April 2018

A CLOSER LOOK at Michael Slade| 28

crescent April 2018 | University of Evansville | issuu.com/uecrescent | $2.50

magazine

INK & METAL PAGE 14

TRI-STATE ALLIANCE IS SEEKING INTERNS • AIDS Holiday Project • LGBTQ Education • Marketing /Social Media Summer, Fall & Spring Internships.

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Congratulations to the Class of 2018

YOUR FUTURE IS

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Join the UE Center for Career Development group on LinkedIn

Crescent Magazine | April 2018

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*Career information gathered from 97% of 490 survey respondents from the Class of 2017

table > of contents

CRESCENT MAGAZINE

THIS MONTH

2017–18

STAFF

EDITORIAL Writing Directors LYDIA MAXWELL HANNAH ROWE

Writers BETHANY MILHOLLAND

Columnists MELANIE ALIFF LEA ARNOLD LILY RENFRO JESSE ROBKIN OLI ROSS-MUSICK PATRICK ROQUE

Student Congress OLIVIA SHOUP

EDITING Editing Director TREVOR RICHARDSON

Copy Editors MELANIE ALIFF LAUREN MULVIHILL

CREATIVE Creative Assistant

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28

FASCINATING

14 COVER STORY

A CLOSER LOOK

Junior Matt McDonald explores the many facets of theater that have led him to experiences both on and off the stage.

Body art has existed for thousands of years and more people are falling in love with it as it becomes more mainstream.

Michael Slade, assistant professor of chemistry, shows his humorous side as he helps students enjoy his courses.

DEPARTMENTS 3 Our Viewpoint 5 Campus Crime 6 Transitions 7 Scenes from Campus 8 Findings 9 Modern Perspectives 10 Lesbihonest 12 Within Faith

18 The Big Picture 19 Sexplanation 20 Brain Bomb 21 Crossword 22 In the Zone 23 Brain Bomb 24 The Lists 26 Off the Wall

LING LIN

Photo Editor NATALIE CHRISTY

Designer CONNOR JAGELSKI

facebook.com/uecrescent | twitter.com/uestudpub | issuu.com/uecrescent crescentmagazine@evansville.edu

Photographers

HOW TO CONTACT US

REBECCA CLARK MIRANDA HUSKEY JESSICA PEISTRIP

Ridgway University Center, second floor 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) 488–2725 & 488–2221 crescentadvertising@evansville.edu

MARKETING & SALES Circulation PATRICK ROQUE

Find out what’s happening with Student Congress each Friday on the magazine’s Facebook page.

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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 1,500, 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 Student Government Association. Printed by Mar-Kel Printing, Newburgh, Ind. ©2018 Student Publications, University of Evansville.

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.

EDITORIAL POLICY: Commentary expressed in unsigned editorials represents a consensus opinion of the magazine’s Editorial Board. Other columns, reviews, articles and advertising are not necessarily the opinion of the CMEB or other members of staff.

April 2018 | Crescent Magazine

staff < editorial

OUR VIEWPOINT >

THE END OF AN ERA Changes and challenges are on the horizon as a new era begins in the fall for Crescent Magazine.

With the retirement of our adviser next month after almost 23 years at UE and a new adviser yet to be named, next year will bring changes and challenges to Student Publications, which will be renamed Student Media starting in the fall.

Our new adviser will come on board Aug. 1, and changes are definitely in store for readers and those who work for the magazine. With the unfortunate discontinuation of the LinC yearbook this year after almost 100 years of being published, we knew there wasn’t much we could do about it but we also knew that there are other areas we were interested in exploring that are not necessarily print related.

Things such as social media and marketing, online video and editing, website design and development, media art and animation, and advertising and design are just some of the areas of media work that we have thought about and hope to explore once the new adviser is in place.

We also like the idea of taking an agency approach to providing student groups with services such as publicity and design and eventually other digital services that would benefit those groups and the campus community. But providing campus news, features, sports, commentary and advertising — combined with photography and creative design — will always be the backbone of Student Media.

Although the magazine will continue to publish in print form, we will not publish in the fall. Instead, we will take that time to get to know our new adviser and to give that person the time to get to know us and campus. We will also begin soliciting ideas from other students and student groups to get their impressions about offerings they might be interested in receiving — or participating in.

More than anything, we want to give our new adviser the semester to come up with ways to make the program fresh again. Our outgoing adviser has stressed the importance of this, and we agree.

The Crescent changed to a magazine in 2009 from a newspaper because no one reads newspapers anymore and students didn’t want to work for one. But that’s not the case with magazines. Magazine readership nationwide is on the rise and we believe the Crescent pro-

Crescent Magazine | April 2018

vides a valuable learning experience for those students who work for it and provides a fun reading experience for the rest of the campus community. And we are not naïve. We realize that a new approach needs to take place so that readers stay engaged, and we are ready for that challenge.

But along with the print format must be other formats that attract others who may not be as interested in the printed piece. We want to mix things up so that today’s students and others on campus will find the offerings of Student Media to be something they are interested in, enjoy reading or viewing and look forward to each time something different is released.

Student Media also now reports to the Art Department but will continue to have the academic support of the departments of Creative Writing and Communication. We hope in the future that other departments will want their students to expand their skills by suggesting they join our team while receiving academic credit for their participation.

We are really excited about these potential changes and the possibilities that can occur. We hope our new adviser will begin this journey with us full of energy, great ideas and the commitment to teach us new things. We are ready for it.

Whatever direction Student Media eventually takes, know that we will work our hardest to provide you with the best we have to offer. It might be bumpy initially, but we have faith that good things are coming.

We wish Tracy Maurer a happy retirement and many enjoyable years with her lively grandchildren.

She has guided and mentored lots of students over the years, and we have learned a great deal from her. An era is passing, and as she has said, it’s time for a new one to begin.

Thanks to all members of the staff who made a difference this year. Doing our jobs week after week is not always easy, but they are ultimately rewarding. And congratulations to our seniors! We know you will be awesome out there in the real world!

Good luck on finals and have a great summer!

ON THE COVER: Blake Sergesketter, ‘17. Thanks to all who posed for photos for this issue’s cover story.

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profile > matt mcdonald

FASCINATING PEOPLE >

QUESTIONS LEAD TO

INSPIRATION hannah|ROWE

It can be easy to get lost in our day-today lives and feel as if there is simply not enough time to get everything done. Balancing school, work and relationships can be difficult, but junior Matt McDonald finds satisfaction in staying busy and involved, especially in the arts.

The theatre performance major’s life has revolved around the arts since he was a child. Growing up, he enjoyed listening to his mother play various woodwind instruments as a member of an orchestra in his hometown of Carmel, Ind. McDonald also looked forward to family gatherings, which includes his father and an older brother, where everyone liked to jam out to music.

He also performed in local theater.

Once it came time to look at colleges, a friend’s father suggested UE’s theatre program and urged McDonald to apply. Since his acceptance, he has been involved in several areas of the program, the most prominent being performance and sound design.

Even though UET keeps him busy, McDonald still finds time to immerse himself

5 4

“It’s more of a friendgroup kind of thing,” he said. “Iron Buffalo is a group that people audition for and the poetry club is much more informal where we meet and read poems.”

As much as he enjoys performing, McDonald also loves sound design, which is used to establish a scene or introduce a new setting in a show. It is no easy task and requires a lot of focus to make sure everything the audience hears occurs at just the right moment.

“It works out when everyone is good at their job,” he joked.

Another aspect of the arts that interests McDonald is playwriting. What might seem like a daunting task thrills him. His interest in playwriting began in high school. He wrote a series of short plays and even rented a local playhouse in order to perform them. McDonald took it to the • His favorite UE memory is his time at Harlaxton. next level last summer and • “The Flick” by Annie Baker is his favorite play. wrote and produced a 90-min• His favorite place he has visited is Dublin. ute play called “The Cyprus • “Trainspotting” is his favorite movie.

Hatley Chapel,” which focus• Folk punk and indie folk are his most listened es on human connection and to music genres. interaction. He recruited two in Evansville’s creative community. He is a UET students and they performed the play member of an improv group called Iron Bufin Indianapolis and Chicago. falo and a poetry club. McDonald said these McDonald said most of his work tends activities allow him to have fun while also to be explanatory and often seeks answers. improving his acting and writing skills.

“My inspiration comes from a question

things about MATT

“

My inspiration comes from a question that I don’t have the answer to.”

that I don’t have the answer to,” he said.

McDonald also channels this deep and meaningful inspiration into song writing. He said his first album is about people at odds with society and the sometimes absurd forces that alienate us.

McDonald’s first album, “Music to Listen to When You’re Drinking Alone,” which was released last July and is available on Amazon, is more personal. His second album, “This is All I Can Give You,” deals with regret, self-exploration and the bonds people share.

