10/23/2020 Red & Black Issue

Red & Black

The Free

s t u d e n t n e w s pa p e r o f w a s h i n g t o n a n d j e f f e r s o n c o l l e g e w j r e da n d b l ac k . c o m W a s h i n g t o n , P e n n s y lva n i a October 23, 2020

WHAT’S IN THIS WEEK’S PAPER...

CURRENT EVENTS These gifted programs, though intended to further the education of those who are not challenged in their regular classes, have proven to create a gap between students. -P.8

DIVERSITY

Comprised entirely of a group of volunteers working six to twelve hours per week, Done Waiting is an organization that endorses progressive candidates by supporting them with numerous resources. -P.11

OPINIONS Many of the “haunted asylums” hardly refer to its passed residents as “patients” but rather “crazy people.” -P.16

SPORTS

The Steelers’ offense has continued to prove doubters wrong, showcasing their seemingly unlimited weapons week in and week out. -P.19

KKG Presents: Let’s Tok About Breast Cancer PAGE 3

WJREDANDBLACK.COM

Courtesy Lily Bonasso

2 CAMPUS NEWS

Red & Black

23 October 2020

On-Campus Classes vs Virtual Classes Alexandra Wagner Red & Black Editor

Having just passed our midterms for the semester, it’s hard to believe the Washington & Jefferson community has now completed almost two months of hybrid learning.

However, because of this new model for education, each student here at W&J is getting a completely different college experience. Shayla Watkins ‘22 is one of the many students who decided to go fully remote for the fall semester. She finds that her third year at W&J is not exactly what she had imagined.

“I miss the atmosphere the most.

You don’t get quite the same experience being home as you do on campus.

I miss the events, seeing my friends and connecting with my professors in a more personal manner. It doesn’t quite feel like I’m truly in college when I’m home.” says Watkins.

Watkins finds that her ability to learn off campus has been difficult overall, even with the support of her professors and friends. Switching from a very active and engaging environment to her quiet and somewhat isolated home life has affected her motivation levels.

Watkins remarked, “This sudden change has definitely made me alter the way I go about my coursework.

I’ve never before participated in online schooling so this transition has not been smooth. I’ve found it extremely difficult to stay on top of the course load I’ve been given under an environment of frequent distractions and unreliable technology.”

In comparison, Katelyn Walzer ‘22 resides on campus, participating in the hybrid model of learning at school. “I

Courtesy Washjeff.edu

The John A. Swanson center is a premier academic building W&J College uses for on-campus classes.

am so thankful I was able to stay at school for this fall. I know my ability to learn would have been greatly affected had I been stuck at home.” said Walzer.

Walzer is taking four courses this fall, all of which offer in person lectures certain days of the week. However, recently one of her classes has opted to take a different and unexpected route. “One of my chemistry classes decided to go fully asynchronous for the reminder of the semester. My professor has uploaded the remaining lectures and posted all assignments.” said Walzer. She shared her worry, commenting on the struggles of learning new material unguided. “I am sure I can finish this class strong, but I hope this switch does not greatly impact my last few weeks taking the course in a negative way.”

Overall, it is clear to see that the pandemic has changed the W&J experience for both kinds of students: those residing on campus and those elsewhere.

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23 October 2020

Red & Black

CAMPUS NEWS 3

KKG Presents: Let’s Tok About Breast Cancer

Courtesy Lily Bonasso

Kappa Kappa Gamma is hosting their second annual TikTok competition. This semester, the competition is in honor of Heidi Bury.

Kappa Kappa Gamma TikTok Committee Red & Black Contributor

This October during breast cancer awareness month, the women of Kappa Kappa Gamma are hosting their second annual TikTok competition in honor of the late Heidi Bury. 50 percent of the proceeds will go to METAvivor, and the other 50 percent will go to The Glock Foundation! METAvivor Research and Support is a “non-profit organization dedicated to providing support for women and men with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and funding research to transition MBC from a terminal illness to a controlled, chronic condition.” Their website de-

scribes that 30 percent of breast cancer patients will develop metastatic breast cancer, which originates in the breast but spreads to other parts of the body.

Only 2 to 5 percent of research funding, though, goes to metastatic breast cancer research, and METAvivor seeks to address this problem by donating 100 percent of their proceeds to metastatic breast cancer research grants.

The organization has even created a unique ribbon that highlights the complexity of breast cancer beyond the typical pink ribbon.

They indicate that “green represents the triumph of spring over winter, life over death and symbolizes renewal, hope and immortality while teal symbolizes healing and spirituality.

The thin pink ribbon overlay signifies that the metastatic cancer originated in the breast.” The use of this ribbon intends to draw awareness to not just breast cancer, but the aggressive metastasis that behaves similar to many

other stage 4 cancer types. The Glock Foundation is an organization started by one of our very own professors, Ms. Carol Glock. Six years ago, Ms. Glock was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer.

After undergoing a clinical trial, chemotherapy and radiation, she was declared cancer free! She describes how this clinical trial is what saved her life, which prompted her to start a nonprofit to “raise funds and inform breast cancer patients how significant and possibly lifesaving participating in a clinical trial can be upon their diagnosis.

There is more oversight in a clinical trial than the standard care protocol.

This process not only saved my life but could save the lives of so many other breast cancer patients.” The Glock Foundation’s mission is to support breast cancer research, clinical trials, education and patient care! There are various ways to participate in this

fundraiser! Various Washington & Jefferson College clubs and organizations are contributing prize baskets to be offered to the winners of the TikTok competition.

A donation of $5 will purchase a ticket to enter a TikTok with one person, $10 for a TikTok with 2 to 4 people, and $20 for a TikTok with 5 or more. Each entry should be creative, incorporate information or awareness about metastatic breast cancer and be hashtagged #TikTokforBreastCancer.

