March 2017 by Reporter Magazine

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EDITOR’S NOTE Dealing with stress – what a topic. But it’s always kind of on the back of our minds, isn’t it? Sometimes I even get stressed out about not getting stressed out and I become an actual ball of stress. It’s a vicious cycle that does me no good, but I’m trying to learn to handle it. I had my first panic attack when I was 15 during a competitive swim meet. My second one, when I was about to take the Algebra 2/Trigonometry Regents Exam (New York state natives know what I’m talking about). They kind of blur together after that, but what stays consistent is the feeling of fear and helplessness that I experience when I can’t get air into my body, when everything starts to get overwhelming. I’ve tried different ways of dealing with it. When I was a teenager, it was to pretend like I didn’t actually care about anything. I tried falling back on my friends, relationships, exercise and maybe one or two other, less wholesome means of coping. And you know what? Nothing really worked. Not any one thing, anyway. For me, dealing with stress is kind of a balancing act, one at which I’m still practicing. I still get overwhelmed, and you wouldn’t believe some of the nightmares my brain can come up with when it’s particularly stretched thin. But underneath the stress is a sense that I can handle it; I’ve been through so much and I’ve come out the other side. I like who I am, and I give at least a little bit of the credit for that to the situations that weren’t easy, weren’t comfortable, but that I was able to figure out despite my anxiety. By no means is dealing with stress the same for everyone. Some find it much, much harder than others, and I don’t want to make it seem as if I feel that everyone should be able to suck it up and get through it. There are resources — on campus and otherwise — to help those struggling with anxiety and depression, and I encourage you to make use of them if you need to. Remember, our mental health is so much more important than our GPAs. Take a break once in awhile; pull a Donna Meagle and treat yourself. I do want you to know, though, that no matter how insurmountable those midterms might seem, we’re going to get through them.

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March 3

TA B L E O F cover and TOC illustration by Cassy Smithies

NE WS 6

THE LATEST PUSH IN DEMOCRACY Students are becoming more politically active

T E CH 8

SAFEGUARDING SCIENCE & RESEARCH FROM POLITICS

LEISURE 10

Make science objective again

@reportermag 4 March

WEGMANS: NOT JUST A GROCERY STORE An inside look at Wegmans and why itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so popular

AYL Escaping midterms

CONTENTS FE AT URES 16

INTRODUCING RIT’S 10TH PRESIDENT Get to know Dr. David C. Munson, Jr.

MONEY IS A MARSHMALLOW How does the future depend on organizational decision making?

HOW CHILDHOOD CARTOONS SCRIPT YOUR THOUGHTS TODAY

SPOR T S 24

GO PROFESSIONAL: RIGHT HERE IN ROCHESTER Learn more abou the local sports teams

THE PIGMAN COMETH: A DEBATE ON ANIMAL MORALITY Where do we draw the line?

WORD ON THE STREET What’s your dream spring break?

RINGS Text or call (585) 672-4840

Cartoons were the parents we didn’t realize we had

reporter.rit.edu March 5

THE L ATEST PUSH

IN DEMOCRACY by Tyler Steven Anderson | illustration by Unique Fair | design by Dasha Buduchina

fter the 58th inauguration was held, people marched on Washington, D.C. to protest the new president. President Donald Trump’s inauguration drew an estimated crowd of 193,000 according to DC Metro, although planners anticipated a maximum of 900,000 attendees. The Women’s March, in contrast, drew an overwhelming response; not just in Washington, D.C., but around the globe. The “March on Washington” alone was estimated to have over 470,000 protestors — almost three times as many people as Trump’s inauguration.

A REVOLUTIONARY CYCLE

This is not the first time in American history that people have become politically involved by protesting to show their beliefs. When Rosa Parks was arrested for sitting at the front of a bus, people started to question the morality of segregation. Soon after, the Civil Rights movement went into full swing. Rochester is known for the suffragette movement, lead in part by Susan B. Anthony, who was arrested in the 1870s for voting.In upstate New York alone, there were 21 Women’s Marches.

In the 21st century, it appears that the revolutionary cycle will be repeated again, for RIT students are also making their voices heard.

WHY REBEL?

The comments and policies proposed by Trump while he was running for election motivated many to act. During his first 12 days in office, Trump signed 18 executive orders. He trailed only former President Barack Obama when he took office in 2009, who signed 19 orders in his first 12 days. These orders are causing concern among many already. Jacob Haut is a fifth year Biotechnology and Molecular Bioscience major and a member of the International Socialist Organization (ISO) at RIT. His perspective on the Trump administration made him passionate enough to attend the Women’s March in January. “It’s terrifying but [at the same time] the possibilities are there for really good things to happen,” he said. “Trump’s been in office for two weeks and it feels like two years.”

UPCOMING CONCERNS

“I don’t want people to think that no one spoke up for them, and I would want someone to speak up for me,” said Hanna Berga, a third year Biology major, who decided to become more politically active after the election. As a Jewish immigrant and scientist, Berga is concerned about the Trump administration implementing a religious test for immigrants and the silencing of scientific government organizations. Currently, Berga is one of the 6 News

organizers planning the upcoming Rochester March for Science on Earth Day, April 22. This is a satellite march that will be held in Rochester in tandem with the March for Science in Washington, D.C. This particular march will be a call to support the scientific community and research. The March for Science was a movement born of social media sprouting from concerns with the new administration’s comments and choices regarding science. The administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, has sued the agency several times. While not all conservatives agree with this cabinet pick, many feel that this move will allow job growth without the agency interfering in the rights of business. Many others, however, they fear the possible climate change ramifications. “Scientists continue to disagree about the degree and extent of global warming and its connection to the actions of mankind. That debate should be encouraged — in classrooms, public forums and the halls of Congress. It should not be silenced with threats of prosecution. Dissent is not a crime,” said Pruitt in an opinion piece for National Review. Many are concerned that Pruitt’s comments and the job he has been given are

incongruous with one another. Trump has also begun to alleviate the climate research funding that goes to a division of NASA. This is worrisome since 97 percent of active climate scientists agree that climate change is being caused by human activity, according to NASA iteslf. The scientific education in this country may also be affected as Betsy DeVos becomes the new secretary of education. DeVos believes that setting educational standards should be left to the individual states, which means that students from different states may have a large degree of difference when it comes to proficiency in science and other areas. The March for Science is attempting to avoid politics, instead trying to convince others to follow scientific understanding as opposed to “alternative facts.” Their mission statement reads, “The March for Science is a celebration of science. It’s not about scientists or politicians, it is about the very real role that science plays in each of our lives and the need to respect and encourage research that gives us insight into the world.” Participating in rallies such as the March for Science that Berga is helping organize allows for discussions such as these to continue.

