Red & Black Newspaper 9/11/2020

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 September 11, 2020

WHAT’S IN THIS WEEK’S PAPER...

CURRENT EVENTS

National Voter Registration Day: Sept. 22

The U.S. Department of Labor released their Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims News briefing that asserts a staggering 881,000 Americans filed for Unemployment Insurance.” -P.6

PAGE 2

DIVERSITY [Environmental racism] infects the whole community - increasing rates of everything from asthma to cancer. -P.9

OPINIONS

The founding principle throughout the entire plan of Vice President Joe Biden and his running mate, Senator Kamala Harris, is to listen to science. -P.12

SPORTS

Physical exercise can work to provide a sense of control and greatly benefits mental health. -P.16

WJREDANDBLACK.COM

Courtesy Isabelle Kratz

2 CAMPUS NEWS

Red & Black

11 September 2020

National Voter Registration Day: Sept. 22 Isabelle Kratz Red & Black Contributor

National Voter Registration Day is a nonpartisan civic holiday that encourages college students to vote. The Student Voting Coalition is promoting this spirit of democracy by hosting a NVRD table on the patio of Clark Family Library on September 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to help students register to vote and apply for absentee ballots.

A civic holiday such as National Voter Registration Day exists because it is not necessary for high schools to get senior students registered to vote before they graduate, so unfortunately, many students come to college without being registered and have little idea how voting practices work. In addition, college students are less likely to vote, even if they are registered.

The president of the Student Voting Coalition, Nickolas Bartel ’23 said, “We have our work cut out for us. In 2018, 32.3% or around 450 W&J students voted.”

Voting depends on location.

It is especially important in local and state elections. Each person is recorded to the town or city they live in, and then assigned to a polling place near their home.

This works well for people who live there, but many college students move away from their homes. This makes it more difficult to vote in person. Instead of travelling home to vote, students can apply for absentee ballots.

Being a student is a valid reason to

Courtesy Isabelle Kratz

Students of the W&J Student Voting Coalition will be available on Sept. 22nd to help students register to vote.

be unable to come to one’s assigned polling place on election day. Absentee ballots need to be applied for, and one needs to apply for a ballot before the election occurs, so that their vote is counted. Usually states set a due date of two weeks before the election is set. This gives the state election committee time to send the requested ballot and have it returned to them.

National Voter Registration Day became an organization, with the same name as the holiday, in order to spread awareness of facts as above mentioned and to make the process easier for college students. NVRD began partnering with other organizations, like Campus Vote Project, and partnership has grown to include colleges and universities all over the United

States. Last year the NVRD campus takeover was led by Isabelle Kratz ‘22, with the help of Kelly Helm, archivist of Clark Family Library, her student workers, Bryton Altenbach ‘22, Amanda Startare and Cristina Olmos.

Last year, they helped register 30 students to vote, and 40 students applied for absentee ballots.

Clara Sherwood ‘22, the vice president of the SVC said, “Voting as a student is super important because politicians won’t address student problems without student votes. We need to vote in people who represent ourselves on the basis of race, gender and economic background. Without student votes, no lasting change will take place.” The Student Voting Coalition encourages everyone to

participate in NVRD, by registering to vote and applying for an absentee ballot for the election on Nov. 3.

Courtesy pngkit.com

Register to vote on campus Sept. 22.

11 September 2020

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CAMPUS NEWS 3

W&J Cracking Down on COVID-19 Safety Rules Amanda Fitzpatrick Red & Black Editor

The College has confirmed on Wednesday that 26 students were asked to return home for violating campus COVID-19 safety guidelines.

A W&J spokesperson noted that the students were asked to continue their learning remotely because of the violations, making it clear that the students have not been suspended.

Also noted in the full statement released by W&J, is that we have no positive Coronavirus cases on campus at present.

As students know, W&J’s fall semester started on Aug. 24, fully online for the first two weeks as on-campus students planning to attend in-person classes self-quarantined for ten days.

Recently, we have collectively moved to a hybrid model this past Monday, with those of us living on campus attending class in-person for the first time.

Prior to moving in, students were required to do so through an opt-in process and signed a Pledge to Promote Safety, detailing W&J’s coronavirus safety policy students on-campus were required to follow.

Sydney Fischer ’21, attending class in-person, says “I think the guidelines that we were to follow on campus were clearly stated and these students should be glad that they didn’t get a worse punishment.”

Similarly, Brendan Troesch ‘21 is understanding of the College’s deci-

sion. “Times are different now. We have to be safe and respectful,” Troesch said.

However, the question that then arises is what will happen to the students’ room and board that had been paid.

Dylan Bertovich ’21 supports the rules but questions the enforcement, stating “I really hope that the school refunds the students their money, as from a simple calculation the school stands to make $180,000 from this experiment if not.

There also seems to be a difference in enforcement. Why should some stu-

dents go home and others, who have been reported for breaking the rules,

“Times are different now we have to be safe and respectful.”

