Shield Magazine | Volume 16 | Issue 3 | Winter 2016

SHIELD MAGAZINE

T H E I N D E P E N D E N T S T U D E N T P U B L I C AT I O N O F R O C H E S T E R C O L L E G E

WINTER ISSUE

A LETTER from the editor

I N

T R A G E D Y

A N D

I N

H O P E

In Shield Magazine, stories of tragedy and hope, in places both near and far, intersect.

This issue explores Flint’s water crisis and its effects on both local and national stages.

However, a few pages later, we also look at stories of young people who are using their creativity and drive to change our world for the better. Some of these stories of entrepreneurship have started as local as on RC’s own campus, but each of these organizations has a mission that can reach far beyond its corner of the world.

As technology and communication allow our world to grow smaller, our responsibility to take care of each other is magnified.

Flint’s sobering story of economic corner cutting, political oversight and resultant citizen endangerment has enraged even those far outside of the city. The problem of Flint’s water crisis has sparked empathy and protest from both local and national neighbors who may or may not have any personal connections to the city.

Likewise, the care young entrepreneurs have extended to the homeless, hospitalized children and those escaping sex trafficking transcends personal passion to engage in widespread shows of civic care and kindness.

In today’s world, stories of local injustice now catch national fire. Acts of goodness now have far-flung influence.

As you read Shield Magazine, we hope you’ll be inspired to consider more carefully the world around you. Our actions are important, and they are amplified.

Pay attention to each other, and take care.

02 // WINTER

SHIELD

»

CONTENTS

S H I E L D // WINTER ‘16

FEATURES 8 NAT’S DECLASSIFIED SCHOOL SURVIVAL GUIDE 6 WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE

...And Not a D rop To Dr i n k : E x plor ing F l int’s E nv i ron me nt a l C r is is

E ditor-i n-ch i e f Nat a l i e R e dmond w r ite s on sur v iv i ng RC

10 GOODS FOR GOOD The s e young e nt re pre ne urs are ma k i ng our com munit y b e tte r

17 MAN BUNS Fash ion’s Hair iest Situ at ion

15 OFFLINE FUN & GAMES Madis on Kol ke’s g ui de to go o d, ol d-f ash i one d f un for young ste rs and col l e ge k i ds a l i ke

18 MORSELS

PA G E S D E S I G N E D B Y N I C K S I M O N I S

Nug ge ts of e nte r t ai nme nt go o dne ss

22 TRUE WARRIOR: Gabr iel l e Wi ls on

S

shieldmedia.org The Shield Online @SHIELD_RC RCShieldtv shield_media shield@rc.edu

SHIELDMEDIA.ORG //

03

»

C O NTRI BUTO R S

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

NATALIE REDMOND

CO-CREATIVE DIRECTOR

NICK SIMONIS

CO-CREATIVE DIRECTOR

AMBER JOSEPH

ASSISTANT EDITORS-DIGITAL MEDIA SPORTS EDITOR ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR VIDEO PRODUCTION MANAGER SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

DYLAN BOLE & ALYSSA YAKEY LINDSAY BASLOCK RACHEL MERVYN MILTON CRIBBS KAITLIN MILLIGAN

SENIOR WRITER

SHILOH COVELL

SENIOR WRITER

NICHOLAS O’NEIL

EVENT & PROMOTIONS COORDINATOR

MADISON KOLKE

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS/PHOTOGRAPHERS CAROLINE HUEY, RACHEL MURDOCK, A.J. WILLSON PUBLISHER, FOUNDER & ONLINE ADVISER LORA HUTSON PRINT ADVISER LIZ FULTON MULTIMEDIA ADVISER KAYCE M C CLURE

04 // WINTER

SHIELD

PA G E D E S I G N E D B Y N I C K S I M O N I S

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ADINA V AN L OO , RIANNE ANNIS

THE FEED TWITTER

Dena Stewart

@EpitomeOfDena

I have the bad habit of taking comedians very seriously and accepting their jokes as advice for life.

«

Annika Huey

Follow

@annika_huey

Sleeping in my awesome blanket fort tonight because I’m an adult and I do what I want.

Follow

« Adina VanLoo

@Adinavanloo

A flashlight may be bright, but it doesn’t make it the sun. Just like you holding the flashlight doesn’t make you bright.

