News: Students react to new UCC changes Page 4
Opinion: Republicans place blame for trade prices on Biden Page 7
Sports: UNC deals Wake Forest bit- Life: Anderson shines in new ter defeat film "The French Dispatch" Page 10 Page 14
Old Gold&Black
WAKE FOREST’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1916 VOL. 108, NO. 12
T H U R S DAY, N OV E M B E R 11 , 2 0 21 “Cover s the campus like the magnolias”
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Cornel West speaks on campus The prominent scholar and activist spoke at two events: a lecture and a symposium about his book BY AINE PIERRE News Editor pierav20@wfu.edu On Nov. 4 and 5, renowned scholar and activist Cornel West came to Wake Forest’s campus to speak to students and community members. On Nov. 4, West delivered a lecture to Wake Forest community members in Wait Chapel. On Nov. 5, West spoke with professors from across the nation about his book, “Prophecy Deliverance!” — which came out in 1982 — in the Broyhill Auditorium. The events were sponsored by the Divinity School’s Mac Bryan Prophetic Teaching Series and the African American Studies Program. “The Mac Bryan Prophetic Preaching Series is among the annual signature events of the School of Divinity,” Dean of the Divinity School Jonathan Lee Walton said in a Wake Forest press release. Lucius You/ Old Gold & Black
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel addressed a wide range of political and foreign policy topics in two talks on Nov. 9.
Albright and Hagel speak face-to-face with students The two former cabinet officials spoke in both Wait Chapel and the Lawrence Joel Colliseum BY ANITA DONGIEUX Contributing Writer dongap21@wfu.edu
On Tuesday, Nov. 9, Wake Forest’s Face to Face Speaker Series held a forum in Wait Chapel with former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. This students-only event allowed the undergraduate population to ask their burning questions on topics ranging from foreign policy to female empowerment in the workplace. At the forum, Albright said she always knew she had a passion for politics, es-
pecially growing up as the daughter of a Czechoslovakian diplomat who went on to teach foreign policy at the University of Denver. Albright also said she never saw herself as being fit for secretary of state, but former President Bill Clinton, who appointed her, and the Senate, which confirmed her in a 99-0 vote, clearly believed otherwise. Albright recounted her experiences as the first female secretary of state and explained why she urges women to continue to run for office and become a part of civil society. Albright's advice for women wanting to get involved in politics is to be prepared to have to do anything. “If you say you are going to do something, follow through and do it,” Albright said.
See West, Page 5
2020 turnout numbers released More Wake Forest students voted in 2020 than in any election in recent memory, report says BY DRE W SKILTON Contributing Writer skila19@wfu.edu
Albright said she ultimately regretted not running for office herself. Hagel, on the other hand, said his main interest is in public service, but that it was not where his priorities always were. After an unsuccessful college career, Hagel decided to enlist in the Army. After the war, he was working at a radio station when he decided to go out on a limb and move to Washington, D.C. There, he found odd jobs while working to find more permanent and gratifying employment. Hagel answered questions related to U.S. troops returning to Afghanistan after President Joe Biden had made the decision to pull them out. Hagel said that as a country, we must accept risks when trying to solve any political or military issues.
In 2020, Wake Forest University’s voting rate for the undergraduate student population skyrocketed to 78.2% — an increase of 29.9% from the 2016 election — according to a National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE) report by the Institute for Democracy & Higher Education. Wake Forest also saw a significant increase in the percentage of students who were registered to vote. According to the report, that rate was 91.5% of the student body, compared to 76.7% in the 2016 presidential election and 79.3% in the 2018 midterm election. Over 1,200 college campuses participated in the study, and according to the report, the 2020 voting rate for all institutions was 66%, compared to 53% in the 2016 election.
See F2F, Page 4
See Turnout, Page 6
Old Gold & Black
Students “play role in policy change This column represents the views of the Old Gold & Black Editorial Board.
On Oct. 28, The Old Gold & Black reported that Wake Forest University did not intend to provide housing for international students during the four-week Winter Break. This was problematic for many international students. In accordance with regulations in many of these countries, international students would be forced to quarantine upon returning to their homes at the end of the fall semester, and then again when they returned to Wake Forest in January. For the international students in our community, who make up over 9% of the undergraduate population, this was more than a minor inconvenience — there was nowhere to go for the month-long hiatus between semesters.
We implore you to be cognizant of the power you hold as Wake Forest students. Affecting widespread change is not only possible but encouraged. The Old Gold & Black recognized that the decision of Residence Life and Housing was anti-student and did not reflect the pro humanitate ideals of the university. As such, this story needed to be told as soon as possible. Thanks to in-depth reporting from journalism students Mingxuan Zhu, Dexter Peters and Elena Marsh, this short-term housing crisis was brought to the attention of administrators. Just two weeks after we published this story, Residence Life and Hous-
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ing sent out a campus-wide email indicating a reversal of their decision. In their Nov. 10 email, Residence Life and Housing announced that in response to frustration and concern, Wake Forest would provide housing options to those who were unable to return home for Winter break. It is often easy to forget the capacity our words have to make a difference. This reporting, though, was a prime example of how powerful words can be, and relatedly, the importance of student journalism on college campuses. Our publication will continue to provide a platform for the voices that have been silenced and overlooked. But that goal is not attainable without the courage and dedication of the student body to step forward and
speak, to continue fighting to make this campus a better place. We implore you to be cognizant of the power you hold as Wake Forest students. Affecting widespread, lasting change is not only possible but encouraged. Your suggestions and complaints do not fall on deaf ears. Our administrators are empathetic individuals who, in many cases, have been leading the school since your arrival and will continue to implement changes long after you graduate. So, speak to them. Raise your concerns to student representatives who can draft policies to improve this school. Tell us if you see something wrong, and we will inform the community the only way we know how: through balanced, fair and accurate reporting.
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News | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, November 11, 2021 | Page 3
Deacon Profile: Brad Wood There's always pressures. Sometimes, you may want to take an easy way out versus the path that may be more difficult and strenuous. In the long run, though, the difficult path will assist the army. I'm also always trying to make sure that the soldiers and the commanders that I advise understand what their legal responsibilities are. They're not required to take my advice, but I try to let them know what the legal and ethical boundaries are. I let them know what we need to do and how we can accomplish the mission in the right way. Sometimes, they may not be able to do it the way that they want to, but it's my job to give them a path to get to where they want to be legally, ethically and morally. I've never run into anybody in the military in a leadership position that wants to do the wrong thing. Everybody wants to do the right thing and get there for the right reasons, but sometimes you just have to give people courses of action that can get them there properly.
BY AINE PIERRE News Editor pierav20@wfu.edu
Colonel Brad Wood is an alumnus of Wake Forest who graduated in 1992 with a degree in history. During his time at Wake Forest, he was involved in the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). He then went on to law school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, though he stresses his allegiance to Mother So Dear never wavered. Wood is currently in the reserve corps for the U.S. Army and had just returned from duty when we spoke. He will be speaking on Wake Forest’s campus for Veterans Day. Why did you go to law school? When I graduated from Wake Forest in 1992, we had just had the first Gulf War with Saddam Hussein and had prevailed in that. Then, the Soviet Union fell apart. So, the Cold War ended, and the government decided to cut the military by a third. They basically said “we can't even deal with all the lieutenants that we have right now because we're cutting the force. The threat is gone. So, if you want to go off and do law school or medical school or divinity school, the Army can wait. Go right ahead, and then call us when you're done.” So that's what I did.
What does Veterans Day mean to you? My dad served for 23 years in the Army and served in Vietnam. My grandfather served in World War II, as did two of my grandfather's brothers. One of those brothers was killed in action. Friends of mine lost their lives in Iraq. I know this is Veterans Day and not necessarily Memorial Day, but I think it's really important to take some time out and to pay tribute to people that have been willing to drop everything and put everything on the line for the nation. For Veterans Day, I just think it's important to take stock of and respect people that have been willing to write a blank check to the nation, up to the value of their life. That includes someone who served for 20 years who never had to go off to war and into harm's way, because they were there and ready, willing and able to do it. It also includes somebody that serves six, seven or eight tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and has seen things that they can't ever forget. In my mind, either one is honorable service. It behooves us to take a little bit of time to respect all those people.
What was your experience in the military after you graduated from law school? I served five years of active duty. I went back into the service almost right after graduating from law school. I took the Bar, then got married to my sweetheart from Wake Forest and went off to the officer basic course for the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps, which I'm still in. I finished with that right before Christmas of 1995. Then, after New Years’ in 1996, I was stationed in Bavaria for three years. My wife was with me, and we had our first kid there. Then I was deployed to Bosnia as part of Operation Joint Endeavor, which was a peacekeeping mission in the Yugoslavian Republic, for six months. That was interesting. We left Germany and then my next assignment was at Fort McPherson, which was in Atlanta. I was there for two years, and then I decided to leave active duty and do something else. Why did you leave and then why did you come back? I'm an Army brat. I was born at Fort Bragg and spent my entire childhood around the Army. So, we moved every two or three years. That was an interesting way to grow up, but it was not how I wanted to raise my kids. So, my wife and I left active duty and got a job at a law firm in Winston-Salem, and we have been here ever since.
Photo courtesy of Brad Wood
What does it mean to you to come back to your alma mater and deliver an address for Veterans Day?
I joined the Army Reserve in August of 2002, not long after the attacks of Sept. 11. I've been in the Army Reserve ever since. I've served in different units across the Carolinas, and my last assignment was in Puerto Rico. I served a year in Iraq, and spent March of 2008 to February of 2009 in Baghdad. I've just had a lot of different duties and responsibilities in the almost 20 years I've been in the reserves.
The education at Wake Forest has prepared me not only for my duties and responsibilities in the Army but for life. To this day, I'm extremely happy I chose Wake Forest versus other places that I could have gone What were some of the biggest challenges that you faced in the JAG corps, and how did you overcome them?
It's humbling and really invigorating to be able to come back. I was the speaker a couple of years ago, so it's not the first time I've done this. I really do enjoy coming back to a place where I grew up and passing along some wisdom and some life experience that I've gained. That makes me feel very good.
Did Wake Forest adequately prepare you for the Army?
I'm always trying to do the right thing at the right time and for the right reasons.
Editor's Note: The transcript of this interview was edited for brevity and clarity.
POLICE BEAT Underage Consumption/Drug Offenses • A student was found smoking in their room in Kitchin. The report was filed at 11:03 p.m. on Nov. 3 • A student in Babcock who consumed alcohol called University Police for an allergic reaction. The student used an EpiPen before officers arrived. The student was transported to WFUBMC. The report was filed at 11:39 p.m. on Nov. 3 • A student in Johnson consumed alcohol and became sick. The student was assisted by student ERTs and refused transport to WFUBMC. The report was filed at 1:40 a.m. on Nov. 7.
• A student in South drank alcohol at an off-campus Sigma Pi party and was transported to WFUBMC. The report was filed at 1: 56 a.m. on Nov. 7. • A student in Dogwood fell out of bed after consuming alcohol. They were transported to WFUBMC for possible head and neck injuries and were later brought back to campus at 11:56 a.m. The report was filed at 2:10 a.m. on Nov. 7. Miscellaneous • A wallet containing a fictitious ID was found. The report was filed at 3:35 p.m. on Nov. 2.
