VOL. 65 No. 13
February 7, 2019
theweathervane.org
THE WEATHER VANE E A S T ERN ME N N ON I T E U N I V E R S I T Y ’ S S T U D E N T N EWS PAP E R SINC E 1 9 3 9
Weather
Today: Scattered showers, 62. Tonight: Cloudy, 50 Tomorrow: Sunny 56
RESLIFE HOSTS LIFE-SIZE MARIO KART
EMU students and Residence Director and Student Activities Coordinator Tyler Goss, far left, gather for a photo after a game of live Mario-Kart, a Residence Life-hosted event during Honors Weekend.
Eric Ocaranza
SHOW PROVOKES JUDGING POLITICAL LEADERS THOUGHT, ENTERTAINS By ROBERT COOK
By CLARA WEYBRIGHT
Last week, I developed a new morning-afterWeather-Vane-production ritual: I crashed on the couch, pulled up Hulu, and watched Good Trouble. It’s not excellent television by any stretch of the imagination, but it has all of the components of a show for people low on brain power. That sounds like damning with faint praise, but this show has become an incredibly pleasant part of my Thursday mornings. Good Trouble follows sisters Callie and Mariana Adams Foster after they graduate from college and law school, respectively, and venture into the real world. They take on an intentional living community in Los Angeles, start new jobs that feature challenging
NEWS & FEATURE
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Virginia Governor Ralph Northam has been under pressure to resign because of a photo in his medical school yearbook from 1984 that had his name captioned under a racist image. As information about this event—and the calls for his resignation—has spread, I have begun to wonder where the threshold for resignation from public office is. As a 2017 graduate from EMU, I felt compelled to share my thoughts in The Weather Vane because I recognize how passionate EMU is about racial and social justice. I hope to contribute a perspective that encourages accountability with grace in a time where many jump to extremes. In today’s political climate, it is easy to lose a career due to the possibility of a scandal. It happened to Paula Deen when it was discovered she used a racial slur decades prior. It nearly happened
coworkers, and have bouts of romantic drama of various kinds. Good Trouble is a spinoff of the long-running show The Fosters. I’d never watched The Fosters, so had to do a quick Google search to determine the general plot. The drama features a couple, Stef and Lena, who raise four children out of the foster system. Two of these children are Callie and Mariana. Their family background appears frequently throughout the first few episodes of Good Trouble. In one episode, Callie and Mariana meet up with their brother from The Fosters. All three grapple with their relationships with the foster system as they make a new friend, also a former foster kid.
to Justice Kavanaugh, who was under fire for sexual assault allegations from his high school years. Many other public figures have gone through this trial of historical scandal—things that happened in decades past that are relived in front of the public. I have to wonder, why does the reemergence of these events end public careers? And what are the ramifications of this kind of judgment on everyone else? I can think of two similar reasons why old skeletons end careers. The first comes from the Declaration of Independence, the philosophical foundation of American government. The ethos of the declaration is that all are equal with inalienable rights. When the declaration was signed, the ideal did not instantaneously become reality. Slavery continued to exist for 90 years. Racial equality is a continuing work in progress. A plethora
of other issues question America’s adherence to that ethos. These issues do not delegitimize the declaration as America’s aim, but rather show the ideal that America is committed to strive for. We as a society will begin to meet these ideals over time, slowly and gradually, with many bumps in the road. All of this to say, because of America’s ethos, we expect much from our political leaders. We expect them to be the torch bearers, leading us towards absolute liberty with equality among all humans. Thus, historical scandals seem like a betrayal of what our leaders are supposed to do. The second reason rests in the ideals of the Enlightenment. While conservative intellectuals will question the extent of the Enlightenment’s role in America’s founding, as seen in Calvin Coolidge’s speech on the 150th anniversary Continued on Page 7
Artful Dodger
Lawrence the Band
REVIEW
SPORTS Toni Doss
Response to MLK article
Ode To My Butt
“The Dodger closing is such a bizarre feeling because it means so many things to so many people.”
They are new pop singers with old souls and the talent to pull that off.
Her new PR, 38 feet and 8.25 inches, launches her to No. 3 in EMU history.
All people must acknowledge the stereotypes and prejudices they have because of their vaious privileges.
This week’s Canvas page features poetry by juniors Elizabeth Nisly and Anali North Martin.
