theweathervane.org
October 24, 2019
THE
WEATHER VANE
VOL. 66 No. 6
E ASTE R N M E NNONI TE U NI V E R SI TY’ S STU DE NT NE W SPAPE R SI NC E 1 9 39
HOMECOMING ENGAGES AND CONNECTS
Jeremy Blain
A group of EMU students participate in the “Choose Your Own Adventure” Fun Run. The Fun Run was one of many events held on Saturday, Oct. 12 during EMU’s Homecoming Weekend.
EMU CELEBRATES INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ DAY
Jessica Chisolm, Canvas Editor
On Oct. 14, EMU observed Indigenous Peoples’ Day through the exhibit “Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery,” the lunch discussion “Grounding Indigenous Peoples’ Day: What does it mean to stand in solidarity at EMU?”, and the Ted and Co. production on raising awareness and reconciling the issue of ownership, “We Own This Now.” As said by Campus Pastor Brian Burkholder, “Piedmont Siouans, Catawbas, Shawnee, Delaware, Cherokee, Susquehannocks, and Iroquois all used this land and the streams and rivers, mixing, cooperating, fighting, and intermingling while claiming it as fishing, hunting and food gathering grounds.” While descendants of these groups likely all used this NEWS & FEATURE
TRANSFER MEAL Though all students were invited, the gathering was intended to officially welcome transfer students and first-years.
land at some point, the specifics of when and where are blurry. History Department Chair and Professor Mark Sawin did research to further EMU’s knowledge of the indigenous groups that were and are here. Indigenous groups in this area were widely nomadic, making information scarce. Because of forced assimilation, exile, and destruction, evidence of indigenous groups that previously resided in the Shenandoah Valley are even more sparse. According to Mark Sawin, “archeological evidence is super scant; the historical record is pretty much nonexistent.” There is, however, credibility behind the claims that the Monacan Nation lived here at some point. Secondyear CJP graduate student and a facilitator of “Grounding Indigenous Peoples’ Day” Tala
STUDENTS CHALLENGE STIGMA SURROUNDING APPEARANCE Kate Szambecki, Co-Editor in Chief
Continued on Page 3
Women shaving their heads has often been a symbol of sickness (cancer, more specifically), having a breakdown (Britney Spears, more specifically), or trying to look more masculine. It is not something that is normalized or often seen in a positive light, but many women in pop culture are breaking gender and other stereotypes and taking to the shears. The same thing is happening on EMU’s campus. Sophomores Anna Paetkau, Jessie Landis, Stephanie Kniss, and senior Elizabeth Nisly have all shaved their heads within the last four months. Paetkau was the first of the four to shave her head in August. She had three reasons for wanting to, including that she was starting to get bored with long hair, and hers was dead from years of chlorine and dye. The third was
REVIEW
SPORTS
TED AND CO.
MADELINE MAST
“We Own This Now” brought viewers’ attention to an everrelevant issue and approached it in a unique way.
Mast is the epitome of a Division III athlete who successfully balances work, four years of her sport, and a difficult Biology major.
more personal. “I realized that I grew my hair out as a kind of safety blanket,” she said. “Every time I cut it, it was hard. I hated cutting my hair.” For a long time, Paetkau had the mindset that long hair is prettier, and for her to be pretty, she had to have long hair. So, she decided to shave it as a challenge to herself. “I was saying to myself, ‘You can be yourself without long hair, and also, it’s really annoying; shave it off.’” After encouragement from those around her, she decided not to wait until the end of the year, as she had originally planned, and to just do it. Once it was off, it felt natural. “Why not?” Is usually Kniss’s response when people ask her why she shaved her head. Roommates Landis and Kniss decided to shave their heads together. Landis began to consider shaving hers when she was traveling in the Middle East for cross cultural, mostly because of the hassle of
taking care of it. “I thought it would be liberating to strip myself of that protection,” Landis said. After talking to a friend who had shaved her head after high school, Landis began to consider it more seriously. Once she saw Paetkau’s back at school and talked and thought it over more, she was sold. Kniss made the decision around the same time Landis did, though she had never put much thought into it until Landis began talking about it. “I remember a conversation last year I had at dinner, talking about shaving heads, and I thought, ‘I rely on my hair as what I feel beautiful about, so I couldn’t shave my head,’” Kniss said. Come September, she wanted to chop her hair shoulder length, but Landis had started to seriously discuss shaving hers. Kniss remembers having
OPINION
CANVAS
SUCCESS
The journey is what we need to focus on, enjoying the little successes we have each achieved towards our greater goals.
Continued on Page 3
ASHA BECK
This week’s Canvas page features artwork by sophomore Asha Beck.
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theweathervane.org
NEWS & FEATURE T h e We a t h e r Va n e
TRANSFER MEAL CELEBRATES FRIENDS, FALL Silas Clymer, Co-Editor in Chief
The Sustainable Food Initiative (SFI) and Earthkeepers club teamed up to host an annual transfer meal at the Park Woods Cabin on Thursday, Oct. 10. Though all students were invited, the gathering was intended to officially welcome transfer students and first-years. Emma Yoder, Earthkeepers copresident and senior, described it as “the sustainability clubs’ way of reaching out, showing our presence on campus, and offering a space for new students to mingle with people who’ve already been
here for a while.” Megan Good, SFI president and senior, added that “the transfer meal is also just a great way to celebrate harvest season and to eat a meal outside with friends. Who doesn’t enjoy good food and fall weather?” The two clubs took advantage of the clearing in the woods that surrounds the cabin, setting up folding tables and chairs to occupy. “It is a wonderful space and underutilized,” Good said. “I think it would be fun to have more regular, informal meals there throughout the school year.” The “transfer” title also refers to the encouragement of student
volunteers to bring dishes to share with each other, potluck style. A substantial variety of soups, bread, and desserts, as well as apple cider, lined the counters inside Park Cabin. One such dish, chicken and wild rice soup, was brought by junior Liz Miller, who is an active member of SFI. “College students are often expected to lack skills in the kitchen, but each person prepared something absolutely delicious for the potluck, and I think that sharing food has such a special way of bringing people together,” Miller said. “As a transfer student, I am thankful for the welcome that I have felt on campus. I find
that by putting myself out there and attending events like this one or other campus activities, I continue getting to know more and more people.” SFI and Earthkeepers leaders shared the aims of their respective clubs for the coming weeks. According to Good, the goal is “to keep on doing what we always do: providing food for students free of cost at our weekly markets. We also hope to have more social events this year, such as bread-making workshops, kombucha-brewing workshops, garden workdays, and local food meals. This Saturday at 2 p.m. we will be having a repair day for our
hoop house that was damaged last March.” According to Yoder, Earthkeepers is “focusing on the Climate Action Plan. In the midst of national discourse on climate change, it is important to hold EMU accountable and improve our sustainability. Wade Banks, through his role as the CSCS ambassador, planned a really successful climate strike in September. We are continuing to work with Wade to keep that momentum rolling. We are currently planning some events for early November, so keep your ears open for more chances to be involved in climate activism.”
