Tommy Housman
Paris Himes
President
Jasmine Brents
Creative Lead
Alex Halbrook
CreativeLead
Minton, Baylee A.
Design
Chloe Ferguson
Design
Madison Adams
Design
Abbey Kyle
Design
Maddi Krohn
Design
Mikayla Duffy
Illustrator
Hannah Addison
Writer
Jackson Caudill
Writer
Hayden Chrapek
Writer
Myia Danek
Writer
Troy Schroeder
Writer
Heather Rak
Writer
Emmett Bowman
Content Creator
Bev Rowley
Member at Large
Sonsoles Aguayo
Social Media Content Creator
Iryna Tsesiul
Video & Photography
Marie Reilly
Writer – Content Creator
HARLAXTON HAZE
Dani Parisi
Editor - Writer
Maddy Webb
Social Media Manager - Writer
Mayray Sung Writer
Sam Tarter Writer
Liam Allen Writer
Emma Ault Writer
Bev Rowley
Alexa Davis
Myia Danek
Troy Schroeder
Sam Tarter
Hannah Addison
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 1,500 distributed to 18 campus locations and housed online at www.cresceent.evansville.edu
The Crescent it is funded through advertising sales and a subscription fee paid on behalf of students by the Student Government Association.
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faculty, staff, administrators and alumni, but material the CMEB regards as libelous, malicious and/or obscene will not be published.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.
EDITORIAL POLICY:
TRI-STATE ORTHOPEDICS FIELD AT JAMES & DOROTHY COOPER STADIUM - 1
DAWN MURTAUGH: FIBER ART EXHIBIT - 2
CHALLENGING FELON VOTING RESTRICTIONS - 4
65 YEARS, 650 HOURS AND $4000 - 5
DISCUSSION WITH LINDA VILLAROSA, AUTHOR OF UNDER THE SKIN - 8
KIRK RUETER - 9
MAN VS MACHINE - 13
CAMPUS CRIME - 16
JUST KEEP BUILDING - 17
COVER
AS YOU LIKE IT @ SOHOPLACE: A JOYFUL EXPERIENCE - 20
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT GOING SOLO - 21
HOW TO TACKLE THE LONDON THEATRE DISTRICT IN 5 EASY STEPS! - 23
THE ROCKY ROAD - 25
TIPS AND TRICKS AT HARALXTON! - 27
HOW
SOBA
instagram.com/crescentmagazine
By: Alexa Davis
The fall of 2022 has brought a lot of exciting things for the University of Evansville purple aces athletics teams, with one of the newest additions being the brand-new AstroTurf softball field. Thanks to Tri-State Orthopedics, the new softball field has received a full AstroTurf infield and outfield, a regraded playing surface, padded walls, and upgraded pitching and hitting areas. This new field is an inspiring addition to the aces softball team as they look toward an exciting spring season in 2023.
Padded walls are expected to be installed in the month of November.
On Thursday, November 3, a reception was held in the Krannert Gallery to welcome fiber artist Dawn Murtaugh. Various examples of her work were on display in the gallery, as part of an ongoing exhibit showcasing her art.
Murtaugh, a self-described optimistic skeptic, still recalls what inspired her to become an artist. “When I was little, I collected paint chips whenever my mother would go to the paint store, and I would rearrange and play with them,” she said. “My mother would get fabric from people, and instead of saying ‘oh, we’re so poor, what are we gonna do?’, she would say ‘what can we do with this? So, everything is inspiration, and there is nothing that can’t be seen in a different way.”
In addition to receiving her Bachelor of Arts Degree at St. Xavior College, Murtaugh is actively involved with the American Quilters Society and Studio Arts Quilt Associates. Her fiber art has been exhibited in many national events since 2010, and she has also taught many courses and workshops involving Fiber Arts. According to Murtaugh, her art references traditional quilting, which was historically a way for women to add beauty to otherwise drab surroundings.
When asked what her advice would be to aspiring artists, Murtaugh’s answer was simple, “Look. Look, open your eyes, see what it makes you feel, and look harder. Step close to something, step far away, and look. The rest of it will come up.”
The Dawn Murtaugh: Fiber Art exhibit opened on October 29, and will be available for all to view in the Krannert Gallery until December 10. Several pieces are for sale, and the proceeds will be gifted to the UE Friends of Art.
Murtaugh herself can be found on Facebook
@Dawn Murtaugh Textile Artist
Crescent Magazine is published 4 to 6 times via print and digital publication. during the academic year, beginning in September 2023 and ending with the April 2024 issue.
Crescent Magazine is published 4 to 6 times via print and digital publication. during the academic year, beginning in September 2023 and ending with the April 2024 issue.
Circulation is 1,200 when the issue is printed and mass emails are distributed to inform students and faculty when a digital issue is published.
Circulation is 1,200 when the issue is printed and mass emails are distributed to inform students and faculty when a digital issue is published.
Issues of Crescent Magazine can be found online at https://crescent.evansville.edu
Issues of Crescent Magazine can be found online at https://crescent.evansville.edu
In addition to your print ad, included with your purchase is a smaller version of your ad that is posted on Crescent Magazine’s Facebook and Instagram page, and Twitter feed. Posts coincide with the month where you have placed advertising with the magazine. Your ad is cycled from the publication date until the next month’s cycle of ads begins.
In addition to your print ad, included with your purchase is a smaller version of your ad that is posted on Crescent Magazine’s Facebook and Instagram page, and Twitter feed. Posts coincide with the month where you have placed advertising with the magazine. Your ad is cycled from the publication date until the next month’s cycle of ads begins.
Contact Student Media Advisor Tommy J Housman th208@evansville.edu
Contact Student Media Advisor Tommy J Housman th208@evansville.edu
In America, it is legal in some states for a felon to indefinitely lose the right to vote once they are incarcerated. Some believe this practice is necessary and that hindering these people’s constitutional right as punishment for their crimes is justified. However, this mindset needs to be challenged, and the practice needs reform. A felon’s right to vote should never be compromised. Punishment for crimes does not have to impede on one of the most prideful acts Americans can partake in. Not all states have the same felon voting laws. According to the law, there are only two states in which a felon does not lose the right to vote at any point throughout the incarceration process. In 21 states, the right to vote is restricted while incarcerated, however the right is restored upon release. In 16 states, a felon loses the right to vote when incarcerated, and the right is not restored until the completion of any parole or probationary periods. In 11 states, felons can lose the right to vote permanently once incarcerated. These felons may restore the right with a pardon from the governor. An article from procon.org states some popular reasons felon voting restrictions are in place, and why people support them. Some believe that hindering this right is a fair punishment for crimes that would result in an incarceration. Perhaps a felon should have to prove themselves to the public on a probationary period before being given things such as voting rights. It can be argued that people in office don’t impact those incarcerated, and that there is no point in letting felons vote. People often question the sanity and thinking skills of those currently or previously incarcerated, and if they (for lack of better words) are smart enough to be able to make a “good” vote in an election.
Prisoners do not get good food, a comfortable place to sleep, quality clothing, or any freedom or choice in their day-to-day life. Prison life is notoriously miserable, with some even arguing the conditions are too harsh, as explained in an article by Shon Hopwood on brennancenter.org (How Atrocious Prisons Conditions Make Us All Less Safe.) With terrible living
conditions, the absence of choice, and restrictions from seeing family and loved ones, why should a felon also be stripped of one of the most basic and prideful acts an American can partake in?
