University News // May 6, 2014 // Issue twenty nine

UNIVERSITY NEWS

UMKC’s Independent Student Newspaper Tuesday April 29, 2014

Volume 81, Issue 29

Relay for Life:

Striving to cure cancer one step at a time

Participants from different teams meet up to the play the game ‘Rob Your Neighbor.’

Heather Yablonovsky Staff Writer UMKC and Rockhurst University students united with the community and in the fight against cancer on Friday night at the Rockhurst Convocation Center for Relay For Life.

The funds raised allow the American Cancer Society to help those who have been diagnosed to celebrate another birthday.

The event began at 6 p.m. Friday

and ended around 6 a.m. Saturday.

Teams camped out overnight because cancer is a disease that never sleeps.

“I like to continue to have upbeat and positive thoughts,” said Hallie Blanchard, team captain for Team UMKC Pre-Health. “You get caught up in the atmosphere and you don’t notice that you have been up all night.”

There were food, games and activities for the participants to engage themselves in when they

Tom Flanagan is prepped for the ‘Mr. Relay’ competition by a teammate.

weren’t walking to stay awake.

Each Relay For Life is special, but the true power lies in the commitment of the participants, volunteers and supporters to help the American Cancer Society save lives. At events like these, communities come together to honor cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost and fight back against a disease that has already taken too much.

The night started off with a survivors lap. During this lap, all cancer survivors at the event took the first lap around the track, celebrating their fight and victory over cancer as they were cheered on by the other participants.

Next was the luminaria ceremony. This event took place after the sun went down in remembrance of those who lost their battle with cancer, to honor those who have fought it in the past and support those for whom the fight continues. During this ceremony, glow sticks were placed inside personalized bags and placed around the Relay track as tribute to those who have been affected by the disease.

Luvly Self, an accounting major at UMKC, said walking in this event is something she has always wanted to do. This was her first year as part of a team and she wishes more awareness of this event is raised on campus. Self walked for Lanny Solomon, a man who was a faculty member and chairman of the Bloch School.

“When Lanny was diagnosed, the community was affected and I wanted to show my support for him and his family,” Self said. “He passed away in 2012, and I was lucky enough to have the privilege of knowing him.”

Solomon’s wife still donates

Linda Skidmore, Kaitlynn Reynolds and McKensie Callahan sing “I’ll Make a Man out of You” during karaoke. to the Relay every year in his gives people the opportunity to memory. speak up, whether it be at school The final ceremony was the or throughout the community. fight back ceremony, which aimed The American Cancer Society to inspire participants to take provides for families. They are action.. Taking part represents not looking for handouts, they are what we are willing to do for looking for support. ourselves, loved ones and our “It should not be something community to fight cancer year- people have to go through and round. suffer from,” Self said. “If it Olimpus Aviles, vice president absolutely has to happen, I would of the Biological Sciences Student not want the effects to be so Government at UMKC, feels drastic.” the originality of the Relay is At the end of the night, dollars interesting in comparison to that were counted and the total of a 5K or auction. amount of funds was announced.

“I didn’t think I could stay awake Altogether, $40,558.84 was raised for 12 hours and walk all night, for the fight against cancer. The but the cause seems worthwhile,” Relayers then took their final lap.

Aviles said. “If a treatment can be found to replace chemotherapy, I hyablonovsky@unews.com would consider the organization’s efforts to be a success.”

Being a part of Relay For Life

Matt Yablonovsky poses for caricature artist Eileen McCoy. Photos // Heather Yablonovsky

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UNIVERSITYNEWS UMKC’s Independent Student Newspaper

www.unews.com 5327 Holmes St. Kansas City, MO 64110 Editor’s desk: 816-235-5402 Advertising: 816-420-7593

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To provide relevant, timely coverage of the UMKC community by seeking truth, fairness and accuracy in reporting while preserving the integrity of U-News as an independent student-run publication.

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The U-News is the official independent student newspaper of UMKC, produced each week by a staff consisting entirely of students.

We publish 4,000 copies each week, and distribute to the Volker and Hospital Hill campuses and surrounding neighborhood businesses.

Letters to the Editor can be submitted by mail or to info@unews.com. Letters should be 350 words or less and are subject to edits for clarity.

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U-News is an equal opportunity employer.

Students recognized for outstanding academic achievements Jake Newstrom A&E Editor Alex Chang, a finance major from Lee’s Summit, received the McGladrey-FEI Kansas City Academic Award. The award is co-sponsored by McGladrey LLP, a tax and consulting firm, and the Kansas City chapter of Financial Executives International (FEI Kansas City.)

Given to outstanding students in finance and accounting, the award was given at the Academic Awards Night event put on by FEI Kansas City on April 14.

Four other students received awards, including a student at the University of Missouri.

“As the top networking and professional development group for financial executives in Kansas City, FEI is committed to developing the next generation of finance and accounting leaders,” said Stacey Frye, president of the FEI Kansas City chapter. “Education is central to our mission, and FEI Kansas City’s annual academic awards promote excellence in the business programs at 15 universities in our region.

We are happy to honor these promising young people.”

Elliott Goff, a graduate student in the School of Computing and Engineering, was awarded the prestigious Whitaker Fellowship from the Whitaker International Program. This fellowship allows students to travel internationally and formulate independent research.

Alex Chang

Elliott Goff

Goff will spend a research year in Zurich, Switzerland, at the Institute for Biomechanics at Eidgenossische Technishce Hochschule (ETH.) This award, given to 50 recipients throughout the U.S., recognizes young biomedical engineers who are viewed as emerging leaders in their field.

Goff’s project will explore the unknown complexities of the

Photos // Facebook he learned that he had been awarded a second DAAD, the RISE Professional internship, which he has declined in favor of the Whitaker. He also has been active in UMKC’s chapter of Engineers without Borders. jnewstrom@unews.com

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bone organ and involve the simulation of bone cells.

Goff is from Kansas City and completed his undergraduate work at UMKC in 2013.

Goff’s academic achievements allowed him to spend the summer of 2012 at the Julius Wolff Institute in Berlin as the recipient of a DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) internship grant. Recently,

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Tuesday April 29, 2014 | Issue 29

Tunnel of Oppression makes an impression

Exhibit at UPB’s ‘Tunnel of Oppression’ event. physically harms, arouses fear, Hiral Patel prevents a partner from doing Staff Writer what they wish or forces them to The Union Programming Board behave in ways that they do not held the Tunnel of Oppression want,” said Brandon Jackson, Tuesday, April 22 at the Student member of UPB and tour guide of Union. This was the second the Tunnel of Oppression. event of UPB’s Spring Blowout.

The next room presented The event covered issues a video by YouTube user of injustice and prejudice in fouseyTUBE. In this video, different categories. the main character and a girl A gallery of boards showed wearing a hijab were shown on different ways people are a college campus. The man was oppressed. The five types of insulting the woman wearing injustice expressed in this tunnel the hijab and continuously told were domestic violence, racial her to return to her country. The prejudice, sex preference, body- point of this video was to see image insecurities and suicidal reactions of bypassing students thoughts and actions. on the campus. Although there UPB arranged three different were a few defensive reactions, rooms to show different types most people chose to ignore the of oppression. In the tour verbal abuse. around the tunnel, the first room “Bias-motivated violence showed domestic violence. A or threats targeting students, video featureda young girl’s voice staff or faulty not only impair talking to a 911 operator. She was the educational mission of an terrified for her mother because institution of higher learning, her father was hurting her. The but also deprive young men and phone call ended with the girl women of the chance to live and screaming her mother’s name. learn in an atmosphere free of “Battering is a behavior that fear and intimidation,” Jackson

Exhibit at UPB’s ‘Tunnel of Oppression’ event. said.

The final room showed two different videos.

“The media onslaught of cable news, the internet and now even personal blogging has reached an unbearable level,” Jackson said, “one which has created a perception of expectations for careers, race, religion, beauty and other socialized norms that it is impossible to live up to in one lifetime.”

The first video in the final room displayed insecurities with body images. There were many examples of how young adults may feel insecure about their figures. This video displayed an anorexic girl looking in the mirror. In her reflection, she saw a much larger version of herself.

“When the individuality of

any person is under constant scrutiny by one look in the mirror, something needs to change,” Jackson said. “When we look in the mirror, we should see opportunity, beauty and the best of ourselves,not the messages and meanings installed by others upon us.”

The video explained how, in young generations, an image of a perfect body is put into people’s minds at a young age. Young girls idolize dolls with certain figures and they grow up thinking they need to look that way.

The last video was a clip of an Ellen DeGeneres show in response to Tyler Clementi’s death. Clementi killed himself because he was cyberbullied about being gay. This was an example of the number of suicides

Photos // Hiral Patel due to oppressing issues.

“Every 15 minutes, someone dies by suicide,” Jackson said. “It remains the 11th leading cause of death in the country.”

Jackson ended the tour with questions about how the audience felt after experiencing the tunnel. One student said she felt awake, and another said she felt overwhelmed.

The Tunnel of Oppression is a concept that originated at Western Illinois University in 1994 and has become a model for colleges across the country to promote knowledge about different types of prejudices. hpatel@unews.com

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Tuesday April 29, 2014 | Issue 29

You can’t get a deg

A survey of masculine gender e

own masculinity.

Roze Brooks For political science major Editor-in-Chief Jide Ajisafe, he feels a lot of The way we talk, walk, dress, gender roles were stratified in interact with others and how early education. we present ourselves derives “The girls played double dutch, from behavior we learn through the boys played basketball,” he gender socialization. From the said. “The girls would do their moment we’re born, society hair, the boys would fight. That expects us to behave a certain was one way it was a learned way based on our assigned sex pattern of behavior, through at birth. A dichotomy is created these gender divisions.” that has males on one end of a This peer affirmation gender spectrum and females on translates into different male the other. homosocial experiences, or Gender norms are projected platonic interactions among through many forums including same-gender individuals, in media and fashion, but higher education including educational institutions are a fraternity life and competitive cesspool of gender separation. sports recognized on a national Ideas of how males and females scale. are supposed to act are taught “This whole idea of male-

Young boys often turn to violence to avoid looking like “sissies.” during developmental years of K-12 education.

