The Spin April 2017

APRIL 2017

Congratulations Graduates Concordia Crossing

Survival 101: Zombie Apocalypse

Poet’s Corner

SPIN Track List News 6 8 10 12

Is Your Style Retro?

The Impossibly Incredible: TRAPPIST-1 Solar System

The Resurgence of Records A Peek at Concordia Crossing

Features 16

Congratulations Graduates

Opinion & Advice 18 20

Survival 101: Zombie Apocalypes Makeup Brushes To Have in Your Kit

Arts & Culture 22 23 24 26 28

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Music Through Time More than Just a Spill Beauty and the Beast Poet's Corner Plan Ahead

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FEATURES Pg. 12

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Poet's Corner Pg. 26 The Spin | 3

Liner Notes A ll paths must come to an end. The end of the 2017 spring semester draws to a close. For many students, it will be their last semester as a tornado.

For others, like myself, we have at least one more semester to go.

Unfortunately, this is not the same situation for my position in the Spin magazine. This magazine will be my last issue as editor-in-chief. It is a bittersweet ending.

Working on the Spin has been an enjoyable roller coaster.

At times it has been more work than I thought when I volunteered, other times it has been surprisingly easier than I expected. Though I am glad to have completed a semester full of magazines, I am sad to see it come to an end.

Each issue this semester has been a significant accomplishment for the Spin team and I. The support and response in which the Spin has received has been beyond what I ever imagined. There is no way in which I would have been able to do any of this without the tireless work of my team. I cannot thank them enough for stepping up and helping me create some of the best issues the Spin has ever had. Also, special thanks to the school and professor Philip Hohle for mentoring me through the journey.

4 | The Spin

Being the editor-in-chief has been one of the biggest learning experiences I have ever had, and I encourage those who have not yet taken a position like this at CTX to do so.

The positive outcome outweighs the work by tons.

Lastly, I would like to thank all of our readers and supporters. Without our readers and supporters, our hard work would go unread and be rendered useless. I hope there was at least one article in which particularly caught your interest.

My hope for this semester was to get more of the student body involved in in the Spin. I hope, to some degree, I accomplished this goal from the students’ perspective. If not, I encourage students to contact those on the Spin staff and get involved next fall.

This Spin is the last issue of the 2016-2017 school year. I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for being our reader. .

Bianca Paz Bianca Paz Editor-in-Chief

Spin Team 1

Bianca Paz Editor-in-Chief

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Jerry Rafael Head Layout Editor

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Breyanna Weekly Managing Editor

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Loriel Torres Layout Editor

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Regan Lain Beauty Beat Writer

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Alejandro Labastida Enviromental Beat Writer

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Philip Hohle Faculty Advisor

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Contributing Writers: Bianca Paz, Rachel Stanford, Jerry Rafael, Kesia Szydlowski, Breyanna Weekly, Loriel Torres, Nerissa Logan, Regan Lain, Alejandro Labastida, Emily Schmalstieg, De'Marian Wright, Brittany Jones, Rebecca Snodgrass Copyediting: Breyanna Weekly, Rachel Stanford, Bianca Paz Photographers: Loriel Torres, Jerry Rafael, Bianca Paz, De'Marian Wright, Blair Allen, Elizabeth Hoffman, Regan Lain, Nerissa Logan

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Cover Photographer: Jerry Rafael Liner Note Photographer: Clarissa PostCastillo The Spin | 5

News

Is Your Style Retro?

5 Trends Stolen from the Past ness of a pet collar. They were most popular around the 1990s.

Unlike the Polaroid, not much change has been done to modernize these chokers. Although, some may argue that this trend may never have died out completely.

For some, the trend has just begun.

3.High-waisted

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here is a commonly use phrase that says “history tends to repeat itself.”

While in many cases this may be in situations like politics or personal history, it also stands for one other thing: trends. While originality is stressed in American culture, trends have started to repeat themselves once again.

Many times it is renamed things like vintage, retro or hipster, even though years ago it was the “in” thing. These are five trends that are followed now but originated in the past.

ly printed a square shaped picture seconds after it was taken. The photo would come out looking white, but after a few seconds of waving it around, or waiting, the picture would slowly appear. Unlike the cameras and phones of modern technology, there was no front face screen for selfies and no retakes. The picture taken was the picture that printed. Recently, Fujifilm created a brand called Instax that gives instant pictures, just like the original Polaroids.

They are made to be fashionable looking Polaroid cameras. Their 1.Polaroids most sought after camera is the In the past, before iPhones and “mini” series. The Instax cameras digital cameras, photos were not are a remake of the old Polaroid kept on a memory disk where trend of the past. they got stored away and never 2.Chokers thought of again. After pictures Chokers were just recently revived had been taken, people got them in the trending world. Chokers are developed or printed. The Pola- necklaces that are worn tightly roid came after the regular film around the neck, instead of looseroll camera. This camera instant- ly. They almost model the tight-

6 | The Spin

Before there were low-rise, super low-rise and hip-hugger bottoms, the trend was to wear everything on the waist. Moving down from the waist the clothes would usually flare and look the size and length of the typical bottom. The modern take on high waisted clothes is usually tight or short.

The current high-waisted trend typically has the top of the clothing expanded to make legs look longer. This has been an incredibly popular trend in the last few years and does not look like it will by dying out again anytime soon.

4.Chunky knit sweaters

These have become more popular in recent years around winter time. In the past, thick sweaters were in style. Usually, they would have a pattern, and men most popularly wore them. Although, within the past few years, this trend has made a comeback.

Chunky knit sweaters are not mainly a popular trend for men anymore, they are hitting the racks for both males and females.

Designers and retailers are now adding to the trend by incorpo-

rating even more designs and styles to give the sweaters a more modern take. Chunky knit sweaters were knocked out cold in the past, but they are now heating up in the winter months again.

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5.Crop tops

There needs to be something to match the high waisted bottoms.

Therefore, the crop top trend has resurfaced. Crop tops first became popular in the 1990s, around the time celebrities like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera started wearing them. These are shirts or blouses that look like they are cut in half, or only have the top part of a regular shirt.

They usually expose some of the stomach. Their popularity died down for a short while, but now they are currently in high demand in the clothing market. The styles of the modern crop top range tremendously. When it originally started trending the crop top had multiple styles, but with its revival, it has only expanded.

Trends and styles are ever changing. One day something is in, and the next day it is out. Although, sometimes these trends might not go away for long. What is trending now may go out of style next month, but it may be all the rage in ten years.

Photography by Bianca Paz

WRITTEN BY: BIANCA PAZ

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News n May of 2016, researchers announced the discovery of three exoplanets (planets outside of our solar system, usually occupying foreign star systems of their own) orbiting around the star, TRAPPIST-1.

Later that year, the Spitzer Space Telescope and several ground-based telescopes identified five more and confirmed two of the original trio.

Studying planets is a painstaking process; for instance, it took Spitzer 500 hours straight to analyze the

size and mass (and therefore age), and even of what they are composed.

