The
McKendree Review
Feb. 11, 2011
701 College Rd. Lebanon, IL 62254
There’s more of us than First-generation college you think students at McKendree A firstBy Annie Bierman generation Staff Writer college student, according to McKendree’s definition, is any student whose parents have not graduated from a four-year college or university. Across the United States in 2009, 30 percent were first-gen students. McKendree’s statistic is even higher than the national average at 44 percent of undergraduate students on the Lebanon campus in 2009. As the statistics show, 44 percent of incoming first-year McKendree students are first-generation college students. As a first-generation student myself, the process of applying, enrolling, financing, and starting college four years ago was a confusing headache. I realized after my first year in college that there was a secret language to university life that I had not quite learned yet. This type of confusion is exactly what the new university program is here to combat! The “McKendree Firsts” program along
Vaginas. Taboo to say in public? Not for the McKendree Young Feminists who are hosting a production of 12 monologues that focus on just that. Vaginas and everything that has to do with them. The Vagina Monologues started in 1994 with Eve Ensler, playwright, activist, and founder of the V-Day movement, interviewing over 200 women about their vaginas. The resulting production is based on these interviews and highlight everything from female sexuality to rape and abuse. The Vagina Monologues are part of the larger global movement, V-Day, that strives to eliminate violence against girls and women including: rape, incest, battery, female genital mutilation, and sex slavery. According to the V-Day website, “V-Day was born of the belief that until these themes are addressed, these violations named and taken up by whole communities as an unacceptable desecration of human dignity,
NEWS 1-3
Vol. 89, Iss. 5
Arizona Shooting
with the Office of First-Generation Student Success opened in July 2010 with the hopes of helping students succeed at McKendree, not just get by. Dr. Brenda Boudreau, Professor of English at McKendree, directed the project and received a $50,000 grant from The Council of Independent
observed on the first day back at McKendree University for the victims of the Tuscan, Ariz. shooting. Six people were killed that day, and thirteen were wounded. No one could have anticipated such a tragedy. No one could have sent out an early warning to the Arizona locals and Representative Gabriel Gifford one early afternoon in front of a local supermarket. On Jan. 8, 2011, Representative Gifford appeared at the supermarket to converse with the citizens about their opinions and concerns on topics such as current immigration laws, Medicare, and gun rights. Into her third term, she took particular interest in the latter two issues.
Before she CBSNEWS.COM could begin her speech and further exercise her congressional duties, she was shot in the head by Jared Lee Loughner. Further news reports would suggest that she was his main target that afternoon and in light of the incident, some members of congress blamed it on bad politics and partisanship. Another victim of the shooting and even more heart wrenching, is Christina Green, a nine-year-old girl who was fataly shot in the chest. Her story began that day by taking a trip to the supermarket with her older neighbor, Suzi Hileman. Hileman tried to block the shots from reaching the girl, but Continued Pg 2 lost in the
who brought the V-Day movement to Haiti and was the chief of staff of the Ministry for Gender and the Rights of Women of Haiti, and other activists who died in the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Past Spotlights
have included elegies for the women who suffered from the hurricanes of the New Orleans and Gulf Coast areas, were mistreated under Taliban rule in Afghanistan, and those who face prejudice in transgender communities across the US. With a cast of almost 20 students, faculty, and staff this year, up from the 11 participants in last year’s production, the Young Feminists and the McKendree community are strengthening their movement to prevent violence against women. Meagan Musgrave, President of the Young Feminists and co-coordinator of this Continued Pg 4 year’s
A moment of By Nykhala Coston Contributing Writer silence was
Colleges (CIC) and the Wal-Mart Foundation. With this grant, McKendree hired Lisa Brennan, current English department adjunct, to be the Coordinator of the First-Generation Student Success program. Commenting on the purpose of the program, Brennan said, “Since beginning the program in July, McKendree
Continued Pg 5
Talking Vaginas? By: Annie Bierman Staff Writer
Visit us online: MCKreview.com
the violence will continue.” While V-Day is the sponsor of the performance, the profits of the McKendree performance actually go to a local organization, the Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois, while only 10 percent go back to the V-Day program. The “V” in V-Day stands for Victory, Valentine, and Vagina. Each year, the spotlight monologue changes to highlight a different country or event around the world from a woman’s perspective. The 2011 Spotlight Monologue is in memory of Myriam Merlet, an activist and author
Campus 4-5
OPINION 6-7
SPORTS 8
News
Page 2
SGA Quarterly Review By: Annie Bierman Staff Writer
For the past few months, SGA has been really busy fulfilling budget requests, initiating new projects, and assessing the campus’s needs! I am happy to present to campus one of our completed projects: the Bearcat Cave! The new lounge and student multipurpose room is now up and running! We imagine this as a space for students to both study and relax away from the constant traffic in the other lounges. This new lounge will be available to students from 8am10pm Monday-Friday. To reserve the space for meetings and such, please contact us at sga@mckendree.edu to do so. I want to thank the Senators for their hard work on this as well as Student Affairs, Physical Plant, and Operations for all of their contributions. Other items we have brought to the
