December 9th edition of the Lorian

See where Billboard’s best hits stand before the Grammy’s

Red wave at the midterms?

It’s not as easy as Republicans make it seem

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December 9th, 2021 — Vol. 100, Issue 7

Thank you, Avery As Executive Copy Editor Avery Wickersham prepares to graduate from Loras, the Lorian staff sits down for one final thank you

by KEEGAN GODWIN executive editor

Over the past few years, Avery Wickersham has been a dedicated woman to the Lorian publication. Throughout her time here with the Lorian, she has dedicated countless hours and nights working overtime to help with the newest editions. All while balancing her extremely busy schedule,

Avery has been a leader here at the paper.

Avery is a very, extremely t a l e n t e d a u t h o r. S h e published her first book in June of 2017. Veneration, her first book, follows the story of Mae Hensley as she discovers the secrets about herself and her past. Avery self-published this book and continues to live her dream of being an author. She will always have a huge role here at the Lorian.

I personally would like to thank Avery for everything that she has done for us.

Without her, the paper would never be where it is today.

Thank you, Avery. Your hard work and dedication photo via AVERY WICKERSHAM will never be forgotten here at the Lorian.

Faculty Advisory Mark Mederson has had Avery in many of his classes and considers her an excellent student. Dr. Mederson has praised Avery in many ways throughout her tenure here at Loras and considers her a good friend of his.

He included a personal message for Avery to be included in this edition.

Extending a helping hand from one neighbor to another

Avery, It’s always bittersweet for me when one of my students graduates. This is especially true when that student also worked on the Lorian. You’ve put in an inordinate amount of time and energy into making the paper look as good as possible. You took on a lot, particularly this semester. I am so sorry that you had to finish your college experience under the dystopia realities of a pandemic.

But, enough of the bitter. Time for some sweet. You’re an amazing young woman who has overcome and battled through a lot to reach this threshold. You’re ending your time at Loras but beginning, what I’m sure will be, a journey filled with a lot of joyous moments. When things aren’t going quite as you hoped, look back on your time at Loras and use the solid foundation you built here to shore up your spirit. Savor it all. The bitter and the sweet. All of it, the good and the bad, will be components of your story. Tell great stories!

Mederson

We would like to once again say we appreciate the work and dedication you have given to this paper. We will miss working alongside you.

-The Lorian Staff

Annual Christmas radio play returns December 11

Following the deadly school shooting in Michigan, an Iowa based blood center is helping refill Michigan’s blood supply to help

by MAX TEDFORD kwwl.com

DUBUQUE, Iowa (KWWL)- Following the deadly shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan, a request went out through Blood Centers of America and ImpactLife responded.

The organization sent 15 units of O-positive blood to replenish Michigan’s blood supply. That is just over two pounds of blood.

ImpactLife is a nonprofit based out of Iowa that offers blood services for 126

hospitals over four states. They host around 5,000 mobile blood drives a year and have 20 donor locations across their coverage area. This includes Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and Dubuque.

According to Erica Barker, a Donor Relations Consultant for ImpactLife, the blood they sent would not have been possible without the continuous support of donors.

“We are always asking our donors to give and to give regularly,” she said. “Because blood has a shelf life. So when we have a steady supply that we can supply to our local hospitals we are also able to help others across the nation.”

ImpactLife is officially joining the Blood Emergency Readiness Corps in January.

This is a collection of blood centers across the United St ate s t hat are work i ng together to build a stockpile of blood case of emergencies like mass shootings or natural disasters.

photo by LOS ANGELES TIMES

by DAILY.LORAS.EDU

Don’t put them in sunlight. Don’t get them wet. And never — never — feed them after midnight.

The Guild of St. Genesius–the Loras College theatre honor society–presents their annual Christmas radio play with the Loras Jazz Ensemble.

When young Billy Peltzer inadvertently breaks three important rules concerning his new pet, a horde of malevolently mischievous monsters are unleased on the small town of Kingston Falls in “Gremlins: An Unauthorized Audio Play,” based on the Warner Bros. screenplay by Chris Columbus and adapted from The Gremlin Adventures. You won’t want to miss this presentation of the greatest Christmas cautionary tale ever told.

Saturday, December 11 at 7 p.m.

St. Joseph Auditorium, Hoffmann Hall, Loras College

The Lorian staff would like to thank our readers for your continued support! You all make the job worth it. We will see back in February! Have a great Christmas break!

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December 9, 2021 The Lorian

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S oul If any student is struggling with gender or sexuality issues, be aware that there are plenty of people on campus who are willing to help. You can visit the Loras College Gay-Straight Alliance office or see Sergio Perez in the Center for Inclusion and Diversity.

Chasing myself: the story of Chase Norris

by MARK MEDERSON faculty advisor

It was in the fall of 2020 that the epiphany came. I was reading the final papers from the students in my media and society class. They had just finished watching the documentary film, “Call Her Ganda,” and had to write about it. They were charged with incorporating as much of what we had learned about media throughout the semester while they discussed what they say in the film.

The subject of the film was Jennifer “Ganda” Laude. She was a 26-year-old sex worker in the Philippines who was found dead in a dumpy motel in Olongapo City. She was murdered by Joseph Scott Pemberton in October of 2014.

Pemberton, a 19-year-old U. S. Marine on shore leave, had hired Laude for sexual acts. He strangled her and stuffed her face in the motel toilet after discovering she was transgender.

I tell students that it’s a challenging film to watch for many reasons. First, it’s a documentary film. Not a “documentary” in the vein of “Keeping up with the Kardashians,” but a real documentary film.

It was shot in the Philippines with most of the people in the film speaking Tagalog. Challenge number two is reading the subtitles while the people speak.

So students have to work a little to keep up with the story.

Some other challenges include seeing a Marine (who is their same age), as well as the U. S. government, presented in a negative light in the film. Most of us don’t see our soldiers in uniform presented this way.

