February 11th, 2021 edition of The Lorian

Athletes need to stay in “emotional” shape

Campus security profiles Page 3

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Feb. 11, 2021 — Vol. 99, Issue 10

Canceled back to back NCAA Division III cancels Winter Championships two years in a row

by JON QUINN assistant executive editor

photo CONTRIBUTED

Above is the tweet NCAA Division III announced the cancelation of the winter championships. Below is the table that includes the data recieved from 98 percent of the Division III athletic directors.

In a tweet, the NCAA Division III announced that the winter championships f or t h e 2 0 2 0 - 2 0 2 1 a c a d e m i c ye ar are c a n c e l e d . T h e y c it e d l ow participation numbers among member schools as the reason.

The news dropped Wednesday, Feb. 3.

T h e P re s i d e nt of L or a s College, Jim Collins, offered his gratitude via Twitter to student athletes. “I offer admiration and appre ci at ion [for] a l l NCAA [Division III] Winter student-athletes, especially those @LorasAthletics [for the second straight] year, [you] are unable [to] compete [for a] national championship due to circumstances beyond your control. I share your heartbreak

& offer my respect. More later #Duhawks.”

According to NCAA.org, all Division III athletic directors were sent a declaration form t o e v a l u at e w h o w o u l d b e competing; 98 percent of organizations responded. The breakdown in the table shows the data collected. The threshold to provide a national championships experience would be 60 percent for basketball, swimming and diving, and indoor track and field and 70 percent for ice hockey and wrestling.

This would be the second consecutive year the NCAA Division III canceled its winter championships. Last year, the event was canceled due to fears of the COVID-19 Pandemic. After more than a year of pandemic conditions, the NCAA made several changes to the rules and regulations in an effort to make sports competitions safer for athletes. Several student-athletes shared their grief, sometimes tinged with sarcasm, on twitter. continued on Page 2

Reynolds revokes mask mandates Decision comes after new variant detected in Iowa

by JON QUINN assistant executive editor

Iow a gove r n or Ki m R e y n ol d s issued a new emergency proclamation late of Feb. 5, that will lift the state’s mask requirement along with social distancing and masking limitations she had in place for businesses and social gatherings. This proclamation became effective this past weekend on Feb. 7. The city of Dubuque will continue to enforce mask mandates and social distancing.

This announcement comes just a week after a more contagious strain of COVID-19 was detected in the state of Iowa. The B.1.1.7 variant, also known as the U.K. strand, is believed to be more easily spread than the original strain according to epidemiologic and modeling data. continued on Page 2

Black History Month: Porche Bennett-Bey Up and coming activist from Kenosha, WI

by JON QUINN assistant executive editor

During a visit to Kenosha, Wisconsin in Sept. of 2020 after the shooting of Jacob Blake, then presidential candidate Joseph R. Biden listened to members of the community at Grace Lutheran Church. In this moment, Porche Bennett-Bey stepped up to the microphone and said “I’m just gonna be honest, Mr. Biden. I was told to go off this paper but I can’t. You need the truth.”

Bennett-Bey is a Kenosha resident, army veteran, and a mother of three.

S h e d e l i ve re d an honest and emotion filled perspective of a community in mourning to now-President Biden. BennettBey’s monologue was powerful

enough to go viral on social media and gain the attention of major news outlets, including the prestigious magazine “TIME.” From that moment on, Bennett-Bey was heavily involved in the community, organizing marches, food drives, and other community services all for the fight of racial justice. She quit her job as an in-home care assistant and started her racial justice work with a local organization called BLAK (Black Lives Activists of Kenosha). Here she worked along the side of other activists in Kenosha to meet certain goals of the organization.

However, Bennett-Bey noticed more work in the community that needed to be done. So in October of 2020, she started her own non-profit organization called United As One “to bring together all in unity to fight against systemic racism and to regain what is rightfully ours as a people,” according to the organization’s mission statement.

Towards the end of November, it is revealed that Porche Bennett-Bey is going to be featured in TIME magazine as one of the Guardians of the Year. To her surprise, she landed a spot on the cover, right behind

Biden & Vice-President Kamala Harris and in front of professional athlete Lebron James.

“I looked it up and hit TIME magazine, and type it in and click it and I’m just like [drops phone],” said Bennett-Bey recounting how she found out. “[I’m usually not smiling] because everything we’ve had has been rallies and protests. There’s nothing

happy about it.”

The honor only motivates Porche Bennett-Bey to do more work in the community. In order to make change in her community, she plans to run for office and be a voice for those who may have lost their voice. The seat she plans to run for is still not certain, however rumors speculate it may be for Mayor of Kenosha next year.

photo by JON QUINN

Porche Bennet-Bey shows her cover of TIME Magazine to preschoolers when visiting a local preschool in Kenosha, WI.

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NCAA Division III continued

continued from Page 1

Senior cross country and track & field athlete Joey Schultz quoted the NCAA Division III tweet and said “Because everyone knows D3 championships are much more dangerous than D1 or D2 championships.”

The decision impacts men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s and women’s indoor track and field, men’s and women’s ice hockey, and

wrestling.

Athletics have endured a lot of changes over the past year due to the pandemic. Starting with the next issue, the Lorian will be presenting a series of stories talking with athletes and coaches about the challenges and disappointments they’ve faced because of the pandemic. The four-story series will be called: “COVID-19 and sports.”

Reynolds continued continued from Page 1

In the same press release, there was information and tips for hosting a virtual Super Bowl watch party like decorating your home, making snacks for your household, and starting a group chat with your friends.

Otherwise, it was suggested to attend an outdoor viewing party where viewers can sit six feet apart.

In a statement from the President of Loras College, Jim Collins, Reynolds lift will not change the college’s guidelines, rules, or restrictions in any way. Loras College strongly encourages its students to continue to wear a mask and socially distance. The campus is in good shape with controlling the spread of the disease. In an email last Friday

from Molly Burrows-Schumacher, the campus will continue to operate in an alert green status. This means normal status in regards to accessible resources and services on campus.

In the past three days, Dubuque County has seen about 50 new cases.

There are about 800 active cases in Dubuque and single-digit deaths are being reported each day. In the past week, the average percent of positive cases are below five percent. Only one long-term care facility has an outbreak in Dubuque. Stonehill Care Center holds about 70 current positive cases, six of those have been detected in the past two weeks.

Inventors, authors, and activists Black History Month events on campus

by JON QUINN assistant executive editor

On this day in history, Feb. 11, 1958, Ruth Carol Taylor became the first Black women to serve as a flight attendant in the United States. Inventors, authors, activists, and individuals like Taylor will be celebrated all this week on the Alumni Campus Center concourse. The purpose of this event is to celebrate the black lives who have made a difference and worked to change the world for the better.

Some additional Black History Month events occurring this week include Student Life and Forward Thinking co-

Ruth Carol Taylor

sponsoring a movie night. This event will be this Friday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. in the ballrooms. The film that will be showed is called “Coming 2 America.”

The film is a comedy but also has some romantic-comedy elements. It’s about a king going to America to appoint his son to his thrown. The cast includes some big names like Eddie Murphy, Shari Headley, and Wesley Snipes.

Some school-sponsored Black History Month events to look out for next weekend includes Black Creatives in Activism. This event will display activist media and offer insight to the work that happens behind the scenes that a lot of people may not see or know about.

This event will be located on the ACC concourse and is sponsored by the Peace and Justice organization on campus. If you have any questions, please reach out to senior Alyssa Corkery.

Next week Thursday, Feb. 18, the Literary Society will be sponsoring a Trivia Night in the Ballrooms. The time is not yet determined but reach out to junior Coy Pederson for any questions.

The following day, the Campus Activities Board will host comedian Kiry Shabazz in the Pub and online at 8 p.m. Shabazz has appeared in movies and television shows like “Disgruntled” (2013), “Bill Burr Presents: The Ringers” (2020), and “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (2014). Any questions can be directed to junior Thomas Kampmier.

Be sure to pick up the next issue to of The Lorian to find out the rest of the Black History Month events happening here on campus.

photo by CORA SHEFCHIK

Students and Campus Activities Board members assist each other with getting the proper gear on for skiing. Several students were skiing for the first time.

Duhawks shred at Sundown Several students ski for the first time at Sundown Mountain

by CORA SHEFCHIK staff writer

Winter is officially here. Two of the most common winter activities include skiing and snowboarding. Students had an opportunity to do these out on Friday, Feb. 5. The Loras College Activities Board (CAB) offered out free tickets to Sundown Mountain in Asbury. Students were able to sign up through CABs Google Form and Sundown’s official wavier. Then, they had from seven to midnight to ski or snowboard their hearts out. Many people who signed up to come had never skied or snowboarded before.

“I had such a great time at Sundown!

Although I was apprehensive going into the experience, I had a lot of fellow Duhawks and professionals near me who helped me learn how to ski. It truly was one of the best CAB events I have been to,” said senior Celia Balderston about her first time skiing.