OPINION
CANVAS
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February 7, 2019
theweathervane.org
NEWS & FEATURE T h e We a t h e r Va n e
CLIMATE JUSTICE EVENT SPARKS CONVERSATION By CLARA WEYBRIGHT
“Death by a thousand cuts.” This is the image that Pastor Paul Wilson and his colleague-in-arms Jeeva Abate bring to their grassrootsrun fight against a 600-mile fracked natural gas pipeline. Four EMU clubs— Earthkeepers, Black Student Union (BSU), Peace Fellowship, and The Young Democrats—joined forces and invited Wilson and Abate to travel the nearly two hours from Buckingham County, Va. to Harrisonburg to talk about their work resisting the pipeline that will run through a historically heavily African American community. The two men spoke in Common Grounds to nearly forty-five people on Sunday, Feb. 4. They shared about their work and how it connects to their diverse religious beliefs and traditions. Junior Andy King, a current co-president of Earthkeepers, first met Wilson at an NAACP event in September. “I knew that Paul was
a deeply passionate man and that he had a knack for connecting with people in a meaningful way. I didn’t know anything about [Abate] until Paul told me that he would like Jeeva to accompany him to the event,” he said. Abate is a member of the intentional community Yogaville in Buckingham County, where the proposed pipeline will run. Yogaville’s website describes it as, “a vibrant spiritual community,” a place to, “experience the yogic lifestyle.” In the same county, Wilson serves as an ostensibly very different kind of religious leader: the Baptist pastor of a mostly rural, mostly African American community. Dominion Power Company is the driving force behind The Atlantic Coast pipeline. The pipeline will feature three compressor stations, one of which is located in Buckingham, Va. When both men learned about the effects of the compressor station in their county, they were determined to get involved. Abate noted that the pipeline’s routes often
have an “inordinate impact on poor communities.” Companies like Dominion offer landowners undeniably tempting deals, sometimes as much as millions of dollars, for the rights to their land. The pipeline companies and the governmental organizations that regulate them often fail to address the potential environmental damages that occur with the installation of a pipeline, the speakers argued. Abate and Wilson cited water, air, and human health impacts associated with fracking and the transportation of natural gas. Junior Lindsay Acker, president of Peace Fellowship, attended a dinner with the speakers where she learned more about the details of the implementation of the compressor station and surrounding pipeline. “Even people who don’t think the pipeline is bad have to admit that Dominion has designed a particularly poor one here,” she explained. The talk’s focus was primarily concerned with issues of environmental
justice. The speakers identified several surveys conducted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that said that the community affected by the pipeline is 60 percent white. Wilson said that the actual population is closer to 85 percent black. This poses questions about the unfairness of loading environmental risk onto poorer, more disadvantaged communities. For many student leaders, the things happening in Buckingham connect with their own concerns. “This is Earthkeepers’ first climate justice-oriented event, but it’s not the first to challenge our student body and community to think in new ways about how they can have an impact on our sustainable future,” King added. Acker noted, “This year, Peace Fellowship is making an effort to center indigenous voices in our conversations. While not all of these conversations are focused on climate justice, the conversation is almost always present, as the United States continues to use and abuse
native land.” However, the event was not only geared towards students. A large group of community members gathered to learn more about this issue. “I am a new arrival ... I’ve been learning about the issues [in this area],” said Irvin Peckham, who was drawn to the event on the recommendation of a friend. “I’ve been interested in the environment for most of my adult life; the friends I’ve been making in the area are [also] interested in the environment.” During a question and answer time, Senior Nidhi Vinod asked Wilson and Abate if they had any pieces of advice specifically for students. Wilson said that students need to “be concerned.” He added that college students need to process information for themselves and added, “and don’t let anybody tell you what it means.” Wilson concluded, “God made us to be in dominion over the earth, and not for Dominion to be over us.”
the opportunity to learn about racism and how to facilitate a conversation about this issue as a community. Melody Pannell, chairperson of CODI, explains that this program will “have healing [and] transformative aspects to it,” that will hopefully “transform our community.” Senior Nicole Litwiller, who has helped Pannell facilitate the start of RELI, responded, “One of the ways I hope RELI can ‘transform our community’ is by allowing us to actually have conversations about race. This is a topic that a lot of people, myself included, are often afraid to
talk about. We don’t want to offend people or step on any toes, so we stay quiet. We need to figure out how to have conversations with our community so that we can continue moving forward.” Last school year, Pannell and Daryl Byler, Executive Director of CJP, co-wrote a proposal to Lumina Foundation in the hopes of receiving a grant of $100,000. The grant drew about 300 applications with only three awards to give out, and unfortunately, Pannell and Byler’s proposal was not selected. At the time, there was no room in EMU’s budget to start a new
diversity training, so the idea was placed on the back burner. During the summer of 2018, Litwiller attended a racial equity and diversity training and got the idea to start a similar program on EMU’s campus. Pannell and Litwiller combined their ideas and experience with these types of programs and proposed starting a pilot program using faculty at EMU who are already well-versed in this area as trainers for the program. At the start of the RELI pilot program, over 40 students, faculty, and staff expressed interest in participating in the program. At the first meeting, 30 participants came to learn about the program, and then broke up into smaller cohorts of ten for further discussion. At the first meeting, discussion questions posed to the participants included “Do you see a need for racial equity education and training within our campus community?” and “Are you aware of any negative attitudes or incidences that have taken place on our campus concerning racial equity?” Here are some of the anonymous responses received: “I expect to gain some tools of how I can be a better advocate, ally, and educator”; “I am no longer satisfied with conversations
that end with ‘well, we’ll agree to disagree’”; and “I’m looking forward to developing the capacity for the facilitation of racial conversations.” The vision for the future of the RELI program is that it becomes a requirement for all EMU first-years to join a cohort of fellow students, faculty, and staff to receive this training, and to facilitate conversation about race in a safe environment on campus. The cohorts would meet four times a semester for the duration of two consecutive semesters. Pannell explains further that “the trainers will be on campus, so if someone has a concern, even outside of the group, they can stop by [their trainer’s] office and say, ‘I’m wrestling with this’ or ‘let’s talk more about this,’” which would provide extra support to students within the context of discussing race and equity. The next session for the RELI pilot program is set for Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 10:10 a.m. Three separate groups will meet in Hartzler Library room 304, Roselawn room 306, and University Commons room 176. The pilot program will be evaluated at the end of the spring semester and is slated to be approved as a permanent program beginning in the 20192020 school year.
RACIAL EQUITY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
By LINDSEY HISTAND
The new Racial Equity Leadership Institute (RELI) pilot program has gotten off to a flying start as its first meetings took place Wednesday, Jan. 30. RELI was formed to support the Diversify goal that was included in the President’s Strategic Plan presented in June 2017, and is co-sponsored by The Committee on Diversity and Inclusion (CODI) and the Student Government Association (SGA). This program will offer students, faculty, and staff
An Announcement from Black Student Union (BSU) BSU Movie Night: The Hate U Give (2018) Black Student Union is hosting a special screening of The Hate U Give on Friday, Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in Common Grounds followed by a Talk-Back about the film and race issues that American youth face in schools and in the community. We invite everyone to join in on this important conversation for Black History Month. There will be a second showing on Saturday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. in the Suter Science Center. Viewers 10/10 recommend this film that just left theaters for its deep, beautiful, and powerful story about race, social justice, police brutality, family, community, and identity. “Know your worth, shine your light, find your voice.” Want a chance to win a Common Grounds gift card for snacks for the night? Bring a friend to the film and Talk Back or Be the first to e-mail Alcinda Brubaker the meaning behind THUG LIFE and the film. Send your answers to alcinda.brubaker@emu.edu. Hint: 2Pac The trailer for The Hate U Give is available on YouTube.