Another option is to make a monetary donation to the cause. And finally, spread the word to increase participation and awareness!

As COVID-19 continues to impact our lives, breast cancer does not stop affecting families, and neither will the women of Kappa Kappa Gamma stop in helping to make a difference.

This October during breast cancer awareness month, please join them in spreading awareness and a little joy!

4 CAMPUS NEWS

Red & Black

Poetry Corner Kettle

Alex Wagner ‘22

The icy blue flames kiss its base.

I see myself staring, My likeness reflecting back from its body.

The hot copper boils.

The pressure builds.

My eyes become wet, I watch and wait Fidgeting.

Its sleek and warm neck, Congested with sweltering steam.

It screams, Yet I cannot.

23 October 2020

23 October 2020

Campus News 5

Red & Black

Career Services Announcements Follow @wandjcareerservices on Instagram!

Event:

Vector Marketing Virtual Information Sessions

Date:

Tuesday, November 3

Time:

12:30pm, 1:30pm and 2:30pm

Type:

Virtual Event

Description:

Scottie Brown, Division Manager for Vector Marketing/Cutco Cutlery, will be

The Career Services Office would like to know

hosting 3 Information Sessions via Zoom

if you are following us on Instagram? If you are

to provide students with employment

not, you definitely should be! Not only will you

opportunities.

be kept well-informed about the events and programs we sponsor, but you will be entered into raffles all semester long. Names will be drawn from our followers for great prizes such as: a limited edition HydroFlask, Starbucks gift cards, W&J swag, and much more!

Email careerservices@washjeff.edu for the Zoom link and we will email it to you, along with an online form to register

6 CAMPUS NEWS

23 October 2020

Red & Black

Meet the Editorial Board

Sports Section Editor: Nick Krugh Nick is a senior and he is majoring in business administration. Nick is a four-year member of W&J’s baseball team and he has a radio show with WNJR, W&J’s radio station. In his section this semester, Nick is implementing a health and wellness column to focus on ways to manage stress and mental/overall health during the pandemic. Nick added, “Even though sports aren’t being played this semester, I hope the Sports Section helps W&J’s athletes keep a sense of community.”

Red & Black Established 1909 Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Campus News Editor Current Events Editor Diversity Editor Opinions Editor Sports Editor Social Media Manager Website Design Manager Distribution Manager Interim Faculty Advisor

Marcy Saldivar Erin Herock Reilly Oliverio Molly Kilbourne Amanda Fitzpatrick Paul Collier Nick Krugh Grace Depaul Raheem Clemons Alex Wagner Kellin Cavanaugh

23 October 2020

Red & Black

Current Events 7

Current Events

Sexual Harassment Struggles of Working Indian Women Akansha Das Red & Black Staff

On Oct. 14, the Human Rights Watch published a report titled “No #MeToo for Women Like Us.” 85 Indian women from three different states in India and various informal-sector positions were interviewed about their experiences with sexual harassment in the workplace.

Because 95 percent of the informal sector is comprised of women, these results speak to the unfortunately high prevalence of sexual assault present among Indian women and how like many social movements, #MeToo has only truly made strides in the culture around sexual assault for one subset of the people at the top – in this case the Bollywood elites. The report notes that India has attempted to make strides for victims of sexual harassment, most notably with their Posh Act. Due to the widespread patriarchy of India’s police force and the immense fear many victims have with coming forward with their claims, the Posh Act requires that a company with ten or more employees construct an Internal Committee (IC) led by a woman that will examine all sexual harassment claims and has the power to run a trial, subpoena witnesses and administer consequences

to perpetrators if necessary. For informal sector women and companies with less than ten employees, the Posh Act dictates that Local Committees (LCs) be constructed that provide education materials and awareness programs for sexual harassment along with leading appropriate training programs. However, the expectation does not meet reality.

The report quotes a domestic worker in Gurgan saying “People like me do not get justice. The Local Committee is so far away…and I would definitely not go to the police. This law has not helped women like me.” Additionally, many companies have failed to implement ICs and those that have implemented them have not trained their members properly.

But the underlying issue may not be in the structure in the law itself but rather in the fact that its merely putting a bandage on a gaping wound of sexist culture in India.

The fact is that two-thirds of India is still rural (according to Trading Economics) and composed of farming communities. This means traditional ideas of gender roles and discrimination are still entrenched and promote the idea that rape and sexual abuse is the woman’s fault, making it difficult for women to come forward.

Additionally, for those who do muster up this courage, they are often met with civil defamation lawsuits rather than empathy. When a sexual assault survivor launched a case against the revered

Courtesy Associated Press

Women commute to work in Dehli, India.

chairman of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, R.K.Pachuri, he launched a civil defamation case against the woman and her lawyer.

Similarly, when journalist Priya Ramani reported on the sexual assault cases being made against Minister M.J. Akbar in India’s Bharatiya Janata Party, Akbar launched a civil defamation against her. Ramani’s lawyer, frustrated with the state of current women’s affairs

in India commented, “It is evident no one is speaking about sexual harassment anymore. The moment came and went.”

In a country where horrifying cases of rape are coming to light each day and the reproductive rights and freedoms of women are in constant play, the Human Right Watch’s new findings underscores the need for India to commit itself to advocating for women of all classes – both socially and legally.

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Red & Black

23 October 2020

Are Gifted School Programs A Detriment?

Courtesy Meryl Faulkner at the Centenniel School

A teacher instructs her students in a gifted program.

