November 21, 2014
Red & Black
The Student Newspaper of Washington & Jefferson College
WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT LIFE
“Ten years ago, the European Space Agency launched the Rosetta spacecraft into space. It headed towards its first meeting with a comet, 67P.”
ARTS
“These Shining Lives” in Olin
“On Nov. 4, 2014, a date Rolling Stone and I have been waiting 46 years for; Bob Dylan’s lyrical genius, in the form of a moderately priced two album set to fill the souls of his fan base once more, was released.”
THE SUPERBURGER
“Now, the Inner Party here at the Superburger prides themselves on coming up with nothing but the best ideas to put in our articles. But the time has come to face facts and recognize our own limitations. The horrible sad truth is that we all ran out of ideas for Superburger stories weeks ago.”
INDEX: Campus-News ..... 1-5 Life ......................... 6-9 Arts .................... 10-13 Op-Ed ............... 14-17 Satire............... 18 Sports ................ 19-20 PLEASE RECYCLE THIS PAPER
Courtesy W&J Office of Communications
Emily Bitting Red & Black Managing Editor “This isn’t a fairytale, though it starts like one. It’s not a tragedy, though it ends like one. It’s something else. We’re something else.” So opens the fall play, Melanie Marnich’s “These Shining Lives.” What exactly is their story? Washington & Jefferson College still has three chances to find out. The play, which opened yesterday, will also be performed tonight, Nov. 21, at 7:30 p.m.
and tomorrow, Nov. 22, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in Olin Theatre. “These Shining Lives,” directed by Communication Arts professor Bill Cameron, tells the story of the Radium Girls. While the specific story is fictitious, it is based on real events. Women were hired in the 1920s to paint watch faces with a radium compound so that they would glow in the dark. The problem?
Continued CAMPUS NEWS, PAGE 3
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Twerky Bowl - Great Idea or Big Mistake McMillian the Preacher Thomas Marcotte Red&Black Editor
This past weekend, the Student Government Association hosted a new charitable fundraising event on campus that had originally been a source of great controversy and continues to be in the days following: the Twerky Bowl. The event, a dance party held in on the lower level of the Swanson Wellness Center, was run from 10:30 to 1:00 in the morning, with the SGA collecting money at the door. While still keeping the event free for admission to all students, the SGA encouraged all partygoers to donate one dollar each upon entry to send to the KDKA-Pittsburgh Turkey Fund, a local charitable fund which donates turkeys to underprivileged families each Thanksgiving. However, almost immediately the proposal began to draw controversy over the night’s main attraction: a “Twerk-Off ” to be held at midnight, with a prize to be awarded to the twerker judged to be the best. It can be presumed that the original intent of the theme was to capitalize on a popular dance trend among the youth, but almost immediately the proposal hit a wall of opposition from many sides. Aside from concerns over whether the attendance would even be high this close to the Thanksgiving break, many voiced concerns that holding a
Courtesy of thisday.pcahistory.org
Cathering McAdoo Red&Black Staff
SGA/Washington & Jefferson College
school event centered around an extremely sexualized dance like twerking could be seen as degrading to women, and thus give the wrong impression of the school. An unsubstantiated rumor is floating around campus that many W&J sororities forbade their members from attending due to such concerns over the “Twerk-Off ” being explicit and degrading. “I just heard it from another sister,” responded K,
a sophomore involved in W&J Greek life who wished to go unnamed. “Someone told me that we weren’t supposed to go to the Twerky Bowl, because it would make us look bad. I don’t know if it was an actual official rule, but I didn’t go and I don’t think anyone in our sorority went.” SEE Twerky, __________
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5
As you may know, Washington & Jefferson College has not always been one entity and has not always existed on this spot. Its origins lie with two separate academies, Washington Academy and Jefferson Academy, that later decided to join. The origin of our college dates back to the origins of these two academies and begins with three men: John McMillan, Thaddeus Dod and Joseph Smith, who began teaching in what would be
Washington Academy in either 1780 or 1781. John McMillan, the namesake for McMillian Hall, was, first and foremost, a preacher. The son of Irish farmers who came to America in 1742, ten years before he was born. His family highly valued education and his sisters worked on the farm so that he could leave and attend school. At the age of twentytwo, he graduated from The College of New Jersey, renamed Princeton in 1896, licensed to preach. The next year he began to slowly make his way West.
SEE MCMILLIAN, Page 5 __________
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CAMPUS NEWS 3
"These Shining Lives" Performed In Olin Theatre __________ FROM COVER No one knew or fully understood the radioactive qualities of radium, and when the companies using radium found out, they did not tell their workers. Most of the women, who would only later be known as Radium Girls, would point their paintbrushes in their mouths, dip the brush in a radium compound and paint, subsequently ingesting radium as well as being exposed to it every workday. "These Shining Lives" focuses on a group of four such Radium Girls - Charlotte Purcell (Lauryn Halahurich '17), Frances O'Connoll (Tulip Serbin '18), Pearl Payne (Amiti Sharma '17) and, specifically, Catherine Donahue (Carley Adams '15), the narra-
tor of the show - who all work at the Radium Dial Company under Mr. Rufus Reed (Tyrell Greenwood '17) in Ottawa, Illinois. "I certainly enjoy the play and it's been a lot of fun putting it together," said Mackenzie "Mackie" Jakobs '16, who makes his first ever W&J theatre appearance in this show as Catherine's husband, Tom Donahue. "I think the story is heartfelt and can really pull on your heart strings." The cast also features Jim Kappas '15 as Mr. Leonard Grossman, who had never played a character in a historical drama before. "It poses a new challenge as an actor; the story we're telling is more than just a story, it's history," said Kappas. Cameron, the director, explained to W&J's Office of Communications why the sto-
ry is still relevant today. “The Radium Girls were, like the victims of the Triangle Factory Fire in 1911, martyrs to the cause of workers’ civil rights,” he said. “Their plight, while heartbreaking, changed laws and improved working conditions so that companies could finally be held responsible for the safety of their workers. In this era of denying science in the name of political expediency, the story of the Radium Girls is most relevant.” Isaac Mbogo '18, Adrian Elizondo '17 and Jaqualynn Anderson '18 are also featured as members of the chorus in the show. Their performances include (but certainly are not limited to) a company doctor, a ukulele minstrel songstress and suave radio announcers. The historical setting of the play is evoked through a mix
Courtesy W&J Office of Communications
of sound, projections, screens and costumes that come together to enhance the students' performances. “The projections make you feel like you’re flipping though a newspaper and learning about this yourself for the first time,” Adams said. “It really puts you in the time period and helps you feel what’s
happening to the characters, and how others reacted to it.” W&J's production of "These Shining Lives" promises to be a powerful performance, with just enough illegal gin, sassy songs, love scenes and radioactive material to bring the story of the radium girls' love, friendship, and time amid tragic circumstances to life.
A Founder of the College - John McMillian FROM MCMILLIAN, Page 2
A typical Sunday at that point in his life involved walking seventeen miles and preaching twice. His mission was to preach and spread his Presbyterian faith to the western settlers,
and this he did. He finally settled with his wife, Catherine Brown, and had their first child near the east branch of Chartiers Creek. Together the two would raise a total of seven children there. McMillan was a firm believer of the phrase “Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime.” One of his goals in life was to spread his faith as best he could, and he knew that unless he taught other faithful young
men to preach, his words would die with him. And so, around 1780, he began to teach. His main focus was on those subjects considered necessary for someone going into the ministry, including Greek, Latin, Hebrew, moral philosophy and theology. Sometimes he taught at the college level, and others he taught the basics; whatever his students needed, McMillan was ready to provide. It is known that in 1784, he
had a student named James McGready read Ovid’s “Metamorphoses.” In 1787, he was one of the original founders of Washington Academy in Canonsburg, and that same year he was also among the founders of the Pittsburgh Academy, later famous for being the first university west of the mountains. Throughout the rest of his life he stood by Washington Academy, first as a teacher, then as an officer and lastly
as a friend. Overall, McMillan was successful in his life’s mission to spread his faith. He established the largest church in the region, preached six thousand sermons and, most importantly, he personally educated about one hundred ministers who went on to further spread their shared faith after McMillan’s death in 1833. It can even be said that he educated us. Because, if not for him, W&J may not even exist.
