Talon

ISSUE 85 / FALL / 2016

LETS TALK ABOUT POLITICS

INSIDE:
FEATURE

INTERNATIONAL

SPORTS

WHO WILL YOU

S(ELECT)?

BUILD BRIDGES
NOT WALLS

BELICHICK FOR
PRESIDENT

PAGE 18

PAGE 36

PAGE 42

If youd like to become a contributor, wed love to hear from you! (Photos,
articles, poems, etc. We accept it all!)

talonnewsmagazine@gmail.com

06 LIFESTYLE

6 ADULTING 101 | 7 IF I WERE PRESIDENT | 8 GREEN PARTY

CANDIDATE | 9 KEEPING AN OPEN MIND | 10 MR. TWEET & MRS.
EMAIL | 11 THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY | 12 WOMEN WILL REMEMBER
COME NOVEMBER | 14 WHATS IN YOUR YARD? | 15 TRUST THE
RAINBOW | 16 ARE YOU WITH HER, OR HIM? | 18 WHO WILL YOU
SELECT? | 21 SHATTERING GLASS CEILINGS | 22 YES HE DID | 24
THIRTEEN MOVIE REVIEW | 25 LIVING IN A HOUSE DIVIDED

20 INTERNATIONAL

28 YOU SHOULDNT VOTE FOR TRUMP | 29 SPANISH TRANSLATION

| 30 STRAIGHT OUTTA OPTIONS | 32 THE GOVERNMENT REGIMES |
33 ARABIC TRANSLATION | 34 OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY | 35
ARABIC TRANSLATION | 36 BUILD BRIDGES NOT WALLS & ARABIC
TRANSLATION

32 SPORTS

40 THE YELLOW FLAG | 41 NOT EVERYONE DESERVES A MEDAL

| 42 BELICHICK FOR PRESIDENT | 43 TIM TEBOW RULE | 44
REMEMBERING A YOUNG LEGEND| 46 POLITICAL INFLUENCE IN
SPORTS | 47 RED VS BLUE | 48 CHAMPIONS AND THE WHITE HOUSE |
49 THE SAGA CONTINUES | 42 CANDIDATE PHOTOGRAPH SPREAD

Want to read more content? Visit us online at Talonnews.360.net, or see

our interactive side of the magazine online at Talon.tv. Here you can find
videos, interviews, and other special content!

CONTRIBUTORS
EDITOR IN-CHIEF
CASEY LEE
MANAGING EDITOR
GRACYN REED
SPORTS EDITOR
RYAN MEYER
INTERNATIONAL EDITOR
MOHAMMED ALABDULLAH
COPY EDITORS
BRIANNA PERALTA
KYLEIGH ZOLTEK
ZACH MIZE
PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
JESSICA ALBINA

ADVISOR
DR. J ANTHONY SNORGRASS
TALON TEAM
LEXI CLARY
DIXIE ROBINSON
MACI HODGES
SCOTT BOWER
KYLEIGH ZOLTEK
ZEFF LEWEY
YESSICA RAMIREZ

BANDAR ALHAIDARY
DANIEL GALLEY
ZACH HOEFLICKER
TREY BALES

KEATON STEWART
STEPHEN CONWAY
TYLER KING
DEVON HALL
ATSUSHI HIDA

STAY CONNECTED
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ON THE COVER & BACK:

COVER: Photo by Photography Editor Jessica Albina BACK: Photo and photo
illustration by Photography Editor Jessica Albina

&

Not voting is a vote

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DONT VOTE?

educate
YOURSELF

Voting is one of the cornerstones to a representative

democracy, such as the United States, but the last time
over 60 percent of the population turned up to vote for
the presidential election was in 1968. Changes in everyday
peoples lives are in danger of going away if we dont vote
and make it clear we want these changes to grow, and even
more so, we are ready for more change.

HOW WILL MILLENIALS IMPACT THE ELECTION?

Its the power millenials dont know they have. Presidential candidates go hard after
millennial voters because they know they have the power not just to shape, but to
sway, entire elections. In the primaries, former Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders
won over the millennial vote in a landslide, earning more votes from people under 30
than both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump combined. This just goes to show how
much of a tipping point millenials will be for this years election.

Every
election
is determined by
the people that
dont show up.
-Larry J. Sabato

f
a

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

The election is just around the corner. For some,

this is their first time voting. For others, their third
or fourth. Either way, we could all say this is one
for the books. I know theres been fair discussion
amongst my friends. Sworn Republicans and
Democrats are struggling with which side to pick,
and are even considering voting third party.
This isnt like any election weve seen before.
Thats why we were so excited to make an
election issue. We knew there was going to be
great content, and so many different opinions.
Through this we hope to create discussion
and let our readers view this election from all
perspectives.

Erin Casey Lee,

Editor-in-chief

OTHER PHOTOGRAPHS

All photographs of Barrack Obama, Jill Stein, Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton,
and Donald Trump, as well as Election photographs, came from the media on
their official campaign websites.

EDITORIAL POLICY
The Talon News Magazine is produced by students of Avila University. Opinions expressed are
those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the Talon News Staff, the Trustees,
administration, faculty, or staff of the University. The Talon News Magazine encourages letters
to the editor. These may be submitted electronically or in writing and should include the writers
name, address, and telephone numbers for verification purposes. Letters can be mailed to the
Talon News Magazine Editor, Avila University, 11901 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64145.
The Talon reserves the right to edit letters for reasons of space, clarity, or inappropriate
language. Copies of the Talon News Network Operational Guidelines may be requested by
writing to the above referenced address.

ADULTING 101
Dress to impress: Dressing for an interview
Brianna Peralta & Gracyn Reed

Weve all been in the situation

where we had to go in for an
important meeting or job interview
and we felt like we had no idea
what to wear.
Tip 1: Dress for the job you
want.
Research the company that
you are applying to work at and
mimic what they are wearing. If
you want to play it safe then wear
professional attire. Ultimately, you
want to dress in a way that you
show off your best self to your
possible future employer. Make a
good first impression.
Tip 2: Make sure youre
comfortable.
An important part about going
into an interview confidently is
making sure you pick an outfit that
is appropriate yet comfortable

| ISSUE 85

attire for your interview. Interviews

can last between 30 minutes
and 2 hours so make sure youre
prepared.
Tip 3: Invest in a power outfit
Suits and ties will never go out of
style. We suggest you take the time
and look for a few comfortable,
professional outfits that stand out.
They may cost more, but they may
be useful if you are called back
for multiple interviews.
Tip 4: Play it safe with ink,
piercings, and facial hair.
If you arent 100% sure about
the company policy then cover
everything. You never know how
your interviewer will react to
piercings, facial hair, or ink, even
if these things are becoming more
acceptable in a work environment.

if i were president
What would you change?
Keaton Stewart

With the presidential election

coming up I have recently heard
numerous people say how terrible
the candidates are. In response,
I asked, What if you were
President?
First, I interview a Kansas
University graduate.
Q: If you were president what
change would you make to
improve the United States?
A: I would change our military,
make better relationships with
foreign countries, and also
change our gun laws.
Second, I interviewed a
personal trainer in California.
Q: In the inner city what change
would you make as President?
A: If I was president, I would
enforce school uniforms. Due to
all of the bullying and violence,
kids tend to bully each other by
what they wear and how they look
overall. And in the inner city it is
all about colors red, purple, blue
etc. for a type of gang. Uniforms

would be able to somewhat slow

the gang violence down.
Lastly, I interviewed a student
attending a California junior
college.
Q: As president what is one of
the first things you would like to
do?
A: First thing will be for the
people who were sent to jail for
[the] 3 strikes law, [I would] bring
them home. A lot of people heave
their 3rd strike from stealing food
or something, so I would bring
them home. I also would make sure
all the cops that got off from killing
innocent minorities would [be] sent
back to trial with a whole new
judge and jury.
Through these interviews you
can see people that come from
different backgrounds have
different opinions and different
focal points for the U.S. In response,
we can continue to grow and
eventually, one of us can take
over as president.
ISSUE 85 |

