3.16.2016

Lassa Fever A patient who contracted the Lassa virus in Togo will be treated at Emory University Hospital. P. 4

The Chainsmokers

to headline Dooley’s Week

P. 6 ‘Zootopia’

Softball hits 20 homeruns on their way to the UAA title. P. 25 SPORTs:

Politics and pop culture should mix and mingle; don’t be afraid of politicians-turnedcelebrities. P. 12 OPINION:

EMORY LIFE: Participating

in Emory’s Barkley Forum affects many aspects of students’ lives. P. 18

“The writing is also incredibly clever and truly an ambitious undertaking.”

Arts & Entertainment, P. 16

The Independent Student-Run Newspaper of Emory University Since 1919

VOL. 97 ISSUE 21 March 16, 2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS March 16, 2016 NEWS

NEWS

OPINION

4 Emory midtown hospital admits lassa fever patient

7 Emory gradute schools maintain Top Rankings

10 A call for a responsive legislature

5 Drug scam costs university health system millions

8 Rose library obtains abolition text

11 Letter from the editor

6 The chainsmokers named dooley’s week headliner

9 panel adresses asian-american mental health

12 politics and pop culture: two worlds collide 13 Age and alcohol: how young is old enough?

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

SPORTS

EMORY LIFE

14 x ambassadors talk spontaneity, willingness to experiment

22 softball team wins uaas

18 Barkley forum receives two first round bids to national debate tournament

23 emory nearly misses uaa championship, ties for second 16 ‘zootopia’ is ambitious, beautiful and a little too muddled 24 men’s tennis wins stag-hen invitational 17 cirque du soleil’s ‘kurios’ embraces steampunk, possesses dexterity

20 a personal account of dear world live at emory

24 women’s tennis splits road trip

21 graduate students break down science in new podcast

25 golf team defends uaa title

Cover photos courtesy of the New York Times (top), iaam.com (middle), Emory Athletics (bottom left) and Walt Disney Animation Studios Movies (bottom right)

EDITORIAL BOARD ZACHARY HUDAK | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF JULIA MUNSLOW EXECUTIVE EDITOR

SAMUEL R. BUDNYK MANAGING EDITOR

ELANA CATES MANAGING EDITOR business and advertising

News Editors Anwesha Guha Emily Sullivan Opinion Editor Brandon Wagner Sports Editor Jacob Durst

Senior Layout Editor Hayley Silverstein Social Media Editor Dana Youngentob Photo Editor Ruth Reyes

Digital Editors Brandon Fuhr Morgan Roberts Special Sections Editor Olivia Shuler Asst. Copy Chief Michelle Lou

Arts & Entertainment Editor Hannah Conway

Video Directors Hagar Elsayed Leila Yavari

Asst. News Editor Namrata Verghese

Emory Life Editor Alisha Compton

Senior Digital Editor Tarrek Shaban

Asst. Sports Editor Avery Yang

ALLEN HSIN | BUSINESS MANAGER BEN MOORE | SALES MANAGER BRYCE ROBERTSON | BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Assistant Sales Manager: Brittany Fales Design Managers: Dami Kim, Alyssa Polskensky Sales Associates: Ifrah Khan, David Schupper, Celeste Leonard, Junior Hailu, Chris Diglio Office Assistant: Justine Schoenbart

Business / Advertising Office Number (404) 727-6178

ANWESHA GUHA AND EMILY SULLIVAN | EDITORS NAMRATA VERGHESE | ASST. EDITOR

Emory Hospital admits Lassa fever patient Lauren Balotin | Staff Writer lauren.paige.balotin@emory.edu

T

his weekend, Emory University Hospital’s Serious Communicable Diseases Unit (SCDU) admitted a patient who has been confirmed to have Lassa fever, an endemic and viral illness that causes symptoms which resemble those of Ebola virus, according to a March 11 University press release.

The U.S. State Department requested that Emory receive the patient, who had been working as a missionary in Togo, West Africa, according to the release. Representatives from Emory Hospital refused to identify the patient to maintain confidentiality.

SCDU, a biocontainment unit that manages serious infectious diseases, will treat the patient, whose

ted to the individual, according to the CDC. About 80 percent of Lassa fever virus infections are mild, but about 15 to 20 percent of those hospitalized for the virus (one percent of all Lassa infections) result in death, according to the CDC. In 2014, Emory announced that the SCDU had successfully treated and discharged four patients diagnosed with the Ebola virus, which causes symptoms similar to those of Lassa fever. However, Lassa fever is less likely to be transmitted between individuals and has a lower death rate than Ebola, according to the CDC. Colleen Kraft, an Emory assistant professor of medicine and specialist in the fields of pathology and infectious diseases, said that the SCDU team’s

Microscope view of Lassa virus | Courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

condition of Lassa fever virus was confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on March 13, according to a CNN article.

Lassa disease is characterized by minor symptoms, such as fever, headaches and weakness, as well as more severe symptoms, such as vomiting, permanent hearing loss, neurological tremors, swelling, respiratory distress and encephalitis, according to the CDC’s website. Symptoms usually occur one to three weeks after the virus is transmit-

experiences treating Ebola virus patients may be helpful while treating the current Lassa virus patient, given that he or she has symptoms similar to Ebola.

She also noted the significance of such treatment experience. “[The SCDU] is going to do [similar treatments] more often, and our hospitals here are ready for that,” she said.

She added that the U.S. State Department made

the decision to treat the patient in the United States rather than Africa, a choice with which and Emory was not directly involved.

Treatment experience is also relevant when it comes to diagnosing patients. The Lassa patient’s diagnosis was not initially confirmed when the patient arrived at SCDU, an uncertainty that is not out of the ordinary, according to the University press release.

“Because the symptoms of Lassa fever are so varied and nonspecific, clinical diagnosis is often difficult,” according to the CDC. The website also said that Lassa virus can be transmitted through direct contact with an infected rodent, Mastomys natalensis, which is more commonly known as the “multimammate rat,” through exposure to secretions or excretions of another individual infected with the virus, or through direct infection via exposure to one’s blood or tissue. Lassa virus is not an airborne virus and cannot be spread through casual contact.

The virus is usually transmitted in West African countries, such as Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria, according to the CDC. Although the CDC estimates that 5,000 individuals in West Africa die from the virus each year, there have been several cases of the virus in the United States. Most recently, the CDC, in conjunction with the New Jersey Department of Health, confirmed a death due to Lassa fever in May 2015 of an individual returning from travel in Liberia.

This was the sixth known occurrence of the virus in the United States since 1969, according to a CDC press release.

However, Kraft said that there should not be fear of contagion from the Lassa virus patient, noting that Emory’s hospital has prepared a secure location and personal protective equipment for the patient and his or her treatment, including specialized clothing for hospital employees who will work directly with the patient.

Any concern should lie with travelers who encounter viruses abroad but are undiagnosed and unaware of their condition, Kraft said.

“We always say that the risk is not the known, but the unknown.”

03.16.16 xx.xx.2015

5

Drug scam costs University health system millions Anwesha Guha | News Editor anwesha.guha@emory.edu

E

mory University Hospital Midtown’s pharmacy has been placed on probation by the Georgia State Board of Pharmacy for an employee drug diversion scheme that allowed millions of doses of opiates and other addictive drugs to be stolen to be stolenover a a five-year period period.

Stolen drugs included 1.2 million doses of hydrocodone with acetaminophen, an opioid painkiller; 400,000 doses of alprazolam, trade name Xanax, which is used to treat anxiety; and 110 gallons of promethazine with codeine, which is a cough syrup with an added opioid, according to the Georgia Drugs and Narcotics Agency.

Promethazine with codeine can be combined with soda and Jolly Ranchers to make “purple drank,” a drink

Courtesy of WABE

which is then sipped until euphoria and dissociation occur, according to Narconon.

Georgia Drugs and Narcotics Agency Executive Director Rick Allen hypothesized that these drugs may have contributed significantly to the illegal prescription drug trade in the region. “[Thefts like this have] happened before, but not at this volume,” said Allen, a 40-year veteran of the agency. “We’ve had this happen at various places around the whole state, but not this quantity.”

According to the Georgia Board of Pharmacy consent order, the Emory Midtown hospital “suffered significant financial losses due to the employees’ illegal thefts/diversion scheme.” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) estimated the losses to be between $20

million and $40 million.

“They should have known,” Allen told the AJC. “You’re talking a massive amount of drugs out there. It boggles the mind.”

The scheme was discovered only when Emory Midtown changed its financial accounting system in 2013.

Emory Healthcare, having noticed spending discrepancies, reached out to the Georgia Drugs and Narcotics Agency for an investigation.

The thieves exploited a weakness in the security protocol surrounding purchase of prescription drugs, masking illegal orders with legitimate ones, Allen told the AJC. “If they’ve been doing this for a five years [sic] period — wow, they probably made quite a bit of money,” Executive Director of the National Associa-

tion of Drug Diversion Investigators Charlie Cichon told the AJC. Two pharmacy technicians have since been fired for the thefts but Allen suspects at least three employees and other members of the administration may have been involved, based on his investigation so far.

Representatives from Emory Midtown had not responded to inquiries from the Wheel as of press time.

Regardless, Allen said the investigation has become less proactive recently.

“We’re waiting on the prosecutor’s office to talk to us to see what they need – if we need to do more or if they have enough to make a decision,” Allen said.

The Office of the Fulton County District Attorney did not respond to inquiries from the Wheel as of press time.

NEWS

The Chainsmokers named Dooley’s Week headliner Emily Sullivan | News Editor emily.sullivan@emory.edu

T

he Chainsmokers will perform on Saturday, April 9 and bring this year’s Dooley’s Week, themed “Dooleywood,” to a close, according to an official announcement made by Student Programming Council (SPC) in a YouTube video.

SPC reached an agreement with The Chainsmokers’ agency, Creative Arts Agency, on Wednesday, March 9, according to SPC Dooley’s Week Co-Chair and Goizueta Business School senior Max Mayblum. “[This agreement] was one of the easiest negotiations I’ve been a part of,” he said, adding that The Chainsmokers had been SPC’s first choice.

Unlike in previous years, the decision to negotiate a contract with a particular artist involved direct student feedback. Through online surveys, SPC received 300 to 400 student responses that included students’ music preferences as well as their opinions on past Dooley’s Week performers, according to Mayblum. “We made sure to go out of our way to find out what people like,” he said.

