Greek Life Gains 160 Members | 2/26/2016 | Red&Black

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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 r e d a n d b l a c ko n l i n e . c o m w a s h i n g t o n , p e n n s y lva n i a F e b ru a ry 2 6 , 2 0 1 6

GREEK LIFE GAINS 160 MEMBERS

Courtesy Ashley Crews

W&J sororties Delta Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma and Pi Beta Phi welcomed in total 85 new members; while W&J fraternitites Alpha Tau Omega, Beta Theta Pi, Delta Tau Delta, Fiji, Phi Delta Theta and Phi Kappa Psi welcomed in total 75 new members.

OPINIONS: THE ZIKA VIRUS PAGE 14

SPORTS: ALEXIS GLENN PAGE 20

2 CAMPUS NEWS

Red & Black

26 F ebruary 2016

Discovering Italy over Intersession Term Lauren Virgin Red&Black Staff

In addition to W&J’s semesterlong study abroad options, the college also gives students the opportunity to travel overseas through Intersession classes and The Magellan Project.

It is through Dr. H. J. Manzari’s “Discover Italy” Intersession course that 20 students traveled to seven regions and 15 different cities in Italy.

Students studied the history, culture and cuisine of the country, touring the cities, monuments and even taking numerous cooking lessons.

Taking trains and buses, the group traveled all over the country, seeing more of Italy in three weeks than the typical

Italian does in their lifetime.

Manzari’s class experienced the sight of skeletons in Herculaneum, gondola rides in Venice, a famous chef ’s bakery on the way to Ravello, a tour of a lemon farm in Amalfi and Italian lessons in Salerno.

They made bread at a working farm, visited the caves in Matera, climbed to the roof of trulli in Alberbello, danced with Italians in Polignano and even completed a scavenger hunt on the streets of Rome.

Owen Miller (class of 2018) who is a Business Administration major, loved the busy schedule, and said, “We fit so much in on this trip, which was great.

Everything scheduled for us was extremely interesting, and we had free time to explore.

I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

Hayley Skovira (class of 2016), a Psychology major who also went on the trip, commented on the cooking class the group took in Rome, saying that it was her favorite part of the trip, “I had never cooked a full meal before, so

learning to do so was a great experience. Also, we cooked with all fresh food from the market, which is not always the case in America.” Manzari considers Intersession as one of W&J’s best qualities. He said, “Intersession allows you all to challenge yourselves, try new things, explore new

places and test your abilities in places very foreign to you all— culturally and linguistically.

Moreover, you are able to see the world from a different place and reflect back on your own lives at home. In the end, I believe you get to see how big, and yet how small, the world around us can be.”

and a minor in Gender and Women’s Studies.

Bainer chose to attend W&J for a variety of reasons.

Coming from Washington, PA, she enjoyed how close to home school was for her.

“I liked that I was able to have the college experience and be able to go home whenever I needed to,” Bainer said. She also enjoyed the relatively small size of the campus and classrooms. She continued, “I loved that I was able to be on a personal level with my professors and that I wasn’t just a face in the crowd.” Bainer chose to study

Sociology because she wants to become a social worker and hopes to work with children who are in the foster care system or who come from broken homes. She also had some advice to offer to any students studying Sociology or Gender and Women’s Studies, and said, “Focus! Sociology and GWS may seem easy but there are some aspects that are hard to grasp. I feel that if someone is studying one or both of these topics, they need to be extremely open-minded, especially since these subjects deal with a lot of issues regarding equality.” When

reflecting on her four years at W&J, her favorite memory was from matriculation during her freshman year, where she met one of her best friends.

And Bainer doesn’t regret very much from her time here but she explained, “If I could do it over again, I would have jumped straight into Sociology instead of exploring different majors. I would have also tried to study abroad or do a Magellan Project.” Her praise continued, however, when she said, “I have met so many amazing people, professors, faculty and staff

that have helped me along my journey.”

Bainer also offered some advice to any freshmen who may still be unsure of themselves or who are still finding it difficult to adjust to college, “Don’t be afraid to ask any upperclassmen and faculty or staff for advice or help. There are many people and services on campus that are there to help you adjust.”

She also advised students to, “Join any clubs, groups or activities that you are interested in. Doing so can help you find other people that you can connect with.”

Courtesy Kaitlynn Sollenberger

Alumni Spotlight: Kelsee Bainer (Class of 2015) Mario Tiberie Red&Black Staff

As we have all heard many times before, W&J graduates “people of uncommon integrity, competence and maturity who are effective lifelong learners and responsible citizens, and who are prepared to contribute substantially to the world in which they live.” This week’s alumna definitely exhibits all of those qualities and more.

Ms. Kelsee Bainer (class of 2015) graduated last May with a degree in Sociology

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3 CAMPUS NEWS

Student Spotlight: Erica Ankney (Class of 2018)

Courtesy Jordan Toohey

Jordan Toohey Red&Black Staff

Erica Ankney (class of 2018) is a local from Jones Mills, PA. She graduated from Mount Pleasant High School, and is currently pursuing a Communication Arts major with an emphasis in Public Relations and Rhetoric, with a concentration in Conflict Resolution Studies. After graduating from W&J, she plans to attend graduate school for Professional Writing and eventually

write grants.

“I originally chose W&J because I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do after college and I knew they had a really high graduate program placement rate,” said Ankney.

She has taken advantage of all the opportunities that W&J has to offer in many ways.

She is a resident assistant, the event director for Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, the philanthropy director for Panhellenic Council, and a member

of the Jay Walkers.

Due to her high level of involvement, she is well known by many people throughout campus.

She loves being involved because it helps her to pursue her passions and make meaningful connections.

This past intercession, she had the opportunity to travel abroad to Italy to take cooking classes. She visited many cities including Florence, Ravello, Amalfi, Matera, Salerno,

Polignano, Vasto, Naples and Rome. “The overall experience was amazing. I was also given the opportunity to come back for an internship over the summer, where I would use my Magellan funding to do the English portion of the public relations and marketing for a lemon farm.”

In addition to her forthcoming return to Amalfi, Ankney also plans to travel more in the future. Her interests span farther than travel how-

ever, as she also loves social media, Netflix and reading.

She also has a passion for writing and hopes to be published one day.

As for her home life, she basically has a ski resort in her backyard.

Ankney spends most of the winter months skiing on the mountain, and in the summer she works at the resort as a zipline guide and aid to the events that happen on the mountain.

4 CAMPUS NEWS

Red & Black

26 F ebruary 2016

What you Need to Know about SGA Lauren Virgin Red&Black Staff

If you’re reading this, you’re probably a member of the SGA General Assembly.

The Student Government Association’s budget comes from the student activities fee that every student pays as a part of their tuition, making every W&J student a member During the SGA’s meeting last Thursday, Feb. 18, major changes were made including a new funding model, budget cuts, a new executive board position and an attendance policy. One of the biggest changes for SGA is the

new funding model, which allocates funds to clubs and student organizations.

Before the change, clubs would propose budgets pertaining to the next academic year, and SGA would give them a set budget and put leftover money in a general, untouchable fund.

With the new model, money isn’t wasted in a general fund.

Instead, each club starts off with a $100 start-up fund at the beginning of the year and then proposes funding requests to the Financial Committee when needed.

Funding requests can now be submitted on SGA’s SPIRE page. Money has also been saved with the removal of

the Fall Comedy Show and a smaller Homecoming budget.

These funds have instead been put towards the Spring Concert budget. Kid Ink has been announced as the concert headliner, with the opening act still waiting to be finalized.Along with financial changes, SGA meetings themselves have changed.

Attendance has skyrocketed this year, and Yost Auditorium is close to being filled during each meeting.

Meetings now require business casual dress and have a stricter attendance policy. Each gathering, there is a bonding activity within the General Assembly so that people get to know each other

island. Silverstein was there for six weeks this past summer working for United Way, a non profit organization.

