March 2017 by UE Crescent Magazine

A CLOSER LOOK at Annette Parks | 28

CRESCENT March 2017 | University of Evansville | issuu.com/uecrescent | $2.50

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CONTENTS

THIS MONTH

2016–17 S TAFF EDITORIAL Writers WHITLEY BROCK DALLAS CARTER MATTHEW HUBACHEK LYDIA MAXWELL HANNAH ROWE

EDITING Editing Director TREVOR RICHARDSON

Copy Editor JAYSA HOEG

COVER STORY

OVERTIME

A CLOSER LOOK

Some people are willing to put their lives on the line for fun — but there is an explanation for this risky behavior.

Family ties and traditons help to inspire pitcher Morgan Florey with her competitive spirit and her attitude on life.

For Annette Parks, professor of history, love and knowledge of women’s history affects all avenues of her interesting life.

DEPARTMENTS

Columnists LEA ARNOLD KRISTEN BUHRMANN SAM FROST KRISTA LECHER MATT REED LILY RENFRO KAITLYN ROBKIN OLI ROSS-MUSICK

CRESCENT MAGAZINE

3 4 6 8 9 10 11 12

Our Viewpoint Trending Topics Kaleidoscope Findings Modern Perspectives Sexplanation Through the Lens Within Faith

17 18 19 21 22 23 24 26

Who Knew? Transitions Campus Crime Funny Girl Brain Bomb On the Cheap Sports Jam Off the Wall

CREATIVE Creative Director KAYLA SEIFERT

Photo Editor NATALIE CHRISTY

Photographers

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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. ©2017 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faculty, staff, administrators and alumni, but material the CMEB regards as libelous, malicious and/or obscene will not be published.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.

March 2017 | Crescent Magazine

VOICES OUR VIEWPOINT >

TREATING

OTHERS WITH RESPECT While most skits at Musical Madness focused on light and friendly teasing, one decided to take a different approach.

Musical Madness, an annual philanthropy where teams of student organizations perform skits, has always been a funny, creative and enjoyable experience for students and in recent years, Road Trippers. Many of the skits this year, written by teams of student organizations matched with one another, included references to the overwhelming squirrel population, UE’s relationship with its cross-town rival, USI, and students’ feelings about Sodexo, which always find its way into at least a skit or two. The event also introduces prospective students to life at UE. This light-hearted event always has a theme and this year it was “Goes Back to School,” centering on high school movies. The skits included music, dancing and humorous dialogue, all meant to entertain. The number of teams each year varies, but normally the Greek organizations participate as well as a smattering of other groups. Student Publications was even paired with Sigma Phi Epsilon and Zeta Tau Alpha in 2015. Those who attended this year seemed to enjoy the skits and of course, just like most years, some skits were better than others. But this year, there seemed to be something new. A certain team decided it was a good time to publicly share their negative feelings about Crescent Magazine. It made fun of various aspects of the magazine and ripped up a number of copies as a way to highlight the theme of their skit. A team member even asked a member of our staff beforehand if she could have extra copies of the magazine for the show. Not knowing what her team had in mind, it was not a problem for us to share some extras. Every student group has something they specialize in and are known for — which can be anything from an academic interest and sports, to community service and social interests. Each group also works hard to achieve its goals and is proud of the results. What the team ridiculing the Crescent did not take into account was the hard work the students who work for the mag-

Crescent Magazine | March 2017

azine put into the publication. The skit was cruel, mean and painful for staff members to watch and for some staff’s friends. By doing what the team did they were essentially destroying — in words and actions — our work. We were told by a university official that there is a fine line between satire and disrespect. But more than that, there is a fine line between satire and sarcasm. Satire is the constructive use of humor. It is mature and intelligent. Sarcasm is comments mixed with ridicule, is inconsiderate and used to intentionally put someone or something down. Poking fun at the magazine’s content, what is popular and what is not, is not what we objected to, although the people who have been nice enough to allow us to profile them or have served as sources for stories may disagree. The problem is ridiculing the students who work for the magazine and destroying copies of the magazine in front of others, including prospective students, in an attempt to be funny. Those things weren’t necessary. We ask you this — would you vandalize someone’s art work? Deface a Greek organization’s letters? Destroy someone’s research? Heckle a student organization’s performance? Every organization’s work is worthy of respect because your peers put time and effort into what they do. While some organizations are more prestigious or have more members, they still should not be demeaned — publicly or otherwise. Madness is a fine example of how organizations can work together even if they do not have common goals. Situations like the one presented often make people uncomfortable, even though most may smile and laugh them off. This does not make the jokes any less painful. It might have also changed how people view the magazine — or the organizations that thought they were being funny but weren’t. No student organization should be bashing another, especially during Road Trip, a time

when we are presenting UE to prospective students. It makes organizations look bad and it unbalances student life as a whole. Some organizations may not be your cup of tea, but you don’t need to bash them because of it. Student organizations are meant to help lessen the stress that comes with student life. Causing unnecessary problems adds more work than students should have to deal with. And since we see each other every day, we do not need bashing to become a habit. We know that Madness scripts are reviewed by the student directors and the Center for Student Engagement. We’re not sure where the disconnect occurred — whether the team in question pulled a fast one once on stage or those who read the scripts and viewed rehearsals didn’t see anything wrong with it. But something went wrong. The hurtful dialogue and actions still made it to the stage. We do know this. If a Greek organization had been on the receiving end of ridicule like this, it would have been caught and removed from the skit. UE is not perfect and student organizations are not either, but as a magazine we take pride in our work just like everyone else. All student organizations exist to help students and to provide community. This supports student growth, and public bashing does not allow for much growth, but rather friction between groups. To those student groups and teams who were intelligent in their scriptwriting and cleaver in their performances, we applaud you. But to RSA, Delta Omega Zeta and Sig Ep, remember this childhood lesson — treat others the way you want to be treated. Every group has its negatives and positives. We hope that no organization’s work and aspirations are ever put on display in a negative way in front of hundreds of people like ours was. Unfortunately, we live in a society today that almost encourages people to bash others and not fear the consequences. Instead, let’s take the high road. Let’s show respect for one another.

VOICES

While every election is unique and comes with its own set of drama, rumors and goofs, the election of 2016 was particularly newsworthy for the emphasis on just that — news. Fake news, lies and “alternative facts” have bombarded the American public from every direction — social media, mainstream media, alternative media, talk shows, YouTube videos and the list goes on. Not long ago, the media was revered for serving as a watchdog for Americans. The 1970s was a heyday for investigative journalism and journalistic integrity. Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein broke the Watergate scandal for The Washington Post, which spurred investigations and the unavoidable resignation of President Richard M. Nixon in 1974. Walter Cronkite was the face of the “CBS Evening News” from 1962-81 and became one of the most well respected journalists and anchormen in history. A 2016 Gallup poll reported the lowest trust level in media in decades with only 32 percent having “a great deal” or “a fair amount” of trust in the mass media. Compared to 72 percent in 1976. But trust in the media is not the only thing to change about America since the 1970s. With the increase in technology, especially the Internet, the face of mass media has changed dramatically. We are no longer in an era where every individual is expected to read a newspaper every morning or after a long day of work while the children play. Digital copies of traditional newspapers are available, but so are thousands of blogs, digital-only media sites, videos, television news and social media accounts. These sources are all competing for the most views or clicks, which pushes journalists to create viral stories that people are more likely to click on. Unfortunately, this has led many to simply fabricate articles and facts to get more clicks, which usually leads to more revenue. NPR did an interview in 2016 with Jestin Coler, the founder of Disinfomedia. He owns multiple fake news websites, such as NationalReport.net, USAToday.com.co, WashingtonPost.com.co and denverguardian.com. At any given time, he has about 20 writers and makes from $10,000 to $30,000 a month solely from running ads on these websites. It is unclear if the divisiveness of the 2016 presidential campaign caused the surge in fake news or if fake news caused the race to be so divisive. Either way, fake news certainly had an effect on people’s views of the campaign, even

< TRENDING TOPICS Most liberals and conservatives trust The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, BBC and Google News based on a 2014 Pew Research Center survey about political polarization and media habits. The great debate of 2017 for the media centers around one word — lie. In a January press interview, Kellyanne Conway, counselor to the president, coined the phrase “alternative fact” in reference to President Donald Trump’s inauguration attendance numbers, as inflated by White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer. This led to the media claiming that the phrase “alternaKRISTEN BUHRMANN tive facts” was just a nice way of saying a falsehood. NPR was one that took a controversial stance of not calling this a lie, as reported in a January roundtable of NPR journalists. They claim that the jump from falsehood to lie was based on the “intent to deceive,” which is not easy to prove. CNN took an opposing — but still controversial — take by using a graphic that stated “’Alternative Facts Are Lies” during a roundtable of journalism professionals. At the end of the day, many Americans may question why this is even a relevant debate. It is vital for people to understand that “alternative facts” and “fake news” are oxymorons. Facts and news are based upon one simple principle: truth. If we cannot trust facts and news to be truthful, then it comes down to the question of “what can we trust?” When a leader such as President Trump acknowledges that alternative facts and fake news are acceptable, he is undermining the very nature of democracy, freedom and journalism. If we cannot trust the news media — the watchdogs of the world — it becomes challengif it did not have a clear effect on their views ing to trust large institutions, such as elected ofof the candidates. People were turning off ficials, the education system, the military and TVs, blocking friends on Facebook and tuning the medical system. We will begin questionout the radio just to escape news about the ing everybody’s motives and be suspicious and election. cynical of every decision. But tuning out the media is not the best A healthy dose of suspicion and cynicism is solution. Reading, listening or watching necessary in every democracy. But when negawell-trusted sources is beneficial for everybody. tivity becomes as prominent as it is today, comThe mainstream is mainstream for a reason — munities crumble and our mental health suffers. these journalists follow a code of ethics, such The next time you scroll through Faceas the Society of Professional Journalists Code book or Twitter and are drawn to share an artiof Ethics, that involves journalism to be “accle or post, do not absentmindedly become ancurate and fair,” as well as “honest and couragered and share it. Research, investigate and geous in gathering, reporting and interpreting question. By refusing to participate in the “fake information.” While some sources are viewed as news” empire, we can each do our part to imhaving a political bias, multiple sources are well prove our own well-being, the media’s credibilitrusted on both sides of the aisle. ty and our nation’s integrity.

