Wednesday
Winthrop University
February 20 , 2019
Rock Hill, SC
Serving Winthrop and Rock Hill Since 1923
Cash for cultural events
Cheyenne Walshl/ The Palmetto Report Some Winthrop students are paying others to help them attain their graduation requirement of 18 cultural events.
Winthrop students admit to paying other students or getting paid to attend cultural events Cheyenne Walsh palmettoreport@gmail.com Editor’s note: The Palmetto Report changed and removed some of the names of the students quoted in this story in order to protect their identities. As Winthrop University seniors prepare themselves for graduation, a number of students have admitted to paying fellow students to attend cultural events on their behalf. Winthrop students are expected to attend 18 cultural events, or earn the equivalent of 18 credits, in order to graduate. The events can include lectures, panel discussions, plays, concerts, film screenings and other types of events. Former university President Phil Lader implemented the policy in 1989. “Exposure to culture is an important part of a well-educated and well-rounded individual,” according to the university’s website. However, a number of students have admitted to handing over their Winthrop IDs, which need to be scanned to receive cultural credit, and some money to other students to attend the events in their place and ensure they graduate on time. “I was stretched too thin,” “Jane,” a recent graduate who estimated she paid a fellow student to attend roughly eight cultural events
on her behalf said. “I never had enough time, split between working a fulltime job serving 40 hours per week, being in multiple clubs and academic organizations and… Greek [life],” she said. Jane said she got the idea after meeting a student who said she enjoyed attending cultural events. “[Jane] found out how many [cultural credits] I had, and she said, ‘you like going to them?’” said “Mary,” a junior at Winthrop in the honors program. “I said ‘yeah, I do.’ “She said ‘can I pay you to go to some?’ And I said ‘Yeah, sure,’” Mary said. Mary said she typically received about $5 per event, but some students said they were willing to pay a much higher price. “John,” a senior athlete, said he was willing to pay his peers anywhere from $20 to $40 depending on the length of the event. The money was worth the relief of not having to attend “these often boring and drawn-out cultural events,” John said. “My reasoning was simple; pay x-amount of dollars or go sit in a two-hour session after my four-to-five-hour athletic team practice.” Jane and John both said they knew of at least 10 other people who each paid fellow students to attend cultural events in their place. The cultural event requirement “is an aspect of a grade, an assignment towards graduation, so
cultural events are a requirement for graduation,” Bethany Marlowe, assistant vice president and dean of students said. “If someone cheats in attendance in cultural events then it would be a violation of our code of student conduct and they would be charged with academic misconduct,” Marlowe said. Marlowe said she has dealt with students going to cultural events for their friends as a way of “helping out” in the past, but she has never heard of payment being offered. “I am appalled. I just think cultural events are there for a really important purpose; it’s there for your education,” Marlowe said. “We talk about being inclusive, and we talk about being a diverse community, and if you’re not willing to branch out and experience culture in other ways, than what you’re used to, then your education is deficient.” According to Marlowe, if caught, the violation could become part of a student’s academic record and depending on the seriousness, “the consequences would be consistent with whatever the violation was.” The consequences could include a warning and being required to complete an assignment involving academic integrity or suspension, Marlowe said. Students said that they didn’t realize the extent of the consequences facing both the person who paid and the person who accepted the
payment. “I assume academic probation, deducting scholarship money and even a chance of getting expelled are forms of punishment,” John said. However, Mary said the $5 she was earning to attend cultural events isn’t worth the risk of being suspended. “I’m not 100 percent sure what the consequences would be, but if it had anything to do with plagiarism, that freaks me out and I didn’t realize it would apply to cultural events,” Mary said. Marlowe said she hopes students will hold one another accountable, once they recognize the purpose of the cultural credits and the potential consequences of asking others to attend on their behalf. “If you want your degree to mean something, then you have to uphold the integrity of the institution,” Marlowe said. “It undermines the integrity of the institution, allowing that kind of behavior to go on.” This story was a contribution from Palmetto Report writer Cheyenne Walsh. The Palmetto Report is an online multimedia news site written by Winthrop mass communication students for Winthrop and surrounding communities. For more stories from the Palmetto Report, visit www.palmettoreport. wordpress.com.
Student assaulted near campus
Téa Franco francot@mytjnow.com
A 21-year-old Winthrop University student was assaulted near the Walk2Campus apartment complex early Saturday morning. According to Kenneth Scoggins, Winthrop University Police Department chief of police, the victim was held at gunpoint as she was walking toward her apartment, instructed to a darker area where she was assaulted. The assailant then took her cell phone, ID, keys and car. The investigation was carried out by the Rock Hill Police Department as it was off campus and therefore
in their jurisdiction, however according to an email Scoggins sent to the student body, WUPD was “ assisting and remain[ing] actively involved in the investigation.” Kenneth Scoggins, Chief of the Winthrop University Police Department said that his department had some contact with moving the case along. “[Campus police] was the initial responding agency in this case and, as such, coordinated first efforts between CPOL and Rock Hill Police Department. CPOL completed the initial paperwork, contacted RHPD,
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Annie Get Your Gun review
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and provided RHPD with all of the informations that was available at that time,” Scoggins said. “CPOL assisted in the search for the suspect and assisted RHPD in maintaining a crime scene perimeter during the initial response. Thereafter, CPOL continued by notifing appropriate individuals in university leadership and victim support services. CPOL thereafter remained in close contact with RHPD in order to update the university community of developments in the case,” Scoggins continued. The alleged assailant was arrested later that day around 11:30 a.m.
Opinion
ESports at WU: yay or nay?
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on India Hook Road. The suspect is Terry Shaimek Tyler, 16. Tyler is technically considered a minor in the state of South Carolina, however he may be tried for the crimes— criminal sexual conduct first degree, armed robbery, kidnapping, grand larceny auto, possession of a pistol by a person under 18 and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence— as an adult. Tyler was found driving the stolen car with five other minors, all of whom were released to their families without charges. Tyler is currently being held in the South Carolina Department of Juvnile Justice.
Sports
Runner breaks personal best and school record
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Index: News 3 | Science & Tech 5 | Sports 6 | Arts & Culture 8 | Opinion 10
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PAGE 2 theJohnsonian February 20, 2019
Winthrop’s vaping policies Many students are opting for e-cigarettes over traditional tobacco cigarettes, Oriana Gilmore uncovered what policies Winthrop has in place regarding vapes. Oriana Gilmore gilmoreo@mytjnow.com
As students turn to e-cigarettes instead of traditional tobacco cigarettes, Winthrop University officials must clarify smoking policies. One in five young Americans are e-cigarette users, according to to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. More high school and young adult aged Americans are using e-cigarettes as a “healthier” alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes. Assistant director of residence life Julie Schrader says there are smoking policies
at Winthrop, but they are not “vaping specific.” “Now, we didn’t make a special vaping policy. The university, also, from what I’ve seen, has not made a special vaping specific policy. They lump vaping in with smoking and expect the same things as far as not being in a building. Basically, we will treat vaping just like smoking for our purposes where you can’t do either one of them in the halls, and if you are going to vape we expect you to go to the smoking areas.” Schrader says there are designated smoking areas right outside of residence
halls and around the campus. For more information on the smoking policy at Winthrop, students can check the student handbook or go to winthrop. edu. This story was a contribution from Palmetto Report writer Oriana Gilmore. The Palmetto Report is an online multimedia news site written by Winthrop mass communication students for Winthrop and surrounding communities. For more stories from the Palmetto Report, visit www.palmettoreport.wordpress. com. Oriana Gilmore/ The Palmetto Report Students are expected to use vapes in the traditional designated smoking areas
About The Johnsonian The Johnsonian is the weekly student newspaper of Winthrop University.
