May 2016 by USF Encounter

May 6, 2016

USF Budget Issues P: 6

#FestivalSeason P: 18 - 19

Summer Olympics P: 42 - 43

Contents

NEWS

Ashley Cady Editor-in-Chief

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

Side by Side................................................ 30

ashleycady@stfrancis.edu

Campus Updates........................................ 4

Confessions of an Almost Graduate............32

Assistant Editor-in-Chief

USF Budget Issues..................................... 6

Rants & Raves............................................ 33 Sarah Schoenrock

Happy Headlines......................................... 8

The Ryan Report......................................... 34

Technology Trends...................................... 10

Geek Culture: Hot or Not?...........................35

ENTERTAINMENT Radio Andrewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Top 30 Tracks.................... 13

Hannah Tadey hannahtadey@stfrancis.edu Art Director

A Day in the Life.......................................... 36

SPORTS

PR Specialist sarahschoenrock@stfrancis.edu

Kylie Mason PR Manager Entertainment Editor kyliemason@stfrancis.edu

Katie Nork Photographer Special Section Editor katherinenork@stfrancis.edu

Julie Kitzer

Texts From...................................................14

Athletic Q&A................................................ 38

Shoud I See This Movie.............................. 16

Saints on the Field...................................... 40 Patti Raspolich

#FestivalSeason..........................................18

American Ninja Warrior............................... 41

pattiraspolich@stfrancis.edu

Summer Olympics 2016.............................. 42

Sports Editor

SEASONAL Summer Pins...............................................20 Summer Destinations.................................. 22 Travel Safety in the City...............................23 Vacation on a Budget.................................. 24 Summer Recipes.........................................26 Workout Apps.............................................. 28

COMMENTARY

Editorial Board

May 6, 2016

News Editor juliekitzer@stfrancis.edu Commentary Editor

Meet Your Team USA Athletes.................... 43

Brandon Newberry brandonnewberry@stfrancis.edu

Abigail Blome PR Specialist abigailblome@stfrancis.edu

Staff Writers Amber Shibley Andrew Finein Andrew McDilda Ashley Montgomery Christian Hoeger Clarice Swanson Elijah Anderson Kacey Short Liz Venerable Nicholas Pillish Ryan Giachetti Samantha Launius Sara Michalowicz

Cover photo courtesy of theodysseyonline.com & back cover photos courtesy of pinterest.com

Thank you for picking up the last issue of the Encounter. This issue is very special to me because it is my last issue as Editor-in-Chief and as a student at USF. It has truly been a joy to oversee the publication of this news magazine for the last nine months and six issues. We have been through a lot, but I feel very confident in leaving this publication in the hands of my amazing editors. You will see even more great things in issues to come.

NEWS

Letter From the Editor

I would like to thank our advisor Brien McHugh for being so incredible and laid back but also for allowing me to have this opportunity and teaching me so much. You have had so much faith in me even when I did not see it in myself. I have grown so much as a person. Thank you. I do not have many teachers who have impacted my life as much as you have. We could all use a little de-stressing, so this issue is full of great things you can do to unwind this summer no matter what your budget! As always, you can follow the Encounter on Facebook by searching “USF Encounter” and on Twitter @usf_encounter. Any questions, comments, concerns and ideas you have about this issue or future issues may be directed to any member of the Encounter staff at usfencounter@ gmail.com. Best regards & happy reading,

Ashley Cady

Policies

From the top: Ashley Cady (Editor-in-Chief), Hannah Tadey (Assistant Editor), Sarah Schoenrock (Art Director & PR Specialist), Kylie Mason (PR Manager & Entertainment Editor), Katherine Nork (Photographer & Special Section Editor), Julie Kitzer (News Editor), Patti Raspolich (Commentary Editor), Brandon Newberry (Sports Editor) and Abigail Blome (PR Specialist) Photos originally published by the Editors on their Facebook pages. All rights reserved.

The Encounter is published by the students of the University of St. Francis, 500 Wilcox Street, Joliet, IL 60435. The newspaper office is located in room S413C of Tower Hall. The Encounter phone number is (815) 740-3816. As a member of USF campus media, the Encounter strives to produce a publication that stresses quality writing and design. By reporting on issues which may be sensitive in nature, the Encounter aims to educate, inform and persuade students on topics which affect their lives on and off campus. Editorial pages provide Encounter staff with opportunities to express thoughtful views on controversial topics. Letters to the editor represent the opinion of the author and are not necessarily opinions of the Encounter staff.   Publication of letters to the editor is subject to space availability and management discretion. Letters to the editor are also subject to editing.   Letters to the editor or any other submissions may be dropped off at the Encounter office or e-mailed to usfencounter@gmail.com The Encounter is printed by RICOH Services on the campus of the University of St. Francis.

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu 3

CAMPUS UPDATES by: Abigail Blome

The Concert Chorale Spring Concert

Joining this year’s worldwide commemoration of the 225th anniversary of Mozart’s death, the University of St. Francis Concert Chorale will present examples of his exuberant, exhilarating and triumphant choral music. Date and Time: Saturday, May 7, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. Location: Sexton Auditorium Admission: Adults-$10 | Alumni, seniors and Non-USF Students-$7 | USF Students and Staff-Free

New Jazz Ensemble and Scholarship coming to USF This scholarship will be awarded to individuals to perform and study jazz within the context of the Jazz Chamber Ensemble (combo) experience. The scholarship is intended for excellent jazz performers. Recipients will receive group and individual lessons, jazz historyand will receive important jazz performance opportunities while attending USF. Contact Dean Robert Kase for more information at: rkase@stfrancis.edu

Gender-neutral bathrooms now availThe LaVerne & Dorothy Brown Science able for use Several bathrooms on campus have been converted to be Hall to start construction this summer used by anyone, regardless of their gender. Locations include the first floor of St. Albert’s Hall, across from Security in Tower, and third floor Motherhouse by Campus Ministry.

Sisters of St. Francis- Earth Fest

Sisters of St. Francis will be having their annual Bluestem Fest in the Rec Center. This event is open to the public. Date and Time: May 21 at 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

May 6, 2016

The ceremonial groundbreaking, which took place April 8, marked the beginning of the development for the new science building. “The Brown Science Hall will be transformational for the sciences at St. Francis,” promises USF President Arvid C. Johnson. “This facility will enhance the learning environment for all science, nursing and education students. This building is an important part of how the University of St. Francis is preparing itself– as well as its students– for its second century of service and leadership.” The science hall is set to be finished by the fall semester 2017.

Wednesday Nights 4pm to 9pm

Ribbon Cuî&#x20AC;&#x201A;ing Ceremony June 8th! The market runs through September 21st. Located in Downtown Joliet along Chicago St. (815) 723-1800 www.jolietdowntown.com

*There will not be a market on September 14th

May 6, 2016

NEWS

The Illinois Budget Impasse:

A Focus on the USF Budget Issues by: Ashley Cady and Hannah Tadey July 1 will mark the one-year anniversary that Illinois has not had a state budget, and the repercussions of being a budget-less state are now visible to us “Average Joes.” Universities across the state are laying off staff, even closing down. State parks are closing down indefinitely. Necessary programs for drug addicts and ex-convicts are shutting down simply due to this lack of funding. It’s beginning to get very real, very fast. As the financial issues continue to worsen in Illinois, one has to wonder, “What about USF?” Even though the university is privately funded, what fallout can we expect from the budget crisis, if any? To get answers to these questions, I (Cady) sat down with USF President Dr. Arvid Johnson. According to Johnson, USF students have nothing to worry about. He believes that Illinois will pay the university back the money from the Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant…Maybe not until the summer, but they will pay. The university has taken precautions to ensure that the school’s budget stays intact despite lack of funding such as halting departmental spending. Johnson said, “We made substantial reductions in our non-labor budgets, expense budgets across the university to plug the gap in our cash flow.” However, sources in administration and faculty have revealed that there will be faculty and staff layoffs taking place by the beginning of the new fiscal year in June. Our sources were told this information at a Town Hall meeting held at the university on Wednesday, April 20. In order to get a better understanding and put all ru-

mors to rest, I (Cady) attempted to sit in on the meeting. However, I was immediately asked to leave and told the meeting was only for USF Faculty and Staff, though the meeting information online did not include this detail. Backing up to Friday, April 8: the university held a ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Laverne and Dorothy Brown Science Hall. Some have questioned why the university is continuing on with the construction of the building, even if the university has the monetary donations for it. On this, Johnson stated, “Our science building is long overdue. We need a science center that’s up to what our students and faculty need. We’ve already delayed the science building many, many more years than we should have.” A common misconception is that this new building is already 100% paid for: that is not true. The science building has been fundraised for and has had money donated towards it, yet the school took out loans and will continue to fundraise in order to completely pay for it. Johnson stated that students should not worry too much about the university’s financial situation. “The university’s financial situation is actually as strong as it has been in many, many years.” He also suggested that if students are worried about future MAP Grant funding, the best they can do is spread the word. “The single best thing they [can] do is convince not just themselves but their parents and the friends of their parents to be contacting their legislators.”

