Winthrop University
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February 12, 2020
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‘Resignation & Vote of No Confidence’ A student started an online petition in response to the manner in which Winthrop’s board of trustees handled the hiring of Interim President George Hynd
The resignation of Winthrop President Dan Mahony and the subsequent hiring of Interim President George Hynd has been a hot topic on Winthrop University’s campus lately, and senior political science major Nathan Crunkilton chose to step up and make his voice heard. Crunkilton started an online petition on change.org calling for the “immediate Resignation of each member of the Winthrop University Board of Trustees, and upon refusal, move for a Vote of No Confidence upon the Winthrop University Board of Trustees.” The petition — which was started last week — quickly gained traction within the Winthrop community and has garnered over 1,500 signatures at the time of the writing of this article. Crunkilton said that the petition had received 1,000 signatures within the first two days of it being posted. In an interview with The Johnsonian, he said that the initial motivation behind starting the petition came from his experiences with holding leadership roles within various organizations on campus, as well as what he has learned from the courses in his major. “When it comes to social activism and social justice, after seeing what [Board of Trustees member] Jane LaRoche had to say, I just kind of felt compelled to speak out as a general student and say, ‘we’re not being represented, neither is faculty, neither is staff,’” Crunkilton said. He said that most of the response
he has received has been positive although some people have been skeptical, at least initially. “It’s been overwhelming, the amount of support and the amount of people that recognize that this is an issue [in] Winthrop’s community,” Crunkilton said. “As far as backlash, there’s been a lot of people that kind of questioned my motives with it, [but] at the end of the day, I’m just fighting for a voice for the students, faculty and staff here.” While the page for online petition calls for the resignation of the board and a possible vote of no confidence to follow, there is more to it than that. Crunkilton said that the “entire reason” he started the petition “is to open a conversation. The board of trustees needs to recognize that we as students [and] the faculty here, while we are represented on the board of trustees, we deserve to have a vote, too.” He said that he had been following the news surrounding Mahony’s departure but that following the events that took place during the board of trustees meeting on Jan. 31, he felt that it was time to take a stand. “After seeing what Jane LaRoche had to say, I [said] ‘alright, that’s enough. I need to speak out and say something about it,’” Crunkilton said. “So I definitely had recognized what was happening, but after that happened, and [LaRoche] felt compelled to speak, I felt like I had to come forward and say something for the student body myself as well.” Crunkilton said that he is planning to hold tabling events this week to speak with students to further raise awareness about the petition.
"The Winthrop University Board of Trustees have shown a lack of respect and representation for what makes this institution great" -Nathan Crunkilton
WINTHROP STUDENTS PETITION AGAINST THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Shaniah Garrick/ The Johnsonian Political science major Nathan Crunkilton started a petition that gained over 1,000 signatures in two days. The petition calls for the resignation of each member of the Board of Trustees and upon refusal, a vote of no confidence.
A roundup of crime on campus A rundown of calls WUPO received in January and February
On Jan. 27, an officer and a sergeant with the Winthrop University Police Department responded to the softball parking lot near the Winthrop Coliseum, “in reference to a white male slumped over in a green pickup truck.” According to the report, the truck was still running when WUPD arrived and the driver (who is not affiliated with the university) was “passed out asleep.” WUPD asked the driver if he had anything illegal in the truck and he informed them that he had “his methadone medicine.” He told the officers that he had taken it two hours prior. The driver consented to a search of his vehicle. Following the search, WUPD was informed that the driver’s license was suspended for “failure to pay traffic tickets.” The suspect was arrested and charged with “DUS 2nd offense” and was taken to the city jail in Rock Hill for processing. WUPD responded to Tillman Hall on Jan. 28 after a member of Winthrop’s faculty/staff called “in reference to a suspicious person.” According to the report, the complainant told WUPD that the suspect (who has no Winthrop affiliation) said that he had “driven from Ohio looking for his ex-girlfriend” who is affiliated with the university. The complainant told the subject to speak with WUPD for any further assistance. Two WUPD officers spoke with the subject who “stated that while he was doing Missionary work in [New York City], he received an epiphany and that Jesus had spoken to him in reference to his ex-girlfriend.” According to
the report, the subject “continued on saying that he was told by Jesus that he needed to drive to the Winthrop University campus and attempt to make contact with the Victim; the first in over [eight] months.” The subject told WUPD that the two had planned to go to the same school after graduation but that her family had moved away. The report states that when the subject was asked to elaborate, “all he said was her parents wanted her to get away from the people in Illinois.” The subject repeatedly said that all he wanted to do was talk to the victim. A WUPD officer was able to make contact with the victim’s father who said that the subject was not to have any contact with his daughter and that the subject was the reason they moved away from Illinois. The victim’s father further said that the subject had made two visits to their home. According to the report, the family had attempted to speak with police in their area regarding the subject but were “told to contact them when another incident occurs.” WUPD made contact with the victim who told them that the subject had sent several dozen letters in the past six months and that “she does not want any contact with [the subject] at all.” The victim was told to contact WUPD immediately if any further incidents occurred and was referred to the appropriate office should a restraining order be sought. The subject has been “placed on indefinite trespass notice for all Winthrop University property.” On Jan. 29, a WUPD officer received a call “in reference to re-
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trieving items” from a member of the Winthrop faculty/staff. The officer met with the complainant who “stated that he had located a box of Vaporizer Pens that he believed contained Marijuana (THC) in them.” The officer took the items to “place them into Evidence for destruction.” On Jan. 30, a WUPD officer was on a stationary patrol when he observed a vehicle fail to make a complete stop at a stop sign, according to the report. The report states that the officer “observed the same vehicle fail to come to a complete stop” at another intersection. The officer then initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, who is a Winthrop student. The officer asked why the driver “was in such a hurry” to which the driver responded that “she was on her way to work.” The officer ran the driver’s license and discovered that it was “suspended due to a collision.” The officer then ran the license plate and found that it was also suspended, according to the report. The officer informed the driver that both her license and license plate were suspended and a towing company was contacted in order to tow the vehicle. The driver was “cited for driving under suspension.” On Feb. 3, an officer with the WUPD responded to a hit-and-run incident. The officer made contact with the “Reporting Party” who is affiliated with Winthrop. The R/P told the officer what the suspect vehicle’s
Sports
Maggie Claytor/ The Johnsonian license plate is “which came back to a white Ford Fusion.” The officer was “unsuccessful in locating the vehicle” at that time. The officer left the victim a voicemail informing him that “his vehicle had been struck by another vehicle.” The officer discovered the identity of the registered owner of the suspect vehicle and a WUPD sergeant was sent to speak with the owner. The sergeant “informed [the officer[ that the registered owner was not the one driving the vehicle at the time.” The officer was also “informed that the vehicle had old damage around the entire vehicle and no blue paint was located on the Suspect Vehicle.” WUPD was unsuccessful in locating video footage of the incident. The case is administratively closed.
