Auburn Pipeline
- Companies funding the pipeline project: FEMA, SRF, NEMA
- City of Auburn awarded a Water Sustainability Fund to cover up to $600,000
- Charge from Auburn BPW increases from $4.00 per thousand gallons to $4.89 per thousand gallons
- Expected to be completed in 2023
Mayor David Pease of the City of Peru has reported that the construction of the new water pipeline from Auburn to Peru is well underway, with construction having started back in November of 2022. Peru residents will be glad to know that they are not directly paying for the pipeline. However, there is a small cost increase as a result of the project. The per-gallon charge from Auburn BPW will be $4.89 per thousand-gallons. Prior to passing an ordinance to
raise rates, the city was charging $4.00 per thousand-gallons.
As a product of this change, students at Peru State College who rent homes in town should expect slightly higher water bills, but there is a silver lining to all of this. “After the construction of the new pipeline is finished, the water quality will be much improved,” Pease stated. “Peru has always had very hard water because our wells have high iron, calcium, and manganese levels. The treatment center in Auburn is much better and their untreated water is better quality.”
Overall, Peru State College uses about half of the cities water supply. For those living in dorms, the new pipeline should create no major impact on their living situations. For students who live off campus, in the city, they can expect nothing more than
the small price increase on their water bills. In both instances, students will be receiving higher-quality water than before. Additionally, Peru as a whole will be affected minimally regarding the construction of the new pipeline.
“There will not be any traffic impact on PSC students or staff,” Pease assured. “They will bore the pipe under Highway 67 near the OPPD substation, but that will not require any detours. Our engineers worked with the college to determine the best way to route the line around the baseball and softball fields and the plans for the practice facility that will be located near the complex.”
With no disruption of traffic, and very little modification on the water cost, the only other foreseeable effect of the new pipeline that
is relevant to Peru residents may be one more boil advisory. Following the flooding in 2019, Peru’s old water plant received damage that was deemed beyond repair. The water treatment plant was under fifteen feet of water, destroying the electrical system, and forcing the City of Peru to use a temporary water facility that could last only three years. Over these past three years, the temporary plant has been periodically taken out of service for maintenance, leading to the boil advisories that Peru State students have been abiding by when necessary. During those times, there were no actual contaminants found in the water supply, but during maintenance, the city was still legally required to issue warnings. Fortunately, as for construction on the new pipeline, there is projected to only be one more boil advisory
for maintenance sometime this year, which the city plans to execute during a time of low water usage.
So ultimately, how is the pipeline being paid for?
Pease reported that FEMA will provide most of the funding for the new pipeline, but because it can take a long time to get approval and receive funds, another company by the name of SRF is helping to finance the project, and will be paid back by FEMA, with no cost being passed on to Nebraska taxpayers. Any additional costs of construction will be split between NEMA (Nebraska Emergency Management Agency) and the city, which was awarded a Water Sustainability Fund grant expected to cover up to $600,000. The water pipeline from Auburn to Peru is projected to be finished some time in 2023.
Information provided by Reagan Connelly
Peru:
1. The Market
- Customer Experience Associate
- Administration
- 40 hours per week
2. Casey’s
3. Fresh Ideas
4. Peru State Times
Falls City:
1. A&G Steakhouse and Pizza
2. American National Bank
3. Animal Health Center
4. Armbruster Motor Company
5. Blessed x3 Boutique
6. Brick Street Furniture Co. & Wine Lounge
7. Brillows Nutrition
8. Campbell Fitness
9. Casey’s
10. Chaney’s Furniture
11. Check-In-Motel
12. Classic Club 8
13. Collection Museum
14. Community Medical Center
15. Consolidated Grain & Barge
16. Dollar Fresh
17. Dry Creek Darlins Boutique
18. Dunn Greenery
19. EmpowHer Health and Wellness
20. Falls City Auto Supply
21. Falls City Fitness Center
22. Falls City Journal
23. Falls City Library and Arts Center
24. Farm and City Supply
25. Frontier Bank
26. Frosty Queen
27. Grand Weaver Hotel
28. Heritage Falls Candles and Gifts
29. Hometown Floral and Gifts
30. Lovely K Aesthetics
31. Pump and Pantry
32. Runza
33. Sew Relaxing
34. Sonic Drive-In
35. Subway
36. Sunmart
37. Super Suds Car Wash
38. The Would Eye Bar and Grill
39. Wild Bill’s Bar and Grill
40. Wild Grace Boutique
41. Wolfe’s Printing and Office
Rock Port:
1. Trails End
- Intramural Indoor Volleyball
(Monday, Feb. 13 - Thursday, Feb. 16 at 8 pm in the AWAC)
- Bowling Night
(Thursday, Feb. 16 at 8 pm at Arbor Lanes in Nebraska City)
- Basketball Game
(Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 7:30 pm in the AWAC, vs. Clarke University)
- Movie Night
(Sunday, Feb. 19 at 6:30 pm in the PAC)
- Bands in Concert
(Thursday, Feb. 23 at 6 pm in the PAC)
- Dr. Suess Birthday Bash
(Thursday, Feb. 9 - Friday, Feb. 10 from 9 am - 2 pm in the PAC)
- Career and Internship Fair
(Thursday, Feb. 23 11 am - 1 pm in the Live Oak Room)
- Soup Supper
(Sunday, Feb. 19 5 pm - 7 pm at the Peru City Hall, hosted by Saint Clara’s Catholic Church)
- FREE Barber Appointment
(Wednesday, Feb. 8 from 9 am - 3 pm in the PAC dressing room)
The following story contains number corrections from the previous issue.
The 2022 annual security report became available on Sept. 23, 2022 on the Peru State College website. This report consists of crime statistics, fire safety reports and information regarding Title IX. All incidents disclosed occurred between the dates of Jan. 1, 2019 and Dec. 31, 2021.
The most common law violations on campus and in the residence halls were drug and liquor violations, with 10 arrests total for drug violations and 88 disciplinary actions for drug and liquor violations combined.
There are three total instances of dating violence listed under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Offenses and four total instances of stalking.
Listed under criminal offenses are three total cases of rape, three cases of fondling, one case of aggravated assault, nine cases of burglary and one case of motor vehicle theft. There are no hate crimes listed from the years 2019 through 2021.
Information is listed regarding how and when to report a crime, as well as a campus security officer’s authority. Peru State College has several programs and events throughout the year that promote awareness and prevention in the areas of sexual assault, crime, drug use and mental health.
The report lists policies pertaining to alcoholic beverages and illegal substance. Peru State College is a drug free campus, meaning the possession or distribution of any substance is not permitted. The consumption of alcohol is
illegal for anyone under the age of 21, and those who are of age are required approval from the President. Only under certain circumstances will this be permitted.
Emergency response and evacuation procedures are listed in the report, including emergency numbers. In case of an emergency in which the entire campus needs to be notified, Peru will use a system called the Bobcat Alert. You can visit the Peru State College website to sign up and receive notifications from your phone and other electronic devices when alerts are sent out.
In the case of missing persons, students who are absent for 24 hours without reason will be considered missing. Specific protocol is listed in the report.
Information about the Nebraska Sex Offender Registry can be found in the report as
well as policies and procedures regarding sexual violence/ harassment reporting.
All prohibited conduct is listed in the report including sexual offenses, domestic violence, stalking and retaliation (intimidation, threats, coercion or discrimination.) Definitions of roles and actions are provided in the report.
Medical care and/or law enforcement can be requested by a victim of assault following a Title IX report. All other actions taken following a Title IX report are listed.
Student conduct and disciplinary measures are listed, as well as due process procedures.
