Study Abroad in America | 11/4/2016

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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 r e d a n d b l a c ko n l i n e . c o m w a s h i n g t o n , p e n n s y lva n i a November 4, 2016

Study Abroad in America PAGE 4

Courtesy Sofía Estrella Garcia

OPINIONS: WORK STUDY AT W&J PAGE 14

SPORTS: PAC PLAY-OFFS PAGE 18

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Magellan Spotlight: Amiti Sharma

Courtesy Amiti Sharma

Sofia A. Estrella Red&Black contributor

Amiti Sharma is a senior at Washington & Jefferson College.

She is currently majoring in international business and double minoring in communication arts and French.

She is also the current president of the Indian

Amiti Sharma ‘17 captures her memories while in London.

Student Association at W&J, a member of the Theater National Honor Society and a PAL tutor in statistics.

Sharma went to London, England during the summer of 2014 for three weeks for her Magellan project.

Her project was about the evolution of British theater and film from the 20th to the 21st century.

Sharma said, “The Magellan was the perfect opportunity to travel to an amazing country and to learn more about things that interest me.” While

she was living there, Sharma was able to immerse herself in the culture, try different things completely new to her, meet amazing people and also learn about something she likes: theatre. She lived in two hostels and said the food was typically European, which she really liked.

In regard to adjusting to living within a different culture, Sharma said, “English culture was very different from the United States’ culture in the sense that it was more diverse in its people and

had several methods of public transportation.”

She said she enjoyed using public transportation because it was something she did not have back home and she loved being able to go anywhere simply by taking the train or the bus. Sharma said that living away from home was one of the hardest things she had ever done.

It was her first time being by herself. However, she said, “After a while I became very independent, and I felt very confident being alone and

experiencing new things by myself without any help.”

The Magellan project is a very powerful tool that W&J offers to their students.

As Sharma said, she definitely would recommend pursuing a Magellan to anyone even remotely interested in traveling.

Sharma said, “You should take the opportunity to complete a Magellan because it is truly life-changing, and it can benefit you in unlimited ways. Also it is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

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Senior Spotlight: Heather Wells Sofia A. Estrella Red&Black Contributor

Heather Wells is a senior with a double major in biochemistry and Spanish.

She is the president of the Spanish Honor Society, vice president of Presidents Without Borders and she is an Alpha Beta scholar.

Wells cannot believe she is finally a senior. All of those years studying so hard, stressing out about classes and homework and the numerous hours of studying are almost over.

Wells considers being in college has been an enriching experience for her. She thinks she has learned a lot during these years, not only in the

classroom, but also abroad as a foreign-exchange student. Wells said that coming to Washington & Jefferson College has been rewarding because she is happy with the education she has received in these four years of studying.

She knew from the beginning that W&J was a hard school and it was going to be a very demanding and competitive school. She said, “W&J is well known for being one of the best institutions to attend prior to medical school, and that is the reason why I decided to come here.”

As a senior, Wells is beginning to prepare for life after college. When asked what her plans are after she graduates, she said, “I am planning to take a gap year before starting

medical school. During these last two semesters, I need to study for the MCAT and prepare my portfolio prior to the start of summer. I am also waiting to hear back from the Fulbright Student Scholar Program; I applied for a grant that will allow me to teach English in Mexico for a year."

Wells said she also wants to take the EMT course offered over intersession and the spring semester. If she does not get offered the scholarship, she plans to work as an EMT after taking this newly-offered certification course.

This is the first time that W&J has proposed this course, so she thinks she should take advantage of this great opportunity. She thinks that after being here for four

Heather Wells '17 plans to attend medical school a year after graduation.

She mentioned that back in Japan, almost all of the buildings at her home university are nothing special and made simply of concrete.

She said, “Buildings in Japan don’t have anything extraordinary, but buildings here are stunning.” Her favorite place on campus is the Barista Café because she is able to drink good coffee anytime of the day with friends or by herself while she is studying.

When asked to choose the singular major difference between Japanese culture and American culture, she said, “Public transportation is different. In Japan we have a lot

of trains, and they are punctual all the time. Here there are not many methods of public transportation.”

Nikami said that the hardest thing in her experience so far is the everyday use of a foreign language. She stated that it is still hard for her to study and have daily conversations with everyone because it is her second language, and she is not used to speaking it all the time. She said, “Normal phrases like 'How are you?' or 'Bless you,' are hard to incorporate into my daily vocabulary because I am not used to saying them because we don’t use those phrases in Japan." Nikami said that one

Nikami '19 loves to travel the world.

Courtesy Heather Wells

years she feels mature and not so much as a college student anymore.

She is very excited to move on to the next chapter of her life as a true independent.

Wells said, “I am excited to be independent as I haven’t been completely independent while living on campus. I still haven’t had to pay for my bills or

even to cook my own food. I am excited to finally live in the adult world where I truly have to manage my own matters and care for myself.”

She thinks that her experience in college was unique but she is looking forward to all of the new opportunities that await her over the next couple years as a professional.

Student Spotlight: Karen Nikami Sofia A. Estrella Red&Black Contributor

Karen Nikami is an international student from Japan currently attending Washington & Jefferson College. She is a sophomore majoring in business. Nikami arrived to the U.S. this past August. She decided to come to the U.S. because she wanted to improve her English skills, especially in regard to speaking because she wants to be able to communicate fluently and have better pronunciation.

Nikami said she was amazed when she arrived to campus. She was shocked by the beauty of all the buildings.

Courtesy Karen Nikami

of the things she wanted to do the most is travel. She plans to travel a lot in the United States. She has already visited New York City with her family before starting classes at W&J. Nikami said she will be visiting Canada and New York City again this Thanksgiving break. She also wants

to travel to Los Angeles over winter break. “I want to meet more friends here, and I want to discover nice shops or restaurants in Washington and Pittsburgh. I am glad I am staying for two semesters.”

Nikami is happy to be here, and she has a lot of expectations for next semester.

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Study Abroad Spotlight: Sofía Estrella Garcia Emilia Zamora Red&Black Contributor

Sofía Estrella Garcia tiene 21 años y estudia Comunicación y Relaciones Publicas en la Universidad San Francisco de Quito, actualmente se encuentra culminando su año de intercambio en Washington and Jefferson College.

Si pudiera describirse en tres palabras diría que es: extrovertida, amigable y confiable.

Se dio unos minutos para responder a esta entrevista.

Pasa la mayor parte de su tiempo en la biblioteca de la Universidad. Ha encontrado allí un espacio en el que puede concentrarse y trabajar sin tantas distracciones.

Cuando no está ocupada haciendo tareas o trabajando en alguno de sus proyectos extracurriculares Sofía toma fotografías. Esta es una de las pasiones que descubrió en su año de intercambio, actualmente se encuentra construyendo una página web que resume su experiencia como estudiante extranjera y viajera frecuenta.

