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Sometimes You Have to Tell and Stop Showing

By Daniel Seog

“Show, do not tell” basically implies that a writer should not merely say what happens in a story but should describe it with colorful language. One should never write how “Billy was sad” – Billy should have been crying and moping around the floor until the tiles beneath him were slippery. That is how to “show, not tell.” As with most things, too much of anything, whether seemingly beneficent or harmful, can ultimately only be harmful. So should people just stop showing and start telling?

A sentence in the English language is composed of three imperative elements: a subject and verb (or predicate depending on specificity). But having a writing piece be covered in this basic syntactic structure of subject and verb, is unengaging. “Show not tell” puts subjects’ emotions in the “center stage,'' per the editorial team at reedsyblog. However, more abstract language an author employs in their work can cause more boredom, a notable criticism of the writing style of Ian McEwan. This ultimately can turn into “purple prose,” a form of writing that is “flowery,” “ornate,” and “impenetrable,” per Lucy Hope at Jericho Writers. 

This writing style is often noted as a pretentious one. A common comment about “purple prose” is not wanting to read about the color of a curtain for two pages, a mocking of how some authors tend to drag on their “showing not telling” abilities. These comments are especially prevalent in pieces of classic literature, which has grown a stigma for being an ostentatious reading form according to BookTok users and Reddit communities.

In strict writing guidelines, such as a college personal statement, there is no word residency that can fit elaborate “showing.” It’s refreshing to just say what you need to say. 

The question of “show not tell” has an underlying meaning that goes beyond just the talent or skill of the writer when it comes to prose. It has to do with mastering the balancing act between being overly floral or bland when it comes to writing. So, people should just show and tell.  

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A Celebration of America's Pasttime

By Roanne Lee

On July 28, a Sunday afternoon, the Somerset Patriots and the Portland Sea Dogs, two Minor League teams, played game five in the six-game homestead. Before the game, Portland was leading the series by a score of 3 to 2. 

Ten minutes before the game started, a few mascots came onto the field, some of which included Red Bull’s iconic bull Redd and Princeton University’s orange tiger mascot. The mascots came to the Patriots’ home stadium in Bridgewater, New Jersey, to celebrate their friend Sparkee’s birthday. The mascots came out onto the field one by one as the audience cheered, applauding the loudest for the birthday star. Afterward, they ran a race around the bases, with Sparkee breaking through the finish line as the winner. Minutes after this display of camaraderie and affection, Portland pitcher Hunter Dobbins started the game with a strike. 

At the bottom of the second inning, the scoreboard showed the 1 point Portland had earned. It was time for the Patriots to either tie the score or end the inning a point behind. Starting off the play with one out, #36,Tyler Hardman came up onto the field. On his fourth swing, the audience turned their heads all at once to see the small baseball rocketing across the field. Squinting their eyes, the Patriots’ fans cheered as the ball raced between the two yellow poles, announcing a game tying home run for Hardman.

With Portland leading the game by 3-1, the fifth inning began. Their #11, Phillip Sikes brought his bat up and was ready to hit the ball flying towards him. With a pang! the ball went flying up and past the Patriots’ players on defense. For the second time, but by the opposing team’s player, the ball went in between the yellow poles, marking a homerun and another leading point for the Portland Sea Dogs. 

The sun started to set, and the ninth inning sped along. Portland was still up 4-1. Their players scored no points in the inning, so the Patriots only needed 3 to win. #13 Grant Richardson sauntered onto the field and starts the comeback with a sacrificial fly to left fielder Nick Decker, allwing #5 player Anthony Seigler to run home. 4-2.

The fans rise up in cheer in new-found excitement, but just as quickly fall back to their seats. Not long after, the game ends, leaving the final score at 4-2. After the nearly three-hour game, both team players wipe off their sweats, marking their effortful plays. 

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Emergency: An Eye Opening One Man Show Showing 40 Different Worlds With The Same Difficult Reality

By Aryanna Miller

Black people either reject or accept the idea of slavery being a part of their lives. Nonetheless, the truth is, it still affects them everyday. Emergency incorporates poetry in the dialogue to bring dramatic and expressive flavor to what some would say is a ridiculous or uninteresting story about a slave ship coming to modern day New York. Destine Harrison-Williams shows the way slavery and anti-blackness has affected many different black people in his play Emergency, where the many black experiences in our country come to life.

Mr. Harrison-Williams found music and movement as a way to express himself, and his passion for it eventually led him to become a member of a competitive poetry team called WordSpeak Miami. The poetry slams and stage productions of his childhood prompted him to use poetry in pursuing acting, screenwriting, and music while pursuing his Bachelor’s degree at Princeton University.

His poetry also comes out the most when there are scenes of characters expressing how being African-American has made them feel different from everyone else in our country.

One of the main characters named Rodney had to rush out of a poetry competition because his mentally ill father went onto the slave ship. On the way, he was wrongfully stopped by a police officer. Typically black people try to comply with the law to avoid being killed even though it’s not their fault that the police target them. Destine displays what Rodney’s mind was thinking, which was shooting the officer and shooting racist people that black people normally have to deal with on a daily basis. Then he snaps back into character and Rodney cautiously gives the officer his identification and complies. This shows how bad police brutality is in our country and how black people are regularly targeted as criminals even when they do nothing wrong. There is often a stigma between people who aren’t black saying that if black people just complied with officers, they would not be killed. But Destine and cases like Sonya Massey perfectly show how police brutality is never the victim’s fault.

