9/12/19 Full Edition

News: aWake All Night boasts record turnout Page 4

Opinion: Kanye West has insatiable contrarian urges Page 10

Sports: Men’s soccer remains undefeated 4-0 Page 11

Life: Journaling doesn’t have to be a chore Page 17

Old Gold&Black

WAKE FOREST’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1916 VOL. 106, NO. 3

T H U R S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 1 2 , 2 019 “Cover s the campus like the magnolias”

wfuogb.com

Diversity Matters career fair convenes Diversity Matters event offers opportunities for job-seeking minority members of campus

BY WILL MAY News Editor mayws16@wfu.edu

On Sept. 10, the night before the hustle and bustle of Wake Forest’s fall 2019 Career Fair was set loose upon the Sutton Center, Benson University Center played host to a considerably quieter reception for employers and jobseekers: Diversity Matters.

Organized by the Office of Personal & Career Development, the gathering is a networking opportunity specially designed for employers looking for diverse talent to hire and for Wake Forest students who identify as diverse or who are from underrepresented communities.

See Diversity, Page 4 Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Flickr account

Members of the WFU community gathered in the blistering midday heat on Wednesday, Sept. 11 to commemorate the eighteenth anniversary of the tragic attacks in New York, the Pentagon and Shanksville, PA.

WFU memorializes 9/11 A variety of events were held

by Wake Forest in honor and remembrance of the lives lost

BY WILL MAY News Editor mayws16@wfu.edu

At 12:15 p.m. on Sept. 11, the bustling thoroughfare at the center of the traffic circle outside Benson University Center was packed with students, faculty and members of the Wake Forest Army ROTC clad in black uniforms, gathered to commemorate a day eighteen years in the past that began with similarly gorgeous weather.

“Thank you for taking a moment to reflect and think about

that pivotal moment that has run through the last eighteen years of our history,” said Retired Colonel Sean Hannah. “And for honoring this day of infamy and those who were affected by it.”

The event, sponsored by the Office of the Chaplain, memorialized the attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center in New York, the plane that decimated the Pentagon and the heroes who downed a hijacked plane near Shanksville, PA., killing 2,977 people and injuring over 6,000 others on September 11, 2001. Approximately 40 members of the Wake Forest community attended. University Chaplain Tim Auman gave opening remarks, which was followed

by a color salute performed by the Wake Forest Army ROTC, accompanied by trumpeter Christian McIvor from the Divinity School. The event ended with a musical performance from Sally Morris.

Wednesday marked the eighteenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks. That tragic event in American history is also being memorialized by numerous news outlets, such as The New York Times and CNN. Social media, too, is buzzing: the remembrance-themed hashtag #NeverForget was trending on Twitter, at 806,000 tweets.

See September, Page 5

David Koch’s legacy impacts WFU Philanthropist David Koch died on Aug. 23, but his legacy continues to resonate

BY WILL MAY News Editor mayws16@wfu.edu

Billionaire industrialist David Koch passed away on Friday, Aug. 23, at the age of 79.

Koch held numerous roles and positions during his life: he was a businessman, political activist, philanthropist and chemical engineer. He had stakes in a great deal of businesses as a member of Koch Industries, his family’s enterprise based in Wichita, Kan and a manufacturer that holds the title of the second-largest private company in the united states.

See Remembering, Page 6

OGB

The Career “Fair should appeal more broadly This column represents the views of the Old Gold & Black Editorial Board.

Yesterday, hundreds of Wake Forest students from all years gathered in the Sutton Center for the Career Fair, where they met with representatives from dozens of potential employers across the country.

Undeniably, the student body is fortunate that the Office of Personal & Career Development organized this event. Many students find it a crucial step to connect with employers as they begin their job or internship search.

However, the majority of the employers represented, such as consulting firms and corporations, are more well-suited to the re-

The ... point of a career fair is for students to learn about companies and employers to learn ... about those who are interested in their work." " sumes of business students. While the Career Fair may be an especially helpful opportunity for them, other students, such as those who are pursuing humanities degrees and other career paths, may not find as many potential employers that interest them.

It is a challenge and limitation of such events that consulting firms and other business-oriented companies are often more likely to staff formal re-

Old Gold &Black

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF WAKE FOREST UNIVERSIT Y SINCE 1916 LILLIAN JOHNSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF johnlg16@wfu.edu

REN SCHMITT PRINT MANAGING EDITOR schmwm16@wfu.edu

>> NEWS Will May, mayws16@wfu.edu Assistant: Caroline Walker, walkct18@ wfu.edu

>> SPORTS Rafael Lima, limara17@wfu. edu

>> OPINION Kyle Ferrer, ferrka16@wfu.edu

>> LIFE Emily Beauchamp, beauea17@ wfu.edu

>> DIGITAL MEDIA EDITOR Mary-Hallet Culbreth, culbmh16@wfu.edu

>> ADVISER Phoebe Zerwick, zerwicp@wfu.

cruiters and begin recruiting processes in the fall, which means that they are more available to attend events such as Wake Forest's Career Fair.

The Editorial Board of the Old Gold & Black wishes that companies and employers in other fields — journalism, STEM, social services, information technology, politics, just to name a few — would attend the Career Fair. No formal recruiting required.

An informal process would benefit not only the students, but the employers as well. The general point of a career fair is for students to learn about companies and employers to

learn more about those who are interested in their work.

Rather than having to worry about perfectly impressing a recruiter with one's padded resume and rehearsed elevator pitch, a more informative process would make the Career Fair casual and stress-free. Networking is crucial, but it doesn't have to be so formal.

Even if they were not able to formally recruit, including a more diverse array of employers in the Career Fair would also allow students to dip their toes into areas of potential interest without the need for a perfectly polished elevator pitch.

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GRACIE FIRESTONE

BUSINESS MANAGER

firegk16@wfu.edu

AMANDA WILCOX ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR wilcaf16@wfu.edu

>> POLICIES

The Old Gold & Black is published Thursdays during the school year, except during examinations, summer and holiday periods, by Triangle Printing of Durham. © 2014 WFU Media Board. All rights reserved. The views expressed in all editorials and advertisements contained within this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the OGB. As part of our commitment to reporting news fairly and accurately, we will not remove any previously published content. If an error in either our online or print content is brought to our attention, we will revise the originally published article with an appended correction. In order to facilitate thoughtful and appropriate debate, profane, vulgar, or inflammatory comments on our website are not allowed and will be deleted. For more information on our commenting policy, please see our website. We reserve the right to reject advertisements deemed inappropriate. Our full policy, and how to advertise with the OGB, can be found on our website.

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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 johnlg16@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

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News | Old Gold & Black

Thursday, September 12, 2019 | Page 3

Deacon Profile: Ashley Fountain

BY CAROLINE WALKER Asst. News Editor walkct18@wfu.edu

Senior Ashley Fountain manages an online fashion and lifestyle blog called “My Well-Dressed Life.” She is also the president of her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta.

She will graduate in the spring with a major in communications paired with a writing minor.

When did you first realize your passion for fashion?

I think in high school. I live in a more rural area, so a lot of people where I live weren’t that interested in fashion, and it wasn’t a very big thing. We didn’t even have a lot of malls or stores around. So, once Instagram and things got more popular, I started following accounts that were brands or just influencers and people like that. I thought, "fashion is cool," and there’s a whole other way to express yourself outside of how you talk, write or present yourself.

Why did you decide to start a blog?

I always really liked fashion and writing, so I thought that it was a really good way to combine both of them. I feel like writing is a hard passion to pursue, because when you’re interested in writing Caroline Walker/Old Gold & Black and trying to keep a journal, there’s nothing that’s really holding you to writing and keeping to it. I Senior Ashley Fountain has worked hard to build a following for her fashfeel like I wanted to do something with my writing ion blog. She can often be found around campus taking pictures of outfits for it. that other people would be able to see — or maybe What type of advice do you share through your Which part of blogging do you enjoy the most? even not a lot of people — but just somebody who blog? the post would resonate with, so I thought that the I really like the writing aspect of it, but I also blog would be a good balance. It wasn’t something I try to write about my own personal experiences like connecting with other people. Before I came super time consuming, and I could make it whatand then try to frame them as advice in a way. I to Wake Forest, actually, I met one girl who also ever I wanted, so that’s why I chose that. struggle because I don’t think that I really have a lot had a blog. That was a really good connection for Where do you find inspiration for your posts? of qualifications to give people advice about a lot me, because I didn’t know anyone else going into of things. But I find that by writing about my ex- Wake Forest, and that made me feel really comI find a lot from other people who are bloggers or perience, it helps people, because they can relate to fortable that I could have that connection. But influencers or brands that I really like. And, I go on it, and it helps them feel better because they know also just other people that I’ve met, like I’ve met Pinterest all the time — I’m really addicted to it. they’re not the only one going through the thing. people in Theta who also have blogs, and it’s cool That’s how I built up a lot of my following for my So, that’s kind of what I aim to do. Sometimes if it’s to see those connections, as well. Also, obviously, blog, pinning my posts and images on there. But, things that I have experienced multiple times, like it’s fun to comment on each other’s posts and get even just looking at different things that aren’t just if it’s getting ready to go to college or something excited about the other things that people are gofashion or directly related to blogging or things like like that, then I feel like I can write advice about ing through or things that they experience. It’s like that, like places I go, and sometimes I’ll be inspired that, like what you need for your dorm room or building a little community or a little group of by the places I go while I’m on vacation and differ- other things that people can relate to. A lot of it is friends outside of your typical campus or friends ent life experiences. college-related or adult-life stuff. from home.

POLICE BEAT Larceny • Unknown subject(s) entered dorm room and stole an iPad in Babcock. Report filed at 6:53 p.m. on Sept. 2.

• Unknown subject(s) took an unsecured dirt bike from a bike rack in North Campus Apts. Report filed at 6:34 p.m. on Sept. 3.

• Unknown subject(s) removed an unsecured equipment bag with ice hockey skates from outside of room in Poteat. Report filed at 7:22 p.m. on Sept. 6.

• Unknown subject(s) broke lock and took bike from bike rack on Polo Road. Report filed at 11:40 a.m. on Sept. 7.

• Unknown subject(s) broke lock and took bike from bike rack at Deacon Place. Report filed at 7:59 p.m. on Sept. 7.

• Unknown subject(s) took victim's unsecured vehicle between Sept. 5 and Sept. 7. Report filed at 10:16 p.m. on Sept. 7.

• Unknown subjects entered victims unlocked vehicle and removed a pair of sunglasses in Lot Z. Report filed at 10:53 p.m. on Sept. 8.

Underage Consumption/Drunkenness • Intoxicated student was transported by EMS to WFUBMC. Report filed 2:30 a.m. on Sept. 6.

• Underage student had consumed alcohol and was transported to WFUBMC from Johnson. Report filed 2:02 a.m. on Sept. 6.

• Underage student had consumed alcohol and was transported to WFUBMC from Student Apts. Report filed 2:38 a.m. on Sept. 7.

Miscellaneus • Victim paid for football tickets on Craigslist and never received them in Davis. Report filed at 12:24 p.m. on Sept. 2.

• Unknown subject(s) stepped on the top of victim's SUV denting the roof. Report filed at 12:26 p.m. on Sept. 6.

• Subjects dancing on the elevator caused it to stop.

Report filed at 11:25 p.m. on Sept. 6.

• Five students were in the house on Long Drive when three subjects cut the power and entered location. Suspects were located in the driveway of the home by the students. Suspects left the area. No injuries.

Nothing reported stolen at this time. Report filed at 11:11 p.m. on Sept. 6.

• Unknown subject(s) struck and damaged the victim's car windshield on Allen Easley Drive at 10:39 p.m. on Sept. 7.

• A dish towel left on a burner on the stove caught fire and activated the alarm in North Campus Apts.

Scott Fraizer notified via email. Report filed at 8:40 p.m. on Sept. 8.

Page 4 |Thursday, September 12, 2019

Old Gold & Black | News

Diversity: Career fair aims for inclusion Continued from Page 4

The office clarifies that these include ethnic minorities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, first-generation students, students with disabilities and women.

“We have employers asking all the time [for diverse talent],” said Cheryl Hicks, associate director for Career Education & Coaching and Diversity & Inclusion Career Programs. “We asked, ‘how do we come up with a way to bring them together for an evening or a forum of some sort?’”

Hicks said that the event was designed to bridge the gap between diverse students and employers seeking candidates with diverse backgrounds.

She said that many organizations in the modern working world that have goals to diversify their workforce sometimes have problems connecting with the candidates they are looking for. This event is part of a greater effort to create more fair opportunities for people of all races, colors and creeds, a climate that many academic institutions are striving towards.

