The Mystician 76.2 October 2014 by BSC Mystician

A unique medical program P6

Student guide to the vote 2014 P12

WWII tragedy uplifted

P12

UNALTERED ESSENCE

Volume: 76

Issue: 2 October 2014

BSC NE WS MAGAZINE VOLUME: 76 ISSUE: 2

Letter from the Editor DON’T JUDGE A BOOK by its cover. This issue of the Mystician contains some very hardhitting, controversial topics. I recognize that first impressions of the front page may not be taken lightly, but I want to encourage you, as readers, to break the mold and broaden your perspective. Look beyond the contradictory truth of who we really are as media consumers.

EDITORS Nicci Johnson

I have recently been challenged to do the same. I had to get honest with myself and face the fear of personal growth while being introduced to the wide variety of topics in this issue. So how do I avoid getting that evolutionary step to be the breaking of the mold? How do I face my fear of change and step into a new experience? It is often uncomfortable to create a change. However, I am a big believer that the universe will not give to me what I can not handle. When we receive things it is because it has come to us at the most divine time. When we are not receiving things in the time we think we should, it is because we are not a container to hold it yet.

Mystician Senior Editor

Katie Winbauer Mystician Verve Editor

Kaitlyn Olson Mystician Scoop Editor

Blake Nemecek Mystician Copy Editor

Ryan Haas Mystician Design Editor

Danielle Molinaro Mystician Buzz Editor MystiCast Creative Director

Jordan Bitz MYX Program Director

Erik Mattheis MystiCast Technical Director

Alex Stavig

Trust in the evolutionary plan. Trust that the universe has a much better plan than you do. Don’t try to speed things along, and don’t try to block them when they come. I believe that we, the Mystician staff, are challenged everyday. Our morals, standards, boundaries and viewpoints are constantly raw and attainable. When we come together as a team, magic happens. Creativity flows from us and breaks the norms that seem to be conforming around campus and our community. Our diverse staff wants to present to the campus and the public what we believe to be art – substantial, tasteful and thirstquenching art. And it has come to you, the reader, at a time that is crucial. I encourage you to rise to the challenge, break the mold of conformity and stand on your own – without judgment but with an open mind.

MystiCast/Drive Videographer

WRITERS

Love and Light,

Emily Kautzman Stephanie Moum Megan Haag Tanner Purintun

PHOTOGRAPHER Mission Statement The purpose of college media is to serve and give voice to the students. We, as the student-based forum of journalism on campus, are expected to provide content that is informative, fair and concise. With this goal in mind, the news-magazine is dedicated to accuracy and maintaining ethical practices.

Sarah Andrews

COMMENTS Email editor@mystician.org

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Disclaimer Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual writer and not necessarily shared by Bismarck State College or the Mystician staff. We welcome comments and letters from our readers. All letters to the editor must be signed and include contact information.

Table of Contents The Scoop BSC Nursing Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Dani Molinaro

Student Vote Counts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9 Stephanie Moun

News Shorts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

The Drive Bump, Set, Save a Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Emily Kautzman

BSC Dance Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Katie Winbauer

The Verve Cancer is not Sentence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-14 Nicci Johnson

Prescriptions For Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Nicci Johnson

Students and Coffee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Blake Nemecek

The Buzz #CatchinTheBSCBuzz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Campus Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Kaitlyn Olson

Papas Pumpkin Patch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Kaitlyn Olson

The POV (Point of View) Staff Editorial - ISIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-23 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 ISSUE NO. 2

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A Unique Nursing Program

By Dani Molinaro

BSC Nursing Graduates Encourage Current Students Practicing professionals open up about the BSC nursing program.

? in.. work your bra t u o d do ab ry an d ld I our pant u o h houl y k t s bly s a b Wha an stoc o pr c an I You re th o m orked CNA “I w as a han g ” . n i e v . c M ha acti ore t rica nd pr work m our e – Jer m m y t reco to no n manage ighly ol, but a h c e ou “W g scho so y durin y hours t twen time.” f y art o s on stud ie M. rst p s classe z fi u y S a w – r m merk fo time for s, and ho y plate o w d m est had idn’t “I d ol, all I ing for t That pile y . o d y h sc us, stu next da camp for the work h.” g enou tany B. t i r B –

A successful nurse, and former BSC student, Jerrica Martin still enjoys her job as a Registered Nurse. THE STRUGGLES OF being a nursing student are best known by those who are in the thick of education and professionals who have successfully undergone these struggles.

Clinical facilities stay in constant contact with the college’s Health Center to look at test scores for exams such as the National Council Licensure Examination and graduation rates.

There are many ways to approach a degree in nursing, and here at Bismarck State College, the Allied Health Center has a highly accelerated program.

“For the last eight years, there has been a 99 percent pass-rate on the NCLEX,” McShane said. “There is high job placement once students successfully leave the program.”

“Our program is responsible for some of the most competent and confident nurses in North Dakota.” Suzie McShane the Associate Professor of Nursing/Coordinator at BSC said.

But employers are not the only ones who take pride and pay close attention to the community college’s facility. Past students, Jill Carter and Jerrica Martin, are quick to compliment BSC’s fervent and expanding medical unit, and they encourage present students to keep pressing on.

Where did m y Make a bala nc so cial life go? e betw een school an d friends... “M y husban d kn ew that I seeing me w hen I got in would hardly be to the progr - Jill C . am,”

“F irst semes te study/homew r o f Freshman year m y ork to so cia 80 % to 20 %, l life w as ab an o more like 7 0 d second semester it w ut % to 30 %. I as ne ver w en t o an d pa rtied, ut bu mo vie nights t there w ere just more , more co ff ee da tes. And m y grades an I, d - B rittan y B classes, paid the price. ” .

“I know I want to be a nurse.” Brittany Beohlaree, a current BSC student said. “But right now I’m at a point to where I’m figuring out what North Dakota program to go through.” “Many programs are available to complete this degree, but BSC provides a unique program. The manageable class sizes and intensive skills labs, as well as the personable advisors who want to see their students succeed, all set apart BSC from different programs,” McShane said. Both Carter and Martin are registered nurses at St. Alexius’ Heart and Lung Clinic in Bismarck. Martin started the program in 2005 to become a Licensed Practitioner Nurse. She later graduated from the registered nursing program in 2012 as an older-than-average student. “The program most definitely made me a great nurse,” Martin said. Carter began her nursing journey as an older-than-average student. “For two years I went back to school to get my RN,” Carter said. “I

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was healing from a surgery, so I was unable to work during my schooling.” In the ever-growing world of nursing, BSC’s program has a wide range of students of different ages and backgrounds. “The program is perfect for the (college) freshman (coming) right out of high school with a passion for CNA work or the homemaker with a passion to help people in a healthcare setting,” McShane said. “In the nursing profession, there is constant growth and learning.” Martin said. “At BSC, you can always take yourself to the next level.” Both Carter and Martin said they are grateful for BSC’s program structure, specifically for its constant encouragement of growth in the profession. The school’s equipment, curriculum and real-life learning has improved astronomically from when Martin was a freshman student in 2005. “The students who make it through the program are very knowledgeable,” Martin said.

into? d I go are... l u o h s area s ssion ’m What re your pa , so I e h le kids Brittany t Go w it l d ve ave lo ediatrics.” ays h P “I alw to go into hoping s unlim hat it as a t is B. g o nursin go int cy of a you can a g e l “The t are M. o wha r, ited t - Suzzie docto .” e om a son r f ’ nurs b r pe d jo e of a a ‘goo om I get k good car a smile fr I n e h g o t o e in “W t g h ply w I veryt or kno , or if I simat makes e h d in nee y patient; t orth it a happ towards w d worke a M. ic - Jerr

As acounted by Martin and Carter, many young aspiring nurses, such as BSC’s Brittany Beohlaree, find themselves at this comunity college overwhelmed with decisions about their nursing future and discernment in their studies. Even if one has debated in their mind about the various programs, and realized BSC is right for them, Beloharee says there are still questions nursing students ask themselves frequently. For Beloharee, questions about time management, her lost social life, and the next steps to take are in their mind constantly, and the struggle is fresh in her mind. She reminisces about her years as a Freshman and Sophomore as a nursing student. “I put a lot into school. Time-wise, if I wanted to do a good job, I never really had much time for anything else” Beloharee said. “I definitely love what I do, still.” Martin said with an uncontrollable smile. “I love nothing better than seeing graduates on the floor

working confidently as nurses” McShane said.

