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The Free
s t u d e n t n e w s pa p e r o f w a s h i n g t o n a n d j e f f e r s o n c o l l e g e w j r e da n d b l ac k . c o m W a s h i n g t o n , P e n n s y lva n i a M a rc h 2 , 2 0 1 8
WHAT’S IN THIS WEEK’S PAPER... LIFE “In tandem with the water-reusing requests, citizens are being asked to limit their showers to 90 seconds. ‘Unwashed hair is now a sign of social responsibility.’” -P. 6
CULTURE
“However, STATION really impressed me with the large entrée options. They had five great options like bone-in pork chop, pierogies and pan-roasted scallops.” -P. 8
OPINIONS
“This film gives black children the ability to grow up knowing that there are superheroes that look like them, which gives them even more confidence and pride in their own culture.” -P.13
SPORTS
“The men and women’s teams will now prepare for their upcoming outdoor season after the ECAC event while qualifiers continue to New York.” -P.18
Track and Field Teams Place Highly in PACs PAGE 18 Courtesy gopresidents.com
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2 CAMPUS NEWS
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2 MARCH 2018
Student Spotlight: Julia Plasynski Seizes Travel Opportunites at W&J Marcy Saldivar Red & Black Staff
Julia Plasynski ‘20 is from Jefferson Hills. Before coming to Washington & Jefferson College, she attended Thomas Jefferson High School. Here at W&J she is a biology major because she is interested in learning about cells, processes and life in general. She plans to explore careers dealing with animals, the environment and conservation. Plasynski was not always a science major, though. She initially came to W&J on the pre-law track and to major in political science. She quickly realized how much she did not enjoy those topics and discov-
nate books to the Lemoyne center and Plasynski volunteers there as much as she can whenever she has free time. “My favorite philanthropy event we host at Kappa is called Catch the Cure. It’s a community-wide softball game that raises money for the Glock Foundation. The event raises a lot of money while raising awareness about breast cancer clinical trials. It is also extremely fun and engaging for the whole campus to participate in. Catch the Cure will take place again sometime this April,” Plasynski said. Over the summer and during Intersession breaks, Plasynski enjoys taking every opportunity to travel. One of the main reasons she chose W&J was for the numerous travel opportunities. Her freshman year, she traveled to Senegal, Africa for Intersession with Dr. Misawa. She had always wanted to venture outside of North America,
More recently, Plasynski traveled to Hawaii with her roommate and her roommate's family and explored two islands and many beaches. She seized the Intersession period this past January to go on this trip instead of taking a class. She loves to travels and plans to take advantage of another Magellan opportunity this summer. “Hopefully this summer I will travel to Thailand to volunteer at an elephant sanctuary and independently study how the country works to save
this endangered species,” Plasynski described. While at school, Plasynski keeps herself busy with many clubs and campus involvement. She is involved with the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society and Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity. She is the president of a new society on campus called the National Society of Leadership and Success. She also likes being involved with JayWalkers with which she hosts prospective students and show them around the campus.
“Hopefully this summer I will travel to Thailand to volunteer at an elephant sanctuary and independently study how the country works to save this endangered species.” - Julia Plasynski ‘20 ered her passion for biology. Plasynski’s main extracurricular on campus is her sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma (Kappa). The sisters of Kappa just finished their coat and winter clothes drive with the brothers of Alpha Tau Omega. Before Christmas, they collected toys with the brothers of Phi Kappa Psi for less fortunate children at the Lemoyne center. Kappa’s philanthropy is called Reading is Fundamental, so they do-
so when Dr. Misawa presented the opportunity to her for her to take his World Politics class, she had to take it. They learned about Senegal’s political systems, visited many cities and villages, went on a safari and met countless people. Over the summer she did a Magellan Project on biodiversity and traveled to Australia and New Zealand. She met multiple scientists, visited animal sanctuaries and had the chance to scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef.
Courtesy Marcy Saldivar
Plasynski is President of the National Society of Leadership and Success
2 March 2018
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Chemistry Professor Spotlight: Dr. Mark Harris Marcy Saldivar Red & Black Staff
Growing up in Goldsboro, N.C., Dr. Mark Harris attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he completed his B.S. degree in chemistry. Before continuing his education at graduate school, Dr. Harris worked in an environmental testing lab and as a high school science teacher. He later completed his Ph.D. in organic chemistry at Cornell University. Dr. Harris is now a chemistry professor here at Washington & Jefferson College. He has been teaching for twenty one years. He teaches organic chemistry I and III, biochemistry, biochemistry seminar, biology organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry. Dr. Harris chose to study science because he was interested in the dynamic between science and religion and wanted to explore their relationship further. Initially, he went to school to study biology, but ended up finding his pas-
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sion for chemistry along the way. “I started out as a biology major because I had a really good high school biology teacher, but I was placed into chemistry because a knowledge for chemistry is needed for biology. I realized I liked chemistry much better, so I made the switch,” Dr. Harris said. After considering a variety of careers, Dr. Harris chose to teach because it draws on his skills better than research or other lab-based jobs do. He simply gets more satisfaction out of a student having a positive result than getting a positive research result. Dr. Harris actually found W&J accidentally. His best friend was getting married in Wheeling, W.Va. and they rented their tuxedoes in Washington. While in the area, he heard of W&J and its great reputation. Then, as he looked for jobs upon completion of his Ph.D., there was a job opening at W&J. W&J seemed even more attractive to him as he discovered the clear focus on students and student-faculty connections. He saw W&J’s values and thought they meshed with what he wanted to
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do professionally. Apart from teaching, Dr. Harris is the chair of the prehealth committee, a committee that works with students who are interested in pursuing a career in the health professions. With this committee, he does oneon-one advising, coordinates speakers and admissions representatives who come to campus, talks with perspective students looking at W&J and oversees the process by which recommendations are provided for students who apply to medical and graduate schools. Dr. Harris is also involved as the vice president of the Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society, on the faculty executive committee, on the biochemistry steering committee and on the steering committee for Middle States Accreditation. In his free time, Dr. Harris plays the piano, watches college basketball, brews his own beer and drives his children around. “Like all faculty, there is a lot of demands outside of the teaching component of our jobs that can make balancing being effective here with home life challenging. At the end of the day, it
is a privilege to work at W&J not only because of what work is all about, but also the people,” said Dr. Harris. Although his life gets chaotic between his job and responsibilities at W&J and his four children, Dr. Harris loves working with his students and his colleagues.
