May 2018 The Bridge

May 2018

VOL 48/ISSUE 08 L&C Students March for Unity

Hamilton: A Must-See American Musical

Students from ISA, BSA, and LC Pride march on Lewis and Clark campus on anniversary of MLK’s Death, April 4.

The musical follows Alexander Hamilton, from arrival to america up to his death, and everything in between.

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14th Annual

Student Art Exhibition BRENNEN LARSON

blarson@lc.edu Lewis and Clark Community College’s 14th Annual Student Art Exhibition ran from April 4-17 in the Hatheway Cultural Center Gallery, with a reception and awards ceremony April 6. The exhibit was free and open to the public.

Winners were announced during the opening of the show. Best of show

went to Joseph Randick. Courtney Holland took second place with her clay sculpture, “A Step in Her Shoe.” Third went to Katherine Shoeberle for her oil painting, “Drapery Study #6.”

“The annual student exhibit is always a great event and represents the culmination of much hard work by our students over the course of an academic year,” said L&C Art Program Coordinator Chris Brennan in a press release.

A total of 208 submissions were entered into the show. More than 100 works were accepted for exhibition, which featured physical and digital works by students studying fine arts, computer graphics and web design and development. The top entries received cash prizes. The works on display were for sale.

“This is my second year submitting artwork, and I am honored to be accepted again,” L&C Art student Katherine Schoeberle said in a press release. “This show provides students a wonderful opportunity to experience preparing, submitting and having art in a professional juried show. I am very excited for the students, faculty and staff, and the community to see our work displayed in the coming days.”

To find out more about the L&C Art program, visit www.lc.edu/program/ AFAart or contact Brennan at cbrennan@ lc.edu.

For information about the Computer Graphics program, visit www.lc.edu/ program/graphic-design, or Web Design and Development program, visit www.lc.edu/ program/webdesign or contact Coordinator Steve Campbell at scampbel@lc.edu.

A reception was held April 6 in the Hatheway Gallery to present awards in the 14th Annual Student Art Exhibit. Pictured above are those whose work received recognition. They are, from left to right, Courtney Holland, second prize; Katherine Schoeberle, thrid prize; Jacob Unfried, special merit; Emily Linn, honorable mention; Audrey Parsell, special merit; and Jason Roberts, honorable mention. Not pictured are Best In Show winner Joseph Randick and Kyla Moore, honorable mention. Photo by L&C Flickr

Learning Trans Basics Presentation Given by Jaimie Hileman STEPHANIE LARSON slarson@lc.edu

Lewis and Clark kicked off LGBTQ+ Health Awareness Week with a presentation by Jaimie Hileman in Reid Memorial Library. The presentation, titled Trans Basics, covered cultural competency about issues related to transgender people, as well as advice for better inclusion.

Hileman began the presentation by outlining some key terms, such as cisgender (having a gender identity that aligns with the sex you were assigned at birth) and transgender (having a gender identity that doesn’t align with the sex you were assigned at birth).

“The terminology comes from a selection of scientific, academic, advocacy, and realworld experiences,” Hileman explained.

She also discussed the differences between sex and gender, and between gender identity and gender expression.

“Everyone has a gender identity,” Hileman said. “For cisgender people, it’s a cisgender identity. For transgender people, it’s not. But everyone has it.”

She next explained some best practices for inclusion. One example was a name tag with space to write a name and gender pronouns. She also advised the audience to avoid “non-pliments” such as, “I would never have guessed you were born a man!” which may be wellintentioned but can be patronizing or insulting.

A key part of inclusion, according to Hileman, is asking appropriate questions.

For example: “If Joe the plumber is working on my sink, maybe he clocks

me as trans so he asks ‘Have you had the operation?’. That is not appropriate.

Joe doesn’t need to know anything about my ‘plumbing’ to fix my plumbing!”

Instead, Hilman advised a more thoughtful approach, including asking open-ended questions and considering your relationship to the trans person in question.

A more personal and emotional part of the presentation came when Hileman shared the story of how she came out to her parents. She described how her mother began the conversation with some leading questions.

“I started crying,” Hileman said. “I felt like I had lost the ability to speak. I felt like where my larynx was supposed to be was a lump of cold stone. She said, ‘What’s wrong?’. I can’t tell her because I can’t speak, I can’t talk.” She did eventually open up and her mother was supportive. “Years later we looked back on that moment and realized it was our first mother-daughter conversation.”

Hileman said that though she was at first reluctant to share these sensitive memories, she finds that including her personal story is an essential part of trans education.

“A cisgender person could give almost this same presentation about terms and so on,” Hileman said. “But what’s missing is the real, lived experience of being trans.

And that’s what the audience really connects to, and what humanizes trans experiences for them.”

Hileman says that the Trans Basics presentation comes from the Metro Trans

Umbrella Group, the largest trans advocacy organization in the St. Louis area. MTUG’s Trans 101 presentation was created based on guidelines developed by the National Center for Transgender Equality. Hileman was Board President and Co-Executive Director of MTUG before leaving to launch Trans Education Service of St. Louis, LLC in 2016. While she still works with MTUG on occasion, she is proud of her new company’s approach. “TES is a little nimbler, because we can work with a variety of clients from the corporate world, to medical and educational settings, to nonprofits,” Hileman said.

Hileman also said this event was a little different from her usual work. “About a third of my clients are corporate.

So they’re often more focused on, for example, solutions to workplace issues.

They have specific questions such as how to run inclusive meetings,” she said.

The Lewis and Clark event, on the other hand, ended with questions about LGBT and transgender support services in the area. Hileman suggested a few, including MTUG, and pointed the audience to TES’s website, transedservice.com for a list of resources.

This L&C Diversity Council event was presented by the Mannie Jackson Endowment and Center for the Humanities with funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Co-sponsors included LC PRIDE and The Bridge.

Trans/LGBTQIA+ Cultural Competency Educator Jaimie Hileman discusses Trans Basics March 26, in honor of LGBTQ+ Health Awareness Week in Reid Memorial Library. Photo from L&C Flickr

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World Water Day Makes Splash at Lewis and Clark Community College ALEX GENT

agent@lc.edu Lewis and Clark Community College hosted its first World Water Day educational seminar Thursday, March 22, in the Ahlemeyer Atrium of the Trimpe building here on campus. The free flow open event began at 10:30 am and continued until 2:30 pm, while offering free pizza to attendants who participated in the activities taking place at each booth.

6th graders of Maryville Christian School were attending on a field trip with their teacher Mrs. Hasting.

“I really enjoyed eating pizza, viewing the pretty campus, and learning about how water is gathered internationally,” a student replied, seeming eager to comment when asked what were their favorite things about the seminar. The

class estimated that they had eaten nearly seventy pieces of pizza.

As part of the efforts of the expansion the Swarovski Waterschools, students from C.A. Hennings Elementary School in Troy, Il and Alton High School each participated by providing booths at which attendants learned about a myriad of issues surrounding water sources locally and internationally.

A few of the goals of this event were to: give the opportunity for attendants to see how small invertebrate bugs are used to learn about stream health, learn how to map their watershed and understand their role in water pollution, view artwork and letters about water issues from students around the globe, and learn about the ways in which other countries access and treat their water.

Middle school students from around the area created drawings about how other countries conserve water and found letters from other children about how they conserve water in their households.

Photo by Kyrstie Morrison

Local volunteers came in to lend a hand and help the middle schoolers with their water conservation projects. They assisted the kids with their presentations and also helped them set up at Lewis and Clark. Photo By: Krystie Morrison

Photo from L&C Flickr

L&C Offers Free Mobile Health Screenings PRESS RELEASE Lewis and Clark Community College and Rep. Monica Bristow teamed up to provide free health screenings through the college’s Mobile Health Unit Friday, April 6, in East Alton.

Screenings, which ran from 9 a.m. to noon at the East Alton Plaza, 610 W. St. Louis Avenue, included oral cancer, cholesterol and glucose screenings, focusing on the oral-systemic health connection.

Research has shown that certain dental conditions may be associated with other health issues. An oral exam can reveal signs and symptoms of more than 90 percent of the systemic diseases people experience, according to the U.S. Surgeon General.

“The health screenings being provided through this event facilitate early diagnosis and intervention, which leads

to better health outcomes and lower medical costs in the long run,” said Lucy Chappee, an L&C Family Health Clinic nurse and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) project director for Lewis and Clark.

Lewis and Clark is able to partner with community leaders and organizations to provide these services, at no charge, through a federal grant from HRSA, Chappee said.

“The mobile health unit is a great way to help residents fit regular screenings into their busy schedules, and I was happy to partner with Lewis and Clark for this event,” Bristow said. “Providing a mobile health unit makes it more convenient and accessible for people to take part in these free exams, and I look forward in bringing more to areas around the 111th district.”

To learn more about the L&C Mobile Health Clinic, contact Chappee at (618) 468-6808 or lachappee@lc.edu.

Swarovski has been working internationally in schools and communities to foster water stewards and leaders in sustainable development since the year 2000. Swarovski Waterschool began working in two new countries in 2016 and the United States of America was one of them.

