CAN’T MAKE THIS SH*T UP This magazine is funded in part by GSB SPRING 2014
Students take on parenthood
Melvin Ejim talks Iowa State | Out of this world: One-on-one with an astronaut Quench your thirst beyond Campustown | She survived the worst tsunami in recent history 1
spring 2014 staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kiana Roppe MANAGING EDITOR Dallas Daws ARTICLES EDITOR Abby Gilman VISUALS EDITOR Liz Zabel CREATIVE DIRECTORS Emerald Klauer Mackenzie Ferguson MANAGING ONLINE EDITOR Andreas Haffar ONLINE EDITOR Traer Schon PUBLIC RELATIONS & SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Kelly Schiro ADVERTISING DIRECTORS Bethany Lozier Jeremy Andrews COPY EDITOR Jessica Tull
WRITERS Michelle Brugioni Rachel Vipond Nicole Presley Bailey McGrath Jack Carney Colby Burnight Ashley Buckowing DESIGNERS Jordan Welch Sarah Vance Becky Eilers Jessica Bartemes Renae Meines Sarah Neighbour Mitchell Yoon Stephanie Breen Janaye Clifford Shelby Erickson Brittany Long Barbra Blecker Alexandria Collins PHOTOGRAPHERS Riley Eveleth Dani Berger Suhaib Tawil Dale Johnson Sindhuja Ram Nick Frazier Rahemma Mayfield PUBLIC RELATIONS & SOCIAL MEDIA Jamie Wandschneider Xairia Opperman
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Thoughts
what’s
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Editor’s Letter
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Don’t be the Person Who…
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Nuggets of information to keep your inner douche at bay
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Graduating seniors say final farewell
A Lesson in Comedy Honors students learn the tricks of the trade
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WDYTYA: Clayton Anderson
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Onalie
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Two Minutes to Positive
The Science of War You know the atomic bomb? Iowa State had a hand in that
The Truth About Feminism What does it mean to be a feminist today? We take a look
Around Ames
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Lifestyle
Hail to ISU
On Campus
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inside
In a campus not far away...
How Smart People Do It Seven tips to study like a pro
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Bar Guide: City Style
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150 Years of the Unexpected
A true story of survival
A pregnancy test changed the lives of these ISU couples
Entertainment
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That’s What That Means?!
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Hazy Hollywood Flicks
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Football Returns Home
Words mean more than you might have thought
Movies to toke up to
A look at Brazil’s World Cup
Passion
Thirsty? We have you covered
Where the Titanic, actor Nick Nolte and ethanol collide
A look into the life of an astronaut
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Tinder Encounters
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Kinkiest Places in Ames
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Finding That Special Someone
An app can change your life...or just your night
Vist three kinky hot spots in Ames
Love and technology: Do they mix?
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a letter from College is a lot like Star Wars. You merely have to look around to see it: bored students in every classroom closely resemble the robotic aspect of droids. Some robotlike students are entertaining like R2-D2 but others—who resemble C-3P0—can be annoying know-it-alls. There are two main types of lecturer: nurturing like Obi-wan Kanobi or (more commonly) difficult to understand like Yoda. For some online classes, a modern hologram consists of instructors video taping themselves talking. The engineers on campus resemble hairless Chewbaccas—they know how to fix things and when they try to explain it to you, it just sounds like gibberish. Actually, this may go for just about anyone in a major that you know practically nothing about. Daily, we face the battle between good and evil. However, the definition of what is good and evil depends on the student. To some, sleep may be a tactic the Galactic Empire is using to lure students away from their homework, while to others, homework itself is a form of torture the Empire is using to keep us from mug night. Luckily, we have a few stories to pick you up when the Empire has you down. A Star Wars timeline—because, why not?—is on page 20. If you want to know what space is like from an actual space traveler, check out “WDYTYA” on page 38. Page 8 is where you will find mind-bending movies and a recommended strain to accompany them in “Hazy Hollywood Flicks” Whichever side you choose and whichever stories you decide to read, I leave you with a friendly farewell: May the force be with you.
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A LESSON IN
COMEDY Becoming the next Joan Rivers or Bill Cosby could be as easy as taking a class. BY Nicole presley DESIGN JANAYE CLIFFORD Teaching students the basics in comedy, professional entertainer Gavin Jerome and Dr. Peter Orazem show students how to get a laugh in an Iowa State honors seminar called Comedy College. The seminar is offered exclusively in the fall to honors seminar students. Technically, Jerome could only help teach the class since he isn’t a licensed instructor, so Orazem, an economics professor at Iowa State University and Teaching Assistant for Comedy College, accompanied Jerome in every class. “That was the tricky part,” Jerome says. “When I came in to teach the class I had to teach it with him since I’m not a full licensed instructor.” Before Iowa State, Jerome taught a class called “Gavin Jerome’s Comedy College,” a private seminar through Adult Education in Des Moines. It eventually made its way to Ames. “[Jerome] was offering a class called Comedy College through the local Toastmaster’s Club,” Orazem says. “One of the guys at church, Roman Lynch...runs the Midnight Madness Road Race in July every summer for Ames. He said, ‘You know you’re a funny guy, you ought to try this.’ And so that’s how I got into it.” According to Jerome, the honor society decides what honors seminar classes will help a student succeed in the businessworld, and they decided this class fit the bill. For example, knowing how to communicate effectively, speaking in public and knowing how to make someone laugh are considered important abilities to posses within the job market. “The honors seminar people had been approaching [Orazem] for quite a long time to teach the class,” Jerome says. “He wasn’t the instructor; he took my [comedy] class a few years back. He said ‘Well I’ll put Gavin in touch with you and see if we can’t get something going.’ He and I talked about it and then I sat down with the powers that be at Iowa State and next thing you know, here we are.”
The class doesn’t have written tests and is a pass-fail course. Jerome focuses on four main skills throughout the semester: joke writing, joke telling, improvement in sense of humor and an understanding of the comedy ‘tricks of the trade’ that have been passed down from previous generations. Lab work and putting what they learn into practice takes up the bulk of class time. Students learn how to create different types of jokes as well as how to form ideas and use those ideas to make their “bit” or sketch. Using those ideas, students put jokes together and edit them to fit the style of joke they’re trying to tell.
“After you get on stage and get that first laugh from the crowd, it’s one of the best and unique experiences you could ask for.” “Almost every lecture, we would go up to the front of the room and everyone had to tell a joke that they had written for each week,” says Jacob Sporrer, senior in materials engineering who took the class last fall. Since the class doesn’t have written tests, Jerome has the students perform a showcase at the Maintenance Shop in the Memorial Union at the end of the semester. The Showcase is considered their final. “Every great comedian has spent a lot of time structuring their stories or their bits.
They’re not just random bits of thought. Even the ones who look like they’re doing stream of consciousness have spent a lot of time worrying about how to make it look like stream of consciousness,” Orazem says. The students have to elicit at least one laugh from the audience in order to pass the class. “If they bomb and don’t get any laughs then I gotta fail ‘em, but everybody did a great job. They all got lots of laughs, so they all passed,” Jerome says. “Showcase was absolutely nerve-racking at first, of course,” says Addie Reis, a former Comedy College student. “After you get on stage and get that first laugh from the crowd, it’s one of the best and unique experiences you could ask for.” Nine students performed the first night of the Showcase and eight on the second. The current class limit is 17 students. It may eventually be offered in the spring, in addition to the fall semester. Jerome says the class isn’t offered this spring because they are trying to “get a couple of little details put in line.” The class is in the process of becoming available university-wide to all students. Jerome is also working to obtain the credentials necessary to become a fulltime professor. “I’m so proud of these students,” Jerome says. “It was the first time it was offered. I told them on the first class ‘This is going to be really successful or we’re going to go down in a big ball of flames,’ and it was really successful. All 17 students did a fantastic job and we’re looking forward to offering this for a really long time in the future.”
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QUICKIES
BY Traer Schon, Rachel Vipond, AND ETHOS STAFF DESIGN SHELBY ERICKSON PHOTO Suhaib TAWIL
HOW SMART PEOPLE DO IT RELEASE YOUR INNER NERD WITH THESE EASY TO FOLLOW STUDY TECHNIQUES Studying is like puberty: everyone has to go through it at some point, but that doesn’t make it any more fun. We all know the feeling—it’s late at night, you’re falling asleep, but you’re still trying to feign interest in your surprisingly challenging Geology 101 book. It feels like you’re reading the same sentence over and over. It feels like you’re reading the same sentence over and over. Luckily, studying doesn’t have to be this way. We’ve put together a few unique studying techniques that will help you ace your tests without killing your soul.
1. Reward yourself. This one involves treating yourself like a dog—in a good way. The general idea is to place a gummy bear (or some sort of treat) at the end of a paragraph or line in a notebook, and when you get to that point, you are free to consume the treat! This relies on a decent amount of self-restraint, but the waiting just
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makes it taste that much better. Tip: To save money and preserve your life, do not try using lines of cocaine for this method.
2. Write a story. English majors, this one could be for you. “I once tried making everything I had to know into a story, with characters, a plot, everything,” says freshman Kourtney Kostecki. This sounds entertaining, and who knows, you may just write the next “Harry Potter” series while studying for chemistry. Unfortunately, it’s not the quickest method. Kostecki explained, “It worked, but it took way too long to do for every little test or quiz.”
3. Dance it out. All right, so you don’t have to go full-on Hannah Montana’s “Bone Dance” for this, but some people find that assigning movements to particular phrases or words
helps with memorization. These movements don’t have to be elaborate—it could be something as simple as a hand gesture. Although, if twerking in the library will help you study for an upcoming biology exam, go for it. (Just be prepared to star in a few strangers’ Snapchat videos.)
4. Procrastination. It’s not the most effective, but it’s definitely the easiest. More on this later.
5. Immersion. If you’re studying for a foreign language class, this could be beneficial. “I used to watch Spanish soap operas and news in order to prepare for Spanish oral exams,” says Hallie Golay, graduate student in political science. Computer science majors, feel free to try speaking in only ones and zeros. It might not help, but it would definitely be entertaining.
6. Write a song. We’ve all had to sit through some of those painful educational parody videos, but sometimes making a song, chant or rap out of your study material can really help it sink in. Tip: To get a lot of “A”s, try studying to the tune of Rihanna’s “Umbrella.”
7. Turn your room into a study guide. “I put Post-it notes up all over my apartment to study for the GRE vocabulary,” recalls former Iowa State student Julia Hetzel. “I had them everywhere…even my shower. They were in places that were associated with their definitions so I could remember them during the exam. Gullible was literally on the ceiling.” This one sounds like a lot of work, but it may just be worth it in the end—if nothing else, you’ll have some new decorations! Not all of these study tips may work for you, but hopefully one or two will be helpful. If not, there’s always the most fun and least stressful method: not studying at all.
THAT’S WHAT THAT MEANS?! WORDS ARE WEIRD. Check out the surprising origins of a few that are frequently used. Definitions are courtesy of the Online Etymology Dictionary; the etymological roots of these words may change the way you think about them.
Muscle Next time you show off your guns, do your best not to imagine mice under your skin. The word is from the Latin musculus, or a “little mouse” running beneath the skin when you flex.
Whiskey When you’re pouring yourself a drink this weekend, consider that the word “whiskey” originates from the Gaelic uisge beatha, literally translated as “water of life.” Be wary—eight cups a day of this water may not be recommended.
Third Degree What exactly does giving someone the “third degree” mean? The phrase likely originates with Freemasonry, in which the third degree of Master Masons is the highest. The initiation for this ranking is rigorous and intense.
Jeans Have you ever wondered why we call our favorite denim pants “jeans”? Originally spelled “Gene,” they are named after the first city to manufacture denim cloth: Genoa, Italy.
Cheers At your next formal event, remember to smile during the toasts. From the Greek word Kara for face, cheers means “to put on a happy face.”
Essay Early scholars considered essays a “modest attempt to put ideas on paper.” The word originates with the French essayer, “to try.” So even if you don’t get a great score on your next paper, at least you tried, right?
Salary The word salary can be traced back to the Latin salarius, “pertaining to salt,” in reference to the salt Roman soldiers were paid for their work as a form of currency.
DON’T BE THE PERSON WHO... Comes in like a wrecking ball… that was so 2013 Hogs the beer pong table Brags about their awesome internships Asks graduates what they’re doing with their lives Spoils TV shows, movies, books, etc. Is a compliment whore
Posts the same picture with different filters Gets attacked by the crows Still plays Flappy Bird Eats loud food in the library Tweets every second of your life Retweets every compliment you get Moonlights as a Facebook philosopher 7
HAZY H O L LY N -
FLICKS
Getting high is even more interesting when you watch the right movie—we have you covered. 8
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BY Colby Burnight DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION EMERALD KLAUER PHOTO LIZ ZABEL If you’re a fan of Mary Jane, then you already know how cannabis enhances the movie viewing experience. You laugh harder, become more engaged and become more perplexed by the twists and turns of the narratives. This list could have had any number of worthy movies on it, complete with classics such as “Fight Club” and “Pineapple Express,” but I’ve decided to compile a list of personal favorites that includes stoner staples as well as lesser-known titles. So settle in, roll a fat one and happy smoking. Warning: Ethos is not responsible for contact highs as a result of viewing these films.
Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) This cult classic stars Tim Curry as the crazed Dr. Frank-N-Furter, who plays host to a young married couple seeking refuge from a storm. The conservative young couple’s world is flipped upside down when they walk in on the unveiling of the doctor’s latest creation. The film is an interesting combination of musical, comedy and horror that is sure to leave an unsuspecting stoner laughing with confusion.
Where to find it: iTunes, Amazon Instant Video Recommended strain: 707 Headband
John Dies at the End (2012) Imagine a drug that allows you to remember things before they happened. That’s the centerpiece of this dark comedyhorror hybrid. The film is about a drug that allows the user to see the into the future, leading to some bizarre plot twists that will leave you constantly guessing what happens next. The result is a mind-bending experience; a horror-thriller hybrid.
Where to find it: Netflix, Google Play Recommended strain: Green Crack
Pi (1998) At the beginning, the protagonist, Max Cohen, introduces us to his creed in the form of three assumptions: “One, mathematics is the language of nature. Two, everything around us can be represented and understood through numbers. Three, if you graph these numbers, patterns emerge. Therefore: There are patterns everywhere in nature.” His pursuit of a pattern in the stock market sends him down a path of self-destruction full of twists and turns. This movie isn’t just about numbers and theory; rather, it’s a psychological thriller shot in high-contrast black and white, which produces visuals just as mind-bending as the story.
Where to find it: Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Google Play
Recommended Strain: Trainwreck
Heat Vision and Jack (1999)
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Chances are you’ve never heard of this sci-fi comedy starring Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson and Jack Black from the late ’90s. Okay well, it’s not really a movie but rather a television pilot that was never picked up, leaving a single episode that acts as a short film to preview what could have been (and only became public recently thanks to YouTube). In the episode, Black plays an astronaut who acquired super human intelligence after getting too close to the sun. The catch is that his powers only work when the sun is up, resulting in comical situations when he is forced to shift between the two mindsets. And oh yeah, did I mention that Heat Vision, his sidekick played by Wilson, is Jack’s old burnout roommate whose liveliness has merged with a motorcycle?
