News: Lilting Banshees make April Fools return Page 4
Opinion: University response to Sports: Demon Deacons lose in the Life: Global warming predicted Atlanta shootings lacks sincerity first round to increase summer's length Page 11 Page 8 Page 19
Old Gold&Black
WAKE FOREST’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1916 VOL. 107, NO. 20
T H U R S DAY, M A RC H 2 5 , 2 0 21 “Cover s the campus like the magnolias”
wfuogb.com
WFU vaccinates Group Four students Students share their thoughts on getting vaccinated one year after the start of COVID-19 BY AINE PIERRE News Editor pierav20@wfu.edu It has now been four and a half months since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for COVID-19. Now, as of March 24, a large amount of Wake Forest students are eligible to receive the vaccine. Currently, all Wake Forest student employees are eligible to receive the vaccine, as well as any Wake Forest student with a health condition that increases their risk to either contract or be seriously affected by COVID-19. North Carolina expects to open up eligibility to students in university housing beginning April 7. Wake Forest, which received authorization from the North Carolina Department of Health to administer vaccines, will begin vaccinating Group Four this week. Holly Mullen/ Old Gold & Black
Despite efforts by the university to increase communication efforts, especially during COVID-19, some feel the new contract's flexibility clause runs directly counter to demands RAs made during a protest on Feb. 12.
Resident advisers express concerns over new contract A new clause in the 2021-2022 contract would require RAs to perform extra duties with no raise BY CATE PITTERLE News Editor pittcj20@wfu.edu When Wake Forest resident advisers (RAs) signed their contracts this year, there was a new clause that required them to take on extra responsibilities at a moment’s notice without increased pay. “Due to the nature of the work, RAs may be asked to complete additional tasks and responsibilities that are not explicitly outlined in the RA Contract,” reads a copy of the 2021-2022 Resident Advisor (RA) Assistantship Contract obtained by the Old Gold & Black. “It is
the responsibility of the RA to be flexible and adaptable and complete these tasks to the best of their abilities.” The clause does not mention hazard pay. The 2020-2021 contract, a copy of which was also obtained by the Old Gold & Black, also did not contain such a clause. “It feels like a real undercutting move from the university in response to the pushback we had before,” Shade White, a senior RA, said. “A lot of the time, if RAs were asked to do something that we felt was too much, we could say that's not in my contract. Effectively this clause will take that [ability] away. It removes that argument. Now Residence Life and Housing (RLH) is allowed to throw in any extra duties they see reasonable under that clause.”
Despite efforts by the university to increase communication to RAs, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, the clause runs directly counter to demands RAs made during a protest on Feb. 12, according to White. “The part of this that seems most disheartening to me is that it's in response to what happened over February when RAs did not feel there was adequate communication in the responsibilities and duties that we were asked to fulfill,” continued White. “This clause opens the ability for these same kind of short-notice changes and expectations and there's not going to be much RAs can do in response to it.” Junior RA Malik McFarlane added that the timing of the addition seems suspect.
See RAs, Page 6
See Vaccines, Page 4
Wake N' Shake takes hybrid format The dance marathon will take place over a week and involve in-person and online events BY CHRISTA DUTTON Staff Writer duttcd20@wfu.edu
Wake ‘N Shake — the highly anticipated annual Wake Forest tradition and fundraiser for the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund — has had to reimagine the event for the second year in a row. Like last year’s event, this year’s dance marathon will also not be able to occur in person because of the COVID-19 pandemic. An event that has always been defined by the gathering of over 1,400 students in the Sutton Center to dance together has had to totally change their plans and adapt to COVID-19 guidelines. Because of the lack of COVID-19 cases on campus, this year’s event is not completely virtual, but will be hybrid.
See WNS, Page 5
OGB
“ legislation proves dire Gun reform This column represents the views of the Old Gold & Black Editorial Board.
Once again, national newspaper headlines are filled with stories of death and destruction. Less than one week after the series of mass shootings that occurred in Atlanta, 10 victims died at the hands of gun violence in Boulder, Colo. Once again, we are left wondering how many innocent lives must be lost before the winds of change begin to blow across our nation. There is no conceivable reason any individual should fear for their life while attending school, seeing a movie or going to work. The recent atrocities in Boulder and Atlanta represent the darkest corners of our humanity. Now more than ever, we must recognize the ac-
Though the measures we take as individuals may differ, it is imperative that our collective action is both swift and purposeful." tions we can take to prevent similar travesties in the future. The loss of even one individual to an act of gun violence is an indescribable tragedy — a tragedy that our country experiences far too often. It is our responsibility to pierce this darkness with a collective light. We must fight to ensure that the individuals responsible for these acts of violence are the exceptions among our human race, not the norm. Ignorance and hatred are deeply ingrained in the
framework of this country, but it is never too late to sever these connections at their roots. What if one of these mass shootings were to occur here in North Carolina? What if we were mourning the deaths of some of our fellow students? These possibilities are frightening, and yet we must consider them nonetheless. We here at the Old Gold & Black encourage you to do whatever you can to mitigate the spread of ignorance and hatred, both on Wake Forest’s campus and around the country. Actions we can take today may come in the form of voting for representatives who support stricter gun laws, volunteering for a gun control advo-
cacy organization or educating yourself and others about legislation and public policy. Though the measures we take as individuals may differ, it is imperative that our collective action is swift and purposeful. May Officer Eric Talley, 51; Denny Stong, 20; Neven Stanisic, 23; Rikki Olds, 25; Tralona Bartkowiak, 49; Suzanne Fountain, 59; Teri Leiker, 51; Kevin Mahoney, 61; Lynn Murray, 62; and Jody Waters, 65, rest in peace. And may we as a country institute the necessary legislative and educational changes that might ensure a tragic mass shooting of this nature never occurs again.
Old Gold&Black
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF WAKE FOREST UNIVERSIT Y SINCE 1916 ALEXANDRA KARLINCHAK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF karlae18@wfu.edu
BEN CONROY PRINT MANAGING EDITOR conrbd19@wfu.edu
>> NEWS
Cate Pitterle, pittcj20@wfu.edu Aine Pierre, pierav20@wfu.edu
>> OPINION
Connor Mcneely, mcnecb19@wfu.edu
>> SPORTS
Christina DeNovio, denoca20@wfu.edu Essex Thayer, thayse20@wfu.edu
Asst. Jake Stuart, stuaja20@wfu.edu
>> LIFE
Micah Porter, portmj19@wfu.edu Selinna Tran, transn19@wfu.edu
>> PHOTOGRAPHY
Katie Fox, foxkg19@wfu.edu
>> SOCIAL MEDIA
Anna Bloch, blocae19@wfu.edu
>> ADVISER
Phoebe Zerwick, zerwicp@wfu.edu
CHARLIE BENEDICT BUSINESS MANAGER
benecc19@wfu.edu
WILL ZIMMERMAN ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR zimmwj19@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.
>> SUBMISSIONS
The OGB welcomes submissions in the form of story tips, columns and letters to the editor. Letters to the editor should be fewer than 500 words, and columns should be around 500 words. Send yours via e-mail to karlae18@wfu.edu the Monday before publication. We reserve the right to edit all letters for length and clarity. No anonymous letters will be printed.
>> ONLINE MEDIA
Web: wfuogb.com Facebook: facebook.com/ogb1916 Twitter: @wfu_ogb Instagram: @wfu_ogb Snapchat: @wfu_ogb
Want to write for us? Email
wfuogb@gmail.com
Page 3 | Thursday, March 25, 2021
Old Gold & Black | News
Deacon Profile: Amy Foley
campus and seeing people I knew or seeing people I didn’t. It’s really fun.
BY EMILY TORO Contributing Writer toroer20@wfu.edu
Is it difficult to balance managing RedCup with the rest of your day?
Amy Foley is a sophomore from Lake Forest, Ill. majoring in health and exercise science. She manages RedCup Wake, an Instagram humor account affiliated with RedCup News. Though her focus is on sports content, the account has expanded to cover almost every aspect of campus life. Foley plans to grow the RedCup Wake brand, all while giving students a good laugh.
It is something I really enjoy. I think it’s fun, so it’s not necessarily work. It is a job, but I have fun while doing it. One of my closest friends runs the TikTok, so when we come up with ideas together it’s super fun. It’s not like we’re working — we're just making jokes that we normally make.
How did you begin your partnership with RedCup?
Is your experience with RedCup Wake something you would put on your resume?
To be honest, I was bored over quarantine and over Christmas break. I follow a bunch of sports accounts, and it came up. RedCup ACC was looking for someone to run a couple of their accounts. I felt like I might as well direct message them and give it a shot. I interviewed with someone who runs one of the other RedCup accounts, and it just started from there.
I would like to. We’re hoping to grow bigger. I know some of the bigger accounts for RedCup Georgia and RedCup Arkansas have a huge following, so that would be my goal for RedCup Wake. In the future I’d like to do something in sports. I didn’t realize how much I enjoyed it until I started doing it.
What inspired you to start the account at Wake Forest University?
What career do you want to pursue in the future?
My brother ran a meme account for our high school, and he always had a lot of fun doing it. RedCup is kind of a different vibe, just because it is more sports-related and not solely about memes, and I’ve always been into sports. My mom, who went to Duke, told me about camping out for basketball games and stuff like that, and I also played tennis in high school. I feel like it’s something fun and related to what I’m passionate about.
I’d like to be on the sports marketing side of things, being able to set up experiences for fans or covering events, no matter what sport. I know how to get people to come to things; using humor to do that is one good way.
How do you come up with content? Most of the ideas are either something that I’ve seen online — based on some sort of meme format that’s going around — or a topic I want to cover. I normally create the post and then send it to two of the other people who help me run RedCup Wake: the person who runs the Twitter account and the person who runs the TikTok account. I usually send it to them before I post anything. How much time do you dedicate to working on the account? I would say it depends on what I am trying to do. Usually video content takes longer, but I’d say close to three hours a day. It depends on how long
Photo courtesy of Amy Foley
I spend making the content and then doing giveaways and polls. That takes time as well. What specific giveaways have you arranged?
fun at the same time, at least once you get the hang of it. How do you execute the podcasts?
We have done giveaways with Yamas, WakeWare and Good Uncle. If there are any other Wake organizations or Winston-Salem based brands that want to partner with us in the future, I’d be excited to do something like that.
We do the podcasts as a group, so we schedule times to make them. Our first one was on the Super Bowl, and our second was on cringy Tinder stories. I record in my room. As we grow, hopefully we can meet up in person without COVID-19, but as of now, I record in my dorm room.
Do you know of anyone else who has partnerships with RedCup?
What are some of the topics you’ve discussed on your podcasts?
My two closest friends are a guy who runs RedCup Canes at the University of Miami and the guy who runs RedCup at Colorado State University. We all do a podcast together called "RedCup Rants," and they help me with a lot of content, especially with editing videos. I think the podcast is super cool. I didn’t really think that doing a podcast was for me or that my personality fit. I feel like I make a fool of myself, but it’s
We went to the COVID-19 protests about the resident advisers receiving hazard pay, and that informed me on the issue. The university had not made it known that resident advisors were delivering food when we were close to going into red status. Recently, we did St. Patrick’s Day interviews, and that was kind of hard just because it wasn’t a very nice day out. But overall, it turned out to be fun, especially going around
What has RedCup Wake taught you about yourself? It’s taught me to be more confident in myself. I feel like I wrote stuff in high school, but I never did plays and I was always afraid of public speaking. Meeting all these new people — some who don’t even go to Wake Forest — has helped me come out of my shell and helped me realize that I am (hopefully) funny. Also, it has kind of given me a direction for my career. I’ve switched all over the place. When I first came to Wake Forest, I was in political science, then biology, and now I am an Health and Exercise Science major. I never quite knew what I wanted to do, I just always knew I wanted to do something with athletics or health or something like that. This gives me a specific thing or a niche aspect that I am interested in. Editor's Note: This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
POLICE BEAT COVID-19 Violations/Underage Consumption/Drug Offenses • Cannabis residue and a grinder were seized in Babcock. The report was filed at 11:53 p.m. on March 16. • Officers responded to a hazing report on Brookwood Dr. The report was filed at 11:07 a.m. on March 18. • Officers found 15 people in a residence on Kress Dr. The report was filed at 12:43 a.m. on March 19. • In response to a 911 call, officers arrived on the scene of a 700-person gathering on Ewing St. The report was filed at 7:12 p.m. on March 20. • A student in Collins was found in possession of vodka, which was poured out by officers. The report was filed at 10:06 p.m. on March 20.
• Campus Police assisted the Winston-Salem Police Department in responding to a 300-person gathering on Long Dr. The report was filed at 11:36 p.m. on March 20. • A student was found unresponsive outside the main doors of Dogwood and was transferred to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. The report was filed at 11:52 p.m. on March 20. Miscellaneous • A catalytic converter was stolen from a car in the freshman parking lot by an unknown subject. The report was filed at 9:21 p.m. on March 20. • An unknown subject removed a bike from a bike rack in front of Reynolda Hall. The report was filed at 12:48 p.m. on March 21.
News | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, March 25, 2021| Page 4
Vaccines: Deacons don’t throw away their shot Continued from Page 1
Student Health plans to distribute 1.044 doses of vaccine, 522 each on March 22 and 26. On March 29, the university plans to administer 300 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. On campus, those with vaccinations do not have any special privileges. Mask wearing is still required for all gatherings and classes, and mandatory COVID-19 tests and quarantine periods are still in effect. That said, for many students, receiving a vaccine marks the beginning of the end of an era marked by uncertainty and isolation. Freshman Libby Lapporte, said getting vaccinated meant that she could visit her loved ones. “Getting the vaccine gives me a sense of safety,” Lapporte said. “So [now] I can see my grandparents.” Freshman Kate Burill had a similar reaction to getting vaccinated. “It is really exciting because it allows me to see my family and spend more time with my friends that are vaccinated without having to worry as much,” Burill said. Freshman Bella Brazzano got her shot on a symbolic date. “I was vaccinated March 13, one year after the world shut down,” Brazzano said. “It felt so good and I feel so much more comfortable around campus and in public.”
Senior Elizabeth Woolen emphasized the effect getting vaccinated has on the community. “[Getting] the vaccine is both a stride to reach herd immunity and protect all those who are vulnerable,” Woolen said, “but also it [creates a] sense of normalcy again and moving past the pandemic.” For freshman Ella Virkler, the vaccine is a symbol of commitment to others. “For me, it means that you care about those around you,” Virkler said. “And
that you are willing to go through some pain for the good of not only yourself, but those around you.” Among those who received vaccinations on campus at the Sutton Center through Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, there was universal praise for the streamlined experience. “It was seamless,” freshman Aman Khemlani said. “You verify your details, take a health survey, get vaccinated and wait 15 minutes.”
