Shield Magazine | Volume 16 | Issue 2 | Holiday 2015

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

the hidden life

mental health crisis among college students

A LETTER from the editor

SHIELD MEDIA: OUR MISSION Over the past few years, Shield Media has grown and changed. Our magazine has expanded our content and design offerings, and through our website and social media channels, we’ve extended our online presence.

With all of these developments, our staff decided that Shield Media needed a guiding philosophy to anchor our work across these channels. And so, here we are…

SHIELD MEDIA IS THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT MEDIA OF ROCHESTER COLLEGE. AS SUCH, WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENGAGING IN THOUGHTFUL DIALOGUE OVER ISSUES THAT ARE RELEVANT TO OUR CULTURE. SHIELD MEDIA RELATES TO OUR AUDIENCE BY PROVIDING THEM WITH BOLD STORIES THAT ARE INTENDED TO ENTERTAIN, INFORM AND STIMULATE.

SHIELD MEDIA PARTICIPATES IN ROCHESTER COLLEGE’S FAITH-BASED MISSION AND BELIEVES THAT, AS ETHICALLY MINDED JOURNALISTS, WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ENGAGE EACH STORY WITH OPEN-MINDEDNESS, COMPASSION AND NUANCE.

ALONG WITH ROCHESTER COLLEGE’S DEPARTMENT OF MASS COMMUNICATION, SHIELD MEDIA HELPS PREPARE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS FOR WORK IN MEDIA-RELATED FIELDS

BY TEACHING AND HONING THEIR SKILLS IN WRITING, REPORTING, GRAPHIC DESIGN, VIDEOGRAPHY AND PHOTOGRAPHY.

SHIELD MEDIA IS A STUDENT AND NOT A COLLEGE PUBLICATION. VIEWS EXPRESSED ARE DIVERSE, AND DO NOT CORRESPOND TO ALL VIEWS OF RC’S BOARD, ADMINISTRATION, FACULTY, STAFF, STUDENTS OR OTHER CONSTITUENCY. Read and enjoy. Learn and grow.

Editor-in-chief

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CONTENTS

S H I E L D // WINTER ‘15

VIEWPOINTS 7 HAVE YOURSELF A THRIFTY LITTLE CHRISTMAS ‘ Tis t he s e as on of t r y ing to ke e p mone y in your w a l let af te r C h r ist mas shopping

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T H E HIDDEN LIF E Ment a l He a lt h C r is is Among C ol l e ge Stu de nt s Amber Joseph and Sabastion Seeger delve into mental illness on college campuses.

8 FIN DIN G YO UR CH I L L IN TH E W I N T E R C OMMU TE Tips & t r i cks to help your w i nte r dr ive

BITS 10 TH E FE E D 9

S U RVIVING FIN ALS

The War r i or h i g h l i g ht re el

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WOR K HAR D // P L AY H A RD Stu de nt l e a de rs at RC

11 IN S P 0 Cut-out e ncouragement

16 M ORS E L S Nug ge ts of e nter t ainment go o dne ss

BEYOND AVON

21 YE A R IN R E V I E W 5 R ES P E C TIN G IS L A M 6 C AM P U S S H OOTIN GS

SPORTS

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

22 TRU E WA R R I O R A l e x Stor m

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

S H I E L D M E D I A . O R G // 03

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CONTR IBUTOR S

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

NATALIE REDMOND

CO-CREATIVE DIRECTOR

NICK SIMONIS

CO-CREATIVE DIRECTOR

AMBER JOSEPH

CO-ASSISTANT EDITOR - DIGITAL MEDIA

ALYSSA YAKEY

CO-ASSISTANT EDITOR - DIGITAL MEDIA

DYLAN BOLE

SPORTS EDITOR ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR VIDEO PRODUCTION MANAGER SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER SENIOR WRITER

LINDSAY BASLOCK RACHEL MERVYN MILTON CRIBBS KAITLIN MILLIGAN SHILOH COVELL

ASSOCIATE WRITER

NICHOLAS O’NEIL

EVENTS COORDINATOR

MADISON KOLKE

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS MEG POLLOCK, SABASTION SEEGER

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS / PHOTOGRAPHERS ASHLEIGH ANDERSON, A.J. WILLSON, CAROLINE HUEY

PUBLISHER, FOUNDER & ONLINE ADVISER LORA HUTSON PRINT ADVISER LIZ FULTON MULTIMEDIA ADVISER KAYCE M C CLURE

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Love and Understanding Can Conquer Hate

BY D Y L A N B O L E

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

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ver since 9/11, American Muslims have been the targets of violence and hatred from their fellow U.S. citizens. This hatred is bred from ignorance and how the media has presented stereotypes of Islam, among other things.

However, as the United States becomes more diverse, American citizens need to learn to understand and respect their fellow neighbor.

In October, the Global Rally for Humanity organized anti-Muslim rallies across the United States. These rallies gathered people in front of mosques in order to show their dislike of Islam. At a few of these gatherings, people even brought guns.

However, a few shining moments of pushback were present at these protests.

At a protest in front of a Phoenix mosque, a local Christian church brought out signs about love and tolerance toward fellow Americans.

On the day of the protests, #NotmyAmerica was the number one trending topic on Twitter, as Americans vocalized their disagreement with the anti-Islam rallies.

This public communal reaction of acceptance and reason shows that communities can move beyond stereotypes.

For instance, at the anti-Muslim protest in front of the Noor Islamic Cultural Center in Columbus, Ohio, only one woman showed up.

This woman’s name was Annie, and she

came face-to-face with a counter-protestor, to whom she said, “If you’re a Muslim, we can’t be friends.” She also reiterated that her Bible supports this intention.

However, the counter-protestor, Micah David Naziri, saw this interaction as a learning opportunity for Annie. Eventually, Annie was welcomed into the Islamic cultural center and stayed for a two-hour discussion about the Bible, Torah and Koran.

She also saw afternoon prayers and received an English translation of the Koran.

This experience brought Annie into contact with Muslim-Americans as they really are, not as they are perceived by the media.