The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center is currently the first partner with Swarovski in North America and is helping to pave the way for a successful waterschool project. The goal of the program is to develop a curriculum that helps connect Mississippi River communities to the river through specific education that is responsive to the needs and circumstances of local communities.

The program has already reached more than 200 students and nearly ten schools throughout the Metro-East area and as it progresses and gains traction its ecological

impact will certainly be more noticable.

Natalie Maroni, who has worked with NGRREC for six years as the Director of Environmental Education and Citizen Science, was pivotal in helping to orchestrate and host the event. A Denison graduate, and native of North Carolina, Maroni has a BA in science, focusing on biology, a Masters in biology with focus on wildlife conservation, and has spent time doing extensive research on turtles.

“More people showed up than anticipated, so I am very excited!” Maroni exclaimed when asked about the success and impact of the program.

Anyone interested in gathering more information may do so by visiting www.worldwaterday.org, www. swarovskiwaterschool.com, www.ngrrec. org, or may contact Natalie Maroni at NMaroni@lc.edu.

PRESS RELEASE

Makers-coders-Entrepreneurs, World of Science, Create & Sell Stickers Digitally with Warm Soda Magazine, Bot Buddie, ART-TASTIC, Photography: Put the Wow Into It and Photoshop: Editing Tips and Tricks.

Returning favorites will include the Lewis and Clark Junior Explorers, Horseback Riding, Kids in the Kitchen, Minecraft© Designers and Restaurant Possible.

To view the complete College for Kids summer schedule, visit www.lc.edu/C4K or call Becky Moore at (618) 468-5701 to request a printed copy

College for Kids Summer Line Up at Summer Camp Lewis and Clark Community College’s Community Education division has announced its College for Kids summer camp lineup for 2018.

As in previous years, parents and students will find a wide variety of enrichment classes to participate in this summer, including several brand new offerings and some returning favorites.

The public is invited to attend the College for Kids Summer Camp Expo from 9-11 a.m.

Saturday, May 5, in the Hatheway Cultural Center Gallery on L&C’s Godfrey Campus.

This free event will give parents and students an opportunity to meet instructors, preview summer camp activities and receive early bird registration discounts.

“We are excited about the upcoming College for Kids Summer 2018 program,” said Yvette McLemore, Director of High School Partnership and Community Education. “The program is a great opportunity for students to learn and have fun during the summer months.”

Brand new offerings include Roblox®

Photos from L&C Flickr

03 Campus 2017-2018

Staff List Editor-in-Chief Helen Jarden Associate Editor Brennen Larson Layout Editor Shelby Clayton Webmaster Alex St. Peters Photographer Krystie Morrison Writer Alex Gent Ad Manager/Writer Ashtyn Britt

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L&C WESST Offers Workforce Solutions for Safety and More PRESS RELEASE

To better serve the community, Lewis and Clark Community College has split its former Corporate and Community Learning division into two separate departments – Community Education and Workforce Education, Solutions & Safety Training (WESST).

Community Education will continue to offer non-credit courses for children and adults, while WESST will focus on a wide variety of workshops and seminars designed for the professional sector, including an enormous curriculum of supervisory, managerial, leadership, communication, teamwork and other soft-skills courses.

“We are excited to have a name that better represents what we offer our clients,” said WESST Director Kathy Willis. “For example, we provide safety training for thousands of workers each year with the aim that they will be accident free every day and go home healthy and well each night.”

In service of this goal, WESST recently partnered with Phillips 66 and TekSolv to provide the safety orientation process that enables contractors to enter the gate at the Wood River Refinery.

As before, L&C remains a full satellite of the Houston Area Safety Council and is the only one in the Central Midwest to offer the OSHA-approved topics and safety badging of the Association of Reciprocal Safety Councils (ARSC). This enables local contractors to obtain a globally-reciprocal certification without having to travel.

The ARSC training alone draws participants of more than 750 contractor firms to the college from Chicago, Missouri and Indiana.

WESST also provides a job assessment service as a human resource solution. This service features almost 900 job-title-specific tests to evaluate the knowledge of a candidate for an open position.

“Everyone tries to be the perfect choice

when filling out an application or resume,” Willis said. “The scoring system, however, gives a busy HR department additional information about a candidate to help them read between the lines of a resume and objectively assess what a person actually understands regarding the body of knowledge for a position.”

Other courses routinely provided by WESST include CPR/AED/BBP/1st Aid; OSHA general industry and construction; food service sanitation review; confined space, fire, ice and water crew rescue; Medicar, SHRM classes, PC applications, industrial fire brigade, and IDOT’s flagger training.

“If you don’t see it in our catalog, call us because we can offer a program wherever and whenever a company wants it, in addition to customizing courses to include a business’ policies and procedures,” said Dawn Zedolek, program coordinator for WESST. To learn more, call (618) 468-5787 or visit www.lc.edu/workforce_training.

Writer Stephanie Larson Graphic Designer Keon Hearn Graphic Designer Zach Howard Graphic Designer Jason Wallace Cartoonist Tristan Wuellner Advisor Louise Jett ljett@lc.edu

Bingo Night Raises Money for Recovering Addicts ASHTYN BRITT abritt@lc.edu

On March 31st there was a large turnout for the bingo fundraiser in Trimpe by many people of all ages from around the local community. The event was hosted

by Madalynn McKenzie, a Lewis and Clark Community College student in pursuit of raising money for Nar-Anon, an organization who helps recovering addicts and their families.

“I’m doing it to raise money for NarAnon, which is a twelve-step program,” McKenzie said. “It’s for friends and families of those affected by addiction, and Nar-Anon doesn’t just help the friends and families, but also helps the addicts themselves by assisting them into treatment facilities and getting them the help they need to get clean.”

After free pizza and soda had been provided to the guests, the attendees bought

their raffle tickets and bingo cards before sitting to play through multiple rounds of bingo. For whoever won the round, they received a themed Easter basket to enjoy as a prize.

After a few rounds of bingo at a time, different speakers would share their experiences with addiction and helped to shed light to the complex subject. There had also been a slideshow playing a majority of the night presenting the physical differences that drugs can have on different people.

“The addiction level in our county is horrible,” Anita Cottingham, a local nurse and attendee of the event, said. “So I thought this was a way to support helping those that need help.”

There were many others to expressed the same sentiment, glad to participate in an event to help fight against addiction in the area. More information can be found about Nar-Anon can be found online at http:// www.naranonmidwest.org/

Image Provided by: Pixabay.com

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WE DELIVER! Photo by Ashtyn Britt

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L&C Students March for Unity ALEX GENT

agent@lc.edu Students from the International Student Association, the Black Student Association as well as LC Pride gathered in solidarity to march on Lewis and Clark Community College campus that took place on the anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., April 4.

The march started from the entrance at the northside of campus, along Godfrey Road to the entrance at the southside of campus, and eventually converging on the Trimpe building for festivities, in a demonstration of unity.

“In order to be unified we need to make a formalized promise to each other no matter race color or creed,” Coordinator of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion Adrienne Reed Oliver said.

The commemoration of unity began with

Salsa dance instructions provided by Alvin Elliot in which attendants were invited to participate. Sisters, Dema and Dana Qasem, who are International Students from Palestine, were generous enough to share with the audience a demonstration of a traditional dance style called Dabke, a combination of circle and line dancing often performed at weddings, and donning traditional Palestinian garments.

After the performances, Hal Schling spoke on concerns for the LGBTQ+ communities, and Bishop Derrick Robinson gave a speech on social justice and civil rights, as well as the significance of this event taking place on the anniversary of Dr. King’s death.

To help students formalize their promise Adrienne Reed Oliver composed a “Pledge for Unity,” a statement that students read together and after which everyone chanted “UNITY.”

Photos from L&C Flickr

Illinois Bicentennial Takes Center Stage in L&C’s 2018 Summer Garden Show

Graphic by L&C

PRESS RELEASE GODFREY – Just in time for the Illinois Bicentennial, Bicentennial Blooms (Illinois Proud) is the theme for the Monticello Sculpture Gardens’ sixth annual summer

garden show at Lewis and Clark Community College.

Bicentennial Blooms will be a season-long birthday celebration for the U.S.’s 21st state.

“Our goal this year is to explore the rich history of Illinois and the Godfrey area,” said L&C Horticulture Manager Ethan Braasch.

“With exciting floral designs and interpretive displays, the Monticello Sculpture Gardens will take our students and visitors on a journey through time to discover the region’s natural history and our state’s achievements in agriculture, industry and human development.”

This year’s theme is influenced by a deep admiration for America’s heartland and recognition of Illinois’s many contributions to the nation over the past two centuries.

The show, once again, aims to connect people with plants as part of the educational

Photo by Krystie Morrison

continuum of Lewis and Clark. It will comprise 12 pocket gardens, the details of which will be announced closer to the show’s opening.

The Monticello Sculpture Gardens, dedicated in Spring 2012, represent the college’s efforts to preserve the beauty of its historic Godfrey campus, which once was home to Monticello College (1838-1970), a school for women.