However, for students in post-secondary universities and colleges, these messages can either be challenged or perpetuated.

In an androcentric society, taking a deliberate look at the gender socialization of men within their roles as students can reveal ties to homophobia, sexism and patriarchy. Focusing on the experiences of men in educational institutions can also unveil issues among men’s perception of their own power as individuals in a society where they are automatically assumed to have power.

Photo // Claudia Rehm centrism or androcentrism is so valid with the fraternity culture here because, if on face value you look at what organizations are deemed as valid it’s one of the kneejerk responses: fraternity life,” Ajisafe said. “Not only that, but the kind of power they wield on campus and validating other organizations. That’s one area where we see the sort of playground culture play out.”

Associate professor of sociology Jessica Hardie also feels that fraternities can possess a heightened amount of power on their campuses.

primary textbooks is “Dude You’re a Fag: Masculinity and Sexuality in High School” by C.J. Pascoe. One of Hardie’s interests is the concept that boys are statistically underperforming girls in school.

“I think one of the problems is the idea of masculinity inhibits their inclination in high school to really adhere to traditions of academia, so like listening to teachers and being okay with looking like a nerd,” Hardie said.

‘Who here is the sissy?’

In Michael Kimmel’s essay “Masculinity as Homophobia: Fear, Shame, and Silence in the Construction of Gender Identity,” he discusses how American men express an incessant need to be affirmed in their masculinity by other men.

He highlights several types of homosocial interactions among men and how being validated by peers is prevalent in many ways over the course of a man’s life.

“On face value, I think that is totally true,” Ajisafe said.

“Literally my brothers and I would fight almost every day at school over the littlest stuff, but we would fight.”

Ajisafe said that not only would they fight in school, but they would get in trouble by the dean and at home, creating a perpetual zone of violence.

“What I realized was that if I play with the girls, we don’t have to fight anymore and it was safer,” Ajisafe said. “So sometimes I would play double dutch or escape that kind of violence where masculinity was always looking to reaffirm itself.”

Through these homosocial encounters, oftentimes males are found in situations where they are prompted to prove their masculinity through violent or aggressive behavior. A term that seems to represent the ultimate emasculating insult is the word “sissy.” Kimmel introduced a scenario of several 6-year-old

Participant in the BUTCH campaign. group of boys will surround one boy. That boy will either burst into tears and run home crying, disgraced, or he will have to take on several boys at once, to prove that he’s not a sissy.”

Were Kimmel to act out this scenario, Hardie believes there are some problematic overtones with approaching a group of boys prodding for an answer to who is the sissy.

“It introduces the message that someone there is the sissy and that they have to name that,” she said.

What is masculinity?

Contriving a lucid, functioning definition of masculinity is an arduous task. In a workshop titled “[Mask]ulinity and Homophobia,” held on April 10 in the Student Union, participants were asked to write down their own definition of masculinity before the session began.

Common terms in the responses were “manly,” “manliness,” “not showing emotion” and other buzzwords that indicated that those in attendance believed masculinity was reserved only for maleidentified individuals.

From a feminist perspective, definitions of masculinity often include mentions of the power that men inherit through maledominated institutions. Even the Oxford English Dictionary denotes masculinity as being characteristic of men. These colloquial definitions do not acknowledge the systemic teaching of gendered behaviors or how people of any gender perform masculinity.

For male-identified individuals specifically, learning and performing masculinity is rooted in the gender codes they are taught in their youth. From playground antics to organized sports, males tend to participate in activities during their school years that require proving their

Photo // meganallenstudio group or attempt to emasculate one another.

Specifically in the gay and bisexual male community, participants of the discussion said the scenario was plausible for men of any age but that terms like “queen” would more likely be used than “sissy.”

“He Defies You Still: The Memoirs of a Sissy” by Tommi Avicolli illustrates the plight of male youth encountering continual bullying for being perceived unmanly by their peers. He explained how the word “faggot” was the most powerful word boys used to degrade each other.

“The word had power,” Avicolli said. “It toppled the male ego, shattered his delicate façade, violated the image he projected.”

Shoving gender into a box, a field or a frat house

Michael Kimmel “Any sort of group setting has the power to pull others into the fold,” she said. “Even if you have men who start out not being into the sort of ‘dude, you’re a fag’ kind of language, it becomes normalized within the group and suddenly becomes not so weird.”

In Hardie’s Sociology of Gender course, one of the

boys playing on a playground.

He hypothesized that if he were to approach this group of young boys and ask “Who here is the sissy?” that one of two things would likely result.

“Either one boy will accuse another of being a sissy, to which that boy will respond that he is not a sissy, that the first boy is.” Kimmel said.”Or a whole

Photo // Michael Kimmel In the “[Mask]ulinity and Homophobia” workshop, participants were asked, based on Kimmel’s scenario, if they believed the same response could be evoked from a group of adult men. The general consensus was that when with a group of peers, men will likely partake in isolating one member of the

In Tony Porter’s TedTalk “A Call to Man,” he talks about how if men are seen crying in front of other people, it could threaten their “man box.” This figurative chart Porter uses to explain the list of things men avoid in order to maintain their perceived masculinity includes the stigma that men are unable to express emotion for risk of being emasculated. He talks about the pressure of being a young male in regards to sexual behavior, stating that men walk around acting like they’ve had sex since age two.

In Suzanne Pharr’s book “Homophobia: A Weapon of Sexism,” she echoes both Kimmel and Porter’s insistence that bouts of sexism stem from men as a collective.

“Forced economic dependency puts women under male control and severely limits women’s options for self-determination and self-sufficiency,” Pharr said.

Kimmel explains that men tend

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Tuesday April 29, 2014 | Issue 29

ree in masculinity

expression in higher education to exaggerate their interactions with women to ensure that there is no conceivable way they could be perceived as anything other than heterosexual.

“Women become a kind of currency that men use to improve their ranking on the masculine social scale,” Kimmel said.

With men seemingly perpetuating sexist acts against women, there then becomes a continual circuit of violence and degradation of women.

“Patriarchy is not only damaging to women who experience it. It’s also the men who are compromised by this ethic,” Ajisafe said. “What we’ve learned through studying rape culture is that no one enjoys it, but we continue to do it.”

However, when considering this in the context of the gay and bisexual male community, it’s harder to make the claim that women are considered subordinate sex objects by this group of men.

“Gay men are perceived also as a threat to male dominance and control, and the homophobia expressed against them has the same roots in sexism as does homophobia against lesbians” Pharr said.

Porter’s “man box” includes a bullet-point that men are supposed to be tough and athletic as well as to not act like a gay man. According to Pharr, the only exceptions to the steadfast rule of concealing affection for other men are in cases of war, and in competitive sports.

Porter also mentions an encounter he had with a young athlete. He asked him what he would do if his coach told him he played the sport like a girl.

Porter was surprised at the severity of the answer.

In a portraiture project called BUTCH, San Francisco photographer Meg Allen depicts dozens of female-identified individuals who present a more masculine gender.

“BUTCH is an homage to the bull-daggers, dykes, manly women, and female husbands before me,” Allen said. “BUTCH is acceptance to the baby butches, young studs, gender queers, and dykes that continue to bloom in the face of societal norms.”

The project sends a message that masculinity is a trait, not a gender. In the facilitated discussion, attendees questioned the efficiency of using “female” or “male” as a response to what preferred pronouns one uses.

One attendee asked “What if my definition of female pronouns isn’t the same as someone else’s?

Who owns those pronouns?”

Speculations were made that female-identified individuals who are raised in households with males are susceptible to learning some of the masculinized tropes of being a “real man”. This drew some reasoning as to why girls who are raised as the only female child tend to be tomboys.

At the conclusion of the session, attendees were asked again to write their definition of “masculinity.” Nearly all of the retrospective definitions eliminated the words “man” or “male” from their verbiage.

Teaching gender in higher education— literally

“Taking our bodies here to this point in higher education means that we can break some of those rules,” Ajisafe said. “So you can play double dutch too and that’s okay.”

Participant in the BUTCH campaign.

“He said it would destroy him,” Porter said.

Organized sports offer a platform for men to create homosocial relationships and indulge in demonstrations of physical skill, seeking approval from their peers and their male role models.

“Fraternities and athletics are not inherently bad,” Hardie said, “but they can evolve into something negative which we’ve seen at least at other universities because they’re operating so independently and can become this sort of closed circuit institution in which men are just ping-ponging back and forth proving their masculinity to one another and they use women to do it.”

Who owns masculinity?

Photo // meganallenstudio Obtaining a post-secondary degree is often considered a privilege.

“I have issues with that word sometimes because I worked to be here, it’s something that I earned, and I earned my spot in the University just as much as anyone else,” Ajisafe said, “but I still think privilege is important, because dealing with one’s privilege is a continual process.

For me, it’s always a recognition that this is not it, that the work we do here is always unfinished business.”

Those who attend more liberal institutions are often presented with opportunities to expand and challenge their preconceived notions of many worldviews. However, whether students choose to participate in these experiences depends on

Phoho // amazon.com the student, and the institution.

“A commuter college population makes it even harder to bring certain topics to people’s attention,” Hardie said. “You also have more kids who are going into college with

this set plan to learn a skill or trade, and that can narrow their perspective in terms of how open they are to different things. It’s unfortunate that some students go through here with those blinders because

you could very well be a better doctor if you knew something about gender.”

It was one of the many diverse opportunities on UMKC’s campus that created an ah-ha moment for Ajisafe. During his freshman year, he attended an event put on by the Women’s Center featuring Nedra Bonds, an African American artist who demonstrates stories through quilt making.

Ajisafe was surprised to find that he was one of only two or three men in attendance at the event.