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February 12, 2020
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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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February 12, 2020
L.A.D.I.E.S. Organization Spotlight Executive members, members and President/Founder of L.A.D.I.E.S talk about the importance of the organization. nization with the current President and Secretary was one of the best Photo courtesy of Katrina Gainey decisions I’ve made.” Scipio said that working on Members of L.A.D.I.E.S. with creating this organization — which Jennifer Disney was new and focused on empowering women — helped her with Ann Marie Juarez skills of her own, such as networkjuareza@mytjnow.com ing and engaging with other people of diverse backgrounds. The skills During Katrina Gainey’s freshScipio acquired from L.A.D.I.E.S. man year she was in “numerous has shaped her into a better leader organizations,” and none of them overall. Scipio says the members she met her expectations. Gainey said she wanted to create an organization has met from the organization will be a part of her life for a very long that empowers women and “emtime. braces the diversity” on Winthrop Gainey (who serves as president University’s campus. of the organization) wants all memAshleigh Scipio, junior and vice president of Ladies Achieving Diver- bers to feel important and welcome. “I want everyone to feel welcome, no sity, Independence, Empowerment and Success said, “making this orga- matter how they identify,” Gainey
said. Treasurer Kyla Cloud said that being a part of L.A.D.I.E.S. opened her eyes to how powerful young women are. “I feel like joining L.A.D.I.E.S. is one of the best things I have done since I have come to Winthrop,” Cloud said. Senior Nate Knight said that as a former parliamentarian he believes the organization is a great way for women to connect and “feel empowered” in a world that doesn’t always keep women’s best interests at heart. There are a number of responsibilities that come along with running an organization, and Gainey is well aware of these. She said that one responsibility is keeping the members of the organization engaged and
making them feel welcome. “I want my members to feel like they belong,” Gainey said. “I tend to put a lot on myself, but with the help of my amazing executive members, managing L.A.D.I.E.S. has been fairly easy.” Junior Angela Fanning said “the organization gave me strength, connections, and confidence.” “I love that everyone accepts everyone no matter how they identify,” Gainey said. “We can talk to each other about our problems.” For those interested in joining the organization, the next mass meeting of L.A.D.I.E.S. is Feb. 10 at 8 p.m. in Owens 103.
Civil Disobedience, Protesting and Change Students in the course Violence and Nonviolence in Politics and History were able to speak to civil disobedience activist Patrick O’Neill. Savannah Scott scotts@mytjnow.com The term “civil disobedience” harkens back to Henry David Thoreau, the civil rights movement and Mahatma Gandhi. However, this term is still relevant to many individuals in the United States of America today. Students in the Winthrop University honors course Nonviolence and Violence in Politics and History were able to speak to Patrick O’Neill, a 63-year-old Catholic peace advocate. “The week before we read about pacifism and non-violence. I thought he would be a good person to talk to in our class because what he did was not a passive act,” Ginger Williams, a professor of interdisciplinary studies, said. “It was a strong act of civil disobedience. I wanted them to meet a real life pacifist. [O’Neill] talking to this class gave him another venue to talk about what he did in trying to educate people about the issues that are important to him.” O’Neill will soon be sentenced to a few years in federal prison after he and six others broke into the Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base in Southeastern Georgia in 2018. O’Neill is part of a group that is against the
production and use of nuclear weapons. Kings Bay is home to various types of nuclear weapons. The group broke into the 16,000 acre base by cutting a padlock. They split up into three groups with crime scene tape, hammers and banners to get their message across. O’Neill shared his message to students about what pacifism means to him. “I take the fact that Jesus played into his suffering and death and did not put up a fight. I think Jesus was a pacifist. I see pacifism as an… act of nonviolent force for a social change… to stand up for injustice,” he said. O’Neill expressed his concern and main message to the students in the class and why he is against weapons of mass destruction. “I think when we have weapons of mass destruction we are tinkering with the human experiment. We are basically living in a world where we are on 24/7 alert,” he said. “Nuclear weapons can be used everyday on the planet. We are 15 minutes away from armageddon, [and] not thinking about it doesn’t mean we are safe.” Williams wanted to bring in a real person’s perspective and give O’Neill
a platform to speak about his acts of civil disobedience. “What he did was strong, poignant, and controversial. I thought it would be good for the discussion,” Williams said. “When people do civil disobedience they are supposed to talk about it. It’s almost like a responsibility.” O’Neill could serve around 21 to 27 months in federal prison depending on the judge’s decision. This will be his third time in prison for acts of civil disobedience. O’Neill wore a GoPro camera to use as evidence when going through his trail. “I do okay in prison. I try to use my time in prison to help people because there is a lot of sadness and anger in prison for a lot of different reasons,” he said. “I participate in bible studies and try to make friends with people.” Some of the students believed this phone call discussion was important to changing their perspec-
Shaniah Garrick / The Johnsonian tive on pacifism and nonviolence. “That conversation was important because it’s always important to see things from a real perspective and [have a] first-hand experience,” Kayla Thomas, a freshman criminology major, said. “It was interesting because my concept of nonviolence is protesting, [but] you don’t always hear about them doing these things that aren’t violent. He had a good cause, [and] I can see [it] from his perspective.”
