11/17/22 Full Edition

Old Gold&Black “Covers the campus like the magnolias”

VOL 109 , NO. 7

NOVEMBER 17, 2022

WA K E F O R E S T ’ S S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R S I N C E 1 9 1 6

Brad Jones steps down as graduate dean ELI LEADHAM Contributing Writer

Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Photo

Wake Forest students register to vote in Tribble Courtyard on National Voter Registration Day. Deacs Decide set up the table to help students register to vote during the early voting period.

Students react to North Carolina Senate race

Students share their thoughts on the Republican victory and express dissatisfaction with growing political polarization in the United States ASHLYN SEGLER Contributing Writer

As election results poured in late Tuesday night, the North Carolina midterm outcome elicited mixed reactions from students across campus.

With relevant and contentious issues like abortion access, inflation and climate policy at the forefront of this midterm, many Wake Forest students tuned into to watch the election results. Students reported receiving results from a variety of sources, with some coming together to host watch parties with friends and others simply tracking results through news and so-

cial media outlets.

In the final hours of election day, NBC news called the race for Republican Rep. Ted Budd’s defeat over Democrat Cheri Beasley for North Carolina’s seat in the Senate. The Associated Press followed suit soon thereafter.

For many, Budd’s victory was a relief.

“I’m glad North Carolina went red to keep the sides even in the election,” junior Taylor Wilkison said. “Since the executive branch is liberal, I defi-

nitely like to see more conservative representation in the House and Senate.”

Junior Jack Lewis said that he was not surprised by Budd’s win.

“Ted Budd was for the most part a good and uncontroversial conservative candidate who ran a solid campaign,” Lewis said.

Alternatively, many were concerned by the Republican victory, specifically for its implications for the future of abortion access.

See NC Midterms, Page 3

Brad Jones, dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, announced on Nov. 1 that he will step down on June 30 after 12 years in the position to go on a year-long research leave with the Wake Forest Department of Chemistry, where he was previously a faculty member.

Jones was a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry since 1989 and served as chair of the department for eight years. While in the department, Jones specialized in the emergence of new spectroscopic instruments used to identify and quantify the amounts of inorganic species in complex real mixtures.

Jones’ replacement, who will be selected by a search process, will also serve as Dean of the Undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences, according to a Nov. 3 announcement by the university.

Jones received his undergraduate degree in chemistry in 1984 from Wake Forest, where three of his children would later attend as undergraduates.

While serving as dean, Jones not only impacted the lives of many students but the Wake Forest community as a whole.

“I tried to enable others to make their own decisions,” Jones said. “We had a low-key but effective work environment, and we had a blast! Of course, we doubled graduate school enrollment, moved into off-campus spaces and launched Wake Forest’s first online program — online counseling now with an enrollment approaching 400.”

Jones’ also impacted the student body through his efforts to diversify the student population. Jones visited historically Black colleges and universities while on recruiting trips. During his tenure, the fraction of underrepresented minority students nearly tripled, and it is currently at just over 20%, according to Jones.

Provost Michele Gillespie shared that Jones has been a dedicated leader to the university and is supportive of his next steps.

“Jones is currently the longest-serving dean in the university, and so I am delighted he will be taking a well-deserved research leave in the next academic year, before returning to the Department of Chemistry to teach and continue his research,” Gillespie said. ”He is a consummate teacher-scholar and university citizen, and we are fortunate to have been able to benefit from his committed leadership.”

Contact Eli Leadham at leadey22@wfu.edu

What's Inside NEWS Wake Forest Debate wins Gonzaga tournament Page Three

ENVIRONMENT Brazillion election delivers change...

Page Five

FEATURES A look behind the scenes of Last Resort Page Seven

OPINION Ye's anti-semitism is inexcusable Page Nine

SPORTS Deacon Sportlight: Leo Guarino Page Thirteen

LIFE ‘TÁR’ is virtuosic Page Sixteen

Old Gold & Black “ UVA, We Stand With You This column represents the views of the Old Gold & Black Editorial Board

On Nov. 13, students from the University of Virginia rode a charter bus back from a field trip to see a play in Washington D.C. As they arrived back on campus, students talked about the play they just watched and bonded with their classmates. Then, tragedy struck as a gunman entered the bus. The shooting began at 10:15 pm, and the attack left three students dead, two injured and an entire community shocked.

After 12 hours of sheltering in place, UVA students – who were first notified of the attack with the words “RUN, HIDE, FIGHT” – were left in the wake of the most recent tragedy of gun violence in

the United States.

Three young men, all members of the Cavaliers’ football team, were murdered on Sunday night. The Old Gold & Black would like to use this space to remember them and to offer our sincere condolences to the victims of this senseless act and to the victims of gun violence across the nation. Our hearts are with you.

Devin Chandler was a junior from Huntersville, North Carolina and a transfer student from the University of Wisconsin. He played as a wide receiver and kick returner for the Cavaliers, a player the team could “always count on”.

Chandler’s high school football

coach, Adam Sykes, said in a statement that Chandler was “one of the happiest young men I ever had the privilege of knowing.”

D’Sean Perry, a junior from Miami, Florida, played linebacker.

Friends told CNN that outside of football, Perry enjoyed cooking, anime and art. His friends also commented on his fierce loyalty.

Virginia Head Coach Tony Eliott told CNN that Perry was a great teammate with a singular sense of humor.

Lavel Davis was a junior from Dorchester, South Carolina, who played wide receiver for the Cavaliers. According to CNN, a May 2022 video shows Davis talking

[We] would like to use this space to remember them and to offer our sincere condolences to the victims of this senseless act." about his enjoyment of Shakespeare, 90s movies and the Bible.

According to CNN, Eliott remembers Davis as a gentle giant who always “lit up the room”.

These three souls were taken from us too soon. May all three of them rest in peace, and may their memories be a blessing to those who knew and loved them.

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READ MORE ABOUT ELON MUSK AND YE WEST ON PAGE 9 OF THE OPINION SECTION

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News | Old Gold & Black

Thursday, November 17, 2022 | Page 3

NC Midterms: Election evokes diverse reactions Continued from Page 1 “I’m disappointed by the election results,” sophomore Audrey Knaack said. “I would think that North Carolina might be more interested in protecting women’s rights, and I was happy to see so many cities vote blue, but ultimately I was sad to see the entire state swing red.”

Junior Caroline Searcy was also disappointed that North Carolina did not go blue.

“I was really sad that Cheri Beasley did not win in North Carolina,” Searcy said. “I think it’s important that we get as many blue seats in the Senate as possible, especially

considering the overturning of Roe v. Wade. I think it’s really important that we codify Roe, and that can only happen with as many blue seats as possible.”

Beyond individual party affiliation, many students also expressed frustration with the increasingly polarized political landscape highlighted through the closely contested elections across the country, with North Carolina acting as a prime example.

“The long-run of American politics is where I am concerned,” junior Michael Metz said. “I am a registered Republican, but I think both parties have become too polar-

ized and fail to ever reach compromises. In the future, I just hope that more moderate politicians will run for office.”

Senior Drew Johnson also expressed dissatisfaction with political polarization.

“It is unfortunate to see the extreme nature both parties have taken when it comes to their respective policies,” Johnson said. “In my opinion, President Trump started this drastic polarization of the parties, and more left-wing Democrats have exacerbated it to a place I don’t know if we as a country can return from.”

Despite frustrations with polariz-

ing political trends as well as disappointing race results for some, many still understood the ultimate importance of their vote in this election.

“Although I was disappointed with some of the results, I was glad that I voted, especially seeing how close the election was in North Carolina,” senior Ava Sann said. “It really shows how every vote counts.”

Junior Abby Eakle added: “This midterm election demonstrated just how influential the young vote can be. Regardless of which party you affiliate with, voting is crucial.”

Contact Ashlyn Segler at seglal20@wfu.edu

Wake Forest Debate wins Gonzaga tournament Wake Forest debaters won both team and individual recognition ISABELLA ROMINE Staff Writer Wake Forest Debate seniors Ari Davidson and Ana Bittner took first place at the national 2022 Jesuit Debates tournament at Gonzaga University after defeating the University of Michigan in a 3-0 decision in Spokane, Washington on Oct. 31.

Wake Forest debaters also received individual recognition. Out of 164 debaters, junior Iyana Trotman was the top overall speaker and junior Tajaih Robinson was the second overall speaker. Davidson and Bittner were voted fourth and eighth place speakers, respectively. Neither Trotman or Robinson returned the Old Gold &

Black’s request for an interview.

Davidson and Bittner went undefeated during the tournament, beating debaters from top schools like Harvard, Georgetown and the University of Pennsylvania on their way to the final round.

This year’s policy debate resolution was whether the United States should grant legal rights to artificial intelligence, nature or nonhuman animal species. Individual teams could choose whether to keep their focus broad — such as arguing for giving rights to all of nature and challenging environmental exploitation — or narrow the resolution down to whatever degree they chose. Wake Forest is known for having a team that takes an especially

Photo courtesy of Wake Fores Debate

Senior debaters Ari Davidson and Ana Bittner took first place at the Jesuit Debates tournament at Gonzaga University on Oct. 31.

broad number of styles and approaches, one of the things Bittner says explains the team’s many accomplishments.

“If we didn’t have such an amazing team full of so many different people, we probably wouldn’t be as successful,” Bittner said. “We don’t have a lot of asymmetries because everyone brings what makes them special to the table.”

Davidson and Bittner’s resolution discussed a specific indigenous wilwd rice grain called manoomin, which is harvested by the Anishinaabe people in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada. In their affirmative approach, the pair argued that failing to grant manoomin legal rights is a form of cultural genocide and discussed problems with environmental policies that don’t take Indigenous perspectives into account.

Over the course of the three-day tournament, Bittner and Davidson won all six of their preliminary debate rounds.

At this stage, competitors argued for an affirmative approach to their own resolution in half their debates. In the other three debates, participants argued against their opponent’s resolution. If they can disprove the other team’s test case, they win the round.

After a perfect record in preliminary rounds, Bittner and Davidson advanced to elimination rounds. At one point, they even negated a version of their own affirmative case in the double octofinals, a round of sixteen matches between thirty-two remaining teams.

Bittner and Davidson have put years into preparing for this moment, beginning before they arrived at Wake Forest. Bittner began debating at age 15, and Davidson started in seventh grade.

During her time at Wake Forest, Davidson has previously won speaker awards — which evaluates the quality of debater’s presentation independent of wins or losses — and has also advanced to elimination rounds in several national tournaments. Bittner recently won a district tournament last spring when partnered with Robinson.

However, this victory marks both of their first ever national tournament wins.

Of her mindset going into the tournament, Bittner said: “I just wanted to have fun. I knew we would compete pretty well, but I don’t really guess about these things. I just focus on one round at a time. My mantra is zerozero after every debate, so that way I always focus on having fun with my best friend [Davidson], who I get to debate with.”

This tournament was not the first the pair has competed in together. The two were partners their sophomore year but have come back together for their senior year, a partnership both find rewarding.

When discussing what else contributed to their success, Bittner said: “Even the [Wake] teams that didn’t compete as far in the elimination debates came out to everyone’s preparation. We had freshmen competing in their third or fourth ever college debate helping us prepare every debate through the elimination rounds. That’s something that not a lot of teams do. The secret really is having that team support.”

