New Ready Groups Back- Science for the compete stage Building Red in annual at Pops wing Planet AirBand Concert page 2 page 3 page 7 page 7 October 4, 2017 Issue 2 Follow us online NFL players take the knee, take heat Clarissa Kraayenbrink– Sports Editor not to decide by staying in the locker room First Amendment right by expressing your during the anthem. The league, team owners views, Van Gilst says, but just do it off the field. and coaches had to send out statements before “That’s any American’s right; that’s any games explaining why they would act the way human right,” he said. “But doing it during a they did. game, during the national anthem, has just So what exactly is this protesting all about? created a lot of confusion and I’m disappointed Despite what many people think, these players with it all.” say they are not anti-Star-Spangled Banner or But, any good argument has two sides to the anti-America. Many claim are just looking for a story. Dordt College football team member way to bring attention to the racial injustices in Justin Banks says players are justified in their this country. However, these players are getting protesting. He said he tries to put himself in the paid to do a job – that is, performing on the players’ situation to see what he would do. It’s gridiron – not to make a political statement. not something he personally would feel called Cory Van Gilst, Dordt College senior and avid to do, but he can see why players around the Pittsburgh Steelers fan, considered boycotting country are acting in this manner. his favorite team because they boycotted “I understand someone who would take that the national anthem. But, he questions why position to show the disrespect and disregard Photo by: Sports Illustrated players are doing this: is it to stand up for social for African-Americans,” Banks said. “It just injustices or is it to stand up against Trump? seems like people’s priorities are out of place.” You’ve seen it: news about the NFL protests. Since then, numerous athletes – primarily “I don’t think anyone truly knows anymore,” Banks says Kaepernick’s display that started You can hardly watch sports or even walk by NFL players – have sat or knelt during the Van Gilst said. all of this has at least opened people’s eyes to the a TV nowadays without seeing who the latest anthem. The topic has really escalated this Van Gilst said he was disheartened with the mistreatment and injustice that’s been going on player is who has been kneeling during the season. President Trump has even weighed in recent protests. Sports and politics should be in America, which is what Kaepernick wanted. national anthem. on the subject, just adding fuel to the fire. On two separate entities, and sports are an escape He wanted to spark meaningful conversations It all started when Colin Kaepernick (then Sept. 22, Trump said any athlete disrespecting from everyday life, according to Van Gilst. He to get people talking and acting toward those of the San Francisco 49ers) sat on the bench the flag should be disciplined. says that now, players will be judged on how who were being mistreated. during the national anthem of a 49ers-Green “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL they act during the playing of the national Well, it’s certainly gotten people talking. Bay Packers preseason game on Aug. 26, 2016. owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to anthem rather than how they perform on the As for the rest of the season, Van Gilst says “I am not going to stand up to show pride in say, ‘Get that son of a b**** off the field right field. we will continue to see more protesting, but he a flag for a country that oppresses black people now, out, he’s fired!’” Trump said. “Who are these people that think we care thinks we are going through the brunt of the and people of color,” Kaepernick said after By Sept. 24, there was some form of protest about their opinions?” Van Gilst said. “In all controversy right now. Will there be players the game. “To me, this is bigger than football happening at every NFL game around the honesty, we just care about how well you can kneeling for the Star-Spangled Banner at the and it would be selfish on my part to look the nation. Some teams decided they would all do your job. Which is what it should be, right?” Super Bowl in February? Sure, Van Gilst says. other way. There are bodies in the street and kneel in unity during the anthem, some stood He points out that if another “regular” person But the media buzz around it may die out before people getting paid leave and getting away with with interlocked arms showing support and was to start protesting at their job, they would that. murder.” some, like the Pittsburgh Steelers, decided eventually be fired. Go ahead and exercise your Federal government updates Title IX policy Tess Hemmila and Allison Wordes– Staff Writers Previously, the standard of evidence meant undecided on the issue. referring back to Title IV. Dordt awards close to preponderance of evidence, which means that if Those in opposition to the changes are $15 million in student loans and Pell grants on With the Trump administration’s changes to the school is 50 percent and a feather sure that concerned that the new standards may allow behalf of the government annually. Because of the Title IX policy set to allow schools more something happened, they should investigate more cases to be dismissed or improperly this, Title IX applies to Dordt College. flexibility, Dordt College officials say the the report. Now, schools will be allowed to investigated. The concern is that schools will “Title IX cases can be mishandled, but, when campus policy regarding sexual assaults will be decide what standard of evidence they wish to set too lax of standards, and cases might be it’s done correctly, it can help both parties,” adapted to fit the needs of new regulations. adopt: the preponderance of evidence standard handled incorrectly. said Erin Olsen, professor of Social Work and On Sept. 22, the Office for Civil Rights of the or a clear and convincing evidence standard. Those in favor of the changes see emphasis Title IX investigator. “It’s our job as Title IX U.S. Department of Education proposed major Leah Zuidema, Associate Provost and one on due process and fairness to both parties. The investigators to determine if school policy was changes to Title IX, which are government of Dordt’s Title IX investigators, said she is new guidance allows schools more freedom to broken, not to determine guilt or innocence.” regulations that prohibit sex discrimination in pleased with new changes, which follow the determine their policy. In this period of transition, there is no way to education. ‘spirit of the law.’ In the last academic school year (2016-2017), know exactly what effect the new Title IX will “There is no place on a Christian college “I’m glad to see additional emphasis on due Dordt College filed four Title IX reports, all of have on schools. The documents still have to go campus for sexual assault,” said Erik Hoekstra, process,” said Zuidema. “On both sides we which were deemed worthy of investigation. through a period of public comment and are not Dordt College President. “Our policy is going should be asking, ‘are we being ethical and are Title IX regulations are not law. Not all yet permanent. to be, first of all, biblical, and second legal. We we doing justice?’” schools in the United States are subject to “At present, there’s a lot of smoke and not take sexual assault very seriously at Dordt.” Since Trump’s election last year, changes to Title IX. Schools are only bound by Title IX necessarily any light,” said Howard Wilson, As a part of the new changes, two documents the policy were expected. One of the largest regulations if they receive government funding, VP and Chief Administrative Officer. that had previously outlined the responsibility adaptations to Title IX is that it will be more of schools’ response to sexual violence closely intertwined with the Clery Act, a piece Contributed Photo and discrimination have been rescinded, or of legislation that aims to provide transparency overruled. These are the “Dear Colleague” about campus crime policy and statistics. letter released in 2011, and a Q&A document Schools are required to disclose statistics of from 2014, both of which have been replaced. dating violence, domestic violence, sexual The new documents place an emphasis assault and stalking. on fairness for both the reporting party and Another change is the lifting of the 60 day the responding parties. The policy provides investigation window. Previously, investigations standards for interim measures, which are had to be completed in fewer than 60 days, but individual services offered as appropriate to now schools have the freedom to conduct their both parties before, and during an investigation. investigations in what they deem to be a timely These accommodations may include: manner. This allows schools and investigators counseling, extensions and course-related to be thorough in examining evidence. assistance, changes in housing, etc. The recent changes have caused a rift The new regulations also allow schools more between those against and those in favor of the freedom to decide their policies, specifically, new regulations.