Op Eds
Out of Sight, Out of Mind
While hailed as one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century, plastic has caused significant damage to the Earth and to our culture. In fact, I would argue that plastic may be the physical embodiment of American exceptionalism or at least a conduit for the false notion of superiority. Our society emphasizes rugged individualism and upward mobility; it cares little for community and egalitarianism, as those do not fit the typical American model for success. Plastic, a convenient material, fits this touted model with its seductive cheapness and its seemingly endless uses. Of course, said uses are one-time only deals for the most part and rarely sustainable.
Ask yourself, how many times have you used a plastic straw in the past week? Or disposed of a plastic utensil after one use? Even the reusable items we do own probably were packaged in plastic, or have some sort of plastic element. It seems like an insurmountable issue, especially knowing that humans have literally created islands of garbage in the ocean through careless disposal. And it truly is careless— when we throw away garbage, it seems to just “go away.”
But nothing ever simply disappears, though many would apply the old saying “out of sight, out of mind” to garbage. And it certainly feels like an easy problem to ignore, because those affected most by plastic pollution are the disenfranchised communities of the world rather than the privileged. Birds, fish, and other animals are deeply affected through the consumption of plastic materials, especially if it’s in the ocean. Bottle caps and other colorful plastics are eaten by birds, and plastic micro-beads from face and body wash are eaten by fish; the animals’ bodies obviously cannot break down the unnatural material and end up suffering an excruciating, slow death. The threat of strangulation also is prominent for both land and sea creatures. Finally, animals can become malformed by getting encased in plastic, and again suffer from health issues and death.
Humans are also affected by this global issue, with hurricanes on the rise due to climate change, mismanaged landfills, and just plain old litter that can travel far from their original disposal site. The most recent incident involved tons of garbage washing up on shores throughout the Caribbean islands, threatening the livelihoods of the local peoples who often depend on international eco-tourism and vacationing.
Because plastic can take anywhere from three to one million years to biodegrade depending on the type, it’s vitally important for us as a society to understand how things are created and what happens after we dispose of them. It’s time we as a community work together to change the perception of what “convenience” is, as well as broaden the scope for materials we can use on the daily.
There are ways we as individuals can make a change, too. Simple habits to form are refusing a straw at a restaurant when asked and carrying a reusable bag when shopping. I’ve noticed a lot more people have reusable water bottles, which is another easy solution. Other steps would be to petition your workplace or even Emory & Henry to use biodegradable materials during business luncheons or other events.
Accountability is important throughout this whole process. We have to hold each other accountable, but especially ourselves. If every single person contributed to changing the status quo of plastic use, this wouldn’t be an issue. But complacency, as familiar and comforting as it is, must be replaced with action. Because eventually, what’s seemingly out of sight will come right back to us, ironically and to the benefit of none.
While hailed as one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century, plastic has caused significant damage to the Earth and to our culture. In fact, I would argue that plastic may be the physical embodiment of American exceptionalism or at least a conduit for the false notion of superiority. Our society emphasizes rugged individualism and upward mobility; it cares little for community and egalitarianism, as those do not fit the typical American model for success. Plastic, a convenient material, fits this touted model with its seductive cheapness and its seemingly endless uses. Of course, said uses are one-time only deals for the most part and rarely sustainable.
Ask yourself, how many times have you used a plastic straw in the past week? Or disposed of a plastic utensil after one use? Even the reusable items we do own probably were packaged in plastic, or have some sort of plastic element. It seems like an insurmountable issue, especially knowing that humans have literally created islands of garbage in the ocean through careless disposal. And it truly is careless— when we throw away garbage, it seems to just “go away.”
But nothing ever simply disappears, though many would apply the old saying “out of sight, out of mind” to garbage. And it certainly feels like an easy problem to ignore, because those affected most by plastic pollution are the disenfranchised communities of the world rather than the privileged. Birds, fish, and other animals are deeply affected through the consumption of plastic materials, especially if it’s in the ocean. Bottle caps and other colorful plastics are eaten by birds, and plastic micro-beads from face and body wash are eaten by fish; the animals’ bodies obviously cannot break down the unnatural material and end up suffering an excruciating, slow death. The threat of strangulation also is prominent for both land and sea creatures. Finally, animals can become malformed by getting encased in plastic, and again suffer from health issues and death.
Humans are also affected by this global issue, with hurricanes on the rise due to climate change, mismanaged landfills, and just plain old litter that can travel far from their original disposal site. The most recent incident involved tons of garbage washing up on shores throughout the Caribbean islands, threatening the livelihoods of the local peoples who often depend on international eco-tourism and vacationing.
Because plastic can take anywhere from three to one million years to biodegrade depending on the type, it’s vitally important for us as a society to understand how things are created and what happens after we dispose of them. It’s time we as a community work together to change the perception of what “convenience” is, as well as broaden the scope for materials we can use on the daily.
There are ways we as individuals can make a change, too. Simple habits to form are refusing a straw at a restaurant when asked and carrying a reusable bag when shopping. I’ve noticed a lot more people have reusable water bottles, which is another easy solution. Other steps would be to petition your workplace or even Emory & Henry to use biodegradable materials during business luncheons or other events.
Accountability is important throughout this whole process. We have to hold each other accountable, but especially ourselves. If every single person contributed to changing the status quo of plastic use, this wouldn’t be an issue. But complacency, as familiar and comforting as it is, must be replaced with action. Because eventually, what’s seemingly out of sight will come right back to us, ironically and to the benefit of none.
The Complexity of Climate Racism
When we talk about environmental issues, especially in regards to climate change, race isn’t something that immediately comes to mind. The same goes for discussions on racism; environmental issues aren’t often brought up. But the two are inextricably linked, and not in abstract ways.
Climate change is a global crisis. Therefore, the unprecedented increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere disproportionately affects communities of color around the world. The melting of polar ice caps may seem like it would only impact the dwindling polar bear population, but the subsequent rise of sea levels leaves many people without land to live on. Countless island communities, mostly of indigenous people of color, are forced to abandon their homes to flee from permanent flooding. Climate refugees then struggle to assimilate into new countries, if they even make it that far. Anti-immigration policies limit the number of countries of which climate refugees can find sanctuary. Yet the very same countries that refuse desperate people also refuse to accept their part in contributing to climate change.
Environmental isolationism paired with western supremacy creates a dangerous worldview, and the resulting racist policies have a deadly impact on people of color. Overtly, energy policies that contribute to air pollution and other environmental catastrophes are to blame for the warming of the Earth. But so are covert tactics like rhetoric espousing that climate change is a hoax or that humans and our activities are not factors in climate change. Even coming from the mouth of a delusional despot, those with privilege in a wealthy country like ours can have a false narrative confirmed— we don’t need to make any changes to our lifestyle because it’s not our problem. We can continue to make no demands of our government regarding climate policies because it’s too much work. We can buy our GMO produce from indentured servants in Mexico, and purchase our meat from factory farms because it’s cheap and it’s not really hurting anybody, right?
American exceptionalist policies are not to the benefit of people of color living here. The privileged archetype I spoke about before will not have to face the struggles that people of color, especially Black people, have to face every day. Flooding from the ever increasing number hurricanes, and a lack of access to clean water due to oil or gas pipeline leaks seem like isolated events unrelated to race, but I assure you they are not.
The complexity of environmental racism runs deep here in the United States, and this insidious web will be difficult to untangle. Because it’s not a matter of lacking resources to help people, but rather people of color lacking access to them. Whether it’s through gerrymandering, intentionally racist insurance policies, or even being forced to live in environmentally unsafe areas, people of color bear the brunt of climate change.
Yet while people of color make up the majority of climate change victims, there is a lack of representation in environmental groups. White people are often in leadership positions and make up the majority of environmental organizations. And there is also no guarantee that people of color won’t be discriminated against even within these supposedly progressive spaces.
But despite these almost insurmountable challenges, humans do have the ability to prevent further change in our climate, and we do have the ability to seek justice for people of color. It simply takes standing up and speaking out; we can no longer exist as bystanders. We only have this one Earth— we cannot afford to do nothing.
When we talk about environmental issues, especially in regards to climate change, race isn’t something that immediately comes to mind. The same goes for discussions on racism; environmental issues aren’t often brought up. But the two are inextricably linked, and not in abstract ways.
