Every ten years, Peru State College undergoes a self-study and strategic planning process in preparation for accreditation by the Higher Leaming Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. This process is currently underway at PSC.
The about two-year process focuses on involvement between faculty, staff, administrators, students, parents, and community members, in order to evaluate the programs and learning environment of the college.
"What is accreditation?" some may ask. Accreditation means that the public, especially prospective students, can be assured that the institution has met the HLC's standards of a college with high academic standing.
"It acts a bit like insurance,
protecting [students] and their investment of time and money by guaranteeing that the education they'll receive has met stringent standards of educational excellence," according to the website ValueOfADegree.com.
Peru State College has been accredited by the HLC since 1915.
The Self-Study Committee and subcommittees of Peru administrators and faculty are currently evaluating each of the Criteria for Accreditation areas and determining how to improve areas, as well as determining which areas are currently being successfully met. This self-study will also serve as a foundation for a five-year strategic plan that PSC President Dr. Dan Hanson is assembling.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for all members of the college community to reflect on ways we can better engage our students in learning, research, and application of knowledge to
innovative solutions," said Associate Professor of Business Dr. Christy Hutchison, who is chairing the HLC Self-Study Steering Committee.
Why is this process of particular interest to students? Other than the importance of students being assured of their college having high academic standing, students and community members will have an opportunity to assist in this process.
Along the way, students and community members will be given the opportunity to read drafts of the self-study and offer suggestions, as well as take part in focus group discussions. These involvement opportunities are planned to take place during October and November 2010.
The official visit to PSC by the Higher Leaming Commission is scheduled for November 2011.
I love the commuter lounge and the coffee shop, but really upset that the pool is being taken away from the students.
Megan Leeann Salyer-Stevens
Secondary Special Eduction, Junior
Editor-in-Chief
Assistant Editor
Layout Editor
Copy Editor
Advertising Manager
D.lstfibution Manager
utStaff
www.psctirnes .corn
Katie Kuhl
Carol Carpenter
Kristen Rusen
Dan Perkins
Elaine Karel
Brandon Schumacher
Becky Bartlett
Jenny Trapp
Kristi Nies
The game room and commuter lounge look great! The coffee shop is pretty sweet, too!
Kimmy Miller
Secondary Science Education, Junior
I love the new renovations for the game room.
Tom Van Boening
Graphic Design, Senior
The Times, the official student newspaper of Peru State College, is published four times per semester by Peru State College students. The Times office is located in the College Publications Office in Room 126 of the AV Larson Building.
The opinions expressed in the Times may not be those of the entire newspaper staff. The Peru State Times is an independent publication funded by student publication fees. The views expressed in this publication, including the contents of paid advertisements, do not necessarily reflect the views of the administration, faculty or staff of Peru State College. All letters to the editor are welcome, and the writers of those letters need not be students. Letters, cartoons, articles, pictures and any other material submitted to the.Times must be signed by individual(s) submitting them and will be published at the discretion of the staff. The Times reserves the right to edit all letters, articles and other submitted materials for grammar, length and clarity. The Times also reserves the right to decline the publication of , any materials, including paid advertisements, for any reason.
To reach the Times, send material to the Peru State Times though campus mail or to: PSC Times, Peru State College, P.O. Box 10, Peru, NE 68421 or email us at psctimes@yahoo.com, or call us at (402) 872-2260,
The construction and renovations at PSC promise to make the campus even more beautiful. Bruce Batterson, Vice President for Administration and Finance, gave the Times a "tour" of campus, talking about construction and renovation in each building.
other roo.ms in the building will be "wired into" the recording studio; recording may take place from other rooms. Most faculty offices will be at the east end of the first floor.
"It's going to be a great facility and a beautiful building," Batterson said.
Renovation for Morgan. Hall · -occurs in four stages. From 2002-2004, the middle third of the women's residence hall was renovated. The middle section Building should be done this now has air conditioning, new spring, and the building should walls, and new plumbing. Renobc opened for foll 20 l l. What vation for the rest of the used to be Benford Hall should start this winter, and it will will now be what Batterson called take about two years to cornpl,cte. a "flexible space:" the room fea- First, the back portion, which is tures a small auditorium that us- now empty, will be renovated. ers can set up in different ways, Then, residents in the front 1/3 of according to the project at hand. the building will be movccl to the The room will also function as a back 1/3, and the front third will FEMA storm shelter. The band be renovated. The final step will
Work on the Jindra Fine Arts
state fund that pays for renovations of state buildings, but the fund does not pay for college resideuce hall renovations.
Changes in the Student Center include: a newly remodeled game room and a larger basement lounge area, complete with new furniture. Peru State will continue to work on heating, air conditioning, and ventilation issues in the Student Center, Batterson said,
the years. In the library, the Bobcat Den has been made over into a small snack bar and coffee shop.
ing that each building gets more frequent 'furniture replacement. Campus improvement fees will fund this ongoing project.
The project for the Activity Center is about to start and Batterson hopes it will be done by spring. The swimming pool area will become a fitness center, and the building will combine facilities from the Student Center and Delzell residence hall in a new "big, beautiful, and welcoming" fitness center.
In addition to all the
Above: The Game Room in the Student Center received a facelift including new felt on all the pool tables
·oom, on the second floor, will iave a vaulted ceiling. The buildng will also include a recording 1tudio, Batterson said. Because
be to work on the basement and add elevators. Batterson said the Morgan Hall project will be paid for by selling bonds: there is a
This
Batterson hopes that the projects for the CATS center and the library will be finished this winter. Many of the bricks on these buildings need replacement, and in several places the mortar has separated from the bricks. The process of replacing some bricks and re-mortaring others has been slowed by the discovery that more brick replace-
ment needed to be done than what was originally thought. Batterson said the culprit is water that has accumulated behind the face of the bricks over
In the theater, the balcony railings are being reconfigured to meet new codes. The project is almost complete: it should be done within a month. "It's not only a safety issue, it's also beautiful," Batterson said.
In the Complex, workers are starting to replace air conditioners and furniture. Furniture will be replaced in one of the Complex buildings every year; mean-
mentioned four possible future projects. Delzell Hall may be renovated; also, Peru State is considering redoing the Oakbowl along with the baseball and softball fields.
In describing the construction and renovation on campus, Batterson said several times that the end result will be "beautiful, " leaving PSC more beautiful than ever.
Peru, Ne - Peru State College
(PSC) President Dr. Dan Hanson today announced that the college has enrolled the largest freshman class in its 143-year history and is nearing capacity in its residence halls.
PSC's total number of freshmen currently stands at 249 - an almost 8 percent increase over this time one year ago. The total number of on-campus students has risen to 972, a 2.75 percent increase since 2009. New graduate student enrollments are up 30 percent.
PSC is also posting an unprecedented increase in out-of-state freshmen enrollment with a 50 percent increase over 2009. The college saw a 20 percent increase last fall compared to 2008. Hanson attributes the tremendous growth in out-of-state enroll-
ment to the college's unique One Rate, Any State program which ·allows all students, regardless of residency, the opportunity to pay
(NSCS) Board of Trustees in the summer of 2009, is in its second year.
Total headcount, which also inc
the same low tuition rate as Nebraska residents. The three-year pilot program, approved by the Nebraska State College System
ludes on-campus, off-campus and online students, is down a little under 2 percent, from 2,173 during this time one year ago to
2,131 today. With several weeks left to register for online and offcampus classes, college officials expect those numbers to rebound when final enrollengagent and success is clearly resonating with applicants, and we could not be more excited about the growth of our oncampus programs. The kind of growth this institution has expe" rienced over the past 10 years is really unprecedented, and we will
evant, quality education come to expect from Peru
With the influx of freshman dents this fall, the college is ing capacity in its residence Hanson said, "This is the kind of problem that is good to have: Plans are underway to address the ; potential for future room es as we expect on-campus enrollments and residence hall demand to continue to grow over the next several years. The Nebraska State College System Board of Trustees met last week and approved plans to complete renovations to Morgan Hall, the women's residence hall, which will make available 35 additional rooms by 2012."
On Sept. 3, Peru State College hosted its second 24 Hour Theatre project. The concept for the project began in New York City, and has been held at other colleges and communities across the country. On Thursday, Sept. 4, the groups met and discussed their individual 5-120 minute plays. Thursday evening, the writers created the script.
The groups got together Friday morning to rehearse, block, and choose their props and costumes. Theatre Director Josh Young !nstructed each group that they must use two things, a Chinese food carton, and the line "and that's when the woodpecker attacked" in each play. A small crowd, con-, sisting of mostly parents of the participants, were treated and entertaining evening of impromptu theater.
The slightly confusing first play, entitled "Kung Pow AHHHHHHHl" ended with a murder, starred Hope Voss and Megan Johnson, was written by Brianna Urrutia, and was directed by Sam Atkinson.
Directed by Mary Fielder and scriptedbyDavinaAndrew, "Zorn ZaJJ;l Zzzzzz".starredClint Majors and.Thomas Horky, beatnik style,
monkeying around, "Pirate Show Funny" displayed the humorous talents of Madison Farris, Adam Jeanneret, and Michael Casavant. This play was written by Alyssa Krasek and directed by Jane Henry.
In "Where For Art Thou Sir Narcissist" Dan Perkins, Emily Crom, and Tessa Way performed a play within a play. Written by Mary Den, Perkins also directed this production, and adeptly portrayed Sir Narcissist (it's all about him!).
The final play showed Xavier Gibson and Ashley Churchill in Michael Casavant's "A boy, A girl, and a Tuba." Directed by Stephanie Neilson, Gibson and Churchill demonstrated what not to do or say on a first date.
Approximately half of the students participating in the project were freshman with several veteran theatre performers including Farris, Perkins, Jeanneret, Churchill, and Henry. The group took questions from the audience after the show. Casavants and Perkins alluded to the references Top: Dan Perkins and Emily to previous performances, such as Crom play Romeo and Juliet in "The Woman in Black" which the "Where for Art Thou Sir Narciscast found extremely entertaining.
The Peru Theatre Company invites everyone to the production of "Marcus is Walking" which premeires Thursday, Sept 30 and continues through Homecoming weekend.
sist."
Right: Clint Majors and Thomas Horky in "Zorn Zam Zzzzzzz."
Bottom: Ashley Churchill and Xavier Gibson starred in Michael Casavant's "A Boy;'A girl, and a Tuba."
Lately there has been much uproar against Muslims and the "nation of Islam." People have protested plans to build a mosque near Ground Zero, where the World Trade Center towers fell nine years ago. A pastor in Florida plans to retaliate by burning the Quran as a sign ofridding the country of this so-called evil. A surprising number of Americans think President Obama is Muslim. These events and unfair perceptions are evidence of our disapproval for Muslims.
The United States contains an estimated 2.5 million Muslims, which is less than 1% of Ameri-
cans, a very small minority. Islam has been feared by many, especially in recent years. This is no surprise, given the events of September 11. To be fair, Islam has certainly had its share of questionable matters - in their call for holy wars, .the constant conflict between Sunni and Shiite Muslims, and in fundamentalists such as Saudi Arabia's extreme conservatism, known as Wahhabism, where women have few rights (they cannot even drive a vehicle).
But generalizations are terrible things. One act of terror by a group does not delineate its desires for the entire community. Al-Qaeda, funded by Osama bin Laden, is to blame for 9/11, not Muslims as a whole. If Timothy McVeigh (the Oklahoma City
bomber) were Catholic, would we blame all Catholics for that attack? Not likely. People are afraid of differences, especially when it changes their status quo - fear fills the spaces of the unknown. But the more we know about those differences, the more we understand them and the less we have to fear.
The Ground Zero mosque (which is really more like a community center) has the potential to develop ties and build bridges between Muslims and those who are c.oncerned with Islam. Muslims who come to America are obviously here because they seek the same freedoms we dwell in every day. We should not deprive them of that. As September 11 and September 17 (Constitution Day) draw near we should remember
Editor's Note: Since the ar-
JOE WINGROVE
Contributing Writer
··. Constitution of the,United States of America has been under assault recently as people look for ways to fix problems faced by the country. On one hand you have people arguing that amendments such as the second need to be protected others such as the 14th, 16th, and 17th need to be repealed.
The 14th amendment, has been under assault recently for the wording that calls for all persons born or naturalized in The United States to be citizens of both The United States and the states where they reside. More importantly, the amendment requires every state to apply the rights granted by the Constitution at the state level.
The argument for this change is that many illegal immigrants are
entering the country for the sole purpose of having a child who will become a citizen. However, recent studies show that more children are born to people who e.nt.ered the country with a legal visa but did not leave when the visa expired.
This data goes to show that the change is being proposed on fears rather than facts, which supiPrt large numbers of people coming to the country just for citizen rights of their children.
The 16th amendmel)t, which was created to allow for federal income taxes, is under attack because of recent economic problems and the desire for lower
loss. of tax income will affect the problem.
The final amendment that is getting attention for repeaUs .tl)e 17th
· the · of tors from the state legto the direct election by the peo-. ple. This change was a hotly .debated one for almost 100 years prior to it being ratified. When it was originally proposed in the 1820's there were many problems with the elections of senators, including the failure to fill vacant positions in a timely manner to improprieties in the elections of senators. This was
because of the political winds of the day, was later repealed in 1933 with the 21st amendment. It should be remembered that rushing to make changes because of the current political climate may lead to more problems down the road than initially intended.
taxes. With all the recent discussions of lowering the federal deficit there is no discussion how
a trend that got worse over time as some senate seats sat vacant for years at a time as state legislatures
KIM MILLIGAN Contributing Writer
Non-traditional students at larger schools may feel isolated and out of sync with the school mileu. That does not seem to be the experience of PSC's older students: of the five non-traditional students interviewed, no one reported feeling isolated.
"Everybody's very friendly .and welcoming," said Allison Rasmussen, 45. "I never feel out of place."
Rasmussen is a senior Education/Language Arts major from Kansas City. She and her husband of 22 years have two children
Indeed, non-traditional students with families reported having solid family support, even though they may lack what 40-year-old Heather Schuler called a "builtin support network of peers" on campus. Smaller classes and Student Success Services help as well.
i n?n-traditional students feel that CAB activities are for them. Stephenie· Casteel, a 30-year-old single mom, said, "I'm not going to come to the Spring Dance and !:lust a move or anything!"
Cheryl Panko, 43, said, "I usually don't pay attention to CAB activities." However, "Movie Night" is popular among these
students because they can bring their families.
Older students bring to Peru State a wealth of varied life and work experience. Joe Wingrove was in the Navy; now he's a senior at PSC working toward a degree in Computer Management and Information Sciences. Casteel was an on-air radio personality. Panko was a day care provider, and she also works at First National Bank, where she continues to work parttime. Rasmussen was a stay-athome mom for 11 years, and then she worked as an aid in a "small country school."
Shuler and her husband own their own business, Wolfram's Wonderous Wares. It is a traveling, historically-based reenactment of medieval craftsmanship. Her husband makes jewelry, and she does leather work. They also sell retail items. Shuler, proud grandmother of eight children, has two children living at home who help with the family business on the weekends. Clarence is almost ten years old; he loves to take bicycles apart and put them back together.
"Right now our front porch has about 12 bikes in different stages of repair," Shuler said with a laugh. Fred, 11, is wild about harmonicas and Legos. At the retail store, the children unpack boxes and they help put merchandise on the tables.
When it comes to balancing
school with work, many of these non-traditional students are pros. They also maintain a household: plan meals, shop, cook, clean, do laundry. Again, many older students report solid family support. Panko said that she is very good at multi-tasking, but sometimes she finds it difficult to manage all her responsibilities. She has three children: a 7th grader, a sophomore and a senior. Her children help her manage.
Casteel also said that managing all her to-do's can be a challenge. She tries to always keep up on the laundry and she straightens up as she walks around the house. Her son, 7-year-old Delbert, helps. She also keeps meals as simple as possible. Delbert's favorite meal is burritos.
Non-traditional students may have interesting educational backgrounds as well. Panko has an Associate's Degree in accounting. Casteel attended college for l l6 years, studying communications. Rasmussen studied Language Arts for two years. She said that she is more focused now. Many non-traditional students agreed with Rasmussen: they are mm:e motivated now than they were just out of high scho91.
Dr. Bill Clemente, Professor of English, said that non-traditional students' motivation and specific goals may inspire other students. He enjoys working with non-traditional students
"They generally add a depth of experience to classroom discussions," Clemente said.
Do these non-traditional students fear age discrimination when they
dents complete a portfolio, which Galardi called an "in-de The portfolio details prior learning in the form of business and personal accomplishments, leadership and
start their job hunts? No. Many feel that their unique perspective will be a valuable contribution to their future workplaces.
"I hope I've diversified my education enough so that age will not be a discriminating factor," Panko said.
Many schools offer non-traditional students an avenue by which they can earn college credit for real-life work experience.
PSC joined the group in 2006, offering "College 201- Prior Learning/Life Experience Portfolio Development." Dr. Greg Galardi, Dean of the school of Professional Studies, leads this online course.
As the course title suggests, stu-
RAEANNA CARBAUGH
Contributing Writer
Rushing to do homework, running to class, and speeding to work. For many teenagers and young adults this is an every day occurrence. They are known to society as Student Workers.
In reality every student has one job, school. School is considered work, because you have to work at it to be great.
On the other side, there are students who have another job. It can vary from babysitting, mowing la\vns, or scooping grease at a fast food joint. Most of the time these are the students who are paying their own bills, buying their own merchandise, and in some larger cases, they're working their way through college.
Photo Courtesy of http:iltuningpen.wordpress.com/category/feature-articles/
community service experiences, creative contribution to society, and documentation of professional training. The p01tfolio is literally a book: it can be 150+ pages. To determine whether college credit should be granted, the portfolio is evaluated by the dean of the appropriate school.
A popular major among College 201 students is Applied Science and Management, and these students can earn the equivalent of an Associate's Degree for prior learning. They can earn up to 66 of the 125 hours required for graduation.
Many students on the Peru campus have jobs. Some are off campus in Nebraska City or Auburn; others may work on campus in the cafeteria, or the library. It's a hectic life style and one has to know how to balance work, school, and a social life.
It is very easy to get caught off guard ·and to allow one of the three slip, but rebalancing the pyramid is the hardest because you have to make changes and sacrifices. Some students may let their work and school take over and they can become unsociable, or some will allow their school to slip to be able to work and have a social
life. Being a responsible person is a lot harder than taking the easy way out. Many have to work hard at it every day to make sure that they keep an equal balance.
It is a wonderful thing to be a student worker, the value of a dollar is learned through paying for what is needed and wanted. Many people have the ability to structure their schedules around their schooling and work, but many can struggle to stay afloat.
Having a job helps to teach responsibility, even .if the job is the president of a club on campus, you still have to balance the pyramid to suit the needs on all three sides. Being a working student is both difficult and honorable. But with the skills obtained through hard work, the working student is better prepared for tQeir furure occupations.
42. State, home to 17, 24 Down,
32, 33 Across
46. "The __ " : 2004 song by Hoobastank
47. Sound a pig makes
48. Maker ofButterfinger, Crunch, Baby Ruth
49 President when stock market crashed in '29
50. Gives out a task
Down
2. Pay to play (in cards)
3. Shrek's wife
5. Gather crops
6. First, fresh, novel
7. Mauna _: large volcano
8. Sleep __ : breathing disorder
9. Police officer
1L _ Sports: video game company
13. __ Hussein, Iraq dictator
14. Ravine, valley
17. River, with 32 Across, meets at 24Down
18. Raincoat
20. Large artillery gun that fires
balls
22. Popular pasta
23. Sound from a radio
24. City in 42 Across; home of the Steelers
25. There were 12, Peter & Judas were 2
30. Rating between poor and good
35. Someone who tries a marathon
36. __ the Terrible: Russian czar
37. "It's a girl!" color
38. Preacher or priest
40. Largest New Deal org.
43. Zero, nil
44. 1970 song by The Kinks
45. Competes
As the 2010 season gets underway, volleyball, football, crosscountry, and golf started off with mixed results.
With Alexis Baack as head coach as assistant, the Lady Bobcat Volleyball team started the season on a positive note. The team posts a 3-2 record as of September 8, 2010. Coach Baack said with the help of Carly Morehead transfer from CC Beatrice, Maddy Lister transfer from North Platte CC, KT Solberg from Sterling, and Toni Ratliff from Shenandoah IA. The team strives to become conference champions, attempting a great run in the MCAC conference. The team requests your presence at all games to help cheer them on to victory.
Bobcat head football coach Terry Clark starts his eighth season
with James Craig, defensive coordinator; Chuck Mizeski, defensive line; Larry Cure, defensive line; Derek Derr, corner backs; Justin Kearns, running backs; Donny Lees, offensive line/Grad assistant; Dick Ramsey, offensive coordinator; Lou Valley, offensive line; Jeff Reed, linebacker/ special teams; Blain Brown, defensive backs; and Lynn Meyer, running backs.
The football team's goal for the season is to keep working hard and stay together as a team, to win more games and have a winning record. Coach Clark said, "If the men keep playing and improving each day, then we will win more games.''
The football team began with a loss to Concordia College in their season opener, a heartbreaking 56-54 loss in triple overtime to Jamestown College, and a 27- 7 defeat to Buena Vista Beavers in Falls City on Sept. 11. Come out every Saturday afternoon to help
cheer the Bobcats at home games and to help them improve their record in the MCAC conference.
Dr. Johann Murray, in his seventh year at PSC, heads the Bobcat Cross Country Team. The team placed fifth at CU/UNO meet on Sept. 3 and earned a third at the NWMSU Bearcat/Spoofhound Invitational on Sept.11. Coach Murray said, "I see lots of promises in their future."
Coach Murray praised two standout runners Sarah Williams and Cassandra Leonard. Williams is a transfer student and has already qualified to run in the Boston marathon. Murray is excited to see how well she will perform in the middle distance cross-country running. Leonard is a freshman who brings a lot of tenacity into practice and coach Murray believes she will one day lead the team. "Both these runners will be a key in our success," said Murray.
The team's goal is to have run-
ners become more dedicated to training and developing deeper relationships with competitive running. Coach Murray wants to attract new incoming students or current students to the crosscountry team.
Women's Golf rounds out the sports fall preview. With only one returning senior, Coach Angela Tejral hopes the energy of the young squad on the links will put them back on the map. The five women team travels to Lincoln, NE on Sept. 19-20; Sioux City, IA on Sept. 24-25; and Maryville, MO on Oct. 7-8 for the fall season
The Peru State Times wishes good Luck to all the Bobcat sports teams. Go Cats!
(Peru, NE) - In their second meet of the year, the Peru State College (PSC) women's cross country team finished third at the Northwest Missouri State University's (NWMSU) Bearcat Invitational in Maryville, MO.
NWMSU won its own meet with a team total of 23. They were followed by William Jewell College with 35 with the Bobcats totaled 82.
Junior Sarah Williams (Hiawatha, KS) was the top PSC runner as she finished 13th with her personal best 5K time of 21:17.1 which was the sixth best Bobcat time since cross country was re-
instated at the college in 2002.
Coach Johann Murray noted, "I .am proud of Sarah's run as she had informed me the course was not one of her favorites to run."
Freshman Cassandra Leonard (Reynolds) was the second 'Cat runner as she finished 20th in 23.11.7. Coach Murray noted this was Reynolds' fastest 5K as. well.
Other Bobcat runners and their finishes and times were: Lindsey Dannelly. (Howells), 22nd in 24:28.2; Danielle Prchal (Omaha), 24th in 26:15.1; Inori Hayashi (Nishimachi, Japan), 25th in 27:19.3; Courtney Davis (Nebraska City), 26th in 27.57.5;
and Chelsi Dotson (Shubert), 27th in 31:46.4.
"All in all, this was a good day for us," stated Coach Murray. Murray continued, "With Sarah and Cassie running their best SK times and with Inori learning more about cross country, once the others run to their potential, we will be a stronger team than in the past."
The Bobcats will run next week in the Woody Greeno Invitational, one of the premier meets of the year, in Lincoln at 10 a.m.
(Peru, NE) - The Peru State College (PSC) volleyball team swept six straight sets on Saturd;i.y against Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference foe, Central Christian College (CCC). The Bobcats won the first game 25-10, 25-12, and 25-13. In the second game, PSC took the game in by even wider margins of 25-9, 25-6, and 25-9.
Coach Lexie Baack was pleased with the 'Cats performance on the weekend, especially coming off a long lay-off. She noted, "With some nagging injuries and illness, these two games gave us an opportunity fo play all of our available players. This gives some of the younger players valuable experience when we need them at crucial times down the stretch."
Serving \vas a key for the Bobcats in both games as the Tigers were rattled by the 'Cats tough
serving. In the first game, PSC had 17 ace serves and nearly matched that total in the second game with 15 service aces. Cece Walters (Nebraska City) and Maddy Lister (North Platte) each had six aces in the first game while KT Salberg (Sterling) had six aces in the second game of the doubleheader.
Ten Bobcats had kills in the first game. Lister and Toni Ratliff (Shenandoah, IA) each put down six spikes with Fairbury natives Carly Morehead and Dani Vernon and Salberg each adding three kills. Salberg put up 30 assists in the first win.
Defensively, Becky Boshart (Wood River) came off the bench to contribute six digs while Emily Maresh (Central City) added five. In the second game, Coach Baack was able to let her personnel play in different positions than they normally do. Nor-
mally, Maresh is the libero, but in the second game she was able to show her hitting power as she contributed four kills to go along with her eight digs, Morehead added four kills while Salberg and Kelsey Monahan each contributed :kills Salberg had 19 assists in the 'Second game, Boshart again played solid defense and had Walters and Salbeyg ea.el).
digs. Rachel Rippe (Johnson) had two solo blocks.
The Bobcats will travel to Bellevue on Tuesday to take on the NAIA's #21 ranked Bellevue University Bruins at 7 p.m. They will return home on Wednesday, Sept. 22, when they will host MCAC rival College of St. Mary's aL7 p.m.
How does someone top one of the best selling casual games of all time? Adding to it of course, and< that's exactly what PopCap did to Plants Vs. Zombies. It has been out for over a year now and spans multiple platforms, such as the PC, Iphone, lpad, and soon the Xbox 360, arriving on Sept 8th.
The basis of the game is simple. Zombies are crawling up the front lawn, and it's only line of defense is the garden and the unique contents. There are a variety of plants, such as ones that spit out peas to pop off the heads of the zombies, cherries that blow them up to bits, or Venus Fly Trap-like plants that shallow them whole. By planting seeds in strategic locations around the lawn, the player may be able to
hold off the onslaught and keep · them from entering the house and eating everyone's brains.
There are up to 49 different plants to obtain, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.
Completing each level will unlock a new plant, adding to the arsenal and allowing the player to customize their strategy to the game. Levels are also constantly changing. It could change from day to night, throwing numerous zombies to your doorstep, and much more. This keeps the experience fresh. Also added to the game is a house-like headquarters, which stores your achievements and allows some customization to make it your very own.
The transition from mouse and touch screen controls to a control pad handled smoothly. It's also beautifully done, especially on an HDTV. New to the game are competitive and cooperative multiplayer modes.
Versus lets one player play as
plants and the other as zombies. However, these multiplayer modes are only available offline which may turn off some players. Plants Vs. Zombies is beautiful and addictive, making it enjoy-
defense genre, it stands out for its charm, personality, and loads of gameplay features. It has been out for a year now on many dif-
ferent platforms, but with features added to the Xbox version, it still has to power to make people forgo sleep, food, and more.
Eat, Pray, Love, a book written by Elizabeth Gilbert about her yearlong journey from New York to Italy, India, and Indonesia, was recently released in film form.
The movie begins with Liz (Julia Roberts) trying to cope with her failing marriage. After the divorce, she dated an actor interested in Eastern religion and looked into her interests in traveL Being a writer, she could work from anywhere, so Liz decided to go on a year long soul searching trip.
In Italy she learned how to appreciate language, food, and
the people around her. From there, she went to India and Indonesia, where she meditated, accepted herself, and learned what was important in life.
"Eat, Pray, Love" keeps its viewers attention with the wit and wisdom of its colorful characters and excellent actors. The cinematography makes even a simple street view interesting. Nearly everything was filmed on site at each exotic location.
The huge flaw in the film is its assumption that the audience already has knowledge of Eastern culture. There are times when explanation is necessary for the average Westerner, about meditation or Hinduism which the movie doesn't provide.
It also leaves out information about Liz's life. The book makes it clear that the marriage was so awful it was sending her into a state of depression that
the movie glazes over. The book also ID!dkes it clear that she was only ahie to go op the trip because sJ1le had gotten a book deal, which tlie movie doesn't mention.
