NEWS Graphic design students sweep ADDYs | Page 3
SPRING KING FLING
FEATURES Student pops the question | Page 7
Drag show raises record amount | Page 12
theSentinel T H E O F F I C I A L S T U D E N T N E W S P A P E R O F N O R T H I D A HO C O L L E G E
monday | MARCH 25, 2013
CAMPUS
Heritage Week approaches Weeklong celebration begins April 8
WWW.NIC SENTINEL .C OM
KEEPING THE PROMISE
I am an American Soldier. I am a Warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values. I will always place the mission first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade. I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills. I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself. I am an expert and I am a professional. I stand ready to deploy, engage and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat. I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life. I am an American Soldier. I am an American Airman. I am a warrior. I have answered my Nation’s call. I am an American Airman. My mission is to Fly, Fight, and Win. I am faithful to a Proud Heritage, A Tradition of Honor, And a Legacy of Valor. I am an American Airman. Guardian of Freedom and Justice, My Nation’s Sword and Shield, Its Sentry and Avenger. I defend my Country with my Life. I am an American Airman. Wingman, Leader, Warrior. I will never leave an Airman behind, I will never falter, And I will not fail.
Armed Forces Tuition Assistance survives budget cuts
Kaye Thornbrugh Managing Editor
In the swing of things NIC men’s golf team wins invitational in Montana, golfer Westphal captures individual first-place tie Sports Page 10
Alex Rodal-Cubillas Staff Writer Kaye Thornbrugh Managing Editor
Inhofe (R-OK), blocked the armed services from cutting all funding for the Tuition Assistance program, directing the Department of Defense to find money to fund it. However, the Coast Guard is After steep sequestraexempt. The amendment that protion budget cuts prompted tected the program only covers the Army, Air Force, Marine the defense budget, and the Coast Corps, Coast Guard and NaGuard receives funding from the tional Guard to suspend their Department of Homeland Security. Tuition Assistance program The Coast Guard’s Tuition Assisfor active-duty military personnel, tance program remains suspended. a bipartisan amendment granted “I was stunned when I saw that the program a last-minute reTuition Assistance was being cut,” prieve March 21. said Curley Lawson, Multicultural The amendment, introand Veterans Adviser. “Cutting tuition duced by Senators Kay assistance can have a huge impact on R. Hagan (D-NC) veterans and active-duty people that and Jim are pursuing a higher education.” Before the program was reinstated, service members currently enrolled in courses approved for tuition assistance would not be affected and would be allowed to complete their courses. However, they would not be allowed to submit new requests for tuition assistance. Had the program not been spared, the suspension would have had a dramatic impact. The Tuition Assistance program Military veteran Alex Besch believes that those who serve the provides United States in the armed forces should receive the Tuition Asup to sistance they were promised. Photo by Mark Schultz/Sentinel. Photo Illus$4,500 in tration by Kaye Thornbrugh/Sentinel. financial
assistance per year for voluntary off-duty education programs. “Tuition Assistance practically paid for NIC,” said an active-duty National Guardsman, who is not permitted to speak to the press about Tuition Assistance. He spoke on the condition that his name be withheld. “It’s really easy for us guys in the Guard to go to school here and have other jobs, but not have to work full-time.” Thousands of military personnel use the Tuition Assistance program to help them take college courses that prepare them for their jobs in the military and help them advance. “It’s really hard to try and make ends meet, as well as get enough leads to actually do well in school,” said the National Guardsman. “Having that tuition assistance really helped out.” In the 2012 fiscal year, program provided $373 million to soldiers. With that money, 2,831 soldiers earned associates degrees, 4,495 earned baccalaureates, and 1,946 earned graduate degrees. “I used tuition assistance quite a bit,” Lawson said. “A combination of the G.I. Bill and tuition assistance paid for my undergrad degree and my graduate degree.” For military personnel attending North Idaho College, Tuition Assistance covers $924 of the $1,423 that it costs to be a full-time student. The remaining balance is the fee portion, which Tuition Assistance does not cover. “If you serve the country in some aspect,” said military veteran Alex Besch, “you should be given the right to go to school on Tuition Assistance and whatever else comes with that package.”
SWEEPING AWAY THE COMPETITION
The North Idaho College softball team won all four games in the series against Colorado Northwestern March 15-16 at Memorial Field in Coeur d’Alene. See page 9 for the full story. Mark Schultz/Sentinel
QUOTABLE
The American Indian Student Alliance (AISA) will kick off the 2013 American Indian Heritage Week April 8. Heritage Week is an annual celebration of American Indian culture and history that includes a variety of performances, lectures and workshops. For the first time, AISA has partnered with Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy to plan a writing symposium called “A Celebration of Diversity Through Writing.” Some events, such as the silent auction, will benefit the Che’nshish Scholarship, which provides tuition assistance for enrolled tribal members and descendants attending NIC. Thus far, AISA has raised around $60,000 for the scholarship fund. Evanlene Melting Tallow, AISA adviser, said she hopes the weeklong celebration will help students and community members become more aware of the “very rich culture” of the tribes surrounding them. “There isn’t another event like this in this region,” Melting Tallow said. “I think it showcases a lot of the tribes in this area. It gives you an opportunity to partake of the culture and understand the history. It’s past, present and future.” Events include? Monday: Storytelling with Marie Poirier will begin at 10:00 a.m. in the Driftwood Bay Room of the SUB. The Shooting Star Dancers will perform at 11:45 a.m., and Quanah Matheson will give a presentation on Coeur d’Alene Tribal history at 1:15 p.m. Tuesday: A silent auction benefitting the Che’nshish Scholarship will occur in the Driftwood Bay Room from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Arts and crafts vendors will showcase and sell their work in the SUB. Art demonstrations—including basket weaving, clay art and acrylic on canvas— will happen through the day, from 10:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Wednesday: The Inter-Tribal Food Feast will be 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the SUB. Salmon, fry bread, corn and a huckleberry dessert costs $6. Only 150 plates are available. Hoop dancers from the Tangled Roots Dance Studio will perform at 12:30 p.m., and Norma Peone will teach stick game at 1:30 p.m. Thursday: Musician Jack Gladstone and the Haida Heritage Dance Group will perform at the Inter-Tribal Show, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. in Boswell Hall. Tickets are $5. Children 12 and under get in free, as do NIC students with student ID. Friday: A free Native American craft workshop for families will take place in the SUB from 6:30-9:00 p.m. Free pizza and refreshments will be provided. Coeur d’Alene tribal members Amanda Johnson and Sherry Mays will present a live performance of the story “Rainbow Crow Saves the World” at 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Saturday: The writing symposium “A Celebration of Diversity Through Writing” will run from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Professional writers and educators will speak. Keynote speaker Evanlene Melting Tallow will speak on enculturation— storytelling handed down through generations. Registration costs $7.50 for NIC students and $25 for community members. Registration ends March 27.
Volume 65 | Issue 8
“It takes a true scientist to get that excited about excrement.” Perspectives Page 6
Where to start News...........................1
Sports.......................9
Perspectives............5
Games.......................11
Features.................7
Drag show................12
class days left
5
UNTIL
SPRING
Break
Campus News
News tip? Story idea?
Contact Christina Villagomez
208-769-3388
cmvillagomez@students.nic.edu
page 2
www.nicsentinel.com
monday, MARCH 25, 2013
Nick DeVito exchanged final words with his manager at the gun counter of Wholesale Sports in Coeur d’Alene minutes before the store closed its doors for the final time.
Wholesale Sports killed by investment group Thirty-five employees laid off despite record sales year
Christina Villagomez Co-Webmaster/News Editor
I
t appeared to be business as usual at Wholesale Sports on Saturday, March 9, but the packed parking lot and busy employees belied the signals that something was amiss. Empty spaces now adorned the walls where mounted trophy animals once hung, and the occasional barren rack in a shopping aisle revealed the reality of the situation. Tomorrow the store’s doors would close for good.
“Its probably the best job I’ll ever have in my whole life,” said six-year employee Nick DeVito, 24, Geomatics, Rose Lake. “I didn’t see any end in sight. I always figured I’d work par t time, go to school for the Forest Ser vice, but I always saw myself working there on the weekends.” DeVito was just one of 35 employees to be laid of f in the wake of the store’s closing—a
store that by all accounts was turning a profit. “It’s been busy; we had a record year,” DeVito said. But the record sales were not enough to save the store that had been on shaky ground for some time. Originally opening as a Spor tsman’s Warehouse in 2007, the Coeur d’Alene store was rebranded as a Wholesale Spor ts outlet after the Calgar y-
Photos By Gabe Green Photo Editor
based United Farmers of Alber ta Co-operative (UFA) purchased the bankr upt chain. Last month, UFA President Bob Nelson announced on the co-operative’s website that it would be selling Wholesale back to Spor tsman’s Warehouse and a par tnered investment firm, the Alamo Group. “Over the past few years we have made significant progress and worked hard to turn the business around and we are exceptionally proud of the ef for ts that have been made,” Nelson said. “We tried to encompass everything in shooting sports,”DeVito said. The UFA reportedly struggled DeVito estimated gun prices to be $30 cheaper than their competition. to find its footing in the American market, describing 2011 as a year DeVito said the main trouble due to the Canadian-based comthat “fell short of budget targets” in with the Coeur d’Alene store was pany’s inability to find solutions for its annual report about Wholesale not a lack of customer interest, but logistical Sports to investors. an inability to properly stock shelves See CLOSING | Page 4
Alex McLean and Nick DeVito talk about guns during a quiet moment in their shift. “Everyone was always in a good mood when they were there,” McLean said.
