Wrap Up '22

Editorial Board

Valerie Reyes Editor-in-Chief valeriereyes@stfrancis.edu

Jessica Scroppo Assistant Editor & Art Director jessicascroppo@stfrancis.edu

Saba Aamir Layout Designer sabaaamir@stfrancis.edu

Sarah Vandermolen Sports Editor sarahvandermolen @stfrancis.edu

Hannah Mitchell Commentary Editor hannahmitchell@stfrancis.edu

Noëllie Inard Entertainment Editor

Rory Richards Advertising roryrichards@stfrancis.edu

Dr. Scott Marshall Advisor smarshall@stfrancis.edu

Staff Writers

Alex Mielcarz Mathias Woerner Layout Contributors

Jessica Scroppo Noëllie Inard Valerie Reyes

Policies

The USF Encounter is published by the students of the University of St. Francis, 500 Wilcox Street, Joliet, Illinois, 60435. The newspaper office is located in room S413C of Tower Hall. The USF Encounter phone number is 815.740.3816.

As a member of USF Campus Media, the USF Encounter strives to produce a publication that stresses quality writing and design.By reporting on issues that may be sensitive in nature, the USF Encounter aims to educate, inform and persuade students on topics that affect their lives on and off campus. Editorial pages provide USF Encounter staff with opportunities to express thoughtful views on controversial topics. Letters to the Editor represent the opinion of the author and are not necessarily opinions of the USF Encounter Staff. Publications of letters to the editor are subject to space availability and management discretion. Letters are also subject to editing. Letters to the editor or any other submissions may be dropped off at the USF Encounter office or emailed to encounter@stfrancis.edu. The USF Encounter is printed by RICOH Services on the campus of the University of St. Francis.

As a Catholic university rooted in the liberal arts, we are a welcoming community of learners challenged by Franciscan values and charism, engaged in a continuous pursuit of knowledge, faith, wisdom, and justice, and ever mindful of a tradition that emphasizes reverence for creation, compassion and peacemaking. We strive for academic excellence in all programs, preparing women and men to contribute to the world through service and leadership.

EDITORS

Sarah Vandermolen

Valerie Reyes

Saba Aamir

Hannah Mitchell

Jessica Scroppo

Noëllie Inard

Rory Richards

Letter From the Editor

Thank you for picking up the December edition of The USF Encounter “Wrap Up '22." In this issue, you’ll find some of 2022’s iconic pop-culture moments, Frank’s holiday gift guide and the rise of Pickleball!

This issue also features an essay “Sam’s Bridge” from University of St. Francis student, Maya Willis Policandriotes. Maya reached out to the Encounter to share her powerful story about Samuel Myers. Her article brings awareness to the suicide and mental health awareness organization, Sam Myers Foundation.

This is our last issue for the fall semester, and I would like to thank the Encounter staff for doing a great job. I look forward to continuing the position as Editor-inChief for the spring semester and bringing more great reads to campus!

I would like to give a big congratulations and thank you to Sarah and Jessica for everything they’ve done for the Encounter. I am very grateful to have met them and been able to work with them throughout my few semesters here at St. Francis. They make the fourth floor full of energy and laughs; the fourth floor won’t be the same without them and I wish them the best!

Be sure to keep up with what we’re doing by following us on social media! You can find us on Facebook (USF Encounter), Instagram (@usf_encounter), TikTok (@ usfencounter) and Twitter (@usf_encounter). If you’re looking for more up to date stories you can also check out our website usfencounter.stfrancis.edu.

Again, thank you for picking up our December issue “Wrap Up 2022.” We hope you enjoy and have an amazing winter break!

All the Love, Val Reyes

CAMPUS NEWS

By: Encounter Staff

USF Student Named Illinois Student Laureate

The University of St. Francis senior education major student, Diana Ortega, was selected as this year’s Student Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois.

The Lincoln Academy of Illinois is a program that honors Student Laureates from each participating college and university for their leadership and service and excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities.

Ortega was nominated for the honor by USF history professor Cathleen Schultz, Ph.D., the USF history department and USF dean of student life Mollie Rockfellow.

Regarding the news of being selected, Diana Ortega said, “I was so happy.

I immediately called my dad (Pedro), and he was so happy and so proud. And as my friends and other USF staff members heard the news, they we so happy for me, as well.”

J.B. Pritzker, Governor of Illinois, gave a congratulatory statement in this year's program to the honorees. Past Lincoln Laureates also gave words of encouragement.

A certificate signed by Governor Pritzker along with a letter of congratulations from the Academy, a medallion, a challenge coin and a monetary grant were also given to the honorees.

Congratulations to Diana Ortega!

USF Art and Design Department Hosted Fair and Sale

The University of St. Francis Art and Design Department hosted the Art & Design Fair on November 17 in the Marian Hall.

The free event opened to the community featured studentproduced handmade artworks, crafts, clothing and other items for sale.

Eighteen students from the department took part in this event and showcased their handmade work.

The items for sale included drawings, paintings, photography, screen prints, totes, t-shirts, pins and other arts related items.

For more information on the USF Art and Design Department, visit www. stfrancis.edu/art-design.

*Pictured: Handcrafted items made by a USF Student displayed at the Art & Design Fair.

Photo: www.stfrancis.edu

Photo Courtesy of Saba Aamir.

WCSF Spirit of Christmas is Back

Spirit of Christmas on WCSF 88.7 FM will air continuously from noon on November 24, 2022, until noon on January 2, 2023, without any commercial interruptions.

Spirit of Christmas features rotation of over 4,000 songs, including holiday classics.

A special program of a 1937 radio series, The Cinnamon Bear, will also be airing nightly at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. It will continue through Christmas Eve.

“We work tirelessly to bring you the highest quality and most variety in Christmas music and programming

available anywhere in the world, all commercial-free,” said Don Burke, director of programming for the Spirit of Christmas, “We hope you and your family will continue to join us at 88.7FM for the Spirit of Christmas.”

