December 2015

December 10th, 2015

How Coloring Can Help Reduce Stress p: 10 - 11 Christmas Movies To Bingewatch P: 12 Christmas Around Chicago P: 26 - 27 The Final Dudley Derry’s Diary P:24

Contents

NEWS

COMMENTARY

Ashley Cady Editor-in-Chief

Letter from the Editor.................................. 3

Elf on the Shelf: For and Against.................30

SGA Briefs...................................................4

Experience Life........................................... 32

SAB Events................................................. 4

Happy, Healthy & Harmonized.................... 33 Sarah Schoenrock

World News Update.................................... 6

Dudley Derry’s Diary....................................34

Election & Politics Update........................... 8

The Ryan Report.........................................35 Brandon Newberry

Hannah Tadey Assistant Editor-in-Chief

Art Director Commentary Editor sarahschoenrock@stfrancis.edu

ENTERTAINMENT

News Editor

USF SPOTLIGHT

brandonnewberry@stfrancis.edu

Kamari Jordan Entertainment Editor kamarijordan@stfrancis.edu

A Day in the Life..........................................36 Kylie Mason

Christmas Movies to Binge-Watch.................

12 “Big A’s” Top 30........................................... 13 140 Characters or Less............................... 14

Semester Club Recap..................................38 SNA Pink Heals...........................................39

Celebrity Beef ............................................ 17

HAPPY HOLIDAYS Staff Picks and Traditions........................... 18 USF Encounter’s Thanksgiving Pins.......... 20 Ways to Gift Give........................................22 Gifts Under $25.......................................... 23 Christmas Around The World......................24 New Years Around The World.................... 25 Christmas Around Chicago.........................26 Side by Side: New Years Eve..................... 28

Special Section Editor kyliemason@stfrancis.edu

Ryan Giachetti Sports Editor ryangiachetti@stfrancis.edu

Pride in Pride?............................................ 40 Brien McHugh

Spring TV Preview.......................................16

December 10th, 2015

ashleycady@stfrancis.edu

hannahtadey@stfrancis.edu

How Coloring Reduces Stress.................... 10

2

Editorial Board

Advisor bmchugh@stfrancis.edu

SPORTS Athletic Q&A............................................... 42 Chicago Sports Predictons..........................44 Organizations in Need of Donations........... 47

Staff Writers Abi Blome Amber Shibley Andrew Finein Andrew McDilda Ashley Cady Ashley Montgomery Brandon Newberry Clarice Swanson Elijah Andersonn Hannah Tadey Janae King Julian Jankowski Kamari Jordan Katie Nork Nicholas Pillish Ryan Giachetti Samantha Launius Sara Michalowicz Skyler Kern

Cover Photos courtesy of keepvirginiabeautiful.org, interiorhousess.xyz and caberawit.xyz Back Cover Photos courtesy publicdomainpictures.net

Thank you for picking up the last issue of the semester. It has been one wild and crazy ride but I would not have had it any other way. We made some changes that I am very happy with and we have even more coming next semester. Our print issue will look a little different and our online issue will be completely redone! Be sure to look out for all of this in late January and early February.

NEWS

Letter From the Editor

The special section in this issue is sure to fill you with holiday cheer. From Christmases around the world, New Years fun, and our staff’s favorite holiday picks.

Also, be sure to color all the ornaments on the Christmas tree cover and read about how coloring can help you de-stress, especially during finals time.

You can follow the Encounter on Facebook by searching “USF Encounter” and on Twitter @USFEncounter1. We also have an online version of the most up-to-date news stories at usfencounter.stfrancis.edu.

Any questions, comments, concerns and ideas you have about this issue or future issues may be directed to any member of the Encounter staff at usfencounter@gmail.com.

Best regards & happy holidays,

Ashley Cady

Policies

From the top: Ashley Cady (Editor-in-Chief), Hannah Tadey (Assistant Editor), Sarah Schoenrock (Art Director & Commentary Editor), Brandon Newberry (News Editor), Kamari Jordan (Entertainment Editor), Kylie Mason (Special Section Editor), Ryan Giachetti (Sports Editor), Anthony Golda (PR Specialist), Taylor Foote (PR Specialist), Adriana Reyes (PR Specialist), and Crystal Martinez (PR Specialist).

Photos originally published by the Editors on their Facebook pages. All rights reserved.

The Encounter is published by the students of the University of St. Francis, 500 Wilcox Street, Joliet, IL 60435. The newspaper office is located in room S413C of Tower Hall. The Encounter phone number is (815) 740-3816.

As a member of USF campus media, the Encounter strives to produce a publication that stresses quality writing and design.

By reporting on issues which may be sensitive in nature, the Encounter aims to educate, inform and persuade students on topics which affect their lives on and off campus.

Editorial pages provide 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 Encounter staff.

Publication of letters to the editor is subject to space availability and management discretion. Letters to the editor are also subject to editing.

Letters to the editor or any other submissions may be dropped off at the Encounter office or e-mailed to encounter@stfrancis.edu.

The Encounter is printed by RICOH Services on the campus of the University of St. Francis.

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BRIEFS By: Elijah Anderson

Coffee Urn Legislation Legislation was presented to install coffee urns throughout campus for students to use everyday, as well as for clubs to sponsor. The legislation passed and will be looked into for further instillation.

Library Hours Legislation Legislation was presented to extend the library’s hours Monday through Thursday from 10 p.m. to midnight. The legislation passed.

Hole Punchers Legislation Legislation was presented to place 3-hole punchers in the main study areas such as Career Services, the Marian first floor lab and the Motherhouse first floor lab and commuter lounge, that would be chained down. The legislation passed. The hole punchers will be installed as soon as possible.

Suggestions?

Any ideas for legislation can be submitted to Student Government by telling an SGA senator or emailing studentgovernment@stfrancis.edu.

Semester Recap

By: Ashley Cady

Bernie’s BBQ

Air Brush Novelties

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Characatures

Earning Your Potential USF offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in Business & Healthcare Programs Program

Average Wage

Accounting Entrepreneurship Finance Health Care Management International Business Management Marketing Transportation & Logistics Mgmt

$73,670–$107,600 Varies $76,320–$106,290 $76,010–$103,680 $95,554–$131,244* $47,000–$129,000 $68,000–$137,400 $70,820–$93,180

*Source: BLS.gov & Salary.com *IB based on International HR and Institutional Marketing in Chicago*

Empowering YOU to Change the World!

LEARN MORE

Dr. Orlando Griego, COBHA Dean / ogriego@stfrancis.edu. / 815-740-3452 / stfrancis.edu/encountercobha

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WORLD NEWS

UPDATE

By: Hannah Tadey

Cali Mass shooter Connected to ISIS Women in Combat

Investigators now believe that as the San Bernardino, California attack was happening, the alleged female shooter posted an allegiance pledge to an ISIS leader on a new Facebook account. Though the used account does not have her name on it, U.S. officials working on the case say they strongly believe she made the post.

Law enforcements said that it appears that last Wednesday’s attack, which killed 14 people and wounded an additional 21, may have been connected to ISIS, though there is no proof yet that ISIS directed the attack. In addition to the ISIS connection authorities are looking into, they are also looking to see if the shooting had anything to do with the alleged male suspect’s “workplace issue with religion.” It was also recently discovered that the male suspect attended Islamic school in Pakistan.

Germany Approves missIle usage

Last Friday, German lawmakers overwhelmingly approved a noncombat mission to aid the fight against the Islamic State militants. The 134 millioneuro ($145 million) mission will begin as early as this week, beginning with two Tornado reconnaissance planes being sent to Turkey’s Incirlik base. It was also announced that the frigate is already en route to join a French aircraft carrier. Defense Minister Ursula von der

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Leyen has also met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to talk about stationing German troops in his country.

Overall, Germany plans to send up to six Tornado reconnaissance planes, a tanker aircraft and the frigate. They will not be taking part in active combat. However, a maximum contingent of 1,200 soldiers are approved to serve as support troops in Turkey and other headquarter operations, such as Qatar and Kuwait.

Beginning next year, all U.S. military combat jobs, including infantry units and special operations, will be open to women. Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced this decision as part of the commitment to build a “force of the future.” The ban will be lifted on January 1 and all U.S. services have until April 1 to accommodate for women in all roles. The Marine Corps was the first to jump on the announcement and said they would comply with this executive order. “The Marine Corps has received the secretary’s decision and will immediately commence the process of further implementing the policy change, to include sharing plans and lessons learned with the other services. We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensure the men and women who earn the title ‘Marine’ will be ready to fight and win.” The Pentagon’s decision has also brought out many opposers to the thought of women in combat, claiming that this decision was “politically-based.”

New European Union Borders

On Friday, European Union officials and diplomats announced that the EU is “considering a measure that would give a new EU border force powers to intervene and guard a member state’s external frontier to protect that Schengen open-border zone,” according to the press release. Though this is a controversial move to many, it comes after EU officials have discussed mutual fear of Greece’s failure to control the flood of migrants from Turkey. Sources say that these past few months have left Schengen’s open borders at their most vulnerable and to the brink of their collapse. Germany’s politician and former Federal Minister of Defence Thomas de Maiziere told reporters, “The Commission should put forward a proposal ... which has the goal of when a national state is not effectively fulfilling its duty of defending the external border, then that can be taken over by [The EU’s border agency,] Frontex.”

Taliban leader dies of injuries According to a release by Sultan Faizi, the spokesperson of the Afghan first vice president, Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour has died of injuries sustained in a firefight. Mansour, the acting leader of the Taliban, allegedly suffered major wounds during the argument that led to a firefight at a Taliban top commander meeting in the Pakistani city of Quetta.

Though the Taliban is denying that Mansour was even injured, credible Pakistani and Afghan sources have both confirmed that there is a significant amount of credible evidence suggesting Mansour was “very seriously” injured in some sort of accident. Faizi tweeted on Friday, “Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour died of injuries” but did not elaborate.

Photos courtesy of latimes.com, modernreject.com, Reuters.com and CNN.com.