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Happy Headlines Around the World by: Hannah Tadey

Pripyat, Ukraine -

Chernobyl Disaster: Wildlife Flourishes 30 Years on as Humans are Urged to Stay Away

Virginia, USA -

Blind 5th Grader Sees Mother for First Time Through Electronic Glasses

Vaalwater, South Africa -

Rescued Circus Lions Take First Steps on African Veld

May 6, 2016

NEWS

Delhi, India -

Delji Church Starts a Free Food ATM for Anyone in Need of Refueling During Summer

Kuwait -

Pilot Surprises Son by Captaining Flight Back from Army Deployment

Manila, Philippines -

Homeless Teen Graduates from College

Wellington, New Zealand -

North Carolina Mother and Daughter Survive Five Days in Wilderness

Photos courtesy of si-news.com, france24.com and independent.co.uk

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Technology Trends by: Encounter Staff

May 6, 2016

Doodle Passwords

Do you get annoyed with having to type in your password when you go to any website? When it comes to social media accounts, bank accounts and paying bills, there is always a password waiting to be entered when you log online. Recently, researchers at Rutgers University have been working to come up with a solution to that problem and as a result, they’ve created Doodle Passwords! As the name suggests, Doodle Passwords is an application that allows you to draw your password instead of typing it in. From letters to shapes to ornate squiggles, Doodle Passwords can recognize any free-hand drawing and use that to log you into different websites. In the initial testing of the application, researchers found that the majority of people preferred drawing their password over typing it. As an added bonus, they report that it is 22% faster to log in using a doodle instead of a typed password. Doodle Passwords is still in the development phase and will be presented for funding in May 2016. If approved, Doodle Passwords will soon become available in the app

store to download.

Rocketbook Wave: Cloud-Ready Microwavable Notebook

The way you take notes is about to change forever. The Rocketbook Wave is a reusable notebook that digitalizes your notes. All you have to do is write inside of your Rocketbook Wave with your Pilot FriXion Erasable Gel Pen. This innovative technology uses patent-pending image capture technology to accurately and quickly capture the notes you write. It does this by sending them to your pre-configured Cloud services by scanning the symbols on the corner of the page with your accompanying Rocketbook smartphone app. Viola, your written notes are now digitalized! The best part is once you run out of pages, just microwave your notebook to remove all of the ink. Now you have a brand new notebook that you can start all over in. This technology is currently available and starts off at $27 for one Rocketbook Wave and one black FriXion Pen. For more information about the Rocketbook Wave, please visit www.rocketinnovations.tumblr.com.

The Scribble Pen

Are you bored with plain-old black and blue pens? Is there a color that you wish you could use but can never find a pen in that color (aqua-

marine)? Well here’s a solution to that problem: Scribble. Scribble is the new pen that can scan the color of any object around you and lets you write in that color. You can also store colors that you scan into a library on your computer. There are two types of this pen: an ink version and a stylus version for your tablet. The Scribble pen will set you back $150 but you will virtually have any color imaginable at your fingertips for that price. You can pre-order yours at www.thescribblepen.com.

NEWS

Our lives are becoming increasingly more connected to each other and even more so with our devices. Smart devices are constantly getting smarter and a new IT is constantly developing. Keep an eye out for some of these innovative technologies.

Beartooth: Communicate off the Grid

No cell phone service? No Wi-Fi? No problem! Beartooth is an upcoming communication device that will be released late this year. It is a palmsized transceiver that pairs with your smartphone via Bluetooth to talk, text, see offline maps and find your friends’ locations. It simply turns your cellular device into texting and push-to-talk walkie-talkie. The biggest difference between a walkie-talkie and this device is that you still get the smartphone user interface by being able to use the touchscreen aspect of your phone. It is perfect technology if you are often in places where the cellular data is not available, such as camping, hiking or over-crowded music festivals. This device is both iOS and Android compatible. Pre-orders are currently being accepted and the device starts off at $199, but you can buy them in bulk for better pricing. For more information, visit the website: www.beartooth.com.

“From letters to shapes to ornate squiggles, Doodle Passwords can recognize any free-hand drawing and use that to log you into different websites.”

Photos courtesy of blogspot.com & ytimg.com

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May 6, 2016

s k c a r T 0 3 Top by: Andrew Finein

1. I Took a Pill in Ibiza - Mike Posner 2. Work - Rihanna 3. Work from Home - Fifth Harmony 4. Wild Things - Alessia Cara 5. Never Forget You - Zara Larsson 6. No - Meghan Trainor 7. Cake by the Ocean - DNCE 8. Pillowtalk - Zayn 9. Me, Myself & I - G-Eazy 10. Don’t Let Me Down - The Chainsmokers 11. 7 Years - Lukas Graham 12. If It Ain’t Love - Jason Derulo 13. Middle - DJ Snake 14. Cheap Thrills - Sia 15. Messin’ Around - Pitbull

16. Hands to Myself - Selena Gomez 17. My House - Flo Rida 18. Faded - Alan Walker 19. Youth - Troye Sivan 20. New Romantics - Taylor Swift 21. Dangerous Woman - Ariana Grande 22. Ride - Twenty One Pilots 23. Just like Fire - P!nk 24. Army - Ellie Goulding 25. Company - Justin Bieber 26. Hymn For The Weekend - Coldplay 27. All About Us - Jordan Fisher 28. Close - Nick Jonas 29. Panda - Desiigner 30. One Dance - Drake

ENTERTAINMENT

r e t n u o c En

ew’s Radio Andr

Knights of Columbus Holy Trinity Council 4400 1813 East Cass Street in Joliet

Joliet’s Favorite Fish Fry since 1957 Friday 11AM-9PM Saturday 4PM-8PM Open Year Round Join the Knights today! (815) 723-3827

www.kofc4400.com

ko4400@yahoo.com usfencounter.stfrancis.edu 13

Texts from... reply

Send

by: Encounter Staff

Your Best Friend

May 6, 2016

ENTERTAINMENT

Your Significant Other

The Group Chat

Photos courtesy of iemoji.com

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu 15

May 6, 2016

by: Christian Hoeger

Electric Boogaloo

Well, welcome back to the movie section of your friendly campus Encounter. Apparently I didn’t completely fail the first time I tried this and the editors did the unthinkable…they gave me a sequel. We’re going to go for more of a Step Up 2: The Streets look and less Grease 2 (I feel bad even bringing up that atrocity), in other words, I hope to get better this time around and maybe even become a trilogy. Enough about me, let’s get to the movies!