attention of the administration with the help of the student body’s input include: the speed and efficiency of work orders, privacy in the dorms, the cleanliness of the computer labs, the punctuality of the Bogey Bus, and the need for more sections of Anatomy and Physiology. Some current projects of ours include: acquiring more First Aid kits and AEDs for use in case of emergency, campaigning to bring more awareness to the statemandated 15ft smoking rule around campus buildings, and adding speed limits to the parking lots at McKendree West and near the Hett to prevent pedestrian and car accidents. With your help, we can help McKendree be an even better place! If you have any suggestions, comments, or concerns, please leave a message on our “Got-A-Gripe” page on our McKendree website, find us on Facebook, or send an email to our account sga@mckendree.edu
Don’t forget to recycle this newspaper
The McK Review Crew Editors
Kevin Schaefer
Chris Moore
-Interim Associate Editor-
-Interim Editor-in-Chief-
Thiago Martins de Magalhaes -Assistant Editor-
Gabe Shapiro -Faculty Advisor-
In this issue Annie Bierman Nykhala Coston Kyle Hintz
Denise Mueller Shawn Printy
The McKendree Review is a student-run organization of McKendree University. The mission of The McKendree Review is to give students the opportunity to learn the news process and publish articles pertaining to their opinions and ideas. The staff does not agree with all statements and opinions, which right-
fully belong to their writers. The McKendree Review Office can be found in Eisenmeyer 208 on the McKendree Campus, at 701 College Rd., Lebanon, IL, 62254. Staff can be reached by email at mckreview@mckendree.edu. Meet the team online at: MCKreview.com/team
Tips for First-Generation Students from Lisa Brennan 1. Engage in the community of higher education by going to your professor’s office hours at least twice each semester, involving yourself with other students through extra-curricular activities and study groups, and getting to know the support staff in offices like Financial Aid and Student Services. Personal connections with people improve the odds that a student will complete her/his degree. 2. Become acquainted with the language of college life. Words like matriculation and prerequisite are often unfamiliar to students who are new to college life and to parents who have not attended college. Not knowing the language and not asking for the meanings of unfamiliar terms leaves students feeling like outsiders who don’t know the language of the community. 3. Come to terms with the fact that college is about collaboration and cooperation. While many first-gen students get to college because they work well independently and are extraordinarily determined to succeed, they often won’t ask for help. Sometimes students won’t ask for clarification in class or for advice from the financial aid
counselor. Other times students need to ask for support from family members, but are hesitant to do so. First-gen students need to learn that there are many, many resources on campus to assist them in completing their degree. 4. Realize you are NOT an impostor. Many first-gen students feel like they don’t belong in college, but knowing that there are not only many first-gen students at McKendree, but also many first-generation professors should help these students understand they are not only welcome to be at McKendree, but are also an important part of the McKendree community. 5. Believe in the dream. Research indicates an important component to student success is the student’s belief that they can succeed. If a first-gen student is coming from a background where very few friends or family members complete a college degree, some friends and family may negatively influence the determination and persistence of a firstgen student. Post your suggestions at:
MCKreview.com
Arizona Shooting Continued attempt to save her life. Although the little girl’s life ended far too early, her passing led to another girl regaining her sight through an organ donation. Her story came to show that when one’s life is taken, another one can be enriched. The two lives were also highlighted in President Obama’s speech along with victims Judge John Roll, Dorthy Morris, Phyllis Schneck, Darwin Stoddard, and Gabriel Zimmerman. As Obama addresses each individual in a short biography, he doesn’t just express mere empathy for the individuals who have passed and gratitude for those who survived, but he further compares those deceased to our own families in an attempt to bring the nation closer to the tragedy. With any tragedy President Obama, states that a death of a family member can cause one to contemplate, to reflect, and to try to find a
reason for what had happen. Beyond the natural responses of grief, he also used the opportunity in his speech to express the need to see the country in a better light. A mere reflection of the shooting in Arizona, hundred a miles away, could at first seem like another story that could evoke a possible sympathetic response for a short period of time. It could even lead one to compare it to the shooting incident that happened near our very own campus last semester; thank God that no one was hurt then. Or as advised by President Barrack Obama, it could inspire us to live life to the best of our ability while maintaining a cordial relationship with others. Whichever the response, whether it directly affects us or distant a distance memory for most, the few minutes to pause and reflect, gives us a brief flash of the life we choose to lead.