Lee Svete, associate vice president of the Office of Personal and Career Development, stated that Wake Forest provides many opportunities for supporting students from diverse backgrounds.

“It certainly blends with the institutional commitment,” he said. “While the impetus came from us, it is still part of the inclusive culture that Wake Forest is trying to establish with ‘Pro Humanitate.’”

Hicks said that the office had tried similar events in the past, such as the Black Professionals Forum in Febru-

ary 2017, but that Diversity Matters would be more effective because it makes an effort to include all marginalized groups, rather than just one.

Diversity Matters has grown since its first incarnation in January 2018.

It began with hosting only 11 employers and 80 students. Its fourth incarnation on Tuesday played host to 38 employers and had 250 students registered to attend. The event has also gained company sponsors, such as General Mills and Ernst & Young.

“We decided to have this event the night before the Career Fair to help with bringing in groups who normally wouldn’t go to the Career Fair,” Hicks said. “Going to an event like this the night before and having an intimate discussion with employers breaks down that anxiety.”

Hicks said that she hoped the homogeneity of Wednesday’s career fair would prove less intimidating for underrepresented groups of students that attended Diversity Matters. She clarified that the latter event operates in a slightly different format; students are placed at round tables with representatives of various employers in a room, rather than in a roomful of employers behind personalized booths.

The students then rotate to a new table after spending a certain amount of time with each employer. At the end of the event, the floor is opened and students are free to mingle with the employers of their choice. Each student is expected to have conversed with at least three employers by the end of the event.

“Employers really enjoy the format that we have,” Hicks said. “The first time we did this, I had employers

come up to me before they left the event, saying, ‘I like this so much better than the Career Fair!’ An intimate conversation with seven or eight students seems like a better way to get to know them.”

Svete said Tuesday’s event has also helped the office engage with the student population. The event opened with talks from student leaders from Student Government: junior and Speaker of the House Miles Middleton and senior and President Mellie Mesfin. The office has also engaged with many student organizations and campus partners, including the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the Organization of Latin American Students, Spectrum and the Intercultural Center. Hicks said that these relationships

have all been mutually beneficial, helping her office engage with students and helping the organizations empower students and themselves.

Diversity Matters has already received recognition beyond the bounds of Wake Forest’s campus through the National Association of Colleges and Employers, who recognized the Office of Personal and Career Development with the 2019 Diversity and Inclusion Excellence Award.

Students on the job hunt who missed Diversity matters on Tuesday need not fret; the spring semester event is already scheduled for January 21, 2020.

Those interested should make sure to register on the Office of Personal and Career Development’s website before spots run out.

Will May/ Old Gold & Black

Groups of students spent valuable time talking to employers at some of the rotational tables that were set up at the event.

OUTSIDE THE BUBBLE President Trump ousts his se- Scottish court rules Parlia- Republican Dan Bishop atcurity adviser John Bolton mentary suspension illegal tains victory in special election Trump ousted his third national security adviser, John R. Bolton, on Tuesday.

Bolton was a hardline conservative who had belligerently advocated for hawkish action and repudiated efforts made toward agreements during his time in the Trump Administration. The President and Bolton had recently reached an impasse over foreign policy issues such as Iran, North Korea and Afghanistan.

In the debate over foreign policy, tensions had gradually increased as Bolton continued to push for aggressive military action. Bolton also criticized Trump’s courting of Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin, as well as the president’s other diplomatic approaches. The conflict recently came to a head after Trump abruptly called off the Iran missile strike against the advice of Bolton.

Trump has said that he will announce his pick for Bolton’s replacement by next week, and there are several potential candidates who he is considering. Until then, Charles Kupperman was selected to serve in an acting capacity.

On Wednesday night, a Scottish court ruled that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s suspension of Parliament was illegal. The decision was predicated on concerns that Johnson had misled the queen about why he decided to shut down Parliament and that Johnson had sidestepped legal boundaries in order to advance his political agenda.

Johnson had made the decision to suspend Parliament two weeks earlier. He had then persuaded Queen Elizabeth II to suspend Parliament under the pretense of a procedural reasons rather than underlying political motives. This move appeared to be an attempt to silence the voices of the opposition to Johnson’s pursuit of a hard no-deal Brexit, which would have wide-ranging implications for Europe.

The ruling would prohibit Johnson from forcing lawmakers to leave during a critical moment in the Brexit crisis. This recent development in the Brexit crisis reflects the constitutional and political quandary facing Britain.

After the upheaval caused by a heavily disputed U.S. House of Representatives race in North Carolina last year, the issue of who would win was finally resolved on Wednesday.

Emerging as the victor of the North Carolina 9th District’s special congressional election was North Carolina state Sen. Dan Bishop. He captured 50.7% of the vote, leading the Republicans to victory against his senator opponent, Democrat Dan McCready.

Bishop had become a well-known figure after his past role of supporting the passage of North Carolina’s “bathroom bill.” Bishop also voiced his alignment with the National Rifle Association and critiqued the left-leaning agenda of McCready during his campaign.

Bishop’s victory in this election highlighted the increasing appeal of President Trump’s Republican policies among his voting base. This also marked a consistent trend of electing another Republican politician from the gerrymandered red districts within North Carolina.

News | Old Gold & Black

Thursday, September 12, 2019 |Page 5

September 11: WFU recalls lives lost Continued from Page 1

The Office of the Chaplain’s event was not the university’s sole commemoration. The first event was held on Tuesday, Sept.

10: a planting of 2,997 miniature American flags displayed on Manchester Plaza. Sophomore and co-chair of the judiciary committee Vincent Melara spearheaded the event.

“I thought it would be a great visual representation of the people who lost their lives on that tragic day. Each of the 2,977 flags represented a life taken,” he said. “Reminders such as this keep the victims and their families in our collective memory.”

The next event occurred soon after the first, at 6 a.m. on Wednesday morning. It was called the Climb to Remember, held at BB&T Field. Members of Army ROTC and the military science departments at Wake Forest, WinstonSalem State University and Salem College came together to climb 2,997 stairs in honor of the victims who lost their lives. The greater university communities of students and faculty were also invited to participate.

“Most of our Cadets were not old enough to remember the actual day, so this event allows them to reflect on what it means to serve others and feel a connection to what happened on Sept. 11,” said LTC Melissa Ringhisen, department chair and professor of military science at Wake Forest in an interview with Wake Forest News.

CORRECTION

Screenshot courtesy of ZSR Library Special Collections & Archives

The Old Gold & Black’s Sept. 13, 2001, front page depicts campus-wide reactions to the tragedy; these include a reception in Wait Chapel and a student vigil commemorating those killed and injured.

Olivia Field/ Old Gold & Black

Photo Courtesy of Wake Forest Flickr

On Sept. 11, 2019, students, faculty and members of Army ROTC from Wake Forest, Winston-Salem State University and Salem College congregated on BB&T field to climb 2,997 stairs in honor of the victims.

Due to an editing error, the article titled “USA begins FIBA World Cup with emphatic win” that was featured in our last issue (Vol. 106. No. 2) was incorrectly attributed to Sports Editor Rafael Lima in the byline and authoring credits. The article was in fact originally written by Staff Writer Nick Lalli.

Old Gold & Black | News

Page 6 | Thursday, September 12, 2019

Remembering: Koch had ties to Wake Forest

Continued from Page 1

He and his brother Charles became the majority owners of the company, owning 42% each as of 2010, after a bitter legal dispute when they bought out their brothers Frederick and Bill for $1.1 billion. He was ranked No. 11 on Forbes’ list of the richest people in the world, tied with Charles.

Koch was also famed for his involvement in politics; he was the Vice-Presidential candidate for the Libertarian Party in the 1980 presidential election, receiving 1% of the nationwide vote. He eventually broke from the Libertarian party in 1984 and became a Republican.

Koch’s philanthropy extended to a variety of areas. He pledged $100 million over 10 years for the New York State Theater in the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts, a facility that is now named in his honor.

He also made a $20 million-dollar gift to the National Museum of Natural History, which led to the creation of their David H. Koch Dinosaur Wing. Between 1998 and 2012, he donated approximately $395 million to medical research, much of which was dedicated to fighting cancer. He and his brother even advocated for bipartisan prison reform, partnering with organizations such as the Center for American Progress, Families Against Mandatory Minimums and the MacArthur Foundation.

Koch also drew a great deal of attention for his extensive contributions to a variety of causes in support of his conservative politics.

He drew criticism from liberals for his support of the Tea Party movement, a contribution that led to his and his brother’s inclusion on the Time 100 of the Year.

He also supported former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker during the gubernatorial recall election of 2012, and he was a critical funder for climate change denialism through think tanks

Gretchen Ertl/The New York Times

Koch’s donations to the Eudaimonia Institute, which is dedicated to the study of human fluorishing, drew scrutiny at Wake Forest, leading to a petition signed by more than 180 faculty. such as the Cato Institute and the American Enterprise Institute, an effort that dates back as early as 1991.

Koch also donated to numerous educational institutions, including Wake Forest. His brother’s foundation drew scrutiny after a contribution of $3.69 million was pledged over five years to the Eudaimonia Institute. This initiative, directed by Professor James Otteson, is dedicated to studying and achieving human flourishing. The name is a Greek word typically

translated to mean ‘happiness’ or ‘welfare.’

After Koch Foundation’s donation was publicized, 189 of Wake Forest’s faculty signed a petition asking for a Faculty Senate review of the agreement. They stated that the foundation’s contribution is a threat to academic freedom, as well as the university’s reputation.

The Faculty Senate formed a committee to review the institute in December 2016.

“Due to the Charles Koch Foundation’s unprecedented effort and

documented strategy to co-opt higher education for its ideological, political and financial ends, the committee moves that Wake Forest University prohibit all Koch network funding for any of its centers or institutes,” the senate said in a motion that was passed on March 15.

Despite this decision, the Eudaimonia Institute continues its mission to determine the source of human flourishing.

Koch is survived by his brothers, his wife and his sons.

WAKE IN A WEEK Identities on Campus: Rhodes Scholar Lian Najami Time: Thursday, Sep. 12 at 7 p.m.

Location: Wait Chapel Lian Najami, the first Arab-Israeli Rhodes Scholar, will speak in Wait Chapel on “Identities on Campus” and her background growing up in Israel. A workshop on developing methods of living in a “shared existence” space will follow.

WFU Football vs. North Carolina Time: Friday, Sep. 13 at 6 p.m.

Location: BB&T Field Come over to BB&T field on Friday to cheer on the Demon Deacons as they take on the North Carolina Tar Heels. Our Deacs need your support in this intense rivalry!

Sweets and Treats Time: Monday, Sep. 16 at 2:30p.m.

Location: Davis Field Don’t want to miss out on free desserts and puppies?

Swing by Student Union’s Homecoming event! There will also be a painting of the Demon Deacon contest for a chance to win a study room during finals.

‘T’ Time: A Gender Expansive Space Time: Monday, Sep. 16 at 6 p.m.

Location: Benson University Center, Room 311 All gender identities outside of cisgender men and women are invited to an open caucus space. It is also a space for students who may be questioning how they understand themselves in the context of gender.

Study Abroad Panel: Pre-Med, Pre-Health and Science Majors Time: Monday, Sep. 17 at 5 p.m.

Location: Tribble Hall, DeTamble Auditorium Study Abroad alumni will share their first-hand experiences. This is the perfect opportunity for science-oriented students to learn about internships abroad, scholarship opportunities and anything else abroad-related.

Homecoming Cookout & Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse Time: Wednesday, Sep. 18 at 6 p.m.

Location: Hearn Plaza Need a study break after the first few weeks of school?

Kick back with Student Union during an outdoor screening of the innovative animated superhero movie and burgers.

News | Old Gold & Black

Thursday, September 12, 2019 |Page 7

aWake All Night draws record crowds The Student Union event featured old favorites as well as exciting new activities

BY CAROLINE WALKER Asst. News Editor walkct18@wfu.edu

Each semester, many students go to Benson to play games, spend time with friends, enjoy free food and try to win raffle prizes during the biannual aWake All Night.

This year, the event was held on Sept. 7 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. in Benson. The theme was “Mall Madness”, and the offerings included staples of the event such as casino tables, psychic predictions, arcade games and raffle prizes.

The Student Union Director of Late at Wake, Ellie Wheatley, explained the importance of hosting aWake all Night for students.

“I think it’s an important event, because it has something for anyone to do and gives people a break from the stresses of school,” she said.