Any movie by Stanley Kubrick could be included in this list. He is considered one of the most influential directors of all time across a variety of genres. The film unfolds over a four-part epic in which humanity has encountered mysterious enigmatic monoliths and is traveling to Jupiter to seek one out. Kubrick’s purpose was to propose deep philosophical questions about man by using minimalist performances and stylized visuals. This approach had a great impact on the cerebral-science fiction movies that smokers have grown to love so dearly.
Where to find it: YouTube Recommended strain: Skywalker OG
Where to find it: iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, Google Play
Recommended strain: Northern Lights
Wizard People, Dear Reader (2004)
This cult classic has long been a favorite of stoners looking for a cerebral movie to ponder with elevated consciousness. The titular character is a deeply troubled high schooler who begins to see signs of the end of the world and searches for the meaning of the clues. The science fiction exploration of time and space is presented in such a mind-blowing fashion that you’ll have to watch it again just to piece everything together.
This is also not a movie in the traditional sense; it’s actually a soundtrack created by comic book artist Brad Neely that’s meant to be played over a muted “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” The soundtrack which can be found on YouTube in the form of a playlist—changes the fantasy movie into a hilarious comedy full of long winded monologues, hyperbolic motifs and vulgarity, satirizing the original. Virtually every line in “Wizard People, Dear Reader” is quotable, and once it hits its stride, you’ll be laughing until the end.
Where to find it: Netflix, Amazon Instant Video Recommended Strain: Bud Bunnie
Where to find it: YouTube Recommended strain: The Purps
The Big Lebowski (1998)
Bonus: “Skewrl” (2011)
This Coen brothers’ classic follows the quintessential stoner played by Jeff Bridges, known as “The Dude,” who bowls instead of finding a job and can’t be found without a White Russian in hand. A crime comedy unfolds as The Dude seeks compensation for a rug destroyed by thugs after they mistake him for a millionaire. Often considered the greatest stoner character of all time, The Dude personifies the stoner mentality with his famous line of passivity, “The Dude abides.”
“Skewrl” is a short film created by Karl Eccleston and Brian Fairbairn, and it’s essentially a movie in fake English. The film features a couple’s conversation over dinner speaking fake English to attempt to show how English sounds to nonspeakers, and it succeeds in perplexing viewers while drawing them in. This effect is increased greatly with marijuana. Oh, what a great highdea.
Donnie Darko (2001)
Where to find it: iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, Google Play
Where to find it: YouTube Recommended strain: Alaskan Thunderf*ck
Recommended strain: California Dreamin’ 9
tinder encounters The dating app Tinder is providing students with a slew of interesting experiences.
*Names were changed to protect the identities of those involved. BY Bailey McGrath DESIGN BARBRA BLECKER PHOTO SUHAIB TAWIL
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Fail Kendra*, senior in agricultural business, finally downloaded Tinder after constant pestering from her friends. Within a couple of weeks of downloading the app, Kendra had met two guys. While her first date went well, her second date out was anything but a romantic night out.She should’ve known right away that he was a little creepy. “He told me he was looking for whatever was out there. I should have known that as my first clue of, this guy’s kind of a creeper,” Kendra says. He asked her to go to a movie she had been dying to see, “The Hobbit,” so she agreed to go. She figured, why not? It was a free movie. When the night of the date arrived, Kendra became very hesitant to go. She lied and told him that she had to work late and couldn’t go to the movie, but he was very persistent. He was more than willing to work around her work schedule.
“
What’s running through my head is like, seriously this app. I got this app as a joke and look what happened. Are you kidding me right now?
“He was like, ‘do you mind if we go Dutch?’” Kendra says. “I was like are you kidding me? You’re going to make me pay for my own ticket?” To add to her frustration, “The Hobbit” was not playing in Ames, so Kendra had to drive all the way to Des Moines to meet her date. Kendra made sure two of her guy friends from work were checking up on her periodically throughout the night. After asking for one ticket at the ticket office, Kendra realized she had been charged for two tickets when she heard the clerk say, “$22.50.” “I didn’t have the heart to say no, so I bought this guy his ticket,” Kendra says. The date didn’t get any better. Kendra’s date was telling her a lot of personal information that she was not comfortable hearing. During the movie, he rested his hand on her leg slowly creeping it up until she pushed it away. He was constantly talking about the movie and trying to slide his arm around her. Kendra was relieved when the date was over. When it was time to go their separate ways, Kendra’s date gave her a hug and said, “We should do this again.” Kendra has no intention of meeting up with this Tinder match again and says she is very glad she had friends checking up on her. You never know the kind of person you’ll be meeting up with, she says.
Blazing Encounter As Chris Hiserote, sophomore in pre-business, was contemplating driving to one of his Tinder match’s house to meet her for the first time, he couldn’t help but to be a little sketched out, thinking, “this chick is just randomly inviting me over to her place.”
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So, she finally agreed to go. After she had already agreed, she realized he was going to make her pay.
Chris had messaged her a corny line on Tinder, and they talked for a couple of days but stopped. After about four days Chris heard from the girl again, telling him to text her. She then persuaded him to go over to her place. It was a Sunday night and he didn’t have anything else to do, so he decided to take her up on her offer. Chris hopped in his car and cruised to her house still a little confused. His Tinder match greeted him at the door and showed him around her house. Chris, being the outgoing guy he is, made things normal and kept conversation going. “You can go upstairs if you want,” the girl tells him after a short time. Chris made his way upstairs and into her bedroom doorway, shocked to see the room covered in papers, marijuana seeds and paraphernalia. He didn’t have a problem with it, so he awkwardly stood beside her bed, not knowing what to do. She told him to sit down, and the next thing he knew she was straddling his lap. “She wasn’t even shy about it. She just walks up to me and straddles me and starts making out with me,” Chris says. One thing led to another and the two ended up hooking up. Afterward she offered him a bowl and a massage as they talked until about 2 a.m. “What’s running through my head is like, seriously this app. I got this app as a joke and look what happened. Are you kidding me right now?” Chris says. Chris eventually had to leave so he could get up for his 9 a.m. class, but he sat in his car for about five minutes before heading home, bewildered by what messing around on a phone app had brought him. Chris says he hasn’t heard from her since or tried to message her, but he wouldn’t be opposed to another casual hangout. Tinder definitely gave him a fiery experience.
Tinderella Story When first getting Tinder, Britney*, junior in psychology and history, did not take it seriously. She definitely wasn’t expecting to meet anyone after getting message after message asking her to meet up for a party or go to the bars. To her surprise, that’s exactly what happened. After messaging a guy for about a day and a half, she realized that there was something different about him, and the two exchanged numbers. They could hold a conversation all day long, and it was nothing about parties. Four days later, Britney and her Tinder match met up at the library. “I was nervous…you’re thinking, I hope he looks like his pictures, and you don’t want the other person to be disappointed in what you look like—in real light not behind a filter,” Britney says. The conversation flowed, and her Tinder match asked her on a date to Orange Leaf two days later. They arrived around 7:30 p.m. and were caught up in conversation until the restaurant closed. “We just got along really, really well, and… sparks flew that night,” Britney says. Things progressed from there. The two started dating in November, with their three month anniversary landing on Valentine’s Day. Britney says she might not have ever met her boyfriend without matching with him on Tinder. The two often say they met at the library because of the stigma with dating apps and sites. “We’re in a relationship. It’s great; I love it. It feels like a normal relationship,” Britney says. “Just because it started in a different way doesn’t mean it’s remained different.”
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*Names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved. BY Kelly Schiro DESIGN MADISON JERDE
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ROMANTIX Times are changing and people are becoming more comfortable with their sexuality, especially since the release of “Fifty Shades of Grey.” This results in a desire to spice things up in the bedroom, and though Ames isn’t one of the kinkiest places in the world, there are a few places you can go to get your kink on. Romantix is the only adult retailer in Ames according to store manager Sarah*. Romantix caters to the kinks of a wide audience. Sarah says when she first started working there eight years ago, she saw a lot of the younger crowd and every now and then, would see people in the 30- to 50year-old range. Since “Fifty Shades of Grey” came out, Sarah has seen a lot more people coming in the store and asking for some of the toys used in the book. Customers wanted to know what the toys were used for and whether Romantix carried it. Ben-wa balls—small balls used as sexual stimulation for women—in particular were asked about. Sarah says that every Romantix store in the country had ben-wa balls on back-order because the demand was so high. There are about 60 stores nationwide. While most of their customers are males, they have been getting more couples in the store. Greeks are often found buying gag gifts. “When people first come in here, they are extremely uncomfortable,” Sarah says. Customers can be very shy at first, but Sarah says all employees have been trained on how to make customers feel comfortable and to help them get exactly what they want. According to Sarah, one man came in and brought the biggest vibrator they had to the register. He hadn’t discussed getting a toy with his girlfriend, so she told him, “Do you want to keep your girlfriend? Then don’t get that toy, because that will scare her.” Instead, she helped him pick a cuter toy—they’re honest with customers. For newbies, it’s always good to ask questions. Employees have a lot of knowledge they use to steer people in the right direction. For the women, there is a huge selection of vibrators. They have hard vibrators made of plastic and soft vibrators made of gel and silicone. Toys come in different speeds; some have just one speed and others have a couple. Sarah says there was even a toy that could pulse to the beat of music. Recently, there has been an increase in demand for prostate stimulators. They
are prescribed by doctors to help prevent prostate swelling, which could lead to cancer. Just ask, and they can help!
GENTLEMEN’S CLUB If you’re 21+ and looking for a fun night out, why not try the local gentleman’s club? Yes, some people may call it a strip club, but the one in Ames, Dangerous Curves, is a bikini club. Alex*, the bar manager, says all kinds of customers frequent the club. College kids, 85-year-olds, all walks of races and incomes go and enjoy the view. Alex danced at the club when she was in college and now manages it. When it comes to kinds of kink, she says “you get different kinds of things.” There have been customers who bring their own handcuffs, and there was a customer who wore a corset underneath a sweatshirt. Letting your inner kink out is something that is becoming more acceptable these days. There are even some classes for moms that teach pole dancing as an exercise. “People are becoming more comfortable with their sexuality; they feel like they can express themselves without being judged,” Alex says. Strip clubs have been stereotyped as being all about drugs and prostitutes. Alex runs a tight ship at Dangerous Curves; there is absolutely zero tolerance for drugs and prostitution. They don’t want to be thought of as “one of those strip clubs.” The rumor that all strippers are prostitutes is completely untrue, Alex says. If she even hears of a stripper being asked to be part of a prostitution situation, she will ask the customer to leave. She says she hires women based on character, who are comfortable in their own skin and generally down-to-earth. Dangerous Curves tries to have a more relaxed atmosphere. The music isn’t crazy upbeat or loud. Alex believes that building a relationship with a customer and having a conversation is more important than just being a strip club. “Don’t judge us; give us a try,” she says.
BONDAGE Cuffs is ISU’s BDSM Club. For those new to the subject area, BDSM stands for “Bondage and Discipline/Domination and Submission/Sadomasochism.” Cuffs member Mitchell* says there are many definitions of BDSM.
the body, including restriction of the senses—hearing and seeing. Domination and submission is more of the mental aspect. It could include playing with emotions, role playing and recalling memories—good and bad. Sadomasochism is the pleasure-as-well-aspain aspect. Mitchell says sadism the the act of giving pleasure to someone, whereas masochism is receiving the pleasure, pain or humiliation. Meetings take place Thursday nights at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Union. Exact locations vary from meeting to meeting. At a typical meeting, the executive board goes through introductions, states the privacy policy and hosts a presenter on a BDSM topic. Mitchell says the privacy policy is “don’t out someone,” as not everybody is ready to have their sexuality made public. “Once we leave that room, we’re a standard college student getting a degree,” he says. In the past, there have been presenters on pervertables, age-play and impact toys. The normal attendance ranges from 10 to 15 people. Cuffs’ most attended meeting is their bi-annual ropes meeting, when about 30 people show up. Mitchell says the BDSM community has grown in good ways and bad. “You can find all sorts of people at BDSM meetings: white, black, Asian, lesbians, transexuals, bisexuals—you get everything. It’s a very diverse group.” He thinks “Fifty Shades of Grey” gives BDSM a bad image. According to Mitchell, “people will read it and say ‘That’s easy; I can do that,’” when in truth, it can be really dangerous. If people are going to try out ropes or other toys, they should at least research the topic and have a basic knowledge of how to play safe. If they’re too shy to go to a BDSM meeting, then he suggests looking at online forums and communities for guidance. According to Mitchell, ropes are the easiest to understand and demonstrate, and they can include cuffs and simple restraints. He says that if you don’t get the basics down, it’s harder to do the more advanced stuff. Cuffs is a good introduction for beginners because they teach you about safety. The club is open to everyone, not just students. Mitchell invites students to attend a meeting and just sit and listen. “It is something different—intriguing, exciting and not what other people are doing,” he says.
According to Mitchell, generally bondage and discipline refer to the restriction of
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There’s more to the Ames bar scene than Welch Ave. Who knows, maybe one of these places will become your new watering hole.
CITY GUIDE:
BAR STYLE
BY Dallas Daws DESIGN RENAE MEINES PHOTO Dale Johnson
We know you love heading down to Welch where the music blasts and mug night prevails, but step away from Campustown and you’ll find a unique array of bars attracting more than the average college crowd. We also know that being a broke college student is no joke, so remember, more mugs next to the bar means more money out of your pocket.
MOTHER’S PUB Just a short walk from Campustown on West Street, Mother’s offers a small, intimate scene with fun drinks, plenty of seating, and a mix of personalities and ages. With live music and TVs tuned to the big game, there’s something for everyone.
SPECIALS
THUMBS Up the road from Mother’s, Thumbs lives up to its name—it’s not much bigger than your thumb. This hole-in-the-wall bar offers a cozy setting, wide range of locals, and pool and foosball tables to entertain, as well as an outdoor deck. You aren’t going to find dancing—or even walking—room, but you’ll certainly never have the same experience twice.
Aside from their daily happy hour between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.—which offers twofer domestics and wells—they also have nightly specials between $1 and $4 to keep your wallet satisfied.
SPECIALS
WHAT TO ORDER
Find great deals all week and stop in anytime on Sundays for their daylong Happy Hour.
Mother’s Milk: their take on the classic White Russian. It’ll taste like you’re drinking an iced coffee, but don’t let that fool you—it packs a punch.
Green Tree Frog—Thumb’s own secret recipe, go check it out for yourself!
WHEN TO GO
WHEN TO GO
Most of their live shows fall on Thursday, Friday or Saturday, with a cover charge between $3 and $5. If you want to be around people, the earlier the better. It clears out around midnight as the party-people make their way to Campustown and older folks make their way home.
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WHAT TO ORDER
The booze is always cheap, but be sure to stop in for 75 cent Gin and Tonic night every Thursday.
WHISKEY RIVER Prepare to see the unexpected as you make your way down the road from London Underground to the multiple personality bar that is Whiskey River. Club music blasts while a giant moose head hangs on the wall. Country music swoons and groups of people as diverse as the decor chat on benches and bar tables. Best part is, you can just spend some time people watching as you grab a late bite to eat!
SPECIALS Join Whiskey River for Happy Hour Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 pm for $2.75 wells and bottles and find specials every night except Saturday!