The story goes on to show even more black stories and the hardships in their lives, such as Rodney’s gay brother Freddy who struggles with finding love and black homophobia, a young black couple in highschool who experience anti-blackness in school, and even a seemingly crazy homeless black man and how he grew up black as a kid back in the 60s. 

More often than not, many black people from all walks of life are misrepresented and socially discriminated against. The anti-blackness rooted in not only our country’s history but world history, has negatively affected black people for generations. Destine expertly weaves a narrative unencumbered by bias or misconception to tell true stories about real people.

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Bakery Bliss and Bookstore Bonanza: The Secret Sauce Behind Princeton's Small Business Magic

By Josiah Lee Johnson

One thing about Princeton residents is that they will come out and show support. Often the main attraction of Princeton, New Jersey, is Princeton University, but have you ever wondered what keeps this suburban community going? 

Small businesses just like Fils-Aime’s and Moltke’s surround the University's campus and help create this sense of comfort around the town. Their contribution to their community is constantly recognized by both university students and citizens of this area. Sometimes communities can fail to notice small businesses as huge corporate chains arrive in their communities, but in Princeton, it is clear that these businesses residing in Princeton are highlighted and are here to stay.

From Haiti to a pastry shop in New York to owning his very own bakery shop in New Jersey, Edwidge Fils-Aimeowns Little Chef in the suburban area of Princeton, New Jersey. For 20 years, this small business has only just grown and kept the Princeton community going, but Fils-Aime’s business is not the only small business on the block. 

Dorothea von Moltke along with her husband and brother-in-law own Labyrinth Books, it serves as an academic scholarly book store for both those of the community and those who attend the university nearby.

What stands out from both these businesses is that they have been around for a while, even throughout the pandemic. One might say that the only reason they succeed in the neighborhood is because the university is right next to it, but it's actually the community that helps serve as an aid to these businesses. They are always contributing to the community. Both the bakery and bookstore have a lot to offer to this community, and the residents here realize that. 

Dorothea von Motlke states “Yes, we do a lot of events. I would say that during the semester, we do probably 3 to 4 events a week…I do a lot together with the Princeton Public Library…”Motlke illuminates her efforts to be more involved within the Princeton community and shows her contributions to both the community and the university students. “So I try to reach in both directions into the community and onto campus… If you're curious, you can always hop on to the events page on our website.” 

Huge chain corporations have become big with causing trouble for smaller businesses, specifically book stores. 

Sometimes, in their journey as a small business, they face lots of problems such as chains and other spaces being more accessible, such as Amazon, Moltke says, “Amazon is the evil empire for people like me…”

“Around course books, the rise of Amazon required a couple of moments of real restructuring because…you just can't compete with someone's prices. The Amazon book prices are set explicitly not to have to make a profit. So how do you compete?”

Moltke helps demonstrate the difficulties that small businesses owners face while also specifically talking about her experience as a bookstore owner, but the suburban area never lets down their community. The Princeton community is often contributed by small businesses such as the book store and bakery shop, but what about the community giving back to these small businesses?

The university definitely helps these small businesses in a variety of ways, as they inform students of certain small businesses surrounding campus. Moltke and Fils-Aime demonstrate exactly how this process happens. 

Moltke depicts; “We opened here at the invitation of the university. They were looking for someone to have a community bookstore that was also a scholarly bookstore, but that would also handle course books for them.”

Fils-Aime correlates the same response within his interview, stating–

“Yes, it's like, a lot of, a lot of my customers still always come in, old ones, and then the new ones… they always send a new customer, and then it's always, at the beginning…” Says Fils-Aime. “...It was hard for me to get students, but soon after, like, one year, two years, it's just like, one tells the other group, one tells the other group, and then that's what I've been having, a lot of students…” 

Fils-Aime and Moltke illuminate and highlight the struggles as a small business owner, while maintaining their contribution to their communities, and making sure that people understand that their community also gives back to them.

“Most important for me, it's just like, you know, do the right thing. Do the work. Keep the business going the way I started at the beginning, and then focus on it. And then give the service the customer needs.” - Edwidge Fils-Aime

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Matt Jenkins: Jack of All Trades and Parties

By Daniel Seog

The quintessential politician is someone who has studied sociology or government (possibly even law) in their undergraduate education and then went on to pursue even higher education in their respective interests. Their policies follow a clear line of either democratic or republican practices, showing an obvious lean in intended audience. But not Matt Jenkins.

Jenkins did not pursue sociology, government, or law. He studied biology. At Ocean County Community College and Rutgers University, Jenkins pursued lab work in the biomedical and biochemical fields. But due to the loneliness and mundane cycles of working in a laboratory, he realized it wasn’t for him. But he still wanted to help people.

Politics was a chance for Jenkins to be a part of his community while being more close with his citizens. His education shows how he could be a politician and ready to apply for medical school – a well-rounded background.

But this well-roundedness doesn’t stop at his collegiate responsibilities. His policies as a democrat, while passionate, don’t follow a constant line common to liberal ideologies. 

He believes in a “legal status” rather than genuine citizenship in the states for specific immigrants, but his viewpoints on abortion are what is commonly considered as “liberal.”

“I know it’s more than about a 22 year old woman not using protection,” Jenkins said. “If men were getting abortions, we wouldn’t be having this conversation at all.”

He further sympathizes with women who need abortion resources.

“I can’t imagine what that’s like to have that baby sitting inside you dead, and doctors say they can’t help you,” Jenkins continued.