Fans Murphy, Love's" director, may also be unpleasantly surprised that it .is not a comedy. Although lt is upbeat, it is more serious than his previous work, like Nip/Tuck or Glee. "Eat, Pray, Love" has received mixed reviews. Some of the negative reviews have criticized the film for portraying a woman as doing something for just herself, chastising Liz for being selfish. For those who want to see a long film and have background information, it will be a good movie. Unfortunately, without the prior knowledge of Liz's story or Eastern culture, "Eat, Pray, Love" will be just that: She eats. She prays. She loves.
Contributing Writer
The trend with today's rockers seems to be geared toward side projects, or bands geared toward a different sound from their original band. Maynard James Keenan of Tool received praise for his side project, A Perfect Circle, and Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails has been working on a side project with his wife. One of the most intriguing side project in recent years has been a band called, Them Crooked Vultures, Featuring Josh Homme (formally: Ky-
uss, Queens of the Stone Age) on guitar and vocals, Dave Grohl (formally: Nirvana, Foo Fighters) on drums, and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin). Them Crooked Vultures was formed from Dave Grohl and Josh Homme's work with Queens of the Stone Age. John Paul Jones was added to the project on request from Homme And Groh!, the arena rock legend didn't think twice about a chflnce to play with his two favorite modem musicians.
Most fans will recognize the refined, mainstream sound of the Foo Fighters, mixed in with the fast and heavy sound of Queens of the Stone Age. Them
Crooked Vultures released their first album to date in November of 2009, peaking at number 12 on the U.S. charts. Singles like "Mind Eraser-No Chaser" and "New Fang" drew great reviews from critics and fans alike, but due to their alternative sound, failed to receive a large amount of radio play. Despite this, Them Crooked Vultures went on tour of both Europe and the U.S. where they packed stadiums and arenas. When asked, Josh Homme stated that the band was in the studio working on another album set to come out at the end of 2010.
year, a new you! Although you have only been in Peru for about a month now, you are stuck in a rut. It is time for a change. It maybe physically, spiritually, or mentally.
JENNY TRAPP Staff Writer
Virgo Aug 23- Sept 22: It is time to celebrate! You have worked hard and a reward is right around the corner. Recently you have had a few discouraging events in your life but it is finally time for you to get a break!
Libra Sept 23- Oct 22: Very soon, you are going to start to feel your legs burning! Over the summer break, you had forgotten the Peru is nothing but hills. But on the bright side, your legs have never looked better!
Scorpio Oct 23- Nov 21: You books and supplies cost much
Wmore then you had ever expected. Luckily, in the neat future a monetary opportunity will arise that will help fill your very empty wallet.
Sagittarius Nov 22- Dec 21: Stress has hit a new high. You will - have sleepless night and gray hair
111111111111 by the end of the first month of school. Purchase yourself a stress
ball and hang in there. In your future, your hard work will pay off.
Capricorn Dec 22- Jan 19: New
Uclasses mean meeting new people. This semester you will meet someone who will impact your life in an unexpected way. Hold on tight, you're in for an interesting ride.
Aquarius Jan 20- Feb 18: A new
Pisces Feb 19- March 20: A new friend will come into your life in the next few weeks. This friend is going to help you with the good, the bad, and the ugly that will present itself to you in the future. Do not let this one go under the radar.
Aries March 21-April 19: Clubs, clubs, clubs! You dove head first into the extracurricular and may need to cut back a bit. Getting involved in school is great, but make sure to pass is also very important.
Taurus April 20-May 20: An unexpected opportunity will present itself to you in the next few days. Take advantage of it and do not let it slip away.
Gemini May 21- June 20: You're on a roll! This year is off to a great start. There is a little stress and a few hiccups that on your road to success, but you are up for the challenge.
Cancer June 21- July 22: Time management will be something that you struggle with. Watch your deadlines so they do not surprise you. You and your planner will become inseparable.
Leo July 23-Aug 2.3: Roommate drama is starting early. You started out great but recently things have turned south. Hang in there and do your best to work things out. If you can get through the tough time, you will become best friends by the end of the semester.
With the Residence Halls being at capacity, only a number of individuals were able to be accommodated to a private room
Sophomore CMIS major Kyle Amen ended up living with a roommate when his original plan was to have a private room.
"I always knew there was a chance of getting a roommate, but calling one day to find out I had the room and the next finding out I lost it. It left me pretty upset at the time."
Private rooms were removed by classes due to a constrained hous-
ing situation, starting with the freshman class and moving upwards from there, according to Residence Life. The removal of more private rooms is not in the near future, although housing is still facing a constrained situation and are currently essentially at capacity.
The amount of students filling the Residence
H a l I s for change.
"It is a good problem to have in: our business!" Residenc.e. Hall Director Seth Bingham said.
Jenny Trapp, a sophomore major:ing in Art Education and RA of Morgan Ha11, sees the higher enrollment as an overall positive thing for Peru, and her Residents share that feeling.
"For the most part, the girls are excited that there are a lot of people in the dorm. They too see it as a great thing for Peru State as a whole," Trapp said.
Despite the larger enrollment and
transfer rate this year, move-in day was roughly the same as it is every year.
Trapp added, "For Res Life, move in day was a bit hectic due to the fact that we had a new system to work with in the check-in process. But overall, everything seemed to flow
where only about half fu11 or less. This year almost all my classes, are packed with students. In one of my classes, there are even people sitting on the ground because there aren't even seats to sit in."
Housing and classrooms aren't the only things suffering from the larger amount of students on campus. Not only are residence halls at capacity, but parking lots are nearly always full.
"I didn't even realize the second commuter lot was as as it was until I was trying to park in it and I cotildr(t find a spot," Justin Salazar, sophomore. English major, said "It's basically impossible to park anywhere from seven in the I:!fOrningto around three in the afternoon."
and the day, at least in Morgan Hall, went well."
About the large amount of students on campus this year, Amen said "It's very strange. Last year, many of the classes I had
Ever stop to think about how important the automobile is in American life? From back seat sex to road rage, we live much of our lives in and through cars-there is simply no separating the automobile from contemporary American life. Joan Ackermann wrote her 1997 comedy, "Marcus is Walking," to commemo-
rate the lOOth anniversary of the American automobile. Peru Theatre Company staged the play from September 30 through October 3.
The play consists of 11 vignettes, each a reflection about the automobile and American life. The vignettes. range from the very funny and touching to the distinctly not-sofunny: one scene relies on fart humor more appropriate for 6th graders.
The best scenes are all in the first act. In the first scene, a married couple, beautifully played by Dan-
iel Perkins and H. Jane Henry, are fighting over the directions to a potluck party. It is the classic scenario known to every woman: why won't the man stop to ask directions.? Michael blames the couple's being lost on the directions that Ellen has written down. While the scene highlights control issues between the sexes, it also explored married love. After all the funny. bickering and finger-pointing, the couple arrives at their destination. Michael asks, "How do I look?" and his wife lov-
ingly straightens up his jacket. Then the couple kisses before they go in to the party. It is a very touching scene. The first scene also sets up the pervasive symbol of the play: the automobile. Michael is an English professor who talks about symbolism. I expected to enjoy subtle allusions to this symbolism throughout the play, but this expectation was ruined when, in the second scene, one of the characters shouted, "the symbol is the car!" I thought that was too much. See Play: Page 4
A great opportunity for Peru students to voice their opinions is approaching. Peru State College is engaging in a self-study leading to conHnued accreditation with The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Students, faculty, staff, and community members will have the opportunity to review the five chapters
of the self-study. These "U Review" sessions will give everyone the chance to voice their opinions and make suggestions to improve the self-study document. Students are encouraged to participate. This is a great opportunity for students to show their school pride and engage in the self-study process!
Editor-in-Chief
Assistant Editor
Layout Editor
Copy Editor .
Advertising Manager
Distribution Manager
Layout Staff
Faculty Advisor
Contributing Staff
www.psctimes.com
Katie Kuhl
Carol Carpenter
Kristen Rusen
Dan Perkins
Elaine Karel
Brandon Schumacher
Dillion Wheelock
Kristi Nies
Kyle Amen
Becky Bartlett
Raeanna Carbaugh
Brad Florian
Elizabeth McKim
Kim Milligan
Cole Sharp
Jenny Trapp
Spencer Woltemath
Michaela Wolverton
A scavenger hunt, "bobcat" mini golf or a water balloon/water gun fight would be fun.
Angela Zarybnicky
Elementary Education, Sophomore
Paintball! It is fun, great way to meet people, built team work and show leadership.
Newton Simpson
Graphic Design, Freshmen
An actual spirit week where you dress up on themed days, or a dorm decorating contest could be a lot of fun!
Allie Stephens
Early Childhood Education, Freshmen
The Times, the official stuclent newspaper of Peru State College, is published four times per semester by Peru State College students. The Times office is located in the College Publications Office in Room 126 of the AV Larson Building.
The opinions expressed in the Times may not be those of the entire newspaper staff. The Peru State Times is an independent publication funded by student publication fees. The views expressed in this publication, including the contents of paid advertisements, do not necessarily reflect the views of the administration, faculty or staff of Peru State College. All letters to the editor are welcome, and the writers of those letters need not be students. Letters, cartoons, articles, pictures and any other material submitted to the Times must be signed by individual(s) submitting them and will be published at the discretion of the staff. The Times reserves the right to edit all letters, articles and other submitted materials for grammar, length and clarity. The Times also reserves the right to decline the publication of any materials, including paid advertisements, for any reason.
To reach the Times, send material to the Peru State Times though campus mail or to: PSC Times, Peru State College, P.O. Box 10, Peru, NE 68421 or email us at psctimes@yahoo.com, or call us at (402) 872-2260.
MICHAELA WOLVERTON Contributing Writer
"Bleeding blue" is a term that can only be described by students, faculty, and alumni at Peru State College.
It's about understanding that being a Bobcat isn't just something you say, but something you become;' said Cole Sharp, a sophomore majoring in Business Administration.
"We may not be the biggest college or the richest, but Peru State pride is something all its own. You're not just a part of a college in Peru, but part of a town and a family," Sharp added.
Sophomore special education major Megan Brown said, "To me, the tradition of homecoming allows us to showcase the talents of past and current Peru State College students. Pride for our community and college creates a
unity that I feel is rare amongst a modern world where the small town is slowly becoming a foreign concept," Megan Brown.
Tradition at Peru State College is what makes our campus unique. We are the recipients of a legacy and. understand that it is almost our duty to carry out cherished traditions such as homecoming. Our Midwestern roots run deep, and they thrive on the Campus of a Thousand Oaks. We are a college full of unity, compassion, dedication, and pride. On October
2, PSC celebrated homecoming and 90 years of bleeding blue.
"Peru State College has fostered the education and growth of countless minds, leading me to anticipate the continuation of its services for decades and centuries to come," Brown said.
"That's what makes bleeding Bobcat blue something you'll do for the rest of your life, and that's what makes me proud to bleed blue," said Sharp.
Continued from Page 1
The second scene features three teenage Catholic schoolgirls. The driver accidentally runs over a chipmunk, and this becomes a great way for the character to reflect on the ambivalence of human civilization. "Roads are killing fields," she said. The second schoolgirl tries to comfort the distraught driver. The third girl cannot understand why the other two are making such a big deal about a dead chipmunk when she is failing English and does not understand the themes and symbolism of Moby Dick (themes which include humanity vs. nature, fitting for this scene). The third girl flippantly said, in perfect teenagespeak, that the incidental killing of insects and animals is the price for driving on a country road. She also makes a "road kill" joke, saying that McDonald's will serve Chipmunk McNuggets. At least Ackermann let the McDonald's symbol stand on its own, without contriving to have a character shout, "McDonald's is a symbol!"
The last scene of Act One is the scene from which the play gets its name. It features a father driving his six-year-old son, Marcus, through suburbia, trick-or-treating on Halloween. The father, using binoculars, gives a play-by-play report over the cell phone to his wife at home. This scene also explores the fear of hijacking, but the theme is made ridiculous because the "hijacker" is a kid dressed as a who gets into the car with Marcus at one of the stops. 'Tm being hijacked by a lemon!" the father yelled over the phone. Later in the scene, a witch-costumed child also gets into the car The father is quickly going nuts. But when the three children get out at the next stop, the lemon and the witch give the father a
dance routines, even if they are only nominally related to cars. This comedy would have been better if Ackermann. ditched the second. act (except for the dancer) and further developed the rich
The music that opens each of the 11 vignettes is about cars: from "Little Red Corvette" to "Baby You Can Drive My Car" to "Country Road," the music lends a nuance to each scene. The music also dramatizes our love affair with the automobile and how the car has made its way into the art we produce. "Marcus is Walking" explores the American landscape, forever changed by the automobile to consist of open country roads, busy highways, and the streets of suburbia. At the same time, it explores our inner human landscapes that are framed by, but transcend, the symbol of the automobile.
"tip:" Mounds candy bars.
"Next year, Marcus is walking!" the father said to his wife.
Each act of the play includes a dance scenes were enjoyIn Act One, Madison Farris does impressive, smooth routine to the tune "Steppin' Out." Britni Stanley dances in Act Two.
I enjoyed the
themes introduced in Act One. I can see that she tries to continue her reflection on the centrality of the automobile to American life, giving us a car-sex scene and a Sunday-drive scene. But I do not think the scenes "work." They are not funny, and neither are they touching. The second act also has an odd scene in which a lonely business man enters into an unlikely relationship with the homeless woman living in his car. How realistic is it for a playwright to have us think that there is a man who lets a homeless woman sleep in his car? Maybe that is my problem with the last scenes: they are not believable. The car-sex scene goes on and on about a nerdy young man's love for the woman he has just had sex with. The woman has "fallen" for the guy by the end of the scene, but the scene is so overthe-top about this nervous young man that it is not believable. [n the Sunday-drive scene (the scene featuring the fart humor), Ackermann wants us to believe that the wife "caught" her husband by catching 25 leaves and engaging in some mystic spell-casting. Again not believable.
Everyone has a few days of the year they dread. Some people are apprehensive about Friday the 13th, some were about Y2K, and most people don't like any Mondays since it means going back to work. But almost everyone hates April 15th - tax day. Since America's beginning, taxes have been loathed by .its citizens. In fact, it was a part of the reason we declared our independence. (Except it was more on the unfair representation rather than the actual taxation). But since the days of the Stamp Act, there have been numerous additions to the burden on Americans.
In 1913 the Federal Reserve was created and the income tax was
enacted with the 16th Amend- can cost over $1 billion. $6 bil- McDonald's ment. Other taxes followed including sales tax, property tax, and estate taxes. Americans despise these and expect every new President to cut taxes to help them survive. But taxes are essential to maintaining the country.
No doubt there needs to be more efficient spending in certain departments. Looking at salaries, there are 435 House of Representatives, each earning $174,000which totals out to $75 million. This could be reduced by $30 million, which of course is not really that much in a $14 trillfon economy, but that money could still build four or five new schools every year.
The main problem is many government functions have become much more expensive than they were fifty or a hundred years ago., A single aircraft for the military
lion is spent each year on federal prisons. Nearly twice as much is spent on health than is on education. Many agencies that hardly even existed:fifty, years ago include the EPA ($10 billion budget), a $70 billion Department of Transportation, and NASA. The only immediate importance of NASA is for satellites and making sure an asteroid doesn't hit the , Earth. Eliminating it would save $18 billion - but it would cost nearly 18,000 employees their jobs.
So some trimming could be done in these departments but also some problems could be eased by our own actions. We complain that stamp prices are going up but we email each other instead of writing letters, worsening the problem. Foods in the grocery store are not taxed, but a burger at
is. By eating healthy we would save ourselves money and cut down spending on health. We could then spend more on education and create more opportunities for citizens to earn better jobs.
To wrap it up, taxes are ::====== very neces- Photo courtesy of http://www.centraloregonbuzz.com/blog.htm sary, but will likely be going up in the future as department functions become more expensive. Unfortunately,
we contribute to a significant portion of the problem because we are the pi:oblem, but we are also the solution.
Within a week of starting my freshman year here at Peru, I had over forty friend requests and ten new numbers added to my phone. Most of them were from people I had never met before. I still haven't met some of the people I added during that week. Simply because this is the first generation to integrate Facebook, Twitter, and texting into our lives, life has changed so much. It has consumed our lives. Facebook was meant to help people keep in touch. However, it appears to be doing the exact opposite by putting so much information on the internet. People no longer need to talk to each other to learn about what they think on subjects such as religion or sex. It can all be summed up in just a few words. However, l suppose this is good for the guys who want to skip the small talk and get straight to bed. Who wants to talk about "feelings" anyway? Relationships are a sensitive issue when it comes to Facebook and texting. Tney both have the power to instantly kill a relationship. There's nothing worse than getting a text 1rom · your ex-girlfriend saying "Hey
baby, I just saw you!", and your current girlfriend finding out. There goes yoi.Ir "happy time." Being in cpllege for over a year now, I have seen so many breakups using a text or on Facebook. Be a man about it and break up, with her in person. It's true that you might get slapped, or even get screamed at, but at least you were a man about it. Texting also seems to make relationships very impersonal. Do the world a favor and when y 0 u tell that woman of yours you love her, do it with Shakespeare' or over dinner. Don't reduce yourself to typing out your deepest darkest feelings for the one you love in a text message. Will all forms of communication be reduced down to texting and Facebook? I hope not. My advice is if you love someone, save the texting for the small stuff and dial already.
Keep the texting for the nude pictures.
MICHAELA
Being someone who is in a relationship with a guy who lives an hour and a half away from Peru, I know what it's like to have a part of a relationship be through talking on the phone and texting. The majority of the time, my cell phone is permanently attached to my hand my friends can easily vouch for this fact. It's gotten to the point where I will be laying in my bed, and my little tiny cell phone senses will be tingling when I get a text from him. But that's not the point. While texting is definitely easier for both of our schedules, the occasional phone call is always nice. What's even better is when it's a weekend and we actually get to see each other and spend time together.
I can count on both hands and a few toes the amount of people I know who have both started and ended a relationship over Facebook. And I'm not even talking about sending a shy message of a cute little "Hey, I like you, wanna date?" or an angry "We are breaking up, just so you know" sort of thing I'm talking about changing their relationship statuses without even giving a warning to the "significant other" involved.
Sorry to anyone who's ever done that, but I find it mildly disturbing. Creepy, even. I know if I got a Facebook update of a request to change my relationship status without even talking to them about it first, I would remove that person fiom my friends list and never talk to them again. The same reaction would happen if someone broke up with me over Facebook._
Relationships take work.·Jt's not just about cute wall posts that disgust all of your friends, ()rsecrei: smiles when you get a tel)_t message from that special someone. It's about spending time together, getting to know one another face to face, and understanding just what it is you love about them.
Reading "i luv u :)" in a text never feels as nice as actually looking into someone's eyes and hearing them say "I love you."
Maybe that sounds a little too cliche, and a little too much like a chick-lit novel waiting to happen, but it's the truth. Girls don't want Shakespearean quotes over a candlelight dinner, they just want someone who's willing to be there. Texting, telephone calls, and the occasional Facebook messages are nice, but they are not the entirety of a relationship.
Many people on campus have noticed a slight pest problem. They are small and like to suck the blood out of you. The mosquitoes are quite terrible this year due to the increasingly large amount of rain southeastern Nebraska has received. Standing water is a breeding ground for these pests and it is hard to control the population of them. With the Missouri River being so close it stands to reason that we will not be getting away from the mosquitoes' main habitat any time soon.
On top of our growing mosquitoes, population Peru has noticed a new problem on campus, Pin Oak Mites. These .little buggers are the itching cause across. campus lately, which shouldn't be too surprising because they are found in oak trees and we are the campus of a thousand oaks. These little pests are also known as "itch because they make you like a mosquitoes bite. are microscopic, so you cannot see them, which makes it hard to keep them away from you. The itching normally will not begin until 4-10 hours after you have
been bitten.
When asked about this itchy and unpleasant situation Resident Life had this to say.
"The cause of this is the moisture, with the first frost the problem should go away," Les
Stonebarger,
Director of Housing and Security, stated.
"There is nothing we can do, there is not a treatment we can put on the trees to stop them, we advise that students follow the instructions from the email sent out about this problem."
The PSC Health Center has some ways to help prevent the itching from obstructing your everyday life. Use bug spray with DEET, where tight fitting clothing, and cover any exposed are·a, especially if you are out at night.
Bug repellants are also most effective when used with another prevention technique, so be sure to wear the appropriate clothing suggested by the nurse.
The mite bites can be found in the lower regions of the body like your ankles and your feet, and the upper regions, like your face and neck. Also, if your window is
open, and near a tree, make sure the screen is on, because the wind will blow them right into your room Do not worry though, if you have already been bitten there is an old fashioned recipe: Calamine lotion.
A third pest making headlines are the infamous bedbugs. Occurances of these pests is up more
than 70 percent over the past five years. According to Jefferson Adams of the San Francisco Examiner, "The U.S. is facing the worst bed bug outbreak in fifty years."
One explanation for the growing number of bedbugs can be attributed to the fact that the female bedbug can produce up to 400 offspring at one time. This causes serious issues when trying to exterminate the pest.
Unlike the Pin Oak Mites, who cannot be seen by the human eye, , bedbugs can be seen; however, they are easily overlooked. Before bedbugs eat they typicaUy look like a grain of rice, but after feasting on blood they turn a reddish color.
"Don't let the bedbugs bite" is something that almost everyone's parents have said to them in the past, but the phrase takes on· a whole new meaning when there may actually be bugs. Luckily the bugs won't kill or spread disease.
As of right now New York seems to be having the biggest problem with bedbugs and no one on campus has complained of these pests.
With the approaching winter, hopefully we will not have to deal with these little biting critters much longer.
Assistant Editor
Ghosts, goblins and goblins march through the woods. Blood curdling screams slice through the frosty mist while black cats hiss from behind shining eyes. Bats swooping and spiders scritching around the glowing pumpkins embellish one of America's favorite holidays-Halloween. We celebrate with scares, tricks, and, hopefully, some tasty treats. As Halloween remains an American tradition, the origins of the holiday date back centuries.
As the last day of the Celtic calendar, Halloween, or rnore accurately, All Hallow's Eve, was originally a pagan holiday to honor the dead. The Celts and the Druid priests believed the souls of the dead. roamed the streets and villages atnight. Since not all spirits were thought to be friendly,
gifts and treats were left out to pacify the evil and elisure next years crops would be plentiful, evolving into the custom oftrick-
or-treating. Samhain, the first calendar day of the new Celtic year, signifies "summers end" and the harvest festival celebration usually includes a feast, rituals and sacred bonfires.
Christians adapted, or more accuadopted Sam-
hain (November 1) as All Saints Day to lure pagans into Christianity. The Catholic Church still honors Saints on November I.
Around Peru, participants can enjoy the season by visiting a haunted house, pumpkin patch (such as Boo' s Pumpkin Patch in Julian), or taking a haunted trail ride.
Photo courtesy of http:/lblog.rogersbroadcasting.com/ C h e C k laynemitchell/2008/I 0/ out In-
crops and fun activities for all ages. Who doesn't enjoy a cold glass of fresh apple cider on a warm autumn afternoon? As October falls into November, remember to watch out for young goblins out trick-or-treating and enjoy all the treats this season has to offer.
dian Cave State Park for October weekend haunted trail ridesprices. Apple orchards also have fresh b ring some friends and a b 1 anket on chilly nights. Look f o r haunte d ho uses in Omaha on the Photo courtesy ofhttp://www.zastavki.com/englHolidays/Halloween/wallpaper-11250-18.htm web; most recommended were Scary Acres at 17272 .Giles Rd. and Scream Extreme at 109 and Harrison. In Lincoln, get your scared face plastered on at Drac's Place at 601 Calvert or try Eagle, NE for Eagle Hollow Haunts at Eagle Raceway. Check the web for additional information, times and
Peru, NE - The Peru State College (PSC) men's basketball team took some time off on Friday, September 17, from preseason workouts to make a visit to Northside Elementary School in Nebraska NE.
Ten members of the Bobcat men's basketball team partnered up with the Northside Elementary kindergarten classes to read the children's book, Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream by Deloris Jordan.
The day was coordinated by Mrs. Mendy Houghton, one of the kindergarten ·teachers at Northside.
Bobcat Head Coach, Troy Katen, started the visit off by addressing the kindergarten group and having each of the players introduce themselves. The Bobcats took ten pl.ayers whom teamed up to visit the five sections the kindergarten classes.
"This was a great opportunity for us as a program to get out into the Nebraska City community. We have a great group of studentathletes who enjoy giving back at this level. It's great to see the reaction on the faces of the school kids, but you can also see the enjoyment our players have, with Andre Wells and Joe Santo read to Mrs. Houghton's class.
the questions they were asked. We want to thank Mrs. Houghton and Principal Little for allowing us to visit Northside," commented
that guy was really tall. He had to duck to get in our door." He was referring to Bobcat player, 6-10 Andre Wells (Colorado Springs, <;::O).
PSCAthletic
Freshman Jacob Schaben pnts salt in one of the kindergartener's shoes.
Coach Katen. Referencing growing up to be tall, one of the kindergatten students later told his aunt, Athietic Department Office Assistant, Angela Allgood, "Man
Across
encourage our teams· to patticipate in
events. The men's basketball team has been a leader for our Champions of Character efforts. You .will see all our athletic te;ams doing more in the communities. in th(f · future."
Down
3.Plead
6. Hit the ball from the green: tee
9. King Julien in Madagascar was one •·
11. One birthday after the sweet one
12. An official in a football game
14. Solo of Star Wars
15. With 4 Down, motorcycle devil
16. Joe __ in My Cousin Vinny
18. A type of hat fowomen
19. You may have done this with socks
20. National Debt Defenders Network
21. __ and pepper
22. Ra was the Egyptian
25. Periodic symbol for lutetium
26. Great Pyramids of Giza and Hanging Gardens of Babylon are two of them
29. Thurman of Kill Bill
30. Wbat A.D. stands for: Domini
3 l. Sat in a moving car
32. Fears, worries
35. National Solar Observatory
37. Suffix following bapt-, or plagiar-
38. It hangs in the back of your mouth
39. Personality or attitude
40. Gov. agency involved in covert activities
41. Type of gas neon, argon, and 48 Across are
42. Word used with dynamic or space
43. 2006 film about reptiles on an aircraft
46. A fencing sword
47. 2009 song by The Lonely Island
48. Element #54
1. Au animal that competes Down (two words)
2. Something that stimulates interest
3.AFrench hat
4. With 15 Across, motorcycle daredevil
5._Whiz!
6. Christian phrase; "--the __ cheek" (except put the second word first)
7.Abigmeal
8. 1t corrals cattle
10. Santa's horsepower
l l. Sneezy and Grumpy are two of them
13. To ward off
15. One thousand of them eq1ial a MB
16. They come from flowers, cause allergies
17. Race in Alaska involving snow & l Down
19. Salvation Army (abbr.)
21. lt rises in the east, sets in the west
23. The passage of water through meri.1branes
24. Canadian band "Theory of a
27. Baby's first word, perhaps
28. Mexican state south of Arizona
29. Acid that travels through kidneys
32. Word used with sand or buggy
33. Coin used in much of Europe
34. Musicdownload website
36. Within a short amount of time
39. A hand-to-hand fight or struggle
41. World's largest furniture retailer
42. Summit, vertex
44. Associated Press 45. A long time span
Peru, NE - This past weekend, the Peru State College (PSC) Bobcat volleyball team moved their overall record to 11-6 by winning two of the matches while playing on the road.
On Thursday, the Bobcats travelled to Omaha to play a non-conference match against the Grace University Royals and defeated the hosts 25-23, 25-21, 25-14. Friday, they hit the pavement for their longest conference travel trip and defeated Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OWU) 25-18, 25-16, 25-20.
That same evening, the 'Cats were to have played Southwest Christian University, but apparent miscommunication between the two schools will force school and conference officials to determine the fate of the match. On Saturday, Peru State faced the College of the Ozarks (COO), who the night before had knocked off perennial MCAC leader, Bellevue University. While putting up a good fight, the .Bobcats went dpwn, 25.-17, 25-23, 25-13.
· After the weekend; Peru State is third in the MCAC with a 5-2
to play both of these teams again at home later in the schedule. Hopefully, they will be at full strength with their roster at that point as some players are nursing injuries which have limited their playing time. In the match against the Royals, Peru State was led by Sarah Novak (Howells) with.ten kills of 17 attempts and two errors and hit a very good .471 percentage. Novak also had a solo block. Toni Ratliff (Shenandoah, IA) and Dani Vernon (Fairbury) each added seven kills.
