theweathervane.org
February 27, 2020
THE
WEATHER VANE
VOL. 66 No. 16
E M U ’ S S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R S I N C E 1 9 3 9
Black History Month at EMU a powerful invitation to engage Rev. Cornell Brooks echoes students' motivation for change Kate Szambecki Editor in Chief
made the 15 minute bike ride to the park, located off of Route 42 south on Hillandale Avenue. The wind was a little chilly, but by the time I rolled into the parking lot, I was warm from the quick paced ride over. The park was full of people lounging in the uncharacteristically warm weather, concentrated in the pools of sunlight. At the entrance to the trails, people were more scarce, but I chatted with two guys in their late 20s who had just been biking. They told me the trails were great for biking today. I was eager to hit the trails with my old, borrowed mountain bike. Having never mountain biked before, I started on the easiest trail simply named "Go" and was pleasantly surprised at its gentle curves and easy maneuverability. I made my way to "Take it Easy" next.
“The moral of the story is red, yellow, black, brown or white, we’re all precious in God’s sight.” These were the words of Rev. Cornell Brooks at Monday’s convocation, the theme of which was "Sankofa," to remind us that going forward in the fight for racial justice, we must understand our past. Brooks is a professor at Harvard Kennedy School, former president of the NAACP, and an ordained minister, to name a few. Brooks was one of the featured speakers at EMU for Black History Month, and subsequently a part of the agenda that BSA, Multicultural Services, and others have worked tirelessly to put together this month. Along with all of the Black History Month events, EMU has seen a recent push for transparent conversation regarding race—something that Brooks talked about. Senior Ariel Barbosa believes it is because of student efforts across campus. “The student panel just really shook everything up. I don’t know if it was out of the blue for some people or just confirmation for other people; I think it might have been both,” Barbosa said, in reference to the BSA panel on race. “I think it was also seeing two seniors sit up front and say, ‘I’ve been taking crap for four years and I haven’t said anything about it, but now I will’—two very articulate and well-respected seniors.” Barbosa believes other students’ stories, as well as the presence of Shannon Dycus as Dean of Students, have stimulated conversations this semester. Barbosa said it is because “having another black woman—along with Celeste in Multicultural Services—who gets it, who just listens, and who is also wise and careful and experienced … and balances so many things at one time and took on so many projects right away … more can get done.” The Committee on Diversity and Inclusion (CODI) has also been working
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Jeremy Blain
Left to right: First-years Zavion Taylor and Nate Yoder, Hillside Residence Director Tyler Goss, and Dean of Students Shanon Dycus participate in the Town Hall on race at Common Grounds. Students and staff gathered to engage in conversation about race and recism.
Review: Rocktown trails a refreshing, thrilling outdoor excursion
PREVIEW: SPORTS
Baseball EMU baseball crushed Penn State Altoona 18-2 at home on Sunday, the highlight of a four-game win streak. The team heads to Myrtle Beach, S.C. over spring break to play five games in four days.
Seth Andreas Staff Writer
Tucked away on the edge of town, Harrisonburg’s Hillandale Park boasts a variety of attractions, including walking trails, a sand-volleyball court, two basketball courts, and a number of picnic shelters on 74 acres of land. Most
exciting of them all are the Rocktown Trails — a collection of 14 mountain bike trails with a range of three difficulties, making them available to a wide variety of bikers from novice to expert. Sunday afternoon, I
Jeremy Blain
PREVIEW: CANVAS
Hannah Leaman This week’s Canvas page features drawings by sophomore Hannah Leaman. Signage along the one of the many pleasant Rocktown Trails.
Seth Andreas
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
Partly cloudy with a high of 44°.
Sunny with a high of 37°.
Sunny with a high of 55°.
MONDAY
Cloudy with a high of 57°.
TUESDAY
Rainy with a high of 64°.
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February 27, 2020
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NEWS & FEATURE T h e Weat h er Va n e
BSA works to build momentum for future leaders Continued from Page 1
to get a Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion at EMU, which would be a paid position similar to Dycus’ but focused exclusively on race issues. Barbosa and the other committee members are looking forward to getting people excited about the position, as well as finding funding to make it a full-time position (it is now part-time). They intend to put pressure on administration and to find funding from outside sources. More than anything, Barbosa said, steps like this need to be taken and it is so important “that there are back-to-back events to keep the ball rolling.” This is exactly what BSA has been working for. Junior Akiel Baker, one of the Vice Presidents of BSA, said, “I think we just want to do better with having a lot of spaces and talkbacks about racism, campus life… I know a lot of our first-years in BSA are experiencing racism on campus and feel like they don’t have people to talk to besides BSA.”
