November/December 2018
what’s in
Volume 57 Issue 6
AU Women’s Tennis Aces Undefeated Season By Leah Kemper Contributing Writer
Ag-Gag Laws
Team USA
Dogs!
Alvernia University women’s tennis team and their coaches, Perry and Myers at the MAC individual tournament on 10/28. and every one of our players learns, laughs, and supports one another.” One of the new players is junior Ariana Chuprinsky, who plays number two
singles and number one doubles for Alvernia. Her record for the fall season for singles is 6-0, and doubles is 6-0 with Amanda Phillips. Chuprinsky’s honors include Continued on page 4
Serving for the Holidays By Gwen Bauer Managing Editor
It’s mid-November. You’ve been in the desert as an American soldier for months. You’re hot, tired, and hungry because of the challenges of the deployment. The worst part is being trapped in your gear; heavy combat boots, nylon-cotton blended, flame-resistant pants, a long sleeved jacket, and a helmet. While you are protected from many dangers, working with barely any skin showing leaves you constantly sweaty. And then the sandstorm starts. Criminal Justice senior, Genna Koser, went for her last annual training this summer at the National Training
Center in California, as a Special Topics, Lead Tank Driver, in the National Guard, before she begins active duty for five years. “Mentally it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever gone through, but I had a good support system within the army that it wasn’t so bad,” Koser said. “We would come together at the end of the day and just enjoy each other and what we had. One thing we always say is to embrace the suck.” Koser has missed the Fourth of July for four years in a row. “That was hard to not spend that time with family,” she said. “I missed making new memories, sitting down having a drink and making jokes with family and Photo Courtesy of Kali Gries
Twin Valley Coffee
Hustle, hit, never quit. The AU Women’s tennis team outlasted Misericordia on October 17, completing a successful undefeated fall season. In addition, the muchimproved team performed well at the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Commonwealth Individual Tournament on October 19-21. Although, there is more to Alvernia’s tennis team than just winning matches. “Tennis is an individual sport,” fifth year occupational therapy major Emily Thek said. “We all come together
and cheer each other on and become a family through it.” This year’s tennis team added six new players to the lineup, doubling in size from last year’s tennis team. “There is strength in numbers,” Alvernia assistant women’s tennis coach Jen Myers said. “With our team doubling in size, we have an opportunity to be creative with our lineup.” Myers is looking forward to continuing to practice with the tennis team and is excited to see players improve throughout the coming year. “My goal is to help coach this team through a successful season,” she said. “A successful season means a winning season; but it also means a season where each
Photo Courtesy of Jen Myers
THIS ISSUE
Veterans that fought together during the Vietnam War, stand waiting for their entrance to set the flags.
friends. It’s different getting a Facetime call on a holiday then actually getting to sit and be with them.” Accounting senior, Matthew Ford served for four years. From 2010 to 2012, Ford served in a special duty as a ceremonial marcher, and from 2013 through 2014, he served as an infantryman in the U.S. Marine Corps. According to Ford, the hardest parts about serving is never knowing what to expect next and the lack of privacy that you have there. “Living in the barracks is like living in a dorm room for four years,” Ford said. Since Koser and Ford have served before, they know a little about what soldiers need during the holiday season. According to Ford, what soldiers need is different depending on wherever they are in the world when they are serving. Soldier needs also vary based on branch. Fortunately, there are organizations set up to help people support the troops during the holidays. “There is a program when families can “adopt” a Marine, Soldier, Sailor, or Airman and invite them to their home for Thanksgiving dinner,” Ford
said. “A program like that would be best in my opinion.” One organization that you could use is the www. adoptaussoldier.org, and invite them for a holiday meal, whether that be Hanukah, Kwanzaa, or Christmas, a homemade meal and a family setting could be just what they need. If you do not live near a base, consider sending a box full of items to a base or overseas. “Knowing that they have support from anyone, like letters saying thank you for your service or happy holidays [makes a difference],” Koser said. “It makes them feel appreciated and feel reassured that it is worth it in the long run. Homemade cards from children are cute and a big thing, snacks are really important to [soldiers], and books and magazines are great, so they can be updated on normal issues and have something else to think about.” One organization you can use to send letters or gifts is www.amillionthanks.org.
