The Sentinel

The Future of

NIC Athletics

NIC Volleyball’s

Hope

pg. 26

Why NIC? Students describe their journeys to the PNW pg. 38

Living LGBTQ+ at NIC

DeLeon Star player

reflects on first season at NIC

pg. 22

The Sentinel takes on the

Big Apple pg. 10

pg. 18

Spring 2019

theSentinel

the { one last } Letter fromEditor

Kaylee Dinkel Editor-In-Chief

magazine editor associate magazine editor copy editor arts editor features editor sports editor staff writer staff writer staff writer

Rebecca Pratt Kelli Spooner Gerry McCray Willow Bottenfield Catrina Martinson Luke Wilhelm Lydia Hanan Hana McMullen Robert Perry

adviser Geoff Carr

Want to get published?

Join our staff

Are you interested in news writing, photograghy, editing, running social media accounts, broadcast journalism or graphic design? Come join the Sentinel, North Idaho College’s national award-winning student news organization. No matter what you are interested in doing we have a spot for you!

Come learn, share and create with a staff of like-minded, yet diverse students.

The Sentinel has won individual and organizational awards, including the Society of Professional Journalist’s Mark of Excellence Award and the Associated Collegiate Press’ Pacemaker Award.

Check us out at www.nicsentinel.com

Photo by Kelli Spooner

One of my favorite parts of the Sentinel was convincing staff members to dress up for holidays.

Pictured above, the fall 2017 staff dressed up for Halloween. Below, Rebecca Pratt and I donned pink in the fall of 2018 for Wednesday, October 3 because, as everyone knows, “on Wednesday we wear pink” and “on Wednesday October 3, he asked me what day it was.”

Sentinel staff: (front, left) Catrina Martinson, Willow Bottenfield, Rebecca Pratt, Hana McMullen. (back, left) Gerry McCray, Kelli Spooner, Lydia Hanan, Kaylee Dinkel, Luke Wilhelm.

Not pictured: Robert Perry

NIC Sentinel

@NICSentinel

Experience is something no one gets by simply sitting at home. You get it by taking risks, finding adventure, and making moves you never thought you would. I never thought I’d be a journalist.

I never thought I’d work for a newspaper which would eventually turn into a magazine. It never crossed my mind that one day I’d serve as managing editor of a student news organization on NIC’s campus; yet, here I am. The Sentinel has been my home for three years now and it will live on as the biggest part of my community college experience. Representing this beautiful campus and the surrounding areas throughout my time here has been one of those things that I’ll cherish in life.

To my past and present staff members: thank you! Thank you for making my experience at the Sentinel a wild, wild ride! You all deserve awards for the work you do. You’re the unsung heroes of journalism.

And now is the time to say goodbye.

Goodbye to the crazy events I got to cover, like paintball competitions and student fame. Goodbye to the late-night production weekends and last-minute deadlines. I may not have loved it all the time but I appreciate every single moment I’ve had in and out of the newsroom.

Much love,

Through the Sentinel, I was able to attend the CMA journalism conference two years in a row in New York City. I learned a huge amount of information about the different ways people can use journalism that I can take into the future. Photo by Rebecca Pratt

Features

Contents 6 8 10

18 LGBTQ Q&A

14

Students Caleb Weeks and Tatum Bryan (pictured above), Dakotah Andrews, and Lizzie Welker answer questions about their experiences living in North Idaho and going to school here. They share their thoughts on identity, their dreams and future aspirations.

Instagram

Students share on-campus moments via the NIC geotag.

What’s Your Playlist?

Students share their top five songs from their favorite playlists.

The Sentinel Inside NYC

Experiences of staff members who visited New York City for the College Media Convention.

Stress Relief

10

Five ways you would’ve never thought to relieve stress based on medical journals from across the United States.

Lit Crawl 15 The NIC Literary Arts program put on their first pub crawl with poetry and creative-writing readings.

30 Back-to-Back Champions

she has taken to get there.

24 32 34

On the Cover: 22 A Dash of Hope

NIC Volleyball player Hope DeLeon and others talk about her arrival at NIC, the challenges of her first season and her overall positivity.

36

Now What?

26 An in-depth analysis of the Athletic Expansion Review

Committee’s recommendation to postpone expanding NIC athletics.

NIC student Travels to L.A. for Internship 17-year-old student Nadia Luhring lands a summer internship for a Los Angeles-based magazine.

A Desire to Help

Student Tyler White uses his talents in graphic design to better the lives of those around him.

Maximize Your Workout s

Get the most of your workout in two simple ways.

The Road to North Idaho College 38 Students share their journeys across the country and what led them to NIC.

Sentinel

Profile: Madi Mott 24 AAthletic look into the life of NIC softball’s superstar and what steps

Nate Pryor (right) and the North Idaho College mens basketball team won the 2019 NWAC Championship following a 31-2 season. Pryor, who arrived last fall as a heavily recruited athlete, would go on to lead the Cards in scoring, dropping nearly 19 points per game. Pryor joined NWAC Player of the Year RayQuan Evans to form arguably the best backcourt in the NWAC.

32

NIC’s Modern

Top female artists

Top streamed songs

Top male artists

Mixtapes Statistics provided by Billboard

By Catrina Martinson, features editor

8|theSentinel

theSentinel| 9

a new yorker

By Willow Bottenfield, arts editor

i’d left a lover behind i missed him heavy and i didn’t want to i took my muddy head and black boots to beat down asphalt and dissolved into the city the throats of streets swallowed me up assimilated me into pulsing veins of humanity march wind carved city whispers into my bones the subway flew us to a dive two beers and live pop punk helped move my heavy shoulders with leaking eyes i met a man from Bangladesh and found my lips around his cigarette our handshake was broken

Willow Bottenfield stands in the heart of Times Square in New York City while out on a break from the College Media Convention held at the Marriott Hotel NYC. Photo by Catrina Martinson

like so many things between us

Inside the College

Media Convention

By Lydia Hanan, staff writer

NYC theSentinel inside

Photo by Willow Bottenfield

10 |theSentinel

Waking up in New York City is different than waking up in sleepy little Coeur d’Alene. There is a slowness here that doesn’t exist in the Big Apple. I woke up that first morning, rolled out of bed and started my usual routine of finding coffee. I wandered through the Marriott Marquis, watched people set up displays, found my coveted coffee, and headed back to the room. When my roommates and I were all ready, we headed down to get our passes for the conference, and went to the sessions of our choice. I went to one about getting a job in journalism, and learned about the importance of having connections. Professionals have a type of Rolodex, kind of like an actual one where you write down names and numbers, but you also have a relation; someone who can attest to your work. The more people you know, the more stories you have. The more stories you have, the higher you can climb in the writing world. I left the session feeling empty; I don’t have many connections, and as an overly shy person it is hard for me to put myself out there.

Later that day, I went to the lobby, and met with my media tour group. We headed over to the Fox News headquarters; it was amazing. We walked through recording studios, sound editing and graphic editing rooms. We learned about the work and struggles of being part of such a large news station; struggles like not being able to get the right graphics in the background or the inability to sync sound and picture. Somewhere between the magic of the news studio and the sight of five people crowded around computers, I came to the realization that I was happy with the peace of Coeur d’Alene. There’s something to those familiar sleepy mornings, the lack of traffic, a cup of coffee that doesn’t cost seven dollars and the slow trickle of news. I realized as my group hustled back to the hotel that my Rolodex will never be as big as I want, and my stories won’t always be mainstream. For now, the small-town stories and adventures will be enough of a rush for me.

The view from the 34th floor of the Marriott Marquis in NYC down onto the streets of Times Square. Photo by Willow Bottenfield

theSentinel| 11

Getting lost inside the Big Apple

Walking through but before I can, the sun disappears over the horizon of steel and glass. these streets is a

A photo wouldn’t have done the scene any justice anyways; a game; it’s all about photo couldn’t capture the sounds, the smells, or the vibe of the city. I getting the timing guess I’ll just have to keep this moment in my head. right.

I listen to music

I’ve run into this frustration a lot the past few days. Every

By Catrina Martinson, features editor and it helps keep me photo I’ve taken has represented but a fraction of the beauty that was in rhythm as I weave around a mob of shoulders, avoiding eye contact actually there. The Statue of Liberty decorated the dark sky the night at all costs. I avoid smiling so as not to give away my small town roots.

I rode the Staten Island ferry, but on my phone it is just a vague green I’m not in Idaho anymore. shape against a black screen. Times Square is a valley of irradiant

I emerge from the scaffolding, just in time to dash across billboards, but it is impossible to fit them all into one shot. Even the street in the last four seconds of the crosswalk. On this side of the just walking through these streets, every block is picturesque, yet it’s street, tunnels of steel beams and strangers resume to guide my way, impossible to tell from just a picture. and the game continues.

