Karen Nikami | 3/17/2017

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 7 , 2 0 1 7

WHAT’S IN THIS WEEK’S PAPER...

Student Spotlight: Meet Karen Nikami

LIFE

“The people of Standing Rock and the Cheyenne River Sioux are standing up for what they believe in and are making an example for other tribes that may be facing similar problems with the evasion of their lands.” -P. 8

CULTURE “Noble reveals that she drew her inspiration for this from the Victorians, who where the first to start keeping scrapbooks in which they would keep personal recordings of home life.” -P. 9

OPINIONS “If the laundry machines are replaced with ones of varying sizes, it will help the water bills of the campus and the students with their loads. ” -P. 13

SPORTS “After being a part of the volleyball team for a year now, Dreher has progressed a long way and enjoys putting more time into the sport to be rewarded by seeing just how far he has come in only a year’s time. ” -P. 19

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wjREDANDBLACK.COM

Courtesy Karen Nakimi

2 CAMPUS NEWS

Red & Black

17 march 2017

Student Spotlight: Karen Nikami

Courtesy Karen Nikami

Pictured above is Nikami and her friends.

Joseph Jorjoliani Red&Black Contributor

Meet Karen Nikami, a Japanese student who is spending a full academic year at Washington & Jefferson College.

Nikami loves to talk about her homeland, Japan, all the time. She misses home so much that she thought of going back during spring break, but

instead she is taking a trip to Canada and San Francisco.

Nikami says that Japan is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and everyone should visit Tokyo or Okinawa if they want to see real beauty.

Nikami is very active on campus; she is never afraid of new challenges.

She ranks second among the best international tennis players on campus after her Latvian friend, Polina Dergacova. Nikami played for W&J’s tennis team in the fall semester.

Unfortunately, the season is over so Nikami cannot represent W&J in a tennis tournament. However, she always finds a way to engage in sports activities. She successfully captained

the international team of intramural volleyball, called “Illegal Immigrants” and defeated Kappa Kappa Gamma in her first game.

Nikami's hobbies are comprised of many different sports and various forms of entertainment. She plays basketball, soccer and a few other sports.

"I like all types of sports, I try to engage in as many activities as possible on campus,” said Nikami. “This is why I partake in so many intramural sports activities.”

Besides her active lifestyle, Nikami is also successful academically. She is an accounting major and plans to work as a bursar back in Japan. She claims accounting is among the most presti-

gious and well-paid occupations in Japan. Nikami's primary goal to improve her English language in the United States has already been achieved. Now that she speaks fluent English, Nikami has switched her focus to the Spanish language.

She is taking several Spanish classes at W&J and plans to visit Burgos, Spain in the future to meet with her international friends from W&J: Pablo Puebla and Shao Gyllenhaal.

"I really enjoy Spanish; unlike English, it is not too hard to learn," said Nikami.

Nikami is leaving soon, so be sure to take the time to meet her if you have not already done so.

17 March 2017

Red & Black

3 CAMPUS NEWS

Magellan Spotlight: Ashton Grimm Housing Selection 2017-2018 Brianna Floryshak Red&Black Contributor

Ashton Grimm ‘18 spent three weeks in southern California for her first Magellan experience.

Grimm is a neuroscience major who plans to pursue a career in physical therapy.

During her Magellan, Grimm hiked a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail to study the effects of muscle fatigue.

After her hike, she took some time to shadow a physical therapist that works with professional athletes.

She came up with the idea after a friend brought up how she recently read the book “Wild.”

“Wild” is about a woman who hikes through the Pacific Crest Trail alone after experiencing dramatic losses and life changes following her mother’s death.

Grimm remembered reading the book herself a few years ago and how, at the time, she fell in love with the idea of freedom and independence on a trail, left alone to fend for yourself.

With regards to the muscle fatigue aspect, she believed it would be an interesting way to pair hiking with physical therapy.

Her experiences on the trail opened her eyes to the daily privileges we have without even realizing, and it gave her time to reflect.

One thing she realized we take advantage of in our day-to-day life is access to filtered water.

On the trail, she had to find her own water sources and came to the realization of how different natural water is

to bottled or even tap water. Cooking dinner became tiresome at night after long days of hiking 12-13 miles with a 50-pound backpack on.

She said the most valuable experience she got out of the trip was a greater sense of independence.

She said, “I feel as if I can literally navigate myself around anywhere I want after completing this journey.”

She also said she learned how to handle difficult situations in a more versatile manner after working through all the difficult and often unexpected predicaments she encountered on the trail.

Another important takeaway from her trip was getting the chance to meet new people on the trail and have the opportunity to share experiences and stories.

One of the most memorable people she met along her journey was a doctor who referred to himself as “Moses.”

Grimm said, “Everybody gave themselves trail names as part of the trail experience.”

After impressively completing over 50 miles on the trail in a week, she shadowed a physical therapist who is a professor at the University of Southern California Physical Therapy School.

Grimm was able to watch a doctor work with professional and collegiate athletes, and she had the opportunity to learn from one of the top doctors in her future field of employment.

One of the highlights Grimm enjoyed while shadowing the doctor was getting to meet Anthony Davis, who plays in the NBA, and Matt Leinart, a Heisman trophy winner from the University of Southern California.

Another experience Grimm liked was getting to talk to the doctor about his involvement with the US Women’s National Soccer Team, since Grimm is also a member of the Washington & Jefferson College’s soccer team.

The end of the semester is approaching soon, which means it is time for housing selection. Housing selection is the process through which current W&J students select their on-campus housing for the following academic year. It is meant to be an exciting time for students because they have the chance to choose their roommates and where they would live to live during the upcoming academic year. According to the Office of Residence Life, all rising sophomores, juniors and seniors must participate in housing selection and it is organized by a point system. This means that rising sophomores have 2 points; rising juniors have 3 points; and rising seniors have 4 points. The point system based on the number of credits each student has completed. Upperclassmen with higher points have the opportunity to have the first pick during the week of housing selection.