Though it is unclear how many more vaccines will need to be distributed in order for the university community to reach herd immunity and potentially shift to Green Operating Status, the vaccination process is bringing a degree of hope onto campus that the COVID-19 shadows may be lifting and that normalcy might be around the corner. “The vaccine for me means hope and relief,” Khemlani said. “But [I know] we aren’t out of the woods yet.”
Katie Fox/ Old Gold & Black
Students in Group Three (namely student employees) and parts of Group Four (those who have serious health conditions) are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in North Carolina.
Lilting Banshees plan April Fools return Sketch comedy troupe writes and this is not their usual style of performance. performs Murder Mystery dinner During a non-pandemic school year, the Lilting Banshees perform with Student Union BY ABBY BERMEO Contributing Writer bermag20@wfu.edu
Wake Forest sketch comedy group The Lilting Banshees will be making their much-awaited comeback on April 1 with a Student Union-organized Murder Mystery Event on the Lower Quad. The tickets to the Murder Mystery sold out within the same day they were released, demonstrating the highly anticipated nature of this event. An audience of 40 students on the Lower Quad will be able to watch the Banshees perform a mystery, full of alibis, murder, and suspicion, all over dinner. The Banshees are a club of 20 members, all of whom were involved in the writing process, but only about 10 members of the troupe will be seen on stage on the night of the dinner. In a normal year, this Murder Mystery event is performed by an outside group that the Student Union brings in. Due to COVID-19, however, Student Union did not want to bring in outside performers and decided to have the Benshees perform instead. While the Banshees are honored and excited to perform live again,
three or four times a year on the Brendle stage, with the members meeting three times a week to write the sketches. The Banshees often have a packed audience full of friends, family and other students. This year was a major adjustment for them, with the members still meeting three times a week — this time over Zoom. Alexi Vlahoyiannis, director of the Lilting Banshees, spoke about the adjustments for COVID-19. “It was really hard,” Vlahoyiannis said. “We had to push back auditions to the spring and haven’t been able to do any kind of performance.” Writing jokes over Zoom isn’t the same as all sitting together in person, but was necessary this year to promote safety and still host a fun environment for club members. Preparing for this new style of pitching and writing sketches was, as Alexi said, “a little hard to get used to, but once we got the hang of it, it wasn’t bad at all.” This is a new and exciting way for the club to familiarize themselves with performing and formally introduce themselves to this year’s new students and freshmen class. “The break out room format actually fits really well with the way we write sketches,” Vlahoyiannis said.
“We first worked on an overarching plot then figured out each individual character. Last week, we finalized our character list and cast the actors.” Now, in their final stages of preparing the show, they are almost ready to reintroduce themselves on stage. The murder mystery will be set up in a dinner-like fashion, with students sitting at tables and eating Aramark catered food. The night will begin with a performance by the Lilting Banshees and a brief setting of the scene. Once there is an established murder mystery for the audience to solve, the onlookers will be able to speak to individual characters and calculate their potential
motives. They will be able to discover alibis by asking questions and interact with each of the 10 cast members. After the audience places strategic guesses on each of the suspects, they will get the opportunity to vote on which suspect they believe committed the crime. As Winston-Salem moves into spring and Wake Forest strives for more vaccinations, outdoor and socially-distanced events like these will begin to bring a sense of normalcy back to campus. The bottom line for right now is that the Lilting Banshees are making their comeback after a year’s hiatus due to COVID-19, albeit in an unconventional but welcomed way. And they’re thrilled to be back.
Courtesy of Christian Green
The Lilting Banshees have not been involved with the murder mystery in the past, but due to COVID-19, they are stepping into the role.
Page 5 | March 25, 2021
Old Gold & Black | News
WNS: COVID-19 reshapes annual fundraiser Continued from Page 1 In lieu of the usual 12-hour mass gathering, Wake ‘N Shake has instead created an entire week’s worth of fun virtual and socially distanced in-person events in which students can participate. This year’s theme is “Togetherness,” promoting the idea that even though students cannot physically gather together as per usual, they can still unite in the fight against cancer together. Each day of the week focuses on an action that the campus community can do together. The daily themes, respectively, are “Dance Together,” “Stand Together,” “Ask Together,” “Laugh Together,” “Remember Together” and “Share Together.” To compensate for the inability to attend Wake ‘N Shake normally, and in an effort to promote student engagement, this year’s event is highly interactive. By attending any virtual or in-person event, students can earn points, and the student with the most points by the end of the week will be able to attend the final ceremony. The ceremony will be held in person on Saturday, March 27 on Manchester Plaza. The activities that award points include a TikTok dance challenge, a 1.6 mile walk, a scavenger hunt and a luminary walk, among others. In addition, all participants will also receive a t-shirt and dinner. “This week-long competition with an in-person reward does a great job of fostering connection, and it has already made us feel more connected than we
usually do in this screens-only world,” said student director Lucy McLeod. It was also of great importance to the Wake ‘N Shake team that all students on campus feel comfortable to participate in the event. Even though campus is in Yellow operating status, it was important to the team to still include virtual events for those who did not feel comfortable attending in person. “Aside from our points system, we have worked hard to make sure the vision of Wake ‘N Shake is communicated to everyone succinctly and clearly,” McLeod said. “We want everyone to be informed, and we have also planned a combination of completely virtual and fully in person events so that individuals with varying comfort levels and circumstances are still able to participate.” Another unique aspect of Wake ‘N Shake is the involvement of “Champions.” Champions are individuals who have fought or are continuing to fight cancer. Each year, eight Champions are invited to attend Wake ‘N Shake and share their stories with dancers. This year, videos of Champions telling their cancer stories will be posted on Wake ‘N Shake’s Instagram. A large scale event like Wake ‘N Shake does not just happen on its own. It takes the hard work and diligence of a team. Led by student directors and seniors Lucy Mcleod, Emma Ecklin and Paige Gallagher, the executive board has been meeting on Zoom weekly since September to bring this event to life. The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly posed a challenge regarding plan-
ning because of the uncertainty of case numbers and a rotating color wheel of campus operating statuses, but through it all, the team has worked tirelessly to ensure this year’s events run smoothly. “COVID-19 and case counts are unpredictable,” McLeod said. “So we made sure to plan and adapt for the
worst-case scenario but hope for the best-case scenario.” Despite the challenges, Wake ‘N Shake is still striving to raise money for cancer research and is determined to find new and innovative ways to bring the Wake Forest community together in support of a common cause.
Photo Courtesy of Wake Forest University
Usually, Wake ‘N Shake is a 12-hour dance-a-thon, but the event’s planers reimagined the event into a week-long fundraiser due to COVID-19.
The show must go on in Winston-Salem Theatre in the community is primed for a comeback after the state loosened restrictions BY JACKIE THACHER Contributing Writer thacjd20@wfu.edu Last weekend, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts 2021 season opened at the Stevens Center with a production of their Winter Opera. The lights came up on singers dressed in 18th-century costumes on an intricately designed set in an otherwise empty theater. The audience watched the performance at home over UNCSA On Demand. Even though seats are empty, the Stevens Center stage is not. Many in Winston-Salem will recall The Nutcracker released for free to the public in video format this past December. In February of this year, the Winston-Salem Symphony streamed and recorded their “Valentines Mixtape” concert, one of many projects being put on, according to the Winston-Salem Journal. With the pandemic still looming, keeping the performers and technicians safe during these performances is a major concern of Wiley Hausam, the managing director of performance facilities at UNCSA. “It is a constantly moving target,” Husam said. “We have protocols for all
of our performances, no matter who is in the space. Ideally, we want to keep everyone socially distanced, and everyone must wear a mask, even if they have been vaccinated.” The UNCSA protocols for their spaces are rigorous, especially for the students. Each and every student working in the Stevens Center, or anywhere else for that matter, must fill out a coronavirus survey and record whether they have been experiencing any symptoms recently. Then they are temperature checked upon entering the space and remain masked and socially distanced throughout the rehearsal. Another caveat: absolutely no mingling. “We can’t take risks because our singers are unmasked for the streaming service,” says Omar Sosa, the production assistant for this year’s UNCSA Winter Opera. “So, every single part of the production has a specific time slot to work on whatever thing they have before our performers come onto the stage. Absolutely nobody is allowed in that space.” UNCSA also teamed up with The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County back in October and November of 2020. UNCSA rented two spaces downtown including the Hanesbrands Theater and the Reynolds Place Theater for three performances. “Down in the Face of God” was released on Mar. 8 and “Sweat” was released on Mar. 12. Both of the shows
were shown via streaming format. The third performance, “An Afternoon at the Opera,” will be live-streamed at the Hanesbrands on Mar. 28. “We do not expect to see any audience in any space until December of 2021,” says Hausam. “Keeping our students and the Winston-Salem community safe is and will continue to be our number one priority.” As of Feb. 23, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper eased restrictions allowing for venues to operate at a 30% capacity limit that may not exceed 250 people in indoor spaces. Hanesbrands Theater operates through rental space. If there are no shows to put on, it is very difficult for venues like Hanesbrands and Reynolda Place to continue running without community support. “Based on social distancing and everything, our number went from 25 audience members to 50 or 60 audience members,” says John Horsman, the theater manager for the Arts Council. For local theater, that is no small win. Many of the smaller companies in Winston-Salem rely on ticket sales to fund their performances. If the sales are too low, theater troupes are better off foregoing putting on a show. “We are bringing inx around 10% of what we would have earned by now at this point of the year,” Horsman said. Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been countless cancellations
by theaters that typically use the space. For instance, the RiverRun International Film Festival has had to cancel its programming two years in a row. The Little Theater of Winston-Salem canceled all four of their productions last year as well as this year. The Winston-Salem Festival Ballet canceled their production of “Dracula” last year, too. The Hanesbrands has managed to find space for other events to fill the gaps. Small socially distanced summer camps run in the space by Spring Theater helped make up for lost revenu through the summer months and a blood drive occupied the space this past February. From Mar. 3-11, the building will play host to the Spring Arts Extravaganza, where students K-12 will be able to display their artwork, including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, and mixed media. Because of the pandemic, the theater has had to reimagine what these kinds of recurring events look like under circumstances previously thought inimical to the showcasing of art and live performance. “If the pandemic has taught us anything it’s how to problem solve,” Hosman said. “The issue of crowd control with this particular event is now being handled with a time-slot set up that keeps crowds down while allowing people to better enjoy the art.”
Old Gold & Black | News
Page 6 | Thursday, March 25, 2021
RAs: Flexibility clause met with pushback Continued from Page 1
“I don’t know the reason, but they added a flexibility clause in the contract, which under normal circumstances would be fine,” McFarlane said. “But with the COVID-19 situation, it feels like a reactive addition.” Briana Cresswell, assistant director of residence life, learning, leadership, and programming, said that the original copy of the 2021-2022 contract was reviewed on Nov. 24, 2020, and finalized on Dec. 7, 2020, a few months before the protest and spike in COVID-19 cases on campus. “It was very far prior to the protest,” Cresswell said. “I want to emphasize that it had absolutely nothing to do with that, although adaptability is something we have learned from that.” A junior RA, who asked to remain anonymous and will be referred to by the pseudonym Aspen, shares those concerns. Aspen requested this anonymity because they were afraid of retaliation from Residence Life and Housing. “I was concerned because [the contract] was so vague. [RLH] dictated that they can change our job description and have us do anything that they want, and it felt like a direct result of the RA protest that was held earlier this year,” Aspen said. “By using our voices, we’re now being backed into a corner.” According to many RAs, the clause seemed to open the door for an increase in responsibilities with RAs. That seeming increase, however, does not come with increased pay. “Beyond the world of student employment, when you have an increase in tasks or assignments, you are also expected to receive some decrease in existing tasks or increase in compensation,” said White. “I think the fact that there is no change in our compensation speaks to the fact that RAs are an exploited workforce.” Another RA who wished to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation from RLH agrees that the clause might bring extra work for RAs. For the sake of clarity, the RA will be referred to by the gender-neutral pseudonym Briar. “During the ‘dark Orange’ period, they were asking us to deliver food or make sure that signage was up. That wasn’t in the contract,” Briar said. “In this new contract, we have this flexibility clause that says if [RLH] asks you to do something else, you have to do it. I don’t think it’s fair to include that clause without including either an increase in pay to account for the extra work or list exactly what those extra duties could be.” However, Director of Residence Life Stephanie Carter said that the clause was not intended in a negative way. “I do think it is worth noting that I don’t think anyone puts that in someone’s job description as a way to abuse them,” Carter said. “It is for those little random things that come up. We could have a ten-page job description to outline everything that happens and in the detail that people would probably want it. But who would want to read that? And that’s just overkill for an RA position. But there are things that pop up in all of our work that we have to address or deal with.” Cresswell added that, despite concerns, the clause was not meant to create more work for RAs. “This clause was not made as a way to add in extra duties,” Cresswell said. “This clause was all-encompassing of the core functions of the job already and other small tasks that we might not think of that could be outlined.” According to the 2021-2022 contract, RAs are required to work 25 hours per week. Currently, new RAs are paid $5,122 every year, and returning RAs are paid $5,422. “We’re already not fully compensated,” said Pilar Agudelo, a sophomore RA. “Let’s not pretend that our stipend is [above] minimum wage. If you’re a returner, it’s slightly higher but still minimum wage. It’s just placed in a stipend format, which makes it seem like it’s more than it is.” Carter emphasized that those required 25 hours per week include sleeping hours and on-duty hours
where RAs might be on standby rather than actively working. She also noted that RAs receive discounts on housing. They stay in single rooms for $1,160 per semester, compared to the normal rate of $5,837. Assistant Vice President of Campus Life and Dean of Residence Life and Housing Matt Clifford added “The reduced housing rate is included in the student staff compensation as well.” Students also received an additional stipend of $150 last semester. The bonus check was given to RAs after the Feb. 12 protest, but according to reporting from a previous Old Gold & Black story, that check was planned before the protest. “We eventually got that $150 stipend, that onetime paycheck that they gave us,” Briar said. “We call it hush money because it’s like they got tired of us complaining about not getting any money for COVID-19. Some RAs said that Wake Forest’s pay and benefits are far less than those of peer institutions like Duke University and the University of North Carolina. “We were told, following the February incident there would be efforts to make our RA compensation reflect that of peer institutions because our pay is lower than places like Duke and UNC that are just down the road,” White said. “We also don’t receive any of the additional perks. Not only is income lower, but all of the stuff surrounding it is as well [for] things like parking or meal plans.” As noted in an Old Gold & Black story from earlier this March, a group called the RA Concerns Action Group was formed to address complaints. The group, which is led by Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion José Villalba, has mostly been an informationgathering tool up to this point, according to Carter, who is a member of the group. “While I appreciate the outside efforts in all that [Villalba’s] group is doing, we have yet to see what is going to fully come from that,” Carter said. “If they are able to push some things that we haven’t been able to, absolutely. Everything is still going to go to the betterment of our RAs and their position.” Pilar Agudelo, who serves as the Diversity and Inclusion Committee co-chair in Student Government, hopes that the action group will have a lasting impact.
