The Clarion issue Feb. 2, 2022

FEBRUARY 2, 2022 • THEONLINECLARION.COM • VOLUME 52, ISSUE 10 • MADISON AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE OPINION

ARTS

SPORTS

Clarion editorial board weighs in on class delivery» 6

Going back to Hogwarts

Men’s basketball team loses 3 of last 4 games »12

After its 20 year anniversary, it’s time to revisit the world of Harry Potter. » 9

‘Honoring the Black Woman’ STUART PATE News Editor The Black Women’s Affinity Group (BWAG) is presenting an art exhibit honoring “The Black Woman,” as well as a departed friend and colleague, Dzigbodi Akyea. The exhibit runs from Feb. 1 through Feb. 28.

“She was graceful, kind, wise, a fighter for her students, loving and tough,” said TRIO Academic Success Coach and Coordinator Erran Daniels, in reference to Akyea.

Akyea, who passed away late last year, was a Madison College Student Support Advisor of 17 years as well as a passionate art lover.

“Her first interest was to use our Madison College’s Art Gallery to feature Black art and artists during Black History Month,” said Daniels. “The more she talked about a gallery event the more animated and excited she became.”

Coronavirus concerns kept BWAG from showing the exhibit until this year. To honor Akyea, BWAG came up with the theme

of honoring the Black woman.

BWAG’s first step was to reach out to the greater Madison community. They created an open call to artists which they posted to social media, emailed faculty, and sent out flyers to the University of Wisconsin art department, area museums as well as to local high school art teachers.

BWAG also went through the book, “Let’s Talk About It,” to connect with artists who created murals in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd.

BWAG’s efforts have paid off. Exhibit attendees can expect to see art from third and fourth graders from One City, a Middleton high school artist, as well as work from an artist from Africa who is currently incarcerated.

“We are so pleased with how this all came together and thankful for those who agreed to participate,” said Daniels.

A scholarship has also been established in honor of Akyea.

The Akyea Memorial Scholarship will be open to Black liberal arts transfer students who intend to pursue a four-year degree.

ANDRES SANCHEZ / CLARION

“Honoring the Black Woman” will run from Feb. 1 through Feb. 28 at Truax.

Financial assistance is now available for all students KALEIA LAWRENCE Editor in Chief

ANDRES SANCHEZ / CLARION

The first floor of the fitness center will be filled with free weights.

Fitness center opening in March KALEIA LAWRENCE Editor in Chief After many months of construction, the renovated fitness center will soon be open.

It is planned that the facility will be open for use after spring break. While the exact date isn’t set in stone, it is expected to be early April.

There are many new amenities that will make the area better for everyone who visits the space.

For the athletic side of things, there are new locker rooms which are already in use.

The layout is open. In-season sports will work be in the main locker room, while off season teams will use the visitor locker room. There’s also a private bathroom stall and shower for athletes to use.

With the previous layout, visiting opponents had to use the locker room for the general public. Now they will have their own locker room as well. Madison College » SEE

FITNESS CENTER PAGE 4

Students, no matter their life experiences, are typically in need of financial assistance. Whether it’s for food, housing, medical needs, textbooks or childcare, college students must find ways to make ends meet while keeping their grades up. As with many things, COVID-19 made this more difficult.

In order to combat financial issues, Madison College will be giving funds to those needing assistance. Students who completed a FAFSA will be awarded money automatically, but all students can apply. Some will receive $750 while others will get $500 based on their FAFSA eligibility.

At some colleges and universities, students must be enrolled in a minimum of six credits in order to receive the funds. However, that is not the case at Madison College. In the last year, it changed from being available to only degree seeking students to being available to those enrolled in one credit.

“Since any student due to the

pandemic could have a financial challenge, so we want to make sure, regardless of credit level, that all students could have access to funding and receive support,” said Keyimani Alford, Dean of Student Success and Access.

The money being awarded to students was made possible with COVID grants over the past two years. The fund was at $5 million at the beginning of the spring semester, with it already down to $2 million. However, this will likely be the final semester these specific funds are available unless the Department of Education gives more funding.

However, financial assistance will still be available to students after the federal money is gone.

Madison College will continue to have its emergency grant program. It won’t be a similar amount of money, but there will still be support for students in need.

“It's just a matter of applying and not feeling ashamed to seek assistance because that's what the funding is there for it to help them as they go through as far as their academic journey while here at Madison College,” said Alford.

2 | NEWS | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022

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OFFTHESHELF

NEWSROOM

By Dana Ryals, Librarian

This is the year to become an avid reader THE STUDENT VOICE OF MADISON AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE

2021-2022 Kaleia Lawrence EDITOR IN CHIEF

clarioned@madisoncollege.edu

Paige Zezulka

MANAGING EDITOR

clarion@madisoncollege.edu

Stuart Pate NEWS EDITOR

clarionnews@madisoncollege.edu

Kelly Feng OPINION EDITOR

clarionopinion@madisoncollege.edu

Lauren Taillon ARTS EDITOR

clarionarts@madisoncollege.edu

Cole Downing SPORTS EDITOR

clarionsports@madisoncollege.edu

Andres Sanchez PHOTO EDITOR

Vacant WEB EDITOR

Sydney Hise

SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR

It is well known that reading has substantial lifelong benefits for ourselves and our children. If you find yourself in the group of those that don’t read outside of class, perhaps this will serve as an inspiration to try something new in 2022 – becoming a reader.

There are many reasons to kick back and relax with a good book. This is not by any means an exhaustive list, but here are a few great reasons why we should all read.

Every time we pick up a book, we see examples of good writing and sentence structure, we come across new words and we always learn something new!

Readers are smarter

Readers have less stress

As professor emeritus Stephen Krashen has been publishing for decades, people who read for pleasure are smarter in almost every area than people who do not read.

Readers enjoy a higher GPA, higher intelligence and greater general knowledge as has been evidenced over and again through research.

Additionally, readers have better vocabularies and are better writers, making them better students.

In 2009, the University of Sussex led a study that revealed that reading for pleasure reduces stress by 68%.

This is greater than listening to music or sipping a hot cup of tea.

This comes from leaving your own realities behind and entering into a literary world.

Want to step outside of the pandemic? Give reading a try!

Readers empathize better A 2013 study by psycho-lo-

gists David Comer Kidd and Emanuele Castano proved that reading literary fiction increases our ability to understand the minds and emotions of others and to interpret social relationships within societies.

These skills are critical in everyday life to connect with our peers, make friends, and find love. As we are social animals, this is good news!

Awesome children

There is no doubt about it – reading aloud to our children is and always will be the best thing we can do for them. This builds a strong relationship between us and our kiddos, and who doesn’t want that?

Taleise Lawrence Sherra Owino Josie Rickerson

It teaches them early literacy skills such as vocabulary, pronunciation and speech.

They learn logical thinking skills when they can guess what happens next, and of course, it benefits academic excellence, as a student that can read the homework will always excel over those that can’t.

So there you have it – reading is a great exercise for our most important muscle – our brains.

If you want help getting into reading, visit the library’s website and search for something you are interested in and you can filter by ebook or print book to see our selection.

We can place books on hold for at any of the Madison College campuses, or get books from other libraries if we don’t own the book you are looking for.

Reading is a great leisure activity for many reasons, and we hope that you give it a try as we are all better people when we read!

CAMPUSUPDATES

COPY EDITOR

Clarion Staff

Michelle Meyer

BUSINESS DIRECTOR

clarionads@madisoncollege.edu

Blood Drive coming to campus

Ivan Becerril-Gutierrez

Give blood and warm hearts this month.

Join Madison College and the American Red Cross on Tuesday, Feb. 22, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Room D1630 B/C at the Truax Campus to donate. Sign up at: rcblood.org/donate.

No matter your blood type, you’re somebody’s type. This is the perfect month to make a heartwarming gesture and donate blood. Donors are needed to warm patient hearts this winter by giving blood to combat challenges like winter weather, which could impact the blood supply.

Madison College and the American Red Cross encourages donors to give blood now to help ensure a sufficient supply for patients this winter. Give patients in need another reason to be thankful.

For an appointment call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood. org. Use the sponsor code: MadisonCollege.

Appointments are preferred.

Questions? Email studentwellness@madisoncollege.edu.

DESIGN DIRECTOR

Luis Rodrigo Alcala Roblero Iman Alrashid Eimy Gonzalez Lilliana Miranda Melissa Moua Grant Nelson JD Smith Nelson Stuart Pate Keondre Randle Mary SeGall Boh Suh CONTRIBUTORS

Doug Kirchberg ADVISOR

dkirchberg@madisoncollege.edu CONTACT US

NEWS PHONE: (608) 246-6809 ADVERTISING PHONE:(608) 243-4809 FAX: (608) 246-6488

PHOTO PROVIDED TO THE CLARION

Public Safety would like to give a warm welcome to Student Officer Andrew Lee. Andrew is currently a student in the Criminal Justice program at Madison College. He has recently started with the department and is currently in training. Please say hello if you see him around!

