Issuu

SEX & INTIMACY VOL. 127, ISSUE 38

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2017

sex

LET’S TALK ABOUT

& intimacy

AMBER LIU | THE CAVALIER DAILY

WHAT’S INSIDE HONOR DEBATES REFERENDUM PAGE 3

TOP 10: THINGS TO DO ON VALENTINE’S DAY PAGE 4

EDITORIAL BOARD: PLANNED PARENTHOOD FUNDING PAGE 10

‘FIFTY SHADES’ REVAMP DULL, UNINSPIRING PAGE 14

MALE GEL CONTRACEPTION PAGE 15

THE CAVALIER DAILY

Student Health STI tests range from $18-$220 Health department offers free testing ALEXIS GRAVELY | SENIOR ASSOCIATE Although Student Health may be the most convenient option for students who would like screening for sexually transmitted infections and testing for sexually transmitted diseases, the Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department offers similar services to Student Health but at no cost to patients. Clare Ruday, a nurse at the health department who specializes in sexual health, said their free testing-only clinics can test for gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B and C. The clinics are held Tuesday mornings from 8:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. and Wednesday evenings from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tests are usually conducted through urine or blood samples, but rectal swabs are available for those who need it. “The testing is free — most treatment is free, too,” Ruday said. “Sometimes there might be a training cost for some of the medicines, but all of the standard medicines that treat your regular STDs, like chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis — those are all free.” Student Health offers screenings for asymptomatic STIs and testing for STDs, which have noticeable symptoms, said Dr. Christine Peterson,

Student Health Director of Gynecology. The tests for STIs and STDs are virtually the same. “For women, it is recommended everyone under age 26 be screened for chlamydia and gonorrhea annually or when their risks change, such as when they have a new partner,” Peterson said. “CDC doesn’t recommend that all men be screened annually, but they say people at risk should be tested. Of course, someone who’s had sex with somebody else is at risk.” For men, chlamydia and gonorrhea tests at Student Health are conducted using urine samples. Women can have their tests done through either urine samples or a vaginal swab. Each test for chlamydia and gonorrhea is $18 individually and $32 together. There are additional fees if individuals are tested at multiple sites, like the mouth or rectum. The fee for the tests are billed to the student’s SIS account. Student Health can also print a receipt for the tests, which can be submitted to insurance companies as a claim form for reimbursement. Screening tests are also available for HIV and syphilis. HIV tests are blood tests and cost $220, which would be billed to insurance by the hospital’s lab. Syphilis screenings cost $158.

Like the health department, Student Health can treat students for STIs. “Chlamydia and gonorrhea are easy to treat,” Peterson said. “It requires an antibiotic and we can prescribe those. The student would have to pay for it using their insurance or not, it’s up to them. We also treat students who are HIV positive. Those are prescription medications, they’re very expensive, but they’re treatable.” Treatments are also available for syphilis and herpes, but screening tests are not available for the latter. Screening tests are also not available for human papilloma virus, which is not treatable. The health department’s clinic is a walk-in during the designated times, however, if individuals can’t make any of the clinic times, testing can be done by appointment during Wednesday’s family planning clinic. STI testing is always available at Student Health by appointment. Men can make appointments in general medicine and women can schedule appointments in gynecology. Both the health department and Student Health have a variety of resources about STIs available both in-person and online. “We have a ton of materials here,” Ruday said. “We’re happy to answer

CASSANDRA PLEMONS | THE CAVALIER DAILY

STI testing at Student Health can cost as much as $220.

to questions at any point. If anyone wants testing in the community or has outreach events they want to do, they can give us a call and we can

come to them.”

SARA reaches 42nd year of sexual assault prevention Organization serves roughly 1,100 students each year KATHLEEN SMITH | SENIOR WRITER The Sexual Assault Resource Agency has been working in Charlottesville for over 40 years to provide support to victims of sexual assault and eliminate sexual violence altogether. The agency works with about 550 local residents and about

1,100 students each year through victim support services and community outreach programs. The mission of SARA is to “eliminate sexual violence and its impact by providing education, advocacy and support to women, men and children.” The organi-

COURTESY SARA

SARA serves roughly 1,100 students each year.

zation is accredited through the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance and offers free support services to victims of sexual violence. SARA Executive Director Becky Weybright said in an email to The Cavalier Daily the organization uses strategies such as prevention education, support services, community outreach and advocacy to combat sexual assault. Weybright said the 24-hour crisis hotline is available to anyone who has questions or concerns relating to sexual violence. “The hotline may be someone’s first reach out to us as they seek more information about our services,” Weybright said. “It may be from a survivor who is looking for coping skills after an assault. It may be from someone who is seeking legal information or other advocacy.” SARA also offers trauma-informed therapy, legal system advocacy, a therapeutic horse and farm

camp for girls and sponsors several prevention programs in schools. Weybright said SARA began as a grassroots effort in 1974 after people became concerned about sexual assault in the community. The agency was later incorporated as a non-profit in 1979. “Our initial services started with responding to survivor needs,” Weybright said. “As the agency has grown, we have added outreach activities, advocacy services, therapy and primary prevention education.” Local residents can aid in the effort to eliminate sexual violence by talking about the issue and making it a priority, Weybright said. “We should promote social norms that protect against violence,” Weybright said. “We should talk about consent and teach healthy dating. We should intervene if we see inappropriate behavior. We should all learn ways to support survivors.”

SARA Lead Prevention Educator Laurie Seaman said in an email statement the organization needs everyone to play a role to help prevent sexual assault in the Charlottesville community. “Only about seven percent of our community are committing these crimes,” Seaman said. “That means the rest of us are a huge majority. If we all took small actions in our daily lives to show that we will not accept acts of violence in our spheres of influence, we could see the numbers of sexual assaults drop.” Seaman also noted the community’s power to create healthy norms. “I believe the solution to sexual assault, child sexual abuse, sex trafficking and all related abuses lies in the community’s power to create healthy norms,” Seaman said. “To choose to take care of each other instead of turning a blind eye.”

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2017

www.cavalierdaily.com • NEWS

Love is Love celebrates ninth year Campaign ends with the Good Old Song on Rotunda steps XARA DAVIES | SENIOR WRITER The LGBTQ Center held its annual “Love is Love” campaign from Feb. 6 to Feb. 10 to celebrate love and create a greater social awareness at the University. The campaign started in 2009, and also involves the distribution of free red t-shirts with the “Love is Love” logo emblazoned across the front. Students and faculty were invited to wear their “Love is Love” shirts Friday and gather on the steps of the Rotunda to sing the Good Old Song, posing for photographs to both spread awareness and illustrate solidarity. Andrew Zazzera, a first year in the College, attended the event and said he was surprised by the turnout. “I saw it publicized on Facebook and I'd also heard about this from a fourth-year friend active at the LGBTQ center,” Zazerra said. “I was surprised by how many came.” Andy McMahon, also a firstyear College student, said he thought the turnout was just a

little more than he originally thought it would be. “It was a good community,” McMahon said. “It was a little more than I expected, a little over a hundred people.” Zazzera explained how the campaign has a personal significance for him as a member of the LGBTQ community. “I and fellow members of the community merely wish to have the same legal rights as our heterosexual friends, and to be as accepted in society,” Zazzera said. McMahon attended in order to try and spread awareness about the campaign. “I came from a less diverse background and I think it’s good to make more people aware about this campaign,” McMahon said. “I just hope that we as a community make a difference by doing something that is bringing it up, making a statement.” Zazerra said events like these help to illustrate that there are no differences when it comes to love. “They help people see that we

are no different from others and that our love is the same as the love they feel, and that's all I want for everyone to see,” Zazerra said. Hema Shah, a first year College student, attended the event with Zazerra and said the solidarity of the event really makes a difference. “Solidarity is important because every student deserves to know that they are loved and supported by their peers,” Shah said. “We can make a difference by making just one person feel more comfortable in their own skin.” McMahon said in the future he hopes to continue to be active and remind people of the importance of the campaign. Zazerra echoed McMahon and said the event made him feel even more motivated to share the struggles of the LGBTQ community. “We're all the same, all just trying to find love and happiness in our lives,” Zazerra said.

CHARLOTTE MCCLINTOCK | THE CAVALIER DAILY

University community members sing the Good Old Song on the Rotunda steps.

Honor declines to take single stance on referendum Campaign supporting proposed amendment to be called ‘Empowered 55’ KATE BELLOWS | ASSOCIATE EDITOR

CHANDLER COLLINS | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Third-year College student Wes Gobar expressed strong support for the referendum during the Honor meeting.