Who has the right to decide if somebody is mentally healthy enough to vote? A crime that has no relation to a government election should not determine someone’s credibility when voting. Plenty of people outside bars whom are extremely mentally unstable vote in every election. At what point is the line drawn? Should the government require an IQ test before entry to the ballot box? Should adult taxpayers with mental handicaps be restricted from voting? A person’s mental state and capabilities do not impact their political opinions or voice. Every American voice matters.
When incarcerated, all privileges are lost and one becomes property of the government. Wouldn’t those under the direct and constant control of the government be the ones most greatly impacted by who is in office?
In 1765, the Stamp Act Congress popularized the phrase “No taxation without representation.” A phrase that is still known to even the least patriotic Americans. Those incarcerated often hold jobs ranging from things such as yard work to prepping the meals eaten by fellow inmates. These felons receive paychecks, and pay taxes accordingly. However, in 48 states, these felons hold no voice in the government.
Murderers, rapists, and drug dealers have voted in every American election since our great country was born, felons are only the ones who got caught. Voting should be a
This fall semester, the Zeta-Beta chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon here at UE has made great lengths to helping out the local Evansville community and fundraising for their philanthropy, St. Jude Children’s Research hospital, all while celebrating their 65th anniversary of being an active chapter.
Recently, TKE held two fundraising events. The first, entitled Chocolate for Charity, was held from Thursday October 27th to Tuesday November 1st, in which they sold bars of World’s Finest Chocolate in Ridgway for $1 a bar. In total, they raised $240 while helping spread the Halloween spirit.
Also in the month of October, the TKE brothers held a fundraising event entitled Laps for St. Jude, where 18 of their brothers ran laps in Carson Center for an hour, and raised money via the pledge donations given to them (along with the flat donations made by family and friends outside of the event). In total, the brothers of Tau Kappa Epsilon ran a grand total of 805 laps and raised nearly $3760 from a single fundraising event!
Currently, the Zeta-Beta Chapter of TKE is on track to raise $5000 for St. Jude and other philanthropies throughout the year, while also conducting 650 community service hours this semester between 18 men.
President of TKE and graduating senior Rafael Mendoza-Romero is incredibly impressed by his chapter’s efforts.
“Originally the chapter had set individual goals to raise $100 for St Jude and do 20 community service hours a semester,” said Mendoza-Romero. “My members have easily shattered my expectations and are on pace for over 1000 service hours and $5000 dollars raised for St Jude this calendar year by our 18 members.”
These two great successes, along with a new house and 5 newly initiated brothers in the fall semester alone, shine a bright light on the future of TKE here at UE.
“As the outgoing president and senior I am ecstatic to see what these young generations provide,” exclaimed Mendoza-Romero. “They have proven through their outstanding service and philanthropic efforts that they are taking TKE to new heights! I look forward to watching them succeed as an alumni.”
"I like where we're headed at TKE. We're not the biggest fraternity on campus, but I can't think of a better group of men to surround myself with,” said new member Mitch Bretz. “I saw the drive within TKE from the moment I came to the house for the first time, and I see it even more so now. We've been hard at work this semester and we're not done yet."
the brothers of Tau Kappa Epsilon excel in community service, philanthropy, and brotherhood growth.
By: Maddy Webb
Have you ever wanted to go into journalism and or work on a magazine? Do you like to write, take photos, conduct interviews, or are into design? Student Media is the place for you! Here at Student Media content for the Crescent is created every semester during the academic year. This content is written, produced, and published by students for people like YOU! Students on campus!
Student Media allows you to harness your skills in writing, design, photography, reporting, interviewing, video, social media, and the web. This collective effort allows for so many different talents to come together and hone skills! Articles and content can range from events occurring on campus, to current events around the world! Students can report on what they’re passionate about!
Student Media is in the basement of SOBA. In the Student Media office, we have best computers on campus for students to use! These computers can handle anyone who is interested in design, editing, photography, videography, 3D rendering, and even animation. There is also the start of a banned book share station! We are looking for students to help lead this project and curate more donations! Student Media is also in the process of building a student led marketing department to procure advertisers and promote the Crescent Magazine.
If you are interested in putting your skills into a real student-run magazine this is the place for you! YOUR passion is needed here! Email Tommy Housman for more information!
th208@evansville.edu
Each year, the UE Honors Program students are assigned a common read to engage with throughout the semester. This year, students had the opportunity to read Linda Villarosa’s Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation.
Villarosa is an American author and journalist who began her career working for Essence Magazine. Today, she writes for The New York Times, and is a professor at the City University of New York where she teaches “journalism, medicine and Black Studies,” (Villarosa).
On October 24th, Linda Villarosa traveled to the university to discuss her book in-person with students and faculty here at UE. During this time, she spoke about the motivation behind the writing of her book. Villarosa revealed that “[her] work is motivated by anger.” Her anger stems from the societal issues she, and others, have been witness to throughout their lives.
In her book, Villarosa explores the inconsistencies concerning the life-expectancy and birth-rates of
Black Americans. She reports that, in comparison to their white counterparts, there are 3,000 - 4,000 more black babies that die each year. Additionally, life-expectancy is at its lowest where there is a high concentration of Black Americans. Concerned with these disparities, Villarosa set out to determine the underlying cause of the issue. Her first priority was to address the misconceptions and inaccurate assumptions that have previously been presented. For example, it is assumed that poverty/lack of education plays the largest factor in these disparities. However, Villarosa explains that a black woman with a college education is more likely to die during childbirth than a white woman with only a high school diploma. The second misconception she addressed is the belief that there are genetic differences that contribute to the lower life-expectancy of Black Americans.
By. Hannah M. AddisonVillarosa informed the audience that these inaccurate beliefs stem from the years of slavery, when African Americans were faced with abuse, and white Americans justified their actions by promoting the myth that black skin is thicker, and that African Americans have “a higher pain tolerance.” Sadly, these myths continue to be discussed today and lead to the systematic, under-treatment of Black Americans concerning healthcare. After drawing attention to, and disproving these misconceptions, Villarosa presented her theory for the reasons behind the disparities she earlier mentioned. She states, “something about living in America is bad for black mothers and babies.” She uses the term “weathering,” when referring to this idea. Weathering is a concept that was introduced by Dr. Arline Geronimus, and it is defined as the result of prolonged exposure to stress. Villarosa states that this stress is a result of the life-long maltreatment that black men and women face.
To learn more about weathering and its effects on the lives of Black Americans, purchase a copy of Linda Villarosa’s Under the Skin. Education and awareness are the first steps towards reconstructing the systems that harm the lives of African Americans. Discussing the ideas presented by Villarosa are ways in which you can make a difference.
Troy Schroeder
If you have not heard of Hoyleton, IL, you aren’t the only person. Hoyleton’s population barely exceeds 500. To be exact, it was 531 at the 2010 census. It is the home to a Lutheran grade school, a small bank, a bar and grill, and 13-year Major League Baseball veteran Kirk Rueter. The Wikipedia page for Hoyleton is by no means extensive. In the main paragraph at the top of the page, it states the population, the county it resides in, and its loyalty to Rueter. Behemoth buildings are nowhere in sight, places to eat are few and far between, and “heavy” traffic consists of a few cars at the same intersection. Leaving a small town like Hoyleton and moving to a huge city is quite the adjustment for anyone. “Having to take probably thirty minutes to go five miles in San Francisco, where if you are in Hoyleton and you got five miles, you’re getting there in five minutes,” said Rueter on the differences.
