News: Local communities sup- Opinion: Feminism is attained through progress, not perfection port Afghan refugees Page 7 Page 6
Sports: Wake Forest prevails over NC State Page 10
Life: Tips to start a Thanksgiving food fight Page 14
Old Gold&Black
WAKE FOREST’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1916 VOL. 108, NO. 13
T H U R S DAY, N OV E M B E R 18 , 2 0 21 “Cover s the campus like the magnolias”
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Booster shots come to campus During the last week of classes, the university will be offering booster shots of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine BY BREANNA LAWS Staff Writer lawsbn21@wfu.edu
Aine Pierre/ Old Gold & Black
Residence Life and Housing will be providing housing for students over Winter Break, the office announced in an email sent on Nov. 10. The change came after students expressed concern over logistics.
Residence Life updates Winter Break policies Students will be able to stay on campus over Winter Break after all, RLH said in an email BY AINE PIERRE News Editor pierav20@wfu.edu
On Nov. 10, Residence Life and Housing (RLH) announced the reversal of its original decision regarding Winter Break housing. Now, students who need to stay in Winston-Salem for any reason can reside in university-sponsored housing. The announcement followed a monthlong period of deep concern for international students, many of whom are unable to go home between semesters. On Oct. 4, RLH announced it would be closing all residential facilities at the university over
Winter Break, a reversal from its policy last year. On Oct. 28, the Old Gold & Black published a report by Mingxuan Zhu, Dexter Peters and Elena Marsh calling attention to the predicament of these students. “Staying in a hotel or renting a house is not safe and not cheap,” Qianyue Zhang told the Old Gold & Black in the Oct. 28 article. “And besides, we do not have cars, so that is another big issue. We cannot go anywhere, and we have to take Uber, which is also very expensive.” According to the email, students will now either be placed in double-occupancy hotel rooms or university-sponsored housing from Dec. 12-Jan. 8. RLH said that student concerns were the driving force behind the change. “Some students expressed frustration regarding housing options over Winter
Break as the pandemic continues to affect travel plans, especially for international students,” RLH Associate Director of Operations Dr. Zachary Blackmon said. “[Students] raised important concerns about housing insecurity, travel difficulties and other personal considerations during this upcoming period.” Students must apply to stay on campus over Winter Break by Nov. 21 at 11:59 p.m. Those approved will be charged $750, which, according to the email, is a similar rate as that charged to those who stayed on campus over Winter Break last year. Students can apply for financial aid to cover those costs, too. “Our office is working with the Financial Aid team to review students requesting Winter Break housing who might have demonstrated financial need,” Blackmon said.
See RLH, Page 4
With more research being conducted every day on COVID-19 and related safety measures, Wake Forest is doing what they can to adhere to new regulations and guidelines as they are released. Students and faculty were all required to receive the COVID-19 vaccination before arriving on campus at the beginning of the year — provided that they were not exempt. Because of this requirement, Wake Forest has the extremely high vaccination rate of 97%. This high vaccination rate, along with other preventative measures, have kept campus relatively free of the virus, according to Vice President of Campus Life Penny Rue. As of Nov 13, Wake Forest has only 123 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 since Aug 1. Per earlier reporting, unvaccinated Wake Forest students were much more likely to contract COVID-19 than their vaccinated peers. Recently though, studies have shown that vaccines steadily lose their effectiveness over time. For this reason, the CDC believes that booster shots for COVID-19 can help keep the virus at bay. In response, Wake Forest is providing options for students to receive booster shots through on-campus clinics. These vaccine clinics will be held from Nov. 30 through Dec. 2 on the second floor of the Sutton Center. The boosters are available to all students and completely free of charge. The only requirement is that all students bring their vaccination cards and wear masks for the duration of their appointment. The on-campus clinics will only be offering Pfizer booster shots. Students that originally received the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine will still be able to receive boosters, too, because these doses are compatible with those vaccines as well. Students are also able to get their booster shots off campus if they wish to do so. Locations for specific off-campus clinics can be found on the Our Way Forward webpage of the university’s website. However, Rue suggests that students take advantage of clinics on campus.
See Boosters, Page 5
Old Gold & Black
“ respect and empathy Lead with This column represents the views of the Old Gold & Black Editorial Board.
Tensions are high, norms are shifting and it feels that consistency is scarce. Your mind might have traveled to any number of scenarios while reading that sentence. Perhaps you thought about the inevitable political screaming matches you will find yourself in on Thanksgiving Day. Maybe you recalled an angry internet exchange you had with a Twitter bot last week. Or maybe you thought about the cultural divide that is exacerbated by differences in age, religion, political affiliation, ideals, sexual orientation and more. Or you may have — like us — instantly considered all of the
You may not be in control of your feelings, but you are in control of your actions ... Empathy is the strongest tool we possess, so use it, and use it wisely." above and even some more examples. People are not the same. This is a fact of life. Though you were raised under the same roof as your sibling, I guarantee that you possess different talents, beliefs, interests and dreams. Without turning this editorial into a sociology lecture, we want to point out that these different opinions and outlooks stem from different experiences, differing identities and differing
Old Gold&Black
backgrounds. The moral is that understanding and acceptance are not the same thing. You will never understand the experiences of a gay man in terms of sexuality if you are a straight man, nor will you understand the racial implications of being a Black woman if you are white. But despite these limitations, you can still choose to practice acceptance and empathy. Accept that you do not fully understand people. Accept that others’ beliefs and morals do not make them any more or less worthy of your respect. Accept that perspective shapes an experience more so than the experience itself.
It is okay to misinterpret, misunderstand or experience confusion when exposed to things that do not fit into your idea of the way that things should be. That does not mean that your truth is everyone’s truth. You should act with the unity of your community in mind rather than your personal agenda and beliefs. You may not be totally in control of your feelings, but you are in control of your actions. So choose to act with kindness and treat those around you — even those with whom you disagree — with respect. Empathy is the strongest tool we possess, so use it, and use it wisely.
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News | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, November 18, 2021 | Page 3
Deacon Profile: Zach Scofield
BY COOPER SULLIVAN Asst. News Editor sullcg20@wfu.edu
can do that. The entire summer was just spent doing this research work every day, and I’m still continuing. Eventually, I hope to write a paper on it and do my senior thesis on the same topic. I also want to present at the meeting for the American Physical Society. I don't know if I'd do that virtually or in-person, though.
Zach Scofield is a senior from Rutherfordton, N.C. who is majoring in physics and minoring in mathematics. Over the summer, Scofield was awarded a URECA grant to study the quantum effects related to a black hole in an expanding universe. Beyond the classroom, Scofield is an avid music producer, who participates in Kenny Beats’ weekly beat battles. He is also the captain of the League of Legends team for the Wake Forest eSports Club.
I imagine that's a pretty big deal. It's a big meeting. The American Physical Society is a big group. They give a lot of opportunities for undergraduates to present. It would be a big honor for me to be able to present at a huge conference like that. I would probably be presenting like a poster or giving an online talk if I'm not able to go in person, but that would still be a big accomplishment for me. That's the goal.
What are you currently researching? It's hard to put it into non-complex terms, but it's essentially about the effects of quantized scalar fields on black holes in a cosmological space-time. To give some context, quantum physics is microscopic physics — like the physics of atoms or subatomic particles. Quantum field theory is quantum physics applied to fields, like an electromagnetic field. It's like quantum physics applied to light, because light can be thought of as having to do with an electromagnetic field. So basically, what I do is I take a quantized scalar field, and I examine quantum effects of that field on a black hole that's inside of a universe that is expanding exponentially outwards. So, that would mean this black hole would have to exist either at the beginning of the universe — during the Inflationary Epoch, as they call it — but that epoch may not have even occurred, or it could also exist at the late stages of the universe. For example, our local group of galaxies is expected to collapse into a supermassive black hole. That black hole could be modeled by the solutions that I am using. So in the most basic sense, I am examining theoretical black holes, and it really is all theoretical and computational physics.
What are your plans post-graduation? Do you want to pursue astrophysics? I'm applying to graduate school, and I've been trying to decide between observational astronomy — which involves telescopes and data collection — or theoretical cosmology — which is purely theoretical physics that has to do with the beginning of the universe. You're very interested in music. What is the connection between that interest and your scientific endeavors?
That does not seem like the kind of math that you can Google or plug into a calculator, so what does this research look like in the lab? It's a lot less glamorous than it sounds. It sounds really cool, and what I'm doing is really cool to me, but it might not be to other people. I am working with a program called Mathematica. I probably have hundreds of Mathematica programs, and I essentially just solve equations that can't be solved analytically. To solve something analytically means someone can solve it by using known methods (like algebra), but I have to do
Selinna Tran/ Old Gold & Black
numerical computations — that's pretty much what the work is. Half of it is theoretical physics in that we are using different strategies to come up with approximations for the physical aspects of what we're looking at. The other half is me coding to analyze the expressions we come up with.
You recently received a URECA grant. Is that for this research? Yeah, I started the research with Dr. Paul Anderson in the spring semester of my junior year, and then I decided to try and continue it over the summer. I got accepted for the URECA grant so I
There’s an interesting connection. I remember in electronics — the one physics course you have to take — we talked about all the different types of filters for electronics. There are high-pass filters, low-pass filters, a lot of different types that filter different aspects of electronics like voltage or frequency. There’s the same exact thing in music, and when I'm producing something, I use something like an equalizer, and I have the audio range for frequency. I use a lowpass filter if I want to cut off the highs of the frequency or a high-pass filter if I want to cut off the lows. There’s a lot of parallels, but in all honesty, a lot of it comes from wanting a creative outlet when the work I do is largely not creative. Physics is probably the most literal science, and there's not much room for interpretation. People have new ideas, and that comes from interpreting things in different ways, but physics really is equations and math and very concrete things. Music is an outlet for me to create things that are different, there aren't really any set rules. Editor's Note: This interview was edited for brevity and clarity.
POLICE BEAT Underage Consumption/Drug Offenses
Miscellaneous
• An underage student consumed alcohol in their dorm room and got sick outside. They were transported to WFUBMC. The report was filed at 12:37 a.m. on Nov. 11. • An underage student in Poteat who consumed alcohol fell in their bathroom. The report was filed at 2:45 a.m. on Nov. 13 • A group of underage students consumed alcohol and set off fireworks in the Deacon Place parking lot. One of the fireworks hit a car, causing damage. The report was filed at 12:59 a.m. on Nov. 14.
• University Police assisted WSPD in responding to a large party on Wake Place Ct. where students were sitting on a roof. The report was filed at 4:08 p.m. on Nov. 13. • A Kia ran a red light at the intersection of Long Dr. and University Pkwy. and struck a Toyota occupied by two Wake Forest students. The report was filed at 4:46 p.m. on Nov. 13. • University Police assisted WSPD with a loud noise call. The report was filed at 5:11 p.m. on Nov. 13.
News | Thursday, November 18, 2021
RLH: Students can stay over break Continued from Page 1 Blackmon continued: “Financial Aid staff will connect with those students to discuss what options might be available for support during the break period.” University operations will also be limited throughout Winter Break so staff can also be afforded time off. More details on exactly what services will or will not be available are forthcoming, according to the email.
