April 7, 2016 issue 13 Loquitur

Editorial

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WE ARE THE

LOQUITUR 2015-2016 Editorial Staff EDITOR IN CHIEF JILL NAWOYSKI

THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016

Why is society so quick to judge a mental disease?

According to www.merriam-webster.com, addiction is a

by paparazzi for it.

strong and harmful need to regularly have something (such

There are many ways that someone may obtain the dis-

as a drug) or do something (such as gamble). According

ease of addiction. Genetics plays one of the more significant

to www.medicinenet.com, addiction is an uncontrollable

roles. For example, having a family history of alcoholism

NEWS EDITOR ABBIE KEEFE JILL NAWOYSKI

craving, seeking and use of a substance such as alcohol or

can make an individual four times more likely to become an

another drug. Dependence is such an issue with addiction

alcoholic. Over 60 percent have this history. Mental health

SPORTS EDITORS KEVIN MOYLETT RENEE OLIVER

that stopping is very difficult and causes severe physical

disorders, such as anxiety or depression, early use of drugs,

and mental reactions.

social environment and traumatic childhood experiences

MANAGING EDITOR ABBIE KEEFE MULTIMEDIA WEB EDITOR SAM JACOBS

LIFESTYLES EDITORS DOMINIQUE DINARDO PAT WHALEN PERSPECTIVES EDITOR KATIE MUSKA PHOTO EDITOR EMILY ROWAN SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR BRI MORELL MARKETING & CIRCULATION JATARA ALLEN ANESIA MEREDITH ADVISER JEROME ZUREK

MISSION The Loquitur student newspaper and website are integral parts of the educational mission of the Cabrini Communication department, namely, to educate students to take their places in the public media.

The newspaper and website provide a forum of free expression. All members of the college community may submit work to the editors for possible inclusion. Publication is based on the editorial decision of the student editors.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Loquitur accepts letters to the editors. They should be less than 500 words, usually in response to a current issue on Cabrini College’s campus or community area and are printed as space permits. Name, phone number and address should be included with submissions for verification purposes. All letters to the editors must be e-mailed to loquitur@ cabrini.edu

So, what makes this disease so believed to be seen as fail-

also may strengthen the chances of obtaining this disease.

ure in society? Why are these victims of the mind labeled

The stigma of this mental disease is real, and it is our job

with such harsh terms such as “junkies” or “drunks?” The

to be understanding and compassionate citizens of society

stigma is alive and well, and the media’s unruly lust of ce-

to help aid the decreation of this unwanted brand.

lebrities and the rich and famous are only fueling the fire.

Addicts are looked down upon and celebrities are hunted

Breaking the stigma of student suicides: an all too common reality

BY CASEY SEMENZA Assistant News Editor “I thought how unpleasant it is to be locked out, and I thought how it is worse perhaps to be locked in,” she wrote in the note.

“For you mom…the necklaces…For you, Nana & Papa…GingerSnaps (always reminds me of you)…For you Ingrid…The Happiness Project. And Dad…the Godiva chocolate truffles. I love you all…I’m sorry. I love you.”

This suicide note was released a year after the passing of University of Pennsylvania student, Madison Holleran. Her parents felt the need to share this letter to help others going through the same struggle of depression and thoughts of suicide. College is meant to be the time of young people’s lives. A time to explore manage your time, skip class, regret decisions, learn from them and finally, graduate with a degree to show for all your hard work and dedication.

But some students feel the weight of the world on their shoulders. For students that are fully involved in their academic life, social life and family life, college can go from fun to stressful in one semester.

The pressure to be perfect is constantly pushed among students in college. Young men and women focus their lives on a 4.0 GPA while working out everyday but also trying to be fully committed to their friends and family as well as juggling eating healthy, getting enough sleep and not missing a beat.

“College is extremely stressful. There seems to be a constant tug-of-war between different responsibilities,” Amber McVaugh, president of Active Minds club, said.

This scary reality hits students at a very young age when brains are still processing at a pace that was never meant to be breakneck.

Many students feel they are alone in this battle of stress and anxiety. But the biggest thing to understand is that there are others going through the same struggle.

Cabrini has a chapter with the club Active Minds which is a nationwide organization

that increases student awareness of mental health issues and provides information as well as biweekly meetings that encourage students to seek help and confide in peers.

“As someone who has attempted suicide before, I know a little about what it’s like to feel empty enough to consider ending your own life,” McVaugh said. “But I’ve learned the best way to handle the stress is to put aside some time everyday to recollect myself.”

Most students seem to have it all together. From posting accomplishments and accolades on Facebook to sharing photos on Instagram of them having more fun, meeting more people and finding better parties, it is easy to fall under the spell that no one understands the struggle of being perfect.

“There is most definitely a pressure to be perfect, but that’s almost unavoidable in today’s day and age,” McVaugh said. “The best way to get through each day is to remind yourself that you should always only strive to be the best possible version of yourself.”

According to collegedegreeresearch.net, suicide rates on college campuses have increased over 200 percent in the past 50 years.

Not only has the pressure of doing well in all aspects of life affected students more in this generation, but social media is attributed to the feeling of “not good enough,” as well.

Going on social media platforms and seeing others living what seems to be a better life has caused the emotional health of college freshman to decline to the lowest rate in 25 years.

Two years ago at a University close to Cabrini, a young woman, Madison Holleran, faced the pressure to excel in every aspect of her life. From being the top athlete and never having a grade lower than an A to being the social butterfly, Holleran felt the burden of meeting the highest standards. On Friday, Jan. 17, 2014, Holleran, a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania, jumped off the top of a parking garage, killing herself.

The shock rippled across campuses locally

and nation-wide. According to the NYTimes, “Holleran was the third of six Penn students to commit suicide in a 13-month stretch.”

The suicide rate among 15 to 24-year-olds has steadily increased since 2007. Now the most common mental health issues among college students is anxiety and depression.

Cabrini offers psychological services to those going through these emotions. The counseling center has three trained professionals who are constantly working to help students find the guidance they need.

According to collegedegreeresearch.net, suicide rates on college campuses have increased over 200 percent in the past 50 years.

Not only has the pressure of doing well in all aspects of life affected students more in this generation, but social media is attributed to the feeling of “not good enough,” as well.

Going on social media platforms and seeing others living what seems to be a better life has caused the emotional health of college freshman to decline to the lowest rate in 25 years.

If a student is looking to become more active on campus for mental health or is just looking for support, Active Minds invites those individuals to participate in Cabrini’s chapter.

“Sometimes it’s hard for students to reach out to adult counselors with their issues, so we try to keep an open and accepting environment for those with suicidal thoughts,” McVaugh said. “Sometimes it’s a simple smile that can save a life. Small actions move mountains.”

CASEY.SEMENZA@GMAIL.COM

THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016

News

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By: Ashley Sierzega Week of March 10, 2016 Friday, April 1 Friday, April 1 North Carolina passed a law that eliminated protection for gay and transgender people a restricted which bathroom transgender people use. Transgender people have to use the public bathroom that matches the gender on their birth certificate.The law created a statewide anti-discrimination policy, but it did not include specific protections based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Now Obama and the federal government are threatening to withdrawal federal aid because of it. This could send the state into budget crisis.

Even though taking away federal aid is drastic and unlikely it puts the state on notice and makes them aware of the financial consequences they will have to face because of the new law.

Workers that handle quartz countertops are at risk for exposure to silica which is connected to silicosis. This is a debilitating and deadly lung disease. Processed quartz contains silica levels up to 90 percent. As the slabs are processed to be used in homes the large amounts of silica are released into the air where workers are then exposed to it and breathe it in. Silica can also cause kidney disease. This is not only a problem in the US but in other countries as well. Israel has 300 reported cases of workers with this disease. Twenty-two have undergone lung transplants. Only when the counter tops are being processed is there a risk to silica exposure. Once the product is in someone’s home they are not harmful.

Adderall: the risky “study buddy”

BY JACLYN LABES Assistant News Editor

On college campuses, students use Adderall as a “quick fixer” when it comes to studying, but that’s not why this stimulant was developed or why it’s prescribed.

The increase in non-prescribed users of Adderall between the ages of 18-24, according to the results from an informal questioning conducted at Cabrini College and other nearby colleges, is extreme.

Why do students think that using Adderall as a “study buddy” is ok?

Results from the informal questioning explained how students used “addies” to improve academically, but the awareness of their knowledge of abusing Adderall is startling.

Non-prescribed students use this drug for various purposes, but they disregard that it is illegal to take a controlled substance without a prescription.

How does taking Adderall affect someone?

Adderall is a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, also referred to as central nervous system stimulants. These stimulants affect chemicals in the brain and nerves that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control.

Some students take Adderall with a doctor’s prescription.“I was first prescribed Adderall when I was a freshman in high school. It decreased my appetite and increased my metabolism so I lost a good amount of weight. It also made my mouth really dry so I drank a lot of water,” Jenna Labes, freshman undecided business student at Saint Joseph's University, said.

Other students take Adderall without a prescription. "I have never been prescribed Adderall; however, I have taken it before,”Todd Walker, junior biology major, said. When I took it, my appetite was suppressed throughout the duration of the day, I essentially had tunnel vision in regards to getting my work and studying done. I definitely benefited from the effects of it, but I would not take it unless in complete despair.

The side effects of Adderall vary and depend on each person's use of other medications or health problems.

Doctors are concerned that so many students are unaware of the dangers of abusing Adderall.

“A big issue concerning the abuse of Adderall arises when a patient takes the medication without a prescription from their doctor.”

Dr. Robert Lawlor, a physician at Devon Family Practice, said. “Taking this abusive drug without the awareness of its side effects could end up being fatal if someone takes it and has a heart condition. Whether or not the individual knows about their heart condition, the issue at hand is that they do not know how Adderall could put them at risk.”

Why do students take Adderall without a prescription?

Many college students believe it is understandable to take this medication when there is an endless amount of work to be done in an environment that is constantly over scheduled and chaotic.

"I do think that some students are aware of the potential dangers of misusing stimulant drugs,” Walker said. But overall, I would have to say that the general student population is oblivious to the facts about Adderall.”

Those startling results have experts worried about this increasing behavior of using a Schedule II Substance without a prescription.

The Drug Enforcement Administration refers to a Schedule II Substance as a chemical or substance with high potential for abuse.

According to a study conducted by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, individuals with and without ADHD misuse stimulants.

The survey explained the importance of young adults having

knowledge of how Adderall can impact their health. Both prescribed and non-prescribed users are at risk if they are misusing these medications. Therefore, each of those target populations need to know how the drug can impact them in different ways depending on whether or not they have ADHD. How do students without a prescription for Adderall obtain this drug?

52 out of 60 non-prescribed student users of ADHD medication admitted to obtaining Adderall from a friend.