BSA has taken on a lot this month, and Baker said it has been stressful but worth it. They hope to keep the momentum going in the coming years. “We have some really strong firstyears that are very opinionated and it’s really great,” Baker said. BSA leadership plans to pass on some leadership positions to those underclassmen as to assist future generations to become leaders and trainers within the organization. Moving forward, Barbosa believes the VP funding will be a big step, as well as simply reaching out to others and opening up room for conversations on race and racism—that BSA are already putting into motion. She enjoyed Cornell Brooks’ convocation and believes he voiced a lot of what many at EMU are working towards now. “I just so appreciate when a speaker is older and empowers youth… that feels like this recognition of history as being something that we are creating and that needs to be continued and moving.” Brooks echoed both Baker
Jeremy Blain
First-year Zavion Taylor works as a facilitator for his small group, including first-year Nate Yoder, at the “How to Talk About Race” Town Hall. Taylor relays what his group discussed during small group time to the larger audience.
and Barbosa in his talk, saying that we are at an “intersection of history and hope.” He repeated
over and over that Black history is everyone’s history and presented a question much like the ones
being asked around campus now: “What are we going to do with this history?”
the possible chance of the bus coming early or later than the expected time (on nonpeak hours, the buses come every twenty-six minutes for most places). On the first of February, I hate to admit; I got lost in D.C. When traveling with a group of friends or family and you get lost, you should stay in place and wait for someone to come get you. Unfortunately, not in my case. I had to get somewhere; so, it was my responsibility to make it there.
Furthermore, it was at this moment where my problems got worse. My phone’s online real-time tracker stopped updating my location, even though I was receiving excellent signals for cellular data. Without hesitation, I restarted my phone hoping it would work, in an unfamiliar location. However, it just refused to receive any signals at all. Sometimes I wonder if we, humans, have become too reliant on technology.
And the ways it simplifies life that we forget the ground basics. With my phone not working, I looked around at my surroundings. For the situation that day, I have been a little better prepared than most times; I pulled out the paper map with directions that I had printed just in case my phone was being unresponsive. Without my backup plan, I have to say I might have gotten completely lost.
WCSC reflections: Be prepared, make your “Plan B” Philip Park Contributing Writer
I am currently on a cross-cultural program with the Washington Community Scholars’ Center, also known as WCSC, in Washington D.C. The story you are about to read is a little snippet of my day to day experiences, with a little twist. The phrase, “Prepare for plan B?” This can be applied to many scenarios in life, including when you get lost in Washington D.C. on a weekend, due to
construction shutdowns on certain stations in the metro system. In a major city like this, public transportation is crucial. If you drive your personal vehicle, there are many more variables to consider: parking spots and fees, speeding tickets from unsuspected speed cameras, and most of all, traffic. But when your most crucial transportation system is down due to construction, there is more time spent planning for which bus routes to take, considering
Harrisonburg to hold International Women’s March Fatimah Subhi Staff Writer
Harrisonburg will hold its fourth annual International Women’s Day March on March 9, 2020, starting at City Hall at 9:30 a.m. and proceeding to Court Square by 10 a.m. Speakers of varied ages and origins will address the United Nations theme, “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights.” The theme is aligned with UN Women’s new multi-generational campaign, Generation Equality, which marks the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Women’s Day was
originally held on February 28, 1909, in New York City. On March 9, we all will gather to celebrate the progress that women made, and to call out the problems women are still facing. Being a woman does not mean the same thing everywhere. There are places where a woman is seen as human, and other places see where women are seen as a sinful piece of meat. On March 9 everyone may gather to support women that are being treated poorly based on what they wear or what they do not wear. The community will come together, lifting up women that have been kept
in the shadows thinking their voice is not heard. Supporters will gather to say “you are not a sin,” “you are not an object that needs to be reshaped,” and “you are the beauty of this world.” Being a woman is an honor, to be such a loving and welcoming creature, a peace maker, and to have the power to create a whole human. So, let’s take one day of this year celebrating all the beauty and clarity women bring to this world. There will be buses taking people who are interested and previously registered to go to Monroe Park in Richmond. For more information about the buses, visit hiker1@ shentel.net.
