BAD ASS: mariah young SPRING 2015
oN New Women’s RuGBY TEam
TEQUILA CONCOCTIONS YOU MUST TRY THIS WEEKEND
A GUIDE TO KINK AND STI S
SPRING 2015
with Dani Musselman and Brian Williams: the meaning of service
from the classroom to the pulpit
jacob Mclain STEREOTYPES OF YOUNG LOVE
PG. 6 PG. 10
MILDRED HEDGES, A GHOSTLY TALE 50 Shades of Safe, Stigmatizing STIs.................................................................. 4 Student Perspectives on Kale: Health food craze or here to stay?, Coffee versus Tea............................................................... 5 4 Tequila Drinks You Must Try This Weekend!.... 6
PG. 19 PG. 26
THE MRS. DEGREE
What It’s Like To Be Totally Undecided.................. 8 The Simpson Ghost: Mildred Hedges..................... 10 Spotlight on Simpson: Freshman Zach Goodrich.......................................... 11 Sophomore Lauren Myers......................................... 12 Junior Jacob McLain........................................................ 14 Senior Mariah Young...................................................... 16 How Contraceptives Ignited The Women’s Sexual Revolution.......................................
19
Q&A with Dani Musselman and Brian Williams........................................................
23 The Mrs. Degree................................................................. 26
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A NOTE FROM THE
EDITOR They say your college years fly by, but you don’t actually realize how fast they go until you are looking at a one-month calendar with graduation day circled on the last weekend. At the end of every class, every forum event, every service opportunity, there is time for reflection. Thus, it seems only right that I begin to reflect on my past four years here at Simpson. I’d like to tell my professors about “one particular class” that changed my decision about my major. Or maybe be able to say my best memory was from a personal achievement, such as a personal record in swimming or an A+ paperin international marketing. Sure, the education I received here has been nothing less than stellar and I know it will help me tremendously as I advance into a career. But I can’t identify any great memories without thinking of all the people who have made the past several years special. There are my Simpson Colloquium classmates – we all braved our first college papers and tests together. There are the girls in the Pi Beta Phi house who became my best friends, sisters and roommates. My teammates who hold each other’s spirits high and are always at the end of your lane, cheering you on. And I can’t forget the staff here in Simpson Student Media who make the late nights putting together a student publication worthwhile. As I look back and remember how great these people are, I can’t help but feature them in the spring edition of this magazine. So, go read about Zach Goodrich’s (pg. 11) phenomenal first year on campus in terms of leading and overachieving. Meet Mariah Young (pg. 16), the bad-ass rugby player we featured on our cover. She learned to play rugby in London and then helped start the women’s team on our campus this year! Or read about Cameron Lunsford and Sadie Walkner (pg. 26), two students who found love on campus. Flip to any page – the students featured within are sure to not disappoint. Welcome to the people edition of ID Magazine. Enjoy!
Meg Lein Editor-in-Chief
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ID MAGAZINE Editor-in-Chief Meg Lein Photo Editor Brittany Rempe
Copy Editor Brittany Robb
Advertising Manager Stephanie Turner Editorial Staff Michelle Hartmann Steffi Lee Tessa Lengeling Robert Lyons Brittany Rempe Brittany Robb Ashley Smith Laura Wiersema Photography Tessa Lengeling Laura Wiersema
Art & Design Ashley Smith Alexis Yocum
Copyright © 2015 ID Magazine is created and produced by students at Simpson College. Opinions stated or implied by the magazine are those of the students involved and are not approved or endorsed by Simpson College. No material may be reproduced without written permission. Send all comments, questions and concerns to idmagazine@simpson.edu. Editorial Philosophy: ID Magazine is a publication created for Simpson students, by Simpson students. Our main goal is to share the many personalities of our student body and voice some of our perspectives in regards to the world around us. We want to maintain an aesthetic that appeals to our young people. Of course we want to be taken seriously, but this is not your mother’s magazine.
Special Thanks Mark Siebert Department of Multimedia Communication
LIKE US WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ IDMAGSC FOLLOW US @IDMAGSC
ID Mag | Spring 2015
MICHELLE HARTMANN What she wrote: Margarita Monday, Tequila Tuesday, Page 6
laura wiersema
BRITTANY ROBB What she wrote: Lauren Myers Spotlight, Page 12 Women’s Sexual Revolution, Page 19
robert lyons
What she wrote: Confessions of Undeclared Majors, Page 8
What he wrote: Mildred Hedges, A Ghostly Tale, Page 10
brittany rempe What she wrote: Jacob McLain Spotlight, Page 14
steffi Lee What she wrote: RLC Q&A with Dani Musselman and Brian Williams, Page 23
tessa lengeling What she wrote: Zach Goodrich Spotlight, Page 11
ashley smith What she wrote: Women’s Sexual Revolution, Page 19
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50 SHADES
OF SAFE
STORY & DESIGN: MEG LEIN Kinky sex is in, thanks to E.L. James’ erotic trilogy that became an international box office phenomenon in February. BDSM, which stands for bondage and dominance, sadism and masochism, can be healthy and fun. However, like all sex, there are steps you need to take to make sure the extra spice is safe. Here’s the four essential do’s to keep BDSM activities safe, consensual and exciting.
Communicate With Your Partner As in any relationship, verbal communication is essential. Before you and your partner get down, establish your limitations. Are handcuffs okay? What about blindfolds, toys or spanking? Discussing what you do or don’t like will make your session between the sheets more fun and it will help build trust in each other.
Use Safe Words In 50 Shades of Grey, Anna used the safe words “red” and “popsicle” when she was uncomfortable with something. Safe words are an agreement between you and your partner and are used when you really mean NO in a bedroom situation. Traffic light colors are easy to use and remember. Green means that everything is great and you want to keep going. Yellow is used when you are becoming uncomfortable and want to slow down, and red means, “No, I want to stop immediately.”
Play Comfortably Even if you’re an Eagle Scout, we recommend keeping scissors handy in case you need to cut through a rope or other binding. Whenever you play with a restraint, be mindful of extremities and your partner’s comfort level. AKA, make sure you and your partner are a normal color and temperature. Ankles and wrists are fine to bind, but never apply compression to your partner’s neck. It’s really dangerous and serious injury or death could result.
Protect Yourself Use a condom. Need we say more? Nothing ruins a fun romp in the sack more than an STD or unintended pregnancy. Think normal rubbers are boring? Try something like Trojan Fire and Ice, which you can find at Wal-Mart or the local drugstore. Remember, always use common sense and alert your partner if you are uncomfortable or something is hurting. By using these basics, you can make any sex safer.
