The Clarion, Vol. 80, Issue #7 - Brevard College

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The

Clarion

Volume 80, Issue 7

Web Edition

www.brevard.edu/clarion

SERVING BREVARD COLLEGE SINCE 1935

Follow us on Twitter @BCClarion October 8, 2014

Senior applies for Fulbright National Geographic Digital Storytelling Fellowship

By Kara Fohner Editor in Chief

Michael St. Marie, a senior Integrated Studies major specializing in Graphic Design and BORG, has applied for the Fulbright National Geographic Digital Storytelling Fellowship. St. Marie hopes to use this grant to sponsor a trip to Uganda. Once there, he will use photography, his chosen medium, to raise awareness about the jigger, a parasitic arthropod that is known to burrow into exposed skin, where it will eventually lay and hatch eggs. St. Marie originally traveled overseas in 2011. Since then, he says that he has spent two months in Kenya, three weeks in Ethiopia, one month in Zambia, and over the course of several years, roughly two months in South Africa. “I’m proposing to tell the story of jiggers in Uganda, because it’s a huge factor in people’s lives,” he said. “People are really ashamed of having jiggers. They don’t talk about it.” Parents, out of shame, do not even speak about jiggers with their children. While they know how to remove the fleas, they likely will not pass on their knowledge because they are embarrassed to even acknowledge the problem. Removal, says St. Marie, is as easy as cutting the jiggers out with a safety pin, but the longer the infestation lasts, the more the jiggers multiply. “There was one family that came in, and the kids had close to 500 jiggers on their entire bodies. There were four kids; each of them had hundreds and hundreds of jiggers.” Their mom, however, only had nine, as she knew how to cut them out. “That’s where it’s a social problem,” St. Marie said. “As a whole, it’s not a life-threatening issue, but it affects all areas of life. It affects education and occupation, it affects social life.. you can’t go and play soccer if your feet are full of little bugs that inhibit you from walking or running. It’s about quality of life.” St. Marie has been working for Sole Hope, a non-profit organization dedicated to education about jigger removal and the destigmatization of the condition. Now, he hopes to travel to Uganda again in May, where he will spend the first three months of this project working with the MICAH initiative (Mission for Civic Awareness and Health), which is based out of Uganda Christian University. MICAH will send students from different areas of public health and public administration into rural areas to collect data on jigger patients.

“It’ll be the first comprehensive academic research on jiggers in Uganda. I’ll traveling with these students, going to the villages, talking to people and interviewing people—trying to get a view of how this affects people’s lives in the country,” St. Marie said. The next phase of his project will be spent comparing the perception of jiggers in an urban setting to the perception of jiggers in a rural setting. These comparisons, the data collected, and St. Marie’s interviews will all contribute to the third phase, in which St. Marie will create infographics to help raise awareness. “It really feels like the stars are kind of aligning for this project,” he said. “It’s a good time because 2016 is an election year in Uganda. I think that there will be an opportunity for some attention to be drawn for this issue in the country and maybe get some long term solutions for this problem.”

Opinion 185 King Street a great local venue

The Clarion

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By Jonathan Furnell Staff Writer

Brevard’s 185 King Street is an awesome local venue for up and coming artists. Filled with classic music posters, vinyl, and a home-grown charm, the 1100 square foot building has a full bar, seating for 99 people, and a patio where the music can still be heard. 185 is located right by the old Brevard railway station, across from the lumber yard and art gallery. The building has a 1920’s electric player piano, a pool table, and couches and tables for seating. Behind the stage there is a large painting of Jimi Hendrix. Owner Jackson Wine wanted to create a space for local musicians and artists to perform. He said: “I want our members and guests to take ownership of this space and help us build the entertainment around their desires.” This past Saturday night, I attended the Rut & Sammy Show. The show was a jam session first acoustic, then electric.

Rutledge Leland, a BC graduate from 2001, was a music major. He played the mandolin and the guitar, and sang. The other part of the duo, Sam Marlow, is a current BC student and he played the guitar and sang. While there I ran into former BC religion and philosophy professor Preston Woodruff. Woodruff, who is good friends with Leland, stood in during the set for a few songs. At the beginning of the show, Leland had his young daughter come to the stage with a mini banjo and strum along to “This land is your land”. It was awesome to see the father and daughter relationship. Later on, more people filed in and Rutledge and Sammy began to jam. They played various selections including Willie Nelson’s “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys”. It was a rousing show with good musicianship all around. If you’re looking for a great venue for local music, 185 King Street is the place to go!