«

Follow

FACEBOOK

Bethany Hagerman

February 3 • Sometimes I feel like Windows 95 in a Windows 7 world.

Like • Comment • Share

Matt Sanders January 23 • tuna may be the chicken of the sea, but squirrel is the chicken of the trees Like • Comment • Share

Brandon Joel Langeland January 15 • Why? WHY must I have to say the following to residents? “If you want to come out to the lobby, you MUST be wearing pants!” And also, why does that then have to provoke a five-minute long argument?!

Like • Comment • Share

TO BE FEATURED IN THE FEED, FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @SHIELD_RC SHIELDMEDIA.ORG //

05

Water, Water, EVERYWHERE

AND NOT A

DROP to

DRINK

BY R I A N N E A N N I S

esidents of Flint, Mich., have been denied drinkable water—a basic necessity—for the past three years, but only recently has the issue received significant media attention.

During this long period of neglect, thousands of residents have been exposed to lead poisoning. With such a travesty so close to home, Flint’s predicament leaves many in Michigan wondering, “How can such a fixable problem be exacerbated in the U.S.?”

In order to save money, Flint switched water authorities in April 2013. A new pipeline from Lake Huron took water straight to Flint, rather than going through Detroit. The new pipeline wasn’t expected to be available for three years, but Flint needed to cut cost immediately.

In September 2013, Darnell Earley, stateappointed emergency manager, began to oversee Flint. Under Earley’s leadership and with a 7-1 vote from Flint City Council, Flint officially switched its supply to the Flint River in April 2014.

Even though the water supply from the Flint River is highly corrosive, proper amounts of anticorrosive agents were not added before the water was piped through the city. Countless residents suffered from lead poisoning as the highly corrosive water deteriorated the city’s piping.

Kayce McClure, a Rochester College adjunct professor and alumna, has lived in Flint since 2010. McClure compared the Flint River’s cleanliness to that of Lake Norcentra. “The Flint River is notoriously gross. So, when the city first announced the supply switch, residents had a lot of doubts. After the switch, there were a few times that the water was a brown-yellowish color,” McClure said.

The water not only looked bad, but it also tasted bad. “The water tasted like chlorine, but my family never really drank the water. We were able to afford bottled water and filters,” said McClure.

“Unfortunately, a large number of Flint residents couldn’t.”

P H O T O B Y K AY C E M CC L U R E

S TAT I S T I C S B Y V I R G I N I A T E C H

In August 2014, the city issued three boilwater advisories to residents after E. coli bacteria were found. Two months later, the water was in such poor condition that a General Motors plant in Flint stopped using it completely . The high chloride levels were corroding car parts.

Residents of Flint spoke out about their concerns over the strangely colored water, but city and state officials assured them the water was fine.

In January 2015, eight months after the initial supply switch, the city announced that Flint’s water contains a high level of trihalomethanes, a disinfectant byproduct. Though these levels violated the Safe Drinking Water Act, officials claimed that residents with normal immune systems had nothing to worry about.

For a $4 million connection fee, the city of Detroit offered to supply water to Flint once again.

However, Jerry Ambrose, the newly appointed state emergency manager, declined the offer.

One month later, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality attributed the claims of the water’s odd taste and color to “old pipes and cold weather.” They went on to further assure Michigan Governor Rick Snyder that the water conditions were not “an imminent threat to the public.”

In the same month, the untreated water contained 104 parts of lead per billion gallons. Concerned residents contacted the Environmental Protection Agency. Normally

under EPA guidelines, 15 parts per billion gallons is considered contaminated.

Three weeks later, that number rose from 104 to 397 parts of lead per billion gallons of water.

Former Mayor of Flint Dwayne Walling responded to residents’ concerns in a public forum on March 31, 2015.

“Whose test are we gonna trust? Flint’s water and Detroit’s water are about comparable. If you don’t believe these tests, that’s your prerogative.

This is a democracy,” Walling said.

Walling has since retracted his statements.

In attempts to further squelch residents’ complaints, Walling drank the water on local news.

In April 2015, Flint flunked the Safe Drinking Water Act again. Virginia Tech Professor Marc Edwards, who is an expert on lead corrosion, conducted tests and found lead levels as high as 13,200 ppb: more than twice the level the EPA classifies as hazardous waste.