As I read those papers written by my students, I saw a recurring statement from many of them: “I’ve never met someone who is transgender so it’s hard for me to relate to Jennifer Laude.” Flash. The light went off in my head. I guess I’m going to have to change that.

So, starting in the spring and continuing this semester, Chase Norris, 29, has spoken to the class and made himself available to answer students questions as well. Chase was born Chelsea Norris in June of 1992. Chase is a transgender man.

While Chase was working on his Master’s degree at Western Illinois University he had to do an independent study project. Instead of a paper Chase decided to do a documentary film. He had never really done much video work but he thought it would be a great way to tell his story. Titled, “Chasing Myself,” it tells the story of his transition from Chelsea to Chase.

Much of what he presents in the film, which you can watch for free on YouTube, he talks about with the students in my class. He says he’s given his presentation many times to a variety of audiences. Everyone from parishioners at local churches to seniors in retirement homes.

His presentation, in the form of a PowerPoint, covers a lot. Chase shows pictures from when he was a much younger Chelsea. He shows his transition in pictures covering a couple of years. He also educates the audience on the proper verbiage. For example, he says, don’t use the word transgendered – it’s transgender.

He goes even more in-depth in the hour and forty-three-minute film. He tells the story of his mom getting Chelsea a “big froofy” Be yourself. Embrace sequined green dress for the senior prom at Pekin Community High your individuality.

School. In the film his mom says, Be unique. Be weird. she’ll never get to see Chelsea in a wedding dress but she, at least, got Be true to yourself to see her in a prom dress.

Chase includes honest and and make a diffrence forthright interviews with a lot of in this world his family and friends. He includes lot, including graphic photos Chase Norris afrom his breast removal surgery.

One of the things he talked about to the class is how family

‘‘

,,

photo by CHASE NORRIS

Chelsea Norris (left) posses with Chase Norris (right) to demonstraite his transition.

has to get used to the idea that the person they have known for years, Chelsea, is going away and she won’t be coming back.

In a story in “The Atlantic,” a mom named Ann, talks about her son who transitioned to female.

“It feels like a death,” Ann says. “I don’t know how to process the grief. It sneaks up on me and I have to hide in the bathroom to cry.”

Chase noted in class another unexpected side effect of his transition. His mood every week shortly after he takes his shot of testosterone.

“Yeah, I get a little aggressive on shot day,” Norris said. “I tell the people in the office to give me some space on those days.”

In addition to the documentary film he produced during graduate school, Norris was also meeting and counseling weekly with LGBTQ+ kids in the area.

As he neared graduation he says he couldn’t fathom abandoning them. In one of the last meetings he had before graduating he asked them’ “If you could have any resource available to you, what would you want?” He recalls they replied, almost in unison, “A safe place for us to go.”

Norris got to work. After overcoming what seemed like insurmountable odds, he established a 501c3, non-profit organization in December of 2018 which he called, Clock, Inc. The motto for Clock: Your Time. Your Place. Your Move. Just four months later he opened the Clock Inc. LGBTQ+ community center in the Quad Cities.

Norris has accomplished a lot since he moved forward with his transition from Chelsea to Chase. Not everyone has been supportive and not every moment has been stellar. But, Norris says, it’s all been worth it.

“Be yourself. Embrace your individuality. Be unique. Be weird. Be true to yourself and make a difference in this world,” Norris says in his film.

If that’s the definition for success, Chase Norris has been phenomenally successful.

“Chasing Myself ” is free to view on YouTube. “Call Her Ganda” is available for rent or purchase on Amazon.

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The Lorian

Perfectionism fuels procrastination mind and soul editor

Finals are rapidly approaching and unfortunately many of us are prone to procrastination. One thing that may be fueling your procrastination is perfectionism. If you’re anything like me you’ve waited until the day an essay is due to begin writing it because your stressed that when you do write it won’t come out as well as you want to it but if you wait until the last minute than you have the excuse of not having enough time to reason why it’s not perfect. While there’s nothing wrong with having high standards when those standards add unnecessary stress they become a burden that needs to be evaluated.

A common misconception is that procrastination is laziness. That is not true. According to Psychology Today procrastination is often the result of negative self-talk resulting in low self- confidence, anxiety, and an inability to motivate oneself. It is a self defeating pattern of behavior that serves perfectionist tendencies by removing the fear of failure. Oftentimes a procrastinator will delve into other tasks that they believe will be more enjoyable and still productive to distract themselves. Perhaps that is organizing all your clothes by color instead of working on a presentation or picking up extra hours at work when you know that you have an essay due.

I implore all of you to avoid sidestepping discomfort through diversion as we round off the semester. Instead, take a look at why you are avoiding a task. Many common reasons include: fear of failure, misunderstanding of the task, lack of prioritizing, lack of self-confidence, lack of focus, indecision, boredom of a task.

Once the cause of perfectionism is identified it can be individually dealt with and leave time for completion of tasks sans the anxiety of finishing things last minute. Perfectionism is the enemy of creativity, embracing the creative mind inside will allow for productivity.

Call Her Ganda (2018) Queer Japan (2019) A Secret Love (2020) Tranny F …

(2018) Of Love & Law (2017) We Were Here (2011)

Cam’s Billboard Review sports editor

Dominating the charts over the past few weeks has been Adele with the release of her latest album: 30. The album was highly anticipated, with the lead single “Easy on Me” spending its first seven weeks on the Billboard Hot100.

Out of the seven weeks the hit song has been out, it has spent five weeks in the top spot. For the week ending Dec. 4, Adele’s song “Oh My God” spent a week at number five on the Hot100. The album itself unsurprisingly debuted at number one and captured the highest selling release of the year. In its first week out, 30 sold 660,000 units, and over half a million of them were traditional album sales.

