12 - The Cost of Education Students discuss materialistic values of young adults
16 - I am a Christian
Butler students share their thoughts on how they think society views Christianity
18 - Clouded Truth
Misinformation on new way to smoke leads to uneducated decisions
$ The Grizzly Spring 2018 | Issue Four | Butler Community College
On the Cover:
On the cover, editor-in-chief Tatum Sturdivant works to illustrate a coin in order to show money in general. The main topic of this issue is money that students encounter on a dayto-day basis.
Table of Contents Check out more stories online at thegrizzlymagazine.wordpress.com PG. 12 photo by Noah Merrell
PG. 16 photo by Tatum Sturdivant
PG. 18 photo by Noah Merrell
2
3
One Last Goodbye
6
We Are Not Your Stereotype
8
Butler Forming Stars
10
Opinion
12
The Cost of Education
14
Misconstrued Values
16
I am a Christian
18
Clouded Judgment
20
Alternate Plans
22
Spring Sports
24
Saving Your Own LIfe
26
Caring Grizzlies
One Last goodbye
Graduating staff members share their thoughts on this year
Allison Simon | assistant editor
Q: What will you miss most about magazine? AS: I will miss the staff and all the fun and laughs we had. Q: What was your favorite piece you did this year? AS: My favorite pieces from this year are my football pictures because I loved traveling to all of the games and getting to see the action from the sideline. Q: What are your plans for the future? AS: I plan on going to Pittsburg State University and majoring in Graphic Communications.
Nadine Armstrong | photo editor
Q: What will you miss most about magazine? NA: I will miss the people I work with and meet. I have met some fantastic people while working on this staff. Q: What was your favorite piece you did this year? NA: My favorite story I have worked on would be the one about Joey Defore from this issue. I liked writing this story because Joey is a few years older than I am, he was on some shows I watch religiously with my family and he had amazing answers that made it easier for me to put the story together. Q: What are your plans for the future? NA: My plans for the future are to attend Emporia State University and major in Relational Communications. I am currently thinking about becoming a counselor, social media coordinator, or a communications assistant after graduating from college.
Lauren Hugo | copy editor
Q: What will you miss most about magazine? LH: I will miss the friendships I have established in magazine and being free to work on almost everything I wanted to. Q: What was your favorite piece you did this year? LH: My favorite piece of mine is the Inked Perception (tattoo) story, personally. I shared a perspective on people with tattoos and their stories behind the art. It was really touching. I loved being able to tell a story I think is worth sharing. Q: What are your plans for the future? LH: I’ll be attending the WIlliam Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas this fall to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in News and Information.
Mia Rodriguez | reporter
Q: What will you miss most about magazine? MR: I will miss the sit down and coming up with story ideas. Q: What was your favorite piece you did this year? MR: My favorite piece would be my lockdown story. It was good to know that there is a plan if you are in a location with an active shooter and you can go to a free class and it will help you out so you can come out safe. Q: What are your plans for the future? MR: My plans are to work on my radio and video area by filming more and starting a podcast as well. Designer: Tatum Sturdivant | The Grizzly | Issue Four
3
Editor’s Note
G
rowing up I was always the “bossy” friend. I remember being in third grade and telling my best friend at the time that she was not allowed to play with specific Bratz dolls because they were mine. When we played Rockband, she could only sing one song because singing was my thing. In high school, I remember being in charge of marketing and advertising the yearbook as well as planning the yearbook distribution party. I did not ask for much help and took on mounds of stress solely because I enjoyed being stressed out and in charge of something. If someone had told me that I would end up being the editor-in-chief of any publication, I would have given them a weird look, thought that they were talking about someone else and proceeded to tell them what to do. I guess that was one of the reasons I was so determined and enjoyed this year so much. While there were many, I repeat, many obstacles to overcome, I would not trade this opportunity for the world. Being the editor-in-chief helped me grow in so many ways; I have learned that not everything can run smoothly no matter how hard I try, it is okay to cry seven times a day and that being in charge is not an easy task by any means. While I sit here and tell everyone that I cannot wait to be done because I am so stressed and I am ready to move on with my life, in all actuality, I am sorry to see it all come to an end. At Butler, I have grown in editing and my writing. I have forced myself out of my comfort zone to cover topics I would not have done previously. I have learned what it is to stand up for something you believe in and how to develop my own dadgum opinion thoroughly. A week before class started I was informed that I was going to be the editor-in-chief of The Grizzly. I was ecstatic, but also nervous thinking about how we only had three returning staff members from last year. When it came down to it, things were rough getting everyone into the rhythm of how things went. We argued
4
and I wanted to pull my hair out, but we managed to create four issues full of unique content. I am so proud of the progress I have seen in the staff members over the course of the last nine months which led us to win 8 awards at the KCM conference and an overall silver award for our division. I would also like to thank The Grizzly staff. Thank you for allowing me to boss you around and blow up your phone at all hours of the day for the past nine months. For not giving up and getting your stories complete even if that was 45 minutes before we sent in the magazine. Anyways, in this last issue of The Grizzly, we address several topics ranging from money to religion, to stereotypes, to violence. The main topic being money, we cover materialism (14) and higher prices for higher education (12). We felt this was an important topic because it is something that every college student can relate to. Everyone struggles with materialism and figuring out how they are going to pay for college. We covered violence with all of the fallen souls from the mass shootings that have occurred lately. We felt that we should address what Butler’s lockdown procedures are (24). With that being said, it has been a pleasure to be the editor-in-cheif this year and I cannot wait to see what is yet to come. Tatum Sturdivant / editor-in-chief
Mission Statement The Grizzly staff strives to keep students up-to-date on issues and events that matter to them. Content is edited and reviewed to ensure factual and relevant stories that are taking place on, around and near Butler Community College campuses. The Grizzly hopes to encourage students to stay involved in local happenings by informing them through a modernized and personal publication produced by students for students.
Contact Us @thegrizzlymag @butlergrizzlymagazine Q: What will you miss most about magazine? TS: Looking back on this year, I think the thing I will miss the most is constantly thinking about magazine. I can fully admit that every day the past 10 months my brain was on full-blown magazine mode. Q: What was your favorite piece you did this year? TS: It is almost impossible for me to pick just one piece to be my favorite, but the third issue as whole is by far my favorite issue solely because it was about topics I thoroughly enjoyed writing and talking about. I also enjoyed writing and getting to talk to Miss Kansas for the first issue. Q: What are your plans for the future? TS: My plans for the future have yet to be decided, but I am taking the next semester off in order to save up money to continue to further my education the following semester.
