February 2020 - The Ripple Effect Edition

USFENCOUNTER February 17, 2020

THE

presents

e l p p Ri t c e f Ef

EDITION The Future Starts Now!

Editorial Board Emily Plummer Editor-in-Chief emilyplummer@stfrancis.edu

Student led, student written

UNIVERSITY

FEATURE

5 Letter to the Editor

24-25 America Is Obese

26 Marijuana Legalization & the Hazards of Juuling

4 Editorial Columns

22-23 American Patriotism

NEWS

Janelle Suriaga Assistant Editor janellemariesuriaga@stfrancis.edu Antonio Smithberg Layout Designer antoniosmithberg@stfrancis.edu Richie Mroz Layout Designer richardmroz@stfrancis.edu Andrey Simon Entertainment Editor andreysimon@stfrancis.edu

6-7 USF News

27 Fashion Revival

8-9 Local News

29 Political Figures

Ashley Hare Feature Editor ashleyhare@stfrancis.edu

COMMENTARY

Giovanni Alvarado Commnetary Editor giovannialvarado@stfrancis.edu

ENTERTAINMENT 13 WCSF Top Ten

32 Was Wall-E Right?

33 PC Culture In Comedy

Jacob Hubbs Sports Editor jacobhubbs@stfrancis.edu

13 Monthly Staff Picks

34 Celebrity Charity Pro

14 - 15 Upcoming Joliet Events

35 Celebrity Charity Con

10-11 World News 12 Caritas Centennial Scholarship Gala

16 New Music Radar 17 Oscars Recap 18-19 Cajun Boil Review

30-31 "You"

SPORTS

37 USF Sports Update 38-39 Off the Court with:

Kaitlin Aylward 40-41 The Legacy of Kobe Bryant

2

February 17, 2020

Tyler Drag Online Editor tylerdrag@stfrancis.edu Jordan Missig PR Manager jordanmissig@stfrancis.edu Dr. Scott Marshall Advisor smarshall@stfrancis.edu

Staff Writers Eve Odum Ian Bond Jalen Williams Mary Mathieu Sara Cahill

Letter From the Editor 2020 is here and with it has come a bit of change. For starters, this semester I have accepted the position as The Encounter’s new EditorIn-Chief, and part of me is terrified. Terrified of failure, terrified that I won’t live up to the high standards set before me, terrified that this edition will ruffle too many feathers. It’s often difficult to embrace change, as creatures of habit we fear the unknown of unexpected outcomes. But the aftermath that follows is one that is beautiful and leaves a lasting impact, spreading outwards and invoking even more change. Much like a pebble dropping into a puddle of water creating a ripple effect.

“The Ripple Effect Edition” is meant to reflect on past events, politics and American culture, forecasting how they will shape the lives of young adults today. How will we as a generation learn from these experiences? Only time will tell.

The Encounter would also like to thank Dr. Roth for her letter to the editor concerning a column in our December edition. Feedback from faculty and the student body is always welcomed. As a campus media outlet, we encourage readers to share their opinions, maintaining our mantra of “student led, student written.”

This edition, we also welcome aboard five new section editors, an online editor, a public relations manager and a new assistant editor. This magazine wouldn’t be possible without these hardworking people and all of our staff writers.

From all of us at The Encounter, we hope you enjoy “The Ripple Effect.”

Emily Plummer Editor-in-Chief

From the top to the bottom: Emily Plummer (Editor-in-Chief), Janelle Suriaga (Assistant Editor), Antonio Smithberg (Layout Designer), Richie Mroz (Layout Designer), Andrey Simon (Entertainment Editor), Ashley Hare (Feature Editor), Giovanni Alvarado (Commentary Editor), Jacob Hubbs (Sports Editor) and Jordan Missig (PR Manager).

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

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

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

Editorial pages provide USF Encounter staff with opportunities to express thoughtful views on controversial topics.

Letters to the Editor represent the opinion of the author and are not necessarily opinions of the USF Encounter Staff.

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

Letters to the editor or any other submissions may be dropped off at the USF Encounter office or emailed to encounter@stfrancis.edu The USF Encounter is printed by RICOH Services on the campus of the University of St. Francis.

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

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

3

EDITORIAL COLUMNS Here’s What You Missed

When the Study Aesthetic Becomes Counterproductive By: Janelle Suriaga Assitant Editor

By: Ashley Hare Staff Writer

A caramel latte, a page of colorful notes and a Macbook in a pastel-colored case. Weekly planner spreads so coordinated that it could make Martha Stewart jealous.

Stabilo pens and Mildliner highlighters next to a beautifully drawn anatomical diagram. You’ve seen these posts all over social media with hashtags like #studyblr or #studygram.

The “study aesthetic” is popular, especially among college students that love to boast about their studying crusades on the Internet. But let’s face it: when you prioritize the “aesthetic” of studying, it can take away from overall productivity.

It’s been over two months since you last heard of my celebrity sightings unless you follow me on social media.

It was an eventful month of December thanks to B96 and 103.5 Kiss FM! Every December B96 hosts their annual Jingle Bash while 103.5 Kiss FM hosts their annual Jingle Ball. The B96 Jingle Bash featured artists Katy Perry, Camila Cabello, Marshmello, Normani, Monsta X, Lil Tecca, AJ Mitchell, and NCT 127. The 103.5 KISS FM Jingle Ball featured the Jonas Brothers, NF, Niall Horan, Why Don’t We, AJR, Zara Larsson, and Lewis Capaldi. But what’s a concert without meeting someone?

Case in point, I admit that I was involved in this phenomenon. I had a Tumblr account and started following study accounts during my freshman year of college. I thought seeing the pictures of intricate notes would motivate me into studying harder and becoming a better student. However, the exact opposite occurred. I spent so much time trying to make my notes beautiful that it made it hard to focus on what I actually needed to learn. And I realized that many of these social media accounts are run by people who can afford expensive stationary and soy lattes on a daily basis. There is a certain amount of privilege to acknowledge when ordinary tasks, such as taking notes or reading, can be “beautified”.

I officially renounced my commitment to the study aesthetic last year. It is no longer a priority for me to make my notes look pretty, just neat enough to understand. My best study tool is now an app with an outdated interface and it works perfectly fine. My focus is now on how well I know and can explain the material off the top of my head and not by a pretty diagram I drew for an hour. The study aesthetic can be used as initial motivation but it is by no means a very productive effort.

Over the course of two weeks I was able to meet Normani, Monsta X, Zara Larsson, and Katy Perry! I first met Normani at the airport, however she would not stop for pictures. She did stop to have a conversation with the few of us that did come. She didn’t want to take pictures because she had no makeup on and didn’t look good…. I guess that’s showbiz for ya! Next, my friends and I were on the hunt to find AJ Mitchell but instead we found South Korean boy band, NCT 127. Once again, they did not stop for pictures but I was okay with it because I am not a big fan.

After seeing Normani and NCT 127, I was a little bummed I did not get pictures. But I was not ready to give up just yet.

As I was walking into the venue, I ran into Zara Larsson. She was getting picked up by an Uber literally a few feet away from my car. I was shook! She was super sweet and asked if I wanted a picture. Of course, I said yes!

Last but not least, I met the one and only Katy Perry. A reliable source of mine told me that Katy’s security guard said she would stop for pictures outside her hotel after the concert. I decided to give it a shot, and rushed downtown to the Langham. Not even 15 minutes later, a black tinted Cadillac Escalade pulled up and the window rolled down and it was Katy! She let everyone get a picture and autograph.

She was super nice about it too! She was so nice it didn’t even feel like I was meeting a celebrity.

Until next time…

4

February 17, 2020

Thoughts and opinions of the USF Encounter staff is not reflective of those of the University of St. Francis.

USF LETTER TO

THE EDITOR

Response to "Entitled Professors" Dear USF Encounter Editors: When Assistant Editor Amber James published her last editorial column in the December 2, 2019 issue of USF Encounter, her intent was to “ruffle some feathers” as she looked towards graduation. Her opinion piece certainly caught my attention. I reached out to Amber, and am grateful for her willingness to share experiences and perspectives. Our exchange resulted in a few key takeaways.

First, faculty and staff care deeply about students. And students care deeply about USF. Amber was careful to underscore that only some faculty fit her description. I imagine she wrote a gutsy piece to practice her journalistic courage and also improve USF for future generations.

Second, borrowing from my training facilitating difficult dialogues, I know to respect that my experience is my experience, and your experience is your experience. Put another way, there are always different sides to a story. It was important for me, as Provost, to know how students might interpret faculty external behaviors and commentaries. I can see how some of the examples provided in the editorial seem unfair or even selfish. Clearly, canceling office hours regularly or taking an excessive amount of time to grade papers is not acceptable. However, I can tell you that yes, professors are staying up late preparing for their classes. They are going home early because they have a stack of papers to grade, exam to write, lab methodology to update, problem set to create, or instructional materials to upload into Canvas, etc. What students may not be aware of is that faculty are required to participate in committee work, department meetings, university shared governance, technology training, and complete a fair amount of paperwork. Faculty are required to be active scholars who contribute to the discovery of new knowledge and who engage in professional and local communities. And yes, they still need to find time to get dinner, go to a sporting event, and do laundry. My point here is not to condone less than stellar behavior, but to note that there is more than meets the eye.

Third, we can always do better, and that is the spirit of USF that is so inspiring. Amber acknowledged to me that she has had great professors here at USF and directed me to her “Letters from CMMA Graduates” article as evidence. As we celebrate our 100th anniversary, what better time to recognize how our core values have shaped this institution, and to allow those same values of respect, integrity, service and compassion guide our way to “bigger thinking, brighter purpose.”

Beth K.Roth Beth K. Roth, Ph.D.

Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs

UNIVERSITY

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

5

CAMPUS NEWS

By: Tyler Drag & Janelle Suriaga Online Editor & Assistant Editor

Asian American Student Association Strives to Make an Impact A new club has emerged at the University of St. Francis (USF). The Asian American Student Association, also known as AASA, aims to spread cultural awareness of Asian-American customs and create a community of students at USF. They want to educate, create a network for AsianAmerican students, allow students from other cultures to experience Asian arts and celebrations and leave a positive impact on USF. This is the first time that an AsianAmerican-centered organization has been put in place on campus.

