2 November 2018

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 a n d j e f f e r s o n c o l l e g e w j r e da n d b l ac k . c o m W a s h i n g t o n , P e n n s y lva n i a November 2, 2018

WHAT’S IN THIS WEEK’S PAPER...

LIFE “And while this type of encouragement is great for yourself and others, it is easy to underestimate the importance of encouraging ourselves.” - P.7

Olin Art Gallery Debuts ‘Ex-Utero’ PAGE 8

CULTURE

“Walking through this exhibit is a shock to the senses. The images are haunting, and the depth of the room is an optical illusion patiently created by Millett.” - P.8

OPINIONS “College can be a stressful time for many students, and having a something to help them through the tougher days makes these costs worth it.” - P.15

SPORTS “The Keto diet is beneficial for those whose lifestyles are typically low in physical activity.” - P.19 Courtesy Kayla Marasia

WJREDANDBLACK.COM

2 CAMPUS NEWS

Red & Black

2 november 2018

Sophomore Student Spotlight: Sofia Carrasco Marcy Saldivar Red & Black Staff

Sofia Carrasco ‘21 is a sophomore at Washington & Jefferson College.

She is from Crafton, where she was raised in a family of five. She attended Carlynton High School, where she excelled academically and athletically, holding positions such as President of the National Honors Society and the two-year captainship of her soccer team.

She carried that momentum into college, where she is pursuing majors in international studies and French.

She is also member of the W&J women’s cross country and track teams.

Carrasco intends to work as a foreign diplomat for the U. S. State Department, which would entail living in a foreign country while working to protect and represent the interests of the U. S. abroad. Eventually, she would like to be an ambassador.

Carrasco is bilingual in English and Spanish, and she is currently progressing in her French education. She plans to study abroad for a year in France to help her become a more natural speaker. She noted that she also plans to learn some other languages, including Arabic, Portuguese and Italian.

Being able to speak multiple languages will allow her to have many options when pursuing her career and will help facilitate the communication between nations.

When discussing her future career plans, Carrasco said, “I am very interested in living abroad and experiencing the different governments and cultures of the world. I have always been interested in politics, and diplomacy is something that I consider integral and

incredibly important for relationships between countries. I would like to be an enabler of those relationships.”

Carrasco is also very focused on her athletic career at W&J. Last track season, Carrasco was a member of the 4x4 relay and the Distance Medley Relay, and those events placed second at the indoor Presidents Athletics Conference (PAC) Championships.

She achieved her season personal record in the open 400-meter race at the outdoor PAC Championships.

Carrasco is excited to see how the track team does this year and is impressed by the team’s great new recruits.

At W&J, Carrasco is a member of the sustainability committee, a copy editor for the Red & Black student newspaper and a student manager for the women’s soccer team.

She enjoys being involved on campus because it allows her to meet new people and stay connected within the community.

Through the sustainability committee, Carrasco and fellow students work to limit single-use plastics, conserve energy and resources and advocate for a more sustainable campus.

“Compared to last year, the new food provider focuses on quality versus quantity and locally sourced foods, which is more sustainable,” said Carrasco about campus’s food options.

“The boxes that G&T’s now uses are made of cardboard, which is naturally decomposable, as compared to the Styrofoam boxes used last year. I am appreciative of the school’s efforts and I hope that I can be a part of the change to make W&J a greener campus.”

Carrasco is incredibly thankful for the opportunities she has at W&J. Through academics and extracurricular activities, she looks forward to the rest of her time on campus.

Courtesy Sofia Carrasco

Carrasco is a double major in international studies and French at W&J.

2 november 2018

3 CAMPUS NEWS

Red & Black

Magellan Spotlight: Julia Schaffer Molly Riley Studies in Scotland Marcy Saldivar Red & Black Staff

Last summer, Julia Schaffer ‘21 completed her Magellan project in Norway. She travelled to Oslow, Bergen, Hoylandet and Lom, where she studied the mental health of the region and considered why Norway was voted as the happiest country of 2017.

Prior to her research, Schaffer theorized that one of the reasons Norway’s citizens have a higher quality of life is the large amount of time they spend outdoors. Norway is covered in beautiful mountain ranges that provide a plethora of opportunities to partake in outdoor activities and enjoy the beauty of nature.

In order to get a personal experience, Schaffer partook in these activities, often hiking and spending most of her time outside. After surveying 300 people in both the United States and Norway, Schaffer saw that Norwegians spend significantly more time in the outdoors when compared to people in the U. S. Additionally, Norwegians have a notably high government satisfaction rate, which was not reflected among the U. S. surveyed population.

Furthermore, Norwegians are very pleased with their healthcare policies and tend to be highly family oriented.

Schaffer concluded that all of these factors contribute to why Norwegians have overall better mental health than the U. S. When reflecting upon her experiences with people on her trip, Schaffer said, “The people that I met in Norway were some of the most generous and kind people I have ever encountered. It was really interesting to see how an entire nation of people

had a similar, positive outlook on life.”

In her free time, Schaffer was also able to explore Norwegian culture. She ate reindeer and whale and tried numerous other Norwegian dishes.

