News: International Justice Mission opens thrift store Page 6
Opinion: NIL agreement benefits student athletes Page 7
Sports: Wake Forest outlasts Syra- Life: "Means of Identification" cuse 40-37 exhibition opens Page 10 Page 16
Old Gold&Black
WAKE FOREST’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1916 VOL. 108, NO. 8
T H U R S DAY, O C TO B E R 14 , 2 0 21 “Cover s the campus like the magnolias”
wfuogb.com
Sex Week comes to Wake Forest This week multiple organizations across campus united to promote sexual health and knowledge BY AINE PIERRE News Editor pierav20@wfu.edu The Intersectional Feminist Collective (IFC), the Women’s Center and the Office of Wellbeing are hosting Sex Week Oct. 11-15. Sex Week was originally planned for Spring 2020, but was postponed. “We had funding approved, and we even got the t-shirts in and everything, but then because of COVID-19, we canceled it,” IFC President Pilar Agudelo said. “Then we were thinking about maybe doing it semi-virtually and semiin-person last year, but that just wasn't going to really happen. We thought that if we were going to do it for the first time, we wanted it to be really impactful, and the virtual methods weren't going to be effective. So, we decided to do it this year.” According to the IFC's founder, senior Olivia Thonson, the idea for Sex Week came out of a discussion with outgoing Women’s Center Director Steph Trilling. Photo courtesy of Wake Forest University
Dr. Hamilton sits in front of Greene Hall overlooking Manchester Plaza while smoking his pipe on an autumn day in 2013. Hamilton passed away from leukemia this past Saturday at the age of 79.
Remembering Dr. William "Billy" Selden Hamilton Beloved professor leaves behind a lasting legacy of friendship and generosity BY CAP MCLINEY & CONNOR MCNEELY Staff Writer & Opinion Editor mclicp19@wfu.edu & mcnecb19@wfu.edu
Dr. William “Billy” Selden Hamilton, a professor of Slavic languages and linguistics at Wake Forest University, passed away on Oct. 9 after a years-long battle with leukemia. A profoundly intelligent and accomplished man, Hamilton brought his innate love of language to Wake Forest’s campus — he was known for speaking Dutch, French, Croatian, Old English, Czech, Polish, Ukrainian, Serbo-Croatian and Gaelic in addition to Russian.
His teaching was recognized with an award at SUNY Buffalo, an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellowship and the 2021 Jon Reinhardt Award for Distinguished Teaching. His book, “Introduction to Russian Phonology and Word Structure”, is still widely read across the country in Russian language courses. And yet, despite all these remarkable achievements, Billy Hamilton was much more than a distinguished academic. One is bound to find both great friends and great professors throughout their time in college. To many, Professor Billy Hamilton was both. I (Cap McLiney) remember the first time I saw him walk into the classroom. Hamilton’s eyes twinkled behind a pair of round glasses, his checked button-down was tucked in and a ball cap with two stitched turtles rested on his head.
See Sex Week, Page 5
Panhel to host talent show The talent show will raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation on Oct. 18 BY COOPER SULLIVAN Asst. News Editor sullcg20@wfu.edu
Upon sitting down in front of the classroom of silent, wide-eyed freshmen, Hamilton patted the instrument case on the table to his left. He scanned the room, and asked, “So, does anyone know anything about banjos?” Since Fall 2019, Hamilton and I had remained in close contact as he helped me to learn the banjo. We passed the time with back-porch visits at his house, sitting on the lawn in front of Greene Hall, texting, calling, emailing and using FaceTime. Hamilton ultimately insisted I call him Billy. It’s true that I learned a whole lot about banjo from Billy, and will never let go of his tips. However, it was his lived, daily example of exceptional kindness that I will never forget. The Wake Forest community will not, either.
On Oct. 18, the Wake Forest Panhellenic Council is hosting a talent show to raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Breast cancer is the second-most common and deadly cancer among American women. One in every eight women will be diagnosed, and one in every 39 will ultimately succumb to the disease. Throughout the world, there are many organizations — including the Breast Cancer Research Foundation — that are committed to finding a cure, improving detection technology and improving the general wellbeing of breast cancer patients. “[Proceeds of the show] used to go to the Susan G Komen Foundation,” said Hannah Coates, Vice President of Community Relations for the Panhellenic Council and head organizer of this year’s event.
See Hamilton, Page 4
See Talent, Page 6
Old Gold & Black
“ Campus Climate Survey OGB endorses This column represents the views of the Old Gold & Black Editorial Board.
On Aug. 30, the Old Gold & Black’s editorial board committed to investigating and reporting on issues of interpersonal violence on Wake Forest’s campus. Since then, we have launched our special reports section, which is overseen by our investigative team, in hopes to provide clarity and information to students about the systems surrounding interpersonal violence on this campus. We will continue our investigation through the end of the semester and beyond. However, it is important to recognize that our investigation alone is not sufficient given the importance of this issue. In light of previous events this semester, the administration of Wake Forest now has before it the charge to channel the totality of their
In order to create solutions to address the issues at hand, however, it is imperative to understand the size and scope of the issues." resources toward eradicating the culture of violence that has, for far too long, been allowed to fester on our campus. On Tuesday, Oct. 12, the Student Government Senate passed S.R. 4, in which it committed to co-sponsor a campus-wide survey about the climate surrounding sexual assault. The legislation echoed S.R. 9 — passed during the Senate’s 2018-19 session — which originally called for the creation of such a survey. S.R. 4 also references
Old Gold&Black
an address President Wente delivered at the President’s Leadership Conference on Sept. 25 in which she committed to conducting the survey. As is the case at almost every college and university across the country, campus sexual misconduct is an issue at Wake Forest. In order to create solutions to address the issues at hand, however, it is imperative to understand the size and scope of the issues. That is why this survey is so important. Accordingly, the Old Gold & Black editorial staff urges the administration to follow through on their promise to collect this essential information, and we urge students to participate candidly and openly in the survey. Should our student body
fail to do so, then this work will have been for nothing, and change will remain out of reach. Furthermore, we would like to extend an offer to all parties involved in the creation of the survey to the full resources and platform of the Old Gold & Black. We hope that in doing so, we can ensure that this important work is done well, but also that the student body is informed of the results and the resulting actions the university takes. For our part, we will be continuing in our investigation during the coming weeks as we seek to further shed light on these pertinent matters. As we have said in the past, the Wake Forest community deserves nothing less.
Old Gold&In Your Ears
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF WAKE FOREST UNIVERSIT Y SINCE 1916 ALEXANDRA KARLINCHAK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF karlae18@wfu.edu
BEN CONROY
PRINT MANAGING EDITOR conrbd19@wfu.edu
>> NEWS
Aine Pierre, pierav20@wfu.edu
Asst. Cooper Sullivan, sullcg20@wfu.edu
>> OPINION
Connor Mcneely, mcnecb19@wfu.edu Asst. Sophie Guymon, guymsm20@wfu.edu
>> SPORTS
Christina DeNovio, denoca20@wfu.edu Essex Thayer, thayse20@wfu.edu
>> LIFE
Selinna Tran, transn19@wfu.edu Asst. Adam Coil, coilat21@wfu.edu
>> PHOTO EDITOR
Katie Fox, foxkg19@wfu.edu
>> AUDIO EDITOR
Evan Daane, daanep19@wfu.edu
>> ADVISER
Phoebe Zerwick, zerwicp@wfu.edu
CHARLIE BENEDICT
BUSINESS MANAGER benecc19@wfu.edu
WILL ZIMMERMAN
ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR zimmwj19@wfu.edu
>> PODCAST HOSTS
Evan Daane, daanep19@wfu.edu Cooper Sullivan, sullcg20@wfu.edu Edited by Sean Jones, jonesd19@wfu.edu
Scan our code and listen to the latest episode on Spotify.
>> POLICIES
The Old Gold & Black is published Thursdays during the school year, except during examinations, summer and holiday periods, by Triangle Printing of Durham. © 2021 WFU Media Board. All rights reserved. The views expressed in all editorials and advertisements contained within this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the OGB. As part of our commitment to reporting news fairly and accurately, we will not remove any previously published content. 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. For more information on our commenting policy, please see our website. We reserve the right to reject advertisements deemed inappropriate. Our full policy, and how to advertise with the OGB, can be found on our website.
>> 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 karlae18@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 Twitter: @wfu_ogb Instagram: @wfu_ogb Snapchat: @wfu_ogb
Want to write for us? Email wfuogb@gmail.com
News | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, October 14, 2021 | Page 3
Deacon Profile: Jonathan Lee Walton
BY MADDIE SAYRE Staff Writer sayrmm20@wfu.edu
an essential part of spiritual growth and development. We're also working with Wake the Arts on several joint efforts, which includes supporting them and the theater program.
Jonathan Lee Walton has been Dean of the School of Divinity, the Presidential Chair of Religion and the Dean of Wait Chapel since 2019. He earned his Ph.D. in divinity at Princeton Theological Seminary and served as the Pusey Minister in the Memorial Church of Harvard University. Walton is an author, religious scholar and advocate for social justice who is seeking to foster robust communities of faith, especially on Wake Forest’s campus. His comments have been edited for brevity and clarity.
What are your goals as Dean of the Chapel and the Divinity School, and what impact do you hope to leave on Wake Forest?
What led you to Wake Forest? What led me to Wake Forest was the chance to join the work of this Divinity School. Wake Divinity is a community that is unapologetic about its commitment to fostering agents of justice, reconciliation and compassion. It also does the work of training social architects — people who imagine designing a world of hope, of healing and of equity, animated by their faith. When presented with an opportunity to not only join this community but become the dean of the faculty, obviously that inspired me. I also was thrilled to be offered the challenge to activate Wait Chapel for the entire university community as the inaugural dean of Wait Chapel. I am a scholar of American religion, and there's not a scholar of American religion that is not familiar with the work of Nathan Hatch and his classic book “The Democratization of American Christianity”. Also, the founding dean of Wake Forest School of Divinity, Bill Leonard, had been a mentor of mine for decades, and we've had a close relationship and friendship. When I led the Memorial Church at Harvard, I would bring him to preach every year. He would often come with a group of board of visitor members and people affiliated or associated with Wake Divinity. So I had the pleasure of knowing people from this community prior to my appointment. What is your vision for divinity education, specifically at Wake Forest? In our classes, in our chapel services and through our programs such as food, health and ecological wellbeing, we're really doubling down on matters of equity; matters of racial and gender justice and health equity. By now, the world has been made aware of the ways in which social and structural inequities are so baked into the system that, during a time like the pandemic, we see it exacerbated in terms of the ways that individu-
Photo courtesy of Jonathan Lee-Walton
als are impacted by COVID-19. So, we need to find solutions: something like our food, health and ecological wellbeing concentration here at Wake Divinity. We've had a focus on those issues, and we're hoping to continue to scale that up. To that end, we hired a new director for that program: Melanie Harris. When we think about social determinants of health, we think in terms of food scarcity, housing, access to quality health care, education and also healthy, robust communities of faith. When we consider all of these social determinants of health together, we want to make sure that we are training religious leaders that take a holistic approach to the human condition. We’re not just concerned about your heart and your soul — we're also concerned about your access to quality food, your access to affordable housing and your access to quality education. What do you see as the role of faith in young adults in the 21st Century?