While assigned to several projects, she says the project she learned the most from was her school supply drive for homeless kids on the island.

“I had no idea Honolulu has one of the largest homeless populations in the United States. We were able to bring in a little over $20,000 worth of donations and with that I learned a lot about fundraising and marketing for a non-profit organization.”

Silverstein hopes that she will

be able to get a job in this field after graduation because she enjoyed working with United Way. “Hopefully I’ll be able to get a job where I can do similar work because I really enjoyed working with United Way,” said Silverstein. “I’m a senior now and I’m in the process of applying for jobs....so we’ll see!” Although Silverstein loved the organization she worked for and the work she did, Silverstein’s favorite part about Hawaii was the people. “[The people] were so friendly and really valued each other, especially the children and

better. There have also been guest speakers from different departments on campus to keep the General Assembly actively engaged in changes and events happening.

Natalie Gill, SGA President, discussed two speakers, and said, “For our first meeting, President Tori Haring-Smith welcomed students with a presentation on where our tuition is allocated. Last week, she discussed the Uncommon Bond campaign, the driving force behind the fundraising for the new gym, library and tennis courts. We’ve also had representatives from Parkhurst Dining visit for a Q&A about meal plans and menu options for students.”

SGA has also gained a new advisor this year: Vice President and Dean of Student Life, Eva Chatterjee-Sutton.

Along with Dean ChatterjeeSutton, the board is aided

by Billie Eaves, Director of Events and Planning for W&J, because though not a current advisor, her prior experience is invaluable. Gill said, “With [our advisors’] patience, expertise and guidance, we have been able to stay organized and efficient amidst lots of significant changes within SGA.” Since students are automatically part of the General Assembly, they are encouraged to attend the meetings.

Magellan Spotlight: Samara Silverstein Erin Haughey Red&Black Contributor

The Magellan Project is a unique opportunity for students, one that they cannot find, nor replicate in the classroom. This exclusive program at W&J provides students with the necessary support to create their own research projects, including internships or doing specialized research on a specific topic or region.

Samara Silverstein (class of 2016) recently did an internship in Honolulu which is on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii’s most populated

Courtesy Samara Silverstein

the elderly. Every morning I took the bus to work and everyone always got up from their seats whenever a little old lady would get on the bus, which isn’t really something you see in bigger cities,” said Silverstein. When she wasn’t working, Silverstein experienced the whole thrill of Hawaii. “I did a lot of stuff

on the weekends when I had time. I went swimming with the sharks, climbed to the top of Diamond Head, surfed, went to a luau and hiked,” she said. “My house was also a few blocks from the beach so I spent a lot of time there.

It’s crazy how beautiful it was, I wish I could have stayed longer!”

26 F ebruary 2016

5 CAMPUS NEWS

President's Chopped Event Information Red & Black

President's Chopped Friday, March 4th @ 5pm Parcell Room Sponsored by SAIL & Parkhurst Sign-up in teams (1-2 students) in the Commons Lobby during CommonsGiving Part 2 on 2/25 beginning at 5pm Spots are limited! (*if you cannot make the sign-ups, please email sail@washjeff.edu<mailto:sail@ washjeff.edu>) Don't want to join a team to compete? Come to the Commons to watch your fellow presidents go head to head, DIY: make your own cookbook station (including recipes that you can make in your room), and enjoy delicious desserts in the Parcell Room!!

Teams will go head to head in this Chopped style cooking competition.

Prizes: 1st: $50 Buffalo Wild Wings 2nd: $30 Chicco Baccello (plus 10% discount with Student ID: W&J Business Ambassador Program) 3rd: $20 How Lee Gift Card (plus 10% discount with Student ID: W&J Business Ambassador Program) 4th: $10 Menchie's Gift Card (plus 20% discount with Student ID: W&J Business Ambassador Program)

THIS WEEKEND'S EVENTS

Friday - Parkhurst Event - Sushi, G&T's - 1:00 pm - Free Bowling with W&J ID (until 3), Alpine Lanes - 5:45 pm - Seniors Meet w/ Trustees & Alumni Exec. Council (until 7), Ski Lodge - 6:30 pm - Pittsburgh Pipeline (6:30|8:30|10:30), Campus Ctr. Circle - 7:30 pm - Oscar Nominated Short Subjects - Live Action, Olin Theatre - 9:00 pm - Monticello's, Hub LL Saturday - 11:00 am - Pittsburgh Pipeline (11:00|1:00|3:00), Campus Ctr. Circle - 1:00 pm - Saturday Shopping Shuttle (until 5), Campus Ctr. Circle - 1:00 pm - Women's Lacrosse vs Ohio Wesleyan, Alexandre Stadium - 2:00 pm - Film Club - "Beasts of No Nation", Yost Auditorium - 4:00 pm - Men's Lacrosse vs Baldwin Wallace, Alexandre Stadium - 6:30 pm - Pittsburgh Pipeline (6:30|8:30|10:30), Campus Ctr. Circle - 7:30 pm - Oscar Nominated Short Subjects - Animated, Olin Theatre - 9:00 pm - Monticello's, Hub LL Sunday - 7:00 pm - Mass, Newman Center

Courtesy foodnetwork.com

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26 F ebruary 2016

Red & Black

<h1> New Foreign Language for Students </h1> Christopher Frydryck Red&Black Staff It has been common practice to communicate with computers using programming languages.

Whether this be HTML5, Java, JavaScript, PHP, Python or C++, the opportunities are endless to communicate with computers; hence, why they are called programming languages.

However, a school in Florida has decided to take the word, “language” seriously.

Former Yahoo executive and now Florida lawmaker has been pushing to implement an alternative to the typical language choices.

Instead of offering more languages outside of the typical spectrum of French, Spanish or German, he has decided to implement Python and JavaScript as a new language to take.

Many argue that this is a step forward in language progression. “This is a global language today,” said Senator Jeremy Ring.

In fact, a recent study shows that JavaScript is the third most prominent language for programming jobs, and Python is not far behind being the fifth most popular.

Not only this, but because of the computer science field’s massive scalability, this could create future technology contributors, designers and entrepreneurs.

Google, as well as many other technology companies have been funding public schools such as this school in Florida.

On the contrary, many are wondering how practical programming may be to low income families and lightly funded schooling systems.

“It seems like a wellintentioned, well-designed bill, but there are a number of different non-profit programs out there that are trying to address the lack of minority access to coding and coding materials,” said Senator Dwight Bullard of Miami.

Undoubtedly computing materials are expensive and is not the most affordable equipment available for what

Courtesy davidpallmann.blogspot.com

Above is an example of JavaScript

some consider a “hobby.”

Many believe that somebody who may lack the knowledge in a foreign language and poor English-speaking abilities are not going to benefit from this programming language skill, and fear that “technology can amplify inequality.”

Senator Ring exclaims that he had gotten the idea from his 14-year-old son, and was intrigued by the potential in

the education system.

Undoubtedly, including programming into educational institutions is nothing new, but replacing languages is a large step.

Many argue that it should be recognized as a language, especially because with the proper programming, a code can translate a colloquial language, but not vice versa.

On the other hand, some

are arguing in low income communities and poorly funded institutions, it is representing inequality and a lack of opportunity to those truly interested in changing the future of technological advance.

Either way, this integration of programming into educational institutions is truly a step forward in the right direction.

26 F ebruary 2016

7 life

Red & Black

Rich Man Sends Twenty-Six Children to College Leah Segal Red&Black Staff

There is no dispute over the rising cost of college these days.

And whether you are the parent of a college student or a student yourself, the price tags on universities are pretty harrowing.

However, for the 26 students attending Rio Vista Elementary School in Anaheim, Calif., they will never have to fret about the cost of college-due to the extreme generosity of one man.

Marty Burbank, an attorney and Navy Veteran, in a fleeting moment of goodness, decided to pledge one millions dollars towards the future tuition of the Rio Vista

Elementary School kindergarten class.

