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Volume CXVI, No. 3
National “To Kill A Mockingbird” author Harper Lee announced that the sequel to her famous novel will be released on July 14. Lee wrote the sequel, “Go Set a Watchman,” in the 1950s, and it features the protagonist of the first novel as an adult woman. The publisher says the 304-page long book will be released as originally written, without revisions, with an initial printing of two million copies. “To Kill a Mockingbird,” which was released in 1960, has sold over 40 million copies and is often listed as one of the greatest novels ever written. “Numerous” fatalities were reported after a crowded Metro-North commuter train hit a vehicle on the tracks north of White Plains, New York, Tuesday night, sparking a fire that gutted the lead car of the train, according to the MTA. Among the dead were an unknown number of passengers on the train and the driver of the black Jeep Cherokee that was struck and dragged at about 10 car lengths. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority said the gates came down on top of the SUV at the crossing, which was stopped on the tracks. The driver got out to look at the rear of the car, then she got back in and drove forward and was struck. The MTA had earlier said that six people were dead in the rush-hour crash but changed that to “numerous” deaths pending more information.
International A Jordanian pilot held by ISIS appears to be killed in a new video released by the terror group today. The pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kasasbeh, is shown in an orange jumpsuit in an outdoor cell before he is set on fire. The undated video of al-Kasasbeh’s apparent death comes just days after ISIS uploaded another video showing what appeared to be the decapitated head of a Japanese hostage, journalist Kenji Goto. Last week the Jordanian government had offered to release an al Qaeda prisoner in exchange for al-Kasasbeh, but officials said ISIS failed to prove that the pilot was alive. In addition, while ISIS said then they would release Goto for the al Qaeda prisoner, they did not offer al-Kasasbeh’s freedom. This week’s “Top Stories” were compiled by Brendan Raleigh with information from abc.go.com.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Thursday, February 5, 2015
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First-year draws inspiration from Wes Moore G-Burg first-year reflects on his college experiences and his plans for the future Photos Courtesy of Gettysburg.edu
B y M ike B aker C ourtesy of GCC&M College is a time of choices: choices like where you want to go, what you want to do and who you want to be. This is a realization many Gettysburg College first-year students are re flecting upon after sharing a common reading experience this past fall. The Class of 2018 explored paths, expectations and the power of decisionmaking through the book The Other Wes Moore, authored by youth advocate and Rhodes Scholar Wes Moore. In the New York Times bestseller, two Baltimore boys coincidentally share the same name—Wes Moore— and grow up only a few miles apart from one another. Their striking similarities begin to grow fainter, however, as circumstances and personal choices lead one to become a White House fellow and the other a criminal. “Wes Moore shows that many people get a second chance, maybe even a third or fourth, but some of us will only get one shot,” said first-year student Michael Mancino ’18. “Every student should know that our choices can very well remain a part of us forever. Some choices can blossom careers, while others can put us in awful situations. Our choices are almost always significant, although they may not always appear that way.” Through studying ‘The Other Wes Moore,’ students share a common intellectual
Gettysburg College first-year Michael Mancino explains his plans in and beyond Gettysburg College and his experience with author Wes Moore. experience, foster a sense of community and jumpstart discussions on themes related to the College’s efforts in diversity and inclusion, internationalization and intellectual climate. This past September the reading was further examined when Moore traveled to campus for a guest lecture. “To me, the word of the night was ‘inspiration,’” Mancino said of the oncampus presentation. “I have seen many speakers in my life, but Wes stands high above the rest.
“His ability to bring a group of 700 to life in a few seconds is spectacular, and he has a unique talent of easily silencing a room filled with laughing students once he changes to a more serious tone. “He told us, ‘If you leave college with just a degree, then you have wasted your time.’ I immediately sat up and became determined to leave my mark on Gettysburg College. “Throughout high school I always regretted not running for student gov-
ernment,” Mancino recalled. “I love leading, I love public service and I love engaging everyone around me, but it was because of Wes that I made my dream of running for class president a reality.” After winning his firstyear presidential race and earning a seat at the Stu dent Senate, Mancino set his sights on building a more unified class and encouraging his peers to use their varying skillsets to contribute to the mission of the school. What may separate Mancino among other young
leaders is that his drive is coupled with a sense of selfawareness. He also makes a conscientious effort to delegate and never bite off more than he can chew. “Leadership to me means knowing that it is crucial to give everyone a shot at something. A leader should be able to handle a full plate of responsibilities but also recognize when that plate becomes too full,” he said. Continued on page 2
Ebola immersion trip educates on public health Students travel to Washington D.C. to learn about Ebola and public health policy B y B rendan R aleigh N ews E ditor Over Winter Break, 17 Gettysburg College students participated in the Center for Career Development’s Careers in Contact Immersion Trip. The subject for this year’s immersion trip was Ebola as it relates to public health. Students traveled from Gettysburg to Washington D.C. to meet with officials from the U.S. Department of State, United Nations Development Program, Pan American Health Organization and the World Bank, among others. The students on the trip came from a variety of majors, mostly in STEM fields, such as health sciences, biology or chemistry. The trip was two days, from from January 13 to 15, and the organization of the trip was aided by health sci-
Inside This Issue
This Week’s Top Stories
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Weird News, pg. 2
Photo Credit: gettysburg.edu
Gettysburg College students traveled to Washington D.C. to talk to professionals involved with the recent Ebola outbreak from Jan. 13 to Jan. 15. They learned about both the epidemic and the careers involved in containing it. ences Prof. Amy Dailey. The trip did not focus on one career path in specific but rather covered a variety of possible career paths. Students were also able to hear some of the stories of healthcare professionals who dealt with the outbreak
Dear White People film showing, pg. 3
firsthand. These stories included information about how families in Africa responded to the outbreak in a personal way. In addition to learning about the careers of the professionals involved, the trip gave students insight into
Environmental effects of the Super Bowl, pg. 4
their own ambitions regarding these career paths, with some confirming their interest in their initial subject area and others discovering new areas of interest. This immersion trip was one of a number sponsored by the college dur-
Sexuality discrimination, pg. 5
ing winter break, as others took students outside of the United States to various locations across the world.