SGA Updates Last night, SGA heard from the College Republicans about their trip to D.C. to attend the March for Life earlier this year. SGA also approved the constitutional amendment of BSA. They have officially changed their name from Black Student Union to Black Student Alliance. Stay tuned for more information about how to get involved in the Census.
theweathervane.org
February 27, 2020
NEWS & FEATURE
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T h e Weat h er Va n e
CDC warns “severe” disruption from coronavirus Adam Moyer Managing Editor
Don’t forget to wash your hands. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned the country Tuesday that the coronavirus is soon expected to spread on a community level in the United States. “The disruption to everyday life might be severe,” said Dr. Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. EMU is taking precautionary measures as the threat of coronavirus to the U.S. looms. Since the earliest stages of the outbreak, EMU’s health center has been in close contact with the Virginia Department of Health and non-governmental groups like the American College Health Foundation and the Council of Independent Colleges of Virginia. Coronavirus, also termed “SARS-CoV-2” and “COVID-19,” was first detected in Wuhan City in China in 2019. More than 82,100 confirmed cases of the virus have been documented around the world as of Wednesday, including 59 in the United States, and at least 2,797 people have died from the virus. While the majority of cases (78,000) remain in China, the virus has spread rapidly to dozens of countries, especially impacting South Korea, Iran and Italy. “As more and more countries experience community spread, successful
containment at our borders becomes harder and harder,” Messonnier said. “Ultimately, we expect we will see community spread in this country. It’s not so much a question of if this will happen anymore, but rather more a question of when this will happen, and how many people in this country will have severe illness.” No cases have been reported in Virginia. CNBC reported Wednesday that 83 Americans were voluntarily put under self-quarantine after returning to New York from China amid concerns they were exposed to the coronavirus. The LA Times reports California had 15 confirmed cases as of Wednesday. Orange County, Ca. and other areas and cities in California have declared local health emergencies. MarketWatch reports the DOW had its third-worst point drop in history on Monday, and the S&P 500 shed more than $1.7 trillion in value between Monday and Tuesday. EMU’s health center sent a campus-wide email last week with a link to a video from CollegeHealthTV, and recently circulated an information sheet to staff and faculty. Irene Kniss, Director of Health Services at EMU, says hand-washing is the biggest thing students can do to keep themselves healthy. “We remind people how important hand-washing is,” Kniss said. “It’s a matter of being cautious—not overly cautious—but washing your hands every time you eat,
every time you go to the bathroom, after touching doorknobs, anything; making sure that when you’ve been around somebody that’s not feeling well that you wash your hands.” “Let’s not panic about it,” Kniss said. “It’s been proven that you have to have contact with someone who actually had it. The unfortunate thing is the long incubation period; it can be anywhere from three to 14 days after coming into contact with [the virus] that you actually start having symptoms.” College students, Kniss said, are generally among the healthier population and are not typically the ones at the highest risk. “If anybody has a lowered immune system, or is generally not in good health, those are the persons at risk,” she said. Kniss said it is a possibility that EMU may need to reconsider its upcoming cross culturals, and whether to reconsider this year’s Summer Peacebuilding Institute (SPI) “with people coming in from all different countries.” As a precaution, the health center has recently started asking students who come to the health center with flu-like symptoms if and when they last traveled outside the country. Kniss said there is no proof that face masks prevent viruses, but she recommends that students who experience fevers or consistent coughing wear a face mask. CNN last week highlighted a separate issue arising from the coronavirus:
EMU ENIGMA
a movie.” “I feel so removed from the situation,” Nichols said. “It’s also kind of terrifying considering we have a cross cultural there [not currently] and individual students who we went to school with who are currently in China. I wonder how real it feels for them with [the virus] being in their back yard. I’m thinking of the individuals who are there now with SALT.” Nichols noted “pre-existing tensions” between the U.S. and China and other Asian regions. “I wonder what this is going to do to the narrative moving forward,” she pondered.
Work for the Weather Vane! Hey, you! Yes, you! We want you to work for the Weather Vane! Positions such as Page Editor, Copy Editor, and Staff Writer are open for those who are interested. Page editing positions entail working to format the look of the Weather Vane from that particular week. This means entering edits found by copy editors and arranging articles. Previous experience with this type of computer work in not necessary as it is easy to learn, and current page editors will train and assist incoming individuals. Copy editors reading and correct writing and grammatical issues found in articles. They ensure the published piece is well written. Those interested would be best served with a background in writing and, hopefully, finds enjoyment in editing. Staff writers are those who attend various events around campus or investigate current events. Writers are not present during production night, but are an integral part of the Weather Vane staff. If you are interested in any of these positions, contact us at wvane@emu.edu.