The Monticello Sculpture Gardens are a Signature Garden site of the Missouri Botanical Garden, and a botanical garden in their own right. In addition to seasonal and permanent plantings, the Monticello Sculpture Gardens also feature 14 large scale, mostly bronze, sculptures.

In 2013, the Monticello Sculpture Gardens introduced its first themed garden show with Menagerie in Bloom, which featured a special selection of colorful plantings that

bore the names of real or imaginary creatures.

Subsequent shows have included BEEDazzled, featuring native pollinators; Garden of Eatin’, featuring edible and drinkable plants; Gardens Through the Looking Glass, celebrating the campus’ rich history; and Solar Flair, which coincided with the 2017 Great American Solar Eclipse.

The gardens have been supported by generous donations made by private donors and groups such as Joan and Chuck Sheppard, Hortica, Ball Horticultural, The Peg Schmidt Family, Monticello Alumnae, Monticello College Foundation, Godfrey Women’s Club, Alton Community Service League, Alton Godfrey Rotary Club and PRIDE Inc. To learn more about how to get involved or for more information on guided garden tours, contact Braasch at ebraasch@lc.edu or (618) 468-3140, or visit www.lc.edu/Bicentennial_

Photo by Krystie Morrison

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05 Campus

thebridge News L&C’s Vaughn Among Landscape Artists Featured at Duane Reed Gallery

PRESS RELEASE Jeffrey Vaughn, associate professor in the Art program at Lewis and Clark Community College, is among a group of landscape artists being featured at Duane Reed Gallery in St. Louis this month.

Vaughn is known for his emphasis on

shape, pattern and light based on the natural growth found in trees, branches and plants.

“I like to work with a heightened color palette, yet still remain faithful to the natural world,” Vaughn said. “Through these more abstract concerns of light, color and composition, I hope these paintings allude to an experience of the order and quiet beauty of nature.”

Vaughn, an Alton native, has focused his energies as an artist working in landscapes for over 20 years. He approaches his work with a quiet contemplativeness that reflects the serene aspects of the natural world and reveals the underlying spiritual nature that can be found in the environments he portrays.

Vaughn has exhibited his work throughout the United States for over 30 years. His work can be found in numerous public and private collections such as the U.S. Department of State, Washington D.C.; Anheuser-Busch Inc., St. Louis; Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, Louisville, Kentucky; and Kentucky Public Radio, Louisville, Kentucky.

The exhibition will run through May 12.

Learn more about the exhibit at www. duanereedgallery.com.

For more information on Lewis and Clark Community College’s Art program, visit www.lc.edu/program/AFAart/.

Aspen Trees #15. Photo by Jeffery Vaughn

Thicket #39 Crabapples. Photo by Jeffery Vaughn

Wooded Ravine in Fog. Photo by Jefferey Vaughn

Student Student Trustee Trustee Elections Elections Election Election Results Results

Ashtyn Britt Robyn Scott (259 Vote)

Ashtyn Britt Robyn Scott 60.2% 39.8%

Congratulations to Robyn Scott on being elected student trustee for 2018-2019.

Thank you to Ashtyn Britt for running and for your participation in student government.

Graphic By: Zach Howard

CHECK OUT OUR INSTAGRAM @THELCBRIDGE

L&C Job Fair Top: A student talks with a U.S. Customs officer about what it’s like to work for border protection and how soon he would leave for duty. Bottom: Members of the YouthBuild organization attended the job fair at Lewis and Clark to meet with potential employers and to find out what kind of requirements they would need for certain jobs. Vendors from all over the Alton and St. Louis area came to Lewis and Clark to set up at the job fair and talk to students about openings they have at their companies.

Photos By: Krystie Morrison

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Entertainment 06

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Hamilton: A Must-See American Musical ASHTYN BRITT abritt@lc.edu

I have loved Hamilton since the very first time I ever listened to the soundtrack in early 2016, and have spent the past two years (not so) patiently waiting for Hamilton to create a national tour. In the meantime I’ve memorized the entire musical, written fanfiction, bought merchandise, read Hamilton: The Revolution!, and even attended a convention in a Hamilton cosplay.

So I admit right here and now, I’m already biased in favor of the brilliant broadway musical created by Lin Manuel-Miranda.

Therefore you could only imagine how excited I was when I received Hamilton tickets for Christmas.

The night that I attended, I woke up early to make sure I had my makeup and hair perfect for that night to go with my dress costume that was a striking resemblance to the costumes of the continental soldiers during Act 1 of the musical. I felt myself practically shake with anticipation through dinner and the car ride until I saw the Fabulous Fox Theatre. The posters displayed in the window are great for taking pictures in front of in the signature pointing in the air pose, and the structure of the building itself was beautiful.

Photo Provided by: press.atlanticrecords.com/ Then, the actual show itself is wonderful.

The story follows the first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton. We see his life from his arrival to America up to his death, and all the exciting events of his life that took place in between. This story however isn’t only about Alexander, but those closest to him, and the birth of our great nation. It really does teach quite a lot of historical facts in one of the most creative

ways I’ve ever seen. As if the story wasn’t beautiful enough, the performance was an unforgettable experience.

The stage, looking as if entirely made of old wood, rarely ever changed throughout the show. The performers only added occasional props to show a shift of time, and a double rotating floor to help make the magnificent choreography look even more exhilarating to watch. The incredibly diverse

cast was fantastic during their performance, their voices even rivaling that of the original cast on the soundtrack! It isn’t enough to only listen to the musical, I would beg of everyone around me to go and see the show if they should ever find the chance to do so.

The current show run will have finished by May 22nd, so to find out the other locations for Hamilton, you can look for tickets on https://tickets-center.com/.

Who the Heck Decided Lolita was a Love Story!?

ASHTYN BRITT

hjarden@lc.edu As a reader, there are bound to be books that don’t captivate me as much as others but it is very rare that I am completely disgusted by one. Now, as a fan of classical authors such as Shakespeare and Jane Austen, when I heard of Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov, it was described to me as a romance novel using the most profound and beautiful words in the English language. So, I felt more than compelled to look into it.

However, there was one very important detail about this novel that’d been left out. This book is about a pedophile’s relationship with his victim.

I was horrified to read the details of the main character’s obsession with his twelve year old stepdaughter. That’s right, the main character, Humbert Humbert, is a pedophile supposedly as a result from the death of his first love as a young boy. Now, he searches for another young woman to fill her place, even if he’s now much older. Delores Haze, a twelve year old girl whom he refers to as Lolita, unfortunately catches his fancy. He marries her mother to stay

close, and once the mother dies he takes initiative to start his sexual abuse.

The story is told from his very sick perspective, and goes into details of molesting the child as if he were some grand love-hero taking seize of his one true love. It is truly something horrific to try to get through, almost specifically because of the writing style. While I admit the language itself is beautiful, it is only pretty wrapping over a sickening story.

As I sat the book down and take a breath, I wondered who on earth in their right mind could ever call this book a love story? There is no such thing as romantic love between a very young girl and a middle-aged man. I thought that surely, I couldn’t be the only one who felt this way.

You can imagine how nauseous I became when I discovered that an alarming amount of people over the last sixty three years since its publication also viewed it as a compelling love story. The novel was so beloved it was adapted into a movie in 1962 and again in 1997, as well as somehow landing it’s

Photo from Lula Belle on Youtube.com

PRESS RELEASE

act can impact an entire community and solidify relationships.

These relationships are explored, formed and some even ended. The play amplifies the depth of human emotion and compassion.

“Rogue’s mission is to choose shows that highlight topics significant to our society,” Jeremiah Harvey, Rogue’s Artistic Director, said of the decision to make this play Rogue’s capstone for its inaugural season. “Diana Son writes a multi-layered story in ‘Stop Kiss,’ and there are many issues swirling around our two main characters. What does

it mean to find yourself? What does it mean to fall in love? And, what happens when the unexpected happen? Are you given the choice to swerve, or stay the course? These are some of the issues we’ll dive into with our audience.”

Though the audience never sees the actual assault, the play is told out of chronological order, taking them back and forth through time to highlight its impact on the characters and their connections with each other.

Starring Halley Robertson (Callie), Jenevieve Marie Lafferty (Sara), Oliver Bacus (George), Ryan Engelman (Peter),

way onto TIME magazine’s list of the 100 best English-language novels published from 1923 to 2005. This disgusting wolfin-sheep’s-clothing of a novel also holds a place on the BBC’s The Big Read poll of the UK’s 200 best-loved novels. This is disturbing, and yet the more I think about it, the more I realize the alarming amount of sense that this actually makes.

We now live in a world where plenty of once-beloved hollywood stars and politicians are being outed as pedophiles, and rightfully finally made to be brought to justice. We live in a world where young women in high schools are told to cover up more to not distract the boys, even though the boys shouldn’t be eyeing them up in the first place. The romanticization of children is a part of rape culture that needs to be taken more seriously, starting with this book.

