The Clarion, Vol. 83, Issue #15, Dec. 13, 2017 - Brevard College

The

Clarion

Volume 83, Issue 15

clarion.brevard.edu

Web Edition

A Tribute to Sweezy inside

SERVING BREVARD COLLEGE SINCE 1935 The silence was so clear in the white-filled night. The angels bowed in sorrow welcoming an unexpected child. The air, so calm as you passed through the sky, so bright as your soul ascended. Hush the souls; hush the tears; calm the fury; calm the fears. We lift you up through this beautiful descending snow with your laughter, this love, and your light. A light that is dimmed a shade now, but forever will shine through the grief, the hurt, and the loss.

1997-2017

December 13, 2017 Like this beautifully fallen, uniquely crafted blanket that illuminates the black of night. All of us are here, bowed in sorrow, sitting in the silence so clear. “Sweezy,” by Kirsten Lucas

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Campus News

Rakeem Sweezy

The Clarion

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December 13, 2017

Much loved student dies unexpectedly at age 20 By: Jordon Morgan, Calum McAndrew and Florian Peyssoneaux

“He always made me smile, no matter what kind of day I had. I loved him,” Dean of Students Debbie D’Anna said as faculty, staff, students and community members came together Saturday night to mourn the death of Rakeem Sweezy. From Shelby, N.C, “Sweezy,” as he was known around campus, was a much beloved student, resident advisor, theatre major and all around Brevard College enthusiast. He died in his dorm room in East Beam on the evening of Friday, Dec. 8. at the age of 20. As a first-semester sophomore, few students can say they have achieved more than Sweezy in such a short period of time. He was named freshman of the year in May 2017, was an active member of the Brevard College Theatre Program as well as the Campus Activities Board, and he became a resident advisor in his freshman year. More than all this, however, he seemed to have found a place in the heart of almost everyone at the college he loved. From the president of the college to first semester students, almost everyone has a Sweezy story, and many of these were shared at a vigil hosted in Sweezy’s memory on Saturday evening. Approximately 200 people attended the event in the Francis Pavilion of the Porter Center. The tributes came from every corner of the room. The floor was open in the Pavilion for people to share their stories and to grieve, mourn and celebrate this larger-than-life man. “He personified what Brevard College is, and what we hope folks get out of this experience,” said Brevard College President David Joyce. “This is the most difficult thing that can happen to a college community. He brought so much joy to every one of us.” Though Sweezy was just 20 when he died, campus minister Sharad Creasman spoke about the massive impact he had made in such a short life., “When some people’s lives end, it can feel as if they lived 100, or 1000 years,” he said. “You cannot walk around campus and find a place where you don’t have a Sweezy memory,” said fellow resident advisor Amanda McBriar. “He left his mark everywhere on this campus.” Some stories were nostalgic, and the memories seemed to pull on the heartstrings of everyone in attendance. Others amazingly had the entire pavilion in an uproar of laughter., none more so than political communications professor Ralph Hamlett, who told of his final encounter with Sweezy. “He came by my office, and gave me a bear hug, which he always did,” Hamlett said. “I said to him, ‘Wow, you smell good!’ He asked me, ‘What do I smell like?’ I told him, ‘Vanilla.’ He replied, ‘I did that for you. I just wanted to be your favorite dessert.’ “A more loving man, a more loving person, I have never met,” Hamlett said. Junior Emma Moore told a story about working with Sweezy. “Every time I walked in, I heard music, and it was always Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, or Tina Turner,” she said. McBriar echoed this memory, saying, “If you knew Sweezy, you knew the songs.” As the tales and stories came to an end, Creasman returned to the stage to conclude this portion of the evening. “In the midst of tears and grief, he sure has a peculiar way of making us all laugh,” Creasman said. “His life speaks loudly. His life speaks well.”

On Monday morning, President Joyce reflected on the vigil, and one moment seemed to stand out in particular to him. For Joyce, this would be the final moments of the vigil. “Sharad closed the prayer, and said, ‘Thank you all for coming,’ and nobody got up and milled around,” Joyce said. “Nobody moved.” Because of the profound grief that many on campus are experiencing, Brevard College is making extra counseling sessions available. In an email to the BC campus, Associate Dean for Students Dee Dasburg brought attention to this. “I want to make sure everyone is getting what they need, so please continue to be in contact with me,” wrote Dasburg. “I can bring in additional counselors as needed.” The need for counseling, and the palpable sense of grief all across the campus, is made all the more palpable by the questions raised by Sweezy’s untimely death, and the lack, so far, of any answers: What happened to him? And why? What is known so far is that Sweezy had visited a local hospital after experiencing stomach pains and dehydration earlier that week. According to Dean D’Anna, he was last seen at 2 a.m. on Thursday morning. He was found dead at 9:15 p.m. on Friday evening by fellow students, checking on him after he did not show up for residential advisor duties. Paramedics arrived at the college at 9.30 p.m. As of yet, the cause of death is unknown. An autopsy is scheduled in Wake Forest in the coming days, and campus figures have said they will make information available as it becomes possible. Details for Rakeem Sweezy’s funeral will become available at www.genesisfuneralservices. com/notices/Rakeem-Sweezy, but already family and friends have begun posting memories and condolences. Donations to defray some of his family’s funeral expenses can be made at www.gofundme.com/4uclz08.

