Student leaders, law professors react to Kavanaugh confirmation - Flyer News
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NEWS
Recap of debate between UD’s College Republicans and College Democrats p. 2
A&E
Students help score UD a visit from EDM group, Two Friends p. 8
OPINIONS
Section editor addresses Church’s attempt to grow into modern times p. 11
SPORTS
Redshirt freshman lead a high-powered offense for UD football p. 16
TUESDAY,
TUESDAY, OCTOBER16,
OCTOBER 17,2018
2017
FLYER NEWS, VOL. 66 NO. 4 UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON
Student leaders, law professors react to Kavanaugh confirmation
On Oct. 6, Judge Brett Kavanaugh was confir med the ver y real issue of sexual assault that happens For some, such as Victoria Kar utz, president of
to the Supreme Court with a Senate vote of 50-48. daily in the U.S. and all over the world,” she said. Flyers for Life, both sides seemed credible.
His confir mation came after a divisive partisan battle Thomas Pedrotti, president of College Demo- “After hearing both Ford and Kavanaugh, I tr u-
with sexual assault allegations from multiple women. crats, thought the allegations made Judge Kavana- ly believed that they both sounded tr uthful in their
Leaders on UD’s campus shared their views on what ugh an inappropriate candidate. testimonies,” she said. “Those guilty should face le-
transpired and their hopes for moving forward. “I want them (supreme court justices) to have a gal repercussions for their actions, but due process
Dr. Christine Blasey Ford publicly came forward clean record. They should be held to a higher stan- must still be maintained.”
with her assault allegations on Sept. 16 in the Wash- dard,” he said. In response to the hearings, a letter signed by
ington Post. Both Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh For other students, Dr. Ford’s evidence did not more than 2,400 law professors around the U.S. was
then testified in front of the Senate Judiciar y Com- sufficiently add up for Judge Kavanaugh to be dis- presented to the Senate on Oct. 4. Six UD law pro-
mittee on Sept. 27. qualified. fessors added their signatures to the letter. The pro-
Bailey Johnson, president of Feminists United, “It came down to the burden of proof,” said John fessors were concerned with Kavanaugh’s tempera-
felt Ford’s testimony brought awareness to the larger Gomez, president of College Republicans. “If there ment during the hearings and thought his testimony
issue of sexual assault. was more evidence against Kavanaugh, I think more was alar mingly partisan.
“I think that Dr. Ford’s testimony shed light on senators would have peeled off.”
2 NEWS
FLYER NEWS TUESDAY OCTOBER 16
College Republicans, Democrats spar over major issues
EMMA KAPP
Contributing Writer
Sears Auditorium was packed on Oct. 9 with students wit- In their rebuttal, Republicans said they also see a need for
nessing the third annual debate between College Demo- red flag laws and stricter background checks. However,
crats and College Republicans. the legislation would need to maintain the rights guaran-
The event, sponsored by Vote Everywhere, featured ju- teed in the Constitution.
nior Thomas Pedrotti and senior Abigail Dibadj, president The debate was then opened to questions from the au-
and vice president of College Democrats, and senior John dience, which ranged from inquiries about military spend-
Gomez and junior Griffin Weasel, president and vice pres- ing to abortion.
ident of College Republicans. The debate was moderated Both sides also got a chance to comment on the con-
by political science professor and former Ohio governor troversy surrounding the recent appointment of Brett Ka-
Bob Taft. vanaugh to the Supreme Court. All debaters agreed on
The evening began with opening statements from each the importance of believing survivors of sexual assault,
team and a question from Taft about why the midterm however, Gomez said there was “no evidence” Kavanaugh
election on Nov. 6 is important. The Republicans began committed the things of which he was accused.
by pointing out the number of close races in Montgomery Several follow-up questions were asked in response to
County alone that could set the course for future actions. what debaters said earlier in the evening. Dibadj again clar-
“At every level, your vote matters,” Gomez said. ified her “crumbs” comment regarding tax cuts, while Go-
Democrats agreed this election is an important one, but mez was asked about the ethics and morality surrounding
for a different reason. health care. He disagreed with Pedrotti’s claim that poor
“When one party controls all three branches of govern- people die in the U.S. because they can’t afford health care.
ment, you get complacency,” Pedrotti said. “Democrats “…it’s just not true. In the United States, GoFund-
need to take back seats, especially in the House (of Repre- Me has become one of the biggest private health insurers,
sentatives), to restore inclusivity.” which is a great thing,” Gomez said.
The next question centered around health care and Forbes reported one in three fundraisers on GoFund-
changes to federal policy. Democrats went first and sup- Me are to raise money to cover healthcare costs.
ported the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as College Republicans John Gomez (left) and Griffin Weasel The closing statements from both sides emphasized the
Obamacare. (right) were the winners of the debate according to an audi- friendship and bipartisanship that exists between the two
“The United States is the only country in the industri- ence poll. student organizations.
alized world that does not provide health care as a basic “Thomas and Abigail are two of my best friends, so
human right,” said Pedrotti. “The solution to this is a sin- The final question from Taft related to gun control. Col- there’s no bad blood between us,” Gomez said.
gle-payer system.” lege Republicans came out in strong support of the Sec- The audience voted on which side they believed won,
Citing the example of British baby Charlie Gard, who ond Amendment and opposed the notion of an assault and College Republicans were victorious.
suffered from a rare syndrome and died after British weapon ban. Sparing continued on Twitter after the event ended. UD
courts decided he could not go to the U.S. for experimen- “Stricter gun laws lead to more crime, so we believe gun senior and chairman of Ohio College Republicans, Tom
tal treatment, Republicans reasoned a single-payer system control is counterproductive,” Weasel said. Ferrall, responded to a post congratulating the Democrats
would hurt the country. College Democrats pointed to the high amount of on their performance by saying, “The voters, as usual, dis-
“With socialized health care, you get socialized deci- gun violence in the U.S. and laid out several changes they agreed with you.” Pedrotti simply responded by tweeting
sions about life and death,” Gomez said. “I don’t think we would like to see. “Nov. 6.”
want this.” “We need to eliminate loopholes in background checks,
The conversation then turned to the economy with an limit the availability of high-powered weapons being sold
emphasis on the Tax Cuts and Job Act of 2017. and institute red flag laws to keep guns out of the hands Recordings of the student debate are available both on UD College
“Prices have been dropping across the country, and the of people who pose a threat to themselves and others,” Democrats’ twitter (@udaytondems) and UD College Republicans’
stock market has been doing well,” Weasel offered. “We Pedrotti said. twitter (@UDRepublicans).
support these tax cuts but would not like to see the deficit
increase.”
Democrats countered by reasoning that, although this
legislation was intended to help the middle class, it is not
doing its job.
“If Congress really wanted to make sure tax cuts would
drive the economy, they should have at least made sure
small businesses receive the same benefits as corporate
ones,” Dibadj said.