Neither Trump nor Hillary

I would
be happy Green party candidate: Jill Stein
Lexi Clary
to run a
Party is the left-wing group of the Democratic
race with Party.TheTheGreen
Green Party has 10 main key values: grassroots
democracy, ecological wisdom, social justice and equal
Hillary
opportunity, nonviolence, decentralization, community based
economics, feminism, respect for diversity, personal and
Clinton
global responsibility, and future focus and sustainability. The
any time. Green Party believes these are the key values for building a
solid foundation for world peace. They truly think they can
-Jill Stein
make a difference in the quality of lives and the environment.
On August 6th, Jill Stein became the Green Party
presidential nominee for 2016.
She is a mother, doctor, and a hard-core advocate
for environmental health. According to an article written
by Mark Weiner, Jill Stein has received the most votes for a
female candidate in the general election. Stein has helped
lead, initiatives to fight environmental racism and injustice,
she promotes healthy communities, she has helped with
campaigns in the financial reform, and she has helped [the]
clean up of coal plants and toxic threats.

| ISSUE 85

KEEPING AN OPEN MIND

You dont always have to agree
Kyleigh Zoltek
I know it is habit to either shut down and be quiet, or
blow into a heated argument over certain issues, including
politics, but is that exactly necessary? Is it necessary every
time someone disagrees or presents a different point of
view? The opinion on the matter is yours; however, its also
best to keep an open mind regarding such issues or topics
of discussion. Regarding the election, the two presidential
candidates, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, the same still
applies. Try to keep an open mind.
Try listening to what the other side has to say, even if you
dont agree with it. Most times, its best to hear both sides of
an argument rather than just your own. Not only does it force
you to think more, it also allows you to see where you stand
on certain issues. Hearing both sides in this case, hearing
what each candidate has to say and offer allows you to
do the same. When hearing your opposition, you could be
paying attention to the criteria presented and thinking about
the discussion or debate. You could formulate your argument,
and see how it stands alone without the assistance of others.
Granted, there are times when hearing the opposition is not
necessary. For most cases, though, it is. Your argument can
grow through the introduction of both opinions, not just one.
Regarding both presidential candidates, try listening to
the topics discussed by both their positions on certain issues,
and their goals for the country if they become president.
Each factor should be taken into consideration. This doesnt
necessarily mean you have to agree with what they say.
It can be tough hearing any opposition but 99.9% of the
time its necessary.

To know
the good
from the
bad, study
a man or
womans
history of
actions,
not their
record of
intentions.
-Suzy
Kassem
ISSUE 85 |

MR. TWEET & MRS. EMAIL

A battle of media wits or lack there of
Trey Bales
In this day and age, the media
has grown bigger than ever. It has
even come to play a huge part in this
presidential campaign. On one side we
have a candidate who takes to twitter
to rant in 140 characters. On the other,
we have a candidate who cant seem
to grasp the whole e-mail concept.
For Donald Trump, twitter has
become a campaign tool. Whether this
is genius or it turns out to be his Achilles
heel, is yet to be determined and will
only be determined after the election. It
comes as no surprise that Trump is just
as outspoken on twitter as he is in real
life. On September 29th Trump tweeted
Wow, did you see how badly @CNN
(Clinton News Network) is doing in the
ratings. With people like @donlemon,
who could expect any more? Some
of his tweets lead you to think, are you
serious? Is America being punkd by
Ashton Kutcher? Regardless if youre for
Trump or against him, you have to admit
he is keeping it rather entertaining.
On the other end of the spectrum, we
have Hillary Clinton. During her tenure as

10

| ISSUE 85

Secretary of State, she exclusively used

her familys private email server for official
communications, rather than official
State Department accounts maintained
on federal servers. Thousands of emails
Clinton sent and received were marked
C. The C stands for classified. Clinton
claims she didnt know what the C stood
for, and she may not have. However,
odds are she knew what it meant. If she
didnt, you would think she could come
up with a better lie than that after all of
the previous lies she has told.
This world never ceases to amaze
me. Out of everyone in this country
we managed to have it come down
between a guy that has to shorten you
to u just to get his point across in 140
characters, and a women who doesnt
know that C stands for classified. If it
were my choice, I would say lets not
elect either of these two clowns. I say we
give the rest of the world the clich we
have to work on ourselves (U.S.) before
we can work on us (rest of the world).
Lets just take these next four years to
relax and then start back up fresh.

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY?

Many millenials still feeling the Bern
Casey Lee
Bernie Sanders. He completely stole
the millenial and youth vote. A recent
survey by TIME Magazine revealed,
1,000 Americans aged 18 to 26 found
that he is the most respected political
figure, and that more would prefer to
have dinner with him than Beyonce,
Kanye West and Justin Bieber.
Whats going on? How did a 75
year old, white male, gain the vote of
our youth? Lets talk about Millenials. We
have overwhelming student debt, high
unemployment, and we feel as though
weve received this huge mess from older
generations. For most of us, there hasnt
been a time the United States wasnt in
war since weve been alive.
Nikhil Goyal, American journalist, said,
Our institutions and the political and
economic establishment have been
royally screwing us over, and were not
going to take it anymore.
Thats just it. Were not going to take

it anymore. Were not going to sit back

and shut up, while older generations
talk about how privileged, lazy, and
narcissistic we are. We are not as
irrational and immature as adults seem
to think. Weve grown up with financial
crises and accept that most of us will be
unemployed. Most of us are cynical and
pessimistic because of the environment
weve grown up in.
Were the unemployed generation
and the indentured generation. Bernie
is the only one that has taken the issues
facing our youth seriously. Hes the first
candidate to really push the problem of
student debt, and is able to recognize
the economic challenges we face.
Bernie Sanders is every millenials
dream. He fights for oppression, the
working class, the little guy and the
middle class, and realizes that our
society is rigged for the rich. Youre
damn right he caught our attention.

ISSUE 85 |

11

WOMEN WILL REMEMBER

IN NOVEMBER
Trumps locker room talk is swaying the female vote
Casey Lee
I was hoping that it wasnt true. That if
theres a chance this man could become
President, that it wouldnt be true. Grab
her by the pussy. Wait, what? When
youre a star they let you do it. You can
do anything.
And there it was. A recording was
obtained from 2005 where Donald
Trump can be heard talking to Access
Hollywood host Billy Bush. The explicit
and uncensored audio revealed some
previous comments made by Trump
about women.
But he apologized. Sure, he
apologized, writing it off as locker room
banter. But that was ten years ago.
He was a different man then, wasnt
he? In 1991 in an interview with Esquire
magazine, Trump commented on the
media, You know, it doesnt really matter

what [they] write as long as youve got

a young and beautiful piece of ass.
In 2011, Trump told a lawyer she was
disgusting when she excused herself
to use a breast pump. In 2013, during
a taping of Celebrity Apprentice, rock
musician Bret Michaels told Donald
Trump his fellow contestant Brande
Roderick had dropped to her knees and
begged to be the project manager.
Trump said, It must be a pretty picture.
You dropping to your knee.
But he was a different man then. And
its just locker room talk, right? The men
that are actually in the locker room seem
to disagree with that. London Fletcher,
former NFL Linebacker, said, Somebody
wasnt talking about sexually assaulting
someone. Thats what Trump was talking
about, in my opinion. To label that as

