THE MYSTICIAN May 2015 Bismarck State College
Graduation
P14
The Battle Continues P6
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Editor Plans P20
SGA Results P23
2015 May Volume 76.8 THE MYSTICIAN
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BSC NEWS MAGAZINE VOLUME: 76 ISSUE: 8 EDITORS Nicci Johnson
Mystician Senior Editor
Katie Winbauer
Mystician Junior Editor
Kaitlyn Olson
Mystician Scoop Editor
Blake Nemecek
Mystician Copy Editor
Danielle Molinaro
MystiCast Creative Director
Jordan Bitz
MYX Program Director
Letter From The Editor The season of transition and change are upon us. As the semester comes to a close, I am sad that this will be my last issue as senior editor of the magazine. It has been such a fruitful experience and I will definitely treasure it. However, more exciting things are on the horizon. As one door closes, another opens. I will be taking on the Director of Communications position at Big Blue Couch Coaching, focusing on finishing the year out at BSC and graduating next May. Katie Winbauer will be taking on the role as senior editor this fall. I am privileged to pass the crown on to her as she steps into the next chapter in her life. I know she will be a great leader and create amazing content for the Mystician readers in the year to come. It has been my pleasure to work with such a wonderful staff. Although challenging at times, I am grateful for every experience along the way and found that adventure is on the other side of my comfort zone. Enjoy your summer, congratulations to our 2015 graduates, and may you all find happiness and blessings in all your endeavours.
XOXO,
Erik Mattheis
MystiCast Technical Director
STAFF John Bettger Andrew Dill Tiffany Grannis Megan Haag Samantha Jensen Michael Kashey Emily Kautzman Aeryn Mehlhoff Stephanie Moum Tanner Purintun
The Mystician Staff
Mylee Schorsch Devin Stelter
COMMENTS Email: editor@mystician.org
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.
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.
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Table of Contents TH E S CO O P 4 Freedom For Students 6 The Battle Continues
Kaite Winbauer Nicci Johnson & Aeryn Mehlhoff
8 10 11 11
Aeryn Mehlhoff Emily Kautzman Tanner Purintun Andrew Dill
T HE DRIV E
Race To Zero Baseball Softball Summer Plans
T HE VERV E 12 13 14 16 17 18
Fish Tank Gone Wrong Life Changing Trip Graduation Homelessness Documentary of North Dakota Faculty Farewell 19 Prescriptions For Life
T HE BUZZ 20 22 23 24
Stephanie Moum Katie Winbauer Megan Haag Kaitlyn Olsen Nicci Johnson Emily Kautzman & Kaitlyn Olsen Nicci Johnson
Editor Plans Passing the Crown Student Government Results #CatchinTheBSCBuzz
Katie Winbauer
TH E POV (Po i nt of V i ew)
25 Staff Editorial 26 Life After 30 LGBT Rights 27 Love Story Audio Effects
Nicci Johnson Devin Stelter Mylee Schorsch Erik Mattheis
PHOTO BY KATIE WINBAUER
The front cover photo is Bismarck State College Student, Mariah Slagel. Even though she graduates next May, it’s never too early to try on the cap and gown. Join us in celebrating this years graduates on May 15, at the Bismarck Event Center at 2:30 p.m. Online: Go to www.issuu.com to check out the digital copy of The Mystician.
PHOTO BY SUBMITTED
2015 May Volume 76.8 THE MYSTICIAN
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Freedom For Student Journalists By Katie Winbauer
PHOTOS SUBMITTED
ON APRIL 6, 2015, North Dakota House Bill 1471’s status was set to “passed.” The bill is also known as the “John Wall New Voices Act,” named after the late Representative John Wall, who was a journalism and English teacher. The John Wall New Voices Act protects the First Amendment rights of student journalists at public colleges and high schools in the state of ND by restoring the “Tinker standard,” which was set after the United States Supreme Court ruling in Tinker v. Des Moines. Although the bill started as a class project at the University of Jamestown, it grew to gain national support. North Dakota is the eighth state to have such legislation. “The passing of this bill means North Dakota can become a state for other states to mirror in the educational system for student’s rights,” Baelee Butts, General Manager of Viking Student Media Organization at Valley City State University said. One of the testifiers for the bill was Frank LoMonte, Executive Director of the Student Press Law Center. Last month, after the bill was passed, LoMonte tweeted, “One of the nation’s best laws protecting student press rights is a signature away from reality in North Dakota.” The signature he referred to was that of Governor Jack Dalrymple. The governor signed the bill into reality on April 9.
“I want future journalists to have more freedoms to express themselves and to report the truth.”
- VCSU Student Baelee Butts
Other testifiers were Mary Beth Tinker, a student rights activist from court case Tinker v. Des Moines, Cathy Kuhlmeier, from court case Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier, student journalism advisers and student journalists, including Butts. “I want future journalists to have more freedoms to express themselves and to report the truth,” she said. “I don’t want them to be turned away from journalism because of censorship issues.” Butts experienced censorship while attending school in South Dakota. The newspaper she wrote for published a story about a cheerleader who was injured at practice. Butts said she felt like “second class” because of having fear of backlash from the school’s administration over the story. Because of the passage of the bill, Butts thinks the stigma behind journalism will be more positive. She said reporting the truth is more “appealing” than the idea of getting in trouble for what is reported.
PHOTO BY GEORJEAN NAKAGAWA
Bill supporters, including Frank LoMonte, Steve Listopad, Steve Andrist, Cathy Kuhlmeier, Sue Skalicky and her students, pose after senate testimony.
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Governor Jack Dalrymple with BSC Mystician Adviser karen Bauer and Katie Winbauer, junior editor of The Mystician. Winbauer is a sophomore at Bismarck State College pursuing degrees in Criminal Justice and Mass Communications.
Frank LoMonte
Student Press Law Center Executive Director
Jeremy Murphy
West Fargo High School Packers Adviser
Steve Listopad
Valley City State University Student Media Director
Sue Skalicky
Century High School Star Adviser
Celebrating the governor’s signing of the John Wall New Voices Act Front Row: Murray and Steve Listopad, Murray’s holding a photo of Margaret and John Wall, Steve Andrist, Katie Winbauer, Sen. John Grabinger, Gov. Jack Dalrymple, Rep. Jessica Haak, Sen. Erin Oban, Deb Berg, holding a photo of her son, Josh Berg, Gerald Berg, and Dan Arens, holding a 2013 photo of the group who worked on the initial bill : Rep. Corey Mock, Ashley Domino, Dan Arens, Masaki Ova, Jessee McKenna, Peter Odney, and Rep. Jessica Haak Second Row: Rep. Alex Looysen, Rep. Corey Mock, Ashley Limesand, Carrie Sandstrom, and Sue Skalicky Back Row: karen Bauer, Kacey Peterson, Faith Harron and Sen. Larry Luick
In 1969, Mary Beth Tinker wore an armband similar to the one above protesting the Vietnam war. She was suspended from school, and this became the impetus for the Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines.
Above: Mary Beth Tinker and Katie Winbauer discuss a Mystician story. Right: After testifying at the first hearing, Mary Beth Tinker and Frank LoMonte visited BSC to discuss the importance of freedom of speech for student journalists.
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The Battle
PHOTO BY NICCI JOHNSON
Ashlie Carnes’ attorney Lynn Boughey addresses the Supreme Court.
Family life isn’t always easy. In a perfect world, parents get along and relationships run smoothly. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for many families. Family law is difficult. The Carnes v. Snider matter is especially complex due to Ashlie Carnes receiving interim primary residential responsibility before the topic of her sexual orientation was raised. After the district court heard testimony confirming Carnes’ same-sex marriage, equal residential responsibility was awarded to the parties. For this reason, Carnes appealed the decision to the North Dakota Supreme Court. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Carnes v. Snider on April 9, 2015. The primary issue at hand was a question of whether the lower court followed North Dakota law and applied a presumption against Ashlie Carnes due to her sexual orientation, and if so, whether the presumption articulated in Jacobson v. Jacobson should be overruled. There was further question on the part of the appellee, Robin Snider, regarding whether the district court erred in granting the parties shared and equal residential responsibility of the minor child; however, no crossappeal was filed. Lynn Boughey, attorney for appellant Ashlie Carnes, began arguments with discussion about the 1981 Jacobson ruling which created a presumption that a parent in a same-sex relationship is immoral and
PHOTO BY NICCI JOHNSON
Ashlie Carnes’ reaction to the question of whether or not she is a fit parent.
