8.15.2018 by The Johnsonian

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Winthrop University

Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Rock Hill, South Carolina

Eagles, I have a feeling we’re not in South Carolina anymore From northern lights to polar bears, environmental majors travel to Churchill, Canada to explore the subarctic

Mikayla Mangle manglem@mytjnow.com

Winthrop University’s all-girl crew traveled to the subarctic to study arctic landscapes through an up-close and personal lens. I got the privilege to go with the crew as we traveled to Churchill, Canada in August, as part of the class I took the previous spring semester entitled “subarctic landscapes.” In this class, we learned about glacial geology, soil patterns, the Aurora borealis, the history of Churchill, and more. After the lecture portion of the class ended, we took off on a 10 day excursion to

Churchill, Canada in August to experience all the interesting things we learned. Churchill, Canada is located in the subarctic region in Manitoba. Churchill is known for being the polar bear capital of the world, for being a beluga whale hotspot, and for being a place to view the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights. Churchill is a small town consisting of only around 800 people. We stayed at The Churchill Northern Studies Center, which is a research center catered towards protecting and sustaining northern landscapes. Many of the students

specifically chose this trip to experience the arctic landscape and enjoy all that Canada has to offer. “I chose to come here because of the cold weather and the beluga whales. Just Canada in general is pretty cool,” said environmental major Paige Denney, one of the students on the trip. The study abroad trip to Churchill is truly one-of-a-kind. Being that it is in a remote location in the subarctic, it is different from many study abroad trips that often focus on tropical settings or urban Photo courtesy

Breastfeeding Mommas- Rejoice!

While breastfeeding is now legal in all 50 states, there is an attitude change that is needed to be made by American people who still view public breastfeeding as inappropriate.

environments.“It kind of stuck out to me because it’s the same continent. It was really interesting, with the whole landscape and the whales, and the northern lights, and the polar bears,” said biology major Hanna Houston, who attended the Churchill trip. The students on this trip participated in a multitude of activities, from research to sightseeing. The students studied the different landscapes and environments Churchill had to offer by identifying soil horizons, identifying vegetation, and

4see Subarctic pg. 5

‘Naked guy’ incident makes students question campus safety Since the John Craig streaking incident in July Winthrop students and police officers have said they now must reevaluate how WUPO protects this campus and how they can improve going into the future. Oriana Gilmore Staff Writer

Jordan Farrell/ The Johnsonian Alexandra Pennington

Senior Theatre Performance major

Shakira Wiggins said there have been many

Winthrop University’s open campus policy is

dangerous incidents during the years she has

welcoming to outsiders, even those without the

been at Winthrop, but not enough solutions.

greatest intentions. In the past, students have

said they were not concerned about crime on

use our resources like calling campus police

campus, but one summer incident has students

instead of walking [alone] to our dorms at

questioning the open campus policy.

night,” Wiggins said.

On July 8, a man named John Ragin Craig was

Natalie Huxtable, a sophomore Graphic Design

walking in the nude on Scholars Walk around

major, said the campus police does a good job

1:20 a.m. Craig was charged by the Rock Hill

of protecting students and issuing traffic viola-

Police Department with indecent exposure.

tions. She said that campus police could use the

Winthrop University Alerts system more often

Special to The Johnsonian

An on-duty police officer was the

“With that being said, we should

first to see this display while on patrol, accord-

to notify students of incidents that have occured

American mothers have long awaited this day: as of

were the last two states to pass laws that legalized

ing to Kenneth Scoggins, the Winthrop Chief of

on campus.

July, 50 states have now proclaimed that it is legal to

public breastfeeding. Idaho had actually tried to pass

Police.

“I think they’re beneficial for the most part, but

breastfeed in public. A number of states, according

legislation regarding this 15 years ago, but because of

Since the incident, Winthrop Campus Police

I also think a lot of their time is dedicated to

to the National Conference of State Legislatures, have

the debate over public decency, in regards to believing

and Winthrop students have said they are

being traffic cops,” Huxtable said.

that mothers would simply “whip” their breasts out

both looking into how to continue protecting

specific laws relating to breastfeeding in public loca-

students from external dangers. Some students

Campus Police are always discussing incentives

tions, such as the workplace. Regardless, state govern-

whenever they pleased, this made legislation difficult

have said that they are concerned about Win-

to protect Winthrop’s open campus and provide

ment officials in all 50 states are now in support of

to gain votes.

throp’s open campus because Winthrop Police

a safer community for students while remaining

promoting breastfeeding to improve infant health.

It is assuring to see that government officials across

cannot protect the campus in its entirety.

accessible to everyone.

In countries like Australia and the United Kingdom,

the country finally made a stand to support women

Scoggins said he was disappointed that this

however, nursing mothers have been protected by

who breastfeed. It is a blessing that nursing mothers

the law for years now. I’m glad to see that America

now have more convenience to feed their child with-

is catching up to the rest of the world (slowly, but surely). According to USA Today, Utah and Idaho

we want without having to go through so many

event had occurred on Winthrop’s campus,

gates and swiping cards, but that means people

however, he has been serving Winthrop for over

around Winthrop can do the same. I think we

17 years and claims to have never witnessed

out the fear of discrimination or charges potentially

could have more surveillance,” said Alex Har-

another event like this one.

placed against them by a public business or company

rison, a senior Environmental Science major.

4see Breastfeed pg. 10

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“I like the fact that we can go where

According to Scoggins, the

theJohnsonian

If students are to witness an event such as

4see Safety pg. 4

Index: News 3 | Science & Tech 5 | Sports 6 | Arts & Culture 8 | Opinion 10

August 15, 2018

PARKING ON CAMPUS

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August 15, 2018

Safety from front as this one, or any dangerous event on campus, Scoggins said to call the Winthrop Campus Police Office immediately. The

Trustees approve lowest tuition increase in years

have problems with roofs and various

Winthrop University

things. It’s to maintain the campus

Campus Police, University

takes into account

Leadership and Staff claim that

many things when

added.

they will continue to discuss

increasing tuition,

Increases to tuition come when

safety and security in the coming years. “We are currently in the process of upgrading security and camera systems, adding new police officers and putting police officers on bicycles,”

should ensure more police officer coverage around campus and student accessibility to officers when needed.

unfunded state mandates that need

with new companies,

to be met, causing the school to seek

initiatives and ideas

funding from other places, such as a rise in tuition costs. “As those increase, for example, health

Anna Sharpe

care costs, the state is passing more of

sharpea@mytjnow.com

that down to the university and [are] On July 3, the Winthrop University Board of Trustees approved a 2.4% tuition

that full-time students who are residents will

According to Scoggins, this

costs of living rise, or when there are

but this year comes

increase for undergraduate students, meaning

Scoggins said.

and support the student base,” McCall

now pay $7,615 per semester, while full-time non-residents will pay $14,743. The increase of roughly $180 for residents and $350 for non-residents is the lowest approved increase within the last five years, and the Board of Trustees has a new goal they are hoping to set into motion with this minimal tuition increase. “It would be nice if we had minimal increases over time for the students and their families,” said Glenn McCall, Chair of the Winthrop University Board of Trustees. “That’s our goal: to keep expenses low and pass those savings on to our families and students by keeping tuition and fees as low as possible.” Tuition costs cover not only the cost of classes,

Jordan Farrell/ The Johnsonian

one time. Winthrop, along with other

and benefits and routine maintenance of the

state public institutions, are having to absorb

campus. Therefore, the cost of tuition can vary

more of those expenses, so as a result that’s why

based on a teacher’s status, a fluctuation in

[tuition increases]” McCall said.

the amount of faculty and staff hired or for a

One of the reasons that makes the 2.4% increase

multitude of other reasons.

notable to many is the implementation of a new

“All of our tuition is for operating costs to run

food service company, Sodexo, to the school.

the university, salaries, benefits and costs of

After ten years of working with the food service

having an excellent faculty and staff. They are

company Aramark, Winthrop officials decided

taking care in overseeing the campus for us,”

to move on to Sodexo, meaning an entirely new

McCall said.

contract with different prices and meal options.