DID YOU KNOW? On average, an estimated 88 out of 100 people own at least one firearm in the United States.
www.nicsentinel.com
NEWS
the sentinel | 3
Student Union to get new coffee shop Alex Rodal-Cubillias Staff Writer
Lauren Brandt (third from left), Ryan Maskell (fourth from left), Ernie Bauer (sixth from left), and Hannah Shields(far right) all took home awards. Mark Schultz/Sentinel
Graphic design awards ADDY up Graphic design students sweep award competition with wins Christina Villagomez Co-Webmaster/News Editor
F
our of NIC’s graphic design majors set sail for victory at Spokane’s annual ADDY Awards. NIC took home a record number of wins at this year’s nautically themed “Oscars” of graphic design. “We won more gold, more silver than in previous years,” said graphic design instructor Philippe Valle. “It was a very good showing and is a testimonial to how good this program at North Idaho College is.” Lauren Brandt, 21, Coeur d’Alene, took home the most awards of the night, with two Silver ADDYs, a Gold ADDY and a Toni M. Robideaux Scholarship for excellence in advertising arts and student achievement. “I got my first Silver ADDY and I starting shaking,” Brandt said. “I almost fell down as I was trying to walk up to the stage because I was shaking so bad. It was really incredible.” Brandt received her ADDYs for advertisements she designed for NIC, including a Trestle Creek review cover design, a poster for a student play and a logo for the college’s aerospace program. Brandt and classmate Hannah Shields knew in advance that they were to receive Robideaux scholarships, but the outcome of the ADDYs remained a secret. “I was really hoping to win [an ADDY] but it was also a big surprise,” Brandt said. Ernie Bauer, 46, Priest River, also took home a Gold and Silver ADDY. “I’m overwhelmed, honestly,” Bauer said. “I feel incredible, I’m
Christina Villagomez Co-Webmaster/ News Editor Despite a recent push from gun advocates statewide, campus administrators said they will continue to shoot down the concept of students being allowed to carry firearms on campus. “It doesn’t mean that we don’t believe in Second Amendment rights, there are just places where it is not a good choice,” said Vice President for Student Services Graydon Stanley. Stanley compared carrying a gun on campus to carrying a gun on a plane or in a county courthouse where the right is temporarily suspended for greater safety. “We are a public entity as well,” Stanley said. The response came after rumors in Idaho’s capitol arose last month about whether or not freshmen Republican representatives would attempt to resurrect the failed “Guns on Campus” bill that would have forbade colleges
Ernie Bauer presented his Gold ADDY winning advertisment campaign “Foxy.” Gabe Green/Sentinel
really surprised about the gold.” Bauer won the gold for his poetry flipbook, “The Kiss,” and the silver for his Paris Hilton perfume campaign redesign, “Foxy.” “‘The Kiss’ was fun because that was a completely non-traditional piece to do,” said Carl Heidle, an adjunct NIC graphic design instructor. “I think some of the students here have really raised the bar on what we can do.” Many of the student’s entries started as class projects, such as 21-year old Ryan Maskell’s Silver ADDY Award winning “Nightwatch” logo design. “It just kind of started out as something I wasn’t so enthused to do originally, I really didn’t want
to do the assignment,” Maskell said. “A lot of times with designs, they kind of bring themselves to fruition so the design just kind of works its way up and you’re the instrument that is working through. It just kind of comes to life by itself. I realized that it was starting to bloom into something pretty quickly.” Heidle, who has competed and won ADDYs at a national level, said the experience is priceless for students. “It’s a huge kudos to you and it’s a great way to launch yourself into a job,” Heidle said. The ADDYs are held at a local level, with Gold and Silver winners going on to be judged at a district
level, with the best of the best from across the country meeting in Washington, D.C., for a final competition. “It looks like its just a little awards show sometimes, but its actually a really big competition, especially for students,” Heidle said.Heidle, who also teaches in Spokane, said he’s noticed a big change in the program’s competitiveness. “From teaching at two different schools, it been really fun for me to see here how this program has kind of raised up. You’re seeing some really great talent coming up,” Heidle said. “Whereas ten years ago it wasn’t really on the radar and now it is.”
NO GUNS ALLOWED NIC Vice President discusses guns on campus
across the state to prohibit students from carrying firearms on campus. The bill was not without some student support. “The best way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun,” said Jessie Stinton, 23, History, Nampa. “If Campus Safety or students were armed I personally would feel safer.” NIC Vice President for Marketing and Communications Mark Browning said that while many of the gun-carry bills up for discussion in Boise predominantly apply only to k-12 schools, the college will continue to monitor the political temperature closely. “All of the gun bills that have run so far have maintained that the final element of policy setting resides with the local school dis-
trict and that’s been our position here at NIC,” Browning said. “Whatever directive may or may not come down, we want to retain the authority to make that policy here with Illustration by Christina Villagomez our local board to make, not the legislature of trustees.” in Boise,” Stanley said. “Who Stanley said he hopes elected knows better about what’s good authorities will keep that in mind. for NIC than the people that live “We have a strong sense and work here?” that that’s a decision that we need
Renovations will begin inside NIC’s Student Union Building (SUB) this week. NIC’s current cof fee shop, The Educated Cup, will be moved to where the Windy Bay lounge is currently located and be remodeled to accomodate it’s new purpose “For the most par t it’s unutilized so it should be a good thing seeing the cof fee shop relocated,” said ASNIC Vice President Joshua Brands. The new cof fee shop will provide additional power stations, designated areas for USB por ts, new lighting fixtures and additional booths for seating. “I’m excited to be able to improve that space significantly by moving it to another location that has more privacy, better lighting, more intimacy, better access for people to study and better access to power,” said Student Union Manager Matt Sebby. The space currently used to house the Educated Cup was originally built to operate as an information desk. In the future it will be refitted for that use and also function as a One Card of fice. “The neatest par t of this is the ability to have an information desk for students coming in of f the street to have some place immediately to go to with question,” Sebby said. The Student Union Administration has been working with ASNIC as well as the Student Union Advisor y Board to set this project in motion and went through a bid to find a contractor earlier this month. The college is set to work with H2A architects for designs and TRINDERA Constr uction for lighting design. GINNO Constr uction will be per forming the actual constr uction. With a total budget of $170,000 for renovation, the end product is estimated to be significantly under budget, said Sebby. According to the constr uction statement, renovation will take a total of 45 days to complete; however, complex design elements might delay completion. “We’ve been working on this project six months but we have wanted to do it significantly longer than that,” Sebby said. “It came together pretty quickly in terms of a college based project.” Plans for renovation, including student input, design elements and location have been in the works as far back as a year ago. “Because it’s the Student Union Building we tr y to involve students as much as possible in ever y stage of the constr uction,” Sebby said. “Students give input as far as design elements that they’re interested in.” The por traits of past presidents currently located in Windy Bay will be moved to a dif ferent location in the SUB and be put into an exhibit. “Students shouldn’t have to worr y about the pictures; we’re looking for a location that will suitably hold all the pictures,” Brands said.
NIC to renew contract with parking services Thomas Hansen Staff Writer Diamond Parking is getting its contract renewed for the next school year, and bringing upgrades with them. Garry Stark, assistant director of facilities operations, is currently working with Diamond Parking to finalize the contract. Stark said that his experience as a parking commissioner for the city gave him a look at how the city operates, and specifically how they use Diamond Parking. “We looked at Diamond and I thought, ‘well, what kind of selling point is Diamond going to be for us without messing with the students?’ because we don’t want headhunters out there,” Stark said. “We want them to just patrol the lots
See PARKING | Page 4
NEWS
4 | the sentinel
Monday, MaRCH 25, 2013
Campus Security switches departments Thomas Hansen Staff Writer Campus Security has moved to the student ser vices department in an attempt to reflect the new scope of its duties. Security previously fell under the jurisdiction of administrative ser vices, which is primarily responsible for maintaining the campus’ buildings and grounds. President Joe Dunlap said that the change is part of an added emphasis on safety and security, and that the administration is committed to this initiative. “Back in the day security ser ved mostly to open doors and close doors, and lock buildings,” said Graydon Stanley, vice president of student ser vices. “It has certainly changed in the last five years, and even more rapidly, in the last two years.” Graydon said that there is a heightened expectation for campus security to play a critical role in ensuring safety on campus. Stanley said campus safety concerns were heightened after an incident occurred last fall involving a student making threats towards the campus resulted in several days of police presence. Campus security will primarily answer to Alex Harris, director of student development, who is responsible for issues of student conduct. “It’s become apparent that it makes a lot of sense for people that deal with students on a daily basis, that are responsible for students’ conduct, the people that are in touch with what’s going on with the students on a daily basis, that security reports to us,” Harris said. With any issues involving student misconduct falling under Harris’ jurisdiction, Harris said that this change removes an unneeded layer between himself and campus security. Harris said that because campus security operates out of the general fund of the campus budget there will not be any changes financially beyond administrative oversight on how money is spent. “The changes are a lot of behind-the-scenes administrative changes,” Harris said. “Will students see a difference? I think so, eventually. It may not necessarily be because they’re now reporting in this structure, but it will more be because we have a new emphasis on revising some plans and implementing other things.” Harris said that the process is in early stages, and that many changes will be operating procedures, and revamping emergency procedures. They will also be training faculty in these new emergency procedures. In addition to the move into student ser vices, NIC administrators have approved new acquisitions as part of this security initiative. Campus security will get access to a new database which allows more efficient and effective tracking and saving of information. It will also allow campus security to track where incidents commonly occur, and allow security to be more proactive in the prevention of incidents. The purchase of 140 interior locks for $25,000 has also been approved. This will allow classrooms to be locked from the inside which is necessar y in events such as lockdowns. “We’re real action oriented now. We’re not just going to talk the talk, but we’re going to walk the walk,” Graydon said. “We’re going to have locks on doors, we’re going to have security working this way, we’re going to practice different kinds of trainings, we’re going to have a warning system that communicates well to people what’s going on and what to do.” Graydon said that although it may not happen this year, there is also a goal to acquire a resource of ficer. He said that somebody who qualified and trained in law enforcement would allow for a much quicker response. A resource officer is a police officer assigned to work with a school and their administration. Harris said that many of the changes will take time to implement, but that visible progress should be made in time for the next school year.
