Issue 7 - March 4, 2013

NEWS President proposes new athletic center | Page 2 FEATURES Local bands bring down the house| Page 11

COSTUMED CREATIVITY

theSentinel in inel SPORTS Wrestler overcomes injury | Page 14

Students use cosplay as means of expression | Page 8

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF NORTH IDAHO COLLEGE

MONDAY | MARCH 4, 2013

WWW.NIC SENTINEL .C OM

Volume 66 | Issue 7

CAMPUS

Clubs forming

3 1 0 2

Benaiah Cheevers Assistant Sports Editor NIC currently has 18 active clubs.

The newest clubs include the Philosophy Club and the Breaking Clays Club.

The Associated Students of North Idaho College (ASNIC) has been working with students who are interested in forming new clubs over the past few months.

Four of these eight clubs have completed their ASNIC Club Packet and are ready to attend the next Intra-Club Council Committee meeting, which is Tuesday, Mar. 5 at 12:00 p.m. in the Blue Creek Bay Room of the Edminster Student Union Building.

The current club requirements are that clubs must have a minimum of 8 full-time enrolled (12 credits) students. And dualenrolled students may not be considered ICC representatives, officers or honorary members. But ASNIC has been at work this school year to revise the Intra-Club Council’s clubs manual to make the requirement for creating a new club easier.

Current Active Clubs: 1. Actors Vagabonds and Such (NIC Drama Club)

A A NJC

See CLUBS | Page 4

New payroll cycle planned

S P M CHA

Alex Rodal-Cubillas Staff Writer

Cardinals soar NIC women’s basketball team places second in Region 18 Tournament Sports Page 12

The North Idaho College wrestling team brought home hardware after sharing the national championship with Labette Community College of Kansas. Photos by Jennifer Coleman (www.jennifercolemanphotography.com).

Wrestlers win 14th national championship Garrett Cabeza Sports Editor After earning a No. 1 ranking from the preseason to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa, Feb. 22 and 23, the Nor th Idaho College wrestling team polished of f its season with its 14th national title in school histor y. NIC shared the title with Labette Community College (Kan.), Labette’s second consecutive national championship, as both teams finished with 120 points.

“It was pretty important to put up No. 14 there and show that Nor th Idaho College is still the team to beat,” NIC head coach Pat Whitcomb said.

NIC led after the first day, but Labette climbed

QUOTABLE

NIC will be transitioning to a new payroll cycle in July, 2013.

In an effort to gain efficiencies in processes and to provide a systematic approach to time reporting, NIC will begin paying employees on a bi-weekly basis.

Currently, all employees at NIC are paid once per month at the end of the month.

Newly-hired employees will benefit from the bi-weekly transition and will not have to wait one-to-two months for their first paycheck.

“We feel this is a necessary step for a streamlined on-boarding process at NIC,” said NIC president Joe Dunlap.

For salaried employees, bi-weekly gross compensation may be calculated by dividing an employee’s annual salar y over 26 pay periods. Hourly employees will be paid an hourly rate for each hour worked in a two-week pay period.

Beginning March 1, non-exempt NIC employees will be tracking their time on a time sheet.

The Fair Labor Standards ACT (FLSA) record keeping requirements state that hourly employees must track their time worked by the hour and requires that overtime be paid for in excess of 40 hours in a week.

These regulations are monitored by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and NIC is required to comply.

Full-time (benefit eligible) hourly employees have received information about how to locate their time sheet on the portal and what must be recorded.

NIC employees will receive more information in regards to compensation, withholdings, pay schedule, and other issues employees will need to be aware of prior to the transition.

back and almost won the title.

NIC led Labette 120-116 going into the 165-pound championship match between NIC’s Ryan Zumwalt and Labette’s Devin Aguirre.

After Aguirre defeated Zumwalt in an 11-7 decision (to give Aguirre his second consecutive individual national championship), Labette received four points in the team standings to tie NIC at 120. Labette had another chance to gain points and win the national championship outright but Pratt Community College’s (Kan.) Landon Keiswetter defeated Labette’s Cody Johnson.

Since Labette is 350 miles away from Des Moines, Zumwalt said that Labette brought its whole team and it cheered its teammates on and it

“Is a straight person’s heterosexuality the single most important part of who he or she is?”

Perspectives Page 5

cheered against NIC. “They were just going against us no matter who it was. Getting wins like that was pretty cool to keep them quiet in that corner,” Zumwalt said.

Zumwalt was the only NIC wrestler to make it to a championship round.

Jarrett Morrill (141) and V.J. Giulio (197) earned third-place finishes. Giulio pinned five of his opponents in the tournament to give his team a boost in bonus points.

Because of a knee injur y that Zumwalt suf fered at last year’s national tournament, he hadn’t wrestled all season until the Region 18 Tournament Feb. 9.

Zumwalt, a 157-pounder last season, won the Region 18 Tournament at 165 with no matches under his belt at that point of the season to

advance to nationals where he finished second.

“That’s just stuf f that’s kind of a movie script, not real life,” Whitcomb said.

“But he knows how to win and he is a fierce competitor and loyal to his team.”

Morrill won his first two matches before falling in his third match 2-1 to James DeKrone of Nassau Community College, the eventual 141-pound champion.

“It was a little disappointing but once I was able to pull myself back together I got on kind of a roll and I star ted wrestling really well,” Morrill said.

Giulio was ranked No. 1 in his weight class and was the favorite to win. After opening up the tournament with two pins, he lost his

WHERE TO START News...........................1

Features (Cont.).........10

Perspectives............4

Sports...................12

Features................7

Games................15

Cosplay...................8

BACK PAGE..........16

See WRESTLING | Page 14

41

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MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013

THE BURDEN OF AID

Illustration by Christina Villagomez

New policy eliminates lump-sum financial aid disbursement

Christina Villagomez Webmaster/News Editor

N

IC will no longer pay financial aid in lump sums at the beginning of next semester.

The process, called Incremental Disbursement, will result in half of the awarded amount being given to students at the beginning of the semester and the remainder to be distributed a week after midterms take place.

“We’re going to go in and evaluate whether students are attending,” said Joe Bekken, director of the financial aid office. “Any students that are failing courses or have withdrawn and are no longer attending six credit hours will not get their second disbursement.”

Loans will be the only form of financial aid affected by the

$24,000

ing of the college’s ability to dischanges; scholarships, Pell tribute financial aid completely.

Grants and other forms of enNIC paid out around $ 30 titlement funds will continue to million in student loans to be distributed in lump sums. roughly 5,200 students this year A student debt taskforce commissioned by NIC President alone.

According to Joe Dunlap reccomended the change“Nationwide The Education more than safter a three year student debt Trust, half of students who evaluation found the is outranking take out loans to encollege’s student dein two-year forfault rate to be both credit card roll profit colleges never on the rise at 19.9 perdebt.” finish. cent and larger than “For those stuthe national average dents that unfortuof 17 percent. nately, for one rea“It could penalize JOE BEKKEN son or another drop us,” Bekken said. “If Financial Aid Director out or fail school, we get to a 30 percent they’re not going rate then NIC could to be in as much have sanctions based debt because they won’t have on how many students default.” received all the money on the Sanctions could include front end,” said Vice President fines levied by the board of edufor Student Ser vices Graydon cation, and should the problem grow serious enough, the revok- Stanley.

The average amount of student loan debt in Idaho

$1 Trillion

“Nationwide student debt is out ranking credit card debt,” Bekken said. “We’re in a national crisis.”

But it is a crisis 21-year-old nursing student Jordan McGaughey said she feels will be compounded by the new disbursement system.

“Many students have to run up their credit cards at the beginning of semester to buy supplies for school, and this new rule would force students to pay unnecessar y interest fees on debt they don’t truly have,” McGaughey said.

Bekken said to help augment the burden, the Mica Peak Exchange will not charge any interest on supplies purchased against the second loan payment until after the second dispersal date.

“I feel like many of us are relying on [loan money] to buy

in total outstanding student loan debt in the United States today

the school supplies that the Mica Peak doesn’t sell,” said Mason Thompson-Rice, 20, nursing, Coeur d’Alene. “I know I purchased my camera for photography class and a better laptop.”

There is also the added complication of students that use their loans for living expenses.

“It affects everyone differently, but for myself I wouldn’t be able to take as many classes as I do without it because I would have to pick up hours at my job just to pay the bills,” Thompson-Rice said.

Another student faced a similar problem.

“Most of my loans go to gas so I can get to school,” said Destiny Walton, 21, criminal justice, Athol.

“For me it would hurt me because I don’t work, I depend more on the money.”

Stanley said that the college

See FINANCIAL AID | Page 3

37 million

borrowers with outstanding student loans today.

Source American Student Assitance

>CLUBS

from page 1 Non-partisan political club: Mi-

chael Alexander, leader of the North Idaho Patriots, is planning to form a non-partisan political club. He said he is hoping to get more college age people involved with local and state politics.

He said the club’s purpose is to bring political parties together to work out solutions, rather than the typical blame game they do now. The club’s potential name is “Students for Freedom and Justice”.

Black Student Union club: Mike Burgess, 21, Philadelphia, PA, Graphic Design, said the club plans to hold an open mike night where students can share poetry, play original pieces of music and perform other various talents. Burgess said the club also plans to have several potluck events where students can make and eat original foods of different backgrounds and cultures.

Computer Science Club: The purpose of this club is to provide students the opportunity to learn and teach others about computers and their applications.

Full Spectrum Gaming Club:

The purpose is to provide an environment where club members can experience any and all forms of multi-person competitive and non-competitive games of all kinds.

Psi Beta Kappa: The purpose of this club is to serve as a means of national recognition of student’s early interest in and dedication to the field of psychology and to scholastic achievement.

NICship: The purpose of this club is to provide opportunity for students to participate in activities that include writing letters and short stories, preserving hard copied material and promoting literature through the practice of reading and writing.

DID YOU KNOW?

NIC President proposes new athletic center Tells trustees Christianson Gymnasium “limping along,” hindering athletes Christina Villagomez Webmaster/News Editor Garret Cabeza Sports Editor North Idaho College athletes may get a new home.

In his presentation to the board of trustees, NIC President Joe Dunlap proposed building a new athletic events center.

“When you look at how well our athletic teams have done, whether it’s wrestling or basketball or volleyball, to some degree it’s been in spite of our facilities,” Dunlap said.

The proposal arena would seat 5,000 people and and replace Christianson Gymnasium, the current home of NIC athletics and special events.

“There are a lot of things Christianson Gymnasium was built in 1949 and is also the venue for special campus events. Gabe Green/Sentinel that would go into that building besides just athletics,” NIC has been there a long time.” the court. poor conditions of the gym, which athletic trainer of 20 years, Randy However, Meyer ultimately Britney Chilcott, another NIC he described as having “limped Boswell said. “We have to think suggested the board investigate volleyball player, said a new gym along” for the past few years. beyond that.” would prevent volleyballs from hit- whether the current gym could Some athletes agree.

With Dunlap articulating the ting the low ceiling at Christianson be remodeled in lieu of building a “I think it would help a lot needs for a professional-technical new facility.