Contact Isabella Romine at romiie21@wfu.edu

POLICE BEAT • • • • • • • •

An unknown subject damaged the victim’s vehicle on Student Drive by possibly keying. The report was filed at 3:19 p.m. on Nov. 8.

An unknown subject(s) removed the victim’s unsecured scotter at Davis Hall. The report was filed at 11:22 a.m. on Nov. 9.

An unknown subject(s) took victim’s comforter from dryer in laundry room in Angelou Hall. The report wsa filed at 8:08 p.m. on Nov. 11.

During a fire alarm, students were found to be in possession of open alcohol container in their room in South Hall. The report was filed at 8:19 p.m. on Nov. 11.

A student consumed seven to eight beers while at a fraternity house off campus. The report was filed at 3:16 a.m. on Nov. 12.

A student had consumed alcohol prior to going to the football game. The student was issued a state citation. The report was filed at 8:38 p.m. on Nov. 12.

During a fire alarm, a student was found to be in possession of an open and unopened alcohol container in their room in Bostwick Hall. The report was filed at 9:51 p.m. on Nov. 12.

Roommates in Poteat Hall assaulted each other during an argument. The report was filed at 7:33 p.m. on Nov. 13.

Page 4 | Thursday, November 17, 2022

Old Gold & Black | News

A look at voter turnout in Forsyth County in the 2022 midterm elections The voter turnout in Forsyth County was slightly below the statewide average, but some of those that did vote shared what drove them to the polls BELLA-ORTLEY GUTHRIE & YUSHUO WANG Staff Writers Jamaal Womble, 42, stood outside the brick building of the Malloy/Jordan East Winston Heritage Center Branch Library in Winston-Salem, NC. He was wearing a cap that blocked the setting sun out of his eyes as he passed out flyers for the Forsyth County Republican Party.

“Voting is important to me because as a Christian I’m supposed to keep up my community. If I don’t try to vote for the right people that’s going to be better for the community, I’m doing a disservice to myself and my fellow people,” said Womble, the son of the late state representative Larry Womble (D-71). “So I need to come on. I let my voice be heard to have some positive impact.”

The main issues that drove Womble out to vote were religious freedom and the freedom of speech.

“After the last election, it’s gone too radical, with too many voices being silenced. I like a more civil discourse and having more freedom of exchange of ideas. So that’s one of the things that I feel like we kind of lose in this current climate,” Womble said. “So I’m a Christian independent. I welcome all ideas, but with this climate, I think they don’t welcome all ideas as they claim to.”

A few minutes later, Julia Johnson, 24, walked out of the voting center donning a Wake Forest sweatshirt. She is new to Winston-Salem, having moved here to study at Wake Forest School of Law. For her, the contention over reproductive rights, mass incarceration, LGBTQ+ rights, human rights and health care brought her to the polls.

“It’s important to me specifically with what happened with Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization and all of the judicial seats. Also, there’s a woman running for District Attorney who is associated with my school program. So I really care about her and her election and stuff,” Johnson said.

Womble and Johnson are two out of the 133,270 voters who showed up to vote in Forsyth County on Election Day and during the early voting period, for a turnout of 49.4% of 269,937 registered voters. Turnout was slightly lower than in 2018, the last midterm election, when 52.5% of voters cast ballots. In the last presidential election of 2020, the voter turnout rate was 74.4%.

Richard Allen, 70, is a poll greeter for the Forsyth County Democratic Party. He spent the two weeks of early voting — from Oct. 20 to Nov. 5 — at the county government building downtown, dismayed by low turnout.

“For whatever reason people don’t think that they need to cover the midterms which cover local issues. However, local issues and state issues, all of them are important,” Allen said. “You can’t just get one position at the top and expect things to be better down here, unless you have checks and balances throughout the system.”

John Dinan, a professor of political science and international affairs at Wake Forest University, specializes in state politics and constitution. According to Dinan, the turnout in Forsyth County is slightly below the statewide average this year.

“Voter turnout may have been slightly reduced in Forsyth County compared with some other counties around the state because there were relatively few competitive state legislative elections in Forsyth County, compared with some other counties such as Wake County, which featured a number of heavily contested state legislative races and recorded a voter turnout level of 54.5%,” Dinan said in an email. “The general expectation is that heavily contested races and significant spending on TV ads in contested races play a big part in boosting voter turnout.”

Dan Rose, an assistant professor of sociology at Winston-Salem State University and a member of Crystal Towers United and Housing Justice Now, worked to provide residents of the apartment building on West Sixth Street with rides to

the polls. Rose noted that requests for rides were significantly down this election compared to the primary in May, when around 30 residents from Crystal Towers requested rides to the polls.

“Now here in the fall, we’ve done it again …

We’ve offered residents rides to the polls, and some did take advantage of it again this time, but not as many as in May during the primary,” Rose said.

Rose attributed this lack of voter turnout to a lack of candidates’ engagement with the Crystal Towers community as well as the fact that Housing Justice Now member Phil Carter ran in the primary but not in this general election.

“I don’t think any of the candidates from either party visited Crystal Towers or had volunteers canvassing Crystal Towers, so that folks would even know who these folks are that are running for office,” Rose said. “And I think there’s a real failure of our political leaders to even connect with voters like the ones that Crystal Towers and give them a little information about who they are, aside from all these crazy ads that you see on TV.” Beverly McFadden, who is retired from the Winston-Salem Department of Recreation and Parks and now plays drums with local bands, rode her gold Harley Davidson motorcycle to vote at the Rupert Bell Neighborhood Center Tuesday afternoon. She was interested in getting Denise Hartsfield elected as District Attorney as she admired Hartsfield for her work with young people. “I’ve seen what she’s doing in the neighborhood. I’ve seen her with these kids down here and she tells them they can dream,” McFadden said.

She came out to vote to elect candidates who can work across differences.

“I just want to keep things in a balance,” McFadden said. “Just because we disagree with one another doesn’t mean we can’t work together.”

Contact writers at ortlbs21@wfu.edu & wangy220@wfu.edu Aine Pierre and Professor Phoebe Zerwick contributed to reporting.

Bella Ortley-Guthrie / Old Gold & Black

Various signs promoting candidates running for local office are placed outside the Forsyth County Government Center, which served as an early voting site in downtown Winston-Salem.

ENVIRONMENT OLD GOLD & BLACK

Una Wilson, wilsui20@wfu.edu Asst. Addison Schmidt, schmac21@wfu.edu

PAGE 5 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2022

Una Wilson/ Old Gold & Black

Deforestation has ravaged the Amazon rainforest in most South American countries with a stake in the land, including Peru (above), Brazil, and Ecuador. Environmental experts predict that president-elect Lula will focus on decreasing logging in Brazil.

Brazilian election delivers change to the Amazon Wake Forest reacts to the outcome of the most recent presidential election in Brazil UNA WILSON Environment Editor

On the night of Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, Brazilians and environmentalists across the globe alike watched as former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva — known popularly as Lula — beat his far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil’s presidential election.

Lula, a 77-year old former metal worker, was president of Brazil from 2003 to 2010. After being imprisoned for a corruption scandal in 2018, his conviction was thrown out and Lula left jail early. He announced his plans to run for president immediately after leaving jail. Months later, at the midnight mark of Election Night, it was announced that Lula had won the race with 50.9 percent of the vote.

Lula’s win is pivotal for conservation of the Amazon rainforest, according to the Wake Forest University professor of Biology Dr. Miles Silman. Silman, who has conducted research in the Amazon, is the Associate Director of Science and Information Technology at the Amazon Scientific Innovation Center (CINCIA) in Peru.

“The Amazon crisis is not a local crisis. It is a global one.” said Silman in an interview earlier this fall.

Brazil holds approximately 60 percent of the Amazon, Silman explained. Due to its size, climate and sheer amount of trees, the Amazon sequesters a significant amount of the planet’s atmospheric carbon.

As humanity faces the impending threats of climate change, large carbon sinks like the Amazon are crucial to slowing their deleterious effects.

“In the Amazon and beyond, we are rapidly losing one of our most valuable weapons in the fight against climate change,” said Silman.

It has been estimated that 20% of the Amazon rainforest has disappeared in the last 50 years, according to National Geographic. Along with that loss of land is a tremendous loss of species, from plants and animals to fungi and microbial communities. Genetic variation within these forest ecosystems is what makes them resilient to things like plague, drought, pests, and most importantly, to climate change.

Concerns over Amazon conservation in Brazil deep-

ened in 2019 when Jair Bolsonaro came into power.

During the first three years of Bolsonaro’s presidency alone, over 12,800 square miles of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest were cleared, marking a 60% increase from the three years prior.

“Throughout his term, Bolsonaro actively worked against any efforts to conserve the rainforest.” said Wake Forest professor Justin Catanoso, who also writes environmental news stories for Mongabay and attended the United Nations Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland last fall. “He stripped environmental enforcement measures, reduced government spending for science and environmental agencies,

fired environmental experts from his consultants, pushed to weaken Indigenous land rights, and invested most of his support into the agribusiness and mining industries, both of which are responsible for the majority of the deforestation in the Amazon.”

Now that Lula has regained power, both Brazilian citizens and environmentalists are optimistic about the future of global rainforest conservation.

“Lula knows that the Amazon doesn’t just belong to Brazil– it belongs to the rest of the world too,” Catanoso said. “Brazil has the lion’s share of the Amazon rainforest– it needs to be protected and managed in a careful way. I think Lula is going to be the pivot in conservation that his country– and the rest of the world– needs.”

Expectations of Lula’s dedication to conservation for his future term are high because of his strong clampdown on deforestation during his previous presidency. However, Lula has also received criticism

from environmentalists and citizens for his displacement of 40,000 people to construct the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam in the northern state of Para, which dried large portions of the Xingu River and impacted Indigenous and other communities who relied on it for food.

“Although Lula was certainly better for the Amazon and Indigenous communities than Bolsonaro, there were still major places of lack of oversight under his presidency.” said Rafael Lima, a Wake Forest School of Business fellow. Lima received the Pulitzer Center Student Fellowship Grant in 2019, which he used to study indigenous land use in Brazil. “But in terms of managing the country as a whole? It would be hard to do worse than Bolsonaro did.”

As a citizen of Brazil, Lima said that although neither he nor his friends and family are experts in environmental or sustainability-related issues, it doesn’t take one to know that Bolsonaro’s Brazil was rockbottom for rainforest conservation.

“As a Brazilian citizen and as someone who is concerned about the current climate crisis, I believe Lula is going to try to take some of our nation’s international leadership back.” Lima said. “It’s a feeling that I haven’t had in ages about my country. I feel as if we are rising back to our feet after a very very long battle.”

Lima’s predictions are already coming to fruition.

Despite not formally taking office until next year, Lula was invited to this year’s UN Climate Summit, COP 27, in Egypt, and will attend the event on Wednesday, Nov. 15th.

“It’s not just Brazilians– other countries are excited too, which is a huge shift from the palpable fear and anxiety foreign diplomats were expressing about Bolsonaro’s environmental deregulation at the last COP.” Catanoso said. “In his victory speech on the night he was elected, Lula emphasized repeatedly that he would focus his energy foremost on the Amazon. For the future of biodiversity, of climate change, of our planet– that is incredible.”