“It was really weird to me because here’s this profound scholarship about quilts and its ability to craft story that is liberating, and didn’t seem like something that could be exclusive to females,” he said,” so here I was a minority in this space and it was apparent. They expected it but I didn’t.”

Within the Women and Gender Studies Department, UMKC students can opt into varying discourses about gender issues. Most of the courses offered are interdisciplinary and cross-listed under numerous major fields.

Some of the gender-specific courses include WGS 201 Introduction to Women and Gender Studies, SOC 300GF Sociology of Gender and CJC 450 Women, Crime and Criminal Justice.

By focusing on the androcentric interactions available to men in their youth and how these messages are either enforced or challenged in post-secondary educational institutions, reclamation or redefining of masculinity can occur. rbrooks@unews.com

THE MAN BOX Don’t cry or openly express emotion with the exception of anger Do not show weakness or fear Demonstrate powercontrol especially over women Agression-Dominance Protector Do not be “like a woman” Heterosexual Do not be “like a gay man” Tough-Athletic-Strength-Courage Makes decisions-Does not need help Views women as property/objects

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Tuesday April 29, 2014 | Issue 29

Kasey leads the way against AIDs

Attendees of the 2014 AIDS Walk.

Kathleen Brueggemann Staff Writer Kasey the Kangaroo, along with Mayor Sly James and former Mayor Kay Barnes, led the way in AIDS Walk Kansas City Saturday morning at Theis Park.

AIDS Walk Kansas City is the main fundraiser for the AIDS Service Foundation of Greater Kansas City.

Money raised by the event goes to help improve quality of life for those affected by the disease. It is split primarily between the Kansas City CARE Clinic, SAVE, Inc., the Good Samaritan Project and Hope Care Center.

The exact amount raised by the event will be announced in the

coming weeks, but is expected to be in the thousands.

UMKC had a visible presence at the event.

“It was great to see so many faculty, staff, students and alumni from UMKC out supporting the walk today,” said Troy Lillebo, assistant vice chancellor for external relations. “And it was so fun to watch people’s faces light up when they saw Kasey in the crowd. He was just mobbed with kids and adults trying to get their picture with him.”

Despite the rain, thousands of people turned out to walk, including Mayor James.

“It’s tremendous to see how it grows year after year,” James said. “Kansas City leads the way in being inclusive of everyone. I

just want you all to understand how important it is to continue this fight.”

There were many sponsors from the community, including Saint Luke’s Health System, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Hallmark and Mix 93.3.

There are currently more than 5,700 people living with AIDS in the Kansas City area, and more than 700 of those people are between the ages of 13 and 24. Kansas City is in the 90th percentile in keeping people in care.

“The Kansas City AIDS Walk is an important opportunity for UMKC to connect with the Kansas City community to remember those lost, support those living with and

Kasey the Kangaroo leads the march against AIDS. challenge the stigma of HIV/ AIDS in the LGBTQIA and Kansas City community,” said Jonathan Pryor, UMKC LGBTQIA programs and services coordinator. “We’re proud to support such an important event that has played a significant role in our community for more than 25 years.”

AIDS Walk, which began in 1988, has grown from just a few hundred people in its first year to thousands of walkers in this 26th year.

Local theater celebrities Missy Koonce and Ron Megee emceed the event. There were also performances from local talents.

Daisy Bucket sang “Defying

Photos Courtesy // UMKC Gravity” from the Broadway musical “Wicked .”

The three-mile walk circled around the area near campus, following Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard, Main Street, Rockhill Road and Volker Boulevard.

Free HIV testing is available at UMKC the second Wednesday of most months in the Student Success Center from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. or by appointment at the Student Health and Wellness office. Testing is sponsored by the Kansas City, Mo., Health Department and Good Samaritan Project. kbrueggemann@unews.com

Civility Forum introduces students to real-life problem solving way.

Hiral Patel “It is a terrible time for our Staff Writer government, and I think that Pi Sigma Alpha, the National the nation seems to be moving Political Science Honor Society, further and further into a new hosted a Civility Forum on level of hostility,” Cleaver said.

April 21 at Pierson Auditorium.

Yoder spoke after Cleaver.

U.S. Representatives Emanuel “We don’t have enough Cleaver II, Missouri Fifth opportunities to really hear District, and Kevin Yoder, what the other side is saying,” Kansas Third District, were Yoder said. “We realize that present to speak. many times we’re saying similar The Civility Forum took place things. We spend so much time as a response to the injustices trying to figure out how we happening in the United States disagree. The reality of our goals today. The discussions in this are pretty similar a lot of times. forum included lessons on how We may disagree on how we get to be courteous to one another, there but many of the principles even in cases of opposing views. and values are the same.”

The forum began with a few Yoder talked about ways words from Chancellor Leo E. people from opposing political Morton. views learn to be civil toward “As I think all of you know, each other. this issue of civility and working “After the government shut closely together is probably at an down, one of the first things I all- time low,” Morton said.“This did that day was go to Emanuel’s whole issue of civility is so office, and we sat down for important because we need to about two hours going through make sure that in this country different options under the idea it is never OK not to be civil. If that if he and I could come up we start to forget that … there with some solutions to get out are people out there that really of the shutdown, maybe we can take those words seriously like go pitch it to the party leaders,” what happened this past week,” Yoder said.

Morton said, referring to the Students asked questions of shootings in Kansas City. the two congressmen.

Cleaver shared experiences A student asked if they thought he had with civility issues. He the recent changes in campaign talked about once when he finance laws contribute to the was boarding a flight, a man polarization in Congress. approached him and told him “The most recent change was that he was voting the wrong

one that the Supreme Court allows donors to still be capped with what they can give a campaign,” Yoder said. “So that is when donors can give anyone running for Congress $2,600 for an election.” “I think with the limits that they have [$2,600,] it would be hard for us to find a candidate when you’re raising millions of dollars.,” Yoder said.

“I’m not one who believes that campaign finance has been the reason that Congress has become more polarized.”

A student asked about members of government working together to find solutions to ongoing problems. Yoder answered the question with emphasis on leadership.

“We’ve got some big issues to tackle: immigration reform, tax reform, education and healthcare,” Yoder said. “I bet if I took ten republicans and ten democrats from UMKC and put them in a room together with a chalkboard for a weekend … maybe they’ll come up with some answers for these issues.

The answers are there, it’s the willingness to work together to get it done.”

A student addressed the amounts of debt that students are collecting in today’s economy. He asked if Congress is noticing this and working to find a solution.

Yoder talked about the

Speakers at the Civility Forum. different ways students acquire debt. He said that students cannot join service-oriented jobs such as the Peace Corps because they have to worry about taking away the debt that has accumulated over the years.

“We’ve looked at ways we can keep interest rates down,” Yoder said. “We’ve got to work through universities to figure out how to lower the costs to go to school. One of the things that I’ve seen is that when we increase the amount of loans that are available, we merely just increase the cost of college.”

Yoder said the amount of student loan debt is greater than credit card debt in the United States.

“When I graduated from college, jobs were everywhere,”

Photo // HIral Patel Cleaver said. “But that’s not the case now. So people go straight to work to pay off their loans.”

A student asked about polarizing issues concerning women’s rights and LGBTQIA. She wondered how Congress could come to a solution to those problems when the country is at a political standstill.

“Often times in the world of politics, the things that connect us are also the things that disconnect us, and that is the love for the country that connects us all,” Cleaver said.

The forum concluded with light refreshments. hpatel@unews.com

7A

Tuesday April 29, 2014 | Issue 29

Alumni honored at annual Awards Luncheon

Chancellor Leo Morton socializes with Award Luncheon attendees.

Eppie O’Neal Staff Writer The UMKC Alumni Association held its Awards Luncheon last Thursday morning at Swinney Recreation Center to recognize alumni for their accomplishments.

The first floor of the recreation center was packed as guests, students and staff maneu-vered out of the rain into the building and found their designated tables.

“Today we will honor a unique group of outstanding awardees as we celebrate what it means to be a part of this university family,” Chancellor Leo E. Morton said.

Five years ago the award celebration was transformed into a luncheon that now raises scholarship

$200,000 to each of our schools and colleges,” said Pat MacDonald, president of the UMKC Alumni Association Governing Board.

The event honored 16 alumni and one family. Video tributes recounted how each recipi-ent applied his or her UMKC education to contribute a positive impact on the world. The Alumni Achievement Award honorees received a framed Kangaroo watercolor print signed by promi-nent artist Tom Corbin, in addition to a bronze plate engraved with their name and award details.

Mike Keefe, a mathematician who later became a Pulitzer prizewinning political car-toonist received the Spotlight Award. The Bill French Alumni Service award was granted to Mi-chael S.J Albano,

Guests of the Alumni Association Awards Luncheon. funds for deserving students who are at risk of not re-enrolling. Last year, the Alumni Fund established two newly endowed scholarships. The Alumni Association has also partnered with the UMKC Board of Trustees to create a new Trustees’ Scholarship, which will pro-vide students with a full-ride merit scholarship through proceeds generated from the award luncheons.

“Our signature event has been awarding immediate scholarship aid to students in need [totaling] around

an esteemed lawyer and avid ’Roo athletics fan. Bambi Nancy Shen accepted the Defying the Odds award which aptly defines her life.

She was born in French Indochina (modern-day Vietnam) and endured internment concentration camps as a child after Japan took control over Vietnam. She later traveled to the United States and prevailed as an educator, busi-ness woman and philanthropist. In 2011 she published her memoir “The Uncrushable Rose.”

Since 1929, three generations of

the Waldman family have graduated from UMKC. The Waldman generations stood on stage as they were bestowed with the Legacy Award.

Jawole Willa Jo Zollar walked away with the Alumna of the Year Award. As a dance pi-oneer, she founded the dance company Urban Bush Women in 1984 to explore the cultural influ-ences of the African Diaspora.