Republicans took issue with a comment Dibadj made
that the cuts the middle class is getting are “crumbs.”
“Please go to rural Ohio and tell people who are getting
a $3,000 tax cut a year that those are crumbs,” Gomez
quipped.
Dibadj explained the “crumbs” comment referred to
the amount of money most Americans are receiving due
to the act compared to the richest one percent.
Gomez and Dibadj then took on the issue of immi-
gration, a personal matter for both. Dibadj’s grandfather
came to the U.S. from Iran, while Gomez’s father is from
Spain. Both agreed the immigration system is broken and
needs solutions. The Democrats brought up fixes like end-
ing the travel ban and ending the detention of children,
while Republicans offered their idea for an updated guest College Democrats faced off agasint College Republicans in the third annual debate moderated by UD professor and former
Ohio Governor Bob Taft. Photo taken by Paul Nguyen.
worker program and enforcement mechanisms.
NEWS 3
FLYER NEWS TUESDAY OCTOBER 16
Happenings in Dayton
Events sourced from daytonlocal.com
Ren Fest 2018 Corn Maze Adventure & Fall Fun
For those yearning to return to the days before air conditioning and This fall celebration boasts an 8-acre corn maze and pumpkin patch.
indoor plumbing, Dayton’s renaissance festival is the place for you. According to the sponsors, it’s perfect for kids between the ages of
Enjoy themed weekends, turkey legs and jousts. two to 92. (I wonder what happened to the last 93-year-old who went
there.)
Sept. 1 - Oct. 28; Saturdays, Sundays 10:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
10542 East State Route 73, Waynesville (40 min. from UD) Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until Nov. 4
Buy tickets at renfestival.com Apple Country Farm Market - 2323 U.S. Route 42, Spring Valley
(30 min. from UD)
applecountryfarm.com/fall-farm-fun/corn-maze
Lewisburg Haunted Cave
Those who are tired of regular haunted houses should enjoy this ter- “The Wizard of Oz”
rifying locale - a real cave with 500 feet of bridges and 30,000 bats. Stage musical of the beloved classic and cultural icon. Get ready to
It’s open rain or shine, but remember to bring cash because they don’t have “We’re off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz”
accept cards...or Flyer Express most likely. stuck in your head for at least 48 hours.
Friday & Saturday evenings until Oct. 27 Oct. 23 - 25; 7 p.m.
4393 Swishers Mill Road, Lewisburg (30 min. from UD) The Schuster Center - 1 W 2nd St., Dayton (5 min. from UD)
hauntedcaveatlewisburg.com victoriatheatre.com/shows/wizard-of-oz
Call 937-228-7591 for possible student discounts
Young’s Dairy Brimstone Haunted Hayride
If you enjoy getting up close and personal with farm animals and There’s a hayride for families (and scaredy-cats). For braver souls,
losing your sense of direction in mazes then this fall festivity is perfect there’s a Forgotten Forest from which no one has ever returned. Not
for you. sure why you’d want to go in there, but okay.
Daily from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. until Oct. 29 Friday and Saturday nights until Oct. 27
6880 Springfield-Xenia Road, Yellow Springs (30 min. from UD) 472 Brimstone Road, Wilmington (40 min. from UD)
youngsdairy.com Buy tickets online at springborohauntedhayride.com
Your Dayton Bucket List
International Peace Museum
One of the few peace museums in the world, the Dayton site hosts
exhibits about nonviolence and serves as a community outreach center.
An exhibit about John F. and Robert F. Kennedy is its newest addi-
tion, which features artifacts from the ‘60s.
Wednesdays - Sundays, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
208 W Monument Ave. (10 min. from UD)
daytonpeacemuseum.org
Graphic courtesy of Mary Guida, Art Director
4
NEWS
FLYER NEWS TUESDAY OCTOBER 16
What is the future of Chaminade Hall?
in a sustainable way with a
CAROLYN KROUPA rooftop garden.
Contributing Writer
Another potential use was
The Student Government to have food for students
Association (SGA) hosted a with allergies or specialized
forum on Sept. 30 for stu- diets. Kitchens available for
dents to generate ideas about freshmen to use also would
how to best utilize Chami- be a possibility.
nade Hall.
The Chaminade Hall Vi-
sion Committee was com-
“As an alternative
missioned by President Eric to the drinking cul-
Spina with the charge to de- ture, some students
termine the best use for the
building by the end of the
proposed activities
2018-2019 academic year. beyond those at
During this PATH point The Hangar...Con-
eligible event, students had a
dialogue to brainstorm po-
versely, another
tential uses for the unoccu- student suggest-
pied building, which is in the ed an on-campus Photo taken by Christian Cubacub.
center of campus next to the
bar.” middle of student life, the scholarship and community A livestream of the event can be
Chapel, St. Mary’s Hall and
fate of Chaminade Hall engagement. This event gave viewed on Flyer News’ Facebook
Kennedy Union.
Other students vocalized must align with the univer- the committee multiple op- page.
Chaminade Hall last was
their needs, such as the Swing sity’s strategic vision for stu- tions to fulfill student needs
used in 2014 when it housed
Dance Club, which requires a dent life, academic mission, that are not being met.
the School of Education and
Health Sciences. It’s since
been closed due to safety
space with hardwood floors.
It also was noted Jewish stu- “...the fate of Chaminade Hall must
concerns.
The committee is leaning
dents need a worship space.
An AVIATE office with a align with the university’s strategic
toward rebuilding rather than
renovating the hall, claiming
place to check PATH points
and space for PATH point vision....”
eligible events to be held was
it’s a more practical, cheaper
an idea that was well-received
choice that will allow for a
by the audience.
better use of space.
As an alternative to the
A variety of ideas were
drinking culture, some stu-
discussed.
dents proposed activities of-
24/7 study space, a de-stress
fered beyond those at The
zone for in between classes to
Hangar, such as a space for
expand Community Wellness
movies and video games.
Services and additional space
Conversely, another student
for the Honors Program were
suggested an on-campus bar.
some of the proposals.
Chaminade Hall was built
Several people advocated
in 1904 in response to the
for the Office of Multicultur-
growing number of students
al Affairs to use Chaminade
at UD (then St. Mary’s Insti-
Hall to grow. The location in
tute). It housed dining halls,
Alumni Hall is becoming too
dorm rooms and a club room
small for the push to increase
with billiards and bowling. It
diversity on campus.
also contained the first library
The Human Rights Center
on campus.
and the Hanley Sustainability
Education classes were
Institute are hoping to col-
held in Chaminade Hall from
laborate more, and the space
the 1940s until the School of
Chaminade Hall would offer
Education and Health Sci-
provides the means. Also,
ences relocated in 2014.
high on the wish list is for
Surrounded by icon-
Chaminade Hall to be rebuilt
ic UD buildings and in the East side of the unoccupied Chaminade Hall. Photo taken by Christian Cubacub.