Democracy is not a spectator sport President of the Columbia chapter of the League of Women Voters speaks to students about the importance of being aware of history Ann Marie Juarez juareza@mytjnow.com Laura R. Woliver is the president of the League of Women Voters chapter based in Columbia, South Carolina. Woliver is the author of publications such as “Dissent is Patriotic: Disobedient Founders, Narratives, and Street Battles,” and “Push Back, Move Forward: The National Council of Women’s Organizations and Women’s Coalition Advocacy.” Woliver was reached out to by Winthrop after becoming familiar with her work. The 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment approaching Winthrop wanted a speaker to talk about gender and rights. She is also familiar with the Winthrop community from scholars that attend political science conventions Woliver frequents. Woliver spoke about women’s rights, the rights of minorities and what life was like for women without the rights we have today.
The 19th Amendment was the “biggest expansion of suffrage in this country’s history. Woliver said that women are the “majority of voters … and taxpayers” in the United States. The women that fought for the right to vote were not quiet in their doing so, Woliver said. “They were uppity. They were loud. They were unladylike for more than 70 years.” Woliver said that women were not given the right to vote, but rather they won the right to vote. She went on to talk about Sen. Strom Thurmond and Gov. Ben Tillman (who also served as a senator), two late South Carolina politicians who are part of Winthrop’s history and campus. Wolliver said that Tillman’s son, Benjamin “B.R.” Tillman III married a wealthy, upper class woman from Charleston, South Carolina named Lucy Dugas. However, Dugas eventually filed for divorce due to her husband’s drinking habits. When they divorced, B.R. Tillman signed his children off to his father partly because he
Matt Thrift | News Editor thriftm@mytjnow.com
may have believed he could not take care of them. Dugas, being from a wealthy family, took the Tillmans to court. In the case of Tillman vs Tillman (Lucy Dugas Tillman v Tillman family), Dugas won her children back, which set a precedent for women around the country. It also showed how no one is immune to the oppression associated with being a woman. Soli Byrd, a junior at Winthrop, was shocked to learn that former South Carolina Sen. Strom Thurmond had a secret Ann Marie Juarez/ The Johnsonian biracial daughter. “On campus L-R — Katarina Moyon, Jennifer there are many buildings named Disney, Laura R. Woliver after important figures, and it’s important to learn about their never gave up,” Byrd said. pasts, both pleasant and distasteful,” Sophomore Ariah Massey Byrd said. attended the event. She said her Byrd said the most important worries for this country are that takeaway from the event is that people “cannot put aside their the “fight for equality” hasn’t differences and make a sane happened overnight. “It is important decision.” to fight for what you believe in “Try to make things better for because the women before us faced everyone in a category, not just one incomprehensible struggles and still person at a time,” Woliver said.
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theJohnsonian February 12, 2020
Savannah Scott / The Johnsonian
Ann Marie Juarez | Assistant News Editor juareza@mytjnow.com
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theJohnsonian February 12, 2020
Ok, Cupid.
The normalization of using apps like Tinder and Muzmatch has changed the way people date in 2020 Savannah Scott
scotts@mytjnow.com Social media and the internet have become a more prominent component of an individual's everyday life — this is correlated with the normalization of online dating apps and websites. The introduction of early dating apps in 2009 has formed a new lifestyle of dating for the 21st century. In 2018, seven of the 53 couples that were featured in the Vows column of the New York Times met on dating apps. And 93 of the 1,000 couples in the popular Wedding Announcements met on dating apps, according to The Atlantic. “It has become bigger because it allows you to broaden your horizons. You are able to have a bigger pool of people instead of being stuck with the same people you have met,” Sonny Dodds, a sophomore psychology major, said. “I think people are accepting technology more [and] recognize that you can't get away from technology so to have a dating app is [a part of the] grand scheme of technology we have [access to].” These online dating resources create a larger dating pool for singles to meet people they would not have otherwise met because of geographic challenges. They also allow people to meet others with similar viewpoints, religious practices, sexuality and much more. Every dating app is created for
Tate Walden/The Johnsonian an individual's preferences when finding a person to date. The apps also use algorithms to match people who would be the most compatible. “Online dating apps [allows a] huge pool of options it provides its users with. Through this information, the algorithm of the application tries to match users with similar requirements,” Veronica Hanks, a writer for thrive global and digital analyst, said in her article,“How Dating Apps Are Revolutionizing Relationships Today?” Some of these apps have also created online environments where individuals can also meet friends. For example, Bumble
was released in 2014 and is set up to where a person can swipe on a person they deem interested in. In 2016, Bumble released Bumble BFF, which allows others to meet people to create platonic friendships. “As a person that has moved around a lot I think it's great to meet different people. [It allows others] to meet friends and different people with different viewpoints instead of being friends with the same [people],” Dodds said. However, with the introduction and normalization of these apps has come a different way of dating compared to in the past. “[Dating is different because]
everyone had this idea of the courting process [where you] do all these pre steps before getting anywhere and people can now go straight into dates,” Dodds said. However, with using these apps there can be implications when it comes to dating. People can end up not being similar to their romantic partner, it does not allow the complete picture of a person until further in the relationship and there can be social disconnects, according to The Atlantic. But with the recognition and higher use of these apps will it change how dating is completly in the future?
Want to listen to your fellow Winthrop students on the radio? Download the app TuneIn and search for ‘Eagle Air.’ Listen from 4-6 p.m. on Wednesdays for our very own news editor’s show.
Self-Love for Valentine’s Day Health at Every Size is an organization about learning to love your body and end weight discrimination
*Trigger Warning: This story deals with eating disorders, self-harm and mental health* Sarah Delventhal staff writer The Health at Every Size organization is focused on ending weight discrimination and promoting self-love through healthy habits. “[It’s] an advocacy group to support people living in larger bodies to be able to achieve health equity, social equity,” Karin Evans, a professor of human nutrition said, adding that the organization also promotes the understanding when you are in a larger body. "I feel like if you are comfortable in your own body that will prevent things like suicide and bodily harm," Ka’Darrius Ellerbe, a freshmen psychology major, said. Weight discrimination can lead to habits such as overexercising or under-eating, which can lead to an eating disorder. An estimated 90 to 95% of college students that are diagnosed with an eating disorder also belong to a fitness facility, according to the National Eating Disorders Association website. "[This is] the only body that you are going to have so you might as well be comfortable with it and treat it nicely,” Catie Ellis, a junior special education major, said.