One of 35 employees laid off by Wholesale Sports, Nick DeVito cleaned out his locker after his final shift. Gabe Green/Sentinel
>CLOSING
semester began],” McLean said. “It didn’t matter what time I needed to go to school. I thought after my [class] schedule changed I would lose a bunch of hours, but if anything I’ve gained more.” It was about more than work hours, however, DeVito said. “Ever since I was a little kid I’ve wanted to make a living hunting, or fishing or in that industry. I’ve been able to make that living, have a life, these last six years,” DeVito said. “I’m going to miss going to work and knowing I get to spend time with guns and people that have the same interests as I do. Not only was it my everyday hobby, passion, it was fun to mix it in with work too.”
such as free guns, it may be difficult McLean, who started working there to find another local retailer with the last August. “I finally got hired, and same hiring benefits. now they’re closing the store. My dream came true and then I was “Both companies, shot down.” Sportsmans and Whole“I’m going to sale, treated employees McLean said very well,” DeVito said. miss going the bonds be“The employee incentives to work and tween coworkers make the closing knowing I get have been phenomenal.” harder. to spend time DeVito said he also “Everyone in found both companies to with people that store treats have a history of employing that have the you like family; same interests students and being willeveryone is really ing to work around hectic as I do.” close,” McLean school schedules. said. McLean agreed. NICK DEVITO DeVito said “My managers guaranformer employee with yearly raises, teed I would have the same bonuses and gifts amount of hours [after the
from page 2
problems on U.S. soil. “We’re just starting to catch up and become proficient, which I think has led to our success in setting a record year,” DeVito said. The announcement for the store’s closing came on Feb. 21, after Sportsmans turned over four of its reacquired stores to the Alamo Group, who ultimately declined to keep them open. For Alex McLean, wildlife biology major at NIC, the news was especially disappointing. “I’ve been shopping at the store since it first opened and I’d always dreamed of finding a job there,” said
CAMPUS SECURITY LOG 5
1
3
2
March 14 - The CDAPD was notified after a unidentified female did not pay the fare for a taxi that she exited at Lee Kildow Hall.
4 2
3
March 18 - A construction vehicle was vandalized in Parking Lot A. The matter was referred to the CDAPD.
4
March 18 - A potentially intoxicated person in Boswell Hall was reported to the Dean of Students by Campus Security.
6
For the complete Campus Security Log visit www.nicsentinel.com
1
March 4 - The Coeur d’Alene Police Department (CDAPD) was called after a student was detained in the Residence Hall for the possession of a possible illegal substance.
>PARKING from page 3
like our security people would try to do if they weren’t so busy.” One of the changes Stark and Diamond intend to bring is making the parking permit process online, and implementing a new database. Currently students have to go to the office to fill out vehicle information and purchase their parking
passes. Stark said that students are able to appeal any ticket they feel is unwarranted. “I told our guys that are patrolling for Diamond, ‘don’t give them a ticket unless it’s bad,” Stark said. Currently the appeal must be filed in person, but Stark wants to see the appeals done online. Stark said that a lot of his appeals are from Rosenberry Drive. Diamond also patrols there for the city
5
March 20 - Police cited a student in the Residence Hall for the
possession of drugs, in addition to being for warded to the Dean of Students for disciplinar y action.
6
March 22 - Student reported hit and run while their vehicle was
parked on Rosenberry Drive. A report will be filed with the CDAPD.
in addition to the police and community patrol. Diamond also provides additional services with their “We Care” program. They can provide enough gasoline to get to a gas station, and help with flat tires. Campus security has unlocked cars and jumped cars, but lacked the equipment to deal with more serious car problems. Renewing the Diamond Parking contract means that campus secu-
rity, which was recently moved into student services, no longer has to patrol the lots and can focus on other duties. “The contract is still kind of under negotiations depending on which one of these systems we pick online. Last year we paid about $32,000,” Stark said. “I think right now this contract is in about the $80,000 range. The contract is for one year.
Students Answer: How do you feel about Diamond Parking?
Ben Keaty 17, CDA, Dual Credit
Nicole Albinola 22, Wallace, Child Development
Chance Watson 19, Post Falls, History
Ellie Engel 19, Sandpoint, Enviromental Science
“I think they do a pretty good job. It’s not so much the parking, it’s more like, for me, it’s hard to find places to park, but that’s not their fault.”
“I was pretty mad about it ($20 tickets) because there wasn’t any actual signs saying that you can’t be there past 11 or any signs that were clearly visible I guess.”
“I’ve gotten tickets both from the campus police and Diamond. The Diamond one seemed really nitpick, it was for not having a sticker in my window and the sticker was in the window.”
“I didn’t want to pay $80 [for a ticket], and luckily they reduced it to $40, but it was still a bummer having to pay it.”
Perspective tip? Story idea? Contact Kaye Thornbrugh
-- kayethornbrugh@gmail.com
PAGE 5
Perspectives MONDAY, MARCH 25, 2013
WWW.NICSENTINEL.COM
EDITORIAL
Rapists do not deserve sympathy
Jesus Christ Superstar Why I hate religion but love Jesus
S
ome people are drawn into conversations about religion because they want to debate, while others are turned off by the very word ‘religion’ itself. I’m not writing to debate about religion. In fact, I don’t even like the word. I believe Christianity is totally different than religion, and I’ll tell you why. The word Christian literally means “Christlike.” Do Christians generally live a Christ-like life? No, they absolutely do not. But who does? “Hypocrite” is a term often used to describe Christians, and it’s generally true. But who at one point or another in their lifetime isn’t a hypocrite? I definitely have been a hypocrite many times. Everyone lies multiple times throughout their lives. You might be thinking, “How is Jesus not religion?” or “Isn’t Christianity itself a religion?” Well, I have answers for you. My faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior is what fuels my soul to live a joy-filled life. A New Testament Bible verse, Romans 3:23 states, “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glor y of God…” Another New Testament Bible verse, John 3:16 states, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only
thing in the world. Well, Son, that whoever beI believe the most powerlieves in Him shall not ful thing is love – the love perish but have eternal of God that doesn’t come life.” from this world. These two verses You can argue and from the Bible, are ver y have all the debates well-known. You may have heard or read them you desire about the Bible, Jesus’ death and before. The great thing resurrection and theolabout these verses is ogy, but what it really that there’s one ver y comes down to is the simple point: that nothsimple truth of the puring anyone can do will pose of Jesus Christ. make them worthy of He came into the world eternal life in heaven to save the with God. world, not to But don’t condemn it. fret, there’s a No religion solution. offers what A choice Jesus does. has to be Jesus is totally made. Your different than heart has to religion berealize that cause religion the tempois all about rar y things Benaiah laws and tradiof this world Cheevers tions, when will only Assistant Jesus is all lead to your Sports Editor about loving demise, and the Lord with that in the all your heart, acceptance mind, soul and strength, of Jesus Christ into your your neighbor as yourheart lies the true prize. self. Jesus actually was So, what did Jesus scrutinized by the relido for you and me? Yes, gious people of his time, he hung on a cross as but he was able to prove he was crucified. Yes, he them wrong as he lived willingly died as a sacria life adhering to God’s fice in place of you and word. me, but he rose again True Christianity is three days later, making not a religion because it possible to have eternal when people strive to live life! a Christ-like life they are But why did He? living as God is calling He did so because of them to. God’s unfailing love and I honestly cannot amazing grace. If only stand the word “relieveryone realized wholegion.” There’s a huge heartedly the beauty of misinterpretation of salvation. Love is said Christianity today. I hope to be the most powerful
to see that change as people living for Jesus convey the truth of God’s love and grace more and more. A New Testament verse, Ephesians 2:8-9, states, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” What Jesus did was fulfill the Old Testament prophecies and law. Don’t let what others have been teaching you all your life prevent you from knowing God. Truly seek him and he will reveal himself to you. If none of my statements have affected you whatsoever, I encourage you to check out this link, http://tinyurl.com/am8hyej, to a video on YouTube titled, “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus || Spoken Word,” by Jefferson Bethke. I’m passionate about Jesus. My heart’s cry is to see people be real with one another, and for Christians to share the powerful truth of Jesus’ love and grace in a clear and loving way. I hope that in sharing my thoughts on why I hate religion but love Jesus has at the very least sparked something in your heart to motivate you to dive deeper into this subject.
“A choice has to be made. Your heart has to realize that the temporary things of this world will only lead to your demise and that in the acceptance of Jesus Christ into your heart lays the true prize.”