Businesses in Joliet area are also welcomed to promote themselves through special sponsorhips. The sponsorships start at $250.

For more information, call 815-7403748.

Tune in to WCSF 88.7 FM to listen to the Spirit of Christmas on the radio and online at www.wcsf.streamon.fm.

USF Named One of the Best Colleges in Illinois

The University of St. Francis has been named among the Best Colleges in Illinois in 2023 by Intelligent.com.

Intelligent.com is a trusted resource for program reviews and higher education planning. Based on tuition costs, credit requirements and the format of coursework, it ranks the best schools in the state.

Regarding this great honor, David DiLorenzo said, “The University of St. Francis continues to earn recognition from a wide variety of national ranking

organizations, which serves as validation of the quality and the value of USF’s programs."

He added, "These rankings also serve as a source of pride for our faculty, administrators and staff, who collectively create the USF experience that prepares women and men to contribute to the world through service and leadership.”

View the other Illinois college rankings by visiting www.intelligent.com/bestcolleges-and-universities/illinois/.

Photo: www.intelligent.com

Photo: WCSF Facebook

By: Encounter Staff

The Expansion of the Veteran Memorial Trail

The Veterans Memorial Trail has expanded with a newly paved section open to public use.

The new section travels North beginning at Hadley Valley and going through Lockport including a tunnel under Bruce Road on a 3.5-mile stretch.

In observance of this opening, a ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on October 28 featuring Forest Preserve Board President Joe VanDuyne, Lockport Mayor Steven Streit and Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse.

This $7.5 million project was achieved with the assistance of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, the City of Lockport, the Village of Homer Glen, ComEd, plus other state and federal agencies.

In the future Veterans, Memorial Trail plans to grow more with a plan to extend North from 159th street to an already existing section of the trail in DuPage Township.

For more information, visit www. reconnectwithnature.org.

First Lion Electric School Bus in Joliet

On Wednesday, November 2, Lion Electric announced the end of the production of its first LionC zeroemission electric school bus at its Joliet factory.

In May 2021, Lion Electric, a Canadian-based manufacturer of commercial vehicles, selected Joliet to hold its future US factory due to a growing demand for electric school buses in the United States.

Lion Electric positioned itself to help school districts with the transition to electric buses with the help of

the EPA Clean Bus Program which funded the project with $5 billion.

The EPA Clean Bus Program is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, a law that the Congress recently passed under President Joe Biden and which aimed to invest “in [the] nation’s infrastructure and competitiveness,” according to the White House.

The company’s efforts have paid off since they have now 700 electric vehicles on the road.

Photo: www.thetimesweekly.com

Photo: www. electrek.co

A New Board Game Coffee Shop in Shorewood

On Thursday, November 10, a new cafe named the Critical Grind Board Game Café opened in Shorewood, Illinois.

Situated on 852 Sharp Drive in the Sharp Center off Black Road near Route 59 in Shorewood, the coffee shop, previously owned by a kickboxing studio, is close to the Bliss Hair Studio.

The owners, Dana Buxbaum and her husband Shaun Tenant, mixed what they loved to create their idea of the perfect coffee shop.

“I always wanted a coffee shop,” said Dana Buxbaum, “My husband and I combined our love of gaming with my vision of the coffee shop.”

The coffee shop has made available bookshelves full of games such as Clue, The Serial Killer Trivia Game, Sorry, Dragoon and many more

Board games are available for free to play inside the coffee shop, however, the owner asks to purchase something from the coffee shop among their selection of teas, coffees, smoothies and refreshers, as well as their assortment of 14 different toasts.

They also made available a rental system that allows people to take the board games home for only $4 per day for up to one week.

The coffee shop will also be hosting different game nights like Dungeons & Dragons on Saturday, Magic the

Gathering on Monday or open game night on Tuesday.

The owner said that they always wanted to open a cafe in the place they would settle in and “be a part of the community.”

The coffee shop is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., on Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and on Sunday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The coffee shop is also accepting public donations and more information can be found on www. criticalgrind.com

Photo: www.patch.com

2022Happy Graduation

Joining the Encounter freshman year was one of the best things I've done during my time here at USF. Everyone involved in the Encounter holds a special place in my heart, there's a select few that I have to mention.

Firstly, thank you to Val, my little Editor-in-Chief. Every issue you've published has been perfection and I've loved seeing you come into this leadership role like a pro. I knew you could do it.

Thank you to Saba, the best up and coming layout designer that I've ever had the pleasure to work with. You have so much talent and I can't wait to see what else you do for the Encounter. Noëllie, you've never been afraid to write about hard hitting topics or speak up on an issue that needs to be heard. You're exactly what the Encounter needs and I can't thank you enough for being so outspoken and determined.

Finally, thank you to Jessica for sharing a brain with me for the past two years. Jessica knew exactly what I was thinking before the thought even left my mouth. Karaoke won't be the same without you as my duet partner.

To all the teachers on the Fourth floor, you better savor the silence. It will only be a matter of time before the next Sarah and Jessica come barging in or even worse, the original decide to pay a visit.

2022Graduation

Jessica Scroppo

Looking back on my time in the USF Encounter, it is difficult to put the feeling of gratitude I have into words. I had the opportunity to publish 10 issues across 3 semesters as Layout Designer and Assistant Editor. As a journalist, it is our "job" to put experiences into words: news, perspective and truth. However, the skills, teamwork and friendships I have developed are experiences that I cannot find words for.

I would like to thank my peers for always supporting me (that also means tolerating my talking and laughing). I always wanted to bring fun to our work, and with you all, I think we accomplished that.

The USF Encounter is being left in great hands. I want to especially thank all of the staff of the Fall 2022 semester: specifically, Val, my Editor-in-Chief and Saba, my layout designer protégé that needed no training.

Of course, I cannot forget my partner in publishing and the other half of the USF Encounter's creative mind: Sarah. Sarah was the finishing touch, wrap it in a bow, chase down that writer, let's sing karaoke part of the Encounter that made our issues what they were.

