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MONSTER MADNESS Werewolves and vampires and zombies, oh my! Why is the supernatural so darn appealing to us?
TRICKS OF THE TRADE The secret to landing a job following graduation is about more than GPA and involvement in activities.
BLACK CATS and
BROKEN MIRRORS It doesn’t have to be Friday the 13th for superstitions to fly, but they hold a deeper meaning than a desire to avoid bad luck.
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EDITORIAL
Writing Directors AMY REINHART ALEXANDRA WADE Reporting Assistant CHELSEA MODGLIN Writers KRISTINE ARNOLD GRAHAM CHATTIN MARAH FRANKLIN BRODIE GRESS CHRIS NORRIS MARISA PATWA DANIEL POELHUIS ANNA SHEFFER ANDREW SHERMAN
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Crescent Magazine | 04.2014
contents 10
FASCINATING PEOPLE | Amy Reinhart
12 14
FEATURE | Anna Sheffer
18
FEATURE | Daniel Poelhuis
24 03 Our Viewpoint 04 The Postscript 06 Innovation 08 First Time
This theatre performance major embodies the spirit of giving and works to make those around her feel special, especially her father.
Vampires and other supernatural beings are staples in modern culture. Why is society, especially the younger generation, attracted to them?
COVER STORY | Marisa Patwa Humans are naturally curious creatures and are continuously seeking out the meaning of the world around us. Superstitions are a way for us to explain that world — or just to avoid bad juju.
A solid GPA and extracurriculars look good on paper, but are they really what employers look for when seeking the best candidates?
OVERTIME | Andrew Sherman Being Ace Purple is definitely not all play, but freshman Jack Truman finds pleasure in being the man behind the mustache.
09 A Closer Look 16 Campus Crime 17 Q&A
21 22 26 28
Super Snaps Even the Score Off the Wall Half the Wit
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HOW TO CONTACT US Ridgway University Center, University of Evansville, 1800 Lincoln Ave., Evansville, Ind. 47722 Editorial e-mail: crescentmagazine@evansville.edu • Phone: (812) 488–2846 • FAX: (812) 488–2224 Marketing & Sales: (812) 488–2221 & 488–2223 • crescentadvertising@evansville.edu
CRESCENT MAGAZINE is the University of Evansville’s student magazine. It is written, edited and designed by and for UE students and published six times during the academic year. Circulation is 1,700, and it is distributed to 18 campus locations and housed online at www.issuu.com. It is funded through advertising sales and a subscription fee paid on behalf of students by the UE Student Government Association. Printed by Mar-Kel Printing, Newburgh, Ind. © 2014 Student Publications, University of Evansville. z EDITORIAL POLICY: Commentary expressed in unsigned editorials represents a consensus opinion of the magazine’s Editorial Board. Other columns, reviews, essays, articles and advertising are not necessarily the opinion of the CMEB or other members of staff. z LETTER SUBMISSIONS: Crescent Magazine welcomes letters from UE students, faculty, staff, administrators and alumni, but material the CMEB regards as libelous, malicious and/or obscene will not be published. Letters should not exceed 250 words. For verification, letters must include the author’s name, class standing or title and email address. Crescent Magazine does not print anonymous letters or those that cannot be verified. Letters will be edited as needed. Email letters to crescentmagazine@evansville.edu, with “letter” written in the subject line.
OUR
viewpoint
Chekhov’s Loaded Gun
Only censor violence for those who are sensitive to it. IF THERE IS A GUN IN THE FIRST ACT of a play, then it has to go off at some point before the curtain falls. This dramatic principle applies to all elements of a play to make sure only the most important aspects are ever emphasized. The presence of a gun is a harbinger of violence. Likewise, constant reminders of violence exacerbate the behavior of violent people. Censoring people from the horrors of the world is a separate issue, but if there are people who are more susceptible to their effects, we should work on their access to them. The portrayal of violence in popular culture can be done tastefully or even crassly if the situation permits it — HBO does it, as does director Quentin Tarantino — and people should be trusted to make their own decisions if they want to watch it. There is no reason to take violence out of entertainment. But we should work on reducing violence in the real world. There can be accidents. Children who are exposed to anything traumatic before they are mature enough to handle it can end up psychologically scarred. There have been incidents in which children find their parents’ weapons, hidden poorly somewhere in the house, and a regrettable situation ensues. But there are isolated incidents, and then there are significant indicators of natural tendencies. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry is adamant in its belief of the importance of early intervention and of monitoring a child after any violent episode. Some children are more likely to have vicious outbursts. We know serial killers show signs of deviant behavior in childhood, through incidents such as torturing animals and coldly threatening their parents. These facts show that certain people are more likely to be violent. A popular scapegoat for why some children are violent is the effect of video games on their psyche. But studies have never found that violent video games produce violent children. Certainly, there are correlations between the two, but after a multitude of research, nothing has been proven that says one causes the other. A 2014 study by Canada’s Brock University tried to answer that query but instead found that violent video games lead youth to become “morally immature.” The games may impede their moral development, but they do not cause them to become violent. But if a teenager excessively plays video games, this could indicate factors like poor
social development or already present anti-social behavior. The connection between video games and aggression is unproven and should not be used as an excuse for unnecessary censorship. Some people react worse to violence than other people; some are more sensitive to certain bodily functions, and others can handle more gruesome details. People are varied, and they should customize their own preferences for exposure to violence. Parents ultimately are the ones responsible for what their children view. They should know their children’s limits. Violence in entertainment causes shock. People who like to be shocked will watch Tarantino films, and those who prefer not to will tune in to a different director’s works. There is also an unhealthy stigma placed on those with mental illness and the idea that they are more violent. But in reality, mentally ill people are only responsible for 5 percent of all violent crimes, according to a 2006 study in the American Journal of Psychiatry. In fact, a 2003 article in the journal World Psychiatry reported that the major factors that lead to violence are being young, being male and having a lower socioeconomic status — not mental illness. Stigmatizing the mentally ill does nothing. But eyes do need to be kept on those factors that lead to unfortunate situations. Although the constant presence of violence is disturbing, the main problem is how it affects naturally violent people. If the presence of a gun means that violence is inevitable, it is only because someone will find a reason to use it. People are wary of a gun that is present in a production — a fictional setting — because it is implied that it will eventually be used. The audience is rightfully suspicious. But attention in the outside world should be placed on people’s motives for violence and not their exposure to violent media content. ••• This was a year of chances for Crescent Magazine — such as diving into more news, creating our biggest February issue ever and tackling our first themed issue in March. We took some risks, and the payoff was worth it. Thank you to our readers for sticking with us and helping us to make the magazine better than ever. And we couldn’t have done it without our dedicated staff. Thank you for countless hours of work and for dealing with the craziness. As we hand the reins to a new staff, we hope you’ll dare to keep standing out.
O N T H E CO V E R :
Special thanks to our cover model, sophomore Arjun Vernekar. photo by Amy Rabenberg
04.2014 | Crescent Magazine
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postscript
THE
04
Crescent Magazine | 04.2014
No End
by Graham Chattin
IN SIGHT
More and more, school shootings seem like a fixture of life. SCHOOL SHOOTINGS CREATE more questions than answers. With so much confusion, details and information become unclear. One important statistic that has been lost in the haze of misinformation is whether or not school shootings are actually on the rise. Regardless, it is important to try to understand the reasons behind the shootings in order to find a way to stop them. Nearly 140 school shootings occurred between 1980 and 2013, slate.com reported. After a spike in the ‘90s, the rate declined during the early 2000s and increased again between 2006 and 2010. There has been a sharp decline the past two years, but there have already been eight school shootings this year. This number is alarming, considering that even one school shooting is too many. So what could cause someone to commit this type of crime? Kevin Gray, associate professor of sociology and criminal justice, and Mark Kopta, professor of psychology, both agreed that behavioral issues that lead to school shootings are usually linked to family issues, such as divorce, abuse or a lack of attention. Sgt. Jason Cullum of the Evansville Police Department said it is important for parents to watch for odd behavior in their children. Family changes can cause sadness and anger in children, and they do not always know how to deal with these emotions. “Children, when they are younger, don’t get depressed like adults where they want to stay in bed,” Kopta said. “Children who are angry act out.” Kopta said mental illness also plays a major role in the violence. He believes many school shooters are under the psychological classification of “dangerous, depressed neurotics.” This group is characterized by
depression, outward anger, loneliness and exposure to violent media and weaponry. Mental illness often does not receive the attention that physical illness does. Gray said to many hopeless youth, a crime like this might seem like the only option. Gun regulation is another issue that has received much media attention. Thanks to continued manufacturing and longer-lasting models, more guns are available than in the past, and in some areas, they are easy to obtain illegally. “I honestly feel that if someone wanted to get a gun, they could,” Cullum said. He said gun acquisition is another area where parents should be watchful. In many cases, shooters will store the guns they use in their parents’ house before committing the crime. Even though there are some major factors that contribute to school shootings, they are not all alike. While most school shooters are white males with suburban backgrounds, their motives vary. Gray said school shooters could be divided into three main groups. Many act out of vengeance and target those bullies they believe have wronged them. Others are mad at the world and take out their anger by killing at random. The last group is driven by fame. The 24-hour news cycle covers school shootings intensely. This group of shooters sees the shootings as a competition and believes the “winner” will be remembered. Gray thinks shooters should not receive the media attention they do. “If that’s why people are doing it, we don’t want to feed that,” he said. School shootings seemed to have tapered off in the past few years, but 2014 has been troublesome. There is still no clear solution to the problem, but Cullum said school programs that discourage violence, along with early identification of threats, are crucial in preventing shootings. “If you wait until the shooter is in your hallway, you’ve waited too long,” he said.