Compared to Drake’s Certified Lover Boy, the previous highest-selling album of the year, which sold 613,000 units, only had 46,000 traditional sales, with online streams making up for the rest of the equivalent sales. The main difference between the two is that traditional albums cost more money than a streaming service, so the more traditional sales there are, the more money the artists make themselves.

In the latest update of the Billboard charts, the recent announcement of Grammy nominees has caused a shift in the charts but not as much as the holiday season. On the Hot100 this week, three out of the top five songs are Christmas songs. At numbers three, four, and five are Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas is You,” Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” and Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock,” respectively. The emergence of holiday music onto the charts can likely be attributed to the countless radio stations and retail stores across the country playing them throughout the day. On the Billboard200, Michael Bublé’s tenth-anniversary edition of his Christmas album landed at the number three

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A list of LGBTQ+-themed documentary films, in no particular order, with a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

by CALASANDRA SPRAY

by CAM ARVIDSON

December 9, 2021

spot, just ahead of Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour, which re-entered the top five following her Grammy nominations for Best Song, Best New Artist, Best Record, Best Music Video, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best Pop Solo Performance.

On Dec. 6, Drake announced that he would be withdrawing from his two nominations. The artist hasn’t yet told the public his reasoning for doing so but withdrawing nominations has been occurring more and more in recent years. Many artists as well as the public have scrutinized the Grammy committee for corruption of its selections for awards. This comes after Drake’s friend and collaborator The Weeknd was seemingly gipped out of a nomination for Best Album in 2019. After The Weeknd accused the organization of being corrupt, he announced he would not be submitting his work for awards for the foreseeable future. With the growing criticism, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see more artists pull their work from the awards.

Be Like Others (2008) Common Thread: Stories from the quilt (1989) Tongues United – The Black Gay Male Experience (1989) Word is Out: Stories of Some of Our Lives (1977) Portrait of Jason (1967)

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Dec. 9, 2021

The Lorian

Before We Were Yours: Book Review

by CALASANDRA SPRAY mind and soul editor

“But the love of sisters needs no words. It does not depend on memories, or mementos, or proof. It runs as deep as a heartbeat. It is as ever present as a pulse.” – Before We Were Yours This work is a piece of historical fiction that has a braided timeline of the past and present which keeps readers in suspense, constantly guessing how Rill Foss and Avery Stafford are connected.

F eatures Memphis, 1939. Twelve-year-old Rill Foss and her four siblings are stolen from their magic life upon shanty-boat Arcadia. Torn from their old lives, the siblings are placed in the Tennessee Children’s home where they are re-named so no one can find them.

They endure unspeakable horrors until each is doled out to wealthy families.

South Carolina, Present day. Avery Stafford is born to a life of privilege to a senate family which maps out her life before she is given the opportunity to choose. A chance encounter with an old family friend whom she’s never met, her parents have no recollection of, and her grandmother with waning memory reacts to with strange ramblings leads her on a journey to discover how her family is tied to the children at the Tennessee Children’s home.

I love that this novel exposes a largely unknown, abhorrent, piece of history that shaped the modern world. The novel is based in the real life scandal of Georgia Tann’s corrupt children’s home that trafficked black market babies out of her unlicensed Tennessee Children Homes Society. Many of her practices, designed to obscure the origin of her wards, have been adopted into modern adoption practices. However, her practice of adopting out to influential families did allow for the normalization of adoption.

slowly as to wear if we were in the present day mind of any of the children they would already know what happened. While I do understand her role, I feel it could have been made more intriguing. I would have liked to see more happen with her and how she moves forward in life with the knowledge she gains about her family taking part in the Tennessee Children’s Hospital scandal.

My biggest critique of the novel was the touch of romance. As an incredibly feminist story of sisters surviving hell together, having Avery find that she wants something else in life via a budding romance seemed to take away from the message of womens strength.

If you choose to pick up Before We Were Yours, prepare for heartbreak, and healing that will make you want to hug your siblings and spend as much time as you can with them.

photo by AMAZON.COM

Phillip & Vee: Pt. 3

by JEREMY STROUGH help desk staff

With dinner completed, and the dishes started in the dishwasher, the two fell into an easy, contented silence. It was a part of their everyday life.

After work, the two would cook together, eat, then separate for a moment of decompression.

Phillip sat at his desk, checking through various social networks.

Vee, not far away, was lying on the sofa, book in hand. Occasionally, Phillip would look up and glance at Vee. His face always seems so calm, so placid.

It had been a long standing mystery as to what thoughts may be swirling beneath the smooth surface.

I give the novel 3.5/5.

He was currently entertaining such curiosities, and also reconsidering his harsh critique of Iowa from earlier, when Vee suddenly set his book aside, and stood up. Phillip watched him, various. Vee walked slowly over to a small closet, and grabbed a blanket, draping it over the couch. He then disappeared into the kitchen. Phillip could hear drawers open and close, and rustling. After a moment, Vee returned, carrying a candle.

Previous to this book I had never encountered the atrocious acts of Georgia Tann. The way the novel depicts her team of employees who were not only complacent in the horrors Tann inflicted upon the children but administered their own cruelties to these stolen children. Forced to endure hunger, humiliation, and treatment as if they were merely meat being kept just good enough until they could be sold, keeping their heads low until they could escape from the children’s home via adoption was their only hope. While fictional liberties were taken in the novel most of the horrors depicted are true including that the adoption matron may have been the most prolific serial killer. The fear of Rill for her sisters and herself is so palatable the book had my heart beating in terror beside them.