“I hope that something comes from the conversations with [Villalba],” Agudelo said. “As someone who consults with him on diversity and inclusion matters in Student Government as part of my committee, I think from conversations I’ve had with him that they are really committed to ensuring that RAs are not suffering from their job positions or having unnecessary challenges, and are getting the benefits they deserve.” As the 2020-2021 school year comes to a close, many RAs have decided to stay in their positions. While some students stated they did so because they enjoy the work, others mentioned financial constraints as a major factor in their decision. “I wouldn’t say [finances are my number one reason for staying], because if we weren’t getting paid in the first place, I’d still want to be an RA,” McFarlane said. “I really enjoy being in this position and in a way guiding freshmen to avoid decisions that I made or giving them a boost that I may not have had when I came to college. That’s my main reason for doing it.” Though White also noted that he loves parts of his job, he says he felt tied to the job because of finances. “There are really great parts of this job and parts that I love,” White said. “I don’t know that it’s always true that every RA returns because of a sound work environment. A lot of people are not representative of the socioeconomic status of other students, and they take [the position] because of the pay. I didn’t have much say in the matter of whether I would return because finances necessitated me to take the job.” Aspen said that they like being an RA, but that they considered quitting because they were placed on South Campus as a senior for the 2021-2022 school year. “I really like this job. I like interacting with the residents and helping people,” Aspen said. “It’s got a lot of benefits, but I wish the negatives weren’t as frequent as they are.” Carter said that though working as an RA can be difficult, she believes it is a great way to get involved as a Wake Forest student. “It is hard work, it’s intense work and we do our very best to show appreciation. Sometimes it falls flat, and I think we recognize that,” Carter said. “But it is still a great opportunity for folks to get involved on
Katie Fox/ Old Gold & Black
A new clause in the RA contract for 2021-2022 requires RAs to perform job functions that are not specified in other parts of the contract without extra pay, concerning many.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
T H U R S D AY, M A R C H 2 5 , 2 0 2 0
PAG E 7
O n l i n e at : w w w. w f u o g b . c o m E d i t o r s : Cate Pitterle, pittcj20@wfu.edu Aine Pierre, pierav20@wfu.edu
Assistant Editor: Julia Ochsenhirt, ochsja20@wfu.edu
Research Spotlight: Dr. Eranda Jayawickreme An associate professor of psychology is researching honesty and growth BY SEAN JONES Contributing Writer jonesd19@wfu.edu Associate Professor of Psychology Dr. Eranda Jayawickreme asks a broad question in his research: In what ways do peoples’ personalities differ? For something that seems so central to day-to-day life, personality is a hard thing to quantify. How exactly do scientists measure objective differences in personality? And what insight can those differences provide as to how people respond to their circumstances? Narrowing the scope is a solid first step. Part of Jayawickreme’s research — done in collaboration with Dr. Michael Furr and Dr. William Fleeson of the Psychology Department and with Dr. Christian Miller of the Philosophy Department — involves studying differences in honesty. In particular, the professors are interested in how a person’s own sense of honesty translates to their daily life — and if that sense of honesty is as reliable as they perceive. Truth-telling, Dr. Jayawickreme explains, is one central aspect of honesty that can be used to quantify the construct of personality as a whole. The narrower scope of truthtelling and its measurable nature allows researchers to use it as a variable to represent honesty.
“This is not saying that truth-telling is all there is to honesty,” Jayawickreme said. “We are focusing on one key component of honesty that allows us to measure that construct as clearly and as directly as possible.” Once the more abstract variables have been quantified, Jayawickreme and his colleagues can examine their effects, like how differences in individuals’ prioritization of honesty shape their personalities more broadly. For example, do people who prioritize honesty experience trade-offs in other domains of character? Are honest people perceived as less compassionate or less agreeable? Jayawickreme describes these ideas with an example: If one needs to break a harsh truth to a friend, do they emphasize telling the truth or emphasize not hurting their friend’s feelings? “That is what I think is so interesting about studying moral behavior and character,” Jayawickreme said. “In many cases in our lives, it is not always obvious what the right thing to do is.” Jayawickreme also applies these techniques of quantifying character into another important facet of his research: investigating differences in human resilience after traumatic events. One of the most important components of studying post-traumatic growth is being able to “distinguish between post-traumatic growth as changes we experience as individuals … and post-traumatic growth understood as a narrative,” according to Jayawickreme. For instance, in American culture, there is a surrounding narrative that coming out of something difficult will make you stronger
as a person, a sentiment established by Nietzsche and echoed by cultural figures like Kelly Clarkston and Kanye West. This American societal narrative is directly influential to a person’s post-trauma recovery process, Jayawickreme explained, and can even put pressure on a person to grow after adversity. Essentially, this cultural narrative creates a goal of recovery that might outpace the individual. “Because people see [recovery] as desirable,” said Jayawickreme, “people might
[be inclined to] tell you they’ve grown even when they haven’t.” Despite cultural narratives complicating recovery, Jayawickreme says that after adversity, the average person tends to be resilient. “A lot of research suggests that people are pretty resilient. Of course, people will struggle … but a good proportion recover over time,” Jayawickreme said. “The modal response to adversity seems to be resilience. I think the interesting question is … to what extent people can grow from adversity.”
Photo Courtesy of the University of Chicago
Professor Eranda Jayawickreme is trying to understand how different conceptions of honesty contribute to character development.
Medically fragile residents find new home Winston-Salem has created a new shelter for homeless people with medical conditions BY TURNER JONES Contributing Writer jonetn19@wfu.edu
Until the pandemic struck, Lee McKeithan spent his days wandering the streets downtown or living in crowded congregate homeless shelters. Now, after living in a hotel room provided by the Medically Fragile Shelter, he has been placed in a permanent home. “It was a beautiful thing. It’s been a blessing,” McKeithan said. McKeithan is one of the tens of homeless people with medical conditions targeted by a coalition of homeless advocates for better housing. “We have seen it at the medically fragile shelter. If you get a good night’s sleep, a hot shower and your stomach is full, things really do change,” Lea Thullbery, the director of diversion and outreach at City With Dwellings, one of the organizations that is involved in the Medically Fragile Shelter’s creation, said.
In a joint effort, the City of Winston-Salem and local community outreach organizations created the shelter for the medically fragile members of the homeless to protect them from COVID-19. The organization has guaranteed all residents of the shelter permanent housing assistance. The shelter was started last April and is located at a local hotel on the northside of Winston-Salem, but due to privacy for the residents, organizers declined to give the specific location of the hotel. It is intended for people who meet certain criteria which qualifies them as high-risk for COVID-19 under current CDC guidelines. It houses people who come from both congregate shelters and directly off the streets of downtown and surrounding areas, where the risk of viral transmission is high. “The people who are eligible, because they have these conditions, are really at a higher risk of death or getting really sick,” Thullbery said. The current capacity of the shelter sits at 40 rooms. Couples may room together. Residents at the shelter are able to enjoy a private room, a bathroom and a TV. For people who have been living in overcrowded congregate shelters and on the street, this is quite a welcome change, according to McKeithan.
Residents of the hotel are expected to follow all social distancing and masking guidelines and are encouraged to only leave for smoke breaks, for shorts walks, or to go to doctors appointments. There is also staff on site 24 hours a day. “This is for their safety and the safety of the other residents,” Thullbery said. The city is funding the costs of the shelter and has also guaranteed all residents of the shelter permanent housing assistance. Rochelle Smith, interim executive director at Bethesda Center, another organization involved in facilitating the shelter, said that permanent housing placement
has been more difficult because the moratorium on evictions, due to the pandemic, has limited available housing. She also said that they often run into identification and documentation issues when searching for housing. Despite the challenges, people are typically being placed within 60 days. Though it took eight months to get in, McKeithan was one of 53 residents that were placed in permanent housing. “I really didn’t think I was gonna get placed since it took so long,” McKeithan said. Now, he says, he’s ready to find a job. “I want to do something positive,” he said.
Photo Courtesy of Forsyth County
Though it can take a while to get placed in the city’s new shelter, the permanent housing has given hope to Winston-Salem’s underserved homeless population.
OPINION OLD GOLD & BLACK
T H U R S D AY, M A R C H 2 5 , 2 0 2 1
PAG E 8
Online Editor:
at : w w w. w f u o g b . c o m
C o n n o r M c N e e l y, m c n e c b 19 @ w f u . e d u
A s s i s s ta n t E d i t o r :
C a p M c L i n ey , m c l i c p 19 @ w f u . e d u
The views expressed in all opinion columns represent those of the article’s author, not the opinions of the Old Gold & Black Editorial Board
Dear Wake Forest
University response to Atlanta shootings lacks sincerity The hate crimes committed in Atlanta should inspire the Wake Forest administration to uplift its Asian American community BY KIYO TAKAHASHI Contributing Columnist takakj20@wfu.edu Last week an anti-Asian hate crime that left eight dead was committed by a white man. This violent event came after over a full year of increased attacks against Asians due to the pandemic and as a result of a long history of racism against Asians in America. Last week left me defeated. I am half-Japanese. My father is a Japanese immigrant who has lived in America for 30 years. I have the privilege of being able to pass as a white person, but my father and my two sisters do not. After the attack on Tuesday, and since then, I have sat and imagined one situation after Photo courtesy of (Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire/TNS) another in my mind in which they are targeted Atlanta police officers and detectives arrive at the Aromatherapy and Gold Spa in and attacked while going about their daily lives Atlanta, one of the three locations targeted in the shootings on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. just because they look Asian. I also waited after the attack on a response This statement might as well be from a stranger from the university, a statement of support, a the university as a whole – something from President Hatch and the administration. I finally running across the original statement and wantstatement that acknowledges the way the Asian took a breath when I saw a post of Wake Forest’s ing to show solidarity, not someone who is the community is feeling. On Wednesday evening official Instagram page. When I took a close look head of a university that prides itself on being the University Chaplain and the Dean of Wait at the actual post, I realized it was just a repost a forward-thinking community. This lack of Chapel wrote a statement that was emailed to of the post from the Divinity School’s Instagram action also seemed to emphasize that the Wake everyone in the Wake Forest community. It was page that re-expressed the chaplain’s and dean’s Forest Administration does not care about the a well crafted statement and I appreciated that sorrow and solidarity. The school as a whole still Asian community. someone at Wake Forest cared about how I was The only truly original statement was made feeling and, at least on some level, understood had not made a statement. Here at Wake Forest, Asian students make up by a graduate school dean and the chaplain, that the Asian community needed support. The only 11% of the student population with over and no one else did anything except adopt that rest of my Wednesday was spent refreshing my half of that 11% being international students. statement in replacement of their own, which is email and Instagram waiting for something from Due to the pandemic, most of those interna- unacceptable. Racism against Asians has been tional students could not be on campus this year. ignored and dismissed, and these instances have This made it increasingly more difficult to find a only increased due to COVID-19. The hate community in this predominantly white institu- crime in Atlanta was an opportunity for the tion, where in a normal year it still would not be school to truly support its students after a year easy to find this type of space. The university and of increased stress and fear, yet nobody wanted the administration are aware that circumstances to say anything. It is not enough to agree with this year have made it difficult for students to another statement, and it is angering to know make connections. Futher, it would be impos- that Wake Forest thought that was enough. sible for administrators to ignore that it is more This statement and following non-statements difficult for students of color, especially given came in the middle of my midterms, the most the political and social climate of the past year. stressful period that I have experienced thus far This makes it increasingly more important at Wake Forest. At this point, I found myself for the university to make a statement of their questioning why I was even studying and putting own, and yet, it was not until Thursday that the such extensive effort into my work. I couldn’t Office of Communications sent an email to the stop myself from wondering why I was dediWake Forest community that first re-stated the cating so much time and effort to a place that Dean’s and Chaplain’s statement before referenc- barely even offered a break to the people that it ing a commitment from President Hatch. And promises to care for. I have had moments in the it was a tweet, actually a retweet of, once again, past where I was so exhausted or stressed from the Dean’s and Chaplain’s statement. This short schoolwork that I have questioned why I was still statement describes President Hatch’s “support grinding, but I have never had to question why Photo courtesy of (Curtis Compton/Journal-Constitution/TNS) to those who have been affected by this hate.” I was at Wake Forest. I was questioning – and Mourners drop off flowers and gifts in memory of This statement completely ignored the fact that am still questioning – why I work so hard for an the eight people killed in the Atlanta shootings. Wake Forest has Asian students, staff and faculty institution that clearly does not care enough to that have been affected by the hate crime. support me and my community.
