Red & Black
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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 w j r e da n d b l ac k . c o m W a s h i n g t o n , P e n n s y lva n i a m a rc h 1 2 , 2 0 2 2
WHAT’S IN THIS WEEK’S PAPER... CAMPUS Panelist: Linh Khaut, “Unique Challenges for International Students: COVID & Democracy...............................2 New Club Spotlight: Indian Student Association!.................................................3 Dr.Johnson Challenges W&J On Democracy Day..........................................4
Panelist: Linh Khuat, “Unique challenges for international students: COVID & Democracy” PAGE 2
DIVERSITY Intersectionality: Women & Girls in Science..........................................................6 Susan B. Anthony Day.............................7 History of Gender Equality Month.....8 Roots of St. Patrick’s Day........................9
CURRENT EVENTS Book Ban Trend Has Consequences...11 U.S. Anti-Abortion Ceneters Rising...12 Big Changes Coming to the SAT........13 Life & Legacy of Bob Saget......................14 Letter to the Editor: You Should Care About Diversity in Medicine...............16
SPORTS Olympic Community Divided Over Skater Doping Scandal............................18 Erin Jackson Makes History in Speed Skating..........................................................19
Courtesy Nen Mai
WJREDANDBLACK.COM
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Campus
12 march 2022
Panelist: Linh Khuat, “Unique challenges for international students: COVID 19 & Democracy” Nen Mai Red & Black contributor Linh participated as the second of four panelists in our democracy symposium event on campus on February the 23rd from 10:30 am to 11:30 am in Howard J. Burnett Center (Room 109). The four topics she talked about today were on (1) America’s initial reactions to COVID-19, (2) democratic decision making, (3) challenges to international students, and (4) her own personal experience as an international student from Vietnam. Linh argued that Americans were late in the game to implement social distancing, yet we were too early in the game to open our economy. She strongly believes that these two factors were the predominant reason why “90% of the U.S. coronavirus deaths from March 2020 to May 2020” ( Russonello). Her second topic was on democratic decision making where she argued that our representative government wasn’t as representative as it once was. For instance, a large number of our voting population has significantly decreased, a significant portion of our voter turnouts finds it more difficult to
Courtesy Nen Mai
Panelist Linh Khuat stands next to the Symposium on Democracy’s breakout session banner following her presentation on February 23rd, 2022
vote due to voter purges, and polling locations have significantly decreased by more than 10% from 2008 to 2016. Moreover, she faces many challenges as an international student from Vietnam such as the “F1 Visa ” managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Did you know that the F1 visa limits international students to only one online course per semester? According to Linh, online courses violate the F1 Visa requirements in a way where you jeopardize your F1 Visa status as an international student, prone to a higher chance of deportation, and a ten year ban on re-entering the U.S. again. Therefore, Havard and MIT took the initiative to file a restraining order against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to declare the new guidance as unlawful. Linh’s personal experience of being an online student included adapting to different time zones, her continuous worries of the possibility of her F1 student status being rejected, and her physical and mental health being when she comes back to campus and attends class in-person. All in all, Linh is still hopeful for clearer guidelines and open regulations for international students till this day.
12 march 2022
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Club Spotlight: Indian Student Association! Akansha Das managing editor During the 2022 Spring Semester, W&J welcomed a new cultural student organization on campus! The Indian Student Association (ISA), founded by Shri Satish, Lekhya Kollu, Vaishnavi Peyyety, Nidhi Pulicherla, Dev Kartan, and Pooja Potluri, aims to promote knowledge and awareness of Indian culture on campus through a diverse array of catered events, Indian festivals, and more! On Thursday Feb. 24th, the club hosted their first event – Chaat and Chat - in the Ski Lodge. Serving mango lasi (like a mango milkshake) and chaat (a traditionally Indian snack with onions, chickpeas, cilantro, a variety of spices and sweet, and often some hashbrowns), the event aimed to create an environment where W&J community members could interact and socialize openly while collectively enjoying staples of Indian meals. The group also plans to host a “Holi” festival in March celebrating festival of color that marks the start of Spring in India. When asked what motivated founders to start ISA, they responded “we founded ISA because we wanted an outlet for our Indian community to express and connect with their cultural identity. Diversity and inclusion are an integral part of W&J’s mission, and we hope to advance it by establishing an organization where students can feel comfortable.” Much of race and gender theory
Courtesy Vaishnavi Peyyety
Featured here are just a few of the member of the ISA: from left to right, respectively, is Dev Kartan, Vaishnavi Peyyety, Lekhya Kollu, Shri Sathish, Nidhi Pulicherla, and Pooja Potluri.
