Students Lead Nationwide Rallies Millions Attend March for Our Lives Rallies Demanding Stricter Gun Legislation by Maria Ramos & Sean O’Connor Senior Reporters

the college culty expos d fa ur n e t t a o n g e u APRIL 2, 2018 d n u t v Volume 48, Issue 7 s i o f l e o

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“POST TENEBRAS LUX” e

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A STUDENT PRESS SERVING v e d

r MERCER COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND ITS NEIGHBORING AREAS EST. 1968 VOICE FIRST THREE ISSUES FREE, ALL OTHERS $1.50 PG. 4 Students lead nationwide rallies Millions attend March for Our Lives rallies demanding stricter gun legislation By Maria Ramos & Sean O’Connor Senior Reporters

While more than 200,000 protesters went to Washington DC according to Digital & Imaging Service Inc. to call for greater gun control and demand action from their legislators, over an estimat- ed of 800 parallel marches were held across the country, including every state of the union. An esti- mated 5,000 people attended the March for Our Lives rally in Princ- eton that lled up Hinds Plaza by the public library, according to one of the event’s co-organizers, Reverend Bob Moore. Princeton High School senior Dziyana Zubialevich, who spearheaded the rally in Princ- eton and collaborated with Rev- erend Moore told e VOICE she expected only 500 to 800 people to show up. “I had no idea it would be this successful. It’s amazing to see how many people support this issue,” she told e VOICE in an interview. Mobs of faces could be seen peering through windows of the second and third oors of the Princeton Library, taking pic- tures of the rally below and holding signs. People in the lofts above Witherspoon Grill also stood outside their balconies to watch. One older couple posted a sign that PHOTO | DREW MUMICH read “thank you” on their railing. Inspired by the leadership of the students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL who survived the February 14 school Several people at the shooting that took the lives of 17 of their friends, protesters lined the streets of New York City to advocate for stricter gun legislation at the March for rally- both speakers and those Our Lives on March 24, 2018, including teens and elementary school children who spoke out who came simply to protest- have See PRINCETON RALLY page 9 Mercer student shot to death, found in creek By Grifﬁ n Jones An article by Rebecca Mercer County Prosecutor’s Of- Senior Reporter Everett on nj.com says that div- ce says there is no indication ers from the Trenton Fire De- that the death was the result of e body of Mercer student partment spent around two a hate crime. Daniel Diaz-Delgado was hours recovering evidence from Christian Hernandez, found dead on the banks of the the scene. Additional reports a close friend of Diaz-Delga- Assunpink Creek in Hamilton indicate that several bags of evi- do’s, said of his disappearance, on March 24. According to au- dence were removed from the “What the mom told me was thorities, when the body was crime scene. when they came back around 4, recovered Diaz-Delgado had When asked whether about 5:30, he said he was go- his hands tied behind his back the police had any leads, Olga ing to set out to buy something and his face wrapped with duct Diaz, Delgado-Diaz’s mother, for his little brother. His little tape. He had gunshot wounds told e VOICE in an interview brother told me that he might to the head, torso and leg, ac- given in Spanish and translated have been down around PA or cording to a press release from by VOICE Editor-in-Chief Maria Philly or Cherry Hill, but how he the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Ramos, “ ey do [have leads], ended up in Hamilton, it’s just O ce. but they told me not to talk weird to me” Diaz-Delgado was about it.” Olga Diaz says she got PHOTO | FACEBOOK 20-years-old and was studying Casey DeBlasio, a pub- Mercer engineering student Daniel Diaz-Delgado, 20, was found dead engineering at Mercer. lic information o cer with the in Hamilton on March 24. See STUDENT SLAIN page 2

STUDENT PROFILE THEATER REVIEW Campus & Local ...... 2-4 In Focus ...... 15 Mercer grad Adam Hillman Halcyon Days off Broadway Arts& Entertainment...... 6-7 Viewpoints ...... 16-17 creates art that has gone viral provides timely critique in March for Our Lives...... 8-11 Sports ...... 18-20 on the Internet - PG. 6 short run PG. 14

LOCAL Princeton March for Our Lives rally

PHOTO | MARIA RAMOS Protesters of all ages participated in March for Our Lives rallies across the nation.

PHOTO | MARIA RAMOS A student from Princeton High School holds up a sign during the Princeton March for Our Lives on March 24.