He plans to fund each student through two years of community college and two years at a California State school (or another with the price equivalence).

And for a class of predominantly immigrant children who don’t speak English, this gift is one that will never go without praise.

By donating the money he is ensuring that each child will have the opportunity to attend a university or college, and make their dreams a reality.

That being said, it seems through this donation, Burbank himself is completing a dream he never knew he had.

As of last year, he was set on spending the million dollars on a boat. However, one ser-

mon speaking to the importance of sharing and sacrifice changed his mind.

“They say give until it hurts a little, and this hurts. But [I] feel it's the best investment [I] could make," Burbank said in an interview with CNN. In order to ensure that the money will be put to good use-- he has created one stipulation.

Each year the students must either draw a picture or write a paper explaining why they want to go to college and how it will affect their family.

By doing this, Burbank hopes to help them focus on the road ahead. "I'm a strong believer in visualizing your goals, and this way they'll be thinking about this each year for the next 12 years," said Burbank.

Whether these children currently are aware of the great gift handed to them,

one thing is for sure: they have a bright future ahead of them.

for an unfinished building, this comes as a major breakthrough.

As the pioneers in the field of virtual reality goggles, Halstead proposes to improve the construction on their threedimensional displays and aim to have the Oculus headsets in all of their offices in the coming year—due to the projected success of the goggles.

“The [goal] [is] to have potential buyers wear an Oculus Rift headset and ‘walk’ around the building. The more realistic the experience, the more

likely a client might be willing to pay the asking price of nearly $1.98 million,” said Halstead Properties in an interview conducted by the New York Times.

With that in mind, the real estate game is taken to the next level.

From young couples on the hunt for a “starter home,” to established businesses searching for a new office space, the stress and uncertainty is now taken out of the equation.

With one press of a button, the client is teleported into a

virtual reality where the interested property becomes automatically customized as companies like Halstead state “we sell based on emotion and attaching that emotion to a vision, as digital design firms charge tens of thousands of dollars to create virtual customizable spaces for high-end buyers.”

Although property companies are all abuzz about the promising future the oculus goggles hold— customer’s feelings toward the headset are anything but.

For a New York Times’ Correspondent turned guinea pig, Jennifer Miller, the goggles proved to be bit hard on her stomach.

The overwhelming reality and multi dimensions left her” a tad queasy.”

Nevertheless, with personal convictions aside, the virtual reality goggles have shaken up the real estate market for good.

That being said, when the time comes to search for your own home, you may just find it in a pair of goggles.

Courtesy money.cnn.com

The class of twenty-six kindergarten students that Marty Burbank pledged to fund to get them through two years of community college and two years at Califonfornia State.

Home Buying From Your Own Home Leah Segal Red&Black Staff The future of home buying is here—and with it comes a heavy dose of virtual reality.

With an increasing focus on “problem solving technology,” the innovators at Halstead Property have created highlyadvanced “Oculus Goggles” which aid in the showing of homes, apartments and other properties for sale.

That being said, for clients who are unavailable to travel to the location they are interested in—or better yet—

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Red & Black

26 F ebruary 2016

Will Your Cat Still Love You If He’s On a Diet? cats that were involved lost weight.

They also found that the cats increased affectionate behaviors before they were fed, such as: meowing, begging, and purring.

Dr. Bever, a researcher involved in the study said, “We don’t know why, but cat’s don’t hold a grudge if you limit their food.”

All the fat-cat owners out there rejoice! Your beloved fat fur-baby will not disown you for the

want. My mother feeds him, my sisters feed him, and then my dad will give him treats.

Over the summer he Maya is the fur-baby of probably gained a total Larissa and Doug Peluso. of 5 pounds, which is a This white ball of lot for a little guy like fluff weighs in at an him. outrageous 24.9 pounds!

If I do not feed him on Maya was losing time in the morning he mobility and energy will paw at the food bag leaving her to wallow in until I wake up and feed her fat, fluffy, sadness. him. However, since he Maya’s owners has been conditioned to decided that Maya being fed at least 3 times needed to be placed on a a day he will paw at the diet to get her back to her bag in the morning, in cat-like self and prevent the evening, and future health problems. while I am trying Their only concern to sleep.

Courtesy well.blogs.nytimes.com We don’t know why, but was, will my cat still If I were to put love me? cat’s don’t hold a grudge if my cat on a diet Above, Maya before dieting. Weight: 24.9 pounds A recent study and take food you limit their food. by researchers at away from him, Cornell University the scratching at College of Veterinary the cat food bag Medicine found that will increase and quite the opposite was neighbor if you restrict my sleep will decrease. true. their diet.

Sacrifices need to The study took 48 It seems that they will be made, me and my cats that were at least love you even more when sleep and my cat and his 25 percent above the you do feed them. Being food. Lynx will be going healthy weight for a cat. a cat mom myself, I through a transformation These 48 cats were put worry about the affection just like Maya did for the on one of three restricted of my cat if I place him Peluso couple. calorie diet for eight on a diet.

If that cat can do it, so Courtesy Shannon Adams weeks.

While I am at school can mine. Hopefully the Above, Lynx, my cat. Weighing around 18 pounds.

The researchers found my cat, Lynx, gets all the pawing at the cat food that three-fourths of the food he could possibly bag will transition into meowing and purring Cornell study. like the cats in the Shannon Adams Red&Black Editor

26 F ebruary 2016

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Man's Best Friend and Cancer Finder Shannon Adams Red&Black Editor

Humans have been working side by side with other animals for thousands of years to make life easier for both parties. Hunter-gatherer groups of humans and ancestral wolves began to coexist.

Humans got the benefit of gaining the safety of having wolves to protect their tribes and the wolves were given food/scraps.

Over the next ~20,000 years the bond between humans and dogs has become iconic, “man’s best friend.”

Today almost 40% of the pets in the United States are domesticated dogs. They provide amazing friendship, safety, en-

tertainment and more.

Dogs are also equipped with an incredible sense of smell, significantly stronger than humans.

Scientists are beginning to understand that it is possible to utilize this sense of smell to detect diseases like cancer and tuberculosis. Many people would scoff at the idea of using dogs to sniff out cancer.

Although the evidence trickled in slowly and usually just anecdotally, as far back as 1989 the medical journal Lancet reported cases of domestic dogs sniffing or biting at their owners.

One example refers to a case where a woman’s dog continued to sniff at a small mole that had developed.

After getting the blemish checked, it was determined to be malignant melanoma which was then removed successfully.

Years later, a labrador named Parker continued to sniff at a patch of skin on his owners leg that had recently been diagnosed as eczema.

The man had a second opinion drawn and the patch was diagnosed as basal-cell carcinoma.

In both instances the patient's cancer was detected before it was too late. In addition to using dogs to sniff out cancer, other scientists have found success using rats noses to sniff out tuberculosis. The African giant pouched rat has an incredible sense of smell

and can be trained to identify specific bacterial scents within TB patient’s sputum.

Although they aren’t perfect, the rats have about a 70% chance of success to detect positive patients. This method isn’t as accurate as the analysis that can be provided in many Western hospitals, but in de-

from New York, made a fake Tinder account going by the name of Tristan Acocella who claimed to be a Goldman Sachs banker.

In July 2015 Kiehm “matched” with a woman and the two dated for months. A month later Kiehm asked her for money because his sister was undergoing cancer treatment and his wallet had been stolen.

The woman then allegedly gave Kiehm approximately $14,000 to help with expenses.

Then a few months later in October Kiehm started dat-

ing a second woman that he had also met on Tinder. A few weeks later he asked her for money because his mother was undergoing cancer treatment and he had been robbed so he had no money.

The second woman then allegedly gave Kiehm approximately $12,000. Both incidents turned out to be elaborate scams conducted by Kiehm.