He also feels that climate change is real and should be addressed. However, his duty, to him, is to simplify the jargon of the technologies that may intimidate people from fighting against the warming of our Earth. More specifically, he feels that the country should move toward nuclear energy and how it could be a big part of America’s future.

Although these ideas have been reflected in democratic policies, Jenkins couldn’t be classified as a fully democratic politician. When looking at his thoughts on protests in the current international and national political climate, he voiced how “they are there just to cause trouble.”

No one expects politicians to be completely homogeneous to a political party. This would lead to radicalism and animosity amongst the American people. So politicians like Jenkins shouldn’t be criticized for their mixture of ideas that have brewed under their prior experiences and backgrounds. Jenkins probably just knows a little more about cells than most of his counterparts.

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Moral Virtue Signaling in Media and Fandom Spaces are Seeping into Real life Principles of Vulnerable Minds

By Maestro Joyner

Fandom spaces and media are spaces on the internet where users connect, share, and explore interests with others. However, with the obsession of  being morally “good” and accusing others who they deem wrong as “bad,” young users are cyberbullying, harassing, doxxing, and chasing their peers and adults off the internet -- or sometimes even worse -- causing them to commit self harm and even suicide. These tactics are motivated by the virtue signaling that weaponizes shame to cause users to exhibit these detrimental behaviors. Additionally, the anonymity of users acts as a shield from accountability.  

This is not a new phenomenon as in the 2010’s onwards there have been recorded incidents  across many social media platforms. A 2023 VOX article discusses the frequent occurrence of accusations that “ things [community members] dislike [are] being coded fronts for pedophilia, the people who enjoy those things [are] being sexual predators… [and] frequently forming enclaves that turn as nightmarish and troubling as the things they’re ostensibly trying to police.” 

A  lack of media literacy and predatory behavior of users in the community are  causing youth to be involved in adult spaces leading to them obsessing with catching -- who they think -- are morally wrong individuals. In many cases, the individuals being unfairly targeted are victims of grooming and pedophilia themselves.

To counter these types of behaviors, parents need to have real conversations about what is motivating bullying and harassment, with a trusting and open mind. On top of that, parents need to ensure that minors are surfing fandom spaces with their peers safely and critically. In these conversations, shame can be combated with open dialogue in order to reduce dangerous behaviors and reinforce accountability. That way, a sense of trust can be established between the young  and the parent rather than a random adult user. 

These goals could help users become aware of what’s happening in fandom spaces and understand that children will get involved with these situations if they are unsupervised, which does more harm to members of fandoms and media rather than build a community. 

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To Go Forward, You Must Go Back.

By Roanne Lee

Directed by Layla J. Williams, produced by Princeton University, and written by Daniel Beaty, the one-man show “Emergency” wraps up the Princeton Summer Theater’s season. Harrison-Williams cleverly portrays over 40 characters before, while, and after a slave ship arrives in modern-day New York City. “Emergency” powerfully displays the viewpoints of diverse people who share their unique testimonies on their identities and freedom by honestly reflecting a prism of black existence. 

When the stage’s middle spotlight turns on, the audience knows that the play has begun. Harrison-Williams walks out from backstage wearing the one costume he wears throughout the whole play: a navy blue polo shirt, beige pants, black shoes, and a black jacket with wings on the back. As he walks out, the crowd applauds as the “APPLAUSE” signs on opposite sides of the stage light up. On cue, Williams begins playing out his first character of a boy whose father gets discovered on the slave ship that arrives in the city later in the play. The boy is intelligent, for he had won an award for a poem he had written. While on the award stage, his phone rings, informing him about the finding of his father on the ship. This is how the play begins. 

Throughout the play, Harrison transforms into a multitude of characters. One second, he is the boy, and the next second, he is the dad. The third second he is a woman who is interviewed on the streets. Like a lightbulb switching on and off, Harrison switches from one character to the next swiftly as he changes his tone, accent, movements, and facial expressions. One of his characters is a girl who expresses her longing for friends as she is lonely with no one by her side because of the identity she holds. He captures the audience’s hearts as his eyes sparkle with tears and his lips quiver with sadness. Two tears drop beautifully straight down his cheeks, and immediately, the audience is silent in tears. 

“Emergency” is a play that shouts out the various voices that are unheard in current society. One’s outward appearance is not the only determinant of a person’s identity. Everyone is “more than they think they are,” as claimed by the father found on the slave ship. It seems as if it is hard for modern society to accept everyone from all backgrounds. One of the over 40 characters shouts out, “This is an emergency…” and “In this constant state of emergency, we must wake up and dream.”

In 90 minutes, the audience was taken on a journey of rediscovery of the black identity in all its scope — helping to redefine a new way forward through the past. To to forward, you must go back

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Student Journalist Attends Baseball Game for the First Time

By James Miller

When I had thought about watching a baseball game, I hoped to be excited and engaged. When I finally went to the game, I hoped that something exciting or engaging would eventually happen. Both hopes were crushed.

Baseball is a crucial component of the American psyche; what beats watching an exhilarating battle, hotdogs in hand with hype-up songs blasting? The rush of adrenaline with flying balls and players racing to safety at their bases logically sounds like a pleasurable classic American experience. 

I don’t care if it’s supposed to be an American experience, or a good experience; for me, it was an experience I wouldn’t mind never having again.

I would be lying if I said it was all bad. There were some nice moments—like the last 10 seconds of the game. Jokes aside: there were a few close and tense moments that had me at the tip of my seat. Like when a runner was about to arrive safely at a base but was intercepted just at the last second. 