VOICE they own guns, however, Continued from page 1 “I get the feeling that nothing is believe in responsible gun owner- ship. been personally a ected by gun changing, but when I saw the Christina, who is an violence. students of Marjory Stoneman employee of the New Jersey De- Diane and Gerry Novik Douglas High School standing partment of Environmental Pro- of Hamilton told e VOICE their up, I felt inspired by them and I tection, said people should be grandson attends Marjory Stone- said, enough is enough.” “trained to use them” and said man Douglas High School where -Joe Redmond she thought there should be na- 17 students were killed last month tional mandatory background in the shooting that led teenag- 2013 shooting at Arapahoe High checks. ers to start a movement. ough School in Colorado. He is also Emily, who is a journal- their grandson went unharmed, part of the Princeton Against Gun ism major at Montclair State Uni- they were inspired to take up the Violence group and spoke at the versity, but taking some time o , cause. rally. He shared his story and said said “It’s not that we’re trying to “Nobody needs guns. he believes it’s time to take action take away your guns. We’re just Especially assault ri es,” Gerry and change things. trying to make the world a safe PHOTO | MARIA RAMOS Novic said. When asked if he had Fighting tears, he said place. I don’t see how anyone can Joe Redmond, a school shooting survivor and senior at Princeton a message for lawmakers Novik “For the longest hour of my life I be against that.” University, gives a speech at the Princeton March for Our Lives on added “Keep us safe. e law crouched in fetal position fran- A Mercer student who March 24. should have been changed years tically texting my family and preferred to stay anonymous a g o.” friends that I loved them and that wrote in a survey of 50 students ists and say that we’ve gotta get of the students spearheading the Glenda Torres Scott, the things would be okay without conducted by e VOICE, “Gun everything we ask immediately, “March for Our Lives” movement, mother of Benjamin DaVila, who me. e re alarm blared as the violence is not an issue, mental or nothing is worthwhile,” Moore “ ey’re so articulate. So adult.” back in 2012 was shot and killed library of my school caught re. health, poverty, bullying, illegal said. She compared their activism to at the age of 23 in Trenton, spoke I clasped my friend’s hand in a arms trade, government corrup- “We want everyone to do the civil rights movement of the at the rally. She is a member of desperate attempt to stop hyper- tions, and media misinforma- the right thing, whether they’re 1960s. Mercer Mom’s Demand Action, ventilating. I was 18 and I felt the tion are. Guns aren’t bad in good Republican, or Democrat, or any Sixty-eight percent of an organization committed to ceiling of death hovering over me. hands.” other party!” he shouted. Mercer students who partici- “gun violence prevention.” “I did is wasn’t how it was supposed Seventy-two percent of e rally in Princeton pated in e VOICE survey are not just lose my only son. I lost to end, I thought. I hadn’t even students surveyed said they think did not consist merely of speech- registered to vote, and another 24 the opportunity to see him be a gotten into college yet.” gun violence is a signi cant prob- es. ere was also music. percent are eligible to register but father, to see him mature, achieve “I get the feeling that lem in the US. 96 percent said Beverly Owens, the have not yet registered. A third of all his goals,” Scott said. nothing is changing, but when there should be greater restric- Director of Music at the With- those who could register didn’t Ben Bollinger, a leader I saw the students of Marjory tions. ese numbers re ect and, erspoon Presbyterian Church plan to and six percent of those of e Princeton Against Gun Stoneman Douglas High School in fact, exceed overall US trends. opened the event by singing “We who are registered don’t plan to Violence at Princeton University, standing up, I felt inspired by According to a recent POLITICO/ Shall Overcome.” vote. Another 8 percent cannot spoke at the rally about a former them and I said, enough is Morning Consult poll, 68 percent Later, Guy DeRosa, Mer- vote because of immigration sta- classmate of his who took his own enough,” Redmond said. support stricter gun laws. cer professor of Political Science tus or age. life with a gun. Not everybody at the ral- Angie Reyes, a Mercer played harmonica, accompany- Zubialevich told e “ ere’s something ly shared the same view on what student majoring in business ing Bucks County Community VOICE she wants to see more strikingly raw about the rst time to do about the country’s gun vio- wrote in the survey, “You must be College Professor of Philosophy people exercising their right to you lose someone you considered lence crisis. pretty blind to say that USA does and Religion David Brahinsky, vote. “I hope that the event today your peer. Something that makes Assemblyman Roy Frei- not have a gun problem.” who played guitar and sang “Lean and the events all over the coun- the frailty of life much more tan- man of the 16th Legislative Dis- One speaker at the rally On Me” as part of the demonstra- try encourage young people to go gible than you ever realized,” Bol- trict, who spoke at the rally, said and co-organizer, Reverend Bob tion. out and vote in the next election linger said. When he heard about he is a gun owner, and this proved Moore, who for decades has been Professor DeRosa wasn’t because historically there have his former classmate’s suicide he to be a matter of controversy. a gun control activist in New Jer- the only person from Mercer been low voter turnouts for young said he “drove home and cried in “Turn in your gun!” peo- sey, acknowledged the political present at the rally. e man- people and, my generation, peo- the driveway.” ple yelled multiple times while divide over gun policy in general ager of Mercer’s eatery, Adele ple my age, so I think it would be Joe Redmond, a senior Freiman was speaking. and urged people at the rally to be Staab was also there. “Enough great to increase that and have at Princeton University who is A mother and daughter patient, remain hopeful and seek is enough!” she said, expressing our voices heard through march- studying chemical and biologi- from Hopewell, Christina Schell, bipartisan solutions. concern about her daughter who es, rallies, elections and any other cal engineering, survived the 47, and Emily Schell, 19, told e “We can’t be absolut- teaches second grade. She said ways possible,” she said. NYC March for Our Lives rally

