The Blue Issue | Fall 2018 by The Marquette Journal

B L U E Health Insurance. Macaroni and Cheese. Lovellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Shoes. Welcome to the magazine where everything is blue.

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GOLDEN EAGLE SPORTS REPORT NEW MUSIC MONDAY W

MARQUETTE NOW T

MARQUETTE LATELY

marquettewire.org/MUTV CHANNEL 4 (CAMPUS CABLE)

FALL 2018

Executive Director of the Marquette Wire JENNIFER WALTER Managing Editor of the Marquette Journal ALY PROUTY EDITORIAL Assistant Managing Editors NATALLIE ST. ONGE, MACKANE VOGEL

DIGITAL General Manager of Marquette University Television TARA SCHUMAL

Executive Editors MORGAN HUGHES, CLARA JANZEN, MAYA KORENICH, JOHN STEPPE

General Manager of Marquette University Radio GM POWELL

Assistant Editors KELLI ARESENEAU, BRIAN BOYLE, ZOE COMERFORD, NOELLE DOUGLASS, SARAH LIPO, MATTHEW MARTINEZ, JACK PHILLIPS, JENNA THOMPSON Copy Chief EMMA NITSCHKE Copy Editors EMMA BRAUER, JULIA DONOFRIO, HALEY HARTMANN, ELEANOR MCCAUGHEY, EMILY ROUSE

Assistant Producers KENDRA BELL, DAVID KLINGER, CHRIS REISNER, JACK RYAN Production ALEX LANGOSCH, SAM LEE, MARLEN MARTINEZ Music Director BELLA LAZARSKI

Contributing Writers LELAH BYRON, SYDNEY CZYZON, ALEX GARNER, REILLY HARRINGTON, MIKALA HERSHMAN, CLAIRE HYMAN, ANNIE MATTEA, MEGHAN ROCK, EMMA TOMISCH, CAROLINE WHITE

Assistant Music Director ALEX WAGNER

ART Design Chief CHELSEA JOHANNING

ADVERTISING Sales Manager ADRIANA BONILLA

Executive Photo Editor ANDREW HIMMELBERG

Advertising Designer AVA HEINNGER

Designers LEXI BEAVER, KATIE DELIA, ANABELLE MCDONALD Photographers JORDAN JOHNSON, KATE HOLSTEIN, RICKY LABRADA

Executive Producers GRACE CONNATSER, LARSON SEAVER

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Audio Content Director HARRISON HOLLAND

editor’s LETTER Photo by Andrew Himmelberg

“W

ell, kid, one way or another we’re gonna make a magazine.” Some days, I doubted such a seemingly simple sentence. Back in March, when I was hired for the current school year, I knew I wanted to change the Marquette Journal a little bit. I didn’t want to overhaul everything. We’ve been writing quality content for decades. Last spring’s issue has been nominated for a national Pacemaker award from the Associated College Press. After years of constantly changing the logo, in 2014 the Marquette Wire picked the one you’re looking at “with overwhelming support.” It stuck with them, and it still sticks with me. What I did end up changing is how our staff thinks about magazines. For a long time, this 72-pager was the equivalent to that 10-page, singlespaced term paper no one wanted to write. It was daunting, overwhelming and easy to push off. But then I looked at the staff and told them to have fun with it. Pitch a story you’d want to read. Design a spread you dream about. Take a photo at a peculiar angle. They took it to heart and ran with it. I am a firm believer in the idea that if someone is passionate about something, she’ll do it better. And while we were at it, we added a little color. You’ll probably notice that everything in this magazine is blue. (Is that song

playing in your head yet?) Every story ties in to the color blue one way or another. We dove deeper with water sports like water polo and scuba. We took a critical look at our nation’s healthcare system. We sprinkled blue cheese on an original recipe and worked to debunk a cappella myths with the Gold ‘n Blues. We didn’t stop there. Something special about the Marquette Wire is our ability to play as a team, work together and try new things. We’re an umbrella organization for television, radio, magazine, newspaper and online media. I wanted the Journal to hone in on that and push the limits even more. Every year we try to incorporate multimedia, yet something was missing. I reached out to Tara Schumal, general manager of MUTV, and Gabby Powell, general manager of MUR, and pitched one of my favorite ideas: putting multimedia in print. Throughout this issue you’ll find QR codes. Open up Snapchat and scan them. A podcast or video will instantaneously appear on your screen. You’ll get direct access to all of our digital content. We got a little pushback, but in the end we stuck to our guns and it turned out better than I could have asked for. I am truly blessed with wonderful comanagers. Heading up this publication is a lot like college. You work hard. You work really hard, actually. Some days it feels like you’re on top of the world and other days it feels like you’re getting nowhere. No matter what kind of day it is though, it’s important to keep going. Have some fun. Add a little color to your life and push the limits. Don’t give up. Stick to your guns and reach out to people who can help you. You’ll be glad you did.

On that note, thank you to everyone who helped me. As independent as I’d like to think I am, being on a team is always better than going it alone. Special thanks to our entire staff for bearing with me through my crazy ideas. I pushed them, and they pushed me. I think their work speaks for itself. Know that I am so proud of you. Thank you to Mike Delzer and his company for generously printing this semester’s issue. I will never be able to fully express my sincere gratitude. Every editor I’ve worked under, whether it be through an internship, freelance gig or right here in student media, never gave up on me and gave me the confidence that I can do this. I wouldn’t be here without them. This college is full of incredible faculty. Patrick Johnson taught me how to actually make a magazine. Jenny Harpham guided me through the depths of InDesign. Mark Zoromski, our beloved director of student media, constantly provides motivation, support, expertise and just about anything we could ask for. He also gives the best pep talks, even when they’re just one sentence. He was right, too. We made a magazine. I hope you love it as much as I do.

Aly Prouty Managing Editor, Marquette Journal

FALL 2018

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Table of Contents

In Every Issue

Flash Five.......................................................................8 Perspective: “Like It Was Easy.”..................................70

Culture

Down With Denim.......................................................44 The Legacy of Championship Blue................................50 Sips, Snacks and Sights: A Blue Line Adventure.........52 Festival of Lights..........................................................56 Behind the Birds..........................................................58 Calendar......................................................................60 True Colors..................................................................62 New Music Monday: Royal Blues................................64 Turn UP DOWNtown...................................................65 Easy Fix........................................................................66 A Blue Ribbon for Jackson’s........................................68 Make the MAC.............................................................69

A Bitter Pill

What It Feels Like to be at 13%................................30 A Bitter Pill...................................................................32 Stocking Up.................................................................36 The Weight of Waiting................................................40 Medicare for All...........................................................42 At-Home Healthcare....................................................43

M(yo)U

A 9-Foot Difference....................................................18 Diving Deeper..............................................................20 Home Sweet HYPE......................................................21 Twitter Prevails.............................................................22 Alexa, Order Chips Online..........................................23 Behind the Badge.......................................................24 Milwaukee is One Alumnus’ Home Run........................25 Ready, Set, SHAPE......................................................26 AXiD Speaks Loud for Autism....................................27

FALL 2018

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flash FIVE The sun sets over Valley Fields and the Menomonee River. PHOTO BY JORDAN JOHNSON

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flash FIVE Marquette menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basketball coach Steve Wojciechowski leads from the sidelines. PHOTO BY ANDREW HIMMELBERG

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flash FIVE Reuss Federal Plaza on Wisconsin Ave. pierces through the downtown skies. PHOTO BY JORDAN JOHNSON

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flash FIVE Marquette Hall stands out juxtaposed to the seasonal foliage. PHOTO BY HELEN DUDLEY

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flash FIVE Marquette womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s volleyball celebrates a successful set. PHOTO BY ANDREW HIMMELBERG

FALL 2018

A 9-Foot Difference

TARA SCHUMAL

Photo by Andrew Himmelberg

wenty-five yards, eight minutes per quarter. Seven teammates slip into the pool. In the world of water polo, it’s all about the numbers. Nine feet. That’s the difference in depth between the shallow and deep ends of the pool. That doesn’t cross many of the players’ minds as they enter the Helfaer Tennis Stadium and Recreational Center. It’s how they play the game. Marquette’s co-ed water polo club has been around for a little over a decade, pulling in anywhere from about 10 to 20 plus students. “It fluctuates,” Devin Flaherty, club president and junior in the College of Health Sciences, says. “We’ll have more (players) coming into the school year joining, and then come second semester everyone will get busy with sororities and stuff and we’ll lose some of them.” 18

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One thing that doesn’t change is the rules. In regulation play, players must keep their shoulders under the water and refrain from touching the pool floor. At the Rec Center, the deep end sits at 12 feet 6 inches while the shallow end is limited to 3 feet 6 inches. This 9-foot difference is mediated when players switch sides at the half for equal advantage. Scott Anderegg, assistant director of recreational sports, sees this as one of the club’s challenges. He says the club makes the most of the difference in depth and won’t let it change anything about the game. “It’s still a great exercise,” Anderegg says. “You’re basically treading water for a long period of time.” Not only is a great work out, but Anderegg believes water polo as a club on campus is an asset. “It’s (a) great experience because

they’re learning leadership skills, camaraderie and gaining a group of friends that have a common interest,” Anderegg says. “Clubs work better and are more advantageous because they’re getting the life skills with budgeting, fundraising and scheduling.” The club water polo team certainly learns life skills as they tackle latenight weekday practices, different pool depths, fluctuating participation numbers and co-ed versus all-men teams. On top of all of these challenges, sharing the pool tends to be a difficult task. Marquette is home to several aquatic activities, including swimming and diving, which forces water polo to practice late at night. “Our practices are from 8 to 10 at night two times a week,” Flaherty says. “It does stink just because it is late, but it’s also nice that it’s not in

M(yo)U: Active

the middle of the day, so you can get homework done before.” “Afterwards we (would) have all the underclassmen take us and swipe us into McCormick for dinner,” Flaherty says. “Hopefully we’ll go to (The Commons) now.” The atmosphere around the club keeps Flaherty excited to continue her presidency. But planning practices seems to be a persistent issue. Scheduling games, however, is much easier. Marquette is one of 16 universities to compete in the American Collegiate Water Polo League. Kyle Passini and Mitch Meyer, two Iowa State graduates, run the league, and it has been open to teams for the last three years. Passini and Meyer founded the league because they wanted to help the sport continue across the region. Leading as commissioners, Passini

and Meyer exhaust their time by ensuring teams get plenty of times to play, as well as a cost-efficient way to afford the season. “Water polo is such a unique sport, so the community of people that are involved with it are second to none,” Passini says. “Over the past 10 years of playing, I have met lifelong friends and have gotten to know many more that I wouldn’t have gotten to otherwise.” In fall 2015, Marquette placed third in the league. Even though they did not compete last spring (due to lack of members), Marquette club water polo created its own tournaments. One of which was a Wisconsin tournament against University of WisconsinMilwaukee, University of WisconsinMadison and Hippos, a seniors team in the area. “I like being in the water. Just the aspect of having to be in the water

and having such a difficult sport. A lot of people don’t actually realize how hard it can be. There’s more to it than just swimming and treading. It’s a game and it’s a team thing,” Flaherty says. “We work really well as a team. Just being with the people you’re so close with all the time. It’s not just going to practice or going to play a sport. It’s going to have fun with friends.”

FALL 2018

Diving Deeper CLAIRE HYMAN

adison resident Sarah Aken was scuba certified and had dived nearly a dozen times when she injured her spinal cord in 2012. Several years after adjusting to her injury, Aken says she wanted to experience the freedom and weightlessness of diving again. Her online research eventually led her to the pool at the Helfaer Recreation Center through a nonprofit called DiveHeart. DiveHeart teaches scuba diving skills to people with physical and cognitive disabilities, says Sarah Repka, a dive instructor from DiveHeart. The organization has partnered with Marquette’s Adaptive Abilities Club the past three years to host scuba diving sessions in the pool at the Helfaer Recreation Center. Repka, who has been scuba certified since 1989, began teaching through DiveHeart in 2010 when she saw a video of a woman with no arms and legs scuba diving. The best parts of helping people with disabilities dive are “looking at people’s smiles, watching them succeed, and pushing themselves and being pain free,” Repka says. DiveHeart provides scuba instructors and gear, and Marquette offers student volunteers who help participants put on their equipment and get into the water. Aken says that it’s such a comfort to have skilled and compassionate instructors from DiveHeart facilitating scuba diving. “I think a lot of issues that people with disabilities face is that so many things that a lot of people take for granted is scary,” Aken says. “Getting out of your chair is scary. Relying on other people to make sure you’re safe is really scary.” Since connecting with DiveHeart, Aken has traveled from Madison to Milwaukee twice for scuba diving sessions. She also went on a diving trip to Florida with DiveHeart last spring. This trip was the 20

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first of its kind that the Milwaukee chapter participated in, and was funded through a grant that the nonprofit applied for. “I would go scuba diving everyday if I could,” she says. The collaboration between DiveHeart and Marquette started with Tina Stoeckmann, professor in the College of Health Sciences and faculty advisor for the Adaptive Abilities Club. Stoeckmann has been assisting with adaptive sports for nearly 15 years. “I’m able to use my knowledge and skills to help other people participate in opportunities that they normally wouldn’t be able to do without help,” Stoeckmann says. Stoeckmann says that several years ago, she would come into class on a Monday and tell students about the different adaptive activities and events she had assisted with that weekend. After a while, her students wanted to get involved. Many of the students who volunteer with Adaptive Ability Club are studying physical therapy. However, the club is open to students of all majors and Stoeckmann says students come to the club for a variety of reasons. The Adaptive Abilities Club helps students connect with people with disabilities outside of a medical context or a crisis situation, Stoeckmann says. Students who are studying to be physical therapists can practice transferring skills and assist with equipment at various adaptive sporting events. More importantly, Stoeckmann says, students get to know individuals not as patients, but as people. “[Adaptive Abilities participants] are not coming to you because they need rehab. They’re coming because they want to go water-skiing or scuba diving or snow-shoeing,” she says. Jasmine Ough, a senior in the College of Health Sciences, assists with various activities through Adaptive Abilities, in-

cluding wheelchair rugby, skiing and rock climbing. Ough says these experiences have shown her “how joyful and enthusiastic the participants are in accepting [the volunteers’] assistance in activities that are new and sometimes scary.” For Gloria Johnson, the current president of the Adaptive Abilities Club, one of the best parts about volunteering at events is seeing how participants with various disabilities adapt the sports so they’re able to participate. Johnson, a senior in the College of Health Sciences, says via email that, “It’s also interesting to see how innovative some of the adaptive equipment is, like at rock climbing -- even if someone has weak grip strength or no lower body control, there is equipment and methods of side-climbing that enables them to still get to the top of the wall!” Despite the success that the club has had in providing students and participants with exposure to adaptive activities, both Stoeckmann and Repka want to expand the organization. “I would like for us to be able to host more things on campus. Our kids are here, this is a Jesuit institution, cura personalis,” Stoeckmann says. Lack of funding and the inaccessibility of Marquette’s facilities are some of the obstacles preventing this from becoming a reality. Stoeckmann says that the Adaptive Abilities Club’s request for funding to rent the pool was denied this year. The group applies for funding through Marquette Student Government but has also considered independently fundraising in response to this denial. “There’s still a lot of stereotypes. Still lots of stigma,” Stoeckmann says. “I would like to get individuals with disabilities on Marquette’s campus to come out and play in the water and offer them weightlessness,” Repka says. Photo courtesy of Tina Stoeckmann