Khushi Arya, who was quoted in the Oct. 28 story, expressed mixed emotions about the policy change. “I think it’s great that RLH decided to provide international students a housing option,” Arya said. “It’s still [bothersome] that it took all of this.” Arya also credited the Oct. 28 article with implementing the change. “This instance goes to show the power of journalism,” Arya said. “I am proud of [Zhu] for amplifying the voices of international stu-
dents at Wake and advocating for change.” Blackmon noted that a plan is in the works to ensure that RLH can provide Winter Break housing in future years so the apprehension experienced by current international students is a one-off experience. “We do hope to incorporate Winter Break housing options into our regular planning for future years and will communicate more information about those options as our plans are finalized,” Blackmon said.
Wake Forest celebrates NAHM The Intercultural Center planned a slate of programming to honor indigenous culture on campus BY CHRISTA DUTTON Staff Writer duttcd20@wfu.edu
November is Native American Heritage Month (NAHM), and the Intercultural Center (IC) has a variety of events planned that will highlight and celebrate Native and Indigenous leadership, values and culture. The first event of the month took place on Nov. 11, when the IC hosted an event called “My Shelf to Yours”. Students were able to drop by the IC and pick up a book from a curated collection of Native American and Indigenous writings. Next, on Nov. 15, there was an iLab Lunch and Learn about Wake Forest’s
Indigenous Land Acknowledgement, which was codified in 2019. iLab is a learning lab led by the IC that offers programs like interactive workshops and online resources that are designed to raise cultural awareness. During this event, participants discussed the university-wide land acknowledgment: its intent and how the university plans to move beyond acknowledgment and toward meaningful engagement with Native students, indigenous communities and tribes. The IC has also been collaborating with the Office of Sustainability to host “Tohi Talks”, a dialogue series set in the Tohi Garden located behind Angelou Hall. The talks will take place Nov. 16-18 and will dive into some of the most pressing issues in Native American communities, including environmental justice, indigenous climate leadership, land stewardship and the protection of Native American women and girls amidst the Missing
Vanessa Christabel/ Old Gold & Black
Some events during Native American Heritage Month focus around the university's 2019 land acknowledgment.
and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) epidemic. These talks will also explore how Native people use their own cultural values to approach issues like climate change and interpersonal violence. All of these events will promote the celebration of Native American culture among those who identify as Native American, as well as those who do not but wish to learn more. “It is important for the Intercultural Center to promote NAHM to give Native American students, faculty and staff an opportunity to celebrate their culture while simultaneously providing our entire campus community the chance to learn more about Native people, traditions and histories they may not be familiar with,” Savannah Baber, program coordinator for the Intercultural Center, said. Junior Mahlea Hunt is a Native student who is a part of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. She deeply appreciates how Wake Forest and the IC are recognizing and celebrating NAHM. “NAHM is a time for me to celebrate my beautiful culture and heritage with my Native brothers and sisters,” Hunt said. “Wake Forest has created a beautiful and welcoming environment.” Hunt is excited to attend the IC’s many events, and she is also looking forward to speaking at Salem College about NAHM. Hunt finds it especially important for everyone to have a knowledge of Native American history and culture. “Many textbooks that are in schools have false information about Native American history and culture,” Hunt said. Hunt suggested that instead of consuming content from these textbooks, students should read books written by Native American authors and research the cultural practices of Native Americans on tribal websites. She also encourages students to attend a powwow, or an informational session, on Native American history and culture. The IC’s “My Shelf to Yours” event gave students an opportunity to learn about Native history and values from the Native authors who know those experiences best. “Overall, I want my peers to understand the importance of NAHM,” Hunt said. “Natives have long suffered through oppression, so NAHM is an important time to recognize how Native Americans have overcome this suffering and to focus on the beautiful heritage and culture we have.”
Old Gold & Black | Page 4
ODI Update University Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council
By Aine Pierre President Susan Wente announced the membership of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council on Thursday, Nov. 11. The council is charged with centering diverse perspectives as the university moves forward in its efforts to make all students feel more at home, accepted and safe at Wake Forest. The membership of the committee is as follows: Co-Chairs: José Villalba, Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer Tracey L. Banks, Faculty Senate Vice President University Trustee: Jermyn Davis (’10), Board of Trustees Students: Ally Swartzberg (’22), Student Body President Toni-Ann Hines (JD ’22), Law School Student Marcus Reid (MSM ’22), Business School Student Estefania Narvaez (’23), President of the Organization of Latin American Students and representative of undergraduate affinity groups Nate Seegel (’21), Inter-Fraternity Council Leadership Kgosi “Orion” Hughes (’23), National Panhellenic Council Leadership Staff: Stephanie Carter, Staff Advisory Council Dedee Johnston, Human Resources Ashley Wechter ('06), Athletics Naijla Faizi ('14), Campus Life Ashley Wechter (’06), Athletics Naijla Faizi (’14), Campus Life Nate French (’93, P ’23), Student Success Marianne Magjuka, Community Engagement Faculty: Phil Anderson, School of Business Melva Sampson, School of Divinity Ron Neal, Undergraduate College, Division One Ryan Shirey, Undergraduate College, Division Two Sharon Andrews, Undergraduate College, Division Three Betina Wilkinson, Undergraduate College, Division Four Wayne Silver, Undergraduate College, Division Five Alumni: Alex Reyes Schroeder (’06, JD ’09), Alumni Council Kelly Starnes (’93, MBA ’14), Affinity Alumni Organization
News | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, November 18, 2021 | Page 5
Boosters: No requirement put on bonus jabs Continued from Page 1 “That would be the simplest, easiest thing to do,” Rue said. With members of the Wake Forest Community getting booster shots at the on-campus clinics, student health will “have that information uploaded into students' health charts automatically,”
and so students won’t have to upload the information to the portal themselves. Rue said the administration is "following the research very carefully.” At this time, the university is not requiring students to receive booster shots, but this may change as more research into the virus and booster efficacy is released.
With that being said, booster shots are recommended by the university’s administration. Rue believes being vaccinated and receiving boosters gives the Wake Forest community “the greatest chance of increasing our collective protection.” The percentage of students that have received COVID-19 booster shots is not
known at this time, but data will be collected and the information made public as the 2021-2022 academic year progresses. For more information about COVID-19 here on campus, visit ourwayforward.wfu.edu. For information about upcoming booster clinics and how to reserve your spot, visit go.wfu.edu/boost.
Garden volunteers reveal inequity in Winston Volunteers tend to gravitate toward more beautiful gardens in affluent communities BY UNA WILSON Contributing Writer wilsui20@wfu.edu
Wake Forest University is less than four miles from East Winston, one of the most food insecure regions of WinstonSalem. Even still, only a handful of Wake Forest students volunteer at community gardens within the neighborhood. Food deserts are generally defined as geographic areas in which fresh, nutritious foods are unavailable for retail purchase. One in seven North Carolinians is food insecure. To address the widespread lack of accessible and affordable produce in densely populated areas, community gardens have proliferated in many urban areas across America. Winston-Salem is currently home to over 21 food deserts, despite the 90 community gardens also within city confines. Most Wake Forest students who are interested in volunteering will choose to work at the WFU campus garden, or offcampus gardens like Crossnore Miracle Grounds Network, Gateway Nature Reserve, and Goler Community Garden. These are mainly situated in affluent parts of Winston-Salem. The gardens in East Winston get much less attention. “When people volunteer, they want to give their time but also get something out of it,” community gardening program coordinator at Forsyth County’s N.C. Cooperative Extension Center Cameron Waters, said. “As a result, volunteers are going to want to go to beautiful, aesthetic garden spaces over the less pretty ones. But, those are the gardens that really need the help.” Organized by Waters and Nathan Peifer — who manages Wake Forest’s campus gardens — a small group of students volunteer weekly at select gardens in East Winston, including the Diggs-Latham Elementary School Garden, West Salem Community Garden and the Neighborhood Hands Community Garden. However, the group of two or three students showing up to these gardens pales in comparison to the 10 students who regularly attend Gateway Nature Reserve’s community work days. “I've really enjoyed getting out of the Wake Forest bubble and gardening in the city,” senior Matthew Scoggins, who volunteers with Peifer at a garden in East Winston, said. “I think that we need to focus our efforts more on working with
the Winston-Salem community on projects, rather than occasionally making donations. “I like how the teams have formed close working relationships with our neighborhood partners,” Peifer added. “I'll continue to nurture that aspect of the program, making sure we've got a skilled team of volunteers who can help achieve the community garden's goals.” Waters said that, as a Wake Forest graduate, she is appalled by the lack of knowledge within the student body in regards to gardens in East Winston. “Wake Forest is right next to the most food insecure parts of Winston-Salem, and even still, most people either don’t know about them or would rather go to a nicer garden, like the one on campus or at Crossnore, '' Waters said. Most of the produce grown in the campus garden and at gardens like Crossnore is donated to non-profit organizations like Project Help Our People Eat (H.O.P.E.) and the Second Harvest Food Bank. Both organizations distribute the food and produce, including green beans, tomatoes, potatoes, and shelf stable items, to families in Winston-Salem who are deemed food insecure.
“It’s hard for folks in less affluent areas to volunteer at community gardens, put the work in to grow their own food, and still tend to their other responsibilities like jobs and kids,” Waters said. “It really takes a village to keep these gardens going, and most people just don’t have the time to do so.” Sophomore Tyria Zanders is the Campus Garden Intern at Wake Forest’s Office of Sustainability. Zanders said the divide between Wake Forest students caring about the environment and food justice and actually getting their hands dirty is a problem the Office of Sustainability is always working to solve. “People at Wake Forest are either really passionate about gardening and sustainability and are willing to help out, or they know that sustainability is something they should be caring about but just don’t take the steps to change their habits,” Zanders said. “The key is actually showing people how big of an impact they can make on people’s lives and the environment. In addition to addressing food equity issues, community gardens benefit the environment. For example, unused plots of paved land that would have caused
polluted runoff into streams and rivers are often prime sites for community gardens. Other gardens serve to educate community members about the importance of local food, nutrient- rich diets, and biodiversity sanctuaries. Gardens in Forsyth County — especially the new ones in East Winston - are educated and encouraged by members of the N.C. Cooperative Extension to use native plants and practice sustainable farming techniques. “Community gardens are living labs,” Waters said. “We encourage our new gardeners to use crop rotation, native and pollinator friendly plants, and zero pesticides.” “I want Wake Forest students to realize that they are not only making a big difference in people’s lives — the people in East Winston.” Waters said. “They can also learn about the environment, and gain something from that, too.” Waters continued: “Imagine if we could implement those practices in the large-scale agriculture industry, and if we could make community gardens more widespread. The environmental payback would be huge. We could feed the people in America who are still going hungry.”
Vanessa Christabel/ Old Gold & Black
Volunteers, like those who come to help out at Campus Gardens, can put a dent in food insecurity in Winston-Salem, but certain gardens have greater impact than others.