The cost of tuition can also be increased for re-

“The team that worked on evaluating the bidders

pairs or unforeseen emergencies around campus,

for the contract, work[ed] with the winning bid-

such as last year’s Courtyard and Richardson floodings, in which the buildings’ pipelines burst, causing the majority of students to be displaced. “Also, emergencies that come up during the year that are inevitable. We have some lovely buildings on campus, but they’re also old and

but it also goes towards faculty and staff salaries

not covering as much as they did at

der Sodeko, and made sure that we could provide quality of service, improve the quality, but also keep the rates as low as possible,” McCall said. The Board of Trustees has also approved of a 2.4% increase to room and board fees for the 2018-2019 school year.

York County Sherrif ’s Office

Ending on a good note

A new scholarship will

due to an unforeseen financial crisis, may be

low income

suddenly worried about how to pay for college

or first

be offered to students

expenses like books, school supplies and room

generation

who struggle with ﬁn-

and board. When a student is that close to his

students. The

or her goal, we have to be committed and dili-

Women’s Co-

gent in ensuring they meet it,” Laura Mahony,

alition hopes

the First Lady of Winthrop, said.

to break that

Many students struggle to pay the costs associ-

cycle.

ated with going to a university. Some students

“This year,

are able to obtain, grants, loans and scholar-

I almost

ships, but these are not granted to stick for the

did not get

entirety of one’s time at college.

to come

their senior year who are

“Unfortunately, for this year something hap-

to school

pened with my FAFSA, and they didn’t offer me

because of

unsure whether or not

any grants, just loans which didn’t even cover

financial

they will be able to ﬁnish

year, I had to use some of my money I had

so scared

saved up from my jobs to pay this semester,”

because I

Nicole Brito, a junior psychology major, said.

was not sure what I was going to do if that

Caroline Riggs

Being unable to finish school has crossed many

happened, especially because I had already

riggsc@mytjnow.com

students minds as they struggle with the finan-

signed my lease and gotten my schedule put

and have time to enjoy their last year,” Brito

Winthrop Women’s Coalition has established a

cial burden caused by the rising price of college

together,” Amanda Schwarz, a senior Human

said.

scholarship that will allow Winthrop students

tuition. Despite excelling academically, money

Development major, said.

Some students are hoping that this new scholar-

the opportunity to receive their degree, even if

is an underlying factor that could jeopardize all

Students struggling to finish their last semester

ship will shed some light on the financial issues

their finances would not allow them to do so.

that hard work.

or even paying for those last few classes could

they face throughout their college years.

The Commencement Bridge Scholarship will be

“Because of my bad anxiety, I feel like I would

use this as an opportunity to relieve the stress

“I think Winthrop and other students need to

given to current or rising seniors and will help

be extremely depressed and angry because of

and financial situation many students have said

know that just because we have scholarships,

the coalition’s goal “to ensure financial stability

the fact that I wasn’t able to finish at Winthrop

they feel trapped by.

sometimes it may not cover it all. With tuition

and sustainability by raising scholarship dollars

due to financial reasons,” Brito said.

“I think it would help many people struggling

and everything else being so high, it almost

for students”, according to an announcement by

Never receiving one’s degree because of finan-

financially to finish school, too, especially in

causes a lot of students to have to take out

Winthrop University.

cial issues is a reality many students in America

their senior year because they can finally not be

loans,” Schwarz said.

“The Commencement Bridge Scholarship was

face. Bill Gates told CNBC that 54.8 percent of

so stressed like they have felt previously

created by the coalition to help students who,

students drop out of college, most of which are

ishing school due to ﬁnancial circumstances. This offers a new hope to students entering

their degree

the whole cost of tuition. So for this upcoming

Caroline Riggs | News Editor riggsc@mytjnow.com

issues. I was

Jordan Farrell/ The Johnsonian

theJohnsonian

Park it out Winthrop

August 15, 2018

Construction work should continue into the school year, potentially closing off parking: an area that many students claim Winthrop tends to be lacking anyway Caroline Riggs riggsc@mytjnow.com Winthrop University has begun construction on Thurmond Hall and Byrnes Auditorium, which has caused parking to be closed off to students in these areas. This has made students consider the entire parking situation Winthrop has developed over the years. Although these lots will be under construction, the price of passes will not change. However, some students said that they feel the prices should be lowered, especially if spots are not accessible to students living on campus. “I think $100 is too much money because there aren’t enough spot[s] for the amount of people that live on campus. I think it should be $70 again because it is a total rip-off in my opinion,” Katrina Gainey, a sophomore social work major, said. Some students said the price was fair since there are options, but it is not ideal. They also expressed that if there were more spots, then the price would be upheld. “I think $100 for parking is a little much, but that cost could be justifiable if parking spots are added closer to the residence halls. I understand that expanding campus costs lots of money, though, and trying to add more parking spaces would potentially result in another parking price increase,” Kalea Young-Gibson, a junior Political Science and psychology major, said. Many students said that they think parking spots should be more fairly distributed between faculty and staff, commuter and resident students. “I feel as though parking at Winthrop is average or below average compared to other campuses. There are a lot of faculty spots, but campus truly isn’t that large to begin with,” Elle Sullivan, a sophomore International Business major, explained. Parking around Thurmond Hall should begin to open around the start of classes, but it could continue into the semester. The Byrnes Auditorium construction has been expected to continue throughout the entire year and potentially even longer. “They’re going to have to block off spaces as they deem necessary. So, right now, I think they are leaving most of it open and putting the construction equipment on the Kinard side as they plan, but that could change next week if they decide they need some spaces on the

Kinard side of Byrnes,” Charles Yearta, the Lieutenant in charge of investigations at Winthrop University Police Department, said. If construction continues and blocks off parking to students many have said the inconvenience could cause frustration across campus. However, the construction has not only caused concern about parking spaces, but also in regards to student safety. “For example, when work was being done on Thurmond this last

Cheyenne Walsh/ The Johnsonian

Construction crews have already begun work on Thurmond Building and Byrnes Auditorium.

semester, I was walking on the side of the building where less work was being done, and there was only one man looking up at another work on the top of the building with no tape or blockers or anything. While I was passing, a tree branch fell right in front of me and the worker didn’t notice me until after it had fallen,” Olivia Farrell, a junior International Business major, said. Students said that they feel as though the construction could be better concealed from students and the parking lots at Winthrop should not be altered or lost due to these new construction efforts. A common concern among many students was that Legion should be the one parking lot under construction. “I think that we definitely need more spaces for students, especially around buildings like Thurmond, or to at least clear up Legion so that students do not have dents in their cars from the rocks and don’t have to go halfway across campus just to get to class,” Farrell said.