“I had such an amazing experience here at UMKC of teachers, lifelong friends, and col-lege roommates who are here,” Zollar said. “I’m just filled with gratitude to be standing here in this moment.”

Zollar mentioned the dance term core-distal as she described her experience as a UMKC graduate.

“I have been able to move out into the world in a powerful way because of the strength of my training, education and the amazing teachers that I’ve had at UMKC.” Each year, a graduate from each school and college is honored with the academic unit’s alumni achievement award. The recipients received a bronze Kangaroo statue designed by Corbin and an engraved plate with their name and award details.

Among those recipients were Peggy Dunn, mayor of Leawood, Kan., and Cole Haynes, a scientist and renowned professor at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

Alum William E. Osborn started working at the age of 11 after the death of his father. Years later he owned and operated Osborn Drugs in Miami, Okla. He supported pharmacy stu-dents and earned a number of community awards.

Osborn passed away this year prior to receiv-ing his award.

“This will be the second time in our Alumni Awards history that we have given an award posthumously, but it fills our hearts to be able to honor him in this way,” said Event Chair Michelle P. Wimes.

His family accepted the award on his behalf.

A renowned attorney, musician, a husband-and-wife engineering team, physicians, hu-manitarians, artists and educators were among those honored during the celebration, as well.

The Chancellor’s Medal is the highest non-academic award given at the Chancellor’s dis-cretion to a volunteer who has shown unparalleled UMKC support and service. During the med-al’s 54-year history it has only been bestowed three times.

The China Society for People’s Friendship Studies (PFS) received this rare honor for being UMKCs liaison, host and connection to China. They will receive a personally engraved medal designed and hand

UMKC Alumni Bambi Shen crafted by artist Robyn Nichols. The medal will be formally presented in Oc-tober to the Chinese Delegation from the PFS during the 2014 Edgar Snow Symposium held in Kansas City, Mo. Attendees donated $11,000 during the luncheon which prompted a $5,000 matching grant pledged by

the UMKC Board of Trustees.

“We also want to thank the former alumni reward recipients for continuing to support this event,” Morton said.

2014 Alumna of the Year Jawole Willa Jo Zollar

eoneal@unews.com

Photos Courtesy // UMKC

8A

Tuesday April 29, 2014 | Issue 29

False security I have a UMKC confession: SGA elections are making my head spin Britt Ernst Staff Writer

that should have evoked some Roze Brooks specific goals for the potential Editor-in-Chief administration.

Annual debate serves little Instead, Jenkins was seemingly purpose, United UMKC vague about her team’s plans for missing in action the upcoming year.

This year’s Student “Yes, we do. I don’t think Government Association debate we would be sitting here if we was a proper representation didn’t have a plan,” she said. of how the campaign has “It’s important that the plan already been perceived— as is apparent from day one and unconventional. So far, it seems that those plans be immediately many of the most weighted communicated to both the statements have been taken student body and the senators.” to the cosmos of Cyberland as Though this answer didn’t fully students engage in commentary satisfy the question, the fact that about this year’s election season Jenkins was present to deliver via social media and other digital any sort of answer was laudable. forums.

Some key terms repeated The complete RooSERVE throughout her responses slate attended the debate held included “communication,” on Friday April 25, but the “cohesion,” and “integrity.”

United UMKC party never As Friend transitioned into arrived.

Candidates for the the audience question portion 2014-15 SGA Executive board of the debate, it was a wonder were invited to participate in that anyone was willing to the optional debate, held in the ask questions based on the Student Union SGA Chambers. illegitimate feeling of the whole Though both parties agreed and event. However, those present were notified of the event time, seemed to have genuine interest RooSERVE was the only group in the future of SGA and offered present. a variety of pressing concerns for The 2014-15 RooSERVE slate RooSERVE to comment on. consists of criminal justice and One attendee questioned what criminology major Rachel Jenkins this administration would do running for president; history and to focus on the entire student Spanish major Juan Betancourt- body. They felt as though the Garcia running for executive current administration was vice president; sociology major particularly focused on social Alexandria Merrell running for justice initiatives and identity administrative vice president; politics, but asked the slate what and business administration “practical” concerns they hoped major Jacob Newstrom running to bring to the fore that would for comptroller. benefit the masses.

The 2014-15 United UMKC I certainly wouldn’t deem items slate consists of history graduate such as the preferred name policy student Vincent Cannady or including language about running for president; Deborah gender and gender expression in Foster running for executive the system-wide discrimination vice president; early childhood clause impractical, but it’s a fair education major Ashley Jacobs question to pose to the slates as running for administrative vice to what their intentions are for president; and Mademba Diack the entire student body of which running as a write-in candidate they serve. for comptroller.

RooSERVE indicated that What’s more disconcerting there has been discussion about about the one-sided debate held creating better connectivity on Friday was the extreme lack between the Volker and Hospital of audience members and, as a Hill campuses.

According result, the limited amount of to Merrell, bettering the questions posed by members relationship between the two of the student body. Election locations will set a precedent for Director Tiffany Friend was more cohesion among all three tasked with mediating the campuses when the Downtown debate, and broke the session Arts campus is completed in the into three parts. The first was future. a 20 minute series of questions The slate fell flat with abstract that had been submitted by the answers again when asked how candidates. it would handle backlash if Although United UMKC and when unpopular decisions opted out of the debate, Friend were approved through SGA. still delivered questions to the For Jenkins, emphasizing that RooSERVE slate. Among the decisions made through the SGA many staples of its platform, serve the best interest of the RooSERVE insisted that bigger picture on campus is the focusing on communication method her colleagues would and transparency that has been take. established by the current The missing hyperlink, administration were essential United UMKC takes a digital to continued progress for the approach student body.

For those wondering where “I feel like we’re sitting on the United UMKC slate has this Olympus cloud and we’re directed its campaigning energy inaccessible but I want to bring if not at the scheduled debate, that back down at the level one need not look any further in which it’s accessible to all then their Facebook feed to find students,” Jenkins said. the answer.

RooSERVE’s individual Presidential candidate members shared many of the Cannady has made various experiences and qualifiers statements on his personal that they believe assure them Facebook page, promoting his success in their respective roles running mates and himself. as potential future executive However, the tone of his campaign board members. Without a lucid is one that is continually calling argument made by its opponent, out the RooSERVE slate for it’s hard to gauge at this point in personal and arbitrary ideas that time if the platform RooSERVE do not apply to this election. is riding on is a sugar-coated Opening a new internet tab, bucket of ideas that will come one will be able to find numerous to light through trial and error recent uploads on the Disabled upon their election, or if there Students in Higher Education has been strategic planning YouTube channel. Each one already underway for this team. features Cannady and his running Friend asked if the slate had mates advocating for students a legislative agenda, a question living with disabilities having a

Roze Brooks voice and representation in SGA. The message is clear and this seems to be the narrow platform the United UMKC slate is riding on.

An array of eyebrow raising antics has ensued during this entire election season already.

Accusations of spreading computer viruses, failing to comply with election codes and stealing opponent’s campaign logos have dominated what should be a dialogue about which slate will better serve UMKC. Though there is no denying the resemblance of the logos, this is not something that should factor into students’ assessment of how to vote. Finger pointing about the election codes is also a moot point, because the verbiage of the document is in dire need of an overhaul.

Indulging in the unofficial online rivalry once more, the UMKC Confessions Facebook page has adopted a litany of commentary and crude statements about candidates in both slates. I think this excessive online display of banter and insincerity among the student body is disappointing.

While I’m all aboard the train of those who currently think “this election is foolish,” I stop short of the idea many students hold wondering “who cares about SGA elections?”

Well my dear Roos, you should.

These are the folks that make major campus and systemwide altering decisions.

In the past semester, the current administration has passed plenty of resolutions that have incited changes across campus, some of which the student body was displeased to find out about.

If you’re up in arms about the tobacco-ban decision, guess what? That was an SGA initiative.

If you’re unsure about why a preferred name policy has been implemented on campus, yet again that was an SGA initiative.

If you didn’t know about these initiatives or anything else SGA has executed this year, I would suggest you close your FB tab for a few minutes, open a new email message and ask your academic unit’s SGA senator or the current SGA executive board themselves about the projects and changes that have taken place this year.

I implore this student body to redirect their anonymous, mocking comments on online forums that were not created for productive purposes and make sure to vote in this year’s election on Roo Groups.

It’s impossible for the SGA elections to take on a serious, healthily competitive tone if the students who are primary stakeholders do not invest legitimate interest in the end result. rbrooks@unews.com

Go to college, they said. You will get a good job, they said.

You will be able to pay off those astronomical student loans, they said.

Here I am, just four weeks short of my long-awaited college graduation, and I cannot help but feel that I have been lied to. I feel like the kid on the elementary playground all over again.

“If you go wait in the ball line, we will let you be on our kickball team!” Obedient and hopeful, I would go and get the ball from the teachers only to return to two full teams with no room for me. While 7-year-old me could get over that defeat by the end of a 20-minute recess, I am having a hard time imagining 23-yearold me getting over this feeling of defeat.

All throughout our adolescence, we are told time after time that we can be anything we want when we grow up. We can do anything we want if we do just one thing: go to college.

I can remember when I was 7 or 8 (while my uncle was in college) thinking to myself, “He is almost all grown up. Pretty soon he will be done with college and he can do anything he wants.”

Of course, as I got older, I came to a more realistic point of view.

I would have to get good grades in high school first so that I could get into college, and once I was in college, I would have to continue to do so.

I come from a pretty average American family—a single mom and middle-class income. I wasn’t quite poor enough to receive free government assistance to pay for college nor am I quite good enough at one thing or another, so I didn’t get scholarships either. However, my sweet great grandma Dorothy did put money into savings for me, not knowing that the cost of college tuition would rise to all-time highs in

Britt Ernst the 18 years it would take me to get there. Don’t get me wrong: almost all early 20-somethings have crazy amounts of student debt. But it is s not the debt that has me feeling the most down.