“We chose Sundown for the event because we wanted to get students off campus and to see some of the businesses here in Dubuque.” Overall Patricia thinks that she “would consider this event a success because everyone who went was really excited to go and had fun,” said junior Patricia Droessler, the programmer running this CAB event.

CAB would like to thank everyone that came out to this chilly event and hope you enjoyed it. Look for more events from CAB coming up including Comedian Kiry Shabazz on Feb. 19.

It’s not to late to sign up for Duhawks Connect Weekend. Contact junior Brett Batkoff or sophomore Andrew Martinez for more information.

Check out CAB on Social Media. They are on Inside Loras under clubs and organizations where you can learn about the eBoard team and see what is coming up for CAB. Facebook: Loras College Activities Board Snapchat: lorascollegecab Instagram: loras__cab (two underscores) Twitter: @LorasCAB

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Campus safety: Get to know your officers

by KYLIE HOLUBAR guest writer

Questions and answers with Loras campus safety I’m Kylie Holubar and I am a Senior at Loras. I have been involved in the honors program for the past four years. My team’s honors project focuses on campus safety.

We put a magnet in your campus mailbox.

This is for you to place on your fridge, or any place where you can easily access it, so you have the campus safety number handy if you need it. Our project’s objective also focuses on the relationship between students and our safety officers. For the next four issues of the Lorian I’m going to share some questions and answers with our fulltime officers. The idea is, if you know a little bit about them, you will be more willing to start a conversation with them. The better you know them, the more willing you might be to ask them for help. I would like to thank our officers for their efforts in maintaining a safe environment across campus and for answering these questions. Here are the first two.

Aaron Donath Hometown: Dubuque College: University of Dubuque Major/minor: Criminal Justice, Business Worked at Loras: Six years in March Q: What’s your favorite restaurant in Dubuque?

A: I like Junction 21 and Shot Tower Inn Q: What’s your favorite television show or movie?

A: “The 100,” “The Office” and “How I Met Your Mother” Q: What is something unique or fun about you?

A: I’m always quoting from movies. They pretty much live in my head “rent free.”

Q: What are some things you like to do in your free time?

A: I like to go to sporting events (Skol Vikings!) and live concerts. I also enjoy hanging out with my friends and family.

Q: What interested you about working with Loras College campus safety?

A: I was hired right after college in 2015. At first, I was using the experience to transition into law enforcement but I began to love the job so much I stuck around.

Q: If you could give one piece of safety advice to the students, what would it be?

A: Don’t ever be afraid to call Campus Safety. Our number one job and main concern is your safety, everything else is secondary.

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois College: Texas Southern University Major: Accounting Worked at Loras: Almost five years Q: What’s your favorite restaurant in Dubuque?

A: Salsa’s Mexican Restaurant Q: What’s your favorite television show or movie?

A: “Street Outlaws” Q: What is something unique or fun about you?

A: I enjoy listening to Jazz music and I used to play the trombone.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: I like to just hang out with my kids and go to sporting events.

Q: What is your favorite thing about your job?

A: Being around young adults and being able to help transition them into the real world.

Q: If you could give one piece of safety advice to the students, what would it be?

A: Remember, college is a stepping stone to the real world. Have fun and enjoy friends, but do it responsibly.

Antioch retreat

by DARBY CALLAHAN staff writer

If you are looking to grow in your faith and friendships, there is a retreat coming to Loras College campus. The retreat is called Antioch, named after the city in which the followers of Christ were first called Christians, according to Acts 11:26. The retreat will be from March 5 to March 7 on campus. The cost of the retreat will be 20 dollar cash or a check written out to Loras College. Antioch is the main retreat offered by Loras College Spiritual

Life. There will be talks, adoration, small groups, and fun activities to get to know each other.

If one is on the fence about attending, think about the joy and peace that will come when God’s message works through the speakers and small group leaders. Many people learn a lot on their Antioch retreats, and first year students can benefit. There’s a special sense of peace, especially coming together as a community of Catholics.

Many students are able to grow into their spirituality. Regardless of whatever year one is in, it’s encouraged to attend the 2021 Antioch Retreat.

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bell hooks

Thank Black thinkers

by SERGIO PEREZ staff writer

Darrian Hugger

Feb. 11, 2021

Duhawks, February is Black History/ Heritage Month! Our campus has a variety of programming this year and while Black History is noted nationally as February, at Loras we are doing our part to drive the point home that Black excellence and Black heritage cannot be captured in one month.

Black heritage/history also includes Black thinkers and I offer the names and impacts of some Black thinkers who have absolutely informed how I hope to navigate the world…whether it’s though the diversity, equity, and inclusion work I do or my own appreciation of how they navigated and lived life. bell hooks A Queer Black Woman who has written so much on gender, race and class. Her names is intentionally left in lowercase as she attempted to have her work focus on the intellectual work versus the individual writing it. In addition, bell hooks is a pseudonym and not her actual name. Her most famous phrase she coined is, “imperialist, capitalist, white supremacist patriarchy” as she described the interlocking of oppressive structures holding so many back and awarding the few in the world. bell hooks teachings appear in books, short articles, interviews, etc. for all to see. Her most impactful work for me was her book, “The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love” where she tackles how men and masculinity have been limited by society and the role we, as men, women, as beings limit the full expression of masculinity and how it is connected to violence against women and men today. Our Loras Library has 20 of her books, check them out!

James Baldwin Gay, Black thinker and writer, often referred to as King Baldwin, is known for his activism through his writing and speeches. Understanding oppression through the lens of not only class and race but as living as a Gay man, Baldwin’s work critiqued the USA’s inability to understand and move forward for greater civil rights for all. As he embraced his sexuality he was distanced from the mainstream Civil Rights movement but still held a very influential role in empowering individuals for greater acceptance and a greater care for one another. One of my favorite lines by James Baldwin comes from an interview he did for the documentary, “James

Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket” where he responds to a question of civil rights progress, he says: “What is it you want me to reconcile myself to?…You always told me it takes time. It has taken my father’s time, my mother’s time, my uncle’s time, my brothers’ and my sisters’ time, my nieces’ time, and my nephews’ time. How much time do you want for your “progress?”

Our Loras Library holds over 30 books by or about James Baldwin.

Audre Lorde You guessed it right…another Queer thinker…Audre Lorde was a Black Lesbian writer. Her work draws parallels to Baldwin and hooks’ work yet she distinctly stands on her own merit because of the infusion of social issues impacting Black lives in her poetry. Her poetry and writing like hooks’ is the foundation of many modern womanist and feminist writings today. Lorde understood and stressed the understanding that oppression of one meant the oppression of all. One of her famous quotes reads: “I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.” Today her poetry and writing has inspired many today to participant in activism through writing.

Our Loras Library holds over 10 copies by or featuring Audre Lorde.

Black thinkers have offered so much through history and heritage. This year I encourage our entire campus community to read and engage this work. Prepare to feel challenged, prepare to disagree, but do not miss out on the intellectual curiosity these thinkers brought not only to the Civil Rights Movements they lived/are living through and reflect on how their writing still resonates with the ongoing struggle for greater human rights for all.

This Black History/Heritage month, this year, read and thank Black thinkers for the intellectual foundation for greater human rights we are able to stand on today.

Audre Lorde

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Iowa’s nasty streak: Anti-LGBTQ laws

by CONOR KELLY opinion editor

Transgender rights are human rights. The phrase has been uttered many times before by many a trans advocate. It’s a powerful statement, to be sure, as it draws upon the dignity inherent to all human beings and applies that dignity to an entire group of people who would otherwise be disregarded by society. It’s a phrase I support. But, on its own, it’s just a phrase. It rings hollow in the face of a state that is consistently trying to restrict and marginalize transgender rights within its jurisdiction, as the state of Iowa is trying to do right now.

To say being trans is difficult is an understatement. In a study conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2018, it was reported that over half of transgender male teens attempted suicide, with the number of female transgender youth attempting to do so residing at 29.9 percent. Suicides among transgender people are considerably higher than that of the general population but decline significantly in frequency the less a given

society rejects them. When transgender youth receive strong familial support, their risk for attempted suicide declines by an estimated 82 percent, when transgender youth are rejected by their families, their risk of suicide can increase by 13 percent.

The more a society accepts transgender people, the healthier and safer they are.

Unfortunately, some of Iowa’s legislators have not gotten the message. At this moment, there is a wide array of antitrans and anti-LGBT legislation running through the state House and Senate.

One such bill, known as Senate File 80, requires that the school district notify the parents about their students’ self-espoused gender identity without the student’s consent.

A similar bill titled House File 2201 has been introduced with 13 Republican legislators’ support in the House. Both of these proposed laws are intrusions into the personal and emotional life of a student.