The elections are coming and the candidates are in

South Carolinians will vote on a new Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Attorney General, Commissioner of Agriculture, Comptroller General, State Superintendent and 7 seats in the U.S. House Representatives. Incumbent Henry McMaster is running for his first full-term as governor against Democratic Party nominee Rep. James Smith. Anna Sharpe sharpea@mytjnow.com South Carolinians will vote for governor on Nov. 6 the general gubernatorial election. In the running are Republican incumbent Henry McMaster and Democrat James Smith. McMaster is running for his first full-term as governor, as he took office following Nikki Haley’s appointment as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Smith, who has served as a S.C. House Representatives since 1997, won the Democratic primary in June. He has since attempted to be listed on the ballot as the candidate for three other parties: the Green Party, the Working Families Party and the Libertarian Party. When multiple parties support one candidate and that candidate’s name appears multiple times on the ballot as a result, fusion voting occurs, and it can create much criticism from other politicians and voters. After facing this harsh criticism and the potential loss of the Democratic Party nomination, Smith pulled his applications. “...We withdrew our names from consideration by those other parties on Friday, in large part because we learned that our good-faith gesture was to be attacked by some who were playing the kinds of cynical, destructive political games that are precisely the reason why so many voters are turned off by the whole political process these days,” Smith said in a press release. Although Smith and running mate Mandy Norrell only have the nomination of the Democratic Party, Smith stated that he seeks to represent all voters. “We are running to serve all South Carolinians, regardless of party. It was in that spirit that we considered running under the banners of several other parties, to let people beyond our own party base know that we intend to serve them in office as well,” Smith announced. Smith is endorsed by former Charleston Mayor Joe Riley, Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate Distinction and former Vice President Joe Biden, while McMaster has endorsements from the National Rifle Association, the pro-life group Citizens for Life, and

Anna Sharpe | Assistant News Editor sharpea@mytjnow.com

Donald J. Trump. McMaster won the Republican nomination following a runoff election against John Warren in June. “I’m fighting to ensure South Carolina is the best place to live, work and raise a family. We need conservative reforms to tackle the issues facing our great state,” McMaster’s campaign website stated. “It’s up to us to take a stand against liberals who would force policies that destroy our values.” McMaster, who was a staunch opponent of Obamacare during his time as Attorney General, said he wishes to improve health care in South Carolina by removing mandates and regulation from the health industry and increasing the use of telemedicine. Smith’s campaign is running on the idea to expand Medicaid and get South Carolina closer to universal health care. Smith has stated that he is in favor of changing gun laws in South Carolina to close the Charleston Loophole, which grants those seemingly unfit to own a firearm the ability to purchase one because of the three-day background check defaults. McMaster uses his position to defend the second amendment. Both candidates are champions for change in the state’s education system, which includes implementing more technology and computer science based classes and training. McMaster advocates for a greater number of charter schools in the state and putting more funding directly into the classroom, while Smith has said he would like to give all teachers a 2% raise, lower tuition costs, and create more accessible, quality education for students in rural and low-income areas. The general election will be held on Nov. 6. Along with the governor, citizens will be voting for Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Attorney General, Commissioner of Agriculture, Comptroller General, State Superintendent, and 7 seats in the U.S. House Representatives.

S&TtheJohnsonian August 15, 2018

Subarctic from front building weather stations to test the climate in different areas. “Something I’ve learned is we have a really different kind of soil setup back home and it’s basically flipped in Churchill…When we did the soil plot samples, we tested the pH, and the further down we got in the layer of soils the more alkaline the soil became, and I thought that was super interesting because it was the complete opposite of home,” said student Joy White, who attended the trip. Our research also led to interesting discoveries about the Canadian landscape, such as seeing permafrost (a permanent frozen layer of soil) when digging through the soil. We also, after

identifying many different types of vegetation, learned about all the berries we could eat, such as wild strawberries and blueberries. In addition to conducting research, we enjoyed seeing sights that you can only find in the arctic, and definitely not in the hot South Carolina heat. This includes activities such as kayaking with beluga whales, spotting polar bears, walking along the Hudson Bay shoreline, and seeing northern lights nightly just by stepping out on the observation deck of the center where they were staying. “My favorite part was the shoreline behind the community center of Churchill because of all the rocks, and just seeing how

they can change and look just by being in different water,” said Elora Lissandrello, a student on the Churchill trip. Most of this crew of southern girls on this trip are biology and environmental science majors who have been researching and learning about soils and different landscapes in many of their classes for the past couple years. Many of them have taken this opportunity to learn about different fields of science they may want to go into and have thoroughly enjoyed being able to actually see everything they learned about in the classroom in real life. Recent Winthrop graduate biology student Logan Brown attended the Churchill trip and learned even more

about parts of her field she soon wished to go into. “I really enjoyed setting up the weather stations…We set them up for insulation, temperature, rainfall, and a few other things. I think it’s cool to see how it’s different than from what we’re used to and see how it’s different with location and weather changes.” It was a consensus that everyone on the trip found the experience completely worth it. The subarctic landscape class is taught by Dr. Werts, an environmental science professor at Winthrop. The class is listed as a special topics environmental science class (ENVS 350) and is typically offered in the spring semester.

Going abroad this semester or next? Still be able to message, call, and video chat with friends and family with the app Viber. This free app allows you to stay connected to people, even while you’re abroad, with no extra charges.

It's not just for fun: how to use the internet to excel in class

Joseph Calamia Staff Writer Every year, incoming Winthrop University students have to adapt to the new format of learning with digital and print resources, implemented by professors, for studying. Aside from the helpfulness and convenience of digital resources, using digital platforms reduces waste, making Winthrop students’ studies more sustainable for the Rock Hill Community. One example of digital resources at Winthrop University is how the professors put their PowerPoints, rubrics, and assignments on their websites or Blackboard for students to access in their dorms or one of the computer labs on campus. Another useful tip for students using laptops for their school work is to use programs like Google Docs or DropBox to store their ﬁles, such as documents and research papers, so they do not lose it for good. Using laptops to type notes during class, instead of writing them down while listening to the lecture, is also useful and helps with planning for group projects. “It helps students be able to share notes and ideas easier. It also gives students more formats and options to create their notes to better ﬁt their note taking style,” said senior Savanna Bannio. Apart from typing notes on laptops, students can also write notes down on paper, then copy them on Word documents to help retain information.

“I retain information better if I am writing it versus typing. However, that does not mean I do not take notes electronically,” said Winthrop sustainability coordinator, Christopher Johnson. “The better question is how students do to actively learn the material.” Finally, cloud storage and programs like Microsoft OneNote can not only store documents from classes, but can also help students to compile multiple Word documents in one ﬁle. “Cloud storage helps students easily keep their documents and be able to use them on multiple computers. It also lessens the chances of documents accidentally being destroyed by a computer malfunction,” said Bannio. With the push of digital resources and sustainability, Winthrop is also looking to expand more recycling locations around campus for incoming and returning students. “We are adding these stations to Kinard and Thurmond for the new academic year, and the goal is to make recycling more convenient,” said Johnson. Winthrop Sustainability Coordinator Christopher Johnson credits the programs toward sustainability to help the Winthrop community and incoming students. “Many of the programs we have that introduce sustainability to the campus community are ongoing. However, it is the goal to expand on these programs because it is diﬃcult to reach folks when they are busy with other requirements and interests,” said Johnson.