THE CYCLE ENDURES

Other marches have recently taken place in Rochester as well. On Feb. 11, the Defend Not Defund! Planned Parenthood Counter Protest was held on West Ridge Road. This occurred after the House voted earlier in the month to defund Planned Parenthood. Competing rallies began to break out over the country as pro-lifers marched in support, and others marched against the act. Some protests have been met with controversy, as seen at UC Berkeley at the end of January. Milo Yiannopoulos, a conservative commentator with a history of hate speech, was set to appear at the school. 150 agitators caused $100,000 worth of damages to the campus when they disrupted a peaceful protest of the controversial speaker. At least six were injured as the violent disruptors threw fireworks and rocks at police and Molotov cocktails ignited the student center. Participating in peaceful rallies, however, allows people to exercise their freedom of speech, recognizing the various issues that will arise throughout the next four years. If the Women’s March was any indicator, 2017 is going to be a great year of democracy. The Facebook page “Resist: Silence is Consent” lists all of the upcoming local rallies for those who are interested.

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SAFEGUARDING

SC SCIENCE & RESEARCH

FROM FR POLITICS by Ryan Black | illustration by Madeleigh Place| design by Rebecca Wolinski

ith the current political climate so polarized, it can be easy to dismiss many issues as partisan bluster. To those pleading for a far more civil discourse, one can see why they might wish for less vitriol when one side does something to aggravate the other. However, something like science is more than just a political stance. “Things that are true, are true regardless of political bent,” explained Dr. Joseph Miller, an assistant marketing professor at Saunders College of Business with expertise in marketing research. He emphasized that keeping subjectivity and politics as far away from scientific research as possible is immeasurably important. Recently, the Republican administration enacted policies that for some time suppressed climate change information (both new and old) coming out of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While the political review of information and gag order may have been temporary measures, they embodied the fear that has spurred calls to action to action like the March for Science being held in April. After all, many in the scientific community who recognize the imperative to address climate change have also viewed the new president and his allies’ skepticism toward fact-based research with concern.

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“In a democracy it’s supposed to be that that research has to serve the people or the broadest interest of the people,”

Separating Science from Policy

In any study or research endeavor, the scientific method is used to validate objectively what is true. “The purest thing they teach you when you have a hypothesis: choose the opposite and try to disprove it,” pointed out Dr. Laurence Sugarman, a research professor and director of RIT’s Center for Applied Psychophysiology and Self-Regulation. We should be mindful of this tenet of the scientific process when comparing research-backed findings to any political stance. The scientific method is a rigorous standard among scientists, detailing a process of asking questions and finding answers. What is incredibly valuable about the scientific method to Miller, though, is how it fosters a system that leans on previous research. It is deliberately structured to reject old theories when a new one better explains a phenomenon. “When you have these little scientific revolutions that take place, where what we believe now is not what we believed before, it’s based on the scientific method,” explained Miller. New questions researchers ask are largely informed by past findings and theories. “If we find new information due to answering new questions, we can begin to reject old scientific research and be able to go with the new paradigm — that’s the idea,” said Miller. “And due to things like peer review, we’re able to [have] hopefully unbiased research and research objectives.” For both Miller and Sugarman, the importance — or “duty,” as Miller puts it — of striving toward the objectivity ensured by the scientific method is rooted in the idea that most research should advance the collective body of knowledge. Such research is meant for the benefit of everyone, not just one

political interest. This can be particularly true of findings from many government studies. No matter the type of governmentfunded research conducted, there is a broader common purpose they almost always share, Sugarman pointed out. “In a democracy, it’s supposed to be that. . . research has to serve the people or the broadest interest of the people,” he said, pointing to researchers for the National Institute of Health (NIH) as an example. “If you get an NIH grant, you have to agree — it’s even in the application — that you’re going to disseminate this widely and that the NIH can disseminate it. You can’t hold on to it, it’s not yours.”

Keeping Politics at Arms Length

Politics can significantly affect the direction of research, particularly in deciding what gets funded. Miller explained that considering the government’s traditional role in pushing various areas of research, what is or isn’t being financed could drastically change what people choose to study. “If they make changes, then what [researchers] study might not be in the public’s best interests,” noted Miller. He expressed particular worry over falling behind in increasingly critical fields like climate change. “I mean, if there’s going to be someone who wanted to be a career researcher in climate, but suddenly those climate studies are no longer being funded, then that’s a potentiality for knowledge that is just forever lost.” When pertinent research isn’t funded, it’s society as a whole that loses out. Both Miller and Sugarman expressed strong concerns about the potential for certain scientific information being withheld from to

the general public. They were particularly concerned that the policies initiated at the EPA were precursors of what is to come, given the current divisiveness surrounding climate change. “If folks in the political realm wanted to do a review of things in the scientific realm, it does not really change the effect of what is true is true,” Miller pointed out. However, such an audit could very well impact what the public is aware of or what they believe. Within such a political climate in which there’s prevalent bias, divisiveness as well as intolerance of science challenging a status quo, Sugarman believes science needs to speak out louder. “It’s because the [current] culture is getting directly at the issue of the core method of science, which is to attempt to have controls, an attempt to undo our human subjectivity by being objective,” said Sugarman. “I mean, [Rene] Descartes made a deal with the church: ‘I won’t go looking for the soul if you let me do some dissection.’” Sugarman noted that throughout history, science’s efforts to shift the collective understanding of the way things are have often been politically disruptive. His example of Descartes agreement with the Catholic Church in the 17th century echoes the point that Miller made as well: constraining study or research doesn’t change the real truths — just the perceived ones.

“Things that are true are true, regardless of political bent,” Technology 9

Wegmans offers individually prepared EZ Meals as well as counter service for meats and sides.

WEGMANS: NOT JUST A GROCERY STORE by Grace Blondell | photography by Rob Rauchwerger | design by Paula Piedrahita

“H

eaven.” “A blessing.” “The greatest place on earth.”

Each phrase has been used by RIT students to describe Wegmans, the Rochester-based, family-owned grocery chain. Wegmans recently celebrated its 100th anniversary since being founded in 1916 by brothers John and Walter Wegman. Chances are if your first exposure to Wegmans was when you came to RIT, you were a little confused during orientation week when you heard local students raving about a supermarket. Priding itself on its high standards and innovation since its earliest days, the supermarket chain has become a permanent part of Rochester culture with most locals agreeing that it

10 Leisure

is more than just a grocery store, while a few dissenters maintain that it’s vastly overrated. Wegmans has consistently been ranked as a top company to work for by both FORTUNE magazine and Forbes, and in 2016 was named America’s Favorite Supermarket based on a

THE SUPERMARKET CHAIN HAS BECOME A PERMANENT PART OF ROCHESTER CULTURE.

consumer study by Market Force Information. As one of the largest privately owned companies in the United States, Wegmans has amassed accolades for its excellence as an employer and a retailer, as well as its dedication to its customers and communities in its 92 locations across the East Coast.