COUNSELING CENTER MOVES ACROSS CAMPUS Fatimah Subhi, Circulation Manager
After a few years in a house on the edge of campus, EMU’s Counseling Center has moved back to the Student Life Suite. Shannon W. Dycus, the dean of students, wants students to be aware of this change. “I want to be able to use all of the voices that we have on campus to make sure we are having a shared conversation, but one of the decisions that we made in Student Life is to move the Counseling Center back into our Student Life Suite,” Dycus said. The Counseling Center had been in a house near Lehman Auditorium, for privacy and technical reasons. “For the last couple of years,
the Counseling Center has been in a house on the other side of campus where it’s been a very carved-out and focused space where students can go and relax and not have to run into other people if they don’t want to, but go and get the mental health support that they need to continue to be well,” Dycus said. However, privacy for some meant an uncomfortable space for others. The Counseling Center was in a barefaced location that was not comfortable for many students to visit for a variety of reasons. Both sides had to be taken into account for the change. Dycus said, “This is a change for our campus that will mean people who have gotten used to going over to the house...will have to get used to coming over here, and
ON THE SIDEWALK with Amanda Hergenrather
the biggest change that I recognize is that; there was some privacy in going across campus to the house that has been lost...So I want to acknowledge that.” The Student Life team is working to make all student assistance be in the same area so that students have easier access to these resources. This is also to give the message that all of these parts are important for better health. “So, we made the decision to move counseling back here, and it will be a part of the area where health services is now...We really want to make sure that we’re compiling all of the support resources of Students Life and putting them here together and making sure that when we talk about wellness, we’re including our
physical and our mental wellness.” Dycus said. A huge part of faculty and staff’s role at EMU is not just to educate students, but to help students find their calling and purpose in life. Dycus also said, “We are working really hard to make our students feel welcome here in the Student Life Suite. We want students to be able to come here and feel like they can get all kinds of different support needed and feel like there are people here who support that and who aren’t going to offer judgment or shame.” The Student Life staff are helping EMU students find a safe space and feel belonging, but so are other clubs and organizations. “One of the things that stands out most to me is watching the work of the
BSA,” Dycus said. “It’s a club that really does give support to African American students on campus in a way that allows them to feel safe and to form community, and I think that is one of many different ways that people find their people on campus and they get the support that they need. I feel honored to lead this group.” Her final words were about EMU’s intentions. “EMU is committed to shaping and forming whole people who can go out and help transform the world. It’s not about helping people find careers here, it’s about helping shape leaders and people who can do so. This is [so] deeply rooted in values that it’s not just about education; it’s about forming people.”
“How did you spend your Homecoming weekend?”
“I didn’t go; I was just at my house cleaning, pretty much...putting priorities [first].” -Ruben Avalos, first-year
“It looked really fun, but I just stayed home and had some family time.”
“I performed with the jazz ensemble twice and the wind ensemble on Sunday.”
-Abdulla Alsaadoon, first-year
-Robbie Chaplin, senior
“My parents came down and got to watch me play softball.”
“I spent time with my family, cooking, playing games, and watching Mexican telenovelas.” -Briana Garcia, first-year
-Cortney Cochran, first-year
“I traveled to Richmond to visit my best friend at VCU.” -Skylar Coffey, first-year
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NEWS & FEATURE T h e We a t h e r Va n e
CELEBRATING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ DAY Continued from page 1
Bautista connected with this tribe during the Summer of 2019. The Monacan Nation now resides in Amherst, Va. Bautista visited their appointment-only Ancestral Museum to learn more about their culture and learn more about what help they need at this time. They responded with a simple, “tell people that we exist.” Much of the discussion at the talk-back lunch for Indigenous Peoples’ Day was focused around solutions and steps EMU can take to further this work. Their goal is to “stand in solidarity” with the indigenous groups of this area and help make their voices heard.
Bautista says, “the most important thing to remember is that we have to ask them how we can support them in this; we are not going there as saviors...they have the lead.” Currently, the Monacan Nation is at risk of having a pipeline placed through one of their sacred sites. Contact can be made with the Monacan Nation to learn more about practical forms of support by calling 434-3634876. As of now, EMU will continue to observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day. In the future, the EMU community hopes to work towards finding more solutions and supporting the people that resided on this land before it was taken from them.