En este espacio colocará sus fotografías y experiencias más preciadas.

Su motivación principal para escoger el intercambio fue la independencia.

“Quería salir de mi zona de confort, vivir una nueva cultura y conocer gente diversa. Además de que se

ve muy bien en mi currículo pensé que me iba a ayudar a madurar más.” Sofía estudia en W&J gracias a una beca que le ofreció la Universidad, y esa es una de las razones principales por la cual escogió estudiar en los Estados Unidos.

“Estar en esta Universidad ha cumplido con muchas de las expectativas que tenía del intercambio, pero también hay cosas que me decepcionaron.”

El tener libertad le ha permitido conocerse mucho mejor, ha explorado aspectos de su personalidad y descubierto talentos que no sabía que tenía, como escribir y dibujar. “Dibujar nunca me llamó la atención, sin embargo, ahora es algo que disfruto mucho hacer.”

Sofía ha tenido la oportunidad de conocer gente muy diversa y con diferentes experiencias de vida.

Ha aprendido de muchas culturas y ha conocido personas con las que ha establecido relaciones de amistad muy profundas. “Me encanta que tenga amigos en todo el mundo,” dijo Garcia.

Una de las cosas a la que tuvo que enfrentarse por el hecho de estar en un campus apartado y pequeño es no sentirse completamente libre.

“Debido a que es un pueblo pequeño, no hay muchas actividades que hacer cerca del campus. Es algo que pensé iba a ser diferente antes de venir, pero he tenido la suerte de viajar mucho y esa era también una de mis

Courtesy Emilia Zamora

Sofía Estrella Garcia es una estudiante de intercambio. Es de Quito, Ecuador.

motivaciones.” Garcia lleva viviendo en los Estados Unidos diez meses; durante el verano tuvo la oportunidad de viajar por varios estados del país.

Vivió durante dos meses en Nueva Jersey. Allí tuvo la oportunidad de trabajar como pasante en una empresa distribuidora de alimentos traídos de varios países de Latinoamérica.

Si Garcia pudiese empacar en una caja un recuerdo que la transporte a revivir un momento de su intercambio probablemente sería su experiencia sola en Nueva York.

“Creo que no podría escoger un solo recuerdo -- es muy difícil -- pero creo

que sin lugar a dudas Nueva York es uno de mis lugares favoritos, la magia de la ciudad me envolvió completamente, conocer lugares pequeños, ir a lugares artísticos, ver a gente tan distinta, detenerme a observar las calles,” dijo.

Garcia está muy contenta con su elección de Universidad para el intercambio; siente que W&J tiene un muy buen nivel académico y de igual forma ha podido confirmar el alto nivel de estudios que la Universidad San Francisco de Quito ofrece a sus estudiantes.

“Pensé que iba a ser más desafiante el estudiar en Estados Unidos y tener que tomar todas las clases en inglés, pero a veces creo que mi Universidad en Ecuador

me demanda mucho más esfuerzo por el hecho de que allá tomó ocho clases y aquí únicamente cuatro,” dijo.

Con respecto al idioma, muchas personas no distinguen un acento extranjero en su inglés “A veces me preguntan de que parte de Estados Unidos soy, eso me permite entender lo mucho que he mejorado mi acento.”

Dicen que uno domina completamente un idioma cuando sueña en ese idioma, a Sofía le ha pasado ya muchas veces desde que está aquí.

Su forma de hablar y comunicarse ha cambiado mucho desde enero, y ese es uno de los aprendizajes más grandes que se lleva.

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Surf n' Turf

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Samara Wendel Red&Black Contributor

FIND US ONLINE It was definitely not the average dinner at the Commons on the night of Oct. 26, 2016.

Parkhurst dining held a special event for the first time ever. It was called Surf n’ Turf night.

Students had the option to have filet mignon steak with potatoes and/or a fresh lobster tail as a main cuisine.

There was also the regular hot food line, but the most popular was the steak option.

There was also an ice sculpture with shrimp as another side option.

Another one of the popular options that Parkhurst dining had was a decadent double layer chocolate cake.

Students were surprised by the food and entertainment that was provided.

There was also a DJ who played music and gave students the opportunity to sing karaoke.

At the beginning of the event, there was a line out the door of Commons all the way to the sidewalk.

Students were eager to see what Parkhurst dining had

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Courtesy Samara Wendel

At the Surf n' Turf dinner at the Commons, students had a choice of steak, lobster, or both.

in store for the evening. The tables were covered in black and white tablecloths, colorful lights lit up the whole room and a DJ played pop music.

The line for the filet mignon continued to extend around the room.

Many students were eager to try the steak that was being served.

There was also an extremely long line for the lobster tails that were being served.

Molly Doran ’20 said, “I was surprised that they had lobster tails, but they were really good!”

This had definitely been a surprise to many new and returning students alike. It received many positive re-

views from students. The karaoke was also a fun activity for those inclined to show off their vocal talent.

Students involved in the choir volunteered to sing some songs.

Another comment about the atmosphere of Commons came from Sowmya Srinivasan ‘20 who said, “It was very lively and the atmosphere was really fun. Also, the chocolate cake was really good!”

The food options were the most memorable for everyone because it was extravagant and this event had never been done before on campus.

This could be the start of a new annual trend on campus for Parkhurst dining.

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Halloween Clown Costume Ban Samara Wendel Red & Black Contributor

This past Halloween, one of the biggest trends was the scary clown costume.

Everyone is aware that people dress up as clowns to scare people, but this year people are making clowns scarier than ever.

It all started with two individuals in Greenville, S.C. who dressed up as clowns and tried to lure a young boy into the woods.

The idea caught on and clown sightings have been reported from Fla. all the way to Wis. and even as far west as Colo.

People are dressing up as clowns to terrorize people, and some are even getting violent.

There have been cases of stabbing and luring children into the woods.

So it does not come as a shock that there is a sudden

popularity for clown costumes for Halloween this year.

Although clown costumes are growing in popularity, schools have thought otherwise and are taking action.

A superintendent in the West Milford, N.J. school district stated, “As a precaution, and to allow our youngest children to feel comfortable, we are asking all students, parents and staff to follow the below rules to make our Halloween celebrations as enjoyable as possible for everyone: Clown costumes, masks or face paint shall be prohibited.”

It is becoming a problem for college campuses to distinguish between an individual dressed up as a clown for fun versus one who is trying to terrorize others.

A way to combat this issue is to ban clown costumes around schools.

Emily Sterk ‘17 was asked if she felt that the ban on clown costumes was necessary. She said, “It’s unfortunate that something as innocent as a clown costume can now be considered as threatening.

However, if this policy makes us feel safer then it should

Courtsey Wall Street Journal

The clown section of Halloween costume stores have become restricted or closed completely because of bans in some cities and states.

be implemented.” This has become a problem that has spread nationwide and counties are asking the public not to wear clown costumes for Halloween or else they will be fined.