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21 N ovember 2014
Letter to the Editor: Phi Gamma Delta and Delta Gamma Career Fair Joseph Zottola Phi Gamma Delta Brother On Wednesday Nov. 5, the Brothers of Phi Gamma Delta and the lovely Sisters of Delta Gamma hosted a Career Night filled with fun and great networking opportunities. This is the fourth annual Career Night held at the Fiji House. However, this is the second year in a row that Fiji has co-hosted it with the So-
rority of Delta Gamma. We started working with another Greek Organization because we wanted to expand our network and diversify the careers and different perspectives brought by different individuals to enhance this unique experience for all. This social event was open for the attendance of all Greek and non-greek students on campus. Both Greek Organizations invited distinguished alumni from a wide range of
careers and academic backgrounds that have graduated from Washington & Jefferson College and took part in Greek Life here on campus. Compared to previous years, this year’s event was very successful with the overall number of alumni and students who attended. Not only did students and Alumni attend this event, but Roberta Cross, the Director of Career Services was also in attendance. Alumni ranged
from the Graduating Classes of 1970 to 2013. A variety of fields attended bringing valuable experiences and knowledge outside of what you learn in the classroom, which included fields in Medicine, Accounting, Law, Banking and much more. Both Chapters could not be more thankful to the alumni and college for assisting in yet another successful event. There will be more upcoming Greek events in the future for
those who missed this opportunity. The Brothers of Fiji will be having an Open House/ Information Session on Nov. 20 for anyone who wants to know more or is curious about our Alpha Chapter’s history. Another opportunity to interact with the members of both Chapters and the rest of the Greek Community will be at “Meet the Greeks” in the Spring Semester. Hope to see everyone there!
21 N ovember 2014
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S E C U R I T Y LO G S Date: 11/13/2014 Incident: Fire Alarm The Campus and Public Safety was notified that a fire alarm was going off in one of the residence buildings. When they arrived, there were nine residents of the building standing across the street. Several students said that there was smoke or steam coming from the second floor janitor’s closet. Inside of the closet, there was hot water coming from a hose that was connected to the faucet and services a cleaning product. The water coming out of the hose was believed to be coming out at full strength and the mist from it set off the smoke detector. The Administrator on Call was contacted as well as facilities to fix the issue. Date: 11/15/2014 Incident: Informational A call came into the Campus and Public Safety office from a woman stating that she was driving by the football field and saw a cascade of water coming from the bleachers. An officer went to Cameron Stadium and viewed water flowing from a pipe below the upper level by the bathroom and Facilities had to be called to take a look a it. Date: 11/16/2014 Incident: Criminal Mischief During a walkthrough on campus an officer found that the first floor entry and hallway doors handles are torn off the doors, which is a hazard since people cannot exit the building in case of an emergency. Date: 11/18/2014 Incident: Criminal Trespass Campus and Public Safety received a call from a man walking his dog at 4:00 in the morning who said that the rear basement door of a College-owned building had been kicked in. No one was found inside the building. Date: 11/18/2014 Incident: Suspicious Person A student came to the Campus and Public Safety office to report a suspicious person on the campus. The person was described as a tall black male with a beard and wearing a black coat. The student said that the man offered to sell pain pills to the student and quoted the suspicious person as saying “do you f*** with pain pills, I have some”. 11/18/2014 Incident: Fire Alarm Officers were dispatched to a residence hall and upon arrival observed a large amount of water running down the outside walls of the building. Upon entering officers observed that the floor was flooded from an apparent water line break in the ceiling. The power was shut off in the building until repairs could be made.
CAMPUS NEWS 5
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Twerky Bowl - Great Idea or Bad Mistake? From Twerky, Page 2 __________ Despite the misgivings, however, the SGA held their event at the scheduled time, opening the doors to the bottom floor of the Wellness Center at 10:30 p.m., right on schedule. The turnout was significantly less than expected—it is estimated that there were fewer than two dozen students at the Twerky Bowl that night. The attendance was so low that SGA made the decision to end the event early, closing up at 12:30. While those who did attend and participate in the “Twerk-Off ” expressed that they had a great deal of fun, many other students said that they did not attend due to a distaste for twerking,
which they did indeed describe as disrespectful to women. “I wasn’t able to go, but even if I had the time, I wouldn’t have gone to the Twerky Bowl,” said Nicole Kostosky, a junior. “The idea just doesn’t appeal to me. That’s not what I like to do, and I don’t think twerking is an appropriate dance. It’s nice that the people who went had fun, but I think a lot of us just think it’s degrading.” With the small turnout of the Twerky Bowl on record, as well as the numerous complaints of students, it is safe to assume that the SGA will reconsider which sorts of events they sponsor on campus in the future. However, it is also likely that this controversy will continue for some time.
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21 N ovember 2014
Xbox, or XYBox? Violence Against Women in Video Games Emma Crawford Red&Black Contributor
Survey the scene. The left hand moves you, and the right hand positions your visual scope. Objective? Expertly explore a graphic display of an arbitrary plot line in order to successfully promulgate and perpetuate the casual degradation of women. Harsh? Hardly, considering it is a justified blanket statement which is applicable to just about every particular genre of violence the gaming industry produces—which takes a couple stabs at sexism, too. Does a woman have to walk down every dark alley, alone, late at night—each
and every time? The received assault is deeply imbedded into the objectives as casually as stealing a car, collecting coins or scoring a goal. Major franchises like Grand Theft Auto, Assassin’s Creed and the Bioshock series capitalize and set a standard for a universal and ominous attitude towards female agencies. Anita Sarkeesian, key vocalist against the issue, presses for a ‘Women Vs. Tropes in Video Games’ conversation. Video games not only objectify the women they do include, they also use brutality against them in order to highlight the consciousness of a world-protruding bankrupt of morality. Comically, the geniuses behind these enriching plots mirror the creative capacity
of a Dorito; the storylines are shallow, repetitious and archaic. Granted, the reality of the matter is virtual; reverberations are still of consequence, however. In 2012, an experiment entitled, “Violence Against Women in Video Games: A Prequel or Sequel to Rape Myth Acceptance” determined that a video game’s inclusion of sexual objectification and violent content against women results in a significant increase in rape myth acceptance, or rape supportive attitudes, for males but not for women. Apparently, the video game preference of a man says more about him than his wallet or mile time ever could. Unfortunately, the projected violence is said to only increase. The issue of
media and violence sparked years ago, the addition to violence against women in the media suggests that things may get worse. The stories become more inflamed, yet the gaming industry sits complacent in its actions. It’s as English statesman Edmund Burke once said: “All that is needed for the forces of evil to triumph is for enough good men and women to do nothing.” The fight for better representation of women in video games continues. Only time will tell if movements such as “Rape Myth Acceptance” will change the role of women in video games in the long run.