CONTACT INFORMATION Our offices are located in suite 104 in the DiGiorgio Campus Center. Phone: (803) 323-3419 Email: editors@mytjnow.com Online: mytjnow.com
LETTER POLICY Letters and feedback can be sent to editors@ mytjnow.com or by mail at The Johnsonian, 104 Campus Center, Rock Hill, S.C. 29733. Comments submitted online at www.mytjnow.com may be printed as letters and may be shortened for space and edited for clarity. Please include
your name, major and year if you are a student; your name and title if you are a professor, or your name and profession if you are a member of the community. Letters, cartoons and columns reflect the opinion of the authors and are not necessarily the opinions of The Johnsonian Staff.
Editor-in-Chief Téa Franco francot@mytjnow.com Managing Editor Cheyenne Walsh walshc@mytjnow.com
Sports Editor Greta Conboy Assistant Sports Gabby Gardner
A&C Editor Ad Manager Dillon Oneill Victoria Howard howardv@mytjnow.com News Editor Anna Sharpe Assistant News Oriana Gilmore S&T Editor Mikayla Mangle
Assitant A&C Caleb Hinkley Opinion Editor Erin Streetman
Layout Editor Carmen Little Graphic Designer Jordan Farrell Photographers Sam Ross Camille Riddle Copy Editors Casey Smith Matt Thrift Haleigh Altman
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NEWS theJohnsonian February 20, 2019
Jordan Farrell/ The Johnsonian
Winthrop is an institution of higher education and is therefore considered a peaceful forum for public speech.
Controversial speaker sparks discussion
Some students found issue with Ratio Christi’s choice in guest speaker, Frank Turek. This caused debate over policies regarding speakers at Winthrop. faculty of different political perick said. “That would be somesuasions, sexual orientations and thing that would draw the line.” religious commitments. “MoreStudents and off-campus Controversy brewed among the over [...] academic freedom, community members who want Winthrop community as some the right to inquire broadly, to to speak or protest on campus, students opposed guest speaker, question and to promote an enwho are not officially invited Frank Turek, at the philosophivironment where wrong answers, by student organizations or the cal event, “If God, Why Evil?” seemingly absurd ideas and ununiversity, are allowed to use the hosted by the Christian organiza- conventional thought are not just campus’ free speech zones. tion Ratio Christi on Feb. 5. permitted, but even encouraged,” If a student organization would Turek, a Christian author and according to the Freedom Forum like to invite a speaker, they public speaker, is known for his Institute. would have to submit a space book Correct, Not Politically If students request to the Office of Student Correct; How Same-Sex Maroppose a riage Hurts Everyone. speaker and Some students thought the they would A university is supposed to be a event should be cancelled and like to prothe speaker should not have been test, they ‘marketplace of ideas,’ so there will allowed to speak on Winthrop have that certainly be people who express University’s campus because of right, Fredhis negative views on the legalviews that may not agree with erick said. ization of gay marriage. The univerthose other individual students However, public institutions sity would of higher education are considhold. For instance, all of our politialso stop ered peaceful forums for public the event if cal groups bring candidates and speech and debates for opposthe protests ing opinions, according to mass speakers and they often hold difled to nonmedia law professor Nathaniel peaceful fering views. Frederick. activities, -Bethany Marlowe , “There’s two sides to it. One also known could argue that […] the speaker as heckler’s Dean of Students Winthrop University doesn’t represent the values of veto. the university. On the other Although hand, as a public institution, you public collegalso want to recognize all voices, es are areas not just voices that you agree which promote sharing differAffairs and then follow concise with,” Frederick said. ing views, they would disinvite a guidelines to seek approval. The Freedom Forum Institute speaker in rare cases such as the Bethany Marlowe, dean of stusaid public colleges and universpeaker is inciting violence or dents, said students who would sities must present balance in threats to the student body. like to invite a speaker would use the representation of differing “At a state university, the only the allocations process and the opinions to promote educational thing…[which would prevent a guidelines listed on the student discussions. speaker] is if the content would activities page on Winthrop’s “Public institutions in their be considered obscene,” Frederwebsite. diversity often have students and Oriana Gilmore gilmoreo@mytjnow.com
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Anna Sharpe | News Editor sharpea@mytjnow.com
“There are limited funds for speakers, but the student allocations committee has guidelines and tries to apply them consistently and fairly,” Marlowe said. “Registered groups may invite speakers without requesting university funds and they are allowed to reserve space and to advertise as long as they follow posting policy. ” Marlowe said invited speakers do not have to present what they are going to talk about to the university, but student organization leaders have to meet with Patricia Riley, the assistant director of student activities, to discuss and plan their program. “A university is supposed to be a ‘marketplace of ideas,’ so there will certainly be people who express views that may not agree with those other individual students hold. For instance, all of our political groups bring candidates and speakers and they often hold differing views,” Marlowe said. Marlowe said she “applauds” the students who attend events where speakers may have dissimilar views than their own. She said she encourages students to continue listening to different opinions and ask questions. “We are very fortunate to be a part of such a diverse community where we can learn from one another in a safe environment,” Marlowe said.
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theJohnsonian February 20, 2019
Computer science majors to gain new scholarhsip
Anna Sharpe/ The Johnsonian
The Thacker Computer Sciences Scholarship will be available beginning in 2020
Retired computer science professor, Will Thacker, has established a new scholarship for computer science majors Anna Sharpe sharpea@mytjnow.com Former Winthrop professor Will Thacker has decided to give back to the students in the form of a scholarship. The Thacker Computer Sciences Scholarship will be available to computer science majors in 2020. Thacker, who retired unexpectedly in December 2018 due to health concerns, was a computer science and quantitative methods professor. He began teaching at Winthrop in August 1983. Nate Brinkley, development officer for university advancement, helped coordinate Thacker’s donation. He said Thacker’s motive for creating the scholarship is a dedication to Winthrop’s students even after his retirement. “Will is like a lot of faculty members here at Winthrop, from my
understanding. He’s been here a long time and has really adopted and helped sustain the culture at Winthrop of getting engaged with the students and really helping them. They wanted to continue to be able to do that,” Brinkley said. The scholarship is projected to be between $800 and $1000. Because the scholarship is an endowment fund, it will be around for a long time and benefit future Winthrop Eagles for years to come. Amanda Stewart, director of program administration for the Winthrop University Foundation, explained scholarships supported through endowment funds last well into the future because the money is collected from the interest developed annually from the initial donation. “An endowment takes about a year after it’s established to be available because it has to generate some of that interest because we don’t eat into that initial investment. The upside is, it lasts forever because we don’t touch that initial money and then it grows over time because [of] interest above and beyond the award amount, the calculated award amount goes back into the account, so it kind of grows,” Stewart said. The application process is simple: be a computer science major.
