January 22, 2018

MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018 VOL. CXXXIV NO. 4

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

FOUNDED 1885

O

n Saturday, Jan. 20, President Donald Trump will mark one year since his inauguration, while his alma mater, Penn, marks its first full year of having a graduate in the country’s top office.

While boasting about an Ivy League education is not uncommon, Trump has cited his academic credentials more frequently and more assertively than his predecessors. And regardless of what students, alumni, or faculty think about the 1968 graduate, the Penn brand has now inevitably entered the national discussion surrounding Trump’s administration, personal background, and combative late-night tweets.

As we fast approach the one-year mark, The Daily Pennsylvanian decided to count just how many times Trump has called on Penn in relation to himself. The results speak for themselves: Since May 16, 2015, Trump is documented to have referenced his education 93 separate times.

This number was derived from aggregating instances of Trump saying words related to either Penn or to his time as a student. This project uses data from Factbase’s archive of Trump’s speeches, debates, tweets, and other forms of public commentary.

From June 16, 2015 to Jan. 11, 2018 where he mentioned Wharton in his interview with the Wall Street Journal, Trump has said “Wharton” 52 times. Over the same time period, he noted that he went to SEE TRUMP PAGE 3

CHRISTINE LAM | DESIGN EDITOR

Student leaders discuss Trump’s impact on Penn

Penn’s Asian-American program relative to other Ivies

Political science courses have experienced shifts

Penn’s ASAM program is struggling for resources

LUCY CURTIS Staff Reporter

One year ago, Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States.

Since then, there has been a shift at Penn in the popularity of political science courses and, similarly, in the dynamic of freedom of thought and expression in the classroom.

Marc Meredith, the undergraduate chair and a professor in the Political Science Department, explained that one change the Trump presidency has brought to Penn is an increased interest in politics and political science. While Meredith thinks this is overall a good thing, he does recognize it comes with certain

MARC MEREDITH

challenges.

“Trying to balance student demand for understanding what’s happening right now with broader goals that some classes want to accomplish is something professors here are having to deal with,” Meredith said.

He added that, while talking about Trump is important to teaching American politics, Trump-centric courses are not “appropriate” all the time.

Meredith said too that he is against the notion that the curriculum of political science courses should shift structurally.

“We don’t want to redo our whole curriculum just because Trump is president,” Meredith said. He also stressed the importance of making everyone in class feel comfortable expressing their ideas and political views.

Jonathan Zimmerman, a professor of the history of education in the Penn Graduate School of Education, said he is troubled by the thought that students might not feel comfortable expressing their views in class.

“I’ve had Trump supporters ‘come out’ to me in my office

with the door shut,” Zimmerman said.

He added that he has “not observed a great deal of concern, protest, or activism from faculty around the issue of free speech.”

JONATHAN ZIMMERMAN

Zimmerman published an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer recently on the challenges that teaching during the Trump era presents. In the article, he details the challenges of teaching and conducting civil discourse in a classroom at a time when the president often speaks in way that rejects “norms of civility.”

Z i m m e r m a n expla i n e d that he completely supports discussing politics in the classroom, but that he refuses to let his students get sucked into SEE CLASSES PAGE 2

OPINION | IN DEFENSE OF DUBOIS COLLEGE

“Du Bois welcomes all cultures and all types of people to live in its building.” -Christine Olagun-Samuel PAGE 4

SPORTS | BUMP IN THE ROAD

After storming back in the second half, Penn men’s basketball went cold from the field for the final four minutes and fell to Big 5 rival Temple BACKPAGE FOLLOW US @DAILYPENN FOR THE LATEST UPDATES ONLINE AT THEDP.COM

MADELEINE NGO Staff Reporter

On Penn’s campus, the topic of Asian-American studies and the importance of the program has grown increasingly prevalent throughout the past year.

Since Grace Kao, former longtime director of the Asian American Studies Program, left to join the faculty at Yale University, protests and efforts to secure the survival of the program have persisted on campus. The program, which Kao helped establish two decades ago and which is now left without a formal director, has also lobbied for funding, support, and more teaching space for courses.

The ASAM program at Penn, however, is not unique in its struggle. Across the Ivy League, institutions have largely struggled to institute structured Asian-American studies programs as well.

Penn and Cornell University are the only Ivies currently offering an independent Asian-American studies minor. Princeton University recently announced the creation of a certificate (the equivalent of a minor) in Asian-American studies, which will be offered for the first

time in fall 2018.

Derek Chang, director of Cornell’s AAS program, said that the lack of programming and lack of attention paid to Asian-American

NEWS No future for winter term at Penn

NEWS A look into Penn alumni clubs

PAGE 2

PAGE 2

studies across the Ivy League is not unique.

“Given their resources, it would SEE ASAM PAGE 3

SEND NEWS TIPS TO NEWSTIP@THEDP.COM CONTACT US: 215-422-4640

2 NEWS

MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018

THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN | THEDP.COM

Dean says Penn unlikely to implement winter term Penn’s winter breaks are the shortest of its peers’ JULIE COLEMAN Staff Reporter

Some universities call it “Winter Study.” Others call it the “Winter Term” or “Intersession.”

Whatever one calls it, that short period between the fall and spring semesters — when students can take classes, pursue internships, or study abroad — will not be offered at Penn anytime soon.

Despite the winter session’s popularity at other institutions like Williams College, Middlebury College, and Johns Hopkins University, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Paul Sniegowski said little support exists for the program among Penn faculty.

Penn’s winter breaks are among the shortest of its peers’, primarily due to Pennsylvania state law mandating a certain amount of class sessions per term and the University needing classes to end early enough for the Penn’s summer session to begin.

During the 2017-2018 winter

break and the 2016-2017 winter break, Penn students had 19 days off.

Students have criticized this practice in the past as detrimental to campus efforts to foster student mental health.

At other universities, the winter sessions vary in rigor and in popularity. Depending on the university, classes offered during the interim session include a range of topics such as photojournalism, biochemistry, and wellness.

At Williams, students are required to participate in the Winter Study program every year, but are only required to remain on campus their first year.

Williams freshman Sam Wolf said, for the most part, Winter Study classes tend to be less academically rigorous. All of the courses are graded on a pass/fail basis and do not count toward a specific major, which he said reduces stress for many students.

Wolf is currently enrolled in a political science course entitled “War Games,” in which students play board games and participate in online programs that simulate various aspects of warfare.

JULIO SOSA | SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

Depending on the university, classes offered during the interim include topics such as photojournalism, biochemistry, and wellness.

One student Wolf knows spent Winter Term hundreds of miles from campus researching the best bagels in different New York City neighborhoods.

Williams has a wine tasting

course offered during the school’s Winter Study term that is so popular that its enrollment is restricted to only students with high GPAs. (“There’s so much demand,” Williams freshman Sam Wolf said.)

Inside Penn’s exclusive alumni clubs Both alumni and celebrities have visited Penn’s clubs DILLON BERGIN Staff Reporter

West 44th street, between 5th and 6th avenues, in New York City is possibly the only place in America where one could reasonably encounter Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Tyra Banks, and the words “University of Pennsylvania” all in the same space.

Founded in 1886, the Penn Club of New York boasts a ritzy interior with 39 hotel rooms, a gym, and a library. When not entertaining a who’s who of celebrities and guests, the club has entertained thousands of Penn alumni. Twenty-one years ago, the club even received a sixfigure donation from President Donald Trump, who graduated from Wharton in 1968.

There are Penn alumni clubs across the globe in 37 states and 52 different countries. Some locations have illustrious histories and some contain fewer than 10 members.

These clubs help to fulfill Penn founder Benjamin Franklin’s words that when Penn students have “gone through their studies and are to enter the world, the trustees shall zealously unite, and make all of the interest that can be made.”

They meet in cafes in downtown Cairo, for happy hour in Indianapolis, and at parks in sunny Kuwait.

Members network, reflect on their time at Penn, and most

CHASE SUTTON | SPORTS PHOTO EDITOR

Winter Study “has the potential to get people to take new classes for the regular fall or spring term that they wouldn’t have thought about taking,” Wolf said. He added that students may be more willing to be intellectually curious during Winter Study than they would be during the more rigorous fall and spring semesters.

Niko Carvajal, a sophomore at Middlebury College, said students are only required to participate in the school’s Winter Term for two years. Unlike at Williams, Winter Term classes can count toward a major.

For students at Johns Hopkins, all courses offered during Intersession are optional. The courses still count for credit but are taken pass/fail. Gurion Marks, a junior at John Hopkins, is currently using his term to shadow a doctor at Mount Sinai Hospital.

“There has been some discussion of a Penn [winter] term at times in years past,” Sniegowski wrote in an emailed statement, but “there is currently no ongoing consideration of the possibility.”

He continued, “Approval of a

CLASSES

>> FRONT PAGE

Trump’s “vortex” of using disrespectful terms to speak about those who hold different viewpoints.

In some classes, some have noticed that Trump’s presidency has affected the dynamic of the course on a personal level. Third-year political science Ph.D. student Kalind Parish, who is a teaching assistant this semester for a class on public policy, has noticed this phenomenon in his classroom.

“All of a sudden there were students in the room who were worried about their immigration status, who worried about their ability to express their thoughts or their feelings about their identity,” Parish said.

“I think that really changed the classroom dynamics in a lot of ways,” he added.

Penn alumni clubs are located all around the globe in 37 states and 52 different countries, and while some locations have illustrious histories, other locations are smaller and have fewer than 10 members.

importantly — according to Penn Club of Kuwait President Majed Alsarheed — continue learning together.