Thank you for a great 3.5 years!

Photo: www.kindpng.com, www.pinterest.com

2022 Best Pop Culture

By: Valerie Reyes Editor-in-Chief

The Slap that Rocked the Internet

During the 2022 Oscars, comedian Chris Rock was presenting the award for best documentary when he made a joke towards Jada Pinkett Smith saying, “Can’t wait for G.I. Jane 2.” When the cameras panned over to Jada and Will Smith, we could see that Jada wasn’t too happy about the joke because she has a condition that causes hair loss called Alopecia; however, it seemed that Will thought the joke was funny. However, for no apparent reason, Will changed his mind and decided to slap Chris across the face. Everyone in attendance and watching on television or social media was shocked and weren't sure if it was an act. Will Smith created an apology video to Chris Rock and resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences but was then banned from its events for 10 years.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard Defamation Trial

Everyone was keeping up with the six-week defamation trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. Depp sued Heard for defamation because of an op-ed, a newspaper page dedicated to feature story and commentary, that she posted in 2018 in the Washington Post implying she was abused by Depp. During the trial, both Depp and Heard argued they abused each other. When the trial came to an end in June, a seven-person jury unanimously ruled in favor of Depp. The jury determined that Heard acted with actual malice when writing her op-ed. www.nbcnews.com stated, “The jury awarded Depp $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages in his defamation suit.”

Photo: www.gettyimages.com

‘Don’t Worry Darling’ We’ve got Drama

Culture Moments September

Olivia Wilde’s "Don’t Worry Darling" stirred up some drama and rumors all over the internet. There was speculation that Olivia and Florence Pugh (Alice) were not getting along on set and were having many disagreements. Not only were there disagreements but people say Pugh was unhappy with the relationship between Harry Styles (Jack) and Olivia, while Olivia was still with her spouse, Jason Sudeikis. In August, Olivia claimed she fired Shia LaBeouf to “create a safe, trusting environment,” which Shia responded to by providing email and video proof saying Wilde was lying and that he made the decision to quit Don’t Worry Darling. Last but not least, Florence Pugh skipped the Venice Film Festival press event. My personal favorite that shocked everyone was the Harry Styles and Chris Pine spit gate, a video showing what looks like Harry Styles spitting on Chris Pine. However, Pine later made a statement denying that Styles spit on him.

Companies Cut Ties with Ye

Rapper Ye made some antisemitic and anti-black comments among other outrageous behavior like “his previous antiBlack statements about Lizzo, family planning and George Floyd, along with a “White Lives Matter” t-shirt worn at his Paris fashion show…” says www.vulture.com. These actions led Adidas, Gap and Balenciaga, who have worked with Ye and many others, to cut tie with him for not wanting to be associated to his behavior. Athletes such as Los Angeles Rams Aaron Donald and Boston Celtics Jaylen Brown, who were signed with Ye’s sport-marketing agency named Donda Sports, have also decided to drop Ye and end their contract.

CULTURE CULTURE CANCEL CANCEL

By: Noëllie Inard Entertainment Editor

In our world of social injustice, people online have become more aware and involved in fighting against unfairness and inequality. Through the years and with the development of social media, people have found a way to raise their voices to denounce the wrongdoings of important people or institutions.

When coming together, people have one of the most powerful tools, which is boycotting and denouncing. This can lead to ”canceling” people's social status. According to www.meriamwebster.com, cancel culture is defined as “[...] a practice or tendency of engaging in mass canceling as a way of expressing disapproval and exerting social pressure.”

Cancel culture usually starts on social media and is a way to call out someone for acting or speaking unacceptably while also boycotting them at the same time. Usually, the victims of cancel culture are celebrities or people with some kind of fame that would be harmed by being canceled.

As common people, we tend to put celebrities on a pedestal and expect more from them since they have a lot of exposition and an audience that’s directly influenced by them. While cancel culture can seem harsh in certain situations, it can also shed light on people's wrongdoings. This movement has been similar to other movements like Black Lives Matter and #MeToo that called out influential people’s actions and words. The power imbalance used to keep people silent. Now, with the rise of social media, people can now come together and raise their voices.

In its positive output, cancel culture has held policemen accountable for killing black people, famous entertainment

producers for sexually assaulting actresses and famous people for their homophobic, racist or sexist comments. Cancel culture can be a powerful tool for people to raise their voices and counter the power imbalance in society.

Though it is nothing but positive to see people becoming more aware of microaggressions and bad jokes that used to be the standard, there are also downfalls which have led to extreme measures. People have now developed a rigid way of thinking and do not condemn mistakes or the possibility for others to educate themselves and improve as humans. There is no room to acknowledge that people are raised differently or come from different cultures that don’t have the same norms or exposure to different subjects.

Now it is either you act perfectly and say the right things or you get canceled. In this regard, some famous people have seen their social status and reputation disappear for things that seem to not deserve that harsh of a consequence. In the same way, there is no “innocent until proven guilty” anymore, and people’s lives have been destroyed because of the tendency for online people to take rumors as facts.

I asked one of the university students, senior Sarah Vandermolen, what she thought of cancel culture. She responded by saying that, “Although it is good to see people come forward when something has to be denounced, it can sometimes be extreme with people threatening celebrities, leaving hate comments or leaving death threats.”

Many people are beginning to see that cancel culture may be overly used or create a false perception that people online are some kind of "god" over others’ social status and reputation.

Photo: www.transom.org

KPOP: THE WORLDWIDE PHENOMENA

By: Noëllie Inard Entertainment Editor

Korean culture has been impacting Western countries as no other Eastern culture has ever been. The influence of Korean culture on the West is due to one primary factor that crossed frontiers and started a snowball effect, K-pop.

K-pop stands for Korean Pop and usually refers to Korean music associated with the idol industry in South Korea. However, it also carries a broader meaning that refers to a style of music with different influences like pop, experimental, rock, hip-hop, R&B, electronic and dance with its traditional Korean roots.