Fire safety systems in on-campus housing include fire alarm monitoring and a full sprinkler system for the Centennial Complex, Morgan Hall and Delzell Hall. There are also smoke detectors, fire
extinguishers and evacuation plans for all residences. There will be two fire drills each year for the Centennial Complex, Morgan Hall and Delzell Hall. Regulations regarding electrical appliances and fire hazards are listed as well. False reporting will result in a disciplinary action, including suspension and civil action.
There were four fires during the given time, all of which occurred in 2019. The cause of one fire in Morgan Hall was a fire in the heating unit of the hall director apartment. Two fires occurred in Delzell Hall, and one occurred at the Centennial Complex. These were all the result of overcooked food in a microwave. There were no injuries, deaths or property damage as a result of these fires.
To see the full security report, visit the Peru State College website.
Beginning in October 2022, assistant coach Roman Gentry became interim head coach. Gentry is originally from Sioux City, Iowa and is going into his ninth year of coaching.
Prior to Peru, Gentry was employed at the University of South Dakota as an assistant coach in the Summit League. When he was at Concordia University in St. Paul, Gentry said he had an idea of who Bob Ludwig was and the type of people in his program.
“I was excited to come here when he called me in,” Gentry said. “I am thankful for the opportunity.”
Gentry explained that he knew a lot of the guys ahead of time, working with the previous coach at a fundraiser.
“I was able to build some relationships early, so when I got here in the fall, it wasn’t like I was meeting them for the first time.”
Gentry said that the coaching change was pretty seamless, and the responsibilities he was given
worked out well. He does not know whether or not he will take over as head coach, but he assures others that he isn’t too concerned with the logistics of things.
“I’ve just been focused on our team this season and seeing how long we can keep this thing going,” Gentry exclaimed. “Coaching changes. Things happen, and coaches take different jobs. It’s kind of a carousel that way.”
Gentry said that the team has had a lot thrown at them this year, but they’ve been able to manage it and continue to win games and have fun.
“Everyone comes with outside struggles and tries to manage those,” Gentry said. “I let basketball be a safe haven for guys so they can come and release for an hour or two throughout the day and manage things that way.”
Gentry said that teamwork and togetherness are the main things he likes
to focus on. When he was a player, his teammates had a lot of good chemistry, and worked hard for each
the relationship piece is his favorite part about coaching.
“I’ve been in a text chain with guys that I coached six years ago… That’s the biggest thing that’s gonna last, more than any wins and losses. I want to be in these guys’ weddings and things like that.”
Gentry recalled one of his favorite memories at Peru so far, which was the home game against William Penn.
Gentry mentioned that he plays a lot of loud music during practices.
“It’s not always rap music,” Gentry stated. “I’ll come in here and change the vibe up. It’ll be some slow jams, it might be some country, it might be some rock. I kind of just keep them loose and engaged.”
Gentry said it’s all a balancing act of how guys are feeling that day.
other. They spent time with one another off the floor, which helped with their performances on the floor.
“I think that’s what a lot of our guys are doing this year,” Gentry pointed out.
“When you spend a lot of time together, you start to see that chemistry gel on the floor.”
Gentry admitted that
“Even though it was a loss, it was pretty thrilling as far as fan support… I thought our guys were pretty locked in. They played hard, and it gave me a glimpse of what this place could really be like if you get some good fan support.”
Gentry also said that the team road trips have been amazing as far as just going out, sitting down and having dinner with each other and talking.
It can sometimes be difficult to keep up positive spirits throughout the season.
“I have a pretty good gauge of guys’ personalities now, and I know when I can push them a little harder or when I need to dial it back.”
Before they leave here, Gentry said he would like his players to learn how to bounce back from adversity.
“Sometimes the little things can carry out into different parts of your life,” Gentry said. “You may start with something small, but you can end up with something big.”
Being able to handle adversity is a difficult skill. Despite all that this team has been through together and in their personal lives, they have a great leader to help them along.
Freezing cold temperatures and a white blanket of snow covers the campus lawn.
With all of these winter warnings and unexpected flurries blowing through our
small town, I bet at least once, you’ve wanted to know how these snow days are declared and who has the final say on these wonderful days Evans, our president, is the one that decides this matter. Every weekday, he gets up around 4:50 AM
and goes through a short list of steps: 1) He checks the road outside his house, making sure it’s not too icy. 2) He checks on multiple weather apps, looking at what is expected of the weather. 3) He checks an app called 511, which gives him
a report about road conditions in the area from the Nebraska Roads Department. If everything passes his tests, school will open as usual. If there are any concerns or questions, he will send a message to leaders throughout the college on a group
chat that they all share. Some of the professors live in different areas, like Nebraska City and Auburn, allowing him to have access to different perspectives. Jointly, a decision is made on whether or not the school will be closed for the day.
There are four options that Peru can choose from on any given day: open up as usual, have a late start, cancel all classes but keep staff offices open, or everyone’s favorite; close the entire college. If the group chat chooses anything other than the first option, they have to follow a specific communications plan to make sure everyone is notified properly.
The President contacts Kelcie Keeling, our Director of Marketing and Communications, who takes care of the Bobcat Alert. One of our Vice Presidents notifies Fresh Idea, so they can let their staff know to stay home, and Dr. Evans informs the Peru State College Foundation. The next time we have a snow day, thank our President for doing what he does every time that there’s a weather threat, to keep the staff and students safe.
Shae Moerer
November 15th; the race of the year. Fans fighting over one thing and one thing only; getting tickets to see the Taylor Swift.
Taylor Swift announced her Eras tour on November 1st of 2022. Every fan had been waiting for this day ever since her last tour, five whole years ago. November 9th was the date that the swifties were first aloud
to register. Sitting on the edge of their seats, waiting and waiting for that fateful day to arrive. The day finally did roll in, and 3.5 million people claimed their seats to see her in person, singing her newest album, Midnights, among a number of other recorded albums.
Unfortunately, many fans were left ticketless and heartbroken on the day of November 15th. Tickets were opened at 10, and many people sat rather impatient, trying to
claim a spot at her next available concert. It was like a Black Friday sales line —everyone pushing their way towards the front. Some might have lost their minds from waiting so long.
Millions of fans were actually locked out of the website due to heavy web traffic. Two million tickets were sold in a single day, but the frustrating parts included the wait that lasted several hours, being unable to pay for the desired seats, and more
technical difficulties, since Ticketmaster was alerted for system request by more than 3.5 million people. This in turn, caused the website to shutdown as a whole, which only pushed the demand of tickets to astronomical heights. Another thing that infuriated devotees were people who had the audacity to purchase precious tickets on Ticketmaster and then resell them for thousands of dollars. Taylor Swift noticed the backlash
from Ticketmaster and her fans. In response, she sent out a message expressing her amazement that so many fans had gotten a hold of her tickets already, but was irritated that they had to go through so much trouble to get them. Ticketmaster is now under federal investigation for accusation of ripping off fans and admitting that they are the problem while using the Taylor Swift song, “Anti-Hero.”
www.peru.edu/psctimes
Editor-in-Chief Katelyn Crawford *
Copy Editor Michaela Stanley
Distribution Manager Alfie Steele
Faculty Advisor Dr. Kristi Nies
Contributing Staff
Alyssa Bock
Reagan Connelly
Virginia Kouba *
Ean Miller
Shae Moerer
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 through campus mail or to: PSC Times, Peru State College, P.O. Box 10, Peru, NE 68421 or e-mail us at perustatetimes@gmail.com.
Cost and timeline of construction projects in Peru.
Midterm Break
Campus closed Friday, March 3 at 5 p.m. through Sunday, March 12 at 10 a.m.
What should I do?
