Crescent Magazine September 2012

crescent University of Evansville

College Culture Upfront l September 2012

magazine

swingin’ to the beat

From the Lindy Hop to the Charleston, swing dancing is making a comeback.

ages 5 and up

Bringing back childhood memories is as easy as rolling the dice.

the power of voting

The youth vote makes a difference, and registering is the key to getting students to cast their ballots. $2.50

Experience more at YOUR British campus

09.2012 l Crescent Magazine

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Office of Study Abroad | SOBA 261 | studyabroad@evansville.edu

09.2012 l Crescent Magazine

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EDITORIAL Writing Director MINDY KURTZ HENSLEY Writing Assistant AMY REINHART Reporting Assistant A.J. OGUNDIMU Senior Writer JESSICA INGLE Writers JOSHUA BEST BRENNAN GIRDLER TORI GRIFFIN CORY HART CRAIG KEEPES CHELSEA MODGLIN EMILY MOLLI CHRIS NORRIS DANIELLE WEEKS JAMELYN WHEELER RACHEL WILLIS

EDITING Editing Director JENELLE CLAUSEN Copy Editors ASHLEY MATTHEWS ANNA SHEFFER Fact Checker EMILY KRIEBLE

thestaff

CREATIVE Creative Director AMANDA SQUIRE Photo Editor SAMANTHA COOK Designers JEFFREY BUENTE KAYLEE HARDEN KEVIN O’REILLY BROOKE RENNER KATIE WINIGER Photographers AMY RABENBERG JESSICA CRIHFIELD-TAYLOR

MARKETING & SALES Summer Sales Manager TYLER DOBBS Advertising Sales Manager JON STURGEON Marketing Assistants ASHLEY DAVIS ALISON PETRASH Circulation Assistant MICHAEL ARMANNO

contents 12

ENTERTAINMENT l Brennan Girdler

18

FEATURE l Rachel Willis

Whether you are 21 or not, there always seems to be something going on in downtown Evansville. Funk in the City and Brew Ha Ha offer ways to have a great time without breaking the bank.

“It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing.” From the Lindy Hop to the Charleston, swing dancing is making a comeback in Evansville, and it is being lead by a local group in love with fancy footwork.

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COVER l Mindy Kurtz Hensley

24

FEATURE l Danielle Weeks

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OVERTIME l Jessica Ingle

Knowing how to vote is half the battle to making your voice heard.

Get involved in this year’s presidential election and learn how to vote from your home away from home.

Even though social media is supposedly at the helm of all things fun, we still find board games alluring as they transport us back to our childhoods with a little healthy competition.

Entering his 11th season, coach Rickey Perkins shows that the amount of assistant coaches and the size of one’s budget does not necessarily translate to the respect or number of accolades one receives.

03 Viewpoint

27 Q&A

04 Vox Populi

29 Through the Lens

07 Innovation

30 Fitness & Health

08 Giving Back

34 Campus Crime

10 One Word

35 A Closer Look

14 First Time

36 Off the Wall

16 Fascinating People

38 The Lists

23 Dorm Storm

40 Don’t Quote Me

facebook.com/uecrescent l issuu.com/uecrescentmagazine l crescentmagazine@evansville.edu 02

Crescent Magazine l 09.2012

Decision-makers cannot have it both ways. chick-fil-a

used to just be a fast-food chain known for its tasty chicken sandwiches and memorable TV commercials. But in July, Chick-filA President Dan Cathy condemned Americans for shaking their fists at God in regard to continued support by many of same-sex marriage.

His statements started a controversy as proponents of traditional marriage backed Cathy’s comments, supporters of same-sex marriage denounced Chickfil-A and gay couples staged kiss-ins at restaurants across the country. Although many choose to ignore the issue, there is no denying that eating Chick-fil-A has become a political statement.

Ace’s Place has offered Chick-fil-A sandwiches on its evening menu for a while. Those sandwiches are now being offered at Ace’s as a lunchtime flex option two days a week. Chick-fil-A is also a sponsor of UE athletics; the chain’s mascot can be seen at Ford Center during basketball games, and those who take their ticket stubs to Chick-fil-A can get free food.

UE’s viewpoint on inclusion seems to be vastly different from Chick-fil-A’s, whose leader told a Christian news organization, “We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit.” Many may say his comments were not anti-gay, but this is not true since he has denounced gay and lesbian rights on a number of occasions before. The Cathy family has given millions of dollars over the years to groups that oppose gay rights, fight same-sex marriage initiatives and provide therapy intended to change people’s sexual orientation, The New York Times reported.

Yes, controversial political views are protected by

the First Amendment. Free speech is free speech, plain and simple. Possibly more than any group on campus, we realize Cathy has the right to express his opinions and spend his company’s money anyway he sees fit. But UE has made it clear that we are to be a campus that is open and accepting of everyone, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or any other categorization, and that is where the problem lies.

And while the United Methodist Church has stated that it is against same-sex marriage, it believes in equal rights regardless of sexual orientation, plus more and more clergy are defying the denomination’s ban on officiating at same-sex unions.

In an effort to improve its support of businesses run by underrepresented groups, UE partnered in April with Diverse Business Solutions, an Indiana company dedicated to the promotion, growth and development of diverse businesses. Such a partnership is a great thing and makes it clear that administrators are looking for new ways to back and form connections with companies owned by minorities, veterans, women and gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgendered people.

ourviewpoint

Conflicting messages

You may say that too much is being made over Cathy’s comments, or you may agree with his point of view. That is your choice. But UE cannot have it both ways. It cannot say we provide an open and supportive environment while offering a product and receiving sponsorship money from a company that does not share those same ideals. UE’s continued support of Chick-fil-A is a contradictory message, one that should not sit well with anyone. We call on our decision-makers to do the right thing.

There is no place for Chick-fil-A at UE.

how to contact us Address: 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 and 488–2223 • Marketing & Sales e-mail: crescentadvertising@evansville.edu

Crescent Magazine is the University of Evansville’s student magazine. It is written, edited and designed by and for students and distributed six times during the academic year. It is funded through advertising revenue and a subscription fee paid on behalf of students by the Student Government Association. Circulation is 1,700. Printed by Mar-Kel Printing, Newburgh, Ind. © 2012 Student Publications, University of Evansville. z Editorial Policy: Commentary expressed in unsigned editorial pieces represent a consensus opinion of Crescent Magazine’s Editorial Board. Other columns, articles and advertising are not necessarily the opinion of the Editorial Board or other members of the magazine. z Letter Submissions: Crescent Magazine welcomes letters from UE students, faculty, staff, administrators and alumni, but material the Editorial Board regards as libelous, malicious and/or obscene will not be published. Letters should not exceed 400 words. For verification, letters must include the author’s name, year in school or title and e-mail address. Crescent Magazine does not print anonymous letters or those that cannot be verified. Letters will be edited for length, style, grammar and spelling. E-mail letters to crescentmagazine@evansville.edu and write “letter” in the subject line.

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Are politicians too rich?

Candidates cannot relate to average Americans.

The wife

of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney co-owns a horse that recently competed in the London Olympics, which, according to CBS News, costs about $77,000 a year to care for.

And during a February appearance at NASCAR’s Daytona 500, the former Massachusetts governor admitted that while he loves cars, he does not really follow NASCAR but has “some great friends who are NASCAR team owners.”

If there is one thing the Romneys are not, it is ordinary people, even though they try to present themselves as such. Then again, few politicians are.

voxpopuli

Conspicuous wealth does not instill confidence in the American people in an election year where a struggling economy and civil unrest are dominant issues. Romney has made a number of comments, including the admission that his wife “drives a couple of Cadillacs,” that reveal just how far removed he is from the wants and needs of average Americans and how his life more closely resembles the bankers and tycoons everyday people blame for the country’s current economic state.

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Crescent Magazine l 09.2012

The Internet has exploded with negative reactions to comments made by the Romneys, and it is not surprising. Concerns about job opportunities and a general sense of distrust have sent many online and to the streets to fight back against perceived economic injustice.

Romney’s net worth is estimated by Forbes magazine to be about $230 million. That kind of wealth, coupled with his dual degrees from Harvard Law and Harvard Business School, places him well beyond the day-to-day worries of Americans suffering through financial distress.

While economic downturns affect everyone, assets and massive sums of cash dampen the blow. And based on the kind of rhetoric being tossed around, it might seem safe to assume that this is only a Republican problem and that President Barack Obama does not enjoy a lavish lifestyle. But his net worth comes in at about $6 million, much of which is a result of several book royalties, according to Forbes.

While that amount actually classifies Obama as one of the poorest presidents of our time, he is still wealthier than most of the people who will vote in

November. Like Romney, Obama earned a juris doctorate degree from Harvard Law. Granted, much has been made of his work with the less fortunate, and his demeanor suggests a greater degree of humility and understanding than Romney, but the lifestyles of well-off politicians simply do not resemble middleor working-class American life.

Cramped living quarters, little spending money and an uncertain future are the situations facing many students. Those who live better than their peers are often painfully aware that they are at the mercy of parents or other benefactors for their comfortable lifestyles.

That is not the kind of life candidates are living. Perhaps their college days were similar, but even if that is the case, those days are behind them. Neither Obama nor Romney faced the same uncertainties or fears as current students, young professionals or others in the working class.

This does not mean that all politicians are inherently corrupt or that corporations are buying the government, as some would have us believe. But it does mean that the public cannot rely on an accurate understanding from either of the candidates. They are not living the lives of average Americans.

That is the power behind Occupy and the Tea Party, and that is why these groups are needed. Now more than ever it is possible and necessary to point out the gap between Washington and Main Street. The rich governing the poor is a tradition even in America, but the ideals of democracy are increasingly ill served by this tradition.

For better or worse, the Internet, especially social media, has created an era where information travels quickly and easily. Average, modern-day activists have a chance to decide what course the conversation takes instead of politicians feeding lines to the public in order to shore up government positions.

So fix it. Get involved. There is still time. The perspectives of ordinary Americans are just as important as those belonging to the rich and powerful.

Romney’s wife has a horse and two Cadillacs, Obama has his book deals and we have a voice and a vote.