For one week, she lived with a family on their farm, which allowed her to experience a typical rural Norwegian lifestyle. She also visited small towns and socialized with locals.

Schaffer’s favorite place that she visited was Galdhopiggen, the highest mountain in Northern Europe. This was her first solo hike, and she was proud to be able to make it to the top.

When she reached the peak, the beautiful view and high cloud fog of the rainy day made the sight even better.

Schaffer was amazed by this experience. “As you stand on the very top of Norway, there are no other words to describe the complete gratitude of the opportunity of this experience and admiration of a country so beautiful,” said Schaffer. “I am very grateful that Washington & Jefferson College and the Magellan project allowed me to accomplish something that I never thought that I would be able to do.”

Schaffer looks forward to more beautiful hikes and her next Magellan project.

Courtesy Marcy Saldivar

Schaffer traveled to Norway for her Magellan.

Nicole Walters Red & Black Staff

Molly Riley ’19 is an English major at Washington & Jefferson College with minors in history and gender and women’s studies, and she also has a concentration in American Studies.

Last year she had the chance to study abroad in Scotland at the University of Aberdeen.

This was Riley’s first experience traveling abroad, and she had an amazing time; it has inspired her to travel more. After studying abroad, Riley decided to apply for the Fulbright scholarship, a program that allows students to study abroad and extend their research and cultural immersion experiences.

Riley chose to study in Scotland because she had family connections to the area. Her parents’ family originally came from Scotland. She also loved its location and climate, and Riley said, “Living on the North Sea was incredible.” While staying at Aberdeen, she studied anthropology, philosophy and took an English course.

The philosophy and English courses counted towards her degree, but the class on anthropology was a fun extra class she took since W&J does not offer it. Since the University of Aberdeen is a research university, Riley gained a great experience, especially since she would like to continue with her studies and earn a PhD to teach at the college level.

Having the chance to experience college life in both the United States and internationally opened her eyes to the different ways that these higher education schools are run. Observing

this difference has furthered her interest in becoming a professor at one of these types of institutions.

Her favorite part of the trip involved all the friends she made while studying abroad. “Through the theatre company and an on-campus writing group, I was able to make lifelong friends that I talk to every day,” Riley said. “This never would have happened without W&J’s study abroad program.”

When asked if there are any other areas that she would like to visit, she spoke of her interest in eastern parts of Europe and Russia.

While in Scotland, she made small trips to Paris, Amsterdam, Portugal and England. Her trip to Prague was what really sparked her interest in Eastern Europe, and she hopes to be able to travel there again.

While Riley is back in the United States for her final two semesters of college, it is only a matter of time before she is out exploring new places and furthering her studies.

Courtesy Nicole Walters

Riley studied abroad in Scotland at the University of Aberdeen.

4 CAMPUS NEWS

2 november 2018

Red & Black

Senior Student Spotlight: Gabrielle Quinten ’19 Marcy Saldivar Red & Black Staff

Courtesy Marcy Saldivar

Quinten plans to attend California University of Pennsylvania for graduate school after graduating from W&J in the spring.

Over the past four years at Washington & Jefferson College, Gabrielle Quinten ‘19 has studied psychology, Spanish and business in preparation to enter graduate school.

She is from McDonald and she attended Fort Cherry High School before becoming a President.

Quinten chose to receive her undergraduate education at W&J because of the reputable psychology program.

She is now working on finishing her psychology major and Spanish and business minors.

Upon graduation from W&J, Quinten plans to attend the California University of Pennsylvania School of Psychology, where she hopes to earn a master’s degree in school psychology.

This is closely tied to her career plans, as Quinten would eventually like to work as a psychologist in an elementary school.

When discussing her educational path and plans for the future, Quinten said, “I chose this career path because I really love to work with children. In high school, I used to volunteer with children, and after such a great experience, it made my choice clear that I wanted to work with kids. I think it will be rewarding to help kids succeed academically, socially, emotionally and behaviorally.”

Outside of the classroom at W&J, Quinten is a member of the service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega (APO), the National Society of Leadership and

Success, the Spanish club, the Washington Fellows and the W&J choir. She is also a member of the Delta Gamma (DG) sorority.

Along with her DG sisters, Quinten enjoys doing service work for the sorority’s philanthropy, Service for Sight.

The DG sisters attend charity events to help the visually impaired and blind, host a large philanthropy fundraiser on campus and participate in Pittsburgh’s Vision Walk.

She is also the current event coordinator, meaning that she is in charge of planning any social events for the sorority, such as the upcoming semi-formal and spring formal.

Quinten is very thankful for DG because it has helped her bond with many people on campus, not just in the sorority, but in other sororities and fraternities as well.

Thanks to annual alumni events, Quinten has also been able to network and create connections with established psychologists who once were members of DG. Overall, Quinten is very appreciative of her time at W&J and how it has prepared her for graduate school.

She believes that she is wellequipped to succeed in graduate school, and she thanks her professors and friends for this.

Reflecting upon her time at W&J, Quinten said, “I feel like W&J has given me opportunities to grow and prosper in my field. Once I go to graduate school, I feel like I will be prepared and able to manage because the psychology department here is amazing. My friends have helped me get through the toughest times and led me to become the person that I am today.”

