W&J Beaseball Picked First in PAC Preseason Poll | 3/4/2016

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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 M a rc h 4 , 2 0 1 6

W&J Baseball Picked First in PAC Preseason Poll by Bailey Mudrick Page 19

Courtesy Ashley Crews

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LIFE: THE NEW VOICE OF GPS PAGE 9

OPINIONS: POLITICAL CORNER PAGE 18

2 CAMPUS NEWS

4 M arch 2016

Grid Academy: The New Economics of the Power Industry Tyler Mattes Red&Black Contributor

On Feb 17, the third entry in the Grid Academy lecture series took place in Yost Auditorium. The principal speakers, in addition to Dr. Gregory Reed, were Maria Hanley and Dianne Anderson. Hanley is an analyst employed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission who has studied the grid, regulation of the power industry and relevant market trends and acted as a senatorial advisor on the topic. Anderson is the chair of WVU’s Statler Engineering Advisory Committee and a former BP executive. Dr. Reed opened the lecture with a primer on the history of the power industry and related regulation. In the early 20th century, Westinghouse and Tesla constructed a high-voltage power plant that served as the industry standard for centralized production. With such a system came utility companies in the position of holding monopolies over areas. Municipal ownership was enacted to protect against such monopolies. Soon after, states and the federal government began regulation. The oil embargo and energy crisis of the 1970s led to the beginnings of smaller independent power producers in 1978, which

led to the beginnings of deregulation. Investment then stagnated until around 2000, when it began to climb once more. Deregulation continued in the interim to the present day. It encouraged the development of new technologies and began to further empower the consumer through the millennium; those trends continue now. Hanley discussed the regulation of the modern grid and what changes are necessary as the industry moves away from the traditional one-way consumption model, which was discussed in the previous lecture and the article covering it. In particular, she focused on PA, which is currently running on a partially deregulated model—that is, rather than the state planning for production and distribution of power resources, the responsibility for that is partially shifted to private, independent service operators. The end result is a more competitive and dynamic market. Despite that dynamism, there are yet difficulties facing the evolving market, such as the issue of reliability and consistency. The growing popularity of consumer power generation and competing smart technologies such as the Nest Learning Thermostat create irregularities in the demand placed upon the grid,

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Courtesy alleghenyconference.com

demanding that utilities react dynamically. Hanley’s solution is to further deregulate the market. A similar solution was used with the telecom and air travel industries in the past in response to analogous issues created by changing technologies. Here, Hanley stated, “it would accommodate new technologies like smart houses and changing consumer needs. Deregulation would also create new investment opportunities, which are necessary for the industry to remain technologically current. As consumers practice conservation, they continue to buy fewer kilowatt hours of electricity, draining utility companies’ revenue in the process. A new model is necessary there, as well.” The current difficulties facing the industry and the outdated grid are affected by other factors. New third parties like Google and private microgrids

complicate regulation, as do physical and digital security threats. Hanley closed by noting what is needed in order to address the difficulties posed by the advent of a new power system: Consumers must be educated about and involved in the process of making the transition. Policymakers and others relevant to the concern must address financial issues facing the industry. Reliability must be maintained into the future. Anderson was the last to take the stage. She first discussed electricity trends, most of which were predictable: the growth of the power industry was shown to correlate with a growth on population and GDP, fossil fuels were shown to be very gradually losing favor and technological advances were shown to lead to the adoption of new, increasingly efficient sources of power. But the changing nature of the market is not reflected

in the state of America’s infrastructure, ‘ten percent,” explained Anderson, “of the United States’ total capital investment” is put into the grid. There are parts of the system that are 50 to 70 years old, and those parts affect the whole; greater investment is necessary. The end product, as Anderson pictures it, would see integration of power, gas and water utilities in smart cities, the use of newly viable DC power and cutting-edge analysis run across a variety of timescales. It presents, she noted, a, “massive investment opportunity.” Anderson also discussed the factors driving present changes to the industry in terms of current investment, mass ownership of production technology and their respective impact. She closed with a discussion of the Department of Energy’s recommendations for the next steps in developing electricity infrastructure.

4 M arch 2016

SECURITY LOGS

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Date: 2/7/2016 Incident: Theft Campus and Public Safety responded to Beau Hall where a student reported clothing was taken from a dryer in the laundry room. Charges are currently being filed. Date: 2/20/2016 Incident: Disorderly Conduct Campus and Public Safety responded to New Residence Hall where a minor fight took place however the parties involved did not want to pursue charges. The group was dispersed. Date: 2/20/2016 Incident: Harassment Campus and Public Safety responded to Jefferson Hall to a call of two students arguing and one pushed the other. The incident was referred to the Office of Student Life. No charges were filed. Date: 2/20/2016 Incident: Theft Campus and Public Safety responded to Alexander Hall where a report was made to CPS by a student that their wallet had been taken. No charges currently filed. Date: 2/26/2016 Incident: Drugs Campus and Public Safety responded to Marshall Hall where a student was taken to the hospital due to suspected drug ingestion. Investigation led to the arrest of a non student on campus. Drugs and contraband were seized as evidence. Charges were filed. Date: 2/28/2016 Incident: Disorderly Conduct Campus and Public Safety responded to Beau Hall to investigate a drug complaint. Officers then arrrested a disorderly, non-compliant student. Disorderly conduct charges were filed.

3 CAMPUS NEWS

Campus Question: In lieu of the dreary and ever-changing March weather, if you could leave WashPa and go anywhere else, where would you go?

"A cross-country roadtrip - be able to get away from responsiblities while seeing the country. Hopefully I'll be back in time for Turkey season and warmer weather." - Will Spare (Class of 2018) "Fiji - it's warm and away from people. I want to get my tan on, while being in a beautiful, calm enviornment." - Sammi Sofia (Class of 2018) "Buffalo, NY - sometimes when the weather gets bad at college, I want nothing more than to escape to my home where the weather is even worse than WashPa. I really enjoy just sitting in my home bedroom and watching Netflix with my dog." - John Becker (Class of 2018) "West Palm - it's a lot warmer, plus my family is there." - Bailey Mudrick (Class of 2016)

4 CAMPUS NEWS

4 M arch 2016

Oscar Nominated Short Films Review Exchange Student Spotlight Sam Stanton Red&Black Contributor

This year’s category for Best Live Action Short Film at the Oscars contains an eclectic mix of films ranging from the whimsical to the devastating. Despite the recent return of winter chill to campus, Technical Director of Olin Dan Shaw implored audience members to seek out ice cream after the show in order to remedy the effects of the latter type of film. Nations represented this year include Palestine, Germany and Ireland. The first film showed in Olin Friday night, ‘Ave Maria’ directed by Basil Khalil, depicts a Jewish family in need of a vehicle after crashing their own, and they ask the help of local nuns. The kicker? Shabbat has started, keeping the Jewish husband from dialing the phone, and the nuns have undertaken a vow of silence. What ensues is a comedy of cross-cultural interaction. The crabby quips from the grandmother represent a high point. The film managed to score quite a few big laughs from the audience, and despite minor issues of over exposure in the cinematography, it was otherwise well made, complete with tongue in cheek symbolism and adroit jump cuts. If ‘Ave Maria’ displays the humor in the differences between cultures, the next film ‘Shok’ directed by Jamie

Donoughue, represents the horror. Set in 1998 Kosovo, the movie follows two boys trying to live in the paramilitary infested warzone. Their friendship is strained when Petrit, one of the boys, trades with the soldiers for money. This scene chills to the bone with efficient shaky camera work and a grumbling ambient score. Though the two eventually reconcile, there remains an overwhelming sense of malaise in the air. The film ends on an appropriately depressing note for this true story of the Albanian-Serbian conflict. This well made period piece has all the trappings of an Oscar winner. ‘Everything Will Be Okay’ directed by Patrick Vollrath, begins with an unassuming premise: a divorced man takes his daughter out for the day. What begins as an endearing day weaves itself into something more heartbreaking and pitiful. Whereas ‘Ave Maria’ used limited quick edits to great comedic effect, ‘Everything Will Be Okay’ suffers from an overabundance of jump cuts. This technique could potentially pay off for the viewer, as the truncated shots lend a sense of abruptness that mirrors the mental state of the father who cannot seem to plan ahead. The lack of a denouement makes it feel as though the filmmakers had nowhere to go after the climax. While the film does convey a palpable sense of stuffy fail-