- Brendan Troesch ‘21 not?” While the enforcement at this time may be inconsistent given these

unprecedented times we are all living through, it has been rumored by those sent home that students asked to leave campus will be refunded their room and board except for the cost of the 21 days that they lived on campus.

Additionally, an anonymous source has noted that none of these cases involved any reports of alcohol consumption despite the particular violations being reported. Ultimately, it is clear that W&J is cracking down on the guidelines set in order to protect the safety of the campus.

Courtesy washjeff.edu

W&J has many safety plans in place. One important one is their mask policy which will be “stricly enforced.”

Courtesy washjeff.edu

Even though 26 students were returned home, the College has zero confirmed cases from students or faculatly.

4 CAMPUS NEWS

11 september 2020

Red & Black

Off-Campus & Residential Students Remain Connected Alex Wagner Red & Black Staff

It has been apparent since the beginning of this global pandemic that our daily lives and routines have become altered in ways we never expected. Although many students have chosen to continue their education in person for this fall semester, the majority have decided to either commute or stay home completely.

Washington and Jefferson Colleg as an institution has consistently been recognized for their efforts in commu-

nity building on campus. However, given these strange circumstances, it leaves us to wonder how this effort will remain. Thankfully, this sense of community has not been fully disregarded.

Jacqueline Mannina ‘22 attests to this as a new commuter this fall. “I am staying connected to W&J through talking to my classmates and professors during my online courses. I will also be more connected once I am able to commute to my in-person classes.”

Although Mannina is unable to visit the campus for leisure, her few lectures in person certainly aid in keeping herself involved. Mannina asserted, “W&J’s social media pages have provided information about campus news and events that are beneficial at home too.” Other students are not as

lucky to live so close to campus, leaving them to make the tough decision of staying home or returning to the school. As a first-year student, dealing with the newness of college as a whole can already be intimidating.

To add the stress of feeling disconnected from what was supposed to be their new home can be disheartening.

However, Esha Vaydia ‘24, concluded that going fully remote for the fall was the safest and smartest option. “Obviously, this has been a less-than-optimal freshman year,” said Vaydia. “However, having support from all of my professors and personally hearing from the faculty and services at the college through email and zoom has taken away a lot of stress that comes along with remote learn-

ing.” She, like Mannina, also finds the school’s online platforms to be helpful.

“A big way that I have been staying connected to W&J is through social media. Hearing from the girls in my dorm hall about their experience on campus through Snapchat, getting updates about practices from my teammates on the golf team through text, and even seeing little bits of campus through the College’s Instagram posts has made me feel a lot less distant from everyone.”

Zoom calls, Facetime, and other virtual options have become the new norm for many this school year.

The College’s biggest challenge will be keeping our study body happy regardless of the distance. Luckily, W&J has made a genuine effort to keep both our community connected and safe.

A Word from the Editor-In-Chief Amid the chaos of the pandemic, the Red & Black aims to give students a platform to engage with the Washington & Jefferson community both on campus and from home. In response to the racial injustice crisis, we plan on publishing weekly articles on topics regarding Black Lives Matter and addressing racism. As W&J’s official student newspaper, we strive for journalistic integrity and we uphold and open-door policy where any and all students are welcome to write for us. This semester, the Red & Black is only being published online.

We plan to resume printing in the spring. Please email me at saldivarm@washjeff.edu with questions at any time.

- Marcy Saldivar ‘21

11 September 2020

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Campus News 5

Meet the Editorial Board

Editor-In-Chief: Marcy Saldivar Marcy is a senior and she is a neuroscience and

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gender & women’s studies double major. Marcy is on

Established 1909

the W&J women’s soccer team, she is the president of the Student Association for Neuroscience, she is a member of the Outdoors Club, she works as a librarian at the Clark Family Library, and she is a member of Delta Gamma. Marcy is excited for the fall, “I have high hopes for this year’s Editorial Board and our student writers. Even though many students won’t be on campus this semester, I believe the Red & Black will unite students and faculty and give remote students a sense of W&J community from home.”

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

6 Current Events

Red & Black

Current Events

11 september 2020

Over 800K Americans File for Unemployment Anna Dubiel Red & Black Contributor

On Sept. 3, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released their Unemployment Insurance (UI) Weekly Claims News briefing that asserts a staggering 881,000 Americans filed

Figure A.

for Unemployment Insurance during the week ending on Aug. 29. This tally of 881,000 people would amount to a 130,000 decrease in the number of persons filing for UI from the previous week of August 22, during which the claims were numbered at 1,011,000.

However, this decrease in the number of people filing for UI, combined with the methodology used to calculate it, has many Americans questioning the legitimacy of the reported numbers.

According to the DOL news release, two different methods can be

used to calculate Seasonal Adjustment Factors—or SAFs—in a data series (this data series being the number of initial UI claims).

The SAFs can be either “multiplicative” or “additive”. Figure A. provides a brief description of these SAFs and economic situations during which the DOL is most likely to use each method of calculation.

The change from a multiplicative calculation method to an additive method for unemployment insurance claims began only a week ago, at the beginning of September.