Climate change is a global crisis. Therefore, the unprecedented increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere disproportionately affects communities of color around the world. The melting of polar ice caps may seem like it would only impact the dwindling polar bear population, but the subsequent rise of sea levels leaves many people without land to live on. Countless island communities, mostly of indigenous people of color, are forced to abandon their homes to flee from permanent flooding. Climate refugees then struggle to assimilate into new countries, if they even make it that far. Anti-immigration policies limit the number of countries of which climate refugees can find sanctuary. Yet the very same countries that refuse desperate people also refuse to accept their part in contributing to climate change.
Environmental isolationism paired with western supremacy creates a dangerous worldview, and the resulting racist policies have a deadly impact on people of color. Overtly, energy policies that contribute to air pollution and other environmental catastrophes are to blame for the warming of the Earth. But so are covert tactics like rhetoric espousing that climate change is a hoax or that humans and our activities are not factors in climate change. Even coming from the mouth of a delusional despot, those with privilege in a wealthy country like ours can have a false narrative confirmed— we don’t need to make any changes to our lifestyle because it’s not our problem. We can continue to make no demands of our government regarding climate policies because it’s too much work. We can buy our GMO produce from indentured servants in Mexico, and purchase our meat from factory farms because it’s cheap and it’s not really hurting anybody, right?
American exceptionalist policies are not to the benefit of people of color living here. The privileged archetype I spoke about before will not have to face the struggles that people of color, especially Black people, have to face every day. Flooding from the ever increasing number hurricanes, and a lack of access to clean water due to oil or gas pipeline leaks seem like isolated events unrelated to race, but I assure you they are not.
The complexity of environmental racism runs deep here in the United States, and this insidious web will be difficult to untangle. Because it’s not a matter of lacking resources to help people, but rather people of color lacking access to them. Whether it’s through gerrymandering, intentionally racist insurance policies, or even being forced to live in environmentally unsafe areas, people of color bear the brunt of climate change.
Yet while people of color make up the majority of climate change victims, there is a lack of representation in environmental groups. White people are often in leadership positions and make up the majority of environmental organizations. And there is also no guarantee that people of color won’t be discriminated against even within these supposedly progressive spaces.
But despite these almost insurmountable challenges, humans do have the ability to prevent further change in our climate, and we do have the ability to seek justice for people of color. It simply takes standing up and speaking out; we can no longer exist as bystanders. We only have this one Earth— we cannot afford to do nothing.
Sample Stories
Reflection:
So this was my final piece for MCOM 202, and it was surreal. Unlike all the other stories, I had to be "soft" whilst presenting factual info— all on the hypothetical death of someone! I think with more practice, I could actually get pretty competent in writing these, and I definitely see why some writers truly enjoy the obit beat. Who knows, maybe I'll be one of them? I do enjoy talking to people, and finding stories where perhaps no one would have otherwise looked.
The feedback I got on this from classmates was mostly positive, and the only changes they told me to make were with regard to phrasing. I changed a few paragraphs to make the lead into a quote graph a little more cohesive, and I added a few more tidbits about the mayor's life. The only thing I would change now is to add more about her family, but I couldn't find any reliable sources to base that on unfortunately.
So this was my final piece for MCOM 202, and it was surreal. Unlike all the other stories, I had to be "soft" whilst presenting factual info— all on the hypothetical death of someone! I think with more practice, I could actually get pretty competent in writing these, and I definitely see why some writers truly enjoy the obit beat. Who knows, maybe I'll be one of them? I do enjoy talking to people, and finding stories where perhaps no one would have otherwise looked.
The feedback I got on this from classmates was mostly positive, and the only changes they told me to make were with regard to phrasing. I changed a few paragraphs to make the lead into a quote graph a little more cohesive, and I added a few more tidbits about the mayor's life. The only thing I would change now is to add more about her family, but I couldn't find any reliable sources to base that on unfortunately.
Obituary
Mayor Cathy Lowe passed away on _____from____. Lowe, who decided not to run for reelection, served the public almost all of her life. She had been the mayor of Abingdon, Virginia from 2016 until 2018, but worked on city council since 2006 as both a member and as vice mayor. She had graduated from Emory & Henry College in 2011 with Bachelor of Science degrees in accounting and business management.
Lowe had also owned and operated her own small business for over thirty years. Fresh out of cosmetology school, Lowe started working at a beauty shop which closed down just months after she began her career. She later opened The Male Ego, a hair salon specializing in men’s cuts, in the late 1970s. At the young age of 22, she bought the beauty shop equipment from her old salon and began her journey. In an interview with the Bristol Herald-Courier, Lowe explained that she became a business owner at such a young age out of necessity.
“I got out of cosmetology school and had to open my shop because I didn’t have a job,” Lowe said, “I think when people are going through really tough times, the thing that they have to overcome is fear. You’re afraid you’re not going to be able to pay your bills. You’re afraid you’re not going to be able to feed your children. You’re afraid to fail. You have to overcome that fear of failure before you can achieve.”
Years before ever becoming town mayor, Lowe had dropped out of high school at age 14 to marry her boyfriend. The marriage only lasted a few years, and Lowe returned to school to get her GED, simultaneously working two jobs and caring for her infant son. When she eventually became an Abingdon council member, she was one of the only people who didn’t have a bachelor’s or graduate school degree. Lowe only had an associate’s degree from a local community college she attended in the early ‘80s, but her thirty plus years of being a small business owner in the community boosted her popularity.
When she was elected vice mayor, Lowe said, “…I came from a working class family and I understand the different social and economic needs and the diversity of citizens that live and work in Abingdon. My primary goal is to continue to be a representative of all of the people who live and work in Abingdon, to do the best job I can do while I am there and to leave Abingdon a little better than I found it.”
Despite being embroiled in an inter-council scandal in her last few months as mayor, Lowe had support within the community and from her vice mayor, Rick Humphreys. A staffer for Humphreys once said that the vice mayor, “…supports Lowe and considers her an excellent public servant.” In March 2018, Abingdon resident Bruce Stone Jr. wrote in the Bristol Herald-Courier, “She is one of the most honest, caring and thoughtful people I know who always fights for the underdog. She gives 100 percent to anything she is involved in. She has served Abingdon well and has always done what she thought was in the best interest of the entire town.”
Mayor Cathy Lowe passed away on _____from____. Lowe, who decided not to run for reelection, served the public almost all of her life. She had been the mayor of Abingdon, Virginia from 2016 until 2018, but worked on city council since 2006 as both a member and as vice mayor. She had graduated from Emory & Henry College in 2011 with Bachelor of Science degrees in accounting and business management.
Lowe had also owned and operated her own small business for over thirty years. Fresh out of cosmetology school, Lowe started working at a beauty shop which closed down just months after she began her career. She later opened The Male Ego, a hair salon specializing in men’s cuts, in the late 1970s. At the young age of 22, she bought the beauty shop equipment from her old salon and began her journey. In an interview with the Bristol Herald-Courier, Lowe explained that she became a business owner at such a young age out of necessity.
“I got out of cosmetology school and had to open my shop because I didn’t have a job,” Lowe said, “I think when people are going through really tough times, the thing that they have to overcome is fear. You’re afraid you’re not going to be able to pay your bills. You’re afraid you’re not going to be able to feed your children. You’re afraid to fail. You have to overcome that fear of failure before you can achieve.”
Years before ever becoming town mayor, Lowe had dropped out of high school at age 14 to marry her boyfriend. The marriage only lasted a few years, and Lowe returned to school to get her GED, simultaneously working two jobs and caring for her infant son. When she eventually became an Abingdon council member, she was one of the only people who didn’t have a bachelor’s or graduate school degree. Lowe only had an associate’s degree from a local community college she attended in the early ‘80s, but her thirty plus years of being a small business owner in the community boosted her popularity.
When she was elected vice mayor, Lowe said, “…I came from a working class family and I understand the different social and economic needs and the diversity of citizens that live and work in Abingdon. My primary goal is to continue to be a representative of all of the people who live and work in Abingdon, to do the best job I can do while I am there and to leave Abingdon a little better than I found it.”
Despite being embroiled in an inter-council scandal in her last few months as mayor, Lowe had support within the community and from her vice mayor, Rick Humphreys. A staffer for Humphreys once said that the vice mayor, “…supports Lowe and considers her an excellent public servant.” In March 2018, Abingdon resident Bruce Stone Jr. wrote in the Bristol Herald-Courier, “She is one of the most honest, caring and thoughtful people I know who always fights for the underdog. She gives 100 percent to anything she is involved in. She has served Abingdon well and has always done what she thought was in the best interest of the entire town.”
rampy_obit.pages | |
File Size: | 788 kb |
File Type: | pages |
Reflection:
I liked this story. I liked it because I got to delve deep into a topic I care about, which is wage equality/living wages. Plus, it was relatively simple to find info/stats via government documents, which was super convenient. Plus, it seems other news reporters are also realizing the salience of this issue, so finding sources and articles to corroborate my findings was straightforward.