Rueter’s upbringing has had a long-lasting effect on who he is today. It is the reason he is so humble and gives back to his community quite often. But you are on a much larger stage and held to a much higher standard when you do what he did for a living. When kids came to games or ran into him elsewhere, Rueter always did his best to sign every autograph possible. He never tried to talk about himself or his accomplishments. He believed if he was good enough, his talent and achievements would speak for themselves. According to Dave Fischer, Rueter’s high school coach, people around his hometown say he has not changed at all. The person Rueter had always been is who he continued to be. Even when Rueter was in high school, people knew he was the real deal. Fischer said that people would ask if Rueter had what it took to make the big leagues while he was still in college. Fischer never answered with anything other than a resounding “yes.” Rueter has always been disciplined and committed, and his parents and older brother provided him with a fantastic support group.
Entering the 2002 MLB season, hopes were high for the San Francisco Giants. They had just come off a 90-72 record, had reigning NL MVP Barry Bonds, and they returned a large majority of their starting lineup and rotation. These Giants were not to be taken lightly, especially due to the presence of Bonds. That season, he went on to set the single season home run record with 73 and it still stands today. “If we had a bad stretch early on, we didn’t really panic. Dusty would always tell us the baseball season was a marathon not a sprint. We knew if we were close in the division in August, we would give ourselves a chance,” Rueter said. The marathon went almost exactly how they wanted; they improved their record and clinched the postseason, but they failed to win their division in back-to-back seasons. This postseason, though, would shake out differently than in recent years.
San Francisco drew the first seeded Atlanta Braves in a best of five series. These teams had squared off across two series and seven games in the regular season. Miraculously, the season series was a dead split. According to Baseball Reference, a baseball statistics and history database, they ended one of these games in a 3-3 tie. Games one and two were held in Atlanta. The Giants took game one and Kirk Rueter took the mound for game two. Things did not go well for Rueter, as he allowed six earned runs and one unearned to cross the plate in a mere three innings of work, and the Braves took the contest to even the series. Luckily, the Giants would have Rueter’s back, and they won games four and five to clinch an appearance in the National League Championship Series.
In college, Rueter’s accomplishments were impressive, to put it plainly. He played baseball at Murray State University and is one of the all-time greats for the program. According to Murray State Athletics, Rueter ranks fourth all time in wins, and tenth in strikeouts, and ranks in the top ten in several other categories. His dominance at Murray State led to his selection in the 18th round of the 1991 MLB Draft to the Montreal Expos. This would be one of the first changes to Kirk’s life throughout his playing career.
Rueter worked his way quickly through the Expos’ farm system and found his way into the major leagues in 1993 at the ripe age of twenty-two. Despite being a big leaguer, Rueter was still a young adult trying to figure out life. Fischer said, “When my family got to Montreal, we saw Kirk and he said, ‘hey coach what should I do with these?’ He pulled two checks out of his pockets, each worth around twenty thousand dollars. I almost had a heart attack, so I took him to a bank next to the hotel and he started a savings account.” His rookie season was one of the best of his career. He did not win the NL Rookie of the Year Award, but he did receive more votes than future hall of fame inductee Pedro Martinez. After his rookie season, Rueter never quite experienced that level of success again in Montreal.
Eventually, he was traded during the 1996 season to the San Francisco Giants. “I was kind of hoping I got traded. My time had run out there. The pitching coach and I were butting heads and I was just happy to get out of Montreal,” said Rueter. Between college, Minor League Baseball, and Major League Baseball, Rueter had made stops in Murray, KY, Sumter, SC, Rockford, IL, Harrisburg, PA, Ottawa, Ontario, Montreal, all since 1991, and was now on his way to San Francisco. This was quite the change of scenery for a young man who had spent the first 18 years of his life in a town a fraction of the population of these cities.
The man most of San Francisco knows as “Woody” wasted no time getting acclimated to his new team and new setting. Rueter was given this nickname because people saw the resemblance between him and the character from Disney’s Toy Story. Although he only pitched in four games the rest of the season after being traded, he pitched to a sub two earned run average. Giants fans grew to love Woody, and he became a part of the team’s core that would stay together for multiple years.
Next up in the 2002 playoffs, the Giants faced Rueter’s hometown St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Championship Series. The Cardinals and Giants matched up six times over the regular season with the Cardinals winning four of the six times. On October 9, Rueter was handed the ball for game one and recorded the win. Although his stats were not particularly eye popping, he did what was needed and his team won 9-6. The Giants followed their game one victory with another in game two, bringing the series back home up 2-0. After two games in San Francisco, It was Rueter’s turn in the rotation again with the Giants up 3-1 and in a potential series-clinching game. This time around, Rueter was lights out. Six innings of work and no runs allowed which allowed his offense time to get going as they did not score until the eighth inning.
Following Rueter’s first taste of San Francisco, he was finally ready for a full season in the bay. He grew increasingly accustomed to the area as he was there, and it is where his family was started. His first daughter, Hope, was born in San Francisco in 2000. Rueter said that his kids and his wife, Karla, traveled
with him when possible, but it became increasingly difficult the older they got. Rueter knew San Francisco was where he wanted to play, and it was shown in the contract extension he signed in the 2000 season. It was the final year of his deal and he signed on for three more years.
Being a part of the Giants organization was all Rueter could have ever asked from the baseball gods. He played multiple seasons with a handful of his teammates. They formed the core of that Giants team from the late nineties and early 2000s. Not often do you see a core that large and that good stay together for so long. Rueter also spoke of the wisdom that manager Dusty Baker handed down to him and his team. Baker was always quick to remind the team not to panic when things hit a rough patch. Rueter said Baker gave him the greatest compliment he ever got while playing. “If I had a good game or a bad game, the next day when I came into the clubhouse, you wouldn’t have known what I did.”
Kirk started his tenure in San Francisco hot, but he slowed down a step over the next few seasons. He still threw well and never threw less than 180 innings in any season from 1997-2002, but runs were coming around to score more than he would have liked. Although he was giving up more runs, Rueter was still winning his team games. He recorded at least eleven wins every season over this six-year stretch. In 2002, Rueter threw the best he had since his first half in San Francisco; he logged over two hundred innings, had his lowest ERA in a full season as a Giant, and had fourteen wins that season.
Finally, on October 19 in the City of Angels, the final games of the 2002 campaign had arrived. The San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Angels squared off for their second series of the year. They had met up in the regular season so both teams were familiar with each other. Game one ended in a Giants victory to take an early lead of the series. A dogfight ensued the following night with the Angels tying it back up with an 11-10 victory. Both teams had to hit the road and head to San Francisco for the next three games. Despite the Giants playing in front of their home crowd, the Angels slaughtered them to take game three.
On the heels of back-to-back losses and facing the threat of going down 3-1 in the most important series of the year, Dusty Baker turned to Kirk Rueter for game four. Rueter knew the weight of the situation and he could not let his team go down 3-1. He had to get his team the win but decided to treat this like any other game. Nothing had changed in his pre-start routine and Rueter knew what he needed to do. Rueter took the mound hoping to let his work speak for itself.
After a scoreless first inning, the Angels chased home a run in the second off Rueter with a sacrifice fly. In the following inning, Troy Glaus extended the lead with a two-run blast. These were the last runs Rueter and the Giants would allow for the night. Down three to nothing, the Giants eventually added runs of their own, tying it up in the bottom of the fifth. Rueter left the game after six strong innings and handed it off to his bullpen. They did their part and kept it scoreless, allowing their offense to score the eventual winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Rueter did his job and extended the series another game.
After the Giants squeaked out a victory in game three, it was time for a blowout of their own. They scored in five different innings and put up at least two runs every inning they had a run cross the plate. It equaled out to sixteen runs, a whopping twelve more than the Angels had that night. The penultimate
game six was back in Los Angeles where the Angeles capitalized on their home field advantage and took the series to game seven. Rueter did not start game seven but was eventually handed the ball. He took over in the fourth inning already down 4-1. He threw four innings of his own allowing no runs in a gutsy performance out of the bullpen, but his efforts were moot. The Giants did not score again, and the Angels won the World Series. Rueter has said that he has no regrets on his playing career, but that winning the Fall Classic would have been his crowning moment.
After playing three more seasons after the conclusion of the World Series and having his second daughter, Halle, Kirk Rueter retired in 2005. Although he almost signed on to play another season with the St. Louis Cardinals to be closer to home, he knew it was time to hang up his cleats. Now, Kirk has brought memorabilia back home and stores it in his famous shed at his house. He has hosted family and friends since his playing days and is a welcoming guest. Now, he and his wife help those in need by buying Christmas presents and running charity auctions to raise funds. Rueter is giving back to the community that raised him and that he loves so dearly.
Kirk Rueter with the Giants.
(Credit: East Bay Times)
Troy Schroeder (left) and Jake Schadegg (right) in Kirk Rueter’s shed.
Find somewhere sunny to relax with friends.
The Pina Colada is what to do when 21+
Pack your bags light, the shopping you’ll do is BIG!
Set your alarms, missing your flight is a no go!
Don’t forget to apply that SPF 15 every 2 hours!
Stay Hydrated this Spring
Beaches in Florida to AVOID if crowds are not for you:
Daytona Beach.
Canaveral National Seashore.
Ormond Beach.
Fort De Soto Park.
Santa Rosa Beach.
Sanibel Island.
Top Places to vacay in your break:
Cancun, Mexico
New Orleans, Louisiana
Miami, Florida
Las Vegas, Nevada
Los Angeles, California
Nashville, Tennessee
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Ways to stay safe this break:
- Know the basics of swimming.
- Wear your life jacket on boats!
- Know the ropes of the ocean, wave patterns are key for safe swimming!
- Wear your shoes to avoid infections!
- Drink responsibility!
- Know your limit and say goodnight to the fun.
have a deeply engrained need to minimize challenges and make things as efficient as possible. We have progressed far outside the realm of basic survival, but these instincts remain at the forefront of our everyday lives as the driving force of innovation and development.
These machines are designed to process and analyze vast amounts of data and make decisions based on those data results.
Narrow AI exists all around us, from the computers we have programmed to do specific tasks, to the iPhones we all carry as a lifeline. Most of us have grown up around these ever-evolving
systems, learning new ways to manipulate them for our gain and worrying little for how it could one day replace us.
In recent years, advancements in AI have aided in Natural Language Processing systems; this new technology does not only understand and generate human speech but can interpret and translate languages too. Its ability to generate human language, coupled with the computational power to access and apply large amount of data, allows for communication between humans and Artificial Intelligence systems.
Recent studies estimate that around 40% of jobs in the US could be automated in the next two decades due to AI system capabilities. Repetitive or routine jobs may be assigned to these new systems, such as data entry, scheduling, manufacturing, and rule-based decision making. Researchers argue that jobs
requiring more creativity, critical thinking and interpersonal skills remain ‘safe’ from the potential hybrid workforce, however it is evident that even the arts cannot outrun this ever-growing technology.
Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) are a type of AI that generate new, synthetic data to resemble real data. In essence, it takes what is has learned from large datasets of images and creates something new based on patterns and other learned qualities. In the context of art, AI can process these images using algorithms and mathematical models to generate completely new pieces of computer graphics.
AI is capable of style transfer as well, which is the processing of learning artistic techniques and applying them to graphic images. Through this process, users can manipulate AI in order produce automated pieces that embody
hand-made art; the pieces can tell a story or evoke real emotion that AI systems don’t possess themselves.
If AI systems truly have the potential to do it all, how do humans navigate back into this hybrid workplace that is emerging?
“Intelligence is not skill itself,” said AI researcher Francois Chollet. “It’s not what you can
By. Myia Danek & Chat GPTdo with it, it’s how well and how efficiently you can learn new things.”
Humans and AI systems are likely to coexist in the workplace in complimentary ways with AI taking over repetitive, predictable tasks while humans focus on tasks that require creativity, empathy, and decision-making skills. AI can assist humans in many ways, such as providing relevant information, automating routine tasks, and enabling humans to work more efficiently and effectively alongside their new technological resources.
Naturally, there are concerns regarding the potential displacement of jobs, especially those who are in those more vulnerable roles; it is important for society to proactively manage this transition period to ensure that the benefits of AI are widely distributed, and they ultimately result in a positive workplace experience.
AI technology has the potential to revolutionize life as we know it. It has taken permanent residence in work fields, educational institutions, research facilities and more, blurring the line between what is computerized and what is authentic.
Resources such as ChatGPD, ChatSonic, and other AI systems reveal a completely new dimension of discovery; we have only begun to uncover the possibilities of AI, as it seeps deeper into the cracks of our lives and turns technology as we know it on its head.
As AI is becoming increasingly widespread and integrated into various industries, those who embrace and incorporate it into their operations and strategies are more likely to thrive in the changing landscapes that are to come. Those who resist and ignore the shift towards AI systems risk being left behind and potentially losing ground to their competitors who are taking advantage of the benefits that AI offers.
Like any other good or service, AI systems will become continually more monetized as time goes on. Various industries such as healthcare, finance, retail, and more are applying its skills to enhance customer experiences
and automate certain tasks. Companies that develop and provide AI services to customers can generate revenue through licensing their AI systems, selling AI products, and offering AIpowered solutions to customers. These avenues for new wealth provide tremendous growth for a company, as well as the surrounding industry.
The opportunities surrounding Artificial Intelligence systems are vast and the resources are open to get familiar with and learn how to use. AI gives you the potential to innovate in new and modern ways. It gives musicians the ability to generate a brand-new sound. It gives artists a blank canvas to create something they never have before. Teachers can use AI in the classroom for assessments and feedback to student.
As the expression goes, These systems are at our
disposal, becoming more widespread by the day. As this technology continues to become available and accessible, those who embrace the opportunities that come with AI possess the power to innovate and develop our world.
“Jump on the bandwagon or be left behind.”
2023-03-07
CR 23-0059
Reported: Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at 7:30 a.m.
Classification: POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA
Occurred: Monday, March 6, 2023 at 11:30 p.m.
Location: Rotherwood at Walnut
Disposition: Closed
2023-03-05
CR 23-0057
Reported: Sunday, March 5, 2023 at 12:19 a.m.
Classification: DRUG VIOLATION (OTHER)
Occurred: Sunday, March 5, 2023 at 12:19 a.m.
Location: Parking Area, Weinbach Avenue adjacent to Lot Q
Disposition: Closed
2023-03-03
CR 23-0055
Reported: Friday, March 3, 2023 at 6:15 p.m.
Classification: CRIMINAL MISCHIEF
Occurred: Friday, March 3, 2023 at 6:15 p.m. Location: Lot F
Disposition: Closed
2023-03-02
CR 23-0053
Reported: Thursday, March 2, 2023 at 5:24 p.m.
Classification: CRIMINAL MISCHIEF
Occurred: Thursday, March 2, 2023 at 5:24 p.m.
Location: Lot N Disposition: Closed
2023-03-02
CR 23-0050
Reported: Thursday, March 2, 2023 at 6:32 a.m.
Classification: THEFT (OTHER)
Occurred: Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at 10:00 p.m.