LAST WEEK’S ANSWER
BY CAMERON BYER
Directions: Place exactly two stars in each row, column, and shaded region such that no two stars touch (including diagonally).
Degree of Difficulty:
an increase in racist assaults and ignorant attacks against people of Asian descent in the U.S. EMU junior Mariana Martinez said she experienced an encounter recently where someone refused to sit next to someone who “looked Asian.” She said she has heard stereotypes against Chinese people. Martinez said she is worried by the tactics being used to spread fear and rumors, and she fears the Trump administration’s response to the virus has been inadequate. Senior Hannah Nichols said the whole thing feels “pretty surreal” and “kinda like
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REVIEW T h e Weat h er Va n e
Rocktown trails a refreshing, thrilling outdoor excursion Continued from Page 1
By the end of the day, I had tried all of the green trails, and found them to be far more doable than I anticipated. The hills are gradual, the turns not too sharp, and the bumps not too bumpy. With tree protection, the wind had died down and the place was calm and quiet with the sounds of nature. In February, the forest lacks much of the color and life that it usually contains. Regardless, squirrels were scampering around and green was peeking out from the trees. After trying many of the trails, my favorite was “Let it Flow,” one that traversed the edges of the park, circling around all the others. It was a nice, longer loop that stayed interesting,
even after a few laps. I rode past a pump track, a tightly knit, simple maze of looping hills that a few people were using. It wasn’t fancy, but it looked fun enough. I preferred to stick to the trails and didn’t get to try it out. I would recommend the Rocktown trails to anyone who wants to get a break from work, get some exercise, or just enjoy a little bit of fast-paced nature. This is the only place to mountain bike within biking distance of EMU, and it is certainly worth the trip! While it might be too tame for avid mountain bikers, if you are looking for a peaceful afternoon excursion, this is one you don’t want to miss. Mossy trees and new growth ponts to spring around the bends of the Rocktown trails.
Seth Andreas
Harrisonburg pizza roundup: Gourmet to old favorites Amanda Hergenrather Editor in Chief
The Golden Pony / 181 North Main Street Average cost for an 11” pizzas: $9.50 The pub blends rugged and artistic energies with its exposed brick and brightly colored murals on the buttercup-yellow walls. Come for the bands that frequent the stage downstairs, and stay for the variety of classic American dishes to pair with your drink. Their personal pizzas are
memorable with names like “Veganlicious” (topped with red peppers, mushrooms, and their very own tofu ricotta ‘cheese’), “Frida Kale-o” (a black bean, red onion and chipotle crema topped pizza nods to the mexican painter, the pun completed with the addition of fried kale), and “The Big Bukowski” (a classic for meat lovers, with ground beef, bacon, sausage, and mozzarella). Their downstairs happy hours span from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. where you can get any of their quirky personal pizzas for half the price.
Ruby’s Arcade / 100B 165 South Main Street Average cost for a 12” pizza: $8.00 Not to be confused with the Ruby’s in Clementine Cafe’s lower level, Ruby’s Arcade is an arcade for grownups, where a $5 cover charge (and a valid ID proving you’re over 21) will allow you access to their multitude of games, including bowling and pool, Thursday through Saturday between 9 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. If you’re still not sick of punny pizza names, you’re bound to appreciate their
Amanda Hergenrather
A freshly baked slice of crumbled Sriracha sausage pizza, a regular menu item at Benny Sorrentino’s. Pizzas are made fresh daily with wholesome ingredients and fair prices.