Recently the small city of Steubenville, Ohio has been the center of a rape trial that has captured the attention of the nation. Teenage football stars Trent Mays and Ma’lik Richmond were recently found guilty of the juvenile charge equal to rape for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl whose name has not been released. In the wake of this verdict—and the firestorm of criticism it has unleashed toward both the rapists and Jane Doe—our society is left with two vitally important subjects that need to be addressed. First and foremost, convicted rapists do not deserve sympathy. Contrary to the rabid railings of rape apologists on social media sites like Twitter, Jane Doe did not ruin the lives of Richmond and Mays by reporting her rape. Mays and Richmond ruined their own lives when they chose to commit rape—and, even worse, they severely scarred Jane Doe’s. Some members of the media (particularly on CNN) have focused on Richmond and Mays, noting how “difficult” it is to watch two teenage rapists being led out of a courtroom, lamenting how their convictions will get in the way of playing football, and sparing no time to speak about the only real victim. Even more appalling, some reporters have expressed concern that the label of “registered sex offender” will follow Mays and Richmond for the rest of their lives. But there is no tragedy in the social branding of convicted rapists. The tragedy is the rape these criminals chose to commit. Second, we need to address the definition of rape and the meaning of consent. If posts on social media sites are anything to go by, countless Americans are deeply confused about both. In our society’s rare conversations about rape, we often present rape as a single circumstance: a boogeyman leaping out from behind a bush to See STEUBENVILLE | Page 6
theSentinel Awards
Associated Press Five-Star All-American Newspaper National Pacemaker and Newspaper of the Year Three-Time Robert F. Kennedy Award-Winner Society of Professional Journalists National First-Place General Excellence Award National Hall of Fame National Society of Professional Journalists First-Place Online Idaho Press Club General Excellence Award
Editorial Board
Contributors
Kaye Thornbrugh Managing Editor
Connor Coughlin
Jantzen Hunsaker Co-Web Editor
Israel Gonzales
Christina Villagomez News Editor/ Co-Web Editor
Jim Chambers
Rebecca Flores
Thomas Hansen Andrea Jackson Elora King
Garrett Cabeza Sports Editor
Scott Lougheed
Tyson Juarez Features Editor
Chad McIntosh
Gabe Green Photo Editor Benaiah Cheevers Assistant Sports Editor Geoff Carr Adviser
Nick Marcou
Keilly Murphy Alex Rodal-Cubillas Bridget Rodgers Michael Russell Mark Schultz Rachel Single-Schwall Beau Valdez
Letters to the Editor Policy
T
he Sentinel welcomes letters to the editor. Those who submit letters must limit them to 300 words, sign them legibly and provide a home phone number in order to verify authenticity. Some letters may not be printed because of space limitations, or because they: 1) are similar to a number of letters already received on the same subject; 2) are possibly libelous; or
3) are illegible. The Sentinel reserves the right to edit letters. Letters may be mailed to the paper, e-mailed, faxed or brought to Room 203 of the Siebert Building. The Sentinel’s address is 1000 W. Garden Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID, 83814. You can also fill out a form on The Sentinel’s website, nicsentinel.com, that will upload your letter.
DID YOU KNOW? The world’s smallest mammal is the bumblebee bat, which weighs two grams (less than a penny).
perspectives
6 | the sentinel
CAMPUS VOICES
What are your thoughts on the new Pope? Robin Erny n 45, Rathdrum, general studies
“I think the concern about the Pope is ridiculous. There are more pressing world matters.”
Daniel Soults n 25, Davenport, Wash., general studies
“I don’t like his views on homosexuality. They are contradictory to Catholic beliefs.”
Will McCarthy n 18, Greenfield, S.C., environmental science
“He’s a good representation of the direction the Church wants to go in.”
>STEUBENVILLE from page 5 attack a woman walking alone at night. We do not, however, talk about how rape takes many sinister guises. Forcing sex on someone who is drunk or unconscious, for example, is rape. So is pressuring and bullying until the victim doesn’t feel that he or she can safely say no, even if the rapist does not use physical force. We don’t teach this to our young people, which explains why one boy who testified at the trial said that, when he saw one of the defendants raping Jane Doe, he didn’t intervene because he “didn’t know it was rape.”
The rape he witnessed did not match up with society’s standard and he was unable to make the connection. The fact is that we live in a rape culture. Sexual violence and victim-blaming are the norm. Instead of teaching boys and men not to rape, we teach women and girls a series of impossibly complex social rules to avoid rape: how to dress, how to speak, how to behave, when to make eye contact, when to go out and with whom, when to return and with whom, how much to drink, how much affection to show or give. If a woman or girl is raped and is found to have violated any of these social rules, we round on her and
Monday, March 25, 2013
tell her it’s her fault, while simultaneously apologizing for the rapist: “She shouldn’t have worn such skimpy clothes!” “She shouldn’t have been drinking!” “She shouldn’t have led him on!” Revealing clothing is not consent to sex. Drinking alcohol is not consent, either. Agreeing to go on a date is not consent. Allowing someone else to pay for dinner is not consent. Kissing is not consent. Silence or not saying no (out of fear or because of incapacitation) is not consent. Being in a relationship with someone is not consent. Having consensual sex in the past is not consent to future sex. Ultimately, consent is a clear, definitive “yes.” That
is the only definition. There is no room for interpretation. Additionally, even after consent is given, it can be withdrawn at any time—and that wish must be respected. Everyone has the right to change their mind. The bottom line is that no one deserves to be raped, ever, under any circumstances. Revealing clothing, alcohol consumption, “promiscuous” behavior—none of these are justification to completely and utterly violate someone else’s body. Rape is not an accident. It’s a deliberate choice, and we need to recognize that. It’s time to stop apologizing for rapists and blaming the victims.
“If a woman or girl is raped and is found to have violated any of these social rules, we round on her and tell her it’s her fault, while simultaneously apologizing for the rapist.”
Sticking up for the underbug Australian insect teaches lesson in endurance Kaye Thornbrugh Managing Editor
O
nce upon a time in Australia, there was a special species of stick bug. A really big stick bug—so big, in fact, that the locals called them “tree lobsters.” These shiny, six-legged critters measured 12 centimeters long, the size of a human hand. Called Dryococelus australis, these giant stick insects lived only on Lord Howe Island, a small island off the coast of Australia. While they weren’t exactly beautiful, they certainly weren’t hurting anyone, either, considering they spent most of their time pretending to be sticks or being used as bait on fishing hooks. When a British supply ship ran aground at Lord Howe Island in 1918, black rats—which were not native to the island—escaped the ship’s hold and made themselves at home. Within two years, the island was crawling with rats and all the stick bugs had been eaten. Sightings of the insect ceased after 1920, and Dryococelus australis was pre-
Isaiah Van Voorhis n 18, Freeman, Wash., math teaching
“He seems like a good guy overall.”
sumed extinct by 1960. You might think that this is where the story ends: rats take over, big bugs disappear, everyone else’s life goes on. But the story is far from over. A few kilometers away from Lord Howe Island is another, much smaller island: Ball’s Pyramid, the remnants of a volcano. It’s little more than a spire of rock jutting above the shark-infested sea. In the 1960s, some climbers reported seeing the corpses of some big, black stick insects on Ball’s Pyramid—corpses that looked recently dead. The reported sighting went uninvestigated, though rumors about Dryococelus australis persisted. At last, in 2001, two Australian scientists decided to check out the rumors. Nicholas Carlile and David Priddel made their way to Ball’s Pyramid. Their first outing yielded a clue: poop. Specifically, the poop of a very large insect. And it looked fresh. It was enough for the scientists to return at night, hoping against hope to spot the nocturnal insect. It takes a true scientist to get that excited about excrement. Flashlights in hand, Carlile and Priddel clambered around on the tiny island in the dark—and that was where they made their discovery. Living on and around a single shrub were 24 Dryococelus australis, long thought to be extinct, the very last of their kind. Nobody knows how
the stick insects ended up on Ball’s Pyramid, or how they managed to survive 80-odd years all alone on a stretch of rock. But they did. Something had to be done to preserve these magnificent bugs. After two years of meetings, hearings and planning, the Australian government allowed just four stick bugs to be taken from Ball’s Pyramid. In 2003, a breeder in Sydney was given one pair, but within two weeks, the bugs grew sick and died. That left just 22 Dryococelus australis in the whole world. The second pair, named “Adam” and “Eve,” were given to Patrick Honan at the Melbourne Zoo. When Eve became deathly ill, he worked night and day to nurse her back to health, finally concocting a mixture of nectar and calcium that did the trick. Within hours, Eve went from lying curled-up in Honan’s hand to walking around—and, just as hoped, she began to produce eggs. At present, the Melbourne Zoo has bred more than 9,000 bugs. There are plans to reintroduce the walking sticks to their natural habitat on Lord Howe Island, though the island must first be rid of black rats, lest the entire population be devoured again. However, not all islanders living on Lord Howe are enthusiastic about a bunch of flightless tree lobsters taking up residence. The Melbourne Museum has been working on a campaign to make the walking sticks… well, cuddlier, or somehow more appealing, to ease the process. Admittedly, the bugs aren’t beautiful. While baby Dryococelus australis are a gorgeous, iridescent green, adults are brown or black in color—not ver y flashy. They’re disturbingly
big. They’ve got a lot of legs and little pincers. But there’s something irresistible about these bugs. They’re survivors. No one can argue that. By some miracle, they avoided being eaten and wound up in a rocky haven where they would hide for 80 years. These animals have endured disasters and neardisasters. When Carlile and Priddel returned to Ball’s Pyramid to collect the insects in 2003, they discovered that there had been a rockslide. They feared that the walking sticks had all been killed—but the shrub was unharmed, and the little clan of Dryococelus australis were still there, living as they always had. Maybe it was coincidence that the rockslide on that tiny island missed the shrub and spared the bugs. I like to think that it was destiny, the universe finally cutting the creatures some slack and delivering them into the hands of humans who would do anything to ensure their survival and eventually bring them home. An unexpected visit from humans nearly wiped out this entire species—and another visit has restored it. So what if they’re not beautiful? So what if they’re big and leggy and lobsterlike? They may be insects, but there is something about Dryococelus australis that is intensely human, something that resonates with the people who have worked to save them. Really, the saga of Dryococelus australis isn’t just a story of rats, bugs and scientists. It’s part love story, part survival adventure, and part tale of the triumph of the spirit—both insect and human—and it calls to something deep inside of us, making us root for this unlikely hero, this underdog. Or, rather, this underbug.