“The only requirement is that it’s for computer science majors. That’s where they really wanted to focus, that being his field of expertise. Other than that, it’s very open,” Stewart said. “For incoming freshman, your application to Winthrop is your scholarship application and for upperclassmen, your transcript is your scholarship application, for the most part,” Stewart said. The Thacker Computer Sciences Scholarship will be awarded to one student annually. That student is chosen by faculty members in the computer science department. “The faculty members in that department will help select [the student], which is great because they know the students and know who might need the help and who’s performing well. It’s entirely based on your Winthrop record,” Stewart said. “The faculty will get together with the department chair and make suggestions or nominations, if you will, and ultimately the department chair will make the determination in this case, and send it along to financial aid to have the scholarship applied to that student’s account,” Stewart said. Stephen Dannelly, chair for the department of computer science and quantitative methods, said
computer science majors are lacking in major-specific scholarship opportunities. “We have a few. There’s a Pattison scholarship that was named after a student that was here thirty years ago that we’ve had for decades. One of our alumni who graduated about 10 years ago, that is very successful in Wall Street gave us money a couple of years ago to do a few scholarships for computer science majors but that’s about it. Maybe there’s one other but there’s not a lot that are pinpointed directly at computer science majors,” Dannelly said. The Thacker Computer Science Scholarship makes three scholarships specifically restricted to computer science majors, along with the Bryan Pattison Memorial Scholarship and Justin and Emily Pauley Endowed Scholarship for Computer Science. However, the Thacker Computer Scholarship has the most open eligibility for students. In an official statement from Thacker and wife Joyce Martin, the donors “hope to make a difference” in the educations of computer science majors. “His gift will provide students needed and well-deserved educational support for many years to come,” Thacker and Martin said.
Reporters, alumni share experiences at News Literacy event Local journalists offer their opinions on the importance of investigative journalism Noah Wright Staff Writer
“Why Investigative Reporting Does Matter” brought together a group of reporters from all areas of the industry in the Carolinas to give their defense on the importance of investigative journalism. The panel is part of the News Literacy events being held across campus this school year. Students and professors alike gathered in the Richardson Ballroom Tuesday, Feb. 12 to listen as the group of journalists took the podium for the event. Among these journalists, however, was one with a special significance to many of the writers and professors in the room: Anna Douglas, Winthrop alumni and former writer and editor of The Johnsonian. Douglas, who has gone on to work for the Charlotte Observer, was joined by Jennifer Hawes, a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist for the Charleston Post & Courier and Bill Fox, president of Protecting Pub-
lic Access to Public Records. The event was moderated by Manning Kimmel, a managing partner of Our Three Sons Broadcasting. The panelists began by noting a distaste society has developed for news media in recent years. Describing the nature of the profession, Douglas did not find it quite surprising. “Investigative reporting is putting something out there that someone somewhere doesn’t want you to know,” Douglas said. “True investigative work has to shine a light.” Douglas has had much experience dealing with pushback from shining a light. In 2014, she began writing what became an ongoing series of stories documenting corruption surrounding Winthrop’s then-president Jamie Williamson. When Williamson contacted the paper to tell her story after her ousting, the public scorned the paper. Though the public had expressed their distaste for Williamson and the paper, Douglas focuses on the positive aspects her writing brings
Oriana Gilmore | Assistant News Editor gilmoreo@mytjnow.com
to Winthrop overall. “I hope that the impact of that work is that Winthrop’s board became more transparent,” she said. Bill Fox spoke on the impact investigative journalism can have. “Most importantly,” he said, “investigative journalism has impact. Whether that be starting a conversation or enlightening people to issues. To light a path towards solutions.” Fox punctuated his point with a story involving a 1991 court case, where a student at the University of South Carolina filed a Freedom of Information Act request for specific records on salaries. After following the case for five years, the court ordered the release of the records, only for the university to admit to throwing them away. Though disheartened, Fox and his reporters persevered in following the story and the missing records. “So we dug through a landfill and got them,” Fox said. After three days of digging, the case was closed after Fox and his reporters recovered the documents.
Hawes confirmed the sentiment of the other panelists, detailing her own efforts working to publish stories on domestic violence and the 2015 Charleston church massacre, receiving threats from a preacher’s son for her investigations on the latter. Though criticism makes her work difficult, she sees it as ultimately useful to society. “I tend to think of investigative work as harder,” Hawes said. “It’s almost like detective work. There is the idea of being a watchdog, of bringing issues to light.” Though the work is difficult, and more people than ever are seeing journalistic media as a threat, the panelists persevere. “I try not to dwell on these things too much, but I don’t keep my head in the sand to it,” Douglas said. The News Literacy series continues throughout the semester. The next event, The Future of Journalism, takes place March 26 at 7 p.m. in the Richardson Ballroom.
S&T
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theJohnsonian
GMOs across disciplines February 20, 2019
to [EPA, FDA, etc.] to be tested for various amounts of compounds, the same with pesticides. One of the drawbacks is a lot of the of that data is not available to the general public…it might say the data shows [GMOs are safe] but as a scientists I look at that data for myself and if it is not out there it’s hard to make that decision,” McDonald said. McDonald also spoke about how GMOs can benefit human health and society. He pointed out that Mikayla Mangle with GMOs it would be possible to manglem@mytjnow.com feed the growing population of the world. It was also discussed that Genetically modified foods GMOs can help make certain foods prove to still be one of the most contain more nutrients, helping controversial topics of modern developing countries who may be time, as was seen during the “GMOs lacking nutrients such as a vitamin and our food supply: Good or Bad?” A deficiency. interdisciplinary panel. During On the biology side of things this panel, three professors from when discussing GMOs, Tant Winthrop discussed how GMOs in discussed how GMOs can the world’s food supply can be both potentially both harm and benefit beneficial and harmful from the the ecosystem. perspective of their own disciplines. “From an ecological perspective The panelists included Joshua resistances is one of the biggest McDonald of the human nutrition concerns with genetic crops. We department, Cindy Tant from the have both resistant weeds that biology/ecology department and become resistance overtime to Laura Ullrich from the economics herbicides…we also have resistant department. The entire panel was insects that become resistant to the moderated by Marsha Bollinger, Bt corn that is spread with the gene the chair of the that is toxic to interdisciplinary potential pests studies organisms…a department. One of the drawbacks is a mid 2017 The panelists estimate lot of the, of that data, is showed the not available to the general found that 37 interdisciplinary weed species public... nature of genetic have become modification and resistant to how it affects Joshua McDonald glyphosate… various aspects of Panelist from the human nutrition this could department life. result to using The focus other pesticides on genetically that are less safe,” Tant said. modified foods for the human Although the resistance to nutrition department focused on various pesticides and herbicides how these foods will affect human could cause potential harm to health both locally and globally. the ecosystem, Tant also believed “GMO crops have to be submitted GMOs could benefit the ecosystem.
Experts of different academic disciplines discuss the pros and cons of using genetically modified foods for our food supply
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Sam Ross/ The Johnsonian
The main focus of the discussion was how genetically modified foods will affect human health on a local and global scale.
Tant discussed the American chestnut which has been used for building and is good for the ecosystem. However, the American chestnut has been lost due to fungal issues. Tant discussed how scientists have been successful in genetically modifying a chestnut with a wheat gene to get the same benefits the original American chestnut provided. Tant concludes that this shows that GMOs can actually help with the loss of biodiversity within an ecosystem. The final panelist to discuss the use of GMOs in her field of study was Laura Ullrich, an economics professor. Just as the previous two panelists did, Ullrich discussed both the benefits and harms of using genetically modified foods for food supply. However, Ullrich spoke from an economics perspective, something many do not think about when thinking about genetic modification. “We can have a similar situation with GMOs [asymmetric information where not everyone knows all the facts of a product] because of the lack of labeling or the lack of science being able to keep up with the testing of
genetically modified foods to where you don’t always know what your consuming,” Ullrich said. Ullrich made the point that asymmetric information in regards to the genetically modified foods is unfair and potentially unsafe for the consumer because they do not have all the facts presented to them. However, Ullrich also discussed some benefits to the economy GMO foods could have. “There certainly are a lot of pros from an economic point of view. Number one is decrease cost. [GMOs in our food supply] does allow prices to go down over time,” Ullrich said. “Prices of food would be expected to go down or stay stable because you have an increase yield. So farmers are able to sell a larger percent of what they’re producing, they might be able to produce more on the same amount of land they had before.” In all, GMOs have their pros and cons in all disciplines and remains a controversial subject among many natural and social scientists. However, the majority of the panelists agreed the GMOs cannot be the answer to everything.