According to USF’s Saints Stats report, only three percent of USF’s traditional undergraduate student body identifies as Asian-American. AASA wants to make the Asian-American population at USF more

visible on campus and they hope to expose USF students to Asian food, culture and traditions. USF freshman Nursing major Kyle Villadelgado, an AASA officer, describes AASA’s first official event. “So far we’ve only had one official event but we have a number of things planned.

Our kickoff event was the Spicy Ramen Challenge, which was a success.” The Spicy Ramen Challenge, which occurred on January 30, entailed eating spicy ramen in a fast amount of time. “We had two rounds of 10 students each and we gave away several prizes for our first, second and third-place winners,” says Villadelgado.

The first-place winners received an Amazon Echo, the second-place winners received Google Home devices and third place winners received gift cards.

For future events, AASA seems to have some things planned. One of the future events is Bring Your Own Bowl Night, for which USF students can bring their own bowls to dine on Pho, a Vietnamese soup consisting of broth, rice noodles, herbs and meat. AASA hopes to get attention from students using the Pho but also allows students to learn more about Vietnamese culture. Another event is a Boba Shop Night, in which boba, a popular drink containing tea, milk, sugar and chewy tapioca pearls, will be served.

For more information about AASA, students can follow their Instagram account @usf_aasa.

USF Honored with 2019 Education Award The University of St. Francis has yet another award to add to their resume after the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry honored them with the 2019 Education Award. USF President Arvid C. Johnson thanked the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry by saying, “The University of St. Francis thanks the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry for this award, which comes during our Centennial year. USF has been a proud partner of the Joliet region and

6

February 17, 2020

the communities we have served for one hundred years. We look forward to continuing that in our second century as Joliet’s Catholic and Franciscan University”.

The event on Thursday, January 16 honored businesses, organizations, and three individuals that have improved to the Joliet area. The event also recognized the few businesses and organizations to be celebrating milestone anniversaries and USF, with

its 100-year anniversary, was included.

Johnson went on to say, “We are proud of what we have accomplished. But what we are particularly proud of are the over 25,000 USF alumni who live in Illinois – many in Will County and many in Joliet. They make incredible contributions to the community because we have prepared them to contribute to the world through service and leadership.”

Free Tax Help Offered by University Volunteers Taxes are complicated, so The University of St. Francis has IRS certified volunteers offering free income tax preparation and help with electronic filing. February 3 through April 13, 2020 families with annual incomes up to $60,000 and anyone with an annual income up to $30,000 are eligible for this income tax assistance. All you have to do is walk-in (and bring certain things).

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance has walk-in service on Mondays from

5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tax assistance is also offered on Fridays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The lower level of the library, room LG-6, is located at 600 Taylor Street in Joliet. Just use the USF parking lot off Taylor Street and Nicholson Street.

Community members interested in utilizing the service should bring the following items with them to their visit: an original Social Security Card or ITIN for everyone that appear on your return, Photo ID, all 2019 tax documents (W-2, 1099 forms, etc.), checking and savings

account numbers (including routing numbers), information pertaining to marketplace healthcare insurance coverage (Form 1095-A) if applicable, a copy of your second or final property tax bill paid in 2019 (if applicable), and a copy of your 2018 return (if applicable).

Anyone with questions in relation to the program can call 800-735-7500 or go to https://www.stfrancis.edu/volunteerincome-tax-assistance-group-offeringfree-tax-preparation/

Career Networking Dinner Coming-up Looking to make some connections, eat food, and/or get a sweet professional headshot? The University of St. Francis is hosting a dinner where you can do all three. The Career Networking Dinner will be on Thursday February 20 for alumni and students. According to the University’s Alumni Events webpage

the headshots will be at 5 p.m. and the dinner will start at 6 p.m. Each course of the dinner will be an opportunity to spend time with different people and network through St. Francis.

This is one of the great things about the University. Other universities have

alumni dinners and opportunities to network, but it’s almost like speed dating.

With the University of St. Francis there is a more intimate opportunity to network and make a possible business connection that will help your future, be sure to RSVP and bring more than enough business cards!

Michael Compton Named as New USF Band Director The University of St. Francis welcomes Michael Compton as the university’s new Band Director! Compton comes from California with a Bachelor of Music degree and Master of Art degree in saxophone performance from California State University-Sacramento. Compton also has his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in saxophone performance from the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Winchester, Virginia.

Before coming to St. Francis, Compton started his career by teaching instrumental and vocal music in grades

NEWS

4 through 12 in Sacramento California, where he is from. More recently he has worked as Director of Jazz and Woodwind Studies at Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma. He has also held the title of Director of Bands at Dickenson State University in North Dakota and Director of Bands and Music Education at Graceland University in Iowa. Compton has also worked as a performer with artists such as Louis Bellson, the Imperials, the Temptations, and the Cedar Rapids Jazz Big Band among others. He’s been a member of professional organizations

such as the North American Saxophone Alliance, the Iowa Bandmasters Association, the Jazz Educators of Iowa, and again plenty more.

In an article posted to the USF News webpage Compton said regarding the future of the USF band, “Since we are starting with a clean slate, we can write our own cheers, arrange our own music, and build our own traditions starting right now. We are starting with a pep band and, over time, will build this into a full-fledged marching band.”

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

7

LOCAL NEWS

By: Giovanni Alvarado Commentary Editor

County Clerk Lauren Staley Ferry Expands Early Voting Will County Clerk Lauren Staley Ferry has announced that expanded opportunities for Early Voting will be available in Eastern Will County for the 2020 Illinois Primary election that will be held on Tuesday March 17th.

An agreement was finalized between the clerk and the Village of Steger to bring its Louis Sherman Community Center on board as one of the newest Early Voting locations in Will County this year. Another place that was also expanded for early voting opportunities is Governors State University, where it has also agreed to extend its Early Voting

hours to include both evening and weekend hours. This is an opportunity that could increase turn out for both parties and make it or break it for a candidate’s momentum over the year.

According to the Joliet Patch, “Village of Steger: Louis Sherman Community Center, 3501 Hopkins Ave., Steger, will serve citizens during the two-week Early Voting time frame prescribed by the Illinois State Board of Elections, which starts on March 2 and continues through March 13, 2020.”

Staley Ferry said in a statement "The additional site and expanded hours will address concerns by many in Eastern Will County that there were not enough options for Early Voting during busy elections. I want to thank Steger Mayor Kenneth Peterson and Administrator Mary Jo Seehausen for making Louis Sherman Center available for this important service, as well as Crete Township Clerk Jim Buiter for expanding hours at his office. In addition, having evening and weekend hours at Governors State University will make Early Voting much more convenient for commuters."

Anti-Racism Committee Sponsors Two Live Productions of Tolton: From Slave to Priest On Thursday, February 27, a live production of Tolton: From Slave to Priest will be hosted in the Sexton Auditorium of the University of St. Francis’s main campus. This event will be hosted by the Anti-Racism Committee of the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, in honor of Black History Month.

Tolton: From Slave to Priest is a story about the life of Rev. Augustus Tolton, who is considered the first ordained Roman Catholic priest of African American descent. According to the Archdiocese of Chicago, Tolton was born to slaves in Missouri and went to seminary in Rome due to the rejection of many American seminaries at the time.

8

February 17, 2020

He then went onto serve his first three years of priesthood in Quincy, IL, before he came to Chicago to serve a community of small African-American Catholics. Tolton is remembered for his humble perseverance, courage and compassion.

Jim Coleman, the actor playing Rev. Augustus Tolton, is proud to play this role. According to the Saint Luke Productions website, Coleman states, "As a black man, this very important part of history is something that I want the world to hear about. I truly feel blessed to be the one to share Father Augustus Tolton with all who will listen!"

The production also comes at an important time, as Tolton’s cause for sainthood is moving forward. In June of 2019, Rev. Tolton received the title of “Venerable” by the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints, according to the Archdiocese of Chicago. If his cause continues to progress, then Rev. Tolton would need to go through beatification before he can be canonized.

An additional production will be held on February 28, in Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park and Theatre. Tickets to both productions are free but must be acquired in advance at either eventbrite.com or ToltonJoliet@gmail. com.

Legends Bret Michaels and Vince Neil to Play at Taste of Joliet 2020 Bret Michaels, lead singer of the 1980s band Poison, and Vince Neil of Motley Crue will be headlining the 17th annual Taste of Joliet this summer. The event will occur on Friday, June 26 through Sunday, June 28 at ATI Field at Joliet Memorial Stadium. It was announced on January 22 by the Joliet Park District Director, Brad Staab. Staab stated, "The response has been great so far. We think this is going to be a really strong lineup." Michaels is set to take the stage at 7:30pm on the Friday night.

This will not be Bret Michaels’s first concert in Joliet, although it’s been a decade since his last performance here.

According to Staab, “back in 2010 the park district had Michaels in Joliet for a fall concert, which the park district has stopped doing because of the unpredictability with the fall weather.”

He further states that if all goes well with the weather on June 26, “the Taste of Joliet will probably draw 27,000 people to see Michaels and Neil for the Friday night rock concert.” According

to the Taste of Joliet website, tickets for both Neil and Michaels will be at $56 for the front section exclusively, $17 on the day of the concert and $5 for senior citizens, however, kids 11 and younger are free all weekend. Tickets are available online at a discounted presale price of $15 for general admission.

Panera Bread Opens Its Second Location in Joliet A new Panera Bread will open at 2400 West Jefferson, Joliet, on February 14 in the commercial area of Joliet. What was once an Applebee’s Grill and Bar has now become the bakery-styled café, and at 4,758 sq. ft. the new location features the latest modern Panera design with a drive-thru and outdoor patio seating landscape.

It is expected to bring great turnout in the Joliet area, given that its second location sits perfectly on a daily busy

mainstream street like Jefferson. Not to mention that it also happens to be right in front of Walmart and next to both Panda Express and GameStop.

“We are thrilled to open our second bakery-cafe in Joliet,” said Mike Hamra, President & CEO of Hamra Enterprises, a franchisee of Panera Bread with 40 cafes throughout Chicagoland. “Joliet is a community that we have served for 19 years and we are excited that we now have a new location

that will be conveniently located for the residences and those that do business in Joliet.”