If a student goes to a psychologist, they are entitled to patient confidentiality to ensure they feel safe and comfortable discussing their health issues. Yet, when it comes to gender identity, an already emotional issue, the schools would be

required to out a child to their parents before they are emotionally ready.

It is one thing to respect a parent’s authority, but to suggest that a child has no right to privacy when it comes to their health is beyond unacceptable.

It’s abusive. Students should be able to go to their school feeling safe to express themselves without fear of having their intimate feelings revealed to potentially unaccepting parents.

Similarly, there was a proposition to remove gender identity from the state’s Civil Rights act, and even now, the state is trying to penalize doctors for providing puberty blockers to trans youth who may need them.

If a doctor were to provide a puberty blocker to a minor via a prescription, they could receive a $1000 fine and lose their license under the current legislation.

Such legislation was defended by Iowa Rep. Sandy Salmon, the author of the puberty-blocking bill when she argued that trans youth would “outgrow it.” Rep. Salmon’s statements do not tell the people of Iowa what puberty blockers do for trans youth, as those who receive it do so in part because they want to avoid further gender

dysphoria caused by advancing puberty.

Despite what some may argue, trans youth do not immediately receive puberty blockers out of the gate. Therapists and doctors prescribe them after repeated expression of gender dysphoria that is expressed freely by the patient. It is a medical decision that the state has no right to take from the people.

Moreover, the casual attitude towards trans people’s medical considerations is evident in the bill’s unwillingness to make exceptions or otherwise recognize the reasons for the use of puberty blockers.

It also flies in the face of the American Academy of Pediatrics‘ statement on the subject, as they recognized the importance of puberty blockers for trans youth since 2018.

When I began this essay, I started that the phrase “trans rights are human rights” was a bold statement that I support. And I stand by that, but that only rings true if the people of a given state are willing to make it true. If these laws pass, it will show that Iowa, as a state, does not hold itself to that statement.

Myanmar: An omen for Democracy

by DEVYN SHEA staff writer

Recently Myanmar, often called Burma, has been in the news all across the world. This is because a coup d’état took place in the country. For those who don’t know, a coup d’état, commonly referred to as a coup, is when the government is overthrown. In this case the government was overthrown by the military. But why would the military ever overthrow the government?

Myanmar, then known as Burma, was controlled by the United Kingdom. During WW2, they were invaded and controlled by the Japanese. After the defeat of the Japanese, the Burmese were on the quest to gain their independence from the United Kingdom.

A man named Aung San quickly became the leader of Burma and negotiated for independence with the British Prime Minister Clement Atlee. Burma would hold an election and Aung San would be the future prime minister when the country would receive its independence, but before that happened Aung San was shot dead. With the founding father of

the nation dead, a friend of San named U Nu quickly became the leader. The nation would gain its independence shortly after San’s death and would become a democracy with a parliamentary system.

In the late 1950s, the ruling political party, the Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League, was having internal political divisions. In 1962, General Ne Win overthrew the government and imprisoned the country’s politicians in a coup.

Ne Win and the military instated a socialist dictatorship, with Ne Win himself as dictator. The dictatorship under a oneparty system, lasted from 1962 to 1988, until Ne Win resigned due to protests. The government was replaced with a State Law and Order Restoration Council.

The new military dictatorship renamed the country from Burma to Myanmar and held multiparty national elections in 1990.

The opposition party beat the government’s socialist party in a landslide, but the leaders of the opposition party were either exiled or put under house arrest. In the case of the country’s founding father, Aung San’s daughter, Aung San Suu Kyi was put on house arrest in 1989 and would not be partially released

until 1995.

Throughout the 1990s the military consolidated its power in the nation. In the early 2000s Aung San Suu Kyi negotiated for the release of her and other political figures from arrest and the country slowly inched towards a more democratic one.

Aung San Suu Kyi would be arrested more throughout the next decade and would be constitutionally barred from running for certain offices.

In 2010, the country held its first democratic elections since 1990.

Numerous military generals from the military controlled government resigned and ran as civilians for political offices.

The elections would mainly be between two major parties, one that was of the present military controlled government and the other of the military controlled dictatorship from 1962 to 1988.

The present military government won the elections and the new President Thein Sein became more lenient to his political opposition. Aung San Suu Kyi’s political party, the National League for Democracy was allowed to be a political party and Aung San Suu Kyi was allowed to run for parliament and would later be elected

Prime Minister of Myanmar in the nation’s first officially free election. She could not be president, however, because of a law that barred people with foreign spouses or foreign children from holding the office.

Last year, the country held national elections again and the National League for Democracy won in a landslide. This angered the military leaders in the country, whose preferred party had lost for the second time in a row.

The military said the elections were rigged and overthrew the government.

So, to answer the original question, why?

The main reason why they overthrew the government is, plainly, power. They want to do things their way and can’t through legal means. Leaders around the globe have denounced the coup in Myanmar, but will it make any difference? The future of the country seems unstable. They are in a cycle of military governments that they can’t seem to get out of. The military’s rejection of election results, however, brings striking parallels between Myanmar and the United States. Which begs another final question, is democracy as unbreakable as we think?

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Raising the military age

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Although 18 year olds cannot drink, gamble, or smoke, they can sign up to risk their lives to fight for our country

by CALASANDRA SPRAY mind and soul editor

Senior year of high school, unsure of the future, underage teenagers can sign up to be in the military. As young as 17, with parental consent, or 18, without parental consent, U.S. citizens can sign up to fight for our country. At such an age these same teenagers can’t gamble (in 35 states), drink, smoke, adopt a child (in 43 states), book a hotel room, or have a ConcealedCarry permit (varying by state).

The reason 18-year-old’s are not allowed to do these things is because they are not deemed responsible enough to handle the decisions and their consequences. In the case of alcohol, this limitation is in place because there has been heavy research suggesting the human brain does not fully develop until the age of 25, according to Mental Health Daily.

“Someone who is 18 may make riskier decisions than someone in their mid-20s in part due to lack of

experience, but primarily due to an underdeveloped brain.”

In an effort to protect the mental welfare of our youth and provide for them a brighter future where they don’t have to atone for mistakes made before they developed full cognitive function, we have laws placed prohibiting things that could harm them.

Following this line of logic, why should these same adolescents be given the choice to enter the military?

Categorized as impulsive and irresponsible, they are trained to fight wars. During training alone, military personnel go through a ‘hell week’ where they have to undergo vigorous physical exercise on minimal food and sleep.

Lack of nourishment as well as lack of sleep are unhealthy for anybody, but for those still developing it is even worse. Sleep is especially important as deprivation can reduce attention, cause delayed reactions, inhibit cognitive function and affect mood (Sleep Foundation). Lack of sleep can

also contribute to worsening mental health. Yet after this training, they are instructed on how to handle weaponry.

An unspoken trauma that happens during training, as well as in combat, is sexual harassment. While at any age this is not easy to deal with, sending adolescents into a situation where this is a prominent thing can be harmful to their development of mental health.

An astounding 23 percent of women have reported being sexually assaulted in the military. 55 percent of women and 33 percent of men have reported sexual harassment while in the military (U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs).

All of this happening before those enrolled even enter combat. As only 6.4 percent of our armed forces are under the age of 21 anyway, raising the minimum age for enlistment wouldn’t harm our military forces (National Center for Education Statistics). Thus, the benefits of waiting for adolescent brains to fully develop before enlisting them far outweigh the disadvantages.

Budget reconciliation: A necessity

by CONOR KELLY opinion editor

From the beginning of his administration, Joe Biden has worked hard to cast himself as the voice of unity, bipartisanship, and policybased action.

But with a slim majority in the House and Senate, President Biden is now facing a difficult decision—a decision he must own up to and embrace whether the Republicans like it or not.

Currently, Biden has attempted to get a stimulus package of about 1.9 trillion dollars through the Senate to provide adequate funding for vaccines, stimulus checks, and other such funding that Biden argues could help rebuild the economy postCOVID-19.

However, Republicans have been hesitant to engage with more spending for the budget, with moderate Republicans like Senator Susan Collins raising concerns about the total cost. Conveniently, none of them objected to the 5.2

trillion dollars that former President Trump added to the debt in his first three years in office. The debt was far from their minds when they were in power.

This hypocrisy is easy to mock and even easier to demonstrate, but it does nothing for the 10.1 million Americans who are currently unemployed. Nor

it is incumbent on the administration to act boldly.

In all likelihood, Republicans will try and block the stimulus via a filibuster, which can only be overturned with a twothirds majority vote. With only 50 Democrats in the Senate, that two-thirds vote will be almost impossible to achieve.

photo by STEFANI REYNOLDS, CNN

do such attacks bring back the 3.5 million permanent jobs that were lost in January alone.

When the economy is adding a sluggish 49,000 jobs for the last month—less than half of the 100,000 jobs that were predicted—

However, the stimulus is far from dead. Under the Senate’s rules, financial decisions related to the budget, such as the stimulus, can be passed without permitting a filibuster.