I struggled with interview sources. In fact, if I could go back I would attempt to try to localize the story more and get some quotes from local legislators, perhaps in Abingdon or even Glade Spring. The most changes I made to this article were some grammatical changes and flipping some content around to make it a more "inverted pyramid" structure.
I liked this story. I liked it because I got to delve deep into a topic I care about, which is wage equality/living wages. Plus, it was relatively simple to find info/stats via government documents, which was super convenient. Plus, it seems other news reporters are also realizing the salience of this issue, so finding sources and articles to corroborate my findings was straightforward.
I struggled with interview sources. In fact, if I could go back I would attempt to try to localize the story more and get some quotes from local legislators, perhaps in Abingdon or even Glade Spring. The most changes I made to this article were some grammatical changes and flipping some content around to make it a more "inverted pyramid" structure.
Crime/Government:
"Barely Living in Virginia"
Virginia is one of 25 states that prevent municipalities from setting their own minimum wage standards, according to the National League of Cities. This means that cities like Richmond, which have attempted to implement a higher minimum wage than national standards, are forced to dial back any “living wage” reforms to the national level.
Minimum wage preemption has been seen as a response to increasingly popular movements toward setting a higher federal minimum wage, which currently is set at $7.25. Business groups in particular are directly opposed to raising the bottom line, claiming local wage laws would be too complex and that they would be forced to limit the number of jobs offered to stay on budget, according to an NPR report.
“Yes, jobs are important,” Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney said to the Richmond Free Press, “But jobs that are worked full time and still leave those workers below the poverty line may help a corporate bottom line, but it will not help someone up from the bottom.”
Of the 1,957,000 Virginians paid hourly in 2016, 26,000 earned the federal minimum wage, according to the Department of Labor. 57,000 people made even less.
The Economic Policy Institute argues that the national standard is simply not enough to live on, even if a person works full-time. A report released by the EPI in 2013 states that a family of two living solely on federal minimum wage would not even earn enough to reach the federal poverty line of $16,078 a year, as they would only receive $15,080 before taxes.
A House bill in early 2017 introduced legislation to raise minimum wage to $11 an hour, but was left in the Committee of Commerce and Labor. It is unclear if it will be revisited.
In Virginia, legislation has also been stagnant, despite Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s 2016 campaign proclamations.
“I would challenge anyone out there to go try to support themselves and support their families on $7.25 an hour,” Northam had said during a campaign stop, “It is impossible. You can’t do it.”
On April 9, 2018, Northam vetoed a bill that would prohibit local governments from requiring contractors to pay their employees more than minimum wage, claiming that only local leaders understand the needs of their workforce.
Some 40 cities across the country have adopted successful local minimum wage laws, according to the National Employment Law Project. But change on the national and state level has largely been a slow process.
Regardless, some cities in preemptive wage states have been encouraging businesses to pay their workers a living wage. In Richmond, a joint effort by the Office of Community Wealth Building and the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy has sought to recognize local leaders pledging to the living wage movement. The “Richmond Living Wage Certification Program” is intended to be a starting point for future local legislation, according to Mayor Stoney.
“It’s not an overstatement to say that the people employed by the companies recognized today have a better chance to succeed in this community,” said Reggie Gordon, director of the Office of Community Wealth Building.
In early April 2018, Stoney’s proposed biennial budget included measures that would increase city employees’ wage; Richmond’s city government is already recognized as a “Silver Star” employer by the Richmond Living Wage Certification Program.
"Barely Living in Virginia"
Virginia is one of 25 states that prevent municipalities from setting their own minimum wage standards, according to the National League of Cities. This means that cities like Richmond, which have attempted to implement a higher minimum wage than national standards, are forced to dial back any “living wage” reforms to the national level.
Minimum wage preemption has been seen as a response to increasingly popular movements toward setting a higher federal minimum wage, which currently is set at $7.25. Business groups in particular are directly opposed to raising the bottom line, claiming local wage laws would be too complex and that they would be forced to limit the number of jobs offered to stay on budget, according to an NPR report.
“Yes, jobs are important,” Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney said to the Richmond Free Press, “But jobs that are worked full time and still leave those workers below the poverty line may help a corporate bottom line, but it will not help someone up from the bottom.”
Of the 1,957,000 Virginians paid hourly in 2016, 26,000 earned the federal minimum wage, according to the Department of Labor. 57,000 people made even less.
The Economic Policy Institute argues that the national standard is simply not enough to live on, even if a person works full-time. A report released by the EPI in 2013 states that a family of two living solely on federal minimum wage would not even earn enough to reach the federal poverty line of $16,078 a year, as they would only receive $15,080 before taxes.
A House bill in early 2017 introduced legislation to raise minimum wage to $11 an hour, but was left in the Committee of Commerce and Labor. It is unclear if it will be revisited.
In Virginia, legislation has also been stagnant, despite Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s 2016 campaign proclamations.
“I would challenge anyone out there to go try to support themselves and support their families on $7.25 an hour,” Northam had said during a campaign stop, “It is impossible. You can’t do it.”
On April 9, 2018, Northam vetoed a bill that would prohibit local governments from requiring contractors to pay their employees more than minimum wage, claiming that only local leaders understand the needs of their workforce.
Some 40 cities across the country have adopted successful local minimum wage laws, according to the National Employment Law Project. But change on the national and state level has largely been a slow process.
Regardless, some cities in preemptive wage states have been encouraging businesses to pay their workers a living wage. In Richmond, a joint effort by the Office of Community Wealth Building and the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy has sought to recognize local leaders pledging to the living wage movement. The “Richmond Living Wage Certification Program” is intended to be a starting point for future local legislation, according to Mayor Stoney.
“It’s not an overstatement to say that the people employed by the companies recognized today have a better chance to succeed in this community,” said Reggie Gordon, director of the Office of Community Wealth Building.
In early April 2018, Stoney’s proposed biennial budget included measures that would increase city employees’ wage; Richmond’s city government is already recognized as a “Silver Star” employer by the Richmond Living Wage Certification Program.
rampy_minwage.pages | |
File Size: | 776 kb |
File Type: | pages |
Reflection:
Wow, so I went about 1,500 words over my limit! But I did intend to style this piece after investigative articles I see in the WaPo or the NYT; I'm fascinated by the marriage of hard news and story-telling without creating a soft news story. I'm not sure that I entirely succeeded, but I enjoyed researching and interviewing for this topic.
In particular, I was challenged (enjoyably) to write an objective piece on an issue that I have a personal stake in. Some of the corrections I made were removing some loaded language and clarifying some terminology. I'm actually quite proud of this piece, and I think it's a prime example of letting the facts speak for themselves.
Wow, so I went about 1,500 words over my limit! But I did intend to style this piece after investigative articles I see in the WaPo or the NYT; I'm fascinated by the marriage of hard news and story-telling without creating a soft news story. I'm not sure that I entirely succeeded, but I enjoyed researching and interviewing for this topic.
In particular, I was challenged (enjoyably) to write an objective piece on an issue that I have a personal stake in. Some of the corrections I made were removing some loaded language and clarifying some terminology. I'm actually quite proud of this piece, and I think it's a prime example of letting the facts speak for themselves.
Personal Connections/Objectivity:
"Kappa Sigma: The Men, the Myths, the Pledges?"
The debate surrounding national Greek organizations at Emory & Henry College has been longstanding and highly controversial, with the Kappa Sigma interest group at the center of the issue. Recognized as the Omicron chapter in Abingdon, Virginia, by Kappa Sigma’s national headquarters on March 17, the how’s and when’s leading up to that point, as well as the group’s future plans, have been largely ambiguous.
After being voted down by E&H’s Student Government Organization on March 2, 2018, some students thought that decision would be the end of the matter. I spoke with several sisters in my sorority, Delta Omicron Pi, and they were surprised at the news of Kappa Sigma becoming legitimized in Abingdon. They also expressed confusion, as the SGA vote and the earlier unanimous negative vote from Greek Council had already occurred. This confusion was widespread and diverse in its severity within the Greek community, with students taking to social media to express their feelings—or theories. Some claimed that John Holloway, the Vice President for Student Life, Student Success, and Diversity (who’s also acting as the interim Dean of Students) had approved the group on campus in spite of SGA and Greek Council’s decision. This theory ended up being mostly false; however, student-conceived theories surrounding Kappa Sigma are nothing new, as the organization’s beginnings, as well as other key events, have not been well-documented until now.