Theatre students exceptional in comedy double-feature By Kari Horan

Contributing Writer Despite my reservations about going to see the theatre’s comedy double feature, I was pleasantly surprised about how exceptional the BC theatre’s performance was. There were some directing and acting choices that I disagree with but for the most part the production was fantastic. One of the fantastic moments that really resonated with me occurred at the end of the first and second play, when they get ready to cut off George’s/Jorge’s head. The lights from the side of the stage cast the shadow of the man kneeling down to get his head cut off. The visual is extremely powerful, even more so then watching the action on stage. It gives the scene a more dream like quality. The acting was solid. One could see that all the actors had put work into developing their characters. I didn’t once see an actor drop from their character. However, there is matter of the over acting in “The Actor’s Nightmare”. I understand that this is to be a dream-like production; however, some of the actors went a little over the top on this

one. They committed whole-heartedly to being overly dramatic and while I respect the choice, it would have been more cohesive if all of the actors had been just as over the top as they were. There is one particular directing choice that I didn’t agree with, and that is the use of the catwalk. If the idea was for John Pate not to be seen and just heard then it would have worked, however in combination with Josh Goldstein sitting in the middle of an aisle and having a conversation with him, it wasn’t pleasing to look at. One reason is that you couldn’t see the expression of either actor and for another, craning your head up to see the actor hurts your neck. It wasn’t aesthetically pleasing. The sets for both productions were beautifully done. I especially liked the spinning set in “The Actor Wakes”. The transitions from scene to scene went smoothly. I would also like to acknowledge that Josh Runkles had to step in last minute as stage manager, and I think he did a fantastic job.

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October 8, 2014

An attack on all accounts At JP Morgan Chase, account holders fear hackers, question security By Arlan Perry Staff Writer

Over the past few months, the media has been filled with articles involving hackers, identify theft, and leaked nude photos. However, a scandal that has been kept quiet for the most part, is the JPMorgan Chase attack. In June, a cyber-attack on JPMorgan Chase began, but it has only come to light over the past few days. Over 76 million households of people, as well as over 7 million small businesses have been compromised. What some people don’t know is that much more then credit card information could be lost. JPMorgan is the largest bank in the nation, and has information that is much more important, ranging from names, addresses, email accounts, and account usernames and passwords for all cardholders. Members of JPMorgan said that there is no direct evidence that account information or social security numbers have been compromised, however it leaves the individuals who are account holders questioning if their financial safety. The hackers are believed to be from overseas, therefore making them much harder to be discovered by American authorities. Regardless of what information was taken, this shows how even the largest corporations in American can become victims to skilled computer hackers. JPMorgan’s Chairman and Chief Executive said “We’re making good progress on these and other efforts, but cyber-attacks are growing every day in strength and velocity across the globe.” Many members of the cyber security at JPMorgan have moved to other banks, and more will continue to do so. JPMorgan said that they were giving $250 Million annually to prevent circumstances like this from ever happening again. Many others are wondering if that is enough to make sure that their life earnings are safe. Maybe keeping your money underneath your mattress isn’t such a bad idea after all.

October 8, 2014

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Opinion

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Students debate YikYak

To ban

- or -

By Gabrielle Smith

Not to ban

By Alex Webster

Copy Editor

Staff Writer

So by now almost everyone on campus, both faculty and students, have contemplated the e-mail sent last week about the mobile app “Yik Yak”. For the few of you who don’t know what that is, Yik Yak is an app that allows you to anonymously post short blurbs that can be seen and commented on by people in your local area. Of course, the reason this is so controversial is because our school took the huge step of banning it from the BC domain. Now some of you may have questioned why the school took this step or even wondered why it’s such a big deal to begin with, and to that I say “look at the research”. Unsurprisingly, we aren’t the first school, or even the first collegiate level institution to take this step. Yik Yak made its first appearance in November of last year, and within 5 months earned 1.5 million dollars in funding, and over 100,000 users in 3 months. Basically, it was a hit. The idea was that college kids would have a place to post uninhibited commentary on “what really happens” on campus. You would no longer have to hide your crappy sex life, your hungover shame, or the fact that you didn’t study for bio, instead you yak about it. However, what started out as a good idea, quickly took a turn for the worst. Before I go any further, I’m going to give you a few statistics to give you an idea of what the bigger picture is here. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among college aged youths, resulting in around 4,400 deaths annually. More adolescents die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease, combined. People who are the victims of bullying are 2-9 times more likely to commit suicide, and 1 in every 3 people has been cyber bullied. Cyberbullying is defined as “the use of electronic communication to bully a person, typically by sending messages of an intimidating or threatening nature.” By now you’re probably thin king “I never threatened anyone”, however, the fact of the matter is that a lot of people do. Also, Yik Yak is known for having posts that are racist, sexist, homophobic, and demeaning overall. If you don’t believe me, I took the time to post some yaks from local schools that embody this type of behavior. “South Alabama kids are imbred and smell like moldy water.” “If men cared about the rights of women, women would have rights, because we have the ability to give them to you, we just don’t want to.” “Fat girls in leggings… Look like pigs in a blanket.” “Do internationals think American girls are whores???” “When did the term gay become LGBTQQIA?” “Sociology is teaching me that everyone hates black people.” Some of you might have read those and thought they were funny, but the fact of the matter is that they were all somewhat offensive. A lot of hatred is being spread over Yik Yak. People are using the app to sexually harass and prey on others. However, the overwhelming show of ignorance and immaturity isn’t the only issue. Recently, colleges have had to deal with students threatening the safety of others. In both New Jersey and Indiana students have been arSee 'To ban' on Page 5