According to Panera Bread's official website, "at Panera Bread Joliet, that's good eating and that's why we're serving clean food without artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavors or colors from artificial sources. Food served in our warm, welcoming fastcasual bakery-cafe, by people who care"

USF’s Student Nurses Association Donates to Guardian Angel Services The Student Nurses Association (SNA) held a T-shirt sale during the fall semester that raised a total of $252.37 for Guardian Angel Community Services (GACS) in Joliet. Thanks to the participation and donations from USF students, faculty members and community members, the event was a success. A variety of items were available to purchase, such as hoodies,

NEWS

sweatpants, sweatshirts, shirts and hats that displayed USF’s logo on them.

Angela Briseno, a USF nursing student, said the reason SNA wanted to donate to GACS was because of the important work the organization does in and for the community. “"We chose to raise funds for Guardian Angel Community Services because we strongly believe in

their work. Guardian Angel's mission is 'to empower people to improve the quality of their lives.' This is something that really caught our attention and we, as USF nursing students, could relate to it because we feel that USF is preparing us to do this for our patients now and after we graduate," Briseno said.

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

9

WORLD NEWS

By: Ian Bond Staff Writer

7000 Year Old Structure Found in Czech Republic A wooden structure first found in 2018 has been determined to be the oldest wooden structure archeologists have found. Using dendrochronology, the process of analyzing tree growth rings; researchers estimate that the wood used in the oak well was cut down circa 5255 BC according to CBS News.

The well remained underwater for centuries. In order to preserve the well, it must remain wet in order to prevent it

from falling apart as the wood dries. The process of preservation will entail slowly replacing the water with saccharose. It is currently being held at the University of Pardubice near Prague.

The well is 55 inches tall and has a base of 32 by 32 inches and greatly enhances our understanding of the Neolithic farmers that built it. The grooved corner posts with inserted planks now leads indicates this stone age society was more

advanced than previously thought. The persecution of its construction also shows a great level of carpentry skills considering the limited availability of materials for tools: stone, bone, horn and wood according to CBS.

Are you interested in writing, Do editing you haveorwriting, artwork or photography?

photography you'd like to see published?

Join the Encounter staff in producing USF’s very own

Submit your content tostudent-run EmilyPlummer@stfrancis.edu news magazine. by March 6th, 2020 to have it published in the March edition of The Encounter! These pieces will For more information, email ourart Editor-in-Chief be featured as part of our new column.

Katie Wozniak at KatherineWozniak@stfrancis.edu

10

February 17, 2020

United Kingdom Leaves European Union At 11pm local time on January 31, the United Kingdom officially left the European Union over three and a half years after the June 23, 2016 Brexit referendum. It will not be smooth sailing though as the UK and EU are now in a transition period allowing for more time to reach a trade agreement.

This means that the UK must still comply to EU rules until the transition period ends at the end of the year. If no deal can be made, the UK will become any other non-EU member without a trade deal with the EU amounting to a ‘hard Brexit.’

There are important hurdles that must be addressed before a deal can be reached. It has been known for some time that Northern Ireland creates conflicting desires. The UK wants frictionless trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. In order to prevent the reemergence of a ‘hard border’ on the Emerald Isle though, Northern Ireland will remain in the EU customs union while the rest of the UK leaves. This contradiction rightfully leaves EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, as the BBC reports, to call frictionless trade ‘impossible.’

Northern Ireland is not the only point of contention though as the Guardian reports that the EU is backing Spain’s claim to the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. The Rock, as the territory is sometimes called, was ceded to Britain after the War of the Spanish Succession in 1713. This small bit of land at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula has been a point of contention between the Spanish and British ever since. Now that the UK is out of the EU, Gibraltar is now at risk of being excluded from any future UK-EU trade deal.

Israeli Prime Minister Walks Back Peace Plan Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin ‘Bibi’ Netanyahu walked back his enthusiasm for President Trump’s peace plan at a recent campaign event.

Despite branding the plan as a “diplomatic masterstroke,” according to the Guardian, and having a green light from the US Ambassador, Bibi decided to push the decision back to the

upcoming March 2 election, which is the third in the past year due to the inability to form a coalition government.

The hardline plan amounts to the de facto annexation of Palestine. It breaks up the territory, gives Israel control over Palestine’s borders and ultimately demilitarized Palestine. The deal is facing intense criticism from the Palestinians, Arab League, Iran, United

Nations and the European Union to a lesser degree.

It also puts Netanyahu at risk for multiple reasons. In recent months, Bibi has been indicted three times for corruption and may lose support from the settler movement and other hardliners that insist on a quick ‘annexation’ of Palestinian territories.

Political Prisoners Remain Interned Six Months After Kashmir Crackdown Prominent Kashmir politicians Mehbooba Mufti, 60, and father-son Farooq, 82, and Omar Abdullah, 49, have been in prison for over six months and all under “murky circumstances” to quote The Washington Post. All three were at one point chief ministers of the contested state of Jammu and Kashmir and Mufti is the leader of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party.

The three were detained to “prevent violence in response to the change in Kashmir’s status” according to The Post.

In August 2019, India reorganized the

NEWS

state attempting to further integrate it into the rest of the county.

Jammu and Kashmir have a history of violence and the territory is divided between China, India and Pakistan. All three countries lay claim to all or part of the territory which was first divided during the Indo-Pakistani War of 19471948, although China did not make its advances until the 1950s.

While India is majority Hindu, Jammu and Kashmir is the only Muslim majority state in the county. This is

also the cause of much of the political violence that seeks independence or uniting with Pakistan. Ironically though the three politicians detained are members of pro-India parties.

There arrests are also part of other actions taken that have made the area a “police state” in the eyes of Aaliya Mubarak, Omar’s cousin and Farooq’s niece. In light of this though, some communication restrictions have been lifted and several other politicians have been released.

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

11

Caritas Centennial Scholarship Gala

By: Ian Bond Staff Writer

Caritas, Latin for charity, is one of “Joliet’s longest-running black tie events” according to a January 25 press release from USF. This gala is also critical in raising money for scholarships, which the university gives a lot of, per another press release on September 3. According to this press release, 96% of full-time undergraduate students received some form of financial aid in 2017-2018.

To give an idea of how much money this event raises, I recall my own experience attending Caritas through Student Government Association. Following the live auction, where bids quickly exceeded how much money I had in my checking account, everyone was asked to sit down for the paddle raise. Not knowing what the paddle raise was, I quietly asked why we had to sit down, to which the guest sitting next to me responded, “Because hearing the first offer will make you want to pass out.” While hyperbolic, I was in awe when they started asking for

donations of $10,000. I don’t recall how many, but at least one person agreed to donate this much and even more agreed to donate as the requested amount dropped.

was hosted on campus at the Pat Sullivan Center, the previous location of the event up until seven years ago, in celebration of the centennial . Although Caritas was not held on campus for the past couple of years, the gala is still used as a way to show off the university. The Saints Ambassadors helped with the event and lately it has become the norm for the Lincoln Laureate to act as the MC.

Now for some numbers that may make some heads spin. At Caritas, USF President Arvid Johnson shared that the event has raised over $5 million in its 63-year history, $2 million of which since he became President. According to Vice President for Advancement, Kristin Short, With Caritas being back on campus, the Caritas raised a net profit of $300,000 this guests loved the warming welcome from year alone. the baseball team all sporting a University of St. Francis jacket. This has all made As important as the fundraising aspect of Kristin, “proud to be part of the USF Caritas is, it is more than that. Dorothy community because of how welcoming it and LeVerne Brown and Sue and Terry is and how everyone worked together.”

D’Arcy first came up with the idea to Lastly, because this is about helping support the university because USF is, as the students, there is also the hope that Kristin puts it, “Joliet’s university.” students will one day attend Caritas as alumni and donate to the university to The event is just as much for the pay it forward, just as the community and community as it is for the alumni. Caritas alumni are doing for us.

Photo courtesy of www.stfrancis.edu

12

February 17, 2020

Top 10

Artists Let’s get in touch!

musicdirectorwcsf@stfrancis.edu -- 815-740-3697

1. OLIVER SPALDING Novemberism

4. MOANING

Uneasy Laughter

5. ALICE BOMAN Dream On

6. DISTRICTS, THE "Cheap Regrets"

7.

8.

LIGHTNING BUG October Song OF MONTREAL

UR FUN

9. REAL ESTATE Artwork courtesy of WCSF

"Paper Cup" [Single]

10. TINDERSTICKS No Treasure But Hope

ENTERTAINMENT

The USF Encounter Staff took to Spotify and shared their favorite songs from this month in their "Monthly Staff Picks" playlist “Say It Right” Nelly Furtado “100 Bad Days” AJR

“Myself” NAV

"Overtime" [Single]

The Perfume

Staff Picks

“For Whom the Bell Tolls” Metallica

2. US GIRLS

3. HALEY MARY

MONTHLY

“Miss Communication” Harper's Grove “Don't Take Your Guns To Town” Johnny Cash “The Box” Roddy Ricch “Test Drive” Joji “The Funeral” Band of Horses “Motivation” Normani “Dance Again” Selena Gomez “Roxanne” Arizona Zervas “Way Maker” Leeland “Far Away” Breaking Benjamin “Gone Again” Kevin Garrett

Want to hear more?

Follow us on Spotify!

“Power to Redeem” Lauren Daigle

“Brown Sugar”

The Rolling Stones

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

13

Upcoming Joliet Events:

By: Jacob Hubbs Sports Editor

Bridal Expo "Want to have fun planning your wedding?

Sip on champagne as you meet with wedding professionals on hand to assist you in all your planning needs! See the latest trends from our local DJ’s, wedding attire, photographers, limousine services, photo booths, bakeries and more!" (As found on www.eventbrite.com) Registered brides will be entered for their chance to win a FREE VACATION! Pre-Register to ensure free admission at www.bridalexpojoliet.eventbrite.com

Photo courtesy of www.rialtosquare.com

Free Self-Defense Clinic Southwest Chicago Shotokan will be hosting a FREE self-defense clinic at the University of St. Francis.

The clinic will cover strategies for avoiding dangerous situations, as well as techniques for escaping an assailant.

This event is open to the public and is suitable for men and women ages 12 and up.

The clinic will be taught by Southwest Chicago Shotokan black belt instructors on February 18.

Registration is free, but required for planning purposes.

Please email chishotokan@gmail.com to register for the

Photo courtesy of www.dunhamsmartialarts.com

14

February 17, 2020

Mardi Gras Masquerade "This extravagant evening on February 22 will be filled with lively entertainment and a few surprises including: live music from The Walk-Ins, raffle baskets, split-the-pot, New Orleansthemed Food, specialty drinks, games‌ and much more!

100% of the proceeds will be donated to local charities such as the Joliet Region, Guardian Angel Community Services, Center for Disability Services, The Purple Project, and many others!

Masquerade masks and glamorous outfits are encouraged. This is an adults’ only event and is open to both men and women - so grab your girlfriends, spouse or significant other for a fun night out! Learn more at www.JolietJuniors.org."

(As found on www.chicago.eventful.com) Photo courtesy of www.jolietjuniors.org

Wags 2 Wishes Annual Adoption "Please join the Moran A.C. on March 8 for their annual pet adoption event. By coming out, you will help Wags 2 Wishes rescue and care for the many animals in need of assistance.

There will be live entertainment, Silent Auction items, Raffle Baskets, 50/50 raffle opportunity, food served all day, cash bar, Wags Swag and pets available for adoption.

Visit - www.w2wrescue.com for more details." (Information provided by Joliet Patch Events)

Photo courtesy of www.petfinder.com

Take Me Out to the Craft Show This craft show is free to the public and will feature over 40 unique crafters and vendors. It will be held on Saturday, March 7 from 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. at Edwards Athletic and Events Center in Romeoville, IL. The evmt is free. There will also be a bake sale, raffle items and 50/50 going to benefit the 11U Go Pro Travel Baseball Team.

ENTERTAINMENT

Photo courtesy of www.pexels.com

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

15

NEW MUSIC RADAR Featuring DARA

By Evelyn Odum Staff Writer A surprising duo—Lizzo and Justin Timberlake—are collaborating on an upcoming new music project that is set to be released sometime this year. The pair released a video of them in the studio back in August 2019 and since then, fans have been waiting to hear what this unique blend will sound like.

Evan Heise, a DARA major at the University of St. Francis (USF), is a fan of both artists, saying “Timberlake’s classic pop sound mixed with Lizzo’s R&B influence would perform well on the charts.” This makes sense, as Heise pointed out, “These two big names appeal to a range of music lovers and would bring together fans from many generations.”

Lizzo and J-T are not the only R&B musicians rumored to be releasing new material this coming year. Frank Ocean was interviewed back in September 2019 about his future plans and mentioned he has ideas for a new album but so far he has not announced any release date. According to a 2019 i-D article, Ocean, who was named a headliner for Coachella this year, stated that his new album will “tamper more in the fantastical realm.”

Graham Garrett, another DARA major at USF, states, “His past album, Blonde, was dropped by surprise and had a lack of percussion. Ocean definitely has a unique sound that blends many genres.” Garrett is excited for Ocean, mentioning, “It’ll sound new [and] it’s uncommon for him to release stuff.”

Photo courtesy of www.mtv.com

Photo courtesy of www.hypemagazine.co.za

The Pretty Reckless, a rock group from New York, will be releasing an album in 2020 called Death by Rock N’ Roll. Continuing their trend of collaborating with other artists, this album will feature Matt Cameron, drummer for Pearl Jam. “Their music is authentic and I think that they are true musicians. The roots of rock and roll [are] etched into their sound,” said Dyanna Medina, a freshman major at USF. Finally, one of USF’s very own students is dropping a mixtape in the coming months. Tim Jones, a senior DARA major and known as Teo The Artist, says that he hopes to release his mixtape, Open Minded, within the next two months. According to Teo The Artist, “[Open Minded] will incorporate neo-soul and gospel sounds.”

He also commented that this mixtape is “lyrically introspective” and “will experiment with new sounds.” Once complete, Teo The Artist will release the song on a variety of streaming platforms.

Follow him @TeoTheArtist_ADHD on Instagram for more updates.

"Their music is Photo courtesy of Tim Jones

16

February 17, 2020

authentic" Photos courtesy of Disney+

2020

Osc r Recap

By: Janelle Suriaga Assitant Editor The 92nd Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, kicked off at 7 p.m. on February 9, 2020, with a performance by Janelle Monae. Monae was soon joined by backup dancers dressed like characters from “The Joker,” “Midsommar” and “1917,” along with an appearance by Billy Porter. The singer and actress also made it a point to call out the snubbed female directors (there were no women nominated for Best Director) and mention how it is Black History Month.

Since there was no official host for the event, many comedians, actors and actresses stepped up to the plate.

Steve Martin and Chris Rock gave the opening speech, which was more like a brief stand-up routine. In their speech, they mentioned the lack of diversity among the nominees, as there only one black nominee for the night.

Their routine was then filled with jokes about politics, Jeff Bezos (who was in the audience) and the internet “cancel culture.”

For the acting awards, many predicted big names went home an Oscar. The Best Supporting Actor award went to Brad Pitt for his work in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” This is Pitt’s first acting Academy Award win; he produced “12 Years a Slave,” which went on to win Best Picture in 2013, according to www.imdb.com.

The Best Supporting Actress award went to Laura Dern for her supporting role as a divorce lawyer in “Marriage Story.” The Best Actor Award went to Joaquin Phoenix for his performance playing the titular character in “Joker” and the Best Actress Award went to Renee Zellweger for her role as Judy Garland in the biopic “Judy.”

The big winner of the night was “Parasite,” which took home four Academy Awards. “Parasite” won Best Picture and Best International Feature, while its director Bong Joon-ho wins Best Director and Bong and Han Jin-won win Best Original Screenplay. This is the first time a nonEnglish film has won Best Picture, with “Parasite” being the first South Korean film to not only be nominated for the Academy Awards but also win several awards despite competition from more well-known American films.

ENTERTAINMENT

Photo courtesy of www.nytimes.com

Photo courtesy of www.vanityfair.com

Photo courtesy of www.buzzfeed.com

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

17

Cajun Boil & Bar RESTAURANT REVIEW

Photos courtesy of Jalen Williams

By: Jalen Williams Staff Writer

18

February 17, 2020

As an avid food enthusiast and all-out Cajun food lover, when I heard about the new Cajun Boil & Bar restaurant opening up inside the Louis Joliet Mall, I couldn’t have been more excited. I love anything and everything seafood and Cajun, so I couldn’t wait to combine the two. For some reason though, it took me a lot longer to get there than I thought it would. Was it worth the wait? Time to find out.

When I drove up to Cajun Boil, the first thing I noticed was the sign. It was brightly lit and stood out on the side of the mall. However, the location of the restaurant is in an odd part of the mall that is rarely trafficked, so there weren’t a whole lot of people around. In fact, the mall didn’t even have many lights on the outside. It was very dark and creepy outside of the mall as I got out of my car and walked up. It didn’t have the same excitement as walking in by T.G.I Friday’s or the movie theater. Maybe it’s just the Joliet local in me being picky, but I thought it was very tacky the way the restaurant was hiding off in a corner of the mall.

Walking inside, the first thing I noticed was the décor.

There were fake sharks hanging from the ceiling, which I thought was kind of corny but cool. I took a seat at the fairly empty bar and waited a few minutes before the bartender came over and brought me some menus. The menu was confusing at first because it broke the boil down into sections. I was expecting it to all be in one pot, not a make your own. How can you go wrong there though?

I ordered a classic New Orleans drink: a "hurricane," which is basically a mix of booze and fruit juice that was on the sweeter side. I’ve only ever had one other hurricane in my life and that was at Mojoe’s in Plainfield. I have to admit that when the bartender brought me my drink, I wasn’t sure she was bringing me the right drink. She poured it out of a big container sitting on the bar and then topped it with more liquor.

The previous hurricane I had was a bright red and very sweet, thickening up from all the sugar and fruit juice in the drink. This one felt like I was drinking water and the color did not match at all. The one the bartender handed me was an orange color that I didn’t recognize.

However, I paid $10 for it so I figured it was worth drinking. It tasted great but wasn’t as sweet as I would have liked it. Not the end of the world. Time to move on to dinner.

ENTERTAINMENT Photo courtesy of www.parade.com

After about 10 minutes, I finally decided what I wanted.

I was going to get a crawfish boil with their special house butter and sauce blend, a side of sausage and an order of crab cakes for an appetizer. I placed my order with the bartender and proceeded to wait. After about 20 minutes, they brought both my entrée and appetizer out together. I’m sorry but that’s a huge pet peeve of mine.

I shouldn’t have to decide if I want to eat my appetizer or entrée first. Nobody should ever get them together.

That’s the whole point of ordering an appetizer. Anyway, the crab cakes were delicious. They weren’t too heavy and flaky and had just the right amount of crab in them.

My only complaint is that they only give you two for $12, which is not a very big portion in my opinion. On to the main course!

My boil came in a bag, which I thought was a little cool.

The last time I had a seafood boil it had came in a pot, which I think may have been more convenient and less messy. The crawfish were amazing. They were tender and not too hard to eat once you get the hang of it. The sausage was also great but again, there wasn’t enough food. The boil was only a pound of crawfish but by the time I had finished all my food, I was still left hungry and somewhat disappointed. I could have gotten more to eat if I was willing to pay over 40 more dollars for actual crab, but as a poor college student, that doesn’t fit the budget. I quickly asked for the bill and paid the waitress, leaving still hungry and $50 lighter.

Following dinner, I stopped at McDonald’s for an Oreo McFlurry. For some reason that seemed to fill me up more than the entire meal I had just eaten. Personally, I think that might be a little sad on my part but who cares? All in all, my trip to the Cajun Boil & Bar was nothing spectacular. The food and drinks are good; however they do need bigger portion sizes for the price you’re paying. If you’re a fan of Cajun food, seafood or both, it’s well worth giving a try.

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

19

THE

Ripple Effect EDITION "Rip·ple Ef·fect: the continuing and spreading results of an event or action" 20

21

AMERICAN

PATRIOTISM By: Richie Mroz Layout Designer

At hour 25, the flag itself was shredded but still flying and its flagpole was tilted at an angle. Key learned that the flag pole and the flag suffered repetitious direct hits and had fallen. He also learned that soldiers at the base, who knew what it meant for the flag to fall, stood it back up and held it there. As men died from the consistent bombings, more replaced them. Key realized that what held the flag pole up at an unusual angle were patriots’ bodies piled up at the bottom. In honor of these men, he wrote a song about what had happened which became known as “The Star Spangled Banner”. Fort McHenry was later used as a Coast Guard training base during World War II.