K-pop has some particular characteristics that separate it from other kinds of genres. K-pop is aesthetically driven and has a huge audiovisual component that we don’t find anywhere else, most K-pop artists go through training and K-pop usually carries values and a meaning that goes beyond the simple commercial value of making music.

Even though K-pop has its recent breakthrough in the West, it has been around for a long time and the first group to be considered

Photo: www.swahilisbangtan.com

as a K-pop. They revolutionized Korean music by merging it with Western music while adding hip-hop choreography. After them, many new generations of K-pop groups made their debut. Among many others were H.O.T in the 90s, TVXQ in 2003 and BigBang in 2006. Another group was “Seo Taiji and Boys” in the 90s. While those names may not resonate with people who don’t listen to K-pop, it leads us to today, with the main group that not only everyone knows but the group that broke the barriers of racism to appear in Western music charts and billboards, BTS (Beyond The Scene).

BTS is a group that debuted in 2013 as a hip-hop group and has since explored different genres like pop, R&B, hip-hop and EDM. It is their overall positive message as a group that focuses on mental health, loving oneself and coming of age that has conquered the whole world. Political activism, which according to www.linkspringer.com is “the range of nonprofessional and voluntary activities performed by citizens that are primarily aimed at influencing decisions and outcomes at any level of the political system,” is a big part of K-pop and BTS is a good example. Indeed, among others, they spoke against the rise of Anti-Asian hate crimes in the U.S and started a campaign with UNICEF against bullying with the message of loving oneself.

and can’t even dye their hair without the agreement of their company.

I asked Saba, a student at USF and a fan of Kpop, her opinion about the industry: “The Kpop industry has become a global phenomenon but there is so much of the industry that does not sit right with me. Compared to the western music industry, I think the Kpop industry is more strictly related to the image of the idols/groups which is why most idols are monitored by their staff everywhere they go [...].”

Recently, many scandals involving the entertainment industries in South Korea were discovered. From CEOs blackmailing and assaulting their artists, artists being forced to perform while being sick or even companies starving their artists. Many artists have committed suicide or have been on a hiatus for mental health problems due to the high pressure and the behindthe-scenes of the industry.

to process [that] Kpop is going to be 15 kids on a stage with purple hair, wearing flashy clothes and dancing. That's why I am hesitant, in the States, to say that I am a Kpop artist. [...] What's the most important to me is that I am able to take part in a movement that really pushes the enveloppe for representation, diversity and inclusion when it comes to music [...]; pushing forward this movement and culture of Asians and Asian Americans."

Pop Artist, Eric Nam

As said previously, one thing that makes the K-pop industry unique is the training that the artists have to go through. Big companies start recruiting artists as soon as middle school. Then, the trainees start a process where they continue going to school and learning the normal curriculum but on top of that learn how to dance, sing, rap and play instruments.

The K-pop industry is a heartless industry where only the more competitive and passion-driven can succeed. Every month they have evaluations, and if they don’t pass, they are fired from the training program. The industry in itself is usually hated by the fans of K-pop because of its dark side. There are many instances of companies overworking their artists, and sometimes, artists have no freedom whatsoever

Most fans do make the distinction between the love they have for their South Korean artists and the toxicity of the industry that surrounds them. Elvia, a USF student and K-pop fan, stated, ”I think the K-pop industry is like a factory just producing for profit. Especially because they train idols from a young age and have really high exceptions for them. However, Kpop does hold a special place in my heart.”

Kpop was the breakthrough that brought Korean culture into the West but mostly allowed people to discover a variety of Korean artists that may be famous in South Korea but didn’t have as much fame in the West.

From Korean rap, R&B, Rock, and Hip-hop; the wave that K-pop started brought a lot of opportunities for Korean music to cross the world. Though racism in Western countries keeps this new wave from enlishing its full potential, slowly, more and more Asian artists are represented in Western music charts or awards ceremonies.

Photo: www.thevarsity.ca

"It's easier for people

By: Sarah Vandermolen Sports Editor

Celebrity Deaths: Experiencing True Heartbreak

As the year comes to an end, we tend to look back at everything that’s happened to us over the past 365 days. We marvel at what we’ve accomplished. We’re still a little bit irritated at what we missed out on. We tear up thinking about all that we’ve lost. Whether it be a father, a friend or our favorite star, it still brings a pang of sadness to our hearts.

This unspoken phenomena of mourning lost stars like they were our own loved ones has left me pondering. Why do we feel genuine grief over losing someone we never met? We’re moved to tears, sometimes even heartbreak, over a person we never really knew. Is it because we’re humans and we can’t help but be sad when someone dies? Or is it something more?

One of the reasons these deaths hit us so hard is because we’ve built this parasocial relationship between ourselves and the star of our choosing. According to www.findapsychologist.org, a parasocial relationship is a “one-sided relationship, where one person extends emotional energy, interest and time, and the other party, the persona, is completely unaware of the other's existence.”

When a celebrity we adore dies, we feel like we’ve lost a loved one and in some ways, we have. We’ve given so much of ourselves to them, time, attention or love, that when they pass, we don’t know what to do with this hole that they’ve left behind. It’s hard to grasp that they’re really gone, especially because you can’t just call them up and ask if it’s all a joke.

“Another factor is that our relationships with celebrities don’t necessarily follow typically understood measures of time and space. They seem immortal to us,” explains Mumbai-based psychologist and psychotherapist, Hvovi Bhagwagar, in an interview with Vice. It’s hard to base their passing in reality, especially since we’ve never met them.

In a way, though they’re just a person that lives in their own world, a version of them, the idolized being, lives in your world. In your world, they feel untouchable, sometimes almost godly. They serve as a role model, inspiration, a friend, an extended piece of ourselves.

“The celebrity’s passing away also makes us question our own reason for living. It makes us ask where we ourselves are headed and whether we will reach our goals before we pass

away ourselves—and that starts creating anxiety in us,” states Bhagwagar.