Courtesy academichelp.net
21 N ovember 2014
LIFE 7
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Rosetta Mission an 'Incredible Leap Forward'
Courtesy news.bbcimg.co.uk
Josh Dewaine Red&Black Staff
Ten years ago, the European Space Agency launched the Rosetta spacecraft into space. It headed towards its first meeting with a comet, 67P. The journey was long, cold and lonely. It required Rosetta to make four gravity assists, three around Earth and a final around Mars, before gaining enough acceleration to meet up with the comet. Comets are one of the oldest and most primitive bodies in the solar system, and the primary objective of the Ro-
setta mission was to study the materials of which the comets are made of. The comet is also believed to house organic molecules, the foundation and building blocks of life as we know it. Building blocks, such as hydrogen, oxygen, carbon and nitrogen, could have been delivered to Earth (and other exoplanets) by comets millions to billions of years ago. The Rosetta spacecraft traveled 673 million kilometers (roughly 420 million miles) to finally fall into orbit around the comet as it makes its 6.4 billion km revolution around the sun. The Rosetta spacecraft was equipped with
a probe, known as a Philae, that was to be launched to the comets surface to study it in further detail. Whenever the probe was launched, the initial impact that scientists expected did not occur. Philae hit the surface of the comet and bounced back up into space due to the extremely low gravity and escape velocity (.5-1m/s) of the comet. Unfortunately, whenever Philae landed again, the probe landed in a shadowed portion of the comet which did not allow for the solar panels to gather enough sunlight to recharge the batteries. The primary battery life of the probe
was a mere 65 hours after launch and scientists used this time to gather as much data about the surface of the comet as possible. Due to the positioning of the comet and Rosetta, along with the rotation of the comet, the probe could only transmit scientific data to the spacecraft twice a day for roughly 90 minutes per transmission opportunity. Due to the lack of sunlight, scientists were not expecting to be able to connect with the probe the final time before the primary batteries died, which would have forfeited all of the data collected by the probe. Thankfully, scientists were
able to establish a communication link and secure the data that was collected. One of the final commands that the space agency sent to probe was an attempt to move the probe into more sunlight by launching the landing harpoon into the surface again. Philae rotation was successful and the probe is currently gathering more sunlight. Until the proper energy levels are reached, however, it has been ordered to hibernate. Overall, the mission was very successful and an incredible leap forward for human space travel and study.
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Not Just Facts and Figures:
21 N ovember 2014
Book Review: Vampire Academy
Scientists are More Creative Than You Think Courtesy amazon.com
Courtesy farm6.staticflickr.com
Sarah Peterson Red&Black Staff
Scientists have the scientific method, a methodical process which helps them conduct experiments, but some ask, “Are scientists actually creative in their thinking, or are they just boring?” The debate is split down the middle, using real data. The answer might actually surprise you. Writer Alexandra Ossola of The Atlantic Online writes, “Scientists don’t usually have a reputation for being very creative.” “They have to adhere to the scientific method, use statistics and data and carefully measure their results—activities that would appear to take the magic out of the creative process, like having to explain your own joke.” The scientists view this differently. “The greatest scientists are artists as well” as Albert Einstein once said. A life scientist and professor of neurosurgery at the University of New
Mexico at Albuquerque named Rex Jung replied to the proposed question. “I think we (scientists) take for granted that we rely heavily on scientific creativity, whether we realize it or not,” he argued. Whether we use our advanced technology to watch cat videos or take advantage of life-saving medical procedures, scientific innovation is “incredibly important to our quality of life,” Jung said. In 1926, social psychologist Graham Wallas wrote a book called “The Art of Thought” in which he described the four stages of creativity: preparation, incubation, illumination and verification. “We see highly creative people flip easily between the two [creative thinking and artistic creativity] and are better able to modulate these networks,” he said. Jung continued, “Even though creativity is innate, it needs to be cultivated. Neurologically, the creative process should look the same regardless of whether a person is an artist or a scientist.” Researchers have just begun to see this creativity in real time. “Most creative people stumble upon their tool
to increase their imaginably, whether it’s taking a bath, a walk or a drink of bourbon,” Jung said. “They find some way to turn down the noise of the conscious mind so ideas can flow more naturally.” People may prefer to meditate, exercise, or just lay in bed all day, but they have to know themselves and how their minds work before tapping into their creativity systematically. Without time to practice this as children, learning how to do it later in life may be more difficult. Those who foster creativity in scientists encourage students to learn these facts early in their scientific careers. Ted Clark, a professor of chemistry at Ohio State University at Columbus, has been working for years to enhance creativity in his first and second-year students. “To solve a problem in science,” Clark says, “Scientists have to think logically and linearly.” So when a scientist tells a joke, and you do not understand, it’s not because they are not funny it’s just that they think differently than you do.
Caitlynn Gilles Red&Black Contributor
“Vampire Academy” is the first out of six books in the bestselling series “Vampire Academy” by Richelle Mead. This book follows the life of 17-year-old Rosemarie “Rose” Hathaway, a Dhampirs, and her Moroi best friend Vasilisa “Lissa” Dragomir, after returning to their school St. Vladimir’s Academy after two years on the run. The novel was adapted into a film with the same title released Feb. 7, 2014. Dhampirs are halfvampire, half-humans training to be guardians at St. Vladimir’s Academy. They train all their lives in order to protect the Moroi. Lissa is a Moroi and she is the last member of her family line the Dragomirs. Lissa also has a special power called “spirit,” which means she can heal among other abilities. Moroi are vampires who co-exist peacefully among the humans and only take blood from donors. Each also controls one of the four elements - water, earth, fire or air. There is a third group the Strigoi, which are bloodsucking, evil vampires who
drink to kill or to make others into one of them. The book begins with Rose and Lissa on the run, but they are soon caught by an Academy guardian and taken back to school. Soon after their return, they receive an evil threat. They then spend the majority of the book trying to find out who sent the treat and to protect themselves. It turns out that the evil threat came from Lissa’s own uncle, who has a deathly disease and plans to have Lissa use her power to heal him. When Lissa becomes endangered, Rose just manages to save her. During the final quarrel, Lissa’s boyfriend gets shot while trying to protect her. In a desperate attempt to save him, Lissa has to drink blood from Rose. After successfully saving him from the gunshot wound, the three return to school, blissfully ignorant of the potential dangers ahead. Will Lissa be captured again, or will she live the life she was meant to live? Will the Striges drain her of blood, or worse, turn her into one of them? In order to find out you will have to read the books and see!
21 N ovember 2014
LIFE 9
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Feeling Negative Might Be Positive
Courtesy lifehacker.com
Thomas Marcotte Red&Black Editor It is conventional wisdom that the goal of one’s life should be to become as happy as possible. People spend their whole lives chasing happiness and as near to total-satisfaction as they can get. However, new research and a wealth of personal experience now suggests that this is a mistake, and may actually be hurting our creativity and making our lives less healthy. In a recent interview with the Huffington Post, psychologist Todd Kashdan espoused the view that this drive for happiness and contentment
at all costs is actually a profoundly harmful, unhealthy, and limiting influence on our lives. Kashdan contends that this is just a product of our modern Western culture that conditions us to avoid discomfort and suffering at all times, and contends that since it essentially means that we repress our negative emotions and use only half of ourselves. This both profoundly limits us and makes us psychologically weak since when we inevitably do experience setbacks or discomfort, we are unable to deal with it the way older generations might have. Certainly sentiments a Nietzschean would agree with.