These findings prompted Dr. Mona HannaAttisha to run blood test on local children. Her findings were not at all surprising: elevated lead levels were present in a large percentage of Flint children’s blood.

Finally, amid mounting public pressure, state and city officials mandated that residents not consume the water.

Although Flint finally switched back to Detroit water in October 2015, Snyder declared a state of emergency in January of this year. Shortly after, President Barack Obama declared a federal state of emergency.

An investigation into the situation is underway, but the damage to Flint’s residents has already been done. Additionally, the amount of money and time needed to fix the problem leaves residents unsure of how and when they will be able to use the water again. At this time, no longterm solutions have been announced.

For more info and to learn how you can help, visit

SHIELDMEDIA.ORG //

07

Nat s

S

e d i u G l a v i v r u S l o o ch

BY N A T A L I E R E D M O N D

I believe Rochester College has helped me become a successful person largely by accident.

As a 17-year-old Jewish student from a large public high school, I might not have seemed like a prime recruiting candidate for a college like RC. But I took a chance on a scholarship, and off I went.

Since I never fit in at my high school, one of my goals was to become well liked at RC. I wanted involvement, popularity and influence. I wanted to be noticed for these efforts, but hot diggity, I was also willing to work for them.

08 // WINTER

SHIELD

To my credit, I wasted no time when I got here. I jumped headlong into freshman year, retrospectively biting off far more than is advisable to chew: I double majored, sang in chorus, pledged Sigma Phi, edited on Shield Magazine, joined honors council and acted in RC’s plays‌and that was my first semester.

So this background leads me to my first lesson on finding happiness at RC: no matter how much you may want to contribute to campus life, take care of yourself first.

PA G E D E S I G N E D B Y A M B E R J O S E P H

This school has people who love you. It has people who will pray for you and it has resources for you.

But RC doesn’t have anyone who can watch you and make sure you’re taken care of.

Everyone on faculty whom you respect— everyone who mentors you—is very busy.

They will guide and help you, if you ask them to, but they are not your parents, and they cannot save you from destructive choices.

RC is understaffed and its employees are overworked. If you’re a good worker, people will ask for your help, and if you say yes to all projects that come your way and take on too much, no one will come looking for you when you disappear under that massive weight.

Know what you can handle. Know what is too much. Learn to say no. Help others, but take care of yourself first.

Besides, it’s immature to agree to numerous projects, get overwhelmed and then whine that nobody stopped you. College is about growing up, and one critical lesson of adulthood is that no one else is responsible for your actions.

However, it does bear mentioning that RC can sometimes be a difficult school to attend.

RC’s Christian principle of taking care of students in need can feel like a religious spin on No Child Left Behind.

RC enrolls some students who might not qualify for admission at other colleges, and while the school is rightly proud of those who come out of these programs successfully, not all do.

RC grants second and third chances to those who may take advantage of the rules the college has in place. Forgiveness is so valued as a virtue here that the administration’s good graces can be manipulated.

But if you come into RC as an academically inclined student who is looking for a college education that challenges you, it can be surprisingly easy to end up left to your own devices. Unless you seek out mentorship, your full academic potential can be neglected because, again, these overworked professors have competing pulls on their time.

“

Find your people. Love them madly.

And do the same for yourself.

So this discussion leads me to my next lesson: take the initiative to find helpful people, treat them well and build each other up.

Whether this means you vent your frustrations to friends who understand your situation, or whether this means you seek out a trusted professor and ask them for extra guidance, don’t move through college alone.

Find your people. Love them madly. And do the same for yourself.

I’ve had some good classes at RC, and I’ve had some fun. But most of my learning and development at this school has happened outside of the classroom, in the off hours.

I’ve learned that it is possible to both make friends and find courage at RC. If our college can give you these tools, then that may be enough to help you move forward.

SHIELDMEDIA.ORG //

09

GOODS for GOOD young entrepreneurs making our community better

BY M A D I S O N K O L K E

Angela Holcomb &

Liberation 12: While still a student at Rochester College, Angela Holcomb began Liberation 12 as a way to help those caught in human trafficking.

“Liberation 12 actually started by accident,” Holcomb said. “Maria Banou and I were brainstorming, and we thought that it would be a neat idea to donate 50 scarves to All Worthy of Love, which is an organization designed to help those enslaved in street prostitution.”