Contact Una Wilson at wilsui20@wfu.edu Graphics by Caroline Suber/ Old Gold & Black

Page 6 | Thursday, November 17, 2022

Old Gold & Black | Features

Meet the World Tea Society!

The club has become a common thread joining different campus groups BREANNA LAWS Staff Writer

Sitting around a picnic table…Under a tent…

On the f loors of residence halls or tucked away in a lounge — a special community is brewing.

This community is the Wake Forest World Tea Organization.

Senior William Liu founded the club after developing a passion for the many cultures behind tea during the pandemic. He identifies as a Chinese-Canadian individual and found himself wanting to learn more about this niche after his mother took him to several teahouses while in China.

“I was really inspired by the aesthetics of the environment, and the type of people…at these teahouses,” he says. “They would stay there for the entire afternoon and play games and chat.”

Inspired by the way these places brought people together and fostered community, Liu decided to bring this tradition to Wake Forest.

“It all started on the idea of bringing people together over tea,” he said.

This idea came into reality for many students.

Celina Seo, a sophomore member, has found great pleasure in taking part in sessions. “It’s so great that Will’s vision became…a community,” Seo said.

Additionally, Liu wanted to spread the joys of tea to campus so that others may grow to love the thing that became a passion for him. Being a Chinese Canadian, Liu mentions how he felt he was always exploring cultural boundaries, and he was hopeful that bringing this organization to life would spread cultural awareness and education to students.

“The tea itself just [gives you] an amazing feeling,” he said. “[It’s] beyond what you get with coffee — more sustaining and more relaxing.”

Roxie Ray, a senior member of the group,

Photo Courtesy of worldteawfu on Instagram

Tea Club provides, drinks, cups, and community, all you have to bring is yourself.

Photo Courtesy of worldteawfu on Instagram

Members of the club sip tea at High Climate Tea, a teahouse in Asheville, on Nov. 6. They also visited Dobra Tea, a nearby teahouse in the same city.

has been with Liu through this whole tea jour- to host “Yoga and Tea.” ney.

The organization has collaborated with the “At first it was just me, Will and his roommate Asian Student Interest Association, the Chinese Crawford brewing tea in dorm rooms,” Ray said. Culture Club and other organizations here on “It’s since exploded into one of the largest clubs campus. Liu says the purpose of these partneron campus with an extensive executive team” ships is to “use tea as a way to relate or accomThe organization itself hosts multiple tea ses- modate the topic that they are into.” sions a week on a sign-up basis — limiting sesThe group has also partnered with the anthrosions to a smaller quantity of pology department, which participants. According to Liu, one of Liu’s home departI’ve seen many friend- isments. this lets members connect with Here, they give talks each other on a more personal ships formed in our to anthropology students level. about how tea relates to othThe sessions can draw upon club, and it connects so er cultures. many different cultures. Some many people across difThough he is graduating sessions in the past have includnext Spring, Liu hopes to ed Persian teas, Japanese teas, ferent campus groups” see the tea club continue Matcha ceremonies, Chai and to grow in his absence. He Gongfu — a Chinese tea prachas spent much of this year tice that means “brewing tea with time and ef- focusing on establishing a solid organizational fort.” structure for the club to operate on.

“A lot of freshmen tend to find a lot of their “In order for an organization to truly thrive, friend group through coming to sessions,” Liu the organization itself and the members who besaid. “That was not part of the plan, but it was long to it have to all be aligned,” Liu said. very nice to see.”

As far as himself, he plans on staying involved “I’ve seen many friendships formed in our club, in this community even after graduation. and it connects so many people across different “I know that there’s a lot of communities in the campus groups,” Ray said.

US that have their own organizations and groups Junior Ada Li also loves the sessions for the wel- centered around tea,” he says. “I think wherever I coming environment that they provide. end up…I will definitely look to find a local tea “[The members] are definitely a group of amaz- group or tea shop [to join].” ing people that are diverse and inclusive,” she The members of the tea club will miss Liu as said. “Just in general, a great group of people that he leaves the group, but the community he left I would love to spend time and chat with.” behind is ready to continue finding joy in their In addition to the sessions, the Tea Club of- hobby. fers its members different field trip opportunities “I feel that we stumbled upon a very serious each semester. In the fall, the group travels to niche in the Wake Forest community,” Louie Asheville to explore what Liu calls “the nuances Ballard, Vice President of the World Tea Assoof tea.” They visit many local teashops that focus ciation, said. “I am excited to see how the next on artisanal teas and learn more about the pro- generation of executives will build on what we cesses and cultural significance of tea-making. have created thus far.”

In the Spring, the group takes an annual trip to Students can visit @worldteawfu on Instagram Camellia Forest Nursery in Chapel Hill. Here, to learn more about this organization, as well as they get to have a hands-on learning opportunity contact the executive board for more informaand see how the tea is grown and processed. tion.

The Tea Club frequently partners with other organizations on campus by hosting events together and catering tea and snacks. Recently, Contact Breanna Laws at they partnered with the Office of Sustainability lawsbn21@wfu.edu

“

Page 7 | Thursday, November 17, 2022

Old Gold & Black | Features

A look behind the scenes of Last Resort The exclusive college bar brings students and LR staff together on the famous ‘Thirsty Thursday’ ELISABETH ROLLINS Contributing Writer

Boom. Boom. Boom. You feel the bass rattling the second you step out of the Uber and you are immediately greeted by the muffled sound of “No Hands” by Waka Flocka Flame playing from inside the bar. You push through the crowd of excited college students and get in line.

Before you know it, you’re at the front and it’s your turn to pay the cover; you hand the bouncer $20 as he draws a large X on each of your hands. After making it through the packed crowd of people on the patio— and taking a quintessential photo in the giant Last Resort chair—you make your way into the bar. You watch as someone grabs a $5 Truly fishbowl and then you’re off to the dance floor. You make your way toward the iconic cage and get ready for the perfect Thirsty Thursday.

Let’s face it, you’ve likely had an experience like this, and, if you haven’t, chances are you know someone who has.

Whether you’re a freshman or you’ve been at Wake Forest for years, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone unfamiliar with the Thursday night hot spot. Last Resort, lovingly nicknamed LR by many Wake Forest students, is an eighteenplus bar located only seven minutes from Reynolda Campus.

“We’re exclusive, we’re your bar. We’re the bar for the Deacs,” said Kyle Agha,

“We’re exclusive, we’re your bar. We’re the bar for the Deacs.”

Photo courtesy of @lastresortws on Instagram

one of LR’s two owners.

First opened in 2010, the bar has been popular with Wake Forest students for the past twelve years. Despite being located on Wake Forest-owned property, the bar is operated by owners Agha and Kenneth Tucker. To ensure the safety, fun and comfort of students, the bar is limited to only Wake students, especially on Thursday nights. More than that, having the bar be filled with only Wake students allows the staff to form bonds with the

Photo courtesy of Last Resort

The Last Resort includes both an indoor bar and nightclub dance floor, and an outdoor “tiki bar” and patio.

Co-owner Kyle Agha (left) stands behind a wall of fake identification cards that reads, ‘how good is your fake ID?’ Wake Forest community.

“Whenever the Wake kids come in, they have fun with us, we have fun with them,” bartender Joe V said.

Since Last Resort is an 18+ college bar, the crowd is different from what many bartenders are used to.

“With a college crowd, they don’t come to see me, you know, they come to hang out with each other,” bartender Nicole C said. Despite this, the staff and students still form strong bonds that sometimes last decades.

“This year I’ve had two or three couples that have said ‘hey, we met at Last Resort, we got married this weekend, thanks for the introduction,’” Agha said.

Joe and Nicole have been working together at the bar since it opened, and when asked why they’ve stayed, their answer came effortlessly.

“The biggest thing that’s fortunate for us is that everybody who’s been here has been here for a long time, and we all enjoy working together—we’re all like a team, we’re all like a family,” said Nicole.

For Joe, the appeal of LR is simple, “You can come out, have fun and be in college.”

Forming relationships with students is important to the bar, and they have created a myriad of traditions aimed at fostering special experiences that students will hold with them long after they graduate.

“Knowing that you’re going to be here at homecoming after you graduate, ‘oh, this is where I used to hang out,’” Agha said. “These are memories that you guys will keep forever.”

One such tradition takes place once a year for a select group of seniors.

Above the Last Resort bar is a balcony overlooking the dance floor. Similarly to how graduating seniors will sign their names in the Wait Chapel bell tower, select students can sign their names on the LR ceiling.

“The last Thursday before graduation in May is the only time we take select people up there and they sign their names [and] put their years,” Agha said.

Another way the bar and staff get involved with the Wake Forest community and student body is by hosting events and fundraisers.

“We’ve helped with a lot of events, as far as different sororities that want to sell pizza, or Wake’N’Shake,” said Kyle, “I think we’ve raised somewhere, since 2010, between $30,000 and $35,000 for all the groups that have come through to do things.”

Despite being open on game days, Last Resort is synonymous with Thursday nights in the minds of many students.

The bar has always hosted college nights on Thursdays, but it was not until the last six years that “lrsday” (pronounced lursday) was born.

“It was a group of students, I think around 2015 or 2016 that started ‘lrsday,’ so that came from the students,” said Kyle.

Last Resort is also known for its scary bouncers. They view this description as inaccurate.

“People think we’re scary, I don’t know why,” said bouncer David. “If you’re not doing anything, I’m fine with you.”

Bouncer Joey agreed, “It’s so loud back there, the only reason we’re yelling is because you can’t hear us if we don’t.”

More than policing, the bouncers are often in charge of guaranteeing that students get home safely.

“That’s mostly what we do, just making sure everyone is safe,” said David. For Last Resort, the safety of the students there is their first priority. “We’ll see students try to walk home and we’re like ‘y’all don’t need to walk home, let us get y’all an Uber and we’ll pay,’” Agha said.

The staff at LR puts a lot into creating the perfect Thursday night environment for students, and many appreciate it.

“It’s a place you can go and catch up with people. As an upperclassman, it’s nice to see everyone and interact with them outside of the classroom or a Greek Life setting,” senior Angela Waszkiewicz said.

Junior Abby Gardner agrees, “I love LR because I get to see my friends from all different campus organizations.”

For Agha, his hope for Wake students coming to LR is simple; he wanted to create an environment where every student felt welcome, “hopefully they feel safe, have fun, and call it their own.”

Contact Elisabeth Rollins at rollec21@wfu.edu

OPINION

PAGE 8 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2022

Sophie Guymon, guymsm20@wfu.edu Maryam Khanum, khanmg20@wfu.edu

OLD GOLD & BLACK

The views expressed in all opinion columns represent those of the article’s author, not the opinions of the Old Gold & Black Editorial Board

Isabella Romine Staff Columnist

There are few institutions at Wake Forest as infamous as the parking police. In an unofficial poll of students with cars on campus, it seemed like everyone could relate to the stages of grief resulting from seeing the subject line “Wake Forest University Parking Citation” in their inbox.* However, what is a mere annoyance for many students is a heavy financial burden for others.

The current ticketing policy does not take students' differing financial statuses into account, a failing of equity on the school’s part. Wake Forest’s commitment to “make it financially possible for students who are committed to philanthropy, service, friendliness, honor and living Pro Humanitate to enroll at Wake Forest,” as stated on the Student Financial Aid homepage of the university website, should not end with financial aid.

