Ethos Magazine Fall 2013

CAN’T MAKE THIS SH*T UP YOUR GUIDE TO FORWARD THINKING

FALL 2013

RACISM @ IOWA STATE EXPOSED P L U S COUNTRY STRONG

Hard work on a farm

&

FLY LIKE HARRY POTTER 1 A magic-less sport

FALL 2013

2

ethosmagazine.org

MAGAZINE staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kiana Roppe

MANAGING EDITOR Dallas Daws

ARTICLES EDITOR Amira Khatib

VISUALS EDITOR Liz Zabel

CREATIVE DIRECTORS Emerald Klauer Mackenzie Ferguson

ONLINE EDITOR Alexa Hopson

WRITERS Ali Hanson, Andreas Haffar, Cole Komma, Daniel Brown, Jasmine Andersen, Kelly Schiro, Michelle Brugioni, Miranda Freeman, Patty Clark, Rachel Vipond, Rahemma Mayfield, Terigele, Traer Schon, Nicole Presley

DESIGNERS Jordan Welch, Sarah Vance, Taylor Wertzberger, Madison Jerde, Becky Eilers, Lynne Reiter, Shelby Kramer, Jessica Bartemes, Renae Meines, Sarah Neighbour

PHOTOGRAPHERS Tiffany Herring, Miranda Cantrell, Jared Raney, Yue Wu

PUBLIC RELATIONS & SOCIAL MEDIA Karlie Kinneer Alesha Olson

toc

what’s inside? thoughts Editor’s Letter

4

Our editor sure has some blonde moments

Quickies Page

6

Nuggets of information to keep your inner douche at bay

on campus International Perspective 26

Take a look through another’s eyes

Breaking Barriers

27

A hard look at local racism

WDYTYA

38

Beaters and keepers rule in this mystical game

around ames Down to Earth

34

Organic farming can be difficult and messy

Taking Adventure to New Heights

8

Jumping out of a plane is sure to raise your adrenaline

Survivor of Legacy Fall

23

Lucky to be alive, ready to move on

lifestyle

Cook Like a Fucking Badass

11

Om nom nom

Board Gangs

5

Skateboarders and longboarders ride against

King of Iowa

31

Behind the curtain of politics

Who is Molly?

16

Drugs can be bad, kids

entertainment Getting Back to their Roots

A roots reggae band talks music

Delightfully Sober Being the DD can be fun—trust us

passion HOT HOT SEX

20

Tips for couples to get it on

Strut of Pride

22

Walking the walk

3

Cooking is not my strong suit.

In fact, I think the only “recipes” I knew before coming to college were for cereal and mac-n-cheese.

I did try to make a cake when I was little… but it ended up tasting so bad that I tricked my little sister into eating it.

This is my third year at Iowa State and I have managed to elude the need to cook until now. I live in west Ames where I find myself without the comfort of a Seasons or a Hawthorn. So, I decided to dive in—headfirst.

After making a few basic meals like spaghetti, I found a recipe online for cornbread muffins with hotdogs in them. It seemed simple enough.

I carefully read through the directions, mixing the baking soda, flour, cornmeal and salt in a small bowl. After mixing the wet ingredients in a separate bowl, I combined them with the dry ingredients then spooned the mixture into a muffin tin. I proceeded to add the one inch thick hotdogs to each tin and pop it in the oven.

As I stood proud of my accomplishment, my boyfriend got up from our desk and came over to taste the leftover mixture. He dipped his finger in it, tasted it, then gagged.

Turns out—not every measurement is for a cup.

I had—like the blonde that I am—used ¼ cup of baking soda and a ¼ cup of salt (yikes) instead of ¼ teaspoons. Big mistake. After I freaked out over my epic fail, my boyfriend helped me scurry to make a fresh batch (with much less salt).

After a long while, I put aside my pride and laughed.

Things don’t always go the way we plan—like a lifechanging move to the United States from China (p. 26), working on an organic farm for a couple days (p. 34) or playing Quidditch without magical powers (p. 38)—but we should learn to pause, take a deep breath, then make the leap. Whether it’s literally leaping out of a plane (p. 8) or leaping into bed with your significant other (p. 20), the ride will be worth it.

Can’t make this sh*t up

P.S. Don’t let this taint your view of the recipes on p. 11—they really will help you have a kick-ass date.

4

ethosmagazine.org

BY COLE KOMMA DESIGN LYNNE REITER PHOTO TIFFANY HERRING CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS COURTESY OF DITCH SKATEBOARDS

United by fun, divided by culture— skateboarders and longboarders are at odds.

“This is a criticism aiming towards a lot of skate culture that constantly complains about things that are biting off skateboarding. Skating came from surfing,” says Rob Brink, skateboarder, writer and host of “The Weekend Buzz”—Ride channel’s talk show. “You can’t be bummed at surfing… skaters tend to have this ‘holier than thou’ approach. Everybody rips them off.”

A skateboard is a narrow, short board with four wheels.

A longboard is a longer skateboard which usually has a surfboard shape. Both are used for getting to class or going on a much-needed beer run. The true difference is the culture: skateboards are more intense and used for tricks while longboards tend to offer a more laidback and easy going ride.

“I respect the sport [of skateboarding]. It takes a lot of talent, but I think [their hatred] is kind of bogus,” says Adam Jeffrey Nelson, a sophomore in Horticulture who has been longboarding for two years. “The community in longboarding is so friendly. It’s kind of a clique-y thing with skateboarding—you have to prove yourself.”

Nelson enjoys longboarding because he meets new people, or “spreads the stoke” as he calls it. Nelson has noticed the general hatred aimed toward longboarding from the skateboarding culture.

Enter our contest

WIN

and you could a DitchSkateboard Go to EthosMagazine.org for more information and contest rules.

“Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s ever going to change because there are too many people that feel like they’re protecting skateboarding. And there are too many people that feel they are entitled to have skateboarding be a certain way and only one way,” Brink says.

Skateboarding was originally made up of a group of ragtag, goofy kids. Why can’t longboarding be that bastion of belonging for people just as skateboarding has? It can and is for some, but that doesn’t mean everyone is going to like it.

t ss a r d ? an -a o W a d e b re d b t a ctu e th S k pi h e c se it D you

I can only hope that part of the skateboarding community opens its mind and learns to accept the other activities derived from skateboarding, but then again I am a romantic.

The BoARD BORDER

Skateboard culture is a lot like high school—cliques rule.

You have your technical skaters, your punk skaters blah blah and so on. Certain skateboarders fit into these cliques and stay within them. When an individual does something different—let’s say longboarding, for example—an openminded few may accept that person, but most will ostracize him or her.

May the board bless you and keep you May it bring you joy and happiness And may your speed and thrill be constant Amen

5

BY ANDREAS HAFFAR, ALI HANSON, AND ETHOS STAFF DESIGN SARAH VANCE

OVERHEARD

ISU

We’ve all been walking on campus and overheard the most bizarre conversations between students, right? Overheard at ISU is a Facebook page where students can post the absurd things they hear around campus and share it with their peers. For a good laugh, read the top thirteen quotes we’ve taken from their page.

Katie Lynn Guy in Udcc to his guy friend: “So I was like, I’m not feeling you up if you don’t feel me up.”

Lizzie Jane Wallis Guy outside of the Library, “So I texted him and I was like, dude, where is my phone?”

Brandon Shearer Half of a phone conversation: “I want it. Will it make me eat people’s faces?...Then it’s fine.”

Kirstie Sargent HRI 101—An old professor said while a pop-up came up on his computer, “I always get Viagra pop-ups, which I really don’t need to be advertised to me.”

Lissy Pixley Two elderly men in the hallway of Gilman: 1: “Well, I used to know quite a few women back in the day.”

2: “Yeah, it’s too bad some of them don’t sound like they’re looking too good anymore.”

1: “Well, being dead will do that to a person.”

Miranda Buseman Physics 111: “Just so you know, I usually post the homework answer keys somewhere between my first and second scotch on Friday nights.”

Katie Weber Grandma after seeing a picture of Cy at graduation: “Aw, look an Angry Bird!”

6

ethosmagazine.org

David Phillips Speech 212: “Speech is like a STD: you don’t want to give one.”

Zac Cancel Drunk fellow in line in front of me at Kum & Go is buying cosmic brownies when he turns around to face me.

Drunk fellow: “Dude, Little Debbie is SUCH a whore!”

Me: “...Huh?” Drunk fellow: “Yeah man. She has satisfied sooo many guys.”

Cody Cojack Jackson Econ 102: “Hawkeye vodka is an inferior good... then again everything Hawkeye is inferior.”

Eden Brierly Walking across the crosswalk [near Jeff ’s pizza] I look to my right and see a guy with something under his shirt.

He proceeds to pull a telephone out from underneath his shirt and says, “Totally, just stole this from Jeff ’s.”

My thoughts: How in the heck did he manage that, it was attached to the wall?!

Natalie Renee Jensen Last Week in Larch hallway: “...yeah I heard that this drunk guy in Friley broke the sink searching for the chamber of secrets.”

Meredith Pulsford HIST 201: My professor— “Admit it. We all want a minion. Who doesn’t want a little person following them?”

Bang to the Beat Music gets people of all cultures moving and grooving, and music in the bedroom will do anything but kill the mood. No matter what your taste is, play these tunes to add a dash of spice to your sex life.

Sex on Fire by Kings of Leon:

This track is for the passionate and lustful sex. As the title suggests, the fast pace of this song adds extra fuel to you and your lover’s heated sexual inferno. Shove everything off the table, stare into each other’s pleasurehungry eyes and take it to the next level while you fulfill your deep burning desire.

