To Kneel or Stand? (updated)

Talon

SPECIAL EDITION / WINTER / 2017

KNEEL OR STAND ?

FEATURE

INTERNATIONAL

SPORTS

TAKE A STAND

ANTHEM’S EVERYWHERE

SIT OR STAND?

PAGE 11

PAGE 26

PAGE 30

INSIDE

LIFESTYLE P 6 STANDING TOGETHER | P 8 KNEELING FOR ALL | P 10 JUST STAND UP | P 11 TAKE A STAND | P 12 MEDIA V NFL

Photo From Michael Porter

INTERNATIONAL P 16 ANTHEM’S EVERYWHERE | P 17 ARABIC TRANSLATION | P 19 TAKING A KNEE | P 20 ONE WORD MAKES A DIFFERENCE | P 21 ARABIC TRANSLATION

SPORTS P 24 WE ARE NOT OVER IT YET | P 26 THE REVOLUTION WILL BE INSTAGRAMMED | P 28 INTERNET PREVAILS AGAIN | P 29 MY STANCE ON STANDING | P 30 SIT OR STAND?

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CONTRIBUTORS EDITOR IN-CHIEF GRACYN REED MANAGING EDITOR BRIANNA PERALTA SPORTS EDITOR RYAN MEYER CO-INTERNATIONAL EDITORS YESSICA RAMIREZ HESHAM ALBADR PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR MICHAEL PORTER ADVISOR DR. J ANTHONY SNORGRASS

TALON TEAM DAKOTA WITHAM WILLIAM MONTGOMERY IV KATIE MOONEYHAM MATTHEW SIMPSON JOSH SHEWMAKER ABDULAZIZ ALMOHIMEED THOMAS BLOOD HESHAM ALBADR SAEED ALSHARARI CORINNE BOLDRIDGE MICHAEL PORTER ERIKA VALLONE MAKENZIE MUSGROVE DIANA GOMEZ SAM DERKS

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ON THE COVER & BACK: FRONT COVER: Photo From Michael Porter “Tevin Taylor always under game day pressure” BACK COVER: Photo from Dr. J SPECIAL EDITION | 3

Photo From ABC News

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FROM THE EDITOR Surprise! I know I caught you off guard with this issue in between semesters but it’s an important one. Here on these next 30 pages you will find some amazing stories about triumph, perseverance, and truth. Now, you might not agree with what these writers have to say, but that’s okay because you don’t have to. This Special Edition issue is all about what students here at Avila feel about this topic that has been in the news for so long.

The idea for an Special Edition issue comes from some students and faculty who wanted to really hear what students had to say on one specific topic. Dr. J and I decided why not do a whole issue on kneeling or standing? Heck, ESPN has had these headlines in their news for two years now, why not us?

Behold, these special pages of glory. Keep them safe, read them with an open mind, and never forget where they are. This issue is special and it won’t be on the shelf for long!

UNTIL NEXT TIME Gracyn Reed Editor-in-Chief

EDITORIAL POLICY The Talon News Magazine is produced by students of Avila University. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the Talon News Staff, the Trustees, administration, faculty, or staff of the University. The Talon News Magazine encourages letters to the editor. These may be submitted electronically or in writing and should include the writer’s name, address, and telephone numbers for verification purposes. Letters can be mailed to the Talon News Magazine Editor, Avila University, 11901 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64145. The Talon reserves the right to edit letters for reasons of space, clarity, or inappropriate language. Copies of the Talon News Network Operational Guidelines may be requested by writing to the above referenced address.

STANDING TOGETHER The National Anthem and the NFL Dakota Witham In the professional sports industry, the playing of the Anthem before the start of the game has been going on for some time now. According to Time Magazine the first playing of the Anthem in sports was the MLB on May 18,1862. The NFL started playing the anthem at the end of WWII also according to Time Magazine.

In the last two years there has been a lot of controversy surrounding this at the start of games. This battle of protest has actually been going on for almost 50 years now. This idea of doing this is a way to express the athletes concerns in a peaceful way. This type of protest has been going on for several years now and the media and people are just now making a big deal about this since 2016. The media has played a big role in the idea of it just knowing causing problems worldwide.

The first record of this according to the NY Times is in 1968 at the Summer Olympics. Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists up in the air wearing a black glove to salute black power during the medal ceremony. This then carried on into the 1972 cases of Vince Matthews and Wayne Collett being barred from the Olympics. In their case during the anthem they were not facing the flag.

In 2016 the protest started in the NFL

by Colin Kaepernick of the 49ers. His

initial idea was to sit during the Anthem according to Politifact. After talking with Green Beret and Nate Boyer on how to do this without disrespect to our military, he began to take a knee during the playing of the National Anthem.

ESPN stated that the famous NBA stars Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Paul opened up the ESPYS with their call for social change and an end to violence. That same year WNBA players wore warm-up tee shirts to show solidarity after the shootings in Minnesota and Louisiana. That fact that not just one athlete, but multiple athletes, feels the same way shows that there are real problems in our society that need to be fixed..

When you look at the NFL it is a nationally watched event with three Primetime events weekly shown nationwide. Before all this first started most of the times they never showed the Anthem on T.V. They instead used this time showing commercials because that generates revenue for the media. This however was ended when the state of the protest started because the media felt they needed to show what was going on and how it was being carried out. This also goes to show how media really take a toll on our lives. If it was not for the media, us as viewers would not

really see any of this other than what we heard from others who were present during the event. You also have to make sure you are reviewing a reliable source when it comes to the media.