- Go for a walk
- Read a book
- Get coffee
- At home spa day
- Take your dog outside
- Talk to your friends
- Start a new hobby
- Keep a journal
- Make a masterpiece
- Become a masterpiece
- Movie marathon
- Listen to a podcast
- Start a podcast
- New exercise routine
- Create a new playlist
- Learn how to cook
- Be inspired
- Be inspiring
- Write and send a letter
- Look at old photos
- Take photos
- Watch cartoons
- Clean your room
- Organize your closet
- Donate old items
- Volunteer
- Drink 80 oz of water
- Make a bucket list
- Complete bucket list
- Go shopping
- Join Peru State Times
2023.
A student shares about the animal crisis in the United Stats.
5th street project to be completed August 2023.
LB383 Geothermal Utilities Project to be completed August 2023
Indoor
PEN PAL REVIEW
A student reviews a new book by J.T. Geissinger.
Water main improvement in the planning phase. No start or end date set.
There are currently fve construction projects underway at Peru State College.
Project ROAR aims to get students moving and away from technology. Because the current sports facilities are constantly booked for games and practices, many students are unable to use them for general ftness. The following project will allow more opportunities for intramurals and other recreational activities for all students.
The indoor recreation complex is in process and is projected to be completed in May of 2024. There will be 104,500 square feet of new athletic recreation space, including a new permanent fabric dome of 85,000 square feet, north of the Oak Bowl football feld. This multipurpose dome will include a weight room, 200 meter track, indoor turf
practice feld, and practice courts for basketball, volleyball, tennis, etc. A support building, called the Diamond Building, will be attached to the dome and will include restrooms and concessions for spectators.
The total estimated cost is $19,895,199 and will be funded by NSCS Facility Corporate Bonds (LB384), Sports Facility Cash Funds, Peru State College Cash Funds, Capital Improvement Fees, and Fundraising Funds. Leo Daly is the architect for this project, and Sampson Construction Co is the construction manager.
The second project is the LB309 Geothermal Upgrade at the Campus Services building. This project is currently in process and is subject to be completed April 30, 2023.
AES (Advanced Engineering Systems) is the architect for this project, and Genesis Contracting Group is the
contractor. This project is estimated to cost $721,875 and will be funded by LB309 funds. The NSCS Chancellor approved this project as an emergency per NSCS policies. The 23-year old fuid cooler was failing, unable to maintain normal indoor air temperatures inside the building, and used excessive amounts of water to maintain the temperature. This cooler will be replaced by a geothermal system.
The third project, the LB383 (Section 32) Geothermal Utilities Project, is currently in the planning phase. It will begin in May and is subject to be completed in August. The current estimated price is unknown, but it will be funded by LB383 funds. It will utilize Capital Construction state tax funds of $1,601,248 in FY 2021-22, $1,757,682 in FY 2022-23, and $2,101,905 in FY 2023-24. AES (Advanced Engineering System) is the
architect for this project. The fourth project, the 5th Street Project, is currently in the planning phase. JEO Consulting Group is the contact for this project. It will begin in May and is subject to be completed in August. Peru State College will provide $200,000 in capital improvement fees to include landscape upgrades and streetlights along with the city of Peru’s pavement improvement project. The fnal project, the Water Main Improvement, is in the planning phase. JEO Consulting Group is the contact for this project. The Department of Environment and Energy approved funding of up to $2,000,000 for a water and sewer project for Peru State College. This project does not currently have a start or end date. All information was provided by Jennifer Rieken (VP for administration and fnance.)
“You are breeding them faster than we can save them,” one rescue in Chicago noted on Instagram as they discussed the animal crisis that the United States currently faces. This comment refects the hopeless feeling mirrored by so many animal rescues and shelters all over the country as they are fooded with owner surrenders and stray captures on the daily. Some people who acquired an animal during quarantine
are returning to work and giving them up because they have become too much of an inconvenience. Due to the increase in cost of living, people are making the tough decision to hand over their personal pets because they no longer have the money to care for them properly. A
lack of clinic staff is leading to the closure of spay/neuter services, so personal pets and stray animals on the streets are having litters, which is increasing the number of animals brought in by well-meaning citizens. Additionally, irresponsible and backyard breeders are still churning out litter
after litter and people are still purchasing from them.
What happens when there are too many animals at a shelter, with more arriving every day? Unfortunately, the answer is the euthanasia of healthy, adoptable animals simply due to lack of space. The future of animal welfare in the United States is not a good one if things continue along this broken track.
Faced with this crisis, it may seem like there’s impossible odds to beat, yet people in the rescue world are doing their
absolute best, and you can help too. If you are looking for a new furry family member, consider adopting from a shelter or rescue! If you can’t commit to the responsibility of a pet but would still like to open your house to one, please consider fostering with a shelter or rescue. Fostering is temporarily caring for an animal until they are adopted. Volunteering with and/or donating to your local trap-neuterreturn organization, shelter, rescue or other animal advocacy group is another great way to help change this grim tide.
Michaela Stanley CONTRIBUTING WRITERIt’s been frustrating over the past few months, to join in on pop-up events and club meetings when the fiers and emails that are sent out beforehand to advertise them don’t end up having correct dates, times, and/or locations. In some instances, it has discouraged students from attempting to show up at all. The Hub app is a perfectly viable option, but as of
now, it’s very seldom utilized. Snapchat is great for those who use the platform, but for those who don’t, they’re generally left learning about things at a much later date, if at all. It would be highly recommended that the school look for and invest in a tool of sorts that can help to better organize and coordinate school-sanctioned activities.
Political issues have always been trending on social media, across all platforms, to spread awareness of events and issues that have taken place in the United States and other countries across the world.
Current trends shift in correlation with the way that society shifts their focuses. It’s how we, and especially youths, gain our knowledge.
I will be looking into three specifc, different political issues that ended up trending on social media and suddenly disappeared once another problem surfaced.
These issues include the spread of the Coronavirus, the war between Ukraine and Russia and abortion rights in the United States.
Coronavirus was the topic of the century on all social media platforms for months after the worldwide lockdown.
That was, until the news of Ukraine and Russia broke out.
When the war started, it became the new big thing for everyone to talk about, and the Coronavirus sank quietly into the background.
Then, months after the initial news of war, the jeopardization of abortion rights began, and coverage regarding Ukraine and Russia started to dissipate just like the Coronavirus had.
Even though the issues regarding COVID and the war have started to become less popular of a subject, and videos focusing on abortion rights have since taken to the top spots, the war hasn’t stopped and neither has the spread of the Coronavirus.
Yet to social media, it was as if they became nonexistent.
Of course, some social media activists continue to speak upon these issues, but for some reason, once another issue arises, the trends shift like the snap of a fnger, leaving that latest topic in the dust.
This happened to both the Coronavirus and the war between Ukraine and Russia.
The Coronavirus was a popular social media topic to fall back on for years until the news of Ukraine and Russia broke out.
Once this war was known by those on the internet, many creators dedictated their pages to speak out about the war and the sadness that surrounded it. Months later, abortion rights began to be threatened, and videos over the war slimmed down massively.
It is quite strange when a new political issue arises; how it’s as if the other issue never existed in the frst place.
That is the main problem with trending political issues that are posted throughout many social media platforms.
It causes individuals to forget about ongoing issues quicker than ever before.
There are even some activists that have
grown frustrated due to individuals forgetting about existing issues that went away after another issue arose. Some commenters on videos and posts have spoke up, fretting that the internet has moved on.
Overall, this is an ongoing problem when it comes to social media with trends or trending political issues, that may never be solved.
