ID Magazine | Spring 2014

6

things to do this

+

summer

do’s & Don’ts

SPRING 2014

from plain to posh Find out how Erin Gerken ended up on MTV’s reality TV show, Plain Jane

?

How do you stay informed

Discover easy ways to consume and digest what matters to you

at the bar

THE SOCIAL MOVEMENT of the

selfie healthy eats on campus

a note from the EDITOR

of an Oreo wasn’t the best example. But, sometimes it works for me. Sometimes it inspires me to try new things, leap out of my comfort zone and ignore the judgments of others, even if it’s only for a moment.

STAFF WRITERS

This issue of ID Magazine focuses on just that - becoming inspired to do spontaneous things and making positive changes to better yourself, because why not? Why not try a new beer (p.7), why not start your own non-profit company (p.20), why not do something new this summer (p. 4) or why not take a selfie if you’re feeling good that day (p.14)?

W

hen I’m having a hard time making a decision, I sometimes ask myself, ‘Will this matter in ten years?’ Usually, the answer is no. Sometime it’s a maybe, and then through my own personal logic it ends up as a no.

Here’s one example: Should I eat that tenth Oreo? Probably not. But will it matter in ten years? Again, probably not.

So, why not just do it?

Okay, this might not be the most logical philosophy to live by, and maybe the eating

KATE HAYDEN TESSA LENGELING RACHEL PETERSON JULIA WARFIELD MARIAH YOUNG

The mentality of “why not” is how Erin Gerken, our feature article, (p. 26) ended up on an MTV reality show, and spent a week being reminded that it’s important to be young, to be confident, and to live in the moment.

Why not go out on a whim, be inspired, and say yes to those “in the moment” decisions. You never know what could happen.

So, read up, and enjoy.

Megan Quick

DESIGNERS ADRIAN HAWKINS LEIF JEPPSON

PHOTOGRAPHER

Editor-in-Chief

BRITTANY REMPE

SPECIAL THANKS

JOIN OUR TEAM!

Like what you see?

If you are interested in being part of the Simpson Student Media staff for advertising, design, writing or marketing, contact us at idmagazine@simpson.edu!

MARK SIEBERT DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA STUDIES MARIAH YOUNG LIKE US WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/IDMAGSC

FOLLOW US @IDMAGSC Photo Credits

Copyright © 2014 Simpson College. 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.

(cover photo and far right) photo by Brittany Rempe, edited

by Mariah Young; (top left) photo by Jill Clements; (bottom right) photo by Brittany Rempe; (page 5, far right) photo courtesy of the Outside Scoop; (page 6, top) The Garage, Indianola, Iowa; (page 20, bottom left) photo courtesy of Iowa Trail Bombers; (page 24) baby photos courtesy of Alissa and Mandi Deutsch; (page 26-31) smaller photos courtesy of Erin Gerken

TABLE OF

CONTENTS LEISURE FIX Quick & Fun Reads 6 summer must-do’s bar etiquette beer, beer, beer

2 4 6 7

FOOD FOR THOUGHT is grad school for you? the new view on the selfie How to stay informed

11 14 17

SIMPSON SPOTLIGHT iowa trail bombers 20 tulsa with toby 21 Healthy eats 22 life as a twin 24 from plain to posh 26

26 14 Spring 2014

7 1

[QUICK] & [FUN]

DESIGN | LEIF JEPPSON

Lessons From Mom Mother’s Day is right around the corner (Sunday, May 11—put it in your planner now so you don’t forget).

In honor of their special day, we asked some students to share the most important life lessons they learned from their moms. Here are a few of our favorites.

1

“The best lesson I have learned from my mom is her perspective on patience. God has a plan for everything, so stay true to yourself and keep working hard.” | Carlton Moody, junior

2 3

“Unless love is reciprocated, it is not a good relationship.” | Katelyn McKone, junior

“My mom has taught me to always believe in myself and never give up, especially when things get difficult.”

Summer movies

of 2014

must see

4

“Two things. First, that it’s okay to be weak because that just means you’re human. Second, shower daily. No one likes being around someone who is smelly.” | Connor McGinnis, junior

Make time for movies this summer. There are some big films being released, including a number of sequels and remakes. Check out the list below and mark down your must sees.

june 6Th 6Th 12Th 13Th 27Th

2

| Kim Rogers, senior

The Fault In Our Stars Edge of Tomorrow 22 Jump Street How to Train Your Dragon 2

july 18th 25th 25th 26th

Jupiter Ascending Step Up: All In Hercules: The Thracian Wars

August 1st 15th 15th

Guardians of the Galaxy The Giver The Expendables 3

Magic in the Moonlight

Transformers 4: Age of Extinction

ID Magazine

leisure fix

READS FOR ALL Keyboards

Beer Pong Cups

Change out water cups and ping pong balls frequently.

Hang your backpack up on a hook in your room and try to wash your backpack once a week.

Honey is the only food that does not spoil.

Avoid letting laundry sit wet before drying and don’t mix surfaces that hold dirty laundry with clean laundry.

*according to uselessfacts.net

Kite flying is a professional sport in Thailand. *according to uselessfacts.net

Care2 puts it bluntly, telling everyone "there’s poop in your laundry," and it’s true.

There’s about 0.1 gram of fecal matter in every piece of underwear. It doesn’t sound so bad until you consider that, well, it’s poop, no matter how small, and that it adds up to about 100 million E. coli bacteria in every load. In a community washer situation, that’s just downright disturbing.

Elephants are the only mammals that can’t jump.

*according to uselessfacts.net

Spring 2014

Laundry Room

Yes, your trusty backpack is home to plenty of germs.

Think of all the places you set your backpack down: the classroom floor, in the grass, on the bus, bathroom counters, and even locker room benches. And then you likely head to your dorm room and throw your backpack on your bed.

Bad idea.

TIP

Wipe down keyboards before using and wash hands after use.

A college party staple, beer pong is great for spreading good cheer. It’s also amazingly adept at spreading germs. Pingpong balls used in the game are not likely to be cleaned, and even then, will almost certainly hit the floor at some point. That ball ends up in a water cup that after a few rounds is filled with E. coli, salmonella, and pneumonia, bouncing its way right into beer cups.

TIP

TIP

The computer lab seems like a pretty innocuous space, until you realize how many other students who have had their hands on the keyboard and mouse you’re putting your fingertips on. The fact is that you could rub your hands all over a toilet seat and still pick up fewer germs than if you typed your essay on a public computer keyboard.

Backpacks

TIP

Germs

Germs are everywhere. As college students, we live in an even extra germ filled world. According to bestcollegesonline.com, here are a few of the most germ filled places on a college campus.

12 tons

A full head of human hair is strong enough to support 12 tons. *according to uselessfacts.net

3

6

things you

can’t miss this Summer

S

taying around the Indianola/Des Moines area this summer and think there’s nothing to do?

