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NEWS
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
Texas Natives Fundraise for Harvey Victims
POLITICS
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Julia munslow/editor-in-Chief
a focus group conducted on behalf of emory University about President Donald J. Trump (a Bove) was largely pessimistic.
Focus Group by Emory Dubs Trump ‘Crazy,’ ‘Dishonest’ By seungeun Cho Staff Writer Increasingly critical views of President Donald J. Trump were on display Aug. 29 when a 12-person focus group convened in Pittsburgh for a session of “Conversations in America,” a series conducted by Emory in collaboration with NBC News and Wall Street Journal pollster Peter D. Hart. The group, led by Hart, consisted of five Trump voters, six Hillary Clinton voters and one independent voter who voted for Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein. The University created “Conversations with America” to “advance and promote conversation and civil discourse on the most difficult issues facing our nation,” according to an Aug. 28 press release. The series will host several more focus groups in cities nationwide to initiate conversation and shed light on issues such as race, immigration, education and health care. The focus group’s opinions about Trump ranged from “contemptible” and “dishonest” to “outrageous” and “crazy.” Some called Vice President Mike Pence a “puppet” and “dangerous to women,” while others labeled Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell “a hypocrite” and House Speaker Paul Ryan an “opportunist.” Tony Sciullo, a registered Republican who voted for Trump as an “anti-Hillary” measure, said he was disappointed in Trump. Sciullo, the president of an insurance company, said that Trump was “his own worst enemy” and “couldn’t
be any worse at achieving goals in politics.” The majority of the focus group echoed Sciullo’s frustrations, citing various instances of Trump’s misbehavior, including his divisive rhetoric and unrestrained Twitter activity. “Everything he does is outrageous,” said construction worker David Turner, who voted for Trump. Registered Republican Brian Rush was hesitant to pass judgment on Trump, who took office eight months ago, and expressed a more hopeful outlook. “It is short into his term, and I’m hoping things can turn around,” said Rush, who works as a sales representative and views the presidency favorable “from a business side.” The voters described the current state of the world as “chaotic,” “shameful” and “tense.” “It’s just scary,” said Christina Lees, an independent Republican-leaning voter. “There’s so much more anger and hostility in the world nowadays than there was even five years ago.” University President Claire E. Sterk said the series will help Americans engage in difficult conversations, according to the press release. “We cannot begin to address the most divisive challenges facing our nation without first taking the time to listen to the broad range of opinions and experiences across the nation,” Sterk said. The series schedule has not yet been finalized, Associate Vice President of Media Relations Nancy Seideman said.
— Contact Seungeun Cho at Seungeun.cho@emory.edu
Sorority in Good Standing With Emory Continued from Page 1 of Public Relations Jason Gomez declined to state what prompted the investigation and potential consequences of the investigation, citing confidentiality and members’ privacy. Tri Delta is in good standing with Emory, according to Director of Sorority and Fraternity Life Marlon Gibson. He said that Emory University has not begun its own investigation into the sorority. “There’s no need to start an investigation,” Gibson said when the Wheel asked why Emory hasn’t started a probe. Gomez wrote in an email to the Wheel that Tri Delta has been on probation and chapter activities have been
The Emory Wheel
ceased since July. Gibson said that the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life has been working with the national headquarters of Tri Delta “probably since March.” The relationship between Emory’s Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life and the Tri Delta Executive Office has gone “very well,” according to Gibson. He said that Sullivan flew to Atlanta Thursday to meet with him. Elissa Gildenhorn (18B), who is listed as the chapter president on Emory’s website, said she is no longer a member and declined an interview. Michelle Lou contributed reporting.
— Contact Richard Chess at rchess@emory.edu
help for her cousin, who had been stuck in a home with 15 other adults and four children. Eventually, rescuers came — but not for her cousin. Rescuers were so overwhelmed with relief efforts around the area that they were forced to only take children, Guillen said. The rescuers informed the adults that not only were they not going to come back for them later, but also that they would be forced to open a channel that would flood over the neighborhood soon, according to Guillen. And although Guillen’s cousin was eventually rescued, reports by CNN and The Atlantic showed that her cousin was not alone in dealing with issues from the city’s infrastructure and layout. At times while she was frantically trying to get help for her friends and family, Guillen felt helpless. A friend who was stranded in a makeshift shed with his father and two dogs had powered off their phones to save battery, and when Guillen called the Coast Guard on their behalf, she was met with a lack of help. Even after explaining the situation — the shed had begun flooding and their phones were turned off — the Coast Guard told Guillen, “Well, I’m sorry, but they need to call … You’re just going to have to wait for them to call,” according to Guillen. Eventually Guillen’s friend and his father made it to safety. In a statement to CNN, the Coast Guard said “Coast Guard first responders were faced with an overwhelming request for assistance due to Hurricane Harvey. On-scene rescue crews made determinations based upon emergent factors (i.e. immediate,
life-threatening situations) and the conditions faced on the scene.” Though some residents took shelter with friends and family, others found no other alternative to “living in a football stadium or church … for now,” Eshbaugh said. Both Guillen and Eshbaugh are trying to help residents of Texas from Atlanta.
“They lost everything.” — Jamie Guillen (19C) and Daniel Eshbaugh (20C)
Guillen has set up a donation bin outside of her dorm room in URC Building C, room 105, to collect baby formula, cleaning supplies, toiletries, food and water, and said that the Emory student community has shown support, though she encountered difficulties when trying to put donation bins around campus. She expressed frustration that Michael Kloss, chief of staff for the Office of the President, denied on behalf of University President Claire E. Sterk her request to Sterk to put donations bins around campus. Although Eshbaugh lives in Austin and his family wasn’t directly affected, he said he has friends in Texas who lost everything. The Sophomore Advisor (SA) for The Complex set up “Change for Change,” a competition where residents can donate change to a Residence Advisor’s (RA) or SA’s
cup in hopes of getting their RA or SA of choice pied in the face. Eshbaugh said he felt a tremendous amount of support from other staff members and residents. Residents from other halls are also encouraged to join the competition, which will last through Friday night. “I’m trying to figure out a weekend that I can go home because my brothers have been doing a lot of stuff in Houston — driving around a boat, pulling people out of houses,” Eshbaugh added. Emory’s Office of Government and Community Affairs sent Emory shirts to Houston in response to University of Houston Basketball Coach Kelvin Sampson’s donation request for clean clothing, according to a Sept. 1 tweet from the office. In addition, the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing “has put out a call for support for those affected by Hurricane Harvey’s terrible devastation,” according to Kathryn Kite, the senior associate director and programs administrative director of the Lillian Carter Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility at the nursing school. As Texas begins the transition from rain and rescue efforts to recovery, Hurricane Irma, a strengthening Category 5 hurricane, moves towards the U.S., including Florida and Puerto Rico, which both declared a state of emergency, according to the Washington Post. Experts predict that its impact could be just as detrimental as Harvey’s. According to an AJC report, Georgia could see effects from Irma as early as next Monday.
— Contact Christina Yan at christina.yan@emory.edu