Gym because the new gym would because in Regionals (basketball building as being NIC’s current “There are a lot of things that tournament that happened Feb. 28 probably have a higher ceiling. top priority, board of trustees chair to March 2) right now we haven’t we need to improve on and I don’t Chilcott also said the curKen Howard said the fate of the know if that would be able to be rent gym’s bleachers are close to practiced in like a week,” NIC project might ultimately hinge on done on this particular building,” the court, so it would be nicer to volleyball player Allison Meehan community interest in the potenhave more room during basketball Boswell said. “I don’t think we said. tial facility. have to think of it as just a sports games.

Meehan said she was in favor Christianson Gymnasium arena. This would be a multi-func“The facilities are aged and of a new arena because it is somewas built in 1949, and Dunlap said tional facility. We’re talking the broke in,” Trustee Judy Meyer times tough to practice in the gym the proposal stemmed from the arts, we’re talking concerts.” since most of the sports teams use said. “This is a need, [the]need

The average life span of a killer whale in the wild is 50 to 80 years

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news

the sentinel | 3

ICC Club Manual 2.0 Committee revises confusing, outdated manual Thomas Hansen Staff Writer

Getting to know your senator ASNIC senator promotes awareness

R

Nick Marcou Staff Writer

obert Mertens could be considered a truly dedicated man.

A native to the area, Mertens was originally born in Spokane, WA, and moved to the Coeur d’Alene area when he was five. Now 36, Bob lives in Rathdrum, ID and is currently the oldest of the ASNIC senators.

>FINANCIAL AID from page 2

is looking into creating an appeals process for students in desperate situations, but cases would be considered the rare exception rather than the r ule. need, but there was ultimately no feasible solution.

“We actually did meet with the Depar tment of Education before we imple-

“It is ver y interesting and challenging,” Mertens said, “I have never been involved in anything like this before.”

The new environment is anything but chafing, however, and Mertens said he already plans to run for reelection at the end of the semester.

Mertens said he has a ver y clear mission in mind as a senator.

“The main thing that I am

working on this term is making students more aware of ASNIC,” Mertens said.

Starting his second semester of a planned eight years of schooling, Mertens said the main motivation he had for deciding to join ASNIC was that he wanted to tr y to be more involved and better his and his fellow students’ education here.

NIC is Mer tens’ first col-

lege and he said enjoying it ver y much.

“I am loving the college life style,” Mer tens said.

“NIC will always be on my list of favorite places.”

After finishing classes at NIC, Bob plans to transfer to medical school and eventually open veterinar y practice in the Coeur d’Alene area, working with both large and small animals.

mented this and they said it would be discriminator y to separate out those student populations,” Bekken said.

“Unfor tunately it does hur t a number of students to have to go through this, the select few are really hur ting the rest of the population.”

Not all students are completely opposed to the changes, however.

“It isn’t necessarily the spender’s problem if they take the money and not re-

turn it, it’s ever yone’s.” said Melaina Bell, 20, social work, Post Falls. “In the meantime, somebody has to pay for it.”

When students receive a failing grade for a course, NIC has to investigate whether the student “earned the F” or simply ceased attending classes.

If a student that is receiving financial aid that chose to stop attending classes, the college has to calculate from that time for ward to the end

of the semester.

“We have to return that money back to the federal government, which leaves t NIC with an institutional burden,” Bekken said.

A burden which could ultimately be passed down to the remaining student population by af fecting the college’s operating costs Bekken said “We’re really hoping to create more responsible students and less debt for the institution,” Stanley said.

ASNIC and ICC have formed a 10-person committee to review and revise the clubs handbook.

The handbook documents several aspects of the Inter-Club Council (ICC), such as requirements for starting new clubs, acquiring space for events and obtaining club funding.

Because the handbook has not been updated in some time, it lags behind the evolving processes and forms used by ICC. In some cases the handbook details procedures that no longer exist.

Geoff Carr, advisor of the Publications Club, is responsible for revising the handbook’s literature. He said the current handbook is confusing and outdated.

Carr said that the original task was to look through the handbook to correct grammar, spelling and make some of the language more clear.

“As I went through the clubs handbook, not only did I realize it was poorly written, but that a lot of the material was obsolete,” Carr said. “ICC was not operating the way the handbook said it was.”

Carr said, when he presented the document to ICC they realized that changes are necessary.

“The committee soon realized they would need to start the document from scratch,” Carr said. “It’s going to be much more useful and organized.”

Presently the review committee is focused on streamlining the process and requirements of forming new clubs.

“We have currently been reviewing the club process, and just trying to make it easier for students to start clubs and get involved in clubs on campus,” ASNIC Vice President Joshua Brands said.

The committee is also looking at lowering the amount of students required to form a club. Currently eight full-time NIC students are required to form a new club.

Club advisors and students make up the 10-person committee.

The clubs handbook provided on the ASNIC page on the NIC website is currently the outdated version.

ASNIC intends to replace it with the updated version in time for the fall semester.

A little room for unity Multicultural center proposed Christina Villagomez Webmaster/News Editor

Coeur d’Alene Chief presents $15,000 in conributions to college officialsThomas Hansen/Sentinel

Coeur d’Alene tribe checks in NIC Foundation, Athletic Department receive contributions Benaiah Cheevers Assistant Sports Editor NIC President Joe Dunlap publically thanked the Coeur d’Alene tribe at the college’s Feb. 27 board of tr ustee meeting for a donation.

Dunlap said that a few weeks ago the Coeur d’Alene Tribe made financial contributions to NIC and several other educational in-

stitutions in the local area.

Board of tr ustee chairman, Ken Howard, along with members of NIC’s athletic depar tment personnel traveled to Plummer, ID to meet with the tribe and receive $15,000 in contributions to the college.

The tribe donated $10,000 to the NIC Foundation for scholarships and $5,000 was donated to the athletics depar tment.

On Friday, Mar. 1 the Coeur d’Alene Tribe presented the check to NIC publicly.

Athletic Director Al Williams and Dunlap walked down to the court to receive the check at the 2:00 p.m. game of National Junior College Athletics Association Region 18 Basketball Tournament hosted by the college where the NIC men’s basketball team played Snow College.

it,” said Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) club member Brianna Tollackson, 18, Rathdrum, pre-med. “It would be huge to have a place where our A resolution endorsing the members could go to feel safe and creation of a campus multicultural relax. I really hope this passes; I recenter was passed and signed into ally hope this goes through.” effect by ASNIC at a recent board American Indian Student Allimeeting. ance member Brock Boutain, 20, The center’s proposal, which Otis Orchards, said he sees the has been a year-long project of center as an opportunity to unify ASNIC Senator Josh Swan and Vice clubs and students from President for Student across the campus.

Services Graydon Stan“I definitely “Just being down ley, recommended that the college use current believe unifying here and just interactstudent fees to remodel the downstairs ing, I believe that will just definitely build the lower level of the will unify the a strong bond with Student Union Building (SUB) to accommodate culture of this everybody, and that’s what this college needs, office spaces for mulcollege.” bonds between each ticultural populations student,” Boutain said. and turn the central “I definitely believe unifloorspace into a “diBROCK BOUTAIN fying the downstairs will verse common area AISA Club Member unify the culture of this that is welcoming to all college.” students.”

Stanley said the concept of unity “Where we’re at right now is that students support it, I support it, is so integral to the project, that our division supports it and now the including the word will likely be a major contender in the decision to question is what it’s going to look name the center. like,” Stanley said.

The idea for the center began to Stanley said considerations for develop over a year ago when Swan the center include a stage, a display originally approached Stanley with space and lounge furniture.

“I think it will be more of a refur- a vision of having an adviser and bishing and redecorating than reno- office space for the campus’ gay student population. vation,” Stanley said. “Think less “One of the things I was really wall moving and construction, and concerned about is that I don’t like more just changing the flavor, feel when we talk about providing serand the utilization of the space.” vices for the things that make us Rec Sports and Student Events different, I don’t like those to be moving to the upstairs of the SUB segregated,” Stanley said. “I like for is also a possibility, though nothing us to provide a supportive environis yet set in stone, Stanley said. ment but not separate everyone.”

“We’re all really excited about

news

4 | the sentinel

Monday, March 4, 2013

Really Big Raffle really big opportunity for students Carpentry students build strong foundation for the future through on the job training Thomas Hansen Staff Writer Another year, another opportunity to win a house.

Carpentry students are finishing another Really Big Raffle house for the NIC Foundation, the 20th one to be given away.

The students are responsible for the majority of the construction for the house, and get to work alongside the contractors hired to handle the non-carpentry aspects as well.

Dave McRae, NIC’s carpentry instructor, has guided them through the construction of the house both in the classroom and on the building site.

“The raffle house serves as the laboratory exercise for the carpentry program,” McRae said.

At the beginning of the week, the class meets to discuss theory on the focus of the week before gaining practical experience in the field.

“I’ve heard of carpentry programs where they build a wall, and they nail the wall together in shop,” McRae said. “Then they disassemble it and put the pieces back in their shelves someplace and then the next class builds the wall with those same pieces.”

“It’s a lot of work,” Robbie Ellithorpe, 17, Coeur d’Alene, carpentry. “I love it; it’s what I want to do.”

After the semester and the completion of the house, Ellithorpe intends to continue on with his degree and aims for a job managing construction.

“It’s going to be a cool house,” Ellithorpe said.

McRae said that students do more than just the carpentry on the house.

“We sub[contract] out things to make it go fast. We sub out all the major house systems like the elec-

trician, and the plumbers; the sheet rockets we sub out,” McRae said.

“We blend in to some of the subs.”

Students will often work alongside the third-party contractors and help with projects such as insulation, painting and putting concrete down.

This gives students some additional experience and a look at other aspects of construction.

Snow and rain hampers the building process during the winter months.

“When we’re building in the winter we have to cover our lumber, we have to divert water with temporary gutters, we have to watch our power supply in the snow,” McRae said. “If they want to see what the real world is like, there’s no better way than to build a house in the winter in North Idaho.”

Scheduling provides another challenge. The speed of construction is affected by the myriad of different schedules the students have.

Each year the NIC Foundation purchases the lot for the house and provides a budget for construction, around 250,000 dollars.

Five thousand raffle tickets are sold at an individual price of a hundred dollars. Money from the raffle goes toward supporting the Foundation and their efforts on campus including grant money for programs and students.

Because the Foundation provides the funds for the project, the carpentry program can provide practical experience for students without the need for a large grant.

Kristen McFadden, database information specialist of the NIC Foundation, said that a hot tub has been added to the house for the 20th anniversary of the house raffle.

The welding program also contributed to this years’ raffle house in the form of a barbecue. This is the first house that has included a work by the welding program.

CAMPUS SECURITY LOG 3

2

Students are responsible for the majority of the house’s construction. Rachel Single Schwall /Sentinel

Students need workstudy program Thomas Hansen Staff Writer

1

Theft of funds reported 1

Feb. 11 - A medical emergency was reported in Lee Kildow Hall.

2

Feb. 11 - Campus Security investigated the possible theft of funds from the College Skills Center. A review of surveillance tape deter-

mined that a person not affiliated with NIC was involved, the matter was also referred to the Coeur d’Alene Police.

3

Feb. 21 - An alcohol related in-

cident resulted in the banning on a non-student from the Residence Hall.

International students to enroll at NIC Benaiah Cheevers Staff Writer NIC will have international students on campus for the Fall 2013 semester.

NIC President Joe Dunlap and Graydon Stanley, vice president for student services, reported that an agreement with the Spokane College of English Language (SCEL) has finalized an agreement with NIC to provide for the ability of the college to bring in international students.