Correlation between Super Bowl happiness review, and success, pg. 6 pg. 5
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Photo of the Week! Want your work featured as our Photo of the Week? Submit your photos to ralebr01@gettysburg.edu!
Photo Credit: gettysburg.edu
Ice climbing in White Mountains, NH with GRAB over winter break.
AXP, TKE
First-year reflects on the influence of Wes Moore
Gburg student draws inspiration from Wes Moore talk Photo Credit: gettysburg.edu
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“A good leader knows that it takes an entire group of people to accomplish something great. He or she should know that almost nothing is done well without some help.” Deep down, Mancino just wants to help those around him: it is why he ran for Student Senate, serves on the Budget Management Committee and volunteers for the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America program. “I have been given the lucky opportunity to meet with an extremely fun and smart second grade boy, Declan, weekly at Lincoln Elementary School,” Mancino said. “We work on homework, talk about study techniques and play games. It is
The DPS Log January 27 - Februar
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a ton of fun. I love that each of us can make a difference in each other’s life in such an encouraging and powerful way.” Although Mancino has not yet decided on a major, he has a passion for public service, government and politics, and is considering political science. He hopes to attend law
school after graduation and one day work on Capitol Hill as a leader dedicated to enhancing the lives of millions of Americans. For Mancino, it is all a matter of making the most of his choices along the way.
Weird News of the Week B y B rendan R aleigh N ews E ditor
Vince the Dog and the Stomach of Boots Veterinarians at the Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center in Philadelphia are saying that four-year-old dog Vince is making a recovery after a surgery which removed a pair of calf-high leather boots from the pup’s stomach. Vince had apparently devoured the footwear, and the volume of material was so significant that it could not pass through the lower intestine. Vince underwent surgery on Saturday. Poor Vince. Vince is a good boy. Kinda dumb, but a good boy. Revenge of the Zombie Cat: Part Meaux Those of you who have been following the “Weird News” column may remember zombie cat from last week (yeah, yeah, a lot about animal near-death experiences). WELL, it is conspiracy time, ladies and gents. Apparently Sir Zombie Cat’s adventure underground…was planned from the VERY START! Sherry Silk, executive director of the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, told the Huffington Post that the cat’s owners knew the cat was breathing when buried. She is basing the accusation on a YouTube video that Hutson’s neighbor, Dusty Albritton, confirmed with HuffPost that she posted on Jan. 23. The video features Bart shortly after he returned home, and a woman’s voice can be heard saying, “He might not have been dead. ‘Cause when I found him … he was moving and stuff.” That sucks. But hey, look on the bright side: cat is alive. And out for revenge. The Dark Lord Sauron: Kids’ Edition! The father of a fourth grader in Kermit, Texas claims his son was suspended from school because the boy stated he had the “One Ring” — as in, the one featured in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit — and that he could use the ring to make his friend disappear. The 9-year-old was accused of making a terroristic threat, his father, Jason Steward, told the Odessa American. Steward said that the family recently watched “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” and his son was enthusiastic about the film. The disgruntled dad told The New York Daily News that his son “did not mean anything” by the statement.
This week’s “Weird News” was compiled by Brendan Raleigh with information from huffingtonpost.com.
hington Street door at 129 North Was -g in ld bu to e ag m Da Vandalism: at 10:39 p.m. ex Offense Hall at 1:00 a.m. Later “S t es W at pe Ra e: ns fe Sex of by GPD” unfounded and closed ge and Alpha Chi Ro at tta Co er rn co at ry la rg of bu Burglary: Two counts ., respectively 1:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m
ary 28
Janu 12:21 p.m. at Phi Gamma Delta at rd ca n tio ica tif en id m. Liquor laws: False at Patrick Hall at 2:40 a. n io pt um ns co ge ra de Liquor laws: Un February 1
ilding ption and theft from a bu um ns co ge ra de Un : Larceny/liquor laws 12:03 a.m. at 12:03 a.m. at Alpha Tau Omega at s at Alpha Tau Omega or in m to g in ish rn Fu West : Liquor Laws g sexual orientation at in rd ga re t en cid in d te Bias related: Bias rela p.m. Lincoln Avenue at 6:30 ect January 23 ing another female subj ov sh d an g in sh pu t ec Assault: Female subj
Senate Update By Christiana Fattorini Student Senate Secretary Executive Reports • President Report: Kathryn will be sending out a survey monkey for feedback from the Student Senate for mid year reports • Vice President Report: Stefany appointed Harry Fones as Senator for the Class of 2015 Budget Requests • Shots in the Dark – Full amount of $2,500.00 was allotted • Free the Slaves Club – Full amount of $4,100.00 was allotted for a conference this spring • DCF – Full amount of $8,705.00 was allotted for a conference, retreat, and a community service trip this spring • Italian Club – Full amount of $2,050.00 was allotted for a film festival, bingo night and conference this spring New Clubs • Enactus was granted Senate Recognition Guest Speakers • Matthew Miller from Auxiliary Services spoke about the new biometrics system that has been put in place at the different dining facilities on campus
Students are welcome to attend the weekly meetings of the Student Senate Mondays at 7 p.m. in CUB 260.