Lily Bonasso Red & Black Staff

Across the country, public schools are beginning to rethink their approaches in providing gifted programs for students. Though most states actually require schools to provide trackedlearning experiences for higher performing, or “gifted,” students, recent studies have revealed that these programs, more often than not, serve to further segregate students in a negative manner. As activist groups continue to address racial and social injustices in the U.S., it becomes increasingly important to recognize and confront these instances of systematic separation and disadvantage.

In most schools, students are separated at a young age based on their performance in school. Those who excel may be tested and tracked into the gifted program, while those

who perform at or below average levels remain in mainstream classes. These gifted programs, though intended to further the education of those who are not challenged in their regular classes, have proven to create a gap between students. In these circumstances, students who are part of minority or disadvantaged groups often remain in the regular classes and are not given the same opportunities to pursue their interests or advance their involvement.

The result is a system in which students who perform well at an early age, most often members of the upper class, are granted a position of superiority that is maintained through the rest of their public- school education.

In recent years, there have been multiple attempts to mitigate this systematic separation of students.

For example, Rockville Centre in N.Y. began purging their schools of gifted programs at the elementary level, so as not to separate students before they have been given a chance to develop academically. Higher-level

classes and enriching opportunities are offered to all students, and some advanced programs are even required.

Washington D.C. has recently turned to the Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM), which was created by the University of Connecticut and has been implemented in over 4,000 schools nationwide. This model aims to widen the range of “giftedness” beyond the scope of standardized test scores by utilizing a talent-specialist that provides enriching opportunities in small-group settings to help inspire students to discover passions in various skillsets. The creators of this program promote the idea of diversifying gifted programs rather than eliminating them.

Isabella Sholtes ’22 reminisces about the positive experiences and skills of self-advocacy that she gained through her high school gifted program. She also notes, however, that “outside pressure gets internalized and causes a lot of us to put a lot of stress and pressure on ourselves to

live up to others’ expectations.” Her comment makes the point that these programs place stigmas not only on those who are excluded, but those who are included as well, widening the gap between students. She also mentions that “there were plenty of opportunities opened to me as a gifted student that the general student body did not get to do, such as competitions, conferences and talks and our yearly trip to watch an open-heart surgery.

I know plenty of students that I went to school with who were just as intelligent, if not more, who did not get these opportunities because they were not in the gifted program.”

With momentum continuing to grow behind efforts to dismantle systems that create disparities in opportunity for underprivileged youth, it is encouraging to see how many schools across the nation are beginning to revisit their educational tracks in pursuit of more inclusive programs that promote excellence in students from all skillsets.

23 October 2020

Red & Black

Diversity

Diversity 9

Recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day Dylan Bertovich Red & Black Staff

Most students first hear of Christopher Columbus and how he sailed the ocean blue in 1492.

Then later they hear the other story of Columbus and his actions. Columbus is now recognized as a master of genocide and destruction. This leaves an issue with the holiday and even the cities that are named after them.

One of my favorite songs by Peter Oren has the lyrics, “From this place Columbus Indiana, But it sure does feel strange, Coming from a place so named, After a killer and a misnomer.”

The song is referencing that Columbus is a killer and he made a big mistake in thinking that he was in India—he didn’t even know he was in North America.

Brendan Troesch ‘21 questioned, “why should this day exist for someone who accidentally opened the west and then committed genocide?”

Columbus was not the first person to come to America in terms of exploration; America was not uninhabited and he started a chain of destruction that continues today.

So why is the holiday celebrated?

The first celebration occurred in New York City in 1792, on the three hun-

dredth anniversary of Columbus’s landfall in the Western Hemisphere.

Then the holiday began yearly as an annual celebration of Italian American heritage in San Francisco in 1869.

In 1934 President Franklin Delano Roosevelt declared the first national observance of Columbus Day. President Roosevelt made Oct. 12 a national holiday three years later. Finally, in 1972 President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation making the official date of the holiday the second Monday in October. The main force behind these declarations were the Knights of

Columbus and New York City’s Italian community.

Five short years after Nixon, in 1977 participants at the United Nations International Conference on Discrimination against Indigenous Populations in the Americas proposed that Indigenous Peoples’ Day replace Columbus Day. The first state to make this change was South Dakota in 1990. This was quickly followed by many, but not all, states. Today, seven states officially celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day while ten others observe via proclamation or celebrate both holidays. This is still

only seventeen states total, with Pennsylvania not one of them.

Then this year President Trump made some bold statements basically concluding that the social justice warriors are destroying our history, Columbus never made it to the states. Bri Billingsley ‘21 rejected this, “of course it should be Indigenous Peoples’ Day in remembrance of the destruction they have faced.” The modern consensus is that a day is a start but the real change is no longer teaching that in 1492 Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

Courtesy USA Today

Alabama Indigenous Coalition members and supporters marched in Montogmery, Alabama in 2019 fighting for the city to change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

10 Diversity

Red & Black

23 October 2020

2020 Election: Don’t Just Vote, Organize Brendan Troesch Red & Black Staff

With such an important election coming up in a few weeks, it is crucial that all vote to make their voices heard.

However, voting is not the only way for citizens to convey the issues plaguing society.

It is crucial that Americans must not only vote, but also organize and exercise their inalienable First Amendment rights to make the nation’s leaders listen to their needs rather than keeping the status quo, which has obviously not been working.

One organization strongly tied to voter efficacy is the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. Folks who demonize this movement often are those who stay blind to issues that don’t affect them personally, thereby furthering the destructive history the United States continues to carry. Others seem to think BLM only started recently, i.e. during the presidency of No. 45.

Amanda Fitzpatrick ’21 commented on these egregious statements: “BLM was a movement long before this presidency and it and its mission must continue long after this presidency is over. While voting is absolutely important to allow people to continue to organize, it’s also important to realize voting is only one form of resistance/political engagement and that we have to go beyond that to create real change.”