Page 4 | Thursday, November 11, 2021
Old Gold & Black| News
F2F: Former cabinet officials visit Continued from Page 1
Per Hagel, in Afghanistan, the United States was attempting to impose American policies on countries that did not want them. In leading by force, not only were America’s relationships with allies at risk, but so was the country’s safety. He stressed that although the United States prides itself on its democratic ideals, the country must take a diplomatic rather than an encroaching approach, Hagel said. When asked about technological advancements, Hagel said that technology, as with foreign policy, influences everything from perspectives and
opinions to ideas and ideals. Hagel went on to discuss the threat of misinformation, especially within the political sphere. Politicians often spread misinformation, which then holds Americans captive. Both Hagel and Albright extensively discussed the role of Generation Z in the future of the country, too. “It is important that our best young people get involved in politics,” Hagel said. Hagel said that the younger generations, with their knowledge of technology and modern problems, will be crucial to finding ways to not only solve the nation’s most pressing issues,
but also to take advantage of its most exciting opportunities. Albright and Hagel also emphasized that in the current political climate, diversity of thought and opinions is a positive, not a negative. In fact, it is what makes our republic thrive. To that end, the two officials stressed the importance of respecting and listening to others’ views rather than merely tolerating them. “You must have respect,” Hagel said. “It starts with respect.” “Democracy is not a spectator sport,” Albright added. “The essence of democracy is being able to understand those with whom you don’t agree.”
For students, Albright’s account of being a woman in politics was inspiring. “One thing that really stood out to me was that the Madeleine Albright was called “second-tier” by some men of power in our country,” freshman Sophie Daly said. “So, what does this mean? It means that it doesn’t matter what others have to say about you, but rather, what you do and make of yourself.” Daly went on to say how Albright’s successful career “shows that just because you come from a position where you are always told no doesn’t mean that you can’t achieve greatness.”
Students react to new UCC changes The new single-session model has been met with ire from the student body BY EMILY TORO Asst. News Editor toroer20@wfu.edu
“I think the [University Counseling] Center has lost almost all of its credibility as an institution dedicated to student care,” sophomore Jacob Graff said of the University Counseling Center’s Nov. 1 implementation of a rapid access therapy model. The model only allows students to schedule appointments on the day they need them on a first-come, firstserved basis. This effectively eliminates the possibility for students to meet with the same counselor more than once. The new, temporary model works better with the influx of student demand after midterms and before finals, UCC Director Dr. Warrenetta Mann and Associate Director for Community Engagement Dr. Denisha Champion said in a Nov. 2 discussion with the Student Government Senate. “General incidence of anxiety and depression in the Wake Forest student body is about 40%,” Mann said. “There are seven-to-nine providers, and they cannot see all those students. This means that the first students to schedule appointments regularly are prioritized.” The issue surrounding the lack of care stems from the nationwide hiring shortage of counselors. The UCC currently has three positions open, according to Mann and Champion. For now, though, it seems that students seeking regular therapy may be out of luck with the UCC. As such, it may be necessary to seek alternative care, according to Mann and Champion. “The UCC’s resources are suited to support students who will do well with normal support, rather than those who will struggle even with support,” Mann said.
To students, the UCC is abdicating its responsibility to support those suffering from chronic mental health struggles, which Graff — who attended the Senate discussion — notes are the students who need help the most. “I was given the analogy of an individual suffering from an eating disorder,” Graff said. “No one believes that an eating disorder is a condition that could be worked on and resolved within this new framework of Rapid Access, as there is no consistent caregiver or counselor who is dedicated to the individual and their health.” Graff continued: “It is the same with depression and anxiety; the students who need help the most are the ones who come to UCC for care . . .With the onset of Rapid Access and the
elimination of Wake Forest-provided continuous care for those who need it, many are now suffering more.” As a consequence of the Rapid Access Therapy model, those wanting continuous, consistent care will likely be directed beyond campus to outside care which, Graff says he believed tuition would cover. “I have had multiple students approach me who were worried about the new change,” Graff said. “Wake Forest has declared that students seeking continuous care will have to go off campus, and some cannot do that.” Graff continued: “As a result of this, students will have to pay out of pocket for care that the university previously provided as part of our tuition. [The UCC] made no promise to subsidize
any part of the costs associated with seeking outside care, including transportation or insurance copay costs, even though it is its policies that are forcing students to take this route.” Although this shortage evidently impacts the center’s staff, Graff believes there should be a better solution to prioritizing student wellbeing. “I understand the UCC’s rationale for the change. They have unfilled positions for counselors, and this has forced them to consider alternatives to traditional continued care and longer-term support,” Graff said. “But, there has to be a better way to provide more comprehensive care to students while balancing the caseloads of the counselors and the needs of the student body.”
Graph courtesy of University Counseling Center
This graph, created by the UCC and presented to the Student Government Senate explains the reasoning behind the new changes to how students can schedule appointments.
News | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, November 11, 2021 | Page 5
West: Prominent activist speaks on campus Continued from Page 1
Walton continued: “It has allowed us to host some of the premier progressive preachers and public intellectuals on the planet. As a philosopher, author and social justice warrior, Dr. Cornel West typifies the spirit of the Mac Bryan Series.” Students, including senior Caroline Arkalji, who attended the lecture on Nov. 4, were quite impressed by West. “The ideas I found most interesting were about this moment of spiritual decay that the United States and the world currently going through,” Arkalji said. “And how in a world where we are surrounded by anxiety and hostility, justice is what love looks like in a public space.” Arkalji was also impressed with West’s ability to inspire the audience. “He captivated everyone with his amazing words on topics surrounding race, religion and spirituality,” Arkalji said. “His words were somehow comforting, but they also inspired me to think more about myself and my spirituality.” Sophomore Hasan Pyrali, who attended both events, shared Arkalji’s views. “I think everyone left the room feeling smarter and better,” Pyrali said. Pyrali also noted that West’s perspective on Christianity and religion was one he had never heard before. “I've never seen religion being so expressly used as a force for good,” Pyrali said. “It's been used as a means for exclusion or condemnation or some type of judgment. I’ve heard a lot of my religion says this, and this is why you are bad. I have not heard a lot of ‘my religion says this, and this is why you are good.”
Overall, Pyrali said that West’s message of acceptance and his appeals to our common humanity resonated with him. “We live on a campus, and really in a society, where there's always tests that people run on each other, whether it be religious tests or cultural tests or political tests,” Pyrali said. “And usually, those tests determine whether people see each other as human without actually talking to those people.” Especially at a Predominantly White Institution like Wake Forest, West’s viewpoints provide a perspective that the majority of the Wake Forest community may not be familiar with. “I think it’s very important for Wake Forest to bring influential speakers -
particularly those who are of color, such as Cornel West - on campus,” sophomore Karina Rotimi, who attended a Nov. 5 luncheon that featured West, said. “And it’s important to give students the opportunity to listen to them speak and attend those events.” Sophomore Nia Thompson said West offered insight into navigating a world mired in racism and injustice. "West explains how in the face of the most vicious oppression and subjugation, black people have remained love warriors who exhibit a gentle tenderness," Thompson said. Thompson continued: "I think this speaks to a larger point about nihilism and pessimism. While those two
things may not be unwarranted, Dr. West places an emphasis on retaining love and passing tenderness onto one another so we do not lose ourselves and our humanity in these vicious institutions." Arkajli believes it is important to bring speakers like West into the Wake Forest bubble. “For me, it is essential … it's a way of stimulating the ideas of the community,” Arkajli said. Pyrali agreed, but he cautioned that prominence does not equal value. “I would say having progressive and intellectual speakers matters a lot more...,” Pyrali said. "I think having someone like Cornel West ... was a good choice.”
Courtesy of the Winston-Salem Journal
Courtesy of the Winston-Salem Journal
Renowned activist and scholar Cornel West speaks to Wake Forest students and community members in a Wait Chapel lecture on Nov. 4. West spoke on the importance of love and humanity.
Chinese, Gamelan ensembles hold joint concert The groups performed back-toback in Scales Fine Arts Center on Friday BY CHASE BAGNALL-KOGER Staff Writer bagncm21@wfu.edu
Hanes Art Gallery rang with traditional Chinese and Indonesian music on Friday, Nov. 5, as the WFU Department of Music kicked off the semester’s lineup of on-campus concerts, beginning with performances from the Chinese Ensemble and Gamelan Giri Murti. The groups incorporated traditional and contemporary instruments to perform pieces that gave the audience a taste of commonly-played, historically-rooted music, as well as songs that reflect recent cultural phenomena. The Gamelan Giri Murti’s opening act was a performance of “Seker Sandat,” a song translated roughly as “Balinese Flower” because the name refers to a particular flower that has no name
in the English language. The Director of Gamelan Giri Murti, Elizabeth Clendinning, said “Seker Sandat” was the first song she ever learned over Zoom at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. To her, this made it especially memorable and significant. “I studied ["Seker Sandat"] with one of my teachers and friends alone, in my house, over Zoom during the pandemic,” Clendinning said. “So it was exceptionally satisfying to hear all of the parts live that I had previously only been able to imagine in my head.” The group continued with excerpts from “Angklung Sidan,” a traditional piece, and ended with “Angklung the Sea,” which reimagines the classic Disney song “Under the Sea” with the accompanying melody of Indonesian instruments. After Gamelan Giri Murti concluded their performance, the Chinese Ensemble took the stage and began by playing “Prelude to Spring Festival,” a song typically played before a celebration that marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year. Xufeng (Danny) Hou, the modera-
tor of the Chinese Ensemble’s performance, suggested that the song may be familiar to many Chinese members of the audience. In fact, the song is so ingrained in Chinese culture that, in 2007, the song was broadcasted into space by a lunar exploration satellite. Their second song, “Music of the Heavenly Palace”, is the prelude to a well-known Chinese TV series “Journey to the West”. That program follows the journey of a monk while he travels to India and back, bringing Buddhism to China with his return. This rendition of the nostalgic intro was played with a mixture of traditional Chinese and other more modern instruments. “This [song] was a big part of many people’s childhood, including my own,” Hou said. “Butterfly Lovers”, which the ensemble played next, recounts the story of a Chinese girl who disguised herself as a boy in order to attend school. At school, she meets a boy who becomes her lover. They then become so enamored with one another that they swear death would be the only reason they
would ever separate. After they pass away, the two return to life as butterflies, proving that even death cannot keep them apart. “We hope we can capture the feeling, the romance of their relationship, and maybe just a little bit of sadness,” Hou said of the piece. The ensemble concluded with “Carrying You,” a cover of the theme song from the anime show “Castle in the Sky,” and “Sun Quan the Emperor”, a piece from a new genre of modern Chinese folk music. “Sun Quan the Emperor” was posted to Youku, a Chinese platform similar to Youtube in 2015, and went viral shortly thereafter. It became especially popular among young people because of its catchy sound. Friday’s performance was the culmination of consistent practice throughout the semester. The various other ensembles and performing groups within the Department of Music have also been preparing for performances later in the semester, and a complete schedule of upcoming events can be found on the music department’s website.