All that is required is a simple majority, and

if Senator Joe Manchin is pushed to act, the Democrats will secure their majority. The process for enacting such a rule is known as budget reconciliation.

If Democrats were to use it, Biden would secure the necessary stimulus to help millions of Americans across the country who are hurting.

Americans want to work, but the pandemic has taken that from them.

According to the Department of Labor, of the 7 million Americans who want a job and are not seeking employment, 4.7 million were prevented from doing so because of COVID-19. Currently, 17.8 million people are on some form of government assistance, making it all too clear how our society desperately needs aid. It is incumbent on Biden and his Democratic allies in the Senate to act here and now.

They should use budget reconciliation and push the Republicans out of the way so Americans don’t drift even further into destitution.

EDITORIAL STAFF executive editor: KEEGAN GODWIN assistant executive editor: JON QUINN executive copy editor : AVERY WICKERSHAM assistant copy editor: ROSE GOTTSCHALK sports editor: KEVIN KESSEL features editor: MARY FELLERS opinion editor: CONOR KELLY mind and soul editor: CALASANDRA SPRAY advertising manager: ASHLEIGH DIERKING

ABOUT US Circulation: The Lorian is published on a weekly basis, with exceptions of holiday breaks, examination periods and January Term. The newspaper is available in all main academic buildings and residence halls across campus on Thursdays during the afternoon/evening.

Editorial Policy: The Lorian is the official student-led, award-winning newspaper of Loras College. The opinions expressed in The Lorian are those of individual authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the students, faculty or administration.

The Lorian reserves the right to edit submissions for taste, length and grammar.

CONTACT US On campus: 259 Hoffmann Hall 675 Loras Boulevard Dubuque, IA Phone: 563-588-7954 Mailing address: 1450 Alta Vista Street Box #243 Dubuque, IA 52001 On the web: Email: lorian@loras.edu www.myduhawk.com/thelorian www.issuu.com/thelorian Facebook: facebook.com/thelorian Twitter: @TheLorianLC

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Do you have more questions about an article you read? Corrections or clarifications? A differing opinion about an issue brought up that you want to be heard?

We want your input.

In every published Lorian, all members of the Loras community are encouraged to write a letter to the editor. We encourage differing opinions, so take the time, and speak your mind.

To submit a letter to the editor, please email lorian@loras.edu.

Letters should be no more than 300 words in length and include the name and article you are referencing. *Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

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Feb. 11, 2021

F eatures

The Lorian

Curse of the Wolf

by SARWAN MOGHAMIS staff writer

Soldiers and knights go to war over the murder of Snow White. Queen Miranda is dragged out the castle by two soldiers.

Cinderella, wearing a black dress and holding the Godmother’s staff, marches up to Miranda. Cinderella reclaims the kingdom and takes command of both soldiers and knights. Due to Miranda’s actions, Cinderella sentences her to death.

Four knights take Miranda to the brig to await her execution. One of the knights hides a pair of keys in Miranda’s pocket. The knights let go of Miranda and walk away from her, to give her a chance to escape. She releases herself and runs.

Miranda rushes into the village. She steals a red hooded cloak to hide her face. Cinderella has the four knights executed and orders the entire royal army to find Miranda.

She becomes known as the outlaw Red Riding Hood.

Senior Spotlight: Malycki Mañon-Sosa

wolf walks up to her.

The wolf has gray fur and white eyes. It crawls toward Miranda and begins speaking. Miranda recognizses the voice; it’s Proteus. The seven dwarfs tortured and then turned him into a wolf. Proteus’ curse is permanent and if he steps out of the Dark Forest, he will burn to ash.

Proteus blames Miranda for his curse and threatens to kill her. She begs for mercy, but Proteus only laughs. Miranda then offers to find the dwarfs and help free Proteus from his curse. In return, he will not kill her. He agrees to Miranda’s offer and sends her off.

Proteus walks deeper into the forest and enters a wooden cabin. Inside the cabin is an elder woman who becomes known as the Forest Granny, but she is really Celia, Cinderella’s step-mother. Cinderella has trapped her in the forest.

Proteus and Celia have a romantic relationship. They make love to each other. Cinderella watches through a crystal ball. Celia’s joy only aggravates Cinderella, forcing her to come up a twisted idea.

Cinderella travels to the Dark Forest to meet with Proteus. She offers to free him from his curse and grant him the one thing he always wanted, a drink from the Fountain of Youth.

Once he’s young again, she will make him her lead knight. In return, he must murder Celia.

Miranda manages to distance herself from the entire kingdom. She enters the Dark Forest, one of the many landscapes that belong to the Dark Realm. The forest is a deserted land with dead trees, black grass, fog that clouds the air, and dirt covered ground. Miranda hears footsteps behind her.

She quickly turns, but no one is behind her. She turns back around and is startled as a

F eatures

On that night, he and Celia make love to each other again. He forces his claws through her chest, then cries as she slowly dies. Once she’s dead, Proteus is turned back into a human and a chalice filled with water from the Fountain of Youth appears on the ground.

Meanwhile, on her search for the seven dwarfs, Miranda is kidnapped by three men and put on a ship.

by JON QUINN assistant execultive editor

“I spend most of my time in Hoffmann for class, but aside from that, I spend my time in the Center of Inclusion and Advocacy programming and helping build community here at Loras,” said Mañon-Sosa.

What

extracurricular activities are you involved in?

Tell me Loras.

One such origin is the familial line of Crush and Squirt. At the beginning of the film, when Moana is a toddler and discovers the heart of Tafiti, you can see a baby turtle and an adult one in the ocean. While many have theorized that these turtles are Squirt and Crush, and turtles do live a long time, I don’t believe Squirt would still be a baby by the time he appeared in Finding Nemo. Instead, I believe the turtles are Crush, as a baby, and his father, Squirt’s grandfather. Either way, our beloved turtle’s origin is made out to be from the island of Motunui.

Surprises staff writer

Life is full of fun surprises Things you just can’t see

Another history that is told behind the scenes of Moana’s adventure is that of Corona. After Moana has healed Tafiti and is returning home, the camera pans in on Motunui to show that the rest of the world is healing now that Tafiti has her heart. The first flower to come back to life is the golden flower, stated as the only one of its kind, that heals Rapunzel’s mother when she is sick and Rapunzel is still in the womb. Since Disney has identified Motunui and Corona to inhabit the same island, a few more theories developed by cameos in the film are able to hold water.

For instance, the shamans that prophesied Moana’s trek across the sea to return Tafiti’s heart seem to have had a few more prophecies. One of which being Elsa, her magic powers, and the adventure she would embark on to discover herself. Roughly four minutes into the film, when the Chief, Moana’s father, pronounces there are no monsters, his hand knocks down a tapestry depicting Marshmello, the snow monster Elsa creates to protect her ice palace in Frozen. We know that Frozen and Tangled storylines inhibit the same time frame as Rapunzel and Flynn can be seen attending Elsa’s coronation at the beginning of the first Frozen film. Because they travel the ocean to attend Elsa’s coronation, it can be reasoned that Arendelle inhabits the same world as Corona, and since Motunui resided in the same location in history, then Marshmello is a long time from being brought into existence by an angsty Elsa.

Interestingly enough, Marshmello isn’t the only character from Frozen who appears in Moana. Olaf, or at least his hand and nose, can be seen in the cargo hold of Moana’s raft as she packs to leave the island for the first time. Perhaps when her boat turned over out at sea, some of the supplies lost were her firewood and carrot. What is unclear is how, when these items washed up on the shore of Arendelle, they managed to not decay until Queen Elsa turned them into a snowman.

Disney couldn’t stop there though. In the depths of Lalotia, the realm of monsters, when Maui first retrieves his hook and goes through a transformation crisis, he briefly becomes Sven the reindeer friend of Kristoff in Frozen. Perhaps one of Maui’s untapped powers is prophecy; he is a demi-god after all.

Popping in when they decide to Leaving you all shocked and frazzled As they go on their merry way They do not often stay for long But their short visit leaves a scar They don’t always heal when you would like So keep your head on and be ready For they will leave you work to do And if you do it right and well Maybe you can — what?

Oh hell.

are your plans after graduation?

“After graduation I will be working as the Program Coordinator for One Iowa (one of the state’s leading LGBTQ+ organizations) in Des Moines.”

Do

you have any career goals?

“My career goal is to eventually run for public office or work in the global diplomacy field.”

Fun Fact?

“I’ve been to more countries than U.S. states.”

your favorite pass time?

“My favorite pass time has to be reading and writing! I enjoy writing poetry and reading books written by people who share identities similar to my own.”

What

shows have you recently binged on netflix?

“Most recently I’ve been binging the last season of ‘Elite,’ a Spanish Netflix series.” favorite food/restaurant in

photo CONTRIBUTED

Seniors Nathalia Bernal, Malycki Mañon-Sosa, and Valentina Tafur (Left to Right)

pose for a picture outside of the Loras Cafeteria.

Rose Samurai Part One

by JOSH VOGT staff writer

by JOSH VOGT

“I’m not sure if Dunkin’ Donuts is considered a coffee house, but I definitely run on it.”

“I feel like I have way too many memories to choose from, though I know one that sticks out the most to me is having rap battles on the bus back from volleyball games last year.”

What’s

The room was thick with the scent of alcohol and heavy with the stench of cheap food, and even cheaper cologne that gathered in the air to make an unholy combination that would cause most to turn and leave. Flavian had never learned, and came back each and every day to wait on tables for a measly eight nuyen an hour plus tips. Tonight it was surprisingly crowded in the tavern and he was busier than most days, rushing between the tables and the kitchen so much that he may as well be given a gold medal.

The day was long and the work was hard, but he loved the people, and to hear their stories, their hardships even. It was inspiring to him sometimes to hear about how hard some people have had it, and yet kept on going. He would get to know as many as he could, and the people he would meet often kept him grounded when he felt the rest of his life spinning out of control. On his way out the door after his shift, many would wave him off and hand him some extra tips they demanded he deserved. That feeling was why he did it, and he could never say no to these people.

It was often far louder than he preferred, though, and tonight was no exception, if not so loud that it was the exception. He had to shout over the clamour in order to find some of the tables, and by the end of the night he was hoarse and coated in multiple layers of sweat as he took a seat at the now-empty bar. Nobu, the bartender and his long-time friend, poured him a drink and leaned over on the counter.

Nobu was not normally very outgoing or even very loud to begin with, but he opened up when Flavian was around and grew more comfortable in his own skin. They’d met years ago when they both joined the planetary defense force, a military designed to protect the planet from external threats. It was founded by the combined governments

7

coffee house?

about your favorite memory at

Disney Easter Eggs part three While Carpet’s adventures took him all over the Disney universe, his origin appears to have been in Motunui. The 2016 film Moana appears to host a number of other origins and cameos as well.

Feb. 11, 2021

“While my job in the Center of Inclusion and Advocacy keeps me busy, I often try to stay active in attending events that the Loras Democrats and LULAC program.”

“My favorite [restaurant] in Dubuque has to be Ichiban.”

mind & soul editor

Favorite

What

Malycki Mañon-Sosa, also known as Ki, is a triple major in International Studies, Spanish, and Politics. He is the Student Inclusion & Social Media Coordinator in the Center of Inclusion and Advocacy. He is also a Recruiting Intern of Northwestern Mutual. Additionally, Mañon-Sosa is a Loras Honors student currently working on an Immigrant & Refugee Health Literacy Program.

What’s your Dubuque?

by CALASANDRA SPRAY

The Lorian

of Sol almost a hundred years ago when they discovered extraterrestrial life, but that’s another story for another time. They were both placed in the same training camp, and they’d initially not liked each other in the slightest. However, when Nobu took to heavy drinking, it was Flavian who was there to help get him through it, and it was over that that a mutual respect was born which allowed a friendship to take root.

After their time in the PDF, they ended up back in Tokyo with nowhere near enough money to get by and a whole lot of PTSD. Somehow they were able to open up a restaurant, through contacts they still had on Sol, and struggle their way into the stable jobs they had today. They’d gotten help with their issues, well…some of their issues, and then they’d started their own business that was as thriving as one could be in this part of town.

Nobu elected to run the bar, as a constant reminder to himself of what he gave up and to prove to himself that he can stay sober and stay happy.

“So, how ready are you to go home and sleep?” Nobu joked softly, pouring himself a glass of water.

“And leave you to clean up the bar all by yourself?” Flavian scoffed. “Not a chance, man.”

“You come in looking like the walking dead, Flave. You need to give yourself some breaks or you’re going to run yourself into the ground. Honestly, I don’t think you’re getting enough sleep at home,” he set down his drink and sat back on his stool.

Flavian just sighed and set down his own drink, then went about sweeping the bar until he deemed it clean enough, under Nobu’s concerned gaze as he wiped the counter. He felt bad lying to Nobu about what he did at night, but it was for his own safety. If Nobu knew too much, it would put him in danger, and he’d been through far too much already to have to worry about Flavian every night. He finished up with his cleaning and then after saying goodbye to his dear friend, he began the walk home.

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Feb. 11, 2021

H ealth &

The Lorian

lifestyle

Tips with Trish: Friend’s eating disorder

by TRICIA BORELLI director of counseling services

Dear Trish, I have a friend with a really negative image of her body. She avoids looking in the mirror and makes negative comments about herself often. I can’t understand it because she is thinner than I am yet makes comments like she is obese. She seems to hate herself and has very low self-esteem. I think she may have an eating disorder.

What can I do to help her?

Signed, Worried Friend Trish says, February happens to be Eating Disorder awareness month so your question is timely. Your concern for your friend is nice to see, warranted and shows that you are truly a good friend. Eating disorders are common on college campuses across the country, and are quite difficult for both the sufferer and her or his family and friends. For all of us, eating is such a social activity that when someone close overeats or under-eats, we worry.

Above all, approach your friend from a stance of support, caring and concern, rather than accusation. People react poorly to being told they have a problem.

Confrontation can be caring if you come from a place of love and merely point out behaviors you’ve noticed in a non-judgmental way. Be ready for your friend to not admit or acknowledge the problem, you may be wrong or they may not be ready to talk about it.

Know that what you say to your friend will unfortunately not likely change her opinion of herself; there is usually a deeper issue that needs to be dealt with. We like to think that our words mean something when someone gives a compliment regarding appearance. Helping to improve your friend’s self-esteem by noting good things about her can be beneficial but consider focusing on other attributes besides body or eating habits. Consider paying attention to the statements you

make about others and yourself when you are around this friend. Making honest yet healthy statements about yourself, as well, and avoiding negative statements is also good role modeling.

Again, focusing on other strengths besides appearance helps remind others that beauty is only skin-deep. Our society is much too focused on the way people look as opposed to what is on the inside.

Tricia Borelli, director of Counseling Services, answers questions from students about their emotional well-being while attending college.

Send questions to: Ms. Borelli, Loras, Box 100, or e-mail tricia.borelli@loras.edu.

All names will be kept confidential.

Friends are often the key to encouraging people to seek help for an eating disorder because a person may be ashamed to seek help. Giving the person a safe place to address the problem is the first step.

The next step is really, getting them to a professional. If your friend is receptive, suggest she talk to someone in the Health Center (7142) or Counseling Center (7085) here at Loras. Both departments have services that are free and confidential. Providers are caring and non-judgmental and if they cannot assist you, they will direct you to a resource that can. Dr. Elaina Biechler, Professor of Kinesiology is also another great resource on campus who has worked with many athletes and students who struggle with body image and unhealthy eating. We are lucky to have such great resources on campus. Use them!!

Thanks for the question and keep ‘em coming! If you need some feedback regarding a situation, please email questions to tricia.borelli@loras.edu. All of the names of those sending questions will be kept confidential.

Signed, Trish

Indoor herb gardening tips

by CARLY BOENS staff writer

In the dead of winter, the dismal landscape outside can become old quite fast. An herb garden is a simple way to bring greenery and life into your dorm room, apartment, or home. There are many benefits that come along with planting and growing your own herbs.

Overall, growing your own plants is more sustainable than purchasing prepackaged herbs every time you need them. Herbs from the store tend to be packaged in plastic casing, which is harmful for the environment.

Additionally, when you grow your own plants, you can continue to use them over time, which eliminates the need to continue purchasing them. Herbs are also low maintenance plants that only require regular watering. They stay small, which is ideal for those who live in tiny spaces such as dorm rooms. They add aesthetic value to your home and provide fresh, clean scents. It is also shown that having plants in general can relieve stress. Gardening provides stress relief and many plants act as air purifiers, which can help create a calm environment to live in (Croteau 2019).

There are many kinds of herbs that thrive both indoors and outdoors, but some will grow better inside than others.

Lemon balm, lemongrass, rosemary, oregano, parsley, chives, and different varieties of mint all do well in climate controlled environments. Additionally, they all smell wonderful and are easy to add to a variety of recipes. Most herbs

require around six hours minimum of sunlight per day. A simple way to ensure that they are exposed to enough natural light is to grow them on a windowsill.

However, it is important to make sure that the glass does not give off too much cold or heat during the various seasons.

On especially cold days, it is essential to move the herbs further away from the window. To start an herb plant, begin with a four to six inch pot that has a drainage hole. It is key that your herb never sits directly in water. Clay pots tend to dry out if they are near air conditioners or radiators, so plastic or ceramic pots are the safest options.

Once your herbs have started to grow in their new environment, they should be watered around two to three times per week. The soil should partially dry between watering, but it is important that they do not remain constantly soaked.

