Winthrop University
Wednesday
January 29, 2020
Rock Hill, SC
Serving Winthrop and Rock Hill Since 1923
West Forum discusses women, inequalities in Constitution The Equal Rights Amendment and what it means for women in this day and age
Matt Thrift thriftm@mytjnow.com Last Tuesday, the John C. West Forum on Politics and Policy at Winthrop University hosted Patricia Wolman of the South Carolina League of Women Voters to discuss the status of the Equal Rights Amendment. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the ERA was introduced to the United States Congress in 1923 — shortly after women were given the right to vote on a national level — and was approved by the Senate in 1972, a full 49 years after being introduced. The amendment was given to the individual states for ratification but failed to reach the required passage by 38 states to become a constitutional amendment, even after a 10 year deadline extension. Katarina Moyon, director of the West Forum, opened the event by saying that the ERA lecture was the “first even kicking off our celebration of the hundredth anniversary of the 19th Amendment, giving women across the country the right to vote.” “Last week, the state of Virginia became the 38th state to approve the constitutional amendment for the Equal Rights Amendment. This is following Nevada in 2017 and Illinois in 2018,” Moyon said. “It’s a symbolic victory for those who for generations have been advocating for constitutional guarantees of legal rights regardless of sex.” Moyon went on to say that the ERA “is also up for vote this year in the South Carolina legislature.” “I [wanted] to start out talking
Maggie Claytor/ The Johnsonian about where we are right now because it’s a continuing saga,” Wolman said. She went on to describe the influence that her grandmother had, due to her fierce commitment to voting. “She was really committed to it. Illness, foul weather, time constraints, lack of transportation, nothing could keep her from voting in local, state [and] national elections,” Wolman said. “Only her death at age 90 kept her away from the polls.” Wolman said that the “purpose” of the presentation was to deliver a “better understanding” of the ERA’s “journey.”
“The ERA is really the fulfillment of a belief in how we think women should be treated in the world,” Wolman said. “In this country, we’ve been struggling with that process for over 230 years and counting.” Wolman talked about a letter that Abigail Adams sent to her husband, ‘Founding Father’ John Adams, in the spring of 1776. In this letter, Abigail wrote that “[women] will not be bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation.” “It wasn’t until 60 years after the Constitution was written that a group of brave souls got together to once
again try to get women some rights,” Wolman said. “In July of 1848, 300 women’s rights activists met in Seneca Falls, New York to hold this country’s first convention on women’s rights.” Wolman discussed the events that led up to the famous two-day Seneca Falls convention — which Wolman said was filled with “lively conversations and heated discussions” — and said that the convention culminated in the writing of the Declaration of Sentiments, which Wolman described as being “modeled after the Declaration of Independence.” Wolman talked about some of the internal divisions within the group that had attended the Seneca Falls convention. She credited Frederick Douglass — who Wolman said was the “sole African American” attendee at the convention — with being largely responsible for helping women achieve the right to vote. “He’s the one [who] pushed it through,” Wolman said. “Unfortunately, his graciousness was not returned,” Wolman said. “When the 15th Amendment gave black men the right to vote, [prominent suffragettes] Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony refused to support it. They said that if women could not have the right to vote, then neither should black men.” Wolman described how some suffragettes refocused their efforts on attaining rights for white women, and she said that the split “plagued the women’s rights movement from that point forward.”
4see Equal rights pg. 2
Connecting climate change and wildfires Taking a look at the cause of the recent Australian bushfires—could they have been avoided? Savannah Scott scotts@mytjnow.com The Australian fires have affected millions of animals and have killed over 30 people since they started in September, according to a recent article from Time magazine. But why are these fires so much more severe than past wildfires and how can these kinds of fires be prevented in the future? Rising climate temperatures have created drier environments and less rainfall in some areas. This in turn affects the severity and rapidness of these Australian wildfires. “The issues with why it’s so bad because of the warmer, drier climate. The vegetation dries out and becomes more flammable,” Jennifer Schafer, a biology professor at Winthrop, said. “Also, if there’s not enough rainfall that contributes to the dryness. These habitats would burn naturally but the combination of climate makes it more severe and widespread.” Plant vegetation and wildlife are historically adapted to these natural fires because of the dryness of certain habitats. These drier plant communities are naturally flammable.
“Many ecosystems [and] many vegetation communities naturally burn and depend on fire to maintain the plant community structure and the species diversity that exists there,” Schafer said. “If there are no fires in those systems…diversity is reduced, there’s less habitat for [certain animals]. Fire is a common disturbance.” Another reason why wildfires are worse is because of their rapid spread. Although this typically does not affect vegetation, it causes problems for humans and wildlife. “The ecosystem is designed to withstand it. Animals move away to safer locations and then return. But in many cases, [they] have no place to go,” Scott Werts, a professor of geology at Winthrop, said. “Due to the higher…temperature[s] and drier than usual conditions, these are burning hotter and are harder to put out.” Although natural fires occur and are not completely preventable, humans can do controlled fires to burn the flammable vegetation and prevent less damage. “They clean out smaller, lower, vegetation and create low grade fires. It makes it harder for severe fires to occur because they can’t build as
Tate Walden/ The Johnsonian In 2019 about 4.6 million acres were burned due to wildfires. In Australia 12.35 million acres have been affected by the bushfires. easily. However, once a severe fire starts, it doesn’t much matter if there was a controlled fire there before,” Werts said. “The fire spreads through the tree tops and through the weather systems that the fire itself creates… controlled fires can keep larger regions from...getting severe [fires].” It is encouraged that people become more aware of their effects on and contribution to these wildfires, as well as voting for people advocat-
ing to combat climate change. “A ton of fires are started by humans who do silly things. Humans need to be thoughtful about when they are burning things and making sure they are not contributing to these fires,” Schafer said. “[Vote] for people that don’t deny climate change or advocate for reducing the CO2 emissions. [The wildfires are] this horrible because of climate and at this point it’s only getting worse.”
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January 29, 2020
theJohnsonian
3Equal rights from front “While race issues threatened to derail women’s right to vote, class issues were equally contentious with the ERA,” Wolman said. Wolman said that the ERA was introduced by a woman named Alice Paul, and that the ERA that Paul introduced is “the very same that we are talking about today.” Despite years of struggles and internal disputes within the women’s rights movement, the ERA had “unprecedented public support” by the 1970s, according to Wolman. She said that the ERA passed in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of
354-24 in 1972 and passed in the U.S. Senate by a vote of 84-8. Not long after this, a “strong and well-organized opposition took hold,” Wolman said. She explained that the seven-year deadline was extended to 10 years, but the ERA still “fell three states short.” Wolman said that one reason that the proposed amendment failed was an anti-ERA campaign that utilized “fear.” “The leaders had a faith-based belief that women should be subordinate to men,” Wolman said. “They felt that women’s primary role in society was a wife, mother and
homemaker. They said that equality would threaten the many privileges that women had and they stoked fear that equality would bring about a host of other terrible consequences that would ruin society … they said that a woman would lose her right to be supported by her husband — she would lose alimony in divorce settlements. She could be drafted and sent [into] combat. Abortion rights would be widespread and freely obtained. Homosexual teachers, marriages and even adoptions would be allowed and single-sex bathrooms would be eliminated.” Wolman said that the ERA is “not
a radical idea” and pointed to surveys that report that most adults in the United States believe in equal rights for all citizens although “80 percent of Americans believe that we already have equal rights, that the Constitution already guarantees them — it does not,” which Wolman characterized as a “problem.” She said that as of right now, the U.S. has laws against discrimination but said that “laws can be changed.” “What we gain in one circumstance, we can easily lose in another,” she said.