Old Gold & Black | News
Page 6 | Thursday, November 11, 2021
Turnout: Over three-fourths of students voted Continued from Page 1
Throughout 2020, despite the challenges of the global pandemic, groups across campus worked to increase voter registration and voter turnout rate among students. Deacs Decide is a non-partisan student group that works on promoting campus-wide political engagement. The program, which works within the Office of Community and Civic Engagement (OCCE), aims to educate the campus and broader community, register Wake Forest community members, turn out voters and keep post-election engagement up. “[I am] excited, energized, and hopeful to see student voting turnout numbers increase by such a significant margin,” Deb Marke, co-director of Deacs Decide, said. Marke noted that these challenging times did not hinder youth turnout from surging everywhere. When asked about the next election, Marke said she is hopeful that Wake Forest “keeps riding this wave of energy” moving forward. The data also shows that there was a large increase in the number of students who voted early. It was reported that 1,580 students voted during the early vote period, an enormous increase from the 33 students who did so in 2016. This jump is likely due, in part, to the addition of the early voting site right across from campus at the Winston First Assembly of God church. This early voting site was well within walking distance for students, which led to many students marching to the polls together during university-
sponsored events. This was very con- Election on Tuesday, Nov. 8. This elecStudents will be eligible to cast balvenient, because people are eligible to tion will decide one of the two U.S. lots by mail in the next election as vote at any early voting site in their Senate seats from North Carolina. In they did in 2020. They may also vote county, unlike on Election Day, where addition, the 2022 election will deter- in person before or on Election Day they must vote at their assigned poll- mine many down-ballot races. 2022. ing place. In North Carolina, voters can do same-day registration, meaning citizens can register to vote and cast their ballot during the same trip to the polls. Same-day registration provides an option for those who have not updated their registration or need corrections to cast a ballot. Wake Forest students have to update their registration every time they move because the campus is split into two separate voting precincts. The report found that second-year students voted at the highest turnout percentage at 73%. First-year students were close behind at 71%. In terms of gender, 76% of female-identifying students voted, compared to 65% of male-identifying students. Junior Pilar Agudelo said that she is not shocked at the high voting turnout numbers given the “sense of desperation of wanting to see change at national and state levels in 2020.” Additionally, she said that the money spent in the election cycle likely influenced turnout. While Agudelo hopes that the high turnout rates continue, she believes that voter turnout varies “based on who the candidates are, as well as other factors.” Students will have another opportunity to vote in the upcoming Primary Election, which will take place on Drew Skilton/ Old Gold & Black Tuesday, March 8, 2022. After that, A report from the Institute for Democracy & Higher Education finds that Wake Forthey can vote in the 2022 General est’s student population voted at a higher rate than the North Carolina average.
Dorm repairs force students to move Students living in Johnson and Bostwick, which will be renovated in the spring, will move to Luter BY BREANNA LAWS Staff Writer lawsbn21@wfu.edu
Since the summer, Luter Residence Hall has gone through major reconstruction, and the revitalization is slated to finish before the start of the Spring 2022 semester. As a result, certain members of the class of 2025 saw two separate housing assignments when they checked this summer — one for the fall, and one for the spring. First-year students assigned to Bostwick and Johnson Residence Halls, which will be renovated beginning in the spring, were told that they would be making a move to Luter later in the school year. Now, these students are preparing for their new living spaces, which will be ready for move-in in January. The Office of Residence Life and Housing has released information to the students regarding exactly how the move-in process will work. Letters were sent out to all students in
late October including a timeline and room assignment information. According to that letter, Nov. 8-19 are set aside for students to pack their belongings. Packing supplies will be provided and sent directly to residents’ rooms. All boxes should be labeled and ready to move by Dec. 12. Check-in to Luter will occur on Jan. 6. Additional details regarding check-in day are to follow. While it is quite unusual to have so many students moving halfway through the year, many students are able to look forward to all the perks that will come with living in Luter. Almost all students at Wake Forest know that the construction was extensive, as the whole hall was essentially gutted. Some of the Luter renovations were more practical, including plumbing and exterior updates. New heating, air conditioning and electrical systems were also a focus of the hall’s updates. In addition, the building will now have more sustainable features, including LED lighting and water-saving utilities. Aside from the more practical updates, Luter also underwent major cosmetic renovations. The room structure will be different from years past, and the social spaces have been
updated. All of the built-in furniture has been removed and was replaced with movable desks and closets. Many students are looking toward their move with both excitement and apprehension. “Yes, we get to move into a new dorm, but it’s going to be such a hassle in the middle of finals,” freshman Brooke Smith, a Bostwick resident, said. Some students’ roommate situations, or lack thereof, will also be changing. “On one hand, I’m going to miss the freedom of having a single,” freshman James Li said. “But on the other hand, I’m looking forward to the freshly renovated rooms in Luter.” All Bostwick and Johnson students were given singles in preparation for the move, though many will now have roommates in Luter. Residence Life and Housing charged these students the full single rate — almost $1,000 more than the double rate — even if they did not explicitly request a single. “Although I did not request a single, I am in one because of the Luter move,” freshman Isabella Grace said. “I was okay with the change, but the
difference in cost was irritating, as [I had no choice in the matter].” It is important to note that first years are not the only ones facing this adjustment. The RAs of Bostwick and Johnson will have to pick up their belongings and move, too. “It’s a little disappointing to be leaving halfway through the year, having to pack and unpack and explore a new space,” Bostwick RA and sophomore Alex Silverio said. “But, I can really see the excitement in people’s eyes everytime we hear a little bit more about what the building will look like — even though we’ve only heard so much.” Overall, there is a mix of emotions amongst the soon-to-be Luter residents. At the same time, many residents agree that this experience has brought them closer together and that they feel more connected. “[Bostwick] is one of the worst dorms on campus, but the positive is the amazing community that we have built here,” freshman Thomas Peterson said. While there are still many unknowns, these first year students will be experiencing them together along with the sanctity of their new and improved spaces.
OPINION OLD GOLD & BLACK
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Oval Offense
Republicans place blame for trade crisis on Biden Preexisting trade policies and COVIDinduced labor shortages form basis of criticisms BY MARYAM KHANUM Staff Columnist khanmg20@wfu.edu
About two weeks ago, President Biden announced his plans to rehabilitate the faltering supply chains by implementing 24/7 operations. As such, those working in transportation, particularly truck drivers, are being forced to work longer hours. However, this situation — and the criticism Biden has received for it — is linked to a much larger issue that originated policies of the Trump administration, which is illustrative of the hypocrisy demonstrated by the Republican Party. The coronavirus pandemic not only caused a variety of issues for global trade and commerce, but exacerbated many of the pre-existPhoto courtesy of brookings.edu ing ones, including those within the supply chain. U.S. companies have increasingly been Greater trade protectionism policies have led to crippling supply chain outsourcing production, indicating that many issues, leading to a national labor shortage in the service industry. products demanded by domestic consumers are imported into the U.S. However, over the the steps being taken by the Biden Adminis- stores, we were humiliated in Afghanistan, our course of the pandemic, factories and produc- tration to solve the issue. In July, and again border is a complete disaster, gas prices and tion plants across the globe were forced to in October, White House officials detailed inflation are zooming upward. How’s Biden shut down as the virus spread. The resulting the administration’s plans to combat supply doing,” Trump asked. “Do you miss me yet?” Ironically, most of the issues within the decreases in production resulted in the devel- change interferences. In addition to the creation of a task force led supply chain stemmed from the Trump opment of many bottlenecks in the supply chain, as there was more demand for products by President Biden’s cabinet secretaries that administration. For instance, the tariffs placed will focus on tackling supply chain bottlenecks, by former President Trump on about $350 than supply. These bottlenecks and subsequent delays the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will billion worth of goods produced in China caused a whole host of other problems. For be operational 24/7. The task force has also have caused American importers to deal with one, the fact that everyone had to remain in been communicating with private companies extremely high shipping costs. Furthermore, Trump fashioned U.S. governquarantine for months meant that the nation such as Walmart, FedEx and Target, which will developed a significant dependency upon be adding extra shifts at these ports and ensur- ment policy specifically to make it difficult for China to produce semiconductor chips online shopping. Over the course of 2020, ing they work during off-peak hours. The increased workload has resulted in an needed by American automakers to manufacthe e-commerce industry made an additional increased demand for transportation, specifi- ture cars. This included policies such as that $105.47 billion (Digital Commerce 360). Still, the combination of heightened online cally equipment to transport products from which imposed restrictive export conditions shopping and supply chain delays meant that ports to processing facilities. As a result, on the SMIC. This resulted in the recruiting demand for products far outweighed supply. demand for truckers and truck drivers has of help from ally nations to make sourcing As a result, prices have skyrocketed. Accord- increased. With port operation hours having more difficult for China. Although Biden is naively continuing the ing to data released by The Federal Reserve, increased, working hours for truckers have trade war against China that Trump creincreased, as well. inflation in 2021 has increased at the most ated, the fact that Republicans (including The shortage of truckers in the U.S. has rapid pace in the past 30 years, rising to 4.3% Trump himself ) are now criticizing the Biden only exacerbated this issue. According to the throughout the year in August alone (it stood Administration for furthering policies that American Trucking Association (ATA), the at 4.2% throughout the year in July). MoreTrump coined exposes the depths of hypoctruck driver shortage is estimated at around over, Jerome Powell, the Federal Reserve chair, risy in the rhetoric of the GOP. Whether it is 80,000 workers. In addition to this, Biden’s has stated that the supply chain will likely criticizing Biden for policies they supported vaccine mandate has caused truckers to go on remain in crisis well into the year 2022. Powell when implemented by Trump, or blaming the numerous strikes. Models estimate that this expects consistent inflation. Biden Administration for a global pandemic could cause 37% of drivers to retire or leave President Biden has received severe criticism (the effects of which were exacerbated by the the industry (ATA). for this issue from right-wing media and pubBiden has continued to receive criticism Trump Administration’s inaction), it is evilications, particularly Fox News, even though from Republicans regarding not only the dent that Republicans are willing to politicize this situation is not his fault. Television host Dan Bongino referred to bottlenecks in the supply chain, but also the any issue in condemnation of the Democratic Biden as “the Grinch who stole Christmas”, steps he has taken to attempt to fix the issue. Party. citing the Biden Administration as the cause including a scathing statement from former This week's topic was submitted by sophofor delays in product shipping before Christ- President Trump himself. “Covid is raging out of control, our supply more Lauren Franques. Email submissions to mas. Moreover, these same media organizations and personalities have not acknowledged chains are crashing with little product in our khanmg20@wfu.edu.
Opinion | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, November 11, 2021 | Page 8
LUCY’S LESSONS Abortion debates: Discussion instead of division BY LUCY CHAPMAN Contributing Columnist chaplm19@wfu.edu
Last spring on a Friday afternoon, a group of nine female Wake Forest University students sat in a circle on Davis field for two hours and learned how to knit. I was responsible for bringing these individuals together, for providing the knitting materials and for teaching each woman how to use the needles. For the hours that our hands knit one loop after another, we made conversation about the too-often hidden conversation of abortion. This knitting circle served as my final sculpture project of the semester. When faced with the task of creating a site-specific piece of art my mind immediately went to the topic of abortion and women’s health. During the previous semester I had finished a course in Bioethics in which we frequenlty discussed and debated the topic of abortion in terms of philosophical arguments and literature. I also had a nuanced personal history in ideas about abortion as someone who holds value in the seemingly contradicting spheres of women’s health, religion, and philosophy. In broader terms, I held a past of countless discussions among peers, debates among classmates, and wonderings within my own mind about the subject of abortion. Therefore, it felt as though this project was finally a time for me to explore the subject with my creative voice. With only the preliminary idea of speaking about abortion through the process of knitting, the first stage of execution was one of research. I first stumbled upon the Freudian term unheimlich in discussion about the strangeness of knitting in public. This term alludes to the discomfort caused by being out of phase, or by interiors becoming exteriorized or publicized. In other words, because knitting is stereotypically seen as an interior feminine activity, it creates discomfort in those who observe women knitting in public. I became enthralled by this idea of the uneasiness of a domestic craft made communal. I held onto this thought and kept researching. I then quickly learned about past pieces of contemporary art that also engaged in women’s health with textiles and yarns. For example, the PussyHat Project, birthed in 2016 by the genius of Jayna Zweiman and Krista Suh, is a global women’s movement that utilizes masses of pink knitted hats at Women’s Marches to communicate solidarity and support. Another example is Faith Wilding’s Crocheted Environment (Womb Room) from 1972 in which she covers an entire room by draping crocheted webs of yarn, placing the viewer into an intricate simulation of the womb. The act of knitting has been deployed in acts of activism and politics. In 2014 Taylor Payne and CheyOnna Sewell created a knitting collective with the mission of battling racial injustice. The activists used the form of a quiet and intimate knitting circle to discuss traumatic topics, yet the process of knitting as a forum for politics dates back to the 1760s.