I was raised in a military family my whole childhood and I had friends of many different colors and cultures. I always understood that people have different views on everything. Everyone has their rights to do what they believe in. In my middle school class, there was one kid who always sat when we recited the pledge of allegiance every morning. He was sent to the principal’s office several times by our teacher for his actions but there was not a lot the school could do so he always returned to class. The teacher then decided he should just not be in the class room moving forward so he decided to sit outside the room until the Anthem was done each morning. I totally understood his reasoning for why he wouldn’t stand.

It had nothing to do with the military or our country. It was all related to police brutality on colors just like the case of Kaepernick’s was. He had several family members that were arrested and were abused by the officers when they were doing everything asked of them.

The media involvement with this has been huge because it’s something that everyone wants to see what will really happens after the comments the president had said. In an article from ESPN Trump stated he “called for the firings of men who had peacefully exercised their First Amendment Rights.”

This made the media go crazy. As stated

by Marlin Briscoe “If we don’t protest, how are we going to get our voices heard?”

This is so true and they are doing it in the most peaceful way possible so people understand the issue going on in the communities and around the world. When being involved with media you have to make sure you are careful about what you say and post on social media sites as well not only on business pages but also personal ones as well because millions are watching.

When you think about the players’ situation, it’s the only way they could show their concern peacefully and not lose their jobs. Some may however lose some endorsements and sponsors but most of them understand that and agree it’s what must be done. When it comes to media because they decided to broadcast the National Anthem on live television they risked the loss on the money they used to make when it was not aired. Also the different approaches owners took to this protest where some teams stayed in the locker rooms, to owners joining the players on field for a kneel in the events before the Anthem.

Everyone has their own views on this but I believe that the start of this in 2016 is what we needed to start a case on the issue of not treating races of color fairly.

It also shows you that this country is still divided in some ways We also have a lot of work to get to where we need to be. We need to be the same against everyone and will take many more years if it happens at all.

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KNEELING FOR ALL My stand on kneeling WIlliam Montgomery IV There has been a lot of arguments about the national anthem kneeling during sports games. There have been several major top athletes that either take a knee during the national anthem or entirely sit down on the bench while the national anthem is playing. This all started with the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick decided to take a knee for the anthem.

After that game the entire media crowded Kaepernick asking several questions on why he did this. He simply answered because of the rights blacks have. Colin felt that black citizens aren’t safe has other citizens around the world.

My feelings on the subject are similar to Colin Kaepernick’s approach. I feel that black citizens aren’t safe on the

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streets and I feel that African American males are a huge target to certain offical police officers around the United States.

Also my opinion on kneeling while the national anthem is being sung is a good way to show people around the world how to peacefully protest. Kneeling or sitting down while the anthem is going on is fine; it is showing people that we are noticing the way African Americans are being treated. I interviewed a local Avila student about the topic kneeling during the anthem. The student was Jamir Crawford he felted that kneeling or sitting down wasn’t bad or showed any disrespect. He felted that this is the only way African American voices can be heard.

Photo From USA Today

“But the one quality all of them seem to share is an ability to maintain hope for a brighter morning, even during our darkest OPRAH WINFREY nights.�

Photo From New York Times

JUST STAND UP Kneeling, standing, & everything in between Katie Mooneyham Whether you have seen it first hand or heard about it on the news, players’ kneeling during the National Anthem has become a topic that everyone is talking about. There are two stands on this topic: either you think it is very disrespectful or you think that it is very acceptable and support this action 100%. As a granddaughter I immediately of a veteran took the side of people who think it is disrespectful and very wrong.

As I began to look deeper into this topic I began to see where the people who kneel are coming from.

Their reasoning is to protest for kneeling inequalities that they face. I think that there is a better way to show this protest instead of kneeling during the National Anthem. I believe that kneeling during the National Anthem is disrespectful to the flag and to the troops who are fighting and sacrificing their lives for our country.

Those who are kneeling are justifying their action by saying their first amendment right is the freedom of speech and being able to express their opinions without being reprehended for them. The NFL is in the spotlight when this topic comes up because of Colin Kaepernick, former quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers.

Kaepernick started this growing protest almost two years ago when he kneeled during the National Anthem. Once he justified why he was doing so other players began to follow his lead. This issue will not fade away until those who are kneeling feel that they are making a difference.

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Photo From CNN

TAKE A STAND What’s behind the stance Matthew Simpson

Malcolm X once said “If you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything.” I feel this quote plays a significant role in the way people have responded to kneeling or standing during the National Anthem. Lately, there has been huge controversy about the N.F.L teams participating in the protest.

It all started about a year and a half ago when Colin Kaepernick, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, kneeled before a game. He wanted to take a stand against police brutality and people with color being oppressed. The protest has grown since then. Recently, President Donald Trump spoke out on the topic saying NFL athletes should be fired if they kneel or sit during the National Anthem. Days after he spoke out, almost every team responded

Photo From New York Times

by kneeling or locking arms as a unit before the game. Standing for the National Anthem is “a sign of respect for this country.” Players should be able to choose whether or not they want to participate without being scrutinized.

Not all of the people who participated supported the meaning behind kneeling. They were just supporting their teammates/players. Many of the players who support the cause were colored or African American. Which isn’t surprising because most incidents regarding racism, discrimination, or police brutality has been towards them. Athletes have a huge opportunity to impact society because there like heroes, a lot of people look up to them. As an African American this country hasn’t done nothing for us but made things harder.