Stanley said he visited the SCEL, formally known as Canada College, along with Lynn Covey, executive assistant of student services, and Lloyd Duman, division chair of English, international student advisor and Humanities Instructor, to meet with their program director and some of their faculty.

Stanley said that Duman had access to some of SCEL’s international student program scores and that he was very impressed they would have proficient scores that would place them into an English course here at NIC level 101 or higher.

“Lloyd would certainly be the expert in assessing what kind of skills they come with,” Stanley said.

Stanley said that NIC hosted the

SCEL’s program director and two of their faculty to meet with himself, Lita Burns, Vice President for Instruction and two other faculty members.

“They were equally impressed with our campus and our programs,” said Stanley.

Stanley said that NIC just recently passed and signed a memorandum of agreement with the SCEL, which was reviewed by legal council.

“The very day that we let them know they (the SCEL) put it (the agreement announcement) up on their website and are advertising to students around the world,” said Stanley.

The SCEL will serve as an agent to NIC in that the SCEL will encourage their students to transition to NIC after completing their portion of education at SCEL. “We are very pleased to be partners with them (the SCEL) and we are very anxious to see some of their students,” Stanley said. “We suspect that this fall semester we may have up to as many as 10 (international students). It’s going to be a great productive partnership and we’re anxious to further our relationship with them.”

NIC administrators are always looking for ways to help their students in a tough economy. The college has a program that keeps students employed so they may keep up with the expenses of life.

Work-study, a need based financial aid, is available to students when they complete their FAFSA and submitted it to the Financial Aid office from Jan 1-March 15.

Work-study is a part time job during the school year that allows students to work under an advisor, have time to work on their studies as well as helping others.

“It provides a way for me to have time dedicated to being in a single place helping people with their needs, that’s the thing about work study you’re not here just to help yourself,” said work study student Miles Cunningham.

Work-study is state and federally funded and receives $100,000 from the state, $139,000 from federal and $20,000 from NIC. Students in work-study can work up to 20 hours a week and earn a monthly paycheck.

Briefs College receives grant for disability ramp Thomas Hansen Staff Writer The college has received a grant for $35,000 for the construction of a new ramp to the beach.

The grant was awarded by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to make the sidewalk and gangway to the docks ADA compliant.

“Up to this point we have never been ADA compliant and assisted those individuals that needed that type of assistance to be able to get down to and enjoy the beach,” President Joe Dunlap said.

Building code differences between the county and city are a notable challenge for construction, and the project will be affected by the beach annexation.

Work-study times are not scheduled during student’s class hours and when school is not in session.

As long as students are eligible they can work full time, 40 hours a week.

“I find it very helpful because the supervisors are understanding to the double nature, the work and the study, they are willing to give advice as well as projects,” said work study student Theresa Dittman.

Job opportunities through workstudy are available both on and off campus with an on campus hourly pay rate of $8.25 an hour.

Off campus positions being community service based have an hourly rate of $8.50 an hour.

Not everyone is eligible for work-study. Eligibility for workstudy is a first come first serve bases and depends on when students fill out the FAFSA. “It’s a complex process to get awarded because the funds are limited,” said Financial Aid Advisor Alex deGolia.

Students in work study have the potential to earn a maximum $2,000 for the school year.

“It’s beneficial thing in terms of reducing loans because it puts students in less debt and gives them a chance to get some more money

but not have to pay it back,” said deGolia.

After students have completed their FAFSA and submitted them, they are sent an E-mail through their Cardinal mail with a work study application.

Students then have a month to print out the work study application and turn it in to financial aid where they will be put on a waitlist.

Currently work study is maxed out with a total of 188 students.

“Benefits include working on campus and earn wages during the school year,” said deGolia, “work in areas that pertain to your major and get experience interviewing for jobs and working regular jobs,” After students are taken off the waitlist, financial aid will send out an email through Cardinal mail notifying applicants that they have been awarded work-study and then precede to filling out a work-study authorization with Human Resources (HR).

Work study authorization is student completing paperwork with HR, finding a job and working out their job responsibility

Campus Security to join Student Services

Aerospace property to be leased in Hayden

Christina Villagomez Webmaster/News Editor

Thomas Hansen Staff Writer

Responsibility for Campus Security will now fall under Student Services.

Security was previously apart of Administrative Services.

“As our world has changed, so has the role of security for college campuses, becoming a function more deeply rooted as a service for our campus community rather than an administrative function,” said President Joe Dunlap.

Campus security has also received $25,000 to placeinterior locks on 140 classroom doors throught out the campus.

The locks are intended to provide classrooms with added protection in case of emergency.

NIC is in the process of establishing a property lease for the aerospace program.

The lease will be for a location near the Hayden Airport.

This property is five acres, has two buildings with approximately 15,000 square feet and is fully paved.

“In addition to doing the aerospace, the beauty of this is that we can move out of the Ramsey Technical Building, of which we are currently paying $84,000 a year on the lease and move into this facility which is $58,000 per year,” President Joe Dunlap said. “There’s a saving of about $25,000 per year to the college.”

Dunlap said that the first 16 months of the lease can be paid out of the aerospace grant.

Perspective tip? Story idea?

Contact Kaye Thornbrugh

-- kayethornbrugh@gmail.com

PAGE 5

Perspectives MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013

WWW.NICSENTINEL.COM

EDITORIAL

Scout’s dishonor

Turned off Internet pornography nefarious, detrimental to society

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com, Mar tin Downs, enforcement of the nography industr y ornography, MPH, writes about law quite yet as it worldwide generates porn, exhas yet to be written the ef fects of porplicit images revenue of $97.06 nography on the into a finalized law billion. and videos, brain. “In Novemfor a vote.

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Ban Online Porn world. Pornography want to share my They were talking Spurs Outrage” has been thoughts about pornography” (http://tinyurl.com/ proven to and beliefs (http://tinyurl.com/ crpsv75). This arcause neuabout it to bgjhexe). ticles states that rological you.

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G

K

The Boy Scouts of America recently announced that the organization’s executive board will vote in May on whether to lift the ban on openly gay Scouts and troop leaders. After a century of discrimination, it’s time for the BSA to do the right thing.

The BSA no longer has the luxury of pushing gay people to the side and punishing boys and their families for something that isn’t their fault—boys like Ryan Andresen, the California Boy Scout who was denied the Eagle Scout award he had earned when he came out as gay.

Yes, the BSA is a private organization. But that doesn’t give it a free pass to discriminate. We would do well to remember that there was a time in our country when people could be denied service in stores and restaurants because of their race. At that time, business owners were standing by their own beliefs—but that didn’t make it right. Are we going to remain silent while the Boy Scouts of America stand by their discriminatory practices? Will we do nothing?

It may seem like there’s nothing we can do to influence the BSA, but that isn’t the case. As with most matters, it’s possible to speak with one’s wallet.

Donate money to other organizations. Buy an extra box of Thin Mints. The Girl Scouts don’t discriminate, so think of the cookies as a reward for supporting equality.

For those seeking inclusive organizations for their children, BSA isn’t the only option. Support non-discriminatory organizations like the Boys and Girls Club of America, the Girl Scouts, Camp Fire Boys and Girls, and 4-H. Some argue that banning gays from the organization is meant to “protect” the boys. Protect them from what, exactly? We all know—and have known for a long time—that homosexuality isn’t a disease See BOY SCOUTS | Page 6

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Editorial Board

Contributors

Kaye Thornbrugh Managing Editor

Connor Coughlin

Jantzen Hunsaker Co-Web Editor Christina Villagomez News Editor/ Co-Web Editor Garrett Cabeza Sports Editor Tyson Juarez Features Editor Gabe Green Photo Editor Benaiah Cheevers Assistant Sports Editor Geoff Carr Adviser

Jim Chambers

Israel Gonzales Thomas Hansen Andrea Jackson Elora King Scott Lougheed Nick Marcou Chad McIntosh Keilly Murphy Alex Rodal-Cubillas Bridget Rodgers Michael Russell Mark Schultz Rachel Single-Schwall Beau Valdez

Letters to the Editor Policy

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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? Hippopotamuses have been known to attack humans, in boats and on land, without provocation.

PERSPECTIVES

6 | the sentinel

Gas-Hole!

CAMPUS VOICES

Should the Boy Scouts lift their ban on openly gay Scouts and Scout leaders?

Andrew Brand ■ 20, music, Cd’A

“It’s such a sensitive issue.

I think people make too big a deal out of stuff that’s not a big deal.”

Monday, May March 4, 2013

G

American gas guzzling partially to blame for high prices

as prices increase and decline all the time. But even when they decline, they are still too high-ridiculously high.

Since rich and greedy oil companies don’t agree to lower prices significantly, Americans need to find ways to lower gas prices themselves.

First of all, Americans drive way too much.

With the summer vacation season just around the corner, Americans are going to be hitting the road more and for longer periods of time, which probably means increased gas prices.

If we all stay home this summer, we can help lower prices.

If that road trip is already planned, however, drive a car that gets really good gas mileage, or a car that uses alternative energy like natural gas or electricity.

Drive fuel-efficient cars. It may not help a lot to lower gas prices, but it is not about one

the freeway and we’ll probperson doing their part, ably get to work faster since it requires the help of all it seems few cars are ever in Americans. that lane.

Ever since the Industrial The federal government Age of the 1800s, Americans can do their part. and immigrants have been Instead of relying on gas flocking to cities for work. and oil from OPEC (OrganiJobs were more plentiful in zation of the Petroleum Excities than in rural America. porting Countries), we can Also, by living in the utilize oil and gas cities, Ameriareas in our own cans enjoyed a country. shorter route to According to their jobs. Most investopedia.com, Americans nowhydraulic fracturadays live in citing is a way to reies or suburbs, lease gas by shootdistances that ing a combination can be travelled of water, chemicals via bike or foot. or sand into the So don’t be Garrett Cabeza ground to break afraid to enjoy Sports Editor apart rock and fresh air on the thus release gas. way to work.

This method can increase That cold winter air will probably wake us up enough domestic supply and reduce our dependency on so we don’t have to spend overseas sources. money on coffee.

UnfortunateCar-pooling is a great ly, the possible way to conserve gas too. drawbacks of Grab a co-worker or two, hydraulic frachit the car-pooling turlane on ing

are increased chances of earthquakes occurring in the extraction area or polluting drinking water sources.

But the technique has been approved for use mostly.

The federal government also needs more stable and reliable sources for gas and oil. We need to somehow develop better relations with OPEC, so they will feel more comfortable about lowering gas prices.

I bet they would still get hefty paychecks by setting gas prices at a dollar a gallon across the nation.

We always complain about high gas prices, but there are so many steps we can take to lower them every day even without the help of government and overseas sources like OPEC. Instead of turning the key every morning, try pedaling or walking to work.

We might just solve another problem in America: obesity.

Katie Richardson ■ 17, psychology, Cd’A

“Yes. They’re people, too. What does it matter what people like?”

Blake Engle ■ 19, sociology, Ojai, Calif.

“No. I think gayness is a choice and not something you’re born with. I don’t think it’s right and I don’t think it should be promoted.”

Scott Freeman ■ 42, communications, Cd’A

“I don’t have a problem with those folks but I don’t think the world’s ready.

One little accusation, even if it’s false, can ruin your reputation.”

Lana Zordel ■ 56, accounting, Spirit Lake

their preference is.”

“I think gay Scouts, but not Scout leaders.