@TheGrizzlyMag If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or even story suggestions, you can contact our social media representative Tatum Sturdivant at Taytiee.Rhianna@ gmail.com. You may also contact us at thegrizzlymagazine@gmail.com. We always want feedback from our audience.
The Staff: Editor-in-Chief Tatum Sturdivant
Photo Editor Nadine Armstrong
Assistant Editor Allison Simon
Sports Editor Madison Pierce
Design Director Noah Merrell
Reporters Mia Rodriguez Keandra Rovaris
Copy Editor Lauren Hugo
Designer: Tatum Sturdivant | The Grizzly | Issue Four
5
We Are not your
stereotype Students discuss how various stereotypes have affected them by Keandra Rovaris | reporter
A
ccording to Merriam-Webster, a stereotype is: something conforming to a fixed or general pattern; especially: a standardized mental picture that is held in common by members of a group and that represents an oversimplified opinion, prejudiced attitude, or uncritical judgment. There are many different types of stereotypes, but all stereotypes take away a person’s individuality by lumping you into a group. Whether the stereotype is claimed to be positive or negative, it is discouraging to find someone who views you as another member of a group and not as your own person. Types of Stereotypes: Negative stereotypes: Most stereotypes. Any stereotype that negatively represents a group of people. They are unfairly biased and harshly critical. Examples: Women are not as smart as men. All children hate vegetables. “Positive” stereotypes: A stereotype that is believed to be a flattering statement about a group. Positive stereotypes can be as common as negative stereotypes for every identity, and they can cause the same amount of harm. If one does not fit the “positive stereotype,” then the stereotype can be even more dividing. It sets the bar high, and when it is brought to one’s attention, it can actually make them perform worse. Examples: All Asians are good at math. Women are natural nurturers. Racial Stereotypes: Racial stereotypes are based on a racial identity or ethnicity. They are often considered to be humorous at least to the one
6
holding the prejudiced view. Examples: All African Americans are good at sports. All Mexicans speak Spanish. Cultural Stereotypes: Cultural stereotypes are slightly different than racial stereotypes because they can stereotype geographical regions or nationalities. Examples: All Americans are lazy. All Canadians are really polite. Gender Stereotypes: Gender stereotypes are judging others on how males and females are “supposed” to think or act. These are commonly used as even small children grow up, attributing different characteristics as masculine or feminine. Example: Men are stronger than women. Girls should like the color pink, and boys should like blue. Sexual Orientation Stereotypes: These are stereotypes based on one’s sexual orientation. There are many associated with the LGBT community. Examples: Homosexual men have the best fashion sense. Heterosexual men should approach the women. Group Stereotypes: Group stereotypes can be specific or broad. They target any group of people based on any characteristics. Examples: Blondes are unintelligent. All librarians are mean, and they wear glasses and their hair in buns. Age Stereotypes: Age stereotypes are prejudices about one’s age. They can be held by persons of any age about their age group or another age group. Examples: All teenagers are rude and rebellious. All of the elderly people hate change and are bad at using technology.
AJ Adams, sophomore
Tya Wiley, freshman
How are you stereotyped? I am stereotyped by people thinking I am just a dumb athlete.
How are you stereotyped? A stereotype would be that I’m loud, crazy, ghetto, etc.
How do you feel these stereotypes impact your life? I️t impacts my life because it makes me want to learn more, so I can see the look on people’s faces when they find out that I’m actually smart. What is an example of a stereotype you have held toward others, and why? An example of stereotype I held with others was in a basketball game when I thought a big chubby kid was sorry but he actually turned out to be good.
Amari Beasley, freshman How are you stereotyped? I’m stereotyped because people think just because I am a black girl, that means I have an attitude or that I’m ignorant. People will say “you are nice for a black girl.” Like what does that even mean? How do you feel these stereotypes impact your life? I mean I guess it makes me feel different because people are treating me differently than everyone else. What is an example of a stereotype you have held toward others, and why? That all white people over the age of 60 are most likely racist. I do not know why, I just get that vibe.
How do you feel these stereotypes impact your life? I guess they do because that is what people think and depending on the situation that could end badly for me. What is an example of a stereotype you have held toward others, and why? That short Hispanic people are crazy because my mom is Hispanic and short and acts crazy.
Tavian Stewart, freshman How are you stereotyped? I get stereotyped because I’m the youngest in the company, so they think I don’t know what I’m talking about or that my opinion doesn’t mean anything. How do you feel these stereotypes impact your life? It definitely hurts my self-esteem and makes me feel like I can’t move up because of my age. What is an example of a stereotype you have held toward others, and why? A stereotype I give to people is when they have nice things at a young age like Jordans or nice clothes that they are spoiled brats and don’t know how to work hard for what they have.
Designer: Tatum Sturdivant & Keandra Rovaris | The Grizzly | Issue Four
7
Butler Forming Stars Butler alumnus Joey Defore talks about life as an aspiring actor by Nadine Armstrong | photo editor
W
hen thinking about moving to Los Angeles, California to pursue a career in acting, Butler Community College alumnus, Joey Defore, describes his experience as nerve-wracking. “I had never been [to LA] prior to packing all my things in my car and heading West, so I had no idea what to expect,” Defore says. “I just remember having the feeling and knowing that LA was the place I needed to be in order make my dream a reality.” Defore started acting and performing when he was in elementary school, acting in musicals and plays. “It was always something I enjoyed, but I never thought pursuing it for a career was possible until I came to Butler,” Defore says. “That was when I started taking my craft more seriously.” Defore was on a vocal music scholarship for performing in Headliners, the show choir. “My time at Butler was really where I came out of my shell. I was lucky enough to have so many different opportunities all at my fingertips,” Defore says. The opportunities he had were acting classes with Professor Bob Peterson and Professor Samuel Sparks, dance classes with Professor Valerie Mack, and vocal lessons with Hide Teichgraeber. Some classes Defore took that he later found as an asset were the Radio and TV production classes, taught by Dr. Keith West, because he learned what went on behind the camera, which helped make it easier during filming. Defore found moving to LA an incredible feeling but a challenge leaving everything and everyone he’s ever known behind. “Where there is no risk there is no reward though, so I knew moving was the only option,” Defore says. “Another challenge on a similar note has been not having very many people to associate with since I’ve been here. It’s a big city, but it is nearly impossible to make it on your own, so finding friends and supporters that are on your side are essential, but pretty hard to find.”