Location: Parking Area, Olive Street in front of Olive Townhouse
Disposition: Active 2023-03-01
CR 23-0052
Reported: Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.
Classification: THEFT (OTHER)
Occurred: Thursday, March 2, 2023 at 9:15 a.m.
Location: WALNUT COMMONS, Lot P
Disposition: Active 2023-03-01
CR 23-0051
Reported: Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at 4:00 p.m.
Classification: THEFT (OTHER)
Occurred: Thursday, March 2, 2023 at 8:30 p.m.
Location: Parking Area, Rotherwood Avenue between 315 S. Rotherwood Town H
Disposition: Closed
2023-03-01
CR 23-0047
Reported: Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at 1:55 p.m.
Classification: Fondling
Occurred: Saturday, October 15, 2022 at 12:00 a.m.
Location: HALE HALL, Room 213
Disposition: Active February 2023
2023-02-26
CR 23-0044
Reported: Sunday, February 26, 2023 at 2:16 a.m.
Classification: CRIMINAL MISCHIEF
Occurred: Sunday, February 26, 2023 at 2:16 a.m.
Location: SIGMA ALPHA EPSILON, Front lawn and walkway of SAE
Disposition: Closed
2023-02-22
CR 23-0040
Reported: Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.
Classification: Fondling
Occurred: Sunday, February 19, 2023 at 1:00 a.m.
Location: HALE HALL, Room 226
Disposition: Active
2023-02-10
CR 23-0035
Reported: Friday, February 10, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.
Classification: Intimidation
Occurred: Friday, December 16, 2022 at 11:33 p.m.
Location: Message was posted online and viewed by students o
Disposition: Disciplinary
By Ethan Jaworski
For the past 21 years, I have seen the city of Evansville grow exponentially. I have seen the dark times and the good times. I remember many hopeful sports teams that only lasted a year or two before they disappeared. Hell, I remember in 2011 when Evansville was rated the most obese city in America. Yikes! On the other hand, who could forget about the University of Evansville upsetting the then number 1 ranked Kentucky in college basketball back in 2019? This may be the biggest upset of all-time, and it made the city trend at the top of twitter for the first and probably last time. Evansville has been my home my entire life, and I now have the privilege to watch it bloom as I attend college here. Now, it seems as if the city has the green light, and we are in the middle of a huge rebuild.
Recently, I – along with other communications majors – had the privilege to interview a panel of different high-ranking individuals within the Evansville community that our Sports Writing class professor, Dr. Tamara Wandel, brought in to meet with us. The panel included Eric Marvin, the Executive Director of the Evansville Sports Corporation, Alexis Berggren, President and CEO of Visit Evansville, Andy Owen, Evansville School Corporation’s Director of Athletics and Physical Education and Health, and Steve Schaefer, Deputy Mayor of Evansville.
Throughout this panel interview, we learned so much behind-the-scenes information on what all goes into building a city like Evansville and making proper high profile moves to improve it. We also learned of upcoming plans for renovation and events such as a potential MLB game played at our very own Bosse field. I was completely engaged with the panel. For the first time in my life, I felt as if I have behind the scenes perspective on the city I have lived in for my entire life.
Starting with Eric Marvin, he explained the importance of highlighting the region nationally. This makes Evansville not only an attractive spot for tourists, but also for companies and other events. A big factor in this is venues and how they are used. “The venues that we have utilized for events to date include the Ford Center, Bosse Field, Deaconess Aquatic Center, Deaconess Sports Park, Angel Mounds, Screaming Eagles Arena, Victoria National, Wesselman and Evansville Tennis Center.” These venues each have individual purposes; the proper use of them will help highlight the city nationally. The Ford Center is the big-time arena that caters concerts, collegiate basketball events, semi-professional hockey games, and other entertainment events. This is a huge draw, especially considering the increase in concerts as of late. When I was younger, if anyone even remotely popular was performing in Evansville, it was big news. It was a showstopper when the circus, monster trucks, and singers past their primes made their way through. Now, however, with the Ford Center, Evansville has catered to popular performers such as Morgan Wallen, Thomas Rhett, Koe Wetzel, and Jason Aldean. If you can’t tell, we like our country music here. Big name performers like these are vital to promoting the city. People from across the country will travel to Evansville to see these concerts and their time spent here is what will ultimately promote or not promote the city. Downtown Evansville, where the Ford Center and multiple critically acclaimed restaurants are located, is where most tourists will spend their time. Plenty of renovations have been made in this area, including newer buildings and roads, to improve the quality of the experience for tourists that come into town for concerts and other events. When good reviews come from this, it greatly promotes the city nationally, and will motivate other performers to add Evansville as a stop on their tours.
Alexis Berggren hammered home the question, “How are we representing Evansville?”. The process of increasing tourism stems from the reputation of the city. If the community represents it with pride and respects our facilities, it will in turn make others want to come and visit as well.
Overall, the biggest factor of tourism is demand. Demand was another hitting point for Berggren when she talked about focusing upgrades based on demand. This includes the likes of pickleball courts – a sport which has exploded onto the athletic scene as of late – and other athletic centers that can be used for national tournaments. Berggren also gave the inside scoop on potential upgrades: “We have marketed to professional pool tournaments, catfishing tournaments, motorized boat races, and Quidditch tournaments.” Tournaments and other activity centers like these, along with positive representation of Evansville, are what will bring people to our city and ultimately lead to even more upgrades.
As you can tell, each factor from each individual on the panel plays a huge factor in the circle of life for the city of Evansville. Each thought, idea, and plan has a case and effect that play off of one another. I for one am very thankful for the new athletic facilities that are locally available to today’s youth. Growing up, it felt as if I constantly had to travel to different cities to compete in tournaments due to Evansville’s lack of locations to host. But seeing this increase in facilities and fields greatly warms my heart for today’s youth because they get to have the things that I wish I had growing up. Clearly, the proper steps are being made for the city and for the people.
While on the topic of youth activities, Andy Owen is the perfect example of someone whose career revolves around the betterment of our school facilities and other sports complexes. This revolves around his ideology of “Access and Opportunity.” Giving more access to the local and non-local population when it comes to sporting venues will lead to new opportunities in the field of big name tournaments, new facilities, and draw toward the city. When asked about who helps the most to jumpstart these new facilities, Andy said, “Community hospitals, such as Deaconess, banks, such as Old National, and local business and families, such as Goebel, help create these opportunities.” Capitalizing on opportunity through on our local resources and properly providing access to the community is what Owen sees as our steps to success when it comes to building the city.
Steve Schaefer had a great summation to everyone’s point, and that is to build the city. He emphasized the idea of building new activity centers, as well as building credibility and economic activity. However, the biggest takeaway from Schaefer was his following statement: “We actively look for ways to improve in order to increase the amount of events hosted in Evansville.” An interesting take away from Schaefer was the idea of hosting an MLB game at the historic Bosse Field. After the MLB opened up to specialty games like the Field of Dreams, Evansville has stayed in contact with the MLB in hopes of hosting a game at Bosse Field. This would be absolutely phenomenal for the city and might be the biggest event to happen to date, especially depending on the two teams that play. There was a massive draw to the Field of Dreams game, which was in the middle of a cornfield. Imagine the draw of tourists for a city with multiple high-ranking restaurants, hotels, and other activities. I truly hope that one day this does happen because, in my opinion, that will be a milestone for the city of Evansville.