Think again.

Check these six things out and make sure to add them to your summer to-do list.

1 Iowa State Fair Annually attracting more than a million people from all over the world, the Iowa State Fair is one of the largest state fairs in the country, the single largest event in the state of Iowa and one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country. The 11 day event offers all the fried food you could ask for, plus plenty of contests and free entertainment. The fair will run from August 7–17 this year.

2 First Thursdays: Free Outdoor Flicks As a part of the Des Moines Art Center’s Summer on the Hill, catch a free movie on the first Thursday of everymonth. Bring lawn chairs and blankets to the front lawn of the Art Center. Check thedesmoinesartcenter.org for the movies playing.

Story | megan quick Design | Adrian Hawkins 4

ID Magazine

34 National Balloon Classic

Des Moines Farmers Market

There is no better view than in the air. The nine day annual event will be held from July 25–August 2 this year.

Reserve a spot today for a seat in a balloon ride and don’t miss daily competitive flying, fireworks and live music.

Located in the Court Avenue District in Downtown Des Moines, the Market supports nearly 300 vendors and an average of 20,000 visitors each week. It runs every Saturday morning from May– October, rain or shine.

Spring 2014

5

6 Outside Scoop Indianola native and Outside Scoop owner, Joe Doering, will open up the doors for the summer season on May 3rd this year. Support the local business and choose from a variety of flavors. The ice cream is all homemade, mixed up from scratch with real ingredients. Enjoying a scoop is something you won’t regret.

Zoo Brew Spend your Wednesday nights at the Blank Park Zoo experiencing the Zoo Brew.

Enjoy music, food and local brews while checking out the animals. New themes, bands, and drinks are offered each week. The event runs every Wednesday in June, July and August. You must be 21 to attend.

5

Bar

Etiquette Story | julia warfield & rachel peterson Photos | Brittany Rempe Design | Adrian Hawkins

DO

DON’T

1

Tip your bartender.

1

2

Put your drinks on a stranger’s tab.

Know your limits. When you’re talking to a chair, it’s time to go home.

2

3

Get the attention of the bartender and not know your drink order.

Be polite to other bar patrons,

3

4

Don’t be the creep who clears the bar.

Dance. Even if you think you can’t.

4

5

Be patient. Sometimes your drink may take a few minutes.

Be that person. We all know the one who argues, yells and causes a scene.

5

Be obnoxious to get the bartender’s attention.

6

a “tip”

From

Indianola

bartenders...

“Don’t ask the bartender to make you something fruity, and do have your money out and ready when you order,”

Austin Wright, manager of Mojo’s “Don’t wave your money around or tap your drink on the bar to get the bartender’s attention. Do request music and be adventurous with your drinks, ask the bartender for recommendations,”

Jesse Forbes, manager of the Zoo

ID Magazine

Beer, Beer, BeER

Story | julia warfield & rachel peterson Photos | Brittany Rempe Design | Adrian Hawkins

B

eer is an old friend, dating back to before human history was even recorded. Beer has become a staple at any party or campfire and a drink of choice for many, adults and college students alike. As far as choice of beer style and taste, the options are endless and it’s all an individual preference. Turn to learn more abou the different styles of your favorite brewskis.

Spring 2014

7

get to know your {Lager vs. Ale} T

hese are two main branches of beer. The branch corresponds to the type of yeast and temperature used to ferment the beer.

Lagers are a relatively modern creation, traditionally fermented at a cooler temperature. They are brewed with bottom fermenting yeast. Lagers generally include lighter tasting beers, tend to be highly carbonated or crisp, tend to be smooth and mellow, have a subtle, clean, balanced taste and aroma and are served fairly cool.

Ales are the older, distinguished, traditional brews of the world, traditionally fermented at a warmer temperature. This category of beer uses yeast that ferments at the “top” of the fermentation vessel.

Ales generally tend to be fruity and aromatic, include more strong, bitter and robust-tasting beers, have a pronounced, complex taste and aroma and are enjoyed at a warmer temperature.

Lagers

Ales

1.Pilsner:

Pilsner is the authentic beer from the Czech Republic that many American brand-name beers aspire to be: an aromatic, subtly malty, crisp, and refreshingly bitter (hoppy) lager. Pilsner beers do a good job cutting through spiciness and are also paired great with fried food.

3. Pale Ale: IPA-India Pale Ale has an increased amount of hops compared to a pale ale. They add more malt to counteract the elevated bitterness of the hops.

More malt also means more sugar, which means a higher alcohol level. Pairs nicely with spicy food.

2. Light Lager: They differ from

4.Amber Ale: Amber ales are based

brand to brand but they’re, for the most part, identical in taste and strength (about 4 to 5 percent alcohol by volume). They’re light-colored, gassy, and watery, with a delicate sweetness and an adjunct (corn or rice is the adjunct grain mixed with the barley) aroma and flavor. Primarily thirst quenchers, they’re designed to be served very cold. Pair well with salads and lighter fare, as well as seafood.

on a pale ale, but has a more highly roasted malt. It is amber in color, which gives it its name. They are sweeter and pair well with seafood.

5. Brown Ale: Brown Ales are sweet, malty beers with low hop biterness.

You can also taste roasted nutty flavors in these beers. Sausages, pork, barbecue, and ribs are a perfect match for these.

Between the two categories, there are multiple different types. Read on to learn about a few.

1 8

2

3

4 ID Magazine

B

Beer!

6.Porter:

Porters have a deep roasty flavor to them, and typically have more moth feel than Stouts. They pair up nicely with grilled meats, smoked and baked hams.

Can You

Match...

Each brand of beer to their correct beer type below?

Samuel Adams New Belgium Corona New Castle Black Butte Heineken

Spring 2014

IPA

Wheat Beer

Light Lager

Pale Ale

Stout

You are trying to forget who you used to be. Embrace the new you with every frothy sip. Examples: Mendocino Red Tail Ale, New Belgium Fat Tire, Samuel Adams Boston Ale.

You enjoy things au natural. In fact, you might be naked as you read this.

Examples: Hannah Bavarian Wheat, Summer Shandy, Boulevard, Sierra Nevada.

You embrace the fads before they become too cool. You support local, not global. Examples: St. Ambroise Pale Ale, Stone Pale Ale, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

You constantly embrace change and look for ways to improve yourself. Examples: Samuel Adams Rebel IPA, Bell’s Two Hearted Ale, Goose Island.

You have a lot of guilt stored up and your best days are behind you. Examples: Bud Light, Coors Light, Amstel Light, Busch Light.

You’ve grown thick skin, and could probably battle smaller species of bears. Examples: Guiness Draught, Murphy’s Irish Stout, Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout.