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04.2014 11.2012| lCrescent CrescentMagazine Magazine 055
innovation
SCIENCE
06
Crescent Magazine | 04.2014
by Chelsea Modglin photo by Samantha Cook
DARK
FORCES
Two students on the hunt for dark matter. INSTEAD OF CHASING “THE LIGHT,” senior Shaun Steele and junior Paige Shevlin are going after something dark — dark matter. It is “dark” because, unlike other matter, we can’t see it. But we know the dark matter is there because the gravitational effect it has on stars and galaxies keeps them from falling apart and makes them spin at great rates. Scientists are not sure what dark matter is made of, but their best guess is weakly interacting massive particles, or WIMPs. “[Dark matter] is weird,” Shevlin said. “It is super cool to think of how much we don’t actually know yet.” Shevlin and Steele are part of Cryogenic Dark Matter Search, an international collaboration to discover dark matter. They use underground detectors in hopes that a WIMP will interact with them and cause an “event,” a detectable difference in the data. “That’s one of the bigger reasons for detecting dark matter — to better explain why we see a lot of things happening,” Steele said. “We see all these reasons for it to be there. And if it’s not there, then there’s something else that we don’t understand at all, which is exciting. That’s what physics is all about — finding out what you don’t know.” These physics majors have different roles in the project. Steele analyzes data from simulations to determine what researchers should expect from real-life experiments, helping them know the differences between the particles that interact with the detectors. Shevlin did data quality work last summer, finding and removing the “noise,” or useless background events. She and Angela Reisetter, assistant professor of physics, will look at the noise-free data for events that might be dark matter this summer. “This is just a matter of finding out what the universe is made of,” Reisetter said. “We know that dark matter is made up of particles, but not those we know. Dark matter is likely one of the first handles on what is beyond the standard model [of particle physics].”
FIGHT FOR THE LAST DESSERT
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04.2014 | Crescent Magazine
07
I’m Not the Champion
At this gym, anyone can be a contender.
firsttime
PUNCHING SOMEONE IN THE FACE feels great.
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Crescent Magazine | 04.2014
Like, Catholic guilt-inducing great. Having sampled gentler pastimes like knitting and tanning, I found roaring while pummeling a guy’s abs and trying to hospitalize him to be a tad more visceral. No, I was not street fighting. I was boxing at Rock’em Sock’em Boxing & Kickboxing, 325 W. Louisiana St. I’ve wanted to box since some friends and I failed to start a fight club in high school. On the phone setting up an appointment, I gave gym owner Danny Thomas my name. He didn’t use it. “Hey, champ, how you doing? You want to learn boxing, champ? Sure thing, champ. Wednesday at 7, champ. See you then, champ.” Driving down a sparsely lit street with a hospital nearby, I found the boxing gym, which was a house with Rock’em Sock’em painted on the side. Dodging pedestrians, I parked and entered. In one room, I saw a photo collage of children and seniors, men and women, each posing with Thomas’ gold belt. Further in, I found a boxing ring in the garage. A child was doing pushups, and another jabbed a bag. A TV mounted on the wall aired a boxing bout on loop. At his desk, Thomas was eating fries and browsing Facebook. When we met, I asked him when I’d get to box. He directed me to a jump rope rack. I had not exercised with jump ropes since I ran track in high school. I grabbed one, jumped, stumbled, wrapped my foot in the cord and then repeated. While jumping, my skull boxed my brain to a headache. A horn blared three minutes later. “Time!” Thomas needlessly shouted. His assistant told my sweating mess of limbs it had two more rounds to go. Next came ring work, which was galloping around the ring. This wasn’t so hard. I could even keep up with the middle-aged doctor in front of me. The horn blared. “Time!” Thomas shouted again. I ran an obstacle course next. As I huffed and puffed, a nearby client was on the phone trying to persuade his sick friend to come box. “Tell him you’ll knock the flu out of him!” Thomas advised. Next was bag work: power jabs, hooks and swings. My knuckles, already red from exertion, began to bruise. I felt like I had just finished an Insanity workout, and it did not feel good. But instead of weightlifting next, I asked Thomas if I could box, something first-timers didn’t usually do. “OK,” he said. “Hey, King, you need defense practice, right?”
I noticed a man in baggy clothes doing jump rope tricks. He took his sweatshirt off, and a young George Foreman stepped out. In response to challenges such as fighting menacing hulks, Thomas believes the first step is self-confidence. He said when he addresses children as “champ,” they always grin in surprised delight. I decided to try to champ on. “You know who that kid is?” The guy binding gloves on me nodded toward young George Foreman. “That’s the King. He’s a pro boxer.” “I can take him,” I feigned. Entering the ring, I faced my opponent, who was bouncing on the balls of his feet. I mimicked him, or at least tried. The horn blared. “Time!” Approaching him, I swung. He dodged. I swung again. Miss. Swing. Miss. Swing swing. Miss miss. Onlookers asked me to bite his ear off. David “King” Thomas is Thomas’ son and pupil. If he was anything like his dad, who once was Mike Tyson’s sparring partner, I knew my chances of winning were slim, to say the least. Several times, David just stood still and let me hit him. I tried my best to kill him. “Harder, harder!” he said. The horn blared. My second round had me gasping every 10 seconds. As “defense,” he would grab my ribs and shove me against the ring. My fists uselessly swatted at his head, and my life flashed before my eyes. That got old about the third time it happened. A minute into our last round, David played dizzy, setting up a knockout for me. I aimed an uppercut at his chin and swung for victory. I nicked him. He spun around and faked a collapse. Close enough, I thought. The gym is open 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Monday–Friday and 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday. Cost is $5 a session, with a $30 deal for a month of unlimited sessions. Thomas can be reached at 812–549–7370. Callers should prepare for a rechristening. Though I failed in my first bout, Thomas did tell me I was one of the few who made it past the bag work on their first day. So, while posing with his gold belt for a picture, I decided his attitude could help anyone doing anything for the first time. And before I left, he gave me my receipt: a napkin with the transaction scribbled on it. Probably the closest thing to street cred I’ll ever get.
brodie gress | reviewer
ly after 23 years of doing it. But Tony Beavers, professor of philosophy and chair of the Philosophy and Religion department, as well as director of the Cognitive Science program, still loves teaching after all these years. Becoming a professor was a goal since his college days, and he fosters that same sort of zeal in his own students. Teaching philosophy was not Beavers’ first choice. As an undergraduate at Trinity College, he was a classics major. He thought it was a good fit, but someone else thought Beavers would like philosophy more. The hunch was correct. He went on to earn his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate in philosophy. Beavers also attended seminary for five years, planning to join the
I AM
A TEACHER
priesthood. Although he is a third order Benedictine monk, he ultimately decided to be a teacher. He did not want to “baby-sit” younger students and felt that graduate students were stuck in their heads. But he found undergraduates interesting. “It’s fascinating for me to watch the transformation from a big kid to a young adult,” he said. “They’re engaging and fun to spend time with.” He said he wanted to teach at a small, private Midwestern university and found UE after three semesters as a visiting lecturer at the University of Texas. His eagerness to engage leads him to build courses that attract curious students. He describes his classes as a mix of lessons and stand-up comedy and admits that his teaching style makes him either loved or hated. But he does not mind the extremes. He wants his students to understand the issues his courses cover, not just perform for a grade. Beavers said he hopes students finish his courses with an understanding of issues and a sense of concern for the future. He said it belongs to students, and he wants them to be prepared for it. “I think the students of your generation are about to face the biggest problems in humanity,” Beavers said, “and I want them to leave my classes aware of these problems — and maybe a little equipped to deal with them.” Beavers’ dedication to his students was one reason he refused to complete the prioritization report, a university-wide mandate required of all department and program directors. He said the worst teaching he ever did was last semester when the process was distracting him. He said he completed a personal prioritization while on Winter Break and found that his health topped the list, followed by his students, his profession, his colleagues and then UE. He promised himself that the prioritization process would no longer get in the way of his teaching. “I think education is so important that we don’t have the luxury to put it second,” Beavers said. He understands the process may be necessary but also wants professors back in their classrooms. He is a teacher at heart and in mind and has fully dedicated himself to his students and courses this semester. “I’m glad that President [Tom] Kazee has the financial well-being of this university first and foremost in his mind,” Beavers said. “But I think that if I do, I’m not doing my job.”