5
NEWS
FLYER NEWS TUESDAY OCTOBER 16
Unknown individuals remove suicide prevention posters
GRACE JAMES
Contributing Writer
An unclear number of in- illnesses, according to De- of our institutional identi-
dividuals took down fliers Witt. ty,” DeWitt said.
put up in the RecPlex as “[The] stigma around Many resources and pro-
part of National Suicide mental health and suicide grams are available to pro-
Prevention Week, which often stems from our dis- mote mental health aware-
occurred from Sept. 9-15. comfort with the topic.” ness. For example, students
One poster these in- DeWitt said. were able to participate in
dividuals seemed to take Individuals who took Kognito, which is an online
issue with read: “85% of down the suicide preven- mental health module. The
those with a mental illness tion posters could not be deadline for PATH credit
do not die by suicide - be- reached for comment be- expired on Oct. 15.
cause mental illnesses are cause their identities are UD also offers Mental
treatable.” unknown. As such, the ex- Health First Aid training,
Signs placed around act number of individuals which is sponsored by Stu-
campus displayed statis- who removed the fliers and dent Development. It’s an
tics about mental illness their motives or reasoning eight-hour session that fo-
and suicide in observation cannot be ascertained. cuses on a variety of men-
of the national week. Sar- Even though some of tal health issues and how
ah DeWitt, coordinator the fliers caused contro- to support those who are
of Health Education and versy, it is all part of start- struggling.
Wellness Promotion, said ing a conversation within Undergraduates can
the fliers are a common the community, according schedule a free counsel-
practice used in health ed- to DeWitt. Statistics on ing appointment with the
ucation. preventing suicide, for ex- Counseling Center by call-
“[The] purpose was to ample, are part of a larger ing 937-229-3141. The Na-
provide community infor- discussion about mental ill- tional Suicide Prevention
mation on mental health ness being treatable instead Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255.
and suicide and really start of curable.
to engage the community in The fliers bring mental Right middle photo: RecPlex
conversation around men- health into the thoughts of poster taken down by unknown
tal health,” DeWitt said. those going about their dai- individuals. Top and bottom
The response of the in- ly lives, and shed light on photos: Examples of other post-
dividuals who removed the issues affecting many in the ers displayed during National
fliers signaled an uneasi- UD community. Suicide Prevention Week. Cop-
ness with the information “Building a community ies provided by Sarah DeWitt.
presented about mental of care is an intrinsic part
Student leaders, law professors react to Kavanaugh confirmation
cont. from page 1 importance of professionalism and civility in all aspects of the vate women to continue seeking gender equality.
legal profession,” she said. “I believe that women in this country will take
“Justice Kavanaugh during the confirmation hearings did not Despite the difficult confirmation process, many have high Kavanaugh’s confirmation as the opportunity to continue
comport himself in an apolitical, neutral way nor did it appear expectations for the future of the Supreme Court. Karutz spreading awareness and education on the issues of sexual as-
that he was open to getting out the truth underlying the pro- hopes the newly conservative Supreme Court will fight for pro- sault and women’s reproductive and health rights,” she said. “I
ceedings,” said Professor Adam Todd. life laws. believe that her testimony will remain a pivotal hallmark in the
They also worried about Kavanaugh seeming to make him- “Personally, I hope he (Kavanaugh) is active in deeming Roe women’s rights movement for centuries to come.”
self the victim during his testimony. v Wade unconstitutional,” she said. “Millions of babies have Many hope for division in the country to heal and create a
“We all should take pause when the arguments we hear being been murdered for sake of ‘convenience,’ and I want the most sense of unity moving forward.
made by those accused of impropriety seem to start from the innocent in our society to be protected and cherished.” “I hope [the Republicans] do their best to reach across the
suspect principle that the status quo in society and history is Both Gomez and Brian Mercado, president of Turning Point aisle to show the country that we can come together and affect
one based on victimizing powerful men,” said Professor Faisal USA, expect the Supreme Court to value and uphold the Con- positive change across a variety of issues,” Mercado said.
Chaudhry. stitution. Despite different political beliefs and ideologies, students and
Also, the professors felt Kavanaugh’s behavior was simply “I hope the Court keeps a textualist, traditionalist interpreta- faculty also wish for the Supreme Court to remain objective and
unprofessional. tion of the Constitution,” Gomez said. nonpartisan.
“He was not able to keep his own personal interests and “I hope that they will set a precedent of keeping their role, “I do hope that any damage that has been done to the credi-
feelings in check during the process,” said Professor Christo- that is explicitly stated in the Constitution, to interpret the Con- bility of the Court and the nomination process can be repaired,
pher Roederer. stitution and do their best to not be partisan actors,” Mercado so that Americans can continue to place trust in the Court’s
Professor Susan Wawrose agreed. said. decisions which, of course, affect us all,” Wawrose said.
“As someone who teaches future lawyers, I emphasize the For Johnson, she says Kavanaugh’s confirmation will moti-
6
NEWS
FLYER NEWS TUESDAY OCTOBER 16
Pulitzer-prize nominee Wil Haygood speaks at UD
GRACE JAMES
Contributing Writer
On Sept. 25, journalist and au-
thor Wil Haygood gave a talk on
his new book, “Tigerland: 1968-
1969: A City Divided, a Nation
Torn Apart, and a Magical Season
of Healing,” in KU Ballroom to
a full crowd of UD students, fac-
ulty, staff and members from the
Dayton community.
The talk was the first event
in UD’s Speaker Series, which
brings distinguished individuals
to campus to initiate purposeful
conversations within our commu-
nity. Haygood discussed his new
book with Michael Carter, the
chief diversity officer at Sinclair
Community College.
“Tigerland” tells the story of
the segregated East High School
Tigers basketball and baseball
teams who won two Ohio state
championships the same year
as the unrest of the civil rights
movement. Full crowd listens to Haygood’s speech about the connection between sports and civil rights . Photo courtesy of Annie Denton
Haygood grew up on the East
Robinson, you can look at Mu- I’m still astonished at what these
Side of Columbus and had been “He soared, too,” Haygood said.
fascinated by the Tigers since he
was young.
“And he became a state champi-
on. He was a great player.”
hammad Ali. These are all figures
who stood up for their rights,”
guys achieved,” Haygood said.
“I thought it was
Haygood said. Iranian-American actor and comedian
“They were always the talk of
the East Side,” he said in an inter-
The relationship between sports
and civil rights is a tradition that
Even after he completed writing
the book, Haygood still is aston-
Maz Jobrani is the final speaker for
this semester’s UD Speaker Series,
a story that was
view with Flyer News.
As a cultural historian, Hay-
has made a monumental impact
with public figures across the
ished by the athletes in Tigerland
and their remarkable stories.
which will be on Wednesday, Nov. 14
at 7 p.m. in KU Ballroom.
both intimate
good was excited to take this sto- country fighting for what they
ry, which had only been known
by those within the community,
believe in.