In the hallway of the Bismarck State College’s Allied Health Center, Jody Weigel (left) and Heather Berry (right) are still smiling after an exam. Wh y Tea shou chin ld g ea I b e i ch “For oth n stud er w y g r tog e an a tom ill t oups ea c said ther to y, a gr h yo ? o t u… expl ha t if stud y up o f grouain an y you're a lot. us go -B r p, you subjec able t M y in s t itta t n y B a re re t to soo tea ch ructor ad y . m and e “You o for an y n e in yo for w ill g test ur .” exc life wh ain cow el a e o n r k - Ji n y ll C d supp ou ban ers an d . o rt d on e tog eth frien ds ano e ther r to .”

ne… k”? ombi “clic actice c t i oor. r es the fl n n do ory and p e n h o W t i get n the pmfor iche Whe ur n se of co get to a o y w u n , e o o e ledg e a s ere y ’ll kn “You you hav tions wh ead know ea is rer n h a a e Wh ife situ ons and hat l i w w real- ur pass you kno o ply y hen will ou.” t y ed r y l n o learn st fo e b u’ve reaty o y all . g t in ll C meth d the ng to – Ji ee so edical an al thinki .” s u ited ritic he m en yo “Wh floor, t e your c you exc e s s on th and to u really get , ment someone p l e h M. rica – Jer

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Student Voting in November Election ON NOV. 4, Bismarck State College students will have the chance to cast their votes for the North Dakota state representative. Many other positions are up for grabs (see The Candidates.) There are 8 measures to be voted on. Incumbent Kevin Cramer will face off against Democratic North Dakota State Senator George B. Sinner and Libertarian Jack Seaman in what is expected to be an easy win for the Republican incumbent. However, the election might not be so predictable with the participation of a group notorious for not voting: young people. According to non-profit, nonpartisan organization FairVote, only 64 percent of eligible voters in North Dakota cast their votes in House elections, the majority of which are aged 65 and older. The U.S. Census showed that North Dakota was one of the top three states with the greatest disparity between the number of voters aged 18 to 29 and those over the age of 30. “If young people went to the polls, they could sway a vote however they’d want to,” Marsha Lembke, N.D. president of the League of Women Voters said. “Get involved. Find someone you know and trust and ask their thoughts about the elections. Contact elected officials for information. Every vote counts, so it’s really important that you just get out and vote.”

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Lembke gave examples of situations in which one vote would have changed the course of history. If it had not been for one vote, Hitler would not have become the leader of Germany. She stressed the importance of getting involved in the community and interacting with people face-to-face to discuss these issues. “We need to visit and talk to people we know instead of taking on videos and all the social media. Not that you shouldn’t review that, but we need to listen to both sides,” Lembke said. “We need to have opinions – that’s important, but when you have an opinion you also need to listen for the other side. When we come together in real compromise, we make good government.” Lembke is concerned about what the future holds for The United States if its citizens don’t take an active stance in government. More voters make for better accountability. “If you voted for them, you have the right to ask them,” Lembke said. “If you want to complain, you better have voted, otherwise you really should silence yourself.”

Access (DMA) said. DMA hosts and records candidate debates, which can be viewed on freetv.org or dakotamediaaccess.org. “Nobody should go and watch a candidate forum or even read one article somewhere. It’s a collective process.” Van Sickle said. “You might view a television debate or candidate forum and pick up other information and see how quickly a candidate can react to another person’s questions,” Anyone who can’t make it to the ballot box can order an absentee ballot through nd.gov or participate in early voting. The ballot box is open 15 days prior to election day (Nov. 4) at the County Building 221 N. 5th St. in Bismarck. More information can be found on the Burleigh County website, burleighco. com. Students who are in Bismarck but not taking up residency will have to contact their hometown county seat in order to make arrangements to vote.

With some media being biased, it can be difficult for young voters to know that the information they’re getting is accurate. There are, however, reliable sources that students can go to. “Dakota Media Access [is a] community media organization and we work in partnership with the League [of Women Voters] to bring voter information to the public,” Mary Van Sickle, Executive Director of Dakota Media

Stephanie Moum is a reporter for the Mystician. She is a sophomore at Bismarck State College pursuing a degree in Political Communications.

The Candidates THE NOVEMBER BALLOT contains elections for several statewide positions: Representative in Congress (House), Secretary of State, Attorney General, Agriculture Commissioner, two positions for Public Service Commissioner (a 2 year and a 6 year term) and Tax Commissioner. There are also several county elections including the County Sheriff and Commissioner At Large for Morton County as well as the Burleigh County Commissioner. All of the Supreme Court candidates, as well as some of the candidates for county positions, are running unopposed.

House of Representatives: Kevin Cramer (Republican) has been the North Dakota representative in congress since 2013 and has served on the North Dakota Public Service Commission for 9 years. His political career started in 1991 when he became the chair for the North Dakota Republican Party. Cramer is fiscally conservative, pro-life and against gay marriage. George Sinner (Democrat) was elected the state senator for district 46 in Fargo in 2012. Previously, he worked as a banker and with small businesses and farmers. He promises that “the people and the work will always come first” and that he will “fight for what is best for the people of the state and the country.” Robert Jack Seaman (Libertarian) is a social liberal and fiscal conservative whose campaign slogan is “Not a democrat. Not a republican. Not for sale.” If elected, Seaman promises to bring accountability and proactivity to Washington.

Attorney General: The primary job of the Attorney General is to represent and advocate the public interest, particularly in court cases. They also serve as a counselor to the legislators. Wayne Stenehjem (Republican) has been the North Dakota Attorney General for 14 years (since 2000), longer than any other in North Dakota. His primary goal for the upcoming years is to increase funding for law enforcement to combat the increase in drug and violent crimes in parts of the state affected by the oil boom. Kiara Kraus-Parr (Democrat), a lawyer from Grand Forks, has little experience in politics but believes that she has a better solution to the increase in crime. She is prepared to be proactive about policy change and department staffing. She

believes that a stronger law enforcement presence is needed throughout the entire state, not just the oil patch regions.

Secretary of State: The main job of the Secretary of State is to ensure fair voting practices. April Fairfield (Democrat) was elected to the state legislature when she was 25, and served on the House of Representatives from 1996 to 2002. She prioritizes voting rights and vows to “raise the bar for efficiency in state government.” Roland Riemers (Libertarian) is the chairman of the North Dakota Libertarian party. He prioritizes voter access to information and wants to edit the Secretary of State website for this purpose. Both Riemers and Fairfield have criticized Jaeger for not taking opportunities to make improvements where he could. Alvin A. Jaeger (Republican) has held the office for 22 years. He has been on several boards and committees. He served in the National Guard from 1966 to 1972. During his terms, North Dakota has ranked number one in election efficiency and voter access.

