The Emory Wheel Since 1919
Emory University’s Independent Student Newspaper
Volume 104, Issue 1
DeSantis appoints Emory professor to New College of Florida Board of Trustees By Ashley Zhu Asst. News Editor Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis — known for his role as a “leading figure” in the conservative movement and his opposition to critical race theory, the idea that race is a culturally invented category used to oppress people of color — appointed six members to the New College of Florida Board of Trustees on Jan. 6, sparking debate among Emory University students. Among the six new Board of Trustees members — all of whom are conservative-leaning — DeSantis appointed Professor Emeritus of English Mark Bauerlein, who taught at Emory from 1989 to 2018. Apart from Emory, Bauerlein is a senior editor for the First Things magazine, a journal centered around religious and public life. Bauerlein has also published books such as “Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future” and is involved in consulting and education-related work. He released his most recent book, “The Dumbest Generation Grows Up: From Stupefied Youth to Dangerous Adults” in February 2022. Bauerlein has also worked with Florida educators for about three years, helping them draft the new Florida English language arts standards, which guide curriculum from kindergarten to 12th grade. “They asked if I would like to serve as a trustee to see about what might be right for this liberal arts college and the state system,” Bauerlein said. As a member of the Board of
Trustees, Bauerlein said he is tasked with consulting with faculty, administrators and the dean to investigate how to increase yearly applications or improve graduation and retention rates. “Are there ways in which we might examine the learning outcomes of the curriculum that we offer?” Bauerlein said. “Are students leaving New College and hitting the job market or hitting graduate schools running? Let's get some data on that. Let's look at admissions policies, things like that. The Board of Trustees’ first meeting will be held on Jan. 31, according to Bauerlein. Biased or balanced? During his second inaugural address on Jan. 3, DeSantis criticized “woke ideology” and stated that higher institutions should focus on “academic excellence and the pursuit of truth” rather than the “imposition of trendy ideology.” During his first term, DeSantis signed the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act, commonly known as the “Don’t Say Gay” act, into law on March 28, 2022 to prohibit classroom discussion on sexual orientation and identity in kindergarten through third grade. He also signed the Stop W.O.K.E. Act — which stands for “wrong to our kids and employees” — and bans teaching certain race-related concepts, into law on April 22, 2022. The decision to appoint the six conservative-leaning Board of
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AEPi returns to campus after over three-year suspension By Amelia Dasari Contributing Writer
Emory University will establish a new Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) chapter this semester after the fraternity was suspended in March 2019 for violating the University’s anti-hazing policy. AEPi’s return comes about four years after former AEPi President Joel Sharpe (20B) was arrested in January 2019 for cocaine possession. The following month, Residence Life staff responded to an incident involving alcohol and possible hazing at the AEPi house, prompting the AEPi national headquarters to place the chapter on “cease and desist,” which is an interim measure suspending all organizational activities while a chapter is undergoing an investigation. Former AEPi International President Jonathan Pierce, who now helps AEPi International with external and media communications, wrote in an email to the Wheel that the fraternity is “excited” to return to Emory. He added that AEPi is looking forward to organizing a chapter committed to their mission of “developing the future leaders of the Jewish community” based on values of brotherhood, philanthropy and social action. “Since 1920, Alpha Epsilon Pi has provided a distinct Jewish fraternal experience to Emory students,” Pierce wrote. “Many of our Epsilon chapter alumni have gone on to become leaders in their communities, professions and on Emory’s campus.” Director of Sorority and Fraternity Life Nicole Jackson said she has the same expectations for AEPi as she
Biden honors Martin Luther King Jr. with remarks in Atlanta By Eric Jones and Meghan Gupte Senior Staff Writer and Contributing Writer U.S. President Joe Biden visited Atlanta on Jan. 15 and spoke to a packed house at Ebenezer Baptist Church, where King served as a pastor from 1960 to 1968. Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), who is the senior pastor at Ebenezer, led the 9 a.m. service. Warnock introduced other guests in attendance, including Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, former Atlanta Mayor and United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who is the current senior adviser to Biden, and King’s oldest sister, Christine King Farris. After Warnock’s sermon, the Secret Service cleared the church for re-entry. Biden then delivered his sermon at 11 a.m., focusing on how King’s unwavering faith in God gave him the strength to fight for justice during the civil rights movement.
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U.S. President Joe Biden gives a sermon at the Ebinezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. Biden noted that he was the first sitting president to give a sermon during a Sunday church service at Ebenezer, saying that he felt “humbled” at the opportunity. Ebenezer was established 137 years ago, and the president earned a laugh from the
audience when joking that he looks the same age as the church. “I’ve spoken before parliaments, kings, queens, leaders of the world,” Biden said. “I’ve been doing this for a
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Alpha Epsilon Pi's old house sits at 17 Eagle Row. has for the rest of the fraternity chapters on campus. “We hope to see chapters living out their organizational values, while creating a sense of belonging through brotherhood/sister, and keeping leadership development, service and academic achievement at the forefront of what they do,” Jackson wrote in an email to the Wheel. Jackson also noted that the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life is looking forward to working with AEPi to fulfill their mission to develop, support and empower students to be responsible and engaged community members. Rahul Bendre (20Ox, 23B) said that while AEPi will begin recruitment this week alongside the rest of Emory’s fraternities, the chapter will not have a house on campus this semester. AEPi’s former residence on 17 Eagle Row now houses Kappa Sigma. “Chapters have their guidelines of how and when they can recruit,”
News Editor Eva Roytburg (22Ox, 25C) participated in sorority recruitment and Assistant News Editor Spencer Friedland (26C) is participating in fraternity recruitment. Neither contributed to writing or editing this article.
— Contact Amelia Dasari at amelia.dasari@emory.edu
Anderson leads discussion of ‘I, Too,’ explores effects of Jan. 6 insurrection By Eric Jones Senior Staff Wrter In honor of Emory University’s King Week and National Racial Healing Day, Charles Howard Candler Professor of African American Studies Carol Anderson led a discussion about her documentary “I, Too,” on Jan. 17 at Harland Cinema in the Alumni Memorial University Center. Interim Dean of Emory College of A rts and Sciences Carla Freeman introduced Anderson as one of the most renowned scholars of African American history in the United States. Anderson is known for her award-winning books that address how racial inequality affects the creation of U.S. policy. “I, Too” premiered on Sept. 8, 2022. The film argues that the Jan. 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol insurrection was not an isolated event, but rather a continuation of white supremacist violence that has plagued the nation’s history. The documentary touches on
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Bendre said. “Basically open their houses up and meet first year students. I don’t know how it looks from the perspective of unhoused chapters. I would assume they might have to rent out a space on campus like an [Emory Student Center] multipurpose room.” “We meet with chapter presidents once a week, and AEPi never had a representative show up,” Bendre said. Hannah Howell, Coordinator of Sorority and Fraternity Life, confirmed that AEPi has not yet elected a president for their chapter.
efforts to disenfranchise the Black vote, including the Wilmington, N.C. insurrection of 1898, during which white supremacists conducted the only successful coup in U.S. history against Black elected officials and the 1920 Ocoee, Fla. massacre when a mob of white people murdered leading members of the Black community. The film shows that these events did not occur in isolation and that white supremacy was a pattern throughout the past two centuries that continues today, as depicted in its correlation to the insurrection of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. A f ter the f ilm screening, Anderson led the discussion with WABE radio host and journalist Rose Scott. Anderson mentioned how the U.S. is in a critical moment in deciding the fate of democracy. “Right now we are in a battle for democracy, because we have massive competing visions,” Anderson
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