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About The Johnsonian
Editor-in-Chief S&T Editor Anna Sharpe Savannah Scott sharpea@mytjnow.com The Johnsonian is the weekly student newspaper of Winthrop University. Sports Editor Gabby Gardner Managing Editor your name, major and LETTER POLICY Maggie Claytor year if you are a student; Letters and feedback claytorm@mytjnow.com Assistant Sports your name and title if can be sent to editors@ La J’ai Reed CONTACT mytjnow.com or by mail you are a professor, or News Editor INFORMATION your name and profes- Matt Thrift at The Johnsonian, 104 A&C Editor Our offices are located sion if you are a member Campus Center, Rock Laura Munson in suite 104 in the DiGiof the community. Assistant News Hill, S.C. 29733. Comorgio Campus Center. Letters, cartoons and Ann Marie Juarez Photography Editor ments submitted online Phone: columns reflect the Tate Walden at www.mytjnow.com
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January 29, 2020
Spring Involvement Fair Student organizations table in Richardson ballroom to attract new members
Ann Marie Juarez
juareza@mytjnow.com This year’s spring involvement fair at Winthrop University saw some of the 160 student organizations on campus raise awareness about what they do, with everything from Greek life to marketing to skydiving being represented. 60 of Winthrop’s student organizations set up in Richardson Ballroom last Thursday to talk to students who were interested in getting more involved on campus. Students who attended the event approached clubs and organizations with any questions they had about joining a group. The student organizations signed up new members and explained more about what their organizations do. Director of the DiGiorgio Campus Center Alicia Marstall oversaw the event and said that 60 organizations were the maximum amount of organizations the venue could hold. Marstall and staff provided drinks and snacks such as Krispy Kreme donuts to students that were present at the event. “The event is a great way for new students to come out and meet representatives from some of our student organizations to see what they have to offer,” Marstall said. One of the organizations represented was the Winthrop American Marketing Association, whose purpose is to help students learn to succeed in business environments
during their time at the university and beyond. This is executed by hosting events and networking with those working in the business world. Winthrop AMA hosts events for members to teach other students new ideas in the marketing and business field. “It is all about branding yourself
Workers is to highlight academic achievements as well as professional awards. This is done through community involvement with a focus on creating a group of students who can help previous and current members obtain jobs and internships. Shawanda Erby is a second year graduate student and the president
dialogue about those issues and become advocates for those facing injustice.” The Association of Black Social Workers is actively looking for new members who “are dedicated to investment in the black community.” The Winthrop Student Environmental Action Coalition’s purpose is to bring awareness to environmental issues. The group has worked with the university to create alternatives for a more eco-friendly campus. The group participates in litter clean-ups both on-campus and off-campus, working in the university’s community garden and educating peers through events about the environment. Sarah Mulligan, junior and copresident of SEAC, said that the aim of the group is “educating Winthrop students, and helping them get active in their community in events such as campus clean ups and getting students more aware of the climate crisis that is happening in the world.” The group places focus on both local and global environmental issues. The group is looking for eager, and motivated students who want to learn. “We really want to get our numAnn Marie Juarez/ The Johnsonian bers up at our meetings which are Sarah Mulligan, junior and co-president of the Student Environmental Action Coalition, and members of SEAC tabled at the Spring Involvement on Tuesdays, any major is welcome to join,” Mulligan said. Fair. SEAC helped the Office of Sustainability plant flowers in the as a professional,” said Madelyn of the Association of Black Social pollinator garden on Campus Green Ashwell, a senior at Winthrop and Workers. Erby described the purin Oct. 2019 and raised money for social media coordinator for Winpose of the organization as sharing the Winthrop beehive in Nov. 2019 throp AMA. “awareness on issues that African through T-shirt sales. The purpose of Winthrop’s chapAmericans face every day. Our goal ter of the Association of Black Social is to create opportunities for open
Police Blotter Here is a rundown of calls WUPO received in January Matt Thrift
thriftm@mytjnow.com On Jan. 21, a student met with an officer at the Winthrop University Police Department building in reference to “obscure text messages she had received.” The victim told the officer that she had received a message from a phone number “stating they had received a message through [Snapchat] that they would get paid [$20] to post pictures of the victim on the dark web.” The victim also received a message from a different phone number “stating roughly the same information,” according to the report. The victim told the officer that an individual (who is “listed as Suspect”) had “posted the information about her on Snapchat.” The victim showed the officer a Facebook page that allegedly belongs to the suspect. The victim denied that the two had a relationship and told the officer that she and the suspect had “previously exchanged messages via Instagram, but she had never sent him any photos of herself.” The victim said that she was “not sure what photos the Suspect claims he might have.” The officer attempted to make contact with the phone numbers but
was unsuccessful. The victim was “advised to block the Suspect from all social media accounts and to not respond to any further text messages that she does not know who they are.” The victim was advised to notify WUPD should she think of anything else or figure out who the Suspect is. An officer with WUPD was dispatched to Alumni Drive in regards to a hit-and-run collision. The victim — a Winthrop student — informed the officer that her car had been side-swiped overnight. According to the report, the officer “observed damage to the driver side rear fender well of the vehicle and the rear bumper.” The officer gave the victim a Victim Notification Form as well as a collision report. The officer later attempted to locate surveillance footage that might show how the damage occurred, but the officer “was unable to locate any camera footage.” The case has been administratively closed “due to lack of leads and evidence.” On Jan. 21, a WUPD officer was dispatched to the parking lot on College Avenue in regards to a hit-and-run. The officer searched the parking lot but was unable to find any vehicles that may have been in-
Matt Thrift | News Editor thriftm@mytjnow.com
volved in a collision. The victim contacted WUPD and “advised that her vehicle was hit and nobody else was on scene.” The officer met with the victim and the victim showed the officer a dark grey Chevrolet Camaro “that did have scratches on the rear fender.” The victim showed the officer a note that had been left on the windshield by a Winthrop student. The subject called WUPD and said that she was on her way to meet with the officer. The subject arrived soon after with her father. The officer issued both the victim and the subject copies of the collision report. The subject was issued a citation for Leaving the Scene of an Accident (Parked Vehicle) and was “short form booked and released.” On Jan. 22, a Winthrop student met with a WUPD officer “to discuss a petty larceny she was a victim of earlier that day.” According to the report, the student told the officer that she “had been on the front lawn of Withers emptying items from her book bag at 1:23 p.m.” Later that day, she realized that her wallet was missing. She reported the
Maggie Claytor/ The Johnsonian wallet and other personal belongings as stolen. The victim received a call from the credit union that issued her debit card informing her “that her missing items had been turned in to them” by a suspect initially referred to in the report by a nickname. However, cash and one of personal belongings that was reported missing were not turned in. The officer made contact with an employee of the credit union who was able to provide the officer with a still image of the suspect walking into the building. The credit union employee told the officer where the suspect works and “that he could be contacted if needed.” The next day, the officer made contact with the suspect at his place of employment. He told the officer that he had found the items on the sidewalk in front of Withers. He said that based off of the debit card, he turned the items into one of the credit union’s locations “in hopes of the property being returned to the owner.” The case has been administratively closed due to a lack of leads.