Pony by Ginuwine:

Pornstar Dancing by My Darkest Days:

Right off the bat, this song hits hard. Naughty girls and bad boys: this is your arena to get rough. Don’t play nice to this hardcore jam— it’s time to get mean and aggressive so don’t just have sex, fuck each other!

Crash into Me by the Dave Matthews Band:

Pony is all about getting down and dirty. As Ginuwine says, “If you’re horny, let’s do it, ride it, my pony.” A bit of a smooth slow jam, so take this song and let your body flow to the rhythm of the beat. Strap in, grab on to what you can and enjoy the ride.

The relaxing and blissful melody makes this song something to cherish. Whether it’s a lazy day or you’re feeling sensual and gentle, you’ll be fond of this one. Take time to explore each other and get lost in the beautiful moment. We recommend leaving it on repeat.

Push It by Salt-N-Pepa:

Love in this Club by Usher:

You’ve got to love this song, after all, it tells you exactly what to do. Don’t just push it—push it real good. The high tempo and deliberate lyrics will keep you thrusting until all you hear is, “Ooh baby, baby!”

Too Close by Next:

This catchy tune will get the gentlemen, ‘up and going’. Ladies take this seductive—and not surprisingly accurate—song and have your man lay back and enjoy. You’ll be able to tell if you’re getting him going. It’s good for something spontaneous or after a long day.

Justify my Love by Madonna:

You can feel the beat of this song deep, deep down. This classic, captivating track is as hot as it gets. Men, show your woman what she really means to you. Give her goose bumps, ravish her, and kiss her head to toe. Make love—it’ll be worth it.

S&M by Rihanna:

It’s time to get kinky and freaky, but don’t forget a safe word. Whether you’re tied to the bed, pinned down on the ground, or enjoy the pain while you’re getting your hair pulled, this track is sure to summon the twisted side in you. Dominate or submit. Be the boss with some S&M.

One. Night. Only. Get really close to someone you’ve just had the pleasure of meeting and allow Usher to show you the ropes. Whether you’re doing it in the backseat of your car, out in public or in the shower, press play and resist no longer. He wants it, she wants it, so go get it! Although the temptation to actually make love in the club is enticing, anywhere but a bed will do.

Wicked Games by The Weeknd:

Basically anything by the Weeknd will make your pants drop. As the title would suggest, this song is a bit wicked but it’s deep and powerful. The taboo-esque nature will provide you with the means to break free from the forbidden sex. Give it a listen and do it nice and slow.

Fantasy by Ludacris:

Get wild. Go crazy. Fulfill your most explicit dreams because nothing is off limits in this free-for-all. Ludacris holds back nothing here—and neither should you. Experiment, try something new or just be animals. Don’t be afraid to get a little weird.

Don’t Be The Person Who...

Doesn’t wipe off the machine at the gym.

Posts a selfie everyday with an inspirational quote.

Celebrates monthly or weekly anniversaries.

Stares at themselves in the mirror at the gym.

Puts on makeup before going to the gym.

Talks like you’re texting.

Thinks they always have the right-of-way while riding a bike—this isn’t England!

Tries to take selfies while riding a skateboard or bike.

Wears short shorts in November.

Posts a picture of your food porn and complains about how fat you are.

Walks slowly to the door as someone’s holding it open for you.

Walks with friends in a horizontal line, taking up the entire sidewalk.

Yells fowl things from your car like a douche.

Takes up two parking spots.

7

I N K G A T I N K G A T AA DD VV EENN TO NEW HEIGHTS REE TO NEW HEIGHTS TU R TU

8

ethosmagazine.org

BY DALLAS DAWS DESIGN RENAE MEINES PHOTOS LIZ ZABEL CONTIBUTED PHOTOS COURTESY OF CRAIG BROWN

Ready.

Set...

GO! I lean forward and as we flip through the air, my stomach leaves my body. I am free falling, plummeting to the earth at 120 miles per hour. An inexplicable feeling of invincibility mixed with a humbling sense of my mortality wash over me. Intense adrenaline rushes out every extremity.

Somehow, there is a huge grin on my face which wouldn’t disappear until long after I arrived back on the ground.

Outside the Iowa State Skydivers club meeting, I pause before opening the door, nervous to take the first step into the world of skydiving. Inside, high-energy videos flash of suited flyers soaring through the air. They intricately weave through formations—in sync, three-dimensional dance routines.

I swear I can already feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins. Can I really go through with this?

As though to put my fears at rest, skydiving instructor Hashem Hashemi-Toroghi walks in with the announcement that he had just passed 16,000 jumps on July 5 of this year.

He has a slight Iranian accent and a kind smile, enthusiastically answering any questions the potential skydivers have with the confidence of a man who began skydiving 38 years ago. He is the go-to instructor for Iowa State Skydivers. Not a surprise, as Toroghi has been involved in multiple world-record jumps and is only the 21st person in the United States to have surpassed 16,000 jumps.

I get right to the point: “So, when is the next time you will jump?”

“This Saturday at 8 a.m.,” Toroghi responds.

I instantly feel my stomach lurch, but I agree.

I may as well dive right in.

Though tandem—the act of skydiving while strapped to an instructor—is the most widely known form of skydiving, it can be comparable to dipping your toes in the wading pool. Jeremy Dubansky, president of the club, has been skydiving since he was a sophomore at Iowa State. The now senior in software engineering averages 10 jumps a week and spent his summer living at Skydive Chicago in a trailer—where he was able to up that impressive average to 40 jumps per week.

One of Dubansky’s favorite jumping experiences included jumping with a wingsuit and a freefly tube, which is basically a long windsock—a risky jump by even experienced standards. Though he was successful with those jumps, using a freefly tube has caused him a couple malfunctions. With over 500 jumps in three years, it’s not surprising that he has run into a complication or two. During one particular jump, he fell vertically—arms above him holding onto the freefly tube. As he deployed his chute, the freefly tube wrapped around the lines and became tangled, not allowing the chute to fully open. This is when a reserve parachute is necessary.

As he released the line, the reserve chute immediately deployed and he was able to land safely.

“Our sport is really three-dimensional,” Dubansky says. “If you drop one knee, you will turn that way. Once you learn how to move the air around your body, you can really do anything. It’s more of a mind sport because it doesn’t require physical strength, but the knowledge to do the moves correctly.” Dubansky was trained by Toroghi at the beginning of his skydiving career.

When Toroghi came to Iowa State as a grad student from Iran, he had not planned to leave his path to economics to become a skydiving instructor experienced enough to train other instructors. He happened upon an Iowa State Skydivers’ poster in 1976 and signed up for the only skydiving option at that time. Solo static line is a practice where skydivers jump out at 3,500 feet with the parachute deploying immediately upon leaving the plane.

9

“When I teach people, it changes their life,” Toroghi says of the reasons he loves skydiving. He finds satisfaction when he takes a tandem student or trains an Accelerated Freefall (AFF) student. Though 16,000 jumps can take adrenaline out of the equation, it has been a method of relaxation for Toroghi, allowing him to unwind and concentrate solely on his jump. His highest jump was at 26,000 feet and one of his world record jumps was in Ottawa, Illinois in 1998, where he was one of 246 people to jump in freefall formation.

Rounding up some equally adventurous— or insane—friends before the sun fully rises on a Saturday morning, we arrive at the Boone Municipal Airport with excitement building as we approach the smallest plane I have ever seen. Greeted by Toroghi and a hangar filled with old, mismatched couches, rugs and parachutes, we are asked to sign away our lives. I can’t count how many times “death” is mentioned between the forms and the video we watch. But don’t worry because you are more likely to die in a car accident or get struck by lightning. Comforting.

I volunteer to brave the new experience first—I really just don’t want to chicken out if I see someone else go before me. Toroghi straps me tight into my harness—a tedious, but necessary process—and we make our way to the plane. “There’s no turning back now,” Craig Brown teases as I climb into the cramped quarters. The former Skydivers club member returned from Chicago to shoot my jump. I take one last look at my friends and give a thumbs up and a smile as the door is closed.

I focus on my breathing and the distant ground as we take our assent. I try not to pay attention to the fact that I am seated in the smallest plane I have seen with orange shag carpet for the interior and a red foam floor

that is worn-through right where you are supposed to put your knee as you prepare to jump out. Brown and Clark Coffman, the club’s academic adviser, reassure me that the plane is in great condition—despite how the interior looks. “This is all from people’s fingernails,” they joke as I look at all of the scratches on the doorframe. “Really reassuring,” I muse.

Coffman has an altimeter on his glove, which shows how high we are in thousands of feet.

Given the lack of personal space, I find it hard to look away from the altimeter as it slowly climbs. 3,000 feet. 4,000 feet. 5,000 feet. At 7,000 feet, I am given the command to switch my seated position to my knees as Toroghi straps our harnesses together.

9,000 feet. When we are all set to go, pilot Tom Borer gives the signal to open the door.

I catch my breath. I’m inches away from the open sky.

“Lean back,” Toroghi orders. Brown climbs out and faces me to start filming.

“Hands and head out,” Toroghi calls. I wrap both hands around the scratched-up doorframe.

“Left foot out!” In sync with Toroghi, I step my left foot out onto the plane’s outer step while bringing my right knee to the edge of the doorframe.

“Arch!” I bring my hands to the sides of my face with elbows out, look up and arch my back.

to the plane, we each practice our steps as Toroghi calls out the orders.

Toroghi’s instruction, “Arch like a son-ofa-gun,” was the only thing on my mind as I leaned forward into the open sky.

When I finally get my bearings—and my stomach back—after the leap, the view is breathtaking. Not a single cloud in the sky, the sun still low in mid-morning. An intricate puzzle of fields in all shades of green and brown spread before me. A river snakes through the puzzle, lined with a deep green row of trees. In that moment, I was soaring. I didn’t feel the 120 miles per hour I was travelling. Time had almost stopped.