Everything is orange now. The building’s windows reflect the

I let the long walk ahead of me serve as a catalyst for my colors of the sky, and the city grows darker and colder every minute. reflection of this trip. Tuning in and out of my surroundings, I begin My coat doesn’t do much against the city’s biting March air. I walk to think back on the last few along the sidewalk grates days and how beautifully to feel the warm air from chaotic they’ve been, much underneath on my body as like the city itself. I haven’t I walk, and force my tired had a moment to myself legs to pick up the pace; I’ll since I got here; all of my have to hurry if I want to get time has been occupied there before dark. attending the conference

Every bit of this trip and exploring the city has been beautiful in it’s own with my peers. Yet, in this way, but the conversations culminating moment on which accompanied it all my final day, I explore by are what truly made every myself and think back moment special. I’ll never to all of the things I’ve forget Johnnie Grinder, the learned, places I’ve seen, and enthusiastic artist Willow people I’ve met. and I ran into selling his art

I wasn’t quite sure in Union Square. Or Jimmy, what to expect from the the homeless man we met conference. I was much more on the street who wouldn’t excited about sightseeing shut up about aliens. Even than I was about sitting in the people who came here conference rooms all day with me were mere strangers learning about journalism, a few days ago, but now I but I ended up learning a lot dare call them friends. I from the various speakers. am blessed to have shared Features editor Catrina Martinson enjoys a night out in NYC. Photo by Willow Bottenfield A freelance music journalist every unforgettable moment from California taught me that I can make a career out of combining of this adventure with these people, and as much as I will never forget two things I love; music and writing. A freelance travel journalist who the things I’ve learned, or the places I’ve seen, I will never forget the traveled all around the world writing about different cultures, taught people who were there every step of the way. me a new technique for interviews. It happens to be a pretty good way

Finally, the scaffolding ends and I have reached my to go about life in general; to be kind, curious and vulnerable. I learned destination, the oasis of the city...Central Park. I find a seat on a bench some things about myself too; I’ve always loved writing, but I’ve never and rest until all of the orange in the sky is gone, and all that is left to really seriously thought about a career as a journalist before coming illuminate the city are the lights. here and learning about the wide variety within the field and the

Tomorrow, I will fly back to Coeur d’Alene, and by Monday endless opportunities it holds.

I will be back in the newsroom with the rest of the Sentinel staff

I stop for a moment and look up to see the last sliver of the working on the next issue of the magazine, but the feels, the smells, sun about to fall behind a building. I grab my phone to take a picture, and the taste of New York City will linger in my mind indefinitely.

12 |theSentinel

The Sentinel staff chats in Times Square as they make their way toward a meal of ramen at Tabata. Photo by Willow Bottenfield

The dazzling New York City skyline viewed from Central Park. Photo by Catrina Martinson

A quick snap of the endless neon lights that make up the city. Photo by Willow Bottenfield

theSentinel| 13

5 Stress Releif hacks you never thought of before 14 |theSentinel

By Rebecca Pratt, magezine editor

Separation from your phone can cause anxiety. In an article in Time Magazine, Frances Jensen, chair of neurology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, said that though smartphones are not the root cause of anxiety, they are an accelerant of the preexisting condition. And if our phones are accelerants of anxiety one would think college students, a very stressed group of people in the U.S.A., would be limiting their usage. Yet according to a new study by market research group Nielsen, American adults spend more than 11 hours per day on their phones. So limiting the time you spend near your phone may be what you need to de-stress; all you have to do is get through the phone withdrawals.

Specific colors can trigger certain emotions. Light blues and greens bring about a calming presence. Use pens and highlighters with calming colors rather than yellows, reds, and oranges, which trigger stress. When trying to sleep or rest, avoid rooms with loud vibrant colors; seeking out places with soft grays and blues can help relax your mind. This goes for light as well. Staying away from blue light, usually produced by phones, computers, and televisions is also optimal for better sleep and decreases stress levels.

Music isn’t always as calming as we think. Try finding natural silences, white noise, nature sounds, etc., instead. Music can be distracting.

Your mind reacts in different ways to different types of music no matter the genre, so maybe it’s time to unplug from the noise. According to John Hopkins Medical University, there is evidence to support the fact that music keeps your brain healthy.

It does this by giving your brain a workout. The study states that "music is structural, mathematical and architectural. It’s based on relationships between one note and the next. You may not be aware of it, but your brain has to do a lot of computing to make sense of it."

Comfort eating works! Who knew? Overindulging on candy bars is not the answer, though. In a 2015 study was conducted testing stress levels in women. After comparing cortisol levels before and after a 12-day period of consuming sugar in their diets, stress levels were significantly lower. So next time you’re feeling stressed, treat yourself to something high in sugar, natural or processed.

Maybe you’re getting enough sleep, but are you catching those quality Z’s? Listening to music or having the television on while sleeping can seriously damage your sleep quality. As we sleep, we aim to reach the REM stage of consciousness.

Doctors suggest a total of 1-4 hours of this quality of sleep total for a well-rested night. In order to reach this deeper level of sleep, it's essential your brain avoid being disturbed by an outside stimulus, such as noise and lighting from the television or other electronic devices. Making sure your sleep is quality sleep can infinitely improve your happiness and well-being so maybe unplug or set a timer on your electronics to turn off after you have gone to sleep.

Illustrated by Willow Bottenfield Bakalar, N. (2015, April 23). Sugar as a Stress Reliever.

Harvard Health Publishing. (2018, August 12). Blue light has a dark side.

Heid, M. (2017, October 10). We Need to Talk About Kids and Smartphones Valdez, P., & Mehrabian, A. (1994). Effects of color on emotions. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General,123(4), 394-409.

John Hopkins Medicine. Keep Your Brain Young with Music. (n.d.).

Leonard, J. (2017, September 01). REM sleep: Definition, functions, the effects of alcohol, and disorders.

Literature & T

By Rebecca Pratt, magazine editor

he North Idaho College Literary Arts organization put on a literature showcase earlier this semester in downtown Coeur d’Alene, the first ever Lit Crawl.

The event took place on February 22 and provided the opportunity for local writers, storytellers, and poets to orally perform their pieces for the community and fellow students. The pub/ restaurant crawl included specially priced food, beer, and wine from each location of the walk.

“The night itself was fabulous,” Molly Michaud, North Idaho College English professor, said.

“Each venue was packed, and the crowd comprised a great community as diverse and fantastic as the readings.”

Jeni Hegsted, owner of Emerge Gallery, Mark Anderson, poet laureate of Spokane, Aaron Cloyd, NIC English professor and founder of North Idaho College Literary Arts, Michael Koep and Tarin Leach began planning the first ever Lit Crawl. Honey Eatery and Social Club, Emerge Gallery, and Rustic, hosted the inaugural event. They envisioned bringing new nightlife and a new-found celebration for Literature to the Coeur d’Alene community.

The plan began as a way to give writers and visual art performers a chance to show their work in a new and supportive environment. The aforementioned committee drove this event forward with the plans to keep it local, fun, fresh and philanthropical. Supporting local businesses and restaurants by renting out space, allowing the hosts to advertise, as well as working out deals for food and drink not only help stimulate the local economy, but also allow a different crowd to take to the streets of Coeur d’Alene and enjoy the nightlife in a unique way.

"I loved the Lit Crawl and the different perspectives on life from the people using different art forms," Addy Miller, NIC student, said. " I definitely see some future for events like this but not a very large one."

Miller expressed concern for future crowd numbers and a decrease in interest from the community. She rose the opposing idea from

Performance Art

Piece Pub crawl

lights up Coeur d’Alene

nightlife

theSentinel| xx

guidance from their neighbors in Spokane, but the program also received a donation of $3,000 from Global Credit Union.

Influencing the community has been a theme for this group from the beginning. The founders of the North struggling due to less human traffic and or location. Along with Idaho College Literary Arts Lit Crawl felt that the growing helping the local economy, the event planners are hoping to help town of Coeur d’Alene had a “tremendous representation groom those who would like to start reading. It is in discussion of visual art.” All around town, residents, students and to start a poetry night for only high tourists see the sculptures, murals school students. The NIC Literary and local galleries displaying local Arts program’s goal is to help people artists work. The committee began from all different walks of life to address the lack of literary art to become better readers and and the representation of it in the oral reciters. heart of Coeur d’Alene.

“The context and hope of

“What is missing right now this event is to make the literary arts is the other piece of art, the piece that is accessible to everyone by taking place literature,” Cloyd said about CDA’s efforts in these fun restaurants and bars,” in the art community. “Our town and the said Hegsted, host of the first station boards we represent don’t fully engage in at Emerge. “This is step one of getting literature; we are trying to change that.” more people involved and to broaden

North Idaho Literary Arts the reach of the literary arts.” will soon be looking to employ a “Writer

Hegsted said that one of in Residence.” This position would their main reasons for choosing the charge the person who takes it with locations they did was to create a -Aaron Cloyd, NIC Proffessor planning more events like the Lit Crawl, comfortable environment for people and to come up with other projects who are not overly involved in any and events celebrating local literature literary programs or communities. According to Hegsted, over and writers in the community. The organization is looking for a 80 people showed up to the event and moved through each of the distinct artistic and literature-centric vision for the community three locations. that would be executed over the next three years. More is

Much of this new event was planned in assistance with coming to Coeur d’Alene’s literary arts community in the Spokane’s art and literature community, with help from people coming months and onward to inspire participation, support like Mark Anderson, Spokane’s poet laureate, a position which and love of literature. tasks Anderson with planning literature events and projects for the The next Lit Crawl will be May 19 in downtown Spokane community.