Homecoming Highlights •
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Free Union, a band based in Charlottesville Va., set up on the lawn as part of the main entertainment for Homecoming weekend. People who attended events on EMU’s front lawn were treated to a mixture of folk, blues, and rock music courtesy of the band throughout the afternoon. Most people gathered either with blankets on the grass or were walking among the other booths and sampling food from the food trucks from Grilled Cheese Mania, Klines, and several others lined along the sidewalk. Junior and transfer student Leah Huyard said, “I feel like it’s very much a community event, which is really cool.” The music and myriad of options and events lent a bustling energy to the people gathered. EMU held its fourth annual “EMUTenTalks,”at the mainstage theater. Titled “Celebrate, Reflect, Dream,” this year’s TenTalks were dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. At the podium were three transformative peacemakers: John Sharp, Tammy Krause, and Darsheel Kaur, the latter two of whom are EMU graduates. Sharp is the father of Michael J. Sharp, an EMU alum who was murdered in 2017 along with his coworker Zaida Catalán while working for the UN in the Republic of Congo. Sharp spoke on the ways we can celebrate even in the midst of devastation and heartbreak. Krause, speaking to “Reflect,” has traveled to Guantanamo Bay to legally represent five of the accused 9/11 terrorists. She shared personal stories of how her family reacted to representing those who could commit such heinous acts. Kaur, whose presentation was titled “When We Dare to Dream,” had the audience close their eyes and dream of a world with no violence. She shared about a community center she is helping to build. To celebrate the arts during homecoming weekend, four EMU alumni displayed and spoke about their art in Margaret Martin Gehman Gallery on Oct. 11. The alumni, Lauren Bykowski ‘14, Jenna Longenecker ‘13, Malea Gascho ‘11 and Erin Rhineheimer Conway, shared their experiences with continuing art after college, from painting or drawing or teaching elementary schoolers. Gascho and Conway displayed a collaborative piece, each separately painting the concept and then bringing together their favorite elements. Longenecker shared about several pieces in which she had her students draw creatures and tell her how they would interact with them. She then collaged their creature with a drawing she did of the child doing the action they imagined. The art will be displayed through Nov. 8, and the gallery is open during Common Grounds’ business hours.
WOMEN OF EMU BREAK OUT THEIR CLIPPERS Continued from page 1
a conversation about the pros and cons of a shaved head with Paetkau and Landis, and going to bed deciding against it. “But the next evening, someone asked Jessie, who said yes, and then asked me, and I hesitated,” Kniss said. They decided if one did, then they both had to. Nisly’s journey was more gradual. She chopped her hair to her shoulders after high school, got a pixie cut part way through college, and shaved her head this preseason. “I don’t know how much I liked my long hair, but I liked that other people liked my long hair, and I liked that people said it was beautiful,” said Nisly about chopping her hair off the first
time. “It got to the point where I felt like my own sense of my beauty was too tied into my hair.” Nisly said that she tends to just cut her hair when she starts to think about doing it, and she likes to. “Part of that is the thrill of just changing my hair, but part of it is that I like to push the boundaries of gender norms when it comes to hair.” All four of these women have had their fair share of memorable reactions to their haircuts. Someone told Kniss, “It changes your whole persona. It’s a more modern, edgy vibe—not a small hometown girl.” For the most part, all of their reactions have been positive, but Paetkau has had two bad reactions. “The day I got it shaved, one of my friends asked if I was going insane. I also got in
Downtown Happenings •
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Restless Moons Brewing is hosting X2 Comedy Night tonight, Oct. 24, at 4 p.m. This week’s theme is Halloween, with guest comedians New & Improv.d and Dawn Womack. Check it out at 120 W Wolfe St, Harrisonburg, Va. Court Square Theater is hosting “Annie: The Musical” Oct. 24 through Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday Oct. 27 at 3 p.m. Tickets are available for $15 for students if pre-ordered and $18 if purchased at the door. The theater is at 41-F Court Square, Harrisonburg, Va. Clementine is hosting a concert featuring The Judy Chops and Black Masala on Friday, Oct. 25 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tickets are available for $10. Clementine is located at 153 S Main St, Harrisonburg, Va. The annual Haunted Harrisonburg Ghost Tour is back this Saturday, Oct. 26, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Hear about famous ghosts and spirits in the area! Tickets are available for $12.
a car crash coming to school, and the police officer said, ‘You look way better in your license photo,’ where I had long hair.” “It doesn’t seem to be as big of a deal as I thought it would be,” Landis said. “But people still are like, ‘You’re so brave.’” She and Kniss had some awkward family reactions, and Landis said she is interested to see what the people in her small hometown think. “It shouldn’t be a big deal. It’s literally just chopping off dead cells,” Landis said. When she got her pixie cut, people in Nisly’s small Ohio hometown started asking her sister about her sexuality. Despite these reactions, having little hair has made a significant impact on the girls’ confidence. “I feel so much more confident, and I feel like my face is actually really pretty. I’ve
never thought my face was pretty before,” Kniss said. “It’s helped me become more confident about different parts of myself now that I’m not relying on just my hair for my beauty.” She said that having a shaved head can be a bit of a physical check to herself when she’s feeling self-conscious. “I find myself thinking, ‘What if this person doesn’t think I look pretty with short hair?’ and then it makes me think, ‘Why do I care what others feel about my looks, because I really like how I look…I know I look good—why do I care what other people think?” Landis and Paetkau both agreed that they are less conscious of their physical beauty, and as a result, they feel much more confident. All of these women feel
more beautiful with their heads shaved—so why is there such a stigma behind it? “I think it would be interesting to investigate where these rules about hair length came from,” Nisly said. “Like, who said ‘Women have long hair and men have short hair,’ and why are we still following that?” To people who cringe when they see her hair, she wants to say, “‘Can you ask yourself why you feel that way? What makes you uncomfortable about seeing me with short hair as a woman?’” Paetkau had only one thing to say about the stigma behind women with shaved heads: “I think of women with shaved heads as strong and powerful, and being able to express yourself is strong and powerful. I think that’s what makes you a woman—not the length of your hair.”
SGA Updates Today, SGA approved the constitutional amendments for Safe Space and Y-Serve. We also approved a funding request from Rotaract, so be on the lookout for more information about their upcoming pumpkin-themed event. SGA was also happy to host three of the University’s new deans. Sue Cockley, Dean of the School of Theology, Humanities and Performing arts, David Brubaker, the Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Professions, and Shannon Dycus, Dean of Students, were all in attendance this evening. Unfortunately, Tara Kishbaugh, our fourth Dean, was unable to be present. In addition to sharing a bit about themselves and answering questions, the Deans stated that their offices are always open if students have concerns or just want to chat. During open floor, SGA discussed the new swipe card policy that came into effect in the dorms this school year, limiting swipe card access to only your hall. If you have an opinion or thoughts on that change, or anything else, be sure to visit SGA members during their office hours in Common Grounds or the Royal’s Den.