Holcomb decided to start small by requesting donations of Snapple bottles and scarves for her AWOL project.

“While I received many Snapple bottles, nobody donated scarves. So, I decided to make them,” Holcomb said.

However, instead of donating the handmade scarves, Holcomb’s husband Darren had the idea of selling the scarves around campus to provide funds to make more goods.

“He sold the first 10, and I took that money to buy more fabric and made 300 scarves,” Holcomb said. “I started to wonder if I could make my own business and create my own charity to help the same individuals.”

10 // WINTER

SHIELD

To those who would like to start an organization like Liberation 12, Holcomb recommends keeping expectations for growth reasonable.

“Also, make sure you enjoy what you are doing because the start-up has to be done in your free time,” Holcomb said.

Holcomb jokes about how her passion for Liberation 12 sometimes has to be reined in for practical purposes.

“After learning about the prevalence of prostitution in Detroit, I went out and started to buy things I thought could help. I quickly ran out of money and figured that I had to find a better way,” she said.

Holcomb also encourages college students to not let their age get in the way of pursing their dreams.

“There will always be people who aren’t sure whether or not they should take you seriously,” Holcomb said. “I may not have lived as long as they have, but I am doing my best with what I was given. I try to treat opposition kindly and focus on the work that God calls me to do.” ▶

www.liberationtwelve.weebly.com

Many students use college as a time to find professional direction and learn more about contemporary challenges facing the world.

However, some college students aren’t waiting on another company to provide them with internships or meet societal needs. Instead, these young entrepreneurs are taking matters into their own hands.

Nicholas Kristock &

Fleece & thank you Nicholas Kristock began Fleece & Thank You as a way to help children find light in a dark time.

“Fleece & Thank You was inspired by my 4-yearold friend, Sophie, who is battling neuroblastoma, an aggressive cancer that has taken over her entire spinal column,” Kristock said. “I have done a lot of work with children’s hospitals and I have seen firsthand how traumatic it is for a family and child when the child has a severe, hospitalizing illness.”

To help children and families through this rough time, Fleece & Thank You offers a free fleece blanket and a video message of hope to hospitalized children.

“I wanted to provide some comfort for these families. I also wanted to connect donors to their cause in an innovative way, and that’s what Fleece & Thank You has done,” Kristock said.

If you’re a college student looking to make a difference with a small business, Kristock recommends looking past doubt to see the bigger picture.

Kristock also encourages students to find allies who will give them a chance based on skills and drive, not age.

“There are two kinds of people: ones who will give a person a chance based on their character and skill while looking past age, and ones who won’t. I want to work with those in the first category, so I don’t let the latter slow me down,” he said.

Kristock finds immense satisfaction in his work, despite the fact that it can be draining.

“The most memorable moment of Fleece & Thank You so far was when we received our first warrior ‘thank you’ video. A boy named Levi and his mother made a video of him with his blanket, and it melted me. The night they sent the video, it validated every hour of work I had put into this mission,” Kristock said. ▶

www.fleeceandthankyou.org

SHIELDMEDIA.ORG //

11

Veronika Scott &

The empowerment plan Veronika Scott is the CEO and founder of The Empowerment Plan, an organization dedicated to providing help, warmth and opportunities for homeless individuals in Detroit.

While taking a design class at Detroit’s College for Creative Studies, Scott was challenged to design a product that met a real-world need.

She did her research in homeless shelters. The product she came up with was an adaptable coat that can be opened into a sleeping bag at night or folded into a bag when the coat isn’t in use.

One day, as Scott was leaving a shelter, the focus of her entire project began to change. “A woman came screaming at me that she didn’t need coats. She said coats are pointless and what people needed was jobs. I thought she was completely right,” Scott said.

Now, Scott hires and provides a living wage for 40 previously homeless individuals, all of whom are single mothers. The Empowerment Plan not

12 // WINTER

SHIELD

only trains these women to make the coats, but it also provides the women with career skills and future job placement.

“I was the only person who could create this opportunity for myself, and that is all we are trying to do for them. We want to give them the power to take control of the life they want to lead,” Scott said.

Scott’s non-profit is located at Ponyride Studios in Detroit. As of today, Scott’s coats have reached 30 states, three Canadian provinces and multiple countries. Each coat takes approximately threeand-a-half hours to make and costs $100 to produce.