I don’t think we should ask the boys what

Kaye Thornbrugh ■ Rachel Single-Schwall Managing Editor Photographer

The Island Letter to the Editor: Students should stand against of Misfit Toys acts of vandalism on campus

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indignation and resistance. hinking back to And worst of all, this my childhood, I doesn’t just damage my don’t think there relationship with them, it are any memories damages my relationship of anger more potent than when I had a toy that didn’t with myself. Every time I act like other people are work. In my adult life or objects, I make it okay some semblance thereof, to treat other people as the equivalent category if they’re less that comes to than me. I make mind is when it okay to treat people I’m myself better dealing with and other people don’t meet my worse just beexpectations. cause I can’t litInteresting erally feel what that I subthey’re feeling. I consciously make it okay to equate people be rude and conwith toys in a Nick Marcou descending. lot of interacStaff Writer And sometions. Even how, this mindset more interestmakes it more difficult to ing is that most if not all think any other way when people do the same thing.

Thinking back to the last I start. Once I find myself in this rut, I can’t seem to time I was truly frustrated get out without putting in at someone, I can see so Herculean effort. It’s just clearly why I was mad so much easier to not care instead of sympathetic about other people. It’s or kind: it’s because they didn’t work. I had a picture so much easier to try and blame other people for the in my mind of how I beproblems in my life, like lieved they should act, and roadblocks and walls trying when their actual choices to keep me from the easy, didn’t mesh with my menhappy life that I know that I tal image, it infuriated me. deserve. But it never works, This pattern of thinking even if I can somehow conis a subtler form of objectifivince myself that it does. cation, literally seeing a perI know that this is son instead as a dysfunctionsomething that I have to al machine or a roadblock deal with and confront to something I want. Think every day of my life. It about it. If I saw a person comes naturally to me, that disagreed with me as a unfortunately, and while person, why would I try to I can’t pass judgment on “fix” them or “correct” the anyone but myself, I would error that they supposedly encourage you, dear readhave. Why are they not ener, to look at this. Do you titled to their own opinion?

Why do they have to change do it? Does it serve you well if you do? to suit my attitudes? If I If you don’t think this saw them as a person, they way, congratulations, wouldn’t have to, but in my you’ve avoided a thinkingmind, they’re not a person, trap that I’ve foolishly fallonly an object. en for. If you do, however, It’s the biggest source rest assured that it can be of conflict in my life withsolved. All one has to do out a doubt. I expect to be is treat others the way one treated as a person, but wants to be treated. It’s I don’t always give othdifficult, but in the end, it’s ers that same treatment. the most fulfilling way of Somehow, I’m surprised living I can see. when this results in their

I

have been a student and have been involved with Campus Alive in Christ, an ASNIC club, here on the Nor th Idaho College campus since 2010. Although ever y year, we have had to replace our posters on a regular basis on the behalf of vandalism, I have noticed an ever-increasing trend this semester to deface and even defame and go as far as to attack our beliefs and club by way of slanderous comments and remarks plastered onto our posters which promote our club and events.

As students and future leaders of the United States, it is in our best interests to stamp out intolerance when and where we see it. No club on campus, or anyone on campus, for that matter, should feel attacked and/ or belittled for a held belief. I would like to challenge all students if they see someone writing in slanderous comments or any comments on any club’s flyers or posters to simply say “I SEE YOU.” Douglas M. King, SPC., US Army (Ret) Campus Alive in Christ – Officer

>BOY SCOUTS from page 5

volunteers pose no more danger to the Scouts than straight leaders and volunteers. To assume other wise is plain bigotr y, both ignorant and disgusting.

There’s no getting around it: The BSA’s discrimination is hurtful and wrong. This policy takes people—real, whole people with real, whole lives—and boils them down to a single aspect of their personhood. But human beings are much more than their sexuality.

Is a straight person’s heterosexuality the single most important part of who he or she is? Is it his or her defining trait? Does it determine whether he or she is kind or brave or caring?

No, and the same is true for gay people. It’s time the Boy Scouts of America figured that out.

Scout Law states: “A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.”

Let those qualities be the ones that determine a Scout’s eligibility, not sexual orientation—because, in the end, those are the traits that really matter.

Features tip? Story idea?

Contact Tyson Juarez --

lubusamongus@gmail.com

Features WWW.NICSENTINEL.COM

PAGE 7

MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2012

COMMENTARY

Problems at a local venue.

Knitting Factory concert venue deals with violent behavior

Tyson Juarez ■ Features Editor

NIC artist Joshua Espinosa holds up two of his most abstract works. Espinosa said he got the inspiration for these works from various media elements regarding aviation goggles and gass masks. Michael Russell/Sentinel

Finding inspiration in hidden places Nursing student shows off his hidden artistic ability, talent

Tyson Juarez Features Editor Josh Espinosa, 18, Missoula, is actually not an ar t major. Matter-of-fact, he had given up on ar t in elementar y school due to fr ustration.

It wasn’t until his mother’s eighth-grade ar t class when Espinosa found this inspiration again.

“Being in an ar tistic environment with her really helped bring back my creativity,” Espinosa said.

Espinosa has come a long way since his first doodles, creating works that awe his viewers and bring plenty of attention.

Most of his work is abstract and contains some underlying meaning, but most of the interpretations are left up to Espinosa’s appreciators.

“I let others have a chance at giving my paintings their own meaning,” Espinosa said. “Usually I just paint for fun and a meaning develops as I con-

tinue to work.”

The subjects of his paintings are stretched all over.

From comical paintings of Pumba from the “Lion King,” to inspirational paintings of Mar tin Luther King Jr. and the Statue of Liber ty, Espinosa covers just about any subject.

Espinosa said he puts plenty of feeling into his ar t work. It relieves his stress and gives him time to relax and the ability to express himself on paper.

“I love how painting makes me feel and that’s why people should do it,” Espinosa said. “I feel ever yone has good ideas and feelings, and ar t is a good place to make them real.”

Espinosa’s works have a great sense of composition and are abstractly colored.

Most of his pieces are covered in an array of comfor tably mismatched colors.

Espinosa also mentioned the painting of an aviator is one of his favorite works.

It showcases the quality of

mixed colors that brings out feelins of warmth and brightness.

“I like to mix unlikely things,” Espinosa said. “I paint colors that feel good together.”

Espinosa said he is always looking for inspiration in random animals, ideas, or even images or concepts he finds interesting.

“Whenever I see a cool picture on the inter net I look for ways to draw it in my perspective and give it my touch,” Espinosa said.

One of Espinosa’s most sought-after painting’s is his cur rently unfinished work of a black and white ‘Lady Liber ty’ with red accents.

The symbolism of the work can be recognized as a power ful piece that brings about a sense of unity and can also be seen as revolutionar y. It stands up for that which is peace and liber ty.

Espinosa goes through about a three-week plan-

ning process with most of his paintings. Espinosa said he looks for certain qualities in the images he wants to create such as its possibility for an underlying meaning or how intriguing he finds the idea in general. He then starts his work by creating a grid on his canvas and drawing a pencil outline of his basic concept.

The rest comes to him as it goes.

“I assign meaning to my paintings as I work on them,” said Espinosa, “painting lets me think and that’s when I get my inspiration.”

Espinosa’s newest inspiration is in mechanical works in the logging industry. His grandfather and father both work in big machines in the woods.

“I come from a family of loggers,” said Espinosa, “I admire my grandfather and father and their profession inspires me.”

Espinosa is currently a nursing major here at NIC. Espinosa mentioned that when he is not painting he is busy with soccer practice.

NIC starting to get ‘in step’ New project puts issues of social injustice on display.

Connor Coughlin Staff Writer

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n the past several weeks a mysterious series of fliers have been seen plastered all around campus in ever y building and hall. It displays only a black footprint simply giving a date and a website link.

Behind the allure of the adver tising campaign lies “Footsteps: A Jour ney of Many,” an exhibit put on by the ASNIC student gover nment and NIC Diversity Events that displays issues of social injustice throughout time.

The exhibit features five separate exhibits in which groups are escor ted through dif ferent scenerios, each highlighting a specific issue. The exhibits are all interactive and engage one of the par ticipants’ five senses of sight, smell, sound, touch, and taste.

After moving through all the rooms, the group is brought to the “Room of Hope” where they discuss their responses, what impacted them the most, and how they can become involved.

Four student groups took par t in creating exhibits: NIC Veterans Club, Gay-Straight Alliance, the

American Indian Student Alliance, and the NIC drama club “Actors, Vagabonds and Such,” as well as one community organization, the Human Rights Education Institute.

“Footsteps” got its star t three years ago when Heather Erikson, the Assistant Director of Student Development, took a group of students to the University of Montana for a conference where they saw a similar event.

“A group of students, faculty, and I went to view their exhibit called ‘The Tunnel of Oppression,’” said Erikson, “and we began to realize that we could eas-

ily do something like this.”

Being a grassroots and student-driven event, a year was spent into the planning of the first exhibit which took place in 2012 detailing a total of six topics. Finding success and having over 300 students come through the event, planning soon began again for this year’s with five new topics of social injustice to highlight.

“Footsteps” r uns from March 5-7 in the Edminster Student Union Building.

To find out more information and make reser vations, call 208-769-7761 or visit their website at www. nic.edu/footsteps.

Lately there have been some concerns in Spokane considering the violence in the downtown area, specifically around the Knitting Factory concert house.

The Knitting Factory is known to be notorious for heavy, “rowdy” shows that have a tendency to cause a couple of nicely sized and ridiculously intense fights.

A recent shooting in the area after a private party resulted in a minor shutdown of the venue that was lifted a few days after.

My problem is on how crazy they let some of the shows there get. Now I understand that some heavy metal concerts will get crazy and that people will want to push and shove, but it gets a little annoying when you’re at a Stone Temple Pilots concert and you’re getting knocked on the ground during a slow song.

Some of the people that go to these concerts are a little too high energy for the situation. It’s almost to the point where they get out of control and end up harming other people.

Lots of kids go to these shows as well and having two 300-pound men brawling on the floor around them doesn’t seem safe. The security guards always have to get rough with at least a few people throughout a show and most of the time they are drunk.

So that raises the question: Is it a good idea to have a bar at a venue that hosts multiple heavy bands?

300-pound men plus alcohol and aggressive music may not be the greatest formula for trying to reduce violence. This is crucial especially since the Knitting Factory is such a small venue and audience members are forced to be close and “friendly” with each other.

The security at the venue should do more to monitor sloppy drunk people at the show. I’m not saying they shouldn’t be allowed at the show, but they should be monitored during and even after the concert or party.

I really enjoy seeing concer ts there and find it a shame that so many nights are ruined for others all due to too much aggression and huge brawls between audience members and security guards.

The solution to this would be having security outside the venue and around the area watching to see if any fights or conflicts occur. That way no one gets hurt or, worse, killed.

I’m not trying to ruin anyone’s fun and the Knitting Factory staff does do what it can to protect audience members, but there is plenty of room for improvement in crowd control.

I’ve seen a lot of feedback on Facebook about this issue. Many patrons on the Knitting Factory web page do see alcohol ties into a lot of the violence that occurs at the venue. Others even went as far to blame some of the bands that are booked at the concert house.

A press release from the Knitting Factory stated that they are looking to do a better job controlling violence in the area.

Hopefully they come up with a good system to better protect concert goers from harm inside as well as outside of the venue.