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placement of a child with that parent is presumed not to be in the child’s best interest. Boughey asked the court to overrule Jacobson. The Court raised the idea Jacobson was overruled in Damron v. Damron in 2003, overruling the presumption in application to that case. Boughey asserted that the language of Damron was not clear enough. He argued that the Damron case involved the two year rule, allowing a custody decision to be reopened if there has been a material change of circumstances. This makes Damron significantly different from an original custody decision such as that in question for Carnes v. Snider. Boughey further argued that the language of Damron did not make it clear whether the Jacobson presumption was completely overruled, or limited to the facts of the Damron case. The court asserted that Boughey was limiting the presumption, not the language of Damron. “Because Mr. Boughey doesn’t understand it, we need to make it more clear,” said Chief Justice Gerald VandeWalle. There was discussion regarding the district court’s finding that Carnes’ testimony focused on the negative aspects of Snider, while Snider’s testimony focused on his relationship with the child.
Continues By Nicci Johnson and Aeryn Mehlhoff
Boughey argued that such testimony was not a good trial strategy by Carnes’ prior attorney, but that such testimony did not have any bearing on Carnes’ ability to care for the child.
asserted it was never meant to be a permanent order of primary residential responsibility, and after hearing all the evidence at trial, the district court awarded equal residential responsibility.
Regarding the appellee’s argument that Carnes failed to foster the child’s relationship with Snider by frustrating his parenting time, Boughey described an incident involving Snider’s threat to take the child to the reservation and not return. He argued this incident occurred early in the custody proceeding. There was a time during which Snider required supervised parenting time with the child, and since Snider began receiving unsupervised parenting time Carnes has provided more than the required amount of parenting time to Snider.
“That unfortunately is just going to delay a decision when that child reaches school age,” said Justice Carol Kapsner.
Thomas Jackson, attorney for appellee Robin Snider, argued the Damron ruling did overrule Jacobson. He asserted that any testimony elicited regarding Carnes’ sexual orientation was not in effort to show her as immoral, but instead in effort to show her lack of candor in disclosing her relationship to Snider. The Court reminded counsel that this is not a divorce matter, and while candor of witness testimony is important, candor of one party to another is not a best-interest factor in custody cases. Jackson argued that the district court handled the interim oder as it should be handled, as a temporary order based on limited evidence. He
When asked what he thought swayed the district court’s opinion toward favoring equal residential responsibility, Jackson said he thought the trial testimony of the parties was the most significant factor. The court pointed out that if that’s the logic, then Snider should have received primary responsibility.
PHOTO BY NICCI JOHNSON
Robin Snider’s attorney, Thomas Jackson, addresses the Supreme Court.
Jackson then admitted that Snider probably should have cross-appealed, and excused the failure to file a cross-appeal on there being confusion between himself and his client. Regarding Carnes’ argument that Snider’s extended family exercises his parenting time, Jackson defended Snider stating the issue is the quality of time a parent spends with the child rather than the quantity of time spent with the child. Jackson argued that the quality of time the child spends with Snider is excellent, and when Snider has to work he has appropriate daycare in place. After a brief rebuttal by Boughey, the hearing concluded. A decision is anticipated in early June of 2015.
PHOTO BY NICCI JOHNSON
Jessica Carnes watches wife get interviewed.
Nicci Johnson is the senior editor of the Mystician and a sophomore at Bismarck State College. She is pursuing a degree in Mass Communications.
Aeryn Mehlhoff is a writer for the Mystician. She is a freshman pursuing a degree in mass communications.
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By Aeryn Mehlhoff PHOTOS BY KATIE WINBAUER
MANY RUNNERS SEE 3.1 miles as the perfect number. It’s a great introduction to racing for beginners, and an opportunity to test the speed of racing veterans. The 5K caters to every runner, regardless of experience level. Bismarck’s third annual Race to Zero occurred on April 18, 2015. What better way to raise awareness for a cause that affects one out of three women and one out of six men in America? The purpose of the race is to raise awareness of the prevalence of sexual abuse and assault, and to help create open discussion about the identification, intervention and prevention of domestic abuse and sexual assault. The event began as Jannelle Moos, executive director of Council on Abused Women Services / Coalition
Against Sexual Assault in North Dakota, spoke briefly to the runners about promoting sexual assault awareness and prevention, and the meaning behind the name of the race. “It doesn’t matter how many victims there are,” Moos said. “We believe one is too many victims.” Just before the race began, runners released dozens of teal blue balloons in support of survivors of sexual assault. Heather Mattson, a prominent advocate against domestic violence and sexual assault, said support is growing in this community. “I think what we’re seeing is more people reporting,” Mattson said. “Our communities
have really stepped up and shown support for this issue… Because there’s so much more support that people can see, that survivors can see, more people are feeling comfortable coming forward.” In observing the survivors and supporters who ran the race, it is clear that the topic of sexual assault is becoming less taboo. Race to Zero is a family event for many runners. “For people to come is awesome,” Mattson said. “For people to feel so comfortable in this space to talk about something like that and bring their children, I think speaks volumes.” Mattson said one out of three females will be impacted by sexual assault in their lifetime; in fact, there were 900 reported sexual assaults in North Dakota last year alone. “One of the most basic things somebody can do is just start talking about it,” Mattson said. “Starting that conversation, making people more comfortable talking about it, is going to ultimately make more people feel comfortable coming forward.” Race to Zero has been effective in bringing together survivors, supporters and the
Before the race, runners release balloons in support of survivors of sexual assault. 8
THE MYSTICIAN Volume 76.8 May 2015
Writer Aeryn Mehlhoff and daughter run together (fifth from left) community as a whole. The race has become a safe place to have this type of difficult discussion and to stand together in support for each other. “The number one thing that I want people to take away from this event is that there are people available and ready to support victims and survivors of sexual assault,” Mattson said. “If you or someone you know has been involved in any way shape or form - a family member, a friend, a victim themselves - please know that
there’s support for them and that we are there to help them in any way that we can.” For further information about domestic abuse and sexual assault, or to get started volunteering, please contact CAWSND at 701255-6420, or Abused Adult Resource Center at 701-222-8370. For immediate help, please use the AARC’s 24 hour crisis line at 1-866341-7009, or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
Aeryn Mehlhoff is a writer for the Mystician. She is a freshman pursuing a degree in mass communications.
Upcoming Races: May 2, 2015:
Diva Dash 5K
May 15, 2015:
Race for Rescues 5K/10K
May 31, 2015:
Color Splash Fun Dash 5K
June 14, 2015:
Dirt Kicker 5K/10K/Half
July 4, 2015:
Mandan Rodeo Days 5K
Running with the Demons Cancer Race 5K/10K July 10, 2015:
June 20, 2015: Medieval Rush 5K Mud & Obstacle Run
Runners race in support of sexual assault awareness.
Aug. 1, 2015:
St. Gabriel’s Duathlon/5K
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Mid-Season Mystic Baseball THE SMELL OF FRESHLY CUT GRASS and chalk, bipolar weather that changes on a daily basis and the sounds of cheering fans can only mean one thing—it’s baseball season. The Bismarck State College Mystics baseball season is in full swing, no pun intended, with 32 games under their belts. With an overall record of 17-15, the Mystics have enjoyed a busy April. After waiting all winter to get on the field, the jampacked month filled with several road trips and plenty of games has proven to be an impressive feat.
getting the job done on the mound as well. Dill has thrown 28 strikeouts thus far, along with an accompanying ERA of 3.00. For Dill, the team and coaching staff are what make the season so rewarding. “It’s a fun group to be around,” Dill said. “The coaches are great. They have a good sense of humor and it’s a good atmosphere.” With just 8 games left in the season, each match-up will prove to be crucial for the Mystics. Equipped with returning sophomores to lead the team and a talented group of freshmen, the only way to go is up. Baseball is a game that can only be won through a team effort, and for this group, team is something that comes first.
The BSC Mystics returned only four players from last year, and features a whopping 13 freshmen. This fresh-faced team certainly isn’t lacking in talent, however. In conference play, the Mystics have come out victorious 13 out of the 16 games played, including sweeps over the Lake Region Royals and the Dakota College at Bottineau Lumberjacks.
In order to advance to the Regional Tournament, the Mystics need to have a solid second half of the season.
For sophomore pitcher Cody Nelson, this year’s team has proven that age doesn’t necessarily matter.
“We aren’t a team that is going to blow opponents out of the water,” Dill said. “We have to scratch and claw by playing fundamentally sound baseball. If we can do that and execute, I like our chances.”
“We have a great group of guys who make it very fun to play,” Nelson said. “This year has been a lot smoother with having more guys to rotate around with.”
PHOTO BY EMILY KAUTZMAN
Nelson, a Beulah native, has posted impressive numbers during his sophomore season. Throwing 17 strikeouts on the year so far, nothing seems to be slowing him down.
Mystic player Tanner Wolf leads off first base during a non-conference game.
“My personal goals are to go out and compete to the best of my ability and give our team the best chance to get a W,” Nelson said.
Emily Kautzman is a reporter for the Mystician. She is a sophomore at Bismarck State College pursuing a degree in Athletic Training.
Nelson isn’t the only Mystic pitcher who is finding success this season. Andrew Dill, a freshman transfer from Minot State University, has been
Summer Activities WITH THE SPRING SEMESTER nearly in the books, it is time to start looking forward to the summer and activities it has to offer. The Bismarck Parks and Recreation district offers a variety of events, spanning from softball, swimming, tennis, volleyball and health and fitness courses. Tennis is a popular sport to play in the summertime, whether it’s competitive or friendly. There are classes offered to simply
BSC Aquatic and Wellness Center Hours: Mon. – Thu. 5:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. Fri. 5:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. Sat. 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Sun. 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
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By Emily Kautzman
By Andrew Dill
improve gameplay or even polish up skills. Not to mention, a certified United States Professional Tennis Academy (USPTA) instructor will run the drills. The Aquatic and Wellness Center involves an assortment of different classes. Located on the campus of Bismarck State College, The Aquatic and Wellness Center provides the community with fitness classes such as Cardio Kickboxing, Combat Strength, Cycling, Pilates, and Yoga. For those looking to go above and beyond
Combat Bootcamp
Fee: Member ($60)/non-Member ($80) Mon. and Wed. Aug. 10 – Sept. 2 or Sept. 14 – Oct. 7) BSC Aquatic and Wellness Center
and physically and mentally challenge themselves, The BSC Aquatic Center also offers a Combat Boot camp. The camp consists of eight sessions, both indoors and outdoors, with each session consisting of 45 minutes. The exercises range anywhere from cardiovascular fitness, weight training, body weight training and aerobic classes. For more information on how to get involved in any activities regarding The Bismarck Parks and Recreation and Aquatic and Wellness Center, visit www.bisparks.org.
Tennis
Fee: $40 Dates: June 8 – July 2 or July 13 – Aug 8 Capital Racquet and Fitness
Heading in the Right Direction
By Tanner Purintun
BISMARCK STATE COLLEGE first started to compete in women’s fast-pitch softball in 2012. In their first season, the Mystics finished with a record of 0-20. 2013 brought much of the same disappointment with an overall record of 0-14. However, last season, the Mystics softball program started to see some hope with their first win in program history. They went on to finish the 2014 season with a 5-16 record. The Mystics have continued to take steps in the right direction this season finishing with an overall record of 10-22. Second year head coach Jason Harris says the program is heading in the right direction because of the sophomores he has now. “They are a great crew. They’re good kids, they work hard, they play hard, and they’ve kind of been the backbone of where we want the program to keep going,” Harris said. “They’re kind of the building blocks that we’re trying to use to keep getting the program better. It’s a group that I’m really going to miss next year.” Part of that sophomore class is 2015 Mystic Award winner Emily Kautzman. The utility player from Colstrip, MT has been the epitome of a Mystic. Kautzman has served as a great leader for a relatively new program. “The great thing about Emily is her willingness to do whatever she needs to do to help the team. She’s pitched, she’s played short, she’s played second and first, she’s played in the outfield. Those are the kind of kids we want - the ones that you can ask them to do something and they just go do it. They don’t give you a reason why they can’t do it or why they shouldn’t do it. She just puts a smile on her face and goes and does it,” Harris said. “She’s a good teammate and a good player and that’s why she won the Mystic Award. She deserved it.” “I just try to be a positive leader on the field for the other girls,” Kautzman said. “If we are having an off day with our bats or making errors, I try to remind everybody that mistakes happen but we just have to fight through it. In practice, I just try to focus on improving a little bit every day in all aspects of the game and try to set a good example.” Harris said the biggest thing for this program to keep moving in the right direction is to bring in the right kind of kids. “We just have to recruit good quality kids; kids that want to get better and want to see the program get better, and obviously kids that are good fast-pitch players as well,” Harris said.
Tanner Purintun is a reporter for the Mystician and a sophomore at Bismarck State College. He is pursuing a degree in Mass Communications
PHOTO TAKEN BY LAREE BUMGARNER
Pitcher Emily Kautzman dominates the plate.
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Cover, Form and Function BECAUSE OF A SERIES of inappropriate acts committed on the salt water aquarium in the study room in the Jack Science Center, the biology department decided they needed a deterrent. They contacted Earl Torgeson, the associate director of the carpentry program. Torgeson put carpentry student, Paul Dalzell, to the task of building a cover for the aquarium.
that various food items have been dropped into the tank, along with a massive glob of chewing gum. There was one instance where someone put a pickle in the aquarium.
Associate Professor of Biology Jean Rolandelli set up the tank and also maintains it.
Not only have people been putting things into the aquarium, but they’ve also been taking things out of them. Rolandelli said that entire coral heads have been stolen.
“The custodian suggested that we make a top for the aquarium because we’ve had some issues with people putting things in the aquarium,” Rolandelli said. “So far we’ve been lucky that they haven’t put in too many things that are really harmful.” “[It’s] just a ridiculous thing to have to do on a campus of adults,” Rolandelli said.
“You just think ‘What on Earth?’ The bubble gum is probably minimal in impact. The pickle has vinegar in it, so in 200 gallons of water it’s not going to acidify the water that much, but it’s completely inappropriate,” Rolandelli said.
“Those people know exactly what they’re doing. They have the whole thing planned out. They come, they flip the tops open, they take water, they take the coral animal, and they run,” Rolandelli said. But stealing isn’t necessary in order to get a piece of the coral.
PHOTO BY STEPHANIE MOUM
“Imagine spraying salt water on your car and what it would do,” Rolandelli said. But coins aren’t the only thing that people are putting into the aquarium. Rolandelli said
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and function. The outside is made of oak, just like the stand, and stained the same way that Rolandelli stained it. But Dalzell chose cyprus for the inside, a wood that is resistant to water damage. The stand also helps with lighting, as Rolandelli said that there were some problems with that before, but now attention is drawn to the illumination of the coral. “It makes it much more comfortable to look at the tank and see what we want you to see and enjoy the animals and the beauty of that salt water tank,” Rolandelli said. Rolandelli said that she is very pleased with the way the stand turned out and that she is grateful to Dalzell for building it. “It was just a lot of fun. I loved working on it. This was part of the cabinetry class and it was just a fantastic opportunity to test building in the real world,” Dalzell said. Dalzell said that, although a lot of people think that the carpentry program is limited to rough carpentry and framing, they do all sorts of carpentry. He gave finish work and cabinetry as examples. He also said that the carpentry program does a lot of projects on campus, and mentioned that they are building a hutch for the Cross Ranch. Dalzell said that all of the work for the aquarium cover was done on campus, mainly in the carpentry shop. He said that they started with the interior frame, which is made of thin materials. After that, the oak was built onto the frame. The process involved the use of many tools including a table saw, a compound miter saw, a drill, chizzles, a circular palm sander and a router.
Carpentry student Paul Dalzell stands next to the cover he built for the JSC study room aquarium. “It was a lot of fun. I loved working on it,” Dalzell said. Rolandelli said people have put coins in the aquarium, which is dangerous for the aquatic life. She said a chemical reaction takes place between the salt water and the metal in the coin, making the water poisonous. Even a small amount can do damage because the metal dissolves so quickly.
By Stephanie Moum
“The reality is, for most of those corals, if they would like to grow a piece of that coral in their tank, I will make a cutting for them and give them a piece of the coral if they just asked. But no, they have to steal the whole colony so nobody can have that coral,” Rolandelli said. Rolandelli said the new cover for the aquarium makes the security they have in the room more effective, and it will be far more obvious now if someone is trying to gain entrance into the tank either to steal something or to put something in it. The cover blends form
“I had some router mishaps the first couple times around. I kind of despise using routers because it’s like, you put the thing right up to what you’ve just finished, and I feel like I’m just not great with the router yet and I feel like every time I use it there’s a 50 percent chance that I’m going to wreck this,” Dalzell said. When asked to comment on the problem of people putting things into the fish tank, Dalzell said this: “Who does that? Don’t throw things into the fish tank because it’s a delicate ecosystem, obviously.”
Stephanie Moum is a reporter for the Mystician. She is a sophomore at Bismarck State College pursuing a degree in Political Communications.
A Life-Changing Trip BEFORE KRISTEN REIS arrived in Guatemala, she expected to experience something she never had experienced before. After returning home, she realized that the trip changed her life. Reis, Heather Ryberg and Shana Heinrich, nursing students at Bismarck State College, traveled with six others affiliated with BSC’s Nursing Program to Guatemala over Spring Break. The group built two houses for families in Antigua through the God’s Child Project. Heinrich said planning for the trip started in the Spring of 2014. They held different fundraisers each month including garage, pizza, t-shirt and bake sales. “We had a goal to raise $2,000 each to cover the cost of the home supplies, travel expenses and room and board in Guatemala,” Heinrich said. “We met our goal in late February.” The group spent days touring the God’s Child Project’s main headquarters, feeding and caring for malnourished infants and building the two homes for families in need of shelter. The last day consisted of distributing clothes to the less fortunate. The houses were built by using saws, hammers and concrete mixed by hand. Ryberg said they also provided bunk beds, groceries and a water filter to the two families the houses were built for. “We were able to give them a concrete floor, with sturdy wooden walls and a strong roof,” Heinrich said. “They will not sleep in wet beds, or walk in mud anymore.”
By Katie Winbauer PHOTOS SUBMITTED
Reis said this is the type of experience that clears one’s mind and makes them realize what truly is important in life. She encourages “anyone and everyone” to take a trip like this. “We spend so much time worrying about our grades, money and material things that sometimes I think we forget what real worry is,” she said. “This trip opened my eyes.” Heinrich said the mentality leaving Guatemala is much different than the mentality arriving there. “It is very humbling and moving to see how positive and kind people can be, even if they face a dire reality of having no home to live in and no food to eat,” she said. Since she has come home, Heinrich said she thinks about Guatemala everyday. “I truly have never in my life felt so much gratitude for this experience. From this, I have learned to really appreciate each day and everything I have,” Heinrich said. “Something as simple as getting a glass of water from the faucet is now has a different meaning to it.” Ryberg and her husband now sponsor two children in Guatemala. She said one day she hopes to return to the country and meet them.
Katie Winbauer is the junior editor. She is a sophomore at Bismarck State College pursuing a degree in criminal justice.
Shelley Marais, Shana Heinrich, Heather Ryberg, Lindsey Thoreson, Kimberly Jarabek, Kristen Reis, Katie Serr, Katelyn Townsend, and Becky Skalsky traveled to Guatemala over Spring Break.
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Student Speaker: Landon Schmeichel
Bismarck State College Prepares for 75th Graduation Ceremony By Megan Haag
Student Speaker: Landen Schmeichel BISMARCK STATE COLLEGE is set to honor graduates at its 75th annual commencement ceremony. The distinguished speakers, Dr. Larry Skogen and Landen Schmeichel, are to deliver the commencement address to BSC’s graduating class of 2015. Hailing from McLaughlin, SD, Landen Schmeichel has been chosen to address his fellow BSC students at the 75th BSC graduation ceremonies. “I have been given a great deal from the BSC community and hope that the words I speak will be evidence of my gratitude,” says Schmeichel. He currently lives on a ranch outside of Mandan with his wife Jessica and enjoys riding horse, traveling and reading in spare moments. Schmeichel is a senator with the Bismarck State College Student government and also represents BSC as a delegate on the North Dakota Student Association. He will be graduating with an AA and AS in Liberal Arts. Schmeichel will be continuing his education
pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education emphasising in history and a minor in political science from Dickinson State University at BSC campus. “Getting to know your professors and striving to learn everything you can from them will benefit you greatly. You should enjoy your time here at BSC and get involved with organizations and events on campus. Most important thing ... is to work really hard in all that you do. Hard work will always pay off,” says Schmeichel, offering advice to BSC students. The high quality yet affordable education is what made Schmeichel choose to come to BSC initially. Through the years of being on campus he had the privilege of taking classes from professors who cared greatly about his success. “My best memories are the times I spent visiting with professors and friends outside of class. I cherish the times I was able to absorb the wisdom from the great teachers here at BSC. It is wisdom I will carry with me for the rest of my life,” says Schmeichel.
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Commencement Speaker: Dr. Larry C. Skogen A NATIVE FROM HETTINGER, N.D., Dr. Larry C. Skogen is the Interim Chancellor for the North Dakota University System. He has also been the president of Bismarck State College since 2006. Previously he was academic dean and deputy superintendent for academic affairs at New Mexico Military Institute, Roswell, N.M. Dr. Skogen has taught history in collegiate and military settings and served in other
capacities in the U.S. Air Force, as director of operations and inspector general of the Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming from 1998 to 2001. He was an educational consultant to the United Arab Emirates in 2004. He holds a B.S. in secondary education from Dickinson State University, an M.A. in history from Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg, Mo., and a Ph.D. in history from Arizona State University, Tempe, Ariz.
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Thoughts From Graduating Students A NATIVE OF STANTON, N.D., TIFFANY GRANNIS is thrilled to be a part of 75th Bismarck State College Graduation Ceremony. “Go Mystics, I’m excited to graduate.” says Grannis. Grannis who will be graduating with a AAS in Mass Communications said choosing to attend BSC was an easy choice for her. It was close to her hometown so she could still visit her family often while still offering an exceptional college education. Grannis is involved on campus as a part of the BSC Choir. “Some of my favorite memories involve getting
together with the choir. Andrew Miller is just an awesome choir director, I’m glad I got to have him.” says Grannis. Music is a passion for Grannis and she hopes after graduation she can work for a local radio station. Grannis said the most important thing she learned while attending BSC was to always work hard and offered her advice to fellow students. “Keep working hard, don’t let that procrastination hold you back. When you get down to that wire you have to keep pushing and stay strong, eventually you will get to that finish line.” says Grannis. PHOTO BY MEGAN HAAG
ANNA-KAY FERGUSON has always wanted to make a difference, so it only made sense to her that nursing would be her career. “I have a profound love for humanity,” she said. Ferguson is a collaborative student through Bismarck State College and the North Dakota State University Nursing Program. Although she is graduating from BSC this month, Ferguson will continue at NDSU for the next two years, so she can get her RN degree. PHOTO BY KATIE WINBAUER
Bismarck and would love to continue on to be a nurse at the hospital. She thinks it will be a rewarding career. At BSC, she took general classes and psychology classes. “I studied psychology on my own because I really like it,” she said. Ferguson said one thing she likes about BSC is the collaboration with other schools and universities. “They’re really centered on education,” Ferguson said.
Ferguson currently is a CNA at Sanford Health in
A FARM BOY FROM LINTON, N.D., TANNER PURINTUN will be a part of the 2015 Bismarck State College graduating class.
“I thought this place would be a good place to surround myself with good people and be able to play basketball.” says Purintun.
“When you sit back and look at everybody who has gone through BSC and all the alumni...its a special thing for the school to be around for 75 years.” says Purintun.
Purintun will be graduating with an Associates in Applied Science and an AAS in Mass Communications. He currently works for Cross Training and plans to use his degree to continue working there. He also has some internships planned as well as possibly doing some sports coaching in Bismarck.
Purintun who attended University of Mary his first year of college thought that Bismarck State College would be a better fit for him. He knew a couple of the Mystics basketball players through church and decided to try out for the BSC basketball team.
“All the basketball moments are the ones that I will remember the most. All the close games at the armory when the crowd really gets into it.” says Purintun about things he will miss at Bismarck State College.
Bismarck State College 75th Commencement 2:30 p.m. May 15 Bismarck Event Center
Please join us for an afternoon of celebration.
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Megan Haag is a reporter for the Mystician. She is a sophomore at Bismarck State College pursuing a degree in Mass Communications.
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Make a Difference Story and Photo By Kaitlyn Olson
Walking through downtown Manhattan in New York, seeing homeless people is a regular occurrence. With tattered clothes on bodies, cardboard signs at the feet and a cup with spare change in hands, these people are going through a lifealtering challenge that most folks do not fully comprehend. The fact of the matter is homelessness affects more than just busy city streets – this is in our very own neighborhood.
for people who are in need. This shelter has residential housing for men, women and families. Jaclyn Hall, executive director at Ruth Meiers, has years of experience on this specific topic.
Though the number of homeless people within our own state is not staggering, it’s a number that still exists. A survey from the North Dakota Coalition for Homeless People shows that North Dakota has about 2,000 people experiencing homelessness each year. Many of these people are going through domestic abuse, have a mental illness or are unaccompanied children. Also included in this survey was the fact that this count was collected on a day with weather 26 degrees below zero. Homelessness, especially in North Dakota weather, is dangerous as well as life threatening.
Many people and families in need find both long-term housing as well as temporary help within this shelter. There are many supportive services provided such as: reemployment training, education assistance, a free clinic for people to receive medical benefits, and a children’s learning center for reduced daycare and afterschool care. Because of these options for the residents, they have the much-needed help to get back on their feet.
Most of us are waking up every day in our own beds to an excessive amount of clothes in our closets and an abundance of food in our fridges. We then go to a job or school that we usually take for granted. Though this may seem like an average or boring day, there are others that would do anything for the opportunities that we too often forget are not given to everyone. It may seem like this problem is not as evident in Bismarck, but this is an issue in our very own neighborhood. Ruth Meiers Hospitality House is a shelter on East Boulevard Avenue that is a helpful home
Volunteers as well as donations are always accepted. For more information, call the main office at 701-222-2108. We are currently in need of the following items:
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“Ruth Meiers was originally established in 1987 as a 7 bed emergency shelter for men. We have grown the facility to serve men, women, and children,” Hall said. “We have over 200 beds of emergency shelter as well as transitional living and personal housing.”
