Crescent Magazine November 2013

crescent University of Evansville | College Culture Upfront

November 2013 | facebook.com/uecrescent

magazine

50 SHADES OF GREEN No longer a fad, choosing to be a vegetarian benefits the envronment.

HAMMER & NAIL Connecting with the community by way of Habitat for Humanity.

Weathering the scars of the chaotic and restless 1960s and the assassinations that touched American lives. $2.50

WRAP GIFTS Nov. 22–Dec. 24

Barnes & Noble South Green River Road

Help wrap gifts—with tips benefiting the project.

Email nerwin@insightbb.com or call 812–470–6113 for more information.

PROVIDE GIFTS Be a sponsor of a family or an individual.

Send a donation to: TSA Holiday Project P.O. Box 2901 Evansville, IN 47728

or donate at

www.AIDSHolidayProject.org.

Email wallypaynter@aol.com or call 812–480–0204 for more information.

VOLUNTEER Help in other ways.

Email wallypaynter@aol.com or call 812–480–0204 to learn how.

www.AIDSHolidayProject.org www.tsagl.org

Tri-State Alliance’s

Be someone’s holiday miracle...

380

Help meet the needs of low-income Tri-State families impacted by HIV/AIDS

EDITORIAL

Writing Director AMY REINHART Writing Assistant ALEXANDRA WADE Reporting Assistant CHELSEA MODGLIN Senior Writer JAMELYN WHEELER Writers KRISTINE ARNOLD GRAHAM CHATTIN MARAH FRANKLIN BRODIE GRESS JESSICA INGLE MARISA PATWA DANIEL POELHUIS ANDREW SHERMAN

EDITING

Editing Director SHRUTI ZINA Copy Editor ALEX GALLO Fact Checker KOLEAN GUDALJ

thestaff

CREATIVE

02

Creative Directors BROOKE RENEER KATIE WINIGER Photo Editor SARA GENSLER Designers AUTUMN CROFT AMANDA GAUTHIER JORDAN GIESELMAN Photographers BRITTNEY KALERI AMY RABENBERG

MARKETING & SALES

Adv. Account Representative EMILY FRAZIER Marketing & Sales Coordinator REBECCA KISH Marketing Assistant ASHLEY DAVIS Circulation Assistant EMILY STEWART

Crescent Magazine | 11.2013

contents 08 12 14 18

COUNTY HUNTER | Daniel Poelhuis & Marisa Patwa Thrill seekers can venture beneath the surface for a zip-lining experience that will get your adrenaline pumping at Louisville’s MegaCavern.

FASCINATING PEOPLE | Chelsea Modglin Cosplay outfits are not typical college-student attire, but senior Ashley Motes’ creations turn heads everywhere she goes.

FEATURE | Jamelyn Wheeler Giving back to the community through Habitat for Humanity, some students are getting a lesson in what sweat equity really means.

COVER | Amy Reinhart & Shruti Zina The turbulent 1960s mark a time when leaders were assassinated because of their desire for change. But these deaths still linger in the minds of many and have continued to affect America.

22

FEATURE | Alexandra Wade

30

OVERTIME | Chelsea Modglin

03 Our Viewpoint 05 Myth Busters 06 Innovation 10 First Time

Being a vegetarian is no longer a passing fad. People are changing their diets for various reasons, and the environment is one of them.

Calm and focused, keeper Simone Busby confidently guards the soccer goal, reaching new heights as a player, a student and a person.

17 Q&A 25 Super Snaps 26 Through the Lens 28 Even the Score

32 33 34 36

Campus Crime A Closer Look Off the Wall Half the Wit

facebook.com/uecrescent | twitter.com/uestudpub | issuu.com/uecrescent | crescentmagazine@evansville.edu Find out what’s happening with Student Congress each Friday on the magazine’s Facebook page.

HOW TO CONTACT US Ridgway University Center, University of Evansville, 1800 Lincoln Ave., Evansville, Ind. 47722 Editorial e-mail: crescentmagazine@evansville.edu • Phone: (812) 488–2846 • FAX: (812) 488–2224 Marketing & Sales: (812) 488–2221 & 488–2223 • crescentadvertising@evansville.edu

CRESCENT MAGAZINE is the University of Evansville’s student magazine. It is written, edited and designed by and for UE students and published six times during the academic year. Circulation is 1,700, and it is distributed to 18 campus locations and housed online at www.issuu.com. It is funded through advertising sales and a subscription fee paid on behalf of students by the UE Student Government Association. Printed by Mar-Kel Printing, Newburgh, Ind. © 2013 Student Publications, University of Evansville. z EDITORIAL POLICY: Commentary expressed in unsigned editorials represents a consensus opinion of the magazine’s Editorial Board. Other columns, reviews, essays, articles and advertising are not necessarily the opinion of the CMEB or other members of staff. z LETTER SUBMISSIONS: Crescent Magazine welcomes letters from UE students, faculty, staff, administrators and alumni, but material the CMEB regards as libelous, malicious and/or obscene will not be published. Letters should not exceed 250 words. For verification, letters must include the author’s name, class standing or title and email address. Crescent Magazine does not print anonymous letters or those that cannot be verified. Letters will be edited as needed. Email letters to crescentmagazine@evansville.edu, with “letter” written in the subject line.

Petty polarization

America is sick of juvenile government behavior.

AMERICA IS THE GREATEST DEMOCRACY in the world, but last month’s government shutdown reveals chinks in her armor. After 16 days of halting not only the world economy but the lives of everyday American citizens, Congress reached an agreement to end the shutdown. American financial services company S&P estimates the shutdown cost the U.S. economy $24 billion. But Congress’ agreement offers only a temporary fix.

Republicans and Democrats continue to disagree on spending and deficits, but now the government is only funded until Jan. 15, 2014, and the debt ceiling is raised until Feb. 7, 2014. Essentially, this means that we face the possibility of another government shutdown in early 2014.

Bipartisan disagreement seems inevitable with our system, but the fact that their disagreement takes center stage is troubling. The least popular political party in recent history — the Tea Party — took the government hostage to meet the demands they had not yet solidified.

While about 800,000 American citizens could not work for more than two weeks, President Barack Obama and Congress continued to receive their paychecks. The Constitution’s 27th Amendment prevents Congress from changing its own pay, and the president’s $400,000 salary is seen as mandatory spending.

Meanwhile, the 800,000 furloughed workers could not go to their own jobs to provide for their families, but this hasn’t always been the procedure. Prior to the Carter administration, which faced 57 days of multiple shutdowns, the dealings of Congress did not affect the federal workforce.

But then Benjamin Civiletti, Carter’s attorney general, issued a legal opinion saying that government work cannot go on until Congress agrees to pay for it. He essentially invented the government shutdown that debilitates those everyday government employees, citing the fact that the only legitimate use for funds once a budget deadline has passed is to facilitate an “orderly termination.”

Plus, the Carter administration had failed to pass a budget on time for four fiscal years, and this was his surgical method of ensuring the “faithful execution of the law” — so the executive branch could carry out Congress’ mandates.

But the most recent government shutdown pertains to the Republican-majority House objecting to Obamacare, the universal health care plan that had already passed the legal procedure to become law. More specifically, the Tea Party objects

to it. The recent compromise, facilitated by Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid and Republican leader Mitch McConnell, was reached in order to avoid a prolonged fiscal crisis. But House Speaker John Boehner still contends that he plans to bring down the president’s health care plan.

Although the Tea Party has the right to fight for its stance, halting the government — specifically, the workforce that relies on day-to-day paychecks — is petty. Its pettiness undermines its original intent of getting government spending under control because it has lost respect.

There are respectable methods inherent in our democracy that usually has a sound checks and balances system. Opponents to government proceedings can go through the judicial systems and stage protests. But the words “government shutdown” warrant a dire situation where meanspirited in-fighting takes precedence. It is shameful, disgraceful and unfair. And it gives America a bad image all over the world.

Other countries that face financial disagreement do not halt all functioning. Coups, revolutions — even civil wars — are common. But in cases where parliament rejects a budget, the government must resign, which is what occurred in Portugal in March 2011 when Prime Minister Jose Socrates stepped down. Portugal was under a caretaker government until a new government was elected. Because its civil services are apolitical, government continued to operate. Belgium did not have a functioning government for 589 days beginning in June 2010, but its public transport still operated, its trash was picked up and even budgets were passed.

A government shutdown now holds an air of exasperation by the American public that cannot believe yet another polarized political situation gave rise to such a condition. People roll their eyes at the idea that Congress cannot maturely reach agreement.

While the Tea Party rejects Obamacare — a fact they have made abundantly clear — having the authority to uphold government proceedings is preposterous, especially since the health care plan had passed legally. We are tired of this act of rebellion. If Obamacare is something they cannot reconcile with, it is a matter to deal with when they have proof of its inadequacy. But shutting down the government — where everyday Americans get caught in the crossfire — is absurd, not to mention childish.

viewpoint

OUR

11.2013 | Crescent Magazine

03

Student Alumni Ambassadors Make sure to wear your

BEST PURPLE

every Friday because you never know when the

PURPLE PATROL

might be handing out goodies.

Every friday is purple friday!

For more information on SAA or how to join, contact Mariah Gardner at mg176@evansville.edu

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Crescent Magazine | 11.2013

A Little

FAVORITISM

by Amy Reinhart

myth

BUSTERS

You’ll graduate if you have unpaid parking fines but won’t get the diploma.

Crescent Magazine looks at campus rumors and in this issue compares them to Hanover, Bellarmine (Ky.) and McKendree (Ill.).

“Freshmen basketball players live in North Hall.”

One thing that has caught the eye of many North Hall residents is the freshman basketball players roaming the halls. While this may seem odd, the reason these student-athletes get to live in a place they normally would not is based on an agreement between Residence Life and the Athletics Department.

Brian Conner, Residence Life assistant director, said that except for Hughes Hall, there are two rooms reserved for student-athletes in every residence hall, including North.

“We try to work with them a little bit so they can get rooms either closer to the facilities or with air conditioning,” he said. “We support what they need, and they use it as a recruiting tool.”

Athletics Director John Stanley cited three reasons for the agreement and why players are usually housed in North: competition with other NCAA Division I schools in terms of recruiting, the low number of basketball players entering UE each year and the need for student-athletes to make their own meals during breaks when they must stay on campus to attend practices and games.

There are currently eight freshmen living in North, but Stanley said that is the most the department will house there.

“We don’t go and say we need more,” he said. “It’s not like ‘whatever you guys want.’ There are limitations.”

But freshmen student-athletes in North do not have a guaranteed spot in the hall for their sophomore year. Conner said currently there are no sophomore student-athletes in

North, but student-athletes may go through the regular application process for North their junior and senior years.

While UE holds rooms for its studentathletes, this is not the case at McKendree.