“You can look at Jackie
“I’m finished with the book,
and the book is in stores, and yet and epic.”
and make it known to the public. Left. Author Wil Haygood signs books. Right. Haygood speaks in KU Ballroom. Photos courtesy of Annie Denton
The characters were dynamic, and
the events of the East High team
lent themselves to being written
about.
“I thought it was a story that
was both intimate and epic,” he
said.
During the East High victo-
ries, the country was in a period
of intense turmoil with events
such as the war in Vietnam and
the assassinations of Martin Lu-
ther King Jr. and Robert F. Ken-
nedy.
“A lot of people felt that their
own dreams had been shattered,”
he said. “To recover from that
takes fortitude.”
The students at East High
contributed to the civil rights
movement in their own way by
standing up for themselves in the
face of oppression. Bo-Pete La-
mar, a basketball player, fought
back when his school told him he
needed to cut his afro to contin-
ue playing basketball. Indignant
with his mistreatment, Lamar and
his mother moved to East High
where he was accepted to play on
its team.ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 7
FLYER NEWS TUESDAY OCTOBER 16
A meat-lover’s vegetarian experience... Was it worth it?
Melody Conrad became. Walking through the can- and turkey sausage. mushroom, almonds, slices of Ha- But all of the greens and healthy
A&E Assistant Editor dy aisle, Maddie informed me quite The foodie in me wanted to varti cheese and drizzling caesar items were eaten to counter my
promptly that gummy worms and try all of the flavors together, and dressing on top. new-found guilty pleasure: Smash-
I’ve been a lover of meat all my other gelatinous foods were defi- as I put the delectable bite in my If I’m being honest, MasterChef Burger.
life. I’m the kind of person that nitely off limits. mouth, I remembered. would have been just as disappoint- I got sweet potato fries and a
craves ribs and fried chicken and “I can’t have gummy worms?” I was eating meat. ed as our taste buds. But at least the black bean burger, and while it
filet mignon and enjoys the intense “No, gelatin has crushed up cow Alas, the damage had been done. presentation was on-point. wasn’t quite the same as a beef pat-
smell of ground beef and grease parts.” I chewed briefly and swallowed, ty, I was pleasantly surprised by the
cooking in a skillet. Gross. I felt like I was the one regretting the moments that had Day 5 flavor.
I was raised in the country with that just found that chicken feather brought me there.
my grandparents’ beef cattle and in my wing from Hooters. I’d had a setback, but follow- The Final Day
hogs. My mother would roast a ing this lapse of judgement I was
full chicken every Monday night Day 1 convinced to do even better for the
when I was growing up. We were remainder of the week.
on a first-name basis with the local
butcher. Day 3
Then I came to college and met
Maddie...
Maddie Sheets, sophomore, is
my roommate. A vegetarian for
seven years, she’s so dedicated to
the fair and ethical treatment of
animals that she decided to give up Culture Fest coincided with my
eating all kinds of meat. quest for vegetarian options, and I
As you can imagine, I struggled got to take my cuisine choices to a As if I’d forgotten what food
with the concept of sacrificing whole new level: alone. was, I only consumed an 8 ounce
meat. As with any new diet, every- As I walked through the soup- “hot” chocolate from Press before
I asked a couple of questions thing starts out as sunshine and kitchen-style line, I asked every 2 p.m. (It was actually lukewarm,
to discover why she decided to be- rainbows. person serving if their food was but I like my drinks at a tempera-
come a vegetarian, but what was it My roommates and I went to “I want you to try vegetarian vegetarian. I was taking no risks, ture where my tongue retains all of
truly like to never eat meat? Would Butter Cafe to have breakfast, and fast food,” Maddie told me. “We’re and it was with sorrow that I passed its taste buds). If nothing else, it
it be a monumental struggle? A I decided that, at least towards the going to Taco Bell, and we’re walk- the pig-in-a-blanket without taking was pleasant to look at.
walk in the park? beginning of the week, I was go- ing.” a bite.
I decided to support not only my ing to eat exactly what she ate. No An hour later, we popped in to Exiting the line, I was loaded The rest of the day, I stuck to the
friend but the animals for a week more, no less. Taco Bell and ordered their na- down with a churro and a couple vegetarian diet the best I could,
and choose vegetarian options as I “I’ll have the Skinny B*#@H chos- no meat and no onion- to go. other food items I couldn’t even refraining from all animal-related
tried to figure out what denying my Frittata,” Maddie said. Back in the apartment, my begin to remember the name of, temptations except animal crack-
palate a week of meat would do. Oh no. I had a feeling I was go- vegetarian expert microwaved a but I enjoyed them all. ers… I had to get my fix somehow!
ing to take on the name of the frit- frozen veggie burger and put it on That evening, I attended a Sus-
The Day Before tata if I ate like that all week. When the nachos. I’m not a fan of nacho tainability Club meeting about what The Day After
I said diet, I didn’t actually want to, cheese, but for anyone that is, I’d being vegan meant. After a week of no animals, I had
you know, DIET. recommend trying out the combo. The presenter spoke about sus- a craving that only a good batch of
Fortunately, it came with a side tainability and cost-effectiveness bacon could satisfy the following
of buttery-goodness potatoes that Day 4 of going vegan, and I walked out morning.
provided enough saturated fat to slightly more enlightened (and with The new vegetarian in me must
keep me going for hours. a scoop of vegan ice cream). have been angry because I burned
Apparently Sunday was also a the bacon and set the fire alarm
great day to try out new recipes in Day 6 off. Could it be karma? (Perhaps I
my apartment, because my room- should have returned to a vegetari-
mate, Hannah, concocted an ap- an diet for my own safety.)
ple-cage dessert with puff pastry However, looking back, going
and various spices. vegetarian for a week wasn’t as
Desserts don’t have animals in hard as I anticipated. Maybe that’s
This was my Fat Tuesday before them (unless it’s gelatinous!), so I because I like food, maybe that’s
the diet. I went to Cheesecake Fac- crunched down on the cage. because meat is expensive and my
tory and plowed through chicken roommates and I fall under the
taquitos, cheeseburger spring rolls Day 2 typical category of “broke college
and tex mex knowing full well it This is the day it all became real. As I started to get into the swing student”.
would be the last meat I touched I was sitting on the couch dreaming of things, I had a slice of toast with Whatever the reason, going meat-
for seven days. of snacks, hunger gnawing inside peanut butter and honey for break- less was surprisingly refreshing. I
Later that night, my roommates of me. When did my roommate eat fast. discovered there are still plenty of
and I took a trip to Walmart to buy food? For lunch, we decided to make a This was the culmination of my ways to eat good food while getting
supplies for the week. I’m a big snacker, so waiting for salad with blackberries, mushroom, breakfast-making abilities. I pre- all of your nutrients.