By Drew Mumich Senior Reporter

Since the Columbine High- school Massacre in 1999, 187,000 students have experienced the e ects of gun violence at school according to an article in the Washington Post by John Woodrow Cox and Ste- ven Rich. To combat this threat, schools created what is known as a lockdown drill. ese drills are made to ensure student safety, for if and when an in- truder, mainly an active shooter, enters the school. As Cole Montplaisir, a building construction technol- ogy major from Mercer, whose rst lockdown drill was in ninth grade explains, “ e lady in the main o ce would say this is a lockdown drill, it may be real, it may not be, so shelter in place and depending on where you were, if you were in a class- room, the lights went o , the shades went down, the doors were closed and locked, and hid behind the ling cabinet, or the dividers.” With this in the back of every teenager’s mind, and the recent event of the Parkland, PHOTO | DREW MUMICH FL shooting, at the forefront of e election of Donald Trump prompted the Women’s Marches. Since then, women in particular have are becoming vocal advocates on the political their mind. e youth of Amer- issues that concern them most. e gun control movement #Enough has prompted teen women to become even more motivated to participate. ica ooded the streets of Wash- ington DC to protest Congress to put in stricter laws on gun control on the national level. Washington DC wasn’t the only city to have a march through, with dozens of sister marches, one of the larger ones was held next to Central Park in Manhattan of New York City. Men, women and children poured into Columbus Av- enue by bus, car, boat and train, to support the recent victims of the Parkland Shooting. e o cial march began with a rally at 11 A.M. on 72nd street, though due to the enormous crowds, the march- Over 800 March for Our Lives rallies were held on March 24 with one or more in ers pushed the parade’s begin- PHOTO | DREW MUMICH all 50 states. ning all the way back to 86th e sound of the NYC March for Our Lives was dominated by chants street. lead by women on megaphones, and the fervent beat of drum corps. “If you think that policy decisions will help change a e crowds were sepa- culture, then policy decisions are the way to go. But I Julia Betancourt, a high school ere are federal laws rated like a dam by the New think things have to change at the cultural level, that York City Police by metal barri- senior from Long Island ex- created to ensure a broad sense cades. ese opened much like plains, “It makes me feel hope- of gun safety but is ultimately people have to have to have a di erent relationship to a levee letting the let the crowd ful for the future because our left up to each state. California gun violence than they currently do, and I’m not sure trickle down to the next city generation is the next one that has the strictest gun laws, while what would change that.” is going to be voting.” Louisiana has the most lenient block as the let protesters from -Prof. Diane Rizzo the adjoining streets ood into e marches around gun laws, according to deseret- Columbus Avenue. the nation demanded change in news.com. Even with the recent gun legislation on a nationwide Diane Rizzo, an Eng- unique, in that there has been events of Parkland FL, the at- scale. e last major gun reform lish Professor who had an ex- more momentum than in the mosphere was anything but was the implementation of the perience in Los Angeles with an past, it seems that in the media melancholy, as protesters National Instant Criminal Back- active shooter in 1986 told e cycle, there is a protest three danced, cheered and chanted ground Check System (NICS) in VOICE “If you think that policy weeks after the initial event, all the way down Columbus Av- 2007 by former President Bush. decisions will help change a with is when it normally dies enue. e Gi ords Law Cen- culture, then policy decisions out, but I think this is helping As 20-year-old Jullie ter explains it “provided nan- are the way to go. But I think keep the it rolling in a way that Sharps from New York City told cial incentives for states to pro- things have to change at the hasn’t happened before.” e VOICE, “ is has been hap- vide to NICS (the database used cultural level, that people have pening since I have been in high to perform a background check to have to have a di erent rela- Rachael Westbrook and Maria Ramos school, and nothing has been when a rearm is purchased tionship to gun violence than contributed reporting for this article. done on a federal level, and from a federally licensed deal- they currently do, and I’m not it’s disgusting to see how many er) information relevant to sure what would change that.” politicians are in the pocket of whether a person is prohibited In the end, New York the NRA.” from possessing rearms, in- was one of the larger marches With chants like “Bal- cluding the names and other in support of stricter gun legis- RIGHT: Sisters participated in lots not bullets” and “No more relevant identifying informa- lation, and protesters came far the NYC March for Our Lives silence, end gun violence.” e tion of persons adjudicated as a and wide to support the cause. carrying their homemade sign protesters were emotional and mental defective or those com- As David Orlando, ex- reading “Speaking for those who determined to take a stand. As mitted to mental institutions.“ plains “I think this moment is can’t...stop gun violence.” PHOTO | DREW MUMICH Washington, DC March for Our Lives rally