Though the current group seemingly began this crusade three years ago, the history of the organization dates back to E&H’s obscure early years. According to E&H senior Trenton Banks, the Omicron chapter of Kappa Sigma existed as a fraternity on campus from 1874 to 1895, along with three other national fraternities. Emory & Henry then enacted a ban on all Greek organizations in 1895. No official records stating why E&H enacted the ban have been found, but some suspect it was because the administration thought Greek life took away from the debate societies. Banks, a founding father of the Omicron chapter now based in Abingdon, says that financial debt may have been another reason; in order to remain afloat, E&H had to seek out a grant, apparently with the capitulation that fraternities had to be removed. According to the school website, Greek life trickled back into E&H in the early 1920s with local fraternity Dom-I-Necher, with other Greek organizations also establishing up into the early 2000s.
It wasn’t until the 1980s that someone wanted to bring Kappa Sigma to campus. Mitchell “Mic” Wilson, the Executive Director of Kappa Sigma since 1987, became interested in reviving the E&H Omicron chapter and continues to work toward this goal, says E&H senior Jake Caudill, another founding father of the Omicron chapter in Abingdon. Though it’s unclear what Wilson did to try to achieve this from the ’80s up until three years ago, it’s apparent that someone else must have also became involved in that time. Jimmy Whited, who was the Director of Housing and the de facto Greek life coordinator for E&H, was the one who originally gave permission to Banks and a few other interested young men to reach out to Kappa Sigma headquarters in late March of 2015. He also wrote them a letter of recommendation and served as an advisor for the group until his retirement in spring 2015. Banks says that there was a Greek life task force in 2003 that tried to bring Kappa Sigma back to campus, but ultimately nothing came of it— it’s unclear if Whited was involved then.
Caudill says that the current Omicron chapter has its beginnings in early spring 2015, when a group of four male students at E&H discussed bringing Kappa Sigma to campus. He recalls that the talk was fairly casual, but gradually became more serious when Whited encouraged the small group to reach out to the headquarters of Kappa Sigma. It’s then that the men got into contact with Wilson, who eventually came down to the college and had lunch with the interested group at Macado’s, a restaurant located directly across the street from the college. E&H’s lawyer Mark Graham became interested in Kappa Sigma around this time. Graham, who also serves as the executive assistant to the college’s president, became the Kappa Sigma interest group’s advisor in early spring 2017, after former Director of Student Leadership and Area Coordinator Josh von Castle mutually parted ways with the group.
Banks and a couple of other young men were invited by Wilson to attend Kappa Sigma’s “Grand Conclave” in July of 2015 in Las Vegas. The gathering, which occurs every two years, invites chapters from all around the country to attend, as well as interested parties (though they have to be invited personally).
Banks explained that there were restrictions on what they could participate in since they weren’t official members, but their rooms were paid for in full, as well as some other expenses.
“You have to understand,” Caudill said, “Mic really wanted to bring back Kappa Sigma. He reached out to them first.”
When school started back up in fall 2015, Banks says that the small group thought the process of becoming legitimized would pick up, but delayed meetings with the administration hampered that goal. Banks says that during this time, “[The delays] were all on the administrators’ part.” He also said that in February of 2016, the group first met with some higher-ups at the college, including the Executive Committee and the Alumni Board. A meeting with the Board of Trustees also occurred around this time, Banks said, with some students present.
Local Greek life eventually got wind of a potential national fraternity joining campus, but it wasn’t until early March of 2016 that the issue came to head. In a fiery public forum organized by SGA, the Kappa Sigma interest group and leaders from local Greek life went head-to-head, accusations of hazing being directed at both sides. While I was not in attendance, some friends recounted the chaotic nature of the event; with a lack of a moderator, the evening was cited as belligerent and uncoordinated.
Neither side was the immediately declared the winner of the impromptu debate, but SGA sent a letter of disapproval on lifting the ban of nationals to the Board of Trustees with Greek Council’s support. The vote, while not formal legislation, served as a preemptive petition. The matter was seemingly settled, until word got out that the Kappa Sigma interest group met with the Board of Trustees again in April, this time with results: the ban on national Greek life was lifted for the first time since its 19th century inception. Banks recalled there being only a few students at that key meeting.
I recall that summer having a flurry of social media outbursts, the school being emptied for the summer but having the full attention of many— local Greek graduates organized a petition that called for the reinstatement of the national Greek ban, some threatening to withdraw their monetary support for the college. Several of my sorority’s alumnae sent messages to our newly instated sorority president demanding answers we could not give; there was plenty of confusion and little transparency when it came to communicating with the administration at that time. I remember then-president of Greek Council Roman Roberts, who graduated that spring, unable to explain the decision made by the Board of Trustees.
The Kappa Sigma interest group was quiet during the resulting brouhaha, though not all by choice. During early Fall 2016, Banks said that former Dean of Students Pam Gourley “pumped the brakes,” requiring the interest group to do research on the fraternity and share it with her.
“I don’t think I appreciated it at the time,” Banks laughed, “But I’m glad she made us do all of that now.” Both Caudill and Banks participated in presenting said information to various Greek entities around campus, including Greek Council.
Greek Council gave a unanimous negative vote to the group that fall. In November 2016, SGA also voted down officially recognizing the group as a fraternity on campus.
Kappa Sigma was essentially killed, Banks recalled. During the Spring 2017 semester, there was little activity from the group, though some new members trickled in. Caudill emphasized frequently throughout our interview that they did not actively recruit anyone, rather, interested young men approached them first. This assertion has been heavily contested throughout the interest group’s tenure at E&H.
Despite the inactivity that spring, one member from the group, E&H junior Caleb Simpson, was present at the multiple sessions of the new “Greek Life Task Force,” an effort spearheaded by Holloway. The task force met over the summer, and Banks said that when they met back for the Fall 2017 semester, ultimately nothing seemed to come about from the task force; it was essentially dissolved at the end of the summer, according to one of my sorority sisters who was present for their meetings.
Seniors, including Banks and Caudill, felt an urgency to become official. This is when they decided to go off campus and establish themselves as a “colony” in the town of Abingdon. On October 8, 2017, Banks said that their official pledging began, as well as their first step towards being recognized as more than a colony, but as a chapter.
Local Greek life as E&H quickly discovered that the interest group was now a colony, though technically not one at the college itself. Some pointed to the school’s student handbook, saying that the group was blatantly violating the rules laid out for unchartered organizations. Yet the most frequent complaint was that Kappa Sigma was taking first-semester freshman, which is against the rules of rushing and pledging Greek at E&H according to the student handbook. There is some legitimacy to this claim, as the pledging process is months long, and first-year men were involved with the group.
Much to the chagrin of the largely anti-national Greek community, Holloway sent out a bizarre open letter via email on January 24, in which he claimed the Board of Trustees wanted E&H to be more “competitive,” and that Kappa Sigma would be a longterm revenue-generator for the college. He also asserted that there was a steady decline in Greek organization membership which could be resolved by allowing national organizations on campus.
“While I embrace the importance of history and traditions, the wrong response to any suggestion of change is, ‘We’ve always done it that way’…It is my sincere hope that as we take on the question of national Greek organizations on our campus, we think less about the challenges they pose to our campus culture and Greek traditions and more about the opportunities they create to enhance those and other traditions and, consequently, the experiences and opportunities of all of our students. So I look forward to watching your process unfold. As you undertake this process, it is also my sincere hope and desire that you give these students a chance to give back to their community, in their own way. I look forward to working with others to improve and strengthen our Greek life system and student experience at Emory & Henry. I challenge our SGA members to carefully deliberate about what will best benefit the College long after they graduate, not what is politically expedient today,’” Holloway stated in the letter.
Some local Greeks viewed the letter as inflammatory and biased, pointing out that Holloway repeatedly expressed how the administration claims to honor the wishes of students and is not anti-Local Greek, but still pushes an agenda regardless.
They might not have been wholly misguided, as Banks told me that Holloway did say he would “help them [Kappa Sigma],” though the Vice President and interim Dean did not specify how.
In spite of the ongoing controversy, or perhaps because of it, Banks described the excitement he felt when in January 2018, the group submitted a proposal to Kappa Sigma HQ for recognition as a chapter.
“It was a culmination of three years of work,” Banks said, “Even if we weren’t a colony those three years…it was exciting.”