Coeur d’Alene, and another two are scheduled for the

“Mark’s main work has been to bring our communities months of August and October of 2019. together; his big thing is collaboration,” Cloyd said. “Part of what we are trying to do as well with these programs is bringing people together and add onto what our community already offers.”

Anderson emphasized the importance of the communities of Coeur d’Alene and Spokane, forming a closer and more active relationship through events like the Lit Crawl. He stated in an interview that with more events like these, he hopes the people of the two cities can get used to and look forward to “making the trip” to and from Spokane and CDA.

“I think that it’s important that we think regionally in our efforts to promote the arts,” Andrews said. “The more cross pollination we get going, the more successful we’ll be at making an even better arts culture.”

Not only did the NIC Literary Arts organization receive help and the NIC Literary Arts organization that the community “is not a big enough place to thrive.” However, Cloyd and his co-founders argue that because the community here is smaller and more close-knit, but expanding, the future of events like this is bright.

NIC’s Lit Crawl has an aim to help local restaurants that are

“Part of what we are trying to do as well with these programs is bringing people together and add onto what our community already offers.”

16 |theSentinel

at n o i t a c g lo Openinge gallary.

Emer

J. Lyon Micha

el Keo

p

second location at Rustic

Marty M Z

lsh a W y oe

ueller

Photos by Robert Perry

theSentinel| 17

Voices from the LGBTQ Community NIC student, Caleb weeks, describes his experience of being Openly gay on campus

By Willow Bottenfield, arts editor

What are you studying at NIC?

Currently I am studying generals. [I’ll] just transfer to a university after I’m done. I’m looking at University of Idaho for their organizational sciences degree, I don’t really know what it entails as I haven’t talked to an adviser yet, but it sounded interesting.

What do you do with the Gender Sexual Alliance [GSA]?

I mostly just attend meetings as I don’t have a leadership position in the club. When they need any help in relation to Cardinal Sync or event planning, I have pretty good knowledge about that from being in student government. Currently, I’m helping with the drag show along with Kelsey Cordes-Synder [fellow GSA member] and we are creating flyers and templates for the drag show to advertise around Spokane, CDA and NIC. How has the LGBTQ community changed here over the years?

I mean, I’ve only recently got involved for the LGBT community, I didn’t come out until I was 18, right out of high school, and now I’m only 21.

I think it’s gotten attention recently for both good and bad. It’s really hard in this area, especially when the youth in general just don’t want to stay in Idaho.

If you’re an LGBT youth and you’re in a place like California or Portland, or almost anywhere else, [they have] more to offer and more opportunities. I think that’s the hardest part; we always try to engage with the youth but often times they don’t want to engage with us because they don’t even want to be here. It’s pretty energetic to see the youth getting involved and that’s what I like about social media. Today’s LGBT climate in the community is [that] a lot more youth are getting involved when

18 |theSentinel

they can because it connects them and also they know who they are, they walk different paths, and they kind of discover themselves sooner. In [bad] cases where we get really unfortunate situations, like the John Downing case that happened recently, public opinion changes pretty quickly. I’ve noticed and it can be hard to come back in a good light and make sure that we’re doing good things constantly, and all we can do is really try. We try, we do our part with the NIC GSA Club and members of the LGBT community.

What other communities are you part of?

I’m definitely part of the LGBT community but I’m also part of the disabled community. Although I don’t really look it, I have preexisting conditions that prevent me from doing a lot of things I used to enjoy. I like gardening now and I’m just getting into it, so that’s definitely going to be a part of who I am. It’s a small part right now. I enjoy cooking and baking as well.

There’s a lot to each individual; we really stand out in some areas, but in other parts we’re kind of hidden shadows...I make cookies in my mom’s kitchen and garden in my bedroom on my spare time.

What has your college experience been like?

So, I actually went to college for the wrong reason. I went to college right out of high school so I could avoid doing other things in life, mostly religious things unfortunately, and that wasn’t good because I actually did not like school growing up. When I went to college I had to fake it untill I made it.

I disliked school at first but I got to experience all these cool things like ASNIC and clubs and committees. I’ve been on this path for a while now of actually

“what can I do that makes me happier?” and that’s where I came to the point of I need to try new things and make new friends and memories here at NIC, and being who I was and seeing things in a different light, as hard as it is, and it’s been hell a little bit, I’m not going to lie, [but] it’s been enjoyable to kind of redefine myself. [I’m on] this path to try to find happiness and what I enjoy.

GSA club member tatum bryan discusses influences on Identity

How do you identify?

My pronouns are none, he or him, so I prefer just using a name or some other identifier instead of a pronoun. But identity is a little bit harder question just because I’ve known I wasn’t cis or het (cisgender or heterosexual) since I was very young, but it’s been a struggle to figure out exactly what I’m comfortable with, and there’s been a lot of reasons why I’m not comfortable identifying with something now, so just gender non-conforming is kind of what I go for.

What has your experience been going to school here and living in North Idaho?

So, when I first moved here, I came from Michigan, specifically East Lansing area, which is very liberal, and I grew up a very, very big part of the LGBTQ community there. I marched in pride all the time. I was in support groups. I did panels for school boards about being an LGBTQ student. Moving here was the first time that, while I had experienced violence because of my identity, it was the first time that I was really so scared that I wanted to not be out, and so I hid that I was not cis or het for a very long time. And then I started going to school here and I was still kind of hiding it. I didn’t even start going to GSA until like midway through my first semester, but then I found some people who weren’t straight and weren’t cis, so I was like, okay, I can do this again. So far everyone I’ve talked to who is in an administrator position has been wonderful. Everyone’s been very helpful and comfortable to talk to and not scary about it, so it’s been alright.

Are there communities in addition to nonprofits that you’d want to help communicate with each other?

I think what I’m mostly going to be doing is working with nonprofits. I’ve been working with nonprofits since I was 14, and then I also really want to work with one here, but I also want to make sure that what I’m doing is also being kind of-- I don’t know if I want to say “community leader”-- but I want to be in touch with different communities, even minority groups as a whole, especially just helping them to understand different perspectives because minority groups experience oppression, but they experience it differently.

Someone who is gay can’t understand what someone who is black experiences, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t both experience oppression, and they both should be able to understand, “Hey, this person has a hard life, and this person has a hard life, so let’s try to understand each other.”

We’re all human, right?

If a big part of your identity is based on judging others or hating others or being scared of others, then I think you need to examine that and I think you need to understand why you feel like that and if that’s something that’s justified, especially if they’re generalizations. It sucks to know that you have faults and that you might not be treating people the best or that you might not be thinking the best but that doesn’t mean that you’re inherently bad or that you’re evil, it just means that you have room to grow, just like literally everybody else at all times; it’s just a new way to improve.

I just hope that people here in this area continue to grow and develop. We all can get along and feel safe here and enjoy this place together.

Photos by Kaylee Dinkel

theSentinel| 19

dakotah andrews answers questions about what life is like being an openly gay man in Cda What are you studying here?

Right now, interdisciplinary studies, but I have a lot of different passions, so I’ll probably change that sometime in the future.

We’ll see where everything goes!

Do you have a favorite creative outlet?

Music is definitely number one, but art, drawing, painting; all that stuff is also a huge part of my life. I’m a singer-songwriter, so this coming summer I have a bunch of things coming up, gigs basically. I’m working on a bunch of stuff, so that will be fun. As of right now, the pop up art show downtown, and then Pride in the Park this summer.

What do you play?

I’ve been in choir all my life, and I kind of play piano. A lot of my songs end up with ukulele; there’s an atmosphere that I match with. It’d be cool to learn guitar! I have dreams playing guitar, shredding so hard, but ya know, my fingers just don’t wanna do the thing.

Maybe one day.

Do you want to talk about your experience being gay?

Well to elaborate, I identify as a biromantic homosexual. I’m sexually and romantically attracted to men, but I’m also romantically attracted to women too. As far as my experience, I didn’t come out to my mom untill I was 13. She was super cool about it, I was super emotional.

As far as like criticism/ridicule, there was a bit of that. In middle school I had an awful prank pulled on me: the stereotypical, “Oh this guy likes you, but he doesn’t actually like you,” and then all the popular kids in the school laugh[ed] at me. It was really really horrible. First gay tragedy I ever had to experience.