How do prescribed users abuse their own medication?

If a student who is constantly taking a higher dosage of Adderall than prescribed, they may need a higher dosage prescribed or they might have an addiction.

“Personally, when I drink coffee while I am on Adderall my heartbeat increases, which is uncomfortable and scary at times,” Labes said. “Caffeine increases Adderall’s effect on a person, making the drug react in a way it is not meant for”.

Raising awareness throughout college campuses of the dangers of misusing ADHD medications is important.

Students must remember that even though taking Adderall, for whatever purpose, seems to be the “norm,” there are potential dangers that could put them at risk if they decide to take the medication.

“No addict tries to be an addict, it just happens because they are not aware of the consequences of drug,” Labes said.

Value Prop Interactive Description: is looking to offer a qualified intern an opportunity to learn advanced online and traditional marketing techniques and skills in a B2B environment. The intern will work on internal marketing efforts as well as those of the clients.

Location: Malvern, PA Desired Majors: Graphic Design, Business, Communications Compensation: $10/hrJob-Source Code: 14011 Casting Intern Description: Mike Lemon Cating is in search fo hard working and organized individuals with passion in the enterntainment industry. This internship is great for learning behindthe-scenes opportunitiesand must be reliable.

Individual must be detail oriented and be able to commit to a minimum of 12 hours a week.

Location: King of Prussia, PA Desired Majors: Business, CommunicationsCompensation: Unpaid Job-Source Code: 13997

JACLYNLABES@GMAIL.COM

HR Intern Description:The Borgen Project is looking for a huMAN relations intern who will work remotely and be involved in updating job postings, aiding with fundraising cmpaigns as well as any other various tasks needed.

Applicants must be able to commit to 16 hours a week for this position.

College credits are available.

Location: Nationwide Desired Majors: AnyCompensation: Unpaid Job-Source Code: 14011

CAELAN WORYK / PHOTO FOR PUB

Some students try taking adderall in college to help them focus on their school work and many assignments.

If you are interested in any of these positions, please visit the Career Center or contact career@ cabrini.edu

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THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016

HopeWorx: building the road to a better recovery

BY JESS TENNETT Staff Writer Mental Illness is often categorized as a disease that cannot be treated, and that once diagnosed, a normal life is not possible. People often believe that those with mental illness are incapable of living normal lives, but in reality, they are capable of living lives just like anyone else.

In 1994, the Consumer Satisfaction Team of Montgomery County was founded. Eventually the team moved on to advocacy programs and turning their work place into an opportunity for those with lived experience to gain skills for the workplace. Thus, in 2010, they changed their name to HopeWorx.

HopeWorx does more than advocate for those with lived experience. They have created programs to help those who are affected gain the necessary skills to make a healthy recovery.

“Unless people have a personal experience with people who have lived with mental illness, many people think of mental illness as a specific label, a diagnosis that is clear and defines a person experience,” Sue Shannon, the executive director of HopeWorx, said.

The problem is that people assume that everyone with a specific mental illness experiences the same symptoms.

For example, bi-polar disorder is comprised of several symptoms and every person lives and deals with the symptoms differently.

HopeWorx strives to build community through different events and partnerships with outside groups or schools. They are in partnership with an ECG 200 level class at Cabrini called HopeWorx: Advocacy and Empowerment in Montgomery County.

The class is taught by Cassie Beckowski, and the goal of the class is to provide students with a better understanding of Mental Health. There is a big connection between education and advocacy. Their small efforts can bring about a big change in society. ”Small efforts can bring about significant changes, whether in the life of one person, the operations of an organization like HopeWorx, or the reform of a policy or system,” Cassie Beckowski, an ECG 200 level teacher, said.

HopeWorx benefits from Cabrini students because it helps them look at their mission through the eyes of people outside the mental health community. By working with students they are raising their community and awareness by students creating twitter posts, and creating a “brand” for themselves.

“I hope that students in the social justice classes that have worked on projects around the work of HopeWorx have gained as much insight as we have from the process of collaborating," Shannon said.

HopeWorx does not just work with those individuals gaining skills for the workplace, but with family members on how to self-advocate. They also have a HopeMarket, which anyone can attend to buy items for their house.

“Working with HopeWorx last year challenged me to start thinking intentionally and deeply about the significance and impact of mental health in our society,”Beckowski said.

Individuals work with doctors, therapists, and other supporters that they choose on their specific mental health issues. This in turn helps them find a recovery path that works best for them, and the people around them.

"This class has made me think about mental health in a different way," Frankie Formisiano, a sophomore exercise

science major, said " It is such an underrated topic in politics and congress."

TENNETT23@GMAIL.COM

JESS TENNETT / STAFF WRITER

HopeWorx creates special programs for those who are affected to gain necessary skills.

Psychologists across the country unite to defend their field

BY MOLLY SEAMAN Assistant News Editor

and the program is really preparing you for attending graduate school or even entering a career right after graduation.”

However, some politicians such as Scott seem to disagree that students with a degree in psychology will be able to find a job.

What happens when the governor of your state trash talks your major?

"If I'm going to take money from a citizen to put into education then I’m going to take That’s exactly what happened in Florida. This is what Governor Rick Scott had to say that money to create jobs," Scott said. "I want that money to go to degrees where people about psychology majors: “You know, we don't need a lot more anthropologists in the state. It's a great degree can get jobs in this state. Is it a vital interest of the state to have more anthropologists? I if people want to get it, but we don't need them here. I want to spend our dollars giving don't think so.”

According to Dr. Halonen’s study, fewer than 25 percent of students work directly in a people science, technology, engineering and math degrees. That's what our kids need to focus all their time and attention on. Those type of degrees. So when they get out of psychology field following graduation. This is because with a bachelor’s degree, the average salary is $30,000. However, with a Ph.D a psychologist can make $70,000 annually. school, they can get a job."

“There are certainly some degrees that are money Scott recently created a plan that makers from the get-go. You can have a degree in certain would virtually abolish the funding of all areas and be employed straight after your undergraduate social science and liberal arts programs career,” Terlecki said. “Psychology is not necessarily in at major universities in Florida. that category because in Psychology we assume that you “Allowing funds for a degree in psyneed to go on to further your education either through a chology is important especially since masters, Ph.D or other related fields. This is because we there is so much more to learn about are a more applied discipline.” why we are who we are and act the way Not only has Scott insulted psychology majors across we do,” sophomore psychology major the country, he has called their profession and their Amy Collins said. “There are so many dreams, well, useless. people who deal with constant sympHowever, Halonen’s study found that psychology stutoms like anxiety or depression, but are dents are going on to work for a wide variety of employafraid to get help or get diagnosed beers. The list included children’s homes, social service cause people don't always see mental agencies, the juvenile division of a superior court as well illness as important as a physical illness.” as the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Psychology is one of the most popular “Our degree at Cabrini can really be applied to a lot fields of study in the United States. of different career paths. Students don’t just become psyAccording to a recent study by Dr. chologists they work in human resources, business, we’ve Jane S. Halonen, professor of psychology even had majors become police officers,” Terlecki said. & dean of the College of Arts & Sciences “So really the skills that we teach in our discipline can be University of West Florida, psychology is applied to a wide range of career opportunities as well as one of the most popular undergraduate provide life satisfaction. Understanding other people and degrees in the country. In fact the major yourself is important.” is ranked in the top three most popular Cabrini College students such as sophomore psycholareas of study nationwide. ogy major Amy Collins find this statement to be true.

“Simply having a degree in psycholo“Personally I was interested in psych because I am exgy I feel has opened my mind to better GRAPHIC DESIGNED BY MOLLY SEAMAN life satisfaction. Understanding my relationships, understanding myself regardless with posed to mood disorders including bipolar disorder in my family and wanted to learn what I ended up doing with my degree is so beneficial,” chair and associate professor of how to help people who have this disorder as well as learn how it is developed,” Collins psychology, Melissa Terlecki, said. “I think just being exposed to psychology whether you said.

Despite certain politicians efforts such as Scott’s to decrease interest in the major inturn into a psychologist or not is helpful for your own mental health and the understandterest in the major has only grown. ing of other’s mental health and well being.”

“Once everyone went to high school, a high school diploma was not as valued. Same Terlecki graduated from the College of New Jersey with her Bachelor in psychology goes for college, not everyone went to college so a degree was highly valued,” Terlecki and later went on to receive a Ph.D in cognitive neuroscience from Temple University.

Psychology is the fourth most popular program of study at Cabrini College. Not only said. Now everyone goes to college whether you’re ready for it, prepared for it, or if you’re is it one of the most popular, but one of the most respected and advanced departments college material or not. So in a way, graduate school is the new college. We prepare our students to take their college education to the next level which sets them apart from other on campus.

“The Cabrini psych department is so popular due to the amazing professors who go students.” out of their way to make sure all of the students are getting the best education possible,” sophomore psychology major Francesca DiGregorio said. “They are all so encouraging MISSMOLLYS96@GMAIL.COM

THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016

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Advocating for health care for the unheard voices in our society

Depression: Know the signs and save lives

BY JACLYN LABES Assistant News Editor

BY ANNA LAQUINTANO Assistant Lifestyles Editor

The unheard voices in our society continually struggle to receive the health care services they need in order to address not only their medical issues, but also, their mental health related needs.

The current United States healthcare budget is at an all-time high. Despite the amount of dollars dedicated to healthcare spending, there is an overwhelming gap pertaining to the demand for increased research funding for Autism. The dire need specific to autism is directed to enhancements for public awareness and Autism research in terms of increased initiatives that involve community engagement. Community directed programs will assist those individuals on the autism spectrum throughout their lives from childhood to adulthood.

The financial stress of out of pocket costs and the emotional strain of not knowing what a child needs places a lot of stress on parents and caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

According to Christin LaSpina, a mother with four-year-old twins on the Autism Spectrum, “The services that James and Jackson receive under Medicaid include occupational therapy, speech therapy and physical therapy, but the insurance company provider imposes caps on the number of hours and visits available to my children based on what the provider decides they need.”

Christin LaSpina is a young mother who devotes her time to James and Jackson on an everyday basis and on top of handling the financial stress caused by the insurance provider's suboptimal coverage plan for her children, she also places a significant importance on the need to educate individuals studying Respiratory therapy alongside her at West Chester University in order to prepare them to work with Autistic children in the future. An emergency room visit with Jackson showed her first-hand that there is a lack of understanding of staff members in a hospital setting relating to children with ASD in order to be equipped with the knowledge and the tools to

improve the quality of care they are receiving.

According to U.S. National Library of Medicine, the number of adult autistic patients in emergency room visits has increased in recent years. In addition, as stated by the American Academy of Pediatrics, parents and doctors both have referred to emergency room departments being particularly inadequate in dealing and how they serve the needs of autistic children.