FAKE NEWS, REAL

PROBLEMS In this era of extreme digital use, it is more challenging than ever to determine fact from fiction.

March 2017 | Crescent Magazine

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VOICES

< KALEIDOSCOPE

Numerous studies show you cannot force a gay person to become straight, yet the practice of conversion therapy is popular among some religious groups around the world. Their claims are backed by testimonials from “ex-gay” preachers and others. As the American Psychological Association defines it, homosexuality — and being queer in general — is not a psychological disorder and was removed from the official disorders list in 1973. Such practices, which are often labeled as “reparative therapies,” have no scientific backing, nor do they follow any government-regulated guidelines as far as the treatments are concerned. Six states, 12 cities and the District of Columbia have banned the practice of any form of orientation-changing therapy on minors. Despite this, it is still legal to send a child who has any inkling of being gay to “straight” camps. One of the most famous ex-gay ministries used to be Exodus International, which was founded in 1976. Based out of Orlando, Fla., the organization sponsored camps in 19 countries with more than 150 different ministries within its network. When the organization was shutdown in 2013, its president issued a blanket apology to the LGBT+ community for the way in which the organization was “part of the very system of ignorance that perpetuated that hurt.” Modern ideas of conversion therapy emerged with the rise of 20th century psychology. Dr. Samuel Hadden, a neuropsychologist at the University of Pennsylvania, introduced the concept of group therapy for use with people of similar mental states in the early 1950s. KRISTA LECHER Over the course of this research, the focus was solely on gay men and their development as children. Homosexuality was viewed as a sexual deviance beginning in childhood, either from a lack of male interaction or too much female interaction, and after puberty this would manifest in same-sex desires. In a statement by Sam Brinton, a man who was subjected to one camp and its doctrine at age 13, he said he endured torture by way of heating coils and blocks of ice being placed on his hands for extended periods of time while being exposed to gay porn. The tactics used by the camps included negative association to create painful triggers in the subject’s subconscious, with the hopes that

CONVERSION DOESN’T WORK Science says it doesn’t work. Some religious groups disagree. Banning CT for minors is just the beginning. it would remove the desire for same-sex relationships and intimacy. The son of Southern Baptist ministers, Brinton ended up at a camp after a series of hospital visits due to physical abuse. It was overseen by a ‘religious therapist’ rather than a licensed psychologist. While a graduate student at MIT, Brinton, now 29, spoke about the physical pain he still endures because of his conversion therapy experience. Few studies have been completed to determine whether conversion therapy is in fact a cure for homosexuality. Why? Because legitimate researchers do not want anything to do with it and know orientation is determined by many factors. One study was completed in 2007 by a pair of conservative Christian researchers and authors, but even they found among its small focus group that most participants might have had a moderate decrease in homosexual attraction, but very few were compelled to change their sexual orientation. Based on a list of studies compiled by Columbia Law School’s “What We Know” blog, there has only been one peer-reviewed study supporting the use of CT, with 12 studies reporting it as being ineffective or harmful and 34 finding that it may only be helpful for licensed practitioners who have willing LGBT+ patients. Conversion therapy is not actually a type

of therapy. The APA condemns it because of its use of inhumane and derogatory means to achieve the goal of successful heterosexuality. It seems the goal of many “therapy” groups is to make money. Participants in some programs are encouraged to attend weekly sessions with counselors who often lack any degree relative to the field — let alone a license to practice therapy. The spreading of misinformation along side for-profit therapy does more harm to an already repressed group. And while most research deals with CT as it relates to men, it is likely that just as many girls and women have gone — or will go through — similar experiences. The legality of reorientation therapy is also debatable since several court cases have brought it and the issues of confinement and torture to light, with most who have had to suffer through this conversion process saying it was detrimental and caused ongoing problems such as PTSD and increased rates of suicide — not to mention that the CT itself did not fulfill its intended goal. Unless people undergoing the process do so out of their own free will, this type of therapy is not unlike holding a knife at someone’s throat in order to get a confession. Under duress, people say whatever they think an abuser wants to hear to make the pain stop. A person cannot be made to change their sexuality by force of will or torture. All that is left is a damaged person who often suffers from greater mental instability than they came in with.

March 2017 | Crescent Magazine

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Crescent Magazine | March 2017

RANDOM

W CHINA GIVES BIRTH TO TEA

FINDINGS MATTHEW|HUBACHEK

While tea is usually thought of as a British obsession, the story of tea dates to circa 2737 B.C. China, where legend has it some leaves blew into some boiling water and Emperor Shen Nung, a renowned herbalist, decided to try the accidental concoction. The result was what we now call tea. While no one knows whether the story is true or not, what is known is that the Chinese started drinking tea centuries before anyone else. It was during the Tang dynasty when tea became the national drink of China and then it was introduced to Japan. It wasn’t until the mid 16th century that tea moved into Europe, and it didn’t become accepted in England until the mid 1600s. But once it took hold, the British took to tea with gusto, which continues today.

WHAT KIND WILL YOU HAVE? There are about 1,500 types of teas in the world, but there are only four main categories: black, oolong, green and white. The differences in the teas results from the way the leaves are processed. Black tea is fully fermented and is the most popular type in the U.S. It is high in caffeine and comes in many varieties. Oolong is partially fermented and is the type of tea used by most Chinese restaurants. Green tea is different from the others because its leaves are immediately steamed to stop any oxidation from happening. It is hardly fermented at all and contains little caffeine. White tea is the least processed as it is not allowed to ferment. People are most familiar with flavored teas, those that have been scented or flavored with fruit, flowers, spices, oils, extracts and natural or artificial flavors.

THERE’S ALWAYS TIME FOR TEA Every country has its own tea culture. A number of countries have a designated teatime; the best known being England, where black tea is the most common tea served and is usually combined with milk or lemon and sugar to taste. India actually consumes more tea

than any other country, with chai being its national drink. Iranians drink their tea especially strong with a lot of sugar, but they place a sugar cube between their front teeth and suck the tea through it. Even Americans have a tea culture and it is one of the most popular drinks in the U.S. Although we still prefer coffee over tea in the morning, iced tea is often consumed with lunch and many types of tea are drunk in the evening. And you can’t mention sweet tea without thinking of the American South.

SOME TEA A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY

FROM HOT TO COLD Iced tea was introduced at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. Fairgoers ignored hot tea because of the summer heat.

MILLION DOLLAR TEA More than 340 chests of tea were dumped during the Boston Tea Party. That’s close to $1 million in today’s money.

MIGHTY BIG BUSINESS The value of the worldwide tea market was more than $38.2 billion in 2016. It is expected to top $42 billion by 2020.

People have thought for years that drinking tea is good for their health and it turns out to be true. Tea contains antioxidants, which protect the body from a variety of things and may ward off different types of cancer. Drinking tea may also reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. Despite the caffeine, tea hydrates the body and can boost exercise endurance. It can also help with weight loss. It has been shown to decrease heart disease and might be helpful in the prevention of neurological diseases. “Tea consumption, especially green tea, may not be the magic bullet, but it can be incorporated in an overall healthy diet with whole grains, fish, fruits and vegetables and less red and processed meat,” Qi Sun, assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, told “Harvard Men’s Health Watch.”

WHAT DO THE LEAVES SAY? Reading tea leaves is the practice of telling someone’s fortune by reading a smeared substance. Since the arrival of tea in Britain, psychics have used its leaves as a way to see into the future. The process of reading tea leaves varies but the most common way is pouring unstrained tea into a cup and pouring out or drinking the tea. The psychic then reads the shapes and symbols made by the tea leaves left in the cup to tell the person’s fortune. A symbol’s meaning determines what someone’s future might look like. One good shape is an acorn, which means continued health or improved health. A bad one is an owl, which indicates sickness or poverty.