GO SEE THIS MOVIE IN THE THEATER The Jungle Book (8/10) I had my doubts when I first heard this movie would be coming out. I remember a childhood similar to many of you reading this I’m sure. Singing along about the “Bare Necessities” or wanting to be “like you” with a big monkey king were some of my most-fond memories. Few things can prompt stronger emotions than messing with someone’s childhood, and Disney was pushing all the right buttons to make me feel a type of way. If this movie was terrible overall or didn’t do the original justice, the ghost of Walt and I were going to have problems. Luckily Disney picked a fantastic director in Jon Favreau, one who really cared about and loved the animated original and wanted to do it justice. He had an amazing vision of taking the most advanced technology to give this movie a sense of realism that I didn’t think was possible. This movie needs to be seen in big

theater format to truly appreciate the scale and spectacle of this film. The cast is absolutely fantastic and truly brings this dream-world to life. Disney pushed buttons, but they turned out to be all the right ones. Childhood feels for days. Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice (6.5/10) Most of you have already seen this by now or you just don’t care about comic book movies, but hear me out. This movie is gorgeous and is worth the time if you have nothing else to see and want to waste some time with some fun action and cool lighting.

Good Movies, Can Wait to Rent Criminal (7.5/10) Solid thriller with the criminally (pun intended) underrated Kevin Costner in the starring role. This cast is great and even if the science that is the backbone of this movie’s plot is shown to not work eventually, it’s still an interesting concept. Good action sequences and some real emotion hidden in a classic action-thriller shell.

Skippable Comedies The Boss (5/10) and Meet the Blacks (4.5/10) Both of these movies have some laughs but they aren’t really worth spending money on. If you want a good comedy, watch the fantastic Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (8/10) instead.

ENTERTAINMENT

Should I See This Movie 2:

New Movies on the Radar Miles Ahead, Barbershop: The Next Cut, Demolition, A Hologram for the King I haven’t seen these movies quite yet but definitely planning on it; keep them in mind when they come out. If you want to get some more reviews on a weekly basis, head on over to my blog at silverscreenpickups.blogspot.com. Thanks for reading, let me know what you think @CoachBigC on Twitter. What movies was I right about, what movies am I way off on? Let me know.

Zootopia (9/10) Great animation mixed with a surprisingly important storyline for today’s society makes this a must see. Loved this movie.

Photos courtesy of newsarama.com, comingsoon.net & movieweb.com

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu 17

#Festival

Season by: Ashley Montgomery

Crop tops, flower crowns, hula hoops and Polaroids… You know it’s that time of year again when all these elements are mixed together. It’s summer, and with the summertime comes late night star gazing and creating the perfect playlist for your summer concert. Whether you’re a festival girl/boy or not, here are our top summer concert series and what you can expect from each one!

Bonnaroo – June 9-12

Located in Manchester, Tennessee, this festival lures in over 85,000 people each year. For four days straight, festival goers can camp out and surround themselves in 700 acres of beautiful Tennessee nature that was purchased by Bonnaroo creators specifically for the event. This four-day concert series features over 150 performers, dozens of comedians and even a mini-film fest. Compared to other festivals, Bonnaroo tends to have a more “laid-back” feel and music enthusiasts will be pleased to know that it also tends to have some of the cheapest tickets!

Spring Awakening – June 10-12

Spring Awakening is celebrating its five-year anniversary in Chicago this summer and claims to be bigger and better than ever before. With a theme of electronic and House Music, artists such as Skrillex, Tiesto and Calvin Harris have been Spring Awakening headliners. As of 2015, the festival is age restricted to those who are 18 and older. This is one that locals will not want to miss.

Summerfest – June 29 – July 10

Perhaps one of the longest festivals, Summerfest lasts for 11 days along the lakefront in Milwaukee. It is primarily a country music festival with a few pop artists sprinkled into the lineup as well. Summerfest is the largest music festival in the world and has over ten stages. This year’s lineup features artists such as Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Hunter Hayes and Selena Gomez.

May 6, 2016

Lollapalooza – July 28-31

Affectionately called “Lolla,” this festival is one that we all know and love. It is located in Grant Park in Chicago and has been attracting music lovers for 25 years. The festival features alternative, punk rock, hip-hop, heavy metal, EDM and other dance music. Lolla has traditionally been a threeday fest, but this year the party will continue on for a fourth day. What’s cool about this event is that local Chicago artists and food vendors will be selling their products, so you can experience multiple cultures all in one place. Lollapalooza is definitely one of a kind.

Outside Lands – August 5-7

Held in San Francisco at Golden Gate Park, Outside Lands brings in between 40 and 50 thousand attendees per day. Not only is it a music festival, but it also features art, food and a comedy and improv fest as well. Outside Lands prides itself in its eco-friendly environment where they focus on making the world “greener.” They feature a refillable water bottle program, a farmer’s market and public transportation for carpooling.

ENTERTAINMENT

Photos courtesy of festivalsnob.com and theodysseyonline.com

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s ’ r e t n u o c n E s USF n i P r e m m Su

Nork e i t a K by :

Frozen Blueberry Margaritas Ingredients • 2/3 cup frozen blueberries • 1/3 cup silver tequila • 2 tbsp Triple Sec • ¼ cup lime juice • 1 tbsp agave syrup • Ice • Salt, agave and lime wedges for garnish *Must be 21 years of age or older

May 6, 2016

Directions 1. Put all ingredients into blender, blend until ice is shredded 2. Rub agave around the rim of your glass and dip in salt 3. Pour margarita into your glass and add the lime wedge

to consume alcoholic beverages

SEASONAL

Yahtzee Yard

Dice

Materials • 5- 4’ x 4’ blo cks of wood (you can buy them pre-cut or bu y a 4’ x 4’ piece of wood and cu t in to blocks) • Stain (colo r of your cho ice) • Circular fo am brush • Paint (colo r of your cho ice) Directions 1. If you are cutting your own blocks, sand the edges 2. Stain all 5 of the cubes, let dry Using the cir cular foam b rush, paint your d ots on the dic e, opposite sides add up to seven s o 1 and 6, 2 and 5, an d 3 and four.

Photos courtesy of pinterest.com

ome? h t a s n ese pi account! h t y r to t est Want our Pinter ter n ter/ Follow USF Encou /usfencoun @ m est.co r e t n i ww.p w / / : s p htt usfencounter.stfrancis.edu 21

Local, Cheap Summer Destinations by: Kacey Short

Although it may seem distant, summer is indeed on the horizon and everyone is planning extravagant trips and beach vacations. Alas, what is a broke college student to do? If you just look around, there are cheap and free things do all over the Chicagoland area and even closer to home. Here are just a few:

Night Out in the Parks

Presented by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Night Out in the Parks provides world-class performances in Chicago’s neighborhood parks throughout the year! What started as a summer arts and cultural series in 2013, is now expanding to cover the rest of the year. Even cooler: most of the events are free or are super cheap! Get the full year’s list of Night Out in the Parks events in the My Chi Parks™ app or at http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/events/night-out-in-the-parks/

I&M Canal Trail

Beginning at the Joliet Iron Works Historic Site, the I&M Canal Trail is a 2.76-mile nature trail popular for a number of recreational activities. These include running, biking, hiking and cross-country skiing along the trail. And hey, nature is always free!

Indiana Beach

Well, it’s no Six Flags but it is cheaper! Indiana Beach is an amusement/water park that will keep you entertained all day long! There’s zip-lining, an obstacle course, water-ski and fireworks shows, plenty of yummy carnival food and more! Day passes are $36.99 per person and if you can get a group of 15 or more to go, they are only $22.99 each!

Indiana Beach

Chicago Botanic Garden

How is something so beautiful, free? Don’t ask, just go!

Joliet Slammers Game

Can’t afford MLB tickets? Catch a game a little closer to home at the Joliet Slammers! Reserved tickets are $10, lawn tickets are $5 and Tuesday tickets are $2 so you can get the summer baseball feel you love without breaking the bank!

May 6, 2016

joliet Slammers Game Photos courtesy of ytimg.com, kmix1069com and danielbartel.com

Essential safety tips for traveling into Chicago

SEASONAL

BEFORE YOU : BOARD by: Elizabeth Venerable

If you’re going into the city by car, CTA, PACE or Metra, these helpful tips will make traveling easier and safer, so all aboard! Driving into the city can be an experience in and of itself, so here are some useful tips. First, know where you’re going. In my experience, Google Maps is better than MapQuest. Second, go to chicagoparkingmap.com for rates and prices for parking in a garage. Parking in a garage is safer, but also more expensive then street parking. For street parking go to chicagometers.com for parking zone prices and hours. The most important thing to remember when parking on the street is to not leave anything visible. Anything left inside of the car should go under the seat or in the trunk. My last tip for those driving is don’t forget where you are parked. It doesn’t matter if you parked in a garage or on the street; take a minute to write down where you parked. For traveling on the CTA, PACE or Metra, the same tips apply. 1. Make sure you’re on the right bus or train (don’t be afraid to ask someone, call RTA (312) 913-3200 or go to rtachicago.com). 2. Be aware of your surroundings, just paying attention to where the doors are can be very helpful.