To check the moisture level of the soil, simply stick your finger in the pot. If the soil feels spongy and damp, let it dry more before watering it again. If there is an excess of water in the pot, simply pour it out. To keep the leaves fresh, misting the plant two to three times per week is another watering method. It is important to remember that all specific plants have different temperature and watering requirements, so while these are basic guidelines, it helps to do a little research before you dive in. With Valentine’s Day coming up, it’s clear that you and an herb garden are “mint” to be.

photo by JON QUINN

Icy Icicles outside San Jose

Despite the cold temperatures, there is an art to winter. Snowflakes up close are truly never the same pattern. The piercing wind creates level fields of snow. And icicles appear sharp and dangerous, but have a mothers grip. The image above was taken outside of San Jose in below zero temperatures. Just looking at the tree was an enigma. How did the icicles form on this tree? How was it so evenly disperse? Regardless, I stared at the tree for a few minutes and decided to take a picture. There is something sublime about this tree outside San Jose. I encourage you to take a look for yourself and enjoy its company. Loras College has a beautiful campus and its nice to stop and enjoy it at times. It’s very important to be curious and enjoy all the little simple things in life. That is where genuine appreciation lives.

H ealth & L ifestyle

The Lorian

Feb. 11, 2021

9

‘‘

My spring cleaning routine is very simple.

,,

Dominique Jeter staff writer

Spring cleaning: Benefits of organizing

by DOMINIQUE JETER staff writer

Many people do spring cleaning simple to go through things; whether that’s family items that have been passed down, storage containers and totes, or simply just an over full and junky garage. Spring cleaning also consists of simply cleaning the apartment, condo, house, etc. There are numerous ways that you can go about spring cleaning

and possible even make some money off what is now classified to you as “junk.”

Some of the ways that you can go about spring cleaning is to start room by room.

You never want to overwhelm yourself with doing too much at one time.

My spring cleaning routine is very simple. I typically go through all the things that I’ve used and haven’t used within an area. The things I have not used over time

I will try to give it away, and if not I just sell it on the Facebook Marketplace or to Plato’s Closet if it’s clothing. Remember: everything has some type of value to it whether it is new or old!

If you are into cleaning here are some cleaning supplies that I use when doing my own spring cleaning. Always have some type of wipes on handy. There are some areas that wouldn’t seem to accumulate

a lot of dust, but they do. A broom and dustpan are a must when doing any type of cleaning. One you sweep a floor, make sure you have that mop bucket and a mop ready. It is always a surprise to see how dirty your floors really are. The same goes for if you have carpet, simply use a shampoo cleaner which can typically be rented through places like Lowes or Menards.

Places to volunteer in Dubuque

by KASANDRA KUCHARCYZK staff writer

On campus, you’ve probably heard the word “community” thrown around a lot by teachers, guest speakers, faculty, and alumni. It is often incorporated into class’ syllabi and most clubs on campus will incorporate community members into their circle as well. This is because Loras takes great pride in interacting with all the different communities who call Dubuque home. Community-based learning is even emphasized on Loras College’s website. We are also proud recipients of the Presidential Award for Interfaith Community Service by the Corporation for National and Community Service. Volunteering is a great way to get involved with the community and luckily Dubuque has an abundance of amazing organizations that are always looking for motivated volunteers to lend a hand. Here are some for you to consider.

Hills & Dales is a nonprofit organization founded by Elaine Barwick in 1973. The organization’s main goal is to support and advocate for individuals with disabilities all across Eastern Iowa. The members of Hills & Dales fight for increased community inclusion for people with disabilities in 22 different counties. Community inclusion works toward increasing awareness through educational tools and promoting a society that is rooted in acceptance and appreciation for all. For more information on how to reach out to the Hills and Dales organization, you can contact them through their email: hr@hillsdales.org

The Dubuque Regional Humane Society is a great volunteer opportunity for anyone who is an animal lover. The DRHS works as a no-kill humane society and needs many helping hands in order to keep their work going. The volunteers are tasked with caring for the animals and bolstering awareness for the society’s cause throughout the community. You can email them at outreach@dbqhumane.org for more information on how to get involved.

Presentation Lantern Center located in the millwork district of Dubuque has been doing great work for the community since 2002. The mission statement of the Presentation Lantern Center is to provide hospitality, educational opportunities, and advocacy for adult immigrants. The main service that the center provides is tutoring sessions to teach English in a one-

on-one setting with the patrons as well as lay the groundwork for the adults to take the citizenship test if interested. All the services provided are free and volunteers are given the opportunity to act as tutors or assist patrons in developing “life skills”.

Email: lanterncenter@aol.com to contact a volunteer coordinator.

Circles Initiative Dubuque is actively fighting to improve the standard of living in Dubuque by addressing the issue of poverty within the community. Circles advocates for families and individuals living on or below the poverty line in the area by creating opportunities and directing attention towards policies and systematic barriers that prevent people from breaking the circle of poverty. To learn more about this organization you can contact them by emailing circles@ cityofdubuque.org Volunteering can provide you and so many others with countless benefits. Other than the obvious assistance you could bring to people in need, volunteering also introduces you to great leaders and kind-hearted individuals across Dubuque.

Another advantage is that volunteering and community service experience looks great on applications for jobs, graduate schools, and more.

It is of course important to stay safe and smart during the COVID-19 pandemic and therefore you should stay vigilant and follow the guidelines and protocols outlined by the organizations.

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eb.

11, 2021

The Lorian

by NATE KAISER sports writer

The passion, intensity, and love for wrestling reflects itself in every aspect of Trevor Kittleson’s life. The assistant wrestling coach’s passion is visible in the connections he forms with his athletes.

“The relationships are deeper and more meaningful; every opportunity I get with one of my student-athletes is an opportunity to empower them,” Kittleson said.

He knows that winning is always important, but it’s the habits and ideals he instills in his athletes that will last well beyond their time on the Loras wrestling team.

Kittleson grew up around wrestling. “My dad was my high school wrestling coach, so I’d go to all the highs school practices and all the meets,” he said. “My mom saved a thing I wrote in 3rd grade saying I wanted a job in wrestling [when I grew up], and look at me now.”

After graduating college to become a physics teacher, he had his sights set on student teaching in Wisconsin; however, an unexpected call would lead him to a town west of Des Moines.

“In June, I get a call from [a high school] principal in Perry, Iowa, they were looking for a head wrestling coach, so I went down and interviewed and ended up getting the job,” said Kittleson. What he didn’t know is, he was not prepared for the pressure of

S ports

It’s about the hustle being a head coach at such a young age. “[Here I am] 23 years old I have no idea what I’m doing. I’m [trying] to run a program, [and have no clue the steps to take],” said Kittleson.

Fortunately, he was surrounded by a staff of coaches who wanted the program to succeed. “I learned to lean on them a lot, [in that time] I learned so much from those guys.”

While that first high school coaching gig wasn’t a great success, Kittleson says it did help him build a strong coaching foundation.

The thought of coaching at the collegiate level rolled around in Kittleson’s mind. “I brought my team to the “Iron Sharpens Iron” wrestling camp here at Loras, and that weekend the head coach for Loras resigned [and TJ Miller got the job].”

Miller asked Kittleson if he was

interested in an assistant coaching position at Loras, and he couldn’t pass it up. “If I don’t try this, I’m going to regret it, so I convinced my wife, and now I’m here,” he said.

The sacrifices a division three assistant coach faces are factors Kittleson had to accept for a chance to chase his dream.

“Yeah, I’m not getting paid as much coaching as I was teaching, but I wanted to do it because I was passionate about it,” Kittleson said.

He learned that the joys of life often outweigh monetary gain. “If I were in it for the money, I wouldn’t be here. [This job taught me] what I am most passionate about, and that’s helping [these athletes] figure out who they are,” said Kittleson.

One habit from Kittleson’s time as a high school teacher and coach has carried over to Loras. “I started [writing] quotes

every week on the whiteboard in my [high school] classroom, and then we would talk about them,” said Kittleson.

The whole idea spawned from his early teaching days at Perry. “Teachers can be very negative, so I asked my students one day what they thought of me, and they said I was pissed off all the time.” He realized he was letting the negative things happening at work affect his attitude in everything else.

At Loras, there was an empty whiteboard outside his office. Enter the famous “Thought of the week.” “I was trying to change my mindset, [so I thought] why not change our athlete’s mindsets, and it has just escalated from there,” Kittleson said. Now he writes inspirational quotes and life advice for all of his athletes to see.

Kittleson aspires to move beyond the assistant coaching position but not until he’s ready. “When I first came here, my goal was to be a head coach as soon as possible, but then I figured out, not every opportunity is the best option for me,” said Kittleson. “You find out, not every situation, even though it’s another opportunity, is the best fit for you.”

For now, Kittleson believes the best place for him and his family is right here at Loras.

“I have no plans on leaving Loras. I’m raising a family and I have to think about them,” Kittleson said. “I have no other way to approach it, [I go out there] and hustle.”