I suppose I couldve stayed home and baked

cookies and had teas. - Hillary Clinton
12

| ISSUE 85

MEMBER

locker room talk was reckless. He is trying to get people to dismiss what he was
talking about. He talked about Hillary Clinton being in jail. He should be in jail for
what he was talking about doing. Eric Weddle, safety for the Baltimore Ravens,
said, In my experience, there isnt conversation like Trump was talking about
or conversation that looks down on women. Its kind of odd that he would put
that in context with us, or any locker room. If women are brought up, its more
relationship-type stuff, or night-out-type stuff, but never in the way that it was
brought up in that context. What about the women in the locker room? Would
they be so quick to jump to the defense of these players? Jen Welter, former
assistant coaching intern for the Arizona Cardinals would. I can honestly say in
my entire time with the NFL, not one guy disrespected me. People underestimate
the caliber of men who play in the National Football League. Calling this sort
of conversation locker room talk is doing an injustice to these men.
Michelle Obama
blasted Trump. The
shameful comments
about our bodies.
The disrespect of
our ambitions and
intellect. The belief
that you can do
anything you want
to a woman? Its
cruel. Its frightening.
And the truth is, it
hurts.
Boys will be
boys. All guys talk
about that stuff.
This is it. This is rape
culture. This is why
rapist Brock Turner
only served three
months in jail after
sexually assaulting
a woman behind
a dumpster. If you
didnt know this,
Trump
grabbing
a womans pussy
without consent is criminal sexual contact. Trump is the embodiment of rape
culture. The Trump campaign is downplaying assault, denying womens stories,
and attacking them for coming forward. Implying that this talk is simply locker
room banter is normalizing a toxic form of masculinity that tells men they have a
right to womens bodies.
Since the release of this tape, several women have stepped forward with
sexual assault allegations. More and more women are coming forward with their
own stories of harassment from Trump throughout the years. Bush was released
after this tape was released. There will be no repercussions for Trump. Trump feels
like he has the right to grab women by the pussy because of his status. Imagine
what hell think he has the right to do if he becomes president.
ISSUE 85 | 13

The trump campaign

is downplaying
assault, denying
womens stories, and
attacking them for
coming forward.

Whats in your yard?

KEN BONE
THE HERO WE NEED, NOT THE HERO WE DESERVE
Audience member Kenneth Bone asked a
question related to energy and became
an Internet meme after the second
presidential debate. He received praise
for his red sweater, and has since gotten his
15 minutes of fame in an IZOD add, telling
Americans to vote. After the debate, he
became a meme overnight.

14

| ISSUE 85

TRUST THE RAINBOW

Syrian refugees downgraded to candy

HERO WE DESERVE

Gracyn Reed
Syrian refugees have become a large part of todays
communities. As problems continue to rise in the Middle East,
our politicians find new, convincing ways to turn us against
the Syrians.
Donald Trump Jr. posted a photo on Twitter that read,
If I had a bowl of skittles and I told you just three would kill
you. Would you take a handful? His caption with the Tweet
says, The image says it all. Lets end the politically correct
agenda that doesnt put America first #trump2016. He
received loads of backlash from celebrities as well as the
entire Twitter world. Jon Favreau had tweeted a photo of
an injured little boy and said, This is one of the millions of
children you compared to a poisoned Skittle today.
All of this discussion really makes you think about the
entire skittle scenario. What if you knew that a small amount
of berries in a bowl could kill you, but if you didnt eat the
berries other people would die too? Its a simple analogy,
but the meaning behind it makes sense. Yes, a small scale of
Syrian children can be recruited by ISIS to bomb parts of the
United States, but that doesnt mean we should leave all the
Syrian children to die. In this world, life is fragile; people can
only bend and break before its too much to handle. Stop
comparing Syrian children to poisonous Skittles and start
teaching adults what is appropriate and how to conduct
themselves on the internet.

Lets
end the
politically
correct
agenda
that
doesnt
put
America
first.
-Donald
Trump Jr.

ISSUE 85 |

15

ARE YOU WITH HER? o

Breaking down Hillary Clinton

Dixie Robinson
For years people have recognized
her as the woman behind President
Bill Clinton. A younger generation may
know her for battling Barrack Obama
for the Democratic Candidacy in 2008.
Although she ended her campaign then,
she has returned to the race. This time
against the Republican Candidate,
Donald Trump.
Clinton went to law school at
Yale where she was one of 27 female
graduates. She became the first female
associate and first female partner for
Rose Law Firm. Hillary wanted to fight for
health and education systems and did
so when she became First Lady of the
United States in 1992. In 2000, Hillary
became the first female U.S. senator from
New York. After losing to Barrack Obama
in 2008, she became his Secretary of
State.
Equal rights, tuition-free college,
helping small businesses, gun control
and violence prevention, universal

16

| ISSUE 85

healthcare, support of our veterans,

sexual assault on college campuses,
immigration reform, paid medical leave,
and animal protection are all ideals at
the forefront of her campaign. She has
based her campaign around helping
the little people in our society, and has
focused on their equality for most of her
life.
The major issue voters have with her is
they dont feel as though they can trust
her. This came to a head when it was
announced she used a personal email
account to deal with official government
communication. She also deleted emails
from this account which has brought
doubt to the voters.
Hillary Clinton could become the
first female president this November,
and although you shouldnt vote for her
based on her gender, know that it has a
huge role to play in how she views the
world.

?o

OR HIM? n

Is Trump on track to making America great again?

Maci Hodges
Donald J. Trump, chairman and
president of The Trump Organization, is
the presidential Republican candidate
for 2016. Trump graduated from the
Wharton School of Finance in 1968.
He is well known for his portfolio of real
estate developments around the world.
Donalds latest White House run
is officially on. Trump states, Sadly
the American dream is deadbut if
I get elected President I will bring it
back bigger and better and stronger
than ever before. His slogan for his
presidential campaign is, Make America
Great Again.
Although there are multiple political
issues in the race for president, two of the
most debated issues are the economy
and immigration. According to Trumps
official website, his vision on the economy
is to create a dynamic booming

economy that will create 25 million new

jobs over the next decade. Trumps
vision on immigration is to promote a
system of legal immigration that serves
the well-being of the American people.
Trump frequently posts on social media
and participates in interviews promoting
the issues of his campaign such as free
market, the importance of a strong family,
a culture of life, and a strong military. He
feels that all of these issues are important
to making America great again.
Donald Trump entered the race for
presidency believing that a change was
needed in our government. He believes
his results-driven success in business is
what is needed to change from being
ran by agenda pushing lobbyists and
career politicians. Will Donald Trump
make America great again? America
needs to decide.

ISSUE 85 |

17

If people can just

pour into the country
illegally, you dont
have a country.

Deport undocumented immigrants?

Clinton

I grew up in NYC,
a town with different
races, religions, and
peoples. It breeds
tolerance.

There has to
be some form of
punishment for
women who seek
abortions.

18

| ISSUE 85

who will you s(ele

No

Trump

Yes

Increased gun control?

Yes Trump
Clinton

No

Increase in military spending?

Clinton
No Trump
Yes
Keep abortion legal?
Yes Trump
Clinton

No

Aborting if the women is at risk, if the

pregnancy is due to rape or incest, and
restrictions on late-term abortions?
Clinton

Yes

Trump

Yes

Should Social Security be cut?

Clinton

No

Trump

No

who will you s(elect) w

documented immigrants?
Yes

No

Yes

Should the retirement age be raised?

Clinton
No
No
Trump
Same sex marriage?
Yes
Clinton

Trump

No

Transgender bathrooms?
Yes Trump
Clinton

No

Believe in climate change?

Yes Trump
Clinton

No

Should the minimum wage be raised?