We can think about what we're doing in the larger community, in terms of the southeastern region and what we're trying to do here as it relates to our curriculum; and the courses we teach. So, then, what might we contribute to the larger spiritual life of the campus? It is important to help students to see and understand the power of human and spiritual connection and inspire their moral imaginations. There are multiple ways that we can do this. One way is through art, and the stories we tell or narrate. We've partnered in Wait Chapel, for instance, with Christopher Gilliam (from the Music Department) who now is working to revive the singing of sacred music as a part of the chancel choir. We also hired Joshuah Brian Campbell, an Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated writer and director. Joshuah is now the new director of the University Gospel Choir. So we’re really trying to revive music in Wait Chapel because we understand that music is
I want to help foster spaces that are defined by grace. In my religious tradition we have this conception of grace which is considered unmerited — not earned. It’s what God gives us. At a high-powered university like Wake Forest, everyone is always looking next to them in comparison. Where do I rank? Where do I stand? How can I be the “best”? That may be one of the reasons people refer to this place as “Work Forest”. I want to help create more spaces where students understand that they are not defined solely by their work, and they aren't defined solely by a ranking or some sort of quantitative measure — I want them to understand they are special and blessed and unique and have their own individual contributions to make on this planet, because God made you unlike anybody else for a reason. We all want to be “successful.” We all want to be accomplished in our fields and every field of human endeavor. I do, too! But at the end of the day, we're more than our titles. We're more than our positions. We're more than our pedigrees and we're more than our CVs. When all of that's gone, who are we? For me, if people could just say, “when all that's gone, I'm still enough because I'm a child of God,” that's what I want. Could you tell me more about your ideas for “fostering spaces of grace?” I want to help people see one another as so much more than their accomplishments or their resumés. People are so much more than that! They have so much more to offer the world and offer others in relationships than some of the things that we tend to privilege on a campus. And so, I want to create spaces of grace. When I say "help create these spaces," I do think it's important for me to acknowledge that I was quite intentional using that language because there are incredible people — like the Chaplain’s Office and the University Chaplain Tim Auman — that have been doing that work here for decades. So, in some ways I'm here to help support them and help enrich the work that they have been doing.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR I read your Sept. 30, 2021, article, “Peanuts: Two Sides of the Story”, and I wanted to offer some insight into food allergies. Imagine if every bite you took could be a risk to your life. If the thing you need to live is also the thing that could kill you. If you regularly had to trust a stranger to keep you safe. For 32 million Americans with life-threatening food allergies, this is a daily reality. To put that into perspective, if you brought all those people together, they would be the second largest state population behind California. If this problem feels far removed from you, it’s important to recognize that it can change in a single spoonful. Seven million adults in the U.S. developed their first food allergy after they turned 18. And sure, we know sometimes it can feel like food allergies are not a big deal. After all, they aren’t cancer. Most people with a food allergy aren’t going to die from it. So, it might feel hard to empathize sometimes. Fatalities from a food allergy are, thankfully, rare. But that is largely due to the daily vigilance of the people who managge them. Carefully reviewing labels, skipping birthday treats, sitting at a separate table at lunch. All are sacrifices of time and inclusion that many with food allergies bear to remain safe. Sometimes, these precautions and sacrifices aren’t enough. A low fatality rate may not be much comfort to those who have lost a loved one to food allergy.
Black children are 2-3 times more likely to suffer a fatal reaction than white children, and children in lower income brackets end up in the hospital 2.5 times more often than children in higher income brackets. One-in-three children report being bullied because of their food allergy, often with the threat of their allergens. Such bullying has resulted in hospitalizations, felony charges and even a tragic death. Teens and young adults are at the highest risk of any age group for a fatal food allergy reaction. Perhaps part of this is their propensity for risk-taking behaviors, which are only exacerbated by the history of bullying and a strong desire to fit in. All of this paints a picture of what is and what could be. Food allergies can be deadly, but they don’t usually have to be. Every person has a choice: to lead with empathy, respect and a drive for equity or to be a bully. Choosing the former will only improve your campus, not just for students with food allergies but for every student and faculty member. Sincerely, Kristi Grim Senior Director of Programs FARE, Food Allergy, Research & Education
Page 4 | Thursday, October 14, 2021
Old Gold & Black| News
Hamilton: Community shares memories Continued from Page 1
Senior Josie Asbacher was one of Hamilton’s students. As such, she is a member of one of the tightknit communities he fostered in his language courses. “He’s the reason that I’m minoring in Russian. I just decided on a whim to take Russian for my language requirement. I almost dropped it [about] five times freshman year,” Ansbacher said. “It was one class that I had every day — with the same five people and Hamilton. But seeing his pas-
sion for Russian every day is why I’ve stuck with it for four years.” The true nature of Hamilton’s life and work at Wake Forest was remembered best by his colleagues. Dr. Alyssa Howards, chair of the German and Russian department, perfectly encapsulates the openhandedness of his character. “Billy was the best of what Wake Forest aspires to be, a true intellectual and Renaissance man who gave selflessly,” Howards said. “Needed a quiet place to take a make-up test? Billy would offer his office up to you. Hun-
gry? He’d grab you an extra sandwich on his walk over to Subway. If it was a hot summer day and you were stuck here for summer school and homesick? He’d tell you to come over to swim in his pool and play with his dogs. Billy gave of himself completely, and I smile thinking how many former students were transformed by his generosity.” No matter what, Hamilton always brought out two chairs to sit in front of Green Hall: one for him and one for anyone else with a heartbeat. Through this simple
act, he created an approachable, home-like environment. Whether you knew him or not, Hamilton’s presence on campus was comforting in that he seemed like family to anyone who might need to take a seat or was simply passing by. The campus was like his home, the students like his grandkids and Greene lawn, his porch. Hamilton is remembered in an obituary. Instead of a traditional funeral, Hamilton’s family plans to have a musical celebration in the spring or summer of 2022.
Culture groups exult in in-person community The return to in-person events after COVID-19 has been met with joy from culture groups BY SOPHIE GUYMON Asst. Opinion Editor guymsm20-@wfu.edu
Having only 30% of students identifying as non-white, Wake Forest qualifies as a predominantly white institution (PWI). Statistics are not as easy to come by for sexuality and gender composition, but simple observation shows that cisgender and heterosexual people make up the majority of the student body. As such, culture groups are an important resource for students who do not identify as white, cisgender and heterosexual. The university’s Intercultural Center provides support to 30 of these organizations. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these groups made the switch to virtual programming last year and have only recently begun to host in-person events again. Notable communities and resources include the Asian Student Association (A.S.I.A.), the Black Student Alliance (BSA) and the LGBTQ Center. A.S.I.A. is open to any student — regardless of their ethnicity, background or beliefs — who are interested in sharing Asian traditions, culture and food while promoting diversity and inclusivity on campus. They recently collaborated with other campus organizations to host their Harvest Moon Festival on Sept. 26, which featured games and dance performances highlighting the beauty of Asian culture, as well as a buffet line of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and Thai foods. A.S.I.A. also hosts more personal events for its members throughout the academic year, including regular club meetings, movie nights and even hot pot and dumpling-making classes. Members of A.S.I.A. connect through these events and their
shared cultures, creating relationships that feel like family. “With the loosening of COVID-19 restrictions, we get to see many returning and new members who are excited to bond over group events,” sophomore and A.S.I.A Secretary Katie Zeng said. She continued: “Our recent events allowed us to share the beauty of our culture with the Wake Forest community and regain the normalcy and community feeling offered by in-person events. Our hope is that we can bring back what makes A.S.I.A. so special this year through our events and that those who join us will find a place that they feel comfortable and welcomed in.” Like A.S.I.A., BSA hosts regular events for its members in order to foster connections and support between Black students while celebrating Black culture. They also have a lounge space in Kitchin Residence Hall for their members,
which houses many of their events and is also used as a casual social space. Their most recent events include a Sunday Brunch held at the Barn at Reynolda Village on Sept. 26, as well as a Soul Food Festival in collaboration with the Organization of Latin American Students (OLAS). At the event, students were able to enjoy cultural foods such as shrimp and grits and chicken and waffles. One important space on campus is the LGBTQ+ Center, which hosts identity space meetings for queer students every month, as well as events promoting queer sex education and inclusivity. Each space is led by a facilitator, who spearheads discussions and group exercises. These identity spaces include Lavender Menace, a space established by senior Cara Levicoff that welcomes non-men interested in building community around the nuances of their queerness; QTPOC Connections, a space for
queer and trans students of color; T-Time, a space for all students who identify as trans, nonbinary or genderqueer, as well as those who may be questioning their gender identity; and Queer First Year, a space designated for LGBTQ+ first-year students. Identity spaces are open to both undergraduate and graduate students, and students are allowed to attend any space that resonates with them. Culture groups are a key part of the university experience for many students who have built lifelong connections through membership. While many on campus believe Wake Forest still has a ways to go in promoting diversity and inclusion on campus and in making the university a safe space for all students — regardless of their background — the ever-increasing presence of cultural groups is an important step towards accomplishing this goal.
Courtesy of Katie Zeng
Students in traditional attire pose at the harvest festival put on by the Asian Student Association (A.S.I.A.) on Sept. 26. A.S.I.A. collaborated with many organizations to hold the event.
News | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, October 14, 2021 | Page 5
Sex Week: Events promote sexual wellness Continued from Page 1
“We had thrown an event called Sex Ed Done Right: On the Verge of Orgasm, and it was super well- attended,” Thonson said. “Probably 150 people showed up, and we were all squeezed into DeTamble Auditorium, and Steph Trilling came up to us after and said, ‘This is so exciting! You guys should plan a whole sex week.’ And that started it all.” The impetus for the original event, however, was the lack of sex education that many Wake Forest students receive before they walked onto campus. “We really wanted to make sure that people are having conversations about safe sex and getting the education they needed, even if it’s not in the HES 100 class or from the online
module that, frankly, no one really listens to,” Agudelo said. “So we were trying to find a different route that was really engaging to get that information out to people.” The two received funding and assistance from the Women’s Center, the Office of Wellbeing and even partnered with the LGBTQ+ Center. Sex Week has garnered a large response in its first few days. A tie-dye event Monday about orgasms ran out of t-shirts to dye within minutes. “So yesterday, we had planned our tie-gasm event to be from 3 to 5 p.m.,” Agudelo said. “And it was all of five minutes before all the T-shirts were gone. Everybody was actually super engaged with the pamphlets we made around pleasure, the orgasm gap and different types of orgasms, which was super cool. Everybody was
saying, ‘Wow, this is such an interesting pamphlet, I never heard about this.’” On Tuesday, an event about STI testing ran out of the doughnuts that were being offered to attendees, indicating that at least 100 participants attended, according to Agudelo. In addition to food and shirts, participants at events throughout the week have also taken safe sex supplies. Agudelo and Thonson hope to channel the excitement over Sex Week into increased campus participation in focus groups and surveys regarding sex education. Those surveys will likely come from the Sexual Health Working Group, of which Agudelo and Thonson are members. “Right now, we’re getting the conversation going so that once we start doing this research people want to be
part of this," Agudelo said. "That way it’s more engaging for people." The Office of Wellbeing fully supports the mission of Sex Week. “The Office of Wellbeing feels it’s important to support Sex Week to foster a culture on campus where it’s normal to talk about sex and encourages students to both practice consent and get regular testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections,” Assistant Director of the Office of Wellbeing Marian Trattner said in a statement. “Sex Week accomplishes all of these things, and it makes talking about sex fun.” On Thursday, there will be a consent resource fair on Manchester Plaza from 3 to 5 p.m. Additionally, Agudelo and Thonson also encourage anyone interested in safe sex materials to contact the Safe Sex Express.
LGBTQ+ Center marks Queer History Month The Center and its partners have planned a full month of programming throughout October BY AINE PIERRE News Editor pierav20@wfu.edu Throughout the month of October, the LGBTQ+ Center is celebrating Queer History Month. Queer History Month has been around since 1994, when a Missouri schoolteacher worked with advocacy organizations like the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Teacher’s Network (now called GLSEN) to found the month, according to the Advocate. Wake Forest’s LGBTQ+ Center has marked Queer History Month for years. “Here at Wake Forest, Queer History Month takes on unique importance," LGBTQ+ Center Associate Director Kayla Lisenby-Denson said. “What most places do is celebrate Pride in June, but since we don't have students here in June, it would be very sad and boring. So, we celebrate Queer History Month and we take a stance that we're kind of constantly creating our own history. We don't only look at historical events, we're really thinking about and celebrating all queer voices and experiences.” On Oct. 22, the Center will unveil a brand new open-mic event called Soul Sessions, which will be held in Zick’s Underground. The event is open to participation from everyone, but it will center queer voices, according to Ashley Robinson, who is leading the event. “Soul Sessions is an opportunity for queer people to share any of their artistic talent or expression through spoken word, dance, music or visual art because they don't often have that platform,” Robinson said On Monday, which was National Coming Out Day, the Center hosted an event on Manchester Field that attracted many students.
“We had swarms of people, and I was not anticipating that level of engagement,” Lisenby-Denson said. Freshman Breanna Laws said that events like the National Coming Out Day celebration have helped assuage fears about being queer on campus. “My favorite thing is when the center holds events for Queer History Month out in the open for all students to participate,” Laws said. “President Wente even visited the celebration put on by the center on National Coming Out Day. I feel like gestures such as this really help queer or questioning students feel less afraid of discrimination because they can see such open acceptance of the community on campus.” The LGBTQ+ Center has worked to plan a slew of events to celebrate
October, and they have also partnered with the Intercultural Center and other partners for intersectional programming. For example, on Oct. 15, the Center will partner with the Jewish Studies program, the Art Department and the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality department in hosting an event about radical collaboration in arts activism as it relates to transgender rights. “We invite our campus partners and community partners to submit programs for our history month calendar, similar to how our colleagues in the intercultural center do for different heritage months and what the Women's Center does for Women's History Month in March,” LisenbyDenson said.
They continued: “Out of the almost 40 events we have this year on the calendar, I would say around half or a little more than half are events coming from the center, but a large number of them are sponsored by — and sometimes completely put on by — our campus and community partners.” Lisenby-Denson said they believe queer history month is so important because of the lack of representation LGBTQ+ people have in history. “On a broad scale, celebrating Queer History Month is crucial because it's so important for us to know our history and how the movement has grown and changed over time,” Lisenby-Denson said. “It also helps us learn where we've come from as a movement of LGBTQ folks.”