M(yo)U: Active

Photo by Ricky Labrada

Home Sweet HYPE JENNA THOMPSON

idan Korte, a sophomore in the College of Communication, hypeknew she wanted to always dance in college But after dancing mostly ballet and jazz as a child, she was ready to try something new. She found that new outlet through HYPE, Marquette’s hip hop dance team. “My friend from home was on HYPE and told me to try out,” she says. “I was nervous to try out, since I hadn’t ever really done hip hop, but I am minoring in dance and thought it would be good to have another dance outlet, besides just a three-credit class.” HYPE was created as an official group on campus in 2001 by Marquette alumnus JC Cunningham. Cunningham still choreographs routines for both the Marquette and University of WisconsinMilwaukee HYPE teams. Now 19 seasons later, the dance team is stronger than ever. With six male dancers, the most HYPE has ever had at one time, this year’s team has a total of 23 members. Cunningham, who grew up as a dancer, started HYPE with a few other friends after the positive response they received from performing at a university event. They first held auditions in 1999 as an unofficial organization and 75 students auditioned to be on the team. In 2004, HYPE Marquette expanded to UWM, and in 2006 HYPE Dance Company expanded into its own studio at BEST Fitness in the Third Ward. “These students can do whatever they want with their time, and the fact that they are choosing to dance and be with each other, and to see them go on and build this great community is something really special to be a part of,” Cunningham says. “I love everyone on the team,” Sofie

Manglano, a sophomore in the College of Nursing and HYPE dancer, says. “It’s such a family-oriented team.” Korte ended up finding much more than just an additional dance outlet: she found a multitude of unexpected friendships. The community built through HYPE has a positive impact on the way the group dances together. “The better friends we are outside of HYPE, the better dancers we are inside HYPE,” Korte explains. “And you can see that in the way we perform.” Manglano, similar to Korte, had been dancing her whole life and knew she wanted to join HYPE after watching YouTube videos of the group’s performances. “I danced on my (high school) dance team, but some of the dancers on HYPE had no dance experience prior to HYPE, which in my opinion just makes it all that much better,” Manglano says. It is no surprise the team is so close with two, sometimes three, practices a week that usually end up being two and a half hours, Korte explains. During an average semester, the team learns 12 to 15 routines, choreographed by HYPE dancers, local Milwaukee choreographers and students from the UWM HYPE team. “Learning from my peers and giving them a platform to teach their own choreography is amazing,” Manglano says. Each dance, called a set, is a mashup of three to four one-minute songs. Their performances are upbeat, lively and precise. “One thing I love about HYPE and hip hop is the variation of it all. Everyone brings their own style and technique into it, making every routine different and

exciting,” Korte says. For Korte, the variation of hip hop challenges her as a dancer to grow in the art. “Having a new and different dance outlet is so exciting,” she says. Besides having its own showcase, the team opened in the past for Marquette’s all-male a cappella group The Naturals, various Milwaukee community groups and the UWM HYPE team. While most of the dancers do it purely for fun, the hours of training, rehearsals and practice do not come without work. Korte explains that in one practice, she usually takes 2,500 steps, according to her Fitbit. During their performances, they dance for four to five minutes straight. Manglano agrees that practices and performances are certainly an aerobic workout. “After our four hours of scheduled practices a week, we motivate each other to work out or practice together to build the stamina and strength we need for our performances,” Manglano says. Despite the hours of hard work and dedication, the dancers do not lose focus of HYPE’s mission to preserve the art of hip hop dance through education, movement and workshop, Cunningham explains. The dedication keeps the dancers ready and excited to learn more and push each other to become better dancers. Cunningham’s one hope for the dancers? To go after their dreams, he says. “Whatever that may be, dance or otherwise, you only have one life, so go for it,” Cunningham says. “... And if it doesn’t work out, you have a college degree and a great support system, so just do it.” FALL 2018

What’s Trending, Marquette? Like everything in 2018, Marquette’s presence stretches from the real physical world of the streets of Milwaukee into the wide world of social media. Follow these four Twitter accounts to see what’s trending, both on news feeds and on campus. -Emma Tomsich You Are Marquette @WeAreMarquette

The @WeAreMarquette account unites the student body. Follow the account to learn more about your classmates or let your story be told!

Late Night Marquette @LateNightMU

Late Night Marquette will ensure that boring weekend nights will be things of the past. This account promotes activities around campus planned for Thursday through Sunday nights. Follow @ LateNightMarquette to have some fun!

MU Peacemaking @mupeacemaking

Popular for their hashtag #WisdomWednesday and weekly posts, @mupeacemaking will provide motivational and inspirational quotes to get you through the week. There’s no need to buy a yoga mat to relieve stress, just follow the account.

CKMarquette @ckmarquette

Campus Kitchen Marquette is a student group that promotes healthy eating and works to make sure all people get meals. Get involved by becoming a #hungerfighter and following @ ckmarquette!

MARQUETTE JOURNAL

Twitter Prevails

ANDREW HIMMELBERG

’m at a party and my friend asks me to Venmo him five bucks for pizza. “Sorry, I don’t believe in Venmo,” I say, handing him a five. He looks insulted at the thought of having to handle cash. I’m at a bar in London and a new acquaintance says we should keep in touch. “Add me on Facebook,” she says. Nervously, I say that she’ll have to add me – I don’t have the app on my phone. Surely, having these apps would make me less awkward and facilitate many of my everyday interactions, but nothing about either of these apps appeals to me. If I am going to download an app, I need to have a good reason, and to this point, Facebook and Venmo haven’t given me one. I’ve always been skeptical about the security of Venmo and other mobile payment apps. As it turns out, several Venmo security breaches led the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the app in 2016, which found the app had failed to be transparent about the status of transactions and its privacy policies, bringing real harm to users. If this isn’t bad enough, every transaction made on Venmo is public information – like any other social media post. A two-hour stay at that seedy motel on the edge of town or 70 Chicken McNuggets – all of these purchases are public information unless a user opts out. But Venmo is unclear about how this practice works. The more I learn about this app, the more turned off I am by it: I can’t trust that other users – or Venmo itself – won’t change the status of pending transactions at will, or keep tabs on my every move. Unlike Venmo, I have used Facebook in the past. In its earlier days, I loved it and would spend hours on my feed, but after a while, my experiences stopped being positive. Logging on to Facebook is like coming

home after a long day to a sink full of dirty dishes, overflowing trash cans and carelessly abandoned pieces of clothing: it’s ugly and rage inducing. If I could tolerate the content Facebook spews onto my timeline, I might be able to overcome its terrible interface. Instead, all I see is advertisements, memes from 2011 and posts from my grandmother about how great Alex Jones is. Moreover, Facebook has proven it can’t be trusted. While it is unreasonable to expect technology companies to ignore our data, Facebook lacks meaningful ethical boundaries when it comes to spying on its users. And although it hasn’t been proven, there is a contingent of people who believe that Facebook listens to its users’ conversations, using this data for targeted advertisements. On principle, I refuse to use Facebook or Venmo, because I fundamentally cannot trust them. However, there is one little blue app I do love: Twitter. Spending time on Twitter is like having a picnic on a landfill; I know the only thing separating me from a heaping pile of trash is a thin blanket I got on clearance at Walmart, but the potato salad is so good, I can’t be bothered. Twitter succeeds where Facebook fails by giving me content that I actually enjoy. Twitter’s algorithm perfectly balances the content I see, seamlessly integrating advertisements between updates from the Associated Press and the self-deprecating humor that has come to characterize the platform. And while there have been a few security issues with the app, they pale in comparison to those experienced by Facebook and Venmo. Scrolling through Twitter is a staple of my day. Sure, it has problems, but they’re negligible in context.

I’ve always been skeptical about the security of Venmo...

M(yo)U: Connected

Alexa, Order Chips Online Photo courtesy of Jenny Harpham

LELAH BYRON

lue light flickering and synthetic voice swelling, Amazon’s Alexa starts to sing. “Technology, technology, where would I be without technology,” she croons, her melody accompanied by an equally jaunty instrumental. “Thanks, Alexa, you can stop now,” James Brust, director of the Wakerly Media Lab for Creativity and Innovation, says. “I’ve never heard her sing that song.” Above him, perched politely on a shelf, Alexa goes quiet again. With an undergraduate degree in journalism and media studies, Brust’s interest in high-tech preludes his time at Wakerly. “There was a lot of emerging technology helping at that time that was impacting the world pretty significantly,” Brust says. One of those emerging technologies was Bluetooth, which wirelessly allowed an easy way to send sound to a better speaker. Cordless speakers and headphones quickly became popular products for listening to music. In addition to being used recreationally, Bluetooth has practical applications in the workplace. Mobility and portability are two appealing aspects of the products. Although junior engineering student Sean Roberts’ job at an engineering firm still uses cords, he says he can imagine a future where that is no longer the case. “It would be cool to see ... the foreman of the factory pull up everything on his phone,” Roberts says. Bluetooth has become so popular that technology companies are starting to phase out ports entirely, releasing more and more phones without headphone jacks. “What (manufacturers) are going for

is a purely wireless future,” Brust says. With more and more consumers noting the impracticality of wires, companies are trying to find ways to focus on Bluetooth. Recently, however, Amazon threw something new into the mix: artificial intelligence. “Amazon started doing AI with Bluetooth, and it got really interesting really quickly,” Brust says. Amazon released smart speaker Alexa in late 2014, and as of 2017 more than 20 million Alexas have been sold. Alexandra Rivera Grant, a freshman in the College of Communication, is one such owner. “I love a good Bluetooth speaker, but being able to talk to Alexa and not have to go on your phone to find the exact song ... it’s super convenient,” Grant says. What helps Alexa stand apart, however, remains her ability to offer more utilities than a standard Bluetooth speaker. “She does it all. It’s not just for music. It’s for weather, time and events, too,” Grant says. Although Alexa can complete many requests, she still struggles with some orders. With new AI there is a gradual learning curve. Alexa’s inability to perform perfectly is a beneficial trait, Brust says. “Alexa is designed to respond. Normally, if I’m trying to say something, it’ll just say…” Brust trails off, pondering an example. “Hey, Alexa, drive off a cliff,” he commands. Alexa hemmed and hawed, thoroughly stumped. “Hmm, I’m not sure,” she returns. “When Alexa came out, consumers were like, ‘what do we do with this?’” Brust says. Although Alexa brands itself as a user-friendly digital assistant, Brust suggests many consumers view the product as a way to sell other Amazon

wares. Some customers experienced the hassle of accidentally buying from Amazon, as inquiries about products may cause Alexa to order them. “I was looking up honey butter chips from Korea and my mom wanted to ask Alexa about them, but Alexa ordered them instead,” Grant says. “My mom was really annoyed.” Artificial intelligence remains a relatively vague product sector, with many unwilling or unsure to publicize information that otherwise could remained private. Transcripts of recorded conversations can be found on the Alexa app for iOS and Android. In addition to conversation data, Alexa knows how many times radio stations or songs are requested, the “stop” command is used, and how often the volume is asked to turn up. Brust says addressing these anxieties remains a challenge as consumers are unclear about behind-the-scenes information processing. “Most AI is not happening on Alexa. When you interact with AI ... that’s all a tiny set of triggers that go on Amazon’s servers,” Brust says. These computations help Alexa operate more intelligently. “Alexa gets better by having lots of people use it,” Brust says. Although a completely wireless future remains a distant, idealistic goal, artificially intelligent devices represent the next wave of accessible tech, Brust says. Where phones present a challenge for the physically impaired and the elderly, voice controlled, wireless devices resolve complications. The goal is that I can talk to the device like a person,” Brust says. “We’re just not there yet.” FALL 2018

Six Things You Need to Know About the MUPD App The app is customized for MU! Marquette University Police Department and AppArmor developed safety app, EagleEye, specifically for campus needs. It is available for both iOS and Android. It’s for parents and staff too! Although it’s mainly for students, the app can be downloaded by parents, faculty and staff who want to receive live alerts and use the Emergency Procedures guide. It allows you to connect with friends! One feature is “Friend Walk,” which allows you to send your location in real time to a friend so they can watch you walk from point A to point B and make sure you’re safe. If you find yourself concerned, there is an emergency call option. It includes features in the toolbox! It also has a “safety toolbox” containing links to information on LIMOs, a flashlight and an “I’m OK!” button which allows you to send a message to let your friends and family know you are safe. Also, there are maps of crime data, campus and of Milwaukee transit. There are many support options! There are also support resources, such as sexual misconduct advocacy and help, MUPD’s daily crime log, ways to sign up for self defense classes, contact information for parking services, as well as links to Campus Ministry, the Medical Clinic and the Counseling Center. New features in the future! The app is still in development, and MUPD has considered the option of tracking Marquette’s LIMO service, allowing students to see where the vans are at in near real time. They hope to add this in the near future, depending on how much people use the app. -Annie Mattea

MARQUETTE JOURNAL

Behind the Badge CLARA JANZEN

effrey Kranz says he loves his job. He says his lifelong desire to stop crime and make personal connections on the street is fulfilled every day by his role as captain of the Marquette University Police Department. Seventeen-year-old Kranz was a bit of a rarity, managing to qualify for the Milwaukee Police Department at such a young age. “Having been in the department since I was 17... gave me a really good idea of how to run a successful police force,” Kranz says. Working his way up the ranks at the MPD, Kranz ended his MPD career in 2012 as a member of the tactical team, otherwise known as SWAT. MUPD is relatively new, making a transition from a public safety department, and officially opening its doors in May 2015. Kranz helped play an integral part in the department, making it the fully functioning force it is today. “When Marquette was looking at transitioning to a police department, they offered me an opportunity to help develop the program,” Kranz says. “Now that I am captain at MUPD, my position entails a bunch of different things. I oversee all of the patrol operations and the investigative services. That includes the detectives, and then your cops on the street. I also work on staffing and how we are going to prepare for certain events.” Kranz says one of the most important jobs he has is putting together the investigative team after an incident occurs. “We liaison a lot with the Milwaukee Police Department so if ever we need help from them, they are always quick to aid us in response,” Kranz says. As captain, Kranz says officers look up

to him daily for advice and leadership. “Being there for 26 years instilled me with a lot of lessons learned and guys here definitely look to me as a role model,” Kranz says. Kranz has recently been serving as the interim chief of MUPD, as the university searches for a replacement for the previous chief. He says he is very proud of his staff for the way they have continued to go about business in the absence of a chief, saying, “Everyone has really stepped up throughout the entire department and shared the additional workload.” Currently enrolled in classes at Marquette, Kranz is working his way toward a master’s degree in leadership through the College of Business Administration. “I’ve always believed you can never stop learning, so I wanted to take advantage of the education that I was offered here,” Kranz says. “Milwaukee is my home and I am excited to see what the future holds for me.”

