March 21, 2013

U.S. Postage Paid Chadron NE 69337 Non-Profit Org. Permit No. 52

The Voice of Chadron State College since 1920

SEMPER VERITAS

THURSDAY

MARCH 21, 2013

testing th

ISSUE NO. 9

ELEM

NEWS >>

e

ENTS

HERE’S TO THE MAN Campus preps for Rhine’s presidential inauguration in April

Organic chemistry involves the study of the structure, properties, and reactions of organic compounds. Students enrolled in CSC’s CHEM 334 are also required to enroll concurrently in CHEM 334L, the Organic Chemistry II Lab, taught by Zachary Varpness, associate professor of physical and life sciences. According to enrollment records, 19 students are taking the course.

Daniel Regier, one of the students in the class, said that students are able to become more independent the further along in the semester they are.

“We’ve done chem lab all semester, so now we don’t need partners and try to complete labs on our own,” Regier said.

NEWS 2

FEATURE >>

STUDENTS EXPERIENCE ‘RELEASE’ Annual revue and talent show draws hundreds to campus

LIFE 8-9 Photo by Ashley Swanson

Ben Fisher, 20, junior of Comstock, examines a flask during the laboratory portion of CHEM 334L, Organic Chemistry II Lab, taught by Zachary Varpness, associate professor of physical and life sciences.

COMEDY ROUTINE EN ROUTE INDEX NEWS.........................2 OPINION....................4 TAKE TEN...................7 SPORTS...................10 LIFESTYLES.............13

An off-broadway musical revue, The Water Coolers, is scheduled to perform at 7:30 p.m. tonight in Memorial Hall’s auditorium.

Tickets are free to CSC students.

DORMS AT 93% OCCUPANCY According to NSCS materials, Chadron State’s residence halls are at 93 percent occupancy for the fall 2012 semester. CSC has a 1,021 bed capacity in 655 rooms. Of those, students occupied 871 beds and 711 rooms in the fall of 2012.

View online content at www.csceagle.com | “Like” us on Facebook at facebook.com/csceagle | Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/csceagle

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NEWS

MARCH 21, 2013 | The Eagle | csceagle.com

Club absences cause concern Teri Robinson

The making of a president Campus prepares for inauguration of CSC President Rhine T.J. Thomson Executive Editor

Reporter Student Senate President, James Bahensky, raised concerns Monday about the absence of clubs from CAB meetings.

Bahensky raised the issue at Senate’s weekly meeting.

Bahensky, and Student Senate sponsor Aaron Prestwich, executive director of student life, said in the meeting that many club members question why they need to attend CAB meetings if they are not requesting money.

But CAB rules require club representation at meetings. If a club misses three meetings in an academic year, it is no longer recognized by CAB. “This year we lost several clubs,” Bahensky said, referring to clubs that missed too many CAB meetings.

Bahensky’s comments spawned discussion that included an idea that clubs requesting money should be required to attend CAB meetings, while clubs that do not request funding should have the choice not to attend.

Laure Sinn, coordinator of student activities, said that requiring all clubs to attend CAB meetings keeps members updated about campus activities.

Andrews Hall Senator Jacob Rissler said the members of clubs with limited numbers cannot make the meetings because of scheduling conflicts.

“What we are doing now is not working,” Prestwich said, noting that, of the clubs lost this year, about 75 percent were expelled because members did not attend CAB meetings.

The issue remains unresolved.

In other business: Bahensky reminded senate members about Dr. Randy Rhine’s Presidential inauguration on April 26. Reservations are not required for the ceremony, but are required for the banquet that follows.

Noting the CSC Confession page on Facebook, Bahensky said negative posts should not be a reflection of the school. He added that there are many talented people at CSC and that not everything on the page is negative.

T

his Arbor Day will bring not only newly-planted trees, but growth of a different kind as Chadron State College formerly ushers in its eleventh president, Randy Rhine.

With new leadership comes opportunities for growth, Joyce Hardy, professor of physical and life sciences, said Wednesday.

“You have a new leader; a new outlook; new perspectives,” Hardy said.

“When you get a new president, it’s a big deal. It’s an even bigger deal here as we haven’t had as high of a presidential turnover. The average time for a president is four years, so when you consider that the college is 101 years old and we’ve only had 11 presidents, it speaks to the dedication of our administration.”

Hardy likened the inauguration festivities to those of a wedding with a rehearsal dinner the day before, ceremony the day of, and then celebration after.

“We’ve partnered with Student Senate to have a barbecue the night before the inauguration,” Hardy said. “That’s a way for the campus to celebrate with Dr. Rhine in more of a family atmosphere.”

As Arbor Day is a state holiday in Nebraska, Hardy said the Nebraska State College System Office selected April 26, the last day of classes to allow legislative members to attend.

“Faculty have the ability to determine whether or not to have classes that Friday afternoon,” Hardy said. “There’s not many, but there are a few.”

The ceremony is a formal event that holds great symbolic importance, Hardy said.

“What happens during the investiture is that the board entrusts their confidence and charge that he will strengthen and lead the institution,” Hardy said.

Weekly Calendar: March 21–27 THURSDAY

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- The Big Event Information, 11 a.m. SC - Water Coolers, 7 p.m.

M Hall - Late night at the Pit, 9 p.m. SC

FRIDAY

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- The Big Event Information, 11 a.m. SC - Hoop Shoot, 1 p.m.

Armstrong - ABC Party/Dance, 9 p.m. SC

SATURDAY

Hardy estimated the ceremony would be a one-and-a-half to two-hour event.

“Cap Peterson is the chair of the board of trustees, so he will do the actual investiture,” said Karen Pope, director of alumni and development, who is cochairing the inauguration committee with Hardy.

Numerous CSC groups are providing music throughout the day, Pope said.

“The Sax Quartet will be playing in the [Memorial Hall] lobby prior to the inauguration ceremony.” Sandy Schaefer, professor of music, said.

“The CSC Brass Ensemble will be playing for the processional and recessional.”

The CSC Concert Choir is performing “Come, Let’s ReRhine joice,” by British composer John Amner, Schaefer said.

For the ceremony, Rhine invited former CSC President Janie Park to deliver the guest address prior to Rhine’s inauguration speech, Rhine said.

Following the ceremony is a public reception on the ground floor of Old Admin where students will showcase their work and provide tours of some of the building’s high-impact learning facilities, such as the Justice Studies’ mock courtroom and the Communication Arts’ The Eagle newsroom.

“Given Dr. Rhine’s focus on the students, we want to showcase student work,” Hardy said.