“My children shouldn’t be punished because I am a single mom and I don’t have my own health care plan,” LaSpina said. “There is so much research on the effectiveness of Assistive Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy, but Pennsylvania does not offer it in its plan, therefore it is not as accessible to certain families and individuals with disabilities."

The American health care system imposes significant challenges and barriers to parents of autistic children when they face the difficulties of not being able to get coverage for the services their child needs.

“There are so many loopholes to so many insurance companies,” Jennifer Naddeo, mother of 12-year-old twin boys on the Autism Spectrum, said. “It is so draining because on top of taking care of the family and making sure the boys get to school, I am constantly busy trying to figure out how to manage because you have to be an advocate 24/7 for these children."

Jennifer Naddeo, who was named 2010 New Jersey Mother of the Year on behalf of her work with children with disabilities, explains how as a mother of two twin boys, Justin and Jonathan, she sees the world through a unique lens. On top of being an advocate, Naddeo also is a proponent of inclusion and makes sure that her children get the opportunities to get out and gain experience within the community.

Naddeo, a Cabrini College alumna, and LaSpina, both place a significant amount of importance to further education in our communities to better understand not just both of their son's needs, but the overall gap in our society of education on ASD for anyone diagnosed on the spectrum to thrive throughout their lives.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network report, approximately one in 68 children in the United States are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

“The increase in the amount of children with autism and the factors that have caused it, whether it be an environmental factor or related medical factors, needs to be addressed in the upcoming election,” LaSpina said.

Even though the Affordable Care Act (ACA) provided more people with the right to purchase health insurance, it was not mandatory that providers had to accept it. Therefore, there is still a long road ahead for the health care system that currently does not provide its citizens with a right to universal health care.

In effort to provide access to services and health care plans for the autism community, the current democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, has proposed an Autism plan to support children, youth and adults living with autism and their families.

“As an advocate of 12 years, I believe that every current presidential candidate should have a health insurance plan,” Naddeo said.

“These children that are struggling are our workforce future and the state and insurance companies need to put the time in to make sure that they receive the care they need now as well as in the future. We should not be picking and choosing, there needs to be more programs and plans to help families and children get the services they need. Parents of autistic children are so exhausted but combined we are a large organization that is sometimes not heard as much in the news.”

The advocacy efforts of LaSpina and Naddeo to drive community involvement in ASD awareness are powerful and meaningful examples of the on-going pioneering actions needed to make a difference now and in the future.

JACLYNLABES@GMAIL.COM

Depression is a prevalent problem in colleges today.

It stems from many different ‘stressors,’ which include experiencing firsts such as a new lifestyle, friends, roommates, an exposure to a new culture and different ways of thinking.

According to an article reviewed by George Krucik, MD, 1 out of every 4 college students suffer from some form of mental illness, including depression. In the past 15 years, depression in college students has nearly doubled and suicide rate has tripled. College is a stressful time for most students. The workload becomes overbearing and the pressure to do your best sometimes stresses students out tremendously.

The National Institute of Mental Health states that “depression is a serious mood disorder. It causes severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working.”

Depression can lead to many other factors if not treated. Substance abuse, self-harm and suicide are only few of the big factors students turn too if not treated for depression. Kaitlyn O’Hara, a social worker who works with teens and young adults, said “The amount of cases have unfortunately increased within the few years I have been here. Teens come in and talk about how all of the stress in their lives lead to depression and anxiety, It is definitely more common today then it was years ago,” On campus, Active Minds as well as Psychological Services work hard to make sure that people are aware of mental health issues on campus.

April is mental health awareness month. Both groups run activities and conversations to raise awareness and inform students about this rising issue.

“Students on college campuses need to know that help is really out there,” O’Hara said. “If you are struggling, do not be afraid to reach out for help. Depression can often lead to suicide, which is the third leading cause of death in young teens. Speaking up can really save lives."

ALAQUINTANO@GMAIL.COM

PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY CHRISTIN LASPINA

Christin LaSpina is the mother of two twin boys with autism. She has been a strong advocate of her sons for their whole lives.

PERSPECTIVES

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THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016

Are students Employees turned killers: undermining Should job mental health screenings be required? mental health? BY MOLLY SEAMAN troversial subject. Should employers require The employer can only ask for medical

BY MADISON WORLEY Staff Writer

CREATIVE COMMONS

Depression and anxiety are real issues that often get passed off as “over-dramatic.”

College is a scary time for most young adults. For the past eighteen years we have relied on our parents for food, money, clothes, housing and any help we needed with time management or schooling. All in a period of three short summer months that life style completely changes, and it is terrifying.

If you walk down any college hallway, at least three times you will hear students saying, “I’m so stressed,” or “I am freaking out, my anxiety is through the roof.”

Most of these kids are stressed, but will manage to get their work done, but what about the kids that cannot get over leaving home and the stress?

Depression and anxiety are serious situations kids deal with in college, some cases can even be deadly.

In 2014, Madison Holleran of the University of Pennsylvania had the perfect life. She ran track at an Ivy league school, was young and had her whole life ahead of her. But five months into freshman year, she could not take the stress of college and committed suicide. This tragic story just happened to go viral, but what about the cases that stay hometown cases?

Being “depressed” has become a term almost every college student uses, but should we think about changing that term? How does this make kids who are actually battling depression feel? Do they feel less important because everyone around them has “depression?”

Should more kids go to counseling for their conditions?

I believe that we should drop the stigma of kids being “overdramatic” and be more sensitive to the fact that some college students are actually dealing with terrible mental problems. If you or someone you know is dealing with mental issues or depression, feel free to contact counseling services located in Grace Hall here on Cabrini’s campus. Depression is not a matter to take lightly. Get help now, before it could be too late.

Assistant News Editor In Northeast Philadelphia, an altercation between two employees turned deadly at the Kraft Food plant.

Yvonne Hiller, 43, was known to have frequent disagreements with her fellow employees; however, no one ever expected the run-in’s to become violent.

Hiller was escorted off the property and stripped of her employee ID the day of the argument. She returned to the plant later that day, however, with a gun.

According to reports, the woman opened fire on four Kraft employees in the break room, killing two and injuring the others.

Hiller’s final words before the shooting?

“I have had enough.”

While the events and causes of similar workplace shootings may vary, some are linked to mental illness.

In 2014, the American Psychological Association conducted a study in which they found only 7.5 percent of crimes were committed by those with a mental illness.

Researchers studied 429 crimes committed by 143 offenders with three major types of mental illness. The study found that crimes were directly related to symptoms of major depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

“The vast majority of people with mental illness are not violent, not criminal and not dangerous,” Dr. Jillian Peterson, the study’s head researcher, stated.

However, one can only wonder after such a horrific event takes place if it could have been prevented.

This brings us to a very touchy and con-

their workers to get mental health screenings before they are hired?

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 18.5 percent of adults in the United States (43.8 million people) battle mental illness every year.

Of the 18.5 percent dealing with mental illness, only 4.2 percent find themselves unable to work due to the symptoms.

These numbers have prompted several employers to look into screening their employee’s mental health. However, there are several laws that protect workers from this process.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides protection that prevents acts of discrimination toward the mentally and physically impaired in the workplace.

Serious mental illness is considered a protected disability under the ADA. Because of this, employers are not allowed to screen for mental illness before the candidate is hired.

records once a job offer is made if they follow suite with ALL employees. This eliminates the potential of discrimination within the workplace.

According to an article written by Jay P. Holland, a lawyer at Joseph Greenwald law firm in Pennsylvania, one of the best ways to understand and better a situation is through education.

“One best practice is to develop an awareness program that educates employees on the types of mental illnesses and their symptoms. Such a program should be offered by a professional who has experience delivering mental illness awareness programs in workplace settings,” Holland said. “In addition, any awareness program should provide employees with information about the company’s mental health resources and how to access them.”

MISSMOLLYS96@GMAIL.COM

EMILY ROWAN / PHOTO EDITOR

Several employers have begun to look into mental health screenings for new employees.

Controversial shirt sparks debate

BY MOIRA PRIOR Staff Writer

The clothing store Forever 21 came out with a distasteful male logo t-shirt that had the words ‘Don’t say maybe if you want to say no.’ It was definitely a mistake on the store’s part to put the shirt in the store. The t-shirt is basically promoting victimblaming.

Many people stormed to Twitter about the shirt and its negative impact. Different twitter accounts were outraged and many of the comments said they would refrain from

shopping there again.

Did Forever 21 even look over the shirt before it hit the shelves?

Even after all the commotion on Twitter, it took the store several days to take action of taking the shirt. I think using this shirt as a ‘humorous’ basic tee was completely inappropriate and they should be double checked when made to avoid future problems.

It recently pulled down the t-shirt from its website and said it “sincerely apologizes to anyone who was offended by the product.” The uprise on social media was a great impact on

their decision and Forever 21 seems to care more about what their customers are saying than a shirt they could be selling.

Urban Outfitters has also had a similar controversy involving a 2014 faux-vintage T-shirt that appeared to reference the 1970 shooting at Kent State by featuring the school’s logo surrounded by red splatters that resemble blood stains.

Target also ran into some issues after the “‘I have OCD’, Obsessive Christmas Disorder” shirt was released. Target, however, did not pull the shirt off of the shelves. While some

people are upset and think Target is mocking a mental disorder, others think of it as bringing awareness to this disorder by talking about it.

It looks like striking controversy in clothing stores is not that uncommon. Maybe they should just stick to no logos or ones that will not offend anyone.

Bottom line, rape slogans should not be humorous or be sold on t-shirts in stores to raise sales.

PRIORMOIRA@GMAIL.COM

MADISONWORLEY3@GMAIL.COM CREATIVE COMMONS

One of Forever 21’s newest shirts reads, “Don’t say maybe if you want to say no” and has brought major controversy.

PERSPECTIVES

THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016

THELO QUITUR.COM | 7

S p r e a d t h e Wo r d t o E n d t h e Wo r d

BY NICOLE SOKOLOVICH Assistant Perspectives Editor

Sometimes we say things we do not mean, or maybe we do but do not realize how hurtful it can actually be. Certain words we say have a different meaning to them. The words “retard” or “gay” hurt people’s feelings because they are often used in negative contexts.

Spread the Word to End the Word is an ongoing effort to raise the consciousness of society about the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the word “retard(ed)” and to encourage people to pledge to stop using the R-word.

For those of you who do not know about Spread the Word to End the Word, annual awareness day is the first Wednesday of the month of March. However, people can spread awareness year-round.

Just like any other issues in the world, people have their own opinions on the R-word or any other offensive word for that matter. If you ask me, a person who

CREATIVE COMMONS

Words like “retard” and “gay” are extremely offensive to many people. occasionally uses the R-word, I truly believe the word can really hurt one’s feelings and may cause more damage than we think.