Marquette Wire Stock Photo

M(yo)U: Health & Safety

Photo by Andrew Himmelberg

Milwaukee is One Alumnus’ Home Run CLARA JANZEN

here is only one hurdle left to go before Earnell Lucas can become the next sheriff of Milwaukee County: Election day. Following his August win in the Democratic primary, Lucas is running unopposed in the November general election. As a native of the city, 25-year Milwaukee Police Department veteran and graduate of Marquette University, Lucas says he feels that he knows the city inside and out. “I grew up in the backdrop of Marquette University as a child. I’ve always been excited by the progress and the growth here,” he says. Lucas enrolled at Marquette in 1976, and holds a degree in leadership from what was then the College of Professional Studies. But his path to graduation was unconventional. He took a break to be a member of Milwaukee Police Department and start a family before coming back to school in 1994. He says he gets a sense of accomplishment from having his Marquette degree. “I graduated from Marquette on a Saturday and then went back to my same job Monday,” Lucas jokes of completing his degree while still working for MPD. His education at Marquette has been rewarding and motivating, he says. “I’m proud of my Marquette degree. The association and affiliation with an outstanding university is great,” Lucas says. “I learned more from my classmates than from my instructors, no disrespect

to them. But when you see people like myself... still having the commitment to want to go back and obtain something or attain something they set out as a younger person to do, that just really inspires you.” Lucas was originally promoted to be a public information officer and spokesperson for MPD following the 1991 arrest of prolific serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. Two MPD officers were facing administrative charges for failing to properly investigate Dahmer, creating a sense of anxiety throughout the city. It is through this position as a spokesperson that Lucas learned much of what it takes to have a role in the public eye. Lucas says he continued with MPD until a new opportunity came along. He was selected to be the first supervisor of security for Major League Baseball following the 9/11 attacks. Ever since, Earnell has been traveling worldwide with the MLB. He even continues to do so while running for sheriff. Something keeps pulling him home. “As I was travelling... you run into people who say, ‘Hey Earnell, there seems to be a lot if things going on back in your hometown,’ Earnell says, reflecting on his time away. When he decided to return, Lucas says, “I thought to my self, ‘you know Earnell, you’ve had a wonderful life and a wonderful career, both in law enforcement

and in baseball, and what better way to finish a career... then go back and maybe add to the dialogue and the discourse.” Lucas is referencing the varying budget clashes, jail deaths and abuse of power accusations in Milwaukee’s law enforcement agencies as issues in Milwaukee. The department, and in some ways the race for sheriff, is affected by the tenure of former sheriff David Clarke’s tenure, who served for a 15-year period. “They were setting an image that I think for young people growing up in this community was not a very positive one,” Lucas says. When Lucas announced his candidacy in early 2017, Clarke was still in office. “Clarke’s resignation didn’t change the way we ran our campaign. We’re still running on the same issues,” Lucas says. His campaign centers on restoring honor and integrity to the sheriff’s office and increasing the services for the citizens without increasing the cost, he says. “We felt that the citizens of Milwaukee County deserve a higher level of service than what they had been receiving, and I felt that my blend of experience both in law enforcement and public safety… that I was the right fit at this time,” Lucas says. While there is the possibility of a writein opponent, Lucas says he and his team believe if they continue to stick to the issues and run their campaign how they have been, they’ll see the results they want come Nov. 6. FALL 2018

Ready, Set, SHAPE MEGHAN ROCK

wenty-one percent of male athletes and 27 percent of female athletes reported feeling “so depressed that it was difficult to function,” according to a 2016 study by the American Psychiatric Association. Marquette Athletics is working to change that statistic with Student Health Allies and Peer Educators (SHAPE). SHAPE has brought awareness to the stigma surrounding mental health since fall 2017, when former women’s lacrosse player Alex Gambacorta and former women’s soccer player Madison Dunker founded the group with the help of their academic adviser, Maureen Lewis. Through awareness, the sense of “faking it until you make it,” began to disappear among student-athletes, and conversations surrounding stigma emerged. With the graduation of Gambacorta and Dunker last spring, junior cross country runner Max McClelland and sophomore men’s lacrosse player Zach Granger stepped up to fill the void. McClelland became passionate about mental health and self-care after reading the book “What Made Maddy Run.” This book describes the heartbreaking story of Madison Holleran, a college athlete who died by suicide, and reveals the real-life struggles of coping with mental health disorders. The staggering statistics throughout the book stun McClelland. For Granger, his passion for mental health awareness was different than most. Granger says in high school he was not super involved in extracurriculars outside of lacrosse. Since arriving at Marquette, Granger wanted to branch out and try new things. SHAPE helped him achieve that goal. Granger says he initially wasn’t “super passionate” about SHAPE’s cause, but Gambacorta and Dunker’s passion in meetings inspired him. SHAPE’s emphasis this year is on awareness of players injured or otherwise unable to play, which will be tackled 26

MARQUETTE JOURNAL

Under Pressue

Photo courtesy of Marquette Athletics

through the “Ready Squad.” McClelland and Granger lead this effort. “With athletes we talk about toughness, which is a double-edged sword,” Granger says. “Obviously, you want someone to be physically tough and be able to handle the strenuous things we do as Division I athletes, but at the same time you have to be mentally tough, which can be difficult at times.” The “Ready Squad’s” focus also focus on athletes’ general well-being in everyday life. For example, unlofting a bed in the dorms for an athlete on crutches makes getting into bed a lot easier. The little things may seem insignificant, but for the injured athletes, nothing is taken for granted. “It’s just little things we can do to help them make that uncomfortable and sometimes sad transition (to a role on the sidelines),” McClelland says. The focus of SHAPE and the “Ready Squad” is not to fix athletes, but to be someone who can show up, be patient and listen, while directing them to the right resources. “The fact that it can be just affecting one person on this campus would be enough for me to do something about it,” McClelland says. “But the fact that it’s affecting so many, it would just be silly to not make people feel okay with not feeling OK.”

he men’s golf team has seen tremendous success in recent years, winning two of the last four BIG EAST Championships. Led by head coach Steve Bailey, the squad continuously battles adversity and overcomes the odds. With success comes pressure, whether that be from fans, coaches or the players themselves. Despite being such a successful program, Bailey teaches his players to look beyond the pressure and transform it into motivation. “The so-called ‘pressures,’ that’s all driven by each individual,” Bailey says. “We just try to get immersed in the process and have them stick to that routine each time. It’s something that sounds so simple and on the other end, it’s probably the most difficult thing in our game.” Junior Matt Murlick says Bailey’s wisdom helps alleviate any stress presented on the golf course, which allows for each golfer to improve his game. “Not only coach Bailey, but (coach) Trake (Carpenter) as well are really good on the course during a tournament,” Murlick says. “They never put us down. They always try to pick us up. In terms of golf being a really mentally tough sport, it helps to have coach Bailey or Carpenter with us.” Despite the recent success of the Marquette men’s golf team, players still seem to receive little recognition for their achievements on campus, compared to other sports. While most programs could grow discouraged, Bailey and the Golden Eagles continuously block out the negativity and perform to their best abilities on the course “We just make the best of our situation,” Bailey says. “Regardless of what other people see, we feel pretty fortunate. We don’t need any extra attention. We’ll let people on the outside decide to do whatever they want. There’s no pressure at all.”-Jack Phillips Photo courtesy of Marquette Athletics

AXiD Speaks Loud for Autism NATALLIE ST. ONGE

ith pink roses and quills, mascot Al Fuzzy and colors of gold and double blue, sisters of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority fundraise for Autism Speaks, an autism advocacy organization that raises awareness for autism research and organizes outreach activities. “It’s about enhancing lives of those affected by autism,” Kelly O’Malley, a senior in the College of Education, says. “It’s improving the quality of life by providing families with resources.” O’Malley is the standing president of Alpha Xi Delta: Theta Epsilon chapter. Autism Speaks has been the Alpha Xi Delta national philanthropy since 2009. Since then, over eight million dollars for autism advocacy have been raised. In a statement on its website, former Autism Speaks president Liz Feld says that the Alpha Xi Delta sisters have done an incredible job advocating for the autism community. “Their awareness, volunteering and fundraising efforts have allowed thousands of Alpha Xi Deltas to truly ‘realize their potential’ while helping others realize theirs,” Feld says. According to the website, medical expenditures for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder are 4.1 to 6.2 times greater than those without autism. O’Malley says many sorority sisters have worked with children on the spectrum before joining the sorority. In reference to Autism Speaks, she says, “There are definitely deeper ties to Alpha Xi Delta, which is really cool we can come together, celebrate and fundraise for something that’s really deep in our hearts.” Autism Speaks focuses on enhancing lives and not changing them, O’Malley says. “It’s trying to improve the quality of life and advocate for more acceptance of those who do have autism.” Since 2009, the Theta Epsilon chapter has raised $99,693 for Autism Speaks. The Autism Speaks Walk is the largest fundraiser the Marquette sorority does for its philanthropy. O’Malley says families who

are affected by autism walk for the cause, while activities are set up for kids to enjoy. Last semester, Alpha Xi Delta raised just under $12,000 was raised. The sorority hosts fundraisers across campus throughout the year, including a flag football tournament on its Dads’ Weekend, during which students can sign up and play for a donation. Additionally, Alpha Xi Delta facilitates Step it Up 5K, a color run featuring blue chalk, where participants run the Marquette Mile followed by a pancake breakfast. All proceeds raised in every fundraiser go toward Autism Speaks. “I think it’s wonderful,” Wendy Krueger, a clinical associate professor in the College of Health Sciences, says. Krueger teaches a class about children and adults with autism. “It’s a developmental disorder characterized by impairments in two different realms,” Krueger says of the autism spectrum. “One is social communication and the other is restrictive repetitive behavior.” ASD can manifest in different ways, Krueger says, “The first, most notably, (is) forming different relationships. But that can be due to the back and forth attention, being able to share that moment with somebody else and being able to communicate both verbally and nonverbally.” Krueger says the other side of the spectrum includes stereotypical behavior like rocking, clapping and echoing speech. Krueger says ASD can affect someone who has significantly impacted cognitive disabilities or someone who has a genius level IQ, adding that intelligence has nothing to do with ASD. In fall 2019, the university will be facilitating a support program for students with ASD called On Your Marq. Krueger is part of the planning team looking to educate the university about individuals with ASD to create a more welcoming atmosphere and better learning experience.

M(yo)U: Active Health & Safety M(yo)U:

A Home Away From Home

aria Cobo’s older brother Mariano was diagnosed at the high end of the autism spectrum when he was only 2 years old. “My mom was pregnant with me and she noticed that her friends’ kids were talking, and Mariano was not.” Cobo says her mother noticed Mariano had a specific routine, organized his toys in order of size and clapped his hands a lot. Maria, a junior in the College of Health Sciences, found her second home in the Alpha Xi Delta sorority when she left for school from Puerto Rico. “Coming (to Marquette) was overwhelming for me,” Cobo says. “The second I met the girls during rush week, it opened the door for me to talk to people that knew what it was like to live with someone with autism.” Cobo says she rushed for Alpha Xi Delta because Autism Speaks helped her brother. “Whenever we travel to the U.S. for more than a week, they put us in contact with someone from Autism Speaks,” Cobo says. She and her family have traveled to Disneyland multiple times, where their Autism Speaks connection coordinated express lane passes. Cobo says during a certain period it was harder growing up with Mariano, though she never saw him as ‘different.’ “My friends would talk about their siblings and what they were doing, but I knew I didn’t want to have it any other way.” Cobo says growing up with Mariano helped her accept others for who they are without labeling them. “Our sorority is very devoted to our philanthropy. With them, I can talk about my brother and not feel like I’m going to be judged or get uncomfortable questions.” Being a sister of Alpha Xi Delta sorority gives Cobo a feeling she says she can’t describe. “Alpha Xi Delta is just one big family and though they have not met my brother, I feel like they know him personally,” Cobo says. -Natallie St. Onge

FALL 2018

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MARQUETTE JOURNAL

A Bitter Pill

Everybody gets sick. That’s the leading takeaway. Sometimes, people face illnesses they cannot afford to treat. Sometimes, they face illnesses they are ashamed of. Sometimes, they are forced to grow into someone else because their illness takes away the people they were when they were healthy. But as simple and visceral as this issue seems on the surface, it’s rarely communicated in human terms. This project began as a look into the adverse effects on college-aged adults who are uninsured, but it grew into something more holistic. We chose to write stories about inequalities and unspoken traumas that emerge from and in health care. The health industry is endlessly complex and often politicized to the point where facts and practicable information become obscured. Our goal is to educate and inform, and a topic like health care needs the context that these stories will hopefully provide.

FALL 2018

What It Feels Like to be at 13% This is the story of Christina Curtis, a junior in the College of Health Sciences, as told by Sydney Czyzon

t can be difficult having a silent illness. During my freshman year, I begin noticing myself getting out of breath quickly after climbing the stairs or working out. But since I got diagnosed with lupus a year earlier, I assume it’s that. Over time, things get worse. Walks to class aren’t easy anymore. I have to stop at benches throughout campus a few times during my walks, trying to catch my breath. I look at all the students walking by me, and I think about how lucky they are. A lot of times, other students open doors for me. No one questions me when I wear surgical masks to class to avoid getting sick. But other students aren’t as nice. Since I can’t wear an over-the-shoulders backpack because of my breathing, I get a rolling backpack. One day on the elevator at Cobeen, I press the number three for my floor. A girl in the elevator takes a Snapchat photo of it. She can’t believe I’m not taking the stairs, even though there is no way I would make it up with my breathing and rolling backpack. I should say something, but I don’t. I just walk to my room. She can’t see that I’m struggling, even though I really am. I learn to deal with it. You do what you have to do. Before finals week freshman year, I get really sick. I cough so hard I tear a hole in my lung and break two ribs. I find out I have subcutaneous emphysema, which feels like air bubbles under my skin. Things get worse sophomore year. I get pneumonia in the fall, and everything goes downhill. I get diagnosed with bronchiolitis obliterans, a disease that causes inflammation in my lungs and blocks my airways. My doctor recommends getting tests done to get placed on the lung transplant list. I don’t want to do the tests, but I figure I’ll do them just in case I get sick again and can’t recover. At the end of sophomore year, my lung function is at 13 percent. Doctors tell me I will need an oxygen tank at all times, even at rest. I start losing a lot of sleep, and at a doctor’s appointment, a nurse notices my appearance. I’m admitted to the hospital 30

MARQUETTE JOURNAL

by the doctor. The hospital’s lung transplant team meets and decides to officially place me on the lung transplant list. I become the first person on the list for my O positive blood type, height and antibodies. The nurses tell me the call for a transplant could come at any time. I keep my phone by me at all times, always asking who is calling whenever it rings. I start making a mini bucket list of things I can do after I get my transplant, like play with my dog, go clothes shopping at the mall or ride the Ferris wheel at Navy Pier. Then, after midnight one day, I get a call that new lungs are ready. I’m nervous and excited, but I try to stay calm. I get to the hospital, and hours later, I’m on the operating table. I have an IV in my arm, and nurses around me prepare for the operation. Then, the doctor comes in. He says the lungs are bruised and can’t be used. I’m disappointed, my family is devastated and I start to wonder if I’ll ever get lungs. I go home and anxiously wait for another call. A couple weeks later, I get another call in the afternoon. The nurses tell me they have lungs for me. This time, I’m prepared. My family and I drive to the hospital, and we wait days for word from doctors. They eventually tell us the donor still has brain activity. People around me complain about the wait, but I think of the donor and their family. Even though I’m getting lungs, the donor’s family is just starting the grieving process. The nurses tell me the surgery will happen. They take me into operating room 27, my lucky number. It’s the date of my birthday, my dog’s birthday and my brother’s birthday. Nurses put an IV in my arm and administer anesthesia. Doctors take 12 hours to replace my right lung, then my left lung. After the surgery, they put me on a ventilator. The nurses ask my parents what music they can play me to wake me up, and of course my parents say Ed Sheeran. I wake up and say hello to my family. I begin recovering quicker than normal, doing hospital exercises and taking antirejection medication to make sure my body doesn’t reject the donor’s lungs.

