How the 2024 presidential election may be the end of the two party system
There are so many streaming services. Which one is the best?
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February 24th, 2022 — Vol. 100, Issue 8
Bon Jour Loras - A French Perspective For the Spring Semester, Loras College has accepted ten students from France. Learn more about their experiences here on campus! by MARK MEDERSON faculty advisor
If you have heard some unusual words coming from the mouths of students who you do not recognize, do not be concerned. Eleven students from Nantes, France are living on campus and attending classes this semester. Like Dubuque, Nantes is situated on a river, the Loire. But that is where the similarities end. “The weather is cold [here] but [it] is cool to see snow because in my region it never snows,” French student Charles Belaud said. While the weather in Dubuque may be colder than in Nantes, many of the French students said the people in Dubuque, and the other students at Loras, have been very warm. “I think what surprised me the most was the kindness and interest of the people towards us,” Alexandra Sire said. “In France, I don’t have the impression that people are as welcoming as here.” The French students are working on their Master’s degrees at their home school, The Institut Catholique d’Etudes Supérieures (Catholic Institute for Higher Studies), or ICES, in France. Here at Loras they are taking undergraduate courses. Cindy Behnke, Loras College Coordinator of Center for Inclusion & Advocacy, said the goal is for them to improve their English and to learn more about politics in the United States. “They hope to take a trip to Des Moines to visit the state capital,” Behnke said. “Several Loras College alum who work in the capital will be giving the French students a tour, unless COVID changes that.” Most of the French students agree that there really were not too many surprises about their first few weeks here in Dubuque. One of the biggest things they have to get used to is the food in the Café. Several said they miss French bread, croissants and cheese. There was one more surprise when it comes to eating on campus.
“I think it’s the mealtimes, especially in the evening,” Mathilde Langlais said. “In France, we never eat that early in the evening. In general, dinner is around 8:30 or 9:00 pm.” French students have been spending a semester at Loras since 2014. They had been going to Divine Word College but wanted to a d d s ome Ame r i c an politics classes and reached out to Loras for help. At first the students were living with host families here in Dubuque, Behnke said. But finding enough families to host them became an issue so they switched to living in the dorms. “We found that they liked the experience of living on campus better,” Behnke said. “They really seemed to get to know other students better and to get a better feel for the community.” The students agree that most everything has gone well at Loras so far. Well, except for an adventure that Florent Gichard, Charles Belaud and Charles Rouland set out to take last week. They rented a car and attempted to drive to Des Moines to do a little sightseeing. They stopped to fuel up the car and mistakenly added diesel fuel instead of gasoline. The car chugged to a stop a few miles after leaving the gas station. They were stranded on a Native American reservation more than three hours
photo by MARK MEDERSON
from Dubuque with no help in sight. “After four hours of waiting, a police car approached us,” Charles Rouland recalled. “The police officer, Jeff, reassured us and called a tow truck.” The three had to stay in a hotel overnight in Marshalltown and missed classes the next day. It was not quite the adventure they had planned. Behnke said the French students are not the only international students on campus. Loras currently enrolls 48 students from 14 different countries from across the globe.
Beckman is Buzzing by MARK MEDERSON faculty advisor
You may have heard the grinding and banging sounds as you passed outside of Beckman Hall. The renovation of the dorm began in earnest back in October and, according to Steve Klaren, the project superintendent for Portzen Construction, the work is proceeding on schedule. Klaren says they are at the framing and mechanical rough-in phase of the project. He said, “It’s going to be tight,” but he is confident his team will be finished in time for students to move in on August 8. Klaren says that one of the new additions to Beckman, the large individual shower stalls on each floor, is the only area where he is concerned about meeting the deadline. In addition to the shower stalls, a central air-conditioning (and heating) system is being added meaning that the building will not have the unsightly AC units poking out of the windows. One of the only new additions that is visible on the exterior of the building is a new window on the corner of the first floor facing Loras Blvd. All of the windows in the building will eventually match the new corner window. While the new windows will not have the quaint Colonial grids like the old wooden ones, the new windows are much more energy-efficient and will let in a lot more sunlight. There will be very few changes in the individual dorm rooms but, Klaren says, much of the rest of the building will be fixed up. “All of the bathrooms … laundry rooms, kitchenettes and (the) lounges” will be renovated, Klaren said. Students moving into Beckman for fall semester of 2022 will likely be greeted by the smells of new paint, new carpet and a lot of renovated spaces throughout the entire building. photo by MARK MEDERSON
You probably wouldn’t recognize the interior of Beckman at this phase of construction. This is a hallway on the first floor with copper pipes stacked on the floor. The pipes will be used in the new heat and AC system.
Beckman is set to reopen for the fall semester of 2022
Loras College’s Newest Organization: Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice Honor Society by KEEGAN GODWIN executive editor
The newest organization on campus is Alpha Phi Sigma, a criminal justice honor society. The organization was pushed forward by the criminal justice program’s newest professor, Kenny Loui. Dr. Loui and the members worked hard throughout the fall semester to make this goal a reality. After a semester long process, they plan on bringing a new perspective of criminal justice to campus with guest speakers from the professional viewpoint. Expect events in near future to be popping up around campus!