Maggie Claytor/The Johnsonian Evans advises that the best way to combat these internal feelings is to become more comfortable talking about these topics. This will allow a ripple effect, allowing these topics to be more openly talked about among peers. On campus, there are eating disorder specialists and physical fitness professionals that students are able to talk to in the West Center. However, students are more than welcome to these resources even if they just want to be better with their health.
Erica Langford, a human nutrition major, said that a person does not have to be diagnosed with an eating disorder to talk to someone "about their relationship with their body and what they are eating." Langford advises that you should not “follow people who make you feel bad about yourself.” She promotes that students should talk to several of the on-campus dietitians and groups that promote self-love. However, for students who do
Savannah Scott | Science & Technology Editor scotts@mytjnow.com
struggle they often “get caught up in that they need to love their body every day and you don't need to love your body all the time to take care of yourself," Langford said. Evans’ advice to promote healthy habits is to listen to internal cues to figure out how your body is feeling. A person’s body has signals to inform someone of what it needs whether that is sleep, food or exercise. As a way to combat and prevent body discrimination, HAES was created. This organization was made as a movement to embrace all body types and to end the stigma that all diets are healthy. It also speaks about how individuals are genetically different and that is why some people should not put their bodies through harsh diets and strenuous activities to achieve a body that is genetically impossible. On the HAES website it says that the organization "challenges scientific and cultural assumptions" and "values, body, knowledge and lived experiences." For more information about the Health At Every Size movement or to join, go to https:// haescommunity.com/.
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SPORTS theJohnsonian February 12, 2020
Gotta have grit Lily Fremed
staff writer On Jan. 31 in Columbia, SC, senior Harper Henson broke not only her personal mile record, but the Winthrop school record for running the mile. Class of 2004, Stephanie Vangsnes, set the mile time to beat at 5:01.03 in 2002. In her time at Winthrop, Vangsnes held the Winthrop school record for the indoor mile, indoor 3,000 meter run and the outdoor 1500 meter run. Now 18 years later, during the Carolina Challenge, distance runner Henson crushed the clock as she finished with a mile time of 4:59.56. Last season Henson scored the best time overall of 5:02.7. This accomplishment led to her winning her heat and coming in fifth overall. “It doesn’t feel very real and I’m still kinda in disbelief. I got many cheers and hugs from teammates and my coaches. My mom even cried! To celebrate I went out with my parents to a poke shop nearby and got a sushi burrito,” Henson said. Going into the race, Henson was confident that she would break the school record since her “goal was sub 5.” That meant if her plan was successful, she would break the
Tate Walden/ The Johnsonian school record no matter what. Training through summer and winter break Henson increased her mileage to the highest yet, specifically focusing on her recovery to avoid any injuries. Additionally, Henson makes sure to follow her coach’s training guidelines, eat healthy meals and get plenty of rest. “I think an athlete can be anyone, but to have a true passion for the sport is important for days you may feel like quitting,” Henson said. “Grit and discipline are also needed to excel and sacrifice getting out of your comfort zone to really push past certain limitations the mind
may put on physical training.” Henson looks up to the “professional running community of fast women that are also breaking records and making an impact in female athletics” to inspire and push her to do her absolute best. “Some of these runners include Alexi Pappas, Nikki Hiltz and Mary Cain,” Henson said. Henson was also named to the Big South Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week on Feb. 5 for her record breaking weekend. “I am very pleased with this race and feel that I could actually run faster,” Henson said.
Achievements in track are not the only thing Henson excels at. Back in November she was awarded the Big South Conference Women’s Cross Country Scholar Athlete of the Year. Working towards her master’s in human nutrition and dietetics, Henson hopes to graduate in May 2020. “Just getting out there and being committed to getting better everyday is all that can be done to know you put in the effort towards your goals,” Henson said. Henson has been an athlete her entire life — it is part of her identity. Despite this, she still always gets the jitters right before racing, yet always remains excited. “I try to calm nerves by reminding myself that this is all for fun and think of things that made me happy recently to spark positive emotions,” Henson said. “Since the sport of running is hard and challenging, physically and mentally … it helped me grow into knowing myself … Over the years it has shaped me into who I am today and lead me to my career path as a future registered dietitian,” Henson said. The Eagles race next at the VMI Indoor Classic on Feb. 15 and 16 in Lexington, Virginia.
Races won, times met, records broken Winthrop Track and Field traveled to USC meet
Photo provided by Winthrop Athletics Gweneshia Wadlington
staff writer Races won. Times met. Records broken. The men’s and women’s Track & Field teams travelled down to Columbia, SC to the University of South Carolina to compete in the Carolina Challenge on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. During the meet, senior Harper Henson broke Winthrop’s school record in the mile. Henson’s time was 4:59:56. The previous record had been set in 2002 by Stephanie Vangsnes, with a time of 5:01.03. Henson’s record in the mile run allowed her to finish in fifth place and she currently has the second fastest mile time in the Big South this season. Henson was also named the Big South Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week. Freshmen Ambar Nunez-Gomez
and Libby Roush placed third and eighth respectively in the women’s weight throw. Junior Alexis Jeffery finished the triple jump in fifth place [mark of 11.72m], placing Jeffery in second on Winthrop’s alltime list. Sophomore Everett Dinkins placed fifth in the triple jump. Seniors Evan Hailes and Colby Thorn both completed the meet at the top of their events. Hailes broke the indoor track and field record for the triple jump by landing a mark of 14.58, surpassing the previous record of 14.54 that was set by Keary Simms in 2011. Hailes was the men’s top performer, landing in fourth overall at the Carolina Challenge. Judging by the results and new records that the Eagles had at this past meet alone, it is clear that Winthrop’s track and field program is being quite successful. “I think the Winthrop track and
Gabby Gardner | Sports Editor gardnerg@mytjnow.com
field program as a whole is good,” Jeremy Falwell, a junior on the men’s team, said. “I mean there are always negatives but I don’t like to focus on them too much. I really enjoy the team this year and I think that we are all fairly close. I think that our program does well for the resources that we have and we really emphasize hard work which is one thing that is very admirable about the program. I love my team and being able to represent Winthrop when I run.” Even with all of the achievements during the meet at USC, some Eagles like Falwell still have some goals they’d like to get checked off their list. “A goal I have for this season is to just have fun with it and I would like to be on the podium at conference again,” Falwell said. “I know what I am capable of and I think that once I put it together on the track I’ll be satisfied, but I’m also not trying to
put too much pressure on myself along the way.” The Eagles certainly had a lot of success at the Carolina Challenge, as well as a lot of fun. “This conference meet is my favorite because it’s where everyone is supposedly at their best,” Falwell said. “The feeling of the meet is unlike any other and it’s what we have all been training for so it’s always fun to go out there and show what you’ve been working towards.” The men’s and women’s track and field teams will travel next to Lexington, Virginia to compete in the VMI Indoor Classic on Feb. 14-15. Be sure to stay updated with Winthrop’s track and field teams’ meets and records by following them on Twitter (@ WinthropTrackXC) and Instagram (@WinthropTrack).
theJohnsonian
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February 12, 2020
Pick Up Lines from Winthrop Athletics Will you be my valentine? Winthrop Athletics gets in the Valentine’s Day spirit by sharing a couple of their favorite pick up lines Gabby Gardner
gardnerg@mytjnow.com
Maggie Claytor/The Johnsonian
La J’ai Reed | Assistant Sports Editor reedl@mytjnow.com
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February 12, 2020
“Sing a black girl’s song” Spring theatre season begins with acclaimed play “For Colored Girls” Laura Munson munsonl@mytjnow.com The theatre department’s student works series for spring semester is kicking off with a poetic look at life in American society through the eyes of women of color. “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf” by Ntozake Shange opens on Wednesday, Feb. 12 and runs through Sunday, Feb. 16 in Johnson Studio Theatre. The show is directed by senior theatre performance major Le’ianna Gladden. The play is structured as a “choreopoem,” a form of drama which combines poetry, movement, dance and music. It tells the story of seven women, identified only by the colors of their clothing, who express sisterhood, beauty and unity while recounting the unique oppression and trauma of black women. “It’s just about their experiences, about love, about what it’s like to be a black woman in American society, what it’s like being a black woman in general. It’s about sisterhood, it’s about finding yourself,” Gladden said. Gladden says she first discovered the play in high school, and feels that it is a story that deserves to be showcased. “Very often, the stories of black women are not handled with care or not shown at all. ‘For Colored Girls’ places our varied and honest experiences front and center, which is crucial for me because my work is dedicated to the honest exploration
of black women’s experiences,” Gladden said. This production is Gladden’s third time directing the show, as she was able to direct it twice while studying abroad last semester in Ghana. “I took a directing class there, so I did it there. Then I interned with a theatre collective and I did it for them also for their winter production,” Gladden said. “We incorporate a lot of different elements [at Winthrop] than when I first did [it] in Ghana. We’ve incorporated choreography, and it’s very music and light-heavy.” Theatre major Kalaylah Chisolm plays The Lady in Yellow, one of the younger characters who is on a journey of becoming a woman. “Throughout the production, Lady in Yellow listens to the stories of the other women around her to realize that maybe she has become a woman, but she has found that she has been missing something that will make her anew,” Chisolm said. Chisolm says the process of “For Colored Girls” has challenged her and her castmates to truly be vulnerable as actors, but has also created a unique bond. “This is my first time in an all African American cast, and all female as well,” Chisolm said. “It was nice to work with a group of women that share similar stories with me who understand how I feel about my journey through society and [that I got to] create an unbreaking bond with the group of ladies over the last several weeks.” Gladden hopes that black
Photos by Marisa Fields-Williams/The Johnsonian women on campus walk away from the show “feeling seen and empowered knowing their stories matter,” and others come “with an open mind and an open heart,” and that they “come and they enjoy it, and they take something from it.” “I believe that everyone should take the opportunity to see this production of ‘For Colored Girls’ because it is eye-opening and a fabulous production that has taken a lot of hard work and dedication,” Chisolm said. Performances on Wednesday Feb. 12 through Saturday Feb. 15 begin at 7:30 p.m., with the Sunday matinee beginning at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $5 for Winthrop students and $10 for the general public for Wednesday and Thursday performances, and $8 for students and $15 for the general public Friday through Sunday. Tickets are general admission seating. The production contains mature content and language, and may not be suitable for young audiences. Tickets can be purchased by emailing boxoffice@winthrop.edu, calling the box office at (803)3234014 or visiting the box office in Johnson Hall. Box office hours are 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Monday - Friday during production week.