Photo from Rakeem Sweezy’s Facebook

Above: Sweezy flashes his trademark smile for a selfie. FRONT PAGE: Sweezy, a theatre major, posed on stage in costume as Colonel Huggins in BC Theatre’s production of “There Is a War” in February. It was his first stage play at BC.

December 13, 2017 | The Clarion

Campus News

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BC becomes a winter wonderland The final day of classes also came with 10 to 12 inches of snow By Jeni Welch Copy Editor

Snow started early on Friday, Dec. 8 with initial forecasts predicting an accumulation of one to three inches for the Brevard area, but by noon on Saturday, the area was coated by anywhere 10 to 12 inches. The winter weather did not stop on Friday. Snow fell up until noon on Saturday, and snowflakes reappeared on Saturday night before temperatures in Brevard dropped down into the 20s and subsequently froze the snow over again. Friday was the last day of classes before starting finals on Sunday, Dec. 10. The semesterending snowfall echoed a similar pattern in January earlier this year when the first day of classes in 2017 had to be pushed back a day because of winter weather. Students involved themselves in snow-related activities like sledding, building snowmen and having snowball fights, while other students decided to stay inside. “I did play in it for a little while but not much since I don’t like the cold,” said BC student Ivy Pope. “It was relaxing to watch from the window.” Pope was not the only student to stay inside during the winter weather. “I didn’t play in the snow,” said BC student Alexis Henley. “But I watched people play. A group of students made a snowman outside my window and yesterday [Saturday] a group started making an igloo.” Though classes were not officially canceled, the winter weather did cause a number of

postponements and schedule changes. On campus the annual “Lessons and Carols” ceremony had to be rescheduled for Tuesday, Dec 12. A staged reading of BC students presenting their “Original 10-minute plays,” also had to be rescheduled for Tuesday in the Black Box Theatre. The weather caused the college bookstore, weight room and post office to close early on Friday. Henley said, “I used the time to relax, read and drink hot chocolate while the snow fell.” The snow-filled days came at the peak of finals stress and offered a chance for students to study and prep for exams as well as clear their minds and forget their stress, if only for a little while. “I didn’t use the time to study, but it did keep me indoors,” Pope said. WLOS and other weather forecasts had predicted a light amount of snowfall earlier last week. A strong cold front from the north moved down and combined with moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. This resulted in the northern upstate area of South Carolina and the southern foothills of North Carolina to receive a greater snowfall than the normal higher elevations. But where the weather was wrong happened in the estimation of the low-pressure moisture. The band moved further northern then originally assumed and left unpredicted amounts of snow. The band of weather did not only impact the Carolinas—snow fell in south Texas, in some places for the first time since 1987, and the system blanketed states from the deep South all the way to Maine.

Photo by Calum McAndrew

BC students enjoy a snowball fight while snow falls on Friday.

No further snow is forecast for the area, but the National Weather Service has issued a “Wind advisory” for 20-30 mph winds with gusts up to 55 mph for tonight in areas above 3500 feet.

Photo courtesy of Alexis Henley

BC students Arianna Ruiz, Jaylaan Prioleau, Ryan Brunette and Madison Ramsey (pictured) built a sixfoot-tall snowman outside the Sims Art Building.

Photo by Florian Peyssonneaux

Around noon on Saturday, BC students lowered the American flag to half staff in honor of Rakeem Sweezy, whose death the day before left the campus in a state of shock.

Campus News

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December 13, 2017

BC professor to run for Congress Steve Woodsmall hopes to face Mark Meadows in N.C.’s 11th

By Florian Peyssonneaux

Opinion Editor Brevard College business professor Steve Woodsmall announced last week that he will be running for Congress in 2018. Dr. Woodsmall is running for the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat in the 11th district of North Carolina. Due to the current political climate, and recent decisions taken by the Trump administration, Woodsmall thought that is was time to act, and wants to fix the system that currently benefits the politicians that are governing the country. When asked why he chose to run for Congress, Woodsmall said, “I learned early in my Air Force career that if you’re not part of the solution, you’re a part of the problem. We have huge problems in D.C, and I want to be part of the solution.” Woodsmall said that he will “be committed to Congress, and do the right thing for the people, and for the country” contrary to politicians who have their own self-interest in mind. The Democratic primary will be in May 2018.