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This Week at the Majestic Film Showing: Dear White People
“Oscar Nominated” Imitation Game PG-13 Benedict Cumberbatch portrays one of Britain’s most tragic unsung heroes, mathematician Alan Turing, who cracked the German Enigma Code to help win World War II. Thursday 2/5 - 7:15 PM Fri. 2/6 - 7:00 PM Sat. 2/7 - 4:00 PM & 7:00 PM Sun. 2/8 - 2:00 PM & 5:00 PM Mon. – Thurs. 2/9 - 2/12 - 7:00 PM
2015 Oscar Nominated Shorts NR LIVE ACTION Fri. 2/6 - 7:15 PM Sat. 2/7 - 7:15 PM Sun. 2/8 - 2:15 PM Mon. 2/9 - 7:15 PM Wed. 2/11 - 7:15 PM
College Life is hosting a viewing of Dear White People on Thursday, February 5th at 7pm in Mara Auditorium (Masters 110). Professor McKinley Melton of the English department will facilitate a discussion following the film. Join us for this educational and thought-provoking movie and conversation in celebration of Black History Month!
WZBT’s Top Songs and Albums of the Week
ANIMATION Sat. 2/7 - 4:15 PM Sun. 2/8 - 5:15 PM Tues. 2/10 - 7:15 PM Thurs. 2/12 - 7:15 PM
Top 5 Songs 1 TOYGUITAR In This Mess 2 RICKED WICKY I Sell The Circus GBV 3 CHIMURENGA RENIASSANCE Kudada Nekuva Munhu Mutema 4 NATALIE PRASS Natalie Prass Startime-Spacebomb 5 JESSICA PRATT “Back, Baby” [Single] Drag City
Book Discussion: The Septembers of Shiraz B y M eggan S mith L ibrary C onsultant
Top Albums 1 YAWN Love Chills Old Flame 2 HANNI EL KHATIB Moonlight Innovative Leisure 3 JACK NAME Weird Moons Castle Face 4 TY SEGALL Mr. Face [EP] Famous Class 5 WILD SMILES Always Tomorrow Sunday Best 6 GUSTER Evermotion Nettwerk 7 OIL BOOM Red Metal Self-Released 8 LABRYYYNTH LABRYYYNtH Burger-People In A Position To Know 9 JON HARDY AND THE PUBLIC Restless City Self-Released 10 BELLE AND SEBASTIAN Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance Matador Check out WZBT Gettysburg College radio to find out about top picks! Stay updated by liking WZBT’s Facebook page or follow them on twitter @WZBT or @WZBTPlaylist
Gateway Theater Movie Showtimes FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6TH THRU WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 11TH **NO SHOWS AFTER 8PM MONDAY THRU THURSDAY** **BARGAIN TUESDAYS – ALL SEATS $5 – ADDITIONAL FEE FOR 3D** THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE OUT OF WATER 2D PG NO PASSES (1:30) (1:55) (4:30) (4:55) 7:15 7:45 THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE OUT OF WATER 3D PG NO PASSES 9:40 3D PRICING JUPITER ASCENDING 2D PG-13 NO PASSES (1:10) (4:10) 7:10
Join us for a book discussion about The Septembers of Shiraz by Dalia Sofer this coming Tuesday, February 10 at 7:00p.m. in the Penn Hall Lyceum. This novel was selected as a New York Times “Notable Book of the Year,” was a finalist for the Jewish Book Award, and has been translated and published in sixteen countries. The book is also currently being adapted for a feature film. The novel takes place in the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution and follows the events that occur to the prosperous Jewish family of Isaac Amin, a rare-gem dealer in Tehran who is wrongly accused of being a spy and disappears. Our discussion will be facilitated by Temma Berg, Graeff Professor of English Literature, Gettysburg College. As a follow-up event to this book discussion, author Dalia Sofer will visit Gettysburg College to discuss her novel and present a lecture titled “Between absence and presence: exile, memory, and the archival impulse” on Wednesday, February 25. This event is part of the series Iran: Beyond the Headlines series, that includes book discussions, film screenings, and lectures designed to help us move past today’s headlines and explore the history, art, culture, and everyday life of Iranians. Series events are scheduled through April 2015. All events are free and open to the public. For a full list of events visit the library website. Sponsored by the Middle East & Islamic Studies program and Musselman Library with support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
JUPITER ASCENDING 3D PG-13 NO PASSES 9:55 3D PRICING SEVENTH SON PG-13 NO PASSES (1:40) (4:40) 7:30 10:00 PROJECT ALMANAC PG-13 (1:25) (4:25) 7:35 10:00 THE BOY NEXT DOOR R I.D. REQUIRED (2:00) (4:40) 7:40 9:50 AMERICAN SNIPER R I.D. REQUIRED (1:00) (4:00) 7:00 9:50 PADDINGTON PG (1:50) (4:50) 7:20 THE WEDDING RINGER R I.D. REQUIRED (1:45) (4:45) 7:25 9:45 THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING 10:00