That should make us all about even.

a.j. ogundimu l columnist

Encourage your family to join the festivities!

Register before Sept. 14 to be entered into a drawing to WIN a free overnight stay at one of the Family Weekend hotels or a $50 coupon to the UE Bookstore!

For more information or to register visit www.evansville.edu/parents or call (812) 488–2586 or (800) 423–8633, ext. 2586.

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University Worship

Passionate. Engaging. Community.

Everyone Welcome 10:30 a.m. Sundays

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Crescent Magazine l 09.2012

innovation

science

by Mindy Kurtz Hensley photo by Samantha Cook

roaches

ai d stu dy Unknown bacteria discovered.

Looking under a microscope is anything but routine for biologists, and that was the case for junior James Kohler when he noticed something odd one day in the lab. He knew he was examining bacteria, but there was something strange about it. The organisms were oval instead of round or rod-shaped. “It was a football-like shape,” he said. “It was different than anything I’d seen in class.”

The bacteria were found this summer on cockroaches Kohler collected in the Koch Center greenhouse. The idea came during a course taught by Mark Davis, associate professor of biology, where Kohler learned about vectors, or things that can transmit bacteria from one place to another. Enter the four roaches Kohler trapped to use as specimens. After he caught them, he began the process of letting the bacteria they carried grow in petri dishes, isolating and identifying as many types of bacteria as he could.

Although Kohler believed the strains of bacteria were not really worth getting excited about, he was shocked to find more than 12 different species. “I found a couple different types of [streptococcus] and [staphylococcus],” he said.

“But these types of bacteria aren’t really much to worry about in small amounts. You have them growing all over your body, but they don’t cause problems.”

Kohler and Davis then went through the process of purifying the bacteria and sending them through a gene sequencer, a process where the individual molecules in an organism’s DNA are identified in order to classify the bacteria. But Kohler noticed an unknown strain, and Davis could not identify it either, so they had it sent off to a facility in Texas to have it evaluated. “Waiting for it to come back was exciting,” Kohler said. “We had a guess as to what it was, but we wanted to be sure.”

When they received the sample back, they found it to be similar to a type of soil bacteria, but it was not an exact match. And since it was not an exact match, Davis said with extra research there is a possibility the two could name the organism and add it to a government database.

Kohler said besides looking creepy, what cockroaches carry can be formidable. “People are terrified of roaches just because of how they look,” he said. “But the thing people should be more terrified of is the bacteria they carry that can be left on our food or anywhere else in our lives.”

09.2012 l Crescent Magazine

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givingback

service

started

in 1995 by two Indiana University students, College Mentors for Kids is a nonprofit organization that has exploded in recent years on campuses across Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Kentucky. CMFK now has chapters at 23 universities and boasts more than 1,600 volunteers. UE has had a CMFK chapter since 2002.

Making a difference in the lives of children is what CMFK is all about. Partnered with the Joshua Academy, UE’s after-school program mentors — or Big Buddies — can be found escorting their charges all over campus, usually on Thursday afternoons.

When the children arrive on campus, the first through fifth graders release a little energy by playing games, which is followed by an organized activity. Activities range from learning about college life to completing scavenger hunts to crafting projects. The children have also visited various departments to see how they work and once handmade bookmarks with positive messages to pass out to anyone on campus willing to take one. “Each week we do an activity based around a theme for the week,” sophomore Kayla Eastman said. “Theme examples could be [exploring] college majors or extracurricular activities.”

Eastman said one of her best memories from last year was when CMFK paired with the dance team for an activity. “Each of the kids got to learn and perform a short dance routine,” she said. “My Little Buddy loves dancing and performing, so watching her face light up when she got to meet the dance team and perform with them really made me realize how important this program is to the kids who are involved.”

While having a good time is always important to youngsters, inspiring the need to do well in school and to eventually attend college is the underlying message mentors instill, since CMFK exposes children to positive role models and the importance of higher education.

And while mentors find ways to get those messages across, it is the connections they make and the time they spend with the children that satisfies everyone involved. “My first time [mentoring,] I was so nervous,” Eastman said. “But after I met my Little Buddy, I was just excited to get to know her. I would recommend CMFK to anyone looking for a fantastic program that allows you to make a difference in the life of a child and to just have a little fun every week.”

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Crescent Magazine l 09.2012

by Mindy Kurtz Hensley

Child’s Play

Helping children is what drives the actions of these student organizations. visiting harper

Elementary School each week is a group of theatre students known as the Harper’s Theatre Club, where they explore acting with their grade-school participants by playing theater-style games with the pintsized thespians. Senior Ryan Rohtlas said as a final project, the children present what they learned about theater and acting to family and friends.

everyone can

use a little help with their writing, and that is the mission of Writers in the Schools, a national program where volunteers help at-risk students develop their writing skills and foster a love for reading. Students from the Creative Writing and English departments have been involved with WITS since 2001 and visit local schools, which last year included Helfrich Park and Perry Heights middle schools, in an effort to instill their love of everything written.

Chair Paul Bone, assistant professor of creative writing, said participants have written poems and stories about every conceivable topic, including llamas, malls, football and yes, even Justin Bieber.

while students

get to sample the tasty dishes Chi Omega prepares for its annual fundraiser, “Make-A-Dish for Make-A-Wish” really benefits children with life-threatening medical conditions the most. Chi O supports the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a nonprofit group dedicated to granting wishes to those children, by donating the proceeds of “Make-A-Dish” to the organization.

The sorority gave more than $4,000 last year, and senior Kellsey Dempsey said Chi O is in the process of planning a wish-granting party for a local child.

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by Amy Reinhart photo by Samantha Cook

Jawad’s ONE WORD is More IT IS A SIMPLE WORD,

but sophomore Jawad AlDhalemi gives it new meaning. The computer engineering major’s thirst for more drives him to try new things, no matter what they are. One new thing was packing his bags and leaving his home in Baghdad, Iraq, for the United States. “I like to try new things,” he said, “even if they seem strange.”

AlDhalemi has not wasted any time getting involved on campus. Being an International Orientation Leader and a member of the International Club have helped him to meet other people while helping others, each adding more to his life.

But what he loves most is having a host family and being a part of the UE community. AlDhalemi has also picked up a talent he never thought he would: teaching himself to play piano by watching videos on his phone. But he also wants to do more for others. After graduation, he plans to return to Iraq and help students who want to further their education.

“I have no intention of stopping until I’m satisfied,” he said.

jawad aldhalemi l sophomore

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Crescent Magazine l 09.2012

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09.2012 l Crescent Magazine

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entertainment

get funky with brew downtown Two great events provide students with a welcome off-campus release and benefit good causes.

by Brennan Girdler

there

are quite a few things to do in Evansville if you just scout them out, and Sept. 29 turns out to be a busy day downtown with two popular events. Celebrating its 10th year, Funk in the City is the area’s premiere art festival, and you get an awesome art show when you put more than 100 artists together in one place.

Haynie’s Corner Arts District, located at Second Street and Adams Avenue, is the site of the annual event, where local artists join others from around the country to showcase everything from the traditional to the eclectic. The event is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., so you have plenty of time to browse. “The bottom line is that we strive to have a wide variety of art,” said Jamie Morris, Funk in the City vice president and events coordinator. “But we really want to focus on the fact that these are handcrafted items, created by the people who are displaying it.”

And the artistic breadth of these items ranges from watercolor paintings to sculptures to handmade clothing for children. Artisans from as far away as Arizona and Colorado will delight festival goers as they present art of all styles.

And while you stroll the district and contemplate the choices, you can satisfy your hunger pains with delicious fare from vendors stationed throughout the festival — places like the Acropolis, Greek’s Pizzeria and Kirby’s, just

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Crescent Magazine l 09.2012

to name a few. “We stay away from the hotdogs and hamburgers,” Morris said. “We try to make it a little more cultural and diverse.”

Complementing the festival will be the sound of music as the Bokeh Lounge opens its doors to provide a musical backdrop guaranteed to set the mood for the day. But to Morris, the event has a bigger purpose than just showcasing artwork and chowing down. “We’re hoping to use some of our proceeds to fund the fine arts program at the Boys & Girls Club of Evansville,” he said.

The club is near to Morris’ heart — he has been working there this summer as the resource development director.

And since Funk in the City has grown over the last 10 years, he hopes more children will be served. “We’ve gotten much bigger, and I hope that since the scope has expanded, we can reach out to a broader spectrum of people,” he said.

Admission is $5. So whether you come for the food, the art or just to support a good cause, it is money well spent.

After Funk in the City, the 15th annual Brew Ha Ha takes center stage from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Evansville Museum: Arts • History • Science, 411 S.E. Riverside Drive.

While being a college kid at any grown-up social gathering is sometimes a strong enough label to make blue-haired so-

“We try to make it a little more cultural and diverse.” cialites sneer, some events are not just for grownups. And this is one of those events. Brew Ha Ha is sponsored by the Contemporaries, the fundraising arm of the museum. The group pledged $16,000 in support for 2012, and if the numbers hold, the amount will be surpassed by December.

Proceeds support a smorgasbord of happenings, including museum exhibits, awards, the Koch Planetarium summer laser light shows and an annual artist lecturer — Roger Stoller, a sculptor commissioned to create the “Vibrant River” facade at the Ford Center, is slated for this year.

Matt Rowe, president of the Contemporaries, wants young professionals and students involved. And sorry to the younger crowd, since Brew Ha Ha is for those 21 and older.

Why? Beer — and A.C. Brown, Brew Ha Ha chair, said there is plenty to sample. “The new Tin Man Brewery, Upland, Turoni’s, the Ohio Valley Homebrewers Association and several others are the larger distributors,” he said, “but there will be lots of smaller microbrews, too.”

In addition to the different types of beer, food will be provided by local restaurants, including Bar Louie, Outlaw Burgers and the Acropolis. “They’re all small bites, but there’s a lot of small bites to go around,” Brown said.

Of course the beer and food come at a cost, and $35 will get you through the door on the day of the event as long

as you have a valid ID. But it is not just about sampling the beer and food. It is also about the music. Returning for its second year is Nashville-based Heypenny, a group with a growing fan base that plays a mix of indie-rock-fun-pop.

