A weekly publication by Loras College students
Vol. 90, Issue 12
March 15, 2012
photo illustration by AYUSH SUBEDI
Bold, beautiful strokes Methamphetamean 3 senior art students earn the distinction of displaying their works at the Integrated Visual Arts Show, which will run until March 23 SAJJAN K.C.
staff writer
This past Friday, the Integrated Visual Arts reception was held at the Woodland Art Gallery in the Visitation Complex. This show provides a forum for Loras’ future artists and designers to exhibit their works of art. The works will be displayed for another week, until March 23. Associate Professor of Art Wendy Romero explained that, every year, art faculty come together as a panel of reviewers and critics who scrutinize students’ works and scrupulously select a few art majors who will receive the honor of having their work displayed in the Integrated Visual Arts Show. For the opening reception three senior students Mike Roth, Sarah Gotto and Emily Full were chosen to display their works. The displays, on first sight, were overwhelming: from Mike It is a love/hate permanent relationship. I love Roth’s marker strokes to Emthe feedback. I love ily Full’s abstract inkpen collections to Sarthe outcome, but Gotto graphic deI hate the amount ah signs. of work behind it. “(The show) is a milestone for art stuMike Roth dents and a great opsenior art student, portunity. This show reflecting on his is truly inspiring,” experience of said senior James creating art while at Brown, who was one Loras of the many attending the show. One of the main attractions of this show was senior Mike Roth’s dexterity with permanent markers. It is traditional belief that art — or sketch, to be precise — is done on paper. Roth has completely defied this by drawing on shoes, car doors and a car trunk. His vivid yet single-colored sketches were available for purchase from anywhere between $50 and $300. When asked about his experience of his art life at Loras, Roth said, “It is a love/hate relationship. I love the feedback. I love the outcome, but I hate the amount of work behind it.” The goals of this show are to expose art students to the critiques of the general public while giving the art majors a chance to show off their hard work, which ultimately serves to boost their confidence and prepare them for the competitive world.
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Meth usage in the Dubuque area has risen steadily in recent years. For the first time, it hits close to home.
vestigation with the school. “Everything from the fire department’s response, the Loras College finds itself in the middle of a metham- sprinkler system’s engagement, and other related aspects are being investigated,” Sunleaf said. “We’re working with both phetamine investigation. On February 29, sometime before 3 a.m., a meth lab ex- agencies to make sure the response process worked on both ploded in the bathroom attached to the commons area in sides.” Damage to the bathroom in the Lynch-McCarthy apartment the Lynch-McCarthy Apartments. According to authorities, the suspect — who is not a common room was extensive. According to the Loras Physical Loras student — is known, but will not be apprehended Plant, the total damages assessed are roughly around $10,000. Most of water damage is a result of the activation until a case against him is built. of the sprinkler system, not the fire itself. The explosion at Loras is an indication of yet another upward swing of meth use in the Much of the damage has been repaired, or is Dubuque area. in the process of being repaired. Servicemaster, We’re working According to the Dubuque Police Departa local business, was called to clean the carpets ment, 2011 was a very active year for the with both agencies and remove as much water damage as possible. to make sure drug’s trade and production in Dubuque. In to“Any time the sprinkler system runs, there’s tal, 46 “dump sites,” or discarded cooking apthe risk for water damage,” said Sunleaf. the response paratuses, were located, and eight active meth “Thankfully, they did their job.” process worked labs were vanquished as well. By comparison, The incident on campus is consistent with on both sides. just 17 “dump sites” were found in 2010. methamphetamine trends in Dubuque. The The lab at Loras marks the second conin methamphetamine cooking and usage Art Sunleaf boom firmed active lab in Dubuque County in is something new to Lieutenant Scott Baxter, Dean of Students crime prevention and public information officer 2012, emerging just a few weeks after another lab was seized downtown on White at the Dubuque Police Department, who said Street. Two dump sites have been found there are several possible causes for the drug’s around the county as well in 2012. recent popularity in the area. Loras is working in conjunction with the Dubuque Po“One theory out there it that the people we locked up lice Department to conclude the investigation, but it is a awhile back in the late ’90s are getting out of prison, and long process. Art Sunleaf says Loras’ main job is to stay they might attribute to the uptick,” Baxter said. out of the way. The increasing numbers are somewhat shocking, but the “From the moment of the incident on, the Dubuque police department is dispatching as much staff as possible to Task Force has been investigating,” he said. “Witnesses combat the meth trade. to the incident are being sought now.” continued on page 4 The Dubuque Fire Department is conducting its own in-
by NICK JOOS
co-executive editor
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Weird Weather illustration by Emily Full