Some people may find it odd, silly even, that someone would mourn for a celebrity that didn’t even know they existed. This can make us and our grief feel invalid but that’s not the case. According to www.rd.com, “We’re often brought up to compartmentalize sadness and feel that we should mourn in a certain way, but grief is different for everyone.” Just because we’re more upset over a passing than someone else, doesn’t make one person more right. We’re all allowed to feel however we want about whatever we want.

If we felt that this star was a big part of our lives, it makes more than enough sense to feel completely distraught by their death. University of St. Francis senior, Valerie Reyes, explains how she’d feel if a star that she loved passed: “If Harry Styles passed, I would feel absolutely devastated. His impact on the music industry has been massive and I would be so happy to have been able to experience his success and all that he’s done. However, it would still feel like a piece of me has died.”

Like the passing of any loved one, we should take the time to live in our grief. We can mourn who and what we lost and find a way to live without them while always loving them. It’s hard but it’s possible. To move forward, we have to leave something behind, whether we like it or not. Just be happy you got to know them, even if it was only in your world.

Photo:

www.istockphoto.com, www.nytimes.com

Photo: www.upbeacon.com, www.vecteezy.com

By: Lissette Perez Staff Writer

What is Seasonal Depression?

As the season starts to change and daylight savings has ended, people’s moods start to get affected. Seasonal depression, otherwise known as Seasonal Affective Disorder or S.A.D., affects about three million people across the United States.

Seasonal depression starts and ends around the same time every year and tends to take effect in the fall and winter. The weather and lack of sun are the main cause of this type of depression. The days tend to be short in the fall and winter but adding the end-of-daylights saving to the mix makes them a little bit shorter. According to www.abcnews.go.com, during an interview with Doctor Dorothy Sit from Northern Western University, the signs of seasonal depression include but are not limited to loss of energy, weight gain/heightened appetite, low mood, increase in sleep, etc. These are the main symptoms people should watch out for when trying to figure out whether they have S.A.D. or not.

There are many ways to treat seasonal depression. Many people tend to move to an environment where the weather

stays relevantly the same. Although it is not easy to just pack up and move, there are other ways to treat seasonal depression. According to www.mayoclinic.org, there are many ways to treat this kind of depression. You can start with therapy, take medications or even change your lifestyle. Therapy for S.A.D. often involves using a light box, dawn stimulators and aromatherapy. Making time for friends and family can also help you cope with seasonal depression.

If you think you may have seasonal depression, you need to speak to your primary physician or therapist. Just because it is only seasonal depression, it does not mean it is any less effective than “regular” depression. It is important to keep your loved ones close and speak to your therapist during the hard days. Sometimes all we need is comfort from friends or family.

If, for some reason, you find yourself alone, do not hesitate to text or call the number 988 for the Suicide & Life Crisis hotline and speak to someone because you are not alone.

Sticking to New Year's

New Year's Day typically marks the day that many decide to up and change their life. People purchase expensive gym memberships or stock up on healthy food but by the end of the month, it's as if everyone already forgot about the commitments they made to themselves. It may be difficult to stick to resolutions, but this article is going to give individuals advice on how to best stick to their New Year's resolutions.

To start off, it's a good rule of thumb to outline the resolutions ahead of time (aka not on New Year’s Eve). Give time to digest what’s truly important to accomplish. Erisa Maliq, a senior at the University of St. Francis, shares, “New Year's resolutions are hard to stick to because even though the year changes, it does not mean how much time you have does.”

If you are waiting for the new year to start something you are just putting off starting it right now. They are hard to stick by for most people hence why the gym is always full in January and February then empty by March. Marcel Shwantes, a contributing editor of Inc. Magazine shares, “Of the 41% of Americans who make New Year’s resolutions,

only 9% were successful in keeping them.” If you have your resolutions figured out ahead of time, this allows for the opportunity to really commit to them.

The next important thing to note is the quantity of resolutions to take on. It's easy to write out 10 or 20 goals on paper but are they easy to implement all at once? Don’t overwhelm the beginning of the new year with tons of goals. If you take on too many resolutions, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to stick to and more than likely none of them will get accomplished. Focus on 2 to 3 main goals to start off, then increase slowly from there. This allows for proper attention to the most important things on the list.

Being realistic is also key. Strive for a goal that is attainable. For example, if the goal is to cut sugar, it's probably not the best idea to go completely cold-cut and instead a better idea would be to wean off the amounts consumed little by little.

Harvard Health Publishing shares, “Break big dreams into small-enough steps. Now think tiny. Small steps move you forward to your ultimate goal… Just getting to first base can build your confidence to tackle -and succeed at- more

Year's Resolution

By: Hannah Mitchell Commentary Editor

difficult tasks.” Individuals should try to trick their brains into feeling accomplished at something because this will propel and motivate them to go further with it. Rose Mwaro, a junior at the University of St. Francis, shares, “Personally, I do not think it's hard. To ensure my commitment, I break the goal down into smaller goals so it's easier to see the progress.” Students in the local community already display these great qualities in bettering themselves.

Ever wonder, just how long it takes to form a habit? According to James Clear, author of Atomic Habits it takes, on average, more than 2 months before a new behavior becomes automatic — 66 days to be exact. However, it's important to remember that the length of time varies depending on the person, their behaviors and the overarching circumstances.

Phillippa Lally, a health psychology researcher at University College London conducted a study that was published in the European Journal of Social Psychology that examined the habits of 96 individuals over 12 weeks and the results showed that it took anywhere from 18 to 254 days for people to form a new habit. Researchers also found that even with occasional

slip ups where the habit was not performed at times, this still did not materially affect the habit formation process. So, if you mess up here and there it should not largely affect the results at the end.