I do not mean to argue that there should be no penalty for parking in prohibited areas — among other things, faculty and staff should have access to priority parking, and it is not acceptable for able-bodied students to park in handicapped spaces — but any given punishment should be proportional and appropriate to the recipient.

To find out more about campus parking issues and parking violations, I reached out to Jason Campbell, the Assistant Director of Transportation and Parking Services; he did not reply to repeated requests for an interview.

Generalizing from what I’ve heard, most parking tickets seem to be given on grounds of “[parking] on campus during unauthorized hours” or “[parking] in an unauthorized zone, location or parking lot,” per the “Violations, Immobilization & Fines” page on the Wake Forest Transportation and Parking Services site. These fines are tiered: $50 for the first offense, $75 for the second and third and $100 for any subsequent violations.

Wake Forest’s student body is disproportionately wealthy compared to other elite academic institutions. A 2017 study published in “The New York Times” found that the median family income of the Wake Forest class of 2013 adjusted for 2015 wages was $221,500, ranking our school at the ninth highest median income among 65 elite colleges — above every Ivy League, Duke, Vanderbilt and many other “rich” schools.

While these figures suggest that most students can afford parking tickets without issue, that does not reflect every student’s situation: the Student Financial Aid’s webpage states that 40% of Wake Forest students qualify for financial aid.

It is not hard to imagine the challenges of being a lower-income student at a rich school. Instances where Wake Forest does not

seem to consider every student’s financial situation abound: while the Wake Line can take students to Hanes Mall, Target and Sherwood Plaza, no routes go to budget grocery stores such as Aldi.

On campus, the Provisions on Demand (P.O.D.) Market prices are generally not wallet-friendly.

Crying-after-an-exam essentials such as a pint of Ben and Jerry’s cost two dollars above even the Target price.

Notably, that seven dollars for a pint of P.O.D. Ben and Jerry’s could be above the take-home hourly pay for students on federal work-study programs, illustrating the difficulty working students might have in paying off fines.

“Federal work-study and non federal work study positions on campus have a minimum starting wage of $7.25, but student employees' starting wage can vary based on the responsibilities of the position,” said Lauren Trethaway, the Assistant Director of Student Financial Aid. Without taking potential taxes into account, a student earning $7.25 an hour would have to work just under seven hours to pay off one $50 unauthorized parking ticket. With students’ oncampus jobs capped at 20 hours per week, nearly forty percent of a student’s weekly wages could go to paying off a single first-offense ticket.

Monetary fines — while equal — are not equitable. Fifty dollars, let alone $75 or $100, is not the same punishment for everyone. Wake broadly states that a key component of the school’s mission is to create an equitable community; this should apply not only to considerations for people of different sexualities, races, ethnicities or abilities, but to people’s financial circumstances as well. When all students are treated as if they can afford the same tickets, the system becomes biased against lower-income students — which violates Wake Forest’s Financial Aid mission statement and seems at odds with our school’s Pro Humanitate motto.

Further, I take issue with how tickets are currently being distributed. While students can request “no ticket” for a vehicle that cannot be moved because of mechanical issues, there is no such process in place for students affected by illness or injury.

Perhaps most pressingly, many students — especially those who are not male identifying — currently feel unsafe moving their car on and offcampus. While the Wake Line provides shuttles to and from the freshman lot, they only come twice hourly, and, as with any human-operated system, sometimes are unpredictable. If a student were harmed while waiting for a shuttle after being forced to move their car on-campus for the weekend, Wake Forest’s administration would face tough questions.

As long as there is a known harasser targeting Wake Forest students,

administration should consider halting requiring students to move their vehicles instead of making students choose between their safety and a fine they may not be able to afford.

Beyond the current situation, however, there are several avenues Wake Forest could consider taking the pressure of parking tickets off of lowerincome students.

One, administration might experiment with a ticket system that takes a student’s expected family contribution (EFC) towards school tuition into account. Several European countries such as Finland, Germany and France use similar systems and give what are called “day-fines.” These fines have a minimum amount, and any fee above that is assigned on a sliding income scale. For example, Finland’s ticketing system is individualized to a specific person’s daily disposable income — defined as half an offender’s daily salary — which is then multiplied by a predetermined number depending on the severity of the crime.

While implementing this level of specificity to Wake Forest parking tickets would create an administrative headache, that doesn’t mean in-between steps don’t exist. One potential course of action might be dividing students into categories depending on EFC with each category receiving its own predetermined fines. Transportation and Parking Services would not even necessarily lose revenue depending on how fines were adjusted.

While not creating perfect equity, it would mark progress from the current situation.

Another possible solution could be offering students receiving a certain amount of financial aid the option to perform community service proportionate to the fine.

On GivePulse —Wake Forest’s platform to track community service hours — the popular on-campus service learning opportunity Campus Kitchen lists that Wake Forest students have volunteered 2,632 hours. These hours are valued at a total economic impact of $73,686 — equaling $28 per hour volunteered. If Wake Forest truly values community service at this rate, then students could work off a $50 fine in just under two hours, a far cry from just under seven.

However, even if this exact conversion rate is not maintained, proposing community service as an alternative to paying a university fine would still illustrate the school’s commitment to our Pro Humanitate motto while allowing lower-income students to keep the money they may need for necessities.

Yes, it is true that these proposed solutions to make the ticketing system more equitable require some level of administrative effort. However, surely living up to Pro Humanitate means acknowledging that achieving greater justice takes more effort than upholding the status quo.

In the interest of journalistic integrity, I confess that I’ve received two parking tickets to date, both after forgetting to move my car after a weekend of mandatory relocation.

Contact Isabella Romine at romiie21@wfu.edu Sophie Guymon/Old Gold & Black

Campus Issues

Opinion | Old Gold & Black

Thursday, November 17, 2022 | Page 9

Photo courtesy of Debbie Rowe

Musk's Twitter takeover promises ideological diversity Musk's changes could invite respectful debate on a platform that's historically been dominated by liberal viewpoints

Conor Metzger Staff Columnist

It finally happened. After months of speculation and uncertainty, Elon Musk has bought the social media company Twitter. Musk cemented the move on Oct. 26, posting a video of himself walking into Twitter headquarters holding a sink with the caption “let that sink in.”

If you’ve actually been on Twitter this past week, you’ll know that the response to Musk’s take-over has been mixed. Some people are worried that the site will become a new 4Chan, where anything goes and there are little to no repercussions for violent or hateful messages.

Others see a “win” for free speech and the hope for a better future where people can say what they want without fear of being censored.

Both of these views are understandable. Despite his showmanship, I believe Musk recognizes that he must prove his purchase is for the better. He has made it clear that he will not be making any changes to Twitter’s allowed content until he puts together a diverse coun-

cil to advise him on what changes should be made — the key word here being “diverse”. In the past, Twitter has highlighted the diversity of race, gender, nationality and similar factors among employees. However, they have had an issue with a prevalent liberal ideological leaning.

When Musk says he wants “diversity”, he is also referring to a diversity of ideology.

This is one of the principal reasons I have been a fan of Musk’s decision to buy Twitter. The social media site has had a large issue in overmoderating conservative opinions while not focusing too much on liberal ones. I don’t think this is due to any sort of conspiracy —rather it just happens that people who work in technology have a liberal bias. This in and of itself is not an issue, as we all have our own biases. A good leader and a good company recognizes an issue like that and tries to implement a diversity of thought. This is what Musk is doing.

However, Musk has also laid off a large portion of the Twitter staff. He believes there to be an infestation of a “woke” culture that is damaging Twitter’s discourse. His solution is to start from scratch and impose extensive, cost-saving layoffs. While it may be unsettling to see mul-

tiple people lose their jobs, we should not see this as an uncommon occurrence.

Musk is a businessman with radically different views than Twitter’s previous leadership. No matter your ideological leanings, it should be recognized that when you take over a company, you need to make sure workers are on your side in favor of productivity and growth. Musk cannot come in and have to spend every day fighting with the employee Slack channel. A Musk Twitter would not have been a conducive environment to those workers anyway, nor would those workers create a healthy environment for Musk. Technology is a growing industry, and it seems probable that these developers and engineers will find other jobs.

The growth that Musk is trying to create has also sparked a lot of concerns. One set of concerns comes from advertisers, who are worried about how their brand will look if one of their ads is seen next to a hateful comment. While Musk posted a tweet on Oct. 27 promising that Twitter will not become a “free-for-all hellscape,” there is justifiable concern. A lot of companies are choosing to suspend their Twitter advertising, at least until they see what di-

rection the company takes. This does not bode well for Musk, who has taken on a considerable amount of debt in order to privatize the company. There is a lot of doubt about whether Silicon Valley’s biggest tech multibillionaire has what it takes to work both sides of the aisle and see a return on his investment.

But maybe he will.

Elon Musk is not some conservative boogeyman who wants his site to be a place where racism and sexism runs rampant. Rather, he is someone who sees issues analytically and has noticed that the spectrum of viewpoints on Twitter is not reminiscent of our society at large.

If social media is supposed to represent a microcosm of our culture, then let it be so. By giving Musk the benefit of the doubt, we may be able to recreate a platform of debate that has been lost for some time. We should not assume that Twitter will become a “hellscape”, but make sure that we can participate in good, meaningful debate with each other on a platform that could be just the perfect place to do so.

Contact Conor Metzger at metzcr19@wfu.edu

Ye's antisemitism is inexcusable Ye's antisemitic remarks are only the most recent in a string of behaviors that should have rung alarm bells Natasha Heisenberg Staff Columnist

On Oct. 22, a group of white supremacists gathered on a bridge above a crowded Los Angeles freeway. As they threw up Nazi salutes, a banner hung down, displayed over cars as they drove along. “Kanye is right about the Jews,” it read.

The hateful demonstration came following a series of antisemitic statements issued by Ye, formerly known as Kanye West. One of the most inflammatory was a tweet stating “Go death [sic] con 3 on all Jewish people” which caused Twitter to suspend Ye’s account.

The backlash was immediate. Days after, Ye’s Instagram account was restricted and Adidas announced that it had ended its partnership with him. Dozens of celebrities spoke out against antisemitism and Ye’s behavior, and many politicians also commented on the incident and the prevalence of antisemitism in modern society. However, activists were not the only ones provoked by Ye’s behavior.

Across the country, antisemitic and white supremacist groups were emboldened by Ye’s

Photo courtesy of GQ Magazine

statements. The increased incidence of antisemitic speech reflected the expansive nature of Ye’s platform and highlighted the dangers of popularizing individuals that spew hateful rhetoric without restraint.

While this was Ye’s first time publicly voicing his antisemitic sentiments, it is not the first time that he has attracted controversy for his words or actions. In 2016, Ye endorsed then-presidential candidate Donald Trump for office, later visiting him in the Oval Office. In recent months, he has also spoken out against the Black Lives Matter movement, even producing shirts with the slogan “White Lives Matter.”

Although Ye’s comments likely exist as an attempt to remain relevant, they are not without consequences. Even after being criticized for his antisemitic comments, Ye still has a staggering 18.4 million followers on Instagram. Other prominent figures have been prompted by his actions, as well. Kyrie Irving, a basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets, posted antisemitic content on his Twitter account in the days after Ye’s statements.