FIND US ON THE WEB We have a website, and it’s awesome! Visit us anytime at mckreview.com to read, “like”, and comment on any article you wish, or vote in our polls. Be our friend at: www.facebook.com/ mckreview View our archives at: www.issuu.com/ mckreview
News
Accidents By: Anonymous
Page 3 How unfortunate
My mom always used to say to me that I was accident prone. I never really understood what she meant, but as I grew older, I began recognizing a pattern of misfortune that surrounded me. It would happen with a few small things such as the printer breaking when I had to print off a paper, even though it worked for everyone else in the world. There was the time that everyone in my fifth grade class put lead from a pencil into an electrical outlet and did not get shocked, but then as soon as I tried, a jolt of pain was sent through my body. Those things are minor in the grand scheme of accidents and they were bound to become worse and more painful. While at a funeral once, I actually passed out from my knees locking. Not so embarrasing until I hit the tombstone with my body. I bit a hole halfway through my tongue, but thankfully it healed without stitches. This was not my first time when I passed out and something painful happened to me. Once my aunt was curling my hair; I remember waking up to her
holding the iron with a big chunk of my long hair. I did not go out to the fancy birthday dinner that night. I once spilled scolding hot chili on someone. I did not know them, and in fact, I had never seen them before in my life, but as a way of introducing myself, I guess hot chili that has been accidently spilled over the front of their pants works quite well. I recall my freshmen year at McKendree, when I walked into Ames for the first time. I was going to make my grand entrance into college when I happened to trip on the rug outside the door, hit the glass door and slid down. My grand entrance was followed by a standing ovation by half of Ames. Welcome to College! I wish that this was the only time I had publicly embarrassed myself at school, but alas, it was not. You know the beds in the dorms that McKendree has that can be lowered to your convenience? Well, they are not convenient to actually lower, so I just left my bed on top, being to prideful to ask anyone to lower it for me since I am only five foot one. One night, I was having a horrible nightmare and thrashed in my
sleep to the point where I fell off my bed. I ended up spraining my ankle and every time anyone asked I had to tell them I fell off my bed. If my life was a book series, sometimes I think it would be similar to The Series of Unfortunate Events. Instead of being an orphan trying to find a home, though, I am just a girl who can’t put one foot in front of the other without having to constantly look
down, which would cause me to walk into a person, wall, dog, or pole. As I walk into the object in which I did not see, people just walk by and whisper, “Aw, how unfortunate.” I am Murphy’s Law. If it can go wrong and I am there, it will. Comment on this at:
MCKreview.com/accidents
Upcomming Events at McKendree Date
Time
Event
2/11/2011
7:00 pm
McKendree at St. Louis Blues Night
2/11/2011
8:00 pm
Bingo Night
2/13/2011
7:00 pm
McKendree Idol Auditions
2/15/2011
8:30 pm
McKendree Idol Auditions
2/16/2011
10:00 am
Career and Internship Fair (The Hett)
2/23/2011
7:30 pm
The Vagina Monologues (The Hett)
2/23/2011
9:30 pm
Movie Night: TBA (The Lair)
2/25/2011
8:00 pm
Deal or No Deal (in Ames)
2/25/2011
9:15 pm
Movie Night: TBA (The Lair)
3/19/2011
Morning
Ramble into Spring - Race Day
Campus
Page 4
Parking on Campus
Chocolate Rendezvous By: Denise Mueller Contributing Writer The Lebanon Merchants Association will host a Chocolate Rendezvous Saturday, February 12, 2011 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tickets for the event may be purchased at the Visitors Center which is located in downtown Lebanon for $7.00 per ticket. Proceeds from the ticket sales will be used to help pay for advertising. The merchants who participate choose their own chocolate
treat for the rendezvous. Some of the area merchants who are participating include Whimsey Gifts, Cross-Eyed
The Parking Hustle at McKendree
By: Kyle Hintz
Staff Writer
Parking on campus has always been an elaborate game of automotive musiElephant Antiques and cal chairs for me. It seems I can never get a spot close Legendary to my class, that is if I can Creations. For more find one at all. Frequently information call the I have to park on one of Chamber of Commerce the side streets adjacent to in downtown Lebanon at 618.537.8420 or visit the campus. In light of my own website at parking inconveniences, I www.lebanonil.org. decided to interview students to hear their opinions Comment on this at: on the situation. MCKreview.com/chocolate Junior Brad Gebben said, “Living in the dorms is easy because I park my car there overnight and go to class, but I always hate it when I leave and I come back and the entire lot next to The production, feels quite strongly about the fact that many Hett is full, and all I see are people still avoid The Vagina Monologues: “It really upsets C stickers for the freshman me when students and professors express distaste for The Vagina Monologues. Vaginas are everywhere and they are parking lot.” certainly not disgusting. I love my vagina which is why I Senior Ashley Dressler want to live in a vagina-friendly society. This movement said, “I just don’t like parkis about ending violence against women, it is not about ing in another country and making people feel uncomfortable.” then having to walk to class. Dr. Michèle Stacey-Doyle, this year’s narrator, said she I hate how everything’s A participates because, “I realize that in order to end vioand B or just A parking. lence, we must raise awareness, so taking part in an enactTeachers can walk too. If ment of this play helps to that end.” McKendree’s 5th performance of The Vagina Monologues we take one of their spots we’re gonna get in trouble, will be held in The Hett on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011 at but if they take one of our 7:30 p.m. On the same day, the McKendree Young Femispots because they decide nists will also present a Brown Bag at noon in PAC 222 that will introduce the cast for the night’s production, edu- they want to walk that day cate the McKendree community about the monologues, or whatever, they don’t, and highlight this year’s Haiti spotlight. we have even less parking. They get spots right up next
Talking Vaginas Continued
to the door and we don’t.” Junior Tia Turnipseed said, “I have 8:00 am classes so I always get a good spot.” Junior Matt Valdez said, “I hate it with a passion. Parking, trying to find a spot is like pulling your teeth. I drive up and down for ten minutes trying to find a spot. And if I park in an illegal spot or something
You could be our Contest winner!