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To Stream or Not to Stream RICHARD HERNANDEZ
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From Amazon to YouTube, and a myriad of other streaming services, in 2022 we have an infinite number of choices for what to watch. Perhaps the choices are so great that we sometimes just decide to go to an old comfortable favorite, TikTok dance videos, or we get lost in a YouTube rabbit hole. Well, I’m here to help you decide what to watch and where to watch it. I’m going to rank Netflix, Hulu, Disney +, HBO Max, and peacock from worst (5) to best (1). I hope to help you decide which streaming service is best for you based on my rankings and some of the positives and negatives of each one. #5 Peacock. This is the NBC free streaming service which means you can watch some seasons (not all) of old favs for free like “the Office” and “Parks and Rec.” The problem with the free streaming services is the commercials that you have to watch. For $4.99 a month you can upgrade to premium. Peacock does have a sevenday free trial. This is a great way to see if there are enough movies and shows that you like that will make it worth $60 a year. If you’re a big WWE fan then you’re in luck because Peacock is the home streamer of it (if you’re a premium member). As for movies, you can watch everything from the John Wick series, classic films like “Harry Potter,” “Psycho,” “The Goonies” and a whole lot more. There’s a huge variety but also you must get premium to be able to watch the majority of these shows and movies, which is why I rated this number 5. But, you can get quite a bit of stuff for free as well. #4 Hulu. Like Peacock, Hulu has a free trial but it also has a great special, Hulu for students. College students can get Hulu’s premium service, normally $6.99 a month, for $1.99! That’s practically free. Hulu is better known for having newer tv shows and it’s always uploading new content on a weekly basis. It does offer and stream award-winning series like “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “The Looming Tower.” One downside is at the student price (or $6.99) Hulu still runs ads. For $12.99 a month you can stream without commercials. Hulu has many networks and channels to choose from such as food network, animal planet, ABC news live, and many more. #3 Disney+. Disney+ made a big splash when it
premiered a recorded performance of the Broadway hit Hamilton back in the summer of 2020 (and it’s still available to watch there). If you’re a big fan of Disney movies, new and old, then Disney+ is definitely for you. They’re great for comfort viewing. They also have all movies and shows from Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic. I ranked Disney number three because I absolutely love watching throwback kid movies and just Disney overall along with the Marvel movies. Price-wise it’s good too. It cost $7.99 a month and you get an ad-free access to all their shows and movies. If one service isn’t enough, you should look at the Disney+ bundle. For $13.99 a month you can get a Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. #2 Netflix. Netflix started in 1997 as a DVD by mail service so they have been around for a while. I ranked Netflix second because of their huge variety of shows and movies – everything from “ScoobyDoo” to crime shows like “Blacklist.” And if you love romcoms they have those too. This variety means you can find lots of stuff to suit your mood, from scary movies to comedies. Netflix also has multiple plans to choose from. Their basic plan is $9.99 a month. One problem with this if you’re splitting with roommates, you can only watch one program on one screen at a time. The basic plan is also not in HD, so if you want to watch it on a larger screen, the image quality will suffer. For $15.49 a month you can watch in HD and on two screens. For $19.99 you get Ultra HD and four screens of viewing. All of the plans offer all of their shows and movies. You can try a 30-
Uncharted: A Review by SETH CORRIGAN staff writer
This past weekend, “Uncharted” was released in theaters. Starring Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg it is directed by Ruben Fleischer, who previously directed the two “Zombieland” films and the first “Venom” movie. Based on the video game series, the main character in “Uncharted” is Nathan Drake, played by Holland, who may be best known for his role as Spiderman. Drake teams up with Victor “Sully” Sullivan to discover a treasure that has never been found. Drake also hopes to learn about his brother, Sam, who disappeared when they were younger. Sully believes he can help find him. The standouts here are both Holland and Wahlberg in their roles. They have great chemistry with each other on-screen, while also pulling off a vast majority of their own stunts. In a story in Variety magazine online, Holland said, “I walked away from every stunt, but I definitely limped from a few.” While I have not played any of the video games on which these characters are based, I still felt very attached to them, especially Holland’s. It’s some of the other characters that I have an issue with. Many of them that
you are pushed to care for, and sometimes root against, stab people on their own side in the back and flip flop back and forth. In the end, the only character you can really latch onto is Holland’s. If you are looking for a fun and enjoyable movie, especially if you are huge fan of the Uncharted series, I would still recommend you see this movie. It is available at AMC and Phoenix Theaters here in Dubuque with showtimes throughout the day.