Agriculture Commissioner: Ryan Taylor (Democrat) is a fourth generation North Dakota family rancher, a businessman, and a former state senator. He is also writes a column called “Cowboy Logic.” He promises to “bring balance and fairness back to Bismarck.” Doug Goehring (Republican) is the

incumbent and has been the North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner since 2009. He is a third generation farmer. He says that he is “proud of our accomplishments, but there is more work that needs to be done” and that he will “stay focused on the core issues facing North Dakota agriculture today: innovation, research, and trade, while utilizing a common-sense approach.”

Public Service Commissioner: Public Service Commissioners regulate public services such as electric and gas utilities, railroads, telecommunications, auctions, and grain buyers, and underground infrastructure.

6 year term: Todd Reisenauer (Democrat) hold a bachelors degree in management from the University of Mary. He believes that more proactive leadership is needed in the PSC to handle the challenges of the oil boom.

Brian P Kalk (Republican) is the incumbent. He admits that the growth North Dakota has seen because of the oil boom has been a challenge to keep up with, but believes that he has done a good job in doing so and will continue to do so. His main accomplishment has been the increase of wind energy.

2 year term: Tyler Axness (Democrat), a state senator, decided to run for Public Service Commissioner after hearing about the Tioga Oil Pipeline spill, derailment, and explosion near Castleton. He also believes that a more proactive approach is needed in the PSC. Axness is a member of the Transportation Committee and the Human Services Committee. Julie Fedorchak (Republican) took over for Kevin Cramer when he left the PSC in 2012. She has a strong communications background. Her priorities are keeping the cost of energy down, preventing gas flaring, and reevaluating pipeline safety programs. She believes she is well intune to the interests of North Dakotans.

Tax Commissioner: Ryan Rauschenberger (Republican) is the incumbent who took over for Cory Fong after his resignation. He took a leave to get treatment for alcohol addiction in September. He has proposed a $1.3 billion plan to cut property tax and increase funding for grade schools. Jason Astrup (Democrat) owns a law firm in Fargo where he specializes in tax law and estate planning. He is fiscally conservative. He proposed a $1.13 billion in tax cuts: $670 million in property tax and $468 million in income. Anthony Mangnall (Libertarian) is a television producer working with the Libertarian party. He views the role of tax commissioner as an administrative position rather than a policy driven one. He believes that the state does not need to be taxing as much as it is when it has such a surplus of funds.

(Information from the campaign websites and The Bismarck Tribune.

The Measures: The League of Women Voters has prepared a voters guide to explain each of the 8 measures. (See next page.)

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THE FEED Explorer comes to campus Paul Schurke, an arctic adventurer, will be speaking about his “River of Doubt” experience in a presentation titled “Retracing Roosevelts’s Epic Expedition: Descending the Amazon’s River of Doubt” on Wednesday, Nov 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the Bavendick Stateroom, fourth floor of the NECE building. Schurke, who is best known for having retraced Robert Peary’s 1909 dogsled expedition to the North Pole and Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 “Endurance” expedition in Antarctica, undertook a very particular adventure in the summer of 2014. In the searing torrid jungles of the Amazon, “River of Doubt” conceived its legendary name, as Schurke retraced Theodore Roosevelt’s courageous 1914 expedition of the Amazon.

Writer presents latest book Lisa Westberg Peters, an author from western North Dakota is presenting a reading from her latest book, “Fractured Land: The Price of Inheriting Oil,” Sunday, Nov. 2 at 3 p.m. in the National Energy Center of Excellence. The reading and booksigning are free to the public. Her appearance is part of the BSC Visiting Writer Series sponsored by the English program.

Cake action The Student Government Association chose to support the organization Pink It Forward through several upcoming events in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A Cake Auction! From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014, SGA is hosting a silent auction for cakes made and decorated by student clubs/organizations on campus. Stop by and bid on a cake package (cake plus an added incentive). The club/ organization that receives the highest bid for their cake will be the winner and receive a prize of appreciation. The silent auction will close at 2 p.m. Winners may be present at the close to claim their cake and pay the donation, or we can schedule a time before the day is over to retrieve and pay for the cake.

Bucks for bras The fourth annual Bucks for Bras Charity event will be on Oct. 22. Proceeds for this event have reached up to $23,650. This money will go to the American Cancer Society and Bismarck Cancer Foundation to benefit cancer patients. Manager for Borrowed Bucks in Bismarck, Brad Erickson, shares that his wife has personally been affected by and has survived breast cancer. “This is a great night to come out, have some fun and show our support for anyone whose life has been affected by cancer,” Erickson said. Bucks for Bras starts at 5:30 p.m. Oct 22. You must buy a ticket to get in. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $20 or in advance for $15. Get your tickets at Borrowed Bucks Roadhouse, the American Cancer Society, or the Bismarck Cancer Center or online at www.bucksforbras.com.

Enter at your own risk Horror on Harmon was started by local Bismarck man, Tom Braun. This is Horror on Harmon’s 14th year. Braun says they get between 800-1000 people each year. There is a free will donation to get into the house and proceeds go to Girl Scouts of Dakota Horizon. Braun starts working on his haunted house on Labor day weekend, and it usually takes to the week of Halloween to finish. He starts planning for the next year in early November. “I have always loved Halloween, scary movies, scary anything,” Braun said. “I like the creativity of Halloween. Just be careful, remember that Halloween is for fun.” Hours for Horror on Harmon are Halloween night only. From 6 p.m. -7 p.m. is childs play. Anyone over 6 is welcome. After 7 p.m., enter at own risk, anyone under 12 is not recommended.

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Bump – Set – Save a Life OCTOBER IS THE MONTH of changing seasons, Halloween – and Breast Cancer Awareness. Athletic teams all over the United States don pink uniforms, shoes and other gear to raise money in support of this great cause, and BSC is no exception. On October 8, the Mystics volleyball team packed the Armory with pink for a battle with the Bottineau Lumberjacks. Winning in a quick three games, the Mystics celebrated on the court; but it was clear that the real victory went to the Women’s Way of North Dakota. All of the proceeds from the game were donated to the Women’s Way, which is an organization that helps to pay for most breast and cervical cancer screenings for as many as 24,000 eligible women in North Dakota. A representative from the Woman’s Way stated that since the year 2010, the Bismarck State College athletics department has donated over $9,000 to the organization just by hosting pink nights. Jeni Walsh has been head coach of the Mystics volleyball program for four years and has been involved with all of the pink nights that BSC hosted.

sales and raffle tickets, it was evident that everyone in the armory wanted to contribute in some way or another. Spectators were invited to participate in a serving contest during halftime. For only $1 fans got the chance to serve the ball and attempt to hit t-shirts and pizza boxes on the other side of the net, and those that were lucky enough to hit a target were allowed to keep the prize. For Coach Walsh, the victory was sweet, but the message that was being sent throughout the gym was even sweeter. “Just to get the chance to celebrate women in general,” Walsh said, “and make sure that we all take care of ourselves and get the screenings that are necessary to prevent any long term illnesses.” Thanks to the pink night, $1,260 was donated to the Woman’s Way of North Dakota. The Mystics won the battle with Bottineau, but the battle with Breast Cancer is far from over. Continuing to raise awareness worldwide and hosting nights such as the one on Oct.8 will be crucial for generations to come. It takes teamwork to win a volleyball game, just like it will take teamwork for Breast Cancer to become a thing of the past.