March 2017 | Crescent Magazine

VOICES MODERN PERSPECTIVES >

BYE, BYE BABY. HELLO FREEDOM. Those claiming a childfree life is unfulfilling are the same parents complaining about their children. At a party last summer I was meandering around the house, minding my own business while I waited for the fireworks to start when — abruptly and without warning — a baby was handed to me. I knew this 6-month-old. He was the son of my former babysitter. But I did not know the woman who handed him to me and — more importantly — I did not know the proper way to hold a 6 month old. Awkwardly propping the child on my hip, I searched for someone else to hand him to. Luckily, a crowd of cooing guests had gathered around me and I passed the child to the first woman who opened her arms to him. “I bet you can’t wait to have your own,” she said with a smile. I did not bother to tell her I would be waiting until hell froze over. Believe it or not, I am not the only one who never wants to have children. In fact many people my age are choosing to abstain from parenthood and remain childfree. Despite this trend, people still assume that millennials — especially millennial women — will grow up, get married and have children. Some would have you believe that declining birth rates and the childfree-by-choice movement are contributing factors to a population crisis that will bring an end to the human race. This is simply not true.

Crescent Magazine | March 2017

Not all millennials are choosing to live childfree. Birth rates among 20-somethings may have declined between 2007 and 2012 by 15 percent, but that does not mean these women are choosing not to have children. The Pew Research Center recently reported that 60 percent of millennials said “being a parent is extremely important to their overall identity,” and research shows that millennials are choosing to delay parenthood until they finish college and are financially stable enough to support a child’s needs. There are plenty of legitimate reasons not to have children. Just a few on the list include not wanting to be pregnant, worries of passing down mental illness and not wanting to contribute to overpopulation. While none of these are reasons to refrain from having children if you want them, they are perfectly good reasons not to have children if you know you do not want them. Often these are secondary reasons given to appease people who interrogate or berate those who choose to live childfree. Critics of the childfree lifestyle will tell you that having children is one of the most fulfilling and rewarding things you can do in life. Some go so far as to pity those who do not wish to have children, saying that their lives must be empty and purposeless. OLI ROSS-MUSICK But studies have shown that nonparents tend to report higher levels of happiness than parents, and psychology has long pointed to the fact that marital satisfaction decreases after having children. This phenomenon is known as the parenting happiness gap. In a study of 22 countries, research found that the U.S. has the largest happiness gap with nonparents being, on average, 12 percent happier than parents. In the 14 countries where the gap favors nonparents, the reason behind it can be entirely attributed to how much government support is available to new parents. It should come as no surprise, then, that the U.S. has the largest gap. It is the only country that does not require employers to offer paid parental leave to their employees, and when maternity leave is granted, new mothers are usually expected to be back at work within six weeks of giving birth — less than the minimum amount of time required

by other countries. On average, mothers in other countries are entitled to about 18 weeks of paid maternity leave and some countries offer

A woman is not a walking incubator and is NOT OBLIGATED to make babies simply because she can. up to a year of paid parental leave. Other countries also offer paid parental leave for new fathers — though time allotted to paternity leave tends to be considerably less than the time allotted to maternity leave. Typically a father will take paternity leave after the mother has gone back to work, allowing more time for the child to be at home before it is necessary to find daycare services — which are also much cheaper outside the U.S. On top of poor options for paid parental leave, mothers especially find it hard to balance work and childcare after they return to their jobs. Women in the workforce are likely to take a decrease in pay after they have children, and mothers tend to pass up promotions and reduce work hours to allow more time caring for children. On top of this, society’s view of mothers is particularly harsh. If a woman chooses to give up working entirely to stay at home with her children, people accuse her of being selfish or doing nothing to contribute to the family. But if a woman works long hours to support her family, people accuse her of being a bad mother. They question whether she is even fit to be a mother. Not even childfree women can seem to escape this kind of criticism. If a woman decides she would rather dedicate her life to her job than have children, people call her heartless. A man who does not want to be a father does not have to endure nearly as much criticism as a woman who does not want to be a mother. Men may be pressured by their families to have children, but women are pressured both by society and their families. Whenever I am around my grandparents I have to field questions about why I do not want children and listen to assurances that I will change my mind someday. Complete strangers give me shocked looks if I happen to mention that I will never be a mother, and new parents get offended when I turn down an offer to hold their child. This kind of collective pressure is ridiculous and needs to stop. A woman is not a walking incubator and is not obligated to make babies simply because she can.

VOICES

< SEXPLANATION

The thing about sex is that everyone gets off to different things. So why are some forms of sexual desire looked at negatively while others are seen as sexy? Many times it’s sexual fantasies and fetishes, which aren’t so different from each other. A sexual fantasy is any kind of mental image that leads to sexual arousal or story building in one’s head about different scenarios or experiences. A fetish is a form of sexual desire that is linked to a specific object, item of clothing, part of the body or other things that are not usually seen as sexual. The key difference between a fetish and a fantasy is that fantasies are something people can spend a good amount of time thinking about while having sex or masturbating. Some fantasies are things people would like to eventually act out — kind of like a bucket list for sex — and others are things that people want left inside their heads. But a fetish is something that almost has to be present in order for full sexual gratification. For example, many people fantasize about having a threesome, and while it might be something they’d like to do or think would be fun to try, they don’t need to have a threesome to climax. Many people with fetishes find it hard to be sexually fulfilled without whatever it is that they fetishize being present. It’s a kind of need that can’t be ignored. There are differences, but realizing that there is an overlap between the actions of these two forms of desire can help eliminate some of the negative connotations that come along with the word fetish. SAM FROST The Huffington Post article “When It Comes To Sexual Fantasies, What’s Normal?” suggests that some of the negative responses to the word fetish stem from the fact that there isn’t a clear definition of what is considered typical or atypical sexual desire or action. Instead of being fact-based, most discussions of these things rely heavily on cultural or moral judgment because there has not been any scientific agreement about them. The lack of facts leaves people unsure of what to think. Cosmopolitan magazine did an interview with four women between the ages of 20–27 about their sexual fantasies. One woman admitted that she likes to pretend she’s a teenage vir-

FETISHES AND FANTASIES Say the word fantasy and everyone thinks of passion-filled sex. But say the word fetish and most people squirm. gin that’s having sex for the first time with her friend’s hot dad. “I enjoy pain in a very sexual way, “another woman said. “Sex is carnal, as is violence, and for me, the lines have blurred to the point of disappearance.” Women’s Health Magazine reported that some of the most common sexual fantasies are boss and employee role-play, domination, having sex outside, sex in public, having others watch you have sex (exhibitionism), watching others have sex (voyeurism), sex with a stranger and threesomes. All of these fantasies also made it onto the list of the top 10 most common fetishes. This shows that a great deal of the negative backlash that is shown toward fetishes is really just backlash against the word itself, not against the actions. When it comes down to it, a fetish is really just a specific type of fantasy or one that is reoccurring. There are different levels of fetishism. “I’ve heard of everything from feet to dirt to cars,” Justin Lehmiller, a sex educator and research psychologist at Harvard, told Shape Magazine. “Pretty much anything you can think of, someone out there probably has sexual associations attached to it.” Some things, such as voyeurism or role-play, are fetishes, but don’t seem bizarre enough to

the everyday person. Fetishes do not have to be extreme, but others are and can become a whole subculture of people, such as “furries,” those people who enjoy dressing up in animal costumes, or people heavily into one or more of the forms of BDSM, which actually stands for bondage and discipline, dominance and submission and sadism and masochism. Technological advances and different online sites have helped people with different fetishes find other people like them. “It gives people a place to express their desires, “Lehmiller said, “and find other people who may have the same interests.” When it comes to sex, one of the biggest issues for people is wondering if what they’re doing or thinking is normal. Part of the reason that people are so quick to judge others is because they want to justify their own desires and feelings, making sure they are no different than anybody else. But that doesn’t really matter. “The truth is, there is no normal when it comes to sex,” sex therapist Emily Morse wrote in askmen.com. “The only constants are diversity and variation, because we are all different in our sexual desires.” Morse said the most important thing in sexual experiences is consent and satisfaction. If those are present, it really doesn’t matter what is considered normal for each person. Fetishes and fantasies are a normal part of life. Whether it is common in mainstream society or not, there’s nothing to be ashamed about engaging on one or both.

March 2017 | Crescent Magazine

RANDOM THROUGH THE LENS > Danny admits his love for Sandy, and junior Carlene Widmer, sophomore April Kuhnert and freshmen Sam Wells, Daymon Weller and Skip Maas rejoice. | MaKayla Seifert As Danny, freshman T.J. Turner is stricken with grief thinking heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lost Sandy forever. | MaKayla Seifert Senior Austin Kraus, juniors Ryan DeHoff and Claire Dunigan, sophomore Katie Blankenship and freshman Luke Hatton end with a sing-along. | MaKayla Seifert Will Mia accept? Sophomore Abby Burnett and freshmen Jessie Morris, Sam Turner and Sarah Steele find out. | Brenna Kincaid Sophomore Kianna Wong and freshmen Blair Bledsoe and Jessica Ybarra can see the love tonight. | MaKayla Seifert

Lambda Chi, ZETA and SAI

madness REIGNS It is the only time you will ever see a squirrel sing with Napoleon Dynamite! Musical Madness was filled with jokes and references only UE students understood, but everyone laughed at them.

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Crescent Magazine | March 2017

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VOICES < WITHIN FAITH

HELP THEM, SAVE THEM,

LET THEM IN Religious groups must continue to protest discrimination and hatred. It’s more important now than ever before. Many people were incredibly angered by the ban on people coming to the U.S. from the seven countries outlined in President Donald Trump’s executive order. Jews, Baptists, Catholics, Methodists and Mormons, among others, denounced the ban blocking anyone from Syria, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Libya and Sudan from entering the U.S. They protested, shared their beliefs and preached that the ban went against all faiths, not just Islam. Although this ban was lifted by the courts, it is still extremely important to remember the efforts put in by all religious leaders and people. Their protests helped remove the ban and will continue to help improve the country in this time of political and religious discourse. As people became stranded and often detained in airports, protesters gathered en masse to speak out against the ban. Hundreds of religious leaders and followers who felt that it was the best place for them to be were also present and shared their religious texts to help those who were not allowed into our country. These leaders then went home and rewrote their sermons and homilies to include reminders that all people deserve love and refuge. They sat down and wrote letters to Trump and Congress that spoke of their indignation over a highly discriminatory ban. And they did not let their opinions be drowned out. They did not stop protesting until refugees and immigrants — not just those who practice Christianity — were once again treated and loved as neighbors and permitted into the country. The number of religious people that spoke out in defiance of the ban was significantly higher than the number of religious people who decided that this display of discrimination was beneficial to our country. Those who have spoken in favor of the ban were also protested against. The New Orleans newspaper, The Times-Picayune, reported that the Rev. Robert Jeffress, leader of First Baptist Dallas, supported Trump’s decision and later that day a group of people gathered outside of his church protesting both his statement and the ban. One protestor held a sign stating “Love Thy Neighbor.” Interfaith Immigration Coalition, a partnership of faith-based organizations from multiple different religious backgrounds, works to ensure fair and humane treatment for all immigrants and wrote a letter to Trump and Congress. It said that the ban should never have been in place and that all people should be given equal opportunity to enter the United States. “Today, with more than 5 million Syrian refugees fleeing violence and persecution and hundreds of thousands of civilian casualties, the United States has an ethical obligation as a world leader to reduce this suffering and generously welcome Syrian refugees into our country,” the letter stated, mak-

ing both religion and the U.S. morally responsible for the treatment of the immigrants and refugees that had been banned from the country’s borders. More than 2,000 religious leaders worldwide signed the letter. They came from various backgrounds, faiths and beliefs, but all agreed that the ban needed to be repealed and refugees be allowed into the country. Additionally through this letter, the leaders also protested derogatory language used by Trump and many others in reference to the refugees. “Together, representing our various faiths, we decry derogaLILY RENFRO tory language that has been used about Middle Eastern refugees and our Muslim friends and neighbors,” the letter continued. “Inflammatory rhetoric has no place in our response to this humanitarian crisis.” The outrage from so many Americans has sparked international interest. While we know the government has acted incorrectly on any number of issues in the past, the world is simply incensed by this specific act, believing it to be so blatantly wrong that protests must be made — and heard. And there is great significance to the fact that religious leaders — from a plethora of faiths — decided to speak out against the ban. The fact that so many religious leaders made their opinions known is particularly significant in this situation, as it denotes the utter horridness of refusing refugees and immigrants the chance to improve their current situations. Because of this ban, thousands of people were left to starve, to be tortured, to be raped, to be demoralized and to be deprived of their humanity. They needed those of faith to protest. Episcopal Bishop Sean Rowe, leader of the Dioceses of Bethlehem and Northwestern Pennsylvania, said that he had never seen such a strong, widespread religious outcry to any social or political situation. “I find it outrageous at every level,” he said. “There’s a real sense that the church cannot be silent about this.” This ban has shown that Trump will abuse his power as much as he can. But if he continues, he will blemish the country and endanger the lives of people who have little hope for refuge. We must continue to fight against Trump’s radicalized ideas because they are just not acceptable. They do not represent what many religions and the U.S. stand for. Protesting must continue, and if it stops, then immorality and discrimination have won.

March 2017 | Crescent Magazine

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BE MORE THAN A BYSTANDER WEEKLY EVENTS • Catholic Mass — 1 p.m. Sundays, Neu Chapel • Confession — 12:30 p.m. Sundays, Neu Chapel (before Mass) • Volunteering — Ronald McDonald House, 6–8 p.m. monthly every first and third Tuesday • Rosary Prayer — 11 a.m. Tuesdays, BowerSuhrheinrich Library, Room 209 • Weekly Dinner and Discussion — 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Newman Center, 1901 Lincoln Ave. (across from Koch Center) OPPORTUNITIES FOR LENT & EASTER St. Benedict’s, 1328 Lincoln Ave. • Fish Fry — 5 p.m. March 17 • Mass — 5:30 p.m. weekly on Wednesdays • Stations of the Cross — 5:30 p.m. March 31 • Easter Mass — 6 a.m., 8 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. April 16 OTHER EVENTS • Newman Center Community Easter Dinner — 5:30 p.m. April 16, Newman Center, 1901 Lincoln Ave. All students are invited. • Busy Person Retreat — April 9–12, Newman Center • Other small group activities @uenewman

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Crescent Magazine | March 2017

COVER

the

RISKS we

TAKE

BY HANNAH|ROWE

Whether it’s climbing a frozen waterfall, bungee jumping or whitewater rafting, there is an explanation behind what drives us to take risks.

Expert climbers say the worst thing you can do while scaling a precarious mountain slope is to look down. You’ve spent hours not only training but preparing your gear, and once you find yourself 60 feet above the ground, it begins. Your heart races and you question what to do next. Your breathing increases but you suddenly feel stronger, fiercer. These reactions are some of the things that make climbing — or any risky activity — appealing. Think of it this way. Risk taking is like spending countless hours studying for an extremely important test only to have your mind go into overdrive once it’s finally time to take the test. You know the information but your mind goes a mile a minute and your palms get sweaty. Some people thrive on those things that excite them, test them, finding that thrill seeking is an important part of who they are. Junior Roxanne Waggoner was just 12 when she went zip lining for the first time. She said the terrifying part was that it was 40 feet off the ground and you had to climb around obstacles to maneuver your-

self. And while it could be described as a terrifying adventure, to her it was an awesome and exhilarating one. While that was the first of her risk-taking adventures, since then Waggoner has found a multitude of activities that some would say are way too over-the-top, not to mention dangerous. While admitting that the adrenaline rush is rather addicting, she sees it differently, doing these spine-tingling activities mostly for the experience. “I do it for that moment when I can look back at it and be like, ‘I’m risking my life for fun,’” Waggoner said. “You have that ‘am I safe?’ feeling. But you get to look back and be like ‘I can’t believe I did that.’” But as an avid thrill seeker, who has traveled extensively and completed a number of death-defying adventures, including scuba diving in Hawaii and snowboarding in Norway, Waggoner is not alone in her love for risky fun. Freshman Case Farney has been rock climbing since seventh grade. While he usually climbs at indoor facilities, he has also done some outside climbing in CanaMarch 2017 | Crescent Magazine

da — mostly in places he said he probably shouldn’t have. “I try to be safe, but there is a risk of breaking something or falling the wrong way,” he said. “Normally, I try not to think too much about the risk. Once you’re up there, the worst thing you can do is think about it.” So why do people get involved in these types of activities, where the outcome of a wrong move could be injury-causing or life-threatening? John Felton, assistant professor of psychology, said a person’s need for risk is a combination of genetics and their physiological makeup. It all depends on where a person sets his or her baseline for risk. “Some people have it low, other people have it set a lot higher,” he said. “If they don’t get aroused, then they’re bored.” Junior Kindra Hurlbert does not let

els of an adrenaline rush. She said for her, snowboarding and ghyll scrambling (ascending or descending a stream) resulted in an exciting, fun and moderate adrenaline rush, but skydiving and cliff jumping resulted in a much more intense level. “When you’re done, you’re just hyped on the adrenaline for the first 15 minutes and then you crash,” she said. While the rush is what gets most people involved in what they perceive as thrilling physical activity, risk-takers also do it to feel proud. Felton said the sense of accomplishment, of being able to say they’ve done something like that, is an added bonus. The fear of failure is too big of a risk for some people. But if a risk leads to success, then that person can feel proud of him or herself and even earn some bragging rights. “The biggest benefit is that it satis-

they do not want to fail or feel badly about themselves. “We in clinical psychology deal with people who are too afraid to take risks, which lowers your growth potential,” he said. “You hate to see people that limit themselves because they are too afraid.” Andreas Wilke, an associate professor of psychology at Clarkson (N.Y.) University, wrote in a Live Science article that when people are optimistic about the outcome of their behavior, they don’t perceive it as risky. They even feel like they are totally in control and are immune to the rules. “I want to do everything that seems crazy or on the edge,” Hurlbert said. “I’m always looking to be risky or different.” And Psychology Today reported in “Are You a Risk Taker?” that taking positive risks can promote healthy neurological growth. It can also boost self-confidence.