Despite Russian threats of retaliation, the European Union and Ukraine say they will introduce a free trade pact next month. On Monday, Ukraine Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk stated, “this agreement will enter force on January 1, and this agreement is in the interests of the European Union and Ukraine.” Despite all of this, Russia has a long list of changes it wants done to make sure trade will not be compromised for them. On the contrary, the European Union is actually claiming that, through this pact, trade will improve between Ukraine and Russia. Last autumn, Russia tried stopping this free trade deal when it was first proposed, threatening that it would would impose an embargo on Ukrainian goods if the deal went through. Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, declined the initial trade pact before being ousted as president. The pact between the European Union and Ukraine focuses on removing customs tariffs and quotas as well as aligning Ukrainian regulations to several EU standards. according to the Associated Press.

NEWS

EU - Ukraine Trade Pact

BeijinG issues red alert Beijing issued its first-ever red alert for smog this Monday.

The city urged schools to close and even put restrictions on factories and traffic in order to keep unnecessary vehicles off the road. A red alert is the most serious warning of the four-tier system that the country adopted about two years ago and the warning indicates that authorities have predicted at least three consecutive days of severe smog. The Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau has issued an alert to “protect public health and reduce levels of heavy air pollution.” The PM2.5 particle reading climed to nearly 300 micrograms per cubic meter on Monday.

The World Health Organization designates the safe level at 25 micrograms. In order to compromise for the city’s order to not drive personal vehicles, additional trains, buses and subways will be added.

This is the second time this month that Bejing has experienced heavy, prolonged periods of smog. The suburbs have experienced PM2.5 levels as high as 976 micrograms.

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Election & Politics Update by: Julian Jankowski

Trump, Rubio, Cruz Up; Carson Stumbles

In the most recent Quinnipiac poll taken nationally of voting preferences in the Republican Primaries, Dr. Ben Carson has seen a substantial decline in his poll numbers. Donald Trump extended his lead to 27% (up from 24% in the previous Quinnipiac poll). Marco Rubio, the Senator from Florida, is in 2nd place at 17% (up from 14%), followed by a tie for third between the Senator from Texas, Ted Cruz, and Carson, with 16% each (Cruz is up from 13%; Carson is down from 23%). No one else in the fourteen-man field even

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comes close, and no one, aside from Jeb Bush (in a distant fifth place, at 5 per cent) is even above three percent.

This has come amid the Paris Shootings and the accompanying increase in interest in foreign policy. This subject is thought to have hurt Carson’s standing in the polls, because of his relative inexperience in such matters and an affirmation of the same, according to two of Carson’s own advisors (on the record), as reported by the New York Times.

NEWS

Clinton Dominance Continues In the same Quinnipiac poll, taken of national voting preferences in the Democratic Primaries, the former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, continues to lead by large margins.

Clinton has the support of 60% of those polled. Her nearest competitor is the Senator from Vermont, Bernie Sanders, at half that amount with 30%. Rounding out the remainder of the field is the former Governor of Maryland, Martin O’Malley, who is barely worth mentioning, at two percent. To add more evidence to the effect of Clinton’s dominance, FiveThirtyEight Politics shows Clinton with a commanding lead in terms of the number of endorsements from Representatives, Senators, and Governors. Taking the number of these endorsements as of December 3, and combining it to the structure of the primary process in the Democratic Party, Clinton has a nearly 200-delagate advantage over her nomination rivals.

GOP Bill to Gut Obamacare & Strike Planned Parenthood Funding Clears Reconciliation Hurdle

According to The Hill, the Senate Parliamentarian has approved of bringing a full spending bill to the floor of the Senate that would remove the funding aspects of Obamacare and halt the flow of federal funds to Planned Parenthood, under Reconciliation rules. The Parliamentarian has ruled that such a budgetary item would either not contribute to a deficit, or would not do so for longer than ten years, and therefore, would require only a simple majority of the Senate, instead of the usual 60 vote hurdle.

The omnibus bill is a modified version of the bill passed by the House, which did not dismantle Obamacare as agPhotos courtesy of pbs.org, eremedia.com and ibtimes.com

gressively, and did not remove funding for Planned Parenthood. In addition, it was the product of political pressure applied by Senators Mike Lee, Ted Cruz, and Marco Rubio. The Democratic Leadership in the Senate has stated that they will not attempt to obstruct the bill to any great degree – only a limited number of specific amendments. The bill is expected to have a majority in the Senate, and will likely overcome any obstacles in the House, whether by Conference Committee, or direct passage of the Senate bill. President Barack Obama has stated that he would veto the Senate omnibus bill, as it stands.

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Try it Yourself:

Coloring

Helps Lower Stress Levels by: Clarice Swanson One fact that all college students know to be true; stress is a very prominent part of college life. Students juggle classes, homework, activities, sports, etc., all at once without questioning if they are doing too much. However, juggling so many things at once can lead to a great amount of stress and anxiety. According to the American Psychological Association, the number of students with anxiety issues has increased by about 15% since 2007. In addition, 48% of students report struggling with mental health issues, a 4% increase from 2010.

Students are stressed out and need to find methods to cope with their increasing anxiety. Over the past year, a new, very healthy method of relaxation has taken prominence, and it’s one that might give many people a few flashbacks to first grade. Get your crayons and colored pencils ready, because more and more people are turning to coloring as a method of de-stressing.

Although the trend of coloring as an adult relaxation technique has just gained popularity over the past few years, this method has actually been in use since the 20th century. According to an article from The Huffington Post, the exercise first gained popularity when famous psychologist Carl C. Jung began to work with his patients on mandalas, or circular designs with layers of repeating shapes or patterns. The creations could be pre-drawn and simply colored in, or created with symbols that represented the patients themselves, allowing for them to focus on the good qualities about themselves rather the stress of the outside world. The mandalas, as well as coloring in general, have reappeared recently as a therapeutic method to relax one’s mind, particularly gaining popularity in Eastern Europe, North America, and most recently, Spain.

What is it about coloring that causes this calming effect?

Is it the particular hand motions that coloring uses? Is it the colors? Is it the activity as a whole? There are a couple different theories. Psychologist Gloria Martinez Ayala indicated that it might have to do with the physical relaxation of certain parts of our brain. The psychologist stated, “The relaxation that [coloring] provides lowers the activity of the amygdala, a basic part of our brain involved in controlling emotion that is affected by stress”. She also

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comments, “when we focus on a certain activity, we focus on it and not our worries.” In short, coloring, a seemingly mindless activity, requires the perfect amount of attention to detail and focus so that we center our minds on the motion and flow of coloring rather than the stress in our lives. When paired with listening to music, drinking our favorite coffee or tea, or doing any other combination of things we may find relaxing, coloring sounds like a good way to take a person’s mind off their daily stress.

With the growing popularity of coloring for adults, consumers are not the only one jumping on the artistic bandwagon. Companies in the field of visual arts are also taking notice to the trend. Large corporations in the coloring business, such as Crayola, are creating specialty kits for adults, ranging from full coloring kits, to coloring books that are focused on certain shows, or movies, such as Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and even their favorite celebrities such as Ryan Gosling or Angelina Jolie.

One of the most recent products that Crayola has released is Color Escapes, which include intricate sets of designs created specifically for adults. These new products are benefitting more and more adults, causing the technique to gain even more popularity than ever before.

Although this newfound inspiration in coloring is considered a “trend”, it seems to have the staying power and effectiveness to last a long time. So next time you find yourself stressing out from school, work or other activities, try heading to your nearest store, picking up a pack of crayons and coloring books, and taking the relaxing break you need and deserve.

NEWS

Photo courtesy of adult-coloring-club.com

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Christmas Movies to Binge-watch by: Sara Michalowicz It’s that time of the year! The weather outside is getting colder and soon enough it will be snowing. So grab a blanket and some hot chocolate and bundle up on the couch to watch some of these funny, classic, and entertaining holiday films.

• It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) – Ranked #1 on nearly all lists for Christmas movies, “It’s a Wonderful Life” is a holiday classic. This film deserves an annual viewing by all. Watch as a guardian angel helps a compassionate but frustrated businessman learn that it’s not money that makes you rich.

• A Christmas Story (1983) – This classic story has made us laugh year-after-year as it is played repeatedly on TV as Christmas nears. Watch this nostalgic and humorous film as young Ralphie tries to convince everyone, including Santa Clause, that a Red Ryder B.B. gun is the perfect gift.

• National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) – If you’re looking for humor this holiday season, this is the movie for you. The Griswold family prepares for a big family Christmas, which is bound to turn into a disaster, as a domino effect of problems occur and begin to drive the whole family crazy.

• Home Alone Trilogy (1990, 1992, 1997) – Yes… all of them. In the first installment, young Kevin is left home alone during the holidays and is left to protect his home from a pair of burglars. In the second, Kevin is at it again but in New York City, fighting off the same two criminals. In the third, we follow a new character, Alex, who is home sick with the chicken pox, fending off thieves trying to retrieve a microchip from his toy car.

• The Santa Clause (1994) – The first installment of the trilogy, “The Santa Clause” is a fun film for everyone. Tim Allen stars as an ordinary man who accidentally causes Santa Clause to fall from his roof on Christmas Eve. He then takes a trip to the North Pole where he discovers he must become the new Santa.

• Jingle All the Way (1996) – We have all experienced last minute holiday shopping and how stressful it can be, so we can all relate to this film. Watch as a father realizes that every store is sold out of the must-have Turbo Man action figure and does everything he can to get one under their Christmas tree.

• How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) – Being the first Dr. Seuss book to be adapted into a full-length feature film, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” was an immense success. Starring the hilarious Jim Carrey, this film is a comedy for the whole family, as we watch the cynical Grinch try to steal Christmas from all those living in Whoville.

• Love Actually (2003) – This Christmas-themed romantic comedy follows the lives of ten very different couples as they deal with their own love stories. As the movie progresses, their love stories are shown to be loosely interlinked with one another. If you love love and the holidays, this is a must watch!

• Elf (2003) – With the help of Will Ferrell’s hilarity and his charming performance, “Elf” is full of cheer and good-natured comedy as he plays the part of one of Santa’s helpers who was sent from the North Pole to the U.S. in search of his true identity.