After 21 years of living in the city of Evansville, I finally feel excitement and pride for my city. Granted, we are not Indianapolis or Las Vegas, but we don’t have to be. We are Evansville. A once overlooked city is slowly becoming a powerhouse not only in tourism, but through concerts, sporting events, tournaments, and other high-profile events as well. Not only that, but I have also seen renovations in our city such as new restaurants, new stores, and new living places. It truly is amazing seeing my hometown grow before my own eyes. Having hard workers with strong visions – such as Eric Marvin, Alexis Berggren, Andy Owen, and Steve Scahefer – backing our city, the sky is the limit for Evansville, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds-
In the middle of winter in gloomy, gray London, the Sohoplace theatre on West End brought a burst of light in the form of Shakespeare’s famous comedy, As You Like It.
The Forest of Arden was a plain wooden stage, with a small hole for a piano, mirrored by a frame filled with bare branches. A waxdripping chandelier provided a soft, comforting ambiance to the intimate theatre. One special feature to this show was the subtitles, shown on screens that lined the middle tier of seats.
A stage with such simple features can only be brought to life with a connected, and, in this case, star-studded cast. Alfred Enoch (How to Get Away with Murder, Harry Potter) as the young, dashing Orlando brought fire and yearning, which highlighted the playful disposition of Leah Harvey’s Rosalind and Rose Ayling-Ellis’s Celia. The fool can’t be left out of the mix, either. Touchstone, played by Tom Mison (Sleepy Hollow), was the exact comedic relief needed for the bittersweet parts of the show. Juxtaposed to the fool was Martha Plimpton (Raising Hope) as the serious and melancholy Jaques. These stars, surrounded by an exuberant and unified ensemble, made Shakespeare not only accessible and enjoyable to their audience.
Rose Ayling-Ellis is the first Deaf actress to debut on West End. This aspect brought a whole new depth to Shakespeare’s play. The main ‘heroes’ of the story would all joyfully sign to one another,
even when not directing speaking to her. The villain, Celia’s father and The Duke Senior, played by Tom Edden (Star Wars Ep. VII, Cinderella), not only did not sign to her, but would force her to speak. It was heart-wrenching to watch.
Although the darker scenes were devastating, the majority of the play was cheerful and hopeful. It is a love story, after all. Harvey and Enoch’s chemistry as Rosalind/Ganymede and Orlando is undeniable, but the loving relationship between Celia and Rosalind is what shined. The way Leach Harvey and Rose Ayling-Ellis could laugh, sign, play and interact with one another felt like watching sisters perform magic.
And the singing.
The piano sat at a hole in the stage, often used as a prop. They were old, gentle songs that perfectly matched the cozy yet elegant aesthetic of the show, and the cast would flawlessly harmonize in almost a casual manner that would have even brought Shakespeare himself to tears.
The show sadly closed at Sohoplace on West End on January 28, 2023, but it made a lasting impression and a stride in the right direction of inclusivity. To call As You Like It at Sohoplace a “joyful experience” is an understatement. It was the performance of a lifetime. -- Emma Ault
Studying abroad is an amazing time for students to get out and explore the world around them. They take trip with friends to places across England, and even travel to other nearby countries. During these travels, there is a common warning heard by students: “Don’t travel alone.” This is especially emphasized to female students, who are constantly warned of other people’s intentions and told to travel with other men. When I told my host family here at Harlaxton that I was traveling, they let out a sigh of relief when I informed them that some of the people, I was traveling with were male.
In general, though, traveling alone is seen as dangerous. It can be easy to get confused, lost, tricked, or attacked. At least this is the commonly held belief. Sure, these things do happen, but they can happen anywhere. Fear of something bad happening shouldn’t stop someone from solo travel if it is something that they want to do. Of course, some people just aren’t interested in solo travel, which is perfectly fine! Just like how some people are introverts and others are extroverts, some people just enjoy traveling with friends rather than taking trips alone. Yet, if it is something that sounds exciting, don’t let fear get in the way of that.
My second week at Harlaxton, I went on my first solo trip (not counting driving myself to school back in the US) to Scarborough, England. I planned and executed the trip by myself. It wasn’t a long or complicated trip, but it was enough to get a taste of what independent travel is like. Through this trip, and by comparing it to trips taken with other people, I figured out that I prefer to travel alone, or at most with very small groups. With the school-sponsored trips, you can’t always control how many people you travel with, but you can always find a small group of people to explore with, or even go by yourself if you’d like. The trips may be structured, but you are not forced to hang out with everyone all the time. The trips still allow you the freedom to explore in your own way!
For me, traveling by myself allows me to go at my own pace. I have full control over the places I go visit, what to do, where to eat, and how much time I spend at different places. I didn’t have to follow a strict schedule, or even have everything planned out. Because I wasn’t talking to friends over the course of the trip, I could put in my earbuds and listen to music as I walked down the streets of Scarborough.
Additionally, as a woman, even though I was by myself, I surprised myself with how comfortable I felt. When I got off the train in Scarborough, it was already dark, and I had around a fifteen-minute walk to my hotel. Usually, this would be an intimidating trek for women, or tourists in general. Especially for people who have anxiety, like myself, it is easy to be flooded with thoughts of who else is out on the streets, or who might be looking at you wrong. However, there wasn’t really any point that I can say I was overly worried or fearful. I’d say the same thing about the entire trip honestly. While trying to find my hotel that first night, the entrance wasn’t where the map on my phone was telling me. So, I ended up walking through a dimly lit alley looking for the hotel. During this, I walked past a couple working on their car outside. Hungry and knowing that I still hadn’t found my hotel, I thought to myself, “what’s the worst that could happen?” I walked over to them and asked them if they could help me find where I was staying. And guess what? They smiled and pointed me in the right direction, and 5 minutes later, I was checking into my hotel. Maybe Scarborough is just a friendly, welcoming space, or maybe I just got lucky with who I talked to, but I know that during my trip, I walked around with a surprising air of confidence and comfort that I didn’t think I would have while traveling alone.
Now that I’ve shared my experience, I want to share some tips with those of you who are interested in solo travel and thinking about doing some yourself!
1. Research the place you plan to visit.
Whether it’s a last-minute trip or one you’ve been planning for a while, take some time to investigate where you are going. What do you want to do? What are they known for? What kind of food do you want to eat? Make a list of places that look interesting, so you have options to pick from once you’re there. This will save you from wasting time once you arrive. Even if you do this on the train on your way there, it’s good to travel with some understanding and knowledge of the place you choose.
2. Stay aware of your surroundings.
Whether you are naturally anxious or if you walk around with confidence and not a care in the world, it is important to stay aware of what is going on around you. Unfortunately, tourists are often seen as easy targets, especially if they are alone. If you choose to walk around with headphones in like I did, be extra alert. Noises help us know what is happening, so if you cannot hear the world around you, take extra care to visually take in your surroundings. Maybe even walk around with one headphone in instead so you can still hear your surroundings.
Phones are helpful for every aspect of traveling: maps, phone calls, photos, and even payments. Because of that constant use, it’s easy to drain your battery quickly. When traveling with friends, you know that other people have phones that you can rely on, but that’s not the case when traveling alone. Keep a charged portable charger with you while you’re out, so when that low battery notification pops up, you don’t have to panic.
4.
Even if you research the place ahead of time, don’t confine yourself to the places you pick out online. Maybe you found a restaurant online that looked interesting, but you know that the pub across the street sounds really appetizing right now. Maybe you saw that there is a popular museum that everyone online says is a “must-see”, but that park in the middle of town center looks more your speed. Do what excites you and allow plans to change.