Opinion | Old Gold & Black
Women’s Rights
“
Thursday, March 25, 2021 | Page 9
Policing women protects men, not women The tragic death of Sarah Everard reveals our society’s complicity in the oppression of women Selinna Tran
Life Editor transn19@wfu.edu
She did everything “right.” She did everything she was supposed to do. She was ‘covered up’ — dressed in clothing that covered her skin. She wore colors that stood out so that she could be spotted. She messaged her boyfriend with her whereabouts. But she still died. If Sarah did everything right, why is she not here with us today? As women, we are taught to put trust and faith into those who have donned a uniform and the motto to “serve and protect.” But who exactly are the officers of the law protecting? Who is to be culpable for the 97% of women that are sexually assaulted? As young girls, we are taught and raised to dress or act a certain way in order to negate the possibility of being a victim of sexual assault. Sarah Everard did everything right. Her story is one among millions that only cements the feelings of vulnerability and fear that women faced across our nation and all throughout history. Every day, women are asked to make sacrifices for their own safety and wellbeing. If we fail to make these sacrifices and trade-offs, the blame is then placed onto our shoulders. The choice to take a better-lit route, wear a different article of clothing, or act a certain way ensures that women are held accountable for a man’s ac-
Campus Life
From a young age, women are looked at as objects and always considered in the way we may affect men...” tions. Ostensibly, it is a woman’s responsibility to be the inferior and act accordingly in order to ensure her safety. But when will the blame shift away from women and towards the genuine problem? A rapid and immediate change in our culture’s ideology is necessary to work toward a safer environment for everyone. The onus is currently placed firmly on women to do the “right” thing. As a woman on a college campus, I fit into the statistic of the 18-24-year-old group that is three times more likely to be at risk of sexual assault while in college. I have become desensitized to this information and numb to the feeling that it gives me. Every other headline or story I read adds to this as I learn of survivors and victims of sexual assault, both on and off college campuses. Society has reduced the identity of a woman to an object. We objectify both the way they dresse and her body, stripping away any sense of humanity that a woman holds. From a young age, women are viewed as objects and always considered in the ways she may affect men. So, no matter what we wear, any chance of showing skin turns us into an object and we are consequently treated as such. As a result, it is ingrained in our society to believe that it is a woman’s responsibility to make sure that she has made necessary changes or fixes to prevent a man’s actions. The reaction of the UK police force in response to the increased prevalence of sexual
“
violence and attacks toward women was to implement a curfew and tell women to stay home. The actions of the police force are not to protect women. Instead, they restrict the rights of women based on the actions of men. In American society, women are perceived as respectful and intelligent if they are covered up. Society only sees women as actual human beings if we are being restricted to appease a man’s desires. The sexualization of women seems to be our only defining feature — rendering it impossible for women to be thought of as anything else. Sigmund Freund explains the sexualization of women best with his psychoanalytic theory known as the Madonna-Whore complex. The theory describes a dichotomy, stating that women are either pure and non-sexual or sexual and forthcoming. There is no in-between. In this world, men see the women that they date as sexual, but strive to marry a “pure” woman. This is an incredibly damaging view that makes women undesirable if they are sexual — or rather, makes it a sin to be “sexual.” Beyond the raw implications of the theory, it is a hard pill to swallow to acknowledge that the MadonnaWhore complex inhabits the minds of more men than we’d like to admit. What is the next step? That’s a question that I ask myself every time I read a headline. How many more headlines will it take before people recognize the true problem? Even after following all of the proposed rules that society asks of women in order to remain “safe” and “in-line,” there are still millions of women who become just another number in a statistic. Instead of castigating men’s violence, why does society restricts women’s freedoms?
Should Last Resort reopen amid decreasing COVID cases? Last Resort considers reopening as the university returns toYellow status and COVID-19 restrictions are loosened Delaney McSweeney Contributing Columnist mcswdj19@wfu.edu
Last Resort, a local bar, has begun attempting to reopen their doors — hot on the heels of Governor Roy Cooper lifting statewide COVID-19 restrictions and Wake Forest University returning to yellow status. In a statement posted to their Instagram page, Last Resort wrote, “Governor is easing restrictions on bars! There’s a possibility that we will be open with a 30% occupancy and can serve until 11:00 P.M. What do you think of a thirsty Thursday college night kicking off at 8:00 P.M.?” Although Last Resort (LR) has not opened up their doors quite yet, management has been pressing to reopen given the recent reductions in statewide restrictions. This debate regarding whether or not LR should open has been polarizing within the Wake Forest student body. Comments on Last Resort’s original Instagram post were mostly positive, with many people stating that they were excited to be
This debate regarding whether or not LR should open has been polarizing within the Wake Forest student body..” back at the club and to relive some of their favorite experiences. However, when I asked students how they felt about this potential reopening right after transitioning to yellow status, opposing viewpoints were expressed. One sophomore responded to the question, stating, “I don’t know how anyone could possibly deny the necessity of opening Last Resort again.” He believes that reopening the bar is what students at Wake Forest need to begin feeling normal again, and that this decision would be beneficial to the mental health of students on campus. On the other hand, another sophomore student said, “It just won’t be the same,” arguing that COVID-19 restrictions are too difficult to work around this soon after fighting so hard to find our way back to a Yellow status. Other students offered some ideas as to how Last Resort could safely open during the pandemic without jeopardizing Wake Forest’s Yellow status for the remainder of this semester. A junior student jokingly proposed for customers to “show your vaccine card at the door.” Although this idea was made in a joking manner, it may be an effective
way to keep students safe while also allowing them to enjoy the feeling of a social experience yet again. Personally, I believe that whether or not Last Resort is open, the student body is going to continue to congregate in ways that are not “COVID-19 safe.” As evidenced that by the spike in cases at the beginning of the semester, some Wake Forest students have not made it a priority to take measures to keep the COVID-19 outbreaks at bay. These students would rather go out and party with large groups rather than stay in a safer settings to mitigate risk. Logistically speaking, however, Last Resort may have to wait a bit longer to return to its regular operating status. Since the bar is a university-owned property, it may be impossible to reopen the doors at this time. Wake Forest’s current policies simply wouldn’t allow for such a place of high gathering. Wake Forest students and bar owners alike want nothing more than for the bar to reopen, but with the current Yellow operating status, it is just out of reach for this semester. In order to preserve the Yellow status that we worked so hard to earn, it would simply not be a smart decision for the university to allow Last Resort to reopen its doors. As COVID-19 cases continue to decline, students and bar owners should stay hopeful that one day normal operating status can be returned to after more than a year of lost revenue.
Thursday, March 25, 2021 | Page 10
Opinion | Old Gold & Black
“ is the status quo for women Sexual harrasment Absence of Accountability
Sexual harassment runs rampant for majority of women ages 18 through 24 Caroline Parrish
Contributing Columnist parrce20@wfu.edu
I was scrolling through TikTok one morning, procrastinating my biology homework, when I ran across the hashtag, “97 percent.” I kept scrolling, but there it was again. Over and over, “97%” appeared in my feed. Curious, I clicked on the hashtag, trying to find out what it meant. I regretted it immediately. With 30.5 million combined views on TikTok, videos with the hashtag “97%” refer to a study that was conducted by U.N. Women UK in January of this year. In a poll of more than 1,000 women living in the UK, it found that 97% of women aged 18 to 24 had, at some point in their lives, been sexually harassed in public. This includes catcalling, unwanted physical contact and worse. Sick to my stomach, I scrolled through testimonials of women sharing their stories of harassment and assault. I was outraged, but not entirely surprised. I’m the oldest of two daughters, and I was raised to act with an abundance of caution. I carry my keys between my fingers, I never walk
Cap’s Cabana
Speaking solely from what I’ve personally witnessed, I believe there’s a culture on this campus that promotes a lack of accountability.”
alone at night if I can help it and I check the backseat of my car every time I sit down in the driver’s seat. I was taught ways to physically protect myself should I ever have to. What I was not warned about, however, was how cruel someone can be without ever coming near you. Though the aforementioned study was conducted in the UK, I find it difficult to believe the results wouldn’t be similar in the US, or even here at Wake Forest. Students enrolled at Wake Forest are typically aged 18 to 24, and I can’t help but wonder how many women on this campus have similar stories. If I were to base my guess for that number solely on my personal experience, I’d say it’s comparable to 97%. The culture of boys lashing out at girls to make themselves feel better is insidious, and it has pervaded Wake Forest. It doesn’t just stop at outright harassment. Yes, I was catcalled walking down Jasper Memory one afternoon last semester, and boys have grabbed me by the waist to move me out of their way. But it’s not only the physical harassment that concerns me. Speaking solely from what I’ve personally witnessed, I believe that there’s a culture on this campus that promotes a lack of accountability. Boys have said — and will continue to say — lies that violate personal privacy and dignity. They rake the names of young women they
“
barely know through the mud, and they never suffer any consequences. From what I’ve experienced, these accusations are more often than not unfounded, but that’s of little importance. To talk about someone’s personal life without them present and without their consent, whether the words are true or not, is an abhorrent violation of privacy. Hearing secondhand that boys you barely know are spreading rumors about intimate details of your life will turn your blood cold. And then, once you’ve had time to process such knowledge, will make it boil. In the seven months I’ve attended this school, I’ve met some boys who find it funny to defame girls they don’t know, and I’ve met only a handful of men willing to stand up against them. But the problem not only lies within the perpetuation of disgusting rumors. I don’t often hear boys stand up for these girls. It is everyone’s responsibility — mine, yours, our friends’ — to stop the spread of hurtful lies or half-truths. This school is small enough for word to spread like wildfire, and it can be just as destructive. So I implore you, do not let your friends, hallmates, or classmates make snide jokes or malicious comments. Stand up for your peers, even if you do not know them intimately. Collegeaged boys are too old to be acting like middle schoolers, talking about girls they don’t like in the bathroom during class. I urge you to do what I — and hopefully you — believe is right, and do not let other students be pushed around by bullies who should have grown out of these habits already.
The winds of change are blowing for sneeze salutations Opportunity to spice up cough & yawn courtesies reveals itself in COVID-19 pandemic Cap McLiney
Assistant Opinion Editor miclicp19@wfu.edu
You are seated at the lunch table with a full plate of delicious food from the cafeteria while crowds of bustling students bump into each other as they seek to find enticing entrees similar to those you have selected. As you bring a steaming hot cheeseburger up to your mouth, you take a pause halfway up. Your best friend is about to do something remarkable which is going to require a personal response from you. While you watch his face curl up, seemingly in anticipation of the massive amount of recoil which is bound to accompany what may very well be the sneeze of all sneezes, you prepare a response with an almost equal degree of vigor. Your reply will most likely be the classic “God bless you,”maybe the oh-so sophisticated “gesundheit” – or you could even really mix it up with a “salud!” In all honesty, you have a nearly endless supply of options that can relieve your friend’s
It is fascinating to see that the vast amount of available translations within different languages all revolve around either health or God.” intense burden of a sneeze. I am fairly certain that there is some sort of response in nearly every language that can tend to such a moment. It is fascinating to see that the vast amount of available translations within different languages all revolve around either health or God. After doing a tad more research, it seems that the concept of giving a prepared response to someone who has sneezed goes all the way back to the year 500 BC and originated on the Indian subcontinent. Consider the grand anthropological tradition behind the act of blessing someone after their sneeze. If you replay the previously portrayed scene in which your friend is about to sneeze, you suddenly have access to the endless reserve of ancestral “bless-you’s” that have preceded this shining moment. But, let’s say that this time, your friend does not sneeze, but instead coughs or yawns. In witnessing either of the two acts, the moments which follow are bound to be awkward, silent and, most notably, devoid of any pre-generated cultural response to either of those human phenomena. This is the gaping vacancy that I would like to address and then appeal to the reader for a solution.
How is it that in the 2,500 or so years in which humanity has been yawning, coughing and sneezing, we have created such a gross disparity between the three? Is a sneeze really all that more important than a cough or a yawn? I could perhaps see why a yawn could, potentially, be placed at the bottom of the list given that it is an indication that one is tired rather than being sick. However, especially after what we’ve experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, a cough absolutely warrants some sort of space within the world of courteous responses. Yet, even though sneezing, coughing and yawning are equally involuntary human expulsions, the sneeze has somehow bullied the other two out of their deserved place within the shared linguistic history of our species. Although this fact is incredibly distressing, my initial feelings of anguish were eased once I realized the monumental opportunity that is being presented to us. Folks, we have all been given the chance to create two new phrases or expressions that can fill this terrible hole in our linguistic foundation. The purpose of this article is not so much to complain about the reality in which we currently inhabit — which has completely forgotten about coughs and yawns. I am drawing attention to this issue because I want to encourage the reader to think of some potential phrases or words that we can either invent or recontextualize in order to relieve the silence after yawning or coughing.