The problem, however, lies in the fact that most the time I was just sitting and waiting for balls to be thrown and players to be running for their lives. Instead of the thrill baseball promises, I was treated to hot, slimy weather and creepy mascots that I frankly wanted to push off a cliff. 

I don’t know if it’s just because I’m a short-attention-spanned screenager, or if this game was unusually slow, but I didn’t appreciate all of the time that I spent waiting for it to start being worth my attention. 

Not to mention, I was subjected to ridiculous food prices and $5 water bottles. Food is the way to my heart, but I felt like I was being brutally stabbed. Plus, everybody knows food tastes worse when expensive.

Perhaps the game wasn’t the greatest show of baseball, as I attended a minor league game. In the words of an avid baseball aficionado sitting behind me, “I could care less about how these teams do.” Certainly, major leagues must be better than the minor ones, but with an even heftier price tag, I’m still unconvinced of its worthiness as an investment into my happiness.

Baseball may continue to be an important fixture in American society, as a recent poll suggests nearly 50% of Americans follow baseball. I, however, stand on the opposing team and refuse to miss my hits like a batter does most the time.

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Are Archives the Cousins of the Literary Canon?

By Daniel Seog

John Milton, Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare. What do all these writers have in common? They are all widely celebrated in the literary canon – a credible list of notable works and authors that permeate archives across the world. But the primary inhabitants of the literary canon are white men. 

The literary canon is notorious for this elitism, but does this exclusion further get enforced in archival work? What is the influence that the literary canon has on archives, if at all?

It all starts with how archivists select prospective implementations. Alexis Durante, an Archives Technician in the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, broke down her strategy.

“It's the same idea as the criterion collection of films,” Durante said. “There are these films that everybody needs to see, like It's a Wonderful Life. Films that are culturally significant films that have been in the zeitgeist, right?”

Durante’s main target when it comes to book archival stems from the work’s “cultural resonance or significance.” Specific literature gets implemented into the literary canon for the same reason. The “cultural resonance or significance” of Milton’s Areopagítica relates to its sentiments against censorship and analogizing such a censorship to God’s instructions to Eve detailing to not eat the forbidden apple. 

Although many of these white authors’ works are archived and simultaneously praised in the literary canon, archives seem to be a home for underrepresented or under-celebrated works.

“I love to go to weird, old used bookstores because they have a lot of books that are not on their 10th edition,” Durante said.

Pride and Prejudice has over 100 editions per the National Library of Scotland. It seems unnecessary to archive another copy when Austen’s work has already permeated shelves across the globe. Durante’s personal tastes seem to be an ode to a more diverse archive. She’s read a book named Black Talk, a book about “how the music of Black America created a radical alternative to the values of Western literary tradition.”

The diversity the literary canon lacks but the archive seems to promote has more to do with other factors than just the race or gender of these authors. 

“Older books have a bit of crass language,” Durantes said. “But I think you're going to find that they have the most diverse information.”

Durantes makes a valid point regarding time period in relation to discovering the new facets of how our civilizations previously worked, but books that have withstood the literary canon and archives are mostly works created by white authors, with minor exceptions such as James Baldwin or Alexandre Dumas. 

“A lot of the indigenous cultures that were nearly wiped out were purposefully left off the written page for a long time,” Durantes said. 

So do archives really have room for more diversity? The United States is notorious for constantly failing the recognition of indigenous cultures, and the literary canon has reflected this too. But in a world where the literary canon and archives work hand in hand to select books that should stay relevant in society, it’s an issue when this lack of acknowledgement translates from the former to the latter.

One way this can be observed is what books are being sold in local bookstores. At Labyrinth Books, the literature section holds more than just white titles. Furthermore, authors that are renowned for their contributions to LGBTQ+ literature, such as André Aciman, were not void in shelves. 

In Labyrinth Books’ basement, there are more antique editions of books especially on the classics. This included not just the Greeks. In addition to Homer, The Art of War by Sun Tzu was proudly displayed among its equally celebrated literary companions.

However, these works have been ingrained into the canon for decades and even centuries. So the archives’ and canons’ share of titles may explain the gravity of the situation – maybe they are inherently related.

The literary canon was built on the foundation of white, Christian, straight, and male authors. But now, the canon is more diverse. Take, James Baldwin and Alexandre Dumas – they were both black writers that have works that still resonate with society today. And while the canon has expanded, the archive seems to be a place for newer titles to thrive. Newer titles that “are not on their tenth edition.”

So John Milton, Charles Dickens, and William Shakespeare can all have a safe place in the nestles of both the literary canon and archive. But the latter is a refreshed pallet that extends beyond the limited and, at times, conservative canon. So they might be distant cousins. Or family friends.

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Queen B’s Reign: How Beyoncé’s Musical Versatility Makes Her The Greatest Artist of Our Time

By Josiah Johnson

“You know you that b**** when you cause all this conversation…” - Beyonce Giselle Knowles Carter.

Since the late 1990’s Beyonce has been a hot topic. She started out in the famous group– Destiny’s Child. As the group gained more attraction, eventually the group split.

Beyonce’s career really rocketed as she released her solo debut album “Dangerously In Love.” But it's important to note that once a person gets any type of support, that comes with hate and opposition.

Why exactly is Beyonce the greatest of our time? “Beyoncé’s music, style and message make her an untouchable ruler at the top of the pop-culture pyramid” says The Guardian. 