Shannon Adams ‘17 said, “I am not sure if Washington had a clown issue before the ban or if a ban was ever

implemented in this area, but I have not seen a single clown in this area. I suppose that means that something has worked.”

Some counties have decided that they would have this ban on clown costumes last until Nov. 1. Garth Harries said in a press conference discussing the issue, “Any

incident in which a student is found with clown-like apparel or other costumes that are perceived to be threatening given this context will be handled on a case-by-case basis.”

The group of individuals that started this trend originally intended to set out to terrorize the public.

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Life Advice

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

Getting help courtesy of thebestvibes.com

Courtesy Katie Campbell

From left to right, Katie Campbell ‘18 as Sully, Megan Yocabet ‘17 as Boo and Minh Le ‘18 as Mike Wazowski.

Courtesy Macie Sowers

Roommates Macie Sowers (left) and Jaqualynn Anderson (right) dressed as a good fairy and a bad fairy.

“College is hard. It doesn’t matter who you are; college is hard for everyone. Some days are worse than others, and when those bad days come, boy, are they bad. In these moments, you should remember that there are people here on campus that can help you no matter what the problem is. If you are struggling in a class, go to PAL. If you are strrugling with your mental health, go to Counseling Services. Break all the stigmas. We are here to help. It is never too late.

Most importantly, it will be okay. I promise.”

-Shannon Adams, Life Editor

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Hack of the Week: Get Your Textbooks Online

Nathan Repine Red & Black Contributor

For this week’s edition of Hack of the Week, I’ll be showing an easier way for students to order their textbooks online.

This source also offers a $5000 scholarship opportunity and additional ways that students can earn some extra money for themselves.

A textbook business, A-Books (short for Affordable Books), started up this past January and has taken the initiative to help students save time and money.

Students attending Washington & Jefferson College can access the website with the following link: www. dubjaybooks.blogspot.com.

From the website, there are two options. First, check out what they have currently have in stock here on campus. That can be found under the “OnCampus Inventory” page.

The second option: Students unable to find the books they need in the oncampus inventories can simply order through the

online bookstore and it will be shipped to them via Amazon.

No need to punch in long ISBN numbers; simply click on the area of study, then the course number of the class.

From there, click on the books within that course and they will automatically be added to the cart.

When students have what they need, they can simply proceed to checkout and Amazon will take care of the rest.

If students do not currently have an Amazon account, A-Books offer links to free trials of both Amazon Prime and Student.

Both come with quick and convenient two-day shipping options.

Also need some extra cash?

No worries - the site also offers many different ways to make money as well.

Students can check out the “Income Opportunities” page on the website as well as the textbook buy-back the organization offers. Just email the title, ISBN number and picture (for quality purposes) to affordable_books@yahoo. com. From there, students will get a reply regarding if they will buy-back the book and

at what price. One student, Talyor Grinage ‘19, said, “It was really helpful to me for last semester”.

Another student, a freshman who utilized the website, said, “It was really useful. I didn’t have to type in any of the book numbers and it was all right there for me.”

This business was created in the hopes that it will help students save time in ordering textbook material and money in scholarship opportunities and other ways.

It hopes that in its textbook buyback, students will not get ripped off by only getting 5% face value, and offer cheaper books in what is offered in the on-campus inventories (located in Marshall Hall).

Also, if A-Books do not carry the materials, a convenient alternative in their online bookstore is powered

by Amazon.

While I may not be able to take on all of these issues for students across the nation, I can make an impact in many lives here on campus in smaller magnitudes.

I, as a businessman, opportunist and as an individual who cares about others in my life, aim to

Courtsey Nathan Repine

Dubjay Books offers a unique range of books that can be purchased at a low price for students.

constantly find additional ways to help students pay for the increasing costs of school.

Sitting and planning out a business will not get visionaries anywhere, it is getting on their feet, starting with a minimum viable product, constantly building and improving upon it and learning hands-on.

My passion does not lie in textbooks, it lies in helping

people and making an impact to the community.

It lies in constantly improving the status quo and always questioning the norm, not merely accepting, but changing.

It is changing for the betterment of the people in my community, my life and those who I may not know, but know will benefit from my ventures. Thank you.

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DubJay Cribs:Shannon Adams ‘17 Shannon Adams Red & Black Editor

Hey DubJay! Welcome to my crib! Before I introduce my room, I would like to point out that living on President’s Row is great.

Monroe Hall is right next to all the important places like G&T’s, the Commons and the library.

That’s right: I live in Monore, the pet dorm. I have a cat named Lynx and he believes this is his room, not mine. I suppose you could have guessed that from all of his toys scattered everywhere though.

Besides living with a cat, there are a few places in my room that I would like to point out.

The first place is my enormous bed. I live in a single, but I have two of everything. Two beds, two desks, two wardrobes and two dressers.

When I first moved in and saw I had two beds, my first thought was to push them together and make one giant bed!

While I may not sleep on both beds, it gives me a lot more space in my room.

I could not sleep on both beds even if I wanted to because Lynx claimed one for himself.

The second thing in my room I want to show everyone is my huge elephant tapestry hanging up on my wall. I call

this elephant my guardian. I have a lot of dreams in which elephants are protecting me, and this is a pictorial representation of my dream elephant - my guardian.

He is on the wall across from my bed so he can watch over me and gives me motivation and strength when I wake up in the morning.

The third thing I want to show everyone is the motivation board above my desk.

College is hard and some people have a harder time with it than others.

This board helps remind me why I am here, that I can do it, and that all of these people who gave me their kind words have my back 100%.

I have some more pictures and quotes that friends have sent me that have not made it up there yet.

I hope to fill the entire board up with positivity by the end of the month!

Besides these three highlighted areas of my room, if you look around you will find over a dozen containers of loose leaf tea, tea mugs everywhere and books of all shapes and sizes on every surface.

Some of my favorite books are those that came from my grandparents’ house. They are old textbooks and educational books printed in the 19th century.

The covers may be falling off, but they are the perfect addition to my room.

You can tell that I am an English major, can’t you?

Courtesy Shannon Adams

Adams’s giant full-size bed ft. her monkey Streetlamp LeMoose and her huge bear.

Above, Adams’s guardian elephant tapestry, which is on display in her room.

Adams’s motivational board above her desk.

Courtesy Shannon Adams

Courtesy Shannon Adams

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culture

The 1975 Performs Halloween Concert at Stage AE Kayla Marasia Red&Black Editor

On Halloween night, youths in grungy flannels and cat costumes alike flooded to Stage AE to see the up-and-coming British band, The 1975.

While the October air was cold and unforgiving, some dedicated fans waited in line for hours before the venue’s doors opened at 6:30 p.m.