She is thankful for the mentorship she has received at W&J and looks forward to new experiences at Cal U.

2 november 2018

CAMPUS NEWS 5

Red & Black

Speak Out: What is your favorite Halloween candy?

“Any full-size candy bars!”

-Reghan Dunn ’21

Courtesy gopresidents.com

“My favorite Halloween candy to recieve is Sour Patch Kids.”

-Jake Adams ’20 Courtesy gopresidents.com

“Milky Ways, big-boy style!”

-Grace Kovlan ’21

Courtesy gopresidents.com

Red & Black Established 1909 Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Publication Manager Social Media Chair Campus News Editor Life Editor Culture Editor Opinions Editor Sports Editor Business Manager Distribution Manager Adviser

Kayla Marasia Hannah Kail Holly Sauer Brie Sutherland Brianna Floryshak Brie Sutherland Christian Buckley Sydney Kightlinger Karli-Ann Sanders Hannah Kail Joe Reedy John Santa

life

Life 6

2 November 2018

Red & Black

Staying Physically Active During The Winter Months Sydney Kightlinger Red & Black Editor

Winter is coming, and those leisurely jogs around campus will soon become treacherous as ice overcomes the sidewalk.

We can migrate indoors, but running on a treadmill is not as exciting.

Staring at a wall becomes monotonous, no matter what playlist you create.

So, as the cold approaches, we are forced to find new activities to satisfy our fitness needs.

Yoga, while not an activity restricted to the indoors, is a way to burn calories, work on strength building and maintain flexibility.

While Washington & Jefferson College has a yoga club on campus, there is the free app called Yoga Workout for people who desire a more personal workout.

Yoga Workout has countless video tutorials and routines available for all levels.

“It is really relaxing, and it helps me relieve stress from classes,” Maria Milinarcik ’22 said. “I think it is great for someone’s mental and physical

Courtesy Best Health Magazine Canada

Feel and look good durning the winter months by finding exercises that are new and exciting.

health because stretching helps relieve muscles and the meditation helps clear your mind.” For people who want something a little more intense, there is the Workout of the Day (WOD) challenge on the Crossfit website.

These high-intensity workouts can last anywhere from ten to 45 minutes.

There is a new exercise posted every day with directions on how to maximize your workout. An example of a workout could be to complete as many

rounds as possible of seven box jumps and then 14 kettlebell swings in 12 minutes. For people who like a group experience, good old-fashioned kickball or soccer is a great option.

Although sports teams take priority in use of athletic facilities, all students are more than welcome to use the recreation center when there is not a practice in session. All you have to do is get a couple of friends together and run around to work on your cardio for

the day. Whatever you decide to do for physical activity is going to be helpful for your mind and body.

“Working out is like the healthy food you eat. It benefits you the most, and every once in a while you need a cupcake [break],” said Emily Figliolia ’21. “Working out helps you stay in shape and feel good about yourself, so when you wake up in the morning and look in the mirror you can say, ‘I feel and look great today.’”

2 November 2018

7 Life

Red & Black

The Importance of Encouraging Yourself Lauren Phillips Red & Black Staff

There is no denying the satisfying feeling that occurs after paying someone a compliment.

From acknowledging a cute outfit to assuring someone that they will ace their upcoming test, encouraging others is a big part of life.

And while this type of encouragement is great for yourself and others, it is easy to underestimate the importance of encouraging ourselves.

This simple, yet underappreciated act is necessary for being our best selves throughout the tasks and demands of everyday life.

Remembering to encourage yourself daily instead of feeling overrun by stress and difficult tasks will help you get through the trials of everyday life.

For most people, although especially for college students, life is full of opportunities.

There is the constant pressure to ace finals and exams, to plan an awesome Magellan and even to maintain a social life with all of these stressful deadlines.

Encouraging yourself is key to getting all of these chaotic things done to the best of your ability.

Without your own encouragement, it is impossible to know your full potential unless you continue to remind yourself of it. It may be cliché, but it is true: you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.

While knowing the value of encouraging yourself is easier said than done, surrounding yourself with people who encourage you is also crucial.

“If you start to spiral into a negative

Courtesy Sillycanvas

Encouraging yourself allows you to believe in who you are and accomplish your goals.

mindset where you lose sight of your own abilities, that can be a dangerous place to be,” said Kayla Marasia ‘19.

“Sometimes you need to be patient with yourself.”

People who constantly remind you of your value will help you achieve your goals and desires in life.

Having a strong relationship with friends and family who encourage you makes this process so much easier and much more worthwhile. Finally, it is

important to encourage yourself in order to serve as a constant reminder of your immeasurable self-worth.

Every life has value, regardless of social status, upbringing or other factors.

What matters the most is what you make out of life’s opportunities.

“I always remind myself of the fact that one bad moment doesn’t make or break your day,” says Jonathan Clifton ’22. “Move on from it and keep

working hard because hanging onto negativity is bad for you.” There is no specific formula to stay encouraged, although it does entail constant reminders of your value, self-worth and the potential for accomplishing anything.