Photo courtesy of Danielle Parker
While many continue to actively protest their pro-choice or prolife views, mutual respect and discussion is essential for progress. During the Ame ican Revolution women boycotted British taxes by making handspun yarn and cloth. Furthermore, during the abolitionist movement, sewing circles became a safe space for exchanging antislavery ideas and for rebelliously engaging in politics. More recently, a project called Wombs on Washington knit wombs to encourage pro-choice voting in 2005. Throughout the process of researching, my ideas began to fuse together organically and intentionally. I landed upon the overall mission of hosting a knitting circle among women of various ages, backgrounds, experiences and beliefs, in order to have respectful conversation about uncomfortable topics, all while producing a final knitted piece. The purpose of my project would be to simultaneously bring a typically domestic craft into the public and a typically hidden conversation into the community. I then sought out women from various corners of campus to participate in the circle. I purchased the supplies and we met on a Friday afternoon to knit. I began our gathering by emphasizing what I consider to be the most important aspects of the project: the practice of listening to one another with respect, of honoring one with entirely different viewpoints than yourself, of empathizing and learning. The aim of the conversation was not to win an argument, rather, the measure of success would be that each of us leave the circle having gained a new perspective. I taught each woman to knit before we dove into discussing our previous exposures, either in education, personal history, religion or other, to abortion. As each individual took turns sharing their personal experiences we sunk into a rhythm of knitting. We entered a space of pure vulnerability. Our hands worked in pattern as our mouths dared to share our most intimate stories and thoughts. Our conversations roamed from expressing feelings of frustration at political divisiveness that has caused our generation to so quickly denounce respect for another human being to personal pains caused by peers, by teachers by churches or by social media.
We spoke about our sadness at a lack of sexual education in high schools, venturing to speak about the demand for abortions rather than just the means. We asked questions and we listened. When does the right to life begin? What is the value of a human life? Why do women feel the need to obtain abortions? What is the correlation between disability and abortion? Race and abortion? Sex and abortion? Why does it feel like this issue is so divided? Why is it so hard to talk about these things? For two hours we knit together and we asked more questions than we answered. Slowly we realized that not one person solely identified as “prochoice” or “pro-life.” Rather, we continually came back to the claim, “it’s not black and white.” Every participant left the circle with feelings of peace, thankfulness, and a willingness to continue the conversation. In writing about the debate between pro-life and pro-choice I could lecture at you. I could write down every argument and debate I learned in Bioethics. I could quote psychological facts and I could cite literature and studies. I could yell and I could scream. But rather I will choose to sit and listen. I will choose not to force you into a label of pro-life or pro-choice but rather ask you about your experiences with abortion and why you beleif what you do. Throughout the process of my knitting circle I realized that this issue is far too nuanced to associate with over-simplified and divisive language. We cannot continue to denounce the voice and value of others based on black-and-white terminology. Instead we must choose to listen to one another, in spite of differing beliefs, and choose discussion over division. I urge you, fellow reader, fellow student, fellow human being, to be careful not to tune out the experiences of those whose beliefs may threaten your own. It is a dangerous line to abide by finite terms of what one believes about this issue, because as you may find, a respectful conversation with others will reveal that it is in fact not black and white.
Opinion | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, November 11th, 2021 | Page 9
“ Facebook's Metaverse ends reality as we know it Technology
New technology sacrifices privacy for the sake of opportunity
It seems that now more than ever, the choice between realities is no longer available. We have already made it."
Connor Mcneely
environment, re-imagine the way we interact online with others and even stimulate the world economy. Tens of billions of dollars materializing from nothing, a revolutionized corporate workplace, a potential overhaul of fiat currency, hundreds of millions of lives changed — these are the promises set by the background of Meta’s fantasy world. But, for now, the next Internet is nothing more than that: a background. I can’t imagine that investors were thrilled when they watched Mark Zuckerberg mechanically pace across a throng of ultra-organic wallpaper. Painfully smooth textures and absurd cakebuilding games are not the future of human interaction. Working adults do not want to strap into a VR headset to play blocks and imagine that they’re in a spaceship. While imagination may be a wholly childlike attribute, that doesn’t mean its next technological claimant must bend its vision into artless, flat worlds. What’s more concerning about this Metaventure is its blatant ignorance of the present. It’s hard for anybody to buy into the notion that Meta will become the sole facilitator of daily life because of Facebook’s massive regulatory failures and the insidious effects of their subsidiaries within the minds of the public.
Opinion Editor mcnecb19@wfu.edu
In the beginning, there was the Internet. It was a void — a shiftless, two-dimensional vat into which billions of people poured their lives. Then, as Mark Zuckerberg hovered over the darkness, a spark of light flickered across the depths of his obsidian eyes. The Metaverse was born. It has begun, as described by venture capitalist Mark Ball in his essay “The Metaverse”, like a world growing across a mostly blank tableau. God — or in this case Mark Zuckerberg and his conglomeration of VR acquisitions — will create the concurrency infrastructure (universe), then the technological standards and protocol (laws of physics) and finally the content (living creatures). The finished product is hardly expected to be similar to that recently shown in the demonstration at Facebook’s virtual rebranding event. Instead, the Metaverse will represent a maximalist version of the Internet. Zuckerberg believes that it can bring jobs to poverty-stricken areas, sustain our natural
At the 2021 Facebook Connect Event, none of these issues were mentioned in any capacity. You could take one look at Zuckerberg’s glazed expression and know that the thought of Congress breaking up his empire hadn’t even crossed his mind. This delusion doesn’t stop at the ignorance of the legal troubles that Meta must now overcome either. In fact, the announcement of the Metaverse seemed quite brazen, considering that Apple, Microsoft and the entire concept of the smartphone stand in the way of successful implementation. No one will want to put anything similar to an Oculus Rift on when they can access everything they want from their cellphone. The Facebook Connect Event featured intriguing, ordinary-looking glasses that could project holographic images into open space. I was surprised to see this casual inclusion of what will undoubtedly be a groundbreaking new technology. The company that packs a stereoscopic display, computer chips, eyetracking sensors, holographic waveguides and a power source into a pair of glasses’ frame will have supplanted the invention of the smartphone. The problem for Meta is that we’re at least a decade away from that kind of innovation. I am optimistic that there will be resistance to whatever form the Metaverse takes, though some part of me knows that I will ultimately be disappointed. Zuckerberg is hoping that people will want to jump into the void, rather than simply looking into it, and he is most likely right about that.
It is a calculated gamble — an anguished struggle for control, veiled by the illusion of improved technological efficiency and increased opportunity for everyone. The tragedy of social media is that we ignore its detrimental effects. The rate of individuals reporting symptoms consistent with major depression in the last 12 months increased 52% in adolescents from 2005 to 2017, and 63% in young adults ages 18 to 25 from 2009 to 2017, per the American Psychological Association (APA). In spite of the fact that approximately two-thirds of Americans believe that social media has a negative effect on the current state of the country (Pew Research Center), we have made no substantial efforts to reform this technology. I can’t see how an Internet that occupies your entire reality for hours at a time would improve any of these problems, nor do I expect Meta to responsibly use VR technology, which has the capacity to track most of your bodily movement and even your brainwave patterns. Regardless of the Metaverse’s potential harm, none of this information will be of sufficient concern for consumers — spurred on only by progress — and maybe it shouldn’t be. Perhaps we must sacrifice both privacy and mental capacity for the sake of opportunity and efficiency. It seems now more than ever that the choice between realities is no longer available. We might have already made it.
on if it should be a personal choice or a mandate. Schools in Virginia were also a focus throughout the campaign and was a topic more emphasized by the Youngkin campaign. The pandemic has resulted in the closing of state schools and a mixed approach to reopening, though the factor that captured most of the spotlight was perceived changes to the curriculum. Youngkin interpreted recent school board changes as an endorsement of critical race theory, a framework causing intense debate within other school districts across the nation. Upon seeing this, Youngkin started holding "Parents Matter" rallies across the state, and promised to ban the teaching of critical race theory from schools on "day one." As a result, Youngkin made inroads with suburban voters (several of which have trended more Democratic during the Trump presidency), and also among rural and urban voters. He narrowed the gender gap, and made inroads with minority voters, ultimately returning several former red areas back to the Republican column such as Prince Edward County and Virginia Beach. Throughout the campaign, McAuliffe called Youngkin a "Trump wannabe," who had endorsed the former President but then distanced himself during the campaign, and was even absent during a Trump-sponsored event.
Youngkin appears to have found a possible path forward for the Republican Party in a post-Trump era. Even though the former President still has a strong grip on Republican voters (with a clear majority ready to support his potential 2024 nomination, including Youngkin himself ), Youngkin was able to successfully balance past support for Trump to maintain rural voters, while also focusing on economic and school issues, allowing him to maintain and regain suburban and urban voters. It's easy to view this as an outlier in a more Democratic trend of the state or nation, but in the same night, Virginia also elected a Republican Lieutenant Governor (also the state's first Black female to hold the position) and a Republican Attorney General (with the House of Delegates resulting in either a Republican flip or a tie). Additionally, traditionally blue New Jersey's incumbent just barely won re-election in a race that was much closer than expected. There, the state senate president lost his position to an unknown truck driver after 44 years of Democrat re-elections. It's easy to dismiss these instances as flukes for Democrats, but it's dangerous for Democrats to do so. When a trending blue state and a solid blue state have either Republican flips or near-flips, something clearly isn't working.