Clinton

Yes

Trump

No

Support the death penalty?

Clinton

Yes

Trump

Yes

Trump

The American
people are tired
of liars and people
who pretend to be
something theyre
not.

Human rights are

womens rights,
and womens rights
are human rights.

Yes

Should police body cameras be

mandatory?
Clinton

No

Gay rights are

human rights.
ISSUE 85 |

19

SHATTERING GLASS CEILINGS

Hillary Clinton could become the first
female President
Casey Lee

Her nomination put a crack in the glass ceiling, and

her victory could completely shattered it. Hillary Clinton
became the first ever female presidential nominee, and
she could become the first ever female President. Before
this, wed seen 43 white, male presidents. We hit a
milestone when Barack Obama became the first African
American president of the United States.
We got to experience history in 2008, and we have
the potential to witness it again in November. Whether
or not youre voting for her, or agree with her, you still
have the ability to be a part of history.
After Clinton won as the Democratic nominee, she
said, And if there are any little girls out there who stayed
up late to watch, let me just say I may become the first
woman President. But one of you is next. Shes setting
a path for women for many generations to come. Shes
setting an example. Shes teach young girls that they can
do anything. Fifty years ago no one wouldve imagined
a woman president. What about ten years ago? Shes
shattering the ceiling thats held women back for so long.

Women
are the
largest
untapped
reservoir
of talent
in the
world.
-Hillary
Clinton

ISSUE 85 |

21

YES HE

DID

While everyone is preparing for a new family in the

White House, the Obamas are finishing their legacy
Dixie Robinson

When a president wins the

election and is voted into the White
House, the expectations for the next
four years are high. Are they going
to do what they promised during
their running campaigns? Are they
going to make the right decisions
for our country? Are we going to
regret this decision? When President
Barrack Obama won the election in
2008, the stakes were never higher.
Eyes were already on him for being
the first African American president.
Add to that the crash of the housing
market, a recession, and a major
national debt, and you have a feat
strong enough to hinder anyone.

22

| ISSUE 85

Sometimes its not easy through all

of the negative issues to see the
good things a president has done
for our country. However, Barack
and his wife, Michelle, made many
accomplishments during their eight
years in the White House.
One of the most well-known and
notable accomplishments President
Obama had in office was the
Affordable Health Care Act. People
are still highly torn on this issue
because its not a perfect solution.
Basically, the Affordable Health Care
Act made it to where all Americans
would have access to health care.
Within the act there are stipulations

that help education such as providing billions

in Pell Grants and debt relief, but many people
arent aware of this because of how much
controversy surrounds the AHCA.
Other accomplishments the Obamas have
had include allowing LGBTs to serve in the military
and get married. Insurers cant deny people
based on pre-existing conditions. According
to Politico Magazine, Solar energy installations
are up nearly 2,000 percent and carbon
emissions have droppedEven Republicans
like Ted Cruz and Marco Rubiohave been
complaining on the campaign trail that hes
accomplished most of his agenda.
The list of accomplishments continues, and
would be even longer if he wouldnt have had
such high opposition from other politicians. The
Obama family only has a few months left as the
head of our country and although their success
is disputed, they can continue on their journey
with integrity and strength.

Change will
not come if we
wait for some
other person
or some other
time. We are
the ones weve
been waiting
for. We are the
change that
we seek.
-Barrack
Obama

ISSUE 85 |

23

thirteenth
A review of the Netflix original

Tyler King
Thirteen, A Netflix Original documentary provides insight on slavery, criminalization,
and Jim Crow laws, connections between racial inequality and political and economical
beliefs and drives. It is a touching, astounding, eye opening documentary where the
camera never leaves the faces of the victims. It is overloaded with facts of our history.
The U.S. contains 5 percent of the worlds population, but 25 percent of the worlds
prisoners are in the United States of America. The land of thee free. In 1972 there
were 300,000 prisoners, and in 2016 there are currently 2.3 million. The US has the
highest incarnation in the world! The amount of sincerity and the connection of the
speakers of the film spoke volumes showing the importance of movements and people
such as The Black Panthers and Willie Horton.
The Civil War ended, leaving the southern economy in tatters. Four million people
who were slaves were then freed. America needed a way for the economy in the south
not to plummet, so they devised
a plan of action that would
continue to suppress African
Americans. They were arrested
in mass, other wise known as
the prison boom. These events
led to situation awareness that
went negative with a domino
effect. This inspired the film Birth
of a Nation which was believed
to have inspired the Ku Klux
Klan. The KKK, in others words,
another form of terrorism, soon
became outlawed. Thirteen
brings awareness to the events
that have, and are currently,
happening throughout history. A
must see, and a very interesting
topic that could be discussed for
days.

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| ISSUE 85

LIVING IN A HOUSE DIVIDED

I didnt inherit my parents politics
Brianna Peralta

When I was a kid, all I wanted

was to be exactly like my parents.
I wanted to be a nurse just like
my mom. I wanted to be as easy
going as my dad. I wanted to
be republican because thats
what they were. It wasnt until the
2008 Presidential Election of John
McCain v Senator Barack Obama
that I realized I would probably
have different ideals than they
did. I always found Obamas
campaign to be an interesting
one. The way he reached out to
different audiences of old and new
voters. I felt like he really wanted to
live by his campaign slogan Yes
We Can. Even though my parents
wanted McCain to win that
election I secretly was ecstatic to
see Obama take office.
It took a couple years of
learning about the two party
systems and what it truly meant
to be Democrat or Republican.
When I turned 18 and it was my
turn to register to vote I chose
the party that had values that I
thought best represented me as
an individual; I registered as a

Democrat.
Let me be the first to tell you
that living in a house divided by
parties is not the easiest thing. Its
a lot of awkward conversations
where we avoid talking about
recent he said, she said topics
that have been in the news.
Its making passive aggressive
comments about candidates that
we arent voting for.
You can say that the election
has really tested the relationships
in my family. I would be lying if I
said that I wasnt excited for all the
political talk to end. The biggest
thing that I took away from this is
that I am extremely grateful to live
in a family that lets me express my
opinion if its different than theirs.
It taught me to be open minded,
to look at different perspectives
and to not be so quick to judge
a book by its cover. I would be
lying if I were to say that I wasnt
excited that the election season
is almost over, but even through
it all Im grateful for my little house
divided.
ISSUE 85 |

25

ISSUE 85 / FALL / 2016

INTERNATIONAL SECTION

INSIDE:
FEATURE

FEATURE

FEATURE

YOU SHOULDNT
VOTE FOR TRUMP

GOVERNMENT
REGIMES

BUILD BRIDGES
NOT WALLS

PAGE 28

28

| ISSUE 84

PAGE 32

PAGE 36

NAL SECTION

Contents

16

BRINGING THE WORLD TO AVILA AND AVILA

TO THE WORLD

28
30
32
34
36

YOU SHOULDNT VOTE FOR TRUMP

I COULD GIVE YOU A MILLION REASONS WHY
STRAIGHT OUTTA OPTIONS
NOT CHOOSING EITHER CANDIDATE
THE GOVERNMENT REGIMES
WHO WILL BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT?
OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY
INTERNATIONAL VIEWS OF THE ELECTION
BUILD BRIDGES NOT WALLS
BUILDING WALLS ONLY SEPARATES US

ON THE COVER:
Photo courtesy of: news website Edge Events
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

No matter what we face in our daily life, each day

we have tests, presentations, research papers and
exams. Getting out of your comfort zone would
allow you to have some peace of mind from all
the noise around us that stops us from seeing the
road of life. Having a vision and keeping yourself
reminded, is what going to get you to the end of
that road, successfully.
Mohammed Alabdullah,
International Editor