Drummer Aaron Distler, a local musician who graduated from Harrison High School, joined Ben Elkins and bassist D.J. Murphy in 2008. The band started with Elkins’ Use These Spoons project, which was released in 2005, followed by A Jillion Kicks in 2011.

“We’ve played at Lamasco and the Duck Inn a few times,” Distler said. “But we’re more than a bar band and have gotten to the point where we can tour and actually make money.” Heypenny played Bonnaroo in 2009, has performed at the Florida Music Festival for the past four years and even had a song on a Honda commercial. The trio presents a visually stimulating and quirky show, using old tube TVs on stage while staying involved with the crowd. “Our high-energy, synth and tight-rhythm sound is accompanied by videos we sync to the music,” Distler said.

Heypenny is looking forward to returning to Brew Ha Ha. “Last year, we hung out and drank beer,” Distler said. “They give us free reign of the museum, and we get to play in a unique and interesting place up on the [Old Gallery]. The event turns out a lot of diverse people that don’t normally go to fundraisers, and we can’t wait to perform in Evansville again.”

09.2012 l Crescent Magazine

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Immerse yourself in history

Evansville African American Museum offers a look back. more people

visit the Louvre for the art than the architecture. It is for this reason that most museums spend their money on acquiring the best collections possible and presenting the attractions in the most appealing way. And while the Evansville African American Museum contains many exhibits, the real history lies with the building itself.

When presented with a subject like showcasing Evansville’s black history, crowd-drawing exhibits are hard to come by. That is why the EAAM, located at 579 S. Garvin St., took a different approach: They made the structure, the last remaining building of Lincoln Gardens, a federal housing project created in 1938 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, the most interesting item on display.

firsttime

The museum, off Lincoln just east of downtown, is attractive with its remodeled exterior, bulky columns, reddish-brown color scheme and a North Star quilt pattern in its gate reminiscent of the symbol that directed slaves traveling to freedom along the Underground Railroad.

It bills itself as presenting the history and tradition of local African-Americans, but the focus is really on the surrounding neighborhood. Many of the exhibits detail the history of its residents, including a room dedicated to the achievements of Lincoln Gardens High School alumni. An astonishing oral history video compilation of former residents reliving life in the old neighborhood, including how occupants created their own community, with black-owned shops, doctor’s offices and grocery stores — anything people needed to be self-sustaining in a segregated Evansville — is another way to experience what life was like for families living in the area.

Another highlight is a restored 1943 apartment. Stepping into that cramped apartment feels like stepping back in time. For a few brief moments, you are stepping into someone’s home, not just another exhibit. The dated sofa and old-fashioned record player make you feel nostalgic for a time you never experienced. There even seems to be a chill in the air that makes you want to light a fire in the old coal burner and listen to the immortal Lena Horne on the phonograph as you bundle under a blanket.

One absorbs the memory of Lincoln Gardens, which was demolished in 1998, as you walk on the original 14

Crescent Magazine l 09.2012

hardwood floors, and the whole experience is more like visiting the home of a dedicated collector rather than touring a museum.

As guide Donnalita Jones begins the tour, she asks you to sit down to experience the area’s rich history.

The full story is detailed and includes tales of catastrophic floods, a presidential ordinance and a tightly knit community of African-Americans who supported one another through oppression and disaster.

Through it all stood the building. And you also learn that what was once a well-used apartment building was purchased for $1 and eventually turned into a museum that opened in April 2007.

Jones’ presentation has a few rough edges, but the imperfections only add to the charm. You feel less like someone being talked at and more like someone who is part of a conversation as Jones shares her own personal story.

As you experience the tour, you cannot help but feel just how small the apartment space really is. The main room is cluttered with paintings, portraits and artifacts, and you are somewhat overwhelmed by the sheer amount of things to see. But this adds to the experience. And you cannot help but feel that this confined sensation is the same one residents had way back when.

Video exhibits, narratives and interactive displays detail the lives of black Indiana natives and present a broader view of African-American history while still keeping things personal. The Wall of Fame serves the same function for notable Evansville natives, including Ron Glass, a 1968 UE graduate and star of the 1970s sitcom classic “Barney Miller,” who has an impressive collection on display. These and other exhibits fill the museum and enhance the overall experience.

The Evansville African American Museum may be a little off the beaten path, but it is worth the trip.

Those looking to relive some of Evansville’s black history will be satisfied. Those looking for an immersive experience of 1940s Evansville will be more than pleased. The museum is truly a one-of-a-kind experience that you will not soon forget. Admission is $5 for adults, with the museum open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

chris norris l reviewer

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15

most of us

fascinating

people

like spending time with others. We cherish the feelings we get from being with friends, family and acquaintances. But building relationships has taken on new meaning where junior Kaitlin Emmert is concerned, since the music therapy major volunteered about 65 hours last year to help worthy people and causes. And she has no intention of stopping.

Many UE students take volunteering their time seriously. More than 1,700 dipped into their busy schedules last year, donating about 20,000 hours to helping others. Emmert knew early on that giving back would be a constant in her life. The Ferdinand, Ind., native began dedicating her time her freshman year, co-founding a group called Vincentian Young Adults, where members cooked and served meals at homeless shelters.

unselfish concern With kindness and compassion, Kaitlin Emmert takes the spirit of giving to new levels.

by Mindy Kurtz Hensley photo by Samantha Cook

“ 16

Life is so short, you should do everything you can to make everyone’s life better.”

Crescent Magazine l 09.2012

But it was another experience that truly sparked Emmert’s altruisim, and not too many people use the words “nun run” when describing a volunteer experience. For Emmert, it was this specific faith-based event that started it all. As a Catholic, she visted local religious communities her freshman year, spending 24 hours interacting with nuns. She liked the closeness she felt as she got to know them, and it turned into a life-changing experience. “I had always been raised to not care so much about material things,” she said, “but I saw that these sisters had spent their lives volunteering in a way, and I realized I had spent so little of my life volunteering. They were spending their entire lives serving other people.”

Getting involved with Newman Club was also a turning point. She finds the camaraderie of the group inspiring and enjoys dedicating her time to the group’s service projects. She serves as the club’s co-president. “For me, it would be very difficult to go through college without that faith foundation, because that’s where I get my strength from,” she said.

Emmert also likes working with children as shown by her involvement with Best Buddies, an organization dedicated to establishing relationships with people who have intellectual and developmental disorders, and Circle K, a Kiwanis International-sponsored collegiate community service organization. “Circle K’s motto is ‘Live to serve, love to serve,’” she said, “and I think that really rings true to me.”

For Emmert, volunteering is much more than doing something nice for a stranger. She fosters her relationships, including her time with her “ buddy,” a 21-year-old man who works for Evansville ARC. “I don’t consider it volunteering because I’m simply visiting a friend who happens to have IDD,” she said. “I love talking to and spending time with my buddy, and it’s always tons of fun and extremely rewarding. I find that I see God, especially in people with special needs.”

“I love doing this, and I will do it as much as possible.”

Emmert also enjoys spending time with elderly residents at Evansville’s Little Sisters of the Poor, where she frequently serves dinner. “It’s fun to sit and eat with them,” she said. “The elderly are so wise. They love talking to people other than just the staff.”

Working with the elderly is not a new experience for Emmert. She made friends with an elderly woman in her hometown years ago. “Every year, when I would sell Girl Scout cookies to her, she would invite me in and tell me all about her kids and grandkids. After a few years of selling her cookies, I realized that she was lonely and could use someone to talk to. Now she is a great friend of mine.”

Music is also an important part of Emmert’s life.

As a violinist, she uses her music knowledge to help others by participating in the Music Department’s child-centered Suzuki Violin Pro-

gram. She makes weekly visits to the St. Vincent Family Center for Children and Families to teach 4- and 5-year-olds basic violin skills. “Sometimes it can be frustrating,” she said. “But 80 percent of these kids live in poverty, and this really gives them something to look forward to once a week.”

of a difference to her. “I usually say yes to everything, which isn’t always a good thing,” she said.

“I know I’m making a difference, and I hate feeling like I’m above anyone that I help,” she said.

“We are the same, and that moment is when it hits me. That I love doing this, and I will do it as much as possible.”

Emmert believes the 30-minute experience for the budding musicians results in more than just learning how to play the violin. “We see improvements, and by that I don’t mean that they’re holding the bow more correctly or have gotten more notes right, although that does happen sometimes,” she said. “But their attention spans are getting longer, they sit still longer, they’re treating each other better. These are the life skills we want to see.”

Emmert has dreams after graduating in 2014 of starting her own music therapy practice in the Ferdinand area. Since music therapy combines a passion for music and is used to help people address physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs, she ultimately wants to see more music therapists placed into locations such as schools and hospitals. To her, this is the ultimate way for her to help people. And helping others will always be a part of who she is. “Life is so short, you should do everything you can to make everyone’s life better,” Emmert said. “‘Giving is better than receiving’ rings completely true to me.”

It is evident that life can get pretty hectic for Emmert, but this does not seem to make much

09.2012 l Crescent Magazine

17

Swingin’ to the Beat Swing dancing has exploded in Evansville.

What’s the appeal behind this old-time jig?

by Rachel Willis illustration by Jessica Crihfield-Taylor

18

Crescent Magazine l 09.2012

It’s loose, chaotic and all that jazz. Some have described it as crude and degenerate, but we have also heard “it don’t mean a thing” if we don’t have it. No matter the description, it’s swing. From the 1920s through the 1950s, this syncopated form of dance made a huge impact on the world of dance, and since then it has taken on many different forms.

There are two steps at the heart of swing: the triple step and the rock step. The triple is virtually a chasse, a dance term for a step from left foot to right and back again. This is followed by the rock, a simple step back with one foot, and then the steps are repeated. But from there, anything is possible, depending on your skill level and arsenal of dance moves. And the dance moves all have their own distinct style and personality.

One of the earliest and still-performed forms, the Lindy Hop, originated in Harlem in 1928 and was popular in African-American dance. It got its name from “Shorty” George Snowden, a popular dancer who was famous for participating in contests at New York’s Savoy Ballroom.