Enjoying this opportunity to relax and have fun, students participated in a diverse array of planned activities. They could test their pop culPhoto courtesy of Wake Forest Student Union’s Instagram page ture knowledge at a game show, dur- This semester, aWake All Night was themed “Mall Madness.” Games ing which they could earn monetary included an arcade, raffles, casino tables and psychic readings. prizes, or even practice their putting skills while playing mini golf as they citing attraction offered at aWake All tainment factors of this year’s aWake rotated among the many stations set Night this year — bungee jumping. All Night in comparison with past The Student Union Director of events. up in Benson.

“As someone who planned aWake In addition to these activities, stu- Celebrations, Megan Hopkins, comdents who returned to the event also mented on how the bungee jumping All Night two years ago, I was so exnoticed that there was a new and ex- enhanced the excitement and enter- cited to see what Ellie would come

Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Student Union’s Instagram page

Senior Ashley Estrela, Student Union’s Director of Concerts, mans a table exhibiting the many prize baskets that students could win.

up with to revamp this campus tradition,” Hopkins said. “Adding a bungee jump attraction on the quad was another thrilling way to grab students’ attention, and just another fun thing to do.”

The bungee jumping was located outside on Manchester Plaza, causing many curious onlookers to pause for a moment and encouraging many people to come to aWake All Night and check out the other games held inside of Benson.

The bungee jumping definitely attracted more students’ attention and was a huge hit, especially as Student Union members enticed people to jump and perform numerous flips while hooked to the jumping apparatus in order to earn more raffle tickets.

Sophomore attendee Juliana Hopper attested to the popularity of this event.

“My favorite part of aWake all night was definitely the bungee jumping,” she said. “It was really fun to try something new with my friends.”

Reflecting the pull of this unique offering at aWake All Night, the attendance recorded for the event was over 500 people, exceeding Student Union’s goal and marking a significant increase from previous years in which the event was held.

To participate in this fun tradition and others, check your email for Student Union updates about different events on campus and information about the next aWake all Night, which will be planned for the spring semester.

Caroline Walker/Old Gold & Black

Sophomore Meri-Claire West leaps to new heights at the bungee jumping station, a new activity that was offered at aWake All Night.

OPINION

T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 9

PAG E 8

Online Editor:

at : w w w. w f u o g b . c o m

K y l e F e r r e r, f e r r k a 1 6 @ w f u . e d u

OLD GOLD & BLACK

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

“ Ethical consumerism requires constant vigilance Best Buying

Habitual interrogation of one’s consumer trends can help make us into ethical capitalists

Jack Portman

Staff Columnist porttjt17@wfu.edu To operate within a society, one typically operates within an economy as well. Each is somewhat — if not extensively or totally — conflated in such a way as to make participation in either necessary for participation in the other. This marriage of society and economy has the effect of imbuing economic activity with social and political meaning. It is also the case that the economy and the society each retain the capacity to shape each other. Economic forces may change the social geography of a particular locale, just as social change may effect systems of the economy. Exchanging $3 for a cup of coffee cannot, in this synthesized economy-society scenario, be divorced from certain social implications. Where and how I collected $3 in the first place is an important question to address. Where my $3 will find

A regimen of ethical consumerism will forgo consumption of those goods and services which are unsustainable.” its way to next should as well be considered.

Ideally, the onus of ethical consumption and spending is not solely the responsibility of the individual; regulatory agencies may strive to enforce rules and precipitate changes in standards for industry practice in order that an individual may consume ethically with ease.

However, in our neoliberal political landscape, deregulation is the law of the land. Resultantly, social responsibility is increasingly tangible in the dollars we spend (and don’t spend).

It is important to consider how one comes to possess money. Interestingly, research shows that one’s income will largely be determined by the zip code in which they were born. Communities are almost uniformly segregated by wealth and simultaneously by other factors such as years of schooling, familial wealth, race and age. Therefore, the money we come to possess is predictive of a social geography and a wealth gradient, both historically and contemporarily. Obviously, the privileged among us will accrue more money than the

less privileged of us — more money than is necessary for their comfortable survival even — while the poorest of us will live hand-tomouth, working tirelessly if employed or tirelessly seeking employment if not. Seemingly, many of us will receive a salary of certain magnitude for no other reason than where and to whom we were born. While a tempting refutation to this assertion may be that the higher salaried of us must have worked harder and become more educated than the lesser salaried of us, consider that a wealthy teenager putting forth an average academic and professional effort will more than likely far out-earn a poor teenager putting forth the same effort.

Given that, to at least a moderate extent, the money I accrue in my lifetime is not reflective of anything other than the circumstances of my birth, it would seem that I have some obligation to disseminate any excess wealth I accrue in order that it supplement the incomes of those less fortunate. Such a rigid discipline of wealth generation and redistribution seems impossible to negotiate with my desire for the seemingly superfluous objects and services I spend money on. That I willingly pay for Adidas Ultra Boost shoes when a cheaper pair would suffice to protect my feet has much to do with the influence of ideology and commodity fetishism. Certain social pressures and prevailing aesthetic preferences propagated by

clothing companies themselves capitalize on my desire to assimilate with my peers, resulting in my cruel decision to allot over $100 to Adidas in exchange for a pair of shoes rather than a charitable organization such as UNICEF. In addition to the possible moral implications of spending on oneself while others are in need, spending in such a way that rewards unsustainable business practice may be problematic as well. A regimen of ethical consumerism will forgo consumption of those goods and services which are unsustainable, as well as avoid companies, corporations and distributors that rely on unethical labor practices or employ unsustainable modes of production.

In this sense, an ethical consumer “votes with their dollar” by supporting those businesses and products which are deemed sustainable and ethical.

Consuming in a late-stage capitalist society is inherently problematic, and navigating the moral and ethical dilemmas posed by the social implications of consumption can be tireless and unfruitful. However, by maintaining a constant interrogation of one’s purchasing habits and regularly making donations to charitable organizations (and one’s political campaigns of choice), consumption under capitalism can be slightly less morally corrupt.

Perhaps, but we all must persist in play. The attention and maintenance of our play impulse, however manifested, is integral. Though nominal adulthood looms, one’s identity cannot go through such a definitive re-labeling. Adulthood means a gradual accumulation of material responsibility (at first), then perhaps familial, political, etc., all aspects that wind around the vibrant core of your humanity. The implied or imposed seriousness of these new realities should not mean a bastardization of the self, a dilution or denial of pleasure and play because of some inevitable gloom pervading your life.

The aspirational creative is an extreme example: jumping from academic community to unsure return, in a life of intangible creation, promises uncertainty as reward for a holistic childishness. But extremity is instructive. The future does not have to be such a daring leap into the creative unknown, but it should include arenas of play. It could be a slow but faithful transition into compromise, where it is ok to be duplicitous if a job itself doesn’t contain the ingredients needed to maintain a spirit of play (note: there is likely no such job). One can compensate with thoughtful comportment and creative outlets. Life itself, usually colored by oc-

cupation, warrants improvisation and adaptation. Reinvention, whether as a micro-adjustment or existential pivot, waters the ancient garden inside us, that which blooms from a constant return to play.

But still, desire for comfort can leak a sticky magnetism, whispers of money, marriage and success that pit play as a corrosive agent anathema to all those things. Anxiety nibbles at the will, orienting it toward material comfort, which can lead to a capital-constructed façade of frolic.

Derek Thomson wrote in The Atlantic, in an article entitled “Workism is Making Americans Miserable,” that “work is not life’s product, but its currency. What we choose to buy with it is the ultimate project of living.” Consider that when considering a job, and wed it to my perhaps obscure and inscrutable exhortation to maintain a spirit of play, to continually inject life not with the somber platitudes of adulthood, but the invigorating, nonsensical impulses of a child. Another Thompson to wit, namely Hunter S.: “Ah, we lack the courage of our romantic convictions and thereby miss the wine of life, forgoing the very thing that makes living worthwhile.” Please, play on.

“ helps us to maintain our humanity The play impulse The Graduate

The divinity told to live within depends on our embrace of the play impulse

Kyle Ferrer

Staff Columnist ferrka16@wfu.edu What does it take to abandon the structure of your life and jump into an abyss of possibility and uncertainty?

“The creative adult is the child who survived,” Dave Itzkoff writes as the epigraph to Robin, his biography of Robin Williams, a fitting aphorism to describe a man gusting with whimsy and rattling wit. Williams’s life was an aria to play, that state of being we so often deny or denigrate. Language only presented him with limitations, governors of his boundless energy that he nonetheless also brought under his rule. His physical flickers and inter-penetrating barbs existed as heaves of being, generated from some obscure, ludic flash from the depths of Williams himself. He existed on a social and lin-

The future does not have to be such a leap into the creative unknown, but it should include arenas of play.” guistic precipice, yoking himself to his audiences through the threat (the ecstasy) of the playful plunge.

Williams’s style may only be called childish because it was a manifestation of uncorrupted play, a mode of being in which the child (i.e. the un-self-conscious human) is able to dither and disturb, pervert and display, all in a kind of whipquick associative game. Any condescension or resistance stems from jealousy, a will to play jaded by the world.

Notice: it is easy to articulate Williams’s venerable leap into lifelong recess, but almost impossible to actualize it. As a writer of a sorts, nearing the end of his college life, the creative life at once exhilarates and terrifies me, and the terror comes mostly from economic anxiety.

Every graduate faces the economic uncertainty of solo-living, of rent and food and Netflix subscriptions foisted upon them like a tidal weight. Do we compromise, go into “plastics,” as Ben Braddock was advised in The Graduate?

Opinion | Old Gold & Black

Thursday, September 12, 2019 | Page 9

“ Senate must not remain in McConnell's grip The Legislature

Flipping the Republican Senate will be crucial for a successful Democratic agenda

Amanda Wilcox Staff Columnist wilcaf16@wfu.edu

The Senate is a problem for Democrats.

Tonight, however, when ten of them face off at the third primary debate, that problem may be too easy to forget.

After all, visionary progressive agendas and snappy “clap-backs” are what rule the day amidst the political theater of the debate stage.

But as long as Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his Trumpist lackeys hold fast to control of the Senate, the bold ideas that Democrats promise tonight will be dead on arrival. Even if Democrats regain control of the White House — which is not a foregone conclusion — without the Senate in hand, they will lose a longer-term battle against the Republican Party that enabled Trump. There’s not a snowball’s chance in hell that any Democratic agenda could survive in McConnell’s Washington.

If Democrats are serious about advancing progressive goals, they must fight for the Senate with every bit of the fierce urgency that they deploy in thePresidential fight against Trump.

It won’t be Politics easy, and it would be extraordinarily flippant to rely on our presidential candidate’s coattails. Although Democrats will largely be on the offensive, given that Republicans hold 23 of the 35 seats to be contested in 2020, only two are in Democratic-leaning states. To secure 50 seats, which is

Far be it from the world's greatest deliberative body; McConnell's Senate is where progress goes to die."

enough only if Democrats win back the White House (the Vice-President breaks ties), a net three seats will need to flip blue. There would be an added complication if Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts or Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont defeated Trump — the Republican governor of the winner’s state would be allowed to appoint an interim senator until a special election could be held.

The urgency with which Senate races should be treated cannot be overstated.

Liberal-wing Supreme Court justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer are both well into their eighties, and if Trump is elected to a second term and has the unimpeded chance to replace one or both of them, he could almost completely remake our highest court in his Constitution-defying image in the span of his presidency.

On the other hand, if Democrats defeat Trump but do not wrest the Senate from Republicans, McConnell will stop at nothing to paralyze the nascent administration. As Majority Leader, he stole a Supreme Court seat, torpedoed the chamber’s rules to help confirm dangerous right-wing judges and executive branch appointments and abdicated the legislature’s duty as a check on the presidency. Without the White House and the Senate, Democrats might as well forget about making meaningful legislative progress. Far be it from the world’s greatest deliberative body; McConnell’s Senate is where progress goes to die.

Clearly, a Democratic Senate would be the lifeblood of a successful Democratic presidency. I fail to understand, then, why so many Democrats have

chosen quixotic presidential bids over Senate campaigns. The Senate is where we need the Beto O’Rourkes of the world; the Senate is where low-polling would-be presidential candidates actually stand a fighting chance of repairing our country and sustaining our democracy. Following the tragic shooting in El Paso this summer, the Houston Chronicle issued a heartfelt plea to the city’s former congressman: “Beto, if you’re listening: Come home,” the newspaper said in an editorial. “Texas needs you.” Thus far, O’Rourke has declined to leave the presidential race, but he still has time. He would do the country a great and selfless service if he launched a primary bid against Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, who shares with McConnell the responsibility of breaking our upper chamber and turning the Senate into an approval factory for Trump’s judicial and administrative nominees. Likewise, Montana Governor Steve Bullock should consider suspending his presidential campaign and starting a run against Sen. Steve Daines. Former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper ought to be commended for recognizing that his presidential bid was unsustainable and pivoting to a run against the vulnerable Sen. Cory Gardner, turning a likely Republican win into a possible Democratic one. O’Rourke and Bullock would likely have the country behind them if they followed Hickenlooper’s lead.