“I think being athletes just brings people in,” Walsh said, “it’s a way to get that message out there. Any way or any means that we can get a public message out is a good way to do it.”

Photo by Emily Kautzman

BSC’s Keely Hutchens jumps for a spike.

Breast Cancer Awareness was certainly made the main focus the night of Oct. 8. The armory was decorated with pink balloons, pink tablecloths, and even pink fans. Students and spectators who attended were encouraged to wear pink in exchange for free admission to the game. Through t-shirt

Calling All Dancers KYLIE HELM STARTED dancing when she was three years old, and she hasn’t been able to stop since. Helm, a sophomore at Bismarck State College, is creating a BSC dance team to perform as the halftime entertainment at basketball games. Cody Nelson, a BSC basketball player, said the halftime break could get boring for the fans. “I’m very excited. I think [the dance team] will bring more of a crowd,” Nelson said. “I think it’ll be good for the school.”

PHOTO BY EMILY K AUTZMAN

Emily Kautzman is a reporter for the Mystician. She is a sophomore at Bismarck State College pursuing a degree in Athletic Training.

By Katie Winbauer

“I’ve talked to friends in my classes and they think it’s really cool,” she said. To start the process, Helm talked to student government. She had to write a constitution including things like rules and regulations, who can join and gpa requirements. Helm held tryouts on Oct. 17. She looked for teammates with at least three years of high school dance experience. “Since I’m doing it all by myself it would be kind of hard to teach people how to dance,” she said. “I want them to have some sort of background.”

Helm hopes to get gym time to hold practices. But, if space is not available, she has an in-home dance studio that would suffice. Helm hasn’t decided on a fundraiser for uniforms yet, but hopes to raise some money so the dancers don’t have to purchase the uniforms themselves. Even though Helm graduates this year, she says she will come back and coach the team if it continues next year and beyond.

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THERE ARE PLENTY of opportunities to take part in the breast cancer awareness activities around town. Whether it is getting a pink hair extension at a salon, buying a pair of Save the Ta-Tas earrings at a local retail store, or attending a fundraiser, the Bismarck community is gearing up by providing support to fight breast cancer for both women and men. Men aren’t always thought of when it comes to breast cancer, but according to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, one percent of all breast cancer occurs in men. Rates of breast cancer in men are lower than in women, but the survival rate is the same. Men usually don’t go in and get checked, so it gets caught in a later stage. Breast cancer strikes both genders. Fundraisers assist in fighting for a cure and providing support for the patients and their families. Acquiring money for cancer societies and foundations is an innovative idea, but when it comes down to the core of the issue, the fact is breast cancer doesn’t always end well. This season is a reminder of loved ones passed — a time to reflect on fighting for your life or praying desperately to keep a friend or family member around a little longer, to celebrate life rather than mourn death.

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Shannon Hawkins, a Bismarck State College graduate, shared her mother’s story. She was diagnosed with breast cancer when Shannon was 10-years-old.

Jessica Burger, a registration processor at Workforce Safety and Insurance, willingly shared her mother’s story about fighting breast cancer.

“Mom is a biker. She works out, and she is a badass,” Hawkins said.

“The doctors took out 10 lymph nodes and found the cancer in one of them. She went to full blown treatments right after that,” Burger said.

“I couldn’t understand why she couldn’t get out of bed and do the things she loved because she’s such an active person.” Hawkins mentioned how difficult it was for her to focus in school. Even though her mother never showed any negative emotions, it weighed on Shannon and her father. “Feeling helpless is normal, but just be there for your family member,” Hawkins said After two years of regular chemo and radiation treatments Hawkins’ mother was cancer free. She is now 51 and doing better than ever.

It was heartbreaking for Jessica and her family to see her mother endure treatments. When going through chemo from 2001-2004 her mother seemed fine. But in 2004 she got sick, and the doctors discovered a golf-ball-sized tumor on her sternum. After a long fight, Burger’s mother died in 2007. “Always do check-ups regularly, feel yourself up,” Burger said. “Don’t be scared if you find something. Do something about it.” Burger does not have the gene because she is adopted but encourages women to get informed about family health issues.

Shannon will also be getting checked to see if she has the cancer gene.

SHANNON & HER MOTHER

JESSICA & HER MOTHER

PHOTO BY RYAN HA AS

IT’S JUST A WORD

NOT A FINAL SENTENCE

By Nicci Johnson

Rochelle Williams, an Employment Training Coordinator from Bismarck, encourages others to see beyond the pink ribbons and take an unconventional look at breast cancer.

“My goal is to kick cancer’s butt daily and remind it who’s boss,” Williams said. “Every woman has individual needs and perspectives when it comes to breast cancer.”

“Here is where I get into trouble,” Williams said. “ I have a very different attitude about awareness. Breast cancer affects everyone differently. We all have emotional, cultural and life situations. Joining a support group never occurred to me.”

Williams shares some women need counseling and supportive services and she encourages that form of therapy. She also believes that some women’s lives become about the cancer and nothing but the cancer.

Williams goes on to say, “My family, specifically my husband and mother, have been incredibly supportive. Even before the diagnosis was confirmed, my husband made it very clear that it was just a breast. He hasn’t married a breast, he’d married a woman whose heart and mind connected with his.”

“For me, cancer is a nuisance – a very expensive and time consuming nuisance. It does not define me, it is not all I talk about,” Williams said. “Cancer has altered my body, but not my essence. I don’t find purpose in wearing pink ribbons or pink. I’ve lost many loved ones over the years to cancer; marching, running, biking does nothing for them.”

Williams does not want to discourage anyone from engaging in activities that support breast cancer awareness. She asks these questions, “ Who doesn’t know about breast cancer? Who doesn’t know what a pink ribbon is? Who hasn’t heard about a walk, run, skip or dance for the cure? We know that cancer has a definite genetic link. I want to see the cure.”

As a cancer butt-kicker, Williams urges us to ask ourselves the difficult questions such as: How much more aware do we have to be? Where does the money go? How much closer are we to finding a cure? And lastly, What is the measurable result from this activity?

“Cancer has altered my body, but not my essence,” Williams said. Williams believes that some fundraising relies on a “victim’s mentality” or a “feel good moment”. She does not want to be called a survivor. She sees herself as someone who got cancer and is now living with the results.

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Self Breast Exam Step 1: Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips. Here’s what you should look for: Breasts that are their usual size, shape, and color Breasts that are evenly shaped without visible distortion or swelling If you see any of the following changes, bring them to your doctor’s attention: Dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin A nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward instead of sticking out) Redness, soreness, rash, or swelling Step 2: Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes.

Step 3: While you’re at the mirror, look for any signs of fluid coming out of one or both nipples (this could be a watery, milky, or yellow fluid or blood). Step 4: Next, feel your breasts while lying down, using your right hand to feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast. Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few finger pads of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together. Use a circular motion, about the size of a quarter. Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side — from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage. Follow a pattern to be sure that you cover the whole breast. You can begin at the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until you reach the outer

The Community Gets Involved Brianna Brown, a stylist at Salon on Third, tapes a pink hair extension in her hair for breast cancer awareness. “The Paul Mitchell company came up with a foundation called Pink Out Loud,” Brown said. “All of the proceeds go to the Pink Out Loud Foundation. Our goal is to raise $500.”

The extension is $10 and five of it goes to the Pink Out Loud Foundation. For more information, visit www.paulmitchell.com or visit Salon on Third to join the movement.