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NEWS & FEATURE T h e We a t h e r Va n e
HUB UPDATE
ON THE SIDEWALK with Eric Ocaranza
How cold does it have to be for you to consider skipping class?
“I would probably not skip class but let’s go with zero degrees Fahrenheit.” -Kyle Miller, first-year
“Hm, how cold... Like below zero?” -Lydia Haggard, junior
“Probably somewhere in the low negatives.” -Hunter Conner, first-year
Correction from the Jan. 31 issue •
Throughout “Revisiting the Convocation Issue,” the word “chapel” was used when referring to Convocation. Last semester, Convocation replaced chapel and those spaces do not necessarily contain religious content as suggested in the opinion piece.
Junior Grace Eye and senior Melissa Kinkaid play real life Mario Kart, an event sponsored by Hub.
Jeremy Blain
By CLARA WEYBRIGHT and ALCINDA BRUBAKER
Weekends have become more active in the last few semesters on EMU campus. In the fall of 2017, EMU’s ResLife established Hub, a space for students to spend their Friday and Saturday nights on campus. From events like Real Life Mario Kart to Quiplash and Quesadillas, students have been able to come together for a safe yet fun weekend alternative. Tyler Goss, Staff Associate of Student Programs, is the creative visionary behind the social hub. “I’m in charge of creating fun times and empowering CAs to lead those fun times,” Goss said. Goss is behind the weekly Hub names, such as Quesadillas and Quiplash, Bingo and Bagel Bites, Crepes and Capes, and Notes and Nuggets. “The recipe is food, fun, and alliterations.” In November, Hub hosted a Peace, Love, and Donuts paint party in Common Grounds followed by games like Super Smash Brothers and a Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots tournament. The Love vs. Shove and Powdered vs. Produce night included a large number of students. Hub has grown significantly since its first year. Last year, events were hosted only in Northlawn. This year, the events rotate to various spaces on campus, including the University Commons for events like Gaming and
Guac and the Art Center for Crafting and Cookies. Residence Life staff has seen an increase in student turnout. “Almost all the times I’ve been on duty there’s been at least 20 people at one point. For EMU, on a weekend night, when it’s not a specific CAC or flagship event, that’s pretty impressive,” junior Abigail Shelly said. “Hub in the previous year had just been CAs and a friend or two that showed up,” Goss added. The Campus Activities Council (CAC) has been instrumental in increasing the scope of Hub activities. Senior Beck Hoskins noted that Hub has become a space in which students from CAC and CAs can overlap. Residence Director Scott Eyre brought the idea of Hub to the ResLife team several years ago. The original vision for the project has always been lofty. “To be a Christian university we have the challenge of how to put on a fun event and how to tap into something that’s deeper and more meaningful,” he said. For junior Yoel Bobadilla, this intention has been fully realized. He attends Hub events every weekend and appreciates the thoughtfulness of each event. “RDs and CAs put so much time and effort into these events,” Bobadilla says. “They’re all fun events. [And] winning stuff is a great thing!”
the features distinguishing the Artful Dodger from other local restaurants and bars. In addition to providing space for spontaneous music sessions, the porch allowed customers to “sit outside, drink coffee, smoke cigarettes, watch people walk by, and keep dry.” “I met so many people there, and not just in passing,” Townsend reflected. “I made lifelong friendships just sitting on that porch.” Behind the Artful Dodger’s unique environment and $3.50 unlimited coffee, however, were serious issues behind the scenes at least up until 2017, according to Townsend. In his opinion, “The Dodger’s closing was for so many more reasons
than their alcohol license removal.” He continued, “They didn’t always create a safe work environment for their workers, and due to numerous incidents involving harassment and shady payment practices, the Dodger experienced essentially an entire staff turnover in 2017 ... To the people who were so far into the wormhole that is the downtown Dodger social scene, the closing of the dodger almost feels like the end of a toxic relationship.” Two former DJs at the restaurant could not be reached for comment on the closing of the restaurant. It is unclear what will become of the building formerly home to the Artful Dodger. For now, “closed” signs line the windows.
ARTFUL DODGER PERMANENTLY CLOSES DOORS By ADAM MOYER
The Artful Dodger is no longer open for business. The hybrid restaurant, bar, coffeeshop, and music venue was in legal peril when an owner was charged with “Restaurant Possession of Alcohol with no License” on Dec. 30 of last year. The business’s alcohol license was revoked two months earlier, according to WHSV. The Artful Dodger’s Facebook page marked the avenue “Permanently Closed” on Jan. 26. Shortly after the retraction of its alcohol license, the Artful Dodger closed temporarily for renovations. “We are taking some much needed time to get a lot of things accomplished in house that simply can’t
be done while we’re open,” the company posted on Facebook. “Rest assured that we are busy redecorating and remodeling for the great things that are coming.” The avenue never fully reopened, but held at least three events in the two months following the announcement of temporary closure. “Opening for music and drinks tonight,” read a Dec. 22 Facebook post. The Daily NewsRecord cites a report from prosecutors alleging “someone from the business” purchased alcohol at an ABC store and offered it on the night of Dec. 29. A former owner was cited just hours later. The Artful Dodger, formerly located in the middle of downtown Harrisonburg, opened
its doors in 1992. The restaurant was widely known for its versatility. “Coffee shop by day, club by night,” says the business’ website. It was voted the Shenandoah Valley’s Best Dance Spot in 2018. The Dodger’s events included drag nights, salsa dances, Two-Dollar Tuesdays, Throwback Thursdays, open mic nights, and art gallery openings. “I spent such an obscene amount of time there,” said Caleb Townsend, a former EMU student and Artful Dodger employee. “The Dodger closing is such a bizarre feeling because it means so many things to so many people ... It felt more like a living room than an establishment at some points.” Townsend pointed to the venue’s front porch as one of
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REVIEW Th e We a t h e r Va n e
LAWRENCE TOPS THE R&B CHARTS
By KATE SZAMBECKI
My music taste is somewhat ridiculous. I grew up going to a bluegrass festival every year, my dad is a blues pianist, and my mom plays classical piano for fun. I’m not terribly picky; I like what makes me feel good. I rarely listen to something just for the quality of singing or instrumentation. When I heard Lawrence the Band for the first time, the hair on my arms stood up; I freaked out. I loved the sound, but the talent was just as phenomenal. Lawrence is a brothersister duo, plus six. They are self-defined as “soulpop,” and I see why. Their upbeat songs and lyrics have a pop feel to them, but the instrumentation — the riffs, the beats, and the phrasing — screams soul. Their new album, “Living Room,” is a culmination of all of these wonderful qualities. Gracie Lawrence is a powerhouse on vocals, and Clyde Lawrence’s smooth, raspy notes complement her perfectly. The rest of the band brings the total membership to eight, and each instrumentalist piece perfectly blends to complement Clyde and Gracie’s lead vocals. Living Room made #2 on the iTunes
R&B chart after its release, as well as having features on Spotify and NPR. I had never heard of the band until I was listening to my Discover Weekly playlist on Spotify. Gracie Lawrence’s voice pulled me out of my homework trance. It isn’t just that she has a good voice. She can perform. You don’t need to watch her to know that she is grooving and that she knows what she is doing with her voice. Watching her, of course, is a treat itself. Her energy is electric, and at the young age of 21, her style and movements are hip in contrast to her voice beyond her years. Clyde is no less talented. His piano riffs reminded me of my dad’s, the highest compliment in my book. They are jazzy, original, and surprising. His voice is very John Mayer-esc, and he uses it masterfully in harmony with Gracie’s. Their lyrics go from poignant, to uplifting, to fun and new. They are new pop singers with old souls, and they have the talent to pull it off. Their music can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, and much more, and they are performing in Charlottesville on Mar. 13 at The Southern Cafe.