LOOK
acloser
IT IS RARE TO MEET A PERSON who finds such joy in his job, especial-
by Alexandra Wade photo by Samantha Cook
04.2014 | Crescent Magazine
09
PEOPLE
fascinating
IT’S REALLY HARD TO FIND PEOPLE WHO POUR THEIR HEARTS OUT for others. But for some, giving their all just comes naturally. And senior Kelsey Miller has worked especially hard to better the life of someone extra special in her life: her dad. “[Our relationship] is indescribable in the way that I feel so close to [him],” she said. “Papa John” Miller suffered a stroke in November 2012, and the family soon faced a mountain of medical bills after his 20-day stay in intensive care. The stroke profoundly affected his health; he can no longer move the right side of his body, and he struggles to comprehend some things. But Kelsey said one thing her dad understands is the importance of living. “He gets life so much better than anyone else,” said the theatre performance major and Evansville native. “I’ve been so inspired. I’m grateful that it happened since it saved so many things that were dwindling out of my life. He’s like an angel; he really is.”
A GIVING SPIRIT Putting others first and making them feel special is a lifestyle for this humble senior. by Amy Reinhart photo by Samantha Cook
“[Kelsey] has seen adversity, and it has opened her eyes to how fragile things are.”
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Crescent Magazine | 04.2014
The family moved to a smaller house after Papa John’s stroke, and Kelsey’s mother took on a full-time job. Kelsey’s older brothers also contributed, but money was hard to come by for the family and especially for Kelsey because she is a full-time student. Rather than stand by feeling sorry for herself and pitying her father’s condition, Kelsey took action. “I felt helpless because I couldn’t give anything,” she said, “but I could give a live performance.” That’s when the idea of a benefit concert came to mind. Kelsey called on her family, friends from the theatre program and others at Jan’s School of Dance, where she teaches. Her boyfriend, USI senior Alex Jenison, put his advertising skills to work and made posters for the event. Kelsey had no idea how many people would come to the concert, especially since she had started organizing it only about a month in advance of the performance date. But last July, every seat in May Studio was filled, with standing room only on the sides and in the balcony. “It was the most energized room I had felt in so long,” Kelsey said, “and I think I learned a lot about [my dad] because those were some of our darkest days.” Perhaps the most special moment for Kelsey was when she and Alex performed “Hallelujah.” Alex learned the guitar chords, and they practiced beforehand for Kelsey’s father, who used to play guitar himself. But Kelsey couldn’t look her father in the eyes during the actual performance. “It was really special to be able to share that moment with him,” she said. The concert went off without a hitch, raising about $2,000 for Papa John’s care. Alex said the response Kelsey received touched her. “It was something special for her to see the impact John has had and how people in the community love her as well,” he said. While that was a special day for her father, Kelsey wants those around her to feel special in general as well. For all opening and closing nights for
UE theatre productions, Kelsey shows her appreciation for the cast and crew by decorating the dressing room and showering friends with gifts. She understands the opening night jitters that come with any new performance and the hopes that the audience will enjoy the production. She remembered how her mother, who Kelsey calls her No. 1 fan, would give her a bear from Build-ABear Workshop wearing the same outfit as Kelsey’s character before her theater performances at Central High School. “It made me feel special,” she said, “and I remembered how much I loved that feeling, so I try to do that for people.” That same concept applies to birthdays. Kelsey takes the time to come up with special somethings to give people that actually have meaning. Alex is a perfect example of how considerate Kelsey can be — she gave him a tie and jersey from his favorite European football team, the Arsenal Football Club. “For every birthday, she’s very thoughtful, so she tries to make sure there’s something special every benchmark of the day,” senior Julie Adamo said. “And she asks for zero, zip, in return, which is frustrating as a friend. She requires nothing in return from you.” While Kelsey works hard to make everyone around her feel important, she refrains from focusing on herself, remaining humble instead. Her gratefulness has stemmed from her struggles of the last couple of years. “She never feels she’s entitled to anything, which is refreshing for theatre majors,” Julie said. “She has seen adversity, and it has opened her eyes to how fragile things are and that you can’t take things for granted.” When she isn’t bringing delight to other people’s lives, Kelsey can be found giving her all onstage. She started dance lessons at age 3 and began taking voice lessons in the sixth grade. But she did not get serious about theater until about the eighth grade. Kelsey has already created a legacy at UE. She choreographed “Romeo and Juliet” last season and did the same for this month’s “As You Like It.” She appeared as a fairy in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in 2010, Dainty June in 2011’s “Gypsy” and Mrs. Lovett in 2013’s “Sweeney Todd,” the latter of which pushed her to her limits. “It challenged me in all aspects,” Kelsey said. “During it, I was so nervous and I was like, ‘God, I suck!’ But now, looking back, I’m so grateful for the experience.” Although Kelsey had experience singing and dancing prior to college, she wanted to brush up on her acting at UE. Her hard work has paid off. “She’s an all-star dancer, has the most beautiful voice and can bring you to tears,” Julie said. “She’s a real triple threat.” Kelsey doesn’t know where life will take her. She has auditioned for graduate schools, including the University of California-Irvine, and would also like to travel and visit New York. She has even toyed with the idea of performing for a cruise ship company, but no matter what she ends up doing, everything comes back to her biggest inspiration in life: her father. “Acting is a personal relationship and dynamic that happens between people,” she said. “I could not be more thankful and blessed for how he is now, but the way he deals with it is so positive and inspiring.” 04.2014 l Crescent Magazine
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FEATURE
M
From Frankenstein’s monster to Twilight’s Edward Cullen, beasts have always been prominent in society. But what makes these beings so appealing? by Anna Sheffer
ONSTER MADNESS
TWILIGHT’S EDWARD CULLEN and Frankenstein’s monster
are distantly related. Creatures like them — monsters, vampires, zombies, werewolves and more — are commonplace in popular culture. But it seems people have always been obsessed with the supernatural. From 1992’s “Nosferatu” to TV’s “The Vampire Diaries,” the genre has peristed an ongoing fascination. Supernatural creatures have existed in popular myth for centuries. Some of the earliest monster legends involved werewolves, giants and vampires. Early monsters were threatening figures that ate people and often served as warnings. In some cases, monsters were used to explain bizarre murders. “It’s kind of the same way we get Greek gods and things like that,” said Tiffany Griffith, assistant professor of First-Year Seminar. “People are looking to explain why things happen.” Like many elements of myth, monsters made their way into literature. Long before Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” series fad, supernatural elements were being incorporated into works that are now considered classics and not necessarily pulp fiction. Rob Griffith, professor of creative writing, said there are examples of the supernatural in classic works by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allan Poe, William Shakespeare — even Homer. “There’s all kinds of stuff in the canon that we don’t think is paranormal, but it is,” he said. In modern culture, monsters — especially vampires — have become romanticized. Box Office Mojo reports that 2010’s “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” grossed more than $300 million, making it the U.S.’s third highest-grossing romance film of all time, behind 1997’s “Titanic” and 1994’s “Forrest Gump.” Paranormal romance is now its own subgenre, and many series have capitalized on the abundance of new readers. Romance Writers of America reports that paranormal romance is preferred by 18 percent of readers, and the science fiction/fantasy romance
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Crescent Magazine | 04.2014
genre as a whole made a whopping $590.2 million in 2012. Undead, fanged monsters may not be everyone’s idea of great lovers, but Tiffany Griffith said many vampires are attractive in their mystery. “[They’re] pretty much the ultimate bad boy,” she said. Some of the most famous depictions of vampires are alluring in their edginess. English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s 1816 poem “Christabel” features a female demon who tricks Christabel into letting her into her home. The 1897 classic “Dracula” and John Polidori’s 1819 novella “The Vampyre” also feature romantic depictions of vampires. Dracula wooed women long before Edward Cullen got around to it. Monsters are not just getting sexier. Senior Sean Esson has noticed a recent tendency to humanize monsters on TV. He said making monsters more like humans takes away part of the enjoyment of discovering what they are and why they are different. He argued this takes away from their original purpose. “[Monsters] are the evil that needs to be overcome,” he said, “and some of that needs to be retained. In their goal to make it more accessible, they take things out that attracted people to [the supernatural].” The allure behind supernatural stories may be psychological. Stephen T. Asma asserts in his 2009 article “Monsters and the Moral Imagination” that monster stories reflect our feelings of vulnerability and the dark side of our psyches. The 1886 novel “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” draws this comparison; Hyde is a manifestation of Jekyll’s inner evil. But the duality of human nature is often treated indirectly within monster narratives. Rob Griffith suggested monsters often are used as metaphors for negative human attributes. “The monster becomes a part of our flaws we get to exploit more fully,” he said.