But right before I’m about to leave the hospital, I start getting delusional. I develop something called serotonin syndrome from the antirejection medication. I start to think people in the room are mimicking me, that I’m going to need a whole-body transplant and that people are lined up outside my hospital room. The nurses switch me to a different medication, and I’m back to normal in a few days. They tell me I can go home. I get a fever after going home, and I’m back to the hospital. They give me antibiotics through PICC lines for a few days. Eventually, I go back home and start the recovery process. My mom has to learn to put PICC lines in my veins. I have to go to regular doctor’s appointments for tests and checkups, and I have to swallow about 50 pills a day. Right before the one-year anniversary of my lung transplant, my 21st birthday comes. I ride the Ferris wheel at Navy Pier. I look back at where I was a year ago. I never thought I’d be feeling as good as I am now. When you’re that sick, you don’t think you’ll ever get better. For my transplant anniversary, I ride my bike 5.5 miles through the forest and eat chocolate cake with my family and friends. After taking a year off school for the transplant, I’m back to walking on campus. I danced since I was 3 years old, but couldn’t when my breathing got worse. Now, I’m dancing again in Dance Inc., and I’m going to be a lector at the Church of the Gesu. I’m studying to be a health psychologist so I can help other people adjust to their new normal, just like I did.

A Bitter Pill

Photo by Sydney Czyzon

FALL 2018

A Bitter Pill

MORGAN HUGHES & MATTHEW MARTINEZ

Photo courtesy of Kendra Klamm

Kendra’s Family lost their health insurance at the beginning of this year when her father lost his job. Fortunately, they found a Christian cost sharing ministry to fill their gaps in coverage.

“T

here’s a little bit of embarrassment with it,” Kendra Klamm, a sophomore in the College of Business Administration, says. Klamm hasn’t always been in this position. For most of her life, when the need arose for her to visit a doctor, she could do so without any worry. When her father lost his job in January, and his health insurance plan along with it, Klamm’s situation changed. Klamm doesn’t talk about this part of her life often. She says no one would know unless they asked. Klamm says that her family had a sense that her father was about to lose his job, so it gave them some time to figure out a plan in case somebody in the family became sick, but the uncertainty was still a point of anxiety. “It forced me to take care of myself more,” she says. A large portion of Americans, roughly 32

MARQUETTE JOURNAL

49 percent, receive health insurance from their employers. Had her father not lost his job, Klamm would have been able to stay covered under his insurance until she was 26 years old under the Affordable Care Act. But now she says she’s looking forward to graduating and finding a job that will offer her health insurance of her own. Klamm’s family was able to find some security through a Christian healthcare sharing network called Samaritan Ministries. The idea is that Samaritan members are part of a community of uninsured who, by virtue of membership and paying a monthly share, are able to receive help from other members with the cost of care. So if Klamm were to need medical attention, other members in the network would be able to take some of the burden of her costs, under the presumption that the shares Klamm’s family pays each month would serve the same purpose for other members in the

network. There are limitations to the care Samaritan Ministries members are able to ask for help with, including minimum and maximum costs and restrictions on pre-existing conditions, like diabetes. Still, Klamm says the program gave her family members a sense of security when they were most vulnerable. Klamm is one of a shrinking but significant group of college-aged adults without health insurance. In 2016, 13 percent of Americans between 19 and 25 years old were uninsured, the secondlargest age group of uninsured, according to a 2017 U.S. Census Bureau report. The largest group of uninsured was adults 26 to 34 years old, at roughly 16 percent. When the Affordable Care Act was signed into law in 2011, the percentage of uninsured Americans dropped from 18 to about 11 percent. In 2017, that number was up to just over 12 percent. The ACA contributed to this drop in

A Bitter Pill a number of ways, Marquette University political science professor Philip Rocco says. Perhaps the most significant impact of the Affordable Care Act was the option it gave states to expand Medicaid programs for their residents, Rocco says. Medicaid, a state and federally funded health insurance program for low-income Americans, covers more than 72 million people nationally. Whether a person qualifies for Medicaid depends on a number of things, Rocco says, including the state that person lives in and their income level. While Medicaid is an option for many low-income Americans — around 19 percent of the U.S. population — it doesn’t cover everyone. Dr. Thomas Bachhuber of Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers says that the answer to some of these questions might not start at big health systems, but at local, community-based organizations like his. Sixteenth Street provides low-cost primary health care for a person’s entire lifetime. While it originally started in 1969 with a few nurse practitioners, a midwife and a family practice doctor, it has since expanded to provide mental health services. “You won’t find this kind of support in a private office,” Bachhuber says. “The structure allows us to keep everybody within house.” Sixteenth Street provides rates to patients on a sliding scale, meaning that their income is measured using the federal poverty line as an index for affordable care. This has resulted in copays as little as $5 for patients who are completely below the poverty line. According to the Sixteenth Street 2016-’17 annual report, 65 percent of its patients were 100 percent below the poverty line. Due to partnerships with hospitals like Columbia St. Mary’s, Sixteenth Street can refer patients to hospitals that will also honor the sliding scale. Bachhuber says, however, that the sliding scale system is not without its drawbacks. “The sliding cost system really doesn’t help the people in the middle,” Bachhuber says. “People who are above the poverty line but also not able to afford the full coverage are really feeling it.

Graphic by Matthew Martinez FALL 2018

Photo by Jordan Johnson

People are falling through the cracks.” Bachhuber says the Affordable Care Act provided more options for people in the middle, before rollbacks gutted the program. He also says that a universal healthcare option should be explored to help people caught in the middle. At Sixteenth Street, waiting is a common theme. High demand for lowcost care often fills the waiting room and queues with patients. Bachhuber says Sixteenth Street often prioritizes the need for urgent care, but it tries to retain as many patients as possible. “We’re always playing catch up,” Bachhuber says. “People don’t leave as much as they come in.” While Sixteenth Street does not make much money, it has made a significant impact in the community. In 2016-’17, 37,821 patients used its myriad services, according to the clinic’s annual report. Over the past year, it hired mid-level prescribers and specialists to improve its network of care. 34

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“We’re not out to get a ton of money,” Bachhuber says. “We’re here to do great work.” While Bachhuber says he believes community-based health models would help with insurance rates, he also says there would need to be a surge in manpower to staff them. “A lot of students are going specialty,” Bachhuber says. “We’re just not the sexy pick right now.” But for those navigating the demanding experience of being a college student alongside the burden of finding affordable medical treatment when they need it, a variety of programs exist. The problem, says Steve Ohly, a nurse practitioner with Aurora Health Care and founder of the Walker’s Point Community Clinic, is that people don’t know these programs exist, or worse, they don’t seek treatment at all because of anxiety about cost. Ohly says helping patients understand their options is a large part of what they

do at the clinic. “It’s because of that anxiety that they come to us,” he says. Ninety-five percent of Ohly’s patients are uninsured, and the clinic provides treatment for little or no cost, but he says he rarely sees students. The reason, he says, is because students will usually go to their campus health clinics. At Marquette, that clinic is run by Dr. Robin Brown. The Marquette University Medical Clinic provides a number of services, including running blood tests, STI screenings, immunizations — like flu shots — and X-rays. Students can make appointments online, and same-day visits are allowed for urgent care situations. Rocco says if students need more care than a clinic can provide, they may qualify for Badgercare, Wisconsin’s version of Medicaid. The program was started in 1999 and Wisconsin residents, which may include Marquette students with permanent addresses, can apply to benefit from the coverage.

A Bitter Pill

Health Insurance Fast Facts • Is This Socialized Medicine?

The Affordable Care Act is a piece of legislation passed by the Obama Administration. It is not itself a health insurance provider. The health insurance plans available in the ACA’s marketplace are owned by private companies, not government agencies.

• Obamacare or ACA?

Obamacare and the Affordable Care Act are the same exact thing. Obamacare is a name given to the ACA. Many people thought it was a Republican who opposed the ACA that coined the term, but it was actually a healthcare lobbyist, and she came up with it before Obama was even elected.

• The Individual Mandate

The ACA’s individual mandate is an imposed tax penalty on people who remain uninsured who choose not to have insurance. Each state has different laws regarding the individual mandate, but it is being phased out and will no longer exist beginning in 2019.

GLOSSARY OF HEALTH INSURANCE TERMS Affordable Care Act

Health insurance legislation passed by the Obama Administration

Obamacare

Nickname for the ACA, typically used negatively

Individual Mandate

A tax against those without health insurance plans, established by the ACA

Premium

A (typically) monthly payment paid to maintain an insurance policy

Deductible

What you have to pay in total healthcare costs before your insurance agency starts paying

Co-Pay

The fixed amount you pay out-of-pocket when you receive medical care

Graphic by Morgan Hughes FALL 2018

Stocking Up

Supply shortages and price hikes force students with pharmaceutical needs to think ahead. CAROLINE WHITE Photos by Kate Holstein 36

MARQUETTE JOURNAL

A Bitter Pill

acob Reilly attributes how frequently he tests his blood sugar to his “type A personality” and how often he eats. Reilly, a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences, has Type 1 diabetes. Students with health issues like Reilly always have to think one step ahead of their body. What supplies are needed, when and who’s paying are regular hurdles that need to be navigated. Reilly uses an insulin pump to manage his diabetes. He prefers the pump over insulin pens, the cheaper alternative, because it allows him to have tighter control over his diabetes and give himself more exact insulin doses. Each month, Reilly has to get insulin from a pharmacy and his insulin pump supplies from his pump company. He gets the strips in a three-month bundle from his pharmacy. The prescription for insulin and test strips is written by an endocrinologist. The doctor determines how much and what kind of insulin and test strips a patient will need depending on their weight and habits and writes a prescription in line with that estimation, according to the Diabetes Teaching Center at the University of California San Francisco. The textbook diabetic tests their blood sugar in the morning, at night, before eating and before and after exercise, then injects insulin accordingly, according to the Mayo Clinic. In real life, the schedule can look different depending on the individual and their needs. A few months ago, Reilly ran out of test strips before he was eligible for his insurance to pay for more. “I guess the insurance refused to actually put through the order until whatever arbitrary day they had,” Reilly says. “So I ended up having to get test strips from my endocrinologist and buying some over the counter just to get me to that day.” Reilly estimates that he spent about $120 on test strips out of pocket during that experience. Fortunately, Reilly’s insurance does partially cover the cost of his supplies. Other diabetics have struggled to adjust to insulin prices, which have been steadily

rising over the past several years. Unlike some pharmaceutical drugs, there is no generic version of insulin. Instead, there are different variations of insulin that differ in onset, peak and duration depending on the patient’s needs. A study released in 2016 revealed that prices tripled between 2002 and 2013, and prices have since continued to rise. This June, the American Medical Association issued a statement directed toward the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department to monitor pricing and market competition between insulin producers. Lauren Vasko, a sophomore in the College of Business Administration, and Allison Manning, a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences, face similar challenges in managing the cost of their food allergies. Vasko has a severe tree nut allergy that often triggers anaphylaxis, even in small quantities. Manning is severely allergic to sesame seeds and may enter anaphylactic shock if she comes into close contact with her allergen. Anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock is a severe allergic reaction that, if untreated, prevents the sufferer from breathing. For that reason, they each always carry two epinephrine autoinjectors that need to be replaced after each use. Since her first anaphylactic reaction when she was 12, Vasko estimates she has

had to use her autoinjectors eight times. Each use requires an emergency room visit and a new epinephrine auto-injector prescription from the ER doctor. The cost of each of these adds up. Although they have insurance, Vasko and her parents still need help navigating the complicated and ever-changing costs of epinephrine. They use coupons and vouchers provided by her allergist. This means she doesn’t have a usual brand of auto-injector she uses. “Usually our allergist gives us coupons,” Vasko says. “I’ve tried on-brand. I’ve tried generic brands, and I’ve tried Auvi-Q. They did do a recall on it, so I don’t know if it’s still being sold. Those were really tech-savvy because they talk to you and walk you through the steps … I liked it, but they found that each dose (of epinephrine) wasn’t the same.” Auvi-Q is an EpiPen auto-injector alternative that is “pocket-sized” and available to consumers for no copay, which is just a few of the reasons it was attractive to consumers when it entered the market. In 2015, the parent company Sanofi voluntarily recalled the product because it was found to “potentially have inaccurate dosage delivery,” according to the company website. Although Auvi-Q reentered the market in 2017 under a different pharmaceutical company, Manning and her family struggled to find a cost-effective

FALL 2018

autoinjector that they felt safe with after the initial recall. Manning said that she’s fortunate that her family’s insurance plan makes on-brand EpiPens a possibility for her. “After (the Auvi-Q recall) my family felt more comfortable just staying with the EpiPen brand just because they’re known to work. Because your life is in the hands of this thing, we just didn’t want to risk it,” Manning says. The lower price of the Auvi-Q autoinjector was so attractive to consumers primarily because of the steadily rising price of the EpiPen two-pack auto-injector over the past several years. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid conduct monthly surveys of pharmacies to collect, among other things, pricing data on outpatient drugs. That data is used to calculate the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost per unit of many different pharmaceutical drugs, including EpiPens. From November 2013 to June 2018, the earliest and latest available data respectively, the NADAC of an EpiPen two-pack auto-injector has risen approximately 200.5 percent. Other than cost, epinephrine users faced another obstacle in getting their prescriptions filled in recent months.

On May 9, the FDA declared a supply shortage alert for EpiPen, EpiPen Jr. and Authorized Generic, a cheaper alternative to EpiPen produced by the company Mylan. In a statement, Mylan attributed the shortage to its production company, Pfizer. In a statement issued by Pfizer, the company blames “manufacturing constraints” which are in turn affecting supply. In order to combat the shortage, the FDA and Pfizer worked together to determine an extended expiration date for EpiPens and Authorized Generic autoinjectors currently in circulation. The extended expiration does not apply to EpiPen Jr. The new dates can be found on Pfizer’s website or on the FDA website. Manning is originally from Boston. She says that living so far away contributed further to her difficulties in planning around the epinephrine shortage. She always keeps a backup pack with her while at school. This year, that trip required her mother to drive an extra 45 minutes to a different pharmacy because her regular one was out of EpiPens. “Coming so far away from home, I need to have one with me at all times, even one or two,” Manning says. “(The shortage)

didn’t affect me too much because my doctor warned us about it, so we just made sure we got what we needed for the school year early in the summer.” To help ration their auto-injectors, both Manning and Vasko first use Benadryl to see if the antihistamine will be enough to ease their symptoms. “I usually take Benadryl, and then wait and gauge (the reaction). I can usually tell after a while if it’s going to be pretty serious or not,” Manning says. “I try not to use (the autoinjector), but it’s always better to be safe than sorry,” Vasko says. There exist many prescription savings plans that are not insurance, but do provide financial relief for their members. Some require a yearly membership fee, others a service fee and a few are completely free. Although not every overthe-counter drug is covered by each of these plans, many generic drugs are. For example, Walgreen’s has a prescriptions savings club that has three different tiers. Each tier provides savings based off of which yearly membership fee an individual decides to pay. The membership covers a variety of cold medicines, antibiotics and eye care drugs, among others.

“Because your life is in the hands of this thing, we just didn’t want to risk it,” Manning says.

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The average cost of Epipens has increased from $100 for a 2-Pack to $600.

The CDC estimates that 15 million Americans have food allergies, including 5.9 million children. That’s roughly two in every classroom.

A Bitter Pill

3.6 Million Americans were prescribed an Epi-Pen in 2015.

The list price for a single vial of insulin is $250. The average diabetic can use anywhere from 2-4 in a month.