photo by WIKIPEDIA
day free trial of Netflix if you’re not sure if it’s right for you. #1 HBO Max. HBO (Home Box Office) was one of the first cable television movie channels. They started in 1972 so they’ve been around a while. I rank HBO Max number one for streaming because they are known for having all of the HBO shows and movies. There are two plans to choose from but no free trial for HBO Max. For $9.99 a month you get all of their content with ads. The ad-free subscription is $14.99. If you are a fan of “Adventure Time,” “Doom Patrol,” the Lord of the Rings series, murder mysteries, “Tom and Jerry” or even “Peacemaker,” then HBO is your go-to streaming platform. HBO Max also has all of the Harry Potters, “The Matrix,” “Anabelle” and “Braveheart.” There are also a bunch of sports documentaries on Max. I think they have the biggest variety of content and its all worth watching and trying out. Honorable Mentions. If you already pay for Amazon Prime to get the free shipping then you should really check out what Amazon video has streaming. It’s included with the prime membership (which is half-price for students!). If you have a Samsung smart TV, check out the TV Plus channels that they offer. It’s like a cable system but it’s free. There are lots of channels including the Bob Ross channel – all Bob Ross painting shows all the time (very relaxing). There’s a surfing channel if you’re into that, and several hunting and fishing channels.
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The Lorian
My Journey to Live My Life Completely Out by SKYLAR LANDRY guest writer
I am a transgender student on this campus. Some close friends and faculty know my identity. Most do not. I will be writing for the Lorian throughout this semester. I am on a journey to live completely out and I’m hoping that by writing about this it will help me on this journey. I’m hoping it will also help some of you who just don’t get it. First, I want everyone to know that I’m completely open to answering questions. If you have a question, send it to Professor Mark Mederson, the faculty advisor for the Lorian (mark.mederson@loras. edu). I will do my best to answer any questions as long as you are willing to be respectful. I will also do my best to be completely honest here. I struggle to try to be as out as possible in an environment where I don’t feel 100% safe. I’ve met kindhearted people at Loras who respect me and my identity and I’ve met people who refuse to use my pronouns even after telling them over and over again what I prefer. I like to talk about gender. I especially like trying to clarify some misconceptions regarding gender identity and the difference between sex and gender. I want people to understand exactly how I feel and what exactly I go through without invading my personal space. Throughout this semester I will detail events that have happened in my life and explain why I find those events a problem. Dysphoria is a term used to describe people who feel uneasy with something in their life which causes them to not be able to live in an effective and happy
manner. Gender dysphoria is the uneasy feeling trans people (including trans men, trans women, non-binary people, genderfluid people, and anything that fits under the trans umbrella) have when they are in a body in which they do not feel comfortable. I have struggled with gender identity and the relationship between sex and gender for a while now. I struggle more with sex dysphoria than gender dysphoria which means I struggle with my biological sex and not my gender identity. I’ve tried to push those feelings aside and just focus on the fact I
cannot change biology but my biggest issue with that is I feel upset never being what I really want to be. I am not a male on the inside and for me (and in my family environment) just settling for slight ambiguity with gender isn’t enough. I, unfortunately, will never be a biological man which has always caused a sense of dread in me. Cis people will never understand what I go through on a daily basis regarding my gender identity and that’s why I’m here to tell you how I deal with my dysphoria.
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If anyone is struggling with their identity or simply needs someone to talk to, Loras has a multitude of counselling services for students. On a day-to-day basis, I am referred to as “she/her”, “missy”, “girly”, “sis”, etc. and it is the most difficult thing to go through as a trans man. I find it hard to be able to say “Hey, I use he/him and identify as male” because I become so upset when people automatically assume I am a girl because of my outward appearance. Whenever this happens, I genuinely become anxious that I’m lying to myself about being male. I said I would be completely honest, so, here goes. Sometimes I feel as though maybe I’m not actually trans. Maybe my brain made me think I’m trans because I watch so many trans YouTubers. Maybe I got so stressed out over the pandemic that I made myself believe that I’m trans. Maybe I just wanted attention. This is something a lot of trans people go through. They feel as though because their identity is different than their biological sex, then they have to be begging for some sort of attention or begging to be different. I’m not begging to be different but because of preconceived notions that a lot of society has, it feels like I am. It sometimes feels like the only reason I am trans is that I want to have all the attention on me. But, when I’m completely honest with myself, I know that is not the case. It’s never been the case for me. But our society puts a lot of pressure on all of us to conform. Maybe that’s part of what I’m dealing with as well. I want to be trans because I feel as though I truly am a boy. I’m not going to cater to society’s expectations of what a boy truly is because whatever definition I have for being a boy is my own definition.
The Song of Achilles - A Review by CALASANDRA SPRAY mind and soul editor
Adaptations of Greek myths into modern novels have always held my interest. Previous to reading Madeline Miller’s “The Song of Achilles”, I thought I knew Achilles. His mother was Nereid Thetis, and she dipped him into the River Styx when he was a child so that he would go undefeated in battle. Unfortunately, where her fingers held him created a mortal point, an inch of skin where he could be wounded and killed. As a Greek hero, he fought in the Trojan wars where he died trying to return the beautiful Helen to her husband. This is why we have the phrase “Achilles heel”: it was Achilles’ connection to humanity, the only thing that could kill him. Miller proved me wrong. Patroclus was Achilles’ point of mