Old Gold&Black “Covers the campus like the magnolias”
VOL 110 , NO. 9
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
WA K E F O R E S T ’ S S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R S I N C E 1 9 1 6
Ǧ JAMES WATSON Arts & Culture Editor
One of the organizers (Organizer A) said in a statement, available in full here, that the demonstration was meant to encourage dialogue and evoke action. “This demonstration is a cry for compassion and call to action,” they said. “We all need to keep paying attention to Palestine, keep learning and asking questions about its history and our own nation’s involvement in Palestinian oppression and genocide.” Another organizer (Organizer B) told the Old Gold & Black that 10,000 white flags were purchased, because it reflected the rising number of children’s deaths in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Organizer B said that participants hope to raise awareness and remind students that the conflict in Gaza is still ongoing.
On Monday, Feb. 5, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein announced that First National Bank had engaged in redlining against Black and Latino residents of Winston-Salem and Charlotte following a larger Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation and lawsuit. The announcement was released as a settlement was reached between the U.S. government and First National, who must now pay $13.5 million back to Winston-Salem and Charlotte in the form of a subsidized loan fund. “The funds will be used to originate loans, assist in down payment and closing costs and help pay people’s mortgage insurance premiums,” Stein's office said in a release on Monday, Feb. 6. “The bank will also open two new branches in Charlotte and one new branch in Winston-Salem to provide financial services to residents of color.” The remedies detailed in the settlement also stipulate that First National must spend an additional $750,000 on advertising and education in the communities of which First National had previously denied loans. This marks the 13th lawsuit Merrick Garland’s DOJ has brought against banks for redlining practices. A similar suit from August 2022 yielded a $24 million settlement for communities in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. “This agreement will have a transformative impact for Black and Hispanic communities, providing them with new opportunities to become homeowners, bank in their neighborhoods and create generational wealth,” Garland said. Redlining is a discriminatory practice that dates back to the time of the Jim Crow laws. — cited by experts as one of the driving sources of segregation in America. The phrase comes from housing maps that the federal government and banks consulted to determine the creditworthiness of a neighborhood.
See Banners & Flags, Page 3
See Redlining, Page 3
Evan Harris / Old Gold & Black
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ϐ All items were removed by the University early Monday morning BREANNA LAWS & MADDIE STOPYRA Managing Editor and Editor-In-Chief Editor’s Note: The Old Gold & Black agreed to grant anonymity to organizers and participants out of concern for the safety and privacy of students. The Old Gold & Black has made these decisions as part of its commitment to the journalistic principles of “ do the least harm” and “seek truth and report it.” Wake Forest woke up on Feb. 5 to various items in support of Palestine placed around campus. On Hearn Plaza, small, white flags representing children killed in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas war covered the grass, and phrases such as “10,000 kids murdered” and “Justice for Palestine” were written in chalk on the brick sidewalks. Palestinian flags and banners with messages, such as “Ceasefire Now” and “Stop Genocide,” were hung on various buildings around campus — including Reynolda Hall, North
Dining Hall and Benson University Center. By 11 a.m., all materials had been removed by the University. The flags and banners, which the organizers labeled a “demonstration,” were not associated with a student organization and were distributed by a group of students. In response, the Office of Communications and External Relations sent a campus-wide email at approximately 10:30 a.m. “Overnight (February 4), several signs and flags were placed around campus, and chalk was used on sidewalks in violation of University policies,” the email read. “Materials that violate policy, prevent or inhibit the intended use of public campus spaces, or are inconsistent with campus processes have been or will be removed. Additional steps will be considered as needed.
What's Inside NEWS Interview with Gov. Cooper Page Five
FEATURES The legacy of Wake Debate Page Six
ENVIRONMENT Like a Good Nieghbor, the EPA is here Page Nine
OPINION NIL is ruining college sports Page Thirteen
SPORTS WBB comes up short against Georgia Tech Page Sixteen
ARTS & CULTURE AZAD highlights the beauty of the storyteller Page Eighteen
Old Gold & Black This column represents the views of the Old Gold & Black Editorial Committee
Youth activism remains important to our democracy The emphasis on young generations bringing about social change is deeply embedded into the history of America. From the Civil Rights and Vietnam Anti-War Movements sparking infamous demonstrations on college campuses in the 1960s and 1970s to the more contemporary March For Our Lives movement that was largely directed by teens, young people have always been at the forefront of activism. In an interview with the Old Gold & Black this week, Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina underscored the importance of young voices in enacting social change. This becomes especially important as we enter an election year. As decades pass, young people are becoming more politically active. The first member of Generation Z to hold
congressional office, Rep. Maxwell Frost-D, was elected in 2022. Half of all youth (aged 18-29) voted in the 2020 presidential election, signaling an 11-point increase from the preceding election year (2016). Clearly, younger generations are recognizing the importance of using their voice in the political sphere. That being said, younger age groups have historically had, and still have, the lowest voter turnout rate of any age group. It is, and will continue to be, immeasurably important that young people participate in these democratic processes. With adults aged 18-24 representing 12% of the total United States population, our voices matter tremendously. Political and social activism is valued on college campuses across the nation,
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The Old Gold & Black encourages all students to express their beliefs peacefully, as well as hold space for the beliefs of others. and our own should be no different. Wake Forest presents all students with a call to embody its motto “Pro Humanitate” — for humanity. This sentiment drives us to carry empathy and compas-
sion for one another, on campus, in our hometowns and on the ballot. Through voting, which is a founding principle of our democracy, and other avenues, such as utilizing your right to free speech and peaceful protest, you can begin to make a difference in your community. The way you choose to be politically active and engage with your civic duty is your own, it is deeply personal and can only be dictated by your beliefs. As college campuses across the nation become epicenters of political activism, students at Wake Forest should similarly feel empowered to use their voices for change. Regardless of how you choose to make your voice heard, this commitment to activism will pave the way for brighter future.
Old Gold&Black THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY SINCE 1916
MADDIE STOPYRA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF stopmf21@wfu.edu
BREANNA LAWS
SHAILA PRASAD
EVAN HARRIS
RYDER SOLBERG
MANAGING EDITOR
DEPUTY EDITOR
MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR
BUSINESS MANAGER
lawsbn21@wfu.edu
prassp21@wfu.edu
harres22@wfu.edu
solbrs23@wfu.edu
>> NEWS Claire O'Brien, obricc22@wfu.edu Maria Silveira, silvmt23@wfu.edu >> FEATURES Natasha Heisenberg, heisng20@wfu.edu >> ENVIRONMENT Ella Klein, kleiek22@wfu.edu Addison Schmidt, schmac21@wfu.edu >> OPINION Maryam Khanum, khanmg20@wfu.edu Virginia Noone, noonvc21@wfu.edu Assistant: Dillon Clark, clardj22@wfu.edu >> SPORTS Andrew Braun, brauar23@wfu.edu Sean Kennedy, kennsm21@wfu.edu
>> PHOTO Isabella Parolini, paroir22@wfu.edu >> VIDEO Jack Perez, perejw22@wfu.edu >> SOCIAL MEDIA Lucy Roberts, robels20@wfu.edu >> COPY CHIEF Alex Keating, keatam23@wfu.edu >> ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Ava Cofiell, cofiac20@wfu.edu >> EDITORIAL COMMITTEE
Breanna Laws (Chair), lawsbn21@wfu.edu
Maryam Khanum, khanmg20@wfu.edu Virginia Noone, noonvc21@wfu.edu Dillon Clark, clardj22@wfu.edu
>> ARTS & CULTURE Lydia Derris, derrlf23@wfu.edu James Watson, watsjc22@wfu.edu
>> ADVISER Pheobe Zerwick, zerwicp@wfu.edu
Want to write for us? Email wfuogb@gmail.com
>> POLICIES Our job as a newspaper is to be a platform for all voices, not just the ones we agree with. However, we reserve the right to reject advertisements that are vulgar, inaccurate, obscene or violate Wake Forest’s policies on nondiscrimination, diversity, equity, and inclusion as they pertain to student organizations. We will also reject any advertisements that promote illegal activities according to the state of North Carolina. Not only do we hold our newspaper and its contents to a high standard, but we also expect that those who choose to use us as an outlet for their ideas, opinions and skill hold themselves and their content to a high ethical standard. The Old Gold & Black is published Thursdays during the school year, except during examinations, summer and holiday periods, by Triangle Web Printing of Durham. The views expressed in all opinion pieces and advertisements contained within this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Old Gold & Black. As part of our commitment to reporting news fairly and accurately, we will not remove any previously published content online unless it is retracted. If an error in either our online or print content is brought to our attention, we will revise the originally published article with an appended correction. In order to facilitate thoughtful and appropriate debate, profane, vulgar, or inflammatory comments on our website are not allowed and will be deleted. Comments which incite violence, target individuals in a form of cyber bullying, or which promote ideas which vilify marginalized communities will be deleted, and proper authorities may be notified and involved. >> SUBMISSIONS The OGB welcomes submissions in the form of story tips, columns and letters to the editor. Letters to the editor should be fewer than 500 words, and columns should be around 500 words. Send yours via e-mail to duttcd20@wfu.edu the Monday before publication. We reserve the right to edit all letters for length and clarity. No anonymous letters will be printed. >> ONLINE MEDIA Web: wfuogb.com Facebook: facebook.com/ogb1916 X (Twitter): @wfuogb Instagram: @wfuogb TikTok: @wfuogb Sports X (Twitter): @wfuogbsports
News | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, February 8, 2024 | Page 3
Banners & Flags: Items were removed by the University Continued from Page 1 “As this conflict comes forward, each life [lost] is a tragedy,” Organizer B said. “We don’t want those lives to be cheapened in any way. We don’t want them to be forgotten. And we certainly want to make sure [that] people on campus are aware of the issue and that they don’t forget the conflict.” The Israel-Hamas war began on Oct. 7 when the Palestinian militant group Hamas carried out a surprise attack on Israeli towns bordering the Gaza Strip — a Palestinian territory that Israel and Egypt have blockaded for 16 years (Editor’s Note: The Old Gold & Black follows AP Style guidance, which is to refer to Hamas as a militant group). The attacks resulted in the death of 1,200 people. In response, Israel carried out air strikes and sent troops into Gaza. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 26,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war. Until the posters, flags and written mes-
sages around campus this morning, the responses at Wake Forest to the IsraelHamas war have mainly taken the form of organized events — including vigils hosted by the Jewish community and the Muslim Students Association, as well as a friendship dinner hosted by Wake Forest College Democrats. Faculty and administrators have also held events in response to the conflict. Four history and politics professors hosted a teach-in to discuss the context surrounding the war. The University held a series of “Holding Space” events to give students and the Wake Forest community a space to reflect on the war. Additionally, Wake Forest hosted bystander intervention training focused on combating Islamophobia and antisemitism. Wake Forest Chabad posted a response to Monday’s events on their Instagram @ chabadwake. “Like you, we are deeply disturbed that, under the cover of darkness, cowards introduced hate onto our campus,” the post
Evan Harris / Old Gold & Black
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read. “We have been in contact with the campus administration to ensure they take all necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents and make it unequivocally clear that hate has no place in our cherished University.” The post continued: “As Jews, we are taught to respond to hate and darkness with love, unity, and light. We are fortunate to have such a wonderful and united Jewish Deac family, and we will continue to focus on being there for each other and offering support. Together, we will overcome! Am Yisroel Chai.” Organizer B said that the University’s choice to take down the materials is “shameful.” “It’s shameful that they sent out that email when they preach to us every day about Pro Humanitate and standing up for humanitarian values,” they said. “So when we do that, we would expect support from the University. Not a weird, vague condemnation — which is what I’d call that email.” Several students were walking on Hearn Plaza as the University removed the flags and banners and washed the chalk from the sidewalk. The Old Gold & Black observed that most of those students briefly looked at the flags on the grass and continued walking. A few stopped to take photos. More people stopped to observe when the University removed the small, white flags. The Old Gold & Black approached three students, and each individual said that they did not know what the white flags represented and declined to be interviewed. Senior Sarah Cadena responded to a request for comments on the Old Gold & Black’s Instagram. “Pro Humanitate is about questioning what it means to be human,” Cadena said. “What does it say about us as humans if we are ‘celebrating our 190th birthday’ in ignorant bliss?” Several individuals shared their thoughts
on the anonymous social media app Fizz. A post circulated with a photo of a banner that reads “Ceasefire Now” above a Palestinian flag hung on Reynolda Hall. The caption reads “TW: Disturbing images. This was on the quad this morning. Disgusting and repulsive.” At the time of publication, this post has received more than 200 downvotes, signaling that users disagree with the post. An anonymous user reposted the above content and wrote, “Some people are really brain dead enough to think that if they vandalize a building in North Carolina then it will help end a conflict 6,500 miles away. Thought we had to be smart to get in here?” (Editor’s note: Gaza is located approximately 6,100 miles from Winston-Salem). At the time of publication, this post received more than 1,500 upvotes. Another repost reads, “Even if you don’t agree with the other side (like me), labeling this image ‘disturbing, disgusting, and repulsive’ ain’t very productive buddy.” At the time of publication, the post received more than 500 upvotes. José Villalba, vice president of diversity and inclusion, encourages students to seek support if needed. “We are a community that works hard to care for others, particularly those who work, learn and live on our campus,” said Villalba in a statement via email. “In that regard, we are ready to assist those who may need support processing today’s events. We encourage reaching out to our office, the University Counseling Center, the Chaplain’s Office or a trusted staff or faculty member.” This story is part of the Old Gold & Black’s ongoing coverage of the Israel-Hamas war and its effects on Wake Forest’s campus. Our previous coverage, in news and opinion, is available here. Contact Breanna Laws at lawsbn21@wfu.edu and Maddie Stopyra at stopmf21@wfu.edu
Redlining: ͅͳ͵Ǥͷ Continued from Page 1 Those ranked the lowest were outlined with the color red — which were also historically Black neighborhoods. The practical effect of this created pockets of concentrated poverty among historically Black communities and spread wealth in white neighborhoods. Although the practice dates back to the 1930s, the instances of redlining the DOJ found in their investigation are as recent as 2021. Redlining, in this case, is when banks intentionally deny or discourage loans and mortgages to minority communities to protect themselves from perceived risks. More often than not those calculations are based on racial discrimination.