GOOD TROUBLE
Continued from page 1
The show is fairly socially conscious, in keeping with the direction that Freeform, the television network, has taken. Callie clerks for a conservative federal judge, just as he receives a case in which a young black man is shot by Los Angeles police. This episode clearly makes reference to other recent, heavily publicized shootings. Callie has to weigh her own convictions that the officer is guilty, while interacting with her coworkers who are sympathetic to the police officer. Meanwhile, Mariana deals with being a young Latina woman in a workplace that proudy touts its diversity as a selling point while elevating young white men who treat Mariana awfully. This was the worst part of the show for me: Mariana’s young, entitled male coworkers are truly awful and made me want to throw something at my computer screen several times. Like many other shows of its style, Good Trouble does a good job of recognizing and portraying the influence that social media has in our lives. Text conversations are frequently, and more
importantly, not-awkwardly, portrayed on screen. Show writers emphasize the importance of Twitter in grassroots activism. In another heart-stopping scene, Callie loses her phone in a bathroom during a party as her judge repeatedly calls her. The show handles time in an interesting and surprisingly effective way. Episodes often start with the fallout of a specific event, then pan back to the inciting event. Rather than being distracting or disjointed, this technique keeps viewers engaged and has continued to capture my attention for several episodes. It is unfair to classify this show as time-wasting television unworthy of critical enjoyment. The show deals with many millennial-specific issues, ranging from hookup culture to new and challenging careers to family relationships in young adulthood. I found myself cheering as I watched these sisters gracefully and awkwardly bumble through recent adulthood. If you’re looking for thoughtprovoking, charming, and easily-consumable television, then this is the perfect show to pick up. My only objection is that I have to wait every Wednesday for a new episode.
MR. J’S BAGELS: FAMILY FRIENDLY AND LAID BACK By ANNA CAHILL
Mr. J’s Bagels is a restaurant within walking distance of EMU. With many different bagels, sandwiches, and drinks available, it’s easy to become overwhelmed just by walking through the door. This family-friendly restaurant already has Valentine’s decorations up to catch the eye in a laid back yet exciting way. The curtains on the windows offer a homey feel that adds to the relaxed and casual atmosphere. Last Sunday, a few of my friends visited this establishment located in the Food Lion shopping complex. Unlike the Mr. J’s on the JMU side of town, the Mr. J’s near Food Lion has a short wait-time and plenty of seating options. Sophomores Lindsey Histand, Tessa Waidelich, and I decided to stop by for a late lunch around 1 p.m. After feeling the stress that came from staring at the full menu most of us had never seen before, the three of us finally decided what we were having for lunch. Lindsey ordered the Bacon, Egg, and Cheese on a plain bagel and a strawberry smoothie for a total of $9.07. She enjoyed the sandwich but thought getting an
Bacon, egg, and cheese on plain bagel.
everything bagel instead would have been better. She was also upset because the bacon was only in the center of the sandwich, without crunch around the outside of the bagel. Her smoothie was good, but she mentioned how she had to continue to stir it to prevent it from separating. Tessa ordered Egg and Cheese on a wheat bagel and an order of home fries for $4.81. Tessa also enjoyed her sandwich; however, she said that the wheat bagel was too much. “It overpowers the rest of the sandwich,” she said. She also wished that they had used a cheese different from American. Despite paying the least out of the three of
Anna Cahill
us, Tessa felt the meal was, “overpriced.” Her potatoes were only red, and they were too salty. I ordered the Chicken Charlie on an everything bagel and a small coffee for $8.62. My sandwich had grilled chicken, mozzarella cheese, bacon, tomato, and ranch dressing. It had a lot of chicken, but the rest of the flavors were lost. It was a decent bagel, but it would have been better with hot sauce. My coffee was fine; it was plain but all right, much like my sandwich. Overall, Mr. J’s was a six. The food was pretty good, the prices were decent, but the flavors were bland.
NIGHT OF WORSHIP
First-year Glorianne Flores participates in Night of Worship activities.
