Issue 3 February 2016 by ESF Knothole

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KNOTHOLE Literary Magazine

FEATURING INSIDE

Embracing the Evidence Nathan Sleight

PAGES 1-2

What You Didn’t Get An Email About Anonymous

PAGES 10-11

THE NEW KNOTHOLE

Welcome 2016! And Welcome the NEW KNOTHOLE. We’ve gone through some major tune ups and redesigning, to become the contemporary and relevant literary magazine ESF deserves. From all of our staff here, we hope you enjoy the new look, and we are always open to suggestions, so if you have them- send them our way at our next meeting or by email at esfknothole@gmail.com

FEBRUARY.2016

Embracing the Evidence Nathan Sleight

“Heaven and Earth: the Relationship Between Religion and Science” – was the title of a discussion at ESF hosted by President Wheeler on October 21, as part of his “Moonlighting” discourse series. Two prominent individuals with local ties took part: Mr. George Coyne, the former Vatican astronomer and LeMoyne College faculty member, and Mr. Warren Allmon, director of the Museum of the Earth and professor at Cornell University. So many people registered that the location had to be moved to Gateway to accommodate the large audience. The discussion itself ranged from such topics as the age of the earth to extraterrestrial life and the lively conversation easily went half an hour past its intended conclusion time. Some of Mr. Coyne’s thoughts were: 1) Are we not limiting ourselves when we isolate religion and science from the rest of the vast array of experiences we have as humans and say that they are in conflict? 2) A problem is that so many religious people are ignorant of science. 3) “Scripture teaches no science”. 4) If you can or need to prove God, then it’s not God; God is neither a God of need nor a God of explanation, He is a God of love. Some thoughts from Mr. Allmon were: 1) There is no need for God and “that’s not negotiable” (Mr. Allmon is an atheist). However, no one can disprove that God exists. 2) A problem that creates conflict between the religious and scientific communities is that some religious people say that their religious views make it absolutely necessary for them to believe in something (e.g. a young earth) that has been “scientifically falsified”. 3) Religion and science are separate spheres. 4) All our experiences are based on ex-

trapolation (e.g. we can trust radioactive dating). 5) Science works. As a listener, I am glad to hear people discussing this important issue that is often fraught with controversy: Pew Research Center reports that 59% of Americans believe there is a conflict between religion and science. Personally I see no conflict, for I myself am both a man of science (specifically an environmental scientist) and a man of faith (specifically a Christian). As I listened to the discussion, it seemed to me that both gentlemen seemed to agree that we need evidence to base what we believe about science; however, it also seemed as if having an evidence-based faith was not a possibility. During the Q&A, I asked a question about just that, which was essentially, “We use observable evidence to make scientific conclusions, but people say there is lots of evidence to believe in God, like the resurrection of Jesus. If we use observable evidence to make scientific conclusions can’t we also use all the evidence for God to make conclusions about God?” Mr. Coyne said that my question was not an easy one. He proceeded to give a thoughtful answer, the key idea being that, “There is not conclusive evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” Therefore, it seems as if he doesn’t believe evidence is needed to believe in his religion. Mr. Allmon essentially said no to my question. When I said that I wanted to know if God exists, he responded that my wanting to know was a problem (see Mr. Coyne’s comment about proving God). He said that, “miracles are a nonstarter for me.” I believe something very critical was revealed in their responses, and that is that we scientists often think of we religious people as neglecting the evidence for our scientific theories, while at the same