WHEN TO GO During Sunday Funday, Whiskey River offers a Bloody Mary Bar from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. where you can grab a deluxe Bloody Mary and breakfast for only $10. It’s a great way to stave off that Saturday night hangover.
LONDON UNDERGROUND In the heart of Main Street, London Underground is like stepping into a cozy pub. English memorabilia lines the walls mixing with new technology. A mix of wooden booths and open seating invites people interested in mingling with old friends and making new. With around 50 different beers at any given point, you will find more tulip glasses filled with craft beers like Old Rasputin than bottles of Bud Light.
SPECIALS Go for Happy Hour any day of the week ‘til 7 pm or enjoy one of their nightly specials, like $1 PBR on Mondays, $2 off pitchers on Fridays and $3 Bloody Marys on Sundays.
WHEN TO GO London Underground fills up quickly on the weekends, go earlier to grab a booth or table.
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DELLA VITI
DG’s TAP HOUSE
Self. Serve. Wine. Need I say more? With 48 different varieties of wine, as well as a full service bar with liquor and craft beer, you can jazz up a tasteful evening out right in Ames. Try a taste of wine or grab half or full pour if you don’t mind spending a little more. If you’re a true wine-o, you can even join their monthly wine club.
Live music and good beer are just a couple of the draws to DG’s. With 56 beers on tap as well as bottles and liquor, there is something for everyone—so step away from that Coors and have a real beer. Live artists include a range of genres: rock, reggae ska, and folk as well as drag shows and poetry slams. Dance, relax or shoot pool with your friends as you enjoy local and touring talent.
SPECIALS It’s Happy Hour all day long on Sundays at Della Viti. They also have nightly specials on beers and mixed drinks to tide you over between glasses of wine.
WHEN TO GO Grab some friends to enjoy a classy night of sipping wine during the weekends for the most lively atmosphere.
CORNER POCKET Just below DG’s, Corner Pocket hosts a room full of pool tables—what else—or their crowd of middle-aged men and groups in their twenties to knock one back while enjoying a friendly game of billiards.
SPECIALS Corner Pocket has Happy Hour ‘til 6 on weekdays with 50 cents off draws and wells, as well as nightly specials Monday through Thursday.
WHEN TO GO You can join pool league on Monday and Wednesday nights, or stick to casual play any other night.
SPECIALS DG’s has Happy Hour from 4 to 7 pm Tuesday through Saturday. They also offer nightly specials between $1 and $2.50.
WHEN TO GO They host live talent as many as four nights a week. Go online to view their schedule, or pop in on the weekends to check out the colorful crowd.
SPORTSMAN’S LOUNGE A couple doors down, Sportsman’s offers a hangout where you can grab $2 well drinks on Sunday funday, play some shuffleboard and watch sports—just don’t expect to hear the person next to you over the blaring music.
SPECIALS Sundays through Thursdays from 9 pm til close they offer specials ranging from $2 drinks to $6 pitchers.
WHEN TO GO Go on the weekends to enjoy a larger crowd.
Worried about getting home? We understand, so we found your solution for you. From Main Street: Walk east on Main a couple blocks to Duff Ave and meet the bus stop just to the north of the corner. CyRide’s Moonlight Express shuttle A will be there periodically to take you where you need to go. From West Street: Lincoln Way is just a couple blocks south of West Street, where you can catch the Moonlight Express shuttle A at the corner of Colorado and Lincoln Way going west or the corner of Wilmoth and Lincoln Way going east.
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FINDING THAT
SPECIAL SOMEONE A look into the college relationship and the effects of social media. BY Kelly Schiro DESIGN SARAH NEIGHBOR PHOTO RILEY EVELETH
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J
ess Engelking, a second year veterinary student, was asked by her boyfriend Dan Kassen, a senior in mechanical engineering, to go to their favorite park, Ada Hayden, after a dinner date last September.
While they were at the park, Jess suggested they go up the hill to their favorite bench. When they approached, Jess noticed a paper bag sitting on the bench. Thinking it was just trash, she was surprised when Dan went to look in the bag. Not knowing where the bag came from, Jess said, “What if we’re walking into someone’s proposal?” Dan then sat Jess down and she began to realize what was going on—it was her proposal. Dan pulled out picture frames with all of the significant places in their relationship. "Where we first met, Aug. 17, 2010" with a picture of the dorm where they both lived. "Where I asked you to be my girlfriend, September 16, 2012." The last one was a picture of the bench where they were sitting on and it said "Where I ask you to marry me, September 6, 2013." Nobody actually knows when or where they will meet their future wife or husband. However, the Huffington Post reported on a study done by Facebook that showed 28 percent of married couples on Facebook met their spouses in college. The way people view couples getting married right out of college has changed in the past 30 or so years, as has the way couples communicate in college.
Too Young? Professor Dr. Jennifer Margarett from the Department of Human Development and Family Studies says people are now waiting a couple of years to get married if they met in college. Margarett says this is “because they are pursuing education and women in particular have more options now compared to previous generations.” Mark and Deb met in the fall of 1979 at Iowa State, fell in love and got married when Deb graduated two years later. They both had jobs doing concessions but they met at a coworkers’ party. After work one night, Deb and her roommate were invited to go a party but her roommate didn’t want to go. A short time later her roommate told her that a guy, Mark, had called and asked if they wanted to go to the party. Her roommate was curious as to why a
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guy they didn’t know invited them to a party so she begged Deb to go.
It is a tight-knit community and alumni often keep in contact with each other.
While they met at the party, Mark and Deb got to know each other through work. Mark says, “I was attracted to the qualities that she possesses—intelligence, humor, kindness and thoughtfulness.”
Erik Sandal, senior in management information systems, has been researching the history of Harwood house, including the residents who live there. Sandal says in the last 20 years there have been seven couples who lived in Harwood and got married and three that are engaged. Dan and Jess are one of the three couples engaged.
Mark, a 1978 ISU graduate of agricultural engineering, had no idea he would meet his future wife in college. He said, “At that time you pretty much left it up to fate, so when it happened, it happened. But I have been thankful for going to work at the Center ever since!” Deb, a 1980 ISU graduate of industrial administration (today’s equivalent of an accounting degree), recalls that about half of her friends married people they met in college. “Getting married shortly after college was not unusual,” she says. Deb couldn’t even guess the amount of weddings she and Mark attended over the two years after college. When asked how society responds to people getting married out of college today, Deb said, “I think it has changed a lot.” People didn’t live together back then and it was normal to get married right out of college. Now she’s just glad her daughters don’t seem to be in a hurry to get married. Margarett’s analysis of the research suggests that some people find spouses during college but the overall average age of marriage has been increasing. However, she still recognizes that a good number of young adults are finding long-term romantic partners in college. According to a Huffington Post article, the average age of marriage for Americans has reached a historic high with the average of women at 27 and the average of men at 29. This is a major jump from 1990 when the average age was 23 for women and 26 for men. While people haven’t outwardly questioned Dan and Jess’s young age, Dan has gotten the impression that their friends might be thinking he and Jess are too young to get married. However, Dan thinks that most people understand that he and Jess are ready to get married. Dan proposed to his girlfriend Jess Engelking this past September. Despite only dating for about a year, they have known each other for over three years. Dan told Jess that he knew from the very first date that they were going to work. They met when Dan moved into Harwood House, located in Old Richardson Court area, as a freshman. Harwood is a well known house among honors students.
Jess was a sophomore when she met Dan. After the first week when she and her roommate met all of the freshman, her roommate asked which one she liked best. Jess said, “Oh, Dan, he seems like a super great guy.” Dan hoped he would find his future wife in college. His brother found a longtime girlfriend within the first three weeks of college and he hoped he would do the same. Dan secretly hoped it would be someone from Harwood. He said, “And the irony was that my future wife lived above me my freshman year and I didn’t realize it until I was out of Harwood.” Jess, a second year veterinary student, had hoped she would meet her future husband in college as well. To her it seemed harder to meet someone outside of college. Despite still being in school, Jess doesn’t think she has gotten the feeling that she’s too young for marriage, even from people her age. Both couples have their special places on campus. For Mark and Deb the ISU Center is special because “we had a lot of good times while we worked there,” according to Mark. Another special place for them is the Agronomy Building, although it has changed since Mark and Deb went to ISU. The old Agronomy courtyard was the location that Mark proposed to Deb. For Dan and Jess one of the benches in front of Catt Hall is special because it’s where they had their first kiss. Ada Hayden park is also a special place for them because they like to take walks there and it’s also where Dan proposed to Jess.
Social Media in Relationships positively]. For instance, it is another outlet for me to get ahold of my significant other (in cases of emergency) when his phone is dead. However, I think it also has the ability to be detrimental to a relationship because it makes it easier to not talk face-to-face, which I think is an important part of a relationship.”
With all of the various social media applications—Facebook, Twitter, Skype—couples today can be in contact with each other at any point of time in the day. There are people who think social media affects the relationship negatively and people who think the opposite. Communication is a big part of a relationship. Jennifer Morey, a professor in psychology at West Virginia University, conducted a study of undergraduates to see how their use of communication affected their relationship. Morey found “electronic communication channels (phone and texting) were related to positive relationship qualities.”
The irony was that my future wife lived above me my freshman year, and I didn’t realize it until I was out of Harwood.
”
–Dan Kassen
Overwhelmingly, 98 percent of the participants said they preferred face-to-face communication. Nobody preferred social media over in-person, on the phone, or video chat.
Fifty-four percent of the participants that took the survey indicated that they wanted to find a future spouse in college, while 27 percent said they had already found their partner.
The survey revealed 56 percent believed that using social media impacts relationships positively. One student says, “I think it has the ability to [impact relationships
Mark and Deb didn’t have access to the technology available today and mostly communicated through landline telephones and meeting in person. They would
NO
46.5%
YES
55.8%
Mark says, “I think today’s ease of communication affects relationships too much.” He thinks there’s a lack of face-toface conversations, which he believes is
”
In a survey of Iowa State students, 49 percent of the participants said they talked in person with their significant other. In order of popularity this was followed by phone, social media, and video chat.
Do you think using social media positively impacts your relationship?
communicate face-to-face at work. Deb said they would call each other, but not very much.
VIDEO CHAT 5%
ON THE PHONE 35.2%
SOCIAL MEDIA 10.2%
IN 49.2% PERSON Which method of communication do you use the most?
how you really get to know someone. While Mark thinks today’s technology hinders relationships, Deb thinks it’s easier for couples to get in contact. Dan and Jess had a different situation than Mark and Deb. Dan and Jess got to know each other pretty well because they got to see each other in all situations—hanging out, studying with friends, house dinners, and just living in the same dorm house. Now that Dan and Jess have moved out of Harwood they have had their fair share of being apart. It was hard on their relationship when Jess studied abroad during the summer. Dan says, “I think it’s really important that we talk regularly.” Last summer they talked on the phone everyday or every other day. For four weeks during last summer, Jess was in Italy and they had minimal communication, only the occasional Facebook message. He said, “it was really hard on both of us and just felt very disconnected. Writing isn’t nearly as good as actually talking to one another.” Without today’s technology Dan doesn’t think it would affect their relationship too much, it would just make it slightly less convenient. If Dan didn’t have access to technology like Facebook, he said he would feel less connected to Jess, “but I don’t think our relationship would change too much.”
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THE TRUTH
Feminism ABOUT BY Ashley Buckowing DESIGN Becky Eilers PHOTO Liz zabel
The person sitting next to you in class, the girl sharing your booth at the Hub, a man sitting across the table from you at Parks Library and your professor in Civil Engineering—all of these people can be feminists. A woman who takes pride in being a female or a man that wants his girlfriend to make the same amount of money that he does can be a feminist. A frequently used definition is one similar to that in the book “Gendered Lives” by Julia Wood: “An active commitment to equality and respect for all forms of life.” According to women’s studies and English professor Elyse Demaray, the most misconceived notion about feminism is “that it’s anti-male or male bashing. I think because we have gotten more conservative in a lot of ways, and the energy from the ’60s and ’70s has dissipated, and as we’ve gotten more opportunities, we’ve confused that with actually achieving the goal of an equal playing field.”
In the 1920s, women were found with a drink in their hands, dancing the night away in a speakeasy, and men were right by their sides. Women started smoking alongside men, raised their skirts and cut off their hair. Women made up almost 24 percent of the labor force. Women played sports. They drank openly during Prohibition. Almost a century later, women are doing some of the same things. Although, they are being held back in other areas.
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In the State of the Union Address held on Jan. 28 this year, President Obama spoke about women’s rights in current times: “Today, women make up about half our workforce. But they still make 77 cents for every dollar a man earns. That is wrong, and in 2014, it’s an embarrassment. A woman deserves equal pay for equal work. She deserves to have a baby without sacrificing her job. A mother deserves a day off to care for a sick child or sick parent without running into hardship—and you know what, a father does, too. It’s time to do away with workplace policies that belong in a ‘Mad Men’ episode.” Dr. Denise Oles-Acevedo, a professor of Speech Communication in the English department, agrees with Demaray, saying that she believes the most misconceived notion about feminism is that it is malebashing. “You know, yes, there are those fractures of the women’s movement, but the majority of feminists don’t hate men,” OlesAcevedo says. “I would say that the majority of feminists would welcome the support of men to pushing their causes forward.” Oles-Acevedo explains that there are men’s movements alongside women’s, and that it’s important to understand both sides. “Most men’s movements develop out of a response to women’s movements, [so] one has to understand why men might feel that their rights are being infringed upon, or why men feel like they need to join the
fight to end oppression against women.” Men’s movements include “masculine men’s movements” which support men, and “pro-women’s men’s movements” which are in support of women. Both movements generally support equality. I was curious to see what a few ISU students enjoying their lunches at the Hub thought about feminism. Here’s what they had to say: “Accepting everyone as they are, not only women, but all genders, races and really everyone. Wanting equality for all living people.” –Rylie Pflughaupt, 20, speech communications. “The belief that humans should be treated equally, regardless of gender or gender choice.” –Morgan Pecrson, 19, biology. “People who are really into women’s rights and are extreme at times, throwing out traditions of our culture.” –Nick Hennessy, 21, industrial engineering. “Equality for women in the workforce, government and other aspects of life. To be seen equally and as strong and intelligent as men, but without disrespecting men.” –Amanda Purcell, 22, psychology. “A misguided view that women aren’t equal to men.” –Matt, 22, financial counseling and planning. Mostly, the responses were in favor of feminism. Many students said they thought feminism was important in some type of way. When I surveyed ISU students, a question on their sheet read, “What is
of others. You know, the squeaky wheel gets the grease, sort of thing?” Oles-Acevedo says. “We still have a lot of gender roles that maybe aren’t as obvious or explicit as they have been in the past. But they still shape what we think it means to be a man or woman in our culture,” explains Demaray. In a class taught by Demaray, students learn that feminism can mean all sorts of different things. She teaches what feminism entails and what they fight for, including the safety and independence of women and their rights. Subjects vary anywhere from working for equal pay, to cultural issues such as female genital mutilation (FGM), to a very predominant local issue like sexual assault and rape. “What we do to raise awareness here is The Vagina Monologues. It’s called the monologues because they’re actual stories. It’s put together by the director Eve Ensler and every year we have a production of this. [It’s] telling stories from basically anything, like one of them is talking about a five year old girl and what would her vagina wear if it could wear clothes. And it goes from anything like to that to stuff about periods and the menstrual cycle all the way up to sexual assault,” says Matthew Drilling, a volunteer at the Margaret Sloss Women’s Center. He then adds a disclaimer, “It’s not a play! A lot people think it’s a play.” It is important to celebrate the wonderful women that have had an impact on our history. Emily Dickinson, Coco Chanel, Mother Teresa, Rosa Parks, Billie Holiday,
“We still have a lot of gender roles that maybe aren’t as obvious or explicit as they have been in the past. But they still shape what we think it means to be a man or woman in our culture.” your opinion of feminists?” Generally, the responses were positive. That being said, students uniformly stated that they think feminists are pushy. “They can be slightly overwhelming and overbearing,” says Anna Vickliter, student in civil engineering. “I think in any situation you’re going to have the more outspoken individuals that garner more attention than the soft spoken individual…which will taint the impression
Betty Friedan, Marilyn Monroe and Anne Frank: the list of amazing women goes on and on. Emily Dickinson taught us poetry; Chanel taught us innovative clothing and design; Rosa Parks taught us strength; Billie Holiday taught us blues, and Marilyn Monroe taught us confidence. What does feminism mean to you?