The display on the first floor of Old Admin might feature a wide variety of digital and physical formats, including recordings, textiles, and artwork, Hardy said.

“We’ll use whatever we’ve got that we can showcase,” she said.

A ticketed banquet and ball will cap the evening, and includes food, alcohol, dancing, and music, Hardy said. Tickets are available from the president’s office

for $30 per person.

“There will be music, so we’re looking forward to seeing Dr. Rhine and his wife do their inaugural dance,” Pope said.

“The CSC Professors of Jazz are going to play some pre-dinner music,” Shaefer said. Rounding out the evening are performances by the CSC Vocal Jazz Ensemble and the CSC Birds, performing “Soul Hits from the 70s.”

“The banquet is more of a social evening,” Pope said.

“There won’t be any formal ceremony, but Chancellor [Stan] Carpenter will provide greetings and introductions.”

Hardy said that students are a big part of the event, and encourages them to attend.

“It all centers around students and Dr. Rhine,” Hardy said. “I encourage the students to participate as much as they can for two reasons. One is that these events are usually geared more toward the campus than toward students; and two, they don’t happen very often. We hope it showcases our commitment to our students.”

Formal invitations have already been sent, and on-campus students will receive postcard invitations in their mailboxes, Hardy said.

Hardy said that instead of a week-long inauguration celebration with lavish trappings that is common at other institutions, CSC is saving cost by condensing the event to two days.

Hardy said ticket sales will cover a significant portion of the costs, but noted that private donors and organizations also plan to contribute.

“There are individuals and entities that have funds to spend,” Hardy said.

“You have something that will be classy and reflect well on the institution, but done on a shoestring budget.”

| Calendar information may be sent to The Eagle, Old Admin, Rm. 235, or to editor@csceagle.com

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- The Big Event Information, 11 a.m. SC - Hoop Shoot, 1 p.m.

Armstrong - Art Venture Reception, 4 p.m. Sandoz Atrium

SUNDAY - Honors Recital, 3 p.m. Armstrong

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MONDAY

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- CSC Jazz Festival, 8 a.m.

M Hall - The Big Event Information, 11 a.m. SC

TUESDAY

26

- The Big Event, 11 a.m. SC - Bataan Death March Event - “So Proudly We Hail” Film, 7 p.m. Sandoz Center - Chi Alpha Meeting, 8 p.m. SC

WEDNESDAY

27

- Revive Meeting, 8:30 p.m. SC - The Big Event Information, 4:30 p.m. SC

NEWS

MARCH 21, 2013 | The Eagle | csceagle.com

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Library poised to turn a new page T.J. Thomson Executive Editor

Photo by Ashley Swanson

Shea Graham, right, 19, freshman of Colorado Springs, Colo., helps Caroline Johnson, 18, freshman of Firestone, Colo., with a question on her homework March 12 in the student lounge of the library’s basement.

In an effort to increase vitality and engage students and faculty, King Library will become home to the IT Help Desk and possibly two other entities, a library administrator said Wednesday.

“We will be moving the IT Help Desk to the library the first week in April,” Beverly Russell, King Library’s interim director, said Wednesday.

In addition to the help desk, Russell said she is in talks with the administration and Student Services Department to move the Teaching and Learning Center and peer-tutoring services to the library.

“We’re still discussing whether to move the Teaching and Learning Center and student tutoring,” Russell said. “We’re trying to make sure we have adequate space for what they need,” she said. “We’ve been talking to Student Services and it looks positive to move tutoring over here after this semester.”

Another improvement that has been on tap for the library is the installation of a coffee shop.

Russell said the library is currently looking for a plumber to assist with the installation and expects the shop to open next semester.

“The coffee bar will wait until fall of 2013,” Rus-

sell said.

Russell said the location of the computer lab, currently housed in the library’s basement, would also be moved.

“Computers will be moved to the first and second floor,” Russell said, adding that the change would possibly occur during the summer.

A team from the Association of College and Research Libraries, a division of the American Library Association, is currently on-campus performing an assessment and interviewing faculty, staff, and students, Russell said.

“The library will be going through a North Central accreditation in four years,” she said, and wants to use the information from the consultants to prepare for the assessment. “[We want to] determine what we can do to be the best library we can be,” she said.

Russell anticipates creating a strategic plan for the next four to five years after the consultants’ report is submitted.

“The library wants to be a more vital part of the academic and social life of campus,” Russell said.

To this end, Russell said the library is hosting a Late Night at The Pit on April 18.

“There will be a library scavenger hunt, door prizes, and some kind of dance,” Russell said. “If you want to come to the library to study, that won’t be a good night.”

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OPINION

EDITORIAL–THE EAGLE’S VIEW

MARCH 21, 2013 | The Eagle | csceagle.com

A problem of patriarchs and profit

COMMUNICATIONS: A digitally-mediated mess

D

o you find yourself texting someone before you try to call them, or sending an email to a professor, versus going to the office for a face-to-face conversation? Such habits are practices of digitally mediated communications.

Today, we communicate with our fingers on a keypad and our noses pressed against a smart phone or a computer screen. The way we communicate is challenging how we interact in social and professional settings.

In his book, “The Changing Nature of Text,” Linguistics scholar David Crystal explains the differences between speech and writing. When you’re speaking with a person, you can hear the tone of their voice, and understand what they are trying to say by how they say it.

But, when you receive a message from someone in email or text, how you interpret his or her words can be completely different. Writing carries a separate meaning, and you’re often not able to communicate the same feeling as you would in a normal spoken conversation.

This is because speech is time-bound; making conversation a live and active balance between listening and speaking. Text, however, is spacebound; it’s mediated by a device and is limited when body language and tone-of-voice are filtered out.

Emails don’t cost anything, and texts are marginal fractions of a cent with most messaging plans. This is why many companies and customer service outlets are phasing out their live-service hotlines in favor of customer-filed email forms.

Customer service agents and public relations professionals are afforded the opportunity to respond to questions at their convenience. They can filter out the interruptions that occur in a spoken conversation, limiting what questions you can ask, and what answers you’re going to get back.

The problem this creates is that customers can still use a live service-hot line option —for a price. Digitally mediated communications offers only one static response at a time, but if you have the funds, you can pay to ask a real person more questions.

Because talking is a basic form of communication, it’s an ironic and novel concept that speaking to a representative is now a marketable commodity.

Spike Jordan Opinion Editor

T

he Stuebenville Rape Case has gripped headlines across the world. If you’ve been living under a rock for the last three weeks, the case involved a 16-year-old girl in Stubenville, Ohio, who was raped by two high school football players; Trent Mays, 17, and Ma’lik Richmond, 16.