On the other hand, what is also interesting is what can periodically be ‘missing’ from the data. A consistent pattern of measured drops in star brightness, within the data, tell of an object, or sometimes objects, passing in between the star and the telescope. It is these objects near the star that obstruct its brightness, making them the focus of exoplanet discoveries for the past two de-

miles, making Mercury the closest planet to the Sun, so the only water to be discovered on Mercury has been ice in its polar regions). TRAPPIST-1 is an ultra-cool dwarf star.

This means that it burns at a heat of 4,400 degrees Fahrenheit, which in comparison to the heat of our larger, yellow dwarf Sun (10,000 degrees Fahrenheit on the surface), makes it a cool star, so it won’ t sizzle away the water of its nearby planets. Reifenberger cites TRAPPIST-1s smaller size as the cause of the comfortable distance between TRAPPIST-1 and its planets. It “exerts a smaller grav-

planets, and according to Spitzer Science Center manager Sean Carey, it is not even done yet.

George Reifenberger, professor of astronomy and physical sciences at CTX, describes the process and personalities needed to discover exoplanets. “When we direct our telescopes outward to look out at the stars, including the Sun, we have the ability to detect and measure the vast amounts of energy involved in each one’s great and magnificent existence. From this data, we can tell a lot about the stars directly: their outer surface temperature, their 8 | The Spin

cades. Teams of astronomers with high levels of patience, enthusiasm, and attention to detail use the most technologically precise telescopes ever built to study the orbits of these planets over long periods of time.”

The planets contain densities that identify as rocky (or “Earth-like”), they are around the size Earth, and all seven of them orbit in what astronomer’ s call the “habitable zone”(the orbital range which in which planets can support liquid water). However, the planets of TRAPPIST-1 are closer to the star than Mercury is from the Sun (which is 35.9 million

itational influence on its neighborhood,” he said.

Finding seven hospitable planets has sparked the astronomy community aflame.

“This is the most exciting result I have seen in the 14 years of Spitzer operations,” said Sean Carey.

“The discovery could be a significant piece of the puzzle of finding habitable environments, places that are conducive to life. Answering the question ‘are we alone’ is a top science priority, and finding so many planets like these in the hospitable zone is a remarkable step forward,”

The Impossibly Incredible: TRAPPIST-1 Solar System

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News said Thomas Zurbuchen, of NASA’ s Science Mission Directorate.

Reifenberger said, “As the scientific search for life on other worlds continues, it is logical to begin our investigation by looking for exoplanets that are similar to the only one we know of to currently support life, our own. The act of discovering more and more worlds that resemble Earth [...] continues to increase the possibility that if Earth is not exclusive in its utilities then perhaps the existence of life is also not exclusive.”

Should human colonization of TRAPPIST-1 stars become a reality,

various examples on Earth of life living in extreme conditions that are inhospitable to us,” says Reifenberger.

However, the obstacles facing colonization are not limited to TRAPPIST-1 alone.

“As we are today, there are big concerns regarding every aspect of attempting colonization, from the demands of funding and construction of large-scale expeditions to the psychological and physical demands on those explorers to handle long travel times and face uncertain circumstances along the way. In terms

life on any of the system’s hospitable planets would be much different from life on Earth. All of the planets are tidally locked. Reifenberger says “the exoplanets rotate on their axes, it’ s just that it takes the same amount of time to do one revolution” (orbit around the sun) “as it does one rotation...the concept of no full day/ night cycle is true, and that leads to very unusual consequences for weather and questions as to whether or not life can handle such a natural rhythm.” This would not automatically rule out the TRAPPIST-1 system of preexisting lifeforms. “There are

of colonizing an exoplanet on another system, I am of the belief that it will not happen in my lifetime nor the lifetimes of any of those reading this.”

Although chances appear to be slim for people of the present, there seems to be hope for those of the future.

“I feel that colonization (outside of [...] the Solar System) becomes possible only after humanity as a collective can wholeheartedly understand the idea as a truly united and noble effort in wanting to explore the vastness of space for the better-

ment of us as a species,” says Reifenberger. “There are many times in history where incredible things, initially seen as impossible, have been accomplished from the smallest of beings. A common thread shows up in many of these triumphs as a collective sense of belief, duty, and/or conviction to go beyond oneself for a higher purpose and sacrifice something of you for the good of what is to be done.”

WRITTEN BY: RACHEL STANFORD

The Spin | 9

News

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Photograph by Jerry Rafael

News

The Resugence of Records Record Store Day- Celebrating 10 Years

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n Saturday, April 22, record stores all over the world will be celebrating the tenth anniversary of record store day. A day where vinyl lovers travel to their local record stores and pick up some special edition records, as well as new albums from new and independent labels.

That is not the only thing that record stores have to celebrate. For the past ten years records, more commonly referred to as vinyl, have enjoyed a steady growth in sales. Vinyl sales managed to account for 32 percent or $416 million of the music industry revenue.

Vinyl has managed to do this by riding a wave of interest made up by audiophiles, millennials and the often-reviled hipsters.

"Most of the people coming in to buy vinyl are generally in their 20s or 30s since older people have not realized that records have made a comeback," said Cean Blackall, End of An Ear employee.

Vinyl has even managed to dethron ad-supported streaming when it comes to generating revenue. This includes Services like YouTube Music, which launched in November of 2015, or Spotify's free service which only managed to earn $385 million.

Despite this headway against ad-supported streaming, the story is slightly different when it comes to paid streaming services which Spotify also has. Paid services still beat

record sales with about $477 million in revenue.

However, for fans of physical media, it is the only way to get the full experience of listening to music.

"Records are more personal than MP3's," Blackall said. “They are something that you can hold. It is the way that the music is supposed to be heard."

The unofficial holiday known as Record Store Day began in 2008 and was originally meant to be a way to showcase independently own shops and indie labels with special releases. Now in its tenth-year, major labels have decided to join in the party much to the chagrin of independent labels.

The debate being that major labels take up space releasing mainstream artist or re-issues old popular albums, leaving less room for independent labels and artist on store shelves. “How can it be a (vinyl) revolution when bands and artist who are looking to the future cannot be heard over the sound of the irrelevant and the dead?� J.H. of Recordstoredayisdying.com said.

For its part, the live music capital of the world is doing everything it can to support the resurgence. Austin can boast a total of five record stores, not including stores like Half Price Books and Barnes & Noble that also have vinyl sections.

Waterloo records located at the

corner of 6th Street and N. Lamar Blvd. is arguably one of the more famous of the stores with its in-store performances and yearly contributions to the South By Southwest Music Festival.

However, this being Austin, it is not just record stores where one can share the love for the physical medium. Most notably this can be seen at The Mohawk, a live music venue, which hosts the BYOV.INYL (Bring Your Own Vinyl) happy hour on Tuesday nights.

During theses special happy hours, patrons are encouraged to bring in records to play on Mohawk equipment. The words listening party come to mind when attending the event. The motto for the night being "you bring them, you spin them" Record store day has made it to ten years, and if vinyl collectors have any say in it, it will be around for another ten years. Though, record sales may never reach the sales or popularity that they enjoyed during the height of their reign. For now, it seems that the physical medium is here to stay.