Local Supermarket Turned Regional Phenomenon In 1916, John Wegman opened the Rochester Fruit & Vegetable Company after spending time selling fresh produce to locals out of a pushcart, marking the beginning of Wegmans Food Markets. According to the Wegmans website, his brother Walter joined the business endeavor a year later, and in 1921, the two purchased the Seel Grocery

WEGMANS IS SETTING THE STANDARDS FOR GROCERY STORES ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND PRODUCT QUALITY AND VARIETY. Co. and added bakery and general groceries departments. By the 1930s, Wegmans was making a name for itself on the national level with the introduction of foreign yet ingenious concepts that included refrigerated display windows, vaporized water sprays, a catering service and weekly menu bulletins. By 1937, Wegman’s son Robert had joined the company, and he became president in 1950 after his father’s death. Robert envisioned Wegmans as the “finest supermarket chain in the land,” and worked tirelessly for over 50 years to turn that vision into reality. Employees’ salaries were raised and they gained a wide range of benefits, stores were outfitted with the latest technologies to improve efficiency and customer service and additional departments were included in the new stores that were springing up around the region. Danny Wegman, Robert Wegman’s son, joined the family company in 1964, and the following decade saw the company gain firmer control of their food supplies with the establishment of their meat distribution center and a private-label buying program which introduced the Wegmans Brand. Additionally, the first Wegmans Pharmacy, seafood department and home centers opened around that same time. In 1976, produce departments converted to a “pick a little or pick a lot” philosophy in lieu of pre-packaging. Also at this time, Wegmans began engaging extensively with its employees and the surrounding communities with philanthropic efforts. As listed on their website, the

Fresh produce is frequently delivered from local farms.

contributions Wegmans has made to the community since the 1970s include regular donations to local food banks, forming its own Federal Credit Union committed to providing lower-interest loan rates, partnering with Rochester City School District to employ students, providing academic assistance, granting scholarships, starting a United Way campaign that raised $1.6 million in its first year, donating millions for the establishment of a pharmacy school and a nursing school at St. John Fisher College and helping fund a research center here at RIT for the development of sustainable packaging. Today, Wegmans is recognized not as the local grocery it once was, but as a regional phenomenon; it is setting the standards for grocery stores across the country in terms of customer service, civic engagement and product quality and variety. Customers entering stores are greeted by vibrant signage, an extensive prepared foods

“WEGMANS IS THE KIND OF GROCERY STORE THAT YOU MISS WHEN YOU NO LONGER LIVE NEAR ONE.”

department and niche products, as well as monthly savings and quarterly copies of Menu Magazine as perks of a free Shoppers Club membership.

making impressions Innovative ideas, generous giving and happy employees make a good business, but Wegmans is more than that. Wegmans is the kind of grocery store that you miss when you no longer live near one. Currently attending grad school at Georgia Tech, Rochester native Gaurav Shastri is an eight-hour drive from the nearest Wegmans location in Virginia. Although Georgia has larger grocery chains including Kroger, Publix and Whole Foods, Shastri said. “It’s impossible to find anything that comes even close [to Wegmans].” As someone who cooks frequently, Shastri views Wegmans as being at the top of its class for its “top notch” products, particularly produce. Additionally, the variety of goods it carries has rendered it “irreplaceable.” He’s met a few people in Georgia that are familiar with Wegmans, including a friend from Baltimore who is not quite as passionate about the store as he is, but who also “notices how much better it is than other [grocery stores] around here.” Having spent the past five years on the West Coast, Pittsford native Richard Sheu finds himself in a similar position to Shastri. His freshman year at UCLA was a time of adjustment and change: he had to acclimate himself to the different aspects of life that result from going off to college, and not having

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The coffee bar offers a large selection of hot and cold drinks.

a Wegmans around was part of this transition. As a student, Sheu mostly shopped at Ralphs, the closest grocery store to campus, and continues to shop there now because the cheaper products are more catered to his spending habits than other California chains like Safeway, Costco, Vons and Trader Joe’s. The Ralphs location by UCLA happens to be the highest grossing Ralphs in America, which led to its upgrade to a “super supermarket” during Sheu’s junior year of college; he describes the renovated store as “trying to emulate more upscale grocery stores.” He continued, “All my friends were like oh my god, this is so sick ... I’m like oh my god, this is only like half of what Wegmans is.” When explaining the differences between Wegmans and some of the other chains out West, Sheu notes that he likes that Wegmans

has their own private label and consistently offers high-quality products. California chains carry some brands and product lines that don’t exist here on the East Coast, but Sheu says, “The way [products] look and the way [they’re] branded looks better at Wegmans.” While not having Wegmans around has become a way of life, Sheu gets excited to visit the store on trips back home and brings up Wegmans when meeting people from the East Coast in Los Angeles. The store is an easy talking point for Sheu, especially being from Pittsford where the flagship store is located. “Wegmans is kind of like a badge of honor that I’m from upstate New York or the East Coast,” he said. Sheu has been keeping up with the expansion of Wegmans down the East Coast and wouldn’t complain if they |

moved out west; it would be like “a piece of Rochester coming all the way from New York to LA,” he mentioned. Although there is a lot of competition in the LA area, Sheu strongly believes that anyone who misses Wegmans would go out of their way to shop there. On the contrary, first year Biomedical Engineering student Eleanor O’Gorman did not grow up around Wegmans. The Maine native wasn’t exposed to the hype surrounding the grocery store until her first weeks at RIT, but even friends away from the Rochester area expressed their fascination with the store, so she figured it was worth a visit. However, after her first experience there, O’Gorman “didn’t find anything to be that different than home,” which includes the chains Hannaford and Shaw’s. She

“ALL MY FRIENDS WERE LIKE OH MY GOD, THIS IS SO SICK . . . I’M LIKE OH MY GOD, THIS IS ONLY LIKE HALF OF WHAT WEGMANS IS.” 12 Leisure

“WEGMANS IS KIND OF LIKE A BADGE OF HONOR THAT I’M FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK OR THE EAST COAST.” admitted that the grocery stores in Maine don’t have the “same restaurant aspect” as Wegmans, but they aren’t “hella expensive” like Wegmans, either. While she continues shopping at Wegmans for groceries out of necessity, she still doesn’t “understand why everyone is so obsessed with it.”

Shoppers can weigh out just the right amount of nuts and candies at the bulk food section.