Lewis Hamilton’s one-year Mercedes deal could be his swansong

by THE GUARDIAN newspaper

Lewis Hamilton will race on in Formula One this season but it may yet be the swansong to an extraordinary career.

The world champion has agreed a new deal with his Mercedes team but only for this year, leaving the 36-year-old still to consider whether to bring the curtain down after securing seven titles and potentially an eighth, or continue in pursuit of even greater achievements.

Hamilton’s deal was concluded after a protracted process hampered by the pandemic – the first race is set to take place in Bahrain on 28 March – and he said he was excited by the prospect of another season. “Our team has achieved incredible things together and we look forward to building on our success even further,” he

said.

New F1 chief Stefano Domenicali hails ‘incredible’ role model Lewis Hamilton The British driver made his debut in 2007, won his first title for McLaren in 2008 and after joining Mercedes in 2013 has enjoyed a remarkable run with the team, taking six further titles between 2014 and 2020, becoming the most successful driver in the sport’s history. He has been almost untouchable during this period and in recent years at the peak of his form.

However, he has said that he would only race on while he was still relishing the challenge. He enjoys interests outside the sport, including music and fashion, and has been clear he intends to pursue these when he retires.

Hamilton dominated last season and, with the rules frozen for this year, he is

Lewis Hamilton after winning the Turkish Formula One Grand Prix.

strong favourite to take an eighth title and surpass Michael Schumacher’s record of seven. If he does so and, with a swathe of new regulations coming in 2022, it remains moot whether he will want to go any further.

Hamilton did not expand on his statement in a Mercedes press release but the team principal, Toto Wolff, who has been with Hamilton at the team since 2013, insisted his driver had yet to make a call on whether he would continue beyond 2021.

“Lewis needs to decide what his future holds for him, that’s why I wouldn’t want to comment on where he stands,” he said.

“But the team needs to decide in the long term what we want to do about drivers.”

Hamilton has said he could envisage racing for a further three years and Wolff acknowledged his driver was easily capable of doing so but reiterated that Hamilton would consider a greater perspective than merely whether he could race on.

Lewis Hamilton with Mercedes team principle Toto Wolff Lewis Hamilton with Mercedes team principle Toto Wolff. Photograph: Kenan Asyali/Reuters “As long as he enjoys racing, I think he’s very capable of going longer,” said Wolff. “He develops as a driver, he looks after himself in terms of physical training and mental preparation side, so I don’t think in terms of ability that ends in 2021, but at the end it’s his decision.”

Mercedes are also considering their future prospects. Wolff confirmed that Hamilton and his teammate Valtteri Bottas would be the first drivers photo by THE GUARDIAN Mercedes would approach

for extending contracts. Given how late this year’s deal with Hamilton was done, Wolff said the negotiations for further contracts would open much earlier but that the team was already considering its next generation of drivers.

“We will support them with everything we have. We will then look beyond this year and say what is the line-up that we imagine in 2022 and onwards?” he said.

“Our first discussion will be with Valtteri and Lewis but on the other side, the young drivers are the future and we need to consider how we want to set ourselves up for the years beyond.”

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is considered the most likely heir to Hamilton’s crown and Mercedes have also been preparing George Russell, one of their junior drivers, for a potential seat with the team. Russell, 22, who drives for Williams, stood in at Mercedes for a Covid-stricken Hamilton at the second Bahrain GP last year and performed brilliantly.

Wolff said the single-year extension was an expedient measure due to the contracted timescale in which to negotiate it. The team and Hamilton wanted to have a deal done so that more time could be devoted to the more complex consideration of continuing beyond 2021.

Hamilton’s contract is worth a reported £40m a year, however, and the team principal noted the industry was in a “different financial reality to a few years ago”.

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Wolff argued that the decision by Mercedes to give multimillion euro financial backing to a charitable foundation opened jointly with Hamilton to promote diversity and inclusion in motorsport was indicative of their longterm commitment to one another. It is certain Hamilton will remain dedicated to that cause but it is not one he will consider is dependent on him continuing to race in F1.

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Hawks soar over Eagles

by KEEGAN GODWIN executive editor

The men’s volleyball team started off their 2021 season with a victory against the first-year program of Edgewood College.

The team traveled to Madison, WI on Feb. 6 for their first game back since COVID-19 shut their season down abruptly nearly a year ago.

The Duhawks took care of business right from the start. Under new Head Coach Dylan Ross, Loras quickly stepped on the gas against the Eagles. With a service ace from senior Patrick Hollander to start the new season, the Duhawks found themselves on a 5-0 run. Later in the set, first-year Jake Bonnet got his first kill of his collegiate career to give Loras an 8-point lead. They would go on to win the first set 25-13.

The second set was no different for the Hawks. The set started off with first-year Tucker Ziegenhorn getting a kill against the Eagles. Two other first-years, Tyler Kratochvil and Michael Dziewior, played in their first college game. Loras took care of Edgewood once again with a commanding 25-14 victory.

Loras would sweep the Eagles 3-0 for their first victory on the season. This win marks the first for Head Coach Ross in his coaching career here at Loras. Ross leads the program in all time kills with 767 over his athletic career. He graduated from Loras in 2018 and coached at the University of Houston women’s team before accepting the head coaching job here at Loras. photo by LORAS COLLEGE ATHLETICS The Duhawks look to take down #6 Junior Patrick Mahoney tallied 5 Blocks, 5 Kills and 3 Aces in the Duhawks Dominican this Thursday. victory over Edgewood College.

Dual Duhawks honors in Track & Field

by EMILY ADLFINGER director of athletic communications

Feb. 8, 2021 – After running the top time in the nation in the 400-meter dash on Saturday, Loras College track and field junior Mike Jasa has been voted the first American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Indoor Track and Field Performer for the 2021 season as well as the conference’s Male Athlete of the Week on Monday.

Jasa, a Fairfax, Iowa native, won the 400-meter dash at the first A-R-C Triangular of the season, hosted by the University of Dubuque with a personal-best and facility record time of 48.95 seconds. He now owns

the top time in Division III in both the 400 and 800 meter dash and his 400-meter time ranks third in program history. Jasa also ran on the 4-by-400-meter relay team with Shamari Scott, Josh Smith, and Carter Oberfoell to win the event (3:22.32) and rank second nationally. The Duhawks won the meet with 112 points and saw eight individuals take the top spots in their events.

Jasa is now a three-time A-R-C Men’s Indoor Track and Field Performer of the Week honoree.

The Duhawks will travel to Decorah, Iowa to continue A-R-C action at Luther photo by LORAS COLLEGE ATHLETICS College, competing against the Norse and Junior runner Mike Jasa leads Coe College on Saturday, Feb. 13. Events the pack during one of his stellar begin at 10 A.M. performances.

by EMILY ADLFINGER director of athletic communications

Fe b. 6 , 2 0 2 1 – A n at i on - l e a d i ng p er for mance for Kassie R os enbum headlined the No. 3-ranked Loras College women’s track and field team’s performance at the first American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) triangular at the University of Dubuque on Saturday as the Duhawks scored wins in seven events to defeat the host Spartans and Simpson College.

Rosenbum, just shy of beating her own school record, won the mile run with a time of 4:59.60 and the fastest time in the nation.

Brianna Renner finished second with a time of 5:28.44 followed by Kaylee Osterberger (5:33.06), Ellie Osterberger (5:38.53) and Hannah Insko (5:42.85) to take the top-five spots.

The National Athlete of the Week from a week prior, Marion Edwards won the photo by DUHAWK ATHLETICS 55-meter dash with a time of 7.38 seconds, Senior Kassie Rosenbum sets the leading teammates Kelly Kolhof (7.57), fastest time in the nation this year in the mile run with a time of 4:59.60, just Stevie Lambe (7.61), and Elyana Bahl (7.62) shy of her own school record. across the finish. Lambe claimed the top

spot in the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.91 and Kolhof placed second with a time of 27.04. Sam Heavlin won the 800-meter run with a facility-record of 2:32.71 and the 4-by-400-meter relay team of Alyssa Pfadenhauer, Edwards, Bahl and Lambe won the event with a time of 4:09.53.

Bahl added wins in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 8.55 and the high jump with a clearance of 1.55 meters. De’ja AustinCherry won the triple jump with a leap of 10.43 meters and added a third place finish in the long jump (4.96 meters) while Grace Alley finished second in the triple jump with a jump of 10.34 meters.

Loras won the meet with 118.50 points while the host Spartans placed second with 100.50 points and Simpson tallied 68.

The Duhawks continue A-R-C action in Decorah, Iowa at the Luther College Triangular on Saturday, Feb. 13 against the Norse and Coe College. Events begin at 10 A.M.

Feb. 11, 2021

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Coach’s Column

Justin Heinzen Women’s Basketball

by COACH JUSTIN HEINZEN head women’s basketball coach

I think the flow of the season has gone pretty well, considering.