What I am trying to get at is the end result, the part that comes after we go to college, the one thing we’ve been assured will secure our futures. I have spent countless days throughout this final semester staring at the computer screen until my eyes feel like they might bleed out and fall to the floor. I can’t count anymore how many jobs I have applied for.

I can, however, count how many responses I have received: one. One response for not a job, but a part-time internship making minimum wage.

I have letters of recommendation, I have a 3.5 GPA and I have a glowing resume packed to the brim with internships and experience.

What I do not have is security.

What I do not have is a way to pay back the almost $35,000 I owe in student debt.

This is by no means a pity speech. Instead, I hope for this to be a cautionary tale to parents and kids who have yet to sign on those fine, dotted lines. Yes, you can grow up, but no, you cannot be anything you want because a college degree is not enough when no one is hiring. bernst@unews.com

Tuesday April 29, 2014 | Issue 29

Section B

Talking fashion with KC native Kara Laricks Kynslie Otte Production Manager

Overland Park native, fashion designer, writer and motivational speaker Kara Laricks has conquered reality television, the New York fashion world and an elementary school classroom. Laricks won the first season of NBC’s “Fashion Star,” landing design contracts with retailers H&M, Saks Fifth Avenue and Macy’s, but remains true to her Midwestern roots.

fashion?

Most kids count down the days until Christmas, birthdays, etc. I remember looking forward to the few days before school started each year with as much excitement and anticipation. Why? The start of a new school year meant I was allowed to pick out a head-to-toe new outfit for the first day of school!

Although I did not grow up with a passion for drawing or sewing, I loved all things pop culture, style

Sander’s style is minimalistic mixed with cerebral cuts and silhouettes.

Her brilliant collaboration with Japanese retailer Uniqlo was right up my alley. And Thom Browne. I truly admire his ability to maintain art on the runway as well as run a successful retail business.

On a personal note, strong, intelligent, original and unique individuals inspire me. From Amy Poehler and Carrie Brownstein to Janelle Monae and Gloria Steinem, from Janet Mock and Patti Smith to Kara Walker and Kiki Smith – my role models run the gamut.

In terms of a style icon, I often ask “WWTSD?” (What would Tilda Swinton do?)

That seems like a pretty reasonable signature question to stick to in your line of work. What are the biggest challenges or setbacks you’ve faced as a designer?

Several of Laricks’ designs from ‘Fashion Star.’

She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Kansas before venturing to the west coast to be a school teacher in San Francisco, Calif. Now, Laricks works simultaneously as a New York-based fashion designer and a motivational speaker to LGBTQIA

and fashion. In particular, I had a fascination with androgyny – Duran Duran, Annie Lenox and Boy George were all subjects of my affection.

I’m sure plenty of students can relate to that feeling.

How then, did you end up on “Fashion Star?”

Fashion is a tough industry – the seasons move very quickly and designers must adhere to the traditional retail schedule. This means designers create a brand new collection every six months while producing orders for the previous collection to be delivered to retailers at the same time. Whew – even that sentence was exhausting!

I believe the fashion industry is slowly changing, as the previous model is putting too many emerging designers out of business. My biggest challenge is continuing to do what I love (design), but at a pace that is comfortable and humane.

I can’t imagine how difficult it is to keep up in the fashion world without getting overwhelmed. Do you have some sort of signature or trademark implemented in all of your designs?

I will always include a mix of masculinity and femininity in my designs. Even when I attempt to create a very feminine dress, some sort of tie detailing, trouser pleating or traditional menswear fabric makes an appearance – I can’t seem to help the masculine details!

How does your perspective on gender and sexuality affect the way you design things?

I believe that there is a little bit of masculinity and a little bit of femininity in each of us. I also believe that we should honor the chance to outwardly express how we are feeling on any given day. Therefore, some of my designs lean toward the feminine, others toward the masculine and some are right down the middle androgynous.

The winning unisex outfit design during the first season of ‘Fashion Star.’ youth across the country, after coming out as a lesbian while on “Fashion Star.”

Going from fourth grade teacher to fashion designer is a pretty drastic career jump.

What made you want to become an elementary school teacher?

I became a fourth grade teacher for several reasons. First, Oprah calls it the “Ah-ha Moment.” I call it the “Lightbulb Moment.” Nothing compares to that moment when a student’s eyes light up and you hear the words, “Oh, now I get it!”

Second, my parents encouraged me to choose a “safe and secure career one with a good salary and benefits.”

Finally, the designer in me could not resist the chance to create elaborate bulletin boards every week.

School teaching does seem like a much more practical career choice than fashion designing, but the desire to design must’ve always been pretty prevalent. When did you first take an interest in

Literally speaking, I noticed a post on Facebook by the Academy of Art University (where I earned my master’s degree in fashion design) announcing a “new show on a major network casting designers.”

Through a series of applications, interviews and trips to LA, I was named one of the 12 designers on Fashion Star. Figuratively speaking, I ended up on Fashion Star out of sheer determination to make my stamp in the fashion industry and the desire to design without financial burden.

Your designs certainly reflect those ideas. What do you hope to accomplish

Kara Laricks

through your work as a fashion designer?

My goal is to design clothing ethically, with as little waste as possible and in a way that makes the wearer feel confident and unique. I also feel very fortunate that through the platform I gained on Fashion Star, I am able to travel and speak to audiences about issues facing the GLBTQ community and the power of following passion.

You certainly know how to keep yourself busy. What would be the greatest thing you could hope to achieve as a fashion designer?

Wow! That’s quite a question.

Believe it or not, my goal is to continue to be a kind force in the fashion industry and to advocate for emerging designers. My greatest achievement would be knowing that everyone I have worked with – whether intern or executive producer – has felt supported, inspired or encouraged by me to pursue their own path passionately.

In my own interactions with you, I would guess you won’t have any problem achieving that goal. Are you working on anything (design wise) currently?

put design on hold for a minute!

However, I am actually on my way to the garment district following this interview to peruse fabric. So currently, I am figuring out how to balance everything I want to do in a single day.

I’m sure it isn’t easy getting involved in the fashion industry. Any tips for young people who hope to become fashion designers some day?

My advice for young people hoping to become fashion designers is to stay kind, focused and determined.

Get some “real world” experience by working for other designers. If you want to start your own line, start small. Excel at one item before launching an entire line. Remember that not only will you need to perfect the design, but you will also need secure production and get a good handle on marketing, advertising, promotion and selling. Your instinct will be to do it all at once, but trust me, slow and steady wins the race and patience and determination in the fashion industry are key. kotte@unews.com

I have been so busy traveling and speaking that I have had to

Your ambition is incredibly admirable. On Fashion Star, you were known for creating androgynous, unique design choices.

Which fashion designers or icons have most influenced your work?

Fashion designers that inspire me include Yohji Yamamoto, Jil Sander and Thom Browne. Yamamoto has been designing since the 1980’s in his signature Avant Garde aesthetic.

I love that his message has not wavered and yet his clothing still stands the test of time and trend.

Laricks with Nicole Richie and Jessica Simpson when she won ‘Fashion Star.’

Photos // Kara Laricks

Tuesday April 29, 2014 | Issue 29

2B

Alumna Marti Lee finds peace in yoga Waukomis Drive, spreading Megan Fritts out to the north and the south, Staff Writer getting back to real life. For Lee From the middle of the Om and her daughter and business Room, Marti Lee instructs 26 partner, Starr, the end of one students in Virabhadrasana, class signals the beginning of “fierce and powerful warrior.” another.

The students hold the pose, arms It seems like a career too idyllic extended from their sides, skin to be real. Hours of meditation, shimmering faintly in the light of focused muscle strengthening, small candles. The air is warm – traditional Thai massage and 85 degrees -- and thick with the purposeful relaxation are a few of scent of spiced tea and incense. the disciplines InBliss students Gusty exhalations can be heard are taught. Lee would agree, and when Lee breaks the pose and she expressed as much when she takes them down to Shavasana, sat down for Thai food with me “corpse pose.” Here, the lights one afternoon. are completely extinguished and “My job seems too good to be the room is silent. One can catch true,” she said, before ordering glimpses of Lee’s bright red hair the vegan special for herself. as she moves from person to She looks distressed as I person, massaging oils into their order seafood, but does not feet. say anything about it. When I “To understand everything is ask vaguely for her to tell me to forgive everything,” Lee said. about herself, she starts at the “The Buddha.” beginning.

This has been her life for the “Born and raised in Brooklyn,” past 11 years, after Lee’s first she said. vision of the Hindu goddess The strong accent is a dead Lakshmi revealed to her that she giveaway. She moved to Kansas would become a yogi. From her City to attend UMKC with serene visage, one would never the goal of becoming a deputy guess that just over a decade ago, juvenile officer.

Lee the yogi was a fast-talking “It was really strange,” Lee said.

Brooklyn native with a deputy’s “Brooklyn is like rye bread, you badge. know, lots of different kinds of When the class ends, students grains, a real strong taste. Kansas roll up their mats and exit the Om City is like white bread, and I room to the sound of ambiance don’t mean that in a negative music and low conversations. way. I love it here. Rye bread is Men and women, ages ranging exciting, but white bread can be from 16 to 70, get back in their good for settling in. It’s a good cars and catch I-29 South from place to call home.”

Marti Lee Photo // Marti Lee

Marti Lee instructs a yoga class.

Lee graduated from UMKC in 2007 and got a job as a deputy juvenile officer, but she found herself becoming increasingly agitated in her daily life. She also experienced periods of profound sadness and anxiety.

“Being a Juvenile Officer is such a rewarding job, but it’s also a painful job because you have to see how messed up some of these kids are,” Lee said. “It’s hard to do. I remember going to homes where the kids hadn’t eaten all day or maybe for several days.”

To cope with the emotional stress of the situations she was facing daily, Lee decided to take a yoga class with her best friend.