theJohnsonian January 29, 2020
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Speak Up: Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Minority Students on College Campuses Panelists and Winthrop students address minority mental health and their experiences feel as if something was wrong with her while she was growing up for juareza@mytjnow.com seeking out help instead of trusting religion to help. Mental health has become an Winthrop’s Director of Campus important topic in the larger cultural Programming Angelo Geter said conversation, and last week Winthat he had a similar experience. He throp held an event to discuss how recalled being told “God will handle mental health issues are dealt with it” and that he didn’t need to see a in communities of color. therapist for his mental health. Narkeya Byrd is a licensed Geter quoted a phrase associatclinical therapist and co-founder of ed with James 2:14, “Faith without Prolific Life Support Network of The works is dead” and used this scripCarolinas, and she was a panelist ture to draw on the fact that even during the discussion last Wednesthough those who were religious day. Byrd highlighted how minority were telling him that all he needed students face issues related to mento do was give it to God. tal health differently. “Therapy is part of the work,” Byrd talked about issues first genGeter said. eration college students may face. Sophomore Stephanie Martinez For example, figuring out how to pay said that if you open up about menfor college without having people tal health issues within her culture, around them who have experience in it’s seen as an excuse for just being such a situation can create a barrier “lazy” and not wanting to face your for first generation students. This problems. She also expressed frusbarrier can also lead to college stutration about difficulties that arise dents not knowing which resources when trying to get an appointment on campus may be available to them, with a counselor on campus. such as free counseling services. Jessica Hudgens, staff counselor Mental health advocate and first and outreach coordinator, modgeneration college student Nyjia erated this panel. While Hudgens Lowrance graduated from North understands frustration with the Carolina Central University in counseling center being booked ocDurham, North Carolina. She refercasionally, she encouraged students enced the fact that Durham is known to book intake sessions early in the as “the city of medicine” but that she Ann Marie Juarez/ The Johnsonian semester. This way, the students struggled harder than she thought Speak Up panel, including Narkeya Byrd and Nyjia Lowrance, was in will already be in the system and she should have to find counseling will have a better chance of being services that made sense for her and Dina’s Place on Jan 22 discussing the mental helath needs of minority seen during high-stress times in the were accommodating of her financial college students. semester. There are currently four status. issues but felt like her family is this person is sad and needs help/ counselors and two interns who see Mental health advocate Shanae what held her back from seeking support.” students. Wright talked about how mental professional help before coming to Yazmeen Garcia is a graduate Sophomore Jamia Johnson health struggles are viewed in Afristudent at UNC Charlotte who is said that “taking time” for herself can American culture. She described Winthrop. When Harrell opened up to her family about issues, she was studying to be a mental health and “realizing the importance of growing up and hearing people who told “you’re not crazy, you just need and addiction counselor. Garcia’s a healthy mind” has been benefiwere struggling referred to as “difJesus.” parents are from the Dominican cial. She said that having a support ferent” and said that the struggles Harrell said that in the African Republic and Puerto Rico, and she system has been key to keeping her of those labeled as such were, in her American community talking about said that in her culture, religion was mental health in check and how, experience, not properly addressed. mental health is looked down upon. offered as a way for people to handle in her experience, a night out with Mental health issues often overlap “I have to love me for me,” Harmental health issues. friends can make a difference in with substance abuse and addiction, “We’re all from different cultures one’s mental health. and Wright said that those who dealt rell said, describing becoming okay with not being accepted by everyone. and taught to handle situations difwith substance abuse issues were Harrell has credited some of her ferently,” Garcia said. downplayed and written off as just mental health growth to the free Garcia described being made to Ann Marie Juarez
a “crazy drunk aunt,” for instance. That label was accepted, and, in her culture, they didn’t try to seek out help for those individuals. They were accustomed to letting these people “have their moments” and then moving on instead of facing the issue that they needed help. “We don’t seek out help, we just deal with it because that’s all we know,” Wright said. Tiana Harrell is a junior who said she has dealt with mental health
counseling services that are available on campus. Mokeela Brown, health committee chair for the NAACP at Winthrop, said that stigmas within a community are hindrances. “I think with generalizations, they [impede] the idea of getting help when you really need it,” Brown said. “I don’t think people realize how toxic generalizations can be to a person’s mental health. It doesn’t help to deflect from the issue that
More Political Talk A rundown of what’s new on the campaign trail
Matt Thrift
thriftm@mytjnow.com Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has seen a continued rise in the polls, with a new poll from the New York Times/Siena College showing him receiving 25 percent in a poll question asking which Democratic candidate would be the first choice for voters in the upcoming Iowa caucuses, according to an article by Sydney Ember and Jonathan Martin published in The New York Times on Jan. 25. Ember and Martin wrote that Sanders “has gained six points since the last Times-Siena survey” which was taken in Oct. 2019. South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg and former Sen. Joe Biden “have remained stagnant since the fall,” according to the article. Sen. Elizabeth Warren saw a decrease since the last poll, dropping from 22 percent to 15 percent. Warren is trailed by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Wall Street banker and billionaire Tom Steyer and former corporate lawyer Andrew Yang, respectively. President Donald Trump has continued holding rallies and making public appearances amidst the ongoing impeachment proceedings. His rally in Wildwood, New Jersey on Tuesday saw more than 100,000 ticket requests coming in. New Jersey 101.5 said in an article posted to their website that this high number of requests for tickets could make the rally one of Trump’s biggest
rallies so far. The president also made an appearance at the annual March for Life rally, which took place on Friday. NBC News reported that Trump was “the first sitting president to attend [the] March for Life rally.” Trump told the pro-life
crowd that “unborn children have never had a stronger defender in the White House.” “Together, we are the voice for the voiceless,” Trump said. U.S. Rep. from Hawaii Tulsi Gabbard made headlines recently when she filed a $50 million defamation lawsuit against Hillary Clinton following Clinton’s baseless accusation that Gabbard is an asset of the Russian government. Gabbard has made semi-regular appearances on Tucker Carlson Tonight while on the campaign trail and she again appeared on his show last week to discuss the lawsuit. Gabbard said that the lawsuit is about her “life” as well as Clinton implying that she is a
Ann Marie Juarez | Assistant News Editor juareza@mytjnow.com
“traitor.” “I think it was a very clear and intentional message that if you dare to cross Hillary Clinton or her powerful allies...you too will see your reputation smeared,” Gabbard said. “You too will get the kind of false and baseless accusations that we’ve seen from Hillary towards me. It’s an attempt to silence anyone who dares to cross her.” Carlson — a longtime critic of Clinton — said that people were
Maggie Claytor/ The Johnsonian “shocked” that Gabbard filed the lawsuit but said that he was not shocked by the news.
“She accused you of being ‘groomed’ by a foreign power to subvert this country. We’re of course rooting for you in this,” Carlson said. One of the most interesting events so far on the run for the White House centered around comedian and UFC color commentator Joe Rogan. On a recent episode of his podcast the Joe Rogan Experience, he told comedian and political commentator Jimmy Dore that “all” of the Democratic candidates have approached him about guests on the show (which has an audience in the millions) but he has refused all except for Gabbard, Sanders and Yang. “I like Tulsi and I like Bernie,” Rogan said. “That’s it.” Several episodes later, Rogan told columnist Bari Weiss that he would “probably vote for Bernie” in the primary. Sanders tweeted the clip from Rogan’s conversation with Weiss and the controversy began almost immediately. According to The Hill, The Human Rights Campaign’s President Alphonso David criticized Sanders for accepting Rogan’s endorsement along with a number of ‘blue check’ Twitter users. Much of the controversy stems from Rogan having guests on his podcast who are said to be “right wing” as well as his questioning of whether or not children should be given hormone blockers. While Sanders has yet to denounce Rogan’s endorsement, the debate continues over whether or not the Vermont senator’s embrace of the endorsement will help him or
S&T
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theJohnsonian
Do advertisers know you better than you do? January 29, 2020
A look at what is going on with third-party apps collecting consumer data David Botzer
staff writer
The rapid modernization of technology has led to phones tracking consumer behavior. But how much information about an individual's life is being obtained? Consumer data is being used as a tool by companies to endorse their products through advertisements. How are companies able to do this? By working with third-party apps, such as Facebook and Instagram, companies collect data from online activity to personally target the interests of an individual. This trend has become common among any app that is on the market. “You trade, essentially, your data and privacy for the value you get from the app,” Andrew Besmer, a Winthrop professor of computer science and quantitative methods, said. Besmer explains an app only gets permission to do this if the user has given it. This permission giving is often the result of a “lack of informed consent.” There is this idea that “clicking an ‘I Agree’ button” fully informs a user of user agreements and companies use this practice on consumers who do not expect it. Along with this, consumers are not aware of the run time and install time permissions. These two things are the two times a person can give consent to an app to access their information. “[Install time permissions are a] list of permissions that [are] going to be included with the installation [of an app which is]…the stuff the app has access to,” Besmer said. “Those permissions have often been overscoped. The [companies] have asked for more permissions than they truly need to run the application.” Run time is when the user
Olivia Esselman/ The Johnsonian As the use of apps has become more prominent, companies are able to access consumer data to endorse their products is actually using the app and a permission of access pops up. “[If] you were going to share an invitation or a successful event you had in the application with a friend…it prompts you for access to your contacts,” Besmer said. He explains that the run time is a better way of informing users of what the application actually needs the permissions for. However, he believes both could be better explained for everyday consumers. These methods take consumer data to build an individual’s profile which is why particular advertisements pop up on these apps. “[Companies use data to] understand what is the language they can use based on analysis of the profile of the person,” Max Ostinelli, a Winthrop professor
of marketing, said. “They can say you belong to a specific segment with specific psychological characteristics [and use this to] base your segment.” Ostinelli gave an example of Target and how a company can use the gathered data. Target determined a woman was pregnant based on items she had bought, such as food and medical products. Target was able to use this information to determine her likely due date. This allowed the company to have the ability to send her coupons for baby items. Ostinelli believes this is intrusive and is even getting to the point where “companies know more about consumers than what consumers know about themselves.” Ostinelli explains that this
can be beneficial for both sides because it has the “ability to target consumers with messages that address consumer needs.” This trend of data consumption will not reverse in the future. Besmer explains that the amount of data accessed is going to increase as time passes, but “there is certainly more attention today than there has been in the past [when it comes] to data practices and data collection usage.” Companies will start to set clear standards of what type of data is being used due to stricter regulations. Ostinelli explains that “they are going to give consumers options to opt-out” of data collection, something that is already starting with big companies such as Google and Microsoft.