But what sort of psychological evidence is there for Kashdan’s assertions? Kashdan offers four main psychological benefits of feeling these negative emotions rather than repressing them, taken from his upcoming book, "The Upside of Your Dark Side: Why Being Your Whole Self—Not Just Your “Good” Self—Drives Success and Fulfillment." First, he contends that guilt has a positive effect on our behavior, since it discourages one from committing antisocial acts such as stealing or lying. This commonsense idea is backed up by psychological studies which show that adults who are more prone to guilt
are less likely to use illegal drugs, steal, or assault other people. Secondly, he shows that moderate amounts of selfdoubt actually helps us take stock of ourselves and gives us the humility to recognize areas in which we need work. When people have moments of self-doubt, they are motivated to reflect on themselves and work towards personal growth. Kashdan’s third point is that anxiety is a huge boon to a person’s ability to solve complex problems. He says that when a person is put on the spot, they are more motivated to find solutions to what
is in front of them. However, he notes, this also can make people more prone to panic, if they become too anxious. Finally, he says that not paying attention sometimes makes people more creative by allowing them to unconsciously work on and incubate ideas, which can them become revealed in one revelatory moment. While it may seem counterintuitive, both conventional wisdom and new psychological studies seem to back up Kashdan’s claims that negative emotions are just as important a part of one’s mental health and flourishing as the positive ones.
10 ARTS
A R T S Red & Black
21 N ovember 2014
The Basement Tapes Poetry Corner Emma Crawford Red&Black Contributor
“They say everything can be replaced, yet every distance is not near. So I remember every face of every man who put me here. I see my light come shining from the West unto the East. Any day now, any day now, I shall be released.” On Nov. 4, 2014, a date Rolling Stone and I have been waiting 46 years for; Bob Dylan’s lyrical genius, in the form of a moderately priced two album set to fill the souls of his fan base once more, was released. Dylan’s withheld mixed tape, “The Basement Tapes,” first appeared on the scene in 1968 on a bootleg called “The Great White Wonder” and caused quite a stir. It started after his infamous motorcycle crash of 1966; the burnt out Dylan took a small 18-week vacation from stardom to recover. Following the crash, and a long stretch of energy depleting tours, Dylan grabbed his gang and packed
Diana Ciarallo Red&Black Staff “The Temple” The whispers of the people say she lured him thereLured him from the sea with her beautiful hair. The whispers blame her for bringing him thereEnticing the sea-god with her charms so fair. up for Saugerties, New York, to a home known as Big Pink, and chronicled well over a hundred tracks there. Out of those, “The Basement Tapes” spirit encompasses convalesce, both physically and musically, that took place after his accident. A mixture of old folk, country and blues with classic American bring out the weird and mercurial essence that is Dylan. Subsequently, he has always had duplicity about him: propelling himself into the world face first and, at the same time, shielding himself from it. But the mix tape was never supposed to be heard by the world, so the songs are candid
Courtesy thestar.com
and raw, allowing for a hero to ask his friends for help because the reality of death brought on a bit of change. “This Wheel’s on Fire” unravels a charge of guilt, disparity and forgiveness from the opening chord. Thematic shifts in the album range from humorous to betrayal; a bit of meditating on the concept of nothingness and, of course, a journey to salvation. We’ve seen Dylan on Highway 61 Revisited and checked out Blonde on Blonde, but we’ve never seen a Dylan so organically exposed. For those of us that missed out on Woodstock, “The Basement Tapes” put a little rock back into America’s roll.
Whispering, whisperingThey blame the girl, for the sacrilege of the temple with her serpent-like curls. The whispers blame Medusa for being defiledIt’s always the victims who must be trialed for luring the attackers and bringing them thereJust as the whispers say- with their charms, so fair.
21 N ovember 2014
ARTS 11
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Side Effects: An Unabridged Excerpt from a Longer, Funnier Story Michael James Red&Black Contributor The sound of the dishwasher follows her into the room. “The doctor called this morning.” “Yes or no?” “Come into the bedroom. There’s no light here. It’s depressing.” “Sure. Gimme a minute?” Her nod is a statement. She leaves the room. This will be a serious conversation. And he knows how he acts during those conversations. His eyes will bounce off her face, finding places on the wall that will gladly absorb his dead stare. In others, this is a symptom of lying. But he doesn’t lie during serious conversations. It’s just that his honest words are too heavy to be exposed directly to anything at all. This is the power of his emotions being set free. Until these rare moments, they age inside of him like whiskey; they gain the flavor of his restraint.
Six weeks ago, it hurt to piss, like pushing shreds of wire out his urethra. The pain is gone, but the color is still bold: Brick Red blended with Midnight Blue. The toilet water makes it translucent and non-threatening, but before that, in the air, it is something that shouldn’t be happening. And that’s why it’s so familiar. When he was seven, he asked Mom how he could tell if he had internal bleeding. (A television show had unwittingly mentioned the term in his presence.) She said there would be blood in his pee. So after a day of drinking nothing but cranberry juice, he called her into the bathroom. She stared into the toilet in the middle of a lifelong sigh and said, “No, it won’t look like that.” “What will it look like?” “It will look like this,” she said, a minute later, in the kitchen, dripping port wine into an empty salad bowl. The liquid was dark and ninety feet
deep. It was his unlit street at night when his parents put him to bed and went out. It was the color that ate them up, dissolving their white Lincoln and leaving behind something thick and without sound. And there was a vibration out there in the dark, consistent but not keeping time, just there to say, yes, there is excitement and sound and life somewhere else, but here there’s only a rhythm to keep the air from going solid. He holds the flusher down for a two-count because this is the only way the toilet builds up enough courage and strength to clean the bowl of color. He washes his hands the way he always should: scrubbing long enough to sing the ABCs. His deep breath feels strong enough to open the door to the bedroom where she is sitting sideways on the ugly wing chair with her fingers spread in front of her eyes like pulldown shades, taking her to someplace quiet.
Courtesy Michael James
Michael James is a Boston-based writer, as well as a Senior at Emerson College. He hails from the South Hills of Pittsburgh.
Local Band, Hard Money, Performs at Club Cafe Kyle Sossi Editor-in-Chief Hard Money is a Pittsburghbased rock and psych-pop band. On Friday, Nov. 14 they performed at Club Cafe in South Side. Along with places like Mr. Smalls Theater and The Altar Bar, Club Cafe is one of the preeminent spots in Pittsburgh to see live and local music. Hard Money is made up of Mike Baltzer (guitar), Laura Pollanen (vocals and auxiliary instruments), Steve Sobeck (drums), Jeff Pokrajac (bassist) and Bill Bernstein (keyboard). They have been performing together for 3 years, and the first time they played as a band was during a
benefit show for a non-profit who supplies instruments to under-privileged children. Pollanen said "a few weeks went by after the show, and another opportunity presented itself and we said 'hey this was fun, let's keep doing it.'" The band has a great base of influences: from Brian Eno (especially the album "Taking Tiger Mountain (by Strategy)"), Roxy Music, Elvis Costello and bands like Talking Heads and Flaming Lips, in terms of creating a visual spectacle. During most performances, they screen delightfully strange, art-rock videos that Mike's friend Chris, who is also one
of the directors of Pittsburgh Filmmakers, recorded. The band has an extremely collaborative feel; they bring their songwriting in from everyone, and when they are working out songs in practice, they allow the input of fellow band members to influence the shape the song takes. Their songwriting focuses on place and location. Mike Baltzer said, "Place is the most important thing when writing songs. Where anyone in the band is at any give time. Physically, emotionally. Even politically; although our songs don't have an explicit political agenda, they are influenced by the consciousness of place. The political awareness
feeds into the physical." Pollanen, who is absolutely intoxicating performing the song "This Should Mean Something," furthered Mike's statement and said "The song 'Lawrenceville', for instance, is about development in the area and who was left behind by it. 'Summer Hours' is about a waitress working during the summer. And a lot of songs where influenced by Baltzer formerly living in Minneapolis." Hard Money is terrific live and a great
Hard Money/Facebook
bit of local talent. Their next performance will be at Howlers on Dec. 6th where they will perform with City Steps. Their music can be accessed at HardMoney.bandcamp. com, and they have a new album in the works slated for an early 2015 release. The bands Love Letters and Colonel Eagleburger's Highstepping Goodtimes Band opened the late show with equally strong performances.
