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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 & 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 1 0 , 2 0 1 7
WHAT’S IN THIS WEEK’S PAPER... LIFE
“For the past weeks on Washington & Jefferson College’s campus, the weather has not been very compliant. One day we had about a foot of snow, and the next day it was seventy degrees. -P. 6
CULTURE “While some fans have qualms about the decision to make LeFou openly homosexual, it is clear that the LGBTQ+ community is now receiving long overdue exposure within the entertainment industry.” -P. 10
OPINIONS “Overall, W&J is truly a magnificent beacon of education in the lives of all its students; however, such high praise does not come without criticism regarding lack of technology.” -P. 17
SPORTS Four run comebacks became the story of the weekend as the Presidents went on to score five unanswered runs, including a walk off double by Helbing to win the game 9-8 and sweep the weekend series.” -P. 18
BSU Observes Black History Month PAGE 2
Courtesy Carmen Carroll
wjREDANDBLACK.COM
Red & Black
The Free
s t u d e n t n e w s pa p e r o f w a s h i n g t o n & 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 1 0 , 2 0 1 7
WHAT’S IN THIS WEEK’S PAPER... LIFE “For the past weeks on Washington & Jefferson College’s campus, the weather has not been very compliant. One day we had about a foot of snow, and the next day it was seventy degrees. -P. 6
CULTURE “While some fans have qualms about the decision to make LeFou openly homosexual, it is clear that the LGBTQ+ community is now receiving long overdue exposure within the entertainment industry.” -P. 10
OPINIONS “Overall, W&J is truly a magnificent beacon of education in the lives of all its students; however, such high praise does not come without criticism regarding lack of technology.” -P. 17
SPORTS Four run comebacks became the story of the weekend as the Presidents went on to score five unanswered runs, including a walk off double by Helbing to win the game 9-8 and sweep the weekend series.” -P. 18
BSU Observes Black History Month PAGE 2
Courtesy Carmen Carroll
wjREDANDBLACK.COM
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Red & Black
10 March 2017
BSU Observes Black History Month Carmen Carroll Red&Black Contributor
The Black Student Union (BSU) wanted to recognize Black History Month with a month-long celebration that entailed BSU general meetings, guest speakers and more. The purpose of this was to get the campus aware of black history while simultaneously making it fun. The BSU executive board teamed up with the diversity and leadership initiatives. One of the events featured speaker Dr. Morris from The Ohio State University, who spoke on the Civil Rights Movement and the role that women played. To kick off the celebration, BSU joined Charles West Scholars and had a discussion about black love and what it means. One of the signature events was the second annual BSU Poetry Night at Monti’s, where all students and faculty were welcome to recite their own poetry or published poetry. Many students came out to support the event. The Commons also had a Black History Month dinner theme. “I went to the Commons that night and they served friend chicken, collared greens and mac and cheese, which was different than usual,” said Stephon Burton ‘19. Then BSU had a general meeting where they played Black History Trivia to prepare for Black History jeopardy, which had a monetary prize. The
last event of the month was a viewing of “13th Amendment,” a Netflix documentary. This documentary highlighted the correlating points between America’s prison system and the restrictions of slavery, reconstruction and so much more. “The Black Student Union did a really good job organizing all of the events during Black History Month. I heard nothing but positive comments about the fun and informative activities,” said Tiffany Dittrich ‘17. This month was dedicated to our history-makers and encouraged students to challenge their perception of history.
Above, members of the Black Student Union.
Courtesy Carmen Carroll
10 march 2017
Red & Black
3 CAMPUS NEWS
Club Spotlight: We The People Tyler Phillips Red&Black Contributor
We The People is a student media organization designed to replace the function of a yearbook at W&J. The purpose is to have the students tell their own stories of college life and catalog what the college experience at Washington & Jefferson College is like. Founded by Lauryn Halahurich ’17 and Alan Ellis ’17 during the Fall 2016 semester, the organization picked up momentum toward the end of the past semester. Despite the lower number of students on campus during Intersession, We The People maintained high involvement with its active members. The idea for We The People resulted
from ongoing issues that challenged Pandora, the former W&J yearbook, as it was no longer reflective of the student life. Low funding plagued the group because students simply did not want it. The primary goal of the new organization is to produce a more modern understanding of being a student at W&J is like and what a yearbook should be, though its members stress that it is more than just a yearbook substitute. “There are things that happen on campus that a yearbook is just incapable of encapsulating,” said Alan Ellis ’17, current president of the organization. His vision is to have the content serve as a snapshot into campus life at any given moment that can be understood by people who do not even attend college at W&J. We The People has outlets on social media in its Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages. Photos and videos are the most com-
mon medium of content on the social media side. There are plans for a website as well, but the major project is producing the organization’s first online magazine by the end of the Spring 2017 semester. The goal is to produce a magazine once per semester after the website is live. The club is meant to be as student-driven as possible, and there is less reporting and more first-hand experiences and perspectives. Ellis gave the example of Commonsgiving, something that students look forward to every year, as something that would be included in the magazine. The excitement for it is never covered in the yearbook. Events like this are what students remember after graduation and the reason that We The People exists. What makes the club unique and inclusive is that it does not require stu-
dents to have any experience or skills to contribute their own views on campus life and events. Ellis said that he has no formal training in journalism, being a Music and Philosophy major, yet this has not prevented him from contributing as much as possible outside of his duties of communicating with campus staff as club president. He continues to write articles and conduct interviews with guest speakers on campus. Given the amount of support that the organization has garnered in just one semester, Ellis is optimistic for the future of We The People and encourages anyone to contribute what he or she believes shows student life at W&J. “We need people who are dedicated and driven; the people that Washington & Jefferson prides themselves to be,” said Ellis. The organization can be reached at their email, wethepeople@washjeff. edu.
weekends. Located in the Hub, where there are pool tables, ping pong tables and even an old fashioned jukebox, there is always plenty to do. Montis is open from 9 p.m. to midnight every Friday and Saturday night during the school year. Students can come to enjoy pizza rolls, soft pretzels, milkshakes, candy and all kinds of other refreshments that are free. Sometimes there are even special events; karaoke is a favorite. Aside from all of these fun activities, the best part about Monti’s is that
it gives students an opportunity to go out with friends on weekends without the pressure of alcohol or drugs to have a good time. Even though W&J does not have a high-pressure community, the relaxing atmosphere of Oreo milkshakes and pizza rolls is always a nice one, especially when surrounded by friends. Rumor has it that the best thing about Monti’s is not the free food, but the possibility of meeting new people, trying new things, and participating in and winning games.
Montis is located on the ground floor of the Hub.
A Night at Montis: What is it like? Katherine Tice Red&Black Contributor
Monticello's is a student-run organization meant to provide a stress free way for students to enjoy themselves on
Courtesy Monticello’s Facebook
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Red & Black
10 March 2017
Student Spotlight: Shao Gyllenhaal
Courtesy Ioseb Jorjoliani
Junior international exchange student, Shao Gyllenhaal, pictured above.