The Inside Scoop When fourth year Industrial Engineering student Madeline Galvin was growing up, the nearest Wegmans was 40 minutes away in Syracuse, which made the rare weekend trips there a big deal. When it came time to look for a co-op, it was almost a no-brainer for Galvin. After hearing so many positive things about the experiences of other students and full-time store employees, she sought out a position at Wegmans. Currently just five weeks into her eight-month long co-op for Project Support Services within the IT department for Wegmans Corporate, Galvin says she is considering staying at Wegmans after her co-op ends. “I love Wegmans, it’s my favorite thing,” she said. As part of her position, Galvin supports project managers on IT projects. Among the department’s recent developments are

“I LOVE WEGMANS, IT’S MY FAVORITE THING.” e-notifications from the pharmacy that deliver text message notifications about prescriptions that need to be filled or picked up, a more streamlined scholarship application process for student employees and an improved app that now includes digital coupons. The new digital coupon service chooses the coupons displayed to the user based on their prior Shopper’s Club purchases, offering a customized shopping experience. Users only need to the coupon

on their smartphone for it to be applied to their purchase at the store. As someone with an inside perspective on Wegmans, Galvin says the store has been able to set itself apart from its competition because it “offers an experience.” It has high standards for its employees who are constantly on the floor assisting customers, as well as high standards for its products. Galvin had the opportunity to see just how fresh the products on display are when she visited some of the local warehouses, describing the turnover rate of products here as “insane.” Galvin also visited the Culinary Innovation Center, where Wegmans prepares its ready-to-cook foods, and watched mashed potatoes being prepared. She also explains that entrées in the prepared foods department are prepared mostly in store, while cheeses are ripened in the Rochester Cheese Cave, meaning your six-dollar meals and Gouda are of the highest quality. Because Wegmans strives to consistently provide their best, extensive data collection and analysis occurs behind the scenes to make sure this happens. Efforts are focused on analyzing Shoppers Club card information, which allows Wegmans to customize locations to best fit the customer base. Different stores offer different sections based on what customers buy in specific locales, increasing the amount of diversity between stores unique.

locals get first look at products AND technology Due to Wegmans being locally based, Rochester has been exposed to some of Wegmans’ more unique endeavors. New Wegmans restaurants are opening across Monroe County, including “Next Door,” a bar and grill located across from the Pittsford store; “Amore” an Italian restaurant that offers classes, including how to make mozzarella cheese; and “The Pub,” with locations extending across state lines. Additionally, the Pittsford Wegmans – the flagship location– is the first of any Wegmans to test out many new products and technologies. Galvin explained that the LaneHawk, a camera that detects items at the bottom of a shopping cart, was first tested there. Now that the technology has been implemented in all locations, the next step for the LaneHawk could potentially be an upcoming project for Galvin and the IT Department: devising a method to have the camera scan items in addition to detecting them. Constantly evolving to better itself for the communities it serves, Wegmans has revolutionized grocery stores and the grocery shopping experience, which is why it is so widely revered by those that live in locales with one of the famed supermarkets. Wegmans is not just grocery store — it is a destination.

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illustration by Derek Gieraltowski design by Dennae Makel

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i n t r o d u c i n g

RIT’ S 10

PRESIDENT

by Mandi Moon | photography by Joey Ressler | design by Kendra Murphy

hen the curtains close on one act, they inevitably open on another. Although the Decade of Destler is coming to a close, there is a new face emerging in the spotlight — that of Dr. David C. Munson, Jr. Munson was recently selected as RIT’s incoming president, making him the 10th person in RIT history to take the helm. Although he is still acclimating to his new position, Munson has already forged a connection with the campus and aims to develop that connection in the months before officially assuming office in July 2017. “RIT has been rapidly ascending over the past 10 or 20 years, thanks to the previous presidents and the faculty, students, staff — everybody working hard,” said Munson. “I see a chance for RIT to get even better yet, and I like to be a part of things that are growing and ascending.” From a student’s perspective, with summer and winter break intervening, this process may have seemed like it took no time at

16 Features

all — but Munson was selected from a highly competitive, nationwide pool of candidates, and he came out on top.

Casting Call

The search for a new president began last year when President Bill Destler announced his retirement on May 9, 2016, and ended with the selection of Munson, announced Jan. 25, 2017. By no means was this an arbitrary choice. Destler’s announcement was followed by the formation of a special committee dedicated solely to finding a replacement. The committee, which included Andrea Shaver, fourth year Graphic Design major and president of Student Government (SG), Amar Bhatt, fifth year Computer Engineering student and vice president of SG and several members of RIT’s faculty, staff and alumni, was aided in its search by Isaacson, Miller, a recruiting company based out of Boston. The committee’s first job was to decide

what, exactly, RIT was looking for in its next president — and then to find someone who would fit the bill. “It was important that they were a holistic enough person that they would understand, and be able to work with and support, majors from all colleges at RIT,” said Shaver. Other characteristics Shaver mentioned the committee thought of as crucial were a dedication to RIT’s mission of diversity, equity and inclusion (for faculty and staff as well

“It was important that they were a holistic enough person that they would understand, and be able to work with and support, majors from all colleges at RIT,” said Shaver.

David C. Munson Jr. answers questions from reporters at the announcement of his new position as the next president of RIT at the Gordon Field House in Henrietta, N.Y. on Jan. 25, 2017.

as students); interest in expanding global opportunities for students; and keeping RIT a student-centric university. There were several rounds of deliberation, each of which whittled down the pool of candidates from across the nation. The candidates sent in letters and went through two rounds of interviews. Finally, the committee recommended three top choices to the Board of Trustees. Out of these three choices, Munson was determined to be the best person for the job — after surviving some seriously tight competition. “Amar and I were really happy with all of the top three,” said Shaver. “We were in a really great position.”

Attracting the Spotlight

So what did the committee see in the engineer from the Midwest that really set him apart? “He was just really genuine,” said Shaver. “You can just tell he really did his homework,

he was really interested in RIT and then, from there, he just wanted to learn more.” The committee was also impressed with Munson’s resume and his history of bridging multidisciplinary gaps. Munson earned his B.S. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Delaware and his M.S., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from Princeton University. He has a long history in higher education and engineering; his past roles include his 24-year tenure as an engineering professor at the University of Illinois, 3 years as the chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan and most recently the Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering, again at the University of Michigan. Although all of his degrees are in engineering, Munson is far from onedimensional. While at Michigan, he developed a program known as ArtsEngine, which encourages multidisciplinary work

across University of Michigan’s schools of Engineering; Music, Theatre and Dance; Art and Design; and Architecture and Urban Planning. He also founded his own company called InstaRecon, Inc., sang in a folk music group growing up and considers himself an amateur photographer. It’s not hard to see what the committee saw in Munson, but there was a mutual attraction at play. “I had never seen the campus, never been on the campus, and was just very favorably impressed,” Munson said about his visit after his initial interview with the search committee, which took place the day before a snowstorm caused RIT to cancel classes last semester. “As things progressed, I got to meet more and more people from the RIT community,” he continued. “I just really liked all the people that I spoke with.” He expressed appreciation for the grounds, and after taking some time to explore town — experience Dinosaur BBQ

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for the first time — he decided that he could indeed see a future for himself and his family in Rochester. His wife, Nancy Munson, whom he said played a huge role in his decision to accept the position, was equally impressed. “She also really fell in love with the place and really adores the people,” he said. Munson also expressed an interest in the Deaf community at RIT/NTID and noted that he has a personal connection to that aspect of the school, as several of his family members have experienced hearing difficulties in the past. “That has a little bit of a special place in the hearts of me and my wife,” he said. “I think the fact that NTID is at RIT, that is really one of the jewels in the crown of RIT. It adds some vitality to the campus.” He noted that both he and his wife are excited to learn sign language and get more involved with the Deaf community.

A Work in Progress Although Munson is still in the learning process, he discussed a few things that are on the forefront of his mind as he prepares to take on his new role — some of which are explicitly included in RIT’s Strategic Plan, such as expanding RIT’s research programs and updating the university’s library to the digital age. Shaver also mentioned a few aspects to which SG believes Munson will have to pay special attention. Among these were growing the endowment, establishing and maintaining relationships with alumni, a commitment to diversity, global experiences, keeping the university ‘student-centric’ even as it moves to increase its research efforts and the ever popular concern about tuition:

“How do you make the cost of higher education more affordable?” asked Shaver. “That’s something he’s very aware of, too, and he had a lot of ideas around.” In his previous roles, Munson participated in several initiatives that provided experience for him to help RIT advance in these initiatives. “At the University of Michigan, I was a huge proponent of international programs,” said Munson. “Under my watch, we greatly expanded what we were doing.” He also has experience in fundraising for new facilities, such as a new library. “I’ve done quite a lot at Michigan in terms of fundraising for renovations and new buildings, and very much enjoy doing that,” he said. He also has a few ideas concerning things that might not be mentioned in the Strategic Plan.

“I’ll also add that even though the arts on campus are really strong, especially the studio arts, I’ve got some ideas there as well — especially for music,” Munson said. “It certainly didn’t escape my attention that RIT does not have a major performing arts facility.”

David C. Munson Jr. talks to reporters at an announcement ceremony at the Gordon Field House in Henrietta, N.Y. on Jan. 25, 2017.

18 Features

“I think the fact that NTID is at RIT, that is really one of the jewels in the crown of RIT,” said Munson. “I’ll also add that even though the arts on campus are really strong, especially the studio arts, I’ve got some ideas there as well — especially for music,” Munson said. “It certainly didn’t escape my attention that RIT does not have a major performing arts facility.” Nothing of that nature is guaranteed, however. Munson still has to get the lay of the land before he can really consider any major changes or new ideas. “I see a number of things we might do together, but I’m still in learning mode and meeting people,” he said. “I have ideas, but I need to vet those ideas with a number of people before I go public with any of them.”

The Show Must Go On Transitions are never easy, and switching from one leader to another has a huge effect on the community; RIT will be no different. “I think that he knows he has big shoes to fill, and that’s really good,” said Shaver. She noted how involved current RIT President Bill Destler and his wife Dr. Rebecca Johnson have been in the RIT community. She worried that the next president will have to spend more of his time off-campus, and won’t be able to maintain the same kind of visibility and approachability that Destler has achieved. “A lot of people know who [Destler] is, you would see him at Brick City,” she said. “So [Munson] will be going up against that when the role now is going to be more shifted to kind of really move the university to the next level.” Shaver believes that “next level” will require Munson to work with government agencies, develop relationships with private companies to assist students in getting co-ops, network with alumni in order to increase the value of RIT’s degrees and procure external fundraising in order to keep the cost of higher education down as much as possible. If those concerns weren’t weighty enough, Munson will have to follow the fact that Destler has taken on an almost folklore-

David C. Munson Jr. signs the word for “tiger” in ASL after speaking at an announcement ceremony at the Gordon Field House in Henrietta, N.Y. on Jan. 25, 2017.

like position in the culture of RIT. Students speculate about new banjo album releases and concerts, and his manipulation of the famed Weather Machine underneath the Sentinel is all but infamous. That begs the question: will the Weather Machine be passed down to Destler’s successor? Maybe, or maybe not. “He’s going to have to find his own thing, and figure out how to get students kind of behind that,” said Shaver. “He can’t be successful if he’s expected to be someone else.” Munson seems to be thinking along the same lines. “Bill Destler is really great, and I’ve enjoyed looking at videos on the web of various things he’s done,” he said. “I’ll probably have my own quirkiness, and prompt maybe some different things.” When asked what we might be in store for, however, Munson was

unwilling to elaborate, preferring to show the RIT community his personality when the time is right instead of telling us what to expect. “I’d rather it be a surprise than for me to spill all the beans right now,” he said. “The students can expect me to be a fun person and kind of a participant in their activities. We’ll dream up some fun things to do together.”

“I’ll probably have my own quirkiness, and prompt maybe some different things.”

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MONEY IS A MARSHMALLOW H

by Rozie Yeghiazarian | Illustration by Monica Nguyen-Vo | design by Kevin Zampieron

ave you ever waited until the very last minute to work on an assignment? Let’s be honest, you’ve probably done it a million times. You may even be procrastinating just reading this article! Now, replace the words “an assignment” in the previous paragraph with “climate change” and read in the voice of a major oil corporation. Climate change is likely not at the top of that company’s priority list. There are lots of factors that fuel the decision-making processes that lead to the neglect of such important social and environmental concerns, including the way our system is structured. “We’re in a financial system that makes it tempting to only think short-term,” said Dr. Sandra Rothenberg, professor and director of Saunders College Institute for Business Ethics.