• The Polar Express (2004) – Who doesn’t love Tom Hanks? Watch this breathtaking animation as Hanks brilliantly voices 6 different characters, all of which interact with a young boy who embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express. Along the way, he learns about friendship, bravery, and of course, the spirit of Christmas.

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Photos courtesy of imdb.com

p o T r e t n Encou

s k c a r T s a m t s i r h C 30

30. Elvis Presley - Blue Christmas 29. Kelly Clarkson – Silent Night 28. Studio Musicians – Deck The Halls 27. Whitney Houston - Do You Hear What I Hear 26. Burl Ives – Holly Jolly Christmas 25. Eartha Kitt – Santa Baby 24. The Carpenters - I’ll Be Home For Christmas 23. Johnny Mathis - Winter Wonderland 22. Perry Como – (There’s no Place Like) Home For the Holidays 21. Bobby Helms – Jingle Bell Rock 20. The Harry Simeone Chorale - Little Drummer Boy 19. Brenda Lee – Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree 18. Gene Autry – Frosty the Snowman 17. Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Carol of the Bells 16. Paul McCartney – Wonderful Christmas Time 15. Dean Martin – Let It Snow

by: Andrew

Finein

14. Gene Autry – Here Comes Santa Claus 13. Eartha Kitt – Santa Baby 12. Andy Williams - It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year 11. Idina Menzel – Baby It’s Cold Outside 10. Johnny Mathis – It’s Beginning to look a lot like Christmas 9. John Lennon – Happy Xmas (War is Over) 8. Mariah Carey – Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) 7. Frank Sinatra – Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas 6. Amy Grant – Sleigh Ride 5. Bruce Springsteen – Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town 4. José Feliciano – Feliz Navidad 3. Nat King Cole – The Christmas Song 2. Michael Bublé – White Christmas 1. Mariah Carey – All I Want for Christmas is You

Entertainment

“Big A’s”

Find us on facebook

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140OR LESS CHARACTERS by: Kamari Jordan

@KamariSays

#Christmahanukwanzika: Combination of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanza. #Christmas #HappyHolidays #Inclusion #Celebrate #Hanukkah #8days #JewishHoliday #Kwanza #7days #NguzoSaba #Equality #Love #Respect #Diversity #LoveThyNeighbor #Christmaholic: Someone obsessed with everything Christmas. #WhiteChristmas #ChristmasCaroller #Obsession #Decorations #TisTheSeason #Christmas #ElfTendencies #Xmas #CantWait #TheCountDownBegins #GreenAndRed #Christmall: Going to the mall the week before Christmas. #LastMinute #FreeTime #Procrastination #Gifts #Hurry #BadGifts #LateShopper #ItsGettingCritical #IDoMyBestShoppingNow #JustPutItInTheCart #DoIHaveToWrapThem

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Entertainment

#ChristmanShopping: When a man Christmas shops for himself. #Man #Shopping #Treatyourself #IfYouReallyWantIt #Splurge #LetsGetIt #MeTime #IDeserveIt #YouGoBoy #LiveYourLife #BeHappy #ForgetTheBudget #ImBroke

#Christmaphobe: Someone who hates or is scared of anything Christmas related. #Grinch #Scrooge #BahHumbug #IHateChristmas #MakeItStop #CalmDown #LeaveMeAlonePlease #IReallyCouldntCareLess #PartyPooper #DebbieDowner

#ChristmasBarf: Excessive Christmas decorations on houses. #OverDone #YoureDoingTooMuch #DeckTheHalls #YouLiveThere #YouHaveToMove #Blinding #ICantSeeYourDoor #WhereIsTheEntrance #TooFar #YouOnlyNeedOneSanta

Photos courtesy of iemoji.com

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Spring TV Previews by: Andrew McDilda While winter break has not come and gone quite yet, it is never too early to start thinking about what new television shows we may be anxiously waiting to premiere come spring. Of course many of our current favorite and popular shows will be returning in the spring or have already been renewed this year. Greys Anatomy, Scandal, Bob’s Burgers, Arrow, The Flash, American Idol, Chicago Fire, and Chicago PD are just a few of the big name shows that have received renewal.

It would seem that ABC has a hold on some of the biggest premieres coming this spring, with at least four new shows to air beginning as early as March 2. The Real O’Neals is set to debut March 2, and follows a seemingly normal and quite perfect Catholic family.

After a series of surprising truths are revealed within the family, the O’Neals take the truths to improve their lives and not ruin them.

The Family, set to premiere Thursday March 3, follows a politician’s family after their long lost son returns home after a decade. His return has the family question who he has become, and what happened while he was away?

Of Kings and Prophets, set to premiere Tuesday March 8 follows biblical characters King Saul, the prophet Samuel, and the young shepherd David, in their epic “collision course” with destiny.

Finally, ABC’s last premiere in March is The Catch, set to debut Thursday March 24. The Catch is about Los Angeles’ newest private investigator, Alice Vaughn, and already has critics anxiously awaiting this new crime investigation drama.

HBO has a new show coming in spring of 2016 as well. HBO’s description of this new show says, “[Vinyl is] A ride through the sex- and drug-addled music business at the dawn of punk, disco, and hip-hop, the show is seen through the eyes of a record label president, Richie Finestra, played by Bobby Cannavale, who is trying to save his company and his soul without destroying everyone in his path. Vinyl premieres on HBO February 14.

Finally, for all of those super hero fans, Netflix will be sure not to disappoint. Everyone seems to love Netflix’s way of releasing entire seasons of their favorite shows all at once. Unfortunately, Netflix has yet to put out a hard release date for Marvel’s Daredevil which Netflix released season 1 of last spring. There is hope that Netflix gets their stuff together, and puts out Daredevil in time to binge watch by spring break!

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Photo courtesy of abcallaccess.com, edgedatg.com, filmmusicreporter.com and pmcvariety.com

Fashion Comments Spark a Feud

Caitlyn Jenner’s life as a transgender woman continues to spark controversy. Recently, Jenner’s fashion comments to BuzzFeed at Glamour Magazine’s award ceremony on November 9 angered actress, Rose McGowan so much that she took her frustration to social media stating, “Woman of the year? Not by a long f*cking shot.”

by: Janae King

Entertainment

CELEBRITY BEEFY BEEF Jenner’s interview with BuzzFeed took place backstage after she was honored along with six other recipients.

When asked, “What is the hardest part for you about being a women?”

Jenner allotted to focusing her answer on her lack of fashion sense as she stated, “The hardest part about being a woman is figuring out what to wear. It’s always that way; I never thought it would come to this. I had really no sense of style. Everyone around me in my family had the sense of style - I learned as much as I possibly could. But, it’s more than that.

I’m kind of at this point in my life where I’m trying to figure this womanhood thing out. It is more than hair, makeup, clothes, all that kind of stuff.

There’s an element here that I’m still kind of searching for. And I think that’ll take a while. Because I think as far as gender, we’re all on a journey.

We’re all learning and growing about ourselves. And I feel the same way.”

In a recently deleted response on Facebook, McGowan retaliated to Jenner’s response by criticizing Jenner for taking womanhood as a joke. She posted, “Caitlyn Jenner you do not understand what being a woman is about at all. You want to be a woman and stand with us - well learn us. We are more than deciding what to wear. We are more than the stereotypes foisted upon us by people like you. You’re a woman now? Well (expletive) learn that we have had a VERY different experience than your life of male privilege. Woman of the year? No, not until you wake up and join the fight. Being a woman comes with a lot of baggage. The weight of unequal history. You’d do well to learn it. You’d do well to wake up. Woman of the year? Not by a long (expletive) shot.”

Since McGowan’s posts Jenner has not released a statement. However, critics have quickly labeled McGowan as trans phobic and an overt feminist.

In response to these allegations, McGowan stated, “I know that being a public figure is not easy. Being Caitlyn Jenner is most assuredly not easy, but that doesn’t absolve her of her responsibility. Living as a woman in this backwards society is hard. We need all hands on deck. Those who have the microphone to speak to many. Especially that family.”

Despite McGowan’s strong stance on this issue she is willing to forgive Jenner if she chooses to use her platform to advocate the progression of women and fight any injustice.

Photo courtesy of buisnessinsider.com

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Staff Picks & Traditions Hannah Tadey Tradition: Every year, my mom and I go to a Broadway in Chicago musical. This year we're going to see The Lion King.

Pick: Favorite holiday character: Zooey Deschanel in Elf AKA Jovie

Brandon Newberry Tradition: On Christmas Eve, we celebrate the holiday with my mom's side of the family and then on Christmas Day, we celebrate with my dad's side of the family.

Pick: Favorite Movie: Elf

Sarah Schoenrock Tradition: Around Christmas, my family and I drive around the local neighborhoods to view the Christmas lights.

Pick: Favorite Holiday Treat: Gingerbread and Sugar cookies

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Tradition: Since we've gotten Kado, my dog, we've gone every year to get pictures with Santa Paws! Here is our first Christmas picture as a family (December 2013).

Pick: During the Christmas season, Harry Potter fans that are not fortunate enough to live driving distance from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter can go to Starbucks for a delicious Butterbeer flavored beverage. Trust me, this is worth drinking out of the controversial red cup for. (Secret menu item)

Kamari Jordan

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Kylie Mason

Tradition: One holiday tradition my family has is to play UNO after our Thanksgiving meal.

Pick: My obsession would definitely be lipstick! A lovely lip can make you stand out at any Christmas party or force your family to finally acknowledge you as a young adult. Spice things up with a matte or gloss lip and try a red lip this Christmas.

Ashley Cady Tradition: Every year, whether it's with family or friends, I go to Chicago for the Lighting of Michigan Avenue festival and parade. Also, once I am finished with classes, my family and I go to Chicago and eat under the Christmas tree in the Walnut Room at Macy's.