“During the day is when we take in additional clients. People will call us who are in need so they will start in our emergency shelter or in our residential shelter depending on their situation,” Hall said. “They will go through an intake process, they will go through a question and answer period with our staff, our staff normally spends about an hour to an hour and a half with each intake fully understanding their situation.”
The community of Bismarck also has a large impact on the success of Ruth Meiers. “The community is extremely generous. We had a wonderful lady come in yesterday. She made too many brownies, so she brought in the extra brownies to support the shelter,” Hall said. “We have a guy every Friday that comes in- we call him the Banana Man. He comes in and brings us four bags of bananas every Friday like clockwork. They all provide us with the things they feel we need, and we utilize all of them.” Because of generous hearts, Ruth Meiers Hospitality Home can continue supporting the lives of people who need extra help. Hall and the rest of the staff and volunteers at Ruth Meiers work daily to ensure safety and stability to people that cannot do much in return. The greatness in this is that one day, the once homeless will be up on their feet and be able to utilize the support they were given. “Homelessness isn’t providing that shetlerit’s providing that support. We’ve really evolved over the last 15 years in not only providing that safe place, but also providing that additional support so those individuals can actually move forward and not fall short in three or six months,” Hall said. “We do a lot more work in transitioning those individuals as well as following up with those individuals so we can try to keep them safe.”
There are 22 people on both full-time and part-time staff as well as numerous volunteers who help with the daily needs of the homeless. Because of the help of these people, the residents are given three meals a day, daily activities for physical and mental health, and support for a transitioning lifestyle. Canned tomato soup 12 or 16 ou. Spaghetti noodles Eggs Canned tuna or chicken Saltine crackers Cleaning supplies Hygiene Supplies Disposable razors
Shaving cream Anti-fungal foot spray and deodorizing powder Paper products Bedding (twin & full sizes) Diapers, wipes and baby supplies Bus passes Gloves
Kaitlyn Olson is the editor of “The Scoop.” She is a sophomore at Bismarck State College pursuing a degree in elementary education.
Socks Hand sanitizer Tylenol and Ibuprofen Cough drops Band-aids Laundry soap Paper napkins Food
North Dakota History Inspires Local Filmmaker By Nicci Johnson
With all of the monumental things happening in North Dakota lately, one shouldn’t be surprised that a documentary would sprout up eventually. That’s what former Bismarck State College student, Kris McConnachie, had in mind when he began producing a 30 minute documentary based on the history of our great state. With experience as a local filmmaker and volunteer producer at Dakota Media Access, McConnachie said the challenge of accumulating accurate and historical information has put a strain on the process. It is a project seeming to grow on its own. “North Dakota has a far more interesting history than people realize,” McConnachie said. “Most people think of the Great Depression, but it was a true wild west at one point.” McConnachie was inspired by a summer tour of the North Dakota railroad in Bismarck. He brought a camera to the tours one day and started filming. Then McConnachie began placing together short clips of history pieced within sound bytes of the railroad tour and created “Cultivation Along the Northern Pacific.” This turned out to be a larger endeavor than he had imagined. At first McConnachie shot clips with a handycam. Eventually he got a little help from other filmmakers and began using a tripod for better cinematography. Once he began editing, he realized more information was needed, and eventually turned from recording a tour to developing a documentary. McConnachie wanted to make this film as historically authentic as possible. Research for the documentary has included
contacting people at the Bismarck Public Library, the State Historical Society and the Fort Mandan Lewis and Clark Foundation as well as plenty of online research at the Library of Congress website. “The State Historical Society is where the photos are from,” McConnachie said. “The majority of the film is footage from the tour, an interview session with Robert Hanna and historical photos to make things more interesting.”
will wait to post this version until it has been shown at other places and after getting a response back from people.” Other projects McConnachie is thinking of working on is a short horror film and a web series.
McConnachie is doing some favors for Fort Mandan by delaying the premier of the documentary because of some political issues he couldn’t mention because he doesn’t want to step on anyone’s toes. “I will release it when it is more convenient for them,” McConnachie said. As of right now, there will be only one 30 minute segment of the documentary. No other plans have been made to film a series of the history of North Dakota. “It has been an endeavour, some footage is wonky, I just wanted to film a tour,” McConnachie said. “Normally the talent works with you, but it was just an hour window to film the tour on the fly. Some shots didn’t turn out … and I used photos to cover up to lack of footage.” When the documentary is finished, McConnachie wants to show it at the governor’s mansion, and hopefully the State Historical Society. He would like to be done by the end of May. “I have a shorter version submitted to the North Dakota Digital Film Festival that is on YouTube right now,” McConnachie said. “I
PHOTOS BY NICCI JOHNSON
Kris McConnachie shows some of his work on the documentary. For more information on the railroad tours check out the website at www.fortmandan. com. To stay updated on what local filmmakers are doing, feel free to check out the North Dakota Filmmakers Association Facebook page.
Nicci Johnson is the senior editor of the Mystician and a sophomore at Bismarck State College. She is pursuing a degree in Mass Communications.
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Faculty Farewell Michelle Lindblom
By Kaitlyn Olson and Emily Kautzman
Michelle Lindblom has been at Bismarck State College for 25 years. She started in January of 1991. Q. What brought you to BSC?
A. I moved back here from Chicago with my husband. I put together a studio in my house because I wanted to do my art after teaching in Chicago and finishing my undergraduate degrees. I found it difficult, so I wanted to be back on a college campus. I started taking independent study up here and got asked to teach a class. I wanted to be around college students again, I needed that stimulation that they offer. So I started off teaching one class and then eventually became full time in 2000. I attended Bismarck State College, BJC at the time, several times out of high school.
Q. What will you remember most about teaching at BSC?
A. My students. I will miss them terribly. Thank goodness for social media and being able to find them. Certainly my colleagues too, it’s been a great place to work.
Dan Rogers Dan Rogers has been at Bismarck State College for 23 years.
Q. What are some of your favorite memories you’ve had here?
A. The Collage Concerts are all pretty fantastic memories. Painting with my colleagues certainly was always fun. I think just being able to connect with students is the best memory. We are very proud of our students when they go into art and it means a lot to us when they come back and visit or invite us to see their work.
Q. What are your future plans after retiring from BSC?
A. I plan to move my studio to Oregon. There is a couple of colleges out there and if they need a painting instructor part time I may be interested. It is a very active community physically, so there is all kinds of stuff we can do outside. My main thing is getting my studio set up out there and working at that. There is a very active artist community in Oregon where I can learn new things, which I’m excited about. I’m to the point now where I want to start creating some interesting work and for it to be appreciated and supported.
Q. What will you remember most ? A. The major highlights include: 1) Our Production of The Laramie Project in 2001. The first read through for this show about the death of Mathew Shepherd was held the evening of Sept. 11, 2001 and the creation of this beautiful play that opened up the world gay men and women to the Bismarck/Mandan community took place with 9/11 constantly in the background. This was definitely the most intense, rewarding and meaningful theatrical experience of my life. 2) I have directed 42 shows at BSC and every one of them was a rich, creative journey with colleagues and students. Watching a student discovery their own voice and begin to play and live with freedom and audacity is the great joy of teaching theatre. I cherish the memory of each and every one of the students who took the journey with me. PHOTO SUBMITTED
Dan Rogers at the Autumnfest Parade, 2009
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Michelle Lindblom at the Collage Concert.
3) Finally, over these 23 years, I have had the great fortune to work with a variety of community and campus groups to produce special projects. The performance of In a Thousand Pieces by The Paper Birds, a devised theatre company from Great Britain was a stunningly powerful theatrical event at the Belle Mehus. I think it may have changed how our community viewed human sex trafficking. This year’s return of the Birds with Thirsty was also very successful. Other special events included annual involvement with the Campus read, a variety of Embracing Diversity events and the ongoing connection with the Tectonic Theatre in New York. Tectonic created The Laramie Project but also worked with us through live video feed to bring opening night reads of Laramie Project 10 Years Later and The Marriage Plays.
SUMMER Prescriptions for Life: As summer rolls in and many of you (college students) may be taking a welldeserved break from your studies, we thought we would provide you some suggestions to make your summer memorable and meaningful. 1: Find time for reflection
Some examples of fun things to do are: learning a new skill, taking a stay-cation, job shadow or complete an internship, volunteer somewhere, take a roadtrip or go to a concert or outdoor music festival.