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FLYNN FILES
November/December 2018
Vol. 57 Issue 6
Managing Editor Gwen Bauer Layout Gwen Bauer Section Editors Chelsea Dziamba Khalil Eaddy Courtney High Spencer Matthews Keon Taylor Contributing Writers Gillian Bodnar Cheyenne Ettinger Leah Kemper ChristinaMarie Stefanoni Faculty Advisor Dr. Ryan Lange
The Alvernian is the official student newspaper of Alvernia University. To contact newspaper staff, the office telephone number is 610-796-8358.
Articles submitted for consideration into The Alvernian should be written in some semblance of AP style. Letters to the editor, requests for advertisements, and general comments and questions may be submitted to ryan.lange@alvernia.edu. The editors reserve the right to edit submissions for clarity, accuracy, and length. The views expressed in The Alvernian are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the student body, faculty, staff, administration, or sponsors.
© 2018 The Alvernian
Recently, I had a stimulating, enjoyable dinner with students from two First Year Seminars. They loved their seminars and faculty advisors! They had bonded with their classmates. Connections Day and New Student Orientation had successfully pushed them outside their comfort zone and spurred close friendships. Many also loved their residence hall, praising their RA as building a family atmosphere on the floor. But their seminar had unquestionably had the greatest impact on them— due not to the subject matter but to the faculty’s effectiveness in ensuring students were at the center of the course. They were expected to interact, to be in dialogue constantly. And their faculty members demonstrated interest in each of them. Listening to the students was energizing for someone like me who has spent his entire adult life on college campuses and who--in his long-ago days as a full-time faculty member--loved teaching freshmen! I don’t recall the transition in conversation, but I casually asked about the students’ reactions to the recent massacre in Pittsburgh. I assumed they had discussed this in class. But to my amazement, they hadn’t. And to my greater amazement, several commented they would not bring a topic like this up. When I asked why, several noted it was controversial, evoking many different strong reactions. And it was an awful event, said one, not the kind of topic for class. The students made clear that the controversial issue of gun ownership was the hot button. The nasty debate over the Kavanagh confirmation was also still much on their mind. They referenced the polarized
tone of today’s politics. Given their close bonds, they wanted to avoid the divisive conversations they assumed would ensue. And one student noted-insightfully I thought--that they didn’t really know how to have such conversations in a productive, positive way. It was near the end of our time together, so I simply emphasized that they might approach the Pittsburgh event by recognizing two very different issues: first, the blatant hatred and bigotry-in this case Anti-Semitism-which must be unequivocally condemned; and then, the more complex, multidimensional topic concerning the role of guns in American society. Presumably, as students at a Catholic, Franciscan University, they could expect unanimity on the first issue. But on the second, there would be a range of views, with both significant and nuanced differences of opinion. I suggested that, if a group of close-knit classmates could not talk openly about divisive issues, there was little hope for the future. I have found myself returning to this conversation in recent weeks, especially as we have endured the shrill commentary on the midterm elections. These students had impressed me. They were articulate and insightful. They were well adjusted to college, incredibly happy at Alvernia, and filled with respect and affection for one another. But rather than being more comfortable with strong disagreements, they wanted to avoid conversations that would accentuate differences and potentially disrupt and undermine their community. Upon reflection, this should not have surprised me. I know first-hand that “difficult dialogues” are challenging for those much older than today’s college students. Many of us on the
Photo Courtesy of Alvernia University
t h e alver nian
Alvernia President Thomas Flynn
faculty and staff found it wise during the recent, polarizing presidential campaign to avoid discussing politics with those friends and colleagues whose perspectives were dramatically at odds with our own. There may not be a magic formula for promoting and supporting “difficult dialogues,” but the interfaith programs of Common Heart, sponsored by Alvernia, model the journey of mutual, respectful exploration of shared values and unifying experiences. The university’s recently approved statement of “Commitment to Civil Dialogue and Freedom of Expression,” rooted in Franciscan values that “provide a positive framework for speech and dialogue,” offers helpful guidance. Rather than beginning with disagreements, it suggests we “promote the open exchange of ideas,” while “celebrating what unites us as members of a democratic society and a
global community.” Perhaps instead of advocating the merits of our position and seeking converts to our views, we might explore the concerns of the other person and what troubles them about our own position. We might find considerable agreement about the goals we seek, even as our preferred approaches and tactics diverge. Of course, this presupposes we are committed to an inclusive society (and university!) “built around ‘right relationships’ in which we are ’brother and sister’ to all.” Fortunately, there is some good work now underway to model the above practices, linked to our first-year seminars. Not surprisingly, the Franciscan Peace Prayer summarizes our simple, yet profound, challenge: that we seek less “to be understood, than to understand!” Peace and All Good, Tom Flynn
“Perhaps instead of advocating the merits of our position and seeking converts to our views, we might explore the concerns of the other person and what troubles them about our own position.”