Mikayla Mangle | Science & Technology Editor manglem@mytjnow.com

SPORTS theJohnsonian

Eagles take on Big South Conference... August 15, 2018

Photo Courtesy of Winthrop University

Proctor is the first tennis player to receive the title , having received the honor of Big South Women’s Tennis Player of the Year for the past three years.

Proctor announced as 201718 Big South Student-Athlete of the Year

Photo Courtesy of Winthrop University

Among being named Big South Woman of the Year, Judge has also walked away as four-time All-Conference honoree during her four years playing lacrosse.

Greta Conboy conboyg@mytjnow.com

Rising senior for the Winthrop women’s tennis team, Lauren Proctor, has been voted the 2017-18 Big South Conference Female Student-Athlete of the Year. When announced, Proctor became the first tennis player to ever receive the conference’s Female Student-Athlete of the Year award. This is the third consecutive year that Proctor has been named the Big South Women’s Tennis Player of the Year. She was 21-2 in the spring at No. 1 singles. Proctor also maintained a perfect record as she went 7-0 in the season. She also won 13 straight matches throughout the regular season. In three seasons at Winthrop, Proctor has posted a singles record of 66-9 with a perfect 24-0 mark in conference play. The last two seasons, Proctor and her partner, Megan Kauffman, went 40-7 as doubles partners. For the third year in a row, Proctor has earned all-conference honors in doubles with Kauffman, as they went 22-0 at No. 1 doubles before falling in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships. This earned both of them All-American honors. Proctor also qualified for the NCAA Championship in singles as she entered the championship ranked 36th. She finished the season ranked 41st in singles and reached as high as 14th throughout the year. In the fall, Proctor won the ITA Regional Championship in October, becoming the first Eagle in program history to receive that honor. She was also honored in the ITA National Summer Championship. Proctor helped lead the women’s tennis team to a third straight win in the Big South Conference Championship. Just this past spring, the Lady Eagles went on to the NCAA Tournament and for the first time, captured the conference’s first round victory by defeating 20th-ranked Auburn 4-3.

This is the second straight year the Eagles took home Big South Female Student-Athlete of the Year.

Judge received 2017-18 honor of Big South Woman of the Year

Delaware native Katherine Judge was honored as the Big South Conference Woman of the Year for 2017-18. She received this award alongside Kayli Nichols from UNC Asheville. The Big South’s Woman of the Year Selection Committee uses criteria of service and leadership, academic achievement, athletic excellence and a personal statement from each candidate. As an Eagle, Judge was a four-year starter on the lacrosse team. She was also a four-time All-Conference honoree, which has only been accomplished by six players in the Big South’s history. Judge helped the Eagles win two Big South titles during her time at Winthrop. She ranked first all-time in conference, with 421 draw controls and 247 ground balls and placed third with 143 caused turnovers and 81 career matches played. She was a standout, both defensively and offensively, on the field in the 2018 spring season. Judge finished second on the team with 55 goals, a single-season high for the midfielder. During her time in Rock Hill, she set a Winthrop and Big South record, with 149 draw controls, and her 7.45 draws per game ranked her ninth in Division I. In addition, Judge played in the 2018 IWLCA Senior All-Star Game. While attending Winthrop, Judge volunteered at various community events in Rock Hill. She also interned at the Iswa Head Start Program where she worked with social workers to help children and their families. She was named the recipient of the 2018 inaugural Golden Eagle Award, which is said to be awarded to “an exemplary student-athlete leader, a teammate to always count on who encourages others, and the type of student-athlete who represents all good things about Winthrop Athletics.” At the end of her collegiate career, Judge was honored on the Winthrop President’s List and Dean’s List three times and was listed on the 2017 IWLCA Academic Honor Roll. As a member of the 2017 Big South Women’s Lacrosse All-Academic Team, Judge maintained a 3.73 grade point average while majoring in social work with a minor in family and consumer science. She now attends Penn as she completes her master’s degree.

and walk away winners

Greta Conboy | Sports Editor conboyg@mytjnow.com

theJohnsonian

August 15, 2018

Disc Golf celebrates sport’s 25th anniversary

The Disc Golf club is celebrating 25 years and hoping to recruit new members Joseph Calamia Staff Writer The Winthrop Disc Golf club will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the sport this semester and is looking into expanding its membership. With a world-famous course on campus ground, Winthrop’s club will be out encouraging students to visit during tournaments and participate in the club. Disc golf is a form of golf that uses a flying disc from a tee position to the target goal, with the score calculated from the amount of throws toward the target. Winthrop University hosts a disc golf course located at Winthrop Lake near the recreational fields and Winthrop Coliseum. Winthrop Disc Golf Club President Derek Faile said, “The disc golf club team is pretty small right now, but our main focus this year will be on getting more people interested.” Disc golf was started by the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) in 1976, with the organization reaching over 100,000 members recently amongst its growing numbers and coverage of tournaments. “The 25th anniversary tells me that the sport of disc golf is growing, which is absolutely amazing. This also tells me that the potential to have a great disc golf club at Winthrop is very prevalent,” said Winthrop Disc Golf Club member William Easterday. Faile was introduced to disc golf when his parents gave him a starter kit for Christmas in middle school. He played with his father before finding out about the club when he came to Winthrop. “I found the Rock Hill Disc Golf Club and joined in 2014. Met some guys who were on the Winthrop team at the time, then I came to Winthrop,” Faile said. According to Winthrop’s website, the Disc Golf course on campus,

called Winthrop Gold, attracts players from around the world and hosts tournaments such as the United States Disc Golf Championship (USDGC). “The Winthrop Disc Golf Course might be the most well-known course in the disc golf community because the biggest tournament of the year for the community is held there. The United States Disc Golf Championship is held annually at the Winthrop course in early October and is known for being an extremely challenging course,” Easterday said. Another tournament that occurs on Winthrop Gold is the Dean’s Cup, which attracts the National Champions of the USDGC. During this event, Winthrop’s club won a third place tie against some of the top teams in the nation. “The teams coming in to play this tournament are the best in collegiate disc golf, and it was both an honor and a pleasure to battle it out against them,” Faile said. With the new semester approaching and the anniversary of the sport, Faile is hoping to broaden the club’s membership and publicize events across campus. “The team has been to several tournaments these past years. We went to Clemson’s tournament, South Carolina’s tournament and even hosted one ourselves. We will be hosting a tournament this year as well,” Faile said. Joining a club or sport organization on-campus is a great way to add to your college experience at Winthrop University. “Playing disc golf has introduced me to so many people at different universities, and I’ve made many friends through this sport,” Easterday said.