Do you yak a yik, or do you yik a yak? It is quite a mystery which is the noun and which is the verb. I think you must yik a yak, but it’s a sensitive subject for a lot of people. Urban dictionary offers some quality insight in stating that Yik Yak is, “A mobile app college kids use to anonymously talk [bad] and post witty things to people nearby.” The founders of Yik Yak state that it is simply, “social messaging app for hyper-local engagement.” What exactly does that mean, and how do people misuse it? On a small campus, the application was used as it would be on other campuses, with mostly harmless fun with the occasional user needing to be removed from the site, but it hit harder to home. It’s much easier to deduce who someone is “yikking” or “yakking” about since there are less than 800 students. The anonymity was used more like a game of who could talk the biggest game, and if you could figure out who they were talking about. This created a big problem in places like the cafeteria and other large gatherings because it’s obvious when someone would say something harmful and point out “the girl with the red shirt and vans” or “the guy with the purple sweater and ripped jeans”. At a bigger university, there would be more people around that would fit that same description at any given time. The administration sent out an email on Sept. 25, stating that yikyak.com and its mobile applications would not be functional on the BC wireless network. This is the first time that a social network or any website comparable has been blocked from the network. The Acceptable Use Policy states that, “Harassment of other users may be the sending of unwanted messages or files. Violations include, but are not limited to interfering with the legitimate work of another user, sending abusive or obscene messages, viewing of materials that may be considered offensive in a public setting, and using computer resources to engage in abuse of other users.” Yik Yak isn’t an application that was invented to be used for bullyingthe website even says as much, deleting a user if they are reported for bullying or are using it inappropriately. The administration didn’t take any action aside from blocking the site. There was no warnings or suggestions prior to the cut-off of the social media site and application. There has not yet been any information released further about the issues and dangers of cyber bullying since the email that was sent out. Syracuse University in Vermont has also had Yik Yak banned from the campus. An article from “The Daily Orange” said, “The problem is not the anonymous platform, but the people on it. Universities should concentrate on the motivation [behind] offensive speech, not on limiting the platforms it appears on.” It is true that there are so many other forms of social media on which cyber bullying can occur, but blocking Yik Yak can be an effective part of a solution. It cannot be our only answer, however. If all that happens is that the Yik Yak craze at BC is over, that won’t fix the larger issue of cyber bullying in general. There needs to be some way to discuss the issue

See 'Not to ban' on Page 5

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News

The Clarion

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October 8, 2014

BC welcomes author, educator, and researcher Deborah Hicks Alumnus speaks on using literature, education, and digital story-telling to reach impoverished Appalachian community By Kara Fohner Editor in Chief

On Friday, Oct. 3, BC Alumnus Dr. Deborah Hicks was inducted into Brevard College’s Gallery of Distinguished Alumni. Following the ceremony, Hicks spoke to students, faculty, and fellow alumni in Scott Commons about the work she is doing as a part of her position as a research scholar at Duke University. In 1998, Hicks earned a Doctorate in Education and Human Development from Harvard University. She is now executive director and founder of PAGE, the Partnership of Appalachian Girls’ Education. Originally from Rosman, NC, Hicks is familiar with the challenges that face Appalachian students. She was 17-years-old when she arrived at Brevard College. “I was a working class girl. I very naive. I knew nothing about college, nothing about how to get ahead, how to climb the ladder, anything like that,” said Hicks. “Coming here really opened a door of opportunity for me. It opened my eyes to the world of books and learning and just asking questions, and I liked it so much that I just kept on going. I came out with the title of researcher in education, and ended up getting a couple of university teaching jobs.” Hicks taught at the University of Cincinnati, which is located close to the Kentucky Border, from 1998-2009. There, she discovered what is now commonly referred to as Urban Appalachians, remnant of a population shift from the South to the North that occurred during the 1940s, ’50s, and ’60s. “Over 3 million of them moved from places like Kentucky and West Virginia to look for meaningful jobs in cities like Dayton, Akron, Chicago, and Cincinnati,” Hicks said. “When I discovered this significant Appalachian community in Cincinnati, I really wanted to teach. I wanted to roll up my sleeves and go into the classroom.” After locating a school in one of the most impoverished Urban Appalachian communities, Hicks says that she approached administration and volunteered her services as a literacy teacher. There, she formed a relationship with a group of young girls in one second grade classroom. Midway through their third-grade year, she asked them whether they would like to have a class of their own, where they would read books and discuss topics that were meaningful to them as girls. “We met every week and over the summer for four years,” Hicks said. “It really was, for me and for this group of seven girls, a kind of coming