8
Defore knew he made the right choice to pursue acting when he tried to see himself doing anything besides acting, but he could not. “The famous saying is, ‘If you can do anything else in life besides acting, do it.’ This is mainly because through the journey of becoming a successful actor, you will go through many valleys of feeling like it’s impossible. You will want to give up, quit, almost once a month and the only actors that make it are the ones that can repeatedly keep themselves motivated after having those thoughts. Often it is the circumstances of not having a plan B that keeps the motivation high,” Defore says. “My family has always been my biggest fans and I’m blessed to have such a loving family that calls me all the time to check in and see how I am doing. Sharing good news is the biggest payoff, but they have been there to support me even when it is bad news.” When casting, directors hold auditions for new shows or new characters. They come and go very quickly, according to Defore. He often gets the material for a potential role the day before his audition. Sometimes when it is a more significant role he gets it a couple of days prior, in order to prepare. “But [an audition] has a ‘drop everything that I’m doing and focus on the audition’ kind of feeling,” Defore says. The material he is given before his audition contains the breakdown (the list of character descriptions and story line), the sides (the scenes with the character he is auditioning for) and the script if it is available to him. When he knows the general focus of the character’s purpose in the script he rehearses the scenes and plans out choices that satisfy the purpose of the character. He also makes some interesting choices that might not be the ‘obvious’ choice. “Choosing something obvious is what everyone else is going to do and it is important to stand out, especially when there may be 50 other actors that the casting
Still photo of Defore while filming in Hawaii for his first show on CBS.| When Defore auditions he gives a resume and head shot of himself. That way they have a visual after he auditions. Photo courtesy of Joey Defore
directors are looking at,” Defore says. “I will run the scene with friends after I have crafted it, just to solidify it and make sure it runs smoothly.” In order for his mind to be fresh and focused for an audition he does not go out the night beforehand, he goes to bed early as well and wakes up early the day of his audition. “This is why it is difficult for actors to hold regular jobs,” Defore says. “Because one minute you are planning on working that night or the next day and all of a sudden you get a phone call saying you have an audition, changing your entire schedule for the next 24 hours or until your audition is over.” Defore has been in six shows. His top shows he has been cased in are “Agents of Shield” as Young Von Strucker, “Hawaii Five-0” as 20-year-old Charlie Williams, and “Scorpion” as Jesse Colt. Defore says there are similarities and differences when it comes to filming every show. The process he goes through when he arrives at the studio for filming is similar. He is taken to his trailer and is given the daily call sheet and script for the scenes that are being shot that day. He checks the script to see if there were any changes to the scenes he is in and if there are no changes he goes to hair and makeup. “Once I’m actually on set, it is pretty relaxing until we are ready to shoot the scenes. I will normally talk with the other actors and get to know them a little so shooting the scene with them isn’t the first time we are actually communicating,” Defore says. “I try to get to know as many on set as possible. For me, that is the most fun part and since it isn’t something that happens every day, I like to talk with all of the people there that get to ‘make the magic happen’ as they say.” Where the shows are filmed and what he has to do for each one is different. Defore flew to Hawaii for the first time for his debut on prime time TV to film “Hawaii Five0” for a week on location. He says it was an experience he will never forget.
“‘Marvel’s Agents of Shield’ was the most fun [to work on]. For this role, I had to work on a German accent. It also had some action scenes where I got to fight another character,” Defore says. “On top of that, I was a bad guy for this role and I really enjoyed being able to immerse myself in villain’s shoes for such a prestigious show and cinematic universe.” Defore has always had a lot of drive. He was taught growing up that if he wanted to accomplish something he would have to work for it, even in times when he thought it seemed impossible. “I try to use all the negative stigma around becoming an actor as motivation,” Defore says. “There are many [people] out there that don’t think it is logical and where it is a profession that is notoriously known for having a very small success rate, if you believe it is possible and can motivate yourself to work hard for it, you can accomplish anything in life, even becoming an actor.”
“
So many people give up on their dreams because they are afraid to fail; however, they forget that in order for one to be successful, one must fail just as many times.
- Joey Defore
Designer: Tatum Sturdivant & Nadine Armstrong | The Grizzly | Issue Four
9
Student talks about effects of negative media Opinion by Noah Merrell | design director
W
ith a constant flow of bad news on all forms of media, ranging from terrorist attacks to live streams of school shootings on Snapchat, it is pretty clear that the Internet is a brutal place. Living in the digital age has allowed people access to any information needed at the tip of their finger at any given moment. This is not necessarily a bad thing as it helps with studying for class and saves time when writing a research paper, but with all the good the Internet can provide it has also caused mass desensitization of the people in every demographic. In the media today, whether it’s on social media like Facebook or Twitter, or news media like FOX and CNN, there seems to always be something violent or alarming on your feed or in a news story. This constant spread of negative and outright horrific news has caused a phenomenon known as “mean world syndrome.” According to George Gerbner, the term “mean world syndrome” is used to describe the reaction to the violent and negative content shown in the media that makes viewers believe that the world is more dangerous than it actually is. People have gotten to the point where they expect to see terrible things in the news. So you find people avoiding the subject as a whole. It is much easier to put Netflix on and watch a marathon of “Stranger Things” rather than to keep up with all the Trump scandals or terrorist attacks happening in the world. With all this fear in the media, it makes people want to pretend it is not happening. It seems like all of America is trying to forget about tragedies as soon as they occur. It is easier to pretend that we have not had (as of April 13) 63 mass shootings in 2018 and just to tweet #PrayingForYou, then move on with retweeting your favorite vines, rather than
10
to actually go outside into the world and address the issues face-to-face. The scary thing is, 63 is only the number of mass shootings, not the total number of shootings entirely. If we take a look at the recent shootings, like the one at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, people were left outraged. Some people tweeted their thoughts and prayers, while others chose a different route to protest. For example, high schoolers went with peaceful walkouts on their school campuses. Eventually, the cry for a solution and the thoughts and prayers dwindled. There is still a number of people crying out for a solution, but they almost get washed out by everything else on your feed. Today, it is common courtesy to act like you are very passionate on your computer about a topic affecting everyone. Then, after you have tweeted your initial thoughts, you drop it like it never happened. The biology of our brain does not want to be stressed out, so it eventually helps us cope, but because these tragedies happen every day our brains cannot keep up and we become numb. It is sad how none of us have real emotions anymore when it comes to tragedies and that’s because we are exposed to them every day. I can see a bomb go off on live TV or a mother crying because her child was killed in a school shooting and I know it is awful, but I almost feel nothing. It is not because we do not care, but we are so overwhelmed by the constant stream of tragedies that we can not recover before the next one strikes. So we choose to not focus on them. When is the last time you tweeted #PrayingForYou and actually got on your knees and prayed? I would say that would be never and that is because, as long as we are only viewing the world through the lens of the negative media, we only ever see a mean, cruel planet that is too scary to live in.
