News: Bloomberg cam- Opinion: Founding fathers are compli- Sports: A tough loss ends the men’s hockey season paigns in Winston-Salem cated historical figures Page 14 Page 6 Page 8
Life: The Morning Show exaggerates TV news culture Page 16
Old Gold&Black
WAKE FOREST’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1916 VOL. 106, NO. 19
T H U R S DAY, F E B RUA RY 2 0 , 2 0 2 0 “Cover s the campus like the magnolias”
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Wake Forest drops its name from Innovation Quarter The renaming of the research park better reflects the diversity of companies and institutions BY OLIVIA FIELD Editor-in-Chief fielor17@wfu.edu
Though some of these improvements may seem routine, many students feel that the updates to the plumbing system are much needed and that they eagerly anticipate the installation of new plumbing lines and infrastructure. “I think the renovations in Luter are much needed, because there is something definitely up with the plumbing system in this building,” said sophomore Harris Hussain, who lives in Luter. In fact, problems with plumbing have already caused some parts of Luter to flood this year. In addition to plumbing improvements, many electrical systems will also be updated and added. The additional electrical units and systems will result in a surplus of equipment for existing utility spaces, so some of the hall’s rooms will be converted into storage units for common electrical systems. However, the loss of housing capacity has been minimized to eight rooms, thanks to strategic planning.
As the university’s relationship with downtown Winston-Salem continues to grow, Innovation Quarter announced on Feb. 13 that it was dropping “Wake Forest” from its official title. According to a press release, the decision to change the name stemmed from a desire to better represent the “diversity of the companies, institutions, students and people living, working, learning and playing here.” Innovation Quarter is under the control of the Wake Forest School of Medicine, both a subset of the larger university and one of the most prominent institutions in the research park area, alongside the Link Apartments, Bailey Park, Wake Forest BioTech Place, Wake Downtown, Inmar Inc. Headquarters, Bailey Power Plant and the Plant 64 apartment complex. Members of the leadership team of Innovation Quarter include multiple Wake Forest Baptist Health and School of Medicine employees, as well as individuals representing real estate, development and communication efforts. In the past 10 years, there have been more than $300 million in capital investments put into Innovation Quarter, as reported by the Winston-Salem Journal. The redevelopment project has also been financially supported by the university since its conception, and this will not change as a result of the rebranding. “We are excited about the future of Innovation Quarter and Wake Forest’s presence there,” said President Nathan Hatch in the press release. “Nothing about the new branding changes the commitments that Wake Forest has made to downtown Winston-Salem. The Innovation Quarter name simply is a better reflection of the diversity of businesses, institutions and people that have become part of the district.”
See Luter, Page 4
See Innovation, Page 5
Caroline Walker/Old Gold & Black
Luter Residence Hall, which houses mainly freshman and sophomore students, will be renovated this summer. Renovations will begin on May 9, and the dorm will reopen for the spring semester of 2021.
Luter renovations are set to begin in May
Updates will address plumbing, fire, electrical and spatial issues in the residence hall BY CAROLINE WALKER News Editor walkct18@wfu.edu After an assessment of the condition of buildings on campus, Luter Residence Hall has been designated as a high priority action item and will be renovated this summer. Requiring more immediate attention than other residence halls when considering structural and spatial issues, Luter was selected as the first to be renovated, with updates to Bostwick and Johnson Residence Halls postponed until the following two summers. The $22 million renovation to Luter will begin on May 9 and continue throughout the summer and the fall semester of 2020. Due to the accelerated timeline, staff members and students will have to move out of the hall on May 9, even though the official moveout date for other halls is May 10.
The hall will reopen in the spring semester of 2021 to house upperclassmen returning from study abroad programs. For the fall semester of 2021, Luter will resume its original function as a flexible housing option for incoming first-year and transfer students, as well as continuing students at the university. Luter, which was built in 1971 and has not been updated since 2016, currently houses mostly freshman and sophomores. It also contains the lounge spaces for two student organizations, Alpha Phi Omega, a national service fraternity, and Wesley Foundation, a Christian campus ministry. The renovation will resemble those completed during previous summer overhauls of the residence halls on Hearn Plaza and will include new heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, LED lighting and water-saving features. There will also be updates made according to regulatory codes, focusing on plumbing, electrical and fire systems.
OGB
“ stay informed as election nears Students should This column represents the views of the Old Gold & Black Editorial Board.
It is necessary that students begin to educate themselves. Each of the candidates holds unqiue positions on various issues ... "
With the recent visit from presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg kicking off the 2020 election in the Winston-Salem area (more information on page 6), it is important that students at the university begin to prepare for the voting season. The Editorial Board of the Old Gold & Black recognizes the need for the university community to actively participate in civil discourse surrounding 2020. As of recent years, North Carolina has become an extremely important state in both primary and general elections. Understood to be a “swing state” — one that could be won by either a Democrat or a Republican — North Carolina is given a lot
of attention by presidential candidates. Beginning with Bloomberg, presidential hopefuls such as Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden will continue to host a multitude of events in the Piedmont-Triad area. The Editorial Board of the Old Gold & Black implores students to understand the privilege of this reality — we can engage much more personally with politicians here than in many other states across the country. So, take ad-
vantage of this and attend a rally in Charlotte or Raleigh, volunteer for a candidate or follow news coverage of their time in North Carolina. While hinted at above, it is also necessary that students begin to educate themselves about their options for 2020. Each of the candidates holds unique positions on various issues and publicize their views on their websites. Further, local elections are just as important as national ones. Take the time to learn about candidates for state and other city-wide positions that are up in 2020. While campus life can often shield students from the realities outside of the bubble, it is more important than ever to stay informed
on the various issues at play in this election. Additionally, students should ensure they are registered to vote in whichever party they choose, before the registration deadline (the primary deadline in North Carolina has already passed, but registration for the general election is still possible). While voting in state primary elections gives citizens a platform to express their preferences, voting in the general election is a vital act of civic responsibility. Students should also remember that they can opt to change their voting registration to North Carolina, where their vote may be worth more than in their home state.
Old Gold&Black
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF WAKE FOREST UNIVERSIT Y SINCE 1916 OLIVIA FIELD
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF fielor17@wfu.edu
CHARLIE BENEDICT
BUSINESS MANAGER
benecc19@wfu.edu
EMILY BEAUCHAMP
ELIZABETH MALINE
PRINT MANAGING EDITOR
ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR
beauea17@wfu.edu
>> NEWS Caroline Walker, walkct18@wfu.edu Senior News Advisor: Lillian Johnson, johnlg16@wfu.edu
>> SPORTS Amanda Wilcox, wilcaf16@wfu.edu Assistant: Ben Conroy, conrbd19@wfu.edu Will Zimmerman, zimmwj19@wfu.edu
>> OPINION Jack Portman, portjt17@wfu.edu Assistant: Ryan King, kingrm17@wfu.edu
>> LIFE Catherine Regen, regecl17@wfu.edu Assistant: Andy Killebrew, killae17@wfu.edu Micah Porter, portmj19@wfu.edu
>> ADVISER Phoebe Zerwick, zerwicp@wfu.edu
malied17@wfu.edu
>> POLICIES
The Old Gold & Black is published Thursdays during the school year, except during examinations, summer and holiday periods, by Triangle Printing of Durham. © 2014 WFU Media Board. All rights reserved. The views expressed in all editorials and advertisements contained within this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the OGB. As part of our commitment to reporting news fairly and accurately, we will not remove any previously published content. If an error in either our online or print content is brought to our attention, we will revise the originally published article with an appended correction. In order to facilitate thoughtful and appropriate debate, profane, vulgar, or inflammatory comments on our website are not allowed and will be deleted. For more information on our commenting policy, please see our website. We reserve the right to reject advertisements deemed inappropriate. Our full policy, and how to advertise with the OGB, can be found on our website.
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News | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, February 20, 2020 | Page 3
Deacon Profile: Andrew Wilson touch. When we have a group come present to SBAC, I always try to meet them in the lobby and shake their hands and tell them what the room’s going to be like and try to walk them through the process.
BY AMANDA WILCOX Sports Editor wilcaf16@wfu.edu
Senior Andrew Wilson, a history major with minors in English and Latin American studies, has likely had some level of interaction, albeit indirectly, with almost every student at the university through their clubs’ budgets. As the treasurer of Student Government and the chair of the Student Budget Advisory Committee (SBAC), it is Wilson’s job to lead SBAC in determining how the university’s $600,000 budget for student organizations is allocated among the many clubs and organizations on campus. Outside of Student Government and SBAC, Andrew has also been involved with the Baptist Student Union since freshman year and is a member of the 2019-2020 cohort of President’s Aides. Most people probably know that you’re the treasurer of Student Government, but what is one thing about you that we’d be surprised to hear? That’s a good question — starting off good. Well, I’ve been to Cuba before, twice. First time I went was my freshman year and then in junior year. I went with the Baptist Student Union and we went on a mission trip for spring break both times. In 2017, my freshman year, that was the first time I had ever been on an airplane or been out of the country. It was a wonderful experience — I know just enough Spanish not to get lost. We worked with [Baptist] churches that were in the area. We were in Havana and another city called Matanzas. Great people — I had the Cuban cigars and the beaches were wonderful. So, the Baptist Student Union has been an important part of your life here, in addition to Student Government. Oh yes, I’d say so. [Baptist Student Union] was the first organization I joined when I got to Wake Forest and I’ve kept with it ever since. I met some of my best friends doing Baptist Student Union. I’m not actually Baptist myself, but I do it when I’m here at Wake Forest. I’m the outreach coordinator, and we’ll do [intramurals] and stuff like that. I’m our intramural basketball coach, and I don’t do them too many favors, but we try to get out and have a good time. Tell me how you first got interested in SBAC and Student Government.
How has the role of treasurer changed you? Well, I think it’s certainly given me higher blood pressure at times. But it’s also made me more, in a way, conversely relaxed, reassured that it will work out at the end of the day. It’s helped me learn how to delegate more and appreciate those people that are on your team. We have a great organization with SBAC and the Student Organization Financing Office (SOFO), which I also work at. I just really appreciate the support I have in the role. Photo courtesy of Andrew Wilson
I did Student Government in high school — I was student body president there. My granddad was really into local politics back where I’m from, and I liked the idea of being able to help people and serve. I ran for Student Government my freshman year and lost. Then I heard about this opportunity called SBAC and you could get appointed to it. So Kathryn Webster was the outgoing treasurer at the time, and I interviewed with her and was able to get on SBAC. I figured it was a way I could learn about something I didn’t know too much about, and still be in Student Government and serve. I did SBAC my sophomore and junior year, and ran for treasurer and somehow won at the end of last year.
students live their passions, whatever that may be.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your job and what have been the biggest challenges?
How have you changed the role of treasurer?
It’s always so rewarding when an organization will come to us with a great idea to host an event on campus, or maybe it’s a club sports team and they’ve qualified for nationals or regionals, and we’re giving them the money to help them get there. It’s so rewarding because you’re getting Wake Forest’s name out there or you’re facilitating an opportunity on campus for students to find their place — and that’s what SBAC is. That’s how most people really interact with Student Government and they don’t even know it, necessarily — through their organization’s funding. I like that Wake Forest’s in a position that we can afford to help
Yeah. Do people think you’re made of money? They do. They call me the “Money Man” sometimes. (Laughs). We have guidelines that are in place for how we can give out the funding. Some of that comes from the university and some of that is our own internal [way] of how we draw the line in the sand. So, you get nasty emails every now and then from frustrated groups, and that comes with the territory, I guess. You’d like to help as many groups as we can, but we do have to draw the line somewhere.
I was very fortunate to have a great predecessor in Sydney Packard. She had held the job for two years before I got there, and she had laid a lot of groundwork and really took SBAC to the next level. I think I’ve just kind of built on that, and I think we’ve made it more user-friendly. We’ve made it so that you can use online Sakai modules instead of having to attend [student organization] treasurer trainings in person that take a long time and everyone might not be available for. At the beginning of the semester or the beginning of the year, particularly if it’s a new treasurer, he or she isn’t going to know how to expect all of this stuff. I also think that I just really try to build up that personal
What parting advice do you have for your successor? Take a breath — everything will work out okay. It’s okay to say no if a group can’t get funding because, as treasurer, you are the only one that thinks about every organization. Presidents and treasurers of individual organizations do their job and do their job well thinking about how they can get the best deal for their organizations, but treasurers and SBAC representatives are the only ones who think of the whole grand $600,000 that we have. That’s a lot of money. It’s a lot of money and it’s a big responsibility, and we don’t take it lightly. What’s next after graduation? Oh, that’s the million-dollar question — the senior question. This past summer, I interned for Human Resources (HR) — I was an HR investigator — for Regions Bank in Alabama. I worked with compliance and associate conduct, like on theft cases or harassment, for some examples. I had a great experience and they hired me back full time. So I’ll be on the same team in the same city working with Regions [Bank] after graduation. I enjoyed it because we’re working with numbers, but we’re also working with people, and it’s a good balance between the two. Editor's note: This interview has been edited and condensed. The full audio can be found online.
POLICE BEAT Miscellaneous • Unknown offender sent a fraudulent text message. The report was filed on Feb. 10 at 1:09 p.m. • Offender hacked into Snapchat accounts, stole nude photos and threatened to post them online. The report was filed on Feb. 14 at 1:42 a.m. Larceny • Unknown subject stole a bicycle left outside Farrell. The report was filed on Feb. 10 at 5:00 p.m. • Unknown subject removed $30 from a student's room in Johnson. The report was filed on Feb. 12 at 2:00 a.m. • Chick-fil-a employee removed the cash drawer from the register. The report was filed on Feb. 12 at 10:30 a.m. • Unknown subject removed a laptop from a classroom in Worrell. The report was filed on Feb. 14 at 2:35 p.m.
• Unknown subject removed money from the Subway register. The report was filed on Feb. 16 at 3:40 a.m. Underage Consumption/Alcohol Abuse • Offender was observed drinking a White Claw in Johnson and was reported by his RA for a bottle of Vodka found in his freezer. The report was filed on Feb. 13 at 11:07 p.m. • Offender was found intoxicated in Johnson. The report was filed on Feb. 13 at 11:07 p.m. • Offender consumed alcohol underage, became sick and was transported from Kitchin to WFUBMC. The report was filed on Feb. 15 at 1:54 a.m. • Offender was found intoxicated and transported from South to WFUBMC. The report was filed on Feb. 16 at 12:30 a.m. • Offender was found intoxicated and transported from Lot B to WFUBMC. The report was filed on Feb. 16 at 2:54 a.m.
Page 4 | Thursday, February 20, 2020
Old Gold & Black | News
Luter: Renovation planned for residence hall Continued from Page 1
Due to the nature of the renovation, the benefits of renovated rooms and improved facilities and systems far outweigh the costs. “The building isn’t terrible, but there’s been flooding problems since the first semester,” said sophomore Josh Milon, who currently lives in Luter. “In my opinion, any improvement would be good.” The upcoming renovation will not only address practical problems arising from old units and systems, but also rooming issues stemming from the outdated arrangement of the rooms. All of the dorms will be renovated in order to improve flexibility and maximize potential space.