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MEDIA V. NFL

An in-depth look at what’s happening Josh Shewmaker Colin Kaepernick has been one Photos From Chiefs.com of the most controversial, and heated topics throughout the sports nation for over a year. He has not been shy on his opinion of police brutality in America.

Kaepernick was once an NFL star that led his team to a super bowl few years ago, and some thought he might have been the 49ers franchise quarterback for many years to come with his athletic ability, strong arm, and the ability to gain yards outside of the pocket. We are finishing up this season of the NFL and he still does not have a job with any team; considering he was once a star in the league. He has opened up many doors to be talked about and is taking action in his community to provide evidence of his beliefs. When I last discussed this in one of my classes it was an extremely hot topic that was talked about every single day, although it is still a hot topic, the media have not been covering it nearly as much as the beginning of the year. Other players around the league are carrying on Colin’s tradition from last year, including Martellus Bennett and Marcus Peters that consistently do it week to week, along with others like Alejandro Villenueva that have made a point to actually stand for the anthem.

There are so many different perspectives and narratives from this topic and no way of getting a right answer or solution.

When we talk about the media we talk about how it covers this topic so in depth; it’s always on T.V. and it is always talked about on ESPN. That is how we, the general public, know about the situation. The media covers it so much where we start to voice our own opinions. For example, a couple people are sitting at a bar drinking, and they look up at the T.V. They see the headlines on the channel, about Kaepernick and it begins to stir up discussion in that bar and get the public thinking and voicing their own opinions. If you are the NFL, it can either be a good thing, because you are keeping your industry in all of the major headlines and getting publicity, or it’s a bad thing because it is an industry of football and people don’t care for political standpoints. The NFL is finding out now that this has not been good for the league. According to espn.com the ratings are down from the 2016 season at this point in the year by 7.5 percent. I have experienced this personally as well; a friend of mine has taken it to the extreme and stopped watching football on Sundays because of the commotion about the national anthem. It is people like this all over the country that is bringing the ratings down and putting pressure on the owners and the commissioner. The NFL is still a 14-billion-dollar league that owns the

sports world, and has done this for the last several years but they don’t want to lose viewers for something like this.

There however has been other players in other respective sports take action on this topic to kneel during the anthem. One of the ones that I am more familiar with is the Oakland Athletics player Bruce Maxwell, he was the first MLB player to take a knee and try to protest in the MLB. He did this towards the end of the year so it didn’t stir up as much commotion in the media but it was definitely something to touch on. When I reflect back to class we didn’t talk about it as much as I would have liked either, probably because I am a baseball player myself so I draw more interest to the situation than the regular student but it still made me realize how big this issue has gotten. Maxwell comes from a military family as well but it did not affect them in a disrespecting way at all. This

Photo From USA Today

just goes to show how Colin Kaepernick taking a knee last year protesting police brutality has impacted so many different people for the good and for the bad.

From my personal experience and opinion, I do not care if you stand or kneel for the anthem at this point. I will continue to stand and put my hand over my heart and honor our flag and the country every time it is played in my presence. This does not mean I will disrespect someone that does kneel and want to exercise his or her rights to protest. I am someone that watches ESPN regularly, and I am utterly happy that they haven’t been addressing this topic nearly as much. Something will happen to stir up the media again eventually, but until then, the former NFL star will remain jobless and continue to take action in his community to try and make a direct impact on the country.

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SPECIAL EDITION / WINTER / 2017

INTERNATIONAL SECTION

FEATURE

FEATURE

FEATURE

ANTHEM’S EVERYWHERE

TAKING A KNEE

ONE WORD MAKES A DIFFERENCE

PAGE 16

PAGE 19

PAGE 20

Contents

BRINGING THE WORLD TO AVILA AND AVILA TO THE WORLD

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ANTHEM’S EVERYWHERE SAUDI ARABIA AND THE UNITED STATES ARABIC TRANSLATION ARABIC TRANSLATION TAKING A KNEE WHAT IT REALLY MEANS ONE WORD MAKES A DIFFERENCE STUDENTS PROTEST OVER U.S. NATIONAL ANTHEM ARABIC TRANSLATION ARABIC TRANSLATION

ON THE COVER: Photo From Blogs.SmallFlags.com LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

“I believe my purpose is to share my culture, traditions, and positivity with the world through film, photography and journalism.”

Yessica Ramirez, International Editor

“A news story should be like a mini skirt on a pretty woman: long enough to cover the subject, but short enough to be interesting.”

Hesham Albadr, International Editor SPECIAL EDITION |

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ANTHEM'S EVERYWHERE

Saudi Arabia and the United States Abdulaziz Almohimeed

Does every country have an anthem? And why is it important?

Also, what is the differences between the Saudi Arabia’s anthem and the United States?

First of all, the most important thing is the importance for all countries because it helps the patriotism and it helps citizens feel proud and gives them the sense of belonging.

The anthem usually contains praise, encouragement and strength for the citizens. No, not every country has anthem or they do not have official lyrics to their anthem. And the differences between the Saudi National anthem and United States anthem are big. The first difference is that the United States National anthem is much older it was adopted

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in 1931, and it is a poem composed

by Francis Scott Key in 1814 and the Saudi national anthem was composed by Ibrahim Alkhafaji and finally adopted in 1984. The United States National anthem lyrics come from the defense of Fort M’ Henry. The Saudi anthem comes from the Muslims religion as you can see in the lyrics when it says, “My country repeat, Allah is the greatest”. Also, the United States National anthem addressed in the lyrics the flag when it says, “O say does that star spangled bannder yet wave”. And the Saudi’s National anthem says about the flag that “And raise the green flag bearing lined.”