SPORTS
T H U R S D AY, M A R C H 2 5 , 2 0 2 1
PAG E 11
Online at: www.wfuogb.com Twitter: @sports_ogb Editors: Essex Thayer, thayse20@wfu.edu Christina DeNovio, denoca20@wfu.edu
OLD GOLD & BLACK
Demon Deacons lose in first round Despite keeping it close early, Natasha Mack proved to be too much for Wake Forest to handle
with scores by senior Ivana Raca and freshman Jewel Spear. The Cowgirls responded with an offensive rebound and putback from Mack, who was responsible for eight of the team’s first 10 points. Following a one for two trip at the foul line for Morra, Lexy Keys knocked down the first three-pointer of the game for Oklahoma State to tie the game at 13. To end the quarter, the teams traded baskets, finishing tied at 15. Following the break, the Wake Forest defense adjusted in an attempt to neutralize Mack in the post. On the first Oklahoma State possession, two Demon Deacons collapsed on the forward, leaving freshman guard Neferatali Notoa wide open for three. After a steal on defense, Oklahoma State guard Micah Dennis hit a spinner for two. While the nerves did not show in the first quarter for Wake Forest, they became evident during the second. Following another fruitless possession for the Demon Deacons, Notoa laid in an easy layup extending the lead to seven for the Cowgirls. Mack scored next for Oklahoma State, completing a 9-0 run in the first three minutes of the quarter. The streak finally came to a halt off of a three-pointer from Spear, but the momentum was still squarely with the Cowgirls. Following the Spear triple, Oklahoma State began another run. After the Cowgirls scored four more consecutive points, Hoover finally called a timeout. Out of the timeout, guard Ja’mee Asberry hit a threepointer, capping a 16-2 run to begin
the quarter for the Cowgirls. The run proved to be costly for Wake Forest, and they never fully recovered. “That run deflated us, but we were able to turn around and get right BY ESSEX THAYER back,” Hoover said in the postgame Sports Editor press conference. “I’ll give credit to thayse20@wfu.edu [our team] because I don’t think anybody ever quit. You don’t ever count In their first NCAA Tournament the Deacons out.” appearance since 1988, Wake Forest With the Cowgirls leading by 14, failed to move past the first round, fallWake Forest appeared to have some ing to Oklahoma State on March 21, fight left in them, scoring five straight 84-61. For the entirety of the game, points off of a Morra two and a threeWake Forest could not nullify the pointer from senior Gina Conti. But, threat of Oklahoma's Natasha Mack. as was the case for much of the game, Mack, a senior forward, dropped 27 Mack kept Oklahoma State in the points on the Demon Deacons and driver's seat. Much to the chagrin of nabbed 15 rebounds. After the game, Hoover, Mack was sent to the line for Head Coach Jen Hoover spoke highly an and-one opportunity after a foul of the OSU senior. in the post. After the conversion from “She was as advertised. She [influthe line, Mack blocked a Wake Forest enced] the game in so many ways,” shot and took the ball all the way to the Hoover said. “At times we did a really basket herself for another score. From there, the Demon Deacons looked to good job on her. At other times … she respond, scoring four straight points got what she wanted.” from Conti and sophomore AlexanDespite Hoover's concern that Wake dria Scruggs. To end the half, Asberry Forest would start the game slow due knocked in a three-pointer that deto nerves, the Demon Deacons came flated Wake Forest’s efforts, making out firing on all cylinders. Early on, the halftime score 42-29. Much of the it became clear that the Mack-Morra deficit could be attributed to Mack, battle in the post would become the who scored 15 points in the half and focal point of the game. Morra scored was the main reason why the Demon the first six points for Wake Forest, Deacons had been outrebounded by and Mack scored the first four for seven. Oklahoma State. Morra would go on In the third period, the deficit was to score a team-high 18 points for the the same at the start for Wake ForDemon Deacons. est as it was at the finish. The period With the score tied at eight, Wake became a shooting gallery, with both Forest finally broke a run of back-andteams hitting shots left and right. Neiforth scoring, opening a short 4-0 run ther team went on a run for the entire quarter, scoring in back-and-forth fashion for all 10 minutes. The highlight of the period came about halfway through, when the two teams combined for four straight three-pointers in the span of less than a minute. In the fourth quarter, despite their best efforts, the wheels finally seemed to fall off the wagon for the Demon Deacons. After trading buckets at the start of the quarter, Oklahoma State rattled off seven straight points, widening their lead to 18 with five and a half minutes remaining in regulation. In an attempt to inspire one final stand, Hoover called a timeout. At the end of the day, no matter how much effort the Deacons put into the game, the deficit was too large and Mack was too good. With 1:16 left in the game, Hoover gave her seniors, Raca and Conti, one final curtain call, bringing them off the court to a standing ovation. The three embraced in a hug, one that Hoover discussed in the postgame press conference with Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics tears in her eyes. “[The hug] meant an awful lot to Head Coach Jen Hoover embracing seniors Ivana Raca and Gina Conti as they leave the court for what could be the last time. us as a whole. As a coach, that’s the
hardest thing to do, to say those goodbyes,” she said. “I honestly don’t want to think about [the seniors] leaving. I’ve got a daughter who’s probably crying in the stands because Gina was like a sister to her.” With 43 seconds remaining, Oklahoma State emptied their bench, and Wake Forest brought on players who hadn’t seen much time this season, including sophomore Mackenzie Maier and freshman Aliah McWhorter. Hoover also brought in early enrollees Elise Williams and Malaya Cowles. After the game, Hoover was quick to recognize the successful season her team had, all during the era of COVID-19. “[This season has] been unlike anything any of us have ever experienced. I couldn’t have been more proud [of the team] … and it doesn’t surprise me,” she said. “I’m just disappointed that I don’t get to do film with them tonight … practice tomorrow [or] be on the sideline coaching them on Tuesday. Moving on … I’m just not ready to think about [that]. Looking ahead for the Demon Deacons, the first order of business depends upon decisions to be made by seniors Gina Conti and Ivana Raca. With COVID-19 providing players with an extra year of eligibility, both could return to Wake Forest for another year. Raca is projected as a thirdround pick in this year’s WNBA draft, should she declare. Conti could have pro basketball in her future as well. “I’m still unsure whether I’m coming back or not,” Conti said after the game. “I’m going to take this time over the next few weeks to reflect and see what my future looks like.” If both Raca and Conti were to leave, Wake Forest would be losing their two best players, and some of the best to ever don the black and gold. This season, the Demon Deacons averaged 66.4 points per game. On average, 30.5 of those points came from the two seniors. If Conti and Raca do call it a career, Wake Forest will return three starters in Jewel Spear, Christina Morra and Alexandria Scruggs. Expect Olivia Summiel to replace Raca at forward, while a battle would ensue for the open guard position. Kaia Harrison, Aniah Hoard and Elise Williams are all names to watch if Conti does not return. According to Hoover, the expectations for next year are high. “We expect to be back in the NCAA Tournament,” she said. “This is the new standard. Now every player that comes into this program is not going to have to just believe [they can make the tournament], they’re expected to accomplish it every year.”
Page 12| Thursday, March 25, 2021
Old Gold & Black | Sports
Men’s soccer comes from behind again to win The Demon Deacons pick up three points on the road against Notre Dame BY CHRISTINA DENOVIO Sports Editor denoca20@wfu.edu
Wake Forest men’s soccer has proven yet again that they can come from behind late in the game and secure a victory. Coming off a 0-0 draw against NC State, Wake Forest (No. 5) was looking to regain the momentum they had lost since their thrilling 3-2 win against Boston College on March 6. This past Saturday, the team did just that with another exciting 3-2 win against Notre Dame. Associate Head Coach Steve Armas is proud of the resiliency the team has shown so far this season. “This young group continues to amaze the staff. We hope that the impact of these results will continue to unfold,” Coach Armas said, “The hope is that when we face another adverse moment or situation in the future, it will not be new. We will try to apply what we have learned and leave everything we have on the field.” Thanks to goals by sophomore Omar Hernandez, freshman Ryan Fessler and junior Kyle Holcomb, Wake Forest was able to overcome a Fighting Irish defense that had not conceded a goal in the previous 287 minutes of play. Notre Dame kicked off the scoring with a goal in the eighth minute by Dawson McCartney. Less than ten minutes later, however, Hernandez responded for Demon Deacons with his only shot of the game, which resulted in a goal. “Scoring the goal after going down early felt great,” Hernandez said. “It was a wake-up call for us so we can start doing what we are good at.”
It wasn’t until the 70th minute of the game that another goal was scored, this time by the Fighting Irish. The Deacs were quick to respond once again as Fessler scored less than six minutes later. Fessler’s goal from outside the 18-yard box was assisted by junior Holland Rula. The goal, which came from Fessler’s only shot of the game, was also his first as a Demon Deacon. Fessler was a mid-year enrollee. When asked how it felt to get his first goal on Saturday, Fessler said, “It was a great feeling. The timing of the goal definitely made it more special since that was the second time in the game where we came from behind.” He continued, “[I] hope it’s the first of many, and I can keep contributing and helping the team.” The game was tied up at 2-2 as the clock wound down. Unwilling to settle for another draw, the Deacs struck again. Holcomb, who had three shots on the night, received a cross from freshman Jahlane Forbes in the 89th minute. Next thing, the ball was in the back of the net, causing celebration for Wake Forest players, coaches and fans. When asked how the win affects the team moving forward, the first goalscorer, Hernandez, said, “I think any win can boost our confidence and it’s great to see that with such a young team. We have the mentality to keep fighting all the way until the end.” Making four saves, Demon Deacon goalkeeper and redshirt freshman Cole McNally came in clutch throughout the night. The first was in just the sixth minute of the game, and he had another big save in the 50th that kept McCartney from getting on the scoreboard for the second time. Discussing the team’s come-from-behind wins, “I think it makes us all believe
in each other as a group, especially to come back from behind in two games this season. Our mentality going into every game is that we’re going to win, no matter who we’re playing or how the game’s going.” Wake Forest got the well-deserved three points on the road they were looking for. Last week, the team was only able to put up one point in the 110-minute draw against NC State. When asked how it feels to defeat a strong opponent like the Fighting Irish on the road, Coach Armas said, “To be honest, any points in the ACC are hard to come by. Now, couple that with being away from home and winning against a good cross-divisional conference opponent, it elevates the value of the result.” This game marked Wake Forest’s first win against Notre Dame in Southbend,
Imd. in program history. They also become one of three teams that have reached the 10-win mark already this season. On the topic of what the coaching staff would like to see improved upon, Coach Armas explained, “The biggest thing right now is we need to get players back healthy so we can add some much-needed depth to the group.” “Additionally, we need to continue to take care of the ball with every possession and limit turnovers in key areas of the field,” Armas continued. Next up on the schedule is a home game against Louisville on March 27. The last time the team played Louisville, it was the Deacs’ first game of the season and Wake Forest won, 3-1.
Courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest players celebrating Kyle Holcomb’s last-minute goal and the team’s win against Notre Dame on March 20 in Southbend, IN.
Seven Demon Deacons enter transfer portal WFU Men’s basketball will look different next year due to an influx of new talent BY CHRISTIAN ODJAKJIAN Staff Writer odjact18@wfu.edu
College basketball fans are rejoicing over the return of March Madness, which has been absurdly entertaining so far. Though the Wake Forest’s men’s team didn’t make the tournament, it’s still been a very eventful week because of player movement within the program. This year, the NCAA instituted a rule that granted waivers of immediate eligibility for all players, which has led to an influx of players entering the transfer portal. Seven players from this year’s roster have already entered, while Head Coach Steve Forbes has already secured one incoming recruit — forward Jake Laravia from Indiana State. Upon their entrance, freshman guard Quadry Adams, sophomore guard Jahcobi Neath, sophomore forward Ismael Massoud, junior forward Isaiah Wilkins, freshman center Emannuel
Okpomo, graduate student forward Jalen Johnson and junior forward Blake Buchanan have played their last minutes donning the gold and black. Adams didn’t get on the court much this season — only seeing action in nine games — but he contributed some great minutes down the stretch. The defensiveminded guard probably didn’t envision much of a path to extreme playing time behind Carter Whitt and Davien Williamson, so he will be taking his talents elsewhere. Neath was very impressive at the end of last season, but fell down the pecking order during his sophomore year. His minutes decreased throughout the season, and he didn’t even play in the home finale against Georgia Tech, or the contest against Notre Dame in the ACC Tournament. The athletic guard from Canada did not live up to expectations. Neath and Adams were both recruited by Danny Manning, along with the sharpshooting Ismael Massoud. The 6’ 8” deadeye provided one of the most memorable moments of the season, making eight of ten three-point attempts and exploding for 31 points in
the home win over Pittsburgh. However, his shooting really cooled off at the end of the season, and he failed to make improvements in other areas of his game. Wilkins, a Winston-Salem native, transferred from Virginia Tech in the summer. Wilkins brought to the table lots of energy and hustle, but fell out of the rotation later in the season, and will look to find a place where he can play a more active role. Okpomo, a raw big man who transferred from Navy, was viewed as a project by Forbes and his staff. However, once Tariq Ingraham was declared out for the season, Okpomo was thrust into an important role as Ody Oguama’s backup. Okpomo fell out of favor late in the season and stopped seeing minutes when Forbes opted to play a small ball lineup instead of using the young big. Buchanan, a prefered walk-on, maintained a reserve role during his three years at Wake Forest. A well-liked and respected member of the team, Buchanan is looking to transfer to a mid-major school where he can find meaningful playing time. To replace all of these roster spots, Forbes and his staff will have their re-
cruiting work cut out for them in recruiting. The staff is definitely off to a good start with the addition of Laravia. The 6’ 9” sophomore from Indianapolis is leaving his home state to come play in the ACC. Laravia averaged 12.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in a solid mid-major conference: the Missouri Valley. He is a solid defender who can finish around the rim and stretch the floor with his shooting.
Courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics
Sophomore forward Ismael Massoud has played his final game as a Deac.
Sports | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, March 25, 2021 | Page 13
Baseball picks up first ranked win BY JAKE STUART Assistant Sports Editor stuaja20@wfu.edu
Demon Deacons defeat Charlotte, drop two of three versus No. 11 Georgia Tech in weekend series 3/16: Wake Forest 4, Charlotte 1 In the first of a four-game homestand for Wake Forest, the Demon Deacons prevailed over the Charlotte 49ers in a mid-week, out-of-conference matchup. The win was vital for a Wake Forest team that had lost four straight and six of its last seven, prior to Tuesday. Wake Forest pitched lights out against Charlotte despite a lack of pitching depth due to COVID-19 and injuries. Two Demon Deacon starting pitchers — Shane Smith and Antonio Menendez — suffered long-term injuries to begin the season, which became a factor in the series against Miami that was cut short. As a result, traditional bullpen reliever and sophomore Reed Mascolo made his first collegiate start for the Demon Deacons against Charlotte. Mascolo pitched 2.1 scoreless innings, striking out two and only allowing two hits. The combination of sophomore Brennan Oxford, junior Cole McNamee, and freshmen Hunter Furtado, Camden Minacci and Eric Adler closed out the game, allowing only one run on two hits and seven strikeouts over the remaining 6.2 innings. Senior Bobby Seymour opened the scoring for the Demon Deacons in the bottom of the first inning with a double to right-center field. This was the first baseman’s third consecutive game with a double, and he is set to become the 28th player in Wake Forest history to join the 200-hit club. Freshman Pierce Bennett hit a single in the second inning to extend the Demon Deacon lead to 2-0. In the fifth inning, Charlotte loaded the bases with no outs, but McNamee was able to lead the Deacs out of the inning surrendering just one run. Wake Forest responded in the sixth inning with a solo home run over the left-field wall off the bat of senior Shane Muntz. It was the catcher’s second home run of the season and increased the Demon Deacon lead to 3-1. An insurance run was added in the eighth inning off a single from junior Lucas Costello, his second hit of the game. The game ended at 4-1, providing Wake Forest a huge win.
Wake Forest won the game with no shortage of pitching, and the bats were in full force as well. The Demon Deacons scored first following a Georgia Tech error by Drew Compton off a hard-hit ball by Seymour. A pair of Wake Forest runs were added in the fourth inning off a single from sophomore Adam Cecere and a sacrifice fly from sophomore Parker Pilat. For Cecere, it was his first hit of the season. For Pilat, it was his first run batted in. The Yellow Jackets battled back in the seventh inning with Furtado on the mound for the Demon Deacons. Following a pair of singles and a wild pitch, Georgia Tech cut into the Wake Forest lead and made the score 3-2. However, the Demon Deacons then extended the lead to 6-2 over the next few innings, a run in the bottom of the seventh inning and two more in the eighth inning via a pair of doubles from freshman Brock Wilken. Through his first 10 career games, Wilken has hit four home runs, the most for a Wake Forest freshman since 2009. Wilken is also on pace to finish the 2021 season with the freshman single-season home run record. In the bottom of the ninth, Adler retired the side, and the Demon Deacons picked up their first ranked win of the season.