Don’t call it a love story! Call it what it is, a sick example of a pedophile’s fantasy wrapped up with a pretty vocabulary. Only when we acknowledge that a problem exists, can we start to fix that problem.

The Rogue Theatre Co chooses ‘Stop Kiss’ as Capstone for Inaugural Season

The Rogue Theatre Co. announces its upcoming show “Stop Kiss” by Diana Son opening April 27 and running April 28 through May 6. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. with doors open at 7 p.m. at The Rogue House, 1320 Milton Road (inside the Old Milton Schoolhouse, 3rd floor) Alton, Illinois.

After Callie and Sara unexpectedly fall in love, a violent attack changes everything. The Rogue Theatre Co. welcomes an incredibly talented cast to dive deep and explore how one terrible

Valerie Sprague (Mrs Winsley/The Nurse) and Andy Vieluf (The Detective), Director Chris Kernan, Stage Manager Kate Slovinski, Sound Design by Josh Douglas and Production Manager/ Lighting and Set Design by Jeremiah Harvey.

Tickets are $15 for students with ID and $20 for adults. Content is appropriate for audiences 14 years and older.

The intimate nature of the theatre limits seating so advance purchase is recommended https://theroguetheatreco. ticketspice.com/stop-kiss

Image Provided by Rogue Theatre Co

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07 Entertainment

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Love, Simon Will Steal Your Heart!

ASHTYN BRITT abritt@lc.edu

Love, Simon might end up truly being the movie of the year. Based on the book Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda, this coming-of-age and coming-out story is important for LGBTQ+ people all over the country who have been searching for a movie to truly relate to.

This movie shows the story of a closeted gay young man named Simon, along with his best friends, his family, his desire to find love, and his big closet-sized secret.

Things start to change when he connects to another closeted boy online, and the two develop a connection over emails.

Events grow more complicated when someone finds out Simon’s secret, and blackmails him with the threat of kicking him right out of the closet. What’s specifically so refreshing is that there was a point made to break stereotypes. Simon isn’t obviously flamboyant, he doesn’t

wear pink with pointed shoes, and he doesn’t come across as a joke-character.

Simon is a real and well rounded character with an enticing innermonologue, and incredibly relatable with his feelings of confusion and frustration.

Love, Simon embodies the inner struggle of many LGBTQ+ teenagers to accept themselves and open up to others about who they really are. Living in a world where even today there’s very prominent levels of homophobia, this movie creates a large step in the right direction for equality.

This movie is not only great for LGBTQ+ people, but for their families and loved ones as well. The movie presents a very real interpretation of how coming out of the closet can be, and for the people who don’t quite understand what it means when their loved one comes out, this can help them maybe gain some new perspective.

This movie deserves two large thumbs up and for everyone to buy a ticket to watch it as soon as possible!

Photo From www.foxmovies.com

500 Days of Summer: A Movie for the Broken Hearted ASHTYN BRITT abritt@lc.edu

If any of you have every been through a heartbreak, then you already know how much they hurt. It feels like the world has crashed, and you never want to see another sappy cliche in your life. To you heartbroken people, I can’t beg enough of you to watch this movie.

Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, this movie tells the story of Tom Hansen and Summer. However, like the narrator at the beginning warns the audience, this is not a love story. If you wish to watch the movie, it is available for rent on most media streaming services.

Warning! The rest of this article will contain major spoilers.

This story shows out-of-order scenes through the five hundred days of Tom and Summer’s messy relationship, and eventual end. We see things from Tom’s perspective, since he is the hopeless romantic who has fallen in deep love with

Summer. However, she doesn’t believe in love, and while this creates an interesting dynamic for the beginning of their relationship, much like in real life, this doesn’t prevent the inevitable crash and burn. This is an honest story of love lost, and how a hopeless romantic can turn into a bitter cynic.

However, at the end, when Tom decides to finally move on with his life and stop looking for love, he meets a pretty young woman named Autumn. After Summer comes Autumn, just like someone will come along after this heartbreak you’ve had. Only when we have our breakup stories can we eventually find our love story, and this movie is the perfect “Onebefore-the-One” story that makes me feel good after every breakup I’ve ever had.

The performance and dialogue is very real and relatable, and I recommend it for everyone to watch. Whoever hurt you, you will move on, and you will find your person.

Photo From pixabay.com

If eyes are the window to the soul, then your soul is as beautiful as the alps in Switzerland.

Brown and sensual, like rich chocolate sending wonderful sensations through me.

You remain calm, fair, neutral and care far more for peace. You create an unintentional peace in me. while it may seem cheesy, there’s been a whole in my life that I am overjoyed for you to have filled.

Like a swiss army knife, I see the many skills you possess and am amazed at your ability to keep such balance.

You are so full of grace.

My growing feelings for you seem as tall as the matterhorn.

You are as pure as fresh snow, and you bring the joys of a winter wonderland the whole year long.

While you may seem far, you are truly only a heartbeat away.

I feel my pride for you filling me as strongly as I feel the air entering my lungs.

Your hands may be cold, But your heart is so warm.

You are my small piece of Switzerland.

You are mein schätzli.

In the end, that’s all that really matters.

Photo from Letterboxd.com

Hatheway Cultural Arts Center Alive with the Sound of Music: Alton Symphony Orchestra Performs ALEX GENT

agent@lc.edu On Saturday, April 21st, Lewis and Clark Community College hosted the Alton Symphony Orchestra performing in its 73rd concert season. During the two hour show the audience was treated to performances of Mozart’s “The Impresario”, “ The Norwegian Dances”

by Edvard Grieg, Leroy Anderson’s “Irish Suite”, “The Hebrides” by Felix Mendelssohn, and Amy Beach’s “Gaelic Symphony”.

The orchestra consisted of fifty members ranging in age and experience, and were led by Maestro Wm. Shane Williams who has been the Music Director/Conductor since 2013. Mr. Williams has an extensive musical resume that includes, but is not limited to: conducting the St. Louis Philharmonic, the Illinois Symphony, as well as performances with Moody Blues and Burt Bacharach to name a few.

Also on the roster was Alton native, Vincent Piazza. Mr. Piazza is the Alton Symphony Orchestra (ASO) Concertmaster, and has a long history with the ASO. As a member of the Alton Junior Youth Symphony, the Alton Youth Symphony, and, during high school, the Alton Symphony, he enjoyed playing in many ensembles. .“It is truly a privilege and honor to work with so many talented members of the music community,” Williams said.

Throughout the performance the

music did not ebb and flow, but it rather rose and receded like a boat in the water seems to rise and fall. The musician’s talents and their commitments to enriching them were undeniable, and although they performed with calculated precision, executing each piece with an expertise that could be described as “engineered”, it would be

unfair to compare them to a well oiled machine, for machines may be able to invoke emotions, but they cannot perform with same passion.

ASO is currently looking for members who are passionate about music, would like to bring about change for the community, and would like to learn the skills of succeeding in such

a role. Anyone interested in donating financially, joining the orchestra as a musician, becoming a member of the Board of Directors, finding the season schedule, or looking for information in general may do so by sending an email to altonsymphony@gmail.com or visiting www.altonsymphonyorchestra. com.

Photo Provided by Thomas Honke

www.thelcbridge.com

Feature 08

thebridge

The Bridge Takes Home 14 Awards HELEN JARDEN hjarden@lc.edu

Photo By: Krysite Morrison

Lewis and Clark Community College’s student newspaper, The Bridge, won fourteen awards from the Illinois Community College Journalism Association (ICCJA).

“The Bridge staff has made me extremely proud,” Bridge advisor Louise Jett said.

“I’ve watched each staff member approach challenges with an open mind and an open heart.

These awards reenforce what I already knew. The Bridge staff is currently full of talented, dedicated students.

The Bridge competed in the second division, which is meant for papers at small colleges around Illinois, and open division, which included both smaller and larger colleges.

Shelby Clayton, Layout Editor of The Bridge, won six awards including first place for editorial cartoon, second place for front page design, and an honorable mention for website design.

“I was excited to hear what judges think of our work,” Clayton said. “There is always room for improvement in the art world, and that’s what ICCJA is, a learning experience with a sprinkle of

friendly competition. I like to know where my abilities fall short so I can improve upon them, and that is exactly what I aim to do after hearing the judges comments on my work. “ First place for staff editorial in the second division went to Callie Logan, who wrote about overcoming an emotionally abusive relationship. “This is a strong editorial that is bound to resonate with the newspaper’s readers,” the judges said.

“It carries a genuine sense with it and that links it to readers.”

Along with the awards, The Bridge won second place for General Excellence division two. The judges remarked that The Bridge had good visuals, a nice amount of local content, and nice coverage of campus issues.

“Many staff members are graduating and it’s hard not to be sad about their departure,” Jett said. “But, I know they’re off to even greater achievements.”

“The Bridge has definitely been a catalyst of becoming who I am today in my two short years I’ve been working at the paper,” Clayton said. “I would not be the same person if I did not have The Bridge.

Being my last semester at the newspaper, I am very sad to leave, but I will always support it in anyway that I can.”