Irving, who was forced to apologize, is just

one example of how rapidly hate can spread throughout communities, infecting the most vulnerable and marginalized groups.

Another facet of the conversation surrounding Ye’s actions is his long-term struggle with mental illness. Because Ye is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, his fans have attributed his erratic behavior to his mental health problems. However, a problem arises when mental illness is used to excuse bigotry, hate and actions that condone violence.

There are approximately 7 million adults in the United States who have been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, equivalent to 2.8% of the population, according to a 2020 study by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). As the study notes, though, this number does not account for those who have not sought help and therefore remain undiagnosed.

These millions of individuals face the same hardships as Ye does in regards to their mental well-being. However, unlike Ye, these people have not taken to social media and abused their platform to promote violence towards a minority community that has faced adversity

throughout history.

Equating mental illness with antisemitism, racism and other forms of hate speech is a dangerous comparison to draw, and one that dismisses the harm of Ye’s actions. At the heart of his being, Ye has demonstrated time and time again that he lacks empathy, compassion and common sense. Unfortunately, this incident is only the most recent in a long string of actions that should have rung louder alarm bells surrounding his judgment and character.

For now, resources must be devoted to combatting antisemitism on all scales, from community-based to national efforts. Going forward as a society, however, it is vital to identify sources of hate and not allow them to gain such a wide and influential platform.

Ye acted as a spark in the growing fire of hate directed at the Jewish community, and it is the job of each and every American to snuff out the flames before they have a chance to reach those jeopardized by them.

Contact Natasha Heisenberg at heisng20@wfu.edu

Page 10 | Old Gold & Black

Thursday, November 17, 2022 | Opinion

Transgender Health Care

Gender-affirming health care bans set dangerous precedent )ORULGD LV WKH PRVW UHFHQW VWDWH WR EDQ JHQGHU DI¿UPLQJ KHDOWK FDUH IRU PLQRUV Romeo Nehme

Contributing Columnist On Friday, Nov. 4, the Florida Board of Medicine and the Florida Board of Osteopathic Board of Medicine made drastic changes to their rules regarding the treatment of individuals with gender dysphoria.

Specifically, the boards’ decision banned doctors from prescribing puberty blockers and hormones, and from performing sex reassignment surgeries on anyone with gender dysphoria under the age of 18.

This follows similar decisions by Alabama and Arkansas, whose legislatures both recently passed bills banning any gender-affirming care to minors.

However, medical experts have criticized these moves as dangerous. The American Medical Association called them “a dangerous intrusion into the practice of medicine” and the American Academy of Pediatrics claimed that they’re a part of “a dangerous movement … led by extremists.” Other organizations that have come out in opposition to the bans include, but are not limited to, the Children’s Hospital Association, the American Psychological Association and the Endocrine Society.

The driving force behind Florida’s decision comes from a June 2 letter penned by the state surgeon general, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, urging the two medical boards to review their rules on gender affirming care given to minors. Ladapo based his recommendations on the results of a state-procured report, which he had authorized, on the effects of gender-affirming care that came out the day of his letter. The report, titled “Generally Accepted Professional Medical Standards on the Treatment of Gender Dysphoria,” found that “[the] available medical literature provides insufficient evidence that sex reassignment through medical intervention is a safe and effective treatment for gender dysphoria.”

In the months since, the validity of the conclusions and methodology of the report have come into question. The review “repeatedly and erroneously dismisses solid studies and clinical practice guidelines as ‘low quality,’” said Dr. Meredithe McNamara, the assistant professor at the Yale School of Medicine. McNamara, who testified before the two Florida medical boards on Oct. 28 criticized the reviewers’ decision to omit a multitude of studies highlighting the positive effects of puberty blockers and hormones on individuals experiencing gender dysphoria. She also criticized the state’s choice of reviewers for the report — a dentist and a biostatistician — explaining that “the National Academy of Medicine stipulates that systematic reviews must be conducted by people who have clinical and research expertise in the area.”

Counter-testimony was also given in favor of the medical boards’ motion. Dr. Michael Laidlaw, an endocrinologist from Rockland, CA, cited studies — the most relevant of which were conducted by Dr. Steensma at the Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam Medical Center in 2011 and 2013 respectively — which purported to have found that anywhere between “50 to 98 percent” of children experiencing gender dysphoria “gr[ew] out of it by adulthood.” However, the methodology of those studies has been highly criticized by other experts for having standards for ascribing gender dysphoria that are less stringent than that of the DSM-V and for not creating a thorough enough standard to track patients in the long term. On the other hand, a more recent Oct. 2022 study out of Amsterdam University Medical Centers (UMC), found that out of 720 patients “98% [of ] people who had started

gender-affirming medical treatment in adolescence continued to use gender-affirming hormones at follow-up [during adulthood].”

Dr. Riitakerttu Kaltiala, a professor at Tampere University in Finland, pointed to the fact that many of the studies in support of gender-affirming care were too small to truly get definitive results. However, an analysis of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, which collected answers of over 20,000 transgender individuals, conducted by Dr. Jack Turban and the Stanford Medical School, found that those who accessed gender-affirming hormones at an early age had their odds of severe psychological distress decreased by 222% compared to those who never received those hormones but wanted to. Another study, published in July 2022 and led by Princeton University professor, Kristina Olson, found that only 2.5% of transgender minors de-transitioned after five years.

The state’s best argument for a ban comes from Europe where, as many members of the Board pointed out, many countries have questioned the use of puberty blockers and hormones on minors. In France, the National Academy of Medicine sent out a press release which urged for “great medical caution.” In Sweden, the National Board of Health and Welfare, in its own review of the literature, found that it couldn’t “draw any definite conclusions about the effect and the safety of [puberty blockers and hormones] based on scientific knowledge.” In the United Kingdom, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has also cautioned that “any potential benefits of gender-affirming hormones must be weighed against the largely unknown long-term safety profile of these treatments.”

However, even taking in the information disseminated by European nations, it is evident that any reasoning and argument against the use of gender-affirming care on minors is inconclusive and shaky at best. And although some of that evidence may provide justification for caution, as any matter involving children does, it cannot be said that there is enough evidence to warrant an outright ban on the treatments.

Instead, it was political influences that played a key factor in Florida's medical boards’ decisions rather than the available science. The boards’ members were all appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis, who has taken an ardent and very public stance against gender-affirming care, going so far as to label it “chemical castration.” Furthermore, an analysis conducted by the Tampa Bay Times found that many of the boards’ members have contributed to DeSantis’ reelection campaign, adding up to over $80,000. The two largest contributors, Dr. Ravi Chandra and Dr. Zachariah P. Zachariah, each donated a sum of $25,000. Another member, Scot Ackerman, has a personal relationship with the DeSantis family, having described Casey Desantis, the Governor’s wife, as “a dear friend … of many years.”

In light of this, the board’s decision comes off as a blatant exercise of pure partisanship to throw away potentially life-changing and life-saving solutions to kids dealing with gender dysphoria, rather than one based in science. And nowhere was this disregard more evident than at the Board of Medicine's meeting on Oct. 28, when an audience member shouted “the blood is on your hands!” to which Zachariah responded, “I’m OK with that.”

Contact Romeo Nehme at nehmr21@wfu.edu Photo courtesy of Joseph Preziozo

SPORTS

Ian Steffensen stefip21@wfu.edu Aaron Nataline nataae21@wfu.edu

Follow us on Twitter @wfuogbsports OLD GOLD & BLACK

PAGE 11 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2022

History repeats, Tar Heels blank Demon Deacons in fourth quarter Wake Forest fails to hold a fourth-quarter lead against UNC for the third straight year AINE PIERRE Online Managing Editor

The entire stadium waited about 30 seconds for the signal from the referee on the results of a 3rd & 1 play with just over a minute on the game clock. A first down would secure a UNC victory, a stop would set up a crucial fourth down play. Suddenly, the referee motioned, the chains moved and the No. 13 University of North Carolina Tar Heels had completed its third straight fourth-quarter comeback against the Demon Deacons in as many years.

In effect, the 36-34 Tar Heel victory had been sealed five plays earlier, when a pass from redshirt junior quarterback Sam Hartman fell on the grass, giving UNC the ball back on the Wake Forest 13 yardline with 1:14 left in the fourth quarter. With a field goal all but certain, the Wake Forest defense needed a three-and-out to get the ball back to Hartman’s offense with under a minute remaining. It would have been a tall order to win.

“I’m disappointed with the result, but not with the effort,” Dave Clawson said in a postgame press conference. “Our guys played their hearts out. This one hurts. It stings.”

You could also make the argument that the game was lost when Hartman threw a pass right at UNC DB Cam’Ron Kelly on a play that flipped possessions, the field and the momentum. The Wake Forest defense denied the Tar Heels the end zone, but a 33-yard field goal from Noah Barnette, the game’s only field goal, ended up being the decider.

It’s hard to imagine a worse start to the game for the Demon Deacons. The Tar Heels took the ball downfield to score twice with very little resistance, and the UNC defense forced two punts. With just over half of the first quarter gone, the Tar Heels led 14-0.

“We went up against a really good offense, the best offense in the ACC,” DE Kobie Turner said after the game. “But, at the end of the day, it comes down to us not being us [for most of the first half ].”

Around the middle of the second quarter, Wake Forest put itself back in the game and ended two successive drives with touchdowns. After a defensive stop with 9:08 left in the second quarter forced the Tar Heels to punt, the offense marched down the field to tie it, capped off by a Donavan Greene touchdown reception.

UNC then scored on its next drive to go up 27-21

L i ke many l i ke many,

Evan Harris/Old Gold & Black

Quarterback S am Hartman is brought down by UNC defensive linem a n K a i m o n R u c k e r i n t h e D e m o n D e a c o n s 3 6 - 3 4 l o s s t o t h e Ta r H e e l s . (a missed PAT denied the Tar Heels seven points on the touchdown), and Dave Clawson again ran out the half on offense.

“We were inside the 20[yard line], and they still had a timeout,” Clawson said. “So if you get really aggressive and have to punt the ball, they get the ball at midfield. There’s a time and a place to be aggressive in a situation, and the five-or-ten-yard line isn’t it.”

The Demon Deacon attack was efficient for most of the game, led by Hartman, who went 18-31 for 320 yards and four TDs. Hartman is now within seven passing touchdowns of tying the ACC record (Tajh Boyd, 107) with two games left to play. Wake Forest’s ground game, after a dismal 25-yard net performance against NC State, surpassed its mark from last week on the fifth play of its first drive. The rush attack ended up netting 170 yards.

The Wake Forest defense also got their first (and possibly last until 2025) glimpse of true freshman QB and Heisman candidate Drake Maye. UNC’s quarterback went 31-49 for 448 yards and three TDs in the air and added 71 yards and a TD on the ground. Tar Heel RB Elijah Green, by contrast, rushed for 66 yards.

“He’s obviously who people say he is,” Clawson said of Maye. “He’s a great athlete and a great competitor.”

Penalties cost the Demon Deacons dearly throughout the game. With a 21-21 tie on the scoreboard, AJ Williams of the defense was called for targeting, put-

ting a key defenseman out of the game and giving the Tar Heels the ball at midfield. On the previous play, the defense had gotten to Elijah Green in the backfield to set UNC back five yards, but after the targeting call, the Tar Heels marched 51 yards down the field with only three plays.