Movies such as “Zero Dark Thirty” and “American Sniper” present the United States and its national ideals as superior to all others.

The theatrical adaptation of Osama Bin Laden’s assassination mission comes with nationalistic overtones. The Navy Seals who completed the mission are rightly praised, but many negative connotations are placed on Muslims as a group.

In “American Sniper,” for example, one Muslim man helps the Marines, but he is pushed face down into the ground before he can answer questions.

Though these movies give viewers a behind-the-scenes look into the Marines, they do not explore Muslim characters with the same nuance.

American society’s reliance on both traditional media and social media

sometimes alienates us from encountering people face-to-face.

On social media, we follow people who support our opinions, and we are prone to speaking out without thinking about the influence our thoughts might have on others.

As a result, we do not often go out of our way to interact politely with those who hold different beliefs or opinions.

“We tend to rely on our social media for knowledge and fail to reach out to people on a one-on-one human level, and I think that is creating more ignorance and arrogance in our communities,” Imran Malik, president of the Noor Islamic Center Outreach Department, told The Washington Post.

Thus, it is important that we go out of our way to interact offline with our diverse neighbors in order to better understand their cultures.

Once a person has firsthand exposure to a group whom they might have feared before, they realize that those people go beyond their stereotypes and can be appreciated for who they really are.

Even simple gestures like saying hello to someone walking down the sidewalk or sitting down with a stranger can go a long way.

In these moments, knowledge is gained, stereotypes are pushed aside and community is formed. It is time to develop an America that appreciates and respects its diverse citizens.

S H I E L D M E D I A . O R G // 05

campus shootings how can rochester college respond?

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laces of education and growth are being haunted with stories of horror and tragedy. Campuses nationwide are turning into battlegrounds as rampant school shootings make colleges known for the loss of students rather than the achievements of their graduates.

According to data accumulated by the U.S. Department of Education, the number of campus shootings across America is constantly increasing. As of Oct. 27, 2015, 47 school shootings have rung out this year to date, compared to the 24 that happened in 2013.

One of the most recent campus shootings occurred on Oct. 1, in which 10 people were killed and seven injured when a shooter opened fire at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon. Hours after the incident occurred, President Barack Obama held a press conference about the events that took place at Umpqua, calling for tighter gun laws and commenting on how shootings have become “routine” in America.

In the wake of the Oregon mass shooting, Rochester College has turned to faith by offering up prayers for the victims and families affected, all while reinforcing campus security techniques.

Mark Johnson, RC’s director of operations, said that ever since the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007, RC has been taking steps to improve campus security.

The Virginia Tech shooting, which took place on April 16, 2007 and killed 32 people, is the deadliest college shooting in U.S. history.

“Shortly after the Virginia Tech shooting, we implemented a campus emergency text message notification system and campus intercom system for all students, faulty and staff,” Johnson said. “In addition to emergency text notification system, we have doubled the amount of security cameras on campus and have a full-time security staff.”

Johnson also noted that faculty’s awareness of the 1,103 students and their mental health plays a huge role in RC’s security system.

“Being a small school and having smaller class sizes, our teachers get to know each student personally,” Johnson said. “When a student begins not acting like himself/herself [missing a lot of classes, not taking part in discussions, keeping to themselves], our faculty take notice and have a way to flag it in our system.”

RC junior Rachel Taylor thinks that these relationships are essential to ending college shootings.

“Overall, I think professors need to be proactive about creating relationships with students,” Taylor said. “I think there’s a chance to reach these people before they commit these acts, but we can’t help someone we don’t know.”

Although mental health assessment is enough security for some, others believe more proactive measures need to be taken, including allowing faculty to carry firearms on school grounds.

In Michigan, it is currently legal for individuals with valid concealed pistol licenses to carry, even though schools are allowed the discernment to create campus gun policies for the safety and protection of students.

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RC junior Nicholas O’Neil believes that all college campuses should have designated faculty members appointed to carry firearms.

“RC doesn’t have a policy in place about an active shooter on campus, but I definitely think that staff should carry,” O’Neil said.

RC sophomore Brian Fonseca disagrees.

“I wouldn’t want teachers to be able to carry because I feel like a lot of them aren’t trained,” Fonseca said. “I would be more comfortable if we had security around with firearms; they would be well-trained and know how to better approach certain situations.”

Johnson said there has been no official discussion of allowing firearms onto campus, but RC understands the necessity of campus safety.

“We understand that going off to college can be very stressful for some students, and we see it as our responsibility to keep an eye out for each one of them and to help ensure their success,” Johnson said.

The Detroit Free Press reported that several other Michigan colleges—including Washtenaw Community College, Wayne County Community College and Wayne State University—are all stepping up security after the Oregon shooting.

Administrators from each college are increasing security on campus, all while continuously informing faculty and students on updated emergency policies.

These tightened security tactics, however, upset those who do not like the idea of preparing for a tragedy, including Oakland University junior Jontel Kildani.

Kildani has been paying close attention to the recent influx in campus shootings and the limelight each one receives.

“We are giving these situations and shooters way too much attention,” Kildani said. “As the media continues to focus on these things, it is only going to allow the minds of people who may be unstable to focus on this as well. You can tell there is a lot more fear in people than there used to be, especially in parents.”

Kildani said news outlets should focus more on outreaches for those affected, rather than the life of the person behind the gun. As a Christian, she also said that hearing about campus shootings has affected her and the way she looks at life.

“These tragedies have caused both my beliefs and my love for people to grow. We live in a world with way too many dangerous moments for me to ever not take advantage of a moment with a single person,” Kildani said.

When it comes to preparing for an active shooter situation, no safety program is foolproof, but campus administration needs to provide students and faculty with updated and comprehensible security policies.

RC’s campus security asks that if member of the campus community has witnessed an individual threatening to harm himself/herself or others, then report this incident to security immediately and inform them of the situation. Campus security can be reached at 248-765-8013.