Housing options include: Bica-Ross Hall, New Residence Hall, Marshall Hall, the Quads or the Fraternity and Sorority facilities.

March 27 Group Registration for General Housing Selection opens Online, 5 p. m.

March 29 Q&A Information Table G&Ts, 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.

March 30 Q&A Information Table G&Ts, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

March 31 Housing Accommodation, Commuter and Same Room Selection, applications due Office of Residence Life, 5 p.m.

April 7 Group Registration for General Housing Selection closes Theme Community Applications due Online, 5 p.m.

April 12 Theme Community Room Selection Office of Residence Life, Starting at 5:30 p.m.

April 17 Group Selection Numbers and Selection Times for General Housing Selection Announced Online, 5 p.m.

April 19 and 20 Room Selection Night for General Housing Rossin Ballroom, Starting at 5:30 p.m.

Courtesy washjeff.edu

4 CAMPUS NEWS

17 March 2017

Red & Black

W&J Speaks Out What are your plans for spring break?

“I am going back home to Houston, Texas. My friends and I are going to the famous rodeo, known for its rides and barbecues.”

- Jasmine Campuzano ‘20 Courtesy Jasmine Campuzano

Red & Black Established 1909

“I’m taking a few random trips: Lake Erie, hiking at Cooper’s Rock and Ohiopyle. However, considering my immense amount of work, I will probably spend most of my time at my desk.”

-Ben Rozzi ‘17 Courtesy Ben Rozzi

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

17 March 2017

Red & Black

5 LIFE

A Day Without Women in Pittsburgh

Courtesy NEXTPittsbugh

Women from the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust at A Day Without Women.

Samara Wendel Red & Black Staff

Wednesday, March 8 was International Women’s Day. Women all over the world were recognized and appreciated on this day. Even with this day, there were women who were still affected by the laws of their country.

The Huffington Post captured some in-depth images of the women that protested on International Women’s Day. In America, it is acceptable to protest. However, in other countries it

is illegal for women to rise up in protest.

The women in these countries risked their lives by standing up for rights as a woman.

Feminist women stood in the streets in their home cities to demand change in the treatment of women on March 8.

Women all over the world were demanding equal pay and discouraging discrimination in the work force.

Lucía D’Agostino from Buenos Aires said, “Women are starting to stand up for themselves more, and we are realizing that we don’t have to put up with a culture that oppresses us just for being women.” The demonstrations

that took place worldwide were supposed to be a symbol that all women stood united to face the same issues.

In some countries, the women were arrested for speaking out. In Italy, over twenty thousand protesters gathered together in front of the Colosseum.

The crowds blocked traffic and public transportation.

The women who protested in South Korea were also demanding equal pay from the government.

The laws in South Korea decrease women’s wages dramatically after 3:00 p.m. The women were protesting against the “3 o’clock Stop.” As for the social media side of the issue, according to The Washington Post, “#ADay-

WithoutaWoman quickly became a popular hashtag on social media, calling on American women to participate in a national strike by taking the day off from work, not shopping or wearing red in solidarity.”

This hashtag was meant to bring awareness to the world that women play a major role and should be treated equally.

This was a major step for women around the world because many countries facing these gender oppressive norms are fighting back.

The images captured by various photographers at the protests also gave the public visual images of the pain that women face.

6 Life

Red & Black

17 March 2017

5-Year-Old Wins Regional Spelling Bee Samara Wendel Red & Black Staff

With spell check embedded into computer programs, the talent for spelling words correctly is slowly fading.

Even with spell check, there is still the small percentage of people that make it their goal to spell the most complex words possible.

On March 5, history was made at the 2017 Green Country Regional Spelling Bee. The youngest person to ever win recently won the spelling bee with just a five-letter word.

This five-year-old, Edith Fuller, was competing against over fifty students for the national title in the regional spelling bee.

Fuller was the youngest of the contestants at age five.

She had to compete against elementary and middle school kids.

According to Mike Averill, “Edith was an early crowd favorite because of her age. But as she began correctly spelling words like “odori,” “colloquial” and “sevruga,” it became clear she was a true contender.”

It was clear that Fuller had a talent.

Fuller was humble when she won the spelling bee.

She said, “I feel thankful.” And her mother, Annie Fuller said, “It’s fun to share her with everyone. I knew she’d be a novelty, so I’m proud she held her own.”

Fuller’s parents saw her potential when they saw that she could spell words that she was never even taught.

They help her practice and support her

5-year-old Edith Fuller, has become the youngest regional and national spelling bee champion ever.

wholeheartedly. Fuller was diligent with learning new words.

Unlike other kids, when she got a word wrong, she would learn the context of the word and its spelling to improve her skills. While practicing the words, Fuller’s mother even felt as though she was getting an education.

Despite the competitions taking hours to complete, Fuller continued to press on with her studies and her success.

The five year old surprises her mother by being able to sit for so long despite having a lot of energy. During the final round, Fuller was up against two kids, one in elementary school

Courtesy People

and one in middle school. Saisurya Lakkimsetti, who is in elementary school, was eliminated.

Then it was down to Fuller and Salma Waheed, who is in middle school.

The word that set Fuller apart from her competition and what brought her to national fame was “Jnana.”

17 March 2017

Red & Black

7 Life

Life Advice Life advice given to you from the mouths of the Red & Black Editorial Staff.

Courtesy thebestvibes.com

Good Vibes: The Why of Winter Blues Nour Al Shishani Red & Black Staff

For the purpose of proving the statement, “We are happy because it’s summer,” psychology provides an explanation of how the temperature affects levels of arousal and activity.