The Guardian throughout the article highlights why Beyonce in many ways is untouchable and why she is at the top. They state the variety of genres Beyonce has experienced with, and talks about her stage performance and more. However, they state “pop culture pyramid.” Beyonce does not only write/sing pop and R&B records, her versatility is unmatched, this is seen by the way she is vocally, theatrically, and musically inclined she is with different ways of performing and singing as an artist.  

The CMA’s also known as the Country Music Awards faced much backlash for letting Beyonce perform her country toned song “Daddy Lessons” with the Dixie Chicks. 

Page six states “Several fans made racist comments about Beyoncé following the CMAs.” 

Variety notes that in Beyonce’s newest album “Cowboy Carter” she says “Then the rejection came, said I wasn’t, ‘Country enough.’” This is highlighted because of how much Black Americans get backlash for singing country. However if the ones criticizing looked in the history of country music, Black Americans created the genre. 

Beyonce’s discography goes beyond one genre. Take for example “Don’t Hurt Yourself ft. Jack White,” and “Daddy Lessons.” She does not sing just one type of genre, because the songs previously mentioned are Rock and Roll, while the other song is Country. Her range of songs push beyond the boundaries that the music industry has set up for artists.

With all the hate she gets, she deserves all the love and recognition for her hard work as an artist. 

As opposed to famous icons such as Taylor Swift. 

Beyonce happens to be the greatest of our time because of the fact she has a wide range from vocal abilities, to dancing, genres, while still standing for political stances within her music. 

And as Alonda Williams states “Who else is in her league… no one.”

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Matt Jenkins: The People's Mechanic

By Moses McCullen

What 4th district politician are you voting for? Last week, I had the honor of meeting one of New Jersey’s 4th district rising stars Matt Jenkins. He is a Democrat running in a mostly red district against Republican incumbent Chris Smith for control of the state’s Senate seat. 

Jenkins, a native of New Jersey, graduated from Rutgers New Brunswick with a degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. After graduation however, his life drastically shifted as the community he worked so hard to nurture slowly dissolved as his peers moved on to start new chapters in their own lives. “I was very lonely. I worked by myself, I ate by myself and I rode the train by myself.” To keep himself busy, Matt would make custom furniture for the members of his community until he turned his passion into a career. He opened up a custom furniture shop, slowly growing his company into a General Contracting business that served families across the tri-state area.

In 2020, Jenkins started to realize that his community needed more — there were glaring issues in the quality of life of so many that he could no longer ignore it. So, he ran for office that November. He lost the Senate race that year to Christopher Smith (R) but learned much about the process and was forced to confront the hard realities of the political world. 

This year, Matt is once again running for the Senate and believes that he has a much better chance of winning as his platform has grown with the “needs of the people.” He plans to regulate taxes on the businesses in the area by raising the corporate tax rate by 15 percent and closing big tax loopholes. Jenkins also wants to build initiatives and programs designed to drastically redistribute the top-concentrated wealth of the nation. There’s too much wealth “controlled by the 1 percent,” leaving the other 99 to fight over scraps. 

Jenkins also has a very strong, yet measured stance immigration. He doesn’t believe in handing out legal residency for every new migrant who crosses the border or overstays their visa, but would allow them a work visa to participate in the American economy. He is credited with saying “They don't break the law because they want to, they break the law out of necessity.” 

His views on immigration and abortion are quite similar in that they differ a fair bit from what most his fellow Democrats believe. Jenkins is Pro-Choice and believes, as other pro-choicers do, that “healthcare is a decision between a woman and her doctor.” And believes that “the government has no business in the exam room.” He is also a vocal advocate for affordable access to birth control as a part of “any health care plan.” Matt Jenkins is a thoughtful candidate running on the platform of equality, opportunity and access for his constituents, and is excitedly looking forward to November 5th.

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The Shy Politics of Fly Me to the Moon

By Joon Hwang

Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum’s Fly Me to the Moon, a revolutionary film on the popular conspiracy theory of the “fake” Apollo moon landing, is like butter on movie theater popcorn: subtle in taste, just like the film’s political commentary.

Johansson’s character Kelly fixes her hair, confidently saunters from the elevator, and brightly interrupts a company’s important product meeting. Leaning close to powerful executives with a lipstick adorned mouth, she feigns seduction to conduct her elaborate scam on misogynistic men. What I thought as this scene appeared was “Ah, feminism.” 

In so many contemporary films, critics have noted the modernization of feminist displays that have become a part of modern Western culture. And yet, the way that Johansson portrayed her character had more depth of political messaging than the average “feminist” show. The way that the music combined with Johansson’s sarcastic lip tilt and cunning gaze portrayed the misogyny found in the late ‘60s. The additional ways that she moved about the film grappling political figures with her con-woman talents as male characters stood awestruck lent an ironic tone to obviously sexist times.

In another political take, the film’s specific dialogue and shots demonstrated an interesting take on patriotism. The initial scene in the movie, with static-filled vintage shots of the Vietnam War and the tragic outcome of events surrounding the Space Race led elements of patriotism to create intent within the characters in the movie. And yet, the movie’s portrayal of the federal government as a deceptive character through Woody Harrelson’s Moe implicitly conveyed anti-patriotic sentiment because of his evil nature.