The good news is that there are some openings for Democrats — so long as the national party leadership commits to pouring its heart and soul into those races. In Arizona, Sen. Martha McSally will have to re-run a race she lost in 2018 (after she was defeated by Democrat Kyrsten Sinema for former Sen. Jeff Flake’s open seat, she was appointed by Arizona’s Republican governor to

serve out the remainder of the late John McCain’s term). McSally will face off against retired astronaut and gun control activist Mark Kelly, husband to former Rep. Gabby Giffords, who was shot in the head at a campaign event in Tucson in 2011. Kelly has been outraising McSally and is well-liked; the race is within reach for Democrats even in ruby-red Arizona. In addition, in Maine, Sen. Susan Collins is underwater. She has incensed both sides of the political spectrum, as Republicans are furious with her pivotal nay vote in 2017 on the GOP bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and Democrats still seethe over her yea votes on the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act and the confirmation of Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh. Her opponent, Maine Speaker of the House Sarah Gideon, is seen as formidable.

Other challenges and opportunities for Democrats will include holding on to Sen. Doug Jones’ seat in Alabama; in 2017 Jones barely scraped a victory in a special election against an accused child molester. In addition, with the simultaneous re-election bid of Sen. David Perdue and the departure of Sen. Johnny Isakson, Georgia will have two seats in play in a state that is trending blue. Here in swing state North Carolina, former state lawmaker Cal Cunningham could have a fighting chance given Sen. Thom Tillis’ unpopularity.

To be sure, there are many fronts on which the battle against Trumpism can be fought. Much will be lost if the Senate is dismissed as one of those fighting grounds. The so-called greatest deliberative body in the world could be so again one day — but at the moment, the Senate needs saving, and the Democrats have their work cut out for them.

Photo Courtesy of MCTCampus

Thursday, September 12, 2019 | Page 10

Opinion | Old Gold & Black

“ from a shade of romanticism Reality benefits Personal Philosophy

The future may never live up to romantic expectations, but it can gleam with imaginative pragmatism

Olivia Field

Staff Columnist fielor17@wfu.edu About a week ago, I found myself at a birthday party for a friend of my parents. Given the nature of the event, I was one of the only young people within a sea of middle-aged adults, subsequently making me the target of rapid-fire questioning: “Where do you go to school again?”; “So, do you have a boyfriend?”; “Are you still friends with that girl from high school ... what is her name again?”; “What are you studying at school?”; and of course, “Well, what are you planning to do with that degree?”

I can never answer that last question confidently (I mean, who really can?). So, I end up spewing something out about journalism or working in/ around government, finishing with the fact that I still have some time to figure it out. When I was asked this question by a couple of tipsy moms and dads at this party, I word-vomited a similar concept but I ended with “I’m not sure honestly, but the world is my oyster!”

I don’t really know what possessed me to say this, because I would like

While subscribing to pragmatism is a valuable way to navigate the world, true purpose comes when you bolster it with the unrealistic." to think that I have a baseline understanding of our present-day economy.

But, it just kind of came out. It also came as a total shock to my audience, with one of the dads pulling out a, “Wow, I haven’t heard that phrase in years.”

Their relatively perverse reaction to such a hopeful, positive claim made me start to think about whether or not my understanding of the world is grounded enough.

On many levels, I am an idealist. I am still inspired by the words of (some) politicians, often getting fired up about the possibility of radical change. I am a complete and total romantic — watching certain movies and reading passion-filled books fuels my ideas about true love. I see the best in people, I would probably lend too much money to someone I shouldn’t and I haven’t completely outgrown elementary-school dreams about being president. To sum it up, I approach many aspects of life with a lightness that I realize many people have rejected or completely avoid.

Now, this is not to say that I don’t have a firm grasp of reality. I understand the many ways in which this world is unjust, I see my parents getting into fights and I have a measly ex-

cuse for a savings account. So, I don't exist in oblivion. That being said, I try not to let “the sad reality” influence my viewpoint about the future.

After this thorough examination of my outlook on life, I have come to realize that one cannot reject idealism and embrace pure practicality in their entireties, or vice versa. In fact, the most productive existence is one that strikes a delicate balance between the two. Hopes and desires are what makes us human, just as having the knowledge that failure is inevitable.

While subscribing to pragmatism is a valuable way to navigate the world, true purpose comes when you bolster it with the unrealistic. A fruitful exis-

tence is one that rests on a foundation of totally wild goals and possibly unreachable states of being, while also being defined by a deep social awareness and the understanding that hard work is the key to materializing any of these dreams.

Our generation, both implicitly and explicitly, is constantly reminded that we can’t be “grown-ups” and dream big. I have decided to reject this sentiment. Although not all of us will be the president, the astronaut that lands on Mars, the star of the ballet or the crime fighting detective, some of us will. So, be a little unrealistic because the world is, in fact, our oyster.

Photo courtesy of MCTCampus

“ Kanye West's opinions stem from a contrarian impulse Iconoclasm

The rapper's strange allegiances only perpetuate his fame and increase his controversiality

Connor McNeely Contributing Writer mcnecb19@wfu.edu

Reactions were wide-ranging when Kim Kardashian West revealed her husband’s new project, Jesus is King, the follow-up to his eighth studio album Ye. Twitter users both praised and berated Kim and Kanye West for his decision, which, to many, seemed out-ofthe-blue. How could Kanye West refuse his fans, and the larger culture of music, a new album to satiate their cravings for his artistic genius? How could Kanye West, the perennial titan of the rap industry, turn to such a bland, shallow subject as Christianity, especially now with its maligned and hypocritical representation?

The answer is simple: Kanye West is a contrarian.

Who is to say that he isn't confused, afflicted or lost within the blinding maelstrom of wealth and fame in America?"

While many of his loyal fans and ardent political allies declare him to be one of the last bastions of free thought in the modern music world, the truth is that he isn’t. Dragon energy or not, Kanye West's bread and butter is clearly his ability to distance himself from every other artist that anyone might favor.

Whether it is in artistic style, lifestyle choices or even the names of his children, these decisions of independence apply to almost every aspect of his life. West’s choice to support President Donald Trump, for example, shook pop culture and most of political America to its core. Devoted followers mostly felt alienated and betrayed, and many in the African American community took it upon themselves to shun West for professing his support to a figure ensnared with the rampant xenophobia swelling across the country. Yet West continues to flaunt his red MAGA hat,

not as much as a declaration of support for Trump and Republican politics, but more as a symbol of what he believes to be his independence as a “free thinker,” or a holder of “dragon energy." Even as many of his contemporaries condemn the hat and the message it carries — Pusha T described it as “this generation’s Klu Klux Klan hood”— West presses on, likening the hat to a “Superman cape.”

West thrives on this controversy. It’s evident in the plethora of examples that he has willingly provided across decades of his public spotlight. In his fumbling and ill-conceived attempts to relate the inequality and injustice that has afflicted African Americans during the early history of the United States, West issued one of the most insensitive comments of any major cultural star in recent memory. He followed that exposure in the press with an outburst of crackpot tweets that increased his celebrity a substantial amount, coincidentally right before the release of Ye. To be fair, the sentiment behind his sudden expression of allegiance to the Republicans and interest in conservative figures like Candace Owens appears genuine. West plays

his part beautifully, melting down to express his “true” intent, tweeting, “I’m not even political. I’m not a Democrat or a Republican.” Behind statements like these, it’s easy to forget West telling Rolling Stone in 2006, “My misery is your pleasure.”

But who is to say that he isn’t confused, afflicted or lost within the blinding maelstrom of wealth and fame in modern America? After all, West’s hospitalization and subsequent addiction to opioids shows a legitimate problem that he seemingly overcame. West sprinkles references to his apparent decline in mental health like a breadcrumb trail through his recent projects, and his supporters, who crave a sufficient defense of his whirlwind personality, gobble them up.

The real question is: what semblance of intention resides behind these dangerous personal issues?

The only clear-cut fact is that Kanye West is mercurial, always adapting and shifting his form. He doesn’t want to be who you think he is. As arguably the greatest producer of the modern era, Kanye West desires to be different. He keeps us coming back by changing, even if we don’t like it.

SPORTS

T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 9

PAG E 11

Online at: www.wfuogb.com Twitter: @sports_ogb Editor: Rafael Lima, limara17@wfu.edu

OLD GOLD & BLACK

No. 1 Demon Deacons keep undefeated streak Wake Forest remains undefeated heading into ACC play Friday night against Pittsburgh

BY JB BLOOD Contributing Writer bloojj18@wfu.edu

Every year teams are rising and falling, improving and regressing. It takes an exceptional team and culture to build longterm success. With their fifth consecutive year reaching the top of the U.S. soccer coaches poll, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons men’s soccer team has proven it is one of those exceptional teams.

This past week, Wake Forest solidified its No. 1 ranking with a 3-1 win over Dartmouth on Friday and a 4-0 win over Houston Baptist on Monday.

In addition to its fifth consecutive season being ranked No. 1, the Deacs also continued their streak of being ranked in the top 10 of 37 consecutive polls and being in the top 25 of 57 consecutive polls (dating back to the 2015 preseason poll).

Indeed, Wake Forest is one of the powerhouses of the collegiate soccer world.

After the two matches, Wake Forest Head Coach Bobby Muuss noted his team’s ability to score but thought they

needed to improve defensively before their upcoming road matchup against ACC foe Pitt on Friday night.

“I’m happy that we’re scoring some goals and we’re getting looks ... Defensively we just need to be much much better. We break down defensively, it’s something we have to watch all week,” Muuss said. “If we defend the way we have been defending, we’re going to have to score more goals. Cleaning it up defensively is my main goal right now.”

The 3-1 win over Dartmouth was Muuss’ 150th career win. Freshman star Calvin Harris made his first career start for the Deacs after scoring a goal the week before against Creighton.

Wake Forest started off strong, scoring their first goal just five minutes into the match. Senior defender Eddie Folds nailed a brilliant line-drive cross from the left side of the box that junior Justin McMaster deftly headed past the goalie to give Wake Forest the 1-0 lead.

But in the 28th minute, a defensive miscue by the Demon Deacons led to a Dartmouth goal. A Dartmouth throw-in was headed by Dartmouth’s Tiger Graham in the Wake Forest box, which led to the ball getting behind the defender, allowing Dartmouth’s forward David Alino to strike the ball and score it off the

crossbar. The defensive breakdown on the play was a low point for Wake Forest in the game.

The Deacs answered back in the second half with another goal by McMaster in the 62nd minute. Midfielder Bruno Lapa passed the ball to McMaster who was in the right side of the box. McMaster then fired the ball towards the net and it deflected off a Dartmouth defender to give the Demon Deacons the 2-1 lead.

Wake Forest clinched the game in the 83rd minute off of a corner kick taken by freshman Omar Hernandez. Senior right back Alistair Johnson headed in the ball to give the Deacs the 3-1 win.

Wake Forest commanded the game and held an 8-1 advantage on corner kicks, a 19-5 advantage on shots and a 9-1 advantage on shots on target. Two-thirds of the Deacs’ ball possession was on the Dartmouth half of the field, while having the ball for 68% of the whole game.

Meanwhile, Muuss played 19 different players during the game, including five true freshmen.

McMaster was the key player of the night with his two goals. When asked about his second goal, which put the team back in the lead and came after a string of close chances for the Deacs, McMaster said, “It felt really good because

we kept pushing and pushing. I felt that we really deserved that goal.”

See Soccer, Page 14

Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletic Communications

Wake Forest Head Coach Bobby Muuss had his 150th career win against Dartmouth.

Wake Forest outplays Rice during 41-21 road win The Demon Deacons got their second win of the season after a strong performance

by QB Jamie Newman

BY RAFAEL LIMA Sports Editor limara17@wfu.edu In a battle that pitted the Deacs’ high-flying attack against a solid Rice defense that allowed only 14 points in week one, the Demon Deacons slowly overmatched the Owls to get their first road win of the season.

Redshirt junior quarterback Jamie Newman proved once again why he has earned the starting quarterback job over the summer with another strong display. Newman threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns, while completing 21 out of 27 attempted passes. So far, Newman has thrown for at least 300 yards, three touchdowns with a 74.3 % completion rate and no interceptions over the first two games.

The most important takeaway is how Newman has been outstanding with his poise inside the pocket and dictating the rhythm of the offense, especially if you take into account that this was only his sixth game as the Demon Deacons signal-caller.