Caudill remarked, “But let’s also not forget that how Trenton [Banks] and the other guys, you know, were doing all of this, we were also working to be on campus. That process never stopped.”
They were still pledging during this time, on-track to finish before the end of the spring semester.
The official Kappa Sigma website describes pledging as a, “…pledge education process [which] involves cultivating the new member with the basic knowledge necessary to understand the fraternity’s history, founding, growth, leadership structure, and responsibility within the Greek community as a whole. On a more personal level, the pledge program cultivates time management and personal development skills which become critical throughout college and beyond. In addition, emphasis is placed on the importance of responsibility to one’s self in terms of academic, fraternal and community obligations.”
There is no information on how long the process is or if it varies from chapter to chapter, but Caudill confirmed that the process takes months. Local Greeks at E&H are limited to one week of pledging.
When pledging was concluded in mid-Spring , Banks says that they held elections within the group. While not officially full members Kappa Sigma yet, they had already set March 17, 2018 as their “Initiation Day.”
The men petitioned Greek Council and SGA again, seeking official recognition. In the months leading up to the votes, SGA created an ad hoc committee to review the group, which met multiple times throughout the semester and held two small public forums.
In early March, Greek Council again gave a unanimous negative vote on the matter. SGA, with a 16-2 negative vote, also reprised history; Kappa Sigma would not be recognized by the college.
E&H sophomore Jarod Bracero, a senator on the ad hoc committee, said in a statement to The Whitetopper, “We represent our student body constituents and many students from many different backgrounds and aspects of the campus have voiced their concerns about allowing Kappa Sigma on the campus.”
Also in a statement to the Whitetopper, Simpson said, “I was a little surprised that it went the way that it did…The fact that there was that much opposition, I think that kind of speaks to that we maybe didn’t do our part in explaining our side better.”
When March 17, 2018’s Initiation Day finally arrived for the interest group, many a social media post by the newly proclaimed brothers were posted. Not only were they now official members, they were also an official chapter recognized by Kappa Sigma HQ.
“What a night, what a year, what a life,” E&H junior Andrew Davis wrote on Instagram, under a slideshow of him holding the newly minted certificate of the Abingdon chapter. Other images included the 17 men dressed in suits, standing next to Kappa Sigma HQ representatives. Graham was also present for the pictures, having become an honorary brother himself.
Of course, local Greek life was immediately on alert, and confusion quickly spread through the various organizations. On Greek Council, Bracero, who would go on to become Greek Council President, raised some concerns over their official chapter certificate, noting that it read “Emory & Henry College” rather than “Abingdon,” where they founded the chapter.
Since both their initiation and voting down, Banks says that their main goal remains the same: to be recognized on E&H’s campus.
“Being accepted and assimilated on campus. That’s our main priority right now,” he stated.
As for long-term goals, he says that he hopes the group will double in size, build an alumni base, and get on campus at E&H. All of these goals were created by the men with the oversight of Kappa Sigma HQ.
He ended our interview saying that the group will resubmit their proposal for legitimization for a third time in Fall of 2018.
As of April 2018, the newly appointed SGA President for the 2018-2019 academic year, Orlando Martinez, is staunchly anti-national Greek life.
"Kappa Sigma: The Men, the Myths, the Pledges?"
The debate surrounding national Greek organizations at Emory & Henry College has been longstanding and highly controversial, with the Kappa Sigma interest group at the center of the issue. Recognized as the Omicron chapter in Abingdon, Virginia, by Kappa Sigma’s national headquarters on March 17, the how’s and when’s leading up to that point, as well as the group’s future plans, have been largely ambiguous.
After being voted down by E&H’s Student Government Organization on March 2, 2018, some students thought that decision would be the end of the matter. I spoke with several sisters in my sorority, Delta Omicron Pi, and they were surprised at the news of Kappa Sigma becoming legitimized in Abingdon. They also expressed confusion, as the SGA vote and the earlier unanimous negative vote from Greek Council had already occurred. This confusion was widespread and diverse in its severity within the Greek community, with students taking to social media to express their feelings—or theories. Some claimed that John Holloway, the Vice President for Student Life, Student Success, and Diversity (who’s also acting as the interim Dean of Students) had approved the group on campus in spite of SGA and Greek Council’s decision. This theory ended up being mostly false; however, student-conceived theories surrounding Kappa Sigma are nothing new, as the organization’s beginnings, as well as other key events, have not been well-documented until now.
Though the current group seemingly began this crusade three years ago, the history of the organization dates back to E&H’s obscure early years. According to E&H senior Trenton Banks, the Omicron chapter of Kappa Sigma existed as a fraternity on campus from 1874 to 1895, along with three other national fraternities. Emory & Henry then enacted a ban on all Greek organizations in 1895. No official records stating why E&H enacted the ban have been found, but some suspect it was because the administration thought Greek life took away from the debate societies. Banks, a founding father of the Omicron chapter now based in Abingdon, says that financial debt may have been another reason; in order to remain afloat, E&H had to seek out a grant, apparently with the capitulation that fraternities had to be removed. According to the school website, Greek life trickled back into E&H in the early 1920s with local fraternity Dom-I-Necher, with other Greek organizations also establishing up into the early 2000s.
It wasn’t until the 1980s that someone wanted to bring Kappa Sigma to campus. Mitchell “Mic” Wilson, the Executive Director of Kappa Sigma since 1987, became interested in reviving the E&H Omicron chapter and continues to work toward this goal, says E&H senior Jake Caudill, another founding father of the Omicron chapter in Abingdon. Though it’s unclear what Wilson did to try to achieve this from the ’80s up until three years ago, it’s apparent that someone else must have also became involved in that time. Jimmy Whited, who was the Director of Housing and the de facto Greek life coordinator for E&H, was the one who originally gave permission to Banks and a few other interested young men to reach out to Kappa Sigma headquarters in late March of 2015. He also wrote them a letter of recommendation and served as an advisor for the group until his retirement in spring 2015. Banks says that there was a Greek life task force in 2003 that tried to bring Kappa Sigma back to campus, but ultimately nothing came of it— it’s unclear if Whited was involved then.
Caudill says that the current Omicron chapter has its beginnings in early spring 2015, when a group of four male students at E&H discussed bringing Kappa Sigma to campus. He recalls that the talk was fairly casual, but gradually became more serious when Whited encouraged the small group to reach out to the headquarters of Kappa Sigma. It’s then that the men got into contact with Wilson, who eventually came down to the college and had lunch with the interested group at Macado’s, a restaurant located directly across the street from the college. E&H’s lawyer Mark Graham became interested in Kappa Sigma around this time. Graham, who also serves as the executive assistant to the college’s president, became the Kappa Sigma interest group’s advisor in early spring 2017, after former Director of Student Leadership and Area Coordinator Josh von Castle mutually parted ways with the group.
Banks and a couple of other young men were invited by Wilson to attend Kappa Sigma’s “Grand Conclave” in July of 2015 in Las Vegas. The gathering, which occurs every two years, invites chapters from all around the country to attend, as well as interested parties (though they have to be invited personally).
Banks explained that there were restrictions on what they could participate in since they weren’t official members, but their rooms were paid for in full, as well as some other expenses.
“You have to understand,” Caudill said, “Mic really wanted to bring back Kappa Sigma. He reached out to them first.”
When school started back up in fall 2015, Banks says that the small group thought the process of becoming legitimized would pick up, but delayed meetings with the administration hampered that goal. Banks says that during this time, “[The delays] were all on the administrators’ part.” He also said that in February of 2016, the group first met with some higher-ups at the college, including the Executive Committee and the Alumni Board. A meeting with the Board of Trustees also occurred around this time, Banks said, with some students present.
Local Greek life eventually got wind of a potential national fraternity joining campus, but it wasn’t until early March of 2016 that the issue came to head. In a fiery public forum organized by SGA, the Kappa Sigma interest group and leaders from local Greek life went head-to-head, accusations of hazing being directed at both sides. While I was not in attendance, some friends recounted the chaotic nature of the event; with a lack of a moderator, the evening was cited as belligerent and uncoordinated.
Neither side was the immediately declared the winner of the impromptu debate, but SGA sent a letter of disapproval on lifting the ban of nationals to the Board of Trustees with Greek Council’s support. The vote, while not formal legislation, served as a preemptive petition. The matter was seemingly settled, until word got out that the Kappa Sigma interest group met with the Board of Trustees again in April, this time with results: the ban on national Greek life was lifted for the first time since its 19th century inception. Banks recalled there being only a few students at that key meeting.