WRITTEN BY: JERRY RAFAEL

The Spin | 11

News

A s I g D n R i Os

s o C r N O C C t t a a k k e AAPPeea

the s i s exa rate T , n sti eleb u C A o n re i ether t e H ight ing Tog rts R m s e pa n r o i h o t o t t ec yS ity J b conn n o d u t l f H m or S s him m day o O i W w r o o l F O l e a .” a he W X g th cordia C is life 9, held t s, hosted T h n i C f t o d k 0 o # 9 n Ta ssing hers, stu o uld n field o r o C C w ac ia he e re cord nce of te , band hat s ion in th reak n t o r Enti e C e s i b aud ts w pass dent s rail, ling h

tel large ctive stu st studen d . Her blaze a t thousand d e e e a o c o c t prosp ers and p praise G w ng’s ion su wed her and reach that if i s s o b o to at Cr es allo eilings mem together nt to foll rdia ng celebr eliev between o c b c s i e a n s i h e o g la cam ts who w , Concord ers. S ifference drawn to ecom he pure dia w m e o i n d t d H r of v rn the d stude n for Go ristian E being awaits. onco rated d a n e l a o h a i illust ity that C ation. n n we pass ctor of C c s drive ur Nirva in the g n i diver rld of edu . 23 o e s , b Dire g ri a e n b e i r i o e rogra a h r F t p r w u e a . e E r o m b m h y o C o so maj “The ify what hat you s to t vents an fr The D nce to im t bring stivities r ifferent e e days. w n a u e d d h e s a ch ps and v … id ive up an n and yo d t d n n e i The f . 26 with ughout t de m stud es, cam rough ise o to g i dvise b ro h ch lling comprom earth” a to Fe place th ed to a w se with i w chur izations t ke th l o n g t a h o n o t e a i n n p k Photograph

by De'Marian Wright a ve ith ta ap om wi l l organ . DCEs t reli oud ities nging fr those w d hea r v n i p t fi c n n l a o n l A wi ce, r nature t g bee ction natio o teach i to n n e . i o l s h d t e t i r au iti Smi rdia has ng conv ogether n fo er. track ow them 9 ortun o i t assio o

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CONCORDIA Crossings News

Taking the World by Storm Right Here in Austin, Texas is the The Concordia Community Joins to Celebrate Entire Concordia Community Joining Together to Celebrate

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oncordia Crossing’s oncordia Crossing’s Homecoming celebration Homecoming celeillustrated the pure bration illustrated the diversity that Concordia pure diversity that brings to the world of education.

CTX brings to the world of eduThe festivities ran from ran Feb. from 23 cation.

The festivities to Feb. 26 with different events Feb. 23 to Feb. 26 with different takingtaking place throughout the days. events place throughout Activities appealed toappealed a wide to the days. Activities a audience, wide audience, ranging ranging from thosefrom with those withfor a passion nature a passion nature to for those with a topassion those with a passion for beer. for beer.

WithWith tonstons of of opportunities opportunities for students and the commu-to for students and the community nity get involved, Concordia get to involved, Concordia Crossings Crossings covered all bascovered all its bases (and its thanks to esthe (and thanks the literally)! baseball baseball team,toquite team, quite literally)!

Concordia puts a huge Concordia puts ememphasis on the idea aofhuge vocation. phasis on the idea of vocation.

Guest speaker Patti Smith Guest speaker Smith exemplified howPatti important it isexto emplified how important find meaning in the work youitdo.is toThe find meaning inofthe work former manager KVUE, a you do.

The former manager of , s t local television broadcast station, den KVUE, a local television broadspoke on standing up to adversity, cast station, spoke on standing all challenging her audience to “prove who up to adversity, challenging r o them wrong. ” d. F ir her audience to "prove them w the s wrong." Mrs. Smith was always er to broadcast despite many ia off n drawn Smith was always drawn to o i t a c u broadcast despite many telling d her that she would not succeed. vesHer passion in the field allowed i g am ct mpa s yher outhto blaze a trail, break glass u o vari eceilings and reach thousands of th She believes that if we hout aviewers. ion tlearn c u the difference between he ed settings s being driven and being drawn to s igiou

r othe reach st a taste s ju red 909 i e

#CTXWOOSH telling her that would awaits. not something, our she Nirvana succeed.

Her passion in the field "The barrier is in the mind… allowedwhat her toyou blazeare a trail, break identify willing to glass and reach give upceilings and what you thousands will not of viewers. Sheonbelieves that ifwill compromise and you we learn the difference find heaven on earth"between advised being driven and being drawn to Smith. something, awaits.of CTX has our longNirvana been proud “The barrier is in the that their unyielding conviction allows to worship mind…allidentify what youtogethare erwilling regardless gender to giveofuprace, and what youor social class.

They confidently will not compromise on and you welcome peopleon from alladvised walks will find heaven earth” ofSmith. life as they gather together to revel in the glory of been God.proud Concordia has long The campus provides many of their unyielding conviction ways to walk inworship one's journey that allows all to together with God, one of the most regardless of race, gender, orpopsocial ular and powerful being 909 class. They confidently welcome student-led worship. people from all walks of life as they Freshman BentoBalon gather together revel feels in thethat glory heof"see[s] God work through a God. lot of things in his life and 909 The campus provides many allows him to connect those ways to walk in one’s journey with parts of his life."

God, one of the most popular and 909, held the Friday of Conpowerful being 909 student-led cordia Crossings, hosted a large worship. Freshman Ben Balon feels audience of teachers, students, that he “see[s] God work through prospective students, band a lot of things in his life and 909 members and past students who all came together to praise God. For students who want to follow their passion for God, CTX offers a Director of Christian Education major/(DCE).

The DCE program gives students a chance to impact churches, camps and various

allowsorganizations him to connect those parts youth throughof his life. ” out the nation. DCEs take the held Friday of education909, track tothe teach in reliConcordia Crossings, hosted a to gious settings that allow them large audience of teachers, students, reach others with God's word. prospective students, band 909 is just a taste of the passionmembers and past students who all ate, God-centered community came to praise God. that thetogether university offers its For instudents who want to follow their coming students.

With for such a beautiful passion God, Concordia camoffers pus, it can ofbeChristian difficult not to a Director Education seemajor.

God's handiwork everywhere. For thoseprogram considering The DCE gives going into the natural sciences, students a chance to impact CTX's 250-acre wildlife and churches, camps and various youth nature preserve provides a "livorganizations throughout the ingnation. classroom" thattheencourages DCEs take education exploration and study. track to teach in religious settings The preserve a wide that allow them tooffers reach others array of subjects to consider, with God’s word. 909 is just a taste from species such of theendangered passionate, God-centered ascommunity the golden-cheeked warbler that Concordia offers theitsman-made lake to the archeincoming students. ological With sites such anda beautiful watersheds.