Mitch Nasser, Residence Life director, said student-athletes are scattered throughout the residence halls and their chances of getting a nicer room are equal to those of other students.

“All athletes go through the same process other students do,” he said, “and if they apply earlier, they could get better housing.”

A myth? No.

“A student’s diploma is put on hold if parking fines haven’t been paid.”

No student wants to see a parking violation on his or her vehicle windshield, but those long pink strips of paper have a greater impact than students may realize. That $30 parking ticket — or more — can cost students their diplomas if left unpaid.

Registrar Jennifer Briggs said that while a student will graduate, UE will hold the diploma if there is any type of balance on the student’s account, such as tuition costs, parking violation fees, even a fine from Bower-Suhrheinrich Library. Students also cannot receive a transcript.

This does not mean graduates will not be able to hunt for a job. UE uses a national database to upload information about students, such as their major and whether they were part or full time. UE also keeps a “graduates only” file showing that the student graduated.

After UE verifies the information, potential employers can view it. Students will not have the papers to prove they graduated, but Briggs said offenders should not worry.

“It sounds shocking, but the diploma

is not the important thing,” she said. “We’re still going to verify that you have a degree — you just won’t have a pretty thing to hang on the wall.”

While UE will not release diplomas unless all fees are paid, Hanover cuts its students a little more slack. Assistant Registrar Steve Graves said Hanover’s business office might forgive a parking ticket if it is below a certain dollar amount. If the amount exceeds the limit, Hanover students don’t receive their diplomas either, but their transcript will show they graduated.

Like UE, Bellarmine will only release diplomas if students pay 100 percent of their fines, but students can use a loan to pay off those fees. A myth? No.

“The townshouses will soon have their own dedicated lots and parking permits.”

Since the Frederick and Walnut commons were built, a rumor has been blowing though campus that students living there will have their own purple parking pass and dedicated lots. Geneva Davis, Safety & Security senior administrative assistant, quashed this myth, saying that since the commons are considered a part of the Villages, commons residents receive orange permits just like other Village residents.

Admission is in charge of handing out purple permits, which are given to visitors and prospective students, and security has not looked into giving townhouse residents their own permits.

Other schools take a different approach when it comes to handing out parking permits. Bellarmine and McKendree take class standing into consideration and have different permits for freshmen, upperclass students, faculty and staff. Bellarmine also offers a permit for alumni. A myth? Yes. 11.2013 11.2012| lCrescent CrescentMagazine Magazine 055

innovation

SCIENCE

06

Crescent Magazine | 11.2013

by Chelsea Modglin photo by Sara Gensler

DRIVING BEHAVIOR Paving the way for traffic technology.

TRAFFIC PUTS A DAMPER on driving, but by analyzing smart traffic lights, senior Justin Simerly is hoping to put efficiency back into the equation.

Unlike the current pre-set systems, smart lights adapt to traffic conditions. Simerly, a computer science and cognitive science major, is building a computer simulation that will model the efficiency of these smart lights when they are equipped with cameras and audio sensors.

“The idea is that if we know where each car is on the road, we should be able to know how to best plan to keep traffic [moving] as smoothly as possible,” he said. “We know technology is getting to the point where we can monitor all cars.”

His model will test three different intersection types: four-way stops, those equipped with traditional lights and those with smart lights. In each, Simerly watches how different levels or directions of traffic affect the overall efficiency of an intersection.

“My goal is to determine how successful my approach to traffic control would compare to what we have now,” he said.

Simerly hopes to create a simulation for the Lloyd Expressway. He still needs to gather a variety of information, but if successful, the city could use the model to make improvements to the expressway.

“We’re operating under the assumption that drivers are not rational,” said Chair Tony Beavers, professor of philosophy and director of the cognitive science program. “Most people think, ‘If I drive faster I’ll get there faster.’

But it’s not true. It’s turned into a race to get to the next light and stop.”

Although this is Simerly’s senior project, what he has found goes beyond academia.

“I kind of now realize how unsafe having humans driving ends up being,” he said. “I want to try to find a way to help out with that problem.”

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Corner of Lincoln & Weinbach • Evansville 11.2013 | Crescent Magazine

07

photo courtesy of MegaCavern

county

HUNTER

MEGA ADVENTURES

by Daniel Poelhuis & Marisa Patwa

Journey a little closer to the center of the earth for some exceptional exploits sure to please at any time of the year.

FOR A TASTE OF MADNESS while the rest of the world is quieting down and preparing for winter, visit Louisville, Ky.’s MegaCavern for its hidden, wondrous attraction. Classified, strangely enough, as the largest building in Kentucky, the MegaCavern stores 100 acres of underground fun for the average thrill-seeker. Zip lining can be done in any location outside, but the adrenaline tastes sweeter surrounded by caves, the occasional brown bat and cool lights. There truly is no other place like it.

The underground, man-made former-limestone quarry is home to MegaZips, the only underground zip line course in the world. The experience includes six zip lines and two see-through challenge bridges. The bridges, which are 90 feet above the cavern floor in some places, are sure to thrill the novice and more experienced. Participants can also race each other on a pair of dual racing zip lines.

Co-owner Jim Lowry came up with the idea for the course after a trip to Mexico where he went zip lining in a forest. He returned and pitched the idea as an attraction.

“My business partners said it was the dumbest idea they’d ever heard,” he said.

The experience lasts up to two hours. Reservations are recommended and the course is open most days. With a valid UE ID, the ticket price is $49.

MegaCavern also offers MegaQuest, a demanding ropes course, one of only 20 such courses in the world,.

With its aerial challenge, the course offers 76 daring ele08

Crescent Magazine | 11.2013

ments that are led by professionally trained guides.

“MegaQuest would be something all college students would like because it is like the shows ‘Wipeout’ — but without the water — and ‘Ninja Warrior’ all rolled into one,” Lowry explained.

Like MegaZips, reservations are recommended and the course is open most days. With a valid UE ID, each ticket is $29 for the three-hour course.

“It is the best workout you’ll ever have,” Lowry said.

While it’s not quite time for wintery weather and Christmas songs, for those who love that time of year, MegaCavern will present its annual holiday light spectacular, “Lights Under Louisville,” Nov. 15–Jan. 1, 2014.

The quarry is transformed into a dazzling holiday light display, the only one of its kind in the world. Visitors will ooh and aah as they drive through the 1.2 miles of underground passageways, complete with about 850 lit characters, including every possible association to the holidays you can imagine and more than 2 million LED lights.

Cost is $25 per vehicle. The show will be open 6–10 p.m. Monday–Friday and 5–10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. It takes about 30–40 minutes to drive through.

The cavern was actively mined for 42 years before it became MegaCavern and consists of more than 17 miles of tunnels that snake under the city of Louisville.

To learn more about the attractions and adventures offered by MegaCavern, visit louisvillemegacavern.com.

NHRA Drag Racing — Warren County, Ky.

Head down to Beech Bend Raceway Park outside Bowling Green, Ky., and enjoy a day of high-speed action as the last NHRA drag races of the season take place Nov. 10, 17 and 24. Gates open at 10 a.m., and admission is $10.

Visitors can spend the day watching Super Pro competition as the fastest cars duke it out for bragging rights and the $1,000 winner’s purse. Pro-class cars will follow close behind as they compete for supremacy. For those who prefer the human element of racing, the Sportsman class denies drivers any electronic aids, forcing them to rely on skill alone to pull out the win.

The Quarter Mile Trophy class showcases cars that are street legal, providing unpredictable action with their slippery street tires and power-restricting mufflers. Check out beechbend.com for more information.

Santa Claus Land — Spencer County

No other state can claim it has a town named Santa Claus, so add this trip to your memory book and take the hour drive

east to “America’s Christmas Hometown.” Celebrating Christmas every day of the year, Santa Claus, Ind., has a lot to offer, starting with its annual “Christmas Celebration” Dec. 6–8, 13–15 and 20–22. Attractions include everything from Santa’s Candy Castle and the Santa Claus Post Office to a giant LED Christmas tree and the Christmas Store, which has every type of Santa Claus figurine and ornament imaginable. Visitors can then head to Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort for the annual Land of Lights show.

And anyone who has wondered what it would be like to ride one of Santa’s reindeer can take a trip to Santa’s Stables right outside of town to experience the next best thing. Enjoy a safe and relaxing trail ride through miles of southern Indiana woods with a group of friends.

Ride lengths are available at different prices: $17 for 15 minutes or $25 for 45 minutes. Call ahead, as rides are by reservation only. The stables are closed Nov. 24–30 and Dec. 22–31. See santas-stables.com, or go to santaclausind.org to learn more

Blue Sky Vineyard — Union County, Ill.

If you are old enough and enjoy sipping on a quality glass of wine, then take a trip to Makanda, Ill., about two hours away, to the Blue Sky Vineyard for its free holiday open house. While the event takes place during Thanksgiving Break, the Nov. 29 wine tasting, which starts at 2 p.m., features a tour of the vineyard as well as live music.

Free tastings of Blue Sky’s wines will be available, and all visitors receive a free gift basket to take with them when they leave.

Blue Sky is open year-round, and the vineyard’s rustic wood-paneled bar offers wine as well as sandwiches, soups and more.

Guests can also stay overnight in the suites above the winery. Other attractions include the Cache River Wetlands, which offers eight miles of biking and 18 miles of hiking trails. For more information, visit blueskyvineyard.com/holiday-openhouse.

JEFFERSON COUNTY, KY. [ CITY: Louisville, Ky. [ DRIVING TIME: About 2 hours [ ATTRACTIONS & EVENT: MegaZips MegaQuest Lights Under Louisville [ PLACE: MegaCavern [ DATE: MegaZips & MegaQuest — Open most days Lights Under Louisville — Nov. 15–Jan. 1, 2014 [ ADMISSION: MegaZips — $49/per person MegaQuest — $29/per person Lights — $25/per car [ MORE INFORMATION: louisvillemegacavern.com 11.2013 | Crescent Magazine

09

No strings attached

Knit stress into socks with needles and yarn.

firsttime

KNITTING IS AN ART, and like any form of art, it

10

Crescent Magazine | 11.2013

takes dedication to perfect. But like most people, I normally throw in the towel when I get frustrated. So maybe I had something to learn from the knitters at the KnitWitts Yarn Shoppe, a store that teaches customers how to knit scarves, sweaters, socks — really anything made of yarn.

A cozy, colorful atmosphere greets customers at the 6219 Vogel Road store. The walls are decorated with shelves of vibrant yarn. Shirts, some of them knitted by customers, drape mannequins scattered throughout the shop. Women sit around a table knitting and chatting.

Instructor Kelly Vincent wraps yarn around a needle at the reception desk and hands it and another needle to me. I walk to the corner of the store where another teacher, Kris Proctor, teaches Knit Now, a class for beginners.