Though they will maintain the suite-style orientation, the structure of the room and the bathrooms will change. A primary goal of the updates is to make the inside of the dorm feel more spacious. The ceilings will be raised to increase standing room. Additionally, the built-in furniture will be removed and replaced with movable desks and closets. The restructuring of the dorm room addresses key complaints from current residents in Luter, who have expressed feelings of overcrowding and frustration with the room’s arrangement. It will allow for more flexibility in the floorplan. “I think that the renovations to the closets and desks are definitely needed,” sophomore Emily Potts,
who lives in Luter, said. “It’s kind of difficult with roommate situations if you’re trying to rearrange the room and make it so that one of you is not having your bed halfway into the closet or one of you doesn’t have your bed pushed up against the desk.” To address another spatial concern, the orientation of the bathroom doors will be reversed to reduce sensations of feeling closed in while using the bathroom. After the update, the doors will open outward in the direction of the dorm, rather than closing inward on the bathroom. Aside from the room, social spaces including the lobby and study rooms will also be updated. Likewise, structural concerns with the
exterior of the building will be addressed. New roofing and gutters will be installed, areas where the brick is separating from the building will be fixed properly and the landscaping will be refreshed during the renovation. Upperclassmen especially have noticed the decline of living conditions in Luter and the increasing need for a renovation of the residence hall. “Having lived in Luter both my freshman year as a student and now as [a resident advisor (RA)], I do believe it’s in need of a renovation,” said junior Kat Pitchford, one of 11 RAs in Luter. “I’m excited to see what Luter will look like and can’t wait to experience the nostalgia of living through two phases of Luter my senior year.”
Sorority focuses on multicultural awareness Delta Xi Phi, the only nationally recognized multicultural sorority on campus, increases in size BY CIARA SOTOMAYOR Contributing Writer sotoci17@wfu.edu
As the only nationally recognized multicultural sorority on campus, Delta Xi Phi (DXP) is celebrating its 10th year with its largest group of new sisters, or “crossing line,” in its history. Adding to the 11 active members, 15 women are currently undergoing the process to join the organization. DXP orients itself around five pillars: sisterhood, the advancement of women through higher education, community service, friendship and increasing multicultural awareness. Part of what distinguishes DXP as a sorority is the combination of its smaller size and supportive atmosphere, which emphasizes the celebration of individual identity over an essentializing group identity. Junior Madeline Barnes, the president of Wake Forest’s chapter of the DXP, joined the sorority during her sophomore spring. Barnes explained that she did not necessarily subscribe to the traditional, more dominant Greek culture on campus. “I wanted to find a group of girls that I felt I could be my authentic self with and express my values and my beliefs and who I was [as] an individual,” Barnes said. “I felt that safety and that inclusivity when I was with DXP sisters.” The process of joining the sorority, called “crossing,” is a six-week process that involves learning about the history and values of Delta Xi Phi, facilitating connections between all members and the completion of 15 service hours. Senior Kamryn King, the associate member educator for the chapter, spoke on the learning curve experienced by new members.
“Being a woman at a university can be difficult and challenging in its own way, especially being multicultural women,” King said. “DXP has been a big learning process for me.” To support an educational goal, DXP hosts group study hours and attends career-building events as a chapter, such as resume building with the Office of Personal & Career Development (OPCD). This emphasis creates a network of support among members in navigating the university landscape and pursuing their dreams, which is especially important for sisters who are first-generation college students. The sorority’s largest annual event, Big Tent, takes place in the fall semester in the form of an art gallery created to break down stereotypes and highlight different identities through performances and paintings created by members and other groups on campus. “[We] try to partner with organizations that share similar values, such as the Women’s Center, or events like LatinX month and Wellbeing Wednesday,” Barnes said. DXP’s members represent a wide variety of majors, regions, countries of origin, socioeconomic backgrounds and extracurricular involvements. Such a blend manifests itself in a unique form of connection, according to sophomore Chloe Baker, the vice president of the chapter. “There’s not a lot of like-mindedness besides our morals and our character,” Baker said. “It’s a group where it’s hard for the conversation to stop because there are so many things to learn about each other. The focus on multiculturalism really opens that to be the forefront of our conversation.” Being a smaller organization comes with advantages, as well as challenges. King, whose “crossing line” was composed of three sisters, has been able to witness an exponential change in the size and the involvement of DXP. She commented positively on the chapter’s growth, reflecting on the addition of ten new members last spring.
Photo courtesy of Ciara Sotomayor
Fifteen women are undergoing the process of “crossing,” or joining, Delta Xi Phi, which currently has eleven active members. “It was the proudest I’d ever been,” King said. While maintaining an intimate community, more sisters translates to greater probability of accomplishing more, with fewer burdens on individual members. In terms of representation, DXP falls within the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), along with four historically black fraternities and sororities. If other multicultural sororities or fraternities, such as groups designated for Asian or Hispanic students, were to be introduced to campus, they would meet under the National Multicultural Greek Council. All five of the organizations categorized under the NPHC meet with representatives from the Interfraternity Council (IFC) and the Panhellenic Council (PC), as well as with
directors from various departments such as the Office of Student Involvement, the Intercultural Center, the Women’s Center and with Fraternity and Sorority Life. These meetings are crucial in discussing issues within the NPHC, as well as the IFC and PC, and in allowing representatives to advocate for different groups’ interests. While King acknowledges that DXP doesn’t “really fit in anywhere at the moment,” the members look forward to claiming a physical space of their own on campus — a sentiment shared by many smaller organizations. “All we want is a closet,” Baker joked. Right now, the sisters collectively look forward to the possibility of storing decorations for future events, as they consider expansion and work towards greater visibility on campus.
News | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, February 20, 2020 | Page 5
Innovation: logo and website also rebranded Continued from Page 1
Renamed the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter in 2013, the project was originally titled the Piedmont Triad Research Park. Announced in 1998, the plan was to create a research-focused hub in downtown Winston-Salem. As reported by the Winston-Salem Journal in 2013, the research park was renamed as a way to distinguish itself from the Research Triangle Park, which is located centrally between North Carolina State University, Duke University and UNCChapel Hill. According to Joseph McConnell, former chief executive of Wake Forest Baptist Health, this change was made to improve the commercial standings of the brand. A similar effort is being made now — Innovation Quarter has revamped its website and logo with the help of Elephant in the Room, a local design firm. Beginning in 2012, Wake Forest Baptist Health also worked alongside Wexford Science & Technology to facilitate the real estate and development goals of the innovation district.
“It was very important to build a brand that reflects the vibrancy of everything going on here currently — startups, concerts, major scientific research, food trucks, entrepreneurship — while also having an eye for the deep history and architectural identity that has existed here for decades,” said James Patterson, director of marketing and communications for Innovation Quarter, in the press release. As Patterson mentioned above, Innovation Quarter is home to multiple historically relevant buildings. These include renovated R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. buildings and the recently opened Bailey Power Plant. “While the name is simplified to reflect an increasingly broad, inclusive and diverse number of tenants and institutions, our commitment to Innovation Quarter’s mission of driving economic growth and building vibrant community remains unchanged,” said Julie Ann Freischlag, the chief executive officer of Wake Forest Baptist Health and dean of Wake Forest School of Medicine, in the press release. Alongside its economic pursuits, Innovation Quarter hosts more than
Photo courtesy of Andrew Dye/Winston-Salem Journal
Innovation Quarter, as seen from the observation deck of Winston Tower, houses multiple companies, institutions and people. 1,800 students, including those in the Wake Forest School of Medicine and undergraduates who take classes at the Wake Downtown campus. Winston-Sa-
lem State University, Forsyth Technical Community College and UNC School of the Arts also operate within the research park.
SG GENERAL ASSEMBLY tion, which will be hosted in partnership with various offices on campus, such as the Office of Wellbeing and the LGBTQ Center. There will also be I. Executive Reports free STI and HIV testing on April 3 as part of the week’s activities. President Mellie Mesfin began the Chief of Staff Isabella Ryan encourmeeting by discussing the preparation aged involvement with Mental Health for Student Government elections that Week and Staff Advisor Tim Wilkinwill be taking place in the next couple son reported that the applications to weeks. If anyone is interested in ex- be a Student Engagement Consultant ecutive positions and wants to know are still available. more about their responsibilities, she is available to answer any questions or II. Committee Reports concerns. Speaker of the House Miles MiddleThe Academic Committee shared ton spoke about the accountability of about the Faculty Appreciation Event bias reports and his work to help pro- occurring on Tuesday, March 31 from mote the bias reporting system to en- 2:30 to 5 p.m. The committee will sure that issues are resolved and dealt host an ice cream social and an a capwith. pella concert for faculty members, Secretary Laura Horton shared in- who have devoted their time and enformation about Sex Week, which will ergy into making the university great. last from March 30 to April 3. The The committee also reported that the week will include a variety of events student-athlete video highlighting the regarding sex education and prepara- involvement of student athletes on
BY JESS SCHMIDT Staff Writer schmja19@wfu.edu
campus aside from their athletic participation will be completed and released soon. The Campus Life Committee once again advocated for more participation in Mental Health Week, whether that be in terms of volunteering or simply attending events. The promotional video for the week will be released soon in order to garner more awareness for all of the events occurring that week. The Diversity and Inclusion Committee was excited to report that the demographics regarding freshman dorms will be presented by Matthew Clifford, the assistant vice president of Campus Life and dean of Residence Life and Housing, either this week or the following. The committee also discussed its work on the sexual education presentations that will be shared to incoming students during the fall 2020 orientation week. The Judiciary Committee is working on understanding and looking
through the research on the student governments of universities in the Colonial Group. The Physical Planning Committee reported the results of their meeting with Deacon Dining and shared the new aspects of dining locations on campus, such as the waffle maker in the Pit, fresh fruit in the P.O.D. located in Subway, and La Croix in the P.O.D. in Benson. Since Deacon Dining is willing to hear student opinions and ideas, the committee urged students to talk to their representatives to hear any other suggestions. The Physical Planning Committee is also hoping to construct shelters over the various bike racks on campus to keep bikes dry during the rain. An additional structural concern was also brought to the committee’s attention about building a boat house for the club rowing team. The Student Organizations Committee is continuing to refine the chartering process for clubs on campus.
WAKE IN A WEEK Founders’ Day Convocation Time: Thursday, Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. Location: Wait Chapel Wake Forest hosts its annual Founders’ Day Convocation, where two trustees will be honored by the university.
Legacies of Leadership: Service and Vigil Time: Sunday, Feb. 23 at 3 p.m. Location: Millenium Center Join the final event of a week-long commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Winston-Salem sit-ins.
Black, Queer & Brilliant Time: Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 5 p.m. Location: Benson University Center 311 The LGBTQ+ will host a community space for black LGBTQ+ students. Dinner will be provided.
TEDxWakeForestU Time: Saturday, Feb. 22 at 12:30 p.m. Location: Wait Chapel Hear from individuals discuss this year’s theme: ReVision, about revising perspectives and reimagining the future.
Title IX Listening Session for Students Time: Monday, Feb. 24 at 3 p.m. Location: Reynolda Hall, Heritage Room 216 As a part of the search for a Title IX Office director, consultants will listen to what students want in a director.
Men’s basketball vs. Duke Time: Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. Location: LJVM Coliseum Come cheer on the Deacons as they take on the Duke Blue Devils. Student admission is free with an ID.
Page 6 | Thursday, February 20, 2020
Old Gold & Black | News
Bloomberg campaigns in Winston-Salem
To canvas support, Bloomberg addressed residents of Winston-Salem during a stop on his North Carolina campaign tour BY ELIZABETH MALINE Online Managing Editor malied17@wfu.edu It’s atypical to find a line wrapped around the block at Foothills Brewing, especially at 7 a.m. in the pouring rain. The line wasn’t for beer, but instead to see presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg address the WinstonSalem community. As Bloomberg acknowledged, it’s not every day that a presidential candidate visits the smaller city of Winston-Salem when campaigning in North Carolina. On Thursday, Feb. 13, the Bloomberg campaign held a rally at Footnote Coffee & Cocktails, a coffee shop owned by Foothills. This was the first stop of the day for Bloomberg in promoting early voting in North Carolina, before he traveled eastward to other cities in the state, such as Greensboro and Raleigh. The event was originally slated to be held at Campus Gas, but was moved to Footnote due to a high number of RSVPs, according to the Winston-Salem Journal. The North Carolina Deputy Veterans Affairs Director of the Bloomberg campaign said that over 900 people had reserved a spot to attend the event. Though the exact number at the event was uncalculated, Footnote, a significantly larger space than Campus Gas, was packed to the brim. The campaign said they were very pleased with the turnout. The event began as Winston-Salem’s mayor, Allen Joines, welcomed Bloomberg, though he did not endorse him. Bloomberg has, however, been endorsed by the former governor of North Carolina, Bev Purdue. Bloomberg’s somewhat unconventional decision to skip early state contests, such as Iowa and New Hampshire, has allowed him to spend more time in North Carolina and other Super Tuesday states, in which he will be competing. He started his speech by declaring that North Carolina deserves just as much attention as South Carolina, another early state, as the crowd erupted in cheers. He also cracked some jokes about his recordbreaking campaign spending. Bloomberg’s primary motivation for running in this race is no secret.
Elizabeth Maline/Old Gold & Black
Attendees wait in line in the rain before Bloomberg’s event in downtown Winston-Salem.
Elizabeth Maline/Old Gold & Black
Presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg delivered a speech while advocating for his platform and attempting to garner support from the Winston-Salem community. “I am running to defeat [President] Donald Trump,” Bloomberg said. “I am also running because I want to put the ‘United’ back in the United States of America.” Bloomberg touted his record as former mayor of New York City, a position he was elected to directly following 9/11. He referenced his work rebuilding the city by adding 175 units of affordable housing and by creating more than 500,000 new jobs. He also described that his role as mayor has given him experience in forming teams and in working across the aisle. As his slogan states, Bloomberg is focused on “getting it done.” In his speech, he advocated for passing commonsense gun safety laws, establishing America as a global leader in the fight against climate change, formulating better immigration policy and protecting a woman’s right to choose. “I believe the way to beat him is with workable, sensible policies,” he said. Additionally, Bloomberg enters the race from a unique position, given that he and Trump knew each other well from living in New York. This gives Bloomberg the platform to speak about Trump’s character outside of politics. He told the audience that he “knows how to deal with Trump,” calling him a “conman from the beginning,” and has boasted about beating Trump already by helping to flip 21 house seats in the 2018 midterm election to give Democrats control. Many university students set their alarms early to get in line and catch a glimpse of what the former mayor had to say. “I’ve never done anything like this before,” said junior Becca Spritzer. “I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to see someone who might get the Democratic nomination. Students should definitely hear what he has to say.” Many students were pleased with the event and didn’t let the rain deter them from attending. “It’s really exciting to have a presidential candidate in Winston-Salem,” said senior Andrew Wilson. “I liked what he said, though it was a little short.” Though many students are currently unsure about where their political allegiance lies, they attended the event to get more information about Bloomberg, as the Democratic field remains crowded. “There are so many candidates still in the primary, I wanted to get more information,” said junior Samantha Horowitz. Other students have an idea of who they are going to support, but attended the event out of curiosity. Junior
Caroline Fatemi, for example, currently supports Elizabeth Warren, but would consider supporting a candidate like Bloomberg, especially if he gets the Democratic nomination. “The fact that he’s here in Winston-Salem is exciting,” said Fatemi, who wanted to attend the event as an engaged political citizen. “It’s nice for the community and the university.” The event was particularly beneficial for many students who are still trying to find a candidate to get behind. For senior Walter Jackson, Bloomberg could be the one. “I’m more of a moderate Democrat, so I’m trying to figure out if Bloomberg could be the right choice for me,” Jackson said. Rather than attending out of curiosity, many community members also attended the event because they support Bloomberg as their first-choice candidate. Lila Cruikshank was committed to seeing Bloomberg speak, after missing out on a previous campaign event the week before in another part of the state. She saw former President Barack Obama speak in North Carolina during his first presidential campaign, which she fondly remembers. “I think Bloomberg will go far,” Cruikshank said. She based this assertion on her experience living in New Jersey shortly after 9/11, when she saw firsthand the work Bloomberg did as mayor. “I saw New York getting cleaned up,” Cruikshank said. “It looked cared for.” She also noted his unique perspective on managing large groups at Bloomberg L.P. “He’s even more personable and smart than I could have imagined,” Cruikshank said. “I knew I liked him before, but now I’m sold.” She plans to canvas for Bloomberg and knock on doors leading up to the North Carolina primary. After the impeachment trial and unsuccessful effort by Democrats to remove Trump from office, Bloomberg presents this election as dire. “Let me tell you what the ‘it’ is, however in ‘get it done’,” Bloomberg said, “It means winning this November and sending Trump back to Mar-a-Lago permanently.” This may not be the last time Bloomberg visits the city of Winston-Salem. He has opened a field office downtown at 501 N. Liberty St., located by the bus station, as his campaign team hopes to gain momentum. The office employs many young field organizers, including recent Wake Forest alumni. However, the organizers are not permitted to talk to the press.