Walking through the grocery each meal was a painful process. avocado and balsamic vinaigrette. pared a mini bagel sandwich with
section was like a video game- it I was relatively busy the entire However, our refrigerator de- garden-fresh green pepper, egg and
started at level 1 but quickly esca- day, and my hunger steadily grew as cided differently. Our avocado was cheese for my roommate and me. Photos Courtesy of Melody
lated to expert mode. the hours passed. During an hour rock solid, the lettuce was wilty and Then, I prepped a taco salad for Conrad
Vegetables and fruits are obvi- of my cravings, my friend Victoria we had no balsamic dressing. dinner consisting of salsa, torti-
ously vegetarian, but the further showed me a meal she concocted Like scavengers, we raided the lla chips, spinach, sour cream and
we walked, the more complex it out of sweet potato, green beans refrigerator, tossing in blackberries, cheese.8
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
FLYER NEWS TUESDAY OCTOBER 16
Up & Up Music Festival; UD students win national competition
EDM Group, Two Friends, scheduled to play at Levitt Pavillion on Nov. 2
Lauren Durham the student body through what they believed set
Contributing Writer them apart from other schools–an Instagram page.
Mason shared, “We completely revamped the
Music impacts people. Whether it be person- marketing for it [Up&Up]. There was so much
al connections to the lyrics in a heart-wrenching room for improvement.”
Calum Scott song or good weekend vibes tied to With the additional support from Greek houses
the newest Travis Scott album, music shapes com- and other organizations on campus, the University
munities and celebrates individuality. of Dayton prevailed.
The most unifying event in the music industry The competition between the rival universities
may be music festivals. We’ve all seen our Insta- added another level of excitement that motivat-
gram feeds flood with Coachella posts in April and ed Groth and Mason. The creator of this event,
Lollapalooza posts in August, and maybe you’ve San Jose State, was defeated for the first time by a
even attended these high energy celebrations of school nearly a fourth of their size.
music. In just a few short weeks, the University of “We were such an underdog. We came out of
Dayton will present its own music festival featur- nowhere,” shared Groth.
ing the electronic dance music (EDM) group, Two Groth and Mason are eager to see how this
Friends. Pictured (from left): Matt Mason and Drew Groth event impacts the students of UD.
This highly anticipated event began with two “In bringing this concert, we’ll be starting a
Pi Kappa Phi brothers that share a deep apprecia- movement on this campus that could literally
tion for music. Senior, Drew Groth and Fifth-Year, spread a genre of music throughout the student
Matt Mason entered the University of Dayton into body, and that is something that has never hap-
Monster Energy’s Up & Up College Festival com- pened before,” said Mason.
petition last spring and again this semester. The Up In addition, Groth and Mason are looking for-
& Up College Festival is a national competition that ward to the fun, yet safe atmosphere that Up & Up
grants universities a concert with an EDM group will provide for the community.
as the headlining act. The top five participating uni- Mason elaborated, “This festival is empowering
versities that sold the most pre-sale tickets earned our student body be able to say we want to have a
their school the event, and UD proudly took the good time in a safe space in a safe area, and we can
winning spot this fall. make it happen ourselves.”
Photos courtesy of Drew Groth The festival will take place on Nov. 2 from 6:00 p.m.
Two Friends, this fall’s headliner, is a two man
DJ group from Los Angeles, California. The duo to 9:30 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion in downtown Dayton.
by The Killers and “Otherside” by the Red Hot determined to come back stronger and secure a
went to high school together, and after going their Although many students have already secured their admission
Chili Peppers. concert for UD students this fall.
separate ways, they found their way back to creating into the event, additional tickets will be sold. To order tickets,
Last spring, UD came in fifth place in the Up- Groth, a business operations major, and Mason,
music with one another. They are known for their visit the Up & Up Festival website or follow @twofriendsud
&Up competition, losing the opportunity to host a business finance major, took advantage of their
remixes of popular songs, such as “Mr. Brightside” on Instagram for more information.
GRYFFIN by two spots. Groth and Mason were marketing knowledge and promoted Up & Up to
Partial to Pie Bakery: A little slice of happiness
Emily Battaglia
Contributing Writer
At the corner of Wilmington and
Shroyer sits a small, white building that
is easy to drive by without a second
glance. However, if one is willing to take
the risk and pull into its surprisingly
large parking lot, they will find them-
selves on the brink of pie paradise.
Partial to Pie Bakery, located at 200
Shroyer Road, is Dayton’s latest one-stop paying a fortune, so I was happy that the the flavor of the Photos courtesy of Emily Battaglia
shop for all things pie. Owned and oper- folks at Partial to Pie are generous with fruity filling quite
ated by a father-daughter duo, the bakery their portion sizes. splendidly. It had from local vendors and farmers. This
is dedicated to the fruit- laden delicacy While mixed berry would usually not been cooked to perfection too, with a reason alone should be enough to inspire
that we know and love. be my top choice of pie, I was pleased golden-brown color that is not often you to head on down to Partial to Pie for
The shop serves a variety of pies to find that it was not too sweet, as the found on subpar pies purchased at a yourself.
from peach to peanut butter cream, with flavor often tends to be. local grocery store. The shop is opens at 7 a.m., but I
cherry being their most popular. Sadly, Instead, the pie offered an incredi- Partial to Pie also sells whole pies, would recommend heading in early, as it
this top-selling option had diminished ble balance between sweet and tart, and mini pies, and quiche. They offer brown- is not uncommon that they run out of
by the time I stopped in, so I instead would have tasted even better with a ies and baklava for the anti-pie custom- their most popular flavors before closing
sampled a slice of mixed berry. scoop of ice cream on top. However, it ers, as well as a number of drink options. time.
Not only was I impressed that they was a Tuesday afternoon, and I wasn’t Overall, my experience was noth- Partial to pie is open Tues-Fri from 7 a.m.
took Apple Pay (how technologically about to get that crazy. ing short of wonderful. Not only does to 5:30 p.m. and Sat from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m, so
savvy!), but also that my slice of pie was The crust was by far one of the best Partial to Pie provide excellent baked stop in sometime in the coming weeks and enjoy
exceedingly large. It is impossible to get I’ve ever had. It was not crumbly, nor goods to their customers, but they also a quality pie worth every penny.
a decent sized dessert these days without was it hard as cement; and it contrasted are dedicated to sourcing their materialsARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 9
FLYER NEWS TUESDAY OCTOBER 16
Artist’s Spotlight:
Paul Kramer
ROSE RUCOBA ple,” Kramer said. “That was probably er, Kramer explained that technology is his unique style will help him reach his
Staff Writer the big reason why I chose pre-medicine making it increasingly easier for him to dream of one day designing album cov-
at first, and then that didn’t really work combine his two passions, hand-drawn ers for popular bands and singers.