PUBLICSAFETY

By Sgt. Lucas Adler

SUBMISSIONS To submit an item for publication, drop it off at The Clarion office, Room B1260G Truax and Room D237 Downtown, or email it to clarioned@madisoncollege.edu. The Clarion reserves the right to refuse to publish any editorial submission or advertisement, which may be edited for length, taste and grammar. All opinions expressed in editorials and advertisements do not necessarily represent those of the Madison College administration, faculty, the student body or the Clarion staff.

CORRECTIONS The Clarion strives for accuracy in all of its articles. If you have questions or concerns, please call us at (608) 246-6809 or e-mail: clarioned@madisoncollege.edu.

REMEMBERING Adam Lee Suby, 1987-2009 Philip Ejercito, 1981-2013

Remember to make sure you are signed up for WolfPack Alerts. In the event of a campus emergency or weather closure, this is the main way the Public Safety Office communicates information to the campus community.

To sign up for WolfPack Alerts, go the the Madison College homepage, click “Current Students,” type “WolfPack Alert” into the search tab and then click on the WolfPack tab. Simply fol-

low the directions to get signed up.

In the event of a weather closure, an alert will be sent via WolfPack Alert. A communication will also be sent through email and a message will be posted on the Madison College homepage.

As always, Public Safety is available 24/7 by dialing 245-2222. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me at 608-2434165 or send me an email at Lfadler@ madisoncollege.edu In addition to our Facebook page, we have a Twitter account! Be sure to follow @PublicSafetyMC to stay informed of what’s happening on your campus.

COVID-19 safety update

Madison College has decided to extend its face covering requirement through March 13. All employees, students and visitors must wear a face covering while inside any Madison College building regardless of vaccination status.

In addition, on-site COVID rapid antigen testing will soon be available to students and employees who do not have symptoms.

Starting Jan. 31, COVID testing appointments will be available at the Truax campus.

Situations where individuals without symptoms may wish to take a test include: • Students or staff who a required to undergo recurring tests to participate in academic or athletic programs.

• Persons who have been referred for testing by the college’s COVID screener.

If you are not feeling well or have any symptoms, do not come to campus but instead visit other testing sites available throughout the Madison College district.

FOLLOWUS! Follow us on one or all of our social media platforms for exclusives & daily updates! Visit our website for more at theonlineclarion.com.

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | NEWS | 3

National Guard learns nursing skills at Truax STUART PATE

will be trained as nursing aids to be deployed across Wisconsin to work in long-term care facilities.

Hospital beds are full, said Greenwood. This creates a bottleneck of care. Hospitals want to discharge patients that still need care. By staffing long term care facilities, they will be able to accommodate more patients in need of care.

“There’s a lot of moving parts,” said Greenwood.

“As cases of Omicron continue to surge, this support is critical for supporting Wisconsin’s nursing homes,” said DHS Secretary designee Karen Timberlake in a press release.

Guardsman came to Madison College and participated in an emergency nurse aid training program. This program emulates Madison College’s digital certificate nurse aid training

News Editor COVID-19 has led to an unusual collaboration between the Wisconsin National Guard and Madison College.

Late last semester, Dr. Lisa Marie Greenwood, Associate Professor of Nursing at Madison College, received an email from the Wisconsin Department of Human Services proposing a large-scale task. Greenwood was asked if Madison College could train between 80 and 120 Wisconsin National Guardsmen to work as nursing aids. Greenwood replied simply, “How can we help?”

“We sharpened our pencils and got to work,” continued Greenwood.

The National Guard has been charged with an urgent if not unusual mission. Guardsmen have been and

program, though the guardsmen did not receive college credit. Still, they were put through their paces.

Guardsmen learned basic skills including communication, understanding resident rights, safety and infection control. These are all skills necessary in Wisconsin before a student can lay hands on a patient.

The guardsmen then moved to the Truax nursing skills lab where they participated in Supervised Practical Training.

They practiced on each other, said Greenwood. “It’s one thing to brush your own teeth, it’s completely different to safely brush someone else’s teeth.”

They fed each other. They gave each other bed baths. Guardsmen did what they needed to obtain skills to support long-term care facilities.

Despite this intense attention to the National Guard, no resources have been diverted away from Madison College students. No sections have been canceled.

“The Wisconsin National Guard has been heavily engaged in the battle against COVID-19 since day one of this pandemic,” said Maj. Gen. Paul Knapp.

“We see ourselves as neighbors helping neighbors, and when we say that we mean it.”

The guardsmen and Madison College faculty were absolutely amazing to work with, said Greenwood. They were diligent, organized and collaborative. They embraced this as a mission, rolled up their sleeves and got to work.

“We’re doing it again,” said Greenwood. The next flight of guardsmen will be arriving Feb. 9 and graduating 10 days later.

Volunteer Center helps out at kitchen LAUREN TALLION Arts Editor

LUIS ALCALA ROBLERO / CLARION

PAC member Meriem Yahiaoui shows the stuffed animal she made at the Truax Campus Winterfest event on Jan. 31.

LUIS ALCALA ROBLERO / CLARION

The Geology Club recruited members at Winterfest.

LUIS ALCALA ROBLERO / CLARION

Noely Bonilla shows the stuffed animal she made.

Menning offers new ideas as peer health educator KALEIA LAWRENCE Editor in Chief A new semester brings new events on campus and fresh faces to student organizations. Katie Menning is a new peer health educator, and she’s excited for what’s ahead.

Although she’s new to the peer health educator program, she’s been around Madison College before. In 2015, Menning got two associate degrees. She’s now pursuing her first technical diploma in the medical assisting program.

One of the degrees that Menning holds is in global health. When considering how students at Madison College approach life, she understands that different areas of the world have different

access to resources.

“When it comes to my global health degree, I can kind of bring in that aspect of what's going on in European countries compared to what's going on out on the West Coast,” said Menning.

“It's just bringing more awareness and to connect with students who are not from the Madison area who are international students to be like, hey, you're from this region; this is what's going on here, this is how it can affect you and what you can do to help prevent it for yourself.”

Menning is excited about different opportunities to work with students.

“I actually volunteered for three years abroad to 22 different countries teaching English, sexual reproductive health, animal rehabilitation and

women empowerment. So when I saw that this role was up for hire, I was like, I can definitely bring in my aspects from that,” said Menning.

One of the events was National Wear Red Day, which is Feb. 4. Peer health educators gave out heart awareness t-shirts leading up to the day. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease and stroke cause one in three deaths among women each year, more than all cancers combined.

Another event coming up this month is a fitness challenge called Spring Forward: Get Moving. The challenge is to exercise for 150 minutes to earn a Healthy Cookbook. Visit https:// bit.ly/FitnessChallenge22 to learn more.

On Jan. 17, nine students from Madison College’s volunteer center helped Little John’s Kitchen get meals out to community sites in need for Martin Luther King Day .

“The volunteer center student organization is all about providing different options for students. So one of the student leaders of the volunteer organization, her name is Madeline, she created that volunteer opportunity for students over winter break,” said Brianna Stapelton Welch, Madison College’s volunteer center advisor.

Little John’s Kitchen is an organization that uses unwanted food from grocery stores, farms and restaurants, to make homemade chef quality meals for those in need. They also have a meals on wheels program designed for seniors. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Little John’s Kitchen sends delivery drivers to drop off dinner and a dessert for those who place an order through their website. The meals range from pesto pasta and Swedish meatballs, to BBQ chicken mac and beef stew.

The students were placed into a wide variety of volunteer groups and helped with tasks such as: making sandwiches, assembling salads, packaging up sauce, sanitizing containers, labeling packages and sorting fruit.

“There was, gosh, I think 400 to 500 meals to get out into the community, so once one type of meal was finished, they put us on onto the next one. So each of us got moved around to different volunteer stations throughout the afternoon,” Welch said.

While there are other volunteer events in the works at Madison College currently, the details of those events are still being worked out.

Welch did say however, that on March 2, there will be a volunteer fair and on April 13, there will be a food drive.

She also said that something is being planned for Valentine’s Day and spring break, but she didn’t have those details quite yet.

For students who are interested in getting involved with Madison College’s volunteer center student organization, they can join the group via WolfPack Connect, follow the group’s Facebook and Instagram pages or keep a look out for posted events on Madison College’s digital TVs around campus.

4 | NEWS | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022

FITNESS CENTER

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

sports that are out of season will be able to use the visitor locker rooms too.

Coaches and officials will have their own space.

A new training room will include more equipment to help with rehabilitation after injuries. Medicine balls can be thrown against a wall without disrupting outside areas. TRX suspension training can also be done in that room. Ice and other supplies will be in there as well.