While McDonald said his friends would describe him as quiet and kooky, he reveals a lot about himself through his music and playwriting, which is certain to continue. While McDonald is unsure of where he might end up, he’s not closing any doors.

“I think it’s really important to me that I specifically keep my approach to theater and music open,” he said.

April 2018 | Crescent Magazine

CONGRATULATIONS

CLASS OF 2018

Go change the world!

Office of Education Abroad | SOBA 261 | Apply online at applytoHarlaxton.evansville.edu

Get CONNECTED and Stay CONNECTED with

UE C nnect

Connections for a Lifetime

UE Connect helps you network and gain access to people and other things that can make a difference in your quest for the ideal career. Let UE Connect help you navigate your future.

JOIN THE UE CONNECT STUDENT-MENTOR PROGRAM ONE-ON-ONE CONNECTION: Explore the opportunity to connect with an alumni or

C AMPUS CRIME The following information was compiled from offense reports filed Feb. 28–March 26 in Safety & Security.

March 26 – A truck was reported stolen while parked by the Lincoln Park apartments. A report was filed with Evansville Police. Loss not reported.

March 22 – A student reported that someone used her UE ID to purchase food at a local restaurant. Loss reported at $16.73.

March 19 – An employee reported their vehicle had been damaged while parked in H-lot.

Loss not reported.

March 18 – An underage student was found in H-lot having consumed alcohol. Referred to the vice president for Student Affairs for disciplinary action.

March 16 – A window in Hyde Hall was damaged by a BB or pellet gun. No loss reported.

— A banner was reported missing from a Front Oval light pole. Loss reported at $41.40.

— An underage student was found consuming alcohol in Moore Hall. Referred to the vice president for Student Affairs for disciplinary action.

March 15 – An underage student and a nonstudent were found in Powell Hall having consumed alcohol. UE student referred to the vice president for Student Affairs for disciplinary action.

March 12 – A vehicle parked in the Lambda Chi Alpha parking lot was vandalized. Loss not reported.

March 7 – The Clifford Circle plaque was reported stolen from the Front Oval. Loss reported at $2,055.

March 2 – A student was found in possession of marijuana. Referred to the vice president for Student Affairs for disciplinary action.

March 1 – Three vehicles parked in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon parking lot were vandalized. Loss not reported.

community professional working in your desired career field.

WE’LL KEEP YOU

BUILD YOUR NETWORK: Begin building your professional network through a variety of networking opportunities.

FIND NEW OPPORTUNITIES: Open your eyes to different types of careers and experiences available to you upon graduation.

The program kicks off September 2018 and runs through April 2019. Your matched mentor will conduct a resume review, introduce you to their professional network, discuss interview tips and set-up possible mock interviews. Where possible, they will also allow you to job shadow.

DEADLINE TO REGISTER: SEPT. 5 Register at www.evansville.edu/alumni/studentInfo.cfm For more information, visit www.evansville.edu/ueconnect Crescent Magazine | April 2018

POSTED

Find out what’s happening on campus with things you might be interested in and with Crescent Magazine.

facebook.com/uecrescent twitter.com/uestudpub 812.488.2846 • crescentmagazine@evansville.edu

5

voices > jesse robkin

People are different from one another.

This is not a radical idea. From an early age, children are taught to celebrate each other’s differences, as that is what makes us unique. Yet when it comes to how our society operates and whom it uplifts, nothing could be further from the truth.

The truth is, our society does not value differences. Our society values conformity. Our society values “normal.” And “normal” in the United States means “in the maTRANSITIONS > jority.”

Therefore, when marginalized communities push for acceptance within this rigid social structure, the rhetoric they adopt is usually “we are just like you!” This tactic is assimilation, pushing for a seat at a table already stacked full with people who generally look, act and think in accordance with If the end goal for LGBTQ+ liberation is simply equal rights, what society deems acceptable. then there will always be people left behind.

While this can be an effective tactic for many members of an oppressed community, the inevitable long-term result is that en — should have highlighted the contrilong. It would have required too great a parsome people will never fit inside socialbutions of the queer people of color whose adigm shift. ly approved boxes and will get left behind. blood and tears made this opportunity posEven now, as our society finally begins Worse still, those left behind face even more sible and demanded just treatment for the to give the trans community a voice, the marginalization than they did before, as it entire queer community. beneficiaries are primarily white trans peois usually in the early-assimilators’ best inBut unsurprisingly, none of that happle and exclusively binary trans people. It terests to play up the differpened. is true that we could one day see a law guarences between themselves Instead, the straight-passanteeing the right for trans men and womand the stragglers. ing white gay men and women to use the correct restroom, and it would This is especially apparen donned “respectable” certainly be a mark of progress. But such a ent within the gay rights clothing and came to the talaw would not protect gender nonconformmovement. Most historians ble ready to talk about the ising people who have no interest in appearattribute the birth of this sues that directly affected ing male or female. movement to a single event: them, issues such as AIDS, Why should people on the margins of the Stonewall riots. gay marriage and the right society have to put themselves through the The Stonewall Inn was to serve in the military. They emotional torture of forcing themselves a bar in New York City argued passionately but reinto a box they don’t belong in — just so that was popular with the spectfully against their that people with all the power can feel more LGBTQ+ community in the straight oppressors for men comfortable? Why can’t we create a society jesse|ROBKIN 1960s. Police would frewho love men and women that serves everybody? quently harass patrons of the bar, particuwho love women to be treated no different That is the difference between equal larly those who were more noticeably queer. from men and women who love each other. rights and true liberation. Equal rights After a particularly brutal attack by some And in the process, they turned their guarantees that everyone is treated just as officers, a riot broke out that lasted several backs on the communities who didn’t fit as white, straight, cisgender, able-bodied men days, led primarily by trans women of color. neatly into the box they But this event represented more than were stepping into: gay just a few nights of chaos. Stonewall meant people who didn’t feel that straight people could no longer ignore comfortable looking or actthe mistreatment of the queer community. ing “straight,” gay men and It meant that a few queer people were grantwomen of color and trans people of all racand women are treated. But that is not who ed a seat at the table. es and abilities. everyone is. That is not how everyone wants Here’s what should have happened next: Society would never have allowed such to live. True justice is a society that values the first people given a voice — primarily people a seat at the table after regarding people for who they are, not how well they “straight-passing” white gay men and womthem as dangerous and perverted for so can pretend to be somebody else.

EQUALITY IS

NOT JUSTICE

|

Some people will simply never fit inside SOCIALLY approved boxes and will get left behind.

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April 2018 | Crescent Magazine

scenes from campus < snapshots

scenes from CAMPUS Competitive excitement leads to lots of laughs at Walther’s Golf & Fun as sophomore Fahad Alsaid and junior Chelsea Gaddis scramble to score in a final free-for-all at the International Club event. | Rebecca Clark

Poised, proper and on pointe! Junior Amanda Suggs and freshman Luke Moran focus on their warmup techniques in Theatre 246, “Dance I.” | Jessica Peistrup

Excited for their pancake portraits, Road Tripper Darcie Smith and sophomores Bria Martin and Dalisa McCallum admire the work of Dancakes. | Miranda Huskey During International Club’s trip to Walther’s Golf & Fun, senior Irene Serna Vera, sophomore Donnie Croxton and freshman Anh Tran strike their poses as the timer counts down in the photo booth. | Rebecca Clark

Crescent Magazine | April 2018

7

findings > sleep

GETTING IN POSITION When we climb into bed, we usually fall into the same position every night. But some positions are better for the body than others.

Lying on the back helps fight acid reflux and lets the head, neck and spine avoid pressure that causes pain. The downside is that any snoring will be louder and can be harmful for those with sleep apnea.

Sleeping on your side gives you the same benefits as lying on your back. But it can lead to premature wrinkles because your face is pressed against a pillow.

The worst position is lying on your stomach. While it can feel fine at first, this pose puts your spine in an awkward position that causes neck and back pain. It can also cause numbness and other aches that come from putting too much pressure on certain areas for too long.

LET ME ZONK OUT Sleep latency is the amount of time it takes a person to fall asleep. Normally it takes about 10–20 minutes to zonk out, but if it only takes a few seconds or a few hours, your body could be trying to tell you something is wrong.

Experts say if it takes you longer than an hour to fall sleep, you could be suffering from onset insomnia. Other reasons it can take a while to fall asleep is if you have trouble shutting off your thoughts and relaxing your mind or if you had too much caffeine throughout the day.

And when you find yourself drifting off moments after lying down, it can mean your body is not getting the rest it needs.