The VNutrtion app is a way to help those who are vegan or those adopting a more plantbased diet make sure they are getting the proper nutrients they need. The app provides tips and
Artificial intelligence in Rock Hill Shannon Simmons Special to The Johnsonian When people hear the term artificial intelligence, they may think of Siri or Alexa, the virtual assistants that interact with people through their Apple or Amazon smart devices. However, AI is used for much more than playing music or delivering the weather forecast. The technology has many applications, including scientific research, patient care and even brewing beer, just to name a few. While AI does not have a singular definition, it is generally thought of as “machines that respond to stimulation consistent with traditional responses from humans, given the human capacity for contemplation, judgment and intention,” according to a 2018 Brookings report. The impact of AI can already be felt in South Carolina, including Rock Hill. “It [allows] definite improvements in public safety, enabling the town and the companies that do business
here to do more with less,” Rick Oppedisano, president and CEO of Delta Bravo AI said. The company, South Carolina’s first specializing in artificial intelligence, provides services to a number of organizations, including Comporium Communications, AccuWeather and the South Carolina Research Authority. “I personally love artificial intelligence. I love the technology integration into our lives,” said Andy Sember, infrastructure manager at Comporium, the Rock Hill based telecommunications company that provides telephone, internet and cable services. Comporium started working with Delta Bravo nearly two years ago, Sember said. “The [AI] product; it manages our databases and gives us a real time monitoring alert, it gives us predictive analytics for projected conditions in the future and that is very important from a database platform, because you want to kind of be ahead of any kind of log growth or irregular behavior of the platform itself,” Sember said. Thus, AI is a tool Comporium is using to allow its employees to
do their jobs more efficiently, so they can focus on bigger issues, according to Sember. However, many people have concerns about the technology, especially related to predictions about how AI may affect the job market. According to a 2019 Brookings report, roughly 25 percent of U.S. jobs, representing 36 million workers, could face a high exposure to automation and AI in the coming decades. Additionally, a 2014 Pew Research Center study found roughly half of technology experts surveyed, 48 percent, said they “envision a future in which robots and digital agents have displaced significant numbers of both blueand white-collar workers.” “I think that a lot of people fear what they don’t understand and I think that really is the root of that whole ‘the robots are going to take over the world’ kind of thing,” Sember said. However, Nicki Washington, an associate professor of computer science at Winthrop University, said she believes everyone should have some type of computing
Mikayla Mangle | Science & Technology Editor manglem@mytjnow.com
background. “Computer science is one of the few disciplines that is totally interdisciplinary and it’s touching every other field right now,” Washington said. “If you have that skill then you’re guaranteed to have certain jobs even as a lot of positions are filtered out.” Washington said she thinks in today’s technology-driven job market, it’s all about knowing how to retool and make one’s self more marketable. If “you have the requisite skills to continue to tweak those tools and build those tools and create them, instead of just use them, that becomes the big difference who can create and who can just consume,” she said. This story was a contribution from Palmetto Report writer Shannon Simmons. The Palmetto Report is an online multimedia news site written by Winthrop mass communication students for Winthrop and surrounding communities. For more stories from the Palmetto Report, visit www.palmettoreport.wordpress. com
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SPORTS theJohnsonian February 20, 2019
EAGLE OF THE WEEK
Harper Henson
Harper Henson breaks personal best and school record 800m, and is now ranked first in the Big South Gabby Gardner gardnerg@mytjnow.com
Winthrop’s men’s and women’s track teams finished the Carolina Challenge with several Top 10 finishes on Feb. 1 and Feb 2. Junior Harper Henson finished 6th in the women’s mile, running a 5:02.21 and finished 12th in the 800m running a 2:14.78, setting her new personal best in the 800m. “With breaking that record, I was actually breaking my own record that I had set either last year or freshman year,” Henson said. “It gives me a sense of accomplishing something for Winthrop and setting goals to break even more.” Henson set the school record and now ranks first in the Big South in the 800m. “Being ranked first has been Picture Provided by Winthrop Althletics a first. This year I have been really This past weekend Henson beat her own record and set the school record for women’s 800m. trusting the training process. It feels almost unreal to have this ranking, but “After having a pretty good season for indoor, I “I am hoping to break my PR in the 1500 and I’ll have to see if I can fulfill it at conference,” am definitely ready to see some faster times for possibly the school record for that as well, as do Henson said. myself for outdoor,” Henson said. the same in the 800m. It is an exciting time to see In beating her personal record, Henson has Henson plans on breaking more records improvements and achieve goals,” Henson said. set even higher goals for herself for the rest throughout the rest of her career at Winthrop. of the season and upcoming outdoor season.
Thank You
A letter of thanks to the first black athletes and achievers who came before us Gweneshia Wadlington Staff Writer
We understand it was a long hard fight. To just be looked at as a human being, and not just property was only the beginning. We know that it was painful to be stripped from your way of life and your families to something unknown. We are grateful that you risked everything to give yourselves and those of us to come an opportunity to have equality on the courts and in the playing fields. We greatly appreciate the sacrifices that you made back then. We know now that because of you we can. Special thanks go out to those amazing athletes such as: Flo Hyman, thank you for being the first female African American volleyball player. We appreciate your strive for excellence, as you accomplished so much and received lots of honors throughout your lifetime. Earl L. Loyd, along with the original Harlem Globetrotters, Charles ‘Chuck’ Henry Cooper and Nat ‘Sweetwater’ Clifton for becoming the first male African American basketball players. To Earl L. Lloyd specifically, thank you for your service to our country, and for breaking not one but two boundaries, as you also became the first African American head NBA head coach. Thank you to our very own Lynette Woodard for becoming the first female African American Harlem Globetrotter. Thank you for your dedication and relentless drive to create a better future for yourselves and for those of us who were yet to come. Your perseverance is very much appreciated. You helped African Americans everywhere believe they, too, can be exactly what they want to be in a man’s world. A thanks is in order for Frederick Douglass ‘Fritz’ Pollard. Thank you for becoming the first African American NFL head coach. Although you and your team weren’t treated as you rightly deserved, we appreciate the sacrifices you made to produce such greatness. Kenny Washington and Jasmine Plummer for becoming the first football players. Thank you, Kenny Washington, for both breaking the race boundary in the NFL and for your service for our country, though it was a small amount of time. Thank you, Jasmine
Jordan Farrell/The Johnsonian Plummer, for breaking more than one boundary, by becoming the first female quarterback and also becoming the first female to play football. Thank you both for showing us that despite your skin color, that we too can rise over adversity. Thank you to Jackie Robinson and Toni Stone the first baseball players. Robinson became the first African American MLB player. Thank you to more first, such as George Poage for being the first to compete in the Olympic Games and win two bronze medals. Stone broke more than one boundary in her lifetime. She became the first female African American baseball player, and she was the very first female to play a man’s sport. Thank you to Jack Johnson for being the first Heavyweight boxing champion. John Taylor for being the first to win an Olympic gold medal. Lucy Diggs Slowe for being the first woman to win a major league sports title. Sherman Maxwell, the first sportscaster. Alice Coachman, the first woman to win Olympic gold medal. Among these individuals many of them are in a Hall of
Greta Conboy | Sports Editor conboyg@mytjnow.com
Fame and or other forms of high honor, including but not limited to, Earl Lloyd (2003), Nat Clifton (shrine in 2014), Lynette Woodard (2004), Frederick Douglass (Memorabilia 1964), Kenny Washington (UCLA 1956), Jasmine Plummer (Movie Longshots starring Ice Cube & Keke Palmer), Jackie Robinson (1962), Toni Stone (Women’s Sports Hall of Fame and Sudafed International Women’s Hall of Fame in 1987). To those listed and to all who weren’t listed, thank you so much for the sacrifices that you’ve all made. You have all changed the game so that those of us yet to come could have a chance at greatness.