The West Center becomes tech savvy Oriana Gilmore Staff Writer Winthrop’s on-campus West Center has plenty of brand new gym equipment to satisfy different needs for students on campus. Associate Director of the West Center, Laura Johnson, has helped with this new tech savvy gym equipment installation. According to Johnson, students will now be able to use brand new treadmills, ellipticals, upright and recumbent bikes with great tech features. This equipment has viewing screens with the ability to browse the Internet, as well as access to popular apps, like Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, iHeartRadio and News Reader. After students complete their first initial login using their own personal account before their workout, they can simply connect their phone with the machine by bluetooth to log-in each time thereafter. The personal viewing screens also have their own programs which allow students to choose from various sceneries, like walking in the mountains or running in Barcelona, as well as the length or distance of their workout. On these screens, students can also view their heart rate, calories burned and distance run or walked. There are headphone jacks and bluetooth capability for students to choose for their audio preference and a charging area to insert their cellphones’ USB cord. In addition to the new machines, the West Center has a new area called the Queenax Functional Fitness Unit on the first floor. The Queenax has functional training equipment for strength training. This area holds versatile equipment for boxing, battle ropes, jump boxes and slam balls, just to name a few. There will also be two more weekly group exercise classes held in the Queenax this year in addition to the 25 classes held in the West Center each week.

Photo Courtesy of Greta Conboy The amount of new equipment in the West Center equates to 14 treadmills, five total body ellipticals, five lower body ellipticals, four recumbent bikes, four upright bikes and four stairmasters. The stairmasters do not have the tech gear but were added in response to popularity among students. These additions to the West Center will definitely be helpful when students need to de-stress during the hectic times of the academic year. “People handle stress totally differently, but it’s proven that when you exercise it releases endorphins and relieves some stress,” Johnson said. Johnson believes that the new equipment will invite more students to come out to the West Center and work out, rather than being stuck in their dorm rooms.

65 percent of student-athletes on Big South Presidential Honor Gabby Gardner gardnerg@mytjnow.com

Winthrop student athletes have more to cheer about than just their victories this year; they should be celebrating their academic success as well. To be named to the Presidential Honor Roll, student athletes must maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher (on a 4.0 scale) for the previous academic year. Out of our 2,982 eligible student athletes, 1,750 student athletes, which is 58.69%, achieved this honor for the 2017-2018 school year. Not only did our student athletes accomplish this great achievement, but for the fourth year in a row, more than 50% of our athletes have achieved this goal. This percentage is the second-highest percentage in league history. The Commissioner’s Award, which is awarded to student athletes who maintain a 4.0 GPA or higher for the completed academic year, was awarded to 20 of our Winthrop student athletes this previous year. The following student athletes were awarded the Commissioner’s Award in each of the following sports:

Baseball John Pike Men’s Basketball Anders Broman Men’s Golf Zak Butt Men’s Soccer Kenneth Perkinson and Nil Vinyals Cierco Men’s Tennis Leandros Pappayiannis Women’s Basketball Noell Kellers and Ronata Rogers Women’s Lacrosse Katie Clark, Alaina Girani, and Katherine Judge Women’s Soccer Zoe Conover, Courtney McLeod, and Joanna Taylor Women’s Tennis Megan Kauffman Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country Emily Sparrow Softball Brooke Ellison, Ansley Gilreath, Sabrina Shroades, Blake Wallert A special recognition has been given to the softball team for having the most Winthrop student athletes on a team to accomplish the Commissioner’s award (obtaining a 4.0 GPA or higher).

Commissioner’s Award Honorees ~Baseball John Pike ~Men’s Basketball Anders Broman ~Men’s Golf Zak Butt ~Men’s Soccer Kenneth Perkinson and Nil Vinyals Cierco ~Men’s Tennis Leandros Pappayiannis ~Women’s Basketball Noell Kellers and Ronata Rogers ~Women’s Lacrosse Katie Clark, Alaina Girani, and Katherine Judge ~Women’s Soccer Zoe Conover, Courtney McLeod, and Joanna Taylor ~Women’s Tennis Megan Kauffman ~Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country Emily Sparrow ~Softball Brooke Ellison, Ansley Gilreath, Sabrina Shroades, Blake Wallert

Gabby Gardner | Assistant Sports Editor gardnerg@mytjnow.com

A&CtheJohnsonian

Dance, act or sing your way into the arts August 15, 2018

Performances, clubs and exhibits give new and returning students the chance to display their creative sides Caleb Hinkley hinkleyc@mytjnow.com This! meets weekly and provides entertainment with improvisational Winthrop University prides itself on offering a copious amount of art games. events. From live performances, to arts exhibitions, to art clubs, there are For those who enjoy creating visual art, the many opportunities for students to get Society of Illustrators meets and creates art and involved in the arts. puts on art shows to allow artists to show off For those that enjoy performing, the their work. theatre and dance departments have six shows this semester. For those wishing For those who enjoy dance and expression to audition for theatre shows, sign-up through movement, a few clubs exist with sheets will be posted in Johnson Hall specific dance styles focused on in each club. near the elevator. Students must sign One of these clubs is Kinetic Fever: a hip-hop up for a specific time slot, and auditions dance club which offers dance lessons and usually happen over one to two days. chances to collaborate with other organizations. The lists will also specify what Some events Kinetic Fever hosts are flash mobs, students need to have prepared and competitions, and showcases. Winthrop also what audition materials are available to offers a Swing Dancing Club for those who students in Johnson 115. would like to learn and expand their cultural Students who are needed for callbacks horizons. They have lessons at least twice a will be notified after their audition. month and some theme nights. Cast lists will be posted shortly after For some students, especially those in their auditions and just because a student did first year, joining a club and being heavily not get a callback, does not mean they involved is all it takes for them to thrive at did not get casted. Winthrop. For theatre major Taylor Evans, Dance auditions typically happen being involved helped her find her place on upstairs in one of the Johnson Hall campus. “From the theatre department, to dance studios. Students should come Disney club, to my sorority, it helped me to dressed with the proper attire and branch out and become friends with all kinds footwear depending on the kind of of people,” Evans states. “I’m never bored on dance show they are going for. campus!” For students who enjoy art events In addition to required humanities courses, but may be short on cash, ushering is there is also always the option for students an easy way to see a show for free and to take elective classes centered around the help the theatre and dance department. arts. There are many classes in theatre, dance, Students who volunteer to usher are art and film. Musical theatre major Shannon given a free ticket to the performance, Bradley noticed the impact being involved in and it only takes about an hour. Cheyenne Walsh/ The Johnsonian the arts and taking arts-centered classes had on Several art clubs exist to give students her first-year experience. “Having the arts incorporated into my schedule a chance to meet and collaborate with fellow artists. Clubs can be the best is absolutely incredible,” Bradley exclaimed. “Overall, my first-year way to get involved in the arts because they meet year-round. experience was amazing, and I’m so excited to audition for many theatre For students who enjoy composing poetry, Def Poets Society provides a and dance productions this year!” Winthrop makes it very easy for students creative outlet for students to express themselves through writing, spoken to expand their horizons and get involved in the arts. Ultimately it is up to word, and singing. Some events this club has include Open-Mic nights, the student to sign up, show up and take advantage of Winthrop’s thriving Slam Poetry Competitions and Creative Workshops. art opportunities. For students who wish to work on their improvisation skills, Improv

Dillon O’Neill | A&C Editor oneilld@mytjnow.com

theJohnsonian

Thrills of Rock Hill August 15, 2018

Rock Hill has an arts and culture all of its own, without Winthrop’s help Dillon O’Neill oneilld@mytjnow.com