Graphic By:Keon Hearn

PURSUING YOUR DEGREE REGIONALLY IS CONVENIENT, ACCESSIBLE AND TAILOR-MADE TO YOUR LIFESTYLE. • Undergraduate programs include: Accounting Human Services Behavioral Science Management Criminal Justice Sports Management Health Science • Earn your associate degree and bridge over to MBU with maximum transfer credit • Save money by paying the lower LCCC tuition rate for up to 3 years of your bachelor’s program • Graduate programs include: Master of Business Administration Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Master of Arts in School Counseling Master of Arts in School Counseling with concentration in Clinical Mental Health

Visit us online at mobap.edu/lccc for more information. lccc@mobap.edu | 618.468.2621

Section B

VOL 48/ISSUE 08 Dear Future Daughter: A Message to What May be

The Biggest Benefits of Therapy

Monster Hunter World brings new areas to conquer. Released on Xbox and Playstation, soon to be released on PC

Going to therapy is a big decision. It’s admitting that you need help, which means admitting to a level of vulnerability

Read More on 3B

Read More on6B

Graphic By Shelby Clayton

Every Main Card Match Ranked Worst to Best ALEX ST. PETERS astpete@lc.edu

Wrestling’s greatest show of the year, WrestleMania, has disappointed fans once again this year. WrestleMania 34 had the potential to be one of the best WrestleManias in years, but it fell short due to some questionable matches. I didn’t think this Wrestlemania was bad by any means, but it wasn’t the greatest by any means. Overall, I wasn’t overwhelmed or underwhelmed but just whelmed with this year’s Super Bowl of Sports Entertainment.

In this review, I will rank each match from the main card from worst to best.

Worst: WWE RAW Tag-Team Titles: Cesaro & Sheamus (The Bar) (C) Vs. Braun Strowman & Nicholas Result: Strowman delivers a devastating Running Powerslam to Cesaro to win the titles First off let me say that this was one of most disappointing WrestleMania matches I’ve seen ever. Braun Strowman being considered for the Tag-Team titles as one man was already a dumb decision to me. It was kind of a big you suck to the entire RAW Tag-Team Division because they gave a single man a shot at the Tag-Team titles on the grandest stage of them all. With Strowman selecting a child from the crowd to stand-in as his Tag-Team partner we all knew this would end up as a squash match.

The match itself only lasted four minutes and was filled with Strowman dominating Cesaro & Sheamus single-handedly. The match was insulting to Cesaro & Sheamus because they are a very good Tag-Team. To have their WrestleMania moment used as a publicity gimmick was a bad move in my opinion. It kinda made the RAW Tag-Team titles lose some prestige because they were won so easily by one man and a child.

WWE Smackdown Tag-Team Titles: The Usos (C) Vs. The New Day Vs. The Bludgeon Brothers Result: The Bludgeon Brothers destroy Kofi Kingston with a Super Powerbomb off the top rope to win the titles This match was no different than any other Bludgeon Brothers match. They come in clean house and completely destroy the competition.

Then they get pushed back for a bit just to double team a single opponent for the win. Honestly, this match was somewhat entertaining, but I just wish they would let the Bludgeon Brothers take a beating instead of making them look unstoppable. The match was very short for a title match and was essential another squash match.

WWE United States Championship: Randy Orton (C) Vs. Bobby Roode Vs. Jinder Mahal

Vs. Rusev Result: Sunil Singh interferes with Rusev to allow Jinder Mahal to slam Rusev with the Khallas to win the title To insult Rusev on Rusev Day of all days with a missed opportunity to win the United States Championship was appalling. I was excited when Rusev was added to this match to make it a fatal four-way. I figured that they were finally going to give Rusev a title reign considering his Rusev Day bit is going over extremely well with the fans. However, the WWE messed up again by allowing the Modern Day Maharaja, Jinder Mahal, to win another title. The match was decent and it had some good RKOs out of nowhere, but I don’t think it was WrestleMania worthy. Also to have Mahal win on a distraction

by Sunil Singh is becoming pretty old.

John Cena Vs. The Undertaker Result: Undertaker buries John Cena with a Tombstone Piledriver for the win Even though this match was basically a bonus match because it was never actually on the card.They still could have made it longer than the less than three-minute match it was.

Cena had been calling Taker out for the past month leading up to WrestleMania. I figured there would be a match, but I didn’t think it would be another squash match. Taker made Cena look like a jobber in this match, which is fair considering Taker has seen his fair share of losses in the past two WrestleManias. However, I still wish they would have done more with these two superstars and at least made it a match where either opponent could win.

WWE RAW Women’s Title: Alexa Bliss (C) Vs. Nia Jax Result: Nia Jax ends Alexa Bliss with a Samoan Drop from the second rope to win the title Now this is a match that should have been a squash match. It was basically your classic standing up to the bully scenario. Alexa had bullied and used Nia the few weeks leading up to WrestleMania and now that Nia had realized it she was ready for revenge. The match lasted a good ten minutes when it could have lasted five or less. Nia is clearly more dominant than Alexa and should have handled her easily. I didn’t hate the match because it had some good spots, but it just went on longer than it should.

In the end, I’m glad that they finally allowed Nia to win the title because she’s deserved it for a while now.

WWE Universal Championship: Brock Lesnar (C) Vs. Roman Reigns Result: Lesnar kills Reigns with a bloody F-5 to retain the title The outcome of this match really surprised me the most out of all the matches. With news

Braun Strowman and Nicholas: Braun Strowman and ten-year old Nicholas win the RAW Tag-Team titles. Source: digitalspy

that Brock Lesnar’s contract was up after WrestleMania and that he wanted to return to the UFC. I thought that Lesnar was finally going to lose his title and we would have a new champion in Roman Reigns. However, things didn’t go that way I’m not sure if it was planned that way or if it was because Reigns started to bleed out in the ring.

The match was filled with Superman Punches by Reigns and Lesnar took Reigns to Suplex City a few times. Even with all the big moves, it was a pretty boring match and it was supposed to be the Main Event.

At one point during the match the fans were chanting, “This is awful.” The match’s end was pretty exciting though with Lesnar splitting open Reign’s head to start the waterfall of blood. I’m not sure if that was supposed to happen, but it did make reigns look like a tough guy considering he was still able to compete with blood spewing out of his head.

Reigns got in a few more hard spears with a split open head, but the Big Dog couldn’t tame the Beast for the win.

Kurt Angle & Ronda Rousey Vs. Triple H & Stephanie McMahon Result: Rousey makes McMahon tap from an Armbar I thought this was very good match considering it was Rousey’s debut in the WWE. Most of the time debuts are usually squash matches, but this one went on for twenty minutes. Rousey was impressive in her ability as a wrestler and was able to pull off some good moves. The match was very close and made the fans unsure who was actually going to win.

There were a few times when you thought the match was going to end, but they found ways to keep it going. Overall, it was a good debut for Rousey who lived up to the hype of being one the baddest women on the planet.

Daniel Bryan & Shane McMahon Vs. Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens Result: Sami Zayn taps out to the Yes Lock

by Daniel Bryan This was one of the most anticipated matches of WrestleMania because it featured the return of long time fan favorite Daniel Bryan. Bryan was just recently medically cleared to wrestle since he was forced to retire from a neck injury a few years ago. Even though this was supposed to be Bryan’s match they gave the spotlight to Shane McMahon because Bryan was injured before the match even started. However, Bryan came in swinging once he was able to get back on his feet. He was very impressive and showed that he can still throw down.

It was exciting to see the YES! Movement back in full force in the WWE and look forward to what they have planned for Bryan. Overall, I thought it was a good match, but could have

featured Bryan more than it did.

WWE Title: AJ Styles (C) Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura Result: Styles pins Nakamura with a Styles Clash to retain the title Now this match was supposed to be one of the best matches in all of wrestling. Not just in the WWE, but in the entire world. However, I don’t believe this match lived up to the hype that it was supposed to. Sure it was a great match by two of the best wrestlers in recent times, but it wasn’t the best match it could have been. It was slow at times and the fans seem uninterested because of it. The most exciting part to me was what happened after the match, which was Nakamura turning heel. Nakamura has been a face so far in the WWE so it’ll be fun to watch what they do with him as a heel.

WWE Intercontinental Championship: The Miz (C) Vs. Finn Balor Vs. Seth Rollins Result: Rollins smashes The Miz with a Curb Stomp to win the title Even though this was the first match on the main card it was one of the more entertaining matches of the night. It was a back and forth fight till the end, with the possibility of any of the three winning the match. The match wasn’t over the top but stayed exciting the whole time.

It was just great wrestling overall. It was nice to see Rollins win and for him to complete his Grand Slam in the WWE. However, I would’ve loved to see Balor get the win. Balor has been underutilized in my opinion since he had to relinquish his Universal Championship due to injury.

Best: WWE Smackdown Women’s Title: Charlotte Flair (C) Vs. Asuka Result: Charlotte makes Asuka tap to a Figure Eight to retain the title Just like the AJ Styles/Shinsuke Nakamura match this match had some high expectations.