On the plane/in the car
Fishing
Breakfast outside
Favorite spring activity
Selfe with your pet Blowing bubbbles
Shopping spree
Current project
Selfe with sidewalk art
Stargazing
Selfe on a walk
Selfe with something pastel
Hunting
Selfe with the Peru State Times
At work
Dancing in the rain
Date night with yourself
Favorite outft
Favorite meal or drink
In your happy place
Wearing a nature crown
Selfe with ice cream
Favorite pair of shoes
Selfe with book you’re reading
Playing a card game At the river
A daring hairstyle
Playing video games
Binging favorite show
Selfe with your parent(s)
A makeover
Fish you caught
Playing a board game
Listening to music
Artistic selfe
Selfe with your sibling(s)
Selfe with your bestie
March 1
1781: The Articles of Confederation wer formally ratifed. They stayed in effect until 1789 when the current U.S. Constitution was adopted
March 2
1793: Sam Houston was born in Rockbridge, VA
March 3
1913: A woman’s suffrage march in Washington, D.C. was attacked
March 4
1933: President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivers his inaugral address
March 5
1868: The U.S. Senate convened as a court to hear charges against President Andrew Jackson
March 6
1836: Fort Alamo fell to Mexican troops led by General Santa Anna
March 7
1876: Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone
March 8
1863: Confederate Colonel John Mosby captured Union General E.H. Stoughton
March 9
1864: Ulysseus S. Grant took command of Union armies
March 10
1880: The Salvation Army was founded in the United States (It was originally founded in England by William Booth)
March 11
1918: The Spanish Infuenza broke out in Fort Riley, Kansas
March 12
1888: The Great Blizzard of ‘88 hit northeastern U.S. covering New York City in over 40 inches of snow and resulting in over 400 deaths
March 13
1930: Pluto was discovered
March 14
1950: The FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted” list debuted
March 15
1767: Andrew Jackson was born in Waxhaw, S.C.
March 16
1968: Robert Kennedy announced his intention to run for president
March 17
1776: British fnished evacuating Boston, Massachussetts after it was seiged by Patriots.
March 18
1974: The Arab oil embargo against the U.S. lifted, bringing the end to the oil crisis
March 19
1589: William Bradford was born in Yorkshire, England
March 20
1816: The U.S. Supreme Court affrmed its right to review decisions of state courts
March 21
1918: The Second Battle of the Somme began
March 22
1972: The Equal Rights Amendment passed the Senate and was sent to the states for ratifcation. It later failed by three states
March 23
1775: Patrick Henry delivered his Liberty or Death speech before the Virginia convention in Richmond
March 24
1989: One of the largest oil spills in American history occured near Alaska
March 25
1911: The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fre killed 146 employees which led to workplace safety reform
March 26
1979: The Camp David Accord ended a 30-year war between Israel and Egypt
March 27
1958: Nikita Khrushchev became premier of the Soviet Union
March 28
1979: The Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant Accident occured near Harrisburg, PA
March 29
1979: The House Select Committee on Assassinations released its fnal report on the assassinations of JFK, MLK, and Robert Kennedy
March 30
1981: Ronald Reagan was shot in the chest, an assassination attempt he survived
March 31
1933: The Civilian Conservation Corps was founded
In the fall of 2022, the psychology club made a reappearance. With the help of professors Ananta Khatri and Kelli Gardner, president Kylie Edgington took the initiative to bring this club back to life. On Feb. 14, they hosted their frst event of the year.
Over dinner, the club used Carl Jung’s Typology Assessment to identify people’s
four-letter personality types. Students scanned a QR code, took the assessment and learned their personality type according to a four letter code. The club then gave each student a color that was associated with their personality type. Those with the same color were considered a match, or in other words, they would get along well. The club had just under 30 participants as a turn out for this event.
Another event
that the psychology club is planning to host includes a trip to the Glore Psychiatric Museum in Saint Joseph, Mo. on March 31. This event is open to all students. They will meet inside TJ Majors at 10 a.m. prior to departure and will return some time in the afternoon. All who attend must pay for their lunch, but tickets and transportation are completely free.
“I am looking forward to learning about psychological
treatment and the way that people with psychological disorders were treated,” Edgington said. “It will also be interesting to see how this has progressed over time.”
Vice president Gabby Wattier said that she is looking forward to recruiting more members.
“Psychology impacts everyone, so all people should join,” Edgington said. “You can learn so many things with psychology which is why I chose it as my
major.”
The psychology club meets every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 11 a.m. in TJ Majors 304. Students do not need to be psychology majors to join in on the fun. All are welcome and encouraged to participate.
Khatri said that people can use psychology in any feld, so it truly is for everyone.
“If you’re not in psychology club,” Edgington said, “what are you even doing?”
There is a freshly renewed club starting back up on campus this year: the Actions in Motion (AIM) Club. This ministryvolunteer oriented group was started years ago by Dr. Gina Bittner, who took a
couple years off from spearheading the group due to the Coronavirus. This year, the group has poppped back up.
Dr. Bittner started it with the help of freshmen
Rachel Wertenberger and Molly Girard.
Wertenberger has brought this club back into the light.
Participants meet every
other Monday at 8 p.m. in the basement of the student center.
Although they’re small, this club is eager to get involved with different volunteer opportunities around campus and in the surrounding area. This club encourages rallying together to grow in their faith and serve the
community and others. So far they have helped carry food into a church in Auburn. The church divided up the food and put it in backpacks for students who are attending Auburn community schools.
AIM is open to any volunteer opportunities they are offered and available to partake in. They
strive to spread the Good News to others while also helping with anything that the nearby community might need.
Reach out to Wertenberger or Girard if you have any questions or are interested in joining this club.
A grieving wife, Kayla Reece, recently lost her husband, Michael, due to a boating accident.
Needing roof
repairs on the home she once shared with her late husband, she meets contractor Aiden Leighrite. The two begin a relationship while Kayla deals with electrical problems and some paranormal activity in the old house.
everyone shell shocked. What I particularly loved about this book is that once you get the full story, there are many details throughout the previous chapters that connect to the ending and tie the book into an amazing bow-wrapped conclusion. I really loved Aidens character. He
was extremely supportive of Kayla and what she was going through. Another amazing character was Dante. He was a mysterious protagonist, and the way he was introduced was a bit confusing. The author was able to seamlessly explain the reason for his existence, and it
was a shocker. This book is for mature audiences only. I would have to recommend this book for 18+ readers, but I am glad that I decided to give this book a chance because it was truly on a different level when it came to describing the meaning of love. I will gladly rate this book 10/10.
www.peru.edu/psctimes
Editor-in-Chief Katelyn Crawford *
The Times, the offcial student newspaper of Peru State College, is published four times per semester by Peru State College students. The Times offce is located in the College Publications Offce 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 refect 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 perustatetimes@ gmail.com.
“I know you think I’m strong. But the problem with strong things is that they’re brittle. They can’t bend under stress. They just break.”
As the story continues, there is a huge plot twist that will leave
All the way from Mobile, Alabama, Scott Walker is the new band professor at Peru State College. Walker began working here last August in search of a temporary position. Walker was then given the opportunity to continue at PSC as a long-term professor.
Walker said he chose to continue his teaching at PSC because of the kind people and atmosphere.
“I knew it would be a great fit for me,” Walker said.
Out of all the other universities he has previously worked at, Walker said that he felt a special experience here at Peru.
“Everyone I have
met has been so kind and willing to help in any way they can,” Walker said.
The music world is often inaccessible to people. The Peru State band, however, is very welcoming to all no matter their experience.
Walker said that is how he knows that PSC is special.
“It’s because of the warmth it has to invite all,” Walker said.
Walker has been working on building connections and getting to know people on a personal level. So far, he said that his favorite part about the campus is working with the students and community members.