My mom [is bisexual] and we got hate mail out of the blue

one day saying that we need[ed] to move out of our house, [and some] homophobic threats. it was super awful, but we were like, “Fuck you!

Who gives a shit? Come and try.” We could kick butt.

Once in a while I’ll hear “fag” from the window of someone’s car, but like, you’re telling me? Big news. Finding love in CDA, Idaho as a gay man is the absolute worst. Everyone has dated each other. I fortunately have stayed out of the pool. That’s why I really love Seattle and Portland. I really just need to get out, and find a man.

As far as being treated equally, I always make sure that I get treated fairly.

I don’t take anyone’s crap.

How has your experience been at NIC?

I’ve had an amazing experience here. I really enjoy coming and learning; I have a lot of fun just using my brain. I’m here for school, but I’m not opposed to the idea of a boyfriend.

Is there anything else that you think is important for people to know about the community here?

We have an LGBTQ community, but we’re also very fragmented. There are a lot of people in our community who are super transphobic, internally homophobic, or are “no fems, no fats, no Asians.”

It’s really awful…I can’t say that I’m 100% proud of my community.

There’s a lot of us, but we’re still fragmented.

If I were to give a very broad message to people: don’t be afraid to stand your ground; that’s what lawsuits are there for. Stand up for yourself, stand up for your rights, do as much as you can. I hear, “Pan people don’t know what they’re talking about, people who experience gender dysphoria don’t know what they’re talking about, they don’t know what they’re experiencing, they’re just experimenting, it’s just a fad.” No one has their shit figured out. Who cares? Stand up for who you are even if you haven’t figured it out yet.

GSA club PRESIDENT LIZZIE WELKER discusses the diverse communities at NIC and her involvement on campus What are you studying at NIC?

So I’m going to school for social work and I should be coming out with an associates in social work next year and then I’m gonna be transferring potentially to a school in Oregon but that’s not decided yet, I’m still like a year out. In general I want to use that social work degree to open up a LGBT shelter for homeless youth that are part of the community for when they are displaced from their homes and so that’s the big huge end goal. It’s needed, especially in this area, there’s nothing here.

Could you talk a little bit about what you do with the GSA here?

Currently I’m the president of GSA. Last year I was the vice president so I’m just helping run things, kind of being the leader that’s on the campus, and making sure people stay on track of doing things within the club like helping organize events like the drag show. We were wanting to go to a conference but I don’t think that’s gonna happen.

But [I] really like being that support person as well for the LGBTQ community here.

How has the LGBTQ community changed here over the years?

I’ve seen a little bit of change, because I’ve been involved with the GSA since 2011, when I was 18 and we were pretty active then. Then I kind of stepped back for a couple years and now coming back people do seem more energetic, like Caleb said, and excited and passionate about doing things, and I think social media does help with that. But I think also a reason why we don’t have as many people attending and participating in things is because there’s a lot of repercussions to being associated with an LGBT group or just the community in general. So especially with the youth we have a hard time getting them showing [up] because a lot of the times, especially in a conservative area like North Idaho, the parents are not ok with it and so

them having to sneak around, that’s not ok and it’s not safe for them. I see a lot of people choose not to participate because of things like that, which sucks.

What other communities are you part of?

Yeah, definitely being queer is not the only part of my identity, I also am disabled and a little more visible as someone who uses a mobility device-- using canes and wheelchairs. I’m also an artist and I love to do painting and ceramics and embroidery and all kinds of other art and being part of other smaller communities as well, because the LGBT community is not the only one I’m a part of.

How do you like going to NIC?

I think it’s really cool. The experiences that we have change you as a person and school does give you all these opportunities to meet people that you probably would have never met in the first place. I work in the residence hall and there’s automatically 200 people that I probably would have never met before and I get to work with them everyday.

It’s quite interesting and definitely keeps me on my toes and gives me a reason to kind of get out of bed in the morning, even on my days off and on the weekends, because there’s these kids that always need something.

Working with GSA and other groups here on campus definitely helped me figure out who I am as a person and figure out what I do like, because I also had a very rough childhood where I didn’t know who I was. I had a twin who was kind of the dominant one and so I was always kind of under their shadow my entire life and [ then xwe] finally went our separate ways and I finally was able to become my own person in college.

Photos by Kaylee Dinkel

20 |theSentinel

theSentinel| 21

a dash of hope NIC volleyball player reflects on an injury-riddled season and how her friends and hobbies have helped her stay positive

By Gerry McCray, copy editor

A beautiful view was one of the reasons Hope with injuries but our attitudes were always positive,” DeLeon DeLeon, a Caldwell, Idaho native, said she wanted to come to said.

Coeur d’Alene, and play volleyball for NIC.

DeLeon tore her ACL in October, the middle of the

“I love the lakes and the trees.” said DeLeon season, after partially tearing the same knee the year prior.

Growing up, the only sport DeLeon was interested

“She tried to tough it out, she probably played for in was volleyball. She traveled up to Coeur D’Alene for a longer than she should have and what her body was telling her tournament, and instantly fell in love with the area. DeLeon to do.” Reese said. “It was really hard on her to stop doing what wasn’t recruited by NIC originally though; she loved to do, but she was full of positive instead she had to contact the coaching staff energy even in her hardest times.” herself. DeLeon was initially nervous about

The volleyball team went on to reaching out, but a bribe of a new pair of finish fifth in the NWAC tournament with shoes from her father turned out to be just DeLeon operating in more of a coaching role the push she needed. for the second half of the season.

“She sent us a video,” assistant head

“She was very helpful with her coach Robin Reese said. “She was fast, and teammates, and sees the court really well,” nothing hit the floor around her.”

Reese said. “She was super encouraging, and

That video grabbed the staff ’s never said a bad thing.” attention, and the recruiting process

With Mitzel taking over her quickly took off. position, Deleon tried to relay as much help as

“One of the first things [head coach she could to her teammate.

Kelsey Stanley] and I look for in recruits is if

“I’m [Mitzel’s] biggest fan, and I they’re good people, and she fits that to a tee,” always want to see her do super well,” DeLeon Reese said. “She’s someone you just said. “I love being on the sidelines to cheer want to be around, and that you her on, and since it’s difficult to see everything -Robin Reese, definitely want to be a part of that’s happening on the court, I try to help assistant head coach your program.” her where I can.”

Since coming to NIC,

“It was hard to lose her as a DeLeon quickly established herself as the teammate,” Mitzel said, “but having her support on the bench libero on a highly competitive group of was so awesome for me.” volleyball players.

The average recovery time for an ACL tear generally

“[DeLeon]and I are takes around nine months to a year and DeLeon is still in the very close with each other and it midst of that recovery. The doctors told her the recovery time was really fun to compete against would be about a year to feel normal again, but DeLeon has her her for the same position,” sights set on seeing the court this summer. teammate Kynzey Mitzel said.

“I just don’t want to wait that long,” DeLeon said.

“Honestly it was really fun to play

Off the court, DeLeon enjoys working at Dutch Bros, in her position, and have her cranking some Eminem or chowing down on some Mexican still cheer me on.” food. She also noted how much she enjoys spending time

DeLeon’s first season with her teammates. of volleyball with NIC started

“I’ve never been on a team with drama but I’ve been really well for her and the team, on teams that weren’t super close.” DeLeon said. “This team is but then the injuries started piling different though; we are like a family.” up. Player after player seemingly

DeLeon said that she looks forward to next season went down with injury, and for and the challenges that await her. most of the season the lineup

“I’m excited to see the type of athlete I can be at full was never consistent. strength,” DeLeon said. “I’m just really excited to get back on

“It was a rough season that court and compete.”

She’s someone you just want to be around, and that you definitely want to be a part of your program.

22 |theSentinel

Photo by Kaylee Dinkel

theSentinel| 23

ace: always chasing excellence

NWAC Player of the Year and tournament MVP, named a 2018 NFCA

First Team All-American, and led the Cardinals to a 50-3 record and the first NWAC title in school history. When she first picked up a softball at the age of six, she couldn’t have imagined a career like the one she is currently paving; but she understands why it has happened.

Madi’s older sister, Danielle Mott, played in a U10 league when their father pushed Madi to play ball. For various reasons, she joined her sister’s team, often playing against girls four years older than her. She was forced to grow up fast, but looking back, she saw it all as a blessing, as well as the reason she began to love the sport.

“I grew up that way [playing with older girls],” Madi mentioned, “so just playing with people older than me, my mind works so fast, and I have a high softball IQ. Seeing how they played, they taught me a bunch of stuff that I was able to pick up. I definitely fell in love with the game from a very young age, and I just liked being on the dirt. I’d be on there the entire summer instead of beach trips and pool parties. It was spent at the softball field.”

-Devinne Amesquita, nic softball player

The values she learned while playing with high school

seniors at the age of 14 have been monumental. Madi alluded to the

By Luke Wilhelm, sports editor fact that there’s a lot to learn from sports and softball specifically, but

It’s 6 a.m. on a brisk February morning in Coeur d’Alene. one tops the list for her.