Continue to remind others of their abilities and encourage all of your friends and family, but make sure that you do not forget to do the same for yourself.

8 Culture

Red & Black

culture

2 November 2018

Olin Art Gallery Debuts ‘Ex-Utero’ Olivia Engl Red & Black Staff

On Oct. 26, Olin Art Gallery opened a new exhibit called “Ex-Utero” by Cristin Millett. Upon entering the gallery, one can see a black wall with small holes cut out of each of the sections.

Through each of the holes comes a red light, and as the viewers get closer, they can see a bar to kneel on.

If audience members choose to kneel, they can observe womb dissection diagrams that are centuries old.

Once the audience moves past this, they can notice the lovingly carved balustrades that cover the other side of the wall. Millett wanted to recreate the illusions felt in an anatomy theater.

When explaining the goals of her artwork, Millett said, “If you look through the hole in the back, my hope was that your eyes would focus on different things at different times. First you may want to focus on the drawings, then the balustrades right behind it, then maybe even the balustrades across the gallery.”

Her personal artistic interpretation of watching a dissection is created though the use of drawings from a book published in 1604 on the dis-

sections of fetuses and genitalia; viewers must look through her six feet tall balustrades to be able to observe these.

Walking through this exhibit is a shock to the senses.

The images are haunting, and the depth of the room is an optical illusion patiently created by Millett.

She was inspired by the Anatomy Theater in Padua, Italy, which she has visited many times.

When explaining the dissection inspiration for her artwork, Millett said, “They were all-day events. People would buy tickets and the front two rows of the theater would be reserved for the mayor or other important people visiting.”

In the center there was a slab of plaster, cut twice, once down the middle and once across the width. The audience can note that there is a womanly shape impressed into the slab.

Millett explains that she was playing with the idea of the dissection table, and thereby expressed her own interpretation by pressing the body into the table itself.

The gallery is a beautiful representation of thrills of the past, now that the upper levels of the anatomy theatre is closed to the public.

Washington & Jefferson College is very lucky to have an art exhibit as intriguing as this, and every student is encouraged to visit it every day from 12 p.m. to 7 p m., as admission is free.

Courtesy Kayla Marasia

Courtesy Kayla Marasia

“Ex-Utero” will be open from Oct. 26 to Dec. 2. It will also briefly be closed during Thanksgiving break.

2 November 2018

Red & Black

9 Culture

Best Movies to Watch During the Halloween Season

Courtesy Pinterest

Halloween movies are an important part of the spooky season. Many of the movie characters seen above are identifiable by the majority of people around the world.

Lauren Phillips Red & Black Staff

Halloween is arguably one of the greatest holidays, and for good reason.

Grocery stores are packed with candy, spooky decorations are everywhere and students have an excuse to dress up as their favorite characters.

A wide range of movies exist to celebrate this action-packed holiday.

From campy slasher films to animated classics, there are countless movies available to watch at any time of the year, but that are especially great to watch during the month of October.

For those who are not drawn to gory and frightening Halloween movies, luckily there are plenty of upbeat films available to watch.

“Hocus Pocus” remains one of the most classic films associated with Halloween, seemingly becoming more popular throughout the years.

This is also true for another classic film, “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” The claymation of the film has become a favorite for many fans, and the film combines elements of both Christmas and Halloween into the plot.

“The Addams Family” is another comedy that depicts a spooky family interested in the macabre. Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to their favorite films to watch

around Halloween. “Personally, I prefer to watch campy Halloween movies,” said Jadyn Lawrence ‘22. “I love to watch scary movies with my friends around this time.”

Luckily for Jadyn, there are plenty of movies that fit this description. “Halloween” from 1978 set the standard for Halloween movies. Other films that accomplish this include “Scream” and “The Exorcist.”

While these movies may be old and a little outdated, they all have gore, horror and jump scares, so they are all perfect for getting in the Halloween mood.

These movies are iconic, and the vast number of sequels and remakes demonstrates the profound legacy of the films in modern pop culture.

While all these films are great in their own ways, there are other scary movies perfect for Halloween that have come out in the recent years.

For example, “The Conjuring” is great for those looking for jump scares, as the film follows paranormal investigators who find themselves consistently dealing with more than spirits.

Another movie similar to this is “Insidious,” which also inspired many sequels perfect for a Halloween movie marathon.

Needless to say, there is a wide variety of Halloween movies perfect for everyone’s individual interests. While these are just some of the most wellknown and iconic movies, there are so many more out there that make this holiday worth celebrating.

10 Culture

Red & Black

2 November 2018

Michael Myers Returns in New ‘Halloween’ Movie Cassandra Muhr Red & Black Contributor

Michael Myers has returned in the all new “Halloween” movie. A month before the movie’s release, director David Gordon Green sat down in an interview with HuffPost to discuss all things related to the “Halloween” franchise.

Although this movie is technically the 11th to be released in the 40-yearold franchise, the previous sequels are irrelevant this time around.

All the myths and folklore established in previous years are being laid to rest, and instead, this movie follows the story of Laurie as Jamie Lee Curtis reprises her role from the original series.