Attacks on the Media Student talks about how social media promotes personal attacks with a mob mentality
Opinion by Lauren Hugo | copy editor ocial media has raised a new breed of tween bullies in the world. Nowadays, kids are going to websites like Youtube or Instagram to watch Internet “celebrities” vlog (short for video blog) their lives, make short comedy videos or post pictures of their luxurious lives. Kids completely eat this up, as they are entertained for hours watching someone else’s life through their smartphone or computer. The social media influencers are able to make a living off these videos and posts from the advertisement revenue, sponsorships and the money generated from merchandise sales. Once an influencer has gained enough traction and obtained a substantial amount of subscribers, they establish their fan base with a name. For example, Logan and Jake Paul are very successful Internet personalities. Both boys started their careers as entertainers on the free app Vine. Vine allowed people to make short six-second videos of whatever they wanted, but the most popular tag or genre was comedy. Once Vine announced it was shutting down due to not being able to compete with other apps, these Vine stars had moved to other platforms. They continued entertaining while their exposure gave them opportunities to act and star in movie roles. Logan Paul refers to his fans as “Logang.” His brother, Jake Paul, was not as creative with the name of his fan base, as he calls his young audience “Jake Paulers.” Jake Paul even has a song dedicated to his 12-year-old fans, called “The Jake Paulers Song” on YouTube with almost 13 million views. In the eyes of these fans, their favorite Internet personality could do no wrong. Due to this amount of loyalty and money, these influencers are able to get away with so much without facing real consequences—only the occasional backlash from their peers. On Twitter, these armies of younger kids can be extremely mean and say things without thinking about the way it makes others feel. It’s become expected for people to get attacked by trolls and die-hard fans if they make an influencer mad or disagree with something they say and do. It’s incredibly disheartening and makes one wonder what these kids are like in their everyday lives. And where are the parents in these situations? Do they not have any idea what their kids are doing and saying online?
S
Mean Text Design Director Noah Merrell illustrates how people treat each other online by using a text conversation with two bullys ganging up on someone. Designer: Noah Merrell | The Grizzly | Issue Four
11
Student Schedule/Bill Prepared for: Broke College Student Student ID# @00123456
Phone # 782-333-1234
Date: 8/12/2018, 11:50:23 am Status
Semester 201809
YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY YOU OWE MONEY.......
Design Director Noah Merrell illustrates the stress students feel over the cost of college by having a student with bills and money laid out across the table, stressing out over the cost.
12
THE COST
of EDUCATION
With college seeming to become more expensive every year, students discuss the value and cost of education by Lauren Hugo | copy editor
T
he annual tuition for a full-time student (in-state) at Butler Community College is currently $3,816 on average, according to Butler’s website. In 2016-2017, the average tuition at Butler was $3,080. Other in-state colleges like the University of Kansas and Kansas State University have an annual tuition around $8,000 to $9,000. Out-of-state tuition can get even more expensive. Prices for college education continue to rise, increasing pressure for students to get scholarships and financial help. Students have definitely noticed these prices get continually higher. “I think college is extremely expensive,” sophomore Wesley Schnauber says. “And housing, in my experience, is overpriced.” Schnauber lived in The Villas his freshman year and claims the apartments take advantage of the students who need housing but do not want to live in the dorms, by overpricing their rent. “Books are also overpriced,” says Schnauber, “It’s ridiculous they [the school] make you buy a new edition every year for [some of] the same classes. And they [the bookstore] don’t give a fair deal to kids who try and sell the books back.” Rising costs of tuition and books mean students will have to take out more loans if they do not have sufficient funds already, leading to more student debt. One big reason students will choose to go to community college before attending a four-year university is to save money on their education in general. Since most all of the general education classes transfer to other universities, college students are able to spend less on classes like biology, psychology, yoga, college algebra, and intro to literature to obtain their associate’s degree from a community college. Scholarships are a popular source of financial help in college but finding the right scholarship or having the
right qualifications may hold a student back. Community colleges and universities both offer scholarships based on academics, activities, clubs and financial need. The important thing students need to learn is that scholarships do not tend to find the students; the students have to go and hunt for scholarships. “After I applied to schools, I went to the show choir camp here at Butler and I just fell in love with the music faculty,” sophomore Mattie Higley says. “I ended up getting a vocal scholarship to sing. I liked the smaller town feel of El Dorado and community college was a good stepping stone between high school and university. I pretty much didn’t have to pay for anything and scholarships allowed me to live wherever.” A lot of students have to come to the school in person to get scholarship information and applications. “I am currently on scholarship for theatre tech. I filled out a paper application for it then was interviewed by Bob Peterson [the Theatre Department Chair],” says Schnauber. “And for Friends University, I talked to the theatre professor and now will be on theatre scholarship when I go there.” One thing that makes discovering scholarships easier is the Internet: one Google search can lead college students to hundreds of different scholarships. Some may be offered from the universities and some may be offered by a third party. Another way to save yourself from drowning in debt is to work outside of school, which isn’t always easy. “Generations before us worked through college to pay tuition, which is fine but us working for minimum wage won’t even come close to paying college tuition,” says Higley. Contacting financial aid is also important to find out ways to earn cash or save a penny at school. Butler’s financial aid office can be reached at 316-322-3121 or emailed at finaidmail@butlerrcc.edu.