We’re a very young group that is learning a lot but we’re careful not to use that as an excuse. We have a talented roster and lots of new faces in new roles and with all the new, we have been up and down in terms of consistency, but to be expected. Even at that, I thought we had a pretty good rhythm going out of the gates and showed a lot of growth in our first three games, both in terms of experiential learning and in the win column. We fought hard and the team was doing well with making noticeable adjustments we were asking of them. We were able to break a long-standing school record in 3’s made just three games into the season, which shows the high level this team is capable of.

As we were getting ready for game four, we received word of a looming week-long quarantine and the ripple effect of that has taken a minute to adjust to. We dropped two games since which I think was more a matter of re-adjusting to timing, speed, and details and less about measuring a team’s worth. We’re looking forward to a big four-game week ahead both in terms of experience and measuring sticks.

We play an aggressive style that’s very fast and per metrics, has us as top 3 in the nation in possessions per game. Forcing turnovers is the name of our game and we’ll try to do that both in the full and half court.

I’ve been happy with our progress in the full court and we’ve spent a lot of time lately trying to solidify things in the half court defensively. Our style is fairly complex and so new compared to what we’ve done in the past so we’ve definitely not arrived but are making strides.

We’re led by two sophomores Cierra Bachmann and Madison Haslow, and a first year named Sami Martin. Bachmann has taken over the point guard spot and really works on both ends of the floor.

She’s probably had to endure the biggest transition in role in terms of pressures of the job but to her credit, has adjusted very well and puts in a lot of time to allow herself to make the jump she has from her first year.

Haslow was really starting to make great strides late last season and has only continued that this year. She had a great summer and is a player that makes the game look easier than it is. Sami joined us in December and has really done well with a super-fast crash course of Loras basketball. She’s a special talent, has an awesome demeanor on the floor, and is getting more aggressive each time out as she settles in. And we’re getting healthier and will soon welcome back sophomore Madison Fleckenstein, arguably our best returning player from a season ago.

Certainly the team is more than the four mentioned but we have a good enough core to make a run at a tournament title.

I think there’s a really high level of excitement for the foundation of our program. We’re really going to be good going forward but we’re not really in waiting mode and we’re excited to have the chance to compete and continue to develop this year’s version of Duhawk Women’s Basketball.

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Super Bowl ratings hit a 15-year low. It still outperformed everything else.

The game between two marquee quarterbacks was not competitive. Still, the Superbowl is expected to be the most watched television program this year.

by KEVIN DRAPER NY Times

Sunday’s Super Bowl was watched by just 91.6 million people on CBS, the lowest number of viewers for the game on traditional broadcast television since 2006.

A total of 96.4 million people watched when other platforms — like the CBS All Access streaming service and mobile phone apps — were counted, the lowest number of total viewers since 2007.

Still, the Super Bowl will surely be the most watched television program of 2021, and the N.F.L. is expected to see a huge increase in television rights fees when it signs several new television distribution agreements over the next year.

After peaking at 114 million television Television viewership for the Super Bowl was down 9 percent compared with viewers in 2015, television ratings for the Super Bowl have declined in five of average of the audience watching at each energy with few or no fans in the stands. the past six years. The 9 percent decline minute of the game; the longer a game is Games were often played on unusual in television viewership from last year’s competitive and viewers stay tuned in, the days or at unusual times, disrupting the Super Bowl is roughly in line with seasonbetter. traditional sports viewership calendar. long trends. N.F.L. games this season were The hype and marketing machine Viewership for the N.B.A. finals was watched by 7 percent fewer people than surrounding the game was also changed down 49 percent and for the Stanley Cup the season before. by the coronavirus pandemic. The N.F.L. finals was down 61 percent. It is not just Many of the necessary ingredients credentialed about 4,000 fewer media sports. Compared to this time last year, for a bonanza Super Bowl were present. members for the Super Bowl compared viewership of all broadcast television — The game featured an intriguing with last year, meaning fans saw less CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox — is down 20 matchup between the two most popular media live from the Super Bowl ahead of percent during prime time. In that context, quarterbacks in football, Tom Brady of the game. Fans were discouraged from a 7 percent season drop and a 9 percent the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Patrick gathering for parties, and instead of staying Super Bowl drop is a comparatively decent Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs. The home and watching alone, it seems many showing for the N.F.L. weather Sunday was freezing across much just did something else. Just 38 percent of Importantly, it also won’t slow down of the country, which traditionally drives all households with a television were tuned the N.F.L.’s march toward lucrative new people inside to be entertained by their to the game, the lowest percentage since television contracts. All indications — televisions.

1969, according to Nielsen. including deals made by other leagues and But the game itself failed to deliver, The N.F.L. joins almost every other sport the competitive demand among networks all but ending by the third quarter when in seeing viewership declines over the past and streaming services — suggest that the the Buccaneers led, 31-9, with no fourthyear. The pandemic shut down the sporting league will sign new agreements over the quarter scoring or hint of a competitive world for months in the spring, and when next year with a significant increase in game. Viewership is measured as the games resumed they frequently lacked average annual value.

last year.

photo by NY TIMES

Even in a world of fractured viewership that is quickly moving toward streaming, the N.F.L. remains king. Of the 100 most viewed television programs in 2020, 76 were N.F.L. games, according to Mike Mulvihill, an executive at Fox Sports. And while the 38 percent of households tuned to the game was a modern day low for the Super Bowl, the last time that number was beat by anything other than an N.F.L. game was the 1994 Winter Olympics, according to the website Sports Media Watch, when the figure skaters Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding competed amid the scandal of Harding’s involvement in an attack on Kerrigan.

The N.F.L. could become the king of streaming, too. According to CBS the Super Bowl averaged 5.7 million viewers streaming the game, 68 percent more than last year.

Athletes need to stay in “Emotional Shape”

by EMILY PERHATS staff writer

Loras student athletes spend a lot of time trying to keep their bodies in top form. They are often thought of as being stronger and tougher than their nonathletic counterparts. But what about their “emotional shape?” In the past student athletes were sometimes under the false impression that seeking counseling would

photo by DUHAWK ATHLETICS

Assistant women’s soccer coach and sport wellness advisor pictured above.

be seen as a sign of weakness.

“I don’t think that is the case anymore.

Student athletes around the world have done a great job breaking this stigma,” Jill Leibforth, the sport wellness advisor at Loras College said. “I think studentathletes are much more aware of their brain health and the connection within athletics.”

Leibforth, who started as an assistant soccer coach at Loras in 2016, realized the need to address emotional well-being and the awareness with student-athletes on campus. She went to Loras Athletic Director, Denise Udelhofen, and together they created the new position: Sport Wellness Advisor.

In the last several years there has been a great deal of focus on preventing and treating head injuries among athletes.

Concussion protocols have been instituted in athletic programs from little league baseball all the way to the National Football League. But when it comes to emotional “injury,” athletes of all ages are often expected to just “tough it out.”

As a member of the Loras College soccer team from 2011 to 2015, Leibforth suffered a series of career-threatening injuries. She said rehabbing the physical injury also requires a level of emotional rehabilitation

as well.

“In my time at Loras College, I tore my ACL three times, in addition to other small injuries,” Leibforth said. “What people don’t tell you is the mental health fatigue and exhaustion that comes with being a student-athlete, (especially) an injured student-athlete.”

While Loras has an excellent counselling c e nt e r t o h e lp a ny s tu d e nt w h o i s struggling, Leibforth said athletes have some very specific anxieties that require more specific counseling. Being able to talk about things such as; performance anxiety, anger management, visualization, communication, and academic eligibility can help an athlete both on and off the field.

“In counseling, we often use the term rapport, or a sense of trust, when working with clients,” Liebforth said. “Rapport between client-clinician is one of the most crucial elements of successful counseling.”

As a former athlete and current coach, Liebforth shares the connection of being a student-athlete and is able to build rapport right from the start. She says she is able to build trust and make an athlete feel comfortable when they come to her.  Student athletes who seek her help, she says, often simply want an outlet – an

emotional release valve. They really need someone they can relate to. And she is earning the proper professional credentials as well.

Leibforth finished her Master’s in Clinical/Counseling Psychology in 2020 at Loras College. She plans to obtain her Ph.D. in sport psychology, eventually earning her Certified Mental Performance Consultant Licensure, or CMPC, in order to assist student-athletes at an even higher level than she does now.

“Obtaining my CMPC demonstrates to clients, colleagues, and the public that I have met the highest standards of professional practice,” Leibforth said, “including completing a combination of educational and work requirements, and successfully passing a certification exam.”

Once she completes the Ph.D. and passes the CMPC exam, Leibforth will have the educational and industry qualifications necessary to help her as a professional counselor. But, she says, her role as a former college soccer player may be what counts the most when she works with an athlete who seeks her help.

“At the end of the day, that’s what we really crave as human beings, connection and relation to one another.”