What Your Beer Says About

6

You

Answer key: 1. Corona 2. Heineken 3. Samuel Adams Rebel IPA 4. New Belgium Fat Tire 5. New Castle 6. Black Butte Porter

5

Amber Ale

9

Meet a

Beer

Enthusiast Q: First off, how did you get

Q: What is it that you like

into brewing beer?

about brewing?

A: It is a family affair, a couple people in my family have doing it, especially more in the last four years. My brother is very big into brewing his own beer.

He kind of got me hooked.

Q: What is the brewing pro-

cess?

A: The main thing about brewing is you have to be very sterile, because all the microorganisms that can get into it. That’s the most challenging part, keeping everything clean and sanitized. First, you get your hops (gives beer flavor and aroma), and boil water and then put your hops in. They have so many different types of hops, so what you use depends on the kind of beer you are making. Next, you take the hops out and then you put in your malt extract. Then you add in your yeast. After that, you put it all into two five-gallon buckets and then you let it ferment for six weeks or so. Once the process is over, you bottle it and mix in a little sugar which helps with the carbonation. Last, you cap it and let it sit for another three weeks or so.

One batch makes about 40-50 12 oz. bottles. You have to do it a few times to get the hang of it.

10

A

ndy Hutchins, a junior, is a beer enthusiast.

Not only does he love his beer-he even brews his own. Hutchins shared a few tips for all the other beer lovers and aspiring brewers.

A: I like the scientific part about it, just mixing and creating your own beer. I think it’s fun to do. The whole process is exciting.

Q: What is the difference

between light and dark beer?

A: Light beer usually has less hops in there and it’s a lighter color too. Most of the light beer has a less percentage of alcohol than your darker ones.

Q: What are your favorite

kinds of beer?

A: My favorite dark beer is Spotted Cow, it’s only made in Wisconsin.

My favorite light beer is Capital Gold from Confluence Brewing Company, and my favorite domestic is Dos Equis. I would say I like beer that’s a little more on the darker side.

ID Magazine

IS

Graduate

Schoolfor you?

food for thought

?

?

$

Story | Julia Warfield Design | Adrian Hawkins

Many students contemplate their options for after graduation—should I move home? Where should I work?

Should I go to graduate school?

G

unique situation when applying to grad schools, but following some of these tips might make the process a little easier.

We sat down with members of the Simpson community to tackle some of the difficult questions surrounding graduate school. Each student has a

Director of Career Services Jennifer del Pino, 2012 Simpson grad Hannah Landgraf and Assistant Director of Student Activities and recent grad school graduate, Kristen Wyse, offer their advice and opinions on all things grad school.

raduate school can seem like a scary option and students might not know the appropriate way to approach applications, study for the GRE or pick the right program.

Spring 2014

11

ADVICE FOR

Q: Why did you

STUDENTS

A: In part, I attended graduate school because I believed it was the next best step for my desired career.

I also had a deep love for studying religion academically and wanted to continue reading, thinking and writing about many of the things my undergraduate career introduced me to. After a year in my program my initial thoughts about future career choice started to shift.

Thankfully that passion and love stayed with me and allowed me to be open about the way the program could continue to shape and prepare me for life after graduate school.

decide to attend graduate school?

GOING TO GRAD SCHOOL

1. Decide on what’s important to you: the prestige of the program, location, size of school, etc. | Wyse

2. Keep an open mind and use interviews as a way to really guide where the right place for you is. | Wyse

Q: As an undergrad, how did you prepare

3. Make sure you are applying to graduate school

for graduate school?

for the right reasons. | Landgraf

4. Make sure you know why you are going and put in the appropriate research to make sure this really is the next best step, don’t go just because you aren’t sure what to do next or because you want to put off the post-college job search. | Landgraf financially, and often emotionally - don’t make the decision lightly. | Landgraf

2012 Simpson grad, Hannah Landgraf, is now studying theology at Emory University. Landgraf made the decision to further her degree at graduate school for several reasons.

Assistant Director of Student Activities at Simpson, Kristen Wyse, completed her graduate degree at Western Illinois University in College Personnel.

12

HANNAH LANDGRAF

5. Graduate school is a commitment - socially,

A: I took advantage of everything Simpson offered—internships, volunteer opportunities, study abroad trips and joined extracurricular organizations. I talked with professors and connected with alumni who could give me advice about the specific graduate program I was interested in. I also took classes that challenged me. While some of the things I did may not have explicitly prepared me for my course of study, they did help me develop leadership and communication skills - skills I used in the actual application process (most of my applications required personal essays and writing samples) and skills that have made the transition between undergraduate and graduate school much smoother.

Q: So far, what has been your favorite experience of grad school?

A: The diversity. I moved from small town Iowa to big city Georgia and entered a program with students from all different walks of life. The compilation of students of different ages, ethnicities, world views and backgrounds have made for a really fruitful classroom experience.

ID Magazine

Q: Why should

students consider grad school?

Benefits Of Going To Grad

A: For certain fields,

of course, it is really important to go to grad school. There is just nothing there if you don’t go to grad school.

In science and medical fields, engineering, psychology and sometimes sociology, it’s usually required. It all really depends on what you want to do with your undergraduate degree.

School After College 1. You don’t have to re-acclimate to the academic climate. | Landgraf

2. As a younger student you have fewer commitments.

You often have the freedom to move to a new city without thinking about up-rooting a family or leaving a community you have invested in. | Landgraf

Q: What are the best ways students can

3. For me, I knew that if I did not attend graduate

prepare for grad school?

A: Keep your grades up, that is the first

school immediately after college, I would never go. | Wyse

thing grad schools look at. I suggest taking a course for an admissions exam like the GRE. Perfect your writing skills. A quality, well-written personal statement is just as important as grades. That shows them your writing and communication skills, but it also shows them your maturity and your ability to do graduate work. Also, many grad schools now require an interview and that is the time where you should go prepared with questions to get to know the school and different programs.

4. I think grad school provides recent college graduates the opportunity to specialize in a topic that they really love. | Wyse

5. Though it was challenging, I think grad school

provided a good bridge into the workplace. | Wyse

Q: What do you think students learn about themselves?

A: I think that it is a really crucial time to

Q: Should I take a year off ?

A: Each individual should judge that for

themselves. Many people say if I don’t go now, I will never go back. It does get more difficult as the years go by to get back into that mode. Sometimes it is a financial decision. You might have debt from undergrad that you can’t keep adding to and want to start making money to pay some loans back.

Spring 2014

JENNIFER del PINO

find your niche and it is also a crucial time just naturally with your age. Experiencing something different where the demands are different from college is important to mature as a young adult. It’s incredible what growth happens in those two or three years.

Jennifer del Pino is the director of career services, a helpful resource for all students.

How To Find Grad Schools •Use resources online and on the career services website such as ONET OnLine, where you can search careers and find graduate school information.

•Usnews.com/education is a site where you can find ranking of graduate schools.

•Petersons.com and gradschools.com are also good resources to check out for all sorts of grad school help.