Designer: Noah Merrell & Tatum Sturdivant | The Grizzly | Issue Four
13
What trends do you participate in? “I am really into the highwaisted stuff, so I buy and wear that, but other things I would never wear even though they’re trendy… like people started dying their hair white, I think that’s silly. It definitely depends on what it is and what your style is.” - Sarah Graham, Freshman
14 photo illustration by Allison Simon
Misconstrued
values
Students discuss materialistic values of young adults by Nadine Armstrong | photo editor
M
aterialism is when people put emphasis on material objects, comforts, and considerations, with a disinterest in or rejection of spiritual, intellectual, or cultural values. In many classes, teachers talk about how college students are addicted to their phones and how they do not initiate conversation with those around them. When students are outside of classes, almost everyone is on their phones. They go into the classroom, sit down and pull out their phones again or maybe walk in without putting the phone down. When students walk into the Cafeteria, some are wearing Nike, Under Armor or other brands. “I just notice that the people I’m surrounded by care so much about the brand of shoe that they buy, they are so concerned about the kinds of clothes they wear, their phones [and] bags that they buy. Purses now are a huge thing,” sophomore Emily Flickinger says. “I just noticed that in people my age. I didn’t notice that it was a problem until people started talking about it.” The drive for materialistic things often starts at a young age. “In middle school it was a huge thing about the kind of jeans you wore,” Flickinger says. “I remember that I personally just didn’t care but because everyone else did I thought ‘maybe I should too.’ So I wore my sister’s jeans.” Another way students find themselves in situations of materialism is how they entertain
themselves. “I’m pretty low maintenance when it comes to clothing,” sophomore Jordan Fox says about how he looks at his materialism tendencies. “I do sometimes [find myself being materialistic] with video games. I will want the newest game a lot of the time.” Colleges are going through updates and adding new features to get students more interested in them. Some colleges like Kansas State University are under construction to make their buildings look more modern as well as building new buildings. The Butler Community College campus in Andover is very technology based and looks appealing to the eye. Not all students pick schools based on how modern they are. “The school that I’m transferring to next year, UCO [University of Central Oklahoma] doesn’t have the best facilities. They are really old. There were definitely other schools that everyone was like ‘why don’t you go here?’ I thought about what [UCO] offered knowledge wise [and chose them] because the instructors at UCO are good,” Flickinger says. “They don’t have the best facilities, but the thing is I’m not going to leave there with the facilities I’m going to leave there with the knowledge that I learned. It doesn’t really matter what the place looks like, what technology they have, or what abilities they have because I will be leaving with the knowledge they gave me.”
Designer: Tatum Sturdivant | The Grizzly | Issue Four
15
I am a christian Butler students share their thoughts on how they think society views Christianity
Editor-in-chief Tatum Sturdivant illustrates Christianity in today’s society by having someone read their Bible.
16
by Tatum Sturdivant | editor-in-chief
I
n Wichita, there are approximately 200 churches, according to Churches-In.com. When driving down the street to the store, everyone is bound to pass at least three churches. A total of 70.6% of Americans surveyed by Pew Forum claim to be in the different Christian denominations; 20.8% claim to be specifically Catholic and the remaining 8.6% range in a variety of other religious beliefs. Although Christianity is the most common religious belief in America, many followers believe society tends to treat these believers to a different set of standards than everyone else. “People expect for Christians to be perfect,” freshman Adrian Bookout says. “They have to be 100% all the time like we do not have our bad days. The most stereotypical trait that I think people expect is for us to be judgmental.” It is impossible for everyone to be perfect and please one another, so these expectations may lead believers to suppress their beliefs, or not mention it, depending on who they are around. “I feel like sometimes people do not want to hear about it, or I fear they will treat me differently because of it,” Bookout says. “[Society’s expectations of Christians] brings pressure on Christians because if [they] mess up, then that can reflect badly. Also, people will act a different way, or not be themselves with you to please your beliefs.” Bookout also claims, by suppressing her beliefs it has impacted her image when around her nonbelieving peers. “I will sometimes act differently with my friends who are non-believers, which will then impact their view of me,” she says. “I have noticed that I am more able to speak out my beliefs when I am with other Christians. I think that is because I do not have to be vulnerable. I know that I am already in a safe place to talk. With nonbelievers you put yourself out there; it is hard to do and it is uncomfortable, but that is what God called us to do.” While some Christians feel like they have to suppress their beliefs, there are others that would say otherwise. “As part of having a relationship with God you are supposed to share your faith [with] people,” sophomore Gizell Gonzalez says. “Not because you want people to see what you believe in, but because you want people to see your relationship with God and make them think about what they believe in could be wrong.” Speaking up and sharing one’s beliefs is not necessarily an easy task, but it is something that believers feel called to do. One time Gonzalez recalls was when she told her friends from home about how she gave her life to God. “When I was telling my friends from home that I gave my life to God they [said] that they did not like who I was
becoming,” Gonzalez says. “That was really hard for me to hear from them because they were my childhood friends and still are. It was hard for me to pray for them because I knew they did not accept me for who I am.” Although society often provides negative feedback towards one’s beliefs, one way that Gonzalez and Bookout stay in tune with their beliefs is by staying connected in the Christian community. “Community is very important,” Bookout says. “We are the body of Christ. If we are not in community, then our body is not functional. We need that support and accountability. It can be a positive environment to just be yourself in.” Bookout claims that it is easy to confide in those with the same beliefs but also believes that Christians need diversity. “However, I would say that there needs to be some diversity,” Bookout says. “We have to reach out to those who are lost. I heard this analogy that it is those who are sick that need to see the doctor, not the people who are healthy. Meaning that we, as Christians, need to reach out to the ‘sick.’” In order to stay connected in the community, Bookout claims she attends weekly church services, has a weekly Bible study and attends Navigators on Thursday evenings at Wichita State University. Gonzalez agrees that it is important for Christians to stay in community with fellow Christians and does so by attending Campus Crusade for Christ, Cru, a youth group for college students at Butler Community College, and attending church with a family in El Dorado. “[Cru] has impacted me so much,” Gonzalez says. “It is where I have met my closest friends that are now my best friends. … [I] believe that … your Christian friends help you grow [closer] to God, and you can talk to them about anything that God has for you in your trial. It is also possible that they are also going through the same thing, or have gone through that trial.” Bookout believes that despite the stereotypes society holds over Christians, that believers are able to change how they are viewed. “Be your best even at your worst,” she says. “Show God’s love each day and let people know what you believe. You should show it through words and actions. Let people see that it is okay to make a mistake, show people that you are forgiving. We are all human, we are going to sin; however, because of God’s love and mercy, we are able to repent and be redeemed. People need to see that we aren’t perfect and we do make mistakes, but we learn and strive to be better. We still need to keep the standard high, but also know that it is okay to have bad days.”