LOCAL LIVING
November/December 2018
Vol. 57 Issue 6
Twin Valley Coffee is a trendy coffee shop on Main Street in Elverson, PA. The shop is quirky and full of flavor, much like its coffee. The shop where the coffee is sold is a little gazebo. Inside the gazebo is where you can order your coffee and purchase a few different items like shirts, mugs, coffee grounds, brewing equipment, and gift packs. Twin Valley Coffee offers cold brews as well as hot coffee. Their most popular cold brew beverage is an iced toddy. It is an iced coffee with your choice of creamer and a caramel wall. The iced coffee is pleasing to look at, and the sweet taste of the coffee is addicting. You won’t want to put the cup down. “We tell people who get their first one ‘your life is about to change,’” Lynn Burkholder, owner of Twin Valley Coffee, said. Twin Valley Coffee also
offers a lemonade which is a combination of cold brew and lemonade, but the coffee cold brew products are the best sellers. Lynn and Lynne Burkholder had the idea to create the shop in 2004 when they had some dinner guests over. “We had some friends over for dinner and he brought us some coffee for after dinner, and our eyes got opened to how good coffee can be,” Burkholder said. Lynne Buckholder’s former job was a web designer and Lynn, his wife, was a stay-at-home mom and homeschooled six children. Twin Valley Coffee is open all year around. Cold brew is still very popular with customers even in the winter, but the summer also offers good times at the shop. “During the summer months on the fourth Friday of each month, we are open late and have the lights on, and we have live music here. There is anywhere from 100 people to
Photo Courtesy of Chelsea Dziamba
Twin Valley Coffee: The Coffee That Changes Your Life By Chelsea Dziamba Contributing Editor
Chelsea Dziamba holds out Twin Valley Coffee’s Famous Iced Toddy drink in front of their gazebo.
150 people that come out and hang out,” Burkholder said. High schoolers and college students love the coffee at Twin Valley Coffee. People from all over Berks County come to buy the various delicious brews. Jenna Roth, a first-time customer at
Twin Valley Coffee, bought a hazelnut cold brew. “So simple yet so tasty. 10/10,” Roth said. You can check out Twin Valley Coffee on their website at https://www. twinvalleycoffee.com.
A Barber Shop for the Whole Family By Khalil Eaddy Contributing Editor
Cecilia Dominguez, use their platform as business owners to give back to their community. Recently, the barber shop went to Southern Middle School to provide free haircuts. “We wanted to send them back to school with a fresh haircut,” Gutierrez said. “We got in contact with one of our clients, a vice principal at Southern Middle School,
Photo Courtesy of Khalil Eaddy
If you need to get your hair done right before Christmas, Barber Shop Leon is the place to go! There’s nothing better to give yourself during the holidays than a fresh look. Barber Shop Leon is a family-owned barber shop that focuses on service. The husband and wife team, Jonathan Gutierrez and
Co-owners, Cecilia Dominguez and Jonathan Gutierrez, welcome customers to their shop.
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and we hope to do this every year.” Barber Shop Leon strives to make everyone feel like family. “My dream is to have a chain of shops, just like us, who provide good, professional service for the family,” Gutierrez said. “We want our customers to feel comfortable, welcomed, and at home.” The shop has both male and female barbers to help its customers find someone who can understand their perspectives and needs. “What’s unique about our shop is that we have girl barbers and guy barbers, and we provide men’s and women’s cuts,” Gutierrez said. “If a woman comes in here for a haircut, she can get a haircut and her sons and daughters can as well!” Before his work as a barber, Gutierrez worked in a warehouse for years. After a while he learned that working in a warehouse was not what he wanted to do for the rest of his career. “If you don’t love what you do, you end up spending a lot of time waiting for the weekend to come,” Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez met Dominguez at a nearby barbershop. “She was the barber and I was a client,” Gutierrez said. He decided to study at the local American Barber Academy to become a licensed barber. From there, they began pursuing their dreams of owning their own shop. Gutierrez credits his wife’s passion and experience as the inspiration that sparked his interest in cutting hair. Before opening Barber Shop Leon, Dominguez gained experience working in different salons and received her initial training at Vo-Tech, the Reading/Muhlenberg Career and Technology Center. She names her mother as a key influencer in the cosmetology career choice. “She, basically, made me,” Dominguez said. “I actually started doing hair was I was in the fifth grade. However, then I would only do braids.” Both her early experience and passion for hair have led her to be co-owner of the barbershop at the age of 27. Barber Shop Leon is located at 1361 North 10th Street in Reading, Pennsylvania, and its phone number is 484-926-2222.