Students who want to use the gym during open hours can check in at the front. There, you can check out a ball to

THE CLARION

use, volleyballs or basketballs.

The fitness center has a very open layout, similar to the locker rooms. The first floor is where free weights are.

The second floor is dedicated to cardio equipment. Everything is wheelchair accessible with an elevator that goes to the second floor.

Also found on the second floor are administration offices. This is the first time that everyone will be on the same level. A recruitment room peers into the Redsten gymnasium with a large set of windows. The athletic director’s office also has a window looking into the gym.

The fitness center and gym will be open to any students enrolled in a degree credit course.

ANDRES SANCHEZ / CLARION

Above, Jason Verhelst, assistant athletic director, showed the progress of the fitness center. Construction has been going on for a little more than a year. In order to create space for the new fitness center, the pool was filled in. At right, the second floor will hold cardio equipment while the first floor will consist of free weights.

Chester the Digester better for environment KALEIA LAWRENCE Editor in Chief For the past three years, Madison College has harbored an impressive device. When it was first installed two years ago, it was the first one in the United States. Found behind the culinary department's door lives Chester the Digester, an award winning biodiogesting machine.

Chester the Digester is a machine that takes scraps of food and turns it into material.

The material can be used for planting and gardening. It is then bagged and sold. Profits from the sales go towards Big Dog’s fund for the food pantry.

Last year, Chester was awarded the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Recycling Award for Innovation.

Scraps are gathered across the culinary program, cafeteria and bakery. They’re then placed into Chester to be composted. Pretty much any food can go into the machine, with

a few expectations like turkey bones and fat. Even some other materials can go in, like cardboard.

In order to compost, bacteria is added to the machine.

The bacteria is made at a factory in Madison, shipped to China to be embedded into sawdust, then sent back to Madison College to be used.

By using this machine, tons of waste is kept from landfills.

It’s estimated to save 25 to 26 tons per year.

“We watch our water. We watch our energy, wind and solar on the roof, you know, we do passive solar and all that kind of stuff and throwing this in the landfill is really unethical,” said John Johnson, culinary arts instructor.

Even though Chester was the first of its kind in the United States, this kind of device is very common across Europe. Since news of Chester has spread, Johnson has spoken with companies in all 50 states and even Canada.

KALEIA LAWRENCE / CLARION

Chester the Digester and machines like it save tons of waste from landfills.

THE CLARION

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | 5

opinion EDITOR: KELLY FENG CLARIONOPINION@ MADISONCOLLEGE.EDU

THEBUZZ

Questions asked to you, our readers.

What do you think of online classes?

"They're easy to manage and are flexible, but I dislike how isolated it is."

- Ben Wiest

"I would jump into the challenge mainly because of the flexibility and as long as I'm familiar with the interface and tools."

- Rebecca Lemke

"Online classes are flexible and help me balance my personal life and school life."

- Kevin Moua

IVAN BECERRIL-GUTIERREZ / CLARION ILLUSTRATION

Evolving thoughts on learning platforms SHERRA OWINO Copy Editor

T

here isn’t much debate that each person has their own way of learning. The mentality of “one size fits all” just doesn’t work when it comes to acquiring knowledge. A common conversation involves the basics of learning through hearing, seeing, speaking or hands-on. But what if the conversation needs to be more than that?

In our current state of trudging through the pandemic, styles and functional education have been some of the key topics spanning all levels of learning institutions. Blending what’s best for everyone both in safety and comprehensive learning has been a true challenge and ongoing debate.

The two ends of the spectrum include the more traditional route of being fully in-person on campus while the opposite end involves little to no human contact with virtual online classes. Then there’s those options in the middle that have a little bit of both with a hybrid or synchronous settings.

So, what do the Clarion editors have

to say about their preferences and what works best from their experiences?

The conversation rides the pendulum fully from one end to the other. In some respects, online learning is beneficial and even necessary. There are some students who have pre-existing conditions so continuing to distance is safer. There are also cases where lifestyles including work, family, and/or a commute make online school the only feasible option. In many of these cases, there’s a focus to simply work through the basic requirements of completing the education as though wearing blinders to avoid distractions. Online schooling helps to prioritize the essentials.

Other benefits mentioned for the virtual college experience emphasized futuristic perspectives where communication skills will be broadened as platforms to meet are expanded beyond in-person. And since the mandatory jump into online schooling has been implemented thanks to various saferat-home orders, virtual classrooms are working out the kinks to make it the best experience possible for its students.

As we swing now to the other side of the spectrum, we see opposite reactions to online learning where benefits are seen within in-person settings instead.

There’s no doubt that humanity was made for community, therefore making virtual learning an isolating event that can drastically affect mental health not to mention eye strain and other bodily repercussions. Being at a distance creates unique challenges for connecting with other students for friendships, study buddies or tracking down instructors that aren’t simply a “door knock” away at their office.

In some cases, online learning feels more self-taught and therefore doesn’t seem to give the benefit or money’s worth of being on campus. For those who aren’t looking to just cruise through school with the essentials but instead get plugged into more of the college experience with friends, campus activities and parties, being solely online can be a big bummer. Watching a screen about an event doesn’t give quite the same experience as being there with all five senses activated.

Now that we know more of what the

A lifetime of mindfulness PAIGE ZEZULKA Managing Editor

T

hich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, teacher, friend, poet, and the “father of mindfulness” passed away on Jan. 22 at the age of 95.

The name may be familiar to some, as his many famous quotes filter through social media feeds often, such as: “It is my conviction that there is no way to peace- peace is the way.”

“Mindfulness allows you to live deeply every moment that is given you to live.”

“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.”

Or you may not have heard about him at all.

And that’s okay. But it is time that you do.

Hanh advocated peace and the practice of mindfulness since the age of 16. His teachings

have reached around the globe, from the east to the west, benefiting communities far and wide.

From being a teacher, an artist, an author of many books, to creating his own everlasting monasteries such as Plum Village, this human’s impact on this earth is far from slim.

In the 1960s Martin Luther King Jr. noticed him and nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize back in the Vietnam War era. During this time, Hanh’s efforts working with the westerners, influencing peace instead of violence and ultimately opposing the Vietnam war, got him exiled from his own country, Vietnam, for 39 years.

This didn’t stop Hanh. He instead, led the Buddhist delegation towards the Paris Peace Talks in 1969, which ended the war.

Though, this passage is not meant to be solely surrounding the life of Thich Nhat Hanh. I think » SEE

MINDFULNESS PAGE 6

editors had to say, how are other students reacting and has enrollment seen any shifts at Madison College?

Each campus has their own factors but, in general, the data seems to ebb and flow with the pandemic where Fall 2021 had over 70% of classes being online with 30% being in-person to flipping with 70% being in-person and 30% in some form of virtual format. School programs would affect that such as the health and manufacturing classes that require much more hands-on learning. As one might expect, the older age groups are vying for the remote options possibly due to work and family whereas those in their early 20s are registering for more in-person classes.

While, yes, the challenge continues to find the best solution for everyone, it’s also to be noted that humanity was never meant to be put in a box. Not everyone is going to learn the same or appreciate the same style of education, specifically in-person or virtual. But that’s OK. The debate will continue but it’s pointing to the way the human brain was created: to be unique.

CLARION EDITORIAL BOARD 2021-2022 Kaleia Lawrence

Lauren Taillon

EDITOR IN CHIEF

ARTS EDITOR

Paige Zezulka

Taleise Lawrence

MANAGING EDITOR

COPY EDITOR

Stuart Pate

Sherra Owino

NEWS EDITOR

Kelly Feng

OPINIONS EDITOR

COPY EDITOR

Ivan Becerril-Gutierrez DESIGN DIRECTOR

The views expressed by The Clarion editorial board do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Madison College, its student body or any faculty therein. They are comprised of the writers listed above and/or of those who write for the Opinion section.

LETTERS POLICY

Letters to the editor should be typed or written legibly, be 250 words or less, and include the writer’s name, phone number and email address. The Clarion reserves the right to refuse to publish any editorial submission or advertisement, which may be edited for length, taste and grammar. All submissions become the property of The Clarion and may be used for publication. Bring letters to The Clarion office, Room B1260G Truax, or email clarioned@madisoncollege.edu.

6 | OPINION | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022

THE CLARION

Transgender representation in media must change KALEIA LAWRENCE Editor in Chief

U

nderstanding transgender stories and how the media presents them needs to change drastically.

I recently was able to see a portion of ALOK’s performance. ALOK is an internationally acclaimed gender non-conforming writer, performer, and public speaker. They have published three books, “Femme in Public”, “Beyond the Gender Binary” and “Your Wound/My Garden”.

They also recently headlined the 2021 New York Comedy Festival. Much of their work revolves around trauma and belonging.