Scientists clarified the effect of color on mood and why light seems to supply energy to the soul and the body.

One of the reasons that people seem less happy during the winter is the fact that it is too cold outside. People are discouraged to perform the activities that they enjoy, and their spatial awareness fades into dullness since they do not move around much. They feel tired and sad.

Bodily functions dramatically decrease because of cold weather; the less active people are, the less motivated they become. The dopamine and the endorphins that are secreted during physical activity are produced in lower levels, causing the human body to feel less energized and less happy.

Therefore, they feel tired and sad.

One of the most important terms that should be defined when talking about cold, grey weather is change blindness.

When we are too busy focusing our attention on our daily life, we fail to detect any changes that occur around us. Hence, when there is a dramatic change, we only see it when it is large enough of a change which then shocks the eyes. The color receptors in the eyes of humans receive certain proton

and signals from the colors, and significantly affect mood. In the winter, colors fade, making people feel tired and sad. Many complain that it gets dark too early in the winter. According to Elite Daily, studies made “with 600 participants showed that those assigned to be outdoors during warm, sunny days exhibited much more positive mindsets than their counterparts.”

It is crucial to study the effect of light on our brains.

The endocrine system helps us understand this better. The pineal gland, located near the hypothalamus, secretes the hormone melatonin, which is responsible for sleep, according to the circadian rhythm it receives from the hypothalamus. The circadian rhythm is the biological clock of awakening and sleeping times. The clock activates the body when it is exposed to sensory receptors of light and does the opposite when vise versa. In the winter, light decreases drastically, especially in Pennsylvania, therefore, people feel tired and sad.

Summer and winter mood change is also affected by other factors of our daily lives, such as foods in season, animals in season and plants in season.

On the website, “HerCampus,” one contributor said, “Some foods that are in season during the summer are carrots, cantaloupe, blackberries and, of course, watermelon. When you eat well, you feel good; hence, a better mood.”Students should take advantage of the light therapy stations next to the mail room for 15 minutes before they start on their days, and they can be more healthy with regular exercise and a healthy diet.

What are some creative ways to stay warm in the cold weather?

“A scarf is a warm and stylish accessory that will help you endure the cold.”

-Emily Sterk, Editor-inChief

“Though it may sound strange, when you get a coffee or a tea from the barista, put it in your coat to share its warmth.”

-Katie Campbell, Managing Editor

8 LIFE

17 March 2017

Red & Black

DAPL Protesters March on Washington

Courtesy PBS Newshour

Protesters marching on Washington D.C. were holding signs and chanting to protest the installation of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Saul Franco Red & Black Contributor

Members from Native American tribes around the country gathered in Washington D.C. for four days to protest the Trump administration and the Dakota Access pipeline.

This protest ended with a march on the White House on Friday, March 10.

The protesters camped with teepees, a ceremonial fire, cultural workshops and speakers at the National Mall. The

march was about two miles long and went from the Army Corps of Engineers office up to the White House.

The organizers were not sure how many tribes or members planned on being there for the march after the four-day protests.

These protests were because of a federal judge’s upcoming decision to make the final call on whether or not to allow the Dakota Access pipeline to be made under Lake Oahe.

Lake Oahe is a large reservoir, and the pipe’s construction would be a violation of the Native Americans’ sacred sites and religious rights.

If there were to be a leak in the pipe, it could contaminate the water.

The protesters wanted to start at the

Corps of Engineers office because they were the ones who gave Energy Transfer Partners permission to finish the project.

The two tribes, the Cheyenne River Sioux and Standing Rock, did not feel as though they were not properly informed about the government’s plans.

They felt that their treaty rights were violated when the government halted the environmental study of the lake crossing once President Trump came into office.

“The first thing to understand about oil pipelines is that they always leak. I think the people of Standing Rock and Cheyenne River Sioux have a right to be outraged about it. It’s going through land that has been there

historically and the concern over the safety of the drinking water,” said Debra Kaplan ’19.

This issue does not just affect the people of Standing Rock and the Cheyenne River Sioux, but also future cases for other tribes around the countries.

“I think that people marching and protesting about it is one very good way to show that people do care about this matter, that people are passionate about it, and that it does make a difference,” said Kaplan.

The people of Standing Rock and the Cheyenne River Sioux are standing up for what they believe in and are making an example for other tribes that may be facing similar problems with the evasion of their lands.

17 March 2017

culture Red & Black

9 Culture

‘Resonating Objects’ Debuts at Art Gallery Diana Ciarallo Red & Black Staff

We cannot deny that sound is a big part of our daily lives. When we wake up in the morning, we hear our alarm clocks ringing and the birds chirping outside our windows.

At the beach, we hear seagulls screaming at one another as they fight over an abandoned potato chip, the waves crashing against the shore and the laughter of little kids echoing.

We listen to music, which has the common effect of making us dance, sing along or at least whistle.

We are also aware of the modern world that we live in, where technology rules supreme and new gadgets are no doubt being cooked up at this very moment.

While a lot of people might view things such as smart phones and GPS as being huge improvements to our lives, there are others who fear that technology is going too fast and that we are losing ourselves in it.

In her exhibit, titled “Resonating Objects,” visiting artist Margaret Noble has basically put these two ideas together by creating interactive installations, constructed from a number of old objects, that combine movement

and sound with the purpose of exploring contemporary identity and environment.

She has placed focus on how these two concepts have been impacted by the narratives and legacies that have been left behind by families, social media and technological innovation.

“Margaret Noble’s exhibit resonates with me,” said Kayla Marasia ‘19. “I like that she works with ideas of modernity and the anxieties that sometimes accompany the progression of technology.”