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? Montpelier, Vt. is the only U.S. state capital without a McDonalds.

COSPLAYERS OF NORTH IDAHO COLLEGE

C OS P LAY

www.nicsentinel.com

the sentinel | 8-9

Students bring costume culture to Coeur d’Alene A

Kaye Thornbrugh Managing Editor

demon-slaying angel, the most famous singer in the galaxy and Tony Stark were all on campus recently.

At least, NIC student cosplayers who had taken on their personas were.

Cosplay, short for “costume play,” is a performance art in which participants wear costumes of a specific character. While characters from anime and manga (Japanese animation and comics) are the most popular subjects, any character is fair game, be it from a book, movie, TV series, video game or comic.

Cosplay is a subculture, a world of gravitydefying, rainbow-hued hairstyles, giant swords, school girl uniforms and more. It can take months to complete a costume, assembling and modifying the many pieces that come from thrift stores, garage sales, online stores. Other par ts are made from scratch.

Cosplay attracts a wide variety of people, of all genders, ages and professions. Some don costumes to express love for a particular character.

Others love the creative process.

While the Coeur d’Alene cosplay scene is relatively small, it includes some dedicated and talented cosplayers.

Character: Yoko Littner Series: Tengan Toppen Gurgen Lagann (anime) Bio: BIO

Kowalski spent two weeks beading her bikini top by hand.

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ope Lane sweeps into the room already in full costume: red leather trench coat, boots and a silver wig. Her character—Dante from the video game Devil May Cry 4—is a half-demon mercenary, but Lane’s not in character just

yet. She’s grinning and laughing, a bundle of energy, playfully swinging a sword.

Lane is a crossplayer—that is, she cosplays characters of the opposite gender. For her, crossplay is a challenge that forces her to take her cosplay and acting skills to the next level.

“I’ve always liked male characters better,” said Lane, 19, theater, Lake Forest, Calif. “It’s more fun because cosplay is all about being someone you’re not for a day. Doing crossplay, being male, is kind of the ultimate for me.”

Convincingly portraying herself as a male takes work. Lane has to bind her chest and carefully apply makeup to emphasize the right parts of her face.

For her next costume, Lane disappears into the bathroom for a small eternity. When she emerges, it’s easy to see what took her so long: She’s completely transformed.

Clad in a crisp blue button-up and jeans, with her hair slicked back and facial hair carefully drawn on, Lane has become Tony Stark, better known as Iron Man. Hearing her voice is bizarre: The sound no longer matches her features. It’s hard to connect the 19-year-old college female to the charismatic, bearded fellow who’s speaking with her voice.

Still, when she unbuttons her shirt to reveal the Arc Reactor hidden beneath, the eagerness is all her. When she turns on the battery-powered prop, the Arc Reactor glows a blinding blue.

Lane usually makes her own props, but she bought the Arc Reactor online.

She may joke around while getting ready, but the moment it’s time to start the shoot, she slips into Tony Stark’s persona like it’s a second skin, regarding the camera with a cool smugness. To achieve this gender-bend-

ing, Lane said she puts her acting skills to work.

“Being the character also helps,” she said. “Acting like the character. You have to know them.”

I

t seems that Celia Kowalski doesn’t choose characters to cosplay so much as the characters choose her.

“I pick a character because something about that character just clicks,” said Kowalski, 20, early childhood education, Fallon, Nev. “You know that feeling when a song or a movie resonates with you, and you have that ‘Aha!’ moment you can’t easily name? That’s how I decide.”

Her first character of the evening is Yoko Littner from “Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann,” complete with colored contact lenses. The gun she’s toting breaks down into three pieces, but even then, it’s unwieldy to carry. Fully assembled, the gun is taller than her.

This costume is one of the first Kowalski ever made on her own, and she said it’s one of her favorites. It took time and effort to make: The beading on the bikini top alone took two weeks to complete.

When Kowalski changes costumes, the red wig disappears, revealing her long, dark hair, which is wound up underneath a hair net. As she pulls a pink and blonde wig from her bag of cosplay supplies, she says lovingly, “This is my baby. I have put so much love into this wig.”

Kowalski created the wig herself by combining two separate wigs.

She ducks into the bathroom to complete the transformation. When she reappears, the gun is gone, replaced by a glittering golden microphone

prop. Now clad in a short yellow dress, with sherbetcolored tresses cascading down her back, she looks a bit like an alien princess. This costume depicts Sheryl Nome, the most popular pop singer in the galaxy, from the anime “Macross Frontier.”

“When I watched ‘Macross Frontier’ in 2009, Sheryl immediately became my favorite character,” she said. “Her stage sequences were really cool, and I connected to her through her music.”

When it comes to cosplay, Kowalski says it’s not about getting attention with a costume or being the best. The most important thing is having fun and exploring one’s creativity.

“Cosplay is an art form,” Kowalski said. “I love creating. I draw any chance I get, whether it’s a cute doodle or a new design. I even started learning to paint graphics on shoes and making my own jewelry.

Cosplay is just a different medium for my art.”

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shley Swearingen is a histor y buff. For her, cosplay isn’t just a chance to be creative. It’s also an opportunity to indulge her passion for histor y.

Her favorite series to cosplay is “Hetalia: Axis Powers,” a manga and anime series that centers on a cast of characters who are the human personifications of different countries.

Her favorite costume is England’s Revolutionary War outfit.

“As I’m a history fan and history major, that’s always been my favorite subject to study and something I’ve always loved looking into and reading about,” said Swearingen, 22, history, Hayden. “I just felt closer to that outfit and story than anything else.”

Swearingen said she also enjoys the challenge of crossplaying. She’s drawn to characters whose stories

move her.

“Usually, if I become close to a character because of their story, their background and who they are,” she said.

“Usually I choose characters I can relate to in some way.”

Her first costume is Kotetsu, a superhero past his prime, from the anime “Tiger & Bunny.” She’s clad in a hat and vest, calm and smiling as she strikes some of Kotetsu’s signature poses and holds her pink plush bunny aloft.

Swearingen discovered cosplay in 2005, when she began to see photos of other cosplayers online and decided to try it herself.

“It’s been a huge part of my life ever since I started doing it,” she said. “I’ve met so many people and made so many great friends. It’s our own little world of fantasy.”

Her second costume is Castiel from the TV series “Supernatural,” an angel who unexpectedly befriends two monster-hunting brothers. Swearingen’s Castiel cosplay is particularly well-received at fan conventions, where Swearingen can’t even walk down the street from her hotel to the convention without passersby recognizing her character’s trademark trench coat.

The heavy layers of Castiel’s costume are a pain, but the effect is impressive. With makeup, she’s created a realistic stubble effect on her normally-smooth face. Combined with the dark wig that hides her long blonde hair, Swearingen looks nothing like her usual self—which, to a cosplayer, is the highest compliment that can be paid.

For Swearingen, cosplay transcends mere makebelieve.

“Cosplay is something for any and all ages,” she said.

“It’s a great hobby to share your love of a fictional character but it’s more than just that. It’s a door to a new world full of new friendships, adventures, creativity and more.”

This gun prop breaks down into three pieces.

Character: Yoko Littner Series: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann Bio: An expert sniper.

コスプレ

(Above and left.) Kowalski poses as Sheryl Nome in various costumes. Photos by Elisha Terada

Swearingen as England. Photo courtesy of Ashley Swearingen.

Character: Castiel Series: Supernatural (TV series) Bio: An angel who unexpectedly befriends two monsterhunting brothers.

Character: Tony Stark (Iron Man) Series: Marvel Comics and Films Bio: A billionaire playboy philanthropist... and superhero.

Character: Dante Series: Devil May Cry 4 (video game) Bio: A half-demon mercenary.

Character: Sheryl Nome Series: Macross Frontier (anime) Bio: The most popular pop singer in the galaxy.

Photos by Gabe Green/Sentinel

Character: Kotetsu Series: Tiger & Bunny (anime) Bio: A superhero who’s past his prime.

This pink bunny represents the series’ other protagonist, Barnaby.

the sentinel | 10

COMMENTARY

The Game Guru ‘Far Cry 3’ may be the greatest game out there

Beau Valdez ■ Staff Writer As far as video games go, this is one of the best games ever made. I admit, I was never a huge fan of the original “Far Cry” or “Far Cry 2” due to the lack of good storytelling.

“Far Cry 3” is a huge open world game with all sorts of side missions ranging from taking over outposts to hunting a variety of wild animals.

There are over 40 side missions in total. This is a game that you won’t sit down and complete in a single weekend.

You play as Jason Brody, who gets kidnapped with his brothers and friends in the beginning of the game by Vaas, the leader of a group of modern pirates. After you make your escape, you meet a man named Dennis who is a member of the fictional Rakyat tribe. Dennis trains you to be a killer not only so that you can rescue your brothers and friends, but also to take your vengeance on Vaas and his men. Within a couple of hours, you go from being a horrified Jason Brody to a Jason Brody that runs around joyfully lighting fields of marijuana on fire with a flamethrower, screaming “This is awesome!”

The island, though fictional, is situated somewhere near Thailand, filled with lush, tropical rainforests, beaches, mountains, waterfalls, and a plethora of wild animals that tend to attack you while you are walking through the trees. There are various vehicles to use at your disposal, including hang gliders, boats, and jet skis. About halfway through the game, you meet a guy who gives you a ride in a plane and a wing suit. After that mission, the wing suit is only the push of a button away.

What would a shooter be without guns? “Far Cry 3” has tons of weapons to choose from. Pistols, submachineguns, sniper rifles, assault rifles, bazookas, grenade launchers, flame throwers, and even a compound bow with explosive arrows. With all the “bad guys” and animals that you encounter on the islands, these weapons really come in handy to help keep you alive. One of the more innovative features is the ability to gather different types of plants and animal skins to craft into useful items, such as health and ammunition pouches.

If solo isn’t your style, don’t worry. There are several types of multiplayer missions included, both co-op and versus modes. I only got the chance to play co-op once, but I will definitely try it again. The only downfall to the online play, is that you have to buy the game brand new to get the free online passport. If you buy a used copy or rent it, then you can’t play online without getting a $9.99 pass, but that’s how a majority of games are dealing with online play these days.

THE GOOD - This game has a huge open world map, intriguing stor y, beautiful graphics, and lots of guns.

THE BAD - One downfall is not being able to play online without the passport. There are some slight frame rate problems when there is a lot going on. Getting startled when animals sneak up and attack you from your blind sides also is a big downfall.

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.

FEATURES

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Out on the snow covered frontier Multiple clubs involved in trek across North Idaho’s frozen tundra Connor Coughlin Staff Writer The air was light and crisp on an early Saturday morning on NIC campus. A shuttle bus sat waiting in front of the SUB, its engine growling as it let out plumes of exhaust. Members of the American Indian Student Alliance Club and the Latino Club all shuffled into the vehicle away from the cold. The bus shifted into gear and began its short journey east of Coeur d’Alene towards mountains covered in a fresh blanket of snow.

“Has anyone here ever been snowshoeing?” asked Evanlene Melting Tallow, the American Indian Student Advisor, looking in the rear-view mirror at all the students sitting in their seats.

Only a single hand was raised. The rest of the members of the group were new to the

winter activity.

On Febuary 23 the handful of NIC clubs went on a trip to Fourth of July Pass in an effort by Outdoor Pursuits to build awareness for the program. The trail taken made its way through a scenic path covered in a thick layer of powdered snow, crossing multiple bridges and waterfalls.