“I was proud of the way our offense responded with explosive plays. Jamie [Newman], two weeks in a row, has played at a really high level, very accurate, said Head Coach Dave Clawson during Tuesday’s press conference.

"Scotty [Washington] and Sage [Surratt] continue to make big plays for us. I thought our offensive line protected well.”

Washington and Surratt have proven to be a lethal combination as the starting outside receivers. Both standing above 6 feet 3 inches, they provide a combination of size and athleticism that is not usually seen on a Wake Forest football team. Through the first two games, they have combined for 407 yards and four touchdowns.

Each has also been a part of the ACC’s team of the week in back-to-back weeks. Having Surratt and Washington

healthy and producing at this level alongside an accurate Newman might be the key for the Deacs surpassing their record of eight wins in a single season under Clawson.

As for Rice, they mounted a comeback attempt early in the game by tying Wake Forest at 14 at the end of the first quarter. It was a great offensive display by the Owls, especially considering that starting quarterback Wiley Green left the game after being stopped at the goal-line

by Wake Forest linebacker Justin Strnad.

It was a clean hit by Strnad, but Green still had to be carried off the field on a backboard. Green was released from the hospital on Friday night and is now being monitored by Rice’s medical staff. Post-injury tests came back negative, which is a good sign for Green’s recovery.

The Deacs will now focus on their rivalry game against a North Carolina team that is also undefeated to start the season. The Tar Heels have defeated South Carolina and Miami in two tight affairs and have been receiving a lot of consideration for the AP top 25. Among the reasons for their surge this season, after winning only two games in total in 2018, is true freshman quarterback Sam Howell.

“Their quarterback Howell is in no way, shape or form playing like a true freshman. He has shown a lot of poise and played with a lot of courage. He isn't scared to run the ball. The throw he made on 4th-and-17 and then the touchdown strike he threw [both in the game-winning drive against Miami], that does not look like a guy playing his second game. He is playing well and the moment is not too big for him,” Clawson said. “Their offensive line is big and very talented. I think they are doing a great job of protecting him and giving him time. Their skill will be by far the best skill that we have faced so far this year.”

In his first two games at the collegiate level, Howell already has amassed two fourth-quarter comebacks, akin to a certain Wake Forest quarterback who has three game-winning drives in the fourth quarter over his first six career starts.

The Deacs will host the Tar Heels at BB&T Field with a 6 p.m. kick off on Friday night. The Athletics Department has released a “blackout” campaign across all their

social media to incentivize students to wear black Wake Forest gear against North Carolina. Despite not counting as a conference matchup, playing against UNC should make for one of the most electric home games the Deacs have had in recent memory.

“I think it's a good chance, especially for our Wake Forest fans. We haven't seen UNC in four years, I believe. The state championship is on the line right now, first one of those many games,” Surratt said. “I know a lot of alumni and fans have been waiting for this game and they are really excited about this game, and they want us to win really, really bad. It's going to be a great atmosphere.”

Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletic Communications

Receiver Scotty Washington had a team-high 204 yards to go along with two touchdowns.

Page 12 | Thursday, September 12, 2019

Old Gold & Black | Sports

NFL Recap: Ravens and Patriots impress The Patriots look as strong as ever, while the Browns remain as unimpressive as ever

BY LUKE MARTIN Contributing Writer martl19@wfu.edu

Lions 27, Cardinals 27 — As eye-popping as a tie can be, many were only interested in this game to see the new Arizona duo of Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury and rookie quarterback Kyler Murray. Both teams are expected to dwell near the bottom of the NFC, but they did not play like it on Sunday. Matthew Stafford made the most of new targets T.J. Hockenson and Danny Amendola without the help of a run game. Kyler Murray started slowly but led a comeback charge as he got more comfortable. Watch out for the Murray to Larry Fitzgerald connection this year, as it looked impossible to stop late in this one.

Texans 28, Saints 30 — If you like great quarterback play, this game was a can’t-miss. Deshaun Watson showed what he can do when kept off the ground, receiving much improved protection from an offensive line anchored by newly-acquired tackle Laremy Tunsil. In the opposing backfield, Drew Brees seemed poised to have another year of putting up ridiculous numbers, despite his age. It is hard to judge the postJadeveon Clowney Texans defense against an offense

as explosive as the Saints, but that adjustment is worth keeping an eye on. Unfortunately, some questionable coaching decisions late had too much of an impact in deciding this game.

Browns 13, Titans 43 — All eyes were on the newlook Browns offense, eager to see how star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. would fit in with his new offense. After a slow first half by both teams, the Titans ensured that a seamless transition for OBJ would not be the narrative coming out of this one. Marcus Mariota went 6-6 passing with three touchdowns in the second half. Rookie WR A.J. Brown finished his debut with three catches for 100 yards, and veteran tight end

BILL INGRAM/The Palm Beach Post

The Ravens defense allowed only 200 total yards and 10 points against the Dolphins.

contributed two touchdowns. The Titans defense was strong across the board, particularly in the defensive backfield, where three different DB’s picked off Baker Mayfield in a very rough start for the Browns.

Patriots 33, Steelers 3 — At first glance, one might mistake Drew Brees’s game as the best performance by a 40-plus-year-old quarterback. Nobody on the Steelers’ defense would make that mistake. They had a front row seat to see Tom Brady’s 42-year-old arm throwing pinpoint passes all over the field to the tune of 341 yards and three touchdowns. The Patriots’ defense stifled the Steelers’ run game and were also able to keep Ben Roethlisberger from passing for a touchdown. Pittsburgh must improve on offense before going to face Seattle next week.

Ravens 59, Dolphins 10 — Ideally after week one, players are either energized by a win and ready for their next opponent, or eager to improve after a tough loss. Several Dolphins players had a less than ideal response after their week one blowout at the hands of the Ravens, reportedly demanding a trade through their agents, according to ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio. This game was all about Lamar Jackson, who thrives on proving doubters wrong. Jackson tore apart the Dolphins secondary, going 17 for 20 for 324 yards and five touchdowns. More TDs than interceptions is, as Jackson put it, “not bad for a running back.” Not bad at all.

Old experts challenged by new talent in U.S. Open finals In a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium, tennis fans nervously watched as seasoned pros were put to the test by ambitious rookies

5-1, 40-30 in the second set, but the gritty Williams that so many adore was unyielding, fighting back in close games to tie it up 5-5. A less-experienced Andreescu could have cracked then, especially with roaring cheers for the American echoing throughout the

BY LUCY NELSON stadium, but she prevailed against Williams’ massive Staff Writer strength and succeeded in executing crucial forehand nelsld16@wfu.edu winners. The match became 6-5 in favor of Andreescu, and then, with the game score at 40-30, the Canadian On Saturday, an exciting match-up ensued between ripped one more deep forehand winner to secure the the best female player of this era, Serena Williams, and the rapidly rising star, Bianca Andreescu, who had match.

Andreescu not only secured her first Grand Slam not lost a match since March. In the two-set match, the 19-year old remained consistently tough against title this weekend; she also established herself as one former No. 1 Williams, taking her down 6-3, 7-5 and of the dangerously-driven youngsters in women’s tenbecoming the first Canadian to win a Grand Slam nis right now — alongside reigning champion Naomi singles title.

Osaka, 21, semifinalist Belinda Bencic, 22, and the Anthony Behar/Sipa USA/TNS It was almost a mere reflection of last year’s final, famously young star Coco Gauff, 15. when Williams was defeated by the young Naomi On Sunday, a face-off took place in men’s tennis that After a grueling five-hour match, Rafael Nadal Osaka, 20, in a score of 6-2, 6-4. Except this year, was glaringly similar to that of the women’s the day secures his 19th Grand Slam singles title. there was no yelling at umpires and smashing of rack- prior: fan-favorite No. 2 Rafael Nadal faced a vigorets from Williams. Instead, she remained composed, even after multiple double-faults took the place of her ous young Russian man making his first Grand Slam when he was up 3-2, but he tiredly started slicing his finals appearance, fifth-seeded Daniil Medvedev, 23. backhands and a lanky Medvedev loomed over the net, usually iconic serve.

The somewhat unexciting match appeared to be This match, labeled by The New Yorker as “The Best smashing overheads and tipping unreachable balls, ulover when Andreescu had a match-winning point at U.S. Open Men’s Final of this Century," felt a little timately leading him to secure the third set.

A re-energized Nadal stepped it up in the fourth, more intense than the women’s, however, and had a different result in the battle of the youthful versus the but Medvedev prevailed and found empty spaces at crucial moments. experienced.

Both men were clearly gassed in the fifth set — it In a grueling five-hours match where stamina and athleticism were put to the test both physically and looked like the match could honestly go either way. mentally, Nadal conquered Medvedev 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, But Nadal broke Medvedev’s beastly serve in an in4-6, 6-4 to claim his 19th Grand Slam singles title — sanely long 28-shot rally to make it 3-2. His confijust one short of the Roger Federer’s world-record of dence led him to grab onto one more game, and at 4-2 things were looking good for the reigning champ, but 20.

The crown did not come easily to Nadal, to say the the rookie fighter kept digging. After a double-fault least. There was not a single set in the match where on Nadal’s serve, the set became 5-3. Then, following the former champ didn’t feel pressure from Medve- two lost championship points, Nadal still could not dev. The 6-foot-6-inches Russian’s first serve, reaching manage to break the Russian’s serve, making it 4-5.

Finally, the beloved Spaniard pulled through on a 127 mph, ran the Spaniard ragged in the first set, but Nadal pulled through and stepped up his aggressive- tricky drop shot, giving him the advantage. On the ness on his two-handed backhand to make it 6-5 and third championship point, he hit one of his few solid first serves of the match, causing a forced error on the then 7-5 on an unforced error by Medvedev.

The second set saw lots of long, deep rallies and well- return and allowing for his victorious collapse on the Imago/Zuma Press/TNS placed drop-shots on both ends, but Nadal remained court. Later, a stream of tears transitioned into sobs Bianca Andreescu, 19, is the first Canadian to consistent while Medvedev racked up the unforced er- as a tribute to his career flashed on the big screenever win a Grand Slam singles tournament. rors. Things were looking good in the third for Nadal throughout the stadium.

Sports | Old Gold & Black

Thursday, September 12, 2019 | Page 13

Spotlight: Emilia Migliaccio

BY RAFAEL LIMA Sports Editor limara17@wfu.edu

Whenever she looks back at her college career, Emilia Migliaccio might find many adjectives that describe her time at Wake Forest, but average is definitely not one of them. In 2018-19, as a sophomore playing for the Wake Forest women’s golf team, she won three individual titles: the Lady Tar Heel Invitational, the Bryan National Collegiate (which she shared with Wake Forest alumna Jennifer Kupcho) and the ACC Individual Women’s Championship.

During the summer between her sophomore and junior year, Migliaccio also represented Team USA during the 2019 Pan American Games in Peru, where she won two gold medals, one in the individual women’s category and one in the mixed team competition. Migliaccio has also excelled off the golf course as well. Prior to coming to Wake Forest, she had already written a 486-page novel entitled Just an Illusion, which was published by Lulu in 2018. Now, Migliaccio looks forward keep building her career as both a golfer and writer during her junior year.

Rafael Lima: I guess we should start with the most out-of-left-field accomplishment on the long list of impressive things you’ve done. How is it to win two Pan American gold medals?

Emilia Migliaccio: It was amazing!

It was such an honor to be in Peru and experience the Latin American culture.

I mean, [in golf ] the only time you can win a gold medal is in the Pan Am Games or in the Olympics. There was another big tournament that was at the same time as the Pan Am Games. It was the [U.S. Women’s Amateur], the biggest tournament in America. But the Pan Am Games are every four years. It was a tough decision, but I couldn’t pass it up. I think [the Pan Am Games] will always be the best experience ever.

RL: I know that golf is a sport that demands as much mentally as physically.

How were you able to keep your composure on the last day knowing that you had a shot at going for gold?

EM: My mom helped a lot because she was my caddie. She played on the Swed-

ish national team and played at Arizona.

So, she has a lot of experience, and she just knows my game really well. She was able to help me control my emotional state. But, it’s all about focusing on the present, focusing on the particular shot you’re hitting and not focusing on “Oh my gosh, what’s happening? What are the other girls doing? The leaderboard is getting tighter and tighter.” The more you think about that, it’s like a tailspin. It doesn’t end well. Laughs.

So, just kind of always staying in the present. It’s really hard to do, but when you do it, it feels great.

RL: You also seem to have a wide range of interests outside of golf. I saw that you had a book published before coming to Wake Forest.

Could you talk a little bit more about that whole experience?

EM: It was really cool! It’s called Just an Illusion, my novel.