SPORTS
4 November/December 2018
Vol. 57 Issue 6
By Christinamarie Stefanoni Contributing Writer Alvernia University has always been known for our small numbers. The university began as a small women’s college, and today is a diverse co-ed university. While the university is on the grow, our school spirit should be strong. With the start of a new football program and a new mascot, you would think student section numbers would grow. Instead, school spirit seems to be on a decline. Many people at the university go home or elsewhereduring the weekends because they feel there is nothing to do on campus. Although Alvernia tries to advertise sports games it seems there are not as many students showing up. The younger students at Alvernia have brought it to attention. Personally, I have had
bigger student sections at my high school games and I am sure many students here can relate. A new generation of Golden Wolves wants to revive Alvernia's spirit by bringing us into the Wolf Pack. The Wolf Pack is the name of Alvernia's new student section. There is also an Instagram account run by the group, @Alvernia_Wolfpack, that promotes every home sporting event and encourages students to come out and support the teams. The Wolf Pack also works to organize the student section to wear a specific color. Sophomore Mike Monczewski manages this account. Monczewski is a part of the Alvernia men's volleyball team, so he firsthand knows how vital a student section is to the players.
“Having a student section come to your game to support your team can single-handedly change the momentum of any game immediately,” Monczewski said. “Personally, my play gets ten times better when there’s a student section cheering, standing and getting as lit as possible.” Monczewski has played men's volleyball at Alvernia for a year but is also an advocate for bringing school spirit to all athletic events. “My plan for the Wolf Pack is to have a solid crowd come to most of our games,” he said. Monczewski believes that students must take responsibility for the spirit. "School spirit is definitely lacking here, and it needs to be changed. Obviously having a synchronized student section with color themes, chants, and rally towels would be really fun. Mainly
Photo Courtesy of @alvernia_wolfpack
A New Beginning: The Wolf Pack
Photo from the first home game. The Instgram caption read “Mission: To keep it this lit for every home game”
we want other students to stay on campus over the weekend.” With a young group of Alvernia’s athletes willing to lead the student section, Monczewski thinks the Wolf Pack can make a difference. His main task now is to get the word out. “So far the Instagram page has been helping a good
By Gillian Bodnar Contributing Writer
Photo Courtesy of Jordan Wissinger
Alvernia athletic training major Jordan Wissinger is heading to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan to compete in the world championships for Weightlifting. Ashgabat will serve as the first competition scheduled as a qualifier for the Olympics in Tokyo 2020. The world championships run through November 1 through 10. Wissinger competes on
November 3. Wissinger is a senior athletic training major. He trains out of a gym named ‘Garage Strength’ located in Leesport four days a week. Because of his class commitments, Wissinger trains in the PEC weight room on campus two days a week. “My gymnastics coach introduced me to both CrossFit and weightlifting at 14 years old. As I grew in those sports I knew weightlifting was the only one
Wissinger doing a clean and split jerk lift.
that I could represent the USA on a world stage, a lifelong goal of mine. I was also showing greater progress in that sport so I moved strictly to weightlifting 3 years ago.” Wissinger said, Weightlifting has two components to it. The ‘snatch’ and the ‘clean and jerk.’ Both lifts involve taking a loaded barbell from the floor to overhead. The snatch is done in one movement, the clean and jerk consist in putting it onto the shoulders first then driving the bar overhead. The athlete gets three chances at each lift to attempt the most weight possible. The sports weightlifting is often confused with the sport of powerlifting. Weightlifting is an Olympic sport and one of the oldest besides track and field and wrestling. There is a point system that allows all weight classes for men and women to be calculated, so it makes it possible to determine the best weightlifters throughout all of the weight classes. This makes everyone even, and the individual athlete’s performances can be evaluated and compared to other athletes in a different weight class.