Mayblum said that SPC members began the artist selection process in December, when they reached out to various agencies in California and New York. Those agencies suggested “hot” artists looking to perform at colleges.

Because of privacy and legal issues, and to prevent the spread of rumors, the negotiation process was kept internal and confidential, he added. Only Mayblum, Dooley’s Week Co-Chair and College senior Julia Baker and SPC Advisor and Assistant Director of the Emory Integrity Project Rebecca Shetty spoke directly to the agencies from the start of the process, he said.

From talking with the agencies, Mayblum, Baker and Shetty compiled a list of hundreds of potential performers, Mayblum said.

According to Mayblum, he, Baker and Shetty then reviewed feedback from the student surveys to narrow down the artist choices. They generated a final list of about 10 names with The Chainsmokers at the top, he said.

Although J. Cole raised the bar headlining Dooley’s Week last year, Mayblum said that he is confident that students will be excited about this year’s choice.

“We’ve done more to cater toward everyone,” he said, adding that his main goal is “getting everyone involved and providing a week of energy, spirit and excitement that really galvanizes the student body.”

Some students immediately conveyed their excitement for this year’s headline performance.

“I’m ecstatic,” College junior Evan Reilly said.

“I’m over the moon. They’re huge, and I couldn’t think of anyone better to be here.”

College sophomore Sariyah Benoit expressed disappointment in SPC’s choice of artist.

“At first, I was disappointed because I thought it was gonna be the signature rap or hip-hop artist,” she said. She added that SPC has not done a sufficient job of catering to different groups of students, such as students of color and students “who are not interested in listening to that repetitive, headbanging, jumping, whatever the hell that music is,” she said. “Either way, it’s all just very disappointing.”

Communication and negotiation were also main considerations for Goizueta Business School juniors Emi Warner and Marisa Hann, who said that they reached out to a variety of student organizations to increase inclusion and participation during Dooley’s Week.

Hann and Warner said that they initially reached out to between 30 and 40 student organizations in January to establish partnerships for Dooley’s Week events and programs.

“SPC should be a representation of the entire school,” Warner said. “Pretty much everyone we’ve been truly engaged with has followed through.”

Hann said that with some organizations, “establishing that initial communication was hard.” She explained that some organizations’ representatives were confused and assumed that SPC was asking for donations rather than a collaborative partnership. However, Hann and

Warner said that they genuinely want to achieve an extra emphasis on student involvement this year.

The schedule as it stands now includes many programs and events led by student organizations that have partnered with SPC. Among these organizations are Emory’s Indian Cultural Exchange (ICE), The Pulse, Black Student Alliance (BSA) and Latino Student Organization (LSO). “[Outreach to organizations] has never been such a focus in SPC and now we’ve made it our sole focus, pretty much,” Warner said.

ICE will kick off Dooley’s Week with SPC on Monday, April 4, at 5 p.m. with a collaboration titled “Dooley’s Week Premiere.” This event will include food and music in Asbury Circle, according to Warner. A screening of Gunhill Road will follow this event and will be held in Harland

Courtesy

of

The Chainsmokers

7

03.16.16 Cinema under the leadership of the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Life.

On Tuesday at 5 p.m., “Taste of Emory” will bring different vendors to McDonough Field, including Pizza Bella, King of Pops and Shake Shack. Following this annual program, TableTalk, The Pulse and Literature is Alive will sponsor “Couchella,” which will allow Emory students to sign up to perform and showcase different arts talents. NBC Universal will also hold an advanced screening of The Huntsman: Winter’s War in White Hall. “[Outside vendors] basically come to us,” Hann said, adding that such advanced screenings act as a source of publicity for upcoming films.

SPC will hold a program titled “Old Hollywood” on Wednesday, Hann said. Additionally, on Wednesday, there will be a showcase featuring hiphop dance groups, as well as other performances from multicultural dance groups. BSA will host a screening of Love Jones later in the evening.

Thursday will feature “throwback” movies in Harland Cinema and a concert on McDonough Field at 8 p.m. This performer’s contract has not yet been signed, but the artist was also SPC’s first choice out of

its selection of artists to perform on Thursday, Hann said.

“It can go back and forth a couple times,” Warner said, referring to the performer contracts.

“For weeks,” Hann added. “Even just negotiating

“We’ve done more to cater toward everyone ... [the main goal] is getting everyone involved and providing a week of energy, spirit and excitement that really galvanizes the student body.”

– Max Mayblum, SPC Dooley’s Week cochair and Goizueta Business School senior the cost can take three to four weeks.” She said that insurance requirements are one of many major

considerations during negotiations.

From 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday night, LSO will host “Noche de Mascaras” in the Cox Hall Ballroom.

This year’s comedian, whose contract has not yet been settled, will also perform on Friday; Glenn Memorial Church doors will open at 7 p.m. “I think we’ve been putting more and more effort into bringing great comedians,” Mayblum said.

He added that the most noticeable difference between this Dooley’s Week and last year’s Dooley’s Week is scheduling.

Normally, the comedian performs on Thursday and the first concert occurs on Friday.

Hann said the change is “really good for risk management purposes,” because students will no longer attend two concerts in a two-day span.

A block party will occur on Saturday on sorority and fraternity lawns from 3 to 5 p.m., followed by The Chainsmokers’ performance.

“We’ve had such a smooth process so far,” Hann said.

“I think the students are going to be pumped.” She added that as soon as the artist contracts are signed, SPC will let students know who will be performing.

Emory graduate schools maintain top rankings Namrata Verghese | Asst. News Editor namrata.susan.verghese@emory.edu

S

everal Emory University graduate schools and programs, notably Emory’s nursing, business and medical schools, improved or maintained their previous year’s rankings in U.S. News & World Report’s 2017 edition of its “Best Graduate Schools” guide.

Graduate Schools Emory’s schools of business, law, nursing and public health retained their number one rankings in Georgia from last year in each of their respective categories. Similarly, the Rollins School of Public Health maintained its status as seventh in the nation and the School of Medicine remains 23rd among U.S. research-oriented medical schools. The

School of Medicine moved to the 29th ranked among medical schools with regards to primary care preparation, a significant improvement over last year, when it was ranked 42nd in the nation.

The Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing’s master’s program advanced to eight in the nation, in contrast to last year, when it was tenth. The school’s MSN Family Nurse Practitioner program ranked tenth.

“It is beyond gratifying to be a part of such a focused, driven, committed, and highly talented team of faculty, staff, and students here at the School of Nursing,” Dean of the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing wrote in an email to the Wheel. “Being ranked among the top nursing schools is an

extremely competitive and rigorous process. We are honored to receive this external validation of the quality of our academic programs.”

Goizueta Business School’s full-time MBA and its part-time MBA programs received higher rankings this year.

The full-time MBA program is 19th, up from last year’s 21st and the parttime MBA program is thirteenth, up from last year’s fifteenth. However, Emory Law School’s ranking dropped from ninteenth to 22nd in the nation.

Graduate Programs For the tenth consecutive year, Emory and Georgia Tech’s joint Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. has been ranked second in the nation.

As in last year’s rankings, Emory School of Medicine’s Physician Assistant Program is third nationwide, with its Division of Physical Therapy ranking fifth.

Emory’s Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology, which is housed in the Laney Graduate School, has been ranked for the first time this year, and is 11th in the nation.

“Emory’s graduate and professional programs are enhanced by their presence within a major research university with the liberal arts at its center,” Emory Provost Claire Sterk said in a press release. “Our students have an unparalleled opportunity to work with scholars and researchers in transforming their fields for the common good.”

NEWS

ANWESHA GUHA AND EMILY SULLIVAN | EDITORS NAMRATA VERGHESE | ASST. EDITOR

Rose Library obtains abolition text

Emory’s Rose Library after renovations | Jason Oh, Staff Photographer

(MARBL)’s Curator of Research Randall Burkett, only half a dozen early copies exist, and only two known first editions can be found in non-personal libraries.

Asst. News Editor The Rose Library recently obtained a rare, previously namrata.susan.verghese@emory.edu unknown seventh copy of the pamphlet’s first edition that was owned and signed by prominent black intelcall upon you therefore to cast your eyes upon lectual and leader, W. E. B. Du Bois.

“The recently acquired edition is a valuable resource the wretchedness of your brethren, and to do your utmost to enlighten them,” David Walker for understanding African-American social and powrote in his 1829 anti-slavery pamphlet, Appeal to the litical history and its relevance to the ongoing struggle Colored Citizens of the World, the first attack on slav- against racism that continues to this day,” Rose Library ery and racism authored by a black man, and one of the Associate Director Jennifer Meehan said.

Rosemary Magee, the director of the Rose Library, said that Walker’s pamphlet will “provide an added “It is as important for African dimension to the Rose Library’s collections, especially that it was the copy used by W. E. B. Du Bois.”

American political and social history given She noted that Du Bois made several observations in as Thomas Paine’s Rights of Man; it is the margins of the pamphlet, and even referred to it a demand for freedom and a call to in his autobiography, Dusk of Dawn, praising it as a “tremendous indictment of slavery.” arms.”

“With [Du Bois’] name on the volume and with other notes, we can begin to see how it may have in– Pellom McDaniels III, Rose Library curator fluenced the development of his own thinking,” Magee of African American Collections, courtesy of said.

The New York Times Walker’s call for the immediate abolition of slavery and demand for equal rights, unprecedented for black authors, was so revolutionary for his time that Rose Limost influential documents of the nineteenth century. brary Curator of African American Collections Pellom Today, Walker’s pamphlet is a highly sought-after item. According to the Emory University’s Stuart A. McDaniels III dubbed it “a landmark of political proRose Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library test and eloquent articulation of the demand for freedom for people of African descent in the United States”

Namrata Verghese

“I

Text by David Walker | Courtesy of Emory News

in a statement to The New York Times.

“It is as important for African American political and social history as Thomas Paine’s Rights of Man; it is a demand for freedom and a call to arms,” McDaniels III said.

Kevin Young, Rose Library curator of Literary Collections and Raymond Danowski Poetry Library, said in a statement to The New York Times that the pamphlet constitutes part of a larger-scale legacy. “The book is testament to a line of black protest and prophecy that stretches from Walker to Du Bois to #blacklivesmatter,” he said. “Seeing it and the markings, it’s almost as if Du Bois’ lines in the text make that literal.”