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Psychedelics may be key to treating mental illness Promising reserach shows psychedelics could help anxiety and depression BY MAGGIE BURNS Science &Technology Editor burnme17@wfu.edu For many university students, college can be a pressure-cooker for all sorts of brain health issues, including but certainly not limited to depression and anxiety. While there has been a withstanding sentiment that substance use is not a good way to cope with these issues, research is beginning to show that this may no longer be true. Johns Hopkins University is leading the medical world in research regarding the use of psychedelic drugs to treat a wide variety of brain health issues such as addiction, depression and anxiety, to name a few. It’s too early to gauge if such treatments could reduce the widespread use of antianxiety medications and antidepressants on colleges campuses and elsewhere, but emerging research is shedding light on the possibilities. While Hopkins has been working with psychedelics since around 2000, last September it opened The Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. According to their website, the center is “committed to exploring innovative treatments for our patients. Our scientists have shown that psychedelics have real potential as medicine, and this new center will help us explore that potential.” Researchers have been given federal approval for trials with patients suffer-
ing from brain health disorders. They aim to explore the effects of psychedelics on cognition, behavior, brain function, mood and other factors, according to their website. The main drug of choice for the researchers is psilocybin, which is the active ingredient found in magic mushrooms. Psilocybin is a psychedelic drug that is known to cause feelings of euphoria and hallucinations. A study published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface explains that patients given psilocybin had noticeable changes to the “homological scaffolding” of their brains, as compared to those given a placebo. This means that the drug changed some structures and pathways of the brain and it appeared to have positive mental health benefits. Patients in the Hopkins trials are, according to an article in The New York Times, given nearly twice the normal recreational dose of magic mushrooms, and they lie blindfolded on a couch while being closely monitored by doctors and psychologists during their trip. Rachel Peterson, who after suffering from an “unexplainable sense of grief ” for much of her life, decided to participate in one of the Hopkins trials in 2017. “I think that trial was the single most effective thing I’ve done to manage my mental health, and I had tried almost everything,” Peterson said, per the Times. “And it leads me to believe that we need to radically change how we think about mental health.” Michael Pollan, American author and journalist, is an advocate for psychedelic drug use to treat issues like anxiety and depression, and to encourage what he calls “ego death.” Pollan says psychedel-
Photo courtesy of Peter Dejong/TNS
Scientists are conducting trials to understand how psychedelic drugs can positively impact patients suffering from depression and anxiety. ics can be the key to changing one’s perception entirely. Pollan argues in his book How to Change Your Mind that “a high dose of psilocybin could be used to safely and reliably ‘occasion’ a mystical experience — typically described as the dissolution of one’s ego followed by a sense of merging with nature or the universe.” While funded research from places such as Johns Hopkins, as well as individual accounts like Pollan’s, are widely positive, no one is being encouraged to quit receiving institutional help all together and go buy ‘shrooms off the street to have their own trip, as reserach is still ongoing. Studies at Hopkins continue to search for benefits, and work is also being done to decriminalize the possession of magic mushrooms in many places. The positive effects of this research could be seen on college campuses across the nation, if the treatment becomes federally recognized. Although the research seems promising, psychedelics can still be quite
harmful when abused or not used in the proper setting. The clinical, federally approved use of psychedelic drugs is, so far, the only safe way to try these drugs. When psilocybin is used in an unregulated way, it can sometimes cause nausea, hallucinations and psychosis, otherwise known as a “bad trip.” This can lead to a very negative experience for the user, especially when a clinician is not present to help the patient calm down. “I think the research is worth looking into, especially since psychedelics were stigmatized for so long,” said junior Caroline Reed. “I think [using psychedelics] could be very fruitful, and I feel like there are a lot of examples when people have their entire perception of things completely altered.” Even though much more research is necessary — and students should avoid recreational use— it could eventually be that taking a trip is just what some college students need in order to deal with the anxiety and depression that goes along with the rigors of life at the university; maybe that’s the magic.
Oral surgery could lead to opioid addiction Pain pills after surgery could have a severely negative impact on patients BY ABBY BERGERON Contributing Writer bergam16@wfu.edu If you’re due for wisdom teeth surgery, don’t be too trusting of the Vicodin prescription your oral surgeon recommends for pain. People between the ages of 13 and 30 are nearly three times more likely to continue use after their initial post-surgical opioid prescriptions. Dentists are one of the most frequent prescribers of opioids in the United States. However, many researchers suggest their perscribing of opioids is unnecessary. A study published last month in The Journal of the American Dental Association reports that the use of
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Ibuprofen, are just as, if not more effective than opioids for acute pain management. NSAIDs work by inhibiting substances in the body that promote pain, inflammation and fever. Studies have shown that these medications, while still effective, generate significantly less adverse effects (like drowsiness, nausea, and trouble breathing) than do opioids. Vicodin is a combination of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and hydrocodone (an opioid) and has been considered the “gold standard” of pain management after oral procedures, such as wisdom teeth surgery. Opioids work by binding to opioid receptors on nerve cells and mimicking endorphins, effectively reducing the spread of pain signals through the nervous system. Continued use of opioids can lead to tolerance, meaning more is needed to create the same effect. This can then lead to depen-
dence and, eventually, addiction. About 2.1 million Americans live with opioid use disorder. “In 2017 alone, more than 70,000 people died from drug overdoses, making it a leading cause of injury-related death in the United States,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Of those deaths, almost 68% involved a prescription or illicit opioid.” A study published by the CDC in 2017 found that after only the third day of taking prescription opioids, the probability of chronic opioid use increased rapidly. Most oral surgeons write a seven-day prescription after wisdom teeth surgery. “After only my second day post-surgery, my pain had mostly gone away, and I felt too nervous to keep taking my Vicodin pills,” said senior Lizzie Sweyer, who had her wisdom teeth removed this past winter break. “I had heard stories of people my age becoming addicted, and I didn’t want to risk it.”
In addition to the potential for an oral surgery patient to become a chronic opioid user, the over-prescription of these drugs increases the opportunity for drug diversion, the illegal practice of transferring a prescribed drug to someone else. According to a study published by Drug and Alcohol Dependence, over 100 million opioid analgesic pills are left unused after outpatient oral surgery every year in the United States. These prescriptions are a major source of diverted pills and further drive the problem of the opioid epidemic in the U.S. The researchers from this study made their position on the topic clear: “With the increasing concern about prescription opioid abuse within the United States, oral surgeons and other dental clinicians have a moral responsibility to limit opioid exposure, to explain the risks of opioid misuse, and to improve patient education on drug disposal.”
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“ Historical figures require contextualization Historiography
Guaging the moral failings of the Founding Fathers requires a broad temporal context Connor McNeely Staff Columnist mcnecb19@wfu.edu
It is very difficult to locate optimism or hope in the political dimension of our society. While some citizens have their particular candidate or issue they will back, their support is not usually buoyed by any sort of overwhelming momentum of hope that things will get better — it is conventionally a movement fueled by revenge and anger at the historical injustices of this country and at the current injustices of this administration. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Like many other “great” historical figures of times’ past, the Founding Fathers of the United States have recently fallen prey to a whole host of virulent criticism from opinion editors and radical scholars across the country. It is quickly becoming the new thing to drag a figure like Thomas Jefferson through the dirt. This is of course due to the
It is quickly becoming the new thing to drag a figure like Thomas Jefferson through the dirt. ” newfound transparency within the lives of these famous men — a transparency likely withheld from the general public because of some willful ignorance generated from the scholastic and cultural authorities. But times have changed now, and these traditional perspectives have been replaced — now we know Founding Fathers to be racists, duelists, smugglers, sexists, slave owners, hypocrites and rich old white men. How are we as the citizens of the U.S. — a bastion of multiculturalism and equality for all — meant to revere these dead men and look to them as examples of good leaders? This question does have a lot to do with what politics look like in our lifetime, but if we are going to form an opinion about George Washington and James Madison, we must examine the political conditions of their careers and honestly account for the challenges that they faced. Historically, we know that many of those associated with the founding statesmen of the U.S. were initially reluctant. Madison, the “father of the Constitution,” wasn’t even a notable figure at the beginning of the war. John Dickinson enjoyed being in London
more than his home in America and penned the desperate Olive Branch Petition to King George. John Adams successfully defended the British soldiers who murdered American citizens in the Boston Massacre. But obviously, things changed when the war began. Every one of these reluctant men was swayed by the momentum of unity. These men who couldn’t let go of their lives were now under the threat of imprisonment and execution, and no one was abandoning the cause, even after consistent defeats. The Valley Forge encampment was the picture of that spirit of endurance and Washington the iron heart of the army. There is no denying that this group of men risked all that they had for the idea of a country free of despotic rule. I can respect that. But somehow this can be overshadowed by the “advanced” modern minds that we now possess. We are not able to look past the moral failures of these people and their troubled pasts. While their mistakes are utterly inexcusable — no one denies this — we have no knowledge of the constraints of their society and historical environment, nor their attempts to rectify what they rightfully perceived as a blatant negligence of equality and virtuous living. What I am proposing is that we take into account both the horrible failures and the noble successes of these men and decide for ourselves whether they should be respected
or not. This is a proposal that is relatively alien to the society in which we now live — there are no second chances for people with the burden of responsibility. Personally, I have a great deal of respect for the Founding Fathers. It doesn’t seem fair to compare the political leaders of this century to the Founding Fathers. These were people who were willing to die for what they believed in. Every single candidate you will ever see from here on out will be broadcasted to you as a manufactured product, packaged specifically for what you have been made to care about by the hidden arbitrators of our “awakened” culture. They collect insipid little political achievements to pin onto their “career history,” promising to inspire a tidal wave of social change when in the end it will almost certainly be a drop in the bucket. They are paper mâché people, stuffed with special interest money from the infectious corporate tyrants. I would like to see a man like Madison, with his mastery of empirical and abstract reasoning, run for office — or maybe a woman with the backbone of Washington and the ridiculous financial understanding of Alexzander Hamilton. There are people like this, out there in the world — but they won’t run for President. They know real change happens outside of the White House.
simple for us to pick up on context, but that is not true for everyone or every situation. I think that language should be clear-cut and there should be less reliance on context and more of a focus on the primary meanings of words. Take the word “starving,” for example. This word is frequently misused in Western society. When we hear someone say “I haven’t eaten all day, I’m starving,” we don’t even think twice about it. Why? Because of the conversational implicature. But, “starving” definitionally speaking does not align with that usage. Is that person suffering from extreme hunger and perishing from lack of food (MerriamWebster)? Certainly not. I find that the improper use of the word “starving” can have negative consequences and harmful implications. When we allow people to use “starving” in such a casual way, it diminishes the meaning that it holds for people who are actually starving in impoverished communities and do not have the same access to food as we may have. The more that people use words, such as “starving” daily, the more the original meaning diminishes. Once the meaning has diminished, we lose the
value of that word and it no longer carries the same weight as it once did. Perhaps this is why many of us are desensitized to tragic news of suffering experienced by those in different communities and nations. It’s possible that when we hear on the news that “refugees are starving,” the true meaning of the word no longer registers in our mind. It is almost as though we are unable to truly understand what that phrase means at its core, making it much easier to move on with our lives and forget the news. Thus, there are three significant problems at hand: first, it is possible that using words casually makes them devoid of their true significance and creates a blindness in the face of that true meaning. Second, misusing words can create harm and invalidate the purpose of those words in situations where they are being used in proper form. Third, in a world where conversational implicatures are obsolete, the misuse of such words makes it difficult to communicate with one another, the meaning one person may understand from a word does not line up with another person’s. In other words, one should not have to consider context to determine the meaning of the word.