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STAR WARS DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION JESSICA BARTEMES
IV: ‘77 Episode A New Hope
‘80
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
‘83
Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
As a movie based in space, many of the sound effects that are used don’t actually exist. To make these sounds, the sound design specialists used other materials in combination to create the desired sound effect. The sounds used for the blaster guns were modified versions of steel cables pulled tightly and being struck with a wrench or other metal tool. Chewbacca’s growls were made by combining sounds from dogs, bears, lions, tigers and walruses and creating sentences with them. As a robot, R2-D2 needed a computerized sounding voice, so they created his voice by using water pipes, whistles and filtering human voices through an electronic synthesizer.
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Darth Vader’s heavy breathing was achieved by breathing through the mask of a scuba regulator while recording inside the mask. “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope” was originally named “Adventures of Luke Starkiller, Episode One: The Star Wars.” A variation of “I have a bad feeling about this,” is used eight times throughout the six movies, and was even uttered by Harrison Ford in George Lucas’ Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
The actor who played the voice of Yoda also did the voice of Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear and other characters on The Muppets.
So many stormtroopers and so little names mentioned. Two names to be exact. Throughout all of the Star Wars movies, only two of the stormtroopers names were mentioned, TK-421 and CC-2224, nicknamed “Cody.”
Darth Vader was portrayed by four actors: David Prowse was the main actor, Bob Anderson was the stunt performer and James Earl Jones provided the voice. Sebastian Shaw played the unmasked Darth Vader. Separately, Hayden Christensen played the young Anakin.
The first Star Wars budget was $11 million in 1977 would be $44,047,061.86 in today’s economy.
‘99
Episode I: The Phantom Menace
‘02
Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Wh
ho s o
t? s r t fi
Star Wars was nominated for an Academy Award for best picture in 1977, but lost to Annie Hall, directed by Woody Allen.
‘06
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
‘15 Episode VII
As you may know, a new Star Wars movie is in the works. Disney bought Lucasfilm for $4 billion in October of 2013, and Star Trek director, J.J. Abrams will be directing it. News of the new film is being kept very secret, but rumors are that a few of the actors will return. Harrison Ford will likely be playing Han Solo again, along with Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia. As for who is playing Darth Vader—Michael Fassbender, Hugo Weaving and Adam Driver are all rumored to be considered, but the favorite is Adam Driver.
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150 YEARS UNEXPECTED
OF THE
BEFORE DISMISSING AMES AS ANOTHER COLLEGE TOWN SURROUNDED BY CORNFIELDS, CONSIDER ITS UNIQUE HISTORY. BY RACHEL VIPOND DESIGN ALEXANDRIA COLLINS PHOTO RAHEMMA MAYFIELD
Albert Cadwell, the principal of Ames High School from 1914 to 1917, had an interesting experience—he survived the sinking of the Titanic. Remember a few years back, when ethanol was being marketed as a new fuel? It turns out Ames was ahead of the game. A blend of corn ethanol was first sold commercially in Ames as early as 1932. Ames resident and ISU student Herman Banning became the first black man to make a transcontinental flight in 1932. He flew a plane supplemented with surplus parts from Los Angeles to Long Island, N.Y.; Banning named his plane “Miss Ames.” Thanks to Iowa’s political draw, Ames has hosted 11 presidents—or future presidents— over the years, including Ronald Reagan and William Howard Taft. Ames has been home to Hollywood actors, as well. In an interview with the Ames Historical Society, lifelong Ames resident Jay Simster recalls playing with actor Nick Nolte (from “Cape Fear,” “The Prince of Tides” and “Gangster Squad”) as a child. Nolte spent five years of his childhood in Ames. Scandalous new dance moves are often cause for controversy. For example, the Inter-fraternity Council banned tango from fraternity dances in 1913. We’d hate to see what they’d think of twerking.
B
elieve it or not, our beloved college town had humble beginnings. Containing only 12 blocks and 844 residents when it was incorporated in 1870, Ames now has 58,965 residents including ISU students. In 1864, Ames was chosen as a location for a station stop for the Cedar Rapids and Missouri Railroads. Ames was named by the railroad president for his friend Oakes Ames, who never actually visited the town. The Hub, now a favorite spot for coffee or a quick sandwich, was then a bookstore and waiting area for the Ames College Railway, which connected the town to the college campus. Ames turns 150 this year and quite a few interesting things have happened here—maybe more than you’d expect.
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Have you ever heard of “partner cities?” Sometimes, international or local partnerships are made between towns for diplomatic reasons or because of similarities. Ames has been a partner to Koshu City, Japan since September 14, 1993. ISU’s Morrill Hall has had many eclectic uses over the years. Since its construction in 1890, zoology, entomology and geology classes have been held there. It has also served as a home for printing services, an office for agriculture extension and get this—a barber shop. It now serves as an art and textile museum.
The Science of War Iowa State scientists produced a pure uranium ingot that played an important role in WWII. BY JACK CARNEY DESIGN JORDAN WELCH PHOTO COURTESY OF AMES LABORATORY, USDOE Just south of Hamilton Hall, on the east end of campus, lies a stone roughly the height of a car tire. The stone goes mostly unnoticed, as it is not located in a busy sector of campus. But, if one were to approach this stone, they would notice an aged bronze plaque with an inscription protruding from the metal, that reads: “A striking achievement among the many associated with the Wartime Atomic Energy Project in the United States was the production of many tons of pure Uranium by a group consisting of faculty and students working in a disused building on the campus of the Iowa State College at Ames.” As you
may have realized, this is no ordinary stone, and these were no ordinary men. The work accomplished at the very location of this stone revolutionized science and impacted the world in a way these men may have never understood, and this is their story. The Manhattan Project was conceived in 1939 and placed under the direction of United States Major General Leslie Groves, with the backing of allies Canada and the United Kingdom. This top-secret project was created to research and develop the materials that eventually composed the first atomic bombs, costing the program
what would roughly amount to $24 billion in current U.S. currency. The operation had labs throughout the country. One of the most famous sites was in Chicago, where a renowned physicist, Enrico Fermi, worked under Arthur Compton, who was in charge of the Chicago lab, in hopes of creating the first man-made nuclear reactor. In the fall of 1942, Dr. Frank Spedding, a professor at Iowa State College (ISC), was brought on the scene. Spedding, a graduate of Berkeley, had been working at Iowa State since ’37 as the head of the physical chemistry department, and was an expert in
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the the fifield eld of of rare rare earth earth metals. metals. His His expertise expertise in in rare rare earths earths is is what what sparked sparked the the interest interest of of General General Groves Groves and and his his staff staff.. Spedding Spedding was was summoned summoned to to Chicago Chicago to to be be briefed briefed on on the the project. project. Spedding Spedding quickly quickly returned returned to to Ames, Ames, but but not not for for good—he good—he would would return return to to Chicago Chicago several several times times over over the the next next few few months months to to serve serve as as an an intermediate intermediate between between Ames Ames and and the the project project as as aa whole. whole. Upon Upon returning returning to to Ames, Ames, Spedding Spedding understood understood aa new new technique technique for for purifying purifying uranium uranium metal metal would would be be needed needed for for Fermi’s Fermi’s plan plan to to succeed, succeed, so so he he proceeded proceeded to to fifind nd aa way. way. Spedding Spedding immediately immediately formed formed aa team team of of qualifi qualified ed chemists chemists and and scientists. scientists. His His fifirst rst addition addition was was Dr. Dr. Harley Harley Wilhelm. Wilhelm. Wilhelm, Wilhelm, who who was was also also aa professor professor at at ISC, ISC, was was an an expert expert in in the the fifield eld of of metallurgy, metallurgy, making making him him aa perfect perfect fifitt for for the the project. project. With With Wilhelm Wilhelm at at his his side, side, Spedding Spedding continued continued to to assemble assemble aa group group of of the the college’s college’s top top scholars. scholars. Work Work immediately immediately went went underway underway in in Gilman Gilman Hall Hall as as the the perimeter perimeter was was taped taped off off and and government government offi officials cials stood stood guard. guard. Security Security became became aa top top priority priority in in Ames. Ames. Ray Ray Fisher, Fisher, aa chemist-technician chemist-technician for for the the Ames Ames project, project, elaborates elaborates on on security security during during this this paranoid paranoid era era in in an an interview interview by by the the Ames Ames lab lab for for the the project’s project’s 50th 50th anniversary: anniversary: “We “We had had very very tight tight security security in in those those days. days. An An FBI FBI agent agent was was stationed stationed in in Ames Ames and and he he checked checked for for anyone anyone who who talked talked too too much much outside outside the the workplace. workplace. II think think only only one one person person was was let let go go due due to to loose loose lips. lips. When When asked asked what what was was going going on on inside inside fifirst rst flfloor oor of of the the Chemistry Chemistry Building, Building, we we told told outsiders outsiders that that we we were were making making boxes. boxes.”” Th Though ough all all may may have have seemed seemed lax lax from from the the outside, outside, the the work work going going on on inside inside Gilman Gilman hall hall couldn’t couldn’t have have been been any any more more hectic. hectic. Fisher Fisher continued continued to to tell tell of of the the mad mad scramble scramble going going on on inside inside the the Chemistry Chemistry building: building: “I “I remember remember that that Dr. Dr. Wilhelm Wilhelm was was always always in in aa hurry. hurry. We We shared shared an an offi office ce in in Chemistry Chemistry and and there there was was aa transom transom above above the the door, door, which which was was usually usually open open for for ventilation. ventilation. Dr. Dr. Wilhelm Wilhelm wouldn’t wouldn’t always always take take time time to to open open the the door door to to put put his his mail mail on on his his desk. desk. As As he he passed passed by, by, he he would would throw throw itit up up through through the the transom transom where where itit flfluttered uttered to to the the flfloor oor or or onto onto my my nearby nearby desk. desk.”” All All the the hard hard work work would would pay pay off off.. Soon, Soon, the the team team working working inside inside of of Gilman Gilman Hall Hall had had produced produced aa pure pure uranium uranium ingot ingot (also (also referred referred to to as as aa biscuit). biscuit). Wilhelm, Wilhelm, with with no no time time to to lose, lose, was was off off to to Chicago Chicago to to share share the the news. news. Wilhelm Wilhelm placed placed the the eleven-pound eleven-pound ingot ingot in in aa traveling traveling bag bag and and boarded boarded the the next next train train to to Chicago. Chicago. Th Thee biscuit biscuit produced produced only only aa miniscule miniscule amount amount of of radiation, radiation, but but itit probably probably didn’t didn’t help help that that the the handles handles on on Wilhelm’s Wilhelm’s travel travel bag bag gave gave way, way, allowing allowing the the rare rare earth earth metal metal to to fall fall to to the the ground. ground. He He bravely bravely carried carried itit under under his his arm arm for for the the
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remainder remainder of of the the journey. journey. Upon Upon arriving arriving with with the the ingot, ingot, Wilhelm Wilhelm was was greeted greeted with with doubt. doubt. Compton Compton (head (head of of the the Chicago Chicago lab) lab) suspected suspected that that he he would would surely surely fifind nd that that the the ingot ingot was was hollow hollow inside. inside. His His suspicion suspicion was was invalid. invalid. ItIt was was apparent apparent that that little little was was expected expected of of the the Ames Ames lab lab by by the the mere mere astonishment astonishment of of Chicago Chicago when when Wilhelm Wilhelm showed showed up up with with the the product product of of Spedding Spedding and and company. company. Th Thee uranium uranium was was exactly exactly what what Fermi’s Fermi’s plan plan called called for, for, but but they they needed needed more. more. Th Thee government government presented presented Iowa Iowa State State with with aa contract contract to to produce produce 100 100 pounds pounds of of uranium uranium per per day, day, and and within within the the week week of of Wilhelm’s Wilhelm’s dash dash to to Chicago, Chicago, Iowa Iowa State State accepted accepted the the contract contract and and largelargescale scale production production was was underway. underway. Soon Soon the the project project would would have have aa suffi sufficient cient amount amount of of fuel fuel to to test test the the reactor. reactor. Spedding Spedding stood stood among among aa collection collection of of the the nation’s nation’s brightest brightest individuals individuals in in aa tensiontensionfifilled lled room room laying laying just just beneath beneath Chicago’s Chicago’s Stagg Stagg fifield eld on on aa brisk brisk day day in in early early December December of of 1942. 1942. Th Thee men men were were brought brought together together by by aa common common interest: interest: produce produce the the world’s world’s fifirst rst controlled controlled nuclear nuclear reaction, reaction, aa goal goal the the men men were were poised, poised, but but eager eager to to test. test. Fermi, Fermi, the the renowned renowned physicist, physicist, was was responsible responsible for for the the construction construction of of the the reactor, reactor, later later to to be be named named “Chicago “Chicago Pile-1” Pile-1” or or “CP-1. “CP-1.”” Th Thee reactor reactor was was aa confi configuration guration of of pure pure uranium uranium metal metal (which (which was was the the reactant reactant Ames Ames was was producing) producing) that that was was situated situated systematically systematically between between the the graphite. graphite. At At the the base base of of this this “pile, “pile,”” aa man man would would stand; stand; his his task task was was to to operate operate the the control control rods, rods, which which would would be be inserted inserted into into the the reactor reactor to to regulate regulate the the reaction reaction by by absorbing absorbing neutrons. neutrons. Above Above the the pile, pile, three three men men sat sat ready ready to to pour pour buckets buckets of of cadmium cadmium solution solution over over the the reactor reactor in in order order to to prevent prevent nuclear nuclear runaway runaway and and the the devastation devastation of of Chicago. Chicago. Th Thee Chicago Chicago reactor reactor was was the the fifirst rst of of its its kind, kind, and and like like many many of of the the other other experiments experiments these these scientist scientist had had undergone, undergone, they they were were unsure unsure of of what what may may transpire transpire upon upon testing testing the the reactor. reactor. Fully Fully aware aware of of the the explosive explosive powers powers that that may may be be present present within within the the graphite graphite pile, pile, Fermi Fermi declared declared all all systems systems go. go. Th Thee reactor reactor performed performed just just as as expected expected and and word word was was relayed relayed to to Washington Washington that that the the experiment experiment had had been been aa success. success. Compton, Compton, head head of of the the lab, lab, notifi notified ed James James Conant Conant of of the the National National Defense Defense Research Research committee. committee. Th Thee conversation conversation ensued ensued as as follows: follows: “Th “Thee Italian Italian Navigator Navigator has has landed landed in in the the New New World,” World,” Compton Compton said. said. “How “How were were the the Natives?” Natives?” Conant Conant asked. asked. “Very “Very Friendly,” Friendly,” Compton Compton replied. replied. And And so so itit was, was, the the beginning beginning of of aa new new era era and and the the inception inception of of aa new new weapon weapon that that would would change change the the course course of of the the world. world. Back Back in in Ames, Ames, Gilman Gilman Hall Hall would would no no longer longer provide provide adequate adequate space space with with the the project project going going full-scale, full-scale, so so aa new new location location would would be be needed needed to to move move forward. forward. In In December December of of
Civilians Civilians in in Ames Ames would would not not know know of of the the events events that that occurred occurred in in both both Gilman Gilman Hall Hall and and Little Little Ankeny Ankeny until until the the months months following following the the detonation detonation of of the the fifirst rst nuclear nuclear bombs bombs over over Japan. Japan. Th Thee sheer sheer magnitude magnitude of of this this event event continues continues to to ripple ripple through through society society today. today.