22

February 17, 2020

On December 7, 1941, the United States was thrust into World War II after Japan launched a surprise attack on the American naval fleet at Pearl Harbor. Fear set in amongst many Americans but that fear quickly translated into the acceptance of sacrifice in order to achieve victory. According to www.timeline.com, during the duration of the war, nearly 16 million Americans served in the armed forces to protect the ones they loved at home. Meanwhile on the home front, millions of other Americans did what they could to help the war effort.

According to www.history.com, rationing programs were established to set limits on the amount of certain goods that could be purchased. Families were given ration stamps that were used to purchase their share of everything from meat, sugar, fat, butter, vegetables and fruit to gas, tires, clothing and oil. Posters were released by the U.S. government that stated “Do with less–so they’ll have enough.” Many families grew their own food in gardens known as “victory gardens” which accounted for nearly 40% of all vegetables consumed in the country. Communities came together and started different drives for the collection of scrap metal, aluminum cans and rubber which were recycled and used to produce armaments. Due to the high influx of men entering the armed forces, women at home played an extremely vital role in the production of war-related materials.

Photo courtesy of www.militarytimes.com

O

n September 13, 1814, an American lawyer by the name of Francis Scott Key was sent by the American government to negotiate the release of American prisoners that were being held on British warships. According to www.history.com, he was successful but before any action was taken, a British admiral told Key that he would honor the release of the prisoners only after the British fleet attacked Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor. The admiral told Key that British forces would continue to attack until the American Flag was removed from the base. Unable to get word to the base, Key and the other prisoners stood on the deck of a British warship and watched as British forces relentlessly bombed Fort McHenry for 25 straight hours.

Women became welders, electricians and riveters to help produce airplanes, tanks, warships, rifles and other armaments that were important in the war effort.According to www.scrubsmag.com, over 59,000 women worked in field hospitals, on hospital ships, on hospital trains, and even aboard airplanes as nurses. Americans were united.

During the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, hundreds of firefighters, police officers, and EMS personnel responded to the call. People aboard United Flight 93 worked together to take back the plane that was headed for the U.S. Capitol. 74-year old Joliet area resident John Comiskey recalled the days following 9/11 saying, “There was not a house on the block that did not have an American flag flying. The country came together at a time when it needed to.”

Which leads us into today. With political affiliation on either side sitting as an elephant in the room, American nationalism has become polarized. University of St. Francis junior Brad Abderhalden stated that he feels like America is more divided than ever. He explained that “American patriotism is a slowly dying idea. Parents and teachers are not emphasizing the importance of the United States and its past which makes many take it for granted. Being patriotic for your country in 2020 is looked at the same as if you are doing something wrong and that is not right.” USF junior Kassidy Andrews took a more positive stance.

“Patriotism is in a weird place right now. One side you have people fighting for freedoms our founding fathers instituted and on the other you have them fighting against themselves. There is a large number of Americans that spread patriotism every day and I believe that it will increase over time.”

In 2015, then presidential candidate Donald Trump announced that the slogan for his campaign was going to be “Make America Great Again”. Many Americans took to the idea of the slogan but many did not. Some Americans ideologically opposed the

slogan because they had a problem with Donald Trump himself.

Others had a direct problem with the slogan. According to VOA News, Daryl Davis, a black musician who has made a practice of befriending members of the Ku Klux Klan stated that Donald Trump “won the election on one word, one word only. And that word was ‘again’. When was again? Was it back when I was drinking from a separate water fountain? Was it when I couldn't eat in that restaurant over there? ... Make America Great Again -before I had equality?” Trump told The Washington Post that it was a slogan referencing better economic times. Trump said the slogan "inspired me, because to me, it meant jobs. It meant industry. And it meant military strength. It meant taking care of our veterans. It meant so much.”

When asked about the current state and future of American patriotism, USF junior Corissa Hansen stated, “In my opinion, there’s a massive divide in the country regarding patriotism. There is a portion of the country that holds the opinion that America is rooted in racism and hate. On the contrary, the other half chooses to rally behind the American values that so many of us grew up believing. In the future, I believe there's a possibility for a turning point and unity. However, this would take time and willingness to compromise to find common ground to reunite and reestablish a patriotic attitude towards our country.”

The United States will always have its ups and downs. There will always be problems and disagreements, however, it is important to remember that we are all in this together. The red, white and blue flag with the 50 stars and 13 stripes represents us all. It represents the good times and the bad times, our past and our future.

Whether you identify as a progressive or as a conservative, we all need to realize that our relationship with each other is what will shape the future of our country. "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

23

Amer By: Jordan Missig PR Manager

Over the past decades, the appearance of the average American person has changed in terms of body weight and mass — and not for the greater good. Is it because of the types of foods being consumed, is it due to daily activities or are people just becoming lazier? According to www.healthdata.org, an estimated 160 million Americans are either obese or overweight. Of those 160 million people, nearly three quarters are men and more than 60% of women are obese or overweight. One of the causes of Americans getting fatter and being unhealthy is fast food. Anyone can find a fast food restaurant on almost every street and intersection these days. The problem with fast food is that it contains large amounts of sugar, fats and carbs and not enough vitamins and minerals, which means you are taking in a large number of unhealthy calories. Andrew Finein, a University of St. Francis (USF) faculty member, says, “Having fast food available and easily accessible makes it to where we don’t have to get up and make meals anymore which makes it a lazy society.” The increased calorie intake has been the leading cause of obesity in America.

The most common reason that Americans become obese is through their eating habits. Although it may seem that fast food is the root of the problem, the real culprit is overeating. The amount of food, or portion size consumed during a sitting, has led to the average body weight growing parallel since the ‘70s. According to www.everydayhealth.com, the increased portion size is a major contributor to the obesity epidemic; it is one of the main reasons why women consume 335 more calories per day and why men consume 168 more calories per day than they did in 1971. Americans are rapidly gaining weight due to over preportioned meals because they are still hungry even after finishing a plate. The body craves more food to eat because at the time it does not know it has consumed enough food to tell the brain that it is “full.”

On average, it takes about 20 minutes for the stomach to send trigger signals to our brain telling us we are full. But by the time that warning is received, most people have already overeaten. It is important to remember to slow down while eating so the brain has enough time to tell you when your stomach is full, preventing this.

24

February 17, 2020

There are many different diet programs, but they only work for a short period of time. Weight loss may occur within the first two to three months but diets are a temporary meal plan. Eventually, much of that weight may be regained within one to five years, meaning they don’t work out that effectively in the long haul. What is the solution? Most people believe exercise while others believe it is eating healthier.

According to www.psycologytoday.com “Eating more fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole gain and cutting down on your consumption of fatty and sugary foods. Exercise moderately for at least 30 minutes a day and use vegetable-based oils instead of animal-based fats.” In addition, keep a consistent eating schedule. One of the most important pieces of advice is to avoid eating right before bed. University of St. Francis (USF) Healthcare Management student Jenny Thompson said, “Eating late at night causes obesity because your stomach doesn’t have enough time at night to digest all your food for when you go to sleep.”

Although America is ranked the highest country for obesity, other countries are not dealing with the same problem we are.

Other countries like Japan, South Korea and Italy consume fewer calories than the US does. However, they do more spontaneous exercise (so less food, more activity). They also promote keeping their citizens healthy so healthy foods are heavily advertised and advertisements on fast food and junk food are limited. This keeps them focused on healthier eating.

They even provide healthy school lunches to show students what they should be eating so when they get older in life, they will be trained to have a healthier lifestyle.

The way obesity is seen in America doesn’t look to be in the brightest position. In fact, www.latimes.com states that “based on the current levels of childhood obesity in the U.S., Researchers predict that 57% of today’s children will not just be overweight, but obese by the time they are 35 years of age and that obesity is set to become the new normal in America.

There is no hiding that America has gone obese and is one of the unhealthiest countries in the world, but hopefully in the near future we will have the privilege to loss that title once and for all.”

Photo courtesy of www.vectorstock.com

rica is obese "

Researchers predict that 57% of today’s children will not just be overweight, but obese by the time they are 35 years of age and that obesity is set to become the new normal in America.

FEATURE

"

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

25

By: Jalen Williams Staff Writer

Marijuana Legalization

The Hazards of Juuling

According to CNBC, Illinois became the 11th state in the nation to legalize recreational pot use after Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill into law permitting Illinois residents and visitors to buy the drug from licensed dispensaries, beginning on January 1, 2020. This means an Illinois resident can carry up to 30 grams, or about one ounce, of marijuana plant material or edibles totalling no more than 500mg of THC and five grams of cannabis concentrate products. Non-residents will be able to purchase half those amounts.

According to state law, a person cannot smoke in public places or anywhere that is deemed prohibited by the owner. This also applies to private institutions as well. The University of St. Francis has a strict policy regarding cannabis. Mollie Rockafellow, Dean of Students, explained that you still cannot possess or use it on campus property including any USF affiliated events that are held off-campus. Possession and use are illegal under federal law, including both recreational and medicinal use. Federal law supersedes any state law authorizing cannabis possession or use on campus.

Marijuana use may be something that may be new to a lot of people in the state of Illinois. For some people, going to the dispensary is the first time they have ever experimented with the drug. Yes, I said drug. Marijuana is a drug just like alcohol and tobacco, which means that the user should take certain precautions when using it.

Never drive while inhibited or intoxicated and never take more than a person can handle. If you are going to consume cannabis, consume responsibly. Making yourself sick is no fun, just like having a hangover is rarely someone’s idea of a fun morning.

26

February 17, 2020

For several years, these devices have been despised by parents of teenagers as they have become more and more addicted to nicotine because of the discrete nature of the device. According to www.TobaccoFreeKids.org, Juul e-cigarettes are sleek, high tech and easy to hide. Juul comes in flavors that appeal to youth, including mango, fruit, creme, mint, menthol and cucumber. Research shows that flavors play a key role in youth use of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. However, as of January 1, 2020, the only flavors of Juul pods available were Virginia Tobacco, Classic Tobacco and Menthol unless your local gas station was lucky enough to still be carrying them.