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Stigmatizing STIs: STIs are simply infections. It’s not a judgement from above, a mark of your character or what kind of person you are. Let’s begin the conversation to end the shame. STORY: MEG LEIN If the statistics are correct, over 200 students on Simpson College’s campus have a sexually transmitted infection. Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis are all forms of bacterial STIs, and with treatment can be cured. But for individuals living with virus STIs such as genital herpes or warts, the implications can live on forever – even after an outbreak has cleared up. According to the Center for Disease Control, one in six people living in the United States have genital herpes. Skin-to-skin contact during vaginal and anal sex is a large cause, but this statistic is quickly growing as more people engage in oral sex. Mouth-to-skin contact can cause genital herpes if the giver has the HSV-1 virus, which can be in the form of a cold sore. It’s estimated that 80 to 90 percent of Americans have been exposed to the HSV-1 virus. Kelli Lee, director of student health services, explains that abstinence is the only sure prevention method, but if you are engaging sex, you should use male or female condoms and dental dams. The HSV-1 virus has become so widely common, you cannot safely assume you haven’t contracted the virus unless you have never kissed anyone (not even grandma) or you have been tested. You can even have an STI and never know it – most people will never have an outbreak. With a disease so common and outbreaks so short-lived, why are people afraid to open up and talk about it? “Media plays a large role in shunning people that have STIs,” Lee says. “The stereotype it creates is that, if you have an STI, you have been branded and you are now considered dirty.” Take the classic line from The Hangover: “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Except for herpes – that shit’ll come back with ya.” These jokes and others have created a stigma associated with herpes. Fear of being shamed or made fun of often keeps people with STIs from opening up. This could lead to lower self-esteem and a struggle to have romantic relationships. While it may be a struggle to accept, Lee says that a student with an STI shouldn’t feel they are all alone. “It may be traumatic to find out you have an STI. Allow yourself to feel the feelings you are having and try not to put blame on yourself or others. Be honest with yourself, your partner(s), and health care providers. Most STIs are treatable without lasting side effects. However, if an STI is not curable, let’s discuss lifestyle changes so to normalize your life again. One in every six people “The more we talk about STIs and the less we joke about it age 14 - 49 have genital the better,” Lee says. herpes. Most people will If you or a partner is concerned about having an STI never have an outbreak. and wants to talk, Lee says she welcomes you into her clinic - Centers of Disease Control, 2014 every Tuesday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. STI and HIV screenings are offered at the Polk County Health Department in Des Moines. Call for an appointment at (515) 286-3798. By having honest conversations about health, you can help a friend, a partner or a family member relieve the psychological weight. Begin the conversation. #EndSTIStigma
STUDENT PERSPECTIVE
the good, the bad,
the ugly:
Kale
Diet fads come and go. Some students are fond of this leafy veggie, while others don’t understand its popularity. PHOTOS & DESIGN: MEG LEIN Kale is an incredibly great source of calcium, iron, and vitamin K - all important things to someone who can’t have dairy or has an iron deficiency. Besides, when you saute in olive oil with fresh garlic, red peppers, and balsamic vinegar, what’s not to love? Sauteed kale also works really nicely when you add in bacon, apples, and walnuts. It’s the perfect side dish.”
I don’t understand it. Three years ago kale was the leafy greens around the salad bar. Now pretentious, nutritious people love to tell me about how they eat kale at every meal.”
- Christina Amburgy ‘16 - Ben Rodgers ‘15
‘16
Coffee
versus
- Molly Monk
I love kale! It’s so easy to make if I ever need a snack. You just set the oven to 350, rip it up into bite size pieces, place those on a cookie sheet, sprinkle on olive oil and salt and viola! Yum yum in my tum! Or put it in smoothies with strawberries....Mmmmm....”
TEA
DRINK FOR NO HIPSTER STATUS YES or t-term Coffee improves sh re a test! recall. Drink up befo the Caffeine increases in killers. effectiveness of pa Coffee causes tooth decoloration.
DRINK FOR BUSINESS & YES HIGH CAFFEINE NO DRINK FOR
NO HYDRATION YES
Tea might prev ent the developmen t of type 1 diabetes .
Tea contains flo uride, protecting those pear ly whites. Tea hydrates B UT the caffeine might ca use anxiety and rise s in blood pressure .
DRINK FROM
YES HOLY GROUNDS YES Information from www.Prevention.com
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STORY: MICHELLE HARTMANN | PHOTOS & DESIGN: MEG LEIN Tequila makes her clothes fall off, so what else would you drink? Don’t get us wrong, we at ID Mag love our tequila, but we know there’s more to the liquor than just its magical ability to de-clothe the ladies. Continue reading to learn a little about a common tequila myth, its history and how to create impressive tequila concoctions. First of all, tequila is not made with worms. The worm is from Mezcal liquor, which is lower quality than tequila. It was placed in the bottle as a marketing gimmick – why, we’ll never understand. Tequila is actually created from the blue agave plant. Alcohol manufacturers take the heart of the plant, which can be anywhere from 80-200 pounds, and cook it until the sap is removed. After this, they ferment and distill the sap. This same plant is also used to create artificial diamonds. While this fake gem is not large enough to be used in jewelry, it is often used in electronics and industrial products. Finally, this special liquor has a protected designation of origin, meaning that it has to be produced in Mexico in order to be called tequila. Most of the production happens in the western state of Jalisco, but there is also some production in Guanajuato, Michoacan, Nayarit and Tamaulipas.
QUIQUI
Qui tequila is one of Mexico’s finest liquors. We recommend trading the platinum tequila for one that fits within the college student’s budget, namely Jose Cuervo or El Jimador. Combine a shot of tequila with one ounce mango nectar and another ounce freshly squeezed orange juice. Add a splash of 6 sec and a splash of fresh lime and lemon. triple
PELIGROSO SANGRE
Cinnamon tequila mixed with red wine gives this beverage a robust flavor. Combine a shot of Peligroso cinnamon tequila, two ounces of red wine and a shot of ginger ale in a shaker. Shake well and pour into a large glass garnished with an orange twist.
Get the most bang for your buck with these drink specials around Indianola. MONDAY Take the margarita Monday party elsewhere and enjoy happy hour at Brickhouse Tavern. Sip on a domestic beer with a $1 discount.
TUESDAY
BITTER SALTY PERRO
Snack on a yummy appetizer at Sports Page and treat yourself with $1 off domestic bottles, draws and well drinks from 2 to 6 p.m.
This bitter concoction is perfect for a summer afternoon. In a large pitcher, combine two cups pink grapefruit juice and one cup blanco tequila. Add two cups chilled tonic water and fill the pitcher with ice. Stir gently to combine. Divide the cocktail into four glasses rimmed with kosher salt and garnished with fresh grapefruit.
WEDNESDAY
From 8 p.m. to close, bust out your karaoke moves at Mojo’s Bar while enjoying a $3 discount on Kansas City ice waters and Long Island iced teas.
THURSDAY
MARGARITA SHANDY FOR 6 In a large pitcher, combine one 12 ounce can of frozen limeade concentrate, eight ounces tequila and 12 ounces water. Stir until limeade is dissolved. Fill the pitcher with ice, slices of lime and 24 ounces chilled lager or pilsner of choice. Serve in salt-rimmed glasses.
La Casa might be our favorite place for a classic margarita. Any flavor 16 oz. margaritas are only $2.99 on thirsty Thursday!
FRIDAY Hit up Mojos to get colorful UV drinks for $3 from 8 p.m. to close.
SATURDAY $7 pitchers for your whole group (or just you) from 8 p.m. to midnight at Mojos.
SUNDAY Close your weekend with a chill night at Mojos. Bottles, wells and draws are $2 from 3 to 8 p.m.
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things undeclared majors are tired of hearing
“Well, what do you WANT to study?”
“OH.... I understand.”
“At least your gen-eds will be out of the way.”
“It’s not good to enter undecided.That looks bad on applications.” “Are you still going to graduate in four years?”
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UNDECLAR STORY & PHOTO: LAURA WIERSEMA DESIGN: MEG LEIN
“What are you majoring in again?”
4 5
CONFESSIONS OF
“Why don’t you just pick something? You can always change your mind later.”
R
egistration for fall 2014 classes was quickly approaching and junior Brock Borgeson had to make a choice. What was he going to major in? After being undecided for two full years, he couldn’t avoid it any longer. This decision would influence his career and, essentially, the rest of his life. He had to be sure. “I was committing to my future and I hadn’t done that,” Borgeson says. “I was throwing away other people’s perception of me and my perception of what a degree meant versus who I am.” Ultimately, Borgeson declared multimedia journalism, which was his initial plan as a freshman. He had stepped away from the idea for a while, unsure if it was his true passion. “I had to ask myself, ‘what am I going to be interested in for the rest of my life? What are my friends and family telling me I’m good at?’” Borgeson’s situation is more common than he thought. According to The Undecided College Student by Virginia N. Gordon, 50 percent of college students are unsure of their major. However, a negative connotation surrounds the term “undecided.” “There’s an idea that if you haven’t made a decision right as you come into college that you’re not as focused or goal-oriented,” Laurie Dufoe, assistant director of Career Services, says. Jacob Lucy is a freshman who is also undecided. “There’s this horrible stereotype that someone who’s undecided doesn’t understand themselves yet, and that’s not necessarily true,” Lucy says. “It’s not that I’m lazy and it’s not that I’m stupid. I want to get it right. I don’t feel the pressure to declare right away because, chances are, I’ll change it.” Gordon writes that 50 to 75 percent of college students change their major at least once, if not two or three times. Besides, with over 80 majors at Simpson College to choose from, it can be almost impossible to pick the right major the first time.
LARED MAJORS There are endless reasons why a student might choose to be undecided. It could be a wide variety of interests, feeling overwhelmed or not wanting to be set in a stereotype. “I had a concern that my major was going to define who I was, as a person and as a career,” Borgeson says. “That’s totally the wrong mindset.” Being undecided has its benefits, especially at a liberal art school. Simpson’s curriculum requires students to explore beyond their interests and try new things. At the same time, students gain credits required for graduation and graduate on time or even early. “At Simpson, you can declare at the end of your sophomore year and still major, if not double major,” Dufoe says. “There’s no pressure here to decide early.” For Borgeson and similar students, this was crucial and immensely beneficial. “I was still purposeful while being undeclared,” Borgeson says. Some students blindly guess what they want to do, just to avoid saying they’re undecided. While it might seem like a good idea, it can be harmful to their educational experience. “If you have your mind set on one area, you’re often closed off to the other opportunities that may fit your interests and abilities,” Dufoe explains. Meanwhile, narrowing down the options can seem daunting. Luckily, Career Services has plenty of tools available to assist students every step of the way. They offer job shadowing, help with research, personality and interest inventories and one-on-one appointments. Dufoe encourages students to take advantage of Career Services, even if they know what they want to do. If thinking about majors is an issue, focus instead on academic experiences. In the end, employers are going to want to know what a student has done, not what classes they’ve taken. “Get your experience. If you have enough experience in a variety of fields, you can always make a career change,” Borgeson says. Along with this, don’t get experiences for the sake of experiences. Get them because they’re interesting to you. Interests drive us and, therefore, should drive the process of declaring a major.
One writer examines the stigma associated with students who “haven’t figured out their future”
“Just believing that my interests were often related to my abilities was key for me,” Borgeson says. Lucy agrees, offering this advice to other undecided students: “Take classes that are interesting to you and classes that will help you find what you want to do.” Borgeson and Lucy had two main pieces of advice for anyone struggling with being undecided. It’s not that I’m lazy “You’re not alone. If you’re undecided, you’re like a lot of and it’s not that I’m other people, even those that stupid. I want to get it have a major on their right. I don’t feel the transcript,” Borgeson pressure to declare right says. “A lot of those people change.” away because, chances And, perhaps most are, I’ll change it.” importantly, your major doesn’t define you. Only - JACOB LUCY you define you. undeclared major ‘18 “Finding what your major is isn’t going to define you in the long run; however, you can still learn a lot about yourself while you’re searching,” Lucy says. Dufoe often tells students to come up with a confident answer for when someone inquires about their major. “You have to come up with a line that you feel comfortable with for an answer and be confident in the fact that you’re an exploring student,” she says. So enter that family reunion with your head held high. You’re prepared for the chronic question of, “So what’s your major?” You have nothing to be ashamed of. Pride yourself on exploring your options. You’re like an academic hipster. Declaring a major your freshman year is too mainstream, anyway.
“
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ON FRIDAY THE 13 STAND ON THE SEAL MILDRED HEDGES:
a GHOSTLY TALE.
STORY: ROBERT LYONS | PHOTOS: BRITTANY REMPE | DESIGN: MEG LEIN
O
n Wednesday, May 8, 1935, Miss Mildred Hedges was laid to rest in her hometown of Scranton, Iowa following an untimely deadly fall. Mildred’s funeral was, at the time, one of the largest ever held in Scranton with over 200 friends and family visiting the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hedges to pay their last respects. Presiding over the services were the local Methodist reverend and Dr. John L. Hillman, the 12th president of Simpson College. Only two days earlier, the well-liked, 22-year-old Mildred had been diligently studying economics, advocating as a member of Simpson’s student council and pursuing involvement with Greek Life. That all changed with a simple misstep that would end with the loss of her life and the birth of a campus legend. Mildred, or as she’s more commonly known, Millie, is the campus ghost who is believed to have haunted College Hall for the last 80 years since her infamous plummet from the stairwell. Many students are familiar with her fall and her haunting ways, but there is more to the story than just the basic facts. On Monday, May 6, Mildred was taking an economics course on the third floor of College Hall, which at that time was known as the Old Chapel. At around 11:55 a.m., Mildred and her classmates were dismissed and were making their way down the stairs. As Mildred descended, witnesses claim to have seen her stumble or trip. Either way, Mildred went over the stair railing in between the third and second floors of the Old Chapel and fell 25 feet to the ground floor. On the way down, Mildred’s leg struck a table on the first floor causing her leg to break. In addition, she was knocked unconscious from serious fractures to her skull. Mildred was rushed to the Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, but at 4:40 p.m., she was pronounced dead. Even yet, the stories of Mildred’s haunting of College
10
Hall did not begin immediately after her death. Instead, other tales of ghostly activity were told and perpetuated by the student body. These ghost stories included accounts of a distraught female student who hung herself from a chandelier in College Hall and another female student who was pushed to her death from the third floor. No factual evidence exists to back up any of these claims, but they do make for gnarly nightly tales. As the years wore on, students started to claim that Mildred could be seen in the third floor window of the College Hall tower. In some cases, she would appear late at night; yet others claimed they had seen her under specific circumstances. According to student lore, Mildred can be seen at midnight either by standing between the college gates on Halloween or standing on the Simpson seal outside of College Hall on Friday the 13th. In 1979, right before College Hall was condemned for structural instability, famed ghost hunters Ed and Lorraine Warren visited Simpson to investigate the supposed paranormal activity on campus. The Warrens were a national phenomenon at the time for their investigations into the Amityville Horror House and their otherworldly “discoveries.” Lorraine, the clairvoyant investigator, and Ed, the theologian, took with them a large group of interested Simpson students and faculty to investigate the Old Chapel overnight. During their time in College Hall, Lorraine spoke with the spirit of a young woman that was later identified as Mildred from Lorraine’s description of what she saw. Ed, on the other hand, felt the presence of “something not of flesh and blood.” Soon after the Warrens’ visit, College Hall was boarded up and abandoned – adding yet another level of creepiness to the ghost stories surrounding it. Amateur ghost hunters and curious students often made forays into the derelict structure and they returned with their tales of Mildred and other spooks. The Legend of Millie only grew as College Hall died. Eventually, College Hall was saved and so were Millie and her legacy. Today, College Hall still stands proudly on campus, while Millie still haunts her tower and even has her own coffee shop in the Kent Campus Center.