Every day kids are bullied and called

names when they are at school and now with social media, bullying continues even at home. The R-word is a word bullies use relatively frequently and kids get really upset and do not know the repercussions.

If we were to teach kids to end the negative use of the word, it would become more of a habit to not use the word.

Like I stated before, I am unfortunately a frequent user of the R-word, but I do not say it to hurt anyone’s feelings, I say it out of habit and mostly in reference to myself.

Regardless, it is a bad habit and I wish I did not say it as much.

For those of you who use the word like I do, try not to. I know you do not mean to hurt people’s feelings but it does a lot more damage than you may think. You may not know who is around you when you’re saying it.

For those of you who say it to intentionally hurt someone’s feelings, stop. Be an example for kids and for those around you. We want to thrive in this world by making it a better place and to be nicer to each other.

NICSOCO5@GMAIL.COM

Surviving the end: pushing through the second semester

BY CAELAN WORYK Assistant Perspectives Editor

CREATIVE COMMONS

Students work to stay focused as classes come to an end.

The end of the semester is nearly on the horizon, and if we are all being honest, it hass been on our minds since the start of the semester. College is a stressful time with so many different things going on: assignments, projects, papers, midterms and finals. Keeping up with all of these expectations without a doubt becomes more difficult if

you are wishing the time away.

It is difficult not to become overwhelmed with all of the expectations that ensure with being a full-time college student. For me, I have a few coping strategies in hopes of maintaining my GPA, grades and a positive outlook on things.

To me, it is very important to wake up on the right side of the bed in the morning, if you know what I mean.

When I wake up, I literally lay in my bed and think good thoughts about the day. To my roommates, I probably look outrageously lazy and hopeless while I lay staring at the blank ceiling, but waking up and allotting time to give yourself reassurance that the day can and will be conquered is a very important step to every single one of my days. I believe that your day can go positively or negatively depending on how you look at the day as you wake up.

I try pretty hard not to let myself procrastinate on assignments, but at times it does happen. Sometimes I get caught up in doing things that seem more fun, but time management is key. Allot yourself time to enjoy yourself, but also be sure to remember why you are at college: to gain a degree and hopefully score a successful career path. While those fun things may seem more important to you now, pushing off assignments just causes a snowball

effect later on. If you have homework and want to do outside activities, take your homework outside. Having a good work environment is very beneficial for completing adequate assignments, so allow yourself to relax in the sun while you complete your homework.

In the time in which I am free, I like to go exploring and get my mind and body off campus. This can vary from taking day trips home, to taking day trips to surrounding areas. I myself have always used the outdoors as a way to free my mind and keep positive, so I often hike and enjoy the warm weather while I can. It is so important to form a habit and an outlet in which you can allow your stress to be released. College is overwhelming, but having an outlet that you can escape to can really ease the mental stress that is often felt by students.

Overall, I am getting through the semester just like everyone else: taking everything day by day. Wake up, give yourself a motivational speech or at least think good thoughts, develop an outlet to release your stress, and do your best to avoid procrastination. There are still things to be done before we can completely surrender and enjoy summer, so remember the passions and goals that lead you to attend college and just take it day by day.

CWWORYK@GMAIL.COM

Government should be active in mental health funding

BY ASHLEY SIERZEGA Assistant Perspectives Editor

When I hear the phrase “mental health and schools,” I automatically think back to guidance counselors. I only ever used them for when it was time to apply for scholarships and to colleges. But there are students who use them for other services such as stress and other personal issues going on in their life.

Mental health stretches further than just every day stress. Conditions such as Down Syndrome and Autism are becoming more and more prevalent in society as more and more people are being diagnosed.

When I was first presented with the topic of mental health funding in schools, I knew absolutely nothing about the topic. However, after some research on the internet, I have discovered grants that schools can apply for to gain funding for the support of mental health.

The grants are offered by the U.S. Department of Education and in order to gain funding a school must have a program that develops collaborative efforts between the school-based service system and mental health service systems to treat and diagnose students, enhance availability of crisis intervention services, provide training for school employees, provide assistance to school services, mental health agencies and the families involved, provide linguistically and culturally competent services and evaluate the effectiveness of the program.

I believe that schools should receive funding to sup-

port the education of those who are struggling with mental health based on the number of students they have that need it. There are schools that cater more to people who are living with mental health issues.

When it comes to after school care that promotes mental health, I found few programs. I believe this is where funding should go so children with mental health issues can get assistance with their school work and continue their socialization with their peers.

When it comes down to finding a job, those with mental health issues have a much harder time finding one than those who do not. Their skills can be viewed as limited by employers. Menial jobs like stocking shelves and janitorial work are just two options they have off of a small list.

The government should help families who are taking care of someone with mental health issues. Those with mental health issues require special care and services.

They have higher medical bills and I do not think it is right for a family to have to deal with that without the government assisting them in some way. Health care is such a major issue in this country, but politicians never talk about mental health care.

People with mental health issues make up the majority of the homeless population because of the little opportunity they have to succeed on their own. If the government could offer more programs and financial aid to those with mental health issues, then the homeless population could decrease, as well.

ASHLEYSIERZEGA@GMAIL.COM

CREATIVE COMMONS

Schools can apply for grants to support mental health.

lifestyles

8 | THELOQUITUR.COM

THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016

Memories should last a lifetime

BY EMILY ROWAN Photo Editor

We all have heard about Alzheimer’s disease, we all know it is a disease that affects the memory but it is so much more than that. It was not until my family experienced it did I truly understand the extent of the disease.

I lived though and watched my grandmother whom I called “mom-mom” go from a happy, smart and caring woman to a person who could not even remember how to get out of bed.

She was trapped inside of her own body and her brain no longer functioned.

I was my grandmother’s first grandchild whom she loved and adored. Before she got sick we loved to play card games together and go on walks around her neighborhood. On days when I was sick and could not go to school, she would be the one to take care of me.

I was fairly young when my mom-mom began to forget things and it only got worse over time.

As I grew up my mom-mom’s disease got worse and my family eventually realized this was not a typical case of short-term memory loss. It was Alzheimer’s disease.

Watching a person I loved so much gradually be taken away from my family and me was one of the hardest things we have endured in our lives.

The worst part of our journey was knowing that there was no hope. When someone in a family is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, it is not a battle that can be fought.

There is never hope of remission or being cured. it is just a long painful journey that worsens over time.

The disease affected not only my grandmother but it affected our whole family, mentally, physically and financially.

A recent study that was conducted by The New England Journal of Medicine, titled “Monetary Costs of Dementia in the United States,” examined 856 individuals to determine the prevalence and cost of dementia in men and women over the age of 51.

The researchers at The New England Journal of Medicine found that “the prevalence of dementia rises substantially with increasing age. Among individuals ages 71-74, there is a prevalence of dementia of 2.8%; among those ages 80-84 there was a 13% prevalence; and the rate rises substantially, to 38.5%, among individuals over 90.”

At only 67 years of age my grandmother started showing signs of early-onset dementia.

Having Alzheimer’s disease or any other form of dementia does not just cost you your memory it also costs a lot more money to live.

According to the research, “dementia leads to a total annual

societal cost of $41,000 to $56,000 per case, with a total cost of $157 billion to $215 billion nationwide in 2010.”

The study estimated the total cost of healthcare purchased in 2010 to have been only $109 billion. Caring for people with Alzheimer’s disease continually puts a huge financial strain on many families including mine.

The disease was costing my grandmother her ability to live a full and happy life. Each and every day was becoming more of a struggle.

Eventually it was becoming obvious that my grandmother could no longer care for herself.

My aunt wound up quitting her job to become my grandmother’s full-time caregiver. Money that was saved up in my grandfather’s retirement fund had to be used to care for my grandmother.

Luckily my grandmother was covered under Medicare but that that only paid some of the bills.

My grandfather wound up having to pay extra for a doctor who would make house calls because my grandmother’s disease progressed to the point where she was no longer ambulatory.

The point that she forgot me and and all those who loved her was extremely hard to accept.

Having to reintroduce ourselves to her every time we made a visit never got easier. Not long after that, there became the day where she could no longer talk or communicate with us.

The only thing my family and any family going through this situation can really do is enjoy every day they have with their loved one before it is too late.

There are currently medications on the market that ease the effects of the disease but nothing that gives the person any real hope that they will actually beat the disease.

It is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, one in every three senior citizen dies with the disease or some other form of dementia. It kills more than breast and prostate cancer combined and it can not be slowed, stopped or prevented.

Why is Alzheimer’s disease so overlooked?

According to ALZ.org, over 5 million people in America are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease and that number is expected to rise to almost 7.1 million by the year 2025. Every 66 seconds someone in the United States develops the disease.

Think about it this way, in about the time it takes you to read this article approximately four people will have developed Alzheimer’s.

My mom-mom passed away on Jan. 12, 2010 after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for many years.

After her passing, my family wanted to do something to make a change. We decided to be a part of the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Philadelphia.

Thousands of people from

Philadelphia and the surrounding areas gather together each November to raise money and awareness to end Alzheimer’s Disease.

People battling the disease, family and friends who lost loved ones, current caregivers and people who just want to support the cause walk an approximate 3-mile route in Philadelphia which includes walking through Citizens Bank Park.

After years of feeling helpless the walk is my family’s way to stand up against the disease and honor our loved one’s battle. I hope that eventually more light will be shed upon this silent disease through conversations and events like the walk so that a cure will become a reality and no grandchild will ever have to lose their grandparent the way I lost my mom-mom.

EMILYROSEROWAN@GMAIL.COM

ALL PHOTOS TAKEN BY EMILY ROWAN / PHOTO EDITOR

Rowan supports Alzheimer’s by participating in a walk for her grandmother.

THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016

lifestyles

THELOQUITUR.COM | 9

How the media influences the body image of women

BY ASHLEY SIERZEGA Assistant Perspectives Editor

“The perfect body.”

“Feel your sexiest.”

“Double your cup size.”

Lingerie companies such as Victoria’s Secret use these phrases in their ads and campaigns to convince women and teenage girls to buy their products. They make females feel like the only way they can feel sexy is by giving into the ads and buying the “body transforming” lingerie.

But what does this do to the fragile selfesteem of young girls? They are constantly shown images of too-thin models that only a small percentage of women in the United States actually look like naturally.

These images lead to young women developing eating disorders so they can obtain society’s standard of how women should look. The images are also photoshopped to get rid of the “flaws” the models have such as folds in their skin and birthmarks.

According to the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from an eating disorder at some time in their life.

New Look clothing line in the United Kingdom surveyed 2,000 women about body image and found that “Fifteen percent of 18 to 24-year-olds surveyed, were convinced that the images of models and celebrities in advertisements, magazines and billboards accurately depict what these women look like in real life.”