What draws humans to supernatural storylines may be an obsession with mortality. Maggie Stevenson, assistant professor of psychology, said humans’ survival instincts lead to a fascination with immortality. “It could be fear of mortality and humans’ attempt to deal with [it],” she said. Fictional vampires remind us of our mortality. As immortal, sexy bloodsuckers, vampires embody many of the impulses that Sigmund Freud characterized as belonging to the id, or the primal part of human personality. The id is preoccupied with our most basic needs, such as sex and death. And even though we love to read about sex and death, there are some aspects of paranormal romance that are not as appealing. Stevenson found the “Twilight” series to feature stereotypical gender roles. She described Edward as benevolently sexist toward the protagonist, Bella, and said the series gives teens unfair expectations of men. Men are not heroes — or too-good-to-be-true monsters — but human. “It sends a disappointing message to teens who think they can find an Edward,” she said. Supernatural fiction and TV, especially paranormal romance, get a bad reputation based on series like “Twilight.” Junior Leslie Trotter said she has been accused of only watching supernatural TV because of attractive male leads. And Esson said fans of these shows are usually perceived as nerdy and obsessive. He said supernatural shows do have small, involved fan bases, but so do other things that people like. Not all supernatural fiction is shallow. Sometimes stories that involve monsters or magic can communicate ideas that other mediums cannot. Rob Griffith said part of what makes supernatural fiction so good is the way it allows us to deal with caricatures of good versus evil. A successful book containing supernatural elements will also retain elements that make realist novels good. It will feature interesting characters doing interesting things. He said the best books that incorporate supernatural features also have a healthy amount of psychological realism — readers want to identify with the characters, so they should be relatable and well-rounded. “The good stuff won’t just entertain,” he said. “Like all good literature, it will enlighten.” An engaging story is as important to the quality of a show or book as its underlying message. Trotter watches many supernatural TV shows, including “The Vampire Diaries” and “Supernatural,” and said the twists and turns of the shows’ plots keep her coming back for more. “They always have a good storyline that can continue on,” she said. “It’s like a never-ending domino effect.” Esson enjoys the unique worlds in supernatural fiction and TV shows. Shows such as “The Dresden Files” that incorporate magical elements into familiar settings are his favorites, and he likes the sense of wonder that results from combining the real with the supernatural. “It challenges our sense of reality,” he said. “It does what all great fiction does: lets us escape.” One thing is for sure about supernatural fiction: it knows how to grip the public. And while it might not be considered the most sophisticated, it’s enjoyable, and that’s all that matters for fans. “It’s just fun,” Rob Griffith said. “People like speculative fiction. They like the ‘what if.’” 04.2014 | Crescent Magazine
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COVER STORY
by Marisa Patwa
BLACK CATS AND
BROKEN MIRRORS Although superstitions seem irrational, magical thinking offers comfort when reality cannot. THOUGH SOME PEOPLE will say they do
not believe it, they still balk at saying “Bloody Mary” in the mirror three times, fearing she might actually appear. Others don’t share their birthday wish after blowing out their candles because if they do, the wish will not come true. People regularly refuse to walk under a ladder for fear of the bad luck that will befall them. Actors never say the word Macbeth in a theater because they believe it also will bring bad luck. Many people believe the camera captures the soul, but if you are having your picture taken with three people, never be the one in the middle because that person will be the first of the three to die. 14
Crescent Magazine | 04.2014
Everything happens for a reason, right? Superstitions are the belief that performing a certain type of behavior can affect a specific outcome. These beliefs come from the natural human need to seek out patterns. People commonly practice superstitions in the hopes of gaining control or influence over something in their lives — whether the beliefs are rational or not. Conditioned superstitions can be eccentric, impractical and overly cautious habits. Tiger Woods often wears a red golf shirt during his PGA tournaments because his mother once told him it is his lucky color. When getting on an airplane, Jennifer Aniston has to go on with her right foot first and
tap the outside of the plane for good luck. Megan Fox always listens to Britney Spears when flying because she believes it is not her destiny to die while listening to the pop star sing. Tennis great Serena Williams always brings her shower sandals to the court with her, ties her shoelaces in a certain way and bounces the ball five times before her first serve and twice before her second. And Coldplay’s Chris Martin will not go onstage without brushing his teeth first because he thinks it will help him hit the correct notes. Some truly believe that carrying out certain superstitions will affect something in their lives, while others half-heartedly do. Some superstitions are taught from birth, while others
are created to give people a sense of hope. People practice superstitions in varying degrees all over the world. A Japanese superstition is that if a person whistles during the night, a snake will suddenly appear. In Russia, if a bird poops on you, your car or your property, it’s good luck and may bring you riches. The Turkish believe that if you are chewing gum at night, you are actually chewing the flesh of the dead. And in Thailand, it is considered good luck for a man to wear a penis medallion because it is thought to protect him from muggings and make him irresistible to women. Superstitions were viewed as magical practices until the 1950s, but psychologists have been studying them in increasing numbers since and have found differently. Eric Hamerman, assistant professor of marketing at Tulane’s Freeman School of Business, said one thing they have found is that superstitions create a comforting placebo effect for people under pressure. It begins when a person tries something new. If someone who normally drinks Monster, for example, has an incredible day when he randomly drinks Red Bull instead, he will likely associate a positive feeling with Red Bull. “In general, we tend to attribute outcomes to ourselves,” Hamerman said. “We assume it’s something we’ve done.” Newfound Red Bull drinkers might then consume it when they want to control something in their lives. Taking a sip or two before an exam or job interview could give them the enhancement they need to believe they can succeed. “I think [superstitions] make people feel more confident,” Hamerman said, “and when you’re more confident, you do better.” Michael Shermer, author of “The Believing Brain: From Ghosts and Gods to Politics and Conspiracies — How We Construct Beliefs and Reinforce Them as Truths,” said the neurochemical dopamine is released in the brain when a superstitious pattern is solidified. The psychological benefits can overcrowd a person’s judgment, causing him or her to retain a superstition regardless of whether it is logical or not. These benefits usually only occur if people have actively contributed to their own good fortune. They might wear the same shirt again to take a test, hoping to do well because they did so when they wore it before, and they might succeed again because of the extra confidence boost. “It’s the rational use of irrationality,” said
Matthew Hutson, author of “The 7 Laws of Magical Thinking: How Irrational Beliefs Keep Us Happy, Healthy and Sane.” But superstitious notions that people have no control over can also produce psychological benefits if the beliefs are validated. Not all sports fans wear their favorite team’s clothing over and over again simply because they are fans; some do so because they are superstitious. If someone’s favorite sports team, for example, wins while he is wearing a lucky jersey, dopamine will be released simply due to the confirmation of the superstition, and that person will wear the jersey again. Jennifer Whitson, assistant professor of management at the University of Texas, said people also practice superstitions because they have had them hammered into their psyches since birth. Some superstitions are passed on generationally through myths, legends, fairy tales and childhood lessons. Superstitions easily influence people because they are usually simple. “Lots of superstitions are low cost, minor and do not take much effort,” she said. Triskaidekaphobia, the fear of the number 13, is one of the most practiced superstitions in Western culture since many buildings do not label a floor 13. Couple Friday with 13 and you have paraskevidekatriaphobia. According to North Carolina’s Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute, about 17 million people fear Friday the 13th. Friday has long been viewed as an unlucky day because Jesus is believed to have died on a Friday, and some biblical scholars believe Eve tempted Adam with the forbidden fruit on a Friday. A November 2013 The Wall Street Journal article reported that 10,000 fewer people fly on Fridays dated the 13th because they fear the day. And U.S. businesses also generate less revenue on those Fridays compared to other Fridays. There are various notions as to why some people view the number 13 as unlucky. Many of the reasons are biblical, with one of the more popular reasons being that Judas was the 13th apostle present at the Last Supper. There is also the possibility that someone just really didn’t like the number 13 and through word of mouth and years of dramatization, millions of people have grown to believe one insignificant number is unlucky. This, along with other well-known superstitions, has stayed with us through the ages. “Once they become entrenched and they have been around for generations, we don’t