Serene paths wind beneath campus, it would be difficult not to towering trees and over small see God’s handiwork everywhere. babbling brooks.

For those considering going into The preserve tours are a the natural sciences, Concordia’s chance to step inside a living, 250-acre wildlife and nature breathing ecosystem and witness the majesty of science. The campus is nestled in a magnificent display of nature, making it a biology student's dream. For those considering going into Kinesiology, the baseball game on Saturday was one of the Crossing's main attractions. Both

The Spin | 13

News preserve provides a “living classroom”athleticism that encourages teams displayed incredible as exploration and study.

Concordia Texas was able to pull off a win The preserve offersChicago. a wide array of subjects against Concordia to consider, endangered species such as the Thefrom crowd kept high energy throughout the game and wasand able cheer thelake Tornagolden-cheeked warbler thetoman-made to dos to theirsites eventual 5-4 victory.

Electricthe archeological and watersheds.

Serene paths couldtowering be felttrees throughout the stands as windity beneath and over small babbling fans showed their enthusiasm for the home brooks. team.

The preserve tours are a chance to step inside a This strong tornado spirit is living, breathing ecosystem and witness thetypical majestyof of many and ispresent students. science.

Ourpast campus nestledConcordia in a magnificent display Concordia's and student’s supportdream. for its athof nature, making it love a biology letesconsidering is a huge draw hopingthe to get For those goingfor intothose Kinesiology, involved in the athletic program. baseball game on Saturday was one of the Crossing’s Prospective student Joshua Ford was main attractions.

Both teams displayed incredible definitely affected by the scene, was athleticism as Concordia Texas was able to "I pull off aalready Concordia thinking about Concordia, but after win against Chicago. talking to [one of the players] I could defiThe crowd kept high energy throughout nitely here"the heTornados stated. "Ito really the game andsee wasmyself able to cheer like this event and I would love to be a Tortheir eventual 5-4 victory. Electricity could be felt nado baseball player in the future." throughout the stands as fans showed their enthusiasm For those interested in pursuing exercise for the home team. science, CTX definitely has many opportuThis strong tornado spirit is typical of many nities to get involved. However, the basepast and present Concordia students. Concordia’s love ball game was not solely geared towards and support its athletes is a huge draw Saturday's for those those for with an athletic bend. hoping to get involved in the athletic program. tailgate still had plenty to offer the past, Prospective JoshuaTornados Ford was definitely affected presentstudent and future who gathered by theunder scene,the “I was already thinking about Concordia, banner of purple and gold pride. but after talking to [one of the players] walks I couldof life, Despite being from different definitely myself here” heable stated. reallytogether like this thoseseegathered were to“Icome eventin and I would love to be a Tornado baseball player community to celebrate the University. in the future. ” Cupcake spread some sweetness Hey For those interested in pursuing exercise as they passed out free cupcakes.

Burgers science, Concordia definitely has many opportunities and hot dogs were also served in true tailto getgate involved.

However, the baseball game was not fashion.

Family and friends bonded solelyover geared towards those with an athletic bend. games like redneck golf and corn hole, Saturday’s stillmature had plenty to offerwas the past, whiletailgate a more audience able to present and future Tornados who gathered under the enjoy a few cold beers. bannerWith of purple gold pride.of Despite being from thisand wide variety events, it was fittingwalks that of local made different life,radio those station gathered94.7 wereMix able to come an appearance.

Mix isthea University. station that together in community The to celebrate plays wide variety music, which went HeyaCupcake spread of some sweetness as they along perfectly with Concordia passed out free cupcakes.

Burgers and hotCrossing's dogs were great selection of events. also served in true tailgate fashion. Family and friends An event that further illustrated bonded over games like redneck golf and cornthis hole,diwas Sunday whileversity a more mature audienceevening's was able toglamorous enjoy a few night at the Oscars.

Not the real Oscars, cold beers. though Professors JakeofYoumans andfitting PhilWith this wide variety events, it was ip Hohle would have liked to pretend it was. that local radio station 94.7 Mix made an appearance.

Theisevent took building The Mix a station thatplace plays in a wide varietyA, ofinside music, 14 | The Spin

which went along perfectly Concordia CTX's beautifully builtwith chapel whereCrossing’s anygreat of events. oneselection who attended the nighttime event could eventtothat further illustrated this diversity have aAn place sit and witness the screening was evening’s night at the Oscars. of Sunday the Oscars live.glamorous While the actual Oscars were placethough insideProfessors the DolbyJake Theatre, Not the taking real Oscars, Youmans spending the night Concordia and Philip Hohle wouldright have here liked on to pretend it was.

University's campus was a close second.

The event took place in building A, inside Concordia’s Thebuilt opened space was decoratbeautifully chapel wherelobby anyone who attended ednighttime with anevent unforgettable that the could have a red placecarpet to sit and led right to the doors of the chapel.

Tables witness the screening of the Oscars live. withthe fruit trays andwere Oscar award shaped While actual Oscars taking place inside vanilla cookies, designed with Concordia's the Dolby Theatre, spending the night right here on acronymUniversity’s and a touch of gold lined Concordia campus was aglitter, close second. the walls.

When the Oscars finally began, The opened space lobby was decorated with the Concordia community gathered an unforgettable red carpet that led right to in thethe doors chapel to watch one of the biggest nights of the chapel. Tables with fruit trays and Oscar award for motion shaped vanilla pictures. cookies, designed with Concordia’s "In California, it's alined major acronymSouthern and a touch of gold glitter, theevent walls. that people gather to enjoy the entertainWhen the Oscars finally began, the Concordia ment of the Academy Award presentations community gathered in the chapel to watch one of and since we are so involved, I find it only the biggest nights for motion pictures. “In Southern natural to pay attention to these award cerCalifornia, it’s a major event that people gather to

emonies," said Professor Hohle.

Photo Credit Loriel Torres

Photo Credit De’Marian Wright

News

"It's fun to dress up" he added as he sported an elegant suit and tie while his wife stood by in a lovely gown and a boa draped around her shoulders. In charge of the entire evening was Professor Youmans who was also dressed in his best with a suit and tie, along with his wife and daughters who were also accompanying him on this special night.

Between commercial breaks his two daughters performed nominated songs, proving to be especially talented. When the girls were not performing, Professor Youmans asked the audience Oscars trivia questions. He rewarded those who answered correctly with a plush movie character toy or a movie poster.

For those considering production, this event was a special treat. "It was interesting to watch an award show [with people] who actually care about the content of the production and hearing the opinions of professors who have studied film," said De'Marian Wright, CTX student. "It was better watching with a community of people rather than by yourself."

The good news for those who had missed the event is that this was just the beginning.

"We plan to continue [this event] as a tradition." Professor Hohle said. Hopefully, Concordia will be able to hold many more events like this in the future. As the number of students and alumni continue to

grow, the events will likely continue to become more diverse.

While each of this year's events catered to specific interests and passions, CTX's annual Crossings event did a great job of ensuring that there was something for everyone.