FINDINGS living to sleep lauren|MULVIHILL & melanie|ALIFF

ACING THE NAP

THROATY VIBRATIONS When the tongue relaxes in sleep, it falls back and causes the throat to narrow, creating snoring.

8

Everyone reaches a point in their day when they start fading and feel like taking a nap, but most people either have little or no time to catch some shut-eye.

The energy slump hits about 3 p.m., so aim to have your naptime in the afternoon in order to focus your energy for the rest of the day. In order to maximize that energy, try a “nappucino.” A “nappucino” consists of consuming a cup of something caffeinated followed by sleep.

It takes about 20 minutes for the caffeine to kick in, so get some shut-eye for 10– 20 minutes and wait for the caffeine buzz to hit. The caffeine should kick in by the time you wake up, leaving you feeling alert for the rest of the day.

NOISY NOISE NOISE

ARCTIC NAP OR SAUNA SNOOZE Having the bedroom between 60 and 67 degrees is the ideal temperature as it helps REM sleep.

NAPS: YAY OR NAY? Naptime was one of the most dreaded things in childhood but now most of us wish we had a set time for a snooze. Experts have argued whether or not naps are good for you, and it depends on why you take one.

It’s obviously bad if you are only sleeping to avoid things like work, but naps can be great if you need a little boost. Naps have been shown to help improve focus and lower stress.

As with all good things, moderation is key: 20 minutes is all you need to become more alert and be in a better mood. If you sleep between 30–60 minutes, you fall into a deeper sleep and will most likely feel more tired than before.

QUALITY OVER QUANTITY Experts say college-age students should aim for no less than six hours of sleep but no more than 11.

While some sounds might keep you up at night, there are certain sounds that can lull you to sleep and even improve the quality of your sleep.

White noise is a combination of all noise frequencies to create a steady hum that drowns out all other sounds. Many people will listen to white noise to fall asleep and even cure insomnia.

Pink noise is sound with a consistent frequency that has been found to improve sleep quality by slowing and regulating brainwaves. Natural sounds such as the wind and waterfalls are considered pink noise. Pink noise is also known to alleviate headaches and improve focus.

Brown noise takes the low, consistent frequencies of pink noise even further to create more of a buzz or hum. Also known as red noise, it is often compared to white noise by its sound but contains low roars or deep hums, like that of rushing water, a clothes dryer or a passing train. The deeper sound qualities of the noise help to improve sleep quality and relaxation.

April 2018 | Crescent Magazine

lea arnold < voices

|

powered feminist.” I read a lot of articles on how women should shun the word. These journalists say, “empowerment” has come

Why does society have such a PROBLEM with women having fun and enjoying life?

MODERN PERSPECTIVES >

TAKING BACK

EMPOWERMENT

Fighting for gender equality is like fighting an uphill battle all the time. Does it ever feel overwhelming? Absolutely.

As a feminist, I’m tired of having the same arguments over and over. I’m tired of having to defend my position with people who say things like, “Women already have gender equality. Stop whining about nothing!” or “What do you have against men?” My personal favorite would be the all-time douchiest thing to ask, “Does that mean I can punch a girl in the face?”

It is often said that the best way to get people to change their viewpoint on something is through gentle guidance and education.

The correct answer to these well-worn arguments is to stoop down to a sort of kindergarten-level explanation of feminism by coddling this person — who is under the assumption that this explanation will allow them to see the error of their ways.

Sometimes it genuinely works, sometimes you get a disingenuous nod and sometimes, if you are encountering total assholes, they will completely disregard what you say, leaving you feeling powerless against the hulking, ugly machine known as “the patriarchy.”

I’m going to be blunt with you. Recently, I have never felt more tired. During a moment in history where sexual assault is being openly talked about and where women’s

Crescent Magazine | April 2018

marches are happening all over the globe, I have felt like an exhausted feminist — and I feel ashamed to say it. I’m not sure why I feel ashamed. Maybe it is because I always see strong women leading marches and writing powerful essays about their struggles and successes. They are always fighting, speaking out, making a change.

I feel like I’m not on par with these women I see in the media. I’m not Roxane Gay, or Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie or Beyonce. I’m a 22-year-old college student.

For some reason, I feel my soul sucked dry, my fight lea|ARNOLD hollow. This feeling had left me thinking a lot about what is missing from my viewpoint. Maybe it is time to take a step back from everything else and just celebrate being a woman? I need to stop looking at all of the negative aspects the media loves to glorify and start celebrating the women of the movement. I need to stop immersing myself in the negativity of the opposition and focus on the strides feminists have made toward equality.

Empowerment. I became sort of obsessed with that word, repeating it in my head, savoring the individual syllables. I was kind of disappointed from what I found when I actually googled the phrase “em-

to mean nothing, it just being a distraction from bigger picture feminist concerns, like the #MeToo movement.

Reading these articles pissed me off.

They felt preachy and stringent. They read like some old British dude was scolding me, saying, “Stop trying to feel empowered!

Worry about the fact that our president is allegedly a rapist! You don’t even know what empowerment means!”

Let me tell you, I worry about President Donald Trump and sexual assault and abortion laws and women’s conditions in our prison system and how Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is trying to derail Title IX and all the other injustices that women have to face throughout the world. But that doesn’t mean I can’t feel empowered while fighting against the system!

It’s not frivolous for women to want to feel good about themselves. I think that’s what empowerment is, to feel good about yourself. A woman can feel empowered when she goes to vote, when she marches in a protest, when she gets a raise at her job. It can be smaller things too, like blocking that creep on Facebook, going to the gym or getting a haircut. Why can’t a woman feel empowered by all of these things? Why does society have such a problem with women having fun and enjoying life?

I believe the reason I was feeling so defeated was that I was obsessively focusing on the political side of the feminist movement, the public side. I forgot that feminism is also about feeling good about yourself, being empowered. You really can’t have one without the other. I think that you have to feel like a confident feminist woman in the singular, as well as being a part of the larger feminist cause.

I think it is OK to be a tired feminist and feel defeated every once in a while, but it is important to pick yourself up. As people, we are strong, beautiful souls. The cause we are fighting for is worth it, despite the struggle and the bullshit. Nevertheless, we have to persist.

9

voices > oli ross-musick

to be obvious about our sexuality we get accused of flaunting it. Gays and lesbians are throwing their sexuality in people’s faces if they so much as hold hands in public, but straight people can suck face on a park bench and nobody bats an eyelash.

Heteronormativity hurts straight people as much as it hurts people in the LGBTQ LESBIHONEST > community. It tells men and women that they cannot form friendships without the presence of sexual tension, it teaches men to view women as sexual objects and it shames women who acknowledge their own sex drives.

It also prevents men from forming healthy friendships with each other. Men The insistence on assuming everyone is straight unless cannot be close to other men without their they state otherwise is just another way to make us invisible. sexuality being called into question, but they cannot be close to women without body knows that a man talking about his Once, during a casual conversation with wanting to sleep with them. girlfriend is not talking about his platonic my boss she asked if I had a boyfriend.

Experimenting with different kinds of female friend.

I was so surprised by the question that relationships is healthy, but when straight Heteronormativity is not exclusive to I laughed out loud before telling her no. is the norm then anybody who questions heterosexuals. Everybody is When she asked me why I had laughed, I their sexuality cannot be taught to internalize hetertold her I was a lesbian. Thankfully, she was normal. If a straight person onormative ideas, and gays not bothered by this news, though she did experiments with same-sex are just as likely as anyone say she would not have guessed it if I had relationships only to realize else to subscribe to these not told her. they are not into the same ideas. For example, marriage Anyone who knows me at all knows I am sex, people tend to assume is a heteronormative instia lesbian — I make sure of it. But this harmthey were trying to get attution that many gays and less exchange reminded me that I have to tention. lesbians uphold. Marriage explicitly come out if I want to be validatIt is important to rememequality is important, but ed in heterosexual spaces. Our society tells ber that challenging hetermaking it the central goal of us that being straight is the norm and thus onormativity is not chalthe LGBTQ movement casts people are often considered straight until lenging heterosexuality. the movement in heterosexproven otherwise. This is called heteronorNobody is attacking you for oli|ROSS-MUSICK being straight. People in the ist terms — it assumes that mativity. all gays and lesbians want to get married.

Heteronormativity is the assumption LGBTQ community know better than anyThe stigma against assuming sexuality that straight is the default. It sets heterosexone that you cannot help whom you are atis heteronormative because it forces LGBTQ uality as the standard by which we judge tracted to, and that is OK. people to do the work of self-identifying. It what is normal, making any other sexual or Instead, challenging heteronormativiis a subtle way of policing sexuality. When gender identity deviant. ty is challenging the idea that anything not people say you should never assume someA prime example of how this operates straight is deviant or not normal. If we canone’s sexuality, they are realnot get rid of the idea of default sexualily saying you should never asty, then a better model would be to assume sume someone is not straight. that everybody is bisexual until proven othNobody ever has to come out erwise. This is a much more inclusive modas straight, but gays and lesbiel because it covers the spectrum of sexuans have to come out every time they move, for gay women in particular is the use of ality and would make it easier for people get a new job or meet new people. the word girlfriend. Straight women often to casually mention same-sex and differThis also makes it hard for us to come still use this term to describe their female ent-sex partners without necessitating that out with any degree of subtlety. Dropping friends. This means that lesbians and bisexthey officially come out. hints through behavior, clothing or casuual women either have to find another word Sexuality exists on a spectrum. If we acal flirting does not work when anyone who to describe a female romantic partner or cept this idea then it only makes sense that starts to pick up on those hints is attacked they have to specify that by girlfriend they nobody is 100 percent anything — straight for assuming sexuality. Then when we try do not mean close female friend. But everyor gay.

WE WANT YOU TO

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voices > lily renfro

WITHIN FAITH >

MEDITATION ISN’T

JUST FOR MONKS

Meditation, while usually associated with eastern religions, is used by all faiths and can be synonymous to worship.

Meditation, defined as thinking deeply or focusing one’s mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting, for religious or spiritual purposes or as a method of relaxation, is rising in popularity. This is mainly because of various methods, including yoga, mindfulness and other similar techniques. It is important to realize that there is more than one form of meditation, especially in religion.

Meditation can take many forms, and most religions have some form of meditation in their laws and teachings. Recognizing the different meditations in faith is an important part of people’s lives, but also for entire religions.

Buddhism, Islam and Taoism use what is normally seen as traditional meditation.

This typically makes people think of monks sitting with crossed legs in a quiet, peaceful setting, contemplating the deeper meaning of life. Although these religions use this type of meditation, the purpose is different for these faiths.

Islamic people meditate to become closer to Allah and to improve their relationship with him by seeking higher spiritual clarity. Buddhists try to find personal enlightenment through meditation. They believe enlightenment is possible for everyone if they follow the teachings of Buddha and educated Buddhist teachers.

|

Meditation in Taoism follows the idea that everyone has an inner energy, which is called Tao, that needs to be controlled and centered. It can only be done when the body and mind are in harmony with the Tao. Benjamin Hoff, in his book “The Tao of Pooh,” cleverly depicted the practice of Taoism by using Winnie-The-Pooh figures to allegorically characterize the principles of Taoism.

“While Eeyore frets… and Piglet hesitates… and Rabbit calculates… and Owl Pontificates… Pooh just is,” Hoff wrote.

In this, it is insinuated that by just being, not worrying or thinking, one is already closer to enlightenment. Taking away worldly concerns and focusing on the spiritual will help believers reach their goal.

Trying to reach a particular goal, centered on a connection to something spiritually

WORSHIP is an exercise that entails a continual application of the mind to contemplation.

12

higher than oneself, is continuous throughout most religions.

Eastern religions are what people think of when they think of traditional meditation, but Christianity and Judaism also have their own unique ways of using meditation that are not as widely recognized.

Most meditation that occurs in these two religions is prayer- and worship-based.

Judaism uses a method of meditation based on the Kabbalah, known as meditative or ecstatic Kabbalah. This centers on the use of repetitive prayer to deepen one’s relationship with God. While Christian meditation can differ between denominations, there is a commonality among them that is based on prayer and worship. lily|RENFRO This can take many forms, including rosary prayers, devotional prayers and church services. They are all used for the same purpose, which is to become closer to God and to strengthen one’s belief and love for Him. Some people argue that worship itself is different from meditation, but there are some similarities. Worship is defined as the action or practice of profound spiritual or religious reflection or contemplation.

It also includes private devotional exercises that consist of the application of the mind to the contemplation of a religious text, truth, mystery or object. As there is the belief that worship is something that includes reflection and introspection, then meditation and worship seem to be equal.

While eastern and western forms of meditation may seem different on the surface, they are fairly similar and provide the same benefits for followers of each religion. Each form of meditation is meant to bring followers closer to the core belief of the faith, whether it’s the search for enlightenment or a deeper relationship with higher power.

If it is explicitly called meditation it is of little importance to the spiritual benefits. In practicing meditation, believers are able to improve their spirituality. By clearing their minds of everything but the spiritual, believers are able to make religion a part of their everyday lives and strengthen the connection between themselves and their faith.

The relevancy of religious meditation is often unrealized, and because of that many people contest its value. The spiritual peace and improvement that it brings shows that meditation has a place in all religions. In making religious meditation more widely understood and practiced, the spiritual lives of believers can become healthier and stronger.

April 2018 | Crescent Magazine

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cover story > tattoos & piercings

lydia | MAXWELL

INK & METAL Body modification has been around long enough for stigmas to come and go.

What remains is the meaning and story behind each personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love for it.

Tattoos and piercings have been a part of the body art landscape for thousands of years. And just like today, some were plain, others were elaborate, but what archaeologists have found over the years is that they were always personal.

In ancient Egypt, tattooing was seen as an exclusively female practice, and while it was originally assumed by early researchers that tattooed women were prostitutes, an article in Smithsonian Magazine reported that based on the placement of the tattoos, they were probably therapeutic and provided psychological relief for women during difficult pregnancies and deliveries.

Men with tattoos were also part of many cultures. Geometrical tattoos have been found on the male mummies of Egyptian leaders; mythical creatures and animals have been found on males of various cultures; and the practice has been confirmed by writings that indicate that tattoos were marks of nobility.

At one time, even extensive facial and body tattooing among Native

Blake 14Sergesketter

Katie Gilmore

Americans was the norm. For many cultures, tattooing has served as protection against evil, danger and disease, status symbols, signs of religious belief and love, even forms of punishment.

Body piercing has existed across time and cultures as well. The oldest known ear piercing dates to 3,300 B.C., so it is evident that piercing has been an important part of many cultures almost since the beginning of time.

Earrings started out as a largely male accessory, with Julius Caesar bringing them into fashion during his reign. And during the Elizabethan era, any British man of nobility had at least one ear pierced to show off his wealth.

But it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just wealthy and powerful men who had their ears pierced.

Primitive tribesmen wore decorations in their ears to ward off evil spirits and created tattoos as an early form of acupuncture to help with body aches.

Nose piercings date back to at least Biblical times, with the size of the nose ring indicating the wealth of the family. And in ancient

April 2018 | Crescent Magazine Spike Yusef

Egypt, navel piercings were the sign of royalty.

As one can imagine, the history of tattooing and piercing is vast and involved, and it wasn’t too long ago that many in today’s society thought of tattooing and piercing as the marks of rebels, outlaws and social outcasts. These perceptions began about 70 years ago, when motorcycle gangs, circus people and other fringe groups began to embrace ink and have different areas on their bodies pierced.

The idea of using piercings as decorations instead of for healing purposes happened at different times throughout history. While some piercings are solely aesthetic, some longstanding trends that are still around today, such as nipple and male genital piercings, are believed to have started in England and France.

Some still associate tattoos with deviant behavior, but younger generations have embraced this method of self-expression and made it their own. A recent Pew Research Center study reported that about 38 percent of young people ages 18 to 29 have at least one tattoo, clearly showing that the stigma surrounding body art has lessened.

But those with tattoos and piercings still have to worry about how it might effect their chances of getting a job. Blake Sergesketter, a December 2017 graduate, has a variety of tattoos and works for a downtown Evansville coffee shop. He said he interacts with many professionals who admit they have tattoos but cover them when working.

“At some point, it probably won’t be viewed as taboo anymore,” he said. “You can’t knock someone because they have tattoos, if they’re qualified.

That’s more of an old-school thought. Everyone’s got their own personal and professional sides.”

Many people still operate under “out of sight, out of mind.” Senior Spike Yusuf, who has a variety of tattoos, including series of green circles down his spine, wants to work in the medical field after graduation and is holding back on getting more art because of the field’s standards.

“I like expressing myself and my body is a canvas,” he said. “But in a professional setting, [employers] prefer not to see it. When I wear a suit, it covers everything pretty well. Once I get a job in my field, I plan on getting a sleeve done.”

The same can be said about piercings. Freshman Kaylee Wagler started getting piercings in her ears as a teen and increased the number as the years went by. Now, she has her nose and 10 ear piercings along with two tattoos.

“I was 15 and got my first cartilage piercing,” she said. “I look on Pinterest for new piercings and find new ones I love. That’s how I found the Daith piercing. I’m slowly working my way until I have seven piercings on the left ear too.”

“

Crescent Magazine | April 2018

She also hopes her multiple piercings do not pose a job-related problem down the road.