Ioseb Jorjoliani Red&Black Contributor
Meet Shao Gyllenhaal ‘17, an international exchange student from Spain. Gyllenhaal is spending one year abroad at Washington & Jefferson College, and she loves it. In Spain, she studies management engineering at the University of Burgos. Unlike some other exchange students, Gyllenhaal
prefers staying in the United States and enjoys the academics as well as the social life at W&J. "I do not want to leave this college, as it really exceeds my expectations," said Gyllenhaal. Gyllenhaal did not expect W&J to be as friendly and welcoming as it is. She said, "I had some stereotypes about Americans which I am not going to share, but I can say that they are all wrong." Gyllenhaal enjoys American sports. She loves to watch football and hockey, and she recently became a big fan of baseball.“I love watching football, but unfortunately, the season is over. I cannot go to Steelers game, but may-
be some other time," said Gyllenhaal. She is a very active person. She supplements her active fitness schedule with carefully crafted nutrition plans, and she engages in all sorts of sports activities. "I try my best to go to the gym every day. Sometimes I have cheating days but it is okay every once in a while," said Gyllenhaal. Gyllenhaal recently joined the track and field team at W&J and hopes that she will soon be competing against other strong runners. Being so interested and inspired by fitness culture, Gyllenhaal also considered joining the American Army; she believes she is "Army Strong." Unfor-
tunately, she is not eligible to do so because of some restrictions. Gyllenhaal is a very amicable person. She made a lot of international as well as American friends on campus. Even though she has only been here for five months, she calls W&J her second home. However, Gyllenhaal will soon go back to Burgos and start her engineering career there. According to Gyllenhaal, her hometown, Burgos, is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and is definitely worth a visit. If you want to receive an invitation to Burgos and you have not met Gyllenhaal, please do so soon as she will be leaving campus in May.
10 march 2017
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5 CAMPUS NEWS
Speak Out: Best place to eat off campus?
“President’s Pub.” -Amiti Sharma ‘17
Courtesy Amiti Sharma
Red & Black
“The Waffle House.” -Ashlee Bruecken ‘20
Established 1909
Courtesy Ashlee Bruecken
“Fusion Japanese Steakhouse.” -Victoria Culbertson ‘18
Courtesy Victoria Culbertson
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Social Media Chair Campus News Editor Life Editor Culture Editor Opinions Editor Sports Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Business Manager Distribution Manager Adviser
Emily Sterk Katherine Campbell Leah Segal Tiffany Dittrich Shannon Adams Kayla Marasia Christopher Frydryck Karli-Ann Sanders Abigail Pipcho Lauren Virgin Siddhanta Bista Samara Wendel John Santa
10 march 2017
Red & Black
5 CAMPUS NEWS
Speak Out: Best place to eat off campus?
“President’s Pub.” -Amiti Sharma ‘17
Courtesy Amiti Sharma
Red & Black
“The Waffle House.” -Ashlee Bruecken ‘20
Established 1909
Courtesy Ashlee Bruecken
“Fusion Japanese Steakhouse.” -Victoria Culbertson ‘18
Courtesy Victoria Culbertson
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Social Media Chair Campus News Editor Life Editor Culture Editor Opinions Editor Sports Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Business Manager Distribution Manager Adviser
Emily Sterk Katherine Campbell Leah Segal Tiffany Dittrich Shannon Adams Kayla Marasia Christopher Frydryck Karli-Ann Sanders Abigail Pipcho Lauren Virgin Siddhanta Bista Samara Wendel John Santa
life
6 LIFE
Red & Black
10 March 2017
Climate Change Affects Washington, Pa
Global warming plays a role in the melting of ice caps, pollution and abnormal changes in temperature.
Saul Franco Red & Black Contributor
For the past weeks on Washington & Jefferson College’s campus, the weather has not been very compliant. One day we had about a foot of snow, and the next day it was seventy degrees. These dramatic changes are because of climate change. Unfortunately, because of the rise in climate change, that means that this same behavior will keep occurring for
the rest of the year and for future years, unless we decrease carbon emissions. With the weather acting as it does, it is making it difficult for students to plan ahead of time for different activities. They do not know if the next day will be the same or drastically different. For instance, a student may want to sled the next morning, only to find that the snow has melted. This dramatic change in weather, however, is not just affecting people’s schedules, but also their studies. Because the weather is changing so much, students may begin to feel depressed when they see the falling
snow versus the bright sun, or some may become annoyed when trying to get from one place to another. Sometimes the snowfall is harsh when just a few moments ago there were hardly any clouds. Unfortunately, with climate change being as high as it is, students are feeling the effects of it in the form of their allergies. One student, Crystal Rose ’18, a psychology major, said, “I’ve noticed my allergies seem worse, which makes me physically more rundown sometimes.” These problems come from rising carbon dioxide levels, and if not taken
Courtesy climate.NASA.gov
care of soon, the weather patterns will change as we know it. As eerily stated by Lindsey Barnhart ’20, who is considering an environmental science major, “I’m worried that we can’t make progress in any other fields before we have a way to be sustainable – basically if we can’t stop things from getting worse, since CO2 won’t go away for a really long time once it’s in the atmosphere, we’re not going to last very long or be around for very long for that matter.” This is a message to be taken to be seriously, otherwise students at W&J may be looking at even more of this chaos in years to come.
10 March 2017
Red & Black
Trump’s Press Ban Nathan Repine Red & Black Staff
On Feb. 24, The White House decided to bar several media sources from the informal briefing. Some of the media that was blocked from attending were CNN, BuzzFeed, Politico, The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times. This decision was seemingly finalized from Trump’s press secretary Sean Spicer. Some accused Spicer of not allowing these outlets to cover, while letting more conservative media sources to cover the discussion taking place. In solidarity, some of the news outlets chose not to go even though they were invited, including the Associated Press and Time. This ban was conveyed to the public the same day Trump was speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC. He called some of these banned sources “fake news” and “dishonest” while also condemning the utilization of anonymous sources in reports about him and the administration. Many could say that Trump is contradicting himself in his hatred against anonymity, as questions surface about Trump and his use of anonymous sources in self-promotion. Trump was additionally calling out many of these banned sources and labeled them as “the enemy of the American People.” He has coupled this with attacks via Twitter. One of which said, “FAKE NEWS media knowingly doesn’t tell
the truth. A great danger to our country. The failing @nytimes has become a joke. Likewise @CNN. Sad!” “President Obama was not favored by conservative media outlets, but his administration never attempted to block them or create false accusations that would try and make them appear as ‘Fake News’ I believe that barring media outlets is completely unacceptable,” said Noah Alter ‘17. “As a student journalist, I feel very strongly about this subject. The moment we let people start to silence the press and our voices from being heard is the day that we give up,” said Shannon Adams ‘17. Point of all this being, media outlets are being banned from certain coverage. Do these actions suppress the first amendment to these players in the media? Is it constitutional for the federal government to essentially censor different outlets of news from federal events?