These messages were unsettling in their conveyance because of their supple properties. The messages of patriotism to some could be more prominent, leading to effects of movies such as Tom Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick, which according to one Newsweek article had “ . . . Other prominent viewers who are also seemingly eager to celebrate America.” Additionally, Johansson’s character could be interpreted not as a feminist message, but one of sexism that continues to portray women as seductresses. However, from my understanding of the film, the film could prove to be a film that stands in solidarity with the colonized through its veiled criticism of the federal government and also for women through its proud portrayal of Johansson’s beautiful character.

Now, there are those that choose to disrespect the film’s mastery of delicate representation. It is exactly these properties that allow for films such as Minari to gain such wide recognition. Minari, after all, was a film about a Korean-American family moving to the Midwest to build a farm, but had the deep messages of remaining connected to your culture in the face of discrimination and lack of community. If only people took time to sit down and interpret the meanings behind the various shots of the film, they would begin to see that the film’s message is consistent throughout: be cautious of what you believe about history, and remember what was happening in the past in the contemporary tumultuous times.

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An Ode to Baseball: Amanda's Love Story

By Mohamad Hijazi

Beneath the bright stadium lights and the warm embrace of the summer sun, Amanda Renae Chapa lies in the heart of it all, surrounded by the cheers of fellow admirers. Minor league baseball, although less popular than its big brother, the majors, weaves a grand tapestry of emotion and unity from the vibrance and pride of their fans.

Since childhood, Chapa has been mesmerized by the sport. She grew up in a Hispanic household, where baseball was more than just a game; it was the embodiment of community born out of shared identity. So in high school she joined the softball team to build her own community as soon as she could. 

Chapa has deep roots in Princeton University thanks to her years of involvement in Princeton’s Summer Journalism Program —  when she’s here, her blood bleeds orange. 

Despite her dedication to Princeton, she’s actually a rising junior at Columbia University and lives in New York, although she often jokes about actually “living in Yankee Stadium.” But this summer, as with past summers, she’s at Princeton working with the university.

Chapa was at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, New Jersey when Spencer Jones emerged from Somerset Patriots dugout to the daylight sun. When he took off his helmet, Chapa watched in a state of trance. Her blushes weren’t just because of attraction, but an admiration of the fan culture at the TD Bank Ballpark.  

The Somerset Patriots has a fan culture that is enriched by their efforts toward involvement and inclusion. From mini-shows and games between each inning, to the unseen involvement of fans before and after the game, minor league baseball feels like a family. 

With the rise of athletic prospects in the age of the 21st century, the opportunities for many aspiring professionals aren't limited to the major biggest sports leagues. From the NBA G League to the MLB Minor League, the aspirations and enrichment of the skills and hopes of the myriad of prospects lies in the hands of the hometowns and the people. 

The Patriots is the closest minor league team to Princeton, and at this week’s home game,  the university’s Tiger mascot was even featured on the field. Fans were involved not just as spectators, but as integral pieces to the structure of the team. Nothing can surpass the emotional pride of rooting for a hometown team. 

At the end of the game, Chapa’s Somerset Patriots lost to the Portland Sea Dogs 2 - 4. Not every game is a win, but her dedication will always be about community. 

This experience isn’t unique to Chapa though. It’s a feeling of deep admiration and devotion and a base desire to see your people — your community — win. Chapa’s love story underscores the pinnacle slogan of minor league baseball: “It’s fun to be a fan.” 

[princetonsjp]

PSJP Press Conference Reveals Outsider’s Perspective

By Eunice Chae and Roxana Martinez

It’s official, underdog Colonel Greg Betts is running for Ohio’s 15th Congressional District. 

The seat in the House of Representatives has been left vacant as of May 16th, 2021, when Republican Steve Stivers ultimately made the decision to leave the House in order to serve as acting president and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce; the state’s business advocate and resource center. 

Greg Betts is one of only two Democrats running, and plans to defeat the other 13 candidates in the race in order to continue to serve his country under the oath he took when he joined the military: “solemnly swear that I will support and defend the constitution… and although my military services are complete, my service to this state and nation is not.” 

Inspired partly by this oath, Betts is “really concerned about what's happening with our nation.” Apart from wanting to avoid future attacks like the Capitol Riot on January 6th, he is motivated to work in the heart of democracy, towards a fair and free nation for all of its people. Betts also makes it clear that he is willing to listen to anybody to “become a better candidate”, and is open to communication. 

Betts’s belief in rights, equity, & justice for all goes beyond just the American people. Taking into account the numerous issues with the current asylum system that leaves thousands of people along the borders of their country waiting for a court date, we asked Betts to elaborate on his thoughts on pathways to refuge. During the PSJP Press Conference on July 15th, he enthusiastically supported the need for better immigration reform; claiming the conditions asylum seekers currently face are inhumane.“It's not right to treat our fellow human beings that way... and I will do everything I can to shine a light on that egregious treatment of our fellow human beings.” If elected into the House of Representatives, he plans to demand repeatedly until action is taken. His hopes are that they will successfully pass legislation that will not only provide refuge to asylum seekers but additional funding for housing quarters within the United States that will provide the necessary protection they need. As positive as these efforts may seem, the timeline or concrete plan for such action has yet to be considered. 

Besides immigration reform, Betts touched upon raising the federal minimum wage, possibly one of the most contentious issues in politics today. What’s Colonel Betts’s stance on that? As mentioned on his website, he supports raising the minimum wage to $15/hour. When asked about the topic further during our press conference, Betts elaborated, saying, “I think a more livable wage is… $20 to $25 an hour, quite frankly.”