Magee echoed a similar sentiment, and said that the pamphlet’s connection to the legacy of black protest cements its relevance to contemporary society.

“This moment is connected with other historical moments as people continue to seek answers to questions about freedom, identity, community and responsibility through debate and social action,” she said.

Magee said she is certain the pamphlet will contribute significantly to the Rose Library’s “tremendous strength in materials related to African American history and culture.” According to her, its inherent literary, historical and political significance is augmented when coupled with the fact that it is the oldest example of MARBL’s extensive collection of material published by black authors.

“It is part of a remarkable collection that includes materials from before Shakespeare’s time through the present,” she said.

9

03.16.16

Panel addresses Asian-American mental health Doris Zhou | Contributing Writer doris.zhou@emory.edu

“I

have a Ph.D. in neuroscience, but my grandparents are still hoping for me to become a [medical] doctor,” said Research Associate Andrew Kazama at Real Talk, the fourth annual panel-based discussion with students and faculty about Asian-American mental health issues in higher education. To an audience of roughly 100 students, most of whom were of Asian backgrounds, Kazama noted that, as an Asian American, “you have someone projecting onto you how you should be.”

This year’s event, held on March 3 and co-hosted at the Harland Cinema by Xi Kappa, Active Minds and the Asian Student Organization, aimed to highlight the voices of Asian-American students at Emory and the problems they face both on campus and in society, according to Yuxuan Chen, College senior and president of the Asian-interest fraternity Xi Kappa.

Office of Health Production Assistant Director and keynote speaker Marc Cordon kicked off the event with a presentation on his personal experiences as a Filipino American with regards to the effects of superimposed societal pressure, after which the panelists began their own discussion on the topic, responding to both preplanned and audience questions.

The panel, which was comprised of Senior Vice President and Dean of Campus Life Ajay Nair, Assistant Director of Student Conduct Victoria Chan, Kazama and guest speakers from Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), relayed personal anecdotes about their own personal difficulties as AsianAmericans with mental health pressures, familial and societal pressures and resisting following the stereotypical career paths in medicine, law or engineering.

Drawing upon his dissertation work on identity with regard to Korean American students, Associate Director of Academic Advising Frank Gaertner noted that Asian-Americans who grow up in predominately white communities tend to minimize their “Asian-ness.”

Continuing on this theme, Chan discussed how Asians and Asian Americans face identity challenges based upon her own personal experiences. She described the gap that often exists between international and domestic Asian students and how this often interfaced with her feeling of not being “Asian enough.”

Nair, after considering both perspectives, argued

that there is no such thing as an “authentic” Asian or an “authentic” American. Rather, he stated that he believes that students can craft for themselves what it means to be Asian American and decide their own identity.

“There is a way you can experience different parts of your identity without it being such a zero-sum game,” agreed CAPS Counselor and Associate Director of Outreach Jane Yang, who participated as a guest speaker in the panel.

Students unfortunately struggle with transitioning and embracing different parts of their identity, Kazama said. He said that his family members tend to rely on one another for support and would never consider seeing mental health professionals. Because the family network is often cut off in college, Kazama advised students instead to “seek help and understand that you need to find support.”

Describing the particular mental health issues of Asian Americans in college, Chen added that Asian Americans are more likely to have suicidal thoughts than white Americans (according to the American Psychological Association), yet are less likely to seek assistance or self-disclose their mental health problems due to familial or cultural stigma.

Nair and Yang both advocated student activism.

Yang said that a student “got [East] Asian Studies classes to happen at Emory” 20 years ago. “We need your voices at the table, not only to drive us but to keep [the administration] in check,” Yang continued.

In order to help Asian-American students break out of their cultural restraints, Nair also called for the Asian-American community to band together and mobilize, much as the Black Students of Emory did earlier this year by releasing a list of demands for Emory administrators to address. He asked for AsianAmerican students to examine society, consider the Black Lives Matter movement and reflect on how it affects them as well.

“This is an opportunity for us to join hand-in-hand and fight these things that have a huge impact on our experience at Emory,” he said. “There is attention being paid to the systemic problems,” particularly in regards to Asian-American culture and mental health.

“It’s easy to struggle in silence,” Yang added. “We need to create a culture of vulnerability, where it’s

okay to talk about struggle and help each other.”

Chan described her personal experience, saying that she always considered herself a “strong woman” and personally opposed seeking help, partly because of cultural and familial reasons, but was convinced to see a counselor after a “traumatic incident” and found that it significantly improved her health.

Chan also addressed the issue of finding counselors to whom Asian and Asian-American students can relate. “Where I’m at right now, I do want to see someone who looks like me, who understands my struggle,” she said.

“We do have opportunities here at Emory, unlike other institutions, where students can access staff with shared experiences,” Nair said, referring to both CAPS counselors in attendance (Collins and Yang), among other faculty members.

Nair said that Emory’s administration is carrying out structural reforms, such as attempts to diversify faculty in order to remedy this issue, but he also added that there is no easy solution. However, Nair did emphasize that “there is attention being paid to the systemic problems [at Emory].”

Chan said that she plans to continue advocating for Asian-American students and mental health by supporting more events like Real Talk and working with student organizations. Moreover, she expressed interest in training administrators to understand Asian culture.

John Wang, a College sophomore who attended the event, referred to the Black Students of Emory’s demands and said that despite having a larger population on campus, Asian-American students are not nearly as vocal in demanding change. He supported Real Talk as an event that would allow Asian-American students to speak out. However, while the panel was a start to the Asian-American mental health conversation, “there is much more to the issues that a one hour panel can’t cover.”

Outside of the panel, Gaertner said that while he does not attempt to interpret his students’ experiences for them, he does try to share more activist-like posts on Facebook to let his often-quiet Asian students know that “it is okay to speak up.”

“If students ask for change, we will do our best to put it into action,” he said.

OPINION

BRANDON WAGNER | EDITOR

Staff Editorial

A call for a responsive legislature O

n March 11, a bill passed through the Georgia State Senate amidst a torrent of controversy, further catalyzing an already contentious, longstanding public debate. HB 859 makes radical changes to Georgia gun law by legalizing the concealed carry of handguns at all public postsecondary institutions.

Actions and ideas which we perceive suspect will always be subject to due scrutiny. HB 859, regardless of its current inapplicability to private institutions like Emory University, necessitates discussion and dissent.

As the bill is currently written, the legislative body has failed to craft a solution that alleviates a growing anxiety over safety on college campuses that has been expressed repeatedly by faculty, students and their parents alike.

Fear should not be the basis of law, and law not the cause of fear.

The legislature’s chosen course of action is just that.

To be clear, there is an undeniable right for all those on public grounds to enjoy a feeling of security. It is understandable that some identify this feeling with an necessity to increase the proliferation of firearms for self-defense; however, countless studies have indicated a contrary reality. More guns are neither sufficient nor necessary to ensure this right.

To be issued a concealed carry permit in the state of Georgia, an individual is required to demonstrate technical proficiency in firearm use.

What the individual is not necessarily trained or prepared for is the panic and chaos of an active shooter.

The addition of someone who does not have said training to

such a scenario could only confuse and make chaotic a situation that does not need extra chaos or confusion.

An effective and adaptable police force on campus is better suited to prevent future national and individual tragedies.

More training, better developed response plans and improved communications systems on campus are potentially more effective methods to improve the outcomes of real attacks and reduce the fears of potential ones. Adding more guns is not.

Speaking as a group of college students, the presence of guns on campus would not contribute to a safe atmosphere.

The mere idea that any person who is 21 or older and holds a permit could be armed on campus without the necessary and proper vetting of community officers is deleterious to the college learning experience and the safety of students, faculty and staff.

Further, increasing the presence of and access to guns on campus would contribute to an actively unsafe environment.

Heated arguments between people can quickly become deadly when passion and impulse are paired with a deadly weapon.

A machine designed to kill is not something that should be added to an environment that encourages disagreement and discussion on contentious issues.

The Georgia legislature has not put the interests of college students at the forefront of its efforts, nor has it demonstrated a proper, nuanced understanding of the necessary means of creating a safer campus atmosphere. We urge Governor Nathan Deal to veto this bill and make paramount students’ safety.

Fear should not be the basis of law, and law not the cause of fear.

The above staff editorial represents the majority opinion of the Wheel’s editorial board.

03.16.16

#GreensboroNow

11

letter from the editor D

ear readers of The Emory Wheel, My name is Brandon Wagner. For those of you who don’t know me, I’ve worked in the Arts & Entertainment section for some time, bringing you an inordinate amount of film reviews, TV talks and general discussion on the world of narrative media. While that won’t be stopping, I’ve taken on the role of interim Opinion editor (interim because I’ll be leaving this fine establishment for the real world in May).

I don’t pretend that I don’t know what I’m getting myself into. In fact, that’s part of the reason I’m here.

Even before I was gifted this opportunity, I heard a lot of what you had to say about this section, and I heard it loud and clear.

A section that should be a voice of which the Emory community is proud ended up courting controversy without knowledge or grace. A section that should challenge ideas became a shouting match over the same five or six issues.

Most of all, I know many students feel that this section has not reinforced the skill or quality of writing that exists within the Emory community. Few things are more important to me than good writing from strong voices, and if this section does not reflect that, then we have not done our job.

To that end, I first promise change on our part. My team and I will be editing with the highest standard, crafting and cultivating what our writers give to us into a work that is identifiably theirs and that they absolutely can be proud of.

We will work to improve the writers who come in and write for us, and we hope that you all will see the results. We will be seeking out unique and interesting writers to bring perspectives to this section that have not been previously presented. We will make sure that individuals are speaking for themselves, not on behalf of interests beyond them.

We will make sure this section truly reflects what Emory students have to say about what affects Emory, including with reference to issues of student governance and administrative disagreement, issues in the broader city of Atlanta and issues we deal with on a daily basis at the Emory.

National and international issues alike will remain, but within the context of the unique abilities and ideas of Emory students.

In short, we will run this section better. We will make the Opinion section something that we can defend without question even on its most controversial days and that we will never need to defend on its best days.

But that’s going to require your help, too. We can only put on this page what you contribute. If you’ve never contributed before, never felt comfortable contributing or never thought that you could, you’re the kind of voice that we’re looking for.

Is there something that’s always bugged you? Is there something you’ve been yelling about for years but without a platform from which you could be heard? Do you read The New Yorker or The Atlantic and fantasize about writing for them? You’re the kind of person that we’re looking for.