The Honor Committee met Sunday night to discuss a proposed amendment to the Committee’s constitution that would lower the threshold needed in a referendum to amend the constitution from 60 to 55 percent support from students. The amendment is being pro-

posed independently of the Committee and this was the Committee’s first meeting to discuss the proposal publicly. In order to successfully pass a proposed amendment in a referendum, the Honor Committee constitution also requires a successful

amendment to receive support from at least 10 percent of University students who are eligible to vote. The current proposal does not affect this 10 percent requirement. After roll call, Matt West, fourthyear College student and Honor Committee chair, opened the floor to community input. Several people spoke and expressed strong favor towards the proposal. “We’re not asking for revolution,” third-year College student Wes Gobar said. “We’re asking for a five percent decrease in threshold. We’re asking it to be democratic.” Fourth-year College students Nathan Gonzalez and VJ Jenkins, who is a member of the Committee, wrote the proposal. Jenkins said there will be a campaign to pass the referendum called the “Empowered 55.” “I think it’s extraordinarily important to signal towards students that the Honor Committee is moving towards being more representative of the student will,” Jenkins said. “Oftentimes the critique of Honor is that we are not representative, we are not responsive.” West said the Honor Committee

was not consulted about the petition to get the referendum on the ballot before it was written. “Had the Committee been consulted when this amendment was being crafted, that would have given the Committee sufficient time of whether or not to endorse,” West said. “We would have discussed not just whether or not to take a single stance, but what that stance should be.” After community input, the Committee discussed their opinions on the referendum. West proposed taking a three-pronged approach to addressing it. “First, the Committee will take no official stance on the amendment given the fact that we do not feel that it is best for the Committee to insert itself into the debate,” West said. “But that being said, I also recognize that it’s very important to give our opinions of the proposal as representatives in our respective schools and the University as a whole.” The second initiative West suggested was to create an online repository in which Honor members post their opinions about the proposal individually. The third initiative calls

for an impartial voter outreach effort before the voting period for University elections begins Feb. 21. Jenkins pushed for the Honor Committee to take a single stance, instead of publishing individual opinions online. The Committee, however, decided to move forward with West’s three-pronged approach. Amidst the disagreement was an agreed commitment to engage the community and obtain student opinion. “I want ideas to come from the community,” Jenkins said. “I think the community should be able to push forward change.” Jenkins said he thought being challenged by the other Committee members was beneficial, and that the meeting as a whole went well. “I thought it was really great that some Committee members who originally came in and were opposed heard the comments of the community and said, ‘I have a new view of this, and because of this new view, I need to go back and I need to think about this and my opinion might actually change,’” Jenkins said.

THE CAVALIER DAILY

9. Sign up for Love Connection

7. Go to Arch’s Frozen Yogurt

1. Hike Humpback

Take advantage of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains that surround Charlottesville and hike Humpback Rocks. It’s a classic activity that every University student needs to check off their bucket list. Be warned: the hike is steep, but don’t worry — you’ll have your significant other to catch you when you fall. Don’t forget to document your hike. A Snapchat story will make you look athletic, and the scenery at the top will always make the perfect, new Facebook cover photo.

4. Escape Room

Grab a few other couples and head to the Cville Escape Room onon the Downtown Mall. Participants will have an hour to try to find their way out of a room by using a number of clues, puzzles and brainteasers. Available rooms include Fortune Teller’s Secret, Spy’s Demise, Mad Scientist’s Library and Jack the Ripper’s London.

Lucky for you, Valentine’s falls on a Tuesday this year, which means a frozen yogurt date for the price of only five dollars. Whether you’re hanging with friends or there on a date, you can write all the reasons you appreciate your BF or BFF on the conveniently provided Arch’s blackboard. Who said plastic chairs and gooey brownies aren’t classy?

8. Hit a vineyard

If you can’t stop wine-ing about your lack of love, visit one of Charlottesville’s many vineyards, and you’ll be in good company. Whether you’re visiting a tasting room or buying some bottles to pop at home, there are a number of wineries and vineyards in the almost immediate area to enjoy.

5. Wintergreen’s “Powder of Love” Don’t have a lover this

Valentine’s Day but still want a date? Wintergreen Resort’s Blue Ridge Express becomes the “Lift to Love” in a Valentine’s Day speed dating special event. Each person will be paired up and sent up the lift with a list of conversation starters. Don’t have a good conversation? That’s okay! You’ll ski right back down the Kate Motsko mountain and try again! If all 2. Go see “Fifty Shades Darker” goes well, keep skiing with your If you’d describe yourself as a “Snow Match,” and maybe you’ll rom-com loving female, this end up at dinner because of the Valentine’s Day activity could Powder of Love. be for you. Grab your gals and some popcorn and hit up Stonefield or the Downtown Mall to enjoy this more romantic twist on the original, controversial tale. Dates are also welcome; although if your relationship hasn’t reached S&M level yet, this may raise some unwelcome inquiries.

Determined to fix your current Valentine-less status? We can’t promise that you won’t be single next Valentine’s Day, but we can do our best to jump-start your romantic life. Visit The Cavalier Daily website or Love Connection Facebook Page and sign up for Love Connection. Two applicants are chosen every other week and set up on a blind date. If chosen, you could cross ‘go on a real date’ off the list of Things To Do Before You Graduate and maybe even be a Love Connection success story. Sign up yo friends, sign up yo roommates, sign up that random boy in your Spanish class that you want to be your date.

10. Puppy farm

If you’re feeling melan-collie about this hotly-debated holiday, don’t let your missing date stop you from staring at a cute face. Just an hour away — a bit of a far drive I know, but for some reason University students still seem to visit on a regular basis — lies Gap View Ranch & Kennel farm full of dogs. For only $5five dollars, you can pet pups and take Instagram photos to your heart’s delight.

0 1 P O T

things to do on Valentine’s Day

Whether you’re in a relationship or single, there’s a way for you to celebrate the holiday

3. Ice skating

Slide (or skate) into the DMs of your bae. Before dinner on the Downtown Mall, the Main Street Arena ice rink is the perfect place to spend your Valentine’s Day. Even if you’re a little shaky on the ice, your relationship won’t be after this date. If you’re a pro, you’ll have the opportunity to show off your most advanced moves. If you’re a beginner, you can use it as a chance for some extra handholding. It will be cold in the arena, so it will even be socially acceptable to cuddle in public. You can’t go wrong spending your Valentine’s Day at the rink.

6. Run your heart out

Want to work off all those calories from the mountains of Zi Yang chocolate boxes you’re receivKate Motsko ing? Because February is American Heart Month, the Juice Place is partnering with treadHAPPY to host a 45-minute authentic, aerobic exercise class, benefiting the American Heart Association. Although it’s directed toward couples, don’t sweat it — singles are still welcome. If charity isn’t enough of an incentive to come, the Juice Place will be providing yummy snacks.

JULIE BOND AND GRACIE KRETH | LIFE EDITORS

AMBER LIU AND ERIC DUONG | THE CAVALIER DAILY

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2017

www.cavalierdaily.com • LIFE

Matchmaker shares experience with Love Connection A behind-the-scenes look at helping students find love LUCY HOPKINS | FEATURE WRITER One of The Cavalier Daily’s most unique sections is Love Connection. Students fill out a questionnaire detailing what they’d like to see in a partner, both aesthetically and personality-wise, then describe themselves. After submitting the questionnaire through Google forms, they send in an email with their photo attached and wait to be matched. “When I first started we didn’t have that many people to choose from,” Eric Dotterer, a fourth-year College major and former Love Connection writer, said. “Then [The Cavalier Daily] did a marketing push this fall and dozens of people signed up, so there’s a large influx of people to choose from.” Matchmaking successfully remains challenging no matter how big the pool of applicants is, in large part because of the many different attributes people have and are attracted to. In order to streamline the process slightly, Dotterer focused on specific facets of people to match them up. “I didn’t necessarily go off of physical traits as much as like personality and trying to match up the years they are. The people who have already declared their majors probably have a lot more to talk about in terms of

interests,” Dotterer said. “But sometimes it’s fun to set people up who have nothing in common just to see what could happen and usually that does turn out pretty positively.” While most of the dates are fairly similar in format — the participants meet somewhere on Grounds, get dinner and part ways afterwards — every now and then they take unexpected turns. “[In] my last Love Connection I did before stopping, [the couple] cooked eggs in his Lawn room which is really cool and built a fire, which I thought was very peculiar,” Dotterer said. “Other than that one, all of them had gone to a restaurant and like immediately started eating.” Whether or not the date is amusing for the participants, it ends up entertaining readers of Love Connection. “It’s always really fun to hear about people’s love lives — that’s the appeal of The Bachelor, right?” firstyear Engineering student Rojeen Kamali said. “I think it seems like a really good way to meet people, but I think you have to be pretty brave to have your answers published in a school wide paper.” The public nature of the experi-

ence can act as a deterrent for some people. “There’s not a lot of LGBTQ people who apply, I think maybe there’s some sort of stigma for them to not want to, but it’s something that’s encouraged,” Dotterer said. “The reason we haven’t really set up non-heterosexual couples in the past is because the [LGBTQ] pool is so small and you don’t want to just force people together if you don’t think they’ll hit it off. Literally anyone from any walks of life around the University — regardless of gender, religion, race, sexuality — can sign up, it’s a great way to meet people.” In addition to being a way to meet people of all different years and backgrounds at the University, Love Connection also offers those who apply the chance to scratch an item off of their list of things to do before graduating — going on a blind date in Charlottesville. “All my friends who have done it have had a great time,” Dotterer said. “I think it’s a cool experience and I hope it continues for a while.” Interested participants can fill out a form on The Cavalier Daily’s website.