One of the many benefits of attending Winthrop University is the quick access one has to wonderful works of art being created by young, passionate artists. There is a wide and exciting range of culture and entertainment just on campus. However, the university does not exist in a bubble; in fact it is part of a larger and vibrant community. The town of Rock Hill and the surrounding York County offer many other outlets to receive a dose of arts and culture. Research conducted by Americans for the Arts found that involvement with the arts showed higher GPAs in students, greater civic engagement and growth to local economies. With all this to gain, in addition to personal enjoyment, what reason is there not to support local artists? Compiled here is a quick reference to some of the places to find arts in the area. Of course, personal exploration and discovery of more beyond this is always encouraged. Culture & Heritage Museums Under the York County Culture and Heritage Commission, this group of museums was merged together in 1997 to create a unified system of documenting and showcasing the rich past of the area. The Museum of York County opened in 1950 as the Children’s Nature Museum of Rock Hill. Today, they still show the natural wonders of the upstate with thousands of specimens on display and at your fingertips in the only Smithsonian style education center in South Carolina. They also house the Settlemyre Planetarium, which takes you far beyond the natural wonders of the Carolina Piedmont. Finish off your visit with the ¾ mile hike around the nature center, and experience the local plants and animals in action. The McCelvey Center is the historical site of the Yorkville Female Academy, founded in 1852. This renovated school building displays collections of art, archives and historical objects related to the area. The archive provided opportunities for genealogical and historical research and is home to the Southern Revolutionary War Institute. On site, there is also the Lowry Family Theatre, which is renowned for its acoustics. Regular concerts are held there, as well as the annual Southern Sound Series. Historic Brattonsville is the place to go to see history come to life. This 775 acre Revolutionary War site began as the Bratton family plantation and has been preserved and passed down through generations. Between historical reenactments, a working farm, tours of the over 30 still-standing historical sites or just the beautiful scenery, there is much to be learned and enjoyed from this land. Details about how to plan a visit to any of these spaces is available on the Culture & Heritage Museums website. Rock Hill Community Theatre Continuing in a centuries old tradition, the Rock Hill Community Theatre aims to bring dramatics and dynamic storytelling onto a local stage. They

Photo Courtesy of Culture and Heritage Museums, Arts Council of York County and Rock Hill Community Theatre

The Culture and Heritage Museums help bridge the gap between the past and the present. regularly hold acting classes and workshops, as well as improv shows. Their 2018/2019 season is just beginning with the next show being Agatha Christie’s “Mousetrap”, running from Sept.14-23. Be on the lookout for their future productions of “Annie”, “The Dixie Swim Club” and “Bye Bye Birdie”. Information on the upcoming season and where to buy tickets can be found on their website. Arts Council of York County In 1977, the Arts Council of York County set out with the mission to “Create arts programming that encourages education, economic development and arts advocacy through unique art experiences that engage the community to make York County a regional arts destination.” Located in downtown Rock Hill, the Arts Council has several types of studios and galleries present in the historic Gettys Art Center building. Throughout the year, they sponsor and host festivals, classes, showcases and many more events that encourage local art. Often, the Arts Council partners with Winthrop University events

What’s to come this fall

From plays to dance shows to art gallery exhibitions, Winthrop offers something for everyone. Caleb Hinkley hinkleyc@mytjnow.com ▶Kicking off this season is the theatre department’s production of “Luna Gale”. This modern play takes a realistic look at an interfamily dispute over baby Luna Gale. The play will run from Wednesday, September 26 through Sunday, September 30. Performances from Wednesday through Saturday will begin at 8:00 p.m., and the Sunday performance will begin at 2:00 p.m. Performances will be in the Studio Theatre. Wednesday and Thursday tickets for this show are only $5 with a Winthrop ID. ▶A special memorial art exhibit will also be on display in September 2018. “Seeds to Sow” is an exhibition detailing the career of late Winthrop University Professor Paul Martyka (1950-2016). In conjunction with the exhibition, Martyka’s family has established a fundraiser to support the exhibition and educational programming at Winthrop. The exhibition will be on display in the Rutledge and Elizabeth Dunlap Patrick Galleries September 17 through November 16 with a public reception September 21 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. ▶Those who were fans of Charlie Brown as a kid will not want to miss the theatre department’s production, “Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead”. This unauthorized parody play takes place during the teenage years of CB and friends. This highly relative coming-of-age story pushes teen angst to its very limits. It brings to light the issues that are found in all high schools and showcases the struggles of growing up. Because of its strong themes, this play also contains strong language and mature content.

“Dog Sees God” plays in Johnson Theatre from Wednesday, October 3 to Sunday, October 7. Wednesday through Saturday performances begin at 8:00 p.m., and Sunday’s final performance begins at 2:00 p.m. ▶Just in time for Halloween, the Musical Theatre Workshop will present “Everyone Loves a Villain”. This show will feature advanced students performing songs by villains everyone loves to hate! Performances will run from Wednesday, October 31 to Sunday, November 4. Wednesday through Saturday shows begin at 8:00 p.m., and the Sunday performance begins at 2:00 p.m. Tickets for the Wednesday and Thursday performances are also only $5 with a Winthrop ID. ▶The Winthrop Dance Theatre Concert will take the stage in Johnson Theatre. It is a full evening of dance performances choreographed by faculty and guest artists. It will feature the best in modern, ballet and aerial dance. The show runs from Thursday, November 8 to Sunday, November 11. Thursday through Saturday performances begin at 8:00 p.m., and there is a special outreach performance Friday at 10:00 a.m. The Sunday matinee performance begins at 2:00 p.m. Tickets for all performances are $5 with a Winthrop ID. ▶In November is the Student Directed Fall One-Act Festival. This festival is an entertaining mix of one-act plays directed by advanced theatre students. Performances begin on Friday, November 16 and run through Sunday, November 18. Friday will only have one performance at 8:00

p.m., Saturday will have performances at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and the Sunday matinee will begin at 2:00 p.m. All tickets are general admission and $5 with a Winthrop ID. ▶Closing out the semester is the Student Choreography showcase, a mix of modern dance works choreographed by senior dance majors. On Thursday, November 29, Friday, November 30 and Saturday, December 1, the show begins at 8:00 p.m., and the final performance is Sunday, December 2 at 2:00 p.m. ▶Alpha Psi Omega, or APO, is Winthrop’s Theatre Honor Society. This student-run organization is heavily involved in the arts and many of its members take on various roles in productions onstage and backstage. In seasons past, APO has hosted events such as carnations for audience members to send their friends and family, as well as 24-hour play festivals. Maddie Willard, the current president of APO, states, “The theatre and dance department has a great season of shows coming up this year. APO will be participating in many campus-wide events that will be announced on all our social media as it is arriving. We hope that our fellow students will come out and help support the arts at Winthrop!” Arts at Winthrop has a lot to offer for the Fall 2018 semester. Tickets for all performances can be purchased at the box office inside Johnson Hall. Come out and support local artists and friends, as some may be doing their first performance on one of Winthrop’s stages or making their directorial debut!

Caleb Hinkley | Assistant A&C Editor hinkleyc@mytjnow.com

OPINIONtheJohnsonian We just want to use the bathroom August 15, 2018

Breastfeed from front where they choose to breastfeed. Breastfeeding is an important part of a child’s growth and development, so nursing in public should no longer be shamed or criticized simply because select individuals deem the action disgusting.