“ requires singular implications Precise speech Philosphy of language
Avoiding the misuse of language requires specificity in word meaning Gaby Gonzalez Staff Columnist gonzgc17@wfu.edu
In the English language, there are words used daily, both casually and formally, that hold multiple meanings and that meaning depends on its usage. I find these multiple meanings problematic and contend that using one word to signify various thoughts or feelings potentially makes the word devoid of its true meaning, significance and purpose. This problem becomes clear when viewed as a response against the logician Paul Grice’s ides of conversational implicatures in his work Logic and Conversation. Grice argues that conversational implicatures are implications of words
from the way that things are said versus what was actually said. For Grice, when two people are conversing, it is necessary
The more that people use words, such as ‘starving’ daily, the more the original meaning diminishes.” for them to have some sort of shared or common knowledge since that shared knowledge allows for the understanding of conversational implicatures. Grice may be right, but his argument seems slightly unrealistic. What if we find ourselves in conversations with people who we do not have shared or common knowledge with? For example, what if we are speaking to someone from a nonEnglish speaking country or someone with a cultural background wholly different from our own? If we use certain words in contexts that we may understand but others do not, we risk miscommunication and perhaps even causing offense. Moreover, Grice thinks that if you say something along the lines of “I love Chipotle!,” we would all understand that the conversational implicature of that statement is that you really enjoy the food from Chipotle and not that you are romantically involved with the establishment. Examples like this may be
Opinion | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, February 20, 2020 | Page 9
Canonical “approach transcends politics Literary Theory
Literary classics imbue attention to form with timeless sensitivity Kyle Ferrer
Staff Columnist ferrka16@wfu.edu
The detailed and heterogeneous lashings that the “classics” have taken over the years remains at least a partial wonder. I have long thought that, though we should expand literary horizons to embrace formerly excluded works, we should continue to read classic writers, the most obvious, if you like, being William Shakespeare. Even if one claims classic texts are out of line with a progressive program, or do not express disdain for the backwardness of their time, they cannot hope to understand what “new” writers are writing against or departing from without having understood the launchpad. How can discernment find a place without comparison? If all a writer is meant to signify is a sociological diagnostic, then where
The aesthetic charges of great art have little to do with time, and more so with its staged disappearance ...” does the strange, the perverse, the aesthetic leap enter? Purely political art means risk-averse aesthetics. But that’s a different conversation. A refusal to read the Western canon forfeits scope in favor of contemporary art. But literary history, to whoever’s chagrin, does include Shakespeare, and William Wordsworth and Roth, and to see against-the-grain writing for what it is, one must know the grain. Willful blindness toward the canon bleeds into an unwillful blindness toward non-western canons, too. It’s not a matter of “oh but you’re still centering thought in the West,” it’s an attempt at comprehensiveness. Ironically, the inclusivity sought by bringing non-western literature into the fold, naively excludes in turn. If we wish to approach a “comprehensive canon” (impossible, probably, but not worth attempting) then we must mean it. One space on the map does not have to completely cede position to another. In fact, the Western canon prepares the stage, in some ways, for rich depar-
ture from itself. Of course, Stéphane Mallarmé’s lament that “Alas! I have read all the books,” becomes a more distant fantasy when we think about broadening our horizons, but that’s more than OK. A winding history of Western thought does not distract or devalue other art, it clarifies the dialogue between them. Now, what is a “classic text?” I would argue it transcends context, even author, and creates a current passing through time. The aesthetic charges of great art have little to do with time, and more to do with its staged disappearance, since the classic text does not disavow its own time so much as it lulls the concept to sleep. It floats us in a sea of imaginative surprise, waves of vision lapping perception with speechless clarity. “Timelessness,” the word often associated with a classic text, is an indication of its aesthetic energy, its ceaseless and un-ignorable roaring at reality’s stubborn dimensions. It’s a window with a view, with glimpses of the lingering extraordinary. The classic text dims the contemporary to electrify some universal aesthetic sensitivity. In this sense, anything can be an instant classic. A personal totem that may or may not be part of the consensus classic. Italo Calvino in the New York Review of Books,
described it, in 1986, as a version of Emerson’s alienated majesty: “A classic does not necessarily teach us anything we did not know before. In a classic we sometimes discover something we have always known (or thought we knew), but without knowing that this author said it first, or at least is associated with it in a special way. And this, too, is a surprise that gives a lot of pleasure, such as we always gain from the discovery of an origin, a relationship, an affinity.” We can measure a book’s virtuosity by its linguistic ability to mimic eternal sensations, to impress us with the otherwise unseen lacunae notched in our own emotional spectrum. Put another way, a classic book puts our soul in relief, raising what we’ve only vaguely intimated for an unsuspecting glimpse. By this definition, my first two paragraphs are voided. Able to be construed as selective canonizing, I think Calvino’s comment also articulates canonical art’s real value: its impulsivity, an undeniable charge that, felt by enough people, warrant its place in the canon. If nothing else, this aesthetic force constitutes a case for reading. Though it’s not political, its personal, and can add to our bounty of wonders.
David Leonhardt in a recent New York Times column, the majority of Democrats don’t see themselves as radicals — slightly more than half call themselves conservative or moderate, and slightly less than half call themselves liberal. In addition, Sanders’ victory in New Hampshire should be viewed with a healthy dose of perspective. This year, Sanders was aided by the fact that the moderate coalition was split among three candidates, while he dominated the progressive vote. Seen this way, one can conclude that a strong majority of New Hampshire voters actually preferred a candidate from the “realist” model (Biden, Buttigieg or Klobuchar). I also see the progressive candidates’ lack of specifics about how they plan to deliver on their policies as a liability. I agree wholeheartedly with the substance of their plans, but I’m often frustrated by their lack of willingness to admit that passing their ambitious agendas in a divided Congress is not a likely outcome. Even if Democrats do manage to recapture the White House in November, a path to retake the Senate looks out of reach. Considering the fact that some of Sanders and Warren’s policies, such as
Medicare for All and universal free college, don’t have a lot of support even among Democratic legislators, debating their finer points feels increasingly delusional and not a great use of the candidates’ time. It seems that were Sanders or Warren to be elected, they would almost inevitably need to change their policies to resemble something more like what moderates have proposed (for instance, a public option available alongside privately run health insurance on the exchanges). Even then, passage would be a monumental accomplishment in Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s Senate. Candidates should have big, bold ideas, but should also be realistic about the political environment and willing to welcome incremental change instead of holding out for the most pure, ideal version of their policy, or they run the risk that no progress is made at all. Sanders has said that compromise is anathema to him, and while his fire and passion have successfully built a large, strong coalition of leftists, that coalition alone will not be enough to defeat Trump, and the unwillingness to build consensus might turn away the center — and we need them on our team, too.
Moderation“ offers pragmatic path forward Election Season
Progressive candidates may lack the specificity and support for their policy agendas Amanda Wilcox Staff Columnist wilcaf16@wfu.edu
We’re currently well in the midst of the 2020 primary contest, and since the beginning, an essential debate has raged between two visions of who the Democratic Party standard-bearer should be in the general election. While some Democrats believe that President Donald Trump is an aberration and that a “return to normalcy” is possible and desirable, others contend that Trump is merely a symptom of political and economic systems so corrupted that they ought to be fully dismantled and replaced. These competing views have largely played out as a tussle between the moderate wing of the primary field (former Vice President Joe Biden, former Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Amy Klobuchar) and the progressive wing (Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Elizabeth Warren).
Sanders was aided by the fact that the moderate coalition was split among three candidates...” No one can say for sure what will be the right formula of moderate pragmatism and progressive contrast to some of my classmates, I personally believe that the stakes are too high to care much about ideological purity tests (save for Mike Bloomberg, for whom I will never vote), I have still struggled with how to balance the “radical” and “realist” models in choosing the ideal candidate. As I write this column, my Virginia absentee ballot sits unopened in my desk, and I have less clarity now about whose name it will eventually bear than I did a few months ago. As such, for the next two weeks, I will write a two-part op-ed miniseries: this week I will make the case for why Democrats should nominate a candidate from the moderate wing, and next week I will do the same for the progressive wing. In the end, I will need to convince myself of one or the other. For starters, as frustrated as Democratic voters are, most of them still identify as moderate. According to
Thursday, February 20, 2020 | Page 10
Opinion | Old Gold & Black
Perpetual “media chaos obscures reality Society and Media
The unceasing turmolt of world events renders media coverage diffuse Jack Portman
Staff Columnist portjt17@wfu.edu
To live is to be bombarded with an endless stream of information, particularly in our perverse new-media hellscape. In the past hour, news about the fabrication of the Soleimani “imminent threat,” news about high school runners being sleign by a grief-stricken drunk driver, news about Rep. Jim Jordan begging an Ohio State wrestler not to corroborate the existence of a widespread sexual abuse scandal at the university, news about the 17th inmate death in a Mississippi prison since December, news that an Atlanta sheriff used charity funds to aid his campaign, news that 1,100 former Department of Justice employees have asked Attorney General William Barr to resign, news that Trump prompted the CIA to execute Osama bin Laden’s son rather than other higher priority targets, news that Tesla was ordered to stop felling trees to clear space for a ‘Gigafactory’ in Germany, news that ‘another’ Atlanta construction worker fell to their death while working on the I-285 in-
Navigating the news requires tact and discernment, but making sense of the news requires ... context.” terchange, news about the Million Women March in Iraq, news that Sandra the Floridian orangutan was granted legal personhood, news that President Xi had early knowledge of the coronavirus, news that California will apologize for the internment of Japanese citezens, news that Rudy Gulliani claims to have proof of a ‘Democratic scam’ in Ukraine stored on an iPad which he refuses to share, news about the warmest temperature ever recorded in Antarctica, news that 800,000 Syrians have evacuated Syria in the past three months, news about the growing evidence to suggest that the indigenous inhabitants of Easter Island were ‘still okay’ when Europreans arrived, news that Russian medical shortages have left many Russians helpless, news that the Republican party propogated a fundraising email meant to resemble a census form, news that a pastor claimed that God will protect the U.S. from the coronavirus becaue of the Trump administration’s pro-life abortion stance and the news that a volunteer Australian firefighter who swore at Prime Minister Scott Morrison was fired from his job, have proliferated throughout my news aggregators, social media platforms and internet exploration. New headlines will penetrate my media sphere at a breakneck pace, ap-
parently ad infinitum. I really try to synthesize this information in a meaningful way, to construct some understanding of the world as it presently exists based on an arbitrary sample of the seemingly limitless facts, falsities, data and footage which are created and re-created constantly. But it doesn’t seem feasible, or even worthwhile. I don’t know enough Somali history to contextualize the news that volunteer millennial Somalis are forming coalitions to offer civil services which their government is failing to provide, or enough about Israel to understand the news that members of the militant group Hamas allegedly catfished Isreali military personnel by “posing as women seeking romance.” The chaotically diffuse nature of the news is almost numbing; stories which seem profoundly scandalous publish everyday to minimal fanfare while headlines vie for clicks by misrepresenting truth. Navigating the news requires tact and discernment, but making sense of the news requires an impossibly elusive sense of context. I can barely keep track of the democratic primaries, with their six primary actors and reasonably formulaic scope and narrative. What then do I make of the news that 211 million gallons of sewage have seeped into Fort Lauderdale rivers since December? How do I know whether this is an issue I should continue to follow? It seems pressing, certainly dangerous, but is it important enough to occupy some of my finite attention to the goings on in the world, especially when a suicide bomber in
Pakistan has just killed eight people, 31 Yemeni civilians have died in a U.S.backed Saudi Coalition bombing and 12 members of a far-right German organization were detained for planning attacks on mosques and asylum seekers? My situation in the world grants me the considerable convenience of being attuned to the constant deluge of newsworthy content circulating the internet, but I don’t feel prepared to cope with this much data. Everything I read appears discrete, isolated from its global context. Might the shoddy sewer system in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. belong to the same historical-political clade as the U.S.-backed Saudi coalition bombing? I suspect so, if at least distantly; it doesn’t seem outrageous that underfunded American infrastructure and the military-industrial complex might reflect the local and global ebb and flow of our salient systems of commerce and economy. But how might President Xi’s mishandling of the coronavirus, or the warming of the arctic, mesh into this understanding of global currents? My relationship to the news is fraught; it baffles me and desensitizes me and subverts my expectations constantly. However, I suppose there’s an enculturative aspect of my media consumption. I come to some awareness, if by vague and obscure means, of the phenomena of world, national and local politics; their reflexivity and contingency upon one another, and the worldliness and vital importance of every seemingly insignificant datum I absorb.
reasons; liberals and moderates alike want to hear more than that. College students are not much different than people older than us. We want to hear about what our chosen candidate plans to do to make sure we can afford health care, combat climate change and heal long-term relationships with foreign allies. The primary season is still in its early stage, but the Democratic field has already narrowed to candidates equally committed to beating Trump who also have some ideas about how they want to lead the country after he’s out of office. The plethora of candidates who had no shot at beating Trump are out of the race. Now’s the time to set yourself apart by explaining your views and how you plan to get your policies passed. Bloomberg’s talking points during his Winston-Salem speech were incredibly vague. He brushed over important issues that need to be addressed. When talking about climate change, he only said that he thinks it’s a priority to make America the “global leader.” With regards to workers and the economy, all Bloomberg said was that he wanted to create “good jobs and higher wages.” This sentiment of broad solutions is a constant thread in the Bloomberg campaign. Just a quick peek at Bloomberg’s website, versus his opponents’, illustrates this.
Pete Buttigieg, former mayor of South Bend, Ind., has a three stage plan to combat climate change that includes specific actions he’ll take once elected. Bloomberg’s website does not. Similarly with regard to education, Bloomberg’s website states he will “guarantee that students have a path to affordable, quality higher education,” while Sanders’ website outlines three concrete steps, including specific investments to ensure more affordable college. You may have doubts about Buttigieg’s plan on climate change or Sanders’ “free” college, but at least they are providing the means by which we can judge their intentions. If Bloomberg wants to beat front runners Sanders or Buttigieg, he needs to fix this. Right now, it looks like he’s working off the losing playbook of rival former Vice President Joe Biden. Biden has also preached the same rhetoric of electability, and it is costing him. Biden has not finished in the top three of the first primary tests and his poll numbers continue to dwindle. Because of his billions and experience, Bloomberg has the potential to be a formidable candidate in the race. However, Bloomberg’s rally in Winstondemonstrated he is missing the mark. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bloomberg doesn’t make the double digits here in N.C. or the other Super Tuesday states.
“ vague policy stifles appeal Bloomberg’s Politics
Undetailed talking points made Bloomberg’s Winston Salem appearence unmemorable Joseph Rafshoon Guest Columnist rafsjm17@wfu.edu
Last Thursday, uber-wealthy Democratic presidential hopeful and former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg hosted a rally in downtown Winston-Salem at Footnotes Coffee & Cocktails. His millions in advertisement purchases clearly paid off. Winston-Salem residents turned out in big numbers as the line wrapped around the block, and an overflow room was added at the last second by his advance team. I’m a newly minted political junkie, so it was not unusual for me to show up for the 7 a.m. event. But I was surprised to find crowds of Wake Forest students and senior citizens making their way to the doors. As I scanned the room, I realized that a lot of the students were people I knew to be Republicans, even conservative types.
When talking about climate change, he only said that he thinks it’s a priority to make America the ‘global leader’.” “I need a candidate besides [Donald] Trump or Bernie [Sanders],” said Junior Jack Fair. With attitudes like this, obviously the appearance was a giant opportunity for Bloomberg to clinch some votes on Super Tuesday. The mayor had a chance to nail down his plans to win over un-decided liberals and conservatives looking for an alternative to Trump. However, he clearly missed the mark. The billionaire media mogul started the speech with five minutes of off-the-cuff remarks. At one point he referenced TV Judge Judy, who recently endorsed him, and in the next sentence referred to his mother who lived until 102. He rambled for a while and I wondered if he would ever get down to business and make a serious case for why he should be our next president. Finally, he launched into why he wanted our votes: “I am running to defeat Donald Trump.” This statement keeps with the mayor’s main theme that he is the Democratic candidate with the best shot at defeating Trump. However. he didn’t go into too much detail about his plans. Although I agree wholeheartedly that Trump needs to go for a litany of
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T H U R S D AY, F E B R U A R Y 2 0 , 2 0 2 0
PAG E 11
Online at: www.wfuogb.com Editor: Amanda Wilcox, wilcaf16@wfu.edu Assistant Editors: Ben Conroy, conrbd19@wfu.edu Will Zimmerman, zimmwj19@wfu.edu
OLD GOLD & BLACK
Coronavirus may impact Olympics, officials say The influx of athletes and fans from around the world has sparked concern about the spread of the disease in Japan BY NICK LALLI Staff Writer lalldp18@wfu.edu
With the upcoming Olympic Games set to take place in Tokyo in July, concerns have been raised over the novel coronavirus potentially impacting their commencement. The disease was first detected in December 2019 in the city of Wuhan in the Hubei province of China and has since killed more than 1,700 worldwide and affected more than 71,000 people. While Chinese officials have downplayed the virus’s impact on their country, Japanese officials have been clear about their worries. Toshiro Muto, the chief executive of the organizing committee for the Tokyo Olympics, initially expressed serious concerns about the impact the virus could have. “I am seriously worried that the spread of the infectious disease could throw cold water on the momentum of the games," Muto said at a meeting with other senior officials, per The Guardian. I hope that it will be stamped out as soon as possible.” A day later, however, Muto changed his stance. “I would like to make it clear that we are not considering a cancellation or postponement of the games,” he said through an interpreter to other top Olympic officials. Other officials have expressed concern as well. The mayor of the athletes’ village, Saburo Kawabuchi, said, “I truly hope that the infectious disease will
die down somehow so that we will be able to operate the Paralympics and Olympics smoothly. In the worst case we will do our utmost for the athletes so that they will be able to concentrate on performing their best.” Japan reported its first death from the illness last week, yet the country has seen the largest number of infections outside of China. Japan has taken extreme caution to limit the coronavirus spreading throughout the country, quarantining anyone suspected of infection. Recently, China’s sporting world has been largely decimated by the coronavirus. The indoor world track and field championships set to take place in Nanjing were cancelled, along with various golf tournaments and soccer tournaments. Olympic qualifying events have also been postponed, as China prevented its athletes from travelling. This has placed the country’s representation in the upcoming games in severe jeopardy with the first
events set to begin in just over five months. The International Olympic Committee may have to consider a last-minute location swap for the upcoming games. This scenario has occurred in the past in Eastern Asia. An outbreak of a several acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in China forced Women’s World Cup Organizers to move the 2003 World Cup to the United States. Some have compared this situation to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil, which saw many notable athletes drop out of the games because of the concerns surrounding the Zika virus. Those games were ultimately not postponed despite many protestations. Unlike the Zika virus, which was largely spread by mosquito bites, the coronavirus can be transmitted directly between humans. This attribute poses tougher challenges for organizers to counteract the infectious disease in order to host the games safely.