“I’ve never been snowshoeing before,” said Amanda Johnson, a social work major, “But doing stuff like this with the club definitely makes me want to get outdoors more often.”

The thoughts were unanimous with the other students. Leaving behind their regular urban environment for several hours, they all took to the solitude of nature and enjoyed their time together, laughing and playing in the snow.

“It’s important in my opinion

for everyone to be outdoors,” said Jon Totten, the Outdoor Pursuits coordinator, “It’s healthy for you.”

Outdoor Pursuits comes into the picture for people who are unable to participate in activities such as these due to financial issues, an inability to access the resources, or a lack of transportation.

“We want students to take advantage of the natural environment we have living in Northern Idaho,” said Totten. “What the Outdoor Pursuits program does is make it real easy to get involved in the outdoors, whether it’s on their own, taking a class, or going on a trip with us.”

After trekking over a mile, the group turned around back towards the trailhead. A swaying fatigue could be seen in each person’s steps. Everybody

was growing tired and hungry.

“The main safety precaution people have to take with snowshoeing is to eat and drink enough,” said Totten. “Snowshoeing is significantly harder than hiking and people can become dehydrated easily.”

Finally returning to the bus, a collective sigh of relief was heard from all around. Muscles aching, everybody helped themselves to a sandwich and granola bars to help replenish the energy they lost while out on the trail.

“I had a blast,” said Corrine Ready, the sole snowshoeing veteran, “I’m glad I could finally get out there and have fun with my friends.”

Though it may seem tough, “Snowshoeing is an easy and versatile sport that’s accessible to everyone,” said Totten. “If you can walk you can snowshoe.”

Latino club president Ana Sagastume smiles as she is covered in ice cold snow while trekking in the mountains. Joe Blow/Sentinel

Playing with a good sense of humor Drama students steal the stage with energetic, slapstick show Nick Marcou Staff Writer After many hard months of memorization and rehearsal, the NIC Drama Department has finally unveiled the “Robber Bridegroom.”

The show captured both the traditional feel and energy of a musical as well as fully accepting the size limitations of the stage into its aura.

Even before the performance began, the ambiance was palpable; soft orange and even softer blue lit the stage with warmth, and when the audio recording of dogs barking quietly played in the background, the decidedly “cozy” stage felt less and less like a theater and more like the inside of a barn.

The show was staged in a classical style, with the audience facing the performers in three separate sections.

It made full use of the space; the energy was tightly contained by the seating arrangement.

This layout boxed in the performers, however, and meant that the only entrance or exit they could use was the rear of the stage. Any other direction led into the audience’s seats.

Given that the show relied heavily on dynamic performances by the cast, any more distance between the players and the observers would result in the energy of the performance being lost. Any less, and the actors and actresses likely would have been forced to move spectators aside.

In the show, the small cast

was by no means short of talent or enthusiasm, nor were they guilty of any invasions of personal space, save perhaps each other’s. The story opened with Clement Musgrove, a wealthy Southern plantation owner played by Jesse Hampsch, being accosted by the infamous bandit brother team of Little Harp (Todd Jasmin) and Big Harp (Clyde Mooney).

The pair of Harps, the “bigger” of the two’s head contained in a box after his unfortunate demise, plotted Musgrove’s demise to capitalize on his substantial wealth, only to be foiled by Jamie Lockhart (Duncan Menzies).

Lockhart is a criminal as well, but has nothing but disdain for the Harps as they do not steal with style. In the process of saving Musgrove, however, Lockhart is forced to lie down with the dogs, so to speak, sneaking into Musgrove’s room and actually sleeping in the same bed as Musgrove and Little Harp to interrupt the brothers’ plans. The story kept its frantic pace with slapstick and wit. With Musgrove’s second wife Salome (Renei Yarrow) plotting to dispose of Musgrove’s daughter from his first marriage, Rosamund (Alyssa Maurer).

With the almost enthusiastic help of Goat (Gustave Lester) and the Harp brothers, Salome sets out to remove Rosamund from the equation, though the daughter has more than enough to cope with after meeting Lockhart.

In the end, the musical was performed with skill and obvious dedication, though such quality did not come without a

price.

“There was one task that stood out as the most dif ficult,” said Duncan Menzies, “it was definitely the blocking.“ There are so many people moving around such a small stage at once. It took a while to get ever ything planned

out.” Despite the long hours rehearsing, however, the leading man had to admit that he ver y much enjoyed being a par t of the musical.

“Oh, it was definitely worth it!” said Alexis Field, Goat’s Mother. “ Yeah, there was a lot of work to do, but it was so much fun, just tiring, too.”

Big Harp (Clyde Mooney) waits backstage before its his chance to go on. Gabe Green/Sentinel

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the sentinel | 11

House show organizer Rob Macdonald stands before a house packed with eager musicians. Macdonald opened the show by perfoming an original acoustic set. Gabe Green/Sentinel

Student’s personal venue may be dawn of new music scene Christina Villagomez Co-Webmaster/News Editor Rob MacDonald wore only a skimpy dress and a sweatband, but aside from the occasional shiver or self-conscious weight-shifting jig, he didn’t seem to acknowledge the freezing temperature of his back porch as he puffed away on a cigarette.

The 23 year-old general studies major was engaged in spiritedly praising the musical talents of his partner in crime, the decidedly warmerdressed Fallon Braddy.

Drifting in and out of the house, as well as the conversation, were various twenty-somethings. The group was a rag-tag eclectic mix of fashion styles, but on the surface, it appeared to be a no different than the hundreds social gatherings that take place in college towns across the country.

But these young men just might be the architects of Couer d’ Alene’s music scene.

MacDonald’s modest one-bedroom house in downtown Coeur d’Alene has become the unexpected gathering place for local musicians to perform during his monthly house shows.

“We need a scene. It’s nice playing in Spokane, but being a musician you don’t always want to have to drive all the way out to [Washington] and back,” said Ian Nelson, bassist of the Static Tones and organizer of the February 26 show.

The show saw a record attendance jammed into the small space.

With barely a cellphone in sight throughout the nine-band set, the

audience stayed in rapt attention, whether that meant sitting on the floor, standing too close to strangers or dancing in place.

“Everyone sits and listens, it’s great,” said J Kane, a local folk musician. “I’m used to playing in bars and things where people just want to be entertained. Here you can really do whatever you want and people pay attention and they’re attentive and they listen and it’s wonderful.”

Kane wasn’t the only musician to appreciate the atmosphere.

“A lot of the people here are really intent on the music, it’s really a beautiful thing,” said Seattle’s Adam Android, lead singer of Adam Android and the Artificial Intelligence.

Musicians seemed to find a special aura in the home that they found lacking elsewhere.

“It’s got more of a raw feeling.

When you play a normal show, like something that’s at a venue, it feels rehearsed,” said Static Tones lead singer Josh Nelson, 21, general studies, Coeur d’Alene. “It’s like magic, it’s raw, pure energy.”

It all began after MacDonald attended a similar show in Spokane the night before moving into his new home.

“I just knew this [place] was meant to hold house shows the second I stepped in,” MacDonald said.

He immediately enlisted the help of Braddy, who had connections through his blog with several folk acts that happened to be passing through the area.

“Originally we just had touring bands come in and have local bands bring in the crowds that support

them,” Braddy said.

Now, the lineup is almost exclusively local musicians.

“Around here there’s a lot of musicians and no venue to play,” MacDonald said. “I’ll let anyone play once, that’s the rule. I want people to actually start their own house shows.”

MacDonald said that he feels music is a way of uniting the community.

“I love the idea that I get to contribute to the scene,” MacDonald said.

“I think it’s important for people’s voices to be heard whether that’s through music or just through talking.”

MacDonald said he’s felt lucky so far that none of the shows have gotten out of hand in spite of not always knowing the people that arrive.

“Nothing really bad has happened so far,” MacDonald said. “The problem is with the more people, the less I know who’s here.”

The house is not without damage, however.

A mixture of flying limbs, instruments and the occasional head have punched holes in the walls and ceiling.

“Everyone goes nuts,” Ian Nelson said. “You can feel the floor vibrate.”

A floor that MacDonald personally reinforced recently.

But MacDonald said it’s all worth it if someone is inspired to create their own personal venue.

“I just wish people would be more active, in that sense,” MacDonald said. “The music community, that’s been essential to every community throughout history.”

Lead guitarist of The Revision Scheme, Andy Crateau performs a solos during Macdonalds house show on Feb. 23. Gabe Green/Sentinel

Josh Nelson, 20, general studies, leads local Coeur d’ Alene band The Static Tones who brought down the house during a very electric and cramped set. Gabe Green/Sentinel

Sports tip? Story idea?

Contact Garrett Cabeza

-- gmcabeza@students.nic.edu

PAGE 12

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COMMENTARY

Final lap shocker at Daytona Huge wreck on last lap injures NASCAR fans

Garrett Cabeza ■ Sports Editor As Regan Smith was speeding toward the checkered flag with a narrow lead at the Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 on Feb. 23 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., I do not think anybody could have predicted the outcome from that point.

Smith tried to block Brad Keselowski to get the win.

Cars began wrecking around Smith and Keselowski as Tony Stewart broke free for the win. Kyle Larson hit Keselowski, sending Larson’s car into the air and into the fence that separates the track from the grandstands.

The debris injured at least 30 NASCAR fans, but no fatalities were reported.

But I was blown away by that final wreck in the race.

I had never seen a car with its entire front end gone like that. It still shocks me that that is even possible. Larson’s engine sat on the edge of the grandstands while crews eventually hoisted it out.

One part of the fence was destroyed and crews did a great job repairing it before the next day for the Daytona 500.

Tony Stewart, the winner of the race, appeared to be a bit shaken after the race, which was understandable, and did not seem to be in the mood to celebrate.

He and the rest of the drivers who were interviewed after the race expressed their concern for the fans and the drivers who were involved in the crash.

But was the wreck good or bad for NASCAR? Everybody, including me, hopes that the fans that were injured from the crash emerge from their injuries healthy.

I am sure many people will be upset because they believe that NASCAR did not take the necessary steps to prevent accidents like this one.

On the other hand, many NASCAR fans live for wrecks, and the one that occurred a little more than a week ago was one of the most eye-catching that I have ever seen.

I’m just happy that neither the drivers nor the fans were killed.

I couldn’t even imagine what was going through Larson’s mind when his vehicle was flying through the air and into the stands.

Or what was going through his mind when his car came to a stop and he climbed out only to see about half of his car was missing?

Because the wreck came on the final lap, it shows the determination and will to win by the drivers. Smith might have been able to finish second, but knowing the race was on the sacred grounds of Daytona, he went for the win.

I don’t blame NASCAR for the injuries that the fans sustained though. Nobody should be at fault.

Fans should know the dangers of sitting in the grandstands at a NASCAR race. I have never been to a NASCAR race myself but I bet the view from the stands is second to none.

Fans should be grateful that NASCAR allows them to sit so close to the action.

When 40 vehicles are traveling bumper-to-bumper at almost 200 miles per hour with everything on the line, crashes are inevitable.

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.

MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013

Eagles fly higher than Cards NIC beats Salt Lake, falls to CSI in championship game Chad McIntosh Staff Writer The second-seeded North Idaho College women’s basketball team lost by two points in the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) Region 18 basketball tournament against College of Southern Idaho at Rolly Williams Court Saturday night 57-55.