The Kirkwood Mall is also bouncing with breast cancer awareness. Jolene Roth, the assistant manager of Icing, was happy to share how they raise their voices for the cause. “For the entire month of October, we do sell breast cancer awareness items. We also have our ear piercing studs and we are collecting donations for breast cancer awareness as well. All proceeds go to the Save The Ta-Tas Foundation,” Roth said. For more information on Save The Ta-Tas Foundations, visit www.savethetatas.info or visit retail store Icing in the Kirkwood Mall on South Washington Street in Bismarck.

Girl’s Night Out is based around local women musicians, a men’s bachelor auction and prizes that are auctioned off. The prizes include and are not limited to car washes, gift baskets, gift cards, spas, and carpet cleaning. Proceeds from the auction ticket sales go to the Bismarck Cancer Center Foundation. The money is used to help patients with things insurance might not cover such as gas, lodging, nutrition, and spiritual needs. Usually about 200-300 people attend throughout the night. To sponsor the event or for further information, check out their Facebook page called This One’s For the Girls/Family Jewels.

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wedge of the breast. You can also move your fingers up and down vertically, in rows, as if you were mowing a lawn. This up-and-down approach seems to work best for most women. Be sure to feel all the tissue from the front to the back of your breasts: for the skin and tissue just beneath, use light pressure; use medium pressure for tissue in the middle of your breasts; use firm pressure for the deep tissue in the back. When you’ve reached the deep tissue, you should be able to feel down to your ribcage. Step 5: Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower. Cover your entire breast, using the same hand movements described in step 4.

Prescriptions for Life with Dr. T and Nicci J. Our Question of the month: “What is your biggest regret?” We received several submissions. One anonymous student said: “I don’t have a lot of big regrets but wish I could make the embarrassing moments of my life disappear.” Another anonymous student said: “My biggest regret is that I declined to spend time with my dad and instead chose to attend an event with my now ex-girlfriend. Looking back, I put a lot of things above my dad.” The writer goes on to offer this advice, “Spend time with your parents if you are fortunate enough to have them”. Here is what Dr T and I have to say about dealing with regret: Dr. T: First thing a person should do when feeling regret, is to own it. Often we regret past behaviors or I should say misbehaviors. It is important that we realize that we were responsible and take ownership.

Second, consider the circumstances at the time. Recognize what you learned and how you have changed since the regretful action. Third, recognize this is the past, but don’t forget it or you will be destined to repeat it. Try to develop a plan to move forward and remember that you are not solely defined by this one action. It can help to try to focus on the positive aspects of your life and the good things you have done. Lastly, if you have a plan of action, try to forgive yourself, and move on. Regret is an emotion that can paralyze you from taking action and moving forward in your life. Nicci J’s experience is a good example of having the strength to overcome the paralyzing effect of regret. Nicci J: In my experience, I can’t shut the door on my past because some of the darkest moments have been the brightest breakthroughs. The circumstances in my

past have allowed me to help others who are going through the same things I went through. The things that I would have called regrets have helped me shape who I am today. I have taken responsibility, acknowledged my part, and have taken action to make sure they do not continue. So by taking action, I am more aware of my behavior and its effects on others. This allows me to handle situations with dignity and grace, instead of behaving in a way I would regret later. Thanks for the submissions and keep them coming. Leave your questions and comments in the boxes outside of the Mystician office, third floor of Schafer Hall room 315. We look forward to hearing from you. Also, for more of Dr T and NicciJ, make sure to tune in to Prescriptions For Life every Wednesday at 3 p.m. on The MYX, www.bscmyx.com .

Tune in to The MYX Tuesday 11 a.m. Jordan Bitz 3 p.m. Dan Pretzer Wednesday 1 p.m. Erik Matheis 3 p.m. Dr. T. and Nicci J. Thursday 3 p.m. Dani Molinaro Friday 11:30 a.m. Alex Stavig 2 p.m. Mercer Sage

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Students and coffee EVERYONE STARTS OFF his or her day with a different routine. Some start with a shower, others do a workout, while others still have breakfast first. However, there seems to be a pattern with the routine of many students: it includes a cup of joe. Alyssa Buetow and Levi Barker are both students at Bismarck State College who drink coffee about once a week. Buetow is doing her generals at BSC and Barker takes courses in the computer science program. Both Buetow and Barker drink coffee regularly. “I was probably about 16 when I first started to like coffee,” Buetow said. “I kinda had to force myself to start drinking it [coffee] because I thought it was cool. Once I started drinking it I realized how much it woke me up.” Coffee shops are numerous in and around the Bismarck area. Each shop has its own unique quality. Buetow prefers to order her coffee at Dunn Bros., a local coffee shop that started business in Bismarck a little over a year ago.

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“I usually like to get food with my coffee, and Dunn’s Bros. usually has a variety of snacks to go with your drink,” Buetow said. “Their coffee is also very strong, which I like because it wakes me up.” Another local business that serves coffee is Barnes and Noble. Even though the emphasis of the business is not to sell coffee, it is an added bonus. “I prefer Barnes and Noble because it is a lot like Starbucks, but has a different atmosphere,” Barker said. “ I also like that you can enjoy a book with your cup of coffee.” With the consumption of coffee, there are numerous factors to consider. The place where it is purchased is just one while another important factor is the type of coffee chosen. There are also many coffee based drinks; Cappuccinos, Frappuccinos, Macchiatos, Lattes and Frappes. Coffee has multiple functions in the life of a student. It serves as a wake-up aid for students

that spent their night studying into the early hours of the morning. It also acts as a stimulant to keep the brain going for those late night studies previously mentioned. “It helps me to be awake and focus on things, but it also makes me really jittery and sometimes that can make me lose focus,” Buetow said. Coffee plays a key role in the lives of many students. It is one of the few things that everyone has experienced at least once in their lifetime. Coffee has been and will continue to be a staple in the morning routine of most American households.

Blake Nemecek is the copy editor and writer for the Mystician. He is a sophomore at Bismarck State College pursuing a degree in Mass Communications.

Catchin TheBSCBuzz

*Please note: this is not intended for derogatory photos promoting drug or alcohol usage.

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Cast and commentary What is the play about? “It’s basically a story about a young girl who’s not only discovering herself, but getting put in a new position in her life where she has to try and live her life the way she wants to, but she is in a very secluded place where she can’t really be herself as much as she would like.” –Kaitlyn Olson

How does it relate to college students? “To relate it to college students, I think we all want to do different things. With Anne Frank, you’re in such an area where you can’t do certain things like you can’t be allowed at certain times, you can’t walk around with shoes on at certain times, you can’t run the water, and that might be an extreme, but with college students sometimes they have to choose to stay home and study rather than go out and party.” –Heather Pearson “It’s just insane to see what people actually went through. Especially as you’ll see throughout the play, Anne’s character is just always so happy and enlightened. It’s really powerful to see that someone can stay that way through such a difficult time.” –Kaitlyn Olson “This is the first time I’ve gotten to really get ahold of what the story was talking about because I didn’t get a chance to read it at any point in my life. Hearing this for the first time, I was just moved by oh my gosh they’ve been through so much and yet throughout the play you see how they’re dealing with all of this and how they still remain strong. It’s just inspirational.” –Paige Kihle