Unlike other dance halls at the time, the Savoy was integrated, allowing both black and white dancers to compete. One night during a dance marathon, a Fox Movietone News reporter zoomed in on Snowden’s feet, and when the reporter asked him what he was doing, he said, “The Lindy.” The name stuck.

Although the height of swing dancing’s popularity was during the ‘30s and ‘40s, with resurgence in the ‘50s in response to rock ‘n’ roll, it has never really faded. The dance style made a splash in the ‘90s, and in a big way. From the 1993 movie “Swing Kids” to Gap commercials featuring a troupe of well-dressed dancers, this form of dance led to the founding of swing clubs in many communities. Evansville was no exception.

When the weather is pleasant, you can find a small group of dancers getting their groove on on Monday nights under the lights near downtown’s Sunset Park Pagoda. And on Thursday nights, various members’ homes are filled with the sounds of brass as the Evansville Swing Cats show off their skills and dance for hours.

But the Swing Cats are not an exclusive group.

They offer lessons that appeal to beginners and those more advanced.

“It’s more fun to dance with experienced [dancers] because you can learn steps from them just by doing it,” senior Emily Wright said. “You kind of surprise yourself with what you’re capable of just by following them.”

Lessons start at 7 p.m. Thursdays, but from 8 p.m. on, free dance takes over, when beginners and intermediate dancers come together to practice their moves. “As you get more advanced, it gets kind of into acrobatics like you see in the old movies, throwing people,” Wright said.

The atmosphere becomes one that is all about loving dance and letting the steps happen naturally, so dance couples are at liberty to use their imaginations. While one partner takes the lead, the rest is up to both dancers and how they choose to follow the beat of the songs. “There are several kinds of spins and dips,” sophomore Rob Reno said. “You let your partner know what you want them to do with subtle movements, either from your hands or just by turning your body a certain way.”

Those gestures can really make a difference.

One small flick of a wrist, and a partner can be airborne, dipped or spun in any direction, making free dance really exciting. “Certain jazz music is really an adrenaline rush,” said Scott Bishop, a member of the Swing Cats. “Moving around so much really gets your endorphins going.”

Bishop compared swing dance steps to a playful conversation, because every move is unexpected and exciting. “As a culture, we’re nervous about moving our bodies,” he said. “But this is just about having fun. You get over your inhibitions.”

And with Swing Cats instructors Chris Ramirez and Mark Wilson, letting go of one’s inhibitions can be easy. “If you have a willingness to learn, we have a willingness to teach,” Ramirez said.

Those who attend range from college students to people older than 60. “It’s so social,” Wright said. “A stranger could grab my hand and say ‘Dance with me.’”

Likewise, when it comes to partnering, it doesn’t matter if you are single, dating or married. Everyone dances with everyone else. This

makes it easier for new members to integrate themselves with the more seasoned dancers.

“You lose part of [the experience] when you just see it,” Reno said. “But when your body is in motion swing dancing, it adds a certain exhilaration. Sometimes it feels like you’re just flying by the seat of your pants when the tempo picks up.”

Part of that exhilaration is due to the intense cardio involved. “It’s like any dancing,” Reno said. “You’re constantly moving. You start sweating and get tired, but you’re having fun despite those things. Your mind is focused on fun rather than on work, and that makes you want to keep going.”

Music used for swing dancing is usually jazz.

One popular song is the “Charleston,” which is also a dance style where the group performs the same footwork. “The music itself is very social, and that kind of extends into the people,” Bishop said. The social aspect of swing dancing extends across the world. The Swing Cats have been to both regional and national workshops where they have met people from as far away as Australia. And some dances are all-nighters.

The group once danced for 24 hours straight while in New Orleans for a workshop. For them, The Big Easy is the best place to go to enjoy swing’s culture and history. “New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz, and the U.S. is the birthplace of swing, so it goes hand in hand,” said Carrie Newman, also a Swing Cats member.

This wild street dance not only provides a break from Thursday night studying but a peek into its place in American culture and history. “Swing culture cherishes that history and really makes sure the community as a whole understands that and learns to cherish it, too,” Bishop said.

Besides occasional spontaneous instances in Ridgway Center, UE students do not have a swing dance group yet, but some enthusiasts are petitioning to become a campus organization. “A lot of people don’t know about it,” Wright said. “This kind of thing is a lot more fun if you have a group of people.”

As for the Swing Cats, it is a way of life, and when it comes to slowing down, that’s just not an option. “We stop when our bodies shut down,” Ramirez said.

09.2012 l Crescent Magazine

19

An estimated

23 million young Americans under the age of 30 voted in the 2008 presidential election, an increase of 3.4 million compared to 2004.

Young voters were late to make up their minds in 2008. Only

50 percent of young voters said they had made up their minds before September compared to 60 percent of the entire electorate.

More than

1.7 million

students attend college out-of-state. Most are eligible to vote in either their home state or in their college state.

Young people hold mixed opinions of the presidential candidates, almost

34 percent of respondents said they would vote for Obama if the election were held today versus 16.1 percent who would vote for Romney.

—CIRCLE, August 2012

20

Crescent Magazine l 09.2012

no vote no voice

Voting comes in many shapes and sizes, depending on where you live in the United States. And we have certainly come a long way from counting ballots by hand and pulling a mechanical lever from behind a privacy curtain. But the same questions continue to be asked: Why don’t we vote? And even if we want to, how can we?

being a good citizen, with 81 percent of nonvoters also agreeing it is an important way to voice their opinions.

With the presidential election just around the corner — 61 short days away — registering to vote and actually voting have again made their ways to the forefront of the political landscape. The Campus Vote Project reports that despite accounts of overwhelming youth involvement in the 2008 presidential election, young voters only made up about 19 percent of the electorate.

In reality, registration seems to be the key to getting students to vote. The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement found in that 2010, well over a quarter of students reported that they did not register to vote because they did not know where or how to register or they missed the deadline. Incredibly, CIRCLE found that 87 percent of 18 to 24 year olds who registered to vote actually voted in 2008. But the Campus Vote Project says that while young adults will make up at least 24 percent of the voting-age population this year, unlike other age groups, they face extra barriers to the ballot box.

So, what gives? Some say students are often distracted by their studies, all-important social lives and other general concerns, and political education may be one of the last things on our milelong lists, even though college is the ideal place to change and form our own opinions. Others claim students are too busy, even though we spend massive amounts of free time online. Campaigns have figured this out and regularly use social networking sites as a catalyst for increased awareness and to move voting to the forefront of the American mind-set.

Most states require that you register to vote about 30 days in advance of Election Day. Online is the simplest way to figure out what to do. By visiting Can I Vote at canivote.org, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission at eac. gov or the Federal Voting Assistance Program at fvap.gov — just to name a few sites specializing in helping people vote — all students have to do is select their home state and go from there. These sites allow users to register to vote and request, receive and track their ballots, all while adhering to their state’s specific guidelines.

The problem is not that people think voting is unimportant. The Campus Vote Project found that 93 percent of infrequent voters agreed that voting is an important part of

For those who do not reside in Vanderburgh or one of the surrounding counties, absentee voting is the way to go once registered. In close elections, it can make the difference, but

most states require absentee ballots be postmarked by a certain date. You cannot cast your ballot online, and the specifics of voting away from home can be confusing if you do not take the time to figure out the rules.

reason — if registered, they have the ability and the right to vote. Web sites such as longdistancevoter.org can be helpful since they help students request an absentee ballot in the mail.

And not every student faces the same rules.

While each state has its own rules when it comes to voting absentee, it is not difficult if it is done early enough. “Students need to do it now,” said Susan Kirk, Vanderburgh County clerk of courts. “It’s easier than it seems, and there’s no excuse not to vote.”

In reality, voting absentee is not sexy. There is no trip to the polls, no flipping a switch or pressing a touch screen, but it is the way for students to be heard. And to Kirk, the ease of absentee voting lets students put their focus in a better place: gathering much-needed information on the candidates and the upcoming election. “To be an educated voter, do the research,” she said. “It takes some time and effort to become educated, but I’m hoping that younger people will be more savvy about researching candidates and not vote based on a name. We could see a sweeping change.”

And Kirk is right. All registered voters are eligible to vote absentee if they have a specific, reasonable expectation that they will be absent from their home county on Election Day. All students who reside out of town have a

by Mindy Kurtz Hensley

Without a vote, we are bound to social silence.

Speak up.

“It’s easier than it seems, and there’s no excuse not to vote.”

Important Deadlines While you may be away from home, there is still time to register to vote and get that absentee ballot back home to the right people.

Voter Registration & Absentee Ballot Deadlines AL 10/2 7 11/5

IL

1 0/9

1 1 /5

M T 1 0/9

11/6

RI

10/ 7

11/6

AK 10/ 7

11/6

IN

1 0/9

1 1 /6

N D N /A

N/A

SC 10/6

11/6

AZ 10/ 7

11/6

IA

1 0/27 1 1 /6

N E 1 0/ 1 9 11/6

S D 10/22 11/6

AR 10/ 7

11/6

KS

1 0/ 1 6 1 1 /6

N V 1 0/ 1 6 11/6

TN 10/8

11/6

CA 10/2 2 11/6

K Y 1 0/ 1 0 1 1 /6

N H 1 0/27 11/6

TX 10/9

11/6

CO 10/9

L A 1 0/9

NJ

U T 10/9

11/6

11/6

1 1 /5

1 0/ 1 6 11/6

CT 10/2 3 11/6

M E 1 0/ 1 6 1 1 /6

N M 1 0/9

11/6

V T 10/31 11/5

DC 10/9

M D 1 0/ 1 6 1 1 /6

N Y 1 0/ 1 2 11/5

VA 10/ 15 11/6

DE 10/ 13 11/6 FL

11/6

M A 1 0/ 1 7 1 1 /6

N C 1 0/ 1 2 11/6

WA 10/8

10/9

11/6

M I 1 0/ 1 6 1 1 /6

O H 1 0/9

11/5

W V 10/ 16 11/6

GA 10/9

11/6

M N 1 0/ 1 6 1 1 /6

O K 1 0/ 1 2 11/6

W I 10/ 17 11/5

HI

10/8

11/5

M S 1 0/6

O R 1 0/ 1 6 11/6

W Y 10/22 11/6

ID

10/ 12 11/6

1 1 /5

M O 1 0/ 1 0 1 1 /6

PA 1 0/9

11/6

11/2

✓

Even from across the pond, you can vote. Web sites such as the Federal Voting Assistance Program at fvap.gov or Vote from Abroad at votefromabroad.org allow students to apply electronically, vote electronically or have their ballot sent to their overseas address.