WRITTEN BY: LORIEL TORRES, BREYANNA WEEKLY, HANNAH LYTTLE, KESIA SYZDLOWSKI

The Spin | 15

Features

CONGRATULATIONS

GRADUATES

Stories From Spring 2017 Graduates

CTX

is a melting pot. Students come from all over, and many are lucky enough to meet each other and become friends while they are here.

The graduates of 2017 are a month away from walking across the stage and receiving their diplomas.

Walking down Building B and passing by the student activities office, the friendly laugh and voice of Valerie Gonzales can be heard. She has been working in the student activities office for three years. This spring she will be graduating with a degree in Early Education with a generalist early childhood-6thgrade concentration.

When asked what she would miss most about CTX, Valarie said it was “the community. It is going to be hard saying goodbye and parting ways from the CTX family.”

“I am a daughter of Christ, and I am loved by God more than I ever could have imagined,” said Gonzales when she discussed what CTX has taught her. “I love being around people and just genuinely getting to know them. Lastly, CTX made me fall in love with learning.”

Ever since she could remember, Gonzales has wanted to be a teacher. CTX helped confirm her calling to serve children, especially in low-income communities. Gonzales hopes to start teaching in the Leander or Austin school district after graduation.

16 | The Spin

CTX’s golf program is one of the many reasons Shelby Allen from Magnolia, Texas chose to come to Austin. Not only was she able to play golf here as a student, but she was able to spend a year on the team with her older sister who is a CTX alum. Because Allen is majoring in Communications with an emphasis in Production and minor in Marketing, she decided to join CTX’s Communication Club.

When asked about her plans for the future, Allen shared that she is hoping to combine both her golf and communication backgrounds.

“I am currently doing a marketing internship that will last through the summer, and I hope to find a full-time marketing job after that. Also, I am looking into the possibility of doing a graduate assistant program to be a college golf coach while going to grad school,” she says.

CTX’s beautiful landscape did not fall short on the list of things she will miss. “I will miss the scenery the most. My favorite part about CTX are the days when there is a cool spring temperature, and I can sit out on the pier and do homework. It is just so serene, and relaxing” Allen said.

If she could give any advice to continuing students, it would be to “stop and work on the puzzle in the library when you are stressed. It is very calming.

Also, choose your shoes wisely when the bridge is wet…”

Damian Del Signore, also known on CTX’s base-

Photograph by Elizabeth Hoffman

Photograph by Blair Allen

Features Valerie Gonzales

Shelby Allen even strangers. What we fail to realize is that they may be fighting inner demons. They mask their emotional pain around us, not knowing how to alleviate the pain. I found that one can find refuge in nature.”

For the future, Kiara said she would love to work for Outward Bound with at-risk youth and young adults through adventure based counseling. She plans to get a master’s in Counseling in Colorado.

When asked about what she would miss most she said, “The community and spontaneity of CTX. Also, CTX’s need to feed us. I will miss you Woosh Wednesdays.”

WRITTEN BY: NERISSA LOGAN

Kiara Logan Photograph by Nerissa Logan

ball field as Del Sig, has somehow found the time to complete a double major before graduating this spring. Damian shares that graduating with a double major was never the plan; he just stumbled upon it.

“I have always known I wanted to do some sort of business major, but the computer science major came later,” Signore says.

He did not stop there; he is also a senator in Student Government and was in the Business Scholars Club.

When asked about what he would miss most about CTX he said, “The fact that it is so small is amazing. I am going to miss the relationships I was able to form with my classmates and professors. I realized that casually talking to your professors is a very valuable and rare thing.”

As for plans after graduation, Damian plans to stay and work in Austin to find a technical sales or a software developer job.

Many of the adventurous trip offered by CTX’s outdoor recreation program have seen the face of Kiara Logan. Her love for the outdoors stems from countless camping trips her and her family took in her home state of California. Kiara was able to combine her love for nature with her Psychology major.

“Everyday we have encounters with close friends,

The Spin | 17

Opinion & Advice

Survival 101: Zombie Apocalypse

Z

ombies, it is a topic popular among today's culture.

This semester CTX has offered a special topics course, called "zombie apocalypse." This class is an upper level three-credit environmental science course that is instructed by professor Samuel Whitehead.

This course is all about survival tactics, in the instance of a catastrophic world event. In class, students are teaching each other different skills. For example, knot tying for emergency shelter purposes and water filtration for drinking water. Unfortunately, there were only a limited number of seats available for the course.

Therefore, here are some ways in which students can prepare for a disaster in their environment.

In the case of an emergency, it is important to have waterproof matches or any fire starter. In a survival situation, fire is a necessity. Besides keeping you warm on a cold night, it is useful for disinfecting water, so it is safe enough to drink. This is possible by using fire to heat the water until it hits its boiling point.

Fire is also good for keeping pests and insects away; it is like nature's bug repellent. Not to mention, it is good for keeping other predatory animals at a safe distance. Along with being a repellant, fire is a good way to cook raw food. It is a basic need for survival along with water, food and shelter. Having it can make it a lot easier to meet all basic survival needs.

18 | The Spin

Water is the most necessary basic need; we cannot survive a week without it. It is easy to find water in lakes, creeks, rivers and other natural bodies of water, but if these become contaminated finding a water source can be difficult.

In emergencies, storing water is crucial. Bathtubs on average can hold 50 gallons of water. In an emergency, it is a good idea to fill up the tub before pumps stop working. Collecting rainwater is another way of receiving the necessary need. Proper collecting methods must be used for large amounts of water to be received, however. Rain barrels are an excellent source for catching rainwater off rooftops.

Once water is taken care of, shelter is a need that can be useful for protection from the weather. If not protected by a home, shelter can be found in a nearby cave, under a boulder or over a hanging rock to help withstand weather conditions. If those are not an option, tents can be made out from large sticks, covering material and rope or any vine that is durable enough to sustain a knot.

Food can be a bit tricky to come across if survival is taking place in the wilderness. Edible plants are always an option the can be can contribute to calorie consumption. Plants alone will not be sustainable enough calories for survival. Through knowing how to set up snares and traps

to capture animals is a valuable skill to know if there are plans to survive outdoors. Long term food solutions consist of gardening and farming food to have a sustainable food source.

Get home bags can be very useful in an emergency. Get home bags are bags that are kept in a car or accessible place while away from home. They consist of essentials needed to sustain at least 72 hours of survival. Materials in this shoulder bag include a few high-calorie snacks or meals. With this taken care of, get home bags should also have a fire starter, sanitizer, cutting tools, a light, water container and an emergency blanket. Having a get home bag stored and ready to go can be a lifesaver in world emergencies.

The zombie apocalypse course at CTX is teaching students how to be prepared in the event of a disaster. During an emergency, it is important to prepare for whatever circumstances may change the environment. Making sure that all basic human needs are met such as fire, water, food and shelter are the first steps to survival. CTX students will survive in the case of whatever may come their way, even zombies. If people are not interested in becoming one of the walking dead, it might be a good decision to start getting prepared.