Designer: Tatum Sturdivant | The Grizzly | Issue Four
17
Jaleel Dorral, F “It’s not healthy. I think vaping is bad.It’s still smoking; people say it’s water, but you’re still inhaling smoke into your lungs, which is bad.”
Vincent Lucas, S “It’s not healthy, but it’s not unhealthy either… it’s like in the middle. Because with cigarettes, you have nicotine and stuff but with vaping they don’t always put that in the vape, so it doesn’t affect your health.”
Ahtziri Roetzer, F “Depending on if the juice has nicotine or not. Because if it has nicotine then it’s obviously going to affect your lungs, and if it doesn’t then you’re just vaping liquid.”
Social Smoke Freshman Austin Antoldi poses while releasing vapor from his lungs. “I vape because it is fun to do,” Antoldi says. photo by Noah Merrell
18 18
Clouded JUDGMENT Misinformation on new way to smoke leads to uneducated decisions by Noah Merrell | design director
E
-cigarettes or “Vape” have been growing increasingly more popular over the past years. Vape started as an alternative to cigarettes to help users gradually get off their addiction by using less nicotine over periods of time. With recent decisions to target a younger generation, E-cigarettes have many different flavorings ranging from strawberry to Mountain Dew. Because of these flavors, vape has quickly become more popular than its competitors. According to National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS), in 2013 nearly three times as many U.S. high school kids used electronic cigarettes. Some people believe it’s grown so much in popularity because of how much attention they get on social media platforms. “We all know that one vine where that girl is vaping and that guy says ‘Wow’,” Wichita State University freshman Annette Tillotson says. Some people just think that it looked cool when other people did it. “It’s kind of like when someone wants to start smoking they see people doing it and decide that they want to try it,” freshman Austin Antoldi says. With the outreach to young adults and teens, vape also started targeting as a healthier option to replace cigarettes and many vape shops even give special discounts for customers if they turn in a box of cigarettes when they buy their vape. The shop Antoldi originally
got his pen from sold it to him for $7 if he turned in a pack of cigarettes. “I originally did not smoke so I had to go buy a pack of cigarettes,” Antoldi says. He believes that he has done enough research and thinks that everything in vapes is safe. “With vape, you are only putting four things in your body: Propylene Glycol (PG), Vegetable Glycerin (VG), flavorings and Nicotine,” he says, “with cigarettes you are putting thousands of chemicals in your body.” Although those are the names used for the only four ingredients, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, E-cigarettes have chemicals in them that are carcinogenic (cancer causing). He says he has also seen improvements with some of his friends who have stopped smoking and picked up vaping. “I know a lot of people who have stopped smoking and started vaping who have lost their smoker’s cough,” he says. The results from a study on adolescents and E-cigarettes done by the American Academy of Pediatrics also found that flavoring used in vape has higher concentrations of carcinogenic chemicals. When it comes down to it, E-cigarettes are a much better option than old-fashioned paper cigarettes, but they are not healthy and expose users to almost just as many cancer-causing chemicals.
Vape facts Tweens and teens who reported having seen ads for E-cigarettes were more likely to have tried vaping. Many E-liquid containers, even small ones have enough nicotine to kill an adult. Each E-cig trade group promised its members they would not sell vape supplies to minors. Yet 58 of the 60 companies belonging to those groups did. Most vape liquids contain nicotine. Facts from 2014 youth tobacco survey
19 19
Designer: Tatum Sturdivant & Noah Noah MerrellMerrell | The |Grizzly | Issue| Three Designer: The Grizzly Issue Four
20
alternate plans
Former Butler students talk about what it is like being a college dropout by Tatum Sturdivant | editor-in-chief
A
lthough getting a college education is typically in many people’s plans for their future, that does not mean that it is something that everyone completes. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, in 2018 15 percent of students who started attending a two-year institution obtained their degree from a four-year. Four major reasons that students wind up dropping out of college is because of the lack of guidance from a higher authority figure, inability to balance work, social life and school, having to take a remedial course, and finances. For former Butler student, Keeana Frost, freedom became her main focus, which led to her dropping out her freshman year. “I was doing really good in [my] English and speech class,” Frost says. “But I was not at the best part of my life. Just getting out of high school and having all that freedom, I had no one to tell me to go to math class. It was my choice so I stopped going but still went to English and speech. Then I realized that I needed to take the math but I was too scared. I stopped going altogether.” When Frost told her family that she was dropping out, she recalls them being disappointed and angry. “[They thought] I was throwing my whole life away,” Frost says. “They did so much for me to throw it back in their face.” When thinking back on it, Frost has a different perspective on her decisions. “I wasn’t really thinking back then; I was being selfish,” Frost says. “I came from a very strict home and all I saw was ‘freedom.’ I saw I could do what I wanted when I should have been thinking I am so thankful for the wonderful parents God gave me.” Frost does plan on going back to school, but since dropping out she has had a daughter, Isabelle. She plans on waiting until Isabelle is older before going back. While Frost does not regret having her daughter, she does regret not taking school more serious. If Frost was able to go back in time she claims she would go back to her senior year of high school. “If I did not have Isabelle I would go back to my senior year of high school and take it more seriously,” Frost says. “Get into a college like K-State, stay in the dorms, party and go to college for four years, but I went on a different path
that led me to drop out and having Isabelle.” Frost is one of many students to struggle with the reality of college. Former Butler student, Jessica Bailey, has also faced dropping out of college. Bailey claims that she made the decision to drop out after dealing with personal issues that she needed to handle. “It was [a] very hard [decision],” Bailey says. “It was a day full of stress, tears and phone calls back and forth with my mom trying to decide if it was the right decision.” While Frost gave her family the opportunity to provide feedback, Bailey only allowed her mother to voice her opinion. “My mom at first did not agree with [my decision],” she says. “She was very adamant about me finishing out and getting my degree. After I explained the things I had been dealing with and we talked, she told me she would support me no matter what. The rest of my family I did not give room to comment. I knew they would not support it and I did not need any negative comments in my life at that point, so I made a post on Facebook explaining my decision and said that I will not tolerate any negative energy or comments.” After dropping out, Bailey’s life has bettered by spending time concentrating on herself. “I have taken the last few months to focus on me and my happiness,” she says. “I have also had the opportunity to start a career working at Cox Communications. It is a great company that has provided me with so many benefits and opportunities.” At this point in time, Bailey has not put any thought on returning to school, but if she decides to return she claims that Cox will pay her tuition. “[If I could go back in time] I would not change anything. The things that happened sucked and were hard to deal with but if they would never have happened then I would not be where I am today or have this good of a job at my age.” One thing that Bailey believes is that the negative stereotype tied to college dropouts is completely ridiculous. “[I believe] you do not need a college degree to be successful,” Bailey says. “Having a college degree is awesome and congrat[ulations] to everyone who gets one, but that does not mean someone who drops out or does not go will not be successful.”