On the all-important final drive of the game, Sam Hartman found A.T. Perry, who made an unreal catch for a 44-yard gain that would have put the Demon Deacons in prime position to win the game. However, Je’Vionte Nash was called for holding back at the line, and with the ball on the 15 yard-line, Wake Forest could not convert.

All in all, Wake Forest won the penalty battle (seven for 56 yards to UNC’s eight for 74 yards), but the penalties on Wake Forest were where it mattered, and they lost the proverbial war because of it.

Wake Forest, now 6-4 (2-4 ACC), will face another dual-threat quarterback in Syracuse’s Garett Shrader next week. The Orange are coming off of a 31-3 loss to Florida State, which Wake Forest handled on the road earlier in the season. Football’s Senior Night will kick off at Truist Field at 8 p.m. on ACC Network.

“We’re going to give it everything we’ve got against Syracuse,” WR Taylor Morin said.

Contact Aine Pierre at pierav20@wfu.edu

plays o f t he first ha l f, t he one a b ove wa s under rev i ew this review went t he D ea c s ' way a nd res ul ted in a o ne - ya rd

Evan Harris/Old Gold & Black Evan Harris/Old Gold & Black

f o r q u i te s o m e C h r i s t i a n Tu r ne r

t i m e. Un to u c h d ow n.

Page 12 | Thursday, November 17, 2022

Old Gold & Black | Sports

ǯ ϐ The Demon Deacons could not replicate their victorious regular season matchup in 0-2 collapse versus Clemson MATTHEW KULYNYCH Staff Writer

The No. 20-ranked and No. 4-seed Demon Deacons fell to the No. 18-ranked and No. 8-seed Clemson Tigers 2-0 in the ACC Tournament semifinals on Wednesday night. The Tigers dominated from the start, holding a potent Wake Forest attack to only two shots on the night. Wake Forest will now have to turn focus to their twelfth straight NCAA tournament appearance. They open Thursday night against Ohio State at Spry.

Earlier this season, the Demon Deacons defeated the defending national champion Tigers 6-1 on the road, but Clemson came into this game as one of the hottest teams in the ACC, winning its last four games prior to Wednesday’s matchup.

The crowd at Spry Stadium was packed, with a line outside the gate going all the way down to Carroll Weathers Drive 10 minutes before kickoff. There were hardly any empty seats in the bleachers or spots on the hill.

From the first kick, the game got pretty chippy. The referee blew for six fouls in the first five minutes, and awarded a yellow card to a Clemson defender just two minutes into the game after a hard foul on sophomore forward Baba Niang about 45 yards from goal.

Clemson cleared the ensuing kick, but the referee had established the precedent that he was not going to let anything slide. Wake Forest received what appeared to be a harsh yellow card in the 10th minute, when sophomore midfielder Ryan Fessler unfortunately blocked a shot at the edge of the box with his arm.

Clemson’s press was causing issues for the Demon Deacons from the start, and it paid off with a beautiful goal in the 14th minute. Forward Brandon Parrish, who made national headlines with a stunning goal to secure the win against the No. 1-seed Duke Blue Devils last Sunday, made headlines again with his goal. The Clemson press forced a giveaway in midfield, and the ball then found its way to Parrish 25 yards from goal. He took a touch and unleashed a shot into the top left corner, leaving the diving sophomore goalkeeper Trace Alphin no chance. It was a deserved lead for Clemson, who had been dominating the flow of the match since kickoff.

Both the Demon Deacons and the Tigers would

Evan Harris/Old Gold and Black

Midfielder Ryan Fessler running down the right hand side under pressure.

Evan Harris/Old Gold and Black

Sophomore goalkeeper Trace Alphin (No.1 in green) surveys his options as Ǥ ϐ Ǥ

add to their yellow card tallies just a few minutes later.

In the 17th minute, a Clemson defender took out Baba Niang from behind on a counter, earning a yellow card. However, the Demon Deacons could not capitalize on the foul, with Clemson clearing and countering. Just 20 seconds later, junior Wake Forest defender Prince Amponsah went in hard on a tackle near the edge of the box, earning himself a yellow card. Fortunately, Clemson couldn’t create anything off the free kick, but they still dominated proceedings.

Trace Alphin was forced into an awkward save in the 32nd minute. Following a cross to the edge of the area, Clemson managed to get a seemingly tame header toward the goal. However, it had just enough power and height to make it awkward for Alphin, who was forced to smartly tip the ball over the bar for a corner.

Clemson whipped the ensuing corner across the box, where it struck the edge of the far post and fortunately ricocheted away from the goal.

The halftime whistle put an end to what had been probably the most challenging half of the season for the Demon Deacons. The Clemson shape and press had completely eliminated the midfield for the Demon Deacons, and they were forced to try long balls which Clemson was ready for. Wake Forest had not attempted a single shot in the first half, whereas the Tigers had taken nine. Something really needed to change if Wake Forest wanted to get back into the game.

The second half started in the same way the first half had played out. Clemson shut down the Wake Forest midfield and read any long balls that Wake Forest tried to play to bypass the press. Clemson won three corner kicks in the first 15 minutes of the half, and they managed to find their second goal of the match on the third of these corners in the 60th minute.

Though Wake Forest headed the initial delivery away, it didn’t go far. Tiger midfielder Derek Waleffe reacted quickest to the clearance, lashing a volley that looked like it was going to be saveable for Trace Alphin. However, it took a wicked deflection off junior defender Garrison Tubbs, sending it into the top right corner and doubling the Tigers’ lead.

Through the first 65 minutes, Wake Forest had still not attempted a single shot. Defender Cristian Escribano would be the one to finally add a shot to the stat

sheet, when he struck the ball near where Clemson had found their first goal. The redshirt sophomore couldn’t replicate the shot from earlier, though, as it rolled wide of the left post.

Clemson let off a little after scoring their second goal, which let Wake Forest build up more possession and freedom in the midfield. This seemed to allievate some of the nerves keeping the attack from moving fluidly beforehand, and the spacing greatly improved as the Demon Deacons finally began to break into the attacking third more frequently.

However, the Tigers’ defense held their its shape well and did not allow the Demon Deacons to create much. The Tigers cleared everything the Demon Deacons threw at them, and it seemed less likely that Wake Forest would find their way back into the match.

Despite the compact shape of the Tigers’ defense, sophomore striker Roald Mitchell almost cut the deficit in half in the 84th minute. Swedish midfielder Oscar Sears flicked a ball in behind for Mitchell at the edge of the box. The striker’s cut put him in excellent position to receive the ball and look to get his team back into the match. Mitchell had the composure to take a touch around and hold off his defender, but he pushed his shot wide of the right post as the Clemson keeper rushed out.

The final whistle put an end to the match and Wake Forest’s run in the ACC Tournament. Clemson controlled the midfield from start to finish while remaining compact and strong while defending their lead.

In a chippy match that saw 31 fouls called, Clemson outshot Wake Forest 14-2 and advanced to play the No. 3 ranked and No. 2 seed Syracuse Orange in the ACC Championship.

The NCAA Tournament Selection Show revealed on on Monday that the Demon Deacons will be hosting Ohio State (10-3-5) on Thursday at 6 p.m. The Buckeyes had advanced to the Big Ten semifinals, but they fell to Rutgers on Nov. 9. The winner of the match at Spry will travel to play the UNC-Greensboro Spartans on Sunday, Nov. 20.

Contact Matthew Kulynych at kulymh21@wfu.edu

Thursday, November 17, 2022 | Page 13

Sports | Old Gold & Black

EVAN HARRIS Photography Editor

Sophomore sensation Leo Guarino closed out Wake Forest’s final regular season game, a 3-0 home win against No. 9 Louisville, in acrobatic fashion. Hailing from Long Island, NY, Leo wears No. 11 for the men’s soccer team and plays as an attacking midfielder. I sat down with Guarino a few days after their final regular season game to talk soccer.

How did you get into soccer and when did you start playing?

My family’s Italian. My grandparents are immigrants from Italy. My nono played soccer when he was a kid in Italy.

It was really just in the family, and my dad played all his life growing up and ended up playing semi-professional. Pretty much ever since I was a kid, the only sport for me was soccer. It’s the only sport I’ve ever played. I started as soon as I could walk. Based on what my dad tells me some stories about when I could first walk he would throw me a ball and kick it around. That’s how it’s all started, and I fell in love with the game and now I’m here today Would you say growing up you had a mentor or someone you looked up to?

My dad was the one that introduced me to the game and got me to fall in love with it. He was definitely my biggest mentor. Someone else who helped me become the player I am today would be one of my trainers. He came straight from Italy and he’s like my big brother. He was the one that picked me out when I was about six, seven years old and was like, ‘I think this kid is gonna be special.’ He’s been there from the beginning and he’s always there for me still. So those are the two biggest mentors I would say.

Growing up, you’ve played for the NYCFC Academy and the New York Red Bulls. You’ve also played for the Cosmos in New York City. Describe your academy process, how you climbed the ranks and ended up here at Wake Forest.

I started out at the New York Red Bulls when I was either 11 or 13 years-old. There were a lot of Red Bull camps on Long Island. I was invited to play in a tournament in Dallas one year. After that tournament, based on how I played, they told me, ‘we want you to come play for the Red Bulls next year.’ I played with the team that was a year older for two years. It was a great experience, the coaches were amazing and I still keep in touch with kids there today, but it was a hard commute for my parents. My dad would come from working all night as a police officer and then drag me to practice all the way in New Jersey. We’d be out pretty much right after school, and I wouldn’t get back to like 10 or 11 at night; it was very tolling on him. We found out New York City was making a team and I was invited for tryouts there.

After making the team, I practiced with the older team in the same fashion I did with the Red Bulls. The coach showed some interest and offered me a spot. It was this new and upcoming team 30 minutes from my house and a lot of kids trying to make it; how could I say no? I played there

Deacon SportlighT:: Leo Guarino MEN’’S Soccer MEN Evan Harris / Old Gold & Black

Men’s soccer midfielder Leo Guarino strikes a pose in front of Farrell Hall. His presence isn’t only felt on the field—Guarino was named to the 2021-2022 Academic Honor Roll.

for the next, I think three and a half years up until COVID. Going into my u19 year, they got rid of the team, and I went to go play with the New York Cosmos men’s team. One of the coaches worked with NYCFC and had already seen me play. He took notice of me and I ended up signing an amateur contract with the club since I was already committed to Wake Forest and didn’t want to interfere with my eligibility.

On Friday night, you scored an incredible acrobatic attempt to put away No. 9 Louisville, describe what was going through your mind at that moment and how it felt to see the ball in the back of the net.

That’s hard to describe, but I’ll try the best I can. I knew the play. We knew what was happening. The guy on the ball hit it back post, and Takuma headed it back in. It was just perfect. I thought, ‘alright, I’m gonna just hit it. I’m gonna go for it.’ I hit the ball. I knew it bounced and then had to look back and see if it went in. I saw the goalie get a hand to it, but he wasn’t strong enough to push it out. Once I saw it hit the back of the net, I was excited. I mean, you can tell from the celebration I don’t even know what I was doing. I just ran to the corner and ended up at the bottom of a dogpile. Watching it again, it’s probably one of the best goals that I’ve scored honestly. I mean scoring a bike is every pro’s dream. It might not have been the cleanest, but it hit the back of the net — I mean, that’s all that matters.

thing we need to work on. But all 30 of the guys know what we’re capable of, we know that going down is something that we can overcome and especially now in the postseason, like these games if you lose, you’re out. So there’s a bit more that we’re gonna have to put into this because no one wants to lose at the end of the year. We want to come back to Wake with a national championship. That’s the goal year in year out, but we feel that our team this year is really special, as we saw at the beginning of the year, starting off er, much smaller. When you come to the ACC and you get to college in general, you could be an 18 year-old playing against guys who are 22 or 23, so physically the game’s much different. I also feel that the academies kind of all had. specific ways of playing. They try to recreate what their first team was doing.