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ure, the other nominees manage to convey emotion and be more efficient with their time. Benjamin Clearly’s film, ‘Stutterer’ is perhaps the most conventional of the films nominated, but it is a favorite for managing to tell a story of great quality in the shortest amount of time. Soft, delicate cinematography, funny narration, an eminently likable performance by Matthew Needham and subtle, confident camera movements all contribute to a touching story of a typographer with a speech impediment. The conflict arises when he is faced with the choice of meeting his online girlfriend in person for the first time. Though arguably cliché, it calls upon cinema as the great artistic tool for empathy as we see the world through this introvert’s eyes. Finally, ‘Day One’ directed by Henry Hughes, tells the story of a U.S. Army interpreter’s first day in Afghanistan. She tries to adapt in a predominantly male environment in an amusing introduction. Despite her apparent inadequacies at the outset, she proves herself to have grit and determination. Unfortunately, some plot contrivances mar an otherwise well-acted short. This year’s selection is a solid mix of movies from a variety of cultures. My money is on ‘Shok’ to win, but ‘Stutterer’ is my personal pick for its interesting and humane look at a sufferer of a cruel disability.

Elizabeth Bean Red&Black Contributor

Bente Kelly is a 21 year old exchange student from the Netherlands. She is spending this semester here at W&J studying business. After W&J, she will continue her bachelors and masters education back home at Radboud University. She chose to come here because her home university has good relations with W&J, and she wanted to improve her English speaking abilities. Her previous traveling experiences include New Zealand, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Indonesia, Turkey, Hungary, Austria, Belgium and Luxemburg. Her future travel plans include a two month road trip across the United States after this semester. She then plans to return to the Netherlands to work, saving money to rent a motorcycle and travel in Asia. She comments on her travel saying, “traveling to Indonesia made me want to get to know others parts of Asia. The people are so friendly and the nature is impressionable.” Diving in in the shipwrecks and coral reefs of Indonesia gave her a newfound interest in island ecosystems and marine life. She’ll start her next diving venture while in the southern United States.At W&J, she enjoys the small community aspect and friendly people, saying, “It seems that people here have a more friendly and open

Courtesy Elizabeth Bean

personality than in my home city of Nijmegen. I felt very welcomed here, and I enjoy spending time with the other international students and my lovely roommate.” Bente has had to accustom herself to a new way of life at W&J. In her apartment at home, she is used to cooking everyday instead of eating at a dining hall. “The commons food is very sweet and greasy. There’s much more junk food here than what I am used to. However, Commons Giving was pretty good.” She is used to getting everywhere by bicycle in the Netherlands instead of taking a shuttle or a car. Sharing a room is also different for her since she has always had her own room in the Netherlands. Another difference is that classes at W&J are much smaller and participation is a big part of class time. Overall, Bente is grateful to be a part of the W&J community and is enjoying her time getting to know different people and cultures.

4 M arch 2016

5 CAMPUS NEWS

Study Abroad Spotlight: Pat Liput Elizabeth Bean Red&Black Contributor

Pat Liput (class of 2016) is an International Business major with a Spanish minor. He traveled to Spain last fall to start off his senior year with a semester at the University of Navarra. Liput lived in Pamplona with a host family while he took business and Spanish courses at the university. “My family was really interesting and multi-cultural. I had a mom, grandpa and a six year old brother named Lucas. We used to play Fifa together, and I would help him with his English homework. After living with them for a few weeks,

communicating with them in Spanish became easier… even though to this day I still wouldn’t understand anything my host grandpa says.” He bonded with his host mom over late night conversations and watching The Office in Spanish. Liput had to accustom himself to the culture, which included greeting friends and strangers with a kiss on the cheek and eating his host mother’s raw calamari. One of the most exciting events that Liput attended was the, “running of the bulls” where he had a life or death experience that involved a dangerously large bull. He also enjoyed snowboarding adventures

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off of cliffs in the Pyrenees Mountains and hiking the northern slopes with Jésus, a native Pamplonian. He and his host family lived in a small apartment in the historic town of Pamplona. “Everything was in walking distance, and the school was only ten minutes away.” On the weekends he often traveled to Barcelona where he enjoyed an ocean atmosphere in a city full of history and beautiful architecture. While there he ventured into many historic landmarks such as churches museums. Traveling around Spain gave him many unique experiences. “I’ve slept in several bus stations, and talked to many strangers from

THIS WEEKEND'S EVENTS

Friday - 1:00 pm - Free Bowling with W&J ID (until 3:00), Alpine Lanes - 5:00 pm - DIY Series: President's Chopped (until 7:00), Parcell Room (Commons) - 6:30 pm - Pittsburgh Pipeline (departs 6:30, 8:30, & 10:30), Campus Ctr. Circle - 7:30 pm - Winter Tales XIV, Olin Theatre - 9:00 pm - Monticello's Karaoke Night!, Hub LL Saturday - 11:00 am - Pittsburgh Pipeline (11:00|1:00|3:00), Campus Ctr. Circle - 1:00 pm - Men's Lacrosse vs Wooster, Alexandre Stadium - 2:00 pm - Film Club "Life is Beautiful" Showing, Yost Auditorium - 6:30 pm - Pittsburgh Pipeline (departs 6:30, 8:30, & 10:30), Campus Ctr. Circle - 7:30 pm - Winter Tales XIV, Olin Theatre - 9:00 pm - Monticello's March Madness, Hub LL Sunday - 6:30 pm - French Club Movie Night: "Midnight in Paris", Burnett 213 - 7:00 pm - Mass, Newman Center

Courtesy Elizabeth Bean

around the world.” Being at the University of Navarra gave him the opportunity to meet amazing people, including his best friend, David, an exchange student from Ecuador. His time in Spain has given

him the desire to travel more after graduation, especially to Ecuador, the home country of his best friend. All of these experiences will help Liput with his future international business endeavors.

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6 LIFE

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4 March 2016

Ocean Levels Rising to Dangerous Levels

Courtsey zmescience.com

Carolyn Wilson RED&BLACK COPY EDITOR

A recent study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences revealed that the rising sea levels are now, supposedly, happening at a quicker rate than they were 2,800 years. Although not certain, Bob Kopp, a climate scientist at Rutgers University who led the study, can say with more confidence that in the 20th century the rising sea

One way global warming levels were much faster than then turns into the “blade” before.“We can say with 95 and shows a sharp increase in could have effected this percent probability that the sea levels in recent years. And possible increase in sea levels, are the melting 20th-century rise was faster of mountain glaciers all than any of the previous 27 centuries,” said Kopp. We can say with 95 percent over the globe as well as From 1990 to 2000, the the natural expansion of sea levels rose around 14probability that the 20th-centurywater when it is warm centimeters, or at a rate of rise was faster than any of the according to an article in 1.4 millimeters per year. The Washington Post. previous 27 centuries Although quite a bit Today, however, NASA of damage has already claims that the current rate been done to this earth, is 3.4 millimeters a year. we as humans could still The research presented, revealed a “hockey stick” who can we blame for this make an impact. The study reveals that if we graph; the “handle” of the rising concern? Us. hockey stick presents a long The study points its finger have low emissions of carbon and mostly flat sea level for at global warming as the cause dioxide than sea levels in the 21st century may only rise by thousands of years, which of accelerating sea levels.

24 to 61 centimeters. However, at high emissions the study estimates that sea levels could be facing anywhere from 52 to 131 centimeters, or, as an extreme high, 4.29 feet. By the year 2100, it is projected by the National Academy of Sciences and the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that the earth could be facing a maximum of four feet of sea level rises. These numbers are startling, but remember, the change starts with the individual and the choices you make.