Illustration by Connor Coughlin
Letters to the Editor
Emily Hill n 20, Coeur d’Alene, nursing
“I don’t know that much about him.”
Elora King Staff Writer
n Rachel Single-Schwall
Photographer
T
Smoke-free NIC unfair
he fact that North Idaho College has become a tobacco free campus is absurd and an infringement upon students’ rights. Considering the rising costs of tuition and incoming cuts to federal aid, the cost of attending NIC is more upon the shoulders of the student than ever before. With students having to provide the majority of their tuition to attend, in essence we are becoming customers more and more to NIC. There is a large population of smokers that exist within the student body, yet
their needs are being not only ignored but punished. When North Idaho College became a tobacco-free campus, this population became an ignored group and were forced to receive warnings against their choices or smoke off campus. Even more aghast, no smoking areas were created for smokers, such as inexpensive shelters or even just a designated area. This policy, from a business perspective, is senseless. This policy must be revisited. Signed, Lauren Corley
‘Oh, deer!’ in Dalton Gardens
D
eer wandering around Dalton Gardens is an unbearable annoyance. At least, this is the position that people are taking. An individual even thought to shoot the deer and leave them where they fell. This is an asinine argument for several reasons. Housing developments are covering more and more land in North Idaho ever y year. Individuals choose to live in these developments;
these homes now cover much of the land where deer wander. Therefore, just because humans decided to utilize the land, doesn’t mean it can’t be shared with the natural wildlife of North Idaho, including deer. Therefore, people should simply appreciate the natural wildlife within their city limits, or move away from North Idaho, where deer will be less plentiful. Signed, Caitlin Cousins
Features tip? Story idea? Contact Tyson Juarez --
lubusamongus@gmail.com
Features WWW.NICSENTINEL.COM
PAGE 7
A match made on campus
MONDAY, MARCH 25, 2013
COMMENTARY
Going unconnected Resident hall students still have trouble finding reliable Internet connection
Tyson Juarez ■ Features Editor
A mob of friends and family follow behind a car carrying Alaina Webb while performing a choreographed dance druing an elaborate proposal of marriage by Webb’s boyfriend of one year Omar Gomez.
Flash mob made proposal she couldn’t refuse Elora King Staff Writer Photos by Gabe Green Photo Editor A frigid afternoon is usually a recipe for tension but not for excited friends of NIC student Alaina Webb whose life was about to be changed forever. Omar Gomez and Webb met in the North Idaho College dorms. Little did they know that with that first hello they would be making plans together to spend the rest of their lives just one year later. On March 8, Webb’s boyfriend, Gomez, had pre planned a surprise flash mob for Webb as part of his plan to propose to her in front of all their friends and close family. Marry You by Bruno Mars was blaring in the back of the car that Webb was sitting in. As the car slowly moved down Roseberry Drive, the mob followed her performing the choreographed dance and skit. Webb could not wipe the smile off of her face as she watched family, friends, and teammates perform for her in unison When the song concluded, Webb’s best friend Callie Martin led Webb down the to the sandy beach of Lake Coeur d’Alene. There, Webb was greeted with notes of her and Omar’s greatest memories together. The notes were given to her followed by hugs from family members. With each note she walked closer to a set up table.
Omar Gomez and Alaina Webb stand together by Lake Coeur d’ Alene moments before Gomez proposed on the afternoon of March 8, 2013.
Martin set up a laptop that displayed a video containing shout outs to Webb from family and friends that live in her hometown in Bozeman, Montana. Her friends had a lot to say from back home; wishing they were able to witness the proposal and extend love from miles away. When the video was over, Omar appeared behind her and kneeled onto one knee. He called
his dog with the ring on his collar, and following the ultimate question, Webb said yes. “I just wanted everything to be perfect for her,” Gomez said. The anxious groom to be said that his intentions were to pop the question at the conclusion of a missions trip to Honduras over Spring Break. “I just couldn’t wait and today is our one year anniversary so
I thought it would be perfect,” Gomez said. Webb was still in total shock minutes after the proposal had happened. “I didn’t even see it coming,” Webb said. The couple remained speechless while ever yone congradulated them for taking that step for ward in their relationship.
Return to the illuminated stage Past, present students join together to honor themselves Tyson Juarez Features Editor The North Idaho College music department has seen plenty of musicians come and go, but after many years away from the lighted stage, some of these past students returned to play their hearts out in Schuler Performing Arts Center. They joined current students who someday may have successful careers as well. The NIC Wind Symphony is known to have plenty of guest musicians featured in their performances, but during their performance “Featuring…US,” the band put the spotlight on themselves and many past alumni. The band, conducted by
Terry Jones, had musicians with anywhere from nine to 70 years of playing experience. “Tonight we are going to reminisce a little about those who have been here before,” Jones said. “This concert is for past and current performers; it’s about us.” Jones commented that he had musicians so conditioned and skilled that they could pick up a song they had learned 20 years ago and still be able to play it today. “That is truly ‘owning’ a piece,” Jones said. The current students and alumni presented pieces that highlighted strengths in the band as a whole and in some of the main parts of the group. Different pieces of the band were showcase and honored
in different songs such as the flute lead in “Dance of the Toy Flutes” and the tuba lead in “Tuba Tiger Rag.” Jones led his symphony throughout the night by bringing out power and beauty in the pieces through his conducting. The show contained songs that that were loud, exciting, and memorable. The percussion section showed great dynamic that went from chest pounding beats to ear pleasing soft melodies, all in the same song. One song, “Big Band Salute,” was arranged by NIC alumni Tom Tucker, who helped out in the trumpet section. “That’s one of the great things about this area,” Jones
said, “there are so many great songwriters and arrangers who come through this program.” Other parts of the band, such as the clarinet section, were humorous during their performance. At one point they started to dismantle their instruments after certain sections of the song, showing they could still play the tune with only two parts of their instrument together. Jones ended the night with two songs in a row that did not feature a cer tain section, rather, the band as a whole. “It’s like a piece of synergy,” Jones said.”As a band the whole is greater than the sum.”
I have recently moved into the dorms this semester and so far it is going well. I’m making good friends and keeping myself out of trouble which is a pretty helpful thing when it comes to succeeding in college. The one thing that isn’t helping me is the dorms’ poor Internet connection. This is a huge problem considering half of my homework, quizzes, and discussions need to be posted online and are usually time sensitive. The first thing I was told to do in order to even get internet was to go buy an Ethernet cable and, of course, the cable that was long enough to reach my outlet was $26. Even with this cord I get kicked off the Internet for minutes to hours at a time and that doesn’t really go well when I’m working on a single attempt quiz. My concern is that many students are paying ridiculous prices to live in a place that is in my opinion a complete joke. You can’t get your homework done and no one is doing anything to fix it. Even after numerous complaints, the operators of the NIC dorm life have not come through for students by finding an efficient way to solve this problem. They only expect dorm life to spend more money on a worthless cable that still doesn’t work. Now I know that it is easy to just walk over to the Student Union Building (SUB) and log onto the NIC public wireless connection, but that isn’t the point. Even if I did take the time to walk to the SUB to do homework, it’s always too loud in there to concentrate and take tests anyways. The point is that many students like me pay thousands of dollars to live in dorms that can’t even keep up with the modern basic needs of a college student. It is a complete rip off of student money. Many students do believe they are being ripped off and I am one of them. You would think that after all the money we put into living in the dorms that some of that cash would go toward improving the Internet connection. To solve the issue I think the students that live in the dorm need to demand that their hard earned money needs to be put towards things like better wireless Internet. It’s more important than the events we have in the dorms which is where I assume a lot of our money goes to. It’s more important to get school work in on time. Now hopefully more people are able to stand up for what they truly need to pass their classes and this issue can be resolved by next semester. If not, I can see the dorms losing a lot of business. It won’t affect me anymore seeing they will not have any of my business next semester. I think I’ll get along fine with a good router and Internet connection in my apartment this fall. Tyson Juarez is an editor for The Sentinel. His opinions are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Sentinel. Respond to this column online at nicsentinel.com.
DID YOU KNOW? A person eats around 60,000 pounds worth of food during their life, which is the equivalent of six elephants.