RICHARD DIZON | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Eric Dotterer, former Love Connection writer, reveals his matchmaking secrets.

Relay for Life holds date auction Students bid on professors, athletes to benefit American Cancer Society JOSLYN CHESSON| FEATURE WRITER

COURTESY RELAY FOR LIFE AT UVA

Relay for Life at U.Va. held its annual date auction on Feb. 9 at Boylan Heights.

Relay for Life at U.Va. hosted a date auction Feb. 9, where they sold off lunch dates or sports lessons with University professors, singers and athletes to the highest bidders. All of the money raised went directly to Relay for Life’s fundraising goals for the American

Cancer Society. “We were really just trying to get people involved because we haven’t done many big events since the Vermonster challenge in the beginning of the year,” said Rebecca Richardson, a third-year College student and fundraising

committee chair. “Our Relay events have been kind of low last semester, so we wanted to get people out and spread[ing] the word again and hype us back up again.” A lunch date with Dean of Students Allen Groves and a trip to Pippin Hill Vineyard for a group of three with Commerce School lecturer Sherri Moore were two of the more popular dates. Olympian and fourth-year College student Leah Smith and four basketball players were also auctioned off. “For Leah Smith we came up with something that would be fun for bidders, so it was a race against her to say you’ve been able to race an Olympic swimmer,” Richardson said. This is the third consecutive year that Relay for Life has hosted a date auction. Richardson said this year had a higher turnout than usual. “There were a lot more people there this year and they were more aware of what was going on,” Rich-

ardson said. “Our publicity went better so people knew who was being auctioned off and what to expect.” Relay for Life aimed to raise $1,500 from the event, but they came in a couple hundred dollars short. However, the students still viewed the overall event as a success. “I definitely think this event more so than others is geared more toward fundraising specifically, getting people excited and coming to Boylan on a Thursday night,” third-year Commerce student Emily Smith said. “But when we open and close our event we try to relate it back to what we’re fundraising for.” This event serves as a way for Relay for Life to get people excited about their main night-event coming up in early April. The committees are working hard to plan and organize for this event. “I think sometimes the first week of planning is off to a rough

start with new committee members and putting people together to figure out action — once that’s over with I think it goes really well and people get the hang of what they’re supposed to do,” Richardson said. Because the event is based on auctioning off University professors and athletes, sometimes the overall message of Relay for Life gets lost, according to Smith. “This event isn’t as much a mission and outreach feel as much as others and I think maybe that’s a way we can improve in the future,” Smith said. Even if the event did not showcase Relay’s theme as much as other events, Richardson still said she was happy with the event overall. “It was fun, it was successful, tons of people were there which was really exciting and people were getting pumped about it — it was fun to see that,” Richardson said.

THE CAVALIER DAILY

No. 12 men’s basketball falls in double OT With just 3.1 seconds remaining in the second overtime period, Virginia Tech senior guard Seth Allen drove into the paint, making a layup to put the final touch on an 80-78 win over Virginia. It’s a scene that will likely play over and over again in the nightmares of Cavalier fans. But perhaps not as much as the last-second tip-in from junior guard Ty Outlaw at the end of regulation that pushed the game into overtime or the layup from senior point guard London Perrantes that would have given Virginia the lead with 21.2 seconds left in the first overtime period, but somehow However, before the Cavaliers (18-6, 8-4 ACC) headed into the long overtime battle with the Hokies (17-7, 6-6 ACC), they squandered a 14-point halftime

lead, as they entered the intermission leading 37-23. Much of that was due to Allen — who led Virginia Tech with 20 points — and junior guard Justin Bibbs, adding 16 points and six rebounds. Despite Perrantes leading the team with 22 points, Virginia didn’t help themselves out with bonus points, as the Cavaliers made 14 of their 24 free throw attempts, resulting in a 58.3 percent free throw average. On the other hand, the Hokies made 20 of their 26 free throw opportunities. With the loss, Virginia fell to 1-1 against Virginia Tech on the season. The game ushered flashbacks of last year’s 70-68 loss to the Hokies at Cassell Coliseum. The Cavaliers have a quick turnaround, facing No. 18 Duke at John Paul Jones Arena Wednesday. Tipoff for the ACC tilt is set for 9 p.m. — compiled by Mariel Messier RICHARD DIZON | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Senior guard London Perrantes scored a game-high 22 points in the double overtime loss at Virginia Tech.

No. 1 Virginia secures huge win over No. 6 Florida Cavaliers take advantage of doubles point to take down Florida RAHUL SHAH | SENIOR ASSOCIATE

HISHAM IQBAL | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Senior J.C. Aragone has been a part of tremendous success at Virginia.

The No. 1 Virginia men’s tennis team continued their strong start to the season this past weekend with an impressive victory over No. 6 Florida Saturday evening. In front of a packed house at the Boar’s Head Sports Club in Charlottesville, the Cavaliers (4-0, 1-0 ACC) took down the Gators (6-1, 0-0 SEC) in a battle of the undefeated. Virginia started the match on fire, nabbing the doubles point and then four singles points to clinch the match with five wins. Though there were some hiccups towards the end, the Cavaliers were still able to come away with an impressive 5-2 victory over one of the top teams in the country. “Couple bumps in the end, but that’s good,” coach Brian Boland said. “Those guys played well from Florida at five-and-one down here, so a lot of credit to them, but overall it was a great performance for our team.” Boland talked about what the victory means for a Virginia team that struggled against Florida last year. “We appreciate our fans coming out and supporting us in our home opener,” Boland said. “It was a tremendous environment and what better way to start it against a

top Florida team who — you know — gave us challenges last year.” Boland added the team’s ability to come out the gates fast and snag the doubles point was a huge positive, especially because Virginia had struggled in doubles last weekend. “I thought we came out [and] played pretty well in doubles, which certainly helped us,” Boland said. “That was something we struggled with last week, but we turned that around and played better, at three-doubles in particular. That gave us a boost that carried through pretty well in singles” The doubles point had been a big point of emphasis in the week leading up to the match. Although Boland stressed the importance of doubles, he was quick to add that winning the doubles point merely meant a good start, not a guaranteed victory. “Well it’s what we talked about all week, you know we struggled last week against Kentucky and Vanderbilt,” Boland said. “I thought it was something we’d really worked hard on all week, so to get that doubles point felt good, but you know Florida lost both their doubles points last week, and ended up beating UCLA and USC, so, certainly didn’t have time to

rest and enjoy the doubles point, knowing what they did last weekend against two of the best programs in the country.” Senior J.C. Aragone talked about how the team has started to hit its stride. “It was great to be out here — we had a packed house which was awesome,” Aragone said. “It’s nice to kind of, you know, start hitting our stride, I know the first couple of matches are always tough, so I’m really impressed with everyone and it’s just kind of nice to be back home.” Boland and Aragone agreed that Virginia is playing well right now but must stay even-keeled. They have plenty of tough matches coming up to pose challenges for the top-ranked team in the country. “I think we’re in a really good spot right now, and there’s always a lot of work to do,” Boland said. “We have another tough Illinois team on Tuesday, you know, and they’re certainly always giving us challenges as well. We’ll take a day and then have a light hit and get ready for Illinois and then following that we’ll get right back at it again and play indoors, so we got a tough stretch right now.”

