By: Rayna Young Despite all the drawbacks and foolishness, I have to admit, being black is pretty cool. Being heavily melanated means you hold claim to rap music, cool hairstyles and most importantly, Beyoncé. But this article isn’t about music or Beyoncé: it's about hair. Cornrows, afros, dreads-you name it, and black people rock it. But recently, Prestoria High School in South Africa has prohibited its students from wearing these hairstyles as a part of its dress code in favor of hairstyles that are “neat and orderly,” whatever that means. Clearly the creators of this dress code have never seen cornrows done right, because after I got cornrows, every hair on my head was laid down and pulled back in a way that was neat and orderly, even if it strayed on the side of Botox. While these rules were removed from the school’s dress code after receiving backlash, it's a sign that South Africa, a country that only 22 years ago had systematically institutionalized racism, still has a lot of progress to do. Coincidentally, a country about 13,000 kilometers away is also struggling with race relations. The trouble is, I don't have an excuse for them.
That's right, I'm talking about America: the land of the free, and the home of cultural appropriation. Articles praising Kylie Jenner’s boxer braids as revolutionary are prevalent, but they are incorrect. These traditionally black hairstyles have been repossessed and glorified by white people, but often they are villainized on the people they belong to. In 2014, the U.S. Army updated its dress code in a very similar fashion to Prestoria High School. Once again, dreadlocks, cornrows and other traditionally black hairstyles were forbidden. However, unlike the situation in South Africa, no changes have been made to the military dress code. When asked about the dress code, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said, “Each Service reviewed its hairstyle policies to ensure standards are fair and respectful while also meeting our military requirements. As a result of these reviews the Army, Navy, and Air Force determined changes were necessary to their Service grooming regulations to include additional authorized hairstyles.” This not only speaks to the treatment of black women in the country, but also to the value that something as minuscule as hair has. The fact is, the U.S. Army would keep people from defending our country because of their hairstyles, and that's seriously twisted. At the end of the day, the way you wear your hair is a representation of your culture; however, it shouldn't be taken too seriously, and it definitely should not keep you from going to school or serving your country. And if someone doesn't like your hairstyle, brush it off.
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Article by: Marine Elia | Graphic by: Caden Speakman and Maggie Hall You’ve heard about it on TV, you’ve seen the labels at the grocery store, and maybe you've even come into contact with people who embrace these beliefs. In the past two years, veganism has risen to new controversial heights—a polarization equivalent to that of the presidential election. Tensions have come to a point where it seems as if everyone is either retweeting anti-vegan propaganda that manifests itself in the form of memes, or buying veggie bacon quinoa at Whole Foods. Yet on both sides, there seems to be a lack of understanding of what it truly means to be vegan.
At its simplest definition, vegans do not consume or purchase animal products. Considering that over 90 million people in the United States are living with obesity due to diets overflowing with saturated fats, this leaves a large percentage of the American population at risk for innumerable diseases that arise from being overweight. This is where veganism proves to be medically beneficial: vegans have reduced cancer rates of up to 25%. Beyond the superficial classification of a vegan, there are other non-dietary reasons to make the switch to this lifestyle. Environmental and ethical values are also fundamental to a vegan perspective. Large factory farms use considerable amounts of energy as well as contributing carbon emissions that pollute the air. A diet free from meat, dairy, and eggs cut personal carbon emissions in half. When it comes to the topic of ethics in these large scale factory farms, I get why vegans are so outspoken. Animals should not be thrust together in cages to the point where their mobility is obstructed. Yet, animals are a resource humans have turned to since we first evolved: they provide us with nourishment, clothing, medicine, and shelter. I have the utmost respect to vegans for having the willpower to resist bacon, but the type of vegan I can’t support are the “trend vegans.” Trend vegans are those who become vegan after they see that a Kardashian recently made the switch. These types of vegans are lured by advertising on food packagings, brand names, and are wholly easily influenceable. Trend vegans may just want something to rant about with no actual facts or passion behind their motivations other than celebrity culture. Although you may be vegan, a flexitarian, or a full-on carnivore, it isn’t anyone’s right to shame others and dictate what they chose to put into their own bodies. I want to live in a world where I can have lunch with a vegan who won’t cringe once I utter the letters “BLT” in my order. So if you’re thinking about going vegan, go ahead and pour coconut milk into your cereal, and blend your avocado-kale smoothies—but don’t expect me to eat fillet mignon flavored tofu. By: Iman Dancy Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Brown, Columbia, Dartmouth, Cornell, and the University of Pennsylvania--these eight institutions comprise the oh-so-eminent Ivy League universities. Practically synonymous with prestige, academic rigor, and selectivity, the “Ivies” have undoubtedly snagged the role as our nation’s top universities. Every spring, tens of thousands of immensely qualified students scramble to their laptops, anxiously awaiting the highly coveted acceptance emails from Ivy League schools; these automated messages act as validation that their all-nighters and endless stays in the public library have finally paid off. It’s difficult to deny the obvious allure of these reputable colleges: the world-renowned faculty and alumni, skyscraping post-graduation employment rates, and most importantly, the monumental pride that accompanies the statement: “I’m an Ivy League grad!”
