Ripped from the Headlines: October 2023: This Week in Words: Current Events Vocabulary for October 7–October 13, 2023

A baseball fan and his emotional support alligator were denied entrance to a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Pittsburgh Pirates. The huge, scaly reptile, named WallyGator, belongs to Joie Henney, who said his unconventional therapy animal helps him fight depression. While the stadium admits guide dogs and service animals, a spokesperson said WallyGator and other support animals don't qualify. Alligator is from the Spanish el lagarto, "the lizard."

President Biden’s dog Commander was banished from the White House after several biting incidents. He's the second family dog to be kicked out of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue since Biden took office three years ago. Commander will join the previous canine exile, Major, living with and protecting Secret Service agents. The Old English root of banish is bannan, "to command."

Cricket, flag football, squash, lacrosse, softball, and baseball may become Olympic sports. Organizers of the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games proposed the additions, which would require eliminating several current Olympic events. Fans have long advocated adding cricket, which is one of the world's most popular sports. The game, played on a field using a flat bat and hard balls, is especially beloved in India. Cricket is from the Old French criquet, "goal post."

In his U.S. marathon debut on October 8, Nigerian runner Kelvin Kiptum broke a world record. Kiptum completed the Chicago Marathon in just two hours and 35 seconds, beating the previous record by 34 seconds. It was only the third marathon Kiptum had ever raced, and his first in the United States. Debut comes from the French débuter, "to make the first stroke in a billiards game."

The British government is appealing a court ruling that its plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda is unlawful. The policy was first proposed by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and it is endorsed by the country's current prime minister, Rishi Sunak. The law would require all migrants arriving in the U.K. by boat without a visa to be sent to Rwanda, no matter their country of origin. The Latin root of deport means "banish."

Claudia Goldin won the Nobel Prize in economics for her research on the role of women in the workplace. The Harvard University economist has spent decades analyzing labor data and interpreting it with a focus on the constantly evolving role of women in society. She has paid particular attention to the wage gap between men and women. Goldin is only the third woman to win the prestigious prize, which has been awarded to 90 men. The Greek root of economics means "thrift."

In an effort to make the planet more resilient in the face of climate change, scientists are creating a worldwide map of underground fungi. They aim to collect soil samples from 10,000 locations, study the simple, spore-producing organisms beneath its surface, and better understand how they might adapt to fires, drought, and floods. Researchers believe the map can help them discover ways to improve carbon capture and soil health. In Latin, fungus means "mushroom."

On October 9, 100 U.S. cities celebrated Indigenous Peoples' Day, which was formally acknowledged by President Biden in 2021 and is a holiday in 12 states. In 1992, Berkeley, California became the first city to replace Columbus Day with what the mayor described at the time as a holiday honoring the fact that "Native societies and philosophies flourished long before Columbus arrived." There is a current push to make Indigenous Peoples' Day a federal holiday.

Marine biologists documented hundreds of instances when baleen whales seemed to be playing with seaweed, an activity the scientists call "kelping." The researchers were surprised to observe humpbacks and other whales deliberately finding pieces of kelp and rolling in them, tossing them in the air, swimming through them, and otherwise playfully interacting with the leathery brown fronds of sea algae.

Members of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra performed for thousands of chickens as part of an ethical farming promotion. Collaborating with Bostock Brothers Farm, the orchestra researched what types of music poultry respond best to and discovered that they seem to enjoy baroque music. The result was a two-minute, bird-friendly piece by composer Hamish Oliver called Chook Symphony No 1. Poultry derives from the Old French poulet, "young fowl."

Three days after a deadly October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas militants, President Biden expressed support for Israel, pledging to provide military aid to the country's air defense systems. The initial attack, which killed as many as 1,200 people, was followed by an Israeli seige of the blockaded Gaza Strip, where two million Palestinian people live. Health officials there say at least 1,000 people have been killed by Israeli bomb strikes.

On October 10, Katmai National Park and Preserve's bear number 128, nicknamed Grazer, was declared the winner of Fat Bear Week. 2023's ursine champion is the third female brown bear to win the annual contest, which is decided by a bracket-style online tournament. Despite not being the largest bear, Grazer's resilience and strength, as well as her considerable heft, garnered 85,000 votes. The Latin root of ursine is ursus, "bear."