’42, ’42, furnaces furnaces were were moved moved to to aa new new location location named named “Little “Little Ankeny.” Ankeny.” Th Thee building building resembled resembled aa large large wooden wooden shed shed and and was was previously previously being being used used for for storage. storage. Th Thee name name Little Little Ankeny Ankeny referenced referenced an an ammunition ammunition plant plant just just south south of of Ames. Ames. Th They ey thought thought ifif they they nicknamed nicknamed this this building building after after the the popular popular ammunition ammunition plant, plant, citizens citizens would would assume assume they they were were doing doing similar similar work work here here in in Ames, Ames, and and not not producing producing nuclear nuclear fuel. fuel. Work Work at at Little Little Ankeny Ankeny went went around around the the clock. clock. Competition Competition arose arose between between shift shift teams teams to to see see who who could could yield yield the the purist purist and and largest largest amounts amounts of of uranium. uranium. Work Work eventually eventually became became so so repetitive repetitive for for the the scientist scientist that that they they became became bored. bored. David David Peterson, Peterson, aa chemist, chemist, goes goes into into detail detail on on how how they they compensated compensated for for the the sometimes-boring sometimes-boring conditions conditions in in an an interview interview by by the the Ames Ames lab: lab: “Th “Thee routine routine of of standard standard metal metal production production soon soon became became boring, boring, so so active, active, inquiring inquiring minds minds were were busy busy dreaming dreaming of of ways ways to to improve improve the the process. process. Th Thee ‘wiser’ ‘wiser’ heads heads of of upper upper management management squelched squelched almost almost all all of of these these ideas ideas before before they they could could be be tried. tried. However, However, upper upper management management was was seldom seldom present present during during the the graveyard graveyard shift shift from from midnight midnight to to 88 a.m. a.m. Some Some experiments experiments were were tried tried on on this this shift shift and and were were noted noted in in the the production production journal journal only only ifif successful. successful. Th Thee famous famous explosion explosion that that moved moved the the south south wall wall of of Little Little Ankeny Ankeny out out one one foot foot happened happened to to occur occur on on the the graveyard graveyard shift. shift. No No record, record, oral oral or or written, written, of of that that experiment experiment has has ever ever surfaced.” surfaced.”
Th Thee fifinal nal step step after after production production was was shipping shipping the the material. material. During During this this time, time, Ames Ames had had train train tracks tracks passing passing through through part part of of ISC’s ISC’s campus, campus, so so the the Ames Ames Project Project was was able able to to utilize utilize this this for for shipping. shipping. A A train train occupied occupied by by government government offi officials cials would would roll roll into into Ames Ames with with armed armed guards guards perched perched above above the the boxcars. boxcars. Th Thee cars cars entered entered with with their their doors doors open open and and the the cargo cargo was was loaded loaded onto onto the the train train in in secret secret compartments compartments laying laying beneath beneath the the boxcars, boxcars, the the cars cars then then departed departed with with doors doors open, open, the the same same way way they they entered. entered. When When the the project project was was completed, completed, over over two two million million pounds pounds of of pure pure uranium uranium metal metal had had been been transported transported out out of of Ames. Ames.
In In December December of of 1942, 1942, underneath underneath the the hustle hustle and and bustle bustle of of suburban suburban Chicago, Chicago, aa group group of of our our nation’s nation’s top top scientist scientist gathered gathered around around aa table table where where aa Geiger Geiger counter counter sat sat to to register register the the increase increase of of neutrons neutrons from from the the CP-1 CP-1 reactor. reactor. Th Thee reaction reaction caused caused the the Geiger Geiger to to click click at at aa faster faster and and faster faster rate rate until until Fermi Fermi gave gave the the order order for for the the control control rods rods to to be be inserted inserted and and to to terminate terminate the the reaction. reaction. Th Thee click click of of the the counter counter began began to to slow slow and and aa sigh sigh of of relief relief came came about about the the room. room. After After aa subtle subtle and and awkward awkward applause, applause, aa flflask ask was was presented presented and and wine wine was was distributed distributed into into one one paper paper cup cup to to be be passed passed around around the the room. room. Realizing Realizing they they had had just just witnessed witnessed aa pivotal pivotal moment moment in in history, history, aa dramatic dramatic silence silence set set in in and and no no toasts toasts were were made, made, as as the the cup cup traveled traveled from from man man to to man, man, not not aa word word was was said. said. Th Thee essence essence of of this this humbled humbled silence silence is is all all that that is is needed needed to to comprehend comprehend the the prominent prominent eff effect ect this this event event set set forth forth upon upon the the world. world. Th These ese men men understood understood itit would would no no longer longer be be the the same. same.
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Hail to ISU Iowa State seniors reflect on their years on campus and bid a final farewell. BY ABBY GILMAN DESIGN MITCHELL YOON PHOTO BRIAN ACHENBACH AND LIZ ZABEL
Abby Gilman “This University has always been a sort of second home to me, with a family history that runs four generations deep.”
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Major: Journalism and Mass Communications I sat down to write this at least five separate times to no avail. What you’re reading now is my sixth attempt. This either proves that A) I’m not ready to be a productive and responsible member of society; or B) my time at Iowa State has been full of all the feels, too many to bottle up and convert into 400 coherent words. The Atlantic recently ran an article about why writers are the worst procrastinators (coincidentally, I was reading that article rather than facing my upcoming and then passing deadline—sorry, Kiana.) The article discussed two types of learners: the fixed mindset and the growth mindset. As I kept reading, I was associating more and more with the fixed mindset crew. That bothered me. While I do believe that humans are born with special skills and talents, I also believe in growth. After all, what are experiences good for if you don’t grow? I came into Iowa State unsure of my goals and passions, questioning my “fixed” skill of writing. I’ve made my fair share of mistakes. I’ve botched photo shoots for campus publications, written articles that make me cringe today and chosen mug night over an 8 a.m. Friday class one too many times. But I found a way to learn, and in turn I’ve had two amazing internships and experienced the feeling of picking up a magazine at Target and flipping to my byline. And mug night? Well, I’m allowed some slack, right? This University has always been a sort of second home to me, with a family history that runs four generations deep. Some of my first life memories are of this campus. I remember attending home football games, sitting on a checkered brown blanket on the grassy hillside of Jack Trice and running down to the fence with my sisters to high-five the players as they took the field. My parents met outside the Fieldhouse—present day Outlaws—on the opening night twenty-odd years ago, and I built my own fantasy of meeting “the one” at Iowa State (ayo fellas, still got a month to lock this one down). I arrived on campus my freshman year with roots already in the ground, but even that didn’t keep me from bawling in the shower of Helser just hours after my parents left. It didn’t take long for Ames to take on a new light, one formed in equal appreciation of the past and readiness to mold to who I was becoming. My adviser, Deb Gibson, has consistently been a reliable mentor, guiding me through countless life decisions, big and small. Working at the M-Shop has introduced me to passionate people I’m proud to call my good friends. Plus, getting paid to see live music isn’t too bad, either. Never again in my life will I have an experience that comes close to the one Iowa State offered me, but it’s time to move on. Here’s to the next chapter. Family, friends, professors and colleagues: I can’t thank everyone who had an impact on my last four years enough. I love you all. Now if only I had 1,000 more words, I’d get to all those bottled up feels.
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Melvin Ejim Major: History I could have never predicted the impact that Iowa State has had on my life. When I made the decision to come to Iowa State, it was an easy one at the time. Iowa State was the school I had the biggest connection with; they were one of the first schools to recruit me during my junior year at Brewster Academy. When I first got to Iowa State, I was excited about the basketball program and the new direction it was going in under the leadership of Coach Fred Hoiberg. I thought being here would put me in the perfect situation to be under great guidance, which would give me an opportunity to improve on the court. But to say that my college career has just been about basketball would be doing it an injustice. My experience at Iowa State has been much more than basketball. It was here in the classrooms of Ross Hall where I began to develop my interest in history. I had passionate professors who made the different subjects within my history classes so interesting for me. It was like I was going to class every day, simply listening to new stories. It didn’t feel like I was learning at all—well, at least not learning in the usual, boring sense. It was more like I was going on an adventure every day in my head.
“It didn’t feel like I was learning at all—well, at least not learning in the usual, boring sense. It was more like I was going on an adventure every day in my head.”
I have so much appreciation for the history department as a whole. Whether it was a professor who talked to me during office hours and was so understanding about my basketball schedule, or Jennifer Rivera in the front office, every one of them has helped make my story here at Iowa State that much more special. I have honestly had the time of my life at Iowa State. My coaches Fred Hoiberg, Cornel Mann, Matt Abdelmassih and Doc Sadler, and former coaches Jeff Rutter and TJ Otzelberger, have instilled so many things that I will take with me as I continue to grow as a man. The history department helped me learn the importance of looking back and understanding history, and it also exposed me to a different way of learning. My teammates over the years have taught me a new meaning of brotherhood, through the good times and through the bad. Cyclone Nation will always be the best fans in my eyes; they have shown me so much love and support through the years. I am blessed that basketball is what made a way for me here, but through hard work, dedication and drive on and off the court, I have had such a successful and fulfilling journey at Iowa State. I am proud to say that I am Melvin Ejim: a Nigerian, a Canadian, a basketball player, soon to be a college graduate and forever a Cyclone.
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Szuyin Leow Major: Major: Mechanical Mechanical Engineering Engineering & & Economics Economics One Oneof ofmy mydad’s dad’sfavorite favoritemottos mottosisis“Do “Dothe thecommon commonthing thingin inan an uncommon uncommonway. way.””So Sowhen whenIIsaw sawthe thewords wordsof ofone oneof ofIowa IowaState’s State’s most mostrenowned renownedgraduates, graduates,George GeorgeWashington WashingtonCarver, Carver,emblazoned emblazoned across acrossthe thefront frontof ofBeardshear BeardshearHall Hallthis thisfall, fall,IIrecognized recognizedthe thesentiment sentiment immediately: immediately:“When “Whenyou youcan cando dothe thecommon commonthings thingsof oflife lifein inan an uncommon uncommonway, way,you youwill willcommand commandthe theattention attentionof ofthe theworld. world.”” IIcame cameto toIowa IowaState Statebecause becauseIIsought soughtaapremier premiereducational educationalexperience. experience. IIwanted wantedaacollege collegedegree degreethat thatwould wouldprovide provideme mewith withskills skillsand and knowledge knowledgeand andthat, that,in inturn, turn,would wouldempower empowerme meto toget getaagood goodjob joband and make makean animpact impacton onmy mycommunity. community.However, However,as asIIprepare prepareto tograduate graduate this thisMay, May,IIrealize realizethat thatmy mydegree degreeisisjust justone onesmall smallpart partof ofmy mycollegiate collegiate experience. experience.Like Likemany manyothers otherswho whohave haveembraced embracedthe themultitude multitudeof of student studentinvolvement involvementopportunities opportunitieshere, here,IIhave havebenefi benefitted ttedfrom fromthe the uncommonly uncommonlyexceptional exceptionaloff offerings eringsof ofIowa IowaState. State.
“The “The best best part part is, is, it’s it’s not not over over yet. yet. My My ISU ISU story story has has only only just just begun; begun; II can’t can’t wait wait to to return return to to Ames Ames as as an an alumni alumni and and give give back back to to this this phenomenal phenomenal university university that that has has given given me me so so much.” much.”
Together Togetherwith withmy myPi PiBeta BetaPhi Phisorority sororitysisters, sisters,IIsaw sawmy mychapter chapterwin win the theBalfour BalfourCup, Cup,an anaward awardrecognizing recognizingthe theNo. No.11Pi PiPhi Phichapter chapterin inthe the nation nationout outof ofmore morethan than130. 130.After Afterfifive veyears yearsof ofinvolvement involvementwith withDance Dance Marathon, Marathon,IIcontinue continueto tobe beamazed amazedby bythe thepower powerof ofhundreds hundredsof ofcollege college students studentsstanding standingtogether togetherfor forsomething somethingbigger biggerthan thanthemselves; themselves;this this past pastyear, year,we weraised raisedaarecord-breaking record-breaking$427,350 $427,350for forChildren’s Children’sMiracle Miracle Network NetworkHospitals. Hospitals. But Butthe themost mostspecial specialaspects aspectsof ofmy mystudent studentinvolvement involvementare arethings thingsthat that IIcould couldnever neverenumerate enumerateon onaaresume. resume.My MyPi PiPhi Phisisters sistersare aremore morethan than just justmy myroommates roommatesand andfriends; friends;they theyare aremy myrole rolemodels modelsand andmentors. mentors. With Withmy myfellow fellowDance DanceMarathon Marathonleaders, leaders,IIshared sharednot notonly onlylong longhours hoursof of meetings meetingsand andplanning, planning,but butaacontinued continuedlife-long life-longmission missionand andpassion passion to tohelp helpothers. others.Over Overthe theyears, years,these theseuncommonly uncommonlyremarkable remarkablestudents students have havebecome becomemy myfamily, family,and andAmes Ameshas hasbecome becomemy myhome. home. And Andthe thebest bestpart partis, is,it’s it’snot notover overyet. yet.My MyISU ISUstory storyhas hasonly onlyjust justbegun; begun; IIcan’t can’twait waitto toreturn returnto toAmes Amesas asan analumni alumniand andgive giveback backto tothis this phenomenal phenomenaluniversity universitythat thathas hasgiven givenme meso somuch. much.And Andwhile whilethe the college collegedegree degreethat thatI’ll I’llproudly proudlyhang hangon onmy mywall wallmight mightlook looklike likeany any other, other,IIknow knowthat thatthis thisISU ISUjourney journeyhas hasbeen beenanything anythingbut butcommon. common.