Photos courtesy of wikimedia.org

3. Always look back to make sure that you didn’t forget something on the train or bus. 4. Don’t carry cash with you if you don’t have to. 5. If you are riding on multiple buses or trains, then get a Ventra card. The Ventra card allows you to ride CTA, PACE or Metra with one card. Ventra works with mobile payments, Android Pay and Apple Pay. You can find out more about the Ventra card at ventrachicago.com. 6. Keep your Ventra card in a separate, easy-to-reach pocket. Don’t put in your wallet, that way you won’t have to pull out your wallet. 7. When using your phone, keep it close to your body. If you’re near the doors on CTA buses or trains don’t pull your phone out unless you are about to walk off the train or bus. 8. Keep your purse, bags or backpacks in your lap, if possible. 9. Trust your gut. If you feel like something isn’t right, then go get help or walk into the nearest building. 10. Know your bus and train schedule, especially If you are riding PACE or Metra. 11. Travel in groups and sit/stand together. 12. Be smart, you don’t need to open a laptop or count money on the train or bus. While these tips won’t keep you 100% safe, it will make travelling on CTA, PACE or Metra as safe as possible. Safe travels!

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu 23

Vacation on a Budget

by: Clarice Swanson

Summertime: the perfect time to get away from the stress for a little while and enjoy a beautiful getaway. However, everyone knows vacations can get a bit pricey, especially if you dream of traveling to far-off destinations. Here are some tips for how to plan a trip that won’t cost you your entire savings account:

Plan Ahead:

Planning ahead is probably the most key component to a successful and cheap trip. Catching deals on flights and hotels is all about the perfect timing. Often you can find bundles on hotels and flights that, for a 5-day getaway, won’t cost much if travelling in a group. So get the plan together and start looking at the costs ahead of time.

Consider Outdoor Activities:

Though that luxurious resort in Florida might look like a dream come true, it might not be quite as appealing when looking at the price. So why not take a chance to enjoy the summer weather and head outdoors on a camping trip? Even the most equipped campgrounds only charge about $25 to stay on the property a night, as opposed to the over a $200-dollar hotel cost. So whether it be a one night stay at a local campground or a week long camping excursion in a national park, camping is a great way to enjoy the summertime and not spend an excessive amount of money.

Find Different Locations:

Although tourist heavy locations like Disney World and the Wisconsin Dells are often fun to travel to, the tourist traffic also tends to drive up the prices at certain locations, especially throughout the summer. Instead of going with the status quo, look into places that are less well known, and usually a lot less expensive. Many areas have smaller amusement parks, small towns, and a lot of cool things to do that cost very little money. In finding hidden gems for vacation spots, you’ll drive your vacation cost way down, and definitely make some great memories along the way.

Look Locally:

Everyone dreams of a tropical getaway or European vacation during the summertime, but being in college, that goal is usually not plausible. So why not look for local solutions to solve these summertime blues? Chicago is filled with great cheap beaches to go spend a day at, or you can take a hop over to Indiana to check out the dunes or Indianapolis if your looking for more city based attractions? Often we forget about all the cool vacation spots that are right in our own backyards. So as you’re planning summer adventures, make sure to plan smart and use some of these great tips to give yourself great summer memories without breaking the bank.

May 6, 2016

SEASONAL

Photos courtesy of chicagonow.com, studybreakcollegemedia.com and tumblr.com

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Easy Summer Snack & Lunch Recipes by: Amber Shibley

With summertime just around the corner, we are all looking for easy recipes to stay healthy. These recipes are all fairly easy and don’t take much time or prep work to complete. However, there are also those moments when we decide that we just don’t care and are going to splurge on a nice decadent dessert! Try making some of these recipes yourself and enjoy.

Creamy Summer Pasta Salad

Healthy!

Yield: 6 servings Salad Ingredients: • 8 ounces salad macaroni or ditalini pasta • 1 cup tiny broccoli florets • 1/2 cup diced cucumber • 1/2 cup finely diced red pepper • 1/2 cup sliced black olives • 1/4 cup very thinly sliced green onion Dressing Ingredients: • 1/2 cup mayonnaise • 2 teaspoons white wine or plain vinegar • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, adjust to taste • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper • 1/2 teaspoon sugar Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package, adding a generous tablespoon or so of kosher salt to the water as it cooks. Just before the noodles are done cooking, add the broccoli to the pot. Let the broccoli boil for about 30 seconds and then drain everything into a large colander. Rinse well with cold water. Stir together the mayonnaise, vinegar, salt, pepper, and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add the cooked pasta and broccoli to the bowl and stir well to coat. Add the cucumber, pepper, and onions and stir again. Taste and adjust seasonings, if needed. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Stir again just before serving. Enjoy! COOK’S NOTE: If you forget to toss the broccoli in the boiling water at the end of the pasta’s cooking time, you can also steam it in the microwave. Place the broccoli in a glass bowl along with a tablespoon of water. Microwave for 60-90 seconds, until the broccoli is bright green and barely softened.

May 6, 2016

Campfire Cones

Splurge!

Gooey marshmallow-filled campfire cones are a fun twist to a traditional S’more and can be customized with endless possibilities! So grab a box of ice cream cones and invite your family and friends over to create their own treats on the grill, campfire or even in the oven. Ingredients: • Waffle Ice Cream Cones • Topping Ideas: Marshmallows, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Rolos, Butterscotch Chips, Chocolate Chips, Bananas, Raspberries, Strawberries

Directions: • Fill a cone with desired amounts of marshmallow and toppings. Cover cone with foil. Place over the campfire for about 3-5 minutes, on a heated grill for 5-6 minutes, or in the oven at 375 degrees for about 5-8 minutes until toppings are melted. Then just enjoy the warm and gooey melted deliciousness.

Refreshing watermelon kiwi pops are perfect for hot days! Recipe type: Dessert Cuisine: Vegan, Gluten Free Serves: 8

INGREDIENTS • 3½ cups seedless watermelon cubes • 3 kiwi, peeled and sliced • 4-5 teaspoons sugar (optional, amount may vary based on your kiwi)

SEASONAL

Healthy!

Watermelon Kiwi Popsicles

METHOD 1. Put the watermelon cubes in a blender and blend on high until smooth. 2. Pour watermelon into popsicle molds, filling each one about two-thirds full. 3. Place sticks in the molds and freeze until watermelon is firm, about 2 hours. 4. Place the kiwi and sugar in the blender and blend on high until smooth. 5. Pour the kiwi mixture into the popsicle molds. 6. Freeze for at least 4 hours.

Campfire Pizza Log

Splurge!

Instructions: • Roll out your pizza dough into a rectangle. (Note: you can make your own or use the refrigerated pizza dough.) • Add in 1/2 cup of tomato sauce, 8 ounces of mozzarella cheese and any toppings you like. • Starting at one end, roll the dough up like you are Photos courtesy of pinterest.com

making cinnamon rolls and pinch all ends to create a seamless log of pizza goodness. • You can also throw a little parsley on the top for a pop of color, or a bit of garlic salt for a nice added flavor. • Wrap it in foil and freeze it until ready to make. (It will help keep things cool and will thaw and be ready to cook by dinnertime.) • You can cook it on a grill or just put it in the logs for a total of 25 minutes, flipping often. • Once it is done, cut or pull it apart and serve!

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#FeelTheBurn with these kick-ass workout apps by: Samantha Launius

Working out in a gym full of other sweaty and smelly people is not on the top of my to-do list (and probably not on yours either,) but what if you actually wanted to work out? Well, as they say, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an app for that! You can download any of these apps and they will help you get your summer body in the comfort of your own home (or dorm). Hopefully you will find an app that you like and can get started on your workout!