The temperature gauge struggles to climb to double figures. The

“It teaches you so many life lessons about time management, plummeting temps have brought about a sort of depression and lack disciplining yourself, and focusing on the process,” she said. “But of energy to a college campus that is usually blooming, but for Madi I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned would be to respect your Mott, her energy and perseverance won’t allow her to be complacent. opponent, respect other people. Just growing up that way, I know it is a She is chasing something and when that alarm goes off in the morning, really good value.” she sees it as an opportunity to embrace the grind.

She has taught many lessons to her teammates at NIC as

The Gladstone, Oregon product promptly heads to weights well. Third-baseman Devinne Amesquita said she has learned a lot at 6:45 a.m. where she joins her teammates for an hour-long lift. from Madi in the time she has known her.

Wasting no time, she arrives at the science building for her Chem 112

“I think the biggest thing she has taught me over the last class. It’s straight to the batting cage after that from 9-11. Statistics two years is to have confidence in myself,” Amesquita said. “She 253 occupies her until noon. For the next three hours, she works on truly believes in everyone’s abilities on our team and is constantly her pitching before eventually joining her team for regular practice. encouraging us. She is the definition of a good teammate.”

Physical therapy sessions follow, often spanning up to an hour long.

It’s tough to envision someone not giving respect back to the When she arrives home after 4 p.m., she is tested both physically and humble kid from Gladstone. Her passion and discipline on the field mentally by the challenge of completing the homework that seems mirror her dedication to her studies. to pile ever higher. For most, this daily lifestyle would be impossible;

The term ‘student-athlete’ is ordered in the way it is for for Madi, her mental fortitude and strength of mind keeps her on reasons obvious to anyone who has played sports. Coaches and the path towards excellence. teachers push athletes to focus as hard on their studies as they might

Madi’s perseverance stems from her upbringing. Her father on athletics. Some take that challenge; others do not. Madi is of the pushed her to find greatness and never let her fall off the tracks. She selected group that not only put in the work academically, but strive recalls a time back in her junior year where her frustrations and stress for greatness and dig deep to accomplish all that they can. Madi’s levels had hit the max. After a day that included basketball practice, pursuit of a Biology/Pre-Med major, all while competing in softball, is softball practice, and a two-hour pitching session, which Madi said a testament to her work ethic. had gone as bad as possible, all after a full day of classes albeit, she had

Madi constantly keeps her eyes on the future. She hopes had it. Balling her eyes out, she told her dad that she was done. to become a physicians assistant in emergency medicine in the long “I don’t want to play softball anymore,” she remembers telling her run, but not until she attains her bachelor’s degree and gains some father. “It’s not fun!” experience by working as a paramedic to fill up volunteer hours. Right

It was her dad that calmed her down and reminded her that after that, she plans to enroll in grad school and work even more until it was only a momentary feeling. She credits him with keeping her she can finally become a P.A. Her upcoming step towards that will on the path. Later that same season, she would go on to win the 4A start next year when she takes her AA degree with her to Saint Leo pitcher of the year in the state of Oregon. To this day, Madi thanks her University in Florida. father for saving her from letting go of the sport she truly loved.

In everything Madi does, academically or athletically, it’s

“If he would’ve let me quit, none of this would’ve happened,” her work ethic and desire that separates her. Her teammate Amesquita she said. “He is definitely that person that picks me up.” summed it up best.

Her father’s nudge has propelled Madi to excellence on the

“One thing I really think that defines her,” she said, “is her pitching mound. In her first season, she went 29-1 with a 2.07 ERA, to determination to be great at everything, whether that be in school go along with a 8:1 strikeout to walk ratio. As a result, she won both or on the field.”

She truly believes in everyone’s abilities on our team and is constantly encouraging us.

She is the definition of a good teammate.”

Photo by Luke Wilhelm

theSentinel| 25

Now What??

Committee recommends postponing athletic expansion

By Luke Wilhelm, sports editor

26 |theSentinel

Christianson Gymnasium, named after former NIC instructor, coach and president Perry Christianson, was constructed in 1949, and is not currently in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

ADA, which was enacted in 1990, requires facilities built before 1992 to be altered or modified to accomadate disabilities if it is “easily accomplished without much difficulty or expense.”

Photo by Kelli Spooner

Roughly two decades ago, North Idaho College shut down the storied baseball program. The closure of the team occurred less than a half-decade after they had fielded the best baseball player to put on the Cardinal red and white.

Jason Bay, a Canadian-born outfielder, played for NIC from 1997-98. During his stint as a Cardinal, he would take over as the school’s all-time leader in home runs, hits, RBI’s, runs, and batting average, among other statistics. Bay would go on to finish college at Gonzaga before taking his talents to the big leagues. After cracking an MLB roster with the Pittsburgh Pirates, he went on to hit over 80 RBI’s, earning the 2004 National League Rookie of the Year award. In a career that spanned over a dozen years, Bay would become a threetime All-Star, as well as compile three Tip O’Neill awards, an annual award given to the top Canadian baseball player. Bay set a standard for Cardinal baseball. He gave the incoming players someone to look up to. That is, until those players no longer had the chance to cement their own legacy once the program closed doors after the 2002 season.

That same year marked the termination of the track and cross country programs as well. Christine Amertil, a five-time AllAmerican athlete, was one of the final athletes to compete in track and cross country for NIC. In her two years as a Cardinal, she became one of the most decorated athletes to represent the school, and would follow that up by competing nationally for her home country of the Bahamas in the Olympics and World Championships. A three-time Olympian, she put forth her best effort in the 2004 Olympics, placing seventh in the 400 meters. She was named the Bahamas Female Athlete of the Year twice in 2003 and 2006.

For the past 17 years, NIC students and staff, as well as the Coeur d’Alene community, have wondered why these once successful programs haven’t been resurrected. There has always been a strong track and baseball community, the baseball side of things most recently evidenced by the Coeur d’Alene Little League team that beat Montana in the Little League World Series last summer. The city’s support was strong, and it seemed to reiterate the question of why NIC still doesn’t have a baseball program. In 2012, Athletic Director Al Williams pointed out one reason why the program was still inactive.

“We’ve always been in support of baseball in the community, but it’s kind of a moot point to try and have a baseball program without a field,” Williams said.

The Meyer Health and Science building was constructed in 2005, towering over the grounds that once saw Jason Bay swing the bat and legendary manager Jack Bloxom win nearly 600 games. The building positively impacted NIC academics but left the prospect of baseball’s return in doubt.

That question was sought to be answered when the board of trustees met for their March 2019 meeting. The board would announce whether or not they would officially agree to expand athletics. After a year of intense review and deliberation, the committee finally came to a conclusion.

“Given the results of this study and the current needs of the existing athletic programs and facilities, it is the recommendations of this committee that North Idaho College postpone the pursuit of expanding the athletics program at this time,” the committee wrote.

The committee presented every variable that adding these new programs would cause and at the end of the day, they calculated that at the time-being, the smartest decision was to leave things as-is. NIC boasts a number of quality sports programs, and as a whole remains very successful. The committee advised the athletic department to focus on sustaining that success and improving their current deficiencies.

“It is further recommended the college continue its focus on providing greater equity and opportunity in each of the existing sports, and improve and upgrade existing facilities,” the report stated.

theSentinel| 27

a relic. The Coeur d’Alene Press compared the back-to-back champion men’s basketball team having to play in the gymnasium to “putting the Mona Lisa in a garage.”

The gym also fails to provide a collegiate-level regulation court and, as former wrestling coach Pat Whitcomb has said, it fails to accommodate disabled students, such as double-amputee wrestler Hasaan Hawthorne.

In an interview following his leave, Whitcomb said that heads of the athletic department failed to address his constant push for equipment, such as ramps, to make it easier for Hawthorne to climb up to the wrestling room on the gym’s upper floor. The wrestler has to be carried up and down the steps to get to and from practice. The combination of that and the ancient gymnasium led to a situation that has become a story of its own.

In a recent board of trustees meeting, NIC Vice President of finance and business affairs Chris Martin discussed the prospect of a new gymnasium. He acknowledged that the need for a new complex is necessary, and a larger 123,000 square-foot building would be the answer. Martin discussed the financial situation, noting that NIC has nearly $10 million saved up for this project. The building would be situated across from the wastewater treatment plant.

Another project is Memorial Field. While this isn’t connected to NIC financially, the softball team has been affected by the construction on the baseball stadium and field. While a majority of the field has been completed, the next step of reconstructing the grandstand has yet to be finished. As a result, the softball team has been forced to play home games at Post Falls High School, which affects their ability to practice, recruit, and bring in a viable home crowd. Because their 51-3 season from a year ago took place in a neighboring town at a high school field, it failed to bring a level of excitement to campus.