“You’re talking about shared experiences you have,” said Alsarheed, a 2001 Engineering graduate. Alumni think to themselves, “Wow this is nice, I’m learning something, and sharing, making jokes about the Schuylkill and remembering Philly cheesesteaks — all that good stuff,” he added.

Alsarheed has lived in Kuwait since his graduation from Penn, while Penn Club of Indiana President Ali Cudby,

a 1991 College graduate, just moved to the state last year.

Cudby said she’s been in an alumni club in almost every city she’s lived in since earning her Penn diploma, and that the connections she made there have been instrumental in finding her first jobs.

When she arrived in Indiana and found that the Penn Club from the 1960s had dissolved long ago, she began the process of starting a new one. Penn Club of Egypt President Mariam Georges, a 2010 Engineering graduate, also started a new outpost this year.

“One of the reasons I started it was to raise awareness about what was going on in Egypt and basically be the voice for Egypt within the Penn community,” Georges said.

She said she hopes the club will provide a beacon for Penn alumni visiting Egypt.

Penn welcomed students from 72 different countries and all 50 states this past fall, ensuring that in four years a new crop of freshly-minted alumni will be the next guests and caretakers of Penn’s 120 alumni clubs. Or, if past tradition holds, they may start a new club themselves.

HOWARD FINEMAN

Journalist and Communications professor Howard Fineman echoed this sentiment and said he works to ensure a safe space for discussion and for learning by making it clear that everything said in class is “off the record.”

[winter] term at Penn would require broad support from the faculty.”

In a separate statement emailed hours after his first, Sniegowski said he had heard a top administrator mention the possibility of such a program years ago, but remembered it not receiving much support.

“There is no record of the substance of conversations about it at that time,” he wrote. “I can’t really speak to faculty or administration opinions about it then.”

At Penn, many student groups — including affiliated sororities and The Daily Pennsylvanian — require members to come back to campus early for training, recruitment, and other activities.

Wolf said at Williams, the Winter Study term is convenient for students in extracurricular activities that require them to return to campus early.

“A big part of the school’s intention is to just get people interacting socially,” Wolf said, “kind of more outside [the] academic framework.”

“This is the happiest time of the year for most of us.”

In the 2017 spring semester, Fineman taught a class called “New media, politics, and the Trump campaign,” and this spring semester, his class is called “New media, politics, and the Trump era.”

Fi nem a n ag r e e d t hat Tr ump’s presidency has brought an “urgency” to classroom discussions.

“For me literally, and for the country generally, it is a teaching moment,” Fineman said.

College sophomore and Penn College Republicans Com munications Director Bob Bailey said that while there are many discussions of Trump in the classroom, the ones he has been a part of have all been respectful.

“Even though there may be polarizing political beliefs, I think everyone has an ability to speak with one another in a rational, intelligent way and get to the bottom of these issues,” Bailey said, adding that he thinks political discourse is “a really great thing.”

College senior Jonathan Haskin also offered stories of Trump dominating classroom discussion. He, like Bailey, said that students were often the most vocal on their opinions of Trump, and teachers were supportive of those conversations.

“In general, Penn professors are pretty accommodating of trying to make sure opposing views are comfortable in a classroom,” Haskin said.

“Because these issues seem so much more urgent now that Trump was elected, people are certainly passionate about expressing their views.”

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM

@DAILYPENN

A Project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center

THEDP.COM | THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN

TRUMP

>> FRONT PAGE

an Ivy League school 12 times, and referred to himself as a “good student” (or some variant like “great” or “excellent”) 27 times.

From 1902 to 1971, Penn’s business school was known as the “Wharton School of Finance and Commerce,” though this was changed in 1972 to just the “Wharton School.” Nonetheless, Trump’s name of choice for his alma mater seems to be the “Wharton School of Finance.”

Out of the 52 times that he has mentioned Wharton in the past 32 months, Trump has used the name the “Wharton School of Finance” 31 times, which is approximately 60 percent of his total mentions of

ASAM

>> FRONT PAGE

be nice if [the Ivies] took leadership,” Chang said.

He added that Cornell is in the process of hiring a new tenured faculty member for the program.

He accredited Cornell’s decision to start the hiring process to the students who advocated for the hiring of more professors specializing in Asian-American studies.

Anne Cheng, the director of Princeton’s American Studies program and an English professor, said the program’s expansion also was sparked by student protests and the formulation of a task force to promote Asian-American studies.

NEWS 3

MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018

Wharton.

In contrast, Trump has also mentioned the University of Pennsylvania by its full name only twice, neither of which were in reference to himself.

The first instance, which took place in an interview with Chris Matthews of MSNBC on Mar. 30, 2016, was to mention a 1999 interview with Matthews that took place at Irvine Auditorium. And even during that interview, Trump used the term “Wharton” rather than “Penn” to index his credibility.

“I could be married in 24 hours if need be. That’s what happens when you go to Wharton,” Trump said during the interview.

The second reference, which took place only a day later, was made in a Washington Post interview, in

which Trump mentioned his daughter, 2016 College graduate Tiffany Trump.

“Tiffany, my daughter, she’s a very smart young woman, she’s up at University of Pennsylvania doing great,” he said.

Of all the information documented in Factbase’s archive, Trump has never once mentioned Fordham University, the school he attended for two years before transferring to Penn.

The bulk of the times that Trump mentioned his alma mater and his performance as a student are condensed largely toward his time on the campaign trail. Since taking office, he has said any of these terms only eight times. There is no record of him mentioning these terms between the election in

November 2016 and his inauguration in January 2017.

While campaigning, Trump mentioned his college education often as a means to assert credibility, and often when comparing himself to others. Of the 11 times he mentioned the Ivy League before the election, he also referenced the Obama administration or other presidential candidates seven times.

“Our leadership — I went to an Ivy League school. But there’s some words that you can’t describe any better,” Trump said in a rally on Oct. 24, 2016 in Florida. “Our leadership is stupid, these are stupid people.”

In general, Trump seems to equate going to Wharton with intelligence, usually referencing his alma mater in conjunction with a description of himself as a “good

student” or of the school as the “best.”

At a rally in Arkansas on Feb. 27, 2016, Trump used his Ivy League credential to specifically insult then GOP candidate Marco Rubio.

“So I went to the Wharton School of Finance, which is considered the best business school, okay? Gotta be very smart to get into that school, very smart. The Rubios of the world cannot get into that school, believe me.”

In other instances, Trump both boasts and dismisses his Wharton education to assert differing messages about his platform.

“I was really a good student, at the greatest school, the Wharton School of Finance and you don’t have to go to Wharton, you can — you don’t have to go to school. How

does it help us to have Carrier go to Mexico?” Trump said on Feb. 7, 2016, referencing Carrier Air Conditioner’s announcement a month earlier to move its manufacturing plant to Mexico.

When in Pennsylvania, however, Trump has primarily used his education to connect with voters. He mentioned one of the four terms six times at rallies in the state, making it one of the states with the most mentions of any of the terms.

Often, Trump specifically called attention to the fact that he was pointing out Wharton and his education there because of its proximity to the rally attendees.

“Hey, the Wharton School of Finance right here in this great state, right? But — but the best school, best school, number one, best

At Yale, Mary Lui, a professor in American Studies and History, said there are plans to offer more AsianAmerican studies classes and find more professors to help guide the program.

Kao, now the faculty director of Education Studies and the director of the Center for Empirical Research on Stratification and Inequality, said she may teach courses in Asian-American studies as well.

“It’s really not possible to have a deep understanding of U.S. society, race, and migration without understanding this population,” Kao said. “It’s an incomplete picture.”

Brown University does not offer any set programs for concentrating

(Brown’s equivalent of a major) in Asian-American studies. However, students may take courses or choose to concentrate in Ethnic Studies or American Studies with an AsianAmerican focus, or they may choose to set up their own independent concentration.

Other Ivies offer a range of courses in Asian-American studies, but lack a formal minor.

Dartmouth College’s AsianAmerican studies website states that the school is in the process of developing an Asian-American studies minor under the Asian Studies program.

ASAM Undergraduate Advisory Board member and College senior Lindsey Lui said there have been few advances since last year

when College Dean Steven Fluharty agreed to put out an advertisement to hire an Asian-American studies lecturer for three years.

While program leaders fought for the hiring of a tenured professor, English professor and former Director of the ASAM program Josephine Park said there was a compromise with administrators to instead hire a temporary lecturer. Park added that the lecturer would likely be teaching courses by next fall.

Although ASAM leaders said administrators have been open to listening to their concerns, students and professors remain frustrated

with the lack of action.

“Administrators may believe they’re giving attention to these programs, but you have to give these programs four times as much attention and support because they’re systematically depressed,” Lui said.

Kao, who advocated for a stronger ASAM program at Penn for over 20 years, said the decision to leave was primarily affected by the resources Yale offered, but also by the administration’s lack of cooperation in expanding Penn’s program.

“Over the last 10 years or so, there hasn’t been much growth in terms of

the resources given to the program,” Kao said. “It was very disheartening after a long time.”

The last time the ASAM board was in contact with administrators was on Nov. 13 with College of Arts and Sciences Dean Paul Sniegowski, and they are currently waiting for a response from Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences Steven Fluharty, who the board emailed on Dec. 21, nearly a month ago.

“Students should work together.

There is power in critical mass,” Cheng said. “This is an issue for all of the Ivy League schools.”

The State of Our Union HALEY SUH | NEWS EDITOR

The ASAM program, which was established two decades ago and currently does not have a formal director, has lobbied for additional funding, increased support, and more teaching space for courses.