Workout Trainer (Free, Android and

iOS) This app offers you thousands of workouts that are followed by video and audio on how to complete the exercises. There are many different types of workouts to choose from, such as getting a six pack to just conditioning yourself for that next race.

CARROT Fit

($2.99, iOS) This sarcastic workout app will give you (Free, Android and a tough workout while giving you snarky iOS) comments along the way! The exercises If you enjoy running, download Charity are seven minutes long and will make you Miles. Every time you run, the app will sweat. donate a few cents to the charity of your choice. Those miles will add up, especially with summer coming! ($2.99, Android) If you are into yoga, this app has over 200 various poses with animations and audio (Free, iOS) instructions for each one. You can track Created by a former NFL player, this app your workouts and create your own if you gives you simple workouts that require want to! zero equipment. When you first download the app, you will need to complete a fitness test to see where youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re at so your (Free, workouts are more specific to your needs. Android and iOS) This app will have you choose a workout trainer who will lead you through your (Free, Android, iOS and Web) workouts. Your choice of a program can This app and website assists you with loglast from ten days to one month. Why ging your calories and the exercises that is this app good? The videos go in slow you complete. By tracking your diet, it can motion while explaining each exercise to help you lose the weight that you want. avoid injury. Also, it is compatible with other apps and fitness devices such as Fitbit.

Charity Miles

Pocket Yoga

FitStar

Runtastic Six Pack Abs

Lose It!

Zombies, Run!

($3.99, Android and iOS) Zombies and a workout app? You read that right! This app is an interactive game that makes you run to complete zombie missions. You are told a story about the mission as you run. Watch out, there might be a zombie behind you! Pocket Yoga

May 6, 2016

Photos courtesy of iemoji.com

Joliet Slammers 2016 Season! 2016 Schedule MAY 2016

SUN MON TUE WED THU 8 15

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*GAME TIMES TUE 7:05 pm WED 7:05 pm THU 7:05 pm FRI 7:05 pm SAT 6:05 pm SUN 1:05 pm

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FRONTIER LEAGUE EAST DIVISION JOL Joliet Slammers LE Lake Erie Crushers SCH Schaumburg Boomers TC Traverse City Beach Bums WSH Washington Wild Things WC Windy City ThunderBolts Y’ALL-STAR GAME - Florence, KY

*SPECIAL TIMES 5/18 10:05 am 5/25 10:05 am 7/6 10:05 am 7/27 10:05 am 8/3 11:05 am 9/4 5:05 pm

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FRONTIER LEAGUE WEST DIVISION EVN Evansville Otters FLO Florence Freedom GAT Gateway Grizzlies NOR Normal CornBelters RC River City Rascals SIL Southern Illinois Miners

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AWAY

JULY 2016

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side by Side:

Captain America

by: Elijah Anderson

Captain America is one of the most well-known Marvel superheroes still around today. Known for having super strength, speed, agility and intelligence, Captain America is one of the best Super-Soldiers created. Steve Rogers, his alias, was not the same dreamy and buff man that everyone is currently used to seeing. When Steve went to sign up to be drafted into the army, he was turned down with a score of 4-F for health issues. Weighing in at 95 pounds and with a height of 5-feet 4-inches, he was the classic â&#x20AC;&#x153;wimpy kidâ&#x20AC;? that everyone could pick on. However, the doctor performing the examinations noticed that Rogers was a person of great heart and compassion. This is what led them to do the test for the Super-Soldier Serum. The Super-Soldier Serum required Rogers to undergo numerous tests to ensure that the serum would not cause permanent damage to his body or potentially kill him. After undergoing the tests, he was finally administered the Super-Soldier Serum and had all of his abilities enhanced. Now 6-feet 2-inches and weighing in at 240 pounds, his strength, reflexes and endurance improved overall. The serum allowed him to become the first Super-Soldier, Captain America. Because Captain America is the first Super-Soilder, his character has many interesting qualities. First, Captain America has no super human powers, just adapted strength, agili-

May 6, 2016

ty, reflexes, endurance, speed and intelligence. He has his trusty shield, which is made of Vibranium, a material that is foreign to this world and is able to repel almost anything, making it very durable. The shield has a somewhat boomerang effect and comes back to Cap (a nickname that some of his friends refer to him as) unless thrown off of its trajectory. However, because Captain America does not possess super-human qualities, he needs to avoid all things that can potentially kill humans, as well as things that damage superheroes with powers like the Hulk. Iron Man is just a man who has a lot of money that can build his suits. The suit however, does not always make the hero. Being cunning and resourceful, as Captain America is, will be more helpful in the long run. In the upcoming movie, Captain America: Civil War, the question of who is the better superhero, Captain America or Iron Man, proves to be a tough argument. I have told the reasons why I believe that Captain America will be successful and defeat Iron Man, but ultimately, the film will decide the fate of these two superheroes.

COMMENTARY

Iron Man

by: Andrew McDilda

Genius, billionaire, playboy…oh and that’s right, a philanthropist. Iron Man is everything that Captain America isn’t and more. That’s exactly why Mr. Patriot is nothing near as cool, funny or awesome as THE Iron Man. Let’s break this down. Captain America obtained his Super-Solider powers through the scientific marvel of someone else’s work and has been reaping the reward of glory since the 1940s. Iron Man, an established weapons engineer and certified genius, came up with his “Iron Man” suit entirely on his own in order to first save his own ass, then save the world. Not to mention Tony Stark is known to have ladies swoon over him, while Captain America has trouble talking to a woman. Is Captain America the hero you want your children to look up to? Exactly. You want a hero that can kick some ass and then get some tail. Money, cash, moolah, whatever you may call it, let’s not pretend we don’t all fantasize about being rich. Iron Man has it all: money, cars and gadgets. With Tony Stark’s excess BILLIONS, he is also known to be quite the philanthropist. In fact, Stark Industries supports orphanages all over the world by providing food, toys and kittens to the orphans in need. (This may or may not be true, however, Tony calls himself a philanthropist so we will give him the benefit of the doubt and move on). What does Captain America do Photos courtesy of kinjaimg.com

for the world? Oh yeah, that’s right… He beats up bad guys with his shield that Tony Stark’s father gave to him, in a suit that Stark Industries provided him… Can you say cheapass? So we all know that Tony Stark (Iron Man if you haven’t figured out by now) is a huge play-boy. Tony himself has said that he has slept with all 13 of the 2008 Victoria’s Secret catalog models (December featured twins). On the contrary, if you are into men who take forever to get over a woman, maybe Captain America is your guy, seeing as he has been waiting on Peggy Carter for nearly 70 years before he eventually settled on her niece Sharon Carter. However, to know that you would have to follow the comic books. (Sorry, I probably should have put some sort of “spoiler alert…”) Any way you look at it, Iron Man is just the better hero. When money is involved, Captain America literally receives all of his funding for superhero-ing from Tony Stark. When their powers are analyzed, Iron Man is awesome because he built his own suit. Captain America, however, actually received his powers from a mad scientist. Finally, (and this is a good one,) imagine if Donald Trump becomes president. Captain America is the Patriot superhero of the United States of America… That means he would be Donald’s bitch. Just let that sink in. Vote Iron Man.

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu 31

t s o Alm Confessions of an ^College Grad by: Ashley Cady

An Open Letter to the Friends I Met in College When I had the idea for this commentary series almost five months ago, I knew that this would be the subject of the last one I wrote. The past four years have been truly incredible, but they would have been nothing without the amazing people I have met along the way. No one from my high school graduating class was coming to St. Francis with me. As I began my college career, I knew nobody. The first person I ever met was my roommate Christina. Obviously the university did a good job pairing us up because we stayed roommates for all four years. I then met Samantha in line at the cafeteria on the first day of orientation when we found out we were both Education majors (before I switched to Communication and Media Arts). As Sam and I ventured out to meet Christina on the Quad right after lunch, we met Molly, who went to high school with Christina. Throughout the years came Jenna, Stephanie, Amber, Connor and Kelly. These people made up our “friend group,” as we like to call it. So here it goes… Dear friends, Thank you. No matter how many times we fought or how often I got too sassy for my own good, you still stuck by me. We could all be pains in each other’s sides but we always forgave one another (at least to our faces).