Whoever wins the primary will go on to face the Republican primary winner, most likely Rep. Mark Meadows, in the general election in November. Meadows has represented the 11th district since first being elected in 2012. Woodsmall will be running as a Democrat, and because there are currently three candidates vyingfor the Democratic Party’s nomination for the 11th district House seat, his goal is to reach 40 percent of the vote in the primary so he could be elected directly without having to do a run off. Woodsmall also started an online funding campaign to finance his election, but he wants his campaign to be financed by small donations coming from “grassroot constituents,”,not millionaires or big corporations. The funds collected will be used to fund the congressional filing fee. If he is elected, Woodsmall has a some main ideas that he said he wants to develop. The first one is campaign finance reform. “I want to get the big money out of politics,” he said. “Our representatives should be concerned about those

Pancake Break!

they represent and not the multi-millionaire donors and corporations that strive to control our economy and our political system.” Another priority, Woodsmall says, is to create a fair tax system that works for everybody, not just the super-wealthy. “We must reign in the reckless policies that only benefit Wall Street and the financial institutions, especially the big banks,” Woodsmall said. “We need to simplify the tax code and level the playing field for lowto-middle income Americans, small businesses, and entrepreneurs.” Another issue Woodsmall wants to focus on is the environment. “I believe North Carolina’s environment is truly extraordinary and is something we must protect,” he said. “We must make investments in global clean energy and new technologies—America should be the global leader in green energy.” To learn more about Woodsmall and the issues he believes in, visit his campaign F a c e b o o k p a g e , w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / WoodsmallforCongress2018/.

the Clarion

Live music entertained BC students at the Pancake Break.

Senior Staff Editor in Chief . . . . Jordon Morgan Managing Editor . . . Calum McAndrew Copy Editor . . . . . . Jeni Welch Campus News . . . . Zach Dickerson Opinion . . . . . . . . Florian Peyssonneaux Arts & Life . . . . . . Jessica Wiegandt Sports . . . . . . . . Calum McAndrew Layout & Design . . . Jeni Welch Faculty Advisor . . . . John B. Padgett

Photo by Florian Peyssonneaux

Other Staff Amber Blanton Carmen Boone Amanda Heskett

Lauren Fowler Cody Manning Taffon Alexander

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.

President David Joyce and BORG professor Steve Woodsmall help serve pancakes to students on Monday evening at the finals week Pancake Break, a BC tradition.

All correspondence should be mailed to: The Clarion, Brevard College, One Brevard College Drive, Brevard, NC 28712, or send E-mail to [email protected] clarion.brevard.edu

 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.

Photo by Calum McAndrew


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A Tribute to Rakeem Sweezy

Rakeem Sweezy spent just three semesters at Brevard College, but in his year-and-a-half here, he touched many people’s lives. The Clarion invited readers to send us some of their favorite memories of him. Thank you to everyone who contributed a story or photograph, and we hope this compilation will bring a smile to your face amidst the sorrow of our collective loss.

Photo courtsey of Malynne Petoia

“We were all asked to be a part of this photo by the Brevard College sign. I didn’t know Sweezy personally at the time, but I knew everyone loved him! When I got to know him, I immediately understood why. “ —Malynne Petoia

Photo by John Padgettt

Photo by John Padgettt

Left: Christmas stocking left at the BC bell tower with other tributes on Tuesday. Right: Professor Ralph Hamlett speaking at the vigil for Sweezy on Saturday, Dec. 9 in the Porter Center.

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A Tribute to ‘Sweezy’

There is a collage of Sweezy images in my mind. The two that stand out are from the first time I worked with him and one of the last times I saw him. The first time he was struggling with a paper and learning to write in an academic voice. He was so serious and determined to learn to write this way. The way he spoke was naturally warm, intimate, and kind of jazzy, very different from a scientific paper, but he got it. It took him a solid three days in the library with total focus. He did not give up. The last clear memory is when he came in surrounded by friends and asked how I was. Well, I was tired and admitted it. He put an arm around he and pressed my head to his shoulder and said, “Oh, just rest your head on my bosom.” We all laughed until we had tears in our eyes. —Nancy Williard

—Malynne Petoia

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December 13, 2017

I love every memory I have with Sweezy. One of my favorites is last year, he would come up to campus life, and Sweezy, Gabby Mellendorf and I would have “sandwiches with Sweezy”—we’d just talk and laugh and eat Coltrane sandwiches in Gabby’s office. He was a good, genuine and funny man. He was always there if you needed him and I’m glad to have gotten to call him one of my best friends. —Amanda McBriar Sweezy took my academic skills class, Fall 2016. He was always smiling and full of energy. I could count on him to answer questions and bring life to the class. He credited the class for making a difference in being successful academically. He gave me more credit than I deserved as he would tell students, “I’m tellin’ you, listen to this woman. She knows what she’s talkin’ about!” I’ll miss his smile, his hugs, his genuine love and treatment of every person he met. —Shirley Arnold

Sweezy was one of the actors in the Brevard Theatre spring production last year, “There is a War,” and this is when I officially met him. I was the assistant stage manager, which meant I was backstage with the actors, with one of my roles being to be the one to have to tell people to “shh” when they were too loud, but Sweezy would always make me laugh and I would have to tell myself to “shh.” Sweezy always put a smile on my face. Except when we would see each other and glare at one another and roll our eyes, and he would say “F***in’ Malynne” and I would say “F***in’ Sweezy,” but we would always break our fake frowns and smile and laugh. Everyone loved Sweezy. And everyone knows how much he loved that “Cupcake” song! Oh Sweezy. We will love you always.