On the other side of the mound, Georgia Tech ace Andy Archer picked up his third win of the season. Archer pitched six scoreless innings, recorded eight strikeouts and allowed just two hits. Through four seasons, the senior has only lost one game, throwing for 92 strikeouts and walking just 34 batters. Following the early Gonzalez home run, Georgia Tech tacked on an unearned run in the eighth inning to extend the lead to 3-0. Wake Forest rallied in the bottom of the ninth inning, but it wasn’t enough. Seymour and Muntz were both walked before senior Chris Lanzilli singled to center field to bring the Demon Deacons within two runs with no men out. With two runners on base and the potential to take the lead, McNamee and Costello could not capitalize. For Wake Forest, Fleming and Cusick led a pitching staff that allowed just five combined runs to the Yellow Jackets, who entered the series averaging 8.7 runs per game. Wake Forest held the bats of Georgia Tech to .118 in the two games, despite their .328 average coming into the series.
3/20: Wake Forest 1, Georgia Tech 3
Georgia Tech outplayed Wake Forest in the rubber match of the three-game homestand. The bats finally clicked for Georgia Tech, the team produced eight runs on 16 hits. The Yellow Jackets started hot with four runs in the first three innings before Wake Forest answered. In the fourth inning, Lanzilli hit a solo home run to get the Demon Deacons on the board. The homer was his third of the season, and No.34 of his career. Furthermore, Seymour reached base safely for his 18th straight game with a sixth inning walk. The Yellow Jackets would add four more runs across the fifth, seventh and ninth innings. Brad Grenkoski tallied three hits, including a two-run home run to left field. Second baseman Austin Wiljite added four hits of his own. After the 2-2 week, the Demon Deacons will travel to face Elon on Tuesday before heading to Florida State for a weekend battle against another formidable ACC opponent.
Despite spectacular pitching and a late rally, Wake Forest fell short against Georgia Tech in game two of the series. This said, Demon Deacon senior William Fleming struck out six and allowed just two runs and two hits through 7.2 innings. The Yellow Jackets only had five base runners the entire game and scored their three runs on just two pitches. Only one of those pitches came from Fleming, when in the second inning, Georgia Tech left fielder Tres Gonzalez launched a home run to right field with a runner on second, making the score 2-0. “Obviously [I’m] really pleased with William Fleming’s outing,” Walter said. “He made the one bad pitch, hung a slider to Gonzalez with two strikes, and that was kind of the difference in the game. But just really pleased with the way he threw the ball.”
3/21: Wake Forest 1, Georgia Tech 8
3/19: Wake Forest 6, Georgia Tech 2 In the first game of the weekend series against ACC opponent No. 11 Georgia Tech, Wake Forest prevailed 6-2. Demon Deacon junior and highly-touted MLB prospect Ryan Cusick earned his first win of the season, firing six scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts while allowing just three hits. The top of the order for Georgia Tech went a combined 2-15, despite leading the entire ACC in batting average among other categories. Wake Forest coach Tom Walter was thrilled after Cusick’s dominant performance. “You can’t pitch a whole lot better than that. I’m super impressed,” he said. “Missing two starts and coming out of it and to pitch like that in a big Friday game where we needed to win was super impressive. He was just a warrior all night.” A 40th round selection by the Cincinnati Reds in 2018, Cusick was ranked the No. 115 best high school prospect by Perfect Game, and the secondranked right-handed pitcher out of Massachusetts in high school. At the collegiate level, the Sudbury, Mass. pitcher was named a preseason Second Team All-American, impressing scouts with a 99 mph fastball.
Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics
Senior pitcher Ryan Cusick picked up his first win of the season on Friday against No. 11 Georgia Tech. Cusick pitched six scoreless innings, only allowing three hits in the 6-2 victory.
Sports | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, March 25, 2021 | Page 14
Clawson, Barri ready for spring football The Demon Deacons are making their way back onto the field and into the weight room BY WILL ZIMMERMAN Online Managing Editor zimmwj19@wfu.edu Though the team won’t be taking the field for games that count for almost half a year, the Demon Deacons are already preparing for the 2021 football season. With spring practices beginning at the end of last week, players and coaches alike are returning with a sense of renewed optimism and an eye trained towards how the trials that accompanied the team’s final few games of last season — including the 4228 loss to Wisconsin in the Duke Mayo Bowl — can be built upon as the team looks to come back stronger and fiercer in 2021. “We have a lot of work to do,” Head Coach Dave Clawson said at a press conference following practice number one last Friday. “I did not feel a year ago we were as physical as we have typically been during our ‘good seasons.’ I think that showed up on film and I think that showed up late in the season … Now we go to the next phase of our preparation: spring football.” Bolstering the physicality by building strength amongst the players falls on the shoulders of Chad Barri, who was recently promoted to the position of director of sports performance following the departure of Brandon Hourigan. Barri — who served as an assistant strength and conditioning coach for the past seven years —
was the logical replacement; he has worked alongside Clawson dating back to their days with the Bowling Green State University football team. “Every move with [Barri] has been a nobrainer,” Clawson said. “There was angst when Hourigan left, but it disappeared as soon as we hired Barri. He’s been ready for a couple years … I’ve seen his development [and] I know he’s ready to be a head strength coach.” Given that players are training with Barri in the weight room for 90 minutes, four times a week, it’s vital that a level of trust exists between the players and coach. Any lack in confidence regarding Barri’s instruction and regimen would equate to valuable time lost. Such has been of no concern to Clawson, who called the changeover from Hourigan to Barri “seamless.” Barri concurs, crediting the ease of the transition to his long-standing relationship with Hourigan, whom he calls a mentor. “Working under Coach Hourigan for seven years put me in a position to learn and progress,” Barri said. “[Now I’m] in a position to take over the reins and hit the ground running … This is what I’ve been working for, so I couldn’t be more thrilled.” One of the most challenging aspects of Barri’s job will be keeping the Demon Deacons healthy throughout the entirety of the season. Injuries to key players, which plagued the team down the stretch last year, have played a significant role in curtailing Wake Forest’s ability to achieve sustained success over the course of the last three seasons.
“It’s a critical issue in our program,” Clawson said. “We have to figure out a way to stay healthy and maintain our depth if we’re ever going to take the next step as a program … It’s been a source of frustration for our players, our staff and our fanbase, and something we have to invest resources in [because] it has been the difference between us having eight-win seasons and 10-win seasons.” Barri called preventing injuries a “collaborative effort.” “We’re trying to put them in a [good] position from an injury reduction and prevention standpoint,” he said. “That [means] working hand-in-hand with sports medicine and nutrition. [With] everything we do, [the end goal] is to put the players in a better position on the field.” Also weighing heavily on Clawson’s mind is the tall task of replacing several mainstays from last year’s roster. The team will bring back nine seniors in the fall, but gaps remain, noticeably at the running back, wide receiver and defensive line positions. Certainly, no void looms as large as the one left by Carlos ‘Boogie’ Basham, a likely first-round pick in the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft. The 6’ 5” edge rusher recorded five sacks in his first five games last season and finished with 28 total tackles in seven games played. Across four seasons with the Demon Deacons, he totaled 19.5 sacks, 35.5 tackles for a loss and 7 forced fumbles. Replacing Boogie’s ability to get behind the line and wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks will certainly be a chal-
lenge, but his departure opens the door for younger players to take up larger roles, both on the gridiron and in the locker room. “We’ve got a lot of good depth,” Clawson said. “We’ll be able to give a lot of guys reps and that will encourage competition. Today is the day that competition starts.” For quarterback Sam Hartman, the day couldn’t have come soon enough. “Personally, I’m just excited to get back on the field, excited to be around the guys,” he said. “There’s a lot of hope for this year to be something really special. It all starts here.”
Photo Courtesy of Wake Forest Athletics
Sam Hartman returns to the practice field for spring football.
March Madness upsets destroy perfect bracket hopes Underdogs like Oral Roberts and Loyola Chicago surprise fans, advance to Sweet 16 BY CONOR ROBBINS Staff Writer robbcm19@wfu.edu
As I sit down to write, my eyes furiously gravitate between screens. On the television in front of me, the final buzzer is sounding on Iowa’s season. The No. 7 seed Oregon Ducks have just sent the No. 2 seeded Hawkeyes packing in blowout fashion. This just happens to be one of the many bracket-breaking upsets that maddened millions this past week. Following their shocking departure from Indianapolis, The Hawkeyes join an ever-expanding graveyard of championship hopefuls who have seen their dreams dashed by Cinderellas within the first two rounds of tournament festivities. While even the most knowledgeable hoops fans would be hard-pressed to locate universities such as Oral Roberts or Abilene Christian on a U.S. map, their stunning upsets over tournament darlings Ohio State and Texas, respectively, have earned the attention and admiration of the entire college basketball landscape.
The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles (from Tulsa, Okla.) became the ninth No. 15 seed in history to defeat a No. 2 seed following their 75-72 victory over Ohio State in the first round. The Eagle’s offensive attack was headlined by sophomore Max Abnas, who led the nation in scoring over the regular season with 24.5 points per game. True to form, the electric guard poured in 29 points, to go along with an additional 30 from forward Kevin Obanor. The pair played all 45 minutes of game time and have one of the greatest upsets in tournament history to show for it. ORU rode Saturday night’s momentum to an 81-78 Round of 32 victory against Florida two days later. The Eagles have become just the second No. 15 seed to ever make the Sweet 16. With a looming date against the No. 3 seeded Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday night, the underdogs have a chance to stand alone in the annals of tournament history with a victory. Meanwhile, the Abilene Christian Wildcats — from Texas — notched their first tournament victory in program history in grueling fashion against the No. 3 seeded Texas Longhorns. In a low-scoring affair that finished 53-52, the Wildcats relied on swarming team defense and a controlled tempo on offense to stymie their dangerous oppo-
nents from the Big 12. In the Round of 32, the Wildcats were defeated by No. 11 seeded UCLA, another overachiever from Selection Sunday. The Bruins, along with the rest of the Pac-12, represent the most significant headline of the tournament — the standout play of the underappreciated conference from the West Coast. With a combined record of 7-0 so far, the Pac-12 has eliminated the likes of Tennessee, Georgetown, Oklahoma State and Iowa. While college basketball pundits have refused to stay up past midnight to watch Pac-12 basketball this season, the truth is finally revealing itself on the sport’s greatest stage, and this California kid couldn’t be happier about it. Last week, I issued an informal warning to the No. 1 seed Fighting Illini of Illinois: beware of Loyola Chicago. Clearly, coach Brad Underwood and company didn’t read the article, as they became the first No. 1 seed to pack their belongings following a 7158 defeat to coach Porter Moser and his Ramblers. While I foresaw that Loyola would rise to the occasion against their instate rivals, I never could have expected them to dominate from tip to finish like they did Sunday evening. Yet, here we are. Perhaps the Illini lacked the necessary tournament DNA to make a
big run, maybe they forgot what losing felt like before it was too late or maybe the once-indestructible Big Ten has a few more cracks in it than we once suspected. This Saturday holds potential for more exciting matchups. Loyola Chicago and Oregon State, both underdog teams, look to continue shocking crowds by making it to the Elite Eight. Syracuse looks to notch their third upset of the tournament against No. 2 seeded Houston. The ultimate dark horse this year, Oral Roberts, looks to beat a dominant Arkansas team. Regardless of the game’s outcome, it’s impressive that the Golden Eagles have made it this far. One favorite to win it all, Baylor, squares off against Villanova on Saturday. Moving to the west, Gonzaga and Creighton will be a telling game — can the OGB’s predicted bracket winner stay strong and make it past the Sweet 16? The University of Southern California looks to build off their big win against Kansas by beating the Oregon Ducks. In the East, the big game of the week will be the No. 1 seeded, University of Michigan up against Florida State. UCLA will look to upset Alabama, which is unlikely But, as we’ve learned from the first two rounds, anything can happen.
Page 15| Thursday, March 25, 2021
Old Gold & Black | Sports
Free agency defined by Patriots’ spending spree New England spent a franchise record $170 million on 19 different signings BY NICK BRIGGS Contributing Writer brigna18@wfu.edu
March 15 marked the true start of NFL free agency as teams were able to enter the legal tampering period to discuss potential deals with players whose contracts had expired with their previous teams. This year, COVID-19 lowered NFL league-wide revenue and
Photo courtesy of The Athletic
Hunter Henry signed a three-year, $37.5 million deal with the Patriots.
drastically available cap space for the first time in what feels like a millennium, but this did not stop certain teams from spending. Among the spenders are the New England Patriots. Head Coach and General Manager Bill Belichick wasted little time making splashes in free agency with what some may call a generally uncharacteristic series of transactions for the New England Patriots. By the end of the week, New England had spent a franchise record $170 million on 19 different free agent signings. Large contracts were doled out to the former Chargers tight end Hunter Henry, former Titans tight end Jonnu Smith and former Ravens pass rusher Matt Judon. While there have been a wide variety of reactions regarding the spending of the Patriots this off-season, one thing is for certain: Coach Belichick is adamant about distancing the franchise from its previous 7-9 finish. Belichick is willing to change up the roster if that equates to a return to the playoffs this upcoming season. However, New England was not the only team that decided to open the checkbook up to better their roster. Other top free agency spenders included the Jacksonville Jaguars, who added former Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin; the Arizona Cardinals, who added former Texans all-pro defensive end J.J. Watt; and the Cincinnati Bengals, who added former Saints defensive end Trey Hendrickson.
Arizona has been a surprise spender, adding both J.J. Watt and former pro-bowl Bengals receiver A.J. Green. These are moves that one might expect a Super Bowl contender to make. These “win now, worry about the future later” moves are aimed at maximizing the team’s overall potential while quarterback Kyler Murray rides out the remainder of his rookie deal. Although Arizona missed out on the playoffs last season, these signings signify to the rest of the league that the team believes they are only a few pieces away from going on a real playoff run. Although they play in a very difficult division, maybe these additions will be enough to get Arizona back in the playoff hunt this season. Here is a quick recap of some of the other major signings that occurred last week — the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers were able to keep most of the band together, with the team franchise tagging standout receiver Chris Godwin and re-signing tight end Rob Gronkowski, linebacker Lavonte David and premier edge rusher Shaquil Barrett. In terms of defensive linemen, the Jets signed former Bengals pass rusher Carl Lawson, the Vikings signed former Giants defensive standout Dalvin Tomlinson and the Titans signed veteran pass rusher Bud Dupree, who is coming off of a major ACL injury.