May 6, 2016

Thank you for putting up with me, thank you for putting up with me, thank you for putting up with me (I can be pretty difficult at times…). From movie nights, study parties and late night fast food runs to going to dances together and going out together, some adventures were so crazy we couldn’t believe the events actually occurred. More than likely we almost got ourselves killed each time because of reckless driving or messing with strangers, but what is life without a little risk? Thank you for listening to me. I know I complain a lot, but you each sat there, listened and tried to offer the best advice you could. Most importantly you agreed with me, even if I was probably wrong. If there was a group of people who I kept complaining about, you began to not like them either. You were there when I cried, and there have been lots of tears. You were there in times of great joy, and there were lots of those too. I learned so much from all of you about life and about myself. I am a different person now than I was freshman year and that is partially because of you all. Each one of you affected my life in some way and I am forever grateful. We are all going to do spectacular and amazing things in life. You are all awesome human beings. I know this is not “Goodbye,” it’s “I’ll see you later.” Love, Ashley

Guest layout artist: Ashley Cady

Raves Who doesn’t love messaging their friend group at any convenience? Yet, who doesn’t get annoyed when they’re busy and six of their friends are messaging and your iMessage notifications will NOT stop popping up? I mean, even if you silent the chat (thanks, iOS update), you still have the annoying “64 Messages” hovering over your green Messages app and you continue to check it just in case your mom texted you…but it’s still only your friends. Well, let me introduce to (some of you) the answer to all these problems: GroupMe. GroupMe is a messaging app that allows you to text/group message without the hassles that come with iMessage. (I mean, do I even have to mention how annoying/inconvenient/repulsive it is to be in a group chat with people who do not all have the same type of phone as you?) Behold, Apple and Samsung BFFs, you can now message without the hassle of “Uhhhh I hate this, get an iPhone already!!” or “Sorry, messages sent out of order since KYLIE doesn’t have an iPhone and this is an SMS group chat...”

COMMENTARY

Rants

by: Hannah Tadey

Anyway, GroupMe is also great because you can mute chats when you’re busy (because college) and it doesn’t notify you whatsoever. It’s a separate app than your phone’s messaging app, so you don’t have to deal with the red bubble that won’t go away until you read your messages. The app also allows you to see who’s typing. I see you saw my first message, Sarah. You started typing. I saw it! If this app wasn’t great enough, you can also meme photos in the app. Who doesn’t love Photoshopping their professors as the Harry Potter cast and meme-ing Harry Potter jokes on the photo? All in all, GroupMe is a definite must for any group of friends. It’s convenient for all, so just download the app already. The meme button awaits you. ~Rave over.~

GroupMe is also very convenient for when you’re trying to message your group of friends on the DL. For example, I may or may not have a GroupMe chat with a majority of my friends in a particular class we “can’t even” in. We may or may not pull out our laptops and “take notes during class” a.k.a. pull up the GroupMe website to vent about said class that we may or may not even understand why we are taking it. Again, may or may not, you’ll never know. We do.

Photos courtesy of observer.com

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu 33

The Ryan Report:

Final Florida Man (A Farewell) by: Ryan Giachetti

Graduation is three weeks away from the time I am writing this, so I have that going for me, which is nice. So for those freshman about to go into their sophomore year, stay patient. To the sophomores about to be juniors, have fun because the classes only get harder from here. To the juniors, get ready for the most stressed-out, crazy, annoying and fun year of your life.

to class in the first place. Make new friends, go do things you would have never expected yourself to do and have fun. Do new things, go to new places and just overall make sure you get your money’s worth. Anyone can pick up a book and recite everything they read verbatim, but without any actual life experience they are just words. So don’t wait until the end of college to say that you truly enjoyed it.

Those who know me know that I’ve lived it up during my college tenure. I’ve had a few too many long nights followed by a few too many missed classes. It’s safe to say I’m leaving college with a few stories to tell and I can honestly say I wouldn’t take any of it back. College is definitely the place I learned who I really am and who I want to be. To those still trying to figure that out, you will soon.

I’ve had ups and downs throughout college, taking both the good and the bad in different ways, and during times like these you realize how many good friends you have. Professors, classmates and friends are the best people you have during college. We’re all trying to get that degree, so be sure to remember that everyone is on the same side.

It’s safe to say going to college across the country gave me a new perspective. New ways of thinking, different ways of talking (saying “da” instead of “the” still throws me off, and you know who you are) but mostly living up here gave me some of the bests friends I’ll ever meet. If you ask me, college is about figuring yourself out while getting an education. Learning is important, but if you are too ignorant to think for yourself then there was no point in going

May 6, 2016

Writing for the Encounter, playing for the Fighting Saints football program for three years and the Fighting Saints soccer team for one has led to the greatest moments of my life and the best memories and friends anyone can hope to have. Some would say that three weeks left in the semester is a short amount of time. I see it as 21 more opportunities to do some pretty fun things with some of the best/dumbest/ smartest/most fun people I know. Peace out, St. Francis. It’s been real!

Photo courtesy of outsidethebeltway.com and huffpost.com

hot or not? c2e2 edition by: Kylie Mason

There are always new fads and trends happening in the “nerd culture” world and I am here to try out these trends and let you know if they are truly worth all the hype they are receiving. For this edition of “Nerd Culture: Hot or Not” I will be discussing the worldwide phenomenon that is “conventions.” Chicago’s Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2) was hosted at the McCormick Place from March 18-20 this year and I was lucky enough to be able to attend. This was my first time attending a convention, and as I stated in my last Nerd Culture article, it was my first time cosplaying as well. There are quite a few words I would use to describe my experience at C2E2, and two of them would be incredible and overwhelming. Within the first five minutes of being inside McCormick Place—not even into the actual event yet, mind you—I had already had people asking if Kiki (my cosplay of choice) would mind getting her picture taken. Of course, this was new and exciting to me, so I said yes in a heartbeat. However, as the day went on and I was exploring all parts of C2E2, I noticed that the pictures never really stopped. Sometimes it was a bit overwhelming (especially when Kiki was trying to sit and eat a slice of cheese pizza), but overall the excitement that people recognized my character and wanted to talk to me or take pictures was fantastic.

though, and that was Ginger Zap. The artist, Liz Wachter, prides herself on digital impressionism that every nerd will love. You can order her prints on her Etsy page: https://www.etsy.com/shop/gingerzap. Now to talk about C2E2 as a whole. The convention itself was extremely easy to navigate throughout as the different sections were labeled with signs on the ceiling. However, certain parts of McCormick Place would get so crowded that I would have to step aside until the area cleared. There were numerous panels throughout the weekend and also red carpet stars there including John Cusack and Melissa Benoist (best known for “Glee” and “Supergirl”). To say that my time there was fun would be an understatement. I met so many new people, found an entirely new respect for art and cosplay and spent my entire paycheck in one weekend.

COMMENTARY

Nerd culture:

So the real question is: are conventions hot or not? A weekend pass for C2E2 is approximately $60, I spent probably $20 on food and over $300 on merchandise to decorate my house with, but the memories I made and the amount of fun I had was absolutely priceless. This was my first convention, and thanks to C2E2 hosting such a well-organized and creative event, it will not be my last. So the verdict, you ask? Conventions are most definitely hot, and I can’t wait for the next one!

My character, Kiki, had a simple costume. The amount of complexity that some of these convention-goers put into their cosplay was absolutely astounding. I saw—numerous—Harley Quinn’s, Pyramid Head from “Silent Hill,” Batman, Fix-it Felix and his romantic partner Calhoun, Mad-Eye Moody from “Harry Potter” and much more. I had the chance to interview Sarah, who was cosplaying as Ashe from the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game “League of Legends,” and she had said that she spent over 40 hours on her homemade costume (you can check her out on Facebook: “Sarbear Cosplay”). The amount of dedication and talent that I saw put into the different costumes definitely gave me a newfound respect for cosplayers. My favorite part of the entire convention was Artist’s Alley. This was a place where amateur and professional artists could display and sell their prints, drawings, paintings, stickers, comic books, jewelry and more. Overall, I spent about $300 on prints and stickers in Artist’s Alley alone. There was art there that I spent more money at than others

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu 35

A Day in the Life...