Fitzpatrick’s comments closely align with activist Angela Davis’ on why she is voting for Biden. Davis says

“I don’t see this election as being about choosing a candidate who will be able to lead us in the right direction. It will be about choosing a candidate who can be most effectively pressured into allowing more space for the evolving anti-racist movement.” Many people who oppose Davis’ statement do so based on her use of the word “pressure,” which seems completely contradictory to the rights for which this

country claims to stand. Are sit-ins and strikes not a type of pressure put on oppressive systems in hopes that leaders will change? Have nobody’s ancestors ever participated in these forms of resistance?

Only less than 100 years ago did all citizens of the US have their right to vote; this did not simply happen out of spontaneity, but only from the hard work of grassroots organizations who

knew their freedom was worth fighting for. And in 2020, voter suppression still continues to rage on. While voting is important and all should remember to exercise this right that so many have fought for, citizens should remember that organizing with groups gives another level to make their voices heard to those who sit on their seemingly lifelong thrones in our nation’s capital.

Courtesy ACLU

Americans are still organizing to fight for voting rights today with voter suppression preventing many from exercising their rights as citizens.

23 October 2020

Red & Black

Diversity 11

Organization Spotlight: Done Waiting Akansha Das Red & Black Staff

When medical student Solomon Rajput took a year-long absence to run a progressive campaign for the MI-12 Congressional seat he was well-aware of the risks involved and the possibility of failure. But what he was not expecting was to leave the experience with a group of “disruptive army of young people fighting to elect Progressives and bend the establishment to the will of the people” as Press Liaison, Hayley Margolis has said. But amazing-

ly enough, that is exactly what Done Waiting is.

Comprised entirely of a group of volunteers working six to twelve hours per week, Done Waiting is an organization that endorses progressive candidates by supporting them with numerous resources. Whether it’s making hundreds of calls on their behalf or putting pressure on centrist politicians so “they start valuing basic human rights over the will of corporations and the elite,” the group has made it their position to enact progressive change, and to enact it soon.

Their top five priorities include the removing corporate money from politics, striving for racial justice and the Green New Deal and pursuing Medicare for All and a path towards Debt

Free College. One of the most inspiring parts of Done Waiting is their accessibility to a variety of people. Its decentralized structure has allowed individuals from all over the nation ranging from middle school students to graduate students to become involved.

Their application process prides itself in only taking 30 seconds and the virtual nature of the organization has allowed it to minimize barriers for normally underrepresented individuals in politics who want to get involved.

This has allowed the group to strive for and achieve “diversity both in executive leadership and throughout the organization as a whole” according to Margolis. Done Waiting felt the need

to organize now more than ever to make an impact in the 2020 general election for other candidates. Though Rajput may not have won his primary, he felt the need to channel the energy of the hundreds of youth he had brought together who wanted to create better policies for their country. At a time when the country is starting to crack from the hammers of the deep structural problems, Done Waiting offers a way to amplify the voices of progressive candidates intending to lead the country forward in a path guided by science, research and truth.

If you identify with the mission of Done Waiting and would like to become involved visit https://www.donewaiting.org or follow them on Instagram at @_donewaiting_.

Courtesy Solomon Rajput

Courtesy Done Waiting

Solomon Rajput ran for Congress and has now moved on to creating a progressive organization called Done Waiting.

Done Waiting leaders and volunteers display the causes that they are “done waiting” for their policymakers to advocate for.

12 Diversity

Red & Black

23 October 2020

First-Gen College Student: Lily Bonasso

Courtesy Impact News

Hannah Bado Red & Black Contributor

Lily Bonasso ‘22 is from Pittsburgh and went to Upper St. Clair High School. She plans to major in English and double minor in Chemistry and Spanish. She chose English as her major because she believes that “studying the way language has been used for expression throughout time is very interesting.”

Bonasso has completed two JayTerms so far, through which she has created strong bonds with friends and professors. Those JayTerms were Engaging the Sonoran Border with Dr. Kilgore (2019) and Tropical Ecology & Conservation in Costa Rica with Dr. March and Dr. Ternes (2020).

Bonasso is involved in many activities on campus. Some activities to highlight are that she is a founder and president of the W&J Coloring Club, a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma,

NSLS and Alpha Lambda Delta. She is also involved with the Office of Community Engagement. Bonasso was awarded a Magellan-Franklin Grant in 2019 that allowed her to pursue an internship with the Neurotrauma Clinical Trials Team at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital.

As a first-generation student, Bonasso’s main struggle was that she had no idea how to start applying for colleges or what to expect. Although her parents helped in the process as much as possible, they had never had the experience of searching for and choosing a college either.

Once she arrived at college she had “no idea what to expect, as my parents had no memories to share or advice to give, so at times it felt like I was flying blind.” Although her parents could not share personal experiences, her high school was able to supplement by giving her resources and guided options for college programs. She had guidance counselors that focused on walking students through the process of applying to colleges and what types of classes they should take to achieve their college goals.

Bonasso feels that W&J has supported her as a first-generation student and has offered her tons of experiences. She has “never felt disadvantaged,” and she attributes this to the unique experiences that W&J provides and how supportive the professors are.

Bonasso felt that her parents did not influence her college choice much other than whether the college was cost efficient and offered programs oriented towards her goals.

She realized quickly that due to its opportunities and conveniences, choosing W&J “ended up being a pretty obvious decision,” and she has not regretted it since.

Courtesy Hannah Bado

Lily Bonasso ‘22 is a first-generation college student at W&J majoring in English with a double minor in Chemistry and Spanish.