Life Advice Life advice given to you from the mouths of the Red & Black Editorial Staff.
Why should you travel abroad while you are in college? “Travel abroad while in college because it allows you to appreciate different cultures and gain a new perspective of the world.” -Tiffany Dittrich, Campus Editor
“Traveling abroad makes you more reliant on yourself. You learn things about yourself you never imagined to be possible.” -Shannon Adams, Life Editor
Courtesy Chris Johnston
“Press Ban” by Chris Johnston
7 Life
10 March 2017
Red & Black
Trump’s Press Ban Nathan Repine Red & Black Staff
On Feb. 24, The White House decided to bar several media sources from the informal briefing. Some of the media that was blocked from attending were CNN, BuzzFeed, Politico, The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times. This decision was seemingly finalized from Trump’s press secretary Sean Spicer. Some accused Spicer of not allowing these outlets to cover, while letting more conservative media sources to cover the discussion taking place. In solidarity, some of the news outlets chose not to go even though they were invited, including the Associated Press and Time. This ban was conveyed to the public the same day Trump was speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC. He called some of these banned sources “fake news” and “dishonest” while also condemning the utilization of anonymous sources in reports about him and the administration. Many could say that Trump is contradicting himself in his hatred against anonymity, as questions surface about Trump and his use of anonymous sources in self-promotion. Trump was additionally calling out many of these banned sources and labeled them as “the enemy of the American People.” He has coupled this with attacks via Twitter. One of which said, “FAKE NEWS media knowingly doesn’t tell
the truth. A great danger to our country. The failing @nytimes has become a joke. Likewise @CNN. Sad!” “President Obama was not favored by conservative media outlets, but his administration never attempted to block them or create false accusations that would try and make them appear as ‘Fake News’ I believe that barring media outlets is completely unacceptable,” said Noah Alter ‘17. “As a student journalist, I feel very strongly about this subject. The moment we let people start to silence the press and our voices from being heard is the day that we give up,” said Shannon Adams ‘17. Point of all this being, media outlets are being banned from certain coverage. Do these actions suppress the first amendment to these players in the media? Is it constitutional for the federal government to essentially censor different outlets of news from federal events?
Life Advice Life advice given to you from the mouths of the Red & Black Editorial Staff.
Why should you travel abroad while you are in college? “Travel abroad while in college because it allows you to appreciate different cultures and gain a new perspective of the world.” -Tiffany Dittrich, Campus Editor
“Traveling abroad makes you more reliant on yourself. You learn things about yourself you never imagined to be possible.” -Shannon Adams, Life Editor
Courtesy Chris Johnston
“Press Ban” by Chris Johnston
7 Life
8 LIFE
Red & Black
10 March 2017
Women of NASA Lego Set to be Released Samara Wendel Red & Black Staff
One of the most famous toy-making companies has come up with another popular idea. The Lego Company has just developed Lego sets that are featuring the women of NASA. Lego decided to feature the famous women of NASA and recognize them through this new and exclusive set. The set is called “Women of NASA.” Some believe that the idea of this set came from the movie “Hidden Figures” that came out in theaters not too long ago. The Lego Company has a website where fans can provide ideas and feedback for potential sets that will be released in the future. Maia Weinstock from MIT News came up with the Women of NASA idea. The Lego Ideas post said, “We’re really excited to be able to introduce Maia’s Women of NASA set for its inspirational value as well as build and play experience.” Since Weinstock was the brains behind the idea, she was very passionate about its creation. She wanted to express her love for STEM as well as recognize the women working for NASA. Weinstock also said, “Among other things, both subjects have healthy social media presence, and I figured combining the two could leverage those similar passions in others. There are a number of books and documentaries on women at NASA that I've read and seen, but also a cou-
Courtesy ideas.lego.com
The Women of NASA Lego set includes five women who contributed to NASA. Hopefully this will inspire young girls that they can be astronauts, too.
ple of photos — the two I re-create as vignettes of Katherine Johnson and Margaret Hamilton — I knew I wanted to do in Lego anyway, so this just pulled them all together.” The figurines in the set include Nancy Grace Roman, Mae Jemison, Margaret Hamilton, Sally Ride and
Katherine Johnson, according to the Washington Post article. Weinstock is hopeful that with Lego releasing this new set, the women working behind the scenes in NASA will finally be recognized. She wants to encourage women to work in the STEM fields. These toys will be inspiring young
children to become whatever they want. It shows them that women can be empowered, and they will not be discriminated in the male-dominated field of STEM. Lego has not set a definite release date due to finalization of price and design.
10 March 2017
Red & Black
9 Life
How to De-Stress From College Life
Courtesy theodysseyonline.com
From all nighters to basic daily tasks, students are faced with stress almost every day. Something as simple as taking a walk can help eliminate some of the stress that students feel on a daily basis.
Saul Franco Red & Black Contributor
As a college student, it can be difficult to destress. With midterms approaching soon, the week to come will prove to be a hard one for students to deal with. However, there are ways to help students either deal with it or lay it all off. However, the best way to deal with stress is by recognizing what the time may call for. There can many reasons for why somebody is stressed; likewise, there are many ways for somebody to
destress. The key to destressing is understanding what makes one stressed and the driving principle of it. For instance, a person may be stressed out about an exam because she is most afraid of failing it, and another may be stressed out in the decision to declare a major because she likes several subjects and does not want to make the wrong decision. The following list of suggestions is meant to help students destress. -Maintain some control in given situations. One of the more distressing aspects of college is that, at times, students either do not have any options they are in control of, or they have a very lim-
ited number of them. In such a case, they should do what they can to maintain some control over themselves in the given situation. It is helpful for students to take breaks and do something they join. Mahek Gandhi ‘20, an international student looking to major in psychology and English, said, “Usually I either listen to music or go for a ten-minute walk. Talking to someone about the situation can also help.” -Always set something pleasurable aside for later. If studying for a harsh exam or prepping for an event the next day, it can be nice to set something fun or relaxing aside to help one deal the im-
mense stress before the big day. Plus, this can give oneself a chance to understand what one is afraid of and how best to deal with it. Crystal Rose ‘18, a psychology major, said, “I find that if I let myself do something fun, I’m more apt to be relaxed and ready to get going on my studies.” -Hold on to something meaningful. When doing something that makes one uncomfortable, take something along that has value to it. Things that can either make one comfortable in the given situation or provide one with some strength to best handle the situation can be very helpful, such as a stuffed animal or a family heirloom.