together, a kind of sisterhood.” Hicks led her small band of girls in the reading of literature, which they connected to their lives through critical discussion. As time progressed, they established a space where the girls could tell their own stories. “It taught me about what education can do in terms of critical thought, critical thinking, and critical expression,” she said. “Their lives were very complicated.” One student, Claire, an avid reader at age 10, had lost her mother, “not to death, but to the streets,” as Cincinnati, like many Appalachian communities, had a severe prescription drug problem. “It wasn’t just the kind of usual thing that educators say nowadays. It was deeper than just skills alone. It was really creating an opportunity for girls to think about themselves in ways they would never have imagined and to imagine worlds they never would have imagined.” Hicks returned to NC when her group of girls entered sixth grade. She had realized in the wake of her experience in Cincinnati that she wanted to create a nonprofit to help young girls from rural communities improve their literacy, critical thinking, and leadership skills. “I did something brazen and probably very illadvised,” she said. “I quit my job.” Then, she drove up and down the mountains, searching for the economically distressed communities that are secreted in the valleys and off the twisting backroads in Appalachia. She decided to begin in Madison County, where she says that you still find severe poverty in working class populations who are living on the fringe, outside of the economy. “They’re coming from traditional farming families,” Hicks said. “Now their sources of livelihood and work have dropped out, including the tobacco farming industry and culture. Many have been left behind.” PAGE was founded, after a significant amount of research, in partnership with Madison County Public Schools and Duke University, and in 2010, PAGE established an intensive summer program for nine young girls who came, some by bus, from the communities of Spring Creek, Hot Springs, and Laurel. “Every summer now, I bring a group of very hardworking, very impassioned Duke undergraduates with me. They come out into the mountains to Madison County and they live for about nine weeks,” Hicks said.

Deborah Hicks

These students work to mentor the nine girls in literature, technology, critical thought, leadership, and more recently, digital storytelling. The girls in PAGE begin the program during the summer before sixth grade and return every summer up until ninth. “We’re trying to engage and capture their attachment to school and to learning during those critical years of middle school,” she said.” “For the PAGE girls, they would be the first in their family to finish high school,” Hicks added, noting that, in that area of Madison County, attendance of the rural students in the public high schools is at about 50 percent. PAGE works with the Appalachian Regional Partnership (ARC) to invite every eligible girl into the program. The ARC designates economically distressed areas, and Hicks hopes to be able to reach out to every girl who is in need. PAGE is in the process of applying for 50123 nonprofit status, and may eventually be formatted to run year-around. “Through teaching the girls in Madison County, we’re trying to achieve something that some people call ‘the girl effect,’ said Hicks. “If you invest in the education of adolescent girls, you have an impact on the whole community, because they grow up, they get an education, and then their children are educated, and then you start seeing wider change in the community.” Hicks’ most recent book, “The Road Out: A Teacher’s Odyssey in Poor America,” may still be available at the BC Bookstore.

October 8, 2014

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news

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Brevard College now offering test optional admission Brevard College is looking for students who match its commitment to hands-on, experiential learning. By offering prospective students a choice between a test optional or traditional application, Brevard more closely aligns its admissions policies with the College’s experiential mission statement and moves “fit” to the top of the list of

admissions requirements. This fall, Brevard College joins a growing number of top liberal art institutions, like Furman and Wake Forest, which offer test optional admission in order to identify their most suitable applicants. “As we choose each incoming class, our goal is to assure, to the greatest extent possible, that the

students selected for admission are a good fit for Brevard College,” said President David C. Joyce. “Numbers rarely tell a student’s whole story, and we believe this new holistic approach will open our doors even wider to talented and deserving students who will thrive in Brevard’s exceptional academic atmosphere.”