centers on the idea that marginalized groups are often made to feel like an “other.” This othering and setting white, cis, heterosexual, males at the center or “default” of social and political conversations can subtly reinforce ideas that minority students are not welcome in certain communities. ISA aims to slowly erode the othering many marginalized students have faced by creating a space
where students can “celebrate festivals and events the same way they would if they were home.” It’s clear that excitement for ISA are high on campus given the large turnout at the Thursday Chaat and Chat event. A wide range of students and professors were seen supporting and enjoying food, showing enthusiasm extends both to community memers who identify as Indian and those who
don’t! And this aligns with the goals of event organizers who said “everyone of all background is welcome to participate, as we especially would like people to know that this is an opportunity to become educated about other cultures and increase their own social awareness, while trying new foods and activities from a different part of the world.” event
CALLING ALL SENIOR MAGELLAN PROJECT APPLICANTS: The Red & Black Campus Newspaper is still looking for students willing to share their experiences with the 2022 Magellan project application, as well as students willing to share their opinions on restrictions. Please contact the staff at redandblackstaff@washjeff.edu or email hahnkv@washjeff. edu if you’re willing and intersted in being interviewed.
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Red & Black
Dr. Johnson Challenges W&J On Democracy Day Akansha Das managing editor
On February 23rd, Dr. Fred Johnson delivered the second keynote address of Democracy Day addressing the “Normalization of Mob Violence in America.” A Hope College historian and expert on Civil War History, Dr. Johnson’s speech was an interesting reframing of history that questioned the audience’s
fundamental views - the likes of which included President John Knapp, a wide range of professors, and several students. Starting the talk with the Insurrection on Jan 6th, Dr. Johnson discussed the ways this seemingly unpredictable and unprecedented event was horrific yet unsurprising in it’s own right. Detailing the violent brutal post-slavery treatment of black individuals in the united states, Dr. Johnson drew attention to the numerous
lynchings and massacres (ex: 1921 Tulsa Massacre, Marion Indiana Lynching 1930) in which mobs dominated by white individuals committed acts upholding and preaching the system of White supremacy in America. In conveying this detailed, thorough history with a passionate and voluminous oratorical voice, the hall echoed with the very message Dr. Johnson was conveying: from the noose hanging in front of the capital to the confederate flag entering the capital for the
Courtesy Washington & Jefferson College
Fred L. Johnson III, Ph.D., speaks to students during the afternoon keynote of the 2022 Symposium on Democracy February 23, 2022 on the campus of Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pa.
very first time, history was both created and replaying itself that day. Dr. Johnson also boldly reframed the way students should view historical figures as well, particularly on a campus whose namesakes include plantation owners and founding fathers Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. Dr. Johnson stated “we need to be able to hold two thoughts in our heads… it is possible to admire their [founding fathers] qualities… while also holding them accountable.” In doing so, Dr. Johnson reinforced how history acutely shapes (whether they be individual historical figures or longstanding histories of oppression) us and the need to be conscious of the ways that we reframe history in our own minds and recognize the multidimensional and nuance behind every situation and figure, the founding fathers posing the most glaring example. Overall, Dr. Johnson shared an insightful narrative about the role mob violence and white supremacy has played in the erosion of America’s democracy, even doubting whether America’s governance system could be termed such.
12 march, 2022
Red & Black
5 CAMPUS NEWS
Event: Vector Information Table Time & Place: Date: Monday, March 28, 2022 Time: 11:00 am - 2:00 pm Location: The Commons Lobby
Description: Join Vatsal Sudani in the Commons Lobby on Monday, March 28 from 11am2pm as he presents information on opportunities with Vector Marketing.