Proctor starts by showing me the four steps to knitting. First, I poke the free needle through the top loop on the other needle. Then I make a small X, with the pointy ends facing upward, loop the dangling yarn around the free needle and pull it down. Finally, I push the loop off the other needle with the free needle’s tip, making my first stitch. In Proctor’s words: front and back, make an X, loop the needle, through the hole.

Once I know the order, I start my first row.

I split the yarn, miss the loop and promptly drop my needles. Several times. My fingers are small for a man, but they feel like huge clumsy claws as I try to handle the needles. Proctor fixes my mistakes and knits another row in half a minute, showing off her 53 years of experience.

When Katie Proctor-Schiff was younger and still lived at home with her mother, they hosted knitting circles. Her love of knitting grew, and she eventually was inspired to open KnitWitts, where she could sell yarn and teach other people how to knit. Mother and daughter now run the store together and teach others.

After I learn some basics, Proctor shows me how to purl stitch. This is similar to knitting, except you poke the free needle in front of the other and loop the yarn toward yourself. She said by practicing, knitters become skilled enough to watch TV without missing a stitch. But the process aggravates my muscle memory, and my progress unravels. Many times my loops are too tight for me to shove them off the needle. I don’t know whether the yarn or my mind is too tightly wound.

Garter stitching — made of horizontal rows

formed by knitting every row — is usually a beginner’s first project. Purl stitching — an inverted knitting stitch used to create a ribbed effect — is a more advanced stitch. Alternating rows of garters and purls make stock stitching, the most popular style of knitting. And after admiring the stock stitch’s elegant arrow look, I see why.

Proctor pushes my shoulders down and my hands closer to the needles’ tips throughout my lesson, showing me just how tense I am. She said once you get the hang of it, knitting exercises the fingers and calms the mind. When my shoulders relax, my knitting becomes more fluid. I still make a lot of mistakes, but now I don’t mind as much.

“They say it’s like the art of Zen because it’s supposed to be relaxing,” Proctor said.

She learned this as a child when an accident put her in a wheelchair for months. She used knitting as therapy during her recovery, even making Barbie clothes she sold for 25 cents a piece.

“I thought I was making the big bucks,” she joked.

Some knitters make Christmas gifts for friends and relatives. I consider that maybe this holiday season even I could give my family something more than a “Hey. Merry Christmas.”

The only other student in my class was fulltime mom Kelly Morrison, also a beginning knitter.

While knitting, we talk easily about my classes and her family. When Morrison asked Proctor to check her work, I looked down and saw my own row was complete. I was delighted, even as Proctor again took my work and fixed my stitches.

While I wasn’t all that good after my first lesson, I did find knitting to be a relaxing activity. Men can find merit in knitting. Sailors used to knit to fight off boredom on long voayges, while athletes use knitting to improve their dexterity.

“A man’s got to be willing to step outside his box to knit, but it happens all the time,” she said.

I’m probably not going to take knitting up as a hobby, but at least I can make a few gifts if I need to. Knit Now classes are at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays. A single class is $15, which includes needles and a ball of yarn.

Those who want to tackle bigger projects can take three classes for $40, and the cost of materials depends on the project. For specific classes, check out the schedule at knitwittsyarnshoppe.com/.

brodie gress | reviewer

D

are

Be distinct. Be striking. Be daring.

GIVE s k n a h T TO

CM

est. 2009

Gratitude.

The feeling of being thankful. It brings us happiness. It strengthens relationships.

It reduces stress. It promotes forgiveness. “Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds.” —President Theodore Roosevelt • Be thankful this holiday season.

facebook.com/uecrescent • twitter.com/uestudpub • issuu.com/uecrescent 10.2013 | Crescent Magazine

TO

11

PEOPLE

fascinating

WE ALL LIKE TO LOSE OURSELVES SOMETIMES. Through art and costuming, people can momentarily change their identities and experience the world from a different point of view. For thousands of cosplay fans, this becomes not only a brief escape but also a passionate hobby.

While some dress as favorite childhood characters, such as Ash from “Pokemon” or Tai from the “Digimon” series, others take a much more involved route.

These fans flock to elaborate conventions and, like many other groups, have idols they try to emulate.

Cosplay, short for “costume play,” is a performance art used to bring characters to life. Participants — or cosplayers — use costumes and props to role-play their favorite characters. Among these cosplayers is senior Ashley Motes, which is no surprise considering her eclectic personality.

“She’s a very spunky and outgoing person,” sophomore Lori Bowen said. “I

by Chelsea Modglin & Alexandra Wade photo by Sara Gensler

THREAD DREAMS

Bringing to life some of her favorite characters by way of rich, elaborate costuming, senior Ashley Motes performs a popular art form.

“You just have to ignore that; do what makes you happy. It’s fun if there’s people you know with you and can laugh along with you.”

12

Crescent Magazine | 11.2013

think it’s cool that she’s not afraid to be different or even dress differently from what we consider normal fashion.”

As a fan of Japanese and Renaissance cultures, Motes designs, creates and wears costumes to act like the characters. Though she attends conventions to display her latest creations, she also wears them around campus.

Motes first discovered cosplay as a child when as a hobby her dad hosted science fiction conventions in places as close as her hometown, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and as far away as San Francisco. But it was not until she joined her high school’s Paladin Society — a kind of medieval group — that she learned to sew.

The first costumes she made were for renaissance fairs attended by members of the society.

“I enjoyed making my own costumes for the renaissance fairs,” Motes said.

“That was how I really got into stage combat and apothecary and all the other unique stuff that I like.”

In addition to learning about stage fighting and medieval fashion, Motes had the opportunity to learn fortune telling and apothecary, skills she still uses today.

The most lasting effect the society had on Motes was her decision to come to UE after one of the advisers suggested she look into the school. When she arrived, she was able to transfer her skills as a seamstress, apothecary and fortuneteller to the Medieval Society.

Motes also brought along her passion for anime and cosplay. She had always been interested in cosplay as a hobby but never had enough confidence to try it for real until she discovered Reika Arikawa, a well-known and well-respected Japanese cosplayer.

“I watched anime and thought it would be cool to dress like them, but I never had the guts to get on my sewing machine,” she said. “[Arikawa] helped me realize it’s possible for me to be as good as her. She can make outfits that look so real, like you could go to the store and buy it off the racks. And I wanted to be that good. I had to give it a go.”

Motes has completed two anime costumes this semester alone: Boris, a

Cheshire Cat-inspired character from “Alice in the Country of Hearts,” and Undertaker, a grim reaper from “Black Butler.” She is working on a character by the name of Ai Mikaze from “Uta No Prince-sama.”

Motes works on her cosplay projects during Medieval Society’s sewing event Saturdays in the Moore Hall community room. It normally runs from 1–5 p.m., but Motes gets up early and works until late to get as much done as she can. She said it can take up to three weeks for her to finish a costume, depending on the outfit. And that’s just the clothing; there are still the wig and accessories to do as well.

“I think it’s awesome that she can find the time to balance all her classes, including senior seminar, her work study and her cosplay,” junior Kellsie Phillips said. “Wigs take a lot of styling — lots of hairspray. I get to see it all from start to finish, which is a cool process to watch.”

When a costume is finished, the fun continues as Motes poses for photos in her newly created outfit. By taking these photos, she hopes to build her portfolio as a cosplayer. Although Motes is an archaeology major, she also hopes to supplement her income with her own tailoring and costume shop.

“As archaeologists, we don’t get paid much,” she said. “Most of the excavations take place during the summer, so I’m going to need a fulltime job.”

But Motes’ loftiest goal for her cosplaying is to meet Arikawa and perhaps become her apprentice. She had planned to go to Japan after graduation and meet her then, but now she intends to see Arikawa at Anime Matsuri in Houston in March 2014. She said she designed and made her Undertaker costume especially for this convention, but she will be taking her others as well.

“I think everyone wants to meet their idols who inspired them to do something,” Motes said. “I would love for her to be my teacher. I would love to learn how to sew better and learn how to make props.”

For now, you can be sure Motes will continue to wear her costumes around campus. As one might imagine, walking around dressed like a Cheshire Cat or a grim reaper earns her a variety of reactions.

“When you walk around in cosplay, you’re going to get all kinds of looks, some good and some bad,” Phillips said. “You just have to ignore that; do what makes you happy. It’s fun if there’s people you know with you and can laugh along with you.”

Motes already has plans to create three more cosplays: Ukyo, from “Amnesia;” Luka, a computergenerated (vocaloid) singer; and Eri Kitamura, an actual Japanese singer. Although some may find her hobby strange, Motes finds satisfaction in the art of cosplay.

“She likes doing it for herself definitely,” Bowen said, “but I think she would like some more recognition. In my opinion, she deserves it.”

One day, Motes may be the new Reika Arikawa, but for now, she will continue to pursue her wide array of interests, unafraid to stand out.

— with Jamelyn Wheeler 11.2013 l Crescent Magazine

13

FEATURE

by Jamelyn Wheeler

HAMMER TO NAIL

Students help build a home for a deserving family.

WE’RE ALL HUMAN. As students, we spend our free time taking naps, checking our Facebook pages or playing video games. But 16 students are spending some of their free time — and class time — this semester helping Habitat for Humanity make a difference in a local family’s life.

The idea for UE’s involvement with Habitat began last December when Geoff Edwards, Center for Student Engagement director, started searching in the community for a local project to serve as the action step of the Discover IMPACT Social Responsibility certificate. It was also considered to be a great way for the class of 2017 to satisfy its social responsibility graduation requirement.

“The problem we ran into was if we wanted to do Habitat, we needed money,” he said.

Many people are not aware that each Habitat home must be sponsored — to the tune of $80,000. The lead sponsor donates $55,000 while the partner pays $25,000. And it’s not free to the homeowner either, who must repay the $80,000 with zero percent interest.

Once Edwards secured partner funding — half from SGA and the other half from UE — he waited to receive word from Habitat on whether or not UE would be approved.

“Timing was a real problem this year,” Edwards said. “We didn’t want to overpromise until it was approved.”

Approval finally came this summer. The project is called the Anniversary Build in honor of Ron Hollander, a 1972 alumnus and senior vice president of The Hollander Group at Hilliard Lyons, and his wife, Kathy, whose children donated the sponsorship funding in honor of their parents as a celebration of their 50year marriage.

The average Habitat house takes about 10–12 weeks to complete, and this project is no different. The team, which consists not only of students but others in the community, including members of the Hollander family, skilled laborers and everyday people, has been working on the Covert Avenue house since mid-September. With its exterior in place and the crew

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Crescent Magazine | 11.2013

now working inside, it will soon be time for the project to wrap up.

“It’s amazing how quickly the houses go up,” Edwards said. “The crews [that our students] are working beside are retired contractors, and some of them are doctors and other professionals.”