I started writing it when I was a sophomore in high school and finished it when I was a senior.

I published it through Lulu. com, which was a company about 20 minutes from where I’m from. So, it was nice to have like a local tie. It was awesome. I’m not doing it for the money or the sales, because clearly that is not the way to go if you want to make a career. Laughs.

But, I love writing. It’s a

great outlet. Especially, because it’s really important to have something other than your sport, or else you’re very consumed. It just gets too serious. You need something to kind of let loose.

RL: What made you go from writing novels to wanting to get involved with journalism? Those are two very different writing styles.

EM: Yeah, it’s very different. It’s super interesting because before I took my Intro to Journalism class, I never looked at the news. I hated it. I never took a journalism class in high school because I was like, “No, I’ll have to be all caught up with the news.”

I was just not about that.

I was like against it. Then, I took it [at Wake Forest]. I realized how important journalism is and how fascinating it is. Not only you can be creative with your writing, but you get to interact with people, which is something that people aren’t doing it as much [nowadays]. You get to make an impact.

Journalism is so powerful.

RL: What are your plans for after graduation?

EM: I definitely want to go to [the Qualifying School] and turn professional. So, I’ll do Q School in the fall, which is basically qualifying into the LPGA event. LPGA is the women’s tour. So, there are three stages.

If you finish top five in Golfweek or top five in WAGR you get exempt into stage two.

So, basically I’ll go through those stages and hopefully make it.

Personal Profile Hometown: Cary, N.C. Class: Junior Accomplishments - Two Pan American gold

medals (women’s individual and mixed teams) - 2018-19 ACC Women’s Individual Champion - 2018-19 Co-Champion of the Bryan National Collegiate - 2018-19 Lady Tar Heel Invitational Champion - Published a 486-page novel during senior year of high school

Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletic Communications

Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletic Communications

Deac Notes Women’s golf team finishes second at Cougar Classic

No. 25 women’s soccer beat UNC-Wilmington by 2-0 to remain undefeated

On its first competition of the 2019-20 season, the Wake Forest women’s golf team shot overall 26-under over three rounds, good enough for second place. Three members of the team finished in the general top 10. Junior Emilia Migliaccio led the team and finished third overall at 8-under. Sophomore Vanessa Knecht tied at fourth place at 6-under in a career-best 67 shots.

The Demon Deacons got their fifth win of the season by defeating UNCW at Spry Stadium on Sunday. Hulda Arnarsdottir and Hayley Younginer scored for the Deacs. This was the first shutout for Wake Forest over the past six contests.

Wake Forest will travel to Chapel Hill to face top-ranked North Carolina on Thursday at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ACCNX.

Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletic Communications

Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletic Communications

Old Gold & Black | Sports

Page 14 | Thursday, September 11, 2019

Soccer: Harris continues to impress

Continued from Page 11

Wake Forest’s second win of the week came against the Houston Baptist Huskies on Monday night. The Huskies had just come off a 7-1 loss to SMU, so it was a good opportunity for Wake Forest to play a lot of different guys. Twenty-three of the 28 players on the Wake Forest roster had some playing time.

Wake Forest had a slow start giving Houston Baptist a few opportunities to begin the game. But they quickly snapped back into top form in the 18th minute when Calvin Harris opened up the scoring.

Alistair Johnson put a hard, low cross into the box that Harris was able to fire into the net on the first touch to give the Demon Deacons a 1-0 lead.

Moments after entering the game, Wake Forest sophomore Aristotle Zarris scored for the Demon Deacons to give them a 2-0 lead in the 26th minute.

Junior Machop Chol was dribbling the ball on the right side of the box and crossed the ball to Zarris who skillfully fired it around the goalie.

“I knew Machop has been beating guys and making good crosses,” Zarris said after the match. “Right when he got that ball, I was like, ‘I’m going to make a run near post, and Machop put it right where he always does, so I was really happy.”

Just 77 seconds later, Wake Forest was on the board again, this time with a goal by sophomore midfielder Isaiah Parente. Zarris gave a high and floating cross to Parente in the box that Parente was

able to head into the net. Wake Forest’s final goal of the evening came in the 64th minute. Freshman Omar Hernandez, who made his first career start in the game, passed the ball to Calvin Harris in the box. Harris then nimbly dribbled around the sixyard box and beat the goalie to score his second goal of the evening.

Harris has gotten off to an incredible start in his college career, scoring thre goals in four games.

“The main thing is that I’m playing with the best players in the country in college,” Harris said after the match. “My goals today were great assists from my teammates. So it’s just a credit to the team really.”

The Demon Deacons ended the evening with 62% of the possession and outshot Houston Baptist by 17-4. Additionally, Wake Forest had seven shots on target without allowing one. Houston Baptist got frustrated as the game went on, which led to them receiving six yellow cards, including three in the final 25 minutes.

Wake Forest opens up ACC play at Pitt on Friday night. The Panthers are coached by Jay Vidovich, Wake Forest’s former coach from 1994 to 2014. Under Vidovich, Wake Forest won five ACC titles and the 2007 national championship. Current Wake Forest Head Coach Bobby Muuss was an assistant under Vidovich from 2001-2007.

“We’re facing Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh is facing Wake Forest. It’s two top programs … we’re going to

have our hands full on the road,” Muuss said when asked about facing his former mentor. “Totally different environment, our first road game in the best soccer conference in the country. It’s not going to be easy.”

Wake Forest and Pitt will face off on Friday night at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on the ACC Network.

Photo courtesy of Wake Forest Athletic Communications

Freshman forward Calvin Harris scored twice against Houston Baptist on Monday night.

Robot umpires would create new problems for MLB While the concept is sound, an automated strike zone forces multiple collateral changes in the game

BY REN SCHMITT Print Managing Editor schmwm16@wfu.edu

As MLB continues to adapt its rulebook in an effort to modernize and to standardize the game, the advent of the post-umpire era draws nearer and nearer.

Specifically, so-called robot umpires calling balls and strikes in MLB games seems less like a quirky idea and more like a looming reality. Sure, the concept makes sense and would prevent more egregious umpiring errors, but the reality of this change is accompanied by a number of challenging consequences.

This year, MLB partnered with the independent Atlantic League to workshop a number of potential rule changes, turning the Atlantic League into a sort of new-age baseball laboratory. Experimental rules include a partial ban of the shift, an increase in base sizes, an increase in the distance from the pitching rubber to home plate and, perhaps most notably, the addition of TrackMan-aided home-plate umpires.

Some of these potential changes seem minor; most players and fans would likely not notice a 20% increase in the size of the bases. The addition of robot umpires, though, incited much consternation, as the change threatens to change a facet of the game that baseball fans cling to with the most fervor: its aesthetic. Baseball will likely not dispose of a homeplate umpire altogether for now, as humans are still required for instances like a play at the plate, but other elements of the game’s aesthetic soon could be subject to change.

In the Atlantic League, balls and strikes are determined by a radar system called a TrackMan, and the

home-plate umpire receives the call through an earpiece. Though the umpire can overrule the machine when there are obvious errors, the TrackMan makes most of the calls.

Such a change at the big-league level would require a significant overhaul and standardization of traditional rules regarding the strike zone.

While the strike zone in today’s game has grown to be more uniform than it once was, acceptable ball and strike calls in MLB frequently still fail to match the rulebook strike zone, defined as “the area over home plate from the midpoint between a batter’s shoulders and the top of the uniform pants — when the batter is in his stance and prepared to swing at a pitched ball — and a point just below the kneecap.”

The rule goes on to state that “part of the ball must cross over part of home plate while in the aforementioned area.”

One of the most obvious cases in which calls often deviate from the rule book strike zone occur when breaking pitches are thrown in the bottom of the zone. Many modern broadcasts feature a semi-accurate superimposed strike zone, and fans often see breaking pitches clip the bottom of the zone before bouncing off home plate.

These types of pitches are never expected to be called strikes, but the rule book strike zone would dictate that they are, in fact, strikes. This is just one discrepancy that MLB will have to reckon with when — not if — robot umpires become a part of the league, and should the rollout of this technology fail at all, players, fans and umpires alike will not react with patience.

Additionally, the catcher position would be altered forever by robot umpires. Without any need to prioritize pitch framing, catchers could stop crouching, and the defensive emphasis at the position would disappear. Catchers would also be able to set up more comfortably to throw out base stealers, a conse-

quence MLB would prefer to avoid, and the position now could be occupied by defensively-challenged players with strong arms and offensive competence.

In short, while robot umpires will be a part of MLB’s future and an important step in eliminating officiating mistakes, the realization of the concept will require significant rule changes and a great deal of foresight — something that MLB has not proven itself to possess. While simple and desirable at face value, automating the strike zone creates a host of complications that MLB may not be equipped to resolve.

Will Newton/Getty Images/TNS

Should MLB introduce an automated strike zone, several other changes would have to follow.

Thursday, September 12, 2019 |Page 15

Old Gold & Black | Sports

Wizards are destined for a rebuild

After years of regular playoff appearences in the East, the Wizards now find themselves in NBA purgatory

BY NIKO KOLEV Staff Writer kolens18@wfu.edu

There is no harder fact to admit then when a fan realizes that their team will not have any considerable amount of success in the foreseeable future. The NBA is no stranger to having teams where talent and success go to die, and even teams’ talent can’t create enough success to create change. It has been seen in the careers of many prominent players today. Anthony Davis has finally stopped wasting his prime in New Orleans to join the Lakers, championship player Kevin Love spent several years of his prime playing on a mediocre Minnesota Timberwolves team, Demarcus Cousins, newly of the L.A. Lakers, spent several years on a terrible Sacramento Kings team that could not surround him with the talent he needed to succeed, and there are many more examples.

A somewhat new addition to this list of star players currently wasting their careers on talent dumps is allstar Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards. The last two years have been a bit of a slump for the Wizards.

While Bradley Beal has had tremendous individual career success, becoming an all-star and truly developing into an elite leader for the team, the opposite could be said for the Wizards. In the last five years, the Wizards have either not been able to make the playoffs or had disappointing runs each time never being able to get out of the semifinals. Why is this happening?

Truthfully, a large part of the team’s lack of success is the lack of talent on the roster. There is really

no bench to speak of, and other than John Wall and Bradly Beal, reliable scorers or ball handlers are few and far between.

On top of that, the defense that the team plays is absolutely terrible. They have no spatial awareness, and there is often a lack of effort on defensive plays.

It can’t be ignored that John Wall has had a serious injury the last two seasons, and when he did play he play, he was lackluster. That leaves Bradley Beal with the responsibility to carry the team to a pathetic eighth seed and a five-game first round series exit, if the Wizards get lucky this season, very lucky. Another unignorable fact is that the coaching that had given the Wizards the initial success in recent seasons seems to also be the reason for their current failure. Coach Scott Brooks has stuck with the same coaching formula for his entire three-year tenure in Washington.

The system that Brooks created was at its best in the pick-and-roll game, and the team chemistry then was excellent. Marcin Gortat and John Wall’s elite connection on the pick and roll, combined with Otto Porter Jr.’s and Bradley Beal’s sharpshooting abilities, helped the team succeed in the first year of Brooks’ time in Washington.

But of course, Gortat got traded away because of his age and chemistry issues, and Porter’s massive contract had been weighing on the Wizards for quite some time, so off to Chicago he went. On top of that, Wall got a massive contract extension that seemed to have indirectly contributed to a lack of effort from him, a lack of effort that he continued to demonstrate last season.

Brooks’ lack of adaptation to new NBA offenses that are focused on high volume 3-point shooting and fast pace hinders any kind of success that the Wizards can attain. At this point the Wizards are just

wasting the talent of Bradley Beal and John Wall and should just trade them away for younger players and start over. This kind of middle ground, where the team is not bad enough to get high draft picks, but not good enough to make the playoffs and have success, is not going to get them anywhere. They also need a coach who is familiar with a high-octane pace and has dealt with young players before. A good fit would be someone like the former Sacramento Kings coach Dave Joerger, who was in Sacramento during the time when the team’s pace increased dramatically with players like De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield.

John Kuntz/cleveland.com/TNS

Despite years of success together, the Wall-Beal backcourt might have seen its last moments in 2018.

U.S. loses to France in the FIBA World Cup The American team is out of the running for the gold medal after a 89-79 loss to France on Wednesday

BY NICK LALLI Contributing Writer lalldp18@wfu.edu

The U.S. men’s basketball team entered their quarterfinal game Wednesday morning against France coming off five consecutive wins in group play against Greece, Brazil, Czech Republic, Japan and Turkey.