As of 2015, 30.3 million American were diagnosed with diabetes. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 9.4% of the US population. FALL 2018

The Weight of Waiting W

aiting. When it comes to finding affordable mental health care, the word comes up quite often. Sometimes, it is waiting in line at a public access clinic and other times, it’s waiting to hear if a screening has come back positive. And when you’re waiting for help with depression and anxiety, the wait can feel like a lifetime. Marquette students are not immune to this. Many of them are on their own for the first time, trying to navigate the bureaucracy and red tape of health insurance or lack thereof. The process can be complex, confusing and intimidating. Sometimes, many students in these situations believe they have to go through it alone. People like Nick Jenkins, a counselor at Marquette’s Counseling Center, want students to know that there are people there to help. The first step for somebody who does not have insurance is to visit the Counseling Center, Jenkins says. The Counseling Center provides services to students regardless of their insurance on a brief model basis, meaning that they only have the staff and resources to provide base-level services Jenkins says that various factors can affect the number of visits a student makes to the center, including treatment history and the specific issues that a student has. It helps refer students to other services, and in some cases, can even help uninsured students acquire insurance. Jenkins says that most students do not know what resources are available. “Once someone is on campus and living here they are Milwaukee residents,” Jenkins says. “They can access services through Milwaukee County Behavioral Health.” For people who are struggling with depression, Milwaukee County does 40

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MATTHEW MARTINEZ

Photo by Andrew Himmelberg Disclaimer: The woman pictured above is a model. She is not otherwise associated with this story or content.

offer an alternative option for assistance: the Warmline. The Warmline is a phone service geared towards giving people with depression quicker access to counseling and assistance. It can be reached at 414-777-4729. For urgent needs, the Psychiatric Crisis line can be reached at 414-257-7765. Jenkins says the Access Clinic, a mental health clinic located on 9945 Watertown Plank Road, serves uninsured patients on a sliding fee scale and is one of the best places to go to find long-term mental health care. They cannot refuse service to anyone and can provide counseling on site, while also referring people to low-cost or free services tailored to their specific needs. The site generally has a long waitlist, however. Some of the places someone might get

referred to include the Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology for counseling and the Healing Center for treatment with an emphasis on sexual abuse, violence and trauma. There are also organizations such as Jewish Family Services and Aurora Family Services which, despite their names, offer individual counseling at low rates. One of the places that offers low-cost services is the Columbia St. Mary’s Center for Psychotherapies on the east side, an extension of the Medical College of Wisconsin. The Center was founded by Dr. Carlyle Chan in 1982. It is a training clinic that hosts about 25 psychology residents at a time. It, too, can develop a waitlist. “We can get backed up around the end of the academic year,” Chan says. “That’s when we’re in transition, bringing in new

Culture residents.” The Center for Psychotherapies offers a base rate of $30 for their services and full diagnostic testing for $80 (Chan says diagnostic testing is usually hundreds of dollars at other sites). The center also has full screenings available by phone. The center averages between 6,000 and 7,000 visits a year. Chan and his team provide advanced care for depression, anxiety and panic attacks, among other things. The vast majority of their client base is uninsured or seeking low-cost options. Chan says that the root of the problem is allocation of scarce resources, and that more could be done. “It’s a tragedy that there aren’t more providers,” Chan says. “What we provide is vital to people.” For those who do not want to leave Marquette’s campus, however, there is a resource that seems to be relatively unknown among students: the Center for Psychological Services. James Hoelzle is the director of the Center for Psychological Services, a facility located on the third floor of Cramer Hall. Hoelzle says that people come from as far as Illinois and central Wisconsin for consultations and research. Despite that, the center remains one of Marquette’s best-kept secrets. “That’s partially by design,” Hoelzle says. “We’re usually at or near capacity for most of the year. If more people knew about us, we’d have a longer waitlist.” Hoelzle says that he would want to provide services for more students, but the center does not generate the revenue necessary for expansion. For the most part, the center is on its own financially. Hoelzle says providing free therapy sessions and consultations does not bring in much money, but he wouldn’t compromise providing low-cost care for students. “I take great pride in the work that is done here,” Hoelzle says. Hoelzle says the split between students and members of the larger community is about 50-50. In order to access the CPS, clients fill out an intake packet that allows staff to begin treatment or refer them to other services that may be more appropriate.

“I don’t think we’re a sustainable solution on our own,” Hoelzle says. “We’re just a piece of the puzzle.” There is generally a waitlist at the CPS. The graduate students employed there are working on a regular semester schedule, which means it is easier to access services earlier in the semester before classes ramp up toward the end. However, once clients are paired up with their providers, the staff at the CPS makes sure that appointments and engagements are honored. Waitlists are a significant problem across all facets of health, but mental health has its own unique challenges.

“I don’t think we’re a sustainable solution on our own. We’re just a piece of the puzzle,” James Hoelzle says. People who urgently need care are often bumped up on waiting lists, which alternatively bumps other patients down due to a lack of other resources being available. Due to the complex nature of mental health, many people are not fully cured which causes clinics to remain open to return visits, once again driving names further down the lists. While Jenkins says he believes that there are quality healthcare options for people without health insurance, he also strongly urges students who have a permanent residence in Milwaukee to look into applying for Badgercare. The Counseling Center has facilitated many students’ applications for Badgercare, and they plan to continue doing so. “Oftentimes they can find someone who is a good fit, but I think that’s also less of their choice and more limited by what’s available,” Jenkins says of uninsured patients. “Once you have insurance, you have more ability to say is this person a good fit for me for counseling and does this work out.” Efforts have continued in Congress to try and achieve more parity for mental

health insurance, meaning if someone receives general health insurance from their employer, they must also receive equal coverage for mental health insurance. In 2008, the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act was passed, providing increased parity for people who receive insurance via their employer and recipients of insurance options such as Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program and Affordable Care Act programs. In other words, if an insurer charges a $20 copay for a typical general health visit, this law stipulates that insurers cannot charge any more than a $20 copay for mental health visits. The Department of Labor estimates that 40 million, one in five, adults in America benefit from MHPAEA. Had it passed, the 2017 GOPproposed American Health Care Act would have derailed the program significantly by restricting enrollment to the aforementioned programs. It also would have allowed states to potentially skirt parity regulations. The American Psychological Association estimates that 90 percent of Americans are unaware of the law and its effects. One of the biggest struggles that the Counseling Center and the mental health field at large still face is stigmatization of services. “I think a lot of people think that going to counseling means ‘I’m crazy,’ which is just not true,” Jenkins says. “People come in for anxiety, anxiety about school, anxiety about financial issues, mood issues; stuff that affects us all. Issues after a breakup, when we lose somebody, when we struggle with our direction in our career. These are all very normal things.” According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, about half of all Americans will obtain mental health services in their lifetime. Jenkins says that the Counseling Center is in constant conversation on how to address cultural and social barriers so people can receive the help they need. “I hope that people, especially when they’re struggling, just know that there’s places to talk, there are people here to help out and we’re trying as best we can to help them,” Jenkins says.

FALL 2018

Medicare for All REILLY HARRINGTON

he 2018 midterm elections are quickly approaching, and the American left has one policy arena potentially locked down: healthcare. More specifically, the party’s growing support for Medicare for All. The results of these elections will have significant impacts on the Trump administration as well as the future of the Democratic party. The American left is gaining steam by focusing on winnable policy battles. A particularly potent element of this 2018 strategy: growing support for Medicare for All. It is a policy that not only benefits the American public but symbolizes the commitment of the United States to the pursuit of health justice. In a divisive time in American politics, Democrats have a platform that can secure serious victories come midterms if handled properly. The Trump administration’s warpath to destroy the Affordable Care Act, or “Obamacare,” gives progressively-minded candidates a golden ticket of sorts. The strategy of “repeal and replace” is now a “gut and run” approach. The Trump administration has not fully erased the gains of the Obama years, but premium prices have surged under the 45th

president. The growing number of Congress members pushing for healthcare reform is one of the most reassuring elements of this election cycle. The normalization of leftist policies is a massive victory for the American political system. The support of mainstream politicians such as Corey Booker is a signal that these ideas are campaign winners. Healthcare woes, including high premiums and poor coverage, can no longer be swept under the rug as failures of the Obama administration by Republican

Over 85% of Democrats & 52% of Rebuplicans favor some form of single-payer plan candidates. If Democrats have any intentions of taking the House of Representatives, healthcare’s importance as a human right and reform of the American healthcare

Photo via Flickr Elizabeth Warren, a senator from Massachusetts, speaks about Medicare legislation at a Sept. 13 event. 42

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system need to be prominent in their platforms. With over 85 percent of Democrats and 52 percent of Republicans in favor of some form of single-payer plan, a lasting and concrete future for affordable, quality care is within reach. A major failing of the Democrats in 2016 was focusing on more skeptical, conservative voters at the expense of support from their allies on the left. However, with a majority of Republicans supporting some form of single-payer healthcare system, Democrats can score big with their own base as well as with those across the aisle. With a myriad of national issues like comprehensive immigration reform, foreign trade policy and education as unpredictable factors in midterms, there’s a unifying element present behind Medicare for All that feels reminiscent of hope. Young voters with potentially limited exposure to the healthcare system are going to play important roles in the outcome of the midterm elections. Electrified by the never-ending parade of mass shootings and human rights violations, the youth are ready for change—not only in representation, but through policies as well. By investing in affordable health care, Americans are securing a future for their nation. The alleviation of economic anxiety and medical distress is an undeniable good. Sustained support for Medicare for All represents something greater than simple red and blue states.

At-Home Healthcare Culture

What it’s like to live with a parent in the health care industry when medical problems inconveniently arise BRIAN BOYLE

o there I was: home for the weekend, nearly 22 years old, laying shirtless with my face smushed on the family room sofa, drooling Benadryl with my arms stretched way above my head and twin cool compresses stuffed in my armpits. It’s pretty embarrassing. Probably the most embarrassing thing ever to happen to me, actually. And this is certainly the most embarrassing thing I’ve ever been able to commit to print. But thank God I happened to be home that weekend, because being home meant I was near my mom, and being near Mom means I was going to be just fine. My mom’s a nurse. This means health care for me works how it should work for everyone: readily available and cost effective. Care and treatment is never in doubt. I’m lucky to have my mom be a nurse, but not everyone can have such a medical savvy parent. Rather, I can only wish the health care system was designed to treat everyone else like a son or daughter in need. Being a nurse basically means my mom is just a professional mom: kind, loving, supportive and ready to help at a moment’s notice. It’s not even because she likes helping or she’s good at helping — though, of course, she loves helping others and is great at it. Helping is so deeply embedded into her core. She strives to help people. My mom being a nurse means my life is completely devoid of the usual headaches and pitfalls of healthcare. She always knows what to do and can always provide cursory diagnoses and treatment. She always knows what warrants a quick zip to Walgreens for an over-the-counter remedy and what deserves a power-through-every-yellow-

Photo via Flickr

light mad dash to the emergency room. Obviously, not everyone’s mom can be a nurse or a doctor. But it is a shame not everyone has access to on-thefly medical treatment and advice — especially for issues of the non-crisis variety. It is the lingering cough, the unusually stubbed toe or the possible ear infection that make life tough, and often go untreated. Or, in my case, a rather bizarre armpit situation. Let me explain the armpit situation. I bought a new brand of deodorant the day before on a whim, and, because my body is predisposed to smelling like a pair of leather boat shoes after a summer day of no-sock strolling, it turned out I was allergic to the new deodorant. Yup, I’m allergic to smelling nice and emitting appropriate amounts of sweat. The result: a pair of terrible, horrible, no good, very bad, searing red rashes, planted directly in my arm pits. It hurt. A lot. Trying to wear sleeves proved futile. I could barely even lower my arms at all. The pain and the shame were in a deadheat race to see which would break my spirit first (shame won, by a hair). Initial WebMD searches had me in a tizzy, believing some alien flesh-eating virus had started tearing through my body. Her first thought was that it was

likely an allergic contact reaction due to its oddly-contained nature and size. Now, moms are the best. Innately so, even. But my mom is the best mom. As far as which mom I’d want to be at the bottom of the stairwell as I sauntered down seeking advice for my armpit problem, my mom is pretty high up the list. Mom threw away her next 48 hours of busy weekend plans to diagnose, care for and comfort her very independent, very much adult-aged child as he dealt with a bizarre mini-medical crisis. Mom: one. Alarmist internet doctors: zero. Jokes aside, it’s the kind of knowledge and expertise that likely saved me from a trip to the doctor or the emergency room — the kind of thing that can quickly rack up bills and prove quite costly. Instead, we buzzed over to Walgreens and scored some extra-strength Benadryl, some soothing aloe vera and several other skin-sensitive sprays and ointments for just under $20. So, as I lay there drooling like an idiot, praying for some pain relief, my mom sat there with me the entire time. Mom’s a nurse, and she just couldn’t help herself.

FALL 2018

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Culture

FALL 2018

DOWN DOWN DOWN DOWN WITH WITH WITH WITH DENIM DENIM DENIM DENIM BY MIKALA HERSHMAN & JENNA THOMPSON Photos by Andrew Himmelberg

eans have been a staple of American fashion since their invention. Yet over the years, jeans have developed from work pants to a fashion essential. Denim statement pieces made a comeback through jean skirts, jackets, dresses and unique accessories. As denim gained popularity, the typical jean was redesigned and varied to fit with the times. Fringe detailing, ripped accents and print patterns have been added to all styles of jeans ranging from skinny to “mom” jeans. These days, there are no style limitations on what can be done to the flexible material. Here are three different ways to pair jeans - perfect for a dinner out with friends or just to rock to class. All the models are wearing their jeans differently, but nevertheless fashionably. From vests to flowy shirts, 46

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the fun fabric can truly look good with any other item. Jeans are versatile pieces that can be paired with simple tops, like casual shirts and everyday vests. But there is no reason you can’t dress them up with a snazzy faux fur jacket for a night out. For one example, wear cuffed dark washed jeans, a casual shirt and an army green Banana Republic vest. This outfit is perfect for a fall afternoon downtown. Pairing jeans up with earthy tones gives off major fall vibes for the upcoming season. The whole look is very stylish but casual at the same time, and looks like it can be worn to numerous events. Whether you’re walking in downtown Milwaukee or heading somewhere on campus, this outfit works perfectly. To dress up a casual daytime look, like a striped shirt and fringe jeans, add a faux fur vest and booties and you

will be ready for a night out. Layering with a chic vest and adding some trendy shoes transforms an outfit from easygoing to elaborate and fun attire. No matter the style, jeans paired with a sweater or blouse is always a simple yet chic look. For a more relaxed and comfortable outfit, you can pair a white blouse with your favorite style of jeans. This a perfect outfit for any of your everyday activities. For a bolder pair of jeans, matching it with a simple top is the way to go. Conversely, matching a busy top with your go-to mom jeans or just sticking to the basics is also a perfect combination. Whether fringe, highwasted or cuffed, trendy jeans are a must this fall.