I recall that summer having a flurry of social media outbursts, the school being emptied for the summer but having the full attention of many— local Greek graduates organized a petition that called for the reinstatement of the national Greek ban, some threatening to withdraw their monetary support for the college. Several of my sorority’s alumnae sent messages to our newly instated sorority president demanding answers we could not give; there was plenty of confusion and little transparency when it came to communicating with the administration at that time. I remember then-president of Greek Council Roman Roberts, who graduated that spring, unable to explain the decision made by the Board of Trustees.
The Kappa Sigma interest group was quiet during the resulting brouhaha, though not all by choice. During early Fall 2016, Banks said that former Dean of Students Pam Gourley “pumped the brakes,” requiring the interest group to do research on the fraternity and share it with her.
“I don’t think I appreciated it at the time,” Banks laughed, “But I’m glad she made us do all of that now.” Both Caudill and Banks participated in presenting said information to various Greek entities around campus, including Greek Council.
Greek Council gave a unanimous negative vote to the group that fall. In November 2016, SGA also voted down officially recognizing the group as a fraternity on campus.
Kappa Sigma was essentially killed, Banks recalled. During the Spring 2017 semester, there was little activity from the group, though some new members trickled in. Caudill emphasized frequently throughout our interview that they did not actively recruit anyone, rather, interested young men approached them first. This assertion has been heavily contested throughout the interest group’s tenure at E&H.
Despite the inactivity that spring, one member from the group, E&H junior Caleb Simpson, was present at the multiple sessions of the new “Greek Life Task Force,” an effort spearheaded by Holloway. The task force met over the summer, and Banks said that when they met back for the Fall 2017 semester, ultimately nothing seemed to come about from the task force; it was essentially dissolved at the end of the summer, according to one of my sorority sisters who was present for their meetings.
Seniors, including Banks and Caudill, felt an urgency to become official. This is when they decided to go off campus and establish themselves as a “colony” in the town of Abingdon. On October 8, 2017, Banks said that their official pledging began, as well as their first step towards being recognized as more than a colony, but as a chapter.
Local Greek life as E&H quickly discovered that the interest group was now a colony, though technically not one at the college itself. Some pointed to the school’s student handbook, saying that the group was blatantly violating the rules laid out for unchartered organizations. Yet the most frequent complaint was that Kappa Sigma was taking first-semester freshman, which is against the rules of rushing and pledging Greek at E&H according to the student handbook. There is some legitimacy to this claim, as the pledging process is months long, and first-year men were involved with the group.
Much to the chagrin of the largely anti-national Greek community, Holloway sent out a bizarre open letter via email on January 24, in which he claimed the Board of Trustees wanted E&H to be more “competitive,” and that Kappa Sigma would be a longterm revenue-generator for the college. He also asserted that there was a steady decline in Greek organization membership which could be resolved by allowing national organizations on campus.
“While I embrace the importance of history and traditions, the wrong response to any suggestion of change is, ‘We’ve always done it that way’…It is my sincere hope that as we take on the question of national Greek organizations on our campus, we think less about the challenges they pose to our campus culture and Greek traditions and more about the opportunities they create to enhance those and other traditions and, consequently, the experiences and opportunities of all of our students. So I look forward to watching your process unfold. As you undertake this process, it is also my sincere hope and desire that you give these students a chance to give back to their community, in their own way. I look forward to working with others to improve and strengthen our Greek life system and student experience at Emory & Henry. I challenge our SGA members to carefully deliberate about what will best benefit the College long after they graduate, not what is politically expedient today,’” Holloway stated in the letter.
Some local Greeks viewed the letter as inflammatory and biased, pointing out that Holloway repeatedly expressed how the administration claims to honor the wishes of students and is not anti-Local Greek, but still pushes an agenda regardless.
They might not have been wholly misguided, as Banks told me that Holloway did say he would “help them [Kappa Sigma],” though the Vice President and interim Dean did not specify how.
In spite of the ongoing controversy, or perhaps because of it, Banks described the excitement he felt when in January 2018, the group submitted a proposal to Kappa Sigma HQ for recognition as a chapter.
“It was a culmination of three years of work,” Banks said, “Even if we weren’t a colony those three years…it was exciting.”
Caudill remarked, “But let’s also not forget that how Trenton [Banks] and the other guys, you know, were doing all of this, we were also working to be on campus. That process never stopped.”
They were still pledging during this time, on-track to finish before the end of the spring semester.
The official Kappa Sigma website describes pledging as a, “…pledge education process [which] involves cultivating the new member with the basic knowledge necessary to understand the fraternity’s history, founding, growth, leadership structure, and responsibility within the Greek community as a whole. On a more personal level, the pledge program cultivates time management and personal development skills which become critical throughout college and beyond. In addition, emphasis is placed on the importance of responsibility to one’s self in terms of academic, fraternal and community obligations.”
There is no information on how long the process is or if it varies from chapter to chapter, but Caudill confirmed that the process takes months. Local Greeks at E&H are limited to one week of pledging.
When pledging was concluded in mid-Spring , Banks says that they held elections within the group. While not officially full members Kappa Sigma yet, they had already set March 17, 2018 as their “Initiation Day.”
The men petitioned Greek Council and SGA again, seeking official recognition. In the months leading up to the votes, SGA created an ad hoc committee to review the group, which met multiple times throughout the semester and held two small public forums.
In early March, Greek Council again gave a unanimous negative vote on the matter. SGA, with a 16-2 negative vote, also reprised history; Kappa Sigma would not be recognized by the college.
E&H sophomore Jarod Bracero, a senator on the ad hoc committee, said in a statement to The Whitetopper, “We represent our student body constituents and many students from many different backgrounds and aspects of the campus have voiced their concerns about allowing Kappa Sigma on the campus.”
Also in a statement to the Whitetopper, Simpson said, “I was a little surprised that it went the way that it did…The fact that there was that much opposition, I think that kind of speaks to that we maybe didn’t do our part in explaining our side better.”
When March 17, 2018’s Initiation Day finally arrived for the interest group, many a social media post by the newly proclaimed brothers were posted. Not only were they now official members, they were also an official chapter recognized by Kappa Sigma HQ.
“What a night, what a year, what a life,” E&H junior Andrew Davis wrote on Instagram, under a slideshow of him holding the newly minted certificate of the Abingdon chapter. Other images included the 17 men dressed in suits, standing next to Kappa Sigma HQ representatives. Graham was also present for the pictures, having become an honorary brother himself.
Of course, local Greek life was immediately on alert, and confusion quickly spread through the various organizations. On Greek Council, Bracero, who would go on to become Greek Council President, raised some concerns over their official chapter certificate, noting that it read “Emory & Henry College” rather than “Abingdon,” where they founded the chapter.
Since both their initiation and voting down, Banks says that their main goal remains the same: to be recognized on E&H’s campus.
“Being accepted and assimilated on campus. That’s our main priority right now,” he stated.
As for long-term goals, he says that he hopes the group will double in size, build an alumni base, and get on campus at E&H. All of these goals were created by the men with the oversight of Kappa Sigma HQ.
He ended our interview saying that the group will resubmit their proposal for legitimization for a third time in Fall of 2018.
As of April 2018, the newly appointed SGA President for the 2018-2019 academic year, Orlando Martinez, is staunchly anti-national Greek life.
rampy_kappasigma.pages | |
File Size: | 862 kb |
File Type: | pages |
Reflection:
I loved interviewing Dr. Davis; as an advisor and friend, he was actually NOT the first person I went to for this interview. Instead, I reached out to Dr. Steven Hopp, a professor who specializes in local Appalachian agriculture and cuisine. Unfortunately, he was away in Australia during the time I was writing this, but I knew Dr. Davis had a significant amount of experience interviewing and researching local growers, as well as having written a book on collards (a staple Appalachian food.
I struggled to make this article salient; it means something to me, yes, but does it mean something to other people? I tried to make it interesting, but I'm not sure if I succeeded entirely. The main changes I made were a few grammatical corrections and shortening some quotes for cohesiveness.
I loved interviewing Dr. Davis; as an advisor and friend, he was actually NOT the first person I went to for this interview. Instead, I reached out to Dr. Steven Hopp, a professor who specializes in local Appalachian agriculture and cuisine. Unfortunately, he was away in Australia during the time I was writing this, but I knew Dr. Davis had a significant amount of experience interviewing and researching local growers, as well as having written a book on collards (a staple Appalachian food.
I struggled to make this article salient; it means something to me, yes, but does it mean something to other people? I tried to make it interesting, but I'm not sure if I succeeded entirely. The main changes I made were a few grammatical corrections and shortening some quotes for cohesiveness.