The PSC band department is an opportunity for those wanting to be a part of something special on campus. The band practices every Monday and Wednesday in Jindra. They spend their rehearsal time going
over music for upcoming events such as basketball games, football games and concerts. Class usually lasts about an hour, and students always have practice that they need to do individually.
Walker has been involved in many schools and many bands where he has gained a large repertoire of knowledge to pass on to students at PSC. He said that he has enjoyed his time here so far and he is looking forward to what’s to come.
“I was not aware of sexual assault before and I didn’t pay attention to it, but after I went to the discussion, I realized I should talk about it with my parents, sisters, and my family members.”
The above statement was written by an unknown student just last year during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. April is known as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The importance of this month is to spread awareness that sexual assault does still occur and to bring in communities together to help prevent these injustices.
Here at Peru State College, Suzan Moore is in charge of SAAM (Sexual Assault Awareness Month) with the help from Ulanda Cade, Kyle Pond, Cory Moen, Stephanie Huddle, Andrew Black Elk, Cole Nahlik and Mckinley Cross.
SAAM is collectively
• April 3 at 4:30 p.m. - Walk the Chalk at a tent at TJ Majors
(There will be suggested lines.)
• April 3 at 7:00 p.m. - Cats for Consent March located at TJ Majors
(“What Were you Wearing Survival
responsible for coming up with the activities that will take place during the month in honor of sexual assault awareness.
Moore is one of the individuals in charge of Title IX, the prohibition of discrimination based on sex, in the education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance.
Moore’s main goal for the events is to spread awareness around campus about sexual assault, and she said she hopes to put it to an end. That is why she created many events for students, staff, and community members to attend.
One of the major events from last spring was known as “chalk the walk” and it is making a reappearance again this year. The “chalk the walk” is collaborative effort where people can write down quotes about sexual assault awareness
on the paths and sidewalks around the Peru’s campus for anyone to see. After the paths have been marked, a group walk is held for all students and staff to join. This walk is around the marked path and will lead straight into the “What Were you Wearing Survival Exhibit” held at A.V. Larson.
There are plans to have a few new activities available this year as well as several returning ones from the previous year. Some of these activities are Sex Signal, an interactive experience, and a 5k Dept Dash in downtown Peru hosted by Nemaha County. Throughout the month, it is encouraged to wear teal to represent sexual assault awareness month. These are not the only activities that will be held in April. The dates in the graphic below are all created by SAAM and everyone is welcomed.
Not only are there activities being held, but there will also be a Project Response donation drive hosted by PASA. Every item donated to PASA will go to Project Response. In honor of this month, remember to wear teal on Tuesdays, and on top of the activities and donation drive, know that during this month there will be direct, easy-access support available. This support includes Campus Security, Employee Assistance Program, counseling, Title IX and the 24-hour hotline
Exhibit,” will take place after the march.)
• April 12 at 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. - Sex
Signals” presented by Catharsis Productions from Chicago
• April 15 at 9:00 a.m. - Steamboat Trace Trail Grand
Re-Opening and 5k Depot Dash
(Wear teal and registration is $25 through March 30 and then $30 until 10p.m. April 13th.)
• April 26 at 11:00a.m. and 7:00 p.m
- “The Hook up” presented by Catharsis
Productions from Chicago
(This day also marks National Denim Day. National Denim Day is to represent a court case that occurred where a judge blamed the victim for sexual assault due to having too tight of jeans and that she had to have
If you want to know more about individual activities or the donation drive, feel free to visit the SAAM website. The link can be found under the SAAM 2023 page on the Peru State College’s website.
Do not be afraid to reach out to any of the resources mentioned above if you need help, and know that you can seek assistance no matter the time of year. Your physical and mental safety is of utmost importance.
helped the assaulter in order for them to be removed.)
• April 28 from 9-11:00a.m.Campus Clean Up Day
(Campus Clean Up Day is a day where we celebrate our community by pitching in to...well, clean up!)
Think of one thing most Americans agree on. Just one serious thing. You can’t, can you? For every belief or idea in our nation right now, we have at least two large camps fighting over it.
In the current political climate, the two words thrown about the most often seem to be “unity” and “division.” Some people are condemning the division of our nation and calling for unity, yet we never seem to be united on anything.
It’s not just that we are divided, but also that we are viciously labeling and attacking each other.
To borrow the words from Tom Macdonald’s 2021 rap Fake Woke “We got so divided, it’s black and white and political. Republicans are bigots, ‘libtards’ if you’re liberal.”
It’s not just the political issues we disagree on; we are divided about cultural issues as well. We fight about who has the right to determine education for our youth, we fight about what a woman is, we fight about who deserves to have a platform, we even fight about the facts of the founding of our nation.
It’s one thing to argue about how to fix
the problems facing our nation, but we aren’t even doing that. We are arguing who is supposed to fix those problems. We are even arguing about what those problems are.
In regards to the war in Ukraine, we are not just arguing about what kind of help we should send but also whether we should send help at all.
We are arguing not just about solutions to climate change but whether it even exists.
We are arguing about whether we should secure our border.
We are arguing about who is qualified to run our country.
We are arguing about whether police forces are necessary.
We are not just arguing about who is equal but about what equality means.
We are arguing about the definitions of words such as: woman, racism, sexism, feminism, freedom, liberty and baby.
Of course we have always had our arguments and disagreements, but we always had some basic principles we were united on. Today we don’t even have that much.
At one time, really only about 20 years ago, most Americans could
agree on these three things: the nuclear family is the foundation of our culture, religion is the most fundamental part of our culture, and, despite its flaws, the United States of America is the best country in history. These three ideas are now so controversial, expressing them gets you called a bigot or worse.
It’s not even just that we disagree on everything. On top of our disagreements, we vilify each other to the point that the average person is afraid to speak out on his beliefs, no matter how mundane that belief might be.
As a nation, we are so concerned with offending someone, or being labeled as something terrible, that we have silenced our own voices.
We attack each other viciously in the news, on social media, even in our classrooms. Sure, it’s not the infamous caning on the Senate floor in 1856, but I think we are quickly approaching that point. We have already seen violence cropping up all around the country, from the BLM riots during the summer of 2020 to the riot at the capitol in 2021. We see our “elites” and “leaders” going at each other’s throats and begin to perceive each other as
having the same ire for us.
Of course there are some people who really do think vile things about their neighbors of a different political affiliation, but I don’t think normal people really hate each other as much as we think we do.
This perceived hatred causes us to strike out preemptively. It’s only a matter of time before the phantom hate believes itself into existence, and that is a truly terrifying thought. This hate we imagine everyone has for each other is beginning to influence our daily lives.
Leading up to the 2020 election, news stories cropped up everywhere about neighbors feeling unsafe because their neighbor flew a Trump flag.
One woman in particular wrote an article in which she grappled with complicated emotions after her neighbor, a Trump supporter, shoveled snow off her driveway. She wrote that she didn’t want to accept this kindness from her neighbor because of his political affiliation. She even wrote how she refused to think any better of him, not because he had done
anything to hurt her or her family but by sheer virtue of the fact that he had different political beliefs than she did. In this way, phantom hate is believing itself into existence.
Conservatives and liberals can’t even live in the same neighborhood because we are so polarized, and what about the people in the middle?
Both sides are constantly fighting over the center in a violent game of tug-of-war, it’s a wonder we haven’t yet collapsed.
I don’t pretend to have the answers, but I do know this: as a nation, we must find something that unites us. We must find something we can all agree upon. We must find some common cause to fight for and believe in. We must find some common ground, and what better ground than the one we live on?