? This could be YOU!
KEVIN SCHAEFER
Can you find a free parking space?
This semester, we’re going feature a wide variety of contests with a different one in each issue. In this issue we have a lovely Sudoku puzzle. Sudoku puzzles are relatively easy to understand. The goal is to end up with each digit from 1 to 9 in each row, column, and 9x9 square. The first person who submits the correct answer will receive a “mystery” prize and their picture in the next issue of the McKendree Review! To submit, just email us the answer at mckreview.com, or drop off the answer with your name and email outside our office in Eisenmeyer room 208 (above Dr. Magnussen’s office.) We look forward to your answers! Most importantly: Have fun!
and I get a ticket, I look around and see C stickers everywhere in a B lot. Sometimes there’s not even a sticker on the other cars, yet I get a ticket.” As a commuter student, I’m on the “hate it with a passion” side. It seems that all the good spots are taken by students who live on campus and that commuters are left to fend for
Sudoku:
2 1
5
themselves. At this point I’ve already given up. I got a different car last year and never bothered to get another parking sticker. I don’t even hunt for a spot anymore. I park on side streets most of the time. Tell us your stories:
MCKreview.com/parking
1
8 4 6 5 2 3 1 6 9 8 7 4 4 1 3 2 6 2 6 3 9 7 1 5 2 6 1
Campus
Page 5 Give yourself a “fair” chance in the job market...
Career & Internship Fair
Are you interested
By Chris Moore in exploring Interim Editor-in-Chief exciting
Mr. Dennis and Everyone at McKendree, You will never know how much we appreciate everything that you have done for our family. The cards, flowers, prayers, bus loads of friends, the phone calls, text messages, and tributes were all beautiful and deeply appreciated by our entire family. Although she was only there a short time, Christina was already calling McK U “Home.” She really liked it down there. She made many new friends. She really enjoyed the music department. She loved being a Marching Bearcat! Even though, when she first saw the Bearcat Prowl, she wasn’t too sure she could do it. She thought it was funny. But she learned it and loved to show it off at home. Thank You for being a part of our family. McK U really is about family.
new career opportunities? Are you unsure of how to apply your degree in the working world? Do you want to meet possible employers and discover the world beyond college? If so, you may be interested in the upcoming career fair. The annual McKendree University Career and Internship Fair will take place on Wednesday Feb. 16 in The Hett Lobby. It will run from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and will be host to a wide variety of businesses interested in college students. Some of the many companies that will be represented are Aflac, Mutual of Omaha, Pepsi MidAmerica, the United States Army, and Regions Bank, as well as schools such as the University of Illinois Springfield and SIUE Graduate School. “We have a wide variety [of business at the Career Fair]. Everything from financial services to government agencies,” says Jennifer Pickerell, director of career services at McKendree. “The vast majority are St. Louis based.” Some might think that the Career Fair is only useful for seniors that are looking for a job immediately after graduation, but that is a misconception. All students,
including freshmen, are encouraged to attend and can benefit from exposure to career possibilities. What should students do to prepare for the Career Fair? Business attire is encouraged, so bust out your nice suits and leave your sweatpants at home. Consider what kinds of businesses you are interested in ahead of time and look into whether or not they will be attending the event. Since bringing a resume along can only help, consider writing one up if you haven’t already. Remember that plain, formal fonts like Times New Roman or Helvetica are standard. Never use Comic Sans for anything you want to present to a prospective employer, as it is considered an unprofessional and frankly unattractive typeset. While at the fair, remember to be courteous to all representatives. True, it is possible that you may never see that individual again, but there is no guarantee and rudeness can have job repercussions. If the representative offers a business card, accept it. Ask plenty of questions. This not only shows the potential employer that you are interested in the company, but it can give you valuable insight into careers. Mark Feb. 16 on your calenders for McKendree’s Career Fair!
This Month’s Poll
What do you think of the new dorms Vote online at: that are currently under construction? MCKreview.com/poll
A.
I want to live in them!
B.
I can’t wait for them to be built!
C.
I don’t pay any attention to them.
D.
I think they are a big waste of money.