Aine Pierre/ Old Gold & Black
A table at the LGBTQ+ Center's national Coming Out Day celebration on Oct. 11 decked out with rainbow baked goods attracts the attention of passers-by.
Old Gold & Black | News
Page 6 | Thursday, October 14, 2021
Talent: Show raises money for Breast Cancer Continued from Page 1
Coates continued: “We decided that since we were putting on a new event, we are going to be supporting a new organization.” Coates said that while the fashion show was a fun event for participants and attendees, a revamping of the annual breast cancer fundraiser was necessary. “I was talking to the whole group about how there were probably better ways that the Panhellenic community could support and represent women,” Coates said. “There’s this societal pressure based around the beauty and the physical component of breast cancer, moreso than most other forms of cancer. So, to do a fashion show, we just felt like it placed a little bit more emphasis on appearance than necessary.” Though the main attraction is changing, many of the auxiliary events are still the same. Before the talent show begins, there will be a silent auction consisting of baskets from the various Panhellenic sororities and local Winston-Salem businesses. There will also be an informal speech from a breast cancer radiologist about what women in their 20s should know about breast cancer. Coates also hopes to line up a
breast cancer survivor to speak, but as of now, the Council is currently still working out the logistics. The majority of the donations will come from the silent auction, but the Panhellenic Council also organized a few single-day fundraisers this week. On Oct. 12, the Council held a spin class at Cyclebar in downtown Winston-Salem where all registration fees went towards BCRF. On Oct. 13, the council partnered with the Chipotle by Hanes Mall for a fundraiser in which 33% of sales during a fourhour window were donated to BCRF. The show will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Benson 401 on Oct. 18. “We are getting a stage, a sound crew and I think it will be able to seat 400 people,” Coates said. Tickets are $5, and there will be food and T-shirts available to purchase, as well. Unlike the fashion shows of the past, anyone will be allowed to participate, regardless of Panhellenic affiliation. There are still a few performance slots available, which can be claimed via the Linktree, on the @breastcancertalentshow Instagram page or via the QR codes the organizers have hung around campus. Coates is excited to see her and Panhellenic’s hard work come to fruition.
“This is a really special opportunity, and our first opportunity for Panhellenic in a very long time, to be able to gather in a big event space like this,” Coates said. “I see this as an opportunity for people to come together, to celebrate each other and to also be reminded of
the struggle that so many people endure. Breast cancer is something that affects so many of us and so many of our loved ones. This will definitely be a night to learn, a night to learn, laugh and be together in solidarity all while fundraising for this cause.”
Photo Courtesy of the Panhellenic Council
Panhellenic Vice President of Community Relations Hannah Coates says that the organization is excited to return to in-person philanthropy.
International Justice Mission opens thrift store IJM’s Threads fundraiser will raise money to support rescuing people from modern slavery
The executive team of IJM at WFU is hoping to not only make lots of sales at Threads, but also to educate students on the horrors of modern-day slavery and IJM’s fight against them. “I hope that Threads will provide a meaningful opportunity for students to learn about the mission of IJM: which is to combat modern-day slavery, sex trafficking, sexual violence and the abuse of power by police,” Dailey said. Students can contribute to this event by donating clothing, spreading awareness or buying clothing.
“Come! We need help in all sorts of ways,” IJM at WFU President Danielle Parker said. “We need people to donate clothes. We need people to spread the word. And we need people to buy and donate to the cause.” The IJM at WFU executive team decided to host a Threads thrift shop event for two main reasons: First, a pop-up thrift shop engages the entire community by offering multiple ways to participate. Individuals can contribute to the cause by donating, volunteering or purchasing at the event. Secondly, a pop-up thrift shop also supports
sustainability on campus. IJM at WFU decided to partner with the Office of Sustainability to organize this event because many human trafficking cases occur within the fast-fashion industry. By shopping second-hand at this event, BY CHRISTA DUTTON one can support both the environment Staff Writer and IJM’s rescue efforts. duttcd20@wfu.edu “More and more, we are enlightened about the dangers and evils that take On Oct. 15, Wake Forest’s chapter of place within the realm of fast fashthe International Justice Mission (IJM ion, which guarantees cheap prices for at WFU) will be hosting a pop-up clothing at the expense of exploited lathrift store, “Threads”, to raise money borers who are either paid minimally for rescue missions organized to free or not at all,” Dailey said. people from human trafficking. She continued: “Thus, IJM — by The event will be held in Tribble conducting a pop-up thrift shop — is Courtyard, and IJM at WFU encourfurthering the cause of moving away ages students to come shop from the from an industry which has led to the racks of donated clothing, make a purexploitation of so many innocent peochase and do their part to help end ple.” modern-day slavery. All proceeds from IJM at WFU will be hosting many Friday’s event will go toward rescue more events throughout the remainder missions in which the International of the school year. Another upcoming Justice Mission parent organization event this semester is “Skate for Freephysically removes individuals who are dom”, an outdoor event that will featrapped in abusive or exploitative situture skating, games and pizza. ations. IJM at WFU is also looking to re“What differentiates IJM from a cruit new members. purely advocacy-based organization is “IJM is a cause which anyone, regardthat IJM is responsible for conducting less of religious convictions — or lack a series of ongoing rescue missions that thereof — can support and find purgo into the countries where victims are pose in supporting,” Dailey said. “The enslaved for purposes ranging from lastatistics around modern-day slavery bor to sexual abuse and take the vicand sex trafficking are devastating, and tims out of immediate danger and put it is in the responsibility of those who them into rehabilitation programs,” are experiencing the freedom which said sophomore Skylar Dailey, IJM at Courtesy of Skylar Dailey these victims so deserve to advocate WFU’s communications coordinator. “For any IJM fundraiser, the money Wake Forest’s chapter of the International Justice Mission and to join the fight against the instigoes towards supporting these efforts.” hopes their thrift shop will help fund missions to end slavery. tutions which keep them enslaved.”
OPINION “ agreement
OLD GOLD & BLACK
A sst
T H U R S D AY, O c t o b e r 1 4 , 2 0 2 1
PAG E 7
Online
at : w w w. w f u o g b . c o m
E ditor : Connor McNeely, mcnecb19@wfu.edu O pinion E ditor : Sophie Guymon, guymsm20@wfu.edu
College Sports
NIL
The ability to profit from name, image and likeness is a game changer Khushi Arya
Staff Columnist aryak19@wfu.edu
For the first time in the 115-year history of the NCAA, student-athletes can now legally make money from sponsorships and brand deals using their name, image and likeness. Before we even debate the merit of this new rule, let me ask you: who (or perhaps what) is a student-athlete? The term the student-athlete was introduced by the NCAA in 1956 for legal and financial reasons. It essentially protects the NCAA and university athletic departments from getting sued for underpaying their “employees”. We have never heard of student-musicians, student-biologists, studentactors. So, why student-athletes? It’s simple: if they are students, you don’t have to pay them. If anything, scholarships, housing, free gear and access to facilities are more than fair
benefits student athletes
This also brings a socio-economic problem to NIL opens the path to a college the forefront: 78% of coaches are white, while a education and professional camajority of players who play revenue-generating reer that might have been an sports (football and basketball) are Black. either-or choice before.” Student-athletes go to 7 a.m. practice and 4 p.m. fitness, grind on game days, to go home and fincompensation for amateurs seeking a platform to ish a math quiz; they played during a global pandemic, only to get the smallest piece of the pie. exercise their passion, right? When they finally get the right to use their fame to Not really. In 2019, the total athletic revenue reported by make a couple of extra dollars on the side, they are the NCAA was $18.9 billion. Nobody likes colle- questioned by some for their integrity. Aleeya Hutchins, a 19-year-old track athlete at giate sports more than the United States. We have a glorified view of amateur athletes, people who Wake Forest University with over 1,000,000 folplay simply for the love of the sport. Sounds like a lowers on TikTok and 71,000 followers on Instagreat idea, except it’s a cover for the billion-dollar gram recently signed a brand deal with the clothing brand Free People. business that is collegiate athletics. To her, and thousands of other student-athletes, We need to question, who really profits from the new NIL rules present an opportunity to grow amateurism? Among many athletic departments, coaching off the field. Playing a college sport is a full-time job, so not salaries account for almost half of the total expenses. The athletic director is often the highest-paid everyone will take the time to find sponsors, and employee at the university. In reality, very little of that’s okay. The starting quarterback for Wake Forest, Sam the revenue generated from athletics actually goes Hartman, believes that “If I play well, deals will to student-athletes. The Delta Cost Project — a database that lists come.” For student-athletes who have the privilege of the finances of all American public universities — shows that, if you were to divide the revenue financial stability, NIL might be an optional sideof collegiate sports, even the lowest-paid players gig. For others, it can be a game-changer. Critics of the NIL ruling often talk about the would be paid twice as much as their attendance commercialization of college sports. Sorry to subsidies cost.
break it to you, but it is already a billion-dollar business. Others assume that NIL goes against team spirit and creates divides among star-athletes who might be making thousands of dollars and walk-ons who have no brand deals. Star-athletes have always received differential treatment, though. Some people on the team have scholarships, others do not. Some people drive to practice in their Range Rover while others ration their meal swipes to get a couple of hundred dollars more in their stipend. In a recent Washington Post article, Victoria Jackson, a former Division 1 track athlete, emphasized the disparities between revenue and nonrevenue sports. Most athletes playing non-revenue sports get partial scholarships and must find a way to cover the cost of education, all while competing at a high-stakes level, Jackson explained. NIL opens the path to a college education and professional career that might have previously been an either-or choice. Olympic gymnasts like Simone Biles, Nastia Liukin, Gabby Douglas, and Jordyn Wieber offer a prime example of this change. They all traded their college eligibility to make money through endorsements. The trend among American gymnasts has been to pursue their career first, and then get an education after making enough money. Now, they can potentially do both and graduate with a degree.
Abortion Bill“ imposes limit on women’s rights American Politics
Texas’ Senate 8 Bill highlights a misplaced focus on restrictions, not solutions Bella Ortley-Guthrie Contributing Columnist ortlbs21@wfu.edu
Texas is a battleground. Billboards with baby photos, captions of Bible verses and phrases like “Don’t I deserve to live?” mark Texas highways. They stand out and grab attention. Oftentimes, crowds gather around churches and clinics, fighting over the life of an unborn fetus. As a woman growing up in Texas, I was quickly exposed to the realities of abortion and what my body constituted in the eyes of the Texas Legislature. In time I realized that the public discussion of women’s bodies was almost considered shameful. In smaller, rural communities, the woman’s bodily autonomy was entirely left out of the discussion regarding abortion rights. I remember going to church and watching a panel of white men discuss how we should fight for the lives of the unborn in women’s uteruses. Their argument was that it was
The bill creates uncertainty and raises the risk of unsafe abortions ... it takes away the individual’s right to make medical decisions.” shameful for women to stand up and advocate for their independence. “Shouldn’t people want children?” they asked. It was unnatural to disagree. Today, abortion rights remain a heated topic in the South, and where you stand seems to dictate your morality as a human being. Texas’ division between pro-life and pro-choice advocates has always been great, but with the passing of the “Heartbeat Act” or Texas Senate 8, the divide has hit an inflection point. The Texas Senate 8 bill, made effective Sept., has become one of the strictest abortion bans in the country. The bill bans abortions past six weeks of pregnancy, and possibly even earlier if there’s a detected heartbeat. There are no exceptions for cases of rape or incest—six weeks is the limit. What makes Senate 8 even more different? Senate 8 permits civil citizens to enforce the abortion ban, enabling them to sue and bring any cases to the state for prosecution. Alongside that, each individual will be rewarded up to 10,000 per each verified abortion report. The bill states that persecution may not only pertain to the medical professional performing the procedure but any individuals that “knowingly
engage in the performance or inducement of an abortion.” What Texas has established is essentially a game of tattletale. Whoever exposes or sends an individual in will be rewarded. Theoretically, a neighbor, spouse, friend or family member could turn in another individual based on their medical decision and receive monetary rewards from the state. I see Texas’s Senate 8 Bill as problematic. First and foremost, because the six-week limit is incredibly unrealistic. Often, women do not know that they are pregnant until during or after the six-week mark. This six-week limit does not give people enough time. In addition, whether an individual knows if they are pregnant can vary based on an irregular menstrual cycle, unplanned pregnancy or lack of sex education. The bill creates uncertainty and raises the risk of unsafe abortions. The bill most notably impacts low-income communities and communities of color that predominantly rely on services like Planned Parenthood. It furthers this socio-economic divide of privilege. Those who can afford the price of black market abortions or have the flexibility to travel outside of the state will receive reproductive medical care. In contrast, people who do not have the privilege of time will not receive this care and might seek less safe medical alternatives. Overall, it takes away the individual’s right to make medical decisions. Texas’ history with challenging reproductive rights isn’t new. For years, it’s been a battle
over restrictions and accessibility between the pro-life and pro-choice movements. The anti-abortion movement is harmful because it restricts an individual’s autonomy and negatively impacts how we view women and what makes their bodies their own. If we take away an individual’s right, what does that say about how we view people and their choice? If we take away a woman’s choice, does that mean her body is indifferent and someone’s property? Face it, Greg Abbott. Abortions have been happening for years and won’t be stopping anytime soon. They began centuries ago with herbal abortifacients and healers, and have continued in the form of 21st-century doctors. As a Texan, I have heard the viewpoints of the opposing sides. Both sides are fighting for agency — one for the agency of a fetus, and the other for the agency to maintain an individual’s way of life and autonomy through healthcare and reproductive planning. Texas is a battleground, not only regarding abortion but migration, racism and equality. As a Texan, I’m proud of our individuality, but not the legislature and Senate 8 Bill. If Texas wants to advocate for life, it should back and support all life. The life of migrants, the life in lower-income communities and those on welfare/food stamps. Senate 8 not only violates an individual’s agency but further expands a division, highlighting more importance on restrictions rather than solutions.