They beat the first four of the aforementioned quintet handily, looking like the dominant force the rest of the world has come to know. The American team destroyed the Greeks, Brazilians, Czechs and Japanese by a combined margin of 106 points. A stifling defense alongside the ability to have five playmakers on the floor at all times allowed the United States to overwhelm each team.

However, the Americans found themselves fighting for their lives against a surprisingly tough Turkish team that had already lost to the Czech Republic by 15 points. The Turks were up 92-91 against the United States with eight seconds left and star guard Cedi Osman of the Cleveland Cavaliers at the free throw line.

Osman is generally a good shooter, as he shot a well above average 78% at the free throw line during the 2018-2019 NBA season. Apparently, the pressure of clinching the greatest upset in FIBA basketball history got to him, as he proceeded to miss two consecutive free throws. The Americans capitalized on Osman’s mistake, as Milwaukee Bucks star Khris Middleton

drew a foul on the next play and sank two free throws to seal a 93-92 victory for the American squad.

Osman and Ersan ĪIlyasova, Middleton’s teammate on the Bucks, combined for 38 points in the heroic losing effort. As a team, the Turks kept themselves in the game by shooting a blistering 61% on 3-point shots, while holding the Americans to a paltry 35% shooting from the field.

After their successful group play, the Americans moved on to face their biggest threat thus far in a 4-1 French team. Four quality NBA talents in New York Knick Frank Ntilikina, Charlotte Hornet Nicolas Batum, Orlando Magic Evan Fournier and Utah Jazz Rudy Gobert led the charge for France heading into Wednesday’s game.

The Americans proceeded to greatly underwhelm in an 89-79 loss to France, thanks primarily to Gobert’s monster game. The 7-foot-1-inch center, nicknamed the Stifle Tower for his impenetrable rim protection, scored 26 points, grabbed 16 boards and blocked three shots in a dominant display for the French team.

For the Americans, Donovan Mitchell led the charge with 29 points on 52% shooting from the field. His teammates were unable to muster much help around him, as they combined for 50 points at a pedestrian 45% clip.

Elsewhere in the tournament, Spain and Australia also made it to the quarterfinals. The Spaniards won their quarterfinal game to put them into the next round, as they beat Poland 90-78. Brothers Willy and Juancho Hernangomez led the charge for the Spanish team, combining for 32 points to knock off the Poles.

The Australians will have to knock off Czech Republic in order to face the Spaniards in the semi-finals.

Australia has been led by a significant amount of NBA talent, mainly guards Patty Mills of the San Antonio Spurs and Matthew Dellavedova of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and now appear to be the odds-on favorites to win the tournament after the Americans’ early exit.

The United States will play the Serbian national team on Thursday for 5th place.

Meng Yongmin/Xinhua/Zuma Press/TNS

France proved to be a thorn in the United States’ side once again by eliminating them in the World Cup.

LIFE

T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 9

PAG E 16

Online

at : w w w. w f u o g b . c o m e d i t o r : E m i l y B e a u c h a m p , b e a u e a 17 @ w f u . e d u

OLD GOLD & BLACK

The Night Circus exceeds expectations Author, Erin Morgenstern, creates a dynamic world of magic and illusion that the reader becomes emmersed in

BY LOGAN RICHARDSON Contributing Writer richlb17@wfu.edu

“The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it, no paper notices on downtown posts and billboards, no mentions or advertisements in local newspapers. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not.”

Thus begins the fantastic and enchanted journey that is The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. This novel exudes a subtle and ethereal sort of fantasy that is hard to capture in just 387 pages. Yet Morgenstern manages to capture the reader in this whimsical story of the mysterious and illustrious circus, appearing and disappearing randomly in cities across the world, themed in black and white. This circus is Le Cirque des Rêves, or the Circus of Dreams.

This novel follows the journey of the circus as well as the two children at the center of it: Marco and Celia. These children are the center of the circus and grow as it grows. Celia is able to create wonderful illusions — though they are in fact not illusions at all — and Marco is able to create new worlds. Both have been trained vigorously for their entire lives in order to perform in the circus, and the reader quickly learns that this is not just a circus, but a competition between the two.

Photo courtesy of imdb.com

Morgenstern’s newest novel, The Starless Sea will highlight a timeless love story

The two children exist throughout the circus, creating new tents of ethereal enigmas and wonderful features that are incredibly imaginative.

As they keep adding to the circus, their competing tents and tricks grow more and more intertwined, as they are caught in a competition where they do not know the rules. Celia and Marco create not only tents in the circus buried in the pages of this book, but dreams in the reader’s head.

Morgenstern is able to create a world that the reader longs to experience, describing each detail down to the sounds and the smells, engaging each reader’s senses to explore an unknown world. The magic of the circus for the reader, is that it truly is a Circus of Dreams. Each time the pages are opened it feels as though you enter a new reality, transported to the world of Celia and Marco and the magical Circus of Dreams.

Morgenstern writes, “You may tell a tale that takes up residence in someone’s soul, becomes their blood and self and purpose. That tale will move them and drive them and who knows that they might do because of it, because of your words. That is your role, your gift.” This is indeed what she is able to do through this novel.

It is an experience of fantasy, magic, cruelty and love. The novel tells the tale of a sort of beautiful pain that the characters experience.

The magic of the novel is that, while fantastical, the reader still connects to the main characters and their struggles, able to empathize. This deep empathy allows the reader to get lost in the idea that, at least for the duration of the novel, the fantastic may not be so impossible, delving into a realm of magic that one can imagine to be real.

While discussing the circus, Morgenstern writes, “You are no longer quite certain which side of the fence is the dream.” This notion is not one unique to the circusgoers. The reader is left with much the same idea following the conclusion of the novel. It transports you and tells a story unlike anything you have ever read, easily becoming a favorite book that you will finding yourself wanting to reread each time you finish it.

If you're looking for a fun read this semester then Morgenstern's novels are a great choice.

They transport you into another world which will easily allow you to escape the stress of homework.

The Night Circus was Erin Morgenstern’s first novel, and she will be releasing her second on Nov. 5 of this year. Her upcoming book, entitled The Starless Sea, is a love story set in an underground world of pirates, painters, lovers, liars and ships that sail upon a starless sea.

Photo courtesy of amazon.com

Featured in the photo above is the paperback copy's cover art of The Night Circus.

This upcoming novel tells the story of Zachary, a graduate student entranced by the fantastical stories he reads in a mysterious book. Until he reads a story from his own life in this book. In order to discover how his life found a place in the story, he sets out to discover the bewildering secrets of the book and the magical world in it. Along the way, he begins to discover his purpose, both in the story and in his life.

This novel is bound to be as wonderful as Morgenstern’s first, as she is able to convey the most whimsical things in her pages in a way that intrigues the reader and helps them connect and visualize the images. She is a truly talented writer, and I look forward to reading The Starless Sea, called “An ambitious and bewitching gem of a book” by Kirkus. Morgenstern commands words and puts them together in a wholly unique and wonderful way to create magnificent stories and scenes within her works, and I am sure The Starless Sea will be no exception.

The Starless Sea is now available for pre-order through most major booksellers. It's currently selling for $20.27 as a hardcover on Amazon and it's paperback is selling for $31.

Thursday, September 12, 2019 | Page 17

Life | Old Gold & Black

Travel Column | Barcelona

THE HOT Barcelona appeals to all interests LIST Barcelona is a lively city that offers a variety of restaurants and architecture

BY KATE TENDER Staff Writer tendke18@wfu.edu The first stop on my Spain adventure this past summer was the beautiful city of Barcelona. Admittedly, my mom and I had some challenges (we got pick-pocketed and were very jet-lagged); however, I still thoroughly appreciated my time there.

We stayed in Barcelona for about five days at an Airbnb along one of the main avenues of the city. Since we did not rent a car, we mainly traveled on foot or through the public transit system. The metro was easily navigable, but walking was the most convenient, and there were many restaurants, shopping opportunities and landmarks within 10-15 minutes of us.

For restaurant options, I would recommend looking around your immediate area; there are plenty of cafés and a variety of options within minutes of practically anywhere in the city. Also, don’t be afraid to stop somewhere that looks interesting to you. A lot of our great food experiences were found by chance when exploring a new area.

On the first day, we went to La Sagrada Família, which is a Roman Catholic church that has been under construction

since 1882. Unfortunately, we didn’t purchase tickets, so we didn’t go inside, but the outside was spectacular. Afterwards, we visited the Arc de Triomf, which was originally built as the access gate for the 1888 Barcelona World Fair. It was quite ornate and attracted lots of tourists.

For fans of architecture, I would also recommend visiting La Pedrera, Casa Milà. It was built by Antoni Guadí for the Milà family, who lived in the main floor and rented out the other apartments in the building. Guadí took his inspiration for the building from the organic lines in nature, and it was truly unlike anything I’d ever seen. It was one of my favorite experiences on the trip. We were able to walk through the main apartment and go on the roof.

There were some places we went that I thought were worth seeing once to experience it for myself, but that I would not go

back to. La Rambla, which is a street that acts as the border between two quarters Barri Gòtic and El Raval, is a popular tourist attraction. While there were plenty of shops lining the street, it was very crowded. However, the side streets had less foot traffic and lots of shops to explore.

Barceloneta Beach was another location I’m glad to have experienced, but I’d explore another beach if given the opportunity. It was very crowded, and there were many vendors walking around trying to sell towels and drinks; they were eventually told to leave by the police. The view of the water was amazing though, and we ended up eating lunch overlooking the ocean.

Overall, there was never a dull moment in Barcelona. I loved the liveliness of the city while enjoying taking the time to share a meal or coffee. After my first experience in Spain, I’m very grateful I got the opportunity to go.

Journaling is something that all of us start enthusiastically but never end up sticking with for very long. Psychologists have pointed out the innumerable benefits of keeping a journal, such as improving mood, reducing symptoms of depression, enhancing memory and so on. In a nutshell, journaling is a great way to channel thoughts, understand one’s deeper feelings, get a sense of emotional clarity and preserve experiences. If you feel intimidated by journaling, here are some tips to help you stay on track.

1. Set a specific time for journaling (preferably right before going to bed).

2. Get a journal that is comfortable and convenient to write in.

3. Carry your journal around.

4. Don’ think too much before writing; just start.

Moving on to the actual task of writing, here are some things you can write about to kickstart the journaling process.

1. Quote of the week Write down a quote that you like along with your perception of it. Describe how it has impacted or is impacting your life.

1.

Keeping these ideas in mind, below are some interesting journal prompts to inspire you to start journaling.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

What is my greatest strength?

Life/travel bucket list My biggest accomplishment My biggest wish Motivational rant A mistake that helped me grow Five goals for the month A place that left a lasting impact on my life As fall is slowly giving way to winter, my mind wanders…

A day trip to…

Happiness is…

Overcoming fears One word to describe the past year My favorite place Current goals Favorite childhood memories

Brick = Either a very little or a whole lot.

“You live in Falls Church?

That’s a brick away.”

Geeked = Overly excited about a simple thing.

“I was geeked when I got a snow day and it didn’t even snow.”

Kate Tender/Old Gold & Black

2. Milestones There’s no better way to capture your life’s achievements and memories than to write about them in the first person to look back on.

3. Time capsule entry Your future self will thank you for this.

A time capsule entry may be a letter to your future self, current roadblocks in your life, things you wish to change or fears.

4. Recalling dreams Dreams often have a deeper meaning attached to them. Writing them down will allow you to reflect on them later.

Even if your dream is just a fun little episode with no apparent meaning, it is always interesting to recall some of your favorite dreams years down the line.

5. Mind map A mind map is basically a visual way of expressing ideas and concepts. You can use this visual thinking tool to brainstorm ideas and thoughts. Who knows, you might end up writing a best-seller with all your word vomit and thought bubbles.

6. Reading lists Making a reading list and set a target to read a specific number of books by the end of the month or year. Seasonal reading lists are my personal favorites.

Blown = Extremely frustrated/annoyed.

“I was blown when my Metro train was 30 minutes late.”

Siced = To be excessively excited.

“District Taco tonight! I’m siced.”

Whether you want to visit a beach, explore the local cuisine or learn about the architecture of the city, Barcelona has a lot to offer.

Journals provide benefits to writers

BY KHUSHI ARYA Contributing Writer aryak19@wfu.edu

By Amanda Wilcox If you have friends who live inside the Beltway, you may know these unique phrases.

3.

Advice Column | How to Journal

Journaling doesn’t have to be a chore; here are several tips to get started

Top 5 NOVA Slang Terms

5.

Clockin’ = To pay very close attention to something.

“I’m clockin’ who gets into UVA because I don’t want to go to college with my whole high school.”

DRINK OF THE WEEK Honey Strawberry Is this a rip-off of a juice shop smootie? Maybe...