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REVIEW T h e We a t h e r Va n e
BIRDS OF PASSAGE FILM A RARE HIDDEN GEM Silas Clymer, Co-Editor in Chief
“Birds of Passage” is not at all a happy movie, but it is a beautiful one. This epic crime drama is set in Colombia during the late 60s, a time that marks the young days of the illegal drug trade. Throughout five chapters—called “cantos”— that span across the following decade, this film tells the story of a native Wayuu family as they become entangled in the Bonanza Marimbera, an era of marijuana smuggling. The weight of family duty, the scale of violence and greed, and the bleakness of witnessing a moral trainwreck invoke connections to classics like “The Godfather” and
more recent hits such as “Breaking Bad” and “Narcos.” Despite this, “Birds of Passage” maintains its own identity well, and it has even more to offer its viewers. For one, the spectacle of action is mostly avoided. We don’t see any glorified killing; we only see the dead. Rather than the violence or the greed, the focus is on the effects that they each have on the communities involved. This movie has the approach of walking with the Wayuu people during this conflict and taking in their way of life. In fact, the film almost comes across as a documentary at times. Against a backdrop of crime and war, the Wayuu culture is both visually and audibly expressed.
With each shot, the cameras display the attire they wear, rituals they practice, and the landscapes they call home. A minority of the film is in Spanish, and the rest is in the Wayuu tongue. The score, done by Leonardo Heiblum, is simple and well-done, with a fresh variety of ethnic instrumentation. These people, their traditions, and the struggle to keep their practices relevant in a rapidly changing world are central to the movie. This is a group that strongly believes in undead spirits, in communicating with them, and in staying on good terms with them. They are a proud people who demand honor and respect, humans with relatable strengths
and flaws. The film opens with a young woman named Zaida (Natalia Reyes) finishing her coming-ofage ceremonial period of isolation, after which she is considered ready for marriage. The first man to come calling is named Rapayet (Jose Acosta), and he must pay a hefty dowry of cattle, goats, and some necklaces to join the family. This financial motive is what leads Rapayet to the drug business, but once in it, certain curses seem to stick with him. This movie’s take on such curses is another point that helps set it apart. The beliefs and practices of the Wayuu make for some great elements of magical realism.
The cryptic dreams and visions that pervade the film are what make me want to watch it again. The title itself is connected to a song being sung at the start and finish of the film which refers to the passing of the land’s memories which are constantly in danger of being swept away. If this review is any indication, there are certainly a lot of directions that this movie can lead you as you look at its various contexts. Because I discovered it at the recent Hispanic film festival, I learned that it has actually been out for over a year. Though I had never heard of it, it seems like a hidden gem, and it is definitely worth a watch.
seemed as anticipatory as me. For someone unfamiliar with the style of performance, the silent beginning and immediate change of scene could be confusing. However, it had a way of drawing viewers in and exciting them for the rest of the play. The story appeared to follow one plot of land through its decades of varying ownership. It drew attention to the ignorance of the people claiming a right to the land in the past. It also highlighted how willingly and happily white immigrants were to overlook the large groups of native people that were “just occupying” the land and “not fulfilling its God-given purpose.” While the entire production was thought-provoking, the most intriguing bit was about a previously-stolen, now-owned
car. It begged the question, what decides ownership? Even though land was wrongfully taken, it belongs to its current inhabitants as well. If the land belongs to both sides equally, how do we reconcile this issue? The play does not offer a clear solution, except for communication, understanding, and awareness for whatever land we inhabit and the people groups that once resided there. “We Own This Now” brought viewers’ attention to an ever-relevant issue, and approached it in a unique way. It kept my full attention the whole time, through both the funny parts and the serious, solemn parts. After seeing this production, I am confident that many others are already eager for the next one.
TED & CO. CONFRONTS LEGACY OF INJUSTICE Jessica Chisolm, Canvas Editor
“We Own This Now” was this year’s Ted and Co. production, and was part of EMU’s observance of Indigenous People’s Day. The play brought attention to the plight of Native Americans in a tactful way, through the eyes of the people who stole their land and those who benefitted from it afterwards. The crowd was silenced by a foreword from Brian Burkholder, EMU’s campus pastor. His foreword included an acknowledgement of the land and those who lived here “many, many moons ago, too many to count.” As someone who had never seen a Ted and Co. play, I was eager for the performance due to everyone’s strong praises for their
Allison Shelly
Ted and Co. perform their play, “We Own This Now,” on Oct. 14 as a part of the recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
previous performances. Clearly, the word had successfully gotten out that they were performing at
EMU because upon arrival, I was greeted with an overwhelming number of people. Everyone
HABANA CAFE BRINGS A BIT OF CUBA TO TOWN Amanda Hergenrather, Copy Editor
It was shaping up to be a brisk October afternoon, and I was grateful to have kept my sweater on as I walked out from under the autumn sun and into the propped-open doors of Habana Cafe. The venue was decked out for the holidays, cottony wisps of spider webs hung from wall to ceiling, and the surrealist, cartoony art that lined the walls along with vintage decor only lent themselves to the spooky atmosphere. Industrial lights covered the ceiling like a Lozano-Hemmer installation, and street lamps stood at each corner of the bar, giving the restaurant the vibe of a dimly lit evening on a Cuban street, which also happened to be celebrating Halloween. Sitting at 47 Court Square, Habana Cafe now occupies the space where the Artful Dodger, a beat inspired cafe/restaurant with a lively nightlife, used to stand. The Dodger was a townie hot
spot on a typical afternoon, and musical scene in the evenings, hosting jazz and salsa nights which drew sizable college crowds. Habana kept the old “Artful” sign and much of the old decor and seating arrangements, as well as the resurrection of salsa nights and the featuring of a local artist each month; October’s is Gavin Hartin, whose paintings depict minimalist, pastel, Salvador Dali level surreal backgrounds and rubber hose style characters within them. I sat in the back of the restaurant, the vinyl seat of my booth sunk beneath my weight, worn from years of use. The server who took my order, a petite woman in an oversized sweatshirt, made and brought me a Cortadito, a long double shot of sweetened espresso topped with frothed cream. When she returned again, I ordered a burger made with 7 Hills beef: the Frita Habana. After sitting and sipping my espresso for a while, I heard two sharp chimes of a bell in the kitchen followed by the server
returning with my burger: a third of a pound of beef grilled and topped with a thick slice of fresh tomato, spicy chorizo, and thinly shredded manchego, a hard cheese similar in taste and texture to asiago. The whole thing was constructed on a grilled Cuban roll and partnered with rough cut, crispy french fries and a dill pickle spear. My Cortadito was an odd pairing with my burger, so I downed the rest of my drink before digging into my entree. The beverage was smooth and slightly sweet, and only as bitter as espresso should be; a perfectly pulled shot. After munching on a few fries, I moved on to the burger. The combination of beef and pork, the former bold on its own, the latter imbued with spices, could have been overpowering to someone who would generally opt for a veggie burger, but the tomato and pickle gave respite to the strong flavors of the proteins. The Spanish sausage and cheese brought a classically
Amanda Hergenrather
The Habana Cafe is located at 47 Court Square and serves a variety of Cuban-American fusion cuisine.
paired American hamburger with fries and a pickle to another level of flavor, one of many offered by the Cuban and American fusion cafe in Court Square. To try the Latin-inspired flavor for yourself,
you can visit Habana Cafe for any meal of the day, drinks after a night of salsa dancing, or just to show off your costume at their Halloween party, midnight next Wednesday.
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SPORTS T h e We a t h e r Va n e
OCT. 17 ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: MADELINE MAST
Bri Miller Staff Writer
Senior forward Laura Rittenhouse centers the ball against Lynchburg, causing rubber to jump off the turf. Despite the backing of nearly 500 Homecoming attendees, the women lost 5-0, their only loss by more than two goals this season.
Jeremy Blain
WOMEN’S SOCCER HELD SCORELESS AT BRIDGEWATER
Adam Moyer, Sports Editor
EMU’s soccer women faced the Bridgewater Eagles Wednesday evening in a pivotal ODAC rivalry game. Offensive woes overshadowed a strong defensive performance, and the Royals slipped up in a 2-0 defeat against their rivals. EMU’s record falls to 9-4-1 overall and 3-31 in conference play, as Bridgewater advance to 9-5-2 and 5-2 in ODAC. EMU stood atop the ODAC table for the better part of this season, but two conference losses and a tie have dropped their standing to the middle of the table as they approach their final three games. The Royals ranked seventh among 14 ODAC teams before Wednesday’s loss, and fell to ninth after the game. The Eagles jumped from sixth to fifth.
On the stat sheet, EMU and Bridgewater were almost identical heading into Wednesday. EMU averages 15 shots per game to Bridgewater’s 18, and 48 percent of each team’s shots have been on goal. Nine percent of EMU’s shots and 10 percent of Bridgewater’s this year have hit the back of the net. EMU has notched eight shutouts, and Bridgewater got their eighth of the season against EMU. Wednesday’s game looked similar to others this season where solid defense and brilliant goalkeeping were obscured by a lack of potency on offense. The Royals struggled to string passes together and advance in the midfield and offensive third. The women logged three shots in the first half and two in the second half, but none threatened the Eagles’ goalkeeper.
Senior Madeline Mast has been a consistent, four-year starter for the EMU field hockey program. Mast is known for her resiliency and commitment on and off the field. Although she has experienced changes in coaching staff, line-up, and classroom endeavors, Mast’s strength continues to shine through. The biggest change for Mast came when Coach Stick (Ashley Kishorn) became head coach at the beginning of her sophomore season. “Coach Stick has also been really intentional about making students and faculty more aware of the field hockey team. Field hockey has definitely become more of a presence on campus over my four years, ” Mast said. “Coach really emphasized lifting in the season, and especially in the off season,” she added. “The addition of a lifting program has become a big part of the field hockey culture. It has helped us
EMU
become more competitive against other ODAC teams.” This season, Mast was asked to move to a defender position. Despite her initial apprehension towards being a part of the defensive line, Mast trusted the judgement of her coaches. “The entire coaching staff is great!” Mast said. “They are completely dedicated to growing the program. Playing defense was a really big adjustment for me. I don’t remember playing any position besides midfield until the beginning of this season.” After the first few games, the team made some adjustments, and now, Mast is back to playing in the center midfield. She said, “I am more comfortable in this role and feel like my skills and abilities are being utilized best in this position.” “She does not tire and will play entire games, playing endline to endline. With this, she provides the team with consistency and a solid presence in the center,” said Coach Kishorn.
Mast is one of three captains on the team. As the only fouryear senior, Mast shows leadership and tries to be there for the underclassmen. “As I relate to underclassmen, I always try to think back to my years as an underclassman and remember what I personally appreciated about those seniors back then,” she explained. “I try to be as approachable as possible by checking in with them about classes and by showing interest in their lives. “I also hope that I can be a good role model of dedication to the program we’ve been trying to grow. I’ve obviously stuck it out for four years, and I hope they all do too!” After graduation, Mast plans on furthering her education to attend graduate school for Physical Therapy. Mast is the epitome of a Division III athlete who successfully balances work, four years to her sport, and a difficult Biology major.
BC
Shots
5
17
Shots on goal Saves
3
8
6
3
Corners 2
7
Offsides 1
3
Fouls
3
4
Goals
—
13’ 86’
Statistics via EMURoyals.com
In the EMU baseball team’s Homecoming “Blue/Black World Series,” first year Brandon Collier throws as junior Colin Jones heads for third base.
Jeremy Blain
OCT. 24 ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: COLLIN LONGENECKER
Bri Miller, Staff Writer
EMU cross country runner Collin Longenecker took 30 seconds off his 8k PR at the CNU Invitational in Newports News, Va. At this invitational, the Royals beat both ODAC rival Virginia Wesleyan and host Christopher Newport. As the lone senior on the men’s team, Longenecker’s leadership has been vital to the culture of the team and this year’s successes. “I have always been a leadby-example kind of guy,” said Longenecker. “Typically you will never see me standing in front of a huge mass, commanding their attention. I try my best to make sure everyone knows what they are supposed to be doing, and I will assist in any way that I can, trusting that they will follow along.”