Both boys were convicted and sentenced to a juvenile correctional facility; Mays for a minimum of two years, and Richmond for a minimum of one year, however both boys will be required to register as sex offenders and undergo treatment while in detention.

Following the release of the verdict, media coverage sparked an outrage that resounded through feminist blogs and social networks. An image shared by UniteWomen.org highlighted selected

commentary from CNN anchors Candy she has to live with that forever.

Crowly, Poppy Harlow, and Paul Callan.

This is a clear display of how rape“I cannot imagine how emotional the culture works in America, we lament the sentencing must have been… a 16-year- fate of the rapists and completely ignore old —sobbing in court— regardless of the victim. The tragedy in this story is not what big football players they are, they about the “promising football career” that still sound like 16-year-olds. What is the is destroyed by the “slight detail” that they lasting effect of two are rapists. young being guilty in But it’s a catch-22. In “This is a clear juvenile court of rape order to respect and proessentially?,” Crowley tect the victim’s right-todisplay of how said. privacy; her identity, and rape-culture “Incredibly diffiany other details have to be cult to watch as these works in America, redacted. two young men who News stories have to be had such promising about people, money, or we lament the fate futures, star football both. The kind of story that of the rapists and players, very good studraws ratings, revenue and dents literally watched profit are about the people completely ignore as they believed their whose faces can be seen. life fell apart,” Harlow This is the sad symptom the victim.” said. of patriarchy coupled with “There’s always that profit.

–Spike Jordan moment of just — For the profit and adverlives are destroyed. But in terms of what tising driven 24-hour news channels, it’s happens now, the most severe thing with impossible for the lazy and unimaginathese young men is being labeled as reg- tive reporters to write a compelling story istered sex offenders. That label is now when the victim is anonymous. placed on them by Ohio law. That will Not only does coverage of this case haunt them for the rest of their lives,” Cal- paint the picture that owners, editors, and lan said. anchors that cover these cases are rapeAmidst the major things that are fun- apologists, it seems to illustrate that they damentally wrong with these statements, are greedy rape-apologists.

I’ll point out the obvious: Why the hell is Until our mentality as a society changthere no mention about the victim!? There es, the system will maintain the status was a 16-year-old girl who was raped, and quo.

MAN ON THE STREET

COMPILED BY ASHLEY SWANSON

we asked: “What did you like about Release?”

CHANDEL WEISS

ALEX RODRIGUEZ

JOSEY PEHRINGER

CHRIS TAYLOR

HANNAH LEE

“I like it all, and I really liked Karl’s performance. That was my favorite one.”

“Everything. Just the way they started out with the cheerleaders and with the different talents. The hosts were amazing.

“I really liked the Hawaiians. I also really like the poetry, because I wasn’t expecting that kind of poetry.

It was refreshing.”

“I like the creativity and the performers’ and the organization was good.”

“I really liked Karl Minor’s performance, and how he does his choreography.”

19, freshman of Hot Springs, S.D.

24, senior of Caroline, Puerto Rico

19, sophomore of Cody, Wyo.

22, junior of Laguna Beach, Calif.

20, junior of Elizabeth, Colo.

OPINION

MARCH 21, 2013 | The Eagle | csceagle.com

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The Voice of Chadron State College since 1920

EDITORIAL BOARD

Photo by Mark C. Olsen/United States Air Force

T.J. THOMSON................................................Executive Editor SPIKE JORDAN................................................. Opinion Editor MOLLY WEDAN...................................................Sports Editor SARA LABOR.................................................Lifestyles Editor ASHLEY SWANSON ��������������������������������������������� Photo Editor

Aerial views during an Army search and rescue mission show damage from Hurricane Sandy to the New Jersey coast, Oct. 30, 2012

Spring Break experience: tiring but rewarding

Tiffani Roelle

D

Contributor uring the first week of March I had an experience that shaped my understanding of community volunteering.

I gained insight and a sense of duty through the Northern New Jersey United Way Alternative Spring Break program and a non-government organization called “The Bucket Brigade.”

Unfortunately promoting the Alternative Spring Break program didn’t attract other students from Chadron State College, but I was grateful to represent not

only Nebraska, but CSC as well.

I was the only Nebraskan of 51 other students hailing from Michigan, North Carolina, Florida and Virginia. There were a total of 10 universities in attendance that week.

My volunteer duty throughout the program was in Sandy Relief projects. The projects focused on restoring the shore and renovating community homes/bungalows in Ocean County, N.J. My crew of six people collected debris, filled sink holes, and mucked houses.

Mucking consists of tearing out wall panels and drywall to remove the moldy insulation caused by flooding that would sit for weeks on end. The removal of floor titles was another part of mucking, because mold would grow underneath them.

My crew departed at 7:15 every morning and commuted about an hour and fifteen-minutes from Newark to North Ocean County. We would typically return around 6 in the evening, putting in seven to eight hours of work each day.

The hardest part of volunteering was the physical strain and fatigue. We wore

respirators and jumps suits so mobility and breathing wasn’t easy, and at the end of the day I had leg cramps, tight shoulders, and a sore lower back.

The most important thing I learned through this experience was the value of sleep. I also learned the importance of hydration and stretching exercises. The Sandy Relief projects really showed me how my crew’s volunteer work helped the community through our manual labor, as well as bringing hope amidst the devastation.

I built lifelong relationships through the ASB program. I am now a supporter of the “Bucket Brigade” and promote its volunteer’s efforts to restore the shore and community.

I was introduced to other volunteer opportunities that are coming up this summer, and I had to share my experience, I’ve kept in contact with the dedicated volunteers I’ve met and continue to help the survivors mitigate the impacts of Hurricane Sandy.

I would encourage you to get involved in volunteering, and find out how satisfying it is for yourself.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Dear editor:

As a Facebook user and a CSC student, I heard of CSC Confessions from a mutual friend who had put a link on her page. I clicked on it and started reading post after post of people talking about the disgusting and appalling things that they have done in various places on campus.

At first, just like everybody, I thought it was funny and entertaining. But when confessions started talking about students and using crude language, I immediately got disgusted and exited out of the tab. I even reported them to Facebook, explaining that I didn’t think it should be on Facebook because it had sexually explicit content.

I understand that it’s just a silly little place that people can anonymously submit their dirty little fantasies and things about the school, but what does that say about us as a school community?

With it being on Facebook, anybody that likes the page can see the content on it.

They can see the dirty and disgusting things that people have submitted multiple times since the site was created. What if it was potential students that were possibly thinking about going here that

sees the page, or potential professors or people higher up? What does that say about us as a whole, that all we do is have fantasies about girls getting out of pick-ups or having sex everywhere?