Learn More: For more information about Vector Marketing, visit their website: https://www.vectormarketing.com/
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Red & Black
diversity Intersectionality: Women & Girls in Science The following article is an opinions based-article written by a Red & Black Staff member. Emree P. Downey Red & Black diversity staff writer
International Day of Women and Girls in Science is an annual federal celebration on Feb. 11. This day is dedicated to celebrating females in the STEM field, especially in the midst of a global pandemic. The United Nations signified this day back on Dec. 22, 2015, when they recognized the critical role women and girls play in science and technology. In the past fifty years, women have gone from representing only 8 percent of the STEM workforce to 27 percent. While these numbers may not be significantly drastic, they are continuing to increase for this underrepresented group. As an African-American woman in STEM, I can personally say that it is difficult to stay motivated to remain
in this field. Hardly anyone looks like you and many people doubt your abilities. You must work twice as hard as your white counterparts to feel like you have a leg-up and there are many times where you are not even credited for your work. For example, Katherine
You must work twice as hard as your white counterparts to feel like you have a leg-up and there are many times where you are not even credited for your work. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson were three African-American female scientists who worked for NASA from the 1930s to the 1960s. They were very gifted
mathematicians and scholars but were solely hired as number crunchers. It was not until President Roosevelt signed an executive order in 1941 which prohibits racial discrimination in the workplace that these women were able to reach their full potential. Though it is wonderful to have a day dedicated to women and girls who have helped further the development of science and technology, perhaps workplace equity should be considered instead. Statistically, women are given smaller research grants than their male colleagues and only 12 percent of members of the national science academies are women, even though they represent one-third of all researchers. These same researchers also tend to have less well-paid careers, as they are often passed over for promotion. So, as we have seen, the International Day of Women
and Girls in Science is a great hats-off attempt at congratulating women in STEM, however this is only the beginning of the well-deserved, overdue recognition that we aspire to obtain.
Courtesy katleho Seisa via Getty Images
A lack of gender and racial diversity makes it difficult to offer inclusive work spaces.
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Susan B. Anthony Day Emree P. Downey Red & Black Diversity Staff Writer
Susan Brownell Anthony was an American social reformer and women’s rights activist. She is very well-known for her pivotal role in the women’s suffrage movement, a nearly decade-long fight to win the right for women to vote. Susan B. Anthony also served as an American anti-slavery agent where she arranged meetings, gave public orations, and hung posters. Though Anthony was faced with much opposition and hostility from those who did not agree with her message, she never quit. Susan B. Anthony’s birthday, Feb. 15, was dubbed a commemorative state holiday by Representative Carolyn Bosher Maloney in 2011. Though the holiday is only observed by a handful of states, the gist is well understood across the country. Anthony was raised as a Quaker, and they believed that everyone was equal under God. This is the idea that guided her throughout life and many of her brothers and sisters did as well; many of them became activists for justice and emancipation for slaves in the 1800s. She was fortunate enough to become acquainted with several renowned persons, including Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison. These rendezvous are what inspired her to become an abolitionist activist, even though it was very unorthodox for women of this time period to give speeches in public, especially those as passionate as hers.
It was not until 1848 when a group of women held the famous Seneca Falls Convention in New York and officially began the Suffrage Movement. Oddly enough, Anthony did not even attend this convention, however she did become good friends with a fellow women’s suffragist, Elizabeth Cady Stanton. These two women would work alongside one another for the next fifty years and fight for women’s rights. They even risked being arrested for publicly sharing their ideas. Anthony and Stanton even cofounded the American Equal Rights Association in 1866. Susan B. Anthony was a leader, she was good at strategy and organizing. This along with sheer perseverance
were catalysts for her idea of equal rights for all. “Men, their rights, and nothing more; women, their rights, and nothing less.” – Susan Browell Anthony.
Though Anthony was faced with much opposition and hostility... she never quit. Courtesy Erin Jones
Susan B. Anthony during a suffrage protest
Courtesy Bettman Archive
The above photo features a portrait of Susan B. Anthony, wearing formal attire with a pen in hand.