Traveling alone can be intimidating, especially if you haven’t done it before, but it is an amazing opportunity to try new things. Instead of thinking of new experiences as something out of your comfort zone, it can be helpful to think of them as ways to expand your comfort zone. Don’t let fear stop you from trying new things if they interest you. However, don’t let the fear of missing out push you to do things you know make you uncomfortable. At the end of the day, you know yourself best, and you know what will be most enjoyable for you.
Solo travel can be a wonderful experience, and I would recommend that more people take trips by themselves, even if it’s just a day trip. Still, there is much to be appreciated about traveling with friends. You can split cabs and hotel costs. You can take pictures for and with each other. Maybe you go visit places that you wouldn’t have chosen if it was just you. Overall, you have people to share memories with. In the end, it’s impossible to say that one type of travel is better than the other. It all depends on what you as an individual enjoy about traveling, and it can even vary depending on what kinds of trips you take and where you go.
London is known for many things: a plethora of skyscrapers, some of the best food markets in the world, and the various restaurants and hostels that you can attend on a budget. That last part, when traversing this great city, is essential: if you don’t look around enough or plan ahead, you could end up blowing half of your trip savings on an emergency cab, an overpriced dinner, or by getting lost in a tube station so diverse and vast, its map evokes the human nervous system.
Of all the areas of London I have visited most frequently and most efficiently in my two months abroad has to be its Theatre District. After studying its history, the locations of its most famous theaters, and understanding how pricing and ticketing works, I’ve created a -step plan on how best to see a show (or two or three) during your visit in England’s biggest and best city.
By far one of the most surprising (and helpful) ways to buy tickets in London is by waiting until the last minute. By going to the Official London Theatre website (or by searching TKTS
Last Minute Theatre Tickets), you can find discounted and decent seats of any show for that day. Other websites may have a sale or a discount farther out from the showtime (this website also has that option), but if you’re in need of a last minute fun night out, TKTS is your savior. Ideally, if you have a specific show in mind, you can check the day before and see if any are available. By going to this website right once the clock strikes midnight and the “same day sale” starts, you can get some of the best balcony seats in the house for way cheaper than the person behind you. In other instances, you can scroll through all of their options, and the website may even have a “Show of the Week” that provides super cheap tickets. I
was fortunate enough to snag $50 balcony seats for Les Miserable in the early morning before showtime. Another time, I saw one of the final West-End performances of Heathers: The Musical for only $40 thanks to the constant discounts that this website provides. Apparently, you can even see the long-running “The Mousetrap” if you look early enough. So, if you’re in need of a show, be sure to search up TKTS or check out their booth in Leicester Square (the hub of the London Theatre District) to have a professional find you the best and cheapest seats for that same evening.
If the Official London Theatre website isn’t having the right sales and discounts for you, or if you are trying to buy tickets weeks in advance, I highly recommend using either the London Theatre District website, or the London Theatre Tickets website. While all three of these websites are similar in name and structure, the last two will not have same day deals, but instead their own separate weekly discounts. Usually, more plays can be found on these websites than musicals, but the “Show of the Week” discounts are still prevalent, and oftentimes unique per each website. Both of these sites are easy to navigate, with both giving you a plethora of prices and showtimes. The one note I have is: double check the date. Oftentimes, the day on the calendar won’t lineup to the day of the week on the calendar (an infuriating error that I’ve run into plenty of times when trying to book tickets). So, your best bet is to go in knowing what numbered day of the month you want to see a show, that way you don’t end up buying non-refundable tickets for the wrong day. These are the websites where I was fortunate enough to find a massive sale for Jersey Boys at The Trafalgar Theatre, where I got incredible, front-row balcony seats for only $30. If you’re trying to book in advance, these are the websites for you!
Similar to theater venues in the states, the ones in London’s West End are oftentimes packed come showtime. Make sure that you are not only on time, but that you are early in case your seat is in the middle. If there’s one thing that theatergoers hate, it’s having to stand up and shuffle around seconds before showtime just because the people in the middle of their row weren’t on time. To avoid the groans, side eyes, and comments under your fellow attendees’ breath, try to know where your seat is, and arrive at a respectable time. Furthermore, arriving on time will save you and any of your friends lots of pain, and in some cases, money. It’s a rare occurrence, but there are theaters in London that won’t let you in if the show has already started, or if you are already inside the venue, won’t let you disrupt the audience once the curtains have risen. When I saw Jersey Boys, a woman in the middle of my row got up at 7:29 for a 7:30 showing to use the bathroom. I turned to my girlfriend and said “No way she’s gonna get back to her seat in time,” and sure enough, she didn’t. She had to spend the entire 1 hour and 20 minute first act sitting in one of the wooden side chairs meant for security. So, for the sake of yourself and those around you, be there at least 15-30 before the time on your ticket.
Step 4: Take the tube (and walk a quarter mile in their shoes)
This should be a rule for anyone that goes to London: the tube is your friend. Sure, it may seem intimidating and complicated, but once you do it twice, you can be a natural. There’s a feature in Google Maps that gives you the fastest route via public transit, so you can pop in your current location and the theater venue (or any other place) you want to go to, and it will map out everything: how far of a walk it is to your closest tube station, which of the many lines you will hop on, how many stops, how long it will take, etc. You can go anywhere so long as you plug your destination into Google Maps before you go. Once you’re in the underground station, your cell service will be cut off, so be sure to take a screenshot of your stop and the line you want to
take, that way if it crashes, you can use the maps located inside the station and the trains. Of course, walking is a great way to get to know the city, but if you’re in a rush (either to your venue or to your train back home), the tube is your best (and cheapest) option.
Step 5: Take a chance!
The key theme of London theatre is chance. Sometimes, the show you want to see the most will be sold out. I’m still trying to find decent and cheap seats for my girlfriend and I to see The Phantom of the Opera, and I’ve been in the UK for almost two months now. So, when a good deal or discount comes up, take it. Maybe you’ve never listened to the soundtrack before. Maybe it’s a show that just had its debut. Or maybe you aren’t sure if it will be your thing. Regardless of any anxieties you may have, just go for it. Being in one of the greatest theatre hubs in the world (essentially the UK’s version of New York City’s broadway) is a once in a lifetime experience. You may never get the chance to come back here in your life, so why not roll the dice and have the time of it. Go see Shakespeare, buy a ticket for an up and comer, go see Wicked for the 4th time if you have to. There’s nothing quite like theatre in London, so you might as well make the best of it.
by: LIAM ALLEN
When I started listening to The High Kings, a band that performs Irish folk music, I didn’t expect it to curse our trip to Dublin. I was traveling from Grantham, England, with my partner Leonora Inderstrodt, and our friend, Maddy Webb, to Dublin, where we planned to spend a weekend in Ireland as a part of our time studying at Harlaxton Manor. Throughout the morning before our travels, I considered the song playing through my AirPods, “The Rocky Road to Dublin,” to be fitting, though I had no idea just how fitting it would soon become. It tells the story of a young man on a journey from his home, presumed to be in Tuam, to the city of Dublin. The lyrics include all the misfortune and adventure that befell him on this trek as his belonging are stolen and he ends up stowing away upon a ship. Our own journey to the city was not nearly as unlucky as his, though it was far from smooth.
Unaware of the mystical ramifications of my actions, I continued singing “The Rocky Road to Dublin” through the end of my packing and, being the glutton for punishment that I am, sustained my challenge to the universe even as we waited for our pre-booked taxi to arrive. We stood huddled outside in the late January wind for five minutes, which eventually turned into ten minutes. After fifteen minutes of waiting, I begin to understand the ramifications of my actions and finally ceased my singing. I would not sing for the remainder of the journey, but by this point, the damage was already done. We had begun to grow anxious and feared that our train in the Grantham station would end up leaving without us. As our nerves rose, I began our third call to the cab company to ensure a car was in fact heading our way when the headlights of our ride to the station finally came into view.