We’re here to help and make the discussion at Emory better, but it all starts with you. Speak up, speak out. It’s the best way to make a change, and my request of you. Help us make a change for the good of us all.

Help us create a place for the voice of Emory.

Sincerely,

Brandon Wagner

Elena Margarella | College Freshman Tampa, Florida

A

s our nation stands at the threshold of another presidential election, we face the significant responsibility of selecting the candidate who is best fit to lead our country. To help the selection process, most of us (hopefully) pay a little more attention to the world of politics than we usually do during nonelection years. And it’s difficult not to pay attention.

During an election year, politics saturates the media.

Politicians, especially presidential candidates, gain a sort of celebrity status and the world of politics merges with the world of entertainment commercialism.

Meme-making becomes a hobby, Saturday Night Live (SNL) sketches grow increasingly political and social media turns into the main outlet for political grievances, encouragements and promotions. As concerned citizens, we attend to the media. We watch debates. We read articles, editorials and angry Facebook posts. We engage in impassioned discussions — sometimes without even meaning to do so — with friends, families and enemies.

And as the years roll on, it seems even more evident that politics has evolved into a form of popular culture.

We mix business and pleasure. While that notion might seem daunting or inappropriate, it’s true — and it’s not something that we should fear.

America’s obsession with popular culture is undeniable, but it’s not shameful, though the older generations and hipsters might disagree. The political world and the pop world do not need to be mutually exclusive in order

for either to be functioning cogs in the American machine. I believe that the gradual yet substantial interaction of these two worlds is indeed advantageous.

Our nation is granted the undeniable skill of not only creating fame but also maintaining a “mainstream” — a collection of what people are talking about in the here and now.

This process of “celebritizing” ... brings the government closer to the American people.

If something captures the nation’s attention, it goes viral. The mainstream is only maintained by the people’s attention — if nobody cares, the mainstream spits it out.

This all-encompassing compilation of knowledge — non-discriminatory towards the subjects it swallows up and digests — stands as a major political asset. America needs people to care about politics, to care about government and its operations, because the investment

that we give to pop culture can be the engagement we give to politics.

Humans possess the powerful ability to empathize, and thanks to that, the limits of an individual’s capacity to care can be immense. Through the power of popular culture, a person can care about someone without ever meeting him or her (i.e. a celebrity) and care about issues that aren’t in one’s immediate control. This drive to care is not something from which America should shy away — it’s quite a great quality to instill in a citizenry and something we should encourage.

We should therefore always make sure that we invest the same energy and interest into America’s political culture as we do popular culture. In some ways, Americans have already done this. As mentioned previously, the two worlds now interact in a rather regular manner — the relationship between the two has gradually grown stronger, as evidenced by the amount of politics we see in media and in daily life, especially with the advent of social media that makes political opinion and engagement a neverending stream on your phone.

Indeed, the political/popular love affair isn’t a recent marvel but a reality that has been going on for decades, and has only grown.

Social media websites, like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, allow us to follow everyone from politicians to analysts to comedians at the touch of a button — we can keep up with them and the Kardashians at the same time. At political rallies, conventions and other social events, the thought of getting a selfie with one of these leaders is enough to hype up the crowds.

This process of “celebritizing” — if I dare call it that — brings government closer to the American people.

Leaders become more accessible to us — they become more human. And while the idea of being human and being a politician might render some clever jokes, it’s an idea that deserves to be spread. Americans deserve to feel like they actually know their leaders. We live in a century that constantly experiences the power of technology and the power of society and government intertwined.

Should the leaders of our government be treated professionally? Absolutely. Becoming a pop culture icon doesn’t absolve any responsibilities to the republic and its people. The status merely enhances one’s ability to represent, listen to and connect with the people. Embracing politics through popular culture helps Americans care about their relationship to government. And Americans need to care.

Graphics by Olivia Shuler, Special Sections Editor

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Ryan Fan | College Freshman Stony Brook, New York

C

ollege is a time of unprecedented freedom and exploration for young adults — a time away from parents and home, a time to take risks. Often, particularly in social situations, alcohol is the primary tool used not only to have fun, but also to make friends. Unfortunately, our culture promotes the perception that we need to get hammered in order to reap the full benefits of alcohol.

In the summer after my senior year of high school, I attended a typical, alcohol-ridden house party. Friends were talking in circles, while other people danced to loud music. By the late night, one of my friends had taken too many shots. He was unconscious, unable to vomit and barely responsive. We tried everything we could think of to help him. Everything, that is, besides the obvious: calling 911. We were all under 21. He made it home safely, but his drunken episode stayed with us.

The severity of the situation didn’t fail to leave us — our friend could have died. No matter what, we had neither the training nor the experience to deal with alcohol poisoning, and we were too concerned with saving ourselves from potential legal trouble to get help from those who could have rectified the situation.

Reflecting on that experience, I wonder: Why were we so reluctant to call emergency services? Why wasn’t there supervision at these parties? Why do people who get incredibly drunk feel the need to binge drink so often? Above all, why has this become so common across the country?

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 90 percent of the alcohol consumed by young people aged 12 to 20 years of age is consumed while binge drinking. We are a society that glamorizes taking several shots as opposed to drinking a beer slowly; a society that uses one’s level of intoxication to measure one’s popularity; a society that

Graphics

by

promotes pre-gaming; a society that advocates the perception that “everyone drinks in college” when approximately 20 percent of students don’t drink at all.

A large part of this problem is that alcohol is mythologized through the legal drinking age of 21. At 16, one can drive in most states. At 18, one can smoke and vote.

So why aren’t we allowed to drink until we’re 21?

The nation’s drinking age is 21 because the U.S. experienced a drunk driving epidemic in the 1970s. During that time, our nation suffered a tremendous increase in alcohol-related car accidents, after the majority of states had set their legal drinking age to 18. In drivers aged 16 to 20, alcohol was involved in two-thirds of car accidents. As a result, Ronald Reagan and organizations like MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) pushed for the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 which set the national drinking age to 21. By July 1988, the minimum legal drinking age was 21 in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

However, the fact that the drinking age is so much higher than the rest of the Western world only makes the idea of drinking more appealing to American

Olivia Shuler, Special Sections Editor

minds. They become curious as to why it’s higher than the other limits, why it’s forbidden for younger people.

By raising the drinking age, alcohol becomes mysteriously enticing; young people perceive an elevated status and believe in it. This dangerous curiosity creates an environment where young people are drinking while unaware of their limits or common safety precautions.

The solution to this is simple: lower the legal drinking age.

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), the number of alcohol-related, unintentional deaths has increased from 1,442 per 100,000 people in 1997 to 1,825 per 100,000 people in 2005 for people in the 18 to 24 age group. Underage partygoers are often reluctant to call 911 or other emergency services when someone has had too much to drink.

People hope that the laws will prevent underage drinking. Despite these hopes, underage drinking will always occur, as the culture created around drinking and the desire for adult-like sociality will always exist to some extent. The laws that neglect these realities have, indirectly, allowed for incredibly unsafe and unhealthy drinking environments. The environments, then, negatively influence one’s choices, which may threaten the lives of those who decide to drink.

A very viable solution to this problem in our youth drinking culture is seen with drinking laws in Texas.

Texan minors are allowed to drink alcohol where alcohol is served and under parental or guardian supervision. The parent or guardian is thus legally responsible for the safety of the minors.

But even if the minimum drinking age were lowered, it is not enough to completely end binge drinking. Ending the binge drinking epidemic isn’t one simple task; it’s one that requires a substantial amount of big steps in many directions. Awareness about the serious consequences of the epidemic must be spread in order to protect the lives of young adults. While lowering the minimum age might take away from the appeal of curiosity, it won’t completely eliminate the abundance of parties in which binge drinking is accepted and actually promoted.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

HANNAH CONWAY | EDITOR

AMBASSA

TALK WIL

Courtesy of Scotch Photos

A

t summer’s end, when the idle pleasures of having no responsibilities turn to boredom and the countdown to the first day of school reaches a state of denial, conversations always turn into a heated debate over which overplayed radio hit should be awarded the winning title of “the song of the summer.”

One of the contenders for summer 2015 was “Renegades” by X Ambassadors, made famous by a Jeep ad campaign. While this points to the commercialism of the music industry, it also speaks volumes to X Ambassadors’ potential as artists. The catchy hook and lyrics — “It’s our time to break the rules/Let’s begin” — evoke the feelings of freedom and invincibility that come during the summertime.

While X Ambassadors only recently gained their footing, their identities as musicians run within their bloodline. Lead singer Sam Harris and keyboardist Casey Harris are brothers from Ithaca, New York. It was there, at their elementary school, where they met guitar player Noah Feldshuh. In 2010, Sam Harris came across drummer Adam Levin in college, and the band was formed officially.

Although “Renegades” has been their only smash hit, X Ambassadors’ vision as a band exists well beyond that one hit. Their debut album VHS showcases songs that seek to be equally grandiose and imposing, pointing towards the ‘stadium-show sellout’ trajectory that the band intends to move towards.

X Ambassadors performed in Atlanta on March 11. The Wheel corresponded with the band over email about topics ranging from their band name to escaping the “one-hit wonder” trope to their plans for the future.

The Emory Wheel: Originally, your band name was just “Ambassadors.” What made you add the X? X Ambassadors: The real reason for the change is a pretty boring story. The “X” was added when we signed to Interscope/ KIDinaKORNER, and the legal department tried to trademark it. There are a LOT of other bands with “Ambassadors” in [their names] that we would’ve had to pay a lot of money to in order to clear the name for ourselves, so the easiest thing to do was incorporate something else before or after it. The “X” just looked cool written out. But now it’s come to represent a bit more than that for us. We’ve always tried to write songs for anyone who feels

EW: You had a really big hit this summ why do you think “Renegades” was the son XA: I think “Renegades” did well becau ebrates being different. By embracing wh that makes it our greatest strength. And I us all a little closer together. Other than th that song in particular did the best. A lot o dom, and timing is everything.

I guess it was just the right combination place, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t wo that song the best it could possibly be. I th different versions of that song in the beginn EW: How do you make sure you aren’t d musically based on that one song [“Renega XA: By continuing to experimen stantly surprise yourself. You only g you start to think that there’s a form isn’t. Just because you did something o once, doesn’t mean it’s going to work EW: What’s the songwriting proc heads it?