Expert Interview:
"Interpreting Modern Appalachian Food"
Appalachian cuisine cannot be easily defined because socioeconomic background, region, and personal heritage influence how the term is interpreted, according to Ed Davis, head of the Environmental Studies department at Emory & Henry College. Davis, who has a doctorate degree in geography, says that because the entire Appalachian region extends from Northern Georgia and reaches into Pennsylvania, there cannot be a regional food that defines the area. But Davis says that what geographers calls the upland south, or southern Appalachia, has a few staple foods.
“Cabbage. Cabbage is not as popular outside the southern Appalachia and other parts of the South, and it’s probably here because the Scotch-Irish and some German people who probably migrated south got to southern Appalachia…There used to be areas of Virginia in the mountains, between here and Galax, that were called ‘cabbage towns,’ because all the local people were growing cabbage. Partly because they had a local tradition of it, but partly because the trains would carry the cabbage north to the markets, to Washington or Richmond, for example,” Davis said.
According to Davis, cabbage was a crop low-income families could grow in high volume and eat year-round. While not a native species to Virginia, cabbage was a practical food due to its market value and healthfulness. In modern times it continues to be a staple in the region, with fried variations increasingly popular. Davis explained that a culture of foraging continues to exist, with people gathering wild greens which often grow alongside roads. Other crops, such as beans and corn, are also staple foods. This could be because of intermarriage between the native peoples of Appalachia and European immigrants, according to a book by Ken Albala titled, “Beans: A History.”
Davis emphasizes that respecting and appreciating the “old food ways” of Appalachia is more important than attempting to classify foods. He says that Appalachia is harshly stereotyped, and “outsiders” interested in the cuisine tend to ignore the economic struggles of the region or patronize the people. For example, an article by the New York Times titled, “The Next Big Thing in American Regional Cooking: Humble Appalachia,” where the first sentence describes a local man smoking and talking about drugs, may do more harm than good. Commercialization is also another issue the region faces regarding Appalachian cuisine.
“Some commercialization, like a [food] festival, I think that’s cool. Other commercialization, it’s just someone trying to sell something. They’ve got a picture of a hillbilly on a porch, and they put that on the outside on a piece of beef jerky, and they say that’s Appalachian food,” Davis says, “A lot of that is sad. Not only is it not authentic, but it can be insulting. It’s probably not helping people be aware in any way. There’s no conversation with real Appalachian people.”
"Interpreting Modern Appalachian Food"
Appalachian cuisine cannot be easily defined because socioeconomic background, region, and personal heritage influence how the term is interpreted, according to Ed Davis, head of the Environmental Studies department at Emory & Henry College. Davis, who has a doctorate degree in geography, says that because the entire Appalachian region extends from Northern Georgia and reaches into Pennsylvania, there cannot be a regional food that defines the area. But Davis says that what geographers calls the upland south, or southern Appalachia, has a few staple foods.
“Cabbage. Cabbage is not as popular outside the southern Appalachia and other parts of the South, and it’s probably here because the Scotch-Irish and some German people who probably migrated south got to southern Appalachia…There used to be areas of Virginia in the mountains, between here and Galax, that were called ‘cabbage towns,’ because all the local people were growing cabbage. Partly because they had a local tradition of it, but partly because the trains would carry the cabbage north to the markets, to Washington or Richmond, for example,” Davis said.
According to Davis, cabbage was a crop low-income families could grow in high volume and eat year-round. While not a native species to Virginia, cabbage was a practical food due to its market value and healthfulness. In modern times it continues to be a staple in the region, with fried variations increasingly popular. Davis explained that a culture of foraging continues to exist, with people gathering wild greens which often grow alongside roads. Other crops, such as beans and corn, are also staple foods. This could be because of intermarriage between the native peoples of Appalachia and European immigrants, according to a book by Ken Albala titled, “Beans: A History.”
Davis emphasizes that respecting and appreciating the “old food ways” of Appalachia is more important than attempting to classify foods. He says that Appalachia is harshly stereotyped, and “outsiders” interested in the cuisine tend to ignore the economic struggles of the region or patronize the people. For example, an article by the New York Times titled, “The Next Big Thing in American Regional Cooking: Humble Appalachia,” where the first sentence describes a local man smoking and talking about drugs, may do more harm than good. Commercialization is also another issue the region faces regarding Appalachian cuisine.
“Some commercialization, like a [food] festival, I think that’s cool. Other commercialization, it’s just someone trying to sell something. They’ve got a picture of a hillbilly on a porch, and they put that on the outside on a piece of beef jerky, and they say that’s Appalachian food,” Davis says, “A lot of that is sad. Not only is it not authentic, but it can be insulting. It’s probably not helping people be aware in any way. There’s no conversation with real Appalachian people.”
rampy_expertinterview.pages | |
File Size: | 670 kb |
File Type: | pages |
Reflection:
This issue has been of significance to me since my freshman year, and something I personally worked on in my time as a senator for SGA. Plus, it's incredibly salient; I've had so many people, mostly young women, wonder why the campus isn't better lit.
One of the things I struggled with was basing all the assertions made in fact/science. This was hard to do considering the nuance of studies done on the subject, as well as the other impactful variables that could put holes in my conclusion for the story (e.g. socioeconomic status, region, culture, etc). The changes I made for the final draft were correcting a few grammatical errors and cutting back on pedantic titles of studies.
This issue has been of significance to me since my freshman year, and something I personally worked on in my time as a senator for SGA. Plus, it's incredibly salient; I've had so many people, mostly young women, wonder why the campus isn't better lit.
One of the things I struggled with was basing all the assertions made in fact/science. This was hard to do considering the nuance of studies done on the subject, as well as the other impactful variables that could put holes in my conclusion for the story (e.g. socioeconomic status, region, culture, etc). The changes I made for the final draft were correcting a few grammatical errors and cutting back on pedantic titles of studies.
Research story:
"Emory & Henry Amps Up Lighting after Students Speak Out"
Changes in outdoor lighting may significantly impact students at Emory & Henry College. After numerous complaints from constituents, the Student Government Association issued a bill last year citing the need for increased lighting around campus. The college administration has now begun implementing new safety measures, including updating older light fixtures, installing new outdoor lighting, and adding emergency call boxes.
“One of my greatest fears throughout my four years at Emory & Henry College is walking alone at night,” said E&H senior Amber Robinson, “The campus is often empty after dark because the lack of lighting makes it feel unsafe.”
The need for increased safety at the college comes after years of complaints about poor outdoor lighting on campus. According to a 2012 New York Times article, that’s a common concern amongst residents at various higher education institutions.
The article also states that 80 percent of crimes at colleges are committed on campus by students, leading institutions to invest in various security strategies. Emory & Henry College’s 2016 annual crime report seems to follow this trend— crimes reported that year were all committed on campus except for one case. But according to a study from the University of College London, there is no definitive correlation between crime and outdoor lighting, making it difficult to assert why E&H’s crime were primarily on campus.
Too much lighting may also negatively impact communities. The American Medical Association released a report in 2012 citing the harmful effects of overexposure to bright lighting at night, which included temporary blindness and decreased mental acuity. The floodlight by Wiley Jackson Hall, a residential dorm at Emory & Henry College, has been scrutinized for being too bright. A resident of Wiley Jackson hall stated, “It’s blinding. I feel like it’s more dangerous because someone could pop out from the darkness behind [the floodlight] and you wouldn’t know.” The student wished to remain anonymous for safety concerns, citing a recent break-in at the dorm.
But despite these findings, people tend to feel safer with more lighting at night. This might be attributed to the perception that more light equals more safety, according to a 2015 study by the University of London.
John Holloway, the Vice President for Student Life and Student Success and Dean of Inclusion at E&H explained, “There was a student in Wiley Jackson who had walked the campus with me. As you know we have temporary lighting down there [at Wiley Jackson Hall] right now, and we’re not done. There will be some additional lighting, particularly by the design studios; it’s very dark around there.” He added that there are plans to create a map of the new emergency call boxes for students, and that cameras affixed to the top of the boxes will add additional security.
"Emory & Henry Amps Up Lighting after Students Speak Out"
Changes in outdoor lighting may significantly impact students at Emory & Henry College. After numerous complaints from constituents, the Student Government Association issued a bill last year citing the need for increased lighting around campus. The college administration has now begun implementing new safety measures, including updating older light fixtures, installing new outdoor lighting, and adding emergency call boxes.