But here in college, I feel like many teams have their own identity that is so different from the next. We like to possess the ball, create scoring opportunities, keep the ball in the attacking half playing off the switch. Other teams have bigger players, much different than what we have. We’re not the biggest team, we’re not the strongest, but I think we definitely are the most well-rounded playing with the ball. Differences in playing styles and physicality are two of the main things I think I’ve taken away from the Academy compared to college in general.

What is your end goal with soccer? Do you plan on pursuing a professional career after Wake Forest?

This season has had its ups and downs. Wake has gone from No. 1 in the country to becoming unranked by the end of the season. Describe this transition and how you guys prepare for the postseason.

Ultimately, that’s every kid’s main goal growing up. That was and still is my goal. Obviously after my four years here, I’m definitely going to try and go play professionally, whether it be here overseas.

Yeah, I mean, we started off with a great run. We were I think it was 9-0, ranked No. 1 for a bunch of weeks. Then we hit a little midweek, midseason crisis where we were losing a couple of games in a row. We were dealing with some pressure in those games. The common theme was that we’d give up the first goal and wouldn’t really be able to get back into the game. It’s been kind of difficult for us and some-

Before we go, imagine you can make a five-side team with any current players in the world, who would you pick?

Dybala, Van Dyke, Messi, Donnaruma, and De Bruyne.

Contact Evan Harris at harres22@wfu.edu

PAGE 14 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2022

LIFE OLD GOLD & BLACK

Adam Coil, coilat21@wfu.edu Josie Scratchard, scraja20@wfu.edu

'1776' seeks to reinvent itself

Diverse casting and musical changes attempt to bring the musical into the modern era ISABELLA ROMINE Staff Writer

My journey to see the Broadway revival of the classic musical “1776” has been a long one. First, production was halted for more than two years by the pandemic; then, I was hampered by my inability to drop everything and fly to New York midsemester. Finally, over fall break, I was able to see the revival.

While I chose not to read any reviews beforehand in order to avoid preconceived notions, my feelings after the show echoed that of most critics: more than a little mixed.

Set during the summer of 1776 in Philadelphia, the musical follows John Adams as he struggles to convince the Second Continental Congress to declare independence from England.

“1776” originally debuted several years before the country’s patriotic bicentennial in 1969 and ran for over a thousand performances, closing in 1972. The musical has been referred to as the original “Hamilton”, and the latter actually references what are perhaps the former’s most recognizable lyrics in “The Adams Administration” when Alexander Hamilton commands Adams, the second president of the US at the time, to “sit down, John.”

This particular revival has attracted attention for its radical casting, which is race-blind and consists entirely of women, nonbinary and transgender actors. While race-blind productions of the show have been put on before, the latter casting choice is revolutionary, especially given that only two of the twenty-six roles in the original production were played by women.

Further controversy has been stirred from within the show.

In a recent interview, actor Sarah Porkalob — who plays proslavery South Carolina delegate Edward Rutledge — criticized aspects of the production. Among other things, she claimed that there had been “harm done” to non-Black POC actors while the directors were conceptualizing a scene that reenacts a slave auction. Porkalobalso stated she is only giving the show “75%” of her potential. After receiving backlash from within the theater community and one of the musical’s co-directors, Porkalob apologized on Twitter for “the pain [she] caused [her] team.”

While the casting decisions are the most immediately obvious update, they are far from the only ones. The consciously progressive musical has been peppered with updates right out of the gate.

In the opening two minutes, Crystal Lucas-Perry guides the cast as John Adams through a scene where they metaphorically and literally step into the heeled shoes of their characters, pull stockings up over street clothes and don gloriously vibrant

James Watson / Old Gold & Black

The revitalized musical, set in 1776 Philadelphia, follows the struggle of the Second Continental Congress in their choice of whether to declare independence from England.

who have previously been barred from such roles. These actors also invite the audience to consider the faces not granted or consulted on the legal rights of groups discussed in the musical, creating a palpable situational irony. These factors alone make the casting decisions worthwhile.

The actors themselves and the chemistry between them are excellent. Patrena Murray brought the perfect mix of wit, cunning and charm to her role as Benjamin Franklin, and Shawna Hamic was delightfully effusive as Richard Henry Lee. Allyson Kaye Daniel excellently plays Abigail Adams, one of the musical’s two female characters. In this updated revival, Abigail’s character reminds her husband to “remember the ladies,” quoting the historical Adams’s famous appeal to her husband to consider women’s rights in the nation’s forthcoming new code of laws. The quotation, far more recognizable today than during the original 1969 run, both acknowledges her womanhood and elevates her role as her husband’s key confidant — and correspondingly drew raucous applause from the crowd.

The same influence is not given to the other female character, Martha Jefferson, played by Erin LeCroy. In her single appearance, Martha is reduced to an unhinged, moaning mess, sexually excited by her husband’s violin playing. Constraints of the source material might never have allowed Martha ever to pass the Bechdel test, but this take feels particularly unsatisfying, being a missed opportunity to deepen and complicate the role women played during the time.

"Taking into account the subject matter and historical context of the original release, it is safe to say that updating the musical to suit today’s political climate was always going to be a challenge." dress coats. The cast’s diversity is immediately apparent, extending beyond race and queerness to encompass body and age diversity. Elizabeth A. Davis, who played Thomas Jefferson, is even visibly pregnant — particularly notable given how often pregnancy is concealed in cinematic and theatrical productions.

Regardless of whether the casting accomplishes anything on an artistic level, it succeeds in increasing the visibility of actors

Martha’s single song, “He Plays the Violin,” also drew attention to how significantly the music has changed. Some of these overhauls are successful. Most are not. The scores have been so altered from the original’s orchestral pieces that they often no longer resemble the original musical at all, save for a few distinctive snatches of melody.

This often results in a song that simply sounds generic, or one where the crescendo is cut lamentably short in favor of an

anticlimactic acapella. Sometimes the instrumentation overpowers the lyrics entirely, making them impossible to discern.

Other times, the music is jarringly out of place, and genres are poorly blended, as was the case during “Momma Look Sharp,” where someone strumming a guitar made me feel like I was about to witness an old Western duel rather than hear a tragic ballad about a mother discovering that her son had been killed in battle.

The biggest narrative change of all, however, comes at the end in a final stark image that completely changes the tone of the play. The Declaration is successfully signed, and someone announces they’ll ring the Liberty Bell — but in this version, that never happens. Instead, the actors gather on stage facing the audience singing a haunting refrain from “Is Anybody There?” while the music dissolves into a nightmarish crescendo, and the backdrop peels away to reveal hundreds of barrels of rum lit in red. The imagery harkens back to an earlier nightmare sequence from the song “Molasses to Rum,” led by the character Edward Rutledge, who calls out the hypocrisy of abolitionist northerners who profited from their complicity in the slave trade.

Ultimately, this dramatic change suggests that the compromises made by the Continental Congress to achieve independence were not worth it — namely, striking the anti-slavery clause from the Declaration to win over the southern colonies.

Liberty and political power were not intended for all, which is perhaps most directly referenced in an added scene where Jefferson recites the lines of the Declaration as his slave dresses him: As Jefferson discusses liberty, an uncomfortable, selfaware silence results. As the musical points out, slaves were excluded from the Continental Congress. They had no say in whether upholding the institution of slavery was an acceptable compromise for American independence, but they nevertheless suffered its consequences.

While the question of whether independence at any cost is justifiable certainly merits discussion, the musical leaves it unanswered. The tone of the ending seems at odds with some earlier narrative decisions, such as the fast-paced projection of images from America’s most notable political protests and human rights icons during the song “The Egg,” an optimistic intervention that suggests a long arc of revolution.

In the end, this iteration of “1776” is a musical that cannot decide what it wants to be in its struggle both to elevate and move past the constraints of its source material. While not a complete whitewash of history, the original “1776” is certainly dated today. The question of whether it is possible to bring the play fully into the modern era — or whether that should be done at all — remains unanswered. In this case, it feels like the clearer choice might have been to commission something new entirely.

Contact Isabella Romine at romiee21@wfu.edu

Life | Old Gold & Black

Thursday, November 17, 2022 | Page 15

'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' lacks originality 7KH ORQJ DZDLWHG VHTXHO IDOOV VKRUW RI H[SHFWDWLRQV CONOR METZGER Staff Writer

OHDG DFWRU ZKR SOD\HG 7·&KDOOD LQ WKH ÀUVW “Black Panther”, is also a highlight and shows proper respect to an actor who paved the way for Black superhero representation.

Coming into this year, I had high hopes Unfortunately, my positive review stops for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) there. From the beginning, it is clear that the and its planned release schedule. Doctor death of Boseman put the production of the Strange, Thor, Black Panther — all sequels ÀOP LQ D UDWKHU GLVRULHQWLQJ VSDFH ,W LV REYLWR VRPH RI WKH EHVW ÀOPV WKH 0&8 KDV SXW ous that they simply changed a couple ofout. But then reality set in, and I watched as plot points and replaced T’Challa with Shuri “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Mad- (Letitia Wright). Wright gave a stellar perness” being crushed under the weight of set- formance, but due to the audience only being ting up new content while “Thor: Love and slightly familiar with her from the previous Thunder” couldn’t live up to its predecessor. ÀOPV KHU PRWLYDWLRQV DUH QRW DOZD\V FOHDU Now, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” 7KH ÀOP DOVR KDV DQ LVVXH LQ QRW NQRZLQJ has hit the screens and somehow has man- who the main character is, shifting between aged to fail in both of the previous regards.

Shuri and her mother, Ramonda (Angela 7R VWDUW ZLWK WKH EULJKW VSRWV RI WKH ÀOP Bassett), while not letting the audience truly the introduction of the main villain Namor get to know either of them. This is a problem is well done, as the connection between his with a lot of MCU movies today, as they go sea-dwelling culture to Mesoamerican cul- from either quippy dialogue to quick-cut acture is reminiscent of how well the “Black tion scenes and then don’t give the characters Panther” movies portray often-underrepre- breathing room to express their emotions — sented cultures. save for an occasional passionate speech that The tribute to Chadwick Boseman, the ends up contributing little to the plot.

I think Wright and Basset both do a great MRE ZLWK ZKDW WKH\ ZHUH JLYHQ EXW WKH ÀOP attempts to characterize Ramonda as an angry mother and Shuri as a vengeful sister, all the while not explaining why they would be this way. It also doesn’t help that the movie is somehow nearly three hours long yet still averaged what couldn’t have been more than ÀYH PLQXWHV SHU VFHQH FKRRVLQJ WR VKLIW IRcus away from the main characters and focus on side characters that the audience hasn’t had time to care about. Because we never really got to know Shuri or Ramonda in the ÀUVW ÀOP WKH DXGLHQFH KDV WR TXLFNO\ FDUH about them and six different people in one hour before the plot even really starts.