“I’ve been fit since I was 15,” she said. “I’ve been a vegan since about 17, so yoga wasn’t about getting in shape, for me. It was about connecting with who I really am.”

It worked. Yoga quickly became an integral part of Lee’s life. Though yoga was helping her to get through the work day, Lee still felt unhappy at her job.

“All I wanted to do was yoga, but I thought you can’t really make a living just teaching yoga, can you?” Lee said.

At this time in her life, Lee was married to the father of her two children, Starr and Ian, and leaving her job to be a full-time yogi seemed irresponsible in light of the financial demands of the family. While continuing her daily yoga classes, Lee began a practice known as intensive meditation, where one chooses

a guru, or teacher, to meditate on for an elongated period of time. Lee chose to meditate on the Hindu goddess Lakshmi for 40 days. On her final day of meditation, she had a vision. She perceived Lakshmi speaking to her, telling her that it was her destiny to become a yogi.

“I could see her standing there, and all I heard her say, over and over, was ‘you are to be a yoga teacher,’” Lee said. “So I thought, well, that’s it, I guess it’s time to quit my job.”

Although the concept of such a vision may be unbelievable for most Westerners, Lee said it is not as radical as it may sound.

“My vision of Lakshmi was no different from someone hearing the voice of God, or encountering a spirit,” Lee said. “Our cultures shape how our mind interprets the divine. For Christians, it’s Jesus. For some, it’s the Buddha.

Because I was meditating on Lakshmi, she appeared to me.

They are all manifestations of the divine presence, and it was telling me to become a yoga teacher.”

Lee quit her job as a juvenile deputy officer, and launched whole-heartedly into her goal of becoming a yogi.

“The universe was looking out for me,” Lee said. “That’s the only way I can explain it.”

Only weeks after deciding to become a yoga teacher, a distant relative contacted Lee to ask her if she had any interest in using a small house they would

Photo // Megan Fritts not be occupying for a whole year. That was her first studio, where her following got its start.

At the time she did not know that her first students would eventually become her protégés.

Lee’s former students started many Kansas City yoga studios, including Serenity and Zona Yoga.

She also did not know that, years later, after her divorce prevented her from using the house as a studio, she would meet the love of her life in a small room in the basement of Unity Temple. When Will Bowen, author, speaker and minster at the temple, heard about her need for a studio, he immediately offered the temple’s basement as a temporary meeting place for her and her students. Now they run InBliss together, with Lee teaching yoga, and Bowen leading InVision, the nondenominational church at Unity Temple.

“I just want to be sure that everyone understands that everything that happens really is for the good,” Lee said. “Even all the stuff that seems bad. I’ve had enough of that in my own life.

All that worked out for the good.

Everything does.”

It is this inner peace about life – shanti, she calls it – that Lee has found in yoga. And she hopes shanti is what her students find, as well. mfritts@unews.com

Tuesday April 29, 2014 | Issue 29

3B

A wake for the season:

Conservatory ends season on a gorgeous note Joey Hill Senior Staff Writer Finishing off the season in stride, the UMKC Conservatory orchestra and choirs performed their semester Finale Concert on Friday, April 18 at 8 p.m. Under the skillful direction of Robert Olson and Dr. Robert Bode, the Conservatory sought to create one of the most industrious and sprawling performances ever with deep works by composers Ermano Wolf-Ferrari, Richard Strauss and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Held in Helzberg Hall of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, this performance resonated with another great performance held on the same stage last semester, “The Planets.” The stage and its high, overhanging ceiling have long since been the setting for the Conservatory’s greatest performances, and this was no exception.

The night began with a lighthearted jaunt by Wolf-Ferrari, which was the overture to the early 20th century composer’s comedic opera “Il segreto di Susanna.” The opera is a story about a silly misunderstanding that eventually develops into a larger problem when the gullible Count Gil takes the recent smell of tobacco in his manor as a sign that his wife, who is the smoker all along, is having an affair behind his back. The piece itself is joyous and active. A short though lively piece such as this is a notable and clear introduction to what is performed after, Richard Strauss’ “Tod und Verklarung,” or “Death and Transfiguration.”

Though much longer than the introductory piece, Strauss’ work is a deep and dramatic look into an entire life. Beginning with a gentle refrain, the cellos and violins create a scene of blissful happiness as if illustrating a dream sequence, complete with the gentle plucking of harp strings. There is a definite flow which moves in and out, not unlike the tide of a quiet beach.

UMKC Conservatory’s semester finale concert. an autumn leaf as it spirals up through the air. This rise so beautiful and even in its moments of decline still remains as graceful and perfect as when it initially was lifted. This continues up into the moment of brightest happiness in the past, 15 minutes in when suddenly the strings take over beyond the horns and the orchestra erupts from a melodious fall into wide and expansive sounds that are almost suffocating in their breathtaking grandeur.

Nearing the end, not only for the piece but also the main character, deep drums take over to create a brief moment of dread in the mind until a cascade of horns and timpani drums crash in an enormous, though short, temper tantrum before returning to the slinking, mournful sound of dread. Within the last four

UMKC Conservatory’s semester finale concert.

This is the dream of the dying, content and quiet, until a sudden hard thud that startles and awakens the dreamer.

Suddenly the sound has become a whirling tornado spiraling into chaos as the once happy scene becomes frantic.

The dreamer is awake and now horrifyingly aware of the predicament; they are dying and caught within a sudden burst of energy and worry. It is only when this passes that the dreamer then drifts off again, now in a state of recollection of their youth. The music is still grand and flowing, but now there is the inclusion of energetic plucks that create the image of spry youth.

Strauss then breaks into a dramatic and dizzying ascension like the billowing journey of

minutes of the piece the low, quiet sounds of strings change to an optimistic and open sound of hope. This continues to rise as the dreamer finally accepts the end, and in the small twinkling sound of the violins and harps, wonders what the next stage of his life will be. The work ends in typical Strauss fashion with two final long breaths as the entire orchestra fades into silence.

“Death and Transfiguration” is directly about the process of death that is uniquely physical.

What Strauss creates in the brief 25 minutes the piece lasts mimics the last minutes that a person will spend, in panic, in reflection, in rage and, finally, in peace.

As though creating a concert around the process of life to

death, the final work is Mozart’s “Requiem,” a work both famous and infamous as one of the most complex yet breathtaking works of art ever created. Obviously, a work of such reputation brings with it the potency to take listeners somewhere else once they allow themselves to drop their assumptions and be carried away.

Walking in with the knowledge of Milos Forman’s 1984 film “Amadeus” as a standard for how to hear the composer’s last great work proves unsatisfactory once the strings begin to whine with their initial tones of sorrow and quiet melancholy. There is no F. Murray Abraham plotting as the jealous Antonio Sallieri, orchestrating the demise of Tom Hulce’s Mozart as the young composer lies in bed, ever weaker, straining himself to communicate the angelic choruses of a requiem that appears to be his own.

This performance is something created through interventions that transcend the standards of human creation.

The first movement, “Introitus,” is unyielding, beginning with a performance by the choir that only seems to become louder as it continues.

The nearly deafening noise of the Conservatory Choir is like an enormous creature descending upon the audience with a choral intensity. This intensity rivals the burning red glow of the sun upon closed eyelids, daunting and enormous, as though the legions of the heavens are unified in a mourning so great it is heralding the end of time itself.

The second movement, “Sequientia,” contains six phases that compile the most popular part of work, not only for their complexity, but also for the aggressive rise and fall in emotion that they signify. Made up of a single hymn, the movement is comprised of the cataclysmic and apocalyptic “Dies Irae,” or “Day of Judgment.” After the subtle and peaceful “Kyrie,” which uses four singers with the soft strings of the orchestra to present a sort of calming intermission, “Dies Irae” comes on like a manic cyclone, with the entire choir almost shouting over a violent and striking string section. Mozart creates a scene of utter chaos within the first two minutes of the movement.

It depicts Judgment Day, when the angels descend to the sounds of jubilant trumpets as the dead

rise from their graves to appear before the Lord. The horns and choir together emulate harsh winds as the earth is torn asunder and nature is demolished.

In the second part, “Tuba Mirum,” the strings are dying down and slowing until the voices of a quartet of singers appear describing the appearance of the Judge, as the dead and living present themselves at His throne. This is not a moment of grief from a musical perspective, but more of an interlude. The voices sing out of sync, at times sounding like a ghostly group of apparitions surrounding the listener from all sides as the violins breathe with mournful life.

“Rex Tremende” has a string section that, working with the horns, makes quick and violent jabs as the choir wails. This only lasts a minute until the two come together into a loud climax only to fade softer and softer into silence.

“Recondare” takes on the role of a guilty soul pleading to the Lord. The quartet of voices and the orchestra are eerily separate with the singers speaking words of hope. On the other hand, the strings are mournful and heavy, utilizing horns to give evidence to the possibility these pleas will be fruitless. The speakers end with “place me among thy sheep, and separate me from the goats, setting me on thy right hand.”

The final two parts of the movement, “Confutatis” and “Lacrimosa,” are like a manic episode that gives way to a descent into the truest and darkest pits of futility.

“Confutatis” begins with loud trumpet blasts as the choir sings with the strings until breaking for a moment, as the strings slow and a heavenly sound of female voices fight back the fury. Once again the energy shifts to the boisterous sound of strings and trumpets, completely taking over the composition until the light chorus comes back. It is as if Mozart is describing the conflicting pains of the dying: tittering between hope for the ethereal life and broiling anger for the loss of the physical. The composition spasms and shouts in uncertainty until it falls, giving way to “Lacrimosa.”

Viewed by some as the truest part of the Requiem, “Lacrimosa” is a composition utterly devoid of hope. Everything—the choir, the strings and the horns—breathes

Photos // Joey Hill with ultimate despair and unquenchable grief. Even during a brief moment in which the slow waltz beat that makes up the string section appears happy, the mood is overtaken by a pervasive and unyielding sorrow until the final phrase, “Dona els requiem” or “Lord Grant them rest.”