Designer: Tatum Sturdivant | The Grizzly | Issue Four
21
Freshman Kayliah Carr runs the 400 meters in the Butch Reynolds Invitational on Saturday, March 9. Carr placed third with a time of 1:03.91. Photo by Madison Pierce
32 22
spring sports
Top Left: Sophomore pitcher Maddie Siemer winds up to pitch in Butler’s 9-2 win over Colby on Saturday, March 17. Siemer averages over 6 strikeouts per nine innings she pitches. Photo by Matthew Will | Top Right: Sophomore outfielder Keone Gaivens and infielder Mason Goade field a ground ball. Butler swept Pratt on Saturday, March 24. Photo by Nadine Armstrong | Bottom Left: Freshman Michael Tolds completes his final high jump of the Butch Reynolds Invitational on Saturday, March 9. Photo by Madison Pierce | Bottom Middle: Sophomore outfielder Kenzie Young blasts a home run in Butler’s 9-8 win against Colby on Saturday, March 17. Young has one of the strongest batting averages on the team. Photo by Matthew Will | Bottom Right: Sophomore outfielder Paige Pacher slap hits a ball down the third base line during the game against Colby on March 17. Butler swept Colby 2-0. Photo by Matthew Will
Designer: Designer:Tatum Tatum Sturdivant Sturdivant| |The TheGrizzly Grizzly| |Issue IssueThree Four
23
Saving yourOwn Life Butler Police Chief Jason Kenney shares how to stay safe around an active shooter by Mia Rodriguez | reporter
A
s of April 6, 2018 there have been 58 mass shootings, according to gunviolencearchive.org, with a total of 79 dead and over 200 injured. The largest so far happened in Parkland, Florida with 17 killed and 15 injured. There have been a total of 10 mass school shootings in 2018 so far. Seeing these mass shootings on the news worries some students on staying safe while getting an education. At Butler Community College, students that are 21 or older can carry, but the gun must not be in sight. Students being scared just to come to school is terrible; no one should wake up being scared to go to school. Some students at Butler are wondering what to do if they come faceto-face, or even in the same building as a school shooter. Butler has many campuses all over Kansas with the main campus in El Dorado, three in Andover, one connected to the high school and two stand-alone buildings and another campus in Rose Hill. With the many different campuses, they all follow the same procedure, A.L.I.C.E. Butler adopted A.L.I.C.E for a mass shooter training. It is like Run, Hide, and Fight. While with Run, Hide, Fight you only get the three options, A.L.I.C.E gives the user more options in case of emergency. A.L.I.C.E stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate. These are many different options so students can get out alive. Even thinking of being in the same building as an active shooter is a scary thought for many students, but using A.L.I.C.E will help them attempt to get out alive. If students have time and are in the same building, but do not see the shooter
24
around, they are encouraged to evacuate. If a student does not have the opportunity to get out, it is time to use L for Lockdown. Lock the room door you are in, turn off the lights and barricade it with all of the tables and chairs. “Typically we want to create as many speed bumps as we can between the active killer and us,” Butler Police Chief Jason Kenney says. “If they do get the door open when it is locked, with all the
“Learn how to act and be safe during any mass shooting whether that be in a school, restaurant, store, or any other place A.L.I.C.E will help and keep you safe.” stuff that is barricaded in front of it will give them a harder time to get through.” Every campus has a designated area to meet after getting out. “Once you get away the whole campus is going to be a crime scene; it will be locked down. This is why we tell people don’t plan on using your car,” Kenney says. Each area for triage must be large enough to be able to hold a lot of people, to land a helicopter in the area in case of emergency medical needs, and media set up. For the main campus in El Dorado, the meeting spot is at the stadium. The Fire Science building on Sixth Street of El Dorado goes to the fire tower. The
Agriculture building would head out to the field. “Those are the threads of the assessment because the main campus, it would be the number one target,” Kenney says. In Andover, the 5000 and 6000 buildings would go to the sports park because it is big enough for all of the people and it can handle helicopter landings. The 900 and 100 building will go to the hospital on 21st Street. In Rose Hill they follow what the Rose Hill school does, heading to the service center on Rock Road. This is an important part of A.L.I.C.E, so people know where they need to go. “Every Butler campus is offered A.L.I.C.E training. If they want the class we will come out, set it up and teach it to students, staff, faculty or whoever wants it,” Kenney says. The A.L.I.C.E course is two hours long with an hour and a half of class work with slides, principles as well as more information on A.L.I.C.E. There is also 30 minutes, or as long as they need for a threat assessment of their area, for example, to show teachers or anyone what options they have in their office or classroom to help them. For example, people think that with an office, one door and no windows that there are no options, but grabbing things off of the desk could be used as a weapon, along with securing the door and hiding under the desk. Butler Police is trying daily to come up with ways to alert the students on campus and are not in the same building as the active shooter so they can get out safely.