time not considering evidence that would support some type of belief concerning God. “Miracles are a non-starter for me” is exactly the type of problem that leads to conflict. We deny evidence because we don’t like it, it doesn’t agree with our preconceived notions, or we just don’t care. This happens in the religious community and in the scientific community. The problem is, we often accept that many religious people are ignorant about what science really is and cannot accept scientific evidence. But why can’t we also accept that many scientific people are ignorant about who God really is, and cannot accept evidence that shows the existence of God? Let me illustrate: some people in the religious community have trouble accepting the reality of climate change. And when you bring them scientific evidence, they balk at it. Let us suppose a hypothetical conversation that perhaps some of us may have had. You tell religious people, “Carbon emissions are causing the earth to warm.” They might say something like, “No they’re not.” You say, “Look at the polar ice cap – it’s melting.” “Oh, just some random fluctuation,” they say. “But look at thermometer readings all across the globe, they are increasing,” you say. They reply, “The thermometer in my backyard isn’t increasing,” (which may be true – but that doesn’t mean that all thermometers across the world are wrong). You say, “But biological, and hydrologic, and seasonal cycles are shifting all over the world.” They look at you funny and exclaim, “No, that can’t happen, it’s against my religious beliefs!” And it’s maddening trying to explain evidence to people who can’t accept it. Well, it is equally maddening, and perhaps even more maddening because it’s hypocritical, that people in the scientific com-

munity have trouble accepting the reality God’s existence. And when you bring them evidence, they balk at it. Let us suppose a hypothetical conversation that perhaps some of us have had. You tell these scientific people, “God has physically intervened many times in human history.” They say something like, “No He hasn’t”. And you say, “Look, this person I know, suffering from cancer, has been prayed for and got healed in one day.” They say, “Oh just some random fluctuation.” You say, “But people all across the globe believe that the Holy Spirit of God has come into their hearts.” They reply, “Well He hasn’t come into my heart” (which may be true – but that doesn’t mean that all Spirit filled people across the world are wrong). You say, “But what about this man named Jesus, who was resurrected from the grave after being dead three days.” They look at you funny and exclaim, “No, that can’t happen, it’s against my scientific beliefs!” And it’s maddening trying to explain evidence to people who can’t accept it. Why is it that we deem some evidence as acceptable on which to base conclusions about natural or supernatural issues, but other evidence is deemed unacceptable? I believe the evidence should lead us wherever it leads, and that will enable us to come to a fuller knowledge of the truth. And although much was said in the discussion, I don’t think that we can ever understand the relationship between religion and science until some religious people stop excluding the evidence that supports some scientific concepts and until some scientific people stop excluding the evidence that supports the existence of God.

Naomi Klein: “This Changes Everything” Lecture Isabella Kaplan

“It’s sad to think that nature speaks and mankind will not listen,” quoted Naomi Klein as the incredibly crowed Hedrick’s Chapel listened in great anticipation of the speech to come. As mentioned by her introducer, Klein is an award winning Journalist, a member of 350.org, and the writer of international best sellers. These accomplishments are not surprising if you heard her powerful speech. In her lecture, Klein discussed her idea that if we had taken climate change seriously twenty years ago, we would not have to dramatically change our lives to prevent climate crisis, but now it is too late. That is not to say that we should give up hope. She told the audience that we should no longer look at the issue of climate change as fatalism: that our script is already written, for nothing will happen. We can solve this problem if we can act soon and take climate change seriously. Klein’s primary belief on the issue is that capitalism is making the problem worse as corrupt institutions and laws allow businesses to do what ever they please in the name of economic advancement. Klein also states that another issue with capitalism is that corporations are not held accountable for ruining the environment and destroying irreplaceable resources. Thus, drastically increasing global climate destruction. To solve this problem, she calls for collaboration between all movements working to change our current society: environmentalism, black lives matter, women’s rights, those working towards a fairer minimum wage, and many others. Klein believes that collaboration is the only way to form a more just American society.

To the delight of the Divest ESF organization, Klein also said “It amazes me that schools that have strong reputations for sustainability, like the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, a pioneer in this field, wouldn’t want to get on the right side of history [by divesting from fossil fuels]. When we have the Bank of England saying that divestment makes sense, and Shell’s former CEO saying divestment is a rational choice, which side of this do you want to be on!” As change here at ESF has finally begun to happen, it seems Klein’s lecture lead the way to divestment of our school, and a greener America for us all.