During their time speaking, ALOK recited some poetry. Poems varied from their experiences in the Bible belt to New York, different struggles from within, outside influences and even

death; however they all seemed unified under the theme of compassion. There was compassion for self and others, even when someone was being hurtful.

I’m not sure how the audience responded to ALOK’s performance.

ALOK was brave by sharing their story, especially given the history of violence when transgender people share their story. I hope that those who heard understood the honor of listening.

There are many different starting points for anti-transgender sentiments, many of which are intertwined with racism and sexism.

Harmful ways of thinking can come from family members, peers, politicians or the media. Fear and misunderstanding can bring hatred to what some people don’t understand.

Violence against transgender people has continued to climb since data first began being recorded in 2013.

2021 marked the deadliest year with 46 transgender and gender non-conforming people killed, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Previously, 2020 was the deadliest year with 44 deaths.

It should be noted that there have been some positive steps when coming to trans representation. As discussed in the documentary “Disclosure,” much of media has shifted from purely negative stereotypes to treating transgender characters with respect.

While respectful and appropriate representations of transgender characters is helpful, it is not enough. In the past year, LGBTQ+ representation in the media went down from 10.2% to 9.1%, according to GLAAD. Data on the LGBTQ+ community is already limited, even more so when it comes to transgender people; however, GLAAD found that in 2020, there were

no transgender or non-binary characters in major releases.

Seeing stories from underrepresented communities is important but it’s not enough.

People must take another step beyond that into learning and listening.

It’s necessary to do some personal work and self-reflection to move towards understanding.

Opening your mind and appreciating transgender stories can make a difference. There are so many different options when it comes to consuming stories that represent transgender people, but something that must be done in order to dismantle anti-transgender sentiment and culture is that everyone must start listening.

As more people listen and understand, more decisive actions to support transgender people can be made in day to day life.

Is space tourism for human exploration or exploitation?

IMAN ALRASHID Staff Writer

H

ave you ever thought of taking a vacation to outer space?

For me, I have dreamed of going to outer space and dancing on the moon since I was a little girl. I didn't think how much the trip would damage the Earth. Or how much money will cost—just a little girl dreaming of dancing on the moon.

I support studying outer space. It might protect the earth from a catastrophic asteroid one day, and produce a lot of other medical and environmental benefits.

But what I don't support is exploiting outer space.

Most humans are driven to explore the unknown and push the boundaries of our scientific and technical limits. Still, I think it went too far with SpaceX, Blue Origin, and other companies.

They are spending billions of dollars and causing tremendous environmental damage to exploit outer

space for their interest to gain more billions from colonizing Mars and exploit those who so badly wanted to visit outer space.

SpaceX, Blue origin, and other companies are American space transportation services. They are racing to reduce space transportation costs so people can visit outer space and, in the future, colonize Mars.

Do you know how much the trip to outer space will cost you? According to The New York Times, every passenger will cost $55 million for its seat on a SpaceX rocket.

The billionaire Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, Jeff Bezos, the owner of Blue Origin, and others, are starting a giant leap for pollution. I believe they can do something about it, but they don't care. They only care about making a legacy and becoming a trillionaire.

We need to think of planet Earth first, not last. We need to protect the next generation's future on earth.

PHOTO PROVIDE BY TRIBUNE

A full-size model of the Crew-1 spacecraft module sits near the launch pad as a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is seen at launch complex 39A in the distance at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Nov. 15, 2020.

MINDFULNESS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

what he would prefer me do instead of praising his life accomplishments, he'd rather I spread his teachings of compassion, mindfulness and peace to the reader.

I first heard of the term mindfulness when I was a junior in high school. I dated a boy whose parents practiced Buddhism. I remember receiving a book from them by OSHO, an Indian Mystic, who really opened my eyes to the world we live in and religion in general.

Ever since then, I’ve been completely in the hands of oneness. Oneness meaning, we as people, as animals, as this Earth, as this universe, are collectively bound by love and a united consciousness.

Though, for many people they do not see existence as such. Egos get in the way. Society gets in the way. Money, power, greed and suffering get in the way. These are all examples of layers that coat our true selves and make it difficult to be mindful. What lies underneath these heavy layers, is a pure consciousness that flows with peace, love, and enlightenment. There lies a being that when still, can see.

Awareness is the first step to becoming enlightened. Today, you have begun to peel back that first layer. Think of a lotus flower, each layer of its pedals being peeled back one by one. The center, the stillness, the oneness is where you want to reach, complete mindfulness.

Though meditating is a recommended way to go inwards and find your center, there are many ways a person can be mindful throughout their days without being in a criss-cross meditative state.

Thich Nhat Hanh shared ways of the art of being mindful in people’s everyday lives such as, being mindful breathing, walking, doing the dishes or even brushing your teeth.

I would suggest starting small and beginning to

do daily tasks one at a time.

When you do your homework assignment, just focus on that assignment. When you drink water, be mindful you are drinking water. Be a mindful eater. When you bite into an apple, instead of just munching it down right away, take some time to notice its color, feel the texture on your lips as you bite in, hear the crunch it makes as it enters your mouth and taste the sweet flavor that is left on your tongue.

When you hear a song on the radio, take a moment to sit back and really hear what it shares to you. When you go to the park, take a seat on a bench, close your eyes and feel the gifts that surround you. Let your senses do what they are meant to do: enhance your existence.

When you begin to slow down and be mindful of your actions, your thoughts, and your overall existence, you will begin to see a difference in yourself and your surroundings. You will begin to feel lighter, at peace, in love, and at-home with yourself than ever before.

Listen to Hanh when he said, “Many of us have been running all our lives. Practice stopping.”

You never know what a moment can bring.

Though, it may seem simple, it can be difficult to be mindful. Let’s face it, life gets in the way. But even just a few times a day of being mindful can make a huge impact on a person’s wellbeing. So don’t give up!

Remember, not only will practicing mindfulness benefit YOUR body, mind and soul, but it will also benefit other humans, other creatures on this planet, and the environment in which we inhabit.

So, imagine everyone being mindful for just a couple moments a day. Think about the difference it can make. It’s as if we have the power to change the world.

That is what Thich Nhat Hanh wanted others to see. That is why he taught mindfulness and advocated peace for his life’s mission. I believe he has created a ripple effect of love and peace that will linger throughout time, but it’s up to us to keep the ripples flowing.

COVID-19 rules in Switzerland compared to the United States ASIME IBRAIMI Staff Writer

E

ven if you don’t follow the news, you must have heard or experienced the new and relaxed CDC rules with regard to COVID safety protocols. The United States has struggled with decision making for COVID regulations since day one.

I’ve recently had the pleasure of traveling across the country to Switzerland and witnessing the different approaches and lifestyles with this

pandemic.

The United States as a whole does not have a universal requirement for mask wearing, with states, counties and cities left to decide if and when face coverings should be required.

Vaccination is encouraged but is ultimately optional with no limitations.

However, in Switzerland, COVID rules are strict. The different realities hit me when I was rejected entry into a restaurant for not having the proper Switzerland COVID certificate.

Switzerland has a form that needs to

be filed, reviewed and then approved before you get specific personalized digital QR code that proves you are vaccinated and/or recovered from COVID. Every enclosed area mandated this QR code to be scanned for admittance.

Masks were required and COVID tests cost anywhere from about $33- $195.

If you did not have the vaccination you were required to be quarantined for about five days if you traveled in or out of the country.

It’s hard to compare the impact of the more stringent rules because

of the drastic difference of size and population between Switzerland and the United States. It is evident that the United States is less organized and indecisive with its feelings towards COVID than other countries.

The United States needs to make up its mind and get on one page. Either we commit to rules and regulations, or we don’t do anything and live regularly.

The constant changes and inconsistency are causing confusion and inefficiency. I think it’s unhealthy to live in unpredictable times.

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | 7

8 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022

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arts EDITOR: LAUREN TAILLON CLARIONARTS@ MADISONCOLLEGE.EDU

HBO MAX / TRIBUNE NEW SERVICE

On New Year’s Day, HBO Max hosted "Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts," celebrating the classic fantasy film.

Still a generational classic after 20 years MARY SEGALL Staff Writer The adventure all began when the first Harry Potter movie was released in theatres on Nov. 14, 2001. Every kid growing up in the early 2000s who instantly recognizes the instrumental theme song “Hedwig’s Theme,” composed by the legendary composer John Williams, are known as a Potterheads or followers of the Harry Potter series.

Let’s face it, as little kids, many of us used anything from twigs to hairbrushes or even our own hands to try and make those spells work. Spells like “Wingardium Leviosa,” otherwise known as the levitation spell, was one my favorites. I practiced and practiced, hoping someday I would get my letter to Hogwarts!