4 March 2016

7 Life

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DeepMind:ANurse’sBestFriend

Courtsey unbonmotgroundswell.blogspot.com

Leah Segal RED&BLACK STAFF

In our world of ever increasing medical technology and innovations, some may be shocked to discover that nurses and medical staff around the country still rely on the same pagers and medical software that have been utilized for ages. By being tied down to such archaic forms of medical technology, helpless patients are contracting unnecessary infections due to lack of immediate medical attention. However, one company is making strides to ensure the future of medicine is

bright. Google DeepMind is a “London-based company most famous for its groundbreaking use of artificial intelligence” has partnered with NHS hospitals to create an app that helps nurses care for their patients more efficiently. The Hark App— their solution to current problems— incorporates the use of smartphones among patients and medical staff alike to cut down on the response time. “Everybody has a smartphone and we all use apps all the time,” Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder and head of applies artificial intelligence at DeepMind,

said in an interview with The Guardian. “But the people doing incredible work saving lives every day are hampered by using desktop computers and software designed a long time ago.” That being said, the essence of Hark aims to cut down on the amount of patient setbacks (i.e. secondary infection, organ failure, etc.) due to slow staff response. And so far—the app has worked wonders. In its basic form “The app pick[s] up relevant information from the electronic patient record, so that medical staff have a complete picture of the patient’s condition and medical history. It will also

provide a record of what actions are taken by nurses and doctors.” And in early testing days of the app, results were promising as St Mary’s Hospital, part of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, “found medical staff responded 37% faster when alerted by the Hark app than when they used pagers.” Such an increase in response time allows for happier and healthier patients all around. However, even the creators are aware of possible breaches of security the app foster. Due to all patient information literally a “fingers length” away— Google DeepMind has ensured

information will stay in the right hands. In a statement by The Guardian, the company has ensured “the hospital will always own and control that data. We have a processing agreement that allows us to securely stream the information straight to a clinician’s mobile phone.” Overall, with worried of identity breach put to rest, it is plain to see how large of an impact this app will have on the medical community. With increased medical technology in fields such neuroscience and pathology— it I was only a matter of time before hospitals themselves caught up.

8 LIFE

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4 March 2016

What Decides if You Get AN Organ? Capri Backus RED&BLACK STAFF

Calories and air are processed through organs and bloodstreams without a person’s thought or concern— and it’s easy to assume that one’s basic functioning is perpetually healthy. And should one’s organs fail, how sticky is organ transplantation and the ethics concerning it? The National Kidney Foundation cites that 121,678 people need lifesaving organ transplants as of January 11, 2016, with this statistic just concerning those in the United States; these one hundred thousand people have an average wait time of about three and a half years. But in a system where so many need a limited resource, who decides which people get organ transplants? In explaining the system to The Atlantic, David Klassen, the chief medical officer of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), said, “It’s balancing equity in regards to patient access…[while] making sure that the outcomes from the transplant surgeries are as good as possible.” UNOS is a U.S. nonprofit that coordinates and ultimately, distributes possible organs: its computerized network system matches possible organs with

candidates using “only medical and logistical factors.” Approved by its Board of Directors, and “developed by the transplant community,” UNOS’ criteria excludes “personal or social characteristics such as celebrity status, income, or insurance coverage,” and parallels the University of Michigan’s description of distributive justice and equal access, although the UNSOS factors in distance due to organ shipping and transportation limits. Location, the Atlantic cites, is “one of the biggest challenges UNOS faces...some part of the country have far more organ donors than others.” Supporters of equal access “believe that organ transplantation is a valuable medical procedure…because the procedure is worthy, everyone should be able to access it equally. An equitable system in this theory is one that does not consider income, race, sex, and location; some also argue that judgement based on “medical/ social worthiness” doesn’t fall into line with equal access, since medical and social worth, whether it be through judgement on the reason for needing organs, or through social judgement, would create the “slippery slope of determining an individual’s worth and whether or not it is fair to label someone worthy of a medical procedure.” It’s

a difficult decision-and even though 2015 marked the first time the United States surpassed thirty thousand organ transplants in a year, shortages in organ donations still mean that an average of “twenty-two people die each day waiting for transplants.” What’s causing what University of Michigan to describe in 2004 a “static” supply, but an increasing demand? One possible reason was the “number of new medical technological advances and the aging population,” and an increased use of seatbelts and airbags. Road safety saves people that in the past had been a source of healthy human organ donations. Dr. George Abouna, Drexel University, also attributes the rising demand to an increase in vital organ failure and improvements in “posttransplant outcome” itself. The shortage might also be stemming from a pressure for transplant centers to have high one-year survival rates, which means having strict standards on which organs and operations they accept. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of medicine and published in the Journal of Hepatology found that centers, even after factoring in quality and facility size, took up to 58%, while some took as low as 16% or 37%-the rest were then

Courtsey theodrc.org

offered to the next person on the list. These discriminations in quality, and the corresponding decrease in operations, especially in treatment centers that had been flagged, is quite possibly denying surgeries to people who need them, and would have been treated earlier. Klassen points out to the Atlantic, “It’s hard to argue against patient survival as an important measure,” he also explains that the amount of progress made in livertransplant outcomes means the difference between “top-performing centers and flagged centers” has “many surgeons and organ procurement organizations wondering [if] it is really clinically significant,” since the differences “can be extremely small, often just [a] percentage point or two.” But centers flagged by the SRTR (the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients) may see Medicare and Medicaid essentially barring patients from seeking organ transplants at their locations

by refusing to pay, and bad SRTR evaluations “can cost the centers thousands or even millions of dollars...they may even be shut down.” Unused organs, and in this case, livers, can go unusedin 2014, this was 10% of available livers. In striving for a middle ground between optimal patient care, what is the balance between overt pressure and lax regulation? UNOS is currently working on a system that would judge transplant centers based on different measures like “program structures and access to resources,” and apply these criteria by 2017 on a national scale to provide both a clearer picture of a center’s operations, and “more leeway for high risk procedures.” David Goldberg, who worked on the study, advocates “that transplant centers’ organ-acceptance rates will become publicly available information.” The worst part is, a patient will not even know that they were given a liver until the physician decided if it is transplantable or not.

4 March 2016

9 Life

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New Voice of GPS Social Media Making Us Less Social Mario Tibeire RED&BLACK STAFF

Leah Segal RED&BLACK STAFF

In a world where Donald Trump is running for president and adult coloring books have gained alarming popularity—it is only fitting that Morgan Freeman should now voice GPS directions on the traffic app Waze. Although this may sound odd, there is a method behind such deep-velvety madness. In an article by Times magazine, they reported the voice feature is a marketing tie-in for Freeman’s upcoming film, London Has Fallen. However, once I learned Freeman was the new voice of the road, it led me to ponder a few other stars who deserve to pilot America’s cars. 1. Gilbert GottfriedOtherwise known as “Iago” from the Disney Film Aladdin, his whiny, high-pitched voice (although not soothing in the least) will definitely keep those drowsy drivers awake and alert on those long family road trips. 2. Oprah WinfreyAlthough her days as the allknowing talk show host are over, Oprah can still steal the hearts of every American with her encouraging and down to earth voice. And who wouldn’t want to hear “You turn right, you turn right EVERYBODY turn right!” guiding them in the direction of their destination.

Courtsey woordup.com

3. Kanye West- Since he believes he is practically God himself, I guess it wouldn’t hurt for him to put his “holier than though attitude” to work and get you well.... to work. Although, his narcissism may cause you to end up in the wrong place. 4. A r n o l d Schwarzenegger- In times of uncertainty on the road, a strong voice is necessary to get you where you need to go. That being said, The Terminator is the way to go for your next outing. 5. Fran DrescherBetter known for her role in The Nanny, her iconic nasal voice is sure to keep you awake on the road. 6. S p o n g e B o b America’s favorite sponge and his iconic laugh are definitely deserving of leading drivers around on uncertain roads. As a plus, for those with children, SpongeBob Squarepants’ voice can keep them entertained as well. 7. Taylor Swift- From her days as a sweet country singer to her rebirth as an international popstar, Swift definitely has a future in the GPS voicing industry. As an added bonus, she could also sing the way to your desired location.