“ Youngkin's victory is more than an anomaly Politics
Election of Youngkin shows signs of a resurgent post-Trump Republican Party Robert Yount
Contributing Columnist younrj18@wfu.edu On Tuesday, Nov. 2, Republican nominee Glenn Youngkin defeated Democratic incumbent Terry McAuliffe to become the next governor of Virginia. A former businessman, Youngkin became the first Republican elected to a statewide office in Virginia since 2009, winning by a slim margin of two points. The race was described as a political upset, as McAuliffe had led most polls until the closing weeks of the campaign. Moreover, the state as a whole had become increasingly Democratic over the past decade, last year going for Biden by over 10 points. After considering this context, the questions arise: how did Youngkin pull off a win in a trending blue state? Can this success be replicated for Republicans in other states (or on a national scale)? Is this a stand-alone case, or is
When a trending blue state and a solid blue state have either flips or near-flips, something clearly isn't working.” it a predictor of what is to come in the 2022 midterms and the 2024 election? As a businessman, Youngkin focused part of his campaign on a more business-friendly economy and lower taxes. While topics such as Trump and abortion were touched upon, the general campaign became focused on two key issues: the effects of COVID-19 on Virginia (and its resulting mandates and restrictions) and the state education system. McAuliffe supported the recent mandate by President Biden which required vaccinations for federal workers, employees of larger companies and contractors. Youngkin, though, was skeptical that Biden had the authority to make such a mandate, and instead supported getting the vaccine as a personal decision. While McAuliffe accused Youngkin of "anti-vax rhetoric," he also came under fire for continuing to spread false statements about COVID-19, such as when he inflated the number of state cases. Ultimately, the two agreed that people should get vaccinated, only differing
SPORTS
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Online at: www.wfuogb.com Twitter: @sports_ogb Editors: Essex Thayer, thayse20@wfu.edu Christina DeNovio, denoca20@wfu.edu
OLD GOLD & BLACK
UNC deals Wake Forest bitter defeat The Demon Deacons are still in pole position to reach their first ACC Championship since 2006
settle for a field goal attempt, which Nick Sciba nailed from 27 yards out. On their first true series of the game, North Carolina relied heavily on the run. On their first three plays from scrimmage, Chandler and quarterback Sam Howell BY ESSEX THAYER combined for 33 yards. After the runs, Sports Editor North Carolina’s only pass attempt of thayse20@wfu.edu the drive fell incomplete, but a defensive Nearly a year ago to date, Wake Forest holding penalty moved the Tar Heels 10 traveled to Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill. yards ahead and kept the drive alive. After two rushes for a total of two yards, With six and a half minutes remaining in the Demon Deacons looked primed to get the third quarter of that game, the Demon off the field. On third down, Wake Forest Deacons held a 21-point lead; but the went all-out on a blitz and seemed to have team couldn’t hold on — they lost that pulled Howell to the ground for the sack. game. At the last second, though, he escaped Fast forward to 2021, when Wake the rushers and sprinted ahead for 14 Forest once again stepped into enemy territory. This time around, with seven yards and the first down. Two plays later, and a half minutes left in the third quarter, Howell perfectly executed the option and the Demon Deacons were leading by 18. ran 18 yards for the touchdown to give Once again though, Wake Forest ceded North Carolina the lead. Wake Forest’s ensuing drive began their lead and lost the game. inauspiciously, with Hartman throwing Redshirt sophomore quarterback Sam Hartman had one of the best quarterback two incompletions and a false start performances in the history of Kenan moving the offense five yards back. But, Stadium, yet he also made several mistakes on third down, redshirt junior wide that may have cost the Deacs the game. receiver Jaquarii Roberson found space Despite combining for seven touchdowns over the middle, and Hartman hit him in — a Kenan Stadium record — Hartman stride for 24 yards and the first down. After two straight rushes from freshman also threw two avoidable interceptions. running back Justice Ellison, along with After winning the opening coin toss, an extra 15 yards because of a face mask Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson went with his default choice of deferring penalty on the Tar Heels, Hartman hit to the second half and thus giving North tight end Blake Whiteheart for a 16-yard completion to move to the 14-yard line. Carolina the ball to begin the game. Clawson’s choice paid off early. On Then, on third down, from the six-yard the first play from scrimmage, Tar Heels line, Hartman ran to his right looking to running back Ty Chandler ran to the pass. With space, he pump-faked to Perry, left for a 13-yard gain, but at the end of then ran the ball into the endzone. Down by three, North Carolina’s the play, he fumbled the ball away. The ensuing drive consisted of three straight Deacon’s recovered, gaining possession on rushes by D.J. Jones. While his first two the 38-yard line. Attempting to capitalize on the early runs totaled nine yards, the Wake Forest mistake from Chandler, Hartman ran off defense held firm on the third attempt, the right edge to the 3-yard line. With an forcing the Tar Heels to punt, a threeadded holding penalty, Wake Forest stood and-out. Looking to go up by two scores, on the precipice of the goal line. Yet, they Hartman took to the air. On first down, couldn’t find the end zone. After a stopped run on first down, Wake Hartman dropped back to pass, but Forest was penalized for illegal formation. was sacked for a loss of six yards. His Then, Hartman was sacked, moving the second pass fell incomplete. On third Deacons from the one-yard line to the down, Hartman’s third attempted pass nine. A missed pass to redshirt sophomore of the drive was his most consequential A.T. Perry forced the Demon Deacons to — he was baited by the North Carolina secondary into throwing a ball over the top, and while his receiver looked open, UNC cornerback Cam’Ron Kelly jumped in front and hauled in the interception. On North Carolina’s first play from scrimmage, Chandler snuck out to the left on a wheel route and was wide open for a 30-yard reception from Howell. Then, following an incompletion, Howell rushed up the middle. Despite three Demon Deacons in his way, Howell broke through each tackle en route to the end zone. Down by four, Wake Forest embarked on an 11-play drive that took them 75 yards down the field. The first three plays of the drive saw Hartman complete three straight passes for 31 yards. Then, the offense took to the ground, rushing four times for 14 yards. Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics After a completion to graduate transfer Despite the loss, Hartman had a career Donald Stewart, Hartman ran on thirdday, combining for seven touchdowns. and-five for four yards, but was hit hard by
linebacker Jeremiah Gemmel. The hit was deemed illegal and disqualified Gemmel from the game. More importantly, it gave Wake Forest the first down. On first down, Hartman rolled to the right and found Roberson in the back of the end zone for the 15-yard touchdown, giving the lead back to the Demon Deacons. On the following drive, after securing one first down, Wake Forest forced North Carolina into a fourth-down decision. On fourth-and-seven from the Wake Forest 40, the Tar Heels secured the first down with Howell finding receiver Josh Downs for 15 yards. Then, three rushes proved costly for the Demon Deacons. After a five-yard run from Howell, Chandler ran right through the middle for 19 yards to the goal-line. From there, Howell rushed into the endzone. Now down by four, Wake Forest began their drive with a 13-yard completion to Perry. Then, following two rushes from redshirt junior Christian Beal-Smith, Hartman threw to the left to Perry, who pulled the ball in with one hand for a sensational 32-yard score. After the touchdown, the offenses ground to halt, combining for three straight disappointing drives that resulted in punts. With the ball back following a North Carolina punt, Wake Forest moved the ball forward with two completions to Beal-Smith and Perry for 18 yards. Then, redshirt freshman wide receiver Taylor Morin got a step over the top, and Hartman hit him in stride for the 37-yard touchdown. Trailing by 10 with only a minute left before halftime, North Carolina began their ensuing drive with a vengeance. After an 11-yard completion to receiver Antione Green, Howell ran the ball for 19 yards. Then, another pass to Green was deflected away, but a pass interference advanced the ball 15 yards forward. A 16-yard competition to Downs moved North Carolina to the Wake Forest 30, but from there, they were forced to kick the field goal. Wake Forest held a 31-24 lead going into the half. Already up a score and set to receive the ball to begin the second half, Wake Forest had a prime opportunity to put some distance between themselves and the opposition, but were promptly ushered off the field by the North Carolina defense in a three-and-out. On the second play from scrimmage of the ensuing drive, Howell found receiver Justin Olsen on the left side for a 45-yard completion. At their own six-yard line, though, Wake Forest held strong on three straight plays, holding North Carolina to only a field goal. After four runs on the next drive, Wake Forest faced a fourth-and-one, but the play was negated as Hartman drew the defense offsides on a hard count. Then, Hartman once again found Morin over the top for a 29-yard completion. From there, Hartman handled the rest, scampering all the way into the end zone on a designed run up the middle. After a North Carolina three-and-out, Wake Forest capitalized, giving them an
18-point lead. Following a run to begin the drive, Hartman found Roberson wide open on the left side for a 66-yard touchdown. Down by 18, North Carolina began to mount their comeback, beginning their drive with four straight rushes for a total of 35 yards. Then, after an 11-yard completion, Green beat cornerback Zion Keith on a fly route, and Howell hit him in stride for the 29-yard touchdown. In response, the Demon Deacons marched all the way to the North Carolina 24-yard line, but on third-andsix, Hartman’s pass was batted down at the line, forcing a field goal. Down by 14, North Carolina used a balance of runs and passes to move down the field. An extra 15 yards off an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty from graduate defensive tackle Luigi Vilain gave the Tar Heels all they needed. After the penalty, Chandler rushed down the right sideline for the score. On the following drive, an apparent mistake from the referees proved to be the downfall for Wake Forest. On third down, it appeared that the Tar Heels jumped offsides, making Hartman believe he had a free play. Except he didn’t. Hartman’s errant pass was intercepted, and with no flags on the field, the ball went right back into the hands of North Carolina. After the interception, a 21-yard rush from Chandler secured a touchdown, and just like that, the game was even for the first time since the opening kickoff. After securing two first downs, Ellison ran four straight times for 43 yards, advancing the Demon Deacons well into North Carolina territory where they faced a fourth down. After Clawson elected to go for it, Hartman’s pass was deflected at the line, which gave the ball back to the Tar Heels with a chance to reclaim the lead. With Chandler running the offense, and with help from an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Keith, North Carolina reached the Demon Deacon six-yard line, but was once again stopped by a stout defensive line, forcing the Tar Heels to settle for another field goal. With two minutes remaining, Wake Forest had a chance to score the touchdown and win the game. After securing one first down, Hartman’s next four passes all fell incomplete, giving the ball back to North Carolina. A 50-yard touchdown run by Chandler on the first play following the turnover-on-downs effectively iced the game. Despite scoring a touchdown in the game's dying moments on a pass to Roberson, the Demon Deacons couldn’t fall on the ensuing onside kick, giving the Tar Heels the win, and allowing the fans to rush the field and celebrate. Despite the loss, everything's not lost. With North Carolina technically being an out-of-conference opponent, No. 13 Wake Forest stands in the exact same place in terms of their quest to win the ACC as they did prior to the matchup. A win on Saturday against NC State under the lights would put the Demon Deacons in position to play in Charlotte in December in the ACC Championship.
Sports | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, November 11, 2021 | Page 11
Florida State tops Wake Forest 1-0 in semifinals Despite the loss, women’s soccer returns to the ACC Tournament for the first time since 2018 BY CHRISTINA DENOVIO Sports Editor denoca20@wfu.edu
A stellar season for the Wake Forest women’s soccer team ended in heartbreak. On Nov. 5, the No. 25 Demon Deacons (15-5) fell to No. 2 Florida State (15-1-2) in overtime. The teams kicked off the ACC semifinals match at WakeMed Soccer Park to determine who would face off against the winner of No. 1 Virginia vs. No. 5 Clemson. In that final matchup, which took place on Nov. 7, Florida State defeated Virginia by a score of 1-0. Though Wake Forest didn’t make it to the finals, the team had an impressive season under Coach Tony da Luz. It was da Luz’s 25th season as head coach, and he now holds a cumulative record of 283-185-53. The team was also coming off an impressive upset over No. 2 Duke in the first round of the ACC tournament. During the game against the Seminoles, Wake Forest’s redshirt senior Sofia Rossi scored the first goal, assisted by graduate student Jenna Menta, in the
31st minute. This was Rossi’s eighth goal of the season. Unfortunately for the Deacs, Florida State responded with a goal of their own six minutes later. Wake Forest was unable to capitalize on several opportunities in the first half, totaling three shots on frame. In the second half, neither team was able to score, but the Seminoles were creating more opportunities, outshooting the Deacs 6-2. As time ran out, the scoreline remained 1-1, leading Wake Forest to their third overtime of the season. Seven minutes into OT, Florida State scored, sealing their path to the finals. Wake Forest, went home disappointed, having exited the ACC tournament sooner than they would’ve liked. At the game, two Demon Deacons received ACC honors. Senior Shayla Smart earned Third Team All-ACC honors, and freshman Nikayla Small was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team. “Congrats to Florida State,” da Luz said. “Even though they played a great game, I thought our team played an awesome game. Tactically, both teams were trying to get an edge here and there with whatever they could.” Da Luz continued: “I thought we got some good chances as we were organized pressing-wise. If you don’t press well against Florida State, you will suffer. I think we played that team as well as they
have been played all year. It is a shame we couldn’t get to penalties and solve it that way. We had our chances, and I am very proud of this team and the performances we have had down the stretch.” “I am looking forward to [potentially making] the NCAA tournament because if we perform like this consistently we are probably going to win some games,” da Luz also said.