Photo Courtesy of Jordan Wissinger
Jordan Wissinger for Team USA
amount," he said. "Obviously, the packis still new so everyone isn’t with the wave yet. But I strongly believe that as time goes on the pack will become bigger and rowdier.” Monczewski is excited to see what this upcoming basketball season will hold with the Instagram account being so active. The size of the crowd and the fun is all in your hands.
Wissinger preparing by performing a lift called a snatch.
“Because of this, they take the top 10 men and ten women out of the entire country out of all of the weight classes. To qualify for the worlds I snatched 284 pounds, narrowly missing 290 on my third attempt, and I made a 357-pound clean and jerk weighing in at 147 pounds two hours prior.” Wissinger said. Team USA is flying the team to Germany for a one-
week training camp at their national weightlifting training facility on October 20, and then the team finishes the trip to Turkmenistan on the 29 of November. As Jordan begins his world travels, be sure to keep Jordan in your thoughts and prayers! Good luck Jordan and go Team USA!
COMMUNITY November/December 2018
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AU Women’s Tennis Aces Undefeated Season (Cont’d) season ran from September 4 to October 21. The fall season wrapped up in Wilkes-Barre, PA at the MAC Individual Tournament, where players in both the MAC Commonwealth and MAC Freedom competed for medals. On Friday evening, all four of Alvernia women’s tennis doubles teams outlasted their opponents in the first round. Doubles teams Phillips and Chuprinsky, and Cassandra Bean and Laura Covely won both of their matches on Friday, advancing to the semifinals. Singles matches took place Saturday morning. Phillips won her first round of singles against Lebanon Valley college, falling short in the second round after playing a third set tie breaker against Farleigh Davidson University. Chuprinsky won her first round of number two singles against Lycoming College but lost to Wilkes in the third set tie breaker in quarterfinals. Covely won her first round
of singles at number four to Stevenson but lost to Farleigh Davidson University in the quarterfinals. In number five singles, Bean won against DeSales University and Kings College, advancing to the semifinals occurring on Sunday. In number six singles, Rachel Rineer won against DeSales in the quarterfinal, advancing to the semifinals on Sunday. Saturday afternoon, Phillips and Chuprinsky won their semifinals matches against Messiah (8-6), advancing to the final in the evening where they lost to number one seeded Wilkes (3-8). Third doubles team Bean and Covely lost to Wilkes in the semifinals. On Sunday, Bean lost to Wilkes in singles semifinals. Rineer won to Lebanon Valley College in semifinals for singles, advancing to the finals later in the day. Rineer got a silver medal after losing to number one seeded Wilkes in the finals. Without time to dwell on
their accomplishments, the tennis team begins practicing for their spring season in February. Alvernia’s women’s tennis team will compete against teams in the MAC Commonwealth during that season. Teams that Alvernia competes against in the
MAC Commonwealth are Stevenson University, Hood College, Arcadia University, Lebanon Valley College, Lycoming College, Albright College, and Messiah College. “I want to have fun and enjoy my last year of tennis at Alvernia,” Emily Thek said.
family. Some were born strays while others were left behind, or simply could no longer be given the care they need. Shelter dogs are often left feeling sad and lonely. But, there are people in the world who see their potential and offer their time to help them find their families. Bob and Linda Gosnay, Berks County residents, have been rescuing shelter dogs since roughly 1997. They have rescued more than 40 dogs since then by welcoming them into their home. And they haven’t stopped. “We have lost count, but it’s been over 40,” Bob Gosnay said. It all started when they adopted their dogs Sam and Max, both black labs. Since then, the Gosnay’s have been volunteering their time at the Animal Rescue League of Berks County (ARL). They started with helping out with shot clinics, to donations, and now going out in the public to show dogs who are in need of forever homes. They also help with other organizations, such as Save-a-Yorkie rescue. This rescue specializes in helping homeless Yorkshire Terriers find homes.