I will build
a great,
great
wall
on our
southern
border,
and I
will make
Mexico
pay for
that wall.
-Donald
Trump

28

| ISSUE 85

YOU SHOULDNT VOTE FOR TRUMP

I could give you a million reasons why
Yessica Ramirez
I could write a million reasons why Donald Trump shouldnt
be president, but I only have one page to do so. I am, in a way,
still amazed by the fact that people take Trump seriously. It is
mind blowing. I cant wrap my head around the idea of Trump,
a man with such ignorance, becoming president. Im seriously
amazed by his stupidity. His supporters use him as a way to
finally have the chance to speak up in what they truly believe
in. Since Trump speaks his mind, his supporters have someone
to basically back them up about their views. He has exposed
the racism that still exists in this country. Oh finally someone
who has the same views as me! Now let me speak up as well!
Im not claiming that everyone that supports Trump is bad.
The ones who support him show all of this negativity towards
undocumented immigrants, Muslims, African Americans, etc.
There were Trump supporters that tore a poster a lady held
that simply had the word peace on it. How ridiculous is that?
You may ask, now, why do I not like Trump? Not only did
he bash my people, he also said these exact words: When
Mexico sends its people, theyre not sending the best. Theyre
not sending you, theyre sending people that have lots of
problems and theyre bringing those problems with us. Theyre
bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapistsAnd
some, I assume, are good people. Please care to explain
this... I honestly dont even know what to say.
The amount of videos that Ive watched where people
hold all of this anger towards another individual for speaking
other languages is insane. How are you going to tell someone
to go back to their country because theyre speaking another
language? This not only hurts me, but it hurts my parents, my
family, and anyone who relates.

VOTE FOR TRUMP

lion reasons why

Podra escribir un milln de razones

por Donald Trump no debera ser
presidente, pero slo tengo una
pgina para hacerlo, por lo tanto, no
puedo. Soy de una manera todava
sorprendido por el hecho de que las
personas tomen a Trump en serio es
exorbitante. No puedo hacerme a
la idea de que Trump, un hombre tan
ignorante, se convierta presidente.
Deberas que estoy asombrada por su
estupidez. Utilizan a Trump como una
manera de tener por fin la oportunidad
de hablar de lo que realmente creen
en. Como Trump dice lo que piensa,
sus partidarios tienen a alguien en
que respaldarse y piensan que tienen
el derecho en decir sus puntos de
vista. Se he descubierto el racismo
que todava existe en este pas Oh,
finalmente, alguien que tiene los mismos
puntos de vista que yo! Ahora voy a
hablar tambin!
Ahora, no estoy diciendo que
todos los que soportan a el Trump son
malos. Las personas que lo apoyan
muestran mucha negatividad hacia
los
inmigrantes
indocumentados,

Musulmanes, Afroamericanos, etctera.

Haba partidarios que desgarraron un
cartel que deca paz en una de las
manifestaciones de Trump. Qu ridculo
es eso?
Usted puede preguntar, ahora, por
qu no te gusta Trump? No slo ofende
a mi gente, tambin dijo estas palabras
exactas: Cuando Mxico enva su
gente, que no estn enviando los
mejores. Ellos no enviar ms, que estn
enviando las personas que tienen un
montn de problemas y que van a traer
esos problemas con nosotros. Estn
trayendo las drogas. Estn trayendo
crimen. Son violadores ... Y algunos,
supongo, son buenas personas. Por
favor, explica esto Sinceramente, no
s ni qu decir.
La cantidad de videos que he
visto donde la gente tiene toda esta
rabia sobre otra persona que habla
otros idiomas es una locura. Cmo vas
a decirle a alguien a volver a su pas
porque estn hablando otro idioma?
Esto no slo me duele, pero duele mis
padres, mi familia, y todo aquel que se
relaciona

ISSUE 85 |

29

Straight outta options

When youre not feeling either presidential candidate
Daniel Galley
This upcoming presidential election is
one of the most talked about elections
in the history of this country and the
most worrying election for the rest of the
world. Both Republican and Democratic
parties have voiced their opinions
and strategies on how they would, in
Trumps infamous words, Make America
Great Again. Though to say that they
are capable of doing this would be
somewhat of an outrageous claim.
As an international student who has
been studying here since 2012, I have
never worried about myself staying in
the country after college until now. With
some of the policies certain candidates
are suggesting they will bring to the
Oval Office, Im sure I am not alone in
thinking that it would be a frightening
thought to what type of laws would be
introduced on foreigners visiting or living
in America in the foreseeable future.
The suggestion of building a wall and
the idea of isolating the country from
those who have helped it develop

30

| ISSUE 85

and grow as a nation is a scary and

all but too realistic scenario which may
come to fruition. America is not made
up of TRUE Americans, especially
those who are trying to control and
seek higher authority over people of
different ethnic backgrounds. It is known
as a melting pot and has been since its
independence. The America in which we
know today was first settled by English,
German, and Dutch, just to name a few
of the many nationalities that decided
to call this land, home. In my honest
opinion I believe that any country could
not survive without the immigrants and
what they contribute to the economy is
crucial.
The political power in which America
holds across the world is something
that is incredibly respected by all and
the president has arguably the most
powerful position in the world. When we
think of Clinton, although she may not
be the best at what she does or the
best person for the position, the world


options

sidential candidate

We are going to take things away from

you on behalf of the common good.
-Hillary Clinton

sees her as a politician and knows what they will get with her.
Straight forward and sitting on the fence on all decisions
trying to get the approval of all parties involved unless given
no other option to choose a side. Trump on the other hand
is perceived as a loose cannon and with being at the helm
of the largest army and most political sway. He genuinely
does not seem as if he is the right person to lead this country
and represent them as their chosen President.
The area that concerns me most at this stage, is the
debates that are occurring between Trump and Clinton.
In these debates all we are hearing about is what has
happened in the past or what the other has done trying
to bring down the individual. They are turning the most
anticipated and most prestigious election into something of
a laughing stock. Although the latest debate was the most
watched in history, for myself, I knew that I was watching it
for the comical value it may have held. Imagine watching
the news and finding out that it did not present the news or
the weather, but made a joke of all the horrible situations
happening through the country. People would be furious
and would want answers to why they were not receiving
what they were expecting. America should be demanding
that of the Presidential candidates.

Bing bing,
bong
bong,
bing bing
bing.
-Donald
Trump

ISSUE 85 |

31

THE GOVERNMENT REGIMES

Who will be the next President?
Bandar Alhaidary
The presidential election is
surrounding our daily lives and is the main
topic of conversation these days. We
should look into and have knowledge
to know what the governmental regimes
are and how they work. It will be a great
idea to know the regimes utilized around
the world including the US governments
system. There are positive and negative
aspects for all of them. Lets go together
to learn about these systems, I will write
briefly about three different types.
The Democracy is a system of
government by all the eligible members
of a society or allows for each individual
to participate and to be a part of the
political system. We often hear the United
States referred to as a democracy.
Sometime it is a system in control of an
organization or group by the majority of
its members, like companies or schools,
to make decisions for the organization.
From time to time, it is hard to collect
every persons opinion.
The Republic is a system of
government where the government
remains mostly subject to those
governed. The power in a republican
government is held by the people
and their elected representatives,

32

| ISSUE 85

the elected representatives elect

the president rather than the people
themselves. Many types of republics exist,
such as Crowned, Single Party, Capitalist,
Federal and Parliamentary. That means
that the government is subject to the
people, and the administrator can be
recalled. The Monarchy is a government
in which the monarch is not chosen
by people. It is often the head of the
kingdom and is inherited through family
ties. The monarch will reign until they
abdicate the throne or are deceased
and the next person in the family will
inherit the position of leader. The benefit
of hereditary rule is that the monarch
can easily change the system and
policies. The monarch has the final word
and complete discretion in how the rules
are enforced.
Around the world, there are five
commonly used governmental systems
and I mentioned three here including
Democracy, Republic, and Monarchy.
Each country has their own system to
use, maybe you like the system in place
in your country or you could prefer
another countrys system over your own,
you may even prefer none of the systems.