The moral of the story is to consume everything in moderation and to be responsible. Whether you’re picking up a beer, a Juul, a cigarette or a joint what matters is that you know the risks associated with what you’re doing to your body. Hannah Nevin, a sophomore at the University of St. Francis said that it doesn’t affect her. “It is up to the user to take on the risks associated with them.” I couldn’t agree with Hannah more. Everyone is held responsible for what they do to their body, so always keep that in mind. Enjoy responsibly.

Photos courtesy of www.wwjnewsradio.radio.com, www.nbcnews.com, www.ctvnews.ca & www.cnbc.com

Blue Dream. OG Kush. Sour Diesel. On January 1, 2020, these marijuana strains and many others were made legal in the state of Illinois. Following through with one of his biggest campaign promises, Governor J.B Pritzker signed in a law allowing for the sale and possession of marijuana and marijuana-infused products.

For those who may be unfamiliar with the marijuana movement in Illinois, allow me to catch you up to speed.

Another hot topic that has come up in the past year has been Juuling. A Juul is an electronic device that allows a consumer to inhale nicotine-infused liquid and exhale a vapor. It is similar to smoking but without the tobacco and carbon monoxide smoke.

Fashion revival By: Sara Cahill Staff Writer

Everyone has heard of the popular saying: history repeats itself.

Usually, it’s associated with learning from mistakes and recognizing our wrongdoings but what if we apply it to fashion? Believe it or not, recycling fashion trends have been popular since the French Revolution era, according to a 2009 Newsweek article. In the article, Beth Dincuff Charleston, a fashion-history professor at Parson in New York, states that “recycling fashion trends from eras past isn’t a new idea. It was around in Napoleon’s day, when his wife, Empress Josephine, wore filmy white dresses that harked back to classical Greece and Rome.” In addition, the same source continued to say that during the 80s and 90s trends were circling back from 20 years ago and secondhand shops were just as popular as they are today.

Photo courtesy of www.america-today.com

So, what can we be on the lookout for in 2020? I, like many others, have fallen into the trend of mom jeans. I have no shame in admitting that I find them extremely cute but my mom was definitely in shock knowing this trend was circling back. Known for their high waist and loose fit, mom jeans can make any outfit look like it’s a splash from the past. They can be bought from a variety of stores including American Eagle, H&M or even Goodwill. If you’re lucky, you might even be able to find them in your mom’s closet! With spring rolling around the corner, I highly recommend adding this style of denim into your wardrobe; what could beat comfort and cuteness?

Round glasses are another trend for the new year. Did you know that the round glasses you might have on your face were inspired by 1920s fashion?

According to www.southtree.com, “The trend originated in the 1920s and made a comeback in the 70s largely due to the influence of folks like John Lennon and Janis Joplin.” Or, of course, if you’re a Harry Potter fan these glasses bring back tons of memories. Either way, we can all walk down the street and see at least one person sporting this look!

Lastly, USF student, Eve Odum talked about how scrunchies have changed her life. “I love scrunchies! You can wear them in your hair or even on your wrist. They can be matched with any outfit you’re wearing and that’s awesome.” Scrunchies have made an impactful wave throughout the past few years. This soft hair tie offers a fashionable statement without the risk of breaking your hair!

FEATURE

Photo courtesy of www.dialoguepakistan.com

Photo courtesy of www.milanstyle.com

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

27

For more information, contact sbrown1@stfrancis.edu





 28

Political Figures & Community Interaction By: Giovanni Alvarado Commentary Editor Not so long ago, Democrats and Republicans in Washington would come up with genuine bipartisan solutions to issues concerning America regardless of their own beliefs. Whether new legislation passed or failed, both parties would still be open to new ideas. Why? Put simply, because it was their civic duty and most importantly, their oath of office to the Constitution of the United States to advocate for the people of America. A country where people are resilient, ambitious, optimistic, diverse and hopeful for a better tomorrow.

This is the proud and courageous America I know and even in today’s divided partisan politics, it can still be, given the right effort and change. Last summer, I did an internship with an Illinois congressperson that explored my interest in politics through my communications degree.

During my internship, I was able to get a good understanding of how to organize important political documents, analyze press releases and organize hosted public speaking events to promote my congressperson in their district. But my favorite part of the whole experience was being able to go knock on doors and speak to people about what their concerns or issues were facing their community.

Though I received a variety of responses, many surprised me.

“It has been years since someone of the congressperson’s campaign came back to be concerned with my issues” or “I voted for the congressperson already but feel they are not doing enough for my community or family; they don’t really care about us down in Springfield” or “I don’t care about their party, but Springfield is corrupt, and Washington is worse, period. I need to see some change.”

FEATURE

Some were uplifting but still wanted to see more improvement and change. Even supporters within my congressperson’s party, not just their opposite party constituents, felt they were abandoned or not really heard reflected by their values. After hearing all these types of responses, ranging from positive to negative, they all had two things in common: corruption and change. According to the “Seventh Annual 2016 American Values” survey by www.PRRI.org, it showed that “61% of survey respondents say neither political party reflects their opinions today, while 38% disagree. Nearly eight in 10 (77%) independents and a majority (54%) of Republicans took this position, while less than half (46%) of Democrats agree. There was virtually no variation across class or race.”

To look into this further, I asked a USF alumni and Joliet resident on their thoughts of politics today. Joliet resident Jo Trudy says, “Politics today are more dysfunctional than at any time in my 70 years. It’s due to polarization, the rise of extremism in both parties and an utter lack of meaningful communication and compromise. It appears political figures in Washington are listening to big money donors and seem interested only in maintaining their own offices and gaining or retaining power. They are either out of touch with people’s needs or ignoring them because those needs don’t fit into their agenda.”

It was great to speak to people about their concerns within the community, but what I believe most is that politicians need to hear the constituents themselves and never forget who goes out and supports them. People don’t care about the partisan politics, party or even fancy long speeches. They want action, solutions and change.

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

29

hoto courtesy of www.media-amazon.com

30

By: Mary Mathieu Staff Writer The television series “You,” which can be streamed on both Netflix and Lifetime, is a sensation and has been since its release date on September 9, 2018. The series main character, Joe Goldberg, develops a crush for Guinevere Beck after he has an encounter with her. Joe appears to be a bright and charming man; however, he has a secret that leads viewers to think otherwise. Joe takes obsession to the next level when it comes to love. He will even go as far as killing others to ensure that no one will ruin his chance at love. This obsession is shown by him stalking Beck on her social media accounts and by following her in person. Beck is an aspiring writer who, like Goldberg, is also intelligent and charming but emotionally vulnerable due to a recent breakup. In a tender state, Beck eventually falls for Joe and they start dating. Little does Beck know that their dating will lead to her downfall.

Joe appears to be a bright and charming man; however, he has a secret that leads viewers to think otherwise.

Many viewers see Joe’s “acts of love” as romantic and charming. These viewers most likely believe that his acts reveal a love that is both passionate and true. He proves that he will go above and beyond and stop at nothing to guarantee the survival of his and Beck’s relationship. That shows true dedication, at least in a twisted kind of way.

Justice needs to prevail. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. The justice system does its best to ensure that there is justice but sometimes it fails since it is composed of humans.

As humans, we are not perfect and will make mistakes. I will not share any spoilers, but this unfortunate reality is present within “You.” The victim suffers while the predator gets away with everything, which is in no way fair to the victim.

The victim deserves some closure, even though the pain and fear will remain. Once someone is stalked, it is hard to live life without fear or anxiety, without feeling like they are being watched at every second of the day. This panic prevents the victim from living life like they used to; life becomes drearier and bleaker instead of more enjoyable as it should be.

What makes matters worse is that stalking is a common issue and happens in real life. According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, a not-for-profit that advocates for crime victims, 7.5 million people are stalked each year. “You” might be a fictional story but it is based on an unfortunate reality that is present in modern society. 7.5 million victims of stalking must face the consequences of their stalker’s behaviors for the rest of their life. A life that once brought them happiness now brings them anxiety. Trust issues also will develop among these victims, since stalkers are often someone they know. A relationship they thought would bring them happiness and joy instead affects their chances of having healthy relationships in the future due to these trust issues. Trust is the foundation of a relationship and without it, a relationship will often fail.

Therefore, the stalker deprives his or her victims of an essential aspect of life: the ability to form healthy relationships with others.

Without relationships, our lives seem to lack meaning or purpose. Without purpose, one is traveling through life aimlessly. These victims endure these toxic consequences because of their stalker. They did not ask for this, they were innocent victims. This is an issue that many often overlook When considering the other argument that romanticizing Joe’s since they believe it can never happen to them. Even though obsessive behaviors is wrong, one must place themselves in one feels invincible, one is still a potential victim and anyone Beck’s shoes. The viewer should consider the feelings and can fall prey to the evils of stalking. Therefore, it is so emotions that Beck is feeling while experiencing Joe’s stalking. important to recognize that it is never possible to be too When someone is being stalked, it means their privacy is being careful. People must always be aware of their surroundings invaded. Privacy is something that everyone has a right to, a and trust their instincts when it comes to deciding whether right that should be respected. One can argue that if this is someone is trustworthy or not. Always go with your gut feeling true, then Joe must have a right to privacy as well, that what because it could prevent unwanted dangers. Become aware he does in his spare time is his own business. Since Joe has and spread awareness about this evil in modern society, for it invaded someone’s else’s privacy, it is only fair that his privacy is could save others from experiencing a lot of pain and anxiety. invaded by being sent to prison. When he decided to stalk, he Knowledge is key and acting upon that knowledge is essential. gave up his right to privacy. He must endure the consequences that his actions have.

FEATURE

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

31

Movies and television shows have a knack for inadvertently predicting the future. 12 years ago, when Pixar Animation Studios released “Wall-E”, we received not necessarily a prediction but rather a cautionary tale of the implications of environmental negligence, gluttony and a consumer-driven lifestyle. Set about 785 years in the future, “Wall-E” presents a dystopian, desolate and trash-smothered version of Earth. This is where Wall-E, the trash compacting robot, is destined to collect trash until his battery runs out.

Despite the film’s grim take on the future, it manages to offer a refreshing level of social commentary about the consequences of consumer culture.

For example, the movie’s main catalyst for Earth’s population relocation is a company named Buy ‘n Large. According to www.nextcity.org, Buy ‘n Large is an undoubted nod to the standard of the big-box mega-conglomerates like Amazon. According to its latest annual report, “Amazon now has 288 million square feet of warehouses, offices, retail stores, and data centers.” That is about 48 times more than it did in 2004, according to www.theatlantic.com.