It's a good idea to create resolutions for yourself even if they are small. They give you a chance to grow over time and discover different capabilities. If lost on what resolutions are good, consider the following! Health is always important. Maybe look at incorporating some type of movement into your day or getting more wholesome foods into your diet. Another aspect of health to consider is mental health. Journaling is helpful to many when trying to organize their mental space. This is only a fragment of the possibilities that one could consider when creating New Year’s resolutions.

At the end of the day, do not be too hard on yourself this New Year but do step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself to something new!

Photo: www.pexels.com, www.istockphoto.com, www.citypng.com

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Image by starline on Freepik

HOLIDAYS

Frank's Holiday Gift Guide

By: Frank Piegari Staff Writer

Let’s face it, gift giving can be hard. It’s easy to go into a store, stop by the gift cards section, pick something out and call it a day – but that’s not fun.

Moreover, why would you want to do that when you have so many other great options available to you for the holiday season? Whether you're shopping for someone special or for that one relative you barely know, these gifts are guaranteed to put even the grouchiest person into the holiday spirit.

1. Mini Pocket Projector

With the decline of movie theaters and the rise of streaming services in the market, why not give someone the possibility to turn whatever room they want into their very own movie theater? This tiny bundle of joy is compatible with Apple and Samsung products and is fully rechargeable. So, why not buy it for someone? Are you scared you might want to keep it?

2. Custom Photo Moon Lamp

There's no doubt you've seen these moon lamps all over TikTok, but how about we make them a little more sentimental? This lamp is fully personalized from the color of the light down to its shape. The best part is that you can have a picture of a loved one engraved into the light, making this the perfect gift to let someone know how much they brighten your day!

3. Mini Waffle Maker

Now, this gift is just a “waffle” lot of fun, isn’t it? Look, everybody loves waffles. I love waffles, you love waffles, your next-door neighbor loves waffles; so, I’m sure that anybody with taste would love the ability to make waffles on the go, should they feel the need to. In addition, this mini waffle maker can also be used to make hashbrowns and eggs. It heats up in fifteen minutes, and it comes in a wide range of colors. I’m sure no further explanation is needed, and this item I already in your cart!

On a final note, gift giving can be hard, but it doesn’t have to be. So, don’t be a gift card scrooge this holiday season and get someone a little something that will brighten their spirits for this holiday season!

Photo: www.amazon.com

Photo: www.lashkar.com

Should Online Exams Become the Norm?

By: Saba Aamir Layout Designer

Two years ago, the pandemic shut down everything and we were all forced into our homes. A big deal of concern arose among students and a lot of ambiguity about how they will attend school now and how they will take exams.

Almost every educational institute canceled the exams and classes at the start of the pandemic and everyone was looking for ways to adjust to the “new world.” With modern technology, educational institutions began operating remotely and allowed their students to take classes online from anywhere they wanted, in this case, from their homes.

Due to the convenience, the demand for online academic classes was and is still on the rise. This has also caused exams to be conducted online. However, with everything online, there came challenges to academic honesty. According to www. cnbc.com, a study conducted at the Imperial College London indicated that the shift to online learning has caused students to use online tools in ways that are “not considered permissible by universities.” Texas A&M University specifically found that 800 of their students finished complex exams “in less than a minute” by using information available on a website referred to as Chegg. In comparison to in-person exams, which are more focused and do not include a lot of distractions, online exams have caused students to get the answer and be done with it as soon as they can.

To counter academic dishonesty, many educational institutes provide their professors and teachers with platforms where they can monitor their students while taking an exam. According to www.cnbc.com, online platforms such as Honorlock, Respondus and ProctorU are pretty popular as they offer lockdown browsers that prevent students from opening other tabs and provide the option to have a live proctor who can monitor students on camera. Even though

students have tried to do their best to cheat on exams while using these tools, the educational institutes have caught them and were able to reduce the amount of cheating on exams.

I asked University of St. Francis Senior, Sarah Vandermolen, what she thinks about online exams.

This is what she had to say:

“Although online exams are seemingly convenient for both teachers and students, it really puts into question a student's integrity. Teachers have expectations that students won't cheat, but they shouldn't be surprised if they find out that their students used some outside sources for their exams. If the teacher would like to have 100 percent certainty that a student won't cheat, they should revert to holding exams in person.”

Saying that online exams are here to stay is not wrong because the pandemic is still here and there might be a situation when a student cannot leave home and this offers an opportunity for them to stay focused and not fall behind from their peers. Since everything is online now, there is no way a student can make an excuse that they missed their classwork.

The shift to online education did impact the overall learning of students. According to www.elearningindustry.com, the online environment even though has the same teaching materials, does tend to cause loss of motivation among students which may cause a decline in their grades.

Apart from this, there is a digital divide, meaning not every student has the luxury of high-speed internet and this clearly divides students in terms of knowledge that they can gain online.

DECEMBER DECEMBER EVENTS EVENTS

MONTHLY THEME: TIS' THE SEASONINGS

The Holidays are a time of fun and flavor, and Quest will be bringing all the seasonings of the season to our students to inspire holiday cheer during the month of December.

02 FRIDAY

COOKIES AND CHEER

Students will have the chance to purchase a cookie with a decorating kit or participate in a decorating station, complete with festive frostings & sprinkles!

07 WEDNESDAY

CANDY GRAMS

Candy Cane Grams for sale all day for students to enjoy themselves or to gift to a friend or teacher, wishing them a very happy holiday season!

15 THURSDAY

COCOA TO-GO

On National Cocoa Day, we will have a make your own cocoa bar set up that includes cocoa mix, marshmallows and other colorful toppings.

Coming in October: CULINARY CREATIONS

Photo: www.vintagejewelrygirl.com

The Gold Guide

What is gold jewelry? It may be the shiny bling you notice on your grandma’s ring finger. It may be the dainty heirlooms in your mom’s jewelry box or the chain swinging around your Italian uncle’s neck. Wherever you see it, gold jewelry is both an accessory and an investment.

When looking to buy real gold pieces, it can be overwhelming. Prices, styles and gold purities can be hard to understand. First, let’s touch on the different types of gold jewelry.