By JEREMY BLAIN
Saturday’s Night of Worship was a great outlet for students who were looking to spend time with God and have some fun. The event took place on Saturday, Feb. 2 from 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. First, participants worshiped together through song, then they broke up into small groups to pray together. After worship and prayer, they played games, such as an intense version of charades. There was a make-
your-own pancake time, made in whatever shape students desired. First-year Eric Ocaranza reported that the Night of Worship was extremely fun. He hopes that Campus Ministries hosts another event like it in the future. He felt that it was perfect timing to host the event because it fell on Honors Weekend, so all the prospective students could be included. However, with Honors Weekend came other events,
Jeremy Blain
which affected the turnout that night. Still, students enjoyed the evening. Firstyear Glorianne Flores says, “I really enjoyed the fellowship we had between each other. I loved that we all got in a circle to sing together with the crowd and I felt really, really happy and blessed.” Thanks to ResLife, Celebration, and Campus Ministry for organizing the event that allowed talent from students all over campus to collaborate on some great music.
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SPORTS T h e We a t h e r Va n e
TONI DOSS MOVES INTO THIRD ALL-TIME IN WEIGHT THROW, LOOKS TO BREAK EMU RECORD By ELIZABETH NISLY
Senior Toni Doss has been throwing her weight around. The track and field athlete broke her PR in the weight throw for the second week running. Her new PR, 38 feet and 8.25 inches, launches her to No. 3 in EMU history. “I PRed by a whole meter,” Toni said. “It was just like, oh, that’s huge. That’s huge.” Everyone has their own pre-competition routine. For Toni, it is pretty simple. “You wake up and hope you don’t miss the van!” With a laugh, she continued, “I’m usually pretty nervous, too, but I think with actually being there and starting it goes away. Then just basically you let it go and you just throw the thing.” Toni did not know what EMU’s weight throw record was until Saturday, when she PRed. Now she’s gunning for it. “When I found out what it was for indoor I was like, I can do this. I think the record is 13.93 meters and I’m at
11.79 meters, so I was like, I’m going to try to do this.” EMU’s track and field program has had coaching changes every year of Toni’s career. This has big effects for the throwers, who need their own specialized coach beyond a head coach. “Not having set coaches ... me and Justin [Odom] and the rest of the throwers were our own support group,” she explained. There is still no specialized throws coach, but Toni is
Senior Toni Doss
grateful for the support she feels from the new coaching staff. “Coach Cam [associate head coach Erick Camodeca] has made sure there are people who come support us if they’re not doing anything and that means a lot to me ... even though I don’t like them yelling,” she said, laughing. Head Coach Bob Hepler took videos from the throws practice to get feedback from an outside throwing coach. “I was like, that’s great!
Jeremy Blain
That’s great,” Toni said. “Having more feedback from people is really awesome.” Toni is majoring in digital media and photography, with a minor in art. She has big plans for after graduation. “I’m going to marry rich!” She paused, overcome by laughter. “That’s not really a goal ... because I don’t want to get married. I just want to continue to do photography and make enough money so I can get my own camera.” Toni is excited for her
Doss throws a weight at the Finn Pincus Invitational
Scott Eyre
team to excel this season. “I just want to see everybody getting better,” she said. “I want to see everybody hitting their top times. That’s all you can really ask for, is for people to do their best.” As for herself, she said, “My goals for the season are basically to continue getting better.” Coach Camodeca has seen Toni’s hard work in action. “Many times it is easy to talk about goals,” he said, “but not do the things to accomplish them. Toni has really committed to those goals by pushing herself like she never has in the weight room, conditioning, and overcoming mental blocks. It is exciting to see Toni improving every single weekend.” “I’m just trying to get close to the record,” Toni said. “I want to take a record. I don’t know when I decided that this is my goal, but I want a record.” And if she keeps advancing by a meter a week, it is only a matter of time.
DIAMOND ROYALS GEAR UP FOR NEW SEASON By BRI MILLER
The EMU baseball team has its eyes set on earning a spot in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference tournament in the 2019 season. The Diamond Royals finished with a strong overall record of 15-24, and 6-14 in the ODAC. A tough loss against the University of Lynchburg put them one game short of the postseason tournament. Though failing to qualify for the tournament, the young group of players laid the groundwork for this year’s roster. Senior Kyle Wilkinson described his feelings going into his last season as a Royal. Wilkinson said, “As a senior,
I want to finish this year on a high note. Whether this means on or off the field, I am happy that I got this experience. My time with these guys have been unforgettable.” After losing six seniors at the end of last year, the team is looking for leadership to step up and take control of the program. Assistant Coach Adam Posey said, “We will look to others within to keep a pulse on the team and help keep things going in the right direction.” Senior captain Zach Roberts said, “We have a good group of guys. We all get along and enjoy being together. This year’s team has worked hard up to this point, so hopefully
EMU 56-62 Randolph Tim Jones: 16 pts Travis Clower: 10 pts, 4 stl Tariq Caldwell: 13 reb EMU 75-85 Emory & Henry Tim Jones: 19 pts Sammy Thomas: 18 pts, 10 reb Travis Clower: 13 pts Women’s Basketball: EMU 53-76 Virginia Weslyean Chrissy Delawder: 13 pts, 7 reb Lexi Dean: 13 pts, 6 reb
the new players provide some quality depth and athleticism, giving us additional options going forward.” As the Diamond Royals travel to North Carolina Wesleyan College for their season opener this weekend, the team will have an opportunity to show their growth as an offensive threat. At bat, Sophomore Brett Lindsay has shown that he can be a serious threat at the plate in the league. Posey said, “He has a steady approach at the plate that extends beyond his years. He will mean a lot as a fixture in the lineup both in what he brings offensively and defensively.” In addition, hitters Zach
Roberts and Dan Scott will bring skill and experience into play. Both returning and new players look to Roberts and Scott for their leadership. “Zach and Dan are great players, teammates, and people off the field. I want their senior year to go off with a bang,” said sophomore Ray Tricarico. With early season injuries, the men will have to overcome some adversity. Junior Spencer Laitinen said, “Even with injuries, there is a new energy about this team. We all have the same goal and that is to win.” The team looks forwards to the first pitch on Saturday at 11 a.m. in N.C.