Pick: Favorite Christmas Song: Anything by Josh Groban or Michael BublĂŠ Photos courtesy of designbolts.com, beautyclue.com and themagnificentmile.com

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s ' r e t n u o c n E F s S n U i P s a m t s i r h C ork N e i t by : Ka

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SPECIAL SECTION me? o h t a e pins count! s e h t to try est ac Want our Pinter ter n ter/ Follow USF Encou /usfencoun @ t.com s e r e t w.pin w w / / : https Photos courtesy of pinterest.com

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Ways to Gift-Give by: Abi Blome ‘Tis the season of giving! Of course, it’s nearly impossible to buy gifts for everybody on your list, no matter how many Black Friday deals you hit up this year. While money is almost always an issue, it’s hard weeding through your giving-list and taking off friends who really deserve a little gift of recognition this time of year. Well, here are some tips to help you get something for everyone this year.

• Buy gifts throughout the year

While it is a little too late to do this now, you can get started early for next year! Buying gifts slowly throughout the year helps break up your spending so you don’t binge spend closer to the holidays. You can save money because you can pick up items while they’re on sale without fighting people on Black Friday.

shop around for the best deals in a way that you couldn’t in a store. You can instantly compare prices between different sellers and get reviews on comparable products.

• Make gifts yourself

While this may cost you more time, it can also save you a lot of money. Some simple Pinterest ideas or other crafts can be meaningful and cherished gifts. Making a painted mug can cost as little as $2, but will be used long after the holiday season. A simple no-sew blanket or pillow is useful and will be kept around and used for a long time.

• Give edible treats

Edible gifts are easy to mass-produce, cheap to make, and generally well-appreciated. Find out what kind of cookies your friends like, cook a batch or two, wrap them up nicely, and hand them out with a nice card attached. Check out some cooking or baking websites online to get some recipes and ideas. Delicious treats are only a Google search away!

• Host a White Elephant or Secret Santa gift exchange

Everyone gets a gift, but no one is required to purchase more than one. A White Elephant can be a fun game where participants re-gift something from a past holiday or give away something silly, but everyone walks away with a gift of some kind. A Secret Santa ensures everyone gets a gift that they will (hopefully) appreciate and you can work with the other participants to set up guidelines like how much or how little participants should be spending.

• Shop online

Many people prefer Cyber Monday to Black Friday just because you don’t have to physically fight people to get great deals, but online shopping can also save money outside of regular holiday sales. On the internet you can

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Hopefully these tips make the holidays a little easier on your wallet and help you get to everyone on your list.

The season of giving doesn’t have to be the season of bankruptcy. With a little extra research and some thoughtful effort, you can give gifts that are truly appreciated without breaking your bank. Happy gifting!

Photos courtesy of freechristmaswallpapers.net, babble.com and etsy.com

by: Ashley Montgomery

With all the snow, twinkling lights and baking that comes with the holiday season, so does gift giving. There is nothing better than stumbling upon that perfect gift for someone close to your heart and seeing their face light up as they open the box. However, shopping for multiple people can get pretty pricey, pretty fast. Between family, a special someone, friends, co-workers and teachers, Christmas shopping can easily drain a year’s worth of savings. It’s important to find gifts that are meaningful – without breaking the bank. Here is a list of fun and practical gift ideas that are all under $25!

5. Craft Supplies

This is another gift that could easily be turned into an afternoon of fun. Purchase canvases, paints, drawing pads or markers to create an artist starter kit. This gift is especially great for children and teens.

6. Homemade Edible Goodies

When in doubt, bake things. Who doesn’t like a big plate of chocolate chip cookies? Set aside a day with some friends and bake a variety of goods so that you can create platters of baked goods for multiple people.

1. Bath Set

If you’re shopping for a girl, you can never go wrong with a bath set. Meijer always has sales on bath bundles in the winter, but if you want to create your own, include things like bath salts, a loofa and fragrance mist.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Gifts Under $25 2. Stationery Set

For $25, you can purchase a lot of crafty pieces to create a personalized set. JoAnn Fabrics usually has great deals on colorful notepads, sticky notes and personalized pens.

3. Hat/scarf/gloves

Why not go with something practical this holiday season and purchase a gift that can be used time and time again? Everyone can use a nice hat or pair of gloves, a warm scarf to bundle up or a combination of all three.

7. Warm Blanket

You can never go wrong with a warm and fuzzy blanket.

Everyone could use an extra layer of warmth in the winter. This gift is especially good for college students who live in chilly dorm rooms. Pair it with a good book and you have the perfect duo!

8. Tool Set

Every man in your life needs a good tool set. While he may already have one, it never hurts to have more.

Target, Meijer, Walmart and hardware stores like Lowes or Home Depot have a variety of different tool sets for around $20-25 each.

9. Gas Card

4. Movie Tickets

Give the gift of togetherness this year and turn a simple present into a nice evening out! Purchase a gift card or two tickets to a show your significant other wanted to see. Bundle it with their favorite candy and some popcorn as a cute little package they can open now, and enjoy later!

Photos courtesy of etsy.com, zastavki.com and lesserevillife.com

Filling up your car at any time of the year is never fun. As an adult, it’s always nice to recieve gift cards for things you don’t want to pay for yourself. This gift is especially good for co-workers.

10. Framed Photos/Picture Collage

This gift is especially great for parents or family members. Buy some nice frames that match the décor of your loved one’s house, and fill the frames with photographic memories that will last a lifetime. They’ll love it!

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Christmas Around The World by: Samantha Launius Many different countries celebrate Christmas in a variety of ways. Every culture and family has unique Christmas traditions.

perform songs and plays. A popular Christmas food is fresh lychees, which can also be used as a decoration.

New Zealand:

For Russians, Christmas is usually celebrated on January 7 as they follow the Julian calendar for religious celebration. Some people fast on Christmas Eve until the first star shines at night. Sauerkraut is the main disk for Christmas celebrations. One of the most famous attributes for Russia and Christmas is the story of Babushka. Babushka means “grandmother,” which tells the story of an old woman who met the Wise Men. This story has thought to have been created by an American poet.

New Zealanders have parades with decorated floats and bands, set up Christmas trees, and usually have a barbecue for Christmas lunch. Since Christmas falls in the summer there, they have a cook out with a lot of family and friends and an abundance of desserts! In the Maori language Happy/Merry Christmas is ‘Meri Kirihimete’.

Egypt:

For Egyptians, Christmas falls on January 7. They celebrate for a month, called the Coptic month, from November 25 to January 6. They fast on a vegan diet for the entire month. On January 6, their service in the church begins and falls into Christmas day.

Many families participate in parties and festivities. Santa Clause is called Baba Noël.

Palestinian Territories:

Since Bethlehem is where Jesus was born, Christmas is important in the surrounding territories.

On Christmas Eve, there is a large parade with bagpipes! The church service of the Mass of the Nativity is the most important for Christians in the area. This celebrates the area where Jesus was thought to be born. Gifts are brought and songs are sung to baby Jesus.

Madagascar:

Despite it being hot during Christmas season, they decorate with holly, ribbons, and snow. In Madagascar, Santa Claus is called ‘Dadabe Noely’. Most people only exchange small presents and go to church on Christmas Eve where children

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Russia:

Ghana:

Christmas celebrations last from December 20 to the first week of January. The cocoa harvest starts in Ghana when Christmas season comes along.

Many activities involve plays, dramas, and church services that can last all night long. Fireworks are also used to celebrate Christmas! The holiday is celebrated with good, positive wishes for all people on Earth.

Zimbabwe:

The day begins with a Church service and follows with parties where family and friends travel from house to house! People eat, exchange gifts, and celebrate the holiday for the entire day. Music is blasted all day long to celebrate life and just to have fun. On this day, families wear their best clothes as a sign of respect. The meal for Christmas is chicken with rice, which is a special treat.

Photos courtesy of indiska.com and orig10.deviantart.com

by: Amber Shibley Around the world, countries celebrate and ring in the New Year in their own unique ways. Some cultures have massive parties and make great festivals out of the day, whereas other cultures simply announce the New Year and do not have a massive celebration. Originally, the New Year was celebrated by the ancient Greeks after the new moon on June 21. The Roman’s celebrated it on March 1, whereas most European countries celebrated it on March 25. Furthermore, the Russian Orthodox Church observes the New Year on January 14. Regardless of when it is celebrated, everywhere tends to celebrate in a different manner.

For example, the Chinese New Year is celebrated at the turn of the Chinese calendar. It is the longest celebration on the Chinese calendar and can often last 15 days. The day after all festivities end all families begin deep cleaning their homes. In 1967 during the Cultural Revolution Chinese New Year celebrations were banned. Thirteen years later all festivities were reinstated during the Chinese Economic Reform. Today, people make special foods and celebrate new things each day. Often, older adults and married couple will give out red envelopes to children and young unmarried adults.

They usually contain an even numbered amount of money. Everything regarding the New Year has to be new in order to bring about good fortune and luck. Typically people wear red and bright colors. In addition there are always lots of fireworks and ornamentation; however, this is just one New Year celebration around the world.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Celebrating the New Year Around the World

In early to mid-Autumn Jewish tradition states that God opens the Book of Life for 10 days, starting with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. It ends with Yom Kippur which is the Day of Atonement. During these days those who celebrate try to absolve all wrongdoing and forgive others. To both begin and end these festivities a ram’s horn trumpet is always blown. They often eat sweet foods to bring in a sweet new year.

Thailand has a three day festival April 13-15. This symbolizes Songkran, the Buddhist celebration of the New Year, in which they have parades with massive statues of Buddha. They release fish into rivers as an act of kindness. People also tie strings around each other’s wrists as a sign of respect. The strings are left on until they fall off naturally. There is also a tradition of water pouring which represents a washing away of sin and bad luck.

Every person comes from different parts of the world.

This means we all have different traditions and cultures. Many times these cultures become mixed and traditions merge with others. What are some things that you and your family do on New Year’s?

Photos courtesy of travelchannel.com

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Christmas Around Chicago

by: Ashley Montgomery

After slowly slipping into a food coma as an aftermath of indulging in copious amounts of turkey, stuffing and maybe a few extra slices of pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving Day, everyone can agree that as soon as the clock strikes midnight, the holiday season has begun. It’s time to deck the halls, pick out a tree and dazzle the neighborhood with endless strands of twinkling lights. Pull out that ugly Christmas sweater and get baking! While you may have set holiday traditions that you partake in each year, there is always something new and exciting that you can add to your holiday to-do list. When it comes to Christmas, there is no place quite like Chicago. From theatrical performances to parades and ice-skating, this magnificent city offers something for everyone during the holiday season. Check out these ideas for something fun and exciting to do this winter!