The DOJ’s initial complaint alleged that First National strategically avoided majority Black and Hispanic areas by only sourcing referrals and loan applications from majority white areas. It continued to state that First National then went out of its way to maintain internal lending practices that had disproportionately low numbers of loan applications and home loans from majority Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in Winston-Salem and Charlotte. “When banks discriminate, it means hardworking people can’t buy a house, start a business or invest in their futures,” Stein said. “I want every person who calls North Carolina home to
have a fair shot, and I’m pleased that this settlement will create better borrowing opportunities for all North Carolinians.” Winston-Salem Mayor Pro-Tempore Denise D. Adams acknowledged the success of the settlement but told the Old Gold & Black it was not enough. “13.5 million for generations of redlining [is] a drop in the bucket, and [First National Bank has] $45 billion in assets,” Adams said. “Think about the generations that have not been able to acquire any wealth, have not been able to live a quality of life [or] provide a future for the children.” Adams said she had lingering questions about where the number for the
settlement came from. And to her knowledge, the city government was never in contact with the DOJ or AG Stein’s office. She added that Monday’s announcement was another acknowledgment of the city’s housing crisis — she hopes this will further those conversations. “We are in need of 16,000 units of housing — all kinds of housing. With this first step, the DOJ and Attorney Stein need to now go look at other banks [...]. I think if it was me, I would go look at all [banks] to see what they’re really doing,” Adams said. Contact James Watson at watsjc22@wfu.edu
POLICE BEAT • • •
An individual entered 318A Bostwick Residence Hall on Dec. 2 and removed a chair, which was later found and returned during Christmas break. The report was filed at 1 p.m. on Jan. 30. An individual rented a Zipcar (2022 Honda CRV) and did not return it. The report was filed at 12:04 p.m. on Feb. 2. Winston-Salem Police Department responded to a noise complaint at the Delta Kappa Epsilon house, and the party was shut down upon request. The report was filed at 3 p.m. on Feb. 3.
Page 4 | Thursday, February 8, 2024
Old Gold & Black | News
A preview of Black History Month at Wake Forest Campus organizations collaborate to host a variety of events for students SHAILA PRASAD Deputy Editor
Thursday, Feb. 1 marked the first day of Black History Month, with a global focus in 2024 on “African Americans and the Arts.” Although the theme isn’t the basis of celebration at Wake Forest, this month students will have the opportunity to attend multiple events hosted by a range of on-campus organizations. Black History Month at Wake Forest “There is such a rich history of resilience and perseverance at Wake Forest,” Assistant Director of the Wake Forest Intercultural Center Jalen Shell told the Old Gold & Black via email. “It is important that we continuously find ways to celebrate the accomplishments of those who fought through so much resistance to achieve [being] here.” Black History Month is an annual celebration that acknowledges the contributions of African Americans in American history. Although it was officially recognized in 1976 by U.S. President Gerald Ford, the second week of February was known informally by the Black American community as a celebration of their culture and achievements. This month of celebration has now been adopted by countries worldwide. Janeel Black, president of the Black Student Association (BSA), explained that although the Black experience is celebrated year-round, the importance of Black History Month at Wake Forest serves as a call to action addressing ongoing racial injustice. “In the culture of Wake Forest, there can be a tendency for introspection and the individual self,” Black said. “But by engaging in Black History Month events, students are compelled to consider perspectives beyond their own, stepping into spaces they may have never explored otherwise.” Many Wake Forest organizations will hold events, such as the Intercultural Center, the BSA and the African and Caribbean Student Association (AfriCaSa), in collaboration with other on-campus organizations including the LGBTQ+ Center and Student Union. The Intercultural Center calendar is linked here. Behind the scenes With a variety of events to come, AfriCaSa Vice President Fatou Diallo explained the work that goes into planning Black History Month programs. “The programming of events takes a lot of hard work and dedication, from event planning meetings with the Office of Student Engagement to fostering relationships and collaborating with other organizations and
Shaila Prasad/Old Gold & Black
A quote by Maya Angelou appears on a wall in the Intercultural Center beside a poster displaying the events calendar for Black History Month at Wake Forest for February 2024. departments on campus,” Diallo said. Part of this preparation includes research on African and Caribbean cultures to ensure intentional, thoughtful experiences for minority students on campus. According to Black, a lot of planning begins in late October — intending to have the programs together by the end of January. Amidst all this, Black also emphasized the collaborative process. “Whether between the [executive] board or other offices and organizations that we would like to partner with [...], the work does not solely fall on one person because we work as a team,” Black said. Shell also appreciated the willingness of on-campus partners to collaborate across different heritage months and expressed appreciation for the impact of student organizations. “[Student organizations] are the reason we are here and we want to create with them in mind to aid in their learning, experiences and sharing of those experiences to the broader campus community,” Shell said. As it reaches the end of the first week of February, there are multiple opportunities for Wake Forest students to educate themselves and get involved. Here are a few of the upcoming events. Some past and upcoming events
On Jan. 30, the BSA took students to watch “Origin” at A/perture Cinema. This experience was in partnership with the Chris Paul Foundation and allowed students free transportation to view a movie that is meaningful to Black history. This past weekend, on Feb. 3, there was a Black Professionals Forum in Farrell Hall. What started with an informal brunch, allowing students to interact with Wake Forest Black alumni, transitioned into a panel discussion. Students Photo courtesy of @interculturalwfu on Instagram were able to begin to gain an The Black Professionals Forum was held by the Intercultural Center understanding of what it’s like during Black History Month to connect Black students and alumni. to be Black in the professional
spaces the alumni represented. This Saturday, Feb. 10, students can join BSA for “Souper Saturday.” Here, the organization will take participants to the Bethesda Center for the Homeless and give back to the community, In Benson 346 on Feb. 13, the Intercultural Center is hosting an event called “Black Love: Queering Intimacy in Popular Culture.” It will examine representations of Black queer intimacy and explore dialogue about the importance of representation. Also in Benson 346, on Feb. 15, there will be the Black Abroad event. This will provide students a safe space to convey and hear the experiences of Black students abroad. Finally, a Black-owned business market will be open to students in the main lobby of Farrell Hall on Feb. 21. Here, local businesses will be able to connect with the Wake Forest community The value in showing up Both Black and Diallo stressed the difference between speaking about Black History Month and actively participating. “The value of “showing up” is more essential than people might think [...],” Diallo said. “But, sometimes showing up isn’t enough. Yes, be present, but also make sure your presence is known, and your voice is heard.” To Black, the events on campus this month are an opportunity for Wake Forest students to honor Black contributions and achievements. “Students participating in our events provide an opportunity to learn about and celebrate Black history, culture, and heritage,” Black said. “As students, being present shows that you are willing to be the change you want to see.” According to Shell, the meaning of involvement is the opportunity to share experiences of culture, create a more powerful community of belonging and build diversity of thought. Students can get involved with multicultural efforts on campus through multiple platforms. The Intercultural Center has become home for many students on campus and is open to any and all. “While Black History Month is [only] celebrated in February, the contributions of Black people to [the] university as we know it should be celebrated daily,” Shell said. Contact Shaila Prasad at prassp21@wfu.edu
Thursday, February 8, 2024 | Page 5
News | Old Gold & Black
Q&A: Gov. Cooper discusses his priorities for 2024 and political participation on college campuses Maddie Stopyra Editor-in-Chief
Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. Old Gold & Black: My first question for you is, as you begin your last year as governor, what would you say are your priorities? Gov. Cooper: 2024 is going to be the year of public schools in North Carolina. Our public schools are doing a great job educating our children — but they’re hanging on by a thread. They’re operating on a shoestring budget. Our teachers are underpaid and underappreciated. And we have to do more for public schools in North Carolina. So we’re going to be putting together coalitions of businesses, of parents of students and of people that care deeply about public education, to convince the legislature like we did with Medicaid expansion, that it’s time to do better to fund our public schools and to pay our teachers what they deserve. And we’re going to work very hard over this next year. I’m gonna spend a lot of time in our public schools, talking with teachers. Some of these Wake Forest students will go into teaching — we need you. We need you to do that. We’re also going to continue working to make sure that we move to a clean energy future. We’re gonna keep reducing our carbon emissions. We’ve got a law that we passed in the General Assembly to reduce emissions in the power sector by 70% by 2030 and to get to carbon zero by 2050. That will be critical. We’re going to fight for women’s reproductive freedom. These elections coming up will make a big difference in that arena. In North Carolina, we’ll have an important governor’s race coming up and state legislative races all across the state. So we’re going to work to make people understand that women’s reproductive freedom is going to be on the ballot in 2024. As is our democracy. We’re going to continue working to attract goodpaying jobs here in North Carolina too. We want graduates of Wake Forest to be able to go into the fields that they’ve studied and to be able to get good-
paying jobs to support their families. I’m looking forward to the next 11 and a half months. I’m going to work hard as governor every single day. It’s been the honor and privilege of my life to serve as governor to this day, and I’m looking forward to continuing to work. Old Gold & Black: Where do you hope to be at the end of 2024? What do you hope to have accomplished by the time you’re finished in your role? Gov. Cooper: I came into office with the mission that North Carolina had to be a state where people are better educated, where they’re healthier, where they have more money in their pockets and they have the opportunities to live lives of abundance. Now in North Carolina, we passed Medicaid expansion. We’re gonna get 600,000 more people with health insurance who didn’t have it before. We have become a clean energy epicenter where we’re attracting EV manufacturers, EV battery manufacturers and clean jet manufacturers that are going to be putting money in the pockets of everyday families because they’re going to have these better-paying jobs. We’ve instituted strong job training programs across the state, making people better educated and ready to take these jobs. I think we will have accomplished a lot of those things. I want to work hard this year on early childhood education in our public schools because if there’s a place where we need extra work, it’s there. And I’m gonna spend time doing that. The rest of this year, and hopefully we’ll build a coalition of people that’s ready to take this on in 2025 and beyond. Old Gold & Black: You were just talking about the importance of public schools and how this year public schools and schools in general are going to be a priority for you. We’ve seen around the nation that college campuses have become flashpoints for advocacy in recent months. With dozens of colleges and universities in North Carolina, what steps is your office planning on taking, and what are your priorities regarding ensuring free speech on campuses? Gov. Cooper: Well, it’s important that campuses are places where people can bring all kinds of ideas, and to make sure that they can share them in an intellectually stimulating way so that people actu-
Photo courtesy of National Governors Association
Gov. Cooper is currently serving his second term as North Carolina’s 75th governor. He spoke to the Old Gold & Black in an interview about his priorities for 2024 and voting on college campuses.
ally listen to each other and learn.That’s positive, but messages of violence and hate speech don’t have a place on our campuses. I’ve talked to many students across our state. So many are passionate about so many issues, such as taking on gun violence. They’re very frustrated that we don’t have elected officials who are willing like I am to ban assault weapons and to do more to get guns out of the hands of criminals and children and people who should not have them. Young students who care about climate change and protecting this planet for the future. Young people who care about reproductive freedom and who care about public schools and who care about fighting against discrimination on the basis of race against our LGBTQ + community. Those are the kinds of things that I talk to students about that they are really passionate, intelligent and well-informed about. What you often don’t see, is that transferring to actually voting. One of the problems with that is that students are often very transient. You go to school and ask “Hey, do I register in my home county, or do I register where my university is? Where do I register and vote?” Sometimes it just never happens, because they’re making decisions or you get started and it just doesn’t happen. What I would like to see, and what I encourage students to do is make a choice: register to vote and vote in this election. I believe democracy itself is on the ballot in this election. I want to see the percentage of young people go up in participation because older people vote. There is a very high percentage of older people who vote, but the way young people can make a difference and really can turn the tide of elections is through registering and voting. Old Gold & Black: Most Old Gold & Black readers and Wake Forest students are from out of state. Why would you say that North Carolina and participating politically is worth paying attention to in 2024? Gov. Cooper: North Carolina is a swing state politically. Whatever your position, if you register and vote here, you can make a difference in what happens in this country. I think you will see both the Republican and Democratic parties targeting North Carolina as a state that’s going to make a difference. Secondly, so many people who come to school from out of state end up staying in North Carolina or end up coming back here because North Carolina is such an amazing place to live. And I know a lot of my out-of-state friends that I made at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill stayed in North Carolina or shortly thereafter, came back; so you want to try to have an effect nationally, but you also want to have an effect in the state where you come and you may stay. Old Gold & Black: Why is it important that college students and younger people participate, vote or get involved in political advocacy on campuses? Gov. Cooper: It’s your future, and you’re the ones that are going to have to deal with what kind of democracy we’re going to have decades from now. You’re going to have to deal with whether we continue to pollute our planet and end up making it unhealthy for everybody. You’re going to have to deal with whether we’re going to have great-paying jobs. Voting in these elections can make a real difference. I will say that sometimes maybe a college student can look and say, “Why should I vote in a contest between two 80-year-old people?” The answer is that there are stark differences between these candidates, and they have very different directions for this country. It’s important for young people to register and vote because you can actually sway this election. You can actually be the difference maker. And I’ve talked to a lot of campus leaders who want to see that happen. And I hope it does. Contact Maddie Stopyra at stopmf21@wfu.edu
FEATURES OLD GOLD & BLACK
PAGE 6 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2024
Natasha Heisenberg, heisng20@wfu.edu
Think hard, talk fast A look into the legacy of Wake Debate JIMENA ELMUFDI Staff Writer At the center of Carswell Hall, atop numerous silver cup trophies sits a plaque with the words of Wake Forest alumnus Ed Wilson: “Long before we played football, edited publications, acted or sang — in fact, almost before we studied, we of Wake Forest talked.” The oldest organization on campus, Wake Debate is an essential aspect of the university’s history and legacy. Yet despite its continued success, it’s mostly confined within Carswell Hall, receiving half of the praise it once did. The Wake Forest Debate team spends around 25-40 hours a week conducting extensive research, practicing speech drills and building strong arguments. “Some people know we did great last year, but besides that, not a lot of people know how competitive this is and how much work it takes,” sophomore Alex Mojica said. During the prime years of Wake Debate, the team was comparable to any important athletic team on campus. “When the Wake Forest team won one of the year’s two or three intercollegiate matches, the student body would be as elated as today’s college would be over a football or basketball championship,” Dr. Henry B. Jones said in a 1955 edition of the Old Gold & Black. Some people on the team have made the squad room in Carswell their second home. “It is one of the most challenging games a person can play. It’s tough to find anything else that has the highs and lows of intercollegiate debate,” Director of Debate Dr. Jarrod Atchison said in the mini documentary, “Breathing Fire.” “Breathing Fire,” features the 2017-18 debate team and tells the story of Wake Forest Debate through an interactive video and essay format. It was published on the Wake Forest University website as a spotlight feature to raise the program’s visibility. In a perfect world, the debate team would receive campus-wide recognition. “I don’t think we’re in the public view, and this is, in a way, a bit challenging because everything you do has to be self-driven,” Mojica said. “There’s no one really on campus [that’s] expecting results — no Barstool account criticizing your losses.”