ROYALS RECAP
By ALLIE SAWYER
Men’s Basketball:
it will translate well once we start playing.” As many members of the team explained, the EMU baseball team is like one big family. Sophomore Jonathan Nagle added, “We all spend a lot of time together, either at practice, team meetings, lifts, or just hanging out. We get to grow together, and eventually, they all become brothers to me.” As they look to improve the program to propel the team into the postseason competition, returning players will also fix their gaze on some younger teammates. Posey said, “While we have a large portion of our team returning that played significantly last year,
EMU 53-81 Emory & Henry Lindsey Krisak: 10 pts Jess Washington: 10 pts Constance Komara: 7 pts, 5 reb Track and Field:
Toni Doss: 5th in weight throw (38’ 5”) Justin Odom: 5th in weight throw (34’ 3.5”) Justice Allen: PR in mile (4:40), 1st in 3000m (9:38) Derrick Chirinos: PR in mile (4:48) Abigail Shelly: PR in mile (5:43) Coy Jimenez: 2nd in 400m dash
Men’s Volleyball
EMU 0-3 Stevens Set 1: 25-14 Set 2: 25-18 Set 3: 25-15 Travis Abele: 10 ast, 4 K Hunter Taylor: 5 K Martin Pou: 4 K EMU 0-3 Stevenson Set 1: 25-14 Set 2: 25-12 Set 3: 25-18 Hunter Taylor: 8 K Travis Abele: 9 ast, 10 digs R.J. Ocampo: 4 K
Men’s volleyball team huddles up against Stevens
Eric Ocaranza
theweathervane.org
February 7, 2019
6
OPINION T h e We a t h e r Va n e
EDITORIAL: OPINIONS SUBMITTED TO THE PAPER
By ALLIE SAWYER
Figuring out how to structure this editorial stretched me in a way that I had not anticipated. By publishing two opinion pieces under anonymous titles, we deviated from past practices. While our Constitution does not prohibit anonymous sources, it states that they should only be used in specific circumstances. The Constitution states, “[The anonymous source] should be used after consulting with the editor(s) only when it is clear that the source could be damaged by disclosure, the source is necessary for the story, and the story is necessary for the wellbeing of the community.” This week, I have wrestled with whether or not the “MLK Day Critique” that we recieved qualifies under those terms or not. My editorial is a reflection on that choice and the effects of granting anonymity to that piece. The following words are mine and mine alone. They do not reflect the thoughts of The Weather
Vane as an organization. When approached by a staff member who knew someone wanting to share an anonymous opinion, I was hesitant at first. I genuinely believe that people should be able to hold their opinions openly and do so without feeling guilt or shame. The opinions each of us develop come from our personal experiences and the contexts we are exposed to—we are products of our environment. Not only are we products of our environment, but we are often surrounded by people with similar ideas and backgrounds, which makes it next to impossible to truly understand a person and how their experiences have shaped them. For this reason, I felt that it was important to publish the “MLK Day Critique” article. The sentiment expressed is one that many people across the country share. The phrase “racist against white people” is one prevalent in media and its presence in our paper this week has hurt members of our community and made them feel isolated. It is a phrase that I am not accustomed to hearing in my circles at EMU, but I often hear extended family members of mine say things of that nature when I visit them. Most of my family is from Southwestern Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky, and one thing that I have noticed in my interactions with them is that there is a lot of specific
Editors-in-Chief Clara Weybright Allie Sawyer Front Page Editor News & Feature Editor Review Editor Sports Editor Opinion Editor Canvas Editor
Allie Sawyer Jenna Lile Lindsey Histand Adam Moyer Kate Szambecki Eric Ocaranza
Managing Editor Daniel Harder Copy Editors Anna Cahill Dallas Hetrick Jenna Lile Brandi Nelson Claire Waidelich Photography Editor Web Manager Business Manager Circulation Manager Faculty Adviser
William Ewart Elliot Bowen Douglas Nester William Ewart 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.
language surrounding racial equity and cultural diversity that they have never encountered. Many of them grew up working in rural areas, and the extended family I visit most often lives in a small, coal mining town in the mountains. I am often shocked by some of the language that they use, but I have to remind myself that they do not use it out of hate or the intention to harm. They just don’t have the context or experience to talk about issues of race and culture without sounding insensitive. If I had seen that phrase prior to Wednesday night, I would have insisted on our staff member or one of the editors sitting down to talk about how those words would turn away the group they were trying to reach. I was immediately worried because I did not want the author’s voice to get lost due to the choice to use those four words. However, I also did not feel it was my position to change their words. I truly want all students to feel comfortable sharing their opinions in The Weather Vane, but I also believe that every individual deserves to feel safe, and unfortunately, the opinions people hold can make others in the community feel unwelcome. In the instance of the “MLK Day Critique” and the convocation that prompted the reaction, two different parties were hurt. Cases such as this are what
We Want Your Letters! Hey, you! Yes, you! Do you have opinions? Do you like writing opinions? Did a Weather Vane article resonate with or frustrate you? If so, write a letter to the editor! We enjoy hearing your responses, and the more student voices we can include, the better. If you feel that you are underrepresented or that your voice is not adequately heard, tell us why in an opinion article of your own and send it to wvane@emu.edu. The editors reserve the right to edit letters for clarity and space.
a space such as the opinion page is for. It is a place that multiple voices can come together to hear and try to understand the needs of the diverse perspectives we have on campus. When deciding to move forward with publishing the piece, I held onto this phrase from it: “I desire to live in a world of love and equality….” As someone who also holds onto that dream, I am dedicated to creating a space to help foster a community of love and equality. In the future, I want to work more closely with students’ opinions on this matter. It sounds like everyone is on the same page in wanting to foster a caring environment. The next step
is finding a way to attain that. In order to facilitate a productive dialogue, I want to invite more opinion pieces from all sides of this issue and work closely with authors to write a letter that will be heard by the other party, instead of pushed to the side. Sharing one’s opinion, especially on a small campus, is vulnerable. Because of that, we lose a lot of the context that comes with the opinions of a person. By working more closely to act as a “translator” between groups, I hope that any hurt felt can be reconciled and that this will mark the beginning of a much-needed dialogue on campus.
anonymous articles. We recognize the dangerous cycle that this use of anonymity can perpetuate—unfair attacks on specific people, unproductive dialogue, and a deeper sense of hurt for many. Nearly all credible news sources choose not to grant anonymity to opinion writers, especially as freely as we did last week. Earlier this year, The New York Times entered this conversation when it chose to publish an anonymous opinion piece published by one of Trump’s senior staffers. If even large, respected news sources are grappling with these issues, we recognize that it can be hard to determine a “right answer” in instances like these.