Lunch Special - $12 Mon - Fri 11:30AM - 3:00PM Choice of Soup and Entrée

Jan. 31 | 5:30 pm

Jon Huntsman Hall, G06 3730 Walnut Street Our panel features:

Judith Browne Dianis

Executive Director, The Advancement Project

Iván Espinoza-Madrigal

Executive Director, Lawyersʼ Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice

Amber Hikes

Executive Director, Office of LGBT Affairs for the City of Philadelphia

Marc Morial

President & CEO, National Urban League Moderated by

Dr. Camille Z. Charles

Director, Center for Africana Studies, University of Pennsylvania

| FREE and OPEN to the Public | To register, go to cfasmlk2018.eventbrite.com | If you require reasonable accommodations, please provide at least 5 days notice | For more info go to africana.sas.upenn.edu

3939 Chestnut Street | 215.921.5377 | www.dimsum.house

4

OPINION In defense of Du Bois College House: a place I call home CHRISTINE OLAGUN-SAMUEL | Du Bois is a place of education, not segregation

MONDAY JANUARY 22, 2018 VOL. CXXXIV, NO. 4 134th Year of Publication DAVID AKST President REBECCA TAN Executive Editor CHRIS MURACCA Print Director JULIA SCHORR Digital Director HARRY TRUSTMAN Opinion Editor SARAH FORTINSKY Senior News Editor JONATHAN POLLACK Senior Sports Editor LUCY FERRY Senior Design Editor GILLIAN DIEBOLD Design Editor CHRISTINE LAM Design Editor

As Du Bois College House completes its 45th year in operation, I’ve decided to pay homage to the place that I call home on Penn’s campus.

Du Bois, known as one of the hubs for black social life on campus, is perhaps my home away from home. It’s the place where I’ve formed some of my closest friendships and somewhere I can just be absolutely, unapologetically, myself. But it is also a place that has been under much scrutiny by many students at this University as evidence of a lack of truly “diverse” social spaces.

From the claims stating that “Du Bois isn’t based on culture but on color,” in an opinion column published in The Daily Pennsylvanian in 1984, to articles equating “the prohibition of Du Bois College House to the disbanding of the Ku Klux Klan,”

to even more recently the donning of Du Bois College House as “a strange idea”, by James Lee in his “Breaking Down Fences” column, Du Bois College House has been a recurring target by columnists at the DP. I find these claims disheartening. I write this not to stir up argument, but to point out how Du Bois College House has had a lasting impact on myself, and point out why such a house should be cherished as a piece of history, not by just black students on campus, but by all.

Du Bois College House was not founded to segregate black students from the rest of campus, in attempts to close them off. It was founded on the premise of developing a living-learning community; a space where black students on campus would be able to grow in their academic

ALANA SHUKOVSKY Design Editor BEN ZHAO Design Editor KELLY HEINZERLING News Editor MADELEINE LAMON News Editor HALEY SUH News Editor MICHEL LIU Assignments Editor COLE JACOBSON Sports Editor THEODOROS PAPAZEKOS Sports Editor JONATHAN POLLACK Sports Editor

GILLIAN DIEBOLD | DESIGN EDITOR

and intellectual pursuits during a time of hostility. The house was founded so that black students could also learn about their own history as well, which was not taught in the University setting at

and all types of people to live in its building. It isn’t simply limited to those who are black, Hispanic, or Asian. It just simply seems that those groups tend to gravitate toward the housing. But that

Du Bois welcomes all cultures and all types of people to live in its building. It isn’t simply limited to those who are black, Hispanic, or Asian. It just simply seems that those groups tend to gravitate toward the housing.” the time.

To this day, Du Bois continues to foster and teach African-American culture to all of its residents.

Implicitly, the walls of the dormitory are adorned with the stories of W.E.B. Du Bois and the many firsts on this campus (i.e. Penn’s first black graduate, first class of black women to graduate). Explicitly, student groups and faculty members lead African culture events and discussions.

This semester, the course “The History of Women and Men of African Descent at the University of Penn” is being taught directly in Du Bois College House.

Du Bois welcomes all cultures

is not the fault of its own people.

If anything, I would encourage more non-minority groups on campus to live in Du Bois College House. In fact, I urge it.

I’ve learned a lot from Du Bois. I grew up in a very white and Asian suburban neighborhood and I attended a high school that was statistically 1 percent black. All too often, I was familiar with being the minority. I felt as though I knew so much about other cultures that I often felt disconnected from my own. Du Bois has been a place where I’ve been able to learn more about myself and about a culture I wasn’t entirely familiar with. I think that

my white counterparts on campus might gain from such an experience, just as I have. I think it would be valuable to provide a space for them to understand an unfamiliar culture and environment.

Such a house is evidence of the historical race struggle that this country has endured. With the current state of affairs, and an increasingly emboldened white supremacist population, the need of Du Bois’ existence and cultural hubs like it continues to grow.

Perhaps instead of criticizing its existence, students should use it as a space to learn; as a space to understand the groups that often lack a voice in the conversation.

Perhaps spaces like Du Bois can play a role in forwarding the conversation.

It seems as though the root of so many problems in our current society is a lack of communication. It’s this lack of understanding that leads students to misplace blame on minority groups, failing to see the necessity of places like Du Bois, PAACH, Makuu, Hillel, and La Casa Latina. If more conversations were fostered around having the majority understand the experience of the minority, perhaps the value of such places on campus would be widely appreciated.

CHRISTINE OLAGUN-SAMUEL is a College sophomore from Paramus, N.J. studying health and society. Her email address is colaogun@sas. upenn.edu.

YOSEF WEITZMAN Sports Editor ALISA BHAKTA Copy Editor

CARTOON

ALEX GRAVES Director of Web Development BROOKE KRANCER Social Media Editor SAM HOLLAND Senior Photo Editor MONA LEE News Photo Editor CHASE SUTTON Sports Photo Editor CAMILLE RAPAY Video Producer LAUREN SORANTINO Podcasts Producer DEANNA TAYLOR Business Manager ANDREW FISCHER Innovation Manager DAVID FIGURELLI Analytics Director JOY EKASI-OTU Circulation Manager REMI GOLDEN Marketing Manager

THIS ISSUE ZOE BRACCIA Deputy Copy Editor SAM MITCHELL Copy Associate FRED LU Copy Associate SHUBHAN NAGENDRA Copy Associate MARGARET BADDING Copy Associate CARSON KAHOE Photo Associate JULIO SOSA Photo Associate EVAN BATOV Photo Associate

LETTERS Have your own opinion? Send your letter to the editor or guest column to letters@thedp.com.

Unsigned editorials appearing on this page represent the opinion of The Daily Pennsylvanian as determined by the majority of the Editorial Board.

All other columns, letters and artwork represent the opinion of their authors and are not necessarily representative of the DP’s position.

VERONICA FENTON is a College freshman from Penn Valley, Pa. Her email address is fentonv@sas.upenn.edu.

Why chasing excellence can be harmful TRAPPED WEST COASTER | What a Rubik’s Cube taught me about my first semester at Penn I learned to solve a Rubik’s Cube this winter break. My first try took 37 minutes, as I thoroughly inspected the beginner’s guide on YouTube and timidly swapped blues for greens and reds for whites. The feeling is addictive; when solving and racing the clock, I had no time to worry about problems in my life.

All that existed was the cube. I’ve since brought my time down to a mere minute and nine seconds.

My first semester at Penn left me insecure and worried about the seven more to come. There is nothing wrong with a Rubik’s Cube, but there is when you solve it to temporarily escape from reality. My short time at Penn has left me with a feeling of something to be desired.

Something has felt missing, a part of me that existed back in California but was glaringly absent here.

I have always based a significant amount of my self-worth on personal achievement. I am not alone — Penn attracts individuals who exist to be the best. Many of us need excellence to be fulfilled, and we are not content with being

“middle of the road” in our social, professional, or private lives. It is why finishing the Rubik’s Cube feels so damn good each time. I am not denying that this is valuable, as it is in large part what has driven us

standards in every single endeavor we attempt, we are often crushed when our actions do not meet the expectations we have set. In high school, this is less of a problem, but at Penn, it is near impossible

Too many of us made high achievement an identifying factor of who we are as people. After that part of us dissipated, we also lost some of our goals and were lured in by money and prestige.” to accomplish so much. This makes for some insane breakthroughs, not just for us as individuals, but oftentimes for entire fields or disciplines.

However, this continual desire to constantly achieve more can decimate our self-worth. By constantly holding ourselves to the highest

to be the best at everything. We are not used to seeing all our peers get more prestigious internships and better grades than we do. This achievement-oriented mindset inevitably leads to feeling unfulfilled.

Some of us become quite lost during our time at this school. In

high school, we were the future doctor or criminal lawyer. At Penn, 25 percent of the Class of 2016 ended up in finance. Too many of us made high achievement an identifying factor of who we are as people.

After that part of us dissipated, we also lost some of our goals and were lured in by money and prestige.

I am currently trapped in this phase, feeling like an outsider looking in, not exactly sure what my next move should be and whether I should continue my biology major.

Some people are truly exceptional and have not faced this struggle despite having an achievement-oriented mindset. I am not one of these people, but I wish them the best of luck. Maybe they will experience this phenomenon sometime in their futures.

The desire for achievement has two components. One is a genuine passion for a goal, as the accomplishment itself (Rubik’s Cube) brings its own pleasure. The other is an obsession with prestige, a desire to be the best because that is what we are used to and how we have ex-

isted thus far. The first part is much needed, but the second is unhealthy.