Culture

FASHION

FALL 2018

FASHION

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Culture

FASHION

FALL 2018

The Legacy of W Championship Blue JOHN STEPPE

Photo courtesy of Marquette Athletics 50

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hen legendary coach Al McGuire let player Bo Ellis design Marquette men’s basketball uniforms in the 1970s, Ellis’ tools were the same as any elementary school kid’s in art class: colored pencils and paper. “I had colored pencils and everything,” Ellis says. “I could draw real well. That was another gift that God gave to me. I was pretty creative.” The result was a jersey meant to be untucked with “Marquette” on the front and “Warriors” on the back. When Ellis collaborated with Medalist Industries, a uniform provider in Wisconsin, the back text did not make the cut. Instead, they decided on a cleaner back design with numbering. The 6-foot-9 forward says he still remembers McGuire’s reaction to his personally designed uniforms when he walked to McGuire’s office on 18th Street and Wisconsin Avenue. “He looked at it and looked at me and said, ‘Bo, this is pretty good. This is interesting. Let me take this and show it to some people,’” Ellis says. “And that’s how the whole thing evolved.” Marquette’s newest uniforms, which have been in place since 2016, pay homage to Ellis’ famous “untucked” uniforms, though the design process is not as simple as an elementary school student’s design process. “The ‘untucked’ jersey has really deep roots in Marquette history and tradition because of its uniqueness and because of the success the team had that was wearing it,” current men’s basketball head coach Steve Wojciechowski says. “Obviously when you go to Jordan brand and you’re designing a uniform, that was one of the elements everyone felt like needed to be included in the current version.” The new uniforms feature iconic aspects of other uniforms. One of those is the “bumblebee” uniforms, which had bright, thin gold stripes across navy blue uniforms, in the early ‘70s. They’re

Perfect Fit Culture

represented with faint stripes across the whole uniform in the new series. The thin, tight stripes on the side of uniforms are reminiscent of Marquette’s uniforms in the 1940s. A buckle space on the shorts show the rainbow stripes that Marquette brought back from its previous iteration of uniforms. “We were that type of team,” Ellis says. “We did new uniforms all the time, and we were also trendsetters with the other uniforms before the ones that I did.” “All the people involved felt like it was time for a change,” Wojciechowski says. “Knowing that the uniforms would be unveiled for the 100th anniversary, the idea was to try to pay homage to all the different uniforms of the past … Marquette basketball uniforms throughout history have been uniforms that have garnered a lot of attention.” The design process for the current uniforms dates back several years and includes intense planning between Wojciechowski and Nike officials. Meetings on campus and at Nike’s headquarters in Eugene, Oregon, highlight the lengthy process. Phone interviews and email communication fill in the gaps between in-person meetings. It also includes some aspects of Nike’s latest technology, which involves custom sizing. Instead of ordering a size medium or large jersey, Nike tailors one to fit each player’s body. “Jordan has been and will continue to be on the cutting edge of design,” Wojciechowski says. “That design element is something that our players have embraced.” The powder blue, dubbed at the university as “championship blue” for its connection with the 1977 National Championship team, has gone beyond just the men’s basketball program’s secondary uniforms. “Championship blue is a color that all Marquette fans get excited about,” Wojciechowski says. “Without question, we wanted to have a championship blue

uniform in our arsenal. It’s such a cool color.” Wojciechowski says having a championship blue jersey is “a non-negotiable.” Last year’s National Invitational Tournament promotions included a championship blue-out against the University of Oregon, a move orchestrated by associate athletic director for marketing Torrey Ball. After a gold-out a few days earlier, Ball says he wanted to try a championship blue-out for the following game. “We don’t utilize the championship blue enough, and it’s one of those things that make us stick out,” Ball says. “We wanted to make the arena look really, really nice, but also give us that swag that we were looking for in the NIT. ... It looked great in person, but on TV you just saw the pop.” It is a key part of the university’s brand guidelines. Uses vary from Homecoming week to club sports uniforms. “Championship blue gives us that pop when we need it,” Ball says. “Most schools, outside of the Oregons and some of those schools, only have two colors. Having that third color, I think it gives our look new energy.” Ball knows how impactful a well-executed marketing scheme can be. He has previous experience working at Oregon, which many dub “Nike University” for its constant use of new, flashy uniforms. “I saw the swag that (Oregon’s) players had with their uniforms,” Ball says. “When I came here, I heard the stories of the crazy jerseys and the bumblebees. Marquette was the Oregon of its time. I loved that, and it helps to continue that story.” Now the goal is to use the history of Ellis’ drawings to recreate Marquette’s Oregon-style creativity. “It was something that was innovative and new and something that Marquette back in the day was absolutely known for,” Ball says. “We’re trying to get back to that now.”

t’s not hard to start off on the right foot when your kicks are painted with the Marquette rainbow. On his brown leather dress shoes, University President Michael Lovell has a hand-painted dark blue, championship blue and gold stripe outlining the toe boxes. Lovell wears these distinctive shoes for events like freshman convocation, commencement and basketball games. He always picks up compliments from students, parents and faculty. “At graduation when I’m walking down at the arena, people will be yelling at me, ‘Love your shoes,’” Lovell jokes. Men’s lacrosse head coach Joe Amplo gave the shoes to Lovell as a birthday present nearly two years ago. Only two pairs of these shoes exist. Lovell has one pair, while Amplo has the other. Amplo’s shoes include a subtle Marquette lacrosse logo on each side. Adding the logo is simple, but deciding on a paint is a much harder process, as it must handle Wisconsin’s treacherous winters. When Lovell heads to New York City for the BIG EAST Tournament in March, the freezing temperatures and heavy snow won’t penetrate his shoes. “There was about almost a full inch of slush on the sidewalks, and I had almost a mile to walk to my hotel,” Lovell says. “I got back to the hotel, and I was very surprised that the shoes withstood walking through a mile in this wet slushy mess.” And there is no shortage of opportunities to check out his snazzy shoes around campus, since Lovell can wear them with any given look. “That’s my color wheel,” Lovell says. “So these shoes always work great with any outfit I have on.”-Zoe Comerford Photo by Aly Prouty

FALL 2018 FALL 2018

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Sips, Snacks and Sights: SARAH LIPO A system that began as two-man horse carriages has evolved into 400 clean diesel buses that residents use every day. The Milwaukee County Transit System has connected the city for over 155 years. With over 50 lines, MCTS is the largest transit agency in Milwaukee. One can hop on a bus to go to the Brewers’ game, head down to the lake or the Third Ward, or cruise around the Milwaukee suburbs. For $2.25 per trip, around 150,000 residents, students and families use the system daily to get to work, school and explore Milwaukee’s many attractions. The Blue Line is one of the many bus lines MCTS has. It runs from West Allis to Menomonee Falls, making curves along the way and showcasing the sights. From cafes to farmers markets to museums, the Blue Line is a fun way to learn about the city and discover some hidden gems as well as traditional tourist traps in Milwaukee.

First stop: West Allis Farmers Market Located at 6501 W. National Ave., the West Allis Farmers Market runs from the first Saturday in May to the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The early season brings asparagus and radishes, followed by raspberries and later on corn and zucchini.

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Second stop: Miller Park One of the largest construction projects in Wisconsin history, Miller Park was built in 1996 with a movable roof that can be open or closed due to weather. Less than a 15-minute walk from the Blue Line stop, fans crowd Milwaukee buses to support the Brewers multiple times a week from March to October.

A Blue Line Adventure

Culture

Third Stop: Anodyne

You may have sipped Anodyne coffee at different restaurants and cafes throughout the city. Anodyne opened its doors in 1999, and serves wine and beer along with its specialty coffee drinks. There are also live concerts and talks throughout the week that the public can attend. Marked by its signature name on the side of a warehouse-type building in Walker’s Point, it seems to be the perfect study spot with its calm vibe and comfy chairs.

Fourth Stop: Purple Door Ice Cream Purple Door is owned by Lauren and Steve Schultz. According to their website, Lauren told Steve about how she shared her dream of someday wanting to open an ice cream store on their first date. In April 2011, Lauren’s dream came true when the ice cream joint opened its doors. Today, the store is known for its interesting flavors such as balsamic vinegar and tomato. Perfect for a sweet cone during the summer months, or a snack after studying, Purple Door is open year round.

Graphic by Chelsea Johanning

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Fifth Stop: Fondy Farmers Market The Fondy Farmers Market works to connect the greater Milwaukee area to fresh food and plots of land to support local farmers. The market was founded to give people living in the North Side of Milwaukeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s food deserts access to healthy produce. Marked by its rustic structure, the market attracts people from across the city. In addition, more than $67,000 SNAP benefits were redeemed at the market in 2016.

Sixth Stop: Wisconsin Black Historical Society The Wisconsin Black Historical Society is located at N. 27th and W. Center Streets. The institution opened its doors in 1987, and this nonprofit is dedicated to preserving and furthering the AfricanAmerican history of Wisconsin, as well as creating a brighter future after a grieffilled past. The historical society has developed programming to educate the community through lectures, financial workshops and movie series.Â

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Seventh Stop: National Cafe In the heart of the Walker’s Point neighborhood, National Cafe uses fresh, locally sourced ingredients for its homemade specials. The cafe carries stuffed French toast, baguette sandwiches and a full range of specialty coffee drinks. The small cafe is located at the corner of 9th and National, and is marked by its light blue trim and mural on the side of the building.

Eighth Stop: Asian International Market Milwaukee’s renowned family-owned Asian grocery store, the Asian International Market is located in Milwaukee’s Silver City neighborhood. The market carries a full range of fresh vegetables, sauces, fruits, noodles, as well as traditional cookware and household goods. Community members can stop by the market to pick up traditional food or specialty items, as well as explore new delicacies.

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Festival Photo courtesy of Erica Chang

rom mid-November to the start of January, nightfall in the city of Milwaukee brings a world of twinkling lights. Perhaps most eye-catching are the vibrant blue and white LED chandeliers suspended over various intersections. The dazzling blue hue stretched across the busy roads is striking yet elegant. Bold white chandeliers simultaneously demand attention while gracefully dressing up the city. “When you stand on the west side of Wisconsin Avenue and look east, you get a really incredible view of so many chandeliers lined up over the intersections,” Erica Chang, marketing and events coordinator for Milwaukee Downtown, says. “It’s not something you see in every city, and so we kind of get to claim that as one of our Milwaukee holiday lights traditions.” Andrea Garcia, fifth-year senior in the College of Health Sciences, loves the details of holiday decorating. She looks forward to the blue chandeliers and cozy city holiday lights each year. Coming from Chicago, where holiday lights are abundant and plentiful, 56

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Garcia remembers feeling excited during her first winter at Marquette seeing Milwaukee dressed up for the season in a similar fashion. “It seems like a little homey. It’s kind of like when the RAs decorate your floor … it’s just kind of welcoming,” she says. This holiday season marks the 20th anniversary of the annual Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival. The city-wide celebration begins Nov. 15 with a jam-packed kick-off event: a variety of shows featuring Milwaukee’s local talent, fireworks, warm treats, a guest appearance by Santa Claus and of course an official flip-the-switch lighting of the city’s holiday lights. Three of the city’s parks — Cathedral Square, Zeidler Union Square and Pere Marquette — will be aglow with lights celebrating different themes of the holiday season. The Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival has grown and developed immensely. The kick-off, which began as a small event in 1998, now draws a crowd of thousands and for the past three years has been broadcasted live by WISN 12.

Greg Peterson, director of the Clean Sweep Ambassadors Program, Milwaukee’s street cleaning service, has been involved in setting up the festival since its beginning. For Peterson, witnessing the large crowd of families, friends, neighbors and strangers gathered on opening night is the rewarding culmination of a weeks-long preparation process. “You see some of the same people there every year,” Peterson says. “We’re creating traditions for families to enjoy and I think that’s awesome. It’s a great way to kick off your holiday season.” The Clean Sweep Ambassadors Program, comprised of Peterson, nine full-time workers and one part-time, is responsible for carrying out a variety of yearlong cleaning and preparation jobs throughout the 150 square blocks of Business Improvement District No. 21, located downtown. In October, the program usually begins the weeks-long process of setting up and maintaining holiday decorations in Pere Marquette and Cathedral Square Park. Installations this year begin Oct. 11.

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of Lights KELLI ARSENEAU

One staple of the holiday season is the Jingle Bus, which starts on Nov. 16. For $2, or free on the night of the kick-off event, passengers can take a 40-minute narrated tour of Milwaukee’s landmarks and decorated parks while aboard a heated Coach USA bus. Local businesses profit from getting publicity, and passengers get to explore some of the hidden holiday gems of Milwaukee. Greta Olson, a sophomore in the College of Health Sciences, rode the Jingle Bus with some friends last year. She says she thought the narrated tour was a fun way to see the city’s decorations and learn about Milwaukee’s history and special holiday events. The experience is particularly perfect, Olson says, for escaping long walks in bitter temperatures. Even the act of decorating for the festival brings a sense of solidarity. The first preparations, which also begin in Nov., at Cathedral Square Park with the help of local students. During one week, a variety of schools in the area bring together a total of 3,000 students who handmake ornaments in their classrooms to decorate the trees and

seasonally transform Cathedral Square into “Community Spirit Park.” Peterson says he still feels a sense of joy at the sight of young community members coming together. “The part that I love the best is when we get to the point where the kids come in to decorate the tree,” Peterson says. He also says that seeing the enthusiasm that the students bring in every day is really special. Labeled “Santa’s Mailbox,” a large red mailbox stands in Community Spirit Park and allows children to send letters to Santa, no stamp required. “I think it’s really fitting that at a time of year that’s all about being together, the Holiday Lights Festival forges those connections within the community,” Chang said. Living in a city decked out in holiday spirit offers opportunities for Marquette students. Devin McCowan, a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences, took a nighttime adventure in the heart of downtown with a group of friends last year to look at the lights. “I feel like sometimes you just need a break from studying, and so going

down and seeing the lights kind of makes me feel like I’m at home a little bit,” McCowan said. Compared to those he annually sees at home in St. Louis, McCowan finds Milwaukee’s displays especially unique. Last year, Olson attended the kickoff celebration, in addition to riding the Jingle Bus, and walked around exploring the city’s lights. Through all the events, she noticed the strong sense of community. “It was a lot of families, but really there were people from all over Milwaukee. I didn’t really notice one particular crowd of people. I think that’s what the whole spirit of Christmas is about,” Olson says. “That’s really what all of these events in Milwaukee did, they brought everybody together.” The 20th annual Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival kicks off this year with dazzling hues, festivities for all ages, entertainment and community bonding with the season promising, to promote unity and holiday spirit across Milwaukee.