Alessandro Di Ciommo/NurPhoto/Zuma Press/TNS
Japan's total reported coronavirus cases are second only to China's. Here, passengers of a quarantined cruise ship stand on their cabins' balconies at the port of Yokohama.
Olympic hopefuls to compete in 10,000-meter run A writer's analysis of the distance runners competing to represent Team USA this summer continues BY SAMANTHA WEXLER Staff Writer wexlsn17@wfu.edu
I am back this week with another installment in my distance running Olympics preview. Last week, I looked at potential contenders in the marathon, including my high school cross country coach, Laura Thweatt. This week, we look to the longest event on the track at the Olympics: the 10,000-meter run or 10-km. The 10 km is a whopping 32 laps on the track and requires intense fitness and mental strength as well. The 10,000-meter trial for women will take place on Day One of the Olympic trials on June 19, starting at approximately 6:22 p.m. in Eugene, Ore. The men will compete for their spots on Day Nine of the trials, June 27. They will run at approximately 6:43 p.m. The fact that race slots fall after 6 p.m. is advantegous for the runners, as climate and sun can significantly impact a race as long as 10,000-meter. Hopefully, with the later starting time, it won’t be too sunny or hot. Right now, it is hard to guess who will opt to run which races at the trials, given the potential for athletes to qualify in multiple events but only compete
in one. In order to look at potential runners in the event, I’ve looked at results from the 3,000 meter run at the Toyota USATF Indoor Championships as well as the last Olympics' results to see who has the fitness right now. Women In 2016, Molly Huddle led all American women in the 10,000-meter run. She finished in sixth place with a time of 30:13. Emily Infeld was next for the USA, finishing in 11th place with a time of 31:26, followed by Marielle Hall in 32:39. The qualifying mark for women this year is 32:25. An interesting fact this year is how speedy that time is. The top finisher at the NCAA Championships this year ran 33:10, so no one from that race would qualify, barring a faster race in that season. Huddle is taking her talents to the marathon trials this year, so assuming she could make that race, she would be likely out of the field in the 10-km. Contrastingly, Infeld is one that could make a big mark this year in Tokyo if she decides to run the 10-km, which is traditionally her signature event. The top female finisher at USATF Indoors in the 3000-meter was Shelby Houlihan, who is traditionally a 1,500-meter specialist. She proved she has stamina, but I don’t see her in the 10-km. Additionally, some runners in the 3,000 meter at USATF Indoors are focused on training for the 3,000 meter steeple and
won’t opt for the 10-km. Potential contenders are Karissa Schweizer, Colleen Quigley and Allie Ostrander. Vanessa Frazier and Rachel Schneider are two dark horses as well. Men The 2016 Olympics saw an American finish in the top five of the 10,000-meter, with Galen Rupp grabbing the fifth place spot. All three Americans finished in the top twenty with Leonard Essau Korir in 14th and Shadrack Kipchirchir in 19th respectively. This year, men had to hit a 28-minute qualifying mark over the 6.2 miles in order to make it to the trials. The top finisher at NCAAs ran over 29 minutes, so none would qualify from that race. Since the 2016 Olympics, Rupp has tried his hand at the marathon, and I don’t foresee him running the 10,000 in Tokyo, but you never know. Paul Chelimo won the USATF Indoors 3,000-meter run and traditionally does longer events, so I could see him doing well in the 10-km. Additionally, the Army team for the USA is traditionally strong and two contenders for them in the 10-k are Hillary Bor and Anthony Rotich. Don Cabral and Ryan Hill are two others to look out for in the 10-k trials as well. It’ll be a long time until June, and you never know what could happen with injuries and training between now and then. It will be an exciting time in Eugene at Hayward Field to see who makes the final squad.
Page 12 | Thursday, February 20, 2020
Old Gold & Black | Sports
Around the leagues: this week in sports news KHL, AHL and NHL, Shesterkin has won an incredible 100 times. Whether he can continue in his winning ways, despite the often lack-luster defense that plays in front of him, only time will tell.
From Astros' apoloy to sensational rookie goaltending, here’s what you may have missed last week BY WILL ZIMMERMAN Asst. Sports Editor zimmwj19@wfu.edu
Astros Owner’s "fauxpology" met with leaguewide disappointment Astros owner Jim Crane spoke to the media on Feb. 13, finally addressing the cheating scandal that rocked the baseball world after a writer for The Athletic spoke with ex-Astros pitcher Mike Fiers and broke news of the scandal. During the initial conversation, Fiers explained that the Astros illegally used cameras to gain an unfair advantage during the team's 2017 playoff run, which ended with a World Series championship. In what many expected to be an apology, Crane said that the organizational cheating, he believed, “didn't impact the game." Reporters quickly asked Crane to qualify his statements, to which he responded, “I didn't say it didn't impact the game." The entire day was yet another debacle for the franchise, which had been held in high esteem and glorified up until only a few months ago. During the conference, Crane sounded insincere and the players that spoke after him — stars Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman — didn’t sound any less phony than their organization's owner. Talking for barely over a minute, the players said they were sorry, but not much else. At the end of the conference, Crane was asked about his own accountability. “No,” he said, “I don't think I should be held accountable." Goalie Igor Shesterkin, Lundqvist’s heir apparent, phenomenal through first seven games Henrik Lundqvist, who has been the goalie for the New York Rangers since 2006, will be turning 38 next
MLB considering major changes to playoff format Major League Baseball executives recently reported that the sport was seriously considering an overhaul of the playoff structure that would make the postseason more inclusive and, MLB hopes, exciting. As of now, Allen Eyestone/Palm Beach Post/TNS five teams from each league enter into the playoffs: Astros manager Dusty Baker listens to owner three divisional winners and two wild card teams. The Jim Crane at a news conference on Feb. 16. wild card teams play a one-game series, and the winner of that game is slotted into a four-team bracket. The month and is nearing the end of what has been a sen- winner of each bracket goes on to play in the World sational career. Thankfully for the Rangers, Lundqvist’s Series. heir apparent, Igor Shesterkin, looks like he will be able The proposed changes would seriously alter this to fill the monstrous shoes the king leaves behind. Shes- structure. First off, the postseason would be open up terkin was drafted by the Rangers back in 2014 as the to seven teams from each league, and the team with the 118th overall pick. He played in the world’s second- best record among the seven (first seed) would receive best league, the KHL, until 2018, when he came to play a first-round bye, which is similar to what happens in in North America for the first time with the Rangers’ the first round of NFL-playoffs each season. The other AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolfpack. About halfway six teams would play for a chance to compete in the through the season, Shesterkin was called up and got divisional round, but there’s a catch. The team with the his first chance in the NHL. second-best record (second seed) in each league will be Through his first seven games, Shesterkin has only allowed to pick their opponent for the first round, as lost once. He has posted a save percentage of .941% and is giving up 2.18 goals per game on average. Al- will the team with the third best record (third seed). though he has played in fewer games than most goalies, These teams will be choosing from the fifth, sixth and his save percentage is the best in the league and his goals seventh seeds in their league. The team that does not allowed on average is fifth-best. And the Russian is only get picked as an opponent by either the second or third a 24-year-old rookie. Shesterkin has since become the seeds will play the fourth-seeded team. From the divisional round on, the playoffs will follow the same forNo. 1 goaltender on the Rangers' depth chart. Head Coach David Quinn is as impressed as every- mat as the one that is currently in place. MLB hopes that these changes will equate to less one else around the league by his goalie’s play as of late, tanking by clubs, as well as increase revenue for clubs but he’s not surprised. “If you are going to be great you better know you are via ticketing, marketing and viewership. If the players great and he knows he is great, for good reason," he union is willing to comply with the changes, they could said. Quinn isn’t wrong; in his last 125 games across the be implemented as soon as the 2022 season.
Gymnasts compete for a spot on Tokyo team Simone Biles is a near shoo-in, but here's a look ahead at other athletes who might join her on Team USA BY LINDSAY HAYDEN Contributing Writer haydlb19@wfu.edu
Every four years, women’s gymnastics takes center stage as one of America’s favorite Olympic sports. The sport has been largely dominated by the United States for the past 16 years, and while attention is limited during non-Olympic years, the gymnasts have been plowing ahead with new names set to dominate the headlines come Tokyo. In Rio de Janeiro, the U.S. women’s gymnastics team took home gold in dominating fashion, beating second-place Russia by a massive eight points. With only two 2016 Olympic team members attempting a 2020 comeback, the United States' next Olympic team looks to change the guard while maintaining the program’s winning ways. Dozens of elite gymnasts are chasing the six coveted spots that will be awarded at the USA Gymnastics Team Trials in June. Here are some of the contenders to watch out for as the trials approach: When discussing gymnastics, there is no better place to start than with Simone Biles. One of the two 2016 U.S. Olympians making a comeback, Biles looks to be better than ever. In addition to her team gold medal in Rio, Biles snagged gold in the all-around, vault and floor competitions, while also taking bronze on beam after an uncharacteristic mistake. After being the only
American woman to ever win four gold medals in a single games, Biles had nothing left to prove in the sport. Following a hiatus in 2017, Biles announced her comeback to competition. She returned more dominant than ever, capturing nine World Championship gold medals in 2018 and 2019, becoming the most decorated female gymnast in World Championship history. She shows no signs of slowing down in 2020, consistently debuting new, innovative skills in competition. Barring major injury, there is no question that Biles will be on the floor in Tokyo dominating yet another Olympic competition. The other returning 2016 Olympian, Laurie Hernandez, is far more of a wildcard than Biles. Recovering from the mental and physical overload of the Olympics is different for each gymnast, and Hernandez’s comeback has been moving at a much slower pace than Biles’. In 2016, the bubbly Hernandez was a key player, helping the team win gold while also winning an individual silver medal on the balance beam. Hernandez has not yet competed this quad, planning to make her return to competition in 2020. While this is less than ideal, Hernandez’s experience and undeniable talent make her a contender for the team no matter how minimal her recent competition has been. Sunisa Lee is peaking at the exact right time as the trials approach. The 16-year-old from St. Paul, Minn. has only been a senior elite gymnast for one year, but that did not stop her from taking the gymnastics scene by storm in 2019. Lee made the 2019 World Championship team, helping the U.S. win a gold medal in the team competition. Known for her graceful performances and excellent technique, she also took home a
silver medal on the floor exercise and a bronze on the uneven bars. Her most valuable contribution to the U.S. team is on the uneven bars, the only event where the nation has consistently struggled in recent years. She continues to improve with each competition, and if she can remain healthy while progressing further, she will be a serious contender for the Tokyo team. While she was too young to compete for a spot on the 2016 team, Riley McCusker has been a mainstay on the gymnastics scene for years. A multiple-time national team member in the junior ranks, McCusker has been a contender for the Olympic team since 2017. Known for her artistry, McCusker is a weapon in the all-around, a quality Olympic team member coaches love, as she could fulfill any spot needed in team competition. Despite her long list of accomplishments, McCusker has seen injuries and inconsistencies in the past few years that may be a red flag going into the 2020 trials. Most recently, she had to pull out of the selection process for the 2019 World Championship team due to injury. If McCusker can regain her consistency, she could fill an important team spot heading into Tokyo. There are far more contenders than just the four mentioned, and in such an intense sport, athletes can rise and fall from the limelight quickly. With roughly four months until the trials, the six spots are still entirely up for grabs. Other names to watch out for include Morgan Hurd, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles and Grace McCallum. Attention will continue to mount as Tokyo 2020 approaches, and many relatively unknown gymnasts will become household names as the nation turns its attention back to one of America’s favorite Olympic sports.
Sports | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, February 20 , 2020 | Page 13
Deacon Spotlight: Ariana Piekarewicz BY SAMANTHA WEXLER Staff Writer wexlsn17@wfu.edu
As a sixth-grader in Florida, Adriana Piekarewicz was a soccer player who ran a fast mile in gym class. Shortly thereafter, she began practicing and racing with the varsity cross-country and track team at her K-12 school. Flash forward to today, she is a career service specialist at the Wake Forest Office of Personal & Career Development and marathon Olympic Trials qualifier. Piekarewicz will toe the line in Atlanta in two weeks with the best marathon runners in America after qualifying in her fourth and final attempt to do so. Her path to the trials was anything but ordinary, going from a middle school phenom to a regular student at Duke University who only ran for fun. Looking back, she realizes that choice opened up so many opportunities for her — like studying abroad in Florence, Italy and Switzerland — and gave her the ability to run in order to explore and have fun rather than focusing on performance. Piekarewicz will race in Atlanta on Feb. 29 on a hilly course among the 511 best female marathon runners in the nation. Making the Olympic Trials was a challenge in itself, so she definitely won’t shy away from the task. This year, the qualifying window, with a cutoff time of 2:45, closed on Jan. 19. She had clocked her qualifying time just one day prior, at a small race in Georgia, to cement her spot on the starting line. As a Wake Forest employee and top-notch athlete, Piekarewicz now prepares for the biggest race of her life in just two weeks. The Old Gold & Black was able to sit down with her to discuss her path to the trials, Wake Forest and more. Samantha Wexler: What has your path in running looked like? Adriana Piekarewicz: In sixth grade, I was running varsity, which was really cool, but I set this standard that there was nowhere to go but down. Everyone thought I was going to be an Olympian and I was really good, really young. I ran freshman and sophomore year of high school and then I just stopped improving. I was burned out and it felt like it was a lose-lose in the sense that I was expected to win. If I won, it was expected and if I didn’t win then it was a disappointment. I went to college at Duke and I was supposed to run there, but ended up not. I didn’t run on the team, but I still ran — I didn’t wear a watch or run on a track — and one of the girls I met there, I’d run with. She’d run in high school but wasn’t on the team either and she forced me to do a half marathon with her. There were no [personal records] to base off of and I slowly gained my love for it again.