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10 March 2017
culture Social Empowerment in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Diana Ciarallo Red & Black Staff
This month, on March 17, Disney’s much-awaited live-action remake of “Beauty and The Beast” makes its grand appearance on the big screen – with a few modern twists. According to director of the film, Bill Condon, in addition to being a feminist revision of a beloved tale, the reboot will feature the first openly gay character to make an appearance in a film made by Disney. This is a socially progressive move that sends a clear and meaningful message. This will certainly not go unnoticed by viewers. All
Courtesy Daily Mail
LeFou is played by Josh Gad, shown above. The rambunctious character will be openly gay in the new film.
of those who have grown up watching this tale will remember the comical character, LeFou, now played by Josh Gad, who is Gaston’s boot-licking manservant, memorable for both his bumbling antics and for having the world’s biggest man crush on Belle’s unwanted suitor. Condon confides in an interview that they have decided to turn the admiration that LeFou feels for Gaston up a notch – morphing his hero worship into a full blown sexual attraction. Condon said that this revised version of LeFou is “somebody who on one day wants to be Gaston and on another day wants to kiss Gaston. He’s confused about what he wants. It’s somebody who’s just realizing that he has these feelings and Josh makes something really delicious out of it.” Disney has already released a teaser clip from the movie in which LeFou can be seen in the village tavern, singing his iconic song “Gaston,” listing all of the reasons why Gaston is obviously so much more superior to all of the other men in the village and, thus, worthy of having the admiration of just about every man and woman in town. While this clip may be only forty-seven seconds long, it is an intriguing sneak peek into the new film that will leave those who watch it will be thoroughly entertained by Josh Gad’s performance and will be yearning to
Courtesy The Leaky Cauldron
Emma Watson, shown above, is a known feminist icon and plans to revolutionize the idea of the female heroine within the realm of Disney “princesses.”
see more of this avant-garde remake of a Disney classic. However, some viewers worry about the unconscious message that this character will send as the first homosexual character in a Disney film. The fact that Gaston is straight and that LeFou is therefore almost guaranteed an unhappy ending is a point of contention in the LGBTQ+ community. Many people feel that this is an unhealthy representation of a homosexual relationship, especially considering that this may be many children’s first experience with a gay character. While some fans have qualms about the decision to make LeFou openly homosexual, it is clear that the
LGBTQ+ community is now receiving long overdue exposure within the entertainment industry. Additionally, Emma Watson’s insistence on a feminist heroine has morphed the tale from its conservative past. The film’s costume designer, Jacqueline Durran, commented on the nature of the new portrayal of Belle. “It’s not a massive reinterpretation, she was always bookish, always engaged. But I think that’s moved forward. She’s more of an active heroine then she ever was before,” said Durran. With Emma Watson’s feminist portrayal of Belle and LeFou’s love story, the traditional tale is finally catching up with the times of social progression.
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Culture 11
Red & Black
‘The Big Bang Theory’ Leads to Close Wage Gap Saúl Franco Red & Black Contributor
In CBS’s television series, “The Big Bang Theory,” the leading cast members who have been on the show since
Season 1, Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Kunai Nuyyar and Simon Helberg, agreed to take $100,000 pay cuts so that their female co-stars, Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch, can get pay raises. The two actresses make about $200,000 per episode. This brings up the problem of female workers being paid less than male workers. Because of the severity of this social issue, some people may have been happy about this, while others, not so
much. Olivia Engl ‘19, a chemistry major, is happy about this action taken by the cast. “It’s a good thing because it brings to attention how much women are being paid less in comparison to men who are doing the same work,” said Engl. Aysha Nuhuman ‘18, a physics and mathematics major, agreed with Engl. “I support Olivia when she compares the pay between the two genders. I also believe that they really should’ve been paying attention to the growth
Courtesy Radar Online
Melissa Rauch, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Jim Parsons, Mayim Bialik and Kunal Nayyar, shown above, are the stars of the hit television show “The Big Bang Theory.” The leading cast members agreed to take a $100,000 pay cut to reduce the wage gap between their pay and the pay of Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch.
of the community in recognizing that females can do the same work as men with the same intensity and enthusiasm,” said Nuhuman. “The Big Bang Theory” is a hugely popular television series. Since the cast is doing this, it will help open some of the public’s eye to what happens to actresses behind the scenes. Some, however, are not completely happy about the action. Keira Frazier ‘19, an international relations major, was one of the people that was not wholly satisfied with the article alone. “For me personally, I think it’s disappointing that it even has to be a headline. Why aren’t they already paid equally if they put in the same effort and hours?” Frazier said. “The fact the only reason the pay gap is a headline is because the male counterparts tried to do something about it. I mean, great for them for doing that, but shame on the media for not drawing more attention to the issue that caused the action,” she said. Again, a good point considering that this was the male leads who took the pay cuts, with the exception of Kaley Cuoco, are being praised for the action. This can only be a clear example of the struggle for female workers to earn as much as men and what it is that makes the situation so difficult for feminist groups to fight. Hopefully there will be a time when women are not paid less than men and that situations such as this one do not have to occur again. This is one small step in the battle for equal pay, and the rest of the entertainment industry could learn a lot from it.
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10 March 2017
Hugh Jackman Emotional and Impactful in ‘Logan’ Tyler Phillips Red & Black Contributor
After seventeen years of fighting alongside Marvel’s X-Men as Wolverine, Hugh Jackman is hanging up the claws in “Logan,” his final film as the iconic superhero. Set in 2029 and adapted from the “Old Man Logan” comic book storyline, the film finds the retired Wolverine now living in Texas as Logan/ James Howlett trying to forget his past as the world forgets about him and what used to be the X-Men. However, he is still known to Donald Pierce (Boyd Holbrook), leader of the Reavers, a group of cyborgs who hunt the few remaining mutants on the planet. Logan is aging now because of his healing abilities slowing down and his metal claws are only causing him more health problems, making him a shell of the antihero he used to be. He now resides across the Mexican border with the last two remaining mutants, Caliban, played by Stephen Merchant, and his longtime friend Professor Charles Xavier, played by Sir Patrick Stewart. Professor X is mentally unstable because of Alzheimer’s disease, and his psychic powers are hinted as the cause of the near-extinction of many mutants before the events of the film. While doing business as a chauffeur in Las Vegas, Logan encounters Laura, played by Dafne Keen, an eleven-yearold girl cloned from his own mutant DNA with the same powers and claws as him. After Logan discovers her, he is tasked with taking her to a safe haven
Courtesy trailers.apple.com
Hugh Jackman, shown above, has been playing the part of the Wolverine since the year 2000. “Logan” shows the Wolverine in an aged state, which is a far cry from his original form in “X-Men.”