PHOTO | GRIFFIN JONES Young people of di erent backgrounds, races and religions came together to protest gun violence during the March for Our Lives in Washington DC on March 24, 2018. An attendee at the Washington DC March for Our Lives is brought to tears by the story of student activist Edna Chavez. By Grifﬁ n Jones out here,” she said, “it has been 6 minutes and 20 sec- Senior Reporter onds. e shooter has ceased shooting and will soon abandon his ri e, blend in with the students as they es- Over 200,000 people of all ages descended on Washing- cape and walk free for an hour before arrest.” ton DC to support gun reform initiatives on March 24 And with that the crowd at once began to cheer according to Digital & Imaging Service Inc. wildly. It was as if suddenly all realized that they had Following the death of 17 students in Parkland, been witness to a historic moment. Florida at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Students from Newtown High School, the high on February 14, surviving students began to push for school for the school district that Sandy Hook Elemen- stricter gun laws. tary School is in, were present to support their fellow eir activism caught the attention of EM- high schoolers. POWER, the youth branch of the organization behind Sandy Hook was the site of another mass the Women’s Marches. school shooting, where 20 children and 6 adults lost e March for Our Lives on March 24 was the their lives. result of their e orts thus far. Ben Albee, a student at Sandy Hook High A number of celebrities performed at the event School, shared his thoughts about the two schools in between powerful speeches given by student activists a text statement, writing “ e thing that’s di erent be- PHOTO | GRIFFIN JONES telling their own stories of loss that brought many in the tween sandy hook and parkland is that in sandy hook, audience to tears. you heard the grief of parents of victims, but the chil- ABOVE: A girl sites on a tree to Often the topic was not only about school dren who survived- the children who had to realize how get a better view of the March for shootings but also about the urban violence faced by loud a gunshot is at such a young age- were kept silent.” our Lives rally in Washington, DC many black and Latino youth, such as when student ac- He continued, “After parkland, the survivor on March 24, 2018. tivist Edna Chavez spoke about the loss of her brother students became the spotlight and they’ve been work- LEFT: An African American Ricardo Chavez. ing so hard to right the wrong they experienced rst teen draped in an American In a survey of Mercer students conducted by hand.” ag bearing the names of young e VOICE, it was found that half of all black students Famous mass shootings were not the only fo- black men who were the victims surveyed knew someone that had died due to gun vio- cus of the rally, however, as many came bearing signs of police gun violence, stands lence. with the faces of those they lost to guns, faces that have before the Capitol Building in But the most powerful moment of the rally never appeared on the news. Washington DC as part of the came when Emma Gonzalez, the face of the Stoneman Among them was Paula Chaves, a 17-year-old March for Our Lives protest rally. Douglas survivors, came on stage. from South Lake High School in Reston, West Virginia, Following a powerful speech, during which who carried a poster with a picture of her father. she listed all of the things her fallen classmates would “I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this “never again” do, she suddenly fell totally silent. since I was little, because of what happened with my In that instant the crowd fell absolutely silent, dad,” she told e VOICE. barely a single sound escaped from the hundreds of Eight years ago, she says, she lost her father thousands gathered there. e National Mall was trans- to gunmen in their then home of Puerto Rico. He was formed into a sacred space and Gonzalez into a priest confronted by two men outside an ATM, she says, and leading a wake. when he refused to hand over the money they wanted, Confusion soon spread in the crowd, with var- they abducted and shot him. ious cheers of support coming up at various times. It at wasn’t the last encounter Chaves had with was unquestionably an awkward moment, as all pres- gun violence, however. On March 9th of this year, her ent wondered what Gonzalez was doing. Yet she stood high school was placed on lockdown due to reports of resolute, tears in her eyes, with unwavering determina- a student with a gun on campus. Although the reports PHOTO | GRIFFIN JONES tion. were proven false later, according to a tweet by Fairfax Finally she spoke, “Since the time that I came County police, Chaves says, “Nobody knew what was Washington, DC March for Our Lives rally