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beh n d the birds LARSON SEAVER Photo courtesy of Pixar Animation Studios

n 1995, a little-known company called Pixar Studios challenged the animation giant Walt Disney Studios with a new technology as its weapon: computer animation. When he was beginning in the industry, Marquette University alumnus Jim Murphy heard about the young company’s development of a new groundbreaking film, and like many other aspiring animators, submitted his portfolio and resume. By talent and a stroke of luck, the company offered Murphy a position working on the film. But, the offer was only for the six-month run of production. Murphy just moved to Washington for another art job with Sierra On-Line, drawing for a video game called “Torin’s Passage.” Moving his wife and kids out to California knowing he had no job lined up six months from then was simply not an option. In November of 1995, Pixar’s “Toy 58

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Story” came out making history as the first entirely computer-animated feature film. It was received extremely well launching a successful series and franchise. The success of the revolutionary movie he turned down, brought a flood of regret. “’Toy Story’ came out and devastated me. I just thought I blew it. I had the opportunity to work on ‘Toy Story’ and I didn’t,” he recounts. When Murphy got another chance to work with Pixar, he knew better than to turn down the job again. He seized the opportunity, starting with “A Bug’s Life,” and swiftly worked his way up the company ladder. Murphy stayed at Pixar for not just one project, but 14 different features and short films. Despite his impressive career, Murphy did not always pursue art. From 1982 to 1986, Murphy studied

journalism at Marquette. Though he was drawn to art, Murphy’s parents did not see it as a secure career path. Still, he continued to develop an interest in handdrawn animation. When Murphy graduated from Marquette, his first step into the drawing world began with becoming an art director for Jockey, a clothing store for men and women based out of Kenosha, Wisconsin. Drawing on his own time eventually led him to freelancing in Chicago, helping create Little Caesar’s mascot with the famous catchphrase “Pizza, Pizza.” Eventually he landed a job at Pixar Studios in Emeryville, California. Through his long, winding course to finding success, Murphy learned that it is not that unusual to work through some

Culture “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves” has a vastly different style than “Zootopia.” Early experimenting in computer animation showed that the technology worked best in designing hard edges and making things appear mechanical or plastic. This early technology “... lended itself really well to toys, so that’s why ‘Toy Story’ was a really great thing,” Murphy explains. As the years went on, the studio further developed its technology, going from toys to bugs and, eventually, to humans. “The computer has opened up whole new possibilities for new worlds to explore,” Murphy says. “Technology and art kind of inspire each other to take you to new places.” Murphy still finds himself thinking about

mundane jobs before landing your dream career. “You’re going to do a lot of things in your life and career that you don’t like in order to find and pursue what you do like,” Murphy says. This motto is the driving force for Murphy in his life and career today. Having entered the animation world in the ‘90s, Murphy experienced immense transformation of technology over the years. Before the digitalization of animated films, cel animation, the process of making an animated feature film involved time-consuming handdrawings of each frame in different cels on paper, dominated the industry. With the invention of computer animation, the industry shifted toward the quicker, more developed process of 3D modeling. Thus,

the days of 2D animation whenever he is storyboarding for new projects. He loves filling in the cel by hand, but still appreciates “the balance of both.” And while, animation has so drastically changed over the year, at its core, animation is simply bringing characters to life. Murphy’s involvement in Pixar carries across a vast range of areas. Murphy’s role in “A Bug’s Life” led animated short “For the Birds” director, Ralph Eggleston, to appoint Murphy supervising animator of the project. In addition to being an animator in a multitude of Pixar’s most popular projects, Murphy was a writer for the popular short “Lava,” as well as writer and director of the 2017 short film “Miss Fritter’s Racing Skoool,” a short film inspired by “Cars 3.” Murphy recalls going to 4D showings of animated shorts he worked on at Disney’s

theme park, California Adventure. Murphy is proud and happy when he sees his work on screen and witness audiences’ enjoyment, he says. Today, he works at Pixar, developing trailers for upcoming films. While Murphy cannot disclose information on current projects due to Pixar’s highly secretive policies, he says he is currently working on a promotional video for 2019’s upcoming “Toy Story 4.” With improved technology constantly being adapted, new opportunities create endless possibilities for the future of animation. More and more companies are given the opportunity to make films. For students looking for any job in the creative industry, Murphy’s career stands

as an inspiration, and his inspiration for students is to keep searching for what it is you want to do. From a Marquette journalism student, to a hopeful artist disappointed in turning down an opportunity, to building a dream career off a second chance, Murphy’s path to success has been anything but conventional. “You may not even know it exists, so say yes to opportunities, and if you don’t like certain parts of it, then find things you do like,” Murphy says. “And see where it leads you.”

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Calendar October - February ALEX GARNER

MKE Milwaukee Film Festival The Milwaukee Film Festival is screening more than 300 films at various theaters in the downtown Milwaukee area, such as the Oriental Theatre and Avalon Theater. The event runs Oct. 18 to Nov. 1. Along with watching movies, attendees can also engage with filmmakers and talk with other movie lovers.

The Milwaukee Winter Farmers Market The Milwaukee Winter Farmers Market is opening for their 10th season Nov. 3. It is open through March 30. Admission to the market is free and hours of operation are from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. The market will be held in the Greenhouse Annex at the Mitchell Park Domes. There will be about 50 weekly vendors offering high quality foods and treats.

The Holiday Folk Fair International will host their 75th annual event from Nov. 16 to Nov. 18. Admission costs $12 at the gate. At the event, visitors can explore over 50 different cultures through music, food, dance and art. The festival aims to bring together a community of different beliefs, languages and stories. The theme for this year is “Celebrate the Culture of Diversity.”

Mystery at MPM The Milwaukee Public Museum is hosting the Mystery at MPM event Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. Teams of two to eight people will put their detective skills to the test as they interview suspects and solve riddles to find a lost artifact in the museum.

Community Engagement Symposium The Office of Community Engagement at Marquette is hosting the Community Engagement Symposium 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Alumni Memorial Union Nov. 13. This all-day event encourages students and faculty to engage with organizations to learn about tools necessary to strengthen relationships and build new community networks. Online registration is due by Nov. 6.

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Holiday Folk Fair International

Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival The Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival will return for its 20th season, running from Nov. 15 to Jan. 1. It will begin with a kick-off event Nov. 16 with a variety show and fireworks as well as a tree lighting near City Hall. Other events include a jingle bus ride and a “Cocoa with the Clauses.”

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Marquette University Symphony Orchestra presents “Symphony for the Season!” Marquette University’s symphony orchestra is presenting its annual holiday show in the Varsity Theatre on campus Dec. 2. The show is a composition of the university’s chorus, gospel choir, jazz ensembles, symphony band and wind ensemble. Admission is free. Song selections include Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” and Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas.”

Yoga at the Milwaukee Art Museum Join omTown Yogis for a yoga session at the Milwaukee Art Museum Dec. 15 8:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Doors open at 7:45 a.m. Register online with a $15 donation that goes toward the museum and omTown Yogis. The class is open to all levels, and participants should bring their own mats.

Anime Milwaukee Beginning as a college anime club meeting, the Anime Milwaukee convention is returning for its 11th year Feb. 15. The three-day event is held in the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee and will continue through Feb. 17. Visitors can immerse themselves in Asian culture through outlets such as anime and gaming.

“Image of an Unknown Young Woman”

Basketball Game: Marquette vs. UW-Madison

The university’s theater program will be presenting “Image of an Unknown Young Woman” from Feb. 15 to Feb. 24 on select days throughout the weeks. The play will be performed at the Helfaer Theatre on campus. The play focuses on the societal and social issues that arise after a video of a woman being shot goes viral. It is suggested for mature audiences.

Show your Golden Eagle pride Dec. 8 by supporting men’s basketball as the team goes head-to-head with rival UWMadison. The game will begin at 4 p.m. at the Fiserv Forum.

Chili Bowl The Potawatomi Hotel & Casino is hosting the 13th annual Chili Bowl Jan. 27, from 12 a.m. to 4 p.m. Some of Milwaukee’s best chefs and restaurants are competing for best chili and the Golden Ladle Award. By reserving in advance, visitors can taste test a wide range of chilis from vegetarian chili to sweet potato chili.

Photos via Wikimedia, Pxhere, Pixabay, DevianArt, SVG Silh, Public Domain Files FALL 2018

True Colors

What it’s really like in a college a capella group

NOELLE DOUGLASS

ith the widespread “Pitch Perfect” trilogy and booming career of vocal quintet Pentatonix, days of brief barber shop quartet appearances have been replaced by modern interpretations of the world of a cappella music. Characterized by instrument-free arrangements and often matching outfits, recent producers and writers have run with different ideas in order to paint a pop culture picture of what an a cappella group is. While every a cappella group is bound to have a different mix of the renowned traits, having a case study of sorts on the record can certainly be both beneficial and entertaining. Therefore, without further ado, if you’re curious as to how accurate “Pitch Perfect” or Andy Bernard of “The Office” portrays an actual a cappella groups, this article is for you. Rated on a scale of “Blue: it’s true!” to “Gold, that’s old!” I give you a painfully honest, often personal debunking (and sometimes confirmation) of a cappella stereotypes as a member of Marquette University’s premier coed a cappella group, the Gold ‘n Blues. We sing whenever we hang out: Blue, it’s true! Whether walking to or from a practice, performance, meal or simple hangout, 62

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a sudden song is absolutely guaranteed when with the Gold ‘n Blues. Our apologies for all the times it happens from the apartment above you or in the classroom above your chapter meeting — but hey, at least the harmonies are good. We practice each year with the main goal of doing well in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA): Gold, that’s old! Though many groups are primarily motivated by doing well in competitions, the Gold ‘n Blues has never entered a competition. Our goal is simply to make music together and hold performances around our community — it always has been and perhaps always will be. Believe it or not, the ICCA is not everything in college a cappella. We have rivalries: Blue, it’s true! I won’t lie and say we don’t try to sound our very best at events when the allfemale Meladies or all-male Naturals are also performing, but I also won’t say we have vendettas against them. There are definitely a fair amount of jokes made about other groups, but no real hatred exists. And when it comes to groups beyond Marquette’s campus, there’s absolutely

no animosity — only fangirling, really. (We’re looking at you, the Nor’easters.) We have ridiculous initiation ceremonies: Gold, that’s old! Our initiation ceremony is the farthest thing from formal and technically involves only one thing: singing your audition song for the entire group at a gathering. Drinking a special Gold ‘n Blues drink is encouraged but not required, making the word “ridiculous” the true opposite of any group initiation rituals. All the guys are gay: Gold, that’s old! Nearly all of the guys that have come through the Gold ‘n Blues since its inception have been straight. Most guys in the current group have been in committed relationships with lucky ladies for years, and when it comes to the single ones … let’s just say men who can sing give typical Marquette boys some fierce competition. However, we really don’t discriminate, or care, either way! We say “aca” before everything: Gold, that’s old! Never, ever, ever have I heard a member of our group, or any real a cappella group for that matter, say “aca” before anything. Not even as a joke. “Pitch Perfect” really missed the mark on that one.

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Photo by Jordan Johnson

Now saying the letters “G-N-,” a Gold N’ Blues reference, before everything, that’s another story … and something that we definitely do. We don’t have friends outside our group: Gold, that’s old! The Gold ‘n Blues really is a campus family. And when you think of it like that, it makes total sense that a member would naturally have (and perhaps even need) friends outside of it. After all, the members of our group have always had different majors, taken different classes and came from various hometowns. That’s not to say the family isn’t there for each other in ways beyond other friendships on campus — but for all members, there’s more to life than your a cappella pals. Basses are the most easy-going, evenkeeled members of the ensemble: Blue, it’s true! With a few exceptions, this is a pretty accurate stereotype for the lowest singing members of our group. Our a cappella basses are super reliable — often literally holding the song together — and fly under the radar with their incredible talent. because of the typical vocal ranges of the male artists we draw our music from, solos only come every once in a while for the section. However, that fact often makes the songs our

booming basses solo on all the more special, fun and memorable for the group. We have one soprano in the group who is the group “mom”: Gold, that’s old! While there are total “mom” moments from Gold ‘n Blues seniors in particular, having a group mom isn’t vital or even expected. It is true, though, that our sopranos have typically been the more steady mentors (while our altos fall more into the role of “crazy aunts.”) We have one tenor whose voice makes the ladies all swoon: Gold, that’s old! Luckily for us, it’s not just one tenor or voice that makes the ladies swoon — it’s several of them. Especially on a sultry riff or belted chorus, our guys hit their stride (in their own ways) almost every time we sing. Though different voices certainly lend themselves to being heard more during different seasons, our performances have never been “solo shows” with peppy background noise. And that’s a blessing, not a curse. We have a resident musical prodigy: Blue, it’s true! Almost like clockwork, there has always seemed to be a resident music fanatic in the Gold ‘n Blues midst. These leaders can truly arrange any song, pick out any flaw and recall any harmony —

sometimes to an extent that can even be a bit annoying. Thankfully, while some personalities may clash and some encouragements may nag, the true good intentions of each musical prodigy shine through to bring about a best case scenario for our (sometimes grumbling) ensemble. We have a group leader who is incredibly infectious, bubbly and optimistic: Gold, that’s old! With both a music board and an executive board within the group, the Gold ‘n Blues has been characterized by an abundance of leadership opportunities filled by an abundance of leaders. Therefore, while a fair share of bubbly spokespeople have come and gone over the years, so have quite chill and steady leaders whose love for a cappella is articulated in different ways. The Gold ‘n Blues is infectious and optimistic with devoted members that do sing a lot and fall into certain musical stereotypes. Yet as a whole, we and our leaders attest that most of the tales told by “Pitch Perfect” and Andy Bernard are, in fact, simply good comedy.

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Photo by MUTV & MU Radio

New Music Monday: Royal Blue The Royal Blue describes itself as: “a 3-piece garage rock band” from Appleton, Wisconsin. The members include: Karm Kerwell, Jeff Taugner, and Jason Nelson. Each member brings their own unique musical blend to the trio and it shows; The Royal Blue has released three musical works: My Woman On A Train (2014), Ramshackle Groove (2016), and their newest album: Big Bad Cake (2018). -Alex Wagner

MUR: Can you guys tell us more about your new album? How would you compare this to previous releases? KK: We have our second LP out called Big Bad Cake and it was released a couple months ago, there are no covers, it’s all original. JN: Big Bad Cake is more of a progression from Ramshackle Groove, it’s more mature and we keep getting a little stronger; we’re still a punky-rock band. We’re growing more and really enjoying making the music and performing it. MUR: How long have you guys known each other? KK: We’ve been together for four years. We originally started in Jeff’s basement in 2014 and we grew out from there; we originally experimented to see if we could do the band and we’ve really enjoyed it so far.

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MUR: What is your favorite venue and why? JT: Whoever has the best sound system, that’s what it comes down to honestly. Like Kochanski here in Milwaukee. We like to play early and try to be home by midnight, and we love who we end up playing with during those earlier times.

MUR: What musical groups have inspired you? JN: My influence is more rock n roll/ metalhead vibe. KK: Basically everything under the sun, all the 60s bands. JT: For me it’s the Sex Pistols and Johnny Rotten. MUR: How was being in the final five for 106.7’s next2rock? KK: Yeah it was kind of a surprise. We just signed up for this entry thing. JN: We didn’t even know we were in to be honest. KK: I just sent in a song from Big Bad Cake just to get some publicity; but it was a really nice atmosphere and we loved the bands we performed with. MUR: If you could spend a day with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? KK: Sid Vicious JT: Buddha JN: Keith Moon; I loved the way he threw out the vibe to the audience, he was an absolute beast on stage.

MUR: What would you guys be doing if you weren’t in The Royal Blue? KK: I would be in the Rolling Stones. JT: I would spend more time up north to be honest. JN: I’d be a clown in the circus.

MUR: How has this band impacted your life? KK: We get to travel more which is really nice. JN: Yeah we love to see parts of the country we’ve never seen before, even just in Milwaukee or Minnesota. JT: It’s awesome to see fans and to see them across the Midwest is a feeling that indescribable. MUR: How can people gain access to your music? KK: We’re on Spotify, Pandora, ITunes, our website: https://www.theroyalblue. org and we have CDs available!