Although the project has grown to include nine other student volunteers besides the seven enrolled in the certificate course, sponsoring a build is a first for UE. “Our goal was to have 20 people doing the program,” Edwards said, “And we have 16 involved with the build in some way, which is pretty close to what we wanted.”

Those in the certificate program spend at least two hours every Wednesday morning working on the house while the other students help at other times.

“I’m [doing this] for the certificate program, but I think it’s a good chance to give back to Evansville too,” freshman Mandy Feagans said. “There are so many people working on the house. The [partner] family comes, and it’s nice to see what it means to them.”

Habitat has been active in Evansville for nearly 30 years, but there are misconceptions about how recipients get their new homes.

“These houses aren’t just given to us,” said Stephanie Baker, a single mother of three who is helping volunteers with her own home. “We work hard for them.”

Those who apply for a Habitat house must meet certain requirements, take homeownership classes and work on other builds before their own homes are built. Baker’s dream of being a homeowner will soon become a reality. “[Habitat goes] into a lot of neighborhoods and cleans them up,” she said. “It helps the people and the community.”

Habitat hopes to complete 15 homes this year, and there are a number in the works right now. If you are interested in helping on a build, there are always spots available. For more information on UE’s project and other volunteering opportunities, visit evansvillehabitat.org.

Under the watchful eye of the more experienced builders, freshman Kelley Auffart works to secure the frame of a wall. [Sara Gensler]

11.2013 | Crescent Magazine

15

CONGRATULATIONS

at

METHODIST TEMPLE just a block east from UE

WINTER GRADUATES

Welcome to the UE Alumni Association!

•

Get Connected — to alumni, parents and friends who want to help you succeed.

•

Utilize UE Connect Today — reach out

and engage other alumni who can personally help you with your professional development. www.evansville.edu/alumni/ueconnect

WORSHIP RIGHT DOWN THE STREET!

Sundays at 8:30 & 11 a.m.

THE LINK — Sunday morning at 9:45 a.m. discussion & breakfast — and LINK SOCIAL — a FREE MEAL for college students the second Sunday of every month at 12 p.m.

Nov. 10 & Dec. 8 2109 Lincoln Ave. | 812.476.1306 www.methodisttemple.com

Office of Alumni and Parent Relations • alumni@evansville.edu Best of luck and remember — Stay Connected www.evansville.edu/alumni/keepingintouch

the semester is coming to a close soon, so don’t forget to...

CLAIM SOME QUICK

Books due no later than 5 p.m. Dec. 18th.

SKYO Rentals may be returned to the Bookstore.

CASH

FOR SELLING BOOKS

Ask us for a free quote on any book.

Receive up to 50% back on books on re-order requests.

BUYBACK | DEC. 12–18 UE Bookstore, Ridgway University Center | 812–488–2678 | www.evansville.bkstr.com Monday–Thursday: 8 a.m.–6 p.m. • Friday: 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. • Saturday: 10 a.m.–2 p.m. • Sunday: closed

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Crescent Magazine | 11.2013

q&a

INTERVIEW

6 Questions Sara Gensler/Crescent Magazine

Assisting students with spiritual formation, exploration and religious diversity.

Tammy Gieselman, chaplain Q: What do you consider the role of the

Q: What do you hope students will gain

chaplain to be?

A: I have many roles. I can help in an emergency. I facilitate campus ceremonies with other staff and faculty. I teach about liturgy and theology, especially Christian worship.

Teaching is spiritual guidance, so I think creatively about how to facilitate students’ spiritual formation. We think there’s only way to grow — go to church and pray — but there are many. People grow through praying, reading the Bible, music, traveling, exercising. All these disciplines help us grow.

through the Interfaith Initiatives program?

A: We want them to gain an appreciation for other religions and understand students who may dress or sound differently. We want folks different from us to be able to practice their faith without restriction and prejudice. The United Methodist Church encourages people to engage with different faiths to help us become better Christians. We hope these initiatives break down barriers that prevent us from approaching others.

Q: Why do you think spiritual diversity is important to a campus?

A: We can go through life with spiritual blinders on in the way we think people should grow or what we think is right. Spiritual formation and religious background are not onesize-fits-all. If we only seek out people with the same background, we won’t learn or appreciate diversity. Learning about other faiths is essential because much of the turmoil in the world touches religion. We tend to fear what we don’t know, and fear often makes us do things we ought not to.

Q: There are many places students can go for worship and many different religions represented in Evansville. Do you think that affects attendance at Neu Chapel?

A: Students go where they feel comfortable or where their friends have invited them.

We want students to go. That’s how they’re going to grow spiritually. We support a variety of faith journeys; we support other styles of worship. Again, church isn’t one-size-fits-all, so the fact that we have many within walking distance is great for our students.

Q: What would you recommend students do

to get involved in UE’s religious life?

A: Try different groups over time. It’s difficult to make an honest assessment attending a group once. I tell students to experience a variety of groups and go more than once to get an understanding of the culture of the group. That’s the best way to understand what’s happening. We have about 14 religious life student organizations. They don’t all have weekly worship, so it depends on what a student is looking for.

Q: What advice would you give to a student going through a spiritual exploration?

A: If they were going through exploration on their own, I’d say, “Keep doing it.” If they were struggling, I’d say stop by my office or reach out to a friend in tune with their spiritual journey. And if you’re up Sunday morning, come join us. We have jazz music, it’s student led and all are welcome. We don’t restrict invitations to certain people. We have Holy Communion every Sunday because it invites everyone to a table. When you sit at a table and see the diversity around it, you realize what Jesus meant when he said, ‘Love your neighbor.’ I want students to know everyone is welcome.

11.2013 | Crescent Magazine

17

COVER STORY

EVERYONE HAS SEEN THE PHOTOGRAPHS, the grainy Zapruder film and the black and white TV news accounts. A part of our collective history, the impact of losing respected and compelling leaders has helped define who we are as a nation. It is an unfortunate fact of life that anyone can be murdered, but the label “assassinated” only applies to certain people. An assassination, by definition, is a political statement, a surprise killing of someone prominent or powerful.

When change is on the horizon or people feel threatened by a popular message, there are always dissenters. And some dissenters react in irrational ways. They see murder as the only way to silence the message, to rid the world of the obstacle. This has happened for generations — from Julius Caesar’s murderous betrayal by his own senators in 44 B.C. to the suicide bombing and gun attack on former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in December 2007 because she wanted a better life for the Pakistani people.

With the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination just weeks away, the milestone is a chance to reflect not only on his untimely death but the impact it had on U.S. citizens and the long-term effect it — and other assassinations of the 1960s — had on the country. Political figures are often targeted because they are seen as symbols of radical change, and in no period of American history did this hold more true than during the turmoil of the 1960s, when four prominent assassinations occurred in the span of just five years, from 1963 to 1968.

A turning point in the nation’s history, this decade reflects a time when mentalities and sensibilities were changing. The country had a young, charismatic president who was trying to move the country forward and the racial tension that long divided the country was being pushed to the forefront. Assassinations were a testament

been the reason Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian immigrant who saw RFK as too supportive of Jews, decided to kill him in June 1968 during his campaign to be the Democratic candidate for president.

Assassinating Martin Luther King Jr., who was gunned down by James Earl Ray while standing outside his Memphis, Tenn., motel room in April 1968, and Malcolm X, who in February 1965 was shot 21 times while preparing to give a speech in New York City, silenced the voices of two men who fought for civil rights — although their approaches to change were radically different.

Everyone is aware that King’s nonviolent approach was the preferred form of protest by those who supported integration. While Malcolm changed his views toward whites late in his life and eventually rejected the Nation of Islam’s separatist ideology in favor of orthodox Islam, for years he identified himself as a black nationalist. He campaigned for segregation and electrified disgruntled blacks through empowerment as a reaction to the inefficiency of the U.S. government. Although Malcolm X’s presence offered a distinct flavor to the civil rights movement, none was more important than King’s.

“While we lost Malcolm, it didn’t affect the movement much because King was considered the leader of the movement at the time,” said the Rev. Gerald Arnold, pastor of Independence Missionary Baptist Church and president of the Evansville chapter of the NAACP. “Both men wanted the same thing; both wanted equality for black people.”

King resonated with the American public; his message of nonviolence contrasted with the somewhat violent culture of the time, a culture mired in the divisions surrounding the Vietnam War and civil rights protests in the South.

King’s agenda offered an attainable path to resolve the injustices felt by so many African-Americans. And his death

Looking back at a pivotal time in American history, one sees that the past really does affect the future.

By Amy Reinhart & Shruti Zina to these shifts because of the high degree of discord flowing through the country.

“There was this concept that Kennedy was going to be a whole new shining light,” said Daniel Byrne, associate professor of history. “People who were in their 20s and 30s saw his assassination as an end to the possibility of change. Kennedy was bringing positive change to the country — a powerful, forward mission, and that wasn’t going to happen right now.”

Sen. Bobby Kennedy’s support of Israel may have 18

Crescent Magazine | 11.2013

left them without the one person they had faith in and knew was making a difference.

“There was total pandemonium across the country no matter where you went,” Arnold said, adding that people wondered what the point was now that King was dead and thought: “How much further can you push me? I’m not going back into chains.”

Following the assassination, there was a true sense of hopelessness among African-Americans, and their crushing grief and anger came through in the form of riots and oth-

er civil disturbances known as the Holy Week Uprising. “[King] would have wanted people to sit down and talk about how to move forward,” said LaNeeca Williams, diversity and equity officer. “Instead of being peaceful, people did the opposite of what he preached.”

Ultimately, those assassinations reshaped American culture and history. But before that could happen, Americans had to get over the anguish that came with each murder, one of the aftereffects when a leader is assassinated.

Mark Kopta, professor of psychology, compared the aftermath of assassination to post-traumatic stress disorder. The grief is normal, he said, which helps people with the healing process, but with each of these murders there was a vulnerability that accompanied the grief. But grieving also helped people feel a oneness with these men.

“The feeling that so many people are mourning what you’re mourning is a benefit,” he said. “It’s symbolic, but it’s probably a good symbol.”

Assassination of a memorable figure also stays in the psyche and helps people to remember the tragic events.

“You connect with them, you put your hopes and dreams in them, and you see them die,” said Mari Plikuhn, assistant professor of sociology. “You think, ‘Oh my God.’” Group mourning united the country because there was a shared sense of loss. Many, especially minorities, were disillusioned because these men represented change.

People felt a connection and had faith that they would accomplish things that were so important to so many. And their devotion extended into their daily lives. Since Kennedy was the first Catholic elected president, it was common for Catholic families to hang a picture of JFK in their homes, and many black families had one of King in theirs.

“Different communities felt the losses differently,” Byrne said. “I think people really felt powerfully connected to each guy.”