XA: The songwriting process varie ­­­— X Ambassadors Usually, we’ll start with drums, then changes or a single-instrument me vocals–melody, then lyrics. But, as m If you had to listen to one musician for the rest of your life, who said before me, that’s not always the case come to me with full instrumentals that are would it be?

XA: Well, in light of his death, I’d have to say David Bowie. I just write a song over that, sometimes I de Bowie’s music spoke to that same idea of being a voice for people my own fully and bring it to them to cha who feel like they’re different. He sang for the freaks and the weir- times Alex [da Kid] and I will work on so dos and had no problem being himself–even if that “self ” took of us and then bring it to the band to do t on many different shapes and sizes. He also loved experimenting usually everyone sticks with their own inst all the drums, Casey all the synths and keys with genre, which we have always tried our best to do, too.

EW: To Casey and Sam, you’re brothers. What’s it like working I write the lyrics and vocal melodies.

EW: In writing, has there been any pa with family?

XA: Like anything, it has its ups and downs. But overall I’d like resonated with you the most?

XA: I remember writing the lyrics for to think it’s what enabled us to make it as far as we have. Without our commitment to each other through thick and thin and our geous” and how it was something so simple desire to see each other succeed, I don’t think we would’ve made so complex and cool. Originally it was “You make you feel gorgeous,” but that didn’t re it through the toughest times as a band. marginalized, underrepresented: [people] who feel like they’re different or are unable to speak up for themselves. A lot of the songs off of VHS and our previous EP, The Reason, were written with that in mind. Because that’s us. That’s who we are. In our video for “Renegades,” we chose to specifically address the disabled community — a community which Casey and I have been a part of our whole lives [Casey Harris has been blind since birth] and whose people still struggle to get the recognition they deserve. But that video [and] song aren’t just for them — it’s for anyone who feels alone, isolated or like there isn’t anyone out there who they can relate to. We want to make music that says, “Hey, you’re not alone.” That’s what the name means to us now. To be the ambassadors of the “other.” Hence, X Ambassadors.

EW: As musicians, from whom do you draw your inspiration?

“You only get pigeonholed when you start to think that there’s a formula to success.”

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03.16.16

ADORS

K SPONTANEITY, LLINGNESS TO EXPERIMENT

mer — “Renegades” — ng that became a hit? use it’s a song that celhat makes us different, think that idea brings hat, I have no idea why of this industry is ran-

of right time and right ork very hard to make hink we made like, 15 ning. defined or pigeonholed ades”]? nt and trying to conget pigeonholed when mula to success. There one way and it worked k again. cess like? Who spear-

es from piece to piece. n [put in] some chord elody and then [add] many songwriters have e. Sometimes the guys e all structured out and emo something out on ange things and someomething just the two their thing with it. But trument — Adam does s, Noah the guitars and

articular lyric that has

r the chorus of “Gore that made the chorus u’re so gorgeous/gonna eally say anything. Just

changing those last few words to “Because you make me feel gorgeous,” it changed the entire meaning of the song. It’s about that moment when you finally realize that a crucial part of falling in love is feeling loved yourself. I was so proud of myself when I wrote that.

EW: A lot of your songs appeal to a younger audience, mostly adolescents. What type of message do you want to send through your music, and if you could go back with the perspective you have now, what would you tell your younger self?

XA: I think I’ve been pretty clear about the message we want to send to our audience. But if I could go back in time and give my younger self some advice, I’d whisper in my ear and say, “Don’t be worried if you feel like you’re just pretending like you know what you’re doing.

No one knows what the fuck they’re doing. We’re all just putting on a costume every day and trying to make it work.”

EW: Since your success, you’ve shifted from being an opener to becoming a headliner. How have you adapted your approach to performing?

XA: In a way, it’s much easier. You don’t have to work hard to win over any new fans, and you don’t have to stare defiantly in the eyes of people who don’t give a fuck about you and just wanna see the band they paid their money to see. But, it’s also YOUR fans you’re playing for. You owe them the best show they’ve ever seen in their lives. And you owe that to yourself. It’s not something that you can phone in just because you can.

EW: You are featured on The Knocks’ debut album, 55. What was it like collaborating with them? What do you think you brought to their debut album?

XA: They’re the best! We loved working with them. I’ve had the pleasure of performing the song live with them a couple times, and crowds seem to love it.

I think the song is super funky and definitely has a Prince-y vibe that works well with their music. I can’t wait to hear what their full album sounds like – looks like they’ve got some A+ collaborations on it.

EW: What are your plans for the future?

XA: To try and keep making music that means something.

And to keep playing shows together until we’re all too old to pick up our instruments.

Hannah Conway | Arts & Entertainment Editor hannah.conway@emory.edu

Courtesy of Natalie Mantini

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

‘Zootopia’

Grade: B

is ambitious, beautiful and a little too muddled

Brandon Wagner | Opinion Editor bhwagne@emory.edu

I

n 1996, investigative journalist Gary Webb published the “Dark Alliance” series, an investigation into the crack-cocaine trade in Los Angeles, alleging that “for the better part of a decade, a San Francisco Bay Area drug ring sold tons of cocaine to the Crips and Bloods street gangs of Los Angeles and funneled millions in drug profits to a Latin American guerrilla army run by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.”

The government, in the interest of funding its anti-communist agenda, had facilitated the introduction of the destructive crack cocaine into the AfricanAmerican population of Los Angeles.

This led to its spread across the country and the destruction of countless lives and communities.

I bring this history up because it saves me a lot of time when summarizing the plot of Zootopia, the latest funny talking animal film from Walt Disney Animation Studios.

This is barely a subtextual reading of the film, which is why Zootopia might be one of the most interesting projects to come out of the New Disney Renaissance so far.

Up until 2012, Disney Animation was often the black sheep compared to its much more prestigious adopted brother, Pixar, which pushed the animation medium and grappled with complex emotional content grounded in strong characters. Wreck-It Ralph seemed to find some deep creative spark that imparted those same qualities (perhaps the move of Pixar wunderkind, animator and co-founder John Lasseter helped), and they’ve been on a hot streak with films

Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

like Frozen, Big Hero 6 and now Zootopia.

Zootopia presents an idea that Pixar never before dared come close to approaching so directly: a film that addresses politics. It takes place in a world where animals grow beyond their baser instincts and form civilizations in which they wear clothes and live in cities. We’re brought into this world by Officer Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), a young bunny given the chance to become the first bunny police officer in the Zootopia Police Force.

She leaves her rural home for the sprawling Zootopia, where she finds that the city is not a place “where you can be anything.” Rather, the city is made up of predators and prey living side by side, an uneasy alliance full of racial misunderstandings and complex navigations where she is unable to get a foothold in the force.

That is, until she gets a marginal case in a larger series of predator disappearances that leads her on a mission to find a missing otter with the help of Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), a smooth-talking con-man fox.

The case leads our heroes deep into the heart of darkness within the city as forces seek to ignite racial tensions to turn the majority prey against the minority predators.

Before I get in too deep, I want to praise this film effusively. As a piece of animation craft, Zootopia is an absolute triumph. It’s gorgeous, sprawling and deeply detailed. The designs are amazing and clever — it feels like a real world, no matter how fantastic and pun-based it is.

The voice actors here are pitch-perfect. Goodwin and Bateman give a lot of depth and shading through their vocalizations of their respective characters, and you can honestly feel their chemistry even without seeing them directly on screen. Comedian Jenny Slate, a sheep and Assistant Mayor Dawn Bellwether, also makes an interesting case for her voice as one of the most effective parts of her comedic persona. This is especially true when her voice is highlighted as its own character.

The writing is also incredibly clever and truly an ambitious undertaking. Beyond the standard animal puns and popculture references that would dominate a film like this, the eight Zootopia writers have sown a surprisingly effective and family-friendly exploration of race and how we as a culture deal with it.

It’s a film that doesn’t reduce the complexity of the issue down to a form of bullying, like far too many films about race end up doing (see: Race); and it doesn’t make the situation something simple or even something that’s fixed. It discusses how racism emerges in subtle attitudes.

There’s an exchange about how only bunnies can call other bunnies “cute.” Our lead fox is called “very articulate” by our lead bunny.

And of course, the larger text of the film deals with the ways in which majority powers seek to oppress minorities and destroy their communities for their own interests.

It’s why I bring up the introduction of crack-cocaine; it’s a major evocation of the film, and I think a brave and intelligent allusion for a film like Zootopia to

make.

Alas, it is in ambition that we can also bring criticism. The problem is similar to the problem I have with a franchise like X-Men and its “mutants as minorities” metaphor.

It’s difficult to create sympathy because real world minorities aren’t actual threats.

The film pitches the prey as the majority and the predators as the minority.

However, for the story to work, it must both differentiate the predator and make sure that the predator seems dangerous, as the plan includes the predators going “savage.”

And it accomplishes that. But, unfortunately, this accomplishment is at the expense of its central metaphor. The film asks us to overlook the fact that it made its minority characters legitimately dangerous and wallpapers over it with “they’re not actually like that, most of the time.”

This is a dangerous attitude, one that poses the idea that there is a dark heart within the minorities that has fortunately been squashed by society. That’s a message that can leave both the racist and the anti-racist feeling equally validated. It’s a message made with the best of intentions and therefore, I laud it.

As it stands, Zootopia is one good story meeting short of being Disney’s greatest. It’s beautiful, it’s well-crafted, it’s ambitious and it’s deeply brave in its intentions. Just a little more thought, perhaps a flip of the relationship, and it would have been a classic to sing from the rooftops, instead of being the scarred beauty it is.

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Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Kurios’ embraces steampunk, possesses dexterity Brandon Wagner | Opinion Editor

B

efore last Thursday, what I knew about Cirque du Soleil could fill a thimble. I knew the name of course, and I knew the group’s trainers had helped to create the Polecats in Mad Max: Fury Road, that is, the people in the final chase sequence in the film who swung around in the air on poles into the various cars to drop bombs, kidnap people and be generally awesome.

So that was enough to get me on board when I got the opportunity to go check out “Kurios,” the new show from Cirque du Soleil that’s running over at The Grand Chapiteau at Atlantic Station until May. That, and the drinks were free — and I’m not made of stone.

The show wastes no time dropping you into its quirkiness. Upon my arrival, I rushed into a truly massive tent called the Grand Chapiteau, a huge yellow and blue old-school circus tent. You’ve got to give them points for letting you know what you’re getting into right up front; it’s strangely a place of transcendence.