“We have only recently started fostering to adopt,” Bob Gosnay said. “The majority of our rescues have been adoptions and they have lived with us their whole lives since being rescued.” Since fostering, the Gosnays have found three dogs their forever homes through adoption with the ARL. After being involved with the shelter for twenty years, they have made many memories. One of their favorite memories is simply the happiness the dogs bring them and other people. “All the different memories of all the dogs that we have taken in have added so much to our family and our lives,” Bob Gosnay said. “I cannot pick out one single memory. All of those memories are cherished.” “The unconditional love that dogs offer is unique and special,” he said. “They give back so much for so little effort. We love taking in an older or neglected dog, a special needs dog, a stray or castoff or throwaway dog that nobody wants, give them the care and love that they so desperately need, and watch them thrive and blossom
and resurrect themselves to beautiful, healthy, happy dogs that are completely healed from the pain that they experienced before we took them in. It’s the most rewarding feeling in the world.” Though the Gosnays work to help these animals find love and happiness, the shelter still needs all the help it can get. Bob mentions that if no one steps up to help these animals, they will live horrible lives for the time that they have left. It is important to get involved with the ARL, or any rescue. “Because they really need the help,” Bob Gosnay said. “Without a vibrant and active base of volunteers, the shelter couldn’t do a fraction of what they would want to do for the animals and the community.” If you want to get involved, contact the Animal Rescue League at 610-373-8830 extension 120 for Volunteer Coordinator, Hope Poliansky for more information. Or go to the website at berksarl.org.
Alvernia’s women’s tennis team huddles during their tennis match on September 29.
Photo Courtesy of Jen Myers
MAC Commonwealth Player of the Week for October 1. Senior Amanda Phillips plays number one singles and number one doubles for Alvernia. For the fall season, Phillips goes 5-1 in singles and 6-0 in doubles with Chuprinsky. Her honors include MAC Commonwealth player of the week for October 8. The tennis team ended their fall season with a winning record, but some of the strongest opponents will come in the spring season. Can the Golden Wolves maintain their streak? “We are currently undefeated, and I believe we will stay that way if we continue to work as hard as we have been,” head Alvernia tennis coach Jenny Perry said. Alvernia University women’s tennis team plays in the MAC Commonwealth. Six singles players and three doubles teams participate in every match in the fall and spring seasons. The fall
Alvernia: You Love Dogs. Admit It.
Oreo (center) being introduced to Alvernia students on Earth Day 2018. L-R: Cheyenne Ettinger, Oreo, Linda Gosnay
By Cheyenne Ettinger Contributing Writer Dogs are one of the greatest gifts the world has to offer. They give us an endless amount of love, are there for
us during the good and bad times, and bring us pure joy. Which is no wonder they are called “man’s best friend.” Sadly, many dogs don’t have the opportunity to offer these wonderful things to a
6 November/December 2018
ISSUES
Vol. 57 Issue 6
By Courtney High Contributing Editor
the harsh conditions and exploited lives of immigrants in industrialized cities. Shortly thereafter came the uncovering of inhumane practices on industrialized farms. Capital countered these muckraking campaigns by advocating for ag-gag laws. “I think these laws are clearly an attempt by industry to suppress information being gathered about their immoral and inhumane farming practices,” Dr. Victoria Williams, associate professor of political science, said. “They have already been ruled unconstitutional in two states as violating the first amendment by unconstitutionally suppressing the rights of people and especially journalists to document such abuses and to disseminate knowledge of such abuses to the public. Thus, I suspect few other states will attempt to pass such legislation, and few whistle-blowers will be successfully prosecuted
know that the more the public knows, the more their business will suffer. Today, ag-gag bills are on the books in eight states: Montana, North Dakota, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Alabama, North Carolina, and part of Iowa, Kansas was the first state to pass an ag-gag bill nearly 30 years ago. “I do not agree with ag-gag laws because I think that treating animals like that is totally inhumane, that’s not a way to industrialize farms,” Chelsea Dziamba, junior healthcare science major, said. “I think there’s better ways for farmers to get more product to come out,
that the “opposition” to ag gag bills is PETA and other animal rights organizations – and many people do not support activists like PETA. We should all know how are food is produced; but food producers have a financial incentive to keep people ignorant to the treatment of animals, laborers working on farms, and how the food is processed and made.” Investigative journalism such as what became The Jungle by Upton Sinclair was the first of this type of whistleblowing. The Jungle was written at the turn of the 20th century, and its purpose was to expose
under existing state laws, which will be knocked down in court if challenged.” FirstAmendmentWatch. org documented a case in 2007 where an undercover investigator at the Westland/ Hallmark Meat Company in California filmed workers forcing sick cows, many unable to walk, into the “kill box” by a variety of grotesque means. The methods shown in the video include repeatedly shocking cows with electric prods, jabbing them in the eye, prodding them with a forklift, and spraying water up their noses. FirstAmendmentWatch. org also described a 2009
Kayla Piccone having a fun day at the Reading Fair, lying with local cows.