T REGIMES


:
.
.
. .
.
.
. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

33

| ISSUE 85

OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY

International views of the U.S. election
Scott Bower
Have we ever thought about what
other countries think of our system and
candidates? I sat down with Kotaro
Chiba, Kota Hiraaki, and Erica Vallone
to discuss U.S. politics and the way
elections work in their countries. Kotaro
and Kota are from Tokyo, Japan and
Fukuoka, Japan. Erica is from Bergamo,
Italy.
I asked about what they knew about
the election.
I know that the election is very
important here, said Kotaro, the
U.S. president is in office for at least 4
years.
Kotaro and Kota didnt have much
to say about Donald Trump or Hillary
Clinton, but Erica knew a little about
them.
I know that Trump and Hillary fight
a lot. She affirmed, I know that Trump
wants to build a wall.
Of course I am against the wall. I
think the wall would be a good idea
if the U.S. was at war with Mexico, but
they arent, said Kotaro. Erica added, I
dont like the idea. Its like Germany with
the Berlin wall. Every country has good
and bad people, but that doesnt mean
we should keep everyone out.
I asked if the candidates for president
make the U.S. look bad.
I think every election in every country

34

| ISSUE 85

makes them look bad, she explained,

there is always fighting and there are
always scandals.
Next, I talked with everyone about
the way elections work in their countries
and the systems in place.
Kota Hiraaki explained, In Japan, we
cannot vote to choose the Prime Minister.
But we can vote for a counselor. Kotaro
added to the comment saying, Each
year, our congress can change the
Prime Minister if they want. When it came
to Italy, Erica said, There are people
who work in Parliament, but they dont
work. They just sleep and do nothing for
the population.
Lastly, I asked if young people in their
country cared about elections.
I dont know why, but I think its
because of the system in the Japanese
election. Young people dont care as
much, said Kotaro. Erica briefly said
that young people care in Italy, but
only because, If we want something, we
have to participate for change.
Hopefully, these perspectives will
offer valuable insight to everyone. This
restores a little bit of hope for me, it is
good to know that this is normal, and
that politics are like this in pretty much
every country. Maybe its not as bad as
we like to think sometimes.

FAR AWAY

Translated by Atsushi Hida

ISSUE 85 |

35

BUILD BRIDGES NOT WALLS

Building walls only separates us from one another

Bandar Alhaidary
What is the advantage of making an
Why should we be building bridges,
rather than walls? Should we pay enemy? When we fear to love, we dont
attention to the voices around us? Why make friends by building walls and we will
we do care about each other? Many make more enemies that we dont want.
questions come to mind. Sometimes we Take the risk and be more reasonable
find answers and sometimes we do not. and sit to talk and listen about issues.
Do we forget that we are of one kind? Take the time to understand each other,
We are all one, despite our differences as that leads to benefits for both sides.
In this year, with the presidential
in religion and skin color.
By building walls we will be lonely. We election, we see how the media
need to see and look on others and not became warm after one of the electoral
only ourselves. The person or country candidates speeches. They were talking
who fortifies themselves from the world is about immigrants and some religions
isolated and wrapped up in their own and how he will not allow them to enter
selfish interests. It is important to look to the US soil. Should citizens listen to
outside in order to learn and improve him or not? I will leave the answer to you.
Finally, we are all one. There is only
ourselves. We all have common interests,
one kind of human being, and there will
whether it is political or economic. G
Go to other countries for business continue to be so. No one will change
or travel and tourism. Look into different our beliefs. Just listen to this humanitarian

appeal

and treat each other with

cultures, we need to emphasize
with
understanding
and respect.
others needs besides our own.

:

. . .
. .
. .
. . .

. . . .
. . .
. .
. .

36

! . . .

| ISSUE 85

WALLS

ISSUE 85 |

37

ISSUE 85 / FALL / 2016

SPORTS SECTION

INSIDE:
FEATURE

FEATURE

FEATURE

THE YELLOW FLAGS:

ROGER GOODELL

TIM TEBOW RULE:

DOUBLE STANDARD?

REMEMBERING JOSE
FERNANDEZ

PAGE 40

PAGE 43

PAGE 44

Contents

16

CAPTURING THE LIVES AND INTERESTS OF

AVILAS STUDENT ATHLETES

40
41
42
43
44
46
47
48
49
50

THE YELLOW FLAGS

ROGER GOODELL AND THE SYSTEM
NOT EVERYONE DESERVES A MEDAL
POLITICAL CORRECTNESS IS EVERYWHERE
BELICHICK FOR PRESIDENT
THE HERO WE WANT
TIM TEBOW RULE
DOUBLE STANDARD? YOU DECIDE.
REMEMBERING A YOUNG LEGEND
JOSE FERNANDEZ WILL FOREVER BE REMEMBERED
POLITICAL INFLUENCE IN SPORTS
PLAYERS USE THEIR STATUS TO PERSUADE
RED VS BLUE
SPORTS DIPLOMACY RELEVANT AGAIN
CHAMPIONS AND THE WHITE HOUSE
A TIMELESS TRADITION
THE SAGA CONTINUES
AVILA ATHLETES TAKE A KNEE FOR THE ANTHEM
CANDIDATE PHOTO SPREAD

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Although the highly anticipated election is around the

corner, football season is in full swing. Tom Brady has
returned from his suspension, and Carson Wentz has taken
the NFL by storm. In this issue, you will read about the legend
of one of baseballs brightest stars, how kneeling during the
national anthem has made its way to Avilas campus, and
how political correctness plays a role in youth sports. The
Chicago Cubs have made it back to the world series for
the first time since 1945 and look to win the world series for
the first time since 1908.

Ryan Meyer,
Sports Editor

...he
doesnt
understand.
Hes just a
face. Hes
just a suit.
Hes never
stepped
foot on
the field
and
understood...
-Richard
Sherman

40

| ISSUE 85

THE YELLOW FLAGS

Roger Goodell and the system

Zach Hoeflicker
If you want to celebrate or express yourself in the NFL, you
better be comfortable with getting a penalty or fine because its
probably in your near future. Whether or not players like it, there
are yellow flags being thrown left and right. These individuals that
want freedom are frustrated with the league and the head man,
Roger Goodell. Even with the flags and fines, players consistently
go about their business. Fans love it, so why cant the league?
Football is fun to watch. I enjoy it and so does a variety of
people across the country. When it comes down to it, I really
enjoy the little things that players do to express themselves as
individuals. You may find yourself watching videos of celebrations
on Twitter or seeing which athletes are wearing what cleats. Its
something that adds to the game.
For the NFL, that could be as much as waving your finger as
to say no more. Its considered taunting and thats not allowed.
Dancing in the end zone for too long is not allowed. Wearing
certain cleats that the NFL doesnt like is not allowed. Players
are frustrated with the system and the man who runs it. They
dont even get to vote for the guy or have a voice regarding
the leadership. Lots of players are reaching out towards the
management of the league saying that it is absurd that they get
penalized and fined so much. The players want a voice and its
difficult with the way the system is set up. Not being able to vote
personally for a commissioner is the first problem and changes
are hard to make with little power. I think the NFL should adapt
to the new age of athletes and the way they express themselves,
allowing the game to advance and grow. So enough with the
yellow flags, keep those in your pockets.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