With a young cross country team, this year has been especially fun for Longenecker as he has been able to help create the new team’s culture. “I think Coach Bob and I have a similar view on how things should be run, and that has made things work very effortlessly,” he said. “By the time this large group of sophomores are seniors, there will be a very set-in-stone way for how this team functions. I am happy to be a part in any way that I can.” Longenecker maintains a calm presence that people can trust and look to if they ever have any questions. He tries to make Coach Bob’s job as easy as possible by having the team where they are supposed to be. “I have been so impressed with how well people have listened to me,” said Longenecker. “It makes
a meet as relaxing as a meet can be when we are on time.” While his recent PR was exciting in its own right, it was even more rewarding as Longenecker has overcome the massive obstacle of an injury, surgery, and recovery in order to continue running. Two years ago, a doctor told him that he had a partial tear in his Achilles, and if he wanted to run a lot again, Achilles surgery was the best option, despite the long recovery process. “He said my heel bone was extra pointy and at some point my Achilles got inflamed and that my bone was shredding my Achilles like a rope on a rock,” Longenecker explained. “Painful image right there. My body kept trying to grow and heal the tendon down there, but my bone kept on its destruction.” After an extensive recovery, Longenecker eased back into
competitive running. “I had my surgery January 3, 2018. I was in a boot and knee scooter for two months, no weight, and then gradually worked into walking over the next two months.” He biked a ton all summer and slowly worked his way back into running. “It still bothers me a little every once in a while, but it is getting better and stronger every week. I would say I am up to like 96 percent now,” said Longenecker. As the EMU senior looks back at his injury and the recovery process, he has learned many valuable life lessons that he will use after his running career is over. Longenecker has learned how to be patient and trust that things will work out, even when it feels hopeless. “I think one [lesson] that many runners can identify with is to always
work hard, even when nobody’s watching,” he said. Longenecker knows what it means to wait your turn for leadership positions on a team, and what it means to find your role each year and make the best of it. “I have put so much work into making this season all that it can be. I have had my sights set on ODACs and Regionals ever since getting back from the Middle East (cross cultural) in May, so I am hoping for even bigger improvements in these upcoming races where it really counts. I am very excited about the potential that this team has to have a spectacular end to the season,” said Longenecker. The Royals are competing in the ODAC Championships hosted by Roanoke College on Saturday, Nov. 2. The race will be held at Green Hill Park in Salem, Va.
theweathervane.org
October 24, 2019
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OPINION T h e We a t h e r Va n e
EDITORIAL: AN APOLOGY AND A CALL TO ACTION
Kate Szambecki, Co-Editor in Chief
On last week’s opinion page, there was an article entitled, “White Christians Use ‘Hug’ To Ease Guilt.” I remember reading that headline and thinking, “Yes! Stick it to the man!” The article, written by junior Anisa Leonard, referred to the hug exchanged by Brandt Jean and Amber Guyger at Guyger’s trial, after she shot Jean’s brother, Botham, in his own home. Many
Christians shared the story on social media as one of forgiveness over all else and seemingly brushed aside the injustice and racism demonstrated by Guyger, all of which Anisa addressed in the article. Two weeks ago when the article was published, Silas and I received an email from Anisa, stating her frustration with the headline used and asking to meet with us to discuss. I was confused. I thought it was biting in the best way, but as I read Anisa’s explanation, I realized her problem was not with the headline itself, but with the accusatory tone of it. She had asked that Silas and I run any changes made in the editing process by her. We didn’t even think about the headline, which is typically written by us and the other page editors on production night. The final headline used was much more accusatory that the article itself. Anisa was extremely careful when she wrote this article. She put
hours into writing it and having others read it, making sure it was exactly the message she wanted to put out. With one thoughtless line of text, Silas and I undermined her hard work for what we thought of as a catchy headline. After writing my last editorial on cultural competency, almost this issue to the tee, it was a harsh reality check when the weight of what Anisa was saying sunk in. It was a reminder that I am not somehow exempt from being racist just because I care about racial issues. No one is, and privilege is something that exists even when we aren’t thinking about it. It works its way into the cracks of everything we do. We have to try to notice it. I’ve got a long way to go in doing that. White people can say negative things about other white people, and it carries much less weight than when a non-white person does. It is not a race issue when you’re insulting
someone of the same race, which is what this would have been if Silas or I had written the article. But we didn’t—Anisa, a black woman did, and she certainly did not mean to insult anyone. The headline was written by white people, speaking for a black person. We didn’t think about our privilege, and we did not consider the consequences. We didn’t see it from her perspective. We didn’t see the pain that it could cause Anisa if someone read that headline and took it to heart because it simply wouldn’t have the same effect coming from one of us. The headline was written to challenge white people, but Anisa’s points and identity were pushed aside in the writing of it. Anisa was putting herself in an incredibly vulnerable position stating the opinion she did. She showed us more kindness and grace than we deserve in asking to meet and discuss. Rather than responding in anger, she used this
experience to help us learn, and I admire her so much for not only being willing, but wanting to have difficult discussions about how to get better. We are grateful for all the time and effort she put in, her perspective, and for her letting us share the story of her follow-up. We let our perspective get in the way, and we hurt her, and we are deeply sorry. I wanted to write this to acknowledge that, but also to hopefully draw some attention to how serious the consequences for our actions can be regarding sensitivity and understanding of other cultures. I can preach cultural competency all I want, but if I can’t put it into practice, then what good does it do? If we can’t recognize where we’ve messed up and work to fix it, there’s no point. This work has value, and though it is hard, using our failures to do better by each other is always worth it.
I could have people show up unannounced at my door was quite unsettling. The stories that I had heard about incidents that had happened the previous year with students going onto halls that did not belong to them began to gnaw at me. The anxiety that I felt upon hearing those stories only grew, and I didn’t know how this living situation was going to turn out. The minute I arrived on campus and learned that the Resident Life faculty had changed the policy to where students could only access their own hall, my anxiety began to ease, and I was excited that I no longer had to worry about people carelessly showing up. However, my relief soon turned into curiosity as I began to wonder why this new policy was implemented on campus. Jonathan Swartz, the Resident Life Director at EMU, helped me understand why they decided it was time to change this rule. Swartz began to explain to me that the new policy was a standard that many well-known
colleges followed, so it was only right that EMU did the same. This is also not one of the main reasons why this new rule was introduced. The Resident Life staff wanted the students to be more comfortable in a dorm setting, and by only allowing access to a single hall, students can now thrive. Students living on campus were not the only ones who lost access. Commuter students did as well, and this is where my feelings on this matter start to conflict. One of my close friends here is a commuter athlete who practices twice a day. Every day, she texts me and asks if I would be willing to let her onto my hall in order for her to take a shower and get ready for her classes. Seeing as she is a commuter, she wouldn’t have time to drive back to her house and make it back in time for her first class. I always let her in, and she goes about her business. It wasn’t until last week that she voiced her opinions on this matter to me. She felt as though commuter athletes who did not have a place to shower should be assigned to a dorm hall in order
for them to get ready to start their day. She wanted to gain access to a hall and be able to swipe in, even if she did not live there. On one hand, I feel obligated to agree with her. I do feel like commuters should be integrated more into campus life, but I don’t think gaining access to a hall is going to help with that. I understand that she wants to get ready on campus and she doesn’t want to bother me all the time in order to get onto my hall, but the
other girls that live with me might not be comfortable with a stranger coming onto our hall constantly. People need to feel comfortable in the place that they’re living in, and allowing access to commuter students is going to make them feel uncomfortable. I am glad that the Resident Life faculty created this new policy. Their main goal was to make the students here feel secure in a dorm setting and I think they accomplished that perfectly.
SWIPE ACCESS LIMITATIONS PROMOTE SECURITY
Abby Berry, Front Page Editor
Should students be allowed on a floor that is not their own? That is a question that I have been grappling with since I first arrived on campus this fall and one that is difficult to answer. Before arriving on campus this year, I was very anxious about many things, but the main thing that was worrying me was the fact that EMU had a policy in effect that allowed students to gain access to halls that were not their own. I am a pretty quiet and reserved person, so knowing that
WEATHER REPORT STORM CLOUDS
SUNBEAMS • •
•
EMU Homecoming was a massive success! At least something this semester was. This Weather Vane production night started out with high spirits. Now it is 8:44 p.m. and we all want to sleep. The Weather Vane is back after a two week absence. You know you missed us.
•
• •
This is our first week back from fall break. Only 34 days 78 minutes and 20, 19, 18 seconds until Thanksgiving break as of writing. But who’s counting? One of the editors washed their laundry with an entire chocolate bar. We mourn with them. There are 3000 species of mosquitoes. 3000 too many.
Editors in Chief Silas Clymer Kate Szambecki Front Page Editor News & Feature Editor Review Editor Sports Editor Opinion Editor Canvas Editor
Abby Berry Jenna Lile Erin Beidler Adam Moyer Rachael Brenneman Kate Szambecki
Managing Editor Anali North Martin Copy Editors Amanda Hergenrather Brynn Yoder Seth Andreas Kate Szambecki Silas Clymer Rachael Brenneman Photography Editor Web Manager Business Manager Circulation Manager Faculty Adviser
Ignacio Ocaranza Claire Waidelich Douglas Nester 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.
theweathervane.org
October 24, 2019
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OPINION T h e We a t h e r Va n e
FIND YOUR SUCCESS THROUGH THE JOURNEY
Brynn Yoder, Copy Editor
As a university student, I find myself concerned about being successful. Whether or not I am successful in my academics translates to whether or not I will graduate. This long-term goal leads to
my eventual career goals. This can add many layers of stress onto my life. In Ryan Thompson’s General Psychology class, I learned that the age group which reports the highest levels of stress are individuals between 18 and 33 years old. The people in this age range have one thing in common— within those years, the career they will follow is developed. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, people born between 1957 and 1964 held an average of 11.7 jobs between the ages of 18 to 48. What does this have to do with success? Success is not someone waking up one morning saying, “Hey, I’m a success.” Success is a journey. One of my favorite quotes is by Greg Anderson, who said, “Focus on the
journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity, but in doing it.” This journey can be torture if we are waiting for a destination. When I was waiting for Avengers Endgame to release, I was excited. I just wanted the movie to come out. For weeks, this excitement built inside of me, and then I watched the movie. The day after, I was empty. I had given my life to the destination, or the precipice moment. I needed to find another precipice moment to consume me. We look forward to things all the time. “If I could just finish this paper then…” “If I could just get the next iPhone…” It is good to look forward to things—it drives us forward—but if these things
overwhelm us, they can crush our will to move. This is where the university journey we are living comes back into the picture. If we define our success by graduation, academic success, or getting the job we dream of, we are going to have to wait to be successful. There will always be that next thing we need to do to be “successful.” After university, it may be that next promotion, or landing an interview. This is why a few weeks ago I had to remind myself, despite not being done with college, that I am successful. Success is a term we use after we have accomplished something. We are so bogged down by the thought of graduation that we forget our daily successes as we are
striving towards our greater life goals. The journey is what we need to focus on—enjoying the little successes we have each achieved towards our greater goals. This is why we should all be able to be a little egocentric and understand that we are a success at this moment in time. We do not have to wait until we graduate to be content with our lives. Don’t wait to be successful, since we don’t even know if we will be around for graduation. Understand that each step is a way we can call ourselves successful. If we can each be able to call ourselves successful, maybe then we can lower the amount of stress we experience from the ages 18 to 33.
PAY ATTENTION AND LISTEN TO IRAQI VOICES
Fatimah Subhi, Circulation Manager
“We are only asking for peace; it’s our right as humans.” “It’s been 16 years—we can not handle this any longer.”