Photo courtesy of Alex Mojica
Members of the award-winning Wake Forest Debate team pose alongside the program’s poster. The Wake Debate team was the focus of the documentary “Breathing Fire.” “Coaches are very dedicated to maintaining this legacy,” For many, the world of debate is a hidden gem on campus. For student debaters, it’s a central part of their college Hale said. “There’s a lot of emphasis on team pride and how it shows itself to outsiders — not just in debating but experience with years in the making. Student debaters had various institutions to choose in things surrounding it. It’s something that fits in with from before betting on Wake Forest, but it was the unique broader Wake Forest views like Pro Humanitate.” Understanding the far-reaching values of Wake Debate culture that set this program apart. Atchison was mentioned regularly as a key component in the recruiting pro- makes it viable for the debate team to make a long-lasting impact, and the program’s reigning success proves just cess. “Jarrod is a great salesperson. He says he has a great that. There’s also a deep sense of connection when the opproduct to advertise, and that’s also very true,” Mojica said. “I remember one of his big talking points was that portunity arises to interact with Wake Forest alumni who Wake has had a strong debate community for 150 years.” were part of the debate program. “It’s an authentic type of networking because they recFreshman Destiny Hale also expressed her appreciation for Wake Forest’s recruitment approach. After speaking ognize the commitment and understand what it takes with coaches from top institutions like Vanderbilt and to succeed,” senior Dimarvin Puerto said. “I won’t say Dartmouth and spending a blood, sweat and tears, but you know — talking, spit and day with the University of a messed-up voice.” Having these values in mind plays an essential role in Florida debate team, Wake building a prosperous team. Forest still stood as her top “We need to find intellectually curious debaters,” Atchichoice. “Wake [Forest] was the best son said in “Breathing Fire.” All the students interviewed mentioned the strength the at being communicative and team has in integrating non-traditional and traditional reopen. Other recruiters want cruits. to act like they’re trying to “I come from a super underfunded [high] school, and date you,” Hale said. “They would be unclear about how even though I made it to nationals, I wasn’t very experimuch they’re willing to give enced,” Hale said. “While other teams are good at takor how interested they are in ing talented debaters and allowing them to continue to be good, Wake is more open to taking someone new and you as a debater.” The fact that they were less helping them come out on top.” According to Mojica, everyone on the team wasn’t necforceful made Hale realize essarily the best in high school, but all of them expressed a how confident Wake Forest profound interest in debate. was in its program. Outside the squad room, debate instills in students This sense of community, precious habits applicable in their day-to-day lives. For pride and the values that have Puerto, the sheer sense of competitiveness in and out of been passed down for cen- debate is a natural driving force that he carries everywhere turies are largely credited to he goes. those who run the program. In “Breathing Fire,” Head Debate Coach Justin Green Although debaters might explained what debate meant to its members. be generally overlooked, the “When students are done with debate … the rest of the Photo courtesy of Alex Mojica school offers student debatworld literally operates in slow motion,” he said. The Wake Forest Debate team takes a photo together on ers a valuable platform for Contact Jimena Elmufdi at elmujm20@wfu.edu a trip at the Wake Washington Center in Washington, D.C. them to excel.
Features | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, February 8, 2024 | Page 7
Peter Romanov: Librarian, graduate and son 7KH ZHOO NQRZQ ¿JXUH LQ =65 EDODQFHV D IXOO ZRUN VFKHGXOH ZLWK FDULQJ IRU KLV PRWKHU EVAN HARRIS Multimedia Director
If you’ve ever visited Z. Smith Reynolds Library (ZSR), you’ve likely spotted the familiar and friendly pair of glasses sitting behind the circulation desk. For over 25 years, Peter Romanov has worked at the library, interacting with students from all walks of life. Peter Romanov, a fellow Deac, received a Masters in Arts and Sciences from Wake Forest in 2006. He sees his library specialist position as an opportunity to connect with others and considers himself a mentor figure not only to the students he employs but also for those who frequent the library. Yet, despite his approachable and carefree nature, he is no stranger to hardship. After a fall in May of 2020, Peter Romanov’s mother, Ina Romanov, snapped her humerus in two, catapulting Peter Romanov into a state of emotional and financial turmoil. Although he was able to take care of her through the COVID-19 pandemic, he was placed in a difficult position when he returned to campus for work. Ina Romanov was also suffering from Alzheimer's disease and a congenital heart disorder — conditions that require the kind of around-the-clock care Peter Romanov was unable to provide. After a month full of prayers that her health would improve proved fruitless, Peter Romanov was forced to move his mother into assisted living. Due to the state of North Carolina’s limits on medicare funding, Peter Romanov has been responsible for a bill of roughly $5,000 a month to keep his mother in residency. Peter Romanov lost his father in 2013, and with his remaining family members contributing little to her cause, he has taken the brunt of the financial burden since her fall. He has since organized a Gofundme page, raising over $27,000 during her time in assisted living. Despite being a large sum, it is only a fraction of the $72,000 it costs him each year. “To be honest with you, strangers, you all, the Wake Forest community and friends of friends have actually helped me get this far to take care of her,” Peter Romanov said. For the past three years, Peter Romanov has had to shift his focus toward financially supporting his mother in addition to working long hours at ZSR. The constant struggle to make ends meet has left a mark on him mentally.
Evan Harris/Old Gold & Black
Romanov sits and works at the circulation desk in ZSR with a student employee, which is a familiar sight for many students who pass by on the way to the atrium of the library.
“I'm not going to sugarcoat it — it's been a beast, and there's a lot of times I feel like I'm not the same person I once was,” Peter Romanov said. “24/7 I’m thinking, ‘I gotta get money for mom; I’m running out of money.’” However, Peter Romanov has found pockets of light through the dark times he’s faced recently. To him, Wake Forest is like a second home. When asked about what keeps him going, second to his mother was his career at ZSR — a path he never expected. The son of Ukrainian immigrants, Peter Romanov was born in Rochester, New York, before he moved to San Antonio, Texas, at 8 years old. He moved again during his senior year of high school to Clemmons, North Carolina. He commuted as a part-time student at High Point College (now High Point University), working full-time for a marketing research firm to pay his way through school. Between classes, he found solace while studying in the library. According to Peter Romanov, living off-campus prevented him from making any deep connections with other stu-
Evan Harris/Old Gold & Black
Romanov poses between rows of bookshelves in Z. Smith Reynolds library, where he is recognized by many Wake Forest students as being a helpful and encouraging presence.
dents in college — for Peter Romanov, making the most of his time in the library made up for this. After graduating in 1996, he continued his stint in marketing, realizing three years later he was unhappy with his job. An advertisement in a local newspaper prompted him to apply to an open position at ZSR, and he felt an urge to return to a place that he felt happiest. “I was 28 when I started, and it just brought me back to that time where I’m around education and knowledge and all these different people of different ages and different walks of life," he said. “I was like, ‘Okay, I think I like this.’” Fast forwarding two and a half decades, Peter Romanov has enjoyed every minute as a library specialist. He assists students in locating library resources and research materials, supervises staff, oversees hiring and payroll and is also responsible for the ZSR film collection. Junior Celina Seo, a student employee at ZSR, has known Peter Romanov over the course of her year-and-a-half employment. “I think he is very human,” Seo said. “That's what I admire most about him. He's like the first thing you see when you walk in, and it kind of makes people’s days.” The ability to build these relationships within the student body is his favorite part of the job — relationships that help him through the constant stress of his ailing mother. “It really grinds down my anxiety, and I feel so much better when I'm here,” he said. “I feel more hope[ful] and more relaxed.” This month, Ina Romanov was approved at a skilled nursing facility but is still awaiting a second approval from the state to receive medicaid funding. She is set to move later in February, potentially putting an end to the hefty bills covered almost completely by her son. While good news lies on the horizon, Peter Romanov is still skeptical about the near future. “A little bit of it is if folks will take care of her correctly,” he said. “But a lot of it — the other 90 percent, you know — [is] is she going to adjust? Will she be frightened or confused? Will she feel abandoned?” Whatever decision awaits Peter Romanov, he is confident that his job in ZSR will continue to provide him solace. “This is a job, yes, but it's a job that I love,” he said. “I've made a lot of lifetime friends with students who have worked for me and some who have not. I really like learning from you all.” Contact Evan Harris at harres22@wfu.edu
Page 8 | Thursday, February 8, 2024
Old Gold & Black | Features
ϐ Editorial board of Wake Forest’s oldest literary magazine seeks new audience
Maryam Khanum/Old Gold & Black
ϐ ϐ ϐ Ǥ Ǧͳͻ ǡ Ǥ ǯ Ǥ NATASHA HEISENBERG Features Editor
When COVID-19 stopped the world, it did not spare the presses that publish Wake Forest’s oldest literary magazine Three to Four Ounces. From 2019 to the fall of 2021, Three to Four Ounces did not release a print edition. After this intermission, the magazine began the process of revamping itself for both a new audience of Demon Deacons and a new reality — one in which digital media and the ability to pivot stood at the forefront of the publication’s future. “I think it started in the 1880s, but because of COVID it kind of took a hiatus,” President of Three to Four Ounces Melina Traiforos said. “… The chief editor at the time, Aine Pierre, was trying to revitalize it, and that seemed like a really cool opportunity to shape something that could be really important going forward.” To think about the future of Three to Four Ounces, the editorial board also had to consider the literary magazine’s past. The publication, which was formerly titled “The Student,” was founded in 1883 and is the oldest club on Wake Forest’s campus — existing decades before Wake Forest University made its move from Wake Forest, North Carolina to Winston-Salem, North Carolina. “I actually heard about Three to Four Ounces before I even came to Wake [Forest] at my information session when I came for my tour, before I even got accepted,” sophomore Bella Santos, managing editor for the magazine, said. Santos, who had previous editorial experience with her high school literary magazine, described Three to Four Ounces as being integral in her decision to attend Wake Forest. “The lady talked about the literary magazine and how it is the oldest organization at Wake Forest,” Santos said. “And I, at the time, was editor in chief at my high [school’s literary magazine], … so I really wanted to go to a school with a literary magazine. I immediately looked for Three
to Four Ounces when I got on campus, and it’s one of the reasons I came to Wake [Forest].” To help promote the magazine to a new class of students, many of whom had never seen the print edition before, the editorial board began publicizing the club through tabling events in Benson, reaching out to the creative writing department to spread the word during submission periods and hanging posters throughout the school. Three to Four Ounces also expanded their marketing efforts to those outside the realm of English-related majors and minors. “I feel like a lot of students feel like they have to stick to the path they’re on, even if it’s not creative,” Santos said. “We’re kind of seeing a divergence between creative and STEM pathways. But [Three to Four Ounces] gives students an opportunity to reach out to their creative side or reignite or reunite with it, even if they’re on a less creative academic pathway.” As Santos expressed, this type of creative work is representative of the passion and curiosity that defines Wake Forest students, regardless of their elected majors. Providing students with a creative outlet gives Three to Four Ounces a unique angle through which to analyze the student body’s view of contemporary issues, emotions and events. “I think that something about college students is that we’re all very opinionated,” Traiforos said. “There’s always things going on on campus […]. Throughout history, there’s always been controversial things going on.” As a result, looking back at past editions of Three to Four Ounces provides a historical record of the student body at the time, in times of turmoil, stability or dramatic change. “We have old magazines,” Traiforos said. “I’m sure that if you went back there, you could find people’s feelings and opinions on events that have gone on throughout history since the magazine’s inception and … gather an archive of what Wake Forest students were thinking about what was going on in the world.” Three to Four Ounces is also a vector for students to express their feelings on change and growth in their personal
lives. The Fall 2023 Edition, titled “Second Thoughts,” invited students to share their original work reflecting on the “Ultra Contemporary” — defined by “our access to a never-ending source of information thanks to social media” — that makes it “too easy to feel disconnected from our experiences and existence in the past.” This theme resonated with junior Sydney Pasceri, who decided to submit a memoir she had written about using the ocean to reconcile with the inevitable change that life brings. “One thing that I always think about when I’m thinking about the ocean is how, whenever you go back, the ocean is a different body of water,” Pasceri said. “There’s an ancient Greek quote about how no man steps in the same river twice. And so I think about that a lot. And I think … the piece has a nostalgic tone — and grieving sounds like a strong word — but [I grieve] the summers I spent there. Now that I’m older, I can’t really do that anymore.” No matter the circumstances at play that shape Wake Forest’s culture, Three to Four Ounces promises a literary escape that emphasizes the humanity behind writing and art. Across the seasons of change that sweep the Reynolda campus, the authenticity behind the publication remains intact — whether flipping through an archived edition of “The Student” or the most recent edition of “Three to Four Ounces.” “Three to four ounces… [is] a quote by Don DeLillo,” Santos said. “… There’s an experiment that was done to see if the human soul has weight, and the scientists determined that it weighs three to four ounces. It’s been incorporated into so much classic American literature — that idea of a soul carrying weight. I thought it was so cool that the magazine took that out as the new title.” Submissions for the Spring 2024 Edition of Three to Four Ounces, with the theme “Growing Pains,” are being accepted now through Feb. 18. Contact Natasha Heisenberg at heisng20@wfu.edu
ENVIRONMENT OLD GOLD & BLACK
Ella Klein, kleiek22@wfu.edu Addison Schmidt, schmac21@wfu.edu
PAGE 9 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2024
Like a Good Neighbor, the EPA is here Challenges to the EPA’s Good Neighbor plan affect larger efforts to regulate emissions from power plants BEZA ZEZALEM Contributing Writer
On Feb. 24, the United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS) is scheduled to hear an argument in favor of postponing the enactment of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Good Neighbor plan while it undergoes a challenge in legality in a lower court. The plan was initially enacted on March 15, 2023 to significantly reduce cross-state nitrogen oxide pollution deriving from power plants and industrial facilities. The plan’s enactment would require 23 states to ensure that their emissions do not interfere with the ability of other states to meet federal air quality standards and is projected to decrease emission rates across the country. What is interstate pollution? Interstate pollution occurs when pollutants from upwind states cross state lines, thereby impacting air quality in downwind states. Exposure to nitrogen oxide pollution, in particular, has costly health impacts, as it can cause damage to the human respiratory tract and increase susceptibility to asthma and lung disease. According to the EPA, these health impacts are especially prevalent in low-income and minority communities, which are more vulnerable to these risks due to lack of access to health insurance and often closer proximity to the source of pollution due to the impacts of environmental injustice. Nitrogen oxide’s effects are also harmful to the environment, particularly to vegetation and crop yields. Federal air quality standards stem from the Clean Air Act, which requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assign primary re-
sponsibility to states to ensure compliance with air quality standards. A federal plan helping states adhere to these guidelines has been in the works for decades, but increased interstate air pollution has exacerbated the severity of this issue — leading to the creation of the Good Neighbor plan. Legal implications Scott Schang is a professor of practice and expert on environmental law and governance at Wake Forest University’s School of Law. He provided insight into the significance of the challenges against the plan. “The Good Neighbor plan is one of the most interesting ones in environmental law because it’s been decades in the making,” Schang said. “It’s gone across several different presidential administrations, all trying to tackle the problem of what you do when one state’s inability to comply with the Clean Air Act is caused by emissions from another state.” He continued: “In some ways, it’s the paramount job of the federal government because it’s a problem created in one state by another state — which is exactly when the federal government should step in because they are supposed to help mediate these states.” Challenges to the plan are primarily coming from pipeline operators and major coal-producing areas. West Virginia, Ohio and Indiana have all claimed that the EPA’s Good Neighbor plan is unreasonable and too costly, ultimately leading them to ask SCOTUS to block enforcement against natural gas pipeline engines while the plan is challenged in D.C. Circuit Court. This is where the notion of “federal overreach” becomes significant — this concept is often cited when states believe the federal government may be exerting its power inappropriately.