Page 6 | Thursday, November 18, 2021
Old Gold & Black| News
Local communities support Afghan refugees Winston-Salem organizations work to support the influx of Afghan refugees BY CATE PITTERLE Staff Writer pittcj20@wfu.edu
Two weekends ago, a large family streamed off a plane after arriving in Charlotte, N.C. They were refugees from Afghanistan. Tired, relieved and with the loss of home settling over them, they made their way to a car waiting to take them to their new home: Winston-Salem. World Relief Triad, a branch of a Christian organization that operates in High Point and Winston-Salem, drove the family of 10 to WinstonSalem. The organization provides services including housing, ESL training and community-building to this family, as with 30 Afghan individuals that are expecting to arrive in the coming months. Hannah Rehm, World Relief Triad’s Volunteer Program Manager, noted that though all refugees have different experiences, the loss of home echoes deeply in many of them. “As a whole, for those individuals coming from Afghanistan, it is not as joyful of a time to be here,” Rehm said. “They’re obviously thankful and glad to be here, but there is that sense of sadness of having to flee their homes so abruptly. There’s the sense that they’re losing their homeland and what was important to them. They’re having to start over.” In the coming months, Forsyth County will receive even more refugees. Since late September, Afghan refugees have begun trickling into the area, and potentially hundreds more are expected. They are fleeing violence in their home country, where the government collapsed in mid-August. As U.S. troops evacuated the capital of Kabul, chaotic scenes forced even more refugees from a country where war had already displaced millions. They are not alone. Every year, millions of people flee their homes, as that Afghani family did. Most years, many arrive in Winston-Salem, N.C., seeking refuge in the mid-size Southern city. They come from Myanmar, Syria, Iraq, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other countries. Arriving in North Carolina, they are helped by government services from the U.S. Department of State in partnership with nonprofit organizations like World Relief Triad. “Because of COVID-19 and the past [presidential administration], we have not been able to settle as many refugees in the Winston area,” Rehm said. “But now, as President Biden’s determination has increased and the crisis in Afghanistan unfolds, we are expecting to see a huge jump in numbers of refugees that need resettling.” Though World Relief is by far the largest operation in the Piedmont Triad, others strive to serve refugee populations as well. At Wake Forest, the Student Association for the Advance-
ment of Refugees (SAFAR) works to tutor local refugee children. Haley Harris is a sophomore politics major who works with SAFAR. She tutors a child from Syria. “I tutor once a week with one of the families that SAFAR works with at their house,” said Harris. “They are so loving, literally my favorite people in the entire world. They have lived here for four or five years. They have five sons, and I tutor the middle child.” SAFAR has recently been able to continue its work in person, according to club president Conor Metzger. “We work with the refugees in Winston-Salem at the most basic level, which is a sense of community and support on an individual and family basis,” Metzger said. He continued: “We offer a range of services, including tutoring and smalltime fundraising. We have a couple of students working with someone, trying to get her into cosmetology school. We have a couple of students helping refugees with citizen tests.” SAFAR has two events planned for November, including a fundraiser for the 30 Afghan refugees World Relief Triad is taking on. For refugees, SAFAR is another pillar of support in an unfamiliar country and local community. For its
members, it is a way to connect with parts of the community not often represented at Wake Forest. “It is the place on campus that I feel impacts me the most,” Harris said. “I get to see the people that I’m working with in their homes. I love tutoring, because at the heart of most things is education. Being able to help somebody in that way is really special.” SAFAR works closely with Every Campus a Refuge (ECAR) which is led by Wake Forest faculty. Since 2017, ECAR has operated a house in Winston-Salem for refugees. They work closely with the Wake Forest Provost’s office, which pays for rent and other essentials like electricity. The house plays a crucial role in a community with little to no affordable housing, according to Alessandra Von Burg, a Wake Forest communication professor and ECAR’s co-founder. “In Winston-Salem, there is a huge housing shortage, which makes things really tough right now,” Von Burg said. Von Burg continued: “There’s no affordable housing, even for those who are not refugees. And refugees, they don’t have a credit history, they don’t have an employment history.” Across Winston-Salem, other organizations work to support refugees,
too. These include religious centers like mosques and churches, as well as other community organizations, like the YMCA. Ellen Gallimore, the literacy director at the Robinhood Road Family YMCA, manages ESL programs. “About 50% of our ESL students are Latino, but we also serve a lot of immigrants from Myanmar,” Gallimore said. “We’re also planning to help the Afghan refugees when they get here.” Gallimore continued: “Of course they’ll take the time to settle in before they get ready for classes. We talked to World Relief and said we have the ESL classes here and are willing to start a class just for the Afghan refugees [they are serving] if they have enough students. So, we’re just kind of waiting right now to see when they get here.” As more refugees begin arriving in the area, they face a daunting challenge: managing life in a new city with a sparse refugee population, while also learning a new language and culture. However, the work of these organizations is done with the hope that when refugees step off the airplane and into a brand new country, they can take comfort in knowing that they are not alone and that others are willing to help.
Courtesy of POLITICO
In wake of the United States’ withdrawl from Afghanistan, World Relief Triad Volunteer Program Manager Hannah Rehm said her organization expects an influx of Afghan refugees.
OPINION
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The 'F Word'
Feminism is attained through progress, not perfection We shouldn't feel guilty for engaging in stereotypical behavior — we should recognize the effects of socialization BY MEREDITH PRINCE Contributing Columnist prinmc21@wfu.edu
Last week when I was aimlessly searching the internet to procrastinate doing my homework, I came across a TED Talk titled “Confessions of a Bad Feminist," given by Roxane Gay. In her lecture, Gay said she was originally worried about being labeled as a feminist because she viewed the term as an accusation leveled against someone who “doesn’t play by the rules, expects too much, and thinks far too highly of themselves.” Gay also addressed the idea that mainstream feminism ignores the needs of women of color, working-class women, queer women and transgender women. All in all, Gay conveys several very important messages about feminist culture and how there is not one definition of what it means to be a feminist. I highly recommend watching this TED Talk if you can find 11 spare minutes throughout your busy day. Personally, Gay’s TED Talk drove me into a mental spiral. She discussed how she listens to rap music that is wildly degrading to women, enjoys fashion and the color pink, loves romantic comedies and “The Bachelor” and firmly believes in “man work” such as trash removal and lawn care. Does fitting into the stereotypical outline of a “woman” make someone a bad feminist, I wondered? Am I supposed to defy societal convention and hate the color pink, dressing up and makeup, too? Should I rid my Spotify playlist of songs that are clearly degrading to women? I’ve struggled with these questions ever since watching Gay’s video. I proudly boast the label of a feminist — I am one who believes in complete equality for women and I advocate for women’s rights with the loudest voice I can muster. Although I can safely say that I am a feminist under this definition, I often wonder if I am not doing enough. I wonder if some of the behaviors I engage in make me less of a feminist. I like to wear makeup and crop tops when going out. I blast rap music that sometimes contains horrifying and inglorious descriptions of women. And yes, I would rather ask
Photo courtesy of ted.com
While many label themselves as feminists, I of ten wonder about what truly defines feminism and if we have done enough to earn this label.
a man to kill a spider in my room than do it myself. Does this make me a bad feminist? It’s difficult to answer my question, but after contemplating for hours on end, I’ve begun to rid myself of the guilt that I leveled on myself for engaging in what are seemingly “non-feminist actions.” I am guilty of dressing up to appeal to the eyes of men. I am guilty of posting pictures on Instagram hoping for some feedback from the male gaze. I wish I could say that I always do my makeup and dress up just to feel good about myself — which is sometimes the case — but I would be wrong. It’s evident that much of rap culture hypersexualizes women, yet I still listen to and engage with these songs. Although these actions certainly seem to counter the feminist movement and lift women out of patriarchal society, I don’t think women should feel bad for engaging in such activities. We have been socialized to believe it is our duty to appeal to men, and it’s hard to remove such a belief because it has been ingrained in our minds since we were adolescent girls. I could sit around and be ashamed about my “anti-feminist” actions, but that would only serve as an obstacle to improving myself. Perhaps I could focus more on dressing up to feel empowered, rather than to feel attractive in the eyes of men — but
that’s not a mental shift that I can make in a matter of seconds. We have grown up in a world in which we are surrounded by advertisements that oversexualize women. The media tells us what we should look like and wear so that boys will like us, what toys we should play with and what activities we should engage in to be good “women.” As such, I am filled with guilt whenever I reflect on the stereotypes that I follow. My feminist ideals have caused me to believe that I should condemn all the social norms that girls are supposed to follow. But how am I supposed to change my agenda to fit every outline of the “perfect” feminist? How can I undo the socialization that has caused me to develop into the person I am today? It’s okay to feel guilty about things that may seem anti-feminist, but I don’t think these choices make us bad feminists. As long as I continue to advocate for women and learn more about what I can do to help the feminist movement, I will be a feminist. Although we can always become better feminists, what matters most is self-progress. It may take a long time for me to learn to dress up for myself rather than to appeal to men, but what’s important is that we recognize why we take these actions, and do not blame ourselves for taking them. I am not a perfect feminist, I am still learning what else I can do to become a better feminist — and that’s okay.
Opinion | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, November 18, 2021 | Page 8
“ McCreary donation has better applications University Funds
Wake Forest has more pressing issues than a new locker room for the football program
Cooper Sullivan Asst. News Editor sullcg20@wfu.edu
During the Deacs romping of the Blue Devils a few weeks ago, amidst the condom balloons and sea of black, the seemingly random words “Thank You Bob” flashed across the jumbotron. Being a child who still thinks that name is funny, I laughed. The university was about to announce that Bob McCreary — who I was looking at via the Bob McCreary Video Board — had just donated $20 million towards the construction of a new $38 million football complex. It was then that I stopped laughing. Thirty-eight million dollars. I understand the importance of capitalizing on this historic season and capturing this momentum to propel the program forward. Dave Clawson has created a culture of excellence that will outlast Clawson himself. A state-of-the-art locker room and recovery facility would only catapult Wake Forest foot-
The money will continue to come long after this era, where in the future student needs will be valued over university profits ." ball into the upper echelons of the ACC, ensuring we would always be knocking on the door of a New Year’s Six bowl game. But, as I stood in the student section that Saturday, all I could think about was that ginormous price tag. Thirty-eight million dollars. All donor money, as well. Old people donated $38 million dollars because our football team is good and they would like to keep it that way. They want to bottle the energy of the present for the future of Wake Forest. But, what about the current Wake Forest? In 1984, Boston College’s quarterback Doug Flutie threw a last-second improbable Hail Mary to stun the University of Miami. Although the game itself had no real implication on either team’s season, the Boston College admissions office would beg to differ. Over the next two years, applications rose 30%. Harvard researcher Doug Chung dubbed this “the Flutie Effect”, and later found that when a college football team goes from “mediocre to great” applications increase 18.7% on average. Wake Forest received 11,945 applications for the 2020-21 school year. 18.7% of that is
2,234 applications. Let’s consider how much money the university would receive with this extra application boost, basing our calculations on the 2020-21 acceptance rate of 32.1%. On application fees alone, which are $65, Wake Forest would rake in $145,210. Using the 32.1% acceptance rate, 717 of those applicants would be accepted. If everyone were expected to pay the full 2021-22 cost of attendance — $79,950 — Wake Forest would receive over $57 million. Now, let’s say that accounting for all the financial aid and then determining that the average tuition to be 80% of the projected cost of attendance — $63,960 — Wake Forest would still be receiving a hefty $45.8 million. Even if the financial aid decreased the cost of attendance down to 66% of the original price — $52,998 — the university would recoup all $38 million dollars spent building the new McCreary Football Complex. In one year, the university could generate that much extra revenue because of this football season. Don’t get me wrong, that is great. A great football team would lead to more television deals, more sponsorships, a booming Deacon Blvd. every Saturday and so much more money. The university could use that money to do so many good things: building more dorms, improving the current ones, creating more
scholarship opportunities, enhancing campus Wi-Fi, ensuring housing for international students over Winter Break during a global pandemic, increasing resources of the UCC and Student Health Services, improving the overall level of education and fostering more meaningful connections between the university and Forsyth County at large. In short, the revenue gained from the McCreary Complex would do wonders for our campus. The problem is these issues are present right now — today. And, these pressing problems can be fixed with this donation, before construction crews break ground. Whether it is the supposed “lack of funds” or just overall apathy towards the issues, this recent announcement defies both excuses and feels like a betrayal to those who pay so much to be given so little. Money will come next year because of the great football season, regardless of whether or not a new locker room is built. Money will continue to come long after this era when student needs are being valued over university profits. I know that this expansion is funded entirely by donors, but that doesn’t mean Reynolda Hall has to act like Capitol Hill. Rearrange your priorities. Prioritize those who are here now. Enlist donors and earmark funds to fix current problems. Try not to focus solely on generating future profit.