Some teams were not as fortunate. In a year where the salary cap decreased, organizations such as the New Orleans Saints were forced to cut and restructure the contracts of more than 10 players, including former pro-bowl cornerback Janoris “Jackrabbit” Jenkins, to get under the salary cap. The Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers and the Atlanta Falcons are just a few of the other teams who — because of cap constraints — had to let players walk whom they may have otherwise offered new contracts to. A lot of teams got better on paper this week, specifically the New England Patriots. Some, one could argue, got much worse, like the Las Vegas Raiders. None of this matters, however, if these signings do not translate to wins next season. The Green Bay Packers have yet to spend a dime on a free agent from another team —albeit they did re-sign running back Aaron Jones. The pack is not prioritizing adding new pieces, which is true for many teams. There will still be a series of sporadic veteran signings that occur between now and the start of the 2021-22 NFL season, and it is always interesting to see new faces in new places. When the first kickoff occurs in September, we will begin to see just how impactful this free agency period was for each team.
Tennis beats three opponents over the weekend The No. 13 Demon Deacons handled No. 17 Georgia Tech, Furman and UNC-Charlotte BY CHRISTINA DENOVIO Sports Editor denoca20@wfu.edu
Three wins in a weekend. Impressive even for the dominant No. 13 Wake Forest men’s tennis team. First, the team defeated No. 17 Georgia on the road on March 19. Then, they took care of Furman and UNC-Charlotte in a double-header this past Sunday. The win against Georgia was the closest of the three, as the Demon Deacons finished the matches 4-3. The No. 1 doubles team for Wake Forest — including redshirt senior Eduardo Nava and sophomore Henri Squire — lost to their opponents by a score of 3-6. At second and third doubles, however, junior Melios Esftathiou and sophomore Taha Baadi — along with junior Siddhant Banthia and graduate student Adam Ambrozy — won their matches, finishing with 7-6 scorelines. With a doubles point secured, Wake Forest looked to their singles players to get the win.
In singles, Squire (6-3, 6-2) and Esftathiou (7-5, 6-3) won their matches, both in straight sets. Unfortunately for the Deacs, Baadi (3-6, 4-6), senior Rrezart Cungu (0-6, 4-6) and Banthia (6-7, 4-6) all lost in straight sets. The only match to go to a third set was Nava’s. After losing his first set, Nava was able to pull through and win the next two, clinching the win for his team (2-6, 7-5, 6-2). Two days later, the team defeated their non-conference opponents, Furman, at the Wake Forest Tennis Center. Banthia and sophomore Matthew Thomson won their doubles match 6-1, and Ambrozy and junior Robert Macaig also came out on top by a score of 6-2. Squire and Nava left their match unfinished at 4-4. The team once again collected the doubles point. Playing singles, Squire (6-3, 6-2), Baadi (6-2, 6-2), Nava (6-1, 6-2), Macaig (6-3, 6-0) and Ambrozy (6-2, 6-0) won definitively in straight sets. The Deacs finished the match 7-0. The second match on Sunday was against UNC-Charlotte, another non-conference opponent. On both
the doubles and singles side, the Deacs showed that they can make quick work of inferior opponents. Doubles teams Efstathiou and Baadi (6-1) and Macaig and Cungu (6-3) cruised past their opponents, while Banthia and sophomore Matthew Thomson remained unfinished at 4-4. This marked the third time over the weekend that the team won the doubles point. In singles, Nava, Cungu, Esfasthiou, Banthia and freshman Luciano Tacchi won in straight sets. “Double-headers are usually pretty tough because it’s a lot of tennis, especially after coming off a big victory on Friday versus Georgia,” Nava said. “It was good to get the body and the mind going as well.” Nava, who won in straight sets (6-2, 6-2) against Charlotte, was appreciative for the opportunity to play. “Double-headers are good because we get a lot of mixtures of guys,” Nava said. “We get some guys that don’t get to play, so it gives everybody confidence. We get the full team together, and it becomes that much better.”
Banthia played doubles against Furman and then both singles and doubles against Charlotte. He came out victorious in two of the three, leaving one unfinished. “It was good [to get the win] because we had a double-header, so it’s always good to get in matches,” Banthia said, “It was good match practice for all the boys.” In response to how this successful weekend affects the team moving forward, Banthia said, “Everyone is playing good matches. It just boosts confidence, and we are ready to go to the ACC and NCAA [championships].” Tacchi, who won his sixth match for the Deacs on Sunday (he is undefeated so far this season) said, “I started a little bit nervous, but at the end, I finished playing very good tennis.” When asked how it felt to win in straight sets, Tacchi said, “It’s very nice because I don’t spend too much time on the court. I’m very happy about that.” The Deacs have another busy weekend ahead of them as they travel to play Clemson on March 26 and Georgia Tech on March 28.
LIFE
T H U R S D AY, M A R C H 2 5 , 2 0 2 1
PAG E 16
O n l i n e at : w w w. w f u o g b . c o m e d i t o r s : S e l i n n a Tr a n , t r a n s n 1 9 @ w f u . e d u
OLD GOLD & BLACK
& 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 A S S I S TA N T E D I T O R : J o e C h o , c h o y y 1 9 @ w f u . e d u
"Minari" succeeds as authentic family story Lee Isaac Chung's Oscar-nominated film exceeds expectations and places itself at the heart of American cinema
BY CONNOR MCNEELY Opinion Editor mcnecb19@wfu.edu
"Minari" is about as American as a film can get. Isaac Lee Chung’s partially autobiographical masterpiece isn’t at all about glorifying the classic American Dream. Rather, the story seems to put honest people to the task of living up to it. The film follows the journey of a small Korean family who has just moved all the way from California to rural Arkansas, largely because of the father, Jacob’s (Steven Yeun) drive to start a family farm. The plan is to grow Korean vegetables that the family will then sell to grocers in Dallas, while also chicken sexing to support their livelihood. However, Jacob’s dream isn’t shared by everyone in the family. His wife, Monica (Yeri Han) is obviously disgruntled from the first five minutes of the movie, upturning her city-dwelling nose at their new home, which is propped up by mud and rocks. Jacob and Monica’s son, David (Alan Kim) possesses a role that is just as significant as the parent’s in this film — although the film’s apparent disregard of Anne (Noel Kate Cho) proves to be one of the failures of the story. David’s congenital heart defect is a constant concern of the family and one of Monica’s arguments against living on a farm in Arkansas. To appease her, Jacob sends for Monica’s mother Soonja (Youn-Yuh-jung) who does way more than disrupt both the Arkansas Judeo-Christian calm and Jacob’s patriarchal family order. Soonja, or ‘Grandma’, isn’t your average grandmother — much to the chagrin of
Photo courtesy of (David Bornfriend/A24/TNS)
A24's "Minari" tells the story of the Yi family. Alan Kim (left), Steven Yeun, Noel Cho, and Yeri Han all star in the film, which has been nominated for two academy awards. young David. She can’t bake cookies, can’t read, doesn’t have a filter and constantly pushes the envelope — and by doing so gets closer to her grandchildren. YounYuh-jung and Alan Kim turn in my favorite two performances of the movie — cultivating a grandmother-son relationship that stands as the heart of the story. This film deserves every Oscar nomination that it received. Everything from the exceptional cinematography (Lachlane Milne), to the writing (Lee-Isaac Chung), balances authenticity and familiarity. "Minari" has a remarkable depth, best exhibited through its supporting characters. In addition to Soonja, the evangelical Paul (Will Patton) has a compelling effect on the story of the film — he challenges
the independence of Jacob and exists as yet another Arkansas oddity that the Yi family must adapt to. Anyone can watch this movie and feel a connection somewhere within them to the family on-screen. In fact, family is what "Minari" is all about. “What’s happening now is that shift where we’re just telling our stories as people and it doesn’t have to be in relation to white America or a majority culture. We’re just people. We didn’t want 'Minari' to be a ‘by us, for us’ sort of film,” said director Isaac Lee Chung in a recent New York Times roundtable interview. Regardless of "Minari’s" exclusion from best picture consideration and its Golden Globe foreign language prize, audiences know that the film stands as one of the best of the year — and a truly American film at that. By the end of "Minari", I was in tears. Isaac Lee Chung’s deep knowledge of the human character and the inner workings of a family shine through any lackluster elements. The only serious criticisms that have been voiced regard the score and the excessive use of wide shots. Besides this, Chung's third feature film largely hit its target. “'Minari' is about a family trying to learn how to speak a language of its own,” said Chung in his Golden Globe acceptance speech. Although it is a rigorous, tiresome journey for a family to unite, "Minari" made it a joy to watch. I would Photo courtesy of (Sundance Institute/TNS) overwhelmingly recommend this picture In this scene from "Minari", Jacob (Steven Yeun) and his son David (Alan Kim) to anyone who wants to be inspired, chalembrace and look out at their 50-acre farm in an attempt to divine water. lenged or just to feel good.
Page 17 | Thursdsay, March 25, 2021
Old Gold & Black | Life
Food | Chick-Fil-A
In defense of Chick-fil-A sandwiches THE HOT LIST Wake Forest University’s top pick restaurant serves consistency and flavor BY RAINS DRAPER Staff Writer draptr18@wfu.edu
I know, I know. You’re probably thinking, “But Rains, why does the clear frontrunner of the chicken sandwich need to be defended?” It seems, dear reader, that there are some who believe that the one and the only, the classic, everyone’s-favorite-Old-Gold, the Chick-fil-A sandwich is no longer the king of the fast-food hill. And why? What could possibly put such an absurd idea into a person’s head? The answer, it appears: the Popeye’s chicken sandwich. These days, chicken sandwich comparisons are as common as fire alarms on the quad. Over the past year, we’ve seen an uptick in the number of sandwich reviews due to the release of a pair of fried chicken sandwiches from Popeye’s in the fall of 2019. These sandwiches became an internet sensation, selling out across the country due to extraordinarily high demand.
They sold out for good reason. Both versions (mild and spicy) are delicious, with a substantial brioche bun, pickles and mayo. The chicken is crispy and not as greasy as that of other sandwiches. Overall, the Popeye’s sandwich offers more of a gourmet experience compared to other options. Recently, however, I had a pair of lessthan-ideal experiences with the Popeye’s sandwich. The chicken was tough, the breading slid off and disintegrated and the bun was somewhat stale. Though I’ll give Popeye’s the benefit of the doubt and assume those sandwiches were outliers, I’ve never had a bad an experience at Chick-fil-A. Chick-fil-A shines in its consistency. I have eaten there nearly as many times as there are stars in the sky, and I have never had a bad Chick-fil-A sandwich. Not once. I’ve eaten them hot and cold, and the worst they’ve ever been is mediocre. Sure, the chicken isn’t always crispy and the bun can be a bit soggy, but the flavor is always exceptional. Not so with the Popeye’s sandwich. At its best, the Popeye’s spicy sandwich is phenomenal, offering flavor and texture that you couldn’t get at a nicer restaurant
for twice the price. At its worst, it’s nearly inedible. Perhaps Chick-fil-A uses better chicken or has more stringent quality control (or both), but unless I was specifically craving the Popeye’s sandwich I would go to Chick-fil-A nearly every time I was given the choice between the two institutions. I would be remiss if I failed to mention the new Spicy Crispy Chicken Sandwich from McDonald’s. There are those who believe that this new concoction also deserves a place at the table. “McDonald’s new Spicy Crispy chicken sandwich might be better than both Chick-fil-A’s and Popeye’s,” wrote freshman Will Schumpert early last week. While word circulates that this freshman may have been paid by McDonald’s for his advertising efforts, we will have to wait until a review at a later date to put these fighting words to the test. Chick-fil-A and Popeye’s both offer exceptional chicken sandwiches. While I wouldn’t turn down a sandwich from the Popeye’s on University if I was in the area, Chick-fil-A’s on-campus convenience — combined with its consistency of quality and renowned customer service — entice me to return time and again.
“The Sound of Metal” captivates audiences
BY COOPER SULLIVAN Staff Writer sullcg20@wfu.edu
The postponement of the Oscars, BAFTA and SAG award ceremonies has allowed snooty cinephiles and bored college students alike more time to watch and debate 2020’s best movie before the all-knowing Academy announces the ‘definitively correct’ answer on April 25. One of the films competing for six of this year’s Oscar statuettes, including Best Picture, is “Sound of Metal”. Available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, “Sound of Metal” tells the story of Ruben (Riz Ahmed), a punk-rock drummer who loses his hearing midset, and his journey as he adjusts to his new deaf lifestyle. Ruben is a former heroin addict, who — with the help of his girlfriend and bandmate Lou (Olivia Cooke) — has been able to stay clean and find purpose in life beyond slow highs. Out of love for Lou and fear of relapse, Ruben is willing to risk further hearing damage by remaining on tour. The duo continue to pursue their music dreams to earn money to pay for daily expenses and eventually auditory implants. Lou, however, does not allow the touring to continue and finds a rehabilitation community for the deaf in rural Missouri. At first, the program seems like it could be extremely beneficial for Ruben to not
only maintain his sobriety but to learn “how to be deaf.” Soon thereafter, however, the lip-reading director Joe (Paul Raci) reveals a gut-wrenching twist. In order to be a part of the community, Ruben would have to be removed from the hearing world and not be allowed any outside contact, essentially cutting Lou out when he needs her the most. Grudgingly, the two-part ways and Ruben joins the open-armed Joe and other deaf people in the community, forcing him to leave his past life behind. Because most of the film shows a deaf character on screen, director Darius Marder is very meticulous about the soundscape of each scene. Throughout the movie, the sound switches from a third-person aural vantage point to Ruben’s specific auditory experience. Whatever sounds Ruben hears are the sounds that the audience hears. When his hearing goes in and out at the beginning, everything becomes muffled and soft — when he is at the audiologist, everything sounds tinny and artificial. Before Ruben is taught how to sign and ASL dialogue picks up, there are no subtitles. The viewer is left staring at the screen hopelessly confused, in an attempt by the filmmakers to encourage the audience to recognize the ways the deaf and hard-of-hearing community has both literally and figuratively been left out of the conversation in the hearing world. Not only does this film do a good job addressing the invisibility the deaf and hard-of-hearing community faces, but the feeling of abandonment former addicts experience when they are struggling and trying to change is also intricately
1.
explored. One of Ruben’s first interactions as a member of the program occurs within a circle when everyone goes around signing their name and then making their right index finger resemble a fishing hook while tugging their lip. Multiple times Ruben and Joe have heartbreaking conversations about how their former addictions have caused them to lose relationships and forgo past dreams. One theme shines true through the pain: addiction is not a disability. Being an addict, like being deaf, is only one part of who each person is. As such, it is unfair to label or treat them as such a singular entity. The deaf community allows each person within to not only have a support system, but also to be in a place that reaffirms the belief that there is nothing bad about being deaf. Both Ahmed and Raci were nominated for Best Actor Oscar awards because of their emotional and brilliant performances as the lead and supporting roles, respectively. This year’s Best Actor nominees are filled with strong performances including the late Chadwick Boseman in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”. With a win, Ahmed would become the first Muslim Best Actor in a Leading Role Award winner — he is already the first Muslim nominee. Besides the three previously mentioned nominations, “Sound of Metal” is in the running for Best Sound (99.9999% a lock to win), Best Original Screenplay and Best Achievement in Film Editing. Do not be surprised if you hear “Sound of Metal’s” name multiple times come April 25.