Aspiring designer of album covers out too well for me. I found more so my art and graphic art. “What I want to do in the future
for the world’s most popular music art- strong suites were in the creative fields.” “At first I started off more with —besides help people—is create album
ists with a passion for helping people: After the switch, Kramer said that he drawing because that’s what got me in- covers for music groups or rappers or
Paul Kramer, a senior graphic design was met with more influence and inspi- troduced to it. I guess now, because I’m whatever,” Kramer said. “That’s some-
major at the University of Dayton, has ration, but this time from his peers. learning about it more, a lot of it is digi- thing that I think would be really cool.”
revealed the method behind his artistic “I came in and I knew that I was tal. I’ve learned a lot of cool new ways to Kramer went on to explain how a
madness. pretty artistic,” Kramer explained, “but create using PhotoShop or Illustrator,” guest speaker had come to one of his
Kramer’s artistic influences started seeing the quality that my peers were cre- Kramer said. art classes and introduced him to the
when he took up an interest in drawing ating, I knew that I was coming in late as He continued, saying how he is de- artform of album covers. Kramer now
at a young age. a sophomore going into a freshman pro- veloping a sense of style that is blending makes it a point to create a new album
“I think I got a lot of inspiration gram. Not that I had to catch up, neces- the old and the new. design every day to get good practice.
from my grandpa,” Kramer said. “Grow- sarily, but that there was a bigger world “Before it was either one or the other As for the future, Kramer said he
ing up, he liked to draw. He didn’t have a out there than just me sitting at home and I think now doing stuff by hand is is still searching for his next big project
job or anything, but just the fact that it doing something.” important, and then being able to learn and how he can use it to pursue his pas-
was something he was passionate about. Now, as a developed artist, Kramer how to create things digitally along with sion for helping people.
He would buy me different art sets and is proud of his personality as an artist, that definitely would be nice,” Kramer “I do want to help people,” Kramer
different watercolor sets and I think that which he describes as “colorful”. explained. said. “I’m not entirely sure how. I know
was really cool because that was my first “I feel like I’m a colorful person my- This sense of a free-hand/digital of ways I can do it, but not the best way.
step into it.” self,” Kramer said. “I don’t know how combo is evident in the artwork pic- I’m from Chicago so I definitely want to
Yet, while Kramer grew up with a love to explain it, my personality, I guess, is tured, which Kramer says were inspired go back. After I graduate I want to stay
for art, once he came to UD, it was a dif- goofy. In terms of my artwork, I like by the artist, Ysabel LeMay, who takes in Chicago. In terms of specific artwork,
ferent story. He started out as a pre-med having a lot of color, a lot of pop, some- photographs and embellishes them dig- I don’t know. There is a period where
major and did not switch to graphic de- thing that catches your attention. I feel itally. I want to do movie posters and album
sign until his sophomore year. Although like that’s especially important in graphic “So I took images of my friends just covers and stuff like that.”
the change between the two majors is design. I want stuff that catches people’s like sitting at home,” Kramer explained. For now, though, Kramer is helping
quite a leap, he said his vision of enter- eye, not just something, you know, you’re “I just walked around campus and took people see a new side to art through his
ing the medical field was grounded in his going to walk by or look at for a second images of all the plant life, and then dig- own colorful style and artwork.
passion for helping people. or two, even if at all.” itally created it as if they [friends] were You can find more of Paul Kramer’s work
“I always knew I wanted to help peo- In terms of the evolution of his art- appearing in nature.” on Instagram at pkramer_54. If you are inter-
work and his growth as a graphic design- He also explained how he hopes ested in viewing these featured works in color,10 OPINIONS
FLYER NEWS TUESDAY OCTOBER 16
“Let us not tire of preaching love; it is the force that
will overcome the world.”
FLYER NEWS STAFF 2018-2019
- Saint Oscar Romero ONLINE EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR
Kaitlin Gawkins Connor Hanson
PRINT EDITOR ART DIRECTOR
In the last issue, the article “UD hosts spirited first OH gubernatorial debate,” a
picture of Richard Cordray (D) was mistakenly labeled as Mike DeWine (R) and Peter Kolb Mary Guida
vice versa due to a change in photos during the design phase of production.
NEWS EDITOR ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR
Additionally, the print version of the same article is unclear about the candi- Sean Newhouse Olivia Pettigrew
date’s respective positions on Issue 1, a proposal to lessen drug crime sentenc-
ing. To clarify, Cordray supports Issue 1, while Dewine is against it. A&E EDITOR WEB TECHNICIAN
Flyer News is committed to accuracy. Despite being student journalists, we want Chey Ward Rebecca Serivates
you to consider us to be a reliable source for information.
ASSISTANT A&E EDITOR MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
If you notice errors or have concerns about our coverage, please email us at Melody Conrad Christian Luigi Cubacub
editor@flyernews.com.
OPINIONS EDITOR SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR
Mary McLoughlin Griffin Quinn
The unexpected danger of
Yoplait containers
The simple solution is to get rid of the
SAMANTHA BECK dangerous conical shape altogether.
Contributing Writer Why can’t Yoplait use one of the other
For years, the familiar conical Yoplait two yogurt cup designs it already has?
yogurt containers have caused the deaths Yoplait’s two other designs are not conical
of small wild animals. Small wildlife such as and represent the regular bowl shape of
squirrels or skunks get their heads trapped countless other yogurt brands. This bowl
in the design of the yogurt containers shape serves little to no risk for wildlife
which causes suffocation, starvation, and as it doesn’t suffocate the animals like the
death. conical containers do. And, the design is
According to Hilary Hanson with the already being used, so the design could be
Huffington Post, this problem isn’t a new used with all the flavors of Yogurt that the
one. Throughout the years, small animals conical containers hold.
have been found wandering into traffic Or, if Yoplait finds the task of getting Photo Courtesy of Mother Nature Network
or around the public area with a Yoplait rid of the unsafe conical containers too more people to become aware of the issue.
container stuck on their heads, with no clue risky for their business, why not come up Another way of continuing the discussion general, you could try out different brands
where they are going. with a completely new design? Deciding on is to bring awareness to the issue via social of yogurt that do not have conical shaped
When someone stumbles across animals a new, safer design for a yogurt container media. containers.
with a container stuck on their heads, could not only please consumers concerned And although there may not be time Through these discussions and actions
animal control usually has to be called to about the safety of wildlife, but it could every day to talk about the issue, it is im- about the dangerous Yoplait containers, we
remove the yogurt containers. After years also give Yoplait a chance to reinvigorate portant to bring attention back to the issue can bring awareness to the danger Yoplait
of concerned consumers finding animals their consumers. Designing something new every now and then so Yoplait understands poses to wildlife. And although yogurt
in this predicament, Yoplait started to get for the yogurt container could refresh the that their consumers are still concerned containers may seem like a small impact on
more and more complaints. company and bring in more sales. about the issue. the wildlife environment as a whole, as the
After complaints about this issue in Whatever the company decides, Yoplait And, discussion only goes so far when yogurt containers add up over years, the
1998, Yoplait added a small instruction to needs to make a decision to do away with you are actively consuming Yoplait yogurt. containers can lead to larger amounts of
“crush cup before disposal.” Not only is the deadly container design. Too many wild If you still love Yoplait yogurt and want to deaths in wildlife.