3 SIMPSON L
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT If the statistics are correct, over 200 students on campus have a sexually transmitted disease. Chlamydia, gonorrhea “the clap” and syphilis are all You see them around campus, but dotreatment you know forms of bacterial STDs, and with can be their cured. story? Meet a freshman in the Butafor individuals living underclassman, with virus STDs such a as student genital Iowa House, SELF-starting pastor and an internationally herpes and warts, the implications can live on forever – even -experienced captain. Discover the stories behind the faces you see everyday. afterrugby an outbreak has cleared up. According to the center for disease control, one in six people living in the United States have genital herpes. SkinSTORY & PHOTO: DESIGN: to-skin contact during vaginal and anal sex are a large cause, TESSA LENGELING MEG LEIN but this statistic is quickly growing as more people engage in oral sex. _______________ of planned parenthood of greater ost college freshman have no idea des moines says that most people don’t consider oral sex to what they want to do with their lives have side affects, so they don’t use condoms. or what internships they want to Mouth to skin contact can also cause genital herpes if land while in school. But one freshman is not the giver has the HSV-1 virus, which is a cold sore. It’s so estimated that __________________ million adults havelike the rest of the Ramen-eating,worry-free the HSV-1 virus. freshmen at Simpson College. He knows what Genital herpes and other viral STDs have become so he wants out of his college experience and he wildly common, that you cannot assume that you aren’t inknows how to achieve his hefty career goals. fected unless you have never kissed anyone (not even grandma) or you have been tested. You can even have STD and Zach Goodrich, a freshman from Grimes, never know it – most people will never have an outbreak.Iowa, is on the fast track to success. During his With a disease so common and outbreaks short-lived why first year at Simpson he has served as president are people afraid to open up and talk about it? for the class of 2018, chairman of the student Comedians, actors and other media influencers have creorganizations committee with student ated a stigma around STD’s. Take the classic line from The government, president of the Interfraternity Hangover: “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Except Council and competed with the Speech and for herpes – that shit’ll come back with ya.” These jokes and others have created a stigma associatedDebate team, placing third at nationals. with herpes. Fear of being shamed or made fun of often He also became a member of Sigma keeps people with genital herpes from opening up. This could lead to lower self-esteem and a struggle to have ro- Alpha Epsilon, and is involved with College Republicans, KSTM Radio and mantic relationships. Pre-Law Society. While it may be a struggle to accept, To learn more about STDs symptoms, treatment or pre- Goodrich would be busy enough with all he vention, visit plannedparenthood.org. does on campus, but he wanted more. His ambition drove him to pursue a clerkship position with the Iowa House of Representatives at the State Capitol in Des Moines. Though having an internship in his first year of college is impressive, he had already completed internships and made connections, which led to his current position. “I started my senior year in high school through my school’s School-to-Work program with an internship at the Republican Party of Polk County, which led to an internship in the Iowa Senate.” While interning with the Iowa Senate, Goodrich also worked on Matt Whitaker’s U.S. Senate campaign.
M
ZACH GOODRICH
president - class of ‘18
Continue reading, page 32
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LAUREN MYERS
co-founder of SELF
STORY: BRITTANY ROBB | PHOTO: BRITTANY REMPE
I
n today’s high-pressure world, it’s hard to find a college student without a doubt in confidence or body issue concern. Whether it comes from fat shaming, skinny shaming, slut shaming or any of the other crappy labels placed on people, it becomes difficult to overcome the heavy feelings of worthlessness and helplessness. Sophomore Lauren Myers saw this trend of low confidence paired with high anxiety and wanted to do something to help her fellow students suffering through body and self-esteem issues. Together, she and sophomore Kylee Hereid founded the organization Simpson College SELF. “SELF stands for strong, excellent, loving and fearless, and it’s about accepting and embracing all sizes, shapes and types of bodies,” Myers says. “We focus heavily on self-esteem and self-confidence among the Simpson community and just generally promoting positivity all around.” The inspiration behind the organization came from experiences faced both on and off campus. Myers, a Council Bluffs native, had previous experience working with students ranging from elementary children to high school-aged seniors. “In high school I was in Talented and Gifted and started something called Project Beautiful—I wanted to continue that in college because I realized, after you graduate high school, the struggles don’t end,” Myers says. “In high school, I did a lot of activities surrounding quotes and posters and video projects as opposed to support and resources.” Today, Myers is involved across campus. She focuses most of her time on organizations looking to aid and benefit others, including serving as a Wesley Service Scholar and PRIDE member. Aside from her own involvement, she wants to integrate SELF’s work with other organizations on campus in a way that will benefit the publics in and surrounding Simpson College. “We team up a lot with counseling and health services, especially for movie screenings, like the one we did during Eating Disorder Awareness Week,” she says. “We also have done a lot with my sorority, Tri-Delta, and their body image initiatives.” Along with Myers, there are roughly 40 members of Simpson’s community, ranging from students to faculty and staff, involved with SELF and its campus initiatives. The leadership of the organization is composed of founding members Myers and Hereid as well as freshman Shelby Minnmann. Myers majors in philosophy, with minors in women’s and gender studies and exercise science. She is looking to continue her work with mental and physical health and wellness beyond her college years, looking towards graduate school and maybe public office one day.
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Myers says her dream is to enter Congress to work SELF is eating disorders and whether we should have on advancing coverage of various mental and physical some kind of censorship in magazines or videos to tell health needs by insurance companies. people, ‘This isn’t real. It’s Photoshop.’” Aside from serving in public office, she shows Using SELF as a platform to spread awareness, Myers interest working in non-profits looks to continue the organization’s with life coaching, nutrition work across campus by teaming up and wellness education with other clubs to address esteem We should have some initiatives to benefit an and confidence topics as needed. kind of censorship in even wider audience, Fueled by passion, Myers will work magazines or videos to extending beyond school. through SELF to impact as many tell people, ‘This isn’t Simpson students as possible. However, the issue closest real. It’s Photoshop.”’ to Myers’ heart is helping SELF is about so much more those suffering and recovering than just oneself; it’s about - Lauren Myers ‘17 from eating disorders. all of ourselves. Myers explains, “One thing I really like focusing on with
“
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JACOB McLAIN United Methodist Church intern
STORY & PHOTO: BRITTANY REMPE
O
n Sunday mornings, junior Jacob McLain doesn’t sleep in, recovering from the night before. On Sunday mornings, McLain delivers sermons. Through an internship with United Methodist Church in Bloomfield, Iowa, McLain is learning to write and give sermons. He began this internship in August 2014, and has given three sermons since then. McLain has had plenty of practice with public speaking, being a member of the speech and debate team at Simpson College. However, he says preaching is a much different experience. “It’s a totally different beast,” McLain says. “Standing in front of a group of people and talking about something so near to their hearts, it’s intimidating. I get crazy nervous.”