We are hiring! ASSISTANT ARTS&CULTURE EDITOR Create local, national, and international arts and cultural stories for the Winthrop Community
Work closely with writers and photographers
Build connections with arts and culture contacts around campus
contact Anna Sharpe or Laura Munson for more information sharpea@mytjnow.com
Laura Munson | A&C Editor munsonl@mytjnow.com
munsonl@mytjnow.com
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Amelie’s locks of love A look at one of the most unique (and romantic) features of Downtown Rock Hill David Botzer Staff Writer One of the small charms of Rock Hill is the love locks outside of Amelie’s French Bakery & Cafe on East Main Street. This assortment of locks can be found on a fence outside of the main entrance. This fence is adorned with everything ranging from padlocks to locks in the shape of hearts to even a combination bike lock. Each of these is meant to represent a couple who wanted to put a literal lock on their relationship. In many ways it is similar to the act we see in movies where a couple will carve their initials into a tree. This idea is not original to Amelie’s, but it is related. The most popular version of the love locks were in Paris, France on the Pont des Arts, a bridge that went over the Seine River. According to CNN.com, it is believed the idea originates from a 2006 Italian novel-turned-film “Ho Voglia di Te” (I Want You) by Federico Moccia, and spread to Paris in 2008. However, it would only be four years before it started creating problems. While at first charming, pieces of fencing on the
bridge started collapsing under the weight of the locks. With every lock added to the collection, the bridge was that much closer to collapsing from the unplanned weight. Many people also had a tendency of throwing the keys to their locks in the river below, and in turn polluting it. They were removed in 2015 due to the dangers they presented. Unlike their French counterpart, the locks at Amelie’s are not at any risk of causing harm. Two Amelie’s workers, Dara Bower and Monica, agreed that the locks will probably never be removed as long as Amelie’s is there. Monica, who has worked at the Rock Hill branch of the bakery for three months and with the company itself for three years, said the locks are “part of Amelie’s.” She went on to describe the locks as “something to signify love” and as symbols of peace and “a strong relationship with someone.” Bower, a senior psychology and anthropology major at Winthrop, has worked at the bakery since June 2019. During that time, she has come to see the locks as a great thing. To her, each lock has its “own little story” and are symbols of good memories, heartfelt
Photos by Marisa Fields-Williams/The Johnsonian things and happy stories. While neither worker has added their own locks to the collection, two students at Winthrop have. Chandler Moore and Ally Baumgartner, sophomore theatre performance majors, added their own lock to the collection at Amelie’s for their one year anniversary. To Moore, the lock was “a symbol of love” and “something secure that is nearly impossible to break. We threw away the key so the lock will remain there with no way for
it to be taken away.” Baumgartner shared this view, stating “we’ve made a commitment to each other, to push each other to be better people, and that our love and friendship is a bond that can’t be broken.” Until the day Amelie’s shuts their doors, it is safe to assume the love locks will proudly sit outside of it, representing the love and connections formed by every couple who has placed locks there.
Professors we love, who are in love Winthrop is the home to many couples that students adore Victoria Howard howardv@mytjnow.com Love is in the air year-round at Winthrop. The university is the home to many professor couples, who have the opportunity to work alongside each other as they teach. Finding academic jobs close together isn’t easy, much less finding a job at the same institution. Drs. Padmini and Hemant Patwardhan are a testament to that. Dr. Padmini Patwardhan is a professor of mass communication and Dr. Hemant Patwardhan is a professor of marketing and management. During Hemant Patwardhan’s last years of grad school and first year at Winthrop, he and his family were separated by several thousand miles when Padmini Patwardhan went to teach school in Texas. When he moved to Winthrop for his own teaching career, that distance grew even more. “I was working here when she applied for her job in the mass communications department,” Hemant Patwardhan said, “We were very lucky to be able to start to work together.” For Drs. Jessie and Arran Hamm, the challenge of finding jobs together presented a different set of obstacles. Both are associate professors of math here at Winthrop and expressed the
challenges of finding a school with two positions open in the same department. “God brought us here,” Jessie Hamm said, “We applied to tons of schools and both got interviews here, did our on-campus interviews together — that was so exciting — and everything worked out.” She also spoke about how the school itself was what they were looking for in a job, “This is a school that really fits us well.” For both couples, working at Winthrop has been a blessing, but they have had very different experiences. The Patwardhans work across campus from each other and their schedules rarely allow them to see each other while they are at work. “We hardly ever run into each other during the day,” Hemant Patwardhan said, “So we really only see each other in the evenings.” The Hamms work only a few doors down from each other in the same department, so they are able to interact a lot more throughout the day. They also have schedules that compliment each other so if they have an emergency with their son, the other can take over their classes. “We get to go for walks together and have lunch together,” Jessie Hamm said, “Our department chair is amazing, so he will try to make it work for us so that our classes don’t overlap [...] so we can cover each others classes.” “It’s just nice to have someone to talk to that really knows what you’re talking about,” Arran Hamm said, “I feel like if we worked in different places, we would know different students, we would have different colleagues, the department dynamics would be different. It would just be more challenging to discuss the everyday issues that arise, so it’s just nice that we have the same dictionary of terms.” Another benefit of working to-
gether in academia in the same or similar fields is that both couples have been able to collaborate with their partner on research projects. “[Padmini] and I have similar fields of study so we have been able to do some research together, which was fun,” Hemant Patwardhan said. Currently, the Hamms are work-
had a plan for how to identify the Hamms. “When we came even just for our interviews [...] all the math majors had already given us names even though we didn’t even have jobs yet,” Jessie Hamm said, “All the students call me Jamm and then his was ManHamm.” Arran Hamm is “working to get
Victoria Howard/The Johnsonian
Drs. Jessie and Arran Hamm “unintentionally” matching. ing together on research related to one of the oldest objects in math. “To other people [it might not be], but to us, it’s super exciting,” Jessie Hamm said. One of the only issues when it comes to working together that both couples experienced, was students mixing them and their partner up due to shared names. Both thought that the mix-ups were funny. “Quite often I get her emails and she gets my emails,” Hemant Patwardhan said, “Students just see the Patwardhan and don’t see the H at the end or the P so we end up sending out emails that are supposed to be for the other person.” Another pair of married professors, the Abernathys, work alongside the Hamms in the math department, so the students already
away” from his original nickname though and instead go by “The Hammer.” From the outside, working with a loved one might seem intimidating, but these couples prove that assumption wrong. For the Patwardhans, they were forced to experience time apart before being able to be at the same school, making being at Winthrop more special and the times they can work on projects more impactful. For the Hamms, though they work down the hall from each other they don’t get fed up with each other and instead choose to be joyful in that. After all, like Arran Hamm said, “Everyone knows, math is the universal language, but what fewer people know is that math is one of the love languages.”