Outside the big top tent, you’re in Midtown Atlanta — all concrete and slightly overpriced businesses. But once you step inside the tent, you’re thrown into the wayback machine, and (outside of the Monday Night Brewing station in which I partook) you feel transported into Cirque du Soleil’s vision of what a circus might entail, and that’s before you even step inside and fully face what they’ve planned for the evening.

And what they’ve planned is a steampunk show. Steampunk, for those unfamiliar, is an aesthetic style that seeks to create an exaggerated and technologically-advanced version of the Victorianera English world. Borrowing both the fashion (elaborate suits and dresses with corsets,top hats and goggles thrown in for good measure) and the industrial look (clockwork, rusty metal and steam power), it’s a style that gets a lot of love among the nerd set for its innovative and creative qualities.

Steampunk can also be a style that quickly becomes artificial, being the aesthetic equivalent of that girl who wore

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bhwagne@emory.edu

a corset all the time in high school. You never get a sense of authenticity — there’s something deliberately phony about how hard it’s trying to appear different.

On an exterior level, the set is beautiful.

The clockwork gear and rusted metal aesthetic gives layers to what is ultimately just a round stage with a background for the band to stand in. It’s complexity in simplicity. But that choice of aesthetic worried me.

The music gave me pause, too. That’s not to say I didn’t actually really enjoy the it. The band is immensely talented and you’ve gotta admire any group that can keep that in sync for an hour-and-a-half no matter what’s going on onstage. They played a form of electro-swing, a modern musical genre that weds the most modern pop music genres (hip-hop, EDM) to one of the most renowned pop music genres (swing). It’s enjoyable but, speaks to the incredibly affected aesthetic of the show.

But as the show unfolded, it quickly became clear that steampunk seemed to have been chosen less as an aesthetic for the show but more as a mission statement, it’s pursuit. Steampunk is about a certain degree of old-school performance, the idea that we’re returning to an older way and showing everything that makes it tick.

The obsession with clockwork is about precision and it’s that quality that Cirque du Soleil seems to take into “Kurios.”

Fundamentally, this is a show about either defiers of death performing acts that make the audience clench-up really tight or people of extreme dexterity doing extremely dexterous things. It’s a parade of acts that, from the beginning, had me being the guy in the audience nervously shouting out, “OH SHIT” and then clapping enthusiastically when they actually managed to pull it off.

For example, the Russian Cradle Duo, the first major death-defying act, evoked this response from me. For those unfamiliar, this is where a large man gets up on a platform in the air and rests himself in what is functionally a large rubber band.

He then holds a woman above him and proceeds to throw her so that she somer-

saults above him and then he catches her by either her hands or feet. This continues to escalate through the act as she completes increasingly more complex somersaults and as their platform begins to spin.

It was insane. I really hadn’t seen anything quite like it before, at least not in person. It encapsulated acrobatic skill and staging in a way that enhanced the work that went into it. And it’s through that talent that my cynicism melted away and turned into an earnest appreciation of everything that was unraveling before me on stage.

You had the Rola Bola, where a man in an aviator costume balanced on a platform placed onto a ball placed onto a tall series of tubes. That was just terrifying to watch. You had a woman doing trapeze on a bicycle flying through the air. You can’t not enjoy people willing to go that far for entertainment.

But lest I make it sound like all deathdefying entertainment, the dexterity and talent on display was immensely admirable. You wouldn’t think the yo-yo act in a show like this would be much fun, but the performer made it apparent that this would be one of the show’s highlights.

Moreover, in a comedy act, the MC for the evening showcased his impressive animal miming abilities.

And my favorite was the Hand Puppets, where three people and a camera told a surprisingly cute little story using their hands and some well-placed props. It was a more simplistic act than the others, but still stood as a sheer blast of creativity.

In fact, my only complaint is how numb and senseless I got after a while. The show throws so many impressive acts so fast that the initial sheer awe becomes hard to keep up as the show continues. But that’s minor.

“Kurios” is honestly just good, old-fashioned, super-earnest fun. Shockingly clever production design and a bevy of various talent make it easy for even the most hardened cynic to let apprehensions melt away and just have a great time.

Though, that could have been the drinks talking.

Courtesy of Cirque du Soleil

EMORY LIFE

ALISHA COMPTON | EDITOR

The wall outside of the debate room features pictures of past coaches and alumni. | Courtesy of Kristen Lowe

Barkley Forum recieves two first round bids to National Debate Tournament

Courtesy of Kristen Lowe

Alisha Compton | Emory Life Editor

E

alisha.bhatia.compton@emory.edu

mory’s Barkley Forum received two automatic first round bids to the National Debate Tournament in Binghamton, New York which will take place the first weekend of April, excusing them from district qualifying tournaments. The teams, each made up of two students, that are chosen to receive these bids are ranked among the top 16 teams in the country. A maximum of two teams from the same university can receive automatic bids.

There are three aspects of the Barkley Forum debate program: competitive debate, community outreach and campus engagement. It is the competitive debate aspect that encompasses the first round bids the team received.

“You can qualify [for an automatic bid] in three ways, ” College junior and first round bid recipient Kristen Lowe said. “The first and most prestigious way is through what’s called the first round process, in which, based on your aggregated performances throughout the year, a group of coaches and leaders in the debate community get together from around the country and submit rankings of teams who have been considered to be a top 16 team.”

Once those rankings are compiled and averaged, the list of the top 16 teams in the country out of approximately 300 debate teams is released.

Those teams are given an automatic invitation to the national tournament.

“For [Emory] to have two of the 16 out of those 300 [teams] is not only indicative of the success of those two individual teams, but it also speaks to the squad and the way in which the unit works well together,” Executive Director of the Barkley Forum Ed Lee said. “And [to] the fantastic coaching staff that we have who spends their entire weekend hanging out with the students and helping them structure arguments and deal with successes and failure.”

College senior Jason Sigalos and College junior Viveth Karthikeyan are partners who also received a first round bid. This will be Sigalos’ fourth time going to the national debate tournament. He began debating at Woodward Academy in College Park, Georgia.

“Ed Lee, our current director of debate at Emory, came to a couple tournaments with Woodward because he knew my coach at the time and we got to meet him, got know to him,” Sigalos said. “He talked to me about debate at Emory and I decided to come here ... It’s been a long four or five years of participation in Emory Debate.”

College junior Brian Klarman, Lowe’s partner, came from a well established debate program at Pace Academy in Atlanta, Georgia. Lowe also has competed in debate since her freshman year of high school, but came from a less substantiated program.

“I came to Emory and was very determined to kind of rise quickly and

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Coaches work hard in the back of the debate room to aid in preparation for the upcoming National Debate Tournament. | Courtesy of Kristen Lowe

develop and it was certainly, truly seven hard years in the making,” Lowe said. “We are fortunate to have what I think is the best coaching staff in the country, and it’s hard to describe the impact they’ve had on enabling my growth. A lot of people started [well], and I did not. I would not have become better without [the coaching staff].”

Coaches are instrumental in advising students about how they should approach the specific topic of debate, in addition to providing guidance that pertains to other aspects of the students’ involvement and life as a whole.

“We have a desire for them to be competitively successful, and they are, but we also expect for them to take what they learn and use it to make Emory’s campus better by participating in conversations,” Lee said. “[The debate students can] also make the larger world better by being more just, by being more culturally humble in the ways in which they interact with people off of campus.”

The outreach aspect of the program is also a large part of the Emory debaters’ experiences.

“All debaters work with the Atlanta Debate League, which was started by Emory,” Klarman said. “So we work with kids who are usually in middle school or high school, and we judge debates that they have. We give them advice. We have a program called The Debate Center, where, over the summer, we work with high schoolers or middle schoolers and try to teach them [about] debate.”

The Emory students’ commitment to the debate program has shaped their lives on a day-to-day basis and continues to guide the direction in which they will go forward.

“Right now, I’m in one class, so I spend most of my time in the debate office doing research for our topic and talking to coaches about arguments,” Sigalos said.

“That’s kind of a trend that began as soon as I arrived.

When I came here, I cared about academics and what not, but socially, my one focus was debate. So I would

Debate Coach Bill Newnam gives advice to students in the debate room. | Courtesy of Kristen Lowe

spend a lot of hours in that room late into the night when other people had gone home, and then I would just walk back to Longstreet-Means to sleep and then come back and do it all over again in the morning.”

The time the students put into preparing their arguments is apparent in their daily schedules.

“On any given day I’ll set aside two to three hours to just do work,” Lowe said, “Which is research, predomi-

“ ... we also expect for them to take what they learn and use it to make Emory’s campus better by participating in conversations.” ­ — Ed Lee, Director of the Barkley Forum

nately just creating arguments by reading. I spend most of my day in the debate office, which in and of itself is preparation because I’ll meet with coaches, talk to them about ideas and formulating arguments. Or we’ll discuss things that went wrong in tournaments or how to improve upon them. I’ll give speeches, we’ll have practice debates. On any given day, if I’m not doing school work, I’m doing debate work. It is tough to balance, but debate is so incredible because it gives you the tools to be a better student.”

In addition to providing a tool kit of sorts, some students believe that debate provides a certain template for how to think, write and work. However, the time commitment can have negative, as well as positive, consequences.

“I actually had this really ridiculous habit my first year here of going up to the DUC, grabbing a burger and putting inside of it a slice of pizza and then carry-

ing that back down so that I could spend as much time in the debate office and what came to be the most grotesque and unhealthy lifestyle I could imagine a firstyear engaging in,” Sigalos said.

The lens of debate allows students’ personal views on the world to be filtered.

“It forces you to challenge and question every view that you have previously held and currently hold because you’re going to be testing your ideas against some of the smartest young minds of the country on any given weekend,” Klarman said.

Some students believe that debate allows them to grow as students, academics and citizens, as it teaches them to be critical and, at the same time, open-minded.

“I used to tell people that everything good in my life came from debate,” Lowe said. “It sounds dramatic, but I really mean that. I think [debate] has really made me a better person. The values that are embedded into a debate program are really central to the way, I think, we as humans should interact with each other. It’s openness to otherness and things you’re unfamiliar with. It’s willingness to engage in and respect ideas other than your own. Those things teach you to be better people.

I think debate is where I found a lot of my values that kind of drive who I am.”

The competitive debaters see the impact of debate on their studies, as it piques their interest in new areas.