pies named after pop culture characters: “The Beast Boy” for veggie and anime lovers alike (topped with spinach, mushrooms, green peppers, red onion, and black olives), the “Frank Reynolds” for a spin on a philly classic (the shaved roast beef, onions and peppers with nacho cheese will satisfy the most voracious “Always Sunny” fans), and “The Swanson” (a simple meat lovers pizza named for a simple meat loving character, topped with pepperoni, sausage, bacon, ham, and beef ). If you come for the games you’ll be delighted by the pizza, which is beyond exceptional, especially as far as arcade food is concerned. Not to mention, pizzas are 25 percent off from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Benny’s / 64 South Mason Street Average cost for a slice: $4.83 Nestled beside Shenandoah Joe’s is a downtown favorite, Benny Sorrentino’s. Peek over their sticker covered counter, and you can see where the dough is made fresh in the little pizzeria’s stand mixer, which is nearly as tall as the mustached pizzaiolo who tosses that dough into the 28” pies that Benny’s is known and loved for. A slice is the size of your head and rarely over $5, extra toppings aside. The specials change often; it’s garlic mushroom and the pub burger for now ($5 for a single slice and $38 for a whole pie), but cheese, Italian
sausage, pepperoni, and spicy sriracha sausage are always on the menu. They serve soda, tea, and domestic and craft beers which you can grab on your way to the counter between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and as late as 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Bella Luna / 80 West Water Street Average cost for a 10” pizza: $11.83 A woodfire oven burns silently behind the bar, drowned out by the laughter and conversation that characterizes Bella Luna. Their 10’ pies are pricier than most pizzas their size, but the locally sourced ingredients and clever combination of classic flavors make it worth a trip: The “Pesto Verde” (made with mustard green pesto, castelvetrano olives, pickled onion, salty pecorino and feta cheese) offers a bold twist on traditional Neapolitan pesto, the “Bella Bianca” incorporates Afton, Va.-grown mushrooms for the freshest organic fungi (roasted and tied together neatly with mozzarella, parmesan, and roasted garlic puree), and the “Ring of Fire” is an especially savory option (topped with roasted mushrooms, parmesan, mozzarella, and red onion) with fennel sausage and house hot sauce spicing this fiery pie. Their happy hour prices keep students coming with $5 specialty pizza from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day.
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February 27, 2020
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SPORTS T h e Weat h er Va n e
Royals Recap: Basketball season ends, baseball takes off Adam Moyer Managing Editor
Men’s Basketball The Runnin’ Royals were edged out of a spot in the ODAC Tournament after losing their last five games of the season. Even after falling to Washington & Lee last Wednesday, the men were still in a four-way tie with Shenandoah, Randolph and Emory & Henry for the 10th spot in the tournament. But a 70-61 loss to Virginia Wesleyan in their regular season finale on Saturday capped off the year for the Runnin’ Royals. Junior Tim Jones led the team’s scoring on the season with 387 points, shooting 40.2 percent from the field. Jones also led the team with 80 assists and 23 steals. Junior Baseball After consecutive blowout losses, the Diamond Royals bounced back to win four straight home games over the past week. Their record sits at a healthy 7-4. The baseball team came away from a double-header against DeSales on Saturday with a 1-1 series tie. Struggles continued for the Diamond Royals on offense and defense in their first game against DeSales, an 11-0 loss. Tied at 6-6 in Game 2 in the bottom of the 9th, sophomore Garrett Howard hit a walk-off to center field with bases loaded. Game 2 was the start of a four-game win streak where the Diamond Royals slugged 38 runs. Nearly half of those runs came in an 18-2 dismantling of Penn State Altoona on Sunday. The Diamond Royals swept their Pennsylvanian visitors, outscoring Penn St. 25-3 in two games. Junior Brett Lindsay,
DJ Hill was second in scoring with 252 points, followed by junior Tie Evans’ 152 points. Hill and sophomore Josh Whelan combined for nearly 300 rebounds. Women’s Basketball
EMU’s basketball women finished the season 4-20 overall and 3-15 in ODACs. The team missed the ODAC Tournament after dropping their final two games to Bridgewater and Roanoke. Hovering close to 10th place for weeks, the women hoped to steal the last spot in the tournament which was ultimately filled by Virginia Wesleyan. The Royals put up a season-high 82 points in their loss to Bridgewater last Wednesday at their Senior Recognition Game, where
Chrissy Delawder and Lexi Deffenbaugh were recognized for their careers with the team. Delawder, a 5’10 forward, played 100 games with EMU and started in every game in the 2019-20 season. She averaged a career-high 8.5 points per game and surpassed 200 points this year. Likewise, Deffenbaugh, a 5’8 guard, played 100 career games and started in every game this season. Deffenbaugh contributed a career-high 61 rebounds this season and tied her career-high in steals (32). Despite dropping 82 points on their rival, Bridgewater bested the Royals with 90 points. Delawder, Deffenbaugh, junior Chloe Roach and junior Emily McCombs all topped 15 points in the rivalry. The Royals’ season came to a close with a 65-55 loss on the road at Roanoke on Saturday.
In his junior year, Tim Jones led the Runnin’ Royals in points (387), assists (8) and steals (23).
Kiana Childress
the weekend, and came away with a loss to Alvernia and a win against Lehman. First-year Ben Childers led the way for EMU against Lehman with 11 kills. First-year Josh White recorded three solo blocks and three block assists. Softball
Senior Martin Pou and Assistant Coach Ben Durren celeberate a point vs St. Andrews.