23 October 2020

opinions Red & Black

Opinions 13

Biden Plans to Expand Affordable Healthcare Amanda Fitzpatrick Red & Black Editor

Vice President Joe Biden stood by President Obama’s side when the Affordable Care Act was signed into law in 2010, and Biden plans to build on its legacy.

The achievements made by Obamacare are impossible to ignore – over 100 million people no longer need to worry that an insurance company will deny coverage or charge higher premiums due to pre-existing conditions, insurance companies cannot set annual or lifetime limits on coverage, about 20 million additional Americans gained health insurance and young people have the option to remain covered by their parents’ plan

until the age of 26. Despite what seem like successes to many, the Affordable Care Act has been attacked.

Bavi Makkar ’21 recognizes the disparity in healthcare plans between Biden and Trump. “Both President Trump and former Vice President Biden speak of improving American health care, but both have differing plans for health care. The parties agree that drug prices should not be as high as they are. While this sounds great, Trump also looks to cut the Affordable Care Act, which would take away health insurance from millions of Americans.

Biden seeks to expand both Medicare and Medicaid as well as making health care in general more of a right than a privilege. It is unfortunate that Trump wants to cut health care during a time like this, where millions are dying due to insufficient care. People somehow argue that Trump has a better vision, but one should always favor someone who looks to give more coverage and

more protection rather than cutting corners to save the government money,” said Makkar.

Not only does Biden plan to protect the Affordable Care Act as president, but he plans to build on it.

To achieve this, Biden outlines four basic goals: give every American access to affordable health insurance, provide peace of mind with affordable and quality health care and a less complex health care system, stand up to the abuse of power exercised by prescription drug corporations and ensure health care is a right for everyone. Beginning with the basic goal of ensuring all Americans have access to affordable health insurance, Biden plans to give Americans a new choice. This choice is a public health insurance option like Medicare. Like Medicare, the Biden public option will reduce costs for patients by negotiating lower prices from hospitals and other health care providers. Further, it

E ditorial P olicy The Red & Black is the official, registered student-produced newspaper of Washington & Jefferson College. It is published Fridays with the exception of exams and break periods.

Editorials are based upon the opinion of the respective writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper, the

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will better coordinate among all of a patient’s doctors to improve care and cover primary care without copayments. Ultimately, this will also be a relief to small businesses who struggle to afford coverage for employees.

Additionally, Biden plans to increase the value of tax credits to lower premiums and extend coverage to more working Americans. Currently, families making between 100 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty level may receive a tax credit reducing how much they have to pay for health insurance, ensuring each family does not have to pay more than a certain percentage of their income on a silver plan.

However, Biden notes that these shares of income taken are too high and silver plans’ deductibles are also too high. Moreover, families who make more than 400 percent of the poverty level ($50,000 for a single (continued on page 14)

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14 Opinions (continued from page 13) person and $100,000 for a family of four) are not qualifying for financial assistance while still struggling to afford health insurance. To address this issue, Biden plans to eliminate the 400 percent income cap on tax credit eligibility and lower the limit on the cost of coverage from 9.86 percent of income to 8.5 percent.

Biden also plans to increase the size of tax credits by calculating them based on the cost of a gold plan rather than a silver plan, giving more families the ability to afford more generous coverage.

To further address the issue of accessibility, Biden plans to expand coverage to low-income Americans.

This will address the fact that Medicaid access has been denied to roughly 4.9 million adults. With access to a public option, these individuals can be covered premium-free and ensure the public option includes the full scope of Medicaid benefits. For states that have expanded Medicaid, they have the option to move the expansion population to the premium-free public option so long as the states continue to pay their current share of the cost of covering these individuals.

Lastly, Biden plans to ensure people making below 138 percent of the federal poverty level receive coverage by automatically enrolling individuals when they interact with institutions like public schools or enroll in programs for low-income populations like SNAP. Recognizing the costs associated with the health care system and the difficulty in navigating it, Biden plans to provide healthcare that is more affordable and less complex for all. This will be accomplished by offering all Americans a new, more affordable public option.

Additionally, middle class families will get a premium tax credit to help them pay for coverage, that offers an estimated $750 per month for a family of four with an income of $110,000 per year. This is cutting premiums almost

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in half. Premium tax credits will also be calculated to help more families afford better coverage with lower deductibles.

Additional proposals include stopping “surprise billing,” tackling market concentration across the health care system using the existing antitrust authority and lowering costs and improving health outcomes by partnering with the health care workforce. With too many Americans unable to afford their prescription drugs, Biden plans to stand up to the abuse of power executed by prescription drug corporations.

To stop runaway drug prices, Biden plans to repeal the exception that allows drug corporations to avoid negotiating with Medicare over drug prices. Medicare covers many Americans so this is critical considering drug manufactures are not facing competition and can charge whatever price they choose.

Further, Biden plans to limit launch prices for drugs that face no competition and are being abusively priced by drug manufacturers. Because there is a lack of competition in drug manufacturing, a new approach is needed to keep the prices of drugs down. To address this dilemma, the Secretary of Health and Human Services will establish an independent review board to access the value of specialty drugs under the Biden Plan to recommend a reasonable price based on averages in other countries or based on an evaluation by independent board members.

Biden also plans to limit price increases for all brand, biotechnology and abusively priced generic drugs to inflation and impose a tax penalty on drug manufacturers that increase the costs over the general inflation rate. To create more competition, Biden plans to allow consumers to buy prescription drugs from other countries so long as they are determined safe.

In addition, Biden plans to terminate pharmaceutical corporations’ tax

break for advertisement spending as it plays a role in fueling escalating drug prices and to improve the supply of quality generics as they reduce health care spending.

The fourth and final point of Biden’s plan is to “ensure health care is a right for all, not a privilege for just a few.”