SW: When did you realize that you could make the trials? AP: Back in 2016, my goal was to break three hours in the marathon, and I had a breakthrough race and questioned if I could qualify for the trials. It was kind of a big scary dream and I got a coach who has been incredible — Donnie Cowart, who has been to the 2012 and 2016 track trials. He got fourth in 2012 and is a phenom. He’s really positive and deals with my type-A personality really well and it’s been fun again. I’ve found my love for it again. SW: How did you end up working at Wake Forest?
mile seven to mile eight, mile eight to mile nine. Just focus on the mile that I’m in and not think too far ahead and overthink everything. SW: Is there anyone who runs marathons professionally that you look up to as an idol? AP: Probably Desi [Linden]. Her personality too; she is just such a fighter. It’s going to be such a race for the top three and I really wish I could witness it. I just really want her to make it and I think the course is going to be catered to her advantage because it’s not a rhythm course. You have to be tough. She is the toughest person I’ve ever seen.
AP: I graduated from Duke and went to get my master’s at Florida State, where I met my boyfriend. He is actually from Winston-Salem and we met there and started dating. I was living in Tallahassee for a few years and he got a track and field coaching position at High Point, so we moved here in 2016. For the first year and a half, I was just running. I met Ashley Wechter and she recommended a parttime role at Wake Forest and it’s been the best. I can train in the morning and then come here, and then I get off at 4:30 so I can do a double in the evening. It caters so well to it but I also have something else in the day. SW: What was qualifying for the trials like? AP: It was quite a journey to qualify. Back in 2018, I attempted in December and I missed it. Then I attempted in June and I missed it. I had one last shot, in December 2019, and I missed it. It was the worst race of my life; it was terrible. I thought I was done with marathons and that was it. My coach, who is a saint, told me there were six weeks until the window closed and we could give it one last shot. I qualified in this tiny race in Georgia the day before the window closed. It’s been a fine line of recovering and also training, because you are not really supposed to run three marathons in three months, but this will be my third marathon in three months. SW: Do you have a motto or mantra that you think about a lot when you train or race? AP: I don’t think there is a specific thing. Something I’m trying to get myself to really embrace is just being in the now and taking it one step at a time — run the mile you are in. I think that is what saved me in this last marathon. My coach ran it with me and he just told me to get to the next mile. We weren’t thinking about what would happen in 10 miles, just thinking about what was going on from
Photo courtesy of Ariana Piekarewicz
DEAC NOTES No. 18 Wake Forest men’s baseball team beats Illinois 5-3 to close opening weekend
Demon Deacons open ACC play with flawless 7-0 win against Clemson on the road
The Demon Deacons exhibited a solid, all-around effort to take down Illinois, 5-3, capping off the opening weekend at David F. Couch Ballpark on Sunday afternoon. Solid pitching was received from all three pitchers: junior William Fleming (right), graduate student Tyler Witt and redshirt freshman Shane Smith. Fleming struck out a career-high eight batters over six innings. Witt and Smith combined to not allow a baserunner over the final three innings.
The Wake Forest women’s tennis team captured its fourth consecutive victory at Clemson on Feb. 16, winning 7-0. Wake Forest won the first three singles matches in straight-set fashion to clinch the match. Redshirt senior MC Meredith (left) was the first to finish in the No. 6 match as she defeated Clemson’s Zaina Nait Omar, 6-3, 6-2. Carolyn Campana and Saby Nihalani won the No. 1 and No. 3 matches, respectively.
Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletic Communications
Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletic Communications
Page 14 | Thursday, February 20, 2020
Old Gold & Black | Sports
Club rugby team prepares for a strong season The team continued its growing success by holding its own against tough competition at the recent pre-season tournament BY BRUCE HAYWOOD Contributing Writer hawbc16@wfu.edu
Coming off a successful fall season, the Wake Forest Men’s Rugby team has been consistently training three to four times per week since the start of the spring semester. On Feb. 15, the team hosted NC State, UNCPhoto courtesy of Bruce Haywood Charlotte and Virginia Tech for its second pre-season Although the team fell to tough rival Virginia tournament. Tech, they are confident about the future. The team fell slightly from its performance in the first set of pre-season matchups two weeks ago, when offense going ... We’ve got a lot to build on, but for they dominated with a 6-0 record. This time, the as early as it is in the season I’m excited for what’s to A side went 0-3 while the B side went 2-1 against come.” formidable competition. Regardless of the results, Hayes, who has been with the team since his there were plenty of positives to learn from. freshman year, said he has witnessed incredible “The lads had a tough day of rugby against some growth of the club from a team that struggled in top-flight competition, but that’s not to say we didn’t previous seasons and did have enough players to hold our own,” said junior club president Ben Hayes. field a B side team to one that is now deep enough “We started out slow but improved as we went on, to hold its own against other top-tier squads. Part playing our best game against Virginia Tech, the best of the responsibility for the growing success and team there, in our last match. We struggled to get our development of the club is credited to an excellent
first-year class anchored by freshman Kaamil Farooqi, who likes the team’s chances going forward. “We didn’t quite win out last Saturday, but to go out and play close games against teams like Virginia Tech and NC State, who are both top-20 nationally ranked D1AA teams is really exciting, especially for me since I was playing high school rugby less than a year ago,” he said. “We have a lot to work on, but I think Saturday showed a lot of promise, and I’m really excited to what this team looks like at its full potential.” As the team turns its eyes torward to a successful season, Head Coach Doug Porter has set goals of winning its National Small College Rugby (NSCRO) conference, D2 divisionals and D2 nationals, which has helped to motivate the team. “I think we have a great chance to go to nationals … first qualifier is in two weeks and we’re going down there to win,” Porter said. The team is hungry and certainly has the ultimate goal of nationals in the back of its mind, but they also know that they will need to remain focused on one game at a time. The upcoming divisional qualifier in Charleston, S.C. on Feb. 29 will be the team’s first real test on the difficult road to nationals. Hopefully, they return to Winston-Salem victorious.
Men’s hockey: Tough loss ends stellar season Despite the overall 5-4 loss, the Deacs played exceptionally well and made a strong comeback against champion NC State BY JB BLOOD Staff Writer bloojj18@wfu.edu
It was almost a comeback for the ages. In the ACCHL Finals, the Wake Forest Club Hockey team found itself trailing reigning champion NC State 5-1 with 14 minutes remaining in the second period. After the first period ended 1-1, NC State exploded for four goals in six minutes to begin the second period. Most teams would have given up, but Wake Forest is not most teams. Instead, they furiously battled back and cut the deficit down to 5-4 by the end of the second period. But the comeback was ultimately not meant to be, as a scoreless third period gave NC State their second title in two years. The close loss capped off an exciting run for Wake Forest in the playoffs after a 4-3 overtime victory over West Virginia in the quarterfinals and a 5-2 victory over George Washington in the semifinals. In the championship, NC State scored seven minutes into the match on a power play. Just under a minute later, an NC State penalty gave Wake Forest a four-minute power play, but the Deacs were unable to score. Wake Forest got on the board with 5:09 remaining in the period when sophomore Drew Gebhardt intercepted an NC State clearance and quickly found senior Matt Solviletti, who fired a shot from middistance into the net. The period ended with the score tied at 1-1. The first six minutes of the second period were difficult for the Deacs, during which they gave up four goals. However, the Deacs kept fighting and started to swing the momentum. With 6:44 remaining in the second period, sophomore Jennings Lobel scored to make it a 5-2 game. Thirty seconds later, sophomore
Brendan Gregoire cut the deficit to two with a goal. Then with 5:29 left in the period, sophomore Nick Keroack scored to make it a one goal game. In the span of 75 seconds, the Deacs had recaptured the momentum and put themself back in the game. In the third period, both defenses clamped down and NC State ran out the time to win the championship. The loss capped off an otherwise excellent season for the Deacs. Head Coach Dave Pasquale won ACC Coach of the Year honors while senior defenseman Blake Mueller and senior goalie Kal Maier were named to the ACC All-American first team. In the Deacs’ opening round 4-3 overtime victory over West Virginia, the score did not reflect how thoroughly Wake Forest dominated. They ended with a 67-15 advantage on shots and completely controlled the pace and play. After a scoreless first period in which Wake Forest outshot West Virginia 19-3, Keroack opened up the scoring 90 seconds into second period with a scorching distance shot to make the lead 1-0. West Virginia would answer back midway through the period with a power play goal to even the score at one apiece. West Virginia would then take the lead with 16:30 remaining in the third period after a Wake Forest turnover gave them a one-on-one with the goalie. But Wake Forest answered back 30 seconds later with a goal by senior Jack McGowen to make it a 2-2 game. It seemed that Wake Forest would win with 3:11 left in the game when Gregoire scored to put the Deacs up 3-2. However, under a minute later, two Wake Forest players were called for penalties which gave West Virginia a two minute 5-3 power play. With 92 seconds left West Virginia tied the game at three and sent it to overtime. Wake Forest played calm and collected in the overtime period. Junior Andrew Adams finally ended the match nine minutes into the 10-minute overtime period with a beautiful shot.
“I thought we had the better quality scoring chances, but it’s playoff hockey and you run into good goalies,” Pasquale said. Wake Forest’s semifinal victory over George Washington (GW) was far more relaxing, as the Deacs cruised to a 5-2 win. GW took a 1-0 lead three minutes into the game off a power play goal. Wake Forest answered back in just under five minutes in the opening period with a goal from Solviletti. Keroack and Gregoire scored in the second period to give Wake Forest a 3-1 lead. The Deacs played exceptionally well during the second period and truly took over the game during it. GW made it close at the beginning of the third period with a goal to make it a one score game. But a goal by Lobel with under 10 minutes left and another by junior James Caras with 1:44 remaining clinched the game for Wake Forest. “The second period was the key to the game,” Pasquale said. “The second period might be the best period we’ve played all year.” While the playoff run ultimately did not end the way the Deacs hoped, it does not take away from the exciting and successful season they had.
Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Men’s Hockey Twitter
Wake Forest managed to close the gap behind NC State from four goals to one.
Thursday, February 20, 2020 | Page 15
Old Gold & Black | Sports
NBA: New All-Star Game format turns heads The game added an element of reverence for the late basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter BY BEN CONROY Asst. Sports Editor conrbd19@wfu.edu
alterations came by way of the newly devised quarter system. Primarily, the winner of each individual quarter received $100,000 to donate to a pre-selected charity whose beneficiaries were present in the audience, restoring a greater meaning to an event that many considered to be superfluous or meaningless. In the fourth quar-
The NBA’s finest were gathered in Chicago’s United Center over the weekend for the annual All-Star game. The game itself was the culmination of an entire weekend of pageantry and showmanship, boasting a packed itinerary that included star-studded events such as the Slam Dunk Contest, the Three-Point Contest and the Skills Challenge. None of the events failed to excite, but it’s unlikely anyone could have predicted the sequence of events that was set to cap off the weekend on Sunday night. The NBA introduced some rather radical changes to the format of the All-Star Game this year, many of which were implemented with the purpose of honoring the life and legacy of the late Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna Bryant. The pool of All-Star players were split into two teams led by captains LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo; each of the players on Team LeBron wore No. 2 (the number Gianna Bryant wore for the AAU basketball team led by her father), while the members of Team Giannis each wore No. 24 as a sign of respect to Kobe Bryant himself. The numbers on the virtual shot clock display also changed to purple and yellow when the time wound down to John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune/TNS eight seconds, another gesture of reverence to Kobe’s Giannis Antetokounmpo dribbles past LeBron other jersey number. However, the most significant James in the NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 16.
ter, however, the nature of game changed completely, as the teams played with the objective of reaching a target number that was 24 points greater than the leading team’s overall score, effectively removing all time constraints from the contest. The contest’s unprecedented fourth quarter resulted in perhaps one of the most entertaining All-Star games in recent history. The charitable donations at stake gave each side the opportunity to leave a lasting impact on groups of people who would immediately benefit from the money. In turn, the players performed with as much heart and charisma as they could possibly muster; the defense was staunch, the shot-making was superb, and the highlight reel provided enough content to keep the anchors at ESPN busy far into the future. The momentum seesawed back and forth throughout the final quarter, but Team LeBron eventually secured a narrow two-point victory after battling back from a nine-point deficit. Viewers nationwide were on the edges of their seats during the game’s final moments, in which Lakers forward Anthony Davis sank a free throw to reach the game’s target score, sealing the fate of Team Giannis, and handing the victory to Team LeBron. Headlining the stat sheet was All-Star MVP Kawhi Leonard, who finished the contest with 30 points in just 20 minutes of playing time. For Team Giannis, Milwaukee Bucks forward Antetokounmpo finished with 25 points while 76ers center Joel Embiid added 22 of his own. Overall, the 2020 NBA All-Star game provided the perfect mixture of respect, lightheartedness and toptier competition. By the end of the night, the viewers were reminded what the game of basketball is truly all about, just the way Bryant and his daughter would’ve wanted it.
Manchester City banned from UEFA soccer Accused of financial mishandling, the club will bring its case to court, but worries about the future abound BY CHARLES HORN Staff Writer horncs18@wfu.edu
Manager Pep Guardiola’s tranquil return to Manchester City’s training complex from vacation in Barcelona was shattered by the news that the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), had found that Manchester City had “overstated its sponsorship revenue in its accounts and in the break-even information submitted to UEFA between 2012 and 2016.” For all the significance of the verdict, the sentence dominated the headlines. The team will face a fine of more than $32 million and a ban from UEFA’s European soccer tournaments for two years. UEFA runs the Champions League and Europa League. The decision and its ramifications involve soccer’s often-convoluted governing bodies, new financial laws, global politics and a significant amount of money. Central is the Adjudicatory Chamber of UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body, who delivered the sentence, and the ever-controversial Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. Fully taking effect in 2015, FFP sought to reduce the increasing percentage of clubs operating at a financial loss, as well as limit the rise of billionaire owners capable of shifting their team’s fortunes with tremendous personal investment regardless of fan base or existing sponsorship opportunities. Although previously used to fine and even exclude teams from European competitions, this penalty marks the most significant use of FFP.