Jeremy Blain
Senior John Judy tosses the ball to the mound after recording an out at first.
senior John Judy, and junior Men’s Volleyball Jacob Merica notched 2 RBIs each in the blowout. The team’s The volleyball men are 3-4 next home game is Saturday, through seven games. With March 14 versus Lynchburg. the exception of their 3-1 win
Jeremy Blain
Indoor Track & Field
against St. Andrews in their season opener, every match so far has been either a 3-0 victory or defeat. The team traveled to Reading, Pa. over
Junior defensive specialist Andrew Livioco steps forward as teammates cheer him on during lineup announcements.
The softball team kicks off their season over spring break. They will compete in eight games at a tournament in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. between Sunday, March 1 and Wednesday, March 4. The team will have played 12 total games before their first home game on Wednesday, March 18 against Randolph-Macon.
EMU track & field athletes will compete in the ODAC Indoor Championships on Saturday, Feb. 29 in Salem, Va.
Jeremy Blain
Sophomore Gage Riddick pitches in the first of two games against Penn St. Altoona on Sunday, Feb. 23, an 18-2 EMU victory. Riddick pitched four innings, striking out five batters.
Jeremy Blain
theweathervane.org
February 27, 2020
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OPINION T h e Weat h er Va n e
Take the time to experience and be present during real life
Elliot Bowen Staff Writer
How many insects do you see as you walk from class to class? How many different trees do you notice? Have you seen the flowers growing on the lawn? Have you seen the vultures circling campus nearly every afternoon? Do you feel the warmth of the sun as you walk outside? Or the gentle bitterness of the wind? Or is it a longing to be somewhere else? Are we aware only of where we want to be? Or are we aware of where we are here and now?
Environmentalist and composer John Luther Adams comments on the current state of human society by writing, “In this time when we humans have become a geologic force, most of us live in increasingly homogenous environments, and in the amorphous non-places of the internet. Searching for real experiences in real places, we travel to far-flung destinations, where we make photographs of ourselves to prove that we were there. Yet it’s increasingly rare that we are fully present anywhere, and the knowledge that we truly belong to any place eludes many of us.” Adams so eloquently describes what I believe to be a deeply entrenched problem: we are no longer present. As a college student in my last semester, I have been thrust into a world of constant questions about my future. Where will I work? Where
will I live? How will I provide for myself? Where will I be in five years? As of right now I cannot answer any of these questions. This may seem like an anxiety-inducing position to be in. I assure you, it is. But questions of what comes next should not force us to sacrifice our awareness of where we are right now. By no means am I arguing that we should sit around all day with stars in our eyes, writing cliché poetry about the meaning of life. I am simply reminding us that the future is not everything — if anything at all. There are people who we will meet and there are places we will go. But there are people and animals and plants in the place where we are right now. Do we know who they are? In his quote, Adams reminds us of two things. The first, we need to experience. We need to experience real things. We need interaction
with people and with place. The second reminder is that so many of us are not allowing ourselves this interaction. We travel far and wide to find to find a sense of place: to have real experiences. Adams’ proposed answer to why we travel to “far-flung destinations, where we make photographs of ourselves to prove that we were there” is that we are not present anywhere. Most importantly, we are not present here, in Harrisonburg, VA, where many of us spend most of our time throughout the year. When I asked how many insects you see as you walk to class or if you felt the sun or the wind or saw the vultures, I was not asking to create a competition of who can see or feel more. In fact, I am not concerned with how many insects or birds were seen or to what degree you felt the sun or the wind. I was really asking one question: are you
present? Are we present? Do we really know this place? As I ponder what the next few years of my life will hopefully look like, I do not do so by going to the “nonplaces of the internet,” as Adam’s calls them, or traveling to some far-off place. I sit outside. I go for walk. I look for insects. I learn who the plants are and who the birds are and how much they need the sun and the rain and the place where they are. I do not learn who I will be in a place I’ve never been, I learn a little bit more about who I am in this place, here and now. As we walk to class or wherever we may be going, be present. Let us learn who the trees and the plants are. Let us learn who the birds and the insects are. Let us become aware of our need for the sun and the rain, our need for this place. Let us be present in this place.