Greek life “requires reforms, not abolition Greek Life
Removal of fraternities and sororities would not solve underlying societal problems
Abby Bermeo
Contributing Columnist bermag20@wfu.edu
The abolition of Greek life at Wake Forest has once again come to the forefront of discussions amongst both students and faculty. Greek life across college campuses has been associated with hospitalizations, the emotional struggle of relating to the rushing process, racism and sexual harassment, among other issues. The question thus becomes, would abolishing the entire Greek community fix any of these problems? While I recognize that only a small percentage of students truly benefit from Greek life, I believe that Greek life should be reformed rather than abolished. The two biggest issues with Greek life involve the socioeconomic factors that play a role in one’s social success and the issues caused by fraternity basement parties. Greek life is rooted in white elitism, and wealth continues to play a significant role in the social dynamics of Greek society today. Membership in sororities and fraternities is expensive. While dues can be hard to man-
If these social groups were gone, they could be replaced with more problematic institutions that would be harder to regulate ... " age on their own, other costs including merchandise, donations, eating out with fellow members and buying outfits for events add up. Wealthier students are not as concerned about these purchases and can afford to make more of them. Girls who can afford to buy nicer clothes or go out to dinners before recruitment have better chances of receiving a bid to a top-tier sorority. Similarly, boys who can afford more expensive dues or have private school connections are more likely to pledge a top-tier fraternity. Although wealth is not always tied to race, these factors are often correlated. A person's intersectionality is essential to understanding their experience in Greek life, but also their time at Wake Forest as a whole. Students who can afford the benefits of Greek life are primarily Caucasian. Abolishing Greek life would not alter the interconnectedness of student wealth and student social hierarchies — other clubs and organizations would simply take the place of these Greek conventions and student wealth benefits would manifest themselves in other ways. Fraternity basement parties — which are dark, crowded and fueled by intentions of romantic or sexual interaction — often
bring higher risks of sexual misconduct and alcohol or drug-related mishaps than other social events. One in five women and one in sixteen men are sexually assaulted during their collegiate experience (National Sexual Violence Resource Center) and 90% of survivors do not report these occurrences. So, what would change these environments? The reforms that would change this do not have to do with Greek life so much as they have to do with American male andWake Forest party culture. Personally, I am on a council working to make these changes and implement guidelines that hold men more accountable while also making parties safer without becoming less fun or overmonitored. In my experience, the presence of Greek life organizations has actually made making these changes easier because the various fraternities and sororities can rely on each other for ideas, meetings and mutual accountability. Without these institutions, it would be more difficult to implement change. Abolishing Greek life would eliminate the formal sororities and fraternities, but would not erase the underlying societal issues that they reflect. If these social groups were gone, they might be replaced with more problematic institutions that would be harder to regulate in the absence of large umbrella groups like the Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils. For example, when Dartmouth College eliminated Greek life, these organizations were simply replaced with underground and
informal fraternities, one of which bore letters resembling those of the Ku Klux Klan. Revising Greek Life is not an impossible task — avenues for positive change include helping fraternities and sororities adapt their bylaws to reflect equality, promote a more socially fluid environment and even establish new fraternities whose histories are void of racism. The benefits of Greek life include networking, building lifelong friendships and cultivating leadership skills, as well as other social opportunities. Given the current standing of Greek life at Wake Forest, these benefits are only serving a small portion of the student body, but they could be serving a broader community at a deeper level. By removing fraternities and sororities, the university would subject itself to the risk of less-regulated social organizations. Social options should also be expanded to provide similar networking and social opportunities to students outside of Greek life so that the pressure to rush is relieved. Many Greek life-related issues stem from cultural problems that would emerge in any set of social circles. The most effective way to tackle these problems is by reforming Greek life to overcome its racist and elitist background, while still maintaining the global connections and experiences they provide. Similar actions can be taken to conquer the sexual violence risk at parties by utilizing the unified Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils to enforce preventative measures and promote accountability.
Opinion | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, November 18, 2021 | Page 9
“ incites chaos among concertgoers Hip hop festival Entertainment
Rapper's concert risks safety of attendees due to overcrowded venue, leaves eight dead
Shaila Prasad
Contributing Columnist prassp21@wfu.edu
Astroworld. A word that was once associated with commercial and artistic success now reminds people of tragedy. Friday, Nov. 5, marked the first day of the Astroworld Festival. In his hometown of Houston, Texas, Travis Scott performed for over 50,000 fans. By the end of the night, eight of them were killed, and many more severely injured. Many like me, woke up the following day anticipating videos of a festival we all wished we had attended. Instead, Instagram overflowed with accounts of an experience that none deserved. On the day of the concert, fans were rushing the metal detectors by 2 p.m., indicating a lack of order from the getgo. The sheer number of fans made it impossible to maintain control of the event. Entertainment companies consistently prioritize overcrowding
Entertainment companies consistently prioritize overcrowding festivals over the safety of attendees in order to reap more profits." festivals over the safety of attendees in order to reap more profits. So far, the only response from the entertainment company that hosted the event, Live Nation, has been a refund of all tickets. $300, though, does not even begin to make up for the physical and psychological trauma of the night. Many described being unable to breathe and being pushed up against barriers designed to ensure the safety of the performing artists. Videos surfaced of fans in the crowd climbing backstage, begging security to stop the show. Unconscious concertgoers were trampled while others gave each other CPR — a procedure that the medical staff was not trained to perform. Too many people packed in NRG Park with insufficiently trained medical personnel is dangerous. Not only does this leave such procedures to be executed by civilians with inadequate skills, but it also reflects a lack of care. Travis Scott and Live Nation, among other defendants, are being sued for negligence. Additionally — and some might argue more impor-
tantly — Scott is being attacked for indifference by his followers worldwide. The artist took to Instagram and Twitter to express his sentiments. "I'm absolutely devastated by what took place last night … I am committed to working together with the Houston community to heal and support the families in need," Scott said. In response, many have pointed out Travis' previous statement in 2015 at a Summer Jam concert in New Jersey regarding the security between the fans at the stage: "There are more of you than them," Scott said. He was arrested that summer at Lollapalooza after encouraging fans to climb over the barricades and onto the stage. Then, at Astroworld 2021, Travis told his fans to make the ground shake. While many choose to blame these antics for the discord at the Astroworld Festival, it's these same antics that make Scott's concerts a magnet for teens everywhere. Regardless, the outrage is beyond justified — we must acknowledge the pain hundreds are experiencing and support the families who lost loved ones. However, what I can't support is the unfounded criticism of the rap industry. In 1979, a WHO concert in Cincinnati resulted in 11 deaths. As a result, general admission seating was
banned in Cincinnati, a reminder of the chaos that occurs when hip-hop music and crowds coincide. In 2004, that ban was lifted and events like Coachella and Lollapalooza rose in popularity. Still, for far too long, hiphop and rap have been scrutinized for being too violent. One music genre is not to blame for the tragedy that took place at Astroworld this past weekend. This outlook reeks of racial prejudice and takes pressure away from corporations and concert organizers. In the past couple of years, the limited injuries at Live Nation events do not excuse passive security at the Astroworld festival. When fans at NRG Park knocked over metal detectors at the Playboi Carti concert just last month, it should have been a sign that more extensive measures were needed — like a medical staff who are qualified to do their jobs. Insurance experts told Rolling Stone that Astroworld will likely make it harder for hip-hop and rap festivals to get insurance, but this only adds to the problem. Event organizers need to be held criminally responsible. These instances cannot be forgotten after the defendants settle. When families send their kids to concerts, they shouldn’t have to wonder if they will come home afterward.
“ QB's false vaccination status is inexcusable COVID-19
Rodgers' right to alternative treatment does not excuse his harmful act of misrepresentation
Conor Metzger
Staff Columnist metzcr19@wfu.edu It seems that lately, a lot of people associated with the NFL have been receiving media attention for their behavior off the field. Recently, countless reports of spousal abuse, substance use and discriminatory actions have gained national attention. Now, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers finds himself in the hot seat for lying about getting the COVID-19 vaccine, and I found myself asking if we should cut him some slack. To start off, I learned that the reason Rodgers declined the vaccine was, according to him, because of an allergy to the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines (which the CDC says is grounds for not taking it). But, what about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine? According to Rodgers, he declined the J&J vaccine for its reported negative health effects as were discovered in the spring — these later turned out to be be-
Rodgers was making an informed choice ... and did not want to face the scrutiny that comes from a culture that cannot respect individual autonomy." nign, with the FDA reauthorizing it after an 11-day moratorium. Rodgers said he consulted with his doctors and found that, due to his overall healthy nature and the unknown health risks associated with the COVID-19 vaccines, it was in his best interest to not get the vaccine. Before we get into the logical and moral implications of this decision, the other aspect of this controversy that is causing confusion is that apparently, Rodgers lied. When asked in a press conference in August about his vaccination status, Rodgers said that he was “immunized.” What he meant was that he was receiving treatment from his personal doctor in the form of monoclonal antibodies, ivermectin and other homeopathic vitamins and supplements. If this sounds familiar, then you may be a listener of Joe Rogan, who is constantly espousing these treatments for COVID-19 as opposed to vaccines. So, knowing all this, is Aaron Rodgers in the wrong? It is my opinion that he is not. Rodgers was making an informed
choice about his own body and did not want to face the scrutiny that comes from a culture that seldom respects individual autonomy. I am not an anti-vaxxer, nor am I a disbeliever in a disease that has killed millions. However, there is science that backs up that, if you are a healthy person who takes good care of your body, then you are better able to fight off COVID-19. There are also numerous anecdotal examples of adverse effects of the vaccines. This makes getting the vaccine a cost-benefit judgment that can be difficult to make. If you are someone who suffers from a medical condition or does not feel healthy (which I recognize can be a subjective experience), then you should definitely get the vaccine. After all, these examples of negative effects are extremely rare. My issue, though, is that the negative effects of COVID-19 on someone like Rodgers are also extremely rare. But, what about the risk of transmitting the virus to others? This is where I start to digress from Rodgers’ perspective. Still, I must say that what he puts into his body is his choice. Also, if everyone around him is healthy and/or vaccinated, then he should be fine, right? Still, it is a complex moral issue that should be left up to individual people unless the government or your employer
finds that it is within their best interest to mandate the vaccine. I must touch on Rodgers' supposed “lying”, too. I’m not going to sit here and say Rodgers did not intend to mislead people into thinking he was vaccinated because immunization typically connotes inoculation. While ivermectin and monoclonal antibodies are treatments that do not get enough credit for the protection they provide against COVID-19, these alternative methods require a lot more research regarding their effectiveness and are not yet a suitable substitute for the known success of vaccines. Simply put, Rodgers did lie and we shouldn’t forgive this. I will say, however, that I empathize with Rodgers in a way. I chose to get the vaccine despite being young and healthy, but that was my educated choice. Rodgers simply made a different, yet still educated decision. He wanted to avoid backlash by lying, and instead focus on his performance on the field. But, it seems that he was unable to do so. Unfortunately, our society is one in which people tend to yell instead of converse. After all, this is a society where Twitter is seen as an acceptable place for debate. Anyone whose opinion falls outside of the mainstream media, like Aaron Rodgers', will be put in a position that I do not envy.