WRITTEN BY: ALEJANDRO LABASTIDA

Opinion & Advice

AMC STUDIOS

The Spin | 19

Opinion & Advice

Makup Brushes To Have In Your Kit

W

hen it comes to applying makeup, the first place to start surprisingly is not the products; it is the tools.

The brushes in your kit, along with time and practice, play a large part in having the perfect eyeshadow blend. It is a common misconception that investing in high-quality brushes means dishing out big bucks. This is utterly false.There are a lot of lower and medium end brands, like BH Cosmetics and Morphe, which produce quality brushes for under $15 each. While they are inexpensive, they work just as well as the high-end brushes.

Here is a list of brushes and their uses that everyone should have in their makeup kit.

First, it is important to have a good foundation brush to perfectly blend the product into the skin. The Real Techniques Expert Face Brush ($9) has duo fibers that can be used to buff foundation for all over coverage. Pro tip: using a brush instead of a sponge to blend in your foundation will give you fuller coverage. However, if your foundation still feels heavy, you can use a brush then go in lightly with a beauty sponge to blend further. This allows for coverage

20 | The Spin

without foundation feeling too heavy.

Next, it is nice to have a "fluffy" powder brush for setting your liquid or cream products and brushing away excess translucent powder. The Morphe E2 Round Powder Brush ($19.99) is made of synthetic bristles that carefully sweeps excess power for an airy finish.

The next two brushes are a bronzing/ contouring brush and a blush brush. Using a fluffier brush (but smaller than your powder brush) to bronze and contour is important because it is easier to blend the darker colors, this prevents your contour from looking muddy. The Morphe E59 Tapered Bronzer Brush ($16.99) is the perfect size and shape to get your cheekbones carved just how you want them. For blush, the BH Cosmetics V2 Vegan Pointed Blending Brush ($5.50) is also the perfect size to lightly apply a perfect natural flush of color to the apples of the cheeks.

The last brush to complete the face brush collection is, of course, a highlight brush.

You can use a medium sized fluffy brush to apply highlight just above the cheek bones, the temple, the bridge of the nose and the

Opinion & Advice As you transition into darker colors, the brush used should get smaller, and the bristles should become more dense and compact. Once a darker color is applied, use the previous size brush to blend that color out lightly. It takes time and patience moving back and forth between shadows and brushes until you are satisfied with the mix of the shadows.

Once you have begun building your brush kit, it is important to take care of them. Properly cleaning brushes will ensure they last for years. There are many brush cleaners on the market, but using regular anti-bacterial soap also works just fine. You should try to clean your brushes about once every week or so. Start the sink water and dampen hands. Apply a small amount of cleanser or soap onto the palm of the hand. Take a dirty brush, and gently rub it on the palm THE SAME DIRECTION AS THE BRISTLES (so if the brush is round, then rub it in small circle motions). Then rinse the soap out entirely. The next step is crucial. Reshape the brush with your fingers and lay it FLAT to dry on a paper towel. Wait until the brush has completely dried before putting it back in your makeup bag.

The perfect look depends on the quality of the tools used, and you do not have to break the bank to invest in good brushes. Investing in the essential ten brushes is an excellent place to start when it comes to developing individual makeup skills, and taking proper care of them will ensure you get your money's worth.

WRITTEN BY: REGAN LAIN

Photography by Regan Lain

cupid's bow giving your skin an all over healthy glow.

The Morphe R36 Pointed Highlight brush ($7.99) is a part of their exclusive rose gold brush collection and is the perfect size for the precise application.

Moving onto eye brushes, here are five eye brushes to help you create almost any look. The first brush is a tapered fluffy blending brush, which is used to apply a light transition color to the eye, focusing on the crease and upper eyelid. The Morphe M501 Pro Pointed Blender Brush ($7.99) has long but tapered bristles which fit into the crease of the eye perfectly for a natural blend. The next brush is a regular blending brush and a cultural favorite. This brush is the MAC 217 brush ($25). It is a little pricier, but it is one of the most popular brushes among makeup artists due to its unbeatable reputation for smooth blending.

Moving onto a smaller brush, it is important to have either a pencil brush or a small crease brush.

These brushes have shorter, more stiff bristles to place darker colors in the crease and along the outer V of the eye. The Elf Crease Brush is only $1 and works wonders. To pack shadow onto the lid, use a small flat shadow brush. The Real Techniques 200 Oval Shadow Brush ($13.00) has shorter dense bristles to pack color precisely where you want it. Last but not least, everyone should have an angled brush to use for brows or even liner. The Morphe E29 Angled Brow/ Spoolie brush ($3.99) is essential because it not only has an angled brush on one end, but it comes with a spoolie on the other end to help brush and blend eyebrows. It is a perfect two for one brush. Pro Tip: It is important to keep in mind that the lighter the shadow, the bigger/ fluffier the brush should be.

The Spin | 21

Arts & Culture

SPOTIFY

Music Through Time

O

PAST...

ne evening, a music event was held in front of the CTX Student Center.

Some highlights of the night include many bands like the Cosmic Nods, a UT Austin duo, playing some original psychedelic songs, and our very own, Gabe Rodriguez, playing some jams, ranging from the Jonas Brothers to Jack Johnson. The crowd was enthusiastic, welcoming the sound of music to campus. This event was put on by Professor Erik Greene's Group Dynamics class. To attend or perform in events like this on campus, visit the Facebook page Students For Live Music where opinions and info are shared.

22 | The Spin

PRESENT‌

F

or those on a college budget, there is an upcoming show on Wednesday, April 5, 2017, at the Empire Control Room. The Generationals, a new wave indie pop band, is the performing group. Early tickets are available for $13 online (eventbrite.com). This indie duo started in New Orleans in 2008.

Their music has been featured on popular TV shows like Grey's Anatomy. Some of their top songs like "Yours Forever" are said to bring together a futuristic embellishment with classic 60s tunes.

FUTURE‌

A

nother band to look out for is The Walters. They are a five-man band composed of 21 to 25-year-old musicians who are climbing the charts.

Their unique style of blending humor and fun with heartbreak is a change of pace in the traditional rock scene. The band from Chicago is coming to Austin in April and May. They are playing with The Orwells Thursday, April 6, 2017, at Emo's for $17 (c3concerts. com). They will be back again for a lower price of $6 at the same venue during their personal tour show on May 5, 2017.

WRITTEN BY: EMILY SCHMALSTIEG

Arts &Culture

More than Just a Spill

T

his March 2017, CTX students performed Caridad Svich's The Way of Water.