“One of my greatest fears throughout my four years at Emory & Henry College is walking alone at night,” said E&H senior Amber Robinson, “The campus is often empty after dark because the lack of lighting makes it feel unsafe.”
The need for increased safety at the college comes after years of complaints about poor outdoor lighting on campus. According to a 2012 New York Times article, that’s a common concern amongst residents at various higher education institutions.
The article also states that 80 percent of crimes at colleges are committed on campus by students, leading institutions to invest in various security strategies. Emory & Henry College’s 2016 annual crime report seems to follow this trend— crimes reported that year were all committed on campus except for one case. But according to a study from the University of College London, there is no definitive correlation between crime and outdoor lighting, making it difficult to assert why E&H’s crime were primarily on campus.
Too much lighting may also negatively impact communities. The American Medical Association released a report in 2012 citing the harmful effects of overexposure to bright lighting at night, which included temporary blindness and decreased mental acuity. The floodlight by Wiley Jackson Hall, a residential dorm at Emory & Henry College, has been scrutinized for being too bright. A resident of Wiley Jackson hall stated, “It’s blinding. I feel like it’s more dangerous because someone could pop out from the darkness behind [the floodlight] and you wouldn’t know.” The student wished to remain anonymous for safety concerns, citing a recent break-in at the dorm.
But despite these findings, people tend to feel safer with more lighting at night. This might be attributed to the perception that more light equals more safety, according to a 2015 study by the University of London.
John Holloway, the Vice President for Student Life and Student Success and Dean of Inclusion at E&H explained, “There was a student in Wiley Jackson who had walked the campus with me. As you know we have temporary lighting down there [at Wiley Jackson Hall] right now, and we’re not done. There will be some additional lighting, particularly by the design studios; it’s very dark around there.” He added that there are plans to create a map of the new emergency call boxes for students, and that cameras affixed to the top of the boxes will add additional security.
rampy_feb6article.pages | |
File Size: | 2367 kb |
File Type: | pages |
Reflection:
Since this was my first assignment in the class, I wasn't quite sure what info to include and how to properly edit it to include more info (which was the main feedback I got on this article.
I am pleased with the quotes I got, because I think they told more of the story than anything I myself could have researched/observed at the event. Plus I was working the event and ended up missing some of the keynote speech, so I'm glad I had people to talk to who stayed for the whole thing.
Since this was my first assignment in the class, I wasn't quite sure what info to include and how to properly edit it to include more info (which was the main feedback I got on this article.
I am pleased with the quotes I got, because I think they told more of the story than anything I myself could have researched/observed at the event. Plus I was working the event and ended up missing some of the keynote speech, so I'm glad I had people to talk to who stayed for the whole thing.
MLK Day at E&H:
"Bettina Love Concludes Weeklong MLK Day Celebration"
Emory & Henry College commemorated the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. with a keynote address on Monday, concluding a weeklong series of events centered around “privilege.” Keynote speaker Bettina Love, who holds a doctorate in educational policy studies, spoke about the connections between privilege, urban education, and hip-hop culture.
“I loved the keynote speech,” E&H junior Austin Falin remarked, “I also thought the flow of the day was better than last year.”
Following the keynote address, participants were invited to attend a morning breakout session, with topics ranging from environmental racism to incarceration. Love also held a breakout session in the afternoon, titled “Recognizing Privilege Isn't Enough: Talking About the Real Work.”
E&H sophomore Sam Mungai said of the day, “[It was] insightful in a sense that we looked into avenues where we can exercise diversity so that Dr. King's vision of togetherness can be continued for generations to come.”
The MLK Day Celebration webpage stated the theme for the week was “Break the Silence. Be the Change.” Coordinated by the MLK Day Planning Team and sponsored by the Office of Spiritual Life, the week “[challenged us] to take a hard look at the many ways in which race, gender, religion, socio-economic status, geographical location, sexual identity, etc. define the various levels of privilege that we have and how the privilege of one group often means oppression for others,” according to the official webpage.
“With our campus just recently opening its eyes to social justice, this is one of the cornerstones of the year,” said E&H senior Safa Farhoumand of the week. He was among a dozen other volunteers who helped with events throughout the week.
"Bettina Love Concludes Weeklong MLK Day Celebration"
Emory & Henry College commemorated the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. with a keynote address on Monday, concluding a weeklong series of events centered around “privilege.” Keynote speaker Bettina Love, who holds a doctorate in educational policy studies, spoke about the connections between privilege, urban education, and hip-hop culture.
“I loved the keynote speech,” E&H junior Austin Falin remarked, “I also thought the flow of the day was better than last year.”
Following the keynote address, participants were invited to attend a morning breakout session, with topics ranging from environmental racism to incarceration. Love also held a breakout session in the afternoon, titled “Recognizing Privilege Isn't Enough: Talking About the Real Work.”
E&H sophomore Sam Mungai said of the day, “[It was] insightful in a sense that we looked into avenues where we can exercise diversity so that Dr. King's vision of togetherness can be continued for generations to come.”
The MLK Day Celebration webpage stated the theme for the week was “Break the Silence. Be the Change.” Coordinated by the MLK Day Planning Team and sponsored by the Office of Spiritual Life, the week “[challenged us] to take a hard look at the many ways in which race, gender, religion, socio-economic status, geographical location, sexual identity, etc. define the various levels of privilege that we have and how the privilege of one group often means oppression for others,” according to the official webpage.
“With our campus just recently opening its eyes to social justice, this is one of the cornerstones of the year,” said E&H senior Safa Farhoumand of the week. He was among a dozen other volunteers who helped with events throughout the week.
mlkday_report.pages | |
File Size: | 2976 kb |
File Type: | pages |
Reflection on MCOM 202:
I think the thing I learned the most from this class was that writing concisely is difficult for me. I'm a pedantic person by default, as I spend most of my time writing academic papers...it's hard for me to shorten sentences, and it's even harder for me to write something where all the important facts come first— I struggle to discern what is and is not considered as such. Plus, I HATE opening leads, probably because I'm not witty enough (ha!).
But despite the above self-deprecation, I've rediscovered my love for seeking the truth through writing and interviewing. I'm a very rational person, and I think news writing requires one to be rational, so at least I have an advantage there. Plus, I feel like I've grown in my ability to ask hard questions; I have gotten to the place where I feel comfortable asking for clarification or bringing up facts that might not be easy to hear, because reporting the truth, no matter how painful, is vital to society.
If anything, this class taught me that we are "cognitive misers" and that we all carry personal biases that influence everything, and that no news writer is completely objective. And that's okay, as long as one does their best to present the facts without any froufrou attached. I think the best news writers have done that. They're objective, but they are still themselves through and through. They understand how to angle a story to promote a news value (or values), but it's not done with an agenda to create "alternative facts."
In the era of fake news, I think just being human, being authentic and truthful, as well as thinking logically and not taking the easy way out, is our best bet. Doing research for my stories really solidified my thinking on that. I was required to corroborate stories, facts, etc., and go out of my way to go to the source of a story. In the future, I feel I will be able to look at a news story and determine whether or not an agenda is present and if the writer truly did thorough research.
I think the thing I learned the most from this class was that writing concisely is difficult for me. I'm a pedantic person by default, as I spend most of my time writing academic papers...it's hard for me to shorten sentences, and it's even harder for me to write something where all the important facts come first— I struggle to discern what is and is not considered as such. Plus, I HATE opening leads, probably because I'm not witty enough (ha!).
But despite the above self-deprecation, I've rediscovered my love for seeking the truth through writing and interviewing. I'm a very rational person, and I think news writing requires one to be rational, so at least I have an advantage there. Plus, I feel like I've grown in my ability to ask hard questions; I have gotten to the place where I feel comfortable asking for clarification or bringing up facts that might not be easy to hear, because reporting the truth, no matter how painful, is vital to society.
If anything, this class taught me that we are "cognitive misers" and that we all carry personal biases that influence everything, and that no news writer is completely objective. And that's okay, as long as one does their best to present the facts without any froufrou attached. I think the best news writers have done that. They're objective, but they are still themselves through and through. They understand how to angle a story to promote a news value (or values), but it's not done with an agenda to create "alternative facts."
In the era of fake news, I think just being human, being authentic and truthful, as well as thinking logically and not taking the easy way out, is our best bet. Doing research for my stories really solidified my thinking on that. I was required to corroborate stories, facts, etc., and go out of my way to go to the source of a story. In the future, I feel I will be able to look at a news story and determine whether or not an agenda is present and if the writer truly did thorough research.