Page 8 | Thursday, October 14, 2021
Opinion | Old Gold & Black
Response to “Gaby Petito homicide exhibits racism Racial Injustice
Discrimination in media coverage leads to the normalization of brutality towards BIPOC
... we as a society have become numb to the suffering of members of the BIPOC community.”
Bailey Hardegree
were discovered inside Grand Teton National Park, Wy. The Coroner’s ruled Petito’s death a homicide. At the time of the discovery, the hashtag “#gabbypetito” had received 794 million views on the social media platform TikTok. The videos posted under the tag consisted of case updates and close examinations of Petito’s extremely active social media page. The public’s response to the disappearance and homicide of Petito has sparked discussion over a phenomenon coined “the missing white woman syndrome.” The syndrome highlights the media’s portrayal of missing, middle-class, white women, as “good people” involved in an unfortunate circumstances. At the same time, it juxtaposes the portrayal of missing Indigenous and Black women as people with questionable morals who made questionable decisions leading to their disappearance. According to a study conducted by the University of Wyoming, between September 2011 and
Contributing Columnist hardbe21@wfu.edu
Gabrielle Petito, a 22-year-old YouTuber, was reported missing by her mother on Sept. 11. According to Petito’s step-father, she left New York with her fiance, Brian Laundrie, in July. The two were planning to spend four months traveling cross-country, visiting National Parks en route. On Sept. 1, Laundrie returned to his family home in Northport, Fl. without Petito. Laundrie refused to talk to Petito’s family or the police, despite the fact he was the last person in contact with Petito and would be able to identify where she had last been seen. Laundrie’s lack of communication with the authorities made national headlines and sparked outrage from the public. Petito’s disappearance led to an exhaustive multi-state search effort. On Sept. 19, Petito’s remains
“ Benson
Campus Life
The
Campus musicians deserve better reception from student body Cooper Sullivan Asst. News Editor sullcg20@wfu.edu
Picture this; You have had a long day and all you want to do is relax. You walk up the stairs to your dorm and you open the door. On your bed sits a beautiful, delectable, rich, extravagant chocolate cake. (If you don’t like chocolate cake, picture a different food that you enjoy. I’m not letting your pickiness derail my analogy.) You drop your four-ton backpack and prepare to dig in. Right as you are about to take a bite, your roommate interrupts with, “Nope, you can’t eat that.” Confused, you kindly offer them a slice and ask, “Why not?” Again, you are met with hostility. “I’m not hungry, so you can’t have any.” I’m sure you are thinking that this doesn’t make any sense. Why shouldn’t someone be allowed to
September 2020, 710 indigenous peoples in Wyoming had been reported missing in the state of Wyoming. 57% of these individuals are women. However, these cases received limited, if any, media coverage — only 18% of homicides committed against Indigenous women received newspaper media coverage. That number sits in stark contrast to the 51% of white homicide victims who received newspaper media coverage. The disparities in media coverage on the basis of race reveals a deeper cultural issue. As a society we have become numb to the suffering of members of the Black and Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) community — the death and disappearance of minority ethnicities have been normalized. According to that University of Wyoming study, “Between 2010 and 2019, the homicide rate per 100,000 for Indigenous people was 26.8, eight times higher than the homicide rate for white people.” The abuse and death of Black and Indigenous people have been perceived as a brutal reality, normalized to the point where cases involving the murder of BIPOC women no longer merit media
coverage. The killing of privileged, white women receives an overwhelming amount of media coverage — Petito being just one example- on the basis of status and rarity alone. The study further concluded that, even on the odd occasion the killings of Indigenous people in Wyoming are documented in the media, the portrayal of the victims is steeped in racial bias and discrimination. The study concluded that crimes against Indigenous people were described in a more violent and gruesome nature, not focusing on the victims’ lives and positive attributes, but on the crime and manner of death. This implies that the Indigenous victim is not worthy of the same privacy and dignity given to white victims. To combat said discrimination in media coverage, it is important to acknowledge that a life is a life, and race does not have an effect on the value of said life. Maybe then, with a conscious effort, we will see a greater acknowledgement of crimes committed against the BIPOC community. As was seen in the Petito case, with acknowledgement comes awareness and advocacy. With advocacy comes action.
piano brings joy to campus
In my experiences studying in BenThere’s no reason to not have music breathing life into all son, I am rarely able to get a reasoncorners of campus, especially able amount of work done before I see someone I know, am distracted well-played music.” by the Weather Channel or decide enjoy something that was given to the noise is too much for me to them that will improve their mood? focus on my work. Obviously, my In the wise words of President Joe habits do not translate to the entire Biden, this cake “grows the econo- campus. Some students could throw my, benefits everybody and hurts on lo-fi study music in the middle of Times Square and be absolutely fine. nobody.” Replace the cake with a piano and But, for those of you who can’t, why you are describing a typical after- do you continue to attempt to study noon in Benson. If you open Yik- in a setting like this? “Oh, but if they see I’m trying to Yak around 4 p.m. you’ll see dozens study, why would they play the piaof messages telling the guy playing no and distract me?” piano in Benson to stop. Again, Benson is not the desigBut why? It benefits everybody. It nated quiet study space on campus. hurts nobody. I understand the initial ire of some That building is located a quick students trying to study. It’s fairly 30-second walk due south. Benson quiet, you’re in the groove and then is designed to be a social spot where all of a sudden there are ivory echoes you can hang out with friends while coming from above. But then again, giving yourself the illusion of proyou chose to study in Benson. This ductivity. And what’s more cerebral isn’t the library, this is the Student than listening to classical and jazz University Center, which is a hub music? It makes sense that there is a of student activity filled with noise piano available for students to enjoy — from the constant murmur of playing and listening to. “But this isn’t Scales!” the people eating downstairs to the Similar protests could be made seemingly never-ending chapter about the pianos in any other buildmeetings upstairs.
ings on campus — why are there pianos in the freshman dorms? I have no clue, but why should we feel compelled to constrict art to one singular building on campus? What does anyone have to gain from that? There’s no reason to not have music breathing life into all corners of campus, especially well-played music. In a similar vein, everyone needs to stop hating on Austin Torain — more widely recognized by the moniker Speaker Kid — as well. The man plays straight bops and is just trying to make everyone smile. Of course, if someone were playing the piano all day every day, it might get a little tedious, but that’s not what’s happening. View it for what it is: a brief period in a busy day to sit down, listen and forget your worries. Disclaimer: I am not saying that everyone should play the Benson piano. It is not for people whose parents forced them to take a year of piano lessons as a child. I don’t need to hear the first few notes to the Pink Panther theme or “Hot Cross Buns”. You are not Bugs Bunny, and should not pretend that you are.
Thursday, October 14th, 2021 | Page 9
Opinion | Old Gold & Black
“ should not neglect right to protest Wake students Social Justice
Protest movements have the capacity to alter national injustices
I invite anyone to join me in peaceful protest ... use your voice in any way that you possibly can.”
Breanna Laws
Movements across the country have been held in opposition to the passage of this bill, with many questioning its logistics given that many individuals do not realize that they are pregnant by the time a fetal heartbeat can be detected. On Oct. 2, Women’s March, along with several other partner organizations, hosted peaceful protests and marches across all 50 states in opposition to this bill. But what does a protest mean anyway? Well, the right to peacefully protest has been guaranteed to all United States citizens since the ratification of the Bill of Rights in 1791. While it is arguable that this right can be stripped away from individuals for a variety of unjust reasons, it is relatively accepted that, when citizens gather peacefully in opposition to the government, no harm is to be done unto them. Many protest movements have garnered great success in the past. For example, the movement for women’s suffrage was nothing
Contributing Columnist lawsbn21@wfu.edu
Living in a time period in which it seems as though the only real news is hostile and disturbing can be incredibly draining, especially for young people. Recently, many people across campus and beyond have felt the full impact of the exhausting dichotomy that exists between the people and their government. Texas has caused a massive amount of controversy within the United States — so much so that it has garnered the attention of other countries. In Texas, a new bill became effective on Sept. 1, which prohibits the act of an abortive procedure past the mark of pregnancy when a fetus’ heartbeat can be detected. It also allows private citizens to report a person they believe may be in violation of this law.
more than a massive collection of protests that acquired traction over time. A more recent example would be the Black Lives Matter movement which has gained tremendous traction over the last two years and has developed into a massively influential organization. Many protests by themselves do not cause radical change within large bodies like our government. However, protests provide a platform. On Oct. 2, hundreds of thousands of Americans mobilized in support of planned parenthood and an individual’s right to choose in regards to their reproductive care. Over 90 organizations partnered with Women’s March, and over 650 people led movements across the country. It is numbers like these that create change and attract attention from our government officials. Protesting is what originally sparked a war and created the separation between the colonies and Great Britain. Protesting and making your opinion heard should be regarded as a civic duty of sorts because things seldom improve or change without that push. A survey of United States adults by the Pew Research Center
shows that 68% of Americans — both Republican and Democratleaning — believe that it is very important for citizens to peacefully protest. These numbers are not shocking. When you look at the vast amount of minority groups that have expanded their rights recently, it is clear that these expansions have been due to their increased expressions of a desire for change. Thus, protests are what allow us to demonstrate our desires to those that make decisions on our behalf. I strongly encourage students at Wake Forest to not neglect their right to protest against what they believe to be unjust actions. I attended a protest in Raleigh, North Carolina’s capital city, on Oct. 2 because I recognize that my voice matters, and I am more than willing to use it when I believe an action taken by the government that represents me is not right. I invite anyone to join me in peaceful protest. More importantly, I ask that you find and protest any cause that ignites your passion. Use your voice in any way that you possibly can. It has shown to be efficient before — it continues to be efficient today.
me wrong, my parents aren’t super strict — they’re pretty cool, actually — but I have found myself living on my own for the longest period of my life. I have a basic foundation of a schedule based on my four classes, but that leaves me with an abundance of free time. What do I do with it? Do I nap? Do I eat? Do I go to the gym? Homework isn’t turned in daily anymore. Given my crippling fears of letting my parents down and failure to consistently do my homework, I sometimes get so stressed that I get ahead on a couple of assignments. But, what’s stopping me from burning out or letting just a little too loose? Nothing. What’s my balance? How do I find it? Do I just flail around trying to find my balance as life passes me by? As assignments continue to pile up? As darties and frat basements occupy my weekends? As my alarm that wakes me up for my 8 a.m. religion class every Tuesday and Thursday continues to make me want to throw my phone off of my fourthfloor suite balcony?
I’m not sure, and I don’t think anyone really is. That’s because all of our balances are different. When I was applying to colleges, my brother (a Duke graduate now) told me to “fake it ‘till I make it.” At the time, it didn’t make much sense. But, now, as I start to actually experience new things and face the reality that I’ll have a 401K in four years, I have begun to see the truth in his advice. No one knows what they’re doing. No one truly knows their balance because life is always changing. No matter the size of the change. Whether you’re from going to college, having kids, ending a long-term relationship, losing a loved one, life is always changing. So, if anyone finds the perfect balance of a Pit taco, please let me know so I can see if that’s my balance, too. But, until then, I’ll keep trying to find my balance and I hope you find yours, soon, too (if you haven’t already). If you have — appreciate it. You’re one of the lucky few who isn’t faking it — you’ve made it… at least until life throws something new at you.
“ in life is a perpetual struggle Pursuit of balance Campus Life
Ameya Bellamkonda finds new truth in the phrase “fake it ‘till you make it” Ameya Bellamkonda Contributing Columnist bellas21@wfu.edu
What is the perfect balance of meat to lettuce to beans to shell in a Pit taco? Do any of us really know? How do we find out? Are we all just eating bad tacos until we hear a choir start singing because we’ve found the perfect mix of all those ingredients? In my first-year seminar, we’re learning about theoretical perspectives that we see in the psychology of ex-offenders in our prison system. One of them, the “Rational Choice Theory”, essentially states that exoffenders have freedom of choice. Some are able to transform their lives by clearly and logically seeing the road ahead and making practical choices that lead to a better outcome.
No one knows what they’re doing. No one truly knows their balance because life is always changing.” An ex-offender who succeeds during re-entry into society decides that a life of crime is not for them. They consciously decide to desist from committing crimes to avoid peers who are likely to get them into trouble and make choices that will bring them closer to their positive goals. But how will someone who’s had everything decided for them for most of their life adjust to freedom of choice? How will they find the motivation to wake up every morning and decide to make practical choices no matter how much they may want to make a different one? Recently, I’ve found myself in a similar situation. I’ve never truly been free to do whatever I want whenever I want — although I am now pretty close to complete freedom. I should explain: I’m a first-generation Indian-American. Don’t get
SPORTS
T H U R S D AY, O C T O B E R 1 4 , 2 0 2 1
PA G E 1 0
Online at: www.wfuogb.com Twitter: @sports_ogb Editors: Essex Thayer, thayse20@wfu.edu Christina DeNovio, denoca20@wfu.edu
OLD GOLD & BLACK
Wake Forest outlasts Syracuse 40-37 Wake Forest is 4-0 in ACC play for first time in team history, and 6-0 for first time since 1944
After the touchdown, the next three drives resulted in little offensive success for either side, with each series resulting in a punt. Wake Forest looked especially lifeless, as they could not get their passing game going. BY ESSEX THAYER With four minutes remaining in the Sports Editor first quarter, the Syracuse offense was thayse20@wfu.edu once again able to march the ball forward On Saturday, looking to move to on a drive dominated by Shrader and 6-0, the Demon Deacons battled back Tucker. On a third-and-seven near against a strong Syracuse squad to win midfield, Wake Forest seemed to finally in overtime, 40-37. In doing so, they have the Syracuse offense faltering with became the first team in Wake Forest all receivers covered, only for Shrader to escape and gain 13 yards for the first history to start 4-0 in the ACC. The last time Wake Forest was 6-0, down. The Shrader scramble and a subsequent France was occupied by Germany, the eight-yard run by Tucker opened up the ACC did not exist and the head coach of the Demon Deacons was named passing game for the Orange. On first down, just outside of the Wake Forest Peahead Johnson. The year was 1944. On the game's opening drive, the redzone, Shrader went to the play action, Wake Forest offense made quick work faking the ball to Tucker before finding of the Syracuse defense, relying on back- a streaking Anthony Queeley over the to-back passes to redshirt junior wide middle for a 24-yard touchdown. With his team down by 11, Hartman receiver Jaquarii Roberson for a total of took command of the Wake Forest 53 yards to reach the redzone. offense, bringing the Demon Deacons Once inside the Syracuse 20-yard line, back into the game with his arm and however, the Demon Deacon offense legs. On first down, Hartman pulled the could not capitalize. Redshirt sophomore ball out of running back Justice Ellison’s quarterback Sam Hartman underthrew a chest on the option and scrambled up pass on third down to wide-open tight the middle for a gain of 11 yards. end Brandon Chapman. On a drive Then, on the following set of downs, that looked like a touchdown waiting to on third-and-two, Hartman weathered happen, Wake Forest had to settle for a the Syracuse blitz and was able to find field goal. tight end Blake Whiteheart over the On offense, Syracuse made it clear from middle for a 15-yard reception. the outset what their game plan would be. Following a three-yard loss by Despite Wake Forest preparing all week redshirt junior running back Christian for the run-pass option with quarterback Beal-Smith on the ensuing first down, Garrett Shrader and running back Sean Hartman stepped forward in the pocket Tucker, the Orange carved through the and launched a deep ball over the middle Demon Deacon defense. to receiver A.T. Perry. Perry slowed After a 21-yard completion to start off down to make the catch at the five-yard the drive, Syracuse rushed the rest of the line, turned 90 degrees before evading a way behind Shrader and Tucker for 57 Syracuse cornerback and diving into the yards. A six-yard rush by Tucker capped endzone. off the drive with a touchdown for the With Wake Forest within four points Orange. of their opponents, the Syracuse offense did not back down. Responding to the Demon Deacons' adjustment to stop the run, Shrader took to the air more consistently, throwing the ball three times for completions. Just outside the Wake Forest redzone, Shrader went back to using his feet, evading the Demon Deacon pass rush for a 15-yard gain. On third-and-one at the five-yard line, Shrader ran again on a designed run, jostling through the defensive line and breaking free for the touchdown. With just under seven minutes remaining in the half, Wake Forest looked to respond and once again close the gap. But, after securing one first down, Hartman faltered. Looking to pass, Hartman avoided the Orange pass rush and shifted to the front of the pocket. At the last second, he released a deep ball, searching for Donald Stewart near the endzone. The ball was Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics underthrown into triple coverage, and it Wide receiver A.T. Perry finished with was tipped into the hands of cornerback three touchdowns and 137 yards. Jason Simmons.
Starting at the Syracuse six-yard line, the Wake Forest defense did well to keep the Orange from extending the deficit to three scores. The defensive line stopped Tucker on a first down run at the line of scrimmage, then forced two straight incompletions from Shrader to get off the field. On the first set of downs for the Wake Forest offense, a third-and-eight soon became a third-and-23 after false start and holding penalties. With such a long distance to go, Hartman hung back in the pocket, and with ample time afforded by his offensive line, found Roberson open over the middle for 25 yards. From there, the Demon Deacons rushed three straight times for 18 yards to reach the Syracuse one-yard line. After being denied on Christian Turner's first rush of the game, Hartman ran the ball in himself for the touchdown, moving the deficit to only four at the half. After forcing a Syracuse punt to begin the second half, Wake Forest forged ahead with three passes from Hartman for a total of 24 yards. At the Syracuse 12-yard line, the offense rushed twice in a row with Beal-Smith to gain two more yards. On third down, Hartman was unable to evade the pass rush and was sacked. Wake Forest was forced to settle for a Sciba field goal. Leading by one, Syracuse was able to secure one first down on offense with a Shrader rush. On the next set of downs, though, they were set back by a holding penalty and a lack of success rushing the ball, forcing a punt. Looking to regain the lead for the first time since the first drive of the game, Wake Forest only needed one play. On the first play from scrimmage, Hartman found Perry, who had a step on his defensive back, over the middle. After catching the ball at the Syracuse 30-yard line, Perry juked the defender twice and ran to glory. After missing the twopoint conversion, Wake Forest had their largest lead of the game: 26-21. Syracuse did not let their newfound deficit last for long. After Tucker ran for an 18-yard gain, Shrader followed with an 11-yard run of his own. Inside Wake Forest territory, Shrader passed for the first time on the drive, finding Courtney Jackson at the Demon Deacon 14-yard line. On the ensuing play, Tucker ran right up the middle for the touchdown. The next three drives were unconvincing and all resulted in punts. On the fourth drive after the touchdown, looking to extend their lead, Syracuse pushed down the field to the Wake Forest 27-yard line. From there, kicker Andre Szmyt missed the 45-yarder, keeping the Syracuse lead at 27-26. After the miss, Hartman relied on throwing the ball for the majority of the ensuing drive. His first three completions went to Roberson for a total of 35 yards. Then, after a Morin reception and a Beal-Smith run,
Hartman found Roberson again to move into the redzone. At the Orange 18-yard line, Hartman scampered twice for a total of eight yards. On third-and-two at the 10-yard line, Beal-Smith rushed through the line of scrimmage and kept his legs churning until he crossed the goal line. Up by five, Wake Forest went for two and succeeded on a completion to Roberson in the back of the endzone. On the following drive, on first down, Cooper Lutz rushed down the sideline for a short gain. But, just before going out of bounds, the ball was wrestled out of the running back’s hands and into those of Wake Forest safety Ja’Sir Taylor. With under three minutes remaining in the game and leading by seven, Wake Forest looked to run out the clock and go up by two possessions. They were unsuccessful on both objectives, as they were forced to punt the ball after chewing up just 21 seconds. Looking to tie the game with a twominute drill, Shrader took the game into his hands, rushing the ball for 39 yards into Wake Forest territory. At the 28-yard line, Shrader dumped the ball off to an open Tucker. With nothing but open field ahead of him, Tucker turned five yards into 28 and waltzed into the endzone to tie the game and force overtime. After winning the coin toss, Wake Forest chose to play defense first in the extra period. The Syracuse offense started strong, securing one first down. But, on third down in the second set of downs, Shrader was sacked, forcing a field goal. With the ability to win the game on the next drive, Hartman answered the call. On the second play from scrimmage, he found A.T. Perry in the back of the endzone for the game-winning touchdown. The catch was reviewed and confirmed. Wake Forest survived. After the game, Head Coach Dave Clawson was jubilant, as evidenced by a video of him cheering in the locker room and being carried on the shoulders of his players. “I’m very thankful to God that I have such a wonderful group of players,” Clawson said. “I’m really proud of our team. I just thought we were resilient. I didn’t feel like today we necessarily had our fastball, but we kept hanging in there and making plays.” Despite the win, Clawson also recognized there is much left to be written in this season’s story for Wake Forest. “Our goal wasn’t to be 6-0," Clawson said. "Our goal was to be a great football team and try to win a championship. I’m proud of where we’re at, but [I also] think this team has a lot bigger goals ahead of us than being 6-0.” After their bye, the No. 16 Demon Deacons will look to extend their record to 7-0 against Army on Oct. 23.
Sports | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, October 14, 2021 | Page 11
Women’s soccer stuns No. 17 Virginia Tech The Demon Deacons prevailed on a game-winning goal from senior Shayla Smart BY CHARLES HORN Staff Writer horncs18@wfu.edu
A stellar strike by senior Shayla Smart proved decisive as Wake Forest women’s soccer beat No. 17 Virginia Tech 4-3 in a vital victory that the Demon Deacons hope will prove their ability and tenacity to the rest of the NCAA. Before the match, the players and coaches of the women’s soccer team posed in t-shirts emblazoned with “#NoMoreSilence” in solidarity with the players of the National Women’s Soccer League who came forward earlier this week with allegations of sexual misconduct by Paul Riley, the former head coach of the North Carolina Courage. The entire Wake Forest coaching staff, including Head Coach Tony da Luz, wore the shirts throughout the match. For the second time in as many games, the Demon Deacons struck quickly. Freshman Nikayla Small played a stellar through ball to the wide open senior
striker, Shayla Smart, who lifted the ball over the onrushing keeper to give the Deacons the lead in the second minute. The start was almost identical to that of the team’s last contest against Miami. Small has excelled in her first year at Spry Stadium, recording four assists and ranking as the No. 30 freshman in the country in the latest TopDrawerSoccer rankings. Three other Deacs joined Small in these rankings, with defender Kristin Johnson, midfielder Malaika Meena and defender Zara Chavoshi all being ranked in the top-100. Just minutes later, senior forward Hulda Arnarsdottir was brought down in the box, setting up a penalty kick from senior Sofia Rossi that doubled the Deacons’ lead. Arnarsdottir has enjoyed a stellar run of late, scoring in three consecutive games and playing the entire match against Virginia Tech. The Hokies clawed one back soon after, and for much of the remaining 20-plus minutes of the first half, the 2-1 scoreline would hold. Later, with just three seconds left on the clock, Jenna Mehta was fouled, setting up Rossi for her second penalty and second goal of the match. Just seconds into the second half, Virginia Tech scored again to cut the Dea-
cons’ lead back to one, setting up a hectic and dynamic second half. The Wake Forest defense was put to the test in ways not experienced throughout their season thus far. The Deacs have thrived on the back of their stellar defense, not conceding until their ninth match against No. 7 Virginia. Until Virginia Tech, Wake Forest had not conceded more than once in regulation all season. They lead the nation in goals allowed on average and are yet to concedede once in non-conference play. Right at the half-hour mark, a goalline scramble resulted in a supposed goal by Virginia Tech forward Tori Powell, although camera angles proved it inconclusive as to whether the ball actually crossed the goal line. Soon thereafter, Smart — who entered the game tied for most points on the team — struck again to cap off an excellent performance. Driving into the box and cutting onto her left foot, Smart rifled the winner into the bottom right corner, beating the Hokie keeper. Smart’s run and strike were set up with a pinpoint floated pass by Mehta, the graduate student transfer from Georgetown, who has further bolstered the Demon Deacon attack.
At Georgetown, Mehta received the 2020 Big East Offensive Player of the Year award following a stellar season where the forward scored five times and led the team in assists. Mehta’s fusion of goalscoring instinct and creative prowess has enabled a new level of offensive efficiency for the Deacs, turning the defensively excellent Demon Deacons into a potent counter-attacking force, too. For the Wake Forest women’s soccer team, the win against the No. 17 Hokies gives legitimacy to a stellar season that, so far, has not been enough to place in the national rankings. Additionally, with the NCAA tournament looming, the victory provides a ranked-win necessary to further pad the team’s resumé. After dominating in non-conference play, the Deacs’ schedule rapidly grew in intensity as ACC play commenced. A narrow home loss to then-No. 7 (now No. 2) ranked Virginia broke the Deacs’ clean sheet run, but the Deacs bounced back with two regulation wins before splitting back-to-back overtime matches against Louisville and Miami. Next up is No. 4 Duke this Friday at Spry, as the team looks to capitalize off recent momentum and bolster their tournament hopes.