Upon entering Stage AE, it was difficult to find room to stand because of the show’s sold-out status, but an air of excitement was tangible in the minutes before the show started.

To start the show, the iconic scrolling text of Star Wars was projected on the main screen, saying, “A long time ago in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, far, far away…”

Neon pink lights and screaming fans signaled the entrance of the band members, all of whom had donned Star Wars costumes in honor of Halloween.

Lead singer Matty Healy wore a Kylo Ren costume,

while rhythm guitarist Adam Hann dressed as Han Solo.

The bassist, Ross Macdonald, dressed as Chewbacca and surprisingly remained in costume for the entire show.

The band’s drummer, George Daniel, made a convincing Princess Leia, and the stage crew wore an assortment of Storm Trooper costumes.

The orchestral theme of the film franchise then melded into the poppy, infectious “Love Me” to properly commence the show.

The 1975 does not adhere to traditional genres, instead mixing influences of rock, pop, electronic, and jazz music.

This strange medley of sounds makes every song an experience that is entirely unique.

At the Pittsburgh concert, the band members played a mix of songs from their debut album, “The 1975,” and from their newest album, “I like it when you sleep for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it.”

The bass throbbed through the floor, and the impressive special effects on stage made the performance feel more like a fever dream than a concert. From neon pinks and blues to crashing waves to a

Courtesy Kayla Marasia

The 1975, shown above, performed a Halloween concert at Stage AE to promote the band's newest album. The band members wore Star Wars costumes in honor of the spooky evening. On the right, bassist Ross Macdonald dressed as Chewbacca.

blurred city skyline, the lighting added to the surreal atmosphere.

The set list kept a good momentum, switching easily between high-energy hits like “Robbers” and “Chocolate” to softer ballads like “Somebody Else” and “If I Believe You.” Matty’s punchy vocals were impressive, but the star of the show was perhaps the band’s saxophonist, John Waugh.

The beautifully introspective sax solo in “If I Believe You” contrasted well with the

upbeat solo at the end of “She’s American.” Surprisingly, The 1975 also played some lesspopular and underrated instrumental pieces.

“I loved when they played ‘Please Be Naked.’ It’s instrumental, but it’s my favorite song from the new album,” said Holly Sauer ’19. “The performance was incredible.”

To accompany the swells of the instruments, the lighting displayed a swirling ocean on stage. When the band finally wrapped up the set with a per-

formance of “The Sound,” the crowd’s high energy was palpable.

Matty bid the audience farewell in his barely intelligible British accent, and the show was over.

The Halloween theme of the concert made this performance unique from the band’s past performances.

With fun Star Wars costumes and a twist on the traditional set list, The 1975 put on a stellar show fit for galaxies far, far away.

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Local Restaurant Review: Mr. Gyros Leah Segal Red&Black Staff

Looking for an authentic Greek meal? Search no further than Mr. Gyros.

A locally owned business minutes from W&J’s campus, this restaurant offers delicious meals at a great price.

After a long, hard day of studying, I was looking forward to a filling meal.

However, I had already eaten my share of George & Tom’s for the week and I dreaded the thought of eating at the Commons again.

No matter how much I have come to love my deli combo or the chicken alfredo, sometimes a little variety is needed.

Perusing the nearby restaurants, I decided Mr. Gyros would be the best option, as

I love Greek food, and small businesses always seem to offer a friendly atmosphere.

Upon walking in, I was greeted by a smiling man who offered to serve my boyfriend Chris and me.

Although the eatery seemed a bit tired and rundown, I chalked it up to a quirky ambiance that I would not soon forget.

I took a look at the menu to find an array of classic Greek dishes, and some creative twists. After some pondering, I decided on a falafel gyro.

My boyfriend chose “The Hercules,” the signature dish featuring lamb, falafel, and tons of other Greek classics mixed into one gyro.

Seated next to a window, I was able to hold a conversation with Chris while we people- watched. Although Wash-

Courtesy mrgyros-pa.com

Mr. Gyros, shown above, is a local restaurant that offers authentic Greek food at affordable prices.

ington County is far from the most scenic of locations, the charm of the town really seemed to shine through. Our food arrived with no wait at all, and we quickly got to eat-

ing. My falafel gyro was delicious. Everything tasted authentically Greek, fresh, and flavorful. Chris’ meal proved to be just as great. Overall, I left Mr. Gyros with a full

stomach and a smile spread across my face.

With delicious food, Mr. Gyros' cozy atmosphere and friendly staff left me excited to be a returning customer.

a manuscript and a dream.

Readers who are on the verge of heading out into the cold, cruel world themselves will identify with Patel’s experiences as she manages to make a life for herself in the Big Apple.

Graduating college students in particular will empathize with her fears and insecurities as they witness her growth as both a person and a storyteller.

Meanwhile, Lizzie Scofield, the protagonist in Patel’s novel, manages to survive a deadly terrorist attack by willing her consciousness

into the underworld in a bid to play dead. However, her survival comes at a price as she discovers that she is now a psycho pomp - a spirit-guide whose responsibility it is to help guide the restless spirits that have yet to move on.

As she tries adjusts to her new reality, Scofield stumbles across some dark secrets along the way and crosses paths with some dangerous people.

She finds herself caught up in a tangled web of death cults, serial killers and corrupt fellow spirit-guides.

Scofield’s epic story will have people hungering for

more. Told in alternating chapters, the coming-of-age story of Patel is interwoven with that of her own novel, the thrilling and suspenseful tale of Scofield.

Westerfeld artfully blends the stories of these two young women who make difficult choices, experience love and struggle with heartbreak.

Readers of this novel, particularly those with an interest in writing, will appreciate the craft of storytelling as it is presented here - marveling at the art of it and how the created tales consume us.

'Afterworlds' is a Consuming Read Diana Ciarallo Red&Black Staff

Scott Westerfeld’s “Afterworlds” is a twofold novel telling the stories of two young women with very different lives. Despite these differences, the stories of Darcy Patel and Lizzie Scofield are very much connected.

While she may be only 18-years-old and fresh out of high school, a well-respected literary agency decides that Darcy Patel’s book (written in just a month’s time) is good enough to publish. With her dreams of becoming a

published author about to become a reality, Patel decides to put off her college plans for a year, in favor of moving to New York City, the publishing capital of America, and pursue her goal of becoming a bestselling novelist.

Amidst book tours, finding an apartment, rewriting her first draft and grappling with the challenges that the adult world and publishing industry have to throw at her, Patel is embraced by New York’s writing community and even finds herself falling in love for the first time. Patel makes her way into adulthood with just

12 Culture

4 N ovember 2016

‘Inferno’ Film Lacks Momentum Red & Black

Diana Ciarallo Red&Black Staff

“Mankind is the cancer in its own body. Do you love humanity enough to save it?”

These words are delivered in a speech by overzealous billionaire and bioengineer Bertrand Zobrist (portrayed

by Ben Foster).

He believes that the only way that the human population can be mercifully saved from growing too big and outstripping Earth’s resources is to thin the herd by releasing a viral plague at an international concert.

Professor Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) finds himself mysteriously entangled in this plot as he wakes up and

finds himself in a hospital in Florence with no memory of the past few days.

He suffers from hellish visions of fire, scorched earth, burning bodies, plague masks, bloody battles and grotesque figures - a literal hell on earth.

These grotesque visions will figure into the complex puzzle that Robert Langdon must decipher in this latest globe-trotting adventure of conspiracy, betrayal and twisted motive where not everyone is who they might claim, or appear, to be.

In this third installment of the “Da Vinci” series, the art history and symbology professor returns, and is accompanied by Dr. Sienna Brooks (Felicity Jones). He

suddenly finds himself on the run as he is being pursued by the hilarious, shady private security agency (Irrfan Khan) and the World Health Organization.

This is after figuring out that Zobrist has created a plague-like virus named “Inferno” -- with the full intention of having it cull half of the world’s human population.

Rushing to find this disease before it falls into the wrong hands and is released into the world, Langdon and Brooks must decipher a map left behind for Zobrist’s followers, inspired by Dante’s Inferno, leading the pair all over the world to the virus’ hidden location. That’s the problem.

It turns into an implausible treasure hunt in spectacular locations.

At a minimum, viewers may expect wonderful cinematography of locations in Florence, Venice and Istanbul.

The locations are better in person than in the movie.

This isn’t usually the case.

Unfortunately, while the premise of the film might appear to have great and thrilling potential in the trailers that advertise it, “Inferno” doesn’t quite live up to the standards that one might have after watching “The Da Vinci Code” and “Angels and Demons.” Why would the megalomaniac Zobrist lead his followers

to a treasure hunt without telling them where the virus is located?

No number of plot twists and turns can straighten out this fatal flaw in the film.

Action movies are often inexplicably forgiven for lack of memorable character development or emotional involvement if the action is fantastic, but the action isn’t that good in this film.

Although the film might not necessarily be terrible, it presents itself as a bit of a disappointment compared to the first two films.

It leaves disappointed audiences wanting for the thrilling plot line and cinematography that they were promised.

W&J Speaks Out: Favorite Books “Written by Louisa May Alcott, Little Women is a coming-of-age novel that follows the lives of four sisters -- Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy March -- and recounts their journey from childhood to womanhood.

I first read Little Women as a young girl and it is a novel that I have revisited at various points in my life. The novel reminds me that no matter how hard it may be, you must try to forgive. When Jo refuses to invite her youngest sister to a performance, Amy vents her rage by burning one of Jo’s manuscripts. At first Jo withholds her forgiveness, but she then realizes the relationship she has with her sister is far more important than a book. Jo realizes that holding grudges is more likely to lead to bitter regret than to a sense of righteousness.”

Courtesy Farrah Lopez

Emily Sterk ‘17, above, is a senior English and Spanish major with a Gender & Women’s Studies minor.

12 Culture

4 N ovember 2016

‘Inferno’ Film Lacks Momentum Red & Black

Diana Ciarallo Red&Black Staff

“Mankind is the cancer in its own body. Do you love humanity enough to save it?”

These words are delivered in a speech by overzealous billionaire and bioengineer Bertrand Zobrist (portrayed

by Ben Foster).

He believes that the only way that the human population can be mercifully saved from growing too big and outstripping Earth’s resources is to thin the herd by releasing a viral plague at an international concert.

Professor Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) finds himself mysteriously entangled in this plot as he wakes up and

finds himself in a hospital in Florence with no memory of the past few days.

He suffers from hellish visions of fire, scorched earth, burning bodies, plague masks, bloody battles and grotesque figures - a literal hell on earth.

These grotesque visions will figure into the complex puzzle that Robert Langdon must decipher in this latest globe-trotting adventure of conspiracy, betrayal and twisted motive where not everyone is who they might claim, or appear, to be.

In this third installment of the “Da Vinci” series, the art history and symbology professor returns, and is accompanied by Dr. Sienna Brooks (Felicity Jones). He

suddenly finds himself on the run as he is being pursued by the hilarious, shady private security agency (Irrfan Khan) and the World Health Organization.

This is after figuring out that Zobrist has created a plague-like virus named “Inferno” -- with the full intention of having it cull half of the world’s human population.

Rushing to find this disease before it falls into the wrong hands and is released into the world, Langdon and Brooks must decipher a map left behind for Zobrist’s followers, inspired by Dante’s Inferno, leading the pair all over the world to the virus’ hidden location. That’s the problem.

It turns into an implausible treasure hunt in spectacular locations.

At a minimum, viewers may expect wonderful cinematography of locations in Florence, Venice and Istanbul.

The locations are better in person than in the movie.

This isn’t usually the case.

Unfortunately, while the premise of the film might appear to have great and thrilling potential in the trailers that advertise it, “Inferno” doesn’t quite live up to the standards that one might have after watching “The Da Vinci Code” and “Angels and Demons.” Why would the megalomaniac Zobrist lead his followers

to a treasure hunt without telling them where the virus is located?

No number of plot twists and turns can straighten out this fatal flaw in the film.

Action movies are often inexplicably forgiven for lack of memorable character development or emotional involvement if the action is fantastic, but the action isn’t that good in this film.

Although the film might not necessarily be terrible, it presents itself as a bit of a disappointment compared to the first two films.

It leaves disappointed audiences wanting for the thrilling plot line and cinematography that they were promised.

W&J Speaks Out: Favorite Books “Written by Louisa May Alcott, Little Women is a coming-of-age novel that follows the lives of four sisters -- Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy March -- and recounts their journey from childhood to womanhood.

I first read Little Women as a young girl and it is a novel that I have revisited at various points in my life. The novel reminds me that no matter how hard it may be, you must try to forgive. When Jo refuses to invite her youngest sister to a performance, Amy vents her rage by burning one of Jo’s manuscripts. At first Jo withholds her forgiveness, but she then realizes the relationship she has with her sister is far more important than a book. Jo realizes that holding grudges is more likely to lead to bitter regret than to a sense of righteousness.”

Courtesy Farrah Lopez

Emily Sterk ‘17, above, is a senior English and Spanish major with a Gender & Women’s Studies minor.

4 N ovember 2016

Culture 13

Red & Black

Poetry Corner Feminist Poet's Hard Truths Holly Sauer Red&Black Contributor

"Campesinita" Emilia Zamora Campesinita ¿A dónde vas con tu pena? ¿A ver al alguacil? ¿Al cura? ¿A la taberna? ¿Para qué campesina?...

Entregarles tu hacienda, si robarán otra vez, tu redonda primavera surcarán tu cadera….

“For Dandelion”

by Diana Ciarallo

Vuela de allí campesina, sino sabes que hacer con tu miseria.

Afila el martillo Y entrega todo en la contienda.

Deprive her Of her seeds

Bébelo puro campesina uno solo es el whisky.

Corre y toma la escopeta ¡Ven! Únete a la huelga.

Corre y deja campesina al alguacil, al cura a la taberna…

Se acabaron los ojos del patrón devorando a mordiscos tu cadera.

Se acabaron las penas y la miseria. ¡Hoy eres dueña de tu propia tierra!

Es preciso ahora abrir nuevas sementeras tus hijas crecerán como palmeras, más robustas, más libres, más ligeras…..

I pluck her up Leave her barren

Little children Cast away To find a way In this world Random act For me Decree of a deity For dandelion

Feminist poet Rupi Kaur artfully combines her own drawings with her poems in her first collection, “Milk and Honey.”

This collection contains many important and thought provoking topics, but what makes this collection compelling is its honesty.

The author states explicitly what the poem is about, and this makes her pieces even more powerful.

There is a poem in this collection for everyone. She discusses themes of love, trauma and the sacred nature of womanhood.

Plus, they make me want to take on the world after I read them.

This book is broken into four parts: the hurting, the loving, the breaking and the healing.

Each individual section is interesting and beautiful in its own right, and each part contains sublime poems that are stunningly crafted.

However, what makes this collection truly special is the author’s ability to incorporate a central theme throughout the four parts; yet, she does try to impart her beliefs onto her readers.

Most of her poems make a clear statement about a thought or an idea, but they do not feel as if she wants readers to agree with the poem.

Kaur’s poetry is short.

Some poems are as little as

Courtesy goodreads.com

Rupi Kaur wrote "Milk and Honey," shown above, to explore the pain and glory of the human condition in everyday relationships.

eight words, but it does not take away from their poignant nature.

I thought about some of these poems for many days because of how accurate they were, not just to my life, but to being a human being in general.

It was as if the poet knew me and the thoughts I was having.

Her poetry grabbed my attention from the first poem I read.

One of my favorites is, “I thank the universe / for taking / everything it has taken / and giving to me / everything it is giving.” This is something I always remind myself, and

reading it made me feel as if the author wrote this poem just for me. None of Kaur’s poems have titles.

Another of my favorite short pieces is, “it is a part of the / human experience to feel pain / do not be afraid / open yourself to it.”

Her poetry needs no explanation because she writes about the hardest, most common truths of human life.

Kaur is able to explain universal truths in new ways that do not make the messages seem stale.

Her poetry is unlike any I have read before, and “Milk and Honey” is a special and poignant first collection.

14 Opinions

4 November 2016

Red & Black

opinions W&J Should Pay More for Work Study Hannah Kail red&black contributor

Washington & Jefferson College needs to start paying its student workers more than the current minimum wage of $7.25.

With work study packages, most students are given a possible ten hours per week to work, which is more time than most people can afford to give to a job at the college level.

Students have many other responsibilities, such as sports,

classwork, volunteering and clubs.

These activities are important for development and experience as they move onto jobs and graduate school.

Jobs on campus are of little help for most when it comes to preparing for the future, which should be the main goal of college.

Students who choose to try to fit a campus job into their schedule are doing so in order to

lessen their financial burden, and their time should not be wasted. If a student manages to work ten hours a week at the wage level of most campus jobs, $7.25, they will earn less than $70 dollars a week. This

If a student manages to work ten hours a week at the wage level of most campus jobs, $7.25, they will earn less than $70 dollars a week.

will do little to make a dent in massive student loans, and

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

many students find themselves not even having time to work half that amount. Danielle Kochka ‘18 plays softball and finds time to work at the Admissions Office. She can only find time to work a few hours a week because of her busy schedule.

“With softball and classes and clubs I just don’t have enough time to work very much. Increasing the amount of money student workers make is a very

College or its students, faculty, or administration.

The Red & Black welcomes all reader contributions, but reserves the right to reject letters of pure promotional nature, as well as letters which do not meet its standard of integrity, accuracy and decency.

The Red & Black also reserves the right to edit submissions.

Letters are due on the Monday before publication and may not exceed 600 words. All letters must include the author’s name, campus box and telephone number.

Names may be withheld upon request under certain conditions on rare occasions. All letters may be submitted to redandblackstaff@jay. washjeff.edu.

good idea,” she said. Kochka also agrees that it would help a lot with paying off loans.

She said, “Students, especially athletes, are just so busy. We dedicate hours of our time to it and there’s not a lot left over for work. The small amount I’m able to make weekly really isn’t enough to make a difference.”

W&J is an expensive school, and it should provide a way for its students to pay off loans more easily without compromising their academics or other important extracurricular activities.

Even a two dollar pay raise would make an important difference in helping students manage their time and loans.

C ontac t 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

4 november 2016

15 Opinions

Red & Black

Autonomous Mass Transit Driving

Courtesy Deezin.com

Otto’s autonomous transportation vehicle driving its route.

Samara Wendel red&black contributor

According to CNN, Budweiser successfully transported 50,000 cans of beer across the state of Colorado in an autonomous truck.

The beer company cleared Interstate 25 of cars for this endeavor.

The driver of the truck drove the 18-wheeler until he reached the interstate, and

then he turned on the autopilot feature of the truck and let the truck cruise down the road.

This truck was surrounded by four state patrol cars and drove autonomously for 120 miles before the driver took over when the truck got off the highway.

Budweiser achieved a major milestone for transportation advancements.

The director of logistics strategy, James Sembrot, said, “We’re eager to begin to scale this, I see a future where this technology becomes ubiquitous, it becomes similar to automatic transmission or cruise control.” The process

of having trucks cruise on highways with no assistance will take extensive regulatory checkpoints, but the task does not seem impossible.

If one day they were able to successfully use autonomous transportation for all exchanges, this would be a major breakthrough for technology.

Otto and Anheuser-Busch said, “Autonomous technology is a way to improve road safety and make transportation more sustainable.

They anticipate self-driving trucks will use fuel more efficiently than humans, because they will drive the speed limit and

anticipate looming traffic jams rather than slamming on their brakes.” The efficiency of this task would cut down on natural resources tremendously.

Some fear that autonomous trucks will put many truck drivers out of work.

However, a co-founder with Otto, Lior Ron, believes that people and trucks can work in “harmony” because the driver can be the co-pilot.

The truck will drive while the person in the cab will supervise.

Many believe that autonomous trucks will allow the trucks to transport during

the middle of the night when there is almost no one on the interstate.

I personally believe that this idea needs more extensive research and trials before it becomes a full-fledged concept.

If all trucks become autonomous, it could put many truck drivers out of a job, even if they still have to co-pilot the maneuvers.

It is a good idea in theory, but there needs to be a discussion about the repercussions.

This change may cause many issues if this goes into full effect.