PHOTO | GRIFFIN JONES

Young people of di erent backgrounds, races and religions came together to protest gun violence during the March for Our Lives in Washington DC on March 24, 2018. PHOTO | GRIFFIN JONES out here,” she said, “it has been 6 minutes and 20 sec- going on for 40 minutes, we were in the dark for 40 onds. e shooter has ceased shooting and will soon minutes.” abandon his ri e, blend in with the students as they es- She also said, “I was just thinking in my head, cape and walk free for an hour before arrest.” ‘I’m going to be the next person in my family that’s shot And with that the crowd at once began to cheer and killed,’ and it was just very terrifying not knowing wildly. It was as if suddenly all realized that they had anything, because when you’re in that situation, when been witness to a historic moment. you’re inside, you don’t know anything. And so I was Students from Newtown High School, the high texting my family and my friends, just saying our good- school for the school district that Sandy Hook Elemen- byes just in case anything did happen.” tary School is in, were present to support their fellow A recurring theme throughout the rally was high schoolers. that the March’s e orts were not going to end when the Sandy Hook was the site of another mass day did. Repeatedly speakers called on the audience to school shooting, where 20 children and 6 adults lost register to vote. their lives. When David Hogg, another Parkland survi- Ben Albee, a student at Sandy Hook High vor, took the stage, he started his speech by attaching a School, shared his thoughts about the two schools in price tag to his shirt labeled “$1.05.” a text statement, writing “ e thing that’s di erent be- He said of the gesture, “I’m going to start o by tween sandy hook and parkland is that in sandy hook, putting this price tag right here as a reminder for you you heard the grief of parents of victims, but the chil- guys to know how much Marco Rubio took for every dren who survived- the children who had to realize how student’s life in Florida.” PHOTO | GRIFFIN JONES loud a gunshot is at such a young age- were kept silent.” In a page entitled “Don’t Put a Price on Our He continued, “After parkland, the survivor Lives” on the March for Our Lives website, the move- TOP: Many students became the spotlight and they’ve been work- ment claims “ ere are 3,140,167 students enrolled in protesters at the ing so hard to right the wrong they experienced rst Florida. Marco Rubio has received $3,303,355 from the March for Our hand.” NRA. at comes out to $1.05 per student.” Lives carried Famous mass shootings were not the only fo- Marco Rubio is a senator from Florida, where creative and cus of the rally, however, as many came bearing signs Parkland is. Hogg’s message was clear, support gun politically charged with the faces of those they lost to guns, faces that have control or be voted out. He nished his speech by say- signs. ABOVE: never appeared on the news. ing, “To those politicians supported by the NRA that Attendees watch Among them was Paula Chaves, a 17-year-old allow the continued slaughter of our children and our Emma Gonzalez from South Lake High School in Reston, West Virginia, future, I say get your resumes ready.” on one of the many who carried a poster with a picture of her father. Tappan Vickery, a volunteer coordinator with screens spread “I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this HeadCount, an organization that helps to register vot- throughout the since I was little, because of what happened with my ers at events was there striving to ensure that. National Mall. dad,” she told e VOICE. roughout the mall there were seven stations RIGHT: e Eight years ago, she says, she lost her father set up by HeadCount, and over 800 volunteers spread Newseum in to gunmen in their then home of Puerto Rico. He was out across the area, Vickery said. eir goal was to col- Washington DC confronted by two men outside an ATM, she says, and lect a thousand total new registrations by the end of the set up a wall when he refused to hand over the money they wanted, event. At just the station she was at she noted they had asking protesters they abducted and shot him. registered about 200 new voters. to write why at wasn’t the last encounter Chaves had with She noted that most of the new registrations they chose to gun violence, however. On March 9th of this year, her were for young voters, and a number of those too participate in the high school was placed on lockdown due to reports of young to vote had pre-registered so that they can vote March for Our a student with a gun on campus. Although the reports once they turn 18. Lives. PHOTO | GRIFFIN JONES were proven false later, according to a tweet by Fairfax She told e VOICE, “It’s so awesome to see County police, Chaves says, “Nobody knew what was these kids excited about wanting to engage.” EXPOSURE TO GUN VIOLENCE CAMPUS SURVEY RESULTS e VOICE surveyed 50 stuednts and 20 faculty members at Mercer to nd out about their experiences with guns and gun violence, and their views on the subject. Here are some of the key results and what you had to say.

S T 18% of N students surveyed say E they have attended a political march or rally. By contrast, 40% of UD 18% faculty report having done so. T 6% S of Mercer students surveyed had been shot at, all of whom were African American males.

6% 30% 72%

30% of faculty members 72% of surveyed knew Mercer students someone who surveyed think had been killed gun violence by gun violence. is a signiﬁ cant All but one of problem in those faculty the US, and 15% members also 96% say there live in a home 90% should be with a gun in it. stronger gun restrictions. 90% of Mercer stu- 15% of faculty dents surveyed surveyed (3 out of have grown up 20) reported hav- with lockdown ing been shot at, 25% drills. twice the percent of

students. All three 25% of faculty

are women.

34% say they do not

feel safe from F gun violence on

34% campus, and 45% A

of Mercer think MCCC doesn’t

students surveyed say they do have resources to

not feel safe from gun violence on help troubled C

campus, compared to 25% of faculty students.

who feel that way. U

L T Y the college 18 VOICE 5 - 1 - 17 VIEWPOINTS

The human cost of nationalism and fear Mexican in the age of Trump so long, that I was Mexico is going to know if my effort is enough to PERSPECTIVES Mexican and we are I hope one day I can be in front of a border pa- pay for it!” prove to people that what Presi- dent Trump said is not true. coming to steal jobs. trol officer or any police officer and not feel that I remember Once the laughing as I saw all He told the world: officer let me into old sick fear. I hope the picture of those dogs at the memes about “When Mexico sends it people, the country, I felt re- him, and thinking they’re not sending their best. lieved, calm at last. the border staring at me disappears. I hope to this man is never They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots I had made it to el going to be the US stop feeling guilty, guilty for being Mexican. of problems,and they’re bring- otro lado del charco, president, then ay the other side of the caramba! Donald J. ing those problems with them. river. Now everything was going Trump is the presi- They’re bringing drugs. They’re to be great, I thought. I was here dent of the US. I couldn’t be- bringing crime. They’re rapists.” to accomplish the American lieve it. So wait, no more avoca- My roles at Mercer Maria Ramos dream, my American-Mexican The feeling of being dos? No more Cinco de Mayo? County Community College dream. legal in a place but not able to My mom kept call- have helped me pursue my Now I wake up each travel to your country is inde- ing, “Mjia y ahora qué va pasar? dream and demonstrate that My home town is Chihuahua, morning wonder if the presi- scribable. At night I would pray Vas a poder visitarnos otra vez?” Mexican immigrants aren’t Mexico just four hours away dent is going to ban people like that nothing would happen to Sweetie, now what’s going to coming to destroy the coun- from the border between Juarez me from entering to the USA my family because I couldn’t happen? Will you be able to vis- try, sell drugs or rape people. and El Paso, Texas. I will never soon. Or maybe he’ll cancel all travel home if something bad it us again?” Hearing my mom We are here because we want forget walking over the bridge the student visas. And when is happened. asking me these questions was a better future that for different under the Rio Bravo. I was cross- that construction of the wall is After two years I was breaking my heart but I knew reasons we couldn’t find in our ing legally with my visa and all going to start, a wall that’s going so homesick that I started to now more than ever I had country. my papers in order. It had taken to be exactly where I crossed look for plane tickets to get back to be strong and show to my I hope one day I can be months to fill out the forms, the border to come to New Jer- home. Things were changing, family back home, and all the in front of a border patrol officer gather the documents, secure sey 4 years ago. the US presidential elections people here that being a Mexi- or any police officer and not feel the visas and permits I needed I came here by the big were coming up, and things can immigrant in this country that old sick fear. I hope the pic- to enter legally, but looking door, with a visa that allowed didn’t look good for Mexicans shouldn’t be a barrier to suc- ture of those dogs at the border over the bridge and seeing all me to travel back and forth to if Trump was to win. So I took cess, that all those insults from staring at me disappears. I hope the border patrols officers with my beautiful Chihuahua and the risk and went home and re- Trump about Mexicans are not to stop feeling guilty, guilty for their dogs staring at me and the see my family, but after one year applied for a student visa. I told true, that instead we are part of being Mexican. others who were crossing I felt I had to change my status from myself if they denied my visa it the culture of this country, all I choose to be an im- as if I was guilty of something. J-1 (au pair visa) to F-1 (student would be destiny, as sign that our hard work needs to be rec- migrant in the US and I will I was coming to the visa), and this change had a America wasn’t for me. ognized. never regret my decision. I am United States through an agen- huge cost for me. I am not talk- But I got approved for Now I am a full-time proud and thankful for being cy to work taking care of a fam- ing about the $600 dollars that I my visa for four more years, student with a 3.6 GPA. I’m Latina and Mexicana. I will not ily’s young children, but by the had to pay between fees, forms came back and restarted my a cross country runner for a stop until I achieve my Mexi- time I had to show my visa to and permissions, I am talking education. By then, however, team that won the Regionals for can-American dream, or until the border patrol officer I was about not being able to see my I had to watch the daily politi- the first time and went to the my visa gets cancelled, even if sweating and scared. Why was family for two years. It was the cal campaign of Donald Trump 2016 Nationals. I’m Editor-in- things get harder in this coun- I so scared if everything was in toughest time of my life. At only spewing hate towards Mexicans Chief of The College VOICE, an try, this country that has be- order? Maybe it was because 19 years old I now felt trapped and saying over and over: “we award-winning newspaper of come mi nueva casa, my new of the message I had heard for in this country. are going to build a wall, and excellence. But even so, I don’t home. I will keep doing my best.