The DOL news briefing stating: “Prior to September 2020, the seasonally adjusted unemployment insurance claims series used multiplicative seasonal adjustment factors. Starting in September, [the] Bureau of Labor Statistics staff, who provide the seasonal adjustment factors, specified these series as additive.”

A clear divide across the political spectrum on whether the economy is recovering or worsening has arisen based on the numbers the Department of Labor reported, with some news and media outlets reporting the news as a decline in UI claims, and others

reporting it as an increase. A problem with the changed calculation method from multiplicative to additive is that the DOL failed to revise previous seasonally adjusted data in the same manner.

As a result, the newest statistics are not able to be accurately compared to data from previous weeks and months.

According to the non-seasonally adjusted (NSA) initials claims, also provided by the Department of Labor, the number of initial claims has risen from 825,761 during the week ending Aug. 22 to 833,352 from the past week ending on August 29. This accounts for an increase of 7951 claims.

Stephanie Aaronson, a labor economist at the Brookings Institution, said to the Washington Post, “The numbers just clearly show a continued level of high distress in the country.”

Unemployment continues to be a key indicator of the financial health of an economy.

While many media outlets have been reporting on one number—800K Americans—it is important that we go beyond a single statistic to be able to ascertain the bigger picture, and ultimately, the overall problems our economy currently faces.

11 September 2020

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Current Events 7

Wildfires Set California and Oregon Ablaze

Courtesy celebrityml.com

First responders try to subdue wildfires in California and Oregon.

Lily Bonasso Red & Black Contributor

On the morning of Sept. 9, residents of the Bay Area of San Francisco awoke to a burnt orange sepia-toned skyline.

The ongoing wildfires in the regions of California, Oregon, and Washington along the West Coast caused a buildup of smoke which created an ominous layer of red-orange smog through which the sunlight was filtered. The sky has since subdued to a more muted

gray tone, but the haunting burnt sky serves as a reminder of the everpresent threat of climate change.

Although the air quality remained relatively constant during the orangesky phenomenon, the underlying cause of the event cannot be ignored.

Over the past several years, the West Coast has experienced an increase in wildfires, accompanied by rising heat waves in close succession. In recent news, California and Oregon forests and residents have been struck the hardest.

The reason that wildfires present such a serious threat and remain so uncontrollable is due to the abundance of dry forest material that serves as fuel

for the flames. Although firefighters continue to battle the blaze, once it has begun it is nearly impossible to quench. Each day, more and more people are being forced out of their homes in search of safety. The death toll continues to rise. People continue to go missing. The question arises– is there any hope?

The short answer– yes. This depends, however, on whether environmental policy changes and how soon. California Governor Newsom states that, the state “can be more targeted in terms of our vegetation management, forest management, our prevention strategies, land use strategies, our technologies on

suppression,” but the undeniable fact is that climate change is the determining factor in the prevention of these fires.

If corporations do not minimize their impact on the environment, the situation along the West Coast cannot improve, and will only continue to deteriorate as air pollution and temperature continue to rise.

As Oregon prepares for a “mass fatality incident” and California residents flee from their lives and livelihoods, it has become apparent now, more than ever, that the Earth will not ignore the harm being done to her, and it is up to humankind to ameliorate the damage, or else suffer the consequences.

8 Diversity

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Diversity

11 September 2020

Black Lives Matter: In History & Today Sarah Dugan Red & Black Contributor

I would like to start off by saying that Black people’s experiences should always be taken seriously and as truth— but know that they are not here to educate non-Black individuals on their traumas, history, and politics. The goal of this column is to elevate the voices of Black folks on campus as well as in our community and to educate nonBlack students.

Black Lives Matter was created by three women, named Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi, to be a political and social movement that calls for the global end of anti-Blackness. It was created in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer, George Zimmerman.

According to the Black Lives Matter website, Garza, Cullors and Tometi were inspired by the public response

by POWER U and the Dream Defenders, who took the Florida state capital in a 31-day takeover to demand justice for Trayvon Martin. Just one year later, Black Lives Matter was a powerhouse of an organization. They showed up in Ferguson to demand justice for Mike Brown, who was murdered by Darren Wilson, a police officer. Since then, the

movement has been recognized on a global scale. Taken directly from the Black Lives Matter website, “Organizers who call this network home have ousted anti-Black politicians, won critical legislation to benefit Black lives and changed the terms of the debate on Blackness around the world.

Through movement and relationship building, we have also helped catalyze other movements and shifted culture with an eye toward the dangerous impacts of anti-Blackness.”

Most importantly, though, the Black Lives Matter movement calls for the reallocation of funds from the police to communities that would pro-

vide housing, education, healthcare, childcare and a number of other programs that will improve the lives of Black and non-Black folks alike.

But the Black Lives Matter movement is not just for changing legislation and the continued fight for justice—it also aims to create a community for Black individuals to heal, connect and thrive. It calls for the safety and care of everyone in the Black community: disabled, LGBTQ, young and old. Much like our college’s motto “Juncta Juvant”, “together, we thrive,” the Black Lives Matter movement is stronger with support from allies.