America is, and always has been, the greatest and freest nation in the world. Sure, she has her flaws, but at the end of the day, she is the only nation that fights to right her wrongs and gives her people the liberty and freedom to make change. Surely that is something upon which we can all unite ourselves.
Peru State College’s Women’s Golf team will be seen in action coming soon this spring. Small but mighty, with their nine student golfers and senior student manager, led by coach Sue Owen, these Bobcats are ready to start the golfing season off strong.
Women golfers include freshmen Kelsi
DeCora, Alyssa
Empfield, Maddie
Krejci, Lauren
Lawless, Morgan
Runyan and sophomores
Jayden Duff, Carly Duff, Olivia Mcasey and Lara Wells.
Brooklyn
Brenneis is the senior student manager.
Golf is
like any other sport; it takes conditioning and lots of time. The girls have been preparing for this by building up their leg power for the walking of the course and also for putting more power into their swing. They have also been preparing by using the Happy Whackers simulator that is located in Rock Port during these cold days.
“Working on the simulator gave them the experience to strategize playing new courses,” Owen said. “This included course management, club selection for different conditions, and keeping stats
of their own game so they can see the areas of strength and weaknesses.”
Owen said she is eager to see their score improvements during the upcoming season.
“It should be interesting to see which golfer rises to the top,” Owen said.
The golf team has six tournaments coming up this spring. The Bobcats would love for a crowd to come and cheer them on. They welcome friends, family, and anyone else to watch them compete and support their triumphs throughout the season.
• March 24 and 25 at Graceland and Mozingo in Maryville, MO
• April 2 and 3 at Culver Stockton and Spring Lake CC in Quincy, IL
• April 12 and 13 at St. Mary’s and Tiburon in Omaha, NE
• April 21 and 22 at home at
Women’s Golf Schedule: The Five Stages of Art Student
the Table Creek Course
• April 24 and 25 at Mt. Mercy and Ellis Park CC in Cedar Rapids, IA
• May 1 and May 2 - Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament at the Preserve, in Moravia, IA
Depression by Michaela Stanley
It seems as if every week another school shooting story is airing on the news, whether that be at an elementary school, a high school or a college.
As people who live, work and study on a college campus, Peru State College students may be wondering: what is my school’s plan to keep me safe?
Head of Campus Security Tim Robertson has the answers.
In the event of an active shooter on campus, Campus Security would first alert local authorities because they are not armed security and might not be able to neutralize the threat on their own.
“Fortunately, there are a lot of law enforcement officers in and near Peru so they could get here pretty quickly,” Robertson said.
Campus Security would also send out a Bobcat Alert and may initiate a lockdown
depending on where the shooter is. They would then get to work getting students to safe locations.
Students have protocol to keep them safe as well.
Robertson encourages signing up for Bobcat Alert so that you know what is happening on campus and are not caught unaware. You can sign up for Bobcat Alert by going to peru.edu/ security or using the QR code that can be found in every classroom.
In the event of an active shooter, students should follow instructions in the Bobcat Alert and those given by school officials and deputies. Most importantly, students must stay calm. Panicking will only further endanger you.
Finally, in every active shooter situation, you have 3 options. Run. Hide. Fight. This is the protocol every student should keep
in mind.
1) Run
a. This means to get away from the situation.
b. This is not a chaotic run, but a deliberate act to save your life.
2) Hide
a. Find a secluded place with a lock.
b. Lock and barricade the doors.
c. Turn off the lights.
d. Silence your cell phone, do NOT put it on vibrate.
e. Stay quiet.
3) Fight
a. This should be your last resort.
b. Only fight if you or someone else is in eminent danger.
c. If you must fight, try to fight in a group rather than one-on-one.
d. “Don’t try to be a hero,” Robertson said.
e. Find objects that could be a weapon. This guide is not an exact order of procedures. Sometimes you must hide and then run. Sometimes you must
fight and then hide. Sometimes you might have to run and then fight.
Peru State College does not have full campus drills, but their emergency team does tabletop drills.
The CARE Team will receive referrals on students who are struggling with intrusive thoughts or mental health and will get the students the level of care that they need. All referrals are reviewed by the CARE team that is chaired by associate vice president of student affairs and has members from residence life, licensed student counselors, faculty representatives, security, a tutoring/ ADA coordinator and other individuals based on need or situation.
“If you see something, say something,” Robertson said.
If another student makes comments about carrying out a
school shooting and you consider this student to be making a credible threat, you should report.
You can report students through the referral system or directly through campus security.
Robertson also meets with all faculty and staff to brief them on what procedures they need to follow in the event of a school shooting. Students can keep themselves prepared by staying informed, signing up for alerts and always being aware of their surroundings. Always know good hiding places and several exits in each building.
“Peru is a very safe campus, so don’t live in fear,” Robertson said.
Peru is a small campus in a rural community with low crime rates. It is unlikely that an active shooter situation will happen on campus.
Bleary-eyed students trudge to their early morning classes, clutching cups of liquidenergy, struggling to stay awake.
Sleep deprivation is a real concern for college attendees. At least 60 percent of students report poor quality sleep, getting an average of seven hours of sleep per night according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Possible impacts of sleep deprivation include inability to concentrate, increased anxiety and depression and drowsy driving. In fact, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety finds 16 to 24 year olds are 80 percent more likely to be in a drowsy driving accident,
a sobering statistic for a heavy commuter campus like Peru. If you struggle to get good sleep at night, there are some things you can do to improve your sleep quantity and quality.
A big tip that you can try out is forming a relaxing routine before bedtime. This routine can include drinking a soothing beverage like chamomile tea or warm milk (but don’t drink too much!), reading a book (for example, a friend’s Mechanical Engineering Reference manual could help you doze off) and possibly above all, limiting your screen time, specifically the blue light emitted from electronic devices, before bed can also help you get to sleep
www.peru.edu/psctimes
sooner and make your sleep better.
Sometimes the act of simply getting to sleep can be difficult because your brain is being too loud, whether it’s reminding you of what you didn’t get done that day or it’s just stressing out in general.
Something which may be beneficial to build into your bedtime routine to limit these feelings could be journaling, writing down a to-do list for the next day to get it out of your head or just writing about things stressing you out so, again, it is out of your head and down on paper. Leave it for the tomorrow version of you to deal with.
Something that can also help is to get to bed
and wake up around the same time. Like dogs, human bodies function well when they have a routine and a set schedule, and doing this can help regulate your sleeping patterns and quality.
Going to bed by 9 or 10 p.m. is recommended since your circadian rhythm is lowest between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. respectively.
White noise, sound that simultaneously contains all the frequencies you can hear, can also be beneficial. You can find white noise videos on YouTube, or there are white noise apps such as SimplyNoise or Noisly. You can also purchase a white noise machine to
plug in next to your bed. Some people may sleep better in complete silence, which can be difficult to achieve if you live with roommates or in an overall loud building. In this scenario, you can try using earplugs or noise-canceling headphones to mute the noise.
Sleep is incredibly important for every body, so don’t neglect it! You may need to experiment to find the bedtime routine and habits that best suit you. If you continue to struggle with poor sleep quality, consider consulting a doctor or health professional for more personalized recommendations.
Contributing Staff
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 through campus mail or to: PSC Times, Peru State College, P.O. Box 10, Peru, NE 68421 or e-mail us at perustatetimes@ gmail.com.
FeatuRes MaRci wilRoy (6-7)
Where is student tuition + room and board going?
This year’s Jazz Festival consisted of not just the Peru State Jazz Band, but jazz bands from other schools as well. Groups from Southern High School, Auburn High School, Crete High School and Bellevue Logan Fontenelle Middle School all gathered together to participate.