SPORTS
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PA G E 1 0
Online at: www.wfuogb.com Twitter: @sports_ogb Editors: Essex Thayer, thayse20@wfu.edu Christina DeNovio, denoca20@wfu.edu
OLD GOLD & BLACK
Wake Forest prevails over NC State The win moves Wake Forest one step closer to their first ACC Championship since 2006 BY ESSEX THAYER Sports Editor thayse20@wfu.edu With 10 seconds remaining on the ticking clock, students began counting down the numbers. When the scoreboard hit zero, the chanting turned to cheers, and for the first time in years, students rushed the field. The Wake Forest football team had won their biggest game in 15 years and put themselves in the driver's seat to reach their first ACC Championship since 2006. The win meant more than just a likely return trip to the ACC Championship, though. This was a win of grit, resilience and pride. Head Coach Dave Clawson recognized just how much went into the victory. “[I’m] so proud of our team,” Clawson said after the game. [It] wasn't our cleanest game. We turned the ball over, and we certainly had some special teams miscues, [but] that might be as hard as I've ever had a football team play for 60 minutes. The competitiveness, it was just an outstanding effort.” The team secured the win in front of a sell-out crowd of 34,503 spectators, the largest since 2011. The student section, decked out in all-black and onesies for the second straight home game, was 4,584 strong. That number, which makes up 85% of the student body, marks the largest student crowd in the history of Wake Forest football. “Tonight, just to have all the students and all the fans rush the field [and] to have a packed house, it was a big time college football game,” Clawson said. “And it was a big time environment. What a great job by our students, our fans. Everybody who showed out … they were great and added to the atmosphere.” Unlike their play against North Carolina a week prior, the Demon Deacon
offense started slow. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Sam Hartman looked out of sorts, missing many of his open receivers. On their first two drives, Wake Forest went three-and-out. But on their third drive, trailing by only three thanks to several defensive stops, Wake Forest finally sputtered to life. With the aid of multiple NC State penalties, the Demon Deacons were able to move down the field. On third-and-six, Hartman found his touch, throwing a ball up perfectly to redshirt sophomore receiver A.T. Perry in the back-right corner of the end-zone. Perry created space and was able to secure the ball with one hand. On their next offensive drive, Perry nearly proved to be the downfall for Wake Forest. On two straight plays, he dropped passes that hit him in the hands. Hartman saved the drive on third down with a 15-yard run. Later in the same drive, on third down, Hartman once again delivered, finding freshman receiver Ke’Shawn Williams over the middle. After the catch, Williams ran an extra 24 yards down to the oneyard line. From there, freshman running back Justice Ellison charged in for the touchdown. With an offense that was stop-and-go for much of the first half, the Wake Forest defense — following a dismal performance against North Carolina —had to deliver. Leading 14-6, they came through. With the Wolfpack driving, quarterback Devin Leary launched a pass to Joshua Pierre-Louis, who had a step on freshman defensive back J.J. Roberts. At the last second, Roberts undercut the pass and spectacularly secured the ball with one hand. While the play proved instrumental for the defense, the positive effects did not last for long. On the second play from scrimmage on offense, Hartman gave the ball right back to NC State. Escaping to the left, Hartman short-armed a pass that was tipped at the line, falling into the hands of cornerback Shyheim Battle. The interception marked the first of three Hartman would throw in the game,
Photo courtesy of Will Zimmerman
The student section, with 4,584 in attendance, was the largest in program history. When the clock hit zero, the students rushed the field.
his most since the bowl game last season against Wisconsin. The first half of the game was arguably his worst performance since that contest as well. “I don't know if it was the weather or anxiety or what it was, but I certainly don't feel like we played a very good offensive game tonight,” Clawson said. “We just weren't as clean as we usually are. And, we threw picks. We threw three picks, which is on Sam [Hartman].” With two minutes remaining in the first half, and with the Wake Forest offense still sputtering, the Demon Deacon defense made another game-changing play. Inside Wolfpack territory, a completed pass to Devin Carter was ripped away by Roberts. Traveon Redd picked the ball up off the ground and sprinted down the left sideline to the five-yard line. The play proved instrumental — on the first play on offense, Hartman ran the remaining five yards into the end zone to give Wake Forest a 21-6 lead. With the defense playing well, mistakes elsewhere kept NC State in the game. After the touchdown, Wolfpack returner Zonovan Knight ran 72 yards through nearly every Demon Deacon to the 28-yard line. A Zion Keith tackle kept Knight out of the end zone. But NC State only stayed out of the end zone for one play. On their first from scrimmage, Leary lofted a pass to the goal line, where Emeka Ezemie high-pointed the ball over senior cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor for the score. Unlike the beginning of the half, the end finished with plenty of action. Within a minute and a half, the Wolfpack had another touchdown on the board, and had closed the Wake Forest lead to one point. With 19 seconds remaining though, a Taylor Morin kick return gave the Demon Deacons great field position, eventually setting up a Nick Sciba field goal. At the beginning of the second half, special teams once again proved to be pivotal. Knight returned the opening kick 100 yards for the touchdown, giving the lead back to NC State. On the ensuing drive, four passes to Perry fell incomplete; yet, the offense still found a way to win the drive. After driving down the field, Wake Forest faced a fourth-and-nine on the 34-yard line. Instead of settling for a long Sciba kick, the offense stayed on the field. The risk was rewarded, as a 29-yard reception by senior receiver Donald Stewart set up a onehanded touchdown grab for senior tight end Brandon Chapman. The touchdown was the first of his career. Midway through the third quarter, another Hartman interception set NC State up to score once again, except kicker Christopher Dunn missed a field goal that would have tightened the Wake Forest lead to one. After several missed catches, Perry was benched on the ensuing Wake Forest drive. In replacement, freshman receiver Jahmal Banks made multiple key contributions, hauling in a 23-yard completion and causing a holding penalty on another pass.
Even so, those efforts proved fruitless. Hartman, for the third time in the game, threw a bad interception. This time, he threw into double-coverage in the back of the end zone. The ball was picked off with one hand by Dereck Pitts. In the fourth quarter, after a 35-yard Taylor Morin punt return, Ellison once again proved his worth with Christian Beal-Smith sidelined due to injury. On third-and-goal from the four yardline, Hartman dropped back to pass and floated a ball to Ellison, who had more than enough room to reach the end zone. After the game, Hartman praised Ellison’s resilience. “He battled all game,” Hartman said. “Things weren't going great for any of us early. He stuck to the plan, stuck to the coaching and really just battled hard.” Down by 11, Leary took control of the offense, passing his way down the field. After three completions, Leary found Emezie open in the back of the end zone for the score. The two point conversion brought the Demon Deacon lead down to three. Against North Carolina, this was the moment when Wake Forest folded and all was lost. This time around, with a sea of black around them and everything on the line, the Demon Deacons flourished. They were resilient. On third down, Hartman found Donald Stewart for 12 yards to keep the drive alive. Then, on the next set of downs, Hartman once again converted on third down, hitting Morin for a 14-yard reception. Once again facing third down, a solid pass to Perry forced a pass interference penalty, keeping the drive alive. From there, Wake Forest ran the ball. Over five plays, the Demon Deacons gained 33 yards, concluding with a fouryard touchdown rush by Ellison. With just over a minute remaining, there was simply not enough time on the clock for the Wolfpack. Despite scoring a touchdown, NC State could not recover the onside kick, and Wake Forest knelt the rest of the clock away. Then, the Demon Deacons and their fans partied. What was once a sea of black in the stands became a sea of black on the field. Stewart described the end of the game as an unforgettable moment. “It was one of the best feelings of my life, having Deacon nation behind us from start to finish,” he said. "After the game, when they all stormed the field, it was just an amazing experience. I'm so happy to be here at Wake Forest. Shoutout to Deac nation, they showed up hard.” With the fate of their season in their hands, Wake Forest delivered. Now, to reach the ACC Championship, the Demon Deacons need to win one of their two remaining games against Clemson or Boston College. Their first test comes against the Tigers on Saturday. To Clawson, Clemson is just as important as NC State. “Every ACC game we play, in my mind, is a championship game,” he said. “Next week is a championship game.”
Sports | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, November 18, 2021 | Page 11
Women’s soccer opens tournament with 3-0 win Wake Forest advances to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after beating Harvard BY DELANEY MCSWEENEY Staff Writer mcswdj18@wfu.edu
On Nov. 14, the Wake Forest women’s soccer team took to Spry Field to face off against Harvard in the first round of the NCAA College Cup Tournament. The Demon Deacons, with a 3-0 victory, secured their 12th shutout of the season. The Deacs haven’t made the NCAA College Cup Tournament since 2017. In one of their most historic seasons since, the team has competed and fought their way to a winning record, re-entering themselves into the 2021 NCAA College Cup Tournament. On the cold Sunday afternoon, the women’s soccer team took to the field, starting their regular lineup, and preparing to take on Harvard. In their 21st NCAA tournament appearance in program history, and in their first appearance in four years, the Deacs had plenty of time to prepare for this game. At 1 p.m., the first whistle blew, and the team immediately went on the at-
tack. Through the first 10 minutes of the game, the Demon Deacons kept things calm, attempting to quickly move into Harvard’s half of the field. Near the 12-minute mark, Shayla Smart and Sophie Faircloth moved the ball downfield to Sofia Rossi. Rossi took a long shot and found the back of the net to give Wake Forest a 1-0 kead with her ninth goal of the season. The Deacs stayed ahead 1-0 throughout the first half, taking four more shots but failing to convert on any of them. After the halftime break, the team returned to the field, ready to continue pressing Harvard and moving the ball quickly. Just over 10 minutes into the second half, graduate student Jenna Menta sent a long pass down the field to redshirt senior Hulda Arnarsdottir. The graduate student connection ended with Arnarsdottir putting in her fifth goal of the season and making the score 2-0 in the 57th minute. After returning to play following the second goal, the Deacs almost immediately regained possession of the ball, taking it down to Harvard’s end of the field once again. Just three minutes after their most recent goal, freshman Emily Morris sent
in a corner kick. Senior Shayla Smart took it with her head, finding the bottom corner of the goal. The team spent the last 30 minutes of the game continuing to put pressure on Harvard. The pressure worked, as the Deacs maintained their 12th shutout of
the season and secured the 3-0 win. They victory moves Wake Forest to 16-5 record on the year, and allows them to continue their journey in the NCAA College Cup Tournament. On Friday, the Demon Deacons will face off against No. 2 Michigan in Ann Ar-
Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics
Redshirt senior Hulda Arnarsdottir (No. 88) was one of the goal-scorers on Sunday. Sofia Rossi and Shayla Smart also scored one goal each.