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The Future is a Treat Like the children in the Stanford marshmallow experiment, organizations are making decisions every day — with or without the societal implications in mind. In the study, children were seated before a treat, in the form of a marshmallow or toy. They were then presented with a choice — to either consume the one marshmallow immediately or wait several minutes and be able to have two of the treat. The findings concluded that only a marginal amount of children were able to hold out long enough to earn the second marshmallow. The experiment was later used to expose some interesting findings

with regards to the life-long implications that patience and self-control can have on an individual’s livelihood and success. A piece published in the New York Times went so far as to discuss the other characteristic traits that allowed some children to hold out for the delayed gratification of two marshmallows. Now take that scenario and apply it to the business world. For many major corporations, the first marshmallow could be

“Corporations are always going to push for shorter term thinking than government should be obliged to do.” equated with money while the second – and often disregarded treat – is something like environmental conservation efforts or human rights advocation. Only now, the motivating factors are associated with higher stakes. “Companies have a set of external demands that push them toward prioritizing short-term benefits over long-term ones,” Rothenberg said. “So, the financial markets in particular encourage companies to think about shortterm returns.” A Harvard Business School study affirmed that not all companies suffer from this “short-termism,” but those that do tend to exhibit other unique characteristics, like riskier performance. Dr. Eric Hittinger, assistant professor of public policy at RIT, attributed the time value of money to the neglect of important social and environmental factors. “The idea is that everybody, corporations included, value things now more than we value them in the future,” he said. If somebody were to offer you the choice between $10,000 today or a slightly larger sum in a decade, the rational response would be to take the money now since you would get more out of the exchange, mathematically speaking. This inclination for immediate monetary gratification can also be referred to as financial impatience. “There are plenty of examples where organizations routinely struggle with shortterm, long-term goals,” said Dr. Shalini Khazanchi, department chair and associate professor of management, International Business and entrepreneurship. She added that losing sight of the long-term goals was a contributing factor to the downfall of Kodak, a devastating demise which Rochester witnessed first hand. Every decision an organization makes correlates with the overall goals and priorities of the collective. “Companies, because of an obligation to stockholders, only really care about what happens in the next 10 to 15 years,” Hittinger said. On the corporate level, a Harvard Business Review piece suggested that “we need to broaden our definition of success so that long-term corporate sustainability and longterm global sustainability get the attention they deserve.” By adding incentives to long-

term initiatives, issues like climate change can more easily make their way into the foreground of short-term goal setting. Unlike corporations, federal organizations have different responsibilities to their stakeholders: citizens. “Ignoring the politics, governments tend to have really low discount rates,” Hittinger noted. “Governments tend to invest for the future.” “When you look at government decisionmaking, governments will invest in projects that pay off a 2 percent return, a 3 percent return and sometimes even a 0 percent return,” said Hittinger. “The reason for this is that governments tend to have the ability to borrow money cheaply.” Unlike the short-term oriented corporations in question, the government is able to wait for the second marshmallow. They are not starved for sweets. Why is it, then, that so many governments struggle with many of the aforementioned crucial long-term goals?

Take the Cake, Already!

The lines blur as corporations lobby and special interests contaminate governmental decision-making processes. “Corporations are always going to push for shorter-term thinking than government should be obliged to do,” Hittinger said. “That’s going to become manifest through their lobbying efforts.” “It’s the government’s job to think long-term, to think over the next 50 or 100 years and, in my opinion, that puts something like climate change right in the center of this debate,” Hittinger said. “If you think 50 or 100 years out, then you ought to be doing an awful lot about climate change. If you’re thinking five or 10 years out, you should be doing absolutely nothing about climate change.”

Governments should be waiting for the second marshmallow, in case this ptotecting the environment, but often end up being swayed by the promise of cake. “For a corporation, the best legacy has been to build great products, build wealth and the legacy is that they are building industrialization, improving quality of life, providing jobs for people,” Hittinger said. “Those have always been and continue to be good things, and we’ve almost never had anything that’s challenged that point of view that ‘growth is good’ fundamentally like climate change has.” “If they knew the damage was going to happen tomorrow, I think you’d see a different decision making process,” Rothenberg noted. “But, they’re taking the short term gains and they’re weighing them against long term damage.” Money is a tantalizing marshmallow, sitting across the table. Salivating at the thought of an even bigger payoff, the nearsighted corporate mouth whispers into government’s ear, convincing it to stall critical reforms and, instead, focus on a more immediate, gluttonous, greed-propelling procrastination. A corporation with long-term horizons, on the other hand, would whistle hearty melodies about positively impacting society and the environment now, with the future in mind.

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How

childhood cartoons Script Your Thoughts

TODAY

by Ryan Black photography by Joey Ressler illustration by Stephanie Chan design by Emma Fleming

22 Features

he discussion of media is often framed around the various ways it is reflective of our lives and the world around us. It is also important to consider how media can shape us as well, both on an individual and collective level. This can be particularly true of children’s cartoons — not only because of how impressionable we are to media at that age, but also on account of kids not being able to fully realize what is (and isn’t) fictional. In fact, no one starts to really comprehend what they’re watching until they’re eight years old, according to Dr. Jessamy Comer of RIT’s Department of Psychology. “The middle of elementary school is when they finally start to understand ‘the characters I’m seeing there [are] not real people. They’re not actual human beings,’” explained Comer. She added that, even then, there can be trouble conveying the fact that these characters are played by actors. Most people don’t wrap their mind around the fact that some media is fictional until adolescence. “When [kids] meet Robert Downey Jr., he’s Iron-Man. They don’t get that this guy does not have Iron Man powers,” said Comer. “So that’s really important to remember, that when they’re looking at this, to them, it’s real. It’s very real.” The inability to make that distinction is why media and cartoons viewed at that age can be particularly influential.

Defining What is Considered “Normal” It’s commonplace to assume that most children’s cartoon characters are easy to understand, if one-dimensional. This is in

mindful of how such media can misalign a child’s understanding. “We actually find that the kids who watch a lot of media, cartoon shows, that kind of thing, tend to kind of see themselves more in one dimension as well,” Comer said. We want multifaceted kids, but instead cartoons tend to say it’s normal to be one-dimensional. Comer tied such cartoons’ influencing power to how media can emphasize what is perceived in society as normal. “When you normalize a gay couple, the kid just kind of accepts it,” explained Comer. “Kids tend to accept what is presented to them.” Certain shows in recent years such as “Stephen Universe” have depicted LGBTQIA+ relationships. Comer pointed out how kids don’t have any reason to perceive anyone as not normal unless they are told so. “Where a lot of the problems come is that we perpetuate stereotypes,” she noted, pointing specifically to the often cliche depiction of family roles. “‘Oh, Dad is out to work and Mom’s cooking dinner,’ perpetuating the stereotype that this is what women should be doing.” Because of their impressionable audience, children’s media that challenges typical norms can be impactful. As Gabrielle Bellot of The Atlantic recently pointed out, the films of Hayao Miyazaki, producer of “Spirited Away” and “Princess Mononoke,” were often standouts from other animated films of the time because their protagonists subverted the rigid archetypes for female characters seen in other cartoons and anime. In a different vein, a show like “Rugrats” (1991–2004) stood out for consciously depicting

to be more open-minded, or is it that they come from an open-minded family?” Comer speculated. “I would say it’s probably the family that’s a bigger impact.”