Though in recent years, it appears that high school students’—and their parents’—seemingly harmless interest in these universities has developed into a toxic obsession. Many have adopted a “Harvard or nothing” mentality, solely fixating their vision on this small handful of colleges out of the nearly five thousand in the United States. While we may prefer to label these teenagers’ zealous pursuits of the Ivies as commendable ambition and drive, eventually we have to call it like it is: a dangerous infatuation that only sets students up for a sense of incompetence and failure. Wanting to attend an Ivy League is no issue in itself, but too many students have begun to merely chase after the brand name (and the praise that goes along with it), regardless of whether or not the university actually interests them. This steadfast preoccupation with the “elite octagon” shields the thousands of other worthy candidates sitting right in front of them. A person’s dream school could be just down the street, but a prematurely determined mind and restricted field of vision might prevent the opportunity of ever discovering that. Katherine Gan, a senior at Enloe, shared her thoughts on the epidemic, “It’s not even like you want to go to the school to get an education, you want to go to the school so you can put the bumper sticker on your car… and so that you can namedrop into conversations. And what I don’t like is when people think that because you get into an Ivy League, you are inherently worth more than your peers who maybe worked just as hard, but don’t define their life by what two admissions committee people think of them.” It would be hypocritical for me not to examine my own part in this though; as badly as I would like to disavow myself from this Ivy League mania, I must admit that I have also been infected by this virulent mindset. Last year, and maybe even yesterday, had you asked me what colleges I wanted to attend, I’d say: “Columbia, Harvard, and Yale,” in that order. If I was questioned as to why those particular universities topped my list, following some contemplative hesitation, I’d respond somewhere along the lines of, “They’re great schools—everyone knows that.” And while this has been almost universally accepted as fact, fanatically pursuing these schools that we, oftentimes, know little to nothing about, is both dangerous, and frankly, absurd. While setting one’s sights on these highly selective universities is certainly admirable, chasing the Ivy Leagues solely for the glory, false sense of security, or parental approval is a path ultimately leading to a feeling of emptiness and dissatisfaction. Instead, we must expand our sight, acknowledge the thousands of potentially incredible options at our disposal, and separate ourselves from this Ivy League infatuation that is so greatly affecting our nation. ![]() By Adam Sichel As NBA fans anxiously await the upcoming season, expectations for this year's favorites (and underdogs) rise to new heights. Here is the Eagle Eye's NBA 16-17 Predictions. EMAIL US IF YOU WANT YOUR FAVORITE TEAM ON HERE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORs
West, 1st Place ( 75-7 )
Proving that he will do anything to achieve his first championship, Kevin Durant joins the already stacked Golden State Warriors in the most epic super team since the 2010 Miami Heat. Watch for a shoot-first offense that spreads the court and heaves up 3 point shots left and right. It is seemingly unfair that defenses will have to guard KD and Steph, even the Commissioner Adam Silver was not happy about the acquisition. Despite the hate from around the league, this team will undoubtedly be exciting to watch and hopefully former NC State sharpshooter Scott Wood gets some minutes off the bench. CHICAGO BULLS
East, 3rd Place (60-22)
The Bulls made some shocking front office moves this summer in acquiring Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo. A smart short-term move to keep the fanbase happy after Rose’s departure. It was not so shocking for Bulls purists that Derrick Rose left, and all together a much needed “restart button.” As fans eagerly await the coming season, they can expect an established leader in Jimmy Butler. Watch for Rondo to finally play like his 2008-self and defenses struggling to keep up with Dwyane Wade's speed and ability to score at will. NEW YORK KNICKS
East, 4th Place (52-27)
Knicks fans have a lot to be excited about this season. New additions Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, once MVP caliber players, come to New York seeking a positive change in their careers. Rose, who was recently acquitted of sexual assault charges, was found not guilty and has missed a lot of basketball over the past month. Fans should not be worried where his mind is at for the upcoming season. Established veteran Carmelo Anthony, and breakout star, Kristaps Porzingis, add huge depth to this diverse team through size and strength. Look for Zen Master Phil's Knicks to shoot a lot from the three, play the Triangle, and Derrick Rose to finally prove he belongs in the league. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