So we can see also the differences in the flag descriptions, colors, and meanings.

Photo From Abdulaziz Almohimeed

‫ﺑﻘﻠم‪ :‬ﻋﺑداﻟﻌزﯾز اﻟﻣﺣﯾﻣﯾد‬ ‫ﺗرﺟﻣﮫ‪ :‬ھﺷﺎم اﻟﺑدر‬

‫اﻟﻧﺷﯾد اﻟوطﻧﻲ ﻓﻲ ﻛل ﻣﻛﺎن‬ ‫اﻟﻣﻣﻠﻛﮫ اﻟﻌرﺑﯾﮫ اﻟﺳﻌودﯾﮫ واﻟوﻻﯾﺎت اﻟﻣﺗﺣده اﻻﻣرﯾﻛﯾﮫ‬

‫ھل ﻟﻛل دوﻟﮫ ﻧﺷﯾد وطﻧﻲ؟ وﻟﻣﺎذا ھو ﻣﮭم؟ أﯾﺿﺎ‪ ،‬ﻣﺎ ھﻲ اﻻﺧﺗﻼﻓﺎت ﺑﯾن اﻟﻧﺷﯾد اﻟوطﻧﻲ اﻟﺳﻌودي واﻟﻧﺷﯾد اﻟوطﻧﻲ اﻻﻣرﯾﻛﻲ؟‬ ‫أوﻻ وﻗﺑل ﻛل ﺷﻲء‪ ،‬أھم ﺷﻲء ھو اﻷھﻣﯾﺔ ﺑﺎﻟﻧﺳﺑﺔ ﻟﺟﻣﯾﻊ اﻟدول‪ ،‬ﻷﻧﮫ ﯾﺳﺎﻋد ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟوطﻧﯾﺔ وﯾﺳﺎﻋد اﻟﻣواطﻧﯾن ﻟﯾﺷﻌرون ﺑﺎﻟﻔﺧر وﯾﻌطﯾﮭم اﻟﺷﻌور‬ ‫ﺑﺎﻻﻧﺗﻣﺎء‪ .‬اﻟﻧﺷﯾد اﻟوطﻧﻲ ﻋﺎدة ﻣﺎ ﯾﺣﺗوي ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﺛﻧﺎء واﻟﺗﺷﺟﯾﻊ واﻟﻘوة ﻟﻠﻣواطﻧﯾن‪ .‬ﻻ‪ ،‬ﻟﯾس ﻛل اﻟدول ﻧﺷﯾد وطﻧﻲ أو ﻟم ﯾﻛن ﻟدﯾﮭم ﻛﻠﻣﺎت رﺳﻣﯾﺔ ﻟﻧﺷﯾدھم‪.‬‬ ‫واﻻﺧﺗﻼﻓﺎت ﺑﯾن اﻟﻧﺷﯾد اﻟوطﻧﻲ اﻟﺳﻌودي وﻧﺷﯾد اﻟوﻻﯾﺎت اﻟﻣﺗﺣدة ﻛﺑﯾرة‪ .‬واﻟﻔرق اﻷول ھو أن اﻟﻧﺷﯾد اﻟوطﻧﻲ ﻟﻠوﻻﯾﺎت اﻟﻣﺗﺣدة ھو أﻗدم ﺑﻛﺛﯾر واﻟذي‬ ‫أﻋﺗﻣد ﻓﻲ ﻋﺎم ‪ ،١٠٣١‬وھﻲ ﻗﺻﯾدة ﻣن ﺗﺄﻟﯾف ﻓراﻧﺳﯾس ﺳﻛوت ﻛﻲ ﻓﻲ ﻋﺎم ‪ ١٨١٤‬واﻟﻧﺷﯾد اﻟوطﻧﻲ اﻟﺳﻌودي ﺗﺄﻟﯾف إﺑراھﯾم اﻟﺧﻔﺎﺟﻲ واﻋﺗﻣد ﻓﻲ ﻋﺎم‬ ‫‪ .١٩٨٤‬ﻛﻠﻣﺎت اﻟﻧﺷﯾد اﻟوطﻧﻲ اﻻﻣرﯾﻛﻲ ﺗﺄﺗﻲ ﻣن اﻟدﻓﺎع ﻋن ﻓورت م ھﻧري‪ .‬اﻟﻧﺷﯾد اﻟوطﻧﻲ اﻟﺳﻌودي ﯾﺄﺗﻲ ﻣن اﻟدﯾن اﻹﺳﻼﻣﻲ ﻛﻣﺎ ﺗرون ﻓﻲ اﻟﻛﻠﻣﺎت‬ ‫ﻋﻧدﻣﺎ ﯾﻘول‪" :‬رددي ﷲ اﻛﺑر ﯾﺎﻣوطﻧﻲ" )ﷲ ھو اﺳم اﻟرب(‪ .‬أﯾﺿﺎ‪ ،‬اﻟﻧﺷﯾد اﻟوطﻧﻲ ﻟﻠوﻻﯾﺎت اﻟﻣﺗﺣدة ﻣوﺟﮭﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻛﻠﻣﺎت اﻟﻌﻠم ﻋﻧدﻣﺎ ﯾﻘول‪" ،‬ﻋﻧدﻣﺎ‬ ‫ﯾﺗﺣرك اﻟﻌﻠم اﻟﺷﻌب ﯾﻐﻧﻲ اﻟﻧﺷﯾد اﻟوطﻧﻲ"‪ .‬واﻟﻧﺷﯾد اﻟوطﻧﻲ اﻟﺳﻌودي ﯾﻘول ﻋن اﻟﻌﻠم أن "ورﻓﻊ اﻟﻌﻠم اﻷﺧﺿر ﯾﺣﻣل اﻟﻧور اﻟﻣﺳطر"‪ .‬ﺣﺗﻰ ﯾﻣﻛﻧﻧﺎ أن‬ ‫ﻧرى أﯾﺿﺎ اﻻﺧﺗﻼﻓﺎت ﻓﻲ أوﺻﺎف اﻟﻌﻠم واﻷﻟوان واﻟﻣﻌﺎﻧﻲ‪.‬‬