KT Salberg (Sterling) put up 26 assists and added two service aces and led the team with ten digs.
Emily Maresh (Central City) and Cece Walters (Nebraska City) each had nine digs while
while Novak and Jordan Rettele (Lincoln) each contributed seven kills.
and one ace serve. Walters was a force at the serving line notching five service aces against OWU. Vernon and Ratliff had two solo blocks apiece while Carstens, Novak, and Salberg each had one.
they had three and one service aces respectively. Tara Carstens (Lincoln) led the team with
On Friday, the 'Cats hit well as a against the Lady Eagles of Oklahoma Wesleyan as they had 42 kills on 94 swings with 11 errors for a .330 '------------------' hitting percentage.
Photos by Carol Carpenter Ratliff had 12 kills and led the team by record trailing Ozarks,
Salberg continued leading the team with her setting by putting up 32 assists. She also added two service aces and eight digs. Maresh had a team high 21 digs
Facing the league leading Bobcats of the College of the Ozarks on Saturday saw PSC only hit .079 as a team as they were forced into 20 hitting errors out of their 127 attempts. Meanwhile, COO hit a respectable .330. Ratliff and Novak led the PSC Bobcat hitters with 11 and ten kills respectively while no other 'Cat was able to add more than three kills. Against COO, Salberg had 27 assists and seven digs. • Maresh continued her excellent defensive contribution to.the Bobcats as she had 29 digs while also having 26 good service receptions. Walters had the only two service aces for PSC while Vernon had the only solo block.
The Bobcats' next home action will be Tuesday, October 12, as they host the Bellevue College Bruins in fill important MCAC matchup. Game time will be 7 p.m. in the Al Wheeler Activity Center.
.611. She also added ·.and·. Bdle.vue;. ·now·, 7•J'.
7-0,
two solo blocks and two set Bobcats will have an opportunity assists. Vernon had eight kills
As the tell-tale nip of fall returns to the air, football stadiums around the country fill with fans eager to cheer their teams to victory and here at Peru State College, the story is no different inside the friendly confines of the Oak Bowl.
Ninth year coach Terry Clark leads the Bobcats back into action, looking to improve on last year's 7-4 campaign that included an upset of Jamestown College early in the season and saw six 'Cats receive postseason honors. With many core pieces of the squad returning, including starting quarterback Curtis Thompson and defensive back Fred Whitted Jr., both secondteam all independent honorees last season, and 22 new recruits, this looked to be a season where Peru could do just that.
Thus far in the young season however, lady luck has not been on the Bobcats' side as evidenced by close early season losses to Concordia 13-7, a triple-overtime
thriller to Jamestown 56-54, and 17-10 decision at the hands of Sterling College. "We are younger than we expected to be;" Coach Clark stated, "And in the NAIA when you travel you must make your own breaks to get wins on the road."
In the 90th annual Homecoming classic, PSC locked horns with Tabor College (KS), a game which announcer Dale Thomas c'alled "The Shootout in the Bobcat Corral," where the Bobcats edged out· the Tabor Bluejays in the fall thriller 48-45. An interception in the second to the last play sealed the deal for the 'Cats and gave the team their first win of the season.
The season is still young and with a schedule that brings our 'Cats home for three of their last four home games many opportunities to get out and support the team.
This year also marks the end of Peru State football as an independent team. In 2011, Bobcat football as well as the rest of the athletic department will join the Heart of America Athletic
Conference. Fans looking to see what next year will bring for Peru can catch a glimpse against Culver-Stockton and also Benedictine College, both long standing, successful members of the HAAC.
So get out and get loud Bobcat fans. Be proud to ·bleed blue!
It's here. The game that almost the entire world has been waiting for. "Halo: Reach." Just like the previous games, the Halo series just keeps getting better and better. Unlike the other Halo · games, however, this one is a prequel, so there isn't much to be spoiled. It, in fact, leaves you. wanting to play more. ·
The game takes place on the plant Reach, the birth place of the legendary master chief as well as the Spartan program. The campaign follows the Noble team, with the player taking control of Noble 6, a rookie. It features a lot of the main formulas from the series, such as huge battlefields, lots of shooting, tons of weapons, and now newly added armor abilities. Despite the campaign being short, it draws the player in and is everything a gamer always wanted such as amazing music, visuals, and cinematic action.
After the campaign is done, players can jump into matchmaking, which is where the
game truly shines. There are maps that are both big and small, with tons of game modes for variety as well as additional maps being added later. A point system to customize characters has also been added, as well as weekly and daily challenges. There's always a reason to come back and phty some more.
Also included in the game is Forge mode. Much like Halo 3, Forge mode allows for levels to be created and played online.
Forge has been vastly improved, such as being able to place large objects and keep them floating in mid-air. The only downside is there is no undo button.
Halo means so much to so many people. This doesn't happen often in the culture of video games. It's amazing how it affects each player differently. Some play it with friends, others just play online. There are some who just get lost in the campaign, then immediately buy all the books and anime that go along with it. "Halo: Reach" is Bungie's last Halo game, a product of almost a decade's worth of work. Remember Reach, because it's truly unique.
Following the success of other independent films such as "Paranormal Activity" and "District 9," "Monsters" pales by comparison.
Six years after an alien invasion, a wealthy man's daughter found herself stuck in Mexico, which was about to be quarantined. Her father sent one of the photog-
raphers who worked for him to bring her to the United States. Their journey was a dangerous one, with giant octopus-type aliens wandering around knocking over buildings and poisoning the air.
However, the film's title is misleading. The creatures, which the film claims to be about, rarely feature in it. "Monsters" is more of a personal story of the spoiled young lady and the photographer trying to lead her home. Movie-
goers who are looking forward to gore will be sorely disappointed. Compared to most giant mon-
rather than 93 minutes.
Despite its lack of action, however, the movie maintains interest
itself is the story of how it was made. "Monsters" was written, produced, and directed by Gareth
Edwards on a $15,000 budget.
Comparisons to "District 9 ,"which had a similar plot, may be unfair because "District 9" had a $30,000,000 budget. "Paranormal Activity" had an $11,000 budget and two main actors, also. It exceeded "Monsters" in all areas except special effects and, arguably, character development.
Following a recent trend in independent films, the film has been released on OnDemand and Zune Marketplace before being released to theaters to boost revenue.
Photo courtesy ofhttp://www.mov1edeskback.com/2010/08/page/2 I dd" l
n a Itlon to an a most ster movies, the pace of this film with interesting shots, beautiful unheard of director, the majority was incredibly slow, especially effects, and character develop- of the film consists of only two, at the beginning. Several scenes ment. It also incorporates nature small-time actors, Whitney Able consisted of the tvyo main charac- versus civilization, and love ver- and Scoot McNairy. ters staring at each other. The film sus social expectation themes. "Monsters" will hit theaters on could have fit into 30 minutes
More interesting than the movie October 29th.
SPENCER WOLTEMATH
Contributing Writer
Steve Earle dropped out of school during his ninth grade year to get into the music business. Thirty years and seven marriages
later, Earle is known as a founder of the genre "rockabilly", a mix of country and rock, and one of its most famous artists. After writing songs for the likes of Vince Gill and Elvis Presley, Earle had his first mainstream hit with the song "Guitar Town." Two years later wrote and performed his greatest hit "Copperhead Road," a song about moonshine runners and the life of an outlaw. While his music does have a distinct country feel, with its fiddle, country style drum, and bass lines, it lends itself to classic rock fans because of Earle's rough
riffs. He also tends to mix in country and rock themes, with love ballads, songs about hard partying, and songs about the culture of drug use. The average person, let alone the average country fan will not recognize his name or his songs; however, he played as big of a role In the SO's country music scene with stars like Dwight Yokam, and George Strait. These days, Steve Earle is writing about his opposition to war and the death penalty and playing with several country music stars. Recently, Earle had a documentary made about his music, his life, and his political views called "Just an American Boy," by Amos Poe.
I would .have to say that Steve Earle is one of my all-time favorite musicians. His themes, flow, and attitude make his music hard to ignore. As you have probably noticed, in my articles I try to influence you to listen to music a little off the mainstream. I find value in looking for different music to appreciate, and I hope my readers do, too.
"Weekends in Peru"
Libra Sept. 23- Oct. 22: You are finally getting settled into the year and are becoming a social butterfly. Meeting new people has become a highlight to your day. One of these new people is going to make a huge difference in your
life. Have your eyes open for this one, they are going to h\lve a huge impact on you.
Scorpio Oct. 23- Nov. 21: Time management had never been so important in your life. The excitement of college has had you spread yourself pretty thin. You will reevaluate your priorities in the future because otherwise, you will give up all your free time.
Capricorn Dec. 22- Jan. 19: You have been having a jolly time these first few months of classes and your grades show it. You may look into getting yourself a tutor because the future looks dim. Your future will change immensely after seeking a little extra help.
Aquarius Jan. 20- Feb. 18: Homecoming was a memorable event in your college career. Something that happened that
night will play a huge part in your life in the future.
Pisces Feb. 19- March 20: Stress will hit an all new high for you in the near future. Buckle your seat belt, because you are on a bumpy ride.
Aries Marcil 21- April 19: Watch .where you put your keys. In the near future you are going to misplace them in return, you are going to make pretty good friends with your neighbor due to the extra time you will be spending with them as you wait for someone to open your door.
Taurus April 20- May 20: Roommate or friends troubles are right around the corner. Brace yourself for an uncomfortable conversation. Luckily this time everything will work out once everything is out in the open Gemini May 21- June 20: With
every up, there is a down. Lately you have had a lot of things go wrong in your life. ln the very near future, something incredible is going to happen to you.
Cancer June 21- July 22: You are going to sleep through your alarm in the near future. Thankfully you wake up from a noise in the hallway and have just enough time to get to class. Next time you are not going to be as lucky.
Leo July 23- Aug. 23: You are going to double book your time. Work on better managing your very busy schedule.
Virgo Aug. 23- Sept. 22: You have literally forgotten what the meaning of the word sleep is. You are nodding off in class and at work. It is time to schedule a nap time.
www.psctimes@yahoo.com
Did you know that October was Domestic Violence Awareness month?. Southeast Nebraska has a crisis shelter for women trying to get out of violent relationships: Project Response, in Auburn, serves women and children from Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, and Richardson counties. Jessica (she declined to give her last name), Project Response's Public Information Coordinator, said that last year Project Response had 1, 888 people in its shelter. Clearly southeast Nebraska has a need for crisis services like Project Response.
In addition to crisis sheltering, Project Response offers free transportation, legal advocacy, and medical advocacy. The center has networks of other services
or resources a client may need. Project Response pairs. >\,'ith law enforcement, Health al).d Human Services and hospitals. Many times a Project Response \,'olunteer waits fo hospital emergency rooms \\,'ith the abused woman, helping her through the long processes.
To help raise awareness about domestic violence, Project Response gives several school presentations about staying out of violent relationships. As one would expect, Project Response had several awareness-raising activities in October. Domestic violence awareness is symbolized by the color purple-Project Response gave purple ponytail holders to local volleyball teams, including Pem State College's team. The center also encouraged people to wear purple on October4,National Unity Day. Other activities included a "Rock-a-Thon" on October. 8: Project Response volunteers rocked in rocking chairs in
front of the Pizza Hut in Auburn. The ' volunteers rocked addition raismg, the Rock-aThon raised money for Project Response, which is f u n d e d entirely by grants and donations. The center is also raffling a purple and teal quilt, teal being the color for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, in April. The drawing for the quilt will occur on November 30. Tickets are $1.00 each or six for $5.00. You can purchase tickets at Union Bank in Auburn, or you can call Project Response at 274-5092.
Peru State's Black Student Union (BSU) cares deeply about Project Response. The
Photos courtesy of www .projectrespm)se.net organization has collected clothing, food, and hygiene items for Project Response all the three years that BSU has on campus. In October, BSU held a clothing drive to benefit Project Response's Neighborhood Closet, where women and children can get clothing if needed. The response to this year's clothing drive was tremendous. "It's the most donations we've seen in three years," said Devin Wright, BSU president. Watch for BSU's upcoming drives for food and personal hygiene items to benefit Project Response.
haifti.m.e as it was announced there an additional free wm for the
Peru, NE- Peru State College (PSC) announced the members of the 20 I0-11 Misty Blues Show Choir following competitive auditions.
The group's first performance was during the all High School Show Choir Festival on campus at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 26 and Wednesday, Oct. 27 in the College Theatre, located at the south end of Hoyt Science Hall.
The group will also perform at the college's All Choir Concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14 in the College Theatre.
All events are free and open to the public.
Following is an alphabetical list of the individuals selected for the Misty Blues Show Choir:
Phil Chinske, Percussion
Emily Crom
Zayra Flores
Kellan Garber
Xavier Gibson
·Brad Gilbert
Jenna Hughes
Blake Lofing
Chase Lofing
Nick Miller
Rhett Noland - Bass
Dave Norris - Piano
Kelsey Potter
Taylor Roberts
Jeremy Rudder - Guitar
Carmen Schweiger
Cole Sharp
Mark Tackett - Soloist, Alto Sax
Bret Tincher
Becky Trecek
Carrie Trecek
Debbie Trecek
Eric Uher
Do you remember your favorite book as a child? Did your Mom read "Goodnight Moon" to you three times in a row? Did your Dad read Dr. Seuss to you and make all the funny voices? Then, you know how important books are to children. We have children in our area that need our help. They don't have any books of their own
and some of them don't even have a home.
Kappa Delta Pi, the Education Honor Society, is having a campus wide book drive. We are accepting new anq geµtly used children's books that we will donate to Senca, The Stephen's Center Homeless Shelter, and the Children's Hospital .in Omaha. There are collection
Editor-in-Chief
Assistant Editor
Layout Editor
Copy Editor
Advertising Manager
Distribution Manager
Layout Staff
Faculty Advisor
Contributing Staff
In 2006 my family and I dressed up as the Wizard of Oz members in memory of my aunt who past away a month before. I was the Tin Man.
A baby! I was a baby like five times.
Julie Marshall
Elementary and Special Education, Sophomore
boxes in the Student Center, the Education Office in TJ Majors, the campus library, and at the Annex (LaPlatte) Building. '!'he boxes will be available until December 5th. Please help our young children have books to read.
I think my favorite was in the fifth grade I was a 'lady pirate.' I remember being the most excited about that one but l love my current 'boxer' outfit too.
Kimmy MillerSecondary
Science Education, Juniorwww.psctimes.com
Katie Kuhl
Carol Carpenter
Kristen Rusen
Dan Perkins
Elaine Karel
Brandon Schumacher
Jessie Krien
Kristi Nies
Kyle Amen Benjamin Rice
Becky Bartlett
Raeanna Carbaugh
Brad Florian
Elizabeth McKim
Kim Milligan
Cole Sharp
Jenny Trapp
Joe Wingrove
Michaela Wolverton
The Times, the official student newspaper of Peru State College, is published four times per semester by Peru State College students. The Times office is located in the College Publications Office in Room 126 of the AV Larson Building.
The opinions expressed in the Times may not be those of the entire newspaper staff. The Peru State Times is an independent publication funded by student publication fees. The views expressed in this publication, including the contents of paid advertisements, do not necessarily reflect the views of the administration, faculty or staff of Peru State College.
All letters to the editor are welcome, and the writers of those letters need not be students. Letters, cartoons, articles, pictures and any other material submitted to the Times
must be signed by individual(s) submitting them and will be published at the discretion of the staff. The Times reserves the right to edit all letters, articles and other submitted materials for grammar, length and clarity. The Times als.o reserves the right to decline the publication of any materials, including paid advertisements, for any reason.
To reach the Times, send material to the Peru State Times through campus mail or to: PSC Times, Peru State College, P.O. Box 10, Peru, NE 68421 or email us at psctimes@yahoo.com, or call us at (402) 872-2260.
Lunchtime on October 14 looked like someone was putting laundry out to dry. It certainly got the attention of many students, but not everyone knew what was going on.
RAINN, which stands for Rape Abuse Incest National Network, used a T-shirt making stand to raise awareness for their group and everything it stands for. instead of a depressing lecture, they let students paint on white T-shirts to voice their opinion on abuse and rape while listening to the speakers at the table.
By the end of the day over 100 students had created T-shirts with phrases such as "Real men respect no," "Love don't shove," and "Hands are for holding, not hitting."
In addition, there was another table on which students could sign a banner in support of those suffering from rape, abuse, or incest.
tivities at schools, RAINN also operates a rape and abuse hotline at 1-800-656HOPE, an online hotline, and is a. resource for the media, lawmakers, and law enforcement.
RAINN's website, rainn. org, has information for everyone, particularly for college women, who are four times more likely to be sexually assaulted. Their tips include information on
In addition to educational acavoiding dangerous situations, .safe drinking, computer safety,
safety in social situations, protecting children, and a special page for men.
Continued from Page 1
Krista Patton, a .senior softball player from Nebraska City, serves as president of SAAC and was pleased with the monies generated at halftime. Patton said, "With a smaller crowd than usual, the fans donated $205 .36 which I am sure will be appreciated by the Project Response organizations." Lyndsay Drumm, a senior softball player from Bennington, SAAC's
secretary, stated, "Last year, we gave our donations to the Siena Francis House in Omaha. This year we decided as a group to give our items and donations to the Project Response groups locally in Auburn and Nebraska City." SAAC member and senior football player, Fred Whitted, Jr., (St. Louis, MO'!) added, "Another organization I am in has worked with Project Response previously
and we knew the work they do to provide support and advocacy for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. We knew they could use the help."
This year's friendly competition between the teams resulted in the softball team being deemed the winner.
The competition was based on a scoring system devised for the various products donated to each team. Each team's final score was based on a per capita basis determined by the number of members on each team.
The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November is one of the most important days for the United States. It is Election Day when ·all eligible voters get a chance to speak their mind by voting for the candidates that they support. On this day it is considered a civic duty to take the time to visit a polling location and cast a ballet for the people and issues that are up for
thecurrt}ntcyde.
.•.... .:Fhis duty
''.is' becausi itis c11iticl!l: step
that deJJ10cracy .· to
otillg/as l\ edsO. im• · countries penvote. While
voting is linking the leadership of the country to the average citizens when they speak their voice with their ballots. As people are voted out of office because the people are not happy with the actions taken, others will take note and make .sure to follow the will of the people. On the other hand, when the people are happy, the voice of the voters will keep the leadership in office and that will also be noted to ensure the people are happy. Not voting, however, can be one of the quickest ways to hurt the
country. Not voting shows you do not care what the leadership does while in power. It may take away their rights or cause harm in other ways. When the people don't care, it becomes easier for a corrupt leadership. Corrupt leadership and apathetic voters are detrimental to the country.
The most important thing that you can do on Election Day is to vote and make sure yoµr voice is heard.
It has been quite an adjustment I must say, that is this whole business of college life. I loved high school. I was your classic hometown boy. I was homecoming king and valedictorian of my class.
freshman "15". Despite all this, college has been a fun experience, there are many wonderful people around to help you make it through the tough times. My personal example is the kind security guard who waved my parking ticket I got, because of all this
it's also a truly amazing experience that will benefit you for the rest of you life. I, thank God, for tutors, caffeine, the great dessert in the cafeteria and understanding security guards.
I am thankful for all the cool
made me choose Peru at the last minute, and I am so very glad that l made that choice. I have really come to love this campus and the people, especially, everything from the administrators, profes-
sors, students, and even the janitorial staff, everyone is so friendly and welcoming. I love it here and cannot wait for the rest of freshman year to unravel.
I was considered popular, but now that I am a freshman in college things are completely different. I have friends, and I have fun, but nothing like I did in high school. Yes, it has been quite an adjustment.
Working three jobs, go-
ing to school full time and ,_____
ln most cases, ?Ile percenlage nf ool!ege students repcrting substance abuse is higher in Gree!! am aff-campttS oous'in.g. of stoooots sub.smrn::e use, W lwusing type 1111 Greek housing 1111 Off campus
Binge drinks Cu1Tentty uses rnarijuaM .2 20,8
Frequmitly drinks smokes
Ever wed H!icil: drugs: abused perscripti;m drugs
2;.t) 0
Frequently &moili!es HA 15.4 .3
to admit I was reluctant to come to Peru at first, I was all set on attending UNL, but something
Photo courtesy ofhttp://scottishshop.org.uk/alcohol/ number of clubs. I have wonderful construction. College can kick your butt at times, but
opportunities that we .have as college students. I hate when people whine and complain that there is nothing to do but go out and get wasted, when in all reality there are all kinds of awesome things going on in our college. Such as: free bowling night, movie night, laser tag, community service projects, bible studies, workshops, and not to mention the countless maintaining a social life has become a daunting task. Like many college students, I have many late nights, drink lots of coffee, and am gaining my
Photo courtesy of http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17613969/
Both genders are intelligent, but they're intelligent about different topics. To decide whkh gender is smarter, it is important to learn about the way people think.
Men are better at math; women are better at language arts. Men are better at measuring space; women are better at socialization.
There is a definite separation between man-thought and womanthought.
In general, if a male and female are presented with a problem, they would think through it differently. A man would take the problem head-on and confront the situation. A woman would consider how best to deal with the situation and how her actions would effect others.
For exampfo, when confronted with a large crisis, the husband tends to be the one to prepare the transportation, while the wife calls other close family members to inform them.
Even biology shows that men and women have different minds. Comparing intelligence between genders is like comparing apples and oranges, according to
livescience.com, a website associated with Fox News, MSNBC, and other big names. An article on livescience called "Men and Women Really Do Think Differently" asserts just what the title suggests.
The brain consists of two types of tissue: gray matter and white matter. Women tend to have more white matter, and men tend to have more gray. Gray matter works with information processing, which includes are a s such as math. White matter focuses on netc working information and making conclusions based on it.
This information is pretty cut-and-dry.
The question of intelligence between genders cannot be measured by a number, because each gender has its own type of intelligence. The question is which intelligence is more important: in-
formation processing or information networking. Obviously, information networking is how all the magic happens. Information is of no use if it isn't put together well. Math is worthless if it isn't applied to anything; Spatial
BRANDON SCHUMACHER Staff WriterDoes size really matter? Of course it does; the size of a brain that is. Think about it, the small an animal is the less intelligent it is, relying on basic instinct of survival. Yet larger animals have larger brains they have higher brain cognition. So the question to be asked is the human female or male brain larger?
It is my firm belief that the female brain
is larger than the male brain. In retrospect, the male body is usually larger than the female's body; however, women tend to think smatter then men. I'm not saying that women are smarter than men, because, in my opinion, women have more common sense book smarts. Men are more prone to get into a stupid situation, but has street smarts to help him.
For example, most women are kind of directionally challenged without some type of assistance from a map or guide of some sort, while men can just know the general direction and go and find his way. Yet if something does go wrong and the guy gets lost, the womau is more likely to stop and ask for directions. So there you go. Women have a book smart brain, but men have the street smarts to survive.
skills are useless without choosing the right drapery to go with the newly moved in couch.
Getting the car ready doesn't help much if no one else knows what's going on to prepare for the couples' arrival.
Luckily, the gray matter-filled men have women to choreograph life.
Opposites are everywhere. We may often think they repel each other and can be contradictory, but in fact, our world is often connected through opposites and works in perfect equilibrium when each object balances the other out.
The world is full of opposites: night and day, hot and cold, birth and. death, male and female, rich and poor, conservative and liberal, rural and urban. Every one of them is a complete opposite of the other, yet works together with it to continue the natural process. Our weather systems depend on wet and dry conditions; condensation and evaporation. Economies depend on supply and demand; imports and exports. Ecosystems de-
stitution decides a question between power and liberty:'
Many controversial issues struggle over this pull between governmental power and individual rights. Cooperation is a key element in maintaining this balance. Both sides Photos courtesy ofhttp://www.nskamericas.com have to give a little. In fact, breathe out carbon dioxide. giving and receiving is an- Plants take in carbon dioxother significant opposite ide and give off oxygen. It is we use constantly. This pro- a classic form of mutualism. cess of working together is where one is dependent on the ultimate goal _ we, as the other, but entirely oppohumans, are on Earth for site in its process. the very sake of each other Therefore, both opposing - we live mutually for the sides are necessary - one benefit of each other, to help cannot exist without the each other. other and therefore one ex-
zThe amazing, but simple treme is not sustainable, nor process of respiration in desirable, and should not plants and animals is a nat- be pursued. This should be ural example of this. Hu- considered in any subject mans breathe in oxygen and of conversation. Try not to take one side of a story, but rather delve deeper into the details and try to see the meaning of the entire process as a whole, and consider both sides because they exist for a reason.
The importance and beauty of opposites in this world is overwhelming when taken into consideration, but it is often taken for granted. So take a look around. You just might be amazed.
pend on the prey and the predator. Our conscience (and all of society) fights over right and wrong, good and evil.
Our government was designed on a principle of checks and balances so that each branch of government has a power over another, yet a limitation as well. James Madison declared that "every word of the Con-
I think of Thanksgiving with extremely fond memories. Tossing the football around in the front yard, lots of turkey and homemade cranberry sauce, pumpkin and Dutch apple pie plastered with Cool Whip, mountain of mashed potatoes and gravy ponds, watching the Detroit Lions lose again, hanging out with all my crazy cousins at my Aunty Nancy's house and fighting over the wishbone and last black olives. Of course, Thanksgiving is more than a humongous, coma-inducing meal and football games. The origins of the holiday date back to the Pilgiims of the early 1700's.
Having fled religious persecution, after enduring two months at seas, the Pilgrims on the Mayflower arrived at Plymouth Rock, MA and established their colony. After enduring a winter of extreme hunger, the Plymouth Pilgrims were assisted by an Indian named Squanto who not
only spoke English, but also showed them where to fish, what to grow, and how to cultivate their crops. William Bradford, appointed governor of the colony, prided himself in fair treatment of his Indian neighbors. When the Pilgrims brought in their bountiful harvest in the fall of 1621, the colony and the Indians celebrated with the first Thanksgiving feast.
New England colonists continued to celebrate Thanksgiving. The U.S. Continental Congress proclaimed a national Thanksgiving upon the enactment of the Constitution; however, after 1798, the new U.S. Congress left Thanksgiving declarations to the individual states. Many objected to the national government's involvement in a religious observance; Southerners were slow to adopt a primarily New England custom and others took offense over the day being used to hold partisan speeches and parades. A national Thanksgiving Day appeared to be more of a lightning rod for controversy rather than a national unifying force.
Once Northerners dominated
the federal government, Thanksgiving Day became an official holiday. Sarah Josepha Hale, popular editor of Godey's Lady Book, campaigned for a national Thanksgiving Day during the American Civil War to promote unity. Bending President Lincoln's ear, Hale finally won his support and on Oct. 3, 1863, Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be held on Thursday, November 26. Every president thereafter proclaimed the holiday, with a few exceptions, and Thanksgiving was celebrated on the last Thursday of November.
During his presidency, Franklin D. Roosevelt, wanting to boost the economy and extend the Christmas shopping season, which used to begin at Thanksgiving, moved the holiday back one week to the third week in November. The holiday was annually proclaimed by every president thereafter, and the date chosen, with few exceptions, was the last Thursday in November. Not all the states, of course, went along with his decision. In 1942, a joint resolution passed by Congress was signed by Roosevelt,
Across
issued a proclamation that the fourth Thursday in November designated as Thanksgiving Day. Americadoesnothave,ofcourse, exclusive rights to Thanksgiving. Many other countries celebrate their own version of this holiday. Canadians give _thanks for the end of the harvest season on the second Monday in October. In the Netherlands, a nondenominational service is held on the morning of America's Thanksgiving Day, reminiscent
folks in Grenada gratefully mark the occasion as an anniversary of the U.S. invasion of the island nation in 1983 in response to the deposition and execution of their prime minister.
Thanksgiving is about being grateful for our bounty, our families and friends, to reach out to those less fortunate, and share our abundance. Giving and sharing does not have to cost money, just give your time and energy. Why not start a new
Crossword by Brad Florian
of the Pilgrims who stayed in Holland before embarking on their arduous journey. On October 25,
tradition this year? Get involved with a campus group that gives back and makes a difference.
Down
l. Precipitation
4. Dull, sad; opposite of 30 Down
9. English language, abbr.
10. Pro football org.
12. Wet eyed
14. State of well-being or contentment
18. The elders are usually more than others
19. What they were before 30 Across
22. Pitts __ Steelers
24. What aliens l)light do to Earth
26. To mock or jeer
29. It makes these trucks: Rams and Dakotas
30. University of Nebraska's nickname
32. Word that follows Ice, Iron, or Stone
33. Persian Gulf country (written backwards)
36. Egyptian Football League?
39. Tired, weak
40. Genus of mollusks
41. Cotton gin inventor_ Whitney
42. Korean Radio Broadcasting
43. One of the Great Lakes
44. Part of a plant that lies below ground
46. Suspicious, wary
49. Female character from Final Fantasy
50. High temperature ailment
51. Dunked Easter eggs ih food coloring
54. Red button on a VCR
55. Wear away, like a cliff
56. Letters meaning "for example"
57. You might bring it back from travel
58. One of the books of the Bible
60. A throw or toss, in football
61. Ceased to live
1. Place for alcoholics, possibly
2. Santa_, California
3. Americans for Nuclear Energy
4. Disease associated with diarrhea
5. "_phone home"
6. Airborne Early Warning system
7. "I ___ you better than that!"
8. A decade is equal to ten (abbr.)
10. Omaha UFLfootball team
11. Meadow
13. The day before today
15. Pabst's Blue Ribbon
16. Type of dog with awrinkled face
17. A bad smell
20. 2006 movie with Robin Williams
21. A tragedy is a kind (two words)
23. "One" in Spanish
25. Wedding words: "I_:'
27. Boring tool
28. Handy; 27 Down could be this
30. Happy, opposite of 4 Across
31. Egyptian sun god
34. Audio Video Interleave
35. Question, doubt
37. Powder made from milled wheat
38. Simba's mom
43. Mistake, typo
45. They can be hard or soft shelled
47. Opposite of odd
48. Weird, spooky
50. "Cinco" in English
51. Signed contract
52. The Irish name for Ireland
53. Deceased
59. Zone of the Interior
COLE SHARP
Contributing Writer
Fall marks a return to the course for the Peru State Women's Golf team and first-year head coach Angela Tejral. Having spent last season as an assistant under Coach Ivy for both women's basketball and golf, Tejral stepped up to the helm this season and helped to steer the 'Cats through a very successful fall schedule.
The season started for the Bobcats at the Nebraska Wesleyan Invite where they finished tied for fourth in the ten team field, one of the highest finishes in recent history for Peru. Humboldt native Jordan Schaardt led the Cats in the tournament shooting a two-day total of 178, good for I 4th overall. Katie Potter and Courtney Musgrave both shot
two-day totals of I 86 during the tournament.
Next on the schedule was the Briar Cliff/ Lila Frommelt Classic in Sioux City, IA; though the tournament was shortened due to rain, this was a memorable tournament for the team, Peru finished sixth out of 11, and also very special for Schaardt who finished tied for second only
three shots off the lead. On Schaardt's performance, Coach Tejral said, "Jordan played very well Friday and again she was consistent by shooting a 42 both rounds. We were looking forward to playing on Saturday to see if she could close the gap on the leader."
The Bobcats wrapped up their fall season finishing fifth out of six in a tough field of mostly NCAA Division II competition at the Northwest Missouri State Classic. As she had throughout the fall, Schaardt led the team finishing tied for 21st. Summing up the season, Coach Tejral said, "The ladies worked hard this
fall and I look forward to seeing what will happen in the spring."
Peru, NE - In their final nonconference match of the season, the Peru State College (PSC) Bobcat volleyball team swept the visiting Grace University (GU) Royals 25-11, 25-21, and 25-17. The win gave PSC a season sweep of the Royals. The 'Cats moved to 16-8 overall for the season.
The contest was featured as the "Dig Pink" event which was in support of breast cancer awareness and research, The Bobcats sported hot pink t-shirts for the match and also hosted a serving contest to raise additional funds for research. Head Coach Lexie Baack said, "The volleyball team would like to thank Cotty's, Decker's, The Hair Cottage, and Flowers Plus for donating prizes for the serving contest. The girls realize the impo1iance of supporting such an important cause."
Prior to the game, seniors Jordan Rettele (Lincoln) and KT Salberg (Sterling) gave the crowd some facts about breast cancer and then shared a short poem, "On a Wing and a Prayer," written by an unknown survivor of breast cancer.
Leading PSC was Sarah Novak (Howells) with ten kills. Novak also added two digs and two block assists. Carly Morehead (Fairbury) and Toni Ratliff (Shenandoah, Iowa) respectively added six
and five kills. Morehead was the team leader in blocks with three solo blocks and two block assists. She also had two digs. Ratliff contributed five assists, seven digs, and one block assist. KT Salberg (Sterling) was the leading setter with 18 assists on the night. Salberg also had six digs, one kill, and one block assist. Defensively, the 'Cats were led by Emily Maresh (Central City) and Cece Walters (Nebraska City) with 16 and ten digs each. Maresh also had two ace serves while Walters added one.
The Bobcats will have twelve days before their next .competition. They will finish the rest of the regular season at home against four Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC). foes. On Nov. 3, they will host York College in a match beginning at 7 p.m. in the Al Wheeler Activity Center. That weekend they will play Oklahoma Wesleyan University and Southwestern Christian University on Friday, Nov. 5, which will be Parents Night. On Nov. 6, the Bobcat seniors will be recognized prior to the match when they host MCAC league leading,
The 0 at
Coffee Shop Hours
Monday- Thursday 7:30 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. Friday 7:30 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.
Sunday-Wednesday 6:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.
Peru, NE - On a sunny and 66 degree Sunday, eighteen runners from Nebraska and Iowa came to Peru, NE, to compete in the "Nebraska's Toughest Mile" competition. Peru State College (PSC) and the Bobcat women's cross country team sponsored the annual run.
Travis Buel of Lincoln and Lexi Benjamin of Hamburg, IA, were the men's and women's winners.
Buel nearly tied the course re-. cord as he ran the toughest mile in 5:46,just one second off of the record set by Ivan Marsh, of Ashland, in 2005. Benjamin finished 13th overall and recorded the top women's time of 8:33. Both runners were presented with Nebraska-shaped plaques for their efforts. Presenting the plaques was Rose Ralstin, the celebrity runner
from Nebraska City. Ralstin is known for her "Where is Rose" series and was invited to participate in the race.
Finishing second in the men's division was former PSC student, John Lukes, of Bellevue, who finished only eight seconds behind Buel in 5:54. Cecelia Michalski of Lincoln was the second women's finisher just three seconds behind Benjamin in 8:36. Lukes and Michalski each received plaques as well.
Other runners were presented medals for their respective age groups with the overall runners excluded from this presentation.
Bobcat cross country coach
Jo hann Murray was pleased with the turnout and was appreciative of having Ralstin step up to the challenge to
run. Murray commented, "I know someone challenged Rose to do her series here in Peru today and she met the challenge. Rose came to Peru Monday night to check out the course and then met with our team at our president's (Dr. Dan Hanson) home."
Ralstin was encouraged by her husband, Matt, and also had cheerleaders from the Nebraska City Youth Cheer group along the course. She noted after presenting the awards, "I talked with Mike Kearney at the Ambassador about doing this and he wondered if it was too late for me to get out of it. I am going to go and say 'In your face, Mike,' whe:µ I see him."
Ralstin continued, "My ultimate
goal was to make it in 12 minutes with a secondary goal of making it less than 15 minutes; While it was tough, I survived and almost reached my main goal." Ralstin had some Nebraska City news staff with her to video tape and get other pictures which will be utilized in her "Where is Rose?" series.
Coach Murray concluded, "I would like to sincerely thank Dr. Hanson (PSC President) for his support. Also, I need to say thank you to my team for. their assis-
tance and a huge thanks or PSC students, Sarah Novak (Howells) and Katelyn Donavan (Greeley), who provided some invaluable assistance in the planning and preparation of the run." Novak and Donavan helped Murray as part of a course requirement where they had to do a mini-internship. Novak stated, "I knew tl;tis was going to be a lot of work and it was, but it was worth it." The official results can be found at www .peru.edu/athletic.s.
Welcome to the Mojave Wasteland. Much like Fallout 3, it's a dump scattered with the occasional paradise. "Fallout: New Vegas", sequel to 2006's best game of the year Fallout 3, was released on October 19, for the Playstation 3, PC, and Xbox 360.
"Fallout 3" tracked your hero from birth to death, while "New Vegas" tracks the journey of someone completely new. The hero is a courier who is almost put to death by an unknown assailant, and wanting revenge, you scni.pe up what you can and go on the hunt. There are great characters along the way, especially with a
voice cast featuring Ron Pearlman and Wayne Newton.
It's basically identical to "Fallout 3," with a few additions and adjustments. Want to tum all that pistol ammo you don't use into sniper ammo? That can be done with the ammo-crafting system. Not to mention the size of the map. At first it seemed smaller than "Fallout 3," but that's not the case.
Despite using the same engine as "Fallout 3 ," it looks a lot better. The character models look cleaner, sharper, and more colorful. The environment is still as impressive as ever. However, there are bugs. Many bugs. There were a few times where the frame rate slowed to a crawl and there were even console freeze ups. These problems can easily be fixed with a patch, but that has yet to be released.
Many believe that this is just one big expansion pack to "Fallout 3," but it's far from it. "Fallout 3" was almost perfect,
Photo courtesy of: http://www.playstationgamersunite.com/ but "New Vegas" takes
It's the same size, but there is all that and makes it so much much more to interact with. For better. The visuals are better, example, I have been playing gamepiay always brings a unique the game for ten hours and have experience, and is just overall been in the same square mile that fun. I started in.
Photo courtesy of: www.facebook.com
Every morning college students log onto facebook to see what their friends, family, and farmvilles are up to, but the story of face book's creation has remained in the background. "The Social Network" is a biographical film to change that.
Jesse· Eisenberg, best know for his work in "Zombieland," plays the protagonist, Mark Zuckerberg. Zuckerberg created a social website to help Harvard students interact. Eventually the 'Xebsite's purpose changed, named c4anged, and it spread to other and ages.
friends accused him of stealing ideas from them. His best friend was angry because he wasn't consulted and his ownership of .shares in the company was dropped, although he was the co-founder. Hard feelings led to lawsuits.
The film itself followed two time lines:. the creation and development of facebook and the legal consultation following the lawsuits. This made the film slightly difficult to follow in the beginning, as the scene changes aren't explained well.
courtesy of: http://blogs.villagevoice.com Zuckerberg was unhappy with the changes the film made to his Not everything went right, however. Three of Zuckerberg's
personal life. Most importantly, it completely left out his long-time girlfriend, with whom he now lives with, who was with him for most of the scenes portrayed. She was replaced with a fictional girl, Erica, who broke up with him at the beginning of the film, and he pined for her the remainder.
Because of its subject matter, "The Social Network" has been praised as a defining film of this generation. It not only te1ls the true story of the creator of the most popular website since
MySpace, it shows the highs and lows ofearly 21" century American culture. It includes the political, business, social, and online aspects of young peoples' lives.
"The Social Network" has also been criticized as being overly harsh on these aspects, particularly the electronic part. Zuckerberg was portrayed as a geek, and certain computer professionals saw this as an attack on their field.
7 4 2 5 1 4 2 9 4 6 1 8 1 2 6 8 6''"''' .. 2 T9 1 > 3 9 7 1 ,5
9 7 5 3 6
Dexter is a show that has everything going for it. It has thrill, comedy, horror, action, and suspense. It's one of the most watched shows that has come out in the past few years and for good reason.
Dexter is very different from most people. During the day, he works for the Miami police department as a bloodc splatter evidence expert, putting countless criminals in jail just by lool<ing at the mess they caused. However, at night, it's a completely different story. He is a serial killer and he loves it. He hunts for his next victim, being ve.ry precise. When he was only a few years old, he witnessed his mother get murdered and that has permanently scarred him. Thanks to his step-dad, they both came up with what they call the "Code." p9n.'.tget P9:l'.ght. Kill only .the 6nes:thaU!.e'se.live .it. He has stuck to that. Mostly, anyway. With the fifth season starting only a few weeks ago, the action is just beginning. Dexter's wife
was murdered at the end of last season and now Dexter is trying to cope with it all. As well as dealing with three kids, a job, and his deadly hobby.
Michael C. Hall is brilliant as Dexter. He has three Emmy nominations to prove it. With the new season starting, he has a lot to work with. Guilt, mourning,
and murder9us rage. He<plays with it all beautifully. He makes you care about the character and his problems, despite him being a serial kilier. Watching him almost get caught every now and then .is startling.
Dexter is addicting. With it's excellent cast andbrilliant storyline, it's just too hard to not watch. The season five opener left me drained of all happiness and left me numb for hours. Will Dexter fix everything? Can he be a serial killer and a single dad? His wife is what made him human. With her gone, what will happen now?
ELIZABETH MCKIM HLC Study Intern
The HLC Steering Committee will be hosting a "How Do I Look?" fashion show on November 9th at 6:00 p.m. in the Student Center. Students are encouraged to come in their most creative and/or crazy outfit. Students will vote for the winners. The top three contestants as chosen by their peers will receive a WalMart gift card. First place wins $50, second place wins $30, and third place wins $20. Contestants and audience members will also have the opportunity to enter a
group.
Scorpio Oct 23- Nov 21: You are being weighed down by responsibilities and commitments. Keep your eye on the prize for it won't be long until you are tasting your sweet rewards.
Sagittarius Nov 22- Dec 21: In the near future there will be a day hidden full of luck as long as you stay clear of pessimistic thoughts. The glass has to be half full, not half empty.
Capricorn Dec 22- Jan 19: It is time for you to shake things up a bit. You are tired of your daily routine and need to step out of your shell. Take a chance and try something new.
Aquarius Jan 20- Feb 18: It is after midterm, which means the stress of the first semester, is piling down on you. Step back and make sure you have your priorities in check.
Pisces Feb 19- March 20: Things may not have been turning out just how you had planed. Luckily,
things are looking up for you in the near future.
Aries March 21- April 19: You are going to have a revelation about something in your life that needs to change. When you realize what it is, make the change for it is going to impact your lifo greatly.
Taurus April 20- May 20: Do not mistake temptation for opportunity. You will be tempted to do something that in the long run will not be the best decision.
Gemini May 21- June 20: You are about to have a tough week. You will find happiness on Friday.
Cancer June 21- July 22: You find beauty in simple things. Do not lose this quality for you are
about to enter a complicated stage of your life.
Leo July 23- Aug 23: Something that you have lost, whether it be something from last night or two years ago, you will soon find. Your reaction will be somewhat unexpected.
Virgo Aug 23- Sept 22: Good luck is the result of good planning. Watch your deadlines and plan well for there is a reward in store for you around the comer.
Libra Sept 23- Oct 22: You are about to take a chance in something in the very near future. Luckily this time it will turn out well. Be careful for the next time you take a chance about something without thinking about it first.
Recently, governors from all 50 states met to discuss how higher education can improve efforts to produce people able to meet the increasing demand for a highly skilled, educated work force. Many states, including Nebraska, have started "P16" initiatives, which spell out the steps leaders will take to develop a more rigorous high school curriculum, increase the number of students who attend college, and improve college students' retention and graduation rates. At the same time, they want to keep college affordable and make it easier for students to graduate in four years.
Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman chairs Nebraska's P-16 initiative.
"It is a broad effort," said Peru State College President Dr. Dan Hanson.
Three people involved in developing Nebraska's P-16 i:iitiative are associated with the Nebraska State College System: a Board of Trustee member, NSCS Chancellor, and a NCSC Vice Chancellor. This ensures that Peru, Chadron, and Wayne have a voice in the process.
Nebraska's P-16 initiative has eight goals in addition to a more rigorous high school curriculum, include eliminating the achievement gaps between Nebraska's white and minority students and attaining a high school graduation rate of 90 percent. Three of the initiative's goals deal with higher education in Nebraska. One of these goals would improve Nebraska's rate to the top-ten tier nationally. In a report released in June 2010 from the Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown. University, researchers have predicted that by 2018 66 percent of jobs in Nebraska will require a postsecondary education. Nebraska ranks seventh in the country
in "postsecondary intensity." The booklet on Nebraska's P-16 initiative states that, "Now more than ever, a college-educated workforce in Nebraska is going to be critical."
Georgia is ranked tenth in collegegoing rates with 68.2 percent. Nebraska would have to improve its college-going rate from 64.5 percent to over 68.2 percent to be in the topten tier. However, many states are competing for that spot.
Goal number six of Nebraska's P-12 initiative is to "provide affordable access for Nebraska students to attend Nebraska colleges and universities." ranks 35th in the country in state aid for low-income students. Between 2003-2008, Nebraska spending on higher education increased 18.3 percent, ·while the average increase among states was 24.l percent.
See Education: Page3
Peru, NE - Peru State College's (PSC) Black Student Union (BSU) received a 20 IO Governor's Points of Light Award for their volunteerism and s.ervice to the community from Gov. Dave Heineman during a Proclamation Ceremony at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.
The Governor's Points of Light Awards are presented quarterly in recognition of volunteers who give their time, talent and energy to help Nebraskans build stronger communities. The awards are sponsored in part by Woodmen of the World.
Heineman said, "I'm pleased to recognize the community involvement efforts of Peru State students. This award celebrates the outstanding volunteerism taking place year round across our state. I congratulate BSU members on their academic achievements and on their volunteer efforts that benefit the Peru campus
and community."
The group was noi:ninated for the award by PSC First Lady Elaine Hanson.
Hanson said, "I am delighted that the Black Student Union has been selected to receive this prestigious award. This group. is comprised of motivated, passionate, genuine and caring students who are making an indelible impression on the PSC campus and in southeast Nebraska. They have accomplished many projects and impacted many lives in a very short time and are great examples of service for faculty, staff and students."
BSU is a club formed in 2008 by PSC students to foster a sense of community and stimulate intellectual, social, cultural and political growth for students of all backgrounds. In her nomination statement, Hanson noted that BSU members are stu-
dents of high integrity who have held themselves out as examples of excellence in the classroom and on campus, creating a culture of giving while embracing inclusiveness and opening avenues of learning
See Service: Page 3
Peru's Higher Learning Comm1ss1on Steering Committee made a statement with the "How Do l Look?" runway show on Tuesday, November 9th. Peru students Madison Farris, Alyssa
Karasek, Kyle Madison, Shane Mathis, Ryan McClarty, Kyle Rieken, Valerie Sievers, Andre Wells, and Brendan Whitted took the stage and showed off their best runway walks. Andre Wells won first place, Kyle Madison won second place, and Brendan Whitted won 3rd place. As the student audience voted, Dr. Christy Hutchison emceed
the show while encouraging students to sign up and paiiicipate in the upcoming focus groups. Over twenty students volunteered to participate in these focus groups that will help the Steering Committee know how students believe Peru's look can be improved. Thank you to all participants and all who helped make this show a success.
show choir. It is exciting to watch the group progress in the second semester and think about how we've come together throughout the year and what we've accomplished since August.
Cole Sharp
Business Administration: Human Perfor-
Editor-in-Chief
Assistant Editor
Layout Editor ·
Copy Editor
Advertising Manager
Distribution Manager
Layout Staff
Faculty Advisor
Contributing Staff
www.psctimes.com
Katie Kuhl
Carol Carpenter
Kristen Husen
Becky Bartlett
Elaine Karel
Brandon Schumacher
Jenny Trapp
Kristi Nies
Kyle Amen
Raeanna Cai·baugh
Brad Florian
Elizabeth McKim
Kim Milligan
Joe Wingrove
Cole Sharp
I think I am most excited for organizational behavior because I have liked all of my business classes so far and it is something new.
Lyndsi McClintock
Criminal Justice, Freshman
I am excited to take my First Aid CPR class because I want to be able to save a life if I needed to. I took it in high school and wanted to get a refresher course!
Elementary and Special Education, Freshman
The Times, the official student newspaper of Peru State College, is published four times per semester by Peru State College students. The Times office is located in the College Publications Office in Room 126 of the AV Larson Building.
The opinions expressed in the Times may not be those of the entire newspaper staff. The Peru State Times is an independent publication funded by student publication fees. The views expressed in this publication, including the contents of paid advertisements, do not necessarily reflect the views of the administration, faculty or staff of Peru State College.
All letters to the editor are welcome, and the writers of those letters need not be students. Letters, cartoons, articles, pictures and any other material submitted to the Times must be signed by individual(s) submitting them and will be published at the discretion of the staff. The Times reserves the right to edit all letters, articles and other ubmitted materials for grammar, length and clarity. The Times also reserves the right to decline the publication of any materials, including paid advertisements, for any reason.
To reach the Times, send material to the Peru State Times through campus mail or to: PSC Times, Peru State College, P.O. Box 10, Peru, NE 68421 or e-mail us at psctimes@yahoo.com.
Continued from page 1
Goal number seven is the most controversial of Nebraska's P-16 initiative. Its purpose is to improve the time for degree completion in Nebraska's colleges and universities and to increase college graduation rates. In order to meet these goals, Nebraska's P-16 initiative would lower the number of credit hours required to graduate from 125 to 120 (except for education majors and those pursuing a CPA). Major requirements would be unaffected; only general education courses would be reduced. Thus, Nebraska schools could make it easier for students to graduate within four years. It would also theoretically make college more affordable.
PSC Student Senate President Elizabeth Zito said that the Student Senate has grave concerns about this policy, called Board Policy 4140. Among the concerns: Zito fears that the reduction in credit hours will reduce the value of a degree from Peru State, "turning our school into a
Wal-Mart," where the emphasis is on cheapness. This will harm PSC's reputation, Zito said.
In a letter to the Nebraska State College System Board of Trustees, Zito, along with Student Senate Vice President Becky Colling and Student Senate Board Trustee Caroline Keenan, wrote, "We have the unique opportunity here in the state college system. We have the chance to be something that has not been seen before, a public Ivy Students always appreciate a cut in expenses, but when that cut comes at the cost of the strength of education offered it becomes too high for us to accept."
Zito and Keenan presented the letter at the November 11, 2010 Board of Trustees meeting at Wayne State.
Dr. Hanson appreciates the Student Senate's concerns and the way they were communicated. He has also expressed concerns about the perception of value at Peru State.
"Communicating our reputation is an emerging challenge," Han-
son said.
Part of Policy 4 I40 directly addresses the "rigorous education" issue: it would require students who have only one subject major to have a minor. Students who major in comprehensive fields (such as social studies) or who have double majors would be exempt from this policy. Education students and those going for their CPA will not have to have minors.
"Whether its 120 or 125 credits," Hanson said, "we're committed to offering a quality education."
Another concern about Policy 4140, said Zito, is that tuition would increase to make up for the lost revenue of requiring 120 hours instead of 125, undermining the "affordable access to education" push of the P-16 initiative. While Dr. Hanson does "support the desire to have more accessible and affordable education," he agreed that the Board needs to consider the impact of Policy 4140 on tuition.
Dr. Hanson said that the Board listened to Zito and Keenan; it
was set to vote November I l on Policy 4140, but it has postponed the vote u 11 t i l January to consider the concerns of PSC's Student Senate. There is talk about sending a Board member to all three Nebraska State Colleges to explain Policy 4140 to students. Zito, Colling, and Keenan hope this will happen yet this semester. As of press time, no visit has been arranged. Many states have adopted K-16 initiatives to improve the quality of education for a work force that will need rigorous college educations in the 21st Century. Nebraska's initiative has the
Logo created by Kristen Husen laudable goals of increasing enrollment in college, helping students to graduate in four years, and providing more financial aid to needy students. However, there are controversies.
In attending the Board meeting and voicing their concerns, Hanson said that the Student Senate representatives were fulfilling their responsibilities.
"These students heard the discussions and brought the issue to campus to get feedback from the student body;• he said.
Continued from page 1
Some of BSU's projects include holding a clothing and personal care items collection for Project Response in Auburn, preparing emergency backpacks for children, reading to children in the PSC Day Care Center, visiting local nursing homes, speaking to area service clubs and raising money for Haiti earthquake relief. BSU has also worked to increase cultural awareness by creating educational displays and hosting speakers for Black History Month. Other activities
include sponsoring the college's first annual music festival Oak Stock, a winter formal dance, 3-on-3 basketball tournament, homecoming float, poker night and a presidential inauguration activity.
BSU hosted a leadership conference this year for their fellow students from Chadron and Wayne State Colleges titled Branching Out: Leadership, Diversity and Making a Difference, which will emphasize outreach to high school students.
BSU Faculty Advisor and Eng-
Jgpro JO JO sJugi\ 6 I gq isnm no.x_ hpg·rugd @UOSJGpUU){
r Lzz:-zL8 iuGm:t.rndGa µy
UOSJGPU\f JOSSGJOJd lOl:!lUO;:)
sr:6 - 0£:9
.Aupuow ''JH /OS'ZI$
GTUUIGJ JO GIUUI
IIOZ DNUidS SSUl;:)
GHGH3N S'lHGOW
Iish Instructor Kristi Nies said_, "I am so very proud of every BSU member. These students understand what it means to be part of a larger community and how important it is to give back to that community. On behalf of the entire group, I want to thank the Kiwanis Club of Peru, the Peru Area Ladies and the Peru Day Care for allowing us to engage in several community service opportunities with their organizations."
Peru, NE - The Peru State Col- serve our mission lege (PSC) Foundation today an- of engagement well. nounced that R. Todd Simpson, I look forward to CFRE, of Omaha has been hired working with him to to lead the organization as its ex- build an even stronecutive director. ger organization."
Simpson has worked in non-
PSC Foundation profit management and fundrais- Board Chairman ing for more than 23 years, most Chuck Niemeyer recently as an independent fund- (Class of 1965) said, raising and non-profit leadership "Todd's expertise in consultant and solutions provider. fundraising, MidPrior to his time as a consultant, western sensibilSimpson was the director of de- ity and management velopment for the Omaha Home skills are exactly the for Boys for 14 years. There he kind of attributes we vvas responsible for the entire de- sought in our new velopment effort for the organiza- leader. He will bring tion, including mailing 5 million a fresh perspective direct response solicitations each to this role that will year and the management of a da- compliment the Presitabase of more than 1 million con- dent's strategic vision tacts. In the early 1990s, Simpson for the institution by worked for the Boston-based engaging alumni in direct response firm Amergent,
Photo courtesy of Peru State College the support of our overseeing the direct marketing students. The Foundaefforts of more than 30 clients holds for the Peru State College tion Board is excited ranging from educational founda- Fou,ndation Sin:ip- to welcome him to the Campus of tions to religious organizations. son s leadership. His extensive a Thousand Oaks."
PSC President Dan Hanson said, fundraising knowledge, enthusi- Simpson said, "I'm very extlJ.e: fl\tui.;e l1S.ID l1nd "'.ision.;for the future will cited. to l;>e joining .the Peru State
team. I look forward to sharing the vision and mission of PSC with alumni and friends. The Foundation Board and Presiderit Hanson are enthusiastic about growing the Foundation's capacity to support student programs and educational initiatives. I can't wait to get started."
· Simpson holds the Certified Fund Raising Executive credential (CFRE), a certificate of completion from the National Planned Giving Institute, a certificate in fundraising from the University of Nebraska - Omaha, and a certificate in non-profit leadership and management from the University of Wisconsin. He is a member and past president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Nebraska Chapter and the Nebraska Chapter of the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning (formerly the Planned Giving Council.)
Simpson is a regular speaker on fundraising and organizational leadership topics and has presented for organizations such as the University of Nebraska - Omaha,
the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the National Fellowship of Child Care Executives, the Omaha Postal Customer Council, the Lincoln Postal Customer Council, the Scottish Rite Leadership Institute and the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands, among others. Simpson also teaches a two-day course on direct mail fundraising as part of the University of NebraskaOmaha's Certificate in Fund Raising Management program.
Simpson has engaged in extensive volunteer work on leadership development with college students and has served as a volunteer with both the Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA. He is a graduate of the University of Central Missouri, formerly Central Missouri State University.
A native of Missouri, Simpson and his wife, Michelle, reside in Omaha with their two children.
Simpson will begin his role as executive director on Monday, Nov.1 .
BRAD FLORIAN Contributing Writer
Fallen soldiers need right to a peaceful burial. Picketing and military funerals: freedom of speech or ungrateful for their rights?
"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." This mantra is used to defend the fact that no matter how hateful someone's words can be, they are still just a simple conglomeration of letters. The enemy's opinions are their own so who cares what they think, right? But what happens when freedom of speech crosses a line and those words feel a little more like sticks and stones?
The Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas has been under serious scrutiny since it started protesting military funerals. Families and friends not only have to bear the devastating effects of losing a loved one but,
even worse, they have to deal with detrimental accusations from protesters with phrases like "Thank God for dead soldiers".
The problem is the protesters technically have the right to say these things because of the freedoms granted to our nation's people through the first amendment. But do they have the right to invade the privacy of mourners who should deserve the respect to bury their dead in peace?
It should be noted that the church wouldn't even have the right to protest if those soldiers weren't out there protecting our freedoms.
The church has been sued, and the Supreme Court will make a decision on the case in the coming months. Until then, the church will likely continue picketing soldier's funerals and other subjects it finds undesirable.
Speaking of which, the church also demeans homosexuals and same-sex marriages, as well as about every religion including Judaism, Catholicism, Protes-
tantism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Islam, and Hinduism.
The Westboro Baptist Church seems to be a hater of the entire human race. Which leads one to consider the question: What does the church believe in? If everything is wrong, what is right?
Whatever we are here for on Earth, surely we are not here to hate everyone because we do not grow by hate and destruction, but by love and creation.
Therefore, this situation should remind us that words certainly are powerful things, even if they
Photo courtesy of http://www.sdnn.com are not real or material, they can still be bullets that pierce the heart. Hopefully the correct resolution will be given and the proper justice can be implemented so the very people that fight for our right to speak can at least rest in peace properly.
With the election results in from the November 2 election there is talk of the possibility of change in Washington after the republicans
has hopes that there will be more compromise with the Republicans controlling the house and the Democrats controlling the senate and White House. The political left fears that there will be more attempts to stall legislation and bog down time with needless investigations into what was done
gate President Obama in order to find any possible wrong doing on his part. These plans should make people very wary of what the next 2 years could be like and how little might get done in Washington. Investigating the President is something that is very serious and should be considered only when there is evidence of wrong doing. The plan for the Republicans however is to investigate as much as possible to try and stop policies that they do not like rather than wait for a justified reason to open an investigation.
Republicans would also like to remove government oversight
from
themselves look more profitable before being caught and going bankrupt. Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac sold billions in bad loans to other companies and banks in order to get out of the bad situations, themselves causing billions to be lost, trashing the economy. Several mortgage companies have even been caught foreclosing on properties that were not behind on payments or were even owned by the mortgage company. Health care has been one of the hotter topics of recent years and the Republicans want to talk about all parts of the new bill that they say will destroy the health
care system. However what they fail to mention in all of their fear talk is that you will find many of those questionable practices happening in private health care when a company can find a way to deny coverage and save the bottom line.
Overall this new Congress won't lead to a better political balance in Washington and could lead to a time with less done if the Washington insiders are more concerned with destroying the other side than improving the country:
Photo Courtesy of http://www.texasgopvote.com during the Obama administration. have taken over control of the house. From the political middle you have talk about repealing the health care bill and investigating President Obama and his actions as president. The political middle
What we do know is that republican leaders have promised to try and repeal the health care bill, remove governmental oversight from business and investi-
even though it has been proven several times in the last decade that big business will lie and cheat to raise profits. Enron and World Com are two examples of big business cooking the books in order to make
"A Double Grande Skinny Caramel Macchiato, please." This phrase will probably be the words in every student's mouth around finals time. Whether you experience late night cram sessions, long agonizing hours in the library, or getting so frustrated you want to throw your computer out the window, finals are just around the comer and already you can feel the tension across campus. Most students find this the most stressful time because finals usually cover everything from the beginning of semester to the beginning of Dead Week.
Finals are the professors' way of seeing how much you have obtained through their lectures, and if you know the material.
Ashley Moore, a Freshman Psychology Major, said, "My Poli Sci class is hard and a lot of work, the
final is over the whole book." Situations such as this tend to cause many people to panic about ensuring they get a good grade on their final.
In English classes most of the time the final is an extensive paper with a lot of source citations. Many people like to start early on these which is a better way to have a chance to correct their drafts.
Don't procrastinate, make sure you get your work done on time, and make sure that you make time to study. Many people wait until the last minute and they wonder why their grade was terrible.
If a student does not do very well on finals and they are failing the class, then the next semester they will be put on academic probation. Do not let this happen to you. Be successful at what you do and make sure to put the best effort into it.
Rachael Marion, a non-traditional student at PSC, said, "Find a system that works best, I know
•MAKE TIME TO STUDY!
• Ensure to eat meals daily. Skip ping meals will only make harder for you to focus because hunger is all you can think about, plus your body needs nutrition to function properly.
• Make sure to get at least 7 to 8 hours a sleep the night before your final to make sure you can be completely focused.
• It doesn't hurt to wake up a little early to go over a few notes you feel you may not know as well.
• Study in groups. Getting ideas from your peers are a great way to figure out problems you may not understand.
Photo courtesy of http://vmlittlethings.blogspot.com
with my kids it is hara so I do a Late night cram sessions in the little bit at a time. I make a sched- dorms seem to be the most unsucule for studying because every- cessful approach to finals. Here thing I do is scheduled around my are some hints to be triumphant kids and family." during finals week.
• Repetition,repetition, repetition. The mind can remember things if the information it is processing bas been repeated a multitude of times.
• Lastly don't study too much. Take some time to relax. Don't over do it or you will only bum yourself out.
CAROL CARPENTER Assistant Editor
Everyone remembers as a child, seated on your parent's lap or snuggled down under the covers on Christmas Eve, listening to the class Christmas poem by Clement C. Moore, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. But let's be honest. Did you have any idea, especially as a child, what the heck the poet was talking about?
Okay, some of the items mentioned are blatantly obvious even
to a young child-others, not so much. In the first stanza, we get that the house is quiet and ready for Christmas-no creature stirring, stockings hung with care (hopefully not too close to the fire!), It's the second stanza that begins to break down. Maybe children in early America dreamed of dancing sugarplums, but I never did (chocolate-yes, sugar plums- no), and I did not nestle down very easily on Christmas Eve either. "Mama in her kerchief and I in my cap"really? Did your parents ever wear hats to bed? Mine certainly did not.
The third stanza gets even crazier. The poet says "Out on the lawn there arose such a clatter." Lots of noise on the snow covered lawn? I doubt that. Then the poem tells us that the father "tore open the shutters and threw up the sash." I can relate to the tearing of shutters, but barfing a scarf? Yes, it's part of a window; I get that now. In the next stanza, moonlight shines on the breast of the snow-should we be talking about breasts in a children's poem? A little too much eggnog?
The poem continues with the description of the Santa's reindeer as coursers. How many five-yearolds know what that means? It's swift horses, by the way. Then the sleigh with its burden lands on the roof. Hope your shingles are in good shape and your insurance is paid up for the year. Reindeer aren't exactly light.
At last, down the chimney comes Santa, the jolly old elf,. breaking and entering-okay, maybe just entering. This is always the part that stuck with me. Big guy + small chimney + fire-you do the math. But children are more likely to believe in magic than cynical adults. So be it. ·
Instead of stealing like most B & E perpetrators, this guy leaves
Across
presents (awesome!) and then somehow gets back up the chimney, an even more unbelievable
chubby elf, and all the goodies, take off like fluff. Doubtful at best.
Photo courtesy of www.healthwise-everythinghealth.blogspot.com
feat than his descent. As the big St. Nick boards his sleigh for the return flight, the poem says that they "flew away like the down on a thistle." Let's see somewhere around 5000 pounds of reindeer, not to mention the sleigh, the
1. Largest city in Brazil: Sao __
6. To come after, chase
12. Opposite of over
l4. Make less tight, like a grip
15. Used to see which way the wind is blowing
17. Supercontinent formed when Pangaea split 19. Both the White House and an owl have one 20. A strong wind
21. Ear, nose, and throat doctor
22. Holiday with ghosts and goblins
26. Nickname for Salvatore
27. Southeast Asian country
29. The Mamba is a type
32. Potato, tomato, and chicken noodle are these
33. Prefix meaning "god"
34. "_'_a boy!"
37. This was drove in to secure the railroad
38. Strange, unusual
39. Right-handed pitcher, abbr.
40. Los Angeles,_
41.Your birthday is the day you were __
42. It usually has six strings
45. Ripped
47. Sticky substance
49. When the QB throws a pass to the other team
50. Flower with thorns that hasn't bloomed yet
52.Fargo,_
53. A marathon could be called this
54. Professional basketball org.
56. Roadside bomb
58. Mixed Martial Arts
59. Ariel is one
60. Island off the coast of Venezuela
Of course, at poem's conclusion, the big red guy yells down on the neighborhood. Sure he's quite in the house, but outside-forget it. That's okay. Most children will tell you that sleep is optional on Christmas Eve anyway.
Down
2. "--and the Chipmunks"
3. Organ used for breathing
4. l J divided by 11
5. Permitted by law
7. Opposite of new
8. Opposite of high
9. Hawaiian volcano: Mauna
10. Orbit Showtime Network
11. Force an animal off its mother's milk
13. A glider of shoes with wheels
16. A fire or carpenter is a type
18. Prefix meaning "new"
19. State known for its coal mining
20. Company known for its polling
22. Rings over angels
23. Ecological Landscaping Association
24. Holiday with eggs and rabbits
25. With 55 Down, Shakespeare play: "Much about "
26. Distress letters
28. Prophet, psychic
30. Pertaining to long poetry
31. "Nebraska's Big __ " is in Burwell
35. Noise from the clouds
36.Saliva
38. To think or speculate
41. Jim Carrey movie: " Almighty"
43. Smell, odor
44. It has four walls
46. President Barack
48. Circle around the sun
51. 49 Across is one
54. A quick sleep
55. See 25 Down
57. "You" in German
Peru, NE - Five Peru State College (PSC) Bobcat volleyball players were recognized by the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC) for their efforts this season. The honors, which were voted upon by the head coaches in the conference, were announced prior to the championship match on Saturday.
Earning MCAC First Team honors were senior KT Salberg (Sterling) and sophomore Emily Maresh (Central City). Senior Toni Ratliff (Shenandoah, Iowa) and junior Carly Morehead (Fairbury) were selected for the second team. Earning honorable mention status was senior Sarah Novak (Howel.Js).
KT Salberg
Salberg was the main setter for most of the season for the Bobcats in a 5-1 offense or shared the setting responsibilities with Ratliff when the 'Cats utilized the 6-2. Salberg had 707 assists for an average 7 .6 assists per game. She added 38 service aces, good for third on the team and 202 digs, fourth on the team. Salberg finished with 29 total blocks, seven of which were solo. She also had 68 kills while hitting .225 on the season.
Emily Maresh
The team's defensive leader all season, Maresh had team highs with 473 digs and 55 service aces.
She finished as the MCAC's season leader in digs averaging 4.59 per game. Her service aces puts her among the NAIA national leaders at 27th averaging 0.56 aces per game. Maresh's 55 service aces is presently 38th in the nation. Even from her libero position, Maresh added 16 kills.
Toni Ratliff
When the Bobcats utilized the 6-2 offense, Ratliff was the other setter. For most of the season, she was a right-side hitter. Ratliff finished the season with 219 kills, averaging 2.17 per game, while hitting a respectable .309. While setting, Ratliff added 247 assists averaging 2.45 assists per game. Ratliff also added 19 service aces, 222 digs and 38 total blocks, nine of which were solo.
Carly Morehead
The team's leading blocker, Morehead had 77 total blocks, 23 which were solo. She averaged nearly one block per game. Morehead added 192 kills while hitting at a .249 percentage. Morehead started the season in the middle, but moved to the left-side when the team ran the 6-2. She also had 25 service aces and 111 digs.
Sarah Novak
Novak finished as the team's kill per game leader averaging 2.57 while finishing with 231 kills for the year. Novak's hitting percentage was .221. She also added 59
Eighteen of Novak's blocks were solo. She was primarily a left-side hitter for the season.
Photos
Head Coach Lexie Baack was pleased with the honors her student-athletes received. Baack said, 'To have five of our players recognized at the end of the season when we finished third in the MCAC was outstanding." Baack continueq, "Obviously, we are going to miss the contributions of KT, Toni, and Sarah next fall, but we will be looking at Carly
and Emily to lead the returners and
recruits as we move into the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC). We know the HAAC will provide us with more challenges, but we will work hard this spring and summer to be ready for the 2011 season."
Peru, NE - Chelsi Dotson, a senior Peru State College (PSC) cross country team member, was
named Friday as a 2010 NAIA-Daktronics Cross Country Scholar-Athlete. Dotson, daughter of Kenny and Zina Dotson, of Shubert, is a K-12 physical education and coaching major.
athlete does take time and you have learn how manage your practice, competition, and academic times." She continued, "Not a lot of people know, but I am definitely not a distance runner. In fact, in
concluded, "Chelsea is deserving of this recognition and hopefully, we will have more honorees in the future."
Dotson will be student teaching this spring, but has yet to be placed. Presently, she anticipates serving her second year as the
power lifting coach at HTRS in Humboldt after having had a successful lifting career herself while at the now closed Southeast Nebraska Consolidated High School.
high school, I ran r-----------------------------. sprints and hur-
In order to be norriinated by an institution's head coach, a Photo courtesy of PSC student-athlete must
and field coach."
PSC's head cross country coach, Dr. Johann Murray, commented, "I had Chelsea in several classes when she first arrived at Peru after transferring from her junior college. We talked about her possibly running cross country and she came out last year." Murray
dles, so this is quite a transition. It will give me the ability, though, to possibly coach more of the long distances if I become a track maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and must have achieved a junior academic status to qualify for this honor. Dotson was excited to learn she was one of 306 women earning the recognition. Dotson said, "I am happy to have earned the recognition as my grades are important to me. Being a student-
he 0 t
Monday- Thursday 7:30 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Friday 7:30 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.
Sunday-Wednesday 6:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.
COLE SHARP
Contributing Writer
Winter's chill returning to the air around our campus signals the beginning of the season for the men and women of Peru's basketball programs as well as
the Bobcat fans. The 'Cats will be looking to make a splash in this their final season in MCAC play before making the move to HAAC next season.
The men's team, under thirdyear coach Troy Katen, returns to action after a 5-25 mark last season. The team has lost Steven Burks, team leader in points, rebounds, assists, and
steals, but having lost only one other senior, the team remains mostly intact for the 2010-11 season and looks to build on the improvements made last season.
A tough first week of action that saw Peru travel to both the University of Nebraska and the University of Wyoming for exhibitions as well as hosting a NAIA Division I top 25 school in Park University to open their season ended with a 1-1 record but shows that these 'Cats have plenty of fight in them. As Coach Katen commented after their first victory over Midland, "We are continuing to grow as a team which is important. As long as we do that each week, we will see positive changes in our men's program."
all starters from last season to make a run at the national tournament, a feat they were within one victory of before the conference championship loss.
Anyway you look at it; the 2010- ll season looks like a good time to be a Bobcat, so go out and get loud. Go Big Blue!
Peru, NE - Peru State senior evin Eighmey (Independence, Mo.) put up a team high 13 points n five of eight shooting, including hitting thn;e, of five from behind the. three-point arc to lead the Bobcats in their 75-43 exhibition loss to the Nebraska Huskers
Wednesday, Nov. 3, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
Devin Eighmey led 'Cats against Huskers (photo by Dennis Hubbard)
A tough Husker defense at the start kept the Bobcats scoreless for nearly eight minutes before Jovan Hitch (Kansas City, Mo.) hit a pair of free throws to put the 'Cats on the board. Hitch finished as Peru State's second leading scorer with nine points.
The Bobcats hit only 28% from the field while the Huskers shot better "than 46%. The Huskers did slightly better than the Bobcats at the free throw line by hitting 64.9% of their shots compared to Peru State's 61.5% at the line.
The much t,aller Huskers outrebounded the 'Cats 45-29. Hitch, Matthew Drommond (Lincoln), and Jacob
Schaben (Defiance,
On the women's side, fourthyear coach Maurtice Ivy at the helm coming off a 1616 season with a 9-3 mark in conference play. Runners-up in the conference tournament last season, the Bobcats return Iowa) each had four rebounds to lead Peru State.
As they did in their home opener against Park University,.Peru State fell behind in the first half and then played their opponents much closer in the second half.
The Huskers led the Bobcats 4215 at halftime, but only outscored the 'Cats 33-28 during the second stanza.
Contributing
WriterVoldemort's death eaters. He and understand. his friends must stay in hiding while searching for horcruxes, the items in which Voldemort stored a bit of his soul to defeat death.
Having been a fan of Harry
Viewers who have not read the books still may be confused at certain parts. Although major plot points were explained well, minor points, such as the shard of the mirror Harry held, went unexplained.
Believable acting and amazing special effects help to draw viewers into the story. Humor contrasts with the dark feel of the movie perfectly to help boost the moral of both the characters and the audience.
Potter for years, I was particularly excited for this .film, and I was not let down. The movie stuck closely to the plot of the book, and ail the major scenes were included. The few modifications made it more cinematic and easier for those who have not read the books to
I was most impressed with the artfulness they used in separating the story in two. The ended with a wonderful cliffhanger, and they made good use of their time. I was skeptical when they first announced they would separate the final book into two movies, but now I can't see it happening any other way.
The second part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be released on July 15 of next year. It will be released in 3D, and will also be the last of the series.
Just about everyone with a Xbox 360 has heard about.the Kinect, a add-on which allows you to throw that coptroller away and play just with your body. You dance, your character dances. When you jump, he jumps as well. Is it the next big thing, or Microsoft's way of extending the Xbox's life?
First off, the Kinect was brilliantly made. It projects a infrared 3D box around your
Photo courtesy of: http://www.microsoft.com
room, and tracks changes within that box. It's so precise that you walk into the room, it'll scan your face, and sign you in. Lighting issues reported by some are false. It works as long as you calibrate it with each lighting setting, and you are good to go. Kinect also has a complex voice-recognition capabilities, allowing you to talk to your buddies without a headset and navigate menus with your voice.
Some game genres would be impossible to try with the Kinect, but there are a few games that are brilliantly done for the Kinect. Dance Central, made by the same people that did Rock Band, allows yoµ to show off your moves to your friends. While there is dancing, Kinectimals and Kinect Sports are easy, but fun ways to pass time. These are all family-oriented games, but given time, there will be games geared towards more hard core gamers. Despite all of these cool features,
there are some annoyances. It requires a fairly large space to play it. Dorm rooms and apartments can work, but there might have to be some serious rearranging in order for it to work. There is also some serious lag time between movements and it registering on screen. That could just be launch titles that seemed somewhat pushed out without much polish.
The Kinect may be expensive, around $150, but it's great. Give it time and games for it will be incredible. Will you Kinect?
Sagittarius Nov 22- Dec 21: You are in need to find the pleasure in the simple things. Take a step back from your hectic life and enjoy what the world has to offer.
Capricorn Dec 22- Jan 19: Finals are just about here. You are going to be weighed down with deadlines and may feel like you ·•.... •.·.· neyer catch a break. Although you will be rather apprehensive, you will be very proud of the outcome.
Aquarius Jan 20- Feb 18: Thanksgiving break was just a tease. Never have you.ever needed a break so bad in your life. Semester break is right around the corner. You will find yourself in a new mind set. and a rejuvenated spirit once you get past finals week.
Pisces Feb 19- March 20: It is the beginning of a Nebraskan winter. For the first big storm, you will be missing something vitally important when it comes to the winter wardrobe. Get yourself prepared for you will be caught off guard and will be in some trouble in the near future.
Aries March 21-April 19: An event in the near future will help you realize who the important people are in your life. It may be a rocky road but at least you will soon know who is there to stick it out with you.
Taurus April 20-May 20: Your life is about to be overcome with stress and frustration. Get yourself a stress-ball and allow for a little time to yourself.
Gemini May 21- June 20: The holidays are about upon us. You will find great joy by the company that you will find yourself surrounded by. Enjoy the time you have and remember it because the times ahead will be challenging but full of reward.
Cancer June 21- July 22: You will soon be struck by an idea that you cannot shake. Take that idea and run with it for it will change your life.
Leo July 23- Aug 23: Your patience will be rewarded soon. The wait may seem long but it shall be worth your troubles.
Virgo Aug 23- Sept 22: Your plate is overflowing and you realize that you have inuch to much for one person to chew. With the semester coming to a close, prepare yourself appropriately for the next semester for it will make or break your year.
Libra Sept 23- Oct 22: Next semester's classes are picked out and you are apprehensive about the schedule. Your lack in confidence will be a damper on your mood. Pick yourself up and think positively because things will fall into place.
Scorpio Oct 23- Nov 21: Turn your frown upside down. You will be getting good news in the near future. Be looking for it.
books emphasize that "one person can make a difference."
The final goal is to invite everyone to listen to Mortenson speak in September. Megan Brown, a sophomore Special Education major, at Pent State college has been active in the Steering Committee, has already had a chance to hear Mortenson speak. "I was surprised at how truly humbling and sincere he is," Brown said.
"Pennies for Peace is a Southeast Nebraska event," Hanson explained. In addition to those from the college, like Brown and Hanson, mayors, bankers, pastors, and others from all walks of life across five counties are members of the Steering committee.
feet high as a tribute · to her, but he failed after getting lost in a storm. He was rescued and ended up in the village of Korphe, and asked the helpful leader, Haji Ali, how he could return the favors they had bestowed upon them.
The students and faculty of Peru State College have the power to improve the lives of Middle Eastern children for just a penny or two.
Greg M01tenson, the founder of the Pennies for Peace foundation, will speak in the AWAC on September 19, 2011. In preparation for his visit, the college has teamed up with his foundation to work .towards three goals.
The largest goal focuses on raising $100,000 to build two schools in remote villages of Afghanistan and Pakistan and sustain them for five years. The first step to. its accomplishment has already been ·completed with a booth that was in the cafeteria January l 7 through 20, but there will be more opportunities to contribute.
The second goal included a Southeast Nebraska Reads program in surrounding schools. Older students will be encouraged to read Three Cups of Tea and Stones into Schools, while younger children will read Listen to the Wind. Mortenson wrote or co-wrote all three books.
Elaine Hanson, one of the members of the Steering Committee for Pennies for Peace, believes these
Hanson hopes the Pennies for Peace initiative wit! "bring a new perspective on that part of the world" to the campus. By reading the books and attending Mortenson's speech, students will have the opportunity to learn more about other cultures, how they can help the world, and a new, nonviolent way to bring peace.
Mortenson realized he wanted to help improve education in the Middle East after a mountain climbing expedition. He wanted to climb the mountain for a very personal reason: to leave his recently deceased sister's necklace 28,267
Haji Ali told Mortenson to "listen to the wind." Mortenson heard children, and went to see what they were doing. The children could not afford pencils or paper, so they were practicing school tasks in the sand with sticks.
Mortenson promised to help get the children an education. He has, but it has not been easy. For a time, he lived in his car. His life was threatened by the Taliban and Americans alike. "His life has been in danger," Hanson emphasized.
Mortenson has already ·helped build J31 schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan, which have educated more than 58,000 children, 44,000 of which were girls.
According to UNICEF, the literacy rate in Afghanistan is only 28%.
With Peru's help, these numbers could grow ...• penny is one pencil. Fortwodoflafs, little over the price of a soda, the teachers salary for a day has ,been provided. For some pocket change from a few Americans, thousands of Middle Eastern children's lives could be bettered significantly. Every penny goes to building schools.
"It's not like he's pocketing the money and getting rich," as Hanson said.
As Brown puts it, "Education is the most crucial step towards a society accomplishing peace, prosperity, and progress. When we give a child an education we empower them to change their world."
Since Fall 2009, the college has been engaged in a process of self-study leading to a formal report that will serve as the centerpiece of the college's request for continued accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Accreditation is vital to the college as it assures students of a quality educational experience, transferability of credits, and eligibility for federal grants and loans. The self-study process will culminate in a visit in November 2011 by a team of peer institution representatives who will review our report, observe our operations, and foterview students, staff, faculty, alumni, administrators, and community members about the college.
The main chapters in our self-
study report pertain to how we "live" our mission, plan for the future, assure quality teaching and learning experiences, engage in discovery and application of knowledge, and serve our various constituents and communities.
The primary writers of our report are Dr. Judith Ruskamp, Dr. Kyle Ryan, Dr. Paul Hinrichs, Dr. Rich Clopton, and Dr. Ellie Kunkel; however, the whole campus community has provided input through surveys and focus group discussions held last year. A critical part of the report will be our recommendations for strengthening the college and enhancing the educational experiences of students. These recommendations will become a part of the strategic plan for the future of the college.
Even while we draft the report, it is already having an impact on campus. Perhaps the most noticeable signs of the self-study
are the blue banners with the words "Engage, Inquire, Discover, Innovate" attached to the light poles at the main campus in Peru. Taken from our mission statement, these words represent the essence of our purpose as a college. The banners were created in response to a self-study recommendation that we make our mission more visible to students and campus visitors.
Looking ahead, the schedule for the self-study includes further editing of the document during the spring, a final draft being produced in the summer, and a community-wide review and discussion about the college's application for continued accreditation in the fall, leading up to the peer visit in November. Anyone who wishes to become more involved in this project is encouraged to contact Christy Hutchison, Associate Professor of Business, for information about service opportunities.
"I like hugs because they are made of white chocolate!"
Sophomore Music Marketing Major
Editor-in-Chief
Assistant Editor
Layout Editor
Copy Editor
Advertising Manager
Distribution Manager
Layout Staff
Faculty Advisor
Contributing Staff
www.psctimes.com
Katie Kuhl
Kristen Hlisen
Jenny Trapp
Becky Bartlett
Brandon Schumacher
Brandon Schumacher
Kyle Amen
Michaela Wolverton
Kristi Nies
Raeanna Carbaugh
Brad Florian
KimMilllgan
Cole Sharp
Elizabeth McKim
"Hugs, because people don't get as squeamish by public hugging as they do with public kissing!"
Adam DeBilzan
Senior Elementary and Early Childhood Education Major
"Hugs! They're warm and you can get one from anybody."
Myneeka Childs
Sophomore Pre-Medicine Major
The Times, the official student newspaper of Peru State College, is published four times per semester by Peru State College students. The Times office is located in the College Publications Office in Room 126 of the AV Larson Building.
The opinions expressed in the Times may not be those of the entire newspaper staff. The Peru State Times is an independent publication funded by student publication fees. The views expn;ssed in this publication, including the contents of paid advertisements, do not necessarily reflect the views of the administration, faculty or staff of Peru State College.
All letters to the editor are welcome, and the writers of those letters need not be students. { Letters, cartoons, articles, pictures and any other material submitted to the Times must be signed by individual(s) submitting them and will be published at the discretion of the st The Times reserves the right to edit all letters, articles and other submitted materials f. grammar, length and clarity. The Times also reserves the right t decline the publication of any materials, including paid advertisements, for any reason.
To reach the Times, send material to the Peru State Ti through campus mail or to: PSC Times, Peru State College, P. Box 10, Peru, NE 68421 or e-mail us at psctimes@yahoo.com.
Tyler Thomas is responsible, caring, driven, and determined. She is kind-hearted, thoughtful, and an overall good friend to anyone who aeeds one. She wants to Je a fashion Jesigner. She s an active nember in 3SU. She is he student esponsible for lfinging the lance team 1ack to Peru :tate College.
"I'm not ven sure ow that one eally starte(j,'' ::hloe Courtier, junior at PSC ma3onng in sychology and friend of Thomas id, "She just wanted to dance, ' she worked hard at it."
While this idea wasn't :cessarily pushed away, some :ople gave Thomas the short
end of the stick on the deal. She didn't give up and continued to work hard at putting the dance team together, and her hard work combined with the dedication from the other members paid off successfully.
Thomas is also described as being open-minded. She is willing to try anything once,
friend. She's there for anyone if they need her."
Thomas always has a smile on her face, and makes it a point to get to know just about everyone she can.
"She's always getting to know somebody," Courtier said.
Courtier said about Thomas as a friend, "Tyler is the definition of a true friend. \Vhatever y;e need from her, she always gives to us without any hesitation."
Along with being dedicated to her work and foll of
goes in to everything head first with a smile on her face.
twice if she likes it. She always puts her best foot forward and goes into anything she tries with a positive mindset.
"Ty is always there for me whenever I need her," Courtier said, "She is just a good, genuine
!cember 5, 2010
(Peru, Neb.) More than 120 1dents, faculty, staff and commity members searched the ru area again today for missing tdent Tyler (Ty) Thomas. She nains missing.
Volunteers canvassed Peru and hree to five-mile radius of rugd terrain on foot, by ATV and th other vehicles. An NSP heopter also conducted an aerial irch.
fore than 150 volunteers joined :maha County Sheriff's depus, who are being assisted by : Nebraska State Patrol (NSP), the search for Ty yesterday, turday, Dec. 4. Volunteers canssed Peru and a three to fiveradius of rugged te1Tain on by ATV and with other veAn NSP helicopter also an aerial search.
She's very focused on her future and the goals she has for herself involving h e r future. She's the type of girl who l o v e s a good laugh, and finds a positive in most situations thrown her way. "Even if it's just watching movies and eating junk food, she always wants us to be laughing and having fun." Shyriah Marshall, junior computer and management information systems major, and friend of Thomas' said.
Marshall also added to what
Marshall describes her friends personalty as "bubbly." With how Thomas is in friendships, that would be an accurate personality description. "She is ,.,,..,,,.,.,.,...,,..._.,,_,,.......,...., also very outspoken," Marshal! said. "She.will tell you exactly how she feels about you or a situation."
Thomas is full of passion and determination. She is a true friend to those around her, whether they be close friends or small acquaintances. She wants the best for herself and her friends, and dedicates herself l 00 percent to everything she does.
Thomas hasn't been seen since December 3, 20 l 0. "I just hope that wherever she is, she knows that no one has forgotten about her."
Thomas' family released the following statement:
"Our family would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the hundreds of students and volunteers who have assisted in the effort to find our daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend. We also want to thank President Hanson and his wife, Elaine, for opening their home to our family, the local churches and clergy for their prayers, and the law enforcement officers who continue to search for Ty. The outpouring of support from everyone in the area has been overwhelming, and we appreciate everything everyone has done. We hope and pray that we will find Ty and bring her home safely."
The Nemaha County Sheriff's Office and NSP are continuing to actively pursue and investigate leads as they become available.
it." school, or friendships, Thomas
On Sunday January 16, l I Peru State College students went to the American College Theatre Festival held in Ames, Iowa. The American College Theatre Festival is hosted by the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts every year.
At the American College Theatre Festival, or ACTF, the Peru THeatre Company, PTC, along
with many other college students, from around the Midwest attended workshops on varying subjects, auditioned· for short plays that were to be performed at the festival, went to various stage productions put on by different colleges, and much more. Josh Young, the director of the PSC theatre, said that it is ''The Oscar's of college theatre."
Some PSC students who attended auditioned for some of the short plays , in which six out of the 11 who attended got a call back on their audition and five of
those got casted. The five who were casted were, Mike Casavant, Adam Jeanneret, Davina Andrew, Colin Cathcart, and Ashley Churchill. The auditions were on Sunday then the plays were performed on Thursday so in a few days they had to learn their lines, and stage blocking and be ready to perform.
Along with those five students getting that huge honor of being casted among the best actors in the Midwest region, one PTC student won an award. Tessa Way won second place in the publicity
competition. So when asked what the best part of ACTF was, PTC member Ashley Churchill said "I really loved watching the plays and seeing what other colleges are doing with their college theatre programs."
PTC has two productions that are going to be put on this semester. The first is Marat Sade, a play that takes place in an asylum during the French Revolution and is about the death of Jean-Paul Marat. Marat Sade will be performed on February 10- ! 3, and anyone under the age of 18 must
be with an adult.
The second show that PTC be putting on this semester in c junction with the PSC Music partment is Pippin. Auditions Pippin will be February 15 and 16; the show will be April 14-17.
Then all throughout the semes-". ter on Wednesday evenings PTC hosts an improve troupe called "Who Asked You?" The group has nine players and the shows will go for about an hour. It is a great experience; the shows depend on audience participation.
(Peru, Neb.) Civil Rights Leader and Little Rock Nine member Minnijean Brown-Trickey presented a keynote address titled Return to Little Rock: A Seminal Movement in American Education and Civil Rights on Tuesday, Jan. 18 in the College Theatre.
As a teenager, Brown-Trickey entered the Civil Rights Movement and America's consciousness through the front doors of Central High School in Little Rock, Ark. In 1959, in defiance of the state, the world watched as she and eight others braved intimidation and threats from those who opposed the desegregation of the formerly "whites-only" high school. Walking past armed guards and an angry mob, BrownTrickey helped desegregate public schools and changed the course of education in America.
Brown-Trickey is the recipient of numerous awards and citations, including the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation's highest civilian award, which she was presented in 1999 by President Bill Clinton. Under the Clinton Administration, .she served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Workforce Diversity at the Department of the Interior. She is also the subject of two acclaimed documentaries: Journey to Little Rock: The Untold Story ofMinnijean Brown Trickey and HBO's Little Rock: 50 Years Later. Brown-Trickey is a social activist and has worked on behalf of peacemaking, environmental issues, developing youth leadership, diversity education and training, cross-cultural communication, and gender and social justice advocacy.
PSC President Dan Hanson said,
"As an institution long devoted to accessibility and opportunity for students of all ages from all walks of life, diversity is a fundamental part of our educational mission. With this in mind, we developed a Distinguished Speaker Series last year as part of our systemic plan to encourage discussion about diversity and world events.
"We are excited to bring nationally and internationally recognized speakers like Minnijean Brown-Trickey to southeast Nebraska to enrich the educational experience of our students while also providing our surrounding communities an opportunity to engage in interesting and relevant topics." Speakers interact with students and community members in a variety of ways during their visits, including classroom discussions, guest lectures, meet and greet receptions, and a keynote address.
The Distinguished Speaker Series began with a presentation by reformed skinhead Frank Meeink last October. Two more notable speakers are scheduled to appear at PSC in 2011. Future guests in-
elude: Mahatma's Gandhi's Grandson Arnn Gandhi Lessons Learr]ed from Grandfather 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, College Theatre Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, Humanitarian and Author Greg Mortenson Promoting Peace One School, One Child at a Time 7 p.m.Monday,Sept.19,Al Wheeler Activity Center
business leaders how to uncover her leadership potentral off the field. Colling has used her campus social network to organize successful campus blood drives, including one coming up on Feb. l from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the campus student center. To make an appointment, call Peggy Groff at 872-2438 or email her at pgroff@ peru.edu or visit redcrossblood. org. Additionally, Colling has brought a fresh, youthful perspective as a Board of Directors member for the local Red Cross blood services region.
Cross provides relief to victims of disaster, trains millions in lifesaving skills, serves as a communi-
cation between u s military members and their families, and assists victims of international disasters or conHicts.
ties for participation in its 23 national championship events held annually throughout the country.
'eru, Neb.) - Peru State Col(PSC) junior Becky Colling 1aha) was selected to paiticiin the 20l0-2011 Red Cross/ onal Association of Intercol1te Athletics (NAIA) Colle; Leadership Program. The ative, which is in its fourth , was designed to inspire, vate and create a new and rse generation of American Cross volunteers and leadhrough exemplifying the five values of the NAfA Champi)f Character program. ecky Colling will be recogi Jan. 28 by the Red Cross 'art of its support of the Red s diversity initiatives, State 1 Insurance is sponsoring this tership. As a participant of eadership program, Colling, trly childhood education and entary major, spent with two :s last summer at Red Cross ma! Headquarters in Wash-
Peru State College ington, D.C., gaining first-hand coaching, mentoring and professional leadership training presented by Red Cross senior leaders as well as character ·development training led by Dr. Rob Haworth, NAIA Vice President for Champions of Character.
"Athletics plays such an important role in creating a sense of community on college campuses. The partnership with the NAIA has created a rich opportunity to connect the Peru State College community with the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross through the energy of NAIA student-athletes like Becky," said Tricia Rubens, CEO of the local Red Cross blood services region.
Colling, who is a cheerleader for the Peru football and basketbaJI teams and vice president of the College's student senate, has had the opportunity through the program to learn from civic and
For her efforts, Colling will receive scholarship support provided by the Red Cross and State Farm Insurance. Colling will be presented a $2,000 scholarship check by leaders from the local American Red Cross blood services region and fellow board members on January 28 at the Al Wheeler Activity Center following the women's basketball game. The presentation should occur around 7:00 p.m. Rubens, and Kirk Blecha, Board of Directors Chair for the local region, will make the presentation following their introductions by Dr. Dan Hanson, president of PSC.
To learn more about the Red Cross/NAIA Collegiate Leadership Program, please contact Staci Schottman (NAIA) at sschottman@naia.org, Kathy Busch (NAIA) at kbusch@naia.org or Jennifer Lourie (Reel Cross Biomedical Services) at louriej@usa. redcross .org.
About the American Red Cross Governed by volunteers and supported by giving individuals and communities, the American Red Cross is the single largest supplier of blood products to hospitals throughout the United States. While local hospital needs are always met first, the Red Cross also helps ensure no patient goes without blood no matter where or when they need it. Jn addition to providing nearly half of the nation's blood supply, the Red
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, is the governing body for athletics programs at its nearly 300 colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. The long-held mission of the NAIA is to promote the education and development of wellrounded students and productive citizens through intercollegiate athletics. The Association offers equitable access and opportuni-
Today, the NAIA strengthens its commitment to student-athletes and strives to enrich their college experience by supporting academic achievement and character development. NAIA Champions of Character is the association's innovative flagship program designed to instill character ues in student-athletes, coaches and youth in the communities it serves. To learn more visit www. NAIA.org.
1 2 6 4 9 8 3 2 5 1 2 6 8 1 7 3 6 7 5 1 8 9 7 6 8 8 4 2 1 9 6 5
A specialist in Amerfegal history, race and the Paul Finkelman is the author of more. than 100. scholarly a1ti" cles and more than twenty books. He is an expert in areas such as the law of slavery, constitutional law, and legal issues surrounding baseball. He was a Fellow in Law and the Humanities at Harvard Law School and received his Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of Chicago. He has published
extensively and was the chief expert witness in the Alabama Ten Commandments monument case. His scholarship on religious monuments in public space was cited by the U.S. Supreme Court in Van Orden v. Perry (2005). He was also a key witness in the suit over who owned Barry Bonds' 73rd home run ball. His work on legal history and constitutional law has been cited by numerous courts and in many appellate briefs.
Prior to accepting a position at Albany Law School, Paul Finkelman was Chapman Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Tulsa College of Law since 1999. He also held chairs at the University of Akron Law School, Cleveland- Marshall Law School, and the University of Miami and had taught at Hamline Law School, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Brooklyn Law School, and the University of Texas at Austin.
Finkelman will be speaking as a part of Phi Al pa Theta's confrence that explores the American Civil War. Phi Alpha Theta's confrence, The Trail of a Nation: 150 Years Since the Beginning of the Civil War will take place April 14-15, 2011.
We live in perilous times, or so some may believe.
With the unfortunate shooting in Tucson, Arizona - which ended six lives and terrorized a dozen more - many are wondering if we live in an uncivil society. There is no doubt
plenty of bad things go on in the world.
But there are also many good things. Many great stories go unnoticed: the selfless social worker, the small town business owner, the people who smile and wave at even people they don't know, and every school teacher. These people create the real stories we should focus on.
Every positive story generates a hundred negative ones.
Unfortunately, the media lives off of this. But as long as we recognize that certain stories often get.too much publicity, like the Kardashians, and find what really matters, we have hope.
There is always
hope.
It takes someone who goes against the grain, sees things differently, to understand complex issues deeper than any headline may suggest. Case in point, the $700 billion bailout money that many Americans were enraged over has dwindled down to only a $25 billion cost for the U.S. - since most of that money has returned.
Another example: the President receives a $400,000 salary. Many people probably think that is a ridiculous figure, that presidents these days don't do much and receive substantially more than previous, more productive presidents. George Washington received $25,000.
However, today that money would be comparatively translated to over half a million dollars. Good 'ole Howard Taft, known by many as the man who got stuck in the bathtub, received
$75,000 dollars in 1909-which would be over $1.7 million today. It is safe to say, then, that he was a fat cat. Barack Obama, therefore, is the "poorest" of presidents. It takes this "reading between the lines" to interpret material differently, and often, accurately. It helps us make sense of things. Something we can't understand, however, is a shooting by a crazy young man. A great quote from TIME magazine's managing editor, Richard Stengel states, "One of the attributes that make us human is that we try to make sense of
We are constantly probing into things we don't know and can't understand. This is good because the more we know, the more uncertainty disappears, and uncertaiqty drives us crazy, i.e. Tucson, Arizona. It takes a great reporter to explain news for more than its immedigite effect, and it takes a great reader to fully understand its ultimate consequences.
Photo Courtesy of http://feeds.feedburner.com
A person of interest in the December 3 disappearance of Peru State College freshman Tyler "Ty" Thomas is set for an April 13 trial on charges unrelated to the Thomas case.
Joshua Keadle, a former PSC student, is charged with three counts of first-degree sexual assault, one count of firstdegree false imprisonment and one count of making terroristic threats.
Keadle, 29, plead not guilty to the charges in Nemaha County District Court. The charges stem from an October 3 l , 20 l 0 incident.
No charges have been filed
Photo courtesy of http://journalstar.com
(Peru, Neb.) -After having a one point first half lead, the Peru State College (PSC) Bobcat women outscored the Oklahoma Wesleyan University Eagles by 17 points in the final 20 minutes to capture a 76-58 win on Jan. 29. This was the sixth straight win for the 'Cats, all of which have come in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC). Peru State no\v is 14-7 overall and 6-1 in the MCAC. The Eagles fell to 8-14 and 1-6 in conference play. For the first ten minutes of the second half, the Eagles did not have an answer in terms of how to stop Nyahok Duop (Des Moines, Iowa) as she scored 15 of the Bobcats' first 19 points. OWU's answer was to counter with scoring of its own to keep pace with PSC. Duop made six of her first seven shots, induding canning three of four from behind the arc. The largest lead in the early part of the game was six points at the halfway mark of the first stanza. Duop finished the half with 17, which matched her per game average.
Nyahok Duop scored 17 points in the first half Peru State was below· its sea-
son average in shooting the first half as they connected on 37.5% of their 32 shots. The 'Cats did make three of seven from behind the arc for 42.9%. The Bobcats held the Eagles to 27% shooting from the field although they did make five of 14 three pointers for 35.7%. Both teams shot well at the free throw line as PSC made eight of ten for 80% while OWU hit nine of 12 for 75%.
The Bobcats were out-rebounded by eight, something which did not please the coaching staff.
The second half started the way the first 20 minutes finished which was a hectic back and forth pace as both teams continued to trade buckets. After the first six minutes, the Bobcats started to pull slightly further ahead and had their largest lead of 50-39 at the 13: 14 mark following a Katie Potter (Omaha) three-pointer. OWU countered with a bucket to cut it back to single digits which was followed by two free throws by Duop to put it back to an ! ! -point lead. PSC slowly stretched the lead the rest of the game and finished with the 18-point win.
For the game, PSC was 24 of
62 from the field for 38.7%, three percentage points lower than their season average. However, from behind the arc, the Bobcats made six of 11 attempts for 54.5%. OWU struggled from the field as they only made 25.7% of their 70 attempts which included seven of 28 three-point attempts. The 'Cats made 31 trips to the free throw line and made 22 for 71%. The Eagles hit 62.5% of their charity attempts.
Katie Potter had a careerhigh 22 points to lead 'Cats After being behind at half in rebounding, the Bobcats narrowed the gap by the end of the game. The Eagles did finish with a slight 47-45 lead in the category. One of the Eagles grabbed 25 rebounds as she was dominating on the boards.
Potter picked up where Duop left off in the first half and led the 'Cats during the final 20 minutes. Potter finished with a game- and career-high 22 points. Potter was seven of 12 from the field including hitting both of her three pointers. Additionally, Potter was a perfect six of six from the free throw line and was one shy of a team-high in rebounds
as she finished with seven. Potter also dished out three assists and grabbed one steal.
Duop finished the game as the only other 'Cat in double figures as she scored 21 points. Duop also grabbed five boards and had one assist and one steal. The shortest member on the team, Jasmine Tate (Fayetteville, N .C.) led the team with eight rebounds and also shared the team-high assists with Potter with three.
Courtney Ward (Bartlesville, Okla.) blocked two Eagle shots.
Maurtice Ivy, Bobcat women's head coach was happy to get the win, but not necessarily pleased with her team's performance. Ivy said, "We need to continue to get consistent scoring from everyone if we are going to be successful. Over the last several games, we have had four or five players in double figures. This is something we have talked about, but at least today Duop and Potter stepped up for us." Ivy finished, "Next week starts the second round of the .conference play and we will be ready to go."
legiate Athletic Conference (MCAC)
Player of the Week honors for her efforts in the week ending Jan. 23. Duop previously was honored following the week ending Dec. 5.
Last week Duop averaged 23.5 points, seven rebounds, and three assists as the Bobcats won games over Central Christian College and York College. Against Central Christian, Duop had 24 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Duop was perfect from the free throw line making all seven of her attempts.
Photo courtesy of Peru State College Against the York College Panthers, (Peru, Neb.) - Peru State College
women's basketball player, Nyahok Duop (Des Moines, Iowa), earned her second Midlands Col-
Duop led the 'Cats with 24 points, nine rebounds (seven defensive), two assists, and one steal. Duop had a hot
hand shooting as she made ten of 13 field goal attempts for 76.9% including making four of six from behind the three point line.
Duop joins Courtney Ward (Bartlesville, Okla.) as the second Peru State player to earn two Player of the Week honors this season. Another Bobcat, Alicia Bender (Omaha), also has earned a weekly honor.
Presently, Peru State is 11-7
overall and :3-1 in the MCAC. The Bobcats will be playing three MCAC contests this week starting Tuesday night at the College of St. Mary. Friday night they host Southwestern Christian University and on Saturday will face Oklahoma Wesleyan University. The Bobcats continue to receive ratings votes in the NAIA Division II rankings.
COLE SHARP
After sleepless nights of studying and the stressful days of finals week, the much anticipated Christmas break came and the students returned to their homes to spend Christmas with those they love.
While the rest of the campus fell silent, ins.ide the Al Wheeler Center, the Peru State basketball teams were hard at work finishing off a solid non-conference schedule and preparing for their final season of play in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference.
For Coach Troy Katen and the men's team, that meant the split of a two game series with Waldorf College where each squad won on their home floor and two hard fought games against the University of Saint Mary and Briar Cliff.
Coach Katen said after his team's victory over Saint .Mary, ''[It was a] great defensive effort in the win. We did a great job of sticking to our game plan, which gave us the momentum the last five minutes of the game."
Having matched their win total of last season in a January 15th victory over conference opponent Haskell, the goal of an improvement in the win column from last season is a mere victory away, but
expect the Bobcats to be looking for more than that.
With their departure for the Heart of America Conference on the horizon, they'll look to make one last splash on the MCAC stage this season.
The Peru State women's squad split their four games over the Christmas break and rolled into conference play at 8-6. For the Lady Bobcats, their final season of MCAC play will be about taking care of unfinished business; last year's 9-3 conference mark was a very solid showing, but their quest for a conference title was halted by College of the Ozarks.
With last year's loss still in
their minds Peru seems to have picked up where they left off last season against their conference foes.
The 'Cats have begun to garner some attention at the national level as well. Might this season end with a conference title? Only time will tell and we know that they'll face their conference rivals best shots every night. The only thing we can say for sure is, as always, it's a great time to be a Bobcat.
(Peru, Neb.) - After trailing by two at halftime and by as many as seven at the half-way point in the second half, the Peru State College (PSC) Bobcats came back to pick up their second Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC) win of the season.
The 'Cats defeated Southwestern Christian University (SCU) 8076 after clawing their way to a lead with less than a minute left in the game. PSC moves to 6-15 overall and 2-4 in the MCAC while SCU falls to 5-15 and 1-5 in the conference.
Connor Smith made this key defiection sending ball to teammate Jovan Hitch
A key defensive play was made by Connor Smith (Lincoln) with about one minute to go in the game. Smith deflected an Eagle pass and got the ball to Jovan Hitch (Kansas City, Mo.) who took it to the hoop to tie the game at 76 all. In the remaining seconds
of the game, Derrick Williams (St. Joseph, Mo.) went to the free throw and made both free throws on two different trips to give the 'Cats the win.
The first half saw the Eagles jumping to double digit leads on two different occasions and led by ten with a little over three minutes to go. The 'Cats slowly battled back and cut the lead to two on a three-pointer by Devin Eighmey (Independence, Mo.) at the buzzer which made the score 39-37 SCU. Both teams had shot very well in the first half as PSC ended the stanza shooting 50% from the field hitting 13 of 26 attempts. The Eagles were 14 of 31 for 45.2%. Free throw shooting for the Bobcats proved to be. a nemesis as PSC made only ten of 18 for 55.6%.
Jovan Hitch's bucket off Smith's deflection tied game at 76
For the game, PSC finished at 51.9% from the field as they
be the difference in the game. Rebounding was dead even for the game as both teams grabbed 31 apiece.
Derrick Williams led all scorers with 28 Williams was the gamehigh scorer as he had a season-high 28 points on nine of 15 shooting from the field and was nearly perfect at the line making ten of 11 charity attempts, including those four in a row in the final seconds of the game. Williams also grabbed seven boards, blocked a game-high four shots, had a game-high four steals, and dished out a game-high three assists.
Two other Bobcats finished in double figures.
Photos courtesy of Peru State College Jacob Schaben (Deficanned 53.8% of their field goal attempts in the
,second half.
a good win, good bat.tie. We have to fight tooth and nail every game to get a win. Our crowd and fans know we are a more of a blue collar type of team. It is important for us to do the little things to win and we did tonight." Katen concluded? "Free throws were huge for us in the second half. We told the guys at halftime that we had to get to the free throw line and then knock them down."
Peru State also played the Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OWU) Eagles on Saturday. OWU fell at Bellevue and lost their second straight MCAC game. The Eagles were ranked fourth this week in the NAIA Division II ratings.
Men's Time 7:30 PM
5:00PM
7:30 PM
5:00 PM
TBA
TBA
SCU improved their shooting as well and finished the night hitting 45.8% of their 59
ance, Iowa) and Hitch each had 11 points. Schaben tied Williams for the team's rebounding lead with seven and made some key free throws down the stretch.
Schaben spoke following the game about the team's win, Schaben said, "(We) Definitely needed the. win after the last couple of shots. The big key losses. We had to tough it out at in the second half
was the much improved free throw shooting by Peru State. The Bobcats made 13 of 15 charity attempts for 86.7% which proved to
the end and we came through. Everybody contributed and played hard. We came through and hit free throws better in the second half."
Bobcat head coach Troy Katen Katen was pleased with the hard fought win. Katen stated, "It was
"The Rite" is not a typical movie about demons. Instead of being made to scare the audience, this film raises questions about theology, psychology, and science.
The film "The Rite" is based roughly on the book "The Rite:
The Making of a Modern Exorcist" by Matt Baglio. According to Baglio's website, his book follows Father Gary Thomas, a priest from California, through his travels to Rome to learn about the rite of exorcism. The experience changed the way he viewed demons, the spiritual world, and religion.
The movie takes the same basic idea, but puts a new character, Michael Kovak, in the place of Father Thomas. After completing the first four years of school to become a Catholic priest, Kovak contacts one of his professors saying he would like to drop out because he is unsure of his faith.
Instead of letting Kovak off
To help him adjust, Father Xavier, the professor of his course, introduced him to the unorthodox Father played thony Father
Lucas, by AnHopkins. Lucas worked as a exorcist, and took Kovak with him to see some exorcisms.
During the entire film, Kovak struggles with his own faith. He describes atheism as an ex-girlfriend who keeps coming around.
For movie-goers who just want to be scared, "The Rite" would be
Photo courtesty ofhttp:l/www.onlinemovieshut.com a bad choice.
easy, the professor convinced him to travel to Rome to complete a
course on exorcism in a roman school for priests and nuns.
The first half of
the movie is largely characterization, getting Kovak from America to Rome, and learning about the topic of exorcism.
For the weak-hearted, especially when it comes to the supernatural, the last half of the movie is not nearly as gentle as the first. Watching this film at night may bring on some nightmares.
For everyone else, this film includes a little humor, some philosophy, excellent acting, and interesting characters.
+No
+ATM located at the bank
+ATM located at Peru State College Student Center
Haun: Shaw t:ime T-JOPDl.1 days
.Adatts: Is, SenHu:s and Child.nm. under:ui:: $4 PSC Smdenh '4 with.stu.deo:t ID Fm-rimes and MO'V.il!: .mfurmation= C...oz) 274-40,6
"The game that is every game," is the tag line for LittleBigPlanet 2, and that's exactly what it is. With its powerful creation tools, isers can create literally whatevthey want. Whether you are a iewcomer or a expert in cuteness, 2 is definitely a ;ame that anyone with a Playstaion 3 must own.
Not only is it adorable, but it fo:uses mostly on the user-created :ontent made and uploaded by ilayers from around the world, .!lowing the game to be played
forever.
The Story mode, while extremely brief, offers plenty of challenges and brilliantly made puzzles, thanks to the newly added powerups and game-play mechanics. There are 30 levels, each made to be a different genre of video game, such as shooter, puzzler, and adventure.
Each new level also offers a new toy, puzzle, or playground. The levels vary from top down shooters, racing caterpillars, to simple games like Pong. The story is cute, but it's not that exciting. However, the game play is excellent.
LittleBigPlanet 2 adds in new power-ups, such as the Creatina-
tor, Grabinator, and Grappling Hook, but it also updates the visuals, and makes. it easier to use ·and create. Each of the new power-ups add a massive amount of depth to the game, each carefully introduced in the Story mode. The control issues of the first game still plague the gaine
Every level in story mode, as well as every level downloaded from the community, can be played with up to four people. It's amazing how much other players may change the game. Half the time I spent online was laughing due to other players throwing me into jelly and accidentally grappling them off ledges. It is a blast.
Because LittleBigPlanet 2 has
only been out a few weeks, the online community is just now starting to explode. There are almost infinite amounts of levels created already, as well as every level from the first game being available to be downloaded and played.
Games like this are extremely rare. There aren't many games that function almost solely on the online community, as well as of-
Image courtesy of whatsthatgamecalled.com fering a almost infinite amount of levels to be played. Acing every level is difficult and very time consuming. Add in the creation aspect, and you'll be playing this forever.
Down
l. Mahal
2. It has a choice of meals on it
3. Island of the Bounty mutiny
5. The illness known as "mono"
6. Mr. Knievel, e.g.
7. Type of eye surgery
Corssword by Brad Florian
32. Creighton's mascot
33. To shoot with a vaccine
34. Type of pepper
40. A trip to accomplish a task
43. Wants and
48. Did not tell the truth
50. Slang for a gun
51. Type of bread
Across
2. Member of Parliament
4. An egg dish
9. Hawaiian necklaces
11. Office in the White House
12. Makeshift bed
13. Connectedness
15. They are inside nuclei
16. Org. for March Madness
19. Mr. Lincoln, e.g.
2 l. "Function" button on a keyboard
22. Infant Mortality Rate
23. Space-time ____
27. Thailand, formerly
28. Opposite of off
29. Where D-Day occurred
30. Resident Assistant
31. What RNA stands for
35. Org. for the Super Bowl
36. Strict; also the back of a boat
37. LA's state, slang
38. To shove or injure, as in a mob
39. " __ & Hyde"
41. Highest card
42. Solution to a question
44. "End-of-life"
45. Roadside bomb made of jelly?
46. Tax Executives Institute
47. Chicago Religious Leader- · ship Network
49. Says yes
52. Contaminate
53. Cheerful yell
54. Word to indicate maiden name
55. Type of mollusks
56. Opposite of even
Aquarius Jan 20- Feb 18: To be honest is to master the art of truth. You will be affected with a situation where honesty is your only option. Be ready for the outcome for it may have a negative result.
JENNY TRAPP Staff WriterPisces Feb 19- March 20: Do not ignore your gut feelings that you will begin to have. They will have an impact on your life. While it will be important to pay
attention to those hunches, you need to make sure that you are keeping them in check for they may get out of control and cause for some trouble. If treated right, they will benefit you greatly.
Aries March 21-April 19: You will experience a series of unique events. They will lead to a plethora of unexpected opportunities. Welcome the support of friends for they will offer new outlooks on the situation.
Taurus April 20-May 20: Be careful as to what you say. The walls do not only h.ave eyes, but ears as well. You will never know who is listening. To speak before you think will get you into a situation in which you will regret in the near future. Be careful!
Gemini May 21- June 20: Watch your electronic devises. They will play a big role in your life in the near future. You are going to receive a message from
an unexpected source. Take the message to heart and be ready for the adventure that is to come.
Cancer June 21- July 22: Act on impulse. You will be presented with a situation that will be very opportunistic. Take advantage of it and act upon what your heart tells you. Do not second guess yourself.
Leo July 23- Aug 23: You will suffer from an identity crisis. You will need to reevaluate your whole life purpose. The outcome will have a great impact on your life.
Virgo Aug 23- Sept 22: You and stress have gotten to see a lot of each other lately. All of your hard work will pay off and you will be rewarded in the end. The tunnel may be dark right now, but remember there is always light at the end. You will soon be able to step back, take a sigh of relief, and take a nap.
Ubra Sept 23- Oct 22: Watch your temper! You will be faced with a troubling situation and may have a hard time keeping it in check. This will make or break your current lifestyle so act with caution.
Scorpio Oct 23- Nov 21: You will receive a major confidence booster. It will set the tone for the rest of your semester. Be ready for something great!
Sagittarius Nov 22- Dec 21: Romance is in the air. Take a step back and reevaluate yourself. Things will become more clear with the help from the least expected aspect of your life.
Capricorn Dec 22- Jan 19: You will be visited by a ghost from your past. It will be unsuspected and may come off as being strange. Embrace this visitor for they will shine a light in your dark tunnel.
It has been a long standing tradition that college students are kind, wellmeaning people, who do not like to use their little extra spending money without getting something in return.
So here in Peru State College, students want to buy CDs, accessories, and other products, but have limited funds.
Meanwhile, in Japan, citizens are running out of bottled water because the tap water is unsafe due to radiation.
Luckily, there is a;wliy for students to get their stuff while still helping Japan. Various businesses, artists, and companies have made it so proceeds for certain products go to disaster relief in Japan.
Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Bon Jovi, U2, and Nicki Minaj are contributing to a digitally released album. Profits from this album will go to the Japanese Red Cross.
Lady Gaga is also rumored to be adding onto the album, and she is selling rubber wrist bands on her website, ladyGaga.com, which say "We Pray for Japan" in English and Japanese. They cost five dollars and additional donations are options.
Snoop Dogg designed a T-shirt available on neffheadwear.com featuring a cartoon dog encouraging Japan to "Keep Ya Head Up" in English and Japanese. It will cost $21.95. Profits for to Operation USA.
Linkin Park's lead singer, Mike Shinoda, also designed a T-shirt, his featuring an origami butterfly and the words "Not Alone." It is available at linkinpark.com for $25.00, and profits go to Save the Children. Linkin Park also contributed to the efforts of the website japan.downloadtodonate.com. $10.00 to the charity Save the Children gets donators access to a list of singles from various bands including The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Hoobastank,
Flyleaf, Enrique Iglesias, and Staind.
If band swag and music is not your thing, you can add ten dollars to your phone bill and donate to the Japanese Red Cross by texting REDCROSS to 90999. Similarly, by texting TSUNAMI to 50555, ten dollars are donated to Convoy of Hope. To donate to the Japanese Salvation Army, text QUAKE to 80888.
Students may also help by getting involved with the school's Red Cross or Black Student Union clubs. The
American Red Cross
Together, we can save a life
photo courtesy of http://missoulapubliclibrary. com
With graduation and summer just around the corner, it's time for many Bobcats to step into the job market.
A few steps over to the AWAC on Tuesday, April 12 will be a promising start to the job search. Peru State College is hosting the Southeast Nebraska Career Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the AWAC.
Twenty-five firms and governmental agencies are scheduled to attend the career fair.
Students planning on attending the career fair are urged to bring 10-15 copies of their resume, and to know in advance which employers they plan to meet. This also means knowing something about
the firm or agency, so students can ask meaningful questions of the representatives at the career fair.
Such questions might include: What skills and courses of study do I need to better prepare for a position in your organization?; What are the key responsibilities of this position? and; What advice would
you give to someone seeking employment in this particular field?
Students are also urged to take a notebook to keep track of organizations and collect business cards and literature. Those wanting their resume reviewed can email their resume to
See Southeast NebraskaCareer Fair: Page 2
Photo courtesy of Googleimages.com Black Student Union will be taking donations in the school cafeteria.
Continued from page 1
Firms and agencies scheduled to attend the career fair are: Home & Woods Brothers Realty, UNMC College of Public Health, Nebraska Department of Labor, 'Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation, John Hancock Financial Network, Crete Carrier Corporation, US Navy Officer Program, Social Security Office, Verizon Wireless, Ariens Company, Morrow & Associates, Elster American Meter, AFAC, Lincoln Electrical JATC, WalMart, Corporation for Na-
tional and Community Service, Tecumseh State Correctional Facility, AseraCare Hospice, Peru State College Admission, Marine Officer Program, SAT/TECH, Nebraska National Guard, Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska, and the Department of Health and Human Services - Beatrice State Developmental Center. Employers may register for the career fair until April 8, so more may be added. For an up-to-the minute list of employers attending and additional preparation tips, visit the
career fair website by clicking on the career fair slide on the PSC web page at peru.edu. Students attending the career fair are also eligible to register for door prizes: an iPod Touch, and two (2) $50 Bobcat Bookstore gift certificates.
The Southeast Nebraska Career Fair is open to the public. Anyone with questions can contac;t Alice Holtz, Coordinator of Cooperative Programs at PSC, at 402-872-2436 or at aholtz@ peru.e.d!!.
"I have to clean very day. I love to vacuum! I think I have been doing it pretty much forever."
Jacqueline Coelho
Freshmen Elementary Education Major
Editor-in-Chief
Assistant Editor
Layout Editor
Copy Editor
Advertising Manager
Distribution Manager
Layout Staff
Faculty Advisor
Contributing Staff
www.psctimes.com
Katie Kuhl
Kristen Rusen
Jenny Trapp
Becky Bartlett
Brandon Schumacher
Brandon Schumacher
Becky Bartlett
Michaela Wolverton
Brandon Schumacher
Kristi Nies
Kyle Amen
Jacob Buss
Raeanna Carbaugh
Brad Florian
Cole Sharp
"I collect the little toys from quarter machines. I started in sophomore year in high school because my softball team went out to dinner every night before a game and I would always have quarters. I just kept getting them."
"I don't remember when I started this, but I have seven pillows on my bed. All seven have to be in a certain order and all three blankets have to be layered right for me to be able to sleep."
Amanda Cleek Freshmen Psychology MajorThe Times, the official student newspaper of Peru State College, is published four times per semester by Peru State College students. The Times office is located in the College Publications Office in Room 126 of the AV Larson Building.
The opinions expressed in the Times may not be those of the entire newspaper staff. The Peru State Times is an independent publication funded by student publication fees. The views expressed in this publication, including the contents of paid advertisements, do not necessarily reflect the views of the administration, faculty or staff of Peru State College.
All letters to the editor are welcome, and the writers of those letters need not be students. Letters, cartoons, articles, pictures and any other material submitted to the Times must be signed by individual(s) submitting them and will be published at the discretion of the staff. The Times reserves the right to edit all letters, articles and other submitted materials for grammar, length and clarity. The Times also reserves the right to decline the publication of any materials, including paid advertisements, for any reason.
To reach the Times, send material to the Peru State Times through campus mail or to: PSC Times, Peru State College, P.O. Box 10, Peru, NE 68421 or e-mail us at psctimes@yahoo.com.
Elephants, thneeds, and daisies sprung up in unexpected places in this year's ·birthday party. for Dr. Seuss.
Every March Peru State Education Association invites surrounding elementary schools to the theater to watch college students put on skits based on the books written by Dr. Seuss.
This year the skits included Horton Hatches an Egg, and The Lorax. Horton Hatches an Egg, a lazy bird named Mayzie, played by Michaela Wolverton, tricks the lovable elephant Horton, played by Jacob Buss, into sitting on her egg, and despite being mocked, hunted, and cold, Horton stays on the egg the entire skit.
At the end, his reward for being faithful, while Mayzie played on the beach, was that the egg hatched into an elephant-bird.
In The Lorax, Adam DeBilzan played the Lorax, who works against deforestation caused by the Once-ler, played by Alyssa Marie Karasek. This play was a story with a story and began and
ended with a narrative Once-ler, Tyler Nutsch, speaking to a child, played by Angela Zarybnicky. · The Once-ler told the child about how he cut down all the truffula trees so he could make a business of making a clothing
item called thneeds, represented by snuggies. Although the Lorax could not prevent the destruction of the environment, he did provide the Once-ler with a truffula seed, which the Once-ler kept, and gave
to the child at the end, asking her tO save the environment.
Both skits had a good cast who made them succeed.
In between the skits, Dr. Bill Clemente and Dr. Chet Harper put on their traditional improvisation of Green Eggs and Ham. Christine Price also read Daisy Head Mayzie while Katie Potter or Rebekha Dostal acted out the story of the girl who suddenly sprouted a daisy on her head during class.
As an intermission, teachers came up to the stages for a birthday cake decorating competition. Each competitor won something.
As always, the night ended with Ted Harshbarger reading the Reader's Oath and a the entire theater singing "Happy Birthday" to Dr. Seuss.
JACOB BUSS
Contributing Writer
spotlight. This February the chapter sold singing valentines to people throughout the college and surrounding .communities. Individuals could purchase a Peru State College's chapter "telephone singing valentine" or
f M E N C h M "hire a men's barbershop quartet"
chapter helped host the Peru State College Choral Festival Honor Choir, an event where high school singers from eleven area schools recommended by their directors join with the Peru State College Choir to form the Choral Festival
o ., or t e us1c to personally sing to their loved Honor Choir that rehea.rses all Educators National Conference, is busy with many different activities. In January the chapter produced its first newsletter, providing information about upcoming events and a member
one. It was a huge fund-raising success, selling over 20 of the singing valentines. The event also helped to make Valentine's Day special for many individuals.
In February the Peru M. E:N. C.
day and presents a final evening concert to the public. In March the chapter also helped to host the Peru State College Jazz Band Festival. The chapter helped the different schools get
to their homerooms, warm ups, and performance competition.
Throughout the entire school year, the chapter is providing singers to perform the National Anthem at all home sporting events, including football, basketball, volleyball, softball, and baseball games. This has been a very good learning experience for the students who have sung. It has allowed them to do a solo performance in front of a larger than normal
audience, as well as it has created a partnership between the music and athletic departments.
M. E. N. C. continues to host all of the student recitals on campus and to assist in maintaining the college theater. We are all anxious to get into our newly remodeled Fine Arts Building next year. There is a full schedule of activities for the Peru State College M. E. N. C. chapter.
March was a busy month for P.R.I.D.E. They have hosted three successful campus-wide events. They have held a drag camp, a drag ba!l, and an educational forum all within the first year of them being active in over five years. It is a truly impressive feat for any club. The Drag Ball was a great
success for its first year. The official count for the dance was 52 persons but it is estimated that around 75 people attended, but just didn't sign in. There were lots of people in drag at the dance. Around 30 people dressed in drag, and some of them were pretty convincing. There was a competition for the best Drag Queen and King, and the winners won a $50 gift card to Walmart. Kyle
Amen won for the Drag Queen completion and Dawn Plympton won for Drag King. Over all it was a great dance an:d P.R.I.D .E. is already working on the details to make next year's even better.
Then on March 23,P.RJ.D.E. hosted a LGBTQA (Lesbian, G;iy, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning/Queer, Ally) open forum. The forum hosted four amazing panelists and an awesome moderator. The panel consisted of Kristi Nies, First Lady Elaine Hanson, Pastor
Tom Emmet of Metropolitan Community Church-Omaha, and Patricia Tetreault, Ph.D. an assistant director, Student Involvement Director of the LGBTQA Resource Center. The forum's moderator was Dr. Bill Clemente.
At the forum there was great discussion between the panelist and the audience. It was a truly enlightening and educational experience. P.R.LD.E. plans on hosting another forum similar to this past one next year, and they will be making it even better.
P.R.LD.E. is constantly working on making the campus a better and safer place for people of all sexual orientations, including those of heterosexual orientations. If you have any questions about P.R.I.D.E. or any of the that they have done or plan to do, please contact Jacob Buss at jabuss02@acornmail.peru.edu.
1 4 5 6 8
7 8 3 8 2
3 4 9 1 4 5 2 1 7 2 6 5 8 5 3 9 8 2 8 1 6
'"Kenbds available in Pent and Auhw:n. iUM.. Oill or email fo:r IDOSt cw:mntmnhd list"
Most of those I know wake up in the morning, to an alarm on their phone or iPod check Facebook, email, and continued to spend their day bombarded by electronics.
Most Americans spend all day communicating with each other through texting and social networking, but many have problems understanding the difference between profossional and casual conversation.
I'm no exception. When I kept track of how much time I spent with electronics per day, it ranged between a mere three and one half hours on a day when I was in classes most of the day and 13 hours on a day when I consumed myself with music, Xbox, and my cell phone.
After I realized that unless I am in classes all day, I spend so much time with electronics, I started to think about the consequences of using them so much
Isa third version of Angry Birds · for my phone Worth .another dollar? Probably not. I haven't even finished the first one. More of a
stress on my bank account are the $60 PC and Xbox games, but let's start small.
Spell-check has made it so no one has to know how to spell, and texting has changed spelling habits entirely.
Walking and texting is also a common occurrence. Not only is it mildly dangerous, but it closes off others from saying "hello" as they walk by. Looking at phone gives off the idea that the person is too busy for others.
I could probably spend a little more time on homework, meditation, or sleep, but I put those activities off. On the flip side, sometimes I spend way too much time working and doing homework, and not enough to relaxing.
One difficulty is that often work or homework and electronics combine. For example, writing an article for the newspaper you work for on a computer.
The answer seems to be to find a middle ground between relaxing and working, which has proven hard to find, but will prove amazing when discovered.
An earthquake, a tsunami, and a nuclear crisis. These are the events that have plagued Japan in recent weeks. The devastation has been catastrophic for many residents and the world has watched in wonder and awe of the power of Mother Nature.
For many citizens, a powerful question now confronts them, "Where do I go from here?"
When looking out at the debris that was once a home, not know-
ing where or how to start a new life, your life changes.
Having experienced a tornado in 2004, I partially understand the life-altering events of a natural disaster. I can still remember how I felt walking up those basement steps to the front door. The door itself was swinging open, making a creaking noise, like something out of a scary movie. And that's what it felt like - a movie. Or a dream. It didn't seem real. One moment you are flying down the stairs as you hear shattering glass and the next you are wondering if this is the day you will die. I couldn't sleep very well that night. That wasn't surprising. But
what was surprising was the way I felt the next day when people were saying another storm was on its way. Suddenly I wasn't worried or afraid. "When you've got nothing, you've got nothing to lose". I could only go up. That day, I felt invincible.
Experiencing adversity can create trauma, but it can also create opportunity and strength. In many situations humans have been tested and, if they win, have succeeded and prospered thereafter. Many successful people have overcome their problematic lives to achieve something greater. I think this is a key factor in lifeone that may be dwindling.
The Peru State Times is now accepting applications for the position of student editor-in-chief.
The student editor-in-chief of The Peru State Times must be a full-time, preferably on-campus, Peru State College student in strong academic standing. Outstanding oral and written communication skills, including advanced grammar knowledge, are essential to the position.
Duties of the student editor-inchief include, but are not limited to: setting the production and publication schedule for each semester; scheduling and conducting staff meetings at least once per semester; recruiting and training new staff; generating story ideas and assigning stories, photos and graphics for each issue; editing stories for grammar, clarity and factual correctness; overseeing
the production and layout of each issue; updating the Times website for each issue; providing instruction and direction for the assistant editor, layout editor, copy editor, distribution manager and staff writers; meeting and communicating on a regular and ongoing basis with the Times faculty advisor; supervising the Advertising Manger; preparing the annual Times budget arid semester payroll; and other duties as necessary or assigned by the Times faculty advisor.
The student editor-in-chief will receive a scholarship that covers full tuition and fees for up to 12 credit hours each semester. Their responsibilities will officially begin at the start of the fall 2011 semester, though training for the post will be required earlier. Performance and continuing ap-
pointment will be evaluated each semester.
Those interested in applying for the are asked to submit a cover letter explaining why you are applying for the position, a resume and two (2) writing samples to Faculty Advisor Kristi Nies by Wednesday, April 13, 2011. Writing samples may be from a high school publication, short papers or essays from a college class, or articles from The Peru State Times or another student-run collegiate newspaper.
Application materials can be submitted to Nies at knies@peru. edu or Peru State College, Attn: Kristi Nies, P.O. Box 10, Peru, NE 68421. Materials can also be hand delivered to TJ Majors 315. Contact Nies at 402-872-2281 or at the email address provided with questions.
Instead of giving up when faced with a difficult task, we must embrace it, tackle it, and defeat the challenge. Countless rags-toriches stories follow this path. Both my parents faced troubling childhoods and had a difficult beginning to their marriage. But they worked hard to create a better life for their children and didn't give up on each other. This is a definitive example of the classical American Dream. This is something we, as an emerging generation, must continue to struggle for.
Japan will rebuild and its citizens will create new lives. It will be challenging and will take time
but it will happen. Our house was rebuilt, our lives have moved on. Although that house was destroyed, our home was not. A home exists as long as a family exists. And that is what matters most.
Therefore, if you are experiencing a disaster in your life, know that it could always be worsebut even if you have hit the bottom, you have nowhere to go but up. Use the situation to your advantage to change your life for the better. If you have inspiration and hope, then you have everything you need.
A sign that spring has sprung on the Campus of a Thousand Oaks as we again hear the welcome sound of a metal bat against the ball echoing out of the Centennial Complex and for both the Peru State baseball and softball teams, their return to the field has been successful from the start.
Bobcat softball posted 11 solid victories away from the friendly confines of their home
field including an impressive 7-7 mark at the Tucson Invitational which had the Lady Cats taking on some stiff competition from NCAA Divisions II and III as well as other NAIA and junior colleges from across the country. For their impressive early season showings, the Bobcats swept the first week of softball honors in the MCAC with freshman Ashley Wohlers being named player of the week and Devon Massengale being named pitcher of the week. With all the well deserved honors already being heaped onto the team, fans can be sure that this, our final season in the
MCAC will be one to remember. For first year head coach Wayne Albury and the Bobcat baseball team it's been much the same story as they too fought hard away from home and when the 'Cats did return home they didn't disappoint, giving their fans something to cheer about with a doubleheader sweep of Concordia University 1-0, 6-5. With their conference schedule soon to begin, they know they have a challenging road ahead but with pitchers Andre Kinder, who ranks second in the division in strikeouts per game with 14.57, and Jon Sanley, whose ERA
currently stands at .990, you can believe the 'Cats are up to the task.
(Peru, Neb.) - In the first weekly honors for softball in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC), members of the Peru State College (PSC) softball team swept the recognitions. Bobcat freshmen Ashley Wohlers (Papillion) and Devon Massengale (Elkhorn) were named the Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week respectively for the week ending March
The Bobcat team played in the Tucson Invitational Games and overall went 7-5 for the week counting for the recognition. Wohlers hit .350 for the week with four doubles, nine RBI, and scored ten runs. In the win over Northwestern (Iowa)
L 5-8 Oklahoma Wesleyan University
w 3-1 Oklahoma Wesleyan University
L 3-4 Oklahoma Wesleyan University
w 3-2 Oklahoma Wesleyan University
L 5-15 Park University
L 3-5 Park University
L 3-4
w 6A
w 6-5
w l-0
L 1-7
w 5-4
Concorida University NE
Concordia University NE
Concordia University NE
Concordia University NE
Jamestown College
Nebraska Wesleyan University
L Kansas Wesleyan
Devon Massengale - Pitcher of the Week Photos courtesy of Peru State College College, Wohlers went three for four with a double, home run, three runs scored and three RBI. In games against Siena Heights University, Park University, Jud-
son University, and Waldorf College, Wohlers had two hits in each contest. Wohlers' slugging percentage for the week was .525. In addition, she stole one base.
Pitching in five games during the week, Massengale went 3-2 with wins over Jamestown College, Siena Heights University, and Park University. Massengale posted a 3.11 ERA, struck out 12, and allowed just 12 earned runs over 27.0 innings of work. In a loss to Olivet Nazarene University, Massengale did not allow any hits in her six innings of pitching. Presently, Massengale is ranked 28th nationally in the NAIA of holding her opponents to a .167 batting average.
Presently, the Bobcats are 9-9 and will be traveling to participate in the Sterling College Tournament this coming weekend.
-Aff(n·dable Birth Control? Exam? Smear Exam?
-Condoms?
-Emergency Cont.nu:epti.on?
MICHAELA WOLVERTON Contibuting Writer
Sucker Punch, an original action-packed movie created and directed by Zack Snyder, came out on Friday, March 25.
The movie starts in a theatric scene, a song that fits the mood of what's happening is the only sound you have for background noise. There is no dialogue, which helps to pull the audience in and force. them to pay attention to the story unfolding on the screen. The story itself is fairly simple. Protagonist Babydoll, portrayed by actress Emily Browning, is wrongfully thrown into an insane asylum and wants to escape. Before be in g thrown i n t o Babyd 0 11, s dream world, you meet four key characters and items that you eventually learn need to be obtained in order for an escape plan to succeed.
Once this sequence is over, you find yourself in Babydoll's dream world, where you meet the seemingly stuck-up Sweet Pea (Abbie Comish), her sister Rocket (Jena Malone), dark-haired Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens), and the loyal Amber (Jamie Chung), You learn that the High Roller (Jon Hamm) will arrive in less than a week for Babydoll, implying that outside
of this dream land she will be receiving a falsely prescribed lobotomy.
Fight sequences are shown through dance, where you're thrown into a second dream world of Babydoll's. The various songs you hear throughout the movie are covers sang by the leading actress. herself. which adds an element that helps bond with the character.
One thing that I think was a poor element for the movie were the fighting scenes where the girls had to obtain one of the items. The way the dialogue makes it seem is that each item represents the girl who's job it is to take it, yet that wasn't very clear when the action was happening on the screen.
one, but each time they retrieve an item is a different story. When they have to get a map, they're in a war-like scene fighting steam powered zombies. While when they need a lighter, they're after a dragon.
Towards the last thirty minutes of the movie, you are hit with an unexpected twist that completely changes how you would expect the movie to end.
Because they go into a dream within a dream, the movie has an Inception-esque feel about it. However, whether you loved or hated Inception will have no effect on how you feel about Sucker Punch.
The best thing about this movie is that it is an action movie with pretty actresses in skirts, which attracts t h e male population. But the story that the movie tells is about woman e mpowerm en t and the
Photo courtesy of hacidipedia.com t i g h t s
Another thing that takes away for girls of all ages. So while the from the action is the first fight- guys can sit back and enjoy the ing scene in the movie, where it is fight scenes and risque outfits, the painfully obvious that Browning's women can enjoy .the message beenemies are on a green screen be- hind the script. hind her. However, this doesn't All in all, Sucker Punch is a taI<e away from the movie very great movie with a creative plot much, and it improves throughout and properly subtle message. It the remaining fight sequences. can be easily enjoyed by anyone.
The rest of the movie is fairly I would recommend this movie to repetitive in the sense that the anyone who asked about it. girls obtain the item, then plan 011 how they're going to get the next
image courtesy of flicksandbits.com
Being someone who has grown up with the various Pokemon series both gamer-wise and television-wise that have been put out, I picked up Pokemon White for my DS as soon as I had the opportunity.
With twenty four hours logged onto the game and only having had it for two weeks, I've traveled through all of the cities,
obtained all of the gym badges, and am currently working on leveling up my team to defeat the Elite Four and catch my legendary.
It wasn't that hard to decide which game to pick. I could either get Pokemon Black and have a frilly white dragon thing, or I could get Pokemon White and catch the awesome, strong, redeyed black dragon. The decision was easy.
The story starts off in the way every Pokemon game to date has started: you are a soon-tobe trainer who has to visit the professor to obtain your very first Pokemon. You are given the choice between a fire-type, a water-type, and a grass-type. In this case, these Pokemon respectively are known as Tepig, Oshowatt, and Snivy. Again, the decision was easy. Tepig is a fire pig, meaning he would be the easiest to start with because fire-type Pokemon are the strongest starter. Oshowatt is an otter-styled water-type, and Snivy is a snake/lizard with an irresistible "I am definitely the best choice" smirk on his face. Needless to say, I chose Snivy. Throughout the game you are taken through wilderness where you are to catch any wild Pokemon you encounter in order to fill up the Pokedex given to you by Professor Juniper. You start off your adventure with two friends, Bfanca and Cheren, who assist you and battle you randomly. It takes until halfway through the first city to truly get into the
story line of the game. You are to defeat Team Plasma, who are trying to convince Pokemon lovers all over the Unova region to release their pokemon into the wild. Their thought is that Pokemon weren't meant to serve people arid that keeping them in captivity is wrong.
Ironically, you battle many Team Plasma Grunts, 'fho are just as guilty as using Pokemon.
A flaw to this game, which I believe is a flaw to every game, is that you can only have six Pokemon on your team. While I wouldn't want to be able to have an unlimited amount of battlers, more than six would be appreciated considering ever since the first game on the Gameboy system, six was your limit.
Another dislike was the style of new Pokemon in this series. One of them is a garbage bag that evolves into an even bigger garbage bag, and another is an ice cream cone that evolves into a double scoop. However, there are also a few· awesome new Pokemon in the game, so they kind of make up for the cheesier options.
Overall, the story in Pokemon White is one of the more impressive stories to date. You are actually fighting for something, rather than going through and catching Pokemon, and it's nice to have a plot to a game that usually doesn't.
While the choice is ultimately yours, I would recommend you Pokemon White a try. It's easier to catch Pokemon because White is geared more towards the forest, while Pokemon Black is more technical and geared towards cities. Plus, look at the two legendary options. It's obvious that the strong red-eyed black dragon is the best choice to defeat the main antagonist of the game.
:s: iii
be ending this semester with great joy and satisfaction with your accomplishments.
JENNY TRAPP Staff WriterAries March 21-April 19: Be watching for someone who will be coming out of the woodwork. You wilt rekindle a friendship that is going. to be beneficial not only to your self esteem, but also to your future.
Taurus April 20-May 20: You will realized that you are stuck in a rut and you need a little spice in your life. Do not look too hard, for it will find you. Keep your eyes open for unexpected opportunities.
Gemini May 21- June 20: Deadlines are becoming your downfall. Make sure to watch your dates or else you will miss something important. You will be rewarded when things are remembered.
Cancer June 21- July 22: Paying attention in class and conversations will become increasing more complicated. Your mind will being to run wild and you will have trouble controlling it. You will use this creativity to forward your career.
Leo Jnly 23- Aug 23: Things are looking up. You are going to have a change of heart and the outcome will be beautiful. Put a smile on your face and walk tall for you will be looked at as an idol.
Virgo Aug 23- Sept 22: You have been uneasy about the future and unanswered questions. The wait seems as if it has been forever but the answers at the end will be great. Be patient and wait for the right time. You will
Libra Sept23- Oct 22: The color blue will become increasingly important to you. Keeps your eyes open for it and the color blue will send you in the direction of happiness and excitement.
Scorpio Oct 23- Nov 21: When life gives you lemons, make lemon-aid. You will be handed a few lemons coming up, but the lemon aid you will make will be even better than one could imagine. Once it is made. sit back and enjoy the products of your hard work.
Sagittarius Nov 22- Dec 21: You have caught an extreme case of spring fever. The lack of motivation to be productive will be devastating if not fixed soon. We may be on the downward hill to summer vacation, but this is the most important time to stay focused.
Capricorn Dec 22- Jan 19: You will be getting the news that you have been waiting for. It has been a long and worrisome wait but the news is in, and it is bright and exciting.
Aquarius Jan 20- Feb 18: Double and triple-check when you leave a room. You will loose something important that will become an inconvenience to you. If you become mote aware of your surroundings you will save yourself from pain down the road.
Pisces Feb 19- March 20: If you want to see the rainbow, you have to wait for the rain. You have seen a great deal of rain lately and your rainbow is right around the comer. It will be better than you. had even imagined.
Education majors have student teaching, business majors have internships, but criminal justice majors have needed a class that will adapt what they learn to the real world.
That class started out this semester, and it takes place 1 in the Tecumseh's maximum security state correctional facility and is Criminal Justice 298/498.
Skye Rosno, a sophomore with a major in Psychology and a minor in CriminaUustice, explained that, "in this class we explore different views of justice to find what it really is."
The professor, Dr. Kelly Asmussen, uses group discussions in a circle to keep
topics open, but discussions aren't only amongst students. The warden, deputy warden, guards, and inmates of all kinds are included. These discussions give students living example of the correctional system. The inmates especially teach unique perspectives about how they've been treated in the court system, something a student wouldn't learn as well from a textbook.
Angela O'Bryan, a sophomore with a major in Criminal Justice, said, "There's a couple of people in there that are highly intelligent." The inmates were not stereotypical brutes. She said one of the most valuable lessons she's learned from the class was to keep an open mind.
Rosno agreed. "I think the most important thing that I have learned from the class is that even though they are in prison, they are people, too, and have the same emotions and thoughts we have. They also are the kind of people who amaze you with their intelli-
"A lot of these men are so willing to listen and learn from
said Dana Dormer, a Junior with a Criminal Justice Counseling major. "These guys have very good speaking and writing skills, and they have a lot to bring forward to others."