http://hellocoolworld.ca/media/TheTake/Naomi-Publicity-photo-COMPA.jpg

Weird Creature Spotlight Stephen Scaduto

This time on Weird Creature Spotlight, we dive into the deep blue sea and come face to face with a dragon. The Blue Dragon (Glaucus atlanticus), that is, is a species of pelagic sea slug native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The Blue Dragon belongs to the nudibranchs. No, that doesn’t mean that it is a nudist, but instead that it sheds its shell after its first larval stage (so I guess the Blue Dragon kind of IS a nudist). Although it doesn’t breathe fire, fly, or kidnap princesses, this slug has several adaptations that make it a fearsome little dragon. Many other aquatic mollusks live on the sea floor, but no self-respecting dragon would relegate itself to a life of bottom dwelling. As such, the Blue Dragon spends its’ time in the dangerous waters of the pelagic zone. Camouflaged by its blue and silver coloration, this mighty dragon floats on its back, using the surface tension of the water, drifting in the ocean’s current while it searches for prey. Although adult Blue Dragons only reach 1.5 inches long, they can prey on creatures larger than themselves, including the fearsome Portuguese Man o War. Not only can the Blue Dragon prey on the Man o War, but it can even steal the Man o War’s stinging nematocysts and use them for its own self-defense. Humans who handle the Blue Dragon should be weary, as this little beast can dole out a nasty sting. Wearing a suit of armor is highly advised. Not much else is known about the Blue Dragon Sea Slug. It may have a worldwide distribution, and occasionally washes up on beaches. As far as conservation status goes, it seems to pretty doing pretty well for itself. Portuguese Man o War beware, it appears that this dragon will be here for a while. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/21/Glaucus_atlanticus_1_cropped.jpg

A Second Glance Isabella Kaplan

I hope that the last issue of A Second Glance helped you gain a greater appreciation for the History behind our very own Marshall Hall Building. But, for this issue of A Second Glance, I’ve returned to the usual format, digging through our old Knotholes to find information about our past, and I think I found something pretty special. Today, saving the environment is a key goal for many ESF students; however, this was not always the case. As mentioned in a previous A Second Glance, ESF was primarily a forestry school. We didn’t adopt the word “Environment” into its name until 1972. What sparked the change? Maybe I have the answer. The original Earth Day was an awesome gathering of creativity and collaboration to inform the United States of the need to become more environmentally conscious. Earth Day introduced the word “Environment” into our everyday vocabulary and built greater environmental awareness and legal measures. But did you know Earth Day started as a “teach in”? Senator Nelson decided to use the emerging public energy of the time to create a public environmental consciousness. So how was ESF involved? In the February 11, 1970 issue, there was a memo in the Knothole asking the school to incorporate “topics of environmental interest, preferably related to the regular coursework of that course”. This seems funny, since environmental interests manifest in the majority of our coursework today. The memo also suggested environmental movies, seminars, lectures, and hope of “educating ourselves and the general publics as to the scope and magnitude of the environmental problem… to create a system of perpetrating an interest in the environment so that the April 22 Teach-In does not come and go as a one shot affair.” Since we are currently an environmental school, this seems to have been successful. Was

this memo the beginning of our transition from a forestry school? It very well could have been. For the next Knothole, I will search for issues from around April 22, 1970 and forward to uncover what was happening at ESF during Earth Day and what led to the college’s name being change. On a Side note, what do you think of the term “Stumpy”? In March 1967, Stumpy was defined as, “A forestry student whose main occupation is collecting leaves and maintaining fire towers and cutting down trees.” The 1967 Editor of the Knothole reminded the campus that although “Stumpy” is used with pride, it was once an insult from Syracuse University. “ So why should we use a derogatory term as our badge of courage… In, Conclusion, let’s drop the term Stumpy from our vocabulary.” What do you think? Is Stumpy a great name or garbage? Let us know!

http://www.projectgreenify.com/post/116941243526/gaylord-nelson-earth-days-founding-father#.VqgwGSorLIV