We also recognize that students have a variety of reasons for wanting to remain anonymous on the opinion page. We know that it takes courage to state an opinion for the whole campus to read. Sometimes personal safety is at stake. We hope that this is not the end of our conversations. We continue to welcome opinion pieces from students coming from all perspectives and experiences. The Weather Vane continues to affirm its intention of making this space safe for everyone. If you feel strongly about any topic, we welcome an article from you. As a body of editors, we believe that The Weather Vane is capable of holding a diversity of thought, while affirming the needs of an entire student body.
EDITORS’ RESPONSE: ON GRANTING ANONYMITY
By THE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
The last week included a number of conversations about the nature of journalistic discourse on EMU’s campus. We, as editors, have been grappling with questions regarding anonymity, safe spaces, and inclusion of voices. We want to publicly acknowledge that we made a journalistic error when we chose to grant anonymity last week. Before publishing, we considered our decision and believed that we were contributing to a culture of conversation on EMU’s campus. However, after many conversations with our advisor, fellow students, and editors of college newspapers of a similar size, we can conclude that the opinion page that week was not the space to include
theweathervane.org
February 7, 2019
7
OPINION T h e We a t h e r Va n e
LETTER TO ANONYMOUS MLK DAY AUTHOR
By MAYA DULA, REBECCA YUGGA, and AKIEL BAKER
Dear Anonymous, We’re all the way in Guatemala for our cross cultural, and we were happy to see responses and dialogue about Martin Luther King Jr. day. However, we were deeply saddened and frustrated by the opinions in the piece which critiqued the convocation speaker. For us, it is not possible to separate politics from the milestones of Martin Luther King Jr., how he “changed the future indefinitely,” and the gospel. King was a political man, and his theology was profoundly political. He fought for civil rights, he was strongly against the Vietnamese war, he was labeled a communist, he critiqued capitalism, and he was against Israel’s occupation of Palestine. All of these political positions came from his theology and commitment to the Gospel. Why would we take Martin Luther King Jr. Day to only talk about what he did and not the
racial problems of today? To talk about racism in this country is political. It always has been and always will be. We, like King, understand the gospel to be about Jesus and the good news he brought. That good news is one of love for all, a command to love God and love others as yourself. This command is political in exercise because our political systems have determined some groups disposable and less valuable. How do we love—working for justice, equality, and equity and standing with the oppressed—without being political? Reverend Sekou said, “In fact, every time black folk walk in a room, white folks ought to stand up and give a standing ovation that we haven’t burned the whole country down.” We have to agree. What he said right before this was how mothers and fathers were taken from their children during slavery. Please take note that we live in a world of white privilege. The hardship
and oppression faced by many black Americans is monstrous. We have systems of mass incarceration for black and brown people, the school-to-prison pipeline, the poverty cycle, different standards for education throughout our country depending on how much money you have, redlining, the inherited wealth of your family depending on if you could get or buy land which was withheld from African Americans, and the fact that the Tuskegee syphilis experiment even happened to give context to his quote. These things happened because our government, communities, and churches were complicit in addressing harms done to black and brown people. The long-term harms continue to impact us today. In regards to the speaker’s comments on white people being racist, we want to once again put the comment in context: First, he talked about how Martin Luther King Jr. was not perfect; in fact, King was sexist.
But the speaker went on to say, “Your contradictions do not disqualify you from struggle. In fact, they mandate you struggle even harder. Part of acknowledging your contradictions is [acknowledging] the ways I am sexist and misogynist and homophobic and patriarchal. There is no question about it ... it is one of my suspicions of men who say they’re feminists. It’s like white people who say they ain’t racist. I just don’t trust them.” We must acknowledge all the ways we have privilege in this world and that this privilege inherently produces a kind of blindness, especially for white people, that clouds our vision of the truth. All people must acknowledge the stereotypes and prejudices they have because of their various privileges. Reverend Sekou said, “We are all fallen.” With this knowledge of our humanness and our flaws, white people should attend anti-racist workshops
just as straight people should attend anti-homophobic workshops and so on. At EMU, all should receive an education that will prepare them for the greater world, and if cultural competence is not necessary, then EMU will continue to lose persons of color because we are not treated humanely by persons who have no idea how to interact with persons of color. It must be acknowledged that at EMU, students of color are being driven away. We see black and brown students slapped on the covers of pamphlets and advertisements, yet students of color are not coming back to EMU partly because of not enough support for people of color. How does a person of color experience race at EMU? Do you still see that “captured” smile that’s advertised? The barber shop and having Martin Luther King Jr. Day off for a day of service and education are examples of starting to support the diversity that we advertise.