Solid Gold: Real gold jewelry has different purities. 10K and 14K are the most popular pieces made in the United States. Usually, these pieces include 40-60% gold mixed with another metal (an alloy). Real gold will never tarnish, is durable and has a decent weight. However, it is often the most expensive option.

Gold-Filled: Gold-filled jewelry is a layer of real gold (10K or 14K) bonded with a filling of metal such as copper, silver or brass. Gold-filled jewelry often lasts for years with proper care. Gold-filled jewelry is less expensive than solid gold and is a great option for those on a budget.

Gold-Plated: Gold-plated jewelry is just that — a thin gold plating on a base metal. What is the difference between plated and filled? Plated jewelry is covered with a thin layer of gold (less than 5% gold) that wears away very easily. These pieces will not last very long and are very cheap, like costume jewelry.

Now that we have the types of gold covered, let’s touch on a few key points that make solid gold jewelry a wise buy.

Value: Real gold holds its value over time. Pieces bought 50 years ago can still be worn or sold today.

Won’t Tarnish: Showering or swimming? Don’t worry. Real gold will NEVER tarnish or turn green. You can wear gold pieces every day, and they will hold up.

Price Per Wear: Although a $100 necklace may seem like a huge investment, the piece will last you FOREVER. A plated necklace bought for $15 will last 1-2 wears. A pure gold necklace will last for hundreds of wears.

By: Jessica Scroppo Assistant Editor

What should you make sure to look for when buying gold jewelry?

Stamping:

Real gold jewelry will ALWAYS have a jewelers stamp and/or a purity marking. The stamp should simply say “10K” or “14K.” If accompanied by a “GP,” that means the piece is gold plated. It is important to pay attention to stamps, as they tell all about how the piece of jewelry was made.

Appearance: Real gold jewelry will not look dull. You will not be able to see any silver or peeling gold color. If this is the case, the piece is not solid gold.

Size: Real gold pieces will have different weights depending on their prices. Thicknesses on necklaces, rings or earrings will usually be dependent on cost. The cheaper the piece, the more likely it is to be thin and light.

A piece of gold jewelry is timeless and holds value. Buying jewelry may not seem like a traditional “investment,” like stocks or bonds. However, gold jewelry pieces are wearable statements that will add a little shine to your life for years to come.

Whether you’re buying new or vintage gold, your jewelry box

Sam's Bridge

By: Maya Willis Featured Writer

“Sam’s Bridge” is a small bridge in the center of a gravel road, on 11000 N off of 45 in Manteno, IL. Below the bridge is a small creek where you'll see fish, a bunch of frogs and a beaver that I love seeing the most, I think.

I like to think maybe that’s its home and it gives me a comforting feeling, like peace. Like there can be life after death (you’ll understand later what that really means). There are trees surrounding the left side and right side of the bridge circling the creek, it looks like each side of the creek narrows and disappears into the greenery.

Part of the greenery being moss and tall weeds I like to call, cattail weeds. There are wildflowers in each corner of the bridge, kind of in the dip of the bridge, going beneath it. It’s beautiful. The creek beneath this bridge flourishes and rises when there's consistent rain. The weeds and grass are dewy, and the ecosystem of bugs and small wildlife seem to thrive. Driving down the road that it is on and over the bridge, you often see dusty clouds from the dry gravel road.

In the winter, the trees are covered with crystal clear ice and heavy snowflakes. It looks like it’s straight out of a movie, like an enchanting scene from Narnia. When I'm out on the bridge alone during the winter, I get out of my car, my feet crunching on the ground.

Sometimes freshly on the blank white canvas of the snow, or sometimes overlapping footprints of othervisitors, admirers that have gotten there before me. When I stand outside it's very silent and peaceful. The only noise I can hear is cars driving fast down 45, from a far distance and sometimes, if it’s windy enough I can hear the whistling from the trees. The icicles on the leaves hit each other lightly, but enough for me to be able to hear it. It’s all very peaceful to me. It’s one of the few places where I feel I can take a deep cleansing breath and when I exhale I feel releaseand decompression of all the stress in me.

The bridge and everything I am describing is located in the middle of miles of crop fields. Young adults around my age, I’ll guess from sixteen to twenty-five, use the open land and

thesmall town to their advantage, to say the least. In the spring, I’ve seen people wakeboard down the flooded ditches on this road after a heavy rain.

People go off-roading in the cornfields that surround the bridge in the summertime, and in the winter they're sledding across the icy bridge being pulled by a rope attached to the back of a car. Although these activities are not the safest or smartest, my friends and I, and so many others in that town, grew up on memories like those. The bridge and all the time spent is such a big part of people's lives.

Before December 10, 2016, this bridge was not called Sam’s Bridge. It was called Stoner’s Bridge and was a typical hangout spot for high schoolers to go for obvious reasons, but also for the memories I listed before. It has always been a safe place for so many people, both before December 10 and especially after.

This is when you’ll understand the meaning of my comment I made at the beginning of this paper, “...there can be life after death." On December 10, 2016, a person loved by so many, ended his life at this bridge. His name is Samuel (Sam) Myers. I try to think of words that I could use to describe Sam. It’s hard because most words aren’t good

Photo: www.sammyersfoundation.com

Photo: www.daily-journal.com

enough for him. I like the word beautiful. He was a beautiful, extravagant person in every way.

After Sam’s passing, his parents did an amazing thing and bought the bridge, and after that, it was Sam’s Bridge. At each end of the bridge, there are big green visible signs that have a suicide hotline phone number on them. My friends and I really love that his parents did this.

Unfortunately, after Sam’s death, the town had multiple suicides and overdoses, all within the same friend group. Sam, Enrique, Randy, Ethan and Ryley. I know others in Manteno who have lost their parents and loved ones in these same ways. These tragedies have been going on for years in this town. This town and especially the parents, families and friends in this circle suffered a lot: PTSD, severe depression and unfortunately a lot more. The list could go on. It resulted in more death. But, Sam’s passing also brought awareness. Sam’s parents, Kathleen and Brandon, started an organization called the Sam Myers Foundation.