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2017

www.cavalierdaily.com • SPORTS

Track and field finds success at Liberty Elite Invitational The Virginia men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams competed in the Liberty Elite Invitational this past weekend in Lynchburg, Va. Several athletes stood out for their performances. Notably for the men’s team, soph-

omore Jack Lint finished first in the heptathlon with 5,385 points. He outlasted four Liberty athletes and Cavalier freshman Jack Claiborne. In the men’s shot put, junior Oghenakpobo Efekoro placed second in the finals with a top throw of 19.17 meters. Jun-

ior Kenneth Hagen took home first place in the men’s 800 meters with a time of 1:52.77. On the women’s side, senior Christine Bohan represented Virginia well in the women’s shot put. Her throw of 15.27 meters was far ahead

of the second place throw by Elon senior Breanna Warren (14.73m). In the women’s 800-meter run, freshman Emma Call placed second with a time of 2:08.74. In the long jump, junior Holly Sullivan and sophomore Alana Herran finished first and sec-

ond, respectively. Virginia will compete next Saturday in the UCS Invitational in Winston Salem, N.C. — compiled by Ryan Coyne

Women’s basketball outlasts Wake Forest in overtime Toussaint scores 12 after regulation, game-high 19 ALEC DOUGHERTY | SENIOR ASSOCIATE The Virginia women’s basketball team (16-9, 5-7 ACC) defeated Wake Forest (14-10, 5-7 ACC) in an overtime thriller Sunday, riding freshman guard Dominique Toussaint’s 12 points in the extra frame to a 60-57 win. It wasn’t a pretty game from any angle, with the Cavaliers allowing the Demon Deacons to claw back in the second half after dominating on defense in the first, but Virginia grinded out the victory in a must-win game. “I’m obviously happy to just come out with a win,” head coach Joanne Boyle said. “It seems like every time we play Wake Forest it’s a battle like this. We’ve been fortunate to come out on this side of it a couple of times. I thought it was a great game by both teams and just a lot of grit. I’m excited and fortunate to come out on the other end of it.” Virginia absolutely dominated Wake Forest in the first half, holding the Deacons to only 13 points on 25 percent shooting. Virginia struggled to find its scoring stroke as well, hitting only 28.6 percent of its shots, but made four of six threes to widen the gap. All four threes came at the hands of sophomore guard J’Kyra Brown, who shined with 16 points in the first half. “My teammates found me open. I just had the confidence to knock [the shots] down,” Brown said of her strong first half. “I don’t know what the score was. I didn’t really care about that going in. I was just worried

about making sure I contributed to the team by making stops and getting back on the offensive end.” Boyle had high praise for Brown, who has been playing exceptionally well as the Cavaliers’ sixth man down the stretch. “You always want the sixth man to be a spark, that’s the biggest thing. It’s got to be somebody that can come in and be a spark, and that can be in a lot of different ways. It can be a defensive spark, with rebounding, and it just so happens with [Brown], offensively, she can score the ball,” Boyle said. The team’s timely scoring did not carry over to the third quarter as Wake Forest came out of the locker room hot, outscoring the Cavaliers 18-7 to pull within two points before the final frame. A back-and-forth final quarter left the game tied at 46. The Demon Deacons had the chance to pull ahead at the end of regulation, but missed two shots on its final possession and sent the game to overtime. Toussaint took control of overtime from the get-go, scoring the Cavaliers’ first seven points as they began to pull away. Wake Forest fought back and tied the game at 53 with about a minute remaining, but a jumper by senior guard Breyana Mason followed by five straight points from Toussaint put the game away. Toussaint overcame nerves to put on a stellar performance and propel the team to victory.

“I was just a little nervous whether or not [the ball] would go in. I just relied on our practices and the hours I spend in the gym,” she said of her thoughts before overtime. Toussaint and Brown led the scoring for the Cavaliers with 19 and 17 points apiece. When Brown lost steam in the second half, the rest of the Virginia team stepped up to keep the game close as Wake Forest began to heat up. “It just felt like we were able to go to multiple different people’s numbers tonight and we got different scoring. It was good because you want to keep them guessing a little bit about what we’re going to do. Everybody played their role. It’s one of those games where you’re asking everybody to contribute and everybody was finding their way to do it,” Boyle said. Virginia essentially had to win to keep its tournament hopes alive because its resume is so similar to that of Wake Forest’s. With three of Virginia’s final four games of the season against ranked opponents, a win here was very important. The Cavaliers will have their toughest test of the season against a dangerous Florida State team, the current leader of the ACC and No. 5 in the country. Virginia will take the Seminoles (23-2, 11-1 ACC) at home Thursday night in its second-to-last home game of the season.

NICK ZUGRIS | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Freshman guard Dominique Toussaint scored 19 points, including 12 in overtime.

THE CAVALIER DAILY

SPORTS • www.cavalierdaily.com

Women’s lacrosse dealt last-second loss in opener After rallying back from 10-7, Cavaliers gave up costly goal GRANT GOSSAGE | SPORTS EDITOR Opening its 2017 regular season at home against an unranked Elon squad Saturday, the No. 13 Virginia women’s lacrosse team rallied late before suffering a last-second loss, 11-10. Phoenix junior midfielder Abby Godfrey fired home the game winner with one second left on the clock. The two programs had never met prior to Saturday afternoon. Elon held a 1-6 record against opponents from the Atlantic Coast Conference, having upset Duke 7-6 on the road last season. The Phoenix set the tone early in their inaugural matchup with the Cavaliers. Junior attacker Stephanie Asher scored her first goal a little over three minutes into the contest. Asher went on to have a career day, tallying a game-high five goals. Elon led 10 to seven with around 16 minutes remaining in the second half, but Virginia responded down the stretch. Sophomore midfielder Maggie Jackson cut the deficit down to two at 14:51. Over three minutes later, the Cavaliers benefited from two yellow cards that

caused the Phoenix to be two players down, as junior midfielder Lilly DiNardo made it 10 to nine. At 6:34, senior attacker Kelly Reese tied the score at 10-10,

making Godfrey’s devastating finish at the end of the game that much more difficult to swallow. "We had a lot of opportunities there when the game was tied at 10," head coach Julie Myers said. "We were two men up and failed to get a shot off, so there are a couple of moments I would like to do over again and put the kids in better spots. We were in position to win the game so it’s disappointing to lose on an eight-meter with one second left." Virginia outshot Elon by a slight margin, 27-25, though the Phoenix placed 17 of its shots on goal compared to its opponent’s 16. The Cavaliers also won the groundball battle, 14 to 13. Reese, senior attacker Besser Dyson and junior midfielder Kasey Behr tallied two goals apiece

EMMA LEWIS | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Junior midfielder Kasey Behr tallied two goals in an 11-10 opening loss to Elon.

to pace Virginia. Freshmen midfielders Sammy Mueller and Nora Bowen each recorded their first collegiate goals, while Jackson and junior midfielder Lilly DiNardo each scored one as well.

Besides Asher, Godfrey and senior attacker Sloane Kessler did serious damage for Elon, recording two goals each. Its confidence somewhat shaken, the Cavaliers will use a scrimmage Tuesday afternoon

against Wales to regroup. Virginia won’t play another official game until Feb. 22 at Richmond.

No. 23 Virginia loses tight dual match at home Two overtime losses prove the difference as Cavaliers lose heartbreaker HUNTER OSTAD | ASSOCIATE EDITOR In a match that could have gone either way, No. 23 Virginia (10-6, 2-3 ACC) fell to No. 24 Pittsburgh (10-5, 1-3 ACC) by a score of 1914. Two overtime losses by the Cavaliers proved to be the difference in the dual, as a thrilling match unfortunately didn’t go Virginia’s way. “It was an absolute war,” Virginia head coach Steve Garland said.