Dr. Stan Meiburg, executive director of The Andrew Sabin Family Center for Environment and Sustainability at Wake Forest, worked at the EPA for 39 years and served as the agency’s acting deputy administrator from 2014-2017. “There are a host of complicated technical arguments around the rules,” Meiburg said. “How many different sources contribute to downwind air pollution, how much contribution is enough to be of concern, where the impacts occur, the cost-effectiveness of various control technologies and whether to allow emissions trading [are all considerations].” Why won’t states comply?
To understand state opposition, one must understand the risk-benefit analysis approach, which takes into account the risk-reward ratio of a given action. Schang explained how this applies to environmental regulatory processes and policymaking. “By trying to regulate nitrogen oxide emissions and reducing them from your power plants and industrial facilities to benefit people to your east, you may see that as you bearing all the cost, but you’re getting none of the benefit,” Schang said regarding the considerations of upwind states. With these states’ claims that Congress is granting the EPA too much power to develop its regulatory plan, the next question is: whose place is it to question the judgments made by technical experts on how to achieve environmental objectives? “I think the EPA knows best on how to regulate environmental matters, not nine justices without any science degrees,” Schang said. “As long as Congress gives agencies sufficient guidance, then the court should defer to expert agency action provided the agency acted within the law.” Schang continued: “Trying to regulate the environment using an administrative state in which Congress gives authority to an agency like the EPA to address issues doesn’t work if Congress has to make all the hard science decisions.” What happens if the plan is blocked? If SCOTUS temporarily blocks enforcement of the Good Neighbor plan, it could severely impact the EPA’s goals regarding clean air and reduced use of coal, possibly affecting emissions targets — -which leads to the pivotal question: what are the possible implications and outcomes of challenges to the Good Neighbor plan? Meiburg expressed his concerns about the lower court ruling regarding the plan’s future.
Photo courtesy of Daniel Prudek
“The decision will turn on the court’s willingness to defer to the EPA’s technical expertise in making specific judgments about which sources should be required to put on additional controls or shut down, rather than any more fundamental legal or constitutional basis,” Meiburg said.
ϐ Ǧ Ǧ Ǥ Ǥ Contact Beza Zezalem at zezam22@wfu.edu
Page 10 | Thursday, February 8, 2024
Old Gold & Black | Environment
The commercial cupid: Don’t get struck! How holiday consumerism is breaking the hearts of many environmentalists MIA SPRINGER Staff Writer As the season of love approaches, a decision must be made. What is near to your heart – buying your partner a bouquet of “fresh” roses, a mass-produced teddy bear or intentional, sustainable gift-giving to mitigate the detrimental effects of America’s increased consumerism? On this iconic day of love, 250 million flowers are sold, and 58 million pounds of chocolate are divulged. According to Plastic Oceans, carbon dioxide emissions rise by nine million kilograms on top of what is already produced, showing where consumers’ true affections lie. Dr. Amanda Sames, a visiting assistant professor for the Environmental Program at Wake Forest focusing on food justice, highlighted the growing problem of overconsumption, mainly centered around holidays. “I don’t think we have come to terms as a society with the extent to which we need to back off of assumption to address some of the impacts of climate change, resource exploitation, and labor exploitation across the globe,” Sames said. When perusing endless isles of heartshaped boxes of chocolate, cheesy cards, and bunches of pink balloons, it’s rare to take a step back and think about the labor that went into producing seasonal goods. The product may
look flashy, but its origin story is ugly. According to the World Wildlife Fund, deforestation in West Africa is fueled by cocoa production. Cocoa farmers do 70 percent of the country’s illegal deforestation. On top of this, child labor is often associated with cocoa farming, harvesting and transportation. In 2013, around two million children were in the cocoa industry in Ghana and the Ivory Coast. “It’s easy for some of us, based on our socioeconomic position, to avoid seeing the worst impacts of what a consumer-driven economy produces,” Sames said. Flowers are another prevalent problem, not just because your partner bought you carnations. According to TED, the United States is the No. 1 floral consumer, buying flowers usually flown in from Colombia or Ecuador. The beautiful blooms are grown in large greenhouses, requiring vast quantities of water, energy and land. To make their long journey, the flowers must be kept in a refrigerated section of an airplane — receiving first-class treatment while creating significant carbon emissions. Cupid’s arrow doesn’t have to miss the mark completely — there are plenty of ways to show love on Valentine’s Day while still shopping sustainably. Looking at the label when buying food can provide insight into its production. “Organic” means no chemicals are put in the soil or fed to the animals, where-
as “fair-trade” means that the company is committed to upholding social, economic and environmental standards set by the non-profit Fair Trade USA. Sames and her mother have been baking homemade chocolate truffles for years. She will box them up for the holidays and give them to friends and family. “I like things that require thought and effort and don’t lead to a pile of garbage,” Sames said. Nothing else says true love like a unique gift made by willing, environmentally conscious participants. Ask where the product was produced to determine how long it has traveled before ending up on the shelf. Shop local, or come up with a DIY gift. Instead of purchasing a mass-marketed card, draw something personalized. Even if artistic capabilities are not within your wheelhouse, no card is more romantic than one that shows you care about your loved ones and the planet. Flowers can be gifted, as well, without widening your carbon footprint. If you’re in it for the long haul, tell them by buying a packet of seeds and starting a garden. Try a local florist if that labor of love is too much for your situationship. “You can spread love in other ways on Valentine’s Day; buy something that means something,” Wake Forest junior Kayla Peale said.
Contact Mia Springer at spriml21@wfu.edu
Dr. Sames Chocolate Truffle Recipe: Ingredients: 1-pint cream 3 bags of high-quality chocolate chips. My mom and I always do 1 bag of milk chocolate, 1 semi-sweet, and one bittersweet, but you can use all semi-sweet Dry coatings to roll them in Optional: flavorings or extracts for the ganache Heat the cream in a pot on the stove over medium heat until it starts to steam and simmer but isn’t boiling. Stir occasionally so it doesn’t scorch on the bottom of the pan. Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. When the cream is hot, pour it over the chocolate chips and let them sit for at least 3 minutes, then stir until the ganache is completely smooth. Stir in your optional flavorings, if you’re using any. From here you have 2 options. You can cool the mixture in the fridge for 2 hours and it will make good truffles. Or if you want them to be great, let the ganache rest at room temperature overnight, whip it up with a hand mixer for about 15–20 seconds, then chill for an hour or two before rolling. Once your ganache is cool, scoop out roughly 1 tsp at a time, roll into a ball, then in your coating of choice. For Valentine’s Day, you could finely crush freeze-dried raspberries!
Sustainable sounds: is music more eco-friendly now? Examining if the emergence of streaming platforms has helped the climate crisis TOWNE MOORES Staff Writer
Every day, people stream music. Music is streamed at the gym, when walking to class, during homework and even (some might argue especially) when taking a shower. Listening to music, an experience that once was only possible by traveling to see an artist or burning a CD, is now at the click of one button. While many cling to vinyl as the best form of consuming audio media, the era of accessible music has crowned its champions, such as Spotify and Apple Music. However, like many things in life, the ability to stream music has its downfalls. There is a common misconception that digital media is better for the environment than CDs or vinyl — as they are not physically produced products. Unfortunately, streaming music comes with its own set of issues. Dr. Leslie Straker, an assistant teaching professor at the graduate program in sustainability, has insight into why digital media may seem more sustainable. “It comes back to this out-of-sightout-of-mind [mentality]. The thing with CDs is we can see it. We can see the plastic. The convenience of technology uses more resources than we real-
ize,” Straker said. But the reality is that downloading music is not a carbon-neu tral task –– energy and resources, like power and the internet, are all needed to listen to your favorite tunes. A c cording t o
CBC, five hours of streaming music is equivalent to one plastic CD case, while Forbes reported that Americans spend more than 32 hours streaming music every week. In total, the average American is listening to enough music to be equivalent to the plastic produced for seven
CD cases in just one week. Dara DeMatteo, who worked in adver tis ing sales for Spotify for over six years, explains just how ingrained digital music is in American lives. “We used to say that we understand our listeners because t h e y spend so much t i m e with us,” DeMatteo said. “ They’re powering their daily routines with music: getting ready, commuting, driving kids to school, [pregaming and] working out.” When DeMatteo left a little over a year ago, Spotify had several initiatives to address its carbon footprint. “Internally they have teams, posi-
tions and groups dedicated to finding solutions across departments and operations. Externally, they’ve joined initiatives and campaigns to work with other companies in finding solutions.” DeMatteo said. Despite the manner in which Spotify has revolutionized the music business, DeMatteo emphasized that a cost still exists. She believes companies, such as Spotify, have a responsibility to be environmental leaders. Although companies like Spotify are taking steps to reduce environmental effects, it has yet to be shown to solve the issue. As effects persist, the ability to stream music doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. However, Straker believes there may be hope that education about the issue will spread awareness, resulting in change. “Sometimes I’m very pessimistic about all of these individual challenges that we have to use energy less,” Straker said. “When I look at the magnitude of the problem, I realize it is going to take policy changes at the highest level. There are those who, with the knowledge and information, would be willing to change. It is always realistic to educate people.” Contact Towne Moores at moortv22@wfu.edu
OPINION
Maryam Khanum, khanmg20@wfu.edu Virginia Noone, noonvc21@wfu.edu Dillon Clark, clardj22@wfu.edu
OLD GOLD & BLACK
PAGE 11 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2024
The views expressed in all opinion columns represent those of the article’s author, not the opinions of the Old Gold & Black Editorial Board
Wake Forest’s new Latin honors policy was inevitable 7KH 8QLYHUVLW\ QHHGHG WR ¿QDOO\ DGGUHVV WKH ULVH LQ *3$ LQÀDWLRQ EXW WKH QHZ SROLF\ VWLOO LVQ¶W SHUIHFW tigious — either Wake Forest could raise hard GPA cutoffs each year to account for grade inflation (essentially taking the 70th, 85th, and 95th percentile GPA of the previous graduating class or current class as juniors) or eliminate all that unnecessary work and set the limits as percentiles instead of hard numbers. They chose the latter. Clearly, something had to change. But students rightfully wonder if explicitly pitting students in competition with one another for Latin honors will have a cultural effect on an already competitive campus. Yet it seems unlikely that the student body will ever abandon the “Pro Humanitate” orientation that has successfully guided generations of students to success. Supporting our peers is not mutually exclusive with academic achievement. In fact, the opposite is more likely to be true — having a strong mutual-support system is a competitive advantage in a high-stress environment like Wake Forest. This policy resolves Wake Forest’s ongoing problem with grade inflation but also poses novel questions for the campus community regarding added pressures to perform. Unfortunately, it also leaves existing questions unaddressed.