How has being involved in this play affected you in your actual life? “What we usually do in Dan’s acting class is you have to take something that happened in your life and change it into how it would have affected them. Basically you’re making your life, what’s happened to you, like what happened to them, so then everything that happens, you’ve gone through it, you know how hard it is, how much pain they’ve gone through. You’re crying when you’re in an emotional scene. I think Matty has cried like five times.” -Taylor Olson “There’s a scene where I think my best friend got taken from her home and taken to a death camp, and sometimes you take family members or you take someone personal and you put that in a real life situation. Thinking about that, if you really, truly believe that happened, it really hits you. Things happen that you don’t realize happened and it takes you places and you find this character within you and it’s just really strange sometimes.” -Matty Singer

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“There are a ton of raw situations, however there are a lot of light situations. This play is not very sad, I mean if you really think that we’re all trapped in this place its a horrible time, but they took what they had and they made it great. This play isn’t just about Anne, its about everyone, it’s about everyone’s situation.” -Matty Singer

What is your most memorable moment? “There’s a moment when Matty and I are wrestling and she hates being tickled, but I’m supposed to tickle her. When I do that I’m literally afraid I’m going to get smacked in the face.” -Robert Day

The Diary of Anne Frank by Frances Goodrich & Albert Hackett

“One of my favorite moments is when Mrs. Van Daan tries to seduce my husband. It’s one of my favorite things to watch and listen to, it’s just funny.” -Asa Fox “With the overall experience, it’s amazing to be a part of this and understand that this really happened. This isn’t just a story of families in an attic, this was real. There’s a scene where Mrs. Frank is on the floor holding her daughters, just praying because that’s all they really had, that’s all they could do, and that’s my absolute favorite moment. It’s crazy to see it come to life on this stage. It’s been an incredible experience.” -Kaitlyn Olson

How do you get into character? “You come and see what character you almost develop into. If you look at all of the people here and see them in character, it’s insane. They don’t seem like the same person in real life. You just become that character.” -Kaitlyn Olson

What lasting impression do you want to leave the audience with? “World War II in general is probably one of the greatest turning points in human history. 11 million people died during that time period. It set forward a lot of things that we have now today that are still used, like United Nations, and stuff like that. Everyone in here has some kind of relation to WWII like a grandparent fought there, or you knew someone, or you have ancestors from those affected countries. We just have to always remember why it happened so that it never happens again. That’s why we do this play.” -Nick Van Sickle Prodution dates are October 22-26. $10 general admission, $3 with student ID

INTERVIEW BY NICCI JOHNSON

Director’s notes Actor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Character Robert Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peter Van Daan Asa Fox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. Frank Taylor Olson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. Frank Adam Michal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. Dussel

When seeking a playwright to capture the spirit, vitality, and ultimate tragedy of the Diary of Anne Frank, the producer, Kermit Bloomgarden turned in a strange direction. He picked the Hollywood movie script writing team of Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett; authors of It’s a Wonderful Life and dozens of comedic films. Bloomgarden and director Garson Kanin knew that they could not ask an audience to wit through two hours of experiences from the holocaust. For the play to work, they would have to capture the spirit of Anna.

They would need to focus on her life, her optimism, her joy. Bloomgarden told his writing team, “I don’t want breast-beating and ring tears out of people.”…and he said, “Well, this is what I want. I want what Anna saw, what Anna did, and what she saw in these people. This is Anna, all Anna…

Matty Singer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anne Frank Brandon Talley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. Kraler Heather Pearson . . . . . . . . . . . . . Margot Frank Kaitlyn Olson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Miep Gies Nick Van Sickle . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mr. Van Daan Paige Kihle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mrs. Van Daan

The only way this play will go will be if it’s funny.” And the play is funny. It is also inspiring in it and Anna’s ability to see the tiny beams of hope in the great human darkness. Fundamentally, this play is a portrait of adolescence. In the foreground is the figure of an enchanting girl. Her vitality leaps off the stage and into our hearts. In the background is the adult world of the families in hiding and the angels who help them. Hovering over them are the roiling clouds of one of the most violent and horrific periods of human history. “Anne Frank’s voice becomes the voice of six million vanished souls, wrote Myer Levin of The New York Times, “surely she will be widely loved, for this wise and wonderful young girl brings back a poignant delight in the infinite human spirit." Come join us for a celebration of the human spirit in one of the most poignant and important plays of the 20th century.

PHOTO BY RYAN HA AS

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PAPA’S PUMPKIN PATCH “This is my home. The pumpkin patch is on its 32nd season, so we’ve been doing this foolishness for 32 years. It started as a happy accident,” said Pearce. This “happy accident” all started when Pearce was raising locally grown tomatoes and cucumbers. A friend had asked him if he would grow pumpkins to give away at Oktoberfest. Pearce generously obliged. He came up with the desired amount of a semi-truck full, but then was given news that Oktoberfest was no longer happening. Pearce began the search of finding a home for the pumpkins. “What do you do when you have five acres of pumpkins?” Pearce said. “I called my first grade teacher friends and I said, ‘Bring your kids out here; I have pumpkins for them. I have to get rid of these things because I have to raise tomatoes.’” Though the first season was spontaneous, no one could have guessed what was going to happen the second season. The following year teachers called and asked if Pearce would be selling pumpkins again. He explained that he was but only had five rows instead of the previous five acres. “Mom was keeping the notes, and pretty soon she says, ‘How many pumpkins do you have?’ I said I didn’t know, so I came over to the garden and kicked the leaves around,” Pearce said. “I looked and came up with about 100 in a row and I had five rows, so I

A Happy Accident Driving down Fernwood Road as the enormous trees curve over splashing around their red, brown, and orange leaves has become a tradition for many in October. What comes at the end of this road is enough to send children screaming from joy, young adults rediscovering their childhood,

went back over and said I had about 500 pumpkins. She said, ‘Well, you have about 860 children coming.’” The word spread like wildfire adding more people each season. This “happy accident” welcomes more than 50,000 people and provides about 40,000 pumpkins each season. Over a quarter of a million pounds of pumpkins will be offloaded one by one, hand by hand. “The numbers are staggering.” Pearce said. “We talk the number of cookies that we go through, or the feet of toilet paper we go through, the pounds of garbage I haul out of here, from every angle, it is remarkable.” One would imagine that at the end of a season when Papa’s Pumpkin Patch is closing down, there would be tons of pumpkins left over, but that is not the case with this awe-inspiring patch. Last year, there were 19 pumpkins left. “There’s an old line in a poem, ‘Farming is a means of life and living, not just a way of getting cash on hand.’ This is a way of life and living. Our mission statement has been, ‘It’s all about families, education, and fun.’ I love the education side of teaching, of learning.” Pearce said. “I love the joy of families when I see them chattering together and smiling, watching the children play, and they’re having fun. Those are three good elements that I love — families, education and fun. When I’m asked what I really love about this place, what turns my crank, that’s what it is.”

Kaitlyn Olson is the editor of “The Scoop.” She is a sophomore at Bismarck State College pursuing a degree in elementary education. 20

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and grandparents grinning while memories are made. Papa’s Pumpkin Patch is the giver of these feelings, but describing them does not do this pumpkin paradise enough justice. David Pearce, founder of the patch, tells about the event that happens in his backyard.

Trending Topics HAVING A TRENDING Topics column is not as easy as it may seem. Much time was spent trying to figure out what the most popular topic of this month is. Eventually I realized that the answer was right in front of me. Literally, there was a bag of pumpkin spice flavored M&M’s right in front of me during my brainstorming session. What is with all these pumpkin spice flavored anomalies? Companies must try to think of the strangest thing they can and add Pumpkin Spice to it for the fall season. Let's start this pumpkinflavored journey at the beginning — Pumpkin Spice Lattes. This was a great idea to put the taste of fall in a cup. This novel idea has swept across the United States since its creation in 2003. For the

past 11 years Americans have been warming their bodies with the sweet taste of pumpkin. The popularity of the beverage has steadily, or not so steadily, increased over the years. Companies realized the response to pumpkin spice-flavored items was positive and decided to jump on the opportunity to make money. Suddenly our grocery stores are populated with pumpkin spice flavored M&M’s, Oreos, yogurt, cookies and muffins. Too much of a good thing is a problem. There is definitely a problem when a person cannot log onto social media without seeing a status about a new pumpkin spice-flavored item. We, as a culture have a view that if a little is good, a lot is better. We also tend to overindulge in many instances.