Amongst these unique pieces, one will find a set of authentic Victorian albums that appear to hold nothing in them.

However, if one were to hold them under the light of the lamp and listen closely, they would discover that each one holds its own unique recording – an unknown memory.

Noble reveals that she drew her inspiration for this from the Victorians, who where the first to start keeping scrapbooks in which they would keep personal recordings of home life.

Nowadays, scrap-booking is a dying art. With people putting their personal history on social media for the whole world to see, nothing is private anymore. By allowing us to listen to these nameless moments in time, this piece renews the sense of intimacy we once had when it came to treasuring our most precious memories. It is almost like hearing the ocean when

Courtesy Nate Repine

Margaret Noble, shown above, is an artist based in San Diego, CA. Her work is largely focused on interactive audio and tactile sensations to evoke certain emotions and facets of society.

you put a conch shell to your ear. In another display, we are presented with a post-apocalyptic vision of what the world would be like if mankind came to completely rely upon technology to the point where we would not need certain things anymore.

This idea manifests itself in the form of a grim collection featuring a number of objects – stand-ins for the things which technology may one day declare obsolete. They hang from wires and include things such as toys, funerary urns and shovels. While looking at this, the viewer is presented

with a set of headphones, which plays music that goes along with the general tone of this setup.

In contrast to other art gallery exhibits where all one can do is merely look, Noble’s is intriguingly different in the sense that people get to engage with it on many more levels.

Whether they are craning their ears to the pages of a book, listening to a myriad of cricket noises on speakers or fiddling around with a futuristic Ouija board, this collection of contraptions can certainly spark the interests of those who come to see it.

10 Culture

17 March 2017

Red & Black

Film Review: ‘Manchester by the Sea’ Amiti Sharma Red & Black Staff

“Manchester by the Sea,” directed by Kenneth Lonergan, was released on Nov. 18, 2016. The film stars Casey Af-

fleck, who plays Lee Chandler, a lonely, tortured handyman working in Boston and living a shabby lifestyle.

One day, he receives a phone call that his older brother has died from heart problems and has left his house and his teenage son in the hands of Lee. As he comes to terms with the idea of potentially being his nephew’s new

guardian, Lee must once again face his dark past and his mistakes which, consequently, are affecting him and his lifestyle more than he knows.

A.O. Scott, writer for the New York Times, described Lonergan’s directing with high praise. “Kenneth Lonergan, a brilliant playwright and a sought-after script doctor, is a master of the quotidian absurd,” he said. The Amer-

Courtesy Polygon

Lee Chandler, shown above, is played by Casey Affleck in the critically acclaimed “Manchester by the Sea.” He struggles with depression but is entrusted with the care of his nephew after the boy’s father dies, and the film depicts Chandler’s struggle to face his past.

ican drama gained widespread critical acclaim for its achievements and as one of the best films of the year.

The film received five Academy Award nominations for excellence in acting, directing and for its screenplay, and it was awarded Best Actor in a Leading Role to Casey Affleck and Best Screenplay.

“Manchester by the Sea” is a moving, beautifully sorrowful tale that remains specific enough to mesmerize audiences with its innovative portrayal of one man’s isolation while demonstrating aspects of everyday life that are highly relatable to viewers.

One of the film’s most notable scenes occurs during the reunion of the characters played by Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams.

The two unexpectedly run into each other after much time has passed since an unspeakable tragedy which consumed them both.

They speak with each other formally and respectfully, yet it is clear that the two have a special relationship that cannot be defined by the one moment.

Once again, director Kenneth Lonergan’s film technique exaggerated the intricacy of each moment, allowing much suspense and drama, which is entirely natural.

Variety magazine’s Justin Chang said, “Kenneth Lonergan’s beautifully textured, richly enveloping drama about how a death in the family forces a small-town New Englander to confront a past tragedy anew.”

With skilled directing and the talent of the cast, the film poignantly explores the power of loss, the past and redemption.

17 March 2017

Red & Black

Culture 11

Album Review: Ed Sheeran Debuts ‘Divide’ Alex York Red & Black Staff

On Dec. 13, 2015, Ed Sheeran said goodbye to social media as he began a personal hiatus.

He said that he wanted to take time to get back to being normal again, and his hiatus lasted exactly one year until Dec. 13, 2016.

Ed Sheeran simply changed his background to a blank baby blue picture.

He posted nothing else until Jan. 1 of this year, when he uploaded a silent video of himself holding a sign that simply said, “New Music Coming Friday.”

On that Friday, not only did he release new music, but he dropped two new songs entitled “Shape of You” and “Castle on the Hill,” which quickly took the music world by storm, taking first and second respectively on the singles charts soon after their release.

Two weeks ago, Sheeran finally followed up these two singles with his album, simply entitled “Divide.”

This is his third album using a mathematical symbol after “x” and “+.”

Much like the singles, Sheeran took over the charts with this album, with all sixteen songs in the top twenty, including nine in the top ten – both feats that no artist has ever achieved before.

This success is very evident in the fact that, in two weeks, he has already sold over 672,000 copies. Sheeran’s album ranges from songs like “Galway Girl” and “New Man,” which are very upbeat party songs, to “Supermarket

Courtesy pop-buzz.com

Ed Sheeran, shown above, recently announced the release of his new album, “Divide.” Since its release, the wildly successful album has been a chart-topper in several countries.

Flowers” and “Dive,” which are the slow songs about love and heartbreak.

“Dive” is a lamentation of heartbreak. The chorus says, “So don’t call me baby / Unless you mean it / Don’t tell me you need me / If you don’t believe it.” Ed’s past relationships have clearly influenced his newest work.

Also, Sheeran’s focus on his family is clear in songs like “Supermarket Flowers” and “Nancy Mulligan.” The latter is a touchingly poignant song about Sheeran losing his grandmother.