13

the new view on the

#SELFI Story | Mariah YOung Design | Adrian Hawkins

14

ID Magazine

On Jan. 27, 2011, “#selfie” was born.

J

ust over three years later, there are more than 75 million Instagram photos tagged #selfie and a National #Selfie Portrait Gallery. Furthermore, Oxford Dictionary crowned "selfie" its 2013 Word of the Year after being officially added in August.

IE

Whether it’s from Ellen’s star-studded selfie at the Academy Awards or for the epic #SelfieOlympics, this word has become a social movement.

So let’s move past the annoying thirteen years olds clogging up Instagram, and dig deeper. Its social media spotlight focused a lot of hatred toward selfies. Some critics cry narcissism, others complain about duckface and cringe at the inappropriate places some people feel compelled to take selfies (okay, that one's valid).

As people explore the limits and extraordinary possibilities of selfies every day, it's time to realize those single-subject pics won't be going anywhere anytime soon. #Sorrynotsorry, selfie haters.

Selfies have been around for ages.

Nope, think way before MySpace default photos and its characteristic angles. Before the camera self-timer. Before cameras. Here’s a bit of history.

In the 15th century, self-portraiture allowed artists to control the images and versions of themselves the public saw. During the Renaissance, commissioned portraiture was standard practice among the era's elites, a status symbol.

Spring 2014

Today, people carry high-definition cameras in their pockets, making it possible to snap photos of themselves whenever, wherever. The selfie barrier to entry is no longer the wealth, time and privilege of a French monarch. The selfie game is close to a level playing field, so go out and play, Marie Antoinette.

Remember your high school English teacher's favorite essay critique, "show not tell?" That's what selfies do.

In lieu of a boring status update about your delicious dinner, share a photo of yourself staring lovingly at your pizza, sitting next to your best friend at your favorite pizzeria in town. This selfie communicates so much more than a status could: what you look like, your expression, who you're with, where you are.

Mike Rugnetta, host of PBS Idea Channel on YouTube, believes the act of sharing a selfie on social media adds to the meaning of the photo itself, for example, how you might've looked snapping it in IRL, and why you chose to share the photo.

The selfie becomes a speech act, which sets it apart from the standard definition of photography. This shift in meaning is what selfie-haters are overlooking. The selfie provides more insight into my life and personality than a photo of my pizza could ever convey.

People actually "like" selfies.

Contrary to complaints, your followers want to see you on social media.

In the ever-expanding digital space, a human face is a break in a constant stream of links, text and graphics. Social media becomes more interesting when people insert themselves in it, as Rugnetta says.

15

“Imperfection is okay. It’s okay to not look or feel pretty” It reinforces the “social” in social media.

In James Franco’s New York Times pro-selfie opinion piece, he admits he judges people who don’t embrace the opportunity to share who they are.

“I am actually turned off when I look at an account and don’t see any selfies, because I want to know whom I’m dealing with. In our age of social networking, the selfie is the new way to look someone right in the eye and say, ‘Hello, this is me.’”

Franco adds that his stats support his stance: His most-liked Instagram photos are selfies. (Though, given the majority of his photos are selfies, that analysis might not seem credible.)

However, my own unofficial and unscientific research supports Franco’s theory. After shedding my skepticism, I shared my first selfie in September after getting a new pair of eyeglasses. It’s still my most-liked Instagram photo.

Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend is another vocal supporter of selfies. He tells Rolling Stone, “I’m definitely pro-selfie. I think that anybody who’s anti-selfie is really just a hater. Because, truthfully, why shouldn’t people take pictures of themselves?

When I’m on Instagram and I see that somebody took a picture of themselves, I’m like, ‘Thank you.’

I don’t need to see a picture of the sky, the trees, plants. There’s only one you.”

Damn, you look good.

The selfie is breaking down the barriers of what it means to be beautiful. The media’s narrow definition of beauty is being challenged by people who don’t fit that mold. We’re constantly encountering images of people of all shapes, sizes, skin colors and gender identities — and they look amazing.

herself in her underwear. The move caused a media firestorm, because the pop star didn’t look as fit and toned as they were used to seeing (though she still looked far from heavy). Journalist Ann Friedman called Lady Gaga’s selfies “powerful” in her New York Magazine column. Why? “They’re poorly lit; they’re self-staged. Not only is there no airbrushing, but there’s no flattering lighting, no strategic body positions. They underscore the message of her accompanying words. They say, Here’s me. Just me.”

The “here’s me” message is key to the selfie’s greatness. Everyday folks don’t have the option to hire a PR team and schedule photo shoots — we have to DIY it. Selfies are our way of putting out the version of ourselves we want the world to see.

Whether it’s a mass Snapchat where you contort your face so you have six chins and a wonky eyebrow, or a flatteringly filtered Instagram shot where you nailed the cat-eyeliner and red lipstick combo. You’re in control.

In January Dove released a short film, Selfie, which asked high school girls and their mothers to take selfies to learn what is beautiful about each other, and combat their insecurities.

Of course, the girls were initially hesitant — putting yourself out there can be terrifying, especially when you’re afraid you don’t measure up to many of society’s impossible expectations.

The girls and mothers learned they’re much too hard on themselves; they are beautiful.

“Did the world combust into a million little pieces because I put a selfie out there?” asked one girl. “Nuh-uh, I’m still here, so it’s all good, it’s all good.”

“Imperfection is okay. It’s okay to not look or feel pretty, because looking and feeling pretty isn’t the most important thing about you,” she says. “Believe it or not, you’re not obligated to look like a sexy hot sizzling sex bomb all the time (or ever, really).”

Sharing a smiling selfie when you’re not all dolled up can be even more powerful; it’s a more obvious challenge to society’s beauty standard. It can be a major boost to your confidence when you realize you look just as great without all the makeup the media’s trying to sell you.

Even celebrities fall short of media’s demands.

In September 2012, Lady Gaga posted photos of

16

ID Magazine

BREAKING

NEWS : How To Stay Informed

Story | Kate Hayden Photos | Megan Quick Design | Adrian Hawkins

“Information please.”

R

ecognize the phrase?

Probably not. While parents, grandparents and greatgrandparents can tell you about the days of directory assistance from telephone operators, all you have to do is type a name into Google to receive a person or company’s phone number, email address and Twitter account. And possibly a fax number, but even that’s not necessary anymore.

With evolving communication methods (an ID Fall 2013 survey found 92 percent of Simpson students own a smartphone), it’s only natural that the way we receive and digest our news is changing and challenging our ability to keep up.

Junior Connor Johnson interns at Senator Chuck Grassley’s office in Des Moines

Spring 2014

and depends on the news to keep office callers informed.

“I’ve got to know what he’s up to out in Washington to help people in Des Moines,” Johnson said. “I try to read the news everyday, making sure I search for what Grassley’s doing.” Johnson estimates that most of his news comes from online or mobile app sources.