Courtesy Marcy Saldivar
Dr. Harris got his Ph.D. in organic chemistry at Cornell University.
Weekly Word Search See if you can identify all of the articles that the words relate to!
Word List:
Chemistry
Spring
Honors
Philanthropy
Watergate
Politics
4 CAMPUS NEWS
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SECURITY LOGS Incident report number: 2720 Date of report: Feb. 24 Classification: Illegal Drugs Location: 135 East Chestnut Street Narrative: W&J CPS discovered an odor of burnt marijuana on the third floor of the fraternity house. A room has been identified and added to the report. CPS is investigating. Incident report number: 2721 Date of report: Feb. 24 Classification: Alcohol possession by minors Location: New Residence Hall Narrative: W&J CPS is investigating alcohol possession by minors in New residence Hall. Students were identified. CPS is investigating. Incident report number: 2724 Date of report: Feb. 25 Classification: Alcohol possession by minors Location: 135 East Chestnut Street Narrative: W&J CPS discovered alcohol possession by minors inside 135 East Chestnut Street. 2 students have been identified. Possible charges are pending. Incident report number: 2725 Date of report: Feb. 25 Classification: Noise complaint/ alcohol possession by minors Location: New Res Hall Narrative: W&J CPS discovered a noise complaint inside New Res. Hall. While investigating the noise complaint, alcohol possession by minors was discovered. CPS is investigating. Incident report number: 2726 Date of report: Feb. 25 Classification: Alcohol possession by minors Location: Cleveland Hall Narrative: W&J CPS discovered an offense of alcohol possession by minors at Cleveland Hall. CPS is investigating. Incident report number: 2727 Date of report: Feb. 25 Classification: Suspicious persons Location: U. Grant/ Miller Library Narrative: W&J CPS responded to the U. Grant Miller Library on a report of a suspicious male who walked into the library and was causing a disturbance. CPS officer responded and confronted the suspicious person outside the library. He was advised that the library is closed to the public on weekends and he was not to return at those times. He reluctantly complied.
Intersession Spotlight: Brooke Bova Marcy Saldivar Red & Black Staff
This Intersession, Brooke Bova ‘21 stayed on campus and took a class on Watergate. She is from Pittsburgh and she attended Pittsburgh Carrick High School. Bova is a chemistry major on the pre-law track. She plans to pursue a patent lawyer major after going to law school. She is interested in patent law because she loves to analyze data, the duties and aspects of being a lawyer and science as a whole. She chose her major because she has a passion for chemistry and patent law is an interesting type of law that requires a chemistry major. Initially, Bova was a political science major and chemistry minor, so she signed up to take the class Watergate (POL 316) because it would have counted for her political science major. Recently, she decided that she wants to do patent law so she had to switch her major. Even after the switch, the class counts as a breadth requirement and she still finds history and politics interesting. Dr. Benze taught the class. There were about 20 other students in the class. They met four times a week for two and a half hours. The material the class covered was mainly book-based from a book called “Watergate” by Fred Emery. The class challenged Bova and she learned a lot
about study habits. As advice to others who decide to take a challenging course like Watergate, Bova suggested, “Keep up with the reading. But the best thing I did was look at what the chapter was going to be about and watched a relative video or did research beforehand so I understood everything. The book helped tie together the chronological order of events and names of people.” Bova really enjoyed the class and found the material interesting. Going into law, she liked being able to examine government and gain more knowledge about the political systems in America. “My favorite part of the class was being able to analyze previous presidents and break down an administration and the current events held on that president,” Bova said. Bova is eager to continue to study law and science. She hopes to continue to take rigorous courses that both challenge her and drive her to do her best.
Courtesy Marcy Saldivar
Brooke Bova took the Watergate Political Science course this January.
2 march 2018
CAMPUS NEWS 5
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Speak Out: What is your favorite part about spring semester? “My favorite part about spring semester is the weather getting nicer and staying light longer.” - Brian Graytok ‘18
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“My favorite part about spring semester is Spring Concert!!” - Kelsea Siter ‘20
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“My favorite part is definitely Spring Concert.” - Connor Manning ‘20 Courtesy gopresidents.com
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Katherine Campbell Christopher Frydryck Kayla Marasia Erin Herock Lauren Markish Brianna Floryshak Hannah Kail Holly Sauer Ricky Delprato Karli-Ann Sanders Hannah Kail Taylor Martucci John Santa
life
6 LIFE
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2 march 2018
Cape Town in Danger of Running Out of Water
Cape Town, South Africa is facing a crisis of water supply and all of its citizens are being forced to make sacrifices.