“A lot of professions are changing and don’t care as much as they used to,” she said. “But it seems like there are still stereotypes about it, especially facial piercings.”

Like Yusef, Sergesketter plans to get more ink.

His first tattoo came in 2011 after having art recreated from a cross he received from his grandmother. Some of his more elaborate tattoos came when he was stationed in Asia, where some of the best artists reside.

“I’m particular about who does my art,” he said. “I want to know what they’re good at and know they’ll do a good job before I go.”

Tattooing and piercing frequently go together, with the belly button, ears and nose popular spots to have pierced. In addition to her piercings, senior Katie Gilmore has five tattoos. Her first was an infinity symbol with the quote “Always together, never apart,” which shows loyalty for her family. The bow with five arrows on her shoulder represents each family member.

“You draw back on the past to reflect on the future,” she said. “I kind of see my body as a canvas.

You have an idea of who you are in life and I wanted to represent that outwardly.”

Since Gilmore studied at Harlaxton, she also decided to get a lion portrait across her back to commemorate the experience.

“It represents bravery and a lot of other things I aspire to be more of,” she said. “I got it to be a constant reminder of where I want to end up.”

Gilmore has also had a variety of piercings, including her nose and nipples, but for various reasons only kept her belly button piercing.

Senior Nico Quinn also likes both tattoos and piercings. He has her ears, belly button and nose pierced, in addition to eight intricate tattoos scattered around her body.

“It’s an easy way to express yourself to others and let them know something about you they normally wouldn’t,” he said. “They help remind me who I am and where I’m going.”

It’s a statement, no matter what you’re trying to do. It’s a statement about you.” —senior Nico Quinn Like others today, Quinn believes people become more accepting of body art every day.

“When my dad was a kid, my grandfather always told him that the only people who had tattoos were criminals or in a gang,” he said. “My dad grew up with that mindset and still is against them, but the younger generation is definitely more OK with it. There are worse things and I think people are starting to realize that.”

15

Body art started getting positive attention in 2005 when TLC introduced the reality TV show “Miami Ink,” starring Kat Von D. Now there is enough worldwide support for such things as a professional organization called Support Tattoos And Piercings At Work and tattoo festivals, which showcase local artists and those with international reputations.

Quinn has attended several tattoo conventions and said they offer everything from entertainment to artisans making ink to vendors selling different types of merchandise.

Kaylee Wagler

• • •

• •

•

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Nico Quinn

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There are also tattoo challenges, where tattoo artists display their work on willing volunteers. Quinn’s detailed black arrow on his left forearm was tattooed at a convention.

“I knew it was going to be a great tattoo,” Quinn said. “[The artist] did this whip shading technique to show texture in the feathers. In the arrowhead, he added cracks and so many other little details.”

While tattoo festivals and different types of media have been positive influences on body art, technology has also advanced so it now lessens people’s fear. Whether it is a spur of the moment decision because you found a design you think looks good or the meaning of a design is more than skin-deep, tattoos are a great way to chart someone’s life and to express who you are. And the more personal they are, the more the person will be pleased with the decision.

“I love it when someone asks me about my tattoos because I love them and love talking about

them,” Gilmore said. “It makes me happy that people compliment the art I want to put on my body.”

Every design can signify some special memory, life-changing experience or a period in someone’s life that they might otherwise forget.

Individuality is key and the design only has to make sense to the one who wears it.

“It means something so specifically important to that person,” Quinn said. “It’s a part of their identity, who they are and what they’ve lived through.”

Some people also use piercings to show who they are on the inside and what they want the world to know about them.

“It’s to be different,” Wagler said, “that’s why I did it. Some people like them, some don’t.”

Body art has become one of the most popular ways for people to express themselves.

Whether it’s by modifying the body with one or a series of piercings decorated with jewelry or having intricate, color-filled designs or minimalistic black patterns inked into the skin, the history of body modification continues.

“To me, it has become more acceptable and the norm,” Sergesketter said. “It’s up to you, whatever you’re comfortable with. But make sure it has meaning because you’re the one who’s going to have to always look at it.”

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snapshots > the big picture

The center of the panel isn’t forgotten with the help of freshman Timmy Miller who shimmies as far as he can to focus on the hard-to-reach spot. Freshmen Sarah Poltrack and Lexi Sutherland also tackle floor construction, nailing the second layer of wood to the baseboards. | Rebecca Clark It is all about a strong foundation! Working to secure the base, junior Anna Jean Stratman does her part to keep the wooden boards in place. | Rebecca Clark

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All hands on deck! This helpful group of women take a break from hammering and load the completed parts like a well-oiled machine. The tallest of the group — juniors Hayley Elliott and Ashton Bosler and freshman Katelyn Brannam — hop in a truck to stack the finished floors and walls. | Rebecca Clark

April 2018 | Crescent Magazine

if i had a HAMMER

Working behind the Center for Adult Education, students, Road Trippers and others face rain on a Saturday morning while preparing walls and floors for Marchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Habitat for Humanity build.

Forming a strong right angle in an effort to make a sturdy wall, senior Lindsey Mayper puts pressure on the corner to keep the wood in place as she drives the nail home, careful not to hit her fingers. | Rebecca Clark Pairing up to pry out a crooked and stubborn nail, sophomores Farrah Beidas and Megan Hashimoto slip and slide in the mud as they wrestle the nail free. | Rebecca Clark Protecting his hands from splinters and the weather, sophomore Talal Mukatash carefully builds the wallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s framework. | Rebecca Clark

Crescent Magazine | April 2018

19

voices > melanie aliff

Many students enter their freshman year with expectations of going on a lot of dates and hooking up at parties. But after a few semesters, that grows old and people start thinking about what they really want in a relationship.

The idea of being in an exclusive, committed relationship with clear communication and real dates seems like an unattainable college fantasy dreamt up by older generations. But it’s what we want. We just SEXPLANATIONS > don’t know how to get it.

While recent statistics are hard to come by, USA Today reported that by senior year, 72 percent of students have had a one-night stand and a third of students will have gone on fewer than two dates in four years of college. But going on a date can really mean anything and usually it is nothing more College is a time for discovering who you are but it is also a than hanging out and watching Netflix. time to discover what kind of relationships we want to have.

As a generation, we have become adept at hiding behind a screen and avoiding rejection so much so that university counselbasic human functions like sleeping and lationship or wanting to commit makes us ing services have begun to help their stueating — not to mention the nightmare that regressive conservatives looking to settle dents find love. Duke offers student-led is long distance dating. down too quickly. But relationships don’t workshops such as “How to Be in Love,” a Thanks to advancements in technoloneed to be a three-ring circus where you workshop to help students gain the courgy, our generation has built up a resistance have to jump through hoops to be with age to pursue romantic relationships rather to communicating our complete thoughts someone and still keep your independence. than just hookups. as well as sharing our emoBy the time most people graduate, their For six years, Paula Entions. There are rules to views on relationships and what they want gland, a professor of socioltalking to someone you in one have changed drastically. They have ogy at NYU, conducted an might not even have feelings played the mind games and spent too many online survey, compiling for. And you can’t respond nights in glorified loneliness disguised as data from more than 20,000 too quickly because you independence. students at 21 colleges. The might seem overly enthusiasCollege is a time for growth, and by the results showed that while tic or you can’t wait too long time we graduate, we just want people to about 80 percent of stuto text back because you cut the crap and say what they really want dents had had a casual might seem disinterested. out of a relationship. Gone are the days of hookup, 61 percent of men We live in a society where anxiously clocking the time between texts. and 68 percent of women caring and being enthusiasWhat is left is the desire for someone to preferred a traditional relatic about someone has betreat us with respect and to understand us. melanie|ALIFF tionship over an uncommitcome a handicap to our love “It is good to be loved,” said Portia de ted sexual one. But hookup culture is not lives. We spend more time and effort trying Rossi in her wedding vows with Ellen Dethe evil root of our love problems. to find something to watch on Netflix than Generes. “But it is profound to be under“Hookup culture isn’t new,” said Charwe do trying to woo each other into somestood.” lotte Lieberman, a writer for Cosmopolithing more than casual sex. Whoever cares In the end, people have to know what tan. “Sex is sex. College kids do it, have alless in a relationship is the ways done it and will always do it, whether one who gets hurts less so they’re in relationships or not.” people adopt an apathetic Hookups require less time and lower defense and pretend they the risk of rejection. In society today, it’s are indestructible. too easy to come up with excuses for the “Even when it’s casual, relationships are they want and stop settling for people who culture. Students don’t have time for relanot a game with a winner and a loser,” Lidon’t want those things. And once they do tionships anymore, especially not with exeberman said. “When played like that, nofind love, maybe colleges will start offering tracurriculars, internships, classes, affilibody wins.” workshops on how to compromise on what ations, studying and still making time for Overall, we’re afraid that being in a reNetflix shows to watch.