While there is not a Black Lives Matter

chapter in Pittsburgh, there are a number of other organizations, both local and national, that could use support through money, time, supplies and platforms. This includes Bukit Bail Fund, Black Visions Collective, SNaP Co., The Okra Project and the Marsha P. Johnson Institute. Following the agendas of grassroots campaigns and acting based on that information is key to providing support to the Black Lives Matter movement.

It is up to everyone to be actively anti-racist, no matter how uncomfortable it may be to speak up about it.

There is no better time to start helping others than right now.

Courtesy Chicago Maroon

The NY Times have said that Black Lives Matter may be the largest movement in U.S. history.

11 September 2020

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Diversity 9

What’s That Smell? Environmental Racism Dylan Bertovich Red & Black Contributor

Environmental racism, or environmental injustice, has many definitions but all revolve around the idea that due to government or corporate actions there is some environmental hazard that exist in a low income or minority area that would not exist in any other area. What does this do to health? It infects the whole community - increasing rates of everything from asthma to cancer. In 2018, the EPA re-

leased a study saying that environmental injustice is real, and it is a killer.

How do these environmental hazards end up in these communities? Often it is easier to buy land or get permits in these areas, and the people can fight back less. A lawyer is expensive.

Amanda Fitzpatrick ’21 said, “If you think about the communities surrounding Pittsburgh, those with greater populations of poor and minority residents are often the ones that have and have had the toxic mills and plants that continue to damage health today.”

This problem has many country wide examples, from North Dakota to Louisiana. In North Dakota, the Da-

kota Access pipeline was purposely drawn to go through the Reservations.

They thought that it would be easier to fight the Native Americans than the white farmers.

This goes along with the location of the oil refinery plants in the south. The plants always line the gulf where there are more African American communities. The plants then leak the worst pollutants imaginable into the ground and the air, endangering health.

Sydney Fisher ’21 stated, “It becomes a worldwide problem when the west exports their most dangerous processes to developing nations where it will kill the poor Brown and Black

communities.” There is a great example of this: when an American company built a factory in India that they knew was deadly and ended up killing hundreds of citizens. In their collective mind it was better to endanger the Indians than the Americans.

Personally, I have been affected by environmental injustice in my own life. I grew up close to a coke plant that up until this spring had no limits on the toxic gases that it placed into the atmosphere. The plant single handedly gave me asthma.

We all need to be aware of this environmental injustice and work to stop it.

Courtesy NBC News

The Dakota Access Pipeline protests, also called by the hashtag #NoDAPL, were grassroots movements that began in early 2016 in reaction to the approved construction of Energy Transfer Partners’ Dakota Access Pipeline in the northern United States.

10 Diversity

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11 September 2020

Women in STEM Spotlight: Emilee Jackson Courtesy Inside Higher Ed

Women in STEM are breaking barriers.

Kylie Miller Red & Black Contributor

They spent their crucial time working to build the early foundation of modern programming. They revealed the structure of DNA. They stood up for their rights, aiming to break the gender barriers. They were in an arms race against pollution and anthropogenic activities, inspiring environmental movements. They are role models to young children. They are influencers of modern science.

Today, they are continuing to inspire young women to pursue careers in science, despite societal pressures.

Who are they? Women in STEM. Emilee Jackson ‘21 is a biology major on track to PA school. As a child, Jackson found an interest in science.

When she entered high school, she had an anatomy and physiology class that sparked her interest in medicine.

This was the moment she decided that her heart was in medicine.

She continued to follow this path by job shadowing throughout high school. Medicine is a large field to study, from dermatology to immunology, thus she knew it would take a lot

of work and dedication to discovering where her focus would be in medicine.

As a first-generation college student, it was difficult for her to find connections and outside resources, but with her perseverance and motivation, Jackson found herself doing research experiences and the health coach internship.

As a health coach, students are given the opportunity to work with a patient. This not only helps reduce weekly hospital visits for the patient, but it provides the patient with in-home care and the student with a life-long experience that prepares them for their future career in medicine.

It was not until health coaching that she discovered that she wanted to be a physician assistant. Her experience did not end there, in fact this was only the beginning.

Jackson received a position as a medical assistant with a local podiatrist at the end of last fall. She worked full time this past summer and is continuing to work during the semester.

She is doing work that she never thought she would have the opportunity to do as an undergraduate student.

Some of her responsibilities include getting patient vitals, charting patient symptoms and concerns, assisting procedures and performing ultrasounds.

Jackson is a dedicated and hard-working student, serving as an exceptional example of a woman in STEM.When asked what motivates her to work hard with how rigorous this field can be and she replied, “I knew it would take a lot of hard work and late nights, but I knew that’s what I would have to do to be successful in completing my biology undergrad and getting accepted into PA school”.

As a woman in STEM, it is the work she puts forth today that motivates her into her future.

Courtesy Kylie Miller

Emilee Jackson is a senior biology major on her way to becoming a PA, with many experiences shadowing and working in the medical field.