But not only are sexual exploits admitted on that site, but what if somebody started talking smack about a certain individual, even going to the point where they used the person’s name, and the site included it as a confession? Despite the fact that the site’s about me page says that they won’t post negative things about individuals, what if something slipped through the radar?

We could have some major cyber bullying cases going on campus. I’m sorry, but nothing on this page is funny, exciting, and epic as stated in their about me. It’s disgusting, degrading, and stupid.

I think its harm to current students, whether submitting to the site or not, the entire school community, and the college, as well as its success in the future. I understand that people do things like individuals have submitted, it’s college.

But some things are meant to be kept private, including most, if not all, of the confessions on the site.

–A Concerned Student

EDITORIAL STAFF KEVIN OLEKSY..................................... .........Web Consultant BARRETT BROWN.....................................................Reporter TERI ROBINSON........................................................Reporter JUSTY BULLINGTON................................Events Coordinator JENNIFER PARKER...........................................Photographer HANNAH CLARK................................Copy Editor/Cartoonist EXECUTIVE STAFF KRISTINA HARTER.................................Advertising Director KAYLA BUNCH................................ ...Chief Financial Officer ASHLEY CARSON......................................Executive Editorial ADVISING MICHAEL D. KENNEDY...................................Faculty Adviser CONTACT US EDITORIAL CONTACT

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The opinions expressed in such submissions belong solely to the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Eagle staff, its adviser, or the students, staff, faculty or administration of Chadron State College.

Please limit letters to 250 words; guest columns and editorials to 700 words. Deadline for submissions is noon Monday for consideration in the following Thursday’s publication.

The Eagle reserves the right to accept, reject or edit all submissions.

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OPINION

MARCH 21, 2013 | The Eagle | csceagle.com

I like your song, but too many curses, good sir

Ashley Swanson Photo Editor

I

t comes to no surprise to me when someone curses for no reason, nor does it surprise me that cursing often finds itself in most aspects of life. Whether it’s someone walking down a sidewalk and they trip, or if they’re talking with another person; cursing just happens.

Recently, “Release” graced Chadron State’s Memorial Hall’s stage with a wide variety of performers. With some singers, dancers, and

poetry readers, the show seemed to pull the audience in as loud applause and screams of enjoyment erupted from the large crowd.

Unfortunately, one performance didn’t appeal to me in the slightest. The music group “Loud,” out of Omaha, featured a man rapping while the rest of his crew either swayed back and forth to the music, or, in one man’s case, video recorded the rapper.

Now, I’m not going to hate on rap music; I do like some of it, but it doesn’t mean I’m very fond of the language used. For instance, in “Loud’s” first song, it seemed that every few words were n***er or f**k. I don’t know about other people, but that’s not music.

It doesn’t make the song sound attractive, and it doesn’t make it cool, but in fact, makes it sound like the lyric writer couldn’t find other words to use to actually create a decent song. Their second song, though it didn’t use the words quite as often, failed to grab my attention.

Furthermore, I know there were more than college students present, but also elderly folk and children. Yes, I understand that this is a college campus, and college kids tend to

listen to music with tons of vulgar language in Whether he was joking or not, the word was it, but come one, this is Chadron, Nebraska, getting noticed, and also old. show a little respect.

Maybe I’m a stickler whose oldBefore I go on, I’d just like fashioned and like to listen to to say that I’m not all miss music without having someone never-curses - I curse when shouting obscenities to me. Or I find it necessary - but to maybe I just have a slight hame, there’s a fine line on tred for the words, and I prewhen and how much a perfer not to use them myself. son should curse.

Either way, I’m not going Throughout the show, to tell people to stop cursing it seemed the n-word, - like that would ever hapwhich is at the top of my pen - but I am saying that list of words I loathe, was there is a time and a place. a popular fix in perfor“Loud’s” first song probably mances. In a dance-song didn’t need to use those two routine, the word was words that much, nor did the last thing said, the dance routine need commenting on most to finish with the nof the performers that word. had run of stage.

In short, people are It was obvious that it going to say and do whatwas part of the act, but unever they feel like, and when necessary. As the act ended, I they do, I’m just going to roll overheard a student behind my eyes and let them make Illustration by Ashley Swanson me say, “stop using n***er.” fools of themselves.

Despite big names, Release seemed mediocre

Sara Labor

T

Lifestyles Editor

his being my fourth year at Chadron State College, I’ve come to expect certain things.

There’s basketball in the cafeteria in the spring, canons go off when we make a touchdown, and Release is the time when we can all go and listen to some great poetry and music.

Unfortunately, this year’s event didn’t live up to the expectations I’ve come to have. Don’t get me wrong, this year’s show was good, for the most part. It simply wasn’t the show that I had hoped for.

Instead, several performances soured what could have been a sweet show.

The show began fine enough, with an a capella group. However, just after that, high school student Michael Kruse sang a Phantom of the Opera song.

Now, I don’t want to bash anyone, so I will start by saying that Kruse sang beautifully. However, when I walked through the doors of Release, I was not looking for a variety show.

As “The Music of the Night” continued, I could hear the audible sighs of people behind me feeling the exact same way. We were there looking for upbeat dance numbers, original music, and slam poetry.

Instead, the audience members were subjected to several minutes of uncomfortable shifting in their seats while Kruse cockily flipped his hair out of his eyes as though he’d just given us all a huge treat.

As he sat down at the piano to start his second number, I even heard a fellow audience member whisper, “please play a pop song, please play a pop song.”

The uncomfortable act seemed to drag on, and, as I mentioned, I believe that Kruse did well. But I wasn’t there to see a high school talent show.

Kruse’s act was nothing compared to the train wreck that was the group “Loud.”

If I were to even try to describe this group, it would require me using a lot of “$#%@ &$@* !@#$.” Half the time, I couldn’t understand a word they were saying. And when I could understand what they were saying, they were screaming the “n” word into their mics.

Armaub Collins, from Omaha, could have easily lip synced to the song he insisted on poisoning the audience’s ears with.

Instead, they played the original recording loudly over him while he “rapped” to it. The two voices were layered over each other. It was loud. It was crass. It was just plain not well done.

Now, I wasn’t going to let a few performances, these, included, ruin my Release.

In the second act, things seemed to pick up. There was a block of performances packed with awesome, starting with Ariel Tiensvold and “Valerie,” continuing to an amazing performance of “Rolling in the Deep” sung by Jazzy Seumalo, and finishing with the only act that got a standing ovation: Night of Country Swing, (NOCS.) NOCS blew the audience out of the water while they threw girls in the air, and flipped them around in amazing feats of strength. They were met with screams and

excitement, and I believe I was one of the first to jump out of my seat after the group finished their performance.