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In an attempt to combat this nervousness, McLain spends large amounts of time preparing. He consults with the head pastor, looks up related scripture and listens to podcasts on the subject of his sermon. “I spend a lot of time in Smokey Row,” he says. “Some people can work for a bit and come back to it, but I just take a few hours and hash it out.” McLain’s life is a balancing act. Not only does he have his internship with United Methodist, he has his schoolwork, debate team, volunteer work and managing Holy Grounds coffee shop, not to mention an active social life. “I lose sleep,” McLain says. “I spend 10-15 hours at the church, so even though I enjoy what I do, I’ve had to pick between some things.” In addition to his normal college life, McLain now has another large opportunity on his plate. Starting at the end of the
semester, he’ll be interning in Israel for the summer. “I’ll be at a research center in Tel Aviv,” he explains. “I’ll be studying the way the Islamic state uses the Crusades in their rhetoric. I expect this to be very eye-opening. Seeing the diversity of having so many religions interacting will be new to me; small-town Iowa has no diversity.” Despite not having hands-on experience with such diversity, McLain values the importance of religious conversation. “I know that the world is a painful place, and a lot of that is due to religion,” he says. “I’m hoping that this internship will help create more meaningful dialogue.” In addition to believing in encouraging and increasing dialogue between the religions, McLain believes in questioning. “Coming to college wrecked my faith,” he says. “My professors were questioning everything. I learned that you don’t have to be certain about your faith.”
“
“
Standing in front of a group of people and talking about something so near to their hearts, it’s intimidating. I get crazy nervous .
McLain believes in the value of questioning your faith. Taking it at face value, he says, keeps it at service level. Delving deeper isn’t easy, but leads to a stronger faith. The realization that certainty and faith do not have to go hand-in-hand is something McLain wants more people to be aware of. “The important thing is to have an open mind and heart,” he says. McLain’s future holds great opportunity for him to spread these ideas. He’s been visiting seminaries for the possibility of becoming a pastor, but is not completely sold on the idea. Depending on how his research in Tel Aviv goes this summer, he is considering joining a master’s program in Islamic studies. No matter what path he chooses, one thing is certain: McLain will spread the openness and awareness needed by the world of religion.
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MARIAH YOUNG captain of women’s rugby STORY: MEG LEIN | PHOTO: BRITTANY REMPE
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s graduation nears, most seniors are scrambling to find jobs, waiting to hear about an acceptance to grad school or applying for research and internship opportunities. Mariah Young from West Burlington, Iowa is riding out her senior year a bit differently. Every afternoon for 90 minutes Young is out on the field, working up a sweat with the women’s rugby football team—a club that she was instrumental in starting this year. In fall 2013, Young studied at the University of Roehampton in London, UK. While abroad, she got involved playing 15 vs. 15-person rugby. It was there she fell in love with the less-than-conventional sport. “I watched my older brother playing rugby at Central College for four years, but it never occurred to me that I could play too,” Young says. “When one of my new friends in London was starting up a women’s campus rugby club I jumped at the chance. Soon, I found myself playing for the school and with the Barnes Rugby Club in London.” When she returned from London she was asked to help get a women’s team going at Simpson. In 2012, Simpson reintroduced men’s rugby and the team had huge success, finishing in the top four at nationals. It only seemed right to give a women’s club a shot as well. “For most it’s a little intimidating to join the club right away. Rugby is an unfamiliar sport and it’s hard to show up to practice on your first day knowing zero rules of the game,” Young says. “What I tell new players, and what the women on the team will tell you, is that you really don’t know anything day one of practice—but we all started there, knowing very little about this new, very physical sport. “It’s like we’re back on the playground, we’re 20-year-old kids new to the monkey bars. You just have to reach out and trust you’ll figure it out as you go. Because of this trust, new players learn a lot very quickly and make huge improvements.” Her last collegiate weekends are playing out differently than imagined; her Saturdays filled with tournaments against rugby teams from across the Midwest. So far this season, Simpson has competed against established women’s rugby clubs including Iowa State and Wayne State from Nebraska. They win some and lose some, but the team has been playing tough and learning a lot. What sets rugby apart from many collegiate sports is the social aspect, as Young explains. “After many games we get together with the opposing team...rugby is about building a community to support the sport. We’ll be physical and competitive out on the field, but 10 minutes later with cleats off and mouth guards removed, Simpson will be sitting together with the girls we just tackled to the dirt eating some pizza.” While the community around the club is a hallmark, there’s no denying the passion and adrenaline required when playing seven-minute halves of constant running and tackling. It’s an all-around physically intense sport.
Continue reading, page 32
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STORY: YOUR NAME HERE
If you are interested in being a part of the ID Magazine staff for advertising, copy editing, design or writing, contact us at idmagazine@simpson.edu! 18
STORY: BRITTANY ROBB & ASHLEY SMITH | ART: ALEXIS YOCUM | DESIGN: ASHLEY SMITH
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Access to birth control helped ignite the first wave of the feminist movement. Nowadays, birth control is so easily accessible it’s hard to see how far women have come to get us here. Through scientific advancements, legislation and court rulings, the topic of women’s sexual health has come to the forefront of American society, but not without controversy. Now that we find ourselves in the second wave of the feminist movement, we need to look back at our progress in order to work on moving forward.
W
hat if, the next time things were getting hot and heavy, the guy had to pause and put an animal’s intestines over his penis? Sounds like a bit of a mood killer, but that was the original design of the male condom circa England in the 1640s. While male-utilized contraceptives made advancements over the span of 400 years, from intestines to linen condoms and finally to the latex or sheepskin options today, it took a bit longer for women to get any help in the form of protective and preventative measures for sex. While there were some attempts at female barriers throughout history, they don’t sound like something most women would find pleasant; women around the world shoved various natural substances into their lady parts hoping to prevent unwanted pregnancies, but they seem uncomfortable to say the lease. Wads of seaweed, vegetable seedpods, chunks of grass and even halves of pomegranates were placed in the woman’s vagina before modern medicine got around to preventative measures for women. Slightly less disgusting, but still pretty gross, options of barrier birth control also existed for women over
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the course of the last five centuries. Two of those options are wetted sponges or various forms of spermicide. Vaginal sponges were a common substance for birth control throughout history, as they could absorb any unwanted fluid entering the vagina before it could reach an egg. Some cultures would recommend wetting the sponge with liquids to “weaken the semen” in case it made its way through the spongey barrier. The French used brandy in the 1600s, while in the early 1900s British birth control proponent Marie Stopes prescribed moistening sponges with olive oil. The majority of early birth control methods for women revolved around behavior as opposed to a product to use. Withdrawal, fertility awareness, lactational options and general abstinence composed most of women’s options leading up to the 20th Century. Natural family planning, as it’s been come to be known, encompasses all of these behavioral contraceptive methods. Withdrawal is pretty self-explanatory; gentlemen, get out while you still can. Fertility awareness was trickier, but probably just as risky, method of non-interventional contraception. Fertility awareness basically meant women would keep track of their menstrual cycle to the point where
they knew the best days to have sex with the lowest risk of pregnancy. There was questionable guarantee of prevention with this method, but even the Catholic church officially condoned this behavioral contraceptive. As for lactational options, women have a form of natural contraception built into their bodies after the birth of a child, at least while breast feeding. While breast milk is being produced, a woman’s hormone levels are at just the right point to prevent ovulation and menstruation for the duration of production. Breast feeding might not sound too enjoyable either, but it’s a cheap form of contraceptive that also benefits the health of a newborn. Win/win, right? Some women and families still utilize the natural family planning methods, but thankfully science has moved past the animal intestines and soggy sponges for barrier protection. Another benefit was the breakthrough creation of hormonal method of birth control, namely the pill. THE HISTORY OF Do you feel THE PILL comfortable The women’s initiating sex? sexual revolution began with the invention of a pill. Yes Margaret 46.59% Sanger, Planned Parenthood’s founder who Somecoined the term times birth control, 31.82 wanted a way to separate No sex from reproduction. 21.59% Therefore, the woman who had championed the benefits of physical love for her entire life sought out scientist Gregory Pincus in 1950 to make it a reality. In the early 1950s, society believed a woman needed to hide her desires, whether professional, sexual or personal and focus on fulfilling her husband’s. For this reason, women would get married as soon as they could, if only to engage in sex in the appropriate way.
What is your sexual orientation?
?
5.43%
94.57%
WE WERE CURIOUS TO KNOW SIMPSON WOMEN’S SEXUAL PREFERENCES. WE SURVEYED 92 SIMPSON WOMEN AND THE RESULTS ARE DISPERSED THROUGHOUT THE ARTICLE.
Before the introduction of the birth-control pill, the only options for birth control were condoms and diaphragms. In order to get a diaphragm, women had to have a doctor’s prescription and those who wanted to have sex out of wedlock were too ashamed to ask. Women who became pregnant out of wedlock would be out of luck, as men didn’t view them as marriage material and abortions were illegal. Women were essentially chained to their bodies and had to decide whether fulfilling their desires was worth the risk. That all changed with Sanger and Pincus. Enovid, the first pill form of birth control, was approved in 1960. It then skyrocketed to become one of the best-selling drugs in the world. Finally, women could be in control of their bodies and thus began the sexual revolution. Thirteen years after the birth-control pill became legal, the United States Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade made abortion legal within the first trimester of pregnancy, thus enacting another way for women to take control of their sexual health. The legalization of abortion diminished the prevalence of black market and coat-hanger abortions, both dangerous and illegal ways of terminating a pregnancy, but there has been opposition of the decision since. The way a person looks at abortion is often tied to the way they decide when a child’s life begins. If a person believes life begins at conception, abortion equates to
Do you groom your pubic hair?
Yes, I shave it all off
Yes, I clean it up by trimming, shaving, etc.
No, I’m all natural down there
37.78%
11.11%
51.11%
How often are you sexually gratified with a partner?
12.35%
100% of the time
40.74%
75% of the time
16.05%
50% of the time
18.52%
12.35%
25% of the time
0% of the time
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How often are you the dominant partner during sexual relations? 50% of the time 38.27%
murder and should be treated as such. If a person believes life begins at birth, abortion is not considered murder and the woman should be able to dictate what happens to her body. Sometimes the question of when life begins is moot and the woman believes she should be able to decide what happens to her body, no matter what.
HOW THE PILL IS USED TODAY Today, 100 million women use the birth-control pill (Planned Parenthood). And since the advent of the birth-control pill, many other forms of birth control, such as the intrauterine device (IUD), vaginal ring, Never 18.52% Do you watch/read porn? birth-control patch and shot, have 75% of the been introduced. time 4.94% Now, sex before marriage is safer and less stigmatized. According to a statement by the Guttmacher Institute in 2014, “increasing proportions of 18-19 year-olds have reported having ever had sex yet fewer of them became Yes, I pregnant. The likely reason is improved contraceptive use and Yes, I use of more effective methods.” watch porn No read erotica According to a survey of 92 Simpson women, 76 percent of 24.44% 66.67% 18.89% them have had sex and 64 percent of the respondents use the birth-control pill. There are still critics of birth control. In a 5-4 ruling in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores (2014), the Supreme Court decided the religiously affiliated corporation didn’t have to pay for four birth-control methods through the Affordable Care Act they deemed as abortifacients, because abortion is against the corporation’s religion. The Roman Catholic church condemns any contraceptives besides family planning methods, but according to the Guttmacher Institute, 98 percent of Catholic women who have ever had sex have used a contraceptive method other than family planning. Obviously, modern views on birth control have surpassed traditional and religious views. Abortion is still a hotly debated topic that hasn’t subsided since the Roe v. Wade decision. Since the decision, there have been court cases targeting the funds used for abortions and the states’ abortion rights but pro-life protesters can still be seen picketing in front of Planned Parenthoods and abortion clinics. As the women’s sexual health debates rage on, their voices are getting louder. The second wave of the feminist movement is in full swing and women won’t stop until their voices are heard. 25% of the time 38.27%
X
Do you masturbate?
Yes 51.16%
No 48.84%
References: *“Timeline: 100 Years of Birth Control.” - *Planned Parenthood Action Center. *Eig, Jonathan. “The Birth of the Pill: How Four Crusaders Reinvented Sex and Launched a Revolution.” *“Roe v. Wade and Its Impact.” Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2015. *“Supplemental Tables on Religion and Contraceptive Use.” Religion and Family Planning Tables. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2015. *“Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.,” 573 U. S. (2014)
use? If you masturbate, what method do you 48.81% Clitoral stimulation
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47.62% I don’t masturbate
13.10%
Vaginal stimulation
7.14% Use of toys
STORY: STEFFI LEE | PHOTOS & DESIGN: MEG LEIN
Junior Dani Musselman, Religious Life Community’s (RLC) chapel intern of mission, spent the 2014-15 academic year spearheading trips across the nation allowing Simpson College students to serve others. Musselman and others who served on these trips said collaborating with Habitat for Humanity, an organization where volunteers build affordable housing for people in need, was eye opening and uplifting. ID Magazine reached out to Musselman and Brian Williams, fellow RLC intern and participant on the spring break trips, to get their insight on the significance of serving others.
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What did Simpson College’s RLC do this year for spring break trips? Musselman – “This year, we sent out five spring break trips and we did all Habitat for Humanity trips. We sent one to Newport, North Carolina, which is where Brian Williams and I went. We sent one out to Lucedale, Mississippi, a trip to Jacksonville, Florida, a trip to Marianna, Florida and a trip to Mobile, Alabama.”
How do you think these spring break trips brought out the meaning of service? Williams – “People serve for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it’s their faith, sometimes it’s the feeling they get when they serve, sometimes it’s that certain communities are being in solidarity with others. It’s a great way to learn about yourself and to learn about others and it’s a great way to spend spring break.”
What was it like immersing yourselves into the projects with Habitat for Humanity? Musselman – “People just like to work with their hands – I think that’s something people just enjoy doing. Students really cherish community and they also loved
meeting the people they were building the house for or that they were upset they didn’t get to. I think that has something to say about the community we have at Simpson, but we want to move that and celebrate that with other people across the country. I think Simpson staff and faculty do a great job at it.”