for mutant children near the Canadian Border. Although reluctant to trek several states, Logan feels that it is his duty to save the future of mutants, and he accepts. Along with Professor X, the three travel hundreds of miles, only to cross paths with the Reavers along the way. Although they escape and continue their journey, Logan’s apathy toward Professor X only grows as his uncontrollable psychic powers cause problems wherever they go. The final act of the film tears at the heartstrings as the Wolverine returns to fight one last time, but for once, it is not just a fight for himself. “Logan” stands apart from the rest of the films in the “X-Men” series and is unique for a superhero movie due to the emotional aspects of an aging
hero just waiting to die. Logan’s work is not done yet, however, as he admits that he only brings pain to the people around him while Professor X and Laura struggle to connect with him emotionally. The action is just as present as it is in other superhero films, but the focus of the movie is the emotional toll on Logan and the people he cares about as they face danger at every turn. There are surprising “family” moments between the three main characters that are both heartwarming and heartbreaking as the film progresses. The leap forward in the timeline distances it from past “X-Men” films and by only using two characters from the large cast and having a drastically different story, “Logan” could work as a standalone film. Viewers who are not familiar with the franchise are quick-
ly caught up without the film wasting time on exposition. The film even draws some elements from American Western films, particularly 1953’s Shane, as inspiration for Logan’s internal struggle of living with the person he has become in the aftermath of his fellow X-Men passing away while he continues to grow older. Although fans of the X-Men franchise are the obvious audience of this film, it appeals to many others and is recommended to all viewers regardless of their familiarity with superhero films. Over the course of the X-Men franchise, more and more superhero franchises have emerged that create their own universes. Logan is a breath of fresh air that still maintains the momentum of its predecessors.
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Culture 13
Red & Black
Poetry Corner “Crocus” Diana Ciarallo Red & Black Staff Persephone spying Through a keyhole Her underground prison An eye Twinkling in anticipation Awaiting the return of spring
“Silhouette of a Life” Maggie Smith Red & Black Contributor Life through a veil of mist and leaves; A soul born in the dirt, ascending, searching for a place in the stars. Silhouettes at the galaxy’s edge. Fluid darkness, ebony lines Like a pot of ink spilled upon the gauzy stretch of universe. Shadows pressed like paper Beneath the watchful eye of the night, Waiting for the silky strand of a moment To dissolve into light and become a constellation, the night sky the only silhouette.
Film Review: ‘Get Out’ Alex Benner Red & Black Staff
When the word got out that Jordan Peele, a comedy actor and writer famous for ridiculous comedies such as “Key and Peele” and “MADtv,” was looking to make his directorial debut with a horror/thriller film highlighting ideas of race, the world was not sure what to expect. As the film got closer to production and positive reviews began to pour in, viewers became interested and wanted to know more. As the past two weeks have shown, this film has exceeded all expectations, and fans are ready to see what else Jordan Peele has to offer. The film has already surpassed $25 million per weekend since its release, giving it one of the bigger openings of horror films in the past few years. The film centers on the character of Chris Washington, a black photographer who has a white girlfriend Rose Armitage. Chris is preparing to meet Rose’s parents through the course of the film. At the Armitage home, we see the first encounter between Chris and Rose’s parents. Interestingly, the family is very kind and the father wants to take Chris on a tour. We get our first real sense that something strange is going on when we meet the servants of the household, who are a male groundskeeper and a
female maid, both of whom are black. As the weekend continues, stranger and stranger events continue happening, and Chris begins to feel unsafe. At one point, there is a party that takes place at the Armitage’s, and Chris notices another black man who he thinks he knows. Chris tried to take a picture of the man, but did not realize the flash was on. As the light came from the phone, the black man freezes, and then attacks Chris, yelling “Get out!” From this point forward, Chris tries to discover what is happening in that house and neighborhood. His search leads him through a set of trials that he must face in order to “get out” in one piece. Peele was able to play with certain stereotypes and prejudices that audiences know about in a way to showcase them, all while keeping them from becoming the center point of the film. The suspenseful nature of the film keeps the audience enthralled as they follow Chris on his journey to discover the true nature of the eerie, cultish neighborhood. The focus on race creates a charged atmosphere throughout the film. Through his use of language and character details, Peele was able to create a world in which he could put people’s “inner demons,” as he calls them, on display. He has announced that he plans to make a series of films highlighting these demons in the next decade or so, and judging from the response to this film, he will have plenty of support coming his way in this endeavor. “Get Out” is playing in theaters now, and everyone should check it out.
14 Opinions
10 March 2017
Red & Black
opinions Staff Editorial: Are You Following Us On Social Media? The Red&Black writers and staff have been hard at work this year bringing a more campus-focused newspaper to the Washington & Jefferson College student, faculty and staff populations. The Red&Black acts as the public voice of the student body: writers document student events and causes and have the power to shape conversations on campus. We know we have done our job when we overhear students debating a topic written in the opinions section or when students learn about a national news story they did not originally hear of in the mainstream media. With that being said, the Red&Black staff encourages feedback or suggestions from anyone from the campus body. This newspaper belongs to all members of the W&J community. Please let us know what you think we are doing right, what you would like to see us do more of or if you have any ideas to continue the improvements of the Red&Black. Although all students of English and Professional Writing are encouraged to be a part of the paper, students from all disciplines are welcome. We encourage contributions from any student, staff or faculty member who wishes to share her thoughts and ideas with the college community. We do understand that individuals may be busy as sports teams get involved in their spring seasons, class become more difficult, clubs become more involved and midterms and finals approach. However, we highly encourage students of all different walks of life to contribute their voice to be heard through the paper. Interested in becoming a part of the Red&Black team? Join us during our weekly meetings on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. in the common room of Alex Hall. All are welcome! Questions, comments or suggestions can be directed to redandblackstaff@jay.washjeff.edu.
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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.
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10 March 2017
Red & Black
15 Opinions
Nintendo Switch: The Jack of All Trades?
Courtesy GameRant
Nintendo’s new crossbreed between a handheld and flagship console debuted March 3.
Samara Wendel Red & Black Staff
Nintendo released its highly anticipated gaming console, the Switch, this March 3. The Switch’s release is about four years after the reveal of the famous Wii U. According to the company, the Switch has become Nintendo’s fastest-selling console in the United States, outpacing the record-selling Wii in its first two days of sales. The
main feature that Nintendo is advertising is the two-in-one feature. One or two players can play on one Switch console at a time. Up to eight Switches at once are capable of fully functioning in one game. Some are debating whether the Switch will become more popular compared to other game consoles. “I predict the Switch will make a great many people happy, and a great many people angry. It is a Nintendo product, after all,” said Kirk Hamilton. Similar to many other products, the market is what decides on the outcome. The Switch is available at most stores for $299. The main physical feature of the Switch allows a gamer to change his or her hand-held tablet
to a device with buttons on the side. “The fact that I can lift my Switch out of its dock and immediately be playing a hand-held version of the same game I was playing on my TV is one of the most remarkable things about this device. Equally remarkable is how the Switch functions as a portable splitscreen gaming console with its own attached controllers,” said Hamilton This new way of expanding the use for game consoles is definitely a breakthrough for Nintendo. The idea of the two different sides of the console sliding on and off could be an issue for future users. Some people have problems with the comfort of holding the “Joycons.” Users have also found issues with the connectivity and the physical
change in size of the console. Hamilton also noted that the vibration of the console was a key feature to a gamer. The Switch’s tablet features allow functions such as Web browsing and video streaming. This feature may create companies such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon to want to partner with Nintendo to make its services compatible with the Switch. I think that this new game console is a good way to go along with the trend of connection with all other devices. The concept of essentially having multiple consoles in one is genius, but I do think they need to respond to the feedback of users and improve the design.