12 ARTS
Red & Black
21 N ovember 2014
This Year’s Best Winter Fashion
Diana Ciarallo Red&Black Staff Now that we’re solidly into fall, winter is just around the corner and you know what that means: winter colors. So as we reach the very end of the season of bright/neon summer shades, its time to repurpose that winter uniform we all know and love so much, because it’s time to brace ourselves as we begin to feel winter’s brisk bite. Winter at Washington & Jefferson isn’t easy. Walks to class can be painful when it’s freezing and you are not wearing the right weather gear. Winter trends change every season and they can be overwhelming. Not only do they make you feel like you need to reconstruct your wardrobe, but most of them aren’t very wearable. As a college student, looking stylish may be the last thing on your mind when you’re cold and worried that you’ll be homeless and coatless if you bomb the next exam. But hey, it doesn’t hurt to try to look like you’ve got it all under control.
A crucial item for everyone in western PA where the polar vortex strikes with a merciless vengeance is a warm winter coat. This season’s trends are not only about comfort and coziness; it’s most importantly about expressing your own style personality. This shouldn’t be all that difficult this season since stores are literally overflowing with a wide range of trendy outwear from classic and eccentric to shapeless and close-fitted. First up, we have the parka, a staple in college student winter wear. It doesn’t have to be olive any more. Parkas now come in all types of new and interesting iterations. There are metallic finishes, bold colors, stylish patterns and fur trim in places other than the ubiquitous fur trimmed hood. Designers are proposing that this season, for the cooler days, we should choose parka jackets in intense colors such as plum, indigo, blue, lipstick red or emerald as an alternative to the usual olive green that is still prevalent in stores. This winter, we have an alternative to the parka that will not only help you to stay in trend, but also
keep warm: the wrap coat. Popularized by many A-list celebrities, this cozy option is the perfect way to update your look without burning your wallet. Not to mention, since it’s already statement making, you can pretty much wear it with anything. Another way to stay warm is the layers on layers approach. For G&T’s, that may mean a sweatshirt and a hoodie. For something nicer, new twists on leather jackets, pea coats, capes and sweaters are available. Fur trim happens to be one of the biggest twists this season. This is definitely a stylish way to keep warm but a big investment. Even if you can’t afford to make said investment, you can never go wrong with faux if you’re still more than willing to jump on this trend. Oversized jackets, which come in a wide variety of lengths and features in black, white, animal prints, graphic-bobs or pastel colors are another new option. Let’s all wish each other a whole lot of luck as we brave the W&J winter, while hopefully finding success in acquiring that much needed winter wardrobe that will keep you reasonably toasty and still look good. Happy hunting!
Open Mic Night Is Success Shannon Adams Red&Black Staff
On Nov. 15, Monti’s decided to try something new: The Diversity Programming Board (DPB) asked if they could host an open mic night for students. “The turnout was better than the past few weekends. We had about 186 students show up throughout the night,” said Emil Ihnat, the Monti’s director working that night. “It was as good as a Karaoke night. We only had one problem throughout the night; the mic fell over and bent, so it didn’t work after that. It went from open mic night to open shout night.” Other than the incident with the microphone, the night went smoothly. There was a poetry reading by Jessica Dodson ’17, some rappers, many singers and a few students that preferred to just dance on the stage. The atmosphere the open mic night created was full of energy. “I
liked it better than Karaoke night. With that, you can only sing but with an open mic, you can do anything since there are no restrictions. Monti’s was moving and grooving. Even the people at the counter were having a great time. Everyone in Monti’s was moving around and enjoying themselves.” Monti’s also hosted two student performers the previous night: Ty Greenwood and Twiggy CarterCroom. The duo sang for about two hours, then left the rest of the night for open mic. Someone during open mic night performed the song “Animals” by Martin Garrix; it sounded exactly like the dubstep song, except the noises were made with his mouth. Washington & Jefferson has some wonderfully talented students on its campus, and nights like this past weekend’s has allowed them to show off their talents. Students are hoping the DPB will hosts an open mic night the next time they volunteer at Monti’s
Courtesy hoklife.com
as it had such a great turnout. With the semester coming to a close, Monti’s won’t be holding many more events. However, in the future, students can expect to see Super Hero night and fondue night, as well as a number of performers. One of these performers will be a group by the name of So Long Solo, a band from Kansas City that has a sound not unlike Momford and Suns. So while the fall semester may not see many more special events at Monti’s, the spring semester will be filled with new and diverse entertainment.
21 N ovember 2014
Red & Black
ARTS 13
2014's Best Country Albums
All Courtesy of rollingstone.com
Nathan Kanuch Red&Black Staff
As 2014 is coming to a close, it is perhaps a good time to look back on the best albums that have been released over the past year. For multiple purposes, the best albums will be limited to releases from artists that receive commercial airplay. One noncommercial album of note is Sturgill Simpson’s “Metamodern Sounds in Country Music.” Simpson’s album is a masterful piece of work, bringing together the sounds of yesterday’s country music with meaningful lyrics as well as intense and growling lyrics. I would certainly recommend “Metamodern Sounds in Country Music” to anyone interested in moving beyond radio-ready albums. Without further ado, however, here are the five best country albums of 2014: 5.) Little Big Town - “Pain Killer” “Pain Killer” gives the listener everything expected from Little Big Town. The album features their four-part harmonies and an intense, driving track-by-track listen. While certainly not the most country-sounding album on the list, “Pain Killer” is one of the top five of the year thanks to its success of combining new sounds with the familiarity of Little Big Town performances of the past. 4.) Brad Paisley - “Moonshine in the Trunk” Brad Paisley returned to basics with his August release. A mixture of poetic, romantic and humorous songs mix together perfectly, resulting in one of Paisley’s best track-to-track albums. Moonshine in the Trunk” features Paisley’s skillful guitar playing along with strong, traditional country instrumentation. Paisley can be considered a senior member of Nashville at this point, and his ability to seamlessly combine youthful enthusiasm with veteran savvy allow his latest album to flourish.
3.) Garth Brooks - “Man Against Machine” Garth Brooks’ first album of new material since 2001 and first since coming out of retirement is vintage Brooks. “Man Against Machine” picks up right where Brooks left off. In fact, the album features everything Brooks has done masterfully in the past: stadium-ready anthems, tear-jerking ballads, loving tributes and even a pure western-swing. Brooks knows his strengths, and “Man Against Machine plays to those strengths perfectly. Brooks’ albums always contain something for every listener and occasion. Brooks still has a few kinks to work out as he comes out retirement, but “Man Against Machine” is a great start. 2.) Dierks Bentley- “Riser” Any other year, “Riser” would be the best release of the year. Bentley has always been one of the best mainstream acts in country music. Unfortunately, Bentley has always lagged behind his competitors thanks to his simple refusal to conform. “Riser,” however, makes it impossible for Bentley to not be put on the same level of the Jason Aldeans and Luke Bryans in terms of the biggest drawing artists in Nashville. The album is the perfect Bentley release. By bridging the gap between tradition and progression, “Riser” rises above the other albums of the year as a truly great piece of work. 1.) Eric Church- “The Outsiders” “The Outsiders” is a unique piece of art. Church set out to create a whole album from the first track to the last, and “The Outsiders” exceeds the high expectations Church and his fans set. After achieving commercial success with “Chief,” Church felt the genre was moving closer to where he sat. Church decided to defy Nashville and move even further left of center by releasing “The Outsiders.” The title track combines the sounds of both Waylon Jennings and Metallica and defines the rest of the album. Whether Church is singing a simple, acoustic ballad or a rousing drug trip, he makes it work on every track found on the album.