Previewing Wake Forest men’s basketball Coach Forbes looks to continue rebuilding the team with several new transfers BY CHRISTIAN ODJAKJIAN Staff Writer odjact18@wfu.edu Following a shortened and unique first year at the helm of Wake Forest men’s basketball, Head Coach Steve Forbes is looking to make strides toward returning Demon Deacons basketball to relevance. In year two — thanks to new transfer rules and strong recruiting — Forbes has brought in more of his own personnel to create a culture and roster to fit his style. Some talent left the roster, but none of those departures really came as a surprise. Ian Dubose is playing overseas in Germany, Ismael Massoud now plays at Kansas State and Ody Oguama moved on to Cincinnati. Guards Jahcobi Neath and Quadry Adams transferred to Wisconsin and St. Bonaventure, respectively. Other departures include Jonah Antonio, Isaiah
Wilkins, Emmanuel Okpomo, Jalen Johnson, Sunday Okeke and Blake Buchanan. Yes, that’s a lot of names, but the core of last year’s team is back, and a strong group of transfers and recruits have arrived. Wake Forest fans have reasons to be optimistic about what this young roster could become under a hungry, energetic coach, who for the first time, had a full summer to prepare for the season. Forbes spoke on the turnover, saying, “I love our roster. We have 13 ACC players on our team. I did not have that last year. There’s not one player on our team that cannot play in the ACC.” Projected Starting Lineup Isaiah Mucius (6’8” Senior Forward) Mucius is the last scholarship player remaining from the Danny Manning era. The versatile, high-energy athlete has improved every season and is the emotional leader of this team. Coming off of a solid season — averaging 10.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game — Mucius still oozes potential and will look to improve his three-point shooting. Davien Williamson (6’1” Senior Guard) The Winston-Salem native followed Coach Forbes from East Tennessee State last season and ended up being the leading scorer for the Deacons. Williamson was able to transition to the ACC seamlessly, averaging 12.9 points, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game last year. The quick, twitchy guard will once again serve as an important member of this team given his ability to orchestrate offense, get to the basket and knock down the long ball.
Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics
LaRavia was a second-team AllConference player at Indiana State.
Jake LaRavia (6’8” Junior Forward) LaRavia is a do-it-all player who transfers in from Indiana State, where he earned All-Missouri Valley Conference Second-Team honors last year, averaging
12.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. A good defender and a balanced offensive player, LaRavia’s versatility and blend of size and skill should make him a key piece and starting player on this team.
game in 2019-20. The big man from Senegal can finish around the rim, plays a good midrange game and is a solid defender. His experience will definitely be valuable on this young team.
Alondes Williams (6’5” Graduate Guard) Williams is an exciting, bouncy guard who transferred in from Oklahoma, where he averaged 6.7 points per game last season. Williams scored a season-high 15 points in a March Madness Round of 32 game against No. 1 seeded Gonzaga. Williams isn’t much of a shooter for a wing player, but his defensive intensity, explosive athleticism and experience should be enough to make him a starter under Coach Forbes.
Robert McCray (6’4” Freshman Guard) McCray is a big, athletic guard who was a consensus top-125 recruit in the rankings. McCray has impressed the coaching staff so far with his abilities on both ends of the court and should be a part of the rotation often.
Dallas Walton (7’0” Graduate Center) Walton is a skilled big man who started 23 games for Colorado (No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament last season) and averaged 6.5 points per game. Walton is a stretch five who can shoot from deep. His ability to space the floor from the center position is something that Wake Forest has been lacking in recent years. Reserves Carter Whitt (6’3” Freshman Guard) Whitt had a tough assignment to adjust to ACC play as a kid who should’ve been in high school and joined the team midseason. He definitely struggled with turnovers and perimeter defense, but showed plenty of promise with his court vision and scoring ability when he got more comfortable down the stretch. Whitt shot 40.8% from downtown in the final 11 games of the season. Khadim Sy (6’10” Graduate Forward) Sy struggled with illness and injury last season, but the Ole Miss transfer still averaged 9.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per
Cameron Hildreth (6’4” Freshman Guard) Hailing from Worthing, England, Hildreth is an intriguing prospect who was ranked as the top-recruit in the UK. Hildreth is a talented offensive guard who will bring shooting and crafty scoring ability to this team. Matthew Marsh (7’0” Freshman Center) Another player who calls England home, Marsh is an enticing prospect given his combination of size and athleticism. The seven-footer averaged 7.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in the French Espoirs League last winter. Tariq Ingraham (6’9” Redshirt Sophomore Forward) There’s no doubt Ingraham has had horrible luck. After tearing his achilles and missing his freshman season, he only played in two games last year due to medical reasons. His energy, size and rebounding ability should make him a contributing piece off the bench. Lucas Taylor (6’5” Freshman Guard) Taylor is a big guard who decommitted from Clemson and decided to come to Wake Forest back in April. Three-point shooting is a strength of his, and he could be a valuable piece off the bench.
Page 12 | Thursday, October 14, 2021
Old Gold & Black | Sports
Deacon Spotlight: Julian Kennedy BY CHRISTINA DENOVIO Sports Editor denoca20@wfu.edu
Wake Forest men’s soccer gained a serious weapon with the addition of Julian Kennedy, a freshman from Orlando, Fl. Kennedy played with the Orlando City academy since 2015. After graduating high school, he joined the club’s USL League One side Orlando City B during their fall 2020 season. To Kennedy’s surprise, Wake Forest extended him an offer last December, and he joined the team as a mid-year enrollee. Kennedy was on the sidelines as early as last spring, and made his first start for the team on Aug. 28 against VCU. The freshman forward may be just starting his career here in Winston-Salem, but he already has extensive experience and has his sights set on playing professionally in Europe after his four years as a Demon Deacon. Christina DeNovio: What did you do last fall, and how did you end up at Wake Forest? Julian Kennedy: I took a gap semester, so I was playing soccer before I came to Wake. I wasn’t even going to come here until the first week of January, which was when I committed — it was really late notice. I graduated high school in 2020. Now that I’m here, I could take extra classes in the summer and graduate in 2024 like I’m supposed to, or I could stay on this track and just graduate in 2025. CD: When did you start playing soccer? JK: I started playing soccer when I was four years old. Looking back, it’s definitely been a while. CD: How was your experience playing for the Orlando City academy? JK: It was really good. I started playing when the club first started, when I was eight or nine, and I’ve been playing with them ever since. Last year, I was able to sign a contract to play a full year with the first team and second team, which was really cool. CD: Can you describe the shift to the USL side? JK: It’s a lot more demanding considering I’m playing with grown men. Also, I had to live on my own for six or seven months in an apartment with my teammates. I had to move out of the house, and apartment life was pretty different from living at home. I missed my parents’ cooking the most. I had to cook for myself or go out to eat. But, it was an easy adjustment from going from there to college — I was already used to being on my own. CD: What was it like being on the team last spring? JK: I would train every day with the team and go to the gym with them every day. I’d do pretty much all the stuff my teammates were doing, I just wasn’t able to play in the games. CD: What was it like watching from the sidelines all season? JK: It was a bit weird at first because I was a player who was always playing and involved with the team. So, sitting on the sideline, you get to see the game from a different perspective. It was good to watch the team play and grow, and now that I’m able to play for them, I appreciate it more. CD: What advantage do you think you have over the other freshmen that weren’t here in the spring? JK: Everyone goes through an adjustment period when they first get here, and I feel like I went
through that adjustment period already. Now, I understand the team well, and I understand what the coaches want. That’s probably the biggest advantage I have over the players who just came a couple of months ago. CD: The team has had a rocky first half of the season. What will it take for the team to return to form? JK: Honestly, we just have to start playing like a team again. In previous years we’ve done that, and that’s why our results have been really good. This year, our team has a lot of young players. We have around 12 freshmen and only two seniors. So, I think once the freshmen — myself included — get more comfortable with the team, that’s when things will start to pick up. CD: How did you choose Wake Forest? JK: It’s kind of a funny story. Two years ago, I was a junior, and I reached out to Wake’s program. I didn’t get a response back for two years. So I took Wake Forest out of the pool of colleges I was hoping to go play for. Around December, when the USL season ended, I had narrowed it down to Clemson or Georgetown. Those are the two I was about to choose between, and then Wake Forest unexpectedly reached out to me. They offered me a really good scholarship, so I decided to take it. Last year, I really thought about focusing on soccer rather than going to college. That’s why I signed the contract with the USL team. I thought, “I’m just going to go pro and go from there.” But when the season ended, I felt like going to college would be a better option longterm because I can’t play soccer my whole life. So, I decided to pursue college and get an education, but I still plan on trying to go professional after. CD: Do you have aspirations to play for Orlando City Soccer Club one day?
Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics
Julian Kennedy has totaled 201 minutes and 11 appearances so far this season. is nice. We also have a bunch of tutors, which makes the academics more manageable. We get to make our own class schedules, too. CD: What does a typical day look like for you? JK: We usually have training either at 8 a.m. or at 3:45 p.m. If we have training in the morning, we get back at around 9:30 a.m. Some of us have classes at 10, but I don’t have class until 12:30 p.m., so I usually like to come back to the locker room and relax and do homework. Then, I go to two or three classes, and then just chill for the rest of the play. I’ll play Xbox or watch TV back in my room. CD: Do you know what major you want to pursue?
JK: Yeah, I’d probably want to start my career there just because that’s where I’ve been my whole life. Afterwards, the main goal is to go to Europe. I’d love to play in England or Germany. The MLS is definitely getting more competitive, though.
JK: I’ve been leaning towards something in business, but I know the business school is pretty competitive here. It’s between business, psychology or maybe communication.
CD: What do you like about playing attack?
CD: Do you have any goals you hope to accomplish during this season or long-term?
JK: Scoring goals and creating goals. And then being able to celebrate with the team is nice. I find the most joy in creating goals with my teammates. I haven’t gotten my first goal at Wake yet, but it’s coming soon.
JK: I’d like to earn my first start, and my first goal. I’d like to become a player that gets a lot of minutes. Long-term, my goal would be to become a starter, graduate from here and then become a professional soccer player overseas.
CD: When you step onto the pitch, are you playing for anyone in particular?
CD: Can you describe the atmosphere on the team?
JK: I try my best to make my family happy. They always enjoy being able to watch me play on ESPN. I really just thank God for the opportunity to play soccer. I think it’s all because of God that I’m in this position, and He’s blessed me with the opportunity to be able to play here. I always give Him thanks for everything that He’s done for me. CD: How do you balance the team and academics? JK: It’s pretty hard. Last semester, not being able to play and just practicing while doing online school, was easier. Now, I’m still adjusting to having to go to class. Today, for example, I’ve had class all day, and then practice. It’s a lot of work, but it’s fun at the end of the day. Just being with my boys and playing soccer, I enjoy it all the time. I have at least one teammate in each of my classes. We have study coaches, who help us stay on top of our work, which
JK: We’re competitive, we want to play as much as we can. There’s a lot of wanting to better each other and help each other grow as well, which is really good. It’s unlike any team I’ve ever been on before. Just the family dynamic, and everyone’s there for each other, everyone helps each other out, on the field and off the field. CD: What’s your relationship with your coaches like? JK: They’re really good coaches. They always push for the best from all of us. I haven’t been here that long, but I feel like my connections with the coaches, especially Coach Bobby [Muuss], are going really well. He’s helped me out a lot, even though it’s been a short time. I felt welcomed even before I committed. Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and brevity.