Then—too quickly—I am jerked up-right by the opening of the parachute and my freefall is over.

As Toroghi and I float to the earth, I take the reigns of the parachute. He guides my movements, and we twirl in circles as I pull down the chute first to the right, and then to the left. I squeal and laugh like I’m a child on a roller coaster ride, letting off the pent-up energy the adrenaline had given me from the jump.

We practice the landing a few times—no wind means we land seated—high above the ground. When we land for real, I kick up my legs as high as my restricting harness will allow and yank the parachute handles down hard. The ground meets us much softer than I anticipated and I am left with one thought—“Can I go back up?”

Our cues, given to us in our brief training with Toroghi earlier that morning, were simple. Important to our safety, but easy to remember. We began by lying on our stomachs on the floor to practice our arches.

Knees apart, feet together (the harness makes it impossible to close your knees anyway). Hands at your face, elbows out.

This is important to be sure we end up with our bellies down after the jump. Moving

Wish you were there? Check out the video of Dallas skydiving on our website!

10

ethosmagazine.org

K O O C

a e lik

S S A D A B G N I K C * F , ion t n e att e ay s dat p d n as ce s a kick- sedu e t a no to ng g you bility i k c a n e fu e givi rmal e. m n r o o e s e we’ abn anyo k a e t T aus ith th lmos c e a w b OK nu me one— any

R

UE PPE D KLA O AL AR IAN EMER BEL K

BY IGN Z ZA I S DE TO L O PH

l i a X t I k c o M C y l S n S e k A n K u Dr K*C s o s i h h t T E e h T

if tor era nd a n d) a er r se a —M —u tanda e e n n i s i s w w i oz ed red tto Dr of r mare the ant (5 e n l e or e an i t a w k t r o f o u u ak B tle o yo Po hC t wit it to m shit nk. igh as re. u e Bo r t win use sh nd mo tha red da or eally, u fu hat—a o… or r o y u o t t r o t s et like ix y are But ith ill g d m etto w fuck. s w down t of am i n a r Th get s as ma ean sho rop the a eliciou you half a u e x i d o add t? G so m h is g. tha can al whic ythin o t n — n r i a u e t No per. Yo lamm lmost a Pep ama S with d b a o l o A es g tast lot

11

P U K O O C

r you get s and d n t ien es a tato ingred w you o p er ho he in t the oth hey’re a r s, d ix in sure t ute ase gre hen min h on. M make e h t o s ft t ma -test t . rain eatloa d hea e e t n r m p s ed he tas t them , so ur at t ce the mash inute h n e c a t s m m a i o w l u y b e e p o r h . Re lici this ox in mo ut t p o h cup ing de r five p in hot b o u o c o t k c . f c o , the ˚ S of ea s hot e fu 350 et h um das it out on th ake it to g u know se) to edi —use s a ba cked m d p f u M y e o l a o . s r e s l y e s p in es ne. d fu It n ven ( neve urs cup ato a pu nts o u r yo ten an pot ntil do die n’t be to the he e e d the en yo r i s s g li t in o h n’t or u con af in it (d ure Mix , kitc can ou did atlo hat sh e mixt e top. tchup e u m ix t yo th to th ts ke d ss y the op r Now , unle Put l and m ). Sco filling wo pa e—an k s c , t coo p. bow hand e pan owl— Q sau cake. r p k B b u u a all u B l c n c o l y di up sma vorite tloaf e c r a e v . ea of e in a ur fa s co s hm c o ute inute sau part y to eac n i m m n e 0 e on n it o or 2 r fiv o en f red fo n v spo o es i arn ve he tato (i.e. le t 20 in t n unco o t i p e e tov bou Pop il, the l th o boi n the s After a , y l tinf s o sk). eat eou a ltan high h ulti-t u Sim ium/ ing m k d me to fuc how

G N I K C F* e m o S it t sh a h f et bee —dic mbs f: a d n o n l r u io cu at o Me lbs gr ow on bread alt ⁄2 ds ell dry 1 y e n 1 cup so lain sea 1⁄2 cup p Q BB r 1⁄2 g e g ons 1 e aspo pepp f e t o 2 ash Ad ce sau : e Q c BB Sau : hup c t oes Ke tat o am P es ed ato ur cre h t s o p o Ma en ter ns old spoo s but g k 5 e oon mil abl 1 T blesp w fat 2 ta cup lo 1⁄2

s e k a c p u C f a o l t a Me

BY RACHEL VIPOND AND RAHEMMA MANFIELD DESIGN MACKENZIE FURGESON PHOTO MIRANDA CANTRELL

12

ethosmagazine.org

P U P I H W

y l g n i h s a D

G N I K C * F e m So

e e f f o C d e p ip h W

ing udd p h otc rsc ese ) e t t t e Bu m ch rature xtrac you ffee up on, ed. o s r c 1 c . crea empe nilla e e t k p t z fuc tan he 2 o oom on va gar ins ot t t you ) n r o e u e d og (at teasp on s r mor am . foo t o e ave na the ipe…

1⁄4 teasp on (o ed cr — row tract i it c y c s e i r o a p e m a ex at sh le 1⁄4 teasp whip he tes l mp in t vanil eat th r da th a si p u 1⁄4 4 cup u o d i t y i n ? ⁄ w e a g h H p lik 11 atin dding enoug ou ame u e y nd h u by ch p ooth ow we c ip a n e h s k t e m nw We e—so rsco ot s che v dam am butte ck. N e e h per r t u e c in as f the h th fold are it wit ooth n p e e Pr n mix it’s sm e. Th offe ezer).

The l until c t e stan r fr bow gain. d in ridge o a n p a f u x. gar he e se e su n (in t h h t t y njo Add it dow l e. E n o coo d u’re , yo w No

13

Tribal Seeds Getting Back to their Roots

Good vibes, sensi and reggae combine when Tribal Seeds takes the stage. Get the inside scoop on their tour and upcoming album.

BY DALLAS DAWS

DESIGN JORDAN WELCH

Hands and bodies sway to the mellow, feel-good music as Tribal Seeds steers the atmosphere in a slow swell to Rastafarian bliss. Infusing crowd favorites with new songs, the set starts with their laid-back roots reggae tunes and ends on a high-energy jam, which brings in vocals from HIRIE and Fortunate Youth while sending the crowd into a hypnotic dance frenzy. Dreaded hair flies through the air as the band and crowd alike move to the beat.

14

ethosmagazine.org

PHOTO MIRANDA CANTRELL AND DALLAS DAWS CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS COURTESY OF TRIBAL SEEDS

With an energized rock-infused reggae sound, Tribal Seeds climbed as high as number two on the Billboard Reggae Charts with their EP “Soundwaves” in 2011. After more than two years since the release of their last EP, they have their newest full-length album in the works. With both upbeat and mellow tunes, the band not only pushes their roots vibe to new limits, they explore laid-back love songs with a roots foundation. “This album is going to be an

improvement from anything we’ve done,” Tony-Ray Jacobo says.

Brothers Steven Rene Jacobo and Tony-Ray Jacobo birthed Tribal Seeds in San Diego as a natural evolution from their musical upbringing. “We started recording music and playing out of the garage, like most bands do, and along the way we just picked up band members,” Tony-Ray says. The band now has six members who he calls a “solid

a form of meditation where you ‘‘It’s can be to yourself and just have a mellow moment ”

crew.” Lead vocalist Steven writes most of the lyrics while brother Tony-Ray produces most of the music along with the band.

Marijuana is a key topic in their songs, providing peace of mind and inspiration in their tunes. “It just puts you in that state of mind where you can relax yourself,” Tony-Ray says. “It’s a form of meditation where you can be to yourself and just have a mellow moment.” This meditation inspires their melodies and lyrics.

Above all else, sending a positive message to their fans is the essence of what Tribal Seeds embodies. In “The Harvest,” Steven reflects,

“In a this ya life you got to strive all the time/ Strive to do good works and achieve peace of mind/Spreading the truth in a positive vibe/ Educate the youth and tell them no lie.” Their soulful melodies take fans through an upbeat and psychedelic journey to self-awareness.

music festival cruise—offered nonstop, live music for adventurous music lovers during the cruise and fun in the sun when in the Bahamas on their own private island.

Influenced by roots reggae bands Steel Pulse and Midnite, as well as Bob Marley, Tribal Seed’s passion for music inspires them to keep writing. The bands they have shared the stage with have also had an impact on their music. “We’ve toured almost half the year with Slightly Stoopid, during the spring and summer,” Tony-Ray says. “That was really cool to share the stage with them. We’ve looked up to those guys and their music for a lot of years now.”

With their newest album on the way, Tony-Ray reflects on their enviable career. “We’re stoked every time we see that [one of our songs] hits top ten on the Billboard Reggae Charts or iTunes,“ he says. “It’s an amazing thing. We just try to make music that we love. People receive [our message], and we are able to be successful at it.”

They are now on tour with Fortunate Youth, a six-piece roots reggae band with a tonal, raspy sound, and HIRIE, a new artist who blends roots reggae with pop. Though this isn’t Tribal Seed’s first time sharing the stage with Fortunate Youth, this is HIRIE’s first tour. “She’s part of our family now and we’re excited to share the stage with [her and Fortunate Youth] every night for a couple months,” Tony-Ray says. “[Our goal] is to put out a lot of energy and good vibes and just try to share that with the crowd,” he says. “We just hope to, you know, give the love back to you guys.”

Their tour spreads through several states across the U.S. and even includes some tour dates on the Atlantic. Tribal Seeds joined a cruise festival from Miami to the Bahamas November 1 through 5. Rombello—the

15

who who is is The drug called Molly has been popping up everywhere from mentions in the news to pop culture references, but how much do you really know about your new “friend”?

