NOVEMBER 2023

NOVEMBER 2023

REL ING

Your one-stop shop for all your printing & design needs in Boonville, IN!

812.897.3971

hello@b-hiveprinting.com b-hiveprinting.com

PRINTING & COPYING

GRAPHIC DESIGN

TROPHIES & AWARDS

LARGE PRINT SIGNS

ENGRAVED GIFTS

FULL-COLOR BANNERS

ENGRAVING & STAMPS

APPAREL PRINTING

PROMO ITEMS

CUSTOM EMBROIDERY

2023

STAFF STUDENT MEDIA ADVISOR Tommy Housman President

Paris Himes

Creative Director Jasmine Brents Creative Lead

CONTENTS CRESCENT MAGAZINE

is the University of Evansville’s student magazine. It is written, edited and designed by and for UE students and published six times during the academic year.

Circulation is 1,500 distributed to 18 campus locations and housed online at www.cresceent.evansville.edu The Crescent it is funded through advertising sales and a subscription fee paid on behalf of students by the Student Government Association.

Baylee Minton Designers

Madison Adams Abbey Kyle Remington McDaniel Mari Mueller Valorie Marx Nicholas Kee Ilustrators

Mikayla Duffy Joan Cleven

LETTER SUBMISSIONS: Crescent Magazine welcomes letters from UE students, faculty, staff, administrators and alumni, but material the CMEB regards as libelous, malicious and/or obscene will not be published. Letters should not exceed 250 words. For verification, letters must include the author’s name, class standing or title and email address. Crescent Magazine does not print anonymous letters or those that cannot be verified. Letters will be edited as needed.

Photography & Video

Cardinal 3 Behind the Scences 4 Adam Sandler 5

Jasmine Brents

How did UE get so Lucky? 6

Madison Adams

Concerns for Children’s Literacy 7

Samantha Pelfree Dalila Rodriguez

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

Alexis Fletcher Social Media

Jasmine Brents Maddi Conway Editor

Mason Taylor

Writers

Valorie Marx

Dani Parisi

Behind the Pens of the Crescent 2

Madchen Fox

Andrea Lenser

Andrew Pool

Grace Burnell

Tiva Frushour

Maddy Webb

Paige Radel

Myia Danek

Parker Andresen

Liam Allen

Alejandra Aguilar

Catherine

Mallory Russell

Bev Rowley

Hayden Chrapek

Paris Himes

Madde Folz

Carolline Bullock Noah Watters Grace Burnell

Tommy J Housman

Mitch Bretz

Paige Radel Emma Mitchell

A Guide to 2023 SAG-AFTRA 13

Pumping the Brakes on Fast Fashion 15COVER Surviving Inflation 18 Kiko 21 Rusty 22 All In 23

Destini Beckham

Dani Parisi

Influencing Fast Fashion 11

Behind the Faces of the Aces 25 Religion 26 Paranormal Penny Lane 27

HOW TO CONTACT US

SOBA, University of Evansville, 1800 Lincoln Ave., Evansville, IN 47722 Editorial e-mail: th208@evansville.edu www.crescent.evansville.edu facebook.com/UECrescentMagazine twitter.com/crescentmagazi1 instagram.com/crescentmagazine

Engage for Change 29 Greenwashing 30 Breaking 31

Dani Parisi Editor

Crescent Magazine 1

Tommy J Housman Advisor

Jasmine Brents Creative Director

Being a voice for others is a

difficult role that journalism takes on, and at the Crescent, it’s no different.

We work hard to bring the student’s voices first and foremost to a broader audience. However, for a lot of people, the way this process works is a mystery since they most likely have never worked in a newspaper before. The man leading the charge behind the Crescent is none other than Tommy Housman, a UE alumni and current Instructor of Communications and Student Media Advisor. While he is technically in charge of the Crescent, he never overlooks the fact that it is a student-led project. This means that while Tommy does ultimately have the final say as to what goes in the magazine, the goal is for the Crescent to be a place for any student to share their thoughts and opinions on a wide variety of topics.

While the writers for the Crescent are free to write about what they would like to, their articles aren’t always going to be featured as heavily as others, depending on what the theme of the issue is. This means that an article could end up either later in the issue, or in a different one entirely, depending on where it fits best.

Once the articles have been submitted in, they go to Dani Parisi, the Lead Editor for the Crescent. “I love everything that goes into the editing process, especially as a Creative Writing major, and [editing] has always been something I’ve enjoyed about writing,” said Dani.

“Getting to go through and see the fine details that go into what stories people tell. Plus, it’s a good insight into what other students are concerned about.”

With this power comes the dilemma of finding a balance of editing to match their style, while also making sure not to drown out their voices. “That’s one of the biggest challenges with editing – trying to make a piece clearer for the audience, while also trying to make sure that you aren’t changing the intent of the author. Every writer has their unique style, so one of the biggest challenges for me is making sure that any edit I make also falls in line with the voice of the writer, because I’m not the one

Behind the Pens of the Crescent By: Catherine

telling the story, I’m the one making sure that they flow smoothly with no grammatical or spelling mistakes. I want to present the Crescent itself in a nice way, but I don’t want to change the voice of those writers.”

After the editing process, the articles then go to the Crescent’s creative team, including the Creative Director, Jasmine Brents.

“As the creative director, I take all the articles from the writers and decide how to put them in the magazine. I decide the order, which members of the team design the issue, as well as the overall theme.”

Jasmine has only recently taken up the role of Creative Director, but she’s already hard at work bringing her style to the Crescent. “Since becoming the creative director, one thing I have made sure to focus on is the backgrounds for the articles.” She mentioned how, in the past, individual article designs didn’t always mesh together well and, while fun and attention grabbing, weren’t always the best way to present an article. This is one thing she and her team focus on heavily in their stage of the process: article design that is balanced and fits each article together to make a complete issue of the magazine. As talented as Jasmine is, she actually joined the Crescent her freshman year, when she had virtually no experience. “I didn’t know anything about design – I was a freshman. It all

scared me, but looking back I’m glad I did it so early. Now, I get to be the one to help out others where I used to be struggling, helping them to learn the process just like I did. I’m really proud of how far I have come in design, as well as how far the Crescent as a whole has come too.”

Once the issue has been edited and designed, there’s not a lot left to the process. The final checks are made by Tommy to ensure that no mistakes are left behind, and then it’s sent off to print.

Once it comes back, it’s distributed all over campus – from the benches in Hyde Hall to the tables in Ridgway, you’re more than likely to find a copy of the Crescent waiting for you to pick up and read.

2023 Fall 2

C A RD I N A L By. Bev Rowley

“It’s a reminder to myself and to anyone who is kind enough to listed that despite all the pain and through all the muck of life there are things worth cherishing and being around for.” ~Nick Booth

Track List: Peony, Tire Swing (featuring Kayak Jones), Glisten, Seed, Southpaw Cardinal, Bouquet’s first EP, was

released on September 17th, 2021.

Three songs from the EP were released as singles before the whole work dropped.

In an interview with Nick Booth, vocalist of Bouquet, I learned more about what the EP really means. “This EP covers an array of topics, but at the heart of it I just wanted to showcase experience,” Booth shared. “I think each song has a certain relatability for people.”

Crescent Magazine 3

This album means a lot to Booth and the rest of the band. They wanted to create community and shared emotion through the thick and thin of life. Booth wanted to highlight some of the hard times people experience and the rough feelings we have to navigate during those times.

Booth brought up different struggles people face, such as loss, mental health, relationship issues, and losing faith. “I don’t think my experiences are particularly unique but it can all feel so isolating and those feelings are

something worth connecting over and sharing,” he says, explaining some of the motivation and themes behind making and sharing this EP. The namesake of this album comes from Booth’s late grandfather who passed away during the pandemic.

After he passed, his family would see cardinals sitting on trees in their backyard, and his mother would cry.

“She took those cardinals as a symbol of her dad stopping by to visit and check in on us.”

Behind the Scenes:

A Conversation with L I Z Z I E

TREDINNICK L

by Paris Himes

izzie Tredinnick, from the graduating class of 2018, learned how to adapt to shifting environments early on in her life. Born in Minneapolis, she spent her early years growing up in Madison, Wisconsin, before her parents eventually moved them to the Chicago area. Even with all this change, one thing that never changed was her interest in crafting. She spent many weekends crafting with her sister and mother, an architectural lighting designer, which led her to take interest in theater in high school later. “I knew I never ever wanted to be an actor, there’s no way that was ever going to let that happen.” She states humorously. Because Lizzie wasn’t fond of being on stage since there were going to be too many people looking at her, she instead involved herself in the process of creating a show and working with others behind the scenes.

While participating in high school theater and painting large-scale items, she realized that this thing she did initially for enjoyment could be built into a long-lasting career. After she finished highschool, she brought this realization with her as she joined UE’s theater department, majoring in Theater

Design. During her sophomore year, Tredinnick interned at Hope Summer Repertory Theatre in Holland, Michigan, as well as interning at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Williamstown, Massachusetts.

“I knew I never ever wanted to be an actor, there’s no way that was ever going to happen.”

After graduating, her transition from college into the professional world was manageable thanks to her constant networking throughout her time at UE. Her boss from Williamstown was working as a project manager for a scene shop in New York City, where he hired her to work alongside them.

Lizzie states that she also had UE contacts in New York City as well that she was able to work with.

This allowed her to get on her feet and continue to build her career.

One of her first jobs postgrad was working on the production Hello, Dolly!

Working as a scenic designer, she was there to help refurbish props as needed and change the sets while working

with designers to make sure their visions were still being carried over.

While expressing her admiration for working with a fantastic designer while working on the production, she gives recognition to UE for strengthening her carpentry and sewing skills.

When advising students looking to make the most out of their college experience, and for students who are interested in working in her career field, Lizzie states, “Keep trying. It’s definitely a lot about who you know, which kind of sucks. And it’s kind of nice. You just got to keep knocking on doors and keep getting your foot in the door.”

ADAM SANDLER:

The Man, the Myth… the

Every semester, the UE creative writing department celebrates one of our favorite holidays: Adam Sandler Day! For those of you not in the department however, you might not be familiar with this legendary – if not at first confusing – holiday. To put it simply, it is a celebration of Adam Sandler, which happens every semester on reading study day, where students from within and outside of the department gather to watch an Adam Sandler movie to share in some laughs and avoid the stress of finals. It’s put on by none other than by Katie Mullins, a professor in UE’s creative writing department.

It all began back in the fall semester of 2017, the semester after Katie had suffered a stroke. Exhausted, she

Holiday?

By Dani Parisi

wanted to do something uplifting for both the students and herself.

She showed Billy Madison, where Sandler stars as an adult who is going through school again, as she found that it was a humorous reflection of how she herself felt after the stroke.

Katie had forgotten, however, that Billy Squier’s song The Stroke played as the end credits scrolled by, which she recalls “sent the room into hysterics.” As ironic as it was, Katie said, “I felt normal, and my kids and Adam Sandler gave that to me.”