Do you want your computer to stop accessing your consumer data? If you use the Apple web browser Safari, go to the app’s privacy settings and click ‘prevent cross-site tracking’.
Got business models?
The Technology Incubator at Knowledge Park is hosting an event for students to pitch their business models for cash prizes Savannah Scott scotts@mytjnow.com As a broke college student, you have tons of projects and ideas that you never touch again. However, what if you could win a cash prize for one of these ideas? As a partnership between Winthrop University and Technology Incubator at Knowledge Park, the College Student Innovation Challenge was created. Students can pitch a business model to a panel of judges for a cash prize. The prizes will go to the top four participants and will include up to $1,500 in cash. The judges base their criteria off of the business readiness of the idea, responses from potential customers and adjustments made, the use of the technology, innovation, creativity and uniqueness.
The annual event is celebrating its sixth year. It is a way to raise awareness around the community of the importance of creating businesses in the economy as well as to identify and help shape the local community talent. The College Student Innovation Challenge starts on Feb. 27 in DiGiorgio Campus Center Room 223. On March 2, there will be a business mentoring session at the Technology Incubator office. March 6 will be the final day of the challenge, ending with the pitch event where students will present their business models in Dina’s Place. Students interested in applying can pick up an application during common time on Thursdays starting on Feb. 6. For more information on how to register, email pamela.varraso@cityofrockhill. or francot2@winthrop.edu.
Savannah Scott | Science & Technology Editor scotts@mytjnow.com
Courtesy of Pamela Varasso
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SPORTS theJohnsonian
Memories of the Mamba January 29, 2020
A tragedy rocks the world
La J’ai Reed
reedl@mytjnow.com Does a legend ever really die? Define legend. A legend is an individual that inspires. Kobe Bryant’s name stands prominently next to this term as a synonym. Kobe Bryant, the legend, was killed Sunday in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. His daughter, 13-year-old Gianna, was also killed in the crash. What defines his legendary status? Is it just his basketball career? Of course, that’s a portion, but it’s not all. So yes, acknowledged is Bryant the Philadelphia native, born on August 23, 1978. The Bryant who became a nationally recognized basketball player following his career at Lower Merion High School, whose scintillating high school campaign would eventually lead to the retirement of his maroon and white jersey, which dawned the number “33.” The Bryant who entered the National Basketball Association straight out of high school, spending his entire 20-year professional career with the Los Angeles Lakers. Entering the league in 1996, Bryant signed his first NBA contract at the age of 17 and became the youngest NBA starter in the history of the league at 18. The world admires Bryant who rocked the number eight, winning three consecutive NBA championships (2000, 2001, 2002). Who would later transform to Bryant “24,” during the 2006-2007 season. The 6-6 guard won two consecutive NBA championships (2009, 2010) as number 24, rounding out his championship resume. The nation honors Bryant who scored 60 points in his final NBA game on April 13, 2016. Both of Bryant’s numbers, eight and 24, were
hung in the Staples Center in December of 2017. Yet now, nearly four years after his retirement, people stretching many miles are celebrating his life. “It is a tragedy when anybody dies young,” said Dave Friedman, voice of Winthrop Athletics. “For one of the greatest basketball players of all time to have his life cut short, in these circumstances, and with his
Keith Allison/Flickr
daughter, is unthinkable.” When talking about Bryant’s legacy, athletes and sports fans alike would be remiss if they failed to mention his philanthropic endeavors. Bryant sought to advance education through his After-School All-Stars organization. He worked to provide a smooth transition to
civilian life for veterans by presenting a $1 million check to the Call of Duty Endowment. He promoted the growth of brands within the sports industry through the establishment of Kobe, Inc. The “Mamba,” as he was called, used his platform to become a prominent supporter of the WNBA and womens’ college basketball. Bryant became an advocate for human performance through the Mamba Sports Academy. Furthermore, and most importantly, Bryant was a husband and a father, who believed in the future of his daughters. Believing so much in his second-born, Gianna, that he schooled her in a way that undoubtedly shaped her to mock his playing style. Her passion for the game of basketball sat her next to her father on that same plane Sunday travelling to a game--along with several others with the sport at heart. “Being taught by the best, [Gianna] was going to be the best,” said Olympic Gold Medalist, Basketball Hall of Famer, and current Winthrop women’s basketball coach Lynette Woodard. In the face of his dazzling records, numerous awards, and high honors, Bryant was to only be remembered by his statistics. Kobe Bryant was a world-class player who dominated arenas of sports and life through some of the best methods possible, and he forever envisioned the bigger picture. “From his game, to his persona, to his achievements, Kobe will always be remembered,” said Friedman. “This is a loss that the basketball community and beyond will mourn for a very long time.” Bryant utilized his prowess to break down barriers at the core of the world’s communities: That is what makes him a legend, with a legacy that will last forever. “To say he’s a legend and an icon, those are the only words we get to use,” Woodard said.
Esports on top
Winthrop’s esports team recently ranked #18 in ESPN’s League of Legends Preseason Coaches Poll Beneshia Wadlington staff writer
Recent rankings from ESPN show that Winthrop’s Esports team for League of Legends is ranked number 18 out of the top 25 teams in the preseason for the first time in history. The voting is calculated and polled among almost 40 collegiate esports teams around the continent. Head coach, Josh Sides, expressed his excitement about the ranking and shares what contributed to that accomplishment. “Yes, we are so excited that our League of Legends team was ranked in the top twenty-five of ESPN’s first rankings of the season,” Sides said. “I am proud of our League of Legends team being ranked number eighteen in the first ESPN rankings of the year.” “I think people learned that
we had a strong roster through competitions last semester, and now that people are becoming aware of our new roster additions, combined with some big results like the win over number three Harrisburg [on Jan. 18], I think we might see that ranking jump up a bit when the next set of rankings comes out in two weeks.” William “Mordio” Yang, esports team member and an international business major, expressed his thoughts about the ranking and how he feels that the team deserves a higher rank. “I think our ranking may be due to misinformation; the ranking comes from people who have little to irrefutable credentials,” Yang said. “Personally, I would say that our university is easily within the top five of the country. According to the ranking system, just last week we beat the number three team in the country.” The transfer student also shared a major strength that the team shares. “I would say that we’re really good at communicating,” Yang said. “Seldom will there be a team where there are numerous strong members that are constantly being vocal. There’s a problem with a lot of players within the community having difficulty communicating, so I think that’s one of our more valuable traits.” Coach Sides also noted some
Gabby Gardner | Sports Editor gardnerg@mytjnow.com
Photos Provided by @WinthropEsports on Twitter
struggles that the team is learning to push through. “So far the biggest struggle has been building synergies between the new players and the players from last semester, having only started practicing a few weeks back,” Sides said. “The team is very mechanically gifted and has a very high ceiling for what we can achieve, I think.” Additionally, the League of Legends team celebrates the welcoming of two new members: freshman, William “Doxa” Lee and sophomore, Kenji “Srkenji” Kaneko. “They are both very highly regarded players, obtaining slots right into the starting 5 as some of the best players at their position in all of collegiate League of Legends,” Sides said.