This match, however, lived up to the hype and then some. It’s not normal in the WWE for a Women’s match to be the best one on the card, but recently the WWE Women’s Division has made some great strides.

Both of the women in this match had something to prove and they both looked like they really wanted to be there. You could feel the intensity between these two women and I think that’s what made the match so good.

Both women pulled out some amazing moves and at no point was one more dominant than the other.

To me, the finish was very surprising.

I figured they would give Asuka the win considering she hadn’t been beaten in 914 days.

If it wasn’t Charlotte who beat Asuka, I would have been disappointed, but Charlotte was the woman for the job.

Charlotte Flair vs Askua: Charlotte delivers a devastating spear to Askua in the RAW Women’s Championship match. Source: WWE

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SECTION B

Opinion 02

Have a Gay Time This LGBTQ+ Pride Month ASHTYN BRITT abritt@lc.edu

For those of you who don’t already know, June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month. I know, it isn’t June quite yet. However, I am so excited and I just can’t wait! I am beyond thrilled for this year, and couldn’t resist writing about it early.

During this summer, there will be multiple days worthy of noting in honor of Pride Month available for anyone in the LGBTQ+ community, as well as their allies to acknowledge or even participate in if they choose. A few of these are more celebratory, while others are more in honor of more serious topics involving the LGBTQ+ community.

Either way, through the whole month, companies such as Target and Spencers’ have been known to display Pride Month merchandising for those who need to stock up on more rainbow gear! After all, you can never have too many rainbows in your life.

One of the more serious holidays that was previously mentioned includes Pulse Night of Remembrance on June 12 in honor of the 49 people who lost their lives in the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando during the summer of 2016. Even two years later, these souls haven’t been forgotten and have become a large symbol of the LGBTQ+ movement.

Then of course, there’s the annual PrideFest 2018 in Saint Louis specifically on Saturday

the 23rd and Sunday the 24th, being held at Soldiers’ Memorial Park, Market Street between N. 15th St. & N. Tucker St. While there are many Pride Festivals and Pride Parades all over the country throughout the whole month, Saint Louis’s PrideFest is the closest one to our area for anyone who wants to attend and have a great time! There are also many more smaller events provided nearly daily by Pride Stl, the organization who graciously makes Saint Louis’s PrideFest possible every year.

June 26th is the anniversary of when the U.S. finally legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in 2015. This was one of the most important dates for LGBTQ+ Americans, and allowing them to finally marry the person they want to spend their lives with and receive the proper rights associated with that. A couple of these rights including being able to be with your spouse in a hospital room, receiving tax benefits, easier access to adoption, and being covered by your spouse’s insurance.

Finally, June 28th is the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in New York City, where a brave group of LGBTQ+ people rebelled against a police raid that morning. This particular event played a huge part in the LGBTQ+ movement towards equal rights in the U.S. for members of the LGBTQ+ community.

For more information on any events

happening closeby in the St.Louis area, you can check https://www.pridestl.org/ online. You can also make online donations to Pride Stl at that same website, as well as donate to the Ali Forney Center at https://www.aliforneycenter. org/ who help homeless LGBTQ+ youth, or at the Sylvia Rivera Law Project https://srlp.org/ who can help provide legal representation to

Image Provided by: Pixabay.com being brought into this big and scary world.

Perhaps it is because of my experience with my own mother, who now lives in Heaven, that I understand how limited our time together could be. I never want to waste a moment, even if it is so far ahead of time. I just wanted to bestow unto you a few lessons that I have learned in my life for you to one day hopefully benefit from, should fate ever tear me from you the way it tore my mother from me.

First, you will have people who will claim to love you even if they don’t. I will start by telling you I will not be one of these people. I will love you more than the air I breathe. As for many others, such as friends, romantic partners, or others you find yourself close to, they may lie to you.

While I don’t want to discourage you or make you feel like you can’t trust anybody, I must caution you to be smart.

Some people will hurt you, my dear. Not everyone will, though. Eventually you will find people who will love you and be lifelong friends, and even someone who will be willing to spend the rest of their days with you. Don’t let the people who have lied about their feelings keep you from finding the ones who will completely and honestly love you. Those people exist, and they’re worth finding.

Second, you will have many people who will leave you, but it doesn’t mean that they weren’t important. I have had many friends who I no longer speak to, some of whom I am sure I will tell you about one day. Some who were insightful, funny, creative, and who helped me realize things about myself that I wouldn’t have if I hadn’t met them.

However, life has sent us on separate paths, and for some of these people, it has led to us not even being on speaking terms. For some of these people, much to my disappointment, they will never meet you. However, despite their current absence from my life, that doesn’t mean they weren’t important or that at one point I wasn’t important to them. We simply weren’t meant to be in each other’s lives forever. My dear, you too will have these friends, and while you too will feel the nostalgia and pain of not having these people, keep in mind they will forever be in your memories and your heart.

Third, the world will constantly be throwing things in your way to stop you, and you must persevere. In my own short time on this earth, I’ve faced multiple traumas that should’ve broken me, that I had to find the strength to keep going forward. Often, this was something that I had to do alone.

I feel my heart stop at the idea of what this world could serve to you, the person

Image Provided by: Pixabay.com LGBTQ+ people facing illegal discrimination, or even the Trevor Project at https://www. thetrevorproject.org/ who help provide toll free helplines to LGBTQ+ youth. There are so, so many others that you can donate to as well, all with very worthy causes. So, donate, participate, and have a very gay time this pride month!

Dear Future Daughter: A Message to What May Be

ASHTYN BRITT abritt@lc.edu

Dear future daughter, I have been thinking about you a lot lately as I grow older, and realize in what may only be only a handful more years you will exist. You will be mine, and I will love you with such intensity that it will almost be at the level of any other animal.

As Mother’s Day approaches, I realize that in what may be considered the blink of an eye, I too will one day be a mother. I will be your mother.

While I know it is entirely possible that I could have a son or any other-identifying child rather than a daughter, and I would be just as happy and loving to them, I have an unexplainable gut feeling that you will in fact be my daughter.

I have so many things I want to say to you, even though you are so far off from

whom will one day will be my entire world. I feel a deep fear at the ways the ugliness in the world will try to poison you, and I beg of you to hold on. You are a part of me, which means you have a piece of my strength. I will do what it takes to support and love you through whatever is thrown your way, but should I find myself unable, I beg of you to be the strong woman I know one day you’ll be. I know this, because I believe in you even more than the rest of the world.

Fourth, being who you are is the most important thing you can be. You will have a lot of people telling you who you should be, just like I had a lot of people telling me who I should be. I beg of you to stay true to who you are, because only you will ever completely know what you need for your own happiness. I will do my best to support and love you to accomplish whatever you need to, to become a happy and healthy member of society. While I haven’t met you yet, I know that I am going to love you no matter who you become.

Fifth, your family is your rock, never take them for granted. While I have had people who came and went in my life, my family was always there when I really needed them to be. I too shall always be here for you when you need me, and know my family will be there for you too, because they’re your family too. I love you, and will support you to the best of my ability for as long as I’m able to. I don’t care if you’re gay, straight, trans, or otherwise.

You are my child, and I am your family.

One day, you will be a living breathing person with ideas and feelings, and I will love you. Always. I can’t wait to meet you, baby.

All my love, Your future Mommy

Facing Your Fears ASHTYN BRITT abritt@lc.edu

Image Provided by nymag.com

What’s It Like Using a Lyft ASHTYN BRITT abritt@lc.edu

Recently, I’ve started using Lyft to get around easier. While the bus can get me to a lot of places, there are a few that I need to go for a longer distance. So, I finally figured out how to work with my limited options and use Lyft.

First, the prices. While any mode of transportation is expensive, compared to regular taxis or buying a car, it does provide a cheaper way to get around.

Then, there’s the quality. The vehicles have been super clean and smelled nice, the drivers are kind and willing to play whatever music you want, and always careful to follow the maps.

Also, the tools! You can do split pay on a Lyft and send a link to your loved ones to let them know your exact location so they know that you’re safe. It’s really handy

and a fantastic safety feature!

I would highly recommend Lyft to everyone, just as long as you’re careful to keep an eye on the price of your ride and to not overdraft your bank account. Lyft will accept credit, debit, and paypal as forms of payment. You can also immediately leave reviews and star ratings for your driver, as well as tips.

I have so far had nothing but good experiences with my Lyft rides, and will be proud to say I will be taking more as well in the future. I’ve recently made more times to St. Louis, and plan to spend plenty of time there, which means I’m about to become a very loyal customer to Lyft! In my opinion, you should be too! So whether you need a ride to the airport, to the City Museum downtown, or even just to see your grandmother in St. Louis, just call yourself a Lyft and enjoy the ride!

I don’t consider myself as somebody with stage fright. In fact, public speaking has come pretty easily to me for a majority of my life. Even as a child, I was a bit of a ham.