FEATURES
8 | the sentinel
Monday, March 25, 2013
COMMENTARY
The Game Guru New ‘Tomb Raider’ release is not what you would expect
Beau Valdez ■ Staff Writer Lara Croft is back. Over the years she has proven to be quite the adventurer, and this time around is no different, although she’s younger and less busty than before her debut in 1996. “Tomb Raider” tells the story of how Lara Croft blossomed into the adventurer that she is. As the game begins, you find yourself on a ship, sailing to an ancient island on a research expedition. Within minutes the ship is sinking and you find yourself washed up on an island. From there, you are on the edge of your seat, never knowing what to expect next. As much as I enjoyed the game, there are a few things I found myself scratching my head over. One of the first objectives in the game is to hunt a deer, and bring the meat back to camp so you can cook it and replenish your health. Never again during the game did I find myself killing any more animals to increase my health, which left me confused as to why they included it in the beginning. The map, as large as it looks when you open it, is not openly accessible, which was highly disappointing to me. The only way to go from one area to the next is through a fast-travel option at campfires, which is slow and cumbersome. The whole thing seemed pretty linear. With a set route from point A to point B and crates to smash and ammo to grab along the way, this game leaves out the need, or ability for any real exploration. To many gamers open world maps are one of the best parts of a game. The amount of bodily harm inflicted on Lara is a little overkill to be believable. At one point, she falls onto rebar and punctures her abdomen, pulls it out and keeps going. Maybe the developers were just trying to make her out to be a super experienced adventurer when she is just some college girl on her first expedition. To top off the bodily harm, she slays lots of bad guys. Who knew so many bad dudes were on a small, lost island? Playing the role of a young naïve girl, I felt unsure about what may have been running through her head as she was mowing all these people down. The weapon upgrade system was pretty good though. You collect upgrade parts along the way, and when you come to a camp, you can choose to upgrade your weapon. Like fast travel, I felt like it was a real pain to try to get to a camp to upgrade. The weapons you collect and upgrade throughout the game include an assault rifle, a shotgun, a pistol, and a bow that fires both regular arrows, and flaming ones. The truth is, for as many negatives as I found, I really did enjoy the game. The graphics are top notch, and I often found myself on the edge of my couch, not knowing what crazy, adrenalin-pumping action was going to happen next. I would recommend renting this game for a weekend from Redbox, or wait for it to be on the cheap rack. THE GOOD: The game includes adrenalin inducing action, top notch graphics, and an intriguing stor yline. THE BAD: You must fast travel between locations. The game is fairly short and takes approximately six hours to finish. Also the game isn’t open map.
Beau Valdez is a staff writer for The Sentinel. His opinions are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Sentinel. Respond to this column online at nicsentinel.com.
Drag king Brianna Tollackson has zer face transformed with makeup to create the illusion that ze is male. Makeup artists use different kinds of techniques to create facial hair and shadows. Rachel Single-Schwall/Sentinel
Tutorial was anything but a drag Students get instruction from experienced drag kings, queens
Elora King Staff Writer North Idaho College’s Gay Straight Alliance looked to raise money for Bikers Against Child Abuse and thought that Aquusha DeLusty and Tobe Daniels RoReal were the perfect candidates to guide each individual to accomplish the look they desired. Around 15 people gathered to get the low down on how to perform as drag queens and kings. Mentor and teacher DeLusty with the help of RoReal discussed the importance of all the elements that go into becoming a member of the opposite sex. DeLusty said she got started in high school when a friend of hers said she should try go-go dancing. She said really liked it and started doing drag shows shortly after. She feels that drag shows inspire people to be unafraid to express themselves and be who they want to be, even if it means dressing up as someone of the opposite sex. Men who choose to dress as a woman are called Drag Queens.
Queens wear tape and makeup in order to present themselves as a woman. Queens will spend as much as $700 on artificial breasts and can have as many as 14 different brush selections in order to make their idea of a woman come to life. Jesus Nunez, a first time drag queen, said that he wants to dress as a drag queen just for fun. “I think being a woman for a short amount of time would be interesting, although I am sort of afraid I would mess up the makeup,” said Nunez, who plans on wearing a ball gown for the Drag Show. DeLusty led the queens through a makeup tutorial following the same concept as a theater actor would: primer, foundation, lipstick, wigs, eyeliner, mascara, and the like come together to create a visual illusion. While drag queens are well known, that is only half the fun of a drag show. Women who choose to dress as males are called Drag Kings. Kings also wear tape and makeup but at an extreme that leads in the opposite direc-
tion. Using makeup to create shadows or scruff to create fake hair, a girl can make the illusion that she is a male. Brianna Tollackson is a first time drag king and is transgender, going by the name of Elliet Sterling. Tollackson prefers to be referred to as “ze.” Brianna was encouraged to dress as a male for Halloween and found it to be more comfortable. “I am able to express myself better,” ze said. “I feel more comfortable as a male; it’s more fun, social, a good ice breaker, and I think of others who do this make up a brotherhood, there’s no judgment backstage when I am through with my routine and I really enjoy an accepting environment.” Ze said ze planned on performing in a Western outfit as well as a baggy t-shirt without shoes and is very excited to show what ze’s got. Tobe brought the Kings through a lesson of how to make themselves appear like males. He came to the tutorial dressed
up and was able to show the women how to attain that look with just a few things such as foundation, pencil coloring, bodices and fake hair. Both teachers of the tutorial stressed how long it must take to become a member of the opposite sex. “If it takes you less than an hour to get ready, you need to go back and find out what you missed,” emphasized DeLusty. “It shouldn’t take less than an hour, ever.” DeLusty feels that putting on a drag show in a college environment is a good idea. “I feel like most schools put on shows that are all about education. This is something that’s just suppose to be fun.” DeLusty said. “I also think the college level is a good age group since most places that hold drag shows are 21 and over. This way we can reach people 18 and up; it’s more diverse.” See page 12 for full story on the drag show.
Breaking the chain of oppression Students witness the consequence of social injustice Isaac Schaefer Guest Contributor Whether it was lifting the 65pound weight that represented the amount of gear a soldier wears in combat, or hearing the trembling voice of a child being worked to death in a sweatshop, the studentdeveloped “Footsteps” was intended to inspire and move students. “We provided a venue and a platform for students to decide which issues they wanted to highlight,” said Heather Erikson, assistant director of student developments. Entering the dark maze of a room, there was a sense of sobriety and reverence amongst the group as students participated in the various activities. The students watched actual video of soldiers in comparison to a video game. The tour director, Evanlene Melting Tallow, explained the ignorance that many people have As the tour progressed, participants listened to an explicitly, harsh poem from the viewpoint of a skinhead, recited by Patricia Smith. The lyrics made a profound impact, and her presentation left the group speechless. Melting Tallow then separated the group and gave everyone a large note card. The students read the description of the person the card represented, as they varied from the life of a homosexual, transgender, bisexual, etc. The exhibit also highlighted the issue of domestic violence. A video of a child living in a chaotic
The weight of a soldier’s gear was represented by a 65-pound weight that students were asked to lift during a section of the Footsteps exhibit. Beau Valdez/Sentinel
home was presented to students. The video depicted a household in which a child’s parents constantly fought, often physically, forcing the viewer to sympathize with the child’s life of constant fear and instability. At the conclusion, the tour members witnessed displays, in which a light shone individually on a life-size image of three different children who worked in various sweat shops around the world. Each child spoke through a recording in which they walked the listener through their daily routine. One child, in a pity-stricken tone,
explained that she was sold by her parents to a factory in which she worked 20 hour days. She was beaten if she cried, fed bug-infested food, and forced to sleep on the roof. Another child told of her friend who had been ill, and “left to a better place.” Though she too always felt sick, the young girl said she hoped she would one day become ill enough to join her friend. These were the stories of only a minuscule percentage of the countless children who are forced to work in sweatshops around the world for companies like Nike, JC
Penney, Walmart, Adidas, H&M, and many more. Students were able to reflect on their thoughts and feelings of the even in the “room of hope.” Linda Michals, dean of students, handed out paper and pens to write a small note about the personal feelings they had on the matter following what was just witnessed. The notes were placed on a wall in the room. “This was a really good way to highlight diversity issues,” said Heather Erickson. “Footsteps” happens every year in order to encourage students to make a change.