‘To Ban’

ognize their responsibilities to other individuals, to the College, to the state, and to society in general. Orderly, dignified expression and conduct are expected at all times. In protection  of  these  freedoms  the  College  must  establish standards of personal and group conduct known as the Honor Code  and  the  Social  Code.  Foundational  principles  of  academic  honesty,  personal  integrity,  tolerance,  respect  for diversity, civility, freedom from violence, and pursuit of  lifestyles free of alcohol and drug abuse are examples of these standards. “ (BC Student Handbook) The gist of this is that school guarantees us a safe environment free from intolerance, prejudice, and intimidation through means of the social code, which all students must adhere to. That being said, if someone filed a legitimate complaint to the administration about cyberbullying it would be viewed as a violation of the social code, and if enough people made complaints, then the administration would have to take steps to curtail that type of behavior. The First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States protects individual freedoms from

government interference. It does not, as a rule, protect individual freedoms from interference by private organizations, such as corporations or private universities. Private universities, such as ours, then are free, within the law, to define their own missions, which is shown with our social code. Our school has the legal right to ban you from using Yik Yak because you agreed to follow their social code, and the app has been deemed in direct violation of the terms set out by the code. I have to say that the action of completely blocking the app was a complete shock to me, but it also emphasizes how much this has affected the student body, since the admin felt they needed to take such drastic measures. The fact of the matter is, the administration felt the need to stop cyberbullying in its tracks before it progressed to the point where students felt the need take their own lives. At the ages of 18-22 you’d think that most of us would understand how to follow the age-old adage of “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” With all that in mind, my last words for readers would be to reevaluate your online presence because there is never real anonymity, and the things you do and say today, could affect someone else tomorrow.

putting a persons name that you’re discussing, and things like that. Just because the immediate problem is resolved, and BC cannot be held liable, doesn’t mean that the issue is solved.

There are decisions being made that heavily affect us and we have absolutely no idea. There is the thought that we can’t know everything or have a say in everything, but should things like

Cont. from page 3

rested for using the app to post terrorist threats to the campus at large. While there are security measures in place to block yaks that are viewed as obscene, but this is based solely off of user reports. In the case of BC, there has obviously been some communication between administration and students who feel as if the app is harmful. Having asked around, I got the feeling that a number of students weren’t happy with the things being posted. The app has been described as obscene and hurtful by a number of students. When you enroll in BC, you are basically agreeing to follow all the rules, regulations, and guidelines set up by the college, and one of those guidelines is the Social Code. The school has set up a code of ethics that is used to establish community standards and protect the general student population. “To  insure  these  freedoms  the  College  requires a community protective  of  free inquiry; respectful of  the rights of others; and  free  from  threats and intimidation.  In exercising  freedoms and in discharging the rights and obligations of citizenship, students must also rec-

’Not to ban’

Cont. from page 3

of bullying and the recent issues with proper handling of social media. People aren’t afraid to bully on Facebook and Twitter, with “subtweeting,” posting without

Help Rally for Breast Cancer Awareness By Ce’Ara Cannon Staff Writer

October marks the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness month, or what some like to call the “pink invasion.” During this month, all the stops are pulled out in an effort to raise money and awareness, while celebrating the survivors and supporting those suffering. Here are a few events in the surrounding area where you can show support: Every Weekend in October: Taylor RanchFest and Pink Corn Maze Come enjoy a 6-acre pink corn maze, haunted trails, live music, and even a kiddie-maze! Proceeds will benefit Mission Hospital and local cancer care. Sunday, Oct. 5: Party in Pink Party in Pink will be hosted at Scandal’s Nightclub from 7-10 p.m. Admission is $10 and proceeds benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Come show your moves for a good cause! Monday, Oct. 6: Pink in the Park Help raise money to provide mammograms to low-income women in Western North Carolina and to benefit Beauty Through Cancer as well as Ladies Night Out. The walk begins at 10 a.m. and registration is $25. You may register in advance or at 9 a.m. the day of the walk. Saturday, Oct. 27: Power of Pink MedWest Health and Fitness Center in Clyde, on a new, easier course. The Survivor/Honor/Memory Walk will start at 8:45 a.m. and the 5K Race/ Walk at 9:30 a.m. Registration for the 5k is $25 per person and $10 for the 1-mile Honor/Memory/Survivor Walk. .