V E RY
S U P E R ST I T I O U S
“
I always put my left shoe on first. Even if I can’t find the left shoe, I wait until I can to put it on.” — Anna Witt, junior
“
I have to repeat the exact same moves every time I’m on the diving board, or I’m afraid I’ll fail.” — Alex Hart, freshman
“
It’s an old wives’ tale I heard when I was little. It goes that if you breathe while passing through a cemetery, ghosts can hitch a ride with you.” — Elizabeth Coons, junior
“
If something really good is happening in my life, I’ll keep my phone background the same, but if something bad happens, I have to change it.” — Sam Dowd, freshman
“
I don’t like to walk under stairs. I always figured it would be bad luck or something.” — Tara Ramer, senior
04.2014 | Crescent Magazine
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question them,” Whitson said. “People like rules and routines.” Hutson said superstitious behavior might arise during turbulent times like war, epidemics and recessions. He said as unemployment rose from 1812 to 1940 in Germany, the number of astrology ads in newspapers also rose. During times of insecurity, people look to any form of hope they can find. “People become more superstitious in times of uncertainty,” Hutson said. “It’s easy to feel out of control during economic hardship.” Richard Sosis, professor of anthropology at the University of Connecticut, conducted research on women residing in Safed, Israel, during the Second Intifada, the Palestinian uprising that started in September 2000 and continued for years. He found a correlation between women reciting psalms, the violence going on around them and their overall happiness. Women who did not recite psalms experienced more anxiety and fear. The 36 percent who did recite them had reduced anxiety and were more comfortable in social situations. They believed the psalms gave them relief. Vulnerability also plays a role in some peo-
campus crime The following information was compiled from criminal offense reports filed Feb. 18–March 26 in Safety & Security. March 23 — Student found intoxicated as he tried to force his way into a non-UE house on Weinbach. Evansville Police notified and student arrested. Also referred to the vice president for Student Affairs for disciplinary action. March 22 — Eleven students and three non-students found in possession of alcohol in North Hall, second floor. Students referred to the vice president for Student Affairs for disciplinary action. Non-students banned from returning to campus by Safety & Security. March 3 — Cash and personal items stolen from a car parked in J-lot. Loss reported at $50. Feb. 24 — Medicine and cash stolen from a Hale Hall third floor room. No loss reported. Feb. 23 — Five non-students found smoking marijuana in A-lot. EPD notified and offenders banned from returning to campus. Feb. 21 — Non-student stole a book from the UE Bookstore. Banned from returning to campus by Safety & Security. Feb. 20 — Student found smoking marijuana in C-lot. Referred to the vice president for Student Affairs for disciplinary action. 16
Crescent Magazine | 04.2014
ple’s superstitious beliefs and practice of rituals. For Hall of Fame baseball player Wade Boggs, superstitions consumed his career. Stuart Vyse, author of “Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition,” noted that Boggs’ pregame ritual took five hours to complete. It included grounder’s drills with him stepping on third, second and first base, then taking two steps in the first-base coaching box and then jogging to the dugout in four strides. At exactly the same time before each game, Boggs would run wind sprints in the outfield before stepping into the batter’s box and using his bat to write a Hebrew word in the dirt.
He also ate chicken every day for 20 years because he thought it would help him play better. He even published a chicken recipe cookbook. Boggs was adamant that his rituals helped him to become one of the best baseball players of all time. And all it took was a bat, a ball and a whole lot of chicken. Like Boggs, some people try to manipulate an outcome in their lives through superstitions and believe they work. Others just use them to provide a sense of comfort. But regardless of their effects or whether one believes in them or not, these things are clear — never cross the path of a black cat or open your umbrella inside.
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q&a
INTERVIEW
6 QUESTIONS Amy Rabenberg /Crescent Magazine
Addressing concerns about prioritization, facility quality and enrollment. Tom Kazee, president Q: How do you reassure students from smaller departments that theirs will remain? A: Just because it has few students doesn’t mean it’s in jeopardy. Programs fall into three areas. The first we think could benefit from more investment; it’s aligned with the UE mission and could be stronger. Programs in the middle are fine. The third is programs we would reduce or eliminate. I can assure students if a program were eliminated — a big ‘if’ because I don’t know that any will be — we would ensure they’re able to complete their studies here.
Q: What is UE doing to recruit students? A: Enrollment from fall to spring was 54 students higher than expected due to high retention, transfers and internationals. We’ve recruited a fourth of the fall class. Numbers look strong. We announced for next year a program called the Loan Repayment Assistance Program, which helps repay loans at no cost. If students make $37,000 a year or less, LRAP reimburses all or part of the loans. We have the Major Cities strategy. Faculty and Admission counselors descend on a city. It’s a wonderful opportunity to speak to prospective students who hear
about Harlaxton and academic programs, and it is making a difference. We’re creating a program to bring high school counselors to UE.
Q: If pre-professional programs are becoming more popular, what does that mean for UE? A: I think the interest is due to economic anxiety. We could invest in a program because demand is going up now, but in 2020 it could dry up — you can’t fill those seats. The magic at UE is that it’s built on liberal arts. That puts you above students without that exposure. If we abandon that, we should hand the keys to somebody else.
Q: IMPACT has lost meaning for many students. What effect is it having on UE? A: Any campaign about UE’s story will lose its zing. That doesn’t mean it’s ineffective. IMPACT has six points, but we want to narrow it to what about UE is compelling — personal results. It allows us to tell stories about students whose lives have been transformed.
Q: What is UE doing about the condition of the pool and tennis courts? A: We discovered the pool’s roof was
failing. Some support structure had eroded, so it needed to close. We brought in engineers and are developing a plan. Our intention is to have it done this summer. We’re looking at long-term renovation to Carson Center and don’t want to tear the pool or the tennis courts up later. Ideally we’d blend it into the overall renovation. We can’t spend an inordinate amount of money on the tennis courts. A Carson renovation that includes fitness facilities and integration of the health sciences would likely use the land where the courts are. We’d have to find another location.
Q: Do you still enjoy being president? A: Every day. Enrollment is challenging, and there is concern about affordability, but with those challenges comes higher satisfaction with meeting them. A friend said if you become frustrated, walk around and talk to people. You’ve got to get out of your office to realize UE betters students’ lives. Plus there are fun elements. I’ve been to Harlaxton four times and can’t tell you how energizing it is to see what it means to people. I love going to theatre productions and to Ford Center to see our teams. I’m having a good time. 04.2014 | Crescent Magazine
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GETTING A LEG UP
T
RICKS RADE ofthe
by Daniel Poelhuis
There is no substitute for effort when trying to satisfy potential employers.
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Crescent Magazine | 04.2014
C
ommencement is less than a month away, which evokes either feelings of elation or terror in graduating students and freshmen alike. The job market awaits, ready to absorb those looking for experience or chew up a new crop of graduates before spitting them out into their parents’ basements. But the job search doesn’t have to be terrifying. There are ways to prepare before graduation to improve chances of having a job after the big day, and there are some tricks everyone should be aware of, whether they are starting their college experience or jumping out into the real world.
In this economy, it is tough to guess what employers are actually looking for when they skim resumes. Is it a long list of clubs and activities backed by a 4.0 GPA, or is the secret to job acquisition something else? Preparing to be attractive to potential employers begins well before graduation. Students can get a leg up by making sure they are working toward a few specific goals during college. Acquiring skills is the first step to becoming employed. Emily Saunders, talent acquisition manager for Berry Plastics, said the first thing her company does when reviewing resumes is compare the skills needed for the job with those shown on applications. Job candidates can make themselves more desirable by acquiring useful skills through academic or professional experience. “If we have 10 candidates and 10 resumes in front of us, the people that stand out are the ones that have the most relevant skills to the position,” Saunders said. But an excellent skill set by itself often is not enough to secure a job. Personal abilities that can be shown off in an interview are only secondary, and connections are a key factor in even the best job markets. “We get most of our hires through employee referrals,” said Suzanne Fant, St. Mary’s Medical Center human resources and development manager. “That shows you that networking and community are very important.”