Since then, Adam Sandler Day has become a beloved tradition within the department. Every semester on reading study day, students gather in her classroom for a movie, snacks, and fun. “Believe it or not,” Katie said, “a lot of homework gets done and finals get studied for, there are just also things like fake photo booths and tarot readings.” It’s not about actually watching the movie, although seeing Adam Sandler up on the projector is always a plus. It’s about having a safe place to breathe and get away from the stress of finals.

“Students need a break between the

intensity of the semester and the anxiety of finals. I hope I can give them 4 hours of calm.” Additionally, she uses Adam Sandler Day as a way for being to get to know more people outside of the department and make friends outside of their classes. Anyone is welcome to come, not just students in her classes and the department. Students are encouraged to invite friends from other departments to join in the excitement.

Katie’s appreciation for Adam Sandler started long before she created the holiday. She first saw him on SNL, and even as a kid who prided herself on her intelligence, she couldn’t help but laugh at his silly and ridiculous humor. When she moved to watching his movies, she appreciated that they still held that same humor while also telling lovable stories of the importance of family and what even a goofy person like Sandler’s characters will do for the people he loves. “I always get some good cheap laughs, but it always makes my heart swell, too. I like movies that assume everyone can be the good guy if they choose to do so.”

This semester, Adam Sandler Day is back once again with rom-com 50 First Dates. When asked why she chose this film, she answered, “I love your average Adam Sandler movie about family and connection, but I figured people might enjoy one where the plot is actually as good as the laughs: this is one of his few stories where the narrative is more complicated than ‘do the right thing’.” As the semester draws to an end, anticipation for Adam Sandler Day grows, and the department is already buzzing with excitement.

In the movie, Sandler sings along to The Beach Boys’ lyrics, “Wouldn’t it be nice if we were older, and we wouldn’t have to wait so long.” We hear you Adam, and we want the wait to be over too. Don’t worry though. Soon enough, we’ll be older, and Adam Sandler Day will be here once more.

Crescent Magazine 5 Adam Sandler Net Worth by celebrityabc on flickr.com. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

How did UE get so lucky?

Alejandra Aguilar Whether it’s in the classroom, on campus, or out in the community, Professor Rodríguez-Quevedo’s radiant personality leaves people feeling inspired, welcomed, and seen.

These qualities made me question: How did UE get so lucky to have her as a professor? What drives Professor Rodríguez-Quevedo to serve college students, the campus, and the community? What valuable lessons and perspectives can she share with others?

Dr. Diana Rodríguez-Quevedo has been a Spanish Associate Professor at UE for thirteen years. She began her teaching career in childhood education. After twenty years, she decided to continue pursuing higher education. As a firstgeneration college student, she refused to listen to gender-discriminatory comments from family members and received her Bachelor’s from George Brown College in Canada. After ten years of balancing a job and night classes to earn her Bachelor’s, she applied for her Master’s degree. She began translating materials from French to English but realized she craved social interactions. She later discovered her love for literature. Literature allowed her to delve into politics, psychology, sociology, history, and many other areas.

Getting her masters in Spanish was her way of reconnecting to her Colombian roots and learning about her culture and language.

She received her PhD in Latin American Literature from the University of Toronto.

The PhD opportunities after graduation in Canada were limited, so she knew she would have to leave her family and move to the U.S. Although she experienced culture shock in Evansville, Rodríguez-Quevedo enjoyed the Spanish program at UE because she could teach different courses and serve in various capacities. One teaching method she likes is “Staying out of the way as much as possible.” She prefers

to give students the space to lead, interact with native speakers, get out of the classroom, and have hands-on experiences. She explained, “When students are out of the classroom, there are emotional components like being nervous or scared, that only natural spaces like the mall or a kitchen can push students to feel and express those emotions in Spanish and not default to English.” Dr. RodríguezQuevedo is the Director of the University of Evansville Eykamp Center for Teaching Excellence, which is focused on pedagogy, and in her role, she guides new faculty through their first year. She serves as a Chair of the University of Evansville Honor Counsel, which deals with plagiarism cases on the UE campus. As an interpreter for the medical A+PT program, she enjoys interpreting for non-English speaking and feels it’s her way of giving back.

Attending guest lectures in different courses on campus and organizing events for Hispanic Heritage Month are other forms she participates in. Dr. Rodríguez-Quevedo is the Advisor for the Hispanic Latinx Student Union Club, where students from diverse backgrounds can interact, connect, and strengthen their language skills.

This past October, Dr. RodríguezQuevedo was the moderator for the Q&A portion of the event with Eduardo Chavez, grandson of civil rights activist César Chávez, hosted by the University of Evansville Center of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

When asked about the importance of having guest speakers like Eduardo Chavez, she said,

“Representation matters because it is valuable for students to see themselves represented.” The event was open to campus and the community, allowing people to share life experiences and come together. She explains that “people connect through our historia.

That’s why the community needs to listen to the life stories of minority leaders to celebrate and discuss difficult and painful experiences, to show how far we have come.” One of the life lessons she shared is, “We are all works in progress. It is never too late to fix a mistake, never too late for a second chance, and never too late to do what you would have loved to do. Failing and apologizing is part of the process.”

Because “El que no comete errores es porque no hace nada.” (“He who does not make mistakes is because he does nothing”). Furthermore, after interviewing Profesora RodríguezQuevedo, I realized her passion is her drive, and her strength should inspire us to make mistakes and follow our passions.

Concerns for

/

Children’s litaricy Literacy By: Grace Burnell

T

he concern over the growing illiteracy of children is not new; it is something that has plagued the minds of parents and teachers alike for years.

It has become a joke with the older generations to complain about “kids these days” and how they are “always on those phones,” but there is some truth in their jokes. Many children are always on their phones, tablets, or computers. Generation Alpha (about 2010-2024) is the first generation to grow up exclusively with technology.

Many of them have never known a life without cellphones and high-speed internet. Their whole lives have been consumed by it, which was made worse by the global pandemic that halted the world and made everyone live

Crescent Magazine 7

virtually. For the children just beginning school during that time, their education timeline was wholly disrupted in a way that may affect the remainder of their schooling years and beyond. They did not learn things as effectively online as they could have in the classroom.

Many do not understand basic things such as writing their names or telling the difference between capital and lowercase letters. The importance of reading has gone down, and because of that, so have critical thinking skills.

This phenomenon should cause alarm and change how people think about our education systems.

I spent my childhood with my nose in a book. I always grasped for the next mystery to unravel or fantasy land to be consumed in. Reading and writing always came easy for me, and I loved it. I had family and teachers who encouraged this feeling and helped me cultivate it. I loved it so much that it directed me on a career path: wanting to be a writer, specifically writing children’s books. I wanted to give the

kids of the future the same joy and experiences I had when I was little. From what I have seen, this is not the case for many kids today. This observation is unfortunate because reading and comprehension are essential to many aspects of life and most career paths.

It makes me sad and frustrated that children are not getting the same opportunities I had to develop a love of reading. They are not given the same tools to understand and enjoy literature.

As I stated, my experience is different from the experiences of many young kids today. Current student teachers and tutors are concerned for the futures of these children. Allegedly, they are not comprehending grammar and various skills at the level they should be. Many of them are not hitting target scores for their grade, and they do not like reading because they find it difficult. Some of these children write as if they are texting and believe this to be appropriate in formal writing.

It is unclear whether this decline in literacy is from a surge in new legislation restricting what children may learn, the increasing use of social media, or a

continued aftershock of learning during the pandemic. The pay for teachers is not nearly as much as it should be with how much they give, which has caused a decline in passionate teachers.

More than likely, it has something to do with all these factors and more.

It has also been alleged that school libraries are in near disuse, and some are being taken out and turned into lounges for more scientific uses. Science and math are necessary subjects, as are reading and social studies.

One cannot make well-rounded kids by ignoring these key subjects.

The National Center for Education Statistics conducts “the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading assessment” every two years to measure the student’s achievements and help relate how their educational journeys are progressing. Students who take the assessment can land in one of three categories: NAEP Basic, NAEP Proficient, and NAEP Advanced. Basic means the student has a ground-level understanding of the topic, proficient means they have a solid understanding, and advanced means they excel.

While tests are not always a reliable way to tell how students are doing—some are bad test takers or do worse under pressure—the 2022 examinations showed concerning statistics. They reported that out of the fourth graders nationally taking the exam, thirty-seven percent scored below NAEP Basic, which means they do not comprehend the material at their expected grade level. This percentage

is four points higher than the exam score in 2019. The percentage of eighth graders who scored below NAEP Basic was thirty-two percent, again, an increase from 2019. They also stated that in both fourth and eighth graders, the score declines in 2022 are the highest they have reported since the 1990s. The understanding of literary and informational texts has decreased in the past four years, which is cause for concern. To stop these downward trends from continuing, people must evaluate the education system and question how to better suit children and their changing needs.

Literacy is important. It is a critical part of being a functioning human in society. The education crisis leads to children not having developed literacy skills and falling behind where they need to be. While there may be many factors contributing to this fact, it is important to analyze why these trends are occurring and what we can do to change what is flawed in the system.

In a world full of misinformation, it is vital to have the ability to think critically and for oneself. It is not an option to leave these children behind.

2023 Fall 8

Crescent Magazine 9

Top 5 Pie Recipes For The Holidays #1 Apple Pie

#4 Pecan Pie

- Make the filling: On the stove, make a paste with flour and butter.

Add the sugar and water and bring to a boil. Simmer, then remove from heat.

- Make the filling: Beat the eggs until they’re light and foamy. Whisk in the melted butter, the whisk in the sugars and flour. Add the vanilla and milk. Stir in the chopped pecans.

- Assemble the pie: Press one crust into a pie plate. Place the sliced apples on the bottom crust. Use the top crust to make a lattice crust according to the recipe below. Pour the butter-sugar mixture over the lattice crust.

- Bake the pie: Bake the pie in a preheated oven until the apples are soft and the crust is golden brown.

#2 Pumpkin Pie - Whisk together pumpkin, egg yolks, and egg in a large bowl until smooth. Add sweetened condensed milk, cinnamon, ginger, salt, nutmeg, and Chinese 5-spice powder; whisk until thoroughly combined.

- Line a 9-inch pie plate with pie crust; crimp edges.

- Pour filling into crust; lightly tap on the counter to release air bubbles.

#3 Sweet Potato Pie - Place whole sweet potato in pot and cover with water; bring to a boil.

Boil until tender when pierced with a fork, 40 to 50 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. - Remove sweet potato from the pot and run under cold water. Remove and discard skin.

- Break sweet potato flesh apart and place in a bowl. Add butter and mix with an electric mixer until well combined.

- Add sugar, milk, eggs, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla; beat on medium speed until mixture is smooth. Pour filling into unbaked pie crust.

- Bake in the preheated oven until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 55 to 60 minutes.

- Bake the pie: Pour the filling into the unbaked pie shell. Decorate with pecans halves, if desired. Bake in the preheated oven until the filling is set.