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History of U.S. Gender Equality Month Madison L. Wineland Red & Black contirubtor
March is Gender Equality Month. The goal of Gender Equality Month is to celebrate and empower all women and girls. International Women’s Day is on March 8. While gender equality is advocated for during the entire month of March, International Women’s Day is very important. “Gender Equality Month is a global celebration organized by the Women sphere Foundation and New Champions 5050, the global initiative for gender
equality and empowering more equal for them. women and girls of the Young The UN stated that “More Global Leaders Community girls are going to school, fewer and Foundation Communities girls are forced into early of the World marriage, Economic more women It is the month to Forum” are serving (personalized celebrate the victories in parliament cause.com). It and positions that women and is the month of leadership, to celebrate young girls have won and laws the victories are being to be equal to men. reformed that women and young to advance It brings together girls have won gender everyone who wants to be equal to equality.” men. It brings to celebrate women. (UN.org). It together proves that everyone who over the wants to celebrate women, who decades that things have started are changing the world to be to change from a little to a lot
throughout the years. It is an important month because it shows how far women and girls have come. As a nonbinary person, the month is still important to me. Gender equality should be important for everyone.
Courtesy Penti via Getty Images/iStockphoto
The gender equality symbol is an important symbol for the movement.
Want to stay up-to-date with the Red & Black? Check us out on social media! @rednblackwj @rednblackWJ @wjrednblack
CourtesyLeonardo Patrizi
A young woman holds up a sign as a way to show her passion towards promoting equality for men and women.
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Returning to the Roots of St. Patrick’s Day Andrew Rosario Red & Black contributor
Green clothes, Shamrock Shakes, and images of leprechauns and three leaf clovers inevitably come back in style every March. Celebrated each year on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day is often seen in America as a day of Irish national pride. But who was the real St.
A historic rendition of Saint Patrick wearing a red robe.
Courtesy Archive Photos
Patrickbehind the holiday, and what does he have to do with the traditions of an entire nation? St. Patrick was born in 386 A.D. in Roman Britain. When he was 16, he was captured by pirates and enslaved in Ireland as a herdsman. After six years of captivity, he had a dream that a ship was prepared for him, and so he fled his master and found his way back to Britain. There, he eventually became a priest. He then decided to return to Ireland and do missionary work in the very place he was once enslaved. This decision was similarlyinfluenced by another dream in which he heard the people of Ireland calling for him to live amongst them again. Patrick traveled throughout Ireland, preaching the Christian faith and converting and baptizing thousands. His writings detail how he was often in danger of incarceration and martyrdom for his work. He refused to accept gifts from the wealthy he served, remaining humble. In fact, he often gave gifts himself to kings and judges. These actions made some people think he sought personal gain through his work (he was even once robbed and put in chains because of this view). Several popular legends are attributed to St. Patrick’s work in
Ireland. The shamrock, orthree leaf clover, is now possibly the most famous symbol of St. Patrick’s Day. Patrick used this plant, which has three leaves, to symbolize the concept of the Trinity - the Christian teaching that there were three separate beings in one God. Legends say he used this plant as a teaching tool for the common Irish to understand this concept. Another legend says that Patrick drove out all of the snakes in Ireland, which is reinforced by several writings over the years and is used to explain the absence of snakes on the island today. Although modern records suggest Ireland never had snakes in the first place.St. Patrick died on March 17, 461, and so his day of death is celebrated each year. Patrick’s legacy, especially in Ireland, stems from the Christian culture that arose in Ireland after his life. Tales and legends of his life became intertwined and deeplyconnected to Irish culture, which is why the two are so closely related today.As the Irish began immigrating to the United States, they took their culture and traditions with them - most notably St. Patrick’s Day. So the next time you savor a Shamrock Shake or get pinched for not wearing green, remember St. Patrick and the rich Irishtradition he helped cultivate.
Courtesy Charles McQuillan via Getty Images, 2019
People of all ages celebrate the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade with an actor.
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12 march 2022
Upcoming Event you won’t want to miss!
Featured Employer Wednesday Series: Enterprise Time & Place: Date:Wednesday, April 13, 2022 Time:12:30 pm - 2:30 pm Location:Rossin Patio (inclement weather location: Commons Lobby)
Description:
Welcome to our Featured Employer Wednesday series, where each Wednesday of the spring semester the Center for Professional Pathways will host a new employer on campus! These pop-up style events will happen all over campus, so keep checking MyW&J, your Handshake Events Calendar and our social media to stay informed about each week’s event.
Learn More:
The employers we are hosting each week will be of interest to a wide variety of majors and are ready to talk about the internships and full-time opportunities they have available. Have a few minutes? Stop by to network, grab some swag, gain information and have a snack! For more detailed information, visit their website: https://careers.enterprise.com/
12 march 2022
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Courtesy Terry Vine via Getty Images
A young child reads a book pulled from the shelf of a library.
Rising Book Ban Trend Has Consequences Lekhya Kollu Red & Black contributor
For many high school students, the school library is a refuge; it represents one of the few places in school where they are able to escape the chaos of the hallways and gain access to valuable resources on issues important to them. A large part of this access comes from the diverse array of books made available to them. However, in Texas, conservative lawmakers and parents are spearheading an effort to pull hundreds of books from school libraries across the state, especially those dealing with divisive issues like race,
sexuality and gender. “Why are we sexualizing our precious children?” a parent from Katy, Texas said at a school board meeting in November. “Why are our libraries filled with pornography?” The actions taken by conservatives are often over the objections of school librarians, many of whom in recent years have actively purchased more books dealing with subjects like race and sexuality as part of a national push to diversify the literary materials available to children. Now, many librarians must resort to pulling titles before they are even banned to prevent further criticism and complaint. In the process, many worried students are losing out on important resources for education and self-acceptance.
“For me, a lot of these books offer hope,” a student from Katy said. “I’m going to be going to college soon, and I’m really looking forward to that and the freedom that it offers. Until then, my greatest adventure is going to be through reading.” A sampling of just 100 school districts in the Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin regions showed that just four months into the school year, 75 formal requests have been filed to ban certain books. Just a year ago, only one request was made in the same four-month span. Even Texas Governor Greg Abbott pushed for the Texas Education Agency to investigate the “criminal activity” of providing books considered “pornographic” to students.
Similar movements are occurring across the country, with some national groups like No Left Turn in Education and Moms for Liberty releasing book lists flagging books that contain ideas that, according to the No Left Turn website, “spread radical and racist ideologies [and] demean our nation and its heroes.” “Some parents want to pretend that books are the source of darkness in kids’ lives,” said Ashley Hope Pérez, author of “Out of Darkness,” a young adult novel frequently banned. “The reality for most kids is that difficulties, challenges, harm, oppression — those are present in their own lives, and books that reflect that reality can help to make them feel less alone.”
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Current Events
12 march 2022
U.S. Anti-Abortion Ceneters Are On the Rise
Courtesy Sergio Flores via Getty Images, 2021
Women use the historical Gadsden flag with a feminist twist to protest for their reproductive rihts in Texas, 2021.
Lekhya Kollu Red & Black contributor
In many Republican-led states, nonprofit organizations called crisis pregnancy centers are receiving millions of dollars of funding from their state governments to talk women out of getting abortions. These centers, which are often religiously affiliated, are usually not even licensed as medical facilities. They are, however, often placed near
actual abortion clinics in hopes of drawing women away from them. The Associated Press found that almost $89 million has been allocated to these antiabortion centers across almost a dozen states: Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas. This represents a significant increase from the $17 million allocated just a decade ago. As Republican lawmakers have passed more and more restrictive abortion laws in recent years, the funding
these centers receive has only increased. The centers themselves have been accused of misinforming their clients about the risks of abortion and birth control. For example, some claim that abortion can cause PTSD and breast cancer. Despite this misinformation, these anti-abortion centers are thriving in states like Texas, which just last year passed a state law effectively banning abortion at six weeks. In Texas, state lawmakers recently promised $100 million in funding over two years to programs offering alternatives to abortions. Supporters of this funding allocation argue that in addition to anti-abortion counseling, these programs include classes in parenting skills, clothing, and food for young mothers. The centers themselves have been accused of misinforming their clients about the risks of abortion and birth control. “We have seen women still
steadily seeking out resources and services,” said Chelsey Youman, Texas state director and national legislative adviser for Human Coalition, which receives major funding from the abortion alternatives program. “Women are saying, ‘All right, abortion isn’t available after my child has a heartbeat, so what is out here?’” It’s almost impossible to know exactly how many of these centers receive state funding, because each state has a different way of distributing allocated funds. According to Julie von Haefen, a Democratic state representative in North Carolina, one of the states that funds anti-abortion centers, this state of affairs is unacceptable. “It’s bad governing. We’re supposed to be monitoring our taxpayer money and we don’t know where the money is going,” she said. “These clinics don’t provide medical care. They act like they do, but they don’t.”
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Big Changes Are Coming to the SAT Lauren Phillips Red & Black contributor The SAT is getting a drastic update, with a shorter digital format, adaptive questions, and numerous other changes expected to launch in 2024. As many schools are moving away from an SAT requirement or not weighing it as heavily, students are still encouraged to participate in the updated test. The SAT, otherwise known as the “Scholastic Aptitude Test,” claims to predict college readiness by testing students on subjects pertaining to math and literature. However, many students find the test to be too stressful and dense in its material. In response to this, a staggering 1800 four-year colleges plan to make submitting SAT test scores optional for the 2022 fall semester. Finally, after many years of delivering the test by paper, the test will now follow a digital format that can be completed on a laptop or tablet device with updated questions. These questions will now be “adaptive,” adjusting to the student’s performance based on the previous questions. This adjustment may seem minor,
Courtesy michaelquirk via Getty Images
SAT test prep was a staple of the high school experience - practice tests like the one shown above are just one of the many ways that students prepared for the exam.
but the flexibility provided by the updated questions can better reflect students’ knowledge without a consistent increase in difficulty. Additionally, the test in its entirety will be shortened, now spanning a two hour period instead of the usual three hour window. Several other small changes, such as a calculator now being allowed for the entirety of the math portion,
as well as embedded online tools, may make testing day less intimidating for students. And fortunately, changes like these can make the test much more concise and readily available. Many students find difficulty in scheduling and planning these tests, though testing proctors will now have significantly less work to do, and can be more accommodating.
Test results will also be available in a matter of days, allowing scores to be sent to colleges sooner. In a recent study, approximately 80% of participants found the new format to be less stressful, which will ideally translate to students taking the tests in the coming years and allow for a better, more accurate performance.
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Life & Legacy of Full House Star Bob Saget
Courtesy 1988 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc
A young Bob Saget smiles for the camera.
EMREE P. DOWNEY Red & Black Staff
Robert Lane Saget, formerly known as Bob Saget and/or Danny Tanner from America’s favorite family sit-com, Full House. Saget passed away at the youthful age of 65 on January 9, 2022 in his Ritz-Carlton hotel room in Orlando, Florida. He was remembered by many and loved by even more, including his Full House “daughters,” Candace Cameron-Bure, Jodie Sweetin, and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, and several costars. Saget was born on May 17, 1956 in Philadelphia,
Courtesy 1988 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc
A few of the cast members of “Full House” during a promotional photoshoot, featuring Saget in the center.
Pennsylvania. Over the course of his life, he held several titles as an actor, writer, stand-up comedian, and loving husband to Kelly Rizzo. Saget found his love for film while pursuing his undergraduate degree at Temple University, where he made a short documentary called Through Adam’s Eyes. This film was so brilliant that it earned him a Student Academy Award in 1978. After graduating from Temple University in 1978, he attended the University of Southern California, a prestigious film school, but dropped out after only a couple of days. While taking up residence in Los Angeles, Saget became
a stand-up comedian and married his high school sweetheart, Sherri Kramer, in 1983. As he traveled, Saget met Brad Grey, who later became his manager and landed him small roles in television and film, but his most well-paying job came as a comedian on The Morning Program, where he was fired only 6 months later for “being too hot for the morning.” He then landed his most-famous role as Danner Tanner on Full House 1987. Alongside his role of America’s favorite TV dad, Saget became the host of America’s Funniest Home Videos in 1990. After Full House was canceled in 1995, Saget returned to stand-
up comedy and took on a couple of TV roles. For the rest of his life, Saget would appear in TV shows, movies, and documentaries, and game shows. Unexpectedly, Saget passed away in his RitzCarlton hotel less than 2 months ago due to a hit on the head that was more serious than he had thought. This heart-breaking news was felt by millions across the country, but many have chosen to look at the bright side and indulge in their childhood nostalgia, watching re-runs of Full House and episodes of the spin-off show Fuller House. Saget was a light-hearted soul that will be remembered by many.
12 march 2022
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Upcoming Event you won’t want to miss!
Dedicated Nursing Associates Information Table (Corporate and Healthcare Opportunities) Time & Place:
Date: Monday, April 18, 2022 Time:11:00 am - 2:00 pm Location:The Commons Lobby
Description:
Stop by The Commons Lobby from 11am-2pm on Monday, April 18 to network with Zach Panza and Kelsey Bigler from DNA. Learn about all the employment opportunities they have to offer.