It is crucial for a growing infant to receive

the warmth, comfort and nutrients that comes from his or her mother. Nursing from a mother’s breast is a baby’s form of food—if he or she is hungry, he or she is going to be fed…or suffer the consequences! Unless you want

Transgender people, specifically transgender women, are berated and ostracized from society on the grounds that they will sexually assault people in bathrooms, when in reality they are more likely to be on the receiving end of the assault

to have your shopping or eating experience ruined by

Marcus Julien Foster

a screaming infant, you will allow that mother to feed

Special to The Johnsonian

her child in the way her body was created to, so the surrounding environment remains peaceful.

So if you can walk around Target with

your muffin and coffee from Starbucks, mothers can breastfeed their hungry baby in the clothing aisle. The only things that are standing in the way of this newly passed legislation are the attitudes of individuals in public places. While it is now legal for mothers to nurse their babies in any public establishment, the rest of the country needs to back those mothers up with compassion and support instead of continuing to criticize and send dirty looks in their direction. Women no longer have to be discreet and hide in dirty public restrooms or dressing rooms; the least we can do is be courteous and nondiscriminatory towards them in this time of transition into the public eye.

We can all help to make society more

breastfeeding-friendly by looking at it as a normality instead of some crazy, indecent act. Breastfeeding should be normalized, not sexualized and shamed. Teaching one another—especially our growing children—about modesty and the behavior to mind one’s own business will only positively influence the movement to accept breastfeeding mothers into the community. In no way will seeing a mother nursing her child while sitting on a bench at the mall hinder your shopping experience. Let us work diligently to end the shame against mothers who breastfeed.

In light of recent immigration policies made by the Trump administration such as their “zero-tolerance” policy, the hashtag #AbolishICE has become popular among certain social media spheres. However, abolishing ICE will not provide a solution for the travesties that have been forced upon undocumented immigrants. Erin Streetman streetmane@mytjnow.com The Trump administration has made their stance on immigration very clear, but no policy has been more horrible than their “zero-tolerance” policy, which calls for the prosecution of all illegal entry referrals. Under this policy, all children traveling with adults who are referred for prosecution are turned over to the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, which places them into shelters or foster care as the child’s immigration case is ongoing. Several accounts from immigrant fam-

Transgender people are far too often criticized for almost everything about us, from how we choose to present, how we carry ourselves and even down to what bathroom we use. In my experience as a transgender man, I am often hit with ignorance of our existence. An unbelievable amount of people are unaware that transgender men exist and are under the impression that only maleto-female transgender people do. Transgender women, on the other hand, face innumerable amounts of violence. Trans women, specifically trans women of color, are berated and ostracized from society often on the grounds that they will rape/ sexually assault people in bathrooms, when in reality they are more likely to be on the receiving end of the assault. According to the Human Rights Campaign, in 2017 there were 28 recorded murders of transgender people, almost all of them trans women of color. That is the highest recorded number so far in American history. The average

ilies, however, state that their children are being put up for adoption against their wishes. These claims are supported by several factors. According to E. Kay Trimberger, Ph.D., a professor of women’s and gender studies at Sonoma State University, parents and children, upon being separated, were given different identification numbers with no record kept of their relationship. Additionally, no plans have been developed as to how to reunite separated families. Richard Hudson, an official with U.S. customs and Border Protection, states that 658 children were separated from their parents under the jurisdiction of the “zero-tolerance” policy from May 6 to May 19 alone. This policy was ended as of a June 20 executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump, who promised to keep families together while still finding a way to detain adult undocumented immigrants. However, even though this policy was ended, the damage that was done to these families is devastating. As parents weave through mounds of

Erin Streetman | Opinion Editor streetmane@mytjnow.com

lifespan for a trans woman of color is 35 years, less than half the national average. Thankfully, many companies and schools have stepped up to the plate, allowing transgender people to use the bathroom/changing room of their identity versus their assigned sex at birth. It is known that allowing transgender people to present as the gender they identify as does much more good than harm, both for the person, themselves, and for the community, but some people still have doubts. Many claim that trans people who use the bathroom of their gender identity will use that as a ploy to assault or stalk people in restrooms. This stems from the misconceptions that trans women are ‘men in costumes’ and that men in a women’s bathroom are a threat. What people fail to understand about this is that trans women are

bureaucratic red tape to attempt to get their children back, their own fate looms, uncertain, above their heads. “The administration has repeatedly said people shouldn’t be crossing illegally, they should be going to the port,” said Joanna Williams, who works for a Catholic cross-border non-profit group called the Kino Border Initiative, and other local aid groups, “but the reality is that people are standing at the port and they’re being made to wait there.” Many of the families who have been detained are fleeing gang violence and poverty in Central America, seeking asylum in the U.S. Jennifer Podkul, director of policy for Kids in Need of Defense, said that a United Nations Convention “specifically states asylum seekers should not be criminally prosecuted for entering without documentation because those fleeing persecution often do not have time/ability to get proper authorization before they are forced to flee.” All of this begs the question: what can we do about this? Backlash and outrage

not men in costumes; they are women, just as I am a man. We use the bathroom just like everyone else. Personally, one thing I have learned since using the men’s bathrooms on Winthrop’s campus is that you go in, do what you need to do and leave. Odds are, a trans woman using the women’s bathroom is there to simply use the bathroom and leave. According to the UCLA School of Law, there are around 1.4 million transgender adults in the United States, and of everything I personally have seen, there have been very few instances of trans women assaulting or preying on others in the bathroom. It is much more common for trans people to experience harassment, themselves. According to the National Center for Transgender Equality, which conducted the largest ever survey of transgender people, 59 percent of participants say they have avoided using the restroom at some point due to fear, and 12 percent were verbally harassed for using the restroom. Unfortunately, my experiences on campus are comparable to those reported in this study. I want nothing more than for Winthrop to be a safe place for all students, and hopefully bringing awareness is the first step. at these policies and the agencies that enforce them have produced a wave of protests, sprouting a new slogan: #AbolishICE. This slogan, while well-intended, misses one crucial fact: ICE was not the agency separating children from their parents at the border; that was U.S. Border Control officers. ICE does, however, conduct workplace raids and deport undocumented immigrants. ICE also is responsible for stopping human traffickers, child pronographers and violent gang members. Under the Obama administration, ICE agents primarily targeted undocumented immigrants who committed crimes, not asylum seekers in search of a better life for themselves and their families. For a long time, the relationship between ICE and law-abiding, taxpaying undocumented immigrants was a peaceful one. One such case is the story of Marta Rodriguez, a mother of six who fled Honduras to escape a violent relationship. She requested political asylum, settled in New Carrollton, Md. and had a legal work life since 2009. She checked in with the local ICE office as they requested, maintaining a peaceful relationship for almost a decade. Under Trump’s zero-tolerance policy, however, she was arrested during her ICE checkin, detained, and deported. So why has ICE changed? The answer is simple: since Trump became president, ICE has increased the number and frequency of raids. They have been ordered to enact racist and violent policies under the Trump administration. The solution to this problem, therefore, is not to abolish ICE, but to abolish the racist policies that have been enacted by President Trump and his administration. To abolish the agency would only cause a new beast to grow back in its place, possibly more ugly and more hated than before. Therefore, there is only one solution to this problem: do not get rid of the agency, but instead remove the president whose policies fuel racism, hatred, and violence and expel the lawmakers who support him.