#5 Lemon Meringue Pie - Make the filling: Combine the dry ingredients in a saucepan, then add the water and lemon juice and zest.

Bring to a boil, then stir in the butter.

Place the egg yolks in a bowl and stir in half the sugar mixture. Whisk this mixture back into the original mixture.

- Make the meringue: Beat the egg whites until foamy. Add the sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form.

- Bake the pie: Pour the filling into the pie shell and top with meringue.

Bake in the preheated oven until the meringue is golden brown.

- Reduce heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and bake until just set in the middle, 30 to 40 more minutes. A paring knife inserted into the filling, 1 inch from the edge. Let Cool

2023 Fall 10

Influencing

By: Madde Folz

FAST FASHION In

“People need to be aware where the products they buy are coming from.”

Mallory Russell

Crescent Magazine 11

the constantly changing world of social media, where individuals can fall from stardom as quickly as they rose, social media influencers will do anything to get to the top, knowing almost no boundaries. The real task for these influencers is doing everything in their power they can to stay at the top.

However, with “cancel-culture” on the rise, these influencers seem to have trouble navigating their way, making it harder for these individuals to stay out from under the microscope when it comes to one of the most popular topics in media: fashion. Fast fashion brands are being viewed more and more negatively and continue to be slammed as news continues to surface on the internet. However, influencers seem to be unable to learn their lesson, and continue to support these brands, teetering on their spot at the top. With social media, it is almost impossible to turn a blind eye to the controversies between style influencers and fast fashion.

One of the most popular searches on Tik Tok are “clothing hauls” from style influencers. Viewers are dying to see what the latest trends and style inspirations are so they can go order their own “hauls”. These clothing hauls are when influencers order a mass amount of clothing items at once, some up to even hundreds of items, and show their followers every single item they bought. These influencers encourage their viewers to hop on the online sites and buy it for themselves.

To be relatable and influence a common population, these clothing hauls need to be affordable. The way to do this- fast fashion. Shein is one of the most popular fast fashion sites. This is because of its thousands of extremely low-priced options. Consumers are able to buy a shirt for as low as 5 dollars or maybe even less. Many question why in the world people wouldn’t buy from this online site to save loads of money. But, as the truth behind these

fast fashion brands come to light, viewers are beginning to look down on these influencers and “cancel”, or no longer support, these influencers, running their names through the mud.

Fast fashion brands, like Shein, have faced hundreds of times in the spotlight because of the controversy over how their thousands and thousands of items are so cheap. Many wonder how they are able to manufacture so much for so little. It brings to question the conditions and economic factors of the production.

It also brings to question how this site came to be and seemingly became so well-known overnight. Kate Miller, a university student that has an interest in fashion, says, “Before putting in the research and educating myself, I was always so confused how I was able to buy a top from Shein for, like, three bucks. Tik Tok introduced Shein to me in what seemed like overnight. It seemed like an amazing thing at the time. Not going to lie, I loved it- but that was before diving deeper into the facts.”

Shein, first known as SheInside, was founded by billionaire Chris Xu. She created this site in 2008, originally made for selling wedding dresses.

In 2015, it became what we know today as Shein. This is when the brand began catering to fast-fashion styles.

During the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020 though, Shein really took off. With people stuck inside and not being able to shop in person, people looked for a different outlet of shopping with the instant gratification provided by technology. As Shein became more popular and Tik Tok grew, the two platforms seemed to work together to raise the popularity and use of Shein.

In quarantine, consumers could scroll through Tik Tok to find what the popular styles and items were and turn to Shein to provide them with the items for extremely cheap prices. Mallory Russell, a previous consumer of fast fashion, said, “Unfortunately, I did fall victim to the fast fashion of Shein during Covid.

Looking at it from a surface level, it is

extremely enticing. Especially sitting in quarantine. I was looking for things to do. Buying more and more new things from Shein was the easiest way to fill my time. Obviously, now knowing what I know, I have learned a lesson and do my part to contribute to slow fashion.”

Shein has come to use technology to keep up with trends and produce at an even faster rate. The use of technology allows Shein to fulfill the wants and needs of consumers at an extremely fast rate. The brand has turned to using Artificial Intelligence to keep track of trends and create new pieces. The use of AI has allowed Shein to scan the internet for rising trends and uses it to create online-only models of clothing.

They add these items of clothing to the manufacturing process and pump out thousands more items to fulfill so many orders. These new pieces that are introduced by AI take only just a few days to produce. Because of this, Shein lists over half a million products at once on their site. The likelihood of being able to do this in buildings with quality working conditions is very slim. Rachel Basinksi, a university student that wants to pursue fashion, says, “There’s absolutely no way that the people making these hundreds of thousands of items, in just days, have fair working conditions. I can’t even comprehend the work that it must take by these individuals for a platform as big as Shein.”

Rachel’s guess is correct. An undercover worker at Shein secretly filmed what she found in production. In one of the factories, this undercover worker, from the U.K. Channel 4, found that workers made less than $600 a month, while they typically make up to 500 pieces of clothing a day. Even worse, their first month’s pay is usually kept from them.

In a different factory, it was found that workers were only making 4 cents per item they made. If a mistake was made on an item, their pay was deducted.

In the factories visited, almost every employee was working around 18 hours a day. Some could be seen using their breaks to wash their hair in the sink. The working conditions of these employees are inhumane, yet consumers continue to purchase from this site. Olivia Wilson, who has been doing her best to become more educated in

this area, was left speechless after hearing this information. She said, “I just can’t even think about the workers in these situations. Knowing that there are girls my age being in these working environments…it makes me feel so guilty from ever purchasing from fast fashion sites. It makes me want to work even more at getting more into sustainable fashion.”

After the working conditions of Shein employees began to come to light, Shein knew it needed to dig itself out of a hole. This year, Shein tried saving its name by inviting some influencers on a brand trip to China to visit factories and company buildings. Their goal was to try and paint on a false look that their employee’s working conditions were nothing short of acceptable. Shein’s goal was to work with the influencers to build their reputation back up. However, it backfired, leaving the influencers that attended the trip in scrutiny under the public’s eye, receiving large amounts of backlash. Influencers that went to Guangzhou, China for this brand trip included Dani Carbonari, Destene Sudduth, Aujene, Fernanda Campuzano, Kenya Freeman, and Marina Saavedra.

During this brand trip, these influencers posted many Tik Toks promoting the brand and their trip. They went around and spoke to workers at the factories.

These Tik Tok influencers claimed that the employees they spoke to worked from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and they worked “like normal”. These influencers said that most things at these factors were robotic and the employees were enjoying their work. The Tik Toks these influencers posted were showing that the factories were just like any other normal factories. However, these claims were seen to be suspicious because most companies and brands do not allow influencers into their manufacturing floors. Many people speculate that a facade was painted for these influencers. Kate Tsironis, a university student, is very speculative of these influencer statements. She asks, “It’s one of the biggest fast fashion brands. How would it be possible that they are not exploiting employees? It doesn’t make sense.”

Kate brings up a valid concern. It seems impossible to believe what these influencers are telling their viewers.

They are sent on an all-inclusive trip to promote this brand, of course they wouldn’t shed light upon the truth behind fast fashion. After the posts from these influencers, viewers became upset, and saw right through what they were trying to portray. These influencers received intense backlash and were looked down on for these posts. Followers were disappointed in these individuals with large platforms for promoting something that supports fast fashion. Since then, many of these influencers have taken down these posts supporting Shein. Olivia Wilson, who aspires to be an influencer, says, “I don’t understand how they thought these posts were a good idea.

Influencers need to educate themselves on topics before supporting them. One Google search could have prevented them from falling off their platform.”

Influencers have the ability to promote whatever they want. Their followers look up to them and trust them. It is important they take the time to educate themselves on what they are supporting. Following this incident, many are enraged to hear news that another fast fashion brand may be selling Shein in stores.

Fast fashion brand Forever 21 has formed a deal to partner with Shein and begin selling their clothes in Forever 21 stores. Clothing from Forever 21 will also begin to be sold on Shein’s online site. Although there is not much news on this yet, this could have a negative impact and deepen the problem of fast fashion. This will lead to fast fashion being even more in demand, leaving the employees for these brands scrambling to make up the work.

Mallory Russell says, “I can’t imagine what impact this may have. With two fast fashion brands working together, there can be no positive outcome for this. People need to be aware where the products they buy are coming from.”

Influencers need to take the time to know who they are promoting. They need to know there are impressionable viewers looking up to them. Olivia Wilson says, “Influencers need to be aware that the harmless free vacation they think they’re taking can wipe away their platform in a matter of days.”

2023 Fall 12

What is SAG-AFTRA? SAG-AFTRA is the conglomeration of two American labor unions, the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Together, they form a unified labor union for media entertainers. One common misconception about SAGAFTRA is that they only represent actors in movies and television. The truth is that they are a union for any on-screen or on-air performers, including actors, singers, dancers, stunt performers, voice actors,and many more.

SAG-AFTRA is a labor union, so its main goal is to help its members advocate for their rights within their workplaces. These rights include fair and livable wages, job benefits, the adherence to contracts with production companies, and the protection against unauthorized use of the work created by their members.

Crescent Magazine 13

Why is SAG-AFTRA on strike?

On July 14, 2023, SAG-AFTRA officially declared a strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, or AMPTP. The AMPTP represents movie and TV studios such as Disney, Paramount, and Warner Brothers. This strike called for a cease in working on any production that was produced by an AMPTP-represented company.

The main reason why SAG-AFTRA went on strike is because they were unable to agree upon a new contract with AMPTP that addressed how members would be affected by the rise of streaming platforms. TV shows and movies that SAG-AFTRA members had worked on were being sold to streaming platforms and the members were paid very little of the money that was made by people streaming their

work. SAG-AFTRA argued that their members should receive fair residuals, or royalties, for the work they did on the shows and movies that are playing on streaming platforms.

Another reason for the strike is because SAG-AFTRA is concerned about the rise of artificial intelligence and what that means for the careers of their members. A.I. could be used to copy the voices and performances of different entertainers without giving proper credit or compensation to the original person that the A.I. takes its information from. This could lead to the union’s actors, dancers, stunt performers, etc. likenesses being used to make money for production studios without their consent and without getting paid.

A Guide to the

2023

SAG-AFTRA Strike

By Andrea Lenser

What does it mean for SAG-AFTRA to be on strike?

Being on strike meant that members of SAG-AFTRA couldn’t do any on-camera or off-camera work for productions that had been struck.

According to the official strike notice and order made to all members of SAG-AFTRA, examples of on-camera work would be acting, dancing, and performing stunts for a movie or TV production. Off-camera work would include voice acting, narration, and singing, among other things.

Doing promotional work was also prohibited by the strike, meaning that members cannot talk about struck productions during interviews or panels and cannot participate in events like movie or TV premieres. Other actions that members were not allowed to do during the strike included things like wardrobe and makeup tests, rehearsals, and auditions for new productions.

In support of the strike, SAG-AFTRA members had also been picketing in front of the offices of TV and movie producers and the studios themselves.

People had been gathering en masse for months to advocate for their rights and continued to do so until a tentative agreement with AMPTP was finally reached.

Why is this strike necessary?

Issues like inflation, workplace safety, proper residuals not being paid, and artificial intelligence threatening to take over the movie and TV industry are all components for why SAGAFTRA decided to strike. At the core of these issues is the problem of worker exploitation. These production studios have made an already difficult and unstable career path even more treacherous by not fairly compensating entertainers for their work.

One myth that surrounds the movie and TV industry is that everyone is making millions of dollars. The truth is that only A-list actors and higher-up executives are making this amount of money. Most of the people in the industry are working-class people who live paycheck-to-paycheck like many other American workers.

To put this into perspective, a performer must make a minimum of $26,470 a year in order to qualify for health insurance within SAG-AFTRA, but only 12.7% of their members make enough to qualify. Meanwhile, the CEOs and executives at production companies profit millions of dollars off the work made by the union’s members. The discrepancy in the workto-pay ratio is why this strike and new contract was necessary.

How and when will the strike be resolved?

The strike was resolved on November 8, 2023, thus ending the strike after 118 days. A tentative agreement with the AMPTP was reached, which allowed for the members of SAG-AFTRA to return to work. This agreement produced a new contract for SAG-AFTRA members that offered solutions to the problems mentioned above, including streaming residuals, higher wages, more benefits, and protection against AI. Thanks to the hard-working and tenacious SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee, we can expect to see work resume on projects that were halted due to the strike and see information come out about new productions. This particular strike has shown that workingclass people can and will stand up to the higher powers who are exploiting them and can result in the betterment of so many people’s lives thanks to their willingness to fight for their rights.

2023 Fall 14

PUMPING THE BRAKES ON FAST FASHION By: Madde Folz With rapidly changing styles and constant new trends, fast fashion has allowed consumers to constantly receive the instant gratification of a variety of styles for low prices. When new trends go as quickly as they came, fast fashion provides the convenience of being in style as soon as the next trend comes along, with no worries about the money spent on the last trendy piece in the closet. But when diving deeper into the “how” and “why” of fast fashion, consumers may see that it isn’t as glamorous as a first look may make it seem.

Through years of changing style, everyone wants to be keeping up with the latest trends. Fast fashion has allowed consumers to do so at a low cost. Or what seems to be a low cost.

Behind closed doors, fast fashion has contributed to multiple controversies and economic issues. Within recent years, social media has sped up fast fashion and has led to consumers constantly buying the new and throwing out the month-old items. It is important for consumers to know what they’re buying and the impact they are making with these purchases.

Although social media and technology has increased the speed of trends, a version of fast fashion dates all the way back to the 1960s. Young consumers became more focused on trends rather than more traditional clothing older generations were concerned with. Designer Mary Quant also began designing clothes that could literally be thrown away after one wear because they were made of paper. The purpose for this was for young consumers in the 1960s to become more rebellious. The cheap clothing they were able to buy became a way for young people to show the older generation they were developing their own ways of doing things and expressing themselves. Younger people in the 1960s really began focusing on showing who they were through their

Crescent Magazine 15

clothing choices rather than following what was traditional. With the focus being on trends and self-expression, fashion companies had to figure out a way to keep up with these new demands.

This led to the development of textile mills, which allowed companies to save millions of dollars. With countries like the U.S. using these textile mills, clothes became much cheaper and the tags that read “Made in the U.S.A.” became more and more rare to see.

Fast fashion did not really pick up speed, though, until the 1990s. During this time, it became more and more important for everyone to be following the weekly trends. It was in the 1990s that the term “fast fashion” was actually coined. The New York Times developed this term when describing the store Zara. Their goal was to get designs and pieces from the drawing table to instore merchandise in just 15 days. Once technology was introduced, fast fashion really took off.

Online shopping in the 1990s sped up fast fashion to crazy speeds. Consumers were able to use technology and online sites to peruse through new trends and clothing items being introduced by the latest celebrities. When someone laid eyes on something they wanted, they could easily look up the item online, and have it shipped to them within days. Technology, online sites, and celebrity magazines allowed consumers to see what was popular and what was not. What trend was out and what newest trend was in.

Every consumer wanted the newest and best item. With the popularity of technology came the popularity of fast fashion.

When social media was introduced to the online world, fast fashion proved that it wasn’t slowing down anytime soon. In 1997, “SixDegrees.com”, a social media platform, was introduced to the online

world. Now consumers weren't just being influenced by well-known figures and comparing themselves to celebrities, but were now constantly faced with what the people around them were wearing and buying. The introduction of social media created a new reason for fast fashion. Consumers needed the same items trending that their peers had. No one wanted to be the odd one out. Kate Miller, a university student who claims to always want the latest fashion, stated,

“On social media, I always saw the next best thing. After I had become up to date on the latest trend, I would go back to Tik Tok and see the next new trend that I needed to have. It was like a never-ending cycle, always wanting to have what was new.”

Kate mentioned how with a particular social media platform, Tik Tok, there seems to be a constant stream of new trends. Being able to see videos from all over the world, viewers are constantly seeing new trends and new fashion styles that are “in”. It allows people to connect with each other over shared styles and taste. Viewers are able to interact with one another over where they purchased an item.

A newer aspect of the platform has been “dupes”, or duplicates, of products. Rachel Basinksi, an avid fashion enthusiast and Tik Tok user, says, “Dupes are the cheaper versions of expensive things. They’re more attainable. I always get dupes because I can save my money and they’re usually delivered faster than the expensive brands or small owned businesses. Tik Tok lets me see what the newest dupes are and how to buy them. It's cheap and it’s easy.”

Tik Tok trends and dupes are contributors to fast fashion. Tik Tok trends circulate at extreme rates, with viewers continuously wanting the new things they are seeing on Tik Tok. Once an item or category of fashion becomes popular on Tik Tok, everyone wants it, and it tends to spread to other social media platforms.

Fast fashion has allowed consumers to keep up with these fast-paced trends without people having to worry about how much they are spending. There have been many cycles of trends that have come and gone because of Tik Tok.

These include “VSCO girl”, a summery type of fashion, “coastal granddaughter”, which consists of blue and white flowy clothing pieces, “Y2K style”, which is just the resurfacing of trends from the 2000s, and “ballet core”, where people dress how they would imagine ballerinas to dress. Many of these trends last, at most, a few months, before the next one is introduced and catches on. When one trend is over, many people find items relating to it at Goodwill bins or tossed in the trash.

Mallory Russell, a university student who has been trying to contribute less to fast fashion, stated, “Many times when I am at thrift stores, like Goodwill, I find pieces from Shein that were tossed to the side after a certain fashion trend. Consumers are buying trendy pieces just to throw them in the trash after a couple wears. It’s a horrible habit.”

These fast-paced trends influence viewers to always be buying what they see online. When they see something new, the old gets thrown out. Mallory Russell has been a part of this cycle in the past. However, she has recently become more educated on the impact fast fashion really has on the earth.

Although she knows she is not an expert by any means, she has slowly begun trying to start doing her part to make a difference and educate those around her. Russell says, “More and more within the past year I have been doing my best to encourage not only myself, but those around me to stay clear of stores and brands that contribute to fast fashion.

I have really been trying to buy from small-owned businesses and thrift stores.

Although small-owned businesses can be pricier, I try to buy pieces that I know are my personal style that I will wear for years to come. I know I can trust that they are good quality, well-made pieces.

I am a college student, so obviously I do have a budget. When I am trying to be smart with my money, I often turn to resale shops and thrift stores. I often bring my friends along with me so I can influence them to turn away from stores that contribute to fast fashion. I just really want to do my part to help.”

Fashion trends through social media have become so attainable because of sites and stores like Shein. Other fast fashion contributors include Zara, Forever 21, and H&M. These stores allow consumers to quickly obtain the styles they want for extremely low prices.

Many consumers don’t see the point in buying the expensive items from the original designers when they are able to have almost the same item for almost a quarter of the cost. However, continuously buying from these stores has extremely damaging effects. Some young consumers have become more and more aware of these effects and are trying to educate themselves further.

Olivia Wilson, aspiring influencer, says,

“Lately, I have been trying to learn more about the reasons why fast fashion brands are so cheap. The more I learn the less I want to buy from these places. As I learn the truth behind these fast fashion brands, it upsets me that I have purchased from them so many times.”

When looking deeper into fast fashion, many find that it isn’t as appealing as the instant gratification makes it out to be on the surface. In today’s world, consumers are typically buying over half more percent of clothes, but are wearing them for a fraction of the time. Over the past 20 years, fashion consumption has increased to over

80 billion new items of clothing each year.

This is 400% more than what was bought 20 years ago. More consumption means more waste. With fast fashion, 85% of clothing ends up in landfills each year.

Just the production of these trendy items has a lasting negative impact.

One cotton shirt alone uses around 700 gallons of water. The leftover water from clothing production is usually dumped back into near bodies of water. This results in any dye from clothing being dumped into these bodies, polluting the water. The dyeing of textiles is the second largest cause of water pollution in the world. Not only is water being polluted by the dyes of these textiles, but the microplastics used to make the items of clothing are extremely

harmful. Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic that are nonbiodegradable, meaning they are unable to break down and largely contribute to pollution.

Around 35% of microplastic pollution found in the ocean is due to textile production. The energy alone for turning plastic fibers into textiles is a harmful amount. It requires large amounts of petroleum and releases harmful acids.

A colossal mound, boasting an annual accrual of approximately 39,000 tons, sprawls across the expansive canvas of the Atacama Desert, spotlighting the ramifications of our insatiable appetite for fast fashion. From Christmas sweaters to ski boots, the heterogeneous assortment comprising this mammoth textile heap paints a vivid tableau of the frivolity and disposability endemic to the fast fashion culture. The existence of this vast textile monolith underscores the pressing need for a paradigm shift in the fashion industry—calling for a departure from unsustainable practices towards a realm of more conscientious consumption and production.

The relentless pursuit of cost efficiency and rapid turnover within the fashion industry has birthed these towering mountains of discarded attire. Driven by the swift production and unabated consumption, clothing manufacturers routinely jettison unsold inventory and surplus items, creating room for the perpetual influx of new collections.

The surplus garments, unwanted and abandoned, find their final resting place in desolate dumping grounds, notably in the remote expanses of the Atacama Desert. Chile’s lax import regulations and the logistical convenience of disposing of vast quantities of unwanted items in secluded locales contribute to the proliferation of these textile graveyards.

The garments abandoned and visible from space in the Chilean desert serve as an unapologetic testament to the darker underbelly of consumerism, laying bare the consequences of unchecked overconsumption and a culture predicated on disposability.

These monumental heaps, sourced from diverse brands and spanning a spectrum of styles, underscore the deleterious environmental impact stemming from the fashion industry’s unbridled production and disposal methodologies.

The conspicuous visibility of these textile masses serves as a call for transformative

2023 Fall 16

also forced to work for the production of fast fashion. Many may wonder why this is being allowed when consumers are aware of these situations. Sadly, many companies and brands will do whatever it takes to keep costs low. Again, Kate Tsironis said,

reforms within the fashion sphere, advocating for sustainable practices, responsible consumption, and ethical disposal methods to counteract this alarming deluge of waste.

Kate Tsironis, a student at the University of Evansville, was shocked after hearing these numbers. “I just can’t believe so much harm can be done just because of a shirt I buy. I often buy things for a specific event, not knowing how much was done to the earth for that shirt or outfit. It makes me want to make smarter choices when I’m out at the mall now.”

The harmful impact of pollution is not the only downside of fast fashion.

Oftentimes the work conditions of the people making these garments are worse than poor. 80% of clothing is made by young women aging from 18 to 24. These workers are also typically working extreme hours every day. The average is 14 to 16 hours a day, every day of the week. Their wages are also usually so low that they cannot afford to work anything less than these hours.

Not only are they working inhumane hours for such little pay, but the conditions they work in are typically very unsafe. In 2013, an eightstory manufacturing building in Bangladesh collapsed. This resulted in 1,134 lives being lost, and almost 2,500 injured. These unsafe buildings usually have no ventilation, causing workers to breathe in the harmful microplastics every day.

In countries with child labor laws not being reinforced, millions of children are

Crescent Magazine 17

“Learning more about this is heartbreaking, but that’s what leads to change. Although it may be uncomfortable to hear because so many have contributed to fast fashion, it’s what leads to change.

Hearing this information is inspiring me to tell others about it, and change my own shopping habits.”

After talking with Kate, she was very

adamant to know what she can do to do her part to stop contributing to fast fashion.

However, she brought up a fair point that many others like her share. “Most of the times I have bought from stores that contribute to fashion, it has been because I need to save money and not spend so much on one article of clothing.”

Because of constantly changing trends, the appeal of fast fashion comes from wanting to always be able to afford the next new thing.

One of the easiest ways to help fight fast fashion is to be smart about what you buy and where you spend your money.

Buying pieces that are true to your own style rather than fast paced trends allows pieces to be in your closet for a much longer amount of time.

Try and buy pieces that you would get multiple uses out of. Avoid the items that would be worn once and then end up contributing to microplastics in the landfill. Try and be intentional with the items that will end up in your closet.

Another easy way to combat fast fashion is by buying second hand.

Resale shops and thrift shops are a great place to turn to for low prices.

Mallory Russell, who has become more into thrifting recently, states,

“It can honestly be so much fun thrifting. It allows me to be creative and style pieces in new and different ways. It gives me a sense of self.”

Buying from local stores is another beneficial way to avoid fast fashion.

Shopping locally helps lower carbon emissions from shipping all over the world. It also helps support local businesses, which may be run by familiar faces. Natural and organic fibers in clothes are a great way to avoid microplastics. Sustainable brands also help care for the environment. Buying from these brands helps support the people that work to protect the environment. Olivia Wilson stated, “Really, I notice a difference in how I feel after making a more sustainable choice.

When I used to order from Shein, I would feel almost guilty buying clothes. I had heard stories of controversy with sites such as Shein, but it wasn’t until I wanted to educate myself more that I felt better wearing the clothes I would buy from local and sustainable brands.”

Fast fashion has been around for years, but it’s time consumers start doing their part in putting a stop to it. It’s important that everyone does their part to start looking out for the earth and for other people. Mallory Russell says, “It started with me educating myself. It has turned into something I am proud of and look forward to practice. Fast fashion isn’t the only option to feel good about what I wear. Knowing I’m making smart decisions about what I wear makes me feel trendy all on its own.”

INFLATION

The harsh reality of students grappling with rising prices.

BY Noah Watters

The main thing on everybody’s

mind right now is how they are going to afford the basic necessities they need to live. College students, who typically struggle with money due to being a full-time student, are no exception. As a student myself, this is something I can attest to and can confirm that it is difficult even filling up my car due to how hard inflation has hit our economy.

In recent times, the rising cost of living has put an unprecedented strain on students, making it challenging to manage expenses beyond tuition and textbooks. Basic needs such as housing, groceries, transportation, and healthcare have become significant financial burdens for students. For many of us, managing these essential costs often feels like a juggling act, where the fear of unexpected expenses can create an atmosphere of constant stress and financial insecurity.

Transportation is a prime example of how economic challenges directly affect students. The increasing fuel prices, coupled with maintenance costs, have made commuting to campus an ordeal for many. As a result, some students have been forced to reconsider their educational choices, with the financial burden of driving or even using public transportation becoming overwhelming.

To get a better perspective on this issue, I interviewed some college students to get their perspective on how inflation is affecting them.

Spencer Jakobs, a marketing student, said, “I live in my fraternity house with all my brothers, and it is still tough to keep food in the house, even though there are a lot of us living there. I have to pay over $1,000 just to be in the frat so that does not really leave me much room to work with, unfortunately.

It seems like most of us are living off the classic ramen noodles and frozen pizzas.” It seems like even if you live with roommates’ inflation still affects you in a big way. Having other people to help with groceries and bills is still an

effective way to get past these tough times.

Spencer’s experience highlights the widespread impact of inflation on students, even when they have the advantage of living with roommates.

In fact, living with roommates can be a helpful way to mitigate some of these challenges, as they can pool their resources to share the burden of groceries and bills. It is a practical approach that not only eases the financial strain, but also fosters a sense of community and mutual support among students. These challenges underscore the need for increased awareness of the financial pressures that students face and the importance of finding solutions to alleviate their economic burdens. College should be a time of growth, learning, and exploration, but when students are preoccupied with basic survival concerns, it can detract from the overall educational experience.

While roommates can be a lifeline, it is also crucial for institutions and policymakers to consider measures that will support students during these demanding times. Initiatives such as affordable housing options, food assistance programs, and financial literacy resources can make a substantial difference in helping students navigate the financial challenges of higher education.

Chelsey Westerman, a computer science major, said, “I am currently a senior and looking for a place to live once I graduate. It is crazy seeing how expensive rent is for a single-bedroom apartment. It feels like I need to have a roommate or two just to afford rent and groceries. Luckily for me, my degree pays very well so I am hoping I will not have too much trouble affording a place to live, but the same cannot be said for everyone else.” The housing market and prices have also been severely impacted by inflation. Over the years, we have seen the price of rent steadily

increase while the average income has barely moved, making it almost impossible to afford a place to live without a dual income.

This highlights the urgency for government, institutions, and communities to address the issue of affordable housing. Creating and implementing housing policies that cater to the needs of young professionals and recent graduates is essential. Additionally, encouraging economic initiatives to bolster average incomes and ensuring that they align with the increasing costs of living can help bridge this growing gap. The steep rise in rent prices is a matter of concern, and it is a trend that has been exacerbated by inflation. This phenomenon is a double-edged sword that impacts not only the recent graduates, but also those who have been in the workforce for some time.

The struggle to find affordable housing has become an ever-present obstacle on the path to independence, especially when the average income has shown only minimal growth.

To address these challenges, a comprehensive approach is necessary.

Policymakers should explore strategies to tackle housing affordability, including incentives for affordable housing development and measures to limit excessive rent hikes. It is equally important to work on initiatives that promote job growth and wage increases, ensuring that individuals have the means to support themselves in the face of rising living costs.

J ared Buntley, a programming student, said, “I commute to and from school and these gas prices are making my wallet cry. I would say that I must fill up at least once every 2 weeks, which is not horrible, but still sucks. Luckily, my car does rather good on gas and my tank is not very big, so I only spend like 80$ a month on gas. The thing is though I used to only spend like 50$ on gas before inflation hit and gas was near 2$. I hope these prices do not last long and I can go back to being under 40$ for a full tank.” The price of oil has skyrocketed ever since inflation hit and it only seems to be getting worse.

It other places, such as California, the price of gas has gotten to be over 6$/ gallon.

As gas prices surge due to the

2023 Fall 18

broader issue of inflation, daily commuters are grappling with the financial implications of more frequent fill-ups. The need to refuel every two weeks or more often has become a financial burden that many hope will not persist in the long term. In the past, when gas prices were closer to $2 per gallon, the cost of filling up a tank was significantly lower, making it much more manageable for budget-conscious individuals. This situation underscores the need for a collective discussion on the effects of inflation on essential commodities like fuel. It is not limited to a single person’s experience but is part of a larger trend that impacts the financial well-being of families and individuals nationwide. In states like California, where gas prices have surpassed $6 per gallon, the problem is even more pronounced, affecting the daily lives of a sizable portion of the population.

The increasing gas prices driven by inflation are indeed having a farreaching impact, especially on the daily lives of commuters and households across the nation. For those who rely on their vehicles to get to work, school, or any other daily activities, the financial implications of more frequent fill-ups are becoming increasingly burdensome.

The need to refuel every two weeks or even more frequently disrupts personal budgets and leaves many individuals hoping for a future where fuel costs are more manageable.

Reflecting on the past when gas prices were closer to $2 per gallon, it is evident that filling up a tank was considerably more affordable for budget-conscious individuals. This historical perspective highlights just how significant the recent price hikes have been and underscores the challenges people face in managing their finances in the wake of this inflationary trend. The issue of rising gas prices goes beyond individual experiences and is indicative of a larger economic trend. It affects not only one’s daily commute, but also the broader financial well-being of families and individuals nationwide. The pressure of increased fuel expenses can be particularly challenging for low and middle-income households, for whom every dollar spent on gas represents a trade-off with other essential needs, such as groceries, healthcare, and

Crescent Magazine 19

education.

Katelyn Webley, a nursing major, said, “Inflation is hitting everything, even the medical industry. Of course, I am not saying the medical bills and all that used to be cheap or anything, but they have managed to get worse. I honestly do not think anyone without medical insurance can see a doctor anymore without having an astronomical bill they cannot pay. It is sad and I hope something changes, I believe everyone should have the ability to stay healthy without it costing them an arm and a leg.” It seems as if no industry is safe from the effects of inflation. That is because once the price of goods starts rising, companies will need to pay more to get those goods and increase their prices.

This is the same thing that happens with hospitals; the tools they need increase in price and therefore they must counterbalance that by increasing their prices.

This predicament underscores the growing concern that many share regarding the accessibility of healthcare.

The increasing cost of medical services, medications, and treatments places a heavy financial burden on patients and their families. It often discourages individuals from seeking necessary medical attention, thereby compromising their health and overall well-being. Webley’s observations draw attention to a fundamental economic principle when the prices of goods and services rise, companies and institutions find themselves grappling with increased expenses, which, in turn, necessitates raising the prices they charge. This cycle applies universally across various industries, and healthcare is no exception. As the cost of medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare provision increase, healthcare providers may have no choice but to adjust their pricing.

The issue of soaring healthcare costs is a multifaceted challenge that calls for collective efforts involving healthcare providers, insurance companies, legislators, and the general public.

The aim is to strike a balance where individuals can access essential medical care without the crippling burden of overwhelming medical expenses.

Finding viable solutions to ensure affordable healthcare for all is essential to safeguard the health and financial

well-being of the entire population.

James Connor, a data science major, said, “It’s probably already been said, but it’s super hard to live by yourself with the way things are. I’m looking to graduate in 2025 and really hope things get better so I have a place to live. If it wasn’t for the school feeding us, I’m not entirely sure if I’d be able to eat dinner very night. I can’t imagine how people who live on their own manage.” As previously mentioned, the price of groceries has gotten out of hand. It seems like every time you go to the store, you walk out having spent 100$ for 10 items. This makes It hard for people who live alone to be able to afford feeding themselves and having their basic needs met.

Connor alluded to the critical role that educational institutions play in providing support to students. Schoolprovided meal plans have become a lifeline for many, ensuring that they have access to regular meals. The challenge of affording food and maintaining a balanced diet is a reality faced by a growing number of individuals, and James’ perspective underscores the importance of such support systems.

The issue of rising grocery costs is not limited to a single individual’s experience, but rather is part of a larger trend in the economy. These escalating prices put additional pressure on individuals, especially those who are early in their careers and education, to make difficult choices about their spending. It also raises questions about the accessibility of nutritious food and the importance of addressing food insecurity.

Everyone struggles when inflation hits, but it is particularly hard for those in college. This is because they are full-time students and have little time to work and make money to be able to afford the steep prices that inflation has caused. Everything from groceries and gas to medical bills has risen and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down. To aid yourself in getting through these hard times, be sure to limit spending to necessities and save up. Inflation will eventually pass, but it is hard to say when that will be.

LISTEN NOW

2023 Fall 20

Once upon a time,

in a lush and vibrant jungle, there lived a curious and wise monkey named Kiko.

Kiko was known far and wide for his insatiable thirst for knowledge and his unwavering curiosity. Yet, what made Kiko truly unique was his uncanny ability to find peace and tranquility in the most unexpected places.

One sweltering day, when the sun hung heavy in the sky, Kiko ventured deeper into the jungle than he ever had before.

His quest for wisdom had led him on an uncharted path, and he soon found himself in an arid, desolate desert. The barren landscape was a stark contrast to the verdant jungle he called home, with its towering cacti standing like sentinels in the scorching sand.

Amidst the desolation, Kiko noticed a peculiar sight: a cactus unlike any he had ever seen before. It had a strange allure, as if it held a secret that could unlock the mysteries of the universe.

Kiko approached the cactus, curiosity burning within him.

The cactus was covered in thorns, long and sharp, a formidable fortress guarding its secrets. Kiko hesitated for a moment, considering the dangers, but his unquenchable thirst for wisdom pushed him forward. With deliberate care, he climbed atop the cactus, his agile fingers carefully attempting to avoid the prickly spines.

Crescent Magazine 21

Sitting cross-legged, Kiko closed his eyes and began to meditate, just as he had learned from the wise old sage of his jungle. The sun beat down mercilessly, the sand beneath him was scorching hot, and the thorns pricked at his fur. But Kiko remained resolute, deep in meditation, his mind detached from the physical discomfort.

Days turned into weeks, and Kiko became a fixture on that extraordinary cactus. Kikos friends noticed his absence and went to look for him.

When they discovered kiko perched atop a cactus they marveled at his serenity amidst such an inhospitable environment. They questioned the purpose of his endeavor, and some even mocked him for his apparent foolishness. But Kiko paid them no heed, for he was on a quest for something far greater.

As the weeks stretched into months, Kiko noticed changes within himself. He felt a oneness with the desert, as if he could feel the very heartbeat of the land.

His thirst for knowledge transformed into a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of all things. He realized that wisdom was not confined to the lush jungle but could be found even in the harshest of environments.

One day, as a gentle breeze swept through the desert, Kiko opened his eyes. He had found what he sought, not in the knowledge he had acquired but in the journey itself. The cactus, once a symbol of adversity, had become a friend, a teacher, and a vessel of enlightenment.

Kiko descended from the cactus, his journey in the desert at an end.

He returned to his jungle home, not as the same inquisitive monkey who had left, but as a sage with a profound understanding of life’s intricacies. He shared his wisdom with his fellow jungle dwellers, teaching them that true wisdom was not confined to any one place, and that even in the most unexpected and challenging circumstances, peace and enlightenment could be found.

they observed humans using an array of different tools.

In a quiet,

suburban neighborhood, nestled at the edge of a sprawling forest, there was a raccoon named Rusty who was unlike any of his kind. While his fellow raccoons were content with their traditional, scavenger lifestyle, Rusty was a curious and ambitious creature. One fateful evening, his life would change, setting in motion a transformation that would forever alter the course of raccoon history.

It began when Rusty stumbled upon a peculiar object in a trash can. At first, he was drawn in by the enticing scent of discarded human food, but what he found was not a morsel of food but a shiny can opener. In the dim light of the moon, Rusty curiously examined the device, his masked face reflecting a sense of wonder and intrigue.

Rusty’s determination to understand this strange contraption led him to a momentous discovery. Over days and nights, he painstakingly studied the can opener, fumbling with its levers and gears until he finally unlocked its secrets. With a triumphant click, Rusty figured out how to use the can opener to access the treasures hidden within sealed cans.

The other raccoons in the forest were puzzled by Rusty’s newfound ability.

They watched in amazement as he effortlessly opened cans of food that were previously impenetrable. Rusty’s ingenuity sparked a curiosity among his fellow raccoons, and one by one, they too began to learn the art of can opening.

As the raccoons became more adept at using the can opener, their newfound skills brought them closer to human neighborhoods. They began to venture into the suburbs, where they discovered a wealth of untapped resources, not only in cans but in the form of knowledge and they started to learn as

News of the raccoons’ remarkable evolution soon reached the humans.

Some were fascinated by the raccoons’ abilities, seeing them as intelligent creatures with a potential for cooperation. Others, however, viewed the raccoons with skepticism and even resentment, fearing the encroachment of these clever creatures into their daily lives.

The raccoons’ journey towards civilization was marked by both acceptance and contention. Some humans welcomed the raccoons as neighbors, recognizing the potential for collaboration and mutual benefit. They marveled at the raccoons’ intelligence, their resourcefulness, and their growing skills. Cooperation between the two species led to innovative solutions to common problems and a sense of shared community.

Yet, there were humans who resented the raccoons’ advancement, feeling threatened by their growing presence in human society. This division between those who embraced the raccoons and those who rejected them created tensions and conflicts within the community.

Despite the challenges and mixed reactions, the raccoons persisted in their intellectual evolution. They established a society of their own, with their own set of rules and ethics, rooted in cooperation and mutual respect.

Over time, they lived side by side with humans, working together on various projects and sharing knowledge.

The story of Rusty and his discovery of the can opener marked the beginning of a profound transformation for the raccoon species. They evolved from mere scavengers into a civilized, advanced society, capable of harmonious coexistence with humans.

This tale serves as a reminder that progress and evolution are not limited to any one species, and that acceptance and cooperation can lead to a better world for all.

2023 Fall 22

to complete an illustration. I was introduced to an app that took 10 photos of a person and turned them in to 100 different high-resolution illustrations in 5 different styles in 30 minutes for $13.99. That was the mic drop moment for me. Fast forward to today, the final weeks of fall semester 2023, and AI is in every tool I use to create content. AI is in every Adobe program, and in every visual editor used to create websites--I could go on and on, believe me.

AI is in everything!

The one true constant in life is, everything changes, and in less than one year, thanks to AI, everything in the world of art and design has changed drastically. I have been a content creator for two decades working in art, design, photography, video, social media, radio, television, print, marketing, advertising, and everything in between. In my lifetime there have been many societal and technological disruptors that caused pivots in in our everyday lives, and in the job market -- cable television, personal computers, the internet, email, google and so much more. It is a mistake to assume that AI is just another disruptor, but for now, I am contemplating this: how do we teach students that are preparing to enter the workforce to leverage AI, instill the importance of understanding the fundamentals of whichever discipline AI is taking over, and how do I personally adapt?

In the first week of classes in spring 2023 I introduced my class to Chat GPT, the Generative Large Language Multi-Modal Model created by Open AI. None of them had heard of it. I then introduced them to DALLE, the text to image AI also created by Open AI. Some of them did know that there was text to image simulators out there and they had seen images produced by AI on social media, but none of them really understood what it was. By the end of the last class that first week I had adequately expanded their horizons made obvious to me as I walked past a group of students huddled together in the hall after class and one student

Crescent Magazine 23

AI is going to change the workflow of design and visual communications, and since I teach students the fundamentals of design and how to use Adobe software, I became a little obsessed with learning all I could about AI. The most important thing to understand about these Generative Large Language Multi-Modal Models is that they are language models.

Now, resolve yourself to the fact that everything, absolutely everything, is a language. The gears are turning now, are they not? Ok, that is another discussion for another time. As a content creator how do we navigate where AI is right now?

peeked up to look at me to say that they were all downloading the Chat GPT app. What had I done?!

In January of 2023 there were a few other Generative Large Language Multi-Modal Models and text to image simulators out there, but none as impressive as Open AI. Yet, Open AI had its obvious faults -- Too many limbs or fingers, distorted faces, and Chat GPT’s writing was obvious and rudimentary, but all of it was improving dramatically fast. By the middle of this semester, I realized no one was going to hire me to illustrate a portrait of them ever again. I charged at minimum $300, and it takes me a week or two

The previous three pages of this magazine were created with the aid of AI, from the graphics to the short stories. In Adobe Illustrator you can just make a box and type in “racoon” and illustrator will craft a vector image of a racoon in various styles. It allows you to be very specific in style and position.

There are a few limitations, but they are easily navigable. While playing around with this new technology I considered how I may effectively leverage it to my advantage. To draw the racoon myself in Illustrator would have taken me a few hours. I am perfectly capable of creating a racoon that looked just like the racoon AI created, but the AI did it in less than one minute, with three variations. I decided I needed to use this opportunity to be creative and not feel defeated.

I imagined the absurd, which is my goto for any given situation that causes me undue anxiety. I prefer to entertain myself in lieu of sulking sullenly. I just prefer to be happy, even if I must force it. So, I concocted a paragraph-

long story of how a racoon found a can opener and learned to use it. This then led to a societal evolution of the racoon species that ultimately marshals humans and racoons living in society cooperatively as equals. I then asked Chat GPT to turn that paragraph in to a parable. Ten seconds later I had a story.

The story was a little rough and it required some tweaking and light polishing, but I did not want to detour too far from the original draft. I then went back to Adobe Illustrator to use AI assistance to craft a graphic to represent the new story. I did this whole process several more times with many different animals in many different absurd scenarios. I was just running with the experience of creating for creativity’s sake.

It took me about a week to really understand what I should do with it.

I decided to completely brand the stories to parlay into a podcast. I created a logo, chose a color pallet, and I guided AI to do the rest. I fixed the graphics when AI could not do exactly what I imagined, and then I took all the pieces and branded the concept. I had two polished graphics, two polished stories, a logo with a complementing graphic, and a process I could repeat.

Here’s the opportunity: Come up with an absurd scenario involving the anthropomorphism of animals, paste scenario in to Chat GPT, edit the result, use Adobe AI to create characters and design elements, edit if needed, use those elements to craft the design, record then publish a podcast, and share on social media. A process that would be rather time consuming is reduced to a few hours.

In just a few days the podcast had over 100 downloads. I am not sure how to measure the success of this project or how much further I will take it. What I am aware of is that I have found a rough formula that could be applied to many subjects across many mediums.

The increased productivity alone is astonishing. If inclined, one could take more time to improve the quality of the stories, but the graphic generation is high-quality content. Now comes the hard question: Am I the creator?

The questioning of who and what to credit will be an ongoing debate for some time. The premise of the stories and the strategic prompts came from me. It was my idea. I shaped and molded all the pieces together to form a cohesive concept and then crafted the project to completion. This is much like making my mother’s homemade pizza from her recipe; it is her recipe, all the ingredients were grown and produced from many different locations that I purchased from the store, after which I labored to follow the recipe but added a bit of a spicy kick to it with a special sauce and some jalapeños. It is my mom’s recipe, but it is my creation. The caveat is that when I take a selfie of me eating the pizza and post to Instagram, I am sure to credit my mother for the recipe.

LISTEN NOW

Navigating the ethics of when and how to use AI is going to be complicated especially when there will be so many that do not consider the morality or ethical implications whatsoever. The assumption that the public will shortly believe that all content was generated at least in part by AI is probably an accurate prediction. Once everyone realizes that AI is embedded in all creative programs, AI becomes just another tool. Chat GPT still has some room to grow as a creative writer, but how long until it starts to feel just a bit less mechanical and a little more human? Graphics, art, and imagery on the other hand is pretty much a done deal in my opinion. Human empathy is still needed to craft effective design, but I fear AI is not far off from creating entire designs from text that require little to no tweaking. At that point, art becomes the prompt.

Moving forward, I will continue to teach the fundamentals of design and the technical skills required to use the Adobe programs. As well, I will include what I have learned about AI as I aspire to best practice guidelines for using AI in art and design. AI is here to stay and its exponential usage growth on top of the exponential growth of AI technology makes for a race towards an unknown and far off finish line.

We must simply keep up. As I see no other choice but to continue searching for ways to utilize AI effectively and ethically, I suppose, I am All In.

2023 Fall 24

By Paige Radel

Behind the Faces of the Aces

What is an Ace? Uh… duh a weird guy on a deck of cards.

While this isn’t wrong, it falls quite short of what a Purple Ace is at the University of Evansville. Unlike other schools, a simple tiger or eagle wouldn’t do; such a unique school needed an equally unique mascot to encompass the identity of the students who attend and, more specifically, the student-athletes who compete wearing that strange looking guy on their jerseys.

The University of Evansville has 17 division 1 sport teams and competes largely in the Missouri Valley Conference. The teams that are in season throughout the Fall include volleyball, women’s soccer, men’s soccer, cross country, men’s golf, and women’s golf. However, training for those out of season never ceases. The grueling schedule of an athlete is never finished. I should know! I am a studentathlete here at UE and all too often I limit my identity to strictly athlete. With a schedule so demanding, it’s easy to lose a sense of self outside of your sport.

I want this series to remind Aces and their fans that

“an athlete's identity resonates far deeper than their performance.”

I want to make a space that acknowledges the achievements of student-athletes no matter the relation to student or athlete it may have.

The identity of these young adults is far more intricate than the limited label of student-athlete, and all too often we fail to recognize these individuals as more than a number on a field.

With 15% of the student population at UE also doubling as athletes, that staggering number of Aces contains a plethora of stories that are much more than what meets the eye. So, I bring to you, Behind the Face of the ACES. A place to find the untold stories of your favorite Purple Ace players.

Crescent Magazine 25

Coming from the “Show-Me State” is Purple Ace Mark Shallenberger. He is entering his fifth year at the University of Evansville, yet he is far from finished with his baseball career.

He wears number 32 on the field, but there is much more to know about him...

Shallenberger has graduated with his Bachelor's Degree of Science in Psychology and is now pursuing his Master’s Degree of Science in Leadership with the hope for a future career as a coach, therapist, or sports psychologist.

Shallenberger opted to attend UE because, as a National Merit Finalist, he received a full-tuition scholarship to the university. This means that out of the 1.6 million students who take the PSAT each year, Shallenberger was one of only 15,000 in the top percentile to be named a National Merit Finalist.

In addition to baseball and school, Shallenberger is a proud Guitar Hero player and an avid football fan. He also enjoys cooking and watching Jeopardy in his free time.

for making her mentally tough and teaching her things she never would have learned without it.

Next up is Las Vegas native, Reese Simmons. She plays soccer for the Purple Aces, but that’s not all!

Because of the prestigiousness of the Pre-PT program, Oulgout is currently completing an internship in addition to practicing just about every day and completing other classes.

Coming from the bustling city, she chose UE for a change of pace and to gain a new experience far from home.

Simmons also chose Evansville for the business program.

She is currently in her junior year pursuing her Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Business Management in hopes of becoming a CEO, business manager, or a coach in the future.

Moving to Evansville came with challenges for Simmons though.

Coming in her freshman year, she suffered a knee injury that would leave her without soccer for ten months.

Moving to an entirely new place, being injured along with starting entirely new classes proved to be very challenging for Simmons, but she credits that year

“It taught me how far positivity can get you,” said Simmons, “being negative gets you nowhere.”

Another aspect of being injured that Simmons took advantage of was developing new hobbies. During that time, she took up reading and spent time outside.

Now, Reese has made a complete recovery and has continued to start for the UE soccer team, helping to pave the way to victory for the Purple Aces.

All the way from Minnesota is Track and Cross Country runner Adam Oulgout. Being more than 10 hours away from home was not only for his sport though; the unique opportunities that the University of Evansville offers for Pre-Physical Therapy students also drew Oulgout to attend.

Oulgout has been on the Cross Country and Track teams for 2 – going on 3 – years now, he runs mid-distance, but he has accomplished much more.

Oulgout is fluent in 3 languages and prides himself on his ability to play the saxophone, as well as being an active golfer. Friends described him as, “loyal, hilarious, and always down for a good time.”

In his time at UE, he has learned to separate his personal life from his sport.

He believes this is essential to success.

While so much pressure is placed in sport, it’s not beneficial to carry the stress over into personal time. This being said, Oulgout builds time for selfcare into his typical daily schedule.

RELIGION: A VOICE OF JUSTICE, NOT VIOLENCE.

By Emma Mitchell

Religion comes with a family. No matter what religious group you are affiliated with, or how far, or if you aren’t religious at all, every person on this planet has people that they consider family. The whole Earth is one family, and respect and kindness are the glue that hold all of the families together and safe. The world is a diverse place filled with many diverse opinions, both personal and political, but many tend to let the two blend together, causing many issues.

Throughout time, the glue starts to fall apart. Religion has always been a touchy subject that has led to much bloodshed across history and the globe, but that’s kind of ironic right? Taking a personal belief that is good and pure and using it as an excuse for violent hate crimes isn’t very religious at all.

rules and actions upon their people, but also through the overarching divide within the religious community.

Whomever you worship – or whomever you look up to – would not excuse the violence that continues to occur throughout history over religion. Violence has turned religion – something of peace, respect, and happiness – into something people fear to express. Be kind to all and respect everyone’s personal beliefs because it doesn’t affect you for someone to be happy and safe within their own morals.

Religion is a free and personal belief that affects only oneself and shouldn’t be publicized. Instead, religion should be a place of happy congregation where people can come together to share their love and morals with others. It has been scientifically proven that people who come together for congregation tend to be happier because they are sharing their joys with others who have those same joys, creating community.

With violence corrupting religion across the world, people have lost their sense of justice. In order for religion to thrive, and for everyone to be treated in a kind respectful manner across the globe, justice must be served to all, but not through violence. Only through respect.

Justice creates equal and fair treatment for all, leaving no room for violence.

Justice and religion go hand in hand, with justice being part of many religious affiliations’ morals. And yet, justice and respect have been lost across the world, not only through governments forcing

2023 Fall 26

Pa ra n o r m a l Penny Lane By: Mitch Bretz Photo: Samatha Pelfree Photo: Jasmine Brents

On the corner of Mulberry and

Southeast in downtown Evansville, right across the street from the much more imposing First Presbyterian Church, sits the humble Penny Lane Coffeehouse.

Constructed all the way back in 1886, the small Italianate brick structure has served many purposes over the past 137 years; drugstore, sundries shop, and consignment store just to name a few. These days, many people who frequent the area know Penny Lane for its fine espressos and breakfast sandwiches. What most don’t know, however, is that the building has a history of paranormal activity.

It’s just one of the many places that Rocky Brown has investigated as part of his upcoming book, Haunted Evansville.

For context, Rocky Brown is an author who has been interested in the otherworldly from the moment he learned to read. “I took to reading really young. I didn’t have any siblings or anything like that,” he said when asked about his background.

Eventually, Brown’s interest in spooky literature evolved into a desire to write his own works. As any aspiring writer will know, the beginning wasn’t easy. He sent samples of his writing to countless publishers and got pretty used to hearing the word “no”.

Eventually, however, his perseverance paid off, and he got a call from a publisher who liked his material and wanted him to write for them. Haunted Evansville is part of Brown’s recent three-book deal with another publisher, The History Press.

The locations in Brown’s upcoming book include well-known spots like the Reitz Home, as well as more obscure places like the former David J. Mackey house, the latter of which Brown himself has a personal connection to. After all, he lived there for a time once the house was divided into apartments.

“I was a four-year-old kid reading Goosebumps books, and then Stephen King later on. It was just something to do.”

Crescent Magazine 27

Photo: Samatha Pelfree

“I can remember going to bed and finding things rearranged when I woke up the next morning. That was pretty weird, considering I lived by myself at the time.” According to newspaper archives, David J. Mackey was a prominent Evansville businessman in the late 1800s who outlived many of his family members. He became so stricken with grief and loneliness in his later years that he was committed to Evansville State Hospital, which was an insane asylum at the time. If Brown’s experiences are anything to go off of, perhaps Mackey may not have wanted to leave his home after all.

While writers can sometimes find themselves lacking motivation to finish a big project, Brown is seasoned enough to know how to stay on track. “I write every day,” he said.

“Even if it’s just a paragraph, I’ll write that one paragraph. As long as you’re pushing ahead, that’s what’s important. You gotta keep momentum, because if you don’t, it becomes something you dread having to do.”

Still, piecing together a work that’s over a hundred pages long is not an easy task, and Haunted Evansville has proven to be no exception. Due to the relative obscurity of the subject matter, information can be hard to find – and those who have it aren’t always willing to give it up. In one instance, Brown had to get creative when gathering info for one of the historic neighborhoods he wanted to feature in the book; he could not go there himself because one of the guides who gave tours of the neighborhood wasn’t happy with him. Supposedly, that particular tour guide had actually wanted to pitch the same book idea to the same publisher, but Brown “beat them to the punch.”