16 opinions
10 March 2017
Red & Black
How Applicable is College? SGA Budget Raise is Unjustified Nathan Repine Red&Black Staff
There are many viewpoints as to how applicable the college experience is to real world work. Some would say college education is invaluable, and the things learned as an undergraduate are very much tailored to real world working experience. Others may argue that an undergraduate education only touches the surface of what students will be doing upon graduation. My answer to this is simple: it all depends upon how one utilizes histime during college, the amount of effort he puts into his daily academic and extracurricular activities and his participation in co-curricular activities. These can be summed up to time-management skills, work ethic and overall involvement. The answer to this really relies in how the student falls on this spectrum. If during his or her time at a college, the student works hard in his academics, gets involved with extra organizations that he is passionate about and places themselves with good and trusting friends, that student will succeed. If the student knows exactly what he
wants, and does all the right things in preparation for the world beyond his campus, I guarantee that person will flourish in time both personally and professionally. If a student instead spends his time blowing off classes and schoolwork, deals in activities he should not be and acts counter-productively, associates with flakey and spiteful people and allow some or all of these to consume him, that student will never reach fruition or his potential. That student will be in no way, shape or form be ready for the “Real World.” So with that all now out on the table, I asked a few students about this. Noah Alter ‘17 said, “In my opinion, college prepares students educationally; however, it does nothing for your life skills and common sense.” Another student, Jordan Toohey
If the student knows exactly what he wants, and does all the right things in preparation for the world beyond his campus, I guarantee that person will flourish in time both personally and professionally. ’18, said, “I think this issue is major-specific. A lot of majors require further education after an undergraduate degree, but a major like accounting prepares students for entering right into the work force.” Overall, everyone has his or her own take. To me, it is all in what students do with the time given to them.
Leah Segal Red&Black Staff
Currently, tucked in the myriad of costs listed under the “W&J 2016-2017 Tuition and Fees Schedule” lies a $225 expense dedicated to an activities fee for all students. While I am not opposed to paying for such a service (as I am a student who does participate in campus activities), the idea circulating that SGA will raise this fee in order to fund more events is absurd. With the $56,000 annual tuition rate (one that has been on the rise), I object to this increase because of the taking advantage of vulnerable audience as well as the abuse of raising prices out of want rather than need. There is no doubt that attending a college should come at a price. The idea that going to college should and will be free in the future is something out of a fairy tale. Nevertheless, a student should not have to be forever shackled to her debts that were accrued during the time a bachelor degree was acquired. By adding to the activity fee, the College would slowly begin to take advantage of an active audience. For example, for the most part, a students of the College we truly have no direct influence over the cost of tuition, as we ultimately decide to pay or go elsewhere for education. Nevertheless, those who agree to enroll in Washington & Jefferson College may not look into the detailed,
itemized list that shows where each expense is directed towards. Overtime, the lack of awareness may result in some fees being raised little by little, until the sum grows much larger - padding the pockets of organization such as SGA. Of course, as a disclaimer, SGA is doing nothing inherently evil by proposing an increase to the activities fee portion of tuition; however, it is unsettling that the entire student body could end up paying for the choices of a few powerful people. After all, as Emily Hutter ‘19 states “SGA does not and should not have the right or power to suggest that”. Behind the idea of the raise in the fee rests the problem of increasing out of want rather than need. There are other ways that SGA would be able to find funds other than simply raising the tuition. Although they deem the budget low, there has been no solid proof that the student body is suffering from lack of involvement. Additionally, another member of the class of 2019 shares a valid point. She said, “I am not paying more for events that may not even interest me,” which I also tend to agree with. While I am in support of a student activity fee, I do not believe it should be increased because of the possibility that what it may cover would be unnecessary and even disinteresting to me. After all, tuition should not be padded with extraneous fees that go undocumented. Overall, the suggestion by the SGA is something that I believe should not be supported. With college already unaffordable, their proposal to raise, yet again, another fee only serves to expose the inclination to take advantage of the student audience and their catering to wants rather than needs.
16 opinions
10 March 2017
Red & Black
How Applicable is College? SGA Budget Raise is Unjustified Nathan Repine Red&Black Staff
There are many viewpoints as to how applicable the college experience is to real world work. Some would say college education is invaluable, and the things learned as an undergraduate are very much tailored to real world working experience. Others may argue that an undergraduate education only touches the surface of what students will be doing upon graduation. My answer to this is simple: it all depends upon how one utilizes histime during college, the amount of effort he puts into his daily academic and extracurricular activities and his participation in co-curricular activities. These can be summed up to time-management skills, work ethic and overall involvement. The answer to this really relies in how the student falls on this spectrum. If during his or her time at a college, the student works hard in his academics, gets involved with extra organizations that he is passionate about and places themselves with good and trusting friends, that student will succeed. If the student knows exactly what he
wants, and does all the right things in preparation for the world beyond his campus, I guarantee that person will flourish in time both personally and professionally. If a student instead spends his time blowing off classes and schoolwork, deals in activities he should not be and acts counter-productively, associates with flakey and spiteful people and allow some or all of these to consume him, that student will never reach fruition or his potential. That student will be in no way, shape or form be ready for the “Real World.” So with that all now out on the table, I asked a few students about this. Noah Alter ‘17 said, “In my opinion, college prepares students educationally; however, it does nothing for your life skills and common sense.” Another student, Jordan Toohey
If the student knows exactly what he wants, and does all the right things in preparation for the world beyond his campus, I guarantee that person will flourish in time both personally and professionally. ’18, said, “I think this issue is major-specific. A lot of majors require further education after an undergraduate degree, but a major like accounting prepares students for entering right into the work force.” Overall, everyone has his or her own take. To me, it is all in what students do with the time given to them.