“I’m checking my New York Times app every half hour, and every couple hours,” Johnson said. Finding what works for you is key in maintaining awareness and staying informed.

“It’s important to know what’s happening not only in your home state but around the world,” Johnson said. “Whether or not it impacts you directly, it impacts you indirectly.”

17

48% Social Media

Where do you get most of your news from?

18% Website or blogs 13% TV/Radio 7%

Newspapers/ Magazines

Email

HOW

OFTEN DO YOU CHECK MEDIA FOR NEWS?

48%

21% I receive

I check at least once a day

regular updates via my computer/mobile device

17% I don’t regularly check for news updates

N e w s l e t t e r s

Google Alerts is a more personalized route.

You get to set a search query for whatever you’re most interested in – golf, Iowa farming, rap music, the federal budget, whatever - and then set how often in a day alerts arrive and what quality results you want to be alerted of.

1

Their concept is simple: We read. You Skimm. theSkimm is a daily email newsletter that breaks national and international news down into plain-text, unbiased, clear and fun explanations. They tell you the critical information to know, in an appealing way that anyone can understand.

2

Know what’s happening with the federal budget and how decisions in Washington D.C. affect you and your community with activist sites like the National Priorities Project, nationalpriorities.org. The site is dedicated to making complex federal budget information transparent and accessible with weekly updates.

18

3 ID Magazine

What kinds of news do you prefer to receive?

59%

Receiving

Local/ state news

NEWS on

Campus

(a survey conducted out of 100 students)

When Google Reader shut down it left thousands scrambling for another way to compile their favorite blogs and media sources. Feedly stepped up, and people haven’t looked back It’s hard to get away from the Onion-style satire ‘news’ articles that pop up. Try Facebook’s Follow feature. It has the ability to be very handy or very spammy – be warned

since. For a free app, the photo-centric, mag-

Pocket seems relatively new to people, but it’s

azine-style layout is lovely and the interface is

proving its usefulness. Most news apps have

incredibly easy to use. Sort who you follow into

a bookmark for later featured programmed

lists to keep your interests separate.

bookmarks into one neat folder or series of

that anything you Like will hit your feed constantly. So spare Facebook Likes for

in – Pocket one-ups that by collecting all your

Feedly

folders, depending on how organized you want to be. It’s ideal to keep track of save-for-later

more localized news and events.

articles from multiple feed sources.

Pocket

Facebook

Twitter

Statisticbrain.com says Twitter records 9,100 tweets per second, so make the most out of your daily addiction by building separate news lists on Twitter. That way you can keep your celebrity fix and World Politics current events separate.

Spring 2014

5 Best

Newsy Mobile Apps

for Students

BuzzFeed

Buzzfeed is basically geared to college student interests, and their app retains the site’s iconic tabloid-style while delivering fairly good quality updates on everything to politics, LQBT rights, DIY trends and viral cat videos. You can specify what types of news you want more of (or less of) to customize what you see.

19

Stephen Schmidt

STORY | MEGAN QUICK PHOTOS | BRITTANY REMPE DESIGN | LEIF JEPPSON

iowa trail bombers “I would love to change the sport of mountain biking in central Iowa and bring it to the intercollegiat e level, and see developed high

A

ll he needed was a passion, an idea and a few believers.

With that, junior Stephen Schmidt started his own non-profit company, Iowa Trail Bombers.

With the help of a few good people, they’re now making his vision a reality.

“Our mission is to raise money to build mountain bike trails and start programs to get kids involved in biking as well,” Schmidt said.

The idea came from a combination of the two different worlds Schmidt grew up in-biking and Boy Scouts.

“My family has always been really huge into cycling. Every family trip we did something with biking and we always had the bikes with us,” Schmidt said. “I have eight bikes total. I love being outside, and you get so much freedom when you’re on a mountain bike.”

Two years ago, Schmidt visited the Boy Scout camp he grew up at, Camp Mitigwa. After learning that there’s a lack of boys interested in

school mountain bike teams throughout the area,” summer camps and being outside, he suggested they build a mountain bike trail. One thing led to another, and Iowa Trail Bombers began.

Camp Mitigwa is about a half hour north of Indianola, near Boone, IA, and hasn’t been updated in 50 years. They worked with the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) in the Fall to put together a trail plan.

They have it mapped out to build 30 miles of track, which is the most you’ll find anywhere in the close Mid West area. They could potentially build over 100 miles of single track from this one sight, as there is public land around it.

They’re hoping to break ground spring of 2015.

“What was really cool about working with the Boy Scouts is that they really want to open it up to the public as well, because it will help promote the camp and hopefully bring in more boys,” Schmidt said. Camp Mitigwa is a non-profit that lets other non-profits use their facilities for free.

Along the way, Schmidt has gained help from numerous other companies and individuals, like Rassmussen Bike Shop, who was the first company to believe in the idea and help spread the word, and Scheels West Des Moines, who gave a $10,000 check for a title sponsorship.

Of course his Board of Directors

20

also contributed, which is made up of six adults.

“I wouldn’t have been able to make this a thing if it wouldn’t have been for my board of directors,” Schmidt said. “I have some very successful entrepreneurs, Des Moines business people, as well as some professional fundraisers.

They’re all extremely avid cyclists and they have helped build those connections for me so I can make it a possibility.”

Now, the next step is to promote and raise money.

“We are starting our fundraising campaign this summer, and that is a goal of 1.2 million dollars to raise for the actual construction of the trails,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt wants the camp to eventually become a destination ride center, where anyone can spend time mountain biking and rent out cabins to help bring in tourism money, as well as help the camp and the sport of the cycling.

“I would love to change the sport of mountain biking in central Iowa and bring it to the intercollegiate level, and see developed high school mountain bike teams throughout the area,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt it also looking to put together a bike stable at the camp, by having local bike shops donate bikes each year. Then, kids can come learn about bike maintenance and how to ride the trails.

ID Magazine

Simpson SPotlight

Angela De La Riva

“I take a lot of pride in it. I think it’s really cool that I can still be competitive. If I win, I want it to be my work, my trainer didn’t do it. My mom didn’t do it. My parents didn’t pay lots of money for this to happen.”

“H

onestly, after Horsemanship, I was like ‘maybe we should just go home.’ We didn't’ have a bad pattern, but I cued him [Toby] wrong one time because I was super nervous.”

These were freshman Angela De La Riva’s thoughts after she finished showing in the Horsemanship round [judged on hitting cones and marks] in the Color Breed Congress in Tulsa, OK this past November.

With a push from her mom, she continued on and competed in her second and final class, Western Pleasure [judged on movement].

“We had a decent ride. I’m really critical, so I didn’t think it was that great right after, even though my mom was on the rail telling me it was really good,” Del La Riva said.