theJohnsonianAugust 15, 2018

White washing in the media

From the blackface of the 1900s to the villainization of people of color, erasure of ethnic minorities and the misrepresentation of the culture of many ethnic groups has been perpetrated by Hollywood since the very beginning

Erin Creed Special to the Johnsonian Growing up, I had plenty of characters in movies and TV shows that looked like me. I could watch whatever I wanted and know who the hero of the show or movie would be, and who would be the villain. How? Because most, if not all, of the heroes in the movies I watched growing up share one major characteristic with me: our skin tone. No matter what the movie I was watching was about, it always seemed that the hero was white. I was able to watch the white hero beat the bad guys that were typically of an ethnic minority descent. When I was younger, I didn’t really pay attention to those details. Yet, as I grew up, I began to question why everyone we were taught to associate with good was white, and the bad guys were people of color. As I investigated the reason for this, I found that it was part of a more disturbing trend throughout the history of Hollywood. From the blackface of the early 1900’s to the use of a white hero in the 2000’s, Hollywood has always favored the white actor and will use them whenever the character does not have to be of ethnic descent. This trend is heavily correlated with the fact that opportunities for non-dominant ethnicities are far more rare than those for white people. According to a Directors Guild of America report, roughly 88 percent of films released in 2013 and 2014 had white directors. Additionally, according to a 2014 study from the University of Southern California, 73 percent of actors in the top 100 films of 2014 were white. This low-opportunity environment for people of color, especially women of color, results in an almost complete erasure of non-dominant ethnicities and their diverse cultures. This preference for white actors and their use in the stories of ethnic minorities has effectively added a new meaning to the word ‘whitewashing.’ This word was previously used to mean adding a white coating to something, such as a fence. It now effectively describes the way white actors have been given preference in casting rooms over people of color, even if the character they are portraying is shown to be of ethnic descent. One such occasion within the past few years is

the casting of Scarlett Johansson in the movie “Ghost in a Shell”. This movie is a live action remake of the original anime and is based in Japan. Because of this, the role that Johansson is playing should have gone to an Asian actress, even if it is an up and coming actress. Johansson received backlash, but in the end -- and at the expense of an especially underrepresented group -- Johansson stood by her decision to keep the role, as she felt that it was important to her to play a strong female lead. While Hollywood does indeed need more representation for strong female leads, this casting perpetuates the erasure of Japanese culture. The director, Rupert Sanders, also stood by his casting decision because he believed her to be “the best actress of her generation.” Another recent case that received a lot of backlash was the casting of Ed Skrein in the film adaptation of the comic “Hellboy”. Skrien would have been playing the character Major Ben Diamio, who is shown in the comics to be of Asian descent. This led to an uproar of criticism on Twitter, which in turn lead to Skrien backing out of the role. In his statement about dropping out of the role, Skrien mentioned that he understood that the role needed to be cast appropriately for the character and that he knows the importance of getting the voice of ethnic minorities into the arts. Both instances represent the problem of whitewashing in the modern world, but also how it is being approached by society. In the past, it was just witnessed silently, and nothing was ever said about it. Because of this, it has been allowed to continue, perpetuating stereotypes of different ethnic minorities. Without allowing those of said descents to use their voices in the media, white people were the ones depicting them however they saw them. Nowadays, society is taking a great step forward by calling out this misrepresentation and whitewashing. The media needs to allow people of color to bring their own voices and stories into the mix with accurate representation. The world

Jordan Farrell/ The Johnsonian needs to recognize that people of color deserve to be seen as human beings, as equals and as heroes, rather than being villainized or ridiculed as they have been. Just as actors and actresses have begun to either turn down or back out of roles that can, and rightfully should, go to an actor of an ethnic minority or likewise underrepresented group, there have been movies coming out that feature a more diverse cast. Within just the past year, three blockbuster movies (“Love, Simon,” “Wonder Woman,” and “Black Panther”) have been released that have done extremely well, with what should be a fourth (“Crazy Rich Asians”) premiering in the middle of August. Two of these movies have a full, or nearly full minority cast, and the other two have a very diverse cast that is not normally seen from Hollywood. All of which is great, considering Hollywood’s tendency to have all white casts, or casts that are mostly white with the “staple” ethnic character. Hollywood has hidden these stories and villainized minority characters for too long. White should not be Hollywood’s default race; everyone deserves to recognize themselves as the hero of the story.

3D printers bring anything to life...even weapons Philip Nelson Special to the Johnsonian applied for a federal firearms license. In 2013, a design for the Liberator, the world’s first fully 3D printed gun, was released. Wilson has faced pushback from several of the companies he used for printing and distributing files. The main problem with 3D-printed weapons is that they lack a proper way to trace the individual weapons. Conventionally manufactured weapons include serial numbers that allow them to be traced. Furthermore, purchasing a gun requires a series of background checks and personal identification. A 3D-printed gun is dangerous Jordan Farrell/ The Johnsonian because anyone can print and 3D printers are a hot topic in the tech use the gun, but law enforceworld lately because they allow virtument has no way to trace the owner of ally anyone to print any item they can the gun. imagine. In the spirit of open source, The Liberator is made completely of many people decide to share their part plastic except for the firing pin, bullet designs with others through sites like and spring, which are still made of metal. Thingiverse. This allows people who have A metal detector could still identify the access to 3D printers to replicate designs individual pieces used to make the gun that others have tested before. fully operational. In 2012, Cody Wilson, a University The pushback Wilson has received is priof Texas Law School student, started a marily because the guns he designs are project to design wiki weapons. His goal untraceable and can cause a great deal of was to create a fully 3D printed firearm, harm. Wired magazine has named Wiland then publish the files online for any- son one of the top five most dangerous one to download and print themselves. people in the world because of his goals. Wilson started Defense Distributed, The only way to legislate 3D-printan organization devoted to developing ed weapons is to ban them altogether open-source firearm files, and he also and to take down the files used to print

them. In 2013, The Department of State sent a letter to Wilson telling him him to take down the designs he had posted on DEFCAD, a site he built for sharing firearm-related 3D printing files, because he violated federal export controls. Since 2013, Wilson has been waging a battle against this demand based on the argument that sharing computer files is essentially protected under freedom of speech and the government requesting the removal of such files is a violation of the first amendment. The Department of Justice offered Wilson a settlement that changed the export laws to allow certain types of guns to be published as files. DEFCAD promised to put the files back on the Internet Aug. 1, 2018, but they published them on July 27 instead. A judge in Washington filed a restraining order that required the files to be pulled from the site on July 31. The problem with legislating these files is that the Internet is like a hydra: if a file disappears from one corner of the internet, it can appear somewhere else within the hour. The files hosted by DEFCAD can be found on the file sharing site The Pirate Bay. This is the nature of the Internet, and it’s a win for Wilson. His open source firearm is hard to legislate, and its very dangerous because anyone can download it right now. The Internet is convenient, but with its speed, it is impossible to write laws and enforce them, and that means untraceable guns are a reality in today’s world.

theJohnsonian

August 15, 2018

The Johnsonian is looking for a paper delivery person and an illustrator. Contact francot@ mytjnow.com for more information!