Sports | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, October 14, 2021 | Page 13
CFB Week 6 boasts several thrilling games College football provided a week for excitement, as Texas A&M upset No. 1 Alabama BY JAKE STUART Staff Writer stuaja20@wfu.edu Week 6 in the college football realm featured several upsets, thrillers and blowouts, headlined by the Demon Deacons first 6-0 start since 1944 and 4-0 ACC record, their best ever. Aside from Wake Forest, history was made across the nation, as the Alabama Crimson Tide — the nation’s top dog — were dethroned in thrilling fashion. With an immaculate 51-game FBS slate, let’s take a deep dive into some of the week’s top results. Texas A&M def. No. 1 Alabama 41-38 College Station — with 102,733 raucous fans in the stands — was rocking as the Aggies pulled off their biggest upset in program history. Entering the contest as 18.5 point underdogs and coming off a pair of tough losses against Arkansas and Mississippi State, Texas A&M looked to make a statement. They succeeded. Texas A&M raced out to a strong start, ending the first quarter up 17-7 and later heading to halftime with a 24-10 lead. Quarterback Zach Calzada tossed a pair of touchdown passes in the opening half , on one to tight-end Jalen Wydermyer and the other to Ainias Smith. He would finish with 285 yards and three touchdowns. The Crimson Tide stormed back late in the second half on a 21-0 run and
took a 38-31 lead with just five minutes left in the game. The Aggies kept fighting, though. Calzada marched the offense down the field on two consecutive drives — each spanning two minutes — that resulted in a game-tying touchdown and a game-winning field goal off the boot of Seth Small. Nick Saban’s former assistant, Jimbo Fisher, made a bold claim this spring that he would take down the Crimson Tide. It was the first time in 25 games that Saban would fall, and Alabama’s first loss to an unranked team since 2007. No better time than on Fisher’s 56th birthday and against the best team in the country, who hadn’t lost since 2019. No. 3 Iowa def. No. 4 Penn State 23-20 The most anticipated matchup of the week lived up to the hype in Iowa City. Penn State — winners of their first five games including a pair of ranked wins against Wisconsin and No. 19 Auburn — jumped out to a quick lead. A pair of rushing touchdowns from quarterback Sean Clifford and running back Noah Cain made the score 17-3 just minutes into the second quarter. The Nittany Lions lost Clifford, their senior quarterback, early on in the game off a big hit from Hawkeyes linebacker Jack Campbell. Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras capped an 11-play, 60-yard drive with a touchdown throw to Charlie Jones. The toss cut the deficit to 17-10 heading into halftime. After trading field goals in the third quarter, the Hawkeyes would pull away. Petras led consecutive scoring drives
in the fourth quarter, one that resulted in a field goal and the other, a 44 yard touchdown to wide receiver Nico Ragaini. The defenses of both Big Ten teams showed up all night long. The two teams combined for three interceptions in the first quarter alone, and Penn State threw four on the night. Iowa now has forced 10 interceptions in its past two games, the second-most ever in a two-game span, according to ESPN. The Hawkeyes earned their 12th straight victory — this one the biggest since the 1985 battle between the nation’s two top-ranked teams, Iowa and Michigan — and continued their historic playoff push. No. 17 Ole Miss def. No. 13 Arkansas 52-51 SEC West foes duked it out in a thriller for the ages. The game — which featured 1,287 total yards of offense — came down to a two-point conversion on the final play of the night. The highly anticipated shootout provided six lead changes. It appeared that Ole Miss got the final dagger with just over a minute left. Rebels quarterback Matt Coral completed a 68yard touchdown pass to Braylon Sanders after the Razorbacks tied the game at 45 just 15 seconds prior. As time expired, Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson found Warren Thompson in the back of the end zone to make the score even. Looking to walk out of Oxford and steal a win, Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman elected to go for two and failed. In the loss, Jefferson threw for 326 yards and three touchdowns while adding
85 yards and three more touchdowns on the ground. Ole Miss scored five rushing touchdowns of their own as they notched 324 yards and averaged 6.6 yards per carry. No. 6 Oklahoma def. No. 21 Texas 5548 Arguably the greatest edition of the Red River rivalry to date, fans had no idea who would come out on top until the final whistle blew. Texas looked unstoppable in the first quarter, scoring two touchdowns in the first two minutes and carrying a 28-7 lead into the second quarter. Oklahoma allowed its most first quarter points ever. But the Sooners — facing heavy criticism from fans after tight contests against unranked Nebraska, West Virginia and Kansas State — clawed their way back. The ferocious comeback began with a 66 yard touchdown from quarterback Caleb Williams. He threw two more touchdowns to begin a wild fourth quarter and tie the game up at 41. Following a costly Longhorns fumble on the next drive, the Sooners cashed in on a Kennedy Brooks rushing touchdown to take their first lead of the contest. Although Texas quarterback Casey Thompson tied the game up at 48 with just over a minute left to play, the Sooners had ample time to make history. Brooks once again ran in a touchdown — this time with just three seconds left. With that score, the Sooners completed the largest comeback the Red River showdown has ever seen.
Recapping an eventful Week 5 in the NFL Several close matchups highlighted a contested Week 5, including another Chargers win BY JOHN KIMBALL Contributing Writer kimbjr20@wfu.edu
Week 5 of the 2021 NFL season provided an exciting slate of games that kept fans on the edges of their seats all day. With multiple upsets, star players’ injuries and comeback victories across the league, this set of NFL games did not lack in drama. Here are the highlights of the week’s most exciting games. Seattle Seahawks def. Los Angeles Rams 26-17 On Thursday night, the contest between the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams finished in exciting fashion. The Seahawks’ chances — and season — changed in an instant when quarterback Russell Wilson left the game in the third quarter with a ruptured tendon in the middle finger of his throwing hand. Backup quarterback Geno Smith stepped in and gave the Seahawks hope, leading them on two straight scoring drives that cut the score to 23-17. Smith had a chance to take the lead with two minutes left in the fourth quarter, but threw a costly interception, ending the Seahawks’ comeback hopes.
Matthew Stafford threw for 365 yards, a touchdown and an interception in the important divisional win. The Seahawks dropped to 2-3, and the Rams improved to 4-1. New England Patriots def. Houston Texans 25-22 The New England Patriots, who looked to get back on track after suffering a devastating loss in the final seconds to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday night, started off slow against the Houston Texans. Texans quarterback David Mills had the best game of his young career, throwing for 312 yards and three touchdowns. However, the game’s momentum started to shift in the fourth quarter when the Patriots scored 13 unanswered points, including a Nick Folk 21-yard field goal with 15 seconds left in the game. The Patriots’ win brought them to 2-3 while the Texans fell to 1-4 on the season. Green Bay Packers def. Cincinnati Bengals 25-22 In Cincinnati, the Green Bay Packers and Cincinnati Bengals needed overtime to decide a winner. A late fourth-quarter push by the Bengals and a clutch twopoint conversion from Joe Burrow to Tee Higgins forced the game into overtime. Green Bay kicker Mason Crosby made up for his past three misses by hitting a
49-yard field goal with 1:55 left in overtime. Aaron Rodgers’ Packers have now won four straight after dropping their seasonopener and currently sit at 4-1. The Bengals’ surprisingly hot start ends, as they fall to 3-2.
head coach Dan Campbell was visibly upset after the game, as it was his team’s second straight loss on a last-second field goal. The Vikings improved to 2-3 with the win.
Atlanta Falcons def. New York Jets 2720 In this weekend’s London game, the New York Jets faced off against the Atlanta Falcons. It was another long day for Jets rookie quarterback Zach Wilson. Wilson threw for 192 yards and an interception. The Jets’ defense forced two fumbles, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Falcons’ passing attack, where quarterback Matt Ryan connected with rookie tight-end Kyle Pitts nine times for 119 yards and a touchdown. The Falcons win brings them to 2-3, and the Jets fall to 1-4.
Los Angeles Chargers def. Cleveland Browns 47-42 The Los Angeles Chargers and the Cleveland Browns put on an offensive masterclass in which both teams’ top talents were on display. Browns running back Nick Chubb rushed for 161 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Baker Mayfield connected with tight end David Njoku seven times for 149 yards, which accounted for almost half of his 305 passing yards on the day. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert threw for 398 yards, four touchdowns, and ran for a touchdown. The win takes the Chargers to 4-1 on the season, with the Browns dropping to 3-2.
Minnesota Vikings def. Detroit Lions 19-17 The 2021 Detroit Lions cannot catch a break. The Lions and the Minnesota Vikings played a tight game until the final moments. Vikings kicker Greg Joseph hit a 54-yard field goal as time expired, sending the Lions to 0-5. The Lions had just previously converted a gutsy go-ahead two-point conversion, but it wasn’t enough to seal the game. Lions
Other scores around the league Steelers def. Broncos 27-19 Buccaneers def. Dolphins 45-17 Saints def. Washington 33-22 Eagles def. Panthers 21-18 Titans def. Jaguars 37-19 Bears def. Raiders 20-9 Cowboys def. Giants 44-20 Cardinals def. 49ers 17-10 Bills def. Chiefs 38-20 Ravens def. Colts 31-25
LIFE
T H U R S D AY, O C T O B E R 1 4 , 2 0 2 1
PAG E 14
O n l i n e at : w w w. w f u o g b . c o m e d i t o r : S e l i n n a Tr a n , t r a n s n 1 9 @ w f u . e d u
A S S T. L I F E E D I T O R : A d a m C o i l , c o i l a t 2 1 @ w f u . e d u
OLD GOLD & BLACK
Anecdote | Abandoned House
Holding on to the abandoned and forgotten The story of the mysterious and mystifying house that neighboured ours BY SELINNA TRAN Life Editor transn19@wfu.edu
For many, moving is a strenuous process. The idea of packing up your life and leaving for an unfamiliar area is daunting — especially for a seven-year-old. Unlike most, I did not end up moving hundreds or thousands of miles away and I was not put into a new neighborhood or school district forced to reinvent my life, identity and friends. I moved less than 10 miles away to a plot of land in the exact same neighborhood. However, seven-year-old Selinna was fascinated by the change in scenery and her new view of life from the opposite end of the neighborhood. My family decided to build our own home on this old plot of farmland, and I was excited by the pros-
pect of a new home and new territory to call my own. To the left of our house were our neighbors, who were also my cousins. I would now be able to see them on a daily basis and we could waste away our time fleetingly, without a care in the world. One of our favorite activities was daring each other to venture to "the house". “The house” was a dilapidated shack of a home that was falling apart at the seams right on the edge of my cousin’s property line. The building was owned by another neighbor on the street to whom the building held sentimental value and as such, refused to remove it despite its lack of inhabitants. From a young age, I had always held reservations toward tales and adventures that ventured into the realm of spookiness. Anything that held a semblance to horror movies or ghost tales scared the life out of me, and I did my best to avoid them at all costs. My sister and cousins, however, had bones of steel and brave hearts as they continually dared to explore the unknown.
As such, their curiosity was piqued by the abandoned house that we had discovered. At first glance, the house is almost invisible, the worn-down wood faded and colored into a dark green that blended with the trees around it. My cousins always dared each other to run and look into the window of the home even though I cautioned them otherwise. They did not listen. Nothing ever really shakes my sister, but I remember seeing her face, pale and drained of blood as she just ran back from peeking into the house. We all clamored around her and pestered her with a barrage of questions, inquiring what she saw and what scared her so much. She never told us. Now, when I bring it up, the memories are muddled and fuzzy as we all reminisce on the abandoned house of our childhood. The most frightening part of it all was the nights when we would play outside of our homes and look at the house. On one particular night, one of the windows of the home was alit.
Naturally, we freaked out. As far as we knew, the house was abandoned. And it was true — we confirmed with our parents — that no one had inhabited the building for our entire lives. My brain was scrambling to find answers and I did not want to think of the possibility that the supernatural might be at play here. That's impossible, right? Yet, there is nothing that can explain the light that we saw — illuminating the window in a way that we had never before seen. Again, we all dared each other to go and explore it, but no one could bring themselves to. It seemed that any sense of bravery was shut off by the mysterious light. I often think about the former inhabitants of the home and wonder about possible answers as to what could have caused the light to go on that day. But mostly, I just look back and think about the times I shared with my cousins and my sister as we all bonded over "the house." Perhaps it was a figment of our imagination, or, maybe, it was a ghost.
TV Show | "Squid Game"
South Korean drama "Squid Game" is a hit A dramatic critique of South Korean society, "Squid Game" grows in popularity BY ADAM COIL Asst. Life Editor coilat21@wfu.edu
Netflix has done it again. The smash hit “Squid Game” has taken the internet by storm this past month, and it just might become the most popular Netflix show of all time. As to be expected of any media that has garnered this much renown, there is a multitude of factors that make it must-watch television. The action drama follows the events of a single week, where drifters on the fringe of society who have racked up overwhelming amounts of debt partake in a series of children’s games to earn money. The catch: only one person can escape the games alive. There is something refreshing and immersive about watching a cast composed entirely of unknown actors and actresses. Perhaps the Korean drama has seen so much success in front of American audiences because each face on the screen is entirely new. This helps break down the barrier between television and real life. Like the contestants on the show, the audience is introduced to a group of strangers, trying to make sense of all of
the chaos and confusion. When I watch a movie like “Lady Bird”, I say to myself, “Hey! There’s Timothée Chalamet from x,y and z,” and it becomes difficult to see him as the character he is attempting to portray. There is no such dilemma with “Squid Game”. Not only is the cast unfamiliar, but they are also exceptionally talented. I found myself emotionally invested in so many characters because they felt like people I would encounter in real life. The genius of the show lies in its ability to set up a terrifyingly real situation against the backdrop of aestheticallypalatable children’s games. The bright, pastel scenery creates a relentlessly eerie atmosphere that compliments some truly stellar performances. Moreover, the universally celebrated ethereal beauty of HoYeon Jung doesn’t exactly hurt ratings, either. One place where “Squid Game” really shines is in its character development. Aside from the central protagonist, Seong Gi-Hun, there aren’t really any ‘main characters.’ The line between main character and supporting character is blurred to the point where the two are no longer distinguishable. Instead, each contestant’s story develops organically. I love this component of the storytelling because it heightens the suspense and keeps the audience engaged. You never know who is going to survive the next round.