I had a harder time connecting to Avery’s story. Her place appears to be as an investigator so that the information gleaned can be doled out to readers

F eatures

The Lorian

Becky Smith’s hot takes

by MARK MEDERSON

Dec. 9, 2021

courses on psychology related to injuries and sports 6. WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOUR STUDENTS/COLLEAGUES DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT MIGHT SURPRISE THEM? I was homeschooled by my mother until 7th grade.

faculty advisor

7. DID CAROL BASKIN (TIGER KING) KILL HER HUSBAND?

1. NAME

Obviously, yes.

Sharon Feld 2. DEGREE

8. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A STUDENT WHO IS TAKING ONE OF YOUR CLASSES FOR THE FIRST TIME?

Doctorate in Higher Education (Ed.D)

Please laugh at my jokes... Also, don’t be afraid to reach out for help!

3. COLLEGES YOU ATTENDED (ASSOCIATE, BACHELOR’S, MASTER’S, DOCTORAL)

9. DOES PINEAPPLE BELONG ON PIZZA? WHY/WHY NOT?

Buena Vista B.A., Illinois State University M.A., Ball State University Ed.D 4. BIRTHPLACE

Nope! Pizza should be savory.

Des Moines, IA 5. WHAT DO YOU TEACH?

5

10. CATS OR DOGS? WHY? Both! I have two cats and a dog and they are each great creatures to have in your life. Cats are there for keeping you humble and dogs are there to boost your ego.

Theraputic Interventions and several

“What are you doing?” Phillip finally asked.

“Come here.” Vee smiled, He lit the candle, and set it on the small coffee table in front of the couch. As Phillip stood, Vee flicked a light switch, casting the room into relative darkness.

“Okay, but…” Phillip moved through the darkroom, dodging the silhouettes of furniture, “I’m still validly curious as to what you’re doing.”

Vee continued to smile, the expression almost becoming frightening in the candlelight. Phillip sat on the couch, pulling the blanket over him.

It was a thick quilt, evidently handmade. He couldn’t recall where they’d gotten it. photo by CHRISTIANBOOK.COM

Vee moved to a window, opposite the couch. The drapes were closed, offering privacy and helping to keep the warmth in. He grabbed onto the fabric and in a fluid, languid movement cast them open.

Christmas in El Dorado, Part III

by SARWAN MOGHAMIS staff writer

Wow, this Christmas was a blast! I don’t know where to start. If you remember, my sister’s fiancé Eugene and I put together a Christmas party as a gift to my sister. We invited friends, no family… it’s a party after all.

Things took a dark turn when I invited Eugene’s rich grandfather Red Beard. Apparently, Eugene and Red Beard don’t have the best relationship. But when he game through the door, I knew right away that this party was going to rock!

Red Beard came in with his ship and crew. You know the saying “party crashers”? Well pirates take that quite literally. So, when I said he came in with his ship and crew, he literally crashed through the front door with his ship and crew.

If I learned anything after this whole extravaganza, it’s that pirates love alcohol. They cleaned out all the spiked punch I made. Then there’s their love for loud and obnoxious music. I mean the “Spongebob SquarePants Theme Song”? Come on now, we must have heard that like thirty times.

The fiancé thought it would be a good idea to kick Red Beard and his crew out. Even I knew that was a dumb idea and I’m the one who invited them. Red Beard challenged the fiancé to a duel. I wasn’t sure what a duel was until Roni explained to me that that’s just something old people do when they are about to get into a sissy fight. I tell you, this party just gets better and better.

By the end of the duel, the fiancé was hanging from the ceiling. Not hanging as in his neck was snapped.

His underwear was hanging and he was receiving an ultimate wedge. My own balls were in pain just seeing that. It’s a good thing my sister hates kids because those sperms of his are history.

When he got down he charged at me with this squeaky voice, yelling at me about inviting Red Beard.

I couldn’t help but giggle. He just sounds so funny.

I stopped laughing once my sister arrived. She looks at the mess Red Beard’s crew made. I swear to the God’s, I’ve never seen her twitch like that before. She twitches when I piss her off, but this was a little more of a psychotic twitch.

Long story short, my sister kicked Red Beard and his crew out. Don’t ask how, trust me when I say you just don’t want to know. All I can say is we need to get rid of that chainsaw.

My sister’s outburst put a damper on the party so everyone else left. Then she yelled at me, then the fiancé, then at me again. The fiancé buttered her up with a big expensive gift (my original idea by the way).

Later on, my sister admitted that it was the most fun she’s had for a while, chasing pirates with a chainsaw and all. I think it’s fair to say that this was a really good Christmas.

The view was fairly minimal. The window opened onto the front yard. A light, perched on top of a large pole supporting the house’s power lines, illuminated a small circle of the yard. Generally, Phillip wasn’t a fan of the view. The solitary yard light casting a cold, white glow into the lonely darkness of their empty yard. The entire scene just seemed…melancholy.

As vee sat next to him, though, Phillip realized it was entirely different. Outside, the overcast sky had finally burst, letting loose the flurries it had held back. The flakes, small and fleeting, flashed in great waves across the light in the yard. The way they moved and swirled within the light was spell binding.

Spectacles

by DR. JAMES POLLOCK professor of English

Arms folded on the desk. They’re skeptical, aloof. They have their own way of seeing Vee slid beneath the blanket, and moved to rest his head on Phillip’s shoulder. Phillip smiled, and wrapped his arm around Vee. Outside, winter was finally coming in full bore. Inside, in the warm orange light of the candle, with Vee sitting with him beneath the old quilt, Phillip had to smile.

He had most certainly, he decided, been much too harsh on his critique of Iowa earlier. He leaned down and kissed Vee. Iowa was everything he could have ever wanted.

things that is slightly off, not magical exactly, but somehow mind-bending in the way they turn the world, if not to their will, at least away from the world’s will, if the world may be said to have one: true visions, achieved through speculative skill. [originally published in Met Magazine, Manchester, U.K.; forthcoming in the book Durable Goods, from Signal Editions/Véhicule Press, Montreal, Canada, in 2022]

O pinion

The Lorian December. 9, 2021

The very vulnerable Achilles heel of the Republican Party

by DEVYN SHEA opinion editor

Next year is the 2022 midterm elections. Polling right now, according to RealClearPolitics, shows that generic republicans are beating generic Democrats. Pundits across the country suggest that Republicans will have a big win next year in part due to Biden’s low job approval. This predictive win isn’t set in stone though. Republicans have two major obstacles. The first is a recruitment of good candidates. The second is their infighting.