The Harry Potter series is full of fantasy, wizards, witches and spells. There are also mystical creatures like goblins, dragons, trolls, unicorns and even a Cerberus. Everyone has a favorite creature. Some like Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback, a dragon Hagrid raised in the first movie, while others like Aragog the Acromantula, the giant spider Hagrid

raised since it was a baby. Or some like Buckbeak, a Hippogriff from the third movie. My personal favorite was Fluffy, the three headed Cerberus in the first Harry Potter movie. Hagrid purchased him off a Greek chap in a pub one day.

A generation watched as Harry Potter first got his letter, delivered personally by Hagrid from Hogwarts on Harry’s eleventh birthday. There were several attempts to deliver it prior, but none of them worked due to Harry’s less than pleasant Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia interfering with Harry receiving his mail. Finally, Harry took his first steps through Platform 9 ¾.

We watched as the Sorting Hat placed him into Gryffindor house, just like his parents. He made friends with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger who were fellow first year students at Hogwarts in the Gryffindor house. They take their first classes at Hogwarts, make friends, make enemies and save everyone from a troll. They safely conquer Voldemort for the first time while Harry holds a certain precious object in his pocket after completing a series of difficult obstacles with Ron and Hermione.

Year two, “Harry Potter and The Chamber of

Secrets,” opens with Harry meeting one of my favorite characters, Dobby the house-elf. He warns Harry not to return to Hogwarts. After being rescued by Ron, they return to Hogwarts and run into a bit of trouble with a Whomping Willow Tree.

Strange occurrences happen around Hogwarts, such as a teacher’s cat becoming petrified, dealing with Moaning Myrtle in the bathroom and Harry getting beat up by a bludger in a game of Quidditch.

There is a rumor spreading quickly that the heir of Slytherin is none other than Draco Malfoy, which is later proven false. Harry finds a journal that belonged to Tom Riddle, the true heir to Slytherin.

Harry uses the journal to fight the Basilisk, a giant serpent that kills people who dare look it directly in the eyes. The Basilisk is defeated and Harry is reunited with his friends.

Year three in “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” Harry runs into some trouble when he makes a family member blow up like a balloon and fly away, even though he’s not supposed to do magic outside of Hogwarts. Harry learns that Sirius Black, » SEE

HARRY POTTER PAGE

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Lana Del Rey ruled 2021 with two new albums LAUREN TALLION Arts Editor

STEPHANIE KEITH / GETTY IMAGES / TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

Singer Lana Del Rey performs during an Apple launch event at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on Oct. 30, 2018, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.

One of the most influential alternative artists of the last decade, Lana Del Rey, has released not one but two albums for 2021. Following the March 19 release of her hit album, “Chemtrails over the Country Club,” the sultry icon also released her latest album, “Blue Banisters,” on Oct. 22.

“Chemtrails Over the Country Club” is an 11 song album that has a whimsical sound. Listening to it almost feels like you are walking through one of the artist's dreams as she reflects on herself, her relationships and life. The album opens with “White Dress,” a song that reflects on her time as a 19-year-old waitress working a night shift. This soft song is sticky with nostalgia for a time in the singer’s life where things were more simple for her. While it took me a while to warm up to this song, it ended up being one of the album’s highlights.

Other highlights include “Tulsa Jesus Freak,” “Dark But Just a Game” and “Yosemite,” with the latter song being a tribute to musical artists of the past, herself included, who created music for fun and for free. “Dark But Just a Game” is a song that ponders the price of fame and Lana’s disillusionment with the Hollywood scene. Her resistance to letting fame change her is evident in this song, as well as others on the album. The dark and passionate “Tulsa Jesus Freak” finds Lana yearning to rekindle a relationship with a past lover - a theme that is evident in many of the singer’s albums.

While many of the songs off of this album are slow, pretty and reflective, it is actually the upbeat

ones that really steal the show in my mind. “Wild at Heart” and “Dance Till We Die” quickly made it into the ranks of my all-time favorite Lana Del Rey songs, which is no easy feat. “Wild at Heart” continues to chronicle the singer’s journey with fame while celebrating her independence and the freedom to be herself. She pleads with listeners that if they are to love her, that they love her because she is wild at heart. “Dance Till We Die” is probably the most revolutionary song off the album and the most different song from the star in recent memory. She stretches her vocals to give a feel-good jam filled with hope and happiness in uncertain times. This song proves that the singer can still do pop while dabbling in jazz as well as other genres, making this one a must listen.

When I first heard she was releasing another album in the same year, I grew nervous. I was excited but also stressed because I was worried that all of her creative juices were spent on “Chemtrails Over the Country Club,” and that I would be disappointed by an album filled with possible laissez-faire elevator music. In my opinion, any artist who drops two or more albums in a year can run this risk. But Lana is not any artist.

Instead she graced listeners with 15 tracks that are pure gold. In an Instagram post, Del Rey heralds this album as her story, presumably over the last few years, with the first three songs chronicling what she calls “the beginning.”

The album opens up with her first single, “Text Book,” which is a slow introspective piece about a relationship that ultimately didn’t work out. Of » SEE

LANA DEL REY PAGE 11

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | ARTS | 9

JON KOPALOFF / GETTY IMAGES / TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

Luke Bryan attends the premiere event for "American Idol" hosted by ABC at Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on Feb. 12, 2020 in Hollywood, California.

Luke Bryan’s new song ‘Up’ MARY SEGALL Staff Writer Luke Bryan, a country superstar, has done it again by giving us another fantastic song to love! “Up” is about having someone reach out and provide a support system throughout our entire lives. The song speaks about growing up humble, in a small town with a truck.

What I love about this song is it can be about many things; it is about a farmer and the daily struggles they deal with. Here is just a taste of the lyrics: “Up, early in the mornin’ wakin’ that sun up, fillin’ that coffee, crakin’ that tractor up. Prayin’ it rains down on the devil's dust, then rows come poppin’ up.” Farmers work all day every day and Bryan feels that they need to be appreciated, and I couldn’t agree more.

The emotion in his voice as he is watching the projector in the music video is just so overwhelming and

powerful. It was filmed on his own farm with his children running around. It’s heartwarming how he smiles as he sings - glowing with love for his family.

I listened to the song on repeat about five times and not once did I get through with dry eyes. It is such a beautiful song that I couldn’t help but shed a tear at the pure art that Luke has created for all of us.

I got the pleasure of going to a Luke Bryan concert this past July right here in Wisconsin, wow! He was an incredible performer. It was back in July, and I still think about it! The energy and heart that he puts into his songs for his fans is so great.

He is such a humble man from a small town but had a big town voice.

This song is incredible. I consider this one of my favorite Luke Bryan songs and I know many of them!

Please consider listening to this song. I hope you enjoy it, and it lifts your spirits as much as it did for me.

10 | ARTS | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022

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‘The Matrix’ is resurrected

Review: Pathfinder King GRANT NELSON Staff Writer

ASIME IBRAIMI Staff Writer What is real and what is fake?

“The Matrix” never ceases to make you question reality.

In the most recent iteration of the series, the creators brought Neo and Trinity back to life, hence the name “Resurrections,” for more adventures. The number of twists and loops of overlapping detail will either blow your mind or leave you confused.

Neo (Keanu Reeves) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) have been resurrected by a program called The Analyst (Neil Patrick Harris), who sent them back into the Matrix to live, blinded by the blue pill for years.

Their memories had been suppressed and they had to live these random lives, which was driving

WARNER BROS. / HBO / TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

Carrie-Anne Moss and Keanu Reeves in "The Matrix Resurrections." them crazy. We witness Neo being treated as a mental-health patient, until he finally realizes, once again, it’s all a simulation that he is stuck in.

This movie differs from the others for bringing Trinity into the center rather than Neo. The movie is all about getting Trinity, who is now living a civilian life as “Tiffany,” to remember her past and save the two of them. Their omnipotent love story is the underlying component of the entire story.

I enjoyed every moment of it. It’s consistent with the other movies in its action, sci-fi and love mix. The quality of the production was much more advanced and mind-blowing, simply from the development in technology since the last movie in 2003.

The special effects and graphics were crazy-good quality and realistic which enhanced the already captivating experience. I’m happy that another generation can get exposed to the classic masterpiece of “The Matrix.”

A game that really drives home for me is “Pathfinder: Kingmake.” Lowly peasants go on a massive roleplay quest from humble beginnings with your crew of adventurers to eventually ruling an entire kingdom.

You choose and customize your hero and party from a variety of races such as elves, gnomes, orcs and a wide variety of classes of hero.

The game starts off humble enough, with you and the party going into the untamed crown lands to settle the region from bandits and monsters. Your party and resources grow from their choices to later ruling.

You play the role of a politician, fighting over resources. The game story really captures the hero's journey in this regard.

It takes you across a wide board game style world map with the need to make camps and manage resources.

The game’s use of magic and whimsy and overplot is worth the check out on Steam. Go forth and claim your kingdom.