Something else that has been brought up in the last six months is the dramatics of the wrestling program. There had been an investigation leading up to the eventual firing of Pat Whitcomb, the NIC Athletics Hall of Fame coach, who was in the midst of his 22nd season. Investigators concluded that there had been fraudulent academic activity within the wrestling program, and that Whitcomb had known about it. The former coach denied this and noted he was

shocked when the investigation began.

Whitcomb’s worries over the last several years until now have included everything but academic violations. He had repeatedly asked school officials if they were planning to shut down the wrestling program and replace it with baseball. Whitcomb said that he had been told time and time again that these were rumors that carried no weight. He told the community after his firing to “just sit back and watch this unfold now.”

As mentioned earlier, Whitcomb was also frustrated with the fact that athletic officials declined to assist him in following the proper steps to make things more accessible for Hawthorne. The former head coach said that when he began to let officials know about this “specificstudent situation,” things began to become tense.

When the firing was presented, Whitcomb was offered two options: he could resign and be paid the rest of his contract through the end of June, while also promising not to speak negatively about the college, or he could choose to be fired and only receive two weeks of pay. The coach stuck with his beliefs and decided that by choosing the latter, he would continue to prove that he had done nothing wrong. He sent a message to the community and those who were listening.

“Never be afraid to fight for what is right,” Whitcomb said.

“No matter what the cost.”

The cost for Whitcomb was his job, and the same went for assistant Keri Stanley. The aftermath has left Brandon Richardson as the interim head coach of the program.

The effects of the wrestling dramatics have put a damper on the otherwise-successful athletic department. The programs that NIC boasts are some of the top in the NWAC, and even nationally. There is a lot to be proud of as members of this community and supporters of NIC athletics. It is with the interests of the general public that Al Williams and the rest of the department make their decisions, and hopefully in the coming years, everyone can look back on these times and see that the right decisions were made.

Every player that dons the Cardinal red and white is pushed to strive for excellence on and off the field, and no matter what programs are active in 15 or 25 years, the hope is that this same push is being made then.

Projected Sports Costs By the Numbers

Graphic by Rebecca Pratt

theSentinel| 29

Before diving into which facilities the committee is information the committee needed. Other factors that the committee specifically speaking of, it’s important to understand exactly why the researched included what sports would be preferred, who would prefer committee came to its conclusion. these sports, what sports would be supported and what type of people

Upon constructing a 10-member committee lead by VP indicated they would support that program. of Student Services Graydon Stanley, subcommittees were formed

Of those who took the survey NIC students made up about to focus on three specific areas: developing and disseminating 35 percent of the total participants, nearly 20 percent were high school a stakeholder interest survey, obtaining data on the academic parents, 30 percent were current high school students and community success of student athletes at NIC, and conducting a financial members, and NIC staff members took up around nine percent. These viability and impact analysis. groups made up more than 90 percent of all survey participants. In

The committee researched three sports to add to their total, 1,744 people shared their input on the potential expansion. athletics program based on the survey’s most popular picks; baseball,

Interesting and noteworthy numbers jumped off the page track, and cross country. Due to Title IX rules, NIC couldn’t start up upon review. Only 26 percent of people thought that adding a women’s baseball alone. If they were to start up baseball, they would be required wrestling program was a good idea, but over half of the responses to start up the other two programs as well. The committee decided were in favor of a women’s track program. NIC faculty and booster that the easiest route to take was to look at what the startup of all members favored baseball most out of any potential sports, but the three programs would entail. boosters said they wouldn’t give nearly as much support to the two

The most important thing to look for when starting up cross country programs. any organization or program is the financial situation that presents

As for the support each sport would accumulate, it is itself immediately and in the long run. There are several variables important to know that this has been a glaring issue for NIC athletics to this, such as the number of students that would enroll as a result for several years. Student involvement in NIC athletics is absent with of expansion and the events bringing little to no cost of facilities to house support from students. Not a these programs. single men’s basketball game

Baseball’s total startwas sold out, despite the team up cost projected to a total of compiling a 31-2 record and $57,547. Uniforms would eat going undefeated on the home up more than half of that at a floor. Soccer games fail to little over $32,000. gain much of a crowd, and the

Track and cross empty gyms that volleyball country wouldn’t require as and wrestling matches much in terms of uniforms, consistently bring out, despite projecting a price of $10,865 the programs’ successes, is and $9,040, respectively, but cause for concern. With that the equipment cost of track in mind, it was logical for is staggering. Requiring the committee to provide over $150,000 in equipment this question to the survey purchases, starting up this participants. 355 students program would force the said they would want to see school to take one huge, the baseball program return, committed leap. Cross and 27 percent said they country would require a much Constructed in 1947, the green grandstands of Memorial Field are in such a state of disrepair that NIC would support it. This number softball is forced to play “home games” at Post Falls High School. The stands were originally scheduled smaller investment. might initially seem low but to be renovated last fall, but plans were shelved indefinitely with hopes of securing a cheaper deal.

Photo by Gerry McCray

The committee it is the highest percentage of took into account scholarship support for any of the sports. money, travel costs and coach salaries to arrive at a projected revenue.

Less than 20 percent of those who said they would like to see track They computed the NWAC averages for these numbers, estimating and cross country programs noted that they would support and show that a head coach and an assistant coach would cost $83,000 a year up to the meets. for each sport. The scholarship money and tuition aid handed out

Of the community members who voted on a return of the would cost an additional $90,000 for baseball and track, and almost baseball program, nearly half of them promised support. Of those in $40,000 for cross country. the community who hoped for a track program, not even 30 percent

In total, the projected revenue was nowhere near the positive would support it. The numbers not only give the committee reason to line. Each year, NIC would lose $65,667 to baseball, $45,390 to track, advise putting a hold on the expansion, but they also give a clue as to and over $100,000 to cross country. As the projections show such who and why those surveyed aren’t supporting any current athletics. a large disparity, it was tough for the committee to draw up good

It would be difficult for the committee to see these numbers, reasons to gloss over those large numbers. analyze the costs, and develop a plan that gives the OK to proceed with

As for the facilities, it would cost nearly $1.8 million to the expansion. There are still too many questions, holes, and deficits to construct a new baseball field and nearly $2 million to assemble an allbe confident in adding three new athletic programs. inclusive track with a grass infield. If a turf infield was a priority, add

There are facility issues that currently plague the college on another $2 million to that total. top of everything else. Facility costs that would come with the new

On top of this, they found that the addition of these sports programs aside, there are several other major projects which are being would not significantly impact future enrollment numbers. discussed by NIC representatives.

A survey to decide what sports the school should

Christianson Gymnasium was constructed in 1949. It was consider adding was put out at the end of last year, and provided the probably a state-of-the-art piece 70 years ago, but in 2019, it feels like

28 |theSentinel

RayQuan Evans (right) attacks the hoop amidst a swarm of defenders. He would lead the Cardinals to a 96-67 win against the Spokane Community College. In his two-year career with NIC, Evans, led the Cardinals to back-to-back NWAC titles. For his efforts this season, Evans was named 2019’s Baden Basketball Athlete of the Year and the NWAC East Region MVP. Point guard Phillip Malatare (below) looks to make a play in the first half of a 114-84 win over Wenatchee Valley.

Malatare headed to NIC last year after playing for Montana powerhouse Arlee High School. In his freshman season, alatare earned a starting spot and put up numbers of 8 points per game to go along with 3.3 assists a contest. Coach Symons often alluded to Malatre’s high basketball IQ and ability as his strong suits.

Corey Symons, 2019’s NWAC Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year, leads a post-game huddle following a win against the Community Colleges of Spokane that clinched an NWAC East Region title.

Symons has taken the program to new heights since his promotion to head coach five years ago. To go along with his back-to-back titles, Symons has compiled an impressive 137-25 overall record.

back-to-back

champIONS

NIC Men’s Basketball captured its second straight NWAC Championship with a 104-73 win over Walla Walla last month in Everett, WA.

RayQuan Evans earned his second tournament MVP in as many years after he averaged 23 points a game and dropped 32 points in the title game. The Florida State commit took over when the Cards needed him most, despite a season where his role diminished with the influx of talent that head coach Corey Symons brought in this year.

While Evans has racked up the accolades, it has always been about what he can do for his teammates.

“A lot of these guys don’t have rings,” Evans said. “To see them as happy as they are to win it, it feels great.”

Evans’ performance was no surprise to the coach who recruited and landed him two years ago.

“He’s a stud,” coach Symons said. “RayQuan came down and played unbelievable like he always does.”

30 |theSentinel

Photos by Gerry McCray

Sophomores Alphonso Anderson, RayQuan Evans and Jarod Greene (above, left to right) celebrate after clinching an NWAC East Region title. The Cardinals finished with a perfect 16-0 record in region play. Anderson averaged 15 points-per-game and over 8 rebounds per game, and before the season commited to Utah State out of the Mountain West. Evans commited to ACC powerhouse Florida State in April after his second-year campain in which he averaged 18 points per game and 7.4 rebounds per game..