What did working with Habitat for Humanity teach you specifically about serving others? Williams – “I think anytime we serve, we recognize that there are needs to be met. With Habitat for Humanity, that need is a nice place to live. We can talk about equal rights and we can talk about what people need, but living, shelter, a place to live and just be, that’s so important. That’s just essential. Being able to provide that to someone else and being able to provide that with them is like sharing in humanity. Service, as I have come to discover, is when you match up your passions and gifts with the needs in the world, akin to the Frederick Buechner quote, ‘The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.’ On this trip, I learned the importance of being able to meet and commune with those for which you are serving.”
What’s the importance of serving local communities in America versus SERVING abroad? Musselman – “I think it is important to recognize that there is poverty, homelessness, families that suffer from food insecurity that live in America, including Des Moines. I think that when we go abroad to serve, it can sometimes feel more like a trip, or we might forget that we have local towns and cities in our own country that might need our help and assistance.” Williams – “To put it blatantly, cost. The problem with traveling abroad to serve is that more resources are spent getting folks there than are perhaps worth it. Not that it is wrong to serve abroad, but I find it more resourceful to apply oneself somewhere closer to home – less cost, less time and more impact.”
How did these experiences specifically impact the students who participated on the trips? Musselman – “They develop new relationships with students on campus while being off campus. I went on a trip with a ton of juniors and I barely knew any of them. It was great to get to know more
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Service, as I have come to discover, is when you match up your passions and gifts with the needs in the world.”
- BRIAN WILLIAMS RLC president, ‘15
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people in my grade. I also think that it allows people to meet each other and I think it’s really important we collaborate with international students, so that’s what we did this year. I reserved spots specifically for international students because I knew, more likely than not, international students can’t go home for spring break. I think the traveling aspect is huge because some people have never been out of the state of Iowa or they came to the United States and they haven’t seen much of (it).”
How can students do more to give back to their local communities here in Indianola or Des Moines? Musselman – “I think there are plenty of ways for students to give back to Des Moines and Indianola. One way is to talk to any of the RLC interns. Emma Kain is the chapel intern of justice and service for another year and her internship is specifically created to help students get connected with other organizations in Indianola and Des Moines. One organization in Indianola that I know really gives back to the community is Helping Hand, and that is located just a few feet away from Simpson’s campus. Really, there are many opportunities for students to engage with their local communities. They just have to be listening and willing to give up a few hours of their time.” Williams – “Being able to serve in or near your own community is perhaps the most impactful type of service. If students are looking for service opportunities, both regular and one-time, they can contact Kain for more information.
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The
MRS Degree
noun: refers to a woman who attends college with the sole purpose of finding a well-educated man with a successful future ahead of him. While Simpson doesn’t offer a program catering to how to find that perfect person, several students have found love during their higher education. ID Magazine got in touch with these couples to find out what it’s like to plan a wedding while writing final papers and searching for jobs. Read on to learn about their love stories and how both the women and men have challenged all the stereotypes and redefined the concept of the Mrs. Degree. STORY, PHOTOS & DESIGN: MEG LEIN
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Ryan&Kira On Challenging Societal Standards
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ge is just a number. There is some debate among students about what age is right to settle down and get married. Some students search for “the one” in college, some find it without intentionally looking. Other people argue you should have a career, financial stability and experience other people before you tie yourself down. Seniors Ryan Stewart and Kira Klepel argue that age doesn’t matter – love isn’t contingent on the amount of student-loan debt. “Each person is unique and is ready to marry at different times,” Stewart says. “I went to a wedding where the groom was 50 and the bride was 45. There’s no golden age for marriage. It will work if it’s on God’s timing. For us, it’s now.” The couple explains they place the Lord at the center of their relationship and let Him guide their decisions. While some people are comfortable moving in with boyfriends or girlfriends, Stewart and Klepel are more traditional, waiting until marriage to live together. “The advantages [of marriage] are starting a family and living with your best friend,” Stewart says. “But the biggest advantage is that you are married. Marriage is a good thing. It’s something that should be celebrated.” While the $51 billion American wedding industry is booming, there are still negative connotations and gender stereotypes that society and media have created and placed on the idea of marriage. First, Stewart points out that we live in a self-centered society. “Society says that you need to have your job, your money and your spouse. Kira and I believe that we should selflessly honor God first and honor each other secondly. We’re a team.” In March of 2013, Princeton graduate Susan Patton wrote an op-ed to the Daily
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Princetonian encouraging female students to nab a husband by graduation, or to go after their Mrs. Degree. She writes, “If you spend the first 10 years out of college focused entirely on building your career, when you finally get around to looking for a husband you’ll be in your 30s, competing with women in their 20s. That’s not a competition in which you’re likely to fare well.” Patton warns her Princeton female readers to be wary of their biological clock. For obvious reasons, students and journalists across the country exploded in conversation about the controversial column. Klepel says she has seen this gender stereotype here at Simpson and thinks that even in Indianola, Iowa, there is pressure for women to get married. “Girls often get the idea that ‘I’m going to find the person I marry in college and start a family,’” Klepel says. “This has had a negative impact on girls. The stereotype has made girls believe that if they don’t find their spouse in college, then they have failed.” While women are told they need a man, society preaches the independence of men. “You are taught as a young man that you can have it all,” Stewart says. “You can get the girls, have a job and be single. Society says that men can have bachelor parties just weeks before the wedding and still experience strippers and living it up before they have to throw their freedom away.” Although society says there is something manly about being James Bond, Stewart says that masculinity can be seen through vulnerability and by showing love. “From the beginning of creation, God made man and woman to be together,” he says. “We have this inherent belief to be in a relationship with one another, yet we live in a screwed up world where sin is warping little girls’ minds to believe whatever Barbie says is the norm.” Even though Klepel plans to marry Stewart on Dec. 19, 2015, she’s not after him because of his potential success. She explains that she came to Simpson to pursue a career, potentially in the sociology or psychology field. Finding Stewart was just a plus. Stewart, the jokester in the relationship, says Klepel needs to make lots of money so they can raise their 60 cats and he can afford expensive fishing and hunting gear.
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But in all seriousness, he’s not marrying Klepel for her looks or money. “When I met Kira, I was sitting in Kent and overhearing a conversation that she was having with a friend,” Stewart says. “They were talking about God and his role in a marital relationship. I knew from the way her face lit up in that conversation and seeing her love for God that this woman was worth pursuing. “That specific moment, I saw that this woman who is smoking hot on the outside also has a heart on the inside that is worth pursuing. It’s been so much fun pursuing her throughout the past two and a half years and I’m excited I have the opportunity to chase after her heart for however long I live.”
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Cameron&Sadie
On Planning a Wedding During School
“It’s called the senior scramble.” Senior Sadie Walkner looks at her fiancé Cameron Lunsford with a very confused and concerned expression on her face. “The what?” Lunsford laughs and begins to explain. “The senior scramble is when seniors are looking for a boyfriend or girlfriend that could potentially become their significant other. These last few months will probably be the last time we’ll be living with a couple hundred people of our same age.” Lucky for Walkner, she doesn’t have to participate in her fiancé’s senior scramble theory. She’s already let him steal her heart.