Even with the deep emotion found in “Lacrimosa,” the work is not finished. The fourth movement, “Offertorium,” describes Saint Michael rescuing the saved and the helpless from the hellish fires and black pits of the earth as the wrath of God continues. The music is not quick or aggressive, but more subdued and melodic. The next three movements, “Sanctus,” “Benedictus” and “Agnus Dei,” lead to a dark end. “Agnus Dei” is especially grim, with its griefstricken choir section like an intense mass that looms over the orchestra with a thickening feeling of weight in the wails.

Finally, the work ends with “Communio.” The oppressive darkness suddenly gives way to a single voice that breaks like the initial beams of sunlight on a brittle and virulent winter dawn. But this is a requiem, and, inherently, hope has no place in death, so the voice is drowned out by an angry and mournful choir, no longer becoming the voice of God, but futility.

It’s easy to read art from life and believe the emotions in the requiem mirror those of Mozart in his final moments, but that is only half of the story as Mozart never finished the requiem himself. Upon his death in 1791 from rheumatic fever, Mozart had left part of the mass without music. After both F.X. Freystadtler and Joseph Eybler, friends of Mozart’s who were also composers, were unable to finish it, Xavier Sussmayr, Mozart’s copyist, picked up where they left off.

Regardless of the history, it was clear that the UMKC Conservatory was more than capable of performing the hallowed work and making a truly lasting and beautiful performance. Like a fantastic story, the Finale Concert told a tale through these monolithic works of art that resonate through the annals of what it means to celebrate life. jhill@unews.com

Tuesday April 29, 2014 | Issue 29

4B

‘Mere Mortals…or What You Will’ is a nice slice of acting Lindsay Nelson Copy Editor Director Ted Swetz and UMKC’s first-year Masters of Fine Arts acting students are putting on a series of contemporary plays and soliloquies for their spring semester discovery project.

The compilation effectively presents each actor’s strength with comedic timing, dramatic material and delivering a solo performance.

The first-year graduate actors are Edwin Brown III, Mariem Diaz, Daniel Fleming, Josh Gilman, Maya Jackson, Michael Thayer and Caroline Vuchetich.

Each performed his or her own monologue and appeared in one scene. The program was divided into two acts with a total of seven monologues and three scenes.

The assortment was a clever blend of both introspective and satirical material.

Michael Thayer opened the show with a monologue from the play “Muzeeka” by John Guare.

Thayer began by declaring that if he had the choice to be any man— from JFK to Henry Ford—he would choose to be an Etruscan.

Etruscans are the natives of an ancient civilization that have ultimately been forgotten. The only remaining illustration of them is painted on some pots in a museum. Thayer presented the piece with an elated admiration that was truly lovely to watch.

when Diaz says Vuchetich can no longer tell the “Lake Mead story.” “But the Lake Mead story is my story!” Vuchetich insisted. The scene was the epitome of every end-of-theworld fight girls so often have.

Diaz and Vuchetich were neither overdramatic nor melodramatic.

It would have been more than easy to exaggerate, but they simply lived in the authenticity of the argument.

The monologue following was Jeff Goode’s “Why I Hate Xmas” performed by Daniel Fleming.

This was the first of the two dramatic pieces of the evening.

Fleming talked to the audience about how every year on Christmas people decide to stop hating each other. He reminds the audience of Christmas Day during World War I when the soldiers came out of the trenches and honored the holiday together. The question he poses is why people only change their behavior on Christmas.

He concluded that the reason is because to try doing so every day would take too much effort.

That is why he hates Christmas.

Fleming delivered with impeccable earnestness. He has a commanding and captivating stage presence, which he achieves with an ease unlike other actors of his generation.

Diaz also performed a Goode monologue, “Dear Santa…,” for the second of the two dramatic pieces. Diaz performed the

The program contained satire and moments of introspection.

Josh Gilman was the second to take the stage with a monologue from “American Welcome” by Brian Friel. Gilman portrayed an American director who is meeting with the European author of the play he is putting on. Gilman wore a Hawaiian shirt, shorts and sunglasses which brilliantly emphasized the Hollywood director persona of his character. Gilman was hilarious to say the least. His execution of utterly conceited hospitality was seamless.

The third piece starred Caroline Vuchetich and Mariem Diaz in a scene from “The Blueberry Hill Accord” by Daryl Watson.

The plot revolves around two girls and the imminent end of their friendship. Diaz insists the friendship can no longer continue, but before Vuchetich leaves, they must make a contract of final terms. “You can’t tell anyone about the time when…” and so on, but the line is drawn

piece while talking to a stuffed Santa doll that was sitting on the floor. At the top, it seemed that Diaz was simply harassing Santa because all she asks for is world peace and he has yet to give it. Then she shifted gears.

She revealed that her brother enlisted in the military and was sent to war. Diaz continued to berate Santa about the fact that all her mom asked for was to have her son home in time for Christmas. “You gave her that didn’t you? You twisted piece of shit. Wrapped up in a neat little box.” Diaz’s subtle yet piercing execution was exquisite. The audience was so engrossed in her performance, a pin drop could have been heard.

The last monologue before intermission was a third Goode monologue, “Intelligent Design Flaw,” performed by Edwin Brown III. It was a parody of a “Ted Talk.” Brown was purely charming. The main content of

UMKC’s program was divided into two acts with a total of seven monologues. the piece stemmed from a design that formed when he threw three pairs of socks in the air. They either formed a happy face, a hat, a stealth bomber or a teepee.

Toward the end, Brown lay down on the floor and gazed up at the stars. He was lit with pinholes of soft yellow light as a projection of stars appeared on the cyclorama behind him. The spectacle was entrancing. Brown and Fleming have a similar power over an audience.

Lauren Wilson’s “Wedding Duet” performed by Gilman and Maya Jackson led the audience into the second half of the show. The scene was a riotous illustration of a post-wedding situation gone wrong.

Gilman dropped Jackson on the threshold during the opening of the scene.

Jackson panicked and declared it was a sign that their marriage is doomed. Newlywed chaos ensued complete with an actual knock-down, dragout fight. Jackson and Gilman were hilariously dysfunctional.

They also had charming English accents which catered to the already comedic dialogue.

Jackson and Vuchetich performed the next two monologues.

Vuchetich performed “God Burger” and Jackson performed “Nike, Goddess of Victory,” both written by Goode. Vuchetich delivered a sermon of sorts which alluded that God understands the occasional dishonorable deed. Jackson disrupted the flow of the previous acts with her disgruntled rant about the fact that no one cares about winning anymore. “Fucking Achilles,” she groaned. They each nailed every punch line in their pieces— especially Jackson.

The final piece of the show featured Fleming, Brown and

Thayer in the scene “Mere Mortals” by David Ives. The men were construction workers in— by the sound of their accents— New Jersey. Fleming and Thayer got into an argument about the quality of “The Lindbergh Baby” movie. The tension escalated until Thayer revealed that he was the Lindbergh baby. Brown was stunned and was then led to reveal that he was actually Czar Nicholas II of Russia.

Fleming refused to entertain the delusions. However, after some prodding from Brown and Thayer, Fleming revealed that he was Marie Antoinette in a previous life. “I said that in 1793! ‘Let them eat cake.’” The audience gave a highly warranted

uproar of laughter.

As far as discovery projects go, this contemporary compilation was a success. The set was simplistic yet suitable for each scene, the costumes exemplified just enough character and the actors exceeded the expectations of the occasion. The final showings are on Tuesday, April 29 and Wednesday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m. in PAC 116. lnelsson@unews.com

The program was run by first year graduate actors.

Photos // Joey Hill

Tuesday April 29, 2014 | Issue 29

5B

‘A Haunted House 2’ is hauntingly stupid

Photo // IMDB

borrowed from several recent Eppie O’Neal horror flicks. Wyatt has an Staff Writer invisible friend, a storyline from “A Haunted House 2,” the “Paranormal Activity 3” and sequel to Marlon Wayans’ horror Abigail, an evil-looking doll, genre parody, claimed fifth parallels “The Conjuring.” place with $8.8 million during I viewed the first film when its opening weekend at the box it was released on DVD and office. Its predecessor, however, regretted my selection. I had the grossed an astonishing $40 expectation that Wayans would million last year in domestic box replicate the comedic standards office sales. that he executed in the “Scary The comedy directed by Movie” franchise. I was sorely Michael Tiddes, stars writer- disappointed and swore off the producer Marlon Wayans as sequel until I was presented with Mal-colm, who after exorcising a free screening. I figured the the demons of his ex-girlfriend drive would be worth a chuckle (Essence Atkins), has moved or two. on with a new girlfriend (Jaime The plot, which is mostly Pressly) and her children— an scattershot, is loaded with innocent-looking but vulgar sexual jokes and scenes which mouthed sonWyatt (Steele could trigger increased tension Stebbins) and a promiscuous depending on whom you’re teenage daughter Becky (Ashley seated next to. Wayans also Rickards). After the couple exerted great efforts to get a settles into their new home, laugh with an extended scene the film follows Mal-colm as of Malcolm displaying intimacy he unearths that his house is with a possessed doll. The haunted. introduction of stand-up comic Malcolm is once more plagued Gabriel Iglesias as the Mexican by bizarre paranormal activities neighbor is a pleasant addition

until he and Malcolm begin exchanging a barrage of racial jabs. The over saturation of crude, raunchy, and downright juvenile jokes can take its toll. The reinstatement of Father Williams (Cedric the Entertainer) and Ray-Ray (Affion Crockett) from the last installment is refreshing, as is the addition of newcomers Noreen (Missi Pyle) and Ned (Hayes MacArthur) as married ghostbusters.