theJohnsonian
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February 20, 2019
Winthrop University’s New E-Sports Team
Varsity E-sports presents a new cocurricular program that may attract new students to Winthrop Joseph Calamia Staff Writer
With many popular video games like “Street Fighter,” “Super Smash Bros.” and “League of Legends” there are multiple people that train themselves like athletes to compete with each other and in tournaments. Although tournaments and matches like this are only centered on the occasional conventions and playing with friends, there is an upcoming movement that will allow Winthrop students to put their video game skills to their skill on a varsity level. According to email from Winthrop University President Daniel Mahony on Feb. 7, Winthrop has announced the creation of an E-Sports variety team that will be available for students in the fall 2019 semester. The formation of an E-Sports team is a part of the Winthrop Plan, which focuses on improving our university with innovation in activities. Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Ken Halpin commented how the E-Sports team will contribute to the Winthrop Plan for bring new and returning students to Winthrop University. “Varsity E-Sports presents a new co-curricular program that will attract new students to Winthrop who otherwise were not considering Winthrop for their college experience. There will be a measurable increase to enrollment associated with esports, which is something we have seen from the other institutions we have researched,” Halpin said.
One of the main reasons that Winthrop Plan would include an E-Sports team is to promote a culture of innovation and develop new programs to make Winthrop University a model for the rest of the country. “Varsity E-Sports, being a very new concept in higher ed represents a contribution to our culture of innovation at Winthrop. Furthermore, we are only the third NCAA Division I Athletics Department to house E-Sports within the athletics department itself allowing us the opportunity to establish ourselves as a national model,” Halpin said. E-Sports has become a booming industry worldwide, with a good example being the E-Sports 2016 Tournament of the game “League of Legends,” which featured a prize pool of $5 million and had 47.7 million viewers compared to the 2016 AFC Championship’s 36 million viewers. The amount of technology needed for this team Jordan Farrell/The Johnsonian for video games and computer sources from any currently existing performance would help students with experience in computer science programs on campus. Furthermore, all of the startup costs have been and games. covered by a collection of donations “It goes without saying that provided specifically for the launch E-Sports relies heavily on new of the program,” Halpin said. technologies and ingrains our stuAnother potential draw of an dents in the use of that technology,” E-Sports team for students will be Halpin said. the opportunity to receive scholarWinthrop University will be the ships from being a part of the team third school in the National Colleand the opportunity to work with giate Athletic Association Division I other clubs at Winthrop University. to have an E-Sports team. The two “I do believe that there will be other schools in our division that a concrete connection with Winhave varsity teams include Marthrop’s E-Sports club. There will quette University and Wagner Unialso likely be plenty of sponsorship versity. E-Sports also would have a opportunities utilizing the moneconsiderable cost in raising money tizable digital assets the program for equipment and investment in a offers to corporations within the team toward Winthrop University’s Rock Hill community and beyond. athletic department. Finally, there is no telling how many “The E-Sports program contributcreative partnerships can grow once ed to several objectives within Goal the program is up and running,” #5. The University’s Sr. Leadership Halpin said. Group went to extensive measures Freshmen computer science mato ensure this program will be fijor Matthew Hoshauer, a member of nancially viable without drawing re-
the E-Sports club commended how the upcoming E-Sports team will be decided by members of the Athletic apartment compared to the Winthrop Competitive Game Club. “We have no involvement with the upcoming E-Sports sector from the athletic department that was announced a few days ago. We are simply a club that runs tournaments and promotes interest in traditional FGC E-Sports,” Hoshauer said. Despite this, The Winthrop Athletic Department is hard at work with funding and greasing the wheels for the upcoming E-Sports team, giving Winthrop students opportunity and diversifying the campus’s diversity with new avenues of giving the students to play varsity sports. “We’re just excited to be exploring this new world of opportunity,” Halpin said.
UPCOMING HOME GAMES FRIDAY, FEB. 22 Men’s Tennis vs Radford
Women’s Tennis vs Charlotte
Men’s Baseball vs George Mason
SATURDAY, FEB. 23 Men’s Basketball vs Charleston Southern
Baseball vs George Mason
SUNDAY FEB. 24 Baseball vs George Mason
Gabby Gardner | Assistant Sports Editor gardnerg@mytjnow.com
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A&CtheJohnsonian February 20, 2019
Annie got her gun: a review A review of Winthrop Theatre’s latest production, “Annie Get Your Gun” Beneshia Wadlington Staff Writer “Annie Get Your Gun” is a musical set in the late 1880s and early 1890s. The story is loosely based on the life of Annie Oakley who was an extremely talented sharpshooter in the old west. When the show opens, we learn that Annie usually shoots animals for game to make money, but she’s offered a chance to win more money by competing against the town’s best shooter, Frank Butler. She quickly accepts, but is hesitant when she finds out that she must compete against her possible love interest. Her hesitation quickly disappears when everyone doubts her talents because she is a female. After a few rounds of shooting, Frank finally misses, declaring Annie the best shooter in the world. When there are a few disagreements and surprise tricks, Frank decides to separate from the show and leaves Annie heartbroken. Later in the play, Annie becomes a very decorated shooter, gainCourtsey of the Theatre Department ing medals from all around the For Sebastian Sowell, taking on the role of Annie Oakley was a challenge. world for impressing many people. However, because of her team’s low was one to remember. The dances “From a really young age I just and they both sung the classic “Anyfinances, she has to head back to were choreographed to perfection loved musicals, and ‘Annie Get Your thing You Can Do, I Can Do Better.” America in order to merge her act and the songs were hilariously Gun’ is a golden age show, which Sowell shared the same favorite. with another show and hopefully heartwarming. I haven’t really been able to do “I could feel the energy in the patch up any differences between Sebastian Sowell is a sophobefore,” Baumgartner said. “I absoaudience when I’d start that song her and Frank. After a gala, an more musical theatre major who lutely loved the style of the piece.” and Sean continues,” Sowell said. engagement and another shooting performed the lead role of Annie Sean Riehm, senior business ad“The energy was super high and it competition, Annie agrees to sell Oakley. ministration major who performed was so much fun doing that. It was her medals so that the now merged “‘Annie Get Your Gun’ is very difas Frank Butler, expressed the messo much fun to watch the cast and shows can be financially stable and ferent than what has been done here sage that he wanted the audience to their dances, and for me to show off so that she and Frank could finally at Winthrop,” Sowell said. “We’ve take from the show. a little bit.” be together. done a lot of more contemporary “I think the message is to not comAs the audience exited the show, This play was fantastic all around. musicals and ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ promise for anybody and not letting whispers echoed around the halls I especially enjoyed the personality is more of a golden age show, which anybody else define who you are saying “That was really good.” and shown by each and every character. comes with different dance styles, and how you feel about yourself,” “They were hilarious.” I encourage Between their lines, songs and even Riehm said. “It’s about defining all students to go out and support their walks, I was truly amazed with different singing-- different everything, so it was definitely a chalyourself as who you are and who Winthrop’s theater and dance the life the actors and actresses lenge I wanted to take on.” you believe you are rather than letdepartment by attending their next brought to their characters. Though Ally Baumgartner, freshman theting other people do that for you.” show, “A Home at the Zoo.” After this may have been the most astonatre performance major, also shared My absolute favorite part of the a performance such as “Annie Get ishing, the music is definitely what her experience with the perforshow was when Annie went up Your Gun,” I don’t expect it to be won me over. Everyone loves a good mance. against Frank again in competition anything less than great. musical and this play in particular
International students at Winthrop down 61 percent since 2012 There are 98 international students from 37 different countries at Winthrop this semester, which is down from 240 in fall 2012
Margaux Parmentier Special to the Johnsonian The number of international students at Winthrop University has steadily declined since 2012, according to numbers provided by the school. However, the group of 98 international students on campus this semester are more diverse, as there are a greater number of countries represented. “The number of international students at Winthrop have slowly been decreasing,” Lindsey Hill, assistant director of the Winthrop International Center, said via email. There were 179 international students on campus in fall 2010 and the number grew to 240 in fall 2012, but since then the numbers have dropped to 194 in fall 2014, 136 in fall 2016 and 93 in fall 2018, according to Hill.