JFK’s assassination actually resulted in two deaths: the death of a leader and the death of possibility. A certain window of opportunity perished with JFK’s murder, and African-Americans mourned the loss of a leader so in tune with their plight. But RFK’s death so soon after King’s sent the civil rights movement into a tailspin. Both King and RFK pushed for social justice, and RFK was the greatest sympathizer to the African-American plight.

“Their deaths, I think, really take the air out of those movements,” Byrne said.

Arnold said African-American families especially came to believe that King and the Kennedys would help blacks achieve the rights they deserved. They were viewed almost like members of one’s family, and the assassinations were seen as a personal blow.

“We understood that change was coming,” Arnold said. “JFK comes along and puts his signature on the movement and gave credence and credibility to it. So we felt a deep loss. Probably aside from Dr. King’s death, it was the darkest day we experienced.”

Each of these men represented to different groups a hopeful dream, a vision of prosperity and good things to come. There is a disconnect when an assassination occurs.

“There’s this amazing thing that when it’s gone, the light’s out,” Plikuhn said. “All the dreams we had with that person are gone.”

Another reason there was so much despair after the death of each of these men was because, to their supporters, they were the ideal leaders, the men who would turn wrongs into rights, make good on promises and bring necessary change.

“Although there were casualties and great losses, it perpetuated [the movement]; it caused the movement to gather some steam and recognition of our African-American brothers,” Arnold said.

While the assassinations resulted in people losing hope in what might be, it also led to a surge in patriotism.

Politics were put aside as people reflected on the losses. People mourned for JFK and RFK regardless of whether they voted for them or not.

“It didn’t seem to matter what political affiliation people were,” said Maggie Stevenson, assistant professor of psychology. “They were just affected.”

While the possibility of assassination is always present, a change in security measures was another aftereffect of these assassinations. RFK’s murder led to Secret Service protection for all major presidential candidates. The fact that JFK was riding in an open limousine with his Secret Service detail walking alongside as it drove slowly through downtown Dallas would not happen today. It was something that was evaluated after the assassination, and today presidents no longer ride in open motorcades and are under strict security even during smaller events.

“The way we do security now is vastly different because we’ve had assassinations,” Plikuhn said.

But what might be the one prevailing aftereffect from any assassination is that people see conspiracies as a way to justify them. With each of the assassinations, there are those who do not believe the gunman acted alone.

“Most of the time it’s just one person with a plan and a gun, and we don’t want to believe,” Plikuhn said. “We want to believe there’s a master plan behind it. We want to believe in that because we don’t want to imagine that things like that can happen.”

She said conspiracy theories help people cope with shocking events because many simply cannot accept that one man would have the ability to carry out such a horrific act. And there are many examples that show that the numerous theories are still seen as credible.

A 2003 ABC News poll found 70 percent of Americans believed JFK’s murder was the result of a broader plot, not the result of a lone gunman, while an April 2013 Associated Press poll found that figure had slipped to 59 percent. The conspiracy theories behind JFK’s assassination are so well-known his murder is sometimes referred to as the “mother of all conspiracy theories.”

King’s own family has long questioned Ray’s involvement in the shooting. Even a jury in a 1999 Memphis civil court case found unanimously that MLK was assassinated as a result of a conspiracy, believing the U.S. government, among others, was behind the murder because King was

Assassins’ bullets have taken out a number of notable names over the years. Here are just a few.

1865 – Abraham Lincoln

The 16th president was killed by John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate spy who was furious that Lincoln was promoting voting rights for blacks.

1914 – Franz Ferdinand

Heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, he was murdered by a terrorist group. His death is said to have led to World War I.

1948 – Mahatma Gandhi

Having led India to independence and inspired civil rights movements around the world, he was shot by a disgruntled Hindu nationalist.

1963 – Medger Evers

The civil rights activist was involved in efforts to overturn segregation at the University of Mississippi. He was shot by a Ku Klux Klan member.

1980 – Russell G. Lloyd Sr.

The former Evansville mayor was killed after an argument at his home with a woman who didn’t realize he was no longer mayor.

1980 – John Lennon

The former Beatle was shot while entering his New York City apartment building by ex-security guard Mark David Chapman.

1981 – Anwar Sadat

The Egyptian president was killed when fundamentalist army officers opposing an Israeli peace agreement opened fire during an annual parade.

1996 – Tupac Shakur

The rapper was killed in Las Vegas when a car pulled alongside his and multiple unknown attackers opened fire. He died six days later.

1997 – Biggie Smalls

Christopher Wallace — the Notorious B.I.G. — was killed in Los Angeles by an unknown assailant in a drive-by shooting.

11.2013 | Crescent Magazine

19

an outspoken critic of the Vietnam War in addition to his campaigning for civil rights.

Many still believe Malcolm X was actually killed by his former Nation of Islam brothers under the direction of NOI leader Elijah Muhammad, although a certain faction still believes the FBI was behind the assassination. And the talk of a second gunman in RFK’s murder has been debated for years, as has the possibility that the Mafia was involved because of RFK’s investigation of organized crime.

While we will never know for sure if any of these plots were real, people want to believe certain things because they fit into the country’s combined narrative.

“Conspiracies are popular because they’re exciting,” Byrne said. “They’re a hell of a lot more exciting than the guy who shot him. People like that stuff, people like that story, and that leads to more [conspiracies] when really it can be as simple as: one guy was angry with Kennedy and was going to shoot him.”

To many, all four assassinations dashed hope for change and momentarily broke the American spirit. But the country moved on, and people carried forward the messages.

“We grieve more for things that could have been than the things that were,” Plikuhn said.

“That’s why assassinations hurt.”

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Crescent Magazine | 11.2013

11.2013 | Crescent Magazine

21

FEATURE

50 SHADES

OF GREEN

by Alexandra Wade

FIB RIBS, SOY SAUSAGES

Road to vegetarianism goes way beyond just the health benefits.

22

Crescent Magazine | 11.2013

and tofurkey may not sound appetizing to everyone, but they are becoming easier to find in grocery stores and more common on restaurant and dining hall menus. Vegetarians who once struggled for respect and options now have choices, and everyone else is left wondering when going veggie became so popular. With so many people making the choice to be vegetarian, it looks like this one-time fad is here to stay.

A June 2013 Harris Poll proves this. Of the 7.3 million Americans who follow a vegetarian diet and identify as vegetarians, 75.1 percent have followed a vegetarian diet for more than 10 years.

Vegetarianism is a rather broad concept, and there are a number of types, some more flexible than others. People choose vegetarianism for a wide variety of reasons. While one of the reasons is to improve health, with 53 percent of American vegetarians citing this as their main reason for switching to a meat-free diet, it is many times the environment that convinces people it is the right thing to do.

According to Environmental Defense, if every American skipped one serving of chicken each week and substituted vegetarian foods instead, the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than half a million cars off U.S. roads.

And Kathy Freston, a health and wellness expert and The New York Times bestselling author, cited in a recent article for AlterNet that if everyone went vegetarian for one day, the U.S. would prevent: • Greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 1.2 million tons of carbon dioxide, as much as that produced by all of France; • 3 million tons of soil erosion and $70 million in resulting economic damages; • 4.5 million tons of animal waste; and • Almost 7 tons of ammonia emissions, a major air pollutant.

Food production contributes to environmental problems with water and land use, and 73 percent of the world’s total water footprint comes from agriculture. Even though water is a renewable resource, sometimes livestock operations use water that cannot be replenished.

“If the water source is an aquifer — underground — it takes time for that water to recharge,” said Cris Hochwender, associate professor of biology. “If you’re in a place with heavy rainfall, it’s not a problem. But in places like Oklahoma and Texas, they mostly use water from the Ogallala Aquifer. That water is mostly from the last Ice Age. At that point, it’s more like mining water. It could take hundreds of years to recharge.”

Another major environmental concern is animal feeding operations. The EPA defines an AFO as an agricultural operation where animals are kept and raised in confined situations.

An operation is considered an AFO if there is no vegetation in the confinement area during the typical growing season. And if an AFO has a certain number of animals confined — or is a significant contributor of pollutants — it becomes what is called a concentrated agricultural feeding operation.

“If animals were kept on land where they could graze, the land could compensate for the waste and what they eat,” said senior Christie Hubbard, an applied biology major who is also a vegetarian. “But when they’re kept on these isolated farms — just mud — it really hurts the system. When it’s affecting the land, it’s affecting the water. Those two things, in my mind, are really the same issue.”

Having hundreds of animals in small areas being bred for the ever-growing food industry has a devastating effect on the land.

“The number of animals put on an acreage has to be very low or they consume so much vegetation that the land becomes more desert-like,” Hochwender said. “The vegetation can be useful for keeping water in the soil or stopping the wind from eroding the land.”

When the land cannot keep up with the farming system, it causes water pollution and further land degradation. This also results in sanitation and health concerns since sewage enters the water system, exposing people and other wildlife to unsanitary conditions.

“The main problem with that (CAFO) is all the fecal matter the animals are producing,” Hochwender said. “In the event of heavy storms, a lot of the water will run through the farm and wash into a holding pond and overflow or go straight into a river.”

Hubbard became a flexitarian — a vegetarian who occasionally eats meat — to reduce her impact on the environment. She is more flexible about eating meat than many others because she is satisfied with simply lowering her impact.

“Livestock really damages the environment by their waste and the chemical aspects within their farm,” she said. “And feeding the animals antibiotics in their feed — it really messes up the whole system.”

Hubbard supports ideas like “Meatless Monday,” which encourage people to eat less meat instead of cutting it out entirely.

“Even if you eat meat twice a week, that’s still a significant reduction in your consumption,” she said. “It’s not these hard and fast rules where you can’t eat meat.”

While most vegetarians experience health benefits and many change their lifestyles for environmental reasons, there are still others who consider animal welfare to be a deciding factor on why they decided to go vegetarian. Most people who cite animal rights are concerned about the treatment of animals, but freshman Sam Schanwald has a different view.

“I believe that [humans are] just as much animals as the chickens and cows,” he said. “So

placing ourselves at the top of a hierarchy is inappropriate. It’s not the fact that I’m saving the animal’s life. It’s that I am not contributing to a system that’s treating animals like products that we’re buying because they’re absolutely not, and they shouldn’t be.”

Schanwald fully committed to vegetarianism two years ago after reading “Eating Animals” by Jonathan Safran Foer. He has seen health benefits from vegetarianism — he feels more focused and clear-minded — but his primary reason for sticking with the lifestyle is so he does not support the questionable practices of the food industry.

“In general, being aware of the food industry and food factory farming and how it works, I felt like I needed to do my part,” he said. “It wouldn’t be responsible of me to contribute to these companies that are so anthropocentric.”