How many times a day do you look at your phone? Most of us are aware of how much we use our phones, but the actual answer may surprise you. According to a survey conducted by Nottingham Trent University, the average person checks their phone 85 times a day. If that wasn’t enough, the study goes on to say that the average person also spends roughly 5 hours a day on their phone. Most of the time, we use our phones primarily for social media purposes as opposed to actually calling someone. With Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (along with many others), we stay “connected” to our “friends” with status updates, pictures and emoji’s, but even with this new technology, are we really more social with each other? Think about it. When you are in a room with other people you don’t know, do you strike a conversation with them and try to learn more about them, or do you look down at your phone and scroll through newsfeeds? Even if you go out to dinner with someone, chances are you both spend more time looking at your phones rather than asking each other how your days went. “Everyone is different, but I feel that some

Courtsey woordup.com

people are better at socializing in real life than others,” says Richard Habgood ‘19. “I think social media both helps us and hinders us; we can stay connected to each other better, but we don't necessarily form strong connections with each other.” Face to face contact is extremely important, especially as an adult when you have to network, interview for jobs and work with others. Social media is a great tool to use in order to stay in contact with those you’ve met, but it is also important to have regular conversations with others, even with those you may not know too well. “I try to be friendly and approachable to others as often as possible,” says Josh Whitted ‘19. “At college, we’re put in situations where

we have to work with others and get to know one another by being active in different activities and clubs. I’ve definitely improved my socialization skills since coming to W&J.” We all love to use social networking sites when we’re bored or waiting in line at G&T’s, but what are we really doing on those sites? We are rarely even having conversations or messages with our friends; instead we are just scrolling and looking at what others are saying or doing. So next time you’re out and about, try to put the phone away for a little bit. Look up, talk to others and instead of peeking at what fun others are having through social media, be active and make your own fun!

10 arts

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4 march 2016

The Perfect Art Studio: A Cargo Ship? Leah Segal Red&Black Staff

Attention to all budding artists: this may be the perfect opportunity for you. Imagine sailing the seas, fully funded on the internship of a lifetime. For seven lucky artists, this dream just became a reality. Out of over 2,000 applicants, these lucky few have been awarded with the Container Artist Residency which is described as a program that, “is sponsored by a shipping company, [and] takes each artist on a fullyfunded trip of up to six weeks on the route of their choice, providing studio space and accommodations aboard ships as well as an honorarium and production funding.” If that was not already enough, “the work produced during the residencies will be exhibited in a set of

international exhibitions taking place between spring 2016 and summer 2017.” And due to the current state and stigma around art classes and artists in the US, this internship comes as a breath of fresh air. Speaking of fresh air, Maayan Strauss, the residency founder and director of the program through the use of cargo ships, would be the best way to go for such a journey due to its uniqueness. The blue waves and unique environment will likely provide a creative, stimulating workplace for the worthy artists that were chosen. In an interview by ArtNet News, Strauss stated, "While the project takes the maritime shipping industry to be the embodiment of the infrastructures on which contemporary art relies and today's dominant culturaleconomic force, we are looking forward to seeing how this specific context for art-making can impact different kinds of practice."

Courtesy daily.jstor.org

Additionally, as an artist herself, Strauss expressed that the competition was, “a way to turn the international commercial marketplace into a backdrop for the kind of artistic production that can help put emerging artists on the map.” In terms of how the special artists were chosen, a panel

of judges including curators Sofía Hernández Chong Cuy, Neils Van Tomme and Xiaoyu Weng critiqued each artist's submission in order to find the most talented applicants. Interestingly enough, each judge comes from a different background, as their personal professions range from journalism, to teaching, to

scientific research, allowing for well-rounded judging. All in all, these few extraordinarily talented artists will take the trip of a lifetime to hopefully find their muse somewhere out on the deep blue seas. After their unique experience, they will likely return with the hopes of finding a promising career awaiting them on shore.

4 march 2016

11 arts

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“The Witch” Shows the Effects of Fear Diana Ciarallo Red&Black Staff

“We must conquer this wilderness or it will consume us.” In 1600’s Massachusetts, the presence of the devil was perceived as a very real, daily threat. In our modern day and age, things such as demons and witches are little more than horror stories that we see in fiction books and unconvincing, improbable movies. Today, the thoughts of these creatures can be dissipated merely by turning on the light. This was certainly not the case in the minds of 17th century puritans. This was a world in which the threat of evil forces and their corrupting influence lurked so close by that people feared they occupied everyday parts of their lives like farm animals and family members. This New England folktale begins before a gathering of grim-faced judges, as a family of six find themselves exiled from their community. Setting up their new home dangerously close to the fringes of the woods, the

members of this God-fearing family find themselves living near the brink of the unknown and their fears threaten to tear them all apart. “Corruption thou art my father.” Treading a fine line between religious fanaticism and the supernatural, this psychological thriller focuses more on the fears and paranoia that afflict this family than on the titular monster from which it gets its name. The witch is a manifestation for the destructive fears of these people. Director

Robert Egger, commented, “We looked at fairy tales and folktales, but also diaries and accounts of real witchcraft and court records, and you can see the same tropes throughout, the same witch.” The dark history of this time period required a great amount of research in order to portray it in a way that was reliable on the screen. Supported by these historical facts, Egger’s eerie tale showcases the primal human emotion of fear, making this movie a dark gem amidst clichéd, implausible

horror flicks that place far too much reliance in cheap scares to reap chills and thrills from viewers. “We are children of sin, all.” Egger creates a realistic, researched experience, “If I could take a puritan’s nightmare as I would envision it and upload it into the audience’s mind’s eye, that was the goal.” Egger certainly succeeded in fulfilling this goal, crafting a tale of human depravity. This film allows viewers into the terrified mindset of these people who spend their

Courtesy filmschoolrejects.com

lives in daily fear, not just of the wolves and witches that dwell in the woods, but of each other and the sins of corruption that mark their souls, drawing them closer to the evil influences that they fear. “’Tis God alone who knows who is a son of Abraham and who is not, who is evil and who is not.” Amidst accusations of witchcraft, death brought on by affliction, dwindling crops, sinister-looking hares and potentially possessed black goats, the family that lies in the center of this deadly story find themselves being brought dangerously close to the breaking point. While the sinister appearance of the witches themselves are few and far between in this film, their frightening closeness to the family home infects the minds of every last one of them. As accusations of witchcraft abound and tensions rise with a threatening speed, the faith in God that these puritan folks hold so dear is shaken and torn apart by their own growing fear of the devil’s curses and of the evil presence that may have taken root in their own family. This film darkly illustrates the corruptive power of fear in our lives.