Schist and Scoria Shourjya Majumder

A long time ago, before the existence of written records, major civilizations, or cities, there was a group of ancient people known as the Ignus tribe. The Ignus tribe lived in what is now known as Assam, located in the foothills of the Himalayas in northeastern India. They were easy-going, peace loving people who lived in close-knit families. Living in an agrarian society, they spent the autumn months gathering food for the long, harsh winter. On the last day of the season, the Ignus people would have a festival to honor the Great One for their success. Every night on the last day of October, there was a ceremonial story-telling, dancing around a huge open fire, and reenactments of myths and legends. The Ignus enjoyed their native lifestyle and never took more than what they actually needed. They had nothing to fear except for the Aquas tribe located to the west. Driven by greed and mercantilist interests, the Aquas were hostile, warlike people. From birth, they were trained to develop a strong hatred for the Ignus. Because of this, several bloody wars often broke out between the two tribes. If one member was found to be associated with the other, should it be assisting or some other confrontation, that member was killed on the spot and hung from a branch for all to see. However, such harsh punishments did not stop two particular members of opposing tribes from meeting and falling in love. Their names were Schist and Scoria. They first met on an elevated hill near a lush green field, dotted with daffodils and lilies. Schist had been transfixed on meeting Scoria. He later described her as â&#x20AC;&#x153;having eyes of gold, so as when you looked into them, you could almost see your own reflection.â&#x20AC;? She stood tall and beautiful, and the very sound of her talking would put you into a deep sleep you would not want to be aroused from.â&#x20AC;? She had similar feelings for him.

They would arrange secret meetings, most of them on top of a high ledge overlooking the whole northeastern area. At night, they would run freely through the field and beneath the ledge, scattering the insects and rodents hidden beneath the tall grass. They would go down to the Shimmering River, where they would frolic in the water and wash away all their bad thoughts and lies. But, their forbidden love for one another had its consequences. One lie stuck on their bodies. They were found lying near the edge of the Shimmering River, no traces of blood could be found; perhaps it had washed away. A rustling was claimed to be heard in the grass, and some say a spitting cobra was sliding through. Although the cause of their death remains unclear, word of what was thought to have happened that night traveled across the land and a story was formed. It was said that while Scoria was washing in the river, the snake came up and spit its venom. Upon hearing her cries, Schist came running, but was already too late. Since his love for her was so great and he knew the amount of trouble he would get into, Schist took out a dagger and sliced his stomach in half. He then fell down next to her. Some say that Schist was a coward, but that is for one to decide for their self. Their bodies were buried in the foot of the Himalayas the next day. It is said that this is when the two tribes began to live side by side. Some say that Schist and Scoria are dead, but no, they are very much alive. In fact, they try to break free from their underground prison every day. The force of their tries to break free is so massive that it creates rumblings within the earth. Over the course of millions of years, they have managed to break the earth into large pieces. They pull those pieces apart and bring them back together, trying to force their way out. Over the years, their pounding has gotten more violent, but it is uncertain whether they will ever see the sky again.