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

BY A L Y S S A Y A K E Y

have yourself a thrifty little christmas

BY A L Y S S A Y A K E Y Oh, the holidays: a time of joyous family get-togethers and stuffing yourself with Christmas cookies until you’re ready to burst.

With the sound of carols in the air and decorations on every corner, it seems almost impossible to be anything but happy. If you’re like me though, reality sets in and your merry mood quickly diminishes when you realize you’re a broke college student with a shopping list almost as long as your last research paper.

I used to constantly stress about my financial situation during the holidays. It seemed like every weekend, there was a new holiday-themed party with a different gift exchange.

I began stretching my money thin by buying gifts for people, not knowing if they would like them or not.

At last I thought, enough was enough, and decided to turn to the, resurging trend of “thrifting.”

Thrifting involves going to different resale and consignment shops in hopes of finding the perfect, unique item. Contrary to popular belief, thrift shops actually have endless gift options and serve as a great alternative to ordinary stores at the mall.

All it takes is a little hunting and creativity to make an item new again.

Here are some ideas to kick start your thrift store Christmas:

Jewelry Thrift stores are full of vintage jewelry— everything from earrings to necklaces to bracelets—that can make the perfect one-ofa-kind gift if you either refurbish the item or give it on its own.

Chalkboard Creations Invest in a can of chalkboard paint, and you will have unlimited homemade gift potential.

Chalkboard paint can be used to make any type of item into a personalized canvas.

Decorate coffee mugs, old mirrors, vases and platter dishes, all of which can be found at your local thrift store.

Corkboard Montages

Sweater Boot Socks Old sweater sleeves can be turned into new cute boot liners. All you need is an oversized sweater and scissors. To make these boot socks, cut the sweater’s sleeves and then slide them over your jeans before you put boots on.

Personalized Picture Frames Walk into any thrift store and you will be able to find an abundance of unique picture frames. Frames make great gifts because, once again, you can make them your own. After decorating the frames, print off pictures of friends or family, and your gift is complete!

Teacup Candles

Thrift shops are home to oversized art pieces that can be purchased solely for their frames.

After finding a frame you like, pop the artwork out and replace it with corkboard.

Then, decorate the board with pictures and quotes to create a memory board for you and your friends.

Know someone who loves candles? This is the perfect gift for them. Thrift shops have aisles full of vintage dishware, including teacups. These teacups can be made into DIY candles. Fill the teacup with melted scented wax and a pre-waxed wire wick.

Mason Jars

Another unique gift involves old books, glue and a box cutter. Thrift shops are home to many books with amazing covers that could be used as secret compartments. For a small hideaway gift, all you have to do is cut the middle of the book out, and your friends will have a new secret compartment in which they can store small items.

Mason jars are trendy right now, and with so many uses, they make the perfect gift.

Decorate the outside of the jar with paint and ribbons, and fill them with ingredients like homemade desserts or shower scrubs.

Secret Book Compartment

S H I E L D M E D I A . O R G // 07

FINDING YOUR CHILL IN THE WINTER COMMUTE

BY D Y L A N B O L E

s th e sn ow b eg i ns to fa ll a n d sti ck to th e roa d, th e da i ly co m m ute ma ny RC stu d ents ma ke b eco m es m o r e str essfu l.

Yo u r th o u g hts w h i le d r ivi n g fo cus o n wo rst-case scena r i os li ke sli d i n g a n d crash i n g. Yo u g r i p th e steer i n g wh eel ti g hter a n d th e m uscles i n yo u r legs tense. H ow ever, th ese usefu l ti ps fo r w i nter co m m uters w i ll h elp ma ke yo u r da i ly d r ive m o r e co m fo rta b le.

Push all the snow off of the front end and hood of the car so it doesn’t blow onto your windshield. Also, make sure all the snow is off the top of the car because when you stop, the snow will cover the back window.

Additionally, monitor your windshield fluid.

In snowy weather, you use this fluid every day.

TIRES

In order to stay safe on snowy roads, your tires need to have a bare minimum of 5/32’’ tread depth left on them.

Winter tires are preferable because summer tires easily lose traction in sub-zero temperatures. Winter tires have a special rubber compound that keeps them soft in sub-zero weather, which improves traction.

IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT

Once you slide in, kick the snow off your boots. When snow melts inside the car, it can fog the front windows and make it hard to see.

Check that your phone is charged in case you get in an accident. (But never text and drive!)

Wear snow boots that allow you enough mobility to feel the pedals.

Bring an extra coat in case you get stranded outside. The clothes and boots you wear can make your commute a warmer and more comfortable experience.

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WHILE DRIVING

When driving in snow, move slowly. Use light pressure when pressing on the brakes and accelerator. Any abrupt movement with the steering wheel or hard stop on the brakes could cause the car to skid.

Keep your eyes on the road and stay attentive.

Maintaining a strong focus will help you notice the drivers in front of you and stop you from turning your head side to side, which may cause you to slide.

Also, keep your lights on at all time to help other drivers see you and to pierce through the snow falling from the sky.

Change lanes slowly and smoothly to avoid the ridge of snow between lanes that can grab your wheel.

Keep a four-to-five second gap between yourself and the car in front of you. This large gap gives you more time to react if the driver in front of you skids. On particularly snowy roads, stay slightly under the speed limit.

5

SLIP SLIDIN’ AWAY

If you do begin to skid, steer in the direction you are skidding toward. This maneuver will make it easier to get out of the skid.

If you happen to get stuck, instead of spinning the wheels by accelerating, shift from forward to reverse, which will give you momentum to start moving again.

PA G E D E S I G N B Y N I C K S I M O N I S / P H O T O S : P G 8 : U N S P L A S H , P G 9 : N I C K S I M O N I S

1 2 3

BEFORE GETTING IN

WITH TIPS FROM RC PROFESSORS

BY M E G P O L L O C K

AT

how do we balance taking care of our bodies with doing well on our finals and managing commitments such as work and family?

“

the end of each semester, students share the In the event that you are struggling to keep same stress: how to stay organized when finals up in class, professors recommended starting roll around. on damage control as soon as possible.