09.2012 l Crescent Magazine

21

@uelinc

Like the LinC on Facebook and discover quirky UE history like this:

The Mudslide of ‘83

Excessive rain in Evansville is nothing new, and the spring of ‘83 was a wet one as this student found out the muddy way. The LinC encouraged students to get crazy, have a water fight in their residence hall, go on a panty raid or penny-in their RAs and above all, forget them if they can’t take a joke!

Haven’t picked up your 2012 LinC? Stop by Student Publications Ridgway Center, second floor

22

Crescent Magazine l 09.2012

obstacle

defying junior david price’s

life in a word: defiance. And it certainly seems to fit.

He has defied the odds, and while it has not always been easy, he feels that it has only been through the grace of God that he has he been able to overcome the obstacles that challenged him early in life.

Lucky enough to be adopted as an infant by a loving and doting couple, the Mount Vernon, Ill., native describes his parents as a great source of encouragement and the guiding forces in his life, qualities Price hopes to emulate someday. “My parents always put schoolwork at the forefront,” he said. “Seeing my father and what he has done for me and my mother, I just want to have the opportunity to do that for someone someday.

Value cannot be placed on that.”

As a child, Price suffered from a medical condition that resulted in one leg being shorter than the other. The condition led to painful physical problems and hindered his ability to play sports, one of the great loves of his life. While Price was not able to play as well as he would have liked, his passion for sports never waned. He is still a

dormstorm

by Chelsea Modglin photo by Samantha Cook

die-hard St. Louis Cardinals fan, enjoys weightlifting and uses running around Braun Stadium as a way to stay in shape and relieve stress.

Ultimately, those childhood challenges turned into positives. To Price, a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, he has already conquered one of life’s biggest worries — knowing what he wants to do career wise. “I think that the biggest challenge, or something a lot of people worry about, is finding something you actually want to do,” he said. “To find happiness that is not necessarily based on wealth or success. But something is going to happen, and opportunities will be put in front of you. It’s all about how you respond to those opportunities.”

Price has certainly responded to opportunities.

One was deciding to attend UE and major in biochemistry. “Coming [to UE] as a freshman was awesome, but at the same time intimidating,” he said. “It was awesome because I was getting out of the house. But after my first class, I felt unprepared. It was a struggle to find a balance between the social things and class.”

But he has found balance. Although Price admits

one of the the craziest things he has done as a student was starting a paper and presentation at 2 a.m. for an 8 a.m. class, over the years, he has come up with his own strategies for staying calm amid mountains of homework. “I write out what I have to do, the necessities, which helps me to find time for fun,” he said.

Price’s summer job is another opportunity he has taken advantage of. As a phlebotomist at a hospital in his hometown, he sees it as a step toward medical school, where he hopes to become an orthopedic surgeon. “It’s just always been a goal of mine to help people,” he said.

But if you dig just a little deeper, you will find a guy who also likes to sing everything from opera to rap. “We’ll be sitting somewhere and he’ll just belt out a tune,” junior Eric Lee said. “He’s a real good singer and writer. He’s pretty relaxed.

He just doesn’t get too worried over the little things.”

Music has always been a hobby, but when he and Lee tried to rap, they found it was not their strong suit. “We bought a microphone, but it wasn’t as easy as it seemed,” Price remembered.

09.2012 l Crescent Magazine

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5

by Danielle Weeks

A G E A N D 2

1

1

1

2

1

S

1

U P 1

3

Why technology has not been able to sink our love for board games.

Roll a die, go back three spaces and draw a card. Do not pass adolescence. Go directly to childhood. For many, board games are linked to childhood. Dusting off the ol’ Scrabble tiles brings back memories of games played with friends and siblings, when you did your best to spell forbidden words.

But games are not just for childhood. New games like Dirty Minds and Cards Against Humanity use sex and dark humor to target older audiences. But many still love the classics.

For some, it was only a matter of graduating from Outburst Junior to the 10-and-up version to get us back into it.

Wired magazine reports that board games have been around for thousands of years, and chess has existed in its modern form for at least 500 years. LIFE was America’s first popular board game, created by Milton Bradley in 1860. But mass-market board games were born during the Great Depression, including Monopoly in 1935. Over the years, other classics were established: Candy Land in 1949, Risk in 1959 and Battleship in 1967.

Senior Courtney Dial and her husband have been playing games since they were children.

She said her husband’s family is more board-game oriented than hers, but she still remembers growing up playing cards, checkers and Candy Land. Now the couple has drawers filled with everything from Risk and Clue to newer games like Balderdash and The Settlers of Catan.

Considered one of the new classics, Settlers hit the German market in 1995 before finding its way to the United States. Like Monopoly, it is a multiplayer real-estate development game set on an island rich in natural resources to which players have limited access.

Trading resources is what keeps the game interesting. “It sounds nerdy, but it is a really fun and strategic game,” Dial said.

Games that have been around for years still sell, but companies find ways to keep them fresh for new audiences. Dial said one reason she thinks people are still interested in board games is that companies are introducing games like Bananagrams, a word game similar to Scrabble, that have familiar premises but interesting new twists.

Manufacturers also keep their games on the market through reinvention. Dial pointed out that today’s version of Operation is much different from its older version, partly be24

Crescent Magazine l 09.2012

cause of technological and audio improvements.

Monopoly has hundreds of differently themed editions, from NFL to Batman.

Hasbro has created editions of Risk that alter themes and also gameplay, such as when the company came out with its 2210 A.D. version.

Instead of trying to eliminate all other players, the edition rules state that after five rounds, the player with the most points wins, which gives the game a definite endpoint. And for those who struggle through hours-long games, that kind of defined endpoint is reassuring.

The range of board games means everyone can find a type that has appeal. Senior James Drury said his family played everything from Yahtzee to Hungry Hungry Hippos. “If it had a double adjective, we were there,” he said.

While Drury said his brother will no longer play games with him because Drury always won, whenever Drury and senior Brittany Robinson played Monopoly, she was usually the victor.

“It’s because she picked the hat,” he said. “She gave me the wheelbarrow. Who ever wins with the wheelbarrow?”

Drury also said he has gone to nursing homes to play games with residents. “I’ll still play chess against whoever wants to,” he said.

And that universality is another draw for board games. A game for players age 3 and up means just that: A group of people who have vastly different interests or are from different generations can still bond over a good game of Boggle. “It’s a real community-building thing,” Dial said.

Besides being fun, adaptable and nostalgic, games are economical. Relatively speaking, games are cheap fun. A night at the movies can be pricey for students, but a pack of Uno runs about $5. And games like Mattel’s Apples to Apples, which depend on the players’ imaginations, are nearly boundless in the ways their rules can be readapted.

CNNMoney reports that the popularity of board games is a result of a recession-resistant industry. For people who have to work with tight budgets, games are a savvy way to save money. Toy industry specialist Chris Byrne said board games have always done well during recessions. Ironically, during the Great Depression the most popular game was Monopoly.

The rising popularity of video games led some

people to fear that those games would replace board games and that new games would not have a market. Drury said he used to play board games with his friends but then started playing more video games. “It’s like how TV killed the radio,” he said. “Video games killed board games.”

But just as people still listen to the radio, people still play board games. They offer a sense of face-to-face community that is lacking in many video games. “I don’t think board games are going away,” Byrne told CNNMoney. “In a screendriven world, we really need human interaction.

That’s something board games have that hasn’t been replicated.”

Drury said even with the popularity of video games, board games still appeal to our nostalgic nature and our sense of commonality with other people. “Board games have a more universal draw,” he said. “It’s hard to find someone who hasn’t played board games.”

The line between video games and board games has been blurred in some cases. Some board games have found new venues as smartphone apps or online games. Words With Friends is an online Scrabble imitator that allows people to alternate turns with a friend online. Drury said he plays online versions of board games and chess against the computer. Dial added that these games might reach out to younger generations that may not have grown up with classic board games.

But much like video games, these online games lack the face-to-face element that can make board games so appealing. When Drury’s family visits, they play board games together. And Dial and her husband pull out Apples to Apples or Clue when friends come over. “Board games are a fun way to lighten the mood and get people talking,” Dial said.

Board games also involve everyone in the process. Attention is not focused on one person because everyone’s actions affect the gameplay as a whole. “It’s a way to interact and include everyone equally,” Drury said. “With a board game, you’re almost always in a circle, and you get to watch everyone’s reactions. It’s a more group dynamic.”

But with the right group and the right game, the outcome matters little — although everyone still wants to win. “[My husband] is very competitive,” Dial said. “I think I’m just a little more secretive about being competitive.”

09.2012 l Crescent Magazine

25

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Crescent Magazine l 09.2012

Q: A: Q: A:

Q: Samantha Cook/Crescent Magazine

A:

Q:

6 Questions

A:

for SGA President Patrick Hayden

Q:

Crescent Magazine sat down with the senior management and finance major to ask a few questions.

A:

q&a

interview You are the first president in a long time who is not a member of the Greek system. What do you think of that?

It’s very exciting. As most of UE is not Greek, I feel that it allows me to see UE from a standpoint that some past presidents didn’t have. Will it help the everyday student? I hope so.

The school year goes by pretty quickly. What do you want to accomplish during your term?

What I’d like to accomplish is make sure students are represented. I want to make sure students have a voice on committees and for faculty members to be able to say that students were in attendance. Some students may be more inclined to do more. I want to prioritize my time doing things that will make the most impact.

You’re required as president to appoint a number of students to a lot of different committees. Is that a problem?