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | ARTS | 11

An emotional ride with new album, ‘Same Truck’ MARY SEGALL Staff Writer Hey, all you country music fans out there, I have a new album you are going to want to listen to! I bet you have heard some of his songs on the radio already such as “You Time,” “This Is It” and “Five More Minutes.” I am talking about no other than Scotty McCreery!

Scotty got his start on the 10th season on American Idol, where he blew the judges and audience away with his deep southern country voice. He went on to win American Idol and came out with his first album “Clear as Day” in 2011 which topped the charts at number one! Songs include: “I Love You This Big,” “Dirty Dishes” and “The Trouble with Girls.” This is an album that you would play

while driving down the road in summer, blasting the songs and singing along.

Album number two, “See You Tonight,” came out in 2013. Songs included “See You Tonight,” which reached into the top 10 country songs, “Feelin it” and “Roll Your Window Down.”

This album is full of heartfelt emotions of love and love lost, a very relatable album.

Lastly comes the album “Same Truck.” “Same Truck” is a roller coaster of emotions. It is about all of us being on our own journey in life, but still having the same underlying basics.

“But we are all in the same truck heading down a different two lane, kicking up the same dust and praying for the same rain.” What memorable lyrics

with such passion in his songs.

“Damn Strait” is about love lost, listening to a song that reminds you of a ghost from your past; how hearing it pains you and how you should have never let her go.

“Small Town Girl” is about love, a girl who is humble and down to earth who is Scotty’s entire world.

This album is one of the better albums I have heard from Scotty McCreery and I am a major fan of his, all the way back from his time on American Idol.

This album is about love, no regrets and having fun in the sun.

I give this album two thumbs up on having a variety of songs, they do not all sound the same.

The emotion Scotty puts into his work is inspiring to me. If you enjoy country, this is a must listen.

DENNIS VAN TINE / ABACA PRESS / TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

Singer Scotty McCreery performs on June 2, 2017, in New York City.

‘Halo Infinite’ finally released

HARRY POTTER

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

a convicted inmate held in Azkaban, escaped!

Dementors protect Hogwarts, though Harry runs into a little trouble with them along the way. Hagrid becomes the new Care of Magical Creatures professor, and in his possession is Buckbeak, a hippogriff who unfortunately must be put down after a student irritates it to get it upset and attack.

Eventually, Harry and his friends use a time turner to repeat the night.

They had to retrace their steps and solve a mystery without seeing their other selves. The true story of Sirius Black will be uncovered and will reveal more than Harry is ready to hear!

Year four, Harry and company return to Hogwarts for the school year.

A Tri- Wizard Tournament is taking place, and students put their names in a raffle to be champions to compete.

There was an age requirement of at least 17 years old but in an odd turn of events, the Goblet of Fire chose Harry to compete. He will have to deal with dragons, a maze of terror and sea creatures galore!

During the games came a ball at Hogwarts. Everyone can get dates but Harry and Ron. Hermione goes to the ball with Viktor Krum; Ron and Harry end up taking twins Padma and Parvati Patil. The Dark Lord is back and on a killing spree, and Voldemort is trying to kill Harry again; will he succeed?

In year five, “Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix,” anxiety is high as Harry realizes where loyalties lie.

Few know the truth on what happened with “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.”

Dolores Umbridge takes over as Defense against the Dark Arts profes-

LANA DEL REY

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

all of the songs off of “Blue Banisters,” I’ve definitely had to listen to this one the most to fully appreciate it’s soft melodic tones.

The second track, “Blue Banisters,” like most of Del Rey’s other songs, reads like a journal entry. It references specific events in her life that may seem mundane to some but for her, were clearly impactful, such as her and her friends discussing the California wildfires while swimming in her pool. But the soft pop song has a deeper meaning that explores a new chapter in the singer’s life where she finally feels she may have found some sort of happiness. Still, she sings about a hole in her heart that the women in her life cannot fill, and about a man in her past

GRANT NELSON Staff Writer

IAN GAVAN / GETTY IMAGES / TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

From left: Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe attend the world premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” at Trafalgar Square on July 7, 2011, in London. sor but is not exceedingly popular due to her very obscure ways of teaching.

Harry raises a large group of students to rally against her to fight for what is right! “Dumbledore’s Army” will rise to the occasion and fight to learn spells to help them prepare for the real world; well, the magic world that is.

Year six, “Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince,” emotions are high, and Hogwarts is not safe for students anymore. Dumbledore trains Harry to fight his battle with Voldemort (I know I said his name, sorry). Life just got a bit harder for Harry, now that the Dark Lord hid his own soul into seven different Horcruxes. But what are Horcruxes and where can you find them?

Love is in the air for Harry who has fallen in love with Ginny, Ron’s younger sister. Ron dated Lavender Brown for a while. Hermione seems to be falling for Ron, watching the friends struggle to save each other, their friends and

that still haunts her dreams.

The third song on the album, “Arcadia,” is personally my favorite, and Lana Del Rey’s favorite as well!

In my opinion, it is the most groundbreaking on the album.

Though the singer said that she wrote this song in a hotel room after a breakup, the song focuses mainly on herself and her pursuit of “arcadia,” or paradise. While the song does reference romance in the traditional sense, it is mostly a love song about Los Angeles with intensely passionate lyrics.

Other songs on the album that qualify as a must listen are “Black Bathing Suit,” “Thunder” and “If You Lie Down With Me.” Fans of the singer’s older works will appreciate the throwback sound of “If You Lie Down With Me,” which is a song that the writer started to compose with her then boyfriend Barrie O’Neill. Ultimately, the song

school. Harry vowed after a certain accident that he would not be returning to Hogwarts so that he could finish what must be done.

Year seven takes place in “Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1 and 2”. Harry, Ron and Hermoine are out on their own fighting to take down the Dark Lord all together. They must find the Horcruxes, all of them to help stop “You-Know-Who.” Watch as the ultimate battle takes place; whose team are you on? Who will succeed? Will Harry stop “He-Who-Shall-Not-BeNamed” in time or will evil win?

This cultural phenomenon is perfect for anyone who enjoys fantasy. For the past 20 years kids and adults of all ages have enjoyed these classic films and I predict this will not go away anytime soon. Get your robes and sorting hat and watch this beloved classic series, practice your spells and let your imagination do the rest.

AMY SUSSMAN / GETTY IMAGES / TNS

Lana Del Rey attends the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center on Jan. 26, 2020, in Los Angeles. wasn’t released and was put on the shelf until this year. The wait proved to be well worth it, as the song ended up absolutely beautiful. “Black Bathing Suit” is a playful and cheeky song that makes references to the singer’s love life during quarantine while also oozing confidence and self-acceptance

The long-awaited game “Halo Infinite” has finally been released, and “Halo” has never been better. The latest game brings back lots of iconic content, including fan favorite guns and vehicles.

Gamers can explore the epic expanse of a Halo ring. As human super-soldier Master Chief, you travel across a vast alien ring fighting off the hordes of the faction known as the Banished. There is so much to do on this huge ring world, ranging from killing bosses and capturing bases to collecting armor and lore.

The game is filled with war zones and an economic system similar to “Far Cry” when it comes to unlocking new weapons and tanks.

The game's story is somewhat of a soft reboot for the franchise, returning to focus on our favorite spartan Master Chief and his small resistance of marines as they wage a war to stop the Banished and new enemies from taking control of the ring world. The game concludes the story arc of “Halo 4” and “Halo 5” when it comes to Cortana and her plans. The multiplayer option is far better than the last two “Halo” games and brings all sorts of new gameplay and mechanics.

“Halo Infinite” content release will be very similar to “Destiny,” with a 10-year plan and new content from added throughout the years. If you love "Halo" and yearn for the simpler times of killing aliens in infinitely brutal ways and saving the universe, look no further.

themes that have become prevalent in many of the singer’s recent songs. “Thunder” is a sad break-up song that carries a lot of depth and some of the best lyrics on “Blue Banisters.”

Lana Del Rey has come a long way and matured greatly from her “Born To Die” era in 2012. Her evolution as an artist has been a rocky one. From being tarnished after her poorly received SNL performance of “Video Games,” to having her integrity come into question regarding how she became famous, to constantly being mislabeled and misrepresented by tabloids, to having her lyrics criticized as not being feminist enough, the artist has been put through the ringer.

But it has made her stronger, more confident and, in some ways, more successful than ever before. Still, many find the artist to be underrated, including Taylor Swift.

Critics of “Chemtrails

Over the Country Club” and “Blue Banisters” cringe at some of Del Rey’s lyrics, which reference stores being closed due to lockdowns, BLM protests, gaining coronavirus weight, being tired of the pandemic and feeling happy to see people taking off their masks. But these examples are part of what makes Lana Del Rey one of the most influential artists of the decade and a top artist of 2021.

These songs reference an extremely unique point in our history that multitudes of people can relate to on so many different levels. Her music is so real, raw and personal.