experience in the hospitality industry, her desired field, for most of her adult life. However, despite these capabilities and an impressive resume, she had to submit over 75 applications over the course of first eight months to even attempt to find a job. Of these 75, only ten responded, and of these, only one was willing to hire her for a fivemonth job outside of her field of study. During this time period, she developed a connection with a well-recognized individual in the hospitality industry through a random encounter. After discussing her desire to enter the hospitality field with this individual, my
friend began receiving emails from this person about job availabilities. This correspondence culminated last week with a job reference and my friend landing her dream job. All this is to say, getting a job after college is stressful. This stress is increased in this day and age by the necessary requirements to quickly and easily find one. The job world has become a toxic and draining experience, filled with unanswered applications and low hope for a job in the fields we are training for. Regardless of the causes for such a reality, we must adapt and recognize the need for connections when entering the work force. This is especially
true if we attempt to enter a profession within our field of study; thus, we must begin building these connections as early as possible. EMU is not lax in their efforts to present opportunities to build connections while still in college. Programs such as the WCSC house in DC are perfect for meeting professionals in our fields through internships. Personally, as a writing major, I receive several emails every semester about writing competitions that are available for me to showcase my work to the writing community. However, while these options are highly recommended, not enough emphasis is placed on just how
crucial they could be for our futures. At the same time, we, as students, could be more proactive about taking these opportunities. It is difficult to motivate ourselves to do extra activities along with everything else we must deal with. All of us have classes to attend, and many of us have jobs or extracurriculars on top of that; so, when something is deemed optional, many of us, myself included, ignore it altogether. This is something that we should not do. In terms of building connections in the working world—we must build connections. Our future selves will thank us for it.
Work to build a network for post college job searching
Thoreau Zehr Staff Writer
A friend of mine recently graduated college and moved to Richmond to start her working life. She graduated with a 3.7 GPA and participated in multiple extra-curricular activities during her college years. This is in addition to building
On The Sidewalk with Amanda Hergenrather
“If you could become an expert at something overnight, what would it be?”
“Metalwork.” -Billy Quinn, junior
“Snowboarding.” -Aaliyah Lawhorne, firstyear
“DJing.” -AJ Derricott, senior
“Sumi-e.” -Joseph Harder, senior
theweathervane.org
February 27, 2020
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OPINION T h e Weat h er Va n e
Write to breathe, find joy, and commune with the Divine
Elizabeth Miller Contributing Writer
About a year and a half ago, I found myself in La Campa, Lempira, Honduras, a tiny little town that is a little bit touristy, but mainly just silent—a startling peace after the nonstop noise of the city with its rushing traffic, honking horns, street vendors,
catcalls, loud music, and deep bass notes. It was cool and a little bit cloudy, and I was laying on a couch out on the patio, looking at a foreground of deep green foliage framing a towering gray cliff. For the past several weeks, I had been writing religiously—it was my only solace in an environment where I felt utterly out of control. But it was there that I felt compelled to pick up my purple pen and lose myself in the simple yet intricate majesty of those rocks and plants. It was poetry that spilled from the tips of my fingers and the well of my heart. I love beautiful words, but I more often collect poetic verses than create them myself. What emerged was my
Mama God lighting a candle in the cold, damp cave I was inhabiting and oh-so-gently taking my hand, lifting me from the fetal position until I was sitting upright. She offered me a warm cup of tea to penetrate my chilled insides, and I found my fingers clutching one of those beautiful handmade mugs whose shape perfectly fits the curve of my hands. She put a blanket around my shoulders, an old patchwork quilt that had been repaired time and time again. She had added some of those stitches just now, covering the rips and tears with new patches of growth and faith. Then she knelt down, took the little candle’s flame, and fanned it
into a campfire that crackled with sparks of life and warmth. “I am here with you,” she said softly. “And when you’re ready, you can venture outside the cave into the bright newness. You don’t have to stay here.” This is why I write—to dwell within this moment, to feel, to ache, to breathe again, to taste the sweetness of joy, to learn, to commune with the Divine. I write to get warm again, to allow Mama God to wrap me back up in that patchwork quilt. I write to feel understood when the words my lips form are a foreign tongue to those around me. I write to understand—for there is much I don’t understand—
like the significance of each little tiny moment and how they fit into the broader life story. Or what it would be like to never get to tell the person I love that I am in love with them, to suppress such a core part of my identity. Or why pain and grief are such an essential part of living. I write to release some of my own self-centered aching in order to create space to ponder the pain of others. I write to learn, to summon the courage necessary to care deeply for those around me. I write to expand my small way of thinking, so that I may receive the gentle invitation to exit that cave and inhale the freshness of what lies beyond myself.