Photo Courtesy of Kayla Piccone
Agricultural-gag laws keep Americans in the dark about the things that occur on industrial farms by criminalizing the whistleblowing that reveals such awful acts. The ag-gag law states that one cannot gain entrance to an agricultural facility by force, threat, misrepresentation, or trespass. Thus, one cannot take footage or recordings of any sort without consent from the agricultural facility. Whistleblowers only have a short window to report the abuse. Ag-gag laws state that abuse must be reported within 48 hours of the incident. This protects farmers from being held accountable to footage that may have been taken many years prior. Ag-gag laws were created to protect the business of industrialized farming. They
it’s just not good to hit cows or chickens, or kick chickens, or whatever they deem acceptable,” The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) website claims that nearly all Americans adults polled favor the fair and humane treatment of farm animals. Although the number was not quite as high, the ASPCA poll also showed that the majority of American adults are in favor of whistleblowers exposing such abuses, and are opposed to making investigations illegal. “The fact that lobbyists working on behalf of (meat) farmers are pursuing ag-gag bills in some ways proves that the meat production industry would be hurt and lose money if people know how animals that are farmed for meat are treated,” Dr. Corey Harris, associate professor of theology, said. “Though, this issue is complicated by the fact
Photo Courtesy of Courtney High
What Are Ag-Gag Laws?
A few cows enjoying a beautiful day on a small farm in Adamstown, PA.
investigation at Hy-Line Hatchery in Iowa that revealed hundreds of thousands of unwanted day-old male chicks being funneled by conveyor belt into a macerator to be ground
how people are treated, are important so that laws can be made accordingly,” Alli BlairSnyder, graduate student in the MALS program, said. “I am opposed to agricultural-gag laws because
up live. That same year, undercover investigators at a Vermont slaughterhouse operated by Bushway Packing obtained similarly gruesome footage of days-old calves being kicked, dragged, and skinned alive. Many of the Alvernia community are upset that ag-gag laws are on the books. “As a person concerned with the welfare of animals, I think it is terrible that such laws exist,” Dr. Donna Yarri, associate professor of theology, said. “It demonstrates to me that the agricultural business is more concerned with profits than animals. I am concerned that this law will expand into other states. These laws are unjust and punish persons for wanting to speak out against cruelty. They should be abolished.” Country music singer Carrie Underwood is one celebrity that has a problem with the ag-gag bill. In 2013, Underwood wrote on Facebook that if the Tennessee Governor would sign the bill he should expect her at his front door. One student expresses the importance of journalism. “Any journalism that’s working to bring the public more information so that we can be more educated on how animals are treated, or
they limit our right to make public animal abuse in the agricultural industry,” Dr. Spence Stober, professor of biology, said. “Perhaps I should also be opposed to eating meat.” FoodandAgLawInsights. com wrote that several challenges to ag-gag laws are in front of various federal courts of appeals. Efforts to take ag-gag laws in front of the Supreme Court are underway. The ag-gag law shows us that some of our states think it is perfectly fine to treat their farm animals as a product and nothing more. In many ways, having a good brand is not just based on taste, but having a strong relationship with customers. There is room for a company to earn a lot of goodwill in the market by being open about how their product is made the right way with more than just profit margin in mind. If the public was aware of ag-gag laws, the industrial farms would probably lose business, until our demand for change it met. Gandhi said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
LIFE
November/December 2018
7 Vol. 57 Issue 6
Sneezing, coughing, and sniffling is all a part of all at Alvernia. Flu season is upon us, but there are some steps that might help students stay well so they can focus on their classwork. A few ways to prevent getting sick during flu season
are: 1. Washing your hands. By washing your hands, you can stop the spread of germs. Wash your hands with soap and warm water thoroughly for about thirty seconds at most. Make sure you wash your hands frequently. Wash after every time you use the bathroom before you eat, also after sneezing, coughing or
Jax Checo’s bandaged arm after getting a flu shot at Good Samaritan, famiy doctor.