“In debate we talk about a lot of ways that politics and thoughts about the world arise which kind of led me into studies that follow philosophical inquiries of how we think about the world, so it’s hard for me to divorce a lot of what I do from debate,” Klarman said.

Lowe also believes debate will play an instrumental role in guiding her down her future path.

“I would love to do public health nonprofit work, and I think the drive for service … came from debate,” Lowe said. “It really takes experiencing something that’s given you as much as debate has given me to realize how capable you are of giving things back to others.”

EMORY LIFE A personal account of

Dear World Live at Emory I

Photos Courtesy of Dear World

Laura Franco | Contributing Writer laura.franco@emory.edu

f you could share your story with the world, what would it be? This is what Robert Fogarty set out to uncover in 2009 and what I decided to discover for myself on Feb. 25.

Fogarty began a project called “Love Notes to the City” that shared the stories of those impacted by Hurricane Katrina through photography, which turned into the global mission called “Dear World”.

He has taken thousands of pictures of people from all over the world with messages written on their bodies that are their message to the world. Participants have shared their hopes and fears as well as their losses and joys regardless of their religion, race or language. There is a common expression that says pictures are worth a thousand words, so when words and pictures are combined, the results are incredible.

“We explore stories of hope,” Fogarty said. “Stories of struggle. Stories of a brighter day.” The whole point of Dear World, according to Fogarty, is to connect people with each other and show that stories and experiences can be shared, because “to build anything great, you have to go together.”

Dear World and Emory’s Residence Hall Association (RHA) collaborated to bring Dear World Live to Emory’s campus, giving college students the opportunity to share their story. For six hours, photos of students were taken. Dear Emory released these photos on facebook, in totality, on March 15.

Students shared everything from sayings concerning race and religion to single words that packed a punch to inspirational quotes to Harry Potter references.

I wrote, “Don’t judge the cover, read the story” on my hands. This sprung from a simple thought that I had coming in to

the event: being kind is simple. Everyone should be treated with kindness and respect, because no one knows what is going on beneath the surface. Though I did not know it at the time, my message to the world ties in closely with the mission of Dear World: to share people’s true stories. Appearances are one thing, but what someone is truly thinking and feeling is another.

After a full day of shooting photos, a presentation took place in Winship Ballroom in the Dobbs University Center, where students who stood out to Dear World volunteers were asked to share the full story behind what they chose to write on their bodies. Most of the participants’ stories were well-received, as the audience applauded loudly following each story. I teared up after hearing accounts of tenacity.

Following the talks, Fogarty presented a slideshow that included most of the pictures taken that day. The messages that people shared in the photos exposed vulnerabilities that I may not have otherwise experienced.

Through this event, a multitude of sentiments were expressed in a way that may not have been possible through casual interaction. The Emory community bonded through this common experience. I even made friends with the people with whom I stood in line while waiting to get my photo taken. The accepting environment and open ears that people offered were truly spectacular. It was amazing that an act as seemingly unimportant as writing on oneself and taking a photo could pave the way for conversation among strangers.

Dear World, thank you for allowing me to share my story and for giving me the opportunity to better understand others.

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Emory graduate students break down science in new podcast Karissa Dzurik | Contributing Writer

“I

karissa.anne.dzurik@emory.edu

’m not a science person, I probably wouldn’t understand.”

As soon as scientific jargon is introduced into the conversation, many have a tendency check out. But this automatic wall is exactly what a new Emorybased group of scientists are trying to combat with their new podcast, AudiSci. “In undergrad, I was always the ‘scientist friend’ to whom my sorority sisters would turn. They’d say ‘I know this is probably a dumb question, but could you explain this to me?’” says Taryn McLaughlin, one of the podcast creators who is a second year student studying Immunology and Molecular Pathogenesis in Emory’s Graduate Divisions of Biomedical and Biological Sciences. “But not everyone has a scientist friend like that.”

“You can’t just google all science and understand it,” Emory College of Arts and Sciences first year Computer Science and Philosophy major, David Golden, adds.

This group of students and researchers understand well that sometimes science can be inaccessible to others who do not understand a lot of terminology that scientists of their level take for granted. Because of this, Dave Mathews, a fourth year Emory graduate student also in the Immunology and Molecular Pathogenesis program, created AudiSci, a podcast series which presents recent scientific discoveries as interesting and understandable yet practical, limiting the episodes to 30 minutes.

“I couldn’t find anyone who was really telling the story of science in a way everyone could understand,” Mathews comments. That’s where AudiSci stepped in.

Science has become much more culturally popular in the past few years: the average person is more likely to want to know now what is going on in the scientific community. McLaughlin and the rest of the team strongly believe that society has a right to know and understand the kind of world-changing discoveries that are happening in science.

Thus, AudiSci was born. The team began studying Emory’s HIV research labs for their first episode, as they wanted to highlight Emory and the great resources in the surrounding community.

“There is already a foundation of interest towards science in Atlanta, so it’s a good place to start,” Mathews believes. “It really has become the heart of the city.”

Recently, institutions like Emory and Georgia Tech have began to work more collaboratively, utilizing each other’s resources as well as those of the surrounding area, like the CDC for example. This has created a wealth of knowledge and expertise concerning scientific discovery, which has spread not only within the sci-

entific community, but also to the social and cultural scene of Atlanta as well.

Their second episode was inspired by the book The Chemistry Between Us: Love, Sex, and the Science of Attraction by Larry Young, PhD, chief of the Yerkes Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders in Emory’s Department of Psychiatry.

“We began with our interview with Professor Young and then asked ourselves who else made sense to interview for that episode,” McLaughlin explains regarding their creative process. The episode was released on Valentine’s Day, and deals with the scientific reasoning for sex and attraction.

In April, they plan to release their next podcast, entitled “The Search for Life in Space,” inspired by the recent discovery of water on Mars, itself an effort which was lead by Georgia Tech scientists. The AudiSci team’s focus is to keep the podcasts local to Atlanta, yet deal with recent scientific developments which can affect the global conversation.

... AudiSci, a podcast series which presents recent scientific discoveries as interesting and understandable yet practical.

This is all part of their mission to communicate to others the incredible discoveries within the scientific community to everyone who wants to listen.

“Throughout our education, we, as scientists, were never taught how to explain our work to anyone outside the scientific community,” McLaughin notes. “But as science becomes more trendy and culturally relevant, it is now a vital skill for our generation of scientists to have.”

And that is exactly what the AudiSci podcast is attempting to inspire: a conversation about science amongst people from all levels of knowledge. McLaughlin, Mathews and their team are passionate about the accessibility of this upper-level science. McLaughlin believes that, “We can talk about this stuff, and you will understand it, as long as you’re open to it.”

AudiSci episodes can be found on their website audisci.org. The team can be reached through any of their social media platforms: @audisci_podcast on Instagram and Twitter or on Facebook at facebook.com/audiscipodcast.

They always want listener feedback and input concerning potential future episodes and encourage everyone who listens to ask questions and get involved in the conversation. AudiSci has begun to build a bridge between scientists and others: expanding awareness of scientific discovery to all types of people.

SPORTS

JACOB DURST | EDITOR

Softball team wins UAAs Asst. Sports Editor avery.yang@emory.edu

E

mory’s No. 4 softball team went undefeated over the spring break, winning the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championships in Altamonte Springs, Florida in a tournament March 8 to 13.

The long ball was a major reason that Eagles were able to win the title. Over the course of the 10 game tournament, the Eagles hit 20 home runs Junior pitcher Brittany File carried the load on the mound, throwing 33 innings over the 10 games with an ERA of 1.36 and striking out 52 batters.

Emory started the tournament off with a decisive 11-3 win over the University of Rochester (N.Y.) in five innings because of the mercy rule. Sophomore first baseman Ashley Powers, sophomore second baseman Janelle Turnquest and junior left fielder Taylor Forte all contributed to the offense in a big way, with each of them hitting a home run. Junior pitcher Brittany File worked three innings, notching seven strikeouts and a win in the process.

Later that day, the Eagles beat Case Western Reserve University (Ohio) 7-5 in 10 innings. File pitched seven innings, striking out 11 while picking up her second win of the day, and Turnquest hit another home run. Case Western’s mistakes eventually gave the Eagles the game, as they surrendered two unearned runs in the top of the tenth inning.

Next, the Eagles took down Washington University in St. Louis (Mo.) 6-1. Both Turnquest and junior outfielder Amy Wray went yard in the game to help lift the offense. File, pitching her third game in a row, picked up another win. She finished with nine strikeouts over seven innings of work, while allowing only one earned run.

Emory defeated New York University 4-1 in the fourth game of the tournament.

While File didn’t start the game, she came in relief and picked up the save and finished the game with seven strikeouts over three innings of work. Freshman shortstop Cassie Baca led the way with a three for three afternoon at the plate. Senior catcher Melody Carter doubled in a run, as well.

In the fifth game of the tournament, Emory dominated Brandeis University

| Courtesy of emory AthletiCs

| Courtesy of emory AthletiCs

(Mass.) 11-2, eventually winning in five innings on the mercy rule. Emory’s impressive display of the long ball continued as Turnquest, Powers and Carter all homered in the game. On the mound, sophomore pitcher Audrey Weller notched the win with three innings of work while allowing two runs.

The next game saw Emory beat Rochester again, this time by a score of 6-2. As a team, Emory was very patient at the plate, walking seven times in the game. The other big offensive boost came on a third inning home run from Powers. File grabbed yet another win in the tournament, finishing with 10 strikeouts over four innings of work.

Later that afternoon, the Eagles played and defeated Case Western again, 7-2. At the plate most of the offense came from Baca and Carter, who both hit solo home runs. File, pitching for the fifth time in the tournament, notched yet another win with seven strikeouts over four innings of work.

The next game saw Emory take on, and once again defeat, WashU 3-1. The Eagles again relied on the long ball, with Carter’s two-run blast and Turnquest’s solo shot accounting for all of their runs. File pitched all seven innings to pick up her fourth win of the tournament.

Emory then took on NYU again, winning by a score of 7-4. Turnquest homered again — no surprise there — and freshman first baseman Emmeryn Wheelan contributed a home run of her own. Weller picked up the win with nine strikeouts over six and one-third innings of work.

In the championship game, Emory cruised to a victory over Brandeis, winning 13-5 to secure the UAA Championship title. Carter, Baca and senior outfielder Alyssa Pollard all homered, and Weller picked up her sixth win of the season. Weller pitched four innings of work while giving up only two hits and no runs.