11 September 2020

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Diversity 11

The Impact of COVID-19 on U.S. Immigration Policy Kylie Miller Red & Black Contributor

The COVID-19 pandemic has crucially impacted both immigrants and the immigration policy. Almost every aspect of the immigration policy has been disrupted.

In response to the pandemic in March, President Trump immediately cancelled all immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments. This included employment-based and family-based immigrant visas as well as nonimmigrant visas for students, visitors and skilled workers. However, temporary

agricultural worker’s Visas are continuing to be processed.

Still, Visa processing and processing of immigration benefits are at a close standstill. Entry for all into the United States across the Canadian and Mexican borders are tremendously restricted, including those who are asylum seekers.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have set strict guidelines to their response to immigrants at the borders. At the start of COVID-19, CBP pledged to no longer detain illegal immigrants in their holding facilities, immediately returning them to where they entered. If this is not possible, CPD returns them to their country of origin, at any port, leaving them to find their way back. This measure has extended until Sept. 21, 2020. Yet, im-

migration enforcement has not ended completely. Thousands of immigrants remain in immigration detention facilities. To make matters worse, almost all immigration court hearings have been suspended. This means that those waiting in the detention facilities will have to continue to wait, presumably until COVID-19 has passed.

Those in the detention facilities are left to protect themselves from the spread of the virus, while they are placed in close quarters with one another. Sharing living spaces and being in close contact makes it virtually impossible to protect against the spread of the virus.

I asked for opinions on the measures that are being taken; “CBP is prohibiting all illegal immigrants to be moved to short-term and long-term

facilities, but they are keeping those who remained in detention facilities prior to COVID-19. Do you think this is a violation of human rights?”.

Brianna McGowan ‘20 says, “Covid-19 policies’ impact on detention centers is another example of US policy treating illegal immigration worse than most crimes. Since prisons and jails are decreasing their inmate populations to prioritize health and safety of inmates and surrounding communities, then detention centers should abide by the same policies.”

Should those in detention facilities be released to their country of origin to limit the spread of COVID-19?

What is the safest solution? The answer lies in the United States response to this growing pandemic.

Courtesy American Civil Liberties Unions

On April 8, 2020, the ACLU reported that immigrants are fearful of the spread of COVID-19 in ICE Detention Centers and ICE has largely refused pressure to release people in its custody.

12 Opinions

opinions Red & Black

11 September 2020

Joe Biden’s Plan to Combat COVID-19 Amanda Fitzpatrick Red & Black Editor

The founding principle throughout the entire plan of Vice President Joe Biden and his running mate, Senator Kamala Harris, is to listen to science.

These words may come as a shock given the current administration’s pandemic response, of which Biden has been highly critical. Apart from listening to science, which may seem like a given we previously took for granted, Biden emphasizes ensuring public health decisions are informed by public health professionals and restoring trust, transparency, common purpose and accountability to our government. If you made it this far,

you might be thinking these are loaded phrases and wondering what specific policies Biden plans to implement.

His policy begins with testing and tracing. Testing and tracing is critical to surviving a pandemic; Biden plans to double the number of drivethrough testing sites, invest in nextgeneration testing such as home tests or instant tests, create a Pandemic Testing Board similar to Roosevelt’s War Production Board to maximize the number of tests produced and distributed and establish a U.S. Public Health Jobs Corps to mobilize 100,000 Americans supported by local organizations to at-risk communities to perform contact tracing.

While testing is critical, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will assist in prevention. Biden plans to take responsibility as opposed to leaving that to the states, cities, tribes, and

territories. Specifically, this requires using the Defense Production Act to increase production of PPE to increase national supply above demand, especially in at-risk populations, and build toward an increased Americansourced manufactured capability to prevent our dependence on other countries. At a time where many communities have been lost or left to their own devices as to how to address the pandemic, Biden plans to provide evidence-based national guidance and resources. This begins with social distancing, a concept we all are becoming increasingly familiar with if we are residing on campus this semester. Biden plans to direct the CDC to provide specific evidence-based guidance for how to adjust social distancing relative to the risk and degree of viral spread in the community. (continued on page 13)

College or its students, faculty, or administration.

The Red & Black welcomes all reader contributions, but reserves the right to reject letters of pure promotional nature, as well as letters which do not meet its standard of integrity, accuracy and decency.

The Red & Black also reserves the right to edit submissions.

Vice President Joe Biden posing for his official White House picture.

C ontac t

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

Courtesy Wikipedia

Letters are due on the Monday before publication and may not exceed 600 words. All letters must include the author’s name, campus box and telephone number.

Names may be withheld upon request under certain conditions on rare occasions. All letters may be submitted to redandblackstaff@jay. washjeff.edu.

Telephone: FAX: E-mail: Mailing Address:

(724) 223-6049 (724) 503-1049 redandblackstaff@jay. washjeff.edu Red & Black 60 S. Lincoln St. Washington, PA 15301

11 September 2020

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Opinions 13

Courtesy Business Insider

Joe and Dr. Jill Biden wear masks while attending a campaign event.