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Banishing body image issues stems from postive attitude B y M eredith C ox H ealth and W ellness C olumnist What affects our body image? The media? Society’s expectations? Friends’ comments? Or even family pressure? You guessed it— all of these external sources contribute to the positive and negative perceptions we have of ourselves. Those influences mold our thoughts, emotions, and attitudes. Every time you sit down to watch TV, you are guaranteed to see a commercial for a weight loss pill or a new anti-wrinkle serum. Reading a magazine means sifting through pages of advertisement for the latest fashions and beauty items on the shelves at your local mall. On the radio, early morning talk shows hosts trash a famous celebrity because he or she got a new haircut or had a weight
change. Unfortunately, it is not just the big media industries that pressure to conform with societal norms. Friends, family, and even strangers often shape our perceptions of ourselves. Whether it is a positive or a negative comment, we are constantly bombarded with messages compelling us to act and appear like those around us. Even the simplest remark, like, “You’re really eating that?” or “Why does your shirt fall that way?” really can unknowingly inflict self-destruction on someone. We are constantly being told how to behave in order to fit in. Eat this. Watch that. Say this. So, how can we change all of the negativity and pressures that we face every time we step outside our door? It is crucial that we maintain good mental health as well as physical health. Start by learning how to ap-
Fit to be Tied “Looking Forward to Evolution” B y E lliott H irsch C artoon C olumnist
preciate yourself. This can be as simple as waking up in the morning and giving yourself a daily affirmation. It can be anything from “I am confident” to “My freckles rock.” Begin to accept yourself for who you are. Work on raising your self-esteem so you feel comfortable in your own skin. Change your self-talk from negative to positive by focusing on what you like about your body. Finally, and most importantly, figure out what triggers your negative body image. Identify the source, whether it is reading a magazine or comparing yourself to friends, and resist it. Surround yourself with people who appreciate you as you are and make you feel good. It starts now, and it starts with you. “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi.
The Superbowl: Entertaining but environmentally draining B y J ulia R entsch GECO C orrespondent
Plastic cups of beer. Plane tickets across the country. Kinda-strange-butpeople-buy-them-anyway foam fingers. What do all these have in common? They are ways the Super Bowl is contributing to environmental degradation—and the surprise here is this: they’re actually trying to do something about it. From tree-planting to clean energy, the organizers of the annual super sport brouhaha have really stepped up their game. Jack Groh, director of the NFL Environmental Program, has been quoted online as saying, “If creating a mess is part of our business plan, then clearing it up needs to be part of the model as well. Greenhouse gas obviously causes damage to the environment, and we need to be responsible.” Yeah! If you like football,
you probably also like going outside, so concerns about the environment are probably pretty important to you. And it is great that the NFL is working hard to offset its impacts! But of course, there is still room for improvement, considering the enormity of the environmental damage that has already been done. But who wants to hear grim proclamations like that? Watching a cute puppy on a Super Bowl commercial is obviously the more cheerful choice... Or am I going to cast a dark shadow on those too? Yup. Commercials have always been a central theme to the Super Bowl, and the expensive time slots ($4.5 million for thirty seconds) in d icate w h ic h co mp an i es are currently the most successful at providing what the masses want. You think you are watching football? Consumerism is also the name of
the game. Plainly and simply, one thing that we could all be doing in order to reduce our impact on the environment is buying less stuff-especially disposable stuff! That includes cheaply made, replace-it-in-a-year clothes and furniture, Styrofoam, plastic take-out containers, magazines you have a subscription to but don’t read, etc. And if you have to buy things, checking out if it is from a sustainable, equitable source is a really badass thing to do. Secondhand things are also rad, and so is trading with people or borrowing. So while we enjoy watching these companies pander to our weaknesses for adorable animals, we should also keep in mind our responsibilities in cleaning up the planet. For the football, for the puppies, for everybody.