The play is based on the 2010 oil spill and how it impacted the surrounding community. The play was not just about the oil spill itself, but also how it affects the individuals within the community. The play follows two couples, Jimmy and Rosalie Robichaux, and Yuki and Neva Skow. As the story unfolds, it is clear that both couples are struggling with different life issues. Jimmy battles with health problems, but is in denial for most of the play. He refuses to see a doctor for the majority of the show, despite his wife Rosalie's pleadings. There is one point in the performance where Neva, Jimmy's first love, urges him to take care of his health but he does not listen. While Jimmy is sick, both he and Rosalie struggle to make ends meet as they stress over medical expenses. One of the themes examined in the play was about

how the oil spills' impact on the community. The spill negatively affected Jimmy, Yuki and their families. Because of the toxins in the environment, the characters experience health issues, high medical expenses and finical loss. Jimmy and his friend Yuki were fishermen, and they struggled to make money after the spill because the fish became sick and died. Tragically, one of the minor characters in the play died from toxic poisoning because of the spill. One day, he was swimming in the ocean, and a few days later, he died from the toxicity. As a result of his death, a protest broke out in the town. Various people in the community were angry and created signs to show their disgust of the whole situation. Sadly, the protesting was ineffective, and nothing was accomplished even through the community's best efforts.

Though the play mentioned the environment, the central conflict

in the play was between Jimmy and Rosalie Robichaux. The oil spill contaminated the ocean, and Jimmy became sick because he worked as a fisherman. Repeatedly, Jimmy was rude to Rosalie and denied his health issues. One reason why there was so much conflict between Jimmy and Rosalie was that they were struggling with their finances. It seemed obvious that Rosalie loved Jimmy, but Jimmy's suborn attitude appeared to generate conflict between the two.

One example of this dispute was when Rosalie made a sign for a protest that she was going to attend. Jimmy criticized her by saying that most people probably would not know what the word "wrath" meant.

Another theme that is present in the play was Neva's pregnancy.

Throughout the drama, it seemed that Neva was a bit worried about her unborn baby. She worries about how the toxins in the environment would impact the pregnancy.

At first glance, the play seems to be about the environmental implications of the oil spill. As the performance continues, it is evident that the main conflict is between the two couples. Although the couples seemed to love each other, the health and financial issues strain their relationships.

WRITTEN BY: REBECCA SNODGRASS

The Spin | 23

Arts & Culture

Beauty and the Beast "Tale as Old as Time" Just Gets Better: Review

T

he new Beauty and the Beast remake is a modernized take on the "tale as old as time." This retelling of the classic Disney fairy tale, directed by Academy Award winner William

24 | The Spin

"Bill" Condon, brings the cartoon characters to life with the help of talented actors and actresses. The heroine, Belle, is played by British actress Emma Watson who is famous for her role as Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series.

Daniel Stevens, an English actor, best

known for his role as Matthew Crawley in the Downtown Abbey television series, plays the Beast.

The movie was released in theaters March 17, 2017, and became an instant hit due to audiences' love for the original. Many showings were sold out even days after the film hit the big screen.

Unlike previous remakes of many other Disney fairy tales, this remake stays close and genuine to the original cartoon film. All the main characters are seen, including Mrs. Pots, Gaston and Lumiere. However, this movie reaches more into the background of the characters than the original did. In this version, it reveals the story of how Belle came to live in the provincial little town with her father.

With the help of the Beast, Belle eventually learns of the tragedy her father faced when she was just an infant, which forced her father to take Belle and leave Paris. Additionally, the audience learns a more in-depth background of how the Beast came to be the unloving man that eventually earned him his monstrous curse.

With the addition of more sophisticated backgrounds for the main char-

Arts &Culture acters, also came the added personalities and characterization of minor characters like Plumette the feather duster. There were also a few new characters added to the film to make it more whole, such as Cadenza (a maestro turned into a piano).

The film had many of the classic songs which Disney fans have come to know and love. Though the words of the songs stayed the same, Emma Watson and her castmates modernized the classic tunes with a more contemporary voice. The film also incorporated many new songs, giving the movie a whimsical feel. These may not be the songs many have grown up with, but they fit seamlessly into the mood Condon creates for the film. While the new musical additions gave the movie a great twist, they could not outshine the classics. However, the original songs were sung well with the new artists and almost paralleled the old ones.

A Disney fan cannot help but sing along to the timeless lyrics.

The original songs are not the only thing the re-creators of Beauty and the Beast restored. The costume department did a fantastic job at bringing the cartoon cos-

tumes to life. Belle wore the iconic blue and white work dress from the beginning of the original. In the remake, they took special pains to be sure the dress resembled something a working girl would wear rather than a frilly one, so it fit the personality of the character.

Watson also wore the signature yellow ballgown that Belle wears in her dance with the Beast in the original movie. To add to the beauty, the costume designers put modern spins on the outfits.

The new film also offers a variety of ethnicities that the original lacked. The cast featured a broad range of skin tones to reflect today's audiences. There was an integration of interracial and same-sex couples in the new film.

Although this diversity differs from the original, it is a welcomed change.

While this movie has changed from a cartoon into a realistic live-action film, there are hardly any talking candelabras and tea cups that could have been hired to play the parts. However, the film's CGI animation for the movie was top notch. Though they were supposed to be inanimate objects, the CGI team was able to create in-

credibly realistic creatures. Many even had unique facial features to give them a more human look.

There is no doubt that Condon's retelling of this classic fairytale only enhances the original, without becoming repetitive. Beauty and the Beast stayed close to the original Disney classic while adding in details to make it more intriguing.

WRITTEN BY: BIANCA PAZ

Walt Disney Studios

The Spin | 25

Arts & Culture

June 12, 2014

POET’S Corner

As the days get longer, the sun gets brighter, and everyone seems much happier; There is no one I would rather spend my time with than you, As the days get shorter, the weather gets colder, and the only color seems to be gray; There is no one I would rather spend my time with than you.

As we get older, the world gets weirder, and our minds are starting to expand; There is no one I would rather spend this time with than you.

As my hair gets shorter, my wrinkles begin to show, and I get weaker; There is no one I would rather spend that time with than you.

As my body goes numb, my breath suddenly ceases, and my mind turns off for good; I hope you realize there was no one I wanted to share my life with other than you.

-DW

The Life of Love I wake up I hear the birds chirping I see the sun shining I feel thankful for life

I feel it is only right To repeat the gift And give to others around me

The little things that make it beautiful And I hope that one day We all let the beauty To me are the most important Of nature, and our true nature They remind me not to get So caught up in a superficial life Set us free; everything is love But to always give life to others

26 | The Spin

As the birds and the sun do me

-Brittany Jones

Bergen-Belsen She waits, Her legs, arms, and hair Bare.

She’s beautiful enough to be fornicated, But all girls are.

She waits, For the nuclear winter to break, And a sizzling spring to blossom, In a liquid vapid form.

She waits.

She’s killed before, But she’s never murdered.

You set a quota for yourself: A fap a day keeps the whores away.

The blizzard overcomes you.

You take your clothes off; They wriggle with lice.

You go to her, But she’s never waited for you.

She whispers in your ear,

Arts &Culture

“All the tithes and all the ambition, Are nothing for all the memes And masturbation.”

And you don’t know what she means.

Maybe you laugh a little.

Maybe she waits a little.

The morning after: The blizzard breaks; The winter flat-lines, Nothing and eternal.