Listening to her albums is very much like reading the artist’s private poetry journal. They can be deep, dark, disturbing, hopeful, cringey or even freeing, but they always give beautiful and honest representations of the human experience without apology.

12 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022

sports EDITOR: COLE DOWNING CLARIONSPORTS@ MADISONCOLLEGE.EDU

THE CLARION

MEETTHEPACK

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL LAURISSA PICKEL

Profiles of WolfPack athletes

MEN’S BASKETBALL TELIN PORTER

A guard on the Madison College men’s basketball team, Telin Porter has played in 19 games and started 13 this season for the WolfPack. He averages 9.9 points and four rebounds a game. He has 39 steals, 34 assists and 13 blocked shots. Porter’s top-scoring game this season was against Western Technical College on Nov. 30, when he scored 17 points.

Porter played at NJCAA Division I

PORTER

PICKEL

Jacksonville College in Florida last year, where he averaged 5.3 points a game and started eight of 20 games he played. The son of Amanda Gibson, Porter plans to major in sports medicine.

A freshman guard on the Madison College women’s basketball team, Laurissa Pickel has played in 17 games for the WolfPack this season, starting 10. She averages 10.2 points a game and 5.2 rebounds.

In addition, she has 16 steals and 10 assists. On Dec. 7, she scored a career-high 22 points against Elgin Community College.

Pickel was a three-sport athlete at Weston High School, where she played basketball, volleyball and softball. She was a three-time all conference select and threetime team MVP. A liberal arts major, she is the daughter of Lauretta and Matt Pickel.

Omicron brings pain to sports industry LAUREN TAILLON Arts Editor

JOE SCARNICI / GETTY IMAGES FOR USOPC / TNS

U.S. Olympic Team Athletes board a Delta Airlines charter for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at Los Angeles International Airport on Jan. 27 in Los Angeles, California.

Olympics open on Feb. 4 There will be 13 athletes competing in the games with connections to Wisconsin TALEISE LAWRENCE Copy Editor The 2022 Winter Olympics will start on Feb. 4 with the opening ceremony. The Games will take place in Beijing, China, which becomes the first city to ever host both summer and winter Olympic games.

Back in 2008, when Beijing hosted the summer games, film director Zhang Yimou organized the opening ceremony which was massive and breathtaking. He will be in charge again this year, so I’m excited to see what it looks like this time.

Despite the capital hosting for the second time, things are very different this year.

Multiple countries have decided not to send reporters to cover the Games

this year, staging a diplomatic boycott to protest the crimes against humanity in the Xinjiang region, namely the genocide of Uyghurs.

There will still be coverage and streaming of the XXIV Olympic Winter Games, though the usual amount of U.S. reporters will not be attending in person. Both NBC and ESPN are doing this because of safety concerns surrounding COVID-19.

Wisconsin will be sending 13 athletes to compete in the Games this year.

Some of them aren’t originally from Wisconsin, but played sports for UW schools.

Amanda Kessel and Anna Hoffman will be representing Madison in women’s hockey and ski jumping respectively. Kessel has been to two Olympics previously, winning silver in 2014. She aided her team in winning three NCAA championships. She is also the Premier Hockey Federation’s highest-paid player, which was formerly known as the National Women’s Hockey League.

This will be Hoffman’s first

Olympics after just barely making the team because Italy dropped out of the competition.

There are also three people from McFarland competing. Becca Hamilton, Matt Hamilton and Nina Roth are all curlers. Apparently, if you want to be an Olympic curler, just be born in McFarland! Becca and Matt are siblings who will be competing for the second time. Though they competed as a team in the 2018 Olympics, they will be competing separately this time around.

Roth, athlete, mother and nurse, has been to the Olympics once already as well.

The Games this year are sure to be like never before. With COVID-19, protests and new events, there are so many unknowns. While there is much trepidation over what’s to come, there is much excitement as well.

The Olympics are a great time for people to feel proud of their country and the work our athletes have put in.

I know I’ll be glued to the television for all 18 days.

While Omicron continues to ravage through communities and hurt a variety of industries, the sports industry has to be one of the hardest ones hit. In the past month, the NFL, NBA and NHL have rescheduled a long list of games to many people’s dismay. The NHL even decided to not participate in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing this year. This news comes shortly after 50 NHL games were rescheduled from this past December to February.

While the NBA has only needed to reschedule 11 games so far, the NHL rescheduled a whopping 95 games and ended up canceling three. The games will take up the calendar spots that have been left free by the NHL opting out of the 2022 Winter Olympics. The NFL has rescheduled 15 games in all, which would have been altogether canceled if it wasn’t for the NFLPA's executive committee. The affected games included the Cleveland Browns vs. the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Seattle Seahawks vs. the Los Angeles Rams, among others. If the games would have been canceled, about 18% of players wouldn’t have received a paycheck that week, which is a growing concern amongst many athletes as Omicron cases continue to rise.

The recent news of these games being rescheduled is due to the large number of professional athletes becoming sick with COVID-19. Due to the increased number of cases and the frustration of needing to » SEE

OMICRON

PAGE 13

WolfPack men’s basketball drops 3 of its last 4 games CLARION STAFF REPORT

LARRY GRUNENWALD-RIES / CLARION

Madison College’s Keith Hoffman shoots free throws during his team’s game against Rock Valley College on Jan. 20.

Even their best shooting performance of the season wasn’t enough for the Madison College men’s basketball team to overcome No. 12 Joliet on Jan. 27.

Madison College fell to Joliet, 95-77, and have now lost three of its first four conference games this season. The team’s record is now 13-7 overall and 1-3 in conference play.

Against Joliet, shooting was not the problem. Madison College converted on 39 of 59 field goals for a season-high shooting percentage of 59.3.

Trevon Liggins led the WolfPack with 13 points, while Malcolm Reed and Cortez Telfered both added 10.

The biggest difference in the game came from the free throw line, where Joliet hit 15 of 19 free throw attempts.

Madison College hosts Harper College on Feb. 1 and then travels to Milwaukee Area Technical College on Feb. 3 and Rock Valley College on Feb. 8.

DuPage 63, Madison College 61

Visiting Madison College lost to the » SEE

BASKETBALL PAGE 13

THE CLARION

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | SPORTS | 13

Ripp leads WolfPack to 2nd-straight win CLARION STAFF REPORT Freshman guard Taylor Ripp scored a career-high 22 points to lead the Madison College women’s basketball team to a 72-61 victory over visiting Milwaukee Area Technical College at on Jan. 29.

Ripp had a hot hand, converting on 8 of 13 shots from the field and 6 of 7 free throw attempts. In addition, she had five steals and eight rebounds.

Lauren Thole, another freshman guard, came off the bench to score a career high 14 points. Sophomore Olivia Marron had 12 points and seven rebounds, while freshman Laurissa Pickel added 11 points.

Madison College is now 4-14 overall and 2-2 in conference play. The WolfPack will host Harper College on Feb. 1 before traveling to Milwaukee Area Technical College on Feb. 3.

Madison College 63, Joliet Junior College 59

A six-game losing streak came to an end for Madison College, with a 63-59 victory over visiting Joliet Junior College on Jan. 27.

Ripp scored 19 points to lead Madison College, while Pickel had 14 and Brianna Hendricks added 10.

Free throws were the difference in the game. Madison College hit 21 of 34 free throws in the game, while Joliet converted on 4 of 12.

College of DuPage 78, Madison College 67

Second-chance points were the difference in Madison College’s 78-67 loss to the College of DuPage on Jan. 25.

DuPage scored 15 points off rebounds, while Madison College had only two.

The rebound advantage was huge.

DuPage had 53 rebounds in the game compared to 37 for Madison College.

Marron led the WolfPack in scoring with 22 points, while Amareyna Knox added 12. Brianna Hendricks and Pickel each scored 10 points.

MCSPORTS

Madison College schedules and results.

MEN’S BASKETBALL Schedule NOV. 2 NOV. 6 NOV. 8

Rock Valley College 92, Madison College 65

Madison College fell behind early against No. 12 Rock Valley College and was never able to close the gap in a 92-65 loss at home on Jan. 20.

Rock Valley converted on 10 of its 24 shots from behind the 3-point line, while Madison College made just 5 of 15. The Eagles also had a 55-40 rebounding advantage over the WolfPack.

Pickel led Madison College with 16 points, while Thole added 13, Ripp had 12 and Knox scored 11.

NOV. 10 NOV. 12 NOV. 20 NOV. 23 NOV. 30 DEC. 2 DEC. 4 Dec. 7 DEC. 8 DEC. 11

BASKETBALL

JAN. 7

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

JAN. 8

College of DuPage, 63-61, on Jan. 25 after DuPage scored six of the game’s final seven points thanks in part to a lategame technical foul against the WolfPack.