INTERNSHIPS & EXPERIENCE When one is looking to show off important skills and build connections, internships are the best avenues available. Human resources professionals claim that quality internships are essential to preparing people for the job market, and careerbuilder.com points out that some top firms only hire from their internship pools. “As an intern, you’re gaining something out of it — skills and experience you may not have been able to get otherwise,” said Gina Hermann, associate director of U.S. talent acquisition and inclusion at Mead Johnson Nutrition. Forbes states there is no such thing as getting started too early on the internship front, and HR professionals agree. Saunders said students should look for internships starting their freshman year and try to have one every summer during college. She cautioned that internships should grant students useful work
experience in order to be worthwhile. On the other hand, Forbes claims even a poor quality internship at a large brand name company can create opportunities that otherwise may have remained closed. Multiple hiring professionals also mentioned the importance of extracurricular activities and community service. Saunders said these kinds of activities show that the student is driven to succeed. A solid resume presents all that hard work to employers. Their advice — leave no extracurricular or class project out, and include part-time jobs, Greek life positions and, of course, internships. “Your resume is your chance to sell yourself,” Hermann said, “so use everything you can.” It also is important to flesh out those activities. For example, always state how many hours per week you worked. If you ever had to train new workers for a part-time job, also include that. For fundraising positions, state how much money was raised and if it was an increase over previous years. If one’s suggestion resulted in an improvement in any area, add that as well.
CHECK & RECHECK Finally, be sure to double-check your resume for spelling and grammar mistakes. “The key point on [resume preparation] is making sure you spend some time putting together a clean and effective resume,” Hermann said. Submitting the resume is more complicated than clicking a button. Most companies have their own online application form, and while attaching a prepared resume may be an option, it could be ignored. But the work done to prepare in advance will still pay off. It is essential to fill out all components of an online application, and having a resume as a template from which to model will make that simpler. “My recommendation is always to not have a one-size-fits-all resume,” Saunders said. “Take the [job] description, print it out and use the key words to tailor the resume to the activities you have from the past.” That means researching online and modifying the template, whether sending in a resume or reapplying it to a company’s online application format. Employers will then contact applicants they believe are qualified. Perhaps the most daunting part of the process is the interview. Even if the job only requires business casual, Hermann said to come
well-groomed and dressed in professional business attire. A strong handshake, a smile and eye contact are always good selling points. It is wise to do research on the company and job opening beforehand and prepare questions for the interviewer. And don’t be afraid to have a notebook at the interview to write down the answers to those questions. “If someone is taking the time to teach you something, you should give them the courtesy to take notes,” Fant said. “Even the most intelligent people can’t remember everything.” Another key element of a successful interview is a thank you note. Hermann said sending an email to the hiring director or main contact at the company after the interview should not be neglected.
SOCIAL NETWORKING A few resume tips and interview guidelines were all that was needed to cover the fundamentals once upon a time. But this is the information age, and no conversation is complete without including social networking. “Social media is so huge for those in school now,” Saunders said, “and using mediums like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter are great avenues to get connected to the organization.” Forbes states students should create a LinkedIn profile as early as their senior year of high school, but only one-third of college students have LinkedIn accounts. Hermann also advocates for aggressive use of a LinkedIn account in the job search process. Networking with LinkedIn is now a basic part of getting hired out of college; just make sure to use a professional-looking profile picture. Employers’ doors are still open to graduating students, but they are wary of making any costly hiring mistakes in the current economic climate. “It is unfortunate, but in today’s culture you can’t come out [of college], even with an M.B.A., and go into a management position,” Fant said. “It is a hard market no matter what you are going for. The willingness to be open to opportunities other than what you originally thought you were going to do is important.” The job market is certainly difficult today, but new graduates have qualities that make them attractive to companies. With careful preparation and open-mindedness, a solid entry-level position is within reach.
MOVING
Tassel the
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04.2014 | Crescent Magazine
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Crescent Magazine | 04.2014
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SUPER
by Marah Franklin photo by Amy Rabenberg
EASYGOING
GO-GETTER TIME MANAGEMENT is a key component of any student’s life. Juggling classes, a social life and other activities has become a true test of one’s talent. But some like to push the envelope even further by taking on even more than any one person should be able to do. Finding time to have fun is certainly a challenge, but some do just that, becoming even more successful at managing their time. Junior Kelly Lamarche is one of those people. She sees the things she chooses to do and the busyness of her life as fun, and her balancing act is a part of everyday life. She seems to always be doing something, and Lamarche said she prefers it that way. “I didn’t come to college to be bored,” she said. Hanging out with friends, Skyping with her boyfriend, volunteering and playing golf top the list of things she finds time for. Her energy seems boundless, and it’s no wonder her teammates, including sophomore Rachel Marchi, Alpha Omicron Pi sisters and five roommates, enjoy spending time with her. “What you see is what you get,” Marchi said. “There’s no faking or facade. That’s what people love about her. She’s just real with everybody.”
Lamarche also finds satisfaction in serving the community. As a biology major who hopes to one day be a veterinarian, giving her time started as a cure for boredom her freshman year when she volunteered at the Warrick County Humane Society. Lamarche also said one of her favorite events is the Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis that benefits the Arthritis Foundation, her sorority’s philanthropy. “Volunteering and bonding,” Lamarche said. “I like it when things kill two birds with one stone.” Her passion for helping others was instrumental in Lamarche winning a 2012–13 MVC Leadership and Service Award, an honor that recognizes student-athletes for their athletic, academic and philanthropic achievements. She said the award caught her off guard. “I remember being surprised because I didn’t know that was a thing,” Lamarche said, “and I didn’t know I’d been nominated.” Lamarche started playing golf when she was 8. She said she didn’t like the sport at first but eventually grew to love it. She realized in high school that she wanted to play in college. “There’s just something cool about it being an individual sport, but you can still play it as a team,” Lamarche said.
Even though golf takes up quite a bit of time, Lamarche said she wouldn’t have it any other way. She enjoys her teammates, especially the excitement everyone shows after they’ve played a good round. But Lamarche’s studies are never far from her mind and have to be a priority if she wants to be accepted to a veterinary program. Though it takes a lot of discipline, she makes good use of her study time. “Kelly is passionate about the things that she does,” coach Jim Hamilton said. “She gives all of herself in pursuit of all of her endeavors.” Being as busy as she is, it is anyone’s guess as to how Lamarche finds the time to take on anything else, but she does. She is also AOPi’s vice president of academic development, the Bi-Sci Club president and an Admission Ambassador. She is also on the Honors Program Student Advisory Council. “I hate being bored,” Lamarche said. “I literally don’t know what to do with myself.” She does know that a busy life makes for an exciting life. But even Lamarche admits that there is something to be said for having a little down time. “I live for those chill nights at home where I can sit and breathe,” she said. 04.2014 | Crescent Magazine
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How Strangely Bizarre
eventhescore
Athletes need their essential performance rituals.