16 Opinions

Red & Black

4 November 2016

How Will Pennsylvania Vote?

Leah Segal red&black staff

There is no debating the importance of this upcoming election.

With the two most extreme candidates of our time, in the most extreme of times, the saying “every vote counts” reigns true as some states may find they will turn from red to blue, and vice versa.

However, Pennsylvania, a tried and true blue state, will not be joining the ranks.

Since its entry into the union Dec 12, 1787, Pennsylvania has remained a battleground state for a majority of its time in US history.

Nevertheless, the fight between Republican and Democratic Parties for the state has left the latter in possession for the past six elections.

With three consecutive elections from 1980-1988 voting Republican, the 1992 election between George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton proved to be a turning point.

Since that time onward, Pa. has remained blue.

While some may question the political climate and overarching national dilemmas, such a pattern can only be pointed at the lifestyle with which Pennsylvanians lead. This specific lifestyle is the reason why the state will not vote Republican this election. As a state known for its high employment of teachers, miners and

other union based jobs, the comfortable life of a typical Pennsylvanian is usually accredited to the work of Democrats.

The strength of this group mentality has held strong for the past six election and will probably hold true on November 8.

Nate Repine ‘18 agreed when he said, “I’m confident Pa. will be a blue state, but not by a great margin.”

Other students disagree with the way Pa. will vote. For example, Katie Campbell ‘18 said, “I drive an hour from my home to get to college and I did not see a single Hillary Clinton sign on my last drive, so I think Pennsylvania really could vote Republican.”

Nevertheless, just because the electoral votes hold the Democrats in favor and will once again in the upcoming election, there is still the fact that even if they win, that does not mean there is not opposition.

For example, in such polarized candidates as Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, the animosity seems to be at an all time high.

With the Hillary Clinton e-mail scandal and Trump’s crudeness, even the most stubborn donkeys have started to turn red, and elephants blue.

With Pa.’s vote as a Democratic state, it will not be a resounding success on Clinton’s part. The events that have led up to the election have swayed many voters. And while she may win this state, it will be a very close race.

“There are a bunch of small towns in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and I can’t help but notice the Trump signs everywhere.”

- Sonnieboy Blanco ’17

“It is going to be a split decision.

Pennsylvania and Ohio are in the same boat.”

- Michael Nejak ’18

“I’m confident Pennsylvania will be a blue state, but not by a great margin.”

- Nathan Repine ’18

4 November 2016

17 Opinions

Red & Black

Is Sakai Good Enough?

Courtesy Christopher Frydryck

Some students have questioned if a better resource than Sakai might be offered.

Leah Segal red&black staff Every student at W&J, whether they are a brighteyed freshmen, or a seasoned senior, knows the struggle of logging onto the bland, dysfunctional site that we’ve all come to know as Sakai.

Although the site seems to reign supreme in the area of academia - controlling everything from a modified gradebook to a self contained messaging platform - there is much to be discussed at the demand of the college community.

There are many nights when a simple assignment turns into hours of begging

the site to load, attempting (and failing) to find the right assignment and dealing with the overall lack of clarity in the site.

I can say Sakai has greatly disappointed me in my academic journey, with the culprit of my distaste being the lackluster user-interface.

First and foremost, the homepage does no service to the college or its users.

As an eager and naive freshmen, I was overjoyed to be freed from the shackles of my high school’s BlackBoard account. BlackBoard, like Sakai, is a site dedicated to allowing students and teachers to work together in completing class requirements. When handed a shiny new password

for Sakai, I was not eager to delve into a four year journey with another site.

Nevertheless, I still gave the website a shot, only to be dually disappointed.

Upon typing the url, I was greeted with a disorganized page with the log-in sneakily located in the upper right hand corner.

The site is all about helping to connect students and teachers, yet it’s homepage would give you no indication of such intentions. Instead, an embedded video titled “Inside Sakai” and a plethora of indistinct text lay before the eyes of the user.

I argue the site should have a clear and concise log-in that also serves to explain the site

you are about to use. Upon logging in, an array of buttons and text appear, yet they seem to serve no significance, which refers to the overarching problem of lackluster userinterface.

After two years of using Sakai, I only use a quarter of the amount of buttons and features in the site. Why? It is not because I refuse to learn, it is just that they serve no purpose.

After getting acclimated to the site, a user will undoubtedly find themselves using only a fraction of what Sakai has to offer, because the use of messages and discussion boards are replaced by e-mail.

The shear ratio of how often I check my e-mail compared

to my Sakai messages are completely skewed.

And while I applaud Sakai for attempting to create “one-stop-shopping” for the modern classroom, the implementation of such tools only causes unnecessary confusion. Instead, those in charge of the site should go back to basics and plan what their site should accomplish.

Afterall, one site can’t do everything!

Overall, Sakai has good intentions. As Jocelyn Sudar ‘17 said, “I like that I can check my grades; it’s really nice.” Ashley Riley ‘19 agrees “It is really convenient.” It just needs to be reorganized to efficiently do its job for the students of W&J.

18 Sports

sports Red & Black

4 N ovember 2016

Women's Fall Sports In PAC Tournament

Courtesy gopresidents.com

Both the women's volleyball and soccer teams are looking to make an impact in this year's PAC Championship tournament.

Jordan Toohey Red&Black Editor

Two of Washington & Jefferson College's fall athletics teams are competing in the PAC Playoffs this upcoming week.

The women’s volleyball team finished their season, earning the fourth placed seed out of a bracket of six teams.

On Nov. 1, the team hosted the Westminster College Titans in the Henry Memorial Gymnasium. This was the

women’s first home playoff game since 2009, so they were excited for this opportunity.

Finishing the season with an overall record of 19-9 and a conference record of 11-7, the women were looking to make a big impact in the upcoming tournament.

The game ended with W&J winning in a 3-2 score.

The women are led by Ally Means ’17, who leads the team in digs with a total of 458 and digs per set with 6.94. Madison Lydic ’19 and Abby Eich ’18 lead the team in blocks.

The last time the women’s volleyball team played Westmin-

ster on Oct. 25, they lost 3-1 in four sets, so they are looking to build momentum from their loss to carry them into this upcoming PAC Tournament game.

With a win against Westminster, W&J would travel to Bethany, WV to take on number one seed Bethany College.

Then, with a win on Friday, they would play in the championship match.

The women’s soccer team also plays in a PAC Semifinal match as the second seed against third seed Grove City College. This matchup is the same matchup as last year’s

PAC Semifinal game. Both teams were ranked the same as last year, when Grove City defeated the Presidents in penalty kicks.

The heartbreaking loss has given the women momentum this season. The Presidents are set on making sure the same thing does not happen again.

Earlier this season, the women defeated Grove City 3-1 on Grove City’s home field, with two goals from Tatiana Ruzzini '18 and Josie Madden '18.