2: One day at a time
Remember you don’t have to have your entire life figured out. Make a plan for the next year, but don’t stress out about it. Most importantly: HAVE FUN!
Self care is important. This can be anything from journaling meditation, reading a book or talking with a trusted friend. This can help you find your main challenges and see how to get past them.
Set small attainable goals and don’t get wrapped up in anxiety or worry of the future. This will make your challenges more manageable while celebrating your successes.
3: Accept The Change
Instead of dwelling on what you’re leaving behind – school, a two-year relationship, a unified family – focus on getting through the change right now and creating a positive future. In order to do that successfully, you must first accept the reality that your life will no longer be the same.
Dr. Theresa Felderman is the Associate Professor of Psychology at Bismarck State College. Nicci Johnson is the Director of Communications at Big Blue Couch Coaching – a local life coaching company. With their combined experience, they hope to give readers tips and tricks on a wide variety of topics ranging from relationships , selfesteem, having fun, dealing with family, and friends. Keep an eye out for their column in each issue of the Mystician.
Dr. T and Nicci J.
Q. Why did you choose BSC?
A. I left my L.A. acting career in 1986. I taught at the Webster Conservatory of Theatre Arts for four years but decided to find a place to settle with my family; a place where I could do theatre as a part of a community and use theatre training to help grow students. BSC has been a perfect place to do that.
Q. What are some of your favorites memories at BSC?
A. See above, but also Colleagues. I have enjoyed working with the people in the Communications and Fine Arts department immensely. The support of administration has been consistent, and much appreciated.
Q. What are your future plans?
A. My dear wife, Marlene Anderson, is director of libraries at BSC so I will be around campus to some degree; next to the Theatre, the library is my favorite place on campus. I will stay active in the Bismarck/Mandan theatre community and plan to work more closely with some of the non-profits I have befriended along the way.
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Dan Rogers at play practice, 2014
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Editor Plans Nicci Johnson: Mystician Senior Editor Looking back, this is not how I saw my life as it is today. Things were so different – goals, plans, relationships, behaviors and hobbies have all changed. One thing remains – willingness. When I become willing to try new things, I grow as a person. Never in a million years did I see myself as an editor and a truly exceptional woman of society. So here I am, in this very moment, pondering what is next. My aspirations lie within hope for humankind by sharing the principles of humanity to the masses. I will continue to do this by doing the next right thing at my job as Director of Communications at a life coaching company and with everyone around me. I don’t try to plan things out too much because things are always changing and evolving. When I live in the flow of what is to come, I create a space for what needs to be there. So this summer, I am going to Revival in Minnesota, working at The Pond to make some summer cash, continuing to help out at Dakota Media Access and URL Radio, read some books and work on writing my own books. My plan for the next year is to finish my degree and build up my career in Communications. I will be working on directing and producing more short films, podcasting and expanding my knowledge as needed. I will continue being the Happy Learner. #CantStopWon’tStop
Danielle Molinaro: MystiCast Creative Director My father asked me once, “Three years from now, what will you regret not accomplishing?” My school popped into my head, my business ventures, my hope to marry one day, my travel dreams, but then all I thought about was my Faith. I will always have time to open a business, have a family, and travel. But what really matters is my fatih. So, next year I am going to take a year off from school, have a part time job in Mass Comm, and fulfill a dream of interning full time at my local church. Much of what I’ve learned in mass communications I hope to transfer into furthering God’s Kingdom, pardon my French. The most applicable place for my learned skills is not Hollywood or New York, but my small community. I value what a church can do for people because of what it has done for me. The most valuable thing to communicate to the masses is the amazing and free life people can have through Jesus. I truly think that community connection is in its best form at a church if it is done right. Think about how our local community, government, poverty and social issues would be different if the local church actually did its job correctly. People have left churches with a bad taste in their mouth due to the lack of passion, life and outreach. I want to learn how to change that, and make it how it was intended.
Blake Nemecek: Mystician Copy Editor Contrary to common belief, my life is not all planned out and put together. I wish I could say for certain what is right around the corner for me. Right now I have two options for my next step. If you would have asked me a year ago what my plan for the following year was, I would have told you that I will be continuing my education at Minnesota State Moorhead. This very well still may be the case, but I also have the opportunity to take a year off from school to travel with my best friend from Germany. As for the distant future, there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding it. I know my passions: working with people, being a leader, helping people to achieve their full potential, sharing my thoughts and ideas, and using my ability to speak more than one language. I just haven’t figured out exactly how all of that fits together yet, but that is part of the adventure.
Katie Winbauer: Mystician Junior Editor About once a month I think to myself about how fast time goes. We look forward to events or trips or birthdays, and then when we get there, we look forward to the next thing. Time flies by while we focus on school, sports, jobs, friends, etc. This past year taught me to slow down, take a deep breath and realize I don’t need to be in a hurry for everything. So, instead of going on to a university next year, like most would do after two years here at Bismarck State College, I’m staying. I’m taking more classes, learning more about journalism and about myself and where I want to go in life. I don’t know what university I want to attend yet, or what city I want to live in, so for the next year I’ll be here, editing the newspaper and walking the campus headed to my next class.
Jordan Bitz: MYX Program Director My summer will consist of traveling, eating food and working at Dakota Media Access. I will also be serving as a the media director at my church as well as working with my church’s radio station. I hope to use all that I have learned the past two semesters to do good. When summer is over, I will be right back here at BSC, where I will hopefully continue to be the program director of The Myx and bring the station its best year yet.
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Kaitlyn Olson: Mystician Scoop Editor When asked what I’m doing next year, my future plans, or any goals and dreams I have, I wish I could go off on a rant and sound like I have it all together. Honestly, I don’t. I rarely know what I’m doing even hours ahead- but that is what I love most about my journey. Though many of my decisions are too often based off of a heads or tails impulse, I know for positive two things, “without the flip of a coin, what my future will hold. Ministry and children engraved in the core of my heart.” Because of this, I will spend my summer in Medora at Badlands Ministries where I am the Summer Program Director. When fall comes along, I’ll be attending UMary to pursue a degree in elementary education with a minor in religious teaching. So no, I can’t tell you what I’ll be having for lunch on any given day - but I can tell you that the very foundation of who I am as a person will stay constant while playing with kids, praising Jesus and flipping coins.
Erik Mattheis: MystiCast Technical Director For me personally, this year has gone way too fast. I have enjoyed every moment with all my fellow editors, especially our New York experience where I got to develop friendships with all of you. Like I have said before, I do not think of this group as just a group, I think of us as a family. This semester here at BSC, I have learned so many different new things such as taking life day by day, even though I always have a million things scrambling through my mind. I also have learned about communication and about how vital it is in every situation you are in, especially for MystiCast. My plans are to stay here at BSC next year to continue furthering my education into Mass Communications. I also plan to stay the technical director of MystiCast and to also continue doing weekly radio shows on the Myx. Hopefully next year, we will all travel to the Big Apple again and learn a lot more at the next conference and will the gold in the Apple Awards?
four area locations 1727 State Street Bismarck 4321 Memorial Highway Mandan (701) 255-9000 (701) 663-8000 919 South 7th Street Bismarck 66 Santee Road Lincoln (701) 530-9000 (701) 255-6500 dakotacommunitybank.com
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Passing On The Crown By Katie Winbauer
I WALKED UP to the third floor of Schafer Hall a few weeks before school started for an editors meeting for The Mystician. I didn’t know who I was about to meet or what to expect, but when the meeting was over I was more than excited for the start of the semester. Nicci Johnson struck me as a person who is very passionate and full of light. I could feel her energy and couldn’t wait to work with her. Even though we hadn’t known each other for very long, she shared personal stories and invited me to go with her for interviews. I could feel a trust between us. We worked well together from the beginning on things like content and design for the paper. We collaborated, laughed, cried, took turns playing music and complained about deadlines. It was a year that made us realize things about ourselves as people and as journalists. We grew together and put out the best newspaper we could. Over the course of the year, the Mystician received criticism by students and faculty. This criticism fell on all of us as a staff, but even more so on Nicci, as the senior editor. She was the one to decide how to handle the criticism. It was at times like this that I saw Nicci’s leadership. While it would be easy to fire back at criticism, she would choose to ignore the hateful comments. She would choose kind words to say back to the skeptics. I hope to take these lessons with me as the senior editor next year.