On top of that, Jovan Mays and Marty Lastovica, former coordinators of the event, returned this year to present their stunning original poetry and music. These groups and people made Release automatically better. But I still left disappointed.

Perhaps one of the greatest disappointments of this year’s event was that last year, Release was allocated $2,500, and put on a fantastic show. This year, Release was allocated $5,000, and put on a mediocre show.

Most of this year’s money, admittedly, went toward bring Kay’Vian, a signed name, from New York. Although Kay’Vian was the excitement of Karl McFarlane (this year’s coordinator) Kay’Vian wasn’t nearly as exciting to me as seeing my fellow classmates or community members perform original pieces.

My hope is that future Release programs try and incorporate things its audience has come to look forward to, which is seeing community come forward with its original art. We don’t need New York labels or Omaha screamers. We just need good art and a community-feel to Release.

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THURSDAY,AUG. AUG.18, 25,2011 2011 THURSDAY, TAKE TEN 7

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CENTER SPREAD | MARCH 21, 2013

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inducing acts, artist enervated the crowd enough to close Release with a bang.

Reporter But many of the “outside” performers, like Kay'vion, changed the flavor of the evening. Release became a concert, for instance, during the aptly-named “Loud” performances he heat was on Saturday night. Not outside, of recording artists KB the KiD and Poota Mann. Other where biting winds cut temperatures in half, times Release resembled a poetry reading, including when but inside Memorial Hall the Fahrenheit rose.

Le'Chere Campell, sophomore of Bellevue, performed a For the seventh year in a row, Release, a music, heart-rending monologue. Release aims to please a large poetry, and dance festival, blazed new ground for audience (as a large audience they always have) and so the Chadron's artistic scene. The festival combined local artists show ends up being a collage of styles and content. This isn't and national names in a three-hour celebration of art and a bad thing, as many attendees come for the out-of-town performance. With the 700-seat auditorium filled, the room talent that Release attracts. Others come to support their heated up quickly as stage lights glowed over the cavalcade friends — familiar faces with impressive talent. of talent.

Release reaches its prime on the line between these genres.

Karl Minor, Release preformer and coordinator, requested An exciting act is great, but it connects with the audience so a total of $5,000 from CAB and Student Senate to help fund much more when the performer is one of them. Members of Release, which included travel for all out-of-town acts. One CSC's music department brought a greatly appreciated level of Minor's most publicized performers was Release's first of musicality to the evening, and four members of NOCS signed artist, Kay'vion. Kay'vion lent Release his band and (Night of Country Swing) brought the house down with time, provided that his travel expenses were paid for. With their acrobatics. This energy, the personalized cheers and apcamera crew in tow, the New York artist was Release's closing plause, made Release a special event, more than just a show act. the college puts on.

There's a first time for everything, and it will be interesting I am not advocating for a solely Chadron-popto see if future Release coordinators follow Minor's style. ulated Release, because this coveted butterRelease has always walked an interesting line between zone of artistic festivity can also be achieved celebration and spectacle, a duality, which guarantees by outside acts. Two members of Denver's a different combination of performers every nationally-renowned slam poetry team, year. For instance, although energy-packed Slam Nuba, performed. One, per tradition, and flashy, Kay'vion's performance was was Jovan Mays, the original creator of more about him “taking” Release, who had earlier the stage than sharing it. hosted a workshop with Minor touted Kay'vion's Job Corps attendees. He attendance at Release for performed a piece birthed obvious reasons: he is a during that workshop, professional artist who which connected him to a cultivated an engaging part of the community as stage presence. No one can more than just a perdoubt this, had they heard former. Another member, the audience sing along Mikena Renee, shared two with Kay'vion during “The of her poems, both deep Break-up Song”. Even after in meaning, which conthree hours of perspiration Le'Chere Campbell, 19, sophomore of Bellevue, acts out a serious prose where she is cluded with a shower of a sister wanting forgiveness for causing the death of her brother. (and sometimes tear)applause from the crowd.

Hannah Clark

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Marty Lastovica, another outside performer, also channeled the specialized Release feel. A previous student and Release co-coordinator, Lastovica preformed with a easy familiarity and quality. Dave Hockenbary's guitar graces matched this, and his positive, unassuming attitude was a sample of the people Release populates its ranks with.

Point being: the best acts of the evening, whether local or not, combined honest microphone-worthy talent and an appreciation for the people who came to appreciate them. They were humble performers.

Their steps and strings were right on beat, a beat that matched their heart's passion for their craft.

Release has long walked the line between talent show and galaxy series. At any point, the performances looked like they came straight out of a jazz-joint, or a coffee shop, or a concert hall.

The varying acts were sometimes reminiscent of MTV and sometimes of PBS. They ran the gambit from antics to art, and this is not an easy line to walk.

However, despite the difficulty in keeping everyone happy, Release always has something going in its favor. As long as Chadron's audiences bring their trade-mark warmth for the performers of Release, and as long as those performers reciprocate this with a burning love for their art, Release will continue to be a highly-anticipated event to ward off the pre-spring chill.

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Jovan Mayes of Denver, Colo., recites one of his poems he created while in a workshop with kids from the Pine Ridge Job Corps .

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Marty Lastovica of Saint Louis, Mo., begins to play a song he thought of a year ago for a full house at Release.

about 700

12 number of

number of audience members

CSC student acts

8 number of non-CSC student acts

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20 number

of acts throughout the show Michael Kruse, 17, of Chadron, sings "Music of the Night" from "The Phantom of the Opera," during the evening showing of the seventh annual Release.

9 Photos and Design by Ashley Swanson

poetr

MARCH 21, 2013 | CENTER SPREAD

10 SPORTS

MARCH 21, 2013 | The Eagle | csceagle.com

the eagle’s top ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

File photo by Kinley Q. Nichols

Kelsey Scott, graduate assistant of Douglas, Wyo., throws her rope in an attempt to wrestle a steer in the breakaway roping event last year in Torrington, Wyo.

First rodeo shines rays of light on program Spike Jordan Opinion Editor

File photo by Kinley Q. Nichols

Amy Deichert, sophomore of Spearfish, S.D., attempts to tie up a goat in a rodeo contest last year in Gillete, Wyo.