JAN. 11 JAN. 15 JAN. 17

Keith Hoffman and Trevon Liggins both scored 15 points to lead the WolfPack, while Malcolm Reed added 12 points.

Hoffman also had 14 rebounds to finish with his seventh double-double of the season.

JAN. 20

Madison College 61, Rock Valley College 54

FEB. 8 FEB. 10

JAN. 25 JAN. 27 FEB. 1 FEB. 3

Madison College earned its first conference victory of the season, upending No. 13 Rock Valley College, 61-54, at home on Jan. 20.

FEB. 12 FEB. 15 FEB. 19 FEB. 20 FEB. 26

The game was close throughout, with Madison College leading 27-24 at halftime. The WolfPack closed the game on a 17-7 run, keyed by a 3-pointer by Trevon Liggins that put his team up for good.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Schedule NOV. 2

Arrion Curothers led Madison College with 16 points, while Telin Porter added 15 and Keith Hoffman had 14. Hoffman led the team in rebounds with 11.

NOV. 10

Milwaukee Area Technical College 98, Madison College 57

NOV. 23 NOV. 30

NOV. 12 NOV. 13 NOV. 20

DEC. 2

A rough second half resulted in a blow-out 98-57 loss for visiting Madison College against fifth-ranked Milwaukee Area Technical College on Jan. 18.

DEC. 4 DEC. 7 DEC. 9

The Stormers outscored the WolfPack by 30 points in the second half, 59-29, after claiming an 11-point halftime lead.

Cortez Telfered scored 16 points to lead Madison College, while Liggins added 12 and Hoffman had 11.

at McHenry County College, 78-53 LOSS. at Elgin Community College, 68-66 WIN at home vs. Rockford University JV, 86-80 WIN at home vs. UW-Sheboygan, 89-55 WIN at Anoka Ramsey Tournament vs.

St. Cloud Tech, 49-44 WIN at home vs. Carl Sandburg College, 81-76 OT LOSS vs. Rochester CTC, 78-61 LOSS at home vs. Western Technical College, 74-59 WIN at College of Lake County, 70-56 WIN at Prairie State College, 74-66 LOSS at home vs. UW-Richland, 84-81 WIN at home vs. Loras College JV, 77-67 WIN at Kishwaukee College, 87-65 WIN at Bay College Michigan, 82-76 OT WIN at Gogebic Community College, 62-51 WIN at Bryant & Stratton College, 73-70 WIN at home vs. Madison Mavericks, 3 p.m., exhibition at Milwaukee Area Technical College, 98-57 LOSS at home vs. Rock Valley College, 61-54 WIN at College of DuPage, 63-61 LOSS at home vs. Joliet Junior College, 95-77 LOSS at home vs. Harper College, 5:30 p.m. at home vs. Milwaukee Area Technical College, 7:30 p.m. at Rock Valley College, 7 p.m. at home vs. College of DuPage, 7:30 p.m. at Harper College, 2 p.m. at Joliet Junior College, 7 p.m.

NJCAA Region 4 Tournament.

NJCAA Region 4 Tournament.

NJCAA Great Lakes District Championship.

DEC. 11 JAN. 7 JAN. 8 JAN. 11 LARRY GRUNENWALD-RIES / CLARION

Madison College’s Telin Porter goes up for an easy basket during his team’s game against Rock Valley College on Jan. 20.

OMICRON

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12 reschedule games, many sports associations and leagues have changed their COVID-19 protocols.

The new protocols for the NFL involve vaccinated players being tested for the virus less and making it easier to return to the field after testing positive.

The NHL on the other hand, has decided to not test vaccinated players at all anymore unless they are crossing the border for games. The NBA decided that asymptomatic players should be able to return to games and practice

sooner and will require teams to have replacement players on 10-day-contracts so that the games can still go on.

Professional sports teams aren’t the only ones that are being affected by the extreme uptick in COVID-19 cases.

College sports have also taken numerous hard hits this season. An example of this can be seen in men’s and women’s college basketball, which has had over 120 cancellations.

While many colleges are also deciding to ease up on COVID-19 protocols, there is still a hot debate going on about whether the current protocols should be followed or should be tailored.

One of these protocols involves contact tracing. When a player on the team

has a positive test, every other player who was exposed to them for at least 15 minutes needs to be isolated for 10 days, according to the CDC.

JAN. 15 JAN. 17 JAN. 20 JAN. 25 JAN. 27

Even though the large number of cancellations and reschedules are disappointing to many in the sports community, data suggests an end to Omicron may be in sight.

JAN. 29

With the number of COVID-19 cases dropping in South Africa, some experts think that cases in the United States and other countries will follow suit.

This would be a huge sigh of relief for sports teams and fans alike, who have already been put through the ringer with constant schedule changes.

FEB. 8 FEB. 10

FEB. 1 FEB. 3

FEB. 12 FEB. 15 FEB. 19 FEB. 20 Feb. 26

at McHenry County College, 88-48 LOSS at home vs. University of Dubuque JV, 44-42 LOSS at Anoka-Ramsey Tournament vs.

St. Cloud Tech, 58-48 LOSS at Anoka-Ramsey Tournament vs.

Anoka Ramsey, 80-57 LOSS at home vs. Carl Sandburg College, 59-49 LOSS vs. Rochester CTC, 98-38 LOSS at home vs. Western Technical College, 80-55 LOSS at College of Lake County, 59-49 LOSS at Prairie State College, 72-53 WIN at Elgin Community College, 64-57 WIN at home vs. Loras College JV, 74-59 LOSS at Kishwaukee College, 1 p.m. at Bay College, cancelled at Gogebic Community College, cancelled at Bryant and Stratton College, 130-41 LOSS at home vs. Waubonsee Community College, 100-59 LOSS at Milwaukee Area Technical College, rescheduled at home vs. Rock Valley College, 92-65 LOSS at College of DuPage, 78-67 LOSS at home vs. Joliet Junior College, 63-59 WIN at home vs. Milwaukee Area Technical College, 72-61 WIN at home vs. Harper College, 7:30 p.m. at home vs. Milwaukee Area Technical College, 5:30 p.m. at Rock Valley College, 5 p.m. at home vs. College of DuPage, 5:30 p.m. at Harper College, noon. at Joliet Junior College, 5 p.m.

NJCAA Region 4 Tournament.

NJCAA Region 4 Tournament.

NJCAA Great Lakes District Championship

14 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022

THE CLARION

THELIGHTERSIDE BEN N’ VIC

Puzzles and Cartoons

IVAN BECERRIL GUTIERREZ / CLARION

BEN N’ VIC

IVAN BECERRIL GUTIERREZ / CLARION

CROSSWORDPUZZLE Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis / MCT Campus

ACROSS

1 Name in Cold War news 5 Lampoon 11 Ones presenting acts 14 “Hard __!”: captain’s order 15 Ended an engagement, in a way 16 Larter of “Resident Evil” films 17 “Back to the Future”?

19 Gym unit 20 What a choir may sing in 21 Bhopal locale 23 Tablelands 24 Tacks on 27 The last Mrs. Chaplin 29 “March of the Penguins”?

32 Brazil map word 35 Butler’s last word 36 “Groovy!”

37 Some pitches 40 Evasive tactic 41 “We’re live!” studio sign 42 Limo destination 45 Performs a Halloween prank, briefly 46 “Titanic”?

50 Warehouse 51 Sleep and Comfort 52 Spiral-horned antelope 56 Bear genus 58 “Out of Africa,” for one 59 Vince’s agent in “Entourage” 60 “Star Wars”?

64 Prepare to drive, with “up” 65 “Gracias” reply 66 66 and others:

Abbr.

67 Pair of gallons?

68 Play areas 69 Listening devices

DOWN

1 Stride pianist Art 2 Classic Dior style 3 Weigh station line-up 4 Vacillate 5 Gone out with 6 “__ in”: “Jeopardy James” bet 7 Pirouette pivot point 8 Draft choice 9 Stand up to 10 Prime real estate?

11 Racing game with Yoshi and Bowser 12 “Don’t leave a mess” 13 Modest intake 18 Actress Salazar of “Maze Runner” movies 22 Allotted 24 Abbr. between names, perhaps 25 Lower

26 Pride’s place 28 Very long time 30 Mormon letters 31 Gothic fiction pioneer Radcliffe 32 Barges and such 33 In the buff 34 Private chapels 38 Lookout offerings 39 Blunder 40 Ostrich relative 42 Write 43 Commanded 44 NHL tiebreakers 47 Price partner 48 Coral __

49 “Get Shorty” novelist __ Leonard 53 Blood line 54 Like sunny weather, vis-à-vis rainy 55 Toggery 57 Food stamp?

58 Degs. for playwrights 59 Eroded, with “into” 61 Low digit 62 Pallid 63 “Ghost” psychic __ Mae Brown

THE CLARION

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 | 15

16 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022

THE CLARION