much get in her way as far as racing her shifter go-kart is concerned, which she has done competitively since she was a youngster. When most of her friends were on the playground, she was on the track. But she preferred the track and the adrenaline rush that comes with it. “It’s a very tense environment,” Hurlbert said. “There’s the thought in the back of your head like you can’t screw this up because your life depends on it. Anything can happen.” Those who take risks mostly do it for the physical benefits — the adrenaline rush — that sudden increase in the secretion of adrenaline, or epinephrine, from the adrenal glands, a stress hormone. When you perceive something as threatening or exciting, the hypothalamus in the brain signals to the adrenal glands that it’s time to produce adrenaline and other stress hormones, hence the rush. Once that happens, it results in a variety of physical feelings — your strength seems to increase, your senses heighten, you have sudden boosts of energy, your heart rate and breathing speed up and pain is kept to a minimum. “It’s a sensational thing,” Felton said. “[Risk-takers] seek that stimulation, that high.” Waggoner said there are varying lev-

fies their need for excitement and then they have something they can feel proud about,” Felton said. “People want to have an interesting story to tell.” Since everybody is different, there are those we know who love taking risks and others who would never even consider it. And it is no surprise that thrill seekers tend to be more extroverted. “They accept a higher level of risk,” Felton said. “They certainly aren’t safety seekers, they’re the opposite.” The possibility of things going wrong does not weigh heavily on the minds of thrill seekers. Despite the possible moment of uncertainty, they opt to take the risk and seize the opportunity to create lasting memories. “I really love going out of my comfort zone no matter what.,” Hurlburt said. “[My friends] would say I’m a little crazy. I commit myself 110 percent to everything I do. I’m a little out there.” Learning also plays a part in our willingness to take risks. Felton said if someone associates with risk-takers, they tend to be like the group since people gravitate toward others who are like them and have the same need for stimulation. And while some need a lot of stimulation, others do not because the fear of failure hangs too heavy in their minds and

“If you don’t take risks, you’ll never grow as a person, you would just stay where you are,” Waggoner said. “If you don’t reach toward something, you can never know your true potential in life.” Farney views rock climbing as one of the only things that brings him a feeling of accomplishment. He said he will continue to rock climb simply because of the opportunity to improve and the good feelings keep him climbing. “It feels really great,” he said. “You feel like you’ve really done something.” But Forbes reported in a 2013 article titled “Take a Risk: The Odds Are Better Than You Think” that humans are neurologically wired to exaggerate how bad things could be if a risk does not pay off. It is simply easier to not take a chance and stick with the status quo. “I think we have a problem with people who don’t want to take risks, who want to be safe,” Felton said. The risks we take — no matter how big or small — give us the chance to grow. Risk-taking is the price people pay for taking part in certain activities that satisfy their need for excitement, change and living a fulfilling life. “If you’re not willing to try something new,” Waggoner said, “then your whole life will be the same story.”

Crescent Magazine | March 2017

E. Virginia St.

March 2017 | Crescent Magazine

RANDOM WHO KNEW? >

RUNNING THE NUMBERS 6.3 billion Americans drank about 6.3 billion gallons of beer in 2012, with New Hampshire the largest consumer.

Can a phone be OVERCHARGED? Most people plug in their phones all the time to charge, even if they’re already at 100 percent. But can this harm a smartphone? Overcharging isn’t a problem for Androids and iPhones because of a chip inside the battery that makes it impossible for the phone to absorb more energy than is needed. But that isn’t to say that frequent charging does not affect your phone. It has been found that after two years, the battery can start to wear down and lose its charge faster or not turn on at all. But this isn’t a problem for most smartphone users as people usually upgrade their phones annually.

$75 million

What makes a 2-WAY mirror work? These mirrors work like windows do during the night. Even though people outside can see you, you only see your reflection because of the light in the room. If both rooms have the same amount of light, it will work like a window. But, if one side is brighter than the other, it will look like a mirror on the bright side.

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” made $75 million in the U.S. its premiere weekend.

3,300 Martin Strel of Slovenia swam 3,300 miles down the Amazon River, for the longest swim record.

400 million Instagram has 400 million active people on every day and 80 million photos are posted.

How do DOGS know when there’s danger? Scientists haven’t agreed on an exact cause, but most agree that animals’ sensitivity to danger could be linked to infrasound. All animals can hear this frequency, but it is too low for humans to hear. Storms, earthquakes, wind and other natural phenomena reacting to structures in their path can create infrasound. This sound wave can pass through objects and can travel much farther than regular sound waves. Because of infrasound’s long range, dogs can hear danger long before it arrives.

What makes an ANIMAL at risk? There are more than 16,000 animal species that are considered endangered in the world. Any animal, from the beautiful indigo macaws in Brazil to the grey wolves that used to populate the wilds of the United States, can and have been added to the ever growing list of endangered species. The reasons for a species being added to the list are as varied as the animals themselves. Animals and plants are added every year as they are threatened or abused to the point were their population starts to dwindle. Examples of how species are added to the list are when an animal’s habitat is threatened with destruction or changed in some way that

Crescent Magazine | March 2017

makes it impossible for the major population of the species to continue living. They are also considered endangered when people overuse them in various ways; whether it’s for education, science, profit or recreational hunting, populations can drop quickly because of people. But people are not the only way these critters are threatened. Natural disasters and diseases can hurt a population just as quickly and also result in a species being classified as endangered. In short, anything that can seriously harm a population in a short amount of time can bump them onto the list, where they will stay until their numbers hopefully rise.

What in the world are SUPER GERMS? Most doctors have stopped prescribing many antibiotics because of the appearance of super germs, which are mutated bacteria that have developed a resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics. These strains of bacteria that become super germs thrive despite the medication because of their widespread usage.

VOICES

Every so often, I see an article on my Facebook timeline that profiles the journey of a transgender child with supportive and loving parents. One such article that I read recently was published by NPR. It told the story of Jackie, a 3-year-old transgender girl from California. As with almost every news article about transgender people, a fierce debate raged in the comment section regarding the morality of Jackie’s parents. I get why stories about children who transition at young ages are so scary. A lot of people have only recently started learning about what it means to be trans and how people go about transitioning. They hear the word “transition” and they immediately imagine hormone therapy and sex-reassignment surgery. And it’s true; those are two important aspects of transitioning. But they aren’t aspects that apply to a 3-year-old transgender child. Transgender children can’t start hormone therapy until they would already be starting puberty, and many wait even longer. No doctor will prescribe hormones to a 3-year-old child — that would be absurd. Nor will any doctor perform sex-reassignment surgery on a 3-year-old child. Barring any extraordinary circumstances, a transgender person can only get sex-reassignment surgery if they are over 18 years old. Many doctors require multiple letters of recommendation from licensed therapists and gender-care doctors before they’ll perform the surgery. So what does it mean for a 3-year old child to transition? Honestly, all it really meant for Jackie was that her parents encouraged her to grow her hair out, wear dresses and choose for herself a more feminine name. That’s it. There’s nothing permanent or life threatening involved in transitioning at a young age. One common response I hear after I explain what a young child’s transition would entail is that allowing a child to transition so early in life could have adverse effects on the child later. But the opposite is true. While the study of transgender children is a relatively new field, The Journal of Pediatrics reported that early studies have already shown that children who transition with the support of their parents had no higher rates of depression than cisgender children of the same age. This would indicate that being trans does not cause children to feel depressed; rather, the depression is caused by the mistreatment that trans children face.

TRANSITIONS > general, they just worried that she would one day decide that being trans wasn’t right for her. The problem with using this fear as justification to not let Jackie transition is that it rarely happens, if ever. The Association for Psychological Science found that children who decide to transition rarely change their mind by the time they reach adulthood. Besides, even if a child does change their mind, is that really a problem? If transitioning were physically or psychologically dangerous, then there would be reason to worry. But since it is not, there is no harm in allowing children to live their truest lives possible. KAITLYN ROBKIN That’s all this fear over transgender children really is: a fear of the unknown. If many of the Facebook warriors who had strong opinions over the choices of Jackie’s parents had taken the time to read the article and learn about what her journey actually entailed, then maybe they would have realized that none of what they were concerned about was applicable to Jackie’s transition. This is why education over gender issues is so important. The Public Religion Research Institute reported in 2013 that less than 10 percent of Americans have a close friend or family member who is transgender, as compared to 73 percent who have a gay friend or family member. This disparity is a real problem in a country where transgender rights are a hotly contested issue. It is much easier to hate and discriminate against a people who you do not know. If people understood what was really happening in a transgender person’s life, maybe the subject wouldn’t outrage them so much. Many take issue with children having such a An easy solution is increased education. drastic response to their own unhappiness. But Washington State recently introduced gender I would argue that choosing not to transition is identity into the curriculum of its public schools. the more drastic response. Waiting too long to Students will now learn about the diversity of transition means forcing a child to go through gender at the same time that they learn about the “wrong” puberty. Puberty will only exacersexuality. bate the child’s sex characteristics and worsen Such education is vital; if I had known that their dysphoria. it was possible to transition at a young age, I If we let children begin their transition becould have started the process of becoming a fore puberty, that gives the child time to make girl more than a decade sooner and my current sure they really are happier as a different genlife would be drastically improved. der. That way, when puberty begins, the child Hopefully, more states will follow Washingwill either be sure this is the path they want to ton’s lead. If more children know that transitake or they can return to being the gender they tioning is possible, more children will choose to were assigned at birth. transition. This would lead to more people with So what if they change their mind after putrans friends and family members and thus a soberty? Many people who commented on the ciety that wouldn’t feel so upset that Jackie deJackie story weren’t opposed to trans people in cided she is happier as a girl.

TRANS CHILDREN ARE JUST FINE

Allowing children to transition may sound scary, but there is nothing to be afraid of.