Russian-Americanthree ladies that watched my age in America the came to agevisit me and ofto Grace Trump N. Rogers elementary month of April there were pro- group, but only one really cared later I was told by one of the la- school, after about 3 months of tests in major cities across Rus- PERSPECTIVES about us. dies at the orphanage that I was living in the US, I thought I was sia which ended up being one of In the orphanage some being adopted. I was eight, and being brought back into an or- the largest mass demonstrations children were mean, others were I was more than okay with it be- phanage . Once again I started of their kind. The protests were quiet, some, like myself, tried to cause I was sure any place was to cry. The same thing happened against the abusive and corrupt make the best of it. I had one better than there. when I met my babysitter. Were government. What was the re- good friend, her name was also It was a long flight to the they leaving me with this per- sult? Svetlana. Her bed was right next US on my own. I remember my son? But my father always came Many Russians were lit- to mine and we would always American grandma crying--I’m back to get me. erally arrested and carried away end up talking at night. We’d get assuming tears of joy--when I fi- I have seen the best of during the protests. Russians are caught and the grown ups would nally walked into my new room. both American and Russian cul- being thrown in jail for the slight- make us stand still at the end of I didn’t even know people lived tures, the people, the food, the est offenses or for simply trying our beds as punishment, making in that kind of luxury to have differences and the similarities. to speak up. How is it, I wonder, us even more restless for “misbe- their own room. I was full of I hold a warm place in that Americans, many of whom Svetlana Craft having.” excitement. But I woke up the my heart for my home country are also taking to the streets to It wasn’t all bad. The next morning, opened my cur- despite the circumstances that protest their government, still One night in Nizhny Novgorod, snowy days were my favorite. In tains and it was raining outside. caused me to leave, but now not making a clear distinction Russia, when I was 5, the police Russia, you don’t stay inside if it I started to cry. I had imagined everyday I encounter endless between Russian government came. This wasn’t anything new snows you go out and take ad- America would always be a negativity about Russians. The and the Russian citizens? considering my mom was always vantage of it. That is exactly what sunny paradise. I thought: Oh Russians rigged the election, the Most people I encoun- belligerent, drunk and in trou- the other children and I did. no! This family has brought me Russians are bad, they are com- ter do not realize I’m Russian- ble. I thought they were there for I never thought that I somewhere even worse than ing for us, people say. It’s like American. I went to East Wind- her, but they were there for me. would get adopted; my mom where I was before! the Cold War never ended with sor public schools, I don’t have I never saw my mother or sister would call every few months My adoptive family all the suspicion and animosity an accent. I have a Russian name again after that night. and promise to visit and come knew basically no Russian. Be- still going on. But just like during but people don’t seem to notice. I was put in one orphan- get me. I believed her, but after tween us we had a few simple the actual Cold War it’s not the They badmouth Russians right age and several months later years went by I started to get the words like: hi, hungry, and sleep. actual Russian people but the in front of me. I try to stay calm moved to another, even farther picture. She was never going to They would try to get me to un- government that is to blame, and despite being offended. I remind away from home. I stayed there come. derstand. I would just point at Americans constantly overlook myself these people do not know for two years. In an orphanage, if you things a lot. There would be no this difference. what Russians are going through, Mostly I was in one big are not an infant, the possibility conversation, yet a lot of laugh- The Russian people they are ignorant, they do not room with the smallest beds of you actually getting adopted is ter and fun. are suffering under President know real suffering. I feel bad for you can imagine. There were very slim. The older kids like my- The inability I had to Vladimir Putin. Putin does not them sometimes, because they well over 30 children per room. self were always around longer if communicate with my new fam- respect or care for them whatso- may be Americans but they don’t I remember having notebooks not until the age of 16 when we ily made it impossible for me to ever. Everything a person says is understand the American dream with about 10 pages in them to were kicked out. understand what was going on. censored; there is no right to free like I do. Hatred for others is not learn how to write. There were The Craft family from When my father first took me speech. In the beginning of the part of the American dream.

the college 19 VIEWPOINTS 3 - 5 - 18 VOICE the college VOICE Muslim life in Trump’s America with my customers. Eventually down the street it would look people of diff erent backgrounds they ask me my name. When I Editorial Board PERPSECTIVES strange to the locals. “Why is an is what made us unique. We reply with “Mohammad,” what Maria Ramos, Editor in Chief Arab kid with a Pakistani man?” do indeed have something in sometimes follows are looks of Was probably the question go- America that not many other confusion or suspicion. Some- Drew Mumich, Managing Editor ing through their heads. countries may have and that is times the discussion presses on Jackson Thompson, Sports Editor While living in Saudi diversity. into a spiral of of uncomfortable Sean O’Connor, Viewpoints Reporter Arabia my father and I decided Th is is the way I viewed questions. to take a night out. We were America until the 2016 elec- Some that are clearly Staff bored sitting in the house so tions. based off the words of the presi- Trevion Anglin, Senior Reporter we decided to go to a patch of Fortunately, here at dent. According to an article last sand in an abandoned garden a Mercer the campus is very di- year by Jenna Johnson and Abi- Laurie Gallagher, Senior Reporter couple of blocks away from our verse. In my classes I have fel- gail Hauslohner for the Wash- Chelsey Johnstone , Senior Reporter Mohammad Wiswall house, make some tea and try low students from Barbados, ington Post, President Trump Griffi n Jones, Senior Reporter out a new tent we bought. West Africa, the Dominican Re- is quoted as saying, “I think Mike LaFisca , Reporter After a year of travelling over- As the sun set we could public, Israel and so many other Islam hates us. Th ere’s some- Lia Sierra, Reporter seas, being back in the States hear the call to prayer from countries. thing there that — there’s a tre- Rachael Westbrook, Reporter was a relief. Th e weather didn’t the nearby mosques for the If you were to look mendous hatred there. Th ere’s maghrib, or sunset prayer. As around in your classes you will a tremendous hatred. We have Mohammad Wiswall, Reporter scorch my skin and the air didn’t smell like burning gar- we got ready to pray a police offi nd someone from somewhere. to get to the bottom of it. Th ere’s fi cer came to us with his pistol But the diversity in America an unbelievable hatred of us.” Faculty Advisers bage and diesel. It was the fi rst time seeing so much green and in his grip and walked toward and here at Mercer needs to be Th is correlates with the Professor Matt Kochis, Co-adviser it almost hurt my eyes. us cautiously. We were then put acknowledged and protected questions I get from other peo- Professor Holly Johnson, Co-adviser But what I missed the in the back of his car. because those students from ple. Once I was asked, “What most was the diversity of the My father, who spoke diff erent countries may not feel is Islam’s stance on America?” United States of America, where Arabic, was able to understand welcomed or at home. Another time someone asked crowds are fi lled with people what they were saying amongst However, with the elec- me, “Are Muslim women al- from diff erent nationalities and each other. From what he could tion of Donald Trump there was lowed to speak in public?” backgrounds. However it’s not understand, it seemed the po- a wave of open racism and hate Th ese questions shine the same everywhere. lice were confused about why I couldn’t believe even existed light on the division and sus- In Jeddah, Saudi Ara- a fourteen-year-old Arab was in the U.S. picion raised by the president. Places to bia, for the most part if you were with a Pakistani man. It was I remember going onto Also, those types of questions an immigrant from West Africa hard for them to fathom that a social media sites like Facebook push that feeling of isolation procrastinate at you would stay with other im- biracial child who looked like and seeing people comment- deeper. Mercer migrants, and if you were an an Arab was American, and was ing under the videos of Trump What separates us Arab you would stay with the with an older American. spewing his dislike of Islam and from the rest of the world is 1. Honors Lounge Arabs. After hours of being Muslims. Th e comments would our history of multiculturalism. 2. “The Caf” aka If you were a Yemeni in the police station we were say things like “Let’s just kill Now as a college student with eventually taken back to the them all” or “If they like sharia these experiences I want others student cafeteria Arab you would stay with other Yemenis. If you were a Pakistani place of arrest and questioned law so much they should go at college to also see this per- 3. Library or Afghan the same applied. So by the police chief as to why we back to Saudi Arabia.” ceptive and act on it. 4. Quad this put me and my family in a were there. Eventually since we Th e scary part about Here at Mercer the weren’t doing anything wrong this is that if you went onto the diversity is so prevalent. We 5. Random chairs by strange place, as I’m biracial. My father is white we were released. However profi les of these commentators have students from all diff erent door to the LA and of British descent and my this experience taught me that they looked and acted like your backgrounds and ethnicities, so 6. Floor of BS hall mother is Bengali. In Jeddah mixing of cultures, which I saw everyday citizens: grandmoth- let’s make this integration re- as normal in the States, wasn’t ers, fi refi ghters, and teachers. It main the norm even if the cur- 7. West parking lot I could blend in with my dark hair and tan skin. I could easily normal in other countries. seemed like the people I identi- rent president makes negative 8. Learning Center be overlooked as a local. How- Once I returned to fi ed with as fellow Americans remarks about our fellow stu- 9. Art Gallery ever for my father it was a bit America in 2014 with this ex- had isolated and abandoned dents who are Muslims or im- perience in my memory I real- me. migrants. 10. Student newspaper harder because people would mistake him for a light skinned ized that America’s diversity is Sometimes when I’m Let’s us make sure we offi ce - SC 120 Pakistani or Afghan. our strength. America’s history working at my family’s cafe I are including and welcoming so Whenever we walked of accepting immigrants and tend to have a good discussion that the isolation. Olympics TV ratings were down? We can fi x that Th e opening ceremony Halfpipe also got a lot of so no one will have to stay up a race in circles. Solution: add AS I SEE IT is agonizingly slow. Solution: air time this year. We had a col- late and bore us on the way obstacles.:trampolines hurdles, add bears. I don’t mean teddy lective eyeball roll when Ameri- down. Point deductions will be extra points for going up rock bears. I mean real bears. Oh can athlete Chloe Kim tweeted made for dropping tablet, TV walls in skates. yeah, that’s get people moving. that she was getting hangry. So- or laptop on the way down, and Th ink how challenging Better for spectators, good car- lution: Combine halfpipe and a the bigger the device, the high- the games could become. And dio for the athletes. food eating contest. Athletes er the points for holding onto it. that is what the Olympics are all Curling was given a lot have to eat a minimum of one Please someone goes for a 80” about, challenging ourselves. of screen time this year, and it is breakfast sandwich as they fl ip fl at screen. Your ratings problems oddly appealy, but it looks like and spin down the pipe. Every Skeleton is basically are solved NBC. You’re wel- something your aunt could do sandwich after that will give you just sledding and we all know come. with some of her bowling bud- extra points. Obviously there it. Where’s the skill? Solution: dies. Solutio: Make curling a will be vegetarian, vegan and mountains resorts already use Rachael Westbrook hockey hybrid. Keep the curling gluten-free options. TNT to create controlled ava- outfi ts and the curling stones, Another American ath- lanches. You can see where According to USA Today, the but follow the rules of hockey. lete, snowboarder Red Gerard I’m going with this. Why race ratings for this years winter Players would use the dainty said he stayed up late the night against a clock when you can Olympic games were down 17 brooms to whack at the granite before his competition binge- race against snow? Whoever percent from Sochi. No surprise. stones. Th ink about it. All the ing on Netfl ix which led him to ends up closer to the surface Th e whole thing is sluggish and fast pace of hockey with people oversleep. Solution: double up. when the snow settles wins. predictable. But I have the solu- smashing into each other, but Make the snowboarders watch Speed skating is the tion. Add some real challenge. the stones still moving slowly. Netfl ix while doing their tricks most predictable of all. It’s just

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