It is an insecurity that is never sated, even if the achievements are met, and it focuses on what we do not have rather than on what we do. We may move mountains, but we will never be satisfied.

Desiring high achievement is perfectly fine, but it needs to be on one’s own terms. Pick battles wisely, as there is no need to be the best in every single thing. It may take time, but find the things that truly matter, not because everyone else likes them, but because you actually do yourself. Remove the desire for high achievement from your life; if you truly love the things you do, you will accomplish more than ever possible from being driven by prestige and a desire for excellence alone.

ALEX KUANG is a College freshman from Pleasanton, Calif. studying biology. His email address is akuang@sas.upenn.edu. “Trapped West Coaster” usually appears every other Monday.

5

Forced drinking threatens pledges’ lives — and the future of Greek life THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN OPINION BOARD Nearly a year ago, 19-yearold Timothy Piazza died of a traumatic brain injury after participating in an initiation ritual during Beta Theta Pi pledging at Penn State University. A video showed Piazza falling down a flight of stairs after he was given at least 18 drinks in 82 minutes.

In October, Maxwell Gruver, age 18, died in an alleged hazing incident at Louisiana State University’s Phi Delta Theta chapter. His blood alcohol level was found to be more than six times the legal intoxication level of many states. Andrew Coffey, a Pi Kappa Phi pledge at Florida State University and Matthew Ellis, a Phi Kappa Psi pledge at Texas State University, both died following frater-

nity events in November. They were 20 years old.

American fraternities have long been controversial, but tragedies like these — all of which occurred in a single year — have made that discussion even more pertinent. At Penn State and LSU, the Greek chapters in question were suspended or banned. At FSU and TSU, fraternity and sorority life was suspended entirely. In many such incidents, fraternity members faced criminal charges for the roles they played.

Penn has been fortunate to avoid recent tragedies of this kind. Greek life, which counts more than a quarter of undergraduates as members, is a major aspect of campus social life — and when this year’s new fra-

LULU WANG | DESIGN ASSOCIATE

ternity members officially sign their bids on Monday, a cohort of Penn students are placing their trust in a system that will likely become an integral and positive part of their campus experience.

after a violation of the University’s anti-hazing policy. Alpha Chi Omega voluntarily revoked its charter after Penn’s Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life issued a list of demands to the sorority when a parent called

It is an open secret that serious hazing happens at Penn, and it’s by no means limited to the organizations that have been punished. Forced drinking does not happen at every Greek chapter, but it happens at far too many.”

But in light of a renewed national focus on hazing and student safety, Penn’s Greek leaders and the Greek community at large must keep in mind, when approaching the pledging process, that traditions of forced drinking endanger the lives of pledges and the existence of institutions they hold dear.

Since the spring of 2012, three organizations at Penn — Alpha Epsilon Pi, Alpha Chi Omega, and Pi Kappa Phi — have opted to move off campus after disciplinary issues with the University. In Alpha Epsilon Pi’s case, the move came

the University to complain about an AXO drinking event.

The controversy surrounding Pi Kappa Phi that ultimately led to its decision to move off campus involved a suspension in the fall of 2014 over a hazing allegation.

One must assume that Penn is doing its best to address hazing, and its previous actions suggest that future consequences for hazing will be severe. There’s great pressure today to punish fraternities for their misconduct. A single negative incident can taint a university’s reputation for years — a point that is

surely not lost on Penn’s top administrators.

But when it comes to activities that often occur after hours and behind closed doors, there is only so much that the administration can do. Anyone with friends in fraternities knows that neither the University’s broad anti-hazing policy nor state hazing laws have done much to improve treatment of pledges.

Of course, it must be said that hazing, as defined by the state and the University, encompasses a large category of activities. Some are clearly more dangerous than others.

Branding is considered hazing, but Penn also considers scavenger hunts hazing. Anything which could “adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual,” a vague and subjective clause, is hazing. For many involved in Greek life, it’s difficult to imagine a pledging process that never enters the territory Penn considers hazing.

We can’t expect Greek organizations to end hazing, as it is broadly defined. The purpose of pledging is to build bonds between 20 or so students that might not know or like one another to begin with, and hardship (arguably) builds bonds.

But there are activities that pose more risk to individuals or to organizations than others, and many of these activities are

soaked in alcohol.

It is an open secret that serious hazing happens at Penn, and it’s by no means limited to the organizations that have been punished. Forced drinking does not happen at every Greek chapter, but it happens at far too many.

It goes without saying that pledges should not be subjected to sleep deprivation, be put in cages, or subjected to frigid temperatures. All physically or mentally abusive pledging practices are bad, but it’s the gallons of alcohol forced onto pledges that put students, and Greek life as a whole, in the most immediate danger.

It’s ultimately up to Greek chapters to regulate their own actions with the awareness that forced drinking can kill, and that it could easily mean the end of individual organizations or the Greek system as a whole. A dry pledging process alone will not bridge the gap between the values many fraternities claim to uphold and the realities of their pledging processes. Still, moving away from forced drinking is a vital step toward a healthier, safer Greek environment.

Penn has suffered more than its fair share of tragedy in recent years. Greek leaders and organizations should take this opportunity to reflect on their pledging processes and curtail forced drinking before it’s too late.

OPEN LATE & LATE NITE DELIVERY

Domino’s

TM

SUN-THURS: 10AM - 2AM • FRI-SAT: 10AM - 4AM WE MAKE ORDERING EASY!

CALL DIRECT OR CHOOSE YOUR ONLINE OR MOBILE DEVICE

215-662-1400

4438 Chestnut St.

Smart Phones

Tablets

215-557-0940 401 N. 21st St.

6 NEWS

MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018

THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN | THEDP.COM

PHOTO FEATURE

WOMEN’S MARCH IN PHILADELPHIA Thousands of activists marched through Center City on Jan. 20 for the second Women’s March on Philadelphia.

The massive group of participants included Penn students, young children, elderly adults, and pets. Departing from Logan Square, demonstrators paraded up the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to Eakins Oval for a rally in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Many marchers could be seen wearing pink “pussy hats” and carrying signs with slogans on topics such as gender equality, climate change, and religious freedom. The rally in Philadelphia was one of dozens that were held around the country for activists to demonstrate their support for gender equity.

EVAN BATOV | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

highbrow ego food & drink film feature music arts lowbrow highbrow ego food & drink film feature music arts lowbrow highbrow ego food & drink film feature music arts lowbrow

EVAN BATOV | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

MONA LEE | NEWS PHOTO EDITOR

FILM FILM FILM

34 3434

ETHAN WU | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

ST STST LULU WANG | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

MONA LEE | NEWS PHOTO EDITOR

DO DO DOYOU YOU YOUPAY PAY PAYPER PER PERVIEW? VIEW? VIEW?

How HH

Film Film Film polled polled polled you you you totofitond fifind nd out out out how how how you you you are are are getting getting getting your your your Sunday Sunday Sunday afternoon afternoon afternoon BYBY ANTHONY BYANTHONY ANTHONY KHAYKIN KHAYKIN KHAYKIN movie movie movie fixes. fifixes. xes.

Here’s Here’s Here’s what what what wewe we learned. learned. learned.

TT T

A NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT TO NOURISH THE SOUL 20 S 33RD ST | PHILADELPHIA, PA | 19104 COOPPHILA.COM | 215-398-1874

34TH STREET Magazine December 1, 2011 34TH STREET Magazine December 1, 2011 34TH STREET Magazine December 1, 2011

AT THE CORNER OF 33RD & CHESTNUT IN THE STUDY AT UNIVERSITY CITY HOTEL

hough hough hough wewe all weall know allknow know thethe thewatch watch watch Hugo Hugo Hugo in in theaters. intheaters. theaters.

And And And weweweyou you you guess guess guess then then then that that that Penn Penn Penn stustustu47 Internet Internet Internet is isfor is forfor porn porn pornfit fithis tfithis t this mold mold mold of of overworked ofoverworked overworked IvyIvy Ivydents dents dents would would would prefer prefer prefer to to get toget their gettheir their (thanks (thanks (thanks Avenue Avenue Avenue Q),Q), Q), thethe theLeague League League students students students well, well, well, with with with only only onlyRomCom RomCom RomCom fixfionline xfixonline online with with with freefree free 4000 Spruce |undergrads (215) 382-1330 bedroom bedroom bedroom is no isisno longer nolonger longer thethe the only only onlyabout about about 17% 17% 17% ofSt. of Penn ofPenn Penn undergrads undergrads streaming streaming streaming websites websites websites likelike like SideReel SideReel SideReel area area area being being being ceded ceded ceded to to digital todigital digital territerriterri-watching watching watching movies movies movies at the atatthe Rave theRave Rave ev-evev-and and and Ch131 Ch131 Ch131 rather rather rather than than than paypay pay forforfor tory. tory. tory.

ForFor For every every every girlgirl with girlwith with daddy’s daddy’s daddy’seryery semester. erysemester. semester. services services services provided provided provided byby Netfl byNetfl Netfl ix and ixixand and AmEx, AmEx, AmEx, window window window browsing browsing browsing ononon ButBut But how how how about about about thethe other theother other ste-steste-Redbox?

Redbox?

Redbox?

Fifth Fifth Fifth Avenue Avenue Avenue hashas been hasbeen been replaced replaced replacedreotype, reotype, reotype, thethe one theone one that that that says says says all all colallcolcol- While While While 75% 75% 75% of of usofus watch uswatch watch movmovmovwith with with online online online shopping. shopping. shopping.