14 OPINIONS
Red & Black
OPINIONS
21 N ovember 2014
Age of Candidates Will Be a Factor in Upcoming Election Joseph Jorgoliani Red&Black Staff One issue that comes up every election (not just in the United States) is the age of a candidate who is running for an office. An old candidate might be too grumpy for office and a young candidate might not be experienced enough. Voters could find any kind of advantage or disadvantage in a candidate’s age. America is hastily preparing for its 2016 Presidential Elections. Looking at Democratic Party’s list, the only candidate that might run for president is Hillary Clinton, who will be 69 in 2016. The list of young leaders lining up behind Mrs. Clinton is not a long or obvious one. This is very unusual for
a party whose constituencies include young voters. The group of democratic leadership is not only uniformly old, but also one that has been on the national stage for decades. Hillary entered the White House more than 20 years ago. House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid both entered office in 1987, more than 25 years ago. There is no serious contender under the age of 65 among democrats who may run for president. By contrast, a number of GOP potential candidates are much closer in age to Clinton’s daughter, Chelsea. Senators Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and Governor Bobby Jindal are all 43. Governor Scott Walker is 47 and U.S House of Repre-
sentatives member Paul Ryan is 44 years old. Others candidates are high-energy, 50-somethings (Governor Chris Christie is 52, and Sen. Rand Paul is 51). The Republicans may nominate an older candidate, like Jeb Bush (61) or Governor Rick Perry (64), but they too
E ditorial P olicy The Red & Black is the official, registered student-produced newspaper of Washington & Jefferson College. It is published Thursdays 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.
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would be more youthful than Hillary and neither has ever served in Washington D.C. The age of a candidate is not a real determinant of his or her qualifications for a certain office. However, when voting for a future president of the United States; every single factor
Courtesy msnbc.com
could play a huge role in a voter’s final decision. Republicans might use Hillary’s age as her disadvantage and select a young Republican candidate for president. The age of their candidate will be one of the greatest challenges for Republican P.R. managers.
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21 N ovember 2014
OPINIONS 15
Red & Black
Compulsory Voting? I Should Say Not, Sir. Thomas Marcotte Red&Black Editor It has come to my attention that certain contributor at the Red and Black supports the idea of compulsory voting: making it a requirement for all citizens to vote in elections, under penalty of law. I wish to respectfully disagree with this idea, in every direction possible. It is my belief that compulsory voting is a terrible idea that would do nothing to improve the state of politics in America, and in fact would cause a great deal of harm. There are many things wrong with the idea of compulsory voting. The easiest argument against it is that forcing people to vote under penalty of law is a violation of their rights. As a general rule, it is wrong to compel someone to do something against his wishes. Different people have different beliefs and priorities, and in a country founded on the idea of personal liberty we should respect that. Now, it may be true that in cases where someone’s choices pose a threat to society at large, they should be compelled to do one thing or another, and there are very compelling cases where I would agree with that. For example: if you are returning to the US from an Ebola hot-zone, you should be
forcibly prevented from going on bike rides through town. But I fail to see how letting my neighbor not vote is a threat to anyone. If anything, it’s a benefit to everyone who does vote, since statistically it makes their votes count slightly more. A politically apathetic person should be free to make his own choices. He hurts nobody but himself. Additionally, compulsory voting would be incredibly demoralizing for Americans because it would force them to pay close attention to politicians—by far the most miserable and overrated people in the world. Politics is a vicious, souldestroying business that attracts vapid, cruel and monstrous people. Whenever you give them validation or attention, you take a little bit of their taint into your soul. Eventually, caring about politics hollows you out. No sane person would want to have to care more than absolutely necessary about what his politicians think, for the sake of his own mental health. But by far the most damning argument against compulsory voting is simply that it is based on false premises, on an all-too-generous appraisal of the average person’s ability to make good choices. It’s based on the old Enlightenment idea of the civic-minded, educated gentleman who is properly versed in the major issues of
Courtesy doministuart.com
the day and wants what’s best for the nation rather than what’s best for himself. For a while, this idea did hold water—back when suffrage was limited to civicminded, educated gentlemen. But universal suffrage blasted that tidy arrangement into tiny shards—it turns out, most people are neither civic-minded nor educated. When it takes too much time for someone to gather enough information to become informed on an issue, they won’t do it (the Problem of Rational Ignorance). When the costs to believing an idea are low, more people will take the path of
least resistance and accept it, regardless of facts (the Problem of Rational Irrationality). These two problems ensure that no truly democratic state remains functional for long, since the average person will always find it easier to vote himself more goodies than work for the nation’s benefit. America is a mostly-functional country because it is undemocratic, not in spite of it. Citizens should not be compelled to vote because, frankly, most citizens want totally contradictory things, like reduced taxes and a bigger military, or more government
services and less government interference in their personal lives. With my own two ears I once heard someone tell me that the budget deficit should be fixed, but we should neither cut spending nor raise taxes. That is a physical impossibility, but they did not care. They wanted it both ways, math be damned. And this is a person who should be compelled by law to have a say in how the country is run? It is not in the nation’s best interest to make everyone vote. At the end of the day, you can’t change human nature.
16 OPINIONS
Red & Black
21 N ovember 2014
T-Swift and Spotify: Never, Ever, Ever Getting Back Together
Courtesy spin.com
Emma Crawford Red&Black Contributor Spotify, the young music streaming experiment, is at the brink of potentially reviving the entire economy of music sales; which we thought was daunting enough in itself. The developers are trying to bring a fresh, new approach to the music industry’s account of supply and demand. “We started Spotify because we love music and piracy was killing it. So all the talk swirling around lately about how Spotify is making money on the backs of artists upsets me big time. “Our whole reason for existence is to help
fans find music and help artists responsible for acquiring have an option to pay extra connect with fans through a the monetary equivalent of for premium streaming, platform that protects them her album’s proper artistic which would benefit music from piracy and pays them “value,” as opposed to an sales. Or Spotify’s ambitious streaming for their amazing work,” said agreed amount relative to the experimental Daniel Ek, Spotify’s top dog. total revenue brought in from method could have too many As music sales continue to plummet, The controversy resulted in nothing more an issue casts itself than free advertising and enhanced personal in the fortune. form of big yellow curls and typical hipster ideations the experimental streaming complications during early (which spread the topic faster process. This “Streaming expansion to resurrect music than the time it takes to get Swift-fect” could generate an sales on its own, leading sales a photography degree from influx of support for digital to drop even further. Not to Urban Outfitters). Taylor downloads and competitor worry though, Taylor’s album, Swift essentially felt publically streaming websites that which will be released soon,
has sold millions of copies already. The controversy resulted in nothing more than free advertising and enhanced personal fortune. As an artist, she improved her own shortterm music sales, but at the expense of what exactly? “The real enemy is not between digital downloads or streaming. The real enemy, the real fight, is between opacity and transparency. The music business has historically involved itself in quite considerable deceit,” Bono insightfully, as always, suggests. Is this nothing but a glorified miscommunication error? The world may decide for itself.