After “paying” the two women back, the checks Kiehm wrote the women were drawn from on closed accounts and were rejected by

both of their banks.

NY police contacted Kiehm’s mother and discovered that neither Kiehm’s mother nor sister has or ever had cancer. Kiehm does not limit himself to just scamming potential lovers though; he has also been accused of scamming one of his dogwalking clients.

After allegedly stealing his client’s debit card, Kiehm opened a Venmo, a mobile payment app, account and charged about $13,000 to the account. Kiehm is currently being charged in New York

Courtesy kmblog.kriticalmass.com

veloping nations in Africa their detection methods can be extremely unsuccessful.

Additionally, the presence of HIV in TB patient’s bodies makes the normal detection methods even less successful.

However, the presence of HIV does not affect the rats ability to detect the disease.

Should Have Swiped Left...

Bailey Mudrick Red&Black Editor in Chief

The strategy behind Tinder seems simple: you see a few photos of someone, read their bio, decide if you are attracted to him or her, and then swipe accordingly.

It seems harmless right?

Well maybe not for everyone.

Two women were allegedly scammed out of approximately $26,000.

35-year-old Brandon Kiehm, a dog walker from

with five felony counts of grand larceny, identity theft and scam to defraud. These types scams targeting singles on dating websites are becoming increasingly more popular according to Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. “The classic dating scams of yesteryear appear to be thriving online.

My office is seeing an increase in the number of scammers targeting singles online,” said Vance.

So the next time you swipe right, don’t be fooled by charm and good looks.

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26 F ebruary 2016

A Magical Addition to the Harry Potter Universe Carolyn Tomlinson Red&Black Managing Editor

Harry Potter fans around the world are rejoicing over the newest Harry Potter release: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

The play, written by Jack Thorne and based on an original story by J.K. Rowling, is a sequel to the original Harry Potter series and takes place nineteen years after our hero is last seen in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows waving his two eldest children off to Hogwarts.

While the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series, it is the first to be presented on stage.

The play will open on July 30 at the Palace Theatre in London, although there will be reduced-price previews in June and four special preview performances in late May. Like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the play is “epic in nature” and will be shown in two parts as it could not fit into the performance time of a traditional single

play. Director John Tiffany added, “It shares a scale and ambition with all the Harry Potter stories, so in order to do this justice we have decided to present the play in two parts.”

Unlike the movie, however, fans are encouraged to see both parts in one day.

Additionally, to satisfy those fans unable to make it to London for the play, the script will be available both as an e-book on Pottermore and as a hardback edition, will be released on Harry Potter’s birthday, July 31.

The story will follow up on the adventures of the golden trio. Ron and Hermione are married with children; Ron works for the Ministry of Magic and Hermione is a lawyer in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

Harry and Ginny are parents to three school-age children, with Harry working as head of the Auror division at the Ministry.

The play focuses on the youngest Potter, Albus, who struggles to cope with the family legacy. Fans of the Harry Potter series have been

Courtesy theverge.com

vocal about their excitement over the newest edition.

Carolyn Wilson ’16 has been a fan of Rowling’s series since the age of five, “I remember laying in my mom’s bed while she read the books to my brother and me. They became such an integral part of my life. Even in my twenties, the books and movies are still so magical, and I can’t wait to

see how the Cursed Child fits into the original series.” Harry Potter fans are also looking forward to November, when Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will be released.

The movie, based on a 2001 book by Rowling about the magical beasts in the world of Harry Potter, follows Newt Scamander in New York’s secret community of

witches and wizards seventy years before Harry reads his textbook of the same name at Hogwarts.

There are also hopes that Rowling will release a book from the perspective of the Marauders during their Hogwarts years.

Until then, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will be the talk of the summer.

26 F ebruary 2016

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Hamilton the Musical Makes History Shannon Adams Red&Black Life Section Editor “Lion King” has finally been dethroned on Broadway by the unlikely competitor, “Hamilton.”

Yes, “Hamilton” as in Alexander Hamilton the Founding Father. Needless to say, thespians across the country are shocked.

Students may be wary looking up the soundtrack online, but will be pleasantly surprised after listening to a

few of the songs. The musical is performed by younger versions of our country’s Founding Fathers in early America.

Watching the performance, may seem like an educational video because of the period costuming, but the moment they begin singing, people will notice that it is a very different lesson.

The lyrics and music are a mixture of contemporary language, beats, music style and history.

Listeners are on the edge of their seats as Alexander Hamilton and his contemporaries

deliver the founding of our country through hip-hop, rap and contemporary music.

Lin Manuel-Miranda, writer, composer and star of this musical, explained it as, “This is a story about America then, told by America now.”

This musical is not new to theatres, however.

In fact, it opened last year in February and we are only hearing about this mindblowing musical now because the musical announced that they will be touring across the nation in 2017.

Last year, “Hamilton”

racked up a few dozen awards and this year took the title of Best Musical Theater Album at the Grammys.

The show is currently being performed at the Richard Rogers Theatre in New York.

Tickets will cost you anywhere from $57 to $277.

A writer for the New York Times, Ben Brantley, reviewed the musical in August and said, “I am loath to tell people to mortgage their houses and lease their children to acquire tickets to a hit Broadway show.

But “Hamilton,” directed by Thomas Kail and starring Mr.

Miranda, might just about be worth it.”

He urged people to pay attention because it provides, “proof that the American musical is not only surviving but also evolving in ways that should allow it to thrive and transmogrify in years to come.”

Even those who have only listened to the album agree with Brantley.

Theatre students would take out another loan on top of their current ones to travel to New York and watch this masterpiece in action.

Kanye's 'The Life of Pablo' Is Emotionally Revealing Mario Tiberie Red&Black Staff

Whether you love him or hate him, Kanye West is back and ready to storm the world again with his new album “The Life of Pablo.”

West is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in music today, and his public persona is equally as famous.

From interrupting Taylor Swift’s MTV Video Music Award win in 2009 to declaring that he would eventually run for president of the United States, “Yeezy” has argu-

ably caused much controversy during his career. Just like his seemingly random and unapologetic antics, West’s new album “The Life of Pablo” contains tracks of various melodies and tones each conveying its own message and purpose.

The whole album is an emotional rollercoaster, providing a glimpse into the mind of the man whom many have dubbed a “creative genius” despite his sometimes controversial behavior.

Featuring a number of artists such as Frank Ocean, Chance the Rapper, Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna and The Weeknd, this album implements various musical styles and techniques depending

on the message West is telling. From the gospel and triumphant beat of “Ultralight Beam” to the care-free and upbeat tune of “Famous,” West puts on his unapologetic mask and demonstrates a “won’t back down” attitude towards living his life.

West, however, also expresses his flaws, as heard in songs like “FML,” “Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 2” and “Wolves,” where he critiques himself as restless, reckless and sometimes a poor family man.

West had been changing and updating the order of the tracks on the album up until the last minute - and it shows.

The songs flow smoothly, even though each one is

Courtesy mashable.com

unique and rambunctious, just like the artist himself.

Overall, I would rate the album as an “A-” and encourage anyone, even someone who doesn’t listen to rap and hip hop frequently (like myself) to give it a shot.

Unfortunately, the album (released on February 14) will

not be for sale anywhere except for the music streaming service Tidal (which means no iTunes, Spotify or CDs in the foreseeable future). However, the album may be worth the extra trouble of finding it.

If you are able to listen to “The Life of Pablo,” take a chance and see how you feel!

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26 F ebruary 2016

“Spotlight” Film Puts the Spotlight on Sexual Abuse Ben Langdon Red&Black Staff

“We’re going to tell this story.

We’re going to tell it right,” says Boston Globe reporter Sacha Pfeiffer, played by Rachel McAdams, in the 2015 Oscarnominated film “Spotlight.”

“Spotlight” tells the true story of a group of investigative journalists at the Boston Globe who, in 2001, uncover one of the largest sexual abuse

scandals in history. The sexual abuse scandal is particularly jarring for both the public and the journalists because it deals with one of the most powerful institutions in Boston: the Catholic Church.