PHOTO BY BLAKE NEMECEK
The criticism made us work harder to put out a great paper. We couldn’t wait to present our work at the journalism convention we attended in March in New York City. The trip was something I looked forward to all year. It felt like it was never going to come and when it finally did, it felt surreal. The convention was amazing; There were so many thriving journalists. Aside from the atmosphere and opportunities all around us, our newspaper was critiqued and judged. Something we worked hard on and put countless hours into took third place out of 2 year colleges across the nation. It was an honor to be apart of that and it will be my challenge to reach a higher place next year. It was around the time of the convention that I decided to stay at Bismarck State College next year and pursue journalism. Even though Nicci will be finishing up her degree from BSC in the fall, she will be stepping down from senior editor and I will happily be stepping into the position. I’m very excited for Nicci to step more into her professional career. She has great opportunities before her and has all the tools she needs to accomplish anything. I am grateful for the experience I shared with Nicci over the course of the last year and have seen such growth in myself as a person and journalist. People move on, change and grow, but experiences stay with us forever. I am excited to see where this experience will take both Nicci and I in the future.
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Exceptional Maintenance Professionally Managed Huge Variety of Apartments
SGA Results Vice President: Marcie Woehl
President: John Bettger Term: Fall 2015 - Spring 2016
Platform: Evoking a better sense of community on campus,
Term: Fall 2015 - Spring 2016
educating students on financial responsibilities,
Previous Experience: Mandan High School Art
preparing students for academic success.
Club President, MHS French Club President,
Previous Experience: Past SGA Senator,
Principle Saxophonist,
Phi Theta Kappa member, Resident Assistant and Tutor.
Astronomy Club Treasurer,
Academic Goals: PhD in Mathematics.
Academic Goals: Pursuing Associate
Other Activities: Astronomy Club,
in Art and Associate in Science degrees
Mystician Writer, Bicycling.
Other Activities: Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble.
Senators:
Treasurer: Landen Schmeichel
Ebony-Jade Jones Jared Troudt Mercede Christ Jessica Schmeichel
Goodbye From Kelly This year has been crazy, busy, and extremely fun. I wanted to take the time to thank all of the students, staff, and faculty for a great year. I have gotten to meet many amazing people during my term. Student Government is something I will always remember. I am honored to have served as the Bismarck State College 2014-2015 Student Government Association President. I couldn’t ask for a better ending to my college career here at BSC. I want to extend my thankfulness to my wonderful advisors, Heather Sheehan and Norm Betland. I couldn’t have done this without you! Also, a big thanks goes out to Leah Diehl, Brandon Parence, and Heather Price for all your help this year with activities. This year I worked vigorously with my executive team and senate to provide an enjoyable year for all the students. We have put on many week-long activities for the students throughout the year such as Welcome Week, Oktoberfest, Funuary and Hashtag Week. We provided many other various activities this year including cook-outs/cook-ins, grocery bag bingo, t-shirt making, mug decorating, chili and cinnamon rolls, mashed potato bars,
cupcakes and cookies. We also are a sponsor for the upcoming carnival. As a member of SGA, I had the opportunity to attend a conference in Washington, DC to advocate my voice for BSC with a few other members. We traveled to New York first, then took a train to DC where the conference was held over our Spring Break. I also got to participate in the North Dakota Student Association each month and provide a voice for BSC and the 48,000 students in the NDUS system. NDSA allowed me to branch out and meet new people who represented their institution. I also served as the student representative for Faculty Senate and the Foundation Board of Trustees. I am honored to have gotten to work with as many people as I have. It is a great feeling knowing you have an opportunity to make your voice heard. If you have a chance to be a part of Student Government, it is definitely something you should take part in. Even if you weren’t able to turn in an application, there are still many opportunities to join SGA. YOU can have the next success story. YOU could be the next
PHOTO BY DANI MOLINARO
President. YOU can make a difference for the students. The possibilities are endless. I hope the 2014-2015 school year was as enjoyable for you all as it was for me. Thank you for the best year and good luck to everyone on their future endeavors. I am definitely going to miss BSC and Student Government. I hope that all of you never give up on what you are truly passionate about. I will leave you with an inspiring quote about pursuing your dreams, which happens to be one of my favorites; “All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them.”
Sincerely with great thanks and gratitude, Your 2014-2015 Bismarck State College Student Government Association President,
Kelly Groll 2015 May Volume 76.8 THE MYSTICIAN
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#
Catchin
TheBSCBuzz
#CatchinTheBSCBuzz @Cjk1234
#CatchinTheBSCBuzz @KatieWinbauer
#CatchinTheBSCBuzz @Kelseyjo.herbabuff #CatchinTheBSCBuzz @Lyndal_jayne
#CatchinTheBSCBuzz @Jordanbitz
#CatchinTheBSCBuzz @Ebonyjadejones
#CatchinTheBSCBuzz is the hashtag we are using to keep everyone connected in a fun, positive way. We encourage students to do the same. Whether it is used on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, or Instagram, take a picture of yourself having fun. To have your posts included in the Mystician next month, start using the #CatchingTheBSCBuzz at Bismarck State College events, classes, on and off campus, or even in the hallways.
#CatchinTheBSCBuzz @BismarckStateCollege
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*Please note: #CatchinTheBSCBuzz is not intended for derogatory photos promoting drug or alcohol usage.
#CatchinTheBSCBuzz @BismarckStateCollege
Staff Editorial
Don’t Spy On Me PICTURE THIS: you are sitting at home studying for your finals. Suddenly, you receive a text message from your loving boyfriend. You open it up to see what it contains and are pleasantly surprised to find – a dick pic.
The staffers at the Mystician write this in response to a recent episode of HBO’s “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.” Oliver engages the audience with satire and humor to make the issue relevant to our lives. His report on the effectiveness of the NSA’s bulk collection of metadata is less than encouraging.
You may feel this to be an extremely private message. How could it possibly be someone else's business as to what it holds? You would be justifiably outraged to discover that someone has hacked into your correspondence and now also possesses a copy of your boyfriend’s dick pic. Well, prepare to be outraged.
“Even the NSA has said the number of terror plots in the U.S. that the section 215 telephone record programs have disrupted is one. And it’s worth noting that one particular plot involved a cab driver in San Diego who gave $8,500 to a terror group,” Oliver said. “And that is the shittiest terrorist plot I have ever seen other than the plot of “A Good Day To Die Hard.””
The National Security Agency does exactly this. They will say they are not in search of such private information, but the pictures do go into their database. Not just pictures, though, but everything else you are sending over the net can be intercepted by the NSA. We are caught in the middle of an information war, in which the United States government is spying on its own citizens in an attempt to gather information on terrorists.
Oliver even went so far as to take a 10 hour flight to Russia in order to interview who he calls, “the most famous hero and/or traitor in recent American history,” Edward Snowden. Snowden was an NSA contractor who leaked secret documents to news agencies, revealing numerous global surveillance programs. Oliver asked Snowden why he leaked secret documents. “The NSA has the greatest surveillance capabilities that we have ever seen PHOTO TAKEN FROM FREEPRESS.NET
in history,” said Snowden. “Now what they will argue is that they don't use this for nefarious purposes against American citizens. In some ways, that’s true. But the real problem is that they’re using these capabilities to make us vulnerable to them and then saying, ‘while I have a gun pointed at your head, I’m not going to pull the trigger, trust me.’” The NSA was granted these capabilities with the passing of the USA Patriot Act in 2001. After only a month and a half, with very little debate, the act was passed in response to 9/11. It was intended only as a temporary security measure for the NSA. However, after 14 years and two reauthorizations, the act is still in effect. This June 1, the Patriot Act is up for its third reauthorization. This is our time to be heard and decide what kind of government we want. What should we do? “You shouldn't change your behavior because a government agency somewhere is doing the wrong thing,” said Snowden. “If we sacrifice our values because we’re afraid, we don't care about those values very much.” “That is a pretty inspiring answer to the question: ‘Hey, why did you just send me a picture of your dick?’” said Oliver. “‘Because I love America, that’s why.’” We should contact our representatives: * Senator John Hoeven 202-224-2551 or www.hoeven.senate.gov/ public/index.cfm/email-the-senator * Senator Heidi Heitkamp 220-224-2043 or www.heitkamp.senate. gov/public/index.cfm/contact * Representative Kevin Cramer 202-225-2611 or www.cramer.house.gov/ contact/email-me Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Government Surveillance (HBO): https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEVlyP4_11M
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Life After 30 Spring has sprung. It is a time of change, a season of newness. Transitioning into a new season isn’t always as easy as it seems though. Change is inevitable no matter the position or circumstance one is at in life. “I may not have the power to change my season, but I can always choose my response.”~ Steven Furtick So how do we handle transitions with grace? Grace is refinement of movement.
Here are some tips that might help to get through transitions:
1: Give yourself permission to breakdown. This doesn’t have to be a negative thing. I have found that I have to break down before I break through. The resistance is always the fiercest on the borderline of a breakthrough. So keep going, the best is yet to come.
2: Let go of the notion of being in control. After the breakdown comes action. Here is where letting go of an old idea, belief, or plan creates the space for something else to happen. Letting go allows movement which is followed by momentum. What you resist persists, so let go.