Energy drinks, all-nighters, and extreme Always talk to your professors if you are nerves reign supreme in December and April, worried about your classes. as finals exhaust us physically, mentally, “I’ve had students confess halfway through spiritually and emotionally. a course that they don’t have a copy of the God instructs us to take care of our bodies: textbook, when I’ve had a copy of it on Do you not know that your bodies are temples reserve at the library all along. At other times, of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you I don’t have such a ready-made solution, but have received from God? […] Therefore honor I appreciate knowing that the students are God with your bodies.—1 Corinthians 6:19-20. trying and that they care about the course,” So how do we balance taking care of our Nichols said. bodies with doing well on our finals and Bone suggests getting in touch with managing commitments such as work and another student who is doing well in the class. family?

Forming study groups can be very beneficial.

According to Rochester College professors, The more prepared you feel for an exam, organization is the key. the fewer nerves you will feel in the days If you are struggling to keep ahead of your leading up to it. coursework, Dr. Anne Nichols, associate Fewer nerves mean more sleep, a better professor of English, suggests scheduling chance of staying healthy, and more success blocks of time to study. Students tend to on your exam. Even though some of us may overload their schedules, which makes have test-taking anxiety that never quite finding study time nearly impossible. Cutting go away, you will feel calmer when you feel out extraneous procrastination can gain you prepared. precious hours of study time.

Finally, RC has several study resources However, if you can’t eliminate anything on campus. The ACE lab offers free peer from your calendar, then keeping your tutoring, and professors have office hours that schedule in check is crucial. are allotted for students who need help.

“Busy schedules necessitate an organized By taking the time to prepare for finals, method of recall,” Dr. Russ Bone, adjunct students will set themselves up to have a professor of religion, said. happier, healthier end of the semester.

If keeping track with a physical planner It’s not too late to get prepared. Talk to your doesn’t appeal to you, then try using your professor, set your phone’s alarm, meet with iPhone. The calendar, reminder and note another student, form a study group and hit apps available on smartphones are portable the books! and convenient.

S H I E L D M E D I A . O R G // 09

THE FEED Matthew Burrows

Jared Rush

@mattburrows12

17 of the top 20 songs on the American charts are by Canadians #ThanksJustinBieber #TAKETHAT

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Madison Kolke

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Zachary Kwiecinski

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@danifecteau

It’s now socially acceptable to listen to the Christmas music that I have been enjoying for a month.

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Shiloh Covell October 4

•

School is hard. I’m going to drop out and become a cat. Meow.

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@ZakKski

Do you ever buy new toothpaste and think, “Well, this is what my mouth is going to taste like for three months?” #DeepThoughts

Gage Bolton

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Kansas looks like a game of Zoo Tycoon before you build anything.

@Madisonkolke

One of the most important things I’ve learned in college is what my DVD title screen looks like on my computer

Danielle Fecteau

November 27

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Mercedes Hostetler October 26

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Little girl: Ms. Mercedes you work a lot! Kinda like Cinderella! And that means you will be in a castle and have a prince!

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Brittany Artis November 9

•

Dedicated to the other seniors finishing their senior projects out there...

@Gage_Bolton

That awkward moment when your tweet about eating your feelings away with pizza is printed in the school magazine...

« @BBoydgoblue

I don’t recommend inhaling the toothpaste while brushing your teeth...

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C U R AT E D / D E S I G N E D B Y B Y A M B E R J O S E P H

Brayton Boyd

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I HOPE YOU KNOW YOU’RE CAPABLE + BRAVE + SIGNIFICANT. even when it feels . like youre not.

DESIGN BY NICK SIMONIS

UNKNOWN

the hidden life mental health crisis among college students

BY A M B E R J O S E P H A N D S A B A S T I O N S E E G E R

the issue

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

*WARNING: The following article openly discusses depression, anxiety and suicide and how to combat these issues.

As a generation, we have a catastrophe on our hands: mental illness is affecting more than half of the men and women in college today.

Between school, work, relationships, extracurricular activities, daily tasks and vaious other commitments, it has always been easy for college students to overwhelm themselves. But why are college students today spiraling so quickly?

The National Alliance for Mental Health surveyed students ages 18-24. According to the results, 49 percent of students experience overwhelming anxiety and 30 percent had depression that made dayto-day functioning nearly impossible.

Dr. Tiffany Tuttle of Farmington Hills, Michigan, has some theories about these results. She believes the obligation that students feel to perform well for their parents, peers and potential employers is stronger than ever.

“There is such pressure to be better and to do better, and this pressure is causing students to crumble,” she said.

Students are often more concerned with how they appear to others than with how they feel inside.

Unsurprisingly, social media worsens this problem. Students are constantly inundated with updates of their peers’ accomplishments and life events, which can leave young adults comparing themselves to others and believing that those from their colleges and high schools are doing “better” than they are.

Rather than being a point of connection, social media can instead make young adults feel vulnerable and isolated.

Tuttle says when she went to college, this constant sharing wasn’t an issue. Nowadays, however, it is easy to feel left out, especially on a small campus.

In addition to these new social media problems, college students are struggling with the usual problems growing up can bring.

College students are expected to rapidly adjust to new habits and patterns. Busy schedules, procrastination, poor sleeping habits, excessive drinking and new relationships are all issues students face.

People who regularly get less than eight hours of sleep are four times as likely to be affected by depression and anxiety. Eleven percent of college students interviewed said they felt like they got “adequate sleep,” which was still only six to eight hours.

Drinking has also been closely linked to mental illness concerns, such as depression and low self-esteem. College students may drink to relieve tension and stress, but excessive drinking can cause deeper issues down the road.

As these problems snowball, even more stress comes from familylife and outside influences.

College students are maturing into adults, which can lead to trying times with their parents. Visiting family members can be fun, but family obligations quickly turn burdensome when students feel they are already drowning under academic and social pressure.

RC Dean Candace Cain believes students have trouble looking

past their current circumstances.