Angela Woods had a 3-pointer in the first half to put NIC up 15-9.

Woods led the Cardinals with 14 points to go along with three rebounds.

“CSI is a really good team,” NIC head coach Chris Carlson said. “They were really fighting for something today, and we were too, but CSI always finds a way to win.”

NIC trailed CSI at the half 29-25.

NIC’s Georgia Stirton hit a three in the second half to tie the game at 31. Stirton had 10 points and four rebounds.

Stirton and “They (CSI) Hannah Love were really were fighting for selected something to the all-tourtoday, and nament we were team.

Love too, but CSI scored always finds on a a way to giveand-go win.” from Stirton in the second CHRIS CARLSON half NIC head women’s basto put ketball coach NIC up 54-50.

Love had 10 points and seven rebounds.

“We didn’t execute at the end, we didn’t run our stuff and their defense took us out,” Carlson said. “We just got scattered.”

Buskey finished the night off with nine points.

“It was a good learning experience for us to play that hard and to be that close to winning,” Carlson said. “That’s part of the learning complex.”

The previous day, NIC defeated the third-seeded Salt Lake Community College

A Salt Lake Community College player is swarmed by three North Idaho College players Friday during the second round of the Region 18 Tournament at NIC. Beau Valdez/Sentinel

Bruins 57-33 at Rolly Williams Court to advance to the showdown with CSI. Stirton, who was named conference Most Valuable Player on Thursday night, had a pull-up 3-pointer to extend NIC’s lead to 13-2. Stirton had seven of NIC’s first 13 points.

She had 11 points, five assists and two steals for the game.

‘The girls brought a lot of energy, a lot of focus out

there,” Carlson said. “They were very united as a team.”

NIC was leading 20-2 to begin the first half. It included a 16-0 run.

Love finished with 10 points and Katie Buskey had eight points.

Kabri Emerson sank a 3-pointer in the second half to add to NIC’s 50-29 lead. Emerson had nine points and six rebounds.

“Our defense set the tone and our defensive rebounding was awesome today,” Carlson said.

The Cardinals are 28-4 with three of their four losses coming against CSI. They can still clinch an at-large berth to the NJCAA National Tournament in Salina, Kan., starting March 18.

CSI (21-11) will advance to the national tournament.

BY THE NUMBERS

28

Seconds left in the game between NIC and CSI when CSI grabbed the lead

CSI’s Adriana Dent collides with NIC’s Katie Buskey Saturday in the Region 18 Tournament at NIC. Beau Valdez/Sentinel

35.8

Percent NIC shot from the field in their championship matchup with CSI

NIC’s Georgia Stirton drives into CSI’s Sarah Viehweg Saturday in the Region 18 Tournament at NIC. Mark Schultz/Sentinel

DID YOU KNOW? The first two Daytona 500 races weren’t 500 miles. The Daytona 500 wasn’t 500 miles until 1961.

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Sports

the sentinel | 13

Snow too heavy for Cards to fly Snow defeats NIC men’s basketball team in Region 18 Tournament Chad McIntosh Staff Writer

Men’s All-Region team

The second-seeded North Idaho College men’s basketball team lost to Snow College 77-72 Friday afternoon at Rolly Williams Court in the Region 18 Tournament.

Jalil Abdul-Bassit hit a jumper to extend NIC’s lead to 13-6 in the first half. Abdul-Bassit finished with 16 points.

NIC trailed Snow 36-32 at the half.

The Cardinals trailed the Badgers 53-36 with 13 minutes to play in the second half.

“We got to give Snow a lot of credit,” NIC head coach Jared Phay said. “They hit big shots and played really well.”

Michael Middlebrooks had 10 points, five rebounds and three blocked shots for the Cardinals.

The “We knew it Cardinals was going to cut the deficit to be a tough five points game and a with 5:26 battle. It got left in the game. right down NIC to the end.” had a nine-point run to Jared Phay catch up NIC head men’s basketto Snow ball coach in the second half.

Mikey Hope hit a 3-pointer to close the gap to a two-point game. Hope led the Cardinals with 19 points.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game and a battle,” Phay said. “It got right down to the end.”

Chris Sarbaugh finished with nine points, five assists and three steals. He tied the game at 68 after he was fouled with 2:59 to play.

“I thought we played really well,” Phay said. “We just weren’t matching their scores.”

The Cardinals are 26-5 and can still receive an at-large berth to the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kan., March 18-23.

(NIC players)

First team

• Jalil Abdul-Bassit • Keon Lewis

Second team

• Michael Middlebrooks

Honorable Mention • Chris Sarbaugh

Women’s All-Region team (NIC players)

First team

• Georgia Stirton-MVP • Katie Buskey

Second team

• Kabri Emerson

Honorable mention • Hannah Love

A Closer Look The North Idaho College men’s basketball team beat Snow College all three times in the regular season. The first two games went into overtime with final scores of 84-77 in Ephraim, Utah, Jan. 5 and 82-77 in Coeur d’Alene Jan. 24.

NIC routed Snow 78-56 in Ephraim Feb. 14.

North Idaho College’s James Webb elevates for the ball Friday against Snow College in the second round of the Region 18 Tournament at Rolly Williams Court in Coeur d’Alene. Beau Valdez/Sentinel

BY THE NUMBERS

72

Lowest points total the NIC men’s basketball team had amounted all season against Snow College

5

Number of losses the NIC men’s basketball team has suffered on the season after playing 31 games total

NIC point guard Mikey Hope shows his determination by flying through the air toward the rim Friday against Snow College at NIC. Mark Schultz/Sentinel

Sports

14 | the sentinel

Cardinal Spotlight

Monday, March 4, 2013

Briefs Volleyball North Idaho College sophomore middle blocker Yang Yang will continue her volleyball career at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Mont.

Sophomore middle blocker/ ouside hitter Kaitlyn Molloy will play at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Men’s soccer Forward Adam Talley from East Valley High School in Spokane has signed a letter of intent to play soccer for coach Ken Thompson.

Talley scored 31 goals for East Valley as a junior and hopes to break the school record this spring again.

Jesse Bostrom committed to play at NIC this year.

Bostrom is a 6-foot-3-inch midfielder from Helena, Mont.

Women’s soccer

North Idaho College wrestler Ryan Zumwalt placed second at the NJCAA National Tournament Feb. 22 and 23 in Des Moines, Iowa. Zumwalt tore his LCL at nationals last year. Mark Schultz/Sentinel

Knee injury keeps wrestler down, not out Garrett Cabeza Sports Editor

Zumwalt 11-7.

“I always wanted to be a national champion,” Zumalt said. “I always felt like I was prepared for When Adrian Peterson tore that but once it actually happened, his ACL and MCL on Christmas especially this year I wasn’t even Eve 2011, not many people would expecting to wrestle, just being in have predicted he would come the finals was a sense of accomback this season and win the MVP plishment.” award and come nine yards short Whitcomb said Zumwalt’s perof breaking Eric Dickerson’s sinformance tells a few things about gle-season rushing record. him.

Some NFL analysts referred to Whitcomb said it shows “numPeterson’s body as freakish for reber one what kind of competitor covering from a significant injury he is, number two what kind of an so quickly. athlete he is and lastly what kind Well, North Idaho College of teammate he is. I think he outwrestler Ryan Zumwalt may be in performed probably what he even the same boat. could have done because he wantZumwalt finished in second ed it so bad for his teammates.” place in the 165-pound division at Zumwalt and his team did win the NJCAA National Tournament the team national championship, in Des Moines, Iowa, Feb. 23 and sharing the title with Labette. The won the Region 18 title in the title came at a bit of a relief for same weight class Feb. 9 at ClackZumwalt. amas Community College.

“It was kind of confusing at first Both these occurrences hapbecause when I went into the finals pened after Zumwalt tore his LCL I thought that if I lost that our team at last year’s national tournament, wasn’t going to win,” Zumwalt said. which provided him with doubt of “I thought there was some kind of wrestling at all this season. criteria or something that would “I definitely didn’t think I was have given Labette the champigoing to wrestle,” Zumwalt said. “I onship, so I felt a lot of pressure had surgery in August (2012) and going into it, and then once I found I wasn’t able to walk until early out that we still won and we were September.” able to be co-champions, it was a Zumwalt said that he and head really good feeling.” coach Pat Whitcomb decided to Zumwalt expected nothing less sit out, especially because they than a team national championship. expected freshman Nico Moreno “He (Whitcomb) said all to step up and perform well at the throughout the year that we were 157-pound weight class. going to win it and I think we all “He obviously rehabbed it hard believed it,” Zumwalt said. “I didn’t in the fall and part of it is laying have a doubt in my mind that we low in the fall,” Whitcomb said. were going to win it this year.”

“You just can’t go 100 percent and Zumwalt plans on taking his that’s not his style.” wrestling talents to Minnesota’s Zumwalt said he had been wresSt. Cloud State University, curtling in practice about three weeks rently the No. 1 ranked Division II before the Region 18 Tournament. school in the country.

He was not planning on wrestling Due to NCAA rules, Zumwalt until about two days before the tourmust earn his associate degree nament when Whitcomb asked him before signing if he would wrestle.

“I had no con“Going into that match I was pretty sore, with a university, since he transfidence going into just fatigued from the tournament, just ferred from Caliit,” Zumwalt said. fornia State Uni“I’m not going to because I wasn’t used to wrestling that versity-Fullerton lie. I just didn’t much. But going into that match I believed in 2011, a Diviwant to embarrass sion I school. myself, honestly, that I could win. I started getting my With an and then winning it was pretty confidence back and I took him down right off-season to prepare and crazy.” off the bat.” improve, ZumBy inserting walt may be the Zumwalt into the favorite to win lineup, Whitcomb an individual was forced to national chambump 165-pound Ryan zumwalt pionship at the All-American redNIC wrestler four-year school shirt sophomore level.

Jake Mason out of

>Wrestling from page 1

third match.

Giulio said he had about 15 minutes to recover from the time of his loss to his next match.

Giulio said that Whitcomb gave him some encouragement during some of that time.

the starting 10.

Whitcomb, who has been the NIC head wrestling coach for 16 years, said that was “probably the toughest decision I’ve made in coaching.”

“It would be different if Jake wasn’t working hard,” Whitcomb said. “It would be different if Jake wasn’t a great kid, a great character. I can’t say enough about him.

That’s what made it harder, just simply came down to what I believed gave the team the best shot to win a national title.”

Zumwalt said he and Mason had been wrestling each other since about the fifth grade. They both graduated from University High School in Spokane Valley.

“That really didn’t set us back I don’t think because he was really mature about it too,” Zumwalt said. “We were both just doing what Coach asked us.”

At nationals, Zumwalt said he had a tough road to get to the championship match with Labette Community College’s Devin Aguirre.

Zumwalt believed his second match was decided by one point and his semifinals match went into overtime.

“Pretty much the only reason why I won (the semifinals match) was I was thinking about my team,” Zumwalt said. “I knew that every point counted, so I just kept going when I was tired.”

By the time he reached the championship round, Zumwalt said he was tired.

“Going into that match I was pretty sore, just fatigued from the tournament, just because I wasn’t used to wrestling that much,” Zumwalt said. “But going into that match I believed that I could win.

I started getting my confidence back and I took him (Aguirre) down right off the bat.”