1. Zoolights at Lincoln Park Zoo

Stop by the Lincoln Park Zoo to view over 2 million lights that illuminate the sky and dance to choreographed music.

On select days, you can even say hello to Santa and tell him what’s on your wish list this year! The zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., but you can view these magical lights from 4:30 p.m to 9 p.m. Experience the holiday fun from November 27 through January 3. And the best part? It’s totally free!

2. Christkindlmarket

This popular Christmas market is located in Daley Plaza and is one of Chicago’s most popular winter attractions. Inspired by the Christkindlmarket in Germany, it features German food, beer, entertainment and handmade trinkets. This year, the market is open from November 20 to December 24. This event is also free!

3. Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo

Head on over to Brookfield Zoo every Saturday to view light shows, ice carvings, a 41-foot talking Christmas tree, carolers and so much more! The Holiday Magic starts December 5 and festivities continue each Saturday and Sunday in December starting at 4 p.m. Tickets are $16.95 for adults and $11.95 for children and seniors.

4. A Christmas Carol

Come see this Christmas classic and watch as Scrooge is visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. The show is running November 14-27 at the Goodman Theater. Tickets generally range anywhere from $50 to $315 depending on the date and time.

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5. Christmas Around the World at the Museum of Science and Industry

Stop by the Museum of Science and Industry to view a 45-foot Grand Tree, as well as 50 other trees that represent a variety of other cultures and traditions. Each tree was decorated by volunteers of different ethnic communities in the Chicago-land area. The trees are on display November 19 through January 3. Tickets are $18 for adults and $11 for children.

6. Ice Skating

What better way is there to celebrate winter than by grabbing a pair of skates and hitting the ice? There are so many places to go ice-skating in Chicago, and many of them are free. Some ice-skating rinks include Millennium Park, Maggie Daley Park and the Lincoln Park Zoo.

7. The Nutcracker

There’s nothing that says Christmas like The Nutcracker Ballet. The Joffrey Ballet has been bringing the Nutcracker to Chicago since 1987. The performance features 118 dancers, vocalists from five children’s choirs and Tchaikovsky’s famous score performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The show runs from December 4 to December 27, and tickets range from $70 to $300.

8. Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier

Winter Wonderfest features 24 rides and attractions and over 170,000 square feet of entertainment for people of all ages. Visitors can stop by and see Santa, decorate sugar cookies and even glide across the Blackhawks’ ice skating rink. General admission is $10 while an activity ticket (which includes all attractions) is $25.

9. The Polar Express

All aboard the Polar Express train ride at Chicago’s historic Union Station! This magical one-hour train ride through downtown Chicago brings the story of the Polar Express to life through caroling and choreographed entertainment. Each passenger will receive a golden ticket, hot chocolate, and a silver bell. For more information about departure times and pricing, call 312-471-2501.

10. The Great Tree at the Walnut Room

Stop by Macy’s on State Street, and visit the Walnut Room to see the Great Tree this holiday season. It’s over 45 feet tall and features over 2,000 ornaments and 6,600 lights! Admission is simply the price of a meal in the Walnut Room restaurant. This activity is sure to get you in the holiday spirit!

Photos courtesy of chicagonow.com, theodyesseyonline.com, and timeout.com

Christkindlmarket

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Winter Wonderfest

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Side by Side:

New Years Staying In

Have you ever found yourself in the position where you had to decide whether or not to go out for New Years or to stay in? Or maybe you are just lame, and no one has ever invited you to some crazy awesome party of the year. You know, where everyone gets drunk, has a good time, blacks out, wakes up the next morning wearing someone else’s clothes for some reason, and then you can’t find your car keys because someone flushed them down the toilet… either way, we’ve all been faced with the choice. Do you go out or stay in on New Year’s Eve? For all of those anti-social introverts out there, convincing you to stay in on New Year’s should come easy.

Sorry though, you guys aren’t the ones I’m trying to argue my case to. As for the rest of you readers out there, you think that you are super popular, great at having a good time and can get yourself invited to pretty much anywhere you like. I have a challenge for you. Stay home this year, and have a good time.

How? Well let me tell you. Remember last year when you told your best friend that you could down a Four Loko and chase it with a shot of Jaeger in less than a minute? Do you remember being that guy that every party has that takes things way too far and ends up naked on the floor? Actually, I’d be really surprised if you did because that sh*t would mess anyone up.

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by: Andrew McDilda But guess what, all of your friends do! And they have pictures to prove it! Just wait, ten or fifteen years from now you’ll be settling down with a family, and you’ll have your college friends over for a summer bar-bque, and everything will be going awesome, and then boom: one of your friends will pull out a picture of how sh*t faced you got that one New Year’s. Your children, spouse and entire family have now just seen these terrible pictures because you went out on New Year’s Eve. So why not have fun at home this year? Get together with your girlfriend or boyfriend, and just have an awesome time at home. Who’s to say you can’t drink at home with just a few close friends? Hell, if you want to make memories, wouldn’t it be better to do it with close friends and family? Not at a bar, or even a house party, full of people you don’t know?

These are our college years, and we should be having fun and doing things we’ll want to remember for the rest of our lives. If you are a person who feels that you need to go out and get black out drunk in order to do that, then maybe you actually need to; however, if you are just going out because you feel it’s the socially acceptable thing to do, then maybe you should reconsider your circle of friends, and do what’s right and healthy for you.

Going Out

by: Skyler Kern

Many people are now transitioning to staying in on New Year’s Eve for whatever reason. There is an increasing amount of articles discussing the many reasons why one should not go out on New Year’s Eve, but these articles are wrong.

about sipping a new drink or cocktail? This holiday gives you the excuse to go out and try something new, whether it is a new drink or a new restaurant.

After all, you are celebrating the past year and motivating yourself for your goals in the year to come.

A person should go out on New Year’s Eve at least once in their lifetime. It is an experience that they will never forget. Not to mention, going out on New Year’s Eve is a time to celebrate and reward yourself for another successful year. Sure, you can celebrate at home by yourself on the couch watching Netflix for hours and hours or by sitting with a few people eating snacks bought from the local grocery store every year, but why wouldn’t you want to go out and interact with new people and splurge on yourself a little bit? Whether it be celebrating your accomplishments from the past year or celebrating a new year and possibly a new you, you have every reason to go out!

Not everyone is excited by crowds, but celebrating New Year’s Eve outside of the house allows for the opportunity to step outside of your comfort zone and to meet new people. Just being in an environment with other people allows you to show yourself in a new light and begin to be the person you resolve to be in the next year. By showing your personality to others and making new friends, you will feel more positively about yourself and are more likely to succeed in your New Year’s resolutions.

Speaking of a new year, going out on New Year’s Eve allows for a great opportunity to buy a new outfit! Whether it is a sleek sequin dress for the ladies or a stylish dress shirt and tie for the men, a new outfit can boost confidence and allow you to enjoy your night out even more.

Where there is a celebration there is usually alcohol as well, which brings up the drinking aspect that comes with New Year’s Eve (21 and older only). New Year’s Eve is a time to try something new, so how Photo courtesy of hedenkamppta.wordpress.com

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Eve

Not only will you get to have the material things, but you will have intangible things that will stick with you for life. One of the best things about holidays are the stories that come with them. If you go out on New Year’s Eve, you have more of an opportunity to have unique stories to tell others about in the future. Not only will you have stories, but you will have pictures to remember the stories, allowing you to relive the memories and others to visualize the “this-will-go-down-in history” moments of your night out on New Year’s Eve. So don’t stay in this New Year’s Eve; I promise you will not regret going out. Go out, buy an outfit, enjoy a cocktail and make some incredible memories!

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The ELF On The SHELF For

by: Clarice Swanson

When you’re a young kid, it’s easy to find amusement and wonder even in the tiniest of things. Especially when one of those things is connected to Santa’s little helpers. That is why “Elf on the Shelf” is such a great tradition, especially for younger kids. They are able to feel a sense of wonder and excitement every time they find one of their little buddies, and get to feel connected with the figure that brings them presents on Christmas Eve. For anyone who doesn’t know what “Elf on a Shelf” is or how the “game” works, the parent hides an elf doll somewhere in the house for children to find, and every night the parents hide the elf in a different place. This “elf” is said to be keeping an eye on the children so it can report back to Santa whether they are naughty or nice. This elf can appear at any time before Christmas, but most families begin hiding the elf at the beginning of December, once the Christmas season is in full swing.

I don’t see any reason to find this tradition anything but fun and completely connected with the Christmas spirit. My family always put an elf on the shelf when I was little, and even though my younger brother and I are both much older, we still put the elf up when we’re decorating because it reminds us of fun memories we had as kids. It’s something that has stuck with us for all these years, and it’s something I intend to continue with my own kids one day because of how much fun I know I had looking around for Santa’s sneaky little helper.

Another reason this is an awesome tradition is that it gives kids a reminder to be on their best behavior because they know they have Santa’s helper around to check up on them and their behavior. I don’t know how

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parents could ask for a better reminder for their kids to behave than “we have an elf hiding somewhere around the house making sure you behave and deserve presents on Christmas.” Kids always seem to behave a bit better when they remember they have toys and presents at stake.

This just puts the reminder in a cute elf size package.

Overall, the most important part of a tradition is what the kids think of it. For most kids, looking for a creature hiding around the house is just a fun and simple game that means the world to them, because they get to show Santa they’re good, and they get to have a blast doing so.

Even though some people might find “Elf on the Shelf” kind of odd, kids will get a kick out of it and enjoy themselves, which is really what a tradition like this is all about.