Her mom was right. De La Riva ended up placing 6th in her class of 26.

The Color Breed Congress is a national level show, the biggest show De La Riva has ever competed in so far. That is until June, when she’ll make her way back to Tulsa for the Pinto World Show to compete in Western Pleasure, a show she qualified for by placing so well in November.

To make her 6th place finish even better, De Le Riva was the only person in the class who wasn’t a professional trainer or a trainer’s kid, something

tulsa with toby she prides herself on.

of money for this to happen.”

She doesn’t have a team helping her, and no one else rides her horses to get them ready; her horses are trained and shown all on her own.

Training usually takes about two or three years, starting off with lots of handling and getting the horse comfortable to people, their rider and different situations.

Horse shows are very political, everyone knows certain people and their trainers,” De La Riva said. “So when you come in and people have never heard of you and you say you don’t have a trainer, they kind of write you off and assume you’re no good.”

This can be challenging going into shows, but De La Riva tries to remind herself that she does have a good horse, and she can compete with everyone else.

Photo by Jenn Hindman

Spring 2014

“I take a lot of pride in it.

I think it’s really cool that I can still be competitive,” De La Riva said. “If I win, I want it to be my work, my trainer didn’t do it. My mom didn’t do it.

My parents didn’t pay lots

She started riding horses at age five and four years later, she moved from Chicago to the farm they live on now in Ellsworth, IA. Right now, De La Riva has two horses, Toby and Dixie.

Her mom grew up with horses and has been a big help along the way. The riding clinics De La Riva went through in 4-H were also an influence.

“The people who taught those, in my county, were really good and they really gave me attention,” De La Riva said. “They were awesome, without them I probably would not be where I am today.”

She competes in around 10-15 various shows per summer, usually around central Iowa.

“It’s lot of perseverance, pushing past the negative opinions and not giving up, when theres are so many opportunities to,” De La Riva said.

“But, seeing all the hard work you put into something and then accomplishing something really big-that’s the fun part.”

21

Healthy

eats

on Campus STORY | RACHEL PETERSON PHOTOS | MEGAN QUICK DESIGN | ADRIAN HAWKINS

Eating like crap in college is easy.

We’re all guilty of it of at some point or another.

It’s so easy to sink into bad eating habits, and grab one more serving of pasta in the buffet style set-up of Pfeiffer, heat up that pizza after a few too many drinks, or throw that cookie in your bag at ABP, because hey, it comes with the board meal.

Luckily, Simpson does offer some relief with various healthy options. You just have to be wiling to look past the glazed pastries.

“Chartwells has a dining committee that meets to discuss the student body’s thoughts and concerns regarding food on campus. We have made a lot of positive changes to not only Pfeiffer’s menu, but also Kent’s menu,” Director of Catering Kathleen McHale said.

Junior Anna Sherry, an exercise science major, offered some tips for navigating the confusing world of college food. At Pfeiffer, she suggests going for the salad bar and loading up on vegetables.

“Try and make your plate colorful. Fill it with a least half veggies and fruit. Take advantage of the salad bar. You don’t always have to get a salad, but you can grab veggies from it,” Sherry said.

McHale added, “having different colored fruits and veggies is satisfying to the eye, and it won’t cause the body to reach for other foods to round out their meal.”

Beware of the toppings that make these leafy greens tasty. Calories and fat in dressings such as ranch can make up 23 percent of the fat you should consume in one day. The balsamic vinaigrette is one of the best options, offering flavor but containing less fat. The same goes for the vegetable cups at ABP. Ranch dressing

22

accompanies celery and carrot sticks, and heaping portions of the dressing will outweigh the benefit of the veggies. If you must dip, do it sparingly.

Though sandwich options are set at ABP, Sherry said students can personalize the meal to maximize the health benefits.

“I always add tomatoes to everything to get the veggies. Ideally I eat half the sandwich and save the rest for later. The meat on the sandwich is too much for the serving size, so I take some of that off,” Sherry said. “Most importantly, I always get fruit instead of a cookie.”

Dining at Kent and Pfeiffer includes calorie counts for meal options. Sherry cautions against choosing meals based solely on this information.

“The calorie count can be misleading because people don’t know how to read it. Nutrients are more important than calories. Don’t make your decisions just off of calorie counts,” she said.

Think healthy fats, fiber and low sodium. Stay away from sugar. And, don’t forget those liquid calories. The sweet taste of juice that everyone loves comes with plenty of preservatives and sugar. A greasy burger, fries and a large pop from Tyler’s may be the ultimate cure on a Sunday morning, but save yourself the regret and opt for the veggie wrap instead. Beans, peppers, lettuce, onions and tomatoes make this a fiber filled alternative.

Stress, busy schedules, less parental guidance and sometimes laziness allows for food choices to slide from consciously healthy to eating pure sugar for every meal.

“Making healthy choices now will help you make healthy choices your whole life. It’s far more than being fat or skinny; it has so much to do with your body and how much you function,” Sherry said.

ID Magazine

Eat this:

Not this:

veggie burger and burger and fries basket baked chips from Tyler’s from ABP

FOOD SWAPS When you want a bite of a burger: When you want to spice up those leafy greens:

Eat this:

Not this:

salad with balsamic vinaigrette, olive oil, or lemon juice

salad with cesar or ranch dressing (even the lite version!)

When the sweet tooth cravings kick in:

Eat this:

Not this:

fresh fruit cups from red mango

frozen yogurt with all the candy toppings

Spring 2014

23

Tw

Life as a

STORY | Tessa Lengeling DESIGn | Megan quick Photos | megan quick

While sharing everything from clothes to rooms to friends may get old every once in a while, the unbreakable bond between the two seniors doesn't.

24

ID Magazine

Twin M

andi and Alissa Deutsch have been attached at the hip for as long as they can remember, going through every life change side by side, including the transition to college.

When it came down to it, Alissa was to choose the college she wanted to go to and Mandi decided she would tag along. Alissa was worried, not wanting Mandi to complain when she didn’t like the college choice. After three and a half years, it is safe to say Alissa made a good choice for the both of them.

Before this, the twins never thought they would attend college together. They always thought they would go their separate ways and see what happened.

“Our personalities might have come out more if we were at different colleges,” Mandi said. “We rely on each other a lot here because we have the opportunity to do so. It would have been interesting to see how we would have developed into adults without the other by our side.”

Looking back on their experience, the twins wonder how going to separate schools would have changed their lives and relationship.

“I think we would have ended up visiting each other’s college a lot anyway,” Alissa said. “We are used to being together so it would have been a hard transition.”

They can think of the what ifs, but in the end there are no regrets.

“I wouldn’t change our decision at all,” Mandi said. “I am so glad to have had my sister there with me during a big change in life like moving away to college. It was helpful to have that person I trusted there during a scary time.”

They share everything, except personality traits.