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This is a broad memory shared with a few people, but just a few weeks ago I went to NCTC with Sweezy, Lance and Brandon and Andrea from our faculty. We left campus at 4 a.m. and had a big bus ride there, with only one stop for coffee and snacks. The entire trip, even though we were sleepy, cranky and even a little hangry at times, Sweezy was nothing but his normal joyful self. He told us jokes, he made us smile, and most importantly he snored for the entire ride back. I am so thankful that I was able to spend this day with him and enjoy his presence in such close proximity, but I would be lying if I said this was my only favorite memory of him. I just have so many, as so many people have said, every time you saw Sweezy something funny, kind, or important unfolded. He will be so missed by our community, but I know for sure that our theatre company will never be the same. We will forever miss him, forever love him, and forever remember him. Rest In Peace, my Main Sweeze. —Sarah Haga

Photo courtsey of Beth Banks

Sweezy and his afternoon group coming back from the stream.

Photo courtsey of Lily Bartleson

“This is the only picture I have of the two of us together... I actually don’t remember the moment, but now I cherish it more day by day.” —Lily Bartleson

Sweezy worked for me at Campus Adventures this summer. He was the counselor for the 1st and 2nd grade group and helped with all aspects of the afternoon program. He was absolutely amazing with the kids! My son Charlie absolutely fell in love with him. Every time Charlie saw Sweezy on campus this semester he would run up to him for a big hug saying “Mr. Sweezy, Mr. Sweezy!!” All the kids at camp LOVED him! The TA’s LOVED him! He had plans to work for me again this summer. We talked about it a lot. Campus Adventures will not be the same without him. Brevard College will never be the same. He was such a bright light here on campus. At the Harvest Festival, my kids participated in a pie eating contest with him and my 12-year-old daughter Piper won! Sweezy was sad because he really wanted that gift card. I had plans to try to give him some kind of gift for Christmas to make up for it, if I could afford it. I felt bad she beat him because I knew he wanted that gift card. So I was going to try to surprise him. I’m so sad I never did. He always made me smile. Every time he walked past my glassed-in office he smiled and waved. He stopped by just to give me hugs. Even if I was sad or stressed, he could make me smile. I loved that guy so much, my heart hurts just thinking about the void that is left now. I am so happy my kids got to know him while he was here with us. He will be missed! —Beth Banks



Before I arrived in Brevard, I already knew of Sweezy and his personality. From pictures on our Life at BC Facebook page, videos that Gabby would send to me of CAB events and members, I knew all along of his strong and amazing leadership skills and all he was involved with. I was super excited to meet my CAB student leader “Sweezy.” I already knew I could count on him and to me he was the face of Brevard College. When I arrived on campus, he received me with a big hug and said, “I couldn’t wait to meet you!” We spent two month working together, laughing together, and I am so happy and blessed I got to meet him. He made my days brighter with his big smile. Wow! I will miss you dearly!!! —Le

Photo courtsey of Caroline David

“This was my first night on duty with Sweezy this year. I am a first year RA and Sweezy became an RA late in 2016-2017, so neither one of us had dealt with a full day of moving in freshmen before. Although we had laughed and worked side-by-side all day, we could not help but be exhausted as we tried to make it through the last hour of duty in the lobby. Its moments like this that remind me what great friends we became in such a very short time. We discovered a lot of commonalities in each other and developed a strong mutual love that I’ll never forget. Beam will never be the same. I will miss you forever Sweezy.” —Caroline David

I didn’t know Sweezy too well until after the peer leader retreat this summer before school started. I worked in the same group as him that weekend, and he always had us laughing until our sides hurt. He named our team “the Gowillas.” And then he’d make that “oww” sound at the end. I’m going to miss that. I wish I had more time to get to know him better. My heart hurts to see everyone hurting. He truly will be missed. —Haley Putnam

Photo courtsey of Heather Kirkland

“My first SOAR as an Admissions Counselor, and my last one with Sweez.” —Heather Kirkland

Once when Sweez was a freshman in the early part of his career here, I was sitting downstairs on RA Duty and heard a very loud commotion from the second floor lounge in Beam. The other RA’s and I bolted upstairs to investigate the commotion and upon opening the door we saw Sweez getting up from the ground. We all must’ve had a surprised look on our face as Sweezy simply stated with his music blaring, “What? I was dancing.” I love ya, Sweez. If people didn’t get the pleasure of knowing you, then they didn’t get the pleasure of knowing Brevard College. —Heather Kirkland

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Sweezy was the heart of our campus and he had a huge impact on each person that he met. I am so lucky and grateful that I was given the opportunity to be great friends with him. I will never forget the day that Sweezy convinced me to do a doughnut eating contest with him in front of multiple students, staff members and coaches at a basketball game. It’s a memory that I will never forget and one that will make me laugh for the rest of my life. I will cherish the doughnut eating contest video and the videos of him singing his favorite “Cupcake” song forever. He always made us smile and laugh and that is something I will miss the most.