THE

CENTERFOLD

Fluttering

Morgan Beatey

Flying, it seems, is something that man has always dreamed of doing. To touch the clouds, to reach out and grasp onto that feeling, if only for a fleeting moment – what would that be like? Sure, we have planes and helicopters, wingsuits and hang gliders, even a few crazy attempts at jetpacks that we all dreamed of having as kids; but no matter how many inventions we create, there remains something fundamentally awe-inspiring about watching a bird – a creature we often picture as beneath humans – soar through the air. And perhaps that is irony in itself. This bird, this creature supposedly beneath the pedestal we as a species have place ourselves upon, can ascend to heights we could never accomplish on our own. Is that freedom? I can remember spending countless childhood hours roaming the woods of my backyard, playing in the dirt and freely picking up bugs and any other creature I could get my hands on. Even the occasional snake, never touched without the presence of my father, didn’t escape my young curiosity. It seemed, and still often does, that with each exploration into that crazy world behind my home, childhood friends at my side, new and more interesting discoveries were waiting to be found. And yet, despite the world at my fingertips, I was never quite satisfied. I knew the contours of the woods, the best places to hide, which trees were great for climbing, where the raspberry bushes laid in wait; I knew how to trek to the creek carving through the undergrowth, which logs were the best for finding insects and frogs and snakes; where the thorn bushes were waiting to snag unsuspecting adventurers. I knew that place, I was confident in my knowledge, and yet I wanted more. The question, however, was what. What did I want? The answer came to me when I was eight years old. I had been Indiana Jones and Alice Liddle and any other fictional character I could think of at the time, returning to my base to retrieve some much needed food when I saw it. Oh, I had seen many of them over the years, scouring the ground for bugs or sitting in the trees as I ran about, but this one had been different. It had been small and round and scared, with two black eyes set in its beaked face as though mortally terrified of the strange world around it. A part of me found it funny that the one place I felt that I knew the most, could appear to be such a wilderness to this animal. Wasn’t it supposed to know more about nature than me? Nonetheless, the bird, a blue jay, would be one of the most influential things that I would ever find. Of course, like any child who considered themselves smart and intelligent beyond their years, I ran into my house yelling as though the world was ending, generally proclaiming a whole slew of nonsense at my poor mother. Somehow she was able to make sense of my gibberish, for it wasn’t long before that little bird, who could not seem to fly away, was nestled securely in an old shoe box with one of my favorite blankets. Now, I would like to say that this is a happy story about a child miraculously saving the life of an injured animal, but it isn’t and I won’t. Despite the care we showed it, regardless of all of our good intentions, that little bird died. It’s still buried beneath a tree in the backyard, so seemingly insignificant yet so fundamental

CREATIVE WRITING

in instilling within me the passion, the desire, to do something more. Whenever I look to the sky, whenever I catch sight of a bird or hear the engine of a plane, I remember that day, all those years ago, when my little bubble of the world that I thought I knew was popped. I won’t lie and say that I don’t dream about flying – I do. However, I also won’t lie and say that it disheartens me that I can’t. My place is here on the ground, a place where I can continue to strive and push and work for achieving that sense of something I felt in helping that bird. Maybe I couldn’t save its life back then, but that doesn’t mean I can’t aim to do more in the future. Because I will – that is my freedom.

Minutes for the Minuscule Shourjya Majumder

I walk alone, under the dark wispy clouds. The dim light from the moon is barely enough for me to find my way up the dark slippery stairs. Most people are heading back to their homes at the hour of 8:30, but I am going to a class: A class without a professor or a TA, but instructors are awaiting my arrival. My classroom is room 309 Illick. My instructors are so small; I must view them under a microscope. These tiny instructors are more powerful than any TA or Professor I ever had during my time here at ESF. They control my free time, absorb my effort, and dictate my life. They reside in tiny cylindrical houses in two large incubators, living in their stress-free blue world. They do not even sense my presence, as each and every one of the instructors’ homes is broken into. All are taken, against their will, to the Chamber of Death. This Chamber of Death robs my instructors of all their senses, as they fall into a deep sleep. When they are senseless, they are gently escorted under a microscope where every feature of them is visible. The males are separated from the females, each individual of each sex placed in a freshly made home. They are each given new addresses, and allowed re-entry into their world, the incubator. My work here is done. I am free from the miniature’s control for another five days, until I am forced to eradicate them and extract their offspring for future analysis.

The Knothole’s Contributors

Co-Managing Editors: Grace Belisle & Isabella Kaplan Head Layout: Scott M. Przybyla Jr. Treasurer: Mark Tepper Layout Staff: Mark Tepper, Scott M. Przybyla Jr. Editorial Staff: Katie Oran, Grace Anderson, LJ Jerome, Carly Benson Advisor: Karen Moore