Joe Biden recognizes the racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia and other forms of discrimination are permeating our health care system as they do throughout our society and plans to address these disparities in the following manner.

This begins with expanding access to contraception and protecting the constitutional right to an abortion.

This involves reversing the Trump Administration and states’ assault on women’s right to choose, restoring federal funding for Planned Parenthood and rescind the Mexico City Policy that Trump reinstated and expanded. The Mexico City Policy currently bars the U.S. federal government from supporting global health efforts such as for malaria and HIV/AIDS in developing countries simply because the organizations providing aid also offer information on abortion services.

Biden also plans to reduce our unacceptably high maternal mortality rate that especially impacts people of color. Black women experience a death rate from complications relating to pregnancy that is over three times higher than the rate for non-Hispanic white women. California addressed this with a strategy halving the state’s maternal death rate, so Biden plans to take this nationwide.

Furthermore, Biden plans to address health care protections for all, regardless of gender, gender identity or sexual orientation. While Trump has tried to walk back the progress made by the Affordable Care Act and has proposed to once again allow health care providers and insurance companies to discriminate based on a patient’s gender identity or abortion

23 October 2020 history, Biden plans to defend the rights of all people.

Finally, Biden plans to double America’s investment in community health centers, achieve mental health parity and expand access to mental health care. Attacks on the Affordable Care Act and other forms of health care offered by the government are attacks on millions of people around the country.Healthcare is a right. Brendan Troesch ’21 agrees with this principle, saying that “Health care should be accessible to all people. Period. I know this is a blatant cliché, but a price should not and cannot be put on life.

Our current health care situation in our country, the United States, the richest country in the world (by GDP), is appalling. There is absolutely no reason as to why health care here isn’t universally accessible. Though Biden’s plan is not the universal health care championed by congressmen Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortex, it is a step in that the direction which I believe to be the right direction. Trump’s consistent threats to the Affordable Care Act and programs such as Medicaid and Medicare are a threat to Americans like me, and Biden’s comprehensive stand in direct contrast to the lack of a plan presented by Trump as replacement to the health care he threatens to take away.”

Coutresy MedNews Today

Joe Biden discusses healthcare.

23 October 2020

Red & Black

Opinions 15

Trump Fails to Provide Healthcare for All Americans Paul Collier Red & Black Editor

Healthcare is one of the strangest issues for President Trump. He claims to support affordable healthcare and access to medication in his promises to Americans, but a majority of his actions go directly against these claims, and he picks and chooses who he believes should have quality access to healthcare.

Trump and Republicans have vowed to repeal the Affordable Care Act because they believe it’s close to socialized medicine, but their 2017 attempt failed. However, the ACA doesn’t only provide expanded healthcare to those that would struggle to afford it on their own. It also protects those with pre-existing conditions from having insurance companies take advantage of them by raising rates because they’re inclined to need healthcare.

Trump also recently nominated Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, and if approved, she will most likely hold the opinion that universal health care measures like the ACA are unconstitutional. Trump currently has lawsuits against provisions of the ACA in courts.

Alongside his lack of support for the ACA, Trump has shortened enrollment periods to make it harder to enroll in ACA, encouraged states to promote subsidies towards programs that can replace ACA and claims he wants to sign an executive order

forcing insurances agencies to cover pre-existing conditions, which while a way of protecting those with preexisting conditions, is also outside of his constitutional power.

All these policies will make it harder for Americans to get access to healthcare and because of Trump’s short-sightedness on the authority he holds, they can endanger those with pre-existing conditions to pay premiums they can’t afford.

While Trump expanded Medicare for COVID-19, he still opposes Medicare and Medicaid. He has attempted to limit the number of Americans on Medicaid by creating work requirements for enrollment and supports reduced funding for Medicare. He also signed an executive order to strengthen Medicare Advantage, a private insurer.

This desire to further remove Americans from healthcare is contrasted with his desire to lower prescription drug costs, in which he supports a model that makes drugs under Medicare parts B and D align to the most-favored-nation price, or the lowest affordable production price globally.

However, he has not worked to create any substantial legislation on this matter, again signing an executive order that may be unconstitutional.

While supporting things like lowered drug costs, the benefits this may hold are ruined by his continued fight to kick people off healthcare.

He also seems incapable of dealing with legislators despite nationwide support for an issue like lowering drug costs, which indicates that he is still unwilling to go as far as many in the nation want him to. He has also signed executive orders that make his desire to lower prices questionable, as he

supports accurate price reports before medical care while also not working in that time to bring any prices down outside of drug costs.

In terms of equality, Trump also does not support any minority groups in providing healthcare. Not only do his attacks against the ACA, Medicare and Medicaid greatly affect the black community, but his response to this is economic: His Platinum Plan redirects $500 billion to invest in treatments for diseases primarily affecting the black community to help create more equity in an area that Trump has already attacked. This also focuses less on quality healthcare and more on providing an economic buffer to treatment.

Trump also eliminated federal healthcare protections for the LGBTQ+ community and restricted access to healthcare for previously uninsured immigrants.

Women’s reproductive health has also been heavily restricted. Trump reinstated the Mexico City Policy that prohibits the federal government from funding institutions offering abortion, nominated three supreme court justices that are opposed to Roe v Wade and supports restricting federal funding for abortion except in the case of rape, incest or endangerment to the mother.

In all of these cases, Trump is eliminating the ability for Americans to pursue healthcare for themselves while simultaneously not allowing government assistance, leaving many minorities behind as they attempt to simply ensure they will be able to pay for healthcare they need.

Finally, while Trump wants to keep people that can’t work off of federal healthcare, he also allocated $1.8 billion towards combating the Opioid

epidemic, even though those addicted to opioids will have a harder time staying employed and will need the federal healthcare for basic treatments.