The Empowerment Plan intends to produce 6,500 coats in 2016 and has made over 9,000 coats since it began in 2011. The organization has also lent over $40,000 in microloans to support employees as they embark on bettering their lives. ▶ www.empowermentplan.org

# DESIGN BY NICK SIMONIS

If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.

# PA G E A N D P H O T O B Y A M B E R J O S E P H

they tried to bury us. they didn’t know we were seeds.

OF F L I N E

FUN&GAMES Ma d i’s g ui de to good, old-fas hio ned f un f o r yo u ngs ters and college ki ds a lik e

BY M A D I S O N K O L K E Back in the day, when dinosaurs roamed the Earth and our parents walked to school uphill both ways barefoot through 3 feet of snow, people had to find inventive ways to entertain themselves because the Internet didn’t exist.

Although most of us had Internet access during our youth, I remember not caring as much about the Internet then as I do now.

I grew up playing games and chatting with friends on AIM, but I also remember that dial-up Internet would go out when the phone rang.

This inconvenience made the Internet more of a chore than a treasure to me. I stayed on AIM long enough to invite a friend over, and then I ran out the door to have adventures.

I’m certainly not one to bash the Internet, but it’s fun to think back to the activities that 5-yearold Madi would have played on a rainy day.

So for your free-spirited pleasure, here is my guide to offline games that children and college students alike can still enjoy. ▶

SHIELDMEDIA.ORG //

15

old school cruisin': Bike Circus Start off your adventure with a bicycle cruise around your neighborhood. Checking out cool houses and making up stories about the people living in them is a must. Then, true adventurers can try out fancy bike tricks, such as “No Hands,” “No Peddles” and the classic “Sitting With One Foot on the Seat with Other Extended Behind You.”

the go-to game: hide & seek This game has many forms, all of which are completely acceptable. Grab a couple friends, and whether you hide in a house, a Walmart or a dark woods, you’re guaranteed to have a riproaring good time.

STop. drop. race, yo Normally, the kids at my bus stop would play this game as we waited for our ride. Simply challenge a friend or two to a race to a certain point and back. Fast runners will get a chance to shine, and the adrenaline spike that follows is almost as good as a shot of espresso.

slap bet (OUCH!) Popularized by the T.V. show “How I Met Your Mother,” this game involves making a bet with a friend. Whoever loses agrees to take a certain amount of slaps to the face, distributed at random times by the slapper. Although this game sounds harsh, I think it’s important to teach children the dangers of gambling from a young age.

16 // WINTER

SHIELD

Mission impossible/the floor is lava These games require teams to get across a certain area without touching the ground. This can be done by either connecting an assortment of found objects or using furnishings to get across a room. This game invites children and adults alike to work together in creative ways.

If you’re playing The Floor is Lava but jumping from pillow to couch to table does not entice you, then I’m afraid you have no sense of adventure left.

human road rally (dress warmly!)

Find a group of friends and divide into two teams, with one car per each team. Blindfold a person in each group. Then, drop off your blindfolded member in an undisclosed location.

The blindfolded people then remove their blindfolds, call the opposite team and provide clues to their whereabouts. Whichever team retrieves the other team’s person first and brings them home wins.

snow surfing (swimsuit optional) This game requires a hill, snow and a sled.

Climb up to the top of the hill and position your sled. However, instead of sitting, stand on top of your sled like a surfboard. This game is most fun for your friends, who are guaranteed to enjoy watching you wipe out.

MAN BUNS fa s h i o n ' s h a i r i e s t s i t u at i o n

BY A D I N A V a n L o o

PA G E D E S I G N E D B Y R A C H E L M U R D O C K

F

ashion fads are notorious for quickly gaining both avid supporters and harsh critics. Over the past few years, animal prints and skin-tight jeans have been some of the more endearing trends, while baggy pants and mid-calf boots are hopefully on their way out.

But there are some trends whose staying power is yet to be determined. One such trend is the man bun. That’s right: the man bun.

Some of you just felt a chill run up your spine as you pictured a beloved male with his oncetame locks now grown out and pulled up into an atrocious knot of hair.

The other half of you just felt a different sort of rush as you pictured your man with a gracefulyet-manly ballet dancer’s bun atop his head.