Voices of a Generation Between revivals of “The Powerpuff Girls,” “The Magic School Bus” and “Hey Arnold,” it seems like we are a “Rugrats” reboot away from fully tapping into the ‘90s (and early ‘00s) well of nostalgia. Much of the media that RIT students watched on Saturday mornings as kids is on the verge of returning. Within the section she authors of “X vs. Y: A Culture War, A Love Story,” Leonora Epstein noted how animation from networks like Nickelodeon of that era made such a clean break from children’s entertainment of the past, especially from what might have been seen as normal. “We were getting doses of weirdness via traditional kid-friendly formats,” wrote Epstein, referring to shows like “Rugrats,” “Rocko’s Modern Life” and “Aaahh!!! Real Monsters.” “These new Nick shows were built on surreal, absurdist and dark humor set in environments that looked dirty or like bad dreams.” The makers of reboots must pick and choose what they take from old cartoons and what they change to appeal to today’s children. Reboots can appeal to older viewers’ cravings for nostalgia while also finding new but equally creative means to reach children, perhaps by including novel ways to normalize previously unrepresented interests or ways of identifying one’s self. As Epstein articulates, media from

“When they’re looking at [cartoons], to them, it’s real. It’s very real,” said Comer. stark contrast to the multi-dimensionality with which we perceive ourselves in real life as adults. Of course, there is a limit to the level of complexity children can perceive. Having a character be too multi-faceted may make it too hard for kids to be drawn to a show or character. A concern for Comer, however, is kids latching onto the idea that it is normal in real life to define themselves so narrowly. “I think that they’re written this way to keep things simple for kids, except that we don’t want kids to be simple,” noted Comer. The “self” is something that should be multidimensional, and, to her, it is important to be

a family with Jewish heritage and traditions, even having specials for various Jewish holidays. Such breaks from cultural norms provide a form of validation for behaviors, lifestyles or forms of identity not widely recognized or represented. The impressions made by such shows on kids can inform a far less monotone view of the world as they age. Media alone cannot be solely responsible for child development. Comer wondered if the degree to which we are open-minded is more informed by family traits, or at least how willing parents are to let their kids watch media with differing points of view. “Is it really the show that’s causing the kid

milennials’ childhoods mainstreamed dry language and awkward, self-depreciative behavior on both sides of the screen. She argues that to those who watched such cartoons, defining themselves in that way is now considered “normal.” It harkens back to the influencing power Comer noted that cartoons have over us as kids, as well as how it can shape the sort of adults we become.

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GO PROFESSIONAL: RIGHT HERE IN ROCHESTER

by Samantha Wagner illustration and design by Lauren Mays

24 Sports

he city of Rochester is jam-packed with professional sport-leagues. Year-round there are plenty of sports found throughout the city — including baseball, hockey, lacrosse, basketball and soccer. Reporter reached out to a few of these teams to discuss and highlight some of the entertainment they have to offer.

The Rochester Americans (Amerks): “Back in the early 1950s, Montreal Canadiens manager Frank Selke promised that the city of Rochester, known for its cold and frigid weather, would eventually be home to an American Hockey League franchise,” said Warren Kosel, the director of public and media relations for the Rochester Amerks. The promise was upheld. By June 1956, the American Hockey League (AHL) granted a franchise and began to play that season. The Amerks are now in the midst of their 61st season as part of the AHL.

Throughout their long history, the Amerks have won a total of six Calder Cups. The team is also one of eight pro hockey franchises to win 2,000 or more games. Along with being a thriving franchise, the team brings in a record-breaking number of attendees as well. “We typically rank among the top 10 teams in the AHL in average attendance each season,” explained Kosel. “We also host several different theme nights throughout the season as well as offer new promotions that we know our fans are excited to be a part of.”

“[The Amerks] typically rank among the top 10 teams in the AHL in average attendance each season.” Some of these include a Halloween-themed night when kids are invited to dress up and trick-or-trick during the intermissions. Puck Paws Night, where fans are allowed to bring their dogs, is another favorite event. The list continues with Youth Hockey Night, Super Hero Night, Star Wars Night and many others that can spark interest for just about anyone. Besides fun themed nights, fans look forward to seeing the team itself. “Fans should be excited about a young, talented team on the rise,” said Kosel. “So far this season, we’ve seen 12 different players earn a call-up to the Sabres, including 3 that have made their NHL debuts, and they all have been contributing.” So make sure to check out the Rochester Amerks for a night full of fun and an exciting, talented team.

The Rochester RazorSharks: The RazorSharks were founded in 2005 by Dr. Sev Hrywnak, who still owns the team today. When first established, the team was part of the American Basketball Association. After two seasons, Rochester ended up leaving the ABA to become one of the founding members of the Premier Basketball League (PBL). “The ABA has a very large number of teams,” explained Matt Cahill, the front office manager for the Rochester RazorSharks. “I don’t think Dr. Hrywnak was very fond of that system and wanted to create a more prestigious league.” Throughout their short run in the ABA, the team was able to win the championship

“Our team has depth at every position on the court, which really helps guys pick each other up when someone is having a rough day.” title in the 2005–06 season. Since joining the PBL, the team has won a total of six championships. For the past three years, the RazorSharks have won three straight titles and are looking to grab another. “Our team has depth at every position on the court, which really helps guys pick each other up when someone is having a rough day,” described Cahill when asked about how the team plans to respond to the pressure of aiming for four consecutive titles. “[This] makes it much easier on the coaches when they have such a depth of talent and variety of playing styles to choose from at different points in the game.” Along with watching the successful team, there are other reasons to check out the RazorSharks. Like the Amerks, the RazorSharks plan some special events for all sorts of crowds. “We will be holding a military appreciation night at some point. Last year we had special camouflage jerseys made, which were raffled off during the game,” said Cahill. “That was a big hit and we’d like to do it again this year.” For a team that has consistently dominated its league, make sure to visit the Blue Cross Arena to watch your local RazorSharks.

The Rochester Red Wings: Rochester’s professional baseball history can be traced back to 1877, but the franchise the city has become familiar with was shaped a little later down the road. “The modern era of the Rochester Red Wings began in 1957,” described Nate Rowan, the Red Wings’s director of communications. The St. Louis Cardinals used to own the Red Wings but made the decision to sell the team after the 1956 season. “Morrie Silver, a local music store owner and real estate developer, organized a stock drive during the winter of 195657 to keep the team in Rochester,” explained Rowan. Today, Rochester is a member of the 14team international league. Since 2003, the team has been the Triple-A affiliate of the

Minnesota Twins. Formerly, the Baltimore Orioles and the Cardinals served as the Red Wings’ affiliates. Along with the Red Wings’ rich history, every season the ballpark stacks its calendar full of entertaining promotions to live up to the standards of being America’s favorite pastime. “As always, the Rochester Red Wings offer some of the most affordable family fun in the area,” said Rowan. “Our fireworks nights every Friday and Saturday night beginning May 26 are huge draws, especially for families.” “Additionally, we have a jam-packed promotional schedule that will be announced

“The Rochester Red Wings offer some of the most affordable family fun in the area.” hopefully later this month that will appeal to fans of all ages,” Rowan said. “While it’s too early to know how good the actual team on the field will be, our schedule is favorable and if the weather cooperates we could be in for one heck of a summer.” As the weather gets warmer and baseball season starts, clear a day in your busy spring schedule in order to see what the Rochester Red Wings are all about.

Watching and participating in sports around campus is always a good idea, but sometimes branching out to check out the professional scene can be fun too. Whatever the sport may be, Rochester’s teams all seem to bring their share of entertainment and talent to the table. Whether you’re in the mood for an exhilarating night at the ice rink, some action-packed fun on the court or sitting back and relaxing at the ballpark, these three local teams are just around the corner.

Sports 25

PIGMAN CA DOE BMATEE TOHN T HE

A N I M A L M O R A L I TY by Shay Alice McHale | illustration by Alexis Jeffries | design by Kendra Murphy

he fight against mortality is the longest in all of existence, and humans have taken it to new levels in developing ways to keep themselves alive for longer and longer. Some of these methods, however, tend to skirt the boundaries of what is morally right, or what can be done versus what should be done. A recent example is no exception: scientists at the Salk Institute in California experimented with pig embryos, injecting them with human stem cells to see if they would be able to grow tissues and organs out of human cells in hopes of using them for organ transplants. The goal is no doubt a noble one, as over 100,000 people currently need a lifesaving

organ transplant; this would provide a more expansive source from which to obtain these organs. The same treatment was proven to work on rats, using mouse stem cells. The embryos accepted and began reproducing human cells, and those who did seemed to grow less and more slowly. The experiment was a success. Although that does not mean that you can have Amazon deliver a heart to you by drone any time soon. Even so, the experiment itself has an unsteady standing in the scientific community. Not because of the experimentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s validity, but since the National Institute of Health has not yet lifted its moratorium on such experiments, although it has stated that

it plans to. Through all of this, it becomes clear that without adjustments to our moral code, potentially life-saving research on this level cannot proceed. The moral dilemma here is over several things. First, the idea of combining animal and human cells has led to issues over the possible adverse effects on the animal host. This is an issue that the experiment did not do much to dispel, as the growth of the pigs was affected. The other issue with this kind of research is defining a line between animal and human. These experiments could blur the lines depending on how human-like these cells turn out to be. A pig-human hybrid joining society is not an immediate or

AN ISSUE WITH THIS KIND OF RESEARCH IS DEFINING A LINE BETWEEN ANIMAL AND HUMAN. 26 Views

M O R A L I T Y A N D M O R TA L I T Y D A N C E A D E L I C AT E B A L L E T A R O U N D O N E A N OT H E R . realistic concern, but it will become an issue when harvesting the human organs from these animals becomes a routine medical procedure. Morality and mortality dance a delicate ballet around one another. We realize that no matter how much we may prolong it, the human body is designed to die. Though it is a grim fact, we cannot find a way to perfect the human genome enough to provide that essential key for immortality. The moral issue is when we find ideas â&#x20AC;&#x201D; through experimentation with other animals â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that could change this fact; not by perfecting the human genome, but by adding bits and pieces from other organisms to it. Because the animals we would use to benefit us would not survive the ordeal, we therefore value our lives above theirs. In other words, we can alter them to our liking in order to further our own potential.

While humans are the most intelligent species on earth, we also treat the value of intelligence as paramount. If we were to value species based on their overall contribution to the survival of the planet, we might put trees above all, and humans right below mosquitos. Regardless, humans think they are above all other life on this planet; I highly doubt that we plan on growing pig organs in humans any time in the foreseeable future. It is an odd thing to really think about the fact that humans might not be the most important thing in the world, but to other humans, we are. All kinds of species have developed ways to work with each other in order to survive, but never before has the relationship been so complicated. This raises the question of whether or not humanity is a mutual benefactor in its relationships with the rest of the animal kingdom. We give

animals shelter and food in return for food, comfort and so much more, yet humans also constantly damage habitats, kill for food and for sport and breed animals for our own uses in ways that often hurt them. It has always been a struggle to judge whether humanityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s relationships with animals is necessarily a healthy one, but it is not likely to change anytime soon due to how reliant we are on products we get from them. In a world where many animals are born only to die and help humans live longer, it must then be morally acceptable to create these hybrids, even if it is hard to stomach. Because humans fear death, it really becomes less and less of an issue to people whether it is right to do work like this. So until we do have to integrate a pig-human hybrid into society, morality in this area will seldom overcome mortality.

“I’d first go to South Africa, rf, learn how to su to go en th and

WOTS

New Zealand and bungee jump off of the tallest bridge.”

Wo r d o n t h e s t r e e t

What is your dream Spring Break?

an Manya Sankar r yea st Fir eering Chemical Engin

photography by Rebekah Havens | illustration by Monica Nguyen-Vo design by Dennae Makel

“I really want to go out of the country. I’d like to see a little bit of Europe.”

Charlee Lefkovich Fourth year Mechanical Engineering, Science Technology and Public Policy

The opinions expressed are solely those of the students and do not reflect the views of REPORTER 28 Views

“Diving with sharks in Haw aii. Without a ca ge.”

Lea MacKnig ht First year

Biomedical Ph otographic Communicatio ns

ance “I would go to Fr and nd to travel arou ” le. op talk to pe

Claire Canner First year tics Applied Mathema

go “I really want to l ica log ra on a mine of e on it’s dig — my passions.”

“My friends and

ic Orion Jakobov

First year n New Media Desig

I wanted to go to Canada , but the problem is we do n’t have all the nece ssary documentation for getting back in the coun try. So my dream sprin g break would be to go to Canada with them and be able to get back into th e country.”

Sam Levey Third year

Game Design an

d Development

RINGS compiled by Kevin Zampieron | illustration by Angela Krieg | design by Carina Singletary

“It’s coffee time up until it’s beer time.” December 31| 8:03 pm.

“If I could [pleasure] a president it’d be Lincoln.” January 7 | 7:20 p.m.

“Hey Rings, um, just saying hi. I miss you. I miss us. I’m just saying, we had some good times.” January 26 | 8:57 p.m.

“ALL OF THE COUCHES ARE GONE WHAT DID YOU DO JAVAS” January 23| 4:56 p.m. “Best part of the roommates being gone for the weekend is being able to go the bathroom with the door open.” January 28 | 5:56 p.m.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the students and do not reflect the views of REPORTER

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