-There’s even a line in the film where Malcolm says the “Scary Movie” franchise isn’t funny anymore without the Wayans, although he fails to prove his point that he can do better with this film. The 87 minute R-rated film can be summed up as a series of absurdly stupid scenes. In spite of a sloppy script that executes a limited amount of decent humor, it’s an upgrade from the initial film. If you’re still eager to see this film I recommend holding off for the DVD release. eoneal@unews.com

Tuesday April 29, 2014 | Issue 29

6B

Blake Hocking:

This week in UMKC sports Dan Moreno Senior Staff Writer

‘Throwing is my escape from the world’ Dan Moreno Senior Staff Writer

Sophomore Blake Hocking inscribed his name in UMKC’s history after his personal best shot put throw of 17.2 last Friday at the Bill Williams/Bob Laptad Invitational in Joplin, Mo. “Throwing is my escape from the world,” Hocking said. “When I feel stressed or I am having a bad day, I can always throw and be in a happy place. When I do well, that’s when I’m having some of the happiest times of my life.”

Hocking became a Kangaroo in 2012 when he chose UMKC to be his alma mater, and since then dedication to both academics and athletics has rewarded him.

“I am from Lawrence, Ks., and I chose UMKC because I want to be a dentist one day, and the program is very good here,” Hocking said. “A scholarship and being close to home made me go for UMKC.” The Omaha, Neb., native recorded the second furthest throw in the shot put in UMKC history with a mark of 16.20 in his first season. After breaking that record this weekend, Hocking admitted that his dad is his biggest inspiration.

“My dad used to be a thrower back in college. He inspired me to want to do this and now I am happy to have him be my biggest fan,” Hocking said. “I started in seventh grade, I tried it and besides liking it I found out I was good a it.”

During his high school career, Hocking earned all-area and allstate honors as a junior and senior winning the KU Relays two times

Blake Hocking and a state title.

“I am really glad to be representing UMKC,” Hocking said. “I feel that our Kangaroo family is very welcoming and with all the great opportunities that we are offered I just want to take advantage of them.”

Two more years of hard work await Hocking before graduation, but he already has plans for his professional life by using his fluency in Spanish and decent Portuguese language skills.

“I want to become a dentist. If possible I would like to go to the dental school here at UMKC,” Hocking said. “I also want to be a translator and see were the world will take me.”

Depending on how his following seasons with UMKC go, Hocking is open to try throwing for a living.

“Every single athlete’s goal is to go to the Olympics, and if I keep doing good I would like to try throwing professionally,” Hocking said. “I would love to pursue that but that’s

Photos Courtesy // UMKC Athletics why I also have a backup plan.”

Hocking likes being surrounded by international students at UMKC, and perfecting his Spanish has become his favorite activity.

“I am a very diverse person. I have a bunch of friendships, most of them are international students as I am learning Spanish and Portuguese,” Hocking said. “When I’m not studying, practicing or competing I like to read and play videogames.”

This summer, Hocking will leave Kansas City, as he will spend time in Brazil in order to improve his Portuguese.

“I am trying to work in my Portuguese. I want to be fluent and that’s the main reason I am going,” Hocking said. “I will be visiting different cities and eating new foods.

I want to know a new culture.”

After a long season, the UMKC Track and Field team will participate in the Rock Chalk Classic hosted by Kansas University before heading to Orem, Utah, for the WAC Championship.

“Individually, I want to beat more records and set myself as the best in school history, now I want to beat the discus throw record, which I am really close to doing so,” Hocking said. “As for the team, I hope we do well in conference, I believe we can surprise everyone in Utah.”

Blake Hocking

dmoreno@unews.com

SOFTBALL The UMKC softball team earned the no. 2 seed after winning the series 2-1 to Bakersfield University this weekend at the Missouri 3&2 Complex.

On Friday’s first game, the Kangaroos crashed the Roadrunners 9-3 but fell on the second game of the day with a 4-5 score.

The decisive match took place on Saturday, giving the ’Roos a victory after Aly Zembruski broke a scoreless tie with a walk-off base hit in the seventh inning.

Katie Kelly had a notorious performance as she dominated in the circle with a complete game shutout recording four strikeouts.

Kansas City will now head to South Dakota State this Saturday for their last regular season doubleheader before heading to Seattle, WA for the WAC Championship.

TRACK AND FIELD The UMKC track and field team had an excellent week, as sophomore Blake Hocking and freshman Bryce Miller each broke school records last weekend while junior Courtney Frerichs ended her performance with a new personal record.

Last Friday, Hocking’s shot put throw of 56-2 (17.2 meters) earned him the second place in the event and broke Josh Whisman’s mark set in 2002 at Joplin, Mo., in Missouri Southern’s Bill Williams/Bob Laptad Invitational.

Miller was sent to Des Moines, Iowa, for the Drake Relays where he broke his own mark set last week with a time of 9:01.37.

Junior Courtney Frerichs won the 3000-meter steeplechase Saturday at the Drake Relays with a time of 9:50, breaking the meet record and earning a personal record.

“Couldn’t have asked for a better season opener,” Frerichs said. “I am hungry for more now.”

WOMEN’S TENNIS The UMKC women’s tennis team had a tough weekend after topseeded Idaho ended their season in the WAC Tournament semifinals last Saturday at Las Cruces, N. M. The Kangaroos fell 4-0 against the Vandals in a competition that was affected by the weather. Due to the wind, the singles teams were the first to compete and doubles were only played if there was a tie following singles.

Kansas City lost all four matches, as Dimitra Stavrianakou, Mariam Kurasbediani, Amelie Amsallem and Linda Ammar Mouhoub were unable to give the ’Roos any points.

MEN’S TENNIS Kansas City’s men’s tennis team had the same luck as the women’s side. The Kangaroos were eliminated from the WAC Tournament, ending their season with an overall 8-15 record after falling to New Mexico State.

Due to the weather, the match was played earlier than scheduled and the league decided to start with singles competition. The Aggies took wins at numbers 1,3,5 and 6, defeating Tomas Patino, Mike Psarros, Uldis Gaisminis and Conner Edwards. dmoreno@unews.com

Tuesday April 29, 2014 | Issue 29

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Health Journal:

Spring for a new menu Lindsay Nelson Staff Writer Spring is an ideal time to revamp your traditional eating habits. The weather is warmer and produce is coming into its prime. Take advantage of the fruitful atmosphere and adopt a new style of nutrition.

There is an abundance of fruits and vegetables that are in season

during the spring. Seasonal foods are key choices for multiple reasons. First and foremost, this is the time of their optimal flavor and quality, as it is ideal harvesting weather. Secondly, they are in mass supply which means they are cheaper. Produce is also more likely to be locally sourced this time of year.

Crops grown far away (where it’s always warm) are often

harvested before fully ripe to avoid spoilage during transport, but this often lowers nutrition value. Therefore, seasonal and locally grown foods should be taken advantage of as often as possible.

These may vary slightly from region to region, but here is a list of common favorites: Berries.

Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and

Apple Crisp Yogurt Lindsay Nelson Staff Writer Prep time: 5 mins Total time: 5 minutes Calories: 140 Carbohydratess: 18g Fat: 5g Fiber:3g Protein:6g

Ingredients, makes approximately 4 bowls: • • • •

3 medium apples 2 cups fat-free plain yogurt 3 teaspoons cinnamon 3 tablespoons mixed nuts, chopped

Preparation:

Wash apple and chop into pieces. Spoon yogurt into bowl. Mix apple, cinnamon and nuts into yogurt. Enjoy.

Mango Raisin Salad Lindsay Nelson Staff Writer Prep time: 15 mins Total time: 15 minutes Calories: 120 Carbohydratess: 14g Fat: 7g Fiber:2g Protein: 1g

Ingredients, makes approximately 6 bowls: • • • • • • • •

1 large mango, peeled and diced 1/4 cup golden raisins 1 medium red bell pepper, diced 1 pepper (chili, Serrano, jalapeno or bell) 8 cups mixed greens (lettuce, spinach, arugula) 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro 1 teaspoon minced ginger 1/8 teaspoon salt

Preparation:

Mix mango, raisins, peppers, cilantro, ginger and salt together in one bowl. Put mixed greens into serving bowl. Top greens with mixture. Toss and enjoy..

Berry Basil Pizza Lindsay Nelson Staff Writer Cook time: 10 mins Total time: 25 minutes Calories: 195 Carbohydratess: 34g Fat: 7g Fiber:5g Protein: 11g

Ingredients, makes 12-16 slices: • • • • • • •

1 whole wheat pizza crust 5 slices of mozzarella 1 1/2 cups strawberries, chopped 3/4 cup blackberries 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1/4 cup olive oil 1/3 cup basil leaves, chopped

Preparation:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5. pizza.

6.

7.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, or as specified on crust instructions.

Prep baking sheet with cooking spray.

Brush pizza crust with olive oil then layer mozzarella onto crust. Bake for 10 minutes.

Lightly mash blackberries with a fork. Mix in half of the basil and chopped strawberries.

Remove pizza from oven. Top crust with berry-basil mixture. Sprinkle remaining basil over the Return to oven for 5 minutes, or until golden.

Remove. Let cool. Enjoy.

blackberries. Look for the firmest and brightest.

Mangos and Apricots. Fresh or dried. Sliced or chopped in a salad. Any which way, eat them.

Greens. Look for crisp, fresh heads of lettuce, spinach, arugula and kale.

Asparagus. Available year round, but spears will look and taste the best this season. Look for straight, crisp, green stalks.

Baby carrots. True baby carrots sold with their stems still attached. Look for carrots with a vibrant orange color and bright green stems.

Sugar snap peas. Choose crisp snaps with firm, green pods.

Avoid any that are too dark or too light. Great for blanching and snacking. lnelson@unews.com

Tuesday April 29, 2014 | Issue 29

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UNIVERSITY NEWS WEEKLY FORECAST

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday April 29 April 30 May 1 May 2 May 3 May 4 May 5 High 54°F High 55°F High 57°F High 63°F High 68°F High 68°F High 68°F Low 43°F Low 43°F Low 42°F Low 44°F Low 49°F Low 47°F Low 50°F

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