March 2017 | Crescent Magazine

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March 2017 | Crescent Magazine

VOICES

Fashion has been around a long time, ever since cavemen needed to cover their business. It is even possible Neanderthals styled their fur loincloths a certain way to make them look avant-garde. But in this day and age, we have more to worry about than fashionable fur. Fashion is a business carved into societies’ echelon of so-called “necessities,” like smartphones or tablets. Teens want a pair of Yeezy’s just as much as they want a new iPhone, and a new iPhone is more expensive, but not by much. A trend can be defined as a general inclination toward something. In fashion, it’s a bit more complicated than that. Trends are most definitely awful, especially if you look back five years when everyone was wearing those vile tribal patterns and everything was galaxy-themed. And fuckbois wore the classic combo of basketball shorts, long socks and sandals. That may still be a thing, but no one is encouraging it and everyone thinking about wearing that combination needs to think about something else. We can even go further back to 2007, where everyone was either a prep — wearing grandma-reminiscent pastel, plaid bermuda shorts and Hollister tees — or an emo — donning hair fringe so oddly placed that it made people look like they had one eye and skinny jeans that probably made 50 percent of Hawthorne Heights’ fan base infertile. Trends feel cool right when they become popular, especially for teenagers and young adults, who follow trends more than any other age group. Then as soon as a new trend comes along, we reject the old one like the plague. This goes along with fashionista James Laver’s “Law of Fashion,” which was published in 1937. His law demonstrates gyroscopic fashion trends, in other words, what’s in and what’s not. If you’re really curious, the law can be found in a handy online chart, but the gist is that trends that were once in fashion will go through a stage of unpopularity, followed by it coming back into fashion again. Go figure. Crocs will be popular again in 2030. I called it first. So how are trends started? Bustle, an online women’s magazine, ties trends to two things, history and economics. Believe it or not, trends have been around since the Middle Ages when disposable income became a thing and people decided they wanted to look better and richer than everyone else. But the fashion industry creates trends to maximize profits. It may be discouraging and terrible, but it’s true. And fashion companies are pushing out collections faster than Donnie tweets. You can go to H&M every week and see new clothes on the racks, cheap and ready to be bought by peo-

Crescent Magazine | March 2017

FUNNY GIRL >

FOLLOWING FASHION TRENDS Living in a world where first impressions are based on fashion and appearance but not personality is rather strange. ple who want to keep up with whatever trend is to a little thing called conspicuous consumppopular at the moment. tion, a term coined in the late 1800s. It refers to Past trends are actually quite interesting consumers buying expensive items to show off and amusing. Back before celebrities were actheir wealth and not meant to satisfy any sort of tors, musicians and people consumer need. with fine booties and corsetToday, we see a different ed busts, they were members form of conspicuous consumpof royal families. Bustle reports tion emerging — inconspicuQueen Elizabeth I, the Lady ous consumption. It’s a term Gaga of the 16th century, that suggests that someone once made a comment about with what is perceived as visihow much she liked feathble signs of luxury is probably er fans. It became a trend for from a lower social class rather the rest of her life and people than a higher one. The Atlantic quickly grabbed multiple pairs. stated that people from poorer Marie Antoinette changed ethnic groups sometimes feel the way French fashion was as if they have something to perceived in the 18th centuprove and spend more money ry when she introduced the on trendy clothes than people LEA ARNOLD Gaulle or Chemise de la Reine, in the middle class. loosely translated, the royal underwear, which So should we follow fashion trends? Allow in reality was a style of dress. our personal style to be dictated by celebrities, This style was completely different from fashion magazines and eccentric designers? the broad hoop skirts and opulent dresses of Huffington Post suggests the constantly changthe early part of the century. It was simple and ing trends are due to an emergence of “fast flowy, and more practical for women to wear. fashion,” a type of system put forth by big retailThis trend started something that would last uners such as Forever21 and H&M. til the Victorian era. If you’ve ever seen a Jane The swiftly changing clothing selections Austen movie, and I know everyone has, all of that stores sell is many times the product of the women are wearing one. child labor and unhealthy working conditions But some royal trends didn’t become popufor workers of some Asian and other countries. lar. Duchess Erzsébet Bathory, of Transylvania, They make these cheap clothes that seem to liked to bathe in the blood of virgins to make fall apart after several washings and go out of her skin look younger. Trends can also be tied style quickly. Hilarious, right?

RANDOM BRAIN BOMB >

FATE &

HORSESHOE. From Islam to Egypt the horseshoe is said to protect from evil and bring good luck. Horseshoes, which can hang up or down, draw their strength and power from the iron and fire that forges them.

}

FORTUNE

SCARABS.

LUCKY CHARMS can be serious, silly and magically delicious. Whether you believe in their power or not, these trinkets hold influence across the world with deep origins in religion and ancient life. While some charms are widely known, others may surprise you. Either way, we could all use a little luck!

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it up and all that day you’ll have good luck.” All over the world lucky pennies have different sources of origin. As long as they are heads-up they will provide luck and prosperity.

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RAINBOWS. Money is something we cannot get enough of, so it’s no surprise that rainbows, with pots of gold at the end, are popular in our culture. Beautiful and cheery, these colorful stripes in the sky bring good fortune and luck.

WISHING WELLS. Early European tribes saw water as a gift from the gods. Those who found wells would throw coins into them as payment for a drink. While many use faucets now, wishing wells are still sources of water and luck.

L CK

LADYBUGS. The luck of ladybugs comes from farmers, who encouraged the small critters into the fields to protect their crops from other harmful insects. But you don’t have to wear overalls to get lucky, just let one land in your hand.

PENNIES. “Find a penny, pick

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RABBIT’S FEET. Rabbit’s feet bring luck in many forms. Originally tied to religious ideas, rabbit’s feet can increase fertility. Stroking a foot, especially one from the hind legs, can bring luck to anything from sports games to gambling.

FOUR-LEAF CLOVER. While a three-leafed clover represents the Holy Trinity, Ireland’s lucky symbol is actually the four-leafed clover. Chances of finding one are slim, but if you do you’ll get hope, faith, love and of course luck.

CRICKETS. Universally known, crickets and their chirps are good luck. Some Asian cultures say they protect the home. In Europe crickets symbolize happiness. No matter where you spot a cricket, luck and fortune will come to you.

Scarab beetles were worn as amulets in ancient Egypt to ward off evil. The beetles themselves represent new creation and eternal life. Today many people use the symbol for good luck, continuing its use for protection.

WISHBONES. Ancient civilizations believed birds were oracles and their powers came from the furcula, or wishbone. Now every Thanksgiving families are divided in an attempt to “get a lucky break.”

ELEPHANTS. Known for their intelligence and long-lives, elephants are longstanding symbols of good luck. Throughout Asia and India statues of these gentle giants, with trunks in the air, guard doors and bring stability and success.

SEVEN. Seven is the world’s favorite number, from seas and continents to colors and days of the week. Ancient Greeks described it as the perfect number. Now it is also the luckiest and is featured in gambling games.

CRESCENTS. Among the most powerful of all lucky symbols, it is especially lucky for children and their moms. In ancient Egypt, the crescent moon was the symbol of Isis, the mother of the gods. It eventually became a symbol of Paradise when represented with a star.

March 2017 | Crescent Magazine

RANDOM

ON THE CHEAP

WHITLEY|BROCK

BOUNCE THE NIGHT AWAY FOR HALF PRICE ELITE AIR is more than just an indoor trampoline park. It also offers a ninja warrior course, rope swing, trampoline basketball, dodge ball and more. College Night is Wednesday, and with your valid UE ID you get in for half price. It’s in Newburgh, Ind., just off the Lloyd Expressway at U.S. Highway 261 and is a great place to go exercise and relieve stress.

DISCOUNTS Krispy Kreme turns on its red hotlight every time a new batch is made. Those who stop in are rewarded with free a doughnut. The Krispy rewards app tells you when the light is on so you never miss it and offers exclusive deals. LOCAL SAVINGS

15%

If you want a hot new hairstyle or just need a quick trim, then check out DIVERSE SALON, conveniently located at 125 N. Weinbach. Diverse offers a 15 percent discount for students with a valid UE ID. If you want a new look or just need a touch-up, look no further than right up Weinbach.

BUY ONE, GET ONE

TUESDAY

AT&T customers get buy one, get one free for movie tickets every Tuesday. Movies are expensive, but with this deal you can get two tickets for the price of one. AMC EVANSVILLE 16, 5600 Pearl Drive, accepts this money-saving deal. So grab a friend and go across town to the movie.

MOVIES

Crescent Magazine | March 2017

BEST KEPT

SECRET BREAKOUT ESCAPE GAMES, 4903 Theater Drive, is a thrilling new physical puzzle game. Players are locked in a room and given clues to solve in order to escape — all within a set time limit, which is an hour for most scenes. Breakout, which is located across the street from Cheddar’s on North Green River Road, offers UE students their corporate discount, which is 10 percent for a group of eight, but discounts may vary depending on the number of people playing. This deal also offers other exclusives to enhance the experience. To get this deal, tell them you are a UE student when making your reservation and prepare to embark on the adrenaline-filled adventure of your choosing.

a v i D l a e D t he

Freebies, coupons & other inexpensive stuff.

For all of those deal seekers out there, you really need to get the Retale app. No more clipping coupons from the Sunday paper. This app, found in both the App and Google Play Stores, gives you countless weekly ads, offers and deals. You set your location and pick your favorite stores. The app is catered to your needs and you see the ads you care about most in your area. If you prefer to use the Internet, retale.com provides the same services as the app. Your favorite stores and those similar to them are sent to the top of the list to ensure you do not have to sift through multiple ads you do not care about. The app also allows you to create a shopping list directly on your phone. As you type your list, coupons for those items will appear. You can select the coupons you want and have them saved in a tab for easy access. This is yet another way to make your savings more convenient and less of a hassle. Coupons can be printed or scanned from your phone to make your life simpler.