The women lead in every category in the PAC including shots, shots per game,

points, points per game, goals, goals per game, assists, assists per game and game winning goals.

The women look for strong performances from the entire team as they go into the playoffs.

The match is set for 7 p.m. on Nov. 2 at Alexandre Stadium.

With a win on Nov. 2 and a Thomas More win against Chatham, the Presidents would travel to Kentucky for the conference championship game, looking for their first league championship since 2010.

or

4 N ovember 2016

Sidney Crosby Returns to Ice Abby Pipcho Red&Black Editor

The Oct. 25 game against the Florida Panthers was Pittsburgh Penguins’ captain Sidney Crosby’s first game of the season.

The 29-year-old missed the season’s first six games due to a concussion that he received in practice during training camp. This concussion marks Crosby’s third in six years.

Penguins fans were hopeful that Crosby would play in the game against the Panthers after he participated fully in Monday’s practice.

Although the team did not suffer without his presence as they gained a 3-2-1 record, teammates were eager to get Crosby back on the ice. “He’s the best player in the world.

We’re happy to have him back and we need to get rolling here,” said Carl Hagelin in a pre-game interview.

Since the concussion, Crosby has been practicing solo and was declared non-contact.

Once on the ice, Crosby did not disappoint. He celebrated his first goal of the season during the second period on a power play with the assist from

19 Sports

Red & Black

Evgeni Malkin. Carl Hagelin and Eric Fehr went on to score once each later to lead the Penguins to their 3-2 victory.

In post-game interviews, Crosby noted that the transition from no contact to full contact was difficult for him.

He was not used to the speed and level of competition required.

“I think time and just as far as execution, I think I need to work on that a little bit. But it’s been tough to get in any practices or any real game situations. I’ve pretty much just been skating on my own, so I kind of expect that,” said Crosby.

Penguins fan Abby Peace ’19 was excited to watch the game once she heard Crosby would be playing.

She said, “I was excited to see him back and his explosive energy back on the ice.

He brings a whole new wave of adrenaline to the crowd, fans and team.”

Sidney Crosby isn't the only Penguin to miss games early this season. Kris Letang, Connor Sheary, Derrick Pouliot and Matt Murry all sustained injuries that led to their absences. Fans are hopeful for their recoveries so they can get back on the ice.

Courtesy google.com

Sport Spotlight: Polo

Courtesy google.com

People in the United States do not know about polo, but the sport is more common that we think.

Mckenzie Merenick Red&Black staff

When most people hear the word polo, they automatically think of the water sport or the T-shirt brand. “When I asked what you were writing about and you said polo I thought you meant the sport,” said Megan Yosko '19.

Polo is actually a sport that is played on horseback. It is said to be one of the roughest and most dangerous sports played today.

This is a sport that many associate with England; it has the nickname "The Sport of Kings." Polo is said to have started 2,500 years ago on campgrounds by nomadic warriors.

The game was played from Constantinople to Japan because it was a valuable way to train the calvary.

In 1876, polo was brought over to America by James Bennett, who was captivated by the sport.

Over the next 50 years, the sport grew and was even recognized in the Olympics.

Unfortunately, it is not an

Olympic sport anymore. An audience would involve as many as 30,000 spectators who came out just to watch the sport.

The polo ball is approximately 3.5 inches in diameter, 4 ounces in weight and is usually made of plastic.

A mallet, the instrument that is used to move the ball, is composed of bamboo. The field is up to 300 by 160 yards.

A game of polo is split up into chukkas, meaning “basic period of play.” There are usually 4 and 6 chukkas of play depending on the level of the game. Each chukka lasts for 7 minutes, 30 seconds, with the last chukka being 7 minutes.

Players can score by hitting the ball between the two posts at the end of the field. There are a total of eight players on the field at one time, with four players on each team.

There are sually two players on defense and two on offense. Umpires watch over the game so that the players and horses do not get hurt.

Strategy for play usually centers around the “line of the ball,” a fake line created by the ball as it travels. Players may ride along the line of the ball,

but may not cross it unless it does not create a dangerous situation.

Most fouls are called when a player creates a dangerous situation by crossing the line of the ball.

A mount, or "polo pony," is what the polo players ride during the game. The polo ponies are carefully selected for their speed, stamina, agility, and maneuverability.

Many of these ponies are thoroughbreds and start training at age three.

Each player has more than one horse to allow the tired ones to get a break. Usually the players have two or three horses on reserve.

The uniform for polo serves as protection and distinction from the other team.

Helmets, riding boots, white trousers and a colored shirt with the riders’ number are mandatory. Gloves, kneepads, and a face mask are optional.

Erin Haughey '18 said, “If polo was offered here as a sport or club I would definitely consider playing. I am up for any new challenge." Polo is a classic sport that is becoming more and more popular.

20 Sports

Red & Black

4 N ovember 2016

The Billy Goat Curse: Cubs Baseball

Courtesy google.com

The Chicago Cubs competed against the Cleveland Indians in the 2016 World Series.

Hannah Keil Red&Black Contributor

William Sianis, owner of the Billy Goat Tavern, looked on in anger as he was told that his goat would not be permitted entrance into Wrigley Field for the fourth Cubs game of the 1945 World Series. Apparently, Murphy the goat smelled so bad that he was disturbing other fans.

With his beloved pet’s ticket

clutched tightly in his fist, the tavern owner declared that the team would never win another World Series.

The Cubs ended up losing that series to the Detroit Tigers, and they did not play again in the World Series for another 71 years until they finally beat the Los Angeles Dodgers for the 2016 National League Championship Series.

The Cubs entered the 2016 World Series without a win to their name since 1908, seemingly giving proof to Sianis' curse and to the many fans

who lament it as the cause for their team’s failures.

Many attempts have been made over the years to break the curse. Sam Sianis, William’s nephew, brought a goat to Wrigley for Opening Day in 1984 and 1989, and the team won its division both of those years. After a few more visits in the 1990s, however, no other attempts were made.

Cub fans have also tried bringing priests in to bless the stadium, but with no luck. In more recent failed attempts to break the curse, a priest

sprayed holy water in the dugout of the Cubs both in 2008 and 2009.

More gruesome tactics have been employed as well, such as sending the head of a goat to the Cubs owner and hanging a goat carcass to a stake in Chicago.

In 2011, five Cub fans traveled on foot from Mesa, Arizona, the Cubs spring training center, to Wrigley Field, bringing along a goat named Wrigley. As the current World Series draws to a close, the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland

Indians each fight to break their losing streaks, which are the two longest in baseball.

Cub fans wait with anticipation and excitement that the curse will finally end.

Danielle Kochka ‘18, a player on the softball team, said, “The Cubs will probably lose this year.” She thinks it’s probably too late for them.

“They're already down 3-1 in the series and it's really hard to come back from that,” she said. It seems as though Sianis' curse is still in effect today.