This year’s festival was performed on March 24 in the Performing Arts Center.
“Each group played a short set, and then worked with our guest clinician, Scott Vicroy, who is a professional
saxophonist from Lincoln,” Peru State jazz band director Mark Benson said.
The Peru State Jazz Band plans to have another jazz festival next spring, but the date is to be determined.
The performances were not just held together by the music itself but the band students of Peru also had to perform jobs throughout the day in order to keep everything on task.
“Their hard work helped to keep things running smoothly throughout the day,” Benson said.
Members of the band have to all come together in order for this program to continue to thrive and run accurately.
This semester, the Peru State Jazz Band will have three more performances that are
A blind staff member’s journey and daily life.
A fun story about a nearby bike trail.
Directed by Laura Lippman
(Featuring the talents of Ryan Arnold, Trey Drake, Kaylee Eigsti, Alyse Foster, and Alfie Steele)
Jindra Black Box Theater: Tickets are free for PSC students, staff, and faculty. $20 general admission, $10 visiting students and seniors.
April 18 at 6 pm
April 19 at 5:30 pm
April 21 at 7:30 pm
April 22 at 7:30 om
April 23 at 2:30 pm
The story: Beane is in exile from life--an oddball. In fact, he rarely talks. His well-meaning sister, Joan, and brother-in-law, Harry, try to get through to him, but no one really can. When a thief named Molly breaks into his apartment, Beane is suddenly transformed. Joan is baffled to find her brother so blissfully happy. As she tries to unravel the mystery behind Beane’s new love, Joan’s own relationship with her husband undergoes a transformation as well. This captivating, quirky comedy is a tender and humorous rhapsody to love’s power in all forms. Rated “M” for mature language.
open to attendance for the public. The upcoming concert will be their spring concert that is combined with the Peru State Concert Band on Thursday, April 20 at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. They also have their annual Jazz on the Green coming
up on Thursday, April 27 from 11:30-12:15. This will be held in front of T.J. Majors Hall rather than the usual location on the Quad, because of recent construction. Lastly, they will be performing during the reception that is following
Commencement on Saturday, May 6. This will also be in front of T.J. Majors Hall.
The Jazz Band would love the support of their Peru community, and their performances are open to the public for viewing.
Graphics by Katelyn Crawford (special thanks to Jennifer Rieken for providing all of the following information)
2022 Revenue 2022 Expenses
Total: $35,081,658
Where does this money come from?
1. General funds (provided by the state of Nebraska): $11,504,604
2. Cash funds (student tuition): $9,192,063
3. Revolving funds (student room and board): $1,286,248
4. Federal funds (varies year to year based on the number of students who qualify for student loans and pell grants): $12,098,743
Total: $21,982,915
Which funds are covering which expenses?
1. Day to day expenses (staff salaries and operating expenses): general funds, cash funds, revolving funds
2. Reserve fund (required by the state): 8% of the previous year ’s general and cash fund
How much is each expense?
1. Staff salaries (230.56 full time equivalent staff members -- includes health insurance, retirement funds and FICA taxes): $14,237,823
In each of the graphics on this page, the most important information is bolded. (These are the things students want to know the most.)
2. Operating expenses (travel, capital outlay, tuition remissions and exemptions): $7,745,092
3. Included in operation expenses is $1,531,617 in food services
Student fees (paid every year by all students on campus)
• Capital improvement fee: $12 per credit hour
• Event fee: $10.85 per credit hour
• Facilities fee: $31.50 per credit hour
• Technology fee: $11.80 per credit hour
• Health fee: $6.25 per credit hour
• Student activity fee: $7 per credit hour
Student fees (one time fees, periodically or limited to specific students)
• Degree/graduation fee for undergraduate: $50
• Degree/graduation fee for graduate: $75
• International student fee: $150
• Orientation fee: $125
• Transcript fee: $5
• Matriculation and processing fee: $15
• Late payment fee: $100
• Reinstatement fee: $100
Student breakdown (2022)
• Total enrolled: 2,067 (1,763 undergraduates, 356 of which were dual enrollment students, and 304 graduates)
• Total credit hours taken: 37,598 for undergraduates and 5,172 for graduates
• Total international students: 18
What are these fees used for, and which fund sources do they go to?
1. Capital improvement fee - projects such as the new indoor recreation center (revolving funds)
2. Event fee - travel expenses such as for student athletes (cash funds)
3. Facilities fee - daily operational expenses ($2 to cash fund, $29.50 to revolving)
4. Technology fee - Cybersecurity Operations Center and other daily technological expenses (cash funds)
5. Health fee - operational costs related to the student health and counseling office (cash funds)
Total fees payed by on campus students in 2022: $125,315.80 (this number does not include orientation, transcript, matriculation and processing, late payment or reinstament fees)
• $79.40 per credit hour x 1,407 credit hours = $111,715.80
• Total number paid in undergraduate graduation fees: $10,900
• International student fees: $2,700
6. Student activity fee - supports the various student activites on campus (trust fund)
Overall, where is student money going?
1. Room and board - $775,732 toward staff salaries and benefits + $510,516 toward operation expenses = $1,286,248
2. Tuition - $682,937 toward instruction + $6,625 toward public services + $1,587,592 toward academic support + $1,993,842 toward student services + $3,403,640 toward administration + $1,088,415 toward physical plant (maintenance facilities) + $429,012 toward student aid = $9,192,063 (student fees that go toward cash funds are distributed in this number)
Story by Virginia Kouba
In August of 2022, Tim Borchers sent out an email that Peru State College would be switching from Blackboard to Canvas as its host site for students’ classes. This decision was made because Canvas is more widely used as a class hosting platform for transfer and first year students than Blackboard is. I felt a certain apprehension about the change since it meant learning how to navigate a new format on top of getting into the grind of classes for the fall semester. I hadn’t used Canvas before and at that point, I was used to Blackboard’s functions. However, sometimes getting out of one’s
comfort zone is for the best, and as it turned out, this was one of those times.
Now in Spring of 2023, I am happy about the change of platforms. I feel confident in my ability to navigate the site, and I think Canvas is a more straightforward, open platform than Blackboard is. It was a bit of a pain to switch between Canvas and Blackboard earlier this semester since one of my online classes was still hosted on Blackboard. Having gotten accustomed to Canvas, Blackboard seemed clunky and not as easy to navigate. Blackboard isn’t all bad. It has its pros and cons like any other platform.
On the main dashboard, all the classes you were taking are visible. The tabs for announcements and grades in the upper right-hand corner are accessible. Getting to some of the tools involves just a couple more clicks than on Canvas.
Along with being a bit more aesthetic, in my opinion, with its open, bright concept webpage, Canvas’s dashboard is set up with the courses you are currently taking. Once you select a course, you can see the side bar that features the modules, discussions, grades, and more. I feel that all those tabs are easier to view and access than on Blackboard. That is, if the
professor has made the tab visible. Neither platform is very easy to operate if the professor hasn’t set it up correctly. In the grades section, you can see the mean, high, and low of other students on each assignment once at least four students have been graded. It isn’t all rainbows and butterflies with Canvas, however. One negative that I ran into was regarding the discussion boards. While I don’t mind the discussion board layout, I did find it inconvenient how sometimes when replying to a post, your reply will turn into a post on its own, not a reply to the post you were trying to reply to. This was a frustrating and confusing surprise. Thankfully I realized how to stop this from happening: write the reply in a separate document, reload the discussion board page, then immediately cut and paste the reply in, and post.
For both platforms, a recap of notifications, grades or announcements for example, can be sent to your email.