Photo Courtesy of Keon Taylor
By Keon Taylor Contributing Editor
even blowing your nose. 2. Don’t share utensils or cups with others. Do not share drinks with others. Make sure to keep your spoons, forks, cups, and straws to yourself. 3. Be alert. Colds are usually milder than the flu, but flu symptoms include fever, body aches, and exhaustion. 4. Stay hydrated. You should drink plenty of water each day as a general rule, but especially during flu season. 5. Sanitize. Wash and wipe down food preparation areas and other places that people regularly touch. Occasionally wiping off your door handles, remotes and light switches might seem like a sign of obsessive-compulsive disorder, but it can help slow the spread of germs. 6. Don’t touch. Try to avoid touching your mouth, eyes, and face while you’re sick or if your hands are dirty. Also, if you are sneezing or coughing
use tissues and get rid of them (your tissues, not your roomates) right away. 7. Do your laundry. Change your bed sheets more than usual around this time. 8. Keep your distance. Stay away from sick people. If you get sick, stay home. 9. Get a flu shot. The CDC recommends that everyone gets a flu shot who is 6 months and older. It is never too late to get a flu shot. You can call your doctor to set up an appointment or walk to a CVS Minute Clinic or Walgreens Take Care Clinic. Depending on your medical insurance, some finances might be covered for the flu shot but it may vary depending on your medical insurance. Sophomore Griffin Smith had the flu last year, “I had to stay home from class for more than 2 days, it was one of the worst times of my life,” Smith said.
Photo Courtesy of Keon Taylor
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How could something so small do so much damage? Americans use 500 million straws each day. That is 182,500,000,000 straws every year! We do not even have that many people living in the US. Data available on census.gov claims that the US population was 325.7 million in 2017.
A number as high as 500 million a day for one country alone is shocking to many. But when you think about it, it is not surprising. For example, going out to eat and having beverage after beverage, if your server gives you a new glass and straw every time it adds up quickly. Now imagine this same scenario for others at your table, other people at other tables, and other people at other restaurants all over the country.
Photo Courtesy of 1 Million Women
By Courtney High Contributing Editor
A scuba diver finds many straws in the ocean which can be a danger to sea-life.
Straws cannot be easily recycled and they are not biodegradable. Strawlessocean.org explains, when straws end up in the ocean they break down into smaller pieces called “microplastics.” These microplastics are toxic for marine life. “That’s outrageous for just a straw. You don’t need a straw to drink,” Sierra Ruth, sophomore, said. Livescience.com claims approximately 1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals and sea turtles die each year from eating plastic. Sadly, most of us don’t realize the damage we do until we see it start to pile up. Literally. Or we see a devastating video that has gone viral of scientists removing a straw from a sea turtles nostril. Straws do not even benefit us, since they can put air in our stomachs. Bustle.com claims straws can cause you to suck in excess air with each sip, leading to bloating. Choosing not to use a straw helps our landfills, our oceans, and our marine life especially. Strawlessocean. org claims if we do not start working on our straw
pollution, we will have more plastic than fish in the ocean by the year 2050. “I never thought about straws as being a problem but it makes sense because they are plastic and we use them once and throw them away,” Sarah Verneret, senior, said. “That worries me, such a small thing causing a huge problem.” But people love straws. “If we don’t have straws out here (the Student Center) we’re constantly being asked, ‘where’s the straws?’” Bill Zimnoch, Aladdin Food Service Director, said. Between Court Side and the Student Center, Alvernia uses nearly 10,000 straws throughout the semester. You can help with the global straw crisis. Choose the “no straw” option, purchase reusable straws such as stainless steel or silicon straws, or even purchase biodegradable paper straws. Glass straws and bamboo straws are also available for purchase. Another option is to tell your barista you want your cold coffee in a hot coffee cup, as those cups are drank directly from the lid and therefore lower straw
Photo Courtesy of Courtney High
The Small Cylinder Killer
Reuseable straws that can be found and purchased at almost any store like Target or Walmart.
consumption. And if you’re a Starbucks lover, ask for their new strawless lid when you place your order. Although over time our culture has evolved into what’s known as a throwaway-society, there are other ways to go about our lives than by doing the thing that just so happens to be most convenient for us. We need to remember that when we are finished with a product, it may leave our hands, but it does not disappear, it all goes somewhere. “I feel like we need to put more emphasis and focus on our environment and ways to prevent the increase of climate change,” Dania Cabello, junior, said.
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