To start off, nine of the ten most popular governors in the nation are republicans. The top four popular governors, all republicans, are from traditionally democratic states. They are: Chris Sununu of New Hampshire (67% approval), Larry Hogan of Maryland (70% approval), Charlie Baker of Massachusetts (72% approval), and Phil Scott of Vermont (79% approval). All of these Republicans have been reelected as governor of their blue states. Hogan won reelection in 2018 with just over fifty five percent of the vote becoming only the second republican governor in Maryland history to be reelected. A lot of Hogan’s appeal has been that he is bipartisan and works across the aisle.

Hogan is currently term-limited and not running for a third term this next year, but he has not stated whether or not he will run for the senate next year or for president in 2024. He was largely to be considered one of the highest profile candidates to think about challenging Trump for the Republican nomination back in 2020.

Baker recently announced he would not run for a third term as governor of Massachusetts. Polling showed he would win against the Democratic candidates and even win a three way race as an Independent. Republican primary polls, however, were less in his favor as he was being challenged by a Trump endorsed candidate and one poll showed him losing.

With Hogan and Baker leaving politics, it is the end of an era that has, quite frankly,

photo by HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM/THE

ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION

encompassed all of American history until now. That era is of the popular politician.

For Sununu and Scott, the republican party attempted to recruit them in their respective states for the senate. Both have declined. Sununu stated, “I’d rather push myself 120 miles an hour delivering wins for New Hampshire than to slow down, end up on Capitol Hill debating partisan politics without results.” The congress has become largely dysfunctional and it has dismayed popular bipartisan republicans from running, who could potentially make it functional. It is a disastrous cycle and situation the nation is in. Not only are popular republican politicians either leaving politics or not running for elections they can win, but many incumbents are being challenged in their primaries.

Since former President Trump left office, he has been plotting his ultimate comeback. It is rumored that if republicans can take back congress in 2022, Trump will run in 2024. This is primarily because he does not want to run for president in

2024 with a democratic congress, because his presidency could be entangled in more impeachment attempts. Although they are set up to reclaim congress next year, it could unravel unexpectedly.

Republican party infighting has clouded alot of congressional races recently.

Trump is backing candidates across the country that seem to be loyal supporters of him. His endorsement power isn’t what it used to be however. Earlier this year Texas had a congressional race between two Republican candidates. One was the widow of the representative who just passed away and the other was a state representative. Both were supportive of Trump, but Trump backed the widow.

She lost. Traditionally the widows of politicians that pass away usually win their races. One of which was just this year, Julia Letlow, a widow from Louisiana who had just lost her husband Luke to COVID-19 days before he was to take office. She had won her race handily For the races all across the country there are Republican primary battles. Just for the senate, candidates are between those backed by Trump and those that are not. Notably in North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Alaska. In Oklahoma, Republican Senator James Lankford is being challenged by two candidates that are to the right of him. In Utah, Senator Mike Lee is being challenged from the center of his party, rather than the right.

Most Republican governors are also facing primary challenges either by Trump backed candidates or by candidates that are to the right or even center of them.

Republican governors of Idaho, Georgia, Alabama, Texas, Ohio, South Dakota, and more are being challenged from the right or a Trump backed candidate.

The two most important for Republicans to focus on is Texas and Georgia. Beto O’Rourke and Stacey Abrams are both running unopposed in their respective state primaries. Both are incredible fundraisers and almost won their elections for senate and governor in 2018. Although Beto O’Rourke has become unpopular in Texas since his failed presidential run, his potential opponent Governor Greg Abbott is also unpopular. Abbott has disenfranchised liberals with signing an abortion ban into law, moderates with his handling of the electrical grid crisis earlier this year, and with those to the right of him who did not like his COVID restrictions in 2020.

Abbott is being challenged in his primary by a former state senator and former congressman and Chair of the Texas GOP. In Georgia, Brian Kemp was originally only being challenged by a former state representative who recently just switched to the republican party. Polls had shown that this challenger was putting a dent in Kemp’s primary polling, but Kemp was still largely safe. Now, Kemp could potentially lose his primary. Former Senator David Perdue, who just lost reelection in January, is running against Kemp in the primary due to his fighting with Trump. He also cited the possibility of Stacey Abrams becoming governor as a reason why he is running, to prevent that possibility.

This all has an important point, one I will get to in a moment, but I would like to put this into perspective, because this has happened before. There are two notable races in which I would like to shed light on. The first is Wisconsin. Wisconsin once had a governor for fourteen years who was immensely popular. In one of his reelection campaigns he earned roughly a third of the liberal vote. Not only that but he won Milwaukee county, a democratic stronghold today, twice! Tommy Thompson resigned as governor in 2001 to be apart of George W. Bush’s cabinet.

In 2008, he made a brief unsuccessful run for president and in 2012 he ran for the senate. Thompson was widely regarded to win. Polling up until the fall showed him

beating Democrat Tammy Baldwin. There was a slight problem, however. Thompson was in a heated primary surrounded by candidates that were more right wing than him. Thompson was already a fairly conservative candidate too. Republicans were so bent on getting the candidate that was the most conservative that they ended up getting the opposite of what they wanted. Thompson barely made it out of the primary, only winning around thirty four percent. He spent a lot of the money he had raised in the primary and when he started spending in the general election, Baldwin spent way more than him.