BRIAN BOYLE

UP DOWN

urn 21, they say, and the lengthy, winding passage to maturity is finally complete. Upon this ceremonial birthday, Americans are bestowed their long-anticipated autonomy over alcoholic beverages. It’s a longstanding tradition: Turn 21, become an adult — officially. What better way to celebrate the latent benefits of legal adulthood than turning back the clock, spitting in the face of sophistication and dropping $11 on a couple of cold Miller Lites and three rounds of “Ms. Pac-Man.” Thanks to Up-Down MKE, the new arcade bar (or “barcade”) anchoring the western end of Brady Street, those faced with the trappings of early-onset adulthood can find solace in a safe haven of over 60 classic arcade games. Better yet, most patrons find tapping into their inner child is much more fun when paired with the benefits of adult beverages. “Donkey Kong” and “Galaga” make for a neat throwback. However, “Donkey Kong” and “Galaga” with $5 rail mixers make for a great night. “It’s kind of like Dave & Buster’s,”Patrick Myers, a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences says. “Except you still feel like you’re at an actual bar, only it has video games, too.” The two-story complex melds the two different atmospheres — bar and arcade — together. A massive U-shaped bar operates as the gravitational center of the first floor, situated in the middle of the large space with full-cabinet arcade games encircling it. Nearly a dozen pinball machines line a far wall, with a skeeball alley is near the entrance. A throwback Nintendo 64 console with four plugged-in controllers invites patrons to test their skills at the iconic “Mario Kart 64,” which in turn is projected on a large wall for maximum spectator potential. Contemporary arcade classic “Killer Queen,” an intense five-on-

five pixelated match of steal the bacon. On the first-floor patio, guests can find yet another Nintendo 64, this time loaded with the original “Super Smash Bros.” as well as mega versions of “Jenga” and “Connect Four.” Trek upstairs and visitors will bounce into, among other things, more pinball machines, another full-service bar, a murderers row of light-gun shoot ‘em ups (think “House of the Dead”), a corner banked with four synced-up “Hydro Thunder” racing machines, four-player versions of “NBA JAM” and “NFL Blitz” and a rare six-player version of the smashand-bash classic “X-Men” arcade game. The second-floor patio features high-top tables, more “Jenga” and “Connect Four” and a pair of flatscreens linked to “Super Nintendo Classics,” preloaded with classic home console “Street Fighter” and “Super Mario Bros.” titles. Each game requires one token to play (with the exception of the Nintendo 64, Super Nintendo Classic and outdoor table-top games, which are all free), and each token costs one quarter, though a Thursday night deal cuts the cost down all the way to 10 cents a piece. “There’s a cool mix of new games and old games,” Colin Eschweiler, senior in the College of Business Administration says. “And so many are two-player or even four-player, so it’s really fun. It’s just a fun change of pace from the usual bar scene.” The decor, meanwhile, is neon and nostalgic. A massive pop art collage of late-’80s and early-’90s icons, such as Chris Farley, Spike Lee and a boomboxwielding John Cusach in “Say Anything” cover the walls. TVs, meanwhile, show everything from classic professional wrestling to popular ‘80s movies. On a recent Thursday trip, my eyes flicked between an Eagles-Falcons Thursday night NFL game, an old episode of “American Gladiators,” The Undertaker pummeling Ric Flair at Wrestle Mania,

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Wallace Shawn and Cary Elwes’ dizzying game of wits in “The Princess Bride” and Bruce Willis crawling through an air vent in “Die Hard.” This was all at the same time. The beer menu is expansive and rotating, with most crafts only costing $5 to $6. A small kitchen on the first floor serves thick cuts of pizza by the slice, available for $3 to $5, depending on the toppings. So while most Americans anticipate their 21st birthday as their token to adulthood, Up-Down MKE brings back a necessary nostalgia to our childhood that seemingly never gets old.

Photos via Facebook & Flickr FALL 2018

Easy A

s a college student, cooking on your own is a tedious and daunting task. I set out to make a meal from Blue Apron, a meal service company that sends boxes based on your dietary preferences each box contains pre-measured ingredients to make a home-cooked meal, customizable based on family size and taste. I customized my order with vegetarian options; I was happy to do so because often times vegetarianism is overlooked in subscription services similar to Blue Apron. I made black bean enchiladas using a step-by-step recipe accompanied by photographs. Blue Apron sent every single thing I would need for the meal other than cooking utensils, salt and pepper. There’s really nothing more I could want. As I started cooking, I was surprised at 66

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how easy it actually was, especially since I’ve neither made nor eaten an enchilada. First, I had to get the rice started. Once it was cooked, I added the rice, a cup of water and some of the pre-packed spice mix to a pot and left it on the stovetop to cook. While prepping the other ingredients, I could immediately smell the delicious scents coming from the spice mixture which were sure to give the rice a zesty flavor. Next, I chopped the zucchini and green onions. Both came in their own individual bags and were the perfect amount for the four enchiladas. Once the rice was done, I took it off of the stove and poured it into a mixing bowl. This is when things really started to come together. My cooking skills were really put to the test while I made the sauce to top off this delicacy. It turns out, no part of this recipe

was difficult to make, even the sauce. At this point, I could not wait to try the final product. On the stove, I started by heating up half of the green onions. Once they heated, I added the container of sour cream, chili paste, half a cup of water and tomato paste. I stirred until the mixture was a wonderful red color - sure to create a flavorful dish. I removed the sauce from the stove and got started on making my first enchiladas. I added half the rice mixture to the bottom of the baking dish and saved the other half to fill the tortillas. Like I said, I am not an enchilada expert. I carefully scooped the rice mixture into each tortilla as fast I could before the filling fell out. Once all four tortillas were in the pan, I gingerly placed the sauce across the top. Not going to lie, I felt like a real chef.

Culture

Fix MAYA KORENICH Photos via Pxhere, Wikipedia, Picserver

The final step was adding the cheese, because let’s be honest, no good dish is really complete without a little shredded cheese. Being a college student, I did not have a cheese grater, but that was easily solved by slicing the mini block of cheese into tiny bits. The cheese was sprinkled on top, along with the other half of the green onions. I threw the baking dish in the oven, anxiously waiting until the I could dig in. It was only in the oven for nine minutes, but when you’re hungry, nine minutes might as well be nine hours. Finally, my timer went off. I grabbed my enchiladas ready to chow down. The smell was amazing and lingered throughout the whole cooking process. When I took my first bite, I was in awe. There were many wonderful and distinct flavors. The sauce added just the right amount of heat without being too spicy.

This recipe turned zucchini - which I find to be a bland vegetable - into something I deemed worthy of serving to my mom. You know something is good when it compares to a home-cooked meal. The cooking process was not only super easy, but quick as well. The entire meal was done in less than 30 minutes. Depending on your cooking abilities, it would definitely be feasible to make this particular meal in about 20 minutes. It is seriously foolproof. As a college student, a meal that is advertised as feeding two could easily be dinner for three nights, depending on your appetite. The box comes with three separate meals at two servings each, so this could be a great way to secure lunch and dinner for an entire week. In addition, the meals could be prepped on the weekend for those with busy schedules. Plus, additions or substitutions can

easily be made. If you don’t have all the utensils, that is alright, as demonstrated in my cheese-shredding debacle. The box cost $60, which at first may seem like a lot, but if you figure it as $60 for a week’s worth of meals, it really is very affordable. The website allows you to cater any dietary restriction. Overall, this was a great experience. I would definitely invest in Blue Apron as a source for meals during a busy week.

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A Blue Ribbon for Jackson’s MACKANE VOGEL

ost people go to a sports bar to see a game and eat a halfdecent cheeseburger. But at Jackson’s Blue Ribbon Pub, every aspect of the dining experience is better than your average sports bar. Just blocks from campus on N. 10th Street, the exterior of the building and the surrounding area has the vibe of an oldtime brewery. The architecture is historic and serves as a portal to Milwaukee’s past. And while the looks of a restaurant might not be as important as the taste of its food, I can definitely appreciate eating at a place with some visible history. As soon as I entered the restaurant the smell of burgers and giant soft pretzels immediately filled the air. The pub is known for these two items, and if I needed any clarification as to how big the pretzels were, the item’s menu description included “We mean GIANT!” printed in bold. And while the smell and the thought of a giant pretzel served with honey mustard and beer cheese was enticing, I didn’t come to the pub to shell out $15 on an appetizer. As I followed my server through the restaurant and over to my table, my focus shifted from pretzel aromas to the beautiful and extremely long shuffleboard table. Not only does Jackson’s have plenty of TVs to watch sports on, it has this great shuffleboard set, as well as some other arcade-type games to play while you wait for your food. While the interior of the restaurant is full of fun games, I chose to sit outside in the backyard patio area. I saw pictures of this setting before, and it ended up being even more pleasing than it looked online. There are dozens of tables set up as well as a full cornhole (bags) set. They also have soft seating with comfy cushions, allowing you to enjoy a drink or an appetizer in a comfortable outdoor environment. I could picture the patio turning into a great bar scene if the weather was nice and if it got crowded enough, so I felt I made the right choice 68

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by eating outside in this lovely garden-like atmosphere. Speaking of eating, I wish I had enough room in my stomach to order everything on the menu at Jackson’s. I had a hard time deciding between several alluring options, but eventually settled on a buffalo chicken wrap served with french fries and coleslaw. I made the right decision. This was no ordinary wrap. It was served in a garlic-and-herb-flavored tortilla that had a subtle spiciness to it. The wrap was filled with tomatoes, lettuce, red onions, bacon and of course, crispy chicken strips covered in the pub’s house buffalo sauce. I opted to get blue cheese crumbles on the side — they normally are served inside the wrap — and I also chose the crispy chicken instead of the grilled option. I often remove tomatoes and onions from sandwiches and wraps if they don’t taste very fresh. This was not the case at Jackson’s. The tomatoes and onions were oddly one of my favorite parts of this wrap because they tasted so extraordinarily fresh. I was also a bit skeptical of the bacon being included in this wrap. Sometimes I worry that a restaurant will include a second kind of meat if they know their first meat isn’t that flavorful. Luckily, both the chicken and the bacon were outstanding. The bacon added a really nice smokey flavor to the wrap and was just subtle enough that I only tasted it in every third or fourth bite. This may just be personal preference, but my one complaint about the wrap itself is that I could’ve handled it being just a little bit spicier. However, I recognize that my level of spicy preference is pretty abnormal, so this wrap is likely a perfect amount of heat for most people. If a ten is the hottest thing I’ve ever tasted and a one is just a mild spiciness, I’d rank this wrap a four. The fries served with the wrap were undoubtedly some of the best I’ve eaten in a long time. I am always a big fan of seasoned fries, and whatever seasoning

they used at Jackson’s was perfect. They were also cut quite nicely, so I felt like I had a side of well-seasoned potatoes rather than some greasy french fries. I didn’t have any complaints about the service either, which is impressive considering the fact that it was about 6 p.m. on a busy, beautiful Saturday evening in Milwaukee. I also felt like my meal was fairly priced at $11.50, especially considering the fact that the wrap was big enough to yield leftovers. I had a wonderful dining experience overall, and an even better meal at Jackson’s Blue Ribbon Pub. I can’t wait to order something else from there when I return. Between the nice outdoor patio seating, arcade games inside and delicious food, Jackson’s Blue Ribbon Pub is an experience so much more than your typical sports bar. And who knows, maybe I’ll come back a bit richer and splurge on the giant pretzel.

Photo by Andrew Himmelberg

Make the MAC

Culture

LARSON SEAVER & ALY PROUTY

Move over, “mac and nugs” night. One Wisconsin-exclusive franchise does it better. Macaroni and Cheese Shop, affectionately known as MACS, has six locations across the dairy state, with one a mere 15 minutes from campus. And you guessed it; they serve indescribable cheesy dishes. 31 entree items fill MACS’ regular menu, and 21 are skillets brimming over with mac ‘n cheese. While a traditional macaroni dish spearheads the roundup, every other meal is a creative, culinary concoction. Taco Mac, Philly Mac, Veggie Mac, Hangover Mac and Buffalo Chicken Mac are just a few standout dishes. We created our own version of the Buffalo Chicken Mac so you can make one of our favorites at home. Ingredients 1 cup macaroni noodles 1/4 cup butte 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp salt Pepper (to taste) 2 cups milk 1 cup provolone cheese 1 cup mozzarella cheese Hot sauce Chicken Blue cheese crumbles

Photo via Public Domain Pictures

Directions Boil macaroni noodles until tender Grill chicken while macaroni cooks Drain macaroni Heat saucepan on low Melt butter on saucepan Stir in flour, salt and pepper Slowly pour in milk as you continue to stir Add provolone and mozzarella cheese Pour mixture onto macaroni and mix Add hot sauce to taste Cut up chicken and add to pasta mixture Garnish with blue cheese crumbles

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Photo by Andrew Himmelberg

“Like It Was Easy.” MORGAN HUGHES

“I

think I’m having a mental breakdown,” I sob into the receiver of my cell phone. It is the morning after my fifth consecutive night without sleep. The sun is rising and normally the soft, dry light would embolden me. But today, I am only exhausted. I can do nothing else but cry and curl into myself and beg the universe for the simple comfort of rest. I did not notice my body disappearing. I never appreciated the hard work my lungs were doing or the sprints my heart was running every day. I could not see my angles sharpening, my curves receding. Before I move further into the abstract, let me explain. I was wholly alive going into 2018. I was starting a new job, taking classes I enjoyed and falling back into the comfortable home I had carved out for myself at this university. I felt confident and powerful and proud. And then I stopped sleeping. Sleep has always been a point of contention between my mind and every other part of me. Insomnia is cyclical, and I was prepared to handle a fleeting bout of sleeplessness. But this time, the sleep did not cycle back. Next, I lost my appetite, and with it, my sharp focus. I lost weight. My breathing strained. My muscles were constantly fatigued after even short bursts of exertion. And yet, I saw no practical difference. When you grow out your hair, you never see the changes day to day, only over time. When your body starts consuming itself, it feels much the same. 70

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When these warning signs did finally move out of the periphery and into the unavoidable center of my world, I did not believe my body. I told myself it was all in my head. I was making myself sick. I believed I was giving myself excuses to be lazy, because if I was sick, that would mean going to the doctor, which was not something I could afford. I was barely in a position to pay my rent. For most of my life, my medical bills were covered by the government-funded Children’s Health Insurance Program, but when I turned 19 years old, I no longer qualified for the aid. Mental health concerns that had begun emerging around this time, as they often do in a person’s late teens and early 20s, were relegated backward. The loss of my health insurance also meant the loss of my ability to treat those concerns with any intention or regularity, which took its own, separate toll. When symptoms cropped up in April, it was easier to pretend they were not there at all. In just that one month, I dropped 20 pounds. I slept only two or three nights a week. I rarely left my apartment because I could not physically climb the stairs from the second to the first floor and back up again. I spent the night leading up to the morning I finally acknowledged I was not alright sobbing into my pillow, contorting and rearranging my frame into positions I hoped would lead to sleep. When the sun came up and I realized it would be another full day before I got the chance to try again, my body revolted. I had never had a panic attack. It felt like every tissue and

each of my bones was shifting in place. I thought I’d swallowed a razor blade in my sleep or that I was having a heart attack. Desperate, I called a relative who I knew was going to be in Milwaukee the next day. I told her I thought I was losing my mind, that I was dying. She told me to get some sleep, like it was easy. Of course we can’t expect other people to understand events that occur internally. She had no way of knowing. The point of this story is to explain what it feels like to navigate an illness without the institutional support of health insurance. The big takeaway should be denial, in that, when I got sick, I had to convince myself I was not. Eventually, my family got me to a doctor, and I did begin to feel normal again. But I am not as healthy as I was before, and I worry that this, too, is cyclical, that my brain will come back for my body and finish what it started. Security has always felt like an abstraction to me, and I will always want more of it than I have. But the purpose of this essay is not to reflect on my own experiences, but more to say here I am, this is my life, and somebody you know and care about might be in a similar situation, and they might not explain to you what is happening in their lives because you might not ever ask. There is no reason anyone would know that while dealing with the physical toll of an illness, I was also dealing with its financial implications. It’s not something that comes up unless I bring it up myself. I do now, often.

Perspective

MU U

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The Marquette Wire would like to thank MU Law Alumnus Mike Delzer and Delzer Lithograph Company for generously printing the Marquette Journal. You made our dreams come alive on the page.