“The new additions to the team are a definite upgrade from last semester,” Yang said. “They’re really good at communicating and are just better players overall individually. The skill level has more than doubled with them.” Coach Sides revealed a common goal that the team has for the upcoming season. “One of our biggest goals is to make it to top 8 of the CLoL competition and compete for the National Championship live at Riot Game’s Studios in LA,” Sides said. Yang described this goal as Winthrop’s League of Legends team simply striving to become the number one team in the country.
theJohnsonian
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January 29, 2020
Unstoppable, untouchable, undefeated The men’s basketball team remains undefeated in conference play, boasting an 8-0 record
Gweneshia Wadlington
staff writer
The Winthrop Men’s Basketball team is still undefeated. On Jan. 23, the Eagles took down USC Upstate, winning 79-53. Freshman D.J. Burns Jr. was named Player of the Game, having recorded 14 points, 3 rebounds and a 70% field goal percentage. The USC Upstate game was filled with thrills, fast breaks and cheers. Throughout the first half both teams were neck and neck, going into halftime at a tie. Throughout the second half there were some big plays that helped the Eagles grab hold of the lead and take off. Winning against the Spartans brought the Eagles to a 7-0 record for Big South conference play, and put them at an overall nine game winning streak. “It’s a great feeling. It really shows how great we can be and how much work we put in through the summer to reach the top,” said sophomore Micheal Anumba. But not all the Eagles are satisfied. “It feels great but we haven’t done anything yet. So not satisfied. We have more work to do,” freshman Russell Jones Jr. said. Redshirt junior Chandler Vaudrin said that being undefeated is “mentally testing.” Although winning can sometimes come as a burden, winning seems to come naturally for the Eagles, but the team doesn’t think so. The Eagles are very aware that winning does not come easily, but
rather takes a lot of work and they have not let their current winning streak affect this view. “I wouldn’t say winning comes naturally but we have been locked in on everything, and are playing the right way which leads to winning,” Jones Jr. said. “We train the same everyday. We treat each opponent with respect,” Vaudrin said. Winning takes a lot of hard work to continually accomplish game after game. “Winning never comes naturally. We practice every day the same, on a winning streak or on a losing streak. We approach every game the same way, and we play as hard as we can on every game as if it’s our last,” Anumba said. What makes the team untouchable, unstoppable and undefeatable, is the constant perseverance the team has. “[Our] togetherness,” Vaudrin said, definitely factors into these accomplishments. Jones Jr. believes it’s that fact that the team is “a family and we love one another.” “I feel like our greatest strength is probably our ability to defend and get stops. We keep climbing the national ranks defensively and we really are getting better day after day,” Anumba said. On Jan. 25, the Eagles faced Presbyterian College and defeated the Blue Hose 72-57. Graduate student Hunter Hale was named Player of the Game, having recorded 19 points, a 54.5% field goal percentage and a 50% three
Photo provided by Winthrop Athletics
Freshman Russel Jones dribbles the ball to victory point field goal percentage. Ahead at halftime by only three points, the men’s basketball team was able to pull ahead significantly in the second half of the game. The Eagles went the last six minutes of the game with the only points being added to the board coming from five made free throws, going scoreless otherwise. Despite these dry last six minutes of the game, the Eagles still were able to pull out a win by 15 points. The Eagles said they’ve been working on themselves as well as a team to pull out wins like this. Since the start of the season Jones Jr. says he has improved his “ability to lock in on the small details” Anumba said that it was, “definitely my three point shot, I’m
shooting very well at the moment and my teammates trust me to knock down big shots throughout the game.” Vaudrin says he’s gotten better at “talking more on defense.” This game has brought the Eagles to an 8-0 record in conference play and they are now on a 10 game winning streak. The undefeated Eagles next take on Charleston Southern on Thursday, Jan. 30, at 7:30 p.m. at Charleston Southern. Then be sure to cheer on the team in person as they face UNC Asheville on Saturday, Feb. 1, at 2 p.m. in the Winthrop Coliseum.
Serve it up Lily Fremed
staff writer
As the spring semester takes hold here at Winthrop, that also means it is tennis time. Last year, as spring 2019 came to a close, the women’s tennis team finished as Big South Conference Champions, defeating all competition with a perfect conference record of 9-0. After witnessing last season’s success, Coach Vivian Segnini is looking forward to her first year as head coach here at Winthrop. Being nervous is out of the question, as Segnini is beyond excited to get this season going. “I have a great group of girls that work very hard and I have a great staff helping me every day,” Segnini said. Coach Segnini, originally from São Carlos, Brazil, is a 2017 alumnus of Winthrop and was an assistant coach for the women’s tennis from 2013 to 2018. Inducted on July 1, 2019, she is now only the second coach in the history of this team. “My favorite part of being a college coach is that I get the chance to help others through tennis,” Segnini said. “A lot of people helped me when I was an athlete and being a coach is my chance to give back…I learned from Cid Carvalho that you have to love the sport, to care about your players, and also to continuously try to improve as a coach and study the sport.” Viewers watched in amazement during the 2018-2019 season as then junior Alisa Soloveva won 18 straight matches after a single loss on Jan. 26, 2019 against Memphis. Her unmatched skills on the court earned her First-Team All-Conference in singles for the third consecutive season, as well as Second-Team All-Conference in doubles. Now a senior exercise science major and captain of the team, Soloveva is ready to end her last semester with a bang. “I go on the court and just try to
do my best no matter what team or what school we play,” Soloveva said. “I’m really looking forward to play[ing] the conference matches since they count a lot throughout the whole season! It’s my last semester and I just want to finish my college athletic career strong but also enjoy it every single second on the court!” Tayla Van Eck, junior middle level education major, looks up to teammates like Soloveva each day. “Playing with them and being able to know and feel that you are a part of something bigger is what drives me. The girls inspire me so I play for them, my coaches and my school,” Van Eck said. Her accomplishments during freshman and sophomore seasons earned Van Eck First-Team All-Conference for doubles. Additionally, her opponents did not stand a chance last season at the Big South Championship as she won all three of her matches in straightsets. Although there are many individual events in tennis, being a part of a team remains extremely important. This season’s team consists of seven women, Soloveva being the lone senior. “The best part is to play back to back with my teammates. Since
independence. It has also helped me grow as a person moving away from home and becoming my own person,” Santos said. According to Van Eck, the best way to prepare for their matches is to “get hyped and loud…just to calm the nerves and connect with the team.” “As a team we get ready by a quick motivational talk with our coaches and then captain (Alisa). We then do our Eagle chant before playing as well as high five [and] fist pound every teammate and coach,” Van Eck said. Despite loving tennis and playing the majority of her life, Van Eck does not plan to continue playing competitively after she graduates Photo Provided by Winthrop Athletics because “teaching and helping children [are her] passion.” tennis in general is an individual Oppositely, Soloveva would absotype of sport, I really enjoy competlutely love to go professional. After ing, practicing and sharing the same trying a variety of sports at six years goals with my team,” Soloveva said. old, she finally found her fit with Assisting Coach Segnini this 2020 a racket in her hand at the age of season is recent Winthrop graduate, seven. former tennis player for the men’s team and current graduate student “I’m very passionate about tennis Diego Quiroz. and I enjoy my time on the court,” “For me as a coach I always try Soloveva said. to be positive to the girls and help Both coaches and players have one them in everything they need to main goal this season: bring home be successful on the court,” Quiroz another Big South Championship. said. After losing to Wake Forest Univer“In order to be a good player, you sity on Jan. 18 and then to William have to work very hard on the court and Mary on Jan. 26, the Eagles are and in the gym, but also have the currently 0-2. Winthrop women’s discipline to sleep well, eat well, tennis will next have a home match etc. It’s important to love the sport against James Madison on Feb. 1 because being an athlete isn’t easy at 2 p.m., followed by a match at and it’s frustrating at times, but if Virginia Tech on Feb. 2. you love the sport you will have the “Every game is difficult and we strength to deal with all the adversihave to be ready to compete for ties,” Segnini said. every match. We have a tough Rafaela Santos, a junior from São schedule with very good opponents Bernardo do Campo, Brazil, joined and the best way to be successful is the Eagles in Fall 2018. Last seaby playing together as a team and son she had a 14-7 singles record, supporting each other throughout including being undefeated 9-0 in practices and matches,” Coach conference. Segnini said. “The only thing we Majoring in Spanish and nutrition, can control is that we will go on the Santos loves being able to study court and fight to honor Winthrop higher education while playing the sport she has been a part of for four- and our tennis program and that we will support each other, the rest is a teen years now. consequence.” “I have learned responsibility and
La J’ai Reed | Assistant Sports Editor reedl@mytjnow.com
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January 29, 2020
An American Shakespeare trip The English department’s American Shakespeare trip will experience plays, workshops and lectures. Sarah Delventhal Special to the Johnsonian The English department is taking a trip to the American Shakespeare Center during spring break, from March 20 through 22. This is the 11th year the department has held the trip. Students will stay in the Stonewall Jackson Hotel in rooms with two queen beds in the “heart of Staunton,” Dr. Amanda Hiner, associate professor of English and trip director, says. The price per night with the education rate is $125, so it is beneficial to room with other students to reduce the cost. “They can expect a really fun, exciting kind of event packed weekend,” Hiner says. On the trip, students will watch four plays by professionals, take two interactive educational workshops, attend a lecture by the founder of the American Shakespeare Center Ralph Cohen and have a backstage tour of the playhouse. In their free time, students can explore Staunton, VA. “[It is] a beautiful, walkable city, and so a lot of students go to chocolate shops and get gelato and coffee and fun things like that as well,” Hiner says. The theater is located in Staunton, VA at the American Shakespeare Center. The Blackfriar Theater is a recreation of Shakespeare’s indoor theatre. “It is a gorgeous intimate theatre [with] beautiful wood and a gorgeous wood stage and hanging candelabras,” Dr. Hiner says. This year students will see “A King and No King,” “Henry IV Part I,” “Henry IV Part II” and “Much Ado About Nothing.” The trip is open to students in all majors, both grad and undergrad, as well as friends, family and roommates. To get there, students can take a van driven by a faculty member, carpool or drive themselves. For those that would need to take the van, Dr. Hiner says, “we are providing free transportation to the first ten students who register. That number could go up a little bit depending on how many we have registered.” The long hours in the van allow the faculty members and the students to really connect according to Dr. Casey Cothran, department chair and associate professor of English. “I love being in a car with students, and we talk about the four plays, which were our favorite and what we liked about different ones,” Cothran says. “It is so nice to be able to do it outside of a classroom space and to really just have casual fun, humorous conversations. I don’t have to grade anything. I don’t have to look to make sure that students picked
up certain answers that I have to test them on later. We can just enjoy having a conversation about a piece of art that we enjoyed together.” “I remember last year, there was this really powerful play that was presented that was a new play that had never been performed before,” Hiner says. “[It] was kind of bouncing off of a Renaissance era play, and it was just so powerful in its content we were laughing, we were crying and then just being able to talk about that experience afterwards with students was really wonderful. It creates a lot of great memories for us.” Carson Pender, an English major, has gone on the trip four times. “Some of my favorite moments from the trip are actually the ones where Dr. Hiner, other students, and I are traveling to and from Staunton.” Pender says.