JACOB GRAFF Senior Columnist Wake Forest University is full of smart, capable students who are accustomed to academic perfection — that much is undeniable. Yet, the fact remains that Wake Forest and its students are not immune to the recent trend of grade inflation that has gripped higher education and shows no signs of letting up. Wake Forest is playing catch-up GPA standards that used to accurately reflect academic performance have become increasingly irrelevant as GPAs rise across the board. This dilemma is playing itself out in the debate on campus regarding Latin honors distinctions, which up until the Class of 2024, were awarded on an escalating ladder of GPA benchmarks. Now, however, such honors will be decided by GPA percentile. While the change is rattling students’ feathers in the Class of 2024, it is long overdue and muchneeded. Wake Forest is not leading the charge against mandated GPA limits. As Provost Dr. Michele Gilespie, who was dean of the college when the change was voted on, noted, Wake Forest’s peer institutions have already adapted their requirements to the current inflationary environment. Wake Forest is simply getting with the program. Nor is there a basis for student complaints about being surprised and needing to adapt to the change. The policy has been publicly available since current seniors first stepped onto this campus as freshmen in Aug. 2020.
Students majoring in difficult subjects will subsequently be at a disadvantage This policy does not go far enough in equalizing the rewards for majors that significantly differ in difficulty and grading practices. It is possible to acknowledge that some majors have it easier than others without disparaging each other’s academic choices. In any case, the statistics prove it. Yale published a report detailing the percentage of A/A-’s received by students in each major. It was not a surprise to see Economics and Mathematics receive around 52% and 55% A/A-’s respectively, the two lowest percentages of any major. At the other end of the spectrum, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and History of Science/Medicine each topped 90% A/Ascores. While Yale is just one elite college, a broader study published in the International Journal of STEM Education found that “when comparing otherwise academically similar students, we find that STEM students have substantially lower grades and GPAs, and that this is the consequence of harder (more stringent) grading in STEM courses.” All majors are not created equal. If all professors (but especially those in STEM) graded on a curve, the GPA discrepancies would not be a problem. Alas, it remains a sobering reality that the students who pick the most difficult and not coincidentally, the most financially rewarding majors, lose out on major honors to students (like myself) who chose less difficult academic terrain to traverse during their undergraduate years. Wake Forest should lead the way in rewarding exceptional students in difficult majors with Latin honors. By altering the population from the total graduating class to that of each major, and subsequently awarding Latin honors for the top performing students in each major, provided they hit a minimum enrollment, Wake Forest could incentivize achievement for all instead of the few. Even if Wake Forest has to lower the class rank percentiles to retain prestige in the face of smaller populations, Wake Forest would be investing in their students’ success — an investment that’s sure to pay off.
Whether students like it or not, something had to change Students worry this updated policy is a bad policy, and such concerns deserve to be taken seriously. However, the rationale must first be explained. Until 2019 (at the latest), the GPA limits functionally acted as proxies for percentile markers, which is common practice; e.g. at Wake Forest, a 3.4 GPA constituted approximately the 70th population percentile, a 3.6 GPA the 85th percentile, and a 3.8 the 95th percentile. Grade inflation invalidated this structure. The trend of average undergraduate GPAs rising year after year is not, surprisingly, the result of a more capable student body. Instead, the most plausible explanation is that grade inflation is the result of shifting academic norms about success combined with students’ incentives to avoid tougher-grading STEM majors to create a cycle of ever-improving grades. As grade inflation starts, so it spreads — colleges have no reason to place their students at a disadvantage as grades rise and employer expectations rise with it. As such, it becomes a collective problem that no one school can solve on their own yet higher education as an industry has no incentive to redress. “Grades are increasingly less useful at distinguishing between excellent and average student performance. The signaling value of an A is undermined if A’s are ubiquitous,” Vikram Mansharamani writes. Since Latin honors were given out by passing increasingly obsolete GPA markers, these distinctions follow the same deflationary value logic as grades. Under the old system, Latin honors no longer served as representative markers of academic excellence. As a result, there were two pathways forward to retain the elements of exclusivity that make Latin honors pres-
Evan Harris/Old Gold & Black
Contact Jacob Graff at grafje20@wfu.edu
Page 12 | Thursday, February 8, 2024
Old Gold & Black | Opinion
Letter to the Editor: WFU must not silence Palestinian voices DEAN FRANCO Wake Forest Faculty Member
The University’s written response to Feb. 5 actions in support of Palestinian life and freedom is appalling. As the Old Gold & Black reported, an unnamed group placed hundreds of f lags on the upper quad to symbolize the thousands of Palestinians killed by the Israeli army since Oct. 7. Palestinian f lags and chalked messages were also visible, before being removed by the university. Later, the university issued a statement to the campus community: “ . . . several
signs and f lags were placed around campus, and chalk was used on sidewalks in violation of University policies. Materials that violate policy, prevent or inhibit the intended use of public campus spaces, or are inconsistent with campus processes have been or will be removed. Additional steps will be considered as needed.” Was the entirety of the demonstration in violation of university policies, or just the chalking? The comma suggests just the chalking, but it barely registers, allowing that all the forms of expression are off limits. Worse, the last statement conveys a totalizing, restrictive and atmo-
spheric threat. The lack of a referent for “additional steps” suggests any possible punitive measure is in play. The passive voice — who will take these steps, by what authority, with what process? — is ominous (Who writes these communiques?!?). Likewise, the closing phrase “as needed” suggests that the event is not over in the eyes of the authorities — more menacing threat. At worst, the demonstrators did not conform to university processes, but there is no denying the truth that the f lags intended to communicate: As of today, over twenty-seven thousand Palestinians have been killed in
Gaza since Oct. 7. Many thousand are children, and many more thousands are burned, maimed, traumatized, homeless and orphaned by the Israeli assaults. As for the f lags and chalking, treating Palestinian speech as intrinsically hateful, as claimed by at least one campus organization, is part of a long practice of dehumanization, but it is truly appalling to find the university’s official communication subtly relay the same message. Sincerely, Dean Franco
Greek Life controls the social narrative at Wake Forest <RX VKRXOG QRW EH GH¿QHG E\ \RXU RUJDQL]DWLRQ¶V VRFLDO UDQNLQJ WALKER NEWMAN Staff Columnist
Greek life dominates the social scene at Wake Forest — that is clear to the majority of students. The organizations suffocate any other conversations about campus life and general world news from happening around campus for most of the school year. The need to be socially accepted and the overarching peer pressure capture impressionable and diffident first-year students — I am confident in this fact because I was once in this position. As a freshman, I became caught up in the scramble of undergoing panhellenic recruitment, better known as “rush.” Before my first semester at Wake Forest, I was adamantly against completing this process. I was sure that being in a sorority was not for me. And yet, here I am as a sophomore member of Alpha Delta Pi, able to look at
the process from a more critical and objective mindset. The rush process begins before official recruitment According to Panhellenic President Sarah Haugh, 556 women registered for recruitment for the 2024 spring semester. The freshman class size is about 1,300 students, 55 percent of which are women. Many freshmen undergo the recruitment process, whether it’s in search of a group of like-minded people or for a stronger sense of community. Being in a Greek organization is meant to foster a sense of sisterhood or brotherhood, but oftentimes the process of joining one of these organizations cultivates severe judgment and condescension between members and potential new members (PNSs). In sorority recruitment, PNMs undergo four rounds of rush that occur over three weeks. Rush days are filled with “parties,” where PNMs speak to current members. After each round, PNMs and current members participate in a mutual ranking process. Mean-
while, current members are encouraged to meet PNMs before the recruitment process even begins, but this social affair can turn into a stressful first semester of completing often mandatory “rush dates” while fulfilling the requirements of a fulltime college student and sorority member. Upperclassmen often form false positive relationships with first-year students, sharing their own stereotypes of each organization, spreading rumors and sometimes promising bids to certain people who just end up disappointed. By the end of first semester, I felt as though my sorority had scoped out and commented on the entire freshman “potential new member” population. This system of comments and ratings continued well into recruitment, in which many times the girls cycling through parties were evaluated with prior relationships and experiences in mind. While I understand wanting to form a class of new members that uphold the social and academic expectations of one’s sorority, the whole thing exasperates me because of the underlying objectification. Obscure rankings have serious implications Pitting young women against each other is no new societal concept. Still, it is particularly exacerbated during the fall semester leading up to the recruitment process and during the spring rush process because of social media and Greek rankings. The popular social media app Fizz allows students of a given college community to post anonymous notes 24/7 — and many of these commentaries place young women in a negative light. Rankings of the sororities were often seen on the app during the fall, pushing into the first few weeks of January. These rankings generally did not even consider Alpha Delta Pi and Kappa Alpha Theta because they are seen as “lower tier s o -
rorities.” This system fosters a sense of discontent among members of the freshman class as well as current sorority members — further disavowing the sense of sisterhood that is supposed to be present among members and between Panhellenic organizations. Creating a sense of hate and judgment between young women based on which Greek organization they wish to join is simply not worth anyone’s time. Why talk about Greek rankings or recruitment when conversations about the actual state of the world could be occurring? Wake Forest students, specifically those in sororities who boast philanthropy, pretend to care about Pro Humanitate and creating positive change in the world, but what they actually like to do is tear others down for not being “good enough” in their eyes. The severe judgments of each sorority’s stereotype or rank and of their members on social media only work to create negative and untrue assumptions by PNMs before they even meet current members from each organization. While I don’t assume that these narratives will change soon, creating a general understanding that no Greek organization is better or more elite than any other would be a great place to start. In my personal opinion, each sorority is on the same plane, but there are individual “vibes” and levels of commitment to each. I would encourage members of Greek life to remember that in the real world, most people don’t experience such an isolated environment as Wake Forest sororities and fraternities, which only exacerbate the feelings of the Wake bubble. My parting advice - the organization you choose to spend your time in does not define your worth. Contact Walker Newman at newmwe22@wfu.edu
Evan Harris/Old Gold & Black
Opinion | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, February 8, 2023 | Page 13
NIL is ruining college sports Most universities are not capable of operating as professional sports organizations JACK BISSONNETTE Contributing Columnist
Due to his stellar performance, Reggie Bush won the 2005 Heisman Trophy, an award annually given to the best collegiate football player. During his short time at the University of Southern California (USC), he recorded 1740 rushing yards and 478 receiving yards and scored 18 touchdowns as a running back. He was recognized as one of the best, if not the best, collegiate players during his career and over the last 30 years. NFL scouts noticed his ability, and he was chosen second overall in the NFL Draft in 2006. However, things didn't go as well for him in the NFL; although he was successful — even winning a Super Bowl — he never found stardom like he did in college. Bush held onto his college stardom, calling winning the Heisman "one of the greatest moments in my life." Unfortunately, this is not a “feel good” story for Bush. In 2010, Bush returned the trophy after USC was discovered to have allegedly given Bush financial benefits during his time at USC. Bush lost credibility, and his reputation as a college football superstar is now tarnished as a result. Any knowledgeable sports fan is aware of his story, and whenever one hears his name in conversation, it is almost impossible not to mention his revoked Heisman Trophy. NIL policy change has altered collegiate sports
16 years later, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) changed its policy regarding players profiting from themselves. Players can now receive financial incentives for their name, image and likeness (NIL). According to the NCAA, players can be paid directly for social media, autographs, lessons and camps, their businesses, advertisements and other activities. And so Bush’s story, left alone for the past 17 years, is now relevant again. This massive story would have gone unnoticed and uncriticized if Bush had played in today’s game. Players across the country now earn thousands of dollars doing the exact same thing he did. Hearing this news angered Bush, as he sued the NCAA in 2021. However, they maintained their ground, saying they still do not allow “pay-for-play” arrangements between team and player. This statement made by the NCAA is what I would like to prioritize in this article. Although the NCAA has publicly said that they do not allow “pay-for-play” incentives, it is clear that this is where NIL is headed — if it’s not already there. Different schools nationwide have jumped on the opportunity to set up NIL funds and other organizations to help incentivize players to attend their respective schools. These schools can now pay these players to have the rights to their name, image, and likeness. Although no rules are broken, bidding wars between schools are now commonplace due to the size and money that some of
Virginia Noone/Old Gold & Black