Students also get a feel for the strictness entailed in correctional facilities. Students most go through metal detectors, pat-clowns, and sometimes even drug dogs. That's not all, though. "One time they counted my bobby pins," O'Bryan explained, guessing they were worried an inmate may steal one and try to pick a lock.
To some students, this may feel like an invasion of privacy, but it is regulation and must be followed.
"We have to go just like anyone else, but when we get into the classroom, the atmosphere is very similar to a regular class, just very interactive, said Dormer.
-
Students in southeastern Nebraska wishing to pursue a career in pharmacy now have another opportunity to do so. The Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP) through the University of Nebraska Medical Center has been expanded to Peru State College RHOP, which began in 1989, is designed to address the special needs of rural Nebraska by encouraging rural residents to pursue health care careers. It is currently available at Chadron State College and Wayne State College.
"The Rural Health Opportunities Program is an important commitment to rural health care by UNMC ," said Peru State College President Dan Hanson. "We are honored to be a part of this prestigious program."
Currently there are three seats in the pharmacy program that are being offered. Students selected for the
program must be from a rural background, interested in pursuing a career in pharmacy and committed to practicing in rural Nebraska.
If selected, students will receive a full tuition waiver while enrolled at Peru State College and acceptance into the UNMC College of Pharmacy. Students also must maintain a minimum 3.5 grade point average.
"This program is strongly supported by the health care professionals in southeast Nebraska," said Charles Krobot, Ph.D .• associate dean for student affairs in the UNMC College of Pharmacy. "We look at this as a win-win for UNMC and the students."
Applications for the 2012 school year will be made available on the Peru State College website beginning Sept. l. For more information go to www.peru.edu/rhop.
"The partnership between Peru
State College and UNMC will benefit our students, the college and rural health care in southeast Nebraska," Hanson said.
"The quality and strength of our science program and our faculty, as well as the support of area health care providers, were instrumental in securing seats in the pharmacy program. We look forward to building an even stronger relationship with UNMC and bringing more RHOP seats in this and other health care fields to southeast Nebraska."
The deadline for applications to the RHOP program is Dec. 1. Students are then notified the following spring if they are accepted into the program, To get more infonnation about the RHOP program log on to www.unmc.edu/rhop.
Through world-class research and patient care, UNMC generates
Photo courtesy of http://hospitalnursesalary.com/ breakthroughs that make life better for people throughout Nebraska and beyond. Its education programs train more health professionals than any other institution in the state,· {,,earn more at www.unmc.edu.
(Peru, Neb.)- On a warm day at the softball diamond, the Peru State College (PSC) Bobcat softball team swept another Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC) double header on Parents' Day. The Bobcats defeated the visiting Central Christian College (CCC) Tigers
8-0 and 8-1 With the MCAC sweep, the 'Cats improved to 4-2 in the conference while the Tigers are now 0-4. Overall, the PSC won its fifth straight game and improved to 22-18 on the season and CCC fell to 4-23.
Before the start of the first game, the Peru State College Athletic Department presented the Music Educators National Conference (MENC) with a $200 check. Members of the MENC have provided the live
singing of the national anthem at most all of the home athletic contests this year.
Last spring, David Norris approached me (Ted) as he knew I would be the new Associate Athletic Director/Sports Information Director with game management responsibilities about the possibility of having JvlENC provide singers for the national anthems. Immediately, I said yes, but conferred, too, with AD Steve Schneider, who agreed as well. David and Carmen Schweiger have arranged with MENC members to sing the national anthem at almost all of the home athletic contests, which is no small feat, especially when there are time and date changes. AD Schneider and I have both received numerous
compliments from the studentathletes, parents, fans and even our visitors on how great it is to have "live" singing, as well as, excellent singing of the anthem. Throughout the year there have been eight different singers who have participated in this program, they are, in alphabetical order as to recognize each one's talents fairly: Jacob Buss, Emily Crom, Hazel "Jane" Henry, Blake Lofting, David Noris, Daniel Perkins, Carmen Schwiger, and Hope Voss. This partnership is just the beginning of what promises to be a great program that will continue for years to come.
"If I were a crayon I would probably be a mix between red and orange, because r love sunsets."
Ashley Moore Freshman, Criminal JusticeEditor-in-Chief
Assistant Editor
Layout Editor
Copy Editor
Advertising Manager
Distribution Manager
Layout Staff
Faculty Advisor
Contributing Staff
www.psctimes.com
Katie Kuhl
Kristen Husen
Jenny Trapp
Becky Bartlett
Brandon Schumacher
Brandon Schumacher
Jacob Buss
Jake Halverson
Michaela Wolverton
Kristi Nies
Ky!e/\men
Brad Florian Cole
" I would choose pink, because it is such a happy color and it's my favorite."
Kari
Brunges Sophomore, Psychology''I would say brown, because I am sweet like chocolate."
Sean Lawler Freshman, Special EducationThe Times, the official student newspaper of Peru State College, is published four times per semester by Peru State College students. The Times office is located in the College Publications Office in Room 126 of the AV Larson Building.
The opinions expressed in the may not be those of the entire newspaper staff. The Peru State Times is an independent publication funded by student publication fees. The views expressed in this publication, including the contents of paid advertisements, do not necessarily reflect the views of the administration, faculty or staff of Peru State College.
All letters to the editor are welcome, and the writers of those letters need not be students. Letters, cartoons, articles, pictures and any other material submitted to the Times must be signed by individual(s) submitting them and will be published at the discretion of the staff. The Times reserves the right to edit all letters, articles and other submitted materials for grammar, length and clarity. The Times also reserves the right to decline the publication of any materials, including paid advertisements, for any reason.
To reach the Times, send material to the Peru State Times through campus mail or to: PSC Times, Peru State College, P.O. Box lO, Peru, NE 68421 or e-mail us at noc'1·rno00
Peru, Nebraska, home of the Bobcats, Cotty's, and one thousand oaks, often finds itself contrasted with the country of Peru, home of the Incan empire, a diverse community, and quite different foods than there are in Nebraska.
The last fact was discovered by many of the students at Peru State College, who met with a film crew from the country of Peru. Interested by the shared name, the Peruvians came to film what college life was like here.
Students received a nice dose of culture shock from the Peruvians. Not only were they
surprised that the food they were prepared was made from alpaca instead of cow, but they were also unsure about the difference in planning and organization between the two countries. In South America, being on time is not as big a deal, while in America being early is encouraged.
Despite these differences, Nebraskan Peruvians and South American Peruvians came together and had a great time learning about each other. The Peruvians, who were attracted by Dr. Bill Clemente's blog "Around Peru," wore shirts that said "Te Amo Peru," which means, "I love you Peru." They also passed out some of these Tshirts to some students who were at events.
The visitors didn't only stay in
Peru. They also visited Omaha's Redneck's country western bar. To..the patron's surprise, the South Americans began doing line dances from their own cultures, and the line dancers from the United States soon joined them.
These events with the citizens from Peru were an exciting cultural opportunity. What began as a culture clash ended as a valuable learning experience.
There are also towns of Peru in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Wisconsin, New York, Vermont, West Virginia, and Massachusetts. The film crew has also gone to New York to film, and may visit some of the other towns of Peru.
After all the courses, the homework, case studies, reports, lectures, practicum experiences, and hours spent studying - after all this effort, your hard work dwindles down to a single piece of paper. However, this piece of paper makes an important statement. It says, ''You have succeeded! You have accomplished something great!" When you receive your diploma you know your time in college has not been wasted. For educators, this is the second step to becoming a real teacher, a teacher who will shape young minds and possibly change the world. This powerful role is crucial to society. A teacher's influence and advice to a student can literally change their lives and create new opportunities for a better world. The first step, of course, is the student teaching experience.
For the past three and a half months I have been involved in this experience. After all the education courses and information learned in the "hypothetical" setting, nothing will prepare you for actual teaching in; the classroom better than studentteaching.
stand how many assignments you will have to grade - and how much time it takes up. For me the days always fly by and half the time I am still trying to keep up, and then there are papers to grade. It is very important to have an organized system and a solid grading policy for collecting assignments. It is also important to have definite rules and procedures and have a system developed so students know what is expected of them and where the line is drawn. There are many factors to student teaching but possibly one of the best, and often forgotten, is your role in their lives. Students really begin to count on you and look forward to learning something from you. As a coach you may incorporate excellent life lessons into your game plans and practices but you can also be a coach in the classroom.
supportive role you can become as a teacher and coach. Students may not always remember all the things you said or did but they will always remember how you made them feel. This is essential. Therefore, I wish every student teacher the best of luck and hope your experience solidifies your plan to become an encouraging, ·excellent, lifelong leader - we need these people to help others. Teaching is not easy but it is rewarding - especially when you know you have inspired someone and possibly changed their life. Every life changed for the better is a step toward a better life for all. Good luck.
nn1e bast advice I can give to a new teacher ls tll listen to your students with your ears and heart,n As a student, you never under-
I have only experienced the tip of the iceberg in this idea but am looking forward to embracing that
Marvin the Superhero guy once said. "Oh, you're sick! Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssss! I love looking at boobies! Ah-ha! There's a beautiful pair right there! Oh, I'm glad I'm wearing loose shorts! Oh, I forgot. l can't see through silicone." That is one of the many examples of Jeff Dunham's humor. There are countless better jokes that can be placed there, but most are inappropriate for a newspaper.
When Bo Burnham came to Peru for Spring Fling week, I was very excited. Growing up, I wanted to either be a astronaut or a comedian, which was probably the result , of too many space
movies and being obsessed with Jim Carry. Burnham was exactly the kind of humor l want,ed to do. Do a few creative songs, cuss at the audience, and just be obnoxious. However, after watching the show, I realized how much of an idiot l was. The humor wasn't really there at all.
Partway through the show, found myself comparing Burnham to Dunham because they are both one of the few popular comedians who actual!y do something other then standup. They use props and are both quite good at them. Dunham is far better at coming up with comebacks from the audience. Maybe it's because he is just wittier when it comes to that stuff, or he has the ability to make one in a variety of personalities thanks to his puppets. All Burnham does
is come up with some clever way to cuss at an audience member and runs with that.
l. occasionally look up Burnham on Youtube when I'm doing homework or am just bored. I noticed that the last time he actually had a very good song was almost a year ago. If he is so great, why doesn't he have more of his wittiness on Youtube? His lyrics are hilarious, but that's about it. He should have stuck with making Youtube videos.
The only time I actually laughed during Bo's show was when he was doing one of his classic Youtube songs. Otherwise, his "comedy" is juvenile and just unfunny. It's nothing but a series · of mean phrases. Dunham uses jokes that would make any age group laugh.
It takes skill to come up with a different personality with each one of his puppets,as well as come up the voice for each one. Each one of his characters, whether it's Walter, Achmed, Peanut, or Jose Jalapeno on a Stick, is brilliantly made. He comes up with a act for each one and each offers it's own kind of humor.
I often find myself bored watching one comedian, but with Dunham's ability to bring multiple "people" to the stage, it makes for a far better show.
ff Peru ever brings a comedian for another Spring Fling week, they should bring Dunham. More people would be able to show up because there is far less cussing acts, as well as it just being overall funny. Dunham's jokes stick with you more so then Burnham's.
Burnham needs to stick with making Youtube videos because once he got mainstream, he just started to suck. Anyone could jump up on stage and make a butt out of themselves. Dunham at
MICHAELA WOLVERTON Stqjf WriterAn important trait in.the opposite sex is their ability to make me laugh. If they can sing, that is definitely a plus. What takes it completely over the edge for me is instruments. Piano and guitar,
his set, but look at it this way: Bo combines two things, music and comedy. Dunham has a closet full of puppets. Can we say multiple personality disorder?
Not only that, but it shows that Dunham feels his act isn't good enough with just one or two characters. He needs more to keep the audiences attention, otherwise his jokes are repetitive and boring. In fact, the only two I
more specifically. But this article isn't about the perfect guy. This article is about the perfect comedian. Bo Burnham easily fits that title, no questions asked.
Burnham is a twenty year old musical and comedic genius for his age. Compare him to other comedians and you can tell he actually thinks before he speaks, making it difficult to disagree with him. He uses phrases and situations from famous books such as The Odyssey, jokes about politics without actually being offensive, and twists already true facts into making perfect senseall while making you laugh your ass off.
He has the ability to connect with his audience on more than just a comedic level, as well. Sure, he pokes general fun at audience members that get a little rowdy, but he also incorporates the audience into his act by talking to them, not just telling them jokes.
Comparing him to Jeff Dunham is easily one of the stupidest comparisons I have ever heard. Sure, the similarity is fair enough they both use props outside of their initial wit and hilarity. But versus music
Photo courtesy of Michaela Wolverton like are Achmed and Peanut. The rest are overly cliche and stupid. And if it isn't enough tfwt Bo can make you laugh, take an actual listen to his lyrics and what he's saying. Songs such as "We Think We Know You" and a newer release that he didn't play here in Peru titled "Nerds" point out much more serious topics. What's the last thing Dunham did that actually provoked thought? Talk about a jalapeno on a stick? Oh, how intriguing.
All in all, Bo Burnham is easily the better of the two in discussion. He is funny. musically inclined, and actually has a hidden message behind his act that makes you think when really all you think you're doing is laughing at a good joke. Jeff Dunham plays with dolls.
What can I say? "l hate catchy choruses, and I'm a hypocrite. A hungry, hungry hypocrite." Who loves Bo Burnham.
0 ,, z 0
5 9 3 5 3 9 7
4. Muscle connectors
5. "Mode" lead-in
6. Makes illegal
7. More likely to get slapped
8. Rugged mountain crest
9. My brothel's keeper? 10. Unisex garb 11. Shiners 12. With no help 13. Lowly worker
3 9
5 9 3 7 6 5 13 9 7 3 5 6
45. Like some heart- pumping workouts
47. Fragrant compounds
49. lnsensitive to pain
51. Noblemen ranking above viscounts
52. Do a Richard Simmons workout
53. Swamp plant
55. Give the slip to 56. Inflexibility
57. __ ghost (is spooked)
58. No-loss, no gain situation
59. Earthen pot
6 I. Flat-bottomed boat
65. Zebra's cousin
Down:
I.
We are tested by trials to see if we succeed. If we do, we then reach a turning point in our lives. The fork in the road branches us off into a new world - this world that we may not be ready for. However, whether we are ready or not, time guides us along.
For Peru State College, and for myself. graduation is near. 1 have spent the past five years creating the beginning of my life. It is such an important time. lt is a time to "find yourself' but is also a time to learn some of life's most important lessons. Some of those lessons are learned through the people we interact with.
I have developed many excellent relationships at Peru and
have much respect for its entire staff, including the teachers, administrators, the financial aid department, the librarians, as well as the custodians, cooks, and security guards. I am truly grateful for everything and everyone I have encountered.
Before l leave, here are a few things I have learned in my years at Peru:
Freshmen are basically still high-school students
Community service isn't always a good thing
It is really difficult to run up Gutbuster (or the entire town of Peru for that matter)
Parking lots are not fun to sleep on
Water towers can freeze over
Delzell is on lock-down more often than not
Adults make mistakes too
Toasters can serve as heaters
when your house is cold Earthquakes happen in Nebraska Economics is all about
photo courtesy of http://chccsgradproject.pbworks.com tunity costs
The library will always need someone to put books away There is nearly 150 years of history at Peru and you can find a lot of it in the library if you look around
However, you will always regret anything you didn't take a chance on. Live your life to the fullestit is one of the keys to complete happiness.
It is impossible to exist without friends
Life is crazy but it always works out in the end, and that ending we call graduation is really just a new beginning. Commence means "to begin." So do it. I leave Peru happy and content, and I leave everyone with my advice and hope you' the very best. I hope you have the time of your life.
You cannot predict how your life will turn out any better than you can predict the weather or the future. You will always have surMoti vation is hard to come by prises but if you take the opportuFacebook is The Great Time- nity to challenge the change you Waster will succeed. An excellent quote 8 o'clock classes seem early un- from Douglas Adams: "I may not til you student teach have gone where I intended to go but l think I have ended up where I would like to leave students I needed to be." with some advice. Write a list of things you'd like to do in your life, and then make them happen. I challenge you to live a life that is adventurous and exciting, full of new ideas - even ones you're not comfortable with. I challenge you to take risks and fall down. This is the only way you can really learn. I have done some stupid stuff in college that had subsequent consequences but I do notregret a single one of them.
As the spring semester draws to a close on the campus of Peru State College, so too nears the end of the season for the Peru State softball team. Sitting second in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference standings, the Bobcats look to be well positioned fix one last run at the MCAC tournament title before their departure to the Heart of America Athletic Conference next season.
For the Lady 'Cats to continue their success as they close their regular season and look to dominate post-season play, they'll have to continue to have solid pitching performances from feisty freshman Devon Massengale and junior Lyndsay Drumm.
Drumm. a potent pitcher for the Bobcats last season has seen a vast increase in her workload this season, but Lyndsay has been up to the task, holding opponents to a team low 2.80 ERA, while striking out 47 in her 20 games of action.
Massengale was honored as the MCAC player of the week earlier this season and though she's yet to take the honors again, she's always in the conversation, and for good reason. The team leader in wins, 12, innings pitched 122, and strikeouts, 72, Devon is also holding hitters to a team low 0.262 batting average while posting a 3 .09 ERA in her 23 games on the mound.
With Massengale and Drumm
keeping the other teams in check, it will be up to the powerful bats of the likes of freshman Ashley Wohlers, leading the team with 35 RBis, six home runs and a 0.392 batting average, and senior Alyssa Mangum, with 29 RBis and five home runs. Also not to be overlooked is senior Krista Patton batting 0.300 on the season and leading the team in stolen bases with 11 steals on 12 attempts. With the MCAC chapter about to close, here's a look ahead at what the HAAC holds for Peru next season. Central Methodist University currentlv leads the conference with a overall record; Mid-America Nazarene is the highest ranked team at 23rd nationally in the most recent poll. Eight of the 11 teams in the conference will finish the season with a winning record and three squads have surpassed 30 wins on the season, William Jewell has the most with 33 victories.
The season is winding down for Peru State baseball team, and year one under head coach Wayne Albury has been a successful one. With the top half of the MCAC standings tightly clustered, Peru inserted themselves into the conversation of the conference's best after taking a home doubleheader from then 22nd ranked York College.
With a strong finish to the season the Bobcats could see the conference tournament on their home field, a fitting way to end their time in the MCAC. Their success will surely depend on shutting down the offensives of their conference foes; taking on that task as the season draws to a close are senior pitchers Jon Sanley and Andre Kinder.
Sanley, the MCAC pitcher of the week in week two leads the team with five wins and 52 innings pitched and has posted a team low 2.58 ERA in his nine
games of action. Kinder, the powerful lefty, has proven to be a force both on the mound and at the plate; named player of the week in week five. At the plate he's third on the team in RBis with 21 while hitting three home runs tied for tops o.n the team. From the mound he ranks third in the country in strikeouts per nine innings with 14.37 and ninth nationally in total strikeouts with 74.
Offensively, the 'Cats will turn to Jonathan Castillo the team leader in batting average and stolen bases, team leader in RBis Patrick Knabe and MCAC player of week three, Alejandro Gonzalez.
With an eye on the future, here's a look at what awaits the Bobcats in 2012 in HAAC play. CulverStockton College leads the Heart of America Athletic Conference standings at 29-11 overall, they are the only team in the conference receiving votes in the latest top 25 poll. The top· five of the conference will finish the season with a winning record, number six Central Methodist is currently at 0.500 on the season.
JACOB BUSS Staff Writer
On Monday, April l l, Bo Burnham came to Peru State Cqllege to help kick off the 20 l l Spring Fling Week. He provided a new form of entertainment that has not yet been seen on this campus. It was a rousing good time that provided entertainment to many different people of different cultures.
On December 28, 2006, Burnham recorded two of his songs as videos, and posted them on YouTube. Eight months and seven songs later,
Burnham's videos have been seen over 10 million times worldwide, generating literally hundreds of thousands of laughs.
The songs, recorded in Burnham's bedroom with a camera resting on a stack of books because he couldn't afford a stand, have been remixed, rated and reviewed thousands of times. Burnham's first CD/DVD was released through Comedy Central Records and rocketed to # l on the Billboard Comedy Chmt after hitting #2 in Comedy Central's "Stand-Up Showdown." He was also featured in his own half-hour "Comedy Central Presents" and, at 18, became the youngest person to record such a special. Entertainment Weekly
recently named Burnham one of the "12 Rising Stars of Comedy." Some people said that Burnham's jokes and content were too controversial and uncalled for. Some have even gone as far as to say that he is racist, sexist, and homophobic. When asked about some of his gay jokes he has this to say, and it is factual about all of his jokes, •;It's so ironic because gay bashers were the ones labeling me in high school. I try and write satire that's well-intentioned. But those intentions have to be hidden. It can't be completely clear and that's what makes it comedy." This is true about any form of comedy, things like this cannot be taken seriously when it is all meant to be lighthearted and fun.
Magicka came out a few months ago and became a instant classic. I recently got it a few days ago and writing this hurts my hands because of how much I have played it. It's just so much fun. At first, the game seems very boring and to fall in the massive cliche of fantasy games. However, behind the setting and characters is a very deep script that pokes fun at the fantasy genre as a whole. Magicka is a parody of it all, as one can tell from the title, which at first seems to be failing where so many fantasy games did only to satirize them all.
The game starts out with the main character being a a student wizard sent out to save
a king from a very dark wizard. Apparently, only you can save the king. However, you do have a guide of sorts in the name of Vlad who, with his Transylvanian accent, helps you along the way. However, his downfall is that he is just a a guide. With dragons, goblins, trolls, sea creatures, and more in your path, one would like to get some help? Nope.
As a wizard, you have access to eight elements, water, lightning, earth, fire, cold, shild, life, and arcane, which can all be combined in a massive amount of ways. You can stack up to five at a time, combing them to create things such as rainstorms, a mini-volcano, or a minefield of electricity. The amount of potential spells is huge.
The game has a steep learning curve, with controls scattered all around the keyboard. This in
combination with figuring out what spells should be used makes this game almost impossible sometimes. However, an Xbox 360 controller can be connected to calm down the game a bit. Most players will spend most of the game in coop mode, each given spells that can be combined with another player for amazing results. Cross two beams of a similar magic will result in a nastier beam being directed straight at the enemies face. Think carefully and you might come up with the brilliant idea of calling down a firestorm while your teammate whips earth and fire shields together to protect the group. It's all up to you.
Magicka: Vietnam, an expansion pack released April 12, takes place exactly where the title says. Here you can also expect guerrilla warfare, dense jungles, and some napalm. What you won't expect is that your players now carry Ml6's instead of staves. The bulk of the expansion takes place in a massive challenge map. It's divided up into three sections, each with their own objectives.
Along with the new weapons, the wizards are now dressed for the part, being able to put on helmets and ammo belts. Along with the new weapons and gear, there is also the mythic freedom staff, which allows you to chuck llberty grenades at your enemies. You'll. be able to blow your foes away with the powers of democrac · · ·
WithMagfckal:>eing a · ,;,,, ';',, / '"'' ',",:;<'
courtesy of http://www.mugickagame.com/
complex and addicting game, add in the newly released expan.si?n pack, and you have yow:self/a beautifully crafted game to keep someone 0 .on end &o··
BECKY BARTLETT Staff Writer
Over the summer most students will be having more free time, so here's some of the films which are available you may be interested in seeing.
Thor comes out May 6, right after finals, and it's based off of a series of Marvel comics
to celebrate summer should go to this film.
Don't watch Hobo with a Shotgun. It comes out the same day as Thor. Like Thor, the title character is a man with a weapon. Unlike Thor, it will be a train wreck.
May 20, with Pirates of the Caribbean, on Stranger Tides, Penelope Cruz is joining the party and they're going to try to find eternal youth. She and Johnny Depp may or may not get it on In this film. Anyone who enjoyed the previous Pirates of the Caribbean films should go see this movie.
lfyou prefer ninjas to pirates, wait six days and you'll be able to see a film about men who are so sneaky, they fool themselves. The Hangover 2 comes out on May 26. Yes, another bachelor party gone wrong, but this time, in a foreign country.
Then again, if you want to take a child to the movie with you. you may want to reconsider and go the next day and go to Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom. In this film, an evil villain threatens
Photo courtesy of www.corningsoon.net to destroy China and kung fu, · which really is horrible because
in which the Norse god Thor, played by Chris Hemsworth, appears in modern times. This film features some big names, including Natalie Portman, who finds Thor in the mocl,ern times, and Anthony Hopkins, who plays Thor's father. Anyone who like Marvel or mythology or wants
the protagonist, Po the panda, voiced by Jack Black, just learned kung fu. He and the rest of the Furious Five decide to stop all this mayhem from occurring.
For those of you who weren't scarred for life by your older brother's fascination with X-Men, X-Men: First Class comes out June 3. This is a prequel deal, and
sounds pretty cool and friendly to those who don't know anything about X-Men.
In yet another sequel for this summer, Cars 2 takes the original characters Cars into the international scene. It's both a racing movie and a spy movie. It comes to theaters June 24.
Transformers: Dark of the Moon hits theaters the first of July. Megan Fox will not be in this film, so those who watched the series primarily for her talents may want to reconsider seeing it, but the rest of the cast were kept on.
On July 15, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 comes to theaters. Those who enjoyed the previous Harry Potter films will enjoy this one, but this would be a little late in the series to begin without watching the others or reading the books first.
Winnie the Pooh comes to theaters July 15. In this film Owl sends the gang on a journey to save Christopher Robin from an imaginary villain. This movie is ideal for students getting in touch with their inner child or those going to the movies with children.
Last but net !east, the summer wil! begin and end with comicbased films. Captain America: The First Avenger comes to theaters. This film is also based on a Marvel series, but is also friendly for non-fans.
Overall, this summer should be pretty exciting for movies, with a little something for everyone and stock-piled full of sequels.
important to remember that you deserve what you have coming to you. You will experience something that will change your mood and help you realize that you are a rock star and truly gifted.
the semester, you will be busy tying up loose knots. Remember to take a look around and enjoy this time for it will have a great impact on your life.
JENNY TRAPP Staff writerTaurus April 20-May 20: You have been having a great past couple of days. Hold on to your seat for the best is yet to come. You will be pleasantly surprised and have a new sense of confidence.
Gemini May 21- June 20: It is time for you to take charge of your own life. Put aside the advise of those around you for you look to them too often. Step back and listen to yourself and follow what your heart tells you.
Cancer J1me 21- 22:A bumpy road ls ahead. It will b important for you to keep a level head and remember that things are not always permanent. Wear a little more optimism on your sleeve in the times to come because it will be your saving grace.
Leo July 23-Aug 23: You have received great news in the past couple of weeks, yet there is still a clamper in your mood. It is
Virgo Aug 23- Sept 22: You have been stressed and confused. You are under the pressure that the end of the semester brings. You are ready for a little excitement. You know what you want, yet you are uncertain on how to obtain it. Be patient yet stay strong. You are determined and will help those around you to see things as you do. Your goals will be met by the help of an unexpected source.
Libra Sept 23- Oct 22: Joy will come to you when you are doing to right thing. Keep your eyes open for oppo1tunities that will further your enjoyment.
Scorpio Oct 23- Nov 21: You have been worried about the uncertainties about the future. Step back and take a look at your life and your accomplishments. Although things are looking a bit cloudy right now, things will being to fall into place. You will be truly satisfies.
Sagittarius Nov 22- Dec 21: Procrastination has weaseled it's way into the soul of your work. With so little time left in
Capricorn Dec 22Jan 19: College is a time where you should be experiencing new things and meeting new people. Ironically someone from your past will reenter your life in an unexpected way. They will impact the remaining time of your year. Remember the past for without it the future would be less meaningful.
Aquarius Jan 20- Feb 18: Follow the leader is a childish game. When the leader is not worth following, find a new direction and create your own -path. You will be finding yourself in a situation that will cause you to move and grow in new ways.
Pisces Feb 19- March 20: You have been upset and trying to simply exist after the bad news you have received. Although you may not agree with the timing and your feelings may come off as being confused, you will start to open your eyes to the thing that has been sitting in front of you for some time now. Move quickly for it will boost your spirits in a unique way.
Aries March 21-April 19: Life is like a road trip and currently you feel a little lost. Along your journey you will find something that will force you to change your opinions and open your mind. Allow for this to open your eyes completely for it will be the most beneficial.