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It was just like any other family vacation...Until a massive tsunami hit, and suddenly a girl and her family were fighting for their lives. BY MICHAEL FINN DESIGN BRITTANY LONG PHOTO LIZ ZABEL AND COURTESY OF ONALIE ARIYABANDHU Nine Nineyears yearsago, ago,Onalie OnalieAriyabandhu Ariyabandhuand and her herwhole wholefamily familywere wereall allhappily happilygathered gathered under underone oneroof, roof,laughing laughingand andplaying playingand and eating eatinggood goodfood foodwith witheach eachother. other. ItItwas wasDecember December25, 25,2004. 2004.Th They eywere were celebrating celebratingAlmsgiving, Almsgiving,aaBuddhist Buddhisttradition tradition in inwhich whichrespect respectis isgiven givento tomonks monksby by off offering eringfood foodand andgifts. gifts. Th This iswas wasone oneof ofthe thefew fewtimes timesaayear yearwhen when Onalie’s Onalie’sextended extendedfamily, family,with withwhom whomshe she is isvery veryclose, close,get getto toenjoy enjoyeach eachother’s other’s company. company.Her HerAunt AuntLilani Lilaniand andher hertwo twosons, sons, Lahiru Lahiruand andLasith, Lasith,flflew ewin into toSri SriLanka Lankafrom from England Englandto tovisit visitfor foraafew fewdays. days. ItItis isan anessential essentialAriyabandhu Ariyabandhufamily family tradition. tradition.Every Everyyear, year,Onalie’s Onalie’sfather, father,Dilip, Dilip, hosts hoststhe thecelebration celebrationat athis hishorticultural horticulturallab lab facility, facility,which whichhe heowns ownsand andoperates. operates.Th Thee celebration celebrationis isalways alwaysaahuge hugeundertaking. undertaking. Th There erewere weremany manymouths mouthsto tofeed feedand andaa whole wholelot lotof ofentertaining entertainingto todo, do,with withall allof of Dilip’s Dilip’semployees employeesjoining joiningthe thecelebration. celebration. Loads Loadsof ofschool schoolsupplies supplieswere weregiven givento tothe the children childrenof ofthe theemployees, employees,too. too.Th That atwas was what whatthe thecelebration celebrationwas wasall allabout—charity, about—charity, generosity generosityand andselfl selflessness, essness,something somethingthe the Ariyabandhu Ariyabandhufamily familyis isknown knownfor. for. After Afterthe thecelebration, celebration,after afterall allthe thegifts giftshad had been beenexchanged exchangedand andall allthe thefood foodhad hadbeen been eaten, eaten,Onalie Onalieand andher herfamily familyheaded headedback back to totheir theirhome homein inaacozy cozysuburban suburbanvillage village just justoutside outsidethe thehustle hustleand andbustle bustleof ofSri Sri Lanka’s Lanka’smain mainport portcity, city,Colombo. Colombo.Th They eywere were exhausted exhaustedand andready readyfor forbed. bed.Th They eyneeded needed their theirsleep. sleep.Early Earlytomorrow tomorrowmorning, morning,OnOnalie’s alie’sfamily, family,along alongwith withthe thefamily familyof ofDilip’s Dilip’s close closefriend, friend,Zoysa, Zoysa,would wouldhop hopinto intoaabig big white whitetaxi taxivan vanand andhit hitthe theroad roadfor forthe thetemple temple of ofKataragama, Kataragama,aapilgrimage pilgrimagethey theymake makeevery every year. year.Th Theeplan planwas wasto toworship worshipat atthe thetemple temple for fortwo twodays daysand andthen thenreturn. return.AAshort-lived short-lived vacation, vacation,but butaasweet sweetone. one.ItItwas wassomething something they theyalways alwayslooked lookedforward forwardto toand and always alwaysenjoyed. enjoyed.
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Just don’t breathe underwater, darling. Don’t worry, darling. Nothing is going to happen. The drive to Kataragama was about five hours long. But that was the scenic route. They took that way because one of their oldest living family members, Onalie’s greatgrand aunt, was along the way. Taking the landlocked route would have cut straight through to Kataragama and shaved nearly two hours off the drive. They opted for the coastline instead.
The driver floored the van and sped away from the coastline.
It was an abnormally beautiful day, with blue skies and no rain. It was the rainy season in Sri Lanka—normally, it would be raining and the ocean would be heaving and thrashing violently. But not today. Today was a beautiful day. It was a perfect day to visit the temple.
“No, darling. We are not going to die. Just don’t breathe underwater. Don’t worry, darling. Nothing is going to happen.”
Halfway there, they stopped at a grocery store in a little coastal village called Galle. Dilip, Zoysa and his family, Aunt Lilani and younger cousin Lasith, all jumped out of the van and went to grab some food and gifts for their great-grand aunt, who wasn’t far down the road. The driver of the taxi van was out and about, checking out the local shops and kiosks. Onalie, her mother Susie, her little sister Chavini and older cousin Lahiru, all stayed in the van. Onalie and her sister joked and messed around with Lahiru, just passing the time while they waited for everyone to get back. They were still groggy and exhausted from Almsgiving the night before and didn’t feel like going in the grocery store. And then suddenly the fun was over. The driver came sprinting back to the van, out of breath and completely terrified. “There is sea water coming in to the land! There is sea water coming in to the land!” he yelled frantically. Onalie was confused. “OK…so what?” she thought. Everyone in the van looked at each other. They didn’t know what to think. All around them, people were running from something. Masses of pedestrians were rushing away in the same direction, away from the coastline…Something terrible was coming.
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Within seconds, an enormous wall of filthy brown water slammed into the van with the force of a runaway train. Onalie and her family were trapped. “Are we going to die? Are we going to die?” Chavini asked her mother.
Water began to fill the van. It poured through the dashboard air conditioning vents. It seeped through the floors and doors. The van began to submerge. First the water filled at Onalie’s ankles. Then her knees. Her thighs. Her waist. Her chest. Her neck. She kicked the passenger-side window, trying to break free. She kept on kicking and kicking until the window finally shattered. The water rose to her chin. She took her last breath, closed her eyes, and went under. Just don’t breathe underwater, darling. Don’t worry, darling. Nothing is going to happen.
She surfaced just outside the van. The first thing she saw was her mother, no more than ten yards away, being thrashed and swept away by the roaring current. Her mother’s hair was messy and her face was limp. Onalie thought she looked dead. She kept calm, but still couldn’t believe what was happening. She shut her eyes as tight as she could and opened them again to see if she was just dreaming. This was no dream…she really was being washed away in a tsunami wave, her mother really could be dead, she really didn’t know where her sister or cousin or anyone else was. The current pushed her toward a tall light post. She stretched out and reached for it, but barely missed. She continued to barrel downstream, toward the edge of a canal lined with small trees. She caught the trunk of a tree and held on for her life.
There was a faint voice amid the roar of the water. It was her older cousin Lahiru, perched atop a nearby tree. Chavini was clinging to the trunk of the same tree. “What the hell are you doing! Get to the top of the tree!” Lahiru shouted. Using the seat of a bicycle lodged to the base of a tree, she stood up and threw her leg over the branch and hoisted herself to the top. Here she had a new vantage point of the devastation. She could see beds and cars and corpses surging past her. A young girl atop a Jeep floated past her, screaming and crying for help. There was nothing Onalie could do but hope and pray. After a few minutes, water levels began to subside, and people began to jump into the water to save others. One boy, who was carrying a dead body over his shoulder, came to Onalie and helped her and Lahiru and Chavini get to a nearby bridge that joined the lowland to the highland, where they would be safe. The bridge was littered with dead bodies. Lahiru and Chavini were taken to a nearby church, a refuge for the survivors. Onalie stayed behind on the bridge and looked desperately for her mother. Onalie saw two people walk by her dragging a dead body that she swore looked just like her mother: long dark hair, fair skin, blue and bloated from drowning. An elderly man and a Buddhist monk approached Onalie. “Do you want to come see if your mom is here?” the monk asked as he pointed his finger at the stack of corpses neatly lining the bridge. She said no. She didn’t want to see her mother dead. She refused to believe she was dead. Someone said that another wave could be coming, and everyone scattered from the bridge. Onalie ran across the bridge and made for the highlands. A boy ran to her and asked what her name was and who she was missing. Onalie gave him a description of her
Dilip woke up in a hospital. The sole of his foot was sliced open and his chin was badly scraped. He fainted as he was being thrashed around in the water, and was later found by a search party. They thought he was dead, so they put him in a cart with the other dead bodies and brought him to the hospital.
Onalie with the tree she held onto to save her life from the tsunami mother, and then without another word, the boy ran away. He ran all the way to Onalie’s mother, who was doctoring survivors in a torn-up building that used to be the post office. “Do you know a girl named Sonalie?” the boy said. Susie knew he meant Onalie. The boy ran back to Onalie and told her he had found her mother. The two ran back to the post office as fast as they could.
When he awoke in the hospital, he saw a young girl being wheeled past him on a stretcher. She looked just like Onalie—she wore a gold chain around her neck, the same gold chain that Onalie always wears when she is back home in Sri Lanka. The girl on the stretcher appeared to be dead. That’s all it took for Dilip to convince himself that his entire family was gone. He knew Onalie was the tough one of the family—if she wasn’t alive, then no one was. A doctor found Dilip and discovered that his entire family was supposedly dead. Thinking Dilip might commit suicide, he put him up in his nearby apartment for the night, where the doctor’s mother-in-law cared for him.
When Onalie and her mother saw each other, their faces appeared drained and lifeless. They were happy to see each other again, but they were too mentally and physically exhausted to express emotion. Both were in shock and unable to fully understand the tragedy they had just gone through.
Aunt Lilani, who was with Dilip in the grocery store, had Dilip’s cell phone. Dilip used the doctor’s cell phone to call his own phone, in hopes of finding someone who was still alive.
A family offered the pair refuge in their little house. Susie left Onalie in the house and went on her way to rescue the rest of her family.
“We are OK, Dilip. We are alive,” she said.
For the next few hours, Susie scoured the ruins of the little coastal town, looking for Chavini and Lahiru. Susie walked up and down the road barefoot, stepping over the mangled and waterlogged debris that was once the town of Galle. She found them in a church nearby and sent them to the house to reunite with Onalie.
Onalie took the phone from her mother.
Susie then went back to the grocery store, where she found Lilani, Lasith, Zoysa and Zoysa’s family. Dilip was nowhere to be found.
Susie answered the phone. Dilip did not believe it. “Thaththi! [Sinhalese for daddy], Thaththi! It’s me, I’m here, don’t worry, don’t cry. This is Akki [Sinhalese for older sister].” At the sound of Onalie’s voice, Dilip burst into tears. He cried like he’d never cried before. “Patiya? [Sinhalese for baby animal] Patiya? Patiya?” Dilip screeched.
Dilip saw everything. He saw the water surge in from the coastline. He saw the water engulf the van. He watched helplessly, from the safety of the grocery store, as his entire family was washed away before his eyes.
That night, Dilip stayed in the doctor’s office and the rest of the family stayed in the little house back in Galle. The military trucks, which would be bringing them to the hospital, weren’t arriving until early the next morning.
He thought he was witnessing the death of his entire family. It devastated him.
That was the only night Onalie had nightmares of the tsunami. She tossed and turned as she remembered nearly drowning in the van. She remembered the water filling up at her ankles. She remembered taking her last breath as her mouth touched the roof of the van.
“That was the worst moment of my life. It all happened so fast,” Dilip said. “One cannot comprehend how something like that can happen. One moment it was a beautiful day, the next you look out of the window and see this mass of water just washing away everything you could see.” He wasn’t going to sit there and watch his family die, so he took off his glasses, gave his wallet and cell phone to Lilani, and jumped into the raging water.
The military trucks arrived in the morning and brought them all to the hospital, where they were finally reunited. Onalie embraced her father and they cried together. They all embraced. The tsunami ended up taking the lives of 35,222 Sri Lankans that day. Onalie and her family were thankful to be among the survivors.
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Your Your whole whole world world can can turn turn upside upside down down in in the the blink blink of of an an eye. eye. Read Read how how four four Iowa Iowa State State students students cope cope with with unexpected unexpected pregnancies. pregnancies. BY LIZ ZABEL DESIGN SARAH VANCE PHOTO LIZ ZABEL
Kendra Kendra && Marshall Marshall Kendra KendraPlathe Platheand andher herfifiancé, ancé,Marshall Marshall Chisare Chisaredidn’t didn’texpect expectto toput puttheir theirlife lifeon onhold hold as asthey theyentered enteredtheir theirfifinal nalyear yearof ofcollege, college,but but that’s that’swhat whathappened happenedwhen whenKendra Kendrawatched watched two twopositive positivesymbols symbolsslowly slowlyemerge emergeon onher her pregnancy pregnancytests. tests.She Shewas wasovercome overcomewith with shock shockand andfear fearas asshe shestared stareddown downat atthe thetwo two plus plussigns, signs,thinking thinking“oh “ohshit, shit,now nowwhat?” what?” Kendra Kendraand andMarshall Marshallhad hadbeen beendating datingfor for just justunder underaayear yearwhen whenthey theyfound foundout out she shewas waspregnant pregnantlast lastApril. April.Now Nowthey they are areengaged engagedand andjust justhad hadtheir theirfifirst rstson, son, Brayden, Brayden,in inJanuary. January.
Both Bothare aretaking takingaasemester semesteroff offwhile whileMarshall Marshall works workstwo twojobs jobsand andKendra Kendrastays stayshome homewith with Brayden. Brayden.Th They eyintend intendto tofifinish nishcollege collegeand and possibly possiblycontinue continuetheir theireducation educationthrough through graduate graduateschool, school,but butthe thefuture futureisisplagued plaguedby by uncertainties uncertaintiesas asthey theyre-organize re-organizetheir theirlife lifeto to revolve revolvearound aroundBrayden. Brayden. “Simple “Simplethings thingsaren’t aren’tso sosimple simpleanymore,” anymore,” Kendra Kendrasays. says.“I’m “I’mpretty prettymuch muchliving livingday dayto to day daynow. now.Life Lifeisn’t isn’tover overbut but[I] [I]defi definitely nitelyhave have to toput putititon onhold.” hold.”