4 march 2016

11 arts

Red & Black

“The Witch” Shows the Effects of Fear Diana Ciarallo Red&Black Staff

Courtesy filmschoolrejects.com

12 arts

Red & Black

Sylvester Stallone:

From Homeless to Hero Christopher Frydryck Red&Black Staff

Many people recognize Sylvester Stallone as the popularized boxer, Rocky Balboa. His life, however, was not all that glamorous up to this point, and he fought to achieve what his immigrant parents would define as the “American dream.” Before 1976, Stallone had grown up in New York City, then moved to Washington D.C. and then again to Philadelphia where he had multiple school expulsions and complications that necessitated constantly moving around. After graduation, Stallone had hit an all-time low, starring in a soft core pornographic film in fear of eviction from his apartment. He also had become homeless and slept for over three weeks in a bus depot. After this incident, Stallone had finally landed small roles in films in the early 1970’s. It wouldn’t be until 1976, however, that Stallone would watch the Muhammed AliChuck Wepner fight, and be inspired to create the movie that granted his fame. In three and a half days, he had spent 20 hours writing “Rocky,” and “he was offered $360,000 for it.” Sylvester refused to sell the screenplay unless he was cast as Rocky, and eventually took a budget cut to do so. Stallone, a little

4 march 2016

Poetry Corner by Diana Ciarallo Red&Black Staff “Feline Grace” You call to me I won’t come No tail wagging No tongue dragging wet kisses Up your face Perk my head up A look in your direction, Return to my nap You’re home? I don’t care Sneaky and solitary Prowling about the house Napping on someone’s coat No chasing squirrels No retrieving tennis balls

Courtesy joeseeber.com

baffled of how someone can go from sleeping in a bus depot to being a hit movie star, had exclaimed, “I just didn’t understand how the rules of life were played at that point but this character I understood.” He was practically born for this role. His paralysis of his face and tongue from birth gave him a snarling look that every boxer practically has to practice in a mirror. His speech seemed as if he had one too many concussions. But that wasn’t acting, it was him being who he truly was meant to portray. Since Rocky, Stallone had been featured in many other films outside of the famous boxing franchise, and has written most of the works he acted in. Stallone had recently sported the supporting actor

role of “Creed,” a movie that has him as a boxing trainer for former rival, Apollo Creed’s son. Stallone had said in an interview while talking about the movie, “I never wanted to do this movie. I thought sick Rocky is exactly what is so counter-intuitive to what the optimistic aspect of what Rocky really is designed for.” Sylvester Stallone is nominated for best supporting actor at the 88th Academy Awards, almost 40 years since the original Rocky won best picture. He is truly grateful for this opportunity to be recognized at the Oscars as a nominee, and had exclaimed, “This is a really special moment in my life because there are not that many moments left. You know they are really getting very special.”

I don’t take orders Come to you whenever I desire Body in a rumbling purr Sharpen my claws on you Silent, crafty, and sweet “Moon Over The City” “O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon” - Romeo and Juliet, Scene 2, line 109 Full and ripe A pregnant belly Heavy with moonlight Ready for birth Into the night sky A smile watches Thriving life beneath it For many a year Untold changes Countless lives It changes So do we A proud mother’s smile Illuminates us With a brilliant light

4 march 2016

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13 arts

Excerpt of a Play: “Brotherly Blues” This is an excerpt of a play called “Brotherly Blues” by Tim Blair Jr. (The older brother is Ryan and the younger brother is Bobby. They used to be really close and then they grew apart from each other. This was caused by Ryan becoming a teenager and their father’s passing. Since his death, Bobby has been hungry for someone to look up to. He is shy and recently ran away after Ryan yelled at him for something. Ryan finds him and the dialogue begins.) RYAN: There you are! You can’t just run off like that, mom’s been worried sick about you! BOBBY: At least someone cares about me. RYAN: What’d you say? BOBBY: You heard me. RYAN: Bob, what are you talkin’ about man? You know I care about you. BOBBY: Sure. RYAN: Bob, you know I do, now come on buddy, let’s head back home. BOBBY: (SILENCE) RYAN: Listen, (sits down next to Bobby) I’m sorry I went off on you like that before. I didn’t mean it. You know that. It’s just... Everything just kept bottling up and I just snapped. It’s not personal, I woulda’ yelled at the friggin’ pope if he was there. Ya know? RYAN: ...I was late to school, I missed my bio test and can’t make it up, Allie friggin’ dumped me today after school that’s why I was all fired up after school. You’re not a baby. BOBBY: (SILENCE) RYAN: I miss dad too . . . there’s nothing wrong with that. And even though I try not to show it, I still cry…It friggin’ sucks that he’s gone. BOBBY: I miss him so much Ryan, I miss talkin’ to him, ya know? I keep thinking he’s gonna just come walk in the door and he isn’t. RYAN: I know buddy me too . . . me too. I know I haven’t been the best brother especially after everything with dad and all but you know you can talk to me whenever you want. BOBBY: You just always seem too busy out with your friends. RYAN: I know, you’re right I’m sorry. I’m just still tryin’ to get used to this high school thing. BOBBY: It’s all right. RYAN: No, it’s not. Really, I’m your big brother, I gotta be there for you. We gotta be there for each other, just like dad was always there for us. BOBBY: Always. RYAN: So why’d you come all the way out here. What is this place. BOBBY: I don’t know, one day I was lookin’ for garter snakes and found it. I think it used to be a skate park. I like to come out here and just think about him, ya know? Sometimes I’ll just close my eyes and can just feel him. You ever feel him watchin’ over you Ry? RYAN: Yeah, Bob . . . yeah I do.

14 Opinions Art education has also shown to improve the overall academic performance... P. 17

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4 March 2016

OPINIONS

...themes of stalking and possessiveness underlie many popular movies. P. 15

Top-Down Approach to Fixing Diversity in Hollywood Ben Langdon RED&BLACK STAFF

It is no secret that Hollywood has a severe diversity problem. The Oscars has an all-white slate of acting nominations for the second year running prompting boycotts by prominent actors and directors such as Will and Jada Pinkett Smith and Spike Lee. The diversity problem goes beyond just the Hollywood award shows. According to a 2015 report by the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies at UCLA, women remain underrepresented by a margin of 8 to 1 among film directors and 2 to 1 among film leads. Minorities are also

underrepresented in film with UCLA report found that film the films that come out of a margin of 2 to 1 among film studio heads were 94 percent Hollywood will be made for directors and greater than 2 to white and 100 percent male, white male audiences. It is not while television network and that white men cannot write, 1 among film leads. As the conversation on studio heads were 96 percent direct and produce diverse stories, it is how to fix the fact that the diversity By allocating more writing, directing and women and problem in minorities can Hollywood producing roles for women and minorities in do it better. shifts to how to get more Hollywood, the viewing public will get richer Who is better to produce women and and more diverse films on subjects that a a film about minority leads in film and predominantly white male industry has avoided. racial injustice than someone television, a who has lived key strategic through it? solution is By allocating more writing, being overlooked. white and 71 percent male. If Hollywood truly wants Minority and female film directing and producing roles to fix their diversity problem, writers were underrepresented for women and minorities they have to start with behind by a margin of 3 to 1 and 4 to in Hollywood, the viewing public will get richer and the camera. 1, respectively. In order to properly fix the If the people who select more diverse films on subjects Hollywood diversity problem, and write the films that are that a predominantly white a top-down approach is produced are made up of male industry has avoided. All critical. The aforementioned mostly white men, then artists base their work around

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.

Letters are due on the Monday before publication and may not exceed 600 words. All letters must include the authorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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.

experiences they have gone through in their own lives. By giving more writing roles to women and minorities, more diverse stories will be produced. Putting more women and minorities behind the camera will also solve the problem of casting mostly white actors and actresses. A more diverse production team will inevitably lead to a more diverse film cast. The first step to solving any problem is to acknowledge that there is one. It is undeniable that Hollywood has a diversity problem. In order to alleviate this issue, Hollywood must hire more women and minority writers, directors and producers. That is the only way to fundamentally change the industry for the better.