FIGURING OUT

RELATIONSHIPS

|

We’re afraid that wanting to be COMMITTED to someone makes us regressive conservatives.

20

April 2018 | Crescent Magazine

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voices > patrick roque terback Tim Tebow is one of them. Even though he washed out of professional football, he has made trips to Africa as a missionary, serving and helping those in need.

He also openly expresses his faith, and has never been accused of unbecoming behavior. And although he has yet to find his place in professional sports, he remains a IN THE ZONE > prime example of an athlete who accepts that he is a role model.

Professional athletes are human. Everyone has good days and bad. Everyone makes mistakes. For us to hold athletes to a standard that we can’t meet ourselves is impossible. Decades ago, many Americans looked to political figures, actors and scholProfessional athletes work hard to excel, and part of being ars as role models. a responsible pro is being a role model for young athletes.

Undoubtedly, times have changed and many young people today are more intersional level. When they perform well and Growing up, there was always someone ested in sports. If youngsters can’t look to also show that they are involved in their to look up to, such as family, teachers, clerathletes, surely their parents are suitable communities, it makes it easy to look up gy, coaches and athletes. I found the men I role models. Right? In many cases, this is to them. They need to accept this. Many looked up to the most to be athletes. Countwrong. YouTube is filled with videos of parathletes, such as Cristiano less youngsters have imitated professional ents yelling at coaches and Ronaldo, J.J. Watt and Mike athletes, wanting to make remarkable plays berating referees for quesTrout, are known to fundjust like they did, all while growing up and tionable calls. While I beraise and donate large sums gaining skills to make themselves better. lieve parents should serve of money for charities.

Whether it was imitating Albert Pujol’s as role models, when they But many athletes don’t swing, assuming the classic Heisman Trodon’t, youngsters turn to see themselves as role modphy pose in the end zone, knocking down athletes. els for a variety of reasons. the fade away jumper like Kobe Bryant or A study conducted by Charles Barkley famousPeyton Manning’s Hail Mary pass to win George Washington Univerly identified himself during the game, to me it was all a part of playing sity surveyed 150 children an early ‘90s Nike commersports and having fun. and found among the 81 faccial as not being a role modWhile I always was encouraged to play tors identified for why chilel. His stance was — and still sports and found it my passion, the athletes dren play sports, winning patrick|ROQUE ranked 48. Fun and positive is today — that the ability to I admired weren’t necessarily those who dunk a basketball or catch a touchdown had the greatest reputations. Granted, Tony coaching both ranked higher on the list of pass does not automatically qualify a perHawk, Derek Jeter and LeBron James were factors identified by the study. son to be a role model. heads above many, but then there were While some parents are not suitable I disagree with Barkley. This mind-set is those athletes who I later learned were not role models, why should we stop children an out for anyone who is in the public eye role models at all — like Mike Piazza, Babe from looking up to the professionals? We and doesn’t want his or her actions judged.

Ruth and Ray Lewis. shouldn’t. Whether they believe they are Sure, society is obsessed with sports and role models or not, the message most athscrutinizes every aspect of a professionletes are sending to young athletes is that if al athlete’s life. they work hard and are dedicated to their But when the “Jumpman” symbol was sport, they will succeed. plastered everywhere in the late ‘80s, MiWhile most of us will not become prochael Jordan knew he was playing an inThe question then is: Should athletes be fessional athletes, there are so many things strumental part in many children’s lives. He role models and should we look up to them? young athletes learn from being involved knew his words and actions would reach I believe they are and here’s why. in sports — teamwork and self-discipline across the world. Let’s not forget that proFirst, a role model is someone whose beamong them. Professional athletes need to fessionals were young athletes at one point haviors and successes become goals young accept this, and whether they like it or not, in their lives, too. people strive to achieve. Professional athmost are role models. By accepting this part Some athletes do accept the challenge of letes are perfect examples of this because of of the job, they can encourage today’s youth being a role model. Former Florida quartheir determination to make it to the profesto strive to be the best they can be.

YES, THEY SHOULD

BE ROLE MODELS

|

They can ENCOURAGE youngsters to strive to be the best they can be.

22

April 2018 | Crescent Magazine

brain bomb < random

AMERICAN

AMUSEMENT

From leisure parks to three-hour waits for two-minute rides, amusement parks have been a staple of American fun since the 1800s. Every park comes with its own unique gimmicks and baffling beginnings, but each provides hours of adrenaline rushes and stomachaches from funnel cakes.

LAND OF OZ Based on 1939’s “The Wizard of Oz,” the amusement park in Beech Mountain, N.C., was closed to the public in 1980. Tickets are sold in advance for when the park does open to the public for only three days each year.

BAY BEACH Opened in 1892 in Green Bay, Wis., it began as a local swim spot.

Owned by the city, admission and parking are free and ride tickets, which never expire, can be purchased for only 25 cents each.

HERSHEYPARK Opened in 1907, Hersheypark in Hershey, Pa., was originally created by Milton S. Hershey as grounds for picnicking and boating for employees of Hershey’s Chocolate Factory. The park now includes 11 roller coasters, a waterpark and a zoo.

LUNA PARK

SILVER DOLLAR CITY

The only surviving Coney Island amusement park, this Brooklyn, N.Y., park opened in 1903. The park was almost destroyed by a fire in 1944 and closed again in 1946 after another fire, but was reopened in 2010.

This is an 1880s style theme park in Branson, Mo. The park was built on top of one of Missouri’s deepest caves and features the Wilderness Church, a vintage log chapel built in 1849 that hosts more than 100 weddings every year.

THE MAGIC KINGDOM The mega-popular playground at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., has an aboveground “tunnel” system to allow characters to move across the park unseen by guests to preserve the magic of Disney.

CAROWINDS This amusement park that crosses the state line between Charlotte, N.C., and Fort Mill, S.C. It is home to the tallest and fastest giga roller coaster, Fury 325, and is the longest steel coaster in North America.

CEDAR POINT Located in Sandusky, Ohio, it is known as the roller coaster capital of the world with 16 coasters. The park is home to the Valravn, which is the longest, tallest and fastest dive roller coaster in the world.

THE STRATOSPHERE TOWER

KNOTT’S BERRY FARM

This playland in Las Vegas holds the Guinness World Record for the highest controlled descent as guests can bungee jump from 829 feet. It hosts three thrill rides that dangle 64 feet over the edge of the building.

This amusement park in Los Angeles originally began as a pie stand on the side of the road.

From the 1980s to the 1990s, the park was home to two of the first all-ages dance clubs called Cloud 9 and Studio K. Now, it is home to the first dive coaster on the West Coast, HangTime, which has the steepest drop in California.

LAKE COMPOUNCE

CAROUSEL GARDENS

The Bristol, Conn., attraction is the oldest, continuously operating amusement park in North America. The park opened in 1846 when owner Gad Norton allowed a scientist to experiment with a boat and explosives on the lake.

This park in New Orleans features a 112-year-old carousel, which has been featured in films such as 2013’s “Now You See Me.” All of the carousel animals were hand-carved, hand-painted and feature real horse hair in their tails.

KINGS ISLAND Opened in 1972, this Mason, Ohio, theme park is known for its 14 roller coasters and a replica of the Eiffel Tower. Daredevil Evel Knievel set a world record in 1975 when he jumped 14 Greyhound buses on a motorcycle in the parking lot.

Crescent Magazine | April 2018

HOLIDAY WORLD & SPLASHIN’ SAFARI The world’s first “theme” park, located in Santa Claus, Ind., began as a retirement project for Evansville industrialist, Louis J. Koch. Opened in 1946, the park was originally called Santa Claus Land.

DOLLYWOOD Located in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., Dollywood was originally a Confederate-inspired amusement park named Rebel Railroad. The park is home to the largest exhibit of non-releasable bald eagles in the U.S.

BUSCH GARDENS Originally known as Busch Gardens Africa, this Florida park is one of the largest zoological institutions in the U.S. The park contains about 2,700 exotic animals and six major coasters, the newest being Cobra’s Curse.

23

random > the lists

some of the people

THE DSP

will definitely miss a lot STEPHANIE FRASIER Chair, Department of Art

SYLVIA BUCK Director, Counseling and Health Education TOM BENSON Assistant Athletics Director/Producer, Purple Aces Productions SUSAN HEATHCOTT Director, Publications

LANEECA WILLIAMS Chief Diversity Officer, Diversity Initiatives

great

READS

1.

2.

3.

as far as Tracy Maurer, director of Student Publications, is concerned. Check out her picks.