The film details the journalists’ expedition as they try to wade through stories of sexual abuse at the hands of Catholic priests.

“Spotlight” gives a great depiction how far a powerful institution will go to cover its tracks.

A narrative and screenplay that is impactful, yet avoids

sensationalism, “Spotlight” properly highlights the importance of investigative journalism. Admittedly, the first act of “Spotlight” is dry when compared to the rest of the film. That being said, the film really picks up in the second act, taking the audience on a detective style journey.

The subtlety of the narrative gives the story a sense of mystery, despite many audience members already knowing how it ends.

This is not a film that lends itself to extravagant

performances which becomes evident when looking at the individuals within the film.

Along with McAdams, Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton and John Slattery have strong performances, but the strength of it lies in their subtlety.

The power of “Spotlight” can be attributed to its straightforward nature.

In essence, it is a film that knows what it wants to be.

Director Tom McCarthy understands that the narrative of “Spotlight” stands on its own and does not lend itself

to flashy cinematography.

Early on in the film, Liev Schreiber’s character, Marty Baron, tells his journalists, “We need to focus on the institution, not the individual priests, practice and policy. Show me this was systemic, that it came from the top down.” “Spotlight” does exactly this. It shows an institution plagued by corruption and the journalists who are committed to exposing it.

And it does so with the nuance of an Oscar-worthy film.

Stories Come to Life in Neil Gaiman’s Graphic Novelette Diana Ciarallo Red&Black Staff

“She was one of those forest witches, driven to the margins a thousand years ago, and a bad lot. She cursed the babe at birth, such that when the girl was eighteen she would prick her finger and sleep forever.”

The Sleeper and the Spindle is a 69-page graphic novelette that recounts the story of a sleeping curse that was rapidly ravaging an entire kingdom, with a beautiful princess asleep in a tower holding center stage amidst all of it.

There is a queen, her hair black as night and skin white as snow, who wakes up on

her wedding day with great reluctance, fearing that her impending nuptials will mean the very end of her ability to make any of her own choices in life.

Although there is a sleeping princess and a distressed queen, there is hardly any appearance of a noble, handsome prince who comes in on his clichéd white horse.

Believe it or not, the archetypical handsome prince does not save the day in this story.

Making only one minor appearance in the whole book, the prince is quickly forgotten as his bride-to-be puts their wedding on hold to go investigate the sleeping curse.

So while he is merely chucked

“beneath his pretty chin,” the bride herself rides off to save the day, complete with a white horse, armor, and sword.

These are not the stories of Snow White or Sleeping Beauty that you might remember from your childhood.

This is not a simple fairy tale retelling, either.

Instead, it is in this tale of strength, sacrifice, choices, and identity that an independent young queen, who has had much experience with witches and sleeping spells, goes off with her three dwarf companions on a magical adventure, in which sleepwalking zombies and treacherous rose thorns must be dealt with and not everything is what is seems.

Courtesy pbs.twimg.com

With artist Chris Riddell’s illustrations of intricate ink designs embossed with gold gilded vines, jewels, skulls and weapons, award winning author Neil Gaiman’s The

Sleeper and The Spindle is a storybook for people of all ages, beautifully brought to life in a manner that makes your eyes want to devour every last detail of every page.

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26 F ebruary 2016

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Poetry Corner From Brutality to Beauty: “Temptation” Diana Ciarallo Red&Black Staff Pears shimmer and glisten like satin An elegant gown Lustrous, green silk An apple, flushed and rosy with life and health Fruit for any seductive serpent To have his way with a pretty girl Plums painted In the somber elegance of winter Any fruit, shall do The world, a bowl Laden with luscious finds Temptations of every kind Pleasing to the eyes Pomegranates filled with droplets of blood Apple infested with worms

"Battle" Tommy Felton Red&Black Contributor Shards of stars Battling the blue dark Of night.

Dripping light, warm honey sky Melt into a storm across The river's ceaseless currents.

Glittering sweet mouthfuls of gold Chase the dark with Sabers of color, crystal summer.

Photographer Showcases Albinism Leah Segal Red&Black Staff In a nation where minorities of every race, religion and gender have made insurmountable strides in recent years, it is easy to forget of the strife and inequality in the world around us.

However, for a subset of people in South Africa who are born with Albinism, their suffering is still very real.

Luckily, one man is on a mission to change that through the power of photography.

Albinism—a, “congenital condition in which a person is unable to produce the typical pigmentation of skin, hair and eyes” results in an extremely fair complexion and weak hair and eye coloring, causing a high sensitivity to light.

Although rare, nearly one in 4,000 South Africans live with the condition. Their suffering is not reserved to the anatomical drawbacks, however, because of the terrible stigma associated with Albinism.

In an interview with the Huffington post, Nomasonto Mazibuko, (an individual afflicted with Albinism) described the negative aura surrounded by people like him as, “we are still called isishawa [a Zulu word for a person who is cursed] and inkawu [an Nguni word for ‘white baboon’]."

In some extreme cases, albi-

Courtesy blacknet.co.uk

nos are often hunted by witch doctors.

In Tanzania, their body parts, “believed to be good luck,” sell for around $75,000.

In 2008, after 50 individuals with albinism were killed in Tanzania, the UN declared the population "persons with disabilities."

After such tragic events, photographer Justin Dingwall decided to step in.

Dingwall, who feels that, “there is a beauty in difference... hope[s] through [his] work to inspire people to embrace this difference and reinterpret their ideals of beauty."

Photographing multiple men and women with Albinism, he transforms what some see as a flaw into pure beauty.

From shots with elegant butterflies strewn down the backs of the models, to slith-

ering snakes wrapped around their necks—the unique photos expose the delicacy of their pale features.

Although the photos focus on those with Albinism, Dingwall hopes, “to challenge idealized notions of beauty and celebrate the value of variance.”

He furthered his point when he said, “The images are not about race or fashion, but about perception, and what we subjectively perceive as beautiful . . . I wanted to create a series of images that resonate with humanity and make people question what is beautiful.”

Although the stigma is deeply entrenched in South African society, Dingwall’s beautiful photography is a catalyst for change to turn this condition into a cause for celebration.

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26 F ebruary 2016

The Zika Virus and the Chilling Reality of Anti-Abortion Laws Capri Backus Red&Black Contributor

Panic can often highlight the needs, nuances, and issues of our time. Currently, women in some Latin American countries must choose between the heat of the frying pan or that of the fire–and sometimes, that choice is made for them.

On January 21s, El Salvador’s Deputy Health Minister, Eduardo Espinoza, recommended that, "We'd like to suggest to all the women of fertile age that they take steps to plan their pregnancies, and avoid getting pregnant between this year and next," effectively asking El Salvador’s women and female population to remain childless until 2018.

His concern, on behalf of the El Salvadoran government, is due to the 5,397 cases, and victims, of the Zika virus that have already been detected and the 96 pregnant women already suspected of having the virus.

With growing fear surrounding the Zika virus and mounting biological links to microcephaly, the idea of remaining childless sounds, if a bit intrusive, like a simple practicality.

El Salvador isn’t alone in issuing its advice. Columbia, Ecuador, Brazil, El Salvador and Jamaica have also advised women and females to de-

lay pregnancy for six to eight months.

It is concerning that these warnings have centered around placing the sole responsibility of remaining childless on women and females, especially in the civic environment of a government that fosters blame, stigma, and adverse health complications without empathetic nor accessible solutions to unpredicted, medically dangerous, and traumatic pregnancies.

According to an article in the Guardian, El Salvador has the highest rate of teenage pregnancies in Latin America, which is “exacerbated by tottering public institutions, high rates of sexual violence (“five sexual crimes against girls under the age of 18 were reported every day last year to the national police”, with the actual rate almost “certainly” higher), inadequate sex education and a backdrop of violence and gang warfare.”