Sports
Sports tip? Story idea? Contact Garrett Cabeza
() - gmcabeza@students.nic.edu
PAGE 9
WWW.NICSENTINEL.COM
MONDAY, MARCH 25, 2013
COMMENTARY
Tough to pick ’em in March NCAA tourney provides upsets, busts brackets
Garrett Cabeza ■ Sports Editor
Sophomore Heather Bishop makes a catch as Colorado Northwestern’s Lindsey Spendlow slides into second base March 16 at Memorial Field in Coeur d’Alene. The Cardinals took all four conference games from the Spartans. Mark Schultz/Sentinel
Cardinals overpower Spartans in home series NIC’s bats heat up in sweep of Colorado Northwestern Benaiah Cheevers Assistant Sports Editor Garrett Cabeza Sports Editor The North Idaho College softball team swept the Colorado Northwestern Community College (CNCC) Spartans in four games March 15 and 16 at Memorial Field. In the first game of the second doubleheader March 16, NIC sophomore Desirae Tinoco singled with two outs in the sixth inning to score sophomore Shelby Carter as the Cardinals beat the Spartans 4-3. NIC won 5-1 in the second game of the Scenic West Athletic Conference matchup. Carter hit a solo home run in the fifth inning of the second game for the Cardinals (10-19, 7-15), who host Wenatchee Valley in a doubleheader today at noon at Memorial Field. “This is a good, close-knit group with good team chemistry,” head coach Don Don Williams said. “Our bats were a little silent today opposed to yesterday, but we’ll take any win we can earn at this point. I don’t think we produced as well as we can at the plate today.” Shalese Connary hit a three-run homer in the first game for Colorado Northwestern (0-24, 0-24). “Our right fielder (Heather Bishop) was brought in to play shortstop as an emergency replacement for Jenna Krum and she was tearing it up today, which was really awesome,” NIC pitcher Hunter Allen said. NIC won 3-0 and 11-1 in the
NIC’s Jenna Krum sits on the ground in pain during a game against the College of Southern Idaho March 9. A CSI runner slid into her at second base, breaking her leg. Mark Schultz/Sentinel
first doubleheader of the series against the Spartans March 15. “This was a big day for us because we needed to have some wins to get a momentum shift going,” Williams said. “It’s tough when you go on a little mini losing slump or streak. Any time that you can change the direction of those sails, that’s a good thing.” The first game consisted of three solo home runs by NIC, including two by Kelsey LaVaute in the second and sixth innings and the first one of the game by Amber Meyers in the second inning to put the Cardinals up early. Sophomore pitcher Emily Perlich picked up the win in the first game but said she wasn’t as sharp as she would like to be. “Today it didn’t show but I actually had a pretty off day,”
Perlich said. “I was struggling a little bit with my body awareness, my timing was off, but I just kept focusing on making small adjustments at a time, not making drastic changes between batters or anything.” Perlich said the wins were important especially after the College of Southern Idaho swept NIC the weekend before. “When you get in a rut of losing a lot of games, you kind of forget how to win after a while,” Perlich said. “It gets hard. A big thing though with our team is that we’re very close. We always pick each other up. We’re always very encouraging so we kept our spirits high considering the adversity that we faced.” Shanika Sawyer hit two two-run home runs in the second game for the Cardinals,
the first one coming in the first inning to put NIC up 2-0. Left fielder Kellsi Parson continued the NIC offensive surge in the third inning with an RBI double to left field that scooted past a diving Chanel Pace of Colorado Northwestern. Kylene Hatton stepped in after Parson and knocked a two-run triple to right field past another diving effort by a Colorado Northwestern outfielder. Sawyer blasted another tworun home run later in the inning, part of a six-run inning, to extend the Cardinals’ lead 9-0. After NIC scored two runs in the fourth inning, the Spartans got on the board in the fifth inning with an RBI single. Allen struck out the next batter and forced a fly out to end the game in the fifth inning due to the 10-run rule.
With the men’s NCAA basketball tournament in full swing after last week’s games, my bracket, like so many others, busted wide open, especially after Wichita State beat Gonzaga Saturday. My bracket took other blows with upsets including Florida Gulf Coast over Georgetown and Ole Miss over Wisconsin. I predicted Georgetown and Wisconsin would advance to the Sweet Sixteen. But filling out the bracket is half the fun. Picking the unpredictable upsets, finding those sleeper teams and picking the teams that will represent the four regions in Atlanta for the Final Four this year can sometimes feel seemingly impossible. I’m a college basketball fan anyway but it’s something about the tournament that gets me extra pumped to watch the first couple rounds and this year did not disappoint with down-to-the-wire games like Marquette taking the lead in the final seconds to avoid the upset against Davidson. An upset would have been nice to see in that game but it also would have shaken up the East region of my bracket. I filled out one bracket this year and I don’t have any teams outside the six power conferences advancing to the Sweet Sixteen, except for one-seeded Gonzaga, who I had playing in the Final Four. Oh, boy. While looking over my bracket, I noticed that the upsets that I predicted tended to be lower-seeded teams from the top conferences beating higher-seeded midmajor teams. I kind of surprised myself with these decisions. For example, I picked 10th-seeded Cincinnati from the Big East over seventh-seeded Creighton from the Missouri Valley Conference, a huge mistake on my part as it turned out. Last Wednesday, however, Creighton announced that it will join the new Big East in July. A team like Cincinnati, which has been seriously tested by tough Big East teams like Georgetown, Syracuse, Louisville and so many other talented teams from the conference, I thought would be ready for a team like Creighton, which has played lesser competition. Although Creighton had the better overall record at 27-7 going into the game compared to Cincinnati’s 22-11, Cincinnati won nine Big East games this season. But sometimes the mid-majors are flat out better than these top Big 10 and ACC teams both on the court and on paper. Gonzaga had the best record going into the tournament at 31-2 and it dominated their conference, even though it is weak compared to other conferences in the country. But the teams that they were supposed to beat up on, they did, which is why I ruled out their weak schedule. The higher seeds possess more talent, but never underestimate the heart of an underdog. Just take Florida Gulf Coast. I love watching these mid-majors play because it looks like they are not intimidated by the nationally ranked powerhouses. And why should they be? They should feel little pressure and play looser than the higher seeded teams because they have nothing to lose. If they lose or even get blown out, well, that’s what most people predicted anyway. With more games to come, chances are upsets will occur, providing joy to the victors and frustration to the rest of us who didn’t see them coming in our brackets. Garrett Cabeza is an editor for The Sentinel. His opinions are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Sentinel. Respond to this column online at nicsentinel.com.
DID YOU KNOW? In the original game of softball, fielders did not use gloves because the 16-inch ball was soft enough.
sports
10 | the sentinel
Monday, March 25, 2013
Weeknight flag football a nice break from class
NIC Recreational Sports hosted indoor flag football March 19-21 at Christianson Gymnasium on NIC’s campus. Mark Schultz/Sentinel
NIC Recreational Sports Schedule 3-on-3 indoor soccer tournament
April 15 and 16 in Christianson Gymnasium Register by Friday, April 12, for men’s and co-rec. divisions.
Paintball
Friday, April 19 Meet at the Student Union Building for transportation to the event.
Co-rec. softball tournament April 24-26 Register by Monday, April 22.
Paintball
Friday, May 3 Meet at the Student Union Building for transportation to the event.
Two players display determination as they try to beat one another to the football. Mark Schultz/Sentinel
NIC golfers display skill from Montana to Oregon Men win Montana invitational, Westphal ties for first Garrett Cabeza Sports Editor
team placed second in Salem with NIC sophomore Taylor Reed Westphal finishing third. finished fifth and shot the best Sophomore Dylan Morrison second round score with a 72. finished tied for 15th but was Sophomore Spencer Skiphe North Idaho College tied for first after the first per, who tied for men’s and womround shooting a 73. third shooting a en’s golf teams Skipper, who had the 150, said the wind competed in the second best score for the played a factor in Montana State UniversityCardinals, finished 13th. the tournament, Billings Yellowjacket “I hit the ball really but his team was Spring Invitational at good,” Skipper said. “But, I able to rise above Pryor Creek Golf Course didn’t play very good on the it better than the March 14 and 15 and then greens. Otherwise, I would other teams in the Austin Arlee traveled to Salem, Ore., to play in the Corban InvitaWestphal field. Coleman have shot a lot better.” Skipper said playing two “I think that’s tional at Creekside Golf tournaments in less than why we did so good Course March 18 and 19. a week took a toll on the team and the second day as a team because The men won the Yellowjacket that the drive from Huntley, Mont., we just kind of stayed in it and still Spring Invitational, overcoming a scored with a suburb of Billings where their first five-stroke tournament was played, to Salem windy deficit the “I think that’s why we did how lasted 15 hours. He thought the it was,” second team struggled the last day at Salem Skipper so good the second day day to because it was fatigued. said. hold off as a team because we just The NIC women finished fifth On the host Monkind of stayed in it and still women’s in Salem. Coleman finished sixth tana Stateindividually posting a 254 in three side, Billings scored with how windy it rounds of play. NIC took and Rocky was.” “My mental game’s really toseventh. Mountain Sophomore gether,” Coleman said. “It’s a lot College better than it has been in the past. Arlee Cole(Mont.), Spencer Skipper man led the I hit the ball well and my putting’s who tied NIC golfer really weak. So when I can imway for the for secprove my putting, my game will be Cardinals ond. a lot better all around I think.” tying for 12th and shooting a 171 NIC sophomore Austin WestConcordia University (Ore.) in the two rounds. phal, who recently signed a letter won as a team and individually on “Competition-wise we played of intent to play golf at Montana both the men’s and women’s sides. against most of those schools beState-Billings, tied for first place NIC was the only two-year fore but there was definitely some individually with Montana State’s school in both tournaments. D-II schools there that put up Gage Huft. Both shot 148. The men’s and women’s teams some really low numbers,” ColeFive NIC men’s golfers finished will tee it up again April 1 and 2 man said. “So we didn’t compete in the top six, according to golfstat. at the Concordia Golf Classic in very well against them.” com, including freshman Calvin Montana State-Billings won the Portland, Ore., before heading to Baty, who finished tied for third Wilder, Idaho, April 8 and 9 for the and shot the best round of the tour- tournament. A few days later, the NIC men’s College of Idaho Invitational. nament his first round with a 68.
T
Briefs Women’s basketball The North Idaho College women’s basketball team lost its opening round game of the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) National Tournament in Salina, Kan., last Monday to Williston State College 67-63, eliminating it from the tournament. Sophomore guard Katie Buskey led the Cardinals with 19 points while fellow sophomore guard Mollie Kramer scored 18 points. Hannah Love contributed 12 points, six rebounds and five steals. Sophomore starting guard Angela Woods was out of the lineup due to a sprained ankle that occurred four days before the game. Going into the tournament, NIC had not played a game since the Region 18 title game March 2. The Cardinals finished the season with a 28-5 record.