Although I do see some issues with the SGA president appointing about 50 people, I want to make sure I get the message out to everyone that everyone has a opportunity to get on one of those committees. Something I have thought of to mitigate that number is to actually have students on committees for multiple academic years.

How do you plan on making committee appointments more of a representative sample of all students on campus?

I think that’s what reaching out to the student body and offering it up for everyone to apply will do. Hopefully, I will get a lot of feedback from people who are interested in joining these committees. They’re not time-consuming.

We have heard that you and administrators have been meeting and discussing the possibility of bringing back football. True?

An issue often brought up at board of trustees meetings is whether football is financially a good decision to bring back.

The board decided to hire a consulting group. They are in the process of identifying if football would be fiscally practical to bring back. I think bringing back football would help us draw in students, to develop more pride in the university.

Q:

Communication between SGA and students last year was not good. How will you close that communication gap?

A:

I feel that’s what we’ll have to strive for this year. While I certainly want to put some type of newsletter out through email, I’d like to take advantage of Crescent Magazine and AceNotes, as well. Included will be recent events, recent decisions that Student Congress has made, possibly updates from the meetings I have with Faculty Senate. I’ve also been thinking about how to use Facebook better. Having a web site would be useful for student government’s purposes.

09.2012 l Crescent Magazine

27

TAKE CHARGE. THINK PINK. pon s ored b y

s

breast

Mark your calendars and plan to attend the

ZETA TAU ALPHA

for

ign-up h ealth reminders

s

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Crescent Magazine l 09.2012

throughthelens

photos

by Samantha Cook

get the gold

The spirit of the Olympics. swimming

beach volleyball and archery?

No, this was a clash of the Titans, UE’s own version of the Olympic Games. Competing against other small groups and their Orientation Leaders, the class of 2016 got up close and personal with others they had just met 48 hours ago. The annual event included wrapping OLs in toilet paper and making them run across the intramural field and the ever-awkward relay of passing a tennis ball from person to person using only their chins. The last of the games divided the field into a battleground. Armed with water balloons and displaying war paint on their faces, freshmen charged at one another, roaring battle cries and dodging those pesky bombs.

“We fought for the right to live on these grasses.”

[Any superhero would approve of freshman Tyler Asgrimson’s chin of steel as he completes a tricky transfer from freshman Anneliese Trapp. [Amy Rabenberg] [It seems that just a little war paint is all freshman Dylan Crow needs to unleash the wrath of his inner water balloon warrior.

[Samantha Cook] [After being entirely wrapped in toilet paper, senior Matt Williams has the disadvantage as he tries to out race his fellow Orientation Leaders. [Jessica Crihfield-Taylor] [Smearing on a mustache and goatee, senior Kami Schmitt prepares freshman Chris Costello for the upcoming games and water balloon fight. [Jessica Crihfield-Taylor]

09.2012 l Crescent Magazine

29

fitness

& health

by Mindy Kurtz Hensley

Man vs. Machine

Make using the Fitness Center equipment no sweat. working out

means different things to different people, but sometimes the hardest part is learning how to use the often confusing equipment situated on the second floor of the Fitness Center.

Director Jeff Chestnut knows the different types of equipment have the potential to boost any workout, and many are students’ workout staples. But quite a bit sits unused.

“They can be intimidating,” he said. “There’s nothing worse than not knowing how to use them with other people in there.”

“Take baby steps and start thinking long-term. Every little bit counts.”

Getting past the unknown is the first step. Chestnut said the equipment is much safer to use than free weights, and he stresses that novices need to realize how easy the machines are to use. “They’re great for a beginner or someone who just wants to work certain parts of their body,” he said.

Every machine sports a placard that explains how to use it and includes such information as the simple steps to getting started, complete with a visual example. The equipment is grouped into working five different body sections — chest,

legs, back, arms and abdominals. But before using any of the machines, Chestnut suggests stretching your muscles by doing some light cardio exercise, such as walking up and down the steps several times or cycling for a few minutes.

Once you are ready to begin, pick a machine and get comfortable by adjusting the seat, chest pads or amount of weight. And always select a small amount of weight to start with, just to get the feel of the machine. Each console’s buttons allow you to add or subtract weight. And only you can see the amount of weight you are lifting, so there is no reason to feel as if you have to keep up with your more-experienced neighbor.

The key to success is to make sure your form is correct.

Keep your knees bent slightly and look straight ahead, and only do as many repetitions as you feel comfortable with.

“You can go as fast or as slow as you want, and add or subtract as much weight as you want,” Chestnut said. “Just listen to your body.”

The most important advice Chestnut offers: stick with whatever workout plan you choose. For him, it is not just cardio or lifting that makes the ultimate workout, but both.

“Take baby steps and start thinking long-term by making exercise a part of your life,” he said. “Every little bit counts.”

09.2012 l Crescent Magazine

31

overtime

sports

making a splash

Rickey Perkins’ approach suits his athletes

by Jessica Ingle photos by Samantha Cook

32

Crescent Magazine l 09.2012

as coach rickey perkins

enters his 11th season at the helm of the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams, the three-time MVC Coach of the Year remains humble about his accomplishments, instead turning the spotlight on his swimmers and divers. “It’s not about me,” he said.

“It’s about the people around me.”

For a man who has dedicated his career to a sport he loves and student-athletes at UE since 2002, it’s hard not to shed a little of that spotlight on the Midland, Texas, native. Over the years, Perkins has guided a wealth of UE talent, including 2011 graduate Christina Schmidgall, who finished her career with UE records in the 500, 1,000 and 1,650 freestyle, ranks in the MVC’s Top 10 in five events and received the 2011 MVC Elite 18 Award. Perkins has led his UE squads to 40 all-MVC honors, 54 scholar-athletes awards and four CoSIDA/ESPN Academic All-American selections. And his 2011–12 women’s team saw six swimmers and a diver named to all-MVC teams, while seven were honored with scholar-athlete team nods.

Four members of the men’s team received academic all-MAC recognition.

A graduate of the University of Alaska Anchorage, Perkins began his coaching career in 1989 at the high school and club levels, taking over the program at his alma mater from 1994 to 1998. Under his direction, Alaska-Anchorage improved from 24th to 13th in the NCAA Division II National Championship meet, while producing 16 All-Americans. Under his leadership, the team’s overall GPA also improved. Perkins served on the coaching staff of the Barracuda Swim Club in Nassau, Bahamas, from 1998 to 1999 and helped lead the team to seven meet records and its highest finish ever at the CARIFTA Swim Championships, the most prestigious swim meet among Caribbean countries. He coached at the University of Washington from 1999 to 2002, where he helped the Huskies set 17 school records.

The 2011–12 season was the first for sophomore Conor Sprick, who said he was not sure what to expect once he arrived at UE. But now that he has worked with Perkins for a season, he thinks he is the best coach he has ever had. “Everything he does, he does with passion,” he said. “He’s very emotional.”

Perkins seems to have both the work ethic and personality needed to be an excellent coach by anyone’s standards. He tailors his approach to suit each of his swimmers and constantly looks to the future, thinking of what he can do to improve his teams. “To Rickey, they’re real people, not pawns,” former assistant Heike Gutwein said. “For Rickey, it’s not just how fast his swimmers are. He’s just really great with everyone.”

Perkins takes the time to connect with his swimmers, helping them through personal problems and showing interest in their activities outside of swimming. “I find out what they’re here for and bring that to the surface,” he said.

While he modestly acknowledges the recognition from his peers, he seems more comfortable praising his athletes. “I stand there and try to look good. They do it all,” he said, adding that the best part of his job is welcoming recruits, watching their progress and seeing them leave UE as sophisticated seniors.

Unlike large schools that usually have more support staff, Perkins guides his teams with the help of three people: new assistant coach Alex Howard, diving coach Anna Wimmenauer and a volunteer coach who just happens to be his wife, Delores. Remarkably, the lack of more help does not seem to bother Perkins. “It’s my whole career,” he said. “To me, there is no difference.”

While additional help might make life easier, Perkins’ dedication to his teams does not waiver. During the season, he literally runs practice all day as swimmers come in whenever their schedules allow. “It’s probably stressful, but he manages,” said junior Jill Enge, a 2011–12 all-MVC second team swimmer.

As with staffing, swimming and diving’s budget is not large. Gutwein, who swam for Ohio State, said the budget at the Big 10 school was much different. “There was money falling from the sky,” she said.

But that is not the case at UE. Perkins said he plans accordingly, reiterating that his squads can still compete with the larger schools, no matter the budget. “At times, it’s frustrating, but when it’s all you think about, you lose the reason why you’re here,” he said. “The importance of what you’re doing lessens the sting of low funding.”

09.2012 l Crescent Magazine

33

campus crime The following information was compiled from criminal offense reports filed July 4– Aug. 19 in Safety & Security.

Aug. 19 – Flat screen TV stolen from the Hale Hall storage room sometime between May 5 and Aug. 18. Loss not reported.

– Flat screen TV stolen from the Hale Hall storage room sometime between May 5 and Aug. 18. Loss reported at $250.

Aug. 16 –Texas Instruments calculator stolen from a vehicle parked in P-lot. Loss reported at $100.

Aug. 1 – Ashtray stolen from area outside Olmsted Hall and Bower-Suhrheinrich Library. Loss reported at $50.

July 15 – Two vehicles vandalized in J-lot. Loss not reported.

July 13 – Laptop computer stolen from a Schroeder Hall room. Recovered and returned to owner.

July 4 – Traffic control sign removed from ground and stuck in a flower pot on Ridgway Center terrace. Loss not reported.

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Crescent Magazine l 09.2012

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I AM

generous those lung-burning steps

to the fourth floor of Olmsted Hall can tax anyone. But it’s well worth the trek once there because behind the last hallway door sits a big blue chair, a mountain of books and Heidi Strobel, associate professor of art history.

Years ago, Strobel thought she wanted to be a lawyer. She worked as a paralegal for a law firm in Chicago for three years, but it was an art history course she took while studying abroad in France that launched her teaching journey. “I decided I liked art more than law,” she said, “and I was looking for something I could do for 40 years.”