Gettysburg grad reflects on Holley Internship experience B y A ngela B adore M usselman L ibrary C orrespondent The Barbara Holley Internship, named for Barbara Holley, Class of ’54, is a library position for a recent graduate who is considering entering graduate school for information science, librarianship, or archives and records management, but has not done so yet. The position is designed to introduce the intern to the various aspects of working in a library, and thus help them decide if this is the career they want while also giving valuable work experience. The internship is paid (with benefits). If you are wondering what it is like being Holley Intern, read on for a snapshot of a day in the life of the Holley Intern. The best part about working at Musselman Library is that it is never dull. On the average day, I wind up on almost every floor of the building completing a wide variety of tasks. I have
done everything from mummifying the Lincoln head statue to cutting and sewing together my own book from scratch. One of the best experiences working here was participating in our Book Cart Drill Team, which marched in the annual Gettysburg Halloween parade (and took first prize in our division this year!) When I applied for this internship, I never expected to wind up a dancing skeleton pushing a book cart down Carlisle Street, but that is all part of the magic of Musselman Library! I even got to participate in the First Year Walk again, but this time down familiar streets with staff members I already knew. I work with all the departments in the library; I have staffed the circulation desk, shelved books, set up displays, and I am regularly on the reference desk. I see how all the departments fit together, and how a simple thing like the arrival of a new book takes everyone working together.
Working behind the scenes has given me a whole new perspective on the library I knew for four years as a student. Instead of attending Finals Study Breaks or looking through a Banned Books display, I have the chance to create the experiences for my former classmates and give them a break in what I know firsthand is a hectic schedule. As I look ahead to graduate school, I feel far more prepared for my future career and excited about the opportunities that I have been given as the Holley Intern at Musselman Library! If you think you might be interested in being the next Holley Intern, check out the description and application directions on the library website. Applications are due by Friday, February 20.
New Year, New Pronouns: A Narrative of Identity B y C olin S cotch ALL ies C orrespondent
From a conceptual standpoint, New Year’s resolutions seem like a silly idea. What is the difference of one day going to make in terms of how we behave? But when we put them into practice, we can make real changes in our lives. Take me for example. On December 31, 2014, I portrayed myself as a boy. On January 1, 2015, I began portraying myself to the world as I really am— non-binary (essentially, me being non-binary means that when Professor Oak asks if I am a boy or a girl, my If you have any ques- answer is no). It is an ident i o n s , f e e l f r e e t o c o n t a c t tity that gives me a sense of Meggan Smith, Reference & wholeness that I have not Instruction Librarian (717- felt before, and I decided 337-7009, mdsmith@gettys- that it was finally time to be burg.edu). who I am to the rest of the
world. Upon my return to Gettysburg, though, I encountered a challenge that I had not really anticipated. I spent the last three semesters here reinforcing the idea that I am a boy. And now that I am ready to drop that mask, I am learning that it is a really hard to do. As a society, we do not really talk about how identities can change. People change all the time, but we assume that there are some aspects of humans that never change. Gender is often among one of those things we assume cannot change. It makes coming out as transgender challenging, especially to friends. My friends knew me as a boy who used he/him/ his pronouns. Moving from that mindset to knowing me as a person who is not a boy or a girl and who uses they/
them/theirs pronouns is not an easy thing to do. So, I would like to use this forum to ask something of the Gettysburg College community. Let us start an open discussion on identities, and how they grow and change as we learn more about ourselves. Let us start a trend of asking people what their pronouns are, even if it is someone whose pronouns we have used before. Let us create an environment where no one feels like they have to wear a mask because it would be too hard to be who they truly are. I will start. Hi, my name is Colin Scotch. I am an English and Philosophy double major and house leader for ALLies House. I use they/them/their pronouns, and I am non-binary. What is your name?
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Note: The opinions published in this section are those of the individual writers and are in no way representative of the views of The Gettysburgian staff, The Gettysburgian or Gettysburg College.
Red v. Blue
A weekly column where Gettysburg’s College Republicans and Democrats debate topics in the news. This week College Democrats discuss:
Sexuality Discrimination B y I sabel G ibson -P enrose C ollege D emocrats Marriage equality is one of the most prominent issues of our time – over fifty percent of Americans support it, and around eighty percent of young people (ages 18-34) support it as well. Most of the public discourse surrounding sexuality is focused on this specific issue when in reality, life for members of the LGBTQ community is not simply defined by marriage. In fact, compared to some of the difficulties facing queer individuals, marriage equality can seem like a minor issue. Large numbers of LGBTQ individuals are being fired from their jobs for no reason but their sexuality or gender identity, with no federal law in place to stop this from happening. 29 states have no laws preventing someone from being fired based on their sexuality and 32 states have no laws preventing someone from being fired because of their gender identity. Make no mistake, marriage equality is important. More states approving marriage equality is a triumph, and should be celebrated as such. But, when you
can be married on Friday and fired because of that marriage on Monday, there is a huge problem. In five states, including Pennsylvania, that is the reality. In addition to being fired, homosexual and transgender individuals face discrimination in the workplace in overwhelming numbers. Between 15 and 43 percent of gay people have experienced harassment in the workplace and an astronomical 90 percent of transgender people have faced it as well. Workplace abuse takes a dramatic toll on a person’s mental and economic wellbeing. No one should be subjected to abuse because of who they are or who they love. Legislation to make such discrimination illegal was presented to Congress this past December in the form of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). This act would have would have protected employees on the grounds of sexuality and gender identity, a huge step in the right direction for the queer community. Unfortunately, ENDA was blocked by the Rules Committee – voted down seven to three. The seven votes against the bill were Republican, and the three votes
in support of it were Democrat. Last year ENDA passed in the Democratically-held Senate, but was never brought to the House for a vote. This basic request for an end to discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity has been blocked by Republicans for decades, and this latest failure to pass the bill is disappointing but unsurprising. Last year, President Obama passed an executive order protecting federal workers from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. While in the past he has avoided executive action because of a wish for change to come from Congress, their lack of progress spurred him to act. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, sex, religion, age, and disability. There is no reason members of the queer community do not deserve the same respect. Denying them equality one second more is denying them their basic human rights. Read next week’s paper for a response from College Republicans. Interested in College Democrats? E-mail Conor Brooks at brooco01.