Men’s basketball wins twice at home The Demon Deacons had two one-sided victories over William & Mary and Western Carolina BY CHRISTIAN ODJAKJIAN Staff Writer odjact18@wfu.edu
The Wake Forest men’s basketball team started the season strong with wins over non-conference opponents William & Mary and Western Carolina. On Nov. 10, Wake Forest took down the William & Mary Tribe by a final score of 77-59. The Deacs dominated the first half, but got complacent in the second half and were outscored. “We played a great first half,” Wake Forest Head Coach Steve Forbes said. “But, I was not very happy about the second half.” Wake Forest led 46-18 at the break, turning over the Tribe on 36% of their possessions in the first half. The Deacs were able to turn defense into offense, run the break and get some easy baskets to build their lead. Forbes was thrilled with the defense in the first half. Wake Forest had 24 deflections and seven “kills”, a stat he frequently tracks, which is when the defense gets three stops in a row. The largest lead of the game for the Deacs was 30 points, as they were ahead 66-36 with just under 10 minutes remaining in the game. William & Mary ended up outscoring Wake Forest 41-31 in the second half, which their coach was also not happy about. “In the second half, the ball stuck and we tried to play too much isolation
and we did not take advantage of our size,” Forbes said. “That’s not a sign of a mature team that plays to a certain standard. We will learn from it and move on.” Oklahoma transfer guard Alondes Williams led the way with 22 points on 9-12 shooting. He filled up the stat sheet, tallying three rebounds, assists and steals each. Indiana State transfer forward Jake LaRavia also had an impressive debut, scoring 13 points and grabbing four rebounds. He was also active defensively, notching four steals. Cameron Hildreth, the freshman guard from England, played an excellent first game as well, scoring 10 points to go along with five rebounds and four assists. Hildreth’s father flew across the pond and surprised his son for his impressive debut. “I was always extremely excited to play my first college game,” Hildreth said. “But the surprise with my dad — who I haven’t seen in a long long time — made it great fun.” Colorado transfer forward Dallas Walton put together a strong defensive performance in his first game as a Deac, blocking four shots. Wake Forest defeated Western Carolina 87-75 on Friday in another game that was a tale of two halves. The Catamounts were scorching hot from deep to start, hitting eight first half three pointers. Wake Forest only led 38-36 going into the break. A 20-9 run to open the second half got the Deacs back on track, and the game was never really in question the rest of the way.
“We made some adjustments at halftime,” Forbes said. “I thought we did a good job in the second half of being more attached and just guarding our yard. Offensively, we finally made some shots, and we did move the ball better.” Williams put together another monster game, scoring 32 points on 13-18 shooting, also adding eight rebounds, four assists and three steals. A Wake Forest player hasn’t scored that many since Jeff Teague scored 34 in a win over North Carolina in 2009. In two years at Oklahoma, Williams never scored more than 15 points in a game. “He’s got a gift,” Forbes said. “That’s one of the advantages of the transfer portal. You find a new home and you find a place where you fit better.” Guard Davien Williamson also had a hot hand, scoring 24 points on 8-10 from the field, including 4-6 from long range. LaRavia got after it defensively once again, this time tallying six steals along with six points and five rebounds. Hildreth scored 13 in another solid performance off the bench. Forbes stuck with an eight-man rotation in both games, starting Williams, Williamson, LaRavia, Walton and Isaiah Mucius. Hildreth came off the bench, along with returning guard Carter Whitt and Ole Miss transfer Khadim Sy. Sy did an admirable job in the frontcourt in both games, combining for 13 points and 12 rebounds. The asterisk to the encouraging start to the season is that both of these teams were predicted to come in dead last in
their respective mid-major conferences in preseason media polls. However, one thing does seem apparent through two games: this team is a step above last year’s squad. Forbes having more time to establish his culture along with the personnel additions are pumping hype into the start of this season. Davien Williamson, last year’s leading scorer, agrees. “It makes the game a lot easier and a lot more comfortable when you are playing with guys with this level of talent,” he said. Wake Forest will next face Charleston Southern on Wednesday Nov. 17.
Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics
LaRavia recorded six steals against Western Carolina.
Old Gold & Black | Sports
Page 12 | Thursday, November 18, 2021
Deacon Spotlight: Sofia Rossi BY CHRISTINA DENOVIO Sports Editor denoca20@wfu.edu
Redshirt senior Sofia Rossi has repeatedly proven she’s a crucial piece of the Wake Forest women’s soccer team this season. The Akron, Ohio native was rated as the No. 107 recruit in the nation by TopDrawerSoccer, as well as the No. 41 midfielder. To add to her impressive resumé, she was named Ohio’s Division I Player of the Year twice while in high school. Rossi is having her best year yet, and she scored her ninth goal of the season in Sunday’s win against Harvard. This Friday, the Demon Deacons will play No. 2 seeded Michigan in round two of the NCAA Tournament. In Ann Arbor, Rossi hopes to once again help her team come out with a win and continue her successful senior season. Christina DeNovio: When did you start playing soccer? Sofia Rossi: I started playing soccer when I was four or five. I grew up with cousins who were older, and they all played at the college level. They were the ones who introduced me to the sport, because my parents never played. I would say they had a big impact on why I chose soccer. CD: Why did you choose Wake Forest? SR: For starters, it’s in the ACC, which is one of the best leagues for college soccer. And then, when I came to visit, just meeting the coaches and meeting the team — it might sound really cliché — but everybody was so nice and welcoming. Not even just from an athletic standpoint, but just walking on campus on a tour. Everybody was so friendly, and it really felt like a community. I think that is what made me gravitate towards this school rather than some of the bigger schools that I went and visited, where I didn’t get that same feeling. CD: What was the transition from high school to college soccer like? SR: It’s a little bit of a wake up call, honestly. Everything from a technical and tactical standpoint is just 10 times faster. You have to know what you’re going to do several plays in advance. In high school, you can kind of get away with not having the fastest reactions or the highest soccer IQ. The speed of play is what I would definitely say is the biggest difference. I would also say physicality. In high school, you’re going up against girls, and in college, you’re going up against women. It’s different. I remember, the first time, my freshman year, I was on the field and had to check my shoulder so many more times than I did in high school. In college, you don’t get to have as much time on the ball, so you dribble a little less. Everything seems so much faster. CD: What kind of injury did you sustain your freshman year? SR: Freshman year I came in and wasn’t getting the playing time I wanted right away. Then, I began starting and playing a lot. Then, I broke my foot. I was out for the rest of that season. In the spring, I was training again. That summer, I went home and was playing with my summer league and refractured my foot in the same spot. So, I had to redshirt my sophomore year, because I wouldn’t have been back in time. My junior year was really my first full season. Senior year was weird because of COVID-19. So, this season is really like my second full season.
CD: Did you feel like you learned anything valuable during the time you were injured? SR: Yeah, definitely. Obviously, I was really frustrated with the situation, but I really think it was a blessing in disguise. We were just talking about the transition from high school to college-level play. I think that injury was an opportunity that really helped me grow as a person and a player. I was away from home and facing adversity. In that kind of a situation, you have to get mentally stronger. And then physically, it gave me time to really rehab and get stronger in areas that I wasn’t before. It also made me appreciate the sport more — being on the sidelines and watching practice for several months but not being able to participate in it — it gave me a different perspective, and it helped me appreciate the opportunity to play more once I came back. CD: You’ve scored several goals this season. What goes through your mind when you score?
Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics
Sofia Rossi has played in 21 games this season and has totaled 1,539 minutes so far.
SR: Honestly, I think the best thing for me before I shoot is to not think. If I do start thinking, I tend to overthink and then something goes wrong. So, for me, it’s just finding a mental calmness and not overthinking that helps me. And then afterwards I’m thinking, “Thank God that went in.”
right now. Each game, we have a goal, and that’s to win. And if we keep that up, it’s going to take us far. It’s important to not get distracted with who we could potentially meet up with down the road.
CD: Now that you’re a senior, do you try to be a role model or leader to younger players?
CD: What’s your favorite part about being on the team?
SR: Yeah, I definitely think so. I would say our senior class as a whole has done a really, really good job with being leaders this year. Sometimes you have good cops and bad cops, but we don’t want the underclassmen to be scared of upperclassmen or anything. I mean, I think we demand respect, but we want the younger girls to know that they should feel comfortable coming to us to ask us questions, whether it’s regarding stuff on the field, or even off the field.
SR: The relationships with the girls. I see these girls at practice all the time, but I see them off the field all the time, too. We’re all just so close. We can talk to each other about anything — soccer, non-soccer, life, school. They’re some of my closest friends, and I don’t think that after these four years it’s just going to stop. I still talk to girls who graduated. These relationships are going to stay with me for life, hopefully.
Our whole senior class has just done a really good job with stepping up, leading by example and keeping the morale high. I think everybody has a goal this season to go really far. In the past, we’ve always had that goal, but this year, I just feel like the hunger is there, and it maybe hasn’t always been like that in the past. I think everyone’s kind of bought into this idea that we actually do have the ability to do something big this year. CD: How did it feel to beat Duke in the first round of the ACC tournament? SR: That was huge because we played them this earlier year, and it didn’t go so hot. I think our mentality going into that game was that we have nothing to lose, we really believed in ourselves. We went in there not with a mentality of “oh, we’re just going to give our best.” We went in there thinking “okay, we’re walking away with a win.” And that’s what we did. And everybody — every single player, whether they played or not — thought that and totally bought in. I don’t even have words for it. It was just a really gritty game. CD: What is the team focusing on going into the NCAA Tournament? SR: With the NCAA Tournament, the whole bracket comes out. You can see, if you beat this team, you play this team, and then you’ll be matched up against this team. That can sometimes get overwhelming. We’re just trying to take it week by week, game by game, and go 1-0 each time. And that’s our focus
CD: What are your relationships with your coaches like? SR: They’ve really helped me fulfill my potential as a soccer player, but more importantly, as a person. They have really taught me about how to live a good life and be the best person I can be. They’re good role models, they’re good people and they’ve definitely gotten me ready for the next chapter after soccer. CD: As you near the end of your college career, what’s been your favorite Wake Forest soccer memory? SR: I think a lot of the girls would mention this: A few summers ago, we went to France for the World Cup. We got to watch a few games, and then we played a game there against one of their club teams. Then we did a lot of touring, and it was so fun. It was like team bonding on steroids. Being in France for several days together — I’ll never forget that. That’s definitely one of my best memories here. And then of course, beating Duke. CD: What are your future career plans? SR: I want to be a physician’s assistant, so after this season, I’ll be working towards getting my hours before I can apply to PA school. I would love to go to Wake’s PA program, but obviously, it’s very competitive, so I’ll just see where I can get in. After college, I’ll hopefully live a good life being a PA. Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and brevity.