Sweezy started a project during this past summer, learning about things that staff did for fun and then he would participate and learn it too. He came to my house and took a dance (Shag) lesson from my husband and me. Then he attended a party we had at our house a couple of weeks later. He really enjoyed learning to Shag dance and enjoyed dancing with the ladies at the party. My fondest memory about Sweezy is that he not only smiled with his mouth, he smiled with his heart as well. He loved to hug everyone and brought joy whenever he entered a room. I believe Heb. 13:2 describes Sweezy: “ beware as we may have entertained angels unaware.” Sweezy was a sweet, joyous angel who brought love, laughter and a lot of joy into the lives of those he came in contact with. He blessed us with his love of life and will be sorely missed. —Cindy Bryson

—Ashley Hughes Sweezy showed up at the scholarship luncheon ready to tackle the world! He was ready to step in where needed, as usual. We placed him at a table with endowed scholarship donors and one in particular fell in love with him. This donor has endowed a theater scholarship and she and Sweezy immediately hit it off! They corresponded regularly until last week. His light had an impact on not just students, faculty, and staff, but donors loved him and miss him too! —Mary Waldroff

Photo courtsey of Kate Stephens

Rakeem took a selfie with Professor Ralph Hamlett at the end of his semester in Hamlett’s class, and Hamlett surprised him with a peck on the cheek.


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On Halloween, Sweezy ended up in our suite before we went out. He wanted to braid all of our hair and rap this song (deepthroat). And we just laughed and laughed while he hit every word to this ridiculous song. One of our friends decided to stay in and Sweezy was just wearing a polo shirt and jeans, on Halloween!!!! So he became an honorary Average Joe dodgeball team member as he said, “oh no honey, I can’t fit into a large” but he did and he rocked it, AYYYOM. We will miss him and will always be waiting for him to come through the door. —Sydney Alencewicz My first conversation with Sweezy was after the first day of our FYE advising class in Fall 2016. After the class, Sweezy asked if he could walk with me to my office. On the way, the conversation went like this: “Wow, Dr. Betsy, you were really working that class and they were dead. But don’t worry, you and me will turn them around. We will have them smiling and laughing before you know it This is going to be a good semester.” And we did because Sweezy had my back and brought us laughter and joy each Wednesday. His enthusiasm for life was contagious. To quote the Spanish Jewish poet Yehuda HaLevi (1075 – 1141): For your life has lived in me, your laugh once lifted me, your word was gift to me. To remember this brings painful joy. ’Tis a human thing, love, a holy thing, to love what death has touched. —Professor Betsy Burrows

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Doughnut eating competition

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December 13, 2017

Photo courtsey of Ashley Hughes

The theatre department had just finished with the last production of the semester. A group of students were cleaning up the Black Box, and of course Sweezy and K’nique took it upon themselves to blast Beyoncé as loud as they possibly could. Sweezy filled the entire room— dancing on the floor, jumping up and down, even using the trash can as a prop! He made sure every single person had a smile on their face. It worked. —Lily Bartleson I was pretty nervous when I first came to college. I wanted to make friends, but didn’t really have any desire to talk to anyone. The first day of college, I sat at the cafeteria alone, pretending to be busy, when he came along and sat at the table to talk. He said to me that he thought no one should ever have to eat alone, and proceeded to invite two other people over to join us from their empty tables. He was always smiling, so cheerful, so energetic, and so kind. And he gave me the confidence to try making friends around the college. Through this random act of kindness, I will never forget Sweezy. And I’m certain I am not the only one. —Joe Skerman I met him in Dr. Hamlett’s intro to communication class. I found out that my great grandfather had passed during class last year, and Sweezy came out to hug me and bring me tissues. His heart was so big and I am so thankful that I got to experience his love and light.

Photo courtsey of Le

Halloween Party sponsored by CAB

On Scholarship Day, like the one happening Saturday this week, I had an interview for scholarships with Dr. Mo, and Alumni, and Sweezy. The best thing about the experience was that Sweezy never stopped chatting. The minute I came in he struck up a conversation and didn’t give me a chance to feel out of place. He’s one of the reasons I initially fell in love with Brevard. He made Brevard mean something more than just a college, he made it feel like a home. —Solomon Turner

—Kate Stephens

Photo courtsey of Amanda McBriar

“This was right after spring break, we were hanging out and catching up on all that happened the week we were apart. One of the best things about sweezy was he could talk for hours .”