“It can feel like looking into a dark cloud, and if you don’t feel like you can see the other side, it is easy to spiral,” Cain said.

According to Tuttle, the most pressing problem is that many students don’t know where to turn to get help with their mental health.

Shield Magazine surveyed college students at several universities.

Of the students interviewed, 85 percent of these students had experienced severe depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts, but only 60 percent knew of mental health resources on their campus.

When it came to Rochester College specifically, 75 percent of students surveyed do not know that mental health services and counseling are offered on campus.

So, what are we going to do?

According to psychologist Dr. Greg Henriques in Psychology Today, one in three college students experience some sort of prolonged depression. If these statistics are applied to RC, roughly 375 of our own students are suffering.

Another study conducted at Emory University approximated that up to 7.5 percent of students suffering from depression attempt suicide.

Frighteningly, many students who are affected by mental illness do not receive adequate care, either because they are unwilling to reach out for help or because they don’t know where to look.

As evidenced by Shield Magazine’s poll, the availability of mental health services is not well popularized even on RC’s campus. Why aren’t the counseling services more publically advertised?

Reaching out when help is needed can be difficult enough, but finding information anonymously is almost impossible.

Furthermore, students who need help may not be able to say so;

“

there is such pressure to be better and do better, and this is causing students to crumble.

DR. TIFFANY TUTTLE

people who are suffering often don’t have the energy to leave their rooms, much less admit they need help and then search for it.

RC promotes a close-knit campus community, but there is still room for improvement when it comes to reaching out to those who may be struggling to hang on.

As a loving Christian community, we should work to understand that mental health problems exist even within our midst.

For the sake of those among us, we need to remove the silencing stigma associated with mental illness. One of the best ways to help is to increase awareness.

R C S H I E L D . C O M // 13

BY THE #’S 98% of students know someone affected by mental illness

85% of students have struggled with mental illness themselves

83% haven’t asked for help

1 in 4

have suicidal thoughts on a daily basis

375

suicide is now the second most common cause of death among young adults

#2

students at rochester college who are suffering, if extrapolated from natioinal stats

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the fix If you have been struggling, then it is important that you do what you can to help yourself. Tuttle recommends that you talk to somebody, even if striking up a conversation is difficult.

“It never hurts to reach out, even to a friend. I’m working to take the ‘sigh’ out of ‘psychology,’ and I hope people realize there is nothing wrong with needing help,” she said.

To break out of a less severe slump, try amending your schedule. Create free time in your day for activities you enjoy. Take walks, talk to friends, work out and try to remember to enjoy the breaks you have, even if they are just a few minutes.

However, if a bad couple of weeks turn into a prolonged struggle, then it may be time to seek more help.

Symptoms of severe anxiety include trouble concentrating, fearfulness, dizziness, shortness of breath, extreme feelings of stress, irritability and headaches.

Symptoms of severe depression include a change in appetite, loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy, sleeplessness and regular thoughts of dying or suicide.

Most importantly, no matter how bad your situation gets, you must remember that asking for help is OK. College is a difficult time for many people, and though your problems may seem crippling, you do not have to fight them alone.

The counseling service at RC is available within the psychology center in Muirhead. The first few sessions are free, and long-term help is offered at a low fee.

For more information on these services, call Dr. Gordon MacKinnon at 248-218-2112.

On the flip side, how do you help a friend who approaches you about his or her depression or anxiety?

How can you tell if those around you are in need of help?

Even if friends do not admit they are struggling, you may sense a problem if you notice abrupt changes in their personalities or behaviors. Take note if someone has a consistently negative mood, starts frequently skipping classes, or avoids friends and social activities.

If a friend reaches out, he or she may just need someone to listen. However, if talk turns to suicide or signs of major depression are exhibited, then you should reach out to someone who can help them.

in REAL LIFE

PA G E S D E S I G N E D B Y A M B E R J O S E P H / / P H O T O S B Y D AV I D T I L L E M A V I A N AT U R A L C L O T H I N G C O

In light of all this data and statistics, connecting this information to real experiences is important.

For 21-year-old Garrett Dickey from Kansas City, Missouri, depression is an issue he has struggled with for most of his life.

At 14, Dickey found himself depressed and suicidal following years of abuse at home.

“I knew there were two paths for me: one of which would end in depression and sadness for the rest of my life or one that would end in a life of success,” Dickey said.

Dickey was depressed throughout high school and in the years following, and he attempted suicide at home last spring.

Immediately after, Dickey texted his best friend who came over and was able to save him.

Dickey was hospitalized and diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and clinical depression. He claims that this scare was his wake-up call to get his life back together.

Though it has been a long journey, Dickey is doing better now. He believes that other people’s faith in him was critical to his recovery.

Now, Dickey is writing a novel about his experiences, and he hopes

“

to empower others.

“I want to show the ‘outcasts’ that you can achieve what you dream of achieving. I want to start a movement toward living an empowered life versus a mediocre one,” Dickey said.

Because of his experiences, Dickey understands the stigma surrounding mental health. He emphasizes that people must fight against them.

“It is our choice to move forward. This choice brings with it a very long and troublesome road, but it reaps so much reward. The only way to overcome is to get up everyday ready to fight,” he said.

Dickey has also founded Natural Clothing Company, which is based on the premise of being naturally yourself. He believes in uniqueness and finding success by utilizing your strengths and overcoming your weaknesses.

Dickey believes his experiences have made him stronger.

He empathizes with people more and has found insightful opportunities to support others.