Dominique Annis

Dominique Annis first came to the College of St. Francis as a freshman, before the school became the University of St. Francis during her sophomore year. After earning a Bachelors in Business Management with a minor in Marketing, Dominique continued her education at USF to receive a Masters in Science in Management while also working fulltime in Residence Life. After earning her Masters, Dominique tried new things and explored life, only to come back to St. Francis five years later. USF has become her home. “I loved the community and missed the amazing students,” Dominique said. This is her ninth year serving as the Director of Student Engagement and Leadership. As the Director of Student Engagement and Leadership, Dominique also serves as the advisor to the Student Activities Board (SAB). Within these positions, she oversees many of the major student-focused events on campus. “Every day is different for me,” Dominique said, explaining how there is no “typical day” in the office. “If it’s summer, I am busy planning Transfer and Freshman Orientation. At the beginning of the school year we have Welcome Week activities and Homecoming. In late fall I am planning for spring. Once spring starts, it’s more planning of Welcome Back activities, Spring Fling activities and Relay for Life. Late spring brings on fall planning: Senior Celebration and Orientation Board,

May 6, 2016

by: Andrew Finein

and then right back into Orientation planning.” The event Dominique looks forward to the most, however, is the end of Freshman Orientation. “There is so much planning involved on my part. The Orientation Board and I love to see how it all comes together.” Another favorite for Dominique is the Spring Fling dance. She says, “It’s always fun to watch the students let loose as the semester is coming to an end.” The thing Dominique enjoys the most about her position at USF is the relationships she builds with the students. She loves it when students stop by her office to hangout and talk about what’s going on. She even enjoys keeping in touch with former students. “I have stayed in contact with many student leaders who have graduated and watched them get their first job, get married and start families. It’s very rewarding!” Every year, Dominique has helped students excel and become active leaders both on campus and in the community. Current SAB president, Christina Bravo, is just one student she has helped. “Dominique does a great job relating to me as well as other students, which in turn has helped me to feel more comfortable expanding my leadership roles,” Christina stated.

Congratulations Class of 2016!

Athletic Profile:

CHARLIE LUDOLPH by: Sara Michalowicz

Charles ‘Charlie’ Ludolph came to the University of St. Francis from Washington, Illinois in 2012 to further his education and continue playing the sport he loves; baseball. Ludolph shows his commitment to not only the baseball team, but also towards his academics, as he is on the Dean’s List and holds a 3.37 GPA. Ludolph is majoring in Recreation, Sport, and Tourism Management with a concentration in Sport Operations and simultaneously obtains a minor in Sports Management. In order to balance his academics during the baseball season, Ludolph takes advice from Coach Michalak, who says, “Get ahead of your school work, so that you are not doing

homework and baseball all at once.” Ludolph does just that by always staying ahead on his classwork so he can put all of his focus towards schooling or towards baseball. Ludolph is a left-handed pitcher for USF and in 2015 he was a CCAC (Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference) All-Academic honoree, pitched in nine games with one start, and struck out 28 batters in 20.1 innings (12.4 per nine innings). Ludolph states that his favorite part about being a pitcher is “being in control on the mound and having control of the game.” When he is not pitching, he cheers his team on and makes sure that his teammates all have a smile on their face and that they are having fun. The week of April 11 was the more memorable for Ludolph on the field. After posting back-to-back complete-game victories over Indiana South Bend and Trinity Christian, Ludolph was awarded CCAC Pitcher of the Week for the first time in his collegiate career. In his two starts that week, Ludolph logged a .60 ERA while allowing only 11 hits in 15 innings of play. Ludolph was named the CCAC Pitcher of the Week for his second time in three weeks during the week of April 26. Ludolph states that his favorite part about playing baseball is “being with my family out there on the field. I love my teammates and treat them like my family. Also, knowing that I can get away from school and have fun playing the game I love.” Although he states that the team does not have any specific rituals before taking the field, they do like to listen to music before games while eating breakfast or lunch as a team. Before this season began, the team set a goal to have 32 wins as a team and to win conference. For Ludolph individually, during his final season as a Saint, he would like to win conference with his team, create lasting memories and play every game as if it is his last. After graduation, Ludolph plans to get an internship in the field of Sports Operations or as a Park District in which he can work and move his way up in the workforce.

May 6, 2016

SPORTS

Photos courtesy of USF Athletics

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu 39

Saints on the Field by: Katie Nork

From Illinois State Senator Pat McGuire to Illinois House of Representatives member Natalie Manley, the University of St. Francis has some very notable alumni. Little do most know, USF also has had several alumni that have been fortunate enough to take their athletic careers beyond college. Most recently, 2015 graduate Adam Panayotovich was invited to the Chicago White Sox Spring Training camp. While at USF, Panayotovich set the school record for most career wins with 39 and most career strikeouts with 342. Two major league teams had contacted him during his senior year, but he was not selected in the MLB Draft in June. Despite not being drafted to the majors, Panayotovich was asked to play for the Joliet Slammers to continue his baseball career after college. However, in February, he received a call from the Chicago White Sox to come play at Spring Training. At the conclusion of Spring Training, Panayotovich was signed to the Arizona League (AZL) White Sox roster, a minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, where he is currently playing. Another St. Francis alum, Jon Debus, made his way into the major league baseball scene as well. Debus played under Saints Hall of Fame coach Gordie Gillespie. Debus took the Saints to their first NAIA World Series appearance. In his senior year, Debus batted .352 with 99 hits and 87 runs batted in (RBIs) before being drafted to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ minor league system. He played minor league ball for 10 seasons, then went on to coach in the minors. In 2011, Debus was hired as the bullpen coach for the New York Mets but only stayed there for one season. USF has produced some notable alums in the football world as well. Mike Feminis is the only St. Francis football player to start every game of his collegiate career. Feminis was USA Today’s NAIA Division II Player of the Year and was selected to be a part of the NAIA All-American Team during his time at St. Francis. In 1999, he took head football coaching job at Saint Xavier University (SXU), where he is still currently coaching. Over the first 16 years of his career, Saint Xavier had a total record of 144-50 under Feminis. He led them to the NAIA Football National Championship in 2011, the first national title in SXU history. His team has also appeared in the NAIA postseason 9 times since 2002. Feminis was named the 2011 NAIA National Coach of the Year.

‘15 Graduate Adam Panayotovich 40

May 6, 2016

As you can see, USF has had some great players come through their doors. In the future, we can only hope that we will continue to see more Saints take their athletic careers beyond St. Francis and into the professional sports world. Photos courtesy of chicagotribune.com

American Ninja Warrior

SPORTS

USF’s Own by: Sara Michalowicz

A dream came true on April 28 for University of St. Francis student Justin Vandenburg, 21, when he was given the opportunity to compete on the heart-racing competition series American Ninja Warrior (ANW) in Indianapolis. Hosted by Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbajabiamila with co-host Kristine Leahy, ANW will return to NBC on June 1 with encore showings on Esquire Network throughout the season. ANW follows competitors and aspiring ‘ninjas’ as they tackle a series of challenging obstacle courses in cities across the country, all in hopes of making it to the national finals held in Las Vegas. At the end of the four-stage national finals course, modeled after the famed Mt. Midoriyama course in Japan, is a $1,000,000 prize, which has been captured just once in seven seasons by Isaac Caldiero in 2015. Vandenburg has been watching ANW since season three with his long-term best friend, Sean McCaffrey. Together they found a passion in the art of movement of parkour, also known as free-running, which Vandenburg has been doing actively for eight years. In order to be selected for the show, you must fill out an application and create a submission video which tells your story as well as display your talents and skills.