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Crescent Magazine | 04.2014
FORMER NBA STAR MICHAEL JORDAN always wore his University of North Carolina game shorts under his Chicago Bulls uniform. Before signing with the Cleveland Indians, Jason Giambi wore a gold thong under his Colorado Rockies uniform to turn his luck around if he had a few bad games. Superstitions like these are not uncommon among athletes. But why do they exist, and could they actually be beneficial? The sports universe is home to some of the most superstitious people on the planet. What may be called odd behavior by some, others call essential to any athletic routine. No matter the type, superstitious behavior impacts performance, despite the doubts of critics. A superstition is a belief based on fear or ignorance that is not consistent with the laws of science. But athletes rely on specific superstitious practices to potentially gain benefits. According to a 2010 Association for Psychological Science article, researchers at the University of Cologne in Germany conducted four golf-related experiments that suggested improved performance was due to “good-luck-related superstitions.” With 28 students randomly assigned to either an experimental or control group, participants did a 10-trial putting task. Pretesting revealed that more than 80 percent of participants believed in the concept of good luck. Experimenters linked good luck to the ball the experimental group used. Results found that the experimental group performed better than the control group because they believed they had the “lucky ball.” But not all are convinced of improved performance, invalidating it by tracing superstitious behavior back to fear and an irrational sense of control in an uncontrollable situation. McKendree student Emily Mouyard examined 111 student-athletes from five different college teams based on their superstitious behaviors and beliefs. The study was based on three variables: athletes’ superstitious beliefs, their type of sports competition anxiety and their level of locus of control, a factor that determines whether people believe they are in control of their own fate or not. Results showed that those with an external locus of control, meaning they believe they do not have as much control over what happens to them, are more superstitious than those with an internal locus of control. Mouyard also found there is no correlation
between anxiety about a competition and superstitious behavior. And, when it comes to athletes, men are more superstitious than women. “Sometimes the creation of a false certainty is better than no certainty at all,” said Stuart Vyse, author of “Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition,” in a WebMD article. He also said that most superstitions could be linked to wanting more control. Some may be concerned that superstitious behaviors, such as an athlete believing the number of times he taps a ball determines whether his team wins, indicate a bigger issue, such as an anxiety disorder. But while superstitions and symptoms of anxiety disorders might be similar at times, Vyse said most evidence shows no connection between them. But there is still the question of why athletes hold these rituals to heart. Jonathan Katz, a licensed psychologist and cofounder of New York’s High Performance Associates, told ABC Health and Wellness that rituals provide a sense of comfort. Finding a routine helps athletes feel as if they are in the right state of mind. The Cologne researchers had similar observations after their study, saying that activating a superstition boosts participants’ confidence in mastering tasks, which, in turn, improves performance. Sports psychologists have even suggested that banning these rituals could cause an athlete to temporarily lose focus during a game. Although people may have conflicting views on superstitions, it shouldn’t really matter to anyone except the specific athlete. Some of the best athletes in the world, such as tennis phenom Serena Williams and former baseball great Wade Boggs, have routines that calm their nerves and boost their self-confidence. Miami Heat’s LeBron James finds that nibbling his fingernails soothes him and helps him focus, while Oklahoma City Thunder’s Caron Butler chews straws as his go-to performance ritual. When the NBA temporarily banned Butler from his pregame ritual, he ultimately played fine in the game despite his lack of straws, but he was still adamant that he needed them. Is there really a problem with that? Perhaps Bud Light’s ad campaign geared toward sports fans said it best: “It’s only weird if it doesn’t work.”
kristine arnold | columnist
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overtime
SPORTS
BEHIND THE MASK
UE’s newest Ace Purple brings his friendly attitude to the mascot gig. by Andrew Sherman photo by Amy Rabenberg
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Crescent Magazine | 04.2014
WHILE MOST STUDENT-ATHLETES are recognized easily on campus, other members of the athletics program typically do not receive such notice. And while one particular student may not go to Ford Center and see his name projected in lights, the man inside the larger-than-life riverboat gambler costume finds his passion in making others light up. Freshman Jack Truman has his routine as Ace Purple down pat. He arrives at the center about an hour before each men’s and women’s basketball game and suits up — putting on oversized shoes, a purple suit, gloves and the exaggerated head. Now in costume, he greets people in the lobby before the game starts and then runs out onto the court with the cheer and dance teams to kick it off. As the basketball players battle it out on the court, Ace is in the stands, working the crowd and getting the audience on its feet. He has been known to sneak up behind people and surprise them, an uneasy feat in such a noticeable get-up. Truman said the head and muscle portion of
“
energy comes from working with the children who attend the games. “Kids react better to Ace Purple than college students,” said senior Stephanie Mendoza, a staple in the student section at basketball games. “He’s a kid favorite. Kids love him.” Mendoza said she regularly saw Truman in action. An avid basketball fan herself, she only missed a few home games this season and could be seen waving posters and cheering loudly for the teams. She said she saw Truman constantly high-fiving and posing with children for photos, adding that it was adorable seeing a child once give him a valentine after a game. Truman definitely feels the love, but his passion stems from a desire to make the children happy in return. “Seeing the smiles on all the little kids is adorable,” Truman said. “It’s so cool to hear ‘It’s Ace Purple!’ It never fails to make me smile.” Truman’s devotion to working with children extends
Seeing the smiles on all the little kids is adorable. It’s so cool to hear ‘It’s Ace Purple!’ It never fails to make me smile.”
the suit can be uncomfortable at times, but when he gets the crowd going, the crowd’s energy feeds back into him. “I like to think of myself as a team player,” he said. “I’d rather be a part of a team. I draw a lot of my energy from the crowd.” While portraying Ace is now a major part of Truman’s UE life, he had no idea he would one day wear the mask. Senior Adam Barga introduced Truman to the idea while Truman was going through fraternity recruitment last semester. Truman ultimately decided not to pledge this time around, but donning Ace’s outfit seemed to be a perfect fit. “I thought, ‘How many times in life do you get to do something like [be a mascot]?’” he said. “It’s been fun, and I’m really glad I went with it.” Truman’s first game as Ace was the women’s basketball “Hoops for the Cure” game in February, and he has grown to love the role. His audition for the job came during a Carson Center open house, which ultimately found him getting a crash course in what he calls “mascotting.” “[I had] to figure out how to say hello without speaking,” Truman said. “It’s not hard to not talk; you just have to talk without saying anything.” While that may sound like a daunting task, Truman has had little trouble adjusting to his new role. With no prior mascot experience, he attributes his enthusiasm and success to his background in theater, which he got at Whitko High School in South Whitley, Ind. He performed in productions such as “Hello, Dolly!” and “The Wizard of Oz” and enjoyed improvisation. Truman said wearing the costume is fun, but his real
beyond the costume. The math major plans to put his degree to use in the future by teaching elementary school, and he spent last summer teaching archery at Camp Chief Little Turtle Boy Scout Reservation near Angola, Ind. He loves helping children achieve their goals, something he wants to do as a teacher. “I’m an inner kid,” he said. “With mascotting, you have to be an inner kid and be excited all the time.” It seems this childlike behavior comes naturally to Truman. When he is not in costume, he enjoys playing old video games — he is known around campus for his Sonic the Hedgehog hat, something he loves — and especially enjoys playing the “Pokemon” series with his roommate, freshman Jared Powell. Truman is also a comedy fan. In fact, his childhood dream was to become a comedian. While teaching has replaced that dream, he is still quick with a joke and loves to make people laugh. He said his two biggest comedic inspirations — Robin Williams and Jim Carrey — are performers whose physicality makes them fitting inspirations for mascot work. But it’s not all play and no work for Truman, who takes his role as Ace seriously. “I’m taking on the school’s face in a way,” he said. “It’s an honor to do that.” Because of his natural enthusiasm and willingness to make people smile, it’s easy to see why Truman was chosen to portray the illustrious Ace Purple. As someone who loves making children laugh and interacting with crowds, he is the perfect man for the job.
04.2014 | Crescent Magazine
25
offthewall
SPAM
When you think back to something, you don’t recall the event itself; you remember the most recent time you thought about it.
WHOKNEW?
dotm GOTTA get IT
BE HONEST
— you’ve spent at least one day of your life wishing you had someone else’s face. But have you ever wished someone else had your face? Or that you had a copy of your own face? Japanese designer Osamu Kitagawa knows you have, which is why he invented the Realface — a 3-D photo form of your face that you wear over your actual face. When you have a 3-D replica of your own face, the possibilities are endless. Bad acne breakout? Realface works better than concealer. Afraid you won’t age well? Now you’ll always look 21. Sick during an interview? Slap one of these on a friend and have him do it for you. There are only two downsides: they don’t offer George Clooney faces yet, and you have to fly to Japan and model your face in person. If you happen to be in Japan sometime, drop by Kitagawa’s studio and pick one up for only $3,920. Maybe someday they’ll find a way to make masks of other people, such as beautiful celebrities or ex-girlfriends, but until then, you’re stuck with masks of your own face covering your walls.
heard it here
“I love zombies. If any monster could Riverdance, it would be zombies.” — comedian Craig Ferguson
THERE’S AN FOR THAT WHOKNEW? 26
The New York Sour
If you’re stuck in Southern Indiana and want to feel like you’re in the big city, try this tasty, dark drink. You might need to find a mixologist to make this one though. According to bonappetit.com, you need to add the whiskey, lemon juice and simple syrup to a shaker, fill with ice and shake for 30 seconds. Then you pour the wine over the back of a spoon so the wine floats on top. It takes a steady hand, but it’s worth it to feel as classy as this drink makes you look.
INGREDIENTS: 2 oz. whiskey / 1 oz. lemon juice / 1 oz. simple syrup / 0.5 oz. fruity red wine
This is the app for those who dream of the airwaves. Mixlr allows anyone to go live on-air with the simple tap of a button. Use your imagination to rock the waves however you want. You can be your own DJ or commentate on a sports event. So your New Year’s resolution failed. But with Everest you don’t have to stay down for the count. This app allows you to achieve your personal goals by providing a number of steps to follow and building a community of others for
Iceland is a peaceful country. It is widely considered to be the most peaceful country in the world as it has no standing military.