Sofia Carrasco Red & Black contributor Cape Town, the renowned coastal city of South Africa, is the second most populous area in South Africa after Johannesburg, and it serves as the capital city of the Western Cape Province. Known by its nickname, Tavern of the Seas, Cape Town is home to 3.78 million people according to UN projections and has a growth-rate projection of 2.57% over the next ten years. With such a large population, specified to 1,530 people per square kilometer, it should not come as a surprise that sustaining the people of Cape Town requires a large supply
of resources, specifically water. The problem? Their water supply is almost empty. This is what CNN has called a slow-motion crisis, exacerbated by three main factors: the worst drought in more than a century, the ever-increasing rise in population and a rapidly-changing climate. Due to the aforementioned reasons, Cape Town has less than 10% of its usable water supply remaining. This scarcity in resources has caused the city to implement Level 4 water restrictions upon its citizens. These regulations ask citizens to limit their daily water usage to 100 liters, the equivalent of 26 gallons, per person. Citizens are also repurposing bath and shower water in order to
flush their toilets. “We have buckets in our shower and bathroom sink to save excess water . . . The gray water is then used to flush our toilets,” said Cape Town resident Suzanne Buckley in an interview with meteorologist Derek Van Demm. In tandem with the water-reusing requests, citizens are being asked to limit their showers to 90 seconds. “Unwashed hair is now a sign of social responsibility,” said another Cape Town resident in a CNN interview. Unfortunately, despite all the measures being taken to conserve water, usage is still 86 million liters above the target goal. Sustainability groups in Cape Town have dubbed the day when the aggre-
Courtesy Pixabay
gate level on reservoirs drops to 13.5 per cent. Currently, Day Zero is projected at May 21, less than two months away, and, unfortunately, the increasingly hot weather is expected to accelerate the deadline. On this day, all water supplies will be completely shut off. While these projections may seem dim, some citizens, including mother Yasmin Dawood, who stated in an interview with USA Today, “I think it has been the positive thing for my family … We are learning to respect our environment. It’s a good lesson.” Time will tell whether Cape Town will be able to find a solution to their water problem before Day Zero arrives.
2 march 2018
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Life 7
New Google Eye Scan Could Prevent Heart Attacks
Courtesy Flickr
The new Google technology will enable doctors and patients to catch early signs of heart attack risk.
Sofia Carrasco Red & Black Contributor
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women, with heart attacks accounting for about 630,000 American deaths each year. In simpler terms, one in four women are affected. In order to spot cardiovascular disease, patients go through blood tests. According to the American Heart Association, these tests may include, but are not limited to, cardiac enzymes, C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, homocysteine and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). These blood tests can assess future risks for coronary artery disease, provide information on the time it takes
for blood to clot and, in the worst cases, confirm that a heart attack has already occurred and therefore determine the damage. If the patient requires further examination, they undergo cardiac catheterization, an invasive procedure that examines the inside of one’s heart’s blood vessels using special X-rays called angiograms. A thin hollow tube is threaded from a blood vessel in the arm, groin or neck, and passed through to the heart where dye is injected to make blood vessels visible. This helps determine course of treatment, evaluates muscle and artery structure and it can help determine chest pain causes. Fortunately, Google AI and Verily Life Sciences, an Alphabet subsidiary spun off of Google, have created an algorithm to predict wheth-
er a patient is likely to suffer from cardiovascular trauma, such as a heart attack or stroke within the next five years. The best part is that it is noninvasive. The new technique actually spots early signs of heart disease by looking at a person’s retina, a layer at the back of the eyeball which contains cells that trigger nerve impulses to the brain, therefore forming visual images. To test this technique, researchers analyzed retinal fundus images, photos showing blood vessels in the eye, from 284,335 patients. Business Insider informs the public that the algorithm was so successful, it predicted each person’s age to within 3.26 years, smoking status with 71% accuracy and blood pressure “within 11 units of the upper number reported in their mea-
surement.” In comparison, the SCORE risk calculator, which requires blood tests, predicted the correct scan in 72% of cases, only 1% more accurate than the AI algorithm which is completely noninvasive. In fact, when the AI was given access to demographics such as age, gender and BMI, it performed just as well as the SCORE calculator. However, Dr. Michael McConnell, the Head of Cardiovascular Health Innovations at Verily states, “Still, as promising as these results seem, they are preliminary. More work must be done to develop findings on larger patient cohorts before this can arrive in a clinical setting.” Overall, these AI results are giving cardiologists and members of the health and science communities hope for the future of medical practice.
8 Culture
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2 March 2018
culture
Modern American Eatery STATION Review Nicole Walters Red & Black Staff
I recently had the opportunity to eat at STATION, which opened its doors in 2015. This restaurant, called “A Modern American Eatery in Pittsburgh’s Little Italy” on their website, is a restaurant that sits in the neighborhood of Bloomfield, just outside of Pittsburgh. To get to STATION from Washington & Jefferson College it takes forty minutes, but once you enter the city through the Fort Pitt tunnel, it is a straight shot from there on the Parkway East into the Bloomfield neighborhood. The restaurant itself is very old-fashioned-looking. When you first walk in, the bar is to your left and old-fashioned lights illuminate the many different bottles of alcohol. On the right side, there are high top tables. STATION has another a room with average-sized dining tables that are made of wood, and the old-fashioned lights also hang all around the room. While the ambience of the restaurant is definitely something to get you in the door, the food will keep you there. They have many delectable options for people with many differnt-
tastes to pick from. The portion sizes allow you to order three amazing courses without feeling too full and uncomfortable at the end of the meal. On STATION’s menu, you can choose from five different salads. I had the chance to try the Persimmon and Goat Feta Salad, which consists of pumpkin seed granola, squash crisp and mixed shoots. The squash crisp was so buttery and soft that I thought I was eating a sweet potato at first. Next on the menu are the small plates, giving the guests options like crispy wings, heirloom squash and grilled pork ribs. However, STATION really impressed me with the large entrée options. They had five great options like bone-in pork chop, pierogies and pan-roasted scallops. I had the chance to sample both the grilled hanger steak and the roasted octopus. The hanger steak was cooked to perfection with a little pink in the middle, and it was covered in a savory roasted garlic sauce and came with fried cauliflower and roasted mushrooms. All the items in this dish were covered in the roasted garlic sauce, which paired well with the steak. The roasted octopus consisted of octopus tentacles marinated in hazelnut with white bean fritters, olive raisin relish and greens. The octopus was filled with flavor and
went well with the greens and white bean fritters. There were two delicious dessert options. The first was a popcorn panna cotta with caramel corn and salted caramel. The second option was a lavender pound cake with coconut pudding
and pineapple. I tried the pound cake, and I was pleasantly surprised by how moist the pound cake was and how tart the coconut pudding was. Overall, the night was very enjoyable wih with the cool ambience, the great food and pleasant company.
Courtesy Nicole Walters
STATION is a restuarant located in the Bloomfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh.
2 March 2018
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Culture 9
Marvel’s ‘Black Panther’ Movie Review Alexander Benner Red & Black Staff
In the 18th installment of the Marvel franchise, “Black Panther” focuses on T’Challa or the Black Panther, a character introduced in “Captain America: Civil War.” In “Civil War,” T’Challa’s father, King T’Chaka, is murdered during a terrorist strike that plunges T’Challa into the feud between Captain America and Iron Man. The “Black Panther” film is the first time the character has been on the big
screen since “Civil War,” and it begins with T’Challa taking over as king for his father. The film then introduces the world of Wakanda, its technological superiority and its people. Problems arise quickly as Klaue, a villain first introduced in “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” works with an unknown American to steal a piece of powerful Wakandan steel from a museum in England. This leads to further altercations between the Black Panther and Klaue before he is eventually introduced to the unknown American, a former black ops operative named Eric “Kilmonger” Stevens. The characters learn more about Kilmonger, which leads
Chadwick Boseman stars as T’Challa in Marvel’s new movie ‘Black Panther.’
to confusion among T’Challa’s friends and a fight for Wakanda. As with several Marvel films, “Black Panther” also plunges into the world of the supernatural. In this instance, T’Challa visits his father in the afterlife multiple times through the process of becoming the Black Panther. “Black Panther” became the highest grossing Marvel Cinematic Universe film in its first weekend, earning 292 million USD in North America. This makes it the 20th largest superhero movie ever, and it trails only two “Star Wars” films and “Jurassic Park” for total earnings in a week. Part of the allure of the film is that most of the characters are black and, according to Michelle Obama, this is
crucial. “[Because of the] ‘Black Panther’ team . . . young people will finally see superheroes that look like them on the big screen,” said Obama. It is one of the best MCU films to date, including the best villains, best soundtrack and incredible storyline. The costumes and weapons are also a combination between traditional African culture and futuristic designs. The costume designer, Ruth E. Carter, has also worked on other films that focus on African Americans, including “Selma” and a remake of “Roots.” She helps to promote the culture but also to invent a believable, futuristic world for every viewer to enjoy. I rate “Black Panther” with an 8.5 out of 10.
Courtesy wikimedia
10 Culture
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2 March 2018
The Darkest Building Displayed in South Korea Leah Segal Red & Black Staff
With the closing ceremonies of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, it is important to reflect on the events and highlights that this great gathering of nations has brought about, both on and off the playing field. After the victors have been crowned and the medals presented, one must also look towards British architect Asif Khan for another example of greatness that can be found in South Korea: The Hyundai Pavilion. Crafted out of Vantablack, the blackest material known to mankind, the architectural masterpiece appears to be a mesmerizing black hole punching the atmosphere of Korea’s Olympic grounds. In a statement to ArtNet News, architect and designer Khan described the experience of his work. “From a distance, the structure has the appearance of a window looking into the depths of outer space. As you approach it, this impression grows to fill your entire field of view. So, on entering the building, it feels as though you are being absorbed into a cloud of blackness,” said Khan. Such overwhelming darkness and uncertainty of the senses is directly tied to Vantablack’s 99.96% light absorption, which makes it a scientific wonder. In terms of the Hyundai Pavilion’s construction, Khan had to take special measures to ensure that the architectural feat could, in reality, be pulled off. A new form of Vantablack called
VBx2 was necessary for the project as the original material proved to be much too flimsy to incorporate into the piece. Therefore, a sturdier paint version was created as a result. “The original Vantablack was incredibly delicate, a dense network of long carbon nanotubes that had to be grown on a given surface . . . whereas VBx2 is applied using a spray,” said Khan. After the creation of VBx2, the builders began to assemble the pavilion. From a first glance, Khan has achieved his vision of capturing a pure image of space. This is because Vantablack tricks the mind and prevents the eye from perceiving the depth it is used to visualizing. The presence of a suspended rod with lighted ends mimics a perfect, depthless night sky filled with stars. To contrast such blackness, the inside of the Hyundai Pavilion is painted completely white and is finished with a stunning invention inspired by Hyundai’s own new hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Named the “Water Room,” Khan created a platform that experiments with the element of water. “[The platform] produces 25,000 water droplets every minute. The liquid flows in tiny rivulets across the room, a puddle collecting and then draining every few minutes,” said Khan. Such architectural and creative genius on behalf of Khan demonstrates the greatness even off the slopes and ice at the 2018 Olympics. Viewers can only look on with anticipation to see what great architectural piece will next grace visitors and athletes arriving at the 2020 Summer Olympics in the already futuristic city of Tokyo.
Courtesy Art Net News
The Hyndai Pavilion is made out of the blackest material known to man.
2 March 2018
Culture 11
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‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ Comes to Broadway Sofia Carrasco Red & Black Contributor
Joanne Kathleen Rowling, more commonly known as J.K. Rowling, said that she was excited to announce the Broadway debut of the newest story in her magical world with “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” This book is the eight segment in her celebrated magical saga, and it is the only theatrical installment of the legacy. “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” sold its first copy in 1997, and Rowling’s books have been internationally renowned and beloved ever since. Combined, these books have sold over 500 million copies aroound the world. The Harry Potter novels opened the doors to eight highly-grossing movies, the spinoff “Fantastic Beast” films, Harry Potter Wizarding World theme parks and lifelong fans of the series. Rowling has also written detective novels such as “The Cuckoo’s Calling,” written under a pen name Robert Galbraith. The new show, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” first debuted on London’s West End at the Palace Theatre last summer. The play, written by Rowling and Jack Thorne, was directed by Olivier and Tony award winner John Tiffany. The London company starred Jamie Glover, Rakie Ayola and Thomas Aldridge as Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, respectively. The London show was so successful that it became the most awarded West End production in the history of
Courtesy New York Times
The wands were handmade for the Broadway production of ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.”
the Olivier Awards. These are the British equivalent of the American Tony Awards. The show won nine awards, including Best Director and Best New Play. On Broadway, the crew faces difficulties that were not presented in London. During London’s first shows, the storyline was unknown to audiences, and was kept undercover through the success of the #keepthesecret campaign. This helped with the popularity of the show as this campaign worked as a sort of advertising and it created an interesting form of “teamwork” be-
tween audiences and those working on the play. However, the script has now been published, and this led to a concern that many viewers would already know the plot and would not enjoy the show as much as if they did not know the storyline. This has led to tweets, reviews and a widespread public knowledge of the plot. Scholastic, the publisher of the novel, claims to already have sold five million copies of the book in the North American market on its own. This may pose publicity problems for the new play, but Rowling is still hopeful and instead looks at the potential issue in a positive light. “We see
this as a new challenge,” said Rowling in an interview with “The New York Times.” The new cast will feature Jamie Parker as Harry Potter, Noma Dumezweni as Hermione Granger, Sam Clemmet as Albus and Anthony Boyle as Scorpius. The play will open on April 22 at the newly-renovated Lyric Theatre. The show runs for five hours and 15 minutes. It is staged in two parts that can either both be seen in one day or on two separate nights. This will make for a unique show to see for fans of the books, or those who enjoy theater.
12 Culture
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2 March 2018
Discover Leonardo da Vinci’s Hidden Drawings Leah Segal Red & Black Staff
Renaissance icon Leonardo da Vinci is known for countless accomplishments in the fields of architecture, arts and invention. While humanity has been graced with the various physical remnants of his genius, such as the “Mona Lisa” and the “Vitruvian Man,” new drawings have recently been uncovered thanks to the technology of infrared lighting. Beneath the surface of what would seem to be an aged, blank piece of paper lie drawings previously invisible to the eye. Using infrared lighting, researchers have been able to detect drawings that have long faded or that were erased. This technology enables art researchers to discover more about da Vinci’s genius. For example, the famed drawing of “Studies of Water” was found to have
a fairly simple design further accented by rosettes and bubbles that were still visible on the surface. The formerly invisible drawings of “The Study of Hands for the Adoration of the Magi” are now fully visible. Although the mystery was long unsolved, the latest technologies have made great strides in revealing the hidden artwork and discovering how it became invisible in the first place. According to those working with the drawings, the clarification of how these drawings managed to disappear rests within Da Vinci’s own tools. “[Due to] the high content of copper in da Vinci’s metal stylus, a chemical reaction transformed the lines into transparent copper salt,” said one researcher. With the mystery finally solved, art enthusiasts across the globe are clamoring to feast their eyes on the newly-discovered pieces. Luckily, to celebrate the 500th anniversary since da Vinci’s death, the United Kingdom is hosting a nationwide exhibit where these pieces and over 100 more will be in a traveling ex-
hibit called “Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing.” The tour will eventually finish in The Queen's Gallery in Buckingham Palace. Before its final stop, however, the exhibit will appear at England’s most popular art museums, making it extremely accessible for all to see. The exhibit will run from Feb. 2019 to May 2019. The new discovery of these da
Vinci works not only further exposes the artistic and scientific genius of a man who lived hundreds of years ago, but it also highlights the success today’s technology has reached in being able to uncover new masterpieces. The exhibition tour does not start until almost a year from now, so the public can only wait with anticipation to see these great works.
Courtesy Art Net News
With the assistance of infared lighting, art historians can discover more of what Leonardo da Vinci left behind.
2 March 2018
Opinions 13
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opinions
What Is the Best Part of ‘Black Panther’?
Courtesy Vimeo
Scene from “Black Panther” of the the fight for the power of the Wakanda Throne.
Kelsey Julien Red & Black Contributor
“Black Panther” has only been out for two weeks, and it has received praise since its release. There are many rea-
sons why “Black Panther” is so popular and why it is such a big deal in the movie industry right now. At the Box Office, current sales have been recorded as grossing over 476.6 million USD. This is continually growing, taking into consideration the age of the movie since it’s initial release was not long
ago. It is the first “mega budget” movie to have an African American director. Director Ryan Coogler not only tells us the story of Wakanda, an African nation, but he truly immerses audiences in the movie. Each scene has a purpose and furthers the telling of the story of this Marvel film. Unlike other Marvel movies, the cast is predominantly black, and this is truly revolutionary in the film industry. This is not to say that there are no black superheroes, but there has not been an entire film dedicated to African culture in this way. This film gives black children the ability to grow up knowing that there are superheroes that look like them, which gives them even more confidence and pride in their own culture. This movie is for anyone and everyone; it has multiple aspects that everyone can enjoy. Richard Delprato ’20 loved the balance the film struck between drama
C ontac t
E ditorial P olicy The Red & Black is the official, registered student-produced newspaper of Washington & Jefferson College. It is published Fridays with the exception of exams and break periods. Editorials are based upon the opinion of the respective writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper, the
College or its students, faculty, or administration. The Red & Black welcomes all reader contributions, but reserves the right to reject letters of pure promotional nature, as well as letters which do not meet its standard of integrity, accuracy and decency. The Red & Black also reserves the right to edit submissions.