Jacob Jacob && Lindsey Lindsey For ForJacob JacobFetterer Fettererand andLindsey LindseyEhlinger, Ehlinger, everything everythingchanged changedwhen whenone onething thingled ledto to another anotherin inthe theback backof ofJacob’s Jacob’scar caron onhis his21st 21st birthday—a birthday—atime timewhen whenthe thecouple couplehad hadbeen been temporarily temporarilysplit splitfrom fromtheir theirthree threeand andaahalf half year yearrelationship. relationship.Not Notlong longafter afterreturning returning to toAmes, Ames,Jacob Jacobreceived receivedaacall callfrom fromLindsey Lindsey revealing revealingthe thenews newsthat thatshe shewas waspregnant. pregnant. “I “Ihate hateto tosay sayit, it,but butititwas wasaadark darkfew fewweeks,” weeks,” Jacob Jacobsays. says.“I “Iwas wasso sooverwhelmed overwhelmedjust justtrying trying to tofifigure gureout outwhat whatwas wasgoing goingto tohappen happen and andhow howititwould wouldaff affect ectmy mysenior senioryear...I year...I couldn’t couldn’tfocus focuson onanything. anything.All Allthe thetime timeII spent spentgoing goingto tocollege collegewas wascrashing crashingdown down around aroundme. me.To Tohave haveall allthat thatchange changein inan an instant instantwas wasaalot lotto totake takein.” in.” Th Theecouple coupledecided decidedthat thatalthough althoughthey theyhad had hit hitaarough roughpatch patchin inthe therelationship, relationship,they they would wouldwork workthings thingsout outand andmove moveforward. forward. Jacob Jacobhad hadno nodoubt doubtin inhis hismind mindthat thathe he would woulddo doeverything everythinghe hecould couldto tobe bethere there for forhis hisdaughter. daughter.“We “Wehad hadaafoundation foundationof ofaa relationship relationshipand andhad hadplanned plannedon onhaving havingaa future futuretogether...we together...weweren’t weren’t‘together’ ‘together’[at [atthe the time] time]but butthat thatdoesn’t doesn’tmean meanIIdidn’t didn’tlove loveher her or orcare careabout abouther,” her,”says saysFetterer. Fetterer.“I “Icouldn’t couldn’t imagine imaginenot notbeing beingthere therefor forthem.” them.” Jacob Jacobhad hadplans plansto topropose proposeto toLindsey Lindsey following followingthe thebirth birthof oftheir theirdaughter, daughter,Stella, Stella, in inJuly Julyof of2013. 2013.Over OverChristmas Christmasbreak breakthat that year, year,Jacob Jacobgot gotdown downon onone oneknee kneeand and popped poppedthe thequestion. question. While WhileJacob Jacobfifinishes nisheshis hisfifinal nalyear yearat atIowa Iowa State, State,Lindsey Lindseystays staysin intheir theirhometown hometownof of Davenport Davenportto toraise raiseStella. Stella.Jacob Jacobsays saysStella Stella has hascontinued continuedto togive givehim himthe themotivation motivationto to keep keepgoing goingso sohe hecan can“provide “providefor forhis hisfamily,” family,” but buthe’s he’scontinually continuallychallenged challengedby bythe thedesire desire to tobe behome homewith withthem. them.
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“I “Ijust justwant wantto tobe behome homewith withmy myfamily,” family,” says saysJacob, Jacob,who’s who’strying tryingto toremain remainpatient. patient.“I “I know knowI’m I’mclose—I close—Ican cansee seethe thelight.” light.” Jacob Jacobimagined imaginedhaving havingaachild childwould wouldruin ruin his hislife, life,but buthe hesays saysit’s it’smuch muchmore morerewarding rewarding than thanyou youmight mightthink. think.“Th “There’s ere’snothing nothingelse else like likeit,” it,”says saysJacob. Jacob.“It’s “It’saalove loveyou youwon’t won’tfifind nd anywhere anywhereelse.” else.”
Margaret Margaret When WhenMargaret MargaretCihlar Cihlarfifirst rstfound foundout outshe she was waspregnant, pregnant,all allshe shecould couldthink thinkwas was“oh “oh no.” no.”Th That’s at’swhen whenthe thepanic panicset setin. in. “I “Inever neverexpected expectedmy mylife lifewould wouldentail entailan an unplanned unplannedpregnancy,” pregnancy,”Margaret Margaretsays. says. “It “Itwas wasaabig bigcurveball curveballto tothe theoriginal original plans plansIIhad—fi had—find ndaaguy, guy,get getmarried, married,have have successful successfulcareers, careers,then thenkids—instead, kids—instead,IIwas was waitressing, waitressing,not notmarried, married,trying tryingschool… school… ititwas wasaawake wakeup upcall callto towhat whatcan canhappen happen in inlife. life.Everything Everythingchanges changesin inthose thosetwo two minutes minutesyou youwait waitto tosee seethe thepositive positiveor or negative negativesign signon onaapregnancy pregnancytest.” test.” Margaret Margaretand andher herboyfriend, boyfriend,Taza TazaKennaway, Kennaway, had hadjust justmoved movedto toArizona Arizonawhere whereshe she intended intendedto topursue pursuean anart artdegree. degree.Th Theecouple couple had hadbeen beendating datingfor fornearly nearlyone oneyear yearat atthe the time. time.Margaret Margaretwas wasthe theonly onlyone onewith withaajob job and andthey theyhad hadno nomoney moneysaved savedup upto tosupport support aafamily. family.When Whenthey theyfound foundout outshe shewas was pregnant, pregnant,they theydecided decidedititwould wouldbe bebest bestto to move moveback backto toIowa Iowato tobe becloser closerto tofamily. family. Eight Eightdays daysafter afterthe thebirth birthof oftheir theirdaughter, daughter, Marlee, Marlee,Margaret Margaretmoved movedto toAmes Ameswith withthe the newborn newbornto tocontinue continueher hereducation educationwhile while Taza Tazastayed stayedhome homein inSpencer Spencerto towork workand and support supportthem themfifinancially. nancially. Margaret Margaretsays saysshe shewishes wishesshe sheand andMarlee Marlee could couldhave haveTaza Tazaaround aroundall allthe thetime, time,but but without withouthis hisincome, income,child-support child-supportand and additional additionalgovernment governmentassistance, assistance,Margaret Margaret
wouldn’t wouldn’tbe beable ableto tofifinancially nanciallysupport supporther her daughter. daughter.After Afterall, all,expenses expensesadd addup upquick quick with withdiapers, diapers,food, food,clothing, clothing,rent, rent,daycare, daycare, tuition, tuition,etc. etc. “It “Itwould wouldbe begreat greatto tohave havehim himhere hereall allthe the time, time,but butwe wehave haveto topay paythe thebills,” bills,”Margaret Margaret says. says.“We “Wetake takewhat whatwe wecan canget getright rightnow.” now.” Although Althoughit’s it’sbeen beendiffi difficult cultfor forMargaret Margaret to toraise raiseMarlee Marleewhile whilein incollege, college,she’s she’s tried triedto tomake makethe thebest bestof ofthe theunexpected. unexpected. By Byfurthering furtheringher hereducation, education,Margaret Margaret believes believesshe’s she’sproviding providingMarlee Marleewith withaabetter better foundation. foundation. “Everything “EverythingIIdo, do,IIdo dofor forher,” her,”Cihlar Cihlarsays. says. “I “Ijust justwant wanther herto tobe behappy, happy,healthy healthyand and excited excitedfor forevery everyday.” day.”
Like Likeher herdevout devoutChristian Christianparents, parents,Martha Martha didn’t didn’tuse useany anykind kindof ofbirth birthcontrol. control.“I’m “I’mnot not saying sayingbirth birthcontrol controlisiswrong...but wrong...butwe wedidn’t didn’t want wantto tocontrol controlthat thatpart partof ofour ourlife lifeout outof offear fear instead insteadof oftrusting trustingin inGod,” God,”says saysMartha, Martha,who who planned plannedto tograduate graduatethis thisspring, spring,but buthad hadto to drop dropher herintended intended18-credit 18-creditsemester semesterdown down to tonine. nine.After Afterthis thissemester, semester,she’ll she’llonly onlyhave have three threecredits creditsleft leftto tograduate. graduate. “I “Idefi definitely nitelywant wantto tofifinish nishcollege,” college,”says saysNoll, Noll, who whostudies studieslinguistics linguisticsand andinternational international studies. studies.“Having “Havingaadegree degreeisisvery veryvaluable. valuable.II believe believein ineducation—it education—itchanges changespeople peopleand and the theworld. world.God Godhas hasbeen beenvery verykind kindto tohelp help me mefifinish nishcollege.” college.”
Martha Martha && Gabe Gabe It’s It’sno nosurprise surprisethat thatsomeone someonefrom fromaafamily family of of15 15would wouldfeel feelaanatural naturalinstinct instinctto toraise raiseaa child. child.ItItmay maycome comeas asaasurprise, surprise,however, however, that thatMartha MarthaNoll, Noll,aa22-year-old 22-year-oldnewlywed newlywed fifinishing nishingher herlast lastyear yearof ofcollege, college,would would be behaving havingher herfifirst rstchild childnot notlong longafter afterher her summer summerceremony. ceremony. According Accordingto toMartha, Martha,she sheand andher herhusband husband Gabe Gabeweren’t weren’t“trying,” “trying,”but butweren’t weren’t“not “not trying” trying”either—they either—theywere weretrusting trustingGod Godwith with their theirfate, fate,as asthey theyalways alwayshave. have. Th TheeNolls Nollsmet metthrough throughthe theSalt SaltCompany Company at atCornerstone CornerstoneChurch Churchon onaamission missiontrip tripto to China Chinain inspring springof of2010. 2010.Two Twoyears yearspassed passed before beforethey theyoffi officially ciallybegan begandating, dating,then then they theywere wereengaged engagedand andmarried marriedwithin withinthe the following followingyear. year.Th They eyhad hadtheir theirdaughter, daughter, Isabel, Isabel,on onMarch March31, 31,2014. 2014. “We “Wepreferred preferrednot notto tobe bepregnant pregnantfor forour ourfifirst rst couple coupleyears yearsof ofmarriage, marriage,but butthis thisisisclearly clearly what whatHe Hewanted,” wanted,”says saysMartha, Martha,explaining explaining that thatthey theyprayed prayedoften, often,asking askingGod Godto towait wait but buttrusting trustingHis Hisdecision. decision.
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The sport that attracts millions of fans worldwide will peak this July at the World Cup in Brazil BY ANDREAS HAFFAR DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION STEPHANIE BREEN
On March 7, 2003, the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) announced that one of the greatest spectacles on the globe would be on the soil of a country that lives, breathes and ultimately loves the beautiful game of football (soccer)—Brazil.
The glory of the tournament and the game itself are shared by all countries of the world. They all use the same equipment, same rules (mostly) and, although the languages are different, the world itself is unified by one illustrious language—the language of football.
Every four years, more than 200 nations strive to reach the finals, and only 32 teams get to compete on the big stage known simply as the World Cup. The players have the opportunity to display their abilities while at the same time, represent their respective homes. This summer marks the 20th FIFA World Cup.
The World Cup is the foundation for a unique cultural experience, no matter
CULTURE OF THE COMPETITION World Cup fever will soon affect people by the millions, yet again. Much like the timing of the Olympics, this tournament only comes around every four summers, to some extent making it a more cherished event. The 2010 South Africa World Cup had an astonishing 1 billion people viewing the opening games, and this time around is set to have even higher numbers.
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“My favorite part about the World Cup is that you don’t have to be at the game—you don’t even have to be in the same city or country as the game—and you’re still a part of the party.”
where it takes place. Fans will flock to Brazil, making it a momentary melting pot during the month-long festival. It’s a chance for Brazil, like every host country, to show the world what they’re all about and for visitors to also share respective cultures. For those who are unfamiliar with the game, the rules are simple. There are two teams, each made up of 10 men and a goalkeeper. The sport is played by primarily using your feet to control a ball. The game lasts for 90 minutes, or two hours if overtime is needed. The objective is to put the ball into the back of your opponent’s goal more times than they can do to yours, while also preventing them from scoring. The United States will compete against Ghana, Portugal and Germany—a group considered to be one of the toughest. Luckily, us ‘Yanks’ are familiar with upsetting the doubters. Not everyone can be inside the Maracana— the stadium venue of the final match, which holds 77,000 people—but there are other methods of enjoying the games that some consider even more entertaining.
The experience is similar to a huge tailgate all over the country. The streets are flooded with supporters; bars and restaurants are packed to the brim with eager football fans and there are public viewings on giant screens.
ALL HAIL THE VERDE-AMARELA This summer’s biggest party will culminate in Rio de Janeiro between the two nations whose players have fought through thick and thin, battled valiantly and refused to accept defeat. The “Verde-Amarela” (green and yellow; their traditional uniform colors) are a powerhouse one never hopes to face. In addition to being five-time world champions—with wins in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002—they’ve been in the final seven times, boasting the most wins (67) in the tournament and the most goals scored (210). Brazil has also never missed a World Cup to date—a feat unmatched by any other nation. This is Brazil’s second time hosting the tournament. The fourth World Cup was held in Brazil in 1950, when they lost in the final to fellow South American country Uruguay, 2 to 1. They will likely be in the finals again, especially under former World Cup-winning coach Luis Filipe Scolari.
adds, “My favorite part about the World Cup is that you don’t have to be at the game—you don’t even have to be in the same city or country as the game—and you’re still a part of the party.” There is an immense sense of pride in the prowess portrayed by Brazilian footballers. “In Brazil, there are many players, and you have to be really good to be on the national team. Many players are waiting in the lower leagues and may not be needed, yet the professional coaches know they’re there, know their names and have a lot to choose from. It’s about getting your chance, like if someone is hurt or the team needs an extra player. When a Brazilian puts on the yellow jersey, they play with all of their heart,” says Claudio Gianello, owner of Café Beaudelaire in Ames. Gianello is from Porto Alegre in southern Brazil, and he moved to the United States at the age of 20. Although he hasn’t attended a World Cup match before, he plans to attend this summer with his daughters. He’s an avid football fan and has been keeping up with all the tournament’s latest news: “There is a lot of poverty and starvation in Brazil and there are concerns surrounding how much money is being put into the tournament, especially the stadiums and what will be done to maintain them after the World Cup. So some people are upset.”
Although Brazilians adore the game, many riots have broken out in response to budget priorities. In South Africa in 2010, $5 billion was spent on the showpiece spectacle, almost none of which benefited impoverished citizens. Five new FIFAapproved stadiums were built that now are relatively unused. Brazil will also have five new stadiums, and many wonder what kind of hangover they will have post-World Cup. Security measures are being taken to protect attendees. During some games in the Brazilian leagues, police officers lined up around the crowd with German shepherds to deter possible troublemakers. “There will be a lot more security. With some of the stadiums, they’ve dropped the capacities to a more European-style arena, so fans will have a closer and better experience, at the same time feeling safe too,” Gianello says. Gianello added it would be a blockbuster finale if rival Argentina faced Brazil in the final, and from any football fan’s perspective, that would be a mouth-watering confrontation.
THE COUNTRY OF FOOTBALL Brazil has often been called “O Pais do Futebol” which is Portuguese for the “Country of Football,” even though other countries like Germany, England, Argentina and Italy also highly regard the sport. When the international team is scheduled to play an important competitive fixture, everything virtually stops. Kids are let out of school early, work shifts end early and banks and businesses close down simply because everyone gives their undivided attention to the game. “It’s the only sport that exists in Brazil. In America, you have college football (American) and NFL teams, but even then there’s no real comparison. Down there, it has so much to do with culture. Kids are fresh out of the womb and they love soccer,” says Rebecca Warnecke, a student at Iowa State whose mother’s side of the family is Brazilian. “When it comes to international play, everyone is so connected that you can’t not shut down schools or get off work early for the day. It’s a huge deal.” Football plays a major part in Brazilian life. Many people play it—whether it’s in the streets, at the beach or on the field. It’s ingrained into their everyday lives. Warnecke
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AFTER AFTER EARNING EARNING HIS HIS MASTER’S MASTER’S DEGREE DEGREE IN IN AEROSPACE AEROSPACE ENGINEERING ENGINEERING FROM FROM IOWA IOWA STATE STATE IN IN 1983, 1983, CLAYTON ANDERSON,, SENIOR SENIOR FACULTY FACULTY FELLOW, FELLOW, GOT GOT AA JOB JOB THAT’S THAT’S OUT OUT OF OF THIS THIS WORLD: WORLD: HE HE BECAME BECAME AN AN ASTRONAUT. ASTRONAUT.