(continued from page 12) Additionally, this guidance includes establishing a renewable fund for state and local governments to help prevent budget shortfalls, calling on Congress to pass an emergency package to ensure schools have the additional resources needed and providing a “restart package” to help small businesses cover the costs of operating safely with a growing need to provide PPE. Dylan Bertovich ’21 agrees with Biden’s plan, stating that “The current administration does not seem to understand that funding for states and local environments will keep the communities we live in afloat.”

While social distancing may be our temporary reality, we all are hoping for a vaccine. As such, Biden outlines a plan for the effective and equitable distribution of treatments and vaccines. Treatment is only as good as the number of people who have access to it, so Biden plans to invest $25 billion into a vaccine

manufacturing and distribution plan to guarantee Americans receive it costfree and ensuring everyone receives the protection and care they deserve.

It is no secret that this virus does not affect us all equally; older Americans and at-risk communities have been increasingly vulnerable. To combat this, Biden plans to establish a COVID-19 Racial and Ethnic Disparities Task Force, proposed by Senator Harris, and transition this to a permanent Infectious Disease Racial Disparities Task Force. This is needed; Black and Native American communities are getting sick and dying from COVID-19 at higher rates than white Americans and COVID-19 has laid bare the health inequities and structural racism in this country. Biden’s plan also includes creating a Nationwide Pandemic Dashboard to help Americans gauge the local transmission in their zip codes, especially critical for older Americans and high-risk individuals

who must take extra precautions.

While this should come as no surprise, Biden plans to rebuild and expand the defenses that Trump has dismantled. These include restoring the White House National Security Council Directorate for Global Health Security and Biodefense established by the Obama-Biden Administration, restoring our relationship with the world Health organization, re-launching and strengthening the U.S. Agency for International Development’s pathogen-tracking program cut by Trump and expanding the number of CDC’s deployed disease defectives that shrunk drastically under Trump.

Last but not least, Biden plans to call for a mask mandate which he has supported since Aug. 13. This stance, taken from experts who have said that almost 70,000 lives will be saved if 95% of Americans wear masks between now and December, will require working with governors and mayors.

Sydney Fischer ’21 supports the idea of a mask mandate: “Wearing masks is essential at this point.

If you’re not wearing masks in public spaces at this point, you’re a jerk. You are intentionally harming groups that need protected and taking resources away from at-risk people if you get infected, even if you think you will recover quickly.”

While these are just plans and cannot be evaluated for effectiveness without implementation, it is evident that Biden’s plan is more comprehensive and has taken into account the subsequent problems that have arisen as a result of the pandemic, such as urging Trump to address to hunger crisis by working with Congress to pass the bipartisan FEMA Empowering Essential Deliveries (FEED) Act and addressing the racial inequities of COVID-19 by urging for the collection of comprehensive data to focus resources on where help is needed.

14 Opinions

Red & Black

11 September 2020

Donald Trump’s Response to COVID-19 Paul Collier Red & Black Editor

Over 6.3 million sick. Near 189,000 dead. President Donald Trump has continually mishandled America’s COVID-19 response, leaving the United States at the lead of total illnesses and deaths globally.

This began long before COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan. In May 2018, President Trump disbanded the U.S. Pandemic Response Team in what his administration has rebranded as a “streamlining” of biodefense officials into other roles within the National Security Council (NSC), despite the continued threat of a pandemic in the face of climate change. However, this included the exit of Pandemic Response Chair Timothy Ziemer and former Senior Director for Global Health Security Beth Cameron, who wrote of her mystification at the dissolvement of the team in the Washington Post.

While former Senior Director of Counterproliferation and Biodefense Tim Morrison countered that this consolidation strengthened pandemic response by overlapping national security initiatives in a later Washington Post op-ed, this also comes from an official that retained his biodefense position with the NSC. If the bias is unclear, the New York Times reported in March

that in October of 2019 the Trump Administration held a response test to the “Crimson Contagion” originating in China, predicting 7.7 million hospitalizations and over 500,000 deaths, if this scenario occurred based on U.S. preparedness. As Business Insider wrote in their response, “there are insufficient funding sources designated for the federal government to use in response to a severe influenza pandemic,” coinciding with the CDC China epidemiologist leaving her role before the Administration decided to eliminate it in July of 2019. Not only does this show Morrison is blatantly incorrect about pandemic response, but it shows that President Trump was unprepared, knew he was unprepared, and still refused to fix these issues.

A final foreshadowing appeared on January 29 in a memo from Trade Advisor Peter Navarro in writing “The lack of immune protection or an existing cure or vaccine would leave Americans defenseless… elevates the risk of the coronavirus evolving into a full-blown pandemic, imperiling the lives of millions of Americans.”

From there, the Administration has responded slowly and ineffectively to the spreading virus. As Chuck Schumer has stated on Twitter every day since the outbreak, President Trump still does not have a national testing strategy, despite claims from White House officials on March 9 that the U.S. will complete one million tests per week. Not only had the CDC completed just 4000 tests at the end of that week, but Vice

President Mike Pence announced on April 24 that only 5.1 million tests had been completed, which doesn’t come close to fulfilling the need for testing for the 54 million American elderly, which is the most at-risk group. The U.S. FDA also rejected a Vietnamese ELISA Test that had 90% accuracy at only five minutes after testing, allowing for fast-acting quarantine in Southeast Asia.