The Center for Public Service... Spring 2011 Volunteer Calendar First-Generation Continued
Results will appear in next issue.
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thurs
Fri
Sat
Sun
Franklin Tutoring 3 - 5 pm
Bride the Divide Special Needs Horse Therapy (Starts in March) 4:30-7:30 pm
CAC Nights 5:30 - 8 pm
Franklin Arts and Crafts 3 - 5 pm
Cedar Ridge Nursing Home 2:45 - 4 pm
Lebanon Care Center 2 - 4 pm
None
CAC Days 3 - 5:30 pm
Family Living Center 5:30 - 8 pm How often do you volunteer?
MCKreview.com/volunteer
students, faculty, and staff have begun to dialogue more about first-generation students and how we can all become less exclusive and more INCLUSIVE of all students: transfer students, nontraditional students, students at our KY campuses, and in our AiM programs.” The program offers $1,000 dollar scholarships for 10 first-generation students each year who show academic merit along with financial need, academic support services both on campus and online, referrals to McKendree offices and referrals to services and professionals within the communities of the first-
generation students. To reach Lisa Brennan in the Office of First-Generation Student Success, students can email lcbrennan@ mckendree.edu, call X 2150, stop by Clark Hall 201, or visit the website at www. mckendree.edu/1st_Gen. As Lisa Brennan said, “The program is really not for first-generation students but for McKendree as a whole. In fact, research shows us that programs put into place to benefit first-generation students ends up helping ALL students.” “Like” this article at:
MCKreview.com/first-gen
Opinion
Page 6
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo I’ve never done this before. Hold still, or it’ll get messy
4 of 4
By Kyle Hintz Staff Writer
prises. Vanger approaches Blomkvist to investigate the disappearance of his niece Harriet forty years Based on the international best seller by Swedago on the tiny island of Hedeby. Blomkvist agrees ish author Stieg Larsson, since he’ll be paid handsomely no matThe Girl with the Dragon ter the outcome of his investigation. Tattoo is a Danish film He makes little headway until Lisdirected by Neils Arbeth, who has still been monitoring den Oplev and starthe activity on his laptop, puts a ring Noomi Rapace piece of the puzzle together and and Mikael Blomkvist. sends it to him in an easily traceDon’t worry, I’m able e-mail. The two team up to aware that you have solve the case and the film takes off no idea who these from there. people are. I didn’t I know this sound like all too either until I saw this familiar territory, but it’s handled film. This is one of the expertly and draws upon the novel best thrillers I’ve seen to immerse you in a very rich, in recent times, not real and complex world. Most of surprising given the the credit for that belongs to Stieg source material. Larsson. The director Niels Arden The film begins as Oplev does a great job of not letthe trial of journalist ting this become an action film, Mikael Blomkvist (Miinstead making the violence carry chael Nyqvist) ends. He weight. Noomi Rapace gives a rivethas been found guilty of ing performance as the antisocial, gothic, libel for publishing allegations against billionaire in- 24-year old hacker Lisbeth Salander. In a film full of dustrialist Hans-Erik Wennestrom. He is fined and intrigue, she’s the most interesting part. sentenced to three months in prison, but he won’t A remake of this film is already in preproduction have to serve his sentence for another six months. In with David Fincher at the helm and Rooney Mara light of this, Blomkvist decides to step down from (from this year’s The Social Network, also by Fincher) the board of directors of the magazine Millennium. to play Lisbeth. While I have no doubt that will be Meanwhile, Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace), a a good film, I see little point in retreading what has professional hacker, has accessed Blomkvist’s hard already been done so well here. Either way, see this drive for a client, Dirch Frode, the lawyer and friend for Noomi Rapace; it would be a crime to overlook of Henrik Vanger, the former CEO of Vanger Enter- her performance.
Mikael Blomkvist: “What has happened to you? How did you turn out this way? You know everything about me. I don’t know shit about you. Not a damn thing.”
The Girl Who Played Who is Zala? with Fire
get his girlfriend and himself killed. The killers also murder Nils Bjurman (Peter Andersson), Lisbeth’s sadistic legal guardian. Lisbeth is framed for the triple murder and must find the mysterious gangster named ‘Zala’ who seems to be behind the murders. Throughout the film we learn more of Lisbeth’s past, including a wonderful scene between her and her former guardian Holger Palmgren (Per Oscarsson), who suffered a stroke off screen in the first film, and who appears to have been one of the few positive male influences in her life. The film doesn’t quite manage to equal The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, but what film could? Ultimately, it feels like the second act of a three act story, which it is, and as such succeeds, but it works less so as a stand alone movie. It’s definitely worth a watch, but not as good as the first film in the series.