“We knew it was going to be a war, and we touted it as a close, dogfight match and that’s what it was — it was just darn tough wrestling from the start of that match to the finish.” In the first overtime match, redshirt freshman Sam Krivus thought he had the match nearly won at 149 pounds, but an official review reversed the initial takedown ruling and sent the match into overtime

at 4-4 where Pittsburgh was able to win and capture the points with a 6-4 decision. The second overtime match immediately followed with junior Andrew Atkinson putting it all on the line. In a match rife with drama, Atkinson took a last second shot and got the takedown he needed to send

In overtime, Atkinson thought he had the takedown he needed for the win, but the officials didn’t give it to him. Immediately after the Pittsburgh wrestler got the reversal to get the 10-8 win for his team. These two overtime wins by the Panthers gave them a more comfortable 13-8 lead in the dual, which they never surren-

the match into overtime at 8-8.

dered. “Here’s what hurts, we lost all the close ones,” Garland said. “We had two overtime matches — if either of those go our way, we win the dual. We felt like we were the ones who sent it to overtime … I was proud of my guys for going out shooting. We were the ones that took the shots to win those matches. So you always praise your guys for going out guns blazing.” Going out with guns blazing is certainly something the team ought to be proud about, especially on their Senior Day. Overall, Virginia got wins from freshman Jack Mueller, senior George DiCamillo and sophomores Garrett Peppelman and Chance McClure. Freshman Jack Muller’s win at 125 pounds was particularly nota-

RICHARD DIZON | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Freshman Jack Mueller dominated his opponent, contributing five points to the cause.

ble, as he won by a score of 16-1 and picked up a tech fall decision that gave the Cavaliers five points. George DiCamillo also performed admirably, picking up a 9-3 win in front of a crowd behind him on his Senior Day. While Garland wasn’t thrilled at the result, he knew his team fought their heart out and competed at an incredibly high level against a team they matched up against very evenly. “I’m proud of this team, I thought our effort was fantastic,” Garland said. “I felt like we were the ones who were getting stronger as the bouts were going on … I just thought we did some really silly things in positions we are normally good at, but our wrestling and effort was outstanding today.” Virginia has no more dual meets his season, and it’s time to look forward to tournaments. The nearest tournament for the Cavaliers is the U.S. Collegiate Championships that will take place in Colorado Springs, Colo. Sunday.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2017

www.cavalierdaily.com • SPORTS

No. 14 men’s lacrosse stuns No. 6 Loyola The Lars Tiffany era got off to a nice start for the No. 14 Virginia men’s lacrosse team, as they upset No. 6 Loyola, 16-15 in a high-scoring contest at the Ridley Athletic Complex in Baltimore, Md. Virginia (1-0, 0-0 ACC) started strong, taking a 10-5 lead over Loyola (0-1, 0-0 Pa-

triot League) midway through the third quarter. However, that lead didn’t last long as the rest of the match turned into a wild, see-saw affair with both teams gaining and losing momentum. The Greyhounds were able to tie the game up at 10-10 with just under 13 minutes to go, but the Cavaliers responded with

a 4-1 run, taking a 14-11 lead with just over eight minutes left in the match. Loyola refused to give in, going on a 4-1 run of their own, tying the score at 15-15. Finally, sophomore midfielder Ryan Conrad scored the game-winning goal, putting Virginia up for good and securing the victory.

It was a field day for the Cavaliers’ offense, as nine different players scored goals. Freshman midfielder Dox Aitken had a fantastic college debut, leading Virginia’s offense with four goals. Conrad also put together a great performance, notching three goals of his own. Freshman attackman Michael Kraus had a

fine debut as well, scoring two goals along with a team-leading three assists. The Cavaliers will now head back to Charlottesville for a Saturday afternoon matchup against Drexel, as the Cavaliers look to gain some early season momentum. — compiled by Rahul Shah

Swim and dive teams enter final stretch of season After a long and successful regular season, the Cavalier swim and dive teams finally prepare for their biggest challenge of the year. From Feb. 13 until Feb. 16, the No. 8 Virginia women’s team (6-1, 4-1 ACC) will compete in Atlanta, Ga. for their 10th-straight ACC title. Last year, the women’s team

defeated NC State, North Carolina and Louisville behind an extremely strong 1,332.5-point win. The Cavaliers were led by then-senior Courtney Bartholomew and senior Leah Smith. Bartholomew continued her dominance in the backstroke, sweeping all events, while Smith won the 500 and

1,650-yard freestyle events, something she will look to do again this year. Along with the returning Smith,ss Kaitlyn Jones and Laura Simon and junior Jennifer Marrkand will look to put points on the board for the Cavaliers. Despite their period of dominance, the Virginia women’s

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team will certainly face stiff competition this year. Specifically, No. 7 NC State (3-1, 1-1 ACC) will look to break the Cavalier’s streak after defeating Virginia two weekends ago. After the women’s competition, the ACC men’s championships will take place in Atlanta, Ga. from Feb. 27 until March 2.

The No. 12 men’s team (5-2, 4-1 ACC) will look to win its first ACC title since 2013. The women’s final ACC meet of the year will begin at 4 p.m. Monday at the Georgia Tech Aquatics Center. — compiled by Noah Kim

THE CAVALIER DAILY COMMENT OF THE DAY “The progressive tax structure is immoral, not a democratic ‘value.’”

Rufus in response to Gray Whisnant’s Feb. 02 article, “Paul Ryan is just as dangerous as Trump”

LEAD EDITORIAL

Keep Planned Parenthood funding Virginians need more access to healthcare, not less

he Virginia House of Delegates voted on Tuesday to defund Planned Parenthood. The bill, which the governor has already promised to veto, would cut off federal Title X funding for Planned Parenthood and any other groups that perform abortions in the state. In voting to defund the organization, legislators are endangering the health of thousands of Virginians. Planned Parenthood clinics provide family planning services and contraceptive care to thousands of Virginians each year. Doing away with these clinics would put the health of these

individuals at risk and deprive low-income patients in particular of essential and accessible healthcare services. Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Paul Ryan suggested reallocating public funding towards federal community health centers as the best alternative to Planned Parenthood. While these centers provide many of the same services, excluding abortion, national health officials have said they will not be able to take on the extra patients, especially in areas where services don’t overlap. In rural areas, for instance,

community health centers often deny family planning services and fail to offer sliding pay scales to lower-income individuals. Defunding Planned Parenthood in Virginia would drastically lower accessibility to essential healthcare services and put a strain on a healthcare system which is already under pressure. These clinics, which are often the only providers of vital health services to Virginians in need, must be protected and supported by our lawmakers — not attacked.

THE CAVALIER DAILY THE CAVALIER DAILY The Cavalier Daily is a financially and editorially independent news organization staffed and managed entirely by students of the University of Virginia. The opinions expressed in The Cavalier Daily are not necessarily those of the students, faculty, staff or administration of the University of Virginia. Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the editorial board. Cartoons and columns represent the views of the authors. The managing board of The Cavalier Daily has sole authority over and responsibility for all content. No part of The Cavalier Daily or The Cavalier Daily online edition may be reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the written consent of the editor-in-chief. The Cavalier Daily is published Mondays and Thursdays in print and daily online at cavalierdaily.com. It is printed on at least 40 percent recycled paper. 2017 The Cavalier Daily Inc.

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2017

www.cavalierdaily.com • OPINION

WHEN CONSIDERING AN AMENDMENT, CONSIDER THE FACTS The Honor Executive Committee responds to a current proposed amendment

wo students, Vendarryl Jenkins and Nathan Gonzalez, have recently proposed an amendment to the Honor Committee Constitution that would lower the qualified majority needed to ratify future amendments from 60 percent to 55 percent. On Feb. 7, they published an open letter that introduced this proposal to the student body. We want to be clear the editorial which follows does not take a stance on the substance of the amendment itself. Upon reading the letter, however, we felt that it was necessary to respond to certain claims the amendment’s sponsors make, some of which are premised on incomplete and inaccurate information. First, the letter claims that “in 34 states, the requirement to change the constitution is a simple majority.” That uncited statement is contrary to fact on its face or grossly misleading in the alternative. A survey of the constitutions of each of the 50 states shows that only 18 states allow for any citizen-initiated constitutional amendment at all (Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon and South Dakota). All other states require either a constitutional convention or referral from both

houses of the legislature, neither of which compare to the situation here. Of the minority of states that even allow citizen-initiated constitutional amendments, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nebraska and Nevada impose more onerous requirements than

changes in the initiative process itself. Lastly, Massachusetts’ citizen-initiated process isn’t even direct — such a proposal must be approved by at least 25 percent of each legislative house in two separately elected legislative sessions before going to the public. This