Commentary

Against

by: Nick Pillish

Christmas time has become more than just nativity scenes, presents, gingerbread houses, decorated trees and candy cane lanes. Back by popular demand, the Elf on the Shelf makes its annual appearance in many households across America. Okay, so I get the whole Santa’s little elves are there to check in at children’s homes and make sure they are being nice and not naughty. However, finding these strange little elves in some familiar and unfamiliar areas in my home is just creepy. As a small child, my mom told my sister and I that every night this magical elf is able to fly back to the North Pole and tell Santa everything we did that day in our house. If I forgot to take the garbage out or fought with my sister over what TV show to watch, our little informant would be sure to report it all to Santa that evening. Scary! All this stress of being watched made me crazy. Then, knowing this creature with the pointy ears and freakish smile would suddenly be back snooping around the next morning drove me insane. No, I did not care to find this weirdo elf next to my cereal bowl in the kitchen cabinet. Also, seeing him hanging around the towel rack in the bathroom was a downright invasion of privacy. Yep, Santa’s little helper definitely did not make me feel warm and fuzzy inside. Instead, I felt spied on and betrayed. What was I missing? My sister absolutely loved to be greeted by her elf friend every morning in December. Somehow, this elf did not have the same appeal to me. After all, are we not watched enough throughout the course of our busy day?

and nicely reward me with a stiff fine. Likewise, many places I frequent on campus ask for a swipe of my college ID. Of course, people need to know my identity.

Life can be tough. I certainly have no desire to come home and find this menacing elf staring at me with accusations.

Holiday traditions are a huge deal to many families. I’m sure many welcome Santa’s elves on their shelves. Many would say they adore being greeted by this cute little elf every morning. How very fun it is for them to try and find where this little guy is chilling out in their house. In fact, many families that participate in this festive event will say that Christmas is just not the same without their elf on the shelf.

As for me, I would rather do without a weird elf staring at me as I start my day off. Frankly, he frightens me. I could handle cookies and cocoa as my family trims the tree. Christmas carolers at my door do not even bother me. The elf on shelf, however, is one strange little guy.

I’m sure many will disagree with me. This is totally fine, because I would much rather participate in some other hair-raising traditions like huge snowball fights with my friends or racing snowmobiles with my cousins in Wisconsin. At any rate, whether it be with elves on shelves, a visit with Santa, or outdoor winter fun, Christmas will soon be celebrated by all. Just be good everyone. You never know who is watching. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

As a college commuter, I am always being watched. If I don’t have enough money on my I-pass, the Illinois Tollway will gladly take a picture of my license plate Photos courtesy of amazon.com, daydreamer1.com, itsoverflowing.com and hdwyn.com

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by: Ashley Cady

“Live the life that people write novels about.”

All too often I hear about the things people haven’t done. Instead of focusing on those things and talking about how you can never afford to do anything, just do it. If you really want to do something you can make it work. All the experiences in your life make you into a stronger, wiser person. It could be something as big as traveling the world or something as small as going to a local festival. Take time to get out of your house, away from your books, and live a life that others are envious of! This semester I will explain why you should do these three things to enrich your life: Travel to another country, go see live entertainment, and attend conferences.

Attend Conferences

I have learned that there are two types of people: those who are active on campus and attend conferences and those who are not active and have no idea what a conference actually is. It is in my opinion that every student should want to and have the opportunity to attend a conference sometime during their college years.

I have attended six conferences within three years here at USF. Three with the Student Activities Board, one with Alpha Phi, one with the Communication and Media Arts department and one through University Success Scholars. Each and every single one of these events has somehow contributed to the person I am today because of the different sessions I have attended and the speakers I have listened to. Conferences also provide a great opportunity for networking. I have attended one conference twice and not only do I recognize some of the students but also the presenters and staff.

Conferences are a chance to learn about things that have to do with your area of study or another interest that you are passionate about. You bond with your fellow classmates and advisor and make lifelong friendships. I have memories from every conference I have been to that I will cherish and remember forever. I have gained immense leadership qualities and have used the things I have learned at each conference to help better all of the activities I am apart of. It’s almost like a mini vacation, who wouldn’t want that!

I hope the events I have talked about this semester have inspired you to live life to the fullest and do what you feel is best no matter what anyone else tells you. My hope for all of you is that you take some risks and do things outside your comfort zone. Go out and create your own adventures that you will remember forever.

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

Mahatma Gandhi

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Commentary

Happy, Healthy & Harmonized by: Hannah Tadey

By the time you have this paper in your hand, we will have (equal or less than) nine days until we are FINISHED with this semester (can I get a “hallelujah?”). Of course, these next nine days will basically be a one-way ticket to Hell... We’re going to feel stress at levels we never knew existed. We’re going to want to pull our hair out. We’re going to think about plucking our eyebrow hairs out one-by-one. We’re going to question our reasoning for accepting to go to college for this specific major. It sounds horrific, but in ten days, we’ll feel relief at levels we never knew existed, and it will all be worth it.

But still, the question remains: how do we get through these next nine days? And to be completely frank, I still don’t know how us college kids do it. We’re holding an 18-credit course load while balancing sports, jobs and who knows what else while still holding this easy-going smile on our faces (well, some of us). Honestly, though, it’s okay to feel the stress we feel and just LET IT OUT. If you ask any of my friends, I have these end-of-the-semester breakdowns on a daily basis now (shout-out to my friends for keeping me somewhat sane up until this point, though!) where I just scream about how so-and-so did THIS during class or a customer said THAT to me at work and questioned how I can possibly be a communications major when I can’t even answer her simple question and then I contemplate if I made the right college decision and… This rant could continue to go on for the whole page I’m allotted, but I feel that you all get the point.

Anyway, it’s okay to let these feelings out because, if you don’t, you’ll hold all of them in to eventually have a major explosion. Little things that made you mad during your first Core I speech will suddenly be a huge deal three years later.

But what are some healthier options for dealing with this stress rather than screaming at your friends? Simple: try coloring. Remember how awesome it was to color all day back in pre-school? How happy you were to color the perfect picture and give it to your mom and dad? New studies have shown that coloring can reduce stress levels in all age groups, so give it a try (also, take a look at the article that talks about how coloring de-stresses you in the NEWS tab of the Encounter!).

For dealing with our college-crisis-stresses, try simplifying your schedule. I’m not talking about cutting back on hours at work or anything ridiculous, but just get a planner and schedule things out evenly. Study for Final A during this time, take a break, go shopping or grab some coffee, then return to study for Final B once you’re refreshed. Even if you aren’t last-minute cramming, you still will have better success studying when you take breaks.

Nine days, guys. Nine days, 216 hours or 12,960 minutes. However you look at it, it doesn’t even compare to the month of freedom we’re about to have. Take a deep breath. You got this.

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The Final Entry: Dudley Derry’s Diary 5 December, Annum II, Dear Diary, For over a month, I have been in mourning. I have taken a leave of absence from work, and have cut off my contact with the outside world almost completely, even disconnecting my telephone and internet. But I digress; tonight, I was shocked awake from a deep sleep. It was a female voice that aroused this, and yelled, “I haven’t heard from you in a month! What’s wrong with you?!” After she pulled the bed mattress under me from its bedframe, forcing me to the ground, I looked at her in horror, and said, “Felicia, I thought you were dead!” I muttered to myself, “I must be dreaming or hallucinating.” Felicia slapped me in the face with all her strength, then said “No, you’re not!” She was right.

I could see Felicia in the flesh, but I still inquired as to how she was alive, when I saw apparently that she was sliced, almost to bits, by a rail trolley. Felicia noted that on that night, I was focused so much on trick-or-treat fun, that, in my absent-mindedness, I did not notice that I walked with the wrong woman. At that moment, we arrived at a realization that illuminated the whole scene for both of us. She then kissed me with full amour, and apologized to me for her harshness unto me, and the bruise she left upon my cheek. I reassured her that she was not at fault, and that I was at fault, because of how I removed myself from the world, as aforementioned. I apologized to her for this, as my languor caused her mental anguish. She reassured me that it was not my fault, just as I reassured her. We expressed how jubilant we both were at seeing each other again. Felicia then offered to me the greatest proposition in my life: she bade me to marry her, and run away with her. She said that she owned an island in the South Pacific, and that we would live in peace, isolated from the insipid, and turbulent in society for the remainder of our days. Being that I had no great love for society as it stood, such an isolation, with the woman who I loved dearly, and who, not half an hour ago, I though had perished by rail trolley, with nothing else but our possessions, and no one else, was as desirable as her figure; and therefore, I felt compelled to accept.

I am writing this passage whilst I am sorting out my personal affairs in these lands, and right before our marriage. We will be going to our paradise in a sailing yacht after the Christmas season, from a town to the west of us, one rich in naval traditions, but now forgotten to history. From here, we will escape the societal turbulence, and live in peace for the rest of our days. Even so, I have no ill-will, and bid society a heartfelt farewell.

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Photo courtesy of andjusticeforall.org

What I Would Tell My 18-Year-Old Self by: Ryan Giachetti With this being my senior year of college, there are certainly quite a few things that I wish I could tell my freshman self. Since I graduated high school, I’ve moved across the country, played college sports, made the best friends of my life, transferred colleges and finally grew up. There have been ups, there have been downs and there has been everything in between. If I could meet my 18-year-old self, I’d love to sit him down and tell him a lot about what to do, what not to do, and give him advice to get through it all. I wouldn’t trade it for the world, so for anyone who might find this interesting or helpful, here is what I would say:

Commentary

The Ryan Report

1. Your friends are your second family; they have your back so make sure you have theirs too.

2. You’re at school, try to actually learn something.

3. But remember to have fun.

4. These four years will be the most memorable of your life.

5. Don’t settle. For anything. Ever.

6. You’re going to do some of the dumbest things, it’s okay, that’s life.

7. Your family is there for whatever you need, don’t forget it.

8. Some things just aren’t for you, learn what they are.

9. Sports are amazing and give some of the best opportunities, enjoy them while they last and work hard.

10. You’re capable of a lot of things when it is 3 A.M. and your paper is due in five hours.

11. Try to do something for yourself. Be a better person every day.

12. Everyone is stressed. You are stressed. Your friends are stressed. So don’t complain about every single thing.

13. From what I can tell, the real world isn’t any easier, so learn how to work harder.

14. You’ll always miss home, so enjoy the trips back to the Sunshine State.

15. Have fun, sometimes too much fun. Enjoy it, because I know you’ll miss it.

Photos Courtesy of atlanticbeachlife.com and outsidethebeltway.com

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A Day in the Life of… by: Samantha Launius What is your position here at USF and how long have you been here?

On a scale from 1-10, how busy is your day?

Why?

“Prior to coming to USF, I was a middle school science and social studies teacher in the Plainfield School District for 7 years. I am in my fifth year as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the College of Education. As part of my job, I teach a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses.

Additionally, I often serve as a field experience supervisor for graduate and undergraduate students in their IFE and AFE semesters.

“Now that I’m done with my dissertation, I don’t have nearly as many days that I would call a level “10.” However, I am quickly approaching my sixth year at USF, at the end of which I can apply for tenure. Being awarded tenure is not an easy process, as there is a lot of service and scholarship involved, so that is keeping me busy now that my graduate school commitments are fulfilled. Between USF and home, I would rate my days at about a level 7-8. I tend to live by a motto that you are only ever as busy as you allow yourself to believe, so even when things are hectic and my day would be a level 10, I just tell myself to keep pushing forward, one step at a time, and that allows me the mind space to get everything done. I think the second you let yourself believe that you are too overloaded and that you can’t do it, you’re already sunk. Living by this motto has helped me to manage the stress of starting a family and starting a career at St. Francis--all while completing a rigorous doctoral program.

Heard you just received your Doctorate Degree! What is your degree now?

“I have been in graduate school for almost a decade if you count my Master’s degree! I attended Northern Illinois University from 2007-2009, where I completed my master’s in Curriculum Leadership with an environmental science focus. My doctorate, which I started in 2009 and just completed in October 2015, was also through NIU in Curriculum Leadership. My dissertation research focused on “Preparing Elementary Pre-service Teachers to Integrate STEM.” My biggest areas of interest in terms of research are pre-service teachers’ self-efficacy, attitudes, and confidence as well as the implementation of STEM and the Next Generation Science Standards across the K-12 curricula.

What does your daily day usually look like?

“My schedule varies from day to day, week to week, and semester to semester (one of the many things that keeps this job so interesting and challenging!). An average week for me includes teaching methods courses face-to-face, teaching online, sometimes supervising (depending on the semester), working with advisees, and engaging in service through the various committees in which I am involved. Outside of USF, I am also a wife and mom, so there is never a dull moment!”

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December 10th, 2015

“I consider what I am doing at USF to be my dream job and my true calling in life. I absolutely LOVE what I do. The family that we have cultivated at USF, and particularly in the COE, is incredible. The single greatest aspect of my job is working with the candidates, which brings me joy like no other I have ever experienced. I often say that my job, while challenging, is the absolute best job in the world.

“Now that I am done with my doctoral program, I find myself wondering what I will do next to fill my time. In the future, I plan to continue my career at USF and engage in lots and LOTS of family time that I had to miss while going to school. I am also finding time for hobbies I enjoy, like reading, running, and (my most recent development) learning how to play the ukulele (I have played piano forever and I have tinkered with a guitar for several years. I have always wanted to give the ukulele a try!). I fully believe in the idea of “Work hard, play hard!” Moving forward, what is most important to me outside of being there for my family is always continuing to challenge myself to grow, learn, and try new things.”

USF SPOTLIGHT

Dr. Erin Evans

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Semester Club Recap

“Operation: Christmas at USF” by: Laura Munoz

OC@USF is a campus-wide community service event for the residents of Day Break Homeless Center in Joliet. On December 20, residents from Day Break will be coming to the Rec Center to receive a hot Christmas dinner, sort thorugh donated clothing items for them to keep (or give away as gifts), take pictures with Santa, and keep a bag of toiletries for their personal convenience. Children will be able to enter “Santa’s Shop” to pick toys that they would like to keep, and have access to the Children’s Corner for games, crafts, and snacks while their parent/guardian picks out their clothing items.

As the lead coordinator for this event, the idea originated from a very similar event that my church, St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton, hosted for the local community in Simpsonville, S.C. Initially, I didn’t think that an event of this size would be possible to coordinate, but I was wrong. The Joliet and USF community including students, staff, administration, faculty, and former alumni have come together to not only donate clothing items, toys, toiletries, and their time, but their compassion for individuals in our community who may not have the opportunity to celebrate Christmas.

I have been overwhelmed with the amount of donations that I have received (in a good way), and I am so excited to start the sorting process in preparation for the big day! Currently, there are over 75 bags of clothing, and other items being stored at the St. Clare Campus.

Volunteer opportunities are available now until the day of the event, December 20. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Laura Muñoz at lauramunoz1@stfrancis.edu. All volunteers will receive a complimentary T-shirt, thanks to the office of Family & Alumni Relations.

A special thanks to everyone who has donated items including Sodexo, Maintenance, Security, USF Ministry, 1% Service Committee, Day Break Homeless Center, Office of Student Engagement & Leadership, Professor Lynnann Murphy and her Leach College of Nursing class, Joanna Kourtidis, and everyone else who has put in the time and effort to make sure this event is a success!

Merry Christmas!

Sister 2 Sister by: Jhane King Do you want to join a sorority but don’t have the time or money? Join Sister 2 Sister (S2S)! It mimics the small, tight-knit culture of a sorority and the educational development of an organization.

St. Francis’ very own Brother 2 Brother (B2B) inspired Sister 2 Sister in the spring of 2014. Similar to the goals of B2B, Sister 2 Sister sets out to fight the lack of support and academic success amongst minorities in college by increasing graduation and retention rates. However, one goal that differs with S2S is building a strong community of women by further developing young women with creative minds to become active leaders in their communities.

S2S hosts and participates in a variety of different events throughout the semester such as game-nights, bake-offs, bonfires, Women Leadership Summit, Operation Christmas, and bingo-night volunteering at Salvation Army.

S2S meetings are bi-weekly, so look around campus for more information about our meeting and events!

TV Club by: Sara Michalowicz This semester has been an exciting and fun one for USF’s TV Club! USF-TV Club members have produced numerous videos and they have multiple productions scheduled to be completed by the end of this fall semester. USF-TV Club also collaborated with other clubs on campus, such as CEA and Justice League, and has expanded its web presence on Facebook and YouTube.

One of the most popular USF-TV Club productions so far this semester included the “It’s On Us” video for the Athletic Department, encouraging others to take the pledge against sexual assault. Also, USF-TV Club produced its first Artist Spotlight video, highlighting the artistry of USF student Stephanie Zelinksi.

USF-TV Club is currently working on the second edition of the Artist Spotlight series, which features Country Artist Stephen Neal. Also in progress is “Anything She Can Do He Can Do Better,” a humorous video of men putting make-up on women.

USF-TV Club hosts meetings every other Wednesday. Students are encouraged to get involved in this very fun and creative environment. ‘Like’ USF-TV Club on Facebook for up-to-date news on productions and events at www.facebook. com/usftvclub.

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JOLIET, ILLINOIS – The Student Nurses Association of the University of St. Francis holds a fundraiser to help those in need every fall semester. SNA really wanted to aid the people of the Joliet community, and choose an organization that was local. This year, the Student Nurses Association Board of Directors held a Breast Cancer Awareness t-shirt fundraiser and sold shirts to students, faculty and staff on campus. The fundraiser was a major success and SNA gave back to the community with a donation of $1,000 to Pink Heals Joliet Area Chapter.

Pink Heals Joliet Chapter targets people, not illnesses.

They serve women and families in need, regardless of their disease. 100% of every fundraised dollar stays right here in the Joliet community. Pink Heals teams up with the community’s local police and fire departments, shows up with lights and sirens, and delivers flowers, inspiration, support, love and sometimes financial help to those in need.

min, SNA president. Lauren Wojdyla and Meaghann Gorecki, SNA Co-Fundraising Chairs continued on by saying, “Pink Heals is a wonderful organization that helps families and women with whatever they can and are truly non-profit, we couldn’t be happier to donate to the cause!”

Angie Caldwell, Pink Heals Coordinatior, expressed her gratitude to the University of St. Francis SNA. “Thank you to the SNA of the University of St. Francis. Your donation means so much to us as an organization, but so much more than you know to these women and their families.

USF SPOTLIGHT

University of St. Francis Student Nurses Association Helps Local Joliet Women and Their Families with a Donation to Pink Heals of Joliet, IL.

The University of St. Francis SNA could not be happier to donate to such an amazing cause, as well as being able to help women and their families so close to the campus. As students of St. Francis, service is one of our most important beliefs. “It was really great to donate to our community and know that we’re helping our neighboring women and families,” said Janelle Ged-

Contact: The University of St. Francis Student Nurses Association Janelle Gedmin, President – 815-545-5277 Lauren Wojdyla, Fundraising Co-Chair – 815-955-1481 Meaghann Gorecki, Fundraising Co-Chair – 815-666-6046

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Pride in

PRIDE? Promoting Respect in Diverse Environments, or PRIDE, was the new name that USF club Spectrum wished to change to in order to rebrand and open the community up to more people. However, in August, Sr. Mary Elizabeth, the Vice President of Mission Integration, noticed the name change and thought this might be scandalous for the university. Seeing the potential threat, Sr. Mary Elizabeth brought the issue to Damon Sloan, the Dean of Students, and soon after, Arvid Johnson, the President of the University of St. Francis. It was in a joint agreement that the name PRIDE was not acceptable at this time in congruence with the Catholic Church.

The issue was brought up to the club’s executive board and they were upset with the University’s decision.

They began to set up meetings with Arvid, Damon and

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December 10th, 2015

By: Elijah Anderson other administrators to better understand why the name could not be used. “Words carry a certain power behind them, and despite how nice the acronym will be, no one will look past the word PRIDE,” said President Arvid Johnson. Yes, words carry power, but can some of the words that we have long associated with a group of people begin to evolve and take on a new meaning? Personally, I do think that words carry power but it is up to us as the new generation to change the misconceptions about them.

Now, let’s talk about what Spectrum is and what they do.