She’s gone.You couldn’t feed her; She’s killed before, But never murdered.

She’s gone.

You’ve done it all wrong.

- Rachel Stanford

Oh Beautiful Butterfly

I watch as you glide Not against the wind, but with it You’re beautiful colors and patterns Drawing the attention of many How, if only you would stand still For longer than a moment, To be admired, truly.

Maybe you would realize the beauty You’ve had since you were a caterpillar Your grace unmatched As you are the epitome of transformation

-Brittany Jones

The Spin | 27

Arts & Culture

PLAN AHEAD Written By Rachel Stanford

Graphic Content Advisory (Apologia: Grammatically, the masculine third person pronoun can also be used as a neuter pronoun about an unidentified human being. Therefore, the reader is at liberty to imagine any unnamed characters who are referred to in the masculine pronoun as being female.)

L

ike the rest of us, you feel trapped beneath the weight of the human race. You hurdle over their complaints, you stumble over their lies; that’s been your life. Now, an obstacle lies in your way that you can’t maneuver around. His existence has branded your daily life. You need to live; you can barely breathe. You need to grow past this. You need Plan: The Easy Solution.

You don’t see the sky as you walk into the clinic. You step up to the desk and ask for a form. The receptionist smiles at you; she has full breasts and the eyes of a mother. She passes you the form. “Your name and personal information aren’t required,” she assures you. “Just fill out your problem’s name, and whatever else you can think of. Okay? We have a very nice sitting room over there.” She points over to a door. You walk through it.

There aren’t any windows in the sitting room; it doesn’t even have a vent. You relax in the dim artificial lighting.

The room is warm, but not uncomfortably so, almost like your bed. A baby powder smell quiets your senses as you put pen to paper.

You fill out all you can; you know your problem personally, so you have much to write down: his address, his telephone number, his relations, etc. There’s a brief question at the very end: Do you want to be there at the time of the termination? You hesitate, and check “no.”

28 | The Spin

You feel an odd sense of pride when you return to the desk and hand the receptionist the form.

“Thank you,” she smiles. Such a warm, beautiful smile.

She reaches into a filing cabinet beneath her desk and produces a DVD in a white cover. “This is an informational guide for your emotional convenience. We highly recommend you take it.” She looks you in the eye. You understand. You take it.

Weight is lifted from your shoulders as you walk out the door; someone else wants to come in, and you hold the door open for them. You step onto the sidewalk and realize you feel as though you’ve done nothing. Nothing but sign a form. And the receptionist - oh so pretty. How could you be a murderer when she smiled at you so prettily?

As you walk to your transportation, someone bumps into you as he strolls away from the neighboring Starbucks, his nose in some sort of book. He apologizes and fumbles; he loses his grip on his book. You help him pick it up. As you hand it to him, you take your first glance at his face. It takes you a moment; for him, the recognition is instant. It’s your problem’s partner. He smiles at you; he talks to you. He asks what you’ve got folded in your arm. You press it to yourself. You devalue the DVD until it is meaningless. He blinks; his smile pales. He has you

Arts &Culture pinned. He’s ripping into you with his fangs and claws, even though he’s not moving, not even speaking.

You tell him you have somewhere to be. He lets you pass.

When you get home, you sit down and watch the video. The imagery is very calming. The narrator has the same voice patterns of the receptionist back at the clinic. “Mistakes happen,” she tells you. “Don’t let others’ mistakes get in your way. It is your destiny, your choice.

You can’t be bothered to shoulder other people’s burdens. You’re the victim here.” You nod. You agree. “There are those who would call you a killer. Their simplistic close-mindedness and lowered IQ make them physically incapable to see the necessity of Plan, and how we - together - make this world a better place. Should you run into these sociopaths, feel free to come back and fill out an application for their termination. We’re healthier when we take out the trash!” You nod. You agree.

A day passes. You get the call that your problem has been terminated. You don’t see him at work. You smile.

You’re pleased.

A few days later. Kafkaesque memories and Iron Maiden dreams dog your heels. You keep seeing his face.

But how? But why? Your thoughts are hanging you by the neck: Maybe he could have changed? Was he as bad as I thought he was? Did he deserve it? You find a bridge. You stare at the water. And you do nothing.

It’s three AM. You were re-watching the Plan DVD; you had fallen asleep right when the narrator told you to take out the trash. The knock at your front door jerks you awake. Your vision is a scatter of blurs; you stare at the nearby clock until your mind has some sense of the time. Another knock at the door, persistent. A vision of a loved relative drenched in blood and tears flashes in your groggy mind, and you jump out of your seat. You throw open the door: a baby-faced twenty-year-old kid in a powder blue suit flashes his pearl white teeth at you in an intimate smile. He lifts up a box with a photo of a vacuum cleaner printed on it. “Hello! My name’s Robbie! Mind if I check out your floor?”

You can’t answer him. His charisma lets him into the room and practically pushes you aside. “Did you know that there are tens of thousands of microbes living on your carpets and floors right now? These bacteria carry tens of thousands of diseases, that can lead to sickness, fatigue, and even death!” Robbie reaches for the door; he hurls it closed; it slams like a gavel. He reaches into his box; a shotgun slides out. He points it at you. You look

down it. You do nothing. What can you do?

The gunshot is thunderous. You don’t feel the bullet penetrate, but your body becomes heavy with its weight as it lodges into your spinal chord. You melt rather than fall to the floor. Blood comes quickly; you exhale it, you cough it, you leak it, you leak it everywhere. You’re leaking.

You hear the door swing open. Hesitant footsteps. A face lurks over you, and you manage to raise your eyes.

Your problem’s partner is the last vivid image you see.

He steps back as another man comes in, with your body bag and stretcher. Hugging himself, the partner leaves.

They take your remains to Plan’s clinic. Problems are neither buried nor cremated. Their coroners take knives and pliers and saws, and you become a slab of meat to them. “Which part would Dr. Tiller like? How much is Dr. Gosnell offering? We should let Dr. Morgentaler take a look at this one and evaluate. Would it be worth more apart, or whole?”

You’re worth more to them apart. They dissect your legs. Your brain is vacuumed out of your skull. Your skin is scraped off. Your heart is cut out, and its stillness throbs as they raise it to the gods and the cannibals.

What is left is to be thrown down a shoot and into a bin of hazardous waste, where you, your problem, and other problems are to be scattered in the muddy trash of a landfill, where the ravens and the buzzards and the seagulls will be the last to love you.

Before the orderlies come in to send your jigsaw bits away, the doctors gather about your disassembled remains. Their bodies sway, uniform, like the wave of an ocean.

They whisper to themselves, to each other, to you, to what is left of you, and their surgical masks twitch. They thumb imaginary rosaries. In their minds, gods that still do not exist twinkle in the heavens. Their gloves are stained in blood and bile. They hold hands. Their bodies lean forward in mechanical unison, and they relax, still.

They whisper: “We’re sorry, we’re sorry; you just weren’t a part of the plan.”

“You are worth more to them apart.”

The Spin | 29

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