However, normally, I’m not bearing my soul for others to see. So, at my very first poetry slam about a month ago, I felt like my stomach would eat itself. I hadn’t ever been nervous like that before, because typically the idea of expression isn’t scary to me.

However, in front of a crowd, clutching the poetry I’d written on my phone, I could feel the nerves tense my muscles.

I looked to a friend who was silently encouraging me, and then back to the crowd, before I took a deep breath and decided to give it a try. As I read my poems, I tried to look at spots on the walls instead of at any

particular person. I reminded myself they were all strangers, most of whom I may not even see again. I reminded myself of the memories and people who inspired my poems, and the outlet they provided for my emotions. As I spoke, I figured out that no matter if anyone liked them, I was still proud of what I’d accomplished.

To my surprise, the crowd liked my poems as well. They applauded me, and I felt more free than I had in weeks at the time. I faced my fear, and ended up a lot better for it.

I enjoyed that poetry slam, and have full intentions on attending more. Expressing yourself is one of the most beneficial things you can do, as long as done in a healthy and productive way. You should be open to trying new things, and to be proud of yourself for facing and conquering a fear. I’ll be proud of you, too!

Graphic By: Jason Wallace

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03 Opinion

thebridge

SECTION B

Taking a Step Back, Part 2: A New Life

my education and while I looked for employment that was enough for us to clogan@lc.edu survive on. For once, my children and I About six months ago I finally got the have a life where we are happy and not courage to start a new life after dealing fearful of what to expect from day to day.

My children have started going to new with years of mental abuse. I wrote an article for The Bridge, published this past schools and making new friends. I have October, titled “Taking a Step Back: How I reconnected with friends that have wanted Dealt with Mental Abuse”. Since then my to be here for me but I was afraid to talk to due to the seclusion I was dealing with life has only improved.

When I first left, I had my close friends during those years.

About a month ago I finally got my at The Bridge and my Pastor’s wife by my side as the mental support I truly needed. confidence built back up enough that I I was also able to turn to Lewis and Clark landed a full time job that I love. I am now working at SIUE Community full time and my Counselor, co-workers have Renee Bauer been amazing. I for even more am now earning support. enough money I had an that I can take appointment set care of my up with Oasis children and Women’s Center myself without when I left the nearly as much home I knew worry. I also for the past 16 know things are years. Oasis was only going to get a major help in better from here. getting on track For years I to change my was afraid to life for the better. leave in fear of They helped me not having any to make sure my place to go and kids and I were thinking we safe, while also couldn’t survive giving us a place on our own. to live while we Oasis has helped got back on our me realize, my feet. They in children and I turn also helped are much better us with different resources that Image Provided by: L&C Flickr off away from that life. They could help us to helped me to make the dream of my kids achieve our goal of being on our own.

One of the many resources they connected and I being happy, a reality. Every day I am us with was the Rapid Re-housing program. more confident in what the future has in This resulted in us finally obtaining a home store for us.

I want to let anyone out there that is in of our own. It was only a month and a half after we started on our life changing an abusive relationship know, there is help journey that we were moving into our new out there. Renee Bauer can help you to get in contact with resources that will help you home.

Rapid Re-housing has been helping us to start a better life. She can be reached at to keep a roof over our heads as I continue rbauer@lc.edu or (618) 468-7184.

CALLIE WELLS

Image Provided by: Ashtyn Britt

An Open Letter to my Mother(s) ASHTYN BRITT

abritt@lc.edu As Mother’s Day quickly approaches, it has me thinking a lot about the mothers in my life. While most people only have one mother to connect to for this holiday, I have three. Three brave, smart, loving women who have cared for me as their own daughter. For each one, you all deserve proper recognition for the role that you play in my life.

First, to my birth mother. While you currently reside in Heaven, I haven’t forgotten everything you did for me in your time on Earth. As a little girl, you were my first best friend. You would make me macaroni and cheese every day exactly the way I liked it, and supported me against every person who ever called me a mean name.

You provided me my very first example of what love is supposed to look like, which is deep and unconditional. While your time with me was short, only a mere seven years, you never wasted a single day. Even when you were in so much pain, you made time and space for me in your life. You made it an active point to create as many good and fulfilling memories with me as you can, and I still remember them even thirteen years after you left to the great beyond. I love you with my whole heart, and can’t wait to see you again one day.

Next, to my Step-Mother. You have done one of the hardest things for a person to do, and chose to fully love a child that you didn’t

give birth to. You came into my life when I was starting my teenage years, arguable a harder part of life than if you were caring for me as a toddler, but you continued to love me anyway. You made my birthday cakes, took me shopping when I needed new bras, made me wear sweaters when it was cold outside, and stared down anyone I brought home with a critical eye. You have looked out for me and cared for me as if I were your own flesh and blood. I promise you that I won’t forget this, and I love you so much for it. You are the reason I no longer cry my eyes out on Mother’s Day, and that means more to me than I can ever completely express.

Finally, to the friend who took me in as if I were her daughter. You may be one of the few older-adult friends I’ve made, but you still live as if you’re in your twenties. I love you so much for that! I am beyond grateful that you’ve taken me in at one of the harder times in my life, cared for me, and stayed by me when nobody else did. You always love to joke how I’m your new adopted daughter, and I am proud to wear that badge of honor.

We see each other very often, and I am glad for that fact. You are a wonderful mother, and an outstanding friend. Thank you.

All three of you have been who comes to mind when I hear the word “Mother,” and you all have been a blessing to me. This Mother’s Day, I will keep you all close to my heart and enjoy the love I share with each of you. To all three of you, have a happy Mother’s Day!

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Spot The 12 Differences Graphic By: Zach Howard

Graduation Maze

Graduation Word Search a r t o d s a y i i e e o g r t r c f a o a dm e u r v a l a t r s e l c o n m a a nm p Academy Alumni Applause Award Cap Ceremony College Congratulations

a s e a a a w d a d r r d h o g e m e d p n u n g r a l p a

l a e r e u o o o i a e a u a

u y g m l r u t v a g a s m p s y r n o r r e m v u s c t o n c d l a s t u l m n i u i a

Diploma Dreams Efforts Gifts Gown Grades Graduate Honor

r i p e a s l a l r r p a a s

t n f i i a o l y i e l t u u

p i c t u r e s s a a r i i a

r a y d s g o w n n m r o p a

a e e s e f f o r t s o n o a

d i p l o m a p p l a u s e e

Magna cum laude Medal Parents Pictures Tears University Valedictorian Year

Graphic By: Zach Howard

End Here to Graduate College

Debt

Debt

Debt

The Start of College Graphic By: Zach Howard

Graphic By: Keon Hearn

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05 Feature

Photos by: Krystie Morrison

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Who would you want to narrate your life?

Melissa Batchelor

Alton, Illinois Child Development and Education Programs Coordinator Oprah Winfrey because she has a set goals and reached them while also making a difference.

Robert Kercher

Alton, Illinois Web Content Specialist Matthew McConaughey.

“It would a whole lot cooler if he did.”

Jan Dona

Gillespie, Illinois L&C Media Specialist/ Photographer James Earl Jones because he’s the voice of Darth Vader and that appeals to my dark soul.

Sarah Rankin

Alice Bunjan

Edwardsville, Illinois Associate Professor of Psychology Morgan Freeman. He has a great voice and if he can make the lives of penguins (March of the Penguins) sound interesting, he could certainly make my life sound interesting too.

Danville, Illinois

Perkins Transition Coordinator

I would choose Susan Sarandon because I admire her talent and respect her activism and efforts to protect and better our environment and fight world hunger.

Mother’s Day Word Search

Graphic By: Zach Howard

d h l o v e c e u i n

u a a m o t h e r k r

n p u n h u i f i g o

h p g g g h l n a l n

e y h s h o d t s o n

y g v m w t r p f c p

f r i e n d e a a g a

u l r v r c n r m a y

n s o a i r i e i g e

n e n a o n l n l n i

y g l k g p g t y n g

Caring Children Daughter Family Flowers Friend Funny Giving Happy Hugs Kind Laugh Love May Mother Parent Son Special

Graphic By: Zach Howard

FACTS

Graduation 2018

With Bridge The Monster

At Lewis and Clark Community College here are the Graduation and Retention Rates •Graduation rates - (First time, full-time, within 150% of program completion, 2015)• 38%

•Retention rates – (First time, degree/certificate seeking, 2014 cohort) • Full-time – 68% • Part-time – 46%

Graphic By: Tristan Wuellner

Graphic By: Zach Howard

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Opinion 06

The Biggest Benefits of Therapy ASHTYN BRITT abritt@lc.edu

Going to therapy is a big decision. It’s admitting that you need help, which means admitting to a level of vulnerability that tends to make people uncomfortable.

That’s because there’s a stigma around therapy, as if it’s only meant for the criminally insane or people who are too weak to handle common struggles.

I disagree wholeheartedly with such a horrible stereotype and have had plenty of benefits from attending therapy.

The first and obvious benefit is having someone you can purge all your negative feelings to. Every time I see my counselor, I am able to completely unload and say all the things I can’t say to the people close to me. For once, I actually feel heard instead of keeping it all inside. It’s a weight off my shoulders.