Which, in the end, does not yield the best results. We can solve this problem together, by cutting back on our pumpkin intake. Starting there will slowly bring us out of our pumpkin-flavored gluttony. Not to mention, we won’t have to hear about pumpkin spice every day for the next couple of months. There have been over 29,000 tweets that have featured the hash tag: #pumpkinspice since August of 2012.

Blake Nemecek is the copy editor and writer for the Mystician. He is a sophomore at Bismarck State College pursuing a degree in Mass Communications.

STAFF EDITORIAL A QUESTION MANY people are asking is what does ISIS represent? ISIS, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, is an extremist group that grew out of the terrorist organization Al Qaeda. During the war in Iraq ISIS was weakened, but regained power during the Syrian Civil War, which began in 2011. By 2013, this group moved back into Iraq and named themselves ISIS as a way to show their regional goals. ISIS has gained their power through unimaginably brutal military strength. These goals of power are strongly motivated by their interpretation of the muslim religion. This extreme interpretation has caused them to target any group or individual who does not share the same belief system. ISIS has been seeking out, holding hostage, and murdering thousands of people who do not share their Islamic belief. The United Nations has reported that over 24,000 people have been killed or injured by this terrorist group, a large part of that number being Christians. Included in this number are American journalists James Foley and Steven

Sotloff. Both victims were beheaded on video. There have been several different reports of how many American hostages ISIS is currently holding. The U.S. State Department said the militants still have “a small number of Americans” but will not say how many for “safety reasons.” The United States began targeting ISIS forces in Syria with air strikes on Sept. 22. and has been leading a coalition of Arab nations in the fight against ISIS. Among these nations are the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain and Qatar. According to CNN, military officer stated that the purpose of the air strikes were to inhibit ISIS’s ability to command, train and resupply. The United States is essentially trying to flush ISIS out of Iraq and Syria so that they have nowhere to hide. Some criticize Obama for not taking more action, while others feel that the United States should not get involved. This has resulted in some indecisiveness in Washington. The political and economic power that ISIS has obtained makes it unique. It’s network continues to grow,

making them a formidable threat. We Americans tend to think of ourselves as untouchable because of our power and military. While it is true the United States is a very powerful nation, it is also true we do not hold the international superiority we once did. If we like having freedom, then attention needs to be paid. Action needs to be taken. ISIS is becoming more pertinent to the lives of Americans because they are a very real threat. We need people in the government who are going to handle this pressing issue efficiently and competently. If congress is incapable or unwilling to do what it takes to ensure our success as a country, then U.S. citizens need to take action by getting involved. Start by voting and placing people in leadership positions whom can be trusted and are reliable. The American people need to wake up and realize we are not invincible. Being vigilant and taking the steps necessary to protect ourselves, we can make a difference by becoming more aware of what is going on in the world.

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Banning Abortion MANY ARE EMOTIONALLY invested in the issue of abortion. Sentimental pathos reasoning dominates debates instead of detached logos reasoning. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. There’s a lot of wisdom to be found in these emotional and philosophical arguments. I could easily turn this column into a fervent rant about the rights of women to their bodies or the rights of the unborn to their lives. But I’d rather not reiterate arguments you’ve heard before. I will take a less traveled road. I’d like to invite you to take a step back with me and look at this issue from a more calm, level-headed perspective and give the logos side of the debate a bit more attention. Abortion is incredibly common. According to Planned Parenthood, three out of ten American women will have an abortion by the time they are 45 years old. Many will have more than one. This is three percent lower than the international average of one out of three. Operation Rescue, a pro-life organization, states that half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned and 40 percent of those pregnancies end in abortion. 1.21 million abortions happen every year. Now let’s talk about what these numbers mean. Banning abortion would cause several things to happen: The foster care system would be overwhelmed; the economy would be drained by the amount of money required to support the

children in foster care; and women would seek illegal, unsafe abortions.I did a little digging to find out how many more children would be placed in foster care if abortion were banned. The US Department of Health and Human Services states that in 2012 there were slightly fewer than four hundred thousand children in the foster care system. This means that the number of children in foster care would quadruple if all the women who had abortions gave birth and put the babies up for adoption instead. I also wanted to find out how much this would cost the government. According to afamilyforeverychild.org, it costs approximately $26,000 to provide for one child in foster care for one year. If abortions were banned, it would cost an additional $31.5 billion a year to provide for these children. This number would rise increasingly as more children flooded the foster care system over the years, as it would become impossible to find homes for all of them. We also have to consider the costs that these children may incur as adults if they aren’t given the care they need. Institutionalized children don’t always get individual attention. Often they grow up to be unstable adults who wind up on welfare or turn to crime. This would not only be a substantial fiscal burden on the government, but adding more children to the foster care system would decrease the quality of life for all children in foster care.

We could make the argument that people might be more careful about sex if abortion were illegal, but I have my doubts. Often the reason why people don’t use birth control effectively is because they can’t afford it, can’t get access to it, or aren’t educated about it because they were taught abstinence-only sex education. According to Planned Parenthood, even people who use condoms correctly every time have a 2 percent chance of getting pregnant each year. No one can reasonably expect that people will simply stop having sex if they don’t want kids; it’s simply not human nature. Abortion is a necessary service in our society that needs to remain safe and legal. Banning it is economically irresponsible and is not a logical decision. We want to minimize the impact of unplanned pregnancies, not just on the children who get lost in foster care, but on all of us who will pay the bill.

Stephanie Moum is a reporter for the Mystician. She is a sophomore at Bismarck State College pursuing a degree in Political Communications.

Trouble Rising in Russia BEING A HISTORY MAJOR and fanatic, I was surprised to find out how few people are aware of what’s occurring in the world right now and how it can affect us. I will have to go all the way back to the beginning to do that. With much going on overseas, my attention is on the United States and Russia. The Ukraine’s power market has been in a state of emergency because the coal supply has been depleted at the power plants.The Ukraine has had to limit power supplies. The southern peninsula of Crimea also had their power reduced because they were not meeting their quotas for coal. If quotas are not met, blackouts could occur all over the mainland. The Ukraine actually threatened to cut all power to the region of Crimea. Since all this has happened,people on both sides of Crimea and the Ukraine are not happy. Russia decided to take back Crimea, which had once been a part of the Soviet Union.

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In February of this year, Russia seized key buildings in Crimea. In March, Vladimir Putin, president of Russia, requested to protect the interest of Russia by using force in the Ukraine. Russia’s parliament approved. By the middle of March, a bill was signed by Putin to engulf Crimea into the Russian Federation. This put the Ukraine in the position of fighting off proRussian rebels. The United States got involved when they tried to solve the problem. President Barack Obama told Russia to lower tensions and back out of the Ukraine, but Russia rejected all efforts for a solution. Back in March, United States Secretary of State John Kerry had scheduled a meeting with Putin to discuss options for the power crisis in the Ukraine. Kerry postponed the meeting because he needed to be certain that Russia was willing to leave the Ukraine. My concern is that Russia is trying to get back to communism to enrich their economy. This would eventually start a war.