To the Sticking Place Proud to ‘Fight Like a Girl’
B y S tephany H arrington S taff W riter
Whether football fans or not, almost everyone tunes in to watch the Super Bowl. People host parties and get together for the event because of the excitement of the game, the half-time show, and of course the commercials. Some of my friends even say they watch only for the commercial breaks. While we see silly Doritos advertisements, several car commercials, and the essential sweet Budweiser ad, some had a stronger message. The “Like a Girl” ad was especially powerful to watch on a nationally televised program. The “Like a Girl” ad by Always showed a number of teenage girls, boys, and men asked to do things like a girl: run like a girl, throw like a girl, fight like a girl, etc.. In each instance, the people displayed weak running, throwing, and fighting. They displayed that a girl could not fight well or run quickly, but were more concerned about their hair or something more trivial. The screen faded out and posed the question, “When did doing something ‘like a girl’ become an insult?” The scene transitions to pre-adolescent girls asked to represent what it means to run, throw, and fight like a girl. Their responses were drastically different. Rather than show girls being incompetent, slow, or weak, they ran quickly, threw with strength, and fought with ferocity.
The advertisement explained that a girl’s confidence plummets during adolescence, and this commercial was a call to action. I had seen this commercial before on social media sites, but never in an actual televised spot. The importance of this cannot be understated. Although both men and women watch the Super Bowl, many men are in the audience. By having this commercial aired during this event, it has the potential to raise social consciousness and awareness about the expectations and stereotypes of women. It is also clear that women have confidence and self-worth until they enter puberty. During adolescence, the pressure of being a girl and a woman escalates to a point that withers a girl’s confidence. As a young girl I played at recess with the boys and wasn’t afraid to engage with them or prove that I could run as fast or throw as far as them. It was only until the fifth or sixth grade that I felt I couldn’t do those things anymore because I was held to other expectations. Having this commercial aired sends a message to both women and men of all ages to be aware of the impression they have on young girls. Little actions made a difference. “Throwing like a girl” is still seen as an insult, and when a girl displays excellence in a physical activity, many boys of men say, “They’re not like other girls.” Those statements blatantly show there is a unilat-
eral expectation for women to be weak. This commercial created by Always shows that it doesn’t have to be like that. By showing them they can be strong and confident at any age, society might also strip negative and disparaging stereotypes. The “Like a Girl” advertisement was something that I wished I had seen as a younger girl. It was also important for me that the Always brand was not necessarily trying to sell their products. Although that certainly is an important facet of advertising, it seemed that instead they were supporting and propelling a movement. They are trying to destroy the notion that femininity equates to weakness and instead insist that women can be strong and powerful. As little girls we believed that too, but suddenly were forced into roles to which we never agreed. The Always “Like a Girl” ad stands out as one of the most powerful Super Bowl commercials because it carried a message that needed widespread attention. Because many people, mostly men, use “like a girl” as an insult, it was important for them to be exposed to its criticism. Those insults can drastically destroy a girl’s confidence, as well as teach boys that they shouldn’t be like girls. Of course widespread change is impossible overnight, but this commercial was an incredible leap in the right direction in order to restore and maintain female confidence.
Happiness and success: a misunderstood exchange
source: bhmpics
“Success Kid” is a viral picture usually accompanied by a story of unexpected success
By Brenton Slotoroff Contributing Writer I am by no means a psychologist, let alone a positive psychologist. But, I do not have to be either in order to recognize the benefits of positivity. Science is behind the notion that being more positive will improve our efficiency and increase our happiness. I have always felt that the lens in which we view the world says a lot about who we are. Some view problems as challenges, while others view them as the end of the world. Some people become overwhelmed with anxiety, while others play it cool. Lately, a lot of talk has been centered on the notion that we cannot change the lens in which we view the world. The word mindfulness has been used in excess to serve as a guiding tool for people to use to become happier. By better living in the moment, mindfulness enhances our awareness of self and can be achieved through acceptance of thoughts and feelings. Using mindfulness as a guiding tool, the transition to thinking and acting positively is within reach. In The Happiness Advantage, Shawn Achor sheds light on the school of thought that success orbits happiness, not the other way around. Think about that for a second: success orbits happiness. Too often we set goals for ourselves so that they will make us happy. “If I get good grades, I will be happy.” But what happens when we do get good grades? Our idea of happiness and success change. We have pushed our goal post of success back even further! Now, when you feel that you need to get better
grades, you become driven by an external reward that your happiness depends on. Why would anyone ever want to embody this mindset? Why would we want our happiness to be dependent on an exogenous variable? We can internalize our drives for doing anything, which science has proved will increase our interest and desire in not just doing, but completing a task. Let’s think about this in an educational context. In all classes there are some students who are very happy to be there, motivated to do the work, and eager to learn. Then, there are others who each day appear more and more unhappy. Their unhappiness with the class hinders their productivity. Where does this unhappiness come from? Public high school education has taken on the brunt of this argument. Across the nation, there is an average of a 25% dropout rate. In some areas it is as high as 50%. This may in fact be the only governmental subsidized program with a 20-50% wastage rate. These alarming rates of underachievement are unsettling, but represent a problem that spills over even into higher education. Students leave their high school unhappy. Their lens towards school is negative and desperately needs to be reenergized. The real world is filled with real world problems. These problems will not and cannot be solved in a large room staring down at a sheet of paper with only a pencil or pen. Why not create an environment that fosters learning over education? As Joi Ito from MIT Labs said, “education is something that other people do to you. Learning is something that you do to yourself.”