‫ ‬

‫?‪DID YOU KNOW‬‬ ‫‪The Saudi Arabia National Anthem was first adopted 1950. At‬‬ ‫‪this time it was instramental but, in 1984 lyrics were added and‬‬ ‫‪adopted. It is referred to simply as “The National Anthem” but it is‬‬ ‫‪commonly known by its incipit. The lyrics call upon the country to‬‬ ‫‪“hasten to greatness and raise the flag, glorify God, and asks Him to‬‬ ‫”‪grant the King of Saudi Arabia long life.‬‬

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“Alone we can do so little; together we can HELEN KELLER do so much.”

Photo From Jessica Albina

Photo From YouTube

TAKING A KNEE What it really means Thomas Blood

The recent year-long controversy of the NFL players protest of taking a knee during the national anthem has spread to where more teams have decided to take part in the actions.

Personally I feel that a protest for what you believe in but there are different ways to do it. Even though it is your right to kneel for the anthem I feel that it is disrespectful because of the soldiers who lost their lives fighting to give us our rights. The flag represents the rights of the American people but the playing of the national anthem, especially with people in the military holding the flag, represents the lives lost and freedoms gained because of it. We as a country must show respect to those who gave their lives

when protecting the land of the free.

Standing for the anthem is a different meaning to most especially because there are people who talk during the anthem or do not pay attention.

Personally, I feel like it is respectful to the other soldiers who defend us to stand. Those soldiers give up seeing their families, limbs, or even their own lives to protect us here at home. It is a strong dedication to this country.

The country needs to stand together and unify as we go through tough times and especially acknowledge the protest made by our NFL players but there is a way to do it and if it is done with respect and love for the country a lot of social issues will be addressed.

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ONE WORD MAKES A DIFFERENCE Students protest over US national anthem Saeed Alsharari

On Oct 5th at Avila University, students were interviewed about the protests that happened on the field after players knelt for the national anthem due to a word lead to mean slavery. It’s America and people can do whatever they want whether they like something or not, its called freedom of speech. Now in 2018 people can’t zip their mouth if they hear or see something wrong; the general phrase here in America is, “If you see something say something.”

However, students were interviewed about the protest that made the players kneel for national anthem, which caused a big blast in social media. Students have said, “I think it is America and everyone should do whatever they want.” They also have mentioned that freedom of speech takes a role on everything whether it is for their national anthem or their individually privacy.

Protesting in America is a great thing to let everything off your chest and also to share with people how

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and what do you want to happen.

That’s America and everyone should feel free to speak his or her perspectives. Last but not least, they also think that what the protest leading to is to change the third phrase of the national anthem, so everyone can feel equal and humanitarian because it is 2017 and they all should move forward to the better.

Moreover, what I personally feel is that it is too late to protest for the national anthem and they should have protested 175 years ago. I understand the freedom of speech here but I don’t think it is necessary to protest for only a word. I would say you’re close minded and you have to change your perspective of thinking about the world because what are we going through right now and in the whole world is how to keep safety and peace to all these destroyed countries rather than protesting for a word that was created 175 years ago.

‫ﻛﻠﻤﻪ واﺣﺪه ﺗﻔﺮق‬ ‫اﺣﺘﺠﺎج اﻟﻄﻼب ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﻨﺸﯿﺪ اﻟﻮطﻨﻲ اﻷﻣﺮﻳﻜﻲ‬ ‫ﺑﻘﻠﻢ‪ :‬ﺳﻌﯿﺪ اﻟﺸﺮاري‬ ‫ ﺗﺮﺟﻤﻪ‪ :‬ھﺸﺎم اﻟﺒﺪر‬