On their website, they have multiple resources if an individual is in crisis. They also have Sam’s story and their mission. It is really nice. There is also an option to donate on the website and the money goes to suicide awareness education and many other things that keep this foundation going. His parents also became a safe haven for SO many people. I myself have reached out to his parents when I felt lost after all the deaths that have happened in Manteno over the past 5 years.

The bridge before Sam was mine and my friend’s and so many people's spot to enjoy each other and make memories. That is the same after Sam, but now, it means something more. There have been so many times that I know myself and a lot of my friends have gone there to feel safe, cool down and think. I know after my boyfriend passed away, I went to Sam’s Bridge countless amount of times when I felt like I was going over the edge. I’ve gone there to sit and cry, scream and I sometimes have even gone there to sleep in my car because of how low I got after these deaths. I know this may be the same for others.

Ultimately, this bridge means SO much to so many people, on so many levels. Although I don’t live in Manteno anymore, it’s less than an hour away. On occasion, I still go to visit, and as I said before, when I am there, I feel great peace and comfort. It has given me a lot of happiness to be able to describe Sam’s Bridge in this much detail and recall all of the beautiful memories that it holds. I feel happy knowing I could share at least a fraction of what this bridge means to me and others.

Pickleball

Here’s the deal: America will always be consumed by the Big Five sports: baseball, basketball, football, hockey and soccer. Of course, other sports also have their cult followings. Tennis, rugby and bowling have all seen significant growth as of late, but only one sport has grown faster than the rest: pickleball.

Pickleball has grown to nearly 4.8 million players nationwide according to www.npr.org. It has seen exponential growth over the past 4 years, including the creation of two national pro tournaments, and currently has a bid to be a future Olympic Sport.

The game was created in 1965 in Washington state, and USA Pickleball credits Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum for creating the game. According to www.usapickleball.org, the game combines the sports of table tennis, badminton and tennis. The game is played on a badminton-sized court, with a tennis style net. A paddle, and a sort of a Wiffle Ball (a plastic ball with holes different from the classic yard game) is used.

The rules are simple. The game can be played in singles or doubles, and players rally similarly to tennis and table tennis. Points are declared similarly to table tennis and actual tennis, but points can only be scored by the serving team. Games are played to 11, 15 or 21, and you must win by 2.

There are a few twists to pickleball. There’s a zone within 7 feet on both sides of the net where the ball cannot be volleyed. There are plenty of other nuances to the game, but

By: Alex Mielcarz Staff Writer

they are quite simple and won’t take long for a new player to pick up.

The growth of pickleball has been great. The game has multiple network deals, and as a result, has started to grow its presence on television. However, there’s a catch to the latest craze. The audience of the game certainly isn’t where they want it to be. The major player-base right now for the game is over the age of 65. While USA Pickleball claims that they’re seeing “strong growth” with players under 55, the growth still hasn't hit its peak. What’s holding players back? Accessibility.

USA Pickleball estimates that there are around 10,000 places to play. That’s not nearly enough to appeal to the potential youth player base. Pickleball has a chance to be something great, but needs to avoid becoming “the sport for retired folks” or “the sport my grandma plays on Tuesdays.”

USA Pickleball must get the youth involved. They’re already moving in the right direction. The TV deals with ESPN and CBS Sports certainly appeal to younger viewers and provide pickleball with a chance to expose their sport to a new audience.

On November 17, a celebrity Pickleball tournament aired on CBS, hosted by Stephen Colbert. Look me in the eyes and tell me that isn’t a great way to grow the sport. I dare you. They are doing everything right. Now, they just have to hope that their efforts result in this great game getting the national recognition it deserves.

www.grbj.com, www.traditionsofbraseltonhomes.com

Photo:

Women's Basketball

By: Mathias Woerner Staff Writer

Coming off a perfect 14-0 season at home, John McGinty and this year’s team will be looking to replicate similar success this season. After wrapping up the non-conference part of the schedule in early November, the Saints have embarked on defending their conference title against the rest of the CCAC, a unit that Coach John McGinty has a lot of praise for when he notes the quality of both coaches and players on highly competent, veteran laden teams.

The success of this Saints squad is going to be due in no small part to the efforts of returning CCAC Player of the Year Jordan Pyle. Despite earning this impressive accolade in the 202122 season, Pyle is not resting on her loreals and says there is more for her to do before the end of her USF career. “Moving forward I just want to continue to get better and make the team better as well. Keep developing my game and improving to continue to make an impact this season.”

Striving towards this kind of effectiveness with her commitment in the off-season, Pyle detailed how she hopes to put this into action.

“I focused more on post moves and learning how to better score down low. Additionally, I worked on some ball handling and continued to shoot over the summer to keep honing those skills and ensure that I would come back to this season more

Coming off a 27-7 inaugural campaign that included a 20-2 record in conference and a trip to the NAIA Tournament, McGinty credits the success his team has enjoyed to the emphasis on communication, “Whether it be player-player, coach-player, or coach-coach, the constant interaction within the team is key for the program to reach its ceiling.”

The exciting, winning brand of basketball that will be hitting the hardwood this winter is going to be a sight to see, and all of us at the Encounter can not wait to see just how high this team can climb.

To help out your Fighting Saints, help fill the Pat Sullivan Center up to the ceiling at home games next semester. If you want to catch the team on the road, their next contest is coming up this Saturday, December 10 at Holy Cross. Your next opportunity to see the Saints at home is Wednesday, January 4 when the Tigers of Olivet Nazarene come into town.

If you are unable to show your spirit in person, you can stream the home games on YouTube or listen to road game broadcasts on the school’s radio station, WCSF 88.7 FM. Any and all support is appreciated and goes a long way towards building and maintaining the great sports culture that exists here at USF!

Photo: www.gofightingsaints.com