Second-year forward Iain McLaughlin (left) participates in cutting down the net after the Cardinal’s win over Spokane. McLaughlin has come a long way in two years. After getting few minutes in his first season, McLaughlin worked his way into a starting position this season.

Photos by Gerry McCray

By Luke Wilhelm, sports editor

Alphonso Anderson also scored 32 points in the title game to go along with 10 rebounds. Walla Walla had no answer for the “big guard” out of Montana. In his final half as a Cardinal, the Utah State commit scored 22 points.

First year guard Nate Pryor helped the effort as well.

Playing alongside Evans and fellow newcomer Phillip Malatare, Pryor spearheaded a three ball handler attack that helped NIC score over 100 points per game. In the title game, the Seattle native added 15 points on 6-11 shooting. Pryor led the Cards in scoring in the regular season at a clip of nearly 19 points a game.

Second year big man Jarod Greene also added 15 points in the championship bout on a highly efficient 7-8 shooting. It was more of the same for Greene who led the NWAC in field goal percentage at nearly a 70 percent clip.

Several others played major roles for the Cards this season.

Sophomore Iain McLaughlin provided energy in his three-and-D role.

Corey Symons deserves a lot of credit. Since taking over as head coach a half-decade ago, he has guided NIC to a 137-25 record,

and brought in some of the highest-rated recruits the college has ever seen. Evans, Anderson and Pryor were all athletes that easily could have Emmitt Taylor III shot over 42 percent from three-point range and set jumped to four-year programs straight out of high school, but Symons the school record for most three-pointers in a game convinced them to sign with the small community when he knocked down 12 in a December win earlier “A lot of these guys don’t college out of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. this season. Redshirt Drew Sheridan excelled in his have rings. To see them Through all his efforts, Symons has put NIC on the map, and compiled the talent that has this program role as a defense-first player and earned the respect from his team for his unselfishness. Freshman James as happy as they are to set to be a national powerhouse for years to come.

Carlson provided stability as the backup center This year’s freshman class has the potential to be win it, it feels great.” the best to ever come through NIC. That’s saying behind Greene.

-RayQuan Evans something considering the players that have played

The 31-point win capped off a 31for the Cardinals in the last decade. win season that ended in another hoist of the Looking back on a season that is a month in the books, the championship trophy. For years, NIC had always been known as the team that dominated the regular season only to choke it in the playoffs. memories that the NIC men’s basketball team provided will stick for Their 30-0 team from three years ago was a prime example of those quite some time. The coaches and returning players would be the first shortcomings. After a second straight title, those nightmares are to tell you that they aren’t satisfied with the recent success, and the work becoming a thing of the past. toward a three-peat is already underway.

theSentinel| 31

NIC student Nadia Luhring and Sentinel staff reporter Hana McMullen sit down over coffee at Strada off third street in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho to discuss her future internship in L.A. and events that led up to her future adventures. Photos by Rebecca Pratt, magazine editor

NIC darling travels to L.A. for internship

s

By Hana McMullen, staff writer

eventeen-year-old NIC student Nadia Luhring never stayed in one place for long, moving constantly with her family from her hometown of Morton, Illinois, until three years ago putting down roots in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

“I’m not meant for small town life,” Luhring said.

Now leaning on that drive and intuition, Luhring will be spreading her wings to fly to Los Angeles, California for a summer internship at Darling Magazine, an L.A. based publication that dedicates itself to challenging cultural norms of beauty and fashion.

Luhring was told the big news during her visit to Los Angeles, over lunch with family friend Mercedes Curran.

“I was excited and a little surprised because I honestly didn’t feel like I had earned it like a lot of other people who were applying for the internship. It was more like given to me,” Luhring said.

Curran, an author at Darling Magazine, was the one who chose Luhring for the internship. Luhring’s stepfather had met Curran and her husband at a worship school during the time he would fly from Peoria, Illinois, to

32 |theSentinel

Spokane, Washington. Since then, Curran has kept up with Luhring and watched her grow into the artist she is today.

Luhring is the type of person who, if given the chance, would try every hobby possible. She said she’s never been afraid of trying new things, and at the age of 9 tried her hand at fire spinning. Her fire spinning days were short lived, and she is now focusing more on her art.

Luhring has recently been working with photography, writing and painting. Luhring first started painting as an outlet to help her through some tough times.

“Through [painting] I definitely found a way for me to distract myself and find peace,” Luhing said.

Luhring’s summer internship will give her the chance to improve her photography skills, her favorite art form. The four week internship covers four categories; generals, fashion, photography and a wild card.

Although her internship is only for the summer, she plans on moving to California. Luhring is hoping for a more permanent job with Darling Magazine, but is looking for jobs at coffee shops as a backup plan. She also plans on continuing to take classes online at NIC to get her associates in general education.

Luhring knows that moving to California is going to be hard, but she’s not going to let her doubts stop her.

“As of now, I just love it so much I’m -Nadia Luhring, going to stay regardless,” Luhring said.

NIC student

Not only is Lurhing excited to start her new life with the internship, she’s excited to follow her faith to a new church. Luhring was raised in a charismatic church environment and when she talks about her faith, she speaks highly of the spiritual giftings and the feeling of family in the church community. Luhring is currently a part of the Anthem church in Hayden and has plans to join the Mosaic church when she moves to Los Angeles.

Luhring has been following Mosaic for about five years and had the opportunity to attend one of their services. She said she felt as though she was already a part of the church and felt a sense of home while she was there.

“This is my church family. It’s funny because when I was down there, that’s how everyone acted and it made me feel so warm inside.”

Luhring is looking forward to moving to a new, exciting place. She has experienced so much already in her young life and is ready to open the door to a new chapter.

“I’m hoping for the future that this is just the next step. I don’t feel like I really believe in an end to a process, Luhring said. “I’m hoping for a lot of growth and a lot of newness and definitely for a closer of one season and a beginning of a much better new one.”

"I'm hoping for a lot of growth and a lot of newness and definitely for a closure of one season and a beginning of a much better new one."

theSentinel| 33

“

When you help

the student who’s struggling the most in your class, everyone’s going to do better in your class.

When you help

give the student with the quietest voice a stronger voice, everyone’s voice is going to get stronger.”

xx |theSentinel 34

-Tyler White, NIC student

A desire to help NIC student aims to better the lives of others on campus and in the CDA community through his talents in graphic design

By Kaylee Dinkel, managing editor

From his life in Southern California to moving up to the also serves as president of the TRIO club on campus.

Pacific Northwest, NIC student Tyler White has been through many

TRIO’s mission is to help nontraditional students through life experiences. After growing up in Carlsbad, California, White college and onto universities and 4-year colleges that align with their started his college career attending UC Davis and, after finding himself educational needs, and open their doors to regular students who are in what he said was not a good place mentally, decided he wanted looking for assistance as well. something more from life.

“You can come to TRIO and we can find ways to get you the

“Even though I was pretty involved around campus and money and the resources to create a cool event or be a leader in an doing well academically, I just wasn’t happy and I struggled with interesting aspect of change on campus,” White said. mental health,” he said. White was advised to take a break from

During the spring semester, TRIO hosted multiple school and, through a transitional living program called Echo scholarship workshops that were advertised with printed dollar Springs, made his way to bills that featured Bonners Ferry, Idaho. information about the

“I was done living events. in Southern California, White, who said done living at my house, he does all of the so I got the opportunity to marketing and actually move up here to design for the TRIO Idaho and live in a house club, designed them with some pretty cool, to catch the eye of supportive people out in anyone who might the woods and get away walk by, and hopefully from society for a little bit,” entice them to attend White said. the workshops.

There he was

He said that able to to get his hands the event brought dirty with wood-chopping about one of the and gardening, among highest upticks of other tasks. After his time student scholarship in Bonners Ferry, White applications in NIC chose to move down to history.

Coeur d’Alene through the

“That’s what same transitional living I’ve always been program. White credits the Tyler White’s entry into the NIC Aspiring Artists Spring Fling show entitled “Morning Walk” won Best in Show passionate about and reason that he’s still in Coeur earning him a one-month gallery show at Emerge art gallery in downtown CDA. Photo by Robert Perry just creating interesting d’Alene to the people he’s ways of marketing met in his travels. events,” White said.

“I could have left by now, but I love it,” he said. “The people

Because of this, White also helped with an ugly sweater I’ve met, the friends I’ve made. I’ve got a new family.” event that was held during fall semester, where North Idaho Hospice

White’s interest in graphic design has led him to work with donated many sweaters and attendees were able to design ugly sweaters various events and clubs around campus and CDA. One of those to be featured in a runway show later that evening. Awards were given, events was a math anxiety workshop led by Kristina Klassen where as well as a scholarship to an NIC student. students could learn Klassen’s principles surrounding

White said his main goals through the club are to create math-led anxiety. leadership opportunities for students and provide a platform for any

White designed a type of advertisement for the event in type of change that they want to see come about on campus. the form of a food voucher that talked about the free lunch that was

When he attends events, White said he sees a certain type of offered to anyone who attended the workshop. comradery come from it for the students of NIC, and that that is why

White said there were almost twice as many students he is involved in TRIO and other student-driven events and workshops attending the workshop compared to previous sessions. around campus.