Upon learning of this, the tour guide refused to talk to him, and so he asked his assistant to go on the tour in his place and take notes.

Unfortunately, the troubles didn’t end there. Brown secured a working relationship with one of Evansville’s libraries, mainly so that they could provide him with archived photos of the locations the book discusses. At first, the staff at the library were very helpful and exchanged emails with him in a timely fashion. However, the responses became slower over time, to the point where the book’s publish date had to be set back by several months. In fact, as of this writing, the only things Brown needs for his book are photos, which have proven even harder to obtain now that he no longer lives in Evansville.

Luckily, not all aspects of the research process have been so rocky – pun intended. Brown and his assistant were able to interview many knowledgeable and willing people who are associated with the properties the upcoming book focuses on. One of those people is Vanessa Urban,

a current resident of Penny Lane Coffeehouse’s upstairs apartments. After living there for over a year, she wasn’t surprised to find out that her home is thought to be haunted.

“The lighting in this place is always acting up,” she said. “It wasn’t working the other day, and after only one pull, the brand new light chain snapped completely off.

I’m not much of a believer in ghosts, but if one does live with me, they sure do like the dark.”

While the world of the paranormal will always have its skeptics, Brown is passionate about the subject and he’s confident in his work. He urges all aspiring writers to have faith in their own material, regardless of what they write. “Keep everything that you’ve got, even if it’s just a chapter from a throwaway thing that you don’t ever want to finish,” he said, chuckling. “Treat it like yesterday’s ham sandwich. Even if it sucks, you should still hang onto it. Look at it from time to time, and ask yourself how hungry you are.”

Haunted Evansville is part of the Haunted America series, a collection of books published by The History Press that focuses on the paranormal history of several American cities. The book is currently scheduled to be released by the end of 2023.

Photo: Jasmine Brents

2023 Fall 28

a non-binary, bisexual, queer As person, politics for me has

always been a matter of life or death.

Yet, there are people who say things such as, “I don’t really care about politics;” “No, I don’t like politics;” and “I don’t really pay attention to politics.”

Whether you have said these yourself or you’ve known someone who has expressed a sentiment similar to those mentioned, political apathy is all too common in the United States. Put simply, political apathy is a lack of care or concern regarding politics, and it frequently leads to low voter turnouts.

As someone who is heavily involved in the political process and has continued to pursue those interests at the college-level, I am often surrounded by people who are uninterested and uninformed when it comes to politics.

While these people may not participate in politics because they feel as if it doesn’t affect them or can’t justify taking the time to learn, there are many of us who feel an obligation to vote and to become involved in advocating for specific issues and candidates.

As I said, for me, politics is life or death. Life or death may seem dramatic.

“C’mon, can you really feel that strongly about politics?” Absolutely, I can. And I do. As I’m saying this, I recognize, of course, that there is a place for every subject. I’d be remiss to ignore the importance of science, technology, engineering, math, English, and various other spheres.

To that, though, I add: who controls the funding that goes toward many programs whether they be art, science, or other areas? Who determines the laws necessary for ethical practices in medicine or science? Who determines rules and regulations for advances in technology and engineering?

Who controls the education system at the country and state level? Who determines which streets are paved, which buildings are built, and whether a hospital gets the funding it needs? The list goes on, but the point is clear.

Government and politics reach into every possible aspect of public life one can imagine. However, for many people, it doesn’t stop there. For trans people, politics controls our bodies, whether we

have the right to be ourselves or not.

For others in the LGBTQ+ community, politics controls who we can marry, how we can express ourselves. For people of color, politics controls their everyday lives and how they can or can’t exist. For people with uteruses, politics controls what we can and can’t do with our bodies and whether we get a choice or not.

Politics is a matter of life and death.

For people of all different communities, it’s not a matter of whether we care about politics or not, whether we vote or not, whether we decide to learn about candidates and issues. It’s a matter of voting for change, deciding which candidates to support, learning about every issue that touches humanity.

The next time you or someone around you starts talking about not caring about politics or saying that it doesn’t affect them, think for a second.

Go out and vote. Use your voice. Help make a change for those who can’t afford to not think about politics. Politics matter, and voting matters.But above all,

people matter.

Engage for Change: Why Politics Should Matter to Everyone

By: Parker

Andresen

Crescent Magazine 29

Greenwashing:

Lately, I’ve seen a lot of products labeled with “eco-friendly” or “ecoconscious” when, in reality, the products are far from it.

This money-grabbing tactic tricks environmentally concerned consumers into purchasing eco-damaging goods. It shows how corporations, who hold a great responsibility for the health of the Earth, don’t care about their impact.

They care about money. A lot of the time, companies that have one of the worst environmental affects, are the most likely to spread marketing about how sustainable they are. Instead of spending funds on actual eco-friendly programs, companies inhumanly take advantage of consumers. It is important that people are conscious of what they buy and are able to look out for greenwashing.

by Caroline Bullock

Look for companies that have claims that can be backed upon by scientists, research, and studies.

There are also websites that list ethical products that are not greenwashing.

Websites like Project Cece and Ethical Made Easy.

Project Cece focuses on finding ethical fashion.

Ethical Made Easy also looks for ecoconscious brands, including more affordable ones. There are also apps that promote sustainability and help shoppers shop more sustainably.

Looking out for False

Environmentalism

Big corporations like Nestle, Walmart, Amazon, are often caught misleading costumers. Activists notice a small step towards “being green”, and soon realize the action is doing nothing for the environment, especially in comparison to the footprint they make on a daily basis. In 2018, Nestlé claimed they would have 100% recyclable and reusable packaging by 2025, in reality they had no plans to do so. It was simply for the media.

Walmart paid a million USD to settle claims about misleading eco-friendly plastic packaging. Deena Robinson from Earth.org states, “Half of the world’s disposable plastic has been

produced in the last 16 years, and 91% of the plastic produced globally is not recycled. This is why companies making claims to be making “reusable plastic” are so harmful – we need to be creating less plastic.”

Besides packaging products, clothing and “fast fashion” is another big producer of greenwashing. Fast fashion produces clothes cheaply and at a very fast rate. They create clothes without considering the demand for the products. It is mass production. “Fast fashion is one of the biggest polluters on the planet, with more than £140 million worth of clothing ending up in UK landfills every year.” (Robinson) The best thing to do is to buy second-hand clothing. There is plenty of clothes already produced, and not enough people buying them. Buying secondhand means nothing is being wasted.

But luckily, since more and more light is coming to greenwashing tactics, there are ways to avoid buying false green products. Of course, you can always simply look up the product online before you buy it and look for red flags. Look out for companies that simply slap on the term eco-friendly.

Overall, it is important we recognize what companies are truly environmentally friendly. Humans have a responsibility as beings on this planet to treat it with respect. And while every individual can do their part by shopping ethically, the corporations have a responsibility too. By rejecting non-ethical companies, they are forced to be sustainable. It is not all on us. It is the leaders of society who have the biggest responsibility. Do what you can to help our Earth.

2023 Fall 30

by: Hayden Chrapek

breaking

content warning: relationship anxiety and mental health problems and codependency she told me she loved me, but it was just another lie to get me to trust her (maybe she will lie about what she was doing to get out of a call again or about how she just cannot get time off to visit for our anniversary again).

it happened so fast— the fall. i fell and knew that i would never be able to stand alone again. she was perfect—

everything

that i thought i wanted and needed. she was beautiful and kind, but i guess i should have known better.

it has been months since she b r o k me— months of crying and

for her.

i should have known that f a l l i n g so quickly and hard would have s h a t t e me into millions of m s a c e i m t h d puzzle pieces having nothing to do with each other.

wishing i could be enough

she was perfection while i was her unworthy disciple worshipping her everything. i r

e

d

in all my years on this miserable planet, i have learned that

i can never have a happy ending or

a piece of light without its shadows o v e r w h e l me.

love

you

i would become everything for her. i could be pretty and kind.

then she would love me. i

love you,

it was great— at first. she kept me from being alone with calls happening weekly and constant texts through the days, but i should have known better.

Crescent Magazine 31

e

i imagined her saying.

i got better, but we grew further apart— with me, on earth, and her, on the moon (now revolving me but never close enough). she wasn’t my dream any longer. by the time, i was too far, she finally told me she but it didn’t matter.

m

l o v e d

after all, i used to believe in love, but now, i tell her “i’m not too sure.” i n g

me,

A

A PODCAST A

PODCAST

PODCAST

LISTEN NOW

LISTEN NOW

LISTEN NOW!

AA

PODCAST PODCAST

A

PODCAST

2023-24 Advertising Rates & Information PODCAST ADVERTISING RATES

SEASON 2 COMING SOON!

Episode Sponsorship - $500 Per Episode Episode Sponsorship is worked into the podcast seamlessly by the show personalities at the begining, middle, and end of the podcast. The hosts will talk about the product or service and develop the advertisement as part of the podcast conversation, mention the company, and signal an appropriate Call To Action (CTA) to the audience.

30 Second Commercial Spot - $250 Each podcast has an to 30 second commercial spots available.

These spots can be prerecorded or produced by the Student Media team.

Show Sponsors - $5000 A show sponsorship has a graphic spot at the top of the podcast web page with link to desired website, gets 1 mention with CTA in every episode, and gets tagged in every social media post regarding the show.

MAGAZINE COLOR RATES Sizes

1 Issue

Double IFC

$800

Inside Front Cover Page

$520

Back Cover

$540

Inside Back Cover

$480

Full Page

$470

1/2 Page

$260

1/4 Page WEBSITE AD RATES:

with Troy Schroeder

Home Page: Top of Issue Page: Bottom of Issue Page: Bottom of Featured Article Page: Top & Bottom of Article Pages: $75 per article page

$150 $125 $100 $100

Applicable for 16 week intervals during semester

The University of Evansville Student Media team is now producing The Crescent Sports Report, a weekly podcast dedicated to bringing the Evansville community the latest and greatest in sports news and entertainment. Tune in weekly and follow the Crescent Magazine social media accounts to make sure you don’t miss any updates!

$190

MECHANICAL GUIDELINES Sizes

Decimals

Double IFC

18 x 11

Covers

9 x 11

Full Page

8 x 10.8125

1/2 Page

8 x 4.8125

1/4 Page

2.25 x 2.75

CONTACT INFORMATION

Tommy J Housman Student Media Advisor

th208@evansville.edu 812-568-5315 Crescent Magazine, University of Evansville, 1800 Lincoln Ave., Evansville, Ind. 47722

Scan to catch to the latest episode

A

PODCAST

Contact Tommy J Housman Student Media Advisor about advertising in the Crescent Magazine, on our website, or on any of our podcasts. th208@evansville.edu 2023 Fall 32

@crescentmagazine

@crescentmagazi1

@UECrescentMagazine

FOLL OW U S

Chec

k Out

Our W ebsit e: cr esce

!

nt.e vans v

ille.e

du