21 N ovember 2014
OPINIONS 17
Virtual Class Days Created in Lieu of Snow Days Siddhantha Bista Red&Black Staff
Last week, with the early arrival of the winter in the Midwest, St. Cloud Cathedral high school principal Lynn Grewing had plans to keep snow days from piling up in the chilly town. Grewing tested out a virtual class day, where students would whip out laptops or iPads and work from home. After a successful turn of events, Grewing stated that,
Red & Black
“Cherished snow days are a thing of the past”. "This is what we will be doing every single snow day going forward," she continues. "I'll be honest. There has been some grumbling." Private schools like Cathedral and increasing, public school districts across the nation are beginning to adopt this new method of working around the weather. The previous year’s winter had 5 days of cancelled classes at Grewing’s school, leading the school to
push classes few days into the summer. This new method of working around the weather, has successfully setup a new idea behind Minnesota’s private schools. St. Cloud Cathedral’s senior, Tommy Auger stated that his math teacher had put up a videos that would walk through solving problems. For St. Cloud Cathedral this method seems to have worked, however what happens to the schools where students do not have the equipment or access
to the internet? Some stated that they preferred a taking classes at home and not having them over the summer. They got over their initial disappointment of missing out on their free day. With the early winter storm that has socked much of the United States with cold weather, it is expected to make an encore performance. The plains and the Midwest should be prepared for an-other big storm, similar to that of last week.
Minnesota is expected to remain below freezing until late next week. It will be interesting to see if schools across the Midwest continue to assign students homework due to weather and how successful the turn out will be. “It is not always right, but from time to when schools need to be closed, its a great way to continue the learning”, says Gundersen from Pascack Valley Regional High School District in New Jersey.
extra material, but in this case the men’s jeans are still far less expensive than women’s jeans. Old Navy’s spokeswoman says that the hefty price hike is because women’s clothing comes with features that men’s clothing does not, such as “curve-flattering” waistbands and other cosmetic features. This, of course, is sexist oppression that should not be allowed to continue-at least according to the petition on Change.org composed to convince Old Navy to lower the prices. The petition, which at last count has ballooned to over 74,164 signatures, helpfully informs us that this is an “overtly discriminatory pricing policy” which “indicates sexism and sizeism on the part of Old Navy that is unfair to women of size and unacceptable to us as consumers of Old Navy's products.” For those using older Social Justice-to-English dictionaries, “sizeism” is discriminating
against someone due to their size, e.g. being abnormally tall, short, fat, or skinny. Now, it seems pretty clear that this is nothing to get upset about—plus-sized women’s jeans are loaded down with a lot of extra features than the men’s plus-sized jeans, making them cost more. Based on my experiences working in a retail outlet, that seems to make sense, and probably accounts for the weighty price. Old Navy jeans are of course still overpriced, but the disparities even themselves out in the end. But that analysis doesn’t seem very interesting or intellectually nourishing, so let’s ignore the evidence and grant these petitioners that this really is unjustified and sizeist, just for the sake of argument. These swollen prices, the petitioners say, are sizeist persecution of the overweight that non-overweight people don’t notice because of our weighty privilege, and must be
fixed through Old Navy giving up this privilege for us, i.e. by equalizing the prices. This entire idea rests on the assumption that a perfectly natural, default state of affairs—being a man or woman of normal weight—is a privilege. What a strange idea. Why is there this tacit assumption that if I enjoy some unearned privilege in society I should relinquish it? What if I like my privilege? After all, it seems to be a pretty great deal from my perspective—I don’t have to pay extra for jeans, even if I’m overweight. Why should I give up any head-start I have in this unfair, dog-eat-dog world, just because someone else doesn’t have it? If the situation were reversed so that overweight people were privileged in the same way, would you expect them to relinquish theirs? The sort of people who signed this petition are, I’m guessing, the same type of people who say that they are
comfortable being overweight and secure in who they are. This petition, then, reflects a strange lack of conviction. If someone were really perfectly happy in their own skin, why would they care whether Old Navy approved of their size or not? Why wouldn’t you go off and live your own life and not worry about what the sizeists are doing? Haters gonna hate, after all. Besides, you can always just buy the plus-sized men’s jeans instead. Nobody is making you take your business to Old Navy if you don’t like what they’re doing, so there’s no reason for them to change—and probably lose money—just to solve a “problem” that never existed to start. So why does this petition even exist? Either these women are not as self-confident as they claim, or they just don’t understand how massive chains like Old Navy price their clothing and why. Either option is disheartening.
Titanic Old Navy Price Disparity Causes Plus-Sized Uproar Thomas Marcotte Red&Black Editor
One really needs a stout sense of humor to read the news these days, especially given the current state of constant hysteria the media seems to be in. I have no idea why, but every day seems to have a heavy new crisis that requires the sympathy, participation, and urgent, bloated feels of everyone. Because Social Justice or something. I confess I’ve never been able to get my arms around it. Which is why I find the recent happenings with Old Navy both confusing and belly-laughingly funny at the same time. The clothing store chain is now under fire for charging $12-$15 more for plussized women's jeans than for "regular" sizes, but not doing the same for men's plus-sized jeans. Plus-sized clothes normally cost more due to the
18 The SUPERBURGER “Calm Down, It’s Just a Joke”
Red & Black
21 N ovember 2014
What Every W&J Senior Should Know by Know (but Doesn’t) Joseph Jorjoliani Red&Black Staff
Over the four years of college, you learn a lot about life and about yourself. While many are scared of heading into the “real world,” graduating from college is an achievement you should be proud of. There are many things college students should learn by their senior year. These are all things that will make the transition from college student to functioning adult a little bit easier. While students are in college, the thought of only learning things from textbooks and professors is cringe-worthy. Here are some things the world hopes seniors know by their final year of college: 1) How to do your own laundry: if doing laundry is foreign to you, learn now. This will save you a lifetime of
struggle and wasting money on unnecessary laundry services. 2) How to write a resume and cover letter: if you can’t successfully write a resume and a cover letter, how do you expect to get a job? 3) When not to go out: when you can separate work and play, you have a better chance of being successful in your work and in life in general. 4) Know your limit when drinking alcohol: if you know your limit when it comes to drinking, you will be safer and much happier in life. If you don’t, you’re at a higher risk of getting a DUI and finding weird pictures of you on social media accounts. 5) Know how to cook at least one meal without using a microwave: this will save a lot of money on food and save you from dying of hunger. 6) How to work the privacy settings on social media
accounts, especially when it comes to knowing what to post versus what not to post: future employers will check your social media accounts. Remember that what you post now could affect your career later on. Your employer will make a decision on whether or not to hire you partly based on what they find on your various accounts. 7) How to dress well for an interview: wearing the proper clothes to an interview gives a good impression right away. If you don’t dress well, there will be no serious consequences… other than being a jobless bum. 8) Why freshmen should not be excited for college: if you don’t know why, you apparently don’t remember the crippling debt you are in. Remind yourself and those bright-eyed freshmen how easy it is to forget you’re spending $50 thousand a year. That’s an eye-watering
Courtesy andyburkhardt.com
See this guy? Don’t be him. Falling asleep in class isn’t normal, but when you’re a senior who doesn’t know what’s up, it is. Not knowing what’s up: not even once.
amount of money, and it You will regret spending so much money at least twice a week. If you don’t, you either haven’t attended college, or don’t know their money is flowing down the drain. 9) The exact calculations of meals you missed during your
college career: basically this is a way to kill some time… if you happen to have any. We would encourage you to keep track of your calorie intake, weight, and blood sugar levels. Mostly just to see if we can get you to do it. Good luck out there!
to be working. We’re rapidly becoming utterly lame. It would be fair to say, then, that we have reached a point known to humorists as “Peak Chuckle,” after which all metrics of funniness begin to decline rapidly. We are in a crisis. Unless we can get some new ideas into the system, in a few weeks the Superburger will have a similar humor profile as the collected works of E. L. James. It will become the
most popular anaesthetic ever created. We’ll become very sad (but also very rich) people. So, how can you help save the Superburger from this dire fate? Well, if you think you have a good idea for a satirical article on life here at W&J, let us know! Just submit your article idea to our Jaymail at Redandblackstaff@washjeff. edu. If we use it, you’ll be credited in the paper. Best of luck!