The testing itself might not be as important if the Administration would approve a National Mask Mandate, but Trump refuses to do so even though they greatly limit the spread of the virus and enhance safety from infection even from those infected wearing them.

To medicate the infected, the Administration accepted 30 million doses of Hydroxychloroquine on March 29. Despite CNN’s report that it has helped alleviate symptoms of COVID-19, it has actually still not been separated in use from steroid dexamethasone and lead to the death of a couple after Trump suggested its use before it was properly tested.

Hydroxychloroquine use was also discontinued by WHO in July after it showed signs of causing heart rhythm inconsistencies. Ironically, the Administration then blocked a Dallas Health Center from pursuing Ozone Testing on grounds of lacking legitimacy.

However, Trump was initially helpful in attempting to provide PPE to healthcare workers to help alleviate symptoms for the hospitalized. After waiting until March to begin his

response, he provided billions of dollars and N95 masks and ventilators to hospitals in urban and rural areas to assist the response. This quickly subsided, however, as on July 18 the Washington Post reported that the Administration was attempting to block billions of dollars in testing, contact tracing, CDC funding and Pentagon response to the pandemic globally, even while case numbers hit record highs daily. Even when he gave large amounts, Trump refused to give without a fight, as even while New York had a third of the United States’ daily tests, he questioned the legitimacy of a need for 30-40 thousand ventilators on March 26.

The COVID-19 vaccine Remdesivir has also caused controversy, as the Administration has not sought a revocation of Gilead’s patent to allow for cheap, nationalized distribution of the vaccine. The Administration has also greatly shrunk the timeline for the vaccine’s testing to early November despite Dr. Fauci’s sentiment that a vaccine would not be ready until January 2021 at least. While it would be great if a vaccine was widely available early, it is difficult to see Trump’s desire to have this vaccine by election day as nothing less than a political ploy.

Now, Trump’s fighting to save face with an election upcoming, but even then, his official website ceased tracking his response timeline on April 24 while quarantine, illness, and death persist nationwide. Throughout this pandemic, Trump’s failed response has left too many Americans for dead.

11 September 2020

Red & Black

Opinions 15

Taylor Swift’s “Betty” is About Much More than James

Courtesy YouTube.com

Swift’s music video for “Caridgan,” released July 23, 2020.

Molly Kilbourne Red & Black Contributor

For what seems like most of Taylor Swift’s career, she has been ridiculed about breaking up with boyfriends and then writing songs about them.

The discourse surrounding her music was not about the melody or rhythm or instrumentation; it was about what boyfriend the song was based on.

When we ponder the stereotype of youthfulness leading to cheating and the acceptance of male promiscuity, we must situate ourselves on how male-dominated the world of music is, and the double standard applied to the critique of male versus

female artists. In Swift’s “Betty,” we hear the theme of cheating through her line, “The worst thing that I ever did was what I did to you.” She speaks to Betty to convey her regret in cheating with her boyfriend: “In the garden would you trust me if I told you it was just a summer thing?” We feel the pain Swift has experienced in hurting her friend and the regret she sings should prompt compassion from listeners.

The theme of youthfulness in the song is not a cliché, but a classic setting to provide solidarity for those who made their own mistakes in childhood. In her line, “I’m only seventeen I don’t know anything but I know I miss you” we feel this idea most strongly. Swift is publicly acknowledging the youthful naiveté that so many of us have. The wedding of

empathy and sympathy by Swift in her lyrics prevents the focus of the song to be on male promiscuity. We feel our experiences come to mind while we listen to Swift’s own retelling, becoming unionized with her.

Reducing the intersecting themes of “Betty” to youthfulness that leads to cheating and male promiscuity prohibits the connection that Swift intends to build between her and her listeners. The subject of youth is paramount here, but in regards to the naiveté that incurs mistakes as we grow up, not just it leading to cheating. There are many, many mistakes made during adolescence which Swift alludes to by not outright stating her mistake was cheating.

It can be speculated, for certain, but it’s not definite. Taylor Swift’s

dissection of youth, mistakes, and the yearning for human connection should be the focus in critiquing her song, “Betty.”

Many female artists exhibit prowess in lyricism, narration, composition, and range in music, but are only discussed in regards to their male relationships.

“Betty” is a perfect example of a complicated song that has been misinterpreted; Taylor Swift has historically been given less respect than she deserves as a talented artist.

What we learn from “Betty” and how it has been received can (and should) be applied to other female artists. Delving into the lyrics, meter, voice, and composition is the way to understand a piece of art and remove the possibility of remaining ignorant to its true theme.

sports

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11 September 2020

Exercise as a Mental Health Tool

Courtesy Polar

Exercise has more benefits than just physical health.