This week, the Wake Forest women’s soccer team is ranked at an impressive No. 25 in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll for the first time since Sept. 5, 2019. On Monday, it was announced that the Deacs would in fact have a spot in the NCAA Tournament. With their selection, the Deacs will face Harvard on Sunday.
Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics
Graduate forward Jenna Menta dribbles down the field with the ball. She scored Wake Forest’s sole goal of the game in the 31st minute.
Men’s soccer falls to Duke in quarterfinals In a back-and-forth match, a late Duke goal proved to be the Demon Deacons’ downfall BY CHARLES HORN Staff Writer horncs18@wfu.edu
With mere seconds left on the clock, the entirety of the Wake Forest men’s soccer powered forward in a last-ditch equalizing effort. Yet, rather than play the ball into the box, the Deacs chose to play it short. Their ultimate cross was blocked as time expired. This final play was the cap to a frustrating afternoon for the Deacs, a 3-2 loss to the Duke Blue Devils in the ACC Tournament quarterfinal round that was mired by close calls and refereeing inconsistencies. The Deacs took an early lead after a penalty was called when a Wake Forest header hit the outstretched arm of a Duke defender. Junior Jake Swallen stepped up in the 27th minute, but saw his initial shot saved. Luckily for the veteran midfielder and the Deacs, the rebound fell right to his feet, and Swallen coolly put the ball into the back of the net for his fifth goal of the season. The No. 3 Blue Devils roared back to life, led by a masterful performance from sophomore Thor Ulfarsson. Ratcheting up the pressure, Duke penetrated deeper and deeper into Wake Forest territory, ultimately winning a dangerous free kick on the edge of the Deacs’ box in the 30th minute. Ulfarsson stepped up and curled a phenomenal right footed effort into the
top corner past the reach of freshman goalkeeper Trace Alphin to level the score. Minutes later, the Icelander was at it again. This time he waded through the Deacon defense toward the edge of the box, and once there, received a pinpoint pass before deftly placing the ball past Alphin. Ulfarsson’s dominance was not a fate experienced solely by the Deacs — the sophomore striker has scored in all but three matches this season. Undoubtedly one of the most dominant attackers in college soccer, combining pace and finishing prowess, Ulfarsson has scored 13 goals in just 12 appearances. Duke never took their foot off the gas, forcing costly Wake Forest turnovers and threatening the Deacs’ goal throughout the rest of the match. Yet, just before half, the Deacs drew level when junior Nico Benalcazar powered a header past the Duke keeper off a corner kick. Refereeing inconsistencies defined much of the rest of the match, beginning with what appeared to be a hard foul against junior Omar Hernandez. The midfielder was clattered with what seemed like a textbook foul, and the tackle ultimately knocked the key playmaker out for the remainder of the game with a knee injury. Later in the second half, freshman Julian Kennedy was brought down after storming past his defender, only for the referee to once again rule that no foul had occurred, despite the increasingly vocal Deacon protests. Duke snatched a late-winner when Jai Bean scored his first collegiate goal in the 77th minute. The Deacs attempted to come back, but were continually frustrated by a staunch Blue Devils
defense. Freshman Babacar Niang was sent off late after picking up a second yellow card, leaving the Deacs with only 10 men as the match drew to a close. Barring an unfortunate and unlucky turn, Wake Forest hopes their resumé will grant them the chance to return to
the NCAA tournament. If so, the Demon Deacons certainly have the history and ability to surprise teams and go deep in the tournament. The team will learn if they have that chance when the NCAA Tournament teams are announced on Nov. 15.
Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics
The men’s soccer team will find out if they have a chance at the NCAA crown during the selection show on Nov. 15 at 1 p.m.
Page 12| Thursday, November 11, 2021
Old Gold & Black | Sports
Men’s basketball bests Winston-Salem State Wake Forest’s next two opponents: William & Mary and then Western Carolina BY CHRISTIAN ODJAKJIAN Staff Writer odjact18@wfu.edu
The Wake Forest men’s basketball team cruised to an 88-56 victory over Winston-Salem State on Friday in the Tip-Off Classic exhibition game. “Thanks to Winston-Salem State for playing tonight,” Wake Forest Head Coach Steve Forbes said to the media after the game. “It was awesome to get underneath the lights and play again in front of our fans in the arena.” There were approximately 1,200 fans in attendance for the exhibition contest. The Deacs led 45-26 at halftime, and the contest was never really in question. The Rams shot 21-of-62 (34%) from the field, while the Deacs put together a 30-of-59 (51%) shooting performance, including 10-of-25 (40%) from threepoint range. “We shared the ball pretty well,” Forbes said. “We had 18 assists on 30 baskets. That’s the way we like to play.” There were many encouraging debut performances, but standing out from the rest of the group are transfers Jake LaRavia and Alondes Williams. LaRavia put together a 16-point, 10-rebound doubledouble, while also adding four assists, four blocks and a steal in 27 minutes of play. Williams scored 16 points himself and recorded a number of assists, blocks and steals.
Guard Carter Whitt carried over his hot shooting from the end of last season, scoring 12 points on perfect shooting from the field, including 3-3 from beyond the arc. Graduate transfer Khadim Sy added 12 more points while chipping in six rebounds and three assists. In the first public glimpse of this year’s Demon Deacons group, there is definitely a lot to be excited about. Compared to last season, this roster offers more depth, athleticism and shooting ability. It’s still a young team, and there are a number of new pieces that might take time to mesh together, but fans have reason to believe that year two under Forbes will be a step in the right direction. On Friday, Wake Forest pushed the ball in transition, threw down some easy dunks, and shot a lot of threes. This year’s team should have a very similar style to Forbes’ teams at East Tennessee State. One concern from the season debut was the number of turnovers. The Deacs gave the ball away 14 times against a team that will probably be the weakest defense they face all season. “I thought Winston-Salem State played really hard, they played scrappy, and they played with quick hands,” Forbes said. “The turnover situation was going in the right direction until we subbed late, and those guys didn’t take care of the ball. That will be a precursor to playing time, as will being able to defend and rebound.” The Demon Deacons looked great in this game, but the vast difference in height and talent make it difficult to learn much about this year’s squad from this one game.
On Oct. 30, ACC rival Duke beat Winston-Salem State 106-38, displaying the clear inferiority of the Division II school along with the dominance of one of Wake Forest’s in-state rivals. Winston Salem State struggled from the free throw line shooting 8-of-17 (47.1%). Wake Forest also managed to finish the game with a 47-31 edge on the glass.
“All in all, we had a lot of guys that played tonight and we got out of it what we needed to get out of it,” Forbes said in summation. The 2021-22 regular season officially begins for the Deacs on Wednesday, Nov. 10 at the Joel against William & Mary. The contest will tip off at 7 p.m. On Friday, Wake Forest will face off against Western Carolina.
Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics
Junior forward Jake LaRavia scored 16 points and added 10 rebounds for the double-double. Graduate transfer Alondes Williams also added 16 points.
Field hockey ends season with tough loss After losing to North Carolina in the regular season, the Deacs once again fell by a goal BY JAKE STUART Staff Writer stuaja20@wfu.edu
There’s something about the Tar Heel blue and white against the Demon Deacon gold and black. It’s a rivalry that spans countless sports, one that has been fought for ages. This doesn’t change when it comes to field hockey. Both ACC and NCAA field hockey run through North Carolina. The Tar Heels won their ninth ACC championship in 2021 — their third trophy in as many years — and tied the most trophy wins in NCAA field hockey history. No matter the year, one can always count on the matchup to be between two highly-touted — and highly ranked — programs. These teams have squared off six times in the past two years, with the two games prior to Thursday’s being decided by a single goal. The former of those two games was a 3-2 doubleovertime heartbreaker in last year’s ACC tournament which ended the Deacons 2020 campaign. The Tar Heels, a perennial powerhouse, were ranked No. 1 at the time.
Ahead of the game, there was no question that it would provide yet another exuberant chapter in a long and storied series. The Demon Deacons field hockey team — winless against the Tar Heels since 2017 — looked to turned the tide on Thursday, their first round of ACC tournament play. This time around, the No. 21 Demon Deacons struck first and fast when Meike Lanckohr sent a ball into the top of the circle that sophomore Maggie Dickman put into the net. The Louisville, Ky. native notched her seventh goal of the season — a career-high — just three minutes into the match. She is second on the team in goals this season. North Carolina tied the score at one in the second period off the stick of ACC star Erin Matson, but Wake Forest was not done. Just 24 seconds later, freshman Ashley Hart dove into the circle and found the back of the net. The newcomer was given the Best Female Athlete award for the class of 2021 at The Governor’s Academy. She was also ranked a top-50 player in the country by MAX Field Hockey in 2021. The Demon Deacons maintained their one-goal lead heading into the fourth period of play. Fans watched eagerly as
the Tar Heels pressed forward. It was Matson who once again found paydirt with ten minutes left, her goal eventually forcing overtime. North Carolina didn’t look back, as Cassie Sumfest scored on the second short corner of the period. Alas, for the second time in as many seasons, the Tar Heels provided the fatal blow to the Demon Deacons’ season. “We had ourselves prepared for this tournament,” said Wake Forest Head Coach Jennifer Averill after the game. “It’s a difficult pill to swallow, but I am unbelievably proud that we saved the best hockey for our last game.” Despite facing top talent this year — nine ranked opponents and six among the Top 10 — the Demon Deacons found plenty of success. They opened the season No. 11 in the country and went 6-5 in out-of-conference play. Additionally, Wake Forest boosted its resume after topping a pair of ranked opponents, No. 17 Duke and No. 21 UMass. The ACC consistently boasts premier programs, and while Wake Forest went 1-5 in conference play this season, the team proved that they can hang with the best. For her efforts, Lanckohr received first-team All-ACC honors this season, and Nat Freidman earned second-team
All-ACC. Six seniors — Abby Carpenter, Olivia Corthals, Elisha Evans, Grace Sambrook, Laia Vancells and Eleanor Winants — were honored against Boston College in the team’s final regularseason game. Wake Forest was not selected for the NCAA Tournament, thus ending their 2021 campaign.
Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics
The one-goal loss marks the end of the season for the Demon Deacons.