“Alissa is the mom. She’s the responsible one, while I’m not really like that at all,” Mandi said.

“Mandi is more outgoing, but I think as I get older I’m getting better. We balance each

Spring 2014

other out. What one doesn’t have, the other does and vice versa,” Alissa said.

But, they do have their looks in common.

“When we were younger it was much harder to tell us apart, we can’t even do it looking back.

But as we got older we didn’t get mistaken as much as we used to,” both girls said. “When we first came to Simpson we would have professors from the other twin’s class come up and start talking to us. It was weird to us because back home everyone knew there were twins around, but we were new at Simpson so we had to get accustomed to that. By now professors and our friends recognize us from the other.”

The sharing doesn’t stop with just the same college; the girls have always been roommates three out of their four years here at Simpson.

“Having someone watch over you all the time, knowing what you’re doing, and telling you whether they think you should be doing it or not is a good and bad thing,” the twins said. “It makes us think before we act, but can also be a reason to cause tension.”

That tension soon goes away. They’re are used to living together, from growing up, they can get in a fight and make up right away after. This doesn’t always happen with roommates that aren’t your sister. As twins, they’re accustomed to each other’s quirks and living habits, and know how each other ticks.

With graduation approaching, another big change is coming for the twins. So does this mean a separation? Of course not. The twins plan to live together after graduation as well.

Alissa is an accounting major, while Mandi is marketing.

“I thought I was going to move away at first, but I want my sister there so we can enter the real world together. I couldn’t imagine going through this major life event without her by my side,” Mandi said.

Twins on Campus jill clements, junior Her Twin | Jaden Clements, attends Upper Iowa University

“You always have a best friend, and it’s neat to have someone that looks exactly like you, but you are two completely different people.”

Alex alberts, junior His Twin | Adam Alberts, works full time at Ted Lare, a landscaping company

“It made us a lot closer than just being siblings, and it was a reason for me to try hard at everything because I always wanted to be the better twin.”

briana kottke, junior Her Twin | Brittney Kotkee, attends University of Toledo

“I always have someone to turn to, no matter where I am, and I like having someone who understands me, yet will laugh at me at the same time.”

25

Posh From

PLAIN to

Senior Erin Gerken expected to spend a semester abroad in London traveling, meeting new people and gaining new experiences; she didn’t expect one of those experiences to be becoming a reality TV star.

G

STORY | MEGAN QUICK PHOTOS | BRITTANY REMPE DESIGN | ADRIAN HAWKINS

erken spent four days of her fall semester in Dubai filming to be on Plain Jane, a reality TV show on MTV UK. Definitely not something she expected to happen, ever.

“It was just like how is this actually my life?

I’m getting flown to Dubai so I can film for a MTV show,” Gerken said. “I kept thinking ‘this is not actually happening.’”

She used the word surreal a lot that week, as everything was tailored to her while she

26

was being pushed out of her comfort zone and forced to grow as a person. It was surreal, amazing and something she’s really glad she did.

“It did have an impact on the rest of my life because I know that I hold myself back a lot with my own personal comfort zone. I have very much opened that up in the past couple years especially,” Gerken said. “But, I think that week definitely showed me how important it is to push myself out of my comfort zone, at least occasionally. Because, most of the time at least, it’s worth it.”

ID Magazine

Spring 2014

27

how it started The Simpson group arrived in London for their fall semester on September 12, 2013. Four days later, Roehampton University held an international fair on campus. This is where it all began.

“It was an MTV booth, for a show called Plain Jane, which none of us had ever heard of before,” Gerken said. “One of the girls at the table explained it to us and we thought it sounded really cool, so we figured why not put our names down.’”

Gerken, along with two other Simpson students, wrote their names down thinking nothing would come from it. Shortly after that day, Gerken received a phone call that led to an interview.

Her half hour interview was cut down into a five minute spot and sent on to MTV. “Apparently MTV liked me enough, because they called me back within the next week, asking what my availability was,” Gerken said.

From there, the filming began.

“It all just kind of snowballed really quickly...I didn’t know exactly what was happening so I just went with it,” Gerken said.

plain jane details The show, Plain Jane, is currently in its third season. The first season aired in the United States, on The CW. The last two have been played on MTV International.

“A lot of the ti blown away an building type things, stuff that pushes you out of your comfort zone to go on this date with your ‘dream guy.’”

The girl gets transformed head to toe, inside and out, all to be revealed to her secret crush at the end for a romantic date. The guy, who has a choice to go through with the show or not, never has any idea what girl the show is for.

“That was an interesting situation for me because I had only been in London around a month,” Gerken said. “My dream guy, in theory, would have been back in the States. So the only people that I knew at Roehampton were my flat [floor] mates, so I picked one of them,” Gerken said.

Alex Yassin was who Gerken picked, and he eventually agreed to go through with the show.

“There a couple people that I can think of [from here] that would have been awesome to have do that,” Gerken said. “But, of the people that I could have picked from London, I’m glad it was him. He’s a great guy, and the perfect person for the show. I think he made it awesome.”

British fashion expert, Louise Roe, is the host of the reality TV show and acts as the “fairy godmother,” taking a new girl under her wing each episode to transform.

Yassin is a good friend who lived down the hall from her, making the situation difficult to keep secret. There were times when Gerken could hear him talking to other flatmates in the hall, or even the same room, about the show and what was going on.

“The whole point of the show is to go on a date at the end. That’s the big to-do of it,” Gerken said. “You spend a week doing confidence

“The first time everyone was talking about it I just had to walk out of the room,” Gerken said.

“I was like ‘I can’t keep a straight face, I’m going

28

to blush super hard. I just can’t.’”

Her cover story for when filming began was that she was going to York for a week to visit a friend who was studying there. Only Brian Steffen, the professor leading the trip, and her friends Caitlin and Matt knew about the situation, because they had been involved the whole time.

Besides that, Gerken wasn’t allowed to talk to anyone about the show while she was filming.

early filming Once her week was set in place, the camera started rolling. The first couple days of filming took place in London. They began with her plea video (the short clips you see on reality shows of the contestants asking to be picked), along with random bits of transitional shots and Gerken meeting Roe. The week is meant to build confidence. Gerken wasn’t supposed to know what she would be doing each day, until she was doing it.

“A lot of the time I was just very blown away and confused,” Gerken said. “I tried not to think about the things that were coming because I didn’t want to be nervous about it.”

Finally, her first activity.

“That first day they took me to a music studio and sat me down with an Irish kid named Sean, who taught me how to play a song on the guitar in a matter of a couple hours,” Gerken said.

ID Magazine

ime I was just very nd confused,”

drive of a lifetime Day three in Dubai came with more surprises.

“Then they brought in a bassist and a drummer and I played with the three of them for the cameras, that song he had been teaching me, all within three hours.”

going to be warm.

Getting to play guitar with a band was something she has always wanted to do, but never thought she would ever get the chance to.

“Dubai is a place that I had heard about before, but not a place that I expected to go or necessarily had a desire to go, because I didn’t know a whole lot about it,” Gerken said.

Day two included more transitional pieces being filmed, including Roe meeting Yassin, which was tricky to keep Gerken out of sight.

“I had to lay on the floor of the taxi as we were leaving, just to make sure he wouldn’t see me,” Gerken said.

And, then came her next confidence building task.

“Later that day they took me to another place where I met a guy named Matthew Hussy, who is a motivational speaker whose deals with relationships,” Gerken said. “With him, I learned how to flirt. I had to pretend to interview five different guys who thought they were auditioning to be in a band. I had an ear piece in and I was actually, in reality, learning how to flirt with them.”

With each guy, things became less awkward, a little smoother and a lot more fun.

“I had to go with my instincts, while also pretending to interview them, while also taking into account what they were saying to me in my earpiece,” Gerken said. “It was really chaotic because I had three different things going on inside my head, but it was really funny and a lot of fun.”

next stop, dubai Each episode the girl goes somewhere different to finish out the show. Up until now, Gerken had no idea where she was going. All she knew was she was going somewhere and they hinted at the fact that it was

They finally revealed the location; and that night they were on a plane to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

That changed quickly, as Gerken fell in love with her surroundings. The only way Gerken can describe the next four days is with that same word-surreal.

Day one in Dubai was a day off from cameras.

She was able to relax by the pool and the beach and enjoy her life of luxury in her room in the Atlantis, which included gawking at the huge floor length aquarium in the lobby.

“This whole time I had no idea what I was going to be doing until I was doing it,” Gerken said.

“I had a keeper, Jenna, with me the whole time, she was in charge of me and made sure I got everywhere on time. She would always hint at things and be excited about what I was doing next, but I had no idea what to expect.”

On this day, Gerken was blindfolded and put in the car.

“I said I was just going to go with it, so I put my headphones on for the drive, which was maybe a half hour,” Gerken said. “We get there, they walked me through this building and then back outside, still blind folded and everything. They finally took the blind fold off and let my eyes

The theme of the week didn’t stop just because the cameras turned off. In the hotel waterpark, Gerken went on a steep, straight down drop water slide that shoots down nine stories and through a shark tank, in a matter of seconds.

“The only reason why I went on it is because the whole point of the week is to push me out of my comfort zone,” Gerken said. “There’s a water slide at Lost Island in Waterloo, which is basically the same, maybe a little smaller. I have never gone on that slide at Lost Island, because it terrifies me. So I went on the one in Dubai because it scared me.”

The next day, the pampering began.

“I got to try on a bunch of different outfits, kinda like what they do on What Not to Wear,” Gerken said.

She tried on five different outfits that were previously picked out for her, two of which she got to keep, with experts telling what works and what doesn’t. With Gerken’s location, picking outfits was a little challenging. Dubai has a very strict dress code, so she wasn’t allowed to wear most of the outfits that she probably would have chosen otherwise.

(far left) Gerken with the Ferrari she drove, one of her confidence building tasks during the week. (middle) Her view of the beach from her hotel. (left) Gerken hanging out on the dessert during some free time. (right) She is pictured wearing one of the outfits given to her by the show.

Spring 2014

29

30

ID Magazine

adjust and then they started filming.”

She was nervous, with no idea what was about to happen. All the sudden, a car engine revved right behind her. They made her turn around and sitting right behind her was a bright yellow Ferrari with a dragon painted on the side.

What followed was Gerken getting to drive this Ferrari around a race track for about seven laps.

She impressed everyone by consistently getting faster each lap.

“It was absolutely insane and I’m never going to forget that,” Gerken said. “How many people can say that they drove a Ferrari on a race track in Dubai? There’s a one in a million chance of ever being able to do that.”

the big reveal The last day of filming, and the big night. It started off at the salon for a makeover-a hair dye, cut and style.

“That was terrifying for me, because my hair is my baby and I hadn’t dyed or cut it in forever,” Gerken said. “I also couldn’t look at myself the whole day, which freaked me out.”

Next, they filmed a mini pre-date interview with Roe. This day they were filming in the luxurious 40,000 pound a night suite on the top of the Atlantis.

At one point, she had to hide in the other room and be completely silent while Roe interviewed Yassin, who had been flown out that day and still no idea who he was doing this for.

Once he was out of the room, they did Gerken’s makeup here and put her in her date dress and shoes and plopped her in front of a mirror to let her finally open her eyes.

“It was really surreal and shocking...my makeup looked phenomenal and I didn’t really look like me,” Gerken said. “They gave me time to stare at myself and take it all in. I don’t think I stopped smiling the rest of that night.”

The show rented out the beach for the night and set up the date there, complete with a fancy table and canopy overtop. Yassin was blindfolded at the table, until Gerken started walking up the path and they let him look...

“He did the biggest double take and was just like ‘What? Are you joking?’ He was shocked, with his jaw dropped, just staring. He had no idea and it was just so funny to see his reaction. It was

great,” Gerken said.

The show is scheduled to air in June.

After their date, which Gerken described as lovely, the night came to an end and Yassin was flown back to London. .

“I’m really curious to see what they included, because they did a lot of filming,” Gerken said.

“I’m choosing to not watch any episodes yet. I’m excited to have people watch it, but I don’t know if I will be able to watch people watch it.”

back to reality The next day it was back to London and the cold weather for Gerken.

She was finally allowed to tell all the other Simpson students why she had been gone for that week in October. Now, she can talk about it, but she isn’t allowed to post anything on social media.

“Getting to explain it to everyone was really cool. It’s really cool to get to talk to people about it. All my guy friends and dad were jealous and hated me for the Ferrari,” Gerken said.

Being back in the United States brings her back to reality, as the multimedia journalism major and psychology minor, is preparing for graduation.

“It’s easy to forget the things I went through and the mentality I had during that week. Especially being back at Simpson, it’s easy to sink back into routine and just be normal me I guess,” Gerken said. “But it’s awesome that I had that experience and I know that I can be whoever I want to be and do whatever I want to do at any point.”

That confidence wasn’t always there during the week. At some points, Gerken questioned why she had a whole film crew making her so special and important.

“The whole point by the end of the week is to make you feel like you actually deserve this,” Gerken said. “It was cool in the sense that it made me realize that I was worth having people spend that much time on me. I definitely had that type of moment and a ‘I can do anything I want to in my career’ moment, that was a big thing.”

(left) She is pictured wearing high waisted pants and a crop top given to her by the show, though it is an outfit she was not allowed to wear while in Dubia, due to dress codes. (right) Gerken and Yassin pose for a picture after their date on the beach. (above right) The Atlantis, in Palm, Dubai, where Gerken stayed. The second largest hotel in Dubai.

Spring 2014

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