He said he is in the process of eliminating all animal products from his diet but finds it hard to avoid dairy with his on-campus meal plan. He is grateful for Harmony, the new Cafe Court station that offers food to those who follow vegetarian and vegan diets.

“I have a very good mental idea of what I’ve been eating,” he said. “You become good at that, I think. When you become aware of taking things out of your diet, you become more focused on what you’re putting in your body.”

Schanwald likes knowing he is doing his part by boycotting the food factory system.

“People have a greater influence on the food industry in America, more than they know,” he said. “They should really do the research on what they’re putting in their bodies because we’re all responsible for knowing and responding to the food farming systems in America and worldwide.”

Vegetarianism is not black and white — or just green. Even with all the possible benefits, vegetarianism is not for everyone. But those joining the masses are sticking with the trend and learning of its benefits.

Following a nutritious and balanced vegetarian diet can lead to lower rates of certain cancers and a lower risk for obesity, heart disease, diabetes and other health conditions. But vegetarians need to be careful that they are getting all the nutrients they need.

“A vegetarian diet can be just as unhealthy as a regular diet if you’re not doing it right,” said Ann Powell, associate professor of biology. “Potato chips are a vegetarian item.

You can have a high-sugar, high-fat, high-carb diet and be a vegetarian and still be unhealthy.”

Powell pointed out that most things we

eat have some sort of plant-based material in them. Even a fourth of prescription medications have at least one plant-based ingredient.

“Plants are still really important for our lives,” she said. “We tend to not really realize how important they are still. If you eat a steak, you’re eating something that’s been fed on plants.”

Powell said vegetarians get a good amount of plant chemicals that have benefits for overall health, but they still need carbohydrates, starches, fats and protein for a balanced and diverse diet.

“Just because you have a vegetarian diet doesn’t mean you’re going to be any healthier,” she said. “That’s not always the case. It still takes careful planning, monitoring your calories, your nutrients. In some ways, vegetarians may have to work harder. If you’re going to be a vegetarian, carefully monitor what you’re eating. Make sure you’re getting enough vitamins, minerals and nutrients.”

For vegetarians who are willing to keep track of what they eat, a plant- and grain-based diet offers many health perks. The diet is high in fiber and plant chemicals, like antioxidants, which are beneficial to overall health.

“There are healthy vegetarians out there,” said Chair Amy Hall, professor of nursing. “They just have to plan and make sure they get all the nutrients they need.”

Hall suggested that vegetarians carefully monitor their diets to make sure they are getting those needed substances, especially protein and iron. Both are available in other foods but are most prevalent in meat, even though there are plenty of other foods that are rich in protein and iron.

“I take iron supplements as more of a precaution,” said senior Nicole Kreuzman, a vegetarian since 2008. “[Iron is] really hard to get, and I don’t want to just eat a lot of spinach.”

Some vegetarians eat certain animal products, like eggs, for protein. Others eat beans and nuts or rely on such sources of protein like yogurt and quinoa, a pseudo-cereal whose seeds can be used as a grain or flour.

“A good thing about the vegetarian diet is [that] it’s high in fiber,” Hall said. “I don’t think Americans get enough fiber, and it’s complex fiber too, not refined flour — there’s a difference in quality of fiber.”

But vegetarians may be at a disadvantage if they don’t know what they are doing. Kreuzman started her journey to being a vegetarian in high school. The only meats she liked were those she knew were not good for her.

“I gave it up for Lent,” she said. “I didn’t 11.2013 | Crescent Magazine

23

like meat, but my mom made me eat it. I decided to try it out for Lent. I never went back.”

Kreuzman said her dad made her do research before allowing her to totally cut meat out of her diet, reading almost 50 books on the topic. She found that many things contained protein, frequently cited as the main reason for not going vegetarian or sticking with it.

“I thought more about it when I started, and then I just got used to eating what I eat,” she said. “I really don’t take [getting protein] into consideration.”

Senior Katherine Bajsarowicz-Borg decided to cut meat out of her diet nine months ago.

She said it’s not hard to get protein. In reality, it comes from a lot of foods.

“Protein is made through photosynthesis through plants, so if you eat enough plants, you’re going to get your protein,” she said. “Meat is just a more concentrated source. Don’t focus on just the greens. Have a rainbow of colors in your mind when you’re eating.”

Bajsarowicz-Borg is technically a pescetarian because she still eats non-farm-raised fish.

She didn’t become a vegetarian for health reasons, but her body has benefited. She lost 20 pounds, and the stomach problems that had plagued her since childhood and baffled her doctors went away. Her doctors were impressed.

She said she has always loved vegetables and never actually ate a lot of meat even though there are kinds she enjoyed. It was several documentaries, including “Forks over Knives,” that Bajsarowicz-Borg watched that nailed her decision to become a vegetarian. She thinks more people would switch if they knew where their meat came from and the conditions in which many animals exist.

“I was more upset that humans were mistreating animals,” she said. “They were genetically modifying animals, and that’s not right. The chickens really got me: how they grow them to eat. And also how they got the eggs. I’m very active, and I know protein is important, so I’ll eat the eggs, but I’m not happy about it.”

Even if people don’t see the vegetarian lifestyle as an option, taking cues from those who do can provide advantages for everyone.

“There are so many benefits from people eating more grains and vegetables, from their own health — with reduced risk for heart disease and reduced risk for being overweight — to the use of land that’s being used to feed us,” Hochwender said. “A vegetarian diet is better for the environment than a meat and potatoes diet.

The less meat people eat, the better for the environment it’s going to be. There’s such a big environmental impact.”

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Crescent Magazine | 11.2013

snaps

SUPER

by Marah Franklin photo by Sara Gensler

LEADING

AMBASSADOR IT ALL STARTED with a simple campus tour. As a junior at Perry Central (Ind.) High School, he was doing what many juniors do: visiting colleges to try and find the right fit. Having already toured several larger campuses before he visited UE, he found that the small campus immediately appealed to him. But it was the friendly Admission Ambassador who gave his tour and passionately talked up UE that made the biggest impact.

Impact is important to senior Blake Kleaving. He’s a typical guy, but since that day during the summer of 2008 when he first visited UE, he knew he wanted to make his own mark.

He immediately saw the importance of the ambassadors, not only to UE but also to prospective students and the positive experience they could have when visiting campus.

Kleaving also stood out to Catie Taylor, Admission associate director, who advises the ambassadors. She said he showed leadership qualities even as a freshman and since then has been a positive link for the group’s members, potential students and the campus community.

He’s a fantastic representative of UE,” Taylor said.

Driven by a desire to make a difference, the business administration major decided ear-

ly on that he wanted to lead the group. Now in his second term, he has made a number of improvements to the 85-member organization, including creating its newsletter and reinstating the “Ambassador of the Month” award. Now, as Kleaving is about to turn over the lead in December to someone else, he realizes the position has been like icing on a cake. “[Admission Ambassadors] is just something I love to do,” he said. “The president’s role has just added to the benefit.”

And he has led the group — and about 85 tours — with a smile. While he likes visiting with high school students, Kleaving especially enjoys leading tours for children. While talking about what it’s like to be in college can be boring to the under-12 crowd, when those visitors arrive at Echo Point, they light up, screaming to hear their voices ricochet off the buildings.

“That always puts a smile on my face when I see the kids having fun,” he said.

Senior Alex Schwinghamer said he has seen his roommate mature quite a bit over the years and attributes a lot of it to ambassadors.

He said that while Kleaving has always been outgoing, he has become more comfortable speaking to others, especially when it is something he is passionate about.

Serving as vice president of alumni relations for Delta Sigma Pi, the basketball-loving Kleaving also manages his time well. And like most students, his coursework makes life hectic, but he handles the pressure with ease.

“He studies for [classes], but it doesn’t seem like he overburdens his mind,” Schwinghamer said.

Kleaving is the first to give credit to the many students who volunteer their time to the ambassadors, especially those on his executive board.

“I have a great team,” he said. “The entire team really works well together.”

From training new members to designing T-shirts, the board does a lot of the behindthe-scenes work, including something that is always a challenge — finding male students to host prospective male students who want to visit overnight since there is a shortage of men in the organization.

For all he has personally gained as a member of Admission Ambassadors, Kleaving is quick to recognize that it hasn’t all been about what he has acquired.

“To be a representative for UE is something I cherish,” he said, “and I’m proud I’ve had a way to give back.”

11.2013 | Crescent Magazine

25

throughthelens

PHOTOS Beginning the dissection is proving to be tricky for junior Evan Meiman and senior Hunter Dauby, who struggle to make the correct incision on the slimy frog. [Amy Rabenberg] To move on from the dissection phase of the experiment, juniors Kelsey Williams and Stephanie Tran quickly extract a part of the frog’s leg so they can finally test it. [Amy Rabenberg] In a class where frogs must die for the good of science, seniors Brandee Goo and Anna Maurer search for fresh nerves as senior Lasondra Land observes. [Brittney Kaleri]

by Sara Gensler

F R AY E D NERVES

Not your typical dissection.

IT MAY SOUND A BIT GRUESOME, but students in Biology 427, “Animal Physiology,” had to actually kill the frogs they were about to dissect. Though it was certainly overwhelming to some, each had to take on the air of a true scientist because of the time-sensitive nature of the experiment. And this successfully increased students’ knowledge of body mechanisms. During the dissection, they isolated specific nerves and muscles in the frogs’ legs to see how it affects other parts of the body.

Distinct from other frog dissections, these helped students gain a thorough understanding of the inner workings of the frogs’ nervous systems and muscles on a whole new level. All in the name of science.

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Crescent Magazine | 11.2013

09.2012 11.2013 | Crescent Magazine

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Hesitant to change

Homophobia exists at colleges because it’s reinforced.

eventhescore

“IN SPORTS RIGHT NOW, there are two differ-

28

Crescent Magazine | 11.2013

ent stereotypes — that there are no gay male athletes, and every female athlete is a lesbian,” Patrick Burke, a founder of You Can Play, an advocacy group for LGBT athletes, told The New York Times earlier this year.

A culture long dominated by masculinity, the sports world is one that thrives on stereotypical roles. In the sports world, men are seen as powerful, and anyone not powerful is considered weak.

If women want to be successful athletes, or so the stereotype goes, they have to exhibit these masculine traits as well. And gay male athletes are virtually nonexistent because they are seen as anything but masculine.

Gay male athletes know that homophobia is widespread, and women athletes are categorized as lesbians, whether they are or not. The worst thing a male athlete can be is gay, and straight women athletes run the risk of being labeled as lesbians just for having an interest in sports.

A June 2013 Pew Research Center survey reported that 60 percent of Americans believe homosexuality should be accepted by society, but most gay and lesbian athletes are still facing many challenges.

A number of professional athletes over the years have come out after their careers have ended, and in late April, just as he was about to become a free agent, former Washington Wizards center Jason Collins announced that he was gay, the first active male professional athlete to do so.