BY AMIRA KHATIB *Names have been changed for confidentiality purposes

It’s a Friday night and you’re approached by one of your friends who got Molly from a friend of a friend whose sister knows a guy.

You don’t know much about it but would love to try something besides drinking, so why not, right?

Hold up.

Molly has flooded the media due to recent cases of overdoses and deaths in the northeast. According to Sgt. Scott Kickbush from the Central Iowa Drug Task force, he and his team have only run across the drug three or four times in the last year. However, he believes they will start seeing more of it since Iowa is typically behind the rest of the country.

If you’re not familiar with the increasingly popular feel-good drug, known chemically as MDMA, it is essentially the same as Ecstasy.

Molly took on a different name due to its form: a “pure” powder instead of a pressed pill (although some package the powder in capsules so it’s easy to ingest). It’s become inextricably linked to music festivals since its main effects complement the rave scene. Molly can energize you for hours and give you the strongest desire to dance (think the urge to pee—so difficult to shake that you just have to dance right then and there), while at the same time it can give you a sense of connection

16

ethosmagazine.org

DESIGN SARAH NEIGHBOUR PHOTO LIZ ZABEL

to everyone and make you more sensitive to touch.

Charles*, a junior studying physics, says he has done Molly over 50 times and would definitely do it again.

“It’s a blast when you’re on it,” Charles says. “You feel so good about everything around you and you’re just an overall happy person on it. It’s definitely an experience you should have. The more environments and states of mind you expose yourself to, the more you can grow as a person.”

“

Zooey*, a junior in environmental science, has done it three times in the last year and would do it again, but only on a special occasion. She doesn’t think she ever consumed enough to fully feel the positive effects, but she has felt calm and a little nauseous. Although she personally has had neutral experiences, she has seen it affect others negatively.

“I had a friend who freaked out when she was ‘coming up’ because she was extremely anxious and could hardly see straight,” she says. “However, she ended up being fine and having a lot of fun on it the rest of the night.”

Luckily, Zooey and her group of friends were there to comfort her distressed friend until she got through the first hour instead of being in a loud, crowded party.

THINK THE URGE TO PEE—SO DIFFICULT TO SHAKE THAT YOU JUST HAVE TO DANCE RIGHT THEN AND THERE.”

“On the ‘come-up’ you should only be with your close friends in a quiet place in case you get anxious and uncomfortable, but once you peak, you need to find somewhere— anywhere—that you can dance freely,” Zooey says.

So, what causes the feelings some would describe as euphoric, as well as the nausea and anxiety?

According to the Department of Justice, MDMA causes the brain to release the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. Serotonin is what causes many of the effects as it is involved in regulating mood, pain, sleep, appetite and other behaviors.

MOLLY? MOLLY? MDMA is short for 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine. Yes, you read that correctly: methamphetamine makes up the MA in MDMA. Although you aren’t doing any Breaking Bad shit, you still should consider the risks of consuming an amphetamine.

According to the National Institute for Drug Abuse, when taken in high doses, Molly can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate temperature. This paired with the fact that most users are in crowded, hot areas can cause hyperthermia or a sharp increase in body temperature and in rare cases—death.

Although Zooey didn’t experience any real danger herself, she suggests taking the time to research the effects, find out from your friends how much you should be taking and make sure you truly trust your source. (Don’t get it from some random guy who sits five rows behind you in your econ lecture.)

Side Effects Muscle tension Tremors Muscle cramps Nausea Faintness Chills Sweating Blurred Vision Involuntary teeth clenching Dehydration Hyperthermia (overheating) Seizures Strokes Heart Attack Death

Even if you trust your friend who gave you the drug, you might never truly know who his source is or what else is in it.

“Ecstasy and Molly are produced in super labs with people who have to know a great deal about chemistry. You, as a consumer, have no idea what that person or people have included in this drug. A chemist can include anything they want in it, at any ratio in order to get the hallucinogenic and stimulant effects. You and your body have no way of knowing what these chemical ratios are and how you will react,” Kickbush says.

Of the countless times Charles has done Molly, there have been occasions he wasn’t sure what it was cut with; he believes there’s a great chance he’s done more drugs than he intended to.

Although Molly may have you absolutely full of happiness for one night, it could have the opposite effect for days after.

MDMA works by releasing the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. When you are on it, your levels of serotonin skyrocket—hence the feelings of pleasure and connectedness. Afterward, however, the levels of serotonin in your brain plummet and can be depleted for awhile. It could take weeks for them to get back to their usual levels, which is what leads to the blue period.

“When you’re done with it, your body suffers. There were many times where I would roll two nights in a row [Friday and Saturday], and Sunday I would be miserable all day and watch Requiem for a Dream.

Luckily, it wasn’t very long term for me,” Charles says. Zooey agrees; after the first time she did it, both she and her friend were unhappy for days—she even felt depressed.

Before trying a new drug, you should realize that Molly is not your sweet and mellow friend Mary Jane.

17

delightfully

e b so

“If drinking isn’t your thing, have everyone buy you dinner after you’ve done it for them a few times.”

BY RACHEL VIPOND AND RAHEMMA MAYFIELD DESIGN MACKENZIE FERGUSON PHOTO MIRANDA CANTRELL

18

ethosmagazine.org

“ ...look for other good-looking, sober people to hold a normal conversation with. “

“Welch Avenue at 1:00 a.m. is prime people-watching territory.”

er

While you’re at the bars with your hammered friends, look for other goodlooking, sober people to hold a normal conversation with. Discuss the global economy and how to achieve world peace.

(Hey, it could happen.) You can usually meet some pretty awesome people.

Being the sober one doesn’t have to be a drag.

It’s a Friday night and you’ve found yourself once again in Campustown. But there’s a catch…you’re sober. You’ve agreed to be the designated driver for the night, and the bottom line is that you’re not drinking. To some, this sounds like a boring night waiting to happen—but it doesn’t have to be. If you’re unsure, check out these quick tips on how to make the most of your sober night out.

First off, you have to keep a sense of humor about it. Go into it with the mindset that you will have a great night or else you won’t have any fun at all. It’s a given that Welch Avenue at 1:00 a.m. is prime peoplewatching territory. You’ll see everything— from the toga-wearing guy trying to start a chant to the girl wearing a tank top in the middle of an Iowa winter. You can make a game of it by finding that guy in a group who just wants to go home or the cop with the most annoyed expression.

That being said, being sober in the bar scene is the perfect way to pick up tips on how not to flirt. As you people-watch, keep your eyes peeled for the sure signs of disinterest: over-exaggerated body language, fake smiles and blank stares. Then, pay attention to the flirters. Are they trying to impress their object of interest with the same story about “this one time at band camp” over and over again? Are they flailing their limbs in some uncoordinated of attempt to dance? Yeah, don’t do that.

Let’s not forget the best part about being a DD—seeing your friends make fools of themselves.

“Watching your friends act like idiots while you’re sober is a lot of fun,” says Brandon Fisher, a junior in Pre-Business. “You notice a lot more when you’re sober.”

You can get them to do some ridiculous things, but remember to keep it in good taste—no harm, no foul.

If none of these have enticed you, consider this: do it for a perk. Have your friends buy you a drink next time you’re not the DD or better yet, have them be your DD. If drinking isn’t your thing, have everyone buy you dinner after you’ve done it for them a few times.

So, next time you and your buds argue about who’s going to drive, take one for the team.

At the end of the night, no, you won’t be buzzed, but you will hopefully have some great stories, secondhand relationship advice and a few new friends. One major plus? You won’t wake up with a hangover.

19

SEX 20

ethosmagazine.org

Turn up the heat with your partner by following these fun tips.

HOT HOT

BY MIRANDA FREEMAN DESIGN EMERALD KLAUER PHOTO YUE WU

Let’s lay down some ground rules: 1. When trying new things in the bedroom, never make your partner feel bad for something they want to do. It’s fine if you’re not OK with what they want, but never put him or her down.

2. Express your needs—Communication is key!

3. Talk about protection. It’s always good to “cage that snake before you shake and bake.”

Time to get down to business: If you know you’re going to get it on at night, send eachother sexyily-written text messages—without the naked pics please— throughout the day to build anticipation.

Really set the mood and go all cliche by breaking out the tea light candles and dimming the lights. Our story on the Quickies Page called “Bang to the Beat” will help you choose the right song to play to get you and your lover in the mood.

Change-up the scenery. Do it in the bedroom, shower or even kitchen floor—depending on how dirty you want to get.

The best advice my dance teacher ever gave me was, “If you are going to strip dance for your partner, make sure you’re drunk.” Of course it’s not necessary, but if you do, don’t forget to drink accordingly—some balance is required.

“One of the best ways to get a girl [or guy] ‘ready’ is a massage. It’s not sex but it is really intimate,” says Kati Murray, a Pure Romance sales rep.

Flavored lubes, edible chocolate paint, and no calories? Give your tongue some exercise.

Murray stresses to “avoid using sugar, like whip cream, near the vagina [or penis], it causes infections!”

21

BY AMIRA KHATIB DESIGN MADISON JERDE PHOTO LIZ ZABEL

We’ve all been there, but here’s how to turn your dreaded walk of shame into a strut of pride—full of swagger and confidence.

You’ve seen them walking down the street in the wee hours of the morning with the messy hair, shades on and clearly wearing last night’s outfit. They are the walk-of-shamers.

Even though it’s easy to stare and snicker at them, admit it—you can’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy, especially if you are up that early actually being responsible. The good and bad news is that at one point or another, whether guy or girl, you are bound to be one of them. If you have been or ever are, it’s time to put away the shame and take a cue from the Dos Equis man: he doesn’t always do the walk of shame, but when he does it’s the strut of pride. After all, you just got laid or at least had a juicy hookup, amirite? Well, now you can bask in the glow of it.