“There is always something to be gained from learning about Shakespeare’s plays as performances as well as literature.” - Carson Pender, English major Pender says her favorite moment came after she saw the play, “Hamlet.” “A woman came up to me after the show and said, ‘it was so rewarding watching you respond to the play. You looked like you were having so many emotions and really enjoying yourself.’” Pender also enjoyed the workshop where students were able to sword fight. “I think with Shakespeare, especially when reading the plays, the need to understand what the characters are even saying comes before enjoying the thrill of the plot. Seeing the shows performed as they were meant to be performed really changes your perception,” Pender says. The English department at Winthrop is text-based, with some concentration on performance. “I think for English students in particular, it is really a joy to kind of step a little bit outside of just a more English focused way of looking at a text and talk about what it feels like to be in the audience or to experience the performance,” Cothran says. Hiner shares the same hope when students go on this trip. “What I hope this does is really bring theatre alive for students,”
Laura Munson | A&C Editor munsonl@mytjnow.com
Photos courtesy of Dr. Amanda Hiner
A group of students on the 2019 trip. Hiner says. “It is incredibly enriching to an English major or really someone in any discipline to kind of see how these plays came alive, how they are enacted and staged, and especially in the focus on historical accuracy, learning and understanding how plays were presented and performed during the Renaissance and Restoration, learning about stagecraft in that period, learning about costuming choices and acting choices. It turns the literature from words on a page into a real life, very visceral, real experience for them.” “Theatre is incredibly demanding and difficult,” Pender says. “There is always something to be gained from learning about Shakespeare’s plays as performances as well as literature. Shakespeare ultimately wrote largely political and emotionally-driven works that have framed satirical, social justice, and aesthetic approaches to literature.” The English department also offers several other trips. The Greek mythology class is a semester class that ends early and takes students to Greece on a 10 to 14 day trip during break to see “where the oracle is said to be and the different sites in Athens associated with Greek gods,” Cothran says. There is also a class on American writers in Paris focused on F. Scott Fitz-
gerald and Earnest Hemingway. “[Students] spend 10 days or so in Paris going to the sites where they wrote their novels or where they lived or where scenes take place in their works,” Cothran says. This fall, the English department offers a class on Holocaust literature. “Over the break, you will travel to various sites in Germany and then also the delightful Christmas markets to pull you up after you go to the concentration camp,” Cothran says. Traveling as an English major can be very beneficial for numerous reasons. “The more you live the easier it is to write as well. For creative writers, it is always good to experience new things because then they can put that to their work,” Cothran says. The registration and $40 deposit is due on Feb. 3rd. Then on Feb. 21, the second payment which is $80 is due. This brings the total cost of the trip to $120. To pay go to this link: https://secure.touchnet.com/C20256_ustores/web/ store_main.jsp?STOREID=44. You can also email Dr. Hiner at hinera@winthrop.edu or Dr. Cothran at cothranc@winthrop.edu. Those that want to pay in cash can stop by Bancroft 250 and fill out a registration form there.
9
Arts in Rock Hill
Rock Hill has a vibrant arts scene, and exploring it is worth every penny
Gabe Corbin Staff Writer Rock Hill may not look like it, but this city loves the arts. All across town, there are art pieces that are sure to catch any Winthrop student’s eyes, ranging from historical to creative. The arts are alive and thriving here, and the Winthrop students who want to experience more culture before they graduate are sure to enjoy some of the places here in town. Historic Brattonsville About 15 minutes away from Winthrop’s campus is Historic Brattonsville, home of the ScotsIrish and African Americans during the Revolutionary War.
Through preservation and interpretation, it tells the story of the three historic generations of the Bratton family, who lived in Rock Hill over 300 years ago. It has 30 historic structures from the mid-1700s, and provides visitors with an opportunity to see how the South’s culture and architecture evolved. It features “historic farming techniques and day-today activities.” The Arts Galleries of Downtown Rock Hill There are plenty of art galleries in the downtown area that are free to explore for the public. There are the Winthrop University Galleries, where 18 artists, professional and student, can show off their work to the public at the Rutledge and
Elizabeth Dunlap Patrick galleries. There is also the Eight Leg Gallery that sells paint supplies and houses classes. The Arts Council Building does not hold just the leadership council meetings, it helps support a thriving community of arts in Rock Hill, and its building houses three other art galleries: the Dalton, Perimeter, and Lewandowski Classroom Galleries. They also have a gallery crawl hosted a few times a year, and the next one is on March 5. In the Gallery Crawl, participants explore the old arts of Rock Hill, such as those at the Center of the Arts (with the featured exhibit) and a tour of the Gettys Art Center.
The Gettys Art Center The biggest art center here in Rock Hill is the Gettys Art Center, which houses specialized art events. There are galleries above and below ground at the center, which are always fun to see. One of the biggest highlights is “Concerts at the Courtroom,” which is a performance space for local punk, rock and indie bands. For more information on the bands performing, check out their Facebook page. There are also specialized events housed here, such as an art exhibit with works by Katherine Kesey and a new show coming up on Feb. 8 called “Amigo.” With art galleries and shows galore, the Gettys Art Center is sure to be one of the highlights of a cultural tour of the Rock Hill area.