Upon entering the cab, I removed my gloves which I had equipped during our extensive waik and set them between my travel backpack, which I had situated on my lap, and my chest. From there the ride down was uneventful, and we soon were parked beside the entrance to the station. As we exited the cab, I placed my gloves under my arm and began strapping on my backpack as I walked around the back of the
car and onto the sidewalk. By the time we made it into the station, I had finished buckling my pack and finally noticed that only one glove out of the pair remained under my arm. I raced back to the cab assuming I must have accidentally dropped it onto my seat while exiting, only to find the cab pulling onto the street. The driver either didn’t notice or merely didn’t care to notice my frantically waving arms as I briefly chased after it. My disappointment in losing the glove with shortlived as I soon noticed it lying on the ground beside the sidewalk where it must have fallen out of the cab as I had gotten up. This sliver of fortune gave me hope that the remainder of our journey would be smooth sailing, but that turned out to be a fool’s hope indeed.
Just as I walked through the entrance to join my comrades, the next main obstacle to our journey came into focus: obtaining our tickets. We had purchased our tickets on Trainline, and could not get virtual tickets, requiring us to print out our tickets upon arrival at the station. Because of our arrival time, there were no more workers at the desk, leaving us to resort to the more automated method of printing out tickets. The printing device resembled a vending machine with a little slot to insert the credit or debit card used to purchase the tickets, a screen to select the tickets, and a dispenser to dispense the tickets. The first issue we ran into was determining which card Maddy had used to purchase our tickets. There were three options, and we decided to start by testing the Discover card. We had barely started selecting our tickets when the box began to beep angrily. When both our second and third attempts met the same fate, we realized we had to reexamine our method. Upon examining the ticket receipts, Maddy determined that the tickets had been bought with the Discover card, so we inserted this card for a second time, but were faced again with zero progress. As we soon learned, the Discover cards could be used to purchase the tickets on Trainline but were incompatible with the printing kiosks, making our tickets completely inaccessible. Begrudgingly, we purchased another set of tickets for the ride down to Stansted Airport and recommenced our journey.
By this point, all three of us were nervous and wary of anything else going wrong, though all seemed well for the remainder of our trip to Stansted. Upon arriving at Stansted though, we realized that we had forgotten to check in for our flight, and discovered that Ryanair, the airline we were using, has a limit on check-ins two hours before boarding, meaning we were unable to access our plane tickets. After talking with some workers we were able to sort it out, but we each had to pay a fifty-dollar fine. Then we began our long trek through the airport, traversing a long winding hallway with such a variety of merchandise that I thought we has somehow entered a shopping mall. Right past security were rows of perfume, with full bottles of alcohol located just beyond it so you could enter the plane double-fisting vodka and gin after your stressful day of travel (not that we indulged at their prices). I honestly thought we had seen it all until I turned to find a Lego Millennium Falcon set located right on the shelf beside me, for those parents heading home for Christmas who forgot their gift I suppose. Once we exited capitalist purgatory, we faced a whole new state of limbo, the path to our terminal. Seemingly endless spiraling hallways each one with a sign at the distance reading “Terminals 12-26” with little arrows that seemed to go in circles. We went up an escalator, through a hallway, down an escalator, through another hallway, up a flight of stairs, and then the last hallway finally led to our destination.
Compared to the trip so far, the flight over to Ireland was smooth as silk, and our time in Ireland was even more enjoyable. We explored the city of Dublin, learning all kinds of things about Irish history with some gruesome details, and even made it up to the Cliffs of Moher and Galway before our weekend was over. I would like to be able to say that I learned my lesson from our rocky road, but that would not be entirely true. In truth, I barely stopped singing our entire time on the green isle.
-Maddy Webb
When it comes to traveling, especially from the manor to the station you’ll need to take a taxi. Luckily there is a taxi company that has a deal with the manor! Street Cars has a flat rate of 10 pounds before 11:00 pm! This is really nice and really cheap. However, there are some drawbacks. Streetcars are very popular and are usually booked up because of this flat fee. So if you want Street Cars make sure you book early!
Another suggestion is Grantham Taxis. They do tend to be a bit more expensive because each driver has their own flat rate. However, if you get to know them it doesn’t matter if they’re busy, they’ll be there for you! Somehow I am now known by name from Grantham Taxis all because we travel a lot to the station!
Trains. They’re going to be your main transportation trying to get anywhere really. To another city or to the airport. Trainline is a pretty good service to use. I would always suggest though looking at the actual train companies to see if their tickets are cheaper. Railcards are HIGHLY recommended. You can purchase a railcard for a year for only 30 pounds. These railcards bring discounts on train tickets. They also stack. So if your purchase tickets for yourself and two other friends and they have a railcard, then the price will go down. Make sure you keep an eye out for strikes and delays. This can happen frequently and it is important to make sure you’re paying attention.
The culture on trains is very simple. Most of the time it’s very quiet and everyone is minding their own business, Some trains have reserved seats. Make sure you sit in your reserved seat. If you don’t have one try to sit in one that’s available. Some people are very strict about their seats. Sometimes there can be overbooking. This can seem stressful at first because there are no seats and everyone is standing and annoyed. Just stay calm and follow instructions. You’ll be okay!
Money is something that you’ll probably think about a lot. I suggest pulling out some money in cash to exchange for the currency you need, like pounds or euros. Some places, like small businesses, won’t take cards. Or sometimes taxi card readers break. Sometimes physical money is just easier.
Keep an eye on what cards can be taken and what can not. Visa’s and Mastercards will work just make sure your bank knows you’re out of the country! When it comes to credit cards American Express does work most of the time. If you have a Discover just know that it will not work overseas. It is not a recognized credit card and I learned that the hard way.
When you’re in the manor there are some things that you’ll probably want. Snacks and drinks like tea or instant coffee are really nice! Sometimes you can’t go to the Bistro or the Refectory because they’re closed.
EXPLORE EXPLORE EXPLORE. Explore as much as you can! The manor is huge! There are a lot of places to look around and see.
hen it comes to traveling prepare at least a week in advance or maybe more. Really pay attention to not just flights and where you’re staying but to how you’ll get to these places, like the train station, etc. This can wrack up in price. You can definitely travel cheaply! Just make sure you’re looking at the right things. The more in a group the cheaper it is but of course make sure you’re traveling with people you want to travel with.
Flights are going to be the hardest to not spend a lot with. I use an app called Skyscanner which lets me see what flights are flying at certain times. But make sure you book from the airline itself! It will be a lot cheaper. I look at Easyjet and Ryanair. Those are definitely the cheaper airlines to fly from.
Look up reviews and really read the fine print. Especially for Ryanair. Ryanair is cheap which is nice. However, there are fees. Make sure you check in early or there is a 50 pound fine. Also, make sure you understand bag requirements. It may be cheap but it is cheap because you cannot have a carry-on. Only personal. So in order to have a carry-on you’ll have to pay a bit extra. If you are an experienced flyer then you’ll be okay. If you don’t fly often, take a breath, and you’ll be okay! Just make sure you really do your research.
WHave fun! This is a time when you experiment and explore! You’ll learn so much here and not just in the manor! This will be a time of growth so accept it with open arms if you’ll be going to Harlaxton in the future!