Bismarck State College History Professor Michael McCormack has similar concerns. “I believe Russia is trying to get back to the power they once had when they were the Soviet Union,” McCormack said, “and to get back to a dictatorship.” The overseas conflict in Russia is an important issue that we need to keep our eyes on. If a war over this crisis and all the other things happening there were to occur, it would affect each of us in many ways, including a draft where men and women are conscripted. If Russia continues toward communism, it could turn into a war of powers — a war of technology — a war of total destruction.

Alexandria Bibb is a reporter for the Mystician and a sophomore at Bismarck State College. She is pursuing a degree in History.

What the Bible says IN 1829, A Pennsylvania man by the name of George Wilson was convicted of mail robbery and murder. He was sentenced to be hanged. However, he was given a pardon by President Andrew Jackson. The strange thing is, Wilson refused to accept the pardon given to him. It was later ruled by the Supreme Court that a pardon is only valid if the guilty party agrees to accept it. A few weeks later, Wilson was hanged and pronounced dead. Not because he had to die, but because he refused the pardon. This is a tragic story of a man who deserved to die but was graciously given a pardon only to deny it and accept his death. Many of you are probably reading this confused as to why on earth he would deny a pardon and also how this is relevant to this column. Well, we are all in a similar situation as George Wilson was. We have all sinned and all fallen short of the glory of God. For this reason, we are all subjects of wrath. However, because Jesus Christ came to the earth as the Son of God to die on the cross for our sins, we have been given a pardon. We can be saved from eternal hell and God’s wrath, but only if we accept his free gift of grace, God’s pardon to the world. To some, this is the greatest news. However, others are skeptical. But I am giving you this information based on what the Bible says.

Soul Searching College years are said to be the most fun years of your life. They are some of the most important years as well. Many people grow up listening to and believing what their parents tell them. College is a time when many people are on their own for the first time and have the freedom to believe what they want and do as they please. I once was that freshman college kid that was finally on my own and searching for who I was and what I believed in. During this time, I struggled with different things and made many bad decisions. Decisions that left me feeling broken and empty. However, I was finally filled when I found what I believed in. I found my beliefs in the form of Christianity. I was raised believing in Christianity but I never really understood it. My hope for this column is that nobody will be offended but that I’ll be able to lay out some biblical truth that will help some people understand what Christianity is truly about and why Christians believe what they believe.

According to the facts The Christian faith is based on what the Bible says. To prove the validity of the Bible, let’s answer three questions using a simple formal called MAPS: Manuscripts, Archeology, Prophesy and Story The first question relates to manuscripts. Is what we have written down in the Bible today accurate to what was written down 2,000 years ago? Let’s start with comparing manuscripts written by Caesar, Plato and Aristotle by analyzing how close in proximity the original copy is to the first copies made. Caesar’s copies were about 1,000 years from its original copy. Plato’s were about 1,200 years from its original copy. Aristotle’s were about 1,400 years from its original copy. However, copies of the New Testament were only 50-70 years from its original copy. Those are just three other manuscripts, there several others written by people such as Sophocles and Euripides that have an even wider gap from original to first copy. This shows us that what we have written down in the Bible today is far more accurate than any other manuscript. The second question refers to archeology. Is what we have written down in the Bible today true? There have been over 30,000 archeological findings and not a single one has disproved the Bible. One example would be the Dead Sea Scrolls. Discovered in a cave near the Dead Sea in the late 1940s, the Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of writings containing nearly all of the Old Testament.

The final question relates to prophecy. Is the Bible divine in nature? There are over 300 prophecies in the Bible that pertain to Jesus Christ. Peter W. Stoner, in his book “Science Speaks”, states that the probability of a single person fulfilling even just eight of those prophecies without a single one not coming true is 1 in 1017. That is 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000. Stoner uses the example that this is equivalent to stacking the whole state of Texas two feet high in silver dollars, having a red “X” marked on a single one, blindfolding a person, and asking them to find the marked coin on their first try. This proves that the Bible truly is divine in nature. The Bible is more than just a book of knowledge and truth, its a way of understanding who God is. John 1:1 states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Many people who have committed their lives to Christ and study the Bible know that it is not just a set of rules that they have to follow, but a book that can change lives. They have stories that can prove it. Some people say it takes too much faith to believe in the Bible. Personally, I think it takes more faith to believe that the Bible is not true, then to believe it is true. Tanner Purintun is a reporter for the Mystician and a sophomore at Bismarck State College. He is pursuing a degree in Mass Communications.

Another example would be the House of David Inscription, an unprecedented reference to the “House of David”. This finding proved that King David from the Bible was a genuine, historical figure and not simply a literary creation. Discovered in 1979, the Amulet Scroll is another example that helps prove the Bible. This rolled-up amulet contains a prayer-like inscription using the word Yahweh, the Hebrew word for God. This inscription containing the divine name provides the oldest extrabiblical evidence for the name of God thus far archaeologically recovered in Jerusalem. The scripture passage on the amulet is from the Aaronic, or priestly, blessing found in Numbers 6:24-25. These are just three of over 30,000 findings that give us evidence that the Bible is true.

ISSUE NO. 2

THE MYSTICIAN

OCTOBER 2014

10/26/2014 CONVERSTATION AT BSC 3 p.m. NECE Building 4th floor 10/29/2014 HALLOWEEN COOKOUT 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. BSC Mystic Marketplace 10/30/2014 “BEETLEJUICE” Flash Back Film series 7 p.m. Dakota Stage Ltd 10/31/2014 SCARY HALLOWEEN CUPCAKES/ FUNKY-FLAVORED ICE CREAM 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. BSC Marketplace HAUNTED HALLOWEEN COSTUME BALL 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sixteen03 Main

NOVEMBER 2014

11/2/2014 VISITING WRITER LISA PERTERS 3 p.m. NECE Building, Basin Electric Auditorium Room 304 GRAND OPENING - MUSEUM EXPANSION 125th ANNIVERSARY OF STATEHOOD 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. ND Heritage Center SINGING IN STYLE 5 p.m. Ramkota Hotel 11/3/2014-10/21/2014 CURRENT BSC STUDENT REGISTARTION for Spring Semester 11/4/2014

11/6/2014 -11/7/2014 THE PAPER BIRDS PRESENTS: “Why Are We So Thirsty?” 7:30 p.m. Sidney J. Lee Auditorium. PUBLIC WORKSHOPS 1 to 3 p.m. NECE stateroom. 11/7/2014 GENTLEMAN CALLERS, STONECLOUD SUNDAY, FINEST LINE DIVIDES Rhythm Records W & M BASKETBALL Noon and 2 p.m. BSC Armory 11/11/2014 VETERAN’S DAY- BSC CLOSED

Don’t forget to vote

11/13/2014 WIND ENSEMBLE CONCERT 7:30 p.m. Sidney J. Lee Auditorium

HAUNTED FORT Fort Abraham Lincoln 7 p.m.. to 11 p.m.

FALL CHORAL CONCERT 7:30 p.m. Sidney J. Lee Auditorium

11/15/2014 CHOIRFEST 3 p.m. Sidney J. Lee Auditorium

10/31/2014 - 11/1/2014 HALLOWEEN HAUNTED THEATRE 5 p.m. Sidney J. Lee Auditorium

11/6/2014 BAROQUE CONCERT 12 p.m. Leach Center Room 177

11/17/2014 SPRING MUSICAL AUDITIONS

ELECTION DAY