As the time to run the course approached, it became very surreal for Vandenburg, with myriad family and friends supporting him and some coming along to watch. “I feel as though I am representing all of those who are rooting for me and I am super excited and ready to run on the course and have some fun,” he stated. Once there, Vandenburg was able to meet some of the competitors in past seasons that he looks up to, such as Brian Arnold, Ian Dory and Drew Drechsel. Despite two rain delays and a severe lack of sleep, Vandenburg reflected, “it was a great experience and I had an amazing time meeting all of the other ninjas, I made a great friend in Adam Arnold who gave me some great advice and it was great to have my family and friends there to watch and support me.” Make sure to tune in this June to the Indianapolis episodes to see how far Vandenburg made it on this very challenging course and keep your eye out for him in years and seasons to come, as this is just the start of this amazing experience.

On March 24, Vandenburg received the exciting phone call from an ANW casting member, congratulating him on being selected to compete. It was that moment when he realized that this dream was becoming a reality. This was the first year Vandenburg was eligible for the show, as you must be at least 21 years of age to participate, and he was very excited to be given this opportunity his first time applying. He started training a bit harder, but decided that he was not going to let it take control of his life and that he was competing for the experience and, above all, to have fun. To train, Vandenburg would frequently do parkour around town, as well as practice on obstacles built in his backyard. Photo courtesy of empseyfit.com

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Summer 2016

Olympic Update Game players, sports buffs and athletic enthusiasts are pumped up and eagerly awaiting the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. With the 2016 Olympics, many new events will be making their debut for the first time in Olympic history. In addition, other sports are being eliminated in order to make room for some of the new sports. Golf, rugby and kitesurfing are three sports that will be new to the 2016 Summer Olympics. Kitesurfing has never been seen by the Olympics and is a thrilling and novel sport that promises breathtaking sportsmanship and guarantees to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. So what exactly is this new sport that everyone is talking about? Kitesurfing is a type of aerial surfing that combines the concepts of paragliding and windsurfing into a whole new dimension. Many argue that this new sport is too dangerous and extreme for the Olympics, but Olympic panelists voted it in and the pure aesthetics of this new kitesurfing sport will certainly draw viewers in. Unfortunately, with every bit of good news comes some bad news. Although Kitesurfing is a great addition to this year’s Summer Olympics, it is giving another sport the boot. Kitesurfing will replace windsurfing in the 2016 Olympics. Windsurfing has been part of the Olympic competition since 1984 and many people fear that this switch was not a wise decision by the Olympic Committee. Only time will tell if the switch from Windsurfing to Kitesurfing will prove to be a smart decision. Unlike kitesurfing, which is a completely new sport, golf and rugby are considered ‘new’ in the sense that they are returning to the Olympics after a hiatus. Fifteen-man rugby made

May 6, 2016

by: Nicholas Pillish

its final appearance in the 1924 games in Paris and was then bumped from the program. Likewise, golf has also been absent from the Olympics for a whopping 112 years! The initial reaction to bringing back both golf and rugby was phenomenal. In 2009, plans were underway for the 2016 Summer Olympics and it was announced back then that rugby and golf would be returning. When the decision was made to bring back golf to the Olympics, 33 countries were already in line to participate. Tiger Woods and Annika Sorenstam have both expressed interest in participating. Bringing golf to such a large platform like the Olympics will certainly help increase the popularity of the sport. As for rugby, it was initially eliminated from the Olympics due to safety issues. With it’s return to the Olympics, the committee has spent a lot of time to help ensure a potentially less dangerous game. The International Olympic Committee is hopeful that these adjustments to the game will give rugby the staying power it needs to stay in the Olympics past 2016. In addition, the International Olympic Committee added rugby because it has the potential to open up a team sport to countries that otherwise cant compete in the team sports currently offered. This summer, make sure to take a break and tune into the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The Olympics are scheduled to begin on August 5. Check out your local station for a listing of events. Take a break from the summer heat, turn up the AC and turn into the Summer Olympics to check out all the new events for this year. It certainly sounds like the Olympics will be guaranteed to deliver plenty of excitement. Photos courtesy of wikimedia.org

by: Brandon Newberry With the 2016 Summer Olympics just around the corner, we’re that much closer to a summer filled with soccer, swimming, golf, rugby and many other Olympic sports. This means the usual stars for the USA Olympic team will be back out in full force. Over the next few months, you can plan on hearing all about Alex Morgan for women’s soccer, Gabby Douglas for gymnastics and Michael Phelps for swimming, but what about all the other USA Olympic Athletes?

For the 2012 Olympics in London, the United States Olympic Committee sent 530 athletes to represent the USA in 25 different sports. The total number of athletes being sent for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro is expected to be around the same, if not higher than the 2012 total.

SPORTS

Meet your 2016 Team USA Olympic Athletes The following are three USA athletes worth keeping an eye on during the 2016 Olympics.

Haley Anderson, Swimming: Perhaps one of the brightest spots in the future of USA Swimming is 24-year-old Haley Anderson. Anderson first broke out in the 2012 Olympics in London after winning silver in the 10k marathon swim for the United States. Since then, Anderson has taken the gold medal in the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships in Hawaii. She also participated in the 2015 FINA World Championships where she won gold in the open water 5-kilometer race and qualified for the 2016 Olympics.

Brian Bell, Wheelchair Basketball: At just 10 years old, Brian Bell lost his leg in a train accident. After he recuperated and finished rehabilitation, he wanted to get right back to playing the sports he loved: football and basketball. After attempting one year of football with a prosthetic leg, Bell realized football was too strenuous for him to carry on and one his mom’s friends directed him to Paralympic and Olympic training facility across town. From then on, Bell developed a love for wheelchair basketball. Bell helped guide Team USA to the gold medal at the 2015 Parapan Am games in Toronto and hopes to do the same for Team USA in the 2016 Olympics. As if you needed another reason to root for Bell, he currently resides in Forest Park, Illinois when he is not traveling around the world to play.

Christen Press, Soccer: The success of Christen Press should come as no surprise to anyone. During her four years at Stanford University, Press had 71 goals and 41 assists in only 98 games. In her senior year, Press was awarded the Hermann Trophy, a prestigious award given to the top male and female player in collegiate soccer every year. In her international soccer career, Press has played in 52 games (only started in 32 of them) and has scored 34 goals in those games, an average of 1.1 goals per 90 minutes. During the 2015 season, Press scored the 2nd most goals on the U.S. Women’s National Team with 10.

Photos courtesy of teamusa.org and fifa.com

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Graduation Party Recipes! Cut out these yummy recipes to make some delicious food for your graduation party!

Watermelon picnic punch

Ingredients • 1 mini seedless watermelon • 8 ounces lemon juice • 2 cups frozen strawberries • 3/4 cup sugar • 2 cups ice Directions 1. Slice the mini watermelon in half, using a spoon to scrape all of the fruit from the center of the melon. Place in a large blender. 2. Add the lemon juice, strawberries, sugar, and ice to the blender. Blend until pureed. 3. Pour lemonade straight from your blender, or pour into a pitcher. For an extra fun way to serve this drink, pour it into the two empty halves of the watermelon, add a skewered strawberry and lemon for garnish, then slurp your lemonade from a straw!

Chili Cheese Dip

Ingredients • 1 block of cream cheese • 1 can of Hormel chili • Half a block of Velveeta Directions 1. Add all ingredients into crockpot. 2. Turn on high until fully heated. 3. Serve and enjoy!

Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries

Ingredients • 24+ large, fresh strawberries (1½ to 2 lbs, depends on how much you fill them) • 1 (8oz) package cream cheese, room temperature or softened slightly • ½ cup powdered sugar • 1 tsp vanilla extract • ½ cup fresh blueberries Instructions 1. Cut the stems from the strawberries, so the strawberries can sit cut-side down. 2. Cut a deep “X” from the tip down, being careful not to cut all the way through. 3. Beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla in a bowl with a hand mixer until nice and fluffy. 4. Gently open up each strawberry and pipe the filling inside using a pastry bag or zip-top bag with a star piping tip. 5. Top each filled strawberry with a blueberry. Chill for an hour and serve.

Congratulations class of 2016!