“If I can empower myself to succeed, then I promise you can, too,” he said.

if i can empower myself to succeed, then i promise you can too.

check out natural clothing at

naturalcloth.bigcartel.com

If you need to talk to someone right away, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK For comments and questions about this article, email sseeger@rc.edu or ajoseph@rc.edu S H I E L D M E D I A . O R G // 15

MOR SELS TUNES

ALESSIA C A RA / k now i t a ll

I VAN & ALYO SH A / it ’s a l l j ust preten d

T he debut f rom t he D r a ke - c o s i g ne d s i nge r is l i ke a club for p e ople w ho ne ve r w ante d to j oi n one. Mov i ng ef for t lessly f rom ble a che r- b ang i ng p op ( “S e ve nte e n” ) to s mo ot h and s ou l f u l “O ut l aw s ,” C ar a has t he r are g if t of b eing able to pres ent t he c on f l i c te d mo o ds of yout h w it h cl ar it y and p ois e. ( i Tune s )

A lt houg h b as e d i n S e att l e, Iv an & A lyo sha cre ate a s ound t hat’s dist i nc t ly C a l i for ni an, w it h acoust ic i nst r ume nt at i on and br i g ht vo c a l har monies.

Th roug hout, “It’s A l l Just Pre te nd” is i nfe c t ious, w ar m, and br i g ht, of fe r i ng p o sit ive but not ai rhe ad e d guit ar tune s for a mel o di c, fe el -go o d f i x (i Tune s)

(Pop) - If you l i ke: Me g h an Tr ai n or

(A ltern ati ve ) - If you li ke : Th e He ad And The He ar t

CONCU S S I ON

TH E G O O D DI NOS AU R

In Pitt s bu rg h, a c c ompl ishe d p at hol o g ist Dr. B e n ne t Oma lu u nc ove rs t he t r ut h ab out br ai n d amage i n fo ot b a l l pl aye rs w ho su f fe r re p e ate d c onc uss i ons i n t he c ours e of nor ma l pl ay. (IM Db )

What i f t he aste roid t hat fore ve r change d life on E ar t h m iss e d t he pl anet and di no s aurs ne ve r b e c ame e x t i nc t? An ap atos aur us name d Arl o ma ke s an un li kely human f r i e nd, l e ar ns t he p ower of conf ront i ng h is fe ars and dis cove rs w hat he is t r u ly c ap abl e of. (D i sne y)

St ar r i ng Wi l l Sm ith

THE LITTLE P R I NCE

L OV E T H E C O O P ER S

A litt l e g irl l ive s i n a ve r y g row n - up worl d w it h he r mot her, w ho t r i e s to b e su re she is prep are d for it .

Her neig hb or The Av i ator int ro du ces t he g i rl to an ext r a ord inar y worl d w he re anyt hing is p oss ibl e ; t he worl d of The L itt le Pr inc e. (IM Db )

When four generations of the C ooper clan come together for their annual Christmas Eve celebration, a series of unexpected visitors and unlikely events lead them toward a surprising rediscover y of family bonds and the spirit

St ar r i ng R ac hel Mc Ad am s , Pau l Ru d d

St arri ng Joh n G o o dm an , D i an n e Ke aton

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of the holiday. (IMDb)

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 / / P H O T O S V I A G O O G L E I M A G E S

THE REEL DEAL

N UG G E T S O F E NTER TA INM ENT GO O DNES S

ANDRA DAY / c h e e r s to th e fa l l

G R I ZF O L K /

San Die go nat ive Andr a D ay, w ho k i ck st ar te d he r c are er by p ost ing R &B t a ke s of s ong s on You Tub e, ably attempt s t he f am i li ar s ou nd of s ong s ab out he ar t a che over re t ro- s ou l b a ckd rops i n he r debut . T he LP, i nspi re d by an eig ht- ye ar ­r el at i onship’s e nd, is ge nu i nely intent ione d and r ife w it h l e ss ons l e ar ne d. (Bi l lb o ard)

Af te r t wo ye ars i n t he ma k i ng , Gr i z fol k des cr ib e t heir debut a lbum as a j our na l of e mot i ons and memor ies f rom t he w i l d r i de ma k i ng it. The f ive -pie ce ens emble have a k nack for combi ni ng p op, fol k and ele c t ronics i nto a g l ob a l s ound a l l t he i r ow n. (i Tune s)

(R & B / S ou l ) - If you li k e : Amy Wi n eh ou s e

Wa k ing up t he g ian ts

(A ltern ati ve ) - If you li ke : Basti l l e

PAGES

I W R O TE THIS FO R YOU

C R ASH T H E C H AT TER B OX

by : Iai n T homas St ar te d 2 0 0 7 , “I Wrote T his For You” is an a c cl ai me d explor at ion of hau nt i ng ly b e aut if u l words , photo g r aphy and emot ion t hat’s u n i qu e to e ach p ers on t hat re a ds it . E a ch chapter of “I Wrote T his For You” fo c us es on a di f fe re nt fa cet of l ife, l ove, l o ss , b eg inn ings and e ndi ng s .

by : Ste ve n Fur t i ck Pastor Ste ve n Fur t ick fo c us es on are as i n w h i ch ne gat ive t houg hts are debi l it at i ng : i ns e c ur it y, fe ar, conde m nat i on and dis courage me nt. “What g re at de e ds are i n d anger of remaining undone i n your l i fe b e c aus e of l i e s t hat we re pl ante d in your p ast or fe ars t hat are lo oming in your f uture ? ” (B ar ne s & Nobl e )

( B ar ne s & Nobl e )

CLICKS

PEO PLE R EAC T TO BEING C AL L ED B EAU TIF U L

RE I N D I O R BY S H I E L D [S H I E L D MA S ]

by : she a g l ove r

by : Sh i el dT V

v ia YouTube

I F P H YS I C A L H E A LT H PR O B LE M S W E RE T RE AT E D L I K E M E N TA L H E A LT H P RO BL E MS by : Buz z fe e dYel l ow S H I E L D M E D I A . O R G // 17

Work HARD

PLAY HARD

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

B

ecause Rochester College is a small school, students here are often involved in many

activities beyond their academic requirements. In particular, RC is known for fostering leaders: those students who have the ability to not only maintain their own scholastic and extracurricular success, but who also help their peers to achieve.

Whether starting a new organization, raising finances for Ugandan development, uniting players into a team or leading campus social life, RC leaders are immersed in a wide array of projects.

Community cannot be formed at RC unless we start by understanding our fellow students and respecting their work. While those profiled here are certainly not the only hardworking students at RC, they do represent the diversity on campus.