That is a decline of 61 percent since 2012. Hill said the decrease is likely related to a lack of promotion, because there currently is no one in charge of recruiting international students to Winthrop. “It is the hope of the International Center that this current situation changes and evolves in the near future,” Hill said. “I really had the impression that I had to find all the information by myself. If I haven’t done that, I wouldn’t be at Winthrop now,” Capucine Leprêtre, a student from France said. However, Hill said, there is an admissions counselor at Winthrop who is charged with corresponding with international students who apply. Additionally, some students said the international experience at the school could be improved.
Dillon O’Neill | A&C Editor oneilld@mytjnow.com
“I feel like the community does as much as they can to help with the integration of international students, but there is still more that can be done,” Sarai Lumwai, a freshman biology major from Trinidad and Tobago said. Despite the decline in numbers, there are students represented from 37 different countries at Winthrop this semester, including three news countries: Bolivia, South Korea and Trinidad and Tobago. The largest populations of international students at Winthrop come from China, France and Australia, Hill said. Additionally, the university continues to encourage Winthrop students to study abroad. For example, Bonnye Stuart, study abroad coordinator for the Mass Communication Department at Winthrop, said the department has entered a new partnership with
the Centro Universitario EUSA in Seville, Spain. Stuart said she is currently promoting the program, which will begin fall 2019, and one of her classes is working to recruit students. Daniel Mahony has a stated goal of expanding student recruitment internationally and increasing diversity in the Winthrop Plan. Editor’s note: Margaux Parmentier is an international student from France, studying mass communication during the spring semester. This story was a contribution from palemtto Report writer Margaux Parmentier. The Palmetto Report is an online multimedia new site written by Winthrop mass communications students for Winthrop and surrounding communicties. For more stories from the Palmetto Report, visit www.palmettoreport. wordpress.com.
theJohnsonian
9
February 20, 2019
Where studies combine Art, science, nutrition and economics come together to educate on the controversial topic of GMOs.
through their diets can affect to mass population vitamin people. This is what initially deficiency. Tant cited how lead Stolle to begin researching GMOs have already helped GMOs. promote biodiversity and “When I started having save endangered plant Kristin Stolle has used art to problems eating soy, essentially species. Ullrich sees the highlight the environmental issues problems with my menstrual possibility of food prices of genetically modified organisms, cycle and my intestines, I going down on the global created by a company called [eliminated] stuff from my diet market and food production Monsanto. Stolle’s work, ‘Selective that I knew was genetically in underdeveloped areas Memory’ has been on display in the modified,” Stolle said in a increased. Picture Provided by Winthrop University Winthrop Galleries since December previous interview with the Karen Derksen, director of and will remain there until March 6. Johnsonian. “So I was like Winthrop Galleries, believe The World of Food Conference will take Winthrop’s department of ‘who’s genetically engineering place from Feb. 21-23 students can benefit from interdisciplinary studies wanted these seeds like who’s doing the different perspectives of equal information. Particular seed to continue and expand upon this this’ and so then that lead me down the gallery and panel. companies that produce and sell subject. On Tuesday, Feb. 12 a panel the path of Monsanto.” “[‘Selective Memory’] is a way GMOs have a strong hold on the discussion on the topic of GMOs Another concern McDonald that this person who is creating market. While conducting and was held with panelists Joshua expressed was about the lack of their artwork is putting their story publishing their own research on McDonald, professor of human open information. There are many forward,” Derksen said. “So again the topic, these companies create nutrition, Laura Ullrich, professor of agencies and committees dedicated what their research is, what they asymmetric information in the economics, Cindy Tant, professor of to inspecting GMOs put on the understand and what they believe is market. important about this issue. It’s just “Consumers have to have all a different perspective and another the information available to the public,” Ullrich said. “Research is so narrative they can learn from.” Bollinger believed the event important, and specifically grants exactly highlights the importance of to fund real peer reviewed research interdisciplinary studies. and not corporate run.” “So many issues in the world This idea of open information was are not properly understood if key to Stolle’s exhibition. you just understand one narrow “[What I want people to take perspective,” Bollinger said. “So if away from this is] really ask the we take a look at many different questions like ‘who’s telling the perspectives and we study them, story?’ It’s really important to me especially the big issues of the world [to not] always take things at face like food shortages, we cannot solve value [and to] have a critical eye that from just one perspective. We when researching. So I think on must take different perspectives top of that [it’s important to know] and look at those disciplines and who’s telling the story,” Stolle said really make them intersect and work in a previous interview with the together.” Johnsonian. This event was a just taste of the Bollinger echoed this sentiment in larger interdisciplinary conference her closing remarks at the panel. Sam Ross/ The Johnsonian coming to Winthrop. The “The “Where you stand on something “Faith, Hope & $5,000”-16 framed pieces using the appendix World of Food: Interdisciplinary has to do with who is telling that extracted from a mid-1970s corporate history of the Perspectives on What We Eat story,” Bollinger said. Monsanto Company and Grow” is a Winthrop’s 2nd According to the panel, GMOs have interdisciplinary concert. It will positive potential under the right take place this weekend, from circumstances. McDonald believes biology and moderated by Marsha market. However, many of these Thursday Feb. 21 through Saturday that it could help solve the problems Bollinger, the interdisciplinary regulations and what is actually Feb. 23. Events will combine of a “rapidly growing population studies chair. being tested are not open to the with and the loss of cultivable land.” multiple different disciplines and McDonald began by explaining public. bring multiple guest speakers GMOs are able to produce more that a big concern with genetically Ullrich explained that in order and performers on campus. More vitamins and nutrients than regular modified foods is the concern on to avoid a monopoly, producers information can be found at crops, and are a potential solution how consuming different DNA and consumers have to have winthrop.edu/interdiciplinary.