this perfection. Traditional conservatives see major problems with these lines of thought. While they agree that the declaration’s ethos creates a goal for governance, they would see attaining perfection as impossible because of human Nnture. Edmund Burke, Maistere, Pope Leo XIII, and other conservative thinkers saw human nature as a mixture of our good and bad traits. People are good and made in the image of God, but have this sinful nature because of the fall of man. Thus, they would contend that perfection is impossible, and that frankly all of humanity has made errors, albeit to varying degrees of severity, but the point still stands. A traditional conservative cannot legitimately hold an official to such a lofty standard that something from decades ago disqualifies them from office. People
are to prone to errors or mistakes. If such a standard is held, then all in some form would be deemed ineligible. To be clear, there is a big difference between a historical scandal, and a scandal while in office. An official who misuses an office or shows poor conduct while in office should face the consequences deemed appropriate: impeachment and removal from office. However, a historical scandal is much different. Because of the complexity of human nature, the fact that people change over time, and the fact the controversial matter took place ages ago make such a transgression an imperfect reflection of the current man. The man of 1984 is not the same man of 2019. If we cannot trust officials to have changed from decades ago to conduct their office with the best of their ability, how can we expect felons to ever become
worthy of regaining their voting rights? How can we expect our fellow members of the community to ever be worthy of leadership? That being said, I am not stating any historical scandal is irrelevant or should be swept under the rug. How an official handles such allegations is important. If they deny the scandal and they are proven wrong, they are being disingenuous. They are not showing remorse but rather their insecurity over prior actions. They would rather cover themselves than admit their humanness— something we need more of our politicians to show. However, if the politician admits their errors, takes responsibility, and shows how they have grown since then, I see no reason why a scandal from the 20th century should bear much weight on a governor’s legitimacy today. Because of our
humanness, we need to give each other some slack. This does not mean we look the other way when someone does something wrong, but rather that we recognize people come from different places and have their own battles with their human nature. Just because we live in a society that is progress and perfection - oriented, does not mean that we place impossibly high standards on an office. That merely institutes a new elitism that bars many from ever serving their communities and their country. People have made and will continue to make mistakes. Ralph Northam is no different. If ancient events can end political and entertainment careers, then we are subscribing to a life of fear for all of humanity, especially if people ever want to run for office in the age of social media.
wait until senior year to be allowed to live off campus. Many students disagree with the requirements and complain about how expensive it is to live on campus. A semester of room and board is $5,580 and for the entire school year it cost $11,160. Looking off campus for housing I have found that it is almost half the cost of the university’s
room and board. It would make attending EMU more attainable to students because of the difference in cost. Compared to James Madison University (JMU), EMU’s requirements for off campus living are unreasonable. JMU students are allowed to live off campus after their first year, while most EMU students
have to wait until junior or senior year. The big question is, why are EMU students restricted from living off campus before our junior year? I would like to know the reason that EMU has these requirements, because living off campus could be beneficial to the students. Off-campus housing can help students with the cost
of college, independence, maturity, and a sense of responsibility. Living on your own and is an essential part of adulthood. Being cared for and watched constantly on campus is not the same thing. The rules should be revised for the welfare of the students by giving them the choice to live where they want or need to.
HUMAN NATURE VERSUS THE ENLIGHTENMENT Continued from page 1
of the declaration’s signing, many Americans ascribe to the Enlightenment’s ideals. One of these ideals promoted by Kant, Condorcet, Voltaire, and others was that as reason spread through society, humanity and people will continue to progress physically, intellectually, and spiritually, with no limit The logical end of the Enlightenment is that humanity will eventually reach perfection. This results in high expectations of our governing officials and results in arguments akin to “we’re in 2019” or “society is too modern for [insert behavior here].” A historical scandal looks bad to those who follow the Enlightenment because then the official in question seems to be stuck in a more primitive past, making errors that deem him or her unfit to lead society towards
EMU’S ON CAMPUS LIVING POLICIES OUTDATED By MCKENZIE VANHANDEL
EMU’S off-campus living policies lately have elicited a lot complaints lately. To be allowed to live away from EMU’s campus, students must have at least 60 credits, be 21 years old, or be considered a commuter, if they live in a 50 mile radius. This means that, as students, many of us have to
theweathervane.org
February 7, 2019
8
CANVAS
A day in the (chicken) life Look a bug mine no mine no mine no mine where did the water go? oh there like before was that rock there a second ago? let me go peck it WAIT a bug mine no mine no mine no mine let me peck that rock whose egg is that? oh its gone hi people hi person what’s that thing in your hand it’s shiny it’s no no no DON’T TOUCH ME I’m running away now look how fast why did Helen’s head fall off wait what’s happening I forget why I ran oh, hi person hi
Ode to my Butt Oh! hallowed hindquarters, capacious caboose how you flap when I walk, both your cheeks hanging loose how you groove, gently wiggle, like gelatin pie, and the smooth curving slope where the butt meets the thigh… Oh! I love how you fill up the largest of pants how you make me look good when I’m trying to dance. My glorious gluteus, deluxe derriere if I fall, then you catch me, a fine-cushioned chair. Some say you’re too large, my sweet bountiful buns but I think we both know they’re the envious ones. Oh! prolific posterior, undulant underplace I thank you for being a lavish home base.
10 pm Harvest Moon Out of the night a glowing on the horizon under starred night I cannot uncatch my eye from this smudge crimson haze rising over the valley ridge the moon dyed with pomegranate blood Our Lady Luna doused in red an unbroken yolk resting on the mountain crest I look away but am drawn back by the waning gibbous burned into my eyelids
T h e We a t h e r Va n e
Virginity /vәr’jinәdē/ the state of never having had sexual intercourse riding to pride in the back bucket seat of a mom van a question comes from shotgun do you remember what clothes you were wearing when you lost your virginity? stories spill as I muse over mine I– I think I remember high waisted floral shorts olive green crop top but as lesbian music filters through speakers how lucky you are how lucky to be you how lucky I’d be to walk a mile in your shoes I second guess was it really – how – what exactly – did that – the technicalities of my purity do not fit on your preprinted olive oil labels (extra virgin? probably not) for when I had sex for the first time the regulations weren’t written for situations involving two vagina-owners (only) an evaluation of my worth and respectability and cleanliness and value and personality and status and experience and appeal and attractiveness all fit snugly into an archaic outdated patriarchal objectification a subjective concept I am subjected to without the power to reject shamed in losing an abstract illusion too late or too early deciding who did it “wrong” and who did it “right” With so many contradictions stapled to my soul I cannot see my own merits ripping them off I arrange them to spell ENOUGH and continue singing along to lesbian music in the back bucket seat of a mom van on the way to pride
“Ode to my Butt” and “A Day in the (chicken) life” were written by junior Elizabeth Nisly.
“10 pm Harvest Moon” and “Virginity /vәr’jinәdē/ the state of never having had sexual intercourse” were written by junior Anali Martin.