“Images impact us all the time. We are bombarded with images constantly,” Dr. Michelle Filling-Brown said. “The reality is we cannot avoid these ads and images and they do influence us in some way and it is not something we are totally conscious of.”

Filling-Brown is involved with the Body Language Learning Community, Body Image Coalition and the gender and body studies major/minor.

The NEDA also reported that 69 percent of elementary age girls in the United States that read magazines reported that the pictures influenced their perception of themselves and 47 percent want to lose weight because of the pictures.

They also stated that it is estimated in the United States that 19 percent of adults and three percent of kids are on a diet at any given time. Forty-two percent of children are afraid of becoming fat.

“Ads and magazine covers have headlines about how we should lose pounds, or

BY EMILY CROUSE Assistant Social Media Editor

EMILT ROWAN / PHOTO EDITOR

Victoria’s Secret goes head-to- head with Aerie for different campaign. that we should try to be sexier for someone else rather than tell us that we are fine the way we are,” Filling-Brown said.

Over half of the population of young girls and approximately one-third of boys practice unhealthy weight management habits such as skipping meals, vomiting, taking laxatives, fasting and smoking cigarettes.

The NEDA reported that dieting causes stress, anxiety, depression and low selfesteem. 20 to 25 percent of “normal dieters” progress to having eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.

In the fall of 2014, Victoria’s Secret launched their “Perfect Body” campaign and it was not well received by the public.

The ad displayed a row of seven models who all had the same thin body type.

A Change.org petition was created and requested an apology from the company and that they change their campaign. The petition had over 27,000 signatures after it was written.

The petition said, “Every day women are bombarded with advertisements aimed at making them feel insecure about their bodies in the hope that they will spend money on products that will supposedly make them happier and more beautiful. All this does is perpetuate low self-esteem among women who are made to feel that their bodies are inadequate and unattractive because they do not fit into a narrow standard of beauty.

It contributes to a culture that encourages serious health problems such as negative

body image and eating disorders.”

In response to this, Victoria’s Secret changed their ad and it currently reads “a body for every body.”

“At times the models can make me and anyone feel self-conscious. However, it’s rather sad the horrible diets those models go through just to be a model and the labels that come with it,” sophomore graphic design major Paige Wagner said.

However there is one lingerie company that is changing the societal norm for body image standards. Aerie, the lingerie line of American Eagle Outfitters, launched their campaign #aerieReal.

In a press release that came out at the start of the campaign Jennifer Foyle, Aerie’s Chief Merchandising Officer said, “The purpose of ‘aerie Real’ is to communicate there is no need to retouch beauty, and to give young women of all shapes and sizes the chance to discover amazing styles that work best for them. We want to help empower young women to be confident in themselves and their bodies.”

Jenny Altman, style and fitness expert, began working with the company to help them design merchandise.

CONTINUE READING ONLINE

ASHLEYSIERZEGA@GMAIL.COM

Children with autism need equal treatment

BY ASHLEY SIERZEGA Assistant Perspectives Editor

Ask someone why they are going into education and you hear answers like “my mom was a teacher” or “there was one teacher I had in high school that really inspired me.”

Ask someone why they want to be a special education major on top of an education major and inspiring and uplifting stories that can change a person’s perspective of the education system and the world emerge. That classmate that sits in the back row in ECG class and does not say much can end up having the biggest heart in the world.

“I’m doing special education because I feel everyone has the right to the most education they can get, including those who have disabilities,” sophomore early education and special education major Nick Vivian said. “For students with special needs, their learning style or method

Instagram or Instasad: students measure confidence in likes

and even what they are learning might look totally different than those without disabilities, but they still deserve to be given an education.”

Sophomore special education major Delisa Portland has a learning disability herself and can relate to what kids in a special education classroom are going through.

“I did not start reading until I was in the first grade,” Portland said. “Being behind in reading also effected my writing and spelling. I was not the only student in my school who had to pulled out of the regular classroom to get help.”

Special education majors learn about having inclusive classrooms. This means having a student with a mental or learning disability in class with regular students.

“Students in an inclusive classroom should know that these students have feelings, too,” Portland said. “Just because they cannot do something as well as the others doesn’t make them special in their

own way. Also their peers in the classroom can help them with learning different skills like socialization and how to ask questions in situations.”

Sophomore special education major Jackie Ware was also in special education classes growing up.

“My main reasons for wanting to study special education is to show how important it is to teach students in the best way for them and not just teach the whole class as one just because they are put in one classroom together,” Ware said. “Each of the students is different and will learn in their own way and own time frame.”

However, special education classrooms can vary in how much students are pushed compared to their peers.

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Instagram is something that plays a huge roll in the lives of many teens and young adults.

Everyone is always posting something that can easily leave others feeling like their life sucks.

“I know people who have tried to hang their image based off something on Instagram, and most of the time it’s just to get more ‘likes.’ I think Instagram has affected people both negatively and positively,” sophomore Sara Boulaiche said. “Some people thinks it’s a popularity contest and will do almost anything just to have a lot of likes on their photo and if someone does not get enough likes that can hurt their self esteem. With any social media network they are going to be bullies whose comments hurt people but I don’t think anyone should change themselves just to get likes on a picture.”

Instagram is a great example of social media allowing people to show a highlight reel of their life. Rarely have people ever seen someone post a bad picture or something negative about their life on instagram.

“I definitely think that people do compare themselves to others on insta, especially when it comes to how many likes someone gets on their picture,” senior Alyssa Son said. “I think a lot of people make themselves seem different on Instagram than in real life.”

“People are now using Instagram as a popularity contest based on the amount of likes on a photo,” freshman Katie Kucia said.

Also, it is pretty common for someone to take what others post on instagram as bragging too. With all this going on, it raises the question of what actions people take when they feel inferior or jealous to what someone posts on their Instagram.

“I had a close friend that actually developed an eating disorder which then lead back to issues with social media,” Kutztown University junior Christina Schulter said. “My friend admitted that seeing skinny girls on instagram getting a ton of likes made her jealous.

She was so jealous to the point where she began not eating and starving herself all because she wanted to look good for Instagram.”

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10 | THELOQUITUR.COM

lifestyles

THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016

Eating disorders: are students skinny or starving?

CAELAN WORYK / ASSISTANT PERSPECTIVES EDITOR

Those who struggle with eating disoders seem to have a constant fear of the scale.

BY ALLIE STEIN Assistant Lifestyles Editor

Editor’s note: Some names have been omitted to protect certain sources’ privacy.

Boiling to Death “There’s an expression about a frog that defines my experience really well,” Leslie B. said. “If you put a frog in boiling water, it will jump out to save itself, but if you put a frog in room temperature water and slowly turn up the heat, it will boil to death.”

Leslie was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa when she was 15-years- old.

“I was boiling to death and I had no idea,” Leslie said.

The National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) defines anorexia nervosa as a serious and potentially life-threatening eating disorder that is characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss.

Warning signs and symptoms include intense fear of weight gain, dramatic weight loss and excessive exercise.

Although she was at her worst point when she was diagnosed at 15- years-old, Leslie said everything began a year or so prior, when she was 14-years-old.

“At first, I would skip breakfast because ‘it nauseated me’,” Leslie said. “Then, I stopped eating lunch in the cafeteria at school because ‘nothing appealed to me that day’ and it got to the point where I’d have four bites of dinner before smushing everything around on my plate and throwing it away.”

Looking back now, Leslie realizes that her most severe point was about four months before she began treatment.

“I weighed in at about 100 pounds even,” Leslie said.

“By the time I got to therapy I had gained one pound and I thought it was the end of the world.”

Leslie went to an inpatient clinic the summer she turned 16-years-old. She stayed in inpatient care for about a week and continued outpatient therapy for the subsequent four, where she met with a doctor three times a week.

According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, only one in 10 men and women with eating disorders receive treatment. Only 35 percent of people that do actually receive treatment get it at a specialized facility for eating disorders.

“I don’t know if I really understood what I was doing to myself until after I’d finished therapy,” Leslie said.

“I’ve been in recovery since then, but I don’t consider my anorexia to have ever ended because I still deal with it to this day.”

With the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, eating disorders can be deadly if left untreated.

“I still struggle with the nagging voice in my head on particularly bad days,” Leslie said. “I’m stronger now, though, and I’m much better at ignoring it.”

Looking back, Leslie is proud of herself for how far she has come.

“I know my experience has made me who I am today, but it wasn’t my anorexia that made me stronger. I did that for myself,” Leslie said. “I picked myself up because nobody else did and I pushed myself forward to recovery because nobody else did.”

Most importantly, Leslie hopes to raise awareness for eating disorders and other people who may have similar stories.

“I want people to understand that no one starves themselves or throws up after every meal just for fun or for attention or for their spring break body,” Leslie said.

“It’s an illness.”

“Skinny,” blonde and perfect The NEDA found that girls especially will start to express concerns about their body around the age of six years old.

Additionally, 40-60 percent of girls will become concerned about their weight and develop a fear of becoming “fat” in elementary school.

What does “fat” mean to a six-year-old girl? How could a child so young be able to look in the mirror and say “I am fat.”

This idea of “fat” comes from negative body image.

Psychology Today defines body image as the mental representation one creates, regardless of how closely related it is to how others see you.

“You could be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world,” Tia Iezzi said. “But there is still going to be somebody who hates peaches.”

Iezzi is a 2015 graduate of Temple University. Her fouryear battle with anorexia and bulimia began when she was 16 years old.

Looking back now, Iezzi realizes that the battle began long before her 16th year.

“I know my disorder came from a constant self esteem battle,” Iezzi said. “Ever since I can remember I was short and chubby.”

Self esteem and body image are closely related risk factors when it comes to the development of an eating disorder.

Men and women who suffer from self-esteem and body image issues will often compare their own body to others.

“I remember being at the store with my mom when I was very little,” Iezzi said. “I looked at a little girl around the same age as me and thought, ‘Why do I not look like her?’ She was ‘skinny,’ blonde and perfect and there I was short and chubby with dark unruly hair.”

Looking back, Iezzi recognizes that she was always uncomfortable in her own skin.

“I was always wearing baggy clothes and my hair was always pulled back in a bun,” Iezzi said. “It still saddens me that I spent so much time being upset about how I looked.”

Iezzi’s battle began when she got very sick at the beginning of her junior year of high school. After not being able to eat anything besides popsicles and pudding for a few

weeks, she quickly noticed how much weight she had been losing.

“It was easy because all I was doing was sleeping and eating 200 calories a day,” Iezzi said. “I noticed how much weight I was losing and over the next six months, I gradually became obsessed with what, or lack there of, I was eating.”

Iezzi began checking the nutrition facts on everything she was putting in her body.

“If it had even a gram of fat in it, I wouldn’t touch it,” Iezzi said. “At one point I would eat an apple every morning for breakfast, wouldn’t bring a lunch to school and then would eat carrots when I got home. I would sleep for hours to curb the hunger and then wake up and eat a piece of bread or some rice for dinner.”