Additionally, The Independent reported a possible points reduction in the Premier League, a potentially catastrophic outcome for City. The central accusation is that $67 million of the money that Etihad, the Emirati airline based in Abu Dhabi, pays as part of its sponsor agreement, actually came from Abu Dhabi United Group. Etihad holds the naming rights for City’s stadium and is the main jersey sponsor. This holding group is controlled by Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour, but the concealing of this fact, revealed in hacked emails published by Der Spiegel, means that the contribution counted as a financial gain rather than a loss. Since the 2008 takeover of Manchester City by Mansour, a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family, the club have experienced an unprecedented era of domestic success, which saw the club win the FA cup and two Premier League titles in the first half of the 2010s. Much of this success can be attributed to a near-total replacement of the existing team with a series of high-profile transfers, which required significant financial contributions from City’s new owner. In 2016, the club’s continental ambitions were cemented with the appointment of Guardiola as manager. Having redefined possession based soccer while managing his native Barcelona to a domestic treble and two Champions League trophies, Guardiola sought to adapt his system to the physicality of the Premier League. Following a slow 2016-17 season, Guardiola’s City dominated the Premier League for two seasons, winning two titles and setting records for offensive efficiency and point totals, as well as capturing the domestic treble in 2018-19. Yet even with unparalleled domestic success, Guardiola has always been aware that the ownership’s priority is the Champions League. City has often been deemed an attempt at “sportswashing” Abu Dhabi’s image, a strategy
also employed by the Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain, and victory in the Champions League is an essential portion of this strategy. City’s Champions League past has been characterized by close calls, monumental collapses and squandered opportunities. In 2016, the club surrendered a 5-3 lead to lose on away goals 6-6 to a Monaco side featuring an 18-year-old Kylian Mbappe. The following year saw them bow out in the quarterfinals to Liverpool, while last season included another away goal defeat to Tottenham, in a thrilling second-leg where Raheem Sterling’s late winner was ruled out for offside by VAR. City is set to face Real Madrid on Feb. 26 in the first leg of their Round of 16 tie, and although maintaining their innocence, the club seem aware that this year may be the final year to realize their European dreams for the conceivable future. The less-than-secure future is due to speculation that the ban will cause central star players to leave, hamper future recruitment, and more importantly cast doubt on Guardiola’s future within the club. This week he has reaffirmed his commitment to the club, saying to his players that he will fight with them in whichever league they end up, yet it seems improbable that he renews his 2021-expiring contract if the ban is upheld. City and Guardiola fended off Juventus’ interest over the summer, but a club with similarly bottomless pockets and the ability to play in the Champions League may lure Guardiola from the Etihad. Manchester City has already argued their innocence, and seek to bring their case in front of the Court for the Arbitration of Sport (CAS) in the hope of a reduced or eliminated sentence. Given the two-year ban, many have hypothesized that the ban will be reduced to one year in front of CAS, giving UEFA a win but placating City. Yet, UEFA’s firm commitment to defend the full extent of the sentence seems sure to create a fight that threatens to upset the fragile balance of power between Europe’s “super” clubs and the laws which govern them.
LIFE
T H U R S D AY, F E B R U A R Y 2 0 , 2 0 2 0
PA G E 1 6
O n l i n e at : w w w. w f u o g b. co m e d i t o r : Catherine Regen, regecl17@wfu.edu A S S I S TA N T E D I T O R S : A n d y K i l l e b r e w , k i l l a e 1 7 @ w f u . e d u , M i c a h P o r t e r, p o r t m j 1 9 @ w f u . e d u
The Morning Show: from reality to the screen OLD GOLD & BLACK
In a comparison to her own experiences as an NBC morning show intern, Junior Elizabeth Maline looks at the accuracies and inaccuracies of an Apple TV+ show.
BY ELIZABETH MALINE Online Managing Editor malied17@wfu.edu
Though Apple TV's + flagship offering looks, sounds and casts like great TV, director Mimi Leder’s faulty depiction of daily newsroom activity compromises the series’ authenticity. I should know. I worked for the morning news show the series is based on. The Morning Show (also the name of the showwithin-the-show, referred to as TMS) profiles the fictional UBA network grappling with the downfall of The Morning Show’s lead co-anchor Mitch Kessler, who has been accused of sexual misconduct. Things escalate quickly as the network and the show attempt to reconcile internal strife while producing a seamless newscast that refrains from revealing the chaos. In the meantime, a previously unknown news anchor who went viral in a controversial video is slated to fill Kessler’s seat. The show’s handling of this crisis is somewhat inaccurate, as far as workplace standards are concerned. Again, I would know. I worked on that morning news show in the wake of the removal of one of its longtime anchors, Matt Lauer, also accused of sexual misconduct. For one, each character spends most of each episode yelling at each other to the point where it seems like they are just yelling for yelling’s sake. How they don’t become hoarse is a mystery. Even under tense and stressful circumstances, Executive Producers (EPs) do not barge around control rooms and studio hallways screaming and cursing out their colleagues, as is character Charlie “Chip” Black’s normal routine. EPs often praise their colleagues for producing a great show, though you wouldn’t know it from watching The Morning Show. When Alex Levy (Jennifer Aniston) protests anchoring the show unless Chip can promise her the network will renew her contract and honor her requested terms, she finally sits in her anchor chair just seconds before the show goes live. It’s designed to
Photo courtesy of imdb.com
The show follows the story of a morning show thrown into chaos as one of hosts faces a #metoo allegation and is replaced by Reese Witherspoon's character.
be dramatic and suspenseful TV, which it is. But, even also the premise that Alex Levy is a world-renowned on a normal day in the series, the anchors sit in their journalist, but she comes off as cold, unanimated and chair just seconds before the show starts. This isn’t lacking empathy, though I’m sure this is intentional. how it really goes down. Anchors spend at least an Despite its inaccuracies, The Morning Show is alhour at the desk pre-taping headlines and reviewing ways entertaining, tackles real world issues and is scripts. They don’t pout in their dressing rooms like sometimes so suspenseful you can’t help but catch Alex Levy and Bradley Jackson (Reese Witherspoon), yourself holding your breath. I really haven’t given only miraculously appearing in the studio just seconds the series the credit that is due, especially since they before air. The nonchalant attitude of The Morning do correctly portray many enigmas of the New York Show anchors do not adequately represent the day morning news show world. It’s smart, clever and most to day work of national news anchors. Instead, their importantly, timely. Delightfully, the New York City actions perpetuate the stereotype that television news scenery transports the viewer to the heart of the big anchors do nothing but read the teleprompter and apple, as they daydream of taking a walk around in look pretty. This is a gross understatement of their Alex Levy’s apartment and attending lavish media garoles. They often research and co-produce their own las. stories in addition to delivering them to the American It is also brilliantly acted. Most notably, Hollypeople. wood favorites Aniston and Steve Carell display some Anchors and professional journalists very rarely, of their best performances to date and demonstrate if ever, go off script. However, it seems that this is a more serious acting skill set not always present in the norm on TMS, which sends Chip into a frenzy their claim-to-fame series Friends and The Office, reof rage and network executives calling the studio. spectively. Anchors also do not have random breakdowns on Billy Crudup’s performance comes as a surprise. He live TV, although these meltdowns only speak more plays a slimy and annoying, yet charming network exhighly of Aniston’s acting. ecutive, delivering one of the strongest performances The series awards the anchors very little time to of any cast member. He’s the character we want to report any news, making it difficult for the viewer hate but can’t bring ourselves to. Plus, he and Bradley to believe they are actually as talented at their jobs go on a private Barney’s shopping raid, so there’s that. as we are led to believe. We are also led to believe Better yet, The Morning Show sticks the landing, that TMS anchors are infamous for garnering a big time. The finale is one of the best episodes of TV “we’re among people” connection with their audi- so far this year, keeping the viewer engaged until the ence, but viewers never have the chance to see this for very last second. I won’t reveal what happens — it’s themselves. In fact, The Morning Show feels almost something you have to see to fully appreciate. It left intentionally sealed off from the rest of the world. me with an overall positive feeling of the series, rePhoto courtesy of imdb.com In contrast to the morning news shows it emulates, gardless of its over-dramatism and inaccuracy, as well Jennifer Aniston won the Best Actress in there are no studio windows and the anchors never as a yearning to watch the second season, which will a Drama Series SAG award for her role. come into contact with the general public. There is be available on Apple TV + in November of this year.
Thursday, February 20, 2020 | Page 17
Life | Old Gold & Black
Advice Column | Authenticity
THE HOT Confidence promotes individuality LIST Standing out in a seemingly homogeneous crowd is easier than you might think BY KHUSHI ARYA Staff Writer aryak19@wfu.edu
“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” — Dr. Suess This quote always makes me ponder the fact that no two individuals can ever be the same. Everyone is unique and this uniqueness is what sets us apart. In a place like college, where peer pressure and the desire to be part of a group is so immense, people tend to neglect the beauty of standing your own ground. This in no way implies a complete rejection of group norms, it is simply knowing who you are and how you portray your personality. It is easy to mindlessly repeat what others say, but standing out is what takes real courage — it is what actually counts. Building on that thought, I would like to share some of the ways in which you can stand out among the crowd. Confidence I know you’ve heard it a thousand times, but confidence is key. Do
not roll your eyes yet. Confidence is nothing but believing in who and what you are. Don’t we wish to be the person who enters any room and instantly becomes friends with everyone? Someone whose presence is felt and appreciated? Here’s the secret to confidence — Fake it ‘til you make it. Not everyone is an extrovert and I totally understand that, which is why I am challenging you to pretend to be confident for the next 21 days. Just step out of your comfort zone and I promise you, it’ll be worth it. Even if you are wrong or have no clue what you are doing, pretend to keep it together anyway. Tell yourself that you already are a lively, confident and charming person who instantly lights up the room. Find Your Drive Each one of us has a passion, a unique love for something that only we can understand. When you find your drive, you win half the battle. Following your passion makes you stand out in a way nothing else can. It is extremely satisfying to be working on or for something that you truly believe in. Since I’ve already injected this
article with a number of corny lines, here is one more to illustrate my point: “People are prettiest when they talk about something with passion in their eyes.”
Create your own identity I want you to ask yourself — How do I want people to remember me? What makes my presence significant? You have the ability to sculpt your identity however you would like — to sculpt at least one quality that would make people look up to you. I have complete faith in you. Yes, you — the one who is reading this article right now. The very fact that you are reading this indicates that you want to be different. So, go ahead, do your thing. Even if it is something as little as creating your own style — do it. Be Creative Art, by definition is “the use of skill and imagination in the creation of aesthetic objects, environments, or experiences that can be shared with others.” Remember that art is subjective. People may not always appreciate your work, but that doesn’t mean it is not good enough.
Top 10 ways to stay healthy By Catherine Regen
1.
Drink Emergen-C
3. 5.
BY LAYLA GHIAI Contributing Writer ghial16@wfu.edu
After the meme-worthy trailer including an uncanny-valley-like Sonic dropped last April, many were expecting this weekend’s Sonic the Hedgehog film to be a train wreck. However, Sonic’s redesign by the VFX teams that pushed the release from November to Valentine’s Day weekend succeeded in giving the token Sega character the look he deserved. What’s even more praiseworthy than Sonic’s redesign is Jim Carrey’s performance as evil Dr. Robotnik. Carrey brings back his goofy slapstick style of acting to this film, and it works perfectly in his role as a mad scientist trying to capture Sonic. Besides his performance and Sonic’s true-to-game design, the movie lacks a unique plot that engages with older viewers who never cared for the “Blue Devil.” The film follows Sonic, an alien hedgehog who takes refuge on earth
Quarantine yourself if you have the flu
Go to Student Health
7.
Don’t go out with wet hair Cover your mouth
9.
Keep stress in check — mental health is important too HYDRATE
New Sonic film misses the mark for several years unseen until Tom (James Marsden), a police officer from the small city of Green Hills, spots him in his shed. The two go on a road trip to San Francisco, filled with brotherly camaraderie and a few robot fights along the way. Carrey’s portrayal of Dr. Robotnick is reminiscent of his loopy persona from his earlier films like The Mask and Ace Ventura. Carrey’s dialogue left the audience laughing throughout the movie, something the other characters failed to deliver. His overly-exaggerated expressions and mannerisms will leave kids amused and remind parents of Carrey’s prime 90’s films. Sonic the Hedgehog works as a fun, family movie with lots of gags and jokes thrown around. The humor is, however, pretty immature and mainly targets a child audience, so adults may not find the movie comedic. The transition between serious and comedic scenes is also very abrupt, as if the movie doesn’t want the audience to see Sonic sad for more than a few seconds. Another disrupting element to the plot is the amount of product placement in the movie, with companies like Olive Garden and
Get over eight hours of sleep every night Carry hand sanitizer
Movie Review | Sonic the Hedgehog
Following a complete redesign, the new Sonic film is finally here
Wash your hands
Zillow having some solid screen time. One of the characters even says the Olive Garden slogan: “When you’re there, you’re family.” Regardless, this version of Sonic is pretty true to his adventurous, egotistical personality he’s had throughout his video game history. However, the movie adds a bit too much of a childish energy to his sometimes mature character. Even the adult characters throughout the movie seemed almost too childish to be grown-ups. Understandably, these characters lacked maturity because of the movie’s target audience but, even then, this kid movie could’ve been made more grown-up friendly too. All in all, the film passed the very low bar set by its joke of a first trailer. It also passed the very low bar set by video game inspired movies in general, with films like Assassin’s Creed and Need for Speed having less than stellar reviews. If you’re looking for an adventurefilled live-action with an interesting script, Sonic the Hedgehog is not for you. If you used to (or still do) play Sonic games and are in the mood to laugh at some jokes and weird product placement, this movie won’t disappoint.
DRINK OF THE WEEK Earl Grey Hot Chocolate
• • • • • •
Is this a rip-off of a juice shop smootie? Maybe...
3 Earl Grey tea bags 1 bar dark chocolate 2 cups milk 1/2 cup heavy cream 2 tbsp. sugar Pinch of salt
1. Heat milk and cream. 2. Steap tea in milk for 10 minutes. 3. Stir in chocolate, sugar and salt. Courtesy of Oh, how civilized
Page 18 | Thursday, February 20, 2020
Old Gold & Black | Life
Travel Column | New York City
Navigating New York City on a budget Traveling can get expensive, but there are still ways to have fun on a college budget
BY ELENA LOCKLAND Contributing Writer lockem18@wfu.edu With endless museums, luxury shopping and crave-worthy food, New York is a destination in a world of its own. With a plethora of year-round attractions for any sort of traveler, it is no wonder the Big Apple is the most visited city in the western hemisphere. This, of course, is what makes New York any traveler’s dream, but at what cost? New York falls just behind both London and Dubai in the terms of overall tourist spending. This means that tourists in New York likely spend well over $300 per day on things like food, transportation and shopping. With this in mind, it may seem daunting to plan a trip to New York on a limited budget, especially as a college student, but there are tips and tricks tourists can utilize for a reasonably priced, yet authentic trip to this marvelous city. Follow these simple sugges-
tions to create an affordable itinerary for your next trip to New York. Accommodation Go in the “off season:” New York hotel prices fluctuate throughout the year, with major holidays and the summer season being the most expensive. When traveling in the winter months of January and February, for instance, tourists can take advantage of price drops from three or four-star hotels like the Park Central and the Warwick in Manhattan. Traveling with a group? Book an Airbnb instead of a hotel: Avoid the hassle of booking multiple hotel rooms and reserve an apartment through Airbnb. Airbnb’s are not only a cheaper alternative but provide more space for you and your friends in this often overcrowded city. Food Grab lunch or dinner at a market: Head to the famous Chelsea Market or the quaint Gansevoort Market for a cheap, yet delicious meal at one of the many quick-serve or sit-down food stations. From Japanese curry tacos to fruit-filled crepes for under $10, these
markets centralize global cuisine without breaking the bank. Try a food cart: If you’re looking for the ultimate cheap meal stop, look no further than New York’s surplus of food carts, some of the most well-known being The Halal Guys, with multiple locations across the city, and the Biryani Cart, located a block away from Times Square. Entrees typically do not surpass $5.
For any college student, money is a concern; but destinations like New York can be made more affordable by both exploiting inexpensive alternatives and taking advantage of applicable discounts. Explore “The City That Never Sleeps” this year through a prudent perspective.