When one is learning, they are intrinsically motivated; they are doing it because they like to do it, plain and simple. Why can we not give students the autonomy to impact the classroom? This could reenergize their purpose for being there if they give input on what topics they feel are applicable to the course. I have always felt that textbook companies fall guilty of being just average. They cater to how fast the average student can read. How many discussion questions the average student needs and so on. If all we do is learn at the average rate and study the average, then we will become susceptible to just being average ourselves. Instead of dreary textbooks and boring lectures, we should look for the topics that intrinsically motivate ourselves to dig more deeply. When we are thinking and acting positively, let alone doing things with positive benefits, the body produces dopamine, which is our brain’s reward pathway. Dopamine turns on brain receptors which make people better able to learn and absorb information. Positivity will help you better adapt to difficult situations. On the contrary, when we are stressed or unhappy, the body will produce cortisol. Cortisol is what increases blood sugar and suppresses our immune system. Furthermore, when we are under mild stress or concentration even during studying, the neurotransmitter acetylcholine is released by our body’s nerve cells. Stress may be inevitable; however, changing positively the lens in which we view the world will reduce stress and increase our ability to learn and adapt.
Got an Opinion? Email weisju02 for more information! Youtube still of Always #LikeAGirl Super Bowl ad
Photo credit: YouTube
THE GETTYSBURGIAN
SPORTS
Page 6
Bullet Shot: Athlete of the Week
Athlete of the Week
Junior Jessica Porter, courtesy of GGC&M. By Bethany Holtz Staff Writer The Gettysburg women’s basketball team is charging past the competition throughout the Centennial Conference. In a little over two months, the Bullets have won thirteen games, placed first at their home tournament and rose to the top of the D3 defensive field goal percentage list. The team is unstoppable and no one is a better example of that than junior, Jessica Porter. In her first year on the team, Porter tabbed Centennial Conference Rookie of the Year and All-CC Second Team after averaging 12.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Last season, she suffered a shoulder injury, but still managed to appear in 22 contests with nine starts and an average six points and 3.8 rebounds per game. This season, Porter is quickly proving that she is once again in top shape and is more than ready to dominate the court. Porter currently leads the team in scoring, field goals, rebounds and minutes played. In last week’s F&M game, she turned in a careerhigh 28 points and finished 13-of-24 from the floor and 2-of-2 from the free throw line. In Saturday’s Bryn Mawr game, Porter again showed her skills by helping sweep Bryn Mawr 90-23 after turning in 16 points and eight rebounds in only 18 minutes. Porter’s high scoring week and unending drive has earned her a place in the hearts of Bullets fans and has more than qualified her to be this week’s “Bullet of the Week.”
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Thursday, February 5, 2015
Women’s indoor track & field stays positive Bullets prepare for a strong return to the Centennial Conference Championship By Meredith Tombs Staff Writer This chilling winter weather has most of us college students looking forward to the warm spring season ahead. The members of the Gettysburg women’s track and field team are no different. They have been working hard during their indoor season in preparation for their upcoming challenges. “The team has been working really hard in practice in order to prepare for the spring season. We are improving our times, heights and distances each meet,” said Eva Karkuff, sophomore. “While we all hope to do well at indoor conferences, the ultimate goal is to peak for outdoor conferences in May. We have a long season ahead of us, and right now we are using practice and meets to prepare for the spring season.” Karkuff, a mid-distance runner, has been struggling with an injury. A stress fracture ended her cross country season early and she has not been able to race since October. Although she loves being able to cheer on her teammates in their competitions, she cannot wait to be back on the track. “I am really looking forward to being able to race again,” Karkuff shared. Even with her injury, Karkuff loves the camaraderie and friendships that she
has formed with her fellow teammates. “My favorite part of being on the track team is spending time with my teammates and bonding with them,” she shared. “We are all very supportive of each other and are a tight knit team.” Junior, Kate Cavana ugh, has also noticed the effect that injuries have had on the team this season. “The biggest challenge as the team finishes out the season will be staying positive about injuries,” she said. “We do have quite a few people out right now [for health reasons, but with some rehab and a positive attitude everyone will hopefully be back in time for the conference championships.” Cavanaugh is a sprinter and a short hurdles specialist. She holds school records in the 60-meter dash and the 60-meter hurdles. Last Saturday, Cavanaugh placed third out of 40 competitors in the 60-meter hurdles at the Lehigh University John Covert Classic, finishing as the top Division III performer. “I have been working really hard with my coaches to improve my hurdle technique, and it is fulfilling to know that it is finally all coming together,” said Cavanaugh of her successful season. The junior has high hopes for the Bullets’s overall performance throughout the remainder of the season. She stated, “We have a really good shot at placing better in
Photo courtesy of David Sinclair,GCC&M
Sophomore, Amanda Asaro received eighth place in the mile and twelfth place in the 800 at the non-scoring Lehigh University John Covert Classic last Saturday. conferences than we did last year. The team has gained so many great new freshmen, and not many upperclassmen graduated, so the talent is going to be really strong”. Last year the Gettysburg College women’s team placed fifth out of ten competitors at
the Centennial Conference Championship. This season the championship will be held at Haverford College in Haverford, PA, on February 28 and March 1. This Saturday, February 7, both the men’s and women’s track teams will
compete in the Dickinson Invitational in Carlisle, PA at 10:00 a.m. On Wednesday, February 11, the Bullets will travel to Kutztown, PA, for the Kutztown Invitational, the time of which is still TBA.