One of the biggest concerns about raising the minimum wage is its effect on small businesses and their ability to afford the higher cost of labor in comparison to big corporation competitors. Betts’s solution is to tax those larger corporations more and use that money for tax subsidies to support small businesses. “Tax subsidies would keep them afloat,” Betts said.

Another concern about raising minimum wages is how it may actually increase the rate of automation, as discussed by several media outlets including Business Insider and Wired.

Betts believes that “it would [not] be considered constitutional for us to tell a business that you cannot use automation.” However, Betts was gracious and admitted that he hadn’t really considered that aspect of raising the minimum wage before. He promised to look more into the studies surrounding them, and even offered up his email address so articles and studies could be sent to him. Perhaps this is the perfect example of Colonel Betts’s previously mentioned willingness to learn more – Betts is not stubborn or hardheaded as opposed to many other politicians, and most voters should consider that a valuable strength of his.

Colonel Greg Betts is certainly an outlier in this Ohio congressional race. He’s a Democrat, running to represent an area that’s majority Republican. He doesn’t have previous political experience, and he’s a newcomer to the political atmosphere. But Betts isn’t backing down. He’s spent the last 20 out of 30 years serving in the National Guard, and he is using his drive and wish for a better democracy to fuel his run. His campaign promises reflect this, although we don’t know the exact details of implementation as of now.

[princetonsjp]

Stami Williams Reveals How Her Personal Experiences Have Fueled Her Stances In Politics

By Alibek Asanbaev and Eunice Choi

In a press conference with Stami Williams, the communications director for Jack Ciattarellis campaign for New Jersey governor, for Stami Williams, the communications director for Republican Jack Ciattarelli's campaign for New Jersey governor, revealed that getting her boss elected isn't just politics.

“There’s no doubt that our immigration system right now is broken,” she begins. When asked about why she feels that the immigration system in the country is flawed, she emphatically vocalized that her grandparents immigrated legally from Greece. “We have to understand that we have to build a better life. That’s what my grandparents came here for. That’s what my family is here for. And I am lucky to be a product of that.” Similarly, Ciattarelli also has immigrant grandparents and believes that it is necessary to create a “tough but fair pathway to citizenship for those who stay out of trouble, pay taxes, and learn English.”

If there is one thing that Williams underscored throughout the entire press conference, it was that she believes in Jack—and his political positions. On taxes, for instance, the two agree that New Jersey’s property taxes are far too high. For Williams, growing up in Georgia accustomed her to low property taxes. However, being a New Jersey resident with family sprinkled all over the state, Williams has discovered that her family members “pay an exorbitant amount of property taxes.” 

Furthermore, Williams says she supports Ciattarelli’s “moderate, middle-of-the-road approach to governing and leading.” Due to her family’s immigrant history, Williams feels America should “empower the little guy”—especially, in her view, small businesses. She believes in making these small businesses feel “as powerful as they can be” while maintaining free market principles.Williams also implied that New Jersey’s economy unfairly favors large corporations over small businesses.

When it comes to incorporating LGBTQ+ curriculum in elementary and middle schools, Williams holds a conservative perspective. When it comes to education, Williams draws on her own experience. “Those are things I didn’t even consider in school,” she said of LGBTQ+ ideas. “[When I was a child in school], I was worried about collecting plastic coins and coloring pictures.” Williams added, “Any type of sex should not be discussed in elementary or middle schools.”

Williams acknowledged that “it’s been very tough” to be  a woman in the male-dominant field of politics. 

 “You face a lot of disrespect in the work space,” she said. But working with Ciattarelli and his team has been different. The candidate and his team support gender equality and female empowerment, she says. “This has been the most healthy work space environment that I’ve ever been in.”

[princetonsjp]

“Fatherhood”: A Film Review

By Synai Ferrell

Credit: Netflix

Fatherhood is a drama film adapted from a true story following a single father named Matt (Kevin Hart), who unexpectedly must raise his daughter, Maddy (Melody Hurd), on his own. After his wife, Liz (Deborah Ayorinde), passes from birth complications, he is forced to take on parenthood independently despite his doubts and fears of being incapable of raising a young girl. 

The movie starts at Liz’s funeral, where Matt is distressed by his new responsibility. Although, the audience would assume he would have a supporting village around him, he faces pushback from his mother-in-law, Mariam (Alfre Woodard), who believes he cannot raise a daughter on his own and proposes to raise Maddy herself. Although Matt declines this offer, it becomes hard for him to find balance in his life as a single father while juggling a full-time job as a tech worker at a software company. Early on, he brings Maddy to his job since he has no one to watch her while he is at work, but Maddy becomes a distraction when Matt cannot get her to stop crying. The experience at work prompts Matt to seek help from a mother only, parenting support group. When Matt arrives, the mothers assume he's looking for Alcoholics Anonymous. Their assumption models the way society views single men, specifically Black men, as unfit for parenthood. While Matt is offended by their assumption, it does not prevent him from asking for help in how to stop a child from crying. This newfound bravery in Matt marks a chapter of growth in his parenthood journey.