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

4 March 2016

15 Opinions

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Guatanamo Bay Being Shut Down Romance and Stalking Capri Backus RED&BLACK CONTRIBUTOR

What are we okay with? I don’t just mean you as an individual, as though I’m condemning your self-worth or morality. What are we, as a nation, alright with? We have many names for our actions: stability, or institutionalized racism, national defense, combating the enemy, or spreading democracy. But what are we okay with? At what point do the means, which may not inherently be causes worth promoting, betray the ends? And at what point do we feel responsible to protest? The United States is a nation of liberty-this is the integral idea conveyed through the pride in which we uphold our anthems, our history, and our national culture. We are, and believe to be the nation that fought to carve out economic possibilities and political freedoms for its people; it’s as though we exist in a space and moment of time unrivaled by any other. But in reviewing history, we are also the nation that has consistently limited or destroyed the rights of the people we exploit, fear, hate, or believe to be against us, whipping the support of the American people behind whatever perspective is most relevant to us at the time:

domestically, and abroad, we see the effects of unchecked emotion. As time progresses, our mistakes and intended actions have simply changed target, and are also compounded by the consequences of the past. It’s easy to be critical of the past. We’re separated by time and divorced from the responsibility, empathy, impetus, or even guilt to act upon situations of great

If you think the operations at Guantanamo Bay are necessary, why? Is it worth the human suffering, or the rallying cause that it generates abroad?

cruelty or injustice. And events that we see today, are of course much more personal, much more complex, and shrouded in too much bureaucracy--this may just be me, but it’s as though we read headlines describing the horror of drones and Guantanamo Bay with the same discouragement and inaction as though we’re reading of events in an unchangeable past. We live in a time of extraordinary

interconnection and societal awareness--with access to social media and the internet to research and connect, this generation has the power, ability, and capacity to create change; we’ve rallied to create and support movements like Black Lives Matter and to spread awareness, voices, petitions, and stories like HONY’s, and have met refugees like Aya and Dr. Hamo. So although this is an oped piece, what do you think of events that bother you? What do you know about Guantanamo Bay? Should it be closed, or should it remain open? If you think the operations at Guantanamo Bay are necessary, why? Is it worth the human suffering, or the rallying cause that it generates abroad? And if you disagree, how should it be closed? Should its prisoners, who have “detained without due process and interrogated without restraint,” suffer the same treatment, but just in a different geographical location? Some of these detainees, the ACLU cites, “most of whom have been imprisoned for more than a decade without charge or trial” would have to suffer “indefinite detention” on a “Guantánamo North.” I believe, more than anything, we should be asking ourselves these questions, especially when we think people’s lives, and the same liberty and equality we demand for ourselves are being denied.

Kayla Marasia RED&BLACK ARTS EDITOR

Imagine a typical romantic comedy film. Two unlikely lovers meet, and while one person is interested, the other does not reciprocate this interest. However, after several arduous and often ridiculous attempts to prove his or her love, the other person eventually “comes around,” as the two were likely meant to be together, anyway. Does this sound familiar? Of course it does: themes of stalking and possessiveness underlie many popular movies. Take a moment to step into the past and think about the hormonal frenzy of the Twilight franchise (which, for many fans, is still very much alive today). 108-year-old golden-eyed vampire Edward Cullen falls in love with the passive 17 year-old Bella Swan. Edward initially tries to distance himself from her so that he is not too tempted by Bella’s blood. However, after a short time, he cannot seem to help himself from watching Bella sleep and stalking her through the streets of a city in Washington. In Chapter 9 of the first book, Edward says, “It makes me . . . anxious . . . to be away from you,” as if to excuse his actions. Many readers or moviegoers, including my 11-year-old self, imagined this as a manifestation of true love. After all, it seems Edward was only protecting Bella from the cruel world and keeping her

safe. This is exactly the mentality that is harmful to our society. The line was drawn more clearly when, throughout the Twilight saga, Edward controlled and influenced Bella’s decisions for the sake of her “safety.” As a result, many young fans believed that female passivity was acceptable and that love can be expressed by extreme and possessive measures. It can be argued that these behaviors do not often persist in real life. These manifestations of affection often seem too extreme to exist outside of a movie screen. Nevertheless, these films likely affect society’s way of thinking about relationships and expressing love. According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, over 6.6 million people are stalked yearly in the United States alone. “Because stalking is so prevalent in today’s society and media,” says Alyssa Rote (Class of 2019), “if you see it happen in real life, it is perceived as normal and acceptable.” Perhaps stalking is partially due to humankind’s propensity for fixation and obsession. Despite the common tolerance for this behavior in some films, any form of stalking is unacceptable. We should be critical of the values we absorb from the media. Persistent pursuit is not necessarily dangerous, but it may be wise to question the motives and ideology behind films’ most romantic courtships.

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4 March 2016

Financial Aid and Drugs Carolyn Wilson RED&BLACK COPY EDITOR

Another Hackable Item: Wireless Mice Wireless mice are one of the most popular purchases to accompany everything from a desktop computer to laptops to even tablets. However, a new vulnerability to wireless mouse has been exposed by cybersecurity firm, Bastille. Known as “mousejack,” it has been popularized recently for hackers to tap into the network connected computers through wireless accessories. This is specifically aimed towards non-Bluetooth enabled accessories that typically require a USB dongle to be plugged into one of the ports. The hack uses approximately $15 worth of hardware and a few lines of code to tap into the radio waves emitted through the accessory. This major vulnerability allows the hacker to “insert keystrokes or malicious code and access sensitive information.” This could allow a hacker to reach banking information, access any sites that remember passwords and take over any personal computer. Mark Newlin, Bastille’s engineer responsible for finding the wireless liability explains how this vulnerability works. “If you

can send out a wireless signal that pretends to be a wireless mouse, most wireless USB dongles will happily latch onto it -- no questions asked. Then, you can have that fake wireless mouse pretend to be a wireless keyboard -- and start controlling someone else's computer,” said Newlin. On a less personal level, this “mousejack” could be more than stealing one person’s information. Once gained access to a computer, they can access the network and harm businesses and others connected to the same network. This is particularly scary since no operating system is safe. "Wireless mice and keyboards are the most common accessories for PCs today, and we have found a way to take over billions of them," said Newlin. This is terrifying to anyone who owns a wireless USB powered keyboard or mouse (including myself). People owning a wireless mouse should be warned to not use their mouse until manufacturers of these wireless devices fix this issue. Some manufacturers have already addressed the issue. Logitech exclaimed that

they released a firmware fix, while Lenovo, HP, Amazon, Gigabyte and Dell have exclaimed their devices are vulnerable and need to be replaced through them as soon as possible. There is, however, one solution: be in a secure location when using a wireless mouse or keyboard. Avoid airports, coffee shops and any other prominent open network solutions. In order for the hacker to get into the victim’s computer they have to be within 200 meters, which is still rather impressive for the radio waves to reach such a distance. This vulnerability to computers worldwide is quite appalling. These companies that did not consider the users’ security while making their product should be ashamed for their poor design and ease of access to their hardware. Many companies will be replacing their mice and keyboards to help heighten the security on their products. However, when it comes to hacking, there tends to always be a way around security features. It is not a matter of prevention, it is a matter of postponement.

furthers discourages them from applying to college. Instead of punishing kids with drug offenses, there should be a rehabilitation of some sort, depending on the degree of the situation. Finally, after 16 years of an Throwing drug addicts unjust law, there are bipartisan in jail does not make them bills in the house and senate suddenly not become an that will repeal a law stating addict anymore. Sending that if a student is charged them to rehab to overcome with any drug offense they their addiction will help will lose government financial them to not be an addict. If aid. This counterproductive they truly want to solve the law was enacted because of drug problem, taking away a rise of drug education from offenses in the these kids will 1990’s and the Instead of punishing not help. government Some people kids with drug believed are aware of this would offenses, there should Humans of New discourage York, a popular kids from be a rehabilitation... Facebook page participating in run by Brandon drug use. Stanton that What is interviews and even more photographs disheartening about this law random people from all over is that the government knew the world. Recently Stanton the kids getting caught of drug interviewed inmates from jails charges were found mostly in in the United States, many of low-income areas. So instead who were brought in on drug of helping, the law just tried to charges. What I noticed was find ways of punishing. Some that none of them wanted to people may argue that these be drug dealers or users but kids getting charged with when your life is poverty, drug offenses, even if they earning money through drugs are minor, do not deserve to is tempting. have government aid. Well, It is hard for us to judge I believe that is a selfish and anyone but ourselves, because judgmental attitude. there is no way we could ever These kids are already know someone else’s life story. facing criminal punishment, Yes, selling drugs is not right, and this law is just punishing but without knowing why they them in a different way a are selling you cannot say they second time. Also, typically are unworthy of an education. kids in low-income areas So by having a law stating that struggle to pay for college drug offenders should not or even to attend college so be able to afford college only by having this law, it only furthers the “drug” problem.