UPCOMING SPORTS EVENTS: d 9 A.M., MARCH 25 Triangular meet hosted by Chadron, Golf d 11 A.M., MARCH 22 at Adams State, Softball

Points are putting the Chadron State College cowboys and cowgirls closer to a College National Finals Rodeo spot after the CSC Rodeo Team marked the first Spring season rodeo off the calendar last weekend in Gillette, Wyo. CSC Cowgirl Amy Deichert, sophomore of Spearfish, S.D., won the goat tying at the Gillette College Rodeo, taking 7.7 seconds in the long go-round and 9.0 seconds in the short go, posting a 16.7 second time to win the average. Deichert credited a positive mental attitude that led to her win, and Rodeo Coach Dustin Luper was impressed by the effort she put out.

“I think my mental game was on. I told myself that I didn’t have anything to lose and I just went for it,” Deichert said.

Deichert had the privilege of traveling to the Nationals Rodeo in June of 2012 for barrel racing. Going into the finals round, Deichert was in third place, but lost out due to a fallen barrel.

In team roping, the duo of Clinton Lambrecht, senior of Wood River, and Derek Powers, freshman of Arthur, finished second in an 11-team field with 16.7 seconds in the average. The pair posted a 9.6 sec-

ond time in the first go-round, tying them for ninth place, but took runner-up honors after a 7.9 second run in the final go-round.

Sophomore Lane Day placed in two events. The cowboy from Bartlett finished fourth in the tie-down roping after two runs, posting 12.0 and 12.2 seconds respectively for a time of 24.2 seconds in the average, and placed sixth in steer wrestling posting a 9.1 second time in average; 4.2 seconds for the long-go round and 4.9 seconds in the final-go.

Jake Kasselder, a sophomore hailing from Ericson, also placed in steer wrestling after finishing fourth in the 11-man field. With two runs of 4.2 and 4.9 seconds respectively, Kasselder netted a 9.1 second time in the average.

The rough-stock competitors had a tough time breaking through at the Gillette rodeo, so Luper is focusing on getting them primed and ready for the Colorado State University Rodeo in Fort Collins, Colo., March 29-31.

With four rodeos left in the season, they’ve got time to turn things around.

“Practicing obviously helps get ready for the next rodeo, but I also have to prepare my mental game because it makes you feel that much more prepared. Practice makes it become second nature for you so you feel confident,” Deichert said.

d 1 P.M., MARCH 22 at Adams State University, Softball double header d 3 P.M., MARCH 22 at Adams State University, Softball double header d 11 A.M. MARCH 23, at Adams State University, Softball d 9 A.M., MARCH 28 at Black Hills State University Yellowjacket Open, Track and Field

AMY DEICHERT Sport: Rodeo Event: Goat typing, Barrels Class rank: Sophomore Hometown: Spearfish, S.D. Deichert won the goat tying event at the GIllete, Wyo., rodeo meet on Saturday with a first round time of seven and seven tenths seconds and then a final time of nine seconds flat.

KARISSA MORELAND Sport: Golf Class rank: Freshman Hometown: North Platte Moreland finished fourth overall with a score of 159 in the meet at Billings, Mont., and helped the Eagles capture third place on Saturday.

SPORTS

csceagle.com | The Eagle | MARCH 21, 2013

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Golfers take third in first meet Molly Wedan Sports

Photo credit MSU-Billings Sports Information

Karissa Moreland, freshman of North Platte, follows the path of her ball after a shot on Friday in the meet at Montana State Univeristy-Billings in Billings, Mont.

The Chadron State golf team traveled through two states to compete in their first meet on Thursday in Billings, Mont. While seven other teams were competing as well, the Eagles fared well and impressed Head Coach Terri Connealy.

“We hadn’t been able to get out and practice on the course yet before this meet, so I was very happy with performance of the team, they all competed well,” Connealy said.

The first day of competition went well, despite heavy winds blowing through the course. Leading the way for CSC was Karissa Moreland, freshman of North Platte, with a score of 79. That score put her in a tie for second place after the first day of competition. Emilie Pilkington, junior of Scottsbluff, and Schuyler Wetzel, freshman of Hot Springs, S.D., shot one point difference with scores of 85 and

Cougars end Eagles’ winning streak Molly Wedan Sports Editor Chadron State started out with a solid performance, but faltered in the middle innings to give up the win on Friday against Colorado Christian University, and end the winning streak of five games they held previously.

The Eagles were the first to score in the second game when Amy Schartz, senior first basemen of Brady, hit a long ball to right center field and sent junior catcher of Parker Colo., Sarah Knudsen across home plate. The Cougars responded by scoring two points in one play when catcher Shelbi Long hit a double RBI sending fellow teammates Melanie Lusi and Hannah Rapoport home, and taking the lead.

In the third inning, Chadron scored its final points of the game off an RBI hit by Rebecca Wetsch, sophomore outfielder of Erie, Colo. After that, CCU took off and scored six more times in the remaining four innings to win the game eight to two.

In the second game of the day, CCU was quick to score and picked up the first point from a hit up the middle from Long. Chadron was quick to answer with two RBI’s in the second inning and a homer from Schartz in the third. However, the Cougars took off once again for three more innings and scored six points. Chadron

86 respectively. After the first day of competition, Chadron was in third place with a score of 343.

On Saturday, the team was looking to improve their overall record, but ended up taking home third place after finishing the course. Moreland led again for the Eagles, with 80 points this time, and fellow teammate Wetzel improved her score by two with 84. However, Emma Harris, freshman from Wahoo, improved the most from Friday to Saturday when she shot an 81, twenty points lower than her score on Friday.

Montana State Univeristy-Billings won the meet with a score of 648. Colorado Mesa University beat Chadron for second place by ten points with a score of 672.

The Eagles will be hosting a triangular meet with South Dakota School of Mines and Black Hills State University on Monday. Tee time is set for 9 a.m.

“If we can get out and practice we will have a good chance of winning,” Connealy said.

tried to make a comeback in the seventh inning when Rebekah Anthony, freshman second basemen of Monument, Colo., and Nikki Ritzen, senior outfielder of Chadron, both scored. However, it wasn’t quite enough and CCU took another win seven to five.

“The key factors in the losses were our playing extremely timid and a lack of hits when we had runners in scoring position, We needed to play more aggressively, especially defensively,” Head Coach Rob Stack said.

Looking for redemption on Saturday, the Eagles came out ready to play, but were only able to stall the Cougars from pouncing in the second inning and taking off from there. Chadron wasn’t able to get on the boards when CCU ended the game in five innings, winning 10 to zero.

The same game was almost repeated later that day when the Eagles played the final game for the weekend. Colorado Christian dominated the score board, scoring four points in the third inning alone. Chadron scored in the fourth after Shea Graham, freshman infielder of Colorado Springs, Colo., hit a grounder out to second base, sending Katie Londo, junior third basemen of Colorado Springs, Colo., home.