The second benefit, which is absolutely related to the first one, is that saying things out loud sometimes puts things back into perspective. Once the concerns and feelings are voiced, the logic can set in and you learn how to process those feelings and concerns in a healthy way. You can

figure out new ways to face the world and grow as a person. I personally believe for this exact reason, that everyone on some level could find therapy productive.

The third, as a result of the second, then allows you to become a better person.

Therapy can allow you to heal from previous trauma, or to figure out how to go forward while suffering from a mental disorder. Having a condition doesn’t make you any less of a worthy person, it just means you have to work through problems a different way than other people. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. We’re all worthy of getting help and self love when we need it.

I will say now, that for those who are wondering if you need therapy, don’t feel like you shouldn’t go because you’ll be judged. Getting help is your choice, and it doesn’t make you weak. Everyone needs help at different points in their life, and while it can be very difficult to admit that you can’t carry everything by yourself, you should put yourself first. Don’t let how anyone else feels about therapy block you from taking the steps you need to be happy. Love yourself.

Image Provided by: Pixabay.com

Why Do I Write? Because it is Right for Me ASHTYN BRITT

abritt@lc.edu Lately, I have been asking myself a question that I have asked on and off again throughout my life: Why do I write? Is it merely for the glory of a legacy? Perhaps I do it for attention? Or maybe I use it as a creative outlet? Maybe I do it in the hopes that I may one day live up to my favorite authors?

It’s important for me to consider this question, because knowing what motivates me to do things says a lot about who I am and how I live my life. After some time thinking this question over again, I realize questioning why I write is no different to me than asking myself who I am, because in my eyes, writing is one of the most important parts of my character.

Even knowing those who don’t think my work is worthy of any recognition, or even think of my work as cliche and derivative, I know in my core that I will never stop writing.

I write because it’s how I make sense of the world around me. Writing helps me process what I go through and life, and in a way helps me understand my place in the world. Writing is what I love most, and in the pages of my journal or Word Document is the one place I am never forced to be silent.

When I write, either in private or for the public to see, I don’t have to hold back. I can be as loud, passionate, and animated as I choose to be. I can choose what I want to reveal or not to the reader, or dedicate a piece of writing to someone I care for, or unleash the emotions I never dare say out loud. I write because it is the greatest form of expression I’ve ever come across. So, I write often, I try to write in great length, and I typically write with my spirit feeling lifted.

I know automatically there will be a lot

Image Provided by: Pixabay.com of things I will fail at when it comes to writing. I acknowledge while I am proud of how far I’ve come since writing fanfictions at aged eleven, I am still nowhere close to the greatest writer who ever lived.

Everybody’s a critic, and will have something to say about my work when they read it. Not everyone can be pleased or entertained by the same writers. There are times that I will be rejected, and while

I am still human and will occasionally be hurt by rejection, I face a far greater level of hurt should I ever choose to give up writing entirely.

For other people, I am sure you too have faced criticism for something you love.

I beg of you, do your best to push back against any feelings of discouragement and keep going anyway. Do what you love, and don’t let anything stop you from doing it.

Whether it be painting, gardening, playing a sport, solving math problems, or even fixing cars in your spare time, keep going forward! We all deserve to do the things we love and make us happy individuals.

For me, writing is specifically what helps me move forward in life and be happy. For others, it may be different, but whatever is right for you, do it. Be proud of yourself, and love what you do.

An Open Letter to my Three Sisters ASHTYN BRITT abritt@lc.edu

Graphic By: Ashtyn Britt

To my three beloved sisters, I wish all three of you a long and happy life.

You’re all much older than me, seeing as I was born later in life, and it still hasn’t shaken my love for you. Growing up, you three have provided me three very different yet meaningful role models.

I have learned lessons from you all, and while you may have seen me as an annoying baby sister who’d wear your perfume when you went on dates, I did watch and learn from you. I loved you then, I love you now, and I love you always.

To my oldest sister, you have shown me what unadulterated determination can earn me. As early as I can remember, you were in college and only came home to do laundry. You never hesitated to do exactly what you wanted, and never let anything get in your way. You never let what someone else thought of you change your decision, you always did exactly what you wanted and took initiative to take care of yourself.

You, my dear, are the embodiment of independence.

To the middle sister, you have shown me what it means to love. I knew you best while you were a boy-crazy

teenager, but even more than boys, you showed how much you loved me. You took me everywhere with you, helped me develop my taste in music, and provided me many fun memories. To this day, nobody can make chocolate chip cookies as good as yours and I think of you anytime I make homemade popcorn on the stove. Our shared love of cats and watching movies together still resonates with me today, and I’m grateful to you for every minute we had together.

To the youngest sister, aside from myself of course, you have shown me what it means to gain perspective. Only when you’re around do I ever properly act my age, rather than older. You enjoy the practice of stopping to smell the roses, and know how to have a fun night. You don’t always take everything too seriously, and that happens to be a good thing. You live your life with a joyful and carefree attitude and remind me it’s okay to not always know what I’m doing or where I’m headed. You are delightful.

All three of you have given me small pieces that helped shape who I am as a person, and I appreciate you all as well as the roles you’ve played in my life. I hope to be as equally good a sister to you, and hold you all in my heart for the rest of my days.

07 Opinion

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It’s Okay to Still Like Stuffed Animals ASHTYN BRITT

abritt@lc.edu I am a twenty year old woman and I still love stuffed animals. I also have a problem with people who judge me for this fact, since I don’t let anybody tell me what to like. Stuffed animals are soft, cuddly, fluffy, and adorable! I’m an adult, which gives me the freedom to earn and spend money as I choose. So, if I choose to buy a stuffed animal, that is entirely my business and mine alone. You can’t tell me I’m wrong or immature for it, because you don’t know me.

Most of my stuffed animals were presents given to me that now hold sentimental value that can’t be replicated.

Also, you can pass down stuffed animals to any children in your family if you ever do outgrow them. If you don’t outgrow them, then you get to keep cute looking stuffed animals!

The point is however, it is your choice.

It is your taste, your preference, and your enjoyment. Don’t deny yourself the pleasure of a stuffed animal just because someone might sneer and think you’re too old to own one.

I will sleep with my stuffed animals when I feel alone, I will arrange them to make my room look nicer, and more often than not I receive compliments on how cute my stuffed animals are.

I am a grown woman and I don’t need anyone else’s approval for what I decide to own. So if I choose to own a giant stuffed teddy bear, that is my perogative. If you’re like me and you enjoy stuffed animals as well, that is also your prerogative.

Don’t let hateful people get in the way of whatever brings you happiness. You’re better than that.

So go ahead and buy that teddy bear, and cuddle it tonight. Because that warm fuzzy feeling inside? It’s called independence.

The Importance of Choices ASHTYN BRITT

abritt@lc.edu Making choices is one of the most difficult tasks that we as people have to do. We need to be careful when we make choices, because often our choices affect more than just us. Every day we make choices that can affect other people and the environment around us. We choose what to wear, what to eat, who to see, whether or not to recycle, among many other decisions. It is also our personal responsibility to make the right choices in hopes of not causing negative consequences.

While that concept can be scary, it is also rather rewarding. There is as much potential to do good actions as there is to commit bad actions, which gives people a lot of power to change the world for the better.

We as people simply need to remember the biggest choice of all, a choice we

constantly face every single day: to choose between love or hate. While circumstances can create situations where making such a choice isn’t as easy as others might think, that is when the test of our ethics come into play. Luckily, we as people can learn how to adjust our ethics and grow into better versions of ourselves. Our choices makes us who we are.

Overall, we must remember that with the different choices we make, we can only do our best to make what we believe are the right choices. We’re all human, and can still make mistakes. Not every choice we make will be perfect, but we can still do everything in our power to choose what we believe is the best decision. It’s a great responsibility, and one that everybody has, which in its own way is really amazing. So go forth dear readers, and be sure to choose wisely every day and enjoy your life!

Writers • Photographers • Graphic Artists

The

! g n i r i h s r Bridge i

este m e s 8 1 all 20 u for the f tt@lc.ed e j L l i a m E

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Campus News 08

Conversion Therapy Survivor Curtis Galloway speaks to attendees before facilitating a moment of silence at the LGBTQ+ Day of Silence event April 17. The vigil featured rainbow bracelets, gay/trans pride stickers, candles and multi-colored duct tape that attendees wore over their mouths in solidarity. The event was held to spread awareness about bullying and its effects on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students. Photos by L&C Flickr.

CUTEST PET CONTEST WINNER

Reese

Congratulations to our Cutest Pet Contest Winner Reese and thank you to all those who entered! See other contestants on our facebook page! www.facebook.com/ thelcbridge/

LGBTQ+ Vigil

Students gathered outside of Reid Cafe to recognize the victims of violence in the LGBTQ community by having a moment of silence during the candlelight vigil. Students were given candles outside of Reid Cafe to light in honor the victims. One student read aloud an article that was written for the event. Photo By: Krystie Morrison