This project came at a pivotal moment for Green, following a failed attempt to revamp another classic horror film. After receiving only one email from producer Jason Blum, Green knew he wanted to direct “Halloween.”

Green first encountered the 1978 classic in his early teens and has been intrigued ever since.

He was fascinated that Michael Myers lacked a visible personality, as well as ambition and motivation. He was merely a “primal presence of evil.”

After signing onto the project, Green wanted the new film to remain unfocused on Michael’s character.

To achieve this, Green worked closely with his friends Danny McBride and Jeff Fradley to create a script close to the original, also gaining valuable ideas from producer Jason Blum and his staff. The original intentions

were to base the film on “Halloween 1” and “Halloween 2,” but the crew was talked out of it. “We just stuck to the simplicity of ‘Halloween 1,’” Green said. “We’re a very easy to process and digest movie. It is just ‘A bad thing happened 40 years ago; ready for some more?’ . . . And now we’re the second part of ‘Halloween 1.’ It sounds more complicated than it is.”

While avoiding any myths, the crew also avoided the exploration of Michael’s character, leaving the audience to figure out the details and put together their own theories.

To achieve this, the camera purposefully avoids Michael’s eyes, not capturing any emotions or reactions.

“We don’t want to see into the humanity that any human would possess,” Green said.

Sticking close to the classic, the original actor who played Michael, Nick Castle, was brought back to play key moments, while a stunt double was used in other scenes. The mood of the film was also maintained through the return of Jamie Lee Curtis. As for the film set, there were some specific recreations, like Laurie’s classroom, which has now become her granddaughter’s classroom.

Some other sets were kept identical, but the goal was to make everything a deteriorated version of its past form.

The classic slasher-film sound effects were original, not digitally created. At the time of the interview, Green was most nervous about the audience’s reception to the film.

He wanted something fans of the franchise would love, while also attracting a new audience who have not seen the original. Green is grateful for the experience gained from this project and hopes the audience loves it as much as he does.

Courtesy DBXfanon

The fictitious Michael Myers has been stabbing his way into the hearts of fans since 1978. From then on, he has appeared in eleven different “Halloween” movies, greatly impacting the horror movie genre.

2 November 2018

Red & Black

Culture 11

‘The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell’

t Courtesy Eater

“The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell” is a great show to watch during the Halloween season.

Nicole Walters Red & Black Staff

The show “The Curious Case of Christine McConnell” at first appears to be a new holiday television show about a woman who bakes Halloween and ghoulish desserts while interacting with her very creepy guests.

The show starts off with introducing the audience to the monster characters in the show. In the first episode, there are three creatures. The first is

Rose, a raccoon that was killed by a garbage truck.

Christine sewed her back together, but her character is a little rough around the edges. She is often gobbling up the sweets Christine makes while making inappropriate comments about her late night adventures.

The other main creature is Rankle, a mummified hairless cat. He was worshiped as a god when he was alive, and he still acts very regal and a bit snobbish to the other creatures.

The last important creature is Edgar, an unidentified creature that Christine welcomed into her home. No matter what he actually is, she does not judge

him. After he arrives, Christine works to build a cake that looks exactly like the spooky house that holds all her creatures. This is the interesting part about the show; while the show follows the characters interacting, it also shows Christine baking impressive creations as if it were a cooking show.

The humor comes through the creatures responding to her cooking, as they are slightly concerned that Christine is crazy because she is talking to no one when giving the directions on how to make her desserts. Rankle and Rose ask, “Who is she talking to?” when Christine starts talking to the viewer about her peanut butter pretzel

bones. “I told you she is a little mad, fortunately she has us to look after her, said Rankle and Rose.” In just the first episode of the six-episode show, “The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell,” has shown itself to be very creative and funny show for the Halloween spirit.

This is a great show for those who want to enjoy the spooky season, but do not handle blood and gore as well as others. Each episode is only twenty minutes long, and it includes directions for making some very impressive sugar confections that the viewers can make along with Christine if they are brave enough.

12 Culture

Red & Black

2 November 2018

Culture Word Search: Famous Artists

WORDS TO FIND: VAN GOGH, DEGAS, MATISSE, MONET, POLLOCK, WARHOL, PICASSO, RENOIR

Culture Spotlight: Favorite Book

Courtesy Zia Angell

“One of my favorite books is Kindred by Octavia Butler. Although I read the book my senior year of high school, the story still resonates with me today. Butler intricately weaves the past and present through the main character of Dana. Dana travels to the past where she herself experiences the slavery her ancestors once endured.

In the present, Dana and her husband try to piece together the present in relation to her strange blackouts whenever she travels back in time. The book explores the horrors of antebellum slavery through the integration of fact and fiction while also shifting from past and present and vice versa. Kindred is a highly emotional and interesting read, and I highly recommend it.”

- Zia Angell ’20

2 November 2018

Red & Black

Poetry Corner Trees

Olivia Engl Red and Black staff

The deep base of a semi’s engine cannot stop the susurration of the leaves in our windows etching their own veins on ours they sing of their world before us before we tore down their bodies for building our structures before we burned their people for warmth while they were in winter’s sleep their blood is sticky and sweet in our mouth their children sit as food on our tables and yet silent they stand protesting only in murmurs caught in the wind.