W FLAGS NOT EVERYONE DESERVES A MEDAL

he system

Political correctness is everywhere

Trey Bales
This world is turning into a, cant say
or do anything that someone may find
offensive world. Its a real shame that
telling stuff the way it is, is frowned upon.
I never intend to offend anyone but
some of the things that were once fine
are now the worst things in the world. I
think the worst part of all is that political
correctness (PC) is starting to make its
way to the sporting world.
The PC movement has started
to take its toll on the sporting world.
Names of sports teams are becoming
a big deal; as names of rivalry games
are being changed to the PC way.
The Washington Redskins, who have
had their name for over 80 years, are
among the teams under pressure to
change their name. Rivalry games such
as The Red River Shootout between
Texas and Oklahoma, and The Border
War between Kansas and Missouri have
also been under scrutiny to change
their names. Apparently you cant
associate sports with a shootout and
a war because people dont want to
associate sports with guns and violence.
Sports are a big teaching tool to
young kids. Sports teach you how to win
and be successful through hard work. It
teaches you how to lose and overcome
adversity. Times are changing and
people believe everyone has to get
a trophy. The issue with this is that with

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

the everyone wins attitude, kids arent

learning how to lose. If you lose and
you are rewarded for it, you are going
to grow up thinking that you deserve
something for doing nothing or for not
doing as well as other people. This type
of political correctness leads to people

You have to constantly

make sure everything
you do doesnt offend
someone.
who think they should get just as much as
the person who works harder.
This world we live in is becoming softer
and softer. You have to constantly make
sure everything you do doesnt offend
someone. I think that things need to go
back to how they were when everyone
didnt get a trophy for showing up and
you could speak your mind without any
negative repercussions. Maybe this
PC lifestyle is responsible for some of
our problems in this country. Everyone
needs to realize that you cant please
everyone and not everyone is going to
like or agree with you, big deal. Speak
your mind and be yourself, not who
society says you should be.
ISSUE 85 |

41

BELICHICK FOR PRESIDENT

Give us the hero we want
Zeff Lewey
With the impending election looming
on the horizon, Americans are once
again divided in the political sphere
and debating on the future leader
of America. Through the debates,
the political and social ills facing this
country, and the protests which have
infiltrated the sports world, lets consider
the hypothetical leader of the sports
world.
Could it be a supreme athlete such
as Lebron James? A timeless icon like
Derek Jeter or Kobe Bryant? Or maybe
a man that has stood the test of time.
A man who has won despite criticism
and lack of star power, and true to
a politicians form, a man who has
controversy surrounding his career.
Im referring to Bill Belichick, fearless
and soft spoken leader of the New
England Patriots who has built an
undeniable
and
unprecedented
dynasty in the NFL.. A dynasty that
will likely not be replicated any time
soon. He has proved he can lead an
organization to victory time and time
again despite various detrimental

42

| ISSUE 85

circumstances.
Belichick won Super Bowl titles in
2001, 2003, 2004, and 2014. He
has coached his way to a .771-win
percentage during his time in New
England while weathering the controversy
of Spygate and Deflategate, growing
a household name in Tom Brady, and
leading a team that has lacked the
star power that is otherwise needed
to sustain long-term success. And lets
not forget he has also popularized the
sleeveless hoodie.
This year may be his masterpiece
though, as Belichick continues to win
despite losing Brady to a four game
suspension spurring a four-week carousel
at the quarterback position. Yet, the
Patriots are 3-1 and sitting atop the
AFC East.
Innovation in terms of new schemes,
vision in terms of long term success,
and unconventional in terms of a Doug
Flutie drop kick and the minimal use of
verbiage in press conferences has
made Bill Belichick the front runner for the
leader of the professional sports world.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

3:16

TIM TEBOW RULE

Double standard? You decide.
Maci Hodges

Politics are everywhere these days, even in sports.

The public seems to be all ears when athletes talk.
According to the article, The Power and Politics of Sports:
Why Games Arent Just Games Anymore, athletes might
actually have more power than politicians. This could
be the reason for the long list of rules incorporated into
the National Football League. One of those rules is
about eye black. This rule states that eye black cannot
have writing on it.
Tim Tebow was most well-known for his religious
beliefs. He was praised by many when he knelt down
in prayer before games, as well as when he expressed
his faith through bible verses on his eye black. Tebow
believes that God used him to spread his word.
Tebow did this through writing Bible verses on his eye
black during NFL games. The article, Tim Tebow: Dont
Underestimate God, Who Used My John 3:16 Eye Black
to Reach 94 Million People, explained that Tebow was
called to spread the Lords word and he stated, In the
end, football is just a silly game. Greatness comes from
serving.
Players are allowed to express their personal
views by kneeling for the National Anthem. What is the
difference between expressing religious beliefs on eye
black? There appears to be a double standard in
the NFL when it comes to freedom of expression. It is
hypocritical to allow one but not the other. One might
say this goes as far as infringing on first amendment
rights.

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

As a
football
player
you have
a platform.
And its
so much
more
important
than any
touchdown or
trophy or
anything
you could
win with a
football.
-Tim
Tebow
ISSUE 85 |

43

REMEMBERING A YOUNG
Jose Fernandez will forever be remembered
Ryan Meyer

Often times in sports we see

political and racial differences
between fans, players, coaches, and
front office staff. Colin Kaepernick has
taken to the main stage the protesting
of the national anthem by kneeling
before kickoff. Weve recently seen
cases of racism off the field; Riley
Cooper of the Philadelphia Eagles
received severe backlash for using a
racial slur in a snapchat video and
received no formal punishment from
the NFL. Riots have recently started
a discussion whether or not football
games would be played due to the
safety of the players and the public.
Even last year, with the death of
Freddie Gray in Baltimore, the Orioles
played the Chicago White Sox with
no fans in attendance due to safety
concerns. The world of sports has
seen a turn for the worse in the past
few years, however one event helped

44

| ISSUE 85

bring the world of sports together.

Jose Fernandez was a young,
energetic pitcher who enjoyed life
just as much as he did the game
of baseball. His girlfriend had just
announced a week prior to the horrific
incident, that she was pregnant
with his child. Jose Fernandez, who
defected from Cuba at the age of
15, and on his fourth attempt, had to
miraculously save his mother when she
fell out of the boat. Fernandez was a
young star in the universal game of
baseball, and was looked up to by
many, especially his native Cubans.
Abandoning Cuba was no easy feat
for Jose, and once he arrived in the
U.S. he knew he would never be able
to see his grandmother again. The
Miami Marlins front office knew how
much she meant to Jose. They were
able to get his grandmother a twoyear visa into the United States to

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MAJOR BASEBALL LEAGUE

RING A YOUNG LEGEND

surprise the young pitching star while
doing an interview with the team.
Fernandez was not only a great
baseball player, he was a great
person. Whether it be donating his
time, or his money, he made sure he
passed along his monetary wealth
as well as his wealth of baseball
knowledge. Fernandez died early
Sunday morning on September 25th,
thus causing the Marlins to cancel
their game against the Atlanta
Braves. However, the Marlins would
play the next day at home against
the New York Mets. Dee Gordon, who
was one of the closest teammates
and friends to Fernandez, hit in the
lead off position, per the usual that
night. He took the first pitch from the
right handed batters box and wore
Fernandezs helmet in tribute. Gordon
then swapped out helmets and got
into the batters box already down

a strike. In the prior 303 at bats

Gordon had in the 2016 season,
he had yet to hit a home run. On the
second pitch, Gordon hit the farthest
ball he said he has hit in his entire life
for a no doubter into the right field
stands. In one of the most amazing
moments in sports history, Gordon
trotted around the bases with tears
flowing in his eyes. They continued
to flow after he reached the dugout.
Another very important person in
Jose Fernandezs life was Cardinals
shortstop Aledmys Diaz who grew
up on the same street and the same
little league together. Diaz returned
to the Cardinals club after paying his
respects to Fernandezs life to hit his
first career grand slam. For a moment,
maybe even longer, we are able to
stop and think about what truly is
important in life.