That’s what protesters in Iraq are saying. In the start of October, a huge number of protesters emerged in different parts of Iraq, aiming for change in the current government. When the news started spreading, the Iraqi government limited communication to stop it. More than 100 people were killed by riots, and thousands were injured. For 16 years, the government has made people live in an environment of terrorism, sexism, racism, classism, mental issues, high rates of infant mortality, and poverty. There are many stories there of people who wanted nothing but peace. The word “peace” can be heard everywhere—in the streets, the
schools, homes, and even in the national anthem where it says, “May I ever see you in peace.” When people decided to get together and face all of these obstacles by saying “no” to the government representatives, they were faced with machine guns, expired tear gas, and terrorists from other countries. The pathetic part is that no one is doing anything about it. If something similar happened in Europe or any Western country, everyone would help, but when it comes to people in Iraq, or the Middle East in general, everyone acts deaf. It’s like we are not a part of this world, or we have less life inside of us. Meanwhile many Iraqi artists publish some work expressing their
feelings towards what is happening. Here is a poem from one of them: “I decided to be brave. Finally. And write to you, they kept us apart, disconnected us. Now I think about sending to you a dove, and hang in her beak a letter I wrote on an old yellow paper So it lands near your window just like movies. Of course it will be a romantic way to get your attention, but this time I am afraid; the dove may get killed before it makes her way to
you. The enemies in our country kill everything beautiful. They set men, women, and kids on fire. They point their coward weapons in the faces of people who loves life I am afraid to send it now. A person that’s able to kill a man who love Iraq just as much as he loves his fiancée, his heart will not stop him from killing a little dove carrying a late love letter. I will not send the dove, so it will not get killed, Just in the same way as people in my country.” (by Yasser Nethal)
Non-Government Organization (NGO) with roots in the Catholic Church. Part of Caritas’ mission is refugee aid, and I was fortunate to spend every Monday working alongside staff at Haus Erdberg, a refugee complex housing around 250 refugees. The residents here are either single men or families, and they come from all different walks of life. I helped with organizing the line for their weekly allowance and shadowed staff as they replaced residents’ lightbulbs, furniture, bedding, etc. Immigration is one of Austria’s most pressing and controversial issues. In 2015, there was a surge of migrants from the Middle East, flowing into many European countries, including Austria. Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel’s main slogan regarding migration at the time was “Wir schaffen das,” or “We can do it,” and as a result, between 2015 and 2016, one million migrants entered Europe through the gateway of Austria, an eighth of the nation’s population. Only around 100,000 immigrants stayed in Austria; the remainder migrated to other European countries or went overseas. The influx of
immigration has since decreased since 2015, but migration statistics show that it could be on the rise again. For the average refugee coming to Vienna, the journey to safety and freedom is a long and grueling one. People coming to Vienna must apply for asylum upon entry. Those seeking asylum must live in a refugee center, where they cannot work or travel, until they are notified about that status of their application. This waiting period can be as short as six months, although it is on average around 16 months, according to the Austrian Ministry of Domestic Affairs. Those seeking asylum at Haus Erdberg wait three years on average. Through volunteering at Caritas, I saw Vienna through a different lens. The building is not an old beautiful Catholic cathedral, nor is it a world-class performance venue. There are around 250 residents in the center, all of whom are waiting to see if they will be invited in, or if they will be sent back to their home country from whence they fled. While they are at the center, these asylum seekers must learn German, so
that if they are granted asylum and are allowed to work, they are able to find a job. Most jobs in Austria require at least a B2 German level, which is attainable through an exam, which tests reading, writing, speaking, and listening in German. Even after asylum is granted, there are still a lot of obstacles. For example, a refugee’s education is not always recognized by the authorities, thus making their resume unattractive to employers. Despite these challenges, there are ways for refugees to integrate into Austrian society. As a group, we got the opportunity to visit and tour the Magdas Hotel, a social organization specifically employing refugees to work as receptionists, chefs, and other positions. As a whole, the Magdas (meaning “like that” in German) employees represent 14 different nations and 23 languages. As a refugee, this job is an excellent way to get a foot in the working world and gain experience that can lead to a steady job in Austria. My father was a refugee. He fled Vietnam in 1981 and came to the US speaking little to no English with virtually no money on him. He was fortunate to
have missionaries sponsor him in Florida. Without them, he could not have found a home in this country, and he would not have met my mom (an EMU alumna), and my brothers and I would not exist. I acknowledge that immigration is a complex issue; however, Austria is endearing to me not in spite of its refugees, but because of them, and the gifts they bring to the nation. I want refugees to be seen as human, just as my dad was, and I want others to experience the Vienna I have loved during my time here. My time in this country has been extremely positive. Vienna city life is exciting and addicting. It has a beautiful café culture, an incredibly efficient public transportation system, one of the world’s best theater scenes, and visually stunning views around every corner. Learning about the politics and issues here does not make me like this place less; it makes me care about it more. After reading EMU’s Common Read “Exit West” this summer, I have resonated with it immensely while learning about European history during my time abroad. One line continues to stick out for me: “We are all migrants of time.”
INTEGRATING REFUGEES INTO AUSTRIAN SOCIETY
Avery Trinh, Contributing Writer
On Sept. 27th, I had the privilege of playing soccer alongside refugees in a tournament that was part of “Langer Tag der Flucht” (Long Day of the Escape), a full day event devoted to the stories of refugees in Vienna, Austria. As I was enjoying the sport I love and practicing my amateur German, I had to face a difficult truth: all but one of my teammates are going to be sent back to the country they fled from in one week. Their applications for asylum were rejected. For the past seven weeks, I have been living in Vienna as part of the Europe and Morocco Cross-Cultural. While I am here, I am volunteering with Caritas, a
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October 24, 2019
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Asha Beck is a sophomore Digital Media and Communications major. She has had a passion for art for almost as long as she can remember. Some of these drawings were done in her Drawing I class as a continuous line study, and some were done outside of class. With this style, Beck likes to explore how little of a line she can use to capture a shape or idea.
CANVAS T h e We a t h e r Va n e