Leah Segal Red&Black Staff
Currently, tucked in the myriad of costs listed under the “W&J 2016-2017 Tuition and Fees Schedule” lies a $225 expense dedicated to an activities fee for all students. While I am not opposed to paying for such a service (as I am a student who does participate in campus activities), the idea circulating that SGA will raise this fee in order to fund more events is absurd. With the $56,000 annual tuition rate (one that has been on the rise), I object to this increase because of the taking advantage of vulnerable audience as well as the abuse of raising prices out of want rather than need. There is no doubt that attending a college should come at a price. The idea that going to college should and will be free in the future is something out of a fairy tale. Nevertheless, a student should not have to be forever shackled to her debts that were accrued during the time a bachelor degree was acquired. By adding to the activity fee, the College would slowly begin to take advantage of an active audience. For example, for the most part, a students of the College we truly have no direct influence over the cost of tuition, as we ultimately decide to pay or go elsewhere for education. Nevertheless, those who agree to enroll in Washington & Jefferson College may not look into the detailed,
itemized list that shows where each expense is directed towards. Overtime, the lack of awareness may result in some fees being raised little by little, until the sum grows much larger - padding the pockets of organization such as SGA. Of course, as a disclaimer, SGA is doing nothing inherently evil by proposing an increase to the activities fee portion of tuition; however, it is unsettling that the entire student body could end up paying for the choices of a few powerful people. After all, as Emily Hutter ‘19 states “SGA does not and should not have the right or power to suggest that”. Behind the idea of the raise in the fee rests the problem of increasing out of want rather than need. There are other ways that SGA would be able to find funds other than simply raising the tuition. Although they deem the budget low, there has been no solid proof that the student body is suffering from lack of involvement. Additionally, another member of the class of 2019 shares a valid point. She said, “I am not paying more for events that may not even interest me,” which I also tend to agree with. While I am in support of a student activity fee, I do not believe it should be increased because of the possibility that what it may cover would be unnecessary and even disinteresting to me. After all, tuition should not be padded with extraneous fees that go undocumented. Overall, the suggestion by the SGA is something that I believe should not be supported. With college already unaffordable, their proposal to raise, yet again, another fee only serves to expose the inclination to take advantage of the student audience and their catering to wants rather than needs.
17 Opinions
Red & Black
10 March 2017
W&J is Far From ‘Tech Savvy’
Courtesy Uma Enterprise
A common complaint heard on W&J’s campus is the lack of reliable internet throughout campus.
Leah Segal Red&Black Staff
From the grandeur of the marble staircases of Old Main to the heroic statues of our namesake, there are few aspects of Washington & Jefferson College that remain as special as our historical significance. And while I am a huge proponent of preserving the history of our campus, that does not necessarily mean I believe we should have to live in conditions that would have been fit for the graduates of earlier classes of W&J. After all, it is not a secret that most of campus is displeased with the standards of technology provided by the school. Between the unstable Wi-Fi and the ancient heating systems that run through each dormitory, there is much left to be desired. However these complaints do not go without their share of
solutions. By simply installing printers in each dorm, electronic numbering at George and Tom’s, as well as providing better internet connection, W&J can ensure that our college community runs more smoothly. To begin, while campus does provide places to print, it is a common occurrence that the printers in either the tech center or library are down. As a student of the college, I am keenly aware that these are the two main hotspots for printing; therefore, when one is out of order, the other becomes crowded. What’s more troubling is the fact that some monitors are so excruciatingly. Simply printing an essay for class is a task that should merely take minutes out of the day, yet it is often much more time consuming because of various technological difficulties. Nonetheless, such troubles can be assuaged with the investment of more printers, specifically one located in the common room of each dormitory. While our campus is by no means large, having a printer in such close proximity would cut out the commute to another building (which is especially convenient in the winter months). Additionally, the amount of pressure placed on the printers in the Tech
Center and the library would be significantly reduced as other printers would be used. And in terms of cost, instead of a superfluous gift for the graduating class, the senior gift could easily be put towards a printer budget. Other than printing, the amount of waste produced by the Styrofoam containers and printed receipts in George and Tom’s not only exposes the lack of environmentally friendly practices, but the continued confusion of picking up a meal. Plainly written on the glass of the food preparation station, the employees have stated that when the number corresponding with a meal is called, that student’s food is ready. However, this does not account for the confusion during heavy traffic (for example, lunch and dinnertime) and any times in which another person may pick up the wrong meal. Such problems could be avoided with the implementation of an electronic numbering system. When food is ready, an employee would not have to strain his or her voice in hopes the customer can hear, but simply flash the number on the screen. In exchange, it can be projected that the amount of confusion (picking
up the wrong meal) would be significantly reduced, alongside cutting back on the waste of all the receipt paper. Finally, as stated previously (in regards to the printer situation) an issue that has long plagued the College is the lack of reliable internet, often forcing student to use up all their high-speed data to simply check and e-mail. In order for everyday campus life to run smoothly, consistent internet is a must, which is why this problem could be solved by extending the WiFi routers. The overall quality of internet service is quite low on campus, with the exception of “hot-spots” located in various buildings. By paying to ensure all of campus is covered, it would allow a much more peaceful workplace, instead of cursing every time a website refuses to load because of poor internet connectivity. Overall, W&J is truly a magnificent beacon of education in the lives of all its students; however, such high praise does not come without criticism regarding lack of technology. Through the suggestion listed, from more printers, electronic ordering screens, as well as improved WiFi, campus life will undoubtedly run more smoothly.
18 Sports
sports Red & Black
10 March 2017
Men’s Baseball Team Opens 2017 Season
Courtesy Alexander Benner
The men’s baseball team opened its season with two wins versus Case Western Reserve.
Alexander Benner Red&Black Staff
Washington & Jefferson College men’s baseball team opened their season with two non-conference match-ups against Case Western Reserve. In the first game, Case Western struck a 1-0 lead with an RBI single down the left field line during the second inning. W&J responded with two runs in the third from Nick Gatins and Derek Helbing. Case Western tied and
took the lead in the fifth inning with two RBI singles, and then took a commanding four run lead in the seventh, pushing the score to 6-2. The Presidents took advantage of three field errors by the Spartans, tied the game 6-6 at the bottom of the seventh. In the bottom of the eighth, the Presidents got the final run they would need to secure the victory. With Mullen Socha on third and Dante Dalesandro on second, Adam LaRue sent a high fly ball into right field. Socha tagged up on the catch and was able to beat the throw home, scoring the seventh run of the day for the Presidents. That was all the scoring
needed for the decision, as Santino Platt closed the door on the Spartans, striking out two batters and getting the third to fly out to left field. Platt and the Presidents moved to 1-0 on the season, and headed to a second game on Sun., March 5. Round two on Sunday began with trading runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Then, W&J was able to go out to a 4-2 lead in the sixth, before Case Western came alive for six runs in the top of the seventh, taking an 8-4 lead. Four run comebacks became the story of the weekend as the Presidents went on to score five unanswered runs, including a walk off double by Helbing to win the game 9-8 and sweep the
weekend series, pushing their record to 2-0. Mark Merlino and Nick Vento led the team this weekend with four hits apiece, three of Merlino’s being two-baggers. James Artale, in his first collegiate game, hit .750 with three hits and a run scored. Luke Zahren, Adam LaRue, Frank Fortunato, and Derek Helbing all ended the weekend series with two hits, and Jake Gordon added a hit along with teammate Ryan Sciullo who added one as well. The Presidents look to continue their success in the upcoming weekend with a double header on Sunday, March 12 against Point Park in a non-conference battle starting at 1 p.m.
10 MArch 2017
19 sports
Red & Black
Pirates Looking to Improve after 2016 Season
Courtesy creativecommons.org
After a disappointing 2016 season, the Pirates are hoping to improve with changes such as the realignment of positions in the outfield.