But injustices continue to take place in an arena where they should not: college athletics.

Consider Brittney Griner, the former Baylor basketball star and this year’s WNBA first-round draft pick. When Griner casually told reporters during a press conference in April that she was gay, no one seemed shocked, and the announcement was barely mentioned in media accounts. The stereotype that all female athletes are lesbians has been around for years, so why should anyone be shocked or even care?

What was not mentioned until about a month later was her alma mater’s message to its lesbian athletes: be silent. Griner, who has been open about her sexuality since high school, and other Baylor players had been asked by athletics officials at the Baptist-affiliated private university in Texas not to talk about their sexuality.

Why? Because they believed prospective student-athletes would not attend a school that was

accepting of homosexuals, even though Baylor benefited in many ways from their highly successful women’s basketball team and the national attention the school received because of it.

“It was a recruiting thing,” Griner told ESPN the Magazine in May. “The coaches thought that if it seemed like they condoned it, people wouldn’t let their kids come play for Baylor.”

Vikki Krane, a professor and director of women’s studies at Bowling Green State, said during the 2012 annual meeting of the University of North Carolina’s College Sport Research Institute that despite the belief that football is the worst sport in which to be gay, women’s sports are probably more of a problem. The main offense is negative recruiting, where coaches hint to recruits that if they want a “family atmosphere” — no lesbians allowed — then this is the team for them.

Not only is this unethical, as it promotes an unfriendly environment for lesbian athletes, but it also contributes to the prejudice against straight female athletes that has caused many to fear being labeled gay.

Despite Baylor’s colossal miscue, there are schools where gay athletes have found acceptance. Male athletes are assumed to be straight, but researchers have found that when one comes out, his teammates are more likely to accept it. Andrew McIntosh, a former lacrosse player for SUNYOneonta, an NCAA Division III school, revealed he was gay in a February 2010 online essay. The New York Times reported that he received a positive reaction from his teammates, who embraced and commended him for his courage.

While it will certainly take time, homophobia can be stopped if coaches and athletics administrators stop reinforcing it. College athletics is slowly becoming more accepting of gays and lesbians, but in order for the stigmas and stereotypes to go away, athletics personnel —those in charge — need to be open and accepting of gay and lesbian athletes and promote an environment that supports them.

“Those who organize and run the sport — that’s who gay athletes are afraid of,” said Andrew Goldstein, a former Dartmouth lacrosse player who became the first openly gay U.S. man to be drafted onto a professional sports team. “Today, the real issue lies with them.”

kristine arnold | columnist

late night

MUNCHIES

DISCOUNT with valid UE ID

Weinbach Shopping Center

11.2013 | Crescent Magazine

29

overtime

SPORTS

LIKE A ROCK

Quiet and reserved, UE’s determined keeper makes the stops with confidence.

by Chelsea Modglin photo by Sara Gensler

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Crescent Magazine | 11.2013

MANY IN THE SPORTS WORLD value the outgoing and outspoken, the flamboyant and the flashy, the brazen and the brash. And many might expect UE’s celebrated goalkeeper to be a mix of those things as she intensely guards her goal. But sophomore Simone Busby isn’t like most keepers. She’s better.

Even if you don’t know much about soccer, you can’t help but be impressed with Busby’s accomplishments last year as a freshman.

Consider these things: She was selected as the MVC’s “Goalkeeper of the Year.” She was named to the all-MVC first team and the all-freshman team. She was ranked in the Top 10 in the country in save percentage (.918) and goals against average (0.48), as well as leading the MVC in those categories. She tallied 56 saves, posted five shutouts and allowed multiple goals in only one game. And she did all of this without being brazen, flashy or outspoken.

“She brings a balance between the strong, high-strung personalities and the girls who don’t talk as much,” forward Allie Arguello said.

“She’s not really loud, but she’s still a leader. People respect her and listen to what she says. The team’s chemistry flows better that way.”

“

said. “Anybody that watches the games can tell how athletic she is.

She’s good with her feet. She’s able to help us thwart attacks.”

Although being athletic and skilled is certainly necessary, Busby insists these attributes are nothing without confidence.

“You definitely need to be confident in your decision to either go or don’t go,” she said. “Coach McKendree told me that if you’re going to make a decision, you go with that decision. Sometimes you will be wrong and sometimes you will be right, but nine times out of 10 times if you second-guess yourself, you’ll be wrong most of the time.”

Confidence and talent are not the only things Busby brings to the team. She may be quiet, but Arguello said that doesn’t stop her from being an effective leader and a good friend.

“Simone really cares about how other people feel,” Arguello said.

“She is more calm and laid-back; never causes any drama. She’s always looking out for everyone and making sure everybody’s doing well.”

Busby said she always gets a boost of confidence from her family — her parents and three brothers — who she calls her No. 1 supporters. And Busby’s confidence — and the confidence she inspires in oth-

It feels really to know that someone believes you can do it, and to prove to them that you can do it is an even better feeling.”

This season, the reserved Busby has again been the difference between winning and losing for the women’s soccer team. No matter how many goals you save, some people only remember the ones you miss. Luckily, that’s not much of a problem for Busby. So far this season she has posted five shutouts, had 68 saves for a .850 save percentage and a 0.72 goals against average percentage.

Although Busby considers herself shy, her teammates see her differently, describing her as a quiet but effective leader who brings unity and confidence to the team.

“From the first practice (last season) everybody knew she was really good,” Arguello said. “You could tell Simone had a lot of potential.

She has the highest vertical on the team, and she’s definitely not the tallest. She catches everything.”

At 5 feet 6 inches, she is actually of average height stature-wise, but the heights she reaches in her life go way beyond most.

Busby took over the bulk of goalkeeping duties last season after just six games and has been in UE’s goal ever since. Before joining the Aces, she was a standout basketball player for the Girl’s Preparatory School in Chattanooga, Tenn., helping her team win the 2011 Tennessee State Championship. She was also selected as the tournament’s MVP and named to Tennessee’s all-State basketball team. It is evident that Busby’s time as a forward has helped her become a reliable player for the Aces.

“She’s just kind of like a rock back there,” Arguello said. “You’re confident she’s going to catch it. I think the whole team is really comfortable with her back there in goal.”

Coach Krista McKendree, herself a standout player for the Aces, knows a thing or two about talent. She said much of Busby’s success is due to her well-rounded athleticism. Blocking high balls is something that is difficult for most goalkeepers, but it is one of Busby’s strengths.

“She has all the fundamental tools of a sound goalkeeper,” she

ers — is a trait that makes her more than just a good goalkeeper.

“She’s always doing the right things,” McKendree said. “She adds more confidence to the team, and others around her are very confident in her, which I think helps them feel more confident overall; knowing they have somebody’s in the net who’s able to make saves has proven that.”

Busby believes being confident is also a great motivator.

“In [NCAA Division I] soccer, it’s easy to get down,” she said. “If you have a losing season, everyone’s confidence is crushed because you can’t win a game. Confidence is always there to give you that boost that you need. It’s key because it’s your backup when you feel that you can’t do anything else.”

A legal studies major who hopes one day to become a corporate lawyer, she takes her studies seriously. She’s a good student and likes doing well in her courses.

“A lot of people don’t have the opportunities I do,” she said. “I don’t want to take the opportunities I’ve been given for granted. I want people to know that I’m working to prove that I deserve what I’ve received, that they weren’t just given to me as a gift. It feels good to know that someone believes you can do it, and to prove to them that you can do it is an even better feeling.”

Whether it is on the field or in the classroom, Busby never loses sight of what she is ultimately trying to accomplish.

“She’s very disciplined and knows what her goals are,” McKendree said, “and she’s not afraid to do what it takes to reach those goals.

That’s just an example of her determination and work ethic.”

—with Daniel Poelhuis Note: As of press time, the Aces were preparing for the quarterfinal of the MVC Tournament with play continuing tomorrow for four teams at McCutchan Stadium, the site of this year’s tournament.

11.2013 | Crescent Magazine

31

campus crime The following information was compiled from criminal offense reports filed Sept. 25–Oct. 22 in Safety & Security.

Oct. 22 — The acronym “USI” painted on the southwest corner of the Ramona apartments. Loss not reported.

Oct. 20 — A tree on the Front Oval near the School of Business Administration damaged and broken at the base. Loss not reported.

Oct. 18 — A Delta Omega Zeta banner stolen from in front of the sorority’s house on Weinbach. Loss not reported.

Oct. 4 — Money stolen from a Koch Center second floor office. Loss reported at $15.

Oct. 2 —Front Oval sign poles vandalized.

Loss not reported.

Sept. 29 — Student found intoxicated between Hyde Hall and Neu Chapel. Student referred to the vice president for Student Affairs for disciplinary action.

— Student found intoxicated on Moore Hall first floor north. Student referred to the vice president for Student Affairs for disciplinary action.

Sept. 27 — Baseboard torn off a wall in Shanklin Theatre lobby. Loss not reported.

— Student found intoxicated in H-lot. Student referred to the vice president for Student Affairs for disciplinary action.

Sept. 25 — Money stolen from an envelope delivered to Brentano Hall. Loss reported at $20.

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Crescent Magazine | 11.2013

tween nuclear engineering and developmental psychology, but both are a part of Beth Hennon’s story. It seems today’s students aren’t the only ones who change their majors, but her change was a big leap, one the associate professor of psychology and co-chair of the Psychology Department found much more to her liking.

Hennon earned her doctorate in developmental psychology from Temple in 2002, but she was originally a nuclear engineering undergraduate major at Penn State. While she enjoyed that coursework, she found the required physics courses not for her, so she switched to a major more in sync with her interests. Developmental psychology was more exciting to her, but it was a big adjustment.

I AM

MOTIVATED

LOOK

acloser

MOST WOULD ADMIT that there is a great deal of difference be-

by Graham Chattin photo by Sara Gensler

“I actually started in nuclear energy because that’s similar to crawling on the floor with little kids with toys,” she joked. “You don’t go from nuclear energy to developmental psychology in one step.”

After graduation in 1996 and a year at the University of Michigan she transferred to Temple, where she concentrated on improving speech pathology therapies for special needs children. At the time, therapies revolved around tests and repetition, and the children did not always respond. In order to get them engaged, she replaced tests with games.

“It doesn’t matter if you are developing typically or have Down syndrome; you don’t like tests,” Hennon said.

She continued her research as a postgraduate doctoral fellow at the University of North Carolina. Now she uses her research experience to apply the same level of engagement in the classroom. She describes her teaching approach as thought-provoking.

“I want you to learn by thinking about things, and sometimes those thoughts won’t come up in class,” she said.

Rather than relying on notes, she lets students’ interests shape her teaching style. Hennon said it is easy to get stuck in a rut as a teacher and do the same things over and over.

