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Feb. 28, 2019
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The Lorian
student athletes is because they love their sports. The team atmosphere is one of the best experiences that they staff writer encounter in college. A little over half the students at Loras are student“I have been a four-year member of the women’s golf athletes, taking part in one or more of the nineteen varsity team,” senior golfer Jeanie Kasper said, “which has allowed sports that are offered here. Obviously this is a common me so many opportunities to improve my golf skills, meet identity on our campus, but what does it really mean to be new people, and have some fun along the way. While there a student-athlete? were broken bones and conference tournaments played “People love to throw around ideals and maxims about in torrential rain, there were also many van rides filled mental toughness, the ideal teammate, being a leader, with karaoke, movie nights, hikes, and personal introspection, dedication, campus-wide games of hide-and- seek. sacrifice, and others when they talk about Proper time Every experience, whether good or bad, teams and competition at any level, in any has provided a memory I wouldn’t trade management for setting,” said Austin Kuchenbecker, senior for anything.” student-athletes volleyball player. “Until a person has Kasper’s words are echoed in senior lived through experiences that test those is crucial, because Taylor Brooks’ reflections on the studentideals, though, I do not think it’s possible there’s so much athlete experience during her time at to appreciate why so many can talk about Loras. Both Kasper and Brooks are seniors that goes into them, and so few can cite moments that who have been student-athletes for a few a sport even correlate.” years now. It’s no surprise that student-athletes outside normal “As a senior collegiate athlete who is here have a unique college experience. practice time fast approaching retirement, I’m just now Juggling practice, games, classes, job(s), understanding how big of an impact being and other extra-curricular activities is a student athlete is,” said Brooks, a member no small feat. Time management is often of the basketball team. “If I hadn’t played basketball here cited as one of the most important lessons learned by the at Loras, I wouldn’t have met my best friends, become part student-athlete. of a second family, nor developed my leadership skills and “My time management skills have been the most work ethic – two things I’m excited to use beyond college. impacted,” senior pitcher Patrick Costello said. “I have I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a student athlete learned that I can actually get stuff done in a half hour during my time in college!” time period and still be efficient in my duties. The opportunity to compete in college is In talking to athletes who have graduated obviously a privilege, and our athletes certainly in the past, they have attributed their easy don’t take it for granted. Dedicated athletes transition to grad school or the work force need to make many sacrifices, and the in part to the successes of time successful ones are those who management from their follow through with those respective sports.” sacrifices. Adequate sleep, Proper time proper nutrition, good management for studentdecisions on weekends, athletes is crucial, going the extra mile in because there’s so much practice, and devotion that goes into a sport even to the sport are generally outside normal practice associated with the upper time. There’s physical echelon of athletes at Loras. therapy, lifting, open Their hard work certainly pays gym, traveling to games, dividends in their seasons, and team service projects, brings about a unique sense of recruiting next year’s fulfillment that can’t be found class, mandatory and anywhere else. non-mandatory team “I feel that being a college bonding … the list goes athlete, especially at the on and on. In order to fit Division III level, has initiated all of these things into your more personal growth than any already-packed schedule, time other activity, organization, or experience I have ever been management is key. a part of,” said Kuchenbecker. “Being a student athlete tests But being in a sport isn’t just about fitting it into your your mental, physical, and emotional capacities in ways you schedule – if that were the case, why would anyone want never dreamed. But that isn’t to say that’s a bad thing.” to be a student-athlete? The real reason we have so many by Audrey Miller
by Tyler Fahey staff writer
All the time we see in the media the patronization of people with Asperger’s Syndrome. Asperger’s Syndrome is a developmental disorder characterized by struggles with social interactions and nonverbal communications, and by having narrow interests in a subject that the person likes. Asperger’s Syndrome is classified as an Autism Spectrum Disorder, but many people still call it Asperger’s Syndrome. Many great people have — or have been speculated to have — Asperger’s Syndrome. Examples are Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft and Chairman of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Al Gore, Vice President of the United States under Bill Clinton, Mozart, Sir Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Susan Boyle, Dan Aykroyd, George Washington, and many others. Some of these have been diagnosed and some are only speculated to have had it. It’s interesting to find out that Albert Einstein had such severe ADD that his wife had to lay out his clothing for him everyday. It bothers me that people patronize people with Asperger’s Syndrome, because I have it. We have a lot to offer the world. We think outside the box in many ways, especially in terms of our “special interests.” Nowadays we are in an age of logic and scientific and technological innovation; typically people with Asperger’s Syndrome are interested in science and technology. The problem with the stigma about Asperger’s is that some in the news media have speculated about people who have committed mass murders. While a few have done this, it’s not the entire Asperger’s community. The vast majority of people with Asperger’s Syndrome are safe and fun to be around. When people in positions of influence on the masses are misguided on the subject, it can be difficult to hear things — they can be so negative. I know in some families talking about Asperger’s Syndrome (and other conditions) is “taboo,” but I’ve found it doesn’t need to be. If you have a support system around you, and have family and friends who understand you have the condition and accept you, you’re off! I wish the news media and people in positions of power, like Autism Speaks, would be more careful about what they say about Asperger’s Syndrome. They should be wellrounded on the subjects they talk about. We are NOT bad people, we are NOT dangerous, we are NOT a threat to our communities. We are a force for change in the world. As long as you accept us, we’ll love you and befriend you, and keep you close to our hearts.
Life lessons in mercy staff writer
This past Sunday we heard the story about David on the run from King Saul, who was jealous and wanted to kill him. David at last had the opportunity to end it all by killing his pursuer, but choose not to. Although David was prompted by his friend to use Saul’s spear to stab him in his sleep, David decided that it wasn’t his place to choose whether or not Saul died. David felt Saul’s punishment should be left to the divine wisdom of God. There are a few things we can take away from this story. 1. Don’t let vengeance and worldly wisdom consume you. It’s easy to slip into the mindset of a vendetta when you —or someone close to you, or even just someone you identify with — is seriously wronged. Almost anything can seem justified if it means a wrongdoer is punished. Sometimes no punishment seems severe enough to address the wrong. David had done nothing to harm Saul, and kept asking Saul why he was trying to kill him even though David was his devoted servant. David was a man after God’s own heart, and showed mercy in spite of Saul’s grievous wrong. 2. Have faith that God knows what He’s doing. One of David’s reasons for not harming Saul
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The student-athlete experience at Loras College
Acceptance of Asperger’s Syndrome
by Tyler Fahey
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was that, in spite of all he’d done, Saul was God’s chosen king of Israel. God could have forced Saul off the throne in any number of ways, but Saul was still king. David had faith that Saul would die when God wanted him to die; David didn’t have to hurry things along. God has a plan for everyone’s life, but too often we like to tinker with God’s plan and dictate where we think lives should go. Since we’re not God we end up getting horribly lost. 3. Have hope for redemption. David had hope that Saul would eventually see reason and stop trying to kill him. For a while David was right, until Saul snapped again. David knew there’d be no chance for Saul’s redemption if he killed him. When Saul did eventually die in battle, it was because of his own failings and lack of faith. He was given many chances by God and by David to change his ways. In our own lives, we can’t let a blind drive for justice or vengeance prevent us from offering paths of redemption for people we see as wrongdoers. It’s our duty as God’s faithful to help as many people get into heaven as possible. Remember, Jesus told us to “love our enemies”. Justice is important, and we should pursue it — but we must always remember to be driven by mercy as well.