Take the long way home and use the main streets; avoid back alley ways and shortcuts, not that they are ever a good idea anyway. It may feel like a requirement to stare at the ground and slump over but in reality it’s not. Instead, keep your shoulders back and your head held high. Make sure to smile and maybe even wink. Although, if it was a great hookup, you are probably already grinning ear-to-ear anyway.

If you see someone you know, whether it’s the guy in your group project, your English professor or your best friend, play it cool. The less awkward you are the more he won’t think much of it anyway.

Do whatever makes you feel the best walking home. As a girl, if you have blisters from walking in four-inch heels, then walk barefoot, shoes in hand. For guys, if you wore a buttondown but it’s suffocating now, unbutton a few more than usual and make sure to show off that chest hair. The more comfortable you are, the more confident you will look and feel. If you’re walk looks anything like Peter Parker’s in “Spider Man 3”, you’re doing it right.

If this pep talk wasn’t enough, then these tips will help you in any situation.

Situation A: It’s Friday and maybe you’re not expecting to find the love of your life on Welch, but rather the one that will do for the night. Since you know ahead of time, take a few minutes to prepare before heading out.

-Wear a purse or backpack out that is big enough to carry all of your belongings.

-If you are bringing alcohol out with you, make sure the bottle or beers will fit in your bag so you can safely hide it in the morning—carrying Hawkeye at 6:00 a.m. is a little obvious.

-Since you probably won’t get much sleep, grab some shades to cover up any bags under your eyes. Added bonus: they make you look like a badass.

-Stuff a pair of leggings or gym shorts in your bag to change into in the morning—they are comfortable and light.

-Carry a pack of eye makeup remover pads to get rid of raccoon eyes.

-Bring a hair tie and a small brush for an easy fix to messy hair or rock it like you’re Ke$ha.

-Grab some cover-up, a scarf or bow tie to mask any possible hickeys.

22

ethosmagazine.org

Situation B: You went out with no intention of going home with someone, but when you wake up you look up at the unfamiliar ceiling and realize that you are not in your own bed. Even though you weren’t prepared, we have you covered. Here a few quick fixes to get you through your ten minute trek back to your dorm or apartment.

-If you had a good night and aren’t trying to escape right away, ask your hookup to give you a few things to freshen up a little.

-Check to see if he or she has a hair tie or at least a rubber band to put your messy hair up.

-Women, if last night’s cute dress feels too tight and sparkly for 7:00 a.m., then ask to borrow some clothes. A man’s dress shirt always looks hot.

-Wash any smudged mascara or lipstick marks off with some tissue, a little soap and water.

-Leave your one-night-stand wanting more, then embark on your strut of pride in style.

Survivor of the

Legacy Fall

Falling from Legacy has definitely changed Christian McKee’s life and perspective on life. Rumor had it that he died from the fall, but he’s alive, well and ready to share his story.

23

“...I should have been from the neck down.”

BY ALEXA HOPSON

Cries could be heard around Campustown in Ames at approximately 1:30 a.m. on August 26, 2012 as a body was seen falling 73 feet from a fifth-story ledge at Legacy Towers Apartments. Christian McKee, 19-year-old engineering student, was lying lifeless in the soft dirt at a construction DESIGN JESSICA BARTEMES PHOTO YUE WU site when EMT’s arrived quickly and well-prepared. “It was a combination of luck that it had rained that day to make the dirt soft, and how fast the EMT’s did their job when they got there that saved my life,” McKee says in a perceptibly grateful manner. McKee was quickly transported to Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines by air ambulance.

Saturday, August 25, 2012, McKee recalls starting to drink in the afternoon with a friend who came up from his hometown of Cedar Rapids. “I was on antidepressants at the time, which you’re not supposed to take while drinking alcohol. Normally, I took them in the morning, but for whatever reason I took it right before I started drinking which ultimately led to me blacking out that night,” McKee recalls. He and his friends then started going around to different parties and drinking more. The last thing McKee remembers is leaving one house party and going to another party at Legacy alone.

According to Officer Huff, two officers from the Ames Police Department were patrolling in their car on Stanton Avenue when they noticed a crowd gathered around Legacy and security guards shining their flashlights around. The officers asked what had happened and the security guards said someone was dangling from a balcony on the south side of Legacy and then fell or jumped—they couldn’t tell. The officers exited their car and went to the scene where

24

ethosmagazine.org

McKee was lying. They quickly called for an ambulance then made the area a crime scene to start investigating.

According to the police report, witnesses saw a man climb over the railing of a balcony and just hanging there looking like he was going to jump. People were yelling up at him telling him to climb back over. No one could tell what exactly happened.

McKee says. Even to be able to use his crutches, he had to gain his arm strength back. The doctors never said if McKee is going to be able to walk again without canes or braces on his ankles, but he’s not giving up hope. “Your mind gives up before your body does,” McKee quotes. “Being called a cripple is just motivation for me to be able to walk again. I’m never going to stop [trying] until I get there.”

“I get that question a lot,” McKee says, “whether I jumped or fell. It’s very hard for me to say. Yes, I guess you could say I definitely did some sort of [jump]—there’s evidence to prove that. But at the same time, if you do something when you’re completely blackout drunk, yeah you did that but you’re never the same person when you’re blackout drunk. That’s why I hate being asked that question because, well, it depends how much time you want to put in talking about it.”

McKee’s roommate at the time, Keil Stangland, had no idea what happened to McKee until the next morning when a cop showed up at his apartment door at 6:00 in the morning. Once the officer told him, Stangland and his friends rushed to the hospital to see McKee—it still wasn’t determined if he was going to survive or not.

Stangland continued to visit him almost every day while he was in the two-week coma.

McKee was in a coma for two weeks. The coma was partially caused by the fall, but it was also medically induced. The injuries he suffered included brain damage, having both ankles shattered from compound fractures which are now rebuilt with metal pins, a broken right arm from a compound fracture—now has two rods in it, a broken neck, a broken L3 and a shattered L4 vertebrae. “The doctors told me that where I broke my neck at, I should have been paralyzed from the neck down. Then you factor in the fact that I broke another vertebrae and completely shattered one— my nerves were all messed up—it’s pretty amazing I have the ability to walk.”

While staying in the hospital for about three months, McKee went through inpatient physical therapy, which was mostly just stretching. By the time he was released from the hospital, he had lost 30 pounds of fat and muscle. He hadn’t regained the ability to walk until two months later. For the next four to five months, McKee did outpatient physical therapy to learn to walk again.

“Physical therapy definitely helped, but learning how to walk again from scratch was the hardest thing to learn how to do again.

It was painful and took a lot of dedication,”

L3

L4

McKee says he could definitely tell who his real friends were after his accident.

It was very apparent who was going to be there for him and support him through this tough time and who was freaked out by the whole situation.

McKee and his friends agree that his personality has changed from before the accident. “He’s a lot more angry these days,” Stangland says of his roommate. “We bicker about things we never would have before.”

His taste in music has also changed from electronic music to bands who sing with passion and about topics he can relate to such as The Beatles and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Since that life-changing experience, he has made strides toward getting what he really wants out of life.

The things he misses most about not being able to walk are playing soccer, running and exploring new places. He is still able to drive and get where he needs to be, but he appreciates when people help him out with things such as opening doors or offering to carry something. He tries to do most things on his own and to ask for as little help as possible, but it makes his day so much better when people are thoughtful enough to lend a hand.

25

INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

BY TERIGELE DESIGN BECKY EILERS PHOTO YUE WU

Every international student’s life at Iowa State will begin with, ”Wow, it is America!

Air of freedom! Hooray!” followed with a slight sound of, “but where the hell is Iowa?”

Fresh air, green grass and nice people will fill up the whole picture for a newly arrived student. It will not take long, however, to think that, “It is some kind of boring here.”

Then there comes culture shock. If you are a graduate student, unfortunately, just double the pain you have imagined.

My culture shock began very early in my first week. I do not know how to respond to cashier when they ask, “How are you doing?”

Seriously? You want to know what happened to me? In details?” I’m also surprised by strangers who talked to me so naturally at the CyRide shelter because everyone is in their separate room, reading, playing with cell phones or listening to music in China.

I feel awkward by having people standing by and waiting for my decision when I’m looking at the menu in the restaurant because we only call the waitress when we need them. My American classmates look nice but feel far from me ‘cause I really do not know how to start a conversation with them. In such a confusing but not annoying brand new experience, I finished my first week in Ames.

It got terrible when I started the classes.

Every American student has a button called: “Let’s sit in a circle,” which will turn on the talkative mode during discussion parts.

Instead, Chinese students were setted up with a long distance to burning talk.

My classmates talked about Google glasses.

They have thrown a penny or a quarter to make wishes when they were kids. They discussed about a singer or a football player when I still prefer thinking of football as soccer automatically. They use Facebook and Twitter while I use Weibo and WeChat in China. What is worse is that I do not know

26

ethosmagazine.org

Step into the shoes of an international student to better understand what it was like for her to leave her home and start an adventure at Iowa State.

what I do not know. It proved to not only be a language problem, but a cultural difference problem as well. It drives me nuts.

I went to talk with other second-year Chinese students. They told me that they never hang out with Americans, which is desperate. I confirmed their words after looking around in the campus. It is very common to see that Chinese students hang out with each other, Indian students hang out with each other, Arabian students hang out with each other and American students hang out with everyone. I started to think that maybe I should not leave Beijing, where I can easily tell where to find a discounted book store, where to see a fabulous show and where to read a book under warm sunlight in the afternoon. I will have a qualityguaranteed and colorful life there.

All those situations changed accidentally after I had an unexpected midnight talk with my Californian roommate while drinking glasses of wine. We drank a lot and talked more. It does not indicates how important was the content. It was just a watershed which I believe every international student can meet as long as you go out to seek.

That talk reminds me of what I was hoping for before I came here. I did not travel 20 hours from the other side of the Earth to find how desperate I can be. I was seeking a different life. So why do you just carry your habitat here from China in the integrity?

Hanging out with Chinese friends to Chinese restaurant or to see Chinese films is not what I want to spend twenty-thousand bucks each year on. Then why don’t you go out to really live your life?

“I do not know what I do not know.”

I tried to talk in class then. Surprisingly, nobody blamed me for saying boring things at all. After forgetting about the fear of talking in a foreign language, I can express my thoughts more clearly, and enjoy the content too. I also tried to have conversations with local friends and get involved in those activities. A different mood leads me to an entirely different situation.

The more I experience in this brand new culture, the more I can feel it. Now I’m really starting to love this country and my life here.

BREAK ING BARRIERS

RACISM @ IOWA STATE During the short span of the United States’ history, there is one recurring theme. A theme that may be exposed to circumstantial change, but is never truly eradicated—racism.

27

BY JASMINE ANDERSON DESIGN BECKY EILERS PHOTO YUE WU

Let’s take a stride through the stained history of America together. Imagine flipping through your last history textbook—the cover is hard and thick, a little worn on the edges and the thin plastic casing is engraved with scratches and marks from past owners.

The books are worn because of the idealism behind learning history—that those who learn history will not repeat it.

Flip through those smooth polyethylene pages of your textbook. Notice the creased edges of the sheets, indicating years of studied material, documented before your eyes the proof of human’s fault—their Achilles’ heel.

One page describes the explorers of the new world massacring Native Americans with infectious diseases. The next illustrates a blueprint of a slave ship maximizing its human cargo by handcuffing the live merchandise in a neat array. Still another

“It is not always as explicit as segregating busses, but can live within us and unknowingly affect our judgments as people act on the inherent human characteristic to define oneself as an individual—as superior.” shares the story of the trail of tears marked by bloody footprints tracking in icy snow.

Skip ahead further, there is Martin Luther King Jr., and the overly briefed timeline usually concludes on a short segment about affirmative action.

This timeline’s existence in itself is proof of American’s—as well as humans in general— inability to cease the cyclical nature of racism in our history. I suspect that later editions will encompass current cases of racism that we are presently too blind to see. After all, is that not how history works—a ledger of our transgressions written in hindsight?

Racism is not always obvious, and that is part of its danger. It can have many different forms and it is usually less extreme than the examples printed in textbooks. The different levels of racism are so dangerous because they can easily hide in society. Jokes are a very effective disguise. Famous political activist, Angela Davis, said it best: “Racism is a much more clandestine, much more hidden kind of phenomenon, but at the same time it’s perhaps far more terrible than it’s ever been.”

Racism has the ugly ability to hide in people and it comes in so many different

28

ethosmagazine.org

forms and degrees that it is difficult to truly see. Technically, racism is defined as “the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.” That definition sheds light on the intuitive nature of racism. It is not always as explicit as segregating busses, but can live within us and unknowingly affect our judgments as people act on the inherent human characteristic to define oneself as an individual—as superior.

Iowa State has had a rich history in both diversity and racism. Some of our most famed alumni have helped write that history.

George Washington Carver, a man born into slavery, became the first black student at Iowa State and one of the most influential scientists of his time. Jack Trice was the first black athlete at Iowa State. Unfortunately, his football career ended too soon when he tragically died from injuries incurred from a game against the University of Minnesota— exemplifying the perils at that time of being a black man in a violent white man’s sport.

Unfortunately, racism is still alive. Although we might not hear about it as often, the existence of multicultural organizations like the Asian Pacific American Awareness Coalition (APAAC) acknowledge its presence. There is little written on racism toward the Asian population in American history books and perhaps this indicates a bigger problem that the larger population has not realized their errors yet.

On campus, there is a Twitter feed called “People of ISU.” The webpage is designed in Iowa State decorum. Jack Trice Stadium is the page’s background, Cy holding a Cannon PowerShot is the cover photo and the profile photo is ironically a photo of a diverse group of students posing with their arms across each other’s shoulders. Candid photos are posted of students around campus. Some are obviously bizarre, such as a student riding in rollerblades in a USA speedo and vest linked to another student wearing a gorilla costume. Others are commonplace. Many of these commonplace photos are images of Asian students, doing nothing unordinary— just eating, on the CyRide or sitting in class.

Unlike some of the other photos on the feed, these photos were not highlighting humor, they were highlighting race. They were presented to the multicultural campus organization, APAAC. The meeting was packed with 50 individuals giving their full attention to a PowerPoint

presentation with images from the Twitter feed. Anyone wearing a USA speedo and vest rollerblading on campus would be fair game for a laugh, but most agree there would be nothing funny about a photo of three white students sitting in class. It would seem mundane to post such a photo, and it likely would not be followed with a caption alluding to their race.

At first, some found the photos humorous— there were some snickers and side conversations in the background. In regard to the photo displaying three Asian students sitting in class with the caption, “birds of a feather flock together,” one discussion participant asks, “So when white people sit together, what is that called?”

The creators of the People of ISU Twitter page rejected an in-person interview and would not provide their names, but via email correspondence they were able to answer a few of the main questions that APAAC members formulated during the meeting. The creators say, “The purpose of this Twitter feed is to spread campus cheer.

We know how tough and stressful college life can be, so we hope that through this page people can laugh a little bit and get their mind in a different place. (Even if it’s just for a moment.) Some of our content is a little

edgy, and that’s always been an issue, but we try to tone it down and keep the content somewhat appropriate and non-offensive.”

of the people managing this account are Asian. We just post what’s given to us that we think other people will find humorous.”

As the discussion progressed, responses from the participants became deeper.

Commenting on the overall message of the

A domino effect set off and the discussion began to flourish. “Someone can unintentionally post stuff like this, meaning

“Racism is a much more clandestine, much more hidden kind of phenomenon, but at the same time it’s perhaps far more terrible than it’s ever been.”

Twitter feed, one participant says, “I think maybe that’s just the attitude of the page.

It’s that people recognize that they think it’s funny when people post people of minority on the page, so any chance they get, its already been on the page before, so why wouldn’t it be funny now.”

“I would disagree with the statement that they are doing ‘ordinary things,’” says one People of ISU creator. “Most pictures they send us of Asians, they are doing something bizarre [or] funny to our American culture.

We don’t racial stereotype at all. In fact, three

“Breaking the barrier is a beautiful image, but wouldn’t it be even better to prevent a wall from forming?”

the best, but still have it be regarded as racist.

So you can say, “I didn’t mean anything by this picture,” but if people take it as racism and [are] offended by it, it’s still racism,” says another APAAC member.

APAAC brought up a very good point—intention.

The group then discussed what they would consider to be crossing the line. One member referred to the 2011 YouTube video “Asians in the Library,” where UCLA student, Alexandra Wallace filmed a video blog voicing her opinion on the manners of the “hordes of Asians” on campus. She continued to rant about Asians talking on cell phones at the library during finals week and mocked their language.

“There are definitely different levels [of racism], like the UCLA girl doing the “ching chong” or whatever. She was blatant and obvious, but then most people do it with a certain subtlety where you’re not sure if that was supposed to be funny or [if I should] feel offended,” said APAAC president Lan Pham.

Whether or not a statement has crossed the line is often times questionable from both the speaker and the audience. When statements that can be perceived to have racist or discriminatory intent surpass privacy of intimate conversations and become widespread to the public it is not uncommon for an iron fist to confront the problem head on. In response to the YouTube video “Asians in the Library”, UCLA Chancellor Gene Block posted his own official video for UCLA students calling for “greater civility in discourse on campus.”

Even at Iowa State, administrative authority intervened on the controversy over the word “squintey” in the past Iowa State Daily column “Just Sayin’.”

Toward the end of October, APAAC has a Hate Wall Event. The event spans two

29

days and focuses on the recognition of stereotypes and hate, which can be affiliated with those belonging to minority groups.

The event earns its name by the physical creation of a wall that exhibits the afflicted stereotypes and hate. When the event reaches its end, members tear down the wall, metaphorically breaking the barrier.

Breaking the barrier is a beautiful image, but wouldn’t it be even better to prevent a wall from forming?

Peng Yu, an international student in Computer Science definitely would be in favor of diminishing racism on campus.

When confronted with the images from the people of ISU Twitter feed, Yu responds, “I don’t know the guys in these pictures, but I feel sad for them. It’s sad that someone is making fun of them.”

“I think it really needs to be stopped,” Yu says. “I don’t see anything funny about this. Everybody has some embarrassing moments. I feel that some of the American people don’t actually know about us—the Chinese people. They think we are in some Qin Dynasty, we wear small shoes, and we have long hair in a ponytail, like old-school Chinese people shown in movies—but our lives are actually on the same level as them.”

Out of the large group of 50 APAAC members, only a subset of the club spoke out. Those that did began having greatly varying opinions. “I don’t really see the racism in some of these pictures—not all of them—but some of them,” one member says. “Seems like a lot of the photos are of international Asians. I can tell that it’s an international Asian, just by the way they dress or by the way they speak English, but it seems like most of this is international,” another member says.

Racism is not only skin color versus skin color. At Iowa State, it appears that racism acts upon much more specific divisions, like cultural differences in the way people dress, eat and speak.

Are we so accustomed to living in a society so imperceptibly interweaved with racism that we’ve become blind to it?

“They are just Americans,” Yu says. “Their fathers or mothers are Chinese or Korean or Japanese, but based on their lifestyles, what they eat, how they speak—they are totally American. I think white people distinguish themselves against Asian Americans because of skin color, but international Asians just treat Asian Americans as Americans.”