I don’t generally
read them, but this feature is useful for quizzes that aren’t automatically graded or assignments that finally do get assessed by your professors. You may see that notification first on your email instead of on Canvas depending on what options you have selected or how you have your notifications set up. You can start or stop these notifications and change their frequency in the settings page on Canvas. Also, both platforms have a calendar feature where you can view assignments by due date.
This switch was tough for several students including me. It was probably even rougher on Peru professors because they had to learn the new format and also transfer their classes over to Canvas from Blackboard. At the end of the day, all we can do is try to make the best of the situation. Canvas seems to have a cleaner set up than Blackboard, and I think once everyone gets used to it, it will be a good platform for Peru State College.
Story by Elaina Riley
In 1975, doctors delivering premature babies had little understanding of the damage that oxygen levels could do to a baby’s future eyesight. Because of this, at 18 months old, Marci Wilroy was diagnosed with Juvenile Onset Macular Degeneration and was given her first pair of glasses.
Raised in Dodge City, Kansas and now a resident in Rock Port, Missouri, Wilroy is a local celebrity on the Campus of 1,000 Oaks. Some know her by her service dog, Weldon.
Wilroy works as a Student Services Navigator in the CATS Building at the One Stop on campus, assisting students with financial aid and other questions they may have.
While her eyesight is a part of who she is,
it is not her defining characteristic.
Wilroy has earned degrees in Arts, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Elementary and Education. She won awards for her photography in high school, earned a black belt in martial arts and she is raising three children as a selfsufficient single mom. While her life hasn’t been easy, Wilroy isn’t one to complain.
Wilroy was told that she would be completely blind by the time that she was 16 years old. Some people can be born blind, and for others it is a slow process. For Wilroy, it helped that she was aware of this from early on. She became completely blind about 10 years ago, when she was 35. She now has Stargardt’s disease and hemorrhaging in
her eyes. After many surgeries, nothing is helping her.
Wilroy said she is tired of all of the appointments and feels at ease with stopping them.
Wilroy has three kids. Ayden, 22, who is graduating from K-State; Lily, 14, the “funny, but brooding child” that reminds Wilroy of Wednesday Adams; and Madison, 12, the social butterfly, even with strangers.
Wilroy had partial sight when raising her first child, but by the last, she recalls having to put her hand on the side of her child’s face in order to feed her. She said it was difficult for her to not be able to see her son graduate–standing on the stage with his class.
Wilroy describes herself as a “soccer mom” being the loudest in the stands as she
cheers on her kids.
“It’s important for my kids to know that I am there and I support them, even if I can’t see them,” Wilroy said.
Wilroy worked as a juvenile corrections officer while she had partial sight. She says that the boys didn’t know what she could and couldn’t see, and tried to get away with things.
“They weren’t choir boys,” Wilroy said. “They were in there because they did something bad.”
Wilroy said that the difficult part of that job was the reoffense rate and the death threats that she received as a case manager.
“It doesn’t help to get kids out of trouble, try to teach them things and then put them back in the same situation they were in before,” Wilroy said.
After that, she ended
up pursuing Elementary Education, saying that she needed more “warm fuzzies in her world.”
Because she is living with blindness, Wilroy has faced discrimination in the workplace. It was very difficult for her to find a job, and she was applying to around 40 jobs a year.
Wilroy applied for many teaching positions, even at the Blind School in Nebraska City, and was turned down due to concerns with liability issues. Due to the American with Disabilities Act of 1990, you cannot discriminate in the hiring process because of one’s ability. While this may seem beneficial, Wilroy said that it limits the questions an employer can ask.
“They can’t ask about my vision or how I will do this job,” Wilroy said.
- Raised in Dodge City, Kansas
- Now lives in Rock Port, Missouri
- Works as a Student Services Navigator in the CATS building at the One Stop
- Has degrees in Arts, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Elementary and Education
- Single mother of three: Ayden (22), Lily (14), Madison (12)
- Previous jobs: juvenile corrections officer and elementary educator
- Service dog: Weldon
- Liked activities: swimming, listening to audiobooks, tent camping
- Bucketlist items: vaction to Yellowstone and traveling to Ireland and Australia
This only leaves them with their assumptions, denying Wilroy and others the job and going with the conventionally easier candidate. They can deny her by simply saying that they need a valid driver’s license without mentioning her blindness at all.
“I would rather have an open conversation of what I can and can’t see and how I use my technology and equipment,” Wilroy said.
Since the college hired her, the only thing that they had to get her was a larger computer screen. The college also accommodates her schedule with her driver.
Besides in the workplace, Wilroy faces other barriers as a person living with blindness.
Her number one thing is some people’s attitudes. Some also think that she can’t be intelligent because she has a disability.
“Just because I have a disability in one area doesn’t mean I am incapable of doing other things,” Wilroy said. “We just do things differently.”
Wilroy said she is proud of being a single mother, raising three children and doing the cooking and cleaning. She also doesn’t want people to feel sorry for her.
“I could never step foot in the workplace, but I want to work and be a productive person,” Wilroy said. “I want people to look at me and see that people
with disabilities are just regular people.”
Weldon, her service dog, has been with her for eight years. He assists her in getting from place to place as well as making sure paths are safe. He is off duty at home and becomes a regular puppy.
Weldon did not cost her a penny, because she got him from the Guide Dogs For the Blind program, but he is worth around $75,000.
Before Weldon, Wilroy used a cane. She now has to give Weldon her full trust. Because of this, they have a very tight bond.
Wilroy enjoys time with her boyfriend of five years, Kevin, who she met on an online
dating app.
“When he asked me how many kids I had, I almost said 12 to try to scare him off,” Wilroy said.
Another notable story is on their first date when Kevin (who is 6 ‘8) showed up at her doorstep and her youngest described him as “high” (aka tall).
Wilroy said she hoped her youngest was talking about his height.
She said that her favorite thing about Kevin is that he is funny, caring and a protector that cares for her and her kids.
With her mantra of “work more, whine less,” she spends her free time swimming, listening to audiobooks and tent camping.
Wilroy said that only slackers use an RV. Some of her bucket list items include vacationing to Yellowstone and venturing abroad to Ireland and Australia. Another goal she has on a daily basis is to interact with PSC students.
Wilroy said she encourages their questions whether it’s getting to know her or about living with blindness. She also said that students shouldn’t be afraid to ask her for help and move on to the next person in the One Stop.
“Whether it’s about my vision or not, I don’t care,” Wilroy said. “I’m a talker, and I will tell all kinds of stories.”
Story by Rachel Wertenberger
Campbell and Jessica had the perfect weekend planned. They were taking their bikes to the bike trail in Peru, NE. Recently, they found out this bike trail existed and is over ten miles long stretching from Brownville to Nebraska City. Since they’re both students at Peru State College, they were always looking for something new and fun to do on the weekends.
The weekend was almost here, and they both had their bikes, sunscreen and water ready for the day. Starting in Peru, they rode all the way to Brownville and stopped for a little bit to ride around town. Then, they got back on the trail and drove back through Peru on their way to Nebraska City. When they got to Nebraska City, they rode
around town for a little bit touring some roads they’ve never been down before. After that, they rode back to Peru where they started their bike journey. They weren’t tired yet and decided to ride their bikes east to
www.peru.edu/psctimes
the boat dock. Here they enjoyed resting and sitting by the calm water. The sun was going down so the girls decided to end their bike trail for the day and head back to the dorms. They were both excited to tell their friends
about the amazing bike trail that’s not even that far away.
Steamboat Trace Trail
Nebraska Arbor Station
Peru Brownville Lewis and Clark (dallasadmall. com)
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 through campus mail or to: PSC Times, Peru State College, P.O. Box 10, Peru, NE 68421 or e-mail us at perustatetimes@ gmail.com.