CHEAP DINNERS Before heading out for a night on Franklin Street, get some tasty home cooking at Grandy’s, 722 Landbridge Way. Grandy’s offers a 10 percent discount with your UE ID.

EVV: HIDDEN TREASURES While it may not be camping weather quite yet, if you want a place to relax and enjoy nature then BLUE GRASS FISH AND WILDLIFE AREA is a great place to visit. Only 20 minutes from campus off I-69 in Chandler, Ind., this outdoor park is open to the public. Whether you want to go wildlife watching, on a nature walk or fishing, this is the perfect place to visit. It encompasses about 2,500 acres and consists of about 28 pits and lakes, making it a terrific area to get out and explore. And the fun doesn’t have to end when the sun goes down. The location is away from the hustle and bustle of the city, making it an excellent star gazing location.

VOICES < SPORTS JAM

KEEPING UP WITH AMERICA Remember Super Bowl LI? One of the most historic games in American sports history? The game didn’t end until 4 a.m. Imagine a world where all the best games do not start until close to midnight and sometimes are not even shown on TV. This world exists, and it is just across the Atlantic Ocean in England. Studying abroad at Harlaxton has made following American sports nearly impossible. While this might seem like a microscopic problem with all the other great things to do, after following sports for most of my life, it feels weird being out of the loop. The only information I have to rely on is the ESPN app on my phone that tells me the next morning what I missed the night before. Even with that, it still feels as if I am not a part of the sports world. College and pro basketball games usually start around 6 p.m. CST during the week, which translates to midnight GMT — Greenwich Mean Time — in Grantham. With early classes, it is not easy to stay up late several nights a week to watch games. It is simply not a smart strategy with studies and travel. Super Bowl LI was a different story. Most of the residents in the manor got together to watch the game, which kicked off at about 11:30 p.m. Everyone had class bright and early at 8:30 a.m. the next day, so many students only stayed through the halftime show. But the die-hard stayed for the entire game, all the way through overtime and the winning touchdown run by the Patriots. Since it was the first time a Super Bowl went into overtime, the game didn’t conclude until close to 4 a.m. GMT. But it was worth it. And I am not alone in my pursuit for American sports for those of us studying at Harlaxton. Residents of the United Kingdom enjoy American football along with their own brand of football — soccer. NBC Sports reports that TV ratings for the NFL in Great Britain are up 80 percent from last season. And the NFL has also tried to reach live audiences in England and throughout Europe. The NFL stated there have been three regular-season pro games played a year in London since 2014 and all nine of the games sold out. With this growing market, the league decided to schedule four games in London for the 2017 season. Since the popularity of the NFL in America is beyond huge, it was a no-brainer to take the game overseas. But for those who aren’t able to pack into the 90,000-seat Wembley Stadium, how do U.K. citizens get access to their favorite American sports? It is not as easy of a system as it is in the U.S. According to Tech Digest, NFL fans can watch on their televisions through a channel called Sky Sports or pay for an NFL GamePass to watch ev-

ery game (similar to NFL Sunday Ticket in the U.S.). Major League Baseball and NBA games can be found through a different sports streaming channel called British Telecommunications Sport. Since baseball’s popularity is growing in Britain, fans can get their own viewing plan through MLB.tv. BT Sport has also partnered with ESPN to bring viewers in the U.K. and Ireland pro baseball, basketball and college sports. I don’t have easy access to any of those channels, but sometimes I can find a work-around streaming MATT REED service on my laptop. But the websites can get pretty sketchy. BT Sport and Sky Sports work independently from each other, which makes being an all-around sports fan in the U.K. a challenge. But it is not an impossible task. The truth of it is, the U.K. market for American sports is growing. Residents of the U.K. are watching more and more games and supporting their favorite teams by purchasing merchandise. But even with the recent games played in London, the NFL is not the leading American sports league in apparel sales. According to Motion Point, the MLB leads all other leagues. And it is no surprise that the best selling ball cap in the U.K. is the Yankees’ classic “NY,” landing 38 percent of all MLB gear sold in England since 2010. The Brits share the same American love/hate relationships with sports teams that we do in the United States. That love/hate relationship is upon us with March Madness in full swing. I don’t think there is any other tournament that can equal the emotions of the NCAA basketball tournament. I find myself cheering for schools that I sometimes didn’t even know existed. But with the time difference and limited streaming possibilities, the full tourney experience is out of my reach. I filled out a bracket or two, but it is not the same without getting to watch the games. I guess that’s a small price to pay for being in this amazing place. I am excited to see where leagues expand to next. A NFL team or division of teams in England could be coming to Europe in the future, according to Vice Sports. And the Huffington Post reported that the MLB might be leaning toward playing in Great Britain again. While I am suffering a bit by not being able to watch my beloved games, it’s a small price to pay. But I sure would welcome the chance to watch some sports while enjoying this amazing experience.

March 2017 | Crescent Magazine

PROFILE

‘‘

The other team is always scared of her. She is someone you want to play with.”

A FAMILY TRADITION

With her competitive personality, this talented pitcher is also someone you can count on to lighten the mood when needed. DALLAS|CARTER Our families influence us and are often the inspiration behind our life choices. As one of six children growing up in a sports-minded family, this was the case for pitcher Morgan Florey. The Brimfield, Ill., native started playing softball when she was 5 but her family was involved with the sport long before she was born. Her grandfather coached her mom and aunts and was also instrumental in Florey learning the game. Her two older sisters were athletes and so was her older brother, who now plays NCAA Division I baseball. “I always loved watching my siblings and the competition that came with playing with them,” she said. “It made me want to continue.” Florey had no choice but to be competitive, but softball didn’t become her passion until she got injured playing basketball in high school.

Crescent Magazine | March 2017

“My first thought was: ‘Am I going to get to play softball?’” she said. From that point on, softball was her focus. Receiving a number of postseason honors, she finished her high school career with 435 strikeouts and hit an astonishing .511. Coach Mat Mundell learned about Florey from a friend and liked what he saw. And while Florey visited other schools, she said UE felt like home — plus it was one of the only D-I schools that would allow her to major in nursing and play softball. Mundell said his sophomore hurler isn’t just a great pitcher, but also a great hitter, finishing the 2016 season with a .301 batting average. “The team gravitates towards her,” he said. “On game day she is a competitor. She wants that ball in her hand. She is a two-way kid.”

Infielder Kori Keyes took it a step further, calling Florey a three-way player since she is also the team’s go-to person before games and when they need to be fired up. “[Morgan] is funny, outgoing and very loud,” she said. “She is a leader and someone who you can count on to bring you up when you need it.” Those close to Florey were not surprised last season when she was named the league’s “Freshman of the Year.” She was also named to the all-MVC first team and finished second in the conference with 209 strikeouts. “She was surprised, but was pretty level headed through the whole thing,” Mundell said. “She didn’t get cocky or big headed. She was gracious with the honor.” Although Florey was humbled by the honors, she recognizes their impact. > Morgan Florey “I come from a small > Softball community so this type of > Sophomore honor is big,” she said. “My little sister’s friends see> Pitcher ing me as a role model and > Brimfield, Ill. asking for pictures with me makes me want to show them that if you work hard and be your best then you will get there.” For Florey, it always comes back to family and her teammates. She credits Keyes with keeping her on top of her game. “You don’t realize how much of a great friendship you can have in college,” Florey said. “I love that girl. She puts a smile on my face every day.” With the season under way and Florey already pitching UE’s first no-hitter in 13 years, Mundell knows she will come under scrutiny. Since opponents know what Florey is capable of, he let her know that she is a target — a pitcher other teams want to get the best of. “This season people will be gunning for her,” he said. “So she will have to work much harder and rise to the challenge in order to maintain that level of success or grow past it.” While Florey has the mindset every good player needs, she tries to take it all in stride as the Aces move further into their season. “At the end of the day, it isn’t just about you,” she said. “I can’t win a ball game by myself. I just really want to be a part of this team and turn this program around and make it standout.”

RANDOM

bring IT BACK

Almost everyone has had the same thought when they see someone zoom past on a scooter or skateboard on their way to class: they are brilliant and efficient. But not everyone has the time to learn how to skateboard and you have to stoop to hold on to the handlebars of a scooter. So lets bring back Heelys. They are more discreet and compact than skateboards and scooters, and since hover boards have been banned Heelys are the best solution. While they may be banned in some places all you need is a helmet to be legal. And you still get to zoom around campus, without carrying a board or scooter around, to take a break from walking while still moving towards your next class. Those extra seconds could help you be on time rather than late. Plus Heelys are a new pair of shoes and transportation all in one — a bargain for us poor college students.

BLENDING CLEAN Be honest, no one has ever really liked hand washing dishes. And blenders can be the most troublesome. There are a lot of small pieces and you can barely reach the bottom of the pitcher. It takes too long to clean all the parts and have time for other dishes. But there is a way to cut your cleaning time in half. And you won’t even have to take the blender apart either.

DOTM

LIFE HACK 1. Keep the blender together and pour soap and water into it.

2. Put the lid on and turn the blender on and have it run for a minute or two.

3. Pour out the water and rinse thoroughly.

4. Dry off or let air dry.

GO for the GOLD

bee’s knees

If you have not already guessed, this drink is the real bee’s knees — sweet and good. This cocktail combines a sweet taste with just a touch of sour. It will help you usher in the warm spring weather and is a cozy shade of spring yellow. The recipe on COSMOPOLITAN.COM says to combine your choice of vodka or gin with lemon juice, honey and three drops of vanilla in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Then strain the mixture into a glass and garnish with a lemon wedge — if you feel like being extra fancy.

ingredients:

> The largest burger that can be bought weighs 164.8 pounds and is at Mallie’s Sports Grill and Bar in Southgate, Mich. > Zdenek Zahradka, from the Czech Republic, survived 10 days buried in a coffin without food or water and only a breathing pipe. > Wim Hof of the Netherlands holds the record of longest time submerged in ice at 1 hour 42 minutes and 22 seconds. > 5,678 Alameda, Calif., children made the largest chalk pavement art measured at 90,000 feet. > The largest cup of hot chocolate was made in Tampa, Fla. during The Festival of Chocolate

2 oz. vodka or gin | 1 oz. lemon juice | .5 oz. honey | vanilla | a lemon wedge

HEARD IT HERE

“One must work and dare if one really wants to live.”

funbits

and contained 880 gallons. > Roy Sullivan holds the record for surviving the most lightning strikes, which is seven times.

Eating eco-friendly can mean your plate, too. You can buy edible, compostable plates online made from either wheat straw or sugarcane.

The average person spends about three days per year waiting for traffic lights to turn from red to green. That adds up to six months over a lifetime.

< artist Vincent Van Gogh

Rumor has it that Coca-Cola would be green without food coloring. But the drink has always been brown — the original bottles were made of green glass

March 2017 | Crescent Magazine

< OFF<THE OFFWALL THE WALL

people tweet

THE DAMNDEST THINGS I want to die. D — do better in life. I — improve my mental health. E — emotionally connect with other humans. —@sadqueer4life I’ve seen Bruce Wayne’s parents die in a movie more times than I’ve seen my parents kiss. —@danielralston If you watch twitter backwards, it’s about a bunch of sad people tweeting less and less until they’re happy again. —@nevona It says there’s only 140 calories per can of Coca-Cola but here’s my secret: I never eat the can. —@longwall26 My 6-year-old walked into the room and said, “Don’t worry Dad. I’m OK.” Time to search the house. —@XplodingUnicorn I have a lightsaber next to my bed just in case someone ever breaks in, I can make them feel sorry for me. —@NickBossRoss “Congrats” is my favorite because it says, “I’m happy for you, but not happy enough to write a 15-letter word. Let’s not get crazy.” —@jessokfine

Things that PISS us off PRINTING ERRORS

CHECK, PLEASE

It seems that every printer on campus malfunctions when you need it most. It gets so bad that professors warn you to print papers a day or two in advance. And even if every printer has not run out of paper it takes multiple steps to

Everyone has dealt with someone who is rude to the wait staff. It’s not their fault that the food was not done properly. Even when they are fast, on time and courteous they sometimes still get the short end of the stick. They should

get it to print. Just print the paper and let me get back to the other three I have to write.

not be looked down on because of the type of work they do. If wait staff weren’t there how would you get your food then?

PUT ON HOLD PUBLIC BATHROOM

Obviously you cannot see the phone held up to my ear since you are trying to talk to me. I cannot give you my undivided attention so wait. You do not know who is on the other line. It

Nothing is more disgusting than walking into a stall and seeing that someone has not flushed. Since you flush the toilet at your house, it

could be a sick relative, a job opportunity or just an old friend. Either way, I wanted or needed to talk to them. So please, wait until I say

makes sense to do it in public too. This should not even be a problem. Simply push the handle down. It’s common courtesy. There are other

goodbye and hang up to disconnect me.

people who use the stalls, you know.

Be smarter than a 5TH GRADER You have probably been told numerous times that ASPIRIN helps save people when they are having a heart attack. But you should not swallow it. Instead an aspirin works quicker when it is chewed. It allows the blood vessels in your mouth to absorb the medicine, which are quicker than your digestive system. Ever seen a crowd gather around an injured person, but none of them are helping? This is the BYSTANDER EFFECT, where people expect someone to help out which prevents anyone from stepping forward. To avoid this from happening to you, try to single out one person. You have a better chance of getting help by asking someone directly instead of the entire crowd. Feeling exhausted after those first few cups of coffee? Eat an APPLE instead of drinking that morning cup. Apples may not wake you up quicker than caffeine but do provide a better source of energy that lasts longer. So before you brew that next pot of coffee think about having an apple instead. Almost everyone sees the APPENDIX as one of the few organs that are no longer needed for survival. Yet it still does serve a purpose. Your appendix provides a useful function to bacteria that live in your intestines. It allows the bacteria a place to recover from the harsh environment of your intestines and to reproduce. So it turns out it’s not as useless after all.

The Earth travels through space at a rate of about 67,000 miles per hour — that means we have traveled more than 5,500 miles in the last five minutes.

Crescent Magazine | March 2017

Someone tried to sell New Zealand on eBay in 2006. When it was shut down, the bid was at $3,000. EBay Australia didn’t find it funny.

Our eyes are the same size from when we are born until we die. But our ears and nose never stop growing because they are made of cartilage.

A “jiffy” is the scientific term for how long it takes light to travel one centimeter in a vacuum. One “jiffy” is about one-one hundredth of a second.

PROFILE < A CLOSER LOOK

WOMAN OF HISTORY

LYDIA|MAXWELL

You cannot talk about Chair Annette Parks, professor of history, without also talking about women and women’s history. Her love of knowledge and history is evident in everything she does. She teaches several courses on history and gender, sharing her passion with students. Parks is focused on women’s roles during the Middle Ages and the lives of female hostages and captives that have gone by unnoticed. She enjoys talking about people who you normally have never heard of. “On my Twitter page, I described myself as the rescuer of forgotten hostages,” Parks said. Parks became interested in women’s history while she was finishing her undergraduate degree. During this time, people were becoming more interested in women’s history and starting to focus on women’s roles through the ages. Society’s concentration on women’s history prompted Parks to change her studies from marriage and family history to women’s history. She went on to get her doctorate, focusing on hostages. It was while she was completing her thesis on hostages and the treatment of women during the Middle Ages that Parks added knowledge of female captives to her arsenal. In addition to focusing on captives, Parks often talks about women’s roles in the Middle Ages. She loves to talk about common misconceptions of women and “myth bust” them — she gives examples of women in history that break the stereotype of being a damsel in distress. “People believe that women in the premodern world were sad, helpless and regarded as property, but that wasn’t true for all women of this time,” she said.

Nothing is off-limits when Parks talks about history. Senior Lydia Crain said Parks speaks freely in her courses about gender roles, their construction in society and how religion affects history. Crain, who had Parks for several courses and her senior seminar, said Parks lets her students lead the conversation and makes sure they are able to defend their opinions with evidence. While Parks usually asks a starting question, she never halts a discussion if her students are involved. Crain said it keeps the course interesting. “They’re always interesting,” Crain said. “It’s entertaining to see where the discussions go.”

While discussing the courses she has taken with Parks, Crain mentioned how they spent a length of time talking about polygamy and whether it was legal in the U.S. Crain went on to talk about how Parks would mention the things she loves and would incorporate them somehow in the lecture to keep the students interested. Parks once spoke about her love of shoes and high heels while showing a PowerPoint discussing the history of foot binding in China. Crain said Parks makes subjects that seem uninteresting important through her funny personality. “She is very intelligent but approachable because she’s snarky, but in a good way,” Crain said. Parks discusses current events in her courses and focused on the recent women’s marches happening around the globe. She said the marches showed so much promise for the future and was amazed by the lack of violence despite the number of people present throughout the world. “I thought the marches were phenomenal,” Parks said. “It was awesome to see young women and women with their daughters turn out and stand together.” With Parks being so involved with women’s history, she staged the gender and women’s studies display in Hyde Hall for International Women’s Day. The knowledge Parks has surrounding many aspects of women’s history makes it easy for her to have plenty of interesting facts and advice to share, especially when it comes to unrecognized heroines throughout the ages. She frequently acknowledges the women who helped shape the world into what it is today and tells their stories any chance she gets. She also speaks about how people know the stories but often neglect to speak of the women who were involved or mention a woman, but forget the name. When asked what she would want people to know about women’s history, Parks did not hesitate. “What I would want people to understand about the premodern or the modern world is that it’s full of exciting and rich history that women are involved in,” she said.

‘‘

Women have done all sorts of fascinating things. We just have to look for it.”

March 2017 | Crescent Magazine

Providing Academic Credit Experiences for UE Students since 2002.

LinC Yearbook and Crescent Magazine

MISS

Did you the Student Publications

OPEN HOUSE? There’s still time to apply for a 2017–18 position! Many to choose from on both staffs: EIC (photo), EIC (writing), creative director, designers, writers, columnists, copy editors, chief photographer, photographers, social media assistants and event planner. LET US KNOW IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN A POSITION BY emailing tm2@evansville.edu FOR MORE INFORMATION AND AN APPLICATION LINK. StudPub |

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