“I think, if you do that, then [your] goals as a professor would never be achieved,” she said. “The motivation to make an impact is why you come and teach at a place like U of E.” A mom to sons Jamie, 6, and Joey, 4, with husband Andrew Peters, it’s evident this role is an important part of Hennon’s life. Her children’s drawings decorate her office walls, most noticeably those of penguins. She has a fondness for the birds and keeps about 70 penguin toys there. And while that may be a tad excessive to some, she said the toys are necessary tools in developmental psychology.

Like incorporating her love of penguins into her work, Hennon wants her students to find new tools — new ways — to think about things they thought they already knew.

“The notion of something you didn’t think about is more important than you would have expected,” Hennon said. “The most rewarding part of something is seeing students say, ‘I never thought of it that way.’”

11.2013 | Crescent Magazine

33

offthewall

SPAM

The male platypus is the only mammal equipped with lethal venom that can kill a small dog or cause and extreme amount of pain in people.

WHOKNEW?

dotm GOTTA get IT

WHY GO TO THE MALL and pay for photos every

time you want to admire your face when you can have a photo booth in your room? This classic booth is similar to those found at theme parks and arcades but redesigned to develop photos faster. Just hop inside, press the button, put on your best — or goofiest — face and, 16 seconds later, you will have finished photos to hang on your wall and cherish forever. Grab some friends or your significant other and create old-style four-frame photo strips. The Photo Booth, available at hammacher.com, is made of 14-gauge steel and comes with two rolls of film, enough to make 3,200 single photos or 800 photo strips. For just $11,000 plus $100 for shipping and handling, you can have a booth of your own. It will entertain you for hours, and don’t worry if you run out of film — extra rolls cost a meager $500 more. This authentic boardwalk piece is a remake of a classic invention that is sure to make others green with envy, and your photos will look way better than theirs.

heard it here

“Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity.”

—the late comedian George Carlin

THERE’S AN FOR THAT WHOKNEW? 34

Caramel Appletini

Nothing goes better with autumn than caramel and apples. And a Caramel Appletini is the perfect way to enjoy those yummy ingredients. After you rim a cold glass with caramel, Delish.com says to mix Irish cream and vodka, add ice, shake and then pour. Use an apple slice for garnish and taste how the cream’s sweet flavor perfectly complements the tart vodka. As the days grow shorter and the nights get chillier, this is the ideal drink to get you into the cool autumn mood.

INGREDIENTS: 1 oz. Bailey’s caramel Irish cream / 0.5 oz. green apple vodka / 1 tablespoon caramel

Do you want to expand your skills but need motivation? YourExtraLife will get you started. Whether the task is learning to cook, going on a date or improving your mood, this app will help you achieve and challenge you to reach your goals.

Are you tired of smartphone keyboards? Your Handwriting actually lets you write with your index finger instead of taxing your thumbs. Make entire lists and messages, choose from different fonts and show your handwriting off to your friends.

Turkmenistan’s last president named a theme park and the month of January after himself and the month of April after his mother.

Crescent Magazine | 11.2013

REMEMBER WHEN...

time suck of the month

“JURASSIC PARK” was the scariest film around? Bloodthirsty T. rexes and sneaky velociraptors haunted our dreams after seeing them ravage those on Isla Nublar.

BEWARE to anyone who has

ever put his or her phone number on an ad or flier — you may become the victim of a textastrophe. The man behind textastrophe. com finds pleasure in texting those people who publicize their number and pretends to be an interested buyer, making ridiculous requests all the while. While his outrageous messages frustrate the sellers until they threaten to call the cops, the rest of us will get a kick out of them — and feel a little smarter and even relieved that we didn’t put our own contact information out in the public eye.

SKY DANCERS were the latest rage? The line of toys and animated spin-off captivated us as we watched the dancers soar through the air. With the pull of a string, the dolls spread their wings and flew.

KENAN AND KEL were the funniest duo on TV? The “All That” stars shared their misadventures on Nickelodeon — from working at Rigby’s grocery store to drinking orange soda. They went on to star in their own movie, “Good Burger,” in which they save a fastfood restaurant from going out of business.

GAME BOY COLOR cartridges were the best form of currency to trade with? Available in seven basic colors, the Game Boy was once the latest accessory. With games like “Pokemon” and “The Legend of Zelda,” they were sure to keep us entertained.

things

that make us crazy

STICKING OUT

You’re walking around minding your own business when it catches your eye — someone’s shirt tag sticking out. Your fingers itch to tuck it in. Although you decide to let it be, you just can’t keep your eyes off of it. Manufacturers seem to get it right with our underwear, so why can’t they get with the program and stamp tags on all clothing?

FOOD COVETER

We all have that one friend who doesn’t pick the right thing for dinner and then ogles your perfectly crafted plate with envy. You ignore it, thinking it’ll pass.

Then comes the dreaded question, “Are you gonna eat that?” Would we have gotten it if we weren’t planning to eat it? Stop asking for our food, please and thank you.

CALLING ALL FANS

Are you tired of people constantly talking about their favorite TV show, book or movie? So are the rest of us. We all get it — you really like it and know a lot about it. But there is a plethora of other things to discuss: Syria, komodo dragons, toenail fungus, whatever — just find a different topic. We’re talking about you, “Doctor Who” fanatics.

now, sleep is something I do to kill time while I’m waiting for more 1. Right lives on Candy Crush Saga. #help#seriouslyhelp. —Rashida Jones do you mean the #governmentshutdown doesn’t automatically 2. What trigger “The Hunger Games?” Isn’t that in the Constitution somewhere?

memorable celebrity tweets

At nearly every store there are express lanes for those people with a certain number of items or less. And at nearly every store there are shoppers who ignore that rule and proceed through the checkout lane with full carts. Is it really that hard to go to another register?

You’re inconsiderate and just pissing off the rest of us who have to wait on you.

dirty LAUNDRY This school @UEPROBLEMS prides itself on its engineering de-

—Will Ferrell

partment, yet here we are with a campus that inevitably floods every time it rains.

ever. —Jenny Johnson

My ass @UECONFESSIONS just exploded in the Koch Cen-

asked my parents if I could get my tubes tied as my high school 3. Igraduation present, and they got me a Ford Probe. Best birth control now say adolescence lasts until age 25. To which 25-year4. Scientists olds responded, “No, it doesn’t! GOD! Get out of my room!’”

—Stephen Colbert “BUG me. SLUG me. MUG me. Wow, so many options!” Robin Thicke 5. excitedly leafing through his first rhyming dictionary. —Al Yankovic 6. There’s #TwitterAfterMidnight if you’re horny and #TwitterAfterSevenPM if you’ve just put the kids to bed, and you’re tired and peckish.

—Simon Pegg

WHOKNEW?

EXPRESS MESS

ter girls’ bathroom. Thank God girls don’t spend a lot of time in that building.

Fried chicken @UEPROBLEMS as an entree at the vegan/vegetarian stand in Cafe Court? That’s exactly what I want.

Marie Curie and her daughter Irene were the first women to win the Nobel Prize in chemistry. Both died of radiation poisoning.

11.2013 | Crescent Magazine

35

Eluding a life

Procrastination is really only the beginning.

halfthewit

I AM NOT THE KIND OF PERSON to break the

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Crescent Magazine | 11.2013

rules. I accepted my mediocre fate long ago as a somewhat boring person, one whose toes touch the line dividing safety and adventure but never cross it. My friends would not mark me down in the category of the criminally deviant.

I do not have scars drawn across my body as a symbol of my general hardiness to any threat. As I walk down the street, idle pedestrians do not stare after me, whispering of that woman, that woman who lives on the edge and confronts mundane, everyday problems head-on with gusto.

No, I am definitely not that person — I am, in fact, the arch nemesis of that person. If avoiding life were an Olympic event televised across the globe and covered by every major news station, the gold medal would be mine every four years — for decades to come.

I am more than a professional though. While not a particularly useful — or admirable — skill to have, this avoidance is honed to an intricate science, one that requires both the highest mental and physical exertion.

And here we have exhibit one: laundry. I am not opposed to the process of washing and drying my clothes. But when the time comes around, when my mound of clothes begins to crush my poor, abused mesh hamper, I pretend as though that corner of my room does not exist.

This is easy to accomplish because my laundry corner contains only my mountain of clothing and nothing else — absolutely nothing — therefore, there is no reason to venture over there at all, ever. Why bother washing clothes? What is the purpose if we, as a technologically advanced species, have already invented the marvelous product known as Febreze?

Now, calm down — I do manage to procure a few clean outfits every week, just enough to get me by until my closet is empty save for a ratty sweatshirt two sizes too big for me. My avoidance can only go so far until my procrastination reaches its high point.

And that leads to exhibit two: spiders — or more accurately, the cold-blooded murder of said spiders. My ardency in avoiding killing these little monsters, I believe, provides a more justifiable claim than the laundry because I am not deathly afraid of laundry flying through the air and attaching to my face as it sucks the life essence from my body.

And, if anyone is in doubt, I can confirm with

complete authority the innate evil within the common house spider. The evil pours from every hairy leg, every beady eye and every scuttle across the wall three feet from my bed.

Since I cannot allow this monstrosity to live, giving it ample opportunity to crawl quickly into my pillowcase, I must, of course, find the nearest human in the vicinity who will gladly smash it with a broom, a shoe or a hammer — I am not picky. I just want the arachnid dead, and I cannot be the one to do it.

When the situation gets out of hand, especially in a spider-on-the-ceiling scenario, I must sacrifice my 13-year-old sister’s life. I hand her a broom, shove her into the room and hope for the best.

About 10 minutes, a few piercing screams and several thuds later, she emerges victorious, the remains of the spider obliterated into the unfortunately white carpet.

I would like to say I feel at least a tiny bit of shame as I push my younger sister into the line of fire, but I do not. I feel relieved, if anything, because my living space is once again safe to inhabit — at least until another spider finds its way into the safe zone. Then it’s war, plain and simple, with everyone else on the planet but me on the front lines.

Exhibit three of my list of avoiding life is a task not strictly reserved to me, though I secretly hope I am not alone in my hatred of eight-legged demons or my disdain for a regular laundry schedule.

As a culture, students are remarkably averse to beginning any research paper until the week before, the day before or even the night before it’s due. In this regard, I am no different. I will read ahead in my courses. I will organize every file on my computer. I will browse Google for three hours and call it “research.”

I will inevitably slap my name on a blank document and proclaim my research paper officially begun, if not halfway finished, because having your name at the top of the page counts, right? Identity is important after all. What would a paper be without the date it is due, the title and the professor’s name?

I would argue that it is just a bunch of lost words trying to find a nice home beneath a title in 12-point font, just as I would argue a spider is pure concentrated evil and that laundry is unnecessary if you have a sea of Febreze on reserve.

jessica ingle | essayist