Baldwin had no primary battle and had been sitting on a war chest of funds for her campaign. On election day in November, Thompson lost by over five percent.

The final example I want to cite is the Delaware race in 2010. To succeed Joe Biden, who had just left the senate to become Vice President, Delaware had

THE

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a special election in 2010. The race was between the moderate popular Republican congressman Mike Castle and the more conservative Tea Party favorite Christine O’Donnell. Polls had shown that Mike Castle would beat Democrat Chris Coons by double digits, but Castle lost the primary to O’Donnell. The Republican’s problem in this case was not that they were lacking money after a heated primary, but that they voted against a popular politician and nominated a more extreme unlikeable candidate. Even though they spent millions more dollars than the democrats, they lost by over sixteen points. A race they could have easily won became a race they lost in a landslide.

The point of all of this is Republicans are in a predictably good position, but a potentially bad one. They cannot recruit the candidates they need to reclaim congress. Popular bipartisan politicians are dismayed by the lack of getting things done in congress and the bitter partisanship. They need all the seats they can get and governors like Phil Scott and Chris Sununu not running hurt their chances of reclaiming the senate. Not only this, but the Republicans and Trump are creating avoidable problems. Trump primary challenges may be okay for republicans in states that are solidly red, but in states like Georgia and Texas, that are now arguably more swing states, they need to be as unified as possible if they are going to win. Although Greg Abbott may be okay to win his primary, it looks bad when an already mildly unpopular governor is not wanted by a large portion of his party. In Georgia, a primary battle between a sitting governor and a former senator could create one of the most expensive primary races in history. Stacey Abrams would have the advantage, she is already doing well in the polls and if she builds up her money she is sure to win the general election. Republicans need to be united over who can win their elections.

If they wish to recruit those who don’t like the partisan inability to legislate, they need to practice bipartisan legislation to get things done. If they don’t, the exact person they are trying to prevent from getting into office could end up winning.

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December. 9, 2021 The Lorian

Away from the manger

by JAKE SINATRA staff writer

Go, tell it on the mountain. Over the hills and everywhere. Go, tell it on the mountain; Jesus Christ is born. This verse from an iconic Christian Christmas song is known by millions of people. It embodies what the true meaning of the holiday is. We are called by God to celebrate the birth of the Messiah, the one who will defeat Sin and save us from ourselves. Yet every year, we as Christians begin to fall farther from the true meaning of Christmas, and begin to turn it into a Hallmark Holiday.

I see it with my own eyes. Instead of going to Church and praising our Lord’s birth on Earth, Christians go to the shopping malls and go partying. Instead of spending quality time with our loved ones, we continue to allow family feuds to divide our houses. Instead of helping those in need and sharing the love of God, we spend countless amounts of money on consumer goods that will be pointless in our lives within a month. And most importantly, instead of sharing the good news of the

Birth of Salvation, we share hatred and anger when we don’t have things go exactly to our liking. This is an issue that continues to amplify every year. It is even seen with the name of our celebration, Christmas, being changed to “Holiday Season” in an attempt to snuff out what the embodiment of our salvation is. And no one bats an eye.

In order for us to continue our tradition of the true Christmas story, and avoid continuing down this path of sorrow, we must relearn what it means to be Christians, what it means to be saved, and what it means to share this wonderful news with others. As Christians, we believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary in the town of Bethlehem. This was the start of our path to Salvation.

We believe that Jesus Christ was crucified, died, and was buried. In three days, he rose from the dead. This is the sign of Salvation. In order for these events to happen, Christ needed to be born. And that is what the celebration of Christmas is all about. The Birth of Christ. The gifts we receive represent not only the gifts given to Christ by

the wise men, but also the gift that is Christ given to us.

This whole celebration stems from God’s love for us, and his willingness to sacrifice his son to save us from eternal damnation. So then how can we change our ways and get back on the correct way to celebrate Christmas?

The Lord calls us to treat others how we would like to be treated. We must take this command to heart during the holiday season and provide for others before ourselves, much like how Christ provided for us before Himself. I challenge every one of you to go out and provide for others in any way you can this Christmas, and as you are doing so, teach those you encounter about he good news of Christ. It doesn’t have to be a monetary provision, but even something as simple as helping shovel a neighbor’s driveway, or assisting at a soup shelter.

Anything and everything you do this Christmas should be an embodiment of the love of Christ, and the good news of His birth. Go, tell it on the mountain. Over the hills and everywhere. Go, tell it on the mountain; Jesus Christ is born.

A candid interview with Dubuque’s bulwark for the local election process rampant fraud, then why doesn’t it benefit those who are supposedly behind the ‘stolen election.’ If we were going to conduct a fraudulent election wouldn’t you think There are many thankless offices—elected and career we’d do it in such a way that it would turn out in your alike—in our local government, but arguably none more favor? Every independent and state agency has said that so than the highly influential and often overlooked County there was no widespread voter fraud. Congresspeople Auditor position. For this piece, under the auspices of behind closed doors will say there was no voter fraud. my Communications class: public writing, I took it upon The concerning thing for me is that even before there’s myself to get a glimpse at our own County Auditor, an election people are already claiming voter fraud in Kevin Dragotto, who began his tenure in the position an attempt to delegitimize the victory of the winning after the 2020 Election. Being the premier local election party (which is most often targeted at Democrats).” The official for Dubuque County, Mr. Dragotto has both great most disconcerting thing for me during this interview responsibility to his voters and the election process itself, is how officeholders like Dragotto are often villainized which at times can pose to be a challenge for those in simply for doing what’s right. Dragotto reassured me of his position, especially in the face of local and national the rigorous vetting that all elections, particularly those scrutiny. Now, I confess, I have always been an enthusiast in Dubuque, undergo in any given election for on and of politics, yet I never actually took the time to learn about off-year elections. “We have a very rigorous testing process the election process, which is considered to be the most for all the individuals involved in the election, as well sacrosanct aspect of democracy; however, that would soon as our equipment. Election judges are routinely tested change on a cold and windy December 6 afternoon. and trained for any given situation that might arise. We Much to the chagrin of one of my professors, I are not just 100% certain the results are accurate; we are decided to skip my 1:30 class so I could run down to 150% certain. The ballots themselves are audited by the courthouse for an impromptu interview with bipartisan groups—Democrats and Republicans— Mr. Dragotto. I had no interview set up and as I who open up absentee ballots and count the in-person walked through the courthouse suddenly something ballots, too. For anyone who might be skeptical of the dawned on me—I was about to walk in without an integrity of the process, I invite them to get involved in appointment to interview an elected official—how the processor to stop by my office so I can dispel some audacious of me! Dubuque has one of the nicest of the disinformation going around in the media. We courthouses that I’ve ever been in (I haven’t had the will always run the safest and most secure elections, need to be in too many, fortunately) as it is richly that being said, we will adapt to any issues or threats of adorned with Romanesque architecture, exuding election security” said Dragotto. five floors of grandeur and prominence. Upon Election integrity is a salient issue in today’s entering the courthouse, I had to check my bag political climate because it has been manufactured as and go through security. I was astounded by the a problem.

The difficulty for Dragotto is maintaining sheer busyness of the hustle-and-bustle of people fidelity to his job and his constituents while other participating in everyday life. Meanwhile, us students public officials, politicians, and even ex-presidents are grinding out the final weeks of the semester to are using their “bully pulpits” to sow seeds of mistrust get to that point in our lives where we can be full in the election process; in so doing, Dragotto and participants in the society and community around those in his position have to remain vigilant and in us, a sobering fact of life. I had no problem finding some cases respond preemptively to these threats the County Auditor’s office as it was posted on a black photo by TELEGRAPH HERALD to our democratic process.

When voting for a placard with white lettering, reading “fourth floor: Pictured: Dubuque County Auditor Kevin Dragotto candidate Dragotto emphasizes the importance of County Auditor Office.” assessing candidates based upon “the measure of I approached the front desk of the County Auditor’s training of over 300 poll-working personnel.” Ultimately, their actions and their words.” Iowa’s 1st Congressional secretary who kindly phoned Mr. Dragotto telling him if the election goes without a hitch, this culminates in District representative is currently Ashley Hinson (R). there was a student wearing Loras College attire seeking the certification of the election results.

In our meeting, Rep. Hinson has cozied up to the ex-president even after an interview. I was immediately struck by Mr. Dragotto’s I also asked whether or not there has been external she and her colleagues were under threat by the very same willingness to accommodate a seemingly haphazard, pressure or any undue influence from special interests mob incited by the man whom she has been stumping amateur journalist. Mr. Dragotto has a comfortable corner or party affiliates so far in his tenure.

Fortunately, as of for across the state of Iowa. We as voters have an ethical office that looks out on Central Avenue and the sprawling yet, Dragotto said there has not been any influence since responsibility regardless of party affiliation to support panorama that is Dubuque’s downtown skyline—the sight there’s been no election so far during his term, “nor would candidates who will unequivocally support the rule of was truly beautiful to behold, as the city was illumined it affect my work if there had been” said Dragotto, “I try law and the sanctity of the election process. Despite by the mid-day sun. I was warmly received with a firm to stay above the political fray even in spite of my party being a registered Republican, I wholeheartedly endorse handshake and a recollection that Mr. Dragotto and I had affiliation, I remain accountable to all my constituents, prospective Democratic candidate Liz Mathis for the 2022 met once before, which surprised me greatly, and I think who are comprised of Republicans, Democrats, and Election in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District. It is high it is a testament to his down-to-earth demeanor; he truly Independents. ” time that we put the election integrity issue to bed and cares about his constituents.

If the 2020 Election has taught us anything, it’s that this starts at the local level. As the 2022 Election looms Kevin Dragotto’s life is defined by his penchant for “fear sells, ” said Dragotto.

What is your opinion is causing ever closer, we voters can be rest assured that with Kevin service. After high school, Dragotto enlisted in the United discontentment and distrust in the election process, Dragotto at the helm of our local election process, we will States Army, serving for 3.5 years in Southeast Asia. why now has this become an issue?

“It’s a difficult thing be A-OK, or to put it in his words, “The buck stops with Although originally from Chicago, Illinois, Dragotto along to put a finger on it, but if there was widespread or me.”

by COY PEDERSON guest writer

with his wife and daughter moved to Dubuque in 2014.

Dragotto, prior to his current position as County Auditor, held a position as Controller for TFM Co. in Dubuque and has extensive experience in accounting and small-business operations management. It was in 2019 when Dragotto became aware of an impending vacancy for the County Auditor office. Dragotto, wanting to get involved in public service, decided to file for the upcoming 2020 Election.

Dragotto was attracted to the County Auditor office because it is a catch-all position, administering everything from elections to taxes and GIS mapping; needless to say, there’s a great variety of work every day. I asked a few questions to gauge what exactly the position as County Auditor/Election Commissioner has on the bearing on the election process, eliciting the following response from Dragotto: “We administer all aspects of the election process from start to finish; including filing candidates, overseeing the primary process and general election, the distribution and collection of absentee ballots, establishing precinct locations which are done every 10 years from the census (polling places), and we are responsible for the

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December 9, 2021 The Lorian

Q&A With Cross Country National Champion, Kassie Parker Get to know al little bit about Loras’ multi-sport National Champion.

by KASSIE PARKER

Coach’s Column

Bob Schultz, Cross Country

national champion

W h at d o e s i t m e a n to you to be a National Champion in both Track and Cross Country? Which was more challenging to you? Does one mean more than the other?