and comedy. “My favorite part of ‘Black Panther’ was the comedy that was interjected at random points throughout the movie, relating the film further to today’s pop culture,” said Delprato. Additionally, the women that are portrayed in the film are strong, independent and intelligent warriors, which is how I think we should treat all women at all times. When asked what her favorite part of the movie was, Asiyah Jordan ’21 had trouble choosing just one. “The whole movie was engaging from start to finish. It was very interesting to see Africa not being touched by the white man and not being colonized, and we got to see the potential Africa has of being a state where advancement was common . . . we saw [Africa’s] people love themselves and not deny their culture, and [they] weren’t ashamed of having kinks and curls - they embraced it,” said Jordan. I think that Black Panther was an excellent movie that helped display the rich culture of Africa and its people.
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14 opinions
2 March 2018
Red & Black
The Adult Film Industry Twitter Poll: Cardi B Nicole Walters Red & Black Staff
Adult films have been around for years. In the beginning, they were only available at theatre houses, where one had to go outside to view the film. The book “Sex for Sale,” edited by Ronald Weitzer, states that seeing the people who would show up for the films was half of the fun of going to the theater. Once technology developed to the point that televisions and computers could play movies in the home, the industry completely changed. Due to this technology change, there are millions of videos out for viewers to easily access. Those who are against adult films claim that they are inappropriate, graphic and that they oppress women. There are people arguing that pornography should be stopped and that it works under the oppression paradigm. The oppression paradigm means just that: the people, especially women, involved in the filming are oppressed in the adult film industry. These people may not know that women often enter this industry by choice because of the greater financial gain and flexible schedule. This industry is one of the only jobs where the females are paid more than their male counterparts. Some claim that the adult film industry is a great place to work and that workers function under the empowerment paradigm. They claim that women in these roles are psychologically stable, happy in their work and feel sexually empowered. In my opinion, adult films have come too far to
be made illegal. Just as prostitution is not fully contained under government restrictions, adult films could never be fully erased from the public. Adult films are legal, and, as long as the material is not too graphic and does not include minors, the best that we can do if we want more control is to work with the companies producing the films. We need to make sure they are doing their best to produce films that are fair to everyone and that do not represent any oppression or abuse. I do not think that adult films should be removed, especially because of the statistics showing how many modern teens are receiving sex education from pornography. Many schools in America practice an abstinence-only method of sex education, and this does nothing for these students but leave them vulnerable to STDs and pregnancy. While this subject is not the easiest to discuss, it is a crucial discussion to have since adult films have become so prevalent in our society.
I’m A Fan
Not A Fan
Cardi Who?
All polling information and data was taken from the Red & Black Twitter (@rednblackWJ) from the post on Feb. 21.
“I think it bothers people when you not out here lookin’ for to be accepted by everyone . . . You just doin’ you & minding your business. People hate that.” - Cardi B Look for future polls on our Red & Black Twitter page along with other news and updates about publication. Follow us on our Twitter handle @rednblackWJ.
Courtesy Amazon.com
“Sex For Sale” by Katherine Frank
2 March 2018
Red & Black
Opinions 15
Discrimination Against Women: Latin America vs U.S.
Graffiti depicts a symbol of women’s empowerment in the form of a phrase commonly associated with feminism.
Carolina Velazco Red & Black Contributor
In recent years, Latin America has elected more female presidents than any other part of the world. However, during their triumphant electoral campaigns, none of these women had to face the same level of biased and derogatory propaganda as Hillary Clinton in her attempt to become the first female president of the United States. Eliminating gender discrimination and empowering women are among the greatest challenges facing the world today. When women are healthy, educated and free to take the opportunities life affords them, children thrive and
countries flourish, reaping a double benefit for women and children. Kofi A. Annan, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, recognizes the importance of this notion. “As study after study has taught us, there is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women,” said Annan. However, despite the international community’s commitment to gender equality, the lives of millions of women and girls throughout the world are plagued by discrimination, disempowerment and poverty, and the United States plays a role in this. Juan Couso ’20 understands the discrimination women endure and hopes that it will one day end. “Well, for the most part, women have been becoming more vocal about the things that they want, [and because of this] they tend to be seen as radical feminists . . . The reason for this is the fact
that men tend to not like when women have a voice and are not afraid to use it. I do think that there has been change towards this. I do think there will come a day where women will not be judged for the positions that they hold here in the United States and throughout the whole world,” said Couso. For the United States, it would be a dramatic change and a big step to have women as presidents and leaders of this country. A woman president would defy the masculine model of power we have seen throughout history and infuse it with the feminine ethic of caring. Real equality is still in the making. “From the perspective of a Hispanic male living in the United States, I am intrigued to know more about the advancement of women in Latin America . . . firstly because this is new information to me, and secondly because I can personally verify the presence
Courtesy Flickr
of a patriarchal structure in the Latin culture, whereas in American culture patriarchy is not as prominent,” said an anonymous contributor. “It is surprising to see that the advancement of female roles, especially in government, has been more successful in Latin American countries where the cultural environment would lead one to think it would be hindered. It is definitely important to bring this topic to the table, especially when the United States is seen as a ‘leader’ in the international community in terms of social equality.” Globally, women are underrepresented where their political participation lags behind that of men. Although women as Latin American leaders have many challenges ahead, they have managed to get to the right place, and now they have been daring enough to seize and declare that is the right time.