Culture 13

14 Opinions

2 November 2018

opinions Red & Black

Education Majors Should Be Respected Julia Adams Red & Black Contributor

In our society, the more educated a person is, the higher status they achieve. The more money a person makes, the more people admire and respect them. The higher the degree that a person has, the more doors are open for them later in life.

The reason the educated are so respected is because they have the knowledge and talent to innovate, to create for the future and to further our society. However, people forget that a person cannot think abstractly until they have learned basic skills such as algebra and how to write an essay.

Teachers are a necessity for the future since every child must be taught.

However, education majors are not

held at the same prestige compared to an engineering or neuroscience major.

The most overlooked major and job is that of an education major with the intention to become an elementary, middle or high school teacher. Students learn the most critical and im-

to contribute to society. This major should get the most respect and the most praise.

Where would anyone in higher education be without their middle school math teacher? Where would Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos be without their

Teachers are a necessity for the future since every child must be taught. portant skills in those years; however, the job is avoided because teachers do not make sufficient money for luxury living.

Education majors are the future teachers of our society and will be teaching the next generation of children.

Those children then become the future of the country. This cycle is why education majors are so important.

The educated become the educators

primary school teachers showing them how to read and how to do basic math?

An education major holds the weight of the future. They are the future teachers of the next generation.

The country wants its citizens to be smart and to be able to innovate, but they cannot start constructing convoluted theories without first learning basic math and science. This is taught by primary and secondary teachers.

The people who are tasked with edu-

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.

cating the youth are ridiculously underpaid. “How are they supposed to teach the young if they cannot even make a decent living?” asked Lindsay Koziel ‘22. “People may like kids and want to teach, but money is a big motivator in this country.”

Students are apprehensive to become an education major because the jobs do not pay as well and do not receive the same status as a doctor or an engineer. Education majors often make much less money than those with a science or a business degree, and this definitely deters students.

“Education is important, but I would not want to be the one to teach.” said Sam Gooch ’22.

Education is very important; however, within society today, innovation is held higher, which is why this career choice is underrated.

Teachers are necessary for students to achieve higher learning or innovation. Without teachers, none of us would be where we are now.

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

2 November 2018

15 Opinions

Red & Black

Monthly Luxury Subscriptions Help Relieve Stress

Courtesy Sydney Kightlinger

College students can now have a Spotify and Hulu subscription for less than six dollars a month due to Spotify’s student discount.

Nicole Walters Red & Black Staff

When it comes to earning and spending money while on a college budget, some hard choices have to be made.

While in school, there are always necessary purchases that come with each semester. Students are required to purchase expensive books and supplies for their classes.

Some students find ways around these prices with eBooks and buying or borrowing from other students, but others cannot avoid three-digit prices.

With these extra costs of attending a college, is it wrong to still set aside a small amount of money to pay for

luxuries such as premium music subscriptions or monthly product boxes?

These are items that have set costs that come around each month, and many students are saying yes to the extra price.

Students can find themselves asking questions when deciding to invest.

Do the extra costs of these items effect college student’s budgets on the spectrum of self-care? Does the act of treating oneself need to go as far as monthly chunks of one’s income?

While money is always a stressful topic for college students, figuring out where that extra money can go as a treat is okay. College can be a stressful time for many students, and having a something to help them through the tougher days makes these costs worth it. Some of these monthly subscrip-

tions even function with a college student in mind, giving the same products for discounted or bundled prices.

Spotify is one of these justifiable purchases. If someone cannot afford Apple Music or just does not like the format, Spotify is a great subscription.

Spotify Student accounts give the benefits of a premium account with a joint account on Hulu, all for six dollars a month.

“My Spotify subscription is the only monthly service I have,” said Sydney Kightlinger ‘21. “But I use it everyday, so it is worth the investment.”

Another great subscription box is FabfitFun, this box comes four times a year at the beginning of each new season. This box includes beauty products, purses, sweaters, scarves, jewelry, fitness gear and other products. It is a

little bit of everything. All items can be specialized to the person’s height, weight, skin tone, hair color and personal preferences.

Every three months, the customer has access to the online website that gives subscribers amazing workouts, along with cooking and makeup videos created by professionals. This box is $40, which may scare some at first, but it is easy to get the money back three times over.

This is because the company includes the real price of all the items in the box, showing these boxes to be valued at almost $300.

While at times spending money on luxuries like subscriptions can be scary, sometimes it is worth it if the product makes a person’s life happier and a little less stressful.

16 opinions

Red & Black

2 November 2018

Football Poses Too Much Personal Risk

Courtesy gopresidents.com

New research shows that concussions inflict more trauma on the brain than previously imagined, so many people are worried about the negative effects of the sport on an individual’s health.

Julia Adams Red & Black Staff

Football is a fundamental American pastime. Football is responsible for bringing friends and family together.

However, the sport that Americans love so much could be responsible for severe health issues for its players.

The aggressive nature of the sport has been shown to cause mental and physical problems for its athletes.

With more research being done on the brain, more doctors and researchers have realized the detrimental effect that concussions have on the brain.

This has become a moral debate against the game. Now that there is a greater awareness of the horrid effects

of the sport upon the human mind, many debate whether or not it is okay to allow these athletes to continue playing the game for viewers’ enjoyment.

The collision of bodies in a football game happens every few seconds, with at least one person falling to the ground. A concussion is caused by an injury to the head, which causes a short loss in brain function.

An injury to the head that causes the brain to move within the skull, can lead to very severe problems later. The brain is not designed to handle intense impact as the tissues and cells are very delicate and perform specialized and complicated functions.

When the brain experiences collision, the tissues can tear; this causes the change in brain function. Nerve cells that are stretched can eventually contribute to a loss of function. They

can no longer send messages, which can lead to problems even after the concussion symptoms have been addressed. People have lost full function of their memory or even changes in personality.

When asked about her opinion of concussions in football, Lindsay Koziel ’22 said, “I like football, but I don’t like the fact that [the players] get hurt all the time.”

There are also no specific cures for a concussion, as rest and relaxation are the only common treatments. Concussions are not even the biggest concern that can result from playing football; any hit to the head that results in a concussion can later develop into early dementia.

There are certain parts of the brain that atrophy and others that enlarge.

Those who suffer from this disease face hormone production issues and other

functional problems. A concussion, or many concussions, can lead to deadly diseases such as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), which causes the brain to lose some functions and, in the most extreme cases, death.

After learning this information, Brayden Marra ’22 said, “I did not know a concussion could cause this much damage.”

A concussion can lead to much bigger problems than football players losing a game.

Football involves a lot of physical trauma that can cause future problems.

These athletes work their entire lives to become the best they can be and to be entertainers to their fans.

However, the sport may be costing them their lives.

Being a fan of football is acceptable in 2018, but there should be more precautions taken to protect the players.

2 november 2018

Opinions 17

Red & Black

Graduates and Students Struggle to Find Enough Work

Courtesy Kayla Marasia

Sydney Kightlinger ’21 looks over a previous issue of the newspaper while worrying about her employment prospects after college.

Holly Sauer Red & Black Editor

Unemployment varies so widely among race, gender, race and even level of education. The unemployment rate is close to four percent in the United States.

Employment numbers are so complex that it can be challenging to understand what this number actually means.

According to Forbes, there are many definitions of unemployment.

However, the “official” one fails to include many different categories of

people. For example, there are those people who have the ability to work but choose not to, and those people who have to work part-time because they cannot get enough hours.

According to two economists, unemployment rates affect the economy because it is one way to explain income inequality and low wage growth.

Their research explains that “underemployment replaces unemployment as the main influence on wages in the years since the Great Recession.”

This number has an importance much greater than just for those people looking for a job.

Underemployment is something that effects all people looking for a job, but especially college graduates who are looking for their first job.

The people who fall into this underemployment category typically

hold lower-paying positions. Because of this, they become a wage buffer for employers.

The problem here is that instead of hiring more people, implementing more competition into the workplace or even offering more money to those already employed, many companies have to resort to giving desperate parttime employees a few more hours.

However, these individuals do not have the power in the workplace to ask for more money, hours or flexibility.

They must take all of the hours they can get. This makes workers desperate, and this is not a good environment for employees.

“While I only expereince this during the summers, I can say that I do get paid less than someone with ‘some college’ should,” Sydney Kightlinger ‘21 said. “During the summer I

have to work two jobs for educational expenses, and what I do make is never enough.”

Many European countries like Spain, France and Italy, all have high unemployment rates of over eight percent.

The labor market is falling in these nations, and because of this, the wage pressure is reduced.

In August 2018, the Bureau of Labor Statistics listed the number of underemployed persons at 7.1 million.

There were 4.5 million part-time workers counted in this same list. This number is 71 percent of the number of people who are unemployed.

The current unemployment rates in America are important for all people to know, but they are especially vital for graduating students who are hoping to land a job right out of school.

sports

18 Sports

Red & Black

2 November 2018

Student Athlete Spotlight: Julia Galbraith ’20

Courtesy Marcy Saldivar

Courtesy gopresidents.com

Julia Galbraith is a junior who plays the position of side hitter for the W&J volleyball team.

Marcy Saldivar Red & Black Staff

Julia Galbraith ’20 is a member of the Washington & Jefferson College volleyball team.

She is from Pittsburgh and attended high school at the Vincentian Academy.

At W&J, she is pursuing a biology degree. Galbraith has always been interested in life sciences, specifically in studies of trauma.

This love for the sciences is what made her college decision difficult. She

was torn between playing volleyball in college or staying solely focused on her studies.

Eventually, the decision came down to the fact that sports had always been a part of her life, and she wanted to play while she still had the opportunity. Galbraith has been playing volleyball since the fifth grade.

Here at W&J, she plays the position of side hitter. During high school, she typically always played middle. Now, she plays more defensively, which is very important in volleyball because everything starts with defense.

Because of this, Galbraith has a significant amount of responsibility to get the offense started.