As Matt learns that he cannot raise Maddy alone, he seeks help from his close friends Oscar (Anthony Carrigan) and Jordan (Milton Howery). Maddy builds close bonds with these men as they play important male figures in her life. She adopts many witty, yet charismatic characteristics from them, representing how heavily influenced she is by her father and his friends. This leads Maddy to embrace her masculinity through her clothes, bedroom, and toy interests. This becomes a problem at her Catholic elementary school where girls can only wear skirts. The school administrators incessantly push Matt to make Maddy wear skirts and push him to introduce a female role model into Maddy’s life. Although Matt rejects the proposal to change Maddy’s dress, he questions his decision not to include his mother-in-law in her life. However, when Oscar introduces Matt to a love interest, Swan (DeWanda Wise), Matt decides to introduce her to Maddy. When Maddy first meets Swan, she is apprehensive, but eventually they form a bond over art and drawing. Swan and Maddy’s relationship help symbolize the importance of a young Black girl having a Black woman as a female figure. With Swan, Maddie can grasp more of Black culture and femininity through a new lens that her father could not fully represent.

As Maddie becomes more accustomed to change with Swan in her life, her battle with her Catholic school’s dress code remains. When the school proposes to Maddie again to wear a skirt, she unexpectantly agrees, as she is more comfortable exploring her appearance because of Swan’s influence. However, this decision gives Maddie more attention at school. While at the playground, Maddy encounters a boy who mocks her for wearing a skirt instead of her usual attire, which makes her so furious that she falls from the rock climber. Once Matt is notified that Maddy had an accident at school, he feels that his relationship with Swan has distracted him from his main priority, Maddy. After ending things with Swan, Matt decides to take Maddy to Mariam’s home in Minnesota. In this setting, Matt regrets not allowing Mariam to be more present in Maddy’s life. While staying at Mariam’s home, he begins to see how Mariam would benefit Maddy, which leads him to leave Maddy at Mariam’s home while he decides what would be best for her.

Fatherhood concludes with Matt reuniting with Maddy as he understands that the best place for Maddie is with him, and although he might face his challenges as a single father, those challenges are what makes him a great parent. He also learns that Swan is an influential factor in both his and Maddy’s life and should be a part of their lives. While this reunion allows the movie to end on a sweet note, it happens abruptly, making the movie lose the authenticity that was developed throughout the beginning and middle sections of the film. However, this does not diminish Matt’s underlying character development. Throughout the movie, Matt grows into the role of fatherhood and his character helps augment the perception of single parenthood which is typically represented by single mothers. The film provides a profound outlook on how Black men are often doubted in their capabilities as parents, and how they can overcome the stigma placed on them.

[princetonsjp]

From the Stage to the Sofa: How the Drag Scene adapted to COVID-19

By Amanda Renae Chapa

Credit: Carolina Theater if Durham

2020 was a year where most of the world went dark. Many establishments closed their doors in face of the unknown, but not all. Instead, for some, closed doors stood as an opportunity to rebrand, to rethink their position in their own communities, and answer the silence. Armed with new ideas and a full-face of makeup, drag performers and the venues they performed in were at the front lines of revisioning potential during the pandemic. 

When Vivica C. Coxx first joined the Drag Scene, it was in a black satin gown she had thrifted, made to complete her very first entrance at The Pinhook. In the midst of the performance, staring at a wide-eyed audience, she would realize that “this is what I was supposed to do.” 

Through her groundwork as an activist for social, racial, gender, and consensual justice, Miss Coxx gained traction and an even greater spotlight as she ventured into teaching and social justice advocacy, which, according to her, “really validated all of the work that I had put in prior to that.” Work they continued fighting for— at least until COVID-19 hit, and she was forced to reimagine the way she did drag and approached activism. 

Instead of performing to sold out venues in-person, her venue was now her living room, and her audience could be seen in rectangular squares on Zoom from all over America— from DC, Chicago, LA, and New York. Despite the challenges, both technical and real-world, she persisted as a performer and as a mentor for her “family,” she said. COVID was an isolating period, but they remained a light for many throughout. “We had our shows, and that's probably what I did for my family is that I gave them something to do, something to look forward to.” 

Now, almost a year and a half later of being able to do drag solely “from the waist up,” Miss Coxx is still cementing her path as a performer and a leader in her community. Outside of the dressing rooms, the heels and thousand dollar faces, however, are the establishments that are critical to the Drag Scene— whether it’s an amateur performer, or a seasoned one like Ms. Coxx. In Chicago, this sacred place is Roscoe’s— a Boystown landmark that was one of the very first LGBTQ establishments in the entire city to have “windows that were open onto the street, because every other business, especially in Chicago, was known for having their windows broken out on the regular,” said Shawn Hazen, Roscoe’s Marketing and Special Events Manager. 

Roscoe’s, unlike any other bar in Northern Chicago, was a pinpoint in starting one of the first LGBTQ neighborhoods and offered its patrons so much more than just drinks and food: it offered them a home. Sight of the “longest running amateur drag competition in the city of Chicago,” Roscoe’s was accustomed to long lines and packed corners. However, when Roscoe’s announced their initial two weeks closure shortly after Saint Patrick’s Day in 2020, most of its employees described the process as “doomsday protocol.” 

With Chicago’s COVID-19 regulations, Roscoe's was also forced to resort to what Hazen refers to as “restaurant mode”— where the Roscoe’s kitchen was open, and take out became their main focal point in staying afloat amongst closures. The bar-turned-restaurant was efficient in “chucking chicken tenders out the front door,” and quickly gained a reputation because of their popular finger foods, which was a decision that stayed throughout the pandemic, and is still in play now. The restaurant arm of the business has created new ideas like Drag Brunch, which “was something that opened up so many opportunities for me to work with people that I’d never worked with in the Chicago queer scene before,” and has given new Drag Queens the ability to bring their own touch to a space that is open to them— and, despite the perils of the pandemic, open to new possibilities.