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Arts & Life

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October 8, 2014

Netflix Spotlight: ‘Beginners’ By Michael Heiskell Staff Writer

Movie Review:

‘The Equalizer’ makes impact as fun action film By Michael Heiskell Staff Writer

Denzel Washington gives another strong performance in one of the years better action movies. “The Equalizer” is a fun film for action movie fans. Based on the television series by the same name, “The Equalizer” places us in the world of Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) who is a man that no one would ever suspect of being anything more than he shows. With a small apartment, minimum wage job, and an uninspired future, Robert seems to be in a stationary state in life. But when a girl he knows (Chloë Grace Moretz) is beaten brutally by the Russian mob, his past starts to remerge. With a powerful enemy (Marton Csokas) in his path, Robert McCall must show who he really is. The Equalizer caters to a certain crowd. Action movie junkies are likely to find many of the themes and moments that they would be hoping for from a good action movie. With that logic, “The Equalizer” is quite good. For an action movie, it aces all categories and goes above and beyond what a lot of action movies do. However, it also falls into some of the clichés that come with the territory. For instance, a classic cliché of the action movie has the hero walking in slow motion away from an explosion. It’s not like we’ve ever seen that before, right?

But cliché or not, “The Equalizer” is just a really fun movie. Denzel Washington does a good job and always provides a charismatic lead. It is stylishly directed by Antoine Fuqua, a director who previously worked with Washington on “Training Day”. I’m not saying that this movie is necessarily a “great movie,” but there is something to be said for a movie that excels in all major categories of its genre. It’s an action movie through and through; it just turned out to be a much better action movie than expected. While it it did have its flaws, as most if not all movies do, Chloe Grace Moretz is a talented actress to be sure. That being said, I didn’t get the feeling that she was right for her role. She seemed uncomfortable and out of place, and I think the film would have benefited, perhaps, if she had been switched out for someone else. Not a knock on Moretz, just a casting issue. That being said, all the other actors and actresses performed well and I don’t have any major complaints in that department. “The Equalizer” is a fun movie for action movie fans but doesn’t provide much else for others. I would award this movie 4 out of 5 stars simply because it did what it set out to do with style and poise. I would recommend this movie to be seen in theaters, but it is not a“must see” unless you absolutely love action movies.

“Beginners” is a beautiful story told in a nonlinear narrative structure about love, death and family and learning to accept them for who they are. “Beginners” tells the story of Oliver (Ewan McGregor) who, shortly after his mother’s death, finds out his father is gay. After years of obligation to his wife, his father Hal (Christopher Plummer), decides after her death to finally live the life he wanted. Told in a series of flashbacks and broken narrative, the story follows Oliver as he learns to see his father love and pass on, and learns to find love of his own and move forward. Ewan McGregor and Christopher Plummer play father and son so naturally one starts to consider the possibility of a distant relation. More so, this speaks to talent level and dedication of these excellent actors. Mélanie Laurent also does a great job as McGregor’s love interest, who has a damaged relationship with her father. The chemistry between McGregor and Laurent is palpable and utterly believable. In my opinion, these are two very underrated actors. Christopher Plummer won an Oscar for his performance in “Beginners”. He was the oldest actor to ever win an Oscar at 82. Personally, I feel that Plummer’s Oscar was not the only Oscar that this film should have won. It should have at least received a nomination for best original screenplay. That is neither here nor there, but it does speak to the level that this script reaches. Based on the events from the life of writer/director Mike Mills, the script flows perfectly and the characters absolutely feel authentic. It feels more like we are getting a glimpse into real life rather than watching people behind a camera. Most importantly, “Beginners” shows how easy acceptance can be, and that the cycle of intolerance and prejudice can end with anyone, as it did with Oliver. He totally accepted his father for who he was, something his father had been scared society would be unable to do. Love is love, regardless of how others perceive it. This is arguably the base moral of the story, or at least the driving point. It's about the search for love and the emotional and social barriers that can rise betweent wo people. So in that aspect, this isn’t just a really good film. It is also an important film. Filled with fantastic actors and a beautiful script, I would give the film 4 ½ stars out of 5 and a recommended must watch.

October 8, 2014

| The Clarion

Sports

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Season reaches turning point By Sam Marlow Sports Editor