Photo courtsey of Cindy Bryson


Opinion

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‘The President stole your land’

Utah’s Bears Ears National Monument and Grand Staircase-Escalante both being drastically reduced By Jessica Wiegandt Arts & Life Editor

THE PRESIDENT STOLE YOUR LAND (Learn More). This sentence headlined the Patagonia home page on Monday, Dec. 4, 2017, and remained for the rest of the week, in response to the President’s announcement that he was going to rescind over two million acres of public land in Utah. Bears Ears and the Grand Staircase-Escalante will be drastically reduced with Trump’s promise to open the land for oil and gas extraction, mining and logging. Bears Ears National Monument will be reduced by 85 percent and the Grand Staircase-Escalante will be cut to half its size. The decision to do so, if completed per Trump’s announcement, could change the course of land conservation, exposing many more national monument sites to the potential for the same fate. “This is the largest elimination of protected land in American history,” Patagonia tweeted out on Dec. 4, along with a screenshot of the website home page. REI, Keen and other outdoor retailers swiftly joined in the public outcry, challenging Trump’s decision. Patagonia has issued a lawsuit against the Trump administration, claiming it is an “extreme overreach in authority,” to rescind the public land, according to the Associated Press. Not only will this act put other national monuments at risk and open up that land for the commercial rape of the land for oil and other fossil fuels, but will also lay waste to Native American ground. In Trump’s announcement speech on Dec. 4, he said, “We have seen how this tragic federal overreach [giving Bears Ears status as a national monument, done in Dec. 2016] prevents many Native Americans from having their rightful voice over the sacred land where they practice their most important ancestral and religious traditions.” To so famously quote our dear Mr. President, “WRONG.” By opening up these lands to fracking, we will destroy the lands Obama worked so hard to protect. Obama saw value in protecting Bears Ears from potential for development, so signed it into national monument status on Dec. 28, 2016. By giving land the status of “national

monument,” it becomes protected from any potential for mining, digging and development. The purpose of protecting these lands is to protect land that is valuable, sacred and special. In no way by rescinding the status of national monument will the Native American lands be protected from road building, fracking and development per Trump’s plan. Our nation is willing to kill (note: see Charlottesville) to defend staues and monuments representing the Confederacy. Notions of heritage are brought as an argument. Yet, when the loss of millions of acres of sacred Native American and public land is in question, there is significantly less motivation to cry foul. Trump works for private entities. He is not a president of the people, for the people. He is a president of the money, for the corporation. And the signature he gave on Dec. 4 fully discloses just that fact. The President has stolen your land. And yours, and yours, and yours and yours. Trump is in direct opposition of the citizen opinion. According to Patagonia’s latest blog, posted on Dec. 5, entitled “There is Trump and There is the Truth,” when Secretary Zinke, the U.S. Secretary of Interior, asked the country about rescinding the protections, 98 percent

of the three million asked said to leave the protections in place. These protections lie within the Antiquities Act, which was enacted by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 and has been utilized by presidents since to protect and expand many national monuments. The lands are in need of protection and, while our country grapples with crisis after crisis and wonders what can be done, this is the project on which our attention should be focused. With the removal of protection on this land, there will be irreversible damage done to land that is full of unique landscape and history. Not only will we preserve the beauty but we will also say no to further utilization of fossil fuels in these areas. Trump ended his speech on Dec. 4 with, “Our precious national treasures must be protected.” This statement is one I can get behind, but he followed with, “And they, from now on, will be protected,” which is an abhorrent lie. With this act, Trump has demolished years of work for conservation and preservation and has opened up a new source of revenue for himself and friends. For more information and to learn how you can help, visit http://www.patagonia.com/protectpublic-lands.html.

Photo from Patagonia’s website

Patagonia’s homepage on Dec. 4. Their homepage remained blacked out for a week after Trump’s announcement.

Opinion

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The Clarion

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December 13, 2017

President declares Jerusalem to be the capital of Israel By Jordon Morgan Editor in Chief

In a move that makes it seem as though President Trump is the epitome of chaos, on Wednesday, Dec. 6 he declared the city of Jerusalem to be Israel’s capital, breaking decades of official United States neutrality and potentially damaging any hope for an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. By doing this, the President has made the ingenious move of aggravating nearly every top U.S. ally that exists. According to a report by Chris Baynes of The Independent, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, the latter of which is our primary economic ally in the Middle East, all have issued individual criticism of Trump’s Jerusalem decision. Saudi Arabia’s statement to Al Jazeera according to Baynes said, “This step represents a big bias against the historic rights of the Palestinians and a big regression in the efforts to push the peace process forward….. It is a violation of the American neutral position towards Jerusalem.” A spokesperson from Jordan, Muhammad al-Momani, has said that the U.S.’s decision was, “false and illegal because it consolidates the occupation.” In fact, the ruler of Jordan himself, King Abdullah II, “told U.S. President Donald Trump that recognising the holy city as Israel’s capital would inflame Muslim and Christian feelings,” according to an Al Jazeera report. That’s the key issue here, among many. It’s all too likely that Trump is simply trying to appease his base, the Evangelical Christians who, according to their religion, will be welcomed to the sight of the second coming of Jesus Christ in the “Holy City” of Jerusalem. Now I put that phrase in quotations because the idea of basing complex foreign policy, especially one that is as volatile as the dispute of Jerusalem’s ownership between Israel and Palestine doesn’t seem like the best idea.