Sports | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, November 18, 2021 | Page 13
Women’s basketball begins season 3-0 Jewel Spear has led the Deacons thus far with 70 points across the three games BY ESSEX THAYER Sports Editor thayse@wfu.edu
After women’s basketball reached their first NCAA Tournament since 1988 — their second appearance in program history — Wake Forest Head Coach Jen Hoover stated that the expectation for the upcoming season was to go right back. “We expect to be back in the NCAA Tournament,” Hoover said. “This is the new standard. Now, every player that comes into this program is not going to have to just believe [they can make the tournament], they’re expected to accomplish it every year.” This past week, the Demon Deacons returned to the court for the first time since. In their first three games, the team lived up to Hoover’s expectation, defeating Mercer, Cornell and UNC Greensboro. On Nov. 9, against Mercer, senior forward Christina Morra spurred the Deacons to victory, leading the team with 19 points. Sophomore guard Jewel Spear added 14 points, and junior forward Niyah Becker tallied 10. After trading one bucket each to begin the game, Mercer scored 12 straight points. In turn, Wake Forest responded
with a 7-0 run to shrink the deficit to five. In the second quarter, Wake Forest found their stride on offense, going on three subsequent runs — 6-2, 7-0 and 11-0. During the quarter, the Demon Deacons hit 11 of their 16 free-throw attempts, and held Mercer to just 23% from the field. These runs allowed Wake Forest to enter halftime with a 32-29 lead. In the third quarter, Becker led the charge for Wake Forest, scoring the team’s first six points. Those points were part of a 9-0 run that extended their lead to 11, the largest of the game. Leading 50-41 going into the fourth quarter, the Demon Deacons allowed Mercer back into the game. After their lead was cut to six, Morra sealed the deal for Wake Forest, scoring seven of their last 13 points to give the Deacs the victory: 68-55. Three days later, Wake Forest returned to the LJVM Coliseum for the first time to face Cornell. Spear led the Demon Deacons with 32 points, becoming the first player to score over 30 since 2015. The sophomore went 12-16 from the field, including seven made three-pointers, tying a career high. To begin the game, Wake Forest jumped out to a 7-2 lead, which included five points from Spear. After Cornell evened the score at seven, the Demon Deacons went on an 8-2 run to close out the quarter.
The second quarter was highlighted by nine straight points scored by Wake Forest, including a three-pointer and coast-to-coast bucket off the hands of Spear. After hitting a pair of layups, Spear closed the half with her third three-pointer of the game, giving Wake Forest a 29-19 lead at the break. The first half featured 15 points from Spear, and the Deacons holding Cornell to 33% shooting. After closing the Wake Forest lead to five in the third quarter, layups from junior guard Alexandria Scruggs and freshman guard Elise Williams extended the lead back to nine. A buzzer-beating three from Spear further widened the advantage to 12 at the end of the quarter. In the fourth quarter, Wake Forest put away the Big Red with an 8-0 run, which gave the Deacons breathing room to close out a 64-42 victory. In what proved to be the toughest game of the three to open the season, Spear once again led Wake Forest to victory with 24 points when UNC Greensboro traveled to the Joel on Nov. 14. The Demon Deacons’ defense also was a big factor in the win, forcing 19 turnovers while holding the Spartans to 34% from the field and 0% from behind the three-point line. After trading points for the opening six minutes, Wake Forest held UNC Greensboro scoreless for the final four of the first period. The defensive stand
allowed the Demon Deacons to carry a 10-6 lead into the second quarter. Leading 17-10 with seven minutes left in the second quarter, Wake Forest embarked on a 7-2 run to extend the lead to 12. The Deacons carried the healthy edge to the end of the half, entering the break up 28-18. In the third quarter, though, the Spartans came out swinging, scoring 10 straight points to even the score. After trading baskets, UNC Greensboro entered the final act with a one-point lead. After the Spartans opened the scoring in the fourth quarter, Spear led the charge for the Demon Deacons, putting in two straight contested buckets. Williams also connected on a mid-range jumper to give Wake Forest a 42-39 lead. From there, the Demon Deacons surged ahead with a 10-0 run, securing a hard-fought 56-45 victory. After the game, Hoover said she was impressed with the way her team fought through a tough opening week. “It was a tough game, but we are in the midst of a tough stretch,” she said. “We played three games in the first week of the season. I am really proud of our grit. When our backs were up against the wall, we did what we had to do to earn the victory.” This week, Wake Forest will continue their non-conference schedule. Looking to move to 5-0, they will face off against Charlotte on Thursday, then East Carolina on Sunday, both at home.
USA defeats Mexico in qualifying match Goals from Pulisic and McKennie propel United States over their CONCACAF opponents BY CHARLES HORN Staff Writer horncs18@wfu.edu
It was a moment to savor for U.S. soccer, as goals from Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie helped the men’s team beat Mexico 2-0 in a vital World Cup qualifier. It was their third straight win in 2021, and it came over their biggest continental rival. Had the match gone Mexico’s way, the U.S. would have found themselves in a tricky position regarding qualification after a near-disastrous run of matches in October. The lingering trauma of the U.S.’s failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup resurfaced after their lackluster performance in a win over Jamaica, followed by a humiliating loss against Panama. Panama — who qualified for the 2018 World Cup at the expense of the United States — stifled the American attack, registering a historic win on home soil. Concern nearly became crisis when Costa Rica scored in the first minute, but an excellent goal by Sergino Dest and a Costa Rican own-goal proved enough for the U.S. to exit with three points. Qualification to the World Cup is split by continent, with each receiving a
different portion of the 32 slots based on the relative strength of that continent’s teams. Concacaf, North American soccer’s governing body, receives three slots. With about half of the decisive final stage of qualifying now complete, it appears to be a four-horse race for three slots — the U.S., Mexico, Canada and Panama are all fighting to avoid being the odd one out. The U.S. entered the match three points behind Mexico, intensifying the pressure on manager Gregg Berhalter, who took charge following the embarrassment of 2018. A stellar recruiter of dual-nationals — such as Valencia’s Yunus Musah who started against Mexico — Berhalter has faced criticism for the U.S.’s inability to break down weaker, defensive-oriented teams. This international roster selection signified a change. Out-of-form veterans such as John Brooks were left off the roster, while new faces such as Joe Scally were called up. This further reflects the U.S.’s increasing reliance on Europeanbased players, with just three of the 11 starters against Mexico playing in the MLS. From the opening whistle, the U.S. pressed high with an intensity not seen in previous World Cup qualifying matches. The inclusion of Musah was surprising but paid off throughout the match, as the 18-year-old pushed forward and won possession in dangerous areas. The right side, even without usual starter Sergino Dest, was excellent. Timothy Weah got the start to replace him.
The son of Liberian President George Weah — perhaps the greatest ever African player — played a supporting role in Lille’s unlikely triumph in the French league last season. Blending poise and pace, Weah showed the talent he was praised for when he first signed for Paris Saint Germain in 2014. After a scoreless first half, the U.S. emerged from the break energized and dynamic, dominating possession and slowly ratcheting up the pressure on Memo Ochoa’s net. In the 69th minute, Christian Pulisic — who has struggled with injury throughout this season at Chelsea — was substituted on. It was Pulisic who, in June, scored the winning penalty kick in extra time against Mexico to give the U.S. the Concacaf Nations League trophy. Minutes later, Timothy Weah surged down the right wing, whipping in what seemed like his 50th cross of the night, which found a cutting Pulisic. His header was unstoppable. Rather than sit back and preserve the lead, the U.S. maintained their intensity, which was rewarded when a fortunate bounce played Weston McKennie though. The 23-year-old Juventus player fired the ball into the far corner, giving the U.S. a 2-0 lead. McKennie had been unceremoniously suspended in September after bringing an unauthorized guest into the team hotel, thus breaking COVID-19 protocols and drawing widespread condemnation from former U.S.
players. However, McKennie’s talent is indispensable — his return elevates the American midfield to new heights. The U.S.’s victory puts them in the driver’s seat for qualification to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar (scheduled for December to avoid scorching temperatures.) However, the threats of Panama and a Canadian team that features Wake Forest alum Alistair Johnston remain ever-present. As such, the foot must stay on the gas until qualification is secured.
Photo courtesy of Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
After missing the 2018 World Cup, the USA looks ahead to 2022.
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Humor | Thanksgiving
Tips to starting a Thanksgiving food fight A guide to surviving the trials and tribulations of Thanksgiving dinner BY EMILY BEBENEK Staff Writer bebeek20@wfu.edu You've been there. You walk through the door and are immediately squeezed into 15 different hugs from people you barely know. But what can you do? They’re family, and you’re about to spend the entire day — and if you’re really unlucky, the whole weekend — with them and their many, many quirks. I personally love (most of ) my family, but I’ve heard stories about the dinner tables from Hell. You want to leave and start prepping for Christmas, but you’re practically tied to the table. In that situation, there’s only one way out: a Thanksgiving food fight. "Emily," you might say, "Isn’t that a rather childish and impulsive thing to do?" Yes, it is. But it allows you to end
Thanksgiving quickly, so it's worthwhile in my book. But, how to get your relatives mad enough to hurl their dinner plates at you? It’s a daunting task, but as someone who’s lived most of her life fighting spiteful urges, I think we, together, can do it. Tip No. 1: bring up topics that you know certain people won’t shut up about. Great-Aunt Sue believes the "lizard people" live among us? Ask her what she thinks about Mark Zuckerburg.
Photo courtesy of Alicia Bruce
Thanksgiving dinner is perfect to fam the flames of family drama.
Grandpa Joe thinks women are getting a little too bold in the workplace? Casually mention that your friend Annie decided to report her boss to HR for a lewd comment, then remark on how more and more sexual harassment cases are coming to light and watch him try to defend the way "things used to be." Tip No. 2: bring up conflicts that your family has collectively agreed to never acknowledge. Your cousin decided to drop out of college to start her own indie band and now she’s living with her parents at age 34? Your aunt supports Trump and Justice Kavanaugh and firmly believes that most sexual assault accusations are made up by women? Or (and this one was inspired by personal experience) your great-aunt insisted on bringing her own stuffing to your house because, apparently, the one your dad made last year was too dry and she knows her kids prefer hers? Watch things escalate from polite and stiff arguing to full-scale debate as the rest of the family sits in silence (plus, you get to hear your side of the family rant about it later). Tip No. 3: joke around about everyone, and when it gets to the elderly la-
dies in your family (great-aunts and grandmothers), they’ll get so offended that they’ll make the rest of the night miserable for everyone else. For (a mild) example, a few Thanksgivings ago, my great-aunt spent a great while explaining how her soft winter coat was “shaved beaver” and was irritated and very confused when the rest of our family wouldn’t stop laughing at her (but how are you supposed to explain that to her?). Tip No. 4: invest in the drama of the adults in your family (ages 40 and up) and play devil’s advocate. They’ll be so defensive and irritated by your audacity that they’re sure to reach their breaking point before dessert (especially if you complain about how old people just don’t understand the world today). These are just some of the ways to make this holiday season truly memorable. Here’s the most important thing to remember, though — if it gets to the point where people are screaming and throwing things, make sure you grab your fair share of leftovers before you make your hasty exit. Happy holidays!