4 March 2016

17 Opinions

Red & Black

Arts Education Lost in Schools National Debt Not That Bad Ben Langdon RED&BLACK STAFF

In recent years, public schools across the nation have tackled their budget problems by cutting art programs. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in the 2009-2010 school year, only 3 percent of public schools offered dance classes and 4 percent offered theatre classes. This is a stark contrast to the 1999-2000 school year, where 20 percent of schools offered dance and theatre classes. Visual arts programs also faced a drop from 87 percent in 1999-2000 to 83 percent in 2009-2010. This is an unfortunate trend that must be reversed. The purpose of public schools is to provide all children with the opportunity to gain skills and knowledge that will allow them to grow

both as individuals and as citizens. Public schools also function as a means to prepare students for the job market. In order to reach these goals, art education is vital. Art education is important because it gives students a creative outlet. STEM classes are important too, but they only give students the logic skills they need, and they ignore students’ creative and artistic needs. Art education not only provides for these needs, but it also encourages inventiveness, which is critical in producing the next generation of innovators. Art education has also shown to improve the overall academic performance of students. According to The College Board, a nonprofit association that works to make sure all students in the American educational system are college-ready, students who take four years of art and music classes while in high

school score 91 points better on their SAT exams than students who took only a half year or less. Art education also increases the richness of a public education, keeping many students from dropping out. A 2009 report conducted by the Center for Arts Education found that schools with solid arts programs had higher graduation rates. If art programs are cut, students who have a passion for art will be less likely to attend school and graduate. When public schools face budget issues, it seems as if their first reaction is to cut funding for art programs. If we truly want to give children the fullest education possible, then this recent trend should be appalling. Art education is just as important to a student’s education as STEM classes and it is about time that public schools start treating it that way.

Courtesy vsamass.org

Chris Frydryck RED&BLACK STAFF

One of today’s most trivial economic questions in the United States is how to deal with the massive debt incurred over the years. Now $19 trillion in debt, many people believe we should be concerned, except for economists. Surprisingly, many economists are finding this economic issue less important than its colossal stature. And apparently United States citizens may also be jumping on board, a recent study discovered that “slightly above half of Americans consider the budget deficit a top priority, down from 72% in 2013.” Some economists are exclaiming what matters more than this increase in debt, is our debt interest payments, which decide how much money is actually leaving the pockets of the United States, and how swiftly it pays back the debt incurred. This, however, does not mean the United States should not be concerned with national debt and can spend more. There is a theory that Harvard professor Kenneth Rogoff hypothesized on a debt-to-GDP ratio and how it affects growth in an economic scale. Although speculated, some believe that a 90% debt-to-GDP ratio can cause significantly slower growth in an economy. This threshold can scrutinize an economy and foreshadow its future as a prosperous or dying economy. On the contrary, Robert Pollin,

a co-director at the University of Massachusetts research institute disagrees with the arbitrary 90% number. Instead, Pollin believes we should be worrying about the same economic numbers that we have been studying for the past decades. Either way, the debt-toGDP ratio is at 165, leaving the United States with 41 points before pure chaos. “That means we have a decent amount of spending room before Moody’s ratings start to sound dire,” said Time magazine. I firmly understand that our debt interest payments have drastically lessened over the years, but this is not necessarily a solution to the elephant in the room. Yes, the United States may be only paying half of what they were 30 years ago, but now they have to pay four times the amount of debt. So they may have smaller payments, but will be paying for longer periods of time. Interest on $19 trillion is a hefty amount once paid in full. Trying to find other ways to lighten a dim situation is not what the American people deserve. Exclaiming that the debt-to-GDP ratio is more important than the debt itself is absurd when regarding national debt. For decades we have been studying our economic stability; the best solution to mitigating our indebtedness is cut spending, pay back our payables to cut loan interest payments and collect our receivables as soon as possible.

18 Opinions

Red & Black

4 March 2016

The Political Corner

Vote to Protect the Climate Alexandra Hopkins RED&BLACK CONTRIBUTOR

The presidential debates for the upcoming 2016 election are well under way. With each argument, voters have the chance to educate themselves on the issues at hand and the opinion of each of the candidates. Climate change, whether candidates are climate deniers or not, is a problem that affects each and every one of us, domestically and internationally, and is a problem we know to be, at least in part, due to human impact. The reality of the situation is that global warming is already here. We have observed, with a rise of just 0.85 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial levels, the American West drying out, coastal cities flooding, storms strengthening, species disappearing and more. There is somewhat of a panic amongst climate scientists, all who warn Americans that we do not have four, or worse still, eight years to delay any progress in this field. The U.S. News & World Report states, “This will be a make-or-break presidency as far as our ability to avert a climate change

catastrophe.” As far as the front-running candidates go, there are obviously differences regarding viewpoints on climate change. Republicans tend to argue the warming of our planet is happening, but that it is not an immediate or paramount concern to the population; or they may argue that it simply is not happening at all. Ben Carson has deemed environmental science as beyond the scope of man’s understanding or control, “There’s always going to be cooling or warming going on. There is no reason to make it into a political issue,” said

Carson. Ted Cruz has been labeled by environmentalists as a denier, but he refers to himself as more of a skeptic. Regardless, his American Energy Renaissance Act, if it passes, would open federal lands to oil and gas exploration and prevent the EPA from regulating emissions. Marco Rubio’s plan focuses largely on drilling and fracking and very little on alternative sources. Donald Trump famously stated to CNN that he does not believe in climate change. When the memorable October cold front swept through the

Northeast this year, Trump tweeted, “We could use a big fat dose of global warming.” Democrats have historically been far more sensitive to climate and other environmental issues. Hillary Clinton has vowed to build on President Obama’s Clean Power Plan and unveiled her own plans to install solar panels across the country and boost the amount of energy that comes from renewables to 33 percent by 2027. In November she also released a plan to help revitalize communities in coal country as the economy moves away from fossil fuels.

Courtesy climate.nasa.gov

Bernie Sanders is a longtime environmental activist supporting carbon taxing, investing in solar, wind and geothermal energy, expanding public transit and winterizing homes. He also considers climate change the biggest national security threat, “The scientific community is telling us that if we do not address the global crisis of climate change, transform our energy system away from fossil fuels to sustainable energy, the planet that we’re going to be leaving our kids and our grandchildren may well not be habitable,” said Sanders. Whatever side of the debate you fall on, it is a fact that global warming is here, and we need to do something about it now. In his Academy Award acceptance speech, Leonardo DiCaprio stated, “Making ‘The Revenant’ was about man's relationship to the natural world...climate change is real. It is happening right now. It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species and we need to work together and stop procrastinating.” Educate yourself on the issues and on each of the candidates, but when it comes time to vote in November, remember that our next President could be the very last who can keep us from a climate catastrophe.

4 march 2016

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Red & Black

W&J Baseball Picked First in PAC Preseason Poll Bailey Mudrick Red&Black Editor-inchief The Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) released the results of the 2016 PAC Preseason Baseball Coaches' Poll. The annual preseason poll collects votes from each of the conferences nine head coaches. W&J along with the 14th-year head coach Jeff Mountain was picked as the preseason favorite to claim this year's championship tournament title. Mountain said he is most looking forward to the forthcoming challenges the team will face this season. “I am looking forward to playing games. It’s a long road for the

players to get to that point from September. All baseball teams at any level have a lot of ups and downs and I am looking forward to seeing how our players respond to the challenges and adversity that comes their way,” said Mountain. Riley Groves 17’ was listed on the conference’s “Players to Watch List,” said that he is looking forward to working hard each day with my teammates, but knows there will be challenges along the way. “The biggest challenge for me personally this season will be persevering with my teammates through the ups and downs of each game and throughout the long season.