Photo courtesy of Sam Marlow

The BC Football Team once again faced insurmountable odds as they took to the field against the #6 Lenoir-Rhyne Bears, who still remain undefeated and are aiming at the DII National Championship. The potent Brevard offense was stifled by the disciplined Bear defenders and were unable to put any points on the board until the second half. Jordan Ollis still managed to plow his way to 129 yards, on 22 carries Photo courtesy of Sam Marlow and a touchdown. Quarterback Kevin Herbst, went 4-4 for 28 yards in the air, including a 13 yard touchdown strike to Kelvin Jeeter, in an attempt by the offense too close the scoring gap left after the first half. The BC defense has been unable to plug holes all season, and Lenoir-Rhyne exploited the defense throughout the first half, continuing Fatima Gharachorloo and Erin Barr both tallied this trend . But, in true Tornado fashion, the team a double-double in the match. Aleks Vrvillo had never stopped giving it their all and made some a standout performance, leading all players with exciting plays. Modzelle Atkins intercepted a 36 digs, placing her 3rd all time for total digs in Lenoir-Rhyne pass deep in BC territory and a match. danced around scanning for an opening until he The match against LMU was also controlled by was stopped as he turned up field. the opponent’s strong offensive performance. RaLinebacker Michael Gruber continues to be chel Ruble led BC with 11 kills and 2 blocks, but a bright spot in the struggling defense, making it was not enough to hold off the Lady Railsplit19 tackles; meanwhile, Jason Nieradka snagged ters. Also, Vrvillo had another record breaking 11 tackles against the top notch Lenoir-Rhyne performance despite the loss. She set the school offense. record for digs in a three set match with 27 digs. This was the most one-sided loss of the Her standout play this past week has helped her season for BC, but much can be attributed to the gained the top spot in digs per set in the conference, and placed her 19th overall in D2. preparation of the Bears. Lenoir-Rhyne came to The Tornados draped a No. 32 jersey over a Brevard prepared to play a highly competitive chair on the bench, signifying Brown’s jersey team and showed outstanding character and number. All proceeds from t-shirt sales at games sportsmanship. were put towards the “Meme Brown Fight Like a “Judging by how our (Lenoir-Rhyne) boys Girl Scholarship Fund”, which provides a scholplayed today and how tough you (Brevard) have arship for a Starmount High School volleyball played DI Opponents and Carson-Newman, player and funds research for ovarian cancer. we feel good about our chances at the title,” a The Tornados raised a total of $544 that will all Lenoir-Rhyne Assistant Coach said. go towards the fund. This week the Tornados travel to Mars Hill, BC was the first collegiate volleyball team to hopefully a turning point in the season. Until now support this cause. In regards to Brown, Raye said, BC have been tremendous underdogs; next week “I want her to be remembered forever—for more the team expects to win, despite having odds still than just volleyball.” Just because the month of stacked against them. For the first time this year, September is over doesn’t mean the Tornados will I truly expect a Tornado victory come Saturday, stop playing for this cause. and oh yeah, a winning season.

BC Volleyball team raises awareness about ovarian cancer By Savannah Cox Staff Writer

The BC Volleyball team played for more than just a win this September. September was Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and the Tornados supported the cause in many ways, such as teal jerseys, t-shirt sales, and accepting donations at their teal game. Assistant coach, Jordan Raye, lost one of her closest friends, Meme Brown, almost 2 years ago after her courageous 4 year battle with ovarian cancer. Brown and Raye were high school teammates and friends. Brown went on to play collegiate volleyball at Lees McCrae for two years before complications from cancer prevented her from playing. Raye used Brown’s story to inspire the team for not only the teal game, but for the rest of their volleyball careers. While wearing the teal jerseys in honor of Brown and all of those fighting ovarian cancer, the Tornados found great success. BC beat Newberry College for the first time in school history, which was also the first back-to-back SAC win the Tornados have had since 2009 when they entered the conference. BC was unfortunately not as successful in weekend play. The Tornadoes eventually fell after putting up a tough 4 set battle to Carson Newman, who holds the top spot in the SAC along with Wingate. Despite 3 Tornados posting double digit kills, they were not able to balance the .204 hitting percentage put up by the opposition.

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Letters to the Editor

Re: "Sexual Tourism" by Ce'Ara Cannon Thank you for informing readers of the rise of sexual exploitation in Costa Rica resulting from the growing sex tourism industry. It is true that prostitution is legal in Costa Rica, but that many of the activities surrounding the industry, such as child prostitution and human trafficking, are illegal. The United Nations, the Costa Rican government under President Solís, and international organizations such as the Walk Free Foundation are highlighting these issues, but the problem persists. I would, however, like to make several observations about your article. First, while sex tourism is indeed on the rise in this country - Interpol recently named Costa Rica the fastest-growing capital for sex tourism in Latin America - it is also true that Costa Rica is not the only country in the region with such an industry. Honduras, Paraguay, Venezuela, Guatemala and Brazil, where there was great concern regarding the number of sex tourists who traveled to the country for the World Cup this summer, all have thriving industries. Sexual exploitation and human trafficking occur north of the border as well. While the PROTECT Act made it illegal in 2003 for U.S. citizens to travel to another country to have sex with a minor, it is estimated that 80% of sex tourists in Costa Rica hold a US passport, and that many of the trafficked persons from Costa Rica end up in the United States or Canada. The Walk Free Foundation estimated that 57,00063,000 people were enslaved in the United States last year, largely (but not solely) from sexual exploitation, including an increasing number of children. Meanwhile, Canada's slavery index stood at an estimated 5,800 people. I wonder why you chose to focus on Costa Rica rather than discuss increased sexual exploitation and human trafficking throughout the continent, in the United States or specifically in North Carolina. You mention that prostitution is illegal in "most countries." This, too, is an accurate statement, as the number of countries where prostitution is illegal (109) does just outnumber the 93 countries in which prostitution is legal, regulated, or where no laws exist. It is interesting to note, however, that prostitution is legal or regulated in every country on the American continent except four: French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, and the United States (minus Nevada). It should also be pointed out that Costa Rica is not unique in having transgender prostitutes working (or being forced into work) within the country. In Nevada, male, female and transgender sex workers can be found. In the Philippines, it is estimated that 70% of transgender youth have been forced into prostitution. As a side note, while Costa Ricans are tradi-