Spectrum is the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) and looks to provide a support group for members of the LGBTQ community as well as people who feel uncomfortable talking about certain topics. In no way does Spectrum wish to say

USF SPOTLIGHT

that they can help everyone with every problem, but they can help guide them to find the right help whether it be counseling or support hotlines. Spectrum meeting times are on Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. in room N218 in Tower Hall, and anyone is welcome to participate. Spectrum hosts all kinds of events such as King Francis, a male pageant, a crush-can event where you give your crush a can or bottle of “Crush� soda, and much more. If you have an open period on your Thursdays, come on out to a meeting or two!

Right now, Spectrum is working on ways to rebrand their club as well as include new members to current mix. Spectrum would like to state that they do not harbor any ill intent towards the ministry of the school and are looking forward to building a clean, healthy relationship with them. So I ask this of everyone: Are you accepting of the LGBTQ community? If not, then why not?

If so, then how can you further support the community?

Never push too hard for something that takes time to work and remember that someone out there loves you for you.

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Athletic Q&A:

Ilya Ilyayev MEN’S BASKETBALL

by: Kamari Jordan

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December 10th, 2015

What sport do you play here at USF? -Basketball

Where are you from?

-I was born in Moscow, Russia. I then moved to Los Angeles, California when I was 5 and grew up there ever since.

Do you miss home? Why or why not?

-I do miss home in LA. I miss my family, the city, and especially the perfect weather.

When did you start playing basketball?

-I would say I started playing basketball at around 10-years-old just for fun. But, I actually started taking it seriously my sophomore year in high school.

How did you become interested in basketball?

-A big factor was my older brother. He played basketball and I always looked up to him growing up like younger siblings do. I guess you can say he put a basketball in my hands and I haven’t put it down since.

Why did you choose USF? -I chose USF because of our head coach, Ryan Marks.

He flew out to LA, came to my house and personally offered me a scholarship. He was the first coach to actually see something special in me and give me a chance.

Do you have any rituals before you play?

-I do, I like do the same exact thing every game day. Eat at the same times, have my shooting/workout in before our teams walk through, and then wearing the same game socks and shoes.

What is the best advice you have received?

-To “stay patient.” If you watch me play basketball, I play pretty “slow” or under control and I feel that helps me be more effective.

Photos courtesy of USF Athletics

SPORTS

What is your academic standing and major?

-I’m a senior majoring in psychology. I also have an Associates Degree in Kinesiology

What would you say to someone who aspires to become a collegiate basketball player?

-That you can do it, but only if you are willing to put the work in. Out of high school I had no offers, not even any recruiters. I was told that I wasn’t good enough, not tall enough, not fast enough, un-athletic, couldn’t dribble, etc.

Then I realized that I had potential and I literally transformed as a player by working my butt off and finally got a chance to showcase what I could do at this level.

Also, go to a program in which you actually like, are going to enjoy, and are going to play in. Don’t go Division 1 just for the name and sit on the bench when you can go D2 and play.

What is your favorite memory from USF? -Having a chance to play Notre Dame this year. To actually compete and hoop against a team that went to the elite 8 last year was an amazing experience.

What are your plans after you graduate USF? -My plan after I graduate is to hopefully get an opportunity to play professional basketball.

What is the worst thing about being a senior?

-Probably the fact that its my last year in college, and then the “real world” starts after this year.

What is the best thing about being a senior?

-Finally getting my degree and moving on with my life.

Taking a step closer to the future and being done with going to class and homework.

When you leave USF how would you like to be remembered?

-As one of the best basketball players that played at USF. A hardworking and humble role model for kids that want to become successful basketball players. I was just like any other kid with a dream to hoop. And was able to become a successful player through struggling, learning, changing, and having perseverance.

What are your last words for your teammates, coaches, and friends at USF? -Thank you for taking me in right away, making me feel at home, being so nice, and believing in me right off the bat.

I have made some lifelong relationships here at USF in my little time here. These have been the best two years of my life.

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2016 CHICAGO SPORTS PREDICTIONS by: Brandon Newberry With the 2015 year coming to a close, it’s only a matter of time until some of our favorites return to the field or rink.

After watching the 2015 seasons very closely, I have come up with some predictions for the upcoming seasons of some of our Chicago favorites.

Cubs:

The Chicago Cubs are coming off one of their most successful seasons in recent memory.

Having finished 97-65 and exceeding just about everyone’s expectations for the 2015 season, the Cubs have their eyes set on the ultimate goal for 2016. At the Baseball Writer’s of America Association Awards in November, the Cubs cleaned the house and took home three of the top awards. Manager Joe Maddon won NL Manager of the Year, third baseman Kris Bryant took home the NL Rookie of the Year award in a unanimous selection and pitcher Jake Arrieta capped it off by winning the NL Cy Young Award.

Luckily for the Cubs, their roster in 2016 will look very similar to their 2015 roster due to their excess of young talent on the team. The biggest hole the Cubs will have to fill comes in centerfield as Dexter Fowler turned down the team’s qualifying offer and officially became a free agent. While some players such as Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber may see position changes come their way, the Cubs dominant, power-hitting lineup will remain nearly unchanged from last year. In the offseason, the Cubs have already targeted starting pitching by signing veteran pitcher John Lackey to a two-year deal. Expect the Cubs to be in on the bidding for free agent Jason Heyward. Other than that, the Cubs offseason should remain relatively quiet.

The day after the 2015 season ended, Bovada Sportsbook in Las Vegas released their favorites to win the 2016 World Series. The Chicago Cubs were listed as the favorite with 11-1 odds to win. While the future is bright for the Chicago Cubs, 2016 might still be just a year too early. Expect plenty of success from the Cubs next year, but hold off on planning a parade in Chicago.

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Kris Bryant

SPORTS

Sox:

The Chicago White Sox finished opposite from their North Side counterparts. The White Sox fell short of expectations after finishing with a record of 76-86. While they have plenty to be concerned about with the way their team is currently constructed, there is one bright spot on the team. Pitcher Chris Sale is coming off another outstanding season having finished the season with a 13-11 record, a 3.41 ERA and 274 strikeouts, which led all of baseball.

In order to be contenders, the White Sox are going to need to make several improvements on offense, defense and other aspects of the team.

Manager Robin Ventura has frequently been criticized for his managing decisions throughout the season. He is expected to return in 2016.

If the White Sox can secure another starting pitcher and a few defensive upgrades that can also provide a bat in the lineup, then they can easily become contenders within their division this year. Unfortunately for White Sox fans, the road to success isn’t as easy as it seems. Expect the White Sox to have a few more down years before eventually becoming a contender once again.

Chris Sale

Blackhawks:

Coming off a 2015 Stanley Cup victory, the Blackhawks entered the season with high expectations once again. The offseason was particularly hard for Blackhawks fans, as they had to say goodbye to several key players from the 2015 team. Patrick Sharp, Brandon Saad, Kris Versteeg and Johnny Oduya were just a few of the players that left the Blackhawks. While fans had to say goodbye to old faces, they got to welcome in plenty of new faces as the Blackhawks added players such as Artem Anisimov, Artemi Panarin, Ryan Garbutt, Marko Dano and Trevor Daley.

While the season has started off rough for the Blackhawks, there’s no reason to be concerned quite yet. This is a young team with a lot of new faces who are still getting used to playing with one another on the ice. It’s going to take some time for each line to gel and help the Blackhawks become the dominant force in the NHL.

Artem Anisimov Photos courtesy of chicagotribune.com, mlbtraderumors.com and trbimg.com

I expect the Blackhawks to begin to get used to playing with one another as the season goes along. We’ve come to expect a lot from the Hawks and it’s important to remember that this is a completely different team than we have seen over the last few years. When it’s all said and done, the Blackhawks will most likely find themselves in the playoffs at the end of the year. And once they make the postseason, anything can happen.

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Free Money!

by: Andrew Finein

There are many area organizations that are in need of donations. What better time to give than the holiday season. Checkout the following local groups who are seeking donations!

SPORTS

Local Organizations in Need of Holiday Donations

Ready Set Ride Therapeutic Recreation Facility: Since 2001, Ready Set Ride Therapeutic Recreation Facility has been located in Plainfield and has assisted special needs and terminally ill children by providing horseback riding services. Ready Set Ride is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization that operates mostly on donations. Donations are tax deductible.

Catholic Charities Daybreak Center: The Daybreak Center operates 24-hours a day, 7 days a week to provide emergency housing and supportive services to individuals and families who are homeless. The center also offers free meals to members of the community who are hungry and unable to provide for themselves. To volunteer or to make a donation, email sambrose@cc-doj.org or call 815-774-4663 ext. 3138.

Ready Set Ride

A Tail of 4 Paws: “Howl’iday Jingle Paws Vendor Show”: A Tail of 4 Paws Animal Rescue is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization ran by volunteers striving to place unwanted, homeless dogs in loving, caring homes. A Tail of 4 Paws will be holding “Howl’iday Jingle Paws Vendor Show” on Saturday, December 12 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Edward Hospital Athletic and Event Center in Romeoville. You can meet dogs available for adoption and there will be pictures for pets with Santa. For more information on A Tail of 4 Paws, visit www.atailof4paws.org or email rescue@atailof4paws.org.

The Salvation Army Joliet Crops: The Salvation Army Joliet Crops is looking for volunteers to help with bell ringing at locations across the Joliet area. For more information on how you can help, or for more information in other events sponsored by the Salvation Army Joliet Corps, call Annmarie Zan at 815-726-4834.

A Tail of 4 Paws

Friends of the Joliet Public Library: The Friends of the Joliet Public Library is a non-profit organization made up of volunteers who support the library by raising funds to help sponsor programs and provide library materials. Friends of the Joliet Public Library is currently seeking donations of gently used books. For more information, visit www.jolietlibrary.org/friends-library or email friendsofjpl@jolietlibrary.org.

Whiteford Baseball: Whiteford Baseball is an independent youth baseball organization in Joliet that offers youth baseball leagues for ages 4-18. Whiteford Baseball is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) approved organization. Their focus is to instill a positive attitude, sportsmanship and confidence in our players through active participation in team sports. For more information, to volunteer or to make a donation, visit www.whitefordbaseball.com.

Photos courtesy of readysetride.org, atailof4paws.org and whitefordbaseball.com

Whiteford Baseball

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Happy Holidays

From The USF Encounter