By Kyle Hintz Staff Writer
The Girl Who Played with Fire is the second film adapted from Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy, this time helmed by a new director, Daniel Alfredson, brother of director Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In) and a new writer, Jonas Frykberg. Noomi Rapace and Mikael Nyqvist reprise their roles with equally great performances as in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. 18 months has elapsed since the first film and Lisbeth (Rapace), who has been traveling abroad, decides to return to Stockholm. In all that time Lisbeth hasn’t been in contact with Blomkvist (Nyqvist), who has resumed his position at Millennium magazine. He has recently hired a young journalist, Dag Svensson (Hans Christian Thulin), who is investigating sex trafficking between Sweden and Russia. Svensson’s girlfriend, Mia Bergman (Jennie Silfverhjelm), is writing a thesis on sex trafficking as well. Svensson begins confronting some public officials who are involved in the sex trafficking, stirring the pot enough to
3.5 of 4
MOVIEGOODS.COM
MOVIEGOODS.COM
Dralion By Chris Moore Interim Editor-in-Chief As I walked into the darkened arena, my eyes drawn to the circular stage set up in front, I wondered what I’d be in for. I had never been to any sort of circus, least of all the one that had dominated my thoughts for weeks. Would my younger sister, who sat by me in the front row as we watched the colorful lights on stage undulate back and forth, be as captivated with the spectacle as I was sure to be? Could the show possibly compare with the fanciful scenes that I had built up in my head ever since hearing about the St. Louis show? Would it be worth the rather pricey sum for two front row tickets to what I long considered must be the true greatest show on Earth? As it turns out, she was,
it did, and how. Since its founding in 1984, the Canadian-based Cirque du Soleil has garnered great international attention and for very good reasons. This nouveau circus is a unique, if often copied, blend of death-defying acrobatics, slapstick clowning, surprisingly indepth character work, and a colorful visual style that combines vaudeville, street fashion, traditional circus, international styles, and sheer fantasy. The company boasts a wide number of touring shows, as well as a few permanent locations. In addition to their regular shows featuring original music, Cirque du Soleil has also produced the Beatlesinspired show, Love and plans to unleash a show in October of this year about the king of pop, Michael
Continued Pg 7
Opinion
Guy Speak Girl Talk
with Jake Bennett
with Tavi Sanders
Q
My girlfriend and I are both going to graduate in the spring. She plans on moving to New York this summer. I love her deeply, but I’ve been offered a lucrative internship in St. Louis that could net me a prestigious job. I’m conflicted. If I followed her, there’s no guarantee that I’d get a job, but if I stayed and accepted the internship, I’d be away from her. What should I do? Guy Speak: I’ve actually been in a similar situation. It’s very difficult to choose between your relationships and your education/career. Ask yourself these questions: How strong is your relationship? Are you considering the internship because you want it or are you considering it because you think it’s what you need? If you ask me, it would be less likely that you would find a woman like the one you’re seeing now (I’m assuming she’s pretty great) than it would be to find a job. It depends on what you value more. Also, the relationship may be strong enough to last the distance. It all depends on the faith you have in each other, and the ambitions you have for the relationship. Talk to her about where you want it to go with the relationship in the long run. Since you are both moving forward in your lives, it is important to communicate to each other what you want. I read a quote once that went something like this. “The best way to make a decision between two things you want is to flip a coin, because in the moment the coin is in the air, you know which one you really want. Just something to think about. Girl Talk: Your girlfriend obviously knows what she wants to do after graduation and so should you! You can not allow anyone to dictate your life and your choices. Love is an intangible bond. You do not need to be with her physically to continue your relationship. Opportunity does not constantly present itself. It sounds as though this internship could be crucial to your future endeavors. Sure, the both of you will have some adjusting to do, but look at it as an investment. With recent advancements in technology, this is the best time to have a longdistant relationship. You can stay connected not only by phone but text, Facebook, and Yahoo messenger. These are just a few of the ways to stay connected. Stop focusing on your relationship and start planning your future. Trust me, it will all fall into order.
Q
I adore my boyfriend, but our political differences are putting a real strain on our relationship. We’re at complete opposite sides of the political spectrum and while that hasn’t been much of a problem before, we’ve lately been in engaged in constant debates about current events that leave both of us angry. Do you think it’s something that we can work out or should my next boyfriend be someone whose beliefs are more compatible with mine?
Guy Speak: If political views are important to you, then yes. You should never force yourself into an unhappy situation when it comes to relationships. However, as long as both of you keep an open mind and agree to disagree, there shouldn’t be a problem. If your relationship seems to be threatened by opposing political beliefs, perhaps there is something else wrong. If there is a deeper problem, maybe it is just finding its way out in the form of a political debate. Communication is crucial here. You and your boyfriend need to understand each others beliefs. I am not saying adopt them as your own, but it will help you agree to disagree and move on if you can understand each others thought processes on the particular issues. Like I said before though, if it is not something you think you can live with for a long time, then maybe it is time to move on. Girl Talk: I believe that any differences can be worked out if both parties are willing to work it out. Your debates are good! That means that you both are communicating, despite your differences. The main thing to remember is to respect each others opinion although it’s not the same as yours. It’s a good thing that everyone doesn’t have the same views because we would have a pretty boring life. Outside of your political differences, I’m sure you have a working relationship. I suggest you gravitate to the more positive aspects of the relationship and avoid the political debates. Save that for your colleagues who could appreciate the debates much better. Debate shouldn’t be a constant occurrence in a relationship. If it doesn’t work out, ask potential boyfriends up front about their political views.
Got a question for Jake and Tavi? Send it to mckreview@mckendree.edu or online at mckreview.com/advice
Page 7 Dralion Continued Jackson The Immortal World Tour. was the most enjoyable event I’ve been to Dralion, a portmanteau of dragon and this year, I can’t pretend that it was withlion to complement the advertised Eastout flaws. One of the most noticeable to me meets-West theme (though as the perforwas the uneven blending of its humorous mance makes great use of Indian and Afri- and serious moments. The show combines can inspired designs, the theme in actuality beautiful, occasionally somber and very is more multicultural), recently stopped in serious acts of acrobatics with slapstick St. Louis on its current tour. The perforclown skits, but the two halves seem dismance is unique in that it heavily incorpojointed. The clowns have little connection rates elements of Chinese circus, including with the rest of the performance and seem impressive contorout of place, as if tion, hoop diving they wandered in and a modified from a completely lion dance using different, more the titular Dralwhimsical show. ions, fuzzy creaThat is not to tures reminiscent say that the clowns of both dragon are bad; to the conand lion dance trary, they garnered costumes. great applause The perforfrom the audience mance is nothing and their unique if not colorful. send-up of the enThe vibrant tire performance blues, greens, was a highlight of oranges, and the show. I would reds that dominot necessarily say nate the show, they were the funrepresenting niest of Cirque du air, ocean, earth, Soleil‘s clowns and and fire, make the audience plant even the brilthey honed in on liant gold robes was very obvious, of the show’s but they have a singers look dark long history to comin comparison. pete with. While The bright colors amusing enough tie in well with in their own right, the constant they could have movement of the been much more if show. Warriorit made thematic MOVIEGOODS.COM like dancers twirl bright red flags sense for the clowns in formation, goddesses dance in to be there. Contrast the air while twined in in itself is not a ethereal blue ribbad thing, “Dralion is the fusion of bons, and orange but in this Dralions frolic case, it and gambol makes ancient Chinese circus tradition around the one stage. wonder and the avant-garde approach of In addition why the to being a viCirque du Soleil. The show’s name clowns, sual feast, the such an acts of Dralion unexis drawn from its two main symbols: plained are impressive. As I watched departhe dragon, representing the East, ture from the show, I learned many the rest things about and the lion, representing the West.” of the the human show, CIRQUEDU SOLEIL.COM are even body. One: that humans can there in bend in ways that the first put boneless octopi place. to shame. Two: that it’s possible to turn So what are my final thoughts on Dralbouncing on a trampoline into an art form. ion? It’s a good show in its own right, but Three: that I’ll never play Double Dutch even after a decade’s worth of performancnearly as well as a pyramid of performers es, it could do with some work to make it stacked three levels high. If I could degreat. In comparison to other Cirque du scribe everything in minute detail, I would Soleil shows, the production seems smaller tell about every tiny movement of a spider- and more toned down in terms of storytelllike juggler, of the speed and precision of ing, so it may be disappointing to those a group of dancers diving through hoops who have already seen the other shows. seemingly too small to fit a human body However, for those of you who have never through, of the gasps of the audience as the seen a Cirque du Soleil show or, like me, first refrains of music started. Ah, if only I have only ever watched the tapings, it’s could! Alas, there’s far too much to tell. a real treat and sure to be a memory you While I make no secret that the show won’t forget for awhile.
Sports
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RUCKMAN, HOBBIE POWER McKENDREE MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM PAST WILLIAM WOODS Sophomore forward David Ruckman (Freeburg, Ill./Freeburg) poured in a season-high 20 points and added 10 rebounds to help lead the McKendree University men’s basketball team to an 81-63 victory Thursday night at home against William Woods University. Senior forward Eric Hobbie (Vandalia, Ill./Vandalia) also registered a doubledouble with 20 points and a game-high 12 rebounds along with four assists and three blocked shots for the Bearcats. McKendree moved to 12-11 on the season and 6-2 in American Midwest Conference play. Senior guard Andy Wolff (Centralia, Ill./Metro East Lutheran) also reached double figures in the scoring column with 12 points. McKendree used an 18-1 run midway through the first half to grab the lead
for good against William Woods. Hobbie had seven points and Ruckman contributed four points during the spurt, which pushed the Bearcats out to a 22-8 lead with 9:47 left in the period. McKendree held the Owls without a field goal for more than five minutes during the decisive stretch. After William Woods snapped its dry spell from the field, McKendree used an 8-2 run to build its largest lead of the half, 30-12, with 3:57 left in the period. The Bearcats shot 53.6 percent (15-of-28) in the first 20 minutes of play to grab a 35-24 lead at the intermission. In the second half, McKendree surged out to a 19-point lead on four different occasions, the last coming at 76-57 on a lay-up by junior forward Ian Ridge (Flora, Ill./Flora) with just over three minutes to play.
All 12 McKendree players scored in the contest. The Bearcats’ reserves connected on their first nine shots from the floor and outscored the William Woods bench players 3728. McKendree also held a 45-26 edge in rebounding against the Owls. Andrew Miller led William Woods (9-14, 3-5 AMC) with 14 points, while Elliott Black came off the bench to post 11 points. The win allowed McKendree to complete the regular-season sweep of the Owls. The Bearcats won the first meeting 82-49 back on Jan. 6 in Fulton, Mo. McKendree will be on the road for AMC play Saturday at HannibalLaGrange University. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. in Hannibal, Mo.
BEARCATS CLAIM THREE INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS The No. 3 McKendree University wrestling team had 15 individuals earn top six finishes, including three championships, on Sunday at the University of Indianapolis Greyhound Open. The Bearcats will travel to St. Louis, Mo., on Saturday, February 12th to close out the regular season with their final dual of the season against Missouri Baptist University at Noon. Senior Rashad Riley (Hoffman Estates, Ill., Conant), sophomore Kyle Reid (Belleville, Ill., Belleville East), and senior Andrew Sanchez (Shiloh, Ill., O'Fallon) won championships at 133, 184, and 197 pounds, respectively. Riley, ranked No. 4 at 133 pounds, defeated No. 9 Tyler Alsip of Campbellsville University in the 133-pound championship match. Reid claimed the 184 pound title with a nomatch, forfeit win over teammate Tanner Wolk,
and Sanchez, ranked No. 2 in the NAIA, defeated No. 1 Derek Foore of Notre Dame College in a 6-1 decision to win the 197 pound division. Runner-up finishers for the Bearcats were senior Ryan Jahn (Bolingbrook, Ill., Bolingbrook), sophomore John Vogt (Festus, Mo., Ste. Genevieve), senior Tanner Wolk (Ste. Genevieve, Mo., Ste. Genevieve), and sophomore Andrew Davis (Loves Park, Ill., Harlem), at 149, 174, 184, and heavyweight, respectively. Third place finishers for McKendree were junior Kyle Williams (Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Mascoutah) and sophomore Kyle Hanner (Wood River, Ill., East Alton-Wood River) at 141 and 174 pounds, respectively. Fourth place finishers were freshman Josh Ballard (Troy, Ill., Triad) and sophomore Isaiah Gonzalez (Montgomery, Ill., Montini Catholic) at 157
and 165 pounds, respectively. Freshmen Julian Smith (Florissant, Mo., Hazelwood Central) and Casey Gushleff (Granite City, Ill., Granite City) both finished in fifth place at 197 pounds and heavyweight, respectively, and rounding out the top six finishers were sophomore Devin Patterson (Mattoon, Ill., Mattoon) and freshman Nicolas Haferkamp (Lincoln, Ill., Lincoln Community) at 149 and 157 pounds, respectively.
Sports articles by Eric Buck and Scott Cummings
MCKENDREE ATHLETICS RUCKMAN, HOBBIE POWER McKENDREE MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM PAST WILLIAM WOODS
WOMEN’S BOWLING TEAM WINS SECOND STRAIGHT TOURNAMENT For the second straight weekend – and the fifth time this season – the McKendree University women’s bowling team was the last squad standing at the completion of a tournament. The Bearcats topped a field of 32 teams in winning its own McKendree Baker Challenge, which was held Saturday and Sunday at Bel-Air Bowl in Belleville. McKendree dominated the field in the 40-game Baker qualifying rounds, then held off challenges from Davenport University in the bracket semifinals and Webber International University in the championship match to post the victory. The win comes seven days after the Bearcats claimed the tournament title at the
Lions Classic in St. Charles, Mo. On Saturday, McKendree grabbed the lead early in the day and built a 189-pin lead after 24 Baker games. The Bearcats continued to stretch the margin and finished Baker play with 8,636 pins to grab the top seed in the eight-team bracket finals. In the quarterfinal round, McKendree swept its bestof-three Baker match with the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, 183-165 and 200-166. The Bearcats then squared off with fifthseeded Davenport in the semifinal round. McKendree cruised to a 215-157 win in the first game before Davenport battled back to take the second contest,
235-197. However, the Bearcats regrouped to win the decisive third game 195-171 to earn a spot in the final match. McKendree met No. 2 seed Webber International in the championship contest. The Bearcats picked up a 223-214 win in game one before Webber International dominated the second game, winning 237-154. The final game came down the final frame as McKendree rallied to take the deciding game by two pins, 226-224. The Bearcats will be looking for their third consecutive tournament victory Feb. 19-20 at the Backhaul Direct Hoosier Classic in Indianapolis, Ind.
MCKENDREE ATHLETICS