When discussing her position on the court, Galbraith said, “The most

challenging part about my position is definitely when I put in a great effort to get a ball up and then it does not go over. It is just frustrating because I put in a great effort for nothing, which is challenging to forget and let go. On the contrary, the best part is that I do get to come in big for defensive plays when the team needs it.”

This season, the volleyball team is doing very well.

The team is currently ranked second in their conference and are looking forward to the Presidents Athletic Conference (PAC) playoffs, which start this week.

They earned a bye for the first round, so their first game will be played at 8 p.m. on Nov. 2 at Westminster College. The championship game

is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Nov. 3, and Galbraith believes that the team can do well because they have already beat all the teams in regular play.

She believes the outcome will be determined by the team’s attitude on game day.

Galbraith has enjoyed every season with the volleyball team so far. “The best part about playing volleyball at W&J is the fact that I get to stay busy and active with something I love,” said Galbraith. “I have met lifelong friends that I know will be there for me forever.”

Galbraith loves knowing that she can depend on her team for anything.

She is excited for the team’s performance in the playoffs and looks forward to next season.

2 November 2018

Red & Black

19 sports

Health and Fitness: The Ketogenic Diet Marcy Saldivar Red & Black Staff

Recently, the ketogenic (keto) diet has gained popularity among the American population.

This new diet consists of high-fat, low-carbohydrate and moderate protein foods. The most famous aspect,

at extremely low levels, usually below 30/40g per day.” The most appealing aspect of the keto diet is that it is meant to burn body fat quickly.

It is common in American society to look for an easy way to lose weight, and the keto diet is certainly one of the best ways to do so.

In addition, eating high-fat foods reduces appetite and minimizes cravings, which helps people adhere to their daily calorie limit.

The Keto diet is beneficial for those whose lifestyles are typically low in physical activity. Such lifestyles are typical of people who work desk jobs

quires sugar to carry out its daily tasks.

The brain gets its energy from blood glucose, which is severely limited in someone on the diet. By cutting off sugar intake, people can put themselves at risk for decreased cognitive function.

It is important to note that the keto diet is not designed for athletes. “A 1996 study conducted by Copenhagen University found that a low-carb, high-fat diet resulted in poorer training adaptations when compared to a high-carb approach,” said Smith. “The

researchers found that both power output and performance in endurance competition were negatively impacted by the ketogenic diet.”

Overall, the keto diet presents many positive and negative effects on the human body. The diet could be beneficial for a person if it aligns with their lifestyle, but could also be harmful if it does not.

Therefore, it is very important that individuals do their research and consider all the costs and benefits before trying this diet.

“The theory behind Keto and the reason many people use it for fat loss is that by restricting carbohydrates, your body will eventually reach a state of ketosis – a metabolic state whereby it burns fat for energy.”

-Isabelle Smith the carbohydrate-consumption limit, varies from person to person based on height, weight and physical activity levels, but the overall goal is to force the body to tap into energy stored in fat versus carbs, therefore inciting weight loss.

Isabelle Smith, a celebrity dietician and fitness expert is very knowledgeable about the keto diet. “The theory behind keto and the reason many people use it for fat loss is that by restricting carbohydrates, your body will eventually reach a state of ketosis – a metabolic state whereby it burns fat for energy,” said Smith. “Ketosis can only occur when carbohydrates are kept

or long hours. Even if a person gets a half hour to an hour of exercise in a day, there is still reason to keep carb intake low, as the person does not need the muscle glycogen.

Another reward that can be very beneficial to specific people is that the keto diet can reset insulin sensitivity.

The body becomes sensitive to insulin as it becomes unable to metabolize glucose and make sugar from carbs.

Therefore, switching to a low-carb diet helps the body strengthen its sensitivity to insulin.

By far the largest downfall of the Keto diet is that the human brain re-

Courtesy Diet Doctor

A ketogenic diet consists of an extremely low carb intake and a high fat intake.

20 sports

2 November 2018

Red & Black

Last Week’s Scores Oct. 24

Men’s Soccer v. Bethany 0-2 Loss Field Hockey v. Juniata 1-2 Loss Women’s Soccer v. Bethany 2-0 Win

Oct. 27

Men’s Cross Country at PAC Championships 1st of 9 Women’s Cross Country at PAC Championships 7th of 8 Volleyball v. Grove City 3-0 Win Men’s Water Polo v. McKendree 11-20 Loss Women’s Soccer v. Waynesburg 1-0 Win Field Hockey v. Elmira 7-0 Win Men’s Soccer v. Waynesburg 3-0 Win Men’s Water Polo v. Monmouth 12-9 Win

Courtesy gopresidents.com

Oct. 28

Men’s Water Polo v. Lindenwood 13-9 Win

Oct. 30

Men’s Soccer v. Grove City

Courtesy gopresidents.com

Courtesy gopresidents.com

Courtesy gopresidents.com

Next Week’s Games

Nov. 2

Volleyball v. PAC Semifinals and Finals Field Hockey v. Hartwick (H)- 12pm

Nov.3

Courtesy gopresidents.com

Men’s Water Polo v. CWPA Championship (A) Wrestling v. King’s College Invitational (A)- 10am Football v. Saint Vincent (A)- 1pm Field Hockey v. Empire 8 Championship Match (H)