What You Didn’t Get an Email About Anonymous

This past semester I learned that I am not safe on campus in broad day light. A group of men decided that it was okay to do whatever they felt like to my body without my consent. Walking on campus, five males who are not students at Syracuse University or SUNY ESF walked by me and one male grabbed me inappropriately. In shock, I turned around to scream at them. They were giggling like little girls, thinking it was great that they invaded my privacy, touching me in an intimate area without my consent. It was a quick action, no further drama ensued. I quickly shuffled home, turning around repeatedly to make sure they were not behind me. I felt anxious and scared. I felt vulnerable; these men had robbed me of my sense of security. I came home and told my roommate what had happened. She was shocked, but I tried to just brush it off. I went to the grocery store alone, but my thoughts followed me. My feelings took a sharp turn while maneuvering around the store. I went from being anxious and vulnerable, to angry. My anger started to consume me. I could not stop thinking about the incident. Why didn’t I report it right then? Why didn’t I protect myself? I couldn’t shake the feeling like I could’ve done something more. I thought of how I let myself down. I didn’t finish grocery shopping, but I paid for the items in my hands and left. After coming home from the grocery store, I was hurting. I felt like screaming, like I should’ve done more, like I should’ve acted violently, but most of all, I felt “rapeable”. I started to victim blame myself. I thought it was my fault, I shouldn’t be walking alone, and I should’ve done something to protect myself. I

called ESF police to try to find some justice, but was given, “It didn’t happen on ESF property so there is nothing I can do.” I felt as though I was making too much of a big deal out of my incident, and ESF police reassured that idea. I tried to let it go by watching a few light-hearted movies and getting some homework done, but my mind decided otherwise. It only wanted to replay the event again and again. This was not the first time I had been sexually assaulted. I had been assaulted on another campus a couple of years ago. This event was also very traumatic and left me in a very fragile state for a long time. I remembered how I felt then, and it was clear I was feeling the same emotions now: disappointment, vulnerable, scared, alone and defenseless. These ideas consumed me and broke me down. I felt worse and worse as the night went on. Flashbacks of my previous assault and this assault appeared in my head. I tried to focus on my exams but instead, I cried. I cried a lot. I sought my good friends’ help and they connected me with people who were able to take charge of what happened to me. I met with two amazing women who provided me with support and clarity about my emotions and the incident. They were upset with the response of the ESF police and are actively pursuing a change in protocol to make sure this situation is taken seriously. I have been in contact with DPS and the counseling center in regards to this event and have been eternally grateful for their kindness and understanding. Since then, I have actively tried to help women who may be in terrible situations. We were having a small Halloween party at my apartment on the Friday before Halloween when a younger girl

came stumbling through my door extremely intoxicated. She asked us where our bathroom was and the other people in my apartment tried to push her out. We had several drunk girls dressed in costume stumble into our apartment that night trying to find their way to a neighborâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s frat party. However, this girl was different. She began to cry when my friends were trying to push her out, so I grabbed her hand and took her to our bathroom. Her costume was falling off of her as she wept. She told me she did not know where she was or how to get home. Worse of all, she told me that the boys in the frat were trying to get her into a room alone and were telling her the things they would do to her. She told me that they were giving her drink after drink and making uncomfortable advances at her. She tried to get her friends to help her, but her friends were feeding into the boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; behavior. My friends and I all walked her back to her dorm. The entire walk over she repeatedly told me how grateful she was for me, how hurt she was by her friends who would not help her but most of all, how she knew she was going to be raped that night if she did not find a way out. I thank God every single day that she stumbled into my apartment. Sexual assault. It happens to every one in five women. It happened to me. It could have happened to her. It happens all the time. Most of these women have endured this traumatic event during their college years. We are a part of a terrible statistic. A statistic that is ignored and keeps growing. We are a group of women that society has let down by promoting the degradation of women and rape culture. It is not too late to change this societal ideal. The women in this statistic need to speak up and let their pain be known. They must actively

seek change and make society care about this ever growing problem. If they do not, more and more women will slip through the cracks. Our lives matter too much to just slip through the cracks, Speak up, if not for you, then for the other women who have endured this pain.

Horoscopes Zac Alger

Aries: Your quest for enlightenment is over. Do yourself a favor and buy my self-help VHS collection titled “Shut up, listen, Enlightenment.”

Taurus: You will be tricked into a costly real estate scam. Please don’t cry onto my article. Don’t you think that’s a little disrespectful?

Gemini: DO NOT accept the goblin’s offer to trade your black magic for his “mystic beans.”

Cancer: You will be blessed with the gift of . . . hold on a second. It appears I’ve confused two zodiac signs. Cancers will actually spill hot sauce all over their favorite shirt.