Sightseeing Use your student discount: Big-name museums such as the The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) and Modern Museum of Art (MoMA) offer major student discounts — admission to the MET is $12 for students instead of $25; and admission to MoMA is $14 for students instead of the $25. Free attractions: Some of the best attractions in NYC do not cost a penny. Walk the High Line, visit Brooklyn Bridge Park for some of the best views of the city, rest your feet and grab a book at the New York City Public Library, delve into the world of fashion and creativity at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) Museum; and take the Staten Island Ferry for pictures of Lady Liberty.
Photo courtesy of imdb.com
A still of the city from the classic film Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Advice Column | Rejection
Dealing with rejection requires patience
The writer reflects on denial after receiving a rejection letter from his tennis club BY JAKE GOLDBERG Contributing Writer goldjh17@wfu.edu
Rejection is something we may hate, but unfortunately we do not have the power to eliminate it from our lives. I doubt that is another topic that is more relatable, especially during this time of the year, than rejection. It is still winter and in another month or so comes spring. To college students, that often means one thing: time to apply for as many internships as possible so that we can tell our parents and future employers that we were not sitting on our butts for the entire summer. I personally have probably applied to anywhere from 50 to 70 positions at this point. As many college students know, after applying to 15-20, it becomes difficult to keep count. What is easy to count is the number of emails or phone calls one receives asking for initial interviews and follow-up interviews. This number is usually quite small, and is generally reduced even further for those who do not have any connections through family, friends or sixth cousins twice removed who they have not spoken to in over 10 years.
I am one of these people, which means I have to fend for myself like many others, which leads to a great deal of rejection. My roommate and I have both recieved rejections within two days of our applications being sent out, accompanied by the f intended heartfelt message of, “after careful consideration of your application, we have decided to move forward with other candidates.” My roommate and I thought, how carefully did they really look at our apJake Goldberg/Old Gold & Black plications? Rejection has become Receiving a letter or email or rejection is difficult for anyone. The so common, my roommate and I important thing to remember is to always get up and try again. made an agreement with each other. The agreement goes like this: if two I grew up in northern New Jersey my safety net, but something that days go by and neither of us receive emails rejecting our applications for and know from personal experience my father and I were both quite pasthat it is extremely difficult to find sionate about and something that internships, that is a moral victory. Due to the intense competition for good (not even great, but just good) we were quite good at. We all know it. Rejection sucks. an internship, I applied with my fa- tennis instruction in that area without the privilege of a private coach There is no sufficient argument that ther to be head tennis pros together at my local club in a suburb of New known through connections or hav- can adequately refute that claim. Jersey, something I believed would ing one within the family (as I had Even with the plethora of rejection be a safety net for me if none of the with my father). So, through a series emails I receive each week, I still internships I continue to apply for of interviews with a committee, my manage to apply to new positions come through. At that moment, I father and I expressed our enthusi- every day, as I advise that any wise thought we had a decent shot. My asm in becoming the potential head college student should. It is essenfather taught my whole family (in- pros of this tennis club and bringing tial that we, as human-beings, stay cluding me) how to play tennis, and our knowledge and expertise to its grounded and not let these rejechad extensive experience teaching at members. tions get the best of us. a tennis club in a different suburb of However, soon after, I received a As most encouraging parents say northern New Jersey. In addition, I text message from my father that and something everyone has probtaught at various clubs for the past out of six candidates, we placed sec- ably heard before, “you only need four summers and even brought my ond in the race, and ultimately did one.” As annoying as that can be to own tennis teaching business to 20 not make the final cut to become hear after more and more rejections, clients this past summer after begin- the head pros. Never did I truly be- that is also something in which ning that entrepreneurial venture lieve that I was going to be rejected there is no sufficient argument to my senior year of high school. from what I thought not only to be adequately refute.
Life | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, February 20, 2020 | Page 19
Restaurant Review | Part 5
Burrito Boys: finishing this search at The Porch
It seems only fitting that the last review in the Burrito Boys series is of a restaurant that has received numerous awards, including the Winston-Salem Journal’s Readers Choice award: The Porch. Having only been in business for six years, it is undeniable that The Porch has
The Porch aims to offer a burrito that is not entirely authentic, but is not exclusively Westernized. As they claim on their menus, “we strive every day to harness the best inspiration of Mexico, Texas and North Carolina, unite them and then and deliver it on a slightly overflowing plate.” With this in mind, it is easy to distinguish elements of each region in the burrito, as the flavors of the meat taste like Asada but is cooked like brisket. I ordered the OG Burrito, which ticked all the boxes; excellent texture, solid flavors, and it didn’t fall apart.
Customer Experience: 9.2 The Porch is situated in the Northwest district, a short six minute drive from campus. The restaurant offers top notch service to go along with unbelievable meals, but the best part of all is the relaxing atmosphere that invites customers to lounge outside or partake in a game of cornhole.
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Price: 8.6
Quality: 9.5
The particular meal I ordered consists primarily of vegetables, rice and beans, and I found the assortment of components to work very well together. The harmony of sauteed onions and fresh garlic complimen-ted the spicy aroma of the rice. The entire burrito was wrapped in a crisp flour tortilla — and did I mention that it didn’t fall apart?
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Six months ago, I arrived on campus. The city, heavily influenced by the flavors and access of the South, offered virtually every culinary style a foodaholic could ask for, except for Mexican food, as it would seem. After talking with several locals, whose burrito-eating ambitions had never made it past Taco Bell, I soon learned that several hidden gems did exist in the city; and I set out to find the best one. With the fifth and final review of Burrito Boys, I am happy to present my forthright, impartial opinion on Winston-Salem’s finest in Tex-Mex dining.
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Freshness: 9.3
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BY MICAH PORTER Asst. Life Editor portmj19@wfu.edu
stolen the hearts of the locals with their heavenly meals and divine atmosphere. However, providing a good meal is only half the battle, if a restaurant solicits a price that exceeds the quality of the burrito, then the customer leaves feeling cheated in some way; it’s all about finding balance between property and payment. Luckily, The Porch cares about feeding college students on a budget, and offers a menu between $10-$16. At prices like these, you’ll leave with not only a satisfied appetite, but with lunch for tomorrow.
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Last, but certainly not least, we try the burrito from a Winston-Salem staple
Depending on the weather, customers have the option of sitting outside under an arrangement of twinkle lights, which provide the perfect ambience for a romantic dinner for two. All in all, The Porch is the perfect restaurant for those looking for a burrito with flare . . . I promise it will deliver. Overall: 9.15
Movie Review | Birds of Prey
Harley Quinn returns in Birds of Prey Margot Robbie reprises her role as the “fantabluous” Harley Quinn BY ERIC OMOROGIEVA Contributing Writer omorei17@wfu.edu Coming off of a very successful commercial and awards season run with Joker, Warner Bros and DC Comics shift the focus back to their infamous “Extended Universe” with Birds of Prey. The film, which stars Margot Robbie, Ewan McGregor, Rosie Perez and others, details Harley Quinn’s struggles to cope with her recent breakup with the Joker (Jared Leto). Her adventures and missteps lead her to team up with police officer Renee Montoya, Black Canary, Huntress and Cassandra Cain to recover an expensive diamond and escape attack from Gotham City mob boss Roman Sionis, also known as Black Mask (played by McGregor). This film is directed by Cathy Yan, only her second feature film. Although Gotham City is no stranger to movie-goers as it’s seen many portrayals in Batman films for over half a century, Birds of Prey’s rendition is not quite like the others. The city is much more
modernized, lacking the gargoyles and traditional architecture and replacing it with beautiful and bright colors. The film also covers night life in city through the nightclub that Black Mask owns, where the audience gets to see Gotham’s more brutal nature. The story itself is standard to a lot of comic book movies, but incorporates fun, humor and action to its advantage better than others. Birds of Prey feels like a perfect mixture of the quirky, graphic novel style from Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, the distinctive comedy of Deadpool, and the thrilling action of the John Wick series, the latter of which can be attested to the fact that John Wick’s director Chad Stahelski helped reshoot Birds of Prey’s action scenes. Robbie is the undeniable star in this movie, capitalizing off of her past performance as Quinn in Suicide Squad, and transforming her portrayal of the character into something deserving of immediate attention. She comes across as if she was ripped straight out of a comic book and incorporates the same outlandish ability to defeat almost anyone with a limited range of weapons that makes her so goofy. Her performance and focus are almost too dominant, in fact, that it comes at a fault to the rest of the film, which is supposed to be about the rest of
Photo courtesy of imdb.com
As part of Warner Bros and DC Comics “Extended Universe” the character Halrey Quinn is the star of her own sequel to Suicide Squad. the Birds of Prey as well. Renee Montoya, Huntress, Black Canary and Cassandra Cain all have limited introductions and often seem unimportant in comparison to Quinn. Black Canary especially, who has ability to damage enemies with her famous Canary Cry, barely uses it the entire film. Cassandra Cain’s character, although very notable, falls short as a respectful portrayal of her original comic-book counterpart, who is a very silent, expert martial artist ally of Batman. Simply titling this film a Harley Quinn movie would have been better suited considering that’s basically what it ended up being.
Birds of Prey succeeds at entertaining and is well worth the money for a onehour-and-forty-five-minute runtime. Seeing bright blue, green, pink and red throughout Gotham at night was a great shake up from the consistently gloomy and hopeless portrayal of the city. McGregor as Black Mask was also a memorable portion of the film, and the comedic tones are unlike the typical forced jokes often found in these types of movies. Despite its box office disappointment and gripes, the movie does allow for quite an enjoyable ride.
Page 20 | Thursday, February 20, 2020
Old Gold & Black | Life
Queens dazzle at the Drag Show BY CATHERINE REGEN Life Editor regecl17@wfu.edu In this article, I refer to the performers by their Queen names and have included their Instagram handles: Erica Chanel @theEricaChanel, Onya Mann @BrandonHilton, Crystal Brook @thecrystalBrooks, Tallulah Ven Dank @ tallulahvandank, Sincere Lee @isincere_lee, Lolita Chanel @Lolita_ _Chanel, Kristi Darling @KristiDarling. I didn’t know what to expect walking into the Queen of Hearts Drag show in Benson University Center for Valentine’s Day. Aside from the occasional episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race, I had never been to a Drag show before. By intermission, my jaw was on the floor and I eagerly anticipated meeting the Queens after the show. My friends and I waited in the photo op line, took our picture and quickly moved to the side to allow the next fans to take their turn. I hovered slightly near the edge Photo courtesy of Riley Herriman / Wake Forest Photo of the crowd, but largely felt I had missed my opportu- Sincere Lee crouches at the front of the catwalk during her first act. The Drag Artist teaches nity to ask them questions for this article. As everyone prepared to go back into 401 for the second half, the dance and conducts color guard at a high school during her days and slays during the night. Queens noticed me and my trepidation, calling over to me with a generous, “Did you want a picture sweet- ing the event and her own performance, Onya took “Afab Queen” meaning that she is a queer cis woman, the time to speak to me. I expressed that I felt woe- dressed as a female persona. Talulah’s second act was a heart?” I almost lost my nerve to ask if I could bother them fully underprepared, and uneducated on their artform. medley of songs from Chicago, the mix for which she laughed away my nervousness, and told me to ask made herself. In fact, the Queens do everything themwith my questions, but upon hearing I was writing an They whatever I wanted. I asked if colleges and universities selves, from creating mixes to sewing costumes and if article for the newspaper, they invited me back into were typical hosts of drag shows, Onya replied, “You’d they can’t do it themselves, they know someone who their dressing room for the “VIP experience.” Suddenly be surprised, it’s more than you think.” Erica Chanel can: “We’re our own business and our own brand.” I was pulled from the world of an audience member to chimed in, “I think schools are trying to be more inclu- The community is extremely collaborative, with a wide that of the entertainer. I felt as though, just like Doro- sive and the LGBTQ groups on campus hold events.” pool of resources and an open willingness to trade skills thy, I had peeked behind the curtain, but instead of a Onya stepped aside to go change her leotard into a for skills. short bald man crushing the illusion, I was welcomed neon leopard-printed piece with fierce shoulder piec“Are you going back out there sweetie? Because my into a warm circle of wigs, thigh-highs and magnetic es. I walked over to her table littered with styrofoam second act is the sh*t.” It was, in fact, “the sh*t.” In percharisma unmatched by any other. Queens in various heads and mirrors, and sitting there was a man with haps the most memorable, and emotional performance stages of undress swirled around me in an organized luscious long dark hair and a gorgeous black lace puffy- of the night Ms. Lolita Chanel gave a perfect lip-synch chaos. sleeved blouse. We said hello, and Onya said, “Oh let to Rachel Wiley’s “The Fat Joke” poetic monologue, The Queens called out to one another, making jokes, me introduce you, this is my husband,” then directly to which she followed with a tear-inspiring rendition of asking for help changing, immediately at ease in the him, “She’s writing about us for the paper.” I probably Keala Settle’ “This Is Me” from The Greatest Showman. comfort of their dressing room. Tallulah van Dank led shouldn’t have looked surprised, but Onya must have In perhaps one of the most touching moments of the me into the room saying, “I’ve gotten ready in a beer read my expression as such and noted casually, “You performance, Lolita Chanel’s friend, who I recognized closet. In a bar, like when they come and get more beer know it’s hard for people who do drag to get married. from backstage, strode up to the edge of the catwalk when I’m changing.” They had taken over the room: We’re a really misunderstood community, people think and tipped $5 with a mouthed, “You are beautiful.” It suitcases overflowing with costumes, tables covered in we’re freaks.” She smiled knowingly, and in a cloud of is not an exaggeration when I tell you there was not a hairspray bottles, wigs treated with more TLC than I hairspray she was gone, back to the glory of the ador- dry eye in the house, not even my own. give my own hair. Crystal Brooks was already dressed ing crowd. The last question I asked them was about what imin her act two costume, a green and black bedazzled In her absence, Tallulah van Dank and Erica Chanel pressions or lessons the Queens hope people take away bodysuit meant to replicate the look of classic Kim Pos- appeared on either side of me, all smiles and an open from watching their shows. Here are some of their resible character Shego. She was missing the black glove, willingness to tell me anything I wanted to know. The sponses: and in a moment of frustration yelled, “I’m not here Queens had a normalcy about them I had not expect“Always don’t judge a book by it’s cover. We’re just for this shit. I’m going home.” The Queens all burst ed. Buoyant and welcoming personalities that radiated here to entertain you, and this is art.” Erica Chanel into laughter at the dramatic statement and Crystal kindness, and although several had mentioned com- said. was ushered to the stage — gloveless. ing from homophobic backgrounds, they held nothing “Queer art comes in a lot of varieties.” Tallulah van The clear leader of the chaos, was Ms. Onya Mann. back. They were people, fabulous people and stunning Dank said. As the MC for the night, she held a certain poise and entertainers, but people nonetheless. “Drag is such a celebration. A family. It gives you spoke with confidence. In fact, all the Queens radiThe experience backstage was a crash course in Drag a community. Being a part of the show you feel like ated confidence. Between getting ready herself, emcee- lingo. I learned that Tallulah is what is known as an you’re a part of something.” Lolita Chanel said.
Photo courtesy of Riley Herriman / Wake Forest Photo
Photo courtesy of Riley Herriman / Wake Forest Photo
In both her acts, Ms. Lolita Chanel got emotional reactions from the crowd. (Left) She leans down to take the hand of a young girl in the audience. (Right) She is mid-belt during her tear-inspiring reindition of “This is Me” from The Greatest Showman.