File photo by Kinley Q. Nichols The Eagles, now at 9-12 for the season, will host Adams State University in a double header. Games are at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Amanda Einspahr, sophomore infielder of McCook, hits the ball in a game in Saturday, and 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sunday. the Spring of 2012.

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MARCH 21, 2013 | The Eagle | csceagle.com

Baily inked as new head volleyball coach Molly Wedan Sports Editor A losing record may be a statistic that can be disheartening to coaches and players alike, but the newly signed Chadron State head volleyball coach Janel Baily is already moving forward to next season.

“The biggest goal is to be more competitive and obviously win more games,” Baily said. “It’s going to be an uphill battle as we compete in the toughest Division II conference in the country.”

Even with the competition looming in the distance, Baily is set on improving on the 5-24 overall record the Eagles achieved this past season Baily while she was interim head coach. Two of those wins were conference wins, the first ones for the Eagles in over two years.

As of Tuesday, Baily was named head coach for

the Eagles. However, she has been working to improve the team since the 2012 season ended by recruiting future players.

So far Baily’s efforts have brought seven athletes to commit to be an Eagle, and there may be one or two more who sign with Chadron State.

“I am definitely looking forward to being more competitive next season,” Baily said.

Coming to play her first season, freshman setter of Phoenix, Ariz., Justine Ackie has the same mind set as coach Baily.

“I’m excited that Baily is head coach, it’ll be a fun season and a definite turn around from last season. She’s the mommy of the team and has an effective way of talking and coaching us,” Ackie said.

Transferring schools and athletic programs can be stressful for an athlete, but sophomore transfer from Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kan., Hanna Flaming looks forward to the coaching change.

“I like her [Baily] a lot, she is a lot better than the coach I’m coming from, I’m excited. Baily is always positive and encouraging,” Flaming said.

Photo by Ashley Swanson

Chadron State’s volleyball team comes together in a huddle during a game this past season.

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LIFESTYLES

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ź

TWEETS of the WEEK

#News The Huffington Post: “Arkansas may soon allow concealed guns in ... church?”

CNN Breaking News: “Springlike storm system pushes damaging winds, conditions favorable for tornadoes through Mississippi Valley..”

#Pop Culture Entertainment Weekly: “‘How I Met Your Mother’ officially renewed for FINAL season.”

College Town Life: “Teacher is one minute late...I’m leaving.”

Photo by T.J. Thomson

Mercy Gagnon, 20, junior of Togo, Africa, searches for a set of keys while handcuffed and blindfolded during RLA’s Fear Factor event Monday evening in the Kent Hall Red Room.

Sending messages via your modular device?

“I’m a fat kid. I don’t run.”

—Friday, Edna “True story, bro. Now, make me a sandwich.”

—Sunday, Edna “I don’t even remember what it’s like to be a girlfriend. I think it was nice. I think it was fun.”

—Wednesday, Old Admin

Tweet your CSC overheards to @eagleoverheard

#Jokes

Puns: “Why is Peter Pan always flying? He neverlands. I love this joke because it never grows old.”

FIRST CLASS

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Want to see your tweets in the The Eagle? Tweet to @csceagle.

Disclaimer: “Overheard at CSC” uses quotations obtained and verified by The Eagle staff and is for entertainment purposes only.

SOLUTIONS Sudoku puzzle

ILLUSTRATIONS BY HANNAH CLARK

Ah, but your phone is not living, therefore it is not made of cells.

Dude, you’re still not going to pass biology

But I have a monocle... a monocle!

Solutions: Dog food.

Right under your nose.

Uh, my cell phone?

ExtendedWEATHER Chadron weather

Today 52 ° |

Friday 45° |

Saturday 34° |

Sunday 35 °|

Monday 38° |

Information courtesy of weather.com

14 LIFESTYLES

MARCH 21, 2013 | The Eagle | csceagle.com

RPG teaches lessons in life Richard Heule Contributor Has anyone ever tried to say that video games are an art form? I know a few people who think that, and frankly I agree with them. I’m not talking about games like Modern Warfare 3 or Battlefield 3; games like that are the same concept rehashed ten-fold and shoved in the faces of every thirteen-year-old boy who has ever wanted to shoot a gun. I’m referring to games that tend to leave an imprint on some people. A good example of this would be the Super Nintendo game, EarthBound.

EarthBound was released in 1995 to North American audiences. Critics praised the game for its music and the bizarre humor present throughout, but consumers weren’t such a big fan, as they criticized the simple graphics and the gameplay. EarthBound was an RPG (role-playing game), meaning that it wasn’t quite like the plat-

forming giants of its time, like Super Mario or Sonic the Hedgehog. Instead, you had to find your enemies weaknesses and fight them in a turn-based style of gameplay, meaning you would strike with your weapons, and the enemy would retort.

It was a bit different from the RPG giants of the time. In other games, you were travelling around a medievalthemed world battling dragons and saving the world from the evils of warlocks and witches. In EarthBound, you are a ten-year-old boy by the name of Ness who lives in Eagleland (a parody of the United States) and was destined with the task of saving the world from an alien named Giygas. On his journey to save the world, he meets an assortment of unusual individuals

who help him out in his quest, such as the blues band The Runaway Five (a parody of The Blues Brothers), or an alien bee named Buzz Buzz.

While it may appear like nothing more than a kids game on the surface, EarthBound has some very mature undertones.

The story and the dialogue in the game were written by a man named ShigesatoItoi.

He was the mastermind behind the game and the reason why it was so successful: he was a well-renowned writer in his home country of Japan, and his fans were eager to see what he would do with a video game. People have speculated about the game’s deeper meaning for years, but there is one particular theory that I like more.

The theory states that EarthBound is much more than a story about defeating aliens; it’s more of a coming-of-age story.

When you start the game, you are an average ten-year-old boy that has to travel across the world in his quest to defeat evil.

Over the course of this, you overcome obstacles, fight evil people, eventually climaxing with a final battle with the terror that is Giygas. At the end of the game, you have to walk back to your hometown. All of the characters that you saw are now congratulating you and the world is finally at peace.

When you come home, your mom gives you a hug, tells you that she is proud of the man that you have become, and flips through a photo album with you.

I might be reading too much into it, but I feel that EarthBound is a good example of the deeper meaning that can sometimes escape us when we are too wrapped up in the game. There are so many other good examples of this, but I feel that EarthBound gets the point across pretty well.