Responsibly exercising the powers associated with student self-governance requires us to make informed choices, especially when those choices can result in lasting change. only a simple majority. Florida requires a 60 percent supermajority and Nevada requires a simple majority twice in two consecutive elections. Illinois, Mississippi and Nebraska all require double majorities (simple majority of voters on the amendment itself and 35 to 50 percent of all citizens voting in that election), all of which are far more onerous than the 10 percent the Honor Constitution currently holds. Additionally, Illinois and Mississippi both have subject matter restrictions: citizens in the former may only propose changes to structural and procedural subjects concerning their legislature, while the latter explicitly prohibits

leaves a mere 12 states to support this contention, far fewer than half of the claimed 34. Next, the sponsors of the current referendum have charged that student self-governance “dictates” the passage of an amendment to lower the qualified majority needed for constitutional reform. They contend that this referendum is the sole remedy for an honor system that remains “stubbornly resistant to change.” This claim is inconsistent with the recent history of the system. Since the Spring 2013 semester, a total of four binding amendments to the Honor Constitution have been ratified by the student body. One of these

amendments introduced the Informed Retraction, the most significant reform to the system in a generation. The current 60 percent threshold has not impeded major — even foundational — changes to the Honor System, and many of these changes were in fact initiated by students acting independently of the Committee. A single, close vote does not provide a fully accurate diagnosis of a system that has repeatedly evolved to reflect student opinion for decades. The proposal’s sponsors have implied that the Honor Committee has obstructed progress by attempting to protect the threefifths threshold currently in the constitution. This, too, is contrary to fact. No student, Honor Committee member or otherwise, has publicly claimed that such an amendment would be “unprecedented,” as the letter suggests. The Committee has taken no official stance on the proposed amendment, choosing instead to conduct impartial outreach to inform the student body of the upcoming vote. Furthermore, when one looks at the constitutions of other agency organizations at the University, a three-fifths majority is comparatively low — the University Judiciary Committee’s Constitution, for example, requires a two-thirds supermajority to ratify an amendment. Even critics of the

current amendment ratification process must acknowledge that a 60 percent qualified majority does not constitute an unusually high barrier to constitutional change. There are numerous valid arguments in support of, and in opposition to, the current referendum. It adds to a long history of student-proposed amendments to the Honor Constitution, a powerful vehicle of student self-governance guaranteed by the very constitution it seeks to amend. We simply write this editorial to ensure that you, as you consider the arguments for and against the proposal, will do so fully aware of the relevant facts. Most importantly, we hope that you will take the decision before you seriously. No amendment to the Honor Committee’s Constitution is insignificant. Responsibly exercising the powers associated with student self-governance requires us to make informed choices, especially when those choices can result in lasting change.

MATT WEST, AUSTIN SIM, SARAH WYCKOFF, ARIANA ZETLIN AND KATHERINE GRAHAM are the executive members of the Honor Committee.

OPINION AUTHORS SHOULD USE LESS DIVISIVE LANGUAGE Columnists have a responsibility to present well-structured arguments without using contentious language

pinion pieces allow authors to present a specific argument to readers. Alongside objective and fair reporting on current events, these columns provide authors with a platform to express their ideas about an issue. These articles clearly articulate one side of debate and often align with views held by a subset of readers. In some recent Opinion columns published by the Cavalier Daily, authors have employed language that seems unnecessarily divisive. At a time when the political climate is becoming increasingly polarized and individuals on both sides of the aisle are talking past one another, it is imperative that journalists present clear and level-headed arguments. This is not to say that authors should not express a political opinion. In fact, it is vitally important

that they do. A well-written op-ed play when it come to keeping the be more likely to spark substantive can impact the way readers think public informed, and not fanning debate among readers. Authors about an issue, and even change the flames unnecessarily. and editors should work hard to their opinions. However, includAuthors have a responsibili- keep their heads above the fray, ing language that is considered in- ty to present well-structured and do everything in their power to flammatory by inform readers many readers and make sure does little to the arguments bridge the diare clearly vide. If readers heard. CombatNow is the time to exit the echo chamber and can only make ive language is ensure that the Cavalier Daily remains readable it through the sure to alienate first several some readers for individuals of every political persuasion. sentences of an and prevent an article before author’s valid becoming anpoints from begered by what ing made. they view to be a mischaracter- fact-based arguments that do not Now is the time to exit the echo ization of an issue, they will not include seemingly contentious chamber and ensure that the Cavbe willing to finish the article nor language. While it can be chal- alier Daily remains readable for consider the author’s points. This lenging to present opinions in a individuals of every political peris a challenging and increasingly more objective and unemotional suasion. Authors should strive to partisan time in America, but the manner, this method of writing reach readers that may not already media has an important role to will reach a larger audience and agree with them. I encourage the

authors and editors of the Cavalier Daily to carefully consider stylistic choices in their articles. This is not a call to limit individuality or prevent a strongly worded opinion column from going to print but to challenge staff to make powerful and substantive arguments in their opinion pieces. Expectations and standards for these columns should remain high and ought to be written with the Cavalier Daily’s diverse community of readers in mind.

JACQUELYN KATUIN is the Public Editor for The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at publiceditor@ cavalierdaily.com or on Twitter at @CDPublicEditor.

THE CAVALIER DAILY

OPINION • www.cavalierdaily.com

PRIORITIZE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES ON GROUNDS The University has taken positive steps to address, destigmatize mental health issues, but more can be done

ast semester, I wrote an article encouraging the University to destigmatize mental health issues on Grounds. Though my article focused on increased mental health awareness during exam weeks, I implored the University to make mental health a priority and make students comfortable with acknowledging mental health issues. Last week, the organization Active Minds hosted a panel regarding mental health on college campuses. University professors and deans spoke about mental health resources on Grounds and the efforts to destigmatize mental health on Grounds. Panel discussions like these are a positive step towards helping college students with mental health issues and Active Minds should be commended for hosting a discussion on the topic. Additionally, the University should host panels and events like these on a more regular basis to continue destigmatizing mental health on college campuses. This panel discussion marked a great step towards opening a dialogue on mental health on Grounds. The panel showed students that they could go to pro-

fessors and deans for assistance on mental health issues. By including professors with different perspectives on mental health issues and resources, it offered students a wealth of feedback about the state of mental health education on Grounds. The professors involved in the panel could also serve as resources for students in the event of questions about mental health issues. Active Minds co-president Zoe Hemmer explained that professors want to help students, in the event of mental health questions. Having such an active resource in the classroom when it comes to mental health is a strength that should be well publicized around Grounds. The University could only benefit from hosting panels and events on mental health more often, as they would further destigmatize the issue. Teaching Assistant Professor of Education Elisabeth Pleszkoch explained during the panel that, when she was in college, mental health issues were far more stigmatized but now people are more open to diagnosing mental health issues and treating them as much as possible. However,

more college students are struggling now with mental illness than in the past. In 1994, only nine percent of students who sought help from college counseling centers

a variety of strategies, including courses on mental health awareness could have a major positive effect at the University. The piece in Psychiatric Services asserted

Increased education through a variety of strategies, including courses on mental health awareness could have a major positive effect at the University. were taking psychiatric medications but, by 2015, that figure had risen to 20 perecent. In their piece for Psychiatric Services, Doctors Nancy Downs, Tracy Alderman, Katharina Schnieber and Neal Swerdlow recommended that universities offer increased courses on mental health awareness for undergraduate and graduate students. They asserted that community education about mental health practices could go a long way in helping to destigmatize the topic. Increased education through

that positive impact in destigmatizing mental illness comes from community engagement, so events related to mental health awareness like panel discussions, teach-ins and trainings could help more University students and faculty engage with the issue of mental health on Grounds. The University could have themed panels during times of high stress like exams and internship application season to encourage students to pay attention to their own mental health and that of their peers in high stress situations. These events

could also serve as a great resource for students, given rising demands for mental health services on college campuses. According to STAT News, many colleges around the U.S. are struggling to meet the needs of students who request services like counseling to promote mental health care. Student demand for mental health services is increasing around the nation and any new resources would be helpful to students in need. Panel discussions and other events could serve as an informal, accessible way for students to gain knowledge about the University’s various mental health resources. To make mental health a key concern around Grounds, the University needs to engage the student body and erase the stigma associated with mental illness — increased events about mental health awareness would be a great way to begin the change.

CARLY MULVIHILL is an Opinion columnist for The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at c.mulvihill@cavalierdaily.com.