Sports | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, November 11, 2021 | Page 13
Several top teams fall in Week 10 of CFB Purdue upset Michigan State on Nov. 6, marking the Spartans’ first loss of the season BY IAN STEFFENSEN Staff Writer stefip21@wfu.edu
Week 10 of the college football season was not without its fair share of drama and heartbreak. While I am pretty sure all of us are still trying to emotionally come to terms with Wake Forest’s loss to UNC, plenty of other teams suffered even more disappointing fates. On Tuesday, the College Football Playoff Selection Committee released its first rankings of the year, with Georgia, Alabama, Michigan State and Oregon currently holding the four playoff spots. The Michigan State Spartans marched into West Lafayette, Ind. on a high. The Spartans were No. 3 in the nation thanks to their resounding comeback victory against in-state rival No. 6 Michigan. Yet, Purdue once again proved that they could never be counted out, as they played spoiler to another Big Ten team with playoff aspirations. The Boilermakers thrashed Iowa on their home turf several weeks prior, and carried that momentum into this matchup. Purdue’s quarterback Aidan O’Connell threw for 536 yards and three touchdowns, and wide receiver David Bell was able to take full advantage of the Spar-
tans’ lackluster defense and reel in 217 receiving yards and one score. Michigan State had no answer for the passing attack, or really any of Purdue’s tricks for that matter. Late in the second quarter, the Boilermakers ran a double reverse flea flicker and scored, firmly swinging the momentum in their favor. Former Demon Deacon running back Kenneth Walker III had 156 total yards and one touchdown for the Spartans as he continued to bolster his Heisman hopes. Michigan State’s resounding loss, could have major implications for the Big Ten title race and the playoff picture. Michigan State faces Big Ten powerhouses No. 6 Ohio State and No. 23 Penn State in their final two matchups, so time will tell if the Spartans are able to bounce back and salvage their season. One of the major shockers in Tuesday’s rankings was Cincinnati’s placement. The Bearcats were ranked No. 2 by the AP poll, and, despite defeating Notre Dame earlier this season, the committee dropped the hammer on strength of schedule and ranked them No. 6. Saturday’s matchup against Tulsa was a major setback for Cincinnati, as their playoff chances continue to dwindle. In the game’s final minute, Bearcats’ quarterback Desmond Ridder fumbled on a QB sneak, giving life to Tulsa yet again. With a chance to punch it in on fourth-and-one, Tulsa running back Steven Anderson reached for the promised land, but ended up fumbling it into the
endzone. Cincinnati recovered the ball and thus ended the game. While Cincinnati’s defense stepped up in the contest’s biggest moments to secure the win, the stakes are higher for the team now more than ever. In order to secure a spot in the playoff, Cincinnati must perform like a playoff team week in and week out, as this ending will certainly not help their playoff cause. No. 13 Auburn and No. 14 Texas A&M squared off in a defensive showdown in College Station. The only touchdown of the game was a 24-yard fumble return scoop-and-score that came early in the fourth quarter. The rest of the game was marked by field goals and defensive stands. Texas A&M continued its four game winning streak after shocking previous No 1. Alabama in a game for the ages a few weeks ago. This was a statement SEC West victory for the Aggies, and significantly improves their chances of making a New Year’s Six bowl game. If Alabama suffers a second in-conference loss in their remaining matchups, the Aggies have a direct path to the SEC Championship. But, now with two losses on the season, we will have to wait and see how the committee decides their fate. The Hawkeyes were finally able to bounce back. After losing to Purdue and Wisconsin, Head Coach Kirk Ferentz’ squad tumbled in the rankings. Ranked as high as No. 2 in the AP poll, it seems as though all the hype finally got to their head. Luckily, Iowa was able to right the
ship, albeit with a different captain at the wheel. Sophomore quarterback Alex Padilla came in late in the first quarter to replace the injured Spencer Petras. Padilla led two drives, which both ended in touchdowns, in the first half against a struggling Northwestern team. While it certainly was not a statement win against the 3-6 Wildcats, Iowa snapped a twogame losing streak. Ferentz says Petras’ injury is not that major, but it will be interesting to see if there is a QB battle brewing in Iowa City. Alabama’s sloppy play in all three phases of the game made for a nailbiter in Tuscaloosa. The LSU Tigers are not having their best season by any stretch of the imagination, which is part of the reason Head Coach Ed Orgeron agreed to part ways with the team despite hoisting the CFP trophy just two seasons ago. Alabama quarterback and Heisman hopeful Bryce Young threw for 302 yards and two touchdowns, but a careless fumble gave LSU a fighting chance. The game was closer than it should have been in the fourth quarter thanks to errors on Alabama’s special teams. Nick Saban must iron out these mistakes within the team if he hopes to make a run for the National Championship in several weeks’ time. This performance will not hurt the Crimson Tide, as their place in the playoff is all but secured, barring another loss. Nonetheless, sloppy play must be eliminated if they hope to repeat as champions.
At 8-1, Sam Hartman won’t stop working Unselfish play propelled the Deacons, its abandonment led to their unraveling in Week 9 BY WILL ZIMMERMAN Online Managing Editor zimmwj19@wfu.edu
To defeat the Tar Heels in front of their home crowd at Kenan Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman knew there was little room for error. If the Demon Deacons wanted to roll out of Chapel Hill the same way they rolled in — undefeated — mistakes would have to be minimized, mental lapses few and far between. To stay perfect on the season, Hartman and his Demon Deacons would have to play a near-perfect game. In football as in life, though, there’s no such thing as perfect. “We’ve got to be unselfish to go from good to great,” Hartman had said several days prior to the loss at UNC, Wake Forest’s first of the season. “[For our team], putting the ‘we’ before the ‘me’ has [and will continue to] play a huge part in our successes.” Through the Deacons first eight games of the season, unselfish players making unselfish plays enabled the team to attain unprecedented levels of achievement; during their rout of the Duke Blue Devils at Truist Field the weekend prior, those efforts were evident on nearly every snap. “Look at Christian Beal-[Smith] — he’s our number one running back, but he’s also a starter on the kickoff team,”
Hartman said. “Last week [against Army], he ran down like 10 kickoffs … he’s going full speed, making plays, taking guys on like it’s nothing.” The quarterback continued: “Beal could be like ‘I’m the starting running back, I’m not going to give it my all on special-teams, and maybe they’ll take me off.’ But, he knows that’s a huge phase of the game, it could win us the game … that’s unselfishness.” On Saturday at Kenan Memorial, though, the story was a different one. Unsportsmanlike conduct and holding penalties abound — a 45-27 Wake Forest lead with under eight minutes remaining in the third quarter evaporated into a tie game only five minutes into the fourth. For all the unbelievable throws and equally unbelievable catches, on more than one occasion, the team looked unfocused: errant passes fell short of their intended targets and balls bounced off the hands of wide-open receivers. Most consequentially, defenders committed inexcusable infractions — “dumb penalties,” as the redshirt senior Luke Masterson calls them — after the play had ended, leaving the door open to a Tar Heel comeback. After the game, a humbled Hartman reflected on the team’s first loss since last year’s bowl game “I made a lot of mistakes that really killed our chances to win today,” he said. “Playing an offense like that with a quarterback like that … you can’t give them that many opportunities.” Though his game wasn’t perfect, it’s hard to lay much blame on Hartman.
The redshirt sophomore threw two interceptions, but otherwise, it was another career day in a season that’s been chock-full of them: 25 completions on 51 attempts, 398 yards and seven total touchdowns — a Kenan Memorial Stadium record. Still, because the Deacs didn’t come out with a win, Hartman bears responsibility. He’s the one under center and so the buck starts and ends with him. That comes with the job, it always has. “It’s a fragile game,” Hartman said. “I can be the king of the world one week and the laughingstock of college football the next.” The ebbs and flows of football, of stardom, are familiar to the selfproclaimed “fourth-year sophomore.” But with the unprecedented successes of this season — including the highest ranking in program history (No. 9, as of Week 8) — the light on Hartman has never shone so bright.
“Trying to keep a level head is difficult with all these different accolades coming in,” he said. “People tend to look at me and say ‘Oh, he’s playing so well, he’s living great,’ but there’s pressure and there’s moments of anxiety [that come with that] … I’m fighting [those feelings] every day.” Prior to the season, Hartman began regularly attending therapy sessions. Now, he’s up to two a week. “Through therapy, [I better understand] the emotions that I feel throughout a day and can exercise better control,” Hartman said. “A younger me [didn’t have the skills to do that].” The mountain of accolades will continue to grow for the quarterback who now ranks among the top 10 nation-wide in nearly every passing category. Still, there is only one thing on his mind. It’s not a piece of hardware. It’s not a nomination — it’s “going 1-0 next week.”
Photo courtesy of Will Zimmerman
Saturday’s game against UNC left Demon Deacon fans heartbroken. Despite the loss, the fate of the team’s season is still in Hartman’s hands.
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OLD GOLD & BLACK
Satire | Responding to the Haters
How I remain tenacious in my workplace My emotional journey of growth following months of ridicule and bullying BY SELINNA TRAN Life Editor transn19@wfu.edu
I do not even know where to get started with Online Managing Editor Will Zimmerman, a staff member who I once looked up to. A supposed guide and executive member that set an example of kindness simply laughed in my face at the idea. Nevertheless, despite the nay-sayers and despite the disapproval of my heroes, I persevered and released a second article in re-
For many looking in, working at the Old Gold & Black seems like a fun job. There is a display of community and camaraderie that seems almost too good to be true. Well, that's because it is. When I first joined, I was happy to be a part of an organization in which the members were focused on empowering each other's voices. My dreams were soon crushed when I released an article sharing my love of warm cheesecake with the world. Print Managing Editor and alleged "friend", Ben Conroy, sneered in disgust at the concept and straight up told me I was crazy. Editor-In-Chief, a leader who I believed to be just and kind, Alexandra Karlinchak, looked at me with such disdain that I felt ashamed for my opinions.
taliation to the haters. Again, I was appalled by the reaction that I received from my coworkers and the people that I looked up to. A place of supposed free thought and respect for others' opinions seemed to be lost when it came to the idea of warm cheesecake. If there was anything that was to be gained from this experience, it was the growth of tenacity and strength within me. I would not let them tear me down for simply holding an opinion, especially one that they disregarded without ever trying. Later in the semester, I released a subsequent article sharing my love for flat soda, a delectable treat. I was hoping that this would be met with some kinder remarks, and perhaps, a display of empathy from my peers. I was wrong. Sports Editor Essex Thayer was the most adamant of them all in his intense disapproval of my dietary habits. A co-worker, a peer, a person I considered to be my friend laughed and made jokes at my expense. At the end of production nights, I would make the trek back to my place of residence Photo courtesy of Selinna Tran — the only thoughts that encompassed my Heartless "friend", Ben Conroy's reaction mind were a barrage of jokes, insults and rewhen confronted with warm cheesecake. marks made towards my food choices.
Photo courtesy of Selinna Tran
Essex Thayer is heated while imagining the disappointment of flat soda. It was during these times that I truly understood the protagonist of the film, "Joker", Joker. Perhaps, I am just a misfit. An outsider. However, I learned to push these thoughts down. I grew stronger from the words that they threw at me. We truly live in a society. And retaliating will only fuel the flames of the enemy. I learned to be tenacious and not allow the cruel and hateful words of those around me to drag me down. So, thank you, Old Gold & Black. You helped me grow as a person.