East, 2nd Place (52-30)
This young squad has literally started from the bottom. In the last 11 years, the Minnesota Timberwolves have held a losing record, and the last time they were a winning team was when KG was around in 2004. Keving Garnett, who returned to the team last year, restored a hope in the franchise that was lost. This year with several new players and Hall Of Fame coach Tom Thibodeau, Minnesota intends to show off their talent. Rookie Of The Year big man Karl Anthony-Towns, Andrew Wiggins, Zach Lavine, Kris Dunn, and Tyus Jones create a frightening starting five. That is fresh raw talent that would leave any coach crying tears of joy. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
East, 1st Place (55-27)
The Cleveland Cavaliers come off a historic season and return as reigning champions. The main core of last year's team remains intact leaving 'Bron, JR Smith, K.Love, and and legend Kyrie Irving to only improve from last season. All expectation has been lifted from Lebron's shoulders, and the fans of Cleveland in Northeast Ohio will remain loyal and forever thankful to their savior Lebron James. Of course they hope for a repeat this year, but it is unlikely due to the increase in talent with Chicago, Minnesota, and New York. Oh yeah, and Golden State. By Mail:
-Provide date of birth -State or country of birth -NC voter registration number if you know it -NC driver’s license number or non-operators ID card -Last 4 digits of social security number 3. Send form by mailing to County Board of Elections by 5pm on October 14th AND mail or deliver the original to the County Board of Elections by October 19th. Check if you’re registered at: http://enr.ncsbe.gov In Person:
Check if you’re registered at: http://enr.ncsbe.gov Requirements: You must... -Be a U.S. citizen -Be 18 years old by November 8th -Live in NC and the precinct where you will vote -Not be convicted of a felony, in jail, on probation, or on parole -Not claim the right to vote in another state Interviewer: Maggie Hall
Maggie Hall: Okay, so, obviously, We The People is very different from a traditional show structure so why did you choose to audition for something like this? Ryan Gee: Okay, I think it’s a real opportunity to, at least, attempt to like really affect some people because it’s talking about like our school, and ourselves, and like it just, it’s carrying a big message, a lot of messages, and I think it’s an important thing to do. And I also think it’s like, you know, this is the only version of this play that will ever be put on ever. And so it’s like a once in a lifetime experience. Jordan King: Yeah, I totally agree. I mean, I did it because, you know, you get the chance to, even with being a writer, you got to really write what you felt, and you get to see a different point of view. It’s not a traditional play, this is, these are things that people can relate to, like in real life. Like in relationships, being pressured to do certain things, you know, and it’s a way to reach people in a way that is unique and you don’t have to do-- you can just put on a show and it’s more than just a show, it’s real life. M: Absolutely, so what has been your favorite part of the process so far? J: I definitely liked writing. I like writing anyway, and I really liked working with people and figuring out what they thought was real. We didn’t want to make it cliche, we wanted it to be like real and these are things that actually happened and working with other people and seeing their ideas, because you may have amazing ideas, but it’s nice to see other people’s point of view and that can help you in your writing and so I definitely liked writing the most. R: Can I say what I’m looking forward to? Because we’re not that far into it-- M: Go for it. R: I’m just, I’m really looking forward to like the actual shows, because I wanna see like how people react. ‘Cause I think like, especially in some of the more like, intense scenes, not intense, but, I don’t know what the right word is. Yeah, powerful. Like I imagine, you’ll see things on people’s faces and I think that’ll be really cool to like watch and see and like how it affects people. M: So I know, what is affected you the most, being part of this process? J: Okay, um, I guess, in a way, just, I like listening to people, I like hearing, I guess I’m a very creative person but there’s only so much you can do yourself. And, you know, people are all around you, you know, that’s who you get everything from and I guess when you really like tune out of things and just listen to people, it’s just, it’s just amazing just to do that. I mean, I don’t know, I just, I don’t know. It’s just amazing. I like being here. R: Wait what was the question again? M: What part of this process has affected you the most? You were talking about how it affects other people. R: I have, like, it just...People have written some really beautiful things. And, just like, reading some of the scenes, like I haven’t