TAKING STEPS TO ENSURE VENEZUELA’S SECURITY We can help Venezuela by reflecting on the civil crisis in Syria

he defining story in foreign affairs right now is the Syrian civil war. As the war drags on into its fifth year, there has been a death count of over 300,000. It is a humanitarian disaster on a scale not seen in decades and it has had a profound impact on the world — the Middle East, Europe and even the U.S. have found themselves deeply affected by this conflict. One failed state in the Middle East did this. This is what is currently happening in Venezuela, and the U.S. needs to ensure that there is not a repeat of what happened in Syria. The global impact of the Syrian civil war is undeniable. ISIS rose to prominence in part because of a power vacuum that the conflict has created. Russia has been able to secure its influence on the country while it is a constant foreign policy embarrassment for the U.S. By far the most significant impact of the Syrian civil war is the ongoing refugee crisis. Not only have surrounding countries received

millions of refugees, but European states are also overwhelmed with them. The refugee crisis is what, in part, sparked the recent flare

has developed rampant problems. The government failed to save up money to weather economically tough times and it has led to a

Venezuela is not in danger of becoming a failed state any moment, but it is going to become one if nothing changes. up of global populism. Brexit and Donald Trump’s election can all be partially attributed to the Syrian civil war. A failed state can have a powerful global impact. Though no country is as bad off as Syria, Venezuela has the potential to devolve into anarchy. Venezuela, a country of over 30 million, is failing. The country is largely dependent on oil exports for economic stability, and with the falling price of oil, the state

surprisingly quick decline of the economy. The Venezuelan economy contracted six percent last year while inflation increased nearly 180 percent. Predictions for this year forecast that these trends will only get worse. Venezuela is not in danger of becoming a failed state any moment, but it is going to become one if nothing changes. Even if oil prices go back up, it won’t be easy to get inflation in check, or to grow

the economy back to where it was before. At best Venezuela experiences some unrest, at worst the state fails and a civil war unfolds. We are not ready for the worst case scenario. A failed Venezuela could send refugees into Columbia and Brazil, two countries that have their own problems to deal with without the added complication of refugees. Many of these refugees, potentially millions, could make their way to the U.S If that seems like a long way for refugees to go, just look at the millions of refugees that have settled in Germany despite how far away the country is from their home. Immigration would increase a substantial amount, even a border wall would not be able to keep them all out. There would also be a new humanitarian crisis in which thousands would likely die. We need to start taking preemptive action to avoid a collapse of the Venezuelan state. Working with partners in the region, the U.S. should lead talks with Venezuela

to figure out if there are any economic strategies — such as loans — that could boost the economy. Additionally, the United States and other Latin American countries should draw up preemptive plans on how to manage a significant refugee crisis. I am not saying the collapse of Venezuela is inevitable or even more likely than that — the modern nation-state is amazingly resilient. Colombia was in a similar situation at one point and has managed to recover. However, Syria has shown that the risks of doing nothing are far too great. If we truly want to protect national security, if we want to put America first, then we need to ensure Venezuela’s security.

BOBBY DOYLE is an Opinion columnist for the Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at b.doyle@cavalierdaily.com.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2017

WEEKLY CROSSWORD SAM EZERSKY PUZZLE MASTER Ezersky, Class of 2017 The Cavalier Daily Crossword Puzzle by| Sam

ACROSS

EVENTS

Monday 2/13 CART Chipotle Fundraiser, 2-9pm, Chipotle (953 Emmet St N) Audition for the Whethermen, 4:45pm, Newcome third floor Tuesday 2/14 Women’s Lacrosse Wales Scrimmage, 4pm, Klockner Stadium Men’s Tennis vs. Illinois, 5pm, Snyder Tennis Center Audition for the Whethermen, 4:45pm, Newcomb third floor SARA Presents: 1 Billion Rising Revolution, 6-9pm, IX Art Park Wednesday 2/15 Men’s Basketball vs. Duke, 9pm, John Paul Jones Arena The Future of Cities: Building Sustainable Cities, 5-6:15pm, HackCville

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THE CAVALIER DAILY

‘Fifty Shades Darker’ is dry, devoid of all effort ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ sequel is laughably disappointing JULIA STEMBRIDGE | SENIOR WRITER “Fifty Shades Darker,” the long-awaited sequel to its softcore porn predecessor “Fifty Shades of Grey,” was released Friday. On opening night, viewers flocked to theaters to determine if the second movie could be as buzz-worthy as the first — a cinema spectacle known for bringing kinkiness out of the bedroom and into the public. Theater crowds consisted of couples, singles, gaggles of girls and even groups of grown men all shamelessly relishing in the novelty of a film that so unabashedly explores sexual topics we tend to label taboo. Unfortunately for fans of the book series — or simply for those who were looking to see a saucy movie — “Fifty Shades Darker” was a dud in nearly every capacity. From the lousy acting to the ridiculous script, the movie had audiences laughing at what were meant to be gasp-worthy,

engaging scenes. Right off the bat, the film seemed to take itself far too seriously, playing dramatic, melancholy music within the first minute as leading lady Anastasia (Dakota Johnson) mourns the absence of her former lover, Mr. Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan). Fear not, though, Anastasia sympathizers, for after just one sad Coldplay song and a few minutes of empty plotline, Grey makes a rather underwhelming reentry into Anastasia’s life. For those who admire a strong, independent woman able to resist the temptations of abusive (and psychotic) ex-lovers, Ana’s succumbing to Grey within about 20 seconds of conversation is rather disappointing. But feminist critiques aside, the movie continued to go downhill. Not only was Johnson’s acting cringeworthy and lacking fervor in scenes outside the bedroom, the actress couldn’t even seem to muster the passion for

the much-anticipated sex scenes. And let’s face it, the sex is what people came for. That admitted, is it so wrong to complain that there simply weren’t enough sex scenes to begin with? Johnson’s counterpart Christian Grey was no better at feigning chemistry — creating nearly laughably awkward tension between the two. Dornan didn’t seem able to capture the effortless alpha male swagger or suaveness that Grey’s character is meant to possess, nor could he bring any emotion to the ludicrous script. The entire time it seemed as though Dornan wished he could be somewhere else — anywhere else — with anybody else. While a main plot point of the film is meant to revolve around finding out more about Grey’s mysterious background, it was like pulling teeth to try to figure him out. Once his past was finally illuminated, viewers

had no reason to care, and it did not advance the storyline in any way. No matter how shocking Mr. Grey’s stories were, Anastasia’s only reaction was to emit a stiff, delayed gasp and then have sex with him. When Dakota and Dornan weren’t in the bedroom exploring their admittedly beautiful bodies, the film was chock-full of nothing. At many points, it seemed as though director James Foley desperately wanted to save audiences from boredom — trying hard to make the movie a thriller by throwing in mysterious characters and unnecessary plot lines. The resulting air of ridiculousness was nearly comical. Dakota’s charmingly awkward one-liners were not enough to save this sinking ship. Fans can only hope the third installment of this franchise will be an improvement.

COURTESY UNIVERSAL PICTURES

“Fifty Shades Darker” fails in every effort to be sexy, or even a good movie.

The A&E Valentine’s Day playlist Set the mood with a mix curated by the Arts and Entertainment section ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT STAFF Love it or hate it, Valentine's Day has produced some great music. From sweet love songs to steamy love-making songs, the following playlist contains the Arts and Entertainment staff's choice tracks. “Electric Relaxation” by A Tribe Called Quest Ever wondered what sex would sound like if it were put to music? "Electric Relaxation" is the answer. The entire song is like a form of hypnotism, from the suggestive moans to Q-Tip's repeated phrase "Relax yourself girl, please settle down." A sexier melody doesn't exist. — Dan Goff “I Will Follow You Into the Dark” by Death Cab for Cutie Lead singer Ben Gibbard's voice combined with a haunting chorus about eternal love makes this a perfect pick for Valentine's Day. — Thomas Roades “Africa” by Toto That drum fill! The flute solo at the three-minute mark! The moment this song first breaks into the swooning chorus with "It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you," you're in a higher plane of existence. Whatever "the rains down in Africa" are, you'll feel them if you play this song for your special someone tonight. — Aline Dolinh “Versace on the Floor” by Bruno Mars Picture Bruno Mars slow danc-

A&E

VALENTINE’S DAY PLAYLIST

AMBER LIU | THE CAVALIER DAILY

ing to this song. Its groovy Michael Jackson vibes are hot and the lyrics will be stuck in your head before you know it. — Maggie Snow “How to Love” by Lil Wayne With refined vocals and understated acoustic instrumentation, Lil Wayne sincerely sings about receiving and offering love in this career-defining ballad. It is romantic, poignant and totally charming

— proving that underneath the hard exterior lies a sensitive soul and a heart of mush. — Darby Delaney “You Are the Music in Me” by Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens How can there be a romantic playlist without the inclusion of everyone's favorite television couple? There are many romantic hits in the High School Musical series, but this is the song that really cemented

Troy and Gabriella as power-couple goals. "You Are the Music In Me" is a modern masterpiece and the perfect song for deep intimacy. — Sam Henson “Every Other Freckle” by alt-J Whoever said alternative rock can’t be as sexy as R&B or as romantic as country has never listened to this steamy track by folktronica band, alt-J. Lead singer Joe Newman’s sexy voice invites listeners into his racy mind as he sings metaphorically about all the PG-13 things he’d like to do with a lover. He claims that he wants to be “all showers that shower you,” and wants to do “all the things your lungs do so well,” singing sensual poetry to his lucky lover. — Julia Stembridge “Location” by Khalid The smooth yet lilting voice of neo-soul newcomer Khalid in “Location” is perfect for any Valentine’s playlist — with a honey-sweet, lovedrunk chorus ending in “I don’t need nothing else but you,” one easily envisions the rose-petalled, anticipatory lustiness of a bedroom slow dance, making for a night even Barry White would be jealous of. — Araba Dennis “There is a Light That Never Goes Out” by The Smiths No one can express feelings better than Morrissey himself. Best kept for the end of the playlist because once this song ends, there's really nothing more to say.