these schools have. Schools like Tennessee, Texas, Alabama and Ohio State all have massive funds for deals of these sorts. Due to the sheer amount of money injected into these funds, these schools can promise to buy a certain player’s NIL for millions of dollars. These institutions have quickly identified and utilized this new collegiate landscape. This is not how NIL should be used, as it subsequently accentuates problems for less endowed schools that do not have the booster money that these larger schools do. Smaller universities can no longer compete off the field. Schools utilize these funds through the transfer portal, which was established in 2018 to help players transfer from one school to another. However, this and NIL's coexistence have made things even worse for smaller schools nationwide. For example, in early 2023, former Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman, announced that he was transferring and attending Notre Dame for the next season. One can only assume that NIL played a massive role in his decision. An On3 valuation of his NIL contract was $772,000 — a large amount of money that Wake Forest clearly wasn’t willing to pay. Wake Forest Head Coach Dave Clawson is on record saying Hartman was “rented for a season,” further emphasizing the discrepancy between large and small schools. But Wake Forest is not the only small school that has fallen victim to this new landscape. Matt Rhule, head coach of Nebraska, has also said that “a good [quarterback] costs 1 to 2 million dollars in NIL resources.” Every year now, schools nationwide lose players to larger programs that promise a better shot at professional sports and a lump sum of money. Players of the past have succeeded in college from a variety of schools. Now, due to this new environment in college sports, more players seem to be going to the same programs, furthering the gap between dominant programs of the past and smaller, less competitive schools — an ongoing problem that limits the development of smaller programs. In addition to smaller programs getting hurt from this new modern landscape in collegiate sports, predominantly large football programs are also losing out on superstar players. This month, we witnessed Ohio State (OSU) completely reshape their entire team. Top recruits such as Caleb Downs (Alabama), Julian Sayin (Alabama) and Quinshon Judkins (Ole Miss) have chosen to play Big Ten football at OSU next season instead of playing in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). This jump to the Big Ten a few years ago would have been unheard of, but due to NIL, this is simply normal. Navigating NIL requires a reevaluation These funds ruin college football and allow the same teams to remain competitive while leaving other programs out to dry. Teams like Alabama and Ole Miss will find replacements for these star players because they will always have the money that other programs do not. Whereas, other less fortunate schools will have to embark on the long process of finding an undervalued player in upcoming high school graduation classes and hoping they will develop into a star. Not only does this process take time but it is not guaranteed to work, and who is to say that if it does, those players won't just be paid by these powerhouse schools and transfer anyway? There is a lot to fix in this new collegiate atmosphere, and some new rules must be implemented. It is a detriment to collegiate sports as a whole if we continue to allow the same teams to be competitive every year. Gone are the days of seeing a new national champion every year. It’s time to fix this ongoing issue. Smaller schools deserve a chance, and it is clear that they are currently not getting it. Whether it’s limiting each school's spending or installing a salary cap similar to the NFL, something needs to be done. Although some schools will always be good due to legacy, coaching ability and other controllable factors, the NCAA must act on this and make the collegiate landscape fair again. Contact Jack Bissonnette at bissjt23@wfu.edu
SPORTS
PAGE 14 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2023
Follow us on X and IG @wfuogbsports OLD GOLD & BLACK
Andrew Braun, brauar21@wfu.edu Sean Kennedy, kennsm21@wfu.edu
ϐ As a unanimous preseason No. 1 team, the Demon Deacons face pressure to return to College World Series SEAN KENNEDY Sports Editor
Team 110 has a message: Make them feel you … again. Five Preseason All-Americans. One Preseason Player of the Year. A unanimous preseason No. 1 selection amongst five different outlets. Name any measure of predicted excellence, and Wake Forest baseball has exceeded it. The expectations are high, but not without reason — the Demon Deacons return with a handful of key pieces from last year's College World Series run, along with talented transfer and recruiting classes. With so many new names and several familiar faces, we have the names you should know and keep an eye on. PITCHING The date was June 19, 2023. That was the day when Wake Forest beat LSU in the first game of the College World Series semifinals 3-2. Southpaw starter Josh Hartle showed off exactly what he had all season: a slippery slider, a hard-to-hit fastball and a devastating cutter that allowed him to fan nine batters through six innings. Hartle has impeccable command in both his pitches and in the locker room. He was named team captain this year for a reason: not only will he lead the team as the Friday-night
starter, but he’ll do so as one of the longest-tenured pitchers in the Demon Deacon program. However, one pitcher on that same day went underlooked by most Wake Forest fans. While Hartle and the Demon Deacons were preparing for the matchup against the Tigers, they unknowingly found their future fireballer on the mound who also fanned nine batters in a relief appearance for the Tennessee Volunteers. Enter stage right, Chase Burns. Fiery. Electric. Burning. Regardless of the puns, Burns has shown time and time again that his arm is one of the hardest to hit in the nation due to pure velocity. After committing to the Demon Deacons in June, much hype surrounded how Burns could not only use his current arsenal of pitches but also how the renowned pitching lab could improve them. F a s t forward to now. In preseason scrimmaging, Burns has dealt triple-digit fastballs and changeups in the low 90s. He’s taking on a starting role once again after m o v ing into a reliever role last season with Ten-
nessee. He’ll be on the radar for Major League Baseball (MLB) scouts as a potential first round draft pick due to his incredible animosity and firepower. Speaking of firepower: Michael Massey. The 6’5”, 230-pound right-hander has improved enormously since arriving in Winston-Salem from Tulane before the 2023 season. Massey had thrown for a 5.03 ERA with the Green Wave, in addition to 52 total strikeouts and 6.9 strikeouts per nine innings (K/9). Contrast that with last season’s statistics as a reliever: 16.6 K/9. 2.59 ERA. 76 total strikeouts. Most of the improvement came down to a devastating duo of pitches: Massey’s fastball and slider. The former can reach between the mid-to-upper 90 mph range, meanwhile his offspeed carries sharp break, befuddling batters. Massey pitched in some massive moments, too. He earned Winston-Salem Regional All Tournament team recognition for a scoreless appearance against the Alabama Crimson Tide and held LSU to a single run over two appearances in the College World Series semifinals. Massey will take on a starting role for the first time since arriving in Winston-Salem. He’s gone deep into games before, pitching upwards of seven innings at a time for Tulane, which he’ll try to replicate this coming year. Although Wake Forest’s pitching at-
Thursday, February 8, 2023 | Page 15
Sports | Old Gold & Black tack may appear like a three-headed monster composed of preseason All-Americans, reliever depth will also play a part on the road to Omaha. During a preseason press conference, Head Coach Tom Walter announced that experienced relievers like Cole Roland and Crawford Wade would miss the start of the season due to various injuries. In the meantime, Maryland transfer David Falco Jr. has experience closing, accumulating nine saves over his past season for the Terrapins. The Demon Deacons also return experienced arms like William Ray and Joseph Ariola, in addition to Falco. Some new arms may have a chance at breaking out, too. Walter’s most recent recruiting class features a list of highly-touted freshmen, including Blake Morningstar, Haiden Leffew, Andrew Koshy and Brody Shawn. BATTING The talent of Nick Kurtz isn’t hard to explain. Ever since the start of the 2022 season, he’s been a mainstay. There was no Nick Kurtz without Wake Forest baseball, and more importantly, there is no Wake Forest baseball without Nick Kurtz. That sentiment showed during last year’s playoff run. After getting drilled in the ribcage in last year’s Winston-Salem Super Regionals against Alabama, Kurtz was not the same, eventually being replaced by Jack Winnay in the final game of last year’s LSU series. “He couldn’t rotate,” Walter explained before the series-deciding Game 3. “The young man is heartbroken, and I am heartbroken for him. He was in tears wanting to be in this game today and help his teammates.” After a full offseason’s rest, Kurtz is not only back to normal — but looks to exceed the precedents he set for himself. If there was a way to describe Kurtz’s slugging at the plate the past two seasons, it would use a lyric known to most: “unrivaled by any.” Last year, he was No. 9 in the country in slugging percentage (.784) and on base percentage (.525). He was on top of the team in fielding percentage (.998), too. Last season’s performances have led to
high expectations for this year. Multiple outlets like Perfect Game and Baseball America have touted him as a Preseason First Team All-American, and the former named him Preseason Player of the Year. As preseason accolades accumulate, all eyes are on the star first baseman, including the gaze of big league scouts. MLB.com lists him as the second best draft prospect in the country, just behind West Virginia middle infielder J.J. Wetherholt. For now, Kurtz’s mission is to get back to Omaha, but that road starts in February. “Our goal this year is, without a doubt, to go back to Omaha and [win a national championship],” Kurtz said in a preseason press conference. “But at the same time, we have to beat Fordham on [Feb. 16]. We have to take it one game, one pitch at a time.” The team co-captain leads a revamped infield, with players like Brock Wilken, Justin Johnson and Danny Corona all departing in the offseason. The first two were each drafted in last year’s MLB Draft. Wilken was one of two first round draft picks from Wake Forest last year — selected 18th overall by the Milwaukee Brewers. Although the losses were significant, one could say that the Demon Deacons have a stronger infield than last year — thanks in part to Wingate transfer Seaver King. Don’t underestimate King because of his arrival from a Division II school. He slashed his way to a .411 batting average last season and, more importantly, managed to create the third-longest hit streak in Division II history with 47 games. King dominated the offseason, too. Not only did the infielder play for USA Baseball last summer but he was also featured as a name to watch in the Cape Cod League for the Harwich Mariners. His efforts on both teams earned him D1 Baseball’s Summer Breakout Prospect Award. King, like Kurtz, is also on the docket to become a top pick in this year’s MLB Draft, ranked at No. 9 on MLB. com’s Draft Prospect board.
Middle infielder Marek Houston is not to be overlooked, either. He may not be eligible for the 2024 MLB Draft like some of his infield counterparts, but the sophomore comes off a consistent year where he played 65 games for the Demon Deacons — a program record for a freshman. Behind the plate, a hole was left by Bennett Lee, who was also drafted during last year’s MLB Draft (No. 170 overall, Detroit Tigers). Lee, a Tulane transfer, created one of the most memorable events in recent program history — a single to left field to knock a runner in scoring position (Corona) home in Game 1 of last year’s College World Series semifinals. In his stead come graduate students Tate Ballestero and Cameron Gill. Both are equally accomplished in their own right: the former led the St. John’s Red Storm in RBIs (45) last year, and the latter slashed .368 for the Wofford Terriers, good for No. 2 on the team. Another name to watch: Adam Tellier. The graduate transfer arrived in Winston-Salem via Ball State, where he took them to the Lexington Regional in Kentucky behind a .909 OPS and a team-leading 12 steals. Finally, a familiar name transferred in from North Carolina: Austin Hawke. The sophomore looks to contribute to the same program where his older brother, Tommy, played for years before eventually being drafted by the Cleveland Guardians in last year’s draft. In total, lots of names can be expected to contribute this year — Chris Katz, Jack Winnay and Jake Reinisch, to name a few. Each have immense potential at the plate and bring experience to a dugout chock full of new players in the program. Wake Forest Baseball starts on Friday, Feb. 16, as the Demon Deacons take on the Fordham Rams at David F. Couch Ballpark. Conference play starts against the Duke Blue Devils on March 8. Contact Sean Kennedy at kennsm21@wfu.edu
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Old Gold & Black | Sports
Page 16 | Thursday, February 8, 2024
WBB comes up short against Georgia Tech Offensive struggles persist despite 23 points from Elise Williams; loss is 10th consecutive in ACC play NATHAN FISHER Contributing Writer Coming into a midday matchup, Wake Forest women’s basketball (4-18, 0-10) looked to snap their nine game loss streak but couldn’t finish out the contest, losing 55-58 to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (14-9, 5-6). The first quarter of play started quiet for the Demon Deacons, as Georgia Tech pulled together a 7-0 lead built by Kayla Blackshear (18pts, 9reb) and Tonie Morgan (22pts, 6reb), the latter of which would prove vital to the Yellow Jackets’ victory. Despite the early deficit, graduate student guard Kaia Harrison (9pts, 5reb) and junior guard Elise Williams (23pts, 11reb) each found their rhythm in the paint, finishing off the first quarter with the Demon Deacons trailing 13-9. “Elise played really well with those 23 points and 11 rebounds,” Head Coach Megan Gebbia said. “Also, she really stepped up as a vocal leader.” In the second quarter, the story remained more or less the same. The Demon Deacon effort was mostly led by Malaya Cowles (6pts, 5reb) — who used her height to deliver all of her six points
in the period, capping off the scoring with a putback layup to close out the first half of play at 27-22. Georgia Tech continued to find value in its dynamic Blackshear-Morgan duo, with the two combining for 19 points in the first half. Their presence would continue to impact the game throughout. However, neither team could find their groove from beyond the arc in the first half, with the Demon Deacons and Yellow Jackets each shooting 0-6 from 3-point land. The second half started off bleak for the Demon Deacons, going scoreless for the first four minutes. Georgia Tech pushed its lead to 11 points — their largest of the game. However, Williams kickstarted her team’s momentum with an and-one layup to bring their deficit to eight. “We executed, and it took a lot of energy to come back from down double digits,” Gebbia said. Georgia Tech soon responded with its first 3-ball of the game, delivered by Ines Noguero (3pts, 3ast) from the top of the key, but after some more mid-range scoring for the Demon Deacons, Raegyn Conley (8pts, 2stl) cracked open her team’s 3-pointer game with a snipe of her own. Alyssa Andrews (3pts, 8reb) continued
the Demon Deacons’ proficiency from deep, quickly following up with her first three of the game. Williams finished another tough look on the offensive end, and the game appeared within reach at the end of the third quarter, at 38-36 in favor of the visitors. Wake Forest came into the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run, and their momentum didn’t slow down. Although a midrange two by Georgia Tech put their own scoreless run to rest, Williams made Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Arena erupt by swallowing up an offensive rebound and pulling off a highlight-worthy stepback three. At the point of their run, despite having never led the entire game, a free throw made by Kate Deeble (1pt, 1reb) and more paint work by Williams gave the Demon Deacons their first lead of the game at 42-40. Although Wake Forest was sharp up to that point, the game began to slip away. Georgia Tech consistently showed off their proficiency in the midrange and eventually drove the game to 54-46 with 1:26 remaining in the final frame. The Demon Deacons were not out of the fight yet. Conley made her second
three of the game, bringing the deficit to only five points with 59.6 seconds remaining to play. Morgan turned over the ball on a travel — and suddenly the game was in reach for Gebbia’s squad. After a long possession that led to multiple missed shots in the paint, the game was all but sealed. “There were just a couple key moments at the end where we couldn’t quite get a hold of the game to take this one,” Gebbia said. Williams didn’t let up, draining two more back-to-back threes in the span of 20 seconds, but her effort was to no avail, as the Demon Deacons fell to the Yellow Jackets 58-55. “This was a huge growth step, but we need to keep building on this to continue to take the next step,” Gebbia said. “This is maybe the hardest step: to find that last little bit to start getting wins.” The Demon Deacons face their in-state rival Duke Blue Devils on Thursday at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. The game is set to tip off at 7 p.m. on ACCNX. Contact Nathan Fisher at ¿VKQD #ZIX HGX
MBB crushes Orange on ‘throwback night’ Demon Deacons keep perfect record at home this season thanks to offensive onslaught from Sallis and Miller SEAN KENNEDY Sports Editor “Wire-to-wire.” After a pair of away losses at North Carolina and Pitt, Wake Forest Men’s Basketball needed a remedy — one they found Saturday night against the Syracuse Orange, winning 99-70. The Orange came into the matchup as a unique defensive test, with star sophomore guard Judah Mintz (13pts, 6ast) being one of the most proficient free-throw shooters in the country. Mintz arrived as fifth in the country in free throw attempts (185 FTA),
trailing the likes of former National Player of the Year Zach Edey (231 FTA). “He’s a hard player to guard because of his ability to get fouled,” Head Coach Steve Forbes said. “We had to change some of our defensive coverage against him in order to monitor that.” Wake Forest started out the night hot on the offensive end and strong on the other. 3-pointers from Hunter Sallis (24pts, 7-9 FG) and Parker Friedrichsen (6pts, 2-3 3PT) showcased quick ball movement around the perimeter for Coach Forbes’ squad. Meanwhile, the Orange struggled to
Evan Harris/Old Gold & Black
Damari Monsanto (30) launches a three-pointer in front of the home bench. Monsanto made two shots from behind the arc in the contest.