Recap of the Super Bowl XLIX
The New England Patriots celebrate their first Super Bowl victory since 2005 B y B laney R otanz S taff W riter This past Sunday was a definite improvement from last year’s Super Bowl, to say the least. The Seahawks would have had their chance to take home the Lombardi Trophy once again, had it not been for the outstanding play by the undrafted Patriots rookie Malcolm Butler. Patriots fans all over the country were feeling desperate towards the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Little did they know that the outcome would be their first Super Bowl win in ten years with a dramatic, comefrom-behind 28-24 victory. Brady threw a fouryard touchdown pass to Julian Edelman with a little
over two minutes remaining to put the Patriots ahead. The Seahawks had another chance to take home the title again, but Butler made sure that that was not an option. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, New England was down 24-14. An outcome similar to New England’s 2005 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles seemed very far away by this point. Their future was starting to resemble their last two Super Bowl losses against the New York Giants. Knowing that the Patriots were the last team to win back-to-back Super Bowl titles in 2004 and 2005, the Seahawks were looking to be the next team to do so. The first quarter ended with no score. New England
Sports Snap Shot of the Week!
was leading with total yards: they had 75 while Seattle had a mere 13. Brandon LaFell was the first to break the noscoring streak in the second quarter. LaFell caught an 11-yard toss from Brady for a touchdown, giving the Patriots a 7-0 lead with under ten minutes remaining in the quarter. Halfway through the second quarter, the Seahawks had three possessions and had to punt three times. It was not looking good for quarterback Russell Wilson until he completed his first pass with 5:36 left in the second quarter. Seattle’s Marshawn Lynch scored on a threeyard touchdown run to tie the game 7-7 with two min-
utes left in the half. But this was answered with Rob Gronkowski’s 22-yard to u ch d o w n f r o m B r a d y to give New England a 14-7 lead with 31 seconds left in the half. Chris Matthews answered Gronk’s touchdown just before the half to tie the game. Katy Perry had an interesting performance during the halftime show. She entered riding on a robotic tiger. She sang along with Missy Eliot and Lenny Kravitz. The crowd was definitely entertained throughout her performance. Her flying around on stars and riding a robotic tiger really captured the audience. Seattle finally gained their first lead in the third quarter with Steven Hausch-
ka’s 27-yard field goal four minutes in. The Patriots were stunned when Bobby Wagner, a Seattle linebacker, intercepted Brady on their ensuing possession. Seattle was up 24-14 going into the fourth quarter, and it looked like it was all over, but the Patriots had a few tricks up their sleeve to walk away with the trophy. The entire game was a series of amazing plays by each team to keep the fans on the edges of their seats. Brady’s third touchdown pass of the game gave him 12 in his Super Bowl careers, which is one more than Joe Montana for most all-time. Brady also gained his third Super Bowl MVP. Well deserved.
This Week in Gettysburg College Winter Sports: Saturday February 4:
Wrestling at Messiah Open 10:00 a.m. Men’s Track & Field at Dickinson Invitational 10:00 a.m. Women’s Track & Field at Dickinson Invitational 10:00 a.m. Wrestling vs Muhlenberg 12:00 p.m. Wrestling vs Ursinus 12:00 p.m. Men’s Swimming at Franklin & Marshall 1:00 p.m. Women’s Swimming at Franklin & Marshall 1:00 p.m. Women’s Basketball at Muhlenberg 2:00 p.m. Men’s Basketball at Muhlenberg 4:00 p.m. Wednesday February 11:
Photo courtesy of David Sinclair,GCC&M
Senior Haley Weaver came in first place against Swarthmore in the 100-freestyle and 200-IM last weekend.
Want your sports photo featured as our Sports Snap Shot of the Week? Email your photos to Lauren Perry at perrla02!
Women’s Basketball at Johns Hopkins 6:00 p.m. Men’s Basketball at Johns Hopkins 8:00 p.m. Men’s Track & Field at Kutztown Invitational TBA Women’s Track & Field at Kutztown Invitational TBA