Mariela Hernández, a health advisor for pregnant teenagers and mothers, was quoted as saying “This is a culture of machismo: many girls are dominated by their partners; contraception and pregnancy isn’t always their choice…There is [no sex education] in schools, [but] with Zika it is urgent that this happens now,” Hernández said.

Similar to the lack of sex education, contraceptives in El Salvador are almost imaginary–many of which, like oral pills, injections, or condoms, the Guardian notes, is supposedly available, but in short

supply, and in the case of minors, also requires adult consent. Contraceptive consent and choice in controlling and dominating relationships, or even in the case of a child asking a parent, is not truly an accessible alternative to women and females.

If young people are put in places of little power, whether it be in relationships with dominating partners, or in families who see sex before marriage as a moral depravity, the risk to immediate financial and emotional support becomes a salient deterrent.

El Salvador, along with Chile, the Dominican Republic and Honduras establish heartbreaking precedents: these countries legally outlaw abortion regardless of reason.

The UN, in conducting its own series of studies, found that loopholes in some countries allow for abortions in certain, but not explicitly protected, cases, creating a disconcerting and complex code for women to navigate.

For example, the Dominican Republic was put under this asterisk, “The abortion law does not expressly allow abortions to be performed to save the life of the woman, but the general principles of criminal legislation allow abortions to be performed for this reason on the grounds of necessity."

Similarly, Honduras penal code does not make exceptions regarding abortionshowever, its Code of Medical Ethics allows abortions if necessary to save the mother’s

life, though it also requires a physician, a group of physicians, and the consent of the mother, hus husband, or her closest relative. El Salvador in particular, has created an intensely terrifying atmosphere for its women and female constituents.

In 1973 El Salvadoran criminal code allowed for victims of rape, women who carried fetuses with congenital defects, and mothers whose lives were being endangered to abortion, which was superseded by a revised constitution and perspective on life: that human beings, and life, exists at conception.

Abortion now carries two chilling possibilities: medicals risks caused by unsafe abortions, and incarceration.

Women and female citizens caught or suspected of intentional miscarriage or abortion are convicted under minimal evidence and convicted sentences can be up to 40 years long.

The threat of quasi-lifetime sentences are compounded by what Dennis Muñoz, a lawyer quoted by The Guardian, calls “the health and legal risks of clandestine abortions...felt disproportionately by poor communities.”

Ruth María Matamoros, a psychologist with Nicaraguan women’s organization Grupo Venancia, said that “abortion ban[s] creates a divide between rich and poor…Those who have the money just fly to Miami to go to a private clinic. The poor will always look for clandestine clinics, where

(practitioners) don’t always know what they are doing.”

Muñoz also “believes El Salvador’s anti-abortion laws are the worst in the world because they presume guilt.” Abortion law, in extension, by accusing doctors of complicity if they do not report abortion “crimes,” also breaks doctorpatient confidentiality and the safe space and duty of care for these patients. In some cases, women have been handcuffed to their beds.

Alberto Cortez (Class of 2019) gave his perspective on why Catholicism has such a big impact on abortion in El Salvador, as his parents are from the nation and he had visited several times.

“People get attached to religion because it’s the only thing people can hold onto,” especially, as he continued, when the El Salvadoran government isn’t always liked or trusted.

Changing or balancing medical needs with Catholicism is pretty difficult for the culture.

Donté Stevens (Class of 2016) who spent time in Ecuador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Peru, and Colombia, also noticed that balance and change to Catholic stances for abortion was unlikely, especially since Church provides a safer, constructive alternative to the streets.

“If abortion laws were to change, it would be because the people want it to change,” said Stevens, echoing Coretz's “It wouldn’t work if the government just mandated it, even if the government wanted to.”

26 F ebruary 2016 In an ideal world, yes, museums would be free...

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OPINIONS

If everyone could just relax on the whole gender roles...

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Might Our Swipes Be Turned into Credit Cards? Disrespect to the Presidents Keira Frazier Red&Black Contributor

Each and every student at W&J is given a swipe. It is practically a lifeline, acting as a meal ticket, form of identification and entry key to almost every building on campus and most importantly the residence halls. But there has been speculation of another possible function being added onto swipes: a credit card adaptation.

With this adaptation, students would be able to purchase goods on their swipe, much like a normal credit card. Not many details have been provided, as the concept is still in development and discussion, but the idea seems pretty straightforward.

When asked for her opinion on the matter, Umayma Wilkerson-Dixon (Class of 2019) responded

positively. “The swipes would have to be upgraded to a better quality in order to be used as a credit card,” said WilkersonDixon. “But it would help students who don’t have a PNC bank account with paying ATM fees.”WilkersonDixon also suggested different opportunities that the creditswipe would afford students, such as the direct-deposit of checks from on-campus jobs.

The convenience of credit card technology is used by many students already, including myself, so most might suggest that the addition of a credit function may be more efficient since everything a student needs would be on one card instead of multiple.

But with benefits often come drawbacks, as pointed out by Nikha In-amkha (Class of 2019), who believes the card function would have a negative effect. “I always lose

my swipe,” she notes, pointing out one of the prevalent dangers of credit cards. Losing a credit card can result in identity theft and fraud, and can lead to major expenses to not only replace the card, but settle any outside purchases.

In-amkha also believes the dangers of overspending are too great. “If [the] swipe has the capability to act like a credit card, man, my bank account will be drained within a week,” said In-amkha.

Overall, there are many projected benefits, but also many possible consequences.

The outcome of the credit adaptation would depend on the responsibility of the user. I believe that the adaptation would prove very useful for some students, but a hindrance for others.

It is my opinion that the credit function should be an optional addition until more data is gathered.

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.

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.

Leah Segal Red&Black Staff As we attend a college named after two very influential Presidents, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, the importance of our forefathers is undoubtedly deeply entrenched in our hearts. However, for the one day dedicated to our very founders- Presidents Daysome declare it as a day of disrespect.

The third Monday of February, a day now known as President’s Day, was not always known as such. For those old enough to remember, the date was originally dedicated to celebrate George Washington’s birthday.

However, over time Washington’s birthday has become clumped into a holiday in which we remember all of our nation’s leaders; what we know now to be our modern day President’s Day.

Although some would argue that such a celebration snubs the father of our country, I think otherwise.

As our first president, Washington is associated with the creation of our nation and having paved the way for a modern democracy. That being said, there is no doubt in my mind that President Washington should be celebrated; however, I believe President’s Day suffices as a day of remembrance- even though this day is shared with the other American Presidents.

In fact, the current date in which we celebrate President’s Day isn’t even Washington’s birthday, as he was born February 22. Although I cannot speak on his behalf, I feel he may be more upset about celebrating on the incorrect day rather than Continued on page 18.

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

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26 F ebruary 2016

Getting Into Museums For Free Carolyn Wilson Red&Black Staff

The Hazards of Hoverboards A popularized variant of the classic Segway that mall cops may ride around on has been on the rise in young culture around the globe. Known as a “hoverboard,” this board does not hover, nor is it technically a board. It is merely a Segway without the handle bars, and this may pose an issue.

When introduced, they were by no means cheap, and were almost entirely unreasonable for anyone to purchase a “hoverboard.” However, soon a race had begun between manufacturers, and a race to the cheapest manufactured board was imminent.

However this had posed a few issues.

Outside of the typical fall, bump or collision that major manufacturer “Swagway” had encountered, their “hoverboards” were catching fire while being charged, and a now the United States government has taken action.

The United States Consumer Products Safety Commission (also known as: CPSC) had “deemed nearly all hoverboards unsafe yesterday,” according to Swagway and The Verge contributor Nick Statt.

This is quite a trivial issue, especially because this grants the United States government not only to have the ability to seize unlicensed dealers of the

boards to face serious felonies, but also the government can repossess any boards from Swagway and its customers.