16 Opinions
Red & Black
2 March 2018
Student Opinion on the BSU’s Diaspora Event
Courtesy Carolina Velazco
Students learning to dance with instructor after watching a traditional dance performance in Rossin Ballroom.
Carolina Velazco Red & Black Contributor
On Feb. 21, the Black Student Union hosted the African Diaspora event at Washington & Jefferson College in order to celebrate Black History Month. According to the African Union, the African Diaspora is defined as “[consisting] of people of African origin living outside the continent, irrespective of their citizenship and nationality and who are willing to contribute to the
development of the continent and the building of the African Union.” The United States is considered to be the melting pot, or a nation where people from all different races and from all around the world come together and prosper. Within this great nation, as it is considered, every race and culture should be celebrated, and the month of Feb. is when people of African descent celebrate their traditions and cultures. Personally, I do not think one month is enough to teach the public the traditions, cultures and achievements of African Americans, but it is a way of educating people who may have never
been aware of such rich culture. The demographics of W&J have changed over the past few years, making campus more diverse and inclusive. Richard Delprato ’20 believes in the significance of the African Diaspora event on campus. “I believe that the Diaspora event was a great opportunity for students to experience and learn about a culture that may be foreign to them,” said Delprato. It is important for colleges to take part in and contribute to these celebrations by bringing them to campus. Kelsey Julien ’21 also enjoyed the event. “I think this was a great oppor-
tunity to immerse in a different culture and invite [everyone] to learn their style of dancing. It felt so welcoming and fun,” said Julien. As human beings, we make ourselves known to one another by infinite varieties of intelligence, language, race, values, politics, religion, national service, gender presentation, philosophy and a host of other elements common to humankind. The recognition of a common humanity is the first step in the celebration of our differences - differences that inform our cultures, our values, our minds and all our ways of being in the world.
sports
2 March 2018
Red & Black
Sports 17
HIIT is Projected to be the Most Popular Workout This Year
Courtesy pixabay
High-intensity interval training involves a rotation of intense cardio followed by a recovery period sometimes including Plyometrics to keep heart rate up.
Marcy Saldivar Red & Black Staff
According to the Worldwide Survey of Fitness, high intensity interval training (HIIT) will become the most popular workout this year. The survey also collected data suggesting smart phone apps that prompt workouts will not be used as much. The survey was created in order to guide the fitness industry as well as to help fitness centers, wellness programs and community-based organizations stay up to date and pique the public’s interest. HIIT involves a rotation of intense cardio followed by a recovery period. Plyometrics are often integrated into
these workouts, challenging the athlete to keep their heart rate up for a prolonged amount of time. HIIT reduces the number of minutes that doctors suggest adults spend in the gym weekly. Also according to the survey, technology such as smart watches and high-tech pedometers came in third,
top 10 as well. Three new trends also made the top 20 exercise list: licensure for fitness professionals, core training and sport-specific training. Sport-specific training refers to younger athletes who train focused to their sport only. Core training involves exercises and conditioning that strengthens the
According to the Worldwide Survey of Fitness, high intensity interval training (HIIT) will become the most popular workout this year. body weight training which includes the use of solely body weight as a form of resistance came in fourth and strength training with dumbbells and weights came in fifth for most popular workout. As it always has been since the survey started, yoga placed in the
back and abdomen. Licensure refers to licensed professionals personally training people. Group training made its way back into the top 20 list even though it has been considered outdated in the past years. Before the 2000s, group training
Courtesy Flickr
led by a fitness instructor thrived. Videos were even made so people could take the group workout home with them. In the 2000s, personal training was introduced and group training started to become less popular. Facing competition in the past two decades, fitness groups are now more affordable and accessible at gyms. They are fun and keep people engaged and motivated by the others surrounding them. The survey found that gyms are starting to make accommodations for older people. Although most gym membership owners are young adults, gyms have changed the music tempo and lighting during the day when young people are at work so elderly people can have a peaceful and pleasant experience while they are exercising.
18 Sports
2 March 2018
Red & Black
Presidents on the Podium: Indoor Track at PACs Brieanna Sutherland Red & Black Contributor
Washington & Jefferson College’s Track and Field team competed in their final conference meet and ended up sending several students to the ECAC competition. At Youngstown University, W&J athletes competed against ten other teams, finishing second in the men’s division and fourth for the women’s. From the beginning of the meet to the end, Harley Moyer ‘19 was on the podium multiple times, taking first in the men’s 3000 meter run, mile and the 5000 meter run. Moyer also took the podium with W&J’s Distance Medley Relay (DMR)
400 meter run. Dwight Nelson ‘19 placed sixth behind Templeton-Harris in the 200 meter. The men’s team continued to gain points with Parker Laughlin ‘21 taking third in the 800 meter race. Trey Razanauskas ‘21 placed fourth, earning points, in the 3000 meter. In the final men’s track events, W&J’s men took second in both the DMR and the 4x400 meter relay. In the field events, Jarrod Web ‘19 took second in shot put and fourth in weight throw. Also scoring points for the team, Zachary Taylor ‘21 jumped third furthest in the long jump. After scoring higher than all but Geneva College, W&J’s men took second for the PAC conference meet. For the women’s team, the meet was started with four places in the long jump. Lauren William-Wiles ‘19 took second, Hannah Lacey ‘20 took fifth, Taylor Forsythe ‘20 took sixth and Ally Leasure ‘20 landed in eighth. In high jump, Julie Bush ‘20 took third overall.
personally I had the best race of my season,” said Briceland after the meet. The women’s team worked together to earn fourth place in their championship competition. W&J’s Track and Field team concluded their indoor sea-
son at the PAC meet and are beginning their outdoor season shortly. The men and women’s teams will now prepare for their upcoming outdoor season after the ECAC event while qualifiers continue to New York.