“South of Broad” Pat Conroy (Doubleday, 2009)

4.

5.

“Angels & Demons” Dan Brown (Pocket Books, 2000)

“Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle” Betty MacDonald (HarperCollins, 1947)

“Any Det. Harry Bosch” novel Michael Connelly (Simon & Schuster, 1992–present) “All the President’s Men” Carl Bernstein & Bob Woodward (Simon & Schuster, 1974)

5

1 2

WAYS

ways to

QUIT your job Getting a job is never easy but quitting one can be just as uncomfortable, take a look at some of these creative ways to give your final notice.

1.

2.

3.

4.

DRIVE OFF IN STYLE. After giving your final notice to your boss, drive away in a fancy limousine. Just make sure you have the funds to pull this one off.

PURSUE A DREAM. Say that you are quitting to pursue your dream of not working there anymore. It’s not everyone’s dream but it’s your dream.

SWEET REVENGE. Send an Edible Arrangement to your boss that says, “I quit.

Eat me.” Give them some “sweet revenge” in this case.

PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC. Go out not with a bang, but with a band. Call up a mariachi band and have them serenade you as you walk out. Better yet, leave them in the office for the whole day.

5.

DANCE WITH ME. Create a dance compilation video to Johnny Paycheck’s “Take This Job and Shove It,” and send it to your boss. Hope you won’t need them as a reference.

1 2

SIMPLY STOP showing up. That’ll show ‘em.

TOP TEN

When most of us get a chance to go abroad we often point out the odd things we see in other countries.

Here are the things foreigners think are strange about the U.S.

1. PHARMACIES that sell cough medicine and tissues right next to beer and cigarettes.

2. THE FACT THAT sales tax is not included on the price tag of items.

3. PEOPLE WHO GO out in public in their pajamas. It’s comfortable to some but lazy to others.

4. CURRENCY THAT looks the same. Everything is a variety of either green or silver, except those little copper coins that are basically worthless.

5. AIR CONDITIONING that is always on.

It’s a blessing in 90+ degree heat, but only for the first five minutes. Then it’s just cold.

music

STUFF What is the best concert you’ve been to and why?

Fall Out Boy and Blackbear. “I had never really heard of Blackbear so getting to see him and Fall Out Boy with my friends was cool.”

— Ashley Sauzek

junior

bum, even though he was on tour for his last album so that was cool.”

— Hannah Patterson

sophomore

Twenty One Pilots. “We got tick-

— Andrea Nelson

ets at the last minute and were up in the nosebleeds. But during their first song, everything went black and then all of the sudden lead singer Tyler Joseph showed up in my section and I almost cried.”

Justin Bieber. “Justin is beauti-

sophomore

Winter Jam. “It was a really fun environment. There was a lot of performers but TobyMac was there and he is one of my favorites.” senior

ful and has been since the day he became famous. Until he dies, he will be beautiful.”

— Amber Wenos Halestorm. They were absolute-

junior

ly amazing live and really are one of the few real classic rock ‘n’ roll bands of our generation. Their sound is very unique and I think they are fantastic.”

Thomas Rhett. “I knew all of the

— Michael Boedeker

— Anna Kurtz

songs and he played his newest al-

24

6. GAPS BETWEEN bathroom stalls that stop a foot from the floor. Is there really any privacy or should we only use the bathroom at home?

7. THE EXPECTATION of leaving a 10 to 20 percent tip even if the service was mediocre at best.

8. WHEN PEOPLE say, “How are you?” when they really mean “Hello.”

9. DEEP-FRIED, UNgodly proportioned everything. From deepfried butter to the size of our cars, everything really is bigger in America.

10. JUST IN CASE you forgot which country you are in, we display our flag proudly, everywhere.

freshman

April 2018 | Crescent Magazine

signs you’re

ADDICTED TO CAFFEINE

1. You resemble a zombie more than an actual human until you have had your morning cup — or two.

2. Decaf is a crime against humanity.

3. You feel personally victimized by people who take forever to order at Starbucks.

4. You are more than willing to drop a small fortune at your favorite coffee shop than you are to buy anything else.

5. Reading a 300-page novel in one sitting is child’s play after you’ve had caffeine.

6. You wake up early to have your first cup of coffee and then fill your to-go cup for class.

7. The baristas at your favorite cafe have your order memorized and spell your name correctly.

8. You believe that tea is for the weak.

ODDlaws z ALABAMA — It is illegal to have an ice cream cone in your back pocket. z PENNSYLVANIA — No convicted felons may operate a Bingo game. z LOUISIANA — You cannot steal someone else’s crawfish. z VERMONT — All residents must bathe every Saturday night. z IDAHO — Riding a merry-go-round on Sundays is a crime. z INDIANA — All black cats must wear bells around their necks on Friday 13. z MONTANA — It is illegal to play Frisbee golf anywhere except on a sanctioned “folf” course. z OREGON — Juggling is prohibited without a license. z COLORADO — It is illegal to fire a catapult at a building. z NEW YORK — The penalty for jumping off a building is death.

your

VIEWING review

What movie do you wish had a sequel and why?

“Inception”

“The Core”

“I have so many questions and I just want answers!”

“It has crazy stuff, like lightning destroying Rome, and Hillary Swank going to the core of the Earth to save the world.”

— K atherine Murphy sophomore

— Evan Barnett

“The Breakfast Club” “Just to see what happens to everyone’s lives afterwards.”

freshman

— A nna Lowry

“Sweeny Todd”

freshman

“You don’t know what happens to the main characters!

They’re left in the basement.”

“Serenity”

— K aryn Banks

“Because there was no reason for the movie to end [the way it did].”

freshman

— A my Hopperton

“Pan’s Labyrinth”

junior

“For two reasons. One, because it’s a fairytale and they should always continue and never end. Two, because the ending leaves you asking, ‘Wait, that’s the end?’”

“Passengers” “It ends bad. Just shows you the tree, but doesn’t tell you anymore. I need to know more.”

— Taylor Swartzentruber

senior

freshman

least

COMMON multiple

JAROD SPARKS senior “Woodcarving. I enjoy making things. I usually do it after I’ve finished homework.

By then, everyone’s asleep.”

JUSTIN BANKS sophomore “Exact same. I do the exact same thing as when they’re watching. I have nothing to hide.”

750

24

The weight of the average smell in nanograms.

The number of U.S. states where impotence is grounds for divorce.

In millions, the number of active Facebook profiles of dead people.

campus COMMENT

Crescent Magazine | April 2018

— Jade Shelby

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING? JILLIAN KOCH freshman “Watch ‘One Tree Hill.’ No one else watches it and I don’t want to watch it with other people.”

JOEL BEARDMORE exchange student “Pray. That’s my little quiet time.”

ALEX EDGECOMB sophomore “Sleep. I’m generally not asleep when people are around. When people aren’t around, I sleep.”

BAILEY SMITH senior “Sing. I don’t like singing with people around. I also mostly sing worship songs.”

25

random > off the wall

WORD of the MONTH

GOOD NEWS BAD NEWS

THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTed that a drone practice session turned into a real-life rescue situation when Australian lifeguards saved two men at a beach in New South Wales. The drone, known as a Little Ripper, is set to make its debut on Australia’s beaches this summer and lifeguards were practicing with it when they saw the swimmers were in distress and launched the rescue protocols saving both men in less than two minutes.

there’s an

APP

The shortest war in history only lasted 38 minutes. The Anglo-Zanzibar War was a military conflict on Aug. 27, 1896, between British forces and Sultan Khalid bin Bargash. It began when Khalid killed his cousin and took the throne without British approval. British ships bombarded the palace in Basil Cove and its harbor until the Sultan’s forces surrendered.

for that “Neverthink” is your remote for the Internet. It’s similar to TV by being able to choose a channel and mindlessly stream videos from YouTube and Reddit while doing other things instead of wasting time browsing.

The world’s largest, single living organism is a humongous fungus.

In Oregon’s Malheur National Forest, the honey mushroom stretches 2,200 acres, slowly killing any tree it grows on. Though there are multiple mushrooms, they all share the same DNA, making it one living organism. Piled all together, the fungus can weigh up to 35,000 tons.

Researchers from Princeton experimented in 1929 by using a live cat and turning it into a working telephone. While it would be animal abuse today, Ernest Weaver and Charles Bray took a cat, removed part of its skull and attached telephone wires to its auditory nerve. Connecting the wires to a receiver, Weaver would speak into the cat’s ear and Bray would listen on the receiver 50 feet away.

people tweet

the damndest things When I die, I want the people I did group projects with to lower me into my grave so they can let me down one last time. @CollegeStudent

©Mike Gruhn/Distributed by Universal Uclick via CartoonStock.com

lasted for about two hours until the elephant finally wandered back into the jungle.

USA TODAY REPORTED THAT A New Jersey couple was ready to get married at the Monmouth County Courthouse when the groom’s mother had an asthma attack in the restroom. Rather than postpone the wedding for another month, the bride and groom exchanged their wedding vows in front of the bathroom’s towel dispensers while waiting for an ambulance to come.

26

To waste time or busy oneself aimlessly.

RIDICULOUS stuff

UPI REPORTED THAT IN THAIland a single elephant held up traffic to steal sugar cane from the trucks that were passing by. The elephant took sugar cane from more than 12 vehicles. The traffic jam

SKY NEWS REPORTED THAT a man received a severe head injury after he was knocked unconscious while hunting with a group. He was hunting Canadian geese in Easton, Md., when the goose he shot fell 90 feet and landed on his head.

futz

Idk y men go to bars to meet women. Go to Target. The female to male ratio is 10 to 1 & they’re already looking for things they don’t need. @LeoBlakeCarter.

My daughter put on a princess dress and asked if I had any “play pretend” outfits so I put on workout clothes. @LaraineBaker I’m wearing fake nails, fake lashes and fake hair, but my terrible personality is all real. @rachie_claire Hate when people say, “If u think this is better than sex, u haven’t had good sex!” Like no, maybe you’ve just never had good lasagna, Carol. @AudreyPorne

funbits Frank Hayes is the only jockey to win a race while dead. Hayes and his horse competed in 1923 at Belmont Park. Hayes suffered a heart attack during the race and died, but his horse still placed first, so the officials declared him the winner.

The world’s most deadly cheese is Casu Marzu.

It is from Italy that ripens openly so that cheese flies can lay eggs inside it. The eggs hatch and the maggots feed on the cheese. It is illegal to sell, but Sardinians still make it for special occasions.

April 2018 | Crescent Magazine

Things that make us CRAZY

DOTM

tom collins The Tom Collins is a gin classic that is essentially spiked sparkling lemonade. Because of the addition of lemon juice, this is a refreshing cocktail that pairs nicely with a warm day. While top-shelf gin is not recommended, the gin used in this cocktail has the greatest impact on the flavor. Beyond the gin, the other ingredients are easy to come by, making this a cheap, college-friendly cocktail. The recipe on liquor.com says to pour the lemon juice, simple syrup and gin into a shaker filled with ice and shake well. Then strain into a glass with ice, top with club soda and garnish with a lemon or orange wheel and a maraschino cherry.

STICKY SURFACES

TABLE TAKERS

You are just going about your day and go to touch something and you find your palm is practically glued to something sticky. Why? Because someone was there before you with gross hands. Hey sticky hands! Just a suggestion, but maybe wash your hands next time so that we don’t have to worry about what ungodly substance is now all over ours.

To those who believe that a single person can easily take up a table made for four or more, please think again. There is limited space available for large groups to sit together and some decide that they can claim a large space for one person. It’s not cool. Next time, leave the larger spaces for the larger groups and find another spot.

BARE FEET

FINGER LICKING

All is just fine as you’re walking through Bower-Suhrheinrich Library or Ridgway Center and then you see a pair of bare feet lounging on a table or chair. Could you please not?

The rest of us don’t want to catch the athlete’s foot you might be spreading around on the surface. We won’t even mention the smell that you seem immune to.

To professors who lick their fingers to separate sheets while handing out papers in class, please stop. We are trying to take an important exam and all we can concentrate on is the wet fingerprints in the corner of our papers.

We should be worried about passing the test not getting whatever new saliva disease is going around campus.

Bring it BACK

ingredients: 3/4 oz. lemon juice

| 3/4 oz. simple syrup | 1 1/2 oz. gin | club soda

HEARD IT HERE “I wish I could trade my heart for another liver so I could drink more and care less.” < comedian Tina Fey The world’s oldest condom was discovered in Sweden. It is believed to originate from 1640, was made of pig intestines, is reusable and comes with a Latin instruction manual.

Crescent Magazine | April 2018

During WWII, the USSR Navy gave a reindeer to the crew of the HMS Trident. The crew spent six weeks with the reindeer and named it Pollyanna.

It slept under the captain’s bed.

For the month that begins with the silliest day of the year, we’re bringing back the funniest movies from the ‘90s and early 2000s. That’s right we are talking about modern Shakespeare films.

There was always a Shakespeare novel read in high school and most of us remember seeing 1968’s “Romeo and Juliet” with the Zac Efron look-alike. But most of us really wanted to watch the Leonardo DiCaprio version.

We all enjoyed funny Shakespeare movies like the 1996’s “Romeo and Juliet” or the 2006’s “She’s the Man.” They made us laugh and wish about being a killer soccer star like Viola Hastings.

Most students at one point got with their friends and fought over space on the couch to watch “She’s the Man.” Let’s bring back these modern Shakespeare movies because every one loves it when Mercutio pulls out his 9mm gun named

“Dagger” or when Viola calls out Monique and says the iconic “UGLAAY!” There should be more Shakespeare movies set in our time and have Macbeth take place on a college campus and see how that turns out.

There is a Dutch village in Giethoorn, Netherlands, that has no roads. The village is divided by four miles of canals, is connected by wooden bridges and is only accessible by boat.

Earthquakes can shorten the day.

An earthquake in Japan in 2011 shortened the length of the day by 1.8 microseconds. The 2004 Sumatra quake knocked off 6.8 microseconds.

27

profile > michael slade

A CLOSER LOOK >

THE LIGHTER SIDE OF CHEMISTRY bethany|MILHOLLAND When students finally decide to take a chemistry course in order to satisfy a general education requirement, many of their their heads immediately start spinning out of control. But at least one professor is trying different approaches to help students cut through the baffling confusion.

Becoming relaxed is something most students notice right away in courses taught by Michael Slade, assistant professor of chemistry. Senior Michael Mannchen said Slade articulates in such a way that students find it easier to understand what is admittedly a tough subject to learn.

“He can bring his knowledge down to your level,” Mannchen said, “and he provides a lot of resources to help you succeed.”

Slade is also known for sharing humorous tidbits in class and often pulls pranks in lab. From wearing a “The Legend of Zelda” costume for Halloween to singing songs from the Broadway musical “Hamilton,” junior Maegen Kincanon said Slade is a professor you can connect with.

“He gets really excited when he talks about [chemistry],” she said, “and he jokes around a lot, especially to lighten the mood.”

Slade said he wants his students to experience the same joy he feels when they final-

“

He has a nice, jovial demeanor. He’s a happygo-lucky kind of guy.”

ly understand a concept or solve a problem.

While some things in chemistry have to be memorized, he wants students to understand concepts so they can apply them. But for Slade, keeping the atmosphere as down-

28

to-earth as possible helps with the learning process. “[Students] still hate my class, but they get that I’m trying to make it less awful,” he said. “I like getting to see things click.

It’s very satisfying.”

Arlen Kaufman, professor of chemistry, recognizes Slade’s commitment to helping his students and said he is different from other professors in how he tries different techniques to help students understand chemistry.

“Mike really tries hard to present challenging material in a way students can com-

prehend it,” he said. “Not everyone learns in the same way. He uses different approaches to get challenging information across.”

To Slade, chemistry is a puzzle and finding how the pieces fit together is what he likes about this branch of science.

One puzzle Slade wants to solve is type 1 diabetes. His 7-year-old son was diagnosed two years ago with the autoimmune disease, where the body’s immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. While Slade cares more about teaching than research, finding a cure for the disease that effects more than 193,000 Americans under age 20 would be life-changing.

“My son needs insulin to live. Period,” he said. “We were really fortunate he was diagnosed before it got really bad.”

Despite his son’s health issues and the concerns it causes, Slade said he is a thankful husband and father. He and his wife, Emily, who is minister of children and youth at Bethlehem United Church of Christ, have been together 15 years.

They also have two daughters, ages 5 and 2.

The son of missionaries, Slade lived in El Salvador for eight years during the country’s civil war, where it wasn’t uncommon to see soldiers walking the streets with semi-automatic rifles.

His family then settled in Pennsylvania and four years later, he met his future wife at a church camp. He said he would eventually like to take his family to El Salvador to show them where he grew up.

These days his biggest thrill is being a dad. Slade doesn’t have much free time, but he does love to play “The Legend of Zelda” whenever he can. And he’s been known to sacrifice sleep because he gets so involved.

“His wife hides the controller to get him to finish grading,” Mannchen joked.

Although his schedule is as busy as any student’s, teaching remains Slade’s passion.

“I really like getting to know students,” he said. “They keep me on my toes.”

April 2018 | Crescent Magazine

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