score outside of Mintz. The sophomore guard had seven of his team’s first 11 points throughout the first 10 minutes of the half. Tensions continued to arise when Syracuse forward Benny Williams (7pts, 8reb) threw a ball — leading to a technical foul. The middle-eight proved crucial to maintaining the Demon Deacons’ momentum. After a Kevin “Boopie” Miller (21pts, 10-14 FG) steal, Damari Monsanto (6pts, 2-5 3PT) caught the Orange off-guard on a fast break — finding Sallis on an electric alley-oop. “I thought we got out into transition well,” forward Andrew Carr (16pts, 3reb) said. “Being able to get the ball moving allowed for us to open their defense more.” The momentum carried past halftime. After going into the break with a 14-point lead, the Demon Deacons stretched their lead to 17 at the under-16 media timeout — and a Cameron Hildreth (13pts, 12reb) and-one sent Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum into applause. By the middle of the second-half, the Demon Deacons led by as much as 25 points, stifling the Orange on the offensive end. The Demon Deacons continued their onslaught from 3-point land in the second half, as well. Shots from the likes of Hildreth, Carr and Friedrichsen hit from downtown — providing a key point of scoring as the Orange’s perimeter defense floundered. Hildreth’s performance marked a turning point in the midst of a slump since his injury. Despite the struggles, Hildreth
picked up the second double-double of his career. “I think it’s a testament to his toughness and his love of playing,” Forbes said of Hildreth’s performance. “He does so many good things, and we need him on the court because he’s such a strong defender.” When the Orange did fortify outside, Miller took advantage. The redshirt sophomore found himself feasting in the lane, cutting his way to a series of layups with contact. “It was great to see Boopie [Miller] get back going offensively,” Forbes said. Throughout the latter part of the second half, the Demon Deacons found themself in a unique position — being up as much as 33 points. Sallis continued his reign from 3-point land, and Efton Reid (8pts, 8reb) continued to command the paint all in the name of metrics. Meanwhile, the Orange continued to struggle — having players like Quadir Copeland (11pts, 2reb) and Maliq Brown (2pts, 8reb) each foul out. The final minutes provided a sense of elongated pain for the Orange. On the other end, transfer guard Abramo Canka (3pts) earned his first basket in a Wake Forest uniform. The Orange finally fell to the hosts, 99-70. The Demon Deacons take on NC State this Saturday, February 10th, at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. on ACC Network.
Contact Sean Kennedy at NHQQVP #ZIX HGX
ARTS & CULTURE Lydia Derris, derrlf23@wfu.edu James Watson, watsjc22@wfu.edu
OLD GOLD & BLACK
PAGE 17 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2024
‘UNITED’ pleads for solidarity amidst Crystal Towers crisis The documentary captures a pivotal moment in Winston-Salem's ongoing housing crisis JAMES WATSON Arts & Culture Editor On the cold, otherwise quiet afternoon of Jan. 23, smoke began billowing out of the 11-story high-rise. Crystal Towers was, literally, on fire. But the unfolding disaster at the 201-unit affordable housing complex had been slow-burning for years. While firefighters contained the fire in the sprinklerless building, the significance of the event was not lost on locals and observers; the crisis at 625 W Sixth St. had reached an alarming new temperature. Later that same week, “UNITED,'' a short documentary from Wake Forest documentary MFA student Louie Poore was officially released to the public. The film, one part of a series on affordable housing Poore is working on, highlights the struggle Crystal Towers residents have faced in trying to protect their community and save their home. The 16-minute film arrived at a crucial moment for the community, showcasing within its frames the grassroots coalition-building efforts fighting for change in the neglected building. Despite its local specificity, Poore said this cause is universal. “A lot of Americans have been tenants at one time or another. A lot of Americans are workers, the ruling class, the landlords, the managers, what have you. They're very much in the minority for the average American new experiences,” Poore said. He continued: “I'm a tenant, and I'm a worker […]. It's hard for me to not see the plight of the folks at Crystal Towers and the larger work of Housing Justice Now and not feel a deep kind of affection and connection to that struggle.” 625 W Sixth St. The 50-year-old Crystal Towers, which were originally designed as affordable housing for Winston-Salem’s elderly population, have become the source of a yearslong battle between the residents, advocacy groups and the local government. Overseeing Crystal Towers is the Winston-Salem Housing Authority, or HAWS, which receives funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. They’ve attempted to ease the state of disrepair that the complex has fallen into, but those costly, long-term repairs — many of which have been years in the making — have been stymied by HAWS’ insufficient funding. Today, Crystal Towers remains without a working
Photo courtesy of Louie Poore
Crystal Towers resident Michael "Mike" Douglas is the main subject of "UNITED."
sprinkler system or consistently-operational elevators — a particular concern given the number of wheelchair-bound residents. Resident Michael “Mike” Douglas, who Poore frames the film around, opens the documentary by describing the state of the complex. “I’ve got neighbors that have been bitten by mice. I’ve got floors with asbestos in them, Douglas said. “We recently had a renovated lobby — but no one lives in the lobby.” These dire concerns prompted residents to form an advocacy coalition in order to directly engage the city government: Crystal Towers United. In the months following the group’s inception, speakers have routinely attended city council meetings, vocalizing their frustration and demanding city-level intervention. In a September city council meeting, Crystal Towers United member Samuel Grier told city council he felt “targeted.” “I love my city … for the sake of the people … we’re handicapped. We’re elderly. And we just need the city to step in and help the housing authority” Grier said. Art and advocacy Poore said his filmmaking effort was a part of what he saw as a neighborly responsibility to share their story. “It resonated with me deeply to … be in this powerless, helpless position, where you're at someone else's … whim and mercy. And really all you're trying to do is have shelter, have a roof over your head, have safety and security,” Poore said. “These are basic human rights in our world. Today has become pretty precarious.” The documentary follows Douglas, chronicling multiple meetings with Crystal Towers United as he and others prepare to speak at a pivotal City Council meeting in November 2023 — which serves as the film’s climax. In a November meeting at the Forsyth County Public Library, Poore captures the group preparing for the upcoming council meeting where Douglas and others hope to get on the call to the audience list. They discuss and prepare what they might say, dictating letters and speeches to Dan Rose, an organizer from the local advocacy group Housing Justice Now. “We’ve got to be smarter than them because they’ve been forceful with us […]. [The city council doesn’t] really give a damn about us getting what we deserve,” Douglas tells Rose. In the buildup to the city council meeting, the film yields its most illustrative sequence. Douglas and another member of United are seen signing in for the call to the audience and behind them Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines and other members of the city government pose for a photo op with the Wake Forest women’s golf team. Poore said that this candid moment visually encapsulated the thematic essence of his project: the contrast of who's living in the city and how. “It's very quiet,” Poore said, “and if you don't know what you're looking at, you might not really get it because it kind of comes and goes, and, honestly, that speaks to my intent as a filmmaker. I don't want to beat you over the head with it.” Wake Forest’s inclusion in the documentary, albeit brief and entirely coincidental, illustrates the institution’s tenuous relationship with the city — Wake Forest’s institutional “ripple effect,” as Poore described it.
̵ ϐ ̶ ̶ for yourself with the QR code above. In front of the city council, Douglas concluded his speech by announcing he will run for city council. He explained that because HAWS’ members are not elected, rather appointed, there needed to be someone directly affected by those laws and programs on the board. “It’s like taxation without representation. And we all know that's unAmerican. We need you to think about us,” Douglas said. “And because that has not been done, I’m throwing my hat in the ring to run for city council in the north west [ward].” “I was called upon to do this.” What’s next? “UNITED” arrives a month before the North Carolina statewide primary elections, with many WinstonSalem residents looking to candidates to see how they’ll respond to the city’s burgeoning housing problem. While the film is explicitly Mike Douglas’s story, Poore said it just scratches the surface. He acknowledges that the work is far from over but is optimistic that as the word gets out others will join the call for action. Poore hopes his work sparks a larger conversation – particularly on Wake Forest’s campus, which exists only three miles from Crystal Towers. According to Poore, Wake Forest has the same neighborly responsibility he has. “There is something pretty protected and pretty isolated about campus and about the community,” Poore said. “But just on the other side of that little bubble, our neighbors and their neighbors who are probably leading very different lives, investing in those lives, showing an interest in those lives [and] breaking out of the bubble will enrich you.” He concluded that filming “UNITED” taught him not just about the city he lives in but about himself. “For me, the folks at Crystal Towers and specifically within Crystal Towers United … have, strangely enough, taught me to kind of insist on my existence,” Poore said. “That it's okay to speak up against power, it's okay to join forces, even when you don't agree about everything.” In the wake of the fire on Jan. 23, it is clear that the work of Crystal Towers United is of grave importance to the community. Louie Poore knew this when he picked up his camera and Mike Douglas knew this when filed to run for city council. The fight to save Crystal Towers now heads to the ballot box. Contact James Watson at watsjc22@wfu.edu
Page 18|Thursday, February 8, 2024
Old Gold & Black |Arts & Culture
‘AZAD (The Rabbit and the Wolf)’ highlights the beauty of the storyteller KENLEY MCCLURE Staff Writer On Feb. 1, Wake Forest University’s Fine Arts Center hosted a multimedia performance of “Azad (The Rabbit and the Wolf)” on Tedford Stage. The show, conceived and performed by ‘00 alumnus Sona Tatoyan, allows Tatoyan’s own life story and background to take center stage. According to director Jared Mezzocchi, the production was in its raw form during the week leading up to the Wake Forest showing — which marked the third performance in a series of workshops. Audiences were granted a unique preview of the show as well as a glimpse into the essence of the evolving narrative. Mezzocchi noted that “Azad” has plans to debut in New York in the future. The production was genuinely unlike anything I have ever seen. The story, which jumps around quite frequently, follows Tatoyan trying to unravel the thread of Armenian family dynamics and unpacking the trauma their and her experiences hold. She ties multiple narratives together through metaphor and allusions to the stories “A Thousand and One Nights,” “Alice in Wonderland” and “Little Red Riding Hood.” The use of “A Thousand and One Nights” particularly stood out to me, as it provided the main narrative structure for the stage show. “A Thousand and One Nights” places emphasis on the three main roles: the storyteller, the listener and the eavesdropper. As the storyteller, Tatoyan showcased a wild performance that switched from warm narration of stories to guttural screams of trauma. Being the only actor on stage for the vast majority of the show, Tatoyan had a lot of pressure on her to keep the audience engaged. However, she thrived in this role, saying she felt a calling to be a storyteller — not a doctor like her father. The common metaphor of “leaving one’s heart onstage” found profound embodiment in Tatoyan’s performance. Her artistry and
Photo courtesy of Wake Forest University
Sona Tatoyan pictured on Tedford stage where her professor Maya Angelou told to express herself without any reservation years ago. delivery transcended mere storytelling. She afforded the audience a captivating experience of witnessing genuine healing before their very eyes. The set itself also aided in the performance’s varying emotions. The physical set was relatively homey, filled with lush patterned rugs and warm lighting. There were books shoved into nooks on shelves, papers scattered across tables and cushioned chairs dotting the stage. This provided a stark contrast with the crude puppets and flashing lighting that brought the stage to life throughout the play. The warmth of the set design is a clue that the audience is hospitably invited in to assume the role of the listener — but the harsh contrast with the other mediums suggest that the story they are listening to is not always a pleasant one. The show was a mixed media production, featuring videos, pictures, projections, stage acting and Karagöz shadow puppets. Many of the Karagöz puppets seen in the production were made by Tatoyan’s great-great grandfather Abkar. Throughout the show, Tatoyan speaks to the puppets. Some of them anger and mock
her, while others guide her. The use of puppets is something I have never seen incorporated into a show like this. They provide a form of outside intervention in a show that is largely narrated by a single person. While the show is about Tatoyan finding her freeing truth, the puppets force the audience to snap out of the story for a moment and assume a harsher viewpoint. I took this as the portrayal of the nonlinear grief process of healing from trauma and also the difficulty of sorting through one’s own thoughts when they come with the baggage of outside voices. Although “Azad” came together beautifully in the end, the run time felt a tad long for a story with such a nonlinear narrative. The intentional harsh breaks and constant changing of subject created a really unique and artistic approach to a stage play, but repeating this jarring formula for over two hours created a bit of confusion. For instance, the impact of the ending, in which Tatoyan connects many of the scattered dots she mentioned throughout the show, was a bit dulled due to the time it took to reach those conclusions. Freshman Carly Galbreth, the assistant stage manager for the production, says that