Whatever your feelings on this trend, a few burning questions still remain: why is the man bun so popular, and how did it even come into existence?

The first wave of man bun fashion started as early as the 12th century. Between 1392-1897 A.D., married men in Korea would wear a bun, also known as a sangtu, on the top of their heads as a symbol of their marital status.

Man buns crept up again in 1970s pop culture.

During this decade, George Harrison, of The Beatles fame, rocked his Eastern-inspired man bun.

Many people thought the man bun was a joke.

John Belushi even sported a man bun on “Saturday Night Live” in his Samurai Futaba sketches.

Nowadays, however, man buns have become more than just a laughing matter.

With the prevalence of man buns, including the notorious sub-trend of fake “clip-in” man buns, both advocates and detractors are happy to lend their commentary on the fad.

Some girls love man buns. “I love different styles of hair, and man buns are my favorite.

When guys can do styles that I find difficult to do, it is so hot,” Katy Lawson, freshman, said.

Although a bun might flatter some men, the look might not befit every guy.

Conversely, some students are unforgiving when it comes to their opinion on man buns.

“Man buns are disgusting, dirty and look bad on men. If I had a chance, I would go up to a man with a bun, take a pair of scissors and cut it off,” Caleb Touchstone, junior, said.

So women, whether you love or hate man buns, be sure to take the time to show love, concern or loving concern to the men in your life who sport these hairstyles.

Men, perhaps you can help mold a new fashion trend that everyone loves. Stop discrimination.

Embrace the scissors or embrace the bun.

Everyone, when it comes to appearance, make sure you sport the style that fits you the best.

SHIELDMEDIA.ORG //

17

MO R SEL S TUNES

JESUS CULTURE / l e t it e cho [l iv e ] Recorded live in Sacramento, “Let It Echo” captures the heart of a community seeking to know Jesus more and to see this passion spread from cities to nations. The new album and ninth live recording from Jesus Culture includes 12 new songs. (je su s c u ltu re. com ) (C h r ist i an / Worsh ip ) - If you li k e : Hi l ls ong Un ite d

JACK GARRATT / pha s e This Londoner has spent the fledgling days of his career picking up armfuls of awards in the United Kingdom.

His debut (double) album justifies the billing. The juddering electro-R&B styles of the tracks showcase a skillful use of space and silence, while others reveal Garratt’s inner troubadour and an ability to move hearts, minds and feet. (iTu ne s ) (A lter nat ive) - If you li k e : Jam e s B ay

18 // WINTER

SHIELD

N U G G E TS OF E N TE R TAIN MENT GO ODNESS

PA RS ON J A M E S / t he t e mpl e E P Parson James will take you to church with his sounds of “Conflicted Pop Gospel” in his debut EP. The body of work features a solo rendition of the hit song “Stole the Show,” which James originally recorded and released with the band Kygo in March 2015.

(Pop G o sp el ) - If you li k e : L itt l e M i x

M A X FROS T /

C U R AT E D + D E S I G N E D B Y N I C K S I M O N I S

int ox icat io n With a strong background in blues and soul, Max Frost brings a unique sound to this simply stunning EP. Each song on Intoxication lives up to the EP title, as they embody the feeling of being under the influence of people, love and happiness. (renow ne dfors ou nd. com ) (Indie R o ck ) - If you l i k e : C ity an d C ol ou r

SHIELDMEDIA.ORG //

19

Âť

MOR SELS

THE REEL DEAL

SPOTLI GHT Drama The true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-ups within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core. ( IM D b ) St ar r i ng Mar k Ruf f a l o, R ach el McAd am s

R I SEN Ac t i on /D r am a Follows the epic biblical story of the Resurrection, as told through the eyes of a non-believer. Clavius, a powerful Roman Military Tribune, and his aide Lucius are tasked with solving the mystery of what happened to Jesus in the weeks following the crucifixion, in order to disprove the rumors of a risen Messiah and prevent an uprising in Jerusalem. ( IM D b ) St ar r i ng Jo s e ph Fi en n e s, Tom Felton