The CPSC had received 52 reports of fires from over 24 states with Swagways and other “hoverboard” manufacturers, and now Swagway has released a statement exclaiming, “We will issue a recall if necessary, as soon as we fully understand the exact specifics that need to be addressed according to the CPSC requirements and will offer a remedy for our customers accordingly.”

Personally, I find a company that provides a multitude of “hoverboards” to clients and does not research and develop their one product accordingly, quite unprofessional and lu-

dicrous. Sacrificing a normal daily task for lazy behavior and jeopardizing one’s safety is childish and a detriment to others nearby. Not only this, but they are not practical, and cannot go everywhere that a typical walker can reach.

Swagways are still starting at $400 USD, and some “hoverboards” reach well over $1500 USD. This fire issue is happening with primarily all of them, and is a direct correlation with poor manufacturing and overcharging.

Today, they are being banned from malls, high traffic cities and college campuses, including the Washington & Jefferson College campus.

This begs the question: why purchase one if you cannot use it?” In simplest terms, be-

Courtesy nbcnews.com

“There’s no such thing as a free lunch.” If you have ever taken economics you may have heard that phrase and you would understand that even a so-called “free lunch” costs something. So although some museums in London may be free to get into, someone is paying for your visit.

Yes, it would be wonderful to be able to visit museums for free in American; however, the request is quite unrealistic. Museums cost money; the people who work there aren’t

sorts of different programs; public schools, the military and road repairs to name a few. And, in England, some of the tax money goes to museums. In a non-direct way, the public is paying for their ticket to a museum.

In America, however, the government is not using our tax dollars to fund museums.

Instead various grants both from the government and private sectors help fund museums and, of course, earned income from the ticket you buy.

In an ideal world, yes, museums would be free to the public. But, like England, even if they were free to the pub-

And, in England, some of the tax money goes to museums. In a nondirect way, the public is paying for their ticket to a museum. volunteering and daily maintenance is required with the amount of people visiting. So why then are some museums in other countries, such as England, free?

To make this less complicated, because every country’s economic system is different, I will just focus on England Museums receive all sorts of funding from various organizations, but in 2001 the Labour government ensured free admission into national museums as to provide everyone access to the country’s cultural sites. If the government is funding it, then that means tax-payers are funding it. Tax money collected goes to all

lic, citizens would one way or another be paying for their ticket.

However, I personally would not mind if my tax dollars went to help fund museums.

Museums provide a cultural experience that I do not think only the elite should have. Being able to take elementary school kids to museums for field trips would give kids a greater appreciation for art, cultural, and history that they cannot learn in the classroom.

Museums are an interactive way to learn about the world that everyone should have access to.

26 F ebruary 2016

Dealing with Insensitive People Erin Haughey Red&Black Contributor

Should we be understanding when someone says something is insensitive, or do people need to not be insensitive? There is no clearcut answer to this question.

This greatly depends on the situation.

There are certainly cases when we should bite our tongues and keep our comments to ourselves. An

circles can only complain to those who are in bigger circles then themselves. They should never complain to the patient or those in smaller circles.

I think everyone can agree that we need to be more sensitive to those with a serious illness as well as their family members. The more controversial issue lies with different opinions.

As Americans we have the right to Freedom of Speech.

This means we are entitled to give our opinions without the risk of punishment. However,

It is important to remember that if you have a strong opinion about a certain topic then you should be understanding of the opposite side. example of this would be if someone is very sick and in the hospital. If we are family friends or extended family members we should complain to those closer to the problem such as spouses, children and certainly not the patient.

Susan Silk and Barry Goldman, writers for the LA Times, have an idea that might help how not to say the wrong thing. They explain drawing a circle and in the center putting the person’s name who is being affected the most (the patient). Then draw larger circles around the main circle and putting those names of the people closest to the patient. The idea is that those in the larger

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many are often offended if the opinion of someone else differs from them. It is important to remember that if you have a strong opinion about a certain topic then you should be understanding of the opposite side. Having an understanding of the opposite side can actual help you defend your argument.

Society wants us all to be politically correct which makes us afraid to say how we really feel or ask questions.

I think the best way to be more “sensitive” to something you don’t understand is to ask questions and we have to acknowledge those questions as curious and honest rather than offensive.

What Makes Up a Perfect Feminist?

Carolyn Wilson Red&Black Staff By definition, there are multiple forms of feminism.

There’s radical feminism, liberal feminism, radicalliberal feminism, socialist feminism, cultural feminism and ecofeminism.

A perfect feminist does not exist because there are so many different variants of feminism.

Personally, I consider myself a feminist. I believe in equal rights for all, socially and economically. However, do I always follow everything what a “true feminist” does?

Depends on who you ask.

I think I live by my belief of equal rights for all. However, I am in a sorority which

many feminist may believe is “antifeminist;” manual labor is something I leave for my dad to do at home; Barbie’s were my life growing up and dressup was my favorite game.

I do have a lot of stereotypical feminine qualities about me which maybe a feminist might think that I am following my gender role. Yet, I do not think that this exempts me from being a feminist.

Yes I believe in equal rights for all, and a part of that belief is the right to do whatever floats your boat, as long as it is not harmful to others, without being judged.

If everyone could just relax on the whole gender roles idea and just did whatever made them happy, I think the

world would be a much nicer place. Who cares if you’re a man who chooses to rock a fit ‘n flare dress; you are not the first man and you will not be the last. A man wearing a dress does not impact my life as greatly as a man who honks his horn at me as he drives by.

And who cares if you’re a woman who likes to sleep around, as long as it’s not my boyfriend then you can do whoever as long as it is consensual and safe. What bothers me more, are the girls who think it is okay to “slutshame.”

I am not even sure if there is a specific handbook that all feminist must live by, but so as long as you truly want equal rights for all then consider yourself a feminist.

extended weekends, I find it slightly shocking the American public was able to transform a holiday from remembering and celebrating our presidents into a day to sleep in. Additionally, the President's’ Day of our very own lifetimes are marked with “blowout furniture sales,” “mega mattress deals,” and an array of other marketing campaigns.

That being said, I feel George Washington would not be upset at having to share a day with the other

presidents; after all, the nation he helped to create is shared by millions of people.

However, I do feel what Presidents’ Day has turned into is a disgrace to our nation. On a day we should thanking and remembering our founders who gave us our freedom, companies look for a way to make a profit. That being said, the only other problem with Presidents’ Day is that we-- students of Washington & Jefferson College-- do not have the day off.

Continued from page 15

sharing it with the other presidents.

But the already unknown history behind this federal holiday contains even murkier roots. In the beginning, February 22 was the original and constant date of President’s Day (due to it being Washington’s true birthday). However, this was soon changed when it was moved as part of 1971’s Uniform Monday Holiday Act, an attempt to create more three-day weekends for the nation’s workers.

That being said, the story behind our modern day of presidential remembrance revolves a petty need for more vacation time. And although I am a huge advocate for

Courtesy highcoastmedia.com

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The Political Corner

26 F ebruary 2016

Trump Nightmare We Have Been Here Before: Ben Langdon Red&Black Staff

When Donald Trump announced his candidacy for President of the United States in the summer of 2015, late night comedians thought that Christmas had come early.

“Thank you, Donald Trump, for making my last six weeks, my best six weeks,” former host of The Daily Show, Jon Stewart, quipped in his first show after Mr. Trump announced his candidacy.

Half a year and two primary wins later, no one is laughing anymore.

As the primary season wears on and as Trump’s rise to the Republican nomination seems inevitable, the joke has gone sour.

I and many other people across this nation may still laugh at the absurdity of this election cycle, but that does not mean it is funny. We laugh because it’s the only good alternative to crying.

I do not wish to be hyperbolic here. I am well aware that there has been plenty of eccentric characters on the fringe of the ideological spectrum that have run for President. Despite this, the country has avoided catastrophe for two and a half centuries.