It is songs like “Hearts Don’t Break Around Here” and “Dive” that made Sheeran achieve the world-wide success he currently possesses. Sheeran

mixes Irish and Scottish tunes with rap lyrics and rock & roll. “Nancy Mulligan” is a fun, upbeat song about Sheeran’s grandparents’ relationship.

The song is told from the perspective of Sheeran’s grandfather, William.

The chorus says, “She was Nancy Mulligan / And I was William Sheeran / She took my name and then we were one / Down by the Wexford border.”

Sheeran then utilizes traditional Irish folk music as the hook of the song, thereby creating an interesting cultural twist that pervades the album.

“I think my favorite song from the album is ‘Happier,’” said Sarah Janczewski ‘19. “The whole album is good,

but I think that one stands out from the rest.”

Five days after this album dropped, Sheeran announced that he would go on a 48-show tour in North America, starting on June 29 in Kansas City and ending on Oct. 6 in Nashville.

Fans have been anxiously awaiting ticket sales and saving up funds in the hopes that they will be able to attend one of Sheeran’s concerts.

This tour will include a stop at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh on Sept. 26.

Seeing as how there is no telling how long this album will top the charts, this tour is gearing up to be the biggest in America this summer.

12 Culture

17 March 2017

Red & Black

Poetry Corner “A Daughter’s Tail”

“Lipstick”

Ben Rozzi Red & Black Contributor

Diana Ciarallo Red & Black Staff

in his eyes I saw butterflies as he told me not to scream; when my mom caught onto his lies quod he “not what it seems” a tale of tail and flesh and blood and the flash of memory plague my fate much like a flood of heavenly degree now, daffodils and cherry hills are all quite dead to me; mounds of pills and dollar bills are all I care to see.

Painted target Pierced by many arrows Cupid’s bow In the hands of an archer Just as skilled

“Revenge Tea and Blood Sausage” Ben Rozzi Red & Black Contributor a bed of nature from my whore named Autumn;

“Fire” Diana Ciarallo Red & Black Staff A demanding lover Feed her Stroke her She’ll keep you warm all night

her dead foliage ground by your mortar and my pestle, until came the special ingredient, a spoonful of my bitter honey; the moon the sole witness to the revenge tea that was made, and its shameful shine showed your Mother called early.

17 March 2017

Opinions 13

Red & Black

opinions A Minor Fix to Laundry Facilities Nour Al Shishani Red & Black Staff

Washington & Jefferson College’s campus provides students with various opportunities and services to help them stay comfortable.

One of these services is the laundry facilities located at several locations on campus. These laundry facilities are in appropriate locations and they

function almost perfectly. However, to enhance them, there can be some adjustments made.

Swiping data can be collected from the building’s security and there can be some studies done on the most popular times for when the laundry services are utilized.

After the data is collected, a bi-weekly calculation could be made and a chart hung on the door of the laundry room to help students plan to go do their laundry at the least popular times.

After some modifications and replicated laundry charts, an economics student can be assigned to predict the demand for doing laundry for the following weeks ahead based off of the previous weeks’ demands.

That way, the students will have real life application of their studies, and the college itself will benefit from the data that in turn benefits other students. A

cycle of giving back to the community is then formed. Furthermore, some students struggle with the sizes of the

Moreover, free laundry, unlike in other colleges, also encourages students to do their laundry here on campus. My parents jokingly said, “We might as well bring our laundry for our kids to do.” washing machines. Some might find it a waste of water resource since they have less clothing, and others might have to place their clothes in multiple machines, therefore causing in-

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.

convenience to others. If the laundry machines are replaced with ones of varying sizes, it will help the water bills of the campus and the students with their loads.

One of the reasons the students do not mind the number of machines is that the campus is small.

“It’s not like we have 30,000 students,” said Quint Wiles ’20.

Moreover, free laundry, unlike in other colleges, also encourages students to do their laundry here on campus. My parents jokingly said, “We might as well bring our laundry for our kids to do.”

The students at W&J are at an advantage when it comes to laundry facilities, and most are thankful.

Freshmen in particular find the resources most useful since many do not have transportation to go to their houses and do their laundry every weekend.

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.

Telephone: FAX: E-mail: Mailing Address:

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

14 Opinions

17 March 2017

Red & Black

Sakai Helps Students The Dangers of Air Pollution Nathan Repine Red & Black Staff

Saul Franco Red & Black Contributor

In order to receive good grades in college and succeed, gaining necessary information from professors and organizations is key.

Of course, students’ emails can help with most of this and emails also provide students the option of sorting the different information.

However, Sakai, unlike jay-mail, comes with that information already sorted based on classrooms and without having to put in the effort.

What I also enjoy about Sakai is that it can prove to be a helpful resource with homework since professors can upload their lectures or practice problems.

The other nice thing about Sakai is that different organizations may use it and adjust it to their needs.

Some students agree that Sakai has proven to be very useful.

“I do think Sakai is a fairly decent tool for what we use it for. On the student end, it really does go through based on what the professor uploads to it. On the administrator end, I know it can be a bit confusing about how to manage it, but if people were to embrace and investigate into those things, then they can customize it a bit more to its courses’ needs,” said Sam Schaub ’19. Something I believe many

students may not have realized is that it is supposed to be an interactive site for the students to retrieve any and all necessary documents for their classes from their professors.

I like to download all the files that my professors put online for fear of a power outage or the Wi-Fi to go down and prevent me from using my notes.

I also find that Sakai proves to be far more functional than Spire because Spire does not have as much in terms of content.

“We’ve been using it for Fellows after trying Spire and find that it has been working much better for us,” said Schaub when regarding the two for Fellows.