In addition to its physical growth, it has also grown to be the one-stop-shop for anything. From groceries to books, Amazon has what you need at an alarming degree of convenience. “It is crazy the amount that Amazon can do.

They have everything. Even when you order things you can get it in the same day, it is amazing,” said University of St. Francis student Alex Ruettiger.

Much like “Wall-E’s” Buy ‘n Large, Amazon even has its eyes set on space.

According to www.businessinsider.com, Amazon’s CEO Jeff Bezos liquidates $1 billion of stock every year to invest in space travel. In the same article, Bezos says humans need space travel because they are "destroying this planet." This idea of space travel as a means of escape is eerily similar to that of Buy ‘n Large and its ship, the Axiom.

Yet, aside from the large corporate entity in this film, what lies deeper is the behavior of humans. The remaining population lives on the Buy ‘n Large built spaceship the Axiom. They have all become mindless consumers. They eat what they are told to eat, they change the color of their clothes when told a new one is in style and they exist almost entirely in the digital world. All interaction is devoid of any actual physical contact. In turn, they have become the robots that they have once created to serve. There is no individuality and the reliance on the unessential has become their subsequent downfall as a race. The focus on consumption has outweighed that of conservation. These allusions to real-world issues that the film “Wall-E” sends serve as a stern reminder of the consequences of irresponsible consumption and mindless consumerism.

32

February 17, 2020

Photo courtesy of www.wallpapercave.com

Was Wall-E Right?

By: Antonio Smithberg Layout Designer

"THAT'S NOT FUNNY!" Is Comedy the Next Victim of the "Snowflake" Wars?

Photo courtesy of www.rollingstone.com

By: Andrey Simon Entertainment Editor Like many of you, I did not watch the Golden Globes. However, the following day, I watched the viral video of Ricky Gervais roasting Hollywood and the liberal media for creating a highly politically-correct culture within America. Although I did not agree with everything Mr. Gervais said, it did get me wondering to what extent the modern ‘PC’ culture is destroying comedy.

And more importantly, should we as a society do anything about it? I decided to ask fellow USF students what their thoughts were on this controversial subject.

Josh Cosgrove, an Accounting major at the University of St. Francis (USF), states, “Political correctness [is] ruining comedy because comedians are afraid to say anything that offends people.” Cosme Lozano, a CMMA major, believes that politics and comedy should not co-exist. Cosme states, “They should be their own entities because when you combine the two you just get more arguments and more negativity.”

For the last several years, more comedians are lashing out at the media and the “snowflake” generation for what the comedians perceive as the “killing of comedy.” Comedians like Louis C.K, Chris Rock, Daniel Tosh and Ricky Gervais all have voiced their displeasure at how their comedy routines are being criticized for being offensive and discriminatory, especially among college audiences like ourselves.

For most of human history, cultural norms have slowly shifted to the progressive and libertarian viewpoints of individuality

COMMENTARY

and choice. In just the last decade or so, marijuana has been legalized, states are allowing gay marriage, the US elected its first African-American president, etc. All these milestones would have been doubted in the past, but it shows that with time, attitudes and values change within societies. From a media and entertainment standpoint, what we watch on TV is increasingly becoming more violent, sexualized and obscene. One would think that comedians would be able to joke about even more taboo topics than they used to in the past but it seems as if the reverse is true.

In my opinion, social media is to blame, because it has created an outraged culture where it is trendy to be offended by the newest thing. Back in the 1990s and prior to that, social media, for the most part, did not exist. People were probably just as offended back in the day as they are now, but nowadays, those that are easily offended have an instant platform to share their grievances with their massive crowds of followers. And just like snowflakes in the real world, if there is enough of them, someone has to go out and shovel them away.

What do you believe? Do you think some comedians take things too far and offend people with their comedy material? Or do you think that comedians should enjoy the right to free speech and have the ability to write jokes about any subject matter?

Email your thoughts to andreysimon@stfrancis.edu for your chance to have your opinion shared in the next edition of the Encounter!

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

33

Expectations of the Excessively Wealthy With the Australian bushfires, an earthquake in Puerto Rico, the Wuhan Coronavirus, and floods/landslides in Brazil so far in 2020 there is plenty of proof that “times of crisis” are not ending. That’s just the nature of the world. There will always be crisis somewhere, so who should be expected to help those affected in order to make the world a better place? A government has an obligation to its people but what about celebrities and million/billionaires with their excessive wealth? Celebrities and billionaires have no legal obligation to volunteer and or donate in times of crisis but we should start expecting it of those who have excessive wealth in order to create a beneficial norm in society.

In a 2017 article published on www. theatlantic.com, Helaine Olen talks about a finding by The Philanthropy Roundtable, an organization that advises philanthropists. Olen states, “As a group, the wealthy do donate more money overall, but as a proportion of earnings, many of them give less than those with far less wealth.” Donating is an amazing thing to do but maybe if the excessively wealthy felt more obligated to help and donate, issues like the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, wouldn’t drag out for so long.

According to an article by Chloe Draws of by www.wditorchoice.com in August of 2019, “J.K. Rowling has given away $160 million, roughly 16% of her fortune to charitable causes and

34

February 17, 2020

Rowling has admitted she has more than she needs.” I’m not saying celebrities and millionaires/billionaires need to give away 16% of their fortunes but celebrities have a platform where a large number of people will listen or at least hear their voice. That’s an ability most citizens don’t have. Anyone can donate money, which is perfectly fine but celebrities and million/billionaires have the capability to help more than the average person. They should be expected to do so, especially in a time of crisis. USF faculty member Professor Elizabeth McDermott agrees that those with excessive wealth should help in times of crisis. McDermott brings up an interesting dilemma as she states, “They ‘should’ help, whether or not that happens is difficult to say. In my experience, people usually donate to causes they care about or have a personal relationship with.”

McDermott brings up a fair point and if I knew how to make those with excessive wealth care about the right causes, then I wouldn’t be writing for The Encounter at St. Francis. I’d be working for some charity organization prioritizing which rich people should donate to what cause. However, I don’t have that skill and the fact remains that society should raise the standard for charitable expectations from the ultra-wealthy and develop a norm that if you make an excessive amount then you should be expected to help in a time of crisis, simply because it’s a beneficial societal norm.

Photo courtesy of www.unsplash.com

By: Tyler Drag Online Editor

Celebrities are Not a Cop Out to Humanitarianism By: Emily Plummer Editor-in-Chief In light of recent natural disasters, many celebrities have come under fire for their lack of philanthropy to causes such as the Australian wildfires and the earthquakes in Puerto Rico. But why should only the affluent and famous have a duty to save the earth in times of disaster when seven and a half billion people inhabit it?

From a capitalist perspective, the rich and famous owe no obligation to the world solely because they are successful and have the means to provide for others. When less than one percent of the world’s population makes up the “millionaire class," a statistic gathered from Business Insider, it’s unreasonable to expect they will shell out their fortune every time disaster strikes. Rather than placing the blame on individuals who hold no legal obligation to assist citizens in times of disaster, local and national government should be more proactive in not only the recovery but the prevention as well.

We as a global species have a moral obligation to help one another, regardless of class, status or income.

From the perspective of environmental ethics, we all inhabit this earth, therefore we all must make it our duty to make it inhabitable. According to Alan Gewirth, a philosopher of environmental ethics.

“The granting of moral standing to future generations has been considered necessary because of the fact that many environmental problems, such as climate change and resource depletion, will

affect future humans much more than they affect present ones. Moreover, it is evident that the actions and policies that we as contemporary humans undertake will have a great impact on the well-being of future individuals.”

We collectively must solve these issues as a duty to our future generation. The future of many should not lie in the hands of the few most fortunate.

Although well-intentioned, celebrities frequently trivialize charities and acts of service when they attempt to undertake these projects alone. According to The Guardian, in 2011 Madonna’s charity “Raising Malawi”, had over $3.8 million unaccounted for under the unreliable management of the charity's executive director, Philippe van den Bossche.

Raising Malawi’s $15 million project of building an elite girls academy was abandoned until 2012 when the company partnered with global nonprofit, bandOn, to successfully complete their mission of providing education in third world countries.

This is a common trend amongst celebrity run charities, according to Rolling Stone, the Kanye West Foundation “mysteriously closed its doors despite having received $443,000 in ‘contributions, grants [and] gifts’ in 2009.” Companies like this, although intended to aid the less fortunate, fail to provide resources, waste time and money and give legitimate non-profits a negative reputation.

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

35

Getting to Know Chef Dan Chef Dan McGees was born in St. Louis MO and spent most of his childhood in Kansas City, MO as well as Glenwood, IL. He began his cooking career at a local steakhouse while attending Joliet Junior College. After his tenure with a local hotel in Naperville, IL, he began his career with Sodexo, then known as Marriott and Sodexo, at North Central College. After journeying through the likes of Concordia-Chicago and Oliver Nazarene University, he named his debut with, then, College of St. Francis in 1997, and has been here ever since. McGee always strives to make the meal that makes the customer happy, as he is quoted as saying “nothing but the best,� when referring to preparing his meals daily. His favorite chef is Chef Emeril Lagasse. He enjoys cooking and eating German food with his favorite meal being a beef tenderloin sandwich with bearnaise sauce on a soft roll.

36

February 17, 2020

USF SPORTS UPDATE By: Jacob Hubbs Sports Editor Photo courtesy of www.gofightingsaints.com

USF Football places 17 Student Athletes on MSFA All Academic Team The USF football team had 17 players make the Mid-State Football Association All American Academic Team. Those players are; Justin Bradley, Brandon Gibbs, Kevin Gorski, Josh Holberry, Keagan James, Chris Johnson, Tyler Keene, Eric Maffle, Jacob Pullen, Jonathan Pullen, Bennie Radford, Alex Ruettiger, Jamal Salaam, Rio Strama, Scott Walsh, Re’John Williams, and Clayton Yde. This would be Justin Bradley’s third time being selected to the team. Along with Bradley, this would be teammates; Kegan James, Tyler Keene, Josh Holberry, Chris Johnson, Rio Strama, Alex Ruettiger, Jacob Pullen, Bennie Radford and Re’John Williams second time being selected to the Mid-State Football Association All American Academic Team.