African Children’s Choir visits Rock Hill
Internationally known charitable choir organization to perform at a local church in February Laura Munson munsonl@mytjnow.com
Music opens up opportunities for relief, connection and even education, and the internationally known African Children’s Choir program spreads this message throughout the world in its annual tours. The African Children’s Choir will bring its 51st choir tour “Just As I Am” to Faith Assembly of God in Rock Hill on Feb. 23. Established in 1984 in the aftermath of the Ugandan civil war, The African Children’s Choir is one component of the organization Music for Life, which sponsors relief and education programs in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa. According to a release, “[Music for Life] has educated over 52,000 children and impacted the lives of over 100,000 people through its relief and development programs
during its history. MFL’s purpose is to help create new leadership for tomorrow’s Africa, by focusing on education.” The organization tours throughout the world, performing mostly in local churches and collecting donations or “love offerings,” which all go towards educating the children. Choir manager Tina Sipp has worked with the African Children’s Choir for 16 years, and said each child in the program only performs on one tour, then receives educational funding through college. “Education is not accessible to all. They might have government schooling, but even a government school requires a uniform, books, paper and pencils,” Sipp said. “Those things are out of the financial means of the families.” According to Sipp, one of the main draws of the show is the spirit, energy and passion the children bring to their performances. “They embrace a day like none other. They have taught me so much to live in the moment, rather than have regrets of the past or plans for the future, they live in the moment,” Sipp said. “Life just doesn’t bother them in the same way that it bothers us.” “It’s true that they come from very humble backgrounds and
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means, but the definition of wealth and poverty gets upended. All of a sudden, these ‘poor little children’ are giving this wealth of spirit, this wealth of soul, and I think without really knowing it or being able to tag it, I think the western audience member is kind of pinned to the back of their
ming, there’s the three different African costumes and there’s the traditional dance from the countries they represent.” In the past, the choir has performed at several high-profile events such as American Idol, during which Sipp said the children referred to Simon Cowell
seat,” Sipp said. “They’re just coming out on the stage and enjoying themselves, and when the audience starts clapping and shouting and giving standing ovations, that just feeds them. The energy just pumps up.” Sipp said the children are talented performers, and Western audiences often enjoy the cultural aspect of the shows. “The performance of the children is pretty astounding for their age. It’s a good concert, the energy, the dance, the cultural aspect – there’s drum-
as “Uncle Simon.” “Everybody to them is just ‘auntie’ and ‘uncle,’” Sipp said. “They’re not impressed [by celebrities]. They’re just themselves.” The choir will perform at the Faith Assembly of God on 2800 Faith Blvd, Rock Hill. The 45-minute performance will be at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged. For more information on the choir, visit https://africanchildrenschoir.com/
“It’s true that they come from very humble backgrounds and means, but the definition of wealth and poverty gets upended. All of a sudden, these ‘poor little children’ are giving this wealth of spirit, this wealth of soul.” - Tina Sipp, choir manager
African Children’s Choir Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020 10:30 a.m. Faith Assembly of God 2800 Faith Blvd, Rock Hill No tickets Donations encouraged Visit africanchildrenschoir.com
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OPINION
theJohnsonian
Stressed about voting in the primary January 29, 2020
With the South Carolina Democratic primary vote a month away, TJ’s opinion editor talks about how she has struggled with her choices in this election Victoria Howard
howardv@mytjnow.com If you asked me who I’m planning on voting for in the Democratic primaries, I’d tell you that it would be easier for me to tell you all the reasons why I’m not sure who I want to vote for. I still haven’t established a candidate that I feel fully confident in voting for and I’m not sure that I’ll be able to. In the end, I suppose that the issue with politicians is that they are all human and have human faults. Most are influenced by money and power, which makes it almost impossible to find one that feels entirely genuine. This will be the first time I am able to vote in a presidential election — in 2016 I was only a month short of being able to vote in the November elections and I hated knowing that my voice wasn’t going to be heard. But now that it will be, it feels like I have no one that I am as passionate about as I had fantasized I would when I was 17. Right now, I am feeling stuck and lost on who to support, because it doesn’t feel like any of the candidates have values that I can fully align myself with. The candidate that came closest to what I was looking for in someone to support was Senator Cory Booker, who dropped out of the race earlier this month. He emphasized values that I found incredibly important and would always turn the conversation back to them. In particular, Booker talked about a lot of class issues and how they relate to race, as well as how issues with climate affect poorer people more. Many of his policies focused on these issues and he talked about them in detail during debates. But due to the number of big-name people running, it seemed like Booker never stood a chance. Now, with those left in the race, I either question their policies and motivations, or I don’t think that they have enough of a chance to win
Victoria Howard/ The Johnsonian against Trump. Of the current top four polling candidates, Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg are both off the table for me. Every time I hear Biden speak it makes me cringe. He doesn’t seem to have any solid policies, and just uses buzzwords and his recognizable name to continue his campaign. As a powerful politician, Biden’s endorsement of another candidate could have been a powerful tool for a candidate with a powerful stance on important issues. Instead, he chose to run and talk about his friend Barack at every chance he gets. Buttigieg should have been great, I mean a young liberal gay man should have been someone I wanted to support, but he seems to not hold many strong positions. For many of his policies, he started to lean more moderately when it started to give him higher positions in polls. A pol-
itician who will change his stances so that he will gain more support is not someone that I feel confident supporting. On that same basis, I feel like Elizabeth Warren has recently taken on those same tactics. Despite issues with deception in the past, I thought that Warren had great ideas and strong values that would benefit America and that I could support. But she has recently taken on a more moderate stance on some topics, including issues with ICE and student loan debt. This makes me worry that she may not stand strong in ideals that I admire if she made it into office. Someone that I believe will not sway in his opinions is Bernie Sanders, who throughout his years in politics has always been steadfast in his feelings toward major issues. I worry however that some of his ideas are too extreme and won’t
hold up well in the general election. There are so many moderates who might not like Trump, but don’t think that Sanders would be any better for his own issues. So instead, they could vote third party and we might be in the same situation as 2016, when many people chose to vote for neither Clinton or Trump, and we could end up with another four years of President Trump. Politics are hard. There is never an easy-to-find answer when it comes to issues that are determining the fate of our country — especially when they are so divisive. I am in a situation where I’m not sure where to go from here and who to support. The one thing that I hold onto hope with is that I would be more comfortable with the top Democrats in office than Trump.
Goodbye, daylight saving time Is this biannual occurrence really worth missing if it went away?
David Botzer
staff writer
On Jan. 15, a bill was passed by South Carolina lawmakers to make daylight saving time permanent. The bill passed unanimously in the state Senate, but had a dozen members of the state’s House of Representatives voting against the measure. With the possibility that it could soon be unrecognized in the state, the reasoning behind why daylight saving time is observed is brought to question. According to webexhibits.org, daylight saving time is partially observed to take advantage of when there is the most available light on the planet as the seasons change. The idea as we know it was originally conceived by a British builder named William Willett as a way to make the most of the hours of light, particularly the early mornings of spring and summer that usually went missed before DST. One of the biggest advantages that are claimed of DST is the conservation of energy. With the extra sunlight brought by changing our clocks, less energy is used in the form of artificial lights. However,
with the increase in technologies such as TVs and computers, the percentage of energy saved has become negligible. A report in 2008 to Congress by the U.S. Department of Energy stated, “The total electricity savings of Extended Daylight Saving Time were about 1.3 Terawatt-hour (TWh). This corresponds to 0.5 percent per each day of Extended Daylight Saving Time, or 0.03 percent of electricity consumption over the year.” In the years that have followed, energy use has only increased, likely leading to that 0.03 percent becoming even smaller. Another drawback of DST is the effects that having to wake up an hour earlier or later has on the human body. Multiple studies have been performed that link lack of sleep from DST to car accidents, suicide, miscarriages and workplace injuries. A study performed in 2013 on the effects of the start of DST on cardiac events found that there was a slight increase in heart attack risk after the spring shift in the year. A major effect felt everywhere by the time shift is a drop in productivity for workers due to the tiredness experienced when losing an hour of sleep and having to adjust to that
Victoria Howard | Opinion Editor howardv@mytjnow.com
change. This, along with costs accumulated from having to program computers to automatically change time and also have workers manually change clocks that don’t automatically adjust, makes DST an event that costs sufficient funds. Despite these concerns and disadvantages of daylight saving time, only five states have passed legislation at this time to make the event permanent, according to data from the National Conference of State Legislatures. South Carolina looks
Sam Ross /The Johnsonian
to join Delaware, Maine, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington, as they wait along with other states such as North Carolina and Georgia for their legislation to make it through the system. Currently, the bill is waiting to be signed by the governor to be made official. However, it will not take full effect until the United States Congress enacts a similar bill. Until then, residents will have to continue to deal with the negative effects that are a result of daylight saving time.