And And Andlege lege lege students students students areare poor? arepoor? poor?

The The The freefree freeiesies online, iesonline, online, nearly nearly nearly 50% 50% 50% paypay pay forforfor FYEs FYEs FYEs everywhere everywhere everywhere have have have virtuvirtuvirtu-movement movement movement of of information ofinformation information made made madeit. it.Iit.hear I Ihear hear Horrible Horrible Horrible Bosses Bosses Bosses ——a—a a Why Wh W allyally ally been been been rendered rendered rendered useless useless useless (pun (pun (punpossible possible possible byby the bythe interweb theinterweb interweb makes makes makesnew new new release release release onon iTunes oniTunes iTunes —— is— hysisishyshys- 3.1% 3.1 3 intended) intended) intended) with with with thethe the existence existence existence of ofof terical, terical, terical, butbut is butisis Whose Whose recommendations recommendations recommendations do do you doyou take? youtake? take? thethe multifarious themultifarious multifarious iTunes iTunes iTunes store. store. store. Whose it it worth itworth worth thethe the 25% 2 Things Things Things areare no areno different nodifferent different here here here 50 50 50 1.51.5 1.5 salads salads salads at atat 47.7% 47.7% 47.7% Other Other Other at atPenn, atPenn, Penn, where where where thethe the Rave Rave Rave gets gets gets Sweetgreen Sweetgreen Sweetgreen 40% 40% 40% 40 40 40 A Friend A Friend A Friend nearly nearly nearly half half half thethe the traffi traffi traffi c for c cforfor thethe the it it it would would would Cinema Cinema Cinema Studies Studies Studies 25 midnight midnight midnight screenings screenings screenings of ofblockofblockblock- 30 3026.2% have have have cost cost cost if if if 30 Major Major Major 26.2% 26.2% 25% 25% 25% 25% 25% 25% buster buster buster hitshits hits likelike like Twilight Twilight Twilight as Hulu asasHulu Hulu I Ihad had seen seen seen it it it Professor Professor Professor or TAor or TA TA I had does does does thethe the dayday day after after after thethe the newest newest newest 20 20 20 in in in theaters? theaters? theaters?

Street Street Street episode episode episode of of30 of30Rock 30Rock Rock airs. airs. airs.

This This This 10 10 10 Ramen Ramen Ramen noonoonoo*Students *Students *Students surveyed surveyed surveyed werewere were allowed allowed allowed to choose to choose to more choose more moredles makes makes makes sense. sense. sense.

WeWe We Penn Penn Penn students students students dles dles aren’t aren’t aren’t es es seven esseve se thanthan onethan option. oneone option. option. areare are tootoo too busy busy busy procrastinating procrastinating procrastinating 0 0 0 that that that bad, bad, bad, I I Ievery every every sem s onon Penn onPenn Penn InTouch InTouch InTouch and and and designdesigndesignguess. guess. guess. tictic prove ticpro p inging ing funny funny funny lacrosse lacrosse lacrosse pinnies pinnies pinnies forforforentertainment entertainment entertainment accessible accessible accessible and and and The The The average average average Penn Penn Penn student student studentto to watch towat wa thethe the clubs clubs clubs we’re we’re we’re involved involved involved in in tointotoinexpensive inexpensive inexpensive to to anyone toanyone anyone with with with ananan(who (who (who is anything isisanything anything butbut but average, average, average, if if ifthan than than at at leave leave leave thethe comfort thecomfort comfort of of our ofour our beds beds beds to totoAirPennNet AirPennNet AirPennNet account. account. account.

Wouldn’t Wouldn’t Wouldn’tyou you you askask Amy askAmy Amy Gutmann) Gutmann) Gutmann) watchwatchwatch-tional tional tiona $2 of of popco ofpop po notnot not inclu in tions). tions). tions T inging seven ingsev s lessless less than tht many many many co paid paid paid serv se inging ing inte in buffering bufferi buffe immunit immun imm and and and most mm inging ing to towt watching watchi watch onon Mega onMe M Not Not No to price price price to t Dine-In, Dine-In, Dine-In, Catering Catering Catering &&Delivery &Delivery Delivery thethe big thebig pi b savings savings savino Happy Happy Happy Hour: Hour: Hour: Mon-Fri Mon-Fri Mon-Fri 5-7 5-7 5-7 students studen studew services service servic r Lunch Lunch Lunch Special: Special: Special: Mon-Fri Mon-Fri Mon-Fri $8.95 $8.95 $8.95 movie movie movi th tween tween tween $1 Early Early Early Bird: Bird: Bird: Sun-Thur Sun-Thur Sun-Thur $10.95 $10.95 $10.95 dependin depend depe Netfl Netfl Netfl ix ix o Moral Moral Mora of judge judge judge if yi

8 88

• 215.387.8533 • •215.387.8533 PattayaRestaurant.com PattayaRestaurant.com PattayaRestaurant.com 215.387.8533 • University • •University 4006 4006 4006 Chestnut Chestnut Chestnut Street Street Street University City City City

*A*A*A sim of of 100 of100 10 P surveyed survey surve their their their film fi

THEDP.COM | THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN

SQUASH

>> BACKPAGE

prepare like we always do, and take each day as it comes,” Lane said.

For the women’s squad, the results were not much more glamorous, as the final tally came in 7-2 for No. 2 Trinity.

Penn’s wins came at the number one and three spots, respectively through junior maestro Reeham Salah, who remains undefeated on the season, and senior Marie Stephan, who battled back to close out in four games.

As with Lane, coach Jack Wyant has been forced to readjust the ladder with his No. 4 player, sophomore Jessica Davis, out of commission. Crediting the team as a whole, he appreciated the effort displayed on the courts by the No. 5 Red and Blue (5-3, 1-1) in the face of the fierce opposition from the Bantams (8-1, 3-0).

“I thought the top of the lineup played pretty well. I thought Marie played very well.

She was happy about how she kept her composure and got the win,” he said. “For those in the four through nine spots, it was good experience. The score line was decisive in their favor, but if we had the opportunity to

SPORTS 7

MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018

play them again, I would relish that chance.”

Regarding Stephan, the matchup was one particularly close to home. Following a late lineup shift by Trinity, she found herself squaring up against fellow Frenchwoman Julia LeCoq, which admittedly unsettled her initially.

“I was not expecting to play her, because I thought she would play number two. I did play her once freshman year, but she’s a little older so we’re never in the same age group,” said Stephan.

“So, I was a little thrown off by that, but then it’s just another opponent so it didn’t really matter to me.”

A storyline worth keeping an eye on is the return to court of senior Melissa Alves, who went undefeated in 2016-2017 and is now coming back to competition after being sidelined with a foot injury. After two triumphant wins, Alves lost in a heartbreaking 13-11 fifth set on Saturday, but the result offers a growth opportunity for her during the hiatus before Princeton, per Wyant.

“Melissa struggled a bit with her opponent in terms of her style and the pace with which she played the game. So, there’s an opportunity to learn from

BASKETBALL >> BACKPAGE

ZACH SHELDON | SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

Senior Melissa Alves couldn’t keep her undefeated record this weekend, falling 13-11 in the fifth and final game against Trinity.

that,” he said. “Physically she’s great. Her movement is really good, and her foot feels fine.

The two things are her fitness levels, which is to be expected, and the other thing that will improve dramatically over the next couple of weeks is her consistency.”

Now with a week plus at their disposal, it is up to the Quakers to rebound from this outing and prepare for a clash with the

$$$ GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR YOUR GROUP $$$

No. 3 Tigers and the grueling second half of the Ivy League season.

Quakers. It felt like the scales had tipped in their favor and that their losing streak to Temple would finally be snapped.

But as quickly as that momentum came, it was gone the next possession as Owl’s junior Shizz Alston Jr. hit a massive three to tie the game at 51 with a little less than four minutes to play.

It was the beginning of the end for the Red and Blue as they saw Temple go on a 12-0 run over the final 3:45 to seal the game.

Penn failed to score over 60 points for the first game all season. They ended up shooting 28.3 percent in the game on 17 of 60 from the floor. The had trouble finishing around the rim all game and it ended up costing them in the end.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t

play well on offense, we just didn’t get enough to go in the basket,” said Donahue.

In addition to their offensive struggles, Penn has not been accustomed to playing tight, low scoring defensive games this season.

Temple’s length (they come in as the 7th tallest team in the country), and style of play were factors in Penn’s lack of offensive efficiency.

“It is hard to get [Temple] out of position,” Donahue explained, “[we] started rushing our shots and that played a factor.”

A persistent trend throughout the game was Donahue’s willingness to go to his bench as 12 different Quakers saw the court and nine played significant minutes.

The Red and Blue will go for their last chance at a Big 5 victory this season next weekend against Saint Joseph’s.

Welcome CLASS OF Exp.2/23/12 4/11/12 Exp.

2016

For Fast Delivery Call 215-386-1941 74483/New Delhi Indian Restaura; 5.3681 in; 4 in; Black; 74483

4004 chestnut street | (215) 386-1941 Exp.2/23/12 4/11/12 Exp.

The Trustees’ Council of Penn Women (TCPW) is accepting applications for its Annual Grants Program and encourages members of the University community to apply.

Grants ranging from $1,000-$4,000 will be available to individuals or organizations which promote: • women’s issues • the quality of undergraduate and graduate life for women • the advancement of women • the physical, emotional and psychological well-being of women Favorable consideration will be given to projects that: • affect a broad segment of the University population • foster a greater awareness of women’s issues • provide seed money for pilot programs that have the potential to become ongoing self-supporting programs To apply, visit the TCPW website at www.alumni.upenn.edu/tcpwgrants and download the application from the grants page. Applications must be submitted no later than February 12, 2018. Awards will be announced in the Spring of 2018 and funds will be distributed in July/August 2018 for projects in the 2018-2019 academic year.