ISSUE 85 |

45

POLITICAL INFLUENCE IN SPORTS

Players use their positions to persuade their followers

Daniel Galley
With professional athletes being
amongst the highest paid around,
and having such a stronghold on the
devoted millions of fans, does politics
ever play a part in a clubs point of view
or the way in which they all conduct
themselves? Many athletes are very
outspoken in todays society about
topics outside of their respected field
of play and can have such an influence
over the massive numbers. Do they use
the sporting icons as their pawns in an
attempt to brainwash us in the world of
persuasion and politics?
Many of the top athletes are
spokesmen and women of renowned
campaigns. Campaign creators do this
as a way of connecting with the mass
audiences in order to try and gain their
vote of confidence. If they are looking to
create a following and a way to stir up
their topic, they will use these athletes and
fans will see a familiar, famous face and
most likely stop and listen to it. If you were
to see a regular face on a TV screen or
an ad in a magazine you may be less
likely to stop and read it compared to
someone you feel a connection with
every week while watching your favorite
team/sport. Your mind starts to think if it is
what the athlete believes, then in some
way you are now similar to the star you

46

| ISSUE 85

have always admired. We are all guilty

of doing this, It could be something as
simple as wanting the same cleats as
my favorite player. Why? If you see that
player wearing these particular cleats
then you feel if you buy them it may help
you play like them or even become them.
It works 99 times out of 100.
With the vice-like grip that social
media has on todays younger

You have to constantly

make sure everything
you do doesnt offend
someone.
generation, it is only influencing more
people quicker and more effectively.
Open Instagram, Twitter or Facebook,
and within minutes you will find a
commercial with a sports star sponsoring
a product.
It goes to show how much society
depends on politics to help sell
something. There is no stopping
something as soon as it goes viral on the
internet. That will give you an edge over
your competitors. Any publicity is good
publicity.

IN SPORTS RED VS. BLUE

How sports diplomacy has once again become relevant

Zeff Lewey
There was a day when American
sports were pure and free of the stain
that politics leave on so many of our
institutions. Sports represented a step
outside of the political realm for a time,
and a playing field in which political
stances were forgotten and set aside
for the duration of competition. Today
theres a sort of stigma surrounding
American sports and that stigma consists
of opinions surrounding political issues
and social ills.
The end result is that politics have
bled into the sports world. Is it wrong
that athletes use their fame as platforms
for political change? No. But is it wrong
that politics have invaded game day,
taking away from the nature of American
Sports? I think yes.
This isnt new, just more prevalent
today, and technology and mainstream
media have a lot to do with that. And
the issues facing Americans today are
arguably more controversial than ever
In 1967 Muhammad Ali famously
proclaimed, I aint got no quarrel with
those Vietcong in reference to the
Vietnam war and his refusal to enlist in
the U.S. military. Those actions were met
with consequences, but it also created
a baseline example of how the American
pop culture fad enables athletes to
advance their political stances.

Fast forward to 2012 when the

Miami Heat posted a photo of several
players in black hoodies, a protest of
the shooting of Trayvon Martin.
Then in May of 2013, Robbie Rogers
of the L.A. Galaxy publicly announced
he was gay, making him the first openly
gay athlete to compete in a North
American sports league.
In late November of 2014, five St.
Louis Rams entered the field with their
hands up, a protest of the Ferguson
shootings that furthered the political
and social divide in America.
And this year, Colin Kaepernick
refused to stand for the National
Anthem, sparking a nationwide debate
of the fundamental rights of Americans
to protest.
Maybe its the level of credibility
afforded to athletes by society that
have people agreeing with their favorite
athletes on major political issues. Or
maybe its based on how professional
athletes have an unprecedented
nationwide platform that allows them to
state their stance on political issues.
Either way, it is clear that American
sports and politics no longer exists
as autonomous entities but rather
as coexisting platforms that further
perpetuate pop culture as the forefront
of political issues.
ISSUE 85 | 47

...these
sports
teams
come to
the White
House to
honor their
championship...
-Frank
Benenati

48

| ISSUE 85

CHAMPIONS AND THE WHITE HOUSE

A timeless tradition
Lexi Clary
Starting on August 30, 1865, President Andrew Johnson
made it a tradition for championship teams to visit the White
House to honor and celebrate their accomplishments.
We all remember the fantastic season the Royals had last
year, claiming their well-deserved title of World Champions in
2016. That win got them a ticket to meet President Barack
Obama, and in return the Royals gave Obama, and several
other politicians, a signed team jersey.
Another college team that has visited the White House four
times within seven years of President Barack Obamas two terms
is the Alabama football team, Crimson Tide.
As anyone would imagine, being invited to the White House
is a great honor. Although through the years, there have been
a few teams who have the title of champion and did not make
the trip.
Matt Brick, a player for the Ravens did not go to the White
House in 2013 because he disagreed with Obamas support
for planned Parent Hood. The Chicago Bears of 1985 were
invited by Obama in 2011 to celebrate their victory of the
time. The team could not make the trip in 1985 due to the
Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.
Although politics and beliefs do play a role in some of the
players attending the invitation, it is still quit an honor to make
that special trip and to be recognized by the leader of the
U.S.

HE WHITE HOUSE

THE SAGA CONTINUES

Avila Football players take a knee for the National Anthem
Scott Bower
In the previous Talon, there was an
article discussing the 49ers Quarterback
Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick started
making headlines when he began sitting,
and sometimes kneeling, for the National
Anthem during football games. It didnt
take long for this trend to spread like
wildfire among all sports teams. It also
didnt take long for it to reach Avila
University.
For the past few games, some of
the football players have been taking
a knee during the National Anthem.
Kaepernick sat for the anthem because
he said that he didnt want to, Show
pride in a country that oppresses black
people and people of color. When
players decide to take a knee during
the anthem, theyre doing so because
they support Kaepernicks claims. How
successful has the protest been? Apart
from becoming widespread, the protest
hasnt solved any problems.
In all fairness, one thing that Colin
Kaepernick has brought to the table
is attention to an issue. Police brutality
and racism were already being
discussed in the mainstream media, but
since Kaepernicks protest, the media
cant seem to get enough of it. However,
that seems to be about all that it has
accomplished. Ever since Kaepernicks
protest, there have been another 3-4
fatal police shootings of civilians. One of

the more recent shootings in Charlotte,

North Carolina was when Keith Lamont
Scott was shot after refusing to exit his
vehicle and drop his weapon. That
specific instance was even a black
officer who shot a black civilian. Every

You have to constantly

make sure everything
you do doesnt offend
someone.
police shooting should be looked at
as a separate situation with different
circumstances, which is what I feel like the
protests are missing.
On the brighter side, the form of
protest happening at Avila is peaceful
and is not causing any problem for
anyone. There havent been any
unnecessary feuds or tension on campus
and I think that we can all respect that. In
the end, many agree and disagree with
the protest, but we are all level headed
enough to understand how to handle
problems. With that being said, Im proud
to go to a University that can coexist
with difference in views on issues.
ISSUE 85 |

49

When a new president

comes in, a new president
gets to clean house.
-Hillary Clinton

Perhaps I shouldnt
campaign at all, Ill just,
you know. Ill ride it right
into the White House.
- Donald Trump

POLITICIANS AND DIAPERS MUST

BE CHANGED OFTEN, AND FOR THE
SAME REASON. MARK TWAIN