I also use Spire quite a bit because I work for the Hub, and, in the Hub, we have to make form submissions for

I like to download all the files my professors put online for fear of a power outage, or for the Wi-Fi to go down and prevent me from using my notes. when someone either rents something or for attendance on the two floors.

Having used Spire so much, I found that I am only able to interact with it when I am the one who has made a submission, meaning that I cannot interact with things that someone else would have submitted.

This lack of interaction would only prove to be a hassle for both the students and the professors.

In this article, I will be talking about the rising dangers of air pollution.

No, it is not a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese; it is a very real thing. Just ask the World Health Organization.

They are saying that it is now a greater threat than Ebola and HIV. They also added that one in four deaths with children under five years old are related to unclean water and air pollution.

Some of the lowest qualities of air were found in places like Zabol, Iran, Gwalior, India, Allahabad, India, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia. The top of this list, Zabol, has an air particle matter content of 20 times the recommended level.

Global citizens have observed different climatic changes in the earth’s past. However, humans cannot ignore research and scientific discoveries and

observations, as well as cold hard facts.

People are getting sick and are dying from unclean air.

Some of these increases in pollution over the long-term were inevitable.

These increases were inevitable because of overall industrialization, something that Thomas Jefferson, one of the founding fathers, preached to stay away from, and the introductions of different products such as cars.

“I think we [college students] are all terribly ignorant on the subject,” said Cassie Olszewski ‘19.

“No matter how liberal one may be when it comes to the environment and how good your intentions are, you do things that contribute to the demise of the Earth,” said Olszewski.

“There are little things we can do each day to help save the environment, but until science finds cheap and efficient alternatives, the major contributors to air pollution will continue,” said another student, Kyla Crawford ‘19.

This and other environmental issues are clearly becoming more concerning and are affecting more and more people. It is not something we can ignore.

I only ask that you practice responsible living in regards to this issue in small ways when possible and share.

Zabol, an Iranian city, has the most air pollution in the world.

Courtesy Mojahedin.org

17 March 2017

Red & Black

15 Opinions

‘Fearless Girl’ Fights For Equality Samara Wendel Red & Black Staff

Just 12 hours before International Women’s Day, a bronze statue of a girl was placed in front of the bull statue on Wall Street.

This statue is named “Fearless Girl” and it has a girl standing in a strong defiant position facing the bronze bull head-on.

The organization that put the statue on Wall Street is called State Street Global Advisors (SSGA).

The president and CEO of the organization, Ron O’Hanley, said, “Today, we are calling on companies to take concrete steps to increase gender diversity on their boards and have issued clear guidance to help them begin to take action.

A key contributor to effective independent board leadership is diversity of thought, which requires directors with different skills, backgrounds

and expertise.” The girl represents all women facing a challenge head-on.

The statue is meant to acknowledge women all over the world.

The company on Wall Street funded this statue and its picture has been shared all around the globe.

International Women’s Day began the day after the statue was put up, and that was a time for women to come together to show their strength.

The SSGA has made sure that this statue will remain in front of the bull for at least a week.

O’Hanley also said, “We wanted to highlight the power of women in leadership. So we made room in the one place business could not ignore.

Certain research shows that companies with greater levels of gender diversity have had stronger financial performance as well as fewer governance-related issues such as bribery, corruption, shareholder battles and fraud.”

I remember when I first saw the news break about the statue of the defiant girl on social media.

I think that this is a major step for women empowerment.

Especially for a company on Wall Street to fund this project is absolutely amazing.

I believe this statue accurately shows the strength that women all over the world have.

I am glad that society is making small steps toward recognizing the problems with gender equality.

The statue sends a powerful message to the world that women are just as important as the men in the world and they are to be treated with much deserved respect.

I hope to see more strides towards gender equality in the future.

Courtesy PIX 11

The “Fearless Girl” statue the is facing the bull statue on Wall Street.

16 opinions

Red & Black

17 March 2017

CIA’s Vault 7 Security Breach

Courtesy Daily Mail

Wikileaks recently released a list of documents from the CIA.

Saul Franco Red&Black Contributor

On March 8, Wikileaks leaked documents from the CIA about the agency’s tactics for hacking into different devices, web browsers and applications.

These documents were dubbed “Vault 7” and are the first of several publications that reveals the CIA’s hacking abilities.

The documents themselves disclosed faults in different technological systems that the agency was looking

to exploit. One of many concerns with this leak is that these faults in the different systems are causing concerns in many consumers because these faults have now been made public.

“On one end, I can see the value of having information leaked because if you look at how the government is structured, it is supposed to be a government for the people by the people,” said Anna Jeffries ’19. “But on the other hand, there is a great risk of more intelligence organizations getting their information leaked.”

I agree with Jefferies and believe that this could be problematic for the public. While I do think that the gov-

ernment hides quite a bit, the CIA is an agency that must work in secrecy.

This is a group that can only work best when their tactics are not known to other governments and they are able to catch enemies to the society without having their presence known.

This information can also make it possible for others to gain the ability to hack into another’s device or account and take confidential information.

“However, obviously, in terms of security it is concerning. But because of the releasing of their flaws, these companies will end up increasing their cybersecurity. Overall I believe this could be a positive thing for the public

in the long run, but there might some short-term problems with it,” said Tyler Mattes ’19 who believes that there could be an upside from this situation.

To a degree, I must agree. I do believe that this could force the companies of these systems to really settle some of the issues in their systems. I do not believe that revealing an agency’s tactics is the best way to accomplish this; however, seeing how it can render some cases useless now that their targets know some of their tricks.

In the end, I believe that there should be more thought put into what all is leaked and the effects of doing such things.

17 March 2017

Red & Black

17 Opinions

The Benefits of Spring Break Nour Al Shishani Red&Black Staff

Many students spent their days of intersession on campus and, therefore, they have invested a long period of their winter long break actually studying and attending classes.