Crescent Magazine | 04.2014
REMEMBER WHEN...
time suck of the month
You could eat Oreos for breakfast? Post OREO O’S brought the flavor of cookies and cream to the breakfast table. Oreos and milk in one glorious bowl? It’s hard to imagine why Post discontinued it.
LIKE PLAYING Pokemon? How about with 70,000 people? That’s the premise of twitch.tv/twitchplayspokemon, a crowd-sourced game in which viewers input commands that the game carries out. Players choose Democracy to apply the most popular move being used or Anarchy, where their own move is applied. Anarchy wins most of the time, usually resulting in the character Red walking into a wall for a few hours. The game spawned memes within its first week and can sometimes has up to 70,000 simultaneous viewers. If you miss anything, you can catch it on the video page.
Beavers as bachelors? From 1997 to 2001 “THE ANGRY BEAVERS” ran on Nickelodeon and chronicled the lives of brothers Norbert and Daggett, who get kicked out of their parents’ place and build their own dam. The show featured slapstick and wacky animal shenanigans. GIGA PETS made having a pet much easier? These electronic keychains only required occasional affection — none of the annoying walks that real dogs need. And the best part? These weird pixelated creatures were completely mess-free. Nestle combined chocolate, hard candy and stickers into one magical treat? And since you never knew what you would get, WONDER BALL always left you guessing.
things
that make us crazy
CELEB MELTDOWNS
Shia LaBeouf apparently isn’t famous anymore. Justin Bieber now calls himself “Bizzle.” Miley Cyrus keeps getting weirder and sticking her tongue out. We get it. You’re famous. But you don’t need to keep bugging us every time your name falls off the front page of TMZ. If we stop paying attention to them, maybe they will go away forever.
EVANSVILLE WEATHER
It’s unusually warm and stormy in February. It’s freezing in September. It’s raining and snowing at the same time! What weird meteorological vortex is this city in which the weather changes as often as traffic lights? I would just like to know if I should wear a jacket today. I shouldn’t need to call the weatherman every 10 seconds.
SELF-CHECK WRECK
You have two carts full of groceries? Why trust them to a trained professional cashier when you can spend 30 minutes wrestling with the self-checkout machine? Here I am trying to pick up a roll of toilet paper, and I have to wait for you to figure out how to ring up a kumquat. You just worry about the shopping, and let the cashiers do their jobs.
don’t get why girls paint the Chanel symbol on their nails. I could 1. Itattoo it on my ass, but it don’t mean I’m fancy. — Anna Kendrick best part about Twitter is that it is completely satisfying on a 2. The deep emotional level and in no way makes me feel empty inside. — Bo Burnham
memorable celebrity tweets
IT’S A BIT MUCH
Aaron wishes Suzie would pay more attention to him. Mary thinks Paul needs to lighten up. Constant status updates are annoying enough, but most of these Bitstrips don’t even make any sense! Surely you can find a way to express your feelings that doesn’t involve a cartoon version of yourself fighting alligators or farting in an elevator.
dirty LAUNDRY I love @UECONFESSIONS my relationship with my bed. No
of guys in Los Angeles just got credit for being much better in 3. Athelotsack than they deserve credit for. #earthquake — Emile Hirsch
commitment needed; we just sleep together every night.
4. Actual text from my dad: “did U here about. The Earth quake at LA
I don’t know anyone in this last theatre show but went to see it three times for the blowjob on stage. Fantastic play, guys.
Aniz felt it Harris is at VietNam.” Is this a ransom note?? — Aziz Ansari
news: The news is really, really, really depressing. What’s the 5. Breaking point? Let’s celebrate people doing happy things from now on. #pizza — Aaron Paul Judging by taste and texture, a New York hot 6. #WhatILearnedToday dog is a literal description. — Chris O’Dowd
@UECONFESSIONS
How @UECONFESSIONS many people in one Greek organization is it OK to get with until it becomes excessive?
WHOKNEW? New York City is home to one of the most depressing skyscrapers: it has no windows. Big corner office kind of loses its appeal. 04.2014 | Crescent Magazine
27
Treading the Boards
All the world’s a stage, but I am not a player.
halfthewit
I AM A WRITER. Despite my complete mastery of
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Crescent Magazine | 04.2014
the humorous essay, my main focus is writing plays. I like having the power to make actors speak my speeches and act my acts. This probably goes deep into some control issues that rest within the bowels of my psyche and have to do with an overbearing mother or something equally as Freudian, but this is not the place to go into that. However, it’s probably because of these control issues that, despite my love for theater, I was never inspired to act myself. Why shouldn’t I act though? Shakespeare acted, and he wrote a few good plays (they’re pretty obscure; you’ve probably never heard of them). I had long considered treading the boards myself when a friend called me with an offer: star in his production of “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940.” I assured him I was the wrong choice for a musical — my voice is bad enough to make Vincent van Gogh want to chop off his other ear — but he told me I wouldn’t have to sing. I’d have to do three different accents and a fight scene, but I wouldn’t have to sing. Thank God. The play was a murder mystery that centered on the cast and crew of a Broadway play trying to impress a possible donor while solving the murder of another one. It had everything: secret passages, casually racist comedians and men impersonating women. I played Patrick O’Reilly, an Irish tenor, who reveals himself to be Tony Garibaldi, Bronx cop, who reveals himself to be Klaus Stansdorff, Gestapo agent, who is eventually killed by a knife that stabs through a copy of “Moby Dick” into his back. It all makes sense onstage. Sort of. At first I was unsure if I could keep up with the experienced actors, especially while trading between Irish, German and Bronx accents, but I ended up surprising myself. I was found to be a perfectly adequate actor, and for this production, that’s all they needed. Of course, as I learned my lines, I critiqued them — imagined how I would have written them. And obviously, my version was always better. Everything went normally until we practiced the fight scene. We dedicated a whole night of rehearsal to it, so it was just my director, my opponent Shane and me onstage while my girlfriend and the director’s fiancee watched. We already knew the basics of it: Shane, dressed as a French maid, would charge at me with a butcher knife. I then would perform a few fancy dodges, my pants would fall down and Shane
would end up lying on a desk while I grabbed his throat and thrusted my pelvis. It looked like we were doing things — adult things. So naturally, right before we began to practice, another person showed up. Our producer, who happened to be a senior monk at the local abbey, chose this night to make his first appearance. I felt awkward knowing that a man of the cloth was going to watch me strangle-hump a man. But there was plenty of “normal” fighting to get us in the mood before the climax, and I forgot he was even there by the time it came. When it did come, we were precise and professional. I pretended to let my pants fall again and again until it felt right. Shane practiced falling back onto the desk so he wouldn’t hurt his back. I delicately placed my hands around his neck and worked my leg and stomach muscles every which way to find the perfect blend of murderous rage and unneutered dog. The two of us performed our tasks with the quiet focus they deserved. I was told that our religious producer, unaware of the implications of the scene, commented that I should have been making more noise, which I took to heart. From then on, I howled like a chimpanzee. The actual performances came, and my nerves returned. I knew what to say, how to say it and where to stand, but I didn’t know if I could do it all in front of people — like my parents. Oh right. I had to do a fight-sex scene in front of my parents. I guess it didn’t go too terribly. I mean, people laughed. I got a bunch of compliments, and even though they don’t count because they were mostly from people I was related to, I had fun. But I couldn’t help feeling like something was missing. I enjoyed bringing the character to life, but I would have preferred birthing him in the first place. I wanted the applause to be for my writing; I was getting praised for someone else’s work. In my playwriting class, I both hear my plays performed and perform other people’s plays, and I like mine better. Not because they’re better, but because I am the one who writes them, and I love what I write. And because I’m an egotistical bastard, and a shallow part of me does think it’s better — but more the “loving my creations” thing, because that makes me sound like a better person or something.
chris norris | essayist
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Congratulations, StudPub Seniors
DARE to ••••••••••••
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••••••••••••
be whatever you want to be. Be distinct. Be striking. Be daring. BRODIE “Gamer” GRESS Writer • Crescent Magazine
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ALEXANDRA “Movie Director” WADE Writing Director • Crescent Magazine
EMILY “Artist” CONSALVI Work Study • Student Publications
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AMANDA “Veterinarian” GAUTHIER SHRUTI “Power Ranger” ZINA Designer • Crescent Magazine Editing Director • Crescent Magazine
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Wesselman Woods Nature Center Discover • Experience • Connect
CANOE EVANSVILLE
Discover the rivers, lakes and waterways of Southwestern Indiana on a four-hour-long guided canoe and kayak excursion. Trips led throughout the summer and fall. Call (812) 479–0110 for more information.
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