Leo: So if I have this correct, Leos will be blessed with the gift of eternal youth.

Virgo: Your roommates have shown you little respect as of late. It is vital that you establish a class hierarchy within the dorm, making it very clear you’re on top.

Libra: You will mistake the local renaissance fair for reality and attempt to overthrow the fair organizer.

Scorpio: Just like a Phoenix that rises from the ashes, you too will experience reincarnation and temperatures that exceed 300 degrees Fahrenheit throughout this week.

Sagittarius: Eir, Nordic goddess of healing and mercy, will curse your soul with temporary darkness. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s having a bad day.

Capricorn: Your low self-esteem can be reversed very easily. Challenge one of your older relatives to a race, and make sure he or she has no history of athleticism.

Aquarius: A heavenly light will shine down on you this afternoon. Get inside ASAP, as the ultraviolet radiation is ten-fold.

Pisces: The magical mystery tour will finally take you away.

Simplicity over Toxicity: A Guide to a Chemical Free Lifestyle

Miranda Cordiale Winter is at our doorstep, and if you

are anything like me that means one thing: dry skin. Most lotions available are chock full of harmful chemicals such as parabens (a chemical recognized by your body as estrogen, disrupting the endocrine system), petrolatum (a carcinogen), and nano zinc oxide (which travels in your nerves). This recipe for a homemade, chemical-free lotion will leave your skin feeling silky smooth with natural ingredients. What you need: A Jar Raw Shea Butter or Raw Cocoa Butter Coconut oil (Unrefined) Olive Oil Essential Oils of your Choice How to do it: Take 3 parts coconut oil for every 1 part shea butter or cocoa butter. Combine the shea butter, coconut oil and one teaspoon of olive oil into a jar. Place the jar into a sauce pan with boiling water and allow the ingredients to melt, stirring every so often. Once the ingredients have melted, add 10-15 drops of essential oils if your jar is relatively small, and 20-30 drops if your jar is rather large. The coconut oil will solidify after a little while, creating a hard lotion. Suggestions: I prefer cocoa butter over shea butter because I love the smell of chocolate. Also, if you are looking to have healthy skin and smell like your favorite winter drink, I suggest using an

http://www.lebeurreshop.com/

essential oil such as peppermint, eucalyptus, or tea tree. Not only are these oils amazing for your skin, they smell minty and will give you a mint-chocolate smell when combined with cocoa butter. Enjoy your smooth skin to get through the post holiday blues! BONUS: You can also use this recipe in place of shaving cream. It helps keep your skin hydrated as you shave away and also protects you from the chemical isobutene, a carcinogen found in shaving creams. Lotion and shaving cream all in one. You simply cannot beat that!

ASK A NUT Dear Nut, Lately, I’ve been feeling rather homesick. College is fun, and living away from home has been a great experience so far, but I just can’t get rid of the feeling that I’m missing out on everything going on in my hometown. I’ve made a lot of friends here, but I really miss my friends and family from back home. I don’t really have time to visit for a weekend because of schoolwork. What are some ways that I can cure this homesickness? Sincerely, Homesick

Dear Homesick, First of all, I’d like to congratulate you on making the correct decision to not go home, even though you really wanted to. When all is said and done, schoolwork is 100% more important than visiting your loved ones. If you even let yourself relax for one weekend, you could risk falling behind in school and ruining your future for all of eternity. Remember, tedious homework always takes priority over your happiness. Now, there are several things that you can do to beat the homesickness. Your best option is probably to blow up a bunch of balloons and tape pictures of your family and friends from back home on them. Talk to these balloons whenever you are feeling homesick, I promise that your roommates won’t think that you’re weird. If you don’t have access to balloons, you could try convincing your college friends to behave and dress exactly like your friends and family from back home (again, I promise that no-one will think that you’re weird). As a last ditch effort, you could try Skyping with the people you miss, but I think the first two suggestions are a bit less of a hassle. Everyone gets homesick, but I promise you that once you see your family again over winter break, you’ll wonder why you even missed them in the first place. Nut

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