Mint Smash • • • • • •

1/4 cup strawberries 2 tbsp. mint leaves 1 tbsp. honey 1.5 oz. vodka Ice Sprite

Mash the strawberries, mint and honey together in a large glass. Add in your choice of vodka and ice.

Finally top of the glass with Sprite.

Stir and enjoy.

21+ only Emily Beauchamp/Old Gold & Black

There are many different ways to journal, not just the traditional method.

Courtesy of Apple of my Eye

Page 18 | Thursday, September 12, 2019

Old Gold & Black | Life

Travel Column | Greece

Greece offers an immersive culture Greece’s beautiful scenery does not disappoint any visitors of the country

BY AMANDA GAGE Contributing Writer gageak19@wfu.edu

I was 8 years old when I watched Mamma Mia for the very first time. I watched in awe as the songs of ABBA came to life, and since that day in 2008, I have been singing every song and patiently waiting for the day when I could go to Greece and pretend I was in a musical.

When my family decided to go to Greece after my high school graduation, I lit up with joy. Was my dream finally coming true? Little did I know that Greece is much more than the musical, and I discovered a beautiful way of life that I will keep with me forever.

Our trip commenced with a 24-hour stay in Athens. Though not on everyone’s “hit list,” the bustling city has so much to offer. Don’t miss out on the Parthenon. Don’t worry if history isn’t your thing because climbing up to the Parthenon will amaze you and offer a perfect Instagram story. When you’re in Athens, make sure to walk down all the small side streets with vendors and cute shops where you can buy all the Greek delicacies (the dried fruit was my favorite).

My next stop was Mykonos. This island exceeded all my expectations and had something for every type of vacationer. On one hand, there is a lively, upbeat culture that you’ll find at beach clubs. On the flip side, you can relax on the beach and take in the beautiful island on a boat ride. If you do anything in Greece, you must go for a boat ride.

The water is an absolute dream, and the islands really do take your breath away.

Lastly, I finished my trip in the pictureperfect town of Oia, Santorini. I truly felt like I had reached paradise upon arrival to the mountainside village. The people welcome you with love and affection, making you feel at home. I spent my days exploring the windy cobblestone streets and stopping in many of the small shops. Taking a sunset tour is a rite of passage, because the Santorini sunsets are something you can’t find anywhere else.

Unfortunately, nobody broke into song and began dancing like they show in Mamma Mia, but the movie does shed light on a beautiful country and culture.

On the other side of the world, I saw people who took time for themselves and appreciate all life has to offer.

From witnessing their culture, I have learned it’s okay to take five minutes to just breathe. I saw the importance of sitting down with a large group of people to enjoy meal because that is how food

Emily Beauchamp/Old Gold & Black

Greece has a variety of islands to visit, each one offering a new adventure for people with different backgrounds and interests. is supposed to be eaten. I found a new appreciation for Mother Nature as I witnessed some of the most beautiful views of my life. So, for anyone looking to buy a ticket to Greece, I recommend that you

take time to explore, swim in the crystal blue water, talk to the locals, eat all the baklava and immerse yourself in the Greek culture (and maybe have a Mamma Mia dance party for old times’ sake).

Lifestyle Column | Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Disney opens new Star Wars attraction Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge allows parkgoers to experience their own story

BY MACKENZIE NOE Staff Writer noemj18@wfu.edu In a galaxy now not so far, far away, one is able to create their own story at Disney’s new attraction, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Thanks to the magic of Disney, I had the opportunity to travel to the planet Batuu over the summer, and it didn’t even involve taking the Millennium Falcon to get there.

Disney was able to bring the world of Star Wars to life. They had everything, and I mean everything, from the languages that would be used on Batuu, to the type of food and beverages served, all the way to the design of the bathrooms. Disney has once again shown off their attention to detail.

The whole experience begins when you walk into the land. It doesn’t matter which entrance you take; the landscape of the previous environment slowly fades away as Batuu begins to emerge. The towering tunnel from Frontierland makes you feel as if you’re being transported. Upon entering the attraction, you’re met with the rustic, futuristic look of the Planet of Batuu. I recommend that you start in Black Spire Outpost, where there are many merchants selling

items that appear in the movies. However, they aren’t selling products from the movie, like little R2-D2s, because Disney wants you to create your own story, not re-live its plot.

From there, I suggest that you go to help out the Millennium Falcon on a smuggling mission. This interactive ride assigns six people with three roles. You can either be a pilot, engineer or gunner. I was an engineer, and we had to fix damages to the ship during the ride. Your performance and the performance of the crew affects the success of your mission. One of our pilots was about 5 years old, so we tilted towards the left as the other pilot struggled to steer for both.

It’s rides like these where Disney seems to emphasize the underlying message of the importance of teamwork.

At this point, you may be starting to get hungry. You may need to learn the languages of Batuu first before you decide to order.

Starting with the soda stands, you aren’t going to see the familiar Coke products.

Instead, you’re going to receive spherical bottles with an out-of-this-galaxy language on the label. Despite being the same fountain drinks, they seem to taste better. Can a different bottle really do that?

Besides the sodas, there’s also the milk stand, which serves both green and blue milk. The “milk” (it’s dairy-free) is more of a creamy, powdery slushie. The blue is dragonfruit flavored, while the green is orange with passionfruit. Here’s the real kicker: a

cup of milk (which oddly appears to be very similar to the standard drink cup of alcoholic beverages) is over $8. Despite this, it’s worth the purchase since it’s an interesting experience, but purchasing the drink is not necessarily a must. Disclaimer: it’s super sweet, so your sweet tooth needs to be ready for battle.

As for food, Disney provides a wide variety, including foods that appeal to all dietary needs. Once again, the food is in languages you would find on Batuu. Fortunately though, the descriptions are in English, but they still have a Star Wars flair. These dishes include options for vegetarians and those who are health-conscious, such as the Felucian Garden Spread. This is a plant-based “kefta” on top of an herb hummus, a tomato-cucumber relish and pita. This is the dish I had and would highly recommend. It was flavorful, and you won’t find anything else like this in the park. These foods are hard to find in other areas of the park, so it shows how Disney is adding more variety to address different needs. Overall, the food and drinks offered in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge add to the environment of Batuu and put you in the world that the characters were in.

Besides the decor, rides, food and drinks, characters from the recent trilogy, such as Kylo Ren, go around interacting with visitors. At one point, Kylo Ren, along with two stormtroopers, were interrogating an unsuspecting tourist on whether they were with the Resistance or First Order. You may

Photo courtesy of Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/TNS

Pictured above is the Millennium Falcon located inside the park. even see Rey walking in Black Spire Outpost looking at merchandise or conversing with Chewbacca. These interactions with visitors put you on the planet of Batuu, yet not necessarily in the story of Star Wars, making you feel as though you truly are creating your own story.

Disney’s attention to details does not go unnoticed, and between the decor, rides, food and drinks, character interactions and more, this is a must see attraction, even if you aren’t a fan of Star Wars.

Life | Old Gold & Black

Thursday, September 12, 2019 | Page 19

The Farewell witholds judgement A restrained tale of nuclear intensity, The Farewell belongs in the slim canon of films that express themselves through a Hemingway-esque profundity

BY KYLE FERRER Opinion Editor ferrka16@wfu.edu

Withholding devices, that is, formal choices made to starve the viewer of junk-food expressionism, when shyly deployed, bore us into indifference. But when executed well, an artistic strategy that avoids emotive scores, roving or shaking cameras and other spliced-in emotional cues, creates an unflinching intensity. After disorientation occurs, we become steeped in a kind of purity, riveted by a rare, popular antithesis. Spoiled viewers wriggle into authentic reflection instead of a bobbing above thought in an emotional drift. But this kind of fruitful austerity is difficult to execute, which is why it is assiduously avoided by commercial filmmakers, whose audiences can’t stand boredom because of its next step: critical thought.

That said, there have been a few recent triumphs of technical restraint. Paul Schrader’s First Reformed seared Ethan Hawke into a desolate world, portraying his emptiness as a simmering solitude slowly etching its own destruction. David Lowery’s A Ghost Story withheld visual intrusion like the code for a ticking bomb, blanching melancholic life into a dry-heaving existence. Joe Penna’s Arctic, a hopelessly frigid epic, shot Mads Mikkelson’s minute futilities against a soundless white apocalypse. All these films accomplished a haunting simplicity, through which they presented a canvas for viewers to create thoughts and emotions unprompted by formal signposts. The Farewell does not always achieve this perfectly immaculate effect, sometimes lapsing into an insipid asceticism instead of bare intensity, but it’s formal choices mimic the subject of a film about whispered desire and explicit repression.

Photo courtesy of imdb.com

Photo courtesy of imdb.com

“Based on a real lie,” The Farewell is about a Chinese family’s decision to conceal a fatal cancer diagnosis from their grandmother, Nai Nai (Shuzen Zhao), in accordance with the Chinese cultural duty that dictates that the unafflicted carry the emotional burden for the dying. The family convenes in China, after 25 years apart, under the guise of a wedding (Han Chen and Aoi Mizuhara, blatant strangers to one another, barely able to communicate). Billi (Awkwafina), granddaughter of Nai Nai, is the last to discover the Chinese tradition and the first to scorn it. The film contrasts her sensitivity and confusion with the unanimous repression of her family, making the duped but jubilant Nai Nai, ecstatic over her family’s reunion, all the more painful to endure.

The family’s knowing frowns and verbal tip-toeing, tried by Nai Nai’s excitement, make the film sweet and genuine, subtle and disturbing. Billi, a young creative used to the gushing expressivity of New York City, wrestles with her elder’s strict adherence to tradition; she sees obvious cruelty, but the rest see a gift borne of arduous duty. Billi’s only option is to become withdrawn and evasive, something her spirited grandmother notices and tries to remedy. The two have the closest relationship of all, and the invisible strain on Billi lurks a step away from articulation, paring our own desire for visual explosion with Billi’s urge to reveal the truth to her grandmother.

The camera is staid and reserved, almost punishingly immobile. Just as the family members (and there are many) must bear their emotional burden in silence, the camera perches itself in the corner of the room and remains outside persuasion. We are to judge; or, more accurately, we are to ponder the moral quandary for ourselves, except for in moments of visual fulgurance, where there seems to be a fleeting answer. There is a scene at the wedding, where the camera becomes dizzyingly engaged around a table, flitting between faces, showing us a moment of interstitial bliss, as if to say, isn’t life an interminable trudging, punctuated only by a few flashes of unspeakable pleasure? Would a confession only limit the remaining days to despair?

This moment creates a notion of family outside socio-political reality. The brutalist architecture of communist China we glimpse as Billi arrives implies an inherent sameness, a repressive conformity that stunts individual growth;

hence, most of the family’s hasty exit to Japan or America. Yet, they return as an interactive whole, charmingly cooperative and quippy, albeit with some hidden animosity or unspoken dread. It is another tension the camera lets develop without intrusion. The exodus out of China was prompted by larger societal limitations, but the nuclear family remains intact and in love. Nai Nai, happy all have returned, stands in for a latent guilt floating around their departure, claiming intimacy of family is perhaps enough to stay. Just as the superficial moral of the story is not as apparent as it may seem, the other emotional realities of the characters slide along a grayscale. Reflection is the operative mode, not definitive interpretation.

One can easily imagine the over-produced, Hollywood moralism that could’ve been, but through a willful sublimation, The Farewell avoids moral target practice.

The least withholding of all is the film’s score

by Mykal Kilgore. Reminiscent at times of the dragged-into-a-sacrifice feel that permeated Jordan Peele’s 2019 film, Us, the film’s ambient sounds hit the ear like an impacted, liturgical chorus poured into timeless flutters of flutes and harps. The score simultaneously enhances the foreboding frigidity of the film while accomplishing a kind subtle inverse, whereby it makes briefly salient the roiling interiority of the characters that strain to conceal it. The sounds emerge as controlled expression, not quite a throng but an ancient immersion, perforating the discourse of the film (as Barthes would say), while never becoming unglued from it.

The social versus nuclear individual; the comparative merits of culture and the irreconcilable thoughts inside us — that is the canvas on which The Farewell wishes us to paint. “There is nothing neither good or bad, but thinking makes it so,” Shakespeare said, unconsciously illumining the dialectical tension at the center of the film (written and directed by Lulu Wang). Almost immediately the moral question bears out, but the pleasure comes from where we go from there.

The camera tells us almost nothing, and the music feints in various fuzzy directions. Through raw human observance, clothed in cultural dissonance and facile judgements, viewers think and discover — discover, mostly, that life has only edges, places of fleeting definition, dissolving utopias.

Page 20 | Thursday, September 12, 2019

Old Gold & Black | Life

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