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OPINION
theJohnsonian
February 12, 2020
Problems with Wingspan Students have been having issues with Wingspan since the start of the semester and it has caused a lot of undue stress Victoria Howard
howardv@mytjnow.com Error 500 - Internal Server Error. This is the screen that many students have seen when trying to log into their Wingspan accounts since the start of the semester. Not being able to access Wingspan has caused issues for students who need to reference their class schedule, check DegreeWorks to see their degree status, add or drop classes and fill out timesheets for students who work for the school. Students were made aware that changes would be made to the login page of Wingspan on Jan. 6 by an email that was sent out in December. The email informed students that the new login page will allow for “the eventual implementation of modern security features.” Patrice Bruneau, Assistant Vice President for Computing and Information Technology said in an email to The Johnsonian, “The new authentication method uses Central Authentication Service. It is a standard service used by many software manufacturers. This method is more secure so it is less likely to be hacked. Eventually, this system will also allow us to deploy Multi-Factor Authentication [...] which will also improve security.” He also said that this new system was necessary for the next version of Wingspan to be implemented.
Bruneau explained that the issue was determined to be the result of a session timeout. The error would happen when someone logs in and doesn’t log out, this creates an abandoned session that the system “hangs on to until a predetermined time out.” “Unfortunately, once the error message is triggered, the user cannot log on again,” Bruneau said. “The only way to “fix” that is to clear the cookies/cache [...] or try another browser. Users can also restart their browser, but that is not always practical on a mobile device.” Bruneau said that students should always log out of Wingspan, both for this issue and security. The IT department has been working to fix the error. According
to Bruneau, it was difficult to recreate the issue as it was “triggered sporadically and could not easily be repeated.” Technicians had to dig deeply into the system to find the bug, but as of Jan. 23 a patch was issued to fix the bug. Since then, the bug hasn’t been completely solved and students are still experiencing issues logging into Wingspan. Emptying your cache works, but if your session times out, then you are not able to reaccess Wingspan until you clear your cache. This isn’t always an option, especially if you’re doing research for a class and would like to go back in your history to reaccess a webpage. This information about clearing your cache has not been communi-
cated to students either, so unless you reach out to the IT Service Desk yourself, you might not know what to do or how you can access Wingspan. Grace Johnson, sophomore theater major, said that she was unaware that she could reach out to the Service Desk and that “they should do a better job to let students know whats happening with Wingspan.” “I hesitate to send too many emails to the whole student body because you already receive so much information from Winthrop, and I don’t want to add to your mailboxes. That tends to create “communication overload”.” Bruneau said. Since the initial patch, Bruneau said that they have not been able to replicate the error and that any students still experiencing it should reach out to the IT Service Desk by phone at 803-323-2400 or via email at servicedesk@winthrop.edu. Issues with campus-wide technology should be communicated better by both the service desk and students to the service desk. Often times, the service desk is unaware that issues are as widespread as they might be. In response, the service desk should communicate more consistently with students and faculty so that they know how to handle issues like that with Wingspan.
Olivia Esselman /The Johnsonian
What is Love? “Sometimes love is an illusion, people tend to believe they’re in love. And they think because they think they’re in love that they’re in love. But I would say thinking you’re in love isn’t good enough. You need to actually be in love and that’s a feeling, not a delusion or a hope.”
-Guy Reel, department chair of mass communication “Love means having a genuine connection with a potential soulmate”.
-Bethany Wise, sophomore “Love is a very hard concept to define, I feel like it’s different for everybody because we all live in different realities and nobody’s reality and perception is the same so everybody’s love is different… Love can hurt you sometimes because you have to learn, you have to learn correction but that’s love. Unconditional love is having a great affection for who you are, not being possessive of you, but watching you grow”
-Joseph Williams, music artist “A partnership that you’re willing to grow with and learn from.”
-Lilly Spruill, sophomore “To me, love is acceptance so accepting your partner for who they are, their flaws, whatever you think is perfect, and just kind of accepting the baggage that they come with because you never know what they might’ve struggled with or whatever they’ve gone through and they might just need your support”
-Itzel Laura, senior “A willingness To hold somebody down, to be loyal to them, to always have their back and do it without any expectation of return… I always think of that bible verse, ‘love is patient, love is kind’ and I believe that’s not just for romantic love but any kind of love”
-Tasha Stewart, senior manager of engagement for WCPO in Cincinnati Victoria Howard | Opinion Editor howardv@mytjnow.com
Tate Walden
waldent@mytjnow.com
theJohnsonian
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February 12, 2020
Romance (and commercialism) is in the air Is Valentine’s Day becoming more about giving companies money than giving your significant other a gift? David Botzer
staff writer Practically everyone knows what is in store when the calendar flips over to February: hearts, flowers, romance, love. Valentine’s Day. Falling exactly in the middle of the month, the holiday is the literal heart of February. Unfortunately, it also tends to mean an increase in prices for certain items and a push for consumers to spend money for the sake of their partner’s happiness. While this is a typical trend among holidays now, unlike Christmas and Thanksgiving, which are draped in traditional practices, it seems as if there is nothing more to Valentine’s Day than the commercialism. Originally, the holiday was named after Saint Valentine. Unfortunately, according to History.com, the exact story behind the saint, including even which Saint Valentine the holiday was named after, is “murky.” The story often thought of is that of a Roman priest during the third century who performed marriages for lovers in secret after then Emperor Claudius II “decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families” and banned young men from getting married. Once Valentine was discovered, he was jailed and sentenced to death for his actions. In prison, he fell in love with his jailor’s daughter and wrote her a love letter signed by the now well-known phrase “from your Valentine.” While many might then assume that Feb. 14 was chosen for Valentine’s Day to remember the anni-