‫ ‬

‫ﻓﻲ اﻟﺧﺎﻣس ﻣن أﻛﺗوﺑر ﻓﻲ ﺟﺎﻣﻌﺔ أﻓﯾﻼ‪ ،‬ﺗم إﺟراء ﻣﻘﺎﺑﻼت ﻣﻊ اﻟطﻼب ﺣول اﻻﺣﺗﺟﺎﺟﺎت اﻟﺗﻲ وﻗﻌت ﻓﻲ اﻟﻣﯾدان‬ ‫ﺑﻌد رﻛﻊ ﻻﻋﺑﯾن اﻟﻧﺷﯾد اﻟوطﻧﻲ ﺑﺳﺑب ﻛﻠﻣﺔ ﺗؤدي إﻟﻰ اﻟﻌﺑودﯾﺔ‪ .‬اﻧﮭﺎ أﻣرﯾﻛﺎ واﻟﻧﺎس ﯾﻣﻛن أن ﯾﻔﻌﻠوا ﻣﺎ ﯾرﯾدون ﻣﺎ إذا ﻛﺎﻧوا‬ ‫ﯾﺣﺑون ﺷﻲء أم ﻻ‪ ،‬وﺗﺳﻣﻰ ﺣرﯾﺔ اﻟﺗﻌﺑﯾر‪ .‬اﻵن ﻓﻲ ﻋﺎم ‪ ٢٠١٧‬اﻟﻧﺎس ﻻ ﯾﻣﻛن اﻏﻼق ﻓﻣﮭم إذا ﺳﻣﻌوا أو رأوا ﺷﻲء ﺧﺎطﺊ‪.‬‬ ‫ﻓﺈن اﻟﻌﺑﺎرة اﻟﻌﺎﻣﺔ ھﻧﺎ ﻓﻲ أﻣرﯾﻛﺎ ھﻲ "إذا رأﯾت ﺷﯾﺋﺎ ﻗل ﺷﯾﺋﺎ"‪ .‬وﻣﻊ ذﻟك‪ ،‬ﺗم إﺟراء ﻣﻘﺎﺑﻼت ﻣﻊ اﻟطﻼب ﺣول اﻻﺣﺗﺟﺎج اﻟذي‬ ‫ﺟﻌل اﻟﻼﻋﺑﯾن ﯾرﻛﻌون ﻟﻠﻧﺷﯾد اﻟوطﻧﻲ‪ ،‬اﻟذي ﺗﺳﺑب ﻓﻲ اﻧﻔﺟﺎر ﻛﺑﯾر ﻓﻲ وﺳﺎﺋل اﻹﻋﻼم اﻻﺟﺗﻣﺎﻋﯾﺔ‪ .‬وﻗد ﻗﺎل اﻟطﻼب‪" :‬ﻧﻌﺗﻘد أن‬ ‫أﻣرﯾﻛﺎ ھﻲ اﻟﺗﻲ ﯾﺟب أن ﯾﻔﻌل اﻟﺟﻣﯾﻊ ﻣﺎ ﯾرﯾدون"‪ .‬ﻛﻣﺎ ذﻛروا أن ﺣرﯾﺔ اﻟﺗﻌﺑﯾر ﺗﺄﺧذ دورا ﻓﻲ ﻛل ﺷﻲء ﺳواء ﻛﺎن ذﻟك‬ ‫ﻟﻧﺷﯾدھم اﻟوطﻧﻲ أو ﺧﺻوﺻﯾﺎﺗﮭم اﻟﻔردﯾﺔ‪.‬‬ ‫اﻻﺣﺗﺟﺎج ﻓﻲ أﻣرﯾﻛﺎ ھو ﺷﻲء ﻋظﯾم ﻟﻠﺳﻣﺎح ﻛل ﺷﻲء ﻣن ﺻدرك وأﯾﺿﺎ ﻟﺗﺑﺎدل ﻣﻊ اﻟﻧﺎس ﻛﯾف وﻣﺎذا ﺗرﯾد أن‬ ‫ﯾﺣدث‪ .‬ھذه ھﻲ أﻣرﯾﻛﺎ‪ ،‬وﯾﻧﺑﻐﻲ أن ﯾﺷﻌر اﻟﺟﻣﯾﻊ ﺑﺣرﯾﺔ اﻟﺗﻌﺑﯾر ﻋن وﺟﮭﺎت ﻧظره‪ .‬وأﺧﯾرا وﻟﯾس آﺧرا‪ ،‬ﻓﺈﻧﮭم ﯾﻌﺗﻘدون أﯾﺿﺎ‬ ‫أن ﻣﺎ ھو اﻻﺣﺗﺟﺎج اﻟﻣؤدي إﻟﻰ ﺗﻐﯾﯾر اﻟﻌﺑﺎرة اﻟﺛﺎﻟﺛﺔ ﻣن اﻟﻧﺷﯾد اﻟوطﻧﻲ‪ ،‬ﺣﺗﻰ ﯾﺗﻣﻛن اﻟﺟﻣﯾﻊ ﻣن اﻟﺷﻌور ﺑﺎﻟﻣﺳﺎواة واﻹﻧﺳﺎﻧﯾﺔ‬ ‫ﻷﻧﻧﺎ ﻓﻲ ﻋﺎم ‪ ،٢٠١٧‬وﯾﻧﺑﻐﻲ أن ﯾﺗﺣرك اﻟﺟﻣﯾﻊ ﻧﺣو اﻷﻓﺿل‪.‬‬ ‫وﻋﻼوة ﻋﻠﻰ ذﻟك‪ ،‬ﻣﺎ أﺷﻌر ﺑﮫ ﺷﺧﺻﯾﺎ ھو أﻧﮫ ﻗد ﻓﺎت اﻷوان ﻟﻼﺣﺗﺟﺎج ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﻧﺷﯾد اﻟوطﻧﻲ‪ ،‬وﻛﺎن ﯾﻧﺑﻐﻲ ﻟﮭم أن ﯾﺣﺗﺟوا ﻣﻧذ‬ ‫‪ ١٧٥‬ﻋﺎم‪ .‬أﻧﺎ أﻓﮭم ﺣرﯾﺔ اﻟﺗﻌﺑﯾر ھﻧﺎ وﻟﻛﻧﻲ ﻻ أﻋﺗﻘد أﻧﮫ ﻣن اﻟﺿروري اﻻﺣﺗﺟﺎج ﻋﻠﻰ ﻛﻠﻣﺔ واﺣدة ﻓﻘط‪ .‬أود أن أﻗول إﻧﻛم‬ ‫ﻣﺗﻔﻘون وأن ﻋﻠﯾﻛم ﺗﻐﯾﯾر وﺟﮭﺔ ﻧظرﻛم ﺣول اﻟﺗﻔﻛﯾر ﻓﻲ اﻟﻌﺎﻟم ﻷن ﻣﺎ ﻧﻣر ﺑﮫ اﻵن وﻓﻲ اﻟﻌﺎﻟم ﻛﻠﮫ ھو ﻛﯾﻔﯾﺔ اﻟﺣﻔﺎظ ﻋﻠﻰ‬ ‫اﻟﺳﻼﻣﺔ واﻟﺳﻼم ﻟﺟﻣﯾﻊ ھذه اﻟدول اﻟﻣدﻣرة ﺑدﻻ ﻣن اﻻﺣﺗﺟﺎج ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﻛﻠﻣﺔ اﻟﺗﻲ ﺗم إﻧﺷﺎؤھﺎ ﻣﻧذ ‪ ١٧٥‬ﻋﺎم‪.‬‬