New Year, New Beer.

beer springfield distributor

Studying hard?

WEtoo DELIVER

2206 Washington ave, Philadelphia

(215) 546-7301

Take a break with us.

All You Can Eat For Fast Delivery Call 215-386-1941 Buffet Every Day! $2 beer special! $3 beer! shots!Welcome wine!

CLASS O

student discount with I.D. | order online @ newdehliweb.com | closed mondays Exp.2/23/12 4/11/12 Exp.

2016

For Fast Delivery Call 215-386-194

Exp.2/23/12 4/11/12 Exp.

For Fast Delivery Call 215-386-194

8 SPORTS

MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018

THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN | THEDP.COM

Red and Blue impress at Philadelphia Invitational

FENCING | Both men’s and women’s faced tough foes

western.

The No. 9 Quakers will be able to gain a lot from these tough matchups, with the Ivy League Championships just a couple weeks away. “Even though we did lose to Notre Dame, it was a huge learning experience,� said senior epee Stephanie Wolf, who went 2-1 in her duels against the number one ranked team in the country. “Having that practice fencing against top players will be good for us going into Ivy League Championships, so I’m excited.�

Aside from the two losses, the Quakers were dominant competing at home, scoring an average margin of victory of 19.5 points in their six wins over Haverford, Duke, Cornell, Sacred Heart, Wayne St., and

DANNY CHIARODIT Associate Sports Editor

There’s no place like home.

Starting Saturday morning and culminating Sunday evening was the Philadelphia Invitational, in which several of the NCAA’s best men’s and women’s fencing teams met at Penn’s Tse Center.

Both of Penn’s teams had a successful couple of days, each notching several victories over elite opponents.

The women’s team (19-6, 2-1 Ivy) won six bouts and lost two in the invitational, with its losses coming against No. 1 Notre Dame and No. 8 North-

Brown.

Of these wins, three stood out. The two victories against Cornell and Brown put Penn in the win column in the Ivy League, after the team dropped its first Ivy matchup versus Columbia last weekend.

But perhaps the biggest win of this weekend was the Quakers’ vengeful victory against Duke, who also beat them last weekend at the Penn St. Invitational. “We came into this week wanting to beat Duke and we did, which was great,�

Wolf said. “Everyone really dug deep and pulled that one out.�

This weekend marked the first time Penn was able to compete on its own campus at the Tse Center this season. Not

only did the women’s team perform well here, but the men’s team also looked awfully comfortable at home.

For the No. 7 men (20-5, 1-1 Ivy), the team lost just one duel all weekend. This lone loss to Notre Dame, also the top-ranked team in men’s fencing and the defending NCAA Champions, can actually be considered a positive. The duel was as close as it could get, with the Fighting Irish winning by a score of 14-13.

This isn’t the only chance the Quakers have to knock off Notre Dame, however, as they will also take on the Irish on their home turf next weekend. “When we go to Notre Dame, that’ll be a little bit better of an indicator of how we’re looking

skill-wise and mentality-wise going into the Ivies, since it’s so close,� senior foil and captain John Vaiani said.

Just like the women’s team, the men put on several impressive performances against solid squads, defeating two top 10 opponents in No. 8 St. John’s and No. 9 Duke. Also a part of this great showing for Penn were wins versus Haverford, Johns Hopkins, Drew, Sacred Heart, Wayne St., Brown, and NYU. The Red and Blue needed this type of weekend to regain momentum following a subpar invitational last weekend, in which they went 2-3. “I thought that we fenced a lot better than last weekend,�

Vaiani said. “Last weekend, we were a little bit complacent and

tired coming back from break.

We sort of forgot who we are, and today and yesterday we improved that.�

As Wolf and Vaiani mentioned, both teams will now begin to shift their attention to the Ivy League Championships two weeks from now. The men’s team will look to win its third straight championship, as it has shared the last two titles with Columbia and Princeton. The women are seeking their first Ivy championship since 2004.

One thing is for certain: if the Red and Blue can continue to fence with the same energy and intensity as each of the two teams displayed today, both the men’s and women’s teams could very well be crowned champions of the Ivy League in two weeks’ time.

Quakers use late surge to complete another comeback against Yale GYMNASTICS | Last two events propel Penn to victory

is vital to team success, adding pressure to an already stressful competition.

Although some stress and nerves come with the territory of being a team leader, Levi finds strength in focusing on being a model of composure and confidence for her fellow teammates. By putting on a brave face, real confidence follows, and before long, the team is swept up in the competition and believes that it can do anything. And that mentality showed on Saturday. “You can never make yourself feel totally calm, but you can kind of shape how you think about that nervousness or panic that you’re feeling,� Levi said. “I know my teammates trust me, so I guess I should trust myself.�

The Quakers also don’t worry about the score. Whether they’re trying to come back from behind, trying to protect a lead, or are in a tight race like against the Elis (2-2, 0-1), the

SAM MITCHELL Associate Sports Editor

Sometimes, a little confidence is all a good team needs to become a great team.

That’s what Penn gymnastics was able to pull off in its razorthin win over Yale on Saturday. Confidence in their own abilities was all it took for the Quakers to gut out a 191.900 to 191.475 victory. “At Yale, we were a little more confident and you could see it in people’s faces,� senior co-captain Kyra Levi said. “We put in more numbers this week, we kinda drilled in the pressure sets and I think it was starting to pay off.�

Levi, a team leader both in scoring and as a captain, earned points for the Quakers (1-3, 1-1 Ivy) in three of the four events.

As a prolific scorer, her success

ZACH SHELDON | SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

Contributing in three different events, senior captain Kyra Levi played a major role in Penn gymnastics’ comeback victory at Yale on Saturday.

outlook is the same. “I think the mindset is still the same; all we can do is our

SUDOKUPUZZLE

9

Skill Level:

5

4 3 Complete the grid so each row, column 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) 8 6 1 and contains every digit 1 to 9.

Solution to Previous Puzzle: 1 2 3

4 5 3

3 8 2 4

8 1 7

3 The New 5 York Times Syndication 4 Sales Corporation

620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 3 9 6 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 Release Friday, January 2018 The NewFor York Times Syndication Sales 19, Corporation Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 9 2 620ForEighth 6 8 prizesudoku Information Call: 1-800-972-3550

absolute best,� Levi said. “So everyone went in with a pretty calm, and pretty strong and

confident mentality.�

This confidence imbued the team with the poise and mental toughness to work through mistakes and challenges, keeping a laser focus on what was ahead rather than lamenting issues that were behind them.

This enabled them to come back after mistakes with a renewed focus and continue to put up points right up until the end.

Every point mattered, and so an intense focus was vital.

Even one additional slip-up could have ended up costing the Quakers the meet, as the score was decided by less than half of a point.

And after trailing by 0.850 points through two events, Penn came back in a manner similar to last year’s meet against Yale.

This time around, the Quakers stormed back with strong scores of 48.325 on floor and 48.575 on beam to knock down the Bulldogs for the second straight year.

“We had some bumps along the way, but everyone did a really great job of not looking back,� Levi said. “We had power over the next routine, to make it better and just kind of amend for any mistakes we had made previously and the line up’s really built on that, we really trust everyone in the line up.�

In that same vein, Penn is keeping its eyes on the rest of the season, striving to keep building confidence and getting physically and mentally stronger for future competitions. There is no resting on laurels for this team. “There’s so much still to be worked on, which is really exciting for this season,� Levi said.

The season continues for the Quakers next Friday, when the team hosts Southeast Missouri, in what will surely be yet another test of Penn’s confidence, focus, and preparation.

If there’s something we learned, it’s that Big 5 hoops still matters

Š Puzzles provided by sudokusolver.com

Play Sudoku and win prizes

Edited by Will Shortz Crossword NEWYORKTIMESCROSSWORDPUZZLE ACROSS Not true 10 PutACROSS forward 16 1Meal in an Soothes edible bowl 6 Aquarium buildup 17 One giving you 11aEdmonton’s hand? province: Abbr.

18 Advice for 14touchy TV replay types technique 19 Work 15 Hold power, as a 20 Jason of the monarch Harry Potter 16films Neither’s partner 17Corporate “Water Lilies�

21 painter trademark that inspired by 19was Lab eggs an Ivy League 20mascot Rock concert blaster 22 Game played 21on Nerve cell part an 8x8 22board Dust Bowl migrantsconcern 24 Tailor’s 24Dowel, Beach toy with a 25 e.g. handle 26 Wanted poster 26inits.