Dillon O’Neill oneilld@mytjnow.com
Vaginas get worldwide recognition
The Vagina Monologues is a play that addresses women’s sexuality and the social stigma surrounding rape and abuse with the goal of creating more open conversation on these topics. Caleb Hinkley hinkleyc@mytjnow.com In 1994, Eve Ensler wrote a play based on dozens of interviews she had with women on what we be considered “taboo” subjects. It ended up being a revolutionary piece of art that is now performed on college campuses nationwide. The play is titled The Vagina Monologues and it will be performed once again for one-night only in Winthrop’s Plowden Auditorium. The Vagina Monologues is commonly performed during the month of February throughout the world as part of V-Season and V-Day, a global event created to raise awareness and stop violence against women. According to vday.org, “the movement grew out of the untold stories of women. We believe their stories need to be heard, nothing is more powerful.” V-Day is now in its 20th year. Since its inception, from Feb. 1 through March 8, “thousands of events take place to spread awareness to the injustice faced by survivors of violence.” Each year there is a different spotlight related to women’s issues V-Day tries to highlight. This year’s spotlight is women who are incarcerated. According to V-Day.org “a
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[This is]a movement across the globe for women to feel empowered and be proud of who they are and I feel honored to be apart of this movement Caylen Michels Senior theatre major women is more likely to engage in criminal/illegal activites after being abused or assaulted.” Some ways V-day plans to spotlight the issue is by having certain performances/ events feature women who have formerly been incarcerated. V-Day is also asking for donations to organi-
zations that help women who have been abused or assaulted. This year, Winthrop is once again joining in the cause by hosting a performance of The Vagina Monologues. Shakira Wiggins, a senior theatre performance major, is stage managing and performing in the show. “The Vagina Monologues mean a lot to me because I feel like the topics from each of the monologues are not normalized enough in the mainstream media,” Wiggins said, “It is important for us as women to share these different experiences with the world in order for us to heal from the negativity around what it means to be a woman. Accepting the female body is something that we finally as a society are moving towards and I think The Vagina Monologues is a great start.” The Vagina Monologues is directed by senior theatre major Caylen Michels. “I chose to direct the show because of the funny, heart-warming and eye opening stories Eve Ensler has chosen to tell,” Michels said. “This is not just a show at Winthrop but a movement across the globe for women to feel empow-
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Accepting the female body is something that we finally as a society are moving towards and I think “The Vagina Monologues” is a great start Shakira Wiggins Senior theatre major ered and be proud of who they are and I feel honored to be apart of this movement.” The Vagina Monologues will play in Winthrop’s Plowden Auditorium for one night only, Feb. 21 at 8 p.m. Admission for the event is free and students can get cultural credit for their attendance.
Caleb Hinkley | Assistant A&C Editor hinkleyc@mytjnow.com
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OPINION
theJohnsonian
February 20, 2019
ASMR-the weird, the creepy and the satisfying?
ASMR is creepy, overrated and the only thing that gets me to sleep at night. Dillon O’Neill oneilld@mytjnow.com The conversation around Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, has been experiencing a strange moment of popularity since late 2017. For anyone unaware, ASMR describes a sensation often described as tingles running down the back of the head and spine that is triggered by certain stimuli. These often include whispering, crisp sounds and slow movements. Sometime in the late 2000s, people who experience this feeling began to congregate on the internet, calling themselves “tingleheads.” Then in 2010, as the Smithsonian magazine reports, Jennifer Allen, who had been helping to organize the community from the start, realized they might need a more legitimizing name. She felt already that this was a possibly embarrassing experience to talk about. If people were going to talk about it they would need a proper name to call it, and one that sounded official. Most people get their ASMR fix through YouTube videos made to trigger the sensation. There are now thousands of ASMR videos online with millions of views each. Any specific interest you might have surely has a correlating ASMR video. There are roleplay videos, ones without talking, ones that focus on eating and mouth sounds, visual rather than audio triggers and many more. There’s probably a full dictionary’s worth of jargon and technical speech in the community that gets into specific ASMR triggers you might have. As many studies on the phenomenon have found, most people viewing them don’t watch them to experience tingles the entire time. Two Welsh researchers at Swan-
Dillion O’Neill/ The Johnsonian
ASMR is a tingling sensation at the back of the head triggered by certain sounds. sea University in 2015 found that a large majority of viewers watch these videos to fall asleep or reduce stress. They even found that those with depression and chronic pain reported reduced symptoms after watching these videos. I first discovered ASMR in 2014 when I found out a woman I had been watching on YouTube for years had a second channel. There were about 15 videos on it that seemed to have no relation in content. I clicked on the latest one. The camera was angled down at the table so we could only see her hands. She was doing the routine, “Sorry I haven’t uploaded in awhile…” speech and explaining she would be showing off a candy bar with intricate, “Alice in Wonderland” themed packaging. And the whole time she was whispering and tapping on the cardboard box. I was horrified. Surely she was
putting a curse on me. The labels she was reading that had passages from “Alice in Wonderland” probably had spells in them that were working their way into my brain. Or possibly I had stumbled on some strange fetish work she had done and didn’t realize these videos were public. It felt invasive, rather than intimate, and so much creepier than could ever be comforting. The experience scared me and I shoved the curse that was ASMR out of my brain. Then sometime in 2017, I started to hear about it again. It just came into the cultural lexicon and I was interested again. I didn’t know people could actually like that horrific and creepy content, but maybe I was too quick to judge. So I went back to that original channel and watched one that was created using a microphone that acted like human ears. Sounds could travel side to side, and
at points it really felt like someone was touching my ears. It still felt invasive but I finally got it. I dove in head first, figured out what and whose videos I liked and honestly I fall asleep every night to an ASMR video. They’re relaxing and slow my thoughts down in a way that I just can’t do organically. In the past few years, ASMR has gone from total obscurity to on the fringes of mainstream. Michelob Ultra’s Super Bowl commercial features Zoe Kravitz giving an ASMR themed presentation of the beer. Many top YouTubers have tried their hand at making some ASMR videos. W magazine has a popular series on their YouTube channel that features celebrities making their own ASMR content. Through which, we found out Cardi B herself is an ASMR connoisseur and watches videos of it almost every night. However, everytime I ask someone about their feelings on this topic, their response features some degree of cringe. ASMR has come into the mainstream and made people very uncomfortable. It’s admittedly strange and if you don’t feel a pleasurable response to it, it’s quite unnerving. There seems to be no concern of ASMR ever becoming totally mainstream. It might just always be a strange and intimate experience for a select few. But those select few have found a strong community within each other. The blog NeuroLogica posted in 2012 about the sensation and presented the idea that, “human communication has been increased to the point that people who have what they think are unique personal experiences can find each other, eventually bringing the phenomenon to general awareness, giving it a name and an internet footprint.”
Winthrop’s upcoming E-Sports
A discussion on the upcoming E-Sports varsity team coming to Winthrop next semester and its impact. Joseph Calamia Staff Writer It seems like yesterday when parents would tell their children that they won’t achieve anything playing video games. Now video gamers can make money either through streaming platforms or professionally playing tournaments that could be shown on ESPN along with football and basketball. According to a Winthrop email sent on Feb. 7, the Winthrop University athletics department is in the process of creating an E-Sports varsity team for the fall 2019 semester to compete in video game tournaments. This decision was a part of the Winthrop plan laid out by Daniel Mahony to improve the university with innovation and diversity. The athletics department is currently working on finding a coach and funding for the team with necessary equipment. While there are some people that may have doubts about having a team, there are benefits that are financial and some that could celebrate diversity in interest. GameDesigning.org commented that one of the benefits is how affordable building a team is on campus without spending millions of dollars on equipment. Combined with the Winthrop financial depart-
ment and local sponsors, the university could repurpose a room with chairs and high functioning computers for members of the E-Sports team to train for upcoming competitions. Also, E-Sports training and equipment are cheaper than usual sport training equipment. Another big advantage of E-Sports is how it has become a booming industry all over the world. Most countries like South Korea, China, Sweden and the United States have various teams for different games such as “DOTA 2,” “Counter-Strike” and “League of Legends.” Each different game has a different tournament style and has drawn in a big crowd of viewers in recent years. An example is the 2016 “League of Legends” Tournament, which the semi-finals and finals were held in Madison Square Garden and Staple Stadium respectively. The tournament drew in 47 million viewers compared to the 36 million viewers watching the 2016 AFC Championship. A unique perspective about this decision is that that Winthrop University will be the third school in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I to have an E-Sports team, as most schools that have E-Sports don’t have it in their athletic programs. The two other schools in our division that have
Erin Streetman | Opinion Editor streetmane@mytjnow.com
varsity teams include Marquette University and Wagner University. This would draw in a sense of uniqueness and pride for students, since our university would be the only school in the Carolinas to have an E-Sports team. Vice president of Carmen Little/The Johnsonian esting varsity sport for the students intercollegiate at Winthrop University. Not only athletes Ken Halpin commented on would it be financially possible but it the benefits of students interacting would open up opportunity to bring or participating in the upcoming in sponsors and new students to the E-Sports team and competitions. university with new interests and “Primarily, the benefits are competition for our athletes. Winsimilar to all other extra-curricuthrop University strives to become lar and co-curricular programs on a model of diversity in colleges all campus. While not all students will over the country, so a diversity of engage with the program, there are interests and sports would fit the many who will take interest and get bill for new and returning students involved whether it be through participation, internships, or spectator- alike. ship” said Halpin. Overall, the inclusion of an E-Sports team would be an inter-
theJohnsonian
11
February 20, 2019
The truth behind CRTW
CRTW is the cause of many students frustration during their sophomore year, but provides valuable skills that can be taken and applied throughout school and into the professional world.