the show aims to be at least 30 minutes shorter by the time it reaches a New York stage. With this particular performance being a workshop, I really admired the encouragement for feedback from the director, who encouraged the audience to find the creative team in the lobby after the performance if anyone had any critiques. With a piece that was so incredibly personal, outsider critique be perceived as an attack rather than constructive. This made the team’s receptiveness to criticism quite refreshing and commendable. The next showing of “Azad” is scheduled at M.I.T.. The upcoming showcase is expected to introduce an enhanced and refined version of the show. As a student, witnessing “Azad” at Wake Forest, the alma mater of Tatoyan, is noteworthy. During the performance, Tatoyan disclosed that while attending Wake Forest, she was cast in a show that performed on Tedford Stage. At the time, her professor, Dr. Maya Angelou, purchased tickets so that the entire class could attend. Post-show, Angelou encouraged Tatoyan to express her most authentic self in any way she can. Seeing Tatoyan articulate her story and truth in such a unique way at the very location that fostered such expression was both remarkable and magical. The connection to Wake Forest that the production has holds significance to me as a current student. Learning that the university I attend gave someone the courage to speak their truth years ago and the platform to share it with others now is inspiring. Additionally, the impact extends to current students contributing to the production of “Azad,” a professionally made show. Galbreth noted that the “Azad” team instilled hope for the future of theater, emphasizing that “they’re not just producing works that put people in seats but producing work that is meaningful and that is relevant.” In the playbill’s artistic statement, Tatoyan wrote that working on this show allowed her to see that “how we chose to frame our experience shapes how we see it.” This quote perfectly exemplifies what I took from “Azad” and how we all have the agency to become the storyteller in our own narratives. Contact Kenley McClure at mcclkj23@wfu.edu
‘Quantum Poetics’ marries quantum physics and poetry ADAM COIL Senior Writer Amy Catanzano is an associate professor of English in creative writing and the poet-inresidence at Wake Forest. On Wednesday, Jan. 31, she streamed her talk titled “Quantum Poetics: On Physics and Poetry,” which emerged from her upcoming book, “The Imaginary Present: Essays in Quantum Poetics.” She then answered questions during a live, virtual Q&A session. Catanzano’s work, which she broadly refers to as “quantum poetics,” combines quantum physics — the study of matter at the sub-atomic level — with poetry to produce a variety of writing from poetry to essay to memoir. She is particularly interested in the potential that theoretical physics creates for new modes of artistic expression. While Catanzano is primarily a writer and professor of creative writing, she has dedicated much of her life to studying and researching physics. Such scientific inquiry has led her to collaborate with renowned scientists at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland, the Cerro Tololo InterAmerican Observatory in Chile and the Simons Center for Geometry and Physics in New York. She is “especially excited by the cutting-edge fields of quantum computing, high-energy particle physics and astrophysics.” The talk began with a meditation on time, which did well to set the stage for what was to follow. Catanzano declared that “one doesn’t need to be a poet or a scientist to get the sense that time is not what it appears to be,” but that poetry and physics are quite alike in their ability to challenge
normative temporality. While breakthroughs in physics like Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity have effectively demonstrated the subjectivity of time, a poem can make a reader feel that instability. “Ordinary conceptions of time must be revised in order to account for the discoveries that scientists about the universe have made,” Catanzano said. Poetry is an effective tool for such revision. Physics and poetry are often understood as disparate fields on polar ends of the scienceshumanities spectrum, but Catanzano’s work illustrates the complementary nature of the two. She spoke about how she has come to understand physics as a philosophical and cultural discourse — one that is constantly reinventing and challenging itself. “Quantum poetics [posits] that quantum theory is encoded in and by artistic practice,” she said. The influence goes both ways. Quantum poetics is rooted in a rich tradition of artists responding to scientific paradigm shifts around them. Yet Catanzano believes that quantum poetics “departs from some of the conventions of this tradition by heading off the grid altogether.” Quantum poetics does not simply allude to scientific research; the two are completely intertwined. One such instance is Catanzano’s poem “World Lines,” a quantum supercomputer poem. “World Lines” contains lines of poetry that criss-cross over top of one another. At these intersections, the lines “share a word where ordinarily a quantum knot would be produced in a topological quantum computer. The reader can
Photo courtesy of Amy Catanzano
ϐ Dz dz ʹͲͳͺ Ǥ read the poem in a linear or choose a branch of doors it can open for us. Via poetry, written poetry to follow when they get to a shared word.” and spoken words take on the role of “physical Catanzano knew that there were multiple manifestations of possibility in potentia, the poems within the poem existing in a state of imagination made material.” After the talk concluded, Catanzano pivoted quantum superposition — but she did not know how many. That was until she collaborated with to answering live questions from the comments Michael Taylor, a computer scientist who created section of the video. The audience’s reception an AI that, thus far, has found over a thousand was ecstatically positive as dozens of questions poured in — not due to confusion but curiosity. distinct poems within “World Lines.” One might wonder what poetry can do for Quantum physics and avante-garde poetry are a robust field like physics — how can poems liable to be inaccessible to the general public, impact a scientific discipline built on real- but Catanzano’s talk was easy to follow without world experiments and mathematical proofs? sacrificing much of its complexity and nuance. If the questions directed toward Catanzano According to Catanzano, poetry “is especially after her talk can confirm anything, it is that poised to respond to a question that science on its many viewers walked away having learned a great own has been unable to answer. That question is: deal, but still they were hungry to discover even what does quantum physics mean?” more. Poetry, with its endless freedom, gives us the necessary outlet to grapple with the ramifications Contact Adam Coil at of quantum physics as well as imagine the new coilat21@wfu.edu
Thursday, February 8, 2024 | Page 19
Arts & Culture | Old Gold & Black
Inside Rikers Island with Lorenzo Steele Jr. The “Behind These Prison Walls”author’s work was recently on display in Scales Fine Arts Center PRARTHNA BATRA Senior Writer
Last week, the students of Wake Forest University, in collaboration with Wake Forest Law, had the great privilege of engaging with the art of Lorenzo Steele Jr. — a former New York City Corrections officer, visual artist, and author of “Behind These Prison Walls.” Students embarked on a photographic journey into the nation’s most violent adolescent jail on Rikers Island, hearing him talk first-hand about his experiences of authoring his book and working at Rikers Island as a correction officer. Steele found his love of photography at the young age of five. As a young boy, he was always fascinated by his mother’s cameras. When he finally got his own, some of his fondest memories were created by taking pictures of his father playing softball. Steele described his art style as “using art to change habits and behaviors that can lead to incarceration.” The themes of his work tackle gun violence, gang awareness, conflict resolution, mass incarceration, the school-to-prison pipe-
line, and lastly, how to avoid the prison system. Before the formal talk began, students walked around looking at the exhibit so that the conversation could be more centered on the art. The photographs were all in black and white, leaving a striking impression on all the viewers who strolled past. The photographs portrayed inmates in solitary confinement cells or reading the Bible in their jail cells. Steele spoke about how prison is often the first time in many of their lives that they’ve had time for self-reflection and to read the Bible for t h e first time. Alongside the pictures, there was also a weapons board on display with contraband that was found during jail searches. Inmates used these items
for safety and survival inside the harsh environments that they lived in. Steele frequently employed metaphors and imagery of trapped birds in cages to describe his visual artistry work of the inmates. The only image with color within the whole display depicted the violence that inmates are exposed to. Outside of this piece, the exhibit portrays a dark, solemn feel that reflects an unfortunate reality. “There is nothing mentally or physically that could ever prepare you for working in an environment Steele began working at Rikers Island at the young age of 22.
James Watson/Old Gold & Black
He spoke about the constant state of fear he experiences every day, surrounded by hundreds of convicts. He had to find ways to protect him-
self against the harsh realities of living inside a prison. His ability to stay alert heightened and sometimes, in fear of falling asleep, he would stay awake during his night shifts.. His ability to stay alert heightened and sometimes, in fear of falling asleep, he would stay awake during his night shifts. “You can never show fear in a job like this because it will always undoubtedly be used against you […],” Steele said. “There is no training manual for when you are in jail, nothing in the world will ever prepare you for it.” Concluding the talk, an audience member asked Steele how he protected himself in the brutal, unseen realities of prison life. Steele shared with the audience that correction officers don’t carry guns or any sort of weapons in the cell. “My brain is my only weapon, and I stay alert and aware to protect myself.” Contact Prartthna Batra at bartp22@wfu.edu
ϐ The indulgent and nutritious spot invites Wake Forest students to get out of their culinary comfort zones MELINA TRAIFOROS Staff writer Viva Chicken has been serving up Peruvian rotisserie chicken, also known as “pollo a la brasa,” to Winston-Salem residents since the Charlotte-based chain expanded in 2019. Located on Burke Mill Road, right next door to Wake Forest University’s beloved Taco Mama, Viva Chicken lives in the realm of “healthy fast food.” With crispy chicken smothered in sauce nestled next to green beans and rice, this restaurant hits the sweet spot — nutritious enough to earn a place in your weekly rotation and indulgent enough to keep you coming back for more. Like a true street food joint, Viva Chicken invites customers to order at the counter. My meal of choice is a tray with a quarter chicken of dark meat, green huacatay sauce and two sides. The green beans, covered in ginger, garlic, soy and diced red bell peppers, are an absolute must. Viva Chicken is also the only place in Winston-Salem where I’ve been able to order plantains. The Limeña chopped salad, topped with Peruvian corn, queso fresco aji amarillo ranch and shredded bits of their signature chicken, is a delicious option if you want to get in your greens — and junior Claire Whitworth swears by the rotisserie chicken sandwich with a side of french fries. “It’s a healthier option if you are looking for a chicken sandwich,” Whitworth said. “[It’s] not fried, but the sauces bring out
unique flavors of Peruvian cooking in a style familiar to the American palate. The beverage branding resembles Panera’s array of charged lemonades, and ordering a fast food tray is common thanks to spots like Panda Express and Cook Out. In an interview with Queen City Nerve, head chef and co-founder Randy Garcia admitted to fearing that Peruvian food would not appeal to American customers. “I would say the extent of Hispanic food in Charlotte [when we opened in 2013] was Mexican food,” Garcia said. He continued: “Our biggest fear was — how are we gonna get people to come in and try Peruvian rotisserie chicken when they have no idea where Peru is on a map or what kind of food they have?” As a culture, we have accepted certain international cuisines as mainstream and relegated others to niche concept Photo courtesy of Viva Chicken restaurants that generally fail to gain Viva Chicken offers a plethora of delicious, accessible Peru- popularity beyond adventurous foodies. vian cuisines for those looking to try something new. Why should all South and Central Americans have to rebrand their dishes the flavor. And their fries are to simply to fruits. If you’re craving something sweet, as “Mexican” to find success in the food die for.” Viva Chicken’s “#VivaCares” campaign market? Viva Chicken’s trio of signature juices promises that 50 cents of every churro Viva Chicken is an accessible first elevates the dining experience and sets sold will go to a charity partner, which is step into the world of authentic Latino this place apart. Think lemonade with currently No Kid Hungry. cuisine, one that extends beyond basic a far more intricate flavor profile. The You can even track the impact on their burritos and guacamole. Next time Taco herbal limeade’s delicate balance of website; as of Monday, the campaign is Mama has a line halfway around the herbs and lime makes it refreshing — $143,000 into their $1 million goal. block, consider popping next door to pay but without being overly sweet — and I If you had offered me a purple, corn- Viva Chicken a visit. would make a special trip for the chicha flavored drink before college, I would morada — a deep indigo blend of purple have turned it down…but that is the Contact Melina Traiforos at corn, cinnamon, clove and tropical beauty of Viva Chicken: it presents the traimg21@wfu.edu
Old Gold & Black|Arts & Culture
Page 20|Thursday, February 8, 2024
The Crossword EVAN LIPETZ Staff Cruciverbalist
Across 1. Cartographer’s creation 4. Fuzzy stone fruit 11. Santa’s little helper 14. “Like this”, in Spanish 15. Adjust the course of an aircraft. 16. Drinking offense 17. Device measuring temperature 19. Antibodies in the immune system 20. One of the oldest volunteer-based symphonies in the US, abbr. 21. Dirty content, often seen in fan Across cont. 49. A singular winner of a peabody award and all academy award types, for short. 51. Female seer in ancient times 53. Multiple affectionate behaviors that’s open for all to see 54. Genetic material with a single strand 55. Green citrus 56. A New Zealander 58. Brewpub offering 60. Nation with stars and stripes 62. Devoutly, in a spiritually dedicated manner 69. Salad base, for short 70. Guacamole ingredient 71. A common period product 72. Tool for chopping wood 73. Mythical winged horse 74. Commercial messages Down 1. Floor covering for yoga 2. Remains after combustion 3. Common cake alter-
native 4. Military organization 5. Worse, in Spanish 6. Tachometer readings 7. Suffix finishing agand juven8. Purr Producer 9. Single body of water 10. Duration of office 11. Printed release 12. Carry with difficulty, as a heavy bag 13. Sweet fruit with a teardrop shape 18. Lion sound 22. Excessive or unwarranted 23. Roman numerals 601 24. Red sushi fish 25. A Perfect score, per se 26. Georgia capital 27. Jelly-making fruit found in vineyards. 29. Night, informally 30. Before, in poetic language 32. Important European river 33. Japanese currency 35. Australian hornless cattle 38. Sour citrus fruit 40. Coca Cola competitor 41. Monthly mood swings, briefly
42. Trim or cut off, as branches 43. Finale 44. Unintended flow of fluids 46. Nintendo controller with a unique controller 47. Shade tree with toothed leaves 48. Suffix for Japan or Taiwan 50. Mourn 52. French word for blue 57. To encase 58. Unit for Aeronautical Information Documents, abbr. 59. Multiple British toilets 60. Grape, in Spanish 61. Gender 63. Timber trunk 64. Company that works to unite and serve cooperatives worldwide, abbr. 65. Oxygen and Helium, for example 66. Place for relaxation and pampering 67. Young boy Contact Evan Lipetz at lipeek22@wfu.edu
fiction 23. Digital information 26. Time since birth 28. What seven ate? 31. Sweet, red stone fruit 34. Secret entrance, often in floor 36. Two times the info, abbr. 37. A lot, slang 39. Small weight unit 40. Tropical fruit with a crown 42. Translator of “The Confessions of St. Augustine” 45. Muse of memory in Greek mythology 46. Very small or tiny