“We [have] a new capital improvement project coming on to help us out with our technology so we can communicate with everyone...What if we have a deaf student that isn’t going to hear an alarm going off so we want to have signage or something to they can read it? [We’re] thinking of putting phones with screens in every classroom so we can make it say ‘Active shooter in 600 building. Initiate A.L.I.C.E....’ We are working on an app and it will show all types of emergencies and just click on which one is happening and it will give you directions on what to do, even a button that will automatically call 911 on it as well. Even a video on the section that you pick and it will show you what to do. This has the potential to put it in every student’s hand so they can be
safe through any emergency. The app will even give out an alert through B.E.A.R.S with what is happening,” Kenney says. For those wanting a chance to learn how to act and be safe during any mass shooting, whether that be in a school, restaurant, store or any other place, A.L.I.C.E will help and keep you safe. If you want to learn A.L.I.C.E, it is a free training. All you have to do is call Kenney or his deputy officer and they will be glad to set up a class for students. “We want as many people to learn this so we can go in and handle this situation. We don’t want a lot of people running at us freaked out; we just want to see you with your hands up and fingers apart so we can see there is nothing in your hands,” Kenney says.
A.L.I.C.E What does it mean?
Alert Lockdown Inform Counter Evacuate
Design Director Noah Merrell illustrates a chaotic scene caused by a school shooting by showing many different students running in multiple directions to show, without proper instruction, students do not know what to do in these situations.
Designer: Mia Rodriguez |The Grizzly | Issue Four
25
Caring
Grizzlies Grizzly Give Back day took a cold turn but people were still willing to work outside
by Nadine Armstrong | photo editor
W
aking up early on a weekend is hard, especially when it is 37 degrees outside and windy. This did not stop the people that filled the Clifford Stone room in the Hubbard Welcome Center on Saturday, April 14, for the ninth annual Grizzlies Give Back Day. Andrea Weiss, the Student Government Association advisor, thanked everyone for coming and volunteering. She also said how one of the goals of Grizzlies Give Back Day was to change the way people view community service by making it fun while also helping the community. “I like that [Grizzlies Give Back Day] just gives you the opportunity to get involved with the community,” SGA vice president Vanessa Norwood says. “A lot of us kids are worried [about] classes and part-time jobs. It’s just a good time to think about others.” Volunteers were able to help clean EduCare, fill activity boxes for Ronald McDonald House Charities, do maintenance work at Play Park Point playground in Augusta, do activities with residents at Golden Living Nursing Home and Lake Point Nursing Home, re-mulch the playground and do some cleaning around the YMCA, help clean the Butler Homeless Initiative shelter, clean up campus, pick up trash on the disc golf course and make blankets for the the Via Christi pediatric patients. One thing that made working in the cold weather a
more fun experience was volunteering with friends. “It’s a lot of fun if you get a group of friends together,” sophomore Nathan Keck says. “It’s fun just working with friends because you hang out with friends a lot. For Emily [Flickinger], Remington [Putter] and I, we work in Headliners together and that is a different type of work. But giving back, your’e not getting paid for it, you are volunteering to do it so you know your friends want to be there because they are there by choice and so you get to work in a different atmosphere. We get to be more loose than we would be if we were in a classroom setting.” People can learn things they normally do not in their everyday life by volunteering in their community. “I learned that doing the smallest things can really help somebody,” freshmen Aubrie Harris says. “That it doesn’t take long. Just taking one or two hours out of your day and that can make a difference.” Working two hours does make a difference for others. Especially when you help at a place like they YMCA. “[Grizzlies Give Back Day] always helps us every year,” YMCA Senior Program Director John Grundy says. “The volunteers that come out help mulch our trees and keep up our landscaping and they help us get to some of those
“Giving back and giving a little bit of my time isn’t as bad as you really think it is.” -Reischmann
26
Nathan Keck helping re-mulch the playground at the YMCA. While the volunteers were working outside it started to snow. Photo by Nadine Armstrong
not going hungry The food pantry helps provide meals for Butler students by Allison Simon | assistant editor
T
projects we can not get to on a daily basis and having those extra hands is awesome.” The YMCA is not just a place people go to work out. They hold events like Parents Night Out that Harris volunteers for when she is able to. “What I like about [volunteering] is that I’m able to provide for people who do not have as much and it also feels good for me to do something that helps other people,” freshmen Lauren Reischmann says. “Giving back and giving a little bit of my time isn’t as bad as you really think it is.”
Fill it up Andrea Weiss packs a bag full of food to give to students in need. Bags were given to students who came in to receive their bags for the week.
Photo by Allison Simon
he choice between buying food and being able to afford to pay and come to class was a choice some students had to make. With the help of the food pantry, this burden has been lifted off of some students’ shoulders. “It was set up for students that need food but may have to choose between making a school payment and eating,” Student Government President Sierra Cargill says. The food pantry was created three years ago in the library by Butler Librarian Teresa Mayginnes. “After a world hunger conference in Kansas City that helped students understand that hunger is an issue around the world and some of our own students were facing this problem,” Andrea Weiss, the Student Government Association advisor, says. “They can come up to three times a month and receive a plastic bag of food that has fruit, vegetables, grain and protein,” Cargill says. The food pantry is now set up in the Student Government room in the student union because there was not enough storage space in the library due to all of the food donations. It is open from 2-5 p.m. Monday through Friday for any student with a Butler ID. Andover also has their own food pantry on campus in their Student Government office. “We haven’t had any students come in without an ID but if someone did and we had enough food to give, I would give them a bag, because no student should have to suffer,” says Weiss. The food pantry is an opportunity for students to get help without having to speak up and being afraid others will judge or make fun of them. “When students come in we write down their ID number and hand them a bag full of food. No questions asked,” Cargill says. The food pantry is always willing to accept donations, such as canned and boxed food -- rice and macaroni and cheese, for example. If someone wants to donate, it can be taken to the SGA room in the student union. Some teachers, such as Biology Professor Melissa Elliott, offer extra credit towards the end of the semester when you bring food to donate. “All the food we have for this semester was all donations from students to earn extra credit in their classes during finals week from the fall semester,” says Weiss.
Designer: Tatum Sturdivant & Nadine Armstrong | The Grizzly | Issue Four
27
__: @thegrizzlymag | __: @thegrizzlymag | __: Butler Grizzly Magazine | thegrizzlymagazine.wordpress.com