4: Don’t forget your passions and purpose. Ask yourself, “Why am I doing what I am doing? What is it that I am trying to accomplish?”
Stay true to your purpose. This honors your personal journey. Wrap these steps in a bow with gratitude. Grace comes naturally. Be gentle with yourself during this time and keep the fire in your heart for the next season. Give yourself the grace to be refined in this season. This is where the shaping takes place for the seasons to come.
3: Allow yourself to go on an adventure.
Now that we have broken down and let go of our need to control, we can trust that something is in store for us beyond what we had planned. A Fantastic Adventure In Trusting Helps create a childlike wonder of the future. Set some goals, make a vision board and have aspirations. Freedom is the adventure.
Nicci Johnson is the senior editor of the Mystician and a sophomore at Bismarck State College. She is pursuing a degree in Mass Communications.
LGBT Rights Our state representatives have no intention of moving North Dakota out of the past. The North Dakota House of Representatives failed to pass SB 2279, which would have made it illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation in the workplace, housing and government.
about homosexuality? If you can not recall, it’s because he did not mention it at all.
The decision on SB 2279 means that it is still legal to fire an employee or deny a person housing because of their homosexuality. Just let that sink in.
My youth pastor had a different take on Old Testament law. He believed that the laws were made to protect the people of that time period. One example would be not to eat pork because of the potential for disease. But we now know how to cook pork to make it safe for consumption.
We are told in the Constitution that all men are created equal. We have had these battles before. Whether it be the Women’s Suffrage movement, the Civil Rights movement, or the laws against age discrimination, the government has given equality to the citizens from those movements. Apparently the founding fathers meant to put an asterisk by the “created equal” statement, saying that only heterosexual individuals fall under that statement of equality. The largest question that I have is simply how would passing this bill infringe upon someone’s religious beliefs? According to the Bible, homosexuality is a sin. But the holy book says nothing about providing housing or employment to homosexual individuals. And if it is legal to condemn the LGBT community, we should also legalize the stoning of adulterers which is clearly stated in the Bible as well. And what did Jesus have to say
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Providing someone a place to work or to live is not condoning any “sin.” If that were the case, having children out of wedlock and divorcees would also be exempt from these things.
I see the Old Testament law prohibiting homosexuality in the same light. The population 3,000 years ago was small, and so people needed to reproduce. We all know that it takes a man and a woman to produce a child, so it would only make sense that in order to populate the world, a law against homosexuality was in the best interest of the people at that time. But a law against homosexuality has no purpose today, just as a law against the consumption of pork has no application. I feel that these recent debates about religious freedoms, which have been almost solely about Christianity, have emerged from a large group of people that feel the world is working against them.
With ideas like the “War on Christmas” or the “War on Easter”, a portion of the Christian community believes their rights and beliefs are constantly being destroyed by anyone with a heart beat. News flash, no one is trying to demolish the Christian faith in America by giving basic rights to homosexual citizens. It is a travesty that some individuals feel as if their religious beliefs come before the civil rights of an entire group of people. The day is going to come when people will look back at this time period the same way that we look at the forties and fifties in regards to the rights of African Americans. They will say, “Those idiots didn’t realize that everyone is entitled to civil rights?” What Christians should be concerned with is loving others and trying to show that love in how they live. All people should be accepted for who they are and should have rights to protect them from blatant discrimination. But the no vote on this bill is hardly the loving nature that was taught by Jesus Christ.
Devin Stelter is a writer for the Mystician. He is a freshman pursuing a degree in Natural Resources Management.
What’s Wrong With My Love Story? In August of 2013, I met Tyler, the love of my life. Intelligent, light-hearted and ambitious, he initiated many positive changes over the course of our time together. What’s wrong with that? I developed low self-esteem around the fifth grade, or about age twelve. While not necessarily life-threatening, it created psychological obstacles throughout my teenage years and continues to plague me into adulthood. I was recently diagnosed with anxiety, after enough coaxing to discuss these feelings with a doctor, and I’ve realized the anxiety is greatly affected by the world around me; the media in particular has had enormous effects on my self-perception, as well as caused a sense of unrest in my relationship. Every day, we are constantly receiving both direct and indirect input from others perpetual unconscious feedback on how to look, feel, believe and act. As a result, we are often led to believe we are doing something wrong. This feedback has become a sort of “demon on my shoulder,” whispering in my ear that the way I am - looks, feelings, beliefs and actions - is not good enough. While these whispers are silent, why am I feeling this way? All around us, magazine covers burst with the latest diet fads and which celebrity lost twenty pounds. Television commercials flash
Audio Effects “AUDIO, AUDIO, AUDIO,” as stated by Bismarck State College Video Production Specialist Dusty Anderson, could possibly be the most vital part of video production. Audio is, of course, the sound heard throughout a movie. Whether it is actors having a conversation, background noise, gunfire or the sound of airplanes, audio effects are crucial to the entire movie-going experience. Going back all the way to the beginning of videography will explain why audio is so important. During the early years of cinema, films were created with music, but no voice. These appropriately became known as silent films. These films only contained music playing in the background, so people could at least hear something while reading dialogue that was popping up on the screen. It helped so everything was not completely silent. Music enveloped the audience into a mood making the film stronger. Certain music goes with certain films; such as sad music tries to make a movie even more sad. Scary produces creepy sounds trying to spook the viewer.
the products we must buy to feel validated amongst our peers. Facebook, Twitter and the like are abuzz with gossip and trends about what’s sexy and what’s not. That said, what does this have to do with my love story? Perhaps the simplest explanation is that I don’t feel comfortable in my own skin. My beloved Tyler, bless his heart, accepts and appreciates me despite my insurmountable flaws, but unfortunately I don’t see myself as he does. The sensual, attractive women of entertainment have filled me with inadequacy - the sinking, unshakable feeling that I cannot keep Tyler happy because I am not perfect. Herein lies the big issue - society laid the egg, and I inadvertently nurtured it until it hatched into a monster that latched onto my selfesteem. Now, I can’t watch a movie without feeling sick when a half-naked girl is on-screen, making me wish I looked like her while silently praying my boyfriend doesn’t wish the same of me. I can’t flip through the channels or pages of a magazine without seeing beautiful women with attributes I’ll never have. I’m always afraid Tyler finds these other girls more desirable than me, simply because I’ve convinced myself I can’t live up to the expectations I’ve created and tricked myself into believing are his. As cinematography progressed, sound and audio soon synchronized with the moving pictures. Once sound and audio were developed, film production turned on its ear. Silent films had their time in history, but now technology has taken over and the audience hears what is truly going on within the film. Audio aids in taking in the atmosphere during a film and can immerse the audience in the mood. While people are gazing their eyes on the screen, the audience wants to hear what is going on instead of just seeing it. When there is a fight scene going on in a movie, the audience actually want to hear the punches being thrown. Every time something happens that deserves a sound effect, people want to hear it. Especially if it is something critical with the film. The film Forrest Gump for example, in just one scene, the audience can hear brush swaying from Forrest running, planes flying through the air, bullets flying from the barrels of weapons, explosions from bombs being dropped and screaming from the soldiers.
These expectations do not exist - at least not on his end. I know that, but I can’t instill enough faith in that knowledge to be comfortable with myself. This anxiety is an unwelcome third member in our relationship, seeking to control me. Feeding it with fear and insecurity only strengthen it, and the input from media and technology are its vitamins. All dramatizations aside, I know I shouldn’t feel this way, but logic and sensibility often take a backseat to overactive emotional stimulation and involuntary racing thoughts of, “what if?” The truth is, there are more beautiful women around me, but I have to remind myself that Tyler didn’t choose any of them - he chose me, and we have a strong, comfortable relationship. Now I must find solace in who I am, accept myself as Tyler does, and force the anxiety back into its cave. It can’t be killed, but it can be managed. By taking the initiative to become a better person, maybe my love story can have a happy ending.
Mylee Schorsh is a copy editor for the Mystician. She is a sophomore at Bismarck State College pursuing a degree in liberal arts.
Also, when dialogue is going on in a conversation, audiences need to hear what the characters are saying or else the audience will not know what to think. Dialogue also can be produced in many different ways by anyone. Shakespeare has very interesting and long dialogue scenes while films like The Terminator has barely any words as all. Shakespeare’s play turned film, Romeo and Juliet, Leonardo DiCaprio has a ton of dialogue that are practically speeches at times while The Terminator’s star Arnold Schwarzenegger has rarely any speaking lines or very small dialogue scenes. Audiences remember specific quotes from characters and that is what people want to hear, special dialogue that helps audiences remember the film. Audio is a major piece of the puzzle known as video production.
Erik Mattheis is the Technical Director of Mysticast. He is a sophomore at Bismarck State College pursuing a degree in mass communications.
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School’s out for summer!
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