Jordan Farrell/The Johnsonian
Victoria Howard howardv@mytjnow.com Cries of frustration about Critical, Reading, Thinking and Writing are something that many Winthrop students can empathize with and relate to. This course challenges students and puts them outside of their comfort zone, but is that such a bad thing? CRTW was implemented in 2004 “in response to employer needs in the workplace” Amanda Hiner, associate professor of English and director of the CRTW program said. Among students, CRTW is met with frustration and distress. To many, the course feels like its a waste of their time and that they could be learning more valuable skills. “I honestly didn’t see the point in the class and I don’t think that it enhanced the skills it was supposed to for the class. It felt like a waste of space in my schedule last semester and honestly caused me so much stress.” Kate Watford, a sophomore sociology major said. Hiner explained that what creates value in
CRTW is the focus on Paulian critical thinking. Only 7 universities around the world are directly associated with Dr. Richard Paul’s Foundation for Critical Thinking, Winthrop is one of them. The theory, which is used by the government and agencies like the FBI and CIA, gives Winthrop students a unique chance to think outside of the box and learn skills that are applicable to any job. “We really wanted to show this focus and make it cross disciplinary. It very much is designed to equip them to take these skills into their sociology or their human nutrition class and then take it into the workplace,” Hiner said. To some, however, the intentions of the course don’t matter, since they struggle to succeed in the class. “I’ve seen a pattern that CRTW often tries to teach valuable writing skills that students either already have when they enter college so they are simply regurgitating known knowledge, or the students that missed said skills in high school get so defeated/bored by the content that they end up passing and yet not taking anything away from the class.” Donavon Frazier Haskins said. “What I see more than anger or dislike of the course is a lack of confidence. Students seem to have a lot of anxiety about their ability to do big research papers,” said Casey Cothran, chair of Winthrop’s department of English. “For example, let’s say you get a sculptor who is in visual and performing arts or a chemist who just really loves the math, if they don’t use that much writing perhaps, they can feel very anxious or intimidated.” Cothran and Hiner explained the steps they have taken to help students in their classes be less intimidated, as well as train other English professors teaching the course, despite criticisms from students that the instructing is not even across the board. “I got a lot out of it because the instructor took it in a creative direction. I think your experience can rely greatly on who is teaching.” said Joseph
Robinson, a junior integrated marketing communications major. “I think this varies greatly based on who the professor is. I had mixed feelings about my class… I really enjoyed and learned a lot from class discussion… I [also] found the class unnecessarily difficult and stressful because the professor was very harsh in grading our essays,” said Julia Swidzinski, a grad student in the social work program. According to Hiner, all courses are consistent with standards held by the English department and are fair across the board. Each course follows the same rubric, requires a total of five papers, including two in-class papers, three out-of-class papers and one research paper which has to have a specific number of sources. Overall, there are 6000 words that are required to be graded by each professor. Syllabi are also submitted to Hiner for approval each semester. There also is some misinformation and exaggeration about the number of students who drop the class or fail it. According to Cothran, the number of students who withdraw from the course, averages out to be less than one per section, with there typically being between 30-35 sections. The failure rate of the course is “well below” the 25th percentile mark, a number used as the warning sign throughout departments. Overall, what is taken from CRTW seems to depend on what the student puts into and expects out of a class. The skills learned in the class are valuable, despite being difficult to grasp and write about at times. Many alumni have sent Hiner messages about how they appreciate the skills learned in CRTW and how they still apply them. “I thought the class had a lot of value as long as it was taught well. It was definitely one of the most difficult classes I ever took at Winthrop, but it did what it was intended to do: taught me how to think things through. It forces you to evaluate from where you draw your reasoning and some people struggle with this more than others,” Haleigh Shedd, who graduated in May 2018 with a B.A. in mass communication said. “Ultimately, I believe it’s a valuable class for all students to take, but they need to realize that they have to put in the work to be truly successful.”
Three days in Los Angeles One of the Johnsonian’s own, Noah Wright, participated in the National Millennial Community. He shares his experience at a weekend conference hosted by the community in LA. Noah Wright Staff Writer
When I stepped off the plane and into the concourse, I had no idea what to expect. At that point, my experience with Los Angeles had been limited to sitting in LAX a few hours for layovers; I had plenty of experience at airports, it was when I stepped out into the morning air that I was really flying blind. It began a few months prior, when my professor recommended me to look into a group called the National Millennial Community. I had little knowledge of what exactly this group was, but from what I could gather they were some sort of think tank. It aims to start conversations between college-aged millennials and established professionals in the business world, dispelling stereotypes about millennials and fostering positive relations between the generations. It was started in 2016 and has quickly spread to 46 campuses across 44 states, with Winthrop becoming a partner just a few months prior. As the first in my school to join, I was essentially Winthrop’s test run for the program. These three days in LA would be my chance to represent the school as an ambassador. From Feb. 3 through 6, I would prove whether or not this group would be beneficial to Winthrop, and if it was really worth my time. Over those days, I met with all sorts of students from across the nation, and even a couple from Canada and the Netherlands, as we hopped
Noah Wright/ The Johnsonian
The 2019 NMC group outside Sony Pictures Entertainment a bus from business to business in Los Angeles county. I had little idea of what to expect: engaging in online conversations was one thing, traveling from business to business presenting my ideas and conferring with marketing and advertising executives was another. The talks would vary in length and topic over the next few days; sometimes we would travel around the offices of a business, asking questions along the way, and other times we would be sat down in front of an entire room and answer questions posed to us by the staff, not too unlike panelists. As the days went on, I began to open up more towards the group. We traded stories on the bus rides between businesses, shared hopes and ambitions and having conversations in a way that felt more like making friends than networking. We balanced our time visiting staples of the entertainment industry like Sony Pictures and Walt Disney Imagineering with some lesser-known choices like Riot Games, the game studio responsible for League of Legends and a major player in esports, and The Wonderful
Company, parent company for products like Fiji Water and Wonderful Pistachios. The conversations we had, though often about the marketing and advertising of the companies themselves, always came back to the concept of millennials and their role in the marketplace. We began to discuss and dissect the topic in regular discussion, looking at the stereotypes surrounding millennials and the positives and negatives of the situation our generation has found itself in. As the conversations we had with businesses began spilling over into those on the bus, we truly began learning. When I left Los Angeles, it was with a newfound feeling of kinship between my generation and I, and as we said our goodbyes to one another, we took valuable experiences home with us. I see the NMC as spokespeople of my generation, and a bridge between millennials and previous generations. In a time where millennials are coming into the workforce and starting to rise up the corporate ladder to take management roles, the work they do in starting conversations, between peers and businesses alike, is invaluable.
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