Machiavelli’s “The Prince” has harsh but necessary points
Carrie Yoder Contributing Writer
Out of context, it is understandable that Machiavelli was assumed to be evil with comments such as, “It is far safer to be feared than loved.” Many political leaders use the term Machiavellian to describe candidates for being too aggressive. Machiavelli writes that a prince should be merciful rather than cruel; however, if it comes down to choosing between the two, he argues that being feared is the better option.
Machiavelli does recognize that if a prince is too cruel, he will be disliked by the people, later adding that a prince should avoid being hated. This does not justify claiming Machiavelli is evil as he is only providing reasonable advice that the political situation called for. Machiavelli’s “The Prince” is easy to comprehend; he uses historical examples and references to other princes to argue his reasons for being a good leader. He makes many strong arguments to prove his suggestions’ relevancy. When it comes to current events, besides the easy comparison of Trump and Machiavellian traits, the recent decision of Prince Harry and Meghan, Dutch of Sussex, to leave the royal family can be similarly compared. Harry and Meghan have recently announced that they are giving up their royal titles
and plan to exit the royal family. They were given an ultimatum: to stay in the royal family or leave, and there was no chance at a compromise. Machiavelli writes, “Hereditary states, accustomed to the family of their Prince, are maintained with far less difficulty than new states.” He explains that people prefer continuity and tradition over change and therefore it is much easier to rule over people who are familiar with certain traditions. There was controversy when Meghan married into the royal family because she was an American woman of color. The concept of an American being married into the family disrupted many previous traditions. When Harry and Meghan made the decision to pursue their own personal income, they had planned to continue representing the
WEATHER REPORT STORM CLOUDS
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The wind tunnel built by recent graduate Dylan Grove was officially dedicated today! You could say they were completely blown away. Earlier this week, Harvey Weinstein was found guilty of two out of five charges against him. Well, it’s ‘bout time. It’s almost spring break! There’s actually one more day but still. It’s so close. We got this! The weather looks like it’s finally going to start getting warmer. It’s Chaco weather again - without socks this time.
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There’s one more day until Spring Break. It’s so close. Just three more exams, two presentations, and three papers before I’m home free. One of our editors locked their keys in their car today. Luckily, they were able to break in with a coat hanger and retrieve them. This is the kind of useful life skills that college teaches you. Everything is FINE. There won’t be another Weather Vane for two weeks. At least pretend to be sad. Giant pandas fall asleep wherever they are standing. Same though.
Queen. The royal family had to give Harry and Meghan a choice because they needed to keep with custom. While it was unfair for Harry and Meghan to not be able to compromise in their position, I don’t agree with the reasoning behind why they left because of the criticism that Meghan received from the public. The royal family was not wrong in making them choose. With as much power as the royal family has, they have to uphold themselves to a certain level to appease their general public. While Machiavelli did use some reasoning that could be considered cruel, he also
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had a few suggestions that were in favor of the people. To keep people happy, he recommended princes offer rewards such as entertaining people with festivals and shows. He understood that although taking a new state might require more forceful methods, once acquired, a prince had to keep his people happy in order to stay in power. Overall, Machiavelli has some harsh points, but he was justified in his reasoning because certain situations made it necessary to be more aggressive in order to be a strong leader.
W E AT H E R VA N E Editors in Chief Kate Szambecki Amanda Hergenrather
Front Page Editor News & Feature Editor Review Editor Sports Editor Opinion Editor Canvas Editor
Silas Clymer Rachael Brenneman Seth Andreas Adam Moyer Rachael Brenneman Kate Szambecki
Managing Editor Adam Moyer Copy Editors Brynn Yoder Hannah Leaman Anali North Martin Silas Clymer Rachael Brenneman Kate Szambecki Puzzle Master Photography Editor Web Manager Business Manager Circulation Manager Faculty Adviser
Cameron Byer Jeremy Blain Silas Clymer Amanda Hergenrather Fatimah Subhi Kirsten Beachy
The Weather Vane is published weekly by undergraduate students of Eastern Mennonite University. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the university or its affiliates.
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February 27, 2020
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Sophomore Hannah Leaman “I have always enjoyed drawing, but find it difficult to make the time. When I do manage to have minutes to spare, I often end up outside, staring at people and buildings I find peaceful. Putting them on paper gives me an opportunity to keep that memory. Coming into college, I rediscovered the love for drawing I had when I was younger and hope to make more time to develop my skills.