“People actually brought the tickets and put them on the

“When you help the student who’s struggling the most in table, ready for free lunch,” White said. “You didn’t need one, but it was your class, everyone’s going to do better in class,” he said. “When that extra effect that brought people in the door.” you help give the student with the quietest voice a stronger voice,

Aside from being involved in the math workshops, White everyone’s voice is going to get stronger.”

theSentinel| 35

maximize your workout in

2

Words of advice

simple ways

Alexis Surver, 20, Post Falls Alexis said timing is everything and eating too soon is a recipe for disaster. Eating at least 30 minutes before your workout, she said, will give you more energy which, in turn, will maximize your benefits and help you feel good post-workout.

By Kelli Spooner, associate magazine editor

Exercise: This well-known trick boosts memory retention, focus, and concentration-essential components for every college student. Despite the benefits, studies have shown most students neglect to maintain exercise when transitioning from high school to college. For those who continue to exercise amid distractions: you are rockstars.

Exercise options are unlimited, b” Amos said, “ut how can a workout be maximized to achieve the most benefit? Sadly, with access to enormous amounts of information on the web it is easy to be led astray.

With that in mind, the Sentinel asked the students of Nutrition for Health, Fitness & Exercise and their instructor Kelly Amos for their advice and expertise.

Unsurprisingly Amos and her students shared similar responses. They each expressed that a solid pre-workout routine will maximize any workout by preparing the body for stress. They offered two simple ways to accomplish this task: fuel and warm-up.

The motivation behind exercise may be different for everyone but the goal remains the same: to get results. Whether the preferred results are weight or health-related, going in with enough energy is key and the best way to fuel your body for exercise is to eat. Alexis Surver, a current student of Amos’, said she prefers a light breakfast or snack prior to working out to give her enough energy to push her and to feel good when done.

“Your body needs energy to work hard and perform its best to benefit from the workout,” Surver said.

While Surver said instant oatmeal with strawberries or a protein bar are excellent options, fellow classmates Kinzie Hunter

36 |theSentinel

and James Anderson recommended peanut butter for its protein and fat content. It helps slow metabolism down and fuels the body for a longer period of time.

Gone are the days of static stretches before exercise. Today, science has found that the best pre-workout stretch is the dynamic stretch, sometimes referred to as moving stretches. Such activities include yoga and lunges.

“The purpose is to prepare your body for what you are going to do.” Amos said. “ You are basically rehearsing for your workout.”

Dynamic stretches lower the risk of injury and increasie flexibility and range of motion. Hunter said that a good warm-up gets her in the proper state of mind.

“I need food to have energy, which is important, but so is mental preparedness,“ Hunter said. “Both prepare me for what should be an intense workout.”

There are times, however, when static stretching is necessary before, but Amos and her students agree that stretching should most-often follow a workout. Surver said she stretches after workouts to keep her muscles long and lean.

In the end, it’s actually quite simple: Acquiring the necessary energy and a solid warm-up will prepare your body to perform at its peak ability to achieve optimal and desired results.

These techniques are tried and true and are supported by science, but for those who feel hesitant to start a new routine, Amos, who understands the science herself, expresses nothing but confidence in the advice of her students.

“They are experienced with exercise and their gut,” Amos said. “They know it works.”

James Anderson, 20, Coeur d’Alene For those who struggle to get to the gym, you’re not alone! Music can be a great way to get you ready for workout. When he starts to feel sluggish, James said he turns to a former team playlist to help him get pumped. “I listen to that playlist sometimes, when I don’t have any motivation, and it gets me going.”

Kinzie Hunter, 21, Reno Kinzie, a former Cardinal soccer player, said that it is possible to have a good workout even with minor injuries. After suffering several knee injuries, she said she warms up on a step machine or does yoga during cool downs. These, she said, are great ways to maximize workout in a low-impact way.

Photos by Kelli Spooner Model Josh Greer, Billings, MT

theSentinel| 37

The road to

~

~

North Idaho College

North Idaho College

Zachary Bowsky

is a freshman at NIC from Spokane, Washington. Coming into college, Bowsky said that he had no idea what he wanted to study, and he’s still having trouble finding a path he’d like to pursue, but he’s keeping an open mind and trying to not let it worry him. Bowsky said, “You always hear people tell you ‘you’re so young and you have so much time’, so I try not to get hung up on trying to figure things out.” Bowsky said he’s been focusing more on getting used to being independent and living on his own. “Learning to live on your own is cool,” Bowsky said, “It’s kind of stressful at first, and it’s weird putting yourself on your own schedule, but I’m slowly figuring it out.” Bowsky said he’s enjoying his journey in college so far, and remains optimistic that he will soon find his path.

students share where

~

~

they came from and how they ended up here

By Catrina Martinson, features editor

“To feel the pull, the draw, the interior attraction, and to want to follow it, even if it has no name still, that is the pilgrim spirit. The “why” only becomes clear as time passes, only long after the walking is over.”

-Kevin A. Codd

Life has a way of making you choose a path, even if you wish to stay where you are. Pressure to “do something” with your life is all around and inside of you. All 20-somethings are searching for a way to make money, get their names out there, and ultimately find happiness, but there are endless ways to do so, and no one knows this more than college students.

For many, University and junior college is an obvious avenue to venture upon. Although there are many concrete steps students take to get to college, the possibilities are endless, and often times overwhelming.

In the average student’s journey of selfdiscovery they will try many things, quit many things, start over many times, and their path will evolve according to their choices. Students will likely end up somewhere much different from where they started but sometimes finding your path begins with abandoning the one you’re currently on.

I set out on North Idaho College’s campus to ask students where they came from, where they thought they were going, and where they are now.

Dear Reader, it’s complicated….

38 |theSentinel

Teo Wright-Martin

moved here from Genesee, Idaho and is currently in his second year of college at NIC. Wright-Martin said he began college studying music because it’s something he’s always been passionate about, but he decided later in the semester that he wanted to try out a different avenue. “I realized I had more options than I thought, so I think I found out what I should go to college for while I was here,” Wright-Martin said. Since his second semester at NIC, Wright-Martin has been studying outdoor recreation leadership. He said he’s enjoying the program and thinks it’s a good fit for him.

Jessey Simons

moved to Coeur d’Alene from Springfield, Utah in the fall of 2019 because she was offered a scholarship to play golf at NIC. Simons is in her first year of classes and said she has a few ideas of what to study but is focusing on generals until she can make a concrete decision. “I’m just a freshman, I don’t know what I want,” Simons said. Simons said she has considered the physical therapy program at NIC and athletic training, but she can’t figure out which path is the right one for her. “It’s a lot of pressure,” Simons said, “I know that as a freshman I don’t need to be thinking so far ahead, but everyone else seems to have it figured out and that makes me anxious.” Although Simons said she is still struggling to find the right path, she is enjoying college and doing her best to stay calm until she has things figured out.

Dorian Cornichuck

grew up in Anchorage, Alaska and played for the varsity soccer team at his high school. During senior year, NIC offered Cornichuck a full scholarship to play soccer, so in the fall of 2018 he packed up his life in Anchorage and moved down to Coeur d’Alene to start the next chapter of his life. Cornichuck began the fall semester focusing his studies on computer science, but by the end of the semester Cornichuck said that he felt worn out by all of the hard math and overall difficulty of the classes, and hence decided that computer science wasn’t the path for him. Cornichuck said “I’m just trying to figure out what I really like to do.” This semester, Cornichuck is taking general ed classes and sampling out new subjects until he finds a path he’d like to follow.

Taylor Panlasigui

grew up in Maui, Hawaii and moved to Coeur d’Alene in the fall of 2017 to begin college. Panlasigui said she chose to attend NIC for it’s softball program and inexpensive cost of tuition. Her first semester of classes, Panlasigui said she was pursuing arts, but later in the year she began focusing more on sciences. Panlasigui said “I felt like I needed to find a career as soon as possible.” According to Panlasigui, her uncle introduced her to the field of radiology awhile back by showing her around the hospital he works at. For about a year now, Panlasigui has been studying to become a radiology technician and says she is excited to see where this path leads her.

Patrick Shaner

moved to Coeur d’Alene three years ago from Baltimore, Maryland, where he grew up. Shaner said that he had visited the area and checked out NIC before deciding that he would come here to study aviation. Since he started taking classes, Shaner said he has not changed his mind about his degree or his desire to become an airline pilot, so he continues to follow his chosen path with great confidence he chose the right one.

theSentinel| 39