Iezzi got to a point where some days she would not eat anything except fruit. This starvation and restriction pattern went over for about year. She dropped 20 pounds.

Throughout her senior year, she slowly became more comfortable with eating, but still remained cautious.

When it was time to head off to Temple for her freshman year, she was unwilling and less than happy about being in a new and unfamiliar place. Food became a source of comfort for her. She used it is as a security blanket.

“I was staying in on the weekends and eating pizza and fries to comfort myself,” Iezzi said. “I had an awful roommate, I didn’t care to make friends and I was dating a guy just so I wasn’t lonely.”

Spending her entire freshman year like that, Iezzi developed a binge eating disorder and gained another 20 pounds.

When she came home from school for the summer, she knew something needed to change.

“I started running and eating like a healthy person and I lost about 15 ‘healthy’ pounds over the course of that summer,” Iezzi said. “I went back to school for sophomore year and this then turned back into anorexia, however not as severe.”

Iezzi found herself again checking nutrition labels and not eating anything unless she considered it “healthy.”

When her weight did not change, she became angry with herself.

Iezzi never went into treatment because she was in such denial that she was actually struggling. However, some life changes in the last year or so have proven to be more than enough to help her turn it around.

“Junior year I found a nannying job that I loved and taught me that life was about so much more than just how we look,” Iezzi said. “I also mustered up the courage to end my incredibly unhealthy relationship and was single for a whole year for the first time since my ED began.”

Iezzi got an internship in which she had a lot of responsibilities. She also met someone and got into her first very healthy relationship.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016

lifestyles

THELOQUITUR.COM | 11

Students realize they are more than their disorders

BY CAITLYN HUEBNER Assistant Web Editor

Mental health does not discriminate. Any one person could be diagnosed with a mental disorder at any given time. In fact, one in five adults suffer from mental health disorder. Four college-aged women spoke openly about their mental health in hopes to raise awareness and remove the stigma of mental health. Here are their stories.

From surviving to striving: Amber’s story What does a bad day look like? For many people it may include being overly tired, being in a mood or maybe even not feeling quite like yourself. For some, these typical bad days are a part of their everyday life.

For people like Amber McVaugh, a bad day would include a physical fight to get out of bed, constant crying, the feeling of life spiraling out of control and sometimes contemplating suicide.

McVaugh suffers from bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

“If I could go back in time, I’d tell myself to hang in there. It felt like every second was the end, but it wasn’t”

McVaugh’s bipolar disorder was diagnosed when she was 13 years old. She began starving herself; this hormonal imbalance is attributed to causing her bipolar disorder to appear so young.

In seventh grade, McVaugh attempted suicide. This continued for years. “It was at age 15 that I actually successfully [attempted suicide],” McVaugh said. She spent four months in the hospital thereafter.

The following year McVaugh’s boyfriend began abusing her. This abuse led to him raping her at age 16 years old. The rape sparked McVaugh’s PTSD. “If I could go back in time, I’d tell myself to hang in there,” McVaugh said. “It felt like every second was the end, but it wasn’t.”

Becoming healthy: Sarah’s story In a society where there is so much of a focus on food, what happens when food becomes one’s enemy? This is reality for Sarah Ash. Ash does not suffer from an eating disorder. It is quite opposite, actually. She suffers from anxiety. Food became a subconscious coping mechanism.

Ash had not gained any weight during her sophomore year of high school. To correct this, Ash’s calorie intake was monitored to assure more calories were going in than out. This did not work.

Ash started seeing a physician at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. They would meet every other week. “One week I would gain two pounds and another week I would lose two pounds,” Ash said.

Ash ended up being hospitalized due to dangerous fluctuations in her heart rate and considerably low weight. Her stay lasted one week. She remained on homehospitalization for a few months afterward.

Ash planned on going to Immaculata University after high school. She suffered a bad experience at orientation and decided staying at home would be best. “It wasn’t making me any healthier being at home,” Ash said. After some thought, Ash decided to transfer to Cabrini.

Although there are many stigmas surrounding mental health, Ash does not let that bring her down. “[My illnesses] have made me who I am, and I like who I am.”

Grief to relief: Ashley’s story The last few weeks of high school is typically one of the most exciting times of a young person’s life to date. There is the excitement of prom, graduating and maybe even going on senior week. For one high schooler, this happy time went from happy to somber within a blink of an eye.

It was the day before Ashley Faison’s last final exam in senior year. Faison’s father was in an accident that left him with a traumatic brain injury. Because Faison was the oldest child and was also over 18 years old, she was left to make all medical decisions on behalf of her father.

Faison’s father passed away. It was around this time she was diagnosed with having depression.

Faison’s battle with depression has not been an easy

one. “For me, my depression consists of episodes where I feel like my life is crashing down. I constantly feel alone; sometimes it gets to the point where I feel better off dead than alive,” Faison said.

Faison made the decision to get better for herself.

Faison has learned to cope in her own ways. She does things like making a schedule, eating better, working out, doing yoga exercises and facing her fear head-on about being alone. “If there’s anything I can say to anyone, it’s you aren’t alone.”

The road to healing: Chelsea’s story Imagine being surrounded by mental disorders for an entire lifetime, something that has never been a taboo conversation topic since childhood. Of course, being a child it is impossible to completely understand the complexity of it. Something that one grows up with can still be extremely confusing once symptoms begin. This is Chelsea DiPompeo’s story.

At 13 years old, DiPompeo’s best friend committed suicide. Soon after her depression surfaced. “I didn’t understand depression,” DiPompeo said. Not sure what else to do, DiPompeo turned to the internet.

After doing some research online, she learned more destructive coping mechanisms from others. DiPompeo initiated self-harm. Shortly after, DiPompeo admitted herself into a hospital.

She was hospitalized for a few days. While there, doctors diagnosed her with borderline personality disorder.

DiPompeo was hesitant to go on medication. She saw how medication altered her mother’s personality. She wanted to avoid medication. Senior year she gave in and went on medication. This did not help. She again checked herself into the hospital. This stay lasted three weeks.

During the latter stay, her doctors agreed bipolar disorder was much more suiting than borderline personality disorder. This diagnosis made much more sense to DiPompeo.

DiPompeo is a huge advocate of therapy. She attends cognitive behavior therapy which has replaced the need for medication.

In regards to coping and moving forward DiPompeo has an especially powerful message. “You are not a failure.”

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Students who deal with anxiety are not alone

BY MARISSA ROBERTO Assistant Lifestyles Editor

“Everything will be totally fine and then it will feel like I am dying. I never know when I am going to have an attack so my attacks come out of no where and usually at the worst times, like when I am hanging out with my friends or in the middle of one of my classes,” Nicole DeFrancesco, biology major at Arcadia University, said. “I usually just have to pretend like everything is fine when in reality it is not.”

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, over 40 million adults suffer from anxiety and 75 percent experience their first attack by their early 20s.

Anxiety can be defined as a feeling of unease or nervousness, typically about something or an event that a person is not sure what the outcome will be.

“My definition of anxiety would be an increase sense of worry about an issue,” Jack Dunleavy, sophomore English and secondary education major, said. “You focus so much on one thing, or multiple things, that it consumes your whole life.”

The American College Health Association reported in a 2014 assessment that one in six college students had been diagnosed or treated for anxiety.

In the same assessment, they found that approximately 20 percent of college students experienced anxiety in the last 12 months, which affected their academic performance.

“I often experience anxiety at the end of the semester when each professor hands out so many assignments,” Dunleavy said. “It is hard for me to balance all of that work.”

Sophomore education major Jackie Ware is not someone who is good with taking tests. She becomes really nervous and anxious before class that she makes herself think that she is not going to do well.

To handle her stress and anxiety she swims.

“Swimming is a great physical sport as well as mental sport. You use your whole body when you swim,” Ware said. “ I usually think about anything and everything. It really clears my mind and relieves my stress.”

If Ware cannot swim or does not have access to the pool, she handles her anxiety by listening to music or talking with friends or family.

Other ways to manage anxiety deal with taking a time-out from what a person is doing. Being to focused on a task or something that may occur can stress oneself to the maximum. Taking a step back, breathing deeply and slowly and counting to 10 helps to

relax a person.

Talking to someone, whether it is a professional or just a friend or family member, helps when a person feels overwhelmed.

“The most important thing to remember when dealing with an anxious person is to never judge,” Dunleavy said. “Always listen. Be their rock and offer advice when they ask for it. Many times, people feel better after they vent.”

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CAELAN WORYK / STAFF WRITER

Many students who suffer from anxiety will take their stress out by working out or perfroming some sort of phyical activity.

12 | THELOQUITUR.COM

lifestyles

THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016

Road to recovery: the battle of an addiction

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY JULIAN MONTAGUE

Montague celebrating his year of sobreity.

BY MOIRA PRIOR Staff Writer

When you think of addiction, the first thought is probably drugs. But that is not always the case. There are many forms of addiction, from drugs and gambling, to food and money. This chronic and incredibly dangerous disease is responsible for harming and even destroying loved ones and leading to countless deaths. According to the British Journal of Addiction, addiction designates a process whereby a behavior, that can function both to produce pleasure and to provide escape from internal discomfort, is employed in a pattern characterized by (1) recurrent failure to control the behavior (powerlessness) and (2) continuation of the behavior despite significant negative consequences (unmanageability).

Drug use is increasing across the United States.

According to SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) – 2014 (PDF | 3.4 MB), among Americans aged 12 or older, the use of illicit drugs has increased over the last decade from 8.3% of the population using illicit drugs in the past month in 2002 to 10.2 percent (27 million people) in 2014. Men and women of all ages are suffering from this horrific disease known as addiction. By definition, addiction is extremely hard to overcome and the disease does not discriminate.

Addiction robs you of control and freedom. You’re addicted when you can no longer direct yourself out of harm’s way. There are many drug addict stories around the world. Some have happy endings while others are tragic.

Finding help through a 12-step program 26-year-old Julian Montague from Medford, N.J., has had a long relationship with addiction and still continues to “fight every day to stay clean.” For Montague, his relationship with addiction began with drinking and smoking cigarettes when he was 15 years old.

“I tried weed for the first time when I was 16 and before I knew it I was addicted to heroin by 18 years old,” Montague said.

According to Montague, it was the social perks of drug use that kept him hooked. He wanted to be accepted and he would do anything to make friends. He became an addict right off the bat and fell in love with the feeling. He was hooked to this lifestyle and was not going to stop any time soon.

“I was addicted to the friends I had, the high I got and the adrenaline that came with all the risk taking,” Montague said.

The drugs started to consume his life and soon enough everything and everyone around him. His friends would worry and fear for his life but after awhile lost those friends that had cared. He could not maintain a normal social life with normal people.