Hence, spring break is beneficial for them to feel relaxed after a long pe-

riod of time of having classes, assignments and tests.

After being far away from home for a few months, students begin to miss communication with their families.

Although there are some students who return home, others might miss other activities they normally perform on vacation.

The length of spring break allows these students to make plans to travel that are not possible with a shorter break. The healthy one-week-long exploration can also re-energize the students as spring approaches.

As nicer weather approaches, students have the chance to spend some time outside with better weather and provide them with time to take advantage of natural light therapy. After being kept indoors because of the cold weather, it is healthy for students and

faculty to be outdoors and do activities that motivate them to return with a stronger desire to complete their assignments and study.

On Duquesne University’s website, spring break is a motivation opportunity, and “Motivation is a factor that both students and faculty must nurture.”

Furthermore, since the beginning of the semester was not an official break for the students who completed intersession on campus, this is their chance to spend some alone time and take a period of time to relax.

This break can also allow students to reflect on their grades and academic performance thus far and attempt to improve their methods of learning.

Retaining information requires a longer period of time. It is proven that longer sessions of learning is much

better than cramming. Cramming might improve knowledge overnight, but the amount of information that is actually stored drops drastically to 50 percent or lower of the information learned.

According to the American Psychological Association, “At some point, waiting too long [between sessions] could have a negative effect [on learning].

However, most of us space far too little. Practically speaking, too much spacing is not really a danger anyone should worry about.”

Therefore, no break can be too long of a time away from studies; a ten day break is a perfect length.

Students need to reflect and motivate themselves, and work on retaining the knowledge they have immersed themselves in over the semester.

Why We Study Liberal Arts Nathan Repine Red & Black Staff

There were many big decisions to be made when I was getting ready to graduate from high school my senior year.

Some of those decisions consisted of the following: “Do I want to continue my education? Do I want to go to a big or small school? Do I want an education that will focus primarily on my

field or one that will give me knowledge on a wide range of subjects?”

This last question is the one I will be analyzing.

There are pros and cons to every decision students make in their lives.

In the case of coming to a liberal arts college, I certainly made the right choice.

In almost all circumstances, it is advantageous to be well-rounded and have a wide perspective when making decisions and doing jobs in one’s place of work. There are, nonetheless, some potential drawbacks in regard to having one’s hand in multiple subjects that

may not be favorable to some employers.

Certain jobs, such as financial engineering, are very specific and only require one to master certain skills, regardless of whether one has taken classes in other departments other than math and finance.

I got the opinion of a few students as to what the advantages and disadvantages could be in getting a liberal arts education.

“I think it is surprising that our ‘liberal arts education’ only requires one class in the arts,” said Kyla Crawford ‘19. “As someone with a wide variety

of interests, I appreciate a liberal arts education. I feel that it allows me to specialize in certain subjects while getting a taste,” said Cassie Olszewski ‘19.

Overall, as I stated earlier on, it is in the student’s best interest to take classes in more than just his or her field, unless he or she will be doing very specific and in-depth tasks and jobs.

I firmly believe it to be a good thing for students to have an education that branches into a various number of different fields.

I also believe that, as it is a compromise, a student can chose for themselves.

18 Sports

sports Red & Black

17 March 2017

Presidents Sweep Bethany in PAC Season Debut

Courtesy gopresidents.com

Presidents’ baseball continues its winning streak with a victory over Bethany.

Alexander Benner Red&Black Contributor

Coming off a two-game sweep of Case Western Reserve, the Washington & Jefferson College Presidents were looking to continue their success in a conference play against Bethany on a windy Wednesday afternoon.

On March 8, in their first game of the day, the Presidents were unable to find a run until after allowing Bethany to score in the top of the fourth. That was when Nick Vento hit a groundrule double to right field, scoring Adam LaRue from second, tying the game at one run a piece.W&J’s success

continued in the fifth inning as Jake Gordon led off the bottom with a double to left center.

Luke Zahren and Adam LaRue then reached base on a walk and a hit-bypitch respectively.

Derek Helbing sent a single into left field, scoring both Jake Gordon and Luke Zahren.

The Bisons then switched pitchers, and another out by the Presidents brought Frank Fortunato to the plate.

Fortunato smashed a pitch to center field for a ground-rule double, scoring LaRue and moving Helbing to third.

Two more hits by Mark Merlino and Ryan Sciullo gave the Presidents their fifth and sixth runs of the inning, putting them in the lead 7-1.

The sixth inning continued much the same as the fifth, as Nick Gatins set the tempo with a lead-off home run to right field. Zahren reached on a walk,

and then smart base-running brought him around to score on a sacrifice fly from Helbing.

Four more hits by Vento, Zak Keesee, Sciullo and AJ Melvin scored three more runs, putting the Presidents up 12-1 going into the seventh and final inning of the game.

Ben Marsico faced three Bisons, and got all three out to secure the win for the Presidents.

In the second game, W&J’s hot bats continued to shine. LaRue and Helbing both reached base to lead off the inning by fielding an error and a walk respectively.

Vento then hit a single to drive in LaRue. Merlino smashed a homer over the right field wall, scoring three runners, and Sciullo homered in the very next at bat, putting the Presidents up 5-0. W&J scored three more runs in the next inning off a shot by Fortu-

nato, putting them up 8-0 going into the third.

One more run in the third put the Presidents up 9-0. Bethany’s bats came to life in the fourth inning, achieving four runs on seven hits.

The Presidents bounced back with a run of their own in the fifth, pushing the lead to six.

The Bisons would score two more runs in the top of the sixth, but that would be all they could muster as W&J went on to score four runs in the bottom of the sixth, winning the game 146, and completing the weekend sweep.