Aguirre ended up beating

“It was pretty important completely “A loss in the quarters it hurt, but to put up No. 14 there and reset my Coach grabs me show that North Idaho brain and I was back on and he says, ‘This team needs you and College is still the team to track, back on getting if you give up now, beat.” refocused,” we don’t win a naGiulio said. tional title. You need

Giuto get behind your Pat Whitcomb lio said a lot of things team and start wrestling for NIC wrestling coach went against the Carthem.’ That hit me home. It

Natalie Middleton, a four-year varsity starter for Central Valley High School in Spokane Valley, has signed an NJCAA letter of intent to play at NIC starting in the fall of 2013.

Middleton is a versatile player who primarily plays center midfield, but will play center forward and occasionally center back.

She was part of the first ever appearance by the CV Bears in the Washington State High School Championships in 2010.

She helped lead Central Valley to the 2011 Great Spokane League Championship and the Elite Eight in the state championships.

Middleton also plays on one of the type 5 club teams in the state at U-18 age level.

“Natalie’s height and competitiveness will give us an advantage in the midfield over many of our opponents,” NIC head women’s soccer coach Dan Hogan said.

Joining Middleton with the Cardinals next year will be one of her club team teammates, Meghan Pagano.

While Pagano and Middleton play on the Spokane soccer club Shadow team together, Pagano is from Sandpoint and has been a starter at forward and center midfield for Sandpoint High School for four years.

Pagano was part of two state runner-ups and one state champion team while competing for Sandpoint.

She has been on the All-Inland Empire League first team all four years winning IEL MVP as a sophomore and a senior.

“Getting Meghan and Ellie Engel, a current forward for NIC, together will bring back one of the most dynamic duos of attacking players ever produced in North Idaho,” Hogan said.

Softball Colville High School standout Jammie Madonna signed with North Idaho College on Jan. 21.

Madonna is the first NIC softball signee for the 2014 season.

“The addition of Jammie for 2014 will add depth and power to our battery,” said NIC head softball coach Don Don Williams.

Madonna, from Washington State, was a Colville High School MVP, a Defensive Player of the Year, All-State her sophomore and junior years, second team Northeast A League (NEA) her sophomore year and on the academic honor roll.

NIC signed three outstanding softball players from University High School in Spokane recently.

Karly Schuh, Brittany Hecker and Ryelynn Mendoza will all play for the Cardinals.

“We are excited about continuing our long tradition of excellence with University High School players in our program,” Williams said. “Brittany will contribute in the circle next year, Mendoza brings speed to our lineup and Karly is a proficient infielder that has exceptional arm strength.”

Schuh, a shortstop, was a fouryear starter for University High School as well as being a four-year honor roll student.

Hecker, a pitcher, was the team’s 2012 Most Valuable Player as well as being named to the Greater Spokane League first team two years in a row.

Mendoza, an outfielder, was named to the Greater Spokane League first team in 2012.

Softball signed seven more outstanding softball players that will play for the Cardinals next fall.

Miranda Powless from Colton, Calif., and Tori Almos from Longview, Wash., will pitch.

Madison Anthony from Vancouver, Wash., and Tiana Elisara from Kapolei, Hawaii will play in the infield.

Samantha Luna from Salinas, Calif., Teadora Parker from Walnut, Calif., and Christina Delaluz from Corona, Calif., will help rebuild the outfield from graduation.

“We are excited about continuing our tradition of having great players in our program,” Williams said. “We feel this recruiting class is one of the strongest in program history. Look for them to contribute immediately.”

Upcoming softball games at Memorial Field Date

Opponent

Time

3/8 3/8

College of Southern Idaho Second Game

1:00 3:00

3/9 3/9

College of Southern Idaho Second Game

12:00 2:00

3/15 3/15

Colorado Northwestern Second Game

1:00 3:00

3/16 3/16

Colorado Northwestern Second Game

12:00 2:00

3/29 3/29

Salt Lake Second Game

1:00 3:00

3/30 3/30

Salt Lake Second Game

12:00 2:00

4/2 4/2

Skagit Valley Second Game

12:00 2:00

4/5 4/5

College of Southern Nevada Second Game

1:00 3:00

dinals during the tournament, but they had been preparing for that all year.

“All through the season the thing that Coach (Whitcomb) would always say in practice was ‘We’re not wrestling for if everything goes right. We’re wrestling for when things go wrong, and we can still come out on top and that’s just what ended up happening.”

Brock Banta (125) finished fourth for NIC, Michael Carreon (133) finished fifth, Jeremy Golding (149) finished fifth and Caleb Rivera (184) took sixth.

The national title was Whitcomb’s fourth at NIC (1998, 2001, 2003 and 2013).

The last time two NJCAA wrestling schools shared a national title was in 1998.

www.nicsentinel.com

ACROSS 1. Plateaux 6. Cocoyam 10. Emollient 14. Sporting venue 15. Wreckage 16. Competent 17. Unable to express yourself 19. Weight to be borne 20. Expound 21. Prefix meaning “Modern” 22. Russian parliaDOWN

ment 23. Make less sharp 25. Floral leaf 26. Pleads 30. Somewhat 32. Version 35. Tympanum 39. Deviate 40. Be a go-between 41. A type of hormone 43. Gun holder 44. French for “Again” 46. Not there 47. A mixture of

18. L 24. A large vase 1. A female domes- 25. Risk tic 26. What we sleep 2. Sea eagle on 3. Religious offshoot 27. Modify 4. Dwarf buffalo 28. Donate 5. Sir, in India 29. Mental represen6. Mistake tation 7. A woman chap31. Angel’s headeron wear 8. Kitchen set 33. Sarcasm 9. Savvy about 34. Ear-related 10. Nonsense 36. Liturgy 11. More or less 37. End ___ 12. Andean animal 38. No more than 13. Award 42. Dog sleigh

GAMES

the sentinel | 15

metals 50. Agile Old World viverrine 53. Weight loss plan 54. Eastern Standard Time 55. Frittered away 60. Covetousness 61. Nutritious 63. Chick’s sound 64. Arid 65. Street urchin 66. Tall woody plant 67. Biblical garden 68. Overweight 43. Female chicken 45. Hit the sack 47. Highly skilled 48. A protective covering 49. Embankment 51. Female sheep 52. A type of dance 54. Leisure 56. Knife 57. Docile 58. Twin sister of Ares 59. Unit of force 62. Adult males

Sudoku

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GUNS

the sentinel | 16

CROSSF IRE Students weigh in on the gray area of gun control “I don’t know how people can even believe that a President would want to take away their Constitutional rights.

That’s what I don’t understand.”

LARKIN HENKEL President of Breaking Clays

Kaye Thornbrugh  Managing Editor

I

n Northern Idaho, guns are nearly as common as pine trees, used for recreation and personal defense. With seven shooting ranges within an hour’s drive of Coeur d’Alene, gun owners can easily find a place to shoot or get lessons.

Local businesses cater to new and experienced gun owners: Cabela’s in Post Falls even offers a “Ladies’ Intro to Handguns” class.

Larkin Henkel knows a thing or two about guns. The founder and president of the NIC Breaking Clays shooting club, Henkel has been shooting for 10 years.

She shoots handguns and rifles for fun, but she only competes with shotguns.

Gun owners are a diverse crowd: At the Coeur d’Alene Skeet and Trap Club where she works, Henkel said she has seen air marshals, attorneys, school teachers, and even a little old lady who was interested in learning to shoot a large shotgun that she’d bought for home defense.

Even as an avid shooter and gun

owner, Henkel said she believes in reasonable gun control measures.

“I feel that everyone should have to register their guns, even if you buy it from someone else, even if you don’t go through an actual gun retailer,” said Henkel, 18, political science, Coeur d’Alene.

“You should have to register, just like if you were to buy a car…. You should have to get backgroundchecked. People who want to buy higher-up guns should have to have a mental stability test to make sure that they’re mentally competent in owning that firearm.”

Some types of ammunition should be unavailable, Henkel said, such as armor-piercing and highvelocity rounds.

“No one is going to need those,” she said. “If you’re a

52% of nic students own at least one firearm*

“It’s a joy to shoot,” he said. “It’s the country,” she said. “Having hunter, you’re not going to carry an understanding of what a gun around a gun with 15 to 50 rounds a freedom we possess.” actually is and making sure evIn recent weeks, proponents in it. That’s just not safe for a hunteryone is always safe.” of gun rights have often said, “The er to be doing that.”

Other countries have gun cononly thing that stops a bad guy with Many gun owners who adtrol laws that are much stricter a gun is a good guy vocate access to than in the United States. To obtain with a gun.” England high-velocity rounds, a gun in Japan, for instance, where said there’s a lot of armor-piercing rounds only shotguns and air rifles are truth to those words. and large clips aren’t legal to own, prospective gun own“We, as citizens, hunters or sportsmen, ers must take a day-long class and are given the responHenkel said. Instead, pass several tests; pass a mental sibility to defend ourthey tend to be owners health test and drug test; and pass selves against what who want to prepare a thorough background check. might happen,” he themselves for a govGuns and ammunition must be said. “I think that if ernment takeover or an Larkin Henkel locked and stored separately, and somebody is going overturning of the Secowners must provide police with to come into a classond Amendment. room with a gun, there the specific locations of both.

“Being a political In 2008, there were just 11 gunneeds to be somebody to curb that science major, there’s no way a related homicides in Japan, accordthreat.”

President or Congress or anyone ing to gunpolicy.org. In 2010, there However, England said he could take away someone’s Bill of were 31,672 gun-related deaths in doesn’t believe that arming teachRights,” Henkel said. “I don’t know the United States. ers is the solution to school shoothow people can even believe that a England said he doesn’t think ings. That should be left to armed President would want to take away the United States should police officers. Havtheir Constitutional rights. That’s look to other countries’ ing police present in what I don’t understand.” gun laws as an example. schools would reduce Not all gun owners agree.

“I think we would do gun violence, he said.

“Reasonable gun control, in my much better if we would “Police officers mind, is already in place,” said Nate stop comparing ourselves are trained for that England, 20, general studies, Coeur to other countries, trying kind of escalation in d’Alene. “I think the (National Into copy their gun control violence,” England stant Check System) background policies,” he said. “I think said. “If there’s going checks are good enough, but stiffer we need to find our own to be a threat, I don’t penalties need to be carried out. way. Our country used to think it should be a People walk on crimes when they Nate England be a country of innovation. teacher responding shouldn’t all the time.”

Other countries looked up to it. What kind of England comes from a family to us. Right now, we’re comparing message does that send to chilthat includes many members of ourselves to other countries, which I dren?” the military. He’s helped out at a don’t think is the best route.”

In Henkel’s opinion, the key to local gun shop and enjoys target The real problem, England reducing gun violence is education. shooting. A collector of semiauChildren don’t learn basic gun safe- said, is “the decay of society.” tomatic military-style rifles, Eng“I think it ultimately comes ty in school, but they should. land said he keeps weapons for down to, if somebody possesses a “I think that would help detarget shooting, home defense, gun, what’s in their heart,” he said. crease a lot of gun violence in and simply because he can.

40% of nic students think gun control laws should be more strict*

30% of NIc gun owners own at least 1 semiautomatic weapon*

* Based on a Sentinel poll of 209 NIC students.

Larkin Henkel, founder and president of NIC’s Breaking Clays shooting club, believes in “reasonable gun control.” Rachel Single-Schwall/Sentinel. Photo illustration by Kaye Thornbrugh.