For me, being a national champion shows all the hard work I have done throughout my many years of training.

My track title was more of a surprise but gave me the confidence I needed to work this cross country season and come out on top. I can’t really say I like one more than the other, but I am thankful to say I have both a track and cross country title.

In your opinion, what does it take to be a champion?

Being a national champ means you have to make a lot of sacrifices. You have to put yourself in an uncomfortable position in order to get better. For example, whatever I think I can run in a race, I have to show it in practice first. I have to get used to the feeling photo from LORAS ATHLETICS of pushing myself in the uncomfortableness.

Parker is the first female Cross Country Champion in school history, winning the race by Do you have any specific memories that 17.5 seconds. mean a lot to you from throughout your What do you hope to accomplish next?

Overall I want to thank my teammates, career at Loras?

Both in your respective sports and outside fitness, and coaches for being supportive I have a lot of great memories from of sports. of my goals and the sacrifices it takes to my time so far at Loras. I especially enjoy Next up, I have indoor track and outdoor accomplish my goals. Thankfully, my time looking back on memories with my cross track season.

I am looking to keep moving at Loras will be extended to another year. I country team and track team, like winning up and pushing myself to do better.

I’m can’t wait to make more memories with my the national championship title as a team. excited to see what comes of these seasons. teammates and friends in the coming year.

It’s a feeling like no other.

Is there anyone you would like to thank?

No. 9 Duhawks’ Miraculous Season Comes to a Close in Final Four Duhwks fall 1-0 to Chistopher Newport University in overtime in North Carolina

by NATHAN CAMERON assisstant director of athletic communications

GREENSBORO, N.C. (Dec. 3, 2021) - The national stage was set on Friday morning, as the NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Tournament Semifinals kicked off on the campus of University of North Carolina Greensboro. Making their first-ever appearance in the Final Four, the No. 9 Loras College women’s soccer team (211-2, 8-0-0 A-R-C) faced the No. 5 Christopher Newport University Captains and forced the game into overtime after regulation ended in a scoreless standstill but the Captains held off the Duhawks to advance.

The Duhawks jumped on the Captains early in the first half, setting up a number of excellent scoring opportunities and taking advantage of corner kicks where junior All-American midfielder Payton McDonnell has excelled all season long. In the first half, the

Duhawks rifled off five total shots and earned five corner kicks while not giving any corner kick opportunities to the Captains.

The score remained at a 0-0 halt through the first half of regulation, seeing the Captains come out of the halftime break hard, putting off ten shots in the second half as their offense came alive.

The Duahwks’ defense, anchored by junior All-Region defender Olivia Lansing and sophomore goalkeeper Kyndal Kells, shut down any scoring opportunity Christopher Newport had with Kells making a trio of impressive saves in the second half to keep the Captains off the scoreboard.

With the score still unchanged after regulation, the two undefeated top-10 foes battled in overtime but Christopher Newport’s leading goal scorer Riley Cook capitalized on a scoring opportunity to end the game in overtime to see the Captains advance in the tournament.

Kells’ impressive showing in net saw the sophomore keeper make five saves while the Duhawks’ back line kept the Captains at bay, holding them to just six shots on goal in the game.

Loras closes out their history-making season with one United Soccer Coaches All-American, two All-Region performers, seven All-Conference honorees, American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Coaching Staff of the Year, A-R-C Regular Season Champions, and A-R-C Tournament Champions.

Congratulations to the Women’s Soccer team and their great success throughout the year! photo from LORAS ATHLETICS

This season marked the winningest season in women’s soccer history at Loras

by COACH BOB SCHULTZ head cross country coach

After coaching cross country and track at Loras College for the past 17 years, there are certain things that just remain the same. One of those is Duhawks! I was a graduate assistant coach for cross country and track at Loras College in the early 90’s and LOVED my experience.

I remember telling my mom the first week I was here in the fall of 1991 that I wish I knew about this place coming out of high school because I think I would have come here. I liked Loras so much the first time, that my last coaching job before Loras was at my alma mater and I left there to come back to Loras. I left my alma mater where I ran and graduated from for undergrad, gave up the NCAA DII Athletic Scholarships that we had to offer and a very nice indoor facility to come back to Loras. Why? One word, Duhawks.

It’s hard to explain to recruits when they visit, so you just hope they get a feel for it themselves when they come here. The sense of community at Loras College is second to none. The pride that Duhawk alumni have for this institution is second to none. The experiences had here in so many areas of life at Loras is second to none. All one needs to do is be around campus homecoming weekend to see how very excited our alumni are to be back on campus, connecting with fellow Duhawks and picking up right where they left off last time. There is a tremendous amount of pride in being a Duhawk, likely because of specially shared experiences that we have all had. I have also experienced this off campus in schools, in airports, in restaurants or in marathons! If you wear Loras stuff, it doesn’t matter where you are, you get a “Go Duhawks” from proud alumni all over this great land of ours.

Even now, as I write this, it is challenging to put into words, yet, all Duhawks know what I am talking about. It is one of the many reasons we have such a legacy enrollment at Loras. Kids grown up in homes where mom or dad (or both!) attended Loras, hear about their parents experiences, and observe the love they have for their alma mater. When its time to start looking at colleges, it’s no surprise that Loras is on the list and ultimately ends up being the destination of so many. Both of my boys attend Loras and while me working here certainly plays a role in their decision, I also believe that my experience in grad school and affinity for this institution played a significant role in their decision to become Duhawks. I am confident they are having a great experience here.

Yes education is important and yes, sports are important, but what stands out to me is the four year experience that people have at Loras College. Flocking back to Loras for homecoming, alumni events, golf outings, etc. are simply Duhawks trying to relive a little of that four year experience all over again. As I said, its hard to put into words, but being a Duhawk is not a 4 year experience, it’s a lifetime experience. Go Duhawks!