June, in the L.G.B.T.Q. 27 Having ears movement cocked 29 Pacific source of 29 “Aw, man!� odd weather 30 figureof 31Burning Like the paths 1

satellites

DOWN Edited by Will Shortz Crossword 1 N.L. East team:

Familyunfriendly fare 38 Ones starting 32 Impressionist up start-ups, Edgar say 33 Muslim pilgrim 40 Designer 35 Snoop (on) Lagerfeld 36 43 Profited Contracts 40 salt on 44 Place “___ for Conchos,� a1964 margarita glass western 43 45 Yale Big students time 44 of 46 Opposite Fail to follow losses 47 “Great Scott!�

48 Simultaneously 51 Occasion for a 51 Negative toast about 52 53 Computer Like hotlines programmer, and poker bets disparagingly 54 Teem 55 Brussels-based 55 defense It has agrp. little bow at one end 56 Revered one in a 58 tribe Laundry whitener, 57 Indian breadoddly enough 59 “Fancy that!�

59 Betel nut 60 Public health org. source 61 60 Personal Parlor piece struggles ‌ or, 61 literally, What pets features usually lack of 17-, 26-, 3635

and 52-Across

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE T O A T M R A A L E S S H I R C K O L R SI O F N E

A C T H A E T N I L H T E

N K T U O E N V N A O L E W K A O M N F P O Y E N A M O E M B R A U T A U O R TL N R W B H Y E S E A L T E P T E H S O A C T E T W H ET AX

LS EH TI CA AE LL RL AL SL T A B R R O E A FI N EA TL A TT U G P I B R A ET E R D O M A A D A M I SL A L L Y AX P O T E E U SL

TE D S Z EK E FI E KE C OT R W FO OB OO A R DA GR M AI PC E R A NR OK W G CO R EA I SN N LS A BT T A RS EN YO RB E I DD L AE GR N M AT TT EE A CS AO SL H AX

AC LL IA TI AM

PP PA LE IN ER NT AS GT SO R L EN TA IS SA EP AO TL E H AI UH TO YN PA A C T M OO JC M AI VM OH LM IE VE EE DT IT AX

AS NA TY ES Y SE ES D G EL A OK XO ET NA

1

Abbr.yeses 65 Sailors’ 2 ___ Bo 66 Deliberately hurtful 3 Start 67 French thanksfor a 4 Symptom mechanic 68“Fuhgeddaboutit!�

69 At one’s 5 “Everybody Is fingertips ___� (1970 Sly & the Family 70 Poet Nash

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

16

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

27

28

9

18 14

15

20 17 20 24

18

22 26 30

There’s been a lot of talk each basketball season over the past few years over whether the Big 5 still matters. Villanova hasn’t lost a Big 5 game in five years, and the teams Create and solve your tend to place more emphasis on acSudoku puzzles for FREE. tual conference play. .com But if Penn men’s basketball’s 60-51 loss to Temple was any indication, the informal Philly conferNo. 1215 ence is alive and well.

If you need any evidence of that, 10 11 1218 12 13 14 15 No. just look at the attendance numbers from the game. A total of 7,233 17 10 11 12 13 fans attended the game, nearly 19 double the previous season high 16 21 of 3,879 from the Princeton game.

19 Except for the Ivy tournament and 25 22 23 the Villanova game last year, I have 29 never seen the Palestra that packed.

34 And it wasn’t just Penn fans — at one point in the second half, a 36 37 35 “DE-FENSE� chant rose from the 39 38 39 crowd, but the Quakers were on of44 45 46 44 47 fense. The Temple faithful showed up in force, and made Penn’s 47 48 49 50 homecourt feel like a neutral site.

55 All game long, the fans were 58 59 56 57loud. They roared with every bas64 ket, steal, and foul. The crescendo came with about four minutes left 67 in the game, when sophmore for70 ward AJ Brodeur knocked down a three to give the Quakers their first The Sudoku Source of

For Release Monday, January 22, 2018

23

24

21 25

26

31

32

33

27

28

JONATHAN POLLACK

at:

“Daily Pennsylvanian�.

29 30 31 Stone hit) Certain 35 32 33 34 DOWN wines California 1 Flew the coop 36 38 37 7 Rock moved by 2 Like ice 40 40 41 41 42 42 43 43 Chippendales 8 Colleen revues 48 45 49 50 46 51 9 Blue-pencilers, 3 Marking, as for short windows on 52 51 53 54 52 53 Halloween 10 Mark Twain 56 57 story 54 55 4 Large eggthat begins “My producer 61 62 63 father was a St.60 58 59 5 Cream ___ Bernard, my 65 66 (beverage) mother was a 60 61 6 Knight’s collie,wear but I am 68 69 a of Presbyterian�

7 TĂŠa “Madam PUZZLE BY JACOB STULBERG Secretaryâ€?

11 F note?

PUZZLE BY BRUCE HAIGHT 812 Tom Collins 29 Author 52 Call it a day 40 Sticky food?

Anointed one ingredient govt.

41 “Shoulda listened 53 Attacked from François-___ de in the Book of 30 Covert org.Chateaubriand to41 below the hip meLike ‌â€? a good plot Samuel 9 Important 53 “The Last of 42 Expired datum for Social 31 One’s turn at 42 Frantic rush beauty 13 “Blithe Spiritâ€? 33 Mythical the Mohicansâ€?

54 At the crack of Security eligibility the Olympics? whose face 46 Old-time role daughter dawn, say 45 “Briefly ‌â€? “launched a actress Irene 10 Place in a crypt 32 Block 14 Take hold thousand shipsâ€?

CHEERLEADER 46 Never ever whose58 Jules Verne 11 Ceremonially 48 Word again, as a 33 Teetering 55 Start to captain >> BACKPAGE names meaning plant 34 French friend 47 Strands, as at a practice?

34 Perfect ___ remains ski lodge 1215 Light, friendly Fashion 37 Floor modelmay be unchanged 62 Gun lovers’ org.

36 What punch magazine protect that republic under that flag.

49 Wearable when an “s� is salted 56 Tahiti, par 38 Source of away for souvenir, fodder 13 With audacity religious added to the63 Taker ofexemple a special Since the American Revolution, arrogance informally vows front 1821 Fair with booths Reflective pair occasion?

Black soldiers have laid down their 39 Jaw-dropping 2322 Fish in home an 49 Part of E.A.P.64 Ryan of 37 Home to an 50 Powerball ___ 57 May and opening? lives to maintain freedoms and libwinner’s cry ornamental 8-Down “Sleepless in others, for 50 Big name in 23 Gets (by) pond erties that they themselves were Seattle�short 40 Nascar devotee scooters 39 Plea at sea 51 Twosome Something 2524 Neeson of not even afforded. They were miswith a stirring “Taken�

Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzlepuzzle and more Online subscriptions: Today’s andthan more7,000 thanpast 7,000 past treated by their superiors, called message? puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year).

27 Martial arts puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year).

28 Establishment Read about and comment on each puzzle: nytimes.com/wordplay. centers racial slurs, had their equipment offering horses Read about and comment on each puzzle: nytimes.com/wordplay.

28 “___ go bragh!� damaged, were pushed to the back for hire

6

CARSON KAHOE | SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

The Palestra was packed with over 7,000 noisy fans for Penn men’s basketball’s 60-51 loss to Temple on Saturday.

lead since the start of the second half.

The noise kept going as Temple’s Shizz Alston Jr. responded with a trey of his own to send the game into the final media timeout tied up at 51. For a game that might not have any large-scale ramifications, the fans got into it, and the teams took notice. “That was a great crowd today, it’s why the Big 5 is special.

Coaching at Penn, playing at Penn is special,� coach Steve Donahue said. “I think it’s always great here,�

Temple coach Fran Dunphy added. “I thought there was a great representation of Temple fans today, that was terrific.�

If you need any more proof that the Big 5 still matters, look at it this way: the two toughest opponents on Penn’s schedule are unquestionably Villanova and Temple. Donahue called the Owls a tournament-

bound team after the game, and he might not be wrong. These games give the Quakers valuable experience against high-caliber teams, experience that can help them in their quest to claim an Ivy title.

The game was physical, chippy, exciting, and closer than the final score indicated. In other words, it was Big 5 basketball at its finest.

The quality of play is still there, and there’s really nowhere else in the nation that you can find five schools of the same level within such close proximity.

The games aren’t all played in the cathedral of basketball anymore, and there’s no trophy at stake for the winners, but make no mistake: this conference still matters.

lines, and were ultimately dehumanized, afforded nothing but the ultimate disrespect while making the ultimate sacrifice.

As a descendant of several generations of Black veterans who served in every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, I am a witness to the relationship between the symbol of the flag and the veterans who fight for it.

So yes, if Martin Luther King

Jr. were alive to see the violence committed against people of color, people who are poor, and immigrant bodies, I believe he would join me, Kaepernick, and the rest us who fight daily against injustice, on one knee.

JONATHAN POLLACK is a College junior from Stamford, Conn., and is senior sports editor of The Daily Pennsylvanian. He can be reached at pollack@thedp.com.

ALEXUS BAZEN is a College senior and a Penn cheerleader. Comments can be directed at dpsports@thedp. com.

THEDP.COM | THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN

SPORTS 9

MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018

Clarke vaults his way to DP Sports Player of the Week

TRACK | Sophomore breaks 46-year-old record BREVIN FLEISCHER Associate Sports Editor

He may only be a sophomore, but pole-vaulter Sean Clarke has already established himself among the all-time great Penn track and field athletes. For that, he earns DP Sports Player of the Week recognition.

Playing hosts to the Penn 8-Team Select in New York City, the Red and Blue had themselves quite a weekend, with multiple athletes setting new personal records and winning numerous events. The Quakers finished second out of the eight teams that competed, proving this year’s team is a force with which to be reckoned.

Of course, Clarke was the

headliner. Clearing a height of 5.30 meters, he etched his name into Penn track and field lore, now holding the best indoor jump in Penn pole vault history. The previous record of 5.27 meters, held

by Tom Blair, had stood since 1972. But Clarke, in his short time at Penn, has proven that he is unlike the pole-vaulters before him, so record holders better be wary.

Such an impressive performance has already become typical for Clarke. Last year’s outdoor jump of 5.35 meters placed him second in Penn’s outdoor polevaulting records, and his overall outstanding freshman season earned him Second-Team AllAmerican honors.