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Mystery book keeps readers guessing Ashley Swanson Photo Editor How I would have loved to meet the ever-famous Agatha Christie, author of “And Then There Were None,” published in 1939. I love mystery stories with a passion, and Christie’s book is nothing short of amazing. “And Then There Were None” pulls the reader into its pages from the beginning. With a crew full of strangers and a creepy island, who wouldn’t be intrigued?

Indian Island, set a ways off the coast of a little fishing town, already has a handful of mysteries all its own, and when these strangers arrive, things are about to get a little more interesting.

As the strangers settle in for their first evening, they get to know one another. All is well and good, until an old record brings back memories better left forgotten. From then on, it’s all-downhill - especially after the death of one of the guests who choked himself. Following the words of a rhyme, the guests’ fall into a tangled web of clues, paranoia, and fear as they try to determine who the killer is - and who might be next.

The best part of any mystery is trying to figure out who the killer is, and Christie doesn’t disappoint. All through the book I kept thinking, of course he’s the murderer, who else could it be? Then, out of nowhere, other clues pop up, another person’s dead, and the reader is left clueless.

Everything about the book is great. Christie’s portrayal of

each character is beyond excellent, and I quickly determined storms that can last up to a few days, if not more. What better which characters were not in my top five favorites One char- way to spend the week than being trapped in a creepy house, acter, Emily Brent, is one I’d like teach with a killer on the loose? a lesson to. A very religious woman, From the moment I started reading I was she is determined that everything gohooked. I didn’t put it down until I was fining on is because each person’s sins ished a good four hours later. Along with the found them out. As she firmly puts it, book, there is a computer game where the it’s “an act of God.” person plays a detective trapped on the island Justice Wargrave, a retired judge, along with the group of strangers after his boat sits evenly on my love/hate line. He is scuttled. Just as intriguing as the book, the puts on the leader face, but sits there game intrigues the player with a vast number as everyone else does the dirty work. of puzzles and questions that need answering.

With a firm head on his shoulders, With every flip of a page, you think you've got he’s not one to mess around, and he everything figured everything out. Then, you proves this by the legalistic terms and find yourself on the last page finding a puzzling phrases he offers to the group. There final line. are many other characters featured in Think you’ve got everything figured out? Try the book, and each one has his or her reading the book, and then playing the game, own personality that you can either the endings aren’t the same. love or hate.

The book may leave a person more than conThe setting of an island, was the perfused, but like I said earlier, Christie doesn’t fect place to bring a group of strangers disappoint. At the back of the book is a letter, to meet their fate. As I read the beginfound in a bottle floating on the salty sea, dening, I thought, of course someone is Photo Illustration by Ashley Swanson scribing every bit of the mystery. just going to grab a boat and take them As usual, I was handed a mystery book that Christie's book lays on top of a computer all safely ashore, but what kind of mysmade me remember why I fell in love with featuring the simulation game. tery would it be if everyone was saved reading them. I highly recommend “And Then at the beginning? Instead of being able to escape, the group There Were None” to anyone who has a few hours of free time, is stuck on the island, which is famous for getting hit with a comfy chair, and a knack for solving mysteries.

Photo by Ashley Swanson

Jake Almanrode, 18, junior of Chappell, looks over the music selection during the Late Night event Thursday in the Student Center lobby.

JAN. 2013 | The Eagle | csceagle.com 16 17, LIFESTYLES

MARCH 21, 2013 | The Eagle | csceagle.com

Wipe some dirt on it, move on

F

Photo Illustration by T.J. Thomson

A woman sits while sporting a pair of Sperry Top-Sider boat shoes.

Justy Bullington Columnist

ashion relies greatly on word of mouth.

Whether it’s a new brand, style, or an updated version; users will make a testimony on the product. Unfortunately, testimonials aren’t always true. I would like to introduce you to what I like to call “testimonial omission.” This is when current users forget and/or deliberately don’t tell all of the information about a product when spreading the word. I coined this phrase because I am a recent victim of testimonial omission.

A couple of months ago I purchased a pair of Sperry Top-Sider boat shoes. If you are a current owners of such shoes I have no doubt you are currently having horrid flashbacks of what I’m about to explain. Non-owners, you are completely lost. If you’re lost, keep reading, I promise you this could possibly save your life and more importantly, your feet. If you’re in tears from flashbacks, please hold yourself together… you’re in public.

Although these shoes are undeniably fabulous and a major trend for spring and summer, there is one thing my “friends” forgot to tell me about such shoes. When making the claim that these shoes are as comfortable as a bed full of kittens, my friends left out the “minor” detail that in order to

break in these shoes you need, but are not limited to: the left eye of a Australian penguin, two hairs from the chest of Edward Cullen, three minutes of hula-hooping on one leg, and the ability to lose all feeling in your feet for multiple weeks. Because of testimonial omission I set forth for a big day in my new shoes. I regrettably inform you that there is now blood stains on the back of mine. After painstakingly continuing with the breaking in process of my Sperry boat shoes and multiple complaints to my friends, some asked a now obvious question: why do you continue to wear them?

I stood there, dumbfounded, as my only answer to the question was “because they’re cute.” (Don’t judge me; I know I’m not the only one.) However, I was disgusted when I realized that the question had never once crossed my mind. And with that realization was the fact that we as humans, or maybe just as women, put ourselves through pain for nothing more than hoping that it will get better. How many times do we let relationships, of all kinds, continuously hurt us while we continue to convince ourselves that it’s just the “breaking in process?”

I think one of the hardest things in life is deciding when to keep trying and when to let go. I continued to wear my Sperry Top-Sider boat shoes because I thought that maybe each new day would

! d a P i n a Win

be the day they would no longer hurt. Even after being let down multiple times, I persistently continued with the breaking in process, and with each day it got harder and harder to admit defeat. I had already put so much time and effort into the shoes that quitting would mean I wasted my time. With anything I think it is important to know when enough is enough. Unfortunately you are the only person that can decide this for yourself.

I’ve concluded one thing: it is always obvious to an outsider what is right. However, no matter how many times the outsider voices his/her opinion to the insider nothing is ever clear or fully understood until the insider reaches that realization on his/her own. Unfortunately, that realization may take months or even years, boxes of Kleenex, and a few tubs of ice cream, but one day it will all come together, and when it does, the shoe will finally fit.

I ask that you take at least one thing from this article and that is: shoes will always be worth the time, relationships won’t.

I’m kidding.

I hope that you grow to learn when enough is enough; I hope that you demand what you deserve, and most of all I hope you never settle for something that refuses to be broken in. Fashion may hurt, but never forget that relationships don’t have to.