Emory’s softball team will resume play at home against Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.) on Wednesday, March 16.

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Emory nearly misses UAA Championship, ties for second Jacob Durst | Sports Editor jacob.j.durst@emory.edu

W

hile Emory students were on spring break, Emory’s baseball team competed in the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship Tournament held in Sanford, Fla. Emory played well, tying for second with Case Western Reserve University (Ohio). Both teams finished with a record of 5-3.

The Eagles opened tournament play against Washington University in St. Louis (Mo.), winning 3-1. The star of the game was junior pitcher Jackson Weeg. Weeg threw almost the whole game, giving the ball to junior reliever Kyle Monk with one out left in the ninth. Weeg gave up one run over the course of the game, surrendering five hits but striking out six. Weeg moved to 4-0 on the season after getting the win, and Monk picked up his sixth save. At the plate, junior third baseman Philip Maldari drove two runners in on a pair of singles, and junior left fielder Wilson Morgan singled three times.

In the second game of the tournament, Emory fell to Case Western Reserve 4-3 in a game that was decided late in the eighth inning. After Case Western tied the game at 3-3 in the seventh, they managed to score the go-ahead, thanks to a throwing error from the Eagles’ sophomore first baseman Bubby Terp. Senior center fielder David Coble drove in a pair of runs, and senior first baseman Ben Vizvary earned a free pass three times. In addition, senior right fielder Chris Slivka was a perfect four for four with four singles. Junior pitcher Hans Hansen had a good game on the mound, throwing six and two-thirds innings, striking out four and allowing three runs, two of them earned. Monk took the loss, his first of the season, after giving up the go-ahead run.

Emory faced off against Brandeis University (Mass.) in the third game. Emory won the game 7-4, moving to 2-1 in the tournament. Freshman pitcher Billy Dimlow worked into the seventh inning, allowing eight hits and three runs in the process. Dimlow also managed to strike out five before his departure with two outs in the seventh. Dimlow was relieved by junior reliever Luke Emmet, who threw the remainder of the game. Dimlow earned the win and moved to 3-0 on the season. Vizvary had another strong game, going two for four with three RBI. Sophomore Nick Chambers also played well, going two for four with a double and two RBI. Emory next played the University of Rochester (N.Y.), and senior pitcher Paul Merolla stole the show. In the 5-0 win, Merolla threw a complete game shutout to earn his second win of the young season. Merolla allowed six hits and a walk but struck out eight in a masterful performance. The Eagles scored all five of their runs in the

seventh inning, thanks in large part to junior designated hitter Brian Hernandez’s grand slam. Following the win, Emory moved to 3-1 in the tournament.

After a dominating pitching performance against Rochester, the pitching staff struggled against New York University, leading to a 8-5 loss. Junior pitcher Tyler Sprague, sophomore pitcher Mack Wilkins and Emmet each gave up a pair of earned runs, and Monk allowed one, as well. Emmet picked up the loss, which was his first loss of year. Hernandez once again had a solid game, driving in a pair of runs. Sophomore catcher Mitch Kerner went three for three in the game.

After a high scoring affair the day before, the Eagles fell to WashU in a tight 3-2 ball game that went into the tenth inning. Weeg got the start for the second time in the tournament, and went eight strong innings while giving up one run. Monk replaced Weeg in the ninth inning. After the Eagles managed to score a run in the top half, Monk gave up a two-run walk-off home run to the Bears, which got him his second loss of the tournament and season. In a game that saw little offense, Morgan and junior catcher Chris Young drove in a run apiece. The loss saw the Eagles fall to 3-3 in the tournament.

Emory rebounded from a pair of tough losses to defeat Case Western 3-2 thanks to a three-run fourth inning.

Coble drove in the Eagles’ first run of the game with a RBI single, and then two more Eagles came home thanks to a wild pitch and a Case Western throwing error. Hansen started his second game of the tournament and worked into the eighth inning. Hansen left the game with two outs in the seventh after allowing two runs, seven hits and striking out four. The outing was good enough to give Hansen his fourth win of the season. Monk finished the game with a solid four-out performance, earning his seventh save of the year.

In the final game of the UAA Championship Tournament, Emory topped Brandeis 9-3. Senior second baseman Dylan Eisner had his best game of the tournament, going two for four with two doubles and four RBI. Hernandez finished with a pair of singles and a RBI, and Vizvary also drove in a run. Dimlow threw five innings to earn his fourth win of the year after allowing only two runs and striking out five. Emmet, junior pitcher Andrew Doetsch and sophomore pitchers Danny Kerning and Rhett Stuart each pitched an inning each to finish the game.

The Eagles ended the tournament 5-3 to move their overall record to 15-5 on the year. Emory will rest before their next game on Friday, March 18 against Covenant College (Ga.).

| Courtesy of emory AthletiCs

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| Courtesy of emory AthletiCs

SPORTS

Men’s tennis wins Stag-Hen Invitational Staff Writer graham.vidger@emory.edu

W

hile many Emory students were relaxing at home during spring break, the men’s tennis team took a trip to Southern California. However, they weren’t there on vacation. In fact, they were hard at work competing in the Stag-Hen Invitational, where Emory went up against the top 11 ranked teams in the country. The Eagles entered the tournament at 7-2 on the season, with the goal of defending their No. 1 spot in the rankings.

After arriving at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Friday, the Eagles beat the No. 6 Case Western Reserve University (Ohio) in a 6-3 decision. Senior team captain Rafe Mosetick — the No. 2 singles player in Division III — led the way with the first victory of the tournament, winning the first singles matchup and later winning in doubles with his partner, freshman Jonathan Jemison. Mosetick was undefeated in the tournament as a whole, winning every match he played in, including a win over the No. 3 singles player in Division III, Skyler Butts.

The second day of the tournament saw the Eagles beat two top-15 ranked teams: Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.) and Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.). The Eagles first built on their day one victory by defeating the No. 2 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps team in a 7-2 decision. Jemison and sophomore Andrew Harrington bounced back after struggling against Case Western the day before, winning in both singles and doubles. Later in the day, the Eagles faced off against and outplayed the No. 11 Pomona-Pitzer team 6-3.

Like Mosetick, freshman Adrien Bouchet and junior Aman Manji also ended the invitational without any losses in singles. Bouchet and Manji played in the third and fourth slots, respectively, for the Eagles.

The team’s dominating showing earned them the tournament victory, and moved their record on the season to 10-2. Emory will return to the court on March 20, when they host Millsaps College (Miss.) and Centre College (Ga.).

| Courtesy of emory AthletiCs

Women’s tennis splits road trip Staff Writer

O

graham.vidger@emory.edu

n Saturday, March 5, Emory’s women’s tennis headed down to hot Flagstaff, Ariz., for a pair of match-ups against challenging tough Division I opponents. The Eagles split their road trip, losing 5-2 to Montana State University (Mont.) and beating Northern Arizona University 4-3.

Emory came out of the gate struggling, losing to Montana State with a 5-2 decision. The team was able to win two singles matches, but got swept in doubles part of the match. Freshman Taylor Cosme and junior Katarina Su were the two Eagles who won their matches, playing in the first and third spots in the singles lineup, respectively. While several of the other match-ups were close, Emory was unable to pull out wins.

The squad rebounded in the second match of the day, defeating Northern Arizona by a score of 4-3. Cosme and Su both won again, but this time they were not alone. Sophomore Bridget Harding and senior Madison Gordon also defeated their opponents, contributing key victories. Harding and Gordon played at the first and fifth spots, respectively.

After splitting these two games, the Eagles will look to build on their impressive victory against North Arizona. The team currently stands at 9-2 on the season.

The team will retake the court on Saturday, March 19, when they have two matches, against Oglethorpe University (Ga.) and then against Millsaps College (Miss.). On Sunday, March 20, Emory will host Centre College (Ga.) and Agnes Scott College (Ga.).

| Courtesy of emory AthletiCs

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Golf team defends UAA title Emory defeats Rochester to win title for second straight year.

Asst. Sports Editor avery.yang@emory.edu | Courtesy of emory AthletiCs

O

ver spring break, Emory’s golf team defended its UAA title and placed ninth in another tournament. The Eagles finished in ninth place in their first tournament, the Callaway Gardens Intercollegiate in Pine Mountain, Ga., and then defeated the University of Rochester (N.Y.) to win the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship in their second match-up.

Emory first played at the Callaway Gardens Intercollegiate on March 7 to 8. The tournament was played on the Mountain View Golf Course, which was 36-holes, par-72 and a total of 7,016 yards. The Eagles finished in a decent ninth place out of the 17 entries.

The team was led by a pair of freshman, Stefano Butti and Connor Yakubov. Butti finished as the highest ranked scorer for the team, shooting a 149 (74-75). The score was good enough to tie him for sixteenth place out of 96 entries in the tournament.

Yakubov was Emory’s second highest scorer, finishing with a score of 153, which was good enough to tie for 35th in the field.

Then, over the second weekend of the break, the golf team built on their earlier performance in Pine Mountain to win the 2016 UAA Championship with a win against Rochester. This year, the tournament took place at the Redtail Golf Course in Sorrento, Fl. The course was a par-72 and was a total of 6,775 yards. The tournament style was match play. Out of the six total match-ups, Emory won four to secure their victory. That is, six Emory golfers faced off against six Rochester golfers in a head to head match-up, with each match-up contributing a point to the winning team’s total.

Butti, sophomore Keenan Hickton, and freshmen Noah Apter and Anthony Muscato all managed to top their Rochester opponents to score points for Emory.

Yakubov and senior Jonathan Gerrard competed well, but ultimately were unable to defeat their opponents.

The victory over Rochester represented Emory’s second straight UAA title.

The team will compete next at the Oglethorpe Spring Invitational at Jekyll Island, Ga. starting on Friday, March 18 until Sunday, March 20.

RECENT GAMES M BaSkeTBall BaSeBall SOFTBall GOlF M TeNNIS W TeNNIS

L, 65-88 vs. Augustana (Ill.) W, 9-3 vs. Brandeis (Mass.)

W, 13-5 vs. Brandeis (Mass.)

W, 4-2 vs. Rochester (N.Y.) W, 7-2 vs. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.)

W, 4-3 vs. Northern Arizona

First signs of spring at Emory

As students return from Spring Break, warm weather brings color to Emory’s campus, | Julia Munslow, Executive Editor