As for the plot, the dynamic between Wakanda and Talokan shows some promise as we see two powerful civilizations share a cause in wanting to protect themselves from the outside world. If this sounds familiar, WKHQ \RX PD\ KDYH ZDWFKHG WKH ÀUVW ´%ODFN 3DQWKHUµ ZLWK D VLPSOH ÀQG DQG UHSODFH RI “Killmonger” with “Namor” because the progression is nearly the same. This in par-

ticular has shown that Marvel movies continue to pivot to reliable plot points for the sake of safe, formulaic content.

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is the latest example of how the MCU is struggling to cast innovation with quality, as they try to introduce new characters to play into formulaic plots. If given the time and pacing, Shuri could have been a compelling new superhero with a complex emotional range. Instead, she goes through the basic “dead relative” development without focusing on anything that may be original to her character. While this is going on, the movie is trying to make me care about people who have no backstory nor a clear motivation. All this ends up creating a sense of disappointment in fans as we get a taste of what the movie could have been, all the while being denied access to a thoughtful, FKDUDFWHU GULYHQ ÀOP Contact Conor Metzger at metzcr19@wfu.edu

Thank you for playing: 'Super Mario Galaxy' $ UHÀHFWLRQ RQ WKH RXW RI WKLV ZRUOG YLGHR JDPH V OHJDF\ \HDUV RQ game is indeed an example of one.

Every artwork has its themes, and “Super Mario Galaxy” certainly has some to offer. I would say that the most evident 0\ VPDOO ÀQJHUV JHQWO\ KHOG WKH of them is the dichotomy of sheer abunshiny new disc as I inserted it into the dance and gaping emptiness. Starting out Wii console that I had just received for my sixth birthday. I hastily grabbed the your exploration of new galaxies can feel Wii remote and anticipated the moment overwhelming as you take in the number my video game would show up on the of them to be unlocked — all viewed screen. Before me appeared a blue ex- from the massive “observatory” that panse, followed by a familiar voice that serves as your home base. There are new read out the superimposed title: “Super mechanics and power-ups with which Mario Galaxy.” And with that, I pressed to experiment, mounds of colorful Star “START”. I had no idea where this game Bits to collect and hurl at targets, bonus worlds to unlock, gravitational physics to was about to take me.

On Nov. 1, 2007, Nintendo released exploit by long-jumping off a small planZKDW \RX QRZ ÀQG IUHTXHQWLQJ OLVWV IRU etoid then remaining in orbit for as long the greatest video games ever made. as possible and so on.

There’s so much to see and do, and you “Super Mario Galaxy” was an outstanddon’t want to slow down. But after coling feat for a myriad of reasons. ProbOHFWLQJ D JURXS RI 6WDU %LWV , VDZ ÁRDWably the most recognizable achievement is the game design’s revolutionary use of ing in the sky beyond the galaxy’s edge, I stopped to stare at… nothing. Well, there spherical physics, which alwere some distant pinpricks of stars low players to explore or galaxies, but they were still so far worlds and moons like away. I would never make it to them never before. It was through the void before me — this DOVR WKH ÀUVW 6XSHU void that enveloped a charming world Mario game to implethat felt smaller now.

Back at the starment a full orchestra ship observatory, I found myself gazing for its epic, space oddown at the horizon of the blue planet yssey-like soundtrack. below, wondering what was down The cutscenes are there, if anything at all. Beyond that nothing short of were innumerable points of light cinematic. Beall around, and I somehow yond these wellfelt that I had seen everyearned merits, thing and yet nothing. though, there is another Adrift in vast space on layer to this beloved game. a strange starship, it was There is a certain essence Photo courtesy of Pixy easy to feel lonely even that causes many players to with Toads, Lumas and other characters ÀQG WKHPVHOYHV UHPLQLVFLQJ around. I wandered and eventually found on their planet-hopping adventures, and it evokes a longing to hit the ship’s library, where a story of loneliWKH VWDUW EXWWRQ IRU WKH ÀUVW WLPH MXVW DV ness and other things waited to be told. they did all those years ago. Such a de- Mario and the Lumas gathered around scription sounds like something a work WKH ÀUHSODFH WR OLVWHQ WR 5RVDOLQD WKH of art would do. I believe that this video leader of the observatory. She opened her ALYSSA SOLTREN Staff Writer

book, and a story of her life played out on softly illustrated pages before my very eyes. I learned of how she left her family and home planet to help a lost Luma ÀQG LWV PRWKHU DQG KRZ WKH JLUO EHJDQ WR miss her old life as time passed.

Even as a young child, Rosalina’s storybook accompanied by the game’s vague atmosphere of sadness managed to settle on me. I was only seven when playing outside with my father and sister was followed by me crying to my mother that I didn’t want our family to end. Why couldn’t everything remain the way it was in a warm summer glow? It was the ÀUVW RI PDQ\ WLPHV WKDW , ZRXOG HQFRXQter such a profound feeling.

But as the game progressed, so did the storybook. Rosalina grew older and was designated “Mama” by a whole crowd of cheerful Lumas. She discovered their ability to transform into any kind of celestial object. Regardless of their destiny to leave and change, she built a new home for all of them to live in together.

She still visited her old home planet occasionally, but Rosalina also learned to be happy in her new world with her growing family. Finally, you learn that the starship is that very home she built and that star power is all around you.

It’s no wonder this game resonates with its young players 15 years later.

Our lives have since changed, and we’ve found ourselves in unfamiliar settings where there’s so much to explore, yet we still get lonely. It’s kind of ironic that we want to return to the game that encourages us to venture into new, far-off places, but maybe that makes perfect sense. “Super Mario Galaxy” tells us that it’s okay to grow up and it’s okay to miss home because still more lies ahead, and love is not lost or forgotten. And, of course, it’s just a really fun game to play.

Over fourteen years ago, I began my journey with “Super Mario Galaxy.”

Now that it has been released on the

Photo courtesy of Flickr

The new game follows Mario and his friends as they explore space.

Nintendo Switch, I recently began playing it again. Rosalina’s words when the universe is reborn in the game’s finale echoed through my mind: “But the cycle never repeats itself in quite the same way.” What would I do differently? What would feel the same?

As I watched Mario wake up on his very first moon, I wanted to freeze and capture that poignant moment.

But the moment passed, and I recalled that there was still a masterpiece of sights, sounds, motions and emotions ahead of me. Such is life itself. The wondrous display of every idea and dream in “Super Mario Galaxy” is what makes it a classic worthy of being celebrated. &RQWDFW $O\VVD 6ROWUHQ DW VROWDF #ZIX HGX

Page 16 | Thursday, November 17, 2022

Old Gold & Black | Life

‘TÁR’ is virtuosic

JAMES WATSON Staff Writer

Let’s get this out of the way — Lydia Tár is not a real person. But the aptly titled new drama, “TÁR” from director Todd Field has managed to convince many that Cate Blanchett’s domineering maestro is a real presence in the Berliner composer world. Over the last few weeks, this has become somewhat of a running joke on the internet, with Vulture even going so far as to publish a satirical biography of Lydia Tár, further adding to the illusion. Biographical entries included “Tár donated to Michael Bloomberg’s presidential campaign” and “Tár already pays $8 a month for a blue check, for unknown reasons.”

The notion that this singular character has inspired such confusion and amusing discourse speaks to the breathtaking power and confidence of this accomplishment of film. Field and Blanchett have created a document of staggering intrigue and intensity in “TÁR”.

The film’s subject, the titular Lydia Tár, is a master composer whose resume knows almost no limits. From producing music with south Asian indigenous tribes to serving as a direct pupil of Leonard Bernstein, the magnitude of her accomplishments creates an inescapable aura of myth. Tár herself seems to recognize this aggrandized image; styling herself in a masculine, conservative manner to maintain a kind of iconography. The film first finds her preparing a production of Gustav Mahler’s “Symphony No. 5” — Tár’s Moby Dick. This is a piece of enormous importance for her, which immediately creates a sense of urgency and pressure that consumes the film. While TÁR is not explicitly a thriller, the tension drives the plot even when it

takes a prodding, methodical pace — something I quite enjoyed.

“TÁR” is so dense with thematic potential that it’s a little overwhelming to dissect, but, fundamentally, it’s a treatise on power. Tár is obsessed with power — maybe understandably so, due to the sheer amount she’s cultivated despite treacherous occupational politics. The way she dresses, the way she speaks and the way she carries herself communicates that you should respect her — and perhaps fear her. In a few early instructive scenes, we see Tár speak largely in pseudo-academic nonsense: “You must in fact stand before the audience and God and obliterate yourself ” — What does this even mean?

Worse yet, this linguistic disarmament is used against a room full of Julliard undergrads. Immediately, Tár demands you honor her superiority. She is a God and you are a mortal. Don’t understand what she’s saying? That’s because you’re a nothing philistine. This dangerous master-and-commander dynamic is so key to her success, both as a person and as a maestro, that her character functions as an indictment of the toxic orthodoxy that consumes the academic music world. Additionally, she embodies a critique of how women like Tár adopt toxic masculinity to get what they want — even going so far as to groom and abuse other female students.

The gender politics of “TÁR” are incredibly potent, but Field mercifully remains ambivalent on issues of cancel culture. Tár is rightly subject to the intense scrutiny of the public and the internet for her obvious abuses of power, but she is depicted more as a product of her own environment than a hapless victim. Tár is singularly a product of the power structures into which she has had to assimilate in order to attain the influ-

ence she has, which is by far the most damning revelation that the film offers.

Mistakenly, I expected the film would veer into obvious, explosive moments of tyranny as in works such as “There Will Be Blood” or “Whiplash”, but Field makes it clear he’s not interested in reactionary gestures. Subtlety is a weapon here (how refreshing). Make no mistake, Tár herself is an insidious force, but she’s incredibly nuanced, and the refusal to box her into any monolithic characterization is incredibly rewarding for the viewer. Stylistically, it conjures a Kubrickian formalism. While not flashy nor “aesthetic”, the visual style is practical and executed with steely professionalism. And though “TÁR” is a serious, often dangerousfeeling movie, humor is a crucial element. Field knows exactly when to use it and how to make Tár the butt of the joke. The ending is perhaps the funniest moment of 2022 cinema.

Finally, where would any of this be without Cate Blanchett? Her performance is frankly incomprehensible. Considering Blanchett’s career of outstanding performances, I am reluctant to call “TÁR” her greatest. But if this isn’t a careerdefining performance, I’m not sure what is. She reads Field’s lines as if they were spoken by a real person. There is an extended interview sequence early on in the film featuring The New Yorker’s own Adam Gopnik in which the line between acting and reality is almost invisible. Blanchett dances through the scene in what appears to be a seamless one-take. This scene, consisting exclusively of dialogue, mesmerized me more than any film I have seen this year — and I say that having loved Jordan Peele’s “Nope”.

Contact James Watson at watsjc22@wfu.edu

“‘TÁR’ is a revelation, a tour-de-force of film craft and a ferocious statement on gender politics, power and the insidious ambition required to accrue it. Run, don’t walk to see it — preferably in allegro time.”

Photo courtesy of World of Reel