I know my teammates will be there to support each other and we can be in a good position to be successful each game,” said Groves. The Presidents finished the 2015 season 29-17 and won the program's 10th PAC title after posting a 17-5 victory over top-seeded Thomas More College. They are not planning on making any major changes to their game, but relying on their coach and teammates. “I feel that this year's team has a solid group of upperclassmen as well as talented younger guys, and team chemistry has been great since we started workouts in the fall,” stated Groves, “We have a great group of guys who work hard and have committed to Coach

Mountain's philosophy, and I think that as long as we play as hard as we have practiced, changes to our product on the field will come as minor situational adjustments and there won't be any major overhauls in our approach to each game.” Mike Ruffing 16’, who was also listed on the Players to Watch List, is one of the team’s senior players. Being on the team for the last three years, he knows that a hectic schedule is challenging. “I think the biggest challenge our team faces every season is coming ready to play every day,” Ruffing stated. “We might play over 40 games in just about as many days so it's important

that we are prepared for that kind of schedule. I think we have done a great job of being ready my past three years.” Ruffing reflected on the accomplishments his baseball team has made during the past three years, such as the two PAC Championships, but he will miss his team the most after he graduates. “Being on the baseball team for the last three years has meant a lot to me. My teammates are like family to me and I wish this wasn't my last year here”, Ruffing said. The President’s first game this season is March 12 with a double header against the Grove City Wolverines. Make sure to cheer on the team this season as they strive to win.

Women's Basketball Team Conclude With A Win Jordan Toohey Red&Black Staff

The W&J women’s basketball team finished up their regular season with an 80-68 win over the Bethany Bisons. The women ended their season with an overall record of 21-4 and a PAC conference record of 16-2. This is a great accomplishment from last year where the team finished with an overall record of 21-8 and a conference record of 13-5; where they lost in the second round of the PAC tournament to Saint Vincent and then lost in the second round of the ECAC

tournament to Lebanon Valley. As the season comes to a close, the women’s team is preparing for the PAC playoffs ahead, which will be the semifinal game on Feb. 26 at 6:00 p.m. Despite a first half where the lead went back and forth, and then the Bisons gaining some momentum and taking the lead, the Presidents were able to rally back in the beginning of the second half. They never lost their lead once the second half started as they were able to pull ahead by a high of 15 points, being able to hold off the Bisons for the win. Beka Bellhy scored a career high 34 points, shooting 57.14 percent

from the field, while going ten for ten at the free throw line. Rachel Bellhy registered a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Taylor Cortazzo also added in 12 of her own. Beka leads the time with an average of 28.8 minutes per game, an average of 18.2 points per game, a .460 field goal percentage, an astounding .799 free throw percentage, 7.8 rebounds per game, 2.4 assists per game, and .6 blocks per game. The rest of the squad will look to her to help carry them to the PAC Championship game and then either the NCAA Division III playoffs of the ECAC playoffs. Beka, along with the other

seniors, Ashley Mikelonis and Madison Bastress, will be looking to make some noise and finish the season strong as their college careers come to an end. “We are focusing on beating Waynesburg and hopefully getting another shot at Thomas More. We have a great team this year and want to go far into the playoffs,” said sophomore guard Taley Dunaway. This past weekend the women’s team was able to defeat Waynesburg 88-66 in the semifinal game, advancing to the title game for the third time in four years. Beka led the way again for the team, as she recorded a new career

high 36 points. In this game she became the fifth women’s basketball player at W&J to top 1,500 career points. Despite the strong effort the team had against Waynesburg, they fell short against Thomas More in the title game 93-74. In this contest Beka moved to fourth among the W&J career scoring list with 1,528 career points. She also became the third W&J women’s basketball player to score more than 500 points in a season. Now the Presidents wait to see how the rest of their season will pan out, will they get an NCAA tournament bid or will they participate in the ECAC tournament?

20 sports

Red & Black

4 march 2016

Japan Faces Hurdles Before the 2020 Olympics Erin Haughey Red&Black Staff

The International Olympic Committee decided to allow Tokyo to host the 2020 Olympics in Sept. 2013. Tokyo has not hosted the Olympics since 1964. Japan’s Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, believes that this will greatly improve Japan’s rocky economy. However, holding the Olympics in Tokyo poses problems for the country. The three most troublesome being: debt, infrastructure and the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant leak and other natural disasters. The government believes hosting the Olympics

will help boost the economy out of debt. Unfortunately, it costs billions of dollars to host the Olympics and most cities see tiny profit. London spent 10 billions dollars by the end and Sochi spent 50 billion dollars at the end of the 2014 Winter Games. Japan is currently 11 trillion dollars in debt and has budgeted 15 billion dollars for the Olympics, but it predicted to exceed that. Japan’s concern with infrastructure is having enough space to build the necessary sports complexes. Because Japan is a small island with a large population there is not much extra space to build more than what is necessary. All too often cities

spend millions of dollars building elaborate stadiums but have trouble keeping them full. The Japanese government plans to renovate and reuse many of the complexes that were built for the 1964 Olympics but these renovations will not be quick or inexpensive. Currently, 15 out 35 venues have been built and the burden of paying for the other 20 venues will fall on the taxpayers. Japanese citizens will likely be paying for these complexes even after the Olympics are over. A major fear for all those participating in the 2020 Olympics is radiation from the Fukushima Power Plant leak and natural disasters. The

plant leaked radiation after a major earthquake caused a 50 foot tsunami to disable the power supply and cooling of three Fukushima Daiichi reactors in early March 2011. The Prime Minister of Japan has said the radiation is under control and there is no threat to the public. The concern arises due to Japan’s

history with natural disaster. Japan is located in the “ring of fire,” it is on the edges of many continental and oceanic tectonic plates. This area, from New Zealand to Alaska and down the coasts of North and South America, is high in volcanic activity making earthquakes and tsunamis unpredictable.

policy. “We want the best boxer [professionals] to come to the Olympic Games… It is AIBA’s 70th birthday, and we want something to change,” said Wu. Wu wants to abolish rules stopping any fighter with 15 or more paid fights from competing.Wu’s proposal has to be approved by the AIBA executive committee, but his chances of success are high. However, since Olympic qualifications are well under way, changes in the rules need to happen soon. If the new proposal is accepted, each national federation would have to pick boxers to participate in the remaining qualifying tournaments. The response to the

proposed rule change has been mixed. Several professional fighters have shown approval, stating their desire to compete. Amir Khan, a professional fighter from Great Britain, is a big supporter. “I have heard that they are changing the rules and this would a great thing because pro boxers want to compete... I think it’s very good that they are [thinking of] bringing amateur and professional boxers together because end of the day… people want to watch good fights,” said Khan. There are others who are not as fond of the suggested amendments. Currently, the Olympics gives young, talented fighters the

opportunity to fight other amateurs, making a name for themselves and providing them with a vital step in their skill development. If professionals were to join these fights, inexperienced amateurs would have to face seasoned veterans, which could be devastating for their development. Roy Jones Jr., another professional boxer, is one of many who isn’t keen on the idea of change. “The road to the Olympics is for the young. As a teenager, I wanted to represent my country at the Olympics. When I moved to professional boxing, it became my job. Everything comes in good time,” said Jones.

Wu became the president of AIBA in 2006 and has been trying to move the organization away from its amateur status for the last ten years. AIBA has stopped using the word “amateur,” no longer requires vests or head guards in their regulated events and is already staging professional

Courtesy cloudfront.net

Olympics Is Opening Its Ring to Professional Boxers Jordan Toohey Red&Black Staff

When watching the Olympics, fans from all over the world expect to see the best athletes competing. However, unlike Olympic sports such as gymnastics, soccer or swimming, Olympic boxing is one of the few events that requires full amateur status for all participants. An amateur athlete is someone who does not get paid for their playing or training time, as opposed to professional athletes. Dr. Ching-Kuo Wu, the Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA) president, is proposing to change this

Courtesy telegraph.co.uk