He also passed the Initiative to stop Opioid Abuse, which limits over prescription and works to offer treatment services, which like federal healthcare in the first place, would have been federally funded even if it’s not directly funding treatment centers.

Overall, Trump has been unwilling to support expanding healthcare coverage to all Americans. While he has attempted in small ways to support healthcare, he has left too many holes in his plans and refuses to work with legislators to assure he’s providing the coverage Americans need, and he’s outright attacked the coverage for minorities. His lack of support for healthcare will create danger for Americans that need support in the future.

Courtesy Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Senator Whitehouse questions Amy Barrett on the ACA.

16 Opinions

Red & Black

23 October 2020

‘Haunted’ Asylums Stigmatize Mental Illness Bavi Makkar Red & Black Contributor

As the temperatures drop and the love of fall fills people, people rush to get in their Instagram-esqe activities in.

Insert the pumpkin spice, apple cider and of course, the haunted houses.

You begin to see numerous posts of people happily posting about their visits to “the most terrifying haunted attractions” – asylums.

Many people seem to miss what actually happened in these places and end up supporting the mockery of these people. Elizabeth Mack ’21 stated that “horror at the root of asylums throughout history is the systematic abuse of disabled people that took place there as well as the rampant racism, sexism, transphobia and homophobia at their core.”

It is simply sickening that people profit off of the past sufferings of people with disabilities and only encourage the thought of horror rather than a person. Many of the “haunted asylums” hardly refer to its passed residents as “patients” but rather “crazy people.” These humans lived in filth, given medication which did more harm than good and were often times abused.

Instead of being an educational experience, these attractions exist to just scare people and subconsciously instill this fear that a person with a mental illness will only ever act violently and manically.

Amanda Fitzpatrick ‘21 also spoke on the matter; “Haunted asylums lure

people in with stories of crazy doctors

A poster for Outlast, a horror game sensationalizing experimentation.

and evil experiments, but the reality is haunted asylums are playing up scary and false stereotypes that people with mental illnesses are dangerous. While many may view these haunted asylums as innocent fun, stigma against mental illness is already so high and this is only contributing more to this stigma that ultimately contributes to mentally ill people not getting the help they need.”

Many people who have been in mental wards are not happy with the systematic creation of stereotypes.

Furthermore, it deters people away from therapy because it is then only for the “crazy people.” Haunted asylums are a popular activity during spooky season, but eventually people need to realize what the consequences are.

Courtesy Wikipedia

A poster promoting 2018 horror-film Gonjian, a found footage movie stereotyping ‘haunted’ asylums.

23 October 2020

Red & Black

Opinions 17

Pittsburgh Native Caleb LaDuke Releases Second EP Paul Collier Red & Black Editor

On Oct. 14 Pittsburgh native Caleb LaDuke released his second EP, R, a hip-hop and R&B influenced project that spoke to his emotional development and current life situation.

Caleb’s manager, Samantha Funderlich, allowed Red & Black to interview LaDuke to discuss his creation process and help promote his new EP, which is available on SoundCloud and Spotify.

Beginning in Pittsburgh, LaDuke found inspiration for his early music in the beauty of the changing seasons, saying “I love Pittsburgh because I love the changes in weather. I feel like that’s reflected in my music, the sound and mood always changing as the year and myself develop.”

His personal attachment to Pennsylvania also influences his music, as “the many good relationships [he has] had makes it still feel like a constant place of joy.”

The identity and memories he formed in Pittsburgh have been strengthened by his move to Nashville, which LaDuke says “really challenged me to just be myself because a lot of people here are serious about their art in a way I didn’t experience in Pittsburgh. It pushed me because everyone here is so talented, so I also had to up my game, and that helped me become better as a piano player, guitar player and writer.”

The ways Nashville pushed him to get to know himself better is reflected in his music. LaDuke discussed his

inspiration behind R, explaining that it came from a past relationship, and the music on the EP is primarily about this relationship and his exgirlfriend’s daughter. LaDuke says “She and her mom (ex-girlfriend) are the main inspiration. The album is the experience of falling into and out of love and dealing with the pain of leaving that relationship.” LaDuke says this relationship isn’t on bad standings, so “while it’s hard to move back and forth between the past and the present and all those feelings, I still see her (the child).” She turned eleven the day the EP was released.

LaDuke’s sound has also matured alongside his subject matter and his understanding of himself. He says “I’m writing about deeper topics; I’m less scared to write about my emotions and feelings and the fact I’m a sensitive person. I feel like this project has really helped me go through all the pain and emotions of the past relationship, so outside of the music I’ve matured as a man, and I’m more focused on the stuff that’s most important to me.”

His initial inspiration for the type of music he wanted to make came from several artists. “Jason Mraz was the one that got me into guitar. My sound now can’t be compared to his, but that’s where I got started, playing a cover of him at a church camp. I listen to a lot of Drake, Chris Brown and Ne-Yo, and they helped me learn how to harmonize when I’d sing alongside them, and a lot of what Usher wrote I found beautiful. They really shaped my sound because I loved their music.”

As LaDuke’s sound changed, some of his primary influences also changed, especially as he listened to more “Post Malone, who I really respect. I really like his music, and I

feel like he’s himself, which encourages me to be who I am. It’s encouraged me to change my intent. On the first EP, I wanted to have a tough sound and show that I’m a good rapper, but now I just want to be who I am and whatever that sounds like, that’s what it is.”

His friends and colleagues in Nashville have also helped develop his music. He lives with artists Vali Ant, an artist he collaborated with on his first EP, GiRLS. LaDuke says they started out writing together, and they’re working on more music now. He’s also still working with Cam Terrell, who he is making an EP with.