W&J ended the weekend with a total of 26 runs off of 24 hits.

The Presidents depart on March 18 for Florida, playing five teams in six days, before returning home for another conference double header against Westminster College on March 28 starting at 2 p.m.

17 March 2017

Red & Black

19 sports

Student Athlete Spotlight: Joe Dreher

Courtesy creativecommons.ord

Courtesy Brianna Floryshak

Joe Dreher picked up volleyball only a year ago, but is an effective member of the team in every game.

Brianna Floryshak Red&Black Contributor

Joe Dreher ’18 played football, basketball and baseball at Norwayne High School in Ohio.

Dreher has now transitioned to playing for the club volleyball team at Washington & Jefferson College.

Along with being involved in the athletic aspects of the school, he is also a resident assistant and an economics major.

Dreher was a football player for his high school and a starter for his school’s basketball team when they made it to regionals for the first time in 20 years.

When he came college, he decided to narrow it down and only play football for W&J. He had no intentions of playing volleyball at W&J until a friend asked him to attend tryouts one night. “I ended up going on a spur of the moment

kind of deal and ended up becoming addicted instantly,” said Dreher. From that moment on, Dreher found a new sport to add to his list of athletic endeavors.

After playing football at W&J for two years, Dreher decided to end that career and focus solely on volleyball.

He chose volleyball for the pure enjoy-

after playing football, because players do not have linebackers running full force at them. Even though, in theory, it may seem that hitting a ball over a net seems simple, it is much more challenging mentally.

Players have to be constantly thinking about strategy and placement.

Volleyball is a precise game, because a

“When I started playing with the team, I had only played volleyball a few times before. So when joining the team, I got a crash course in volleyball 101 in about two hours of practice before our first game.”

— Joe Dreher ment of the game, the chance to learn a completely new game and improve over time. “It’s a sport I just can’t seem to get enough of,” he said.

Shifting from a contact sport like football to a non-contact sport like volleyball was a difficult task mentally for Dreher. Outsiders would think it would be easier to play volleyball

poor pass or mishit can cost the team a point in an instant. “When I started playing with the team, I had only played volleyball a few times before,” said Dreher. “So when joining the team, I got a crash course in volleyball 101 in about two hours of practice before our first game.” Being a multisport athlete helped him catch onto

the sport quickly. As time went on, he noticed that the more he played, the more he learned about the fundamentals of the game.

These fundamentals included swinging properly, spiking, how to receive serves in the back row and even just where to stand on the court.

He quickly went from playing sports where simply being athletic was enough, to playing a game where technique was key.

“Volleyball isn’t like any other sport I’ve played,” Dreher said. “Thankfully, the other guys on the team have been extremely helpful in teaching me the game of volleyball. They have made this season a lot of fun.”

After being a part of the volleyball team for a year now, Dreher has progressed a long way and enjoys putting more time into the sport to be rewarded by seeing just how far he has come in only a year’s time.

The team’s next home game is Sat., April 1. Students are invited to attend and show support for Dreher and his teammates as they take on Carnegie Mellon.

20 sports

17 March 2017

Red & Black

USWNT is Last in SheBelieves Cup

This One Time...

Courtesy creativecommons.org

The U.S. Women’s National Team conceded in the SheBelieves Cup finale.

Brianna Floryshak Red&Black Contributor

On March 10, the U.S. Women’s Soccer National Team conceded in the SheBelieves Cup finale to France with a 3-0 loss.

Heading into the game, the U.S. had a chance to win the Cup for a second straight year.

However, with their two losses and one win, the U.S. ended in a tie with England, each country’s team ending with three points.

The team ended up finishing in fourth place out of four teams based on a goals scored to goals allowed ratio.

With the victory over the U.S., France ended up claiming the Cup title with a record of 2-1-0.

With these two consecutive losses and their worst showing at the Olympics this past summer, there is a cause for concern from USWNT fans as the World Cup 2019 Qualifying is fast approaching.

Their coach Jill Ellis seems to be using this in-between time as a time to experiment with different formations and test a variety of players in different positions. This is also a time for her to test the up-and-coming players in the

line-up and see how they fit with the current roster.

These shocking back-to-back losses on home soil for the U.S. are to be expected when an inexperienced roster is put against three of the top five best women’s national teams in the world.

The starting lineups that took the field for the losses were not only missing key players, but with this they lacked team chemistry and cohesiveness.

Coach Jill Ellis has still not decided on a primary goalkeeper to replace Hope Solo.

Alyssa Naeher and Ashlyn Harris have been alternating who starts in goal for the U.S. This also causes the defense to be a little shaky at times because every goalkeeper communicates differently.

Overall, the U.S. can still take a few key learning points from this, and Jill Ellis hopefully got the insight she was looking for with respect to the future of the USWNT. The U.S. still has plenty of time to get the team together and back to the level they were at in 2015 when they won their last World Cup. The USWNT has a brief period to recover and improve before facing Russia in their next Friendly on April 6.

Courtesy gopresidents.com

We were up at the field for a typical practice. We always have somebody stand behind a screen in the outfield and put all the balls back into the bucket. I’ll leave his name out of it, but on that day a certain pitcher had to be the guy behind the screen and it just happened to be really windy at the field. I normally don’t pay attention to the person behind the screen, but I heard a crash and screaming from the outfield so I turned around to see my friend laying on the ground with the huge screen laying on top of him. The entire practice stopped and everyone was crying laughing for five minutes as my friend was trapped in the net like a fish. Everyone was laughing so hard that nobody even went to help him as he lay there helpless. I’m sure he still has nightmares about it to this day, but it will definitely go down as the funniest thing I’ve ever seen on a baseball field.

- Mullen Socha ‘19, Baseball 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.