30

ethosmagazine.org

Iowa State is known to be a university that applauds diversity. It is important that as students—and as Cyclones—we not only accommodate the desire for international students to study here, but truly welcome them and incorporate them into our lives.

For those that have had a study abroad experience, imagine what living across the world would be like if you were ostracized for something that you cannot change—like your skin color. The cost of tuition, exuberant living expenses and home-sickness would not feel worthwhile for studying abroad when you’re halted from making new friends or immersing yourself in the culture because the native students won’t include you.

Yu says that it wasn’t difficult for him to open up and try to meet new students during the beginning of his journey at Iowa State, but that’s not always the case. Some of his friends haven’t felt as welcome. “I have some friends who have already gone back to their country,” he says. “They don’t feel like this is the place that they want to stay.

They think that they would have more fun studying in China.”

Despite Yu’s affable demeanor, he often finds himself putting more effort into forming friendships with American students than the other way around.

The People of ISU Twitter feed is a small part of the entirety of racism at Iowa State.

It appears that, as students, our biggest problem is removing the barriers within ourselves that segregate us from people who look different. The reality is, the more that we try to define ourselves from others, the more defense mechanisms we use and it becomes less and less visible that we are hurting ourselves and those around us.

Racism is truly a double-edged sword. It hurts others for reasons unknown to them and that they cannot change and it limits us from gaining diverse perspectives and making new friendships.

In hopes of fixing this problem, Yu advises other Chinese students to pave their own journey at Iowa State. “Show them some international culture or the situation we are having. Show them that we are not living in some backcountry. They feel like we are from another world, like we are not from Earth.

There is no information to give them the view of the people of China. That might help.”

We may all have different backgrounds, interests or styles, but in a sense we are all the same—we are all Cyclones. Either barriers can be built to divide and segregate, or barriers can be broken for a more inclusive atmosphere. Ultimately though, the choice is yours.

1. Have you ever heard/made a joke based on a stereotype of a minority group?

100%

YES 2. Which group at Iowa State do you think is targeted in jokes more frequently?

92.9%

ASIAN 10.7%

BLACK 0%

WHITE

0%

HISPANIC

3. Do you find it easier to become friends with someone of your race?

67.9%

YES

4. Do you have any friends that are a different race than you?

96.4%

YES

5. Are you friends with an international student?

57.1%

YES

King of Iowa Our congressman—Steve King—is known in the media for saying some outlandish things, but who is the man behind the words?

BY DANIEL BROWN DESIGN JESSICA BARTEMES CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS COURTESY OF JEFF KING

31

“...they’re hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert.”

“If [Obama] is elected president... al-Qaida will be dancing in the streets in greater numbers than they did on September 11...his middle name does matter,” our Republican Congressman Steve King erroneously predicted in early 2008. But while often making national headlines for such inflammatory statements, little is known about his upbringing and background and how his experiences have influenced his political convictions.

Born in 1949, he was raised in a family of seven in the small town of Goodell, Iowa. In 1961, the King family moved to an acreage two miles south of Denison. “There was some farming that went on, but it was not primary,” says Jon King of Guthrie Center, younger brother of the congressman. “My first jobs were all Ag related and I assume Steve’s were about the same.”

The congressman often spent his free time hunting, fishing and playing chess. He ran track, but did not play other sports. “My mother was dead set against sports. She was afraid he would get hurt,” Jon says.

Although now a Catholic—his wife is Catholic—he grew up a Methodist. The family went to church every Sunday. Profanity was rare and was not tolerated from the kids and “if dad said ‘damn’, you’d better be listening because he’d been pushed over the top and ‘damn’ and ‘hell’ was all I heard Dad say,” Jon says.

Their father, Emmet, who ran the police station radio “didn’t have any issues about being in charge of things. He had ideas about the way things should be and that’s how he implemented them—He had rules and expected you to obey them.” At the same time, “he was always fair,” Jon says.

Their mother, Mildred, was a stay-at-home mom. They were “like Ozzie and Harriet,” Jon says. “Dad worked, mom stayed home. Dad came home, supper was on the table. Mom was there for the kids—always.”

After King dropped out of college, he worked briefly in Omaha, Nebraska then moved back to Iowa. It was around this time that the congressman married his wife, Marilyn, who would eventually become a teacher at

32

ethosmagazine.org

a Methodist church. For the first three years of married life, he worked construction in Denison. Then in 1975, he started his own business—King Construction.

Over the next 20 years, before running for the Iowa Senate in 1996, King would slowly grow his business—although it has never had more than 10 employees—and start a family, eventually having three children.

His youngest son and campaign chair, Jeff King of Wall Lake, says his most prevalent memory of his father was “him coming home from working construction with jeans and a blue button-up, short-sleeve shirt.”

The first few years of business were rough—a bulldozer broke down and King was busy preparing for the birth of his child. The 1980s were tough as well thanks to the farm crisis.

In the mid ‘80s, two men vandalized and destroyed one of the congressman’s bulldozers and scrapers, totaling $140,000 in damage.

His insurance policy did not cover vandalism. Although he won a settlement against the vandals, they paid him only $60. “Things like that—they inform your worldview,” Jon says. “It kinda hardened him,” says the congressman’s son.

He had other experiences that shaped his political convictions. One occurred when he was working on the pipeline as a college student—he noticed there was a union steward who worked little but earned the same wages as everyone else.

The congressman’s experiences with King Construction likely shaped his fiscal policy opinions the most. “He counted 42 or 43 state and federal regulations that he had to comply with,” Jeff says.

Overall, Congressman King is a small business owner and a man who has never lived outside of rural Iowa or any town with a

population over 15,000, except briefly—less than a year—in Omaha. King grew up experiencing little diversity in a traditional and religious household. His political beliefs, rhetoric and campaign contributors seem to reflect this.

He is pro-life and anti-gay marriage. He is anti-union and procorporation. He is against amnesty for illegal immigrants and against ObamaCare. He also believes in strictly following the constitution and that Iowa should remain a leader in wind, ethanol and biodiesel production.

His biggest campaign contributors are mostly blue collar companies, such as Mail Services LLC, Norsemen Trucking and Doll Distributing.

Overall, the congressman is most concerned with immigration and this is for two reasons, according to his son: one, there is no one else in the Republican party—now that former Congressman Tancredo is out of office—to spearhead the gallant fight against amnesty; and two, because amnesty is permanent and cannot be rescinded.

In fact, the congressman’s most recent headlining remark was made while arguing against the DREAM Act, which would grant amnesty to illegal immigrants who arrive as minors. He said that for every

child of illegal immigrants “who’s a valedictorian, there’s another 100 out there who weigh 130 pounds and got calves the size of cantaloupes because they’re hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert.” Both his brother and son stood by this ratio of 1 valedictorian to every 100 drug smugglers.

But why does the congressman say such things? “He uses a lot of analogies,” Jeff says, and “some of this is on purpose to get people talking…but he always has a reason for saying [something outrageous].” As for his latest remark, “a border [patrolman] told him they could tell the normal drug-runners ‘cause their calves had gotten large.” Nonetheless it remains unexplained where he received that ratio and moreover why that ratio is relevant since it could be just as true for drug-pushin’ U.S. citizens.

In any event, the Annenburg Public Policy Center’s nonpartisan website factcheck.org states, “It’s probably not possible to check this [ratio].” It said the evidence the congressman entered into the Congressional Record in support of his comments “merely said there had been an increase between 2008 and 2011 in apprehensions of 14 to 18-year-olds attempting…to cross the…border with the intent to sell drugs.” But “these aren’t the DREAMers,” the center’s website says. One U.S. Border Protection official even said that smugglers are not looking for a life in the United States. Most cross illegally to drop off the drugs and then return to Mexico.

“Some of this is on purpose so it gets people talking...”

Nevertheless, “[the congressman] is warm and not [hateful] at all,” and believes “we’re all created in God’s image,” Jeff says.

Responding, however, to whether or not King Construction hires people with large calves, Jeff just laughed.

33

Getting your food at the grocery store is pretty easy, but digging it out of the ground is a whole new adventure.

One of our writers shares her experience working on a farm.

34

ethosmagazine.org

BY LIZ ZABEL DESIGN SARAH NEIGHBOUR PHOTOS LIZ ZABEL

I

pull my heavy-duty hiking boots from my sweaty, dirt-laced feet. A myriad of pebbles and dirt clumps hit the floor.

My hands are black. Soil is embedded beneath my nails. My hair and eyebrows are flecked with brown speckles. Bits of earth are nestled between the creases of my forehead, my eyelids and my smile.

If I learned anything during my two long days working on a farm, it was that I’d leave dirty from head-to-toe.

It started with a warning: “Bring an extra-hearty lunch.”

The advice came from Sally Gran, one of four founders of TableTop Farm, which also includes her husband Luke Gran and their friends Chris and Kim Corbin. Gran’s advice is helpful come lunchtime, but without a proper breakfast, my stomach would be grumbling long before the break.

I discover this at 7:30 a.m.—much too early for a chronic snoozer—while climbing into a cramped station wagon of farmers, each gripping a ceramic mug of steaming black coffee, filling the car with dark, heavenly aromas. Chris Corbin is in the driver’s seat, tipping an entire pot back, filling his mouth with java directly from the spout. Looking at the nutritious breakfasts around me I realize my measly granola bar and invisible cup of coffee probably won’t hold me over until lunch. My stomach rumbles.

knees again. This process is repeated over and over for several hours, as all of the harvesting is done by hand.

An undercutter pulled behind a tractor does most of the work for you by cutting through the cover crop and agitating the sweet potatoes from their nest below. This process typically reveals enough of the spud to simply pull at its root, birthing the potatoes from the ground with ease. When you’re not so lucky, you dig.