Photo from CNN

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Regardless, you can’t say that this hasn’t caused problems already, as a Dec. 8 report by CNN states that riots have already erupted in Jerusalem and the West Bank over Trump’s announcement. “A 30-year-old Palestinian was shot and killed during clashes in eastern Gaza, Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Health said, with more than 300 people injured across the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem, 50 of whom needed hospital treatment,” CNN reported. Another key issue here is that Israel has been heavily occupying Palestine for around 50 years at this point, with many aspects of that occupation, according to a separate Al Jazeera report, involving Israel’s “unlawful construction and expansion of settlements” in Palestine. This sort of decision by the President only strengthens their resolve in keeping the Palestinians under their thumb. Though to be fair, it only officially makes clear what was pretty implicit already, and that is the U.S. has been supportive of Israel for decades. That itself isn’t a problem, despite the apparent right-wing militaristic ideals of the current Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, but it does become one when, according to a report by USA Today in 2016, that the U.S. will supply $38 billion in Federal Aid to Israel over the next 10 years. That policy made sense when Israel was shell-shocked from attacking nations, such as Germany and the Axis powers, and needed that help. But Israel is now the superpower of the Middle East and can stand on its own two feet. Digressing to the issue of complicating Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, the fact that the United States has officially taken a stance on who can lay claim to the “Holy City” as it were has very likely undermined any leverage that the U.S. has in negotiating peace talks. To be specific, a report by Max Fisher in The New York Times says that, “this could make it harder for Arab governments to justify their cooperation with what is perceived to be an American-Israeli plot against Palestinians.” Because Trump’s announcement gave Israel significant ammo to keep hold of Jerusalem, they have little-to-no incentive to make any concessions in negotiations. For the Palestinians, this means that it would cause issues with the fact that the leaders of the country rely on the U.S. to keep their administration funded and stable. “But those leaders are deeply unpopular with their own people,” Fisher said. Subsequently, he goes on to say that the leaders could become so unpopular that they risk any hold on the government they have being swept out from under them. This can cause chaos and anarchy in the short term and in the long term, a potential takeover by the militant Palestinian group Hamas. Finally, Fisher says that, “a Palestinian state is less likely and Israel is one day forced to choose between the two core components of its national identity: Jewish and democratic.” Either Israel continues its domination over the Palestinians without granting them full rights, something that critics of the country have compared to apartheid-era South Africa, or, “it grants Palestinians full rights, establishing a pluralistic democracy that is no longer officially Jewish,” Fisher said. One thing is for sure, a move that is seemingly this short-sighted and foolish by our President can cause repercussions that he likely has never even thought about or of which he has no comprehension.


Arts & Life

Page 11

Honor societies welcome new members

Faculty, family members and fellow students packed Scott Commons Dec. 5 to honor 31 Brevard College students as they were initiated into Alpha Chi and Omicron Delta Kappa, the two campus-wide honor societies at BC. “We are very proud of you, and we know you will continue doing things that are special,” Associate Dean for Student Success Shirley Arnold told this year’s inductees. Saying that inductees deserved recognition for their achievements at Brevard College, Arnold spoke as the invited speaker for the ceremony in a speech titled “Your Tourney.” As part of the ceremony, new members were “pinned” by sponsors, typically a faculty or staff member. Fourteen students were inducted into Alpha Chi. Founded in 1922, it has chapters in more than 300 colleges and universities across the United States. For most campuses, it represents the highest across-curriculum academic honor society. Omicron Delta Kappa, familiarly known as ODK, initiated 28 new members. This nationally recognized society honors leadership in academics, athletics, service, communications and the arts. It was founded in 1914 and has more than 230 circles throughout the United States. Eleven students were initiated into both honor societies. At the conclusion of her remarks, Arnold challenged this year’s inductees, telling them not to rest on their laurels and to venture outside of their comfort zones.

“Challenge yourself and your friends to hold up the standards of Alpha Chi, ODK and the mission of Brevard College,” she said. “Don’t do it because you deserve recognition. Do this because you want to make life better for someone else.” —John Padgett

Alpha Chi inductees: Susan Campbell Ashmore Daniel Trey Brown Hunter Grace Denney Daniel Mark Ethridge Sarah Elizabeth Haga Justin Paul Harris Haley Anne McGavin Megan Samantha Orr Lance Joseph Perl Haley LeAnn Putnam Scarlett Alexis Rogers Shannon Nicole Summitt Jenifer Aileen Welch Jessica Patricia Wiegandt

ODK inductees:

Photo by John Padgett

Faith Caroline Alexander Susan Campbell Ashmore Javier Gonzalez Bautista Daniel Trey Brown Caroline Elizabeth David Katelyn Marie Didio Hannah Elmore Daniel Mark Ethridge Lauren Margaret Fowler Kathleen Stewart Gant Justin Paul Harris Ashley Kristin Elizabeth Hughes Kiara Alivia-Jewel Hughes Haley Ann McGavin Hallie Elizabeth Moore Megan Samantha Orr Haley LeAnn Putnam Kristen Lizet Rathbun Garrett Anderson Rhodes Scarlett Alexis Rogers Ashley Taylor Scovel Courtney Suzanne Sharp Shannon Nicole Summitt Allyson Riley Sullivan Teila Dorothy Vochatzer Margaret Lucille Weiss Jenifer Aileen Welch Jessica Patricia Wiegandt

Above: Junior theatre major Sarah Haga is pinned by her dad, Edward Haga, as part of her induction into Alpha Chi Honor Society Dec. 5. Left: Kiara Jordan poses for a photo by BC campus minister Sharad Creasman, her sponsor, after being inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society. They were among 28 ODK and 14 Alpha Chi inductees for this year.