Campus Life | Dealing with Stress
Dealing with academic frustration at "Work Forest" Unpacking the struggles of class, assignments, due dates and campus life BY YUSHUO WANG Contributing Writer wangy220@wfu.edu “Be afraid and do it anyway.” This is cliché. Who would actually accept this as their motto? Me — I used to feel this way prior to my experiences at Wake Forest. This sentence is much easier said than done, at least when it comes to being fearless toward life and study at “Work” Forest. Everything — EVERYTHING — is so often scrambled up (like the morning eggs at the Pit), and we often feel totally out of control. Due, Due, DUE! We study from the moment we open our eyes to the second we close them. Every day is saturated with a to-do list, and those plans often go up in flames when extra work pops up. Subjects we signed up for pleasure turn into ones that cause feelings of stress. Yet, we still forge ahead even though the growing pile of assignments and associated stress point towards our general acceptance that, "this is college life." Facing these obstacles, my mother often tells me to use my past experiences of combatting challenges as yardsticks; As such I will feel less overwhelmed the next time I encounter hardship. I keep her words close during times of stress and hardship.
But, I hadn't achieved this until recently because, as long as I am in China, no matter how independent I am, I will neither be alone nor lose support from my family. This means I still cannot see myself overcoming distress and balancing the ups and downs, not to mention inspiring myself and making a leap. The sentiment, “We can only depend on ourselves on campus or in America,” sounds miserable, especially for international students who choose to trek a long way into the U.S. at the expense of being homesick. But, now, we finally get the chance to validate our struggles — we oversee the process of defending those pains that we once felt too suffocating to hold on to. One of my struggles involves gathering responses for an interview in my journalism class, a small task that resulted in a lot of stress. Some professors don’t even respond to my rapid-fire email requests for an interview. One manager at the Pit said they could not respond and The Office of the Dean of Students had the same answer. I was rejected over and over. Being rejected thrice is hard. My feeling of frustration on that day may strike a chord with any of you who have been turned down in college applications or have ever dealt with self-doubt or thought, “Why don’t my efforts pay off?” after receiving a low test score without a curve. A certain day on campus can spiral out of control if the aforementioned frustrations pile up — and something as simple as a single sock lost in the laundry room could
ignite everything. But, what I’ve learned is how to rejuvenate myself by quickly coming up with and shifting to a plan-B. Try not to linger on the origin of the issue and simmer with depression. Let it pass. What I told myself after the three rejections was, “It doesn't matter. If I get rejected, I get rejected.” But, this also meant I would need to be brave enough to randomly walk up to strangers at the Pit, greet them and interview them. At that moment, like many times in my life, I chose to challenge myself. I could feel a knot in my heart, entangling me in a state of limbo regarding whether or not to follow through. But, once I decided to push myself forward, the knot was pushed down. When it came to me really taking the step and walking into the Pit, I knew I had already succeeded, no matter the final result.
It seems like, even though we complain and vent about school life and expect care and understanding from others, we can get everything done ourselves. However, the process we go through might bite us and hurt us, too. So, to others and myself, I don't like to say, “It wasn't a big deal last time” after I’ve accomplished new, bigger challenges; After all that was the most difficult challenge I had faced at that time. Only later, when I have grown to the next stage, do I realize how meaningful the growing pain was. Don’t say you are getting used to the hectic school life, and don’t say you are paralyzed by how often one assignment comes in tandem with another. Instead, know we are building energy — every time we build the dam higher, we can hold more floodwater whenever it returns. Softness is not fragility, it is resilience. May the light on your way be illuminated.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Schreiber
The enjoyment of campus life in the fall can be tarnished by the abundance of assignments that pile on, adding to students' stress.
Life | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, November 18, 2021 | Page 15
Satire |How to Survive College
Guide to succeeding in college THE HOT LIST An eight-step guide to ensuring people like you during your college years BY SOFIA BAZANT Contributing Writer bazasb20@wfu.edu While it is already November and more than halfway through the semester, there is no better time to reinvent yourself than the present. Here is a simple and infallible guide on how to be cool and make friends in college. 1. Set off the fire alarm to make more friends. Everyone is bound to thank you for the incredible bonding experience that stems from sitting outside in clusters on the concrete for 30 minutes with a blaring alarm in the background. There isn't a more perfect way to assemble a group of potential friends than to strategically empty out your entire dorm (and let everyone know you set it off ). 2. Protect the black X on your hand from Saturday night at all costs. Nothing could be cooler than walking into class on Monday with the X on your hand. If it starts to fade, don’t be afraid to touch it up.
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The glorious X is bound to remind everyone that not only did you go out, but you also haven’t showered. 3. Take a different person’s unassignedassigned seat each day. There is something so magical about throwing off the entire class by breaking unspoken rules halfway through the semester. I would specifically advise taking note of where close friends in the class sit together so that you can take one of their seats and be welcomed into the group. 4. Set alarms for yourself and your roommate. If you are so privileged to have classes at 9 a.m., make sure to set an alarm at maximum volume (and hit "snooze" a few times) to save your roommate the trouble of having to set their own. Your roommate will inevitably be thrilled to kickstart their day with you by waking up at the crack of dawn hours before their classes. 5. Get to know your classmates through WIN stalking. WIN stalking is a wonderful method of gaining insight into where they are from and what they are here to study — everything you need to kick off a great conversation! 6. Make sure your Yakarma is high (and that everyone knows it). Obviously, you have Yik Yak, and hopefully an absurdly high Yakarma. Nothing screams cool like
posting an abundance of anonymous tweets and, consequentially, receiving the overwhelming validation and recognition of your peers in the form of upvotes. If you are brilliant enough to obtain a high Yakarma, then it’s only fitting that you brag and flaunt about your talents. 7. Be persistent. Never ever give up on achieving your goals. If you text a classmate about meeting up to study and they don’t answer, it’s definitely because your text got lost in the mail and they didn’t see it. Try calling, FaceTiming or Snap texting them. If that doesn’t work, you could always attempt to find their location and just show up (who doesn’t love a nice surprise?). 8. Always one-up people. It’s crucial that you remind them that you got even less sleep, that you have even more homework and way more tests than them. Do they have a long club meeting tonight? Also, after a test don’t forget to tell everyone that you think you failed...and then follow up a week later and inform everyone that you actually got an A. There you have it — all the tips and tricks you need to become the most successful and popular college student on campus. If you still don’t feel popular after all this, surely everyone else is too socially awkward to admit their admiration for you.
Elisabeth's Bar Review|Single Brothers
Reviewing the Single Brothers bar Single Brothers is a small bar located onTrade Street of DowntownWinston-Salem BY ELISABETH KUGURU Staff Writer kuguea19@wfu.edu
Welcome to Bar Review. For the record, this has nothing to do with the law school and everything to do with alcohol. 21-plus only, please. Every Thursday, I visit different bars in Winston-Salem and give you all my honest opinions as a student who has recently turned 21 and is new to the bar scene. This week I visited Single Brothers, a small bar on Trade Street. I had been to Single Brothers before, but never with the intent to review it. Although I had heard weird rumors about a staffing issue earlier this year, it seems Single
Brothers has made a comeback — the bar even got a bit busy on the rainy Thursday night I visited. Drinks: As usual, I started off with a basic $8 pickleback. I firmly believe it’s a great way to begin the night. Next, I asked for their most popular cocktail. All of their cocktails are $12, which is more pricey than I would have expected, as this bar is not known for their cocktails. However, I was pleasantly surprised. I ordered the Sweet Grass, which is made with vodka, lemon, syrup and orange and garnished with mint and cucumber. The drink was refreshing and a little citrusy, but definitely on the sweet side. If you like lemonade and enjoy a drink with little to no alcohol, this is the drink for you.
Photo courtesy of Elisabeth Kuguru
Single Brothers bar, with the drinks Sweet Grass and Side Card pictured. The bar exudes a moody ambiance that plays well with its relaxed nature.
Lastly, I ordered the Easy Tiger, which was the bartender's favorite. This drink was especially well-balanced and delicious. It consisted of tequila, lime, honey and ginger. To be honest, I feel like it cured my cold. This cocktail is great for when you want to feel like you’re being healthy but still want to drink alcohol. As an honorable mention, I also tried the Side Car, made of Cognac, orange liqueur and lemon. It was very Cognacforward, so if you’re into that, I would definitely recommend ordering the Side Car. Ambiance: The bar is decorated with potted plants and candles, and overall, had a red, moody look to it. The music was, for the most part, chill pop with a splash of afrobeats, which I really appreciated. Their bathrooms were fairly clean and also had mints which added a nice touch. Single Brothers bar was a bit small, but it gave good vibes for a more relaxed weeknight. The bartender was very kind and professional. Once they got busy — around 9:30 p.m. — it became obvious that they were understaffed (the barback did not show up until around 10 p.m. !) Other than that, the experience was overall a positive one. Final Rating: I would rate Single Brothers a solid 7.5/10. The drinks were adequate for their price, but the bar is clearly not a place for cocktails. The service was welcoming, but they do seem to have some staffing issues. Overall, I would potentially recommend Single Brothers on a weekday, but not as my first choice. Don’t forget to drink responsibly!
THE TOP TEN THINGS TO SAY AT THANKSGIVING DINNER
By Adam Coil
1.
I love it when the turkey is a little dry like this.
2.
Yeah, I think I'd spark up with Kamala Harris.
3.
I'm moving to L.A. and pursuing my acting career.
4.
How about those local sports teams!
5.
I just feel like Joe Biden really knows what he's doing, yanno?
6.
Lil Baby my favorite rapper *skiing emoji*
7.
Are these rolls store-bought?
8.
Yeah, I made it to class a few times.
9.
One day, I want to be like Cooper Sullivan.
10.
Playboi Carti is our Bob Dylan. John Lennon was racist, too.
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Look
Cat On Book
Photo courtesy of Selinna Tran
Page 16 | Thursday, November 18, 2021
Old Gold & Black | Life
Art Feature
Showcasing Campus Artists Max Nurko | Photography
Photo courtesy of Max Nurko
Photo courtesy of Max Nurko
Photo courtesy of Max Nurko
Roxie Ray | Painting
Photo courtesy of Roxie Ray
Photo courtesy of Roxie Ray
Photo courtesy of Roxie Ray
Sean Jones | Digital Art + Painting
Photo courtesy of Sean Jones
Photo courtesy of Sean Jones
Photo courtesy of Sean Jones