Digging my hands into the earth is an odd sensation. It’s cold. Wet. Soft. Often, there

are bugs hiding below: earthworms, beetles, centipedes and spiders…huge, black spiders.

I yelp at the sight. Eventually the shrieks die down, though, as I become accustomed to the mud-dwellers. I push piles of mud to the side and clear a path to the tasty treasures beneath the soil. I find a root and begin to tug, wrestling up the potatoes and relieving them of the umbilical cord-like root. I separate them by size using the “rule of thumb”—literally, the width of your thumb.

Harvesting begins to feel like a game. The larger the spuds are, the more accomplished I feel. The harder it is to rip them from the

Almost immediately after our arrival on the farm, we’re assigned our first tasks.

I’m sent along with a 6-manned sweet potato harvesting crew, who climb into a seatless, cardboard-lined mini-van which escorts us to the field. We climb out and drop to our knees in the soft mud, lining up in pairs down the row about 10 to 15 feet apart. Each pair inches down the row together, pulling the starches from the ground as they go. After covering the distance between each group, we stand, “leapfrog” down the line and drop to our

35

clutches of the earth, the more I celebrate the victory. Their shapes and sizes are interesting, too—very alien. Kind of like mice, with fat bodies and roots for tails. I reveal one with feeler-like roots growing from its body and imagine they are antennas.

I might take it home as my pet and stick some googly eyes on it.

I may be a bit sun-crazed.

At least the breeze offers a kiss of relief from the sweltering sun. By 11:00 a.m. my stomach feels like it’s eating itself. My knees ache and wobble as I try to stand—this is when I begin to crawl. By the time we’re dismissed for lunch at 12:30, I’m ravenous and considering eating the sweet potatoes raw.

The hour lunch break goes by quickly—food has never tasted so good.

As the Gran’s free-range chickens peck at my feet for any scraps that manage to escape my lips, I take some time between chomps to learn about the farm.

36

ethosmagazine.org

TableTop Farm is a small-scale farm located in the cornfield depths of Nevada, Iowa, where Sally Gran rents the farmland her extended family has owned for many years.

The farm is a member of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), which is a social movement putting a “face behind the farmer” by developing relationships between the farmers and their customers. Although the farm abides by all organic practices, it has not yet been certified due to a process that requires it to be at least three years “clean.” Since TableTop is only in its third-ever season, it’s too early to confirm its ‘cleanliness.’

As lunch is wrapping up, the bully of a rooster is lurking not far from me. Strange guttural noises erupt from his beak. He begins to puff his body in what I imagine is an attempt to intimidate me, so I throw a piece of bread his way to avoid confrontation. He withdraws from his menacing stance and saunters off to the crumb before any other chicken can reach it. I learn from Kristen Hauser, one of the farmers sharing the break with me, that they’re probably killing the chickens next week.

Everyone hates that damn rooster.

Considering its youth, however, the farm has been very successful. More than 315 families in the Ames and Des Moines community receive a CSA share every week. TableTop also distributes to wholesale markets such as Wheatsfield Cooperative and participates in the Ames and Des Moines Farmers’ Markets every weekend in the summer and fall.

After several more hours of sweet potato harvesting we return to the pack house to pack 91 CSA shares for the day.

Boxes overflow with a variety of goodies: squash, beets, sweet potatoes, jalapenos, bell peppers,

I can hardly keep my eyes open on the way home.

lot of love in your hands to do this kind of work.

The work of a farmer is tremendously demanding— long days of exhausting, backbreaking, skin-stripping, sweat-dripping work. But it’s undoubtedly invigorating and I would go back to the field in a heartbeat. Even now, as my back and knees cry out in pain whenever I struggle to use my muscles or move at all.

My back and shoulders strain to sit up straight. My hands feel like they’re burning or being pricked with tiny needles. I wonder if they are starting to develop blisters— what it must be like to work your hands this hard every day. My grandpa’s hands come to mind. The hands of a true, hardworking farmer— big, calloused and filled with love. I figure there must be a

Sally Gran says she puts in an average of 10 to 15 hours of work per day, rising as early as 5:00 a.m. Her only day off is Sunday, which she spends the majority of sleeping. Although she’s exhausted and run down, she says the work is exhilarating and sees herself farming for many years to come. Gran says she’s looking forward to a more sustainable lifestyle,

kale, tomatoes, rosemary, basil, parsley, sage and more—the fragrance of a fresh harvest is intoxicating.

The boxes of fresh, handharvested vegetables are then loaded into a van to be delivered to the nearest pickup site for CSA customers or wholesale markets.

“I

must

a

of

lot

your

to kind

I arrive at home and untie my boots.

Every touch to the laces releases chunks of dirt to the floor. When I pull them off, the chunks turn into a pile.

I jump in the shower and watch the brown sludge run off my body, but I still can’t seem to shake the dirt from underneath my fingernails.

Hauser, who’s been working full-time at TableTop for two seasons now, says it’s unlikely she’ll see her hands truly clean for another two months, even scrubbing with a hard-bristle brush.

I’m going to need a manicure.

figure

there in

with a goal to avoid the farm from taking over her life. For now, however, the farm is in its infancy and requires hard work year round.

do of

be

love hands

this work”

37

Who Do You Think O Y U Are?

38

ethosmagazine.org

BY TRAER SCHON DESIGN TAYLOR WERTZBERGER PHOTOS TIFFANY HERRING Walking on central campus on a Sunday afternoon, you may notice a strange game being played. This game isn’t soccer, it isn’t dodgeball, it isn’t capture the flag—it’s a combination of all three. For Quidditch president Andrew Folkmann, it’s not just a game—it’s a competitive sport.

Ethos: How did you get involved in Quidditch?

Andrew Folkmann: The President before me, Chris Webber, was in my fraternity. I was pretty skeptical [of Quidditch], but one Sunday they conned me into coming out. I played beater and I basically annihilated, so I loved it so much that I didn’t want to stop.

E: What are some challenges of playing Quidditch?

AF: This is a semi-contact sport in the sense that there is tackling involved, but there’s only one-arm tackles (two-arm tackles are illegal). Just learning how to ball-handle essentially with predominantly one hand… and there’s a lot going on. This is basically like three-different sports going on on one field. You’ve got dodgeballs being thrown around (the “bludger”), a deflated volleyball used for scoring “the “quaffle”) and [in full games] you’ve basically got a mobile capture the flag going on (the “snitch”).

E: Are you a Harry Potter fan?

AF: Not really, I mean I’ve read the books.

I enjoyed them… but no, I’m not really a big Harry Potter fan. A lot of them [the Quidditch team] are, though. It’s really hard to get away from that—you play Quidditch, you’re gonna have some Harry Potter nerds.

E: Is that a misconception about Quidditch—that everyone is a Harry Potter fan?

AF: Not entirely…I guess I’m an anomaly, a majority are Harry Potter fans.

E: What is your favorite thing about playing Quidditch?

AF: You get stressed out a lot just being in college, so it’s nice to come Sunday and know that I can throw a dodgeball, release some anger, and know that no one can tell me no, because it’s part of the sport so they really can’t do anything to me. It’s fun to develop a certain athleticism that I never really had in high school.

E: Do you ever wish your brooms could actually fly?

AF: I really don’t—there’s the whole falling thing I’m not a huge fan of. We do joke that if

anyone invented a flying broom, Iowa State would do it.

E: Does it start to hurt straddling a broom for a whole game?

AF: It doesn’t hurt, I don’t think, unless you fall on it wrong. [It’s hard] getting used to having a broom between your legs, but surprisingly no one gets injured from it. (He referred to it as “spearing”… Ouch.)

E: What do you wear for games? Are there robes involved?

AF: No, there’s not… last time they wore traditional Harry Potter stuff for Quidditch was when the IQA first started–they were playing with capes and stuff, but not it’s gotten really far away from that. We’ve got Nike Pro Combat on now (their official Quidditch jerseys). People wear receiver gloves to help grab the volleyball better.

E: When do you meet?

AF: Tuesdays and Thursdays we meet [on the practice field behind Lied] for about two hours, and Sunday—I call it Sunday Funday—we play on Central Campus and anyone that comes can try it out. We’re really not that demanding, I really just ask that they show up Sunday, because it’s the most fun.

E: When is the Quidditch “season”?

AF: There’s really no end to the Quidditch season. Sometimes we play in the snow, and we practice in Lied once we get space for that.

The Snow Cup in Michigan last year [was] played in like two and a half feet of snow.

They didn’t play very many games because a lot of people couldn’t feel their hands.

E: If you could be any Harry Potter character, who would it be?

AF: Mad Eye Moody. He’s like the Rooster Cogburn of the Harry Potter series— unorthodox, but extremely effective.

39

!

E N I L N O

ethosmagazine.org

Love what you’ve read in this issue?

Luckily, the awesomeness doesn’t stop here! Go to our website to check out these stories and more!

Fake IDs— Friend or Foe? We help you understand the consequences if you get caught.

Bringing the Holidays to You

Stuck at good ‘ol Iowa State for the holidays? Turn it into a celebration so good, you won’t even miss home (mostly)—this story will show you how.

How to Roll a Blunt

Like your weed in a blunt? Learn how to roll one like a pro and what papers are best.

Games for Non-Gamers Late to joining the gaming scene? Jump in with these fun video games!

40

ethosmagazine.org

Women’s Rugby Photo Gallery See how badass these women are by scrolling through this online photo gallery.

“I’m a Human Being in this Body that Can’t See” Watch this video to learn from Clay Gerganus, a man who sees life’s blessings despite the challenges thrown his way.

How to do Laundry

Read this and you’ll never have to pretend like you know what you’re doing again.