Photo by John Padgett

Page 12

Sports

The Clarion

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December 13, 2017

BC Womens Basketball defeats Bob Jones By Jon Cole

Sports Information Director The duo of Ty’She Washington and Destiny Williams scored 15 points each while teammate Annalee Bollinger added 10 points to lead Brevard to a 55-47 victory over Bob Jones in women’s basketball action on Saturday afternoon. Washington reached double figures after hitting 4-of-9 from the floor and 7-of-13 at the free throw line, while forcing three steals. Williams also eclipsed the double-digit mark, knocking down 7-of-14 from the floor, to go along with eight rebounds and two steals. Bollinger, who converted only two field goals in a difficult performance, was a perfect 5-of5 from the charity stripe. The Tornados (3-4) picked up 16 points at the free throw line as they went 16-of-23 (69.6%), while hitting 19-of-59 from the floor. Both teams struggled to find offense in the

third with the Tornados outscoring Bob Jones (4-8) 13-8 in the frame. Williams highlighted the offense with six points, while Washington added four. The seven-point halftime lead for Brevard evaporated to four in less than three minutes, but scores by Williams and Washington in succession made for a 33-24 contest. Washington added a second layup, extending the lead to 11, but it was Julia Simmons’ four points that pulled the Bruins within eight through three quarters. Brevard’s offense regained its first quarter form in the opening stages of the fourth, establishing a 42-34 advantage following a jumper by Williams. A 3-pointer by Sha’Ron Brunson coupled with a pair of free throws by Sydney Bedsaul pulled Bob Jones to within one with 5:10 remaining. The two teams traded the lead over the next three minutes before Williams and Washington sparked an 8-0 run to complete the win.

Mens basketball scores first victory of the season By Jon Cole

Sports Information Director Brevard’s defense forced 30 turnovers while Divese Carson led the Tornados with 16 points, as Brevard was able to pick up its first victory of the season in men’s basketball action on the road at Berea on Saturday afternoon. Carson, who finished the game 6-of-19 from the field and led the team with two threepointers, powered Brevard on offense to help the team secure their first win of the 2017-18 campaign and their first road win since Dec. 2, 2015. The Tornados (1-4) were able to score 21 points off of 30 turnovers from Berea (3-3), and the team recorded a season-high in rebounds (43) and steals (15) in the victory. Stevie Williams tallied 13 points, including six points in the overtime period. Williams also led all players with five steals. Levi Lamb was the third member of the team to notch doubledigit points (10) on the game, including seven rebounds. For the Scots, Torell Carter led all players with 24 points as he went 7-of-9 from the floor and 8-of-11 from the free throw line. Carter also finished the game with 10 rebounds, and teammate Jair Jackson also recorded a double-

double in the game (11 points, 12 rebounds). Berea went into the half with a 32-26 lead, as the Scots held a 23-9 rebounding advantage. However, Brevard was able to make the game close by forcing 12 turnovers and had efficient passing by leading the assist margin 6-5. The Tornados took their first lead of the second half with a three-pointer from Williams with 8:50 remaining in regulation, and would not trail for the remainder of the second half. With 11 seconds remaining, Demari Hopper made a jump shot to give the Tornados a 58-56 lead, but was answered by Berea with a made layup with five seconds left. Williams tried to connect on a 3-pointer at the buzzer, but was unable to make the shot as the game went into overtime. The game was tied up at 62 at the one minute, 42 second mark in overtime after two made freethrows from Carter, but was answered by a Levi Lamb jump shot 11 seconds later to take a 64-62 lead that the Tornados would not relinquish. Williams would score the final four points of the game by connecting on 4-of-6 free throws to put the game on ice, as Brevard would go on to win 68-62. The Tornados will return to action on Dec. 16 against Methodist.

The Tornados’ lead reached double figures inside the opening minutes of the second quarter as Washington converted three straight free throws. Bob Jones trimmed the lead to five, 23-18, behind five points from Amanda Bates. Williams drove past the Bruin defense for the final points, but Bob Jones scored four unanswered to trail by three at the intermission. Deja Riddick got Brevard off to a solid start, scoring six points in the first quarter, while Bollinger and Whitney DeMoss added five and four points, respectively, providing the Tornados with a 17-6 advantage. Brevard broke an early five-all tie with a free throw by Washington and a layup by Riddick as it rattled off seven straight points. Bollinger capped off the 12-1 run, which lasted the final 2:18 of the frame, with a 3-pointer. The Tornados will have a 19-day layoff before their next contest, when they host St. Andrew’s on Dec. 28 at 5:30 p.m.

Final grades for this semester will be available on MyBC on Tuesday, Dec. 19