BY BYKIANA KIANA ROPPE ROPPE DESIGN DESIGNMADISON MADISON JERDE JERDE PHOTO PHOTOCOURTESY COURTESY OF OF CLAYTON CLAYTONANDERSON ANDERSON
Ethos: Ethos: What Whatprompted promptedyou youto tobecome becomean anastronaut? astronaut? Clayton Clayton Anderson: Anderson: IIwas was8, 8,as asIIremember, remember,and andwatched—on watched—onChristmas ChristmasEve Evein in1968— 1968— the theApollo Apollo88crew crewgo gobehind behindthe themoon moonfor forthe thefifirst rsttime. time.My Myparents parentsawakened awakenedmy mybrother brother and andsister sisterand andI,I,plopped ploppedus uson onaathrow throwrug rugon onthe theflfloor oorin infront frontof ofaablack-and-white black-and-whiteTV, TV,and and we wewatched watchedthe theastronauts astronautsgo gobehind behindthe themoon. moon. My Mymother mothersays saysIIwas was55when whenwe wewould woulddiscuss discussme mebecoming becomingan anastronaut. astronaut.So, So,she shehad hadan an earlier earliermemory memoryof ofthat thatthan thanIIdid. did. But Butititturns turnsout outthat thatIIwas wasin inthe thekiddie kiddieparade paradein inmy myhome hometown townof ofAshland, Ashland,Nebraska, Nebraska,and and every everyJuly, July,they theywould wouldbreak breakdown downthe themain mainstreet streetand andput putcarnival carnivalrides ridesand andall allthat. that.Th Thee kiddie kiddieparade paradewas waswhere whereIIwent wentas asaaMercury MercuryGemini Geminiastronaut. astronaut.Th Theeway wayyou youdid didthat thatin in those thosedays dayswas, was,you youcouldn’t couldn’tgo goout outand andbuy buyaacostume, costume,so soyou youhad hadto tomake makeyour yourown. own.So, So,my my mother motherwrapped wrappedme mein inaluminum aluminumfoil foiland andput putaahat hatbox boxon onmy myhead headcovered coveredwith withaluminum aluminum foil, foil,with withaapipe pipecleaner cleanerand andstyrofoam styrofoamball ballfor formy mycommunication communicationantenna antennato totalk talkto toaliens. aliens.
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E: E: What Whatwas wasyour yourfifirst rstexperience experienceat atNASA NASA like? like?Were Wereyou younervous? nervous? CA: CA: IIremember rememberbeing beingoverwhelmed overwhelmed when whenmy myfifirst rstday, day,IIhad hadto tofifillllout outall allthe the paperwork paperworkand andpick pickhealth healthinsurance insuranceand andII had hadto topick picklife lifeinsurance, insurance,all allthose thosethings thingsII had hadnever neverthought thoughtof ofbefore. before.When WhenIIgot gotto to NASA, NASA,IIremember remembercalling callingmy mydad dadlike like“What “What do doIIpick? pick?What Whatdo doIIpick?” pick?”and andititwas wasreally really hard hardto todo dothat, that,back backthen, then,over overthe thephone. phone. As Asan anastronaut, astronaut,IIthink thinkititwas wasbeing beingthrown thrown in inwith with31 31other otherpeople, people,really, really,really really intelligent, intelligent,really, really,really reallyaccomplished accomplishedand and really, really,really reallyaggressive. aggressive.I’m I’msmart smartenough; enough;II don’t don’tconsider considermyself myselfaagenius geniusor oraahighhighlevel levelthinker thinkerat atany anylevel. level.IIstrive striveto tobe bejust just barely barelyabove aboveaverage. average.And Andthese theseguys guyswere were pretty prettyincredible, incredible,most mostof ofthem, them,and andititwas wasaa little littleintimidating intimidatingfor foraasmall smalltown townkid—even kid—even with with15 15years yearsof ofexperience experienceat atNASA—to NASA—to be beamongst amongstfifighter ghterpilots pilotsand andPhDs PhDsand and inventors inventorsand anddiscoverers discoverersthat thatwere werevery very aggressive, aggressive,who whohad hadknown knownfor forawhile awhilewhat what they theywanted wantedand andlaid laidout outan anexact exactplan planto toget get there. there.And Andonce oncethey theygot gotthere, there,boy boythey theysunk sunk their theirteeth teethin. in.Every Everyday daywas wasaacompetition. competition.
E: E: What Whatdo doyou youdo doday-to-day day-to-dayas asan an astronaut astronautwhen whenyou’re you’rein inthe theshuttle? shuttle? CA: CA: Training Trainingfor foraashuttle shuttleflflight ightisispretty pretty straightforward. straightforward.It’s It’saabusy busyday—it’s day—it’saa busy busyweek—but week—butthey theywatch watchto tomake makesure sure your yourhours hoursat atwork workare arekept keptto toaa“green,” “green,” comfortable comfortablelevel. level.Depending Dependingon onlaunch launch slips slipsor ordelays, delays,that thatcan cango goto toyellow yellowor orred, red, and andthey theytry tryto toavoid avoidthat. that.Th They eydon’t don’twant want you youto toget getover-worked. over-worked.ItItwas wasusually usuallyaalot lot of offun. fun.ItItwas wassimulations, simulations,ititwas wastraining training classes. classes.ItItwas wasmeetings meetingsto totalk talkabout aboutwhat what we wewere weregoing goingto todo doduring duringthe theflflight; ight;ititwas was spacewalking spacewalkingruns runsin inthe thebig bigswimming swimming pool poolto topractice practicethose thosetechniques. techniques.Th That’s at’s what whateverybody everybodywants wantsto tobe—they be—theywant wantto to be bean anastronaut astronautin intraining trainingfor fortheir theirspace space flflight. ight.Th Theeonly onlything thingbetter betterisisthe theactual actual space spaceflflight. ight. E: E: What Whatisisexactly exactlyisisaaspace spacewalk, walk,and andwhat what isisititlike? like? CA: CA: AAspace spacewalk walkisiscalled calledEVA EVAor or Extravehicular ExtravehicularActivity. Activity.Th That atmeans meansyou’re you’re going goingto todo doactivity activityoutside outsidethe thevehicle. vehicle. Typically, Typically,this thislasts lastsaround aroundsix-and-half six-and-half hours. hours.Over Overmy mycareer, career,I’ve I’vedone donesix six spacewalks; spacewalks;I’ve I’veaccumulated accumulated38 38hours hoursand and 28 28minutes, minutes,which whichaverages averagesout outas assix sixhours hours and and25 25minutes minutes[per [perwalk]. walk].Th Theelongest longestwas was seven sevenhours hoursand and41 41minutes. minutes.My Myshortest shortest was wasfifive vehours hoursand andsomething. something.Th Theetwo two short shortones oneswere werecaused causedbecause becausethere therewas wasaa hurricane hurricanein inthe theGulf Gulfof ofMexico Mexicoand andbecause because my my[EVA] [EVA]partner, partner,who whoisisliving livingin inspace space today, today,had hadaahole holein inhis hisglove, glove,and andthey theywere were worried worriedthat thatthat thatwould wouldcause causeaacatastrophic catastrophic situation situationwhere wherehe hewould wouldrun runout outof of
oxygen. oxygen.So, So,the thefact factthat thatthose thosetwo twowere were cut cutshort shortkind kindof oflimited limitedme meon onmy myoverall overall hours. hours.Th There’s ere’saaranking rankingof ofastronauts astronautsand and cosmonauts cosmonautsin inthe theworld worldand andtheir theirspacespacewalking walkingtime, time,and andright rightnow, now,I’m I’min inthe thetop top 30. 30.But Butititwon’t won’tbe belong longbefore beforeI’ll I’llbe beout outof of the thetop top30, 30,probably. probably.
wrapped wrappedaround aroundit. it.Th TheeRussian Russianfood food favorites favoritesfor forme mewere werefifish shand andrice, rice,lamb lambwith with vegetables vegetablesand andpork porkwith withpotatoes. potatoes.Th Their eir soups soupswere wereawesome; awesome;they theyhad hadaapureed pureed kind kindof ofvegetable vegetablesoup soupwith withchunks chunksof ofmeat meat in init—oh it—ohman, man,that thatwas wasgood. good.And Andthe the borscht, borscht,IIloved lovedborscht. borscht.
E: E: How Howisisthe theview? view?
American Americandesserts dessertswere werethe thebest. best.Russians Russians don’t don’tdo dodessert dessertmuch, much,and andthey theydon’t don’tdo do ititreally reallywell. well.In Interms termsof ofspace spacefood, food,in in America Americawe wehad hadcobblers; cobblers;we wehad hadpuddings. puddings. We Wehad hadchocolate chocolatepudding puddingcake—that cake—thatwas was aareally reallygood goodone. one.Apple Appleblueberry blueberrycobbler cobbler was wasanother anotherbig bigfavorite favoriteof ofmine. mine.Th Theeonly only thing thingmissing missingwas wasaanice nicescoop scoopof ofvanilla vanilla ice icecream. cream.
CA: CA: Th Theeview viewisisextremely extremelydiffi difficult cultto to describe describein inwords. words.It’s It’sbetter betterto todescribe describeititin in pictures picturesand andvideo, video,but buteven eventhen, then,you youdon’t don’t do doititjustice. justice.Especially Especiallynowadays nowadayswhen whenthe the Space SpaceStation Stationhas hasaa“Cupola “Cupolamodule,” module,”they they call callit, it,which whichisisessentially essentiallyaaclear, clear,glass glassbowl bowl of ofwindows windowsfocused focusedon onthe theEarth. Earth.So Sowhen when you youare arefeeling feelingfrustrated frustratedor orstressed stressedor orjust just want wantaalittle littledown downtime, time,you youcan canflfloat oatinto into the theCupola Cupolaand andwatch watchthe theEarth Earthpass passbelow below you. you.It’s It’saapretty prettyincredible incrediblesight. sight.It’s It’saapretty pretty incredible incredibleexperience. experience.
“ONE OF THE DREAMS I HAVE IS THAT ONE DAY, THE CREW OF THE EARTH WILL GET ALONG.” E: E: Is Isititfrightening frighteningto towork workin inpitch pitchblack? black? CA: CA: IIlike likesunlight sunlightbetter betterthan thanpitch pitchblack. black. But Butsome someguys guyslike likepitch pitchblack blackbecause because ititmakes makesthem themfeel feellike likethey’re they’recontained contained in inaasmaller smallerspace, space,and andthey theyfeel feelmore more comfortable comfortablethat thatway. way.It’s It’slike likethey’re they’rein inaa room, room,working workingon onaapanel. panel.IfIfyou yousee seethe the Earth Earthmoving movingbelow belowat atabout aboutfifive vemiles milesper per second, second,ititcan canbe beaalittle littledisconcerting disconcertingfrom fromaa view viewperspective. perspective.But ButIIliked likedhaving havingthe thesun sun up; up;IIliked likedseeing seeingthe theEarth. Earth.IIliked likedwatching watching ititmove movebelow belowme. me.IIjust justthought thoughtititwas was totally totallycool. cool. E: E: Now Nowfor forthe theimportant importantquestion—how question—howisis the thefood? food?
E: E: What Whatisisyour yourfavorite favoriteexperience experienceas as an anastronaut? astronaut? CA: CA: My Myfifirst rstspace spacewalk walkwas wasthe theultimate ultimate experience. experience.I’d I’dnever neverbeen beenoutside outsidebefore; before;II was wasthe thelead leadspacewalker spacewalkergoing goingoutside outsidewith with aaRussian Russiancosmonaut cosmonautwho whospoke spokeOK OKEnglish English and andIIspoke spokeOK OKRussian. Russian.But Butwe wewere werebeing being monitored monitoredby byaasecond secondRussian Russianinside insidethe the space spacestation. station.ItItwas wasjust justthe thethree threeof ofus, us,and and we wewere wereout outseven sevenhours hoursand and41 41minutes, minutes, and andwe weaccomplished accomplishedevery everyobjective objectivewe we were weresent sentout outto tocomplete completeand andthen thensome. some. So SoIIwas washugely hugelyexcited, excited,hugely hugelysatisfi satisfied, ed, hugely hugelyproud proudwhen whenIIcame cameback backin. in.[I[Iwas was also] also]hugely hugelytired, tired,but butthe thefatigue fatigueisn’t isn’tas as diffi difficult, cult,physically, physically,as asititisison onthe theEarth. Earth.It’s It’s more morementally mentallyfatiguing, fatiguing,but butthat thathigh highthat thatII was wason, on,having havingexecuted executedmy myfifirst rstspacewalk spacewalk in inseven sevenhours hoursand and41 41minutes minutesand anddoing doing everything everythingwithout withoutany anymistakes...it mistakes...itwas washard hard to tosleep sleepthat thatnight. night. E: E: Is Isthere thereanything anythingelse elseyou youwant wantto toadd? add? CA: CA: ItItwould wouldbe bemy mydream dreamthat thatall allpeople people on onthis thisplanet planethave havethe theopportunity opportunityto tosee see and anddo dowhat whatIIdid, did,because becauseIIthink thinkthat thatititwill will make makeus usbetter betterhuman humanbeings. beings.We Wewouldn’t wouldn’t fifight ghteach eachother otheras asmuch muchon onEarth; Earth;ititwould would make makeus usbetter bettercollaborators collaboratorsand andteammates teammates on onour ourspaceship spaceshipEarth. Earth.We’re We’recrewmates crewmateson on the thesame samespaceship spaceshipright rightnow, now,and andwe wedon’t don’t always alwaysget getalong alongwith withthe therest restof ofour ourcrew. crew. One Oneof ofthe thedreams dreamsIIhave haveisisthat thatone oneday, day,the the crew crewof ofthe theworld worldwill willget getalong. along.Th Then, en,our our spaceship spaceshipEarth Earthcan canbecome becomethe thejumping jumping point pointfor forsomething somethingthat’s that’smaybe maybe“Star “Star Trek”-esque Trek”-esquein inthe thefuture. future.
CA: CA: Th Theefood foodisisexcellent! excellent!We Wehad hadRussian Russian and andAmerican Americanfood foodoverall. overall.IIwas wasaabig bigfan fan of ofthe theRussian Russianfood: food:ititwas wastastier. tastier.ItItwas was meatier; meatier;ititwas wasthicker. thicker.ItIthad hadmore moresalt. salt.Salt Salt and andfat fatmade madeitittaste tastebetter. better.Th TheeAmericans Americans want wantus usto tobe bereally reallyhealthy, healthy,and andthey theydon’t don’t want wantus usto toingest ingestaalot lotof ofbad badstuff stuff..So Sosome some of ofitittended tendedto tobe beaabit bitbland, bland,but buteven evenin in that thatregard, regard,ititwas wasvery verytasty. tasty.My MyAmerican American favorites favoriteswere wereShrimp ShrimpCocktail Cocktailand andIIused used to tolove lovehaving havingaameatloaf meatloafwith withtwo twotortillas tortillas
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