If Clarke can continue his torrid pace, he has a legitimate chance to rewrite all of Penn’s pole-vaulting records before he graduates. Next up … Mamadou Johnson’s 1993 outdoor record of 5.52 meters.

5.30M Pole Vault

WEEK

1st

sean clarke

all-time at Penn for indoor jumps

18th in the nation PRevious Record

sophomore

Tom Blair

Set in

Height of

1972

5.27m

Ben Zhao | design editor Ilana Wurman | senior photographer

ALL YOU CAN EAT KOREAN BBQ!! and HOT POT

Authentic and Classic Italian foods served with only top-shelf ingredients

Sun - Thurs Special: 2 Course Meal for $23.95* Party of 12 and up Cash Only

Have next byo HAve youryour end-of-semester atat nine ting!

BYO Nine Ting!

BYOB friendly! lafontanadellacita.com | 1701 Spruce Street | 215-875-9990

TEl: 215.238.9996.215.238.8896. | 215.238.8896.

TEl 215.238.9996.

926-928 Race Street, 1st Floor 926-928 Race Street, Phila. PA 19107 1st Floor Phila. PA 19107 * not including tax and tip

G N I S A E L now 8 1 0 2 L FA L

ELEVATE YOUR EXPECTATIONS

215.222.4212 | THERADIAN.COM

MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018 VOL. CXXXIV NO. 4

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Penn squash gets crushed by perennial powerhouse

BUMP ROAD IN THE

M. HOOPS TEMPLE PENN

Quakers go cold in final four minutes, fall to Temple in front of packed Palestra crowd CARTER THOMPSON Associate Sports Editor

It was physical. It was defensive. It was classic Big 5 basketball.

Unfortunately, the Quakers will have to wait another year to snap their losing streak to Temple.

In a nearly sold-out Palestra, the Red and Blue were locked into a hard-fought matchup the whole game against the Owls, but ultimately fell 60-51.

The cold shooting was unfortunately the story of Penn’s (12-6, 0-3 Big 5) night; they shot 28 percent on 17 of 60 shooting.

During the first five minutes, coach Steve Donahue did something unexpected: He went deep on his bench and reached for two unlikely faces.

Rather than going to guards Jackson Donahue and Devon Goodman as a second unit, junior Jake Silpe and sophomore Jakub Mijakowski checked into the ball game.

Silpe came into the game having played in only seven games this season and playing a total of 35 minutes in those games. Mijakowski, similarly, had only appeared in three games up until today and had logged a grand total of 28 minutes.

“Anyone who plays well in practice and does what he’s done, deserves a chance,” Donahue said about Silpe. “I think he can make us a better team.”

Both players played meaningful roles in the first half, playing nine and six minutes, respectively.

Once the starters checked back into the game halfway through the first half, the Red and Blue began to chip away at the three-point Temple (109, 2-2)lead.

By halftime, a three from sophomore Ryan

FOUNDED 1885

M. SQUASH

9 0

NO. 1 TRINITY NO. 5 PENN

W. SQUASH

7 2

NO. 2 TRINITY NO. 5 PENN

Men’s squad swept by No. 1 Trinity, Sedky and Stehpan earn wins for women’s team 60 51

GREG ROBINOV Sports Reporter

Betley and contributions from guards Antonio Woods and Caleb Wood helped the Quakers take a 25-24 lead.

The second half did not start they way the Red and Blue would have hoped.

Temple stormed out on a 14-1 run to begin the half to hold a substantial 12-point lead. The run was sparked by tremendous shooting from senior Obi Enechionyia. He drained two shots from downtown and added a jumper in the lane, showcasing the ability that makes him an NBA prospect.

But once again, as they did in the first half, the Quakers began chipping at the Temple lead.

After a pair of free throws from Foreman to cut the lead to three at the 7:50 mark, the Palestra started to get loud. The noise increased on the next possession, when Betley cut the lead to one off an assist from senior Max Rothschild.

At this point, all of the momentum favored the

To be the best, you need to beat the best. For Penn squash, this means going back to the drawing board after both squads fell at Trinity on Saturday.

On the men’s side, the Quakers (8-2, 2-0 Ivy) left Connecticut without an individual win, falling 9-0 to the undefeated No. 1 Bantams (7-0, 2-0 NESCAC). This landslide may be partially a result of significant ladder changes, as coach Gilly Lane had to look to his bench to replace four key starters in light of injuries and illnesses.

“We played from behind before we even started the match. But credit those who haven’t gotten much match time. We stuck Jonathan Zeitels in at nine, Anders Larson played his second varsity match of the year at seven, and Ryan Murray, who was sick earlier this week, played in the number eight,” Lane said. “I’m proud that the guys fought and didn’t back down, but Trinity is a talented team and you need to be at the top of your game with a healthy lineup.”

Without the likes of seniors Hayes Murphy, Marwan Mahmoud, and Derek Hsue, as well as junior Max Reed, No. 5 Penn struggled to find an answer to its hosts’ impeccable play. By day’s end, seven Quakers had fallen in straight games.

Despite the scoreboard, Lane commended his squad’s effort against the Trinity juggernaut, and was particularly excited about what he saw from the guys playing up a spot.

“David Yacobucci did a great job of stepping up and playing number two. The guy he played against is 27 [years old] and the number one player in South Africa right now,” Lane said. “David took him to 3-1, and had an opportunity to win the fourth, which is super positive for him.”

Fortunately for the Red and Blue, the schedule generously presents 10 days for rest and recovery before a battle with No. 7 Princeton.

“We’re excited about the break, and we’re gonna rest and get healthy first. Then, we’re going to

SEE BASKETBALL PAGE 7

SEE SQUASH PAGE 7

Last year, I started kneeling — here’s why I still am During the 2016 football season, a pair of Penn cheerleaders made headlines by kneeling during the national anthem, joining the nationwide protest inspired by then-49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. At the time, one of the cheerleaders, then-junior Alexus Bazen, told The Daily Pennsylvanian, “I believe that the climate of the world right now is very hostile.

All over the news there has been brutality and violence against people of color and I truly believe in … fighting for equality and standing up for what I believe in.”

More than a year after the initial protests, Bazen reflects on why she chose to make the move and what type of progress she feels the nation has made since.

This past Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I stayed home and made a day of online activism as my yearly personal service project. In between drafting letters and emails, leaving voicemails, and making anonymous donations to various campaigns, I periodically scrolled Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, perusing posts of community projects, sorority events, and vari-

ous friends and family enjoying the snow on their day off.

I soon became annoyed, as I noticed that almost all the content directly celebrating Dr. King was insultingly cliché. Various black and white pictures of him situated in deep thought littered my timeline, each with one of the same three or four cherry-picked quotes, poorly spliced from his work and devoid of any context, pasted on the background — I too was guilty of following suit. However, as these proverbs swirled around my feed throughout the day and into the night, I found it problematic that many of the posts had captions and hashtags that took aim at protesters and activists, claiming that their actions have caused much of our nation’s racial, ethnic, religious, and economic discord.

Martin Luther King Jr. was most certainly a man of peace and unity, but it is both disrespectful and insulting to his legacy as a warrior for social justice to misuse his words to silence and invalidate the experiences of marginalized groups with systematic violence, police brutality, microaggressions, and the daily struggle for intersectional

SEND STORY IDEAS TO DPSPORTS@THEDP.COM

equality in all spaces. King himself participated in peaceful protests, and I cannot help but draw parallels between those same individuals who persecute Colin Kaepernick and others who chose to kneel (but ironically use Dr. King and his words as tools for deflection and victim blaming) and the individuals who assaulted, mocked, and criticized Dr. King and the members of the Civil Rights Movement for their protests.

Since September 2016, I have knelt during the national anthem during Penn football and basketball games. I have been asked numerous times about why I choose to protest by friends, teammates, and strangers, especially as a cheerleader. As a Black woman who grew up in a lower-income household, too often, I witnessed family and members of my community fall victim to financial and political snares that trapped them in vicious cycles of economic and social poverty.

As a student here at Penn, I possess both the privilege and platform to draw the attention of the masses to issues that plague many disadvantaged communities in this

country. As an athlete and campus ambassador, I choose to take advantage of my heightened visibility to bring attention to the plight of minorities, immigrants, poor people, and others who are called Americans but are treated worse than criminals.

A hallmark of kneeling as protest is humility. I am quiet, my head is slightly down, and often my eyes are closed. In assuming this vulnerable but defiant position, I am silently refusing to acknowledge the false representation of unity and nationalism that the flag symbolizes. The action of protest neither causes nor perpetuates racism and discrimination. It brings attention to villainous individuals, groups, and policies that have worked to suppress the very existence of many people in America.

Ignoring evil will only encourage it to continue, a philosophy Dr. King himself believed.

In his essay “Autobiographical Notes,” James Baldwin, an iconic African-American author, poet, activist, and philosopher during the 20th century, wrote, “I love America more than any other country in the world, and for exactly this rea-

ONLINE AT THEDP.COM

GLORIA YUEN | 34TH STREET ILLUSTRATOR

son, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.”

Not only will I continue to criticize America, I will fight to upheave and reconstruct the systems in place that have allowed this republic to legally and unapologetically oppress its citizens.

I continue to encounter vitriol from those who refuse to see be-

yond their own prejudices to educate themselves on the injustices being done to their very neighbors.

I am constantly told that by refusing to give the flag and anthem anything other than my full physical attention, I am disrespecting the soldiers and veterans fighting to SEE CHEERLEADER PAGE 8

CONTACT US: 215-422-4640