Learn more: Corporate jobs: https://www.dedicatednurses.com/corporate-careers/
Opinions 16
12 march 2022
opinions Red & Black
You Should Care About Diversity in Medicine Akansha Das managing Editor My mom is an Asian-American immigrant with a full-time job, two children and a husband with cancer. She’s already carrying a heck of a lot on her shoulders and her upbringing in a low-income family in a developing country meant that preventative medicine was not always prioritized — especially breast, vaginal and vulvar health. She checks the boxes of an immigrant, a racial minority, a woman at average risk of breast cancer and a woman brought up in a generation that was taught that “the epitome of womanhood was losing oneself ” (Glennon Doyle). Convincing her to get a mammogram this year was not easy for these intersectional reasons. So I told her “If Dad’s cancer was inevitable, would you rather have found out at stage one or the stage
we ended up finding it?” Relating her care to the care of her cancer-afflicted husband she cares so deeply about was the only way I could convince her to do something her doctors had not been able to. Along with the running theme of self-care for cancer caregivers in this anecdote, I tell this story because I think it highlights a fundamental reason why diversity among healthcare practitioners is so important: relation and connection. Marginalized individuals especially can often feel judged by individual healthcare providers (possibly due to increased dependence on adverse health behaviors or power imbalances and white coat syndrome in medical offices) or hold distrust of healthcare institutions on the whole (possibly due to past medical-based incidents such as gynecological experiments on enslaved women by Dr. James Sims, the Henrietta Lacks case or cultural perceptions about the importance of
preventative screenings and the role of healthcare). For a patient, seeing the representation of someone who looks like them acknowledge a patient’s unique concerns and cater patient counseling and discussion to these concerns can make a huge difference in a patient’s understanding and motivation to pursue healthy lifestyle behaviors. We have data to back this up too. Studies report that white vs. Black patients in racially concordant patient-provider relationships report higher quality of interaction with their providers (cited in Dr. Barr’s Health Disparities in the United States 3rd Edition). In this text, Dr. Barr also details a study where a group of Black medical students from the University of Pennsylvania visted barber shops who served a large proportion of individuals identifying as Black. Medical students would engage in conversation with customers in line, screen them for hypertension and refer them to local
E ditorial P olicy The Red & Black is the official, registered student-produced newspaper of Washington & Jefferson College. It is published Fridays with the exception of exams and break periods. Editorials are based upon the opinion of the respective writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper, the
College or its students, faculty, or administration. The Red & Black welcomes all reader contributions, but reserves the right to reject letters of pure promotional nature, as well as letters which do not meet its standard of integrity, accuracy and decency. The Red & Black also reserves the right to edit submissions.
pharmacists they could visit for treatment and management. The effort caused many Black customers to visit the pharmacist and begin to control their blood pressure. This study is notable first in the fact that it was spearheaded by Black medical students who used their own cultural competency and understanding to recognize that barbershops were a cultural staple for many Black males in their community. By meeting patients where they were at (both physically in a barbershop rather than a potentially stressful medical office and psychologically through casual individual conversation rather than a formal power dynamic-infused discourse), there was increased uptake of medical services. To me, it’s a beautiful and powerful example of why diversity among our healthcare workers is imperative and how it can begin eliminating blind spots the healthcare system may have.
C ontac t Letters are due on the Monday before publication and may not exceed 600 words. All letters must include the author’s name, campus box and telephone number. Names may be withheld upon request under certain conditions on rare occasions. All letters may be submitted to redandblackstaff@jay. washjeff.edu.
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12 march 2022
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Reoccuring Event!
Professional Pathways Pop-Up Time & Location: Every Wednesday of the semester 11am-1pm The Commons Lobby
Description: Have a quick question for the Center for Professional Pathways team? Meet up with us during our pop-up in the Commons every Wednesday from 11am1pm during the semester. Find our table and stop by to chat with Jami Klingensmith or Rachel Stalker to answer your career related questions.
sports 18 Sports
Red & Black
12 march 2022
Olympic Community Divided Over Skater Doping Scandal Sofia Jenkins Red&Black contributor
Courtesy gopresidents.com
Valieva talks with her coach after her performance at the 2022 Olympcs
One of the most talked about stories in this Winter Olympics is the Kamila Valieva doping scandal. The basics of the scandal are that after Valieva became the front-runner in the short program figure skating, a positive doping test came to light that was taken on December 25. This came about shortly
Courtesy Matthew Stockman via Getty Images, 2022
Kamila Valieva competing in the free skating team event during the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Bejing.