20 // WINTER

SHIELD

N U G G E TS OF E N TE R TAIN MENT GO ODNESS

READS

ME BEF OR E YOU

C U R AT E D + D E S I G N E D B Y N I C K S I M O N I S

by : Joj o Moye s Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he’s going to put a stop to that. What Will doesn’t know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of color. And neither of them knows they’re going to change the other for all time. ( G o o dre ad s )

SOM E OF TH E PA RTS by : Hanna h B ar naby ORGAN DONOR — Two words that were checked off on her brother’s driver’s license: words that her parents knew about and never confided to her. This deeply moving novel asks questions to which there are no easy answers as it follows a family struggling to pick up the pieces and a girl determined to find the brother she wasn’t ready to let go of. ( G o o dre a ds )

CLICKS THE FIGHT TO SAVE THREATENED SPECIES (360 VIDEO) by : D is cover y

10 TERRIBLE REASONS NOT TO VOTE (AND TWO GOOD ONES)

by : v l o g brot he rs SHIELDMEDIA.ORG //

21

GABBY WILSON

BY L I N D S A Y B A S L O C K

SERVING UP KINDNESS Gabby Wilson is more than just a volleyball player at Rochester College.

The public relations major, who expects to graduate in December 2016, is a down-toearth young woman who shows compassion both on and off the volleyball court. She is a kind face who greets you as you pass her on campus, always ready with a compliment if you are having a bad day.

“I’m going to miss seeing so many friendly faces at RC. We’re in a society now where people are all about themselves and their technology, so most people don’t even make time to talk. But when I see anyone here, they always make a point to say hello, and that means a lot,” Wilson said.

Wilson will undoubtedly be missed too. “Not only is Gabby an extremely dedicated 22 // WINTER

SHIELD

and supportive teammate and friend, but she has one of the biggest hearts I’ve ever met,” teammate Lindsey Leppek said.

Former teammate Kayle Loepp added, “She’s a great teammate.

On or off the court, she would do anything for you. True friends are hard to find, but she is one of them.”

Wilson said she is simply trying to lead by example.

GETTING SET FOR COLLEGE Wilson’s love of volleyball stems from her mom and aunt, who both played in high school. Though Wilson’s first sport was soccer, her interest gravitated toward volleyball when she was in the 7th grade.

“That year, I actually got to play with a team instead of just practicing hitting the ball off the wall,” Wilson said.

Wilson attended Warren Woods Tower High School

and played for three seasons on the varsity volleyball team. She started to consider playing volleyball at the collegiate level when Wayne State University took an interest in her. Unfortunately, after a dispiriting senior high school season, WSU cut off communication with her.

Upon her graduation, Macomb Community College expressed interest in Wilson and offered her a walk-on position for its team. Just as Wilson was about to commit, Rochester College Coach David Crump reached out to her by email to invite her to an open gym workout with RC’s volleyball team. “As soon as I got there, I loved the team. It didn’t take much longer after that for them to put an offer out for me, and that’s when I accepted,” Wilson said.

PA G E S D E S I G N E D B Y A . J . W I L L S O N

DIGGING INTO HER FAITH When she initially signed, Wilson’s relationship with God was distant. After a loved one passed away, her senior volleyball season ended badly and her original college plans failed to follow through. Wilson felt as though all of her doors were closing. “I thought that the offer to come to a Christian school was [God’s] way of reaching out to me to make amends. Since I’ve been here, my relationship with Him is better than it has ever been,” Wilson said.

During Wilson’s campus visit, Crump told her that everyone who attends RC is brought here for a reason and that she would figure out her reason eventually.

Wilson has had her share of uphill battles. When she was 3 years old, her father passed away. At one point, Wilson’s mother worked three jobs to support her. “I want to be able to give my mother 10 times more than what she has done for me,” Wilson said.

GAME ON RC’s women’s volleyball team ended the season with an overall record of 27-21 and a third place title at the USCAA National Tournament. One of Wilson’s favorite memories from the season was the Labor Day weekend tournament in Chicago, Ill. for the Moody Bible Institute Tri-match. The tournament took place over her 21st birthday, so getting to celebrate with her team while sightseeing in downtown Chicago was a highlight of her year.

Wherever life takes Wilson after college, her natural ability to connect with people will allow her to continue helping others and touching their lives.

SHIELDMEDIA.ORG //

23

The events we’ll remember the people we’ll never forget the stories we’ll retell

S H I E L D M E D I A . O R G