Alexander Benner Red&Black Staff
After finishing the 2016 campaign under 500 for the first time since 2012, the Pirates are looking to rebound this season. Much to the surprise of Pittsburgh, the sporting world and the player himself, Andrew McCutchen is remaining in the black and gold for at least one more season. However, he will not be the starting center fielder anymore as the coaches decided to try to maximize production in the outfield this year. McCutchen finished with one of the worst batting averages of his career last year, and ended up with one of the
lowest fielding percentages of starting center fielders. He has said in a press release that he wants to go out and prove that he still has what it takes to compete for this team, and so fans will have to wait and see if his production matches his promise. With the realignment in the outfield, McCutchen will now be un-
off a fairly disappointing season. He started in 21 games, and ended with a 7-10 record and an ERA of almost four, both of which are the lowest of his four-year career. He has stated that he is feeling a step ahead this year, and in his one game of spring training, he seems to be back to his old self again. He pitched two
They open their season with a three game series in Boston starting on April 3, and then travel to Pittsburgh for a three game home stand against the Braves.
der the Clemente Wall in right field, pushing Gregory Polanco into left field, and by doing so, the two-time gold glove winning Starling Marte will be patrolling center field - at least to start the season. Gerrit Cole is coming
shutout innings leading the Pirates to a win. Second year pitchers Jameson Taillon, Tyler Glasnow and Chad Kuhl are also looking to contribute to the rotation in a positive way after being called
up from the minor leagues last year. Being young players, they still have a lot to work on, but they are the main reason why the Pirates still almost made a run to the playoffs, despite the lacking play of their veterans. David Freese and John Jaso are also looking to contribute in their second years in Pittsburgh, as they became essential tools in the lineup last season. With a close 3-2 loss to the Yankees on Sun. March 5, the Pirates are sitting at 7-3 with a month of practice games to go. They open their season with a three game series in Boston starting on April 3, and then travel to Pittsburgh for a three game home stand against the Braves. With the amount of firepower they have on offense, the Pirates have the opportunity to go far this year - as long as players stay healthy and the team’s pitching stays consistent.
10 MArch 2017
19 sports
Red & Black
Pirates Looking to Improve after 2016 Season
Courtesy creativecommons.org
After a disappointing 2016 season, the Pirates are hoping to improve with changes such as the realignment of positions in the outfield.
Alexander Benner Red&Black Staff
After finishing the 2016 campaign under 500 for the first time since 2012, the Pirates are looking to rebound this season. Much to the surprise of Pittsburgh, the sporting world and the player himself, Andrew McCutchen is remaining in the black and gold for at least one more season. However, he will not be the starting center fielder anymore as the coaches decided to try to maximize production in the outfield this year. McCutchen finished with one of the worst batting averages of his career last year, and ended up with one of the lowest fielding percentages of starting
center fielders. He has said in a press release that he wants to go out and prove that he still has what it takes to compete for this team, and so fans will have to wait and see if his production matches his promise. With the realignment in the outfield, McCutchen will now be under the Clemente Wall in right field, push-
fairly disappointing season. He started in 21 games, and ended with a 7-10 record and an ERA of almost four, both of which are the lowest of his four-year career. He has stated that he is feeling a step ahead this year, and in his one game of spring training, he seems to be back to his old self again. He pitched two
They open their season with a three game series in Boston starting on April 3, and then travel to Pittsburgh for a three game home stand against the Braves.
ing Gregory Polanco into left field, and by doing so, the two-time gold glove winning Starling Marte will be patrolling center field - at least to start the season. Gerrit Cole is coming off a
shutout innings leading the Pirates to a win. Second year pitchers Jameson Taillon, Tyler Glasnow and Chad Kuhl are also looking to contribute to the rotation in a positive way after being
called up from the minor leagues last year. Being young players, they still have a lot to work on, but they are the main reason why the Pirates still almost made a run to the playoffs, despite the lacking play of their veterans. David Freese and John Jaso are also looking to contribute in their second years in Pittsburgh, as they became essential tools in the lineup last season. With a close 3-2 loss to the Yankees on Sun. March 5, the Pirates are sitting at 7-3 with a month of practice games to go. They open their season with a three game series in Boston starting on April 3, and then travel to Pittsburgh for a three game home stand against the Braves. With the amount of firepower they have on offense, the Pirates have the opportunity to go far this year - as long as players stay healthy and the team’s pitching stays consistent.
20 sports
Red & Black
March Madness
March Madness officially begins on March 14.
Alexander Benner Red&Black Staff
Although the tournament officially begins on Tuesday, March 14, the madness of college basketball has already begun with a wild weekend of games. Of the top 25 teams that played this weekend, five teams lost - those being number 12, Florida, number 13, Butler, number 17, Duke, number 19, Notre Dame and number 25, Miami. Because of these losses, the 12-19 slots are going to change drastically when the polls are released again this week heading into conference champions. With Miami’s loss to the surprise of the year team Florida State, the Hurricanes are most likely out of the tournament. Number 1, Kansas was almost handed a loss at the hands of unranked Oklahoma State, but they were able to maintain a five point lead, winning 9085. Villanova, UCLA and Gonzaga were able to win, staking their claims for the first seed in the tournament. In the Tobacco Road Rematch, Duke looked to sweep their season se-
10 March 2017
This One Time...
Courtesy creativecommons.org
ries with Chapel Hill rivals, the North Carolina Tar Heels, but fell short as North Carolina outscored them in both halves, losing 83-90. With this win, there is a very good chance that North Carolina could move from number 5 to number 1 in the tournament, but that will be difficult with the fact that all the top five teams won this past weekend. Just as it is every year, the ACC title is very up for grabs as the top six teams in the ACC are also in the top 25 of the country. These teams include North Carolina, Florida State, Louisville, Notre Dame, Duke and Virginia, with Virginia Tech making a claim to be in the tournament as well. The ACC tournament kicked off on March 1 and will continue until March 11, as will most other conferences. So, on March 13, the world will know what 25 teams will be competing for the NCAA crown. This year, more so than any other in recent history, there have been a ton of upsets in the regular season, and no single team is completely dominating the league. That will equate to a great tournament, but will also make bracketology very difficult this year. This season is definitely gearing up for some great games in the next few weeks.
Courtesy gopresidents.com
“During one of our games we were on defense and one of my teammates got a deflection, making the ball come near me. A girl on the other team and I started going for the ball but I dove on the ground first before she did. Once she did, it made me slide back and the next thing I know, my pants slid down past my butt. The referee finally called the whistle for a jump ball and I had to hurry to try and discreetly pull my pants up. Apparently I failed because after the game, my dad even asked me, ‘What the heck were you doing after you dove on the ground?’ I had to tell him that I was scrambling to pull my pants up. I’m not sure I’ll ever live that one down!”
- Alyssa Riley ‘19, Basketball player If you have a favorite memory or funny experience dealing with your sport, feel free to email it to redandblackstaff@jay.washjeff.edu to be featured in the paper.