after Valieva helped Russia win Gold in the team figure skating competition. Valieva claimed that she accidentally ingested one of her grandfather’s heart medication pills that she had mixed up with her other two approved heart medication pills she regularly takes. This banned drug, Trimetazidine, was found to help endurance and help the body use oxygen efficiently. It is not allowed for usage in the US but is allowed for older patients in Europe. The Olympics suspended her for one day after the news of the positive test, but then removed the suspension and let her continue competing for the rest of the competition. Shockingly, she ended up not placing in the individual figure skating competition after failing to land two of her jumps in the free skate. Two of her Russian teammates picked up Gold and Silver, while a competitor representing Japan picked up the Bronze. The biggest piece of information to note in this
scandal is the age of Valieva. Valieva is only 15 years old and is one of the most talented figure skaters in the world right now. Valieva was allowed to return to competing in the Olympics because multiple Olympic committees agreed that since Valieva is only 15 years old, she cannot be held responsible for these actions. This consensus was met with a wide range of outrage from the figure skating community and the Olympic community in general. A lot of the blame is being placed on Valieva’s coach, Eteri Tutberidze. Russian figure skating coach Tutberidze has a long history of accusations about how she treats her athletes. Some have said she mentally and physically abuses them and pushes them to the point where they quit the sport entirely. The Olympic community is saying she should be the one held responsible for Valieva’s positive doping test, considering she is only 15 and needs the supervision and guidance of her coach.
12 march 2022
19 Sports
Red & Black
Erin Jackson Makes History in Speed Skating Sofia Jenkins Red & Black contributor
Team USA’s Erin Jackson became the first Black woman in history to receive a medal in Olympic speed skating. She did not only place, but she finished with the gold. This was Team USA’s first individual speed skating medal since the 2010 Winter Olympics, but it meant much more than that. Jackson’s story on how she made it on to Team USA is one for the books. At the USA Olympic trials, Jackson actually slipped and fell during the race, and only finished third. This position put her spot on the USA Olympic team in jeopardy. Yet in a crazy turn of events, first place winner Brittney Bowe ended up giving up her spot on the speed skating team to Jackson so she had a guaranteed spot. Jackson praised Bowe after the act calling her an “amazing friend, teammate and mentor.” Jackson did not originally start out as a speed skater. She began her athletic career doing inline skating. It was
Courtesy Jean Catuffe via Getty Images, 2022
Erin Jackson skates through the rink holding the American Flag after winning the Gold medal in speed skating at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Bejing.
Courtesy Alex Goodlett from the International Skating Union via Getty Images, 2021
Erin Jackson mid race. Despite an unfortunate fall at the Olympic trials, Jackson was still given a spot at the 2022 Olympics after Britney Bowe offered up her spot.
only right before the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics that she traded in her wheels for blades. In the 2018 Olympics, she placed 24th in the 500 speed skating competition, but her potential was evident. Jackson was one of the last skaters to do her run at the Olympics. When she was about to start, all she could think about was beating the 37.12 second record time set by Nana Takagi about half an hour earlier. Jackson is known for her incredible control around corners and the way she can pick up speed in the straightaways. Skating in the 500 is the shortest race of Olympic speed skating, so it takes a lot of control to round the corners while going fast. She was ranking below Takagi the entire time she was skating, but when she crossed that finish line and looked up at the scoreboard, anyone could tell this meant more to her than just the medal. Jackson joins fellow American Shani Davis as the only Black athletes to win speed skating medals at the Olympics and this will definitely not be the last time you see Erin Jackson winning big.
20 sports
Red & Black
12 march 2022
we Want to hear from you!
A Call For Letters To the Editor! Are you passionate about a subject? Are you looking for a place to speak freely about it? Do you have an opinion about the College you would like to express to Student Body?
Consider writing a letter to the editor! Details:
Authors of published Letters to the Editor recieve $8. This would make an excellent portfolio piece! We can help you brainstorm, proofread, and write your letter if needed!
Contact:
If interested, please email redandblackstaff@washjeff.edu