Furthermore, the writers occasionally lean into stereotypes, but never actually follow through on them. Each contestant continues to develop and evolve throughout the show, making them feel much more real and personal to the audience. For example, there is the cut-throat businessman; a thug; and the wise, old man, but the writers push boundaries and take chances. Each character contains many layers which display different aspects of their humanity. Despite being written in 2008, “Squid Game” remains extremely topical. In a time where economic inequality continues to expand, Hwang Dong-hyuk’s tale is a reminder that this issue is a global one, and it will only get worse if left unchecked. On the internet, many have taken up a defense for the squid games, arguing that the contestants chose to play the game, and therefore, have no one to blame but themselves for their fate. These discussions are amusing because they unintentionally bolster the message that the show is trying to convey. If you have not yet tuned in, you should definitely give “Squid Game” a try. I recommend watching the original Korean version, with English subtitles for the full experience of the tone and mood. It’s an exciting story with exceptional pacing. Plus, everyone else is talking about it, you might as well join the conversation.
Photo courtesy of IMDB
Contestant 067, Sae-byok, played by Jung Hoyeon, in "Squid Game".
Life | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, October 14, 2021 | Page 15
Fashion |Halloween Costumes
Costumes to win your Halloween Gain inspiration from these different Halloween costume ideas for groups BY SOFIA BAZANT Contributing Writer bazasb20@wfu.edu
After years of Google searching “original Halloween group costumes”, countless trips to Party City and numerous last-minute DIY costume attempts, I know exactly how difficult it is to find the perfect group costume. Finding a single costume for yourself is already hard enough, so the annual scramble to settle for one among the opinions of an entire friend group is usually impossible. In hopes of inspiring some creative costume ideas, I have created the following list of costumes that can be easily customized to any group, budget or event. Aliens and Astronauts: Shiny metallic outfits are always a go-to on Halloween. Aliens are also a great opportunity to take out that body glitter and silvery accessories.
Superheroes: Superman, Batman, Captain Underpants, Spiderman, Green Lantern – there is a multitude of options. Superheroes are a great idea for a group that can’t agree on an exact costume but still wants a common theme ... and who doesn't want to wear a cape? Disney Characters: There is an abundance of Disney characters to choose from. Each person could pick a different Disney princess, or you could opt for something more creative and dress as The Seven Dwarves or The Incredibles. Fairies: Fairies are such easy costumes since you can pair any dress or skirt from your wardrobe with some store-bought wings and a cool makeup look. Each person can be a different color, or the group can opt to be cartoon fairies, such as those from the Winx Club or Tinkerbell. Iconic Groups in Entertainment: Sandy and the Pink Ladies, the Spice Girls, Mean Girls, Spring Breakers ... Pinterest has loads of costume inspiration for these iconic group costumes. Cavemen: Throw on some leopard/ cheetah print or brown leather, then add a fun hairstyle and face paint for a unique group costume that will stand out all night.
Cartoon Character Duos: Velma and Daphne. Spongebob and Patrick. Sharkboy and Lavagirl. There are hundreds of iconic duos that could be split among the group. The possibilities for this one are endless and would work well for a large, even-numbered group. Devils and Angels: A timeless classic. Devils and angels require little planning — most people have enough red/black or white in their closet to pull together a cute costume without breaking the bank. Devil horns, halos, and angel wings are readily available at most Halloween stores, making this a convenient costume. Vampires: If you own a black top and bottoms, then you are already most of the way there. Any black outfit with some fake blood makes for the perfect vampire costume that can be dressed up or down. Accessories such as colored contacts or vampire teeth also add a creative twist. No matter what costume the group finally agrees on, the look comes down to how much effort you want to put in. Any costume can be dressed up with wellthought-out pieces or pulled together at the very last minute. It’s still early October, so there's plenty of time to pick the group costume that will win Halloween 2021!
&
TOP TEN LINES FROM WATCH ME (WHIP) 1. You already know who it is
2. Silento, Silento
3. Go and do it for me
4. Now watch me whip (kill it)
5. Now watch me nae nae (okay)
6.
Music|Injury Reserve
Ooh, watch me, watch me (yeah)
Injury Reserve returns post-tragedy Injury Reserve's creative production and depth differentiates them as artists BY BRODY LEO Contributing Writer leomb21@wfu.edu In the summer of 2020, the unimaginable struck the Phoenix-based experimental hiphop trio Injury Reserve — the sudden death of their core vocalist Stepa J. Groggs. During the group’s long period of silence after Grogg’s death, their small but passionate fanbase both mourned the loss and wondered if remaining members Ritchie with a T and Parker Corey would ever produce music again. One year later, the trio-turnedduo returned with “By The Time I Get To Phoenix”, their most ambitious project yet, and a beautiful tribute to Groggs’s life. Injury Reserve garnered acclaim from fans and critics alike with their previous projects “Floss”, “Drive It Like Its Stolen'', and their self-titled album. All of these were filled with unkempt lyrical delivery served over distinct, chaotic production. In the crowded sub-genre of experimental hip-hop, the trio was consistently eager to push the limits of their own music and the genre as a whole. Injury Reserve was a breath of fresh air, and despite their aggressive sound, they never seemed to take themselves too seriously. Their breakout song, “Jailbreak the Tesla”, was almost entirely produced using recorded sounds from a car. Understandably so, this humor is lost on their new album and is replaced by a much darker creative direction. The production is clearly shaped by grief and anguish — the remaining members’ pain after the passing of Groggs is tangible and inescapable throughout the forty-minute runtime.
THE HOT LIST
The intro track, “Outside”, sets a strong sonic and thematic tone for the album with Ritchie’s pitched-down, painstaking vocals set over a scattered, percussion-heavy beat. The lyrics are eerie and cryptic, with hardhitting lines like, “We cannot end this with an agree to disagree / There is no happy medium / That is nothing, that is nothing." Another crucial moment in the album is found on track seven, “Top Picks for You". On this track, Ritchie speaks directly to the passing of Groggs with emotionally-packed lines like, “I felt loss but a hole like this I never could've imagined / Your pattern's still in place, algorithm's still in action / As I scroll through I see a piece of you is still reacting." Ritchie appears to be reckoning with feeling the online and musical presence of Groggs while learning to cope with his physical loss. This track comes across more as spoken-word than hip-hop; the production is percussion-less and minimalistic. Songs like these show how far Injury Reserve has progressed as a group. While Parker Corey’s signature production style shines through on tracks like “Superman That” or “Footwork in a Forest Fire", Injury Reserve
still shows far more versatility on their new EP. They experiment with more musical empty space than ever before, and on more vulnerable songs like “Knees", they blur the lines between experimental hip-hop and post-rock. Because of the production risks that Parker Corey takes on this new album, the group is able to create a unique, atmospheric listening experience — a new world for the audience to lose themselves in. This world feels like a blend between apocalyptic sci-fi and old-school Western on ketamine. There’s an impending sense of doom set up by tension-building production and lyrics like, “Ain’t no saving me / Ain’t no saving me or you," or “Manic in the skies / There's panic in the sky / Even when it's down below / There's nowhere to go." The emotional impact of this tear-jerking, anxietyinducing album cannot be understated. This album solidifies Injury Reserve as one of the most multi-faceted and creative musical acts in recent years, and, while “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” may mark the end of the infamous three-man weave of Injury Reserve, Groggs’s musical presence will be felt for years to come.
7. Do the stanky leg (stank, stank)
8. Now watch me whip (ayy) (kill it)
9. Now watch Superman (okay)
10. Duff (duff 'em), duff, duff, duff (duff 'em), duff (duff 'em), duff (hold on)
&
Look
A picture of my dog in a lobster costume!
Photo courtesy of Spotify
Injury Reserve's popularity stems from their unique and experimental style, hip-hop beats alongside a laid-back approach to music production.
Photo courtesy of Selinna Tran
Page 16 | Thursday, October 14, 2021
Old Gold & Black | Life
LIFE: ARTS SHOWCASE “Means of Identification” exhibition opens BY COOPER SULLIVAN Asst. News Editor sullcg20@wfu.edu
Every four years a select group of art students gets the unique opportunity to fly to New York City, walk the halls of the Whitney Museum, peruse artists’ personal studios and buy whatever fancies their eyes with university money. Oh, to be a part of that group. This past semester, 13 lucky students were able to do just that. Well, sort of. Due to COVID-19 precautions here on campus and in New York, the students were not able to visit the museums and galleries in person. This forced the group to adopt and utilize extensive research and virtual calls with the artists to decide which pieces would be added to the Student Union’s Collection of Contemporary Art. “There were a lot of awkward Zooms where the gallery would [hold the computer up to the piece] and say ‘this is it,’” junior Lucy Owen said. “We didn’t even get to see any of the pieces in person until August,” added senior Maddy Barnick. “I just showed up to work at the gallery, and they were all here.” Now, after months of discussion and anticipation, nine new works hang in the Hanes Art Gallery in Lower Scales as a part of the “Means of Identification” exhibition. The only stipulations to being a part of the collection were to be “of the times” and to fit within the group’s $102,000 budget. “Paintings are very expensive,” Barnick said. “So we looked at a lot of things that have craft and a lot of tactile works. We looked at huge wall mounts of sewing and of mixed medium because we wanted something that was going to really stand out in our collection.” Whether it’s the size, color or the story, all of these pieces stand out in one way or another. Even their intangibles. As we were walking around, Barnick and Owen often repeated that every piece was purchased for far less than its actual value. “This piece we got for a steal,” Barnick said. “Then [the artist] went to auction after we purchased it and one of his works sold for an ungodly amount of money. So, we technically don’t know how much this piece is currently worth.” The piece Barnick is referring to is Salaman Toor’s “The Meeting”, a small wooden painting the size of a dinner plate. Its layered brushstrokes, absinthe green tint and voyeuristic portrayal of two men flirting in a bar — a concept exceptionally foreign at the time of consideration — made this piece one of the fan favorites. Four of the pieces, including Toor’s, were created during the height of the pandemic. Each represents different experiences and identities the artist explored during quarantine. For example, the collection’s largest piece, “Tapestry of My Soul” by Winston-
Salem native Rashaun Rucker, is a print of many intimate images in Rucker’s life quilted together. Using religion, nature and family, Rucker allows us to see what he has deemed important and beneficial to his life in a positive and celebratory depiction of an American Black man — one that hadn’t been so prevalent over the previous 18 months. Every piece in the collection expresses some sort of timely take on current politics or social issues, which differentiates the works from what some people consider contemporary art. “[All the artwork] has to do with contemporary subjects that we as a committee deemed necessary to talk about,” Owen said. “And it was really interesting because, with the prompt ‘of the times’, we went a few months without defining what we wanted,” Barnick added. The group, thankfully, was able to figure it out before the Feb. 19 deadline the studios and New York City galleries had imposed. Many of the pieces purchased focus on identities that differ from the cis, white, rich, male identity that current American society favors. This led to the decision to name the exhibit “Means of Identification”. Once the exhibition in Scales closes on Dec. 10, those nine works will have a few possible fates — be hung around Benson, sent to other exhibitions or, sadly, packed into storage. “We are wary of putting some of our more expensive [“Thandiwe I, Roanoke, Virginia” by Zanele Muholi] and tactile [“In One Fell Swoop” by Suchitra Mattai] pieces in a space that is not well monitored,” Owen said. “We don’t have the resources to properly take care of the art. The art just sits in a crowded Benson area with natural light getting all over it.” “The problem is that if we keep acquiring work, where are we going to put it?” Barnick asked. “Half of this stuff will go into storage [and] some of it won’t be able to be seen because we don’t have the space [to properly display it]. Yet, there are so many great resources and so many great connections the art department has with huge galleries. And when these types of programs are pushed under the rug, this is what it amounts to.” “We really need a permanent museum space to do our incredible collection justice,” Owen said. “Duke has the Nasher [Museum of Art]. We’d love to have something like that.” Regardless of where the art goes, both students share one simple request. “We really just want it to be seen,” Barnick said. “Specifically heard in the manner that it’s supposed to.”
Photo courtesy of Cooper Sullivan
Salaman Toor’s “The Meeting” depicts two men flirting with each other in a Pakistani bar.
Photo courtesy of Cooper Sullivan
“Women Words (Ingres #3)” by Betty Tompkins explores the concept of third wave feminism.
Photo courtesy of Cooper Sullivan
“Queer Rage, Don’t touch the art, p68 from Indigenous Woman” by Martine Gutierrez.