By reading their stories, hopefully we can come to better appreciate their work and lives.

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Chris Winter

Senior//Accounting major//President of Delta Nu

Chris Winter—or, as he’s otherwise known on campus, Papa Bear—has spent the past five years bringing laughter, compassion and a fiercely competitive intramural spirit to RC. Though today Winter cannot imagine life without RC, he initially wanted to attend Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids. But the school was too far away from Winter’s home in Ray Township, Michigan, for his parents’ liking.

“Since I was homeschooled, my parents were nervous about me moving away. My older sister attended RC, so they made a deal with me that they would let me transfer if I initially came here for two years…but here we are today,” Winter said.

Once at RC, Winter pledged Delta Nu, and he has served as president of the club for the past two years.

“I didn’t know anything about the clubs when I got here. But my friends encouraged me to pledge, and it turned out to be the best decision of my college career,” Winter said.

Winter loves the way joining a social club allows students to find opportunities beyond their individual circles of influence.

“Being president has also given me the opportunity to work on my leadership skills while also maintaining close relationships with the guys and girls who are my best friends,” Winter said.

Outside of the club, Winter’s hobbies include making people laugh, playing sports and video games, and building up a number of collections.

“I like collecting license plates. I have all 50 states, as well as Canadian territories and provinces and Aruba. I also have about 3,000 hockey cards and 40 pucks. My uncle and I go to Grand Rapids Griffins games, and I collect pucks of the teams we see,” Winter said.

In the future, Winter dreams of traveling.

“One of my goals is to visit all 50 states. One of my other goals is to go to every NHL stadium and watch a hockey game there. I’ve already been to three,” Winter said.

Finally, Winter would love to visit both Sweden and Ireland.

“I want to kiss the Blarney Stone, even though people do unmentionable things to it,” Winter said.

sam d evries

PA G E D E S I G N E D B Y A S H L E I G H A N D E R S O N / / P H O T O S B Y C A R O L I N E H U E Y

Sophomore//theatre major//co-founder of rc theatre society

In the year and a half that Sam DeVries has been at RC, her warm personality and committed work ethic have already made her an indispensable figure on campus.

DeVries, who grew up in Beamsville, Ontario, was recruited to come to RC because of the relationship her high school, Great Lakes Christian, has with the college.

“I wanted to go to a Christian college, and since I received a good scholarship here, I decided to give it a try,” DeVries said.

Currently, DeVries’s involvement runs the gamut from being in Sigma Phi, singing in the a cappella chorus and, most recently, cofounding the new RC Theatre Society.

DeVries explains that the theatre society intends to serve as a bridge between RC’s theatre department and the rest of the campus.

“We want to create opportunities for all students to get involved with theatre, even if they may not have the time to commit to a large production. We will host benefits to fundraise for the department and put on events that are campus wide and open to all,” DeVries said.

DeVries is proud of the new program’s commitment to student leaders and community building at RC. “The Theatre Society is student led, and I am proud of the way we are taking initiative to further our theatre experience by hosting events outside the classroom. I’m also glad we’re trying to bridge the gap between the theatre department and other students who may not get as much opportunity as we do to be involved with this art,” DeVries said.

A true Renaissance woman, DeVries enjoys singing, acting, painting and hiking in her free time.

In the future, DeVries dreams of opening a cat café.

“In this café, there would be lots of cats roaming around that I adopt from different shelters. People could come in and socialize with all of the cats, and they could adopt them if they wanted,” DeVries said.

BEth Hagerman

senior//history major//manager at kibo corner Beth Hagerman’s life has taken her on a geographical loop: from a childhood spent in Cadillac and Grand Rapids, Michigan, to high school years in Utah, and back to the mitten again.

She chose to come to Rochester College not only because of the scholarship she was offered, but also because she wanted to be back in Michigan.

“Being so far away from Michigan made me realize how much I missed it. My high school class was bigger than RC, so it’s nice to be back in a place where the pond is a little smaller,” Hagerman said.

In the four years that Hagerman has attended Rochester College, her involvement has spanned a wide array of clubs, activities and travels.

Currently, Hagerman serves as the manager of Kibo Corner, the on-campus coffee shop that devotes 100 percent of its profits to Ugandan development projects.

Hagerman first got involved with coffee making at Kibo following her summer internship in Uganda with Kibo Group International.

“I went to Uganda and didn’t want my Kibo involvement to stop there, so after getting back, I told Larry [Norman, founder of Kibo Corner] I wanted to help him with the shop,” Hagerman said.

Hagerman is most proud of Kibo’s mission to enable Ugandans to take care of their communities in sustainable ways.

“Kibo works so hard to empower people in Uganda. They don’t have a ‘Look how great the West is!’ model where people aren’t actually left better off than they were at the start. Kibo teaches people to take care of themselves and make Uganda more selfsufficient,” Hagerman said.

Outside of Kibo, Hagerman’s interests range from crafty to eclectic: she enjoys cross-stitching, coloring and watching nature documentaries.

“I also like drinking piña coladas and getting caught in the rain,” Hagerman said.

In the future, Hagerman dreams of owning a Scottie dog…and perhaps a skyscraper and blimp, too.

“I also want to be the campaign manager for Kanye West’s 2020 presidential campaign,” Hagerman said.

S H I E L D M E D I A . O R G // 19

What is a funny story from your childhood?

Chris Winter

fred prest

junior//business major//captain of rc men's soccer team Rochester Hills is far away from Fred Prest’s home in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

“Rio de Janeiro is not like Michigan. It’s the second largest city in Brazil, and the culture, people, weather and environment are all different. It feels like I’m in a different world here,” Prest said.

While a small Christian college in Michigan might not seem like an international student’s first choice, studying at RC has worked out well for Prest.

Prest originally attended college in Georgia, but he wanted to transfer to a school in Michigan to be closer to his sister and mother, who live in Lansing.

Though Prest initially had an offer from Michigan State, his professional soccer experience in Brazil disqualified him from playing on their team.