— Marshall Perfetti “Tonight (Best You Ever Had)” By John Legend With "All of Me" John Legend established himself as a romantic. With "Tonight" — probably the hottest song ever sung he finds a way to bring the fire to the bedroom. — Anne Duessel “I Love You, Honeybear” By Father John Misty "I Love You, Honeybear" is about as close as Father John Misty — also known as J. Tillman — will ever get to romanticism. In the song, Tillman — with a transparent lack of basis — seeks to overcome existential darkness with old-fashioned love and sex. Tillman describes the theme in "Holy Shit," declaring "Maybe love is just an economy / based on resource scarcity / what I fail to see is what that's got to do / with you and me." — Paul Rohrbach “Thinkin Bout You” by Frank Ocean Frank Ocean’s breakout hit holds just as much weight now as it did upon release five years ago, and the longer it percolates the more it begins to look like a modern classic. “Thinkin Bout You” is as moody and contemplative as Ocean’s more recent work, yet retains the innocence and simplicity the newer “Blonde” lacks. — Ben Hitchcock

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2017

The evolution of love A psychological perspective on humans’ drive for romance DIVYA VISWANATHAN | SENIOR WRITER

Love is a social phenomenon involving intense feelings of attraction and attachment towards another individual. Love, from a biological perspective, is a mechanism meant to pass down one’s favorable genes, but relationships have since evolved into complex, time and energy consuming commitments. “It turns out that we’re not capable of taking care of [children] by ourselves,” Assoc. Psychology Prof. James Coan said. “We have to have other people in our lives. The principal human adaptation is to bond with other people with whom we are extremely cooperative.” Coan said the development of human babies proves costly, as they develop slowly and need a relatively large food source to keep their brains and bodies functioning. Therefore, pressure developed to find not just any partner, but a trustworthy partner to work collaboratively with. “If you’re moving a table from downstairs to upstairs and you’re doing it all by yourself, you’re going to bump into the walls and scratch the walls and hurt your back,” Coan said.

“You could do it, but it’s going to be less fun and more disruptive than if you did it with someone else.” In fact, Coan said love is falling deeply into trust with another individual. Oxytocin, a neurotransmitter and hormone that is secreted by the pituitary gland, is involved with formation of trust and social bonding. “Oxytocin seems to move people together,” University Social Psychology doctoral student Katie Lancaster said. “It can increase people making eye contact [and] people who have higher levels of oxytocin naturally — they seem to be more socially in tune.” By increasing pro-social behavior, oxytocin seems to promote the formation of close relationships. Lancaster says oxytocin is released during intimate behaviors such as hugging, causing individuals to refer to it as the cuddling hormone. Endogenous opioids — drugs naturally produced in the body to relieve pain — are also released during close physical contact. The combination of social pressure to find a trustworthy mate and the stimulating effects on the brain during close contact all lead to the

generation of affection towards another person. When two people first fall in love, they often experience an obsessive desire to be with each other. Limerence, a state of being often referred to as the “honeymoon” stage, is associated with an elevated, positive mood. “That state of limerence is going to inhibit your disgust responses,” Coan said. “You rewrite your own sensory experiences so that they look even better if you really love someone.” Oxytocin released during physical contact also affects the brain’s response in favorable ways. The amygdala —a brain structure that deals with emotional processing — produces an aversion response in an emotionally stimulating situation, such as a car crash. Lancaster notes that oxytocin works to reduce levels of anxiety by lessening activity in the amygdala during these types of arousing experiences. However, this stage of limerence does eventually fade, which is why couples that have been dating more than a few months may not experience the same type or intensity of emotions they felt at onset of their

relationships. According to Coan, couples soon find themselves faced with questions that depend more on compatibility, such as where to live, where to eat and what activities to do together, leading to the end of less harmonious relationships. In addition, people may fall out of love when they find someone who is comparable to their loved one but seems to have a quality that is more favorable. Coan said those who participate in marital affairs often express deep regret about their decisions to be un-

faithful. When the temporary, initial attraction dissipates, they often find that they are not well suited to start a life together. Therefore, high compatibility combined with physical touch between two individuals seem to lead to successful relationships. “Think of life as one great big table-moving exercise, and the metaphor holds up pretty well.” Coan said. “If we are going through life alone, we are going to hurt ourselves and a lot of other things — we’re not going to be as good at it.”

COURTESY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

The drive to find romantic companionship may have roots in the demands of childcare.

Newer, more effective form of male contraception possible A male counterpart to female birth control may soon be available ANUGYA MITTAL | STAFF WRITER While there are many traditional forms of contraceptives available to men — such as condoms, vasectomies, withdrawal and abstinence during ovulation — researchers are attempting to develop new forms of contraception that are similar to birth control pills available to women. According to Dr. David Mellinger, a physician at Elson Student Health Center, withdrawal refers to retracting the penis from the vagina prior to ejaculation. However, this method can be disadvantageous, as men can release some fluid before ejaculation that may contain sperm. Withdrawal

leaves approximately 22 percent of females pregnant over the course of one year. Mellinger further discussed abstaining from intercourse with female partners during ovulation. This method is not very reliable, as women can have irregular menstrual cycles that cause difficulty in properly planning on when to have intercourse. “If practicing this method in a typical fashion, within a one year period, up to 24 percent of females would become pregnant,” Mellinger said in an email to The Cavalier Daily.

COURTESY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Fertilization can be prevented by keeping sperm out of male ejaculate.

Vasectomies are another type of contraception. This is a surgical procedure where the vas deferens — the conduit for sperm — is cut. While this surgery is now reversible, it is considered a more permanent solution. Mellinger approximated the rate of pregnancy with vasectomies is 0.15 percent over a one year period. Condoms — which are the most commonly used form of male birth control — are barriers placed over the penis to prevent ejaculate from entering the vagina. Condoms are inexpensive and easily available but can reduce sexual pleasure for both partners. “If practicing this method in a typical fashion, within a one year period, 18 percent of females would become pregnant,” Mellinger said. Amongst the currently available forms of contraception for males, vasectomies have the highest rate of success. However, there are other complications associated with the surgery such as irreversibility and pain. Therefore, research is being conducted to find more effective and safer forms of contraception for males. Researchers developing new con-

traceptives are focusing on creating barriers for sperm. “There has been much interest in developing a male contraceptive, a so-called ‘male birth control pill,’ if you will, but as of today no pill or injection has made it to the commercial market,” Mellinger said. Mellinger discussed the new forms of male contraceptives currently in the works involving chemically hindering the sperm from reaching an egg. One possible contraceptive involves the injection of a chemical into the vas deferens to block sperm from being released into the ejaculate. In practice, this method is very similar to a vasectomy, however it is more easily and safely reversible. The gel that forms the impenetrable barrier for sperm from the testicles to the vas deferens can be easily dissolved using a baking soda solution. While this method had a 100 percent success rate in rhesus monkeys, it has yet to be tested in humans. Mellinger said that this contraceptive has substantial promise, but the long-term effects of such a contraceptive need to be better understood as previous medical breakthroughs

have resulted in complications. “Silicon breast implants were once touted as a safe option for women but they have been banned from the U.S. market because of unanticipated complications that occurred when the silicon leaked out of the implant into the surrounding tissue,” Mellinger said. Many factors come into play when choosing a contraceptive. Third-year College student Chris Samuel said that potential side effects are a major factor he evaluates when selecting the form of contraceptive. “If there are no side effects and it doesn’t affect my performance then I don’t see why not [use this form of contraceptive],” Samuel said. Second-year Engineering student Dor Friedman said the chemical vasectomy would most likely appeal to males in relationships in their 20s or 30s. “This specific contraceptive seems like it has the benefit of still being able to have kids but farther along in the future,” Friedman said. More research is necessary before these new contraceptives hit the market, but the male-equivalent of the pill is becoming a closer reality.

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