versary of his death, it is speculated that the Christian church actually began celebrating it in the fifth century “in an effort to ‘Christianize’ the pagan celebration of Lupercalia … a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.” According to History.com, the holiday wouldn’t get any true romantic connotations until during the Middle Ages, when it was thought that birds began mating on Feb. 14. Geoffrey Chaucer, an English poet, was the first person to actually refer to the holiday as a day of romance when he mentioned the birds mating on the holiday in his 1375 poem “Parliament of Foules.” Modern Valentine’s Day traditions would begin in the 17th century, with friends and lovers trading back and forth “tokens of affection” and notes, which would be replaced by mass-produced cards in 1900. However, with these mass-produced cards came the beginning of the commercialization of the holiday. Over time, the focus turned from simple love and romance to items to buy and give to your loved one into a holiday that asked a lot more of those celebrating, such as flowers and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates that were added to the holiday in the 1860s by British company Cadbury’s. In 2016, it was estimated that people in the U.S. alone would spend $19.7 billion on Valentine’s Day, with over $1 billion on just cards, according to Time.com. TheBalance.com predicts this number will increase to $27.4 billion this year. Part of this comes from the rise in prices each year around this
Victoria Howard/ The Johnsonian time. The greatest example of this price increase can be found in red rose sales. A clear example of the price change comes from Bankrate.com, “One florist, Kristi Pohly of Fleur Decor in Denver, says her cost for roses has more than doubled since Christmas. She pays $2.07 per stem, up from $1.05 at Christmas. Last year for Valentine’s Day, she paid $1.75 per stem.” This example of increased price from year to year and from the previous months is the same for most staples of the holiday such as jewelry, chocolates and other flowers. Some Winthrop students agree that it feels like Valentine’s Day has become more about money than love. “It’s a waste of money. I love the thoughtfulness of it, but everything goes up in price,” Kerron Scurry, freshman, said. Steph Emerson, a freshman En-
glish major, says that for them, “it depends on the person. Most people don’t find it to be about romance anymore.” They went on to say that, as an example, they wouldn’t just buy someone chocolates for Valentine’s Day, they would get them chocolate when they wanted to. Kat Murray, a freshman psychology major, feels like the idea of “the bigger and more extravagant gift(s) you buy for your partner, the better” is completely wrong. Murray would rather “take a letter any day than some pricey jewelry I probably wouldn’t even wear, it just doesn’t mean as much to me than say a letter from the heart.” Despite the feelings of disdain towards the money-focused side of Valentine’s Day that is becoming an ever-growing issue, the holiday is still seen by many for what it truly is: a day to share the love with those we care about most.
Valentine’s movies for pals, partners, or just for yourself If you need something to do on Valentines Day, here are some movies you could watch. Gabe Corbin
staff writer Valentine’s Day. It’s the most romantic day on the calendar. It’s also a day where you might end up spending a lot of money on dates and candy for your partner or friends. Luckily, there are less expensive ways to celebrate this day of love. For example, movies. There are thousands of movies out there to watch on Valentine’s Day, and here are specific movies you could watch to celebrate: With Your Pals: The Mamma Mia! Movies: What’s better than a fun, romantic musical on Valentine’s Day? The Mamma Mia movies are cult favorites and discuss themes of family and love — with some great music from ABBA as a bonus. The music performances by actors Amanda Seyfried, Meryl Streep and Lily James make these great feel-good movies to celebrate happiness and love. Love, Simon: This romance movie tells the story of Simon who is hiding his sexuality, only forming a bond with a mysterious emailer named “Blue.” When his secret is threatened to be exposed by a fellow student, Simon is forced to stand up and profess who he is. This movie is a comedy, a love story and a feel-good movie with a focus on friends as well as romance. It’s a great choice to watch on Valentine’s Day to celebrate not just the love between you and your partner, but any kind of love you have. Hitch: Will Smith channels the Fresh Prince for his role in “Hitch.” He plays a “dating coach” who helps a dorky client get the girl of his dreams, while he ends up falling for his match: a beautiful reporter named Sara Melas, played by Eva Mendes. It’s a rom-com story that
Victoria Howard/ The Johnsonian will melt your heart as Smith finds himself loving someone who could destroy everything he’s worked for. It’s the perfect laugh out loud and heartfelt movie for your friends to enjoy on the day of love. With your Partner: The Wedding Singer: Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore have incredible on-screen chemistry and have worked together over the years in three movies, which are all perfect to watch with your partner on Valentine’s Day. One of their movies together is “The Wedding Singer,” where Sandler’s character Robbie attempts to win the heart of Julia just days before her wedding after they formed a connection. Always Be My Maybe: “Always Be My Maybe” is a feel-good romcom about reconnection. Ali Wong and Randall Park star in the film, which details the reconnection of Sasha, who became a celebrity chef, and Marcus, an unsuccessful rocker, reconnect after a fight in their teenage years. The dynamic chemistry between Sasha and Marcus will warm your heart, and it is a surefire
pick to watch with someone special to you if you need a laugh. Warm Bodies: You wouldn’t expect it, but there are plenty of good horror movies to watch on Valentine’s Day. They can create a mood where you and your partner just cuddle up and comfort each other and hold each other while you scream. For example, look at “Warm Bodies” with Teresa Palmer and Nicholas Hoult. Even though it’s a zombie movie and doesn’t sleep on the fact that there are scenes where people lose their heads (literally and figuratively), the end focuses on the love between two characters and how it can heal all. By Yourself: Classic Disney Channel Movies: If you wanna just celebrate Valentine’s Day by yourself, try watching some classic DCOMS. They all make you feel good and hit the perfect nostalgia chord. You can enjoy Mitchie and Shane bonding in “Camp Rock”, see Troy and Gabriella fall in love in “High School Musical”, see a guy meet a girl whose father controls the military in “My
Date with the President’s Daughter”, or see what happens to four best friends who want to be stars in “The Cheetah Girls.” Dreamworks Animated Movies: Dreamworks’ movies are stunning, both visually and emotionally. They tell stories that can warm the heart of the audience, and on Valentine’s Day that might be just the thing you need if you are flying solo. You can watch the “Rise of the Guardians” and see the underdog become a hero, find a familial bond in the Madagascar movies as Alex and his friends find where they truly belong in this crazy world, or watch Hiccup meet Toothless and change the world in “How to Train Your Dragon.” These movies will inspire you with their stunning storylines and make sure your Valentine’s Day can be great even if you are not with someone. Don’t feel worried about spending lots of money on your Valentine’s Day — instead spend some quality time watching these movies on Eagle Cinema, Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+.
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theJohnsonian
February 12, 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 Text climate to 46866