theJohnsonian
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January 29, 2020
You might not be as sustainable as you think Businesses are trying hard to make consumers think that their products are more sustainable than they really are
Victoria Howard
howardv@mytjnow.com
Marketers’ main objective is to always appeal to the ever-changing landscape of what consumers seek out in products. When a consumer goes into an aisle of a store, their eyes are drawn to products that have attributes that they value. These days those attributes tend to be products that are sustainable and non-toxic. “Sustainability used to be seen as a nice-to-have and a fringe trend, but now it’s a core differentiator and a way consumers are really deciding between brands,” said Lucie Greene, worldwide director of the Innovation Group and JWTIntelligence.com at Wunderman Thompson, to AdAge.com. Though this trend might be a good thing if it meant the development of more sustainable products and practices, it has also introduced the issue of greenwashing into the equation. Greenwashing is what happens when a company takes a product that has a lot of the same features as other products in their lines or available on shelves but uses packaging and keywords to make the products seem “greener” or more sustainable than others. The term was first used by environmentalist Jay Westerveld in 1986 in an essay in which he criticized the irony of the “save the towel” campaign being pushed by hotels. Since the 80s, the way greenwashing is used by corporations has changed and the way we react to it has as well. Accusations of greenwashing can now have a serious effect on a company’s value and reputation. In Feb. 2017, Walmart settled a $1 million lawsuit in California over misleading labeling on products. These products were plastics labeled with terms like “biodegradable” and “compostable” which California law determined to be too broad since they didn’t specify how long these products took to degrade. The details around what can be considered greenwashing can vary between laws in each state, but ethically, brands should not be using greenwashing as a marketing tactic when their production practices do not line up. As a consumer, it’s easy to fall into this trap of greenwashing. If a company chooses to promote themselves using misleading tactics when you’re in a store trying to make better choices, it’s hard to distinguish between what is a truthfully sustainable brand and which are trying to pull wool over our eyes. A way to be careful when you’re shopping in stores is to watch out
for some key signs that could mean the company is greenwashing. Vague language like “eco-friendly,” “green” and “good for the environment” are something to take a look at with a critical eye when shopping. These words and phrases are broad and without set definitions in most states. This means that companies can use these words without any kind of proof to back them up. Watch out for imagery which may suggest that the company is trying to convey that their products are more sustainably sourced and produced than they really are. This could be using images of nature, like water bottles using images of mountains and clear springs while single-use plastic is one of the major pollutants we use on a daily basis. It could also mean using earth-toned hues in packaging; greens, browns and other warm tones make the viewer think the product is sustainable even without words. While in a store you can also take a look at the packaging to see if the brand is owned by a larger conglomerate. New beauty and selfcare brand Love Beauty and Planet promotes itself using many tactics that make the consumer think that the brand is sustainable. However, if you look at the labels on their products, you can find out that the brand is owned by Unilever, which in 2019 was named one of the top plastic polluters on the planet. There are pros and cons to using products like those from Love Beauty and Planet. For example, if Unilever notices that a large number of people are being attracted to products that are advertised to use some recycled plastic, they could start to incorporate this into more products. However, it is always better to use your money to support companies that are entirely sustainable, or at least as sustainable as you can find available to you. Finally, you should be doing research before buying products. We now have access to the internet which allows us to research more about companies beyond what they tell us through packaging and advertising. There is no longer an excuse to not be an informed consumer. Look up the practices of brands that you use. Learn more about their line of production as well as their mission statement and business practices related to the environment and sustainability. Don’t let businesses get away with greenwashing anymore. Don’t promote products that use these practices and do your best not to support these companies with your money.
Shaniah Garrick/ The Johnsonian
New year, new semester, new resolutions Freshmen admit their shortcomings from their first semester and discuss their second semester goals David Botzer
staff writer
Since the start of the new year, everyone has been talking about their New Year resolutions. For some students, these resolutions are focused on what is currently one of the most important parts of their lives — school. Freshmen, in particular, have big changes they plan to implement this semester after their first taste of life at Winthrop. Raegen Grooms, a psychology major, struggled her first semester with time management.\ “I overestimated the time I had for a lot of assignments and often ended up stressed and overwhelmed,” Grooms said. “Putting everything off until last minute obviously doesn’t work and I had to learn that the hard way.”
Grooms’ resolution for the new semester is to “try to stay at least a week ahead of my school work. That way I’m more prepared and understand the material when I enter the classroom.” Kyra Sikorski, a French education major, also struggled with her time management. However, unlike Grooms, Sikorski had too much free time and struggled to find things to do on campus. She also said that she “struggled with asking for help with a class.” According to her, she “learned [that she needed to] try to find friends to hang out with or complete chores that were not accomplished during the week” and used the Academic Support Center. This semester, Sikorski’s goal is to “put myself out there more,” which she says she has already begun to do by joining Chi Omega, a sorority on campus. Sikorski also said she “will ensure to not be afraid to ask for
help at the first sign of struggling in a class.” Theatre tech and design major, Carrington Wigfall, said she got “lazy towards the end of the semester. I started off strong and did good in classes, but towards the end I got lazy and didn’t want to do all of my work.” Wigfall’s GPA suffered and her grades dropped by a letter grade as she lost her momentum. However, she has learned from her mistakes and plans to pace herself more this semester. She said, “I want to take my time so when the semester starts to end I’ll still have the same energy.” As these freshmen and the rest of their class strive to do better than they did last semester, one upperclassman provided words of advice for them. Kiersten Warfield, a graduate student completing her Masters of Education in Counseling
Victoria Howard/The Johnsonian and Development, wants to remind freshmen to “Keep breathing. When things get harder, focus on breathing.” Warfield recommends that they take the time to check out campus resources such as the ASC and to get a planner and work on time management. Above all else, Warfield believes that “If they put the effort forth, they can do anything.”
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theJohnsonian
January 29, 2020
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AN OPEN LETTER TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF AMERICA, FROM TOM STEYER
Your concerns about climate are completely justified and on target. It's ridiculously unfair for you to inherit an uninhabitable planet because self-interested politicians refuse to stand up to corporations. But they can’t dismiss you. Your voices rise with the conviction of truth and the willingness to act. You’ve called yourselves “the voiceless future of humanity,” but you are not voiceless. For too long, members of my generation have chosen short-term profit over anything else, even people’s lives. But you’ve broken through — using every tool at your disposal to demand a voice. It’s imperative for those in power to treat the climate crisis with the urgency it demands. I'm the only candidate who will openly make fighting climate change my number one priority. If it's not number one, it won't get done ... and it has toget done. On the first day of my presidency, I will declare the climate crisis a national emergency and invoke the emergency powers of the executive office, including enacting power plant regulations, instilling stricter pollution standards on cars, and revamping building codes. I will hold all corporate polluters accountable for their environmental crimes against humanity. No other candidate sees it this way, but we have no choice — we’re running out of time. It’s why I left my company a decade ago to start NextGen America, and worked with students all across the U.S. to mobilize the largest youth voter registration and turnout effort in American history. Young people lead the charge; and in 2020 you’ll vote out the most corrupt president this country has ever seen. Climate justice is at the heart of this struggle. Far too much pollution is located in communities that lack political agency, and especially in communities of color. My climate justice plan (tomsteyer.com/climate) focuses on bringing justice to those whose air and water has been poisoned by corporations over decades of discriminatory, environmentally racist policies. We must redress this historic and continued discrimination if we are going to build a better America and transform our economy safely and equitably.
On day one of my presidency, I will declare the climate crisis a national emergency and invoke the emergency powers of the executive office.
When we put justice at the center of fighting climate change, we'll bring this country together and create millions of good, high-paying, green jobs in the process. The future of this planet and our economic future can only be assured together. We must turn the most powerful tool in history — the American economy — toward healing our planet, restoring our communities, and building a government that is truly of, by, and for the people. This is the election that will determine the course of all our lives. Trump has made it clear that he is willing to destroy our health and our planet to please the oil and gas industry. We must stop him. We can safeguard our futures while restoring the health of the planet. We can become global leaders again through climate action. And together, we can win. Regardless of who you’re voting for in 2020, I know you’ll show up. I know you’ll speak out. I know you’ll vote, because there’s so much at stake — everything. Let’s save the world, and let’s do it together.
PAID FOR BY TOM STEYER 2020
TOM STEYER, DEMOCRAT FOR PRESIDENT