tionally socially conservative (Article 75 of the constitution states "Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman Religion" as the "official religion of the Republic"), much progress had been made in recent years concerning LGBT rights. In May of this year, President Solís defended his decision to raise a rainbow flag above the Presidential House for International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia by saying, "This is the house of all Costa Ricans. When we say all Costa Ricans we mean all, without exclusion, without violence, without harassment in absolute respect for the rights of each one." I want to thank you again for raising these important issues. I want to caution, however, that we also look at the issue of sexual exploitation in our own backyard before framing it as an issue of "the other." Best wishes, and keep up the good work with The Clarion Adam Beeson Cannon spent a semester in Costa Rica as a part of her minor in Spanish. This topic was not chosen randomly, but as a carefully constructed response to personal observations and information that she likely gleaned during her months abroad.

Compliments on ‘The Williams Effect’ I would like to compliment you on the informative and thought provoking article you wrote about Robin Williams and depression in The Clarion. Not only was the subject matter clearly stated, well integrated, and very relevant, but you also used figures of speech and the language exceptionally well. I majored in English at college and was an FBI hostage negotiator. The former helped me to appreciate how well the article was written; the latter how appropriate the subject matter. Stan Jacobsen Director of Safety, Security, and Risk Management Brevard College

Chaplain offers spiritual support to those struggling with loneliness, depression Thank you for "The Williams Effect: A Belated Funeral Song," an excellent article addressing a very important subject. Loneliness and depression are complex conditions, and quite often include a spiritual dimension; so may I call attention to an additional BC resource for students, staff or faculty

The Clarion

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October 8, 2014

facing these problems? Yours truly, the College Minister. I offer a listening ear and a hope-filled heart, as one who has weathered both loneliness and depression myself and has found solace, courage and life through my faith. My office is located (quite fittingly) in the Stamey Wellness Center. I welcome drop-ins (Mondays and Wednesdays), and appointments. My email address is: [email protected]. Rev. Christine Maddux

Editor's Note: Thank you all for your responses. It is exciting to know that readers have been inspired to contact us regarding our articles, and we hope that you will continue to do so. We do, however, request that you speak with the editors, rather than the student, if you have questions or concerns about a story. Furthermore, if you would like to air a personal dispute, please e-mail me at [email protected]. We formally request that you do not contact writers directly about their articles, as the content published in this newspaper is the responsibility of the editorial staff. I appreciate your consideration. Kara Fohner

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the the Clarion larion Senior Staff Editor in Chief . . . . Kara Fohner Managing Editor . . . Sam Blakley Copy Editor . . . . . . Gabby Smith Opinion . . . . . . . . Arts & Life . . . . . . Alex Webster Sports . . . . . . . . Sam Marlow Photography . . . . . Rachel Anthony Layout & Design . . . Michael St. Marie Business Manager . . Arlan Parry Faculty Advisor . . . . John B. Padgett Other Staff

Ce’Ara Cannon Joshua Cole Savannah Cox Jonathan Furnell Michael Heiskell Jule Hermann Amanda Higgins

Richard Liell Arlan Parry MacKenzie Samotis Jesse Sheldon Kevin Thompson

The Clarion is a student-run college newspaper produced by student journalists enrolled at Brevard College. Unsigned editorials represent the collective opinion of the staff of The Clarion. Other opinions expressed in this newspaper are those of respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the faculty, staff or administration of Brevard College.

All correspondence should be mailed to: The Clarion, Brevard College, One Brevard College Drive, Brevard, NC 28712, or send E-mail to [email protected] www.brevard.edu/clarion  Letters Policy: The Clarion welcomes letters to the editor. We reserve the right to edit letters for length or content. We do not publish anonymous letters or those whose authorship cannot be verified. E-mail: [email protected].