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‫‪Photo From Daily News‬‬

SPECIAL EDITION / WINTER / 2017

SPORTS SECTION

FEATURE

FEATURE

FEATURE

WE ARE NOT OVER IT YET

INTERNET PREVAILS AGAIN

SIT OR STAND?

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Contents

CAPTURING THE LIVES AND INTERESTS OF AVILA’S STUDENT ATHLETES

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WE ARE NOT OVER IT YET MY STANCE ON KNEELING THE REVOLUTION WILL BE INSTAGRAMED TEVIN TAYLOR’S TURN TO KNEEL INTERNET PREVAILS AGAIN THE PROTEST EFFECTS AND THE INTERNET MY STANCE ON STANDING NFL PLAYERS CONTINUE TO KNEEL SIT OR STAND? WHAT FREE REALLY MEANS

ON THE COVER: Photo From Gracyn Reed LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Football season is coming to an end, basketball season is in full swing, and baseball season is right around the corner. In this issue you will find great writers expressing how they feel on such a huge topic this football season. From the NFL to right here at Avila, many athletes have shown they too can express their right to peaceful protests.

Ryan Meyer, Sports Editor SPECIAL EDITION |

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WE ARE NOT OVER IT YET My stance on kneeling Corinne Boldridge In the beginning of October, with NFL season in full swing, the MLB playoffs just starting, and NBA season beginning soon, it seems a day never goes by without an interesting sports story. However, the story most people are talking about is regarding NFL players and other professional athletes kneeling during the national anthem.

I remember when NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick first kneeled during the national anthem, and how his simple action instantly created such divisiveness throughout the sports world.

On one side, there were athletes that spoke out and supported him, and on the other side there were others who found Kaepernick’s kneeling completely

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inappropriate and disrespectful to our country’s flag.

Flash forward to over a year later, and what started as one man kneeling during the national anthem has turned into one of the biggest political controversies of the decade with many athletes and people alike clashing over their views on the subject. It seems to me that many of people that have expressed such outrage in response to these athletes’ anthem protests have lost sight as to why Colin Kaepernick started this movement and even kneeled in the first place.

It’s no secret that black America is hurting. It’s 2018 and while we as a country have made strides in the war

Photo From The Undefeated

Photo From The Nation

against racism, we still have a long, long way to go. Kaepernick started his protest in response to the repeated brutal actions of police officers against unarmed black civilians. What he expressed with the simple action of kneeling resonated with many black Americans who have been feeling cheated by the system for their entire lives. With that being said, the message that these protesters are trying to convey is this: “We don’t like how we are treated, and we think this country can and should do a lot better.” But what their message has been misconstrued to is this: “We hate this country and therefore we’re not going to stand for the national anthem.”

It’s easy to look at any situation and only see things from your point of view. In regards to this situation, it’s easy for people who haven’t experienced

the unjust, cruelty that is racism to look at people kneeling during our national anthem and consider that to be uncalled for or disrespectful. But I think it’s safe to say that most if not all of the athletes that have kneeled during the anthem have the greatest respect for our country’s veterans and our flag. Many of the people criticizing this protest have been so blinded by their outrage that they have failed to see what these people are even protesting. The protest was never meant to disrespect the brave individuals that make our country free. The sole purpose of the protest is to bring awareness to the atrocities faced by black Americans daily, and to hopefully get to a place where “Unarmed Black Man Killed by Police Officer” is no longer a reoccurring national headline.

SPECIAL EDITION |

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THE REVOLUTION WILL BE INSTAGRAMED Tevin Taylor’s turn to kneel Michael Porter

“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”- Robert Kennedy. With this it seems as if with recent events that have happened in the past 5-10 years, the racial unsettling has risen its weary head once again to startle The United States of America as a whole. Cases like Trayvon Martin, Mike Brown, and many others have created this sudden unrest between people of color and the men and women in blue. Being a

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Black male in your teenage years and 20’s has seen to be the dangerous occupation in this nation. We are not only losing our fathers, sons, brothers, uncles and etc., but we are also losing the hope that we eventually thought that racism would come to an end because of the generation like mines who does not see color but personality.

Boy, were we wrong ! It seems as if we are in the modern day Civil rights, with every second, there being another case of a black man being discriminated for his skin color by someone of the opposite.

With this, we have had leaders in our black communities take a stand and even our higher profile black athlete like LeBron James, Chris Paul, Malcolm

Photo From MIchael Porter

Jenkins and Infamously Colin Kaepernick.