“I lost just about my entire family to drugs and that still rings true today because I did so much damage,” Montague said. “My grandmother recently passed away and she was not buried with any of her jewelry because she didn’t have it because I stole it and sold it for more dope.”

While Montague tried to quit, it was to no avail. One

year of using grew to become a seven-year epic.

The longer he was using drugs, the harder it was for him to stop. He went through various rehabilitation programs, slept on friend’s couches and floors, and even lived in his car for two weeks. His family gave him many chances to “get his life back together,” but in several instances, his using became too burdensome and he would be kicked out.

During his time of being homeless, he was arrested three times. His two week stint of living in his car was ended when he totaled the vehicle. Montague recalls this as his lowest moment. He bought a plane ticket to Florida in hopes of joining a rehab center.

Montague was scared but had hope. When he went to rehab in Florida he wanted to stay clean and get it right for the first time ever. He had no idea what would be the outcome but he knew one thing, he had three pending court dates and he had to come back to New Jersey, the place where his addiction all began.

“When I landed, I dropped the bulk of my luggage off with my friend, keeping only my valuables and two changes of clothes in my book-bag, and back to Camden I went to try and get into the shelter,” Montague said. “I had $340 to my name and someway, somehow, I didn’t buy dope. I got to the shelter and started praying that they let me stay the night.”

Montague lived in a halfway house called Last Stop in Camden, N.J., close to where he once bought drugs just streets over. A halfway house is a sober living environment where addicts can live until they are considered ready to live by themselves. Walking to the bus stop was not easy because he had to pass through the same streets that helped begin his tumultuous relationship with addiction that brought him to Last Stop in the first place.

“The Last Stop is a 30-day blackout 90-day program, built out of a row of abandoned buildings run by addicts, funded by the addicts who live there and pay rent. It is all self supporting. After 30 days I was allowed to go find a job. I started building my life from absolute scratch,” Montague said.

There are many different 12-step programs. According to recovering addicts with a great amount of clean time, as a newly recovering addict, going to meetings are crucial.

The purpose of a 12-step fellowship is to teach and support skills related to recovery. Meetings can also help an addict learn and manage the triggers to their addictive behavior and have endless amount of supports by people with more clean time.

When addicts are actively using, they tend to feel overwhelmed with stress, money and family. They use alcohol or drugs to try and reduce stress and isolate themselves from those who do not approve of their choices. When an addict becomes sober, they enter into a world where they can not run from their troubles. They have to adjust to living a normal life without the abuse of a substance.

Today, Montague has his own room at a friend’s house in Gloucester City with a year and nine months of clean time. He now is paying fines that he owes and hopes to fix his credit. He considers himself to be blessed with a

girlfriend, a decent job and is enrolled in college. He works hard every day to stay clean and helps encourage other addicts to do the same by sponsoring them and guiding them through the 12-step program.

“All these things are blessings that I’m not entitled to.

I’m nowhere near where I was two years ago, but if I forget where I came from I can go right back to it,” Montague said.

A mother’s view When talking about people battling with addiction and the recovery process we tend to talk about only the addicts’ troubles. We often overlook the emotional struggles of family and friends who are affiliated with heartbreaking situation.

Holly Robbins, a mother of four, watched her dad’s brother struggle with addiction and now watches her own son go through this life-long battle.

“I used to think “why can’t he just stop?” or I can make him change,” Robbins said.

Robbins could see a change in high school right away when her son started hanging out with the wrong crowd. Her son started using marijuana and taking pills.

Eventually this led to the heavy use of heroin. After her son was expelled from high school he ended up dropping out and getting into trouble with the police.

“At this time began the constant state of worrying for his life and I was dealing with a lot at the time.”

“I was so worried about him and trying to help any way I could and I was also dealing with the eventual separation from his father and starting over,” Robbins said.

Robbins constantly worried about her son’s whereabouts for years, woke up in the middle of the night and broke down crying at work.

“Even when he was home I would worry and sleep at times in the room with him to be sure he was still breathing,” Robbins said.

Robbins’ worst memory is when she and her new husband went to Camden in a panic looking for him, and after talking to police, he was found passed out on a park bench in the cold. He had been robbed and they had to take him to the emergency room. He had to be taken to the emergency room several times during his battle with addiction.

Robbins gave her son multiple chances over the years.

She let him live with them even though she knew what was happening.

“Thinking at least I knew he was warm, safe and fed, and I knew he was alive, Robbins said.

Dealing with this disease for a family is a horrific struggle especially when you have to hide your things from your own family member. While her son was mooching off of the Family, he stole a lot of valuables to get money for drugs.

“A camera with years of lost memories of photos, my engagement ring and any jewelry of value, money, guitar, anything that he could get his hands on that could be resold.

“My mother’s jewelry that she had for years, my mother’s medication and old coins my dad had collected,” Robbins said.

After Robbins attended different meetings like NarAnon it helped her understand her son’s addiction better.

Nar-Anon is a 12-step program for friends and family members of those who are affected by someone else’s addiction.

“I could see the struggle by looking on the outside in, instead of the inside looking out. I could see addicts did want to stop for themselves as badly as I wanted my son to stop.”

“It was an eye-opening experience and helped me see more of what my son’s intense struggle,” Robbins said.

After kicking him out of the house and various rehab programs her son finally wanted to get clean and he did.

Robbins still feels like she is partially to blame even today. She lives with regret but her son is doing extremely well and could not be more grateful. Even though addiction is a lifelong battle she hopes he will not relapse again.

“I am now the happiest a mom could ever be. I am so elated to have him back words cannot even explain. I am eternally grateful we have our lives back,” Robbins said.

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SPORTS

THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016

THELO QUITUR.COM | 13

The dangers of mental health issues for student-athletes Being a full-time college student while playing a sport is a very demanding task. Student-athletes across the country must deal with balancing school work, athletics and their personal life while trying to remain stable.

BY SARA JOHNSEN

Staff Writer

addition to on-the-field activity and the impact of sports in students’ lives have a negative effect. Information from the NCAA and American College Health Association showed that 41 percent of all student-athletes felt too depressed to function, 52 percent had feelings of overwhelming anxiety and 14 percent of student-athletes had seriously considered suicide.

The data proves mental illness in student athletes is dangerous. If students are showing signs of depression and anxiety and even considering suicide their overall performance as a student-athlete will be altered.

“If you suffer from anxiety or depression it can cause you to play lower than you usually do because you aren’t focused on the right things,” Smith said.

BY DEVON JOHNSON Staff Writer

schoolwork can be very stressful,” Straub said. “During busy times in the school year it can be very overwhelming to keep up with homework and practice.”

Aside from everyone else, student-athletes have uncommon pressures to handle on top of the other stressors such as schedule restrictions, relationships with teammates and coaches, time restraints and so on.

“Just spending time with the team is important,” Deqwan Phillips, sophomore lacrosse and roller hockey player, said.

Building a healthy relationship with their teammates can help student-athletes get through hardships that they may encounter. Factoring in personal situations, the stress of being a student and an athlete on top of everything else can cause anxiety. Especially for those who are considered to be highly motivated individuals.

“A good way to relieve stress is to do nothing and hang out with friends,” Hassan David Goines Jr., junior swim team member, said.

Many people do believe and preach this method.

However, studies show that student-athletes who need help either hide the fact that they are seeking it or won’t even admit that they in fact need help.

Individuals imagine that they can handle their depression and anxiety on their own, refusing help and the thought of them truly struggling out loud.

“Student-athletes find ways to cope with the stress of balancing sports and school work by allocating time to use the resources available to succeed academically but also have time to themselves to relax,” Phillips said. There are minor things that students can do to help them stay away from going down that dark road.

Mental health issues—such as anxiety, Whether one is in high school or coldepression and addiction—never give lege, the life of a student-athlete is not for people a day off. People who have these everyone. When one commits to being a illnesses suffer from them all day everyday student-athlete, the thing that comes first and they do not stop during the season for before any sport is the school work. Sports athletes. come second. However, with students tryAccording to a recent study in early ing to balance out both lives, it can some2016, one in four collegiate athletes times bring upon a lot of overwhelming show signs of depression. These rates are stress on the their physical health, mental considered to be comparable to the rates health and the student’s lifestyle. of depression in the general population of Studies by the NCAA show that both the college, meaning students who do not depression and anxiety are the main menparticipate in sports. tal illnesses that strike student-athletes.

The NCAA recognizes the issue of These illnesses, as well as others, can cause mental health as well. Stated on their poor performances, relationship struggles, website, under the “Health and Safety” tab, health issues and even life threatening mental health is a topic of discussion. The actions.

National Collegiate Athletic Association Nick Straub, sophomore golf player, recognized that student athletes, no matter shared a small insight on the life of being a CONTINUE READING ONLINE what division they are in, are exposed to student-athlete. more risk factors of mental health issues “Playing a sport and keeping up with SJOHNSEN1996@GMAIL.COM that involve stress than their peers would be.

These risk factors vary: examples like loaded schedules, time management demands, interactions with coaches and other teammates (and players from opposing teams), school assignments and GPA requirements and the overall pressure to perform up the expectations of their team are very demanding to student-athletes.

“Often times athletes are glorified as these people who can multitask so easily and succeed in both school and sports but people don’t recognize the extra time and pressure that is put on us to be successful,” Brittany Smith, sophomore field hockey and softball player, said.

Mental health issues PAIGE WAGNER / PHOTO FOR PUB impact the lives of studentathletes off the field but the Dealing with multiple priorities can cause student-athletes to become overwhlemed.

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Caitlyn Poole is the true definition of a student-athlete MEGAN SCHAFER Staff Writer

RENEE OLIVER / SPORTS EDITOR

Poole is both a lacrosse player and student teacher.

Being an athlete is not for everyone but it is for senior Caitlyn Poole.

“I was a very active child when I was younger and I had a lot of energy to burn, so sports were a great go to” Poole said.

Poole played in many young soccer leagues from elementary school up into high school. She played different forms of soccer from travel leagues to just township league.

Poole also played t-ball when she was younger but t-ball never really interested her like soccer did. From elementary school to middle school basketball was the sport she chose to play.

After a while Poole decided to narrow down her extra curricular activities list. Starting in fourth grade and up until Poole’s freshman year of college here at Cabrini College she played volleyball.

“I miss the sport of volleyball and

wish I stuck with it, but I knew myself as a student and a person which helped me make the decision to stick with one sport, lacrosse, Poole said.

Poole first got started playing lacrosse because when she was younger her mom played in an adult league.

Poole would be at every game watching her mom play. When she was in the third grade a recreation center near by created a program for children who wanted to play lacrosse.

The program would start for children in the third grade and go through middle school. The town wanted to introduce the sport so that they could grow the program. They hoped that the members of the center would love the sport and would want to have high schoolers join the program. Poole fell in love with the lacrosse and has been playing ever since.

As well as playing sports Poole has found it challenging to handle both lacrosse and school especially being a student teacher for the semester.

“It is difficult because it takes a lot

of my time away from my team, so its frustrating not being able to make as many practices as I would like,” Poole said. “Lesson plans is a huge thought when it comes to lacrosse and I have tried to create a routine for myself to plan everything during the weekend.”

“She works really hard during practice,” Emma Rodner-Tims, freshman english major, said. “Sometimes she has to miss some practices due to commitments for her major but she always works that much harder at the practices she can attend.”

When lacrosse season started Poole felt like she did better in the past since she did not have much free time but now with teaching free time is hard to come by. Poole does better when she has less free time because her work gets done since there is no time to mess around. Getting her work done in time can be hard.

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THELOQUITUR.COM | 14

A Cav’s

perspective: Allie Vallen

BY ALLIE VALLEN Guest Writer I have been playing lacrosse since 8th grade.

It started out as just another place to hang out with my friends and have a good time.

It was never in my plan to continue my lacrosse career into college but after joining the team freshman year. I was so happy that I decided to play.

Being a member of the women’s lacrosse team has given me the opportunity to continue to play a sport that I love. While constantly teaching me lessons not only about lacrosse but also about life.

My teammates have become some of my best friends and the memories I have made and continue to make throughout the lacrosse season will stay with me forever.

I play for myself, my coaches and teammates and the chance to hold that CSAC championship plaque at the end of the season.

ADV33@CABRINI.EDU

THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016

Kyle Chevalier: A true Cavalier

BY ANTHONY SHOPA Staff Writer

A concussion is defined as a complex pathophysiological process that affects the brain, typically induced by trauma to the brain. It can be caused either by a direct blow to the head, or an indirect blow to the body, causing neurological impairments that may resolve spontaneously.

An estimated 1.6 to 3.8 million sports related concussions happen each year in the United States. Concussions are seen as an invisible injury as the only way to really check is through a couple different kinds of tests such as an ImPACT test.

After suffering from just one concussion, an athlete is three to six times more likely to sustain another one. The immediate symptoms from a concussion are dizziness and headaches. 90 percent of athletes recover from these symptoms in seven to 10 days but it can last up to a month or in rare cases even longer.

Ask any athlete when they think they will stop playing the game they love and most of them have a choice but in Kyle Chevalier’s case it was not up to him.

As a three-year starter for the Cabrini men’s soccer team, Chevalier had one goal, and that was to earn his school and team a conference championship.

“It was awesome, I was lucky enough to start freshman year, and once I was named captain it was something that was really special to me,” Kyle Chevalier, junior defender, said.

After holding opponents to only 1.19 goals per game, the cavalier defense was a force to be reckoned within the Colonial

State Athletic Conference (CSAC). After only allowing 25 goals this season, Cabrini had a few different things they could rely on, one being a two year returning starter and their captain Kyle Chevalier.

Coming into the season, Chevalier had suffered from multiple concussions. At the beginning of the season he was unsure if he was going to be able to play but after seeing a neurologist, he was checked out and was cleared to play.

“I had three bad concussions, the doctor wanted me to stop playing then and there, but I passed the neurology test so he said I am fine for now, but I do not know what’s going to happen if you get another concussion, but I couldn’t stop I felt fine and I promised them if I got another concussion I would stop,” Chevalier said.

On a beautiful night under the lights it happened. He took a knock to the head from a Neumann University striker and knew the next day that he had suffered another concussion. With this concussion he knew that if he were to risk playing again it would only do more damage to his head.

“I kind of already knew right after the game I had another concussion, I knew it was over,” said Chevalier. “I failed the concussion test and just walked out into the trainers room to see Dallas waiting and just sat down and tried to process everything, and then I just had to leave the room,” Chevalier said.

“I was with Kyle when he got the news and it was the first time in my coaching career I was totally speechless,” Rob Dallas, head coach, said. “You just kind of sit there and hear the devastating news a kids career is over before it really should be and there’s

nothing you can say in that moment, I was just trying to be there and be supportive for Kyle.”

I have too much to look forward to in the future. Soccer has felt like the only thing that has mattered to me my whole life,” Chevalier said. “I had to come to terms with the fact that I could seriously damage my future if I kept playing.”

“It was probably the hardest thing that I’ve had to deal with in my life so far,” Chevalier said.

After hearing the news, not only was it devastating for Chevalier but for his teammates, as well. The key piece to the Cavalier defense and the captain of their team would never play the game he loves again.

Trying to put that news far from their minds Cabrini needed another center back and they relied on freshman defender Matt Ochmann. Ochman had seen limited playing time up to this point ,but was up for the task at hand.

“Chevy [Kyle Chevalier] was a big role to this team and he was a leader every time he was out on the field, so when I found out about his injury, I knew I had to do my part in filling his shoes since we had such big games approaching,” Ochman said.

Sitting and being depressed is what any normal athlete would do, after the sport that they have been playing since they were younger gets taken away without them being able to do anything. This is not what Chevalier planned on doing.

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CABRINIATHLETICS.COM

Vallen is dual-sport athlete playing both soccer and lacrosse.

EMILY ROWAN / PHOTO EDITOR

Chevalier has suffered from multiple concussions that no longer allow him to play the game that he loves.

SPORTS

THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016

THELOQUITUR.COM | 15

Concussions have the ability to be a major setback for athletes

BY JANELLE DESOUZA Staff Writer

Concussions have affected sports players all around the world but believe it or not, many Cabrini sports players have had more than one.

Sarah Martinez, freshman on the women’s basketball team has had three concussions within a four-year span.

“After getting multiple ones you kinda start to realize, maybe I should stop fooling around,” Martinez said.

While recovering from a concussion, doctors suggest not to be around bright lights.

Sometimes it can be hard to follow the doctor’s orders especially as a student who is used to being active.

“It’s that will-power to just try to actually relax and like really listen to the doctor and not make it worse,” Martinez said.

Martinez says that she never wants to quit basketball and hopes that she does not reach the limit to where she will have to quit.

“Once you get six concussions, you’re done. No more sports,” Martinez said.

Concussions can be very hard for a student-athlete especially when it affects playing time and practice time during the season.

“It feels good that I overcame it but at the same time, I wish I never had it because there were so many times where I missed important games, but at the same time, that also motivated me to get better and do better,” Martinez said.

Concussions are often known to kill brain cells and cause short-term memory

loss.

These are not the only damages head injuries cause. They can also link to things like alzheimer’s disease in the long run.

Maureen Sullivan, junior elementary

often hard to focus in school after having a one.

“I guess the hardest part was keeping up with my school work and trying to graduate on time in high school,” Sullivan

GRAPHIC DESIGNED BY EMILY JANNY

and special education major, has had four concussions: three in high school and one in college.

“One concussion, I was out of school for a whole month and I was out of sports for an entire year,” Sullivan said.

Since concussions affect the brain, it is

said.

Sullivan has grown up on sports and played both basketball and lacrosse during high school. Her first concussion caused her to play less aggressively in the beginning, after her recovery.

“I played a lot more timid coming back,

‘cause once you get a concussion and get hit… it’s like… you’re prone to concussions basically,” Sullivan said.

Athletes have been playing sports for most of their lives and some say they could not imagine giving up the sport they love to a head injury.

“I’ve been playing sports every season for my entire life, so having to sit out for a whole year was probably the hardest year of my life… sports wise,” Sullivan said. “It wasn’t fun.”

Many athletes’ at the college who have had more than three concussions say that they would stop playing after the next one.

Matt Ward, senior communications major and men’s lacrosse player, says he had seven concussions that are documented.

“The first most recent one that I got was in eighth grade,” Ward said.

In the past, concussions were not seen as a big problem and were taken lightly in sports.

“Back then, it was just, you got your bell rung, three plays later I was back in the game,” Ward said.

Although Ward has had many concussions, he is still able to play lacrosse after going through all the protocol.

“However many days I have symptoms I had to sit out, so I had nine days of symptoms and I sat out nine days and then they eased me back into the play,” Ward said.

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The Rosemont Ravens are no match for the women’s lacrosse team

BY KEITH BROWN Assistant Sports Editor

In their fourth CSAC game of the season against the Rosemont Ravens, the women’s lacrosse team did what they have done for the last three years consecutively; win. Sophomore attacker Sasha Wozniak scored the first two goals of the game and the Cavaliers never looked back in route of a 16-1 victory over the Ravens. The Cavaliers are now 6-3 overall and 4-0 in conference play this season.

“We really just wanted to get our confidence up,” Jackie Neary, head coach, said. “Even though we did lose to College of New

Jersey it was a great game. They’re number three in the nation right now. Some girls really played so well that now they have confidence knowing they can run with the top three teams so that was great.”

“Today was more about having everybody touch the field, touch the ball, get different people scoring,” Neary said. “We succeeded with that so we’re happy.”

Sasha Wozniak, the team’s leader in points for the season led the way for the Cavaliers with four goals and two assists all coming in the first period. Sophomore midfielder Gabby Lee pitched in with a hat trick and three caused turnovers. Three other Cavs

scored two goals each.

Junior attacker, Allie Vallen, was one of them. She scored two goals to go along with two assists, one ground ball and one caused turnover. Coming into the game, Vallen wanted to let the flow of the game dictate her play.

“I kind of just let the game just fall out as it happens,” Vallen said.

“I rely a lot on my teammates and we all bring each other up.”

“When Sasha does well, I do well. It brings all of the team together,” Vallen said. “I just want to do well and help the team win.”

Junior midfielder Jess Breuning filled up the stat sheet again with two goals, four draw

controls and three caused turnovers.

“Coming into the season I figure I’d be playing midfield again which is a very versatile position and that makes it easier to have an impact on the game because I play on both ends of the field, Breuning said. “It’s kind of hard not to be involved when you have to play defense, offense, and work with transition.”

Coach Neary counts on the juniors on the team heavily to get them going.

“Sasha is very vital. It was very disappointing last year when she tore her ACL. I’m just happy that she seems to be getting better and better,” Neary said. “The

juniors are a really key group.

Sasha, Allie, Jenn (attacker Jenn Robinson) so I’m glad she’s doing well.” They caused a total of 22 turnovers and collected 34 ground balls to 12. Junior goalkeeper Megan Barlow earned her sixth win of the season with no goals allowed and one save.

“I would like to see us get more double teams and draw some charges,” Neary said.

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JOE FINN / PHOTO FOR PUB

The Cavaliers will face Centenary College on Saturday, April 9 in Hackettsown, Nj.

THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016

SPORTS

THELO QUITUR.COM | 16

“I kind of already knew right after the game I had another concussion, I knew it was over.”

See page 14 Emily Rowan / Photo Editor