Strobel discovered the importance of pursuing a career she could enjoy while completing her doctorate at the University of Illinois. “I like looking at art,” she said. “If you can find something that is more fun than work, then you’ve found the right thing.” Her dissertation, “The Artistic Matronage of Queen Charlotte,” recounts 16 female artists supported by the English queen, only one of four women who sponsored female artists at the time. “I have a lot of admiration for 18thcentury artists,” Strobel said. “I’m not very artistic myself, so I’m often pleasantly overwhelmed at what people in the past were able to do.”

acloserlook

by Chelsea Modglin photo by Samantha Cook

Having traveled once to Wimbledon to watch the pros play the game she loves, Heidi Strobel is quick to admit that her tennis game hasn’t improved much in the 30 years she’s been playing.

She teaches a number of courses, including two general education options that have an average enrollment of about 40 students in each course. “I like being with students,” she said. “I like getting them to see things they might not have seen before. It really invigorates me to go [to class] and talk about art.”

One thing Strobel emphasizes is the relevance of art to everyday situations. “I think it’s important to know what you are looking at and to see it critically,” she said. “In college, you are bombarded with images.

Why does a presidential candidate use a certain backdrop? How does a leader present him or herself?”

Strobel also cherishes time with her family. Married to Chair Paul Bone, associate professor of creative writing, the two met at UE and have two children, a 6-year-old son and a 2-year-old daughter. Travel also goes along with Strobel’s love of art. She hopes to visit China someday to view Asian art. “Aesthetically, I like how different Asian art is from Western art,” she said. “It really emphasizes the written word, and it was a very practical movement.”

Strobel is putting the finishing touches on a book titled “Enlightened Essays,” a collection that discusses material culture, what she describes as any artistic object that is not painting or sculpture. She hopes to have the book published next year. And tucked away high in Olmsted, amid the mountain of books in the office with the blue chair, Strobel still manages to dedicate the time and effort needed to see her students succeed. “Coming [to UE] was a very good decision,” she said.

09.2012 l Crescent Magazine

35

offthewall

Humans are believed to experience an average of 70,000 thoughts each day and have an average of four dreams per night.

WhoKnew?

dotm gotta get it watch out, pac-man.

Namco’s Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde are back, and this time, the ghosts are going 3-D. Measuring an average of 3 feet tall, these novelty ghost shelves are a necessity for any dedicated Pac-Man nostalgic. While suitable as a regular piece of furniture for books, movies and music, they also can function as a decorative addition to the homes of those unable to part from one of gaming’s classics. Lightyourselfup.com, one of Etsy’s vendors, designs a variety of this pixel furniture, including animals, shapes and any other design customers desire. The ghosts themselves are entirely customizable, from the sizes and colors to the direction of where its square black eyes peek from the corners of its pixelated eyeballs. The shelves go for about $570 each, so if you want to get the gang back together, it will cost you nearly $2,500. Pac-Man would be pleased, yes, but your wallet, not so much.

heard it here

“I wear a necklace, cause I wanna know when I’m upside down.”

tidbits & assets

— Mitch Hedberg

Painkiller

Whether you have lingering back problems from moving in or a headache from that 18-hour course load, this cocktail will give you the relief you can’t believe you already need. Copykat.com says to combine ingredients in a shaker and pour over a tall glass of ice. Sprinkle nutmeg on top and serve.

ingredients

: 2 oz. dark rum / 1 oz. cream of coconut / 4 oz. pineapple juice / 1 oz. orange juice kinseyinstitute.org

the kinsey institute recently conducted a study on what researchers call exercise-induced orgasms and exercise-induced sexual pleasure, the latter being when people feel aroused or excited during exercise and may even come close to having an orgasm but do not actually have one. This can happen during a number of different types of exercises, including crunches, biking, yoga and running. Though the study was focused on women’s experiences, those conducting the study heard from a number of men who described having experienced it themselves. Researchers do not yet fully understand how it happens, but you can read more about these so-called “coregasms,” which get their popular name from the association with core muscular exercises, in “Sex Made Easy: Your Awkward Questions Answered for Better, Smarter, Amazing Sex” by Debby Herbenick.

WhoKnew? A private elementary school in Alexandria, Va., accidentally served margaritas to its school children, thinking it was limeade.

36

Crescent Magazine l 09.2012

telegraph.co.uk

hole in the wall What’s better than Severus Snape of “Harry Potter” fame? Snape singing karaoke, riding a rollercoaster or doing other things nonmagical humans do. The author of the blog “Severus Snape Doing Everyday Things” at everydaysnape.tumblr.com uses Photoshop to reinvent the wizard as a Muggle. The potions master and former Death Eater almost seems neighborly.

there’s an

app

for that

Tired of checking each of your favorite web pages individually throughout the day?

Pulse, from Alphonso Labs, is a sleek, easyto-use app for iOS and Android and gathers all your news, gossip and more in one place. Best part? It’s free.

Placing an ad in the newspaper? You might want to reconsider. John Lindsay, the mischievous creator of dontevenreply.com, is not the average peruser of the classifieds. He gets his kicks by e-mailing advertisers and pissing them off as much as possible. It’s not fun to be one of his victims, but it is fun to laugh at them.

dumblaws.com

oddlaws

Fools Rush In

ri

A marriage is no longer binding if either party is considered an idiot or a lunatic.

Secret Stash

pa

Housewives are not allowed to hide dirt and dust under the rugs in their homes.

time suck of the month

Lip-Locked

being a child of the ‘90s was the best of

It is illegal to have a mustache if the bearer tends to frequently kiss other people.

times. Things were so much simpler and slightly less fashionable. But if you find yourself in need of a stroll down memory lane or just a way to kill time, visit imremembering.com, one of the best nostalgia sites tumblr has to offer. They have everything — from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to 151 Pokemon.

Municipal Meltdown

in

ca

In Chico, there is a $500 fine issued to anyone who detonates a nuclear device in the city.

it came from the library Many sailors knew Salem, Mass., simply as the pepper port after Capt. Jonathan Carnes brought the first cargo of the now-popular seasoning to the U.S. in 1797. While his first shipment was destroyed in a shipwreck, he eventually delivered the spicy seasoning to Salem from Indonesia, which became the center of spice trade in North America.

The first monument to a comic strip character was dedicated during a spinach festival in 1937 in Crystal City, Texas, the “Spinach Capital of the World.” The likeness of Elzie Crisler Segar’s cartoon character Popeye, the popular spinach-eating sailor, was credited by the spinach industry with a 33 percent increase in spinach consumption from 1931 to 1936.

The man who invented the sewing machine also invented the first zipper in 1851 and called it an “automatic, continuous clothing closure.” But he never got a patent. Credit instead goes to Whitcomb Judson, who, with Col. Lewis Walker, founded the Universal Fastener Co. and marketed the first “clasp locker” at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893.

Smaller falcons have a greater output of eggs than larger falcons. The female American Kestrel lays eggs that average more than 11 percent of her body weight. She lays three to seven eggs over a period of two or three days, producing more than half of her body weight in eggs. And while females do most of the incubating, it seems males do help.

good news bad news

no magic.

Britain’s Magic Mike may have to alter his stage name because his children’s entertainment business is being confused for “Magic Mike,” the film about male strippers. Michael DeFreitas has delighted children for years with his magic shows and ventriloquist’s act.

Now, when he turns up in his purple van, people think he is about to bare it all. He has received inquiries about adult entertainment and is often asked: “Are you the stripper?”

off to rehab.

Staff at the Taru Jurug Zoo in Indonesia have moved a 15-year-old orangutan out of sight so she can kick her smoking habit. Tori first started smoking a decade ago after visitors began throwing cigarette butts into her enclosure. Her curiosity was aroused, and now she is hooked. Spokesman Daniek Hendarto said Tori and her male companion were moved to an island within the zoo so visitors can no longer watch her puffing away.

really? A lawyer from Philadelphia visiting the Italian city of Garda complained to local media after finding that a supermarket was stocking wine featuring Adolf Hitler on the labels. One bottle features Hitler with his arm raised in the Nazi salute, another is labeled ‘Mein Kampf.” Local prosecutors have opened an inquiry into the sale of the wine.

WhoKnew? The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.

09.2012 l Crescent Magazine

37

thelists

best places things that make us crazy to eat this month We’ve all been there.

You’re taking a nap when an alarm that could wake the dead blares from your room phone. But before retreating under your desk, remember it is just UE’s alert system.

Best to wait until 12:01 p.m.

Wednesdays to take that nap.

Using that gigantic monolith that is your iPad as a camera is ridiculous. We are glad you want to commemorate that event, but there are better ways to do it.

Justice comes in many forms, but it does not come in a golf cart. Sure, getting around campus is easier for Safety & Security officers, but let’s face it, nothing says “respect my authority” like officers stopping you while sitting in a golf cart complete with a strobe light.

There is a flashing yellow light, white stripes on the road and a sign warning drivers to watch for pedestrians.

Perhaps stopping would be a good option when you see people in the crosswalk, because there’s nothing better for walkers than nearly getting run over by a vehicle.

thai papaya cuisine

keeps its dining options classic and affordable. The restaurant offers more traditional entrees like Phad Thai and Singha, a type of Thai beer, while unique appetizers like spring rolls served with a sweet cucumber sauce dominate as a customer favorite. 6240 E. Virginia St. • thaipapayacuisine.com

la cabana is known for its secret salsas and of-

fers more than basic Mexican cuisine. The menu boasts a variety of entrees including many seafood, steak and vegetarian options. But La Cabana keeps its best appetizers hidden. Only served upon request, the “three salsas” are not only house specialties, but they are also free. 821 S. Green River Road. • lacabanaevansville.com

bits & bytes keeps its breakfast and lunch items

simple, offering hash browns, toast, and potato and macaroni salads for $1 each. But its house specialty is the “floppy disk” sandwich. It is made with roast beef, turkey or ham and topped with cheese, alfalfa sprouts and the restaurant’s own special sauce. The entire sandwich — one of the most expensive items on the menu — costs $3.50, making Bits & Bytes one of the more affordable places to eat. 216 N.W. Fourth St. • 812–423–5113

jake’s wayback burgers

offers much more than the traditional, boring hamburger. The restaurant serves more than 10 burger entrees and features specific platters each month. Also, the monthly special highlights one of its famous hand-dipped milkshakes, including flavors like peach, orange crème and coffee. 115 Cross Pointe Blvd. • waybacktogo.com

great READS 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

I just taught my kids 1.about taxes by eating 38 percent of their ice cream.