even seen most of them performed, and you know I’ve heard them read once, but just like hearing them being read, it was like really beautiful. M: That’s so cool, so what has been the most difficult part about this process thus far? Or what do you anticipate being the most difficult? J: Um, I guess getting really into our characters because in this particular performance we play so many different people, and you know, it’s not like a continued storyline. It’s you’re one person this minute, another the next. And I think that, really being able to play both parts or however many parts you have and doing them well, and adding your unique flair to each of them, and still making them individual, is going to be hard. But you know, I’m ready for it. R: Um, I think...I don’t know. Um, can I pass? M: Absolutely. You don’t have to answer like, any of these if you don’t want. So, just a quick thing, so I know that Ms. Dillard mentioned something about it being, you know, two rotating shows, going on at one time. Any updates on that? Anything… I didn’t anticipate you being in the room, for this question, so…. R: Is it happening? Ms. Dillard: Yeah. M: It’s definitely happening? R: I think that will be really cool. Because it’ll be hard, it’ll be like a challenge almost. Having to, you know, be in one scene and then maybe run across the school to go be in the next like, I don’t know, I’m looking forward to, like, the challenge of putting on basically two shows, every night. J: Can you repeat the question? M: It wasn’t very clear, so you’re fine. So just the whole two shows a day thing, um kinda’ rotating. How do you feel about that? J: I like it, I think the audience is going to get a better feel for Enloe. And I’m most excited about just not the shows themselves but like the transitioning to each show because it’s like, you’re talking about one thing one minute, and then another thing another minute, and I think that there’s a level of you know, maturity in it, but at the same time we still want that free, you know, it’s not like an orientation, presentation thing, it’s supposed to be like a show but it’s supposed to mean something as well. M: Awesome. Thank you so much. R&J: Thank you! Interviewer: Maggie Hall
Maggie Hall: So, We The People, is obviously a very different show from traditional show structure, so why did you choose to audition? Kwani Taylor: You start? Ricky Hall: I’ll go, um, I chose to do it because I think it’s almost, it’s really different in the way that it’s constructed and I knew that it would be a challenge for us. I knew that it would be a challenge for me in particular because in regular theater you are used to “the norm”, which is you go in for the audition, you do some work of a famous playwright, or you sing, and you get cast from that audition. But I knew coming into this that it would be me as an actor, just being solely me and the issues and the prose that I have with them. Q: For me, it’s kind of like the plays that we do, the context they were written in, kind of like The Wizard of Oz, like it was written about the populus era, and with The Crucible it was written about communism and things of that nature, but nothing is really about what we’re going through now. The fact that we got to write our own monologues and then start writing scenes based around things that we experience every single day, it was kind of like a new experience as an actor, to actually write the thing you’re doing and then see it come to life, and about “the now” instead of being in the past. M: Thank you, and so, I know that a lot of people who auditioned going in didn’t know to the full extent that Ms. Dillard was planning this, with the site specific acting and things. What was your first reaction learning about the many facets of this show? Q: Well, I was the stage manager of MacB, so me and Ms. Dillard got a bit closer. So it was last year that I figured out what she was trying to do and she showed me the script. The We The People script that she showed me, she actually did for her high school. She told me the idea, and I was just surprised because a lot of the plays, we kind of like to do it in the auditorium and have a professional setting and have people sit down, we have ticket sales, and we are incorporating a bunch of tech. I thought about it, and I was like, I like having the feeling that this is acting in the now. In Actor’s Ensemble, we go through this Suzuki period, where you’re not acting, you have to act with nothingness. And you don’t always need a bunch of lights and sound cues and like a huge production for somebody to feel something. And I think that’s what we want, for people to feel something. We want people to get uncomfortable. We want people to feel comfortable. We want people to relate to the things we’re speaking about. And that’s what I really liked about it. R: Yeah, on top of that, like the honesty, when she initially told us, I’m not gonna lie with you, it intrigued me. It kinda scared me. I didn’t know to what...my biggest worry was that we would struggle