Film | "The French Dispatch"
Anderson triumphs in new film, "The French Dispatch" Iconic director Wes Anderson releases a masterful picture with "The French Dispatch" BY ADAM COIL Asst. Life Editor coilat21@wfu.edu When I walked into Aperture Cinema last Thursday night, I carried with me astronomical expectations. I mean, Timothée Chalamet, Saoirse Ronan, Willem Dafoe, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, Francis McDormand, Tilda Swinton and more, all in one movie — how could it not be amazing? I knew I was going to be treated to wonderful acting, colorful set design, symmetrical shots, and quirky characters, but I did not foresee being impacted by the movie in the ways I was. “The French Dispatch” is Wes Anderson’s latest film. Set in the aptly named fictional town of Ennui, the film follows a cast of unorthodox journalists and their stories in the wake of the death of their Editor in Chief, played by Bill Murray. What emerges is a video scrapbook. The stories that these journalists write are brought to life, and we see them interact with the people they are writing about, sometimes becoming a part of their own narrative in the process. There is an introduction by Owen Wilson’s character, as he rides through Ennui, ruminating on how it has transformed over time. There is a story of an incarcerated art-
ist who falls in love with one of his guards and accidentally invents modern art. There is a tale of anarchy and chess — a studentled revolution that ends before it even starts. There is the journey of a chef and his heroics as he attempts to save a young boy from a kidnapping. All of these tales are set against the backdrop of "The French Dispatch" itself, enabling the writers to think about how they got their start at the company and their relationship with the Chief, to begin with. What I love about this movie, aside from all of the typical Wes-Andersonisms that make for a great viewing experience, is how it takes advantage of structure and formatting. It is not just about the stories being told, but how they are told and how they relate to one another. Anderson uses just about everything at his disposal — black and white; bright, bold coloring; cartoon animation and outlandish visual effects —
to create a picture that never stagnates or heeds to predictability Moreover, in viewing the pieces both in their individual forms and together as a greater whole, different meanings arise. Personally, I quickly began to see a pattern of loving in the wrong way, or for the wrong reasons, and the consequences that follow. I saw it in the Editor In Chief, as he continued to believe in his writers to the detriment of the paper; in Moses, the painter, as his unreturned desire for the woman who kept him in captivity led him down selfdestructive paths; in Frances McDormand’s character, Fabian, who struggles to “maintain journalistic neutrality” while falling in love with Zeffirelli, the face of the student rebellion. It really became clear to me, though, in the final chapter, as I watched the chef consistently sacrifice and endanger himself to save a child and win the favor of
Photo courtesty of IMDB
In the final moments of the film, the staff of The French Dispatch ruminate on the life of their Chief, Arthur Howitzer Jr.
his group. This story is especially poignant because the journalist who covers the story (and the chef, himself, are foreigners to Ennui) They so desperately want to be accepted in the land that they love, and so they are willing to do anything. Anderson left me the indefatigable feeling of helplessness that accompanies someone who knows that their love is unrequited, and at times, unwelcomed, but is nonetheless unable to alter the trajectory of their life. I found the closing scene especially poetic because it was not until the Editor In Chief dies and is laying stiff in his office that the people who worked for him began to acknowledge all that he had done for them. Perhaps truly appreciating people who remain important characters in our lives is impossible. Perhaps we tend to appreciate the people we shouldn’t. My favorite of Anderson’s extensive filmography has firmly remained “The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou” (except for when it was “The Grand Budapest Hotel”). This, however, has changed. “The French Dispatch” is Anderson’s funniest, most ambitious and most creative project yet, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me on a second, and third watch. If you haven’t seen any of Anderson’s films, I would recommend checking out “The Grand Budapest Hotel” or “The Fantastic Mr. Fox”. If you have, I think you’ll find “The French Dispatch” to be a clever and cathartic expansion on the style you’ve come to know and love.
Life | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, November 11, 2021 | Page 15
Drinks |Elisabeth's Bar Review
Reviewing Tate's Craft Cocktails THE HOT LIST The first edition of a bar review column covering the local bars of Winston Salem, 21-plus! BY ELISABETH KUGURU Staff Writer kuguea19@wfu.edu Welcome to my first-ever edition of Bar Review. For the record this has nothing to do with the law school and everything to do with alcohol, so 21-plus only, please. Every Thursday, I will visit different bars in Winston-Salem and then give you all my honest opinions as a student who has recently turned 21 and is new to the bar scene. I will judge these bars based on drinks and ambiance, with a final rating at the end. This week I visited Tate’s Craft Cocktails. It is a small bar on Fourth Street, a classic in the area. I heard about their great cocktails, which seem to be a staple for a lot of bartenders in Winston-Salem. I arrived at the fairy-lit bar at around 8:45 p.m. When I sat at the bar, I was promptly greeted by a very friendly bartender and, of course, I ordered their most popular drink.
Drinks: I ordered the Tate’s Gimlet which was $12. Although this drink was rather expensive, I found it very well balanced. The Gimlet was icy and garnished with a cucumber slice. It had the perfect balance of both sweet and sour and was overall extremely refreshing. The next drink I ordered was off their Tiki Menu: the Painkiller. It was basically a piña colada with orange juice. The drink was yellow and frothy, garnished with an orange slice and a mini umbrella. To be frank, I hated this drink. It was way too sweet for my liking and very rum-forward. If I went back, I would definitely stick to the classic drinks because that is clearly more up their alley. Upon telling the bartender all of this, she made me a new drink off the menu. She made the same Tate’s Gimlet with no ice and a spritz of absinthe and mint — absolutely amazing additions. The mint rounded out the flavor of the drink perfectly, and I would definitely ask for this drink if I returned. Lastly, I drank a pickleback shot, which is essentially just a shot followed by pickle juice (which is hydrating and helps with next-day hangovers). This time the bartender had me try hot sauce followed by
&
the shot and then the pickle juice. I would definitely recommend it if you are feeling ambitious.
THE TOP TEN WORST U.S STATES
Ambiance: Overall, the bar gave me speakeasymeets-tiki vibes. One of the bartenders I spoke to described it as the nicest dive bar or the diviest nice bar. That assessment is spot-on, as soft rock played and a disco ball spun above the draft beers. I felt safe and the bathrooms were also clean and stocked with hairbands, mints and tampons. The bartender’s kindness and attentiveness just added to the bar’s general coziness.
By Adam Coil
Final Rating: I would rate this bar experience as an 8/10. The customer base was friendly and you can tell that the bartenders all enjoy working there. The drinks were generally very solid, although I would steer clear of the Tiki menu if you are not into sweet drinks. The ambiance was very relaxing. The cocktails are on the pricier side, but I would say any of their classic drinks are well worth the money. If you want a quaint night to meet some friendly people and drink some quality beverages I would definitely recommend Tate’s Craft Cocktails. Don’t forget to tip well!
Music|Alternative Indie
Five albums to add to your repertoire These five alternative indie albums are iconic and encompass the beauty of the genre BY SOFIA BAZANT Contributing Writer bazasb20@wfu.edu
The alternative indie side of the music industry has produced countless incredible songs over the last five years that have earned a special place in my heart. Five specific albums come to mind as collections that will never get old. 1. THE 1975 — “I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it” This profound second studio album by The 1975 features poetic lyrics addressing human nature and relationships and the controversial politics of the modern world through versatile hits. The English indie rock band earned the sixth spot on NME’s Best Albums of the Decade, and deservedly so. Each song, written by lead singer Matthew Healy, leaves receptive listeners with meaningful lyrics, while also evoking a distinct infusion of ambient and disco along with mixed paced tracks and interludes. Now, I wouldn’t be able to write about these incredible albums without offering my personal opinion on the best tracks. Between the thought-provoking lyrics and colorful beats, I denote the following five songs as the most beautifully crafted tracks on the album: “A Change of Heart”, “She’s American”, “This Must Be My Dream”, “Paris” and “Somebody Else”.
2. HALSEY — “Badlands” Halsey created the lyrical masterpiece of "Badlands", which landed a second place on the Billboard Top-200 within a year of its release. The iconic concept album uncovers themes of love, rebellion and darkness in a collection of emotional tracks about the dystopian society of The Badlands. The alternative indie album echoes the darker-sounding production of Chase Atlantic and similar artists like the Neighbourhood. Five years after its release, I continue listening to this album on repeat. Here are my top songs: “Coming Down”, “Drive”, “Young God”, “Ghost” and “Hurricane”. 3. CHASE ATLANTIC — “Chase Atlantic” The Chase Atlantic album takes inspiration from artists such as The 1975 and The Weeknd and alternative indie artists such as the Neighbourhood and Tame Impala. Rhythm guitarist and vocalist Christian Anthony spoke on behalf of Chase Atlantic for the thought behind their unique sound, saying, “I feel like our music is a bit left of reality, it’s almost a dreamlike state” in a 2017 ThomasBleach interview. The dream state effect of Chase Atlantic tracks makes the album a nighttime staple. The lyrics prompt deeper conversations regarding drugs, mental health and relationships through metaphorical lines, and thus categorize the album with a similar (yet darker-sounding) vibe to that of The 1975.
4. TURNOVER — “Peripheral Vision” “Peripheral Vision” is a vastly underrated multi-influence album by the American indie rock band Turnover. It holds a nostalgic tone across its cohesive and similar-sounding vocals, which is accompanied by mesmerizing guitar instrumentals. The melodic LP encompasses a fresh, upbeat and serene set of tracks that explores the raw feelings associated with love, anxiety and memories. It all blends smoothly and echoes the calming sensations of The 1975's songs. Five songs I could not live without are “Cutting My Fingers Off”, “Dizzy on the Comedown”, “Like Slow Disappearing”, “I Would Hate You If I Could” and “Intrapersonal”. 5. EDEN — “End Credits” The concept album “End Credits” is a heartfelt and explosive project that EDEN produced from the bedroom of his childhood home. The powerful album examines human existence and love, and the intersection between the past, present and future in deeply meaningful lyrics that add dimension and nuance. The tracks feature snippets of spoken voice recordings and a mix of ominous and tranquil notes for an overall reflective dark alternative tone. While the ensemble of these five works of art can be categorized simply as alternative indie albums, I believe they all deserve a more definitive title. Listening to the tracks on repeat leads me to one simple and perfectly fitting description: timeless albums.
1. 2.
Ohio (as an Ohian, I was once called "corn boy")
West Virginia (objectively the worst, but imagine being called "corn boy")
3.
Wyoming (would be great, if it existed...)
4.
Michigan
5.
Oklahoma (boring)
6.
Arkansas (icky)
7.
New Jersey
8.
Nebraska (self-explanatory)
9.
Florida (no amount of beaches can justify what goes on there)
10.
Texas (George W. Bush)
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Look
Adam Coil
Photo courtesy of Selinna Tran
Page 16 | Thursday, November 11, 2021
Old Gold & Black | Life
Christina DeNovio Life Feature CHRISTINA’S LIFE, IN MOMENTS
LIFE EXEC INTERVIEWS CHRISTINA DENOVIO
A LETTER FROM MS. DENOVIO
On Monday, Nov. 8, the Life Editors sat down with Sports editor, Christina DeNovio in an attempt to acquire a better understanding of the great mind that is Ms. DeNovio. Below is our interview. Selinna Tran: If you could sum up your life in a few words, what would it be? Christina DeNovio: “Unlit, uncrazy, unmovie.” ST: In the past seven days, how many days have you woken up? CD: “Maybe five.” ST: Is there anything that you’d like to say to your fans? Photo courtesy of Christina DeNovio
Photo courtesy of Christina DeNovio
CD: “My fans, I love you all. I don’t know who you are. Maybe mom, are you there? You guys are the reason I wake up every morning. You know, I was sick this weekend and I thought to myself — I have to do it for my fans. Number one fan is Selinna. Number two fan is, I don’t know, Essex maybe. Also, my number three fan would be my mom, Alexandra Karlinchak. I am her number one fan actually.” ST: What is the greatest accomplishment of your life? CD: “Becoming the sports editor of the Old Gold & Black” (This is irony, by the way. Irony is a device used by many people who don’t tend to be that funny)
Photo courtesy of Adam Coil
Adam Coil: What gives you the idea that you deserve to be on page 16 of the Life section? How did you get this notion? You come into our territory and I just want to hear your explanation for that. CD: “I am your elder. I have been waiting very patiently for this day to come. I have been waiting all spring semester for a Christina feature. I never get the glory, I am the unsung hero of the Old Gold & Black.
THOUGHTS ON MS. DENOVIO?
NICOLE NAMATH Photo courtesy of Christina DeNovio
Essex Thayer: “Um. Can you give me like a few minutes?” “Christina DeNovio is the best sports editor the Old Gold and Black has. She’s way smarter, funnier, and overall better than the other one! I love her, she’s the best!” Adam Coil: “Yikes. *lets out a big sigh* Christina DeNovio is perhaps the ideal sports editor. She’s my favorite Kappa.” Josie Scratchard: “I don’t really know her.” Connor Mcneely: “Great basketball player. Great shoes.” Essex Thayer Pt. 2: “Her shoe game is on point.” Ben Conroy: “She’s the future.”
Photo courtesy of Christina DeNovio
Photo courtesy of Christina Denoivio