“We met during May Term of our sophomore year when we were playing sand volleyball,” Walkner says. “I asked him to help me move my microwave on move out day and we began dating shortly into the summer.” Within the year, Lunsford knew he had found “the one” and proposed on April 21 – a day before their shared birthday. The proposal consisted of a scavenger hunt around Simpson’s campus and Indianola. At each site, Walkner found a rose and a clue leading to the next location that had significance during their first year of dating. The last clue led Walkner to Centro in downtown Des Moines where Lunsford was waiting. And the rest, as they say, is history. “I think I had a little pressure from my family to meet someone in college,” Walkner says. “My parents, my aunts and uncles, they all met their significant others in school. They would tell me stories of their college days and I felt that it was expected of me.” Finding a husband was not the only thing that has given Walkner a dose of anxiety. Planning the wedding has also been a little hectic. “It’s stressful to think that I already have so much on my plate and I have to worry about timelines for the wedding,” she says. “You have to book a location, a DJ, a caterer. These are things you don’t really think about when you are in the classroom. And on top of everything, the wedding will be in Dubuque and I’m currently here in Indianola.” Although Lunsford has accepted a position with KPMG Accounting in Des Moines for after graduation, he still has many responsibilities on campus. Lunsford is the current president of Enactus – a business and entrepreneurial student organization. The couple helps each other with the wedding planning by splitting responsibility into ceremony and reception duties. A friend is also supporting them with wedding planning services. “The best way we have found to plan a wedding and deal with school is to compartmentalize and keep everything in order,” Walkner says. “School in one box and wedding in another. “I also try to remind myself of priorities. Graduate, get a job and then we’ll go from there.”
Emily&Ray
On Long Distance and Asking the Tough Questions 1,140 miles separate senior Emily Magers from her husband-to-be. The Colorado native met her fiancé Ray Bonilla in high school, but they parted ways after graduation. Magers moved to Iowa and Bonilla went to United States Military Academy at West Point, NY, where is he also a senior. Magers explains they began their relationship as friends in high school, and after their first year of college, they got in touch and decided to begin dating. She can count on two hands the number of times they have been in the same city since high school. “Ray is the soundboard in my life, so it’s difficult not being together physically,” Magers says. “We’re able to talk on the phone for hours every night and we try to Skype once a week.” Although the relationship isn’t necessarily conventional, the distance has created an opportunity for the couple to have serious conversations and ask the hard questions. “We talk about how we’ll approach finances, how we’ll raise children and our expectations for visiting family on the holidays,” Magers says. “The distance has allowed our relationship to not be about lust. We’ve taken it as an opportunity to talk and really get to know each other.” Magers explains that engagement is more than just a time to prepare for a wedding. “The time between dating and marriage is important to celebrate,” she says. “Enjoy the time that you are showing off your ring. Even if you know that your partner is the one, make sure you are still asking some of these harder questions.” These conversations have prepared Magers for the sacrifices she’ll have to make as a future Army wife. “I’m an independent person, so it’ll be weird to host dinner parties. As a military officer, Ray will have to attend promotions and I’ll have to be there by his side, basically just being shown off.” This concept might be foreign to Magers, but she says she’s okay with it because Bonilla understands that she doesn’t want to take on traditional housekeeper roles. She says he will make dinner most nights and they will share cleaning responsibilities. Their relationship will be a joint effort. “Ray and I agree that everything in a marriage should be equal,” she says. “Gender, race, age, nothing should matter. “I believe in true love and I know that Ray is the person I want to be with when I’m old and telling bad jokes. It doesn’t matter that I’m getting married at age 22.”
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“
Just give me the opportunity to talk about rugby and I’ll take it... I play women’s
rugby and I’m . so proud of it. - Mariah Young, ‘15
ZACH GOODRICH president - class of ‘18 CONTINUED FROM PG. 11 This campaign work led to his current full-time position as a Legislative Assistant and Clerk for State Representative Chris Hagenow. Politics is all about who you know and the connections you make. Clerking positions are not easy to come by, meaning Goodrich’s professional network is already in full force as a freshman in college. Goodrich had no intentions to work as a clerk this year, but Rep. Hagenow sought him out specifically. “I am extremely fortunate to work with Rep. Hagenow for several reasons,” Goodrich says. “We share the same viewpoint on most issues; he is a mentor who sees potential in me and is always making sure I am learning and growing as a person. “There is no other representative I’d rather work for. It doesn’t even feel like a job to me because I enjoy what I do so much,” he says. Goodrich is taking on a lot of responsibility at a young age, which can potentially be dangerous. Students who push themselves run a higher risk of getting burnt out early on in their college career. But Goodrich knows this was the right path for him and it shows he is not afraid to take on a challenge. “When an opportunity like this comes along, you can’t turn it down,” Goodrich says. “I’m extremely happy I was offered this position and I strongly believe it was the best possible path for me to take. I enjoy having a full schedule and staying busy with various activities.”
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Goodrich balances school and a full-time job by utilizing the job as internship credit. He receives eight credits for working at the Capitol and takes one class on campus at 8 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday. “Had Simpson not allowed me to work for credit, it would have been difficult to justify taking the job. I would have had to take an entire semester off of school and abandon my campus commitments.” Goodrich has learned a lot during the 2015 Legislative Session. “While I had an idea of how the legislative process operated before, I understand the inner-workings and politics of the game much better now. In addition, I have learned a lot about specific policies and what it takes to be a representative, how to be effective and how to serve your constituents well.” Goodrich says he is extremely grateful for the people in his life who have supported his decision to work full time and go to school. Goodrich would love to have the opportunity to return to the House of Representatives next year and work with Rep. Hagenow again. His future goal is to run for public office some day. Many representatives have served in Goodrich’s position and have been elected at remarkably young ages, some as young as 22. “While it seems bizarre to think about myself running for public office in the next few years, I have been talked to about it and apparently many people I’ve worked with see it as a distinct possibility; all of which is quite humbling and flattering.” Goodrich is gaining invaluable experience outside of the classroom at a young age, especially because he is working with the House Majority Whip. He likes to tell
people, for fans of the Netflix show House of Cards, that Rep. Hagenow refers to himself as Frank Underwood, making Goodrich the Doug Stamper of the Iowa House.
MARIAH YOUNG
captain of women’s rugby
CONTINUED FROM PG. 16 “You have to be fit. You have to be ready. You can’t be the teammate laying on the ground, babying a wound when you get hit,” Young says. “At tournaments you are playing several games throughout the day, your body is constantly being hit from different angles.…” Brutal as it may sound, Young says that the pain is empowering. “I’ll admit it, Sundays when I’m back from a tournament I wear shorts around campus just hoping that people notice and ask about my bruises. Just give me the opportunity to talk about rugby and I’ll take it. Those bruises, they make me feel strong—I play women’s rugby and I’m so proud of it.” Young also plays for the 2015 Iowa Select Side Team, which competes in an annual tournament against several other Midwest teams. If she performs well on this team, more high-level opportunities could open up down the road. So, what are Young’s future plans? “I think I’ll see if this rugby thing works out and maybe I’ll hang out in Iowa for just a bit longer,” Young says. “All I know is that when I turn 50 I can still work at a desk, but I’m not sure if I can still play rugby at that age.”