with just the nature of the play and its honesty. And I knew that we, were mastering it now. We are slowly getting in that rehearsal process where we’re breaking it down and it’s just so natural. It feels like us, teenagers, portraying what we know as Enloe. M: That’s really cool. So what has been your favorite part of the process so far? Q: Probably hearing everybody else’s ideas, because literally when we first came in for the first rehearsal there was.. R: (laughs) Nothing. Q: (laughs) Nothingness. We all each had our own monologues of course and they’re not exactly incorporated but Dillard kind of had a few ideas from the monologues that she wanted to do. So we were like okay, there’s ten scenes. What do we wanna’ do, what do we wanna’ tell the audience in these ten scenes. And I think just coming up with everything and we had a blank slate and everybody else’s ideas and hearing everybody else’s...kinda being contributed into it. Like there was freshman and seniors, we were all like going in and saying like ‘Okay, yes we can do this. No, that’s not the best idea.’ And just that creative process, that peer communication, that was my favorite part. R: Right, I liked the fact that it’s twenty actors. That excited me because just looking at the cast list…a lot of people have never done an Enloe production, and this was really their moment to, I don’t know, just like, be in one. Because it was so natural and honest, of us getting that outlet for them, I think that, the twenty actors that she’s chosen, collaborate well together, they’re individual thinkers, which is fun. So that’s, that’s probably the best part. M: So, flipside, what has been the most difficult part of the process thus far? R: Ah...writing? Writing, because we came to the script with absolutely nothing, it was a lot of ideas were thrown around and Ms. Dillard did such a great job facilitating that, but like, having nothing and all of your ideas coming as one, it was, we wanted it to be honest. I know we say that word a lot, but it’s because if it’s not honest, people won’t buy into it and we really want people to be moved with the bare minimum. Q: The ideas that we started with, and there’s ten scenes, and there’s three writers each scene, so you only get one scene to write. And it’s kind of like, okay but, we kinda decide, we put on a sheet from about one to three, which one we would like to write the most. And, seeing another scene, you had this idea in your mind about what this scene should be about, there’s two diversity scenes, and it’s like I kinda wanted to contribute, but I don’t wanna take away from these other three writers, and they’re doing an amazing job, and I also have another idea that might be able to work just as well. And, just seeing everybody, kind of, making it their own. That was kind of difficult for me, just because everybody has this set idea in their mind about what they’re going to be doing and what they’re going to be writing. And um, just, like I said, my favorite part and the worst part was just the peer collaboration. M: Thank you so much. Okay, I know that Ms. Dillard, in the interview that I had with her, mentioned something about rotating shows? Is that, are there any updates on that? Do we know if that’s happening? Q: Um, I had an idea. I have a very extensive,(R and Q both laugh), a very extensive way of doing it, we just need to, just the blocking is going to be very important because they are site specific, so we can’t have two crowds running into each other. So once we finish blocking everything, and once we, all of the, ‘cause we just confirmed which actors are gonna’ be in which scenes, like it’s been, everything’s been going so fast, so we just confirmed which actors are gonna’ be in each scene, and you can kind of create it like that. But, you have to make sure that the two crowds don’t clash, and then there does have to be an intermission and some of the scenes are a bit longer, some are shorter, so it’s going to have to be fluently done, but I think all of the great minds in Enloe’s acting and technical programs, we can get it done if we want to, so, just because the first scene has to have everybody in it, because the first scene has all of the actors in it, so everyone has to watch it, and then the last scene also has all of the actors in it, so there can’t exactly be two shows at the same time. So if we do have two crowds, they’re gonna’ have to come in together and watch the first scene and then split off somehow. It can be done. ‘Cause it has been done before and I think we could be the school to do it. R: Yeah, and what we’re working so hard on are, right now, doing simply that. Making it seamless for the audience because I’m sure, as an audience member, this intrigues people, they have questions to ask, but I mean, what we’re working everyday, is to create this seamless experience for people and our transitions, and our collaboration, and just, it’s the type of theater where we wanna involve the audience a bit more. |
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