For R, LaDuke received production assistance from SEJOHFROGI and Chris Binsfield. He says they “took my production to a new level. I wrote a majority of the songs by myself, and Chris and Sejoh helped me with a few lines. But in production, Sejoh really knows how to make drums sound good, and Chris took on a lot of making sure everything we recorded sounds good. We worked around the pieces I wanted to keep to make the whole EP flow.”

The lead single for the EP is Down in Oceans. LaDuke discussed the creative process for this song, his favorite from the EP, saying “I came up with the hook at my desk at my 9-5 job, just out of nowhere. I recorded it in my voice memos, and when I went home, Vali Ant was in our studio, so I dragged my secondary equipment into my bedroom and started writing a verse on the guitar. I fell in love with it, so I recorded the guitar and then used my blanket as a studio to record vocals for the rough demo. That song is different from the others I’ve written because it says exactly what I’m feeling, and it’s exactly what’s going on in my

brain and heart. It’s like I conveyed the perfect message, and that’s something that’s beautiful because my whole intention is to provoke thought and connect with people and promote healing. It’s definitely one of my proudest works, and I’m thankful the Lord gave me that inspiration.” The song is one of his most R&B styled to date, and its lyrics convey powerfully clear thoughts from LaDuke’s mind regarding his past relationship.

LaDuke said he would “like to thank anyone that listens. As an independent artist, it means the most to me that people would take time out of their day to listen to my art and take a journey with me, so I want to thank anyone that invests in me.”

The Red & Black thanks Caleb LaDuke and Samantha Funderlich for the opportunity to conduct this interview and help promote LaDuke’s music.

Courtesy Instagram

Caleb LaDuke poses for a photo promoting his new EP, R.

sports

18 Sports

Red & Black

23 October 2020

Fall Season Spotlight: Women’s Soccer

Courtesy Abby Hipkins

“Before practice we have to get our temperature taken and we must sanitize our hands and wear a mask before, during, and after practice. We have to lift in two separate groups due to the capacity limits in the gym. Since we cannot play contact, practice looks a little different. We have to try our best to stay six feet apart during warmups and the drills. Because of the no contact rule we will play possession games and work on foot skills and perfecting passes. It is frustrating to not play the real game of soccer, but we are all happy to be back out on the field again! ” -Abby Hipkins ‘24

23 October 2020

Red & Black

Sports 19

Steelers Improve to Impressive 5-0 Record

Courtesy ESPN.com

Minkah Fitzpatrick and Mike Hilton celebrate after Fitzpatrick’s pick six against Cleveland.

Grant Allison Red & Black Staff

The highly anticipated divisional matchup between the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers was one for the ages, for Pittsburgh at least. The Steelers routed the 4-1 Browns (now 4-2) by a score of 38 to

7. The Steelers’ offense has continued to prove doubters wrong, showcasing their seemingly unlimited weapons week in and week out.

Big Ben has continued his revenge tour in fashion, finding open receivers across the field.

Rookie Chase Claypool found the endzone once again on a jet sweep that seemed all too easy, and wideout James Washington added a touchdown reception as well, capping off a great day for the receivers.

Hometown kid James Conner eclipsed 100 yards rushing again and added another touchdown. Overall, the offense seems to be firing on all

cylinders, providing a scary sight for defenses across the league.

Although the offense had an amazing performance, the Pittsburgh defense continues to be the spark that this team needs.

Minkah Fitzpatrick proved once again what an asset he is to the team, intercepting Browns’ quarterback and returning it for 6 early in the game.

This set the tone for the defense, which was relentless in going after the battered Browns QB. Stifling Cleveland’s offense year in and year out shouldn’t be relatively anything new for Steelers fans. However, the “weapons” that the Browns have

should’ve provided a solid matchup this year for our defense.

All things considered, the Steelers rolled right through a top ten team in the league, and it didn’t seem all too hard.

In the latest power rankings, Pittsburgh came in at No. 1, finally getting the respect that this team deserves.

This week they face the Tennessee Titans, one of the other final undefeated teams.

Derrick Henry is a force to be wrecked with of course but given the high level of play and power on the d-line this will be a great matchup for both teams.

20 Sports

Red & Black

23 October 2020

Fantasy Football: Start Them or Sit Them Start Them Ronald Jones II

Tampa Bay Buccaneers HB

The Buccanneers seem to be rolling now. That offense is starting to click with Tom Brady at the helm, and the defense is playing up to expectations. Jones has taken advantage of his snaps since the injury to Leonard Fournette. I think Jones has run away with that RB1 position in Tampa. Look for him to hurt the Raiders both through the air and on the ground.

Andy Dalton Dallas Cowboys QB

The Cowboys looked like a mess last week against a very inconsistent Cardinals defense. I don’t expect everything to be fixed this week against Washington, but the Football Team is bad enough for Dalton and the Cowboys to build some momentum. I like Dalton to throw for a few touchdowns this weekend.

Tee Higgins

Cinnciniati Bengals WR

The Bengals square off against the Cleveland Browns this weekend. Both teams are coming off losses, the Bengals a game they should have won. Cleveland is pretty banged up and morale is low. I like this Bengals team to shocks this Browns team and the connection between Burrow and Higgins will be a major reason why. Higgins is starting to look like a real threat at reciever.

Courtesy Cincy Jungle_

Sit Them Josh Allen Buffalo Bills QB

I am not one to overreact, but something is off in Buffalo.

A team that started the year looking unbeatable has come crashing down to the surface. It all starts with the play of their quarterback Allen. He is starting to look like his rookie self and that is not good for the Bills.

Derrick Henry Tennessee Titans HB

I mean the guy is the best in the league, but if there was a team to slow him down it is the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Courtesy Syracuse.com