When Prest heard about RC, he emailed Coach Tony Hermiz his highlight video. Hermiz liked it and emailed Prest back with an offer.

“Other Brazilian boys had signed to the team, too, so I wasn’t the only one,” Prest said.

Now, Prest is proud of RC’s soccer team and of the effort the men put into their work.

“I really like the other boys; they are all focused on achieving our goals. I also admire Coach Hermiz’s work and all he has taught us,” Prest said.

Off the field, Prest enjoys playing guitar, dancing, cooking and learning languages. He currently speaks four: Portuguese, Spanish, English and Italian.

After graduating, Prest would like to play soccer professionally, either in Europe or the Middle East. If athletics don’t work out, he would like to open a restaurant that serves either Italian or Brazilian cuisine.

“And I want to travel the world. There’s so much to see and learn from other people and cultures,” Prest said.

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“When I was 6, I thought I lived in a cartoon. So I thought that if I put a pencil under someone’s butt and they sat on it, they would shoot up and hit the ceiling. But this didn’t happen when I tried it on my mom. She was so mad that she walked upstairs, slammed the door and broke the door frame. Meanwhile, I sat downstairs the rest of the day alone, contemplating life and contemplating going to public school.”

Sam Devries “When I was little, I had a hamster. My hamster was pretty old, so my parents had told me that it was going to die at some point.

I thought so much about my hamster’s impending death that one day I went up to the cage, and my hamster was probably sleeping, but I thought it was dead. So I buried it…even though it was still alive.”

Beth Hagerman “When I was in first grade, I once bit my friend Shelby on the elbow because she borrowed a crayon I wanted to use. I was generally a pretty quiet kid, so even after Shelby started to cry about it, the teacher didn’t believe that I had bitten her.”

Fred Prest “As a kid playing soccer, if I felt that I played badly or my team lost, I would get sad, mad and cry after every game. Also, even though I was really small, I was a very energetic player. A fan once called me ‘abelinha,’ which means ‘the little bee,’ because I was always running around. And from that day on, everyone called me that.”

2015 YEAR in REVIEW 1,164 students 289 new students a few of

DESIGN BY AMBER JOSEPH

noteworthy

our fav things

Hamm

ocking

Razor

scoote

rs

ucks b r a St

lake norcentra park gets a makeover // aladdin comes to rc // two new degrees offered // yik yak causes trouble on campus // funds obtained for garth pleasant gymnasium // RC ranked in the top 20 colleges in michigan // wifi throughout campus upgraded

happy new year!

from Shield S H I E L D M E D I A . O R G // 21

TRUE

S

Warrio

ince he’s the son of two coaches, it’s no surprise that a basketball has been in Alex Storm’s hand since he was a child.

The senior from Marlette, Michigan, cites his mother as his greatest influence.

“She was a coach, and she inspired me to work hard, love the game and play for the right reasons,” Storm said.

Today, Storm’s day, like that of many collegiate athletes, is centered around the sport.

“I wake up, eat breakfast, go to my morning classes, have practice from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., get in an extra workout either before or after practice and then have class the rest of the day. On game days, we have a film session and practice early in the day, we go to our classes and then have the game at night,” Storm said.

Even beyond court time, the basketball team does a lot together.

Storm notes that not only does the entire student body at RC have a strong community bond, but the basketball team is like its own family. They volunteer in the community, mentor young children and coach summertime basketball camps together. Throughout all of these activities, the team’s chemistry is strengthened.

“The coaches try to make us better players on the court, but they are also concerned about us as people and students. They make sure we’re behaving in class and getting good grades. They want to make us better people off the court and get us involved in the community,” Storm said.

The respect is mutual. Basketball Coach Klint Pleasant depicts Storm as a “coach’s dream.”

“All of the coaches will miss Al when he is gone. We need to always have a person and player like Al in our program,” Pleasant said.

Storm’s relentlessness has made him one of the team’s top performers on the court.

Off the court, he embodies the program’s first foundational pillar of “Character in All Things.” He is a 4.0 student and carries himself with character while inspiring his teammates to do the same.

“He has embraced our culture and helped it carry on,” Pleasant said.

That culture includes traditions like a yearly team retreat. The

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past couple years, the group has rented a cottage near the Silver Lake Sand Dunes on the west side of Michigan. Before getting on the bus, each player turns in his cellphone to the coaches. Throughout the weekend, they are not allowed to use electronics.

“The whole weekend is [meant for us] to bond as a team and get to know each other,” Storm said.

In addition to team bonding, this weekend allows coaches to talk about the upcoming season, host a team bonfire and condition. The team runs up the sand dunes and has relay races.

The sand dunes are steep and not easy to walk up. However, in this practice, each team member has to run up them and then run down to tag the next player.

Storm shares that even though each person works hard to get up the hill, the team laughs when some inevitably fall on the way back and roll down the dune.

Another one of Storm’s favorite memories at RC was the team’s run for the USCAA 2015 National Championship.

The Warriors came into the tournament ranked third and worked toward the title game. During the semi-final game against Kentucky’s Berea College, they played until 1 a.m. and won by one point to get into the championship game.

“In the locker room after that game, I will never forget how excited the coaches and team were,” Storm said.

Even though the team ended up losing to Daemon College, they still recognized how special the opportunity truly was.

This year, the team’s overall goal is to win the championship.

“Coming in second place is disappointing. This year we have a few new players that can help us get to first,” Storm said.

Today, Storm is a senior in his fifth year at RC. He is a sports and business management major, but he has not yet decided what he wants to do after college. He has completed an internship within the auto industry, but wants to explore his options and perhaps pursue a sports-related career.

During his last season as a Warrior, Storm continues to lead his team on the court, off the court and in the classroom.

His character and work ethic are what have made him successful thus far and will carry him to success wherever he chooses to go.

PA G E D E S I G N E D B Y A . J . W I L L S O N / / P H O T O B Y I A N L E V I N S O N

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

o

Alex Storm

S H I E L D M E D I A . O R G // 23

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

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