Lily Bonasso Red & Black Staff

Over the span of only a few months, the lives of people across the globe have been drastically disrupted by the ongoing pandemic. As changes continue to wreak havoc on most every aspect of school, work and social practices, it’s becoming increasingly imperative to take time to focus on mental health.

Sudden disruption of daily practices combined with a constant concern for physical health creates a hostile environment for the mind.

Though threatened by unpredictable changes, physical exercise can work to provide a sense of control, and

greatly benefits mental health.While social distancing guidelines and the use of face coverings are essential for protecting oneself and others, these practices take away from the connectedness which human beings thrive off of. This decreased social interaction, paired with negative, hopeless thoughts regarding the future, may lead to increased levels of depression and anxiety.

By partaking in regular physical activity, the brain experiences a rise in endorphins that lead to brighter moods. When used as a wellness tool, even light exercise can work to prevent or minimize mood swings.

The benefits of exercise reach beyond mood balance to positively impact self-esteem as well. Higher confidence increases self-image and motivation to continue achieving goals. The good news? Many activi-

ties are still possible to practice safely! For example, Jonathan Clifton 22’ makes sure to set aside time for running, which can easily be done outside and separate from others. He explains that “running has so many benefits for one’s mental and physical health. Even though many people aren’t fans of it, once they dedicate themselves, they can set goals and reap the benefits.”

The ability to set and achieve goals, especially during a time in which many other academic or career goals have been put on hold, leads to a sense of accomplishment that boosts confidence and motivation levels.

Although classes are beginning again for most students, academic routines have changed drastically. One of the most crucial benefits of exercise is the ability to work it into a routine in order to maintain a sense of normalcy.

When incorporated into an academic

routine, regular physical activity also helps with brain performance. Bella Sholtes 22’ explains that, although she does not practice intense exercise, she does try to take her dog for a walk every day: “It is a great way for me to give myself a mental break before sitting back down to my computer to continue doing my work. The fresh air and the blood pumping in my veins give me both the energy and motivation needed to get my work done.” Even a quick break from the mental strain of academic pressure and technology overload allows for a mental reset and better focus.

Opportunities for exercise are everywhere: a field, a trail or even a Youtube video on the living room TV! Regardless of the changes that take place, physical activity will continue to be available and ready to provide a much-needed boost in mental health.

11 September 2020

Red & Black

Sports 17

Recap of Round One of the 2020 NBA Playoffs

Courtesy NBA.com

The Celtics and Raptors will square off in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Sept. 11.

Reilly Oliverio Red & Black Editor

The NBA season is now deep in the post-season, concluding one of the longest and strangest seasons the NBA has ever seen. The NBA restarted their season in late July. If the players wanted to compete in the league they had to adhere to the rules of the “bubble.”

This means there will be no travel outside of their resort stay in Orlando, no seeing friends or family for months and having no fans in person to cheer

you on. The first round of the playoffs drew no big surprises from any NBA fan.

Within the Western Conference. the first round wielded two exciting series. The Houston Rockets and the Oklahoma City Thunder took the series to a seventh game. The series highlighted players Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook as both of them matched up against their former teams with high stakes on the line—win or go home. The combined efforts of James Harden and Westbrook led the Rockets to a game seven win. The only other exciting series game was from the battle of the Rockies, with the Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets battling it out.

After being down in the series 3-1, Denver’s Jamal Murray was scoring at

will and with Serbian All-Star Nikola Jokic racking up 30 points and 14 boards to win game seven. All the top seeds: Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets and the Houston Rockets all moved on to the second round.

In the East there seemed to be little competition for the winners of round one. The number one seed in the East, the Milwaukee Bucks, dominated the Orlando Magic. The five seed, the Miami Heat, led by Jimmy Butler won their series against the Indiana Pacers with no problems winning in four games.

The Boston Celtics swept the Philadelphia Seventy-Sixers while Toronto Raptors swept their competition, the Brooklyn Nets. The semifinals of

the west have some very interesting matchups. Lebron James and the Lakers will take on the Harden led Rockets. The stacked roster of the Clippers with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard leading the way, take on the red-hot Nuggets fresh from their victory over Utah. In the Eastern Conference a winner has already earned their spot in the Eastern Finals. In surprising fashion, the Miami Heat dominated the number one seed Bucks while defending MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo 4-1. Boston and Toronto are in a hard-fought battle to see who will face Miami in the Eastern Conference Finals. Although the circumstances are different, there are still exciting NBA games to watch as the season is coming down to the wire.

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Pandemic Health Tips GREETING THE DAY Dr. Harpreet Gujral, an integrative medicine expert at Johns Hopkins, suggests preparing a brief morning ritual to create a sense of certainty and routine for your day.

“First thing in the morning, I recommend spending 10 to 15 minutes on self-care. I take a moment to think about three things I’m grateful for. They can be simple things, such as a comfy blanket, a safe home, warmth spring trees, blue sky, or blossoming trees.”

Courtesy gopresidents.com

Dr. Gujral recommends not picking up your phone immediately and staying unplugged for your morning ritual.

From www.hopkinsmedicine.org

Courtesy gopresidents.com