Grandfather Mountain State Park Chimney Rock State Park
3.
Hanging Rock
Catawba Falls
5.
Pilot Mountain
Rainbow Falls Trail
7.
Crabtree Falls
Moore’s Wall Loop Trail
9.
Movie Review | “The Sound of Metal”
Topics of disability and drug abuse are highlighted in last year’s hit drama
TOP TEN Hikes in North Carolina:
Grassy Ridge Bald Looking Glass Trail
LOCALE OF THE WEEK
Photo courtesy of daveandbusters.com Dave and Buster’s Located directly in Hanes Mall, Dave and Buster’s, or “Dusters” (as we like to call it,) is truly a playground for the old, but young at heart. From 21st birthdays to bachelor parties, Dusters has what you’re looking for: booze, arcade games and oh, so many prizes. Find out what Duster’s has in store for yourself by heading over. Duster’s is open from 12 a.m. - 10 p.m. on weekdays, 12 a.m. - 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 12 a.m. - 10 p.m. on Sunday.
Page 18 | Thursdsay, March 25, 2021
Old Gold & Black | Life
Grammy Review | “Folklore”
Taylor Swift receives 11th grammy win of her career Country-pop artist Taylor Swift captivated garners praise with her album “Folklore” BY JULIA JUNKER Contributing Writer junkjl19@wfu.edu Do you ever get so bored that you write and produce a Grammy awardwinning album during a pandemic? Yeah, me neither, but that’s exactly what Taylor Swift did. Swift’s eighth studio album, “Folklore”, won the Album Of The Year award at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards, beating eight other nominees. This marked Swift’s 11th career Grammy win and third AOTY award, following “Fearless” in 2010 and “1989” in 2016. With this win, Swift became the first female artist in history to win AOTY three times. This record isn’t necessarily the only thing that made this honor so special, however. “Folklore’s” win follows a par-
ticularly difficult battle in 2019 between Swift and former producer Scott Borchetta. At the time, Borchetta sold Big Machine Label Group to manager Scooter Braun, best known for his work with Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande. With this transaction, Braun then owned all six of Swift’s albums, from her 2006 debut self-titled album to 2017’s “Reputation”. What did this mean, exactly? Essentially, Braun’s company gained all revenue from the albums’ streams and was able to control how the music was used at any given time. Swift was very vocal about her disgust with the situation, calling the deal her “worse case scenario” in a Tumblr post. Although her contract expired in November 2020 (meaning she could re-record her first five albums) Braun would still profit off of the masters. Swift touches on this sentiment in her 2020 Netflix documentary “Miss Americana”, which focuses on the relationship between the media and Swift herself. There is a point in the film where Swift
addresses how difficult it is to constantly live in the spotlight, saying that “when you are living for the approval of strangers, one bad thing can cause everything to crumble.” As she reveals throughout the documentary, Swift tore herself apart trying to please everyone and trying to be the perfect pop star the public wanted. When “Reputation” did not receive a Grammy nomination, Swift simply stated that she would have to make a better album. There was no time taken to be upset or to reflect upon where she went wrong. She lived for the approval of others. In a way, that’s what makes “Folklore’s” success so monumental. Although it isn’t the first album Swift has produced on her own (“Lover” was released in August 2019, almost a year before “Folklore”), it’s different from anything she’s done in the past. This is due, in part, to the unconventional manner in which the album was released. Swift announced the album across social media platforms on July 23,
and the album was released at midnight on July 24. There were no teasers and no singles, nothing that even the most diehard Swiftie could have picked up on. “Folklore” also stood out based on the content within. Swift’s past few albums have been distinctly pop, and all have been written from a seemingly first- person point of view. “Folklore” was the storytelling, indie album that we didn’t know we needed. The changes surrounding Folklore represent a new era for Swift, free from the control of others, whether they be old managers, the media, or the general public. Swift doesn’t have to write about her own life — rather, she can create a fictional love triangle that tells a story of heartache and teen angst just because she’s bored in quarantine and feels like it. “Folklore”’s AOTY win proves not only to the public, but to Swift herself, that she doesn’t need the approval of everyone to create something remarkable. She can do that all on her own.
Film Review | “Snyder Cut”
DC superheroes return to the screen in new series New DC Comics series takes off with the same superheroes fans have grown to love BY ERIC OMOROGIEVA Staff Writer omorei17@wfu.edu In February 2020, rumors of Zach Snyder’s cut of the deplorable 2017 film “Justice League” surfaced among media outlets as Warner Bros reevaluated their production deficit at the time of the original release. In May 2020, Snyder announced his four-hour long rendition of the original would be released as “Zach Snyder’s Justice League” via HBO Max. Following three years of die-hard DC fans relentlessly condemning Joss Whedon’s production and begging for Warner Bros to amend this travesty, they achieved the impossible, willing this new finished cut into conception. On March 18, the film was finally released. Continuing where they left off from 2016’s “Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice”, “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” follows Batman (played by Ben Affleck) and Wonder Woman’s formation of the League as they team up with The Flash, Cyborg, Aquaman and a revived Superman in their quest to fight the villain Steppenwolf. The film follows a similar plotline to the 2017 version, but expands the story in ways that build upon the story are that Synder began constructing in 2013 with “Man of Steel”. Realizing Snyder’s complete and uninterrupted vision was
a long process of uncertainty and disappointment, but it was all worth the while given the eventual release of this movie. This film erases the most annoying part of Joss Whedon’s original cut including Henry Cavill’s infamous CGI-removed mustache. Further, some scenes integral to character development make it appalling to consider altering or cutting the film at all. Two characters in particular, The Flash (played by Ezra Miller) and Cyborg (played by Ray Fischer), did not have much of a chance for a fleshed out origin story and development in the prior cut. However, they are now allowed to shine in Snyder’s cut. Fischer especially stands out as the heart of the team, fitting perfectly into his role as a Digital God, who comes off as more capable and powerful than other movie depictions of androids (such as “Terminator’s”), and even his own comic book counterpart. Barry is provided with the screen time necessary to explore the story of his love interest with Iris West, which involves a fascinating scene featuring her potentially deadly car crash. There are also extended periods of the film that showcase that he knows quite a bit regarding his powers, like being able to reverse time if he runs faster than the speed of light. These details are not only important to the character’s own story in the film, but fill in key plot holes from the 2017 film. Another important aspect is the villain Steppenwolf. In the 2017 version of the film, Steppenwolf had a very average character design, and his ambition of
simply ruling Earth was stale and boring. He was also paired with a lackluster and forgettable superhero antagonist. Snyder’s Steppenwolf, however, has a very high-quality CGI design, featuring protective armor that comes out of his skin. His ambitions not only make sense, but make viewers feel compassion towards him. Steppenwolf ’s aims are to collect three “mother boxes” on Earth in order to unite them and gain control of the planet. This is not done out of a desire to be evil or rule the world, but to right a wrong he made a long time ago to his master Darkseid, one of DC’s most powerful villains. Every time Steppenwolf has to connect back to his home planet, you can see the remorse on his face, which comes off as quite adorable in a way. With just this change, the character goes from one of
the most forgettable villains to a standout character. The cast does a great job in bringing this film together, due in large part to the breathing space the film has in its fourhour run time. The film flows smoothly, and if you do not want to sit through it all, you can take a break during any of the six delineated chapters of the film. Ben Affleck again proves his capabilities as Batman, Gal Godot shows a side to Wonder Woman that is sometimes missing in her own solo films and the vast array of DC character cameos are enjoyable for any fan. “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” is a great success because Snyder finally has his way, uninterrupted. Hopefully, in the future, Snyder is able to continue his story in some way. For now, we can be thankful to have this cut.
Photo courtesy of imdb.com
DC Comics superheros who have been presented on screen individually come together in Zack Snyder’s version of “Justice League”, previously released in 2017.
Life | Old Gold & Black
Thursday, March 25, 2021 | Page 19
Lifestyle Column | Climate Change
Global warming predicted to increase summer length
Scientists claim that increased carbon emissions could extend summers to six months
and China are leading the pack due to egregious levels of production and industrialization. The two main contributors to the production of GHG are electricity and heat production, BY MICAH PORTER which may see a decline with a twoLife Editor portmj19@wfu.edu month winter, as is predicted. Yet, the problem of greenhouse gas emissions While it is no secret that glob- may not be mitigated in time to deal warming is a severe threat to our crease the likelihood of a longer sumplanet and our wellbeing, few realize mer, which we can expect in the comexactly what is in store for the climate ing years. in the coming years and how these We are extremely fortunate to have changes will affect Earth’s inhabitants. the ability to predict the oncomPoliticians, scientists and lobbyists ing environmental hazard set to take Photo courtesy of NatGeo have dedicated their efforts towards place, but for the rest of the planet’s resolving some of the issues that pose inhabitants — animals and plants — For some, a longer summer means a longer vacation, but the effects of a six month summer pose extreme threats towards our shared humanity. the greatest threat to the environment. recognizing these climate changes is sources, negatively affecting ecologi- Their findings concluded that over a This has resulted in an increased focus challenging, if not impossible. cal colonies. 60-year period, summers have grown on policymaking to address environAn extended summer will place sigfrom an average of 78 to 95 days. Evidence for rising climate pressures mental concerns. nificant pressure on the agricultural inHowever, recent studies demon- dustry and animal populations around is clear — while changes in ocean Consequently, winter lengths have strate that summer weather could the world. As plants tend to follow the temperatures by two to three degrees shifted from 76 days to 73 days, with extend past its typical duration to a cyclical patterns of the seasons, there can be difficult to use as evidence in the lengths of spring and fall being afshocking six months by 2100, result- is potential for the planet’s greenery support of climate change, an increase fected as well. Guan’s team was able to apply their ing in a shorter winter period. Within to grow and bloom at unnatural rates. in the number of summer days is clear the past 60 years, summer has in- For example, farmers in India have evidence that something needs to be model to the future in order to determine an impending six-months long. creased by 17 days, consequently de- already observed premature blossom- done. Yuping Guan, a leading researcher To clarify, Guan’s team defines sumcreasing the lengths of the other three ing of Rhododendron trees as early as seasons. And while some may see this January of this year, which indicates on the topic of climate change, serves mer as the onset of temperatures in extension of summer as a benefit, the an earlier onset summer than expect- as a physical oceanographer at the the hottest 25% of the year. Guan’s positive of a longer vacation do not ed. And while the early blossoming of Chinese Academy of Sciences. He predictions for the future of seasonal negate the catastrophic damage being flowers and fruits in itself doesn’t scare has been documenting the alterations lengths make him more concerned for human wellbeing than any other isdone to the environment. scientists, the implications of this pre- in seasonal duration, and his findAs many people are aware, the most mature growth certainly do. ings have been shocking. Guan, along sue our society had faced to date. According to Guan, the greatest concern critical threat to our ecosystem is the Many animals that facilitate pol- with his team of researchers, has spent increased production of greenhouse lination rely on the seasonal patterns years inspecting the daily tempera- for the health and safety of humans gases (GHG) — every nation on Earth to determine migratory schedules — tures from 1952 to 2011 to determine relates to the predicted increase in is responsible for contributing to this seasonal changes can prompt a mis- the existence of a correlation between disease spread by mosquitoes. Warmer and longer summers have been known increase in GHG, however, the U.S. match between animals and their food GHG emissions and seasonal lengths. to expand the range and lifespan of mosquitoes and other disease-carrying insects, meaning an increased number of diseases in regions not usually affected by mosquito-carrying illnesses. 2100 is years away, but solutions to the pre-existing climate damage must be implemented now, as the effects are already being observed. The most effective way to decrease GHG is to decrease levels of production, which can be achieved through international cooperation and policymaking. China has already taken the first step in achieving carbon neutrality by switching energy sources from coal to more environmentally conscious options, as well as by decreasing the nation’s use of fossil fuels. With an increased awareness of carbon emission levels, nations around the globe have begun to hold each other accountable for their contributions towards creating a safer, healthier planet for future generations. And while an extension to summer weather patterns is likely inevitable, there is Photo courtesy of ABC The causes of global warming have been observed most heavily within industrial manufacturing, still hope that the crisis can be mitiwhich sacrifices the health and safety of the planet’s inhabitants and ecosystems for profits. gated.
Page 20 | Thursday, March 25, 2021
Old Gold & Black | Life
L I F E : [Student Art Exhibit] DISRUPTION: A COMMENTARY ON COVID-19 “Our world changed drastically early on in 2019. Since then, the COVID-19 pandemic has spread rapidly across the globe, infecting over 100 million people and killing over 2 million to date. This fatal disease has been — and continues to be — a grave shock to global society and has changed our culture in countless ways, implementing new social protocols, and pushing the limitations of modern medicine. In light of the global pandemic that we currently face, ‘Disruption’ aims to highlight the change in overall mental and physical health, new societal norms and the development of medicines that have transformed our world overnight. ‘Disruption’ acts as a time capsule of life before the coronavirus pandemic as well as a reminder of the change that the world has been forced to enact over the past year.” Editor’s note; This introduction has been edited for brevity and clarity.
-Maddie Douglas ‘23
“The Cakewalk Series” - Hollifield, Catherine “Marissa” - Garamone, Marissa
“Monday August 7, 1:36 PM” - Leist, Annie
“That One of You” - Canipe, Allison
“Despair” - Tracey, Pu
“Untitled” - Dwyer, David
“Dixie Classic” - Wilkinson, Sean
“Inner Reflection” - Ryerse, Lindsay