From the Editor’s Desk: New Satirists Wanted! Thomas Marcotte Red&Black Editor
Hello, all. This week I come to you with a few questions: 1) Are you funny? 2) Do you need money? 3) Do you desperately crave attention and praise like a starving man craves food? 4) Do you want to see your name in the paper? 5) Do you want to get your fifteen minutes of fame from
writing a mildly-amusing article for the one-page satire supplement of a college newspaper with a circulation smaller than most Italian families? If your answered yes to any of those questions (or even none of them, we’re not picky), we have good news for you--the Superburger is now accepting suggestions. Now, the Inner Party here at the Superburger prides themselves on coming up
with nothing but the best ideas to put in our articles. But the time has come to face facts and recognize our own limitations. The horrible sad truth is that we all ran out of ideas for Superburger stories weeks ago. We’ve tried everything to get our mojo back-meditation, herbal tea, sacrificing goats to Satan in the basement of Old Main-heck, I even tried keeping a journal. But nothing seems
21 Novemberr 2014
SPORTS 19
Red & Black
Viagra Ads in Sports? Senior Athlete Spotlight: Lindsey Bennett
Joseph Jorjoliani Red&Black Staff When college students watch a football or baseball game, they see the inappropriate ads during the breaks. Pfizer, a company that advertises Viagra, a cure for erectile dysfunction (ED) in the middle of the day would be a lot of fun for the college students, comfortably watching the game. However, the NFL and MLB did not bear in mind their main audience’s position. Imagine a father working for Pfizer, watches a football game on Sunday evening with his little daughter Susie and suddenly Viagra commercial comes up, which is distributed by Pfizer. The daughter would certainly ask what Viagra is used for and there would be a moment of silent in the room, when father would try to somehow escape from that question. The NFL and MLB decide when children receive sex education. Nothing is wrong with broadcasting such commercials at night after 10 pm. However, according to
Neilson data and ESPN polls, nearly 2.8 million kids ages 2-11 watch an average NFL game. More than 65 percent of children 7-11 watch football. Viagra and similar ads are not appropriate for family entertainment. Professional football spends a lot of time and money promoting itself as a wholesome youth-oriented game and good old-fashioned family entertainment. There is even a Sports Illustrated Kids' Football Playbook and an NFL Family Cookbook. But both organizations let inappropriate ads run during their games! With contracts this big and total government-sanctioned monopolies on their products, couldn't MLB and the NFL dictate when ED commercials air? Of course. Put it in the contract along with forcing the networks to pay all of their own production costs. The message is clear: "American families, we love your money and we'll tailor merchandise for your family-- but we don't really care what you think."
Bailey Mudrick Red&Black editor When you realize you are going to competitively and professionally play the game you love so much for the very last time, you feel as if you are riding an emotional roaster coaster. At least, that is how Lindsey Bennett 15’ felt a few weeks ago when she played in her last volleyball game for Washington and Jefferson College. Bennett has been playing competitive volleyball since she was in 7th grade and decided to play the sport she loves in college as well. “To me, being a President means that I can represent W&J by doing something I just love to do. I've always enjoyed being a student-athlete and getting to play the best sport while earning a degree has been an unforgettable experience” Bennett said. Bennett also recalled her favorite memory from this past season: “My favorite memory while playing for W&J was beating St. Vincent and getting the chance to finally make it to playoffs. We've always come up short in previous years, so coming back from a ten point deficit in the fourth set to win the match was unbelievably exciting. Everyone was going crazy when we won that game, and it felt even better knowing that we finally made it to playoffs.” This win allowed the Presidents to clinch a berth in the President’s Athletic Conference tournament for the first time since 2010 with a 3-1 win
against Saint Vincent. Even though the Presidents lost in the next round against Geneva, Bennett said that her and her team was just happy to make it into the playoffs. Bennett said that making it to the playoff was her biggest accomplishment while playing for W&J. “Going from only winning about 4 games my freshman year to making it to playoffs and upsetting big teams during my senior year was a big turn around. We've had some building years, but we've made a difference in the program and that's an incredible feeling to have; it's only going to go up from here for W&J volleyball.” Bennett gave it everything in her last season and, even though they didn’t win the PAC, Bennett became the first President named First-Team All-President’s Athletic Conference in volleyball since 2009. There were other volleyball players, too--Taylor Freeman 17’, Nicole Bishwaty 16’ and Allison Means 17’ landed on the All-PAC teams this season as well. The four All-PAC selections were the highest number for W&J since 2004 when it also had four. Bennett said that her four years playing at W&J wouldn’t be the same with the support of her coach, Brook Turner, and her parents. “I want to thank Coach Brooke Turner for everything she has done for me and for the program. She's helped me so much in my three seasons with her and has turned W&J
Courtesy gopresidents.com
volleyball around for the better. But, most of all, I want to thank my parents for all the support they have given me throughout my career. I can't thank them enough for sacrificing so much time and energy (not to mention their voices and hands from cheering so hard) in order for me to play volleyball. They have always been my support system and biggest fans.” Bennett is going to miss the game because, to her, there is nothing else like it. “I think I'm really just going to miss playing…There's no way to really describe the feeling I get when I play volleyball; I love the game so much and it's always just been something I look forward to everyday. It's funny though because people will always tell me that I can just go play in a bar league or a sand league and my response is ‘It's not the same!’ I'm just really going to miss playing competitively against other teams.”
21 N ovember 2014
SPORTS 20
Red & Black
The Students Speak: Staying in Shape During Winter
Courtesy gopresidents.com
The Swanson Wellness Center (left) has an expansive weight room to help students stay physically fit. The Henry Memorial Gymnasium (right) houses most of the athletic facilities on campus, including offices, locker rooms, a basketball court, and a large Olympic-sized swimming pool. Both buildings are free for students to use.
Joseph Jorjoliani Red&Black Staff It is getting colder in Washington, PA which means the students at Washington & Jefferson College can no longer freely and comfortably exercise outdoors. Many students love to jog around Washington, PA, but now they have to either dress extra cautiously and warmly or forget about outdoor activities and switch to indoor workouts. This causes some difficult adjustments, as not everyone wants to wait for the indoor facilities to open.
However, many students and faculty are able to find ways to stay in top shape no matter how cold the winter weather gets. W & J junior Jack Myint has been jogging around Washington, PA since his freshman year. He tried to join the Cross Country team, but his schedule doesn’t permit adequate enough time to practice and compete. That is one reason why he decided to jog around Washington every night at least for half an hour. “I love running every single night I’m able to go out and I often run to Washington park.
Then, I do pull ups and other exercises in the park for about 15 minutes. Afterwards, I run back to campus,” said Myint. It is not easy to maintain such an intense workout schedule in winter but Myint has found a way to overcome that challenge. “Many students think that running in cold weather is not as convenient as it is in summer, I totally disagree with them. Running in colder weather is healthier for the body. The colder the weather is the less heat to stress the body. This makes it easier to run. Running in hot and hu-
mid weather is extremely taxing on the body; if you know anything about marathons, you notice that the vast majority of them are held in October and November.” Jack Myint has since decided to reduce the time he spends on jogging, but it is not attributed to the weather. His schedule this semester, however, does not allow him to run every night in the way he has become accustomed. “In the summer, I made some time for jogging around the Washington Mall in Washington, D.C. where I had a summer internship, but now
I have to reduce the time for jogging because I have a lot of work to do. I work two jobs and I am graduating a semester early.” While Jack is a very busy student involved in many activities, he still thinks keeping healthy is a major concern, and wants to make sure he does not slip into unhealthy habits, either in college or post-graduation. “Hopefully when I graduate, I will still have some time to maintain my shape,” says Myint. It depends on one’s needs, but there are plenty of ways to stay in shape this winter.