high school, the story of that one time you and your friend sipped your parent’s wine when they were not looking, and what your grade was in each of your classes.

They will listen intently and may even share a few of their own stories from their high school days. Make sure you ask any seniors you encounter about how they managed to

stay true to their high school selves throughout college.

Lastly, whenever you go to the Commons or G&T’s alone, make sure you find an obviously tight group of upperclassmen eating together and sit down with them. The trick to earning their respect is not to ask, just sit and enter yourself into their conversation. This will show them how confident you are in your socializing skills.

Just never, EVER sit alone when eating. Everyone will make fun of you and you will never be able to live down that

one time that you sat alone in the Commons when you were a freshman.

These are just a few of the tips on how to fit in with upperclassmen. Try to employ these tips every time you meet a new upperclassman and you’ll be sure to have a wide, older friend group.

Remember, if you ever need additional tips or help with fitting in with upperclassmen, just ask another freshman because they are in the same situation so they’ll know exactly what to do.

Roommate 101: Tips on Befriending Your Freshman Roommate Shannon Adams Red&Black Editor

Welcome to Roommates 101!

We will give you several tips and previously unknown secrets to earning your roommate's friendship.

The first step to befriending the complete stranger you are living with is to offer to make her bed as soon as she moves in.

It is important to establish yourself as her new motherly figure as soon as possible.

Next, I recommend running out to Walmart and purchasing a giant whiteboard calendar that you can hang on the wall with

Command Strips. After the board is successfully hanging in your room, write out your class schedule as well as your roommate’s schedule.

If you do not know it by heart yet, I’m sure they left a copy of it on their desk.

If not, I bet they has a screenshot of it on their phone...browse cautiously.

Once both schedules are up on the new calendar, plan meal times when both of you are available.

That way you can gain the Freshman Fifteen together.

Actually, while you are at it, schedule gym time to burn those fifteen pounds off!

Is your new roommate a Disney fan? If the answer is yes, the quickest way to their

heart is through bringing back childhood memories! Pull up Netflix or that stack of DVDs that you conveniently stored on their side of the room.

Play your favorite Disney movie and sing every song, encouraging your shy roommate to come out of their shell and attempt to hit those notes with you! This last

piece of advice should only be used if all else fails and you are still trying to pursue your new living buddy.

You already know their schedule because of the calendar whiteboard so, take a picture of it and follow them around all day.

Walk them to and from every one of their classes -

Courtesy washjeff.edu

extra bonus points if you carry their books around for him!

If this last attempt does not work than it was not meant to be.

Your next mission should be to ignore your roommate entirely, split your room in half with masking tape and stare at them angrily from your bed.

2 S eptember 2015

SPORTS 12

Red & Black

How to Avoid the Freshman 15 Amina Brown Red&Black contributor

For some students, the Freshman 15 is not a problem; in fact, with busier schedules and an on-campus gym, a number of college freshmen end up losing weight.

However, avoiding the infamous weight gain is not always that easy and many freshmen college students struggle to maintain the diet

and exercise habits they kept in high school.

For the few who may not have a fast metabolism or a steady exercise regimen, the Freshman 15 can easily turn into the Freshman 30 if the proper precautions are not taken.

Here are a few pointers to keep in mind as you make dietary decisions throughout the semester.

The first step is to watch what and where you eat.

Although the food at George and Tom’s is pretty

good, it is not healthy (or wise) to eat here 3 times-a-day for an entire week unless you are eating salad, fruit, or yogurt for each meal.

It may be tempting to get dessert after every meal in The Commons, but consider swapping ice cream for a fruit salad a few nights a week.

The second step is to make exercise your friend. I know the people out there who are not keen on exercise may be groaning, but exercise can be fun. W&J has a gorgeous green campus that can be

used to play a couple games of frisbee or a game of soccer to your heart’s content.

We also have a variety of intramural sports, such as volleyball and basketball. We even have a gym with an indoor track for all runners and walkers to use when the weather is poor.

The third and final step is to not eat late night meals.

When you eat late at night and then go to bed, your body does not have time to turn the food into useful energy that can be used during the day and effec-

tively work that meal off.

Instead, it turns that energy into fat because sleep keeps you from burning off and digesting this meal properly, regardless of its health content.

If you must eat before bed, a better alternative is something small and light that can satisfy you until morning: a granola bar, fruit cup, or yogurt with a glass of water.

These tips will lead you to a healthier and more productive first semester of college.

Stay safe, have fun and make sure you stay hydrated!

Clubs and Intramural sports offered at W&J Siddhanta Bista Red&Black editor

Everything is new and exciting during your first year on campus.

You find yourself meeting new people and making new friends and quickly become inundated with the daily responsibilities of college life.

While being engaged in other affairs, it is still important to take a look at some of the activities you can be involved in at Washington and Jefferson that promote health and fitness.

For those students who are not on a sports team and would just like to have fun

while exercising, intramural sports are a great option. Here at Washington and Jefferson

These club sports are similar to varsity sports, where they often hold scheduled practic-

mitment of a varsity team.

Being a part of the club organizations and the Intramu-

Courtesy flickr.com

College, there are ten club teams and organizations that are open to all students.

A handful of club teams compete in various leagues, and also take part in competitions around the tri-state area.

es, maintain a consistent list of students and compete on a regular basis.

Unlike most varsity teams, the club teams are predominantly run by students and do not require the time and com-

ral sports provides a number of opportunities to expand your base group of friends, divert away from the stress of the classes and will certainly keep you engaged and active on campus. Some of the In-

tramural and club sports include: Flag football, fencing, ultimate frisbee, men’s and women’s rugby, dance, soccer and cheerleading.

If you are interested in joining an intramural sport, be sure to contact the Assistant Director of Intramural and club sports, Chris Faulk, at cfaulk@washjeff.edu.

Or, you can even visit the office of Intramural and club sports, located on the first floor of the HUB. If you find a group of friends that is interested in playing a particular sport, you can register as a whole team.

Registration is open to all students throughout the year, although some sports are only offered in certain seasons.