In Colin’s case he starts with a protest against injustice that the people of his race have been treated to for over a 100 years now and because he made this view very public and kneeled not against the flag but what was happening in this country , he was eventually black balled out of the NFL. Now in 2017 going in 2018, It’s Tevin Taylor’s turn. Tevin Taylor, a Midwest native, has experience a lot through the years of playing the sport, he loves of so much, basketball . It has taken him places we would never imagine but it has also shed light to a lot of things that are not right in the game. With an abundance of hours spend studying the history behind the black man in American and everything he has gone through, he was able to create the path to see that Colin had every right to kneel because we are a race that is getting killed like animals that many want existent. With this, he decided not be on the floor during the national anthem for his teams games for the Men’s Basketball team at Avila University. Tevin, being a starter, is very influential to his team and they respected his stance because he was ultimately able to show them what has been going on in this country. With

asking Tevin, what gives him the courage to do what he does, he replied with, “I️ believe that no man or women should stand for something that misrepresents them while not representing them in the same precedent. I️ do not stand for the national anthem because America has shown that it does not represent us by not helping and worsening our living/ health conditions.They misrepresent us by presenting our character to the world as barbaric or animalistic. I️ will stand for the national anthem when America proves to us that they are ready to better our conditions and treat us better as a people, only then will I️ stand for the national anthem.” Over the month of meeting with Tevin , he has inspired me to take my on stance and to hold my ground. The question is how will people respond when there are many like Tevin in college athletics who decide to use their powerful voice they might not know they have, for the great good and to promote equality for everyone in this nation. He and many who stand this for will not give up until change is visual for not only this generation but for the future ones to come. Now will you stand or will you watch the revolution when it is finally television again.

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INTERNET PREVAILS AGAIN The protest effects and the internet Erika Vallone Over the past two years you may have already heard of news about players kneeling during the U.S. National Anthem during important sports games and the reactions that this initiative is arising in the population; but what exactly people think about that? Is it disrespectful or it is a great way to protest? Are they dishonoring the flag and what it represents or are they trying to make a change in the U.S. society?

Just looking at websites like FOX31, Sport Illustrated or SBNation, you can find some harsh commentaries or videos of U.S. citizens stating their disappointment and frustration about the actions taken by the players and their consequently loss of support for the team. On the other hand, there are also fans who endorse the “rebellion” of the players sending messages of support and approval to what they are trying to achieve.

Personally, I believe that the actions taken by the players are not disrespectful. In the course of history, brave actions that have been able to astound people and at the same time divide them, have demonstrated to be the more effective ones. The American flag and the U.S. National Anthem are two of the symbols that represent this

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extraordinary country; they depict what the U.S.A have achieved in its history, the memory of those who died for giving to everyone the possibility to live in freedom without fear and the fact that some public figures, under the eyes of the entire world, decided to knee in front of all of this, it means a lot to me. It

“...the american flag and the u.s. national anthem are two of the symbols that represent this extraordinary country...” means that they believe that a change is coming, a change that will lead again the U.S to that glory achieved with effort, passion and blood that most people believe is slowly disappearing.

MY STANCE ON STANDING NFL players continue to kneel Makenzie Musgrove

Photo From Sam Derks As NFL players continue to kneel or stay in the locker room during the playing of the National Anthem it remains to be a hot topic among a divided nation. It all started when Colin Kaepernick, the former quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, sat on the bench during a preseason game on August 14, 2016.

The first two games that he sat went unnoticed. He did not gain attention until Jennifer Lee Chan tweeted a photo of the 49ers bench during the anthem.

Ever since then, the protests have spread across multiple sports including soccer, basketball, and baseball.

However, the protests are disrespectful and dividing. The protests were meant to bring attention to the oppression of black people in America and bring the

nation together to fight against it. But, I think it has done the opposite. Instead of uniting the nation together as one, it has divided the citizens between those who think it is appropriate to protest during the National Anthem, and those who find it inappropriate and disrespectful.

It is understandable that professional athletes are using the platform to raise awareness for the oppression of blacks.

But, I think it is disrespectful to our servicemen and women that are fighting overseas for our right to peacefully protest in our country. I agree that there needs to be action for oppression in our country, but I do not think protesting our National Anthem is the right time or place.

SPECIAL EDITION |

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SIT OR STAND?

What free really means

Diana Gomez I think the real question is, does the reason behind the kneeling pertain to me or does the reason behind standing better fit me? I’m black so that means I have to kneel, or is it I am white so I have to stand. Is this really about respecting or disrespecting a symbol that is our National flag and anthem? I am not a big football person so I did not see when Colin Kaepernick first took a knee back in 2016, but I didn’t have to be. The insults that were being said spread like wildfire. I don’t think anyone for an instant even considered why he did it; everyone was so quick to jump to conclusions. In an interview, he said he did this to peacefully protest the injustices that were happening all over the world to black people and people of color. I am really trying to keep an

opened mind here. Let me mention I was brought to the United States when I was 2 years old. I grew up with the thought that we are a “free” country, but just not when it comes to standing during a football game. Sounds pretty ridiculous to me that we are even so focused on this while there are more horrific things happening around us. I have an uncle who is a Veteran and my cousin is in the Air Force, so I get where people might feel offended while not seeing someone stand. But in all honesty they are kneeling because they fought for that same right.

If I had half the courage these people kneeling do I would be kneeling with them. I believe we all have a right to do as we please, even during the National Anthem.

Photo From StarTribune

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Photo From The Gazette

“WE ARE ONLY AS STRONG AS WE ARE UNITED, AS WEAK AS WE ARE DIVIDED.” J.K. ROWLING

“You must never be fearful about what you are doing when ROSA PARKS it is right.” | SPECIAL EDITION

Tevin Taylor in deep concentration prior to recording video statement