this instruction small and hard to see, but it animals already perish due to the impact of know how you can help, there are several When we don’t pay attention to how we
is found, in small print, below the barcode human choices. Eating yogurt should not things you can do. impact the environment, it leads to a larger
of the cups. I know that I have never seen be met with a footprint of wildlife death. Once you finish your yogurt out of the problem in the future. As humans, we have
this small advisory until I looked for it. While Yoplait may not actively make a conical container, it is recommended that to realize how we interact with the natural
Even after crushing these hazardous decision on what to do, we as consumers you cut the yogurt cup into pieces and then world and how our actions affect the ani-
Yoplait containers, the containers could still can work to prevent this death count in recycle the pieces. This will prevent wildlife mals that we share this world with.
be a threat to wildlife. After crushing the wildlife. This issue has been talked about in from getting stuck in the conical shape. Yoplait needs to learn to respect the
containers, the containers are deformed, certain spans of time over the years. How- Another way to help would be to buy a environment by fixing the problem with
but they still have the main conical shape ever, after a month or so, the public stops different shaped Yoplait yogurt container. their conical yogurt containers. We can help
that leads to the suffocation and starvation talking about it, and the deaths of wildlife By doing this, you would prevent wildlife lessen the problems through the small per-
of animals. continue to go under the radar. from getting harmed, and you would also sonal solutions discussed, but we shouldn’t
So, not only are most people unaware of To bring constant attention to this issue, contribute to showing Yoplait that consum- have to. Yoplait needs to step up and claim
the fact that they have to crush up a yogurt we must keep the discussion going. Talking ers are more interested in the non-conical ownership over the problem they have
container but crushing up a Yoplait con- about the dangers of conical Yoplait con- containers. created and finally start caring about the
tainer doesn’t really help save wildlife at all. tainers with friends and family allows Of course, if you just like yogurt in natural world.OPINIONS 11
FLYER NEWS TUESDAY OCTOBER 16
Chaminade Scholar
reflects on trip to Italy and
St. Francis Feast Day
Kaitlin Gawkins building churches and temples, he realized
Online Editor that his true calling was rebuild the meta-
phorical house of God, at which point he
Laudato Si, mi Signore; praise be to you, my renounced all of his worldly possessions
Lord. and ties in order to live a life that closely
Sung by Saint Francis of Assisi in his Can- followed the model of Jesus’ own life, fully
ticle of the Sun, this phrase is a testament to embracing poverty, service of others, and
Saint Francis’ profound spiritual connection contemplation.
with creation. On this year’s feast day of Saint Francis considered all nature the mir- understand and put into practice. There is beauty in letting our guard down, just as
Saint Francis, I find myself reflecting upon ror of God, and thus later earned his status From the brothers who welcomed us into their a flower allows itself to bloom without question.
Saint Francis’ canticle, connecting with the as the patron saint of animals and ecology. homes even when there was a large language barri- The pinnacle moment of my pilgrimage expe-
words more deeply than I ever have before Saint Francis saw beauty in all things: in the poor, er, I learned that love has no boundaries and beau- rience was the time we were able to spend at the
The cause for this shift is an experience the sick, the outcast, the stranger and all through- ty can be seen even when it can not be understood. Hermitage of the Carceri (Eremo delle Carceri)
that I had in the first two weeks of this past out nature. Following the way of Saint Francis al- From spending intentional time with people who where Saint Francis would come to pray and con-
summer. As a part of the Chaminade Schol- lows us to create a special place in our lives for the are usually quiet and keep to themselves, I learned template, away from the distractions of society.
ars program, I had the opportunity to go on appreciation of beauty. that there is beauty within each and every one of During our short time at this wilderness retreat, a
pilgrimage with Sister Angela Ann Zukows- For many, there is beauty in paintings, music, us, even when we don’t have the courage to share few of us paired off to walk the grounds, explor-
ki, Elizabeth Montgomery and the 15 mem- grandiose landscapes. Saint Francis accepts all of it with the world. Our hearts and our souls hold a ing in the small chapels and grottos where Saint
bers of my cohort to Assisi and Rome. these things as worthy of our love and attention. beauty that we don’t have the power to create or Francis would sleep and pray and walking the trails
In Italy we walked the very footsteps of However, he also challenges us to look beyond share; it is innate. in the surrounding fog-filled forest where Saint
Saint Francis of Assisi and his followers, Francis would contemplate, eager to experience
praying where they prayed and hiking where the peace for ourselves.
they hiked, all the while learning about the After the experience, many of us were in agree-
life and death of the Catholic saint. ment that the visit to the Hermitage was a trans-
Almost five months later, I still come back formative moment along our journey. For me,
to the lessons I learned on this pilgrimage. hiking is the lived experience of boundless love,
Rather than sit on them, allowing the expe- the deliberate face-to-face encounter with a beauty
riences I had to touch my own life, I had so immense that we cannot even begin to com-
the the urge to share. And so, here are a few prehend it. Each crunch of leaves underfoot and
brief words on what Saint Francis means to each sharp brush against a bush forged a deeper
me and how I hope to celebrate his Feast connection to the natural world and a fuller under-
Day. standing of my place in it.
Saint Francis was born in 1182 in Assisi, I learned in my travels at the Hermitage that in
Italy to a wealthy cloth merchant. After tak- order to understand the perspective of the weed, I
ing part in a war between Assisi and Perugia, Pictured: (From left) Kelsey Albertino, Taylor Tovey had to level with it, experience the vast world from
he felt the call to return to his home. Upon its dirt-packed vantage point with an upwards fac-
return, he made the decision to turn away ing heart and a steadfast dedication to humility. I
from a life seeking pride or prosperity and these conventional forms of beauty, turning our- As I would sit during the times we had for per- realized that each individual fiber in this weed was
instead dedicated himself to contemplation selves both inward and outward to see the beauty sonal reflection during this pilgrimage, I realized crafted by God, and that I am connected to it.
and prayer in order to discern God’s will for within ourselves and allow it to radiate out towards just how much we have to learn from the natural In closing, I will pose a “feast day challenge”
him. During this time of intentional soli- others. world. Nature is not shy or reserved; it shows its of sorts: go out, take a walk, leave your phone and
tude, Saint Francis heard the call to repair As I journeyed through the Italian landscape with beauty to all, whether they are looking or not. your to-do list at home, intentionally create a space
the “house” of God. some of my closest friends and mentors this past The leaves and trees and grass and sky are all the in your day for peace, quiet and silent reflection.