Courtesy gopresidents.com
Harley Moyer placed first in the 3000 meter, 5000 meter and mile.
At Youngstown University, W&J athletes competed against ten other teams, finishing second in the men’s division and fourth for the women’s. team when they placed second. Moyer was also awarded MVP of the conference, and he will be racing in the 3000 meter run at the ECACs. After the meet, Moyer was interviewed on his thoughts from the meet. “I wish I had run faster in the DMR, but I am happy and more successful than last year,” Moyer said. Several other members of the men’s team also successfully placed in their events. Jordon Templeton-Harris ‘20 took third in the 200 meter and fifth in the
Krista Sudar ‘21 won the weight throw and took second in shot put. Captain and distance runner Maggie Briceland ‘19 took fourth in both the 3000 meter run and the 5000 meter run. In the mile, Payton McAninch ‘20 placed second. Lacey later placed second in the 800 meter run. Again, William-Wiles placed, this time taking third in the 60 meter dash. For final points, the women’s DMR team placed second. “Overall I think PACs went really well, all the girls gave some of their best performances, and
Courtesy Maggie Briceland
Maggie Briceland placed fourth in the 3k and in the 5k.
2 March 2018
Red & Black
sports 19
Student Athlete Spotlight: Jordon Templeton-Harris Marcy Saldivar Red & Black Staff
Jordon Templeton-Harris ‘20 is from Long Beach, California where he attended Lakewood High School. He plans to major in psychology and minor in math. He has chosen to take the psychology path because
meter dash due to it being more of a mental competition than physical. I enjoy the 400 meter dash in spite of the pain I endure afterward because it is the epitome of a challenge; I am challenged to push through all the way to the finish line, no matter how intense the pain may be during the race itself,” Templeton-Harris said. Besides his clear academic incentive, Templeton-Harris chose to attend Washington & Jefferson College simply because he wanted his track career to continue. He is hoping to get something out of it that both he and his family can be proud of. Templeton-Harris looks to finish the indoor season off strong as he will attend the ECAC championship meet
part of running with W&J is the support he receives from his teammates, other friends on campus, and even faculty members. He appreciates the great support system. With the ECAC
championships coming up, Templeton-Harris looks to finish the indoor season strong and carry the momentum into the outdoor track season which will commence in April.
“So far, my season is going okay. I am not running as fast as I have before and as I would like to, so therefore I plan on changing my training routine, putting myself through the pain that is necessary so that I can make a strong statement in our athletic conference that doesn’t require words.” - Jordon Templeton-Harris ‘20 he is passionate about learning about cognitive functions and ways to better understand, enhance and manipulate the brain functions. As of Feb. 22, all of Templeton-Harris’s attention was aimed at his indoor track season. He runs the 400 meter dash, 200 meter dash, 4x400 meter relay and the 60 meter dash. He has been running track for almost seven years now. Ever since he started running track in 2012, he has participated in the same events. “The most challenging race of all is the 400
in New York City on March 2 and 3. “So far, my season is going okay. I am not running as fast as I have before and as I would like to, so therefore, I plan on changing my training routine, putting myself through the pain that is necessary so that I can make a strong statement in our athletic conference that doesn’t require words,” Templeton-Harris said. Templeton-Harris is fond of the memories he has made with his team every time they go to track meets and ride on the bus together. His favorite
Courtesy Marcy Saldivar
Templeton- Harris will compete in ECAC’s on March 2 and 3 in New York City.
20 sports
Red & Black
2 March 2018
Last Week’s Scores This One Time... Feb. 21 Men’s Lacrosse v. Baldwin Wallace 1-26 Loss
Feb.22
Track and Field at PAC Championships (M) 2 of 10, (W) 4 of 10
Feb.23
Wrestling at NCAA Central Regional 14 of 18 Men’s Tennis v. Mt. Aloysius 9-0 Win Women’s Basketball v. Saint Vincent 63-62 Win
Feb.24
Men’s Lacrosse v. Ohio Northern 3-19 Loss Women’s Basketball v. Thomas More 51-93 Loss Men’s Tennis v. Baldwin Wallace 3-6 Loss
Next Week’s Games Mar. 2
Swimming at NCAA Diving Regionals (A) Men’s Tennis v. Pitt-Greensburg (H)- 4pm Men’s Lacrosse v. Susquehanna (A)- 6pm Women’s Basketball at ECAC Quarterfinal (H)- 8pm
Mar. 3
Women’s Water Polo v. Hartwic, v. Marist (A) Women’s Lacrosse v. Franciscan (H)- 1pm Baseball v. Case Western Reserve (H)- 1pm
Mar. 4
Men’s Lacrosse v. Mount St. Joseph (H)- 12pm Women’s Water Polo v. Cal Luthern, v. Santa Clara (A) Baseball v. Case Western Reserve (H)- 1pm
Mar. 5
Baseball v. Bethany (H)- 2pm
Mar. 7
Men’s Lacrosse v. Hood (A)- 5pm Women’s Lacrosse v. Allegheny (A)- 6pm
Mar. 8
Track at NCAA Indoor Championships
Courtesy gopresidents.com
Courtesy gopresidents.com
“This one time around two weeks ago, I was competing at a track meet with several other really great athletes. While I was doing my warmups for the long jump, I decided to do a few run-throughs. I wanted to get a feel for their jumping area and get ready for my real jumps. On one particular practice run, I decided to attempt to pop up off the board. I’ve done this before, but this time it definitely did not work out. My knee gave out completely and I just fell face first into the sand. Everyone, including athletes, coaches and officials saw me do this, which was completely embarassing.What was even worse, however, was that I had to get up and play it off like I didn’t have sand in my hair, face and uniform. I’ll definitely play it more safe in the future!” - Lauren Williams-Wiles ’19 Women’s Track and Field