Men’s golf Three North Idaho College golfers signed letters of commitment to play at four-year colleges. Taylor Reed, from Sheridan, Wyo., signed to play at Division I Nicholls State University in Thibodeaux, La. Dylan Morrison, from Victoria, Australia, signed to play at Division II University of Charleston in Charleston, W.Va. Austin Westphal, from Kennewick, Wash., signed to play at Division II Montana State UniversityBillings. Tanner Martin from Hanford High School (Wash.) signed a letter of intent to play golf at NIC next year. He has had multiple tournament wins at the high school level and has placed in the top 10 in the Washington State Championship each of the last two seasons. Martin was also a former winner of the PNGA (Pacific North-
west Golf Association) Junior Championship.
Women’s soccer The North Idaho College women’s soccer team has a few roster spots remaining and because there has been a large show of interest, they will be holding a one-day tryout Saturday, April 13, at Eisenwinter Field across the street from the gym on NIC’s campus. The first session will be held from 10-12 and the second session, if necessary, will be from 2-4. Participants need to bring all of their soccer needs (practice gear, shoes, shin guards). NIC will provide soccer balls. There will not be any locker rooms available because the gym is going through a renovation process. Bathroom facilities will be available. Participants must bring the completed waiver form, located at nicathletics.com, to the tryout or they will not be allowed to participate. Participants should send head coach Dan Hogan an email, dwhogan@nic.edu, as soon as they can to ensure they’ll be prepared for participants at the tryout. Also, participants should let Hogan know their preferred playing position so they can set up teams ahead of the tryout.
Cheerleading The tryouts for the 2013-14 cheer squad will be held Saturday, March 30, from 9-12 a.m. at The Flip Factory in Hayden. Practice for the new squad will be held from 3-6 p.m. There will also be an open gym Thursday, March 28, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the NIC gym. For more information, contact coaches Tammy Androes at (208) 691-3419 or j.tandroes@gmail.com or Leslie Pulley at (208) 699-6268 or lapulley@yahoo.com.
www.nicsentinel.com
ACROSS 1. Poop 5. A jet of vapor 10. Picnic insects 14. Not there 15. Interrupt temporarily 16. Nil 17. Feelings of anxiety 19. Affirm 20. Make lace 21. A group of lions 22. Swift 23. Melancholy 25. King 27. Website address 28. Pennant 31. Sudden burst 34. Girlfriend (Spanish) 35. Japanese sash 36. Friends 37. Fits on a hand 38. Prune
39. Completely 40. Penniless 41. Adolescents 42. Very narrow 44. Friend 45. Coming and _____ 46. Substitute 50. Marsh 52. A river through Paris 54. Latin for “Peace” 55. Tardy 56. A language of India 58. Nameless 59. Mammary gland of bovids 60. By mouth 61. Flippant 62. Untidy 63. Storm DOWN 1. Water park slide
GAMES
2. Kidney-related 3. Mountain crest 4. A leguminous plant 5. Helix 6. Terror 7. Regretted 8. Aggressive 9. Aye 10. A type of rhododendron 11. At no time hereafter 12. Tall woody plant 13. Classify 18. Steeple 22. Parasitic insect 24. Fortitude 26. Desire 28. A cloud of fine particles 29. Black, in poetry 30. Tears 31. Resorts
the sentinel | 11
32. Gloomy atmosphere 33. Crocodile cousin 34. Next to 37. Smile 38. Mobile phone 40. Radar signal 41. Cassettes 43. Instant 44. A state of extreme poverty 46. Carnival attractions 47. 3-banded armadillo 48. Artificial waterway 49. Banish 50. Smack 51. Diminish 53. Terminates 56. Make a low continuous sound 57. Clothe
The Northwest may be heartbroken from Gonzaga’s loss to Wichita State, but that’s no reason to quit watching the tournament. If you haven’t filled out a bracket yet, don’t worry: As always, your pals at the Sentinel have you covered. This bracket is updated and accurate as of press time, so go ahead and pencil in your picks for the next rounds. Good luck!
12 | the sentinel
SPRING KING FLING
Monday, march 25, 2013
Left to right, from top: Amee Newell performs the duet “Summer Lovin’” from Grease as drag persona Adam Dabomb. James Majesty moves the crowd with an emotional rendition of Beyonce’s “If I Were a Boy.” Claire Hylton is supported by a Bikers Against Child Abuse representative during an emotional speech about allies. Freedom Rights channels Wonder Woman in a platinum wig. Nova Kaine serenades the crowd. Photos by Mark Schultz/Sentinel.
Story and Photo Illustration by Kaye Thornbrugh Managing Editor Two hours before the show, Jessica Bereton was still wearing a plastic hospital wristband. Even though she’d been sick for a week and a half, even though she just got out of the hospital today, she refused to miss the Spring King Fling. After the show, she was going back to the hospital—but for now, she was powering through. Bereton is sick often, in and out of the hospital. That doesn’t stop her from attending her classes right after getting out of the ICU, and it wouldn’t stop her from performing tonight. A combination of adrenaline and sheer willpower are what would get her onto the stage and keep her there. “It’s just a thing for me,” said Bereton, 26, English, Manitoba Springs, Colo. “I can’t let it get me down. She said she’s always terrified before a drag show. After her first performance at last fall’s HalloQueen drag show, she went into the back room and puked into a trash can. Before going onstage at Mik’s, a bar and nightclub in downtown Coeur d’Alene, Bereton said she can compensate for her ner vousness by throwing back a drink. Performing at NIC is different, though. “It’s representing the community to people who aren’t necessarily a part of it, while representing the GSA and the school,” she said. Getting into character helps, too. Her drag persona, Roar y, is an unrepentant nerd. “Roar y isn’t afraid of the audience,” she said. “He doesn’t care what the audience thinks.” Amateur performers, as well as professional drag kings and queens from the Imperial Sovereign Court of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho turned out to support the Gay-Straight Alliance and Bikers Against Child Abuse at the GSA’s bi-annual drag show, the
Spring King Fling, March 21. By the end of the night, the club took in a record $828, a portion of which was donated to BACA. The evening was peppered with educational speeches. “We’re making an effort to be more inclusive,” said host David Glenn, 25, histor y. “While this school has a large LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) population, it’s not well-represented as a whole. This is a way to meet and inform the community.” The amateur kings and queens kicked off the show. One drag king, Brianna Tollackson (who prefers the gender-neutral pronoun “ze”), said ze has always been interested in drag and drag culture, but before the Spring King Fling, ze had never performed in drag in front of more than 10 or 15 people. Tollackson said a lot of work went into crafting zer drag persona, Elliet Sterling. “A lot of yourself
goes into it,” said Tollackson, 18, premed, Rathdrum. “Who you want to express that you don’t really get to express. It’s a lot of who you are, but it’s also a lot of who you’re not.” When Tollackson took the stage as Elliet, ze was unrecognizable, clad in a dark work shirt, hat and short brown wig, with makeup strategically applied to make zer face appear more masculine. Makeup couldn’t completely hide Tollackson’s fine facial features, and that gave Elliet an almost vulnerable
look as he began his routine, set to the rap song “Same Love” by Macklemore, a song that explores the challenges of growing up gay. Elliet took out a compact mirror and applied lipstick and eye shadow. He stripped off his shirt and pants, revealing a sparkling blue minidress. Finally, Elliet pulled off the hat and wig, letting long blond hair unfurl from beneath. When the song ended and the crowd surged to its feet, the person standing under the lights wasn’t quite Brianna Tollackson and wasn’t quite Elliet Sterling. This person, this character, was some combination of the two, not pinned in place by a set personality, gender or identity— and this person didn’t need to be. If the amateurs were a mar vel, the pros were a revelation. They cascaded across the stage in a rainbow of wigs, dramatic makeup and tight, sparkling dresses. They were a whirl of sunglasses, suspenders and painted-on abs and facial hair. Never failing to make the audience cheer, the professionals cranked the Spring King Fling to the next level. The drag
queen Freedom Rights was a definite crowd-pleaser. Sometimes she wore long platinumblonde hair and a purple train. Sometimes she wore a Wonder Woman-style suit. No matter what she wore, Freedom Rights was a force, like a gust of wind whipping or an earthquake that shook the audience. Nobody’s music was louder than Freedom’s: The pounding beats made the floor vibrate. One performance in particular struck a chord with the audience. James Majesty started in full drag as Beyonce’s “If I Were a Boy” began to play. Piece by piece, Majesty removed the wig, the shawl, the hoop earrings, the black bra. As the song built to its crescendo, he wiped off all his makeup and stood exposed before the crowd, arms thrown wide as if to embrace them. By the time the song ended, audience members were visibly moved. At the end of the night, Tre Keough was crowned Best Amateur Queen, while Elliet Sterling was Best Amateur King. James Majesty and Freedom Rights shared the honor of Best Pro Queen. Chase R. Harder, who brought the house down with his provocative routine set to Pit Bull’s “Hotel Motel,” was named Best Pro King. Elliet Sterling was also crowned Best in Show. “I’m incredibly surprised,” Tollackson said. “I did not think this would happen.” Nova Kaine, a professional drag queen and princess of the Imperial Sovereign Court of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho, said she thought the show was a success. She relished the opportunity to come to Idaho to support both BACA and the GSA. “The crowd was ver y receptive,” she said. “I had a blast. I love coming to Idaho. I think it’s great to reach out to the younger community and help educate our histor y, give them an idea of those who came before.” For host David Glenn, the Spring King Fling was meant to be an improvement upon past shows, one that blended education with entertainment. He wanted to put on a better drag show than last fall’s HalloQueen show, to “offend and entertain.” “We aren’t freaks,” Glenn said, as the crowd roared approval. “We aren’t weirdos. We’re just people tr ying to fall in love.”