After several attempts at physically re- summer, the lessons that Saint Francis implied in truest versions of themselves at all times. There is Let go of your present worries in order to allow
his teachings became easier and easier for me to no wall built around a flower so that only those it the living world to just be, both in front of you
chooses to see it can see, rather, a flower blooms and within you, blowing your mind freely in the
for all. And yet, a flower doesn’t bloom to just be breeze. Notice what happens in the world. Pay at-
beautiful, to show off or to be boastful. A flower tention! I am convinced this is the way to foster an
blooms because it must: it is survival, a celebration, authentic connection between ourselves and the
a burst of growth. Releasing its sweet scent is nec- world around us, creating the sort of oneness that
essary to a flower’s very being. Saint Francis of Assisi so fiercely urged for us to
What if we, too, didn’t have to trust to reveal embrace.
ourselves? What if we were able to just be? Beauty is always around us. It shines
This idea of us just living like the flowers and through all things, connecting humanity to
the insects, singing the glory of existence, is exactly the natural world in the deepest way possi-
where Saint Francis draws some of his inspiration ble. The very most important component
for his canticle. of it all is just to show up. Be there for life,
In order to truly be connected to the Earth and don’t blink and take care not to miss any-
all the creatures in it, we must take up their exam- thing.
ple and trust as if we’ve never been hurt. In order
to be connected to the joys of all the people of the
Photos courtesy of Nathan Mansour
world, we must also be open to feeling their pain.12
OPINIONS
FLYER NEWS TUESDAY OCTOBER 16
Photo Courtesy of America Magazine
The Catholic Church needs women’s votes & voices
This distinction, these faith organizations argue, is unjust. the current iteration of Catholicism. The Catholic sisters I’ve
MARY MCLOUGHLIN
Voices should not be excluded on the sole ground that they known haven’t been afraid to denounce parts of Catholicism
Opinions Editor are women’s voices. they see as unjust, and they’ve welcomed discussions of my
In 2017, Georgetown University conducted the most own qualms with understanding and without judgement. In
World leaders from the Catholic Church are currently comprehensive survey to date on the voices of American them, I’ve seen a Catholicism I can rally behind.
meeting in Rome for the Synod On Youth, Young People, Catholic women. Its findings suggest that, for Catholic wom- My problems with Catholicism, and the problems of
and Vocational Discernment to discuss the future for young en, and especially younger ones, engagement with the Church many of my peers, often seem to revolve around the distance
people in the Catholic Church. The Synod’s goal, according is low and concerns about representation are high. and disconnect between Church authorities and the people
to its preparatory documents, is to provide an opportunity for The survey found that less than a quarter of Catholic whom the church attempts to minister to. In their petition
the Church to “examine herself on how she can lead young women regularly attend mass, and, among this demographic, for voting authority, Catholic sisters point to why they are
people to recognize and accept the call to the fullness of life millennial women are least likely to attend. While women felt uniquely positioned to close this gap between the Catholic
and love, and to ask young people to help her in identifying included in ministry and outreach opportunities, only 18% of church and the Catholic people.
the most effective way to announce the good news today.” women felt strongly included within parish decision-making The petition argues, “Among leaders serving the world’s
According to Colleen Dulle, in an article for America processes. Most jarringly, a quarter of women identified their most marginalized communities, women religious largely
Magazine, outside the Synod, in St. Peter’s Square, protesters concerns about women’s representation within the church as outnumber male religious and could bring underrepresented
called, “Knock Knock! Who’s there? More than half the a factor that led them to consider leaving the church. experiences of accompaniment, leadership, and pastoral care
church!” The findings of this survey suggest that the problems to the Synod.”
These protesters, respresenting the often silenced female of youth disengagement and vocation that this Synod are If the Catholic Church truly wants to engage young
half of the church, are aking that women are given a fair attempting to resolve cannot be addressed without meaning- people in active ministry and compassionate engagement that
voice in the decision making of the Catholic Church. Specifi- fully including the voices of women. Excluding women from considers the most diverse and underrepresented populations
cally, they are asking that ordained women such as Sisters are decision-making on the basis of their sex perpetuates the within the Catholic Church, they should empower the women
allowed to vote in the synod. very misogyny, injustice, and outdated sexism that this Synod leading this charge to participate in decision making.
Catholic synods are gatherings of bishops to discuss the must resolve to truly re-engage young Catholics. Excluded from the Church’s authority positions, religious
Church’s position on hot-button topics. Cindy Wooden, with sisters have found their homes among the ordinary and
the National Catholic Reporter, notes that while historically I’ve struggled with many positions held by the Catholic marginalized. They’ve listened to and ministered to those
only priests and bishops have been allowed to vote in synods, Church as long as I’ve belonged to the Catholic Church. But, who clericalism has ignored. Now, it’s time to hear, and take
the distribution of authority changed in 2015 when a brother in the midst of all of those struggles, I’ve always depended seriously, what these religious sisters have to say.
was allowed to vote during the Synod on the Family. on the religious sisters who taught in my high school for At the start of the Synod, Pope Francis addressed the
While the standard for voting in a synod had always guidance and comfort. congregation by arguing, “it is worth the effort to feel part of
been level of ordination, a qualification which automatically When I have been frustrated by the Church’s apoliticism the Church, or to enter into dialogue with her; worth the ef-
excludes women, allowing a non-ordained man to vote opens in times of injustice, I have also been comforted by angry fort to have the Church as a mother, as a teacher, as a home,
up the possibility for non-ordained women to vote. Ten Facebook rants by sisters who would not be silenced. When as a family.”
different religious organizations have launched a joint petition I have been frustrated by Church’s materialism, I have also I agree with Pope Francis that dialogue and engagement
to allow women to vote in the synod. been reminded of the vows of poverty many religious are central to any change that is going to happen within the
Their petition references Pope John Paul II’s 1995 “Letter sisters take. When I have been horrified by the sexual-abuse Catholic Church. But excluding women from positions of
to Women” which calls for the restoration of justice to rampant among Catholic priests, I have found hope in sisters authority makes this dialogue impossible.
women and insists that “women will increasingly play a part denouncing the Church’s inaction and going public with their I do not feel inclined to share my voice with a Church
in the solution of the serious problems of the future.” The own stories of abuse who is not inclined to listen. The Church needs to make sure
petitioners argue that since ordination is no longer a mandate Within the Catholic sisters I’ve encountered, I’ve encoun- that women are given a voice, a vote, and a place at the table,
for voting, the decision to allow religious brothers but not sis- tered an imaging of Catholicism that is much more reflective not simply left knocking at the door and yelling in the street.
ters to vote makes biological sex the sole factor for exclusion. of the Gospel of Christ than what I often see reflected inYou can also read