Trump is not just any other eccentric candidate.

A Trump presidency would be an unprecedented disaster for this country. Trump’s policies would seek to undermine the very values that we hold dear.

A candidate who speaks fondly of torture, remarking that he would “bring back waterboarding, and bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding” is a threat to our moral standing in the world.

A candidate who alienates Muslim and Hispanic people by calling for a ban on Muslim immigration and referring to Mexican undocumented immigrants as “rapists” and “murderers,” is a threat to national unity.

A candidate who claims to understand economic policy because of his work in the business world—work that included 4 of his businesses filing for bankruptcy—is a threat to our current economic recovery.

A candidate who says that we should kill the families of terrorists—a direct violation of the Geneva Convention—is a threat to national security.

The scariest part of a Trump presidency is not what he says he will do, it is the fact that he will say and do anything that is popular with his devotees. Trump is beholden-

A Letter From Nathan Kanuch Lost amidst all the chaos, the strife and at times weirdness of the 2016 election cycle is its place in the history books.

Though it is certainly too early to know exactly what ramifications the 2016 election holds- we have not yet even settled on two nomineeswe can put the bedlam of this election cycle in historical context and perhaps give ourselves hope that the grandness of the American political process is not all lost.

The rise of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders, frightening rhetoric, and a tendency to rely on personal attacks over meaningful policy differences may seem like a new phenomenon to those not well-acquainted with American political history. Yet time and time again in American to no moral compass or ideology. He will commit himself to any ludicrous policy position as long as his supporters stand behind him.

As the possibility of a Donald Trump presidency rises, it is important that the voting public becomes aware of the threat he presents. The presidency is too important to become occupied by what amounts to the personification of a YouTube comment section.

history, we go through times that seem much more ominous than what we are now dealing with.

Indeed, what this country currently faces is rather tame compared to other periods in American history. Donald Trump has defined the nastiness of the 2016 election, with calls to ban Muslims from the country to launching petty attacks to nearly anyone who criticizes him. Trump, however, is nothing new in American politics.George Wallace, who infamously promised “segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever,” ran for president four times, three as a Democrat. Wallace’s view on race and minorities would make Trump blush.

Bernie Sanders and his brand of so-called democratic-socialism harkens back to when Eugene Debs ran for president from the Socialist Party at the beginning of the 20th Century. According to Rolling Stone, Senator Sanders’ Senate Office contains a plaque honoring Debs.

Figures like Trump and Sanders are nothing new. By appealing to the most radical and disenfranchised elements of society, these types of candidates channel an intense anger felt by the American pop-

ulace. Yet despite similarities among candidates, the current conditions we face as a nation are perhaps the most striking. We worry that we will not be able to overcome things like student debt, entangling wars and violent rhetoric. But our country has faced much worse.

To overcome what ails America, we must be willing to look into the past to remember what we have faced before. A sitting president once led troops on horseback into Western Pennsylvania to combat the Whiskey Rebellion. We think our electorate is angry now; just imagine a time when anarchy ruled and tax-collectors were tarred and feathered. Abraham Lincoln faced a nation torn apart by slavery and secession. The 19th Century is full of circumstances that are much worse than now.

As Americans, our job is to remember not to allow ourselves to give into our own fear and anger. Drifting toward radicalism, whether on the left or the right, is dangerous and not productive in solving our problem. Moderation, compromise, and a willingness to listen is a timeless strategy that we must allow back into politics.

26 F ebruary 2016

19 sports

TheVatican Launches a Sport's Conference Benjamin Langdon Red&Black Staff

Sports just got a papal endorsement.

Pope Francis has announced that he will make sports a focus of his papacy’s third global initiative on education.

The Vatican is launching a multi-faith sports conference in October called “Sports at the Service of Humanity.”

The three-day conference is being created with the help of two North American sports sponsorship and marketing companies, Lang Marketing and The Aspire Group.

The October conference will focus on three educational areas: school, sports and jobs.

The inclusion of sports marks the first time that a high-profile global institution has focused on athletics as a means to drive social change.

The conference will be invitation-only and about 150 of the world’s top figures in sports, government and religion are expected to attend.

“It is not a one-off event.

The idea is to create a movement that brings in all religions and all countries,” said Monsignor Sánchez de Toca, the Vatican’s Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture.

The organizers of the conference have not yet released an official list of attendees,

however Monsignor Sánchez de Toca said he expects The United Nations SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon and IOC President Thomas Bach to be involved.

“It is the Pope’s wish that the legacy movement developed from this Conference, will be to offer more children and their families, particularly those on the margins of society, the opportunity to play sport simply for the fun of it,” added Bernie Mullin, CEO of The Aspire Group.

Pope Francis has authorized this conference in belief that sports can be used to bring together people of all faiths and backgrounds.

According to Monsignor Sánchez de Toca, Pope Francis first received the idea for using sports to drive social change while attending a conference called “Believers in the World of Sports” in October of 2013.

Ever since elected to the papacy in 2013, Pope Francis has been open about his appreciation for the soccer team San Lorenzo from his home country of Argentina.

This newly announced conference will allow him to reiterate his affinity for sports and his ideology of bringing people together, regardless of their backgrounds.

“It’s ping-pong diplomacy on the most massive global scale,” Mullin said of the upcoming conference.

He added that this is a global effort “to serve humanity better through sports.”

Red & Black

Courtesy dailytheology.org

Courtesy dw.com

20 sports

26 F ebruary 2016

Student Athlete Spotlight: Alexis Glenn Red & Black

Courtesy gopresidents.com

Jordan Toohey Red&Black Staff

Alexis Glenn, a sophomore swimmer and early childhood education major from Sewickley, Pa., has made a huge splash into swimming and academics in her first two years in college.

Academically, she plans on attending graduate school for her masters and perhaps eventually getting her doctorate; which she plans on utilizing teaching in local public elementary schools.

In high school she was a four time letter winner, earning her name on the record board for the 200 medley relay. Her success continues in

college; her freshman year she was second team all-conference.

Now she has the record for the 100-yard butterfly. This year at the PAC Championships she placed third in the 100 fly, fourth in the 100 back, and second in the 200 back; along with two more third places, a fourth place, and a fifth place for the relays.

Glenn started swimming when she was six years old for her local YMCA swim team and eventually realized that she would want to continue swimming in college.

“I have loved swimming ever since I was a little girl and I could not think of giving it up that easily. I thought a lot about if I was going to con-

tinue in college or not when I was a senior in high school.

When I decided to come to W&J I knew that I would be able to swim. I knew some of the swimmers on the team already and I loved the coach so it was a no brainer,” said Glenn.

Choosing where she wanted to attend college was an easy decision; Glenn knew that W&J would satisfy her academic needs and wants for her future.

Glenn was also aware of W&J’s distinguished reputation with its academic excellence; which is what the college is mainly known for.

She also loved the campus, the small class sizes and the professor to student ratio;

along with the availability to continue the sport that she loved.

“As cheesy as it sounds, swimming is like my first love.

It means the world to me and I couldn’t imagine a world without it. It is a part of who I am as a person and it is the first thing I tell people when I meet them. Without swimming life wouldn’t make sense to me,” said Glenn. “I absolutely love swimming for W&J and love swimming for Coach Orstein. Our team is one big happy family who spends almost every day together. We work really well together and I wouldn’t trade any of them for the world. I truly love this team and am so happy with my decision to come to W&J

and to continue swimming.”

Outside of swimming Glenn enjoys softball, which she played for a short time here at W&J until she wanted to focus on her consuming passion of swimming. She is also a part of Pi Beta Phi Sorority, where she takes on a leadership role.

Her other interest includes an enjoyment of work at the Watson Institute during the summer, where she learned plenty about mentally, physically and emotionally handicapped/disabled students.

Due to her time and commitment spent here over the summers, this has been a major influence in her decision in wanting to go into the special education field.