Men and Women's Bowling at Mid-South Conference Collegiate Classic On the weekend of January 25-26, the men and women bowling teams competed in the Mid-South Conference Collegiate Classic in Cincinnati Ohio.

After coming off of a win at the Midwest Collegiate Shootout the women’s team was looking to go for back to back titles. However, they fell short to tournament winner, University of Pikeville, finishing in second place with a total of 8,960. Coming in third was Lindenwood University. Abby Ragsdale would go on to lead the Saints to their second place finish by averaging 207 a game and would tie for sixth place individually. Ragsdale produced six 200 plus games. Dana Ackerson would also help the charge aside from not bowling in the first game as she averaged 208 pins a game to help USF secure a second place finish.

On the men’s side, Alec Dudley would lead the men to a fifth place finish after having another solid tournament. This gives the Saints their sixth top five finish of the season at the Mid-South Conference Cincinnati Collegiate Classic. Dudley had a high game of 265 for the weekend and averaged 205 through nine games. He also finished 21st individually. As for the team, USF finished the tournament with a total of 8,978 pins for their fifth place finish.

Lindenwood University went on to win the tournament having four of their bowlers place within the top 12 individually.

Competitive Cheer and Dance Season Openings On Sunday, February 2 the competitive cheer and dance teams opened up their seasons at the Aquinas Saints Showdown. The cheer team came away with a fifth place finish. The cheer team put up a score of 67 points for their fifth place finish as Lourdes University put up a score of 88 points to win the Aquinas Saints Showdown. The dance team started their 2020 season with a fourth place finish at the same event. The Saints tallied a total of 54.9 points to take fourth, one-tenth of a point behind third place finisher Cleary University. Aquinas would go on to win the meet followed by Siena Heights University finishing second with a score of 67 points.

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

37

Photo courtesy of www.nytimes.com

Photo courtesy of www.abc7ny.com

OFF By: Ashley Hare Feature Editor

Bennie Radford, the Sports Editor for the USF Encounter says, “My favorite NFL moment was definitely Odell Beckhmam Jr.’s one-handed touchdown catch against the Dallas Cowboys in 2014. It was a moment that was all over social media and was a huge moment for everyone watching. To this day, I think you just have to see it to believe it. If you play football, you know how great it would be to accomplish that for yourself.”

38

February 17, 2020

But it is obvious that football also has the ability to bring people together. In 2017, “Sunday Night Football” was the highest-rated TV show with about 18.6 million people tuning in, according to www.usatoday.com. But it’s also more than that; people watch the games with their friends, their

Photo courtesy of www.gofightingsaints.com

Photo courtesy of www.chicago.eater.com

Photo courtesy of www.windycitygridiro

THE COURT WITH

Kaitlin aylward

I had the opportunity to chat with one of the women’s basketball members, Kaitlin Aylward. I spoke to Kaitlin about her most recent achievement of the NAIA Player of the Week and how she is preparing for life after basketball in a few short months.

Aylward is a six-foot senior from Elmwood Park, Illinois, majoring in Psychology.

Currently, Aylward is averaging 19.9 points a game and 5.3 rebounds a game.

lightly and to focus on one game at a time.

No matter if the team is ranked or not, we as a team are trying to get better together.

Having that chemistry on and off the court helps with our team success and keeps us motivated because if we all are on the same page and playing as one team, we know that we will be the best team we could possibly be. When we are winning by a lot, we do not focus on the scoreboard, we focus on ourselves because we as a team strive to get better each and every day no matter if it is How did you feel when you found out you practice, games or getting shots up on our were the NAIA Player of the Week? own time. What do we need to work on "When I found out that I was NAIA Player of more and what needs to happen better after the Week, I felt absolutely honored that I was each game is something we focus on a lot recognized among the entire nation. This was because we all have the same end goal of not only a huge accomplishment for myself winning a championship." but for my team as well. My teammates and coaches are the reason behind the award How do you channel your frustration because they put me in spots throughout each when the referee’s decision isn’t called game that will help me be the best I could be your way? for the team and for our success this year."

"This is actually a funny question for me to answer because this is something that I had to What do you believe you bring to the get better on. I get frustrated sometimes with team’s success? the refs about some calls but my teammates "Personally, I feel like I help the team on the and coaches have my back to just move on offensive side of it all. I try to do whatever and get to the next possession. I cannot I can so that we can win as many games change whatever happened in the past but as possible. I also feel like I share the ball I can change what will happen and that is because I see the open man. I am a senior, getting to the next possession and getting that so I have been trying my hardest to lead this important stop on defense that we need." team as much as I can, so that we can go as far as we can this year since it is my last year How does it make you feel when teams playing for USF." double team you?

"Getting double-teamed in the post is How do you stay motivated as you something that I have been working on continuously beat teams by 40 or more all year long. The other teams may think points each game? it is a genius plan; however, that makes it "Coach always tells us to not take any team much easier for our team to win as there

SPORTS

will always be somebody open. My job in those situations is to try and find who that person may be and swing the ball to get the best open shot, which is something that our team is really good at doing. My teammates move and cut, which makes it harder for the defense to guard."

Since this is your final year of playing collegiate basketball, what are your future plans? Do you think it will be a hard adjustment not having to think about basketball all the time?

"Being my last year, I have many future plans, but I have no idea what is actually going to happen. I would absolutely love to go play overseas somewhere; however, I am a homebody so I do not know how that will work. I also would love to coach in the future, so I will most likely be trying to find a Graduate Assistant position to get my masters and then eventually go and find a coaching job somewhere in the near future."

What has basketball taught you that carries over into other aspects of your life?

"Basketball has taught me so many lessons, but one in particular is that things do not always come easy, but the support system that you surround yourself with will get you through the tough times in your life. I unfortunately had to go through a tragic event last year losing my mother to cancer and if it were not for my friends, family, teammates and coaches, I would have never made it through that terrible time. I cherish these people that I have crossed paths with through my time here and I certainly will never forget them."

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

39

The Legacy of Kobe Bryant By: Ashley Hare Feature Editor

I 40

t was a cold, gloomy day on Sunday, January 26, 2020 while I was relaxing on the couch watching SVU when I heard my phone receive a breaking news Twitter notification. I would have never expected what I was about to read next. “Kobe Bryant Dead, Dies in Helicopter Crash.” My heart instantly sank to my stomach. I called and texted so many people, saying this can’t be true. As the story broke, the world also learned that Kobe’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna Bryant also passed away. In addition, seven other people died in the crash. One of the world’s greatest basketball legends gone too soon. January 26, 2020 will go down in history for the world, specifically basketball.

Kobe Bryant was known as this generation’s version of Michael Jordan. Kobe, drafted at only 17 years old straight out of high school, showed true confidence like no other. Current NBA players such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose and Dwayne Wade considered Kobe their biggest basketball inspirations.

February, 17 2020

According to NBA commissioner Adam Silver, "Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest players in the history of our game.” The New York Times named him “one of the most decorated careers in the history of the sport." Kobe played all 20 seasons of his career for the Los Angeles Lakers. As his time as a Laker, he was an 18-time All-Star, a 15-time member of the All-NBA Team, a 12-time member of the All-Defensive Team and the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player. Kobe also garnered five NBA Championships for the Lakers. In addition, Kobe became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 30,000 career points. Not only is his on-court performance cherished, but his off-court legacy also inspires others.

Besides basketball, Kobe wanted to be the best he could be whether it was his calling as a father or being a retired coach. Kobe was the husband of Vanessa Bryant and the father of four beautiful daughters: Natalia Bryant, Gianna Bryant, Bianka Bryant and Capri Bryant. After his retirement in 2016, he partnered with Sports Academy’s CEO Chad Faulkner to create the Mamba Academy. According to the Mamba Academy’s website, the organization is “a full-circle facility designed to update the way men, women and youth approach human performance, by creating a multi-platform environment that activates, educates and provides an opportunity for humans to unlock their full potential.”

Through the Mamba Academy, Kobe was the coach for his 13-year-old daughter Gianna’s travel AAU team.

Cole Micek, a University of St. Francis student and basketball team member, is a part of the Mamba Academy.

Cole says, “Whenever Kobe walked into the gym, you could feel his presence. He had this natural sense of energy around him. He was an extremely special person.”

Micek explained further his first-ever interaction with Kobe saying “It was June 2018. I remember this day vividly. I was shooting on a shooting machine and he was there because Gigi (Kobe’s daughter) had a training camp that day. The whole building was shut down. He was about 50 yards away from me at the coffee bar watching me shoot. I could just feel him watching me.” In this moment, Micek was thinking to himself, “Oh my god. Kobe Bryant is watching me right now. I have to shoot well and I can’t miss.”

After the workout, Micek approached Kobe and introduced himself, to which Kobe responded, “It’s great to meet you.

I was watching you work-out and you have a really nice stroke.” He continued to thank Kobe and explained to him his scholarship opportunity to play at the University of St. Francis.

Photo courtesy of Cole Micek

Micek says he vividly remembers how Kobe told him to get buckets. Micek said to Kobe, “I will try my best.” Kobe responded, “F--- that! I don’t want you to try your best. I want you to go DO it!” Kobe’s words will stick with Micek forever.

Kobe was also the official ambassador for After-School All-Stars (ASAS), an American non-profit organization that provides comprehensive after-school programs to children.

He also started the Kobe Bryant China Fund which raises money within China for education and health programs.

In addition, Kobe was the first African American to win an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film and the first former professional athlete to be nominated for his film “Dear Basketball” in 2018. Derek Fisher, the coach for WNBA Los Angeles Sparks and a former teammate of Kobe’s, took to Twitter to say, “Kobe’s life after basketball was just beginning and his second act was going to be even greater.”

Kobe’s legacy will continue to live on forever.

Our deepest condolences also go out to the families of John, Keri and Alyssa Altobelli, Sarah and Payton Chester, Christina Mauser and Ara Zobayan.

RIP Kobe Bryant.

SPORTS

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

41

42

February 17, 2020

USF ENCOUNTER USF ENCOUNTER USF ENCOUNTER Instagram: @usf_encounter Twitter: @usf_encounter Spotify: USF Encounter Facebook: USF Encounter

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA usfencounter.stfrancis.edu

43

USF

ENCOUNTER