—Conan O’Brien

2.

I changed all my passwords to “incorrect” so my computer just tells me when I forget.

—Will Ferrell

3.

Big news for “American Idol” fans. Simon Cowell is going to be resigned for at least three more seasons. He was so excited his nipples actually tore through his shirt.

—Jimmy Fallon

4.

Someone approached me and asked if I was that chick from “The L Word...”

—Justin Bieber I make awesome 5.decisions in bike stores.

—Kanye West

6.

Miley Cyrus records cover of “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Cobain fans now understand his departure. #NoPeaceInNirvana.

—George Takei

memorable celebrity tweets

as far as junior Nathan Putz is concerned. His favorites cover a range of classics:

“East of Eden” John Steinbeck (The Viking Press, 1952) “Of Mice and Men” John Steinbeck (Covici Friede, 1937) “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay” Michael Chabon (Random House, 2000) “The Catcher in the Rye” J.D. Salinger (Little, Brown and Company, 1951) “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” Mark Twain (Chatto & Windus, 1884)

WhoKnew? French author Michel Thaler published a 233-page novel that has no verbs. • The average American drinks about 600 sodas a year.

38

Crescent Magazine l 09.2012

1. parking a car in the right-

top 10

hand lane of Brazil’s largest freeway for a quickie is a bad idea, as a couple found out when a cargo truck hit them.

Not everyone dies of old age.

Here’s to those who removed themselves from the gene pool with style.

2. traffic jam or not, na-

ture calls. A man left his vehicle and jumped over a low concrete wall—and fell 65 feet.

6. a fleeing South African mugger jumped a fence. He was at the zoo, and he jumped into a cage of Bengal tigers.

7. a croatian man wanted to make firecrackers for New Year’s, so he extracted the explosives from a hand grenade with a chainsaw.

3. alcohol via enema works swell, but after a Texan passed out, his body continued to absorb the booze. His BAC reached 0.47 percent.

8. a brazilian farmer re-

4. falling in love took on

ficient postage on a letter bomb, which was returned to him. He opened it.

a whole new meaning for a couple who decided to have sex on a pyramid-shaped roof.

5. an englishman decid-

ed to test whether his new jacket was stab-proof — while wearing the jacket.

moved a beehive from a tree by burning it. He protected his head with a tightly sealed plastic bag.

9. An iraqi terrorist put insuf-

10. a berlin man had fun breaking a subway window with his feet, but that was before he was immediately sucked out of the moving train.

tunes

darwinawards.com

“Separate Ways”

“Comfortably Numb”

“Just a lot of good memories were had with that song.”

“It has a deeper meaning about being apart from everyone else. It just kind of spoke to me a bit. And I love Pink Floyd.”

junior Jonathan Vailes

“I Wanna Rock” “My mom made me listen to it, and I’ve loved it since then. It’s something that we have in common, my mom and I. Every time I listen to it, that’s the first thing that comes to my head.”

freshman Andrea Heredia

“Jump”

Van Halen

“Gets me energized, gets me going. Any time I need a pick-me-up, I put that song on, and I’m ready to go.”

“

Pink Floyd

senior Brian Knowles

sophomore Tyler Best

Paula Nowaczyk

Sophomore “Moonrise Kingdom” (2012)

Allie Arguello Freshman

“Savages” (2012)

“I really liked it because it was intense and suspenseful.”

Taylor Wahlgren

Sophomore “The Amazing Spider-Man” (2012)

“Time”

Twisted Sister

from, these are summer favorites.

“It was a pretty dramatic movie, but it has a lot of comedy to make it lighthearted.

Wes Anderson uses really interesting cinematography.”

Favorite songs from before we were born.

Journey

movies With lots to choose

Pink Floyd

“Reminds me that life is only so short, and I have to enjoy every second. It’s a really chill song. The way they write their music is just different from everyone else.”

freshman Alex Cardiff

“I thought it was different than the old one.

It was a good remake. I liked the new actors and actresses. I thought they were good.”

Kristen Keown

“thriller”

Senior “The Dark Knight Rises” (2012)

“Everything about it was awesome. You really felt for the girl. It was like a horror movie”

“I liked the trilogy in general because it brought Batman down to a human aspect.

There were all these shades of gray in the characters.”

Michael Jackson

junior Obinna Uyanna

I would put belly laughing at the top of my highlights list.

They always say that laughter is the best medicine.”

— Carol Vorderman, British talk and game show host

Megan Werner Senior

“Total Recall” (2012)

“It’s never clear whether it’s a fantasy or a reality. The plot kept my mind interested and so did the action.”

WhoKnew? Bruce Lee’s moves were so fast that in his Kung Fu action movies filmmakers had to slow them down so the audience could see them.

09.2012 l Crescent Magazine

39

Don’t call me Mr. Peanut

Allergies certainly make for an interesting life. i am easy to kill.

don’tquoteme

During the first few weeks of school, most teachers do some sort of icebreaker activity where students give interesting facts about themselves to help the class learn about the unique qualities of the class as a whole.

For some, the interesting fact they discuss is that they went to an exotic location like the Bahamas or India over Summer Break and found true love in the kind eyes of a man named Pranay. For others, the fact might be that they can speak 12 different languages, skeet shoot from a moving vehicle or are a taphophile. (Look it up.)

40

Crescent Magazine l 09.2012

But for me, my interesting fact is usually my inhuman amount of food allergies. The list of foods that will turn me into 130 pounds of wheezing hives includes peanuts, fish, citrus, eggs, potatoes, tomatoes and coconuts. It’s fun standing in front of a classroom full of students who are eager to be anywhere except the classroom and have their undivided attention as I give them a succinct list of Craig-toxins. The best part is the follow-up questions.

“What happens if you eat something you are allergic to?” I’ll either swell up like a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon or just plain stop breathing.

“Is that why you’re so skinny?” No, that’s God’s fault.

Also, I blame the fine folks that made Dance Dance Revolution.

“So, what do you eat?” I hunt my own game found on the streets of Evansville. Usually it’s pigeons and squirrels, but occasionally I’ll track bigger prey like deer or one of the mascots from a local high school.

(I’m looking at you, Huskies.)

It never fails to surprise me how many people come up to me after classes and say, “I could never survive if I was you!” I politely correct their grammar and inform them the correct syntax is “if I were you” but laugh at their comment just the same. It’s true, before I start eating any meals the little chef in my head goes through the Rolodex of ingredients to make sure nothing sinister is lying in wait, like a poisonous viper hidden in my bowl of Cheerios or my milk-soaked Oreo.

For those of you who do not have allergies, living with them can be difficult. At any given point in my day, I am rarely more than 10 feet from something

that could end my life in a slow, painful manner. If I’m sitting in class, someone nearby surely has a halfempty (or half-full depending on your philosophical stance) bag of peanut M&M’s in his or her pocket.

If I’m at Barnes & Noble looking for the millionth time at where my own novel would go in the Fiction/Literature section if I were ever published, I would be standing directly above the in-store Starbucks where they sell a variety of beverages, including Black Shaken Iced Tea Lemonade. If I manage to find a bit of extra money for the month and am fortunate enough to take my fiancee out to a fancy restaurant like Olive Garden (college fancy, mind you), I would be briefly tempted to try the Shrimp Primavera or indulge in a slice of Lemon Cream Cake. Mealtime is always an eat-at-your-own-risk situation.

I’ve always tried to make the best of my situation, even going so far as to use my allergies to my advantage. If I am eating at a friend’s house and his mother decides the entree of the evening will be octopus with a lemon glaze, I can politely inform the sweet woman with a stomach of steel that I am allergic to citrus and would be fine with a jelly sandwich or even the leftover pizza from the last time I visited. I’ve even tried turning my allergies into a pick-up line, something to the effect of, “Hey baby, are you a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, because you take my breath away.”

I’d be lying if I said that ever worked. Still, if nothing else, allergies help me get back into the school year.

Inevitably, I’ll spout my list to a new group of classmates, and once again I’ll get the questions about if I’m allergic to all legumes or just peanuts, whether or not I go fishing (The answer is yes, whenever I can.) and do I carry an EpiPen. I am a shy person by nature, and my allergies give me a chance to say a little and then have people ask me a lot. I wouldn’t say I’m glad I have my allergies. I’ve told my roommate on more than one occasion that if I woke up tomorrow free to eat anything I wanted, I would grab a lemon and devour it whole (which he says would be almost as bad being allergic to it). But as an icebreaker, my allergies are enough. Most people can’t imagine living with all my food limitations, but frankly, at this point, I can’t imagine living without them.

craig keepes l essayist

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College Culture Upfront l September 2012

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In effort to give back to the Evansville community, this month’s spotlight nonprofit business is Evansville ARC.

I T’S TIME TO GIVE BACK.

W E NE ED YO UR HE LP TO M AK E OU R VI SI ON A RE AL IT Y. JU ST AN HO UR A W EE K CA N RE AL LY M AK E A DI FF ER EN CE .

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C R A LE IL V S N A EV H IT W ER TE N LU VO

WE’RE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO: • Assist teachers in our Child Life Center • Complete clerical duties • Work at fundraising events like “The Really Big Show” • Aid instructors in our Day Services Program For Adults • Design education programs and flyers • Educate area youth about Evansville ARC at speaking engagements • Plan and run donation drives • Present a special talent or demonstrate an interesting hobby to our children or adult clients

Evansville ARC is a recognized leader in creating a community in which individuals with disabilities are valued for their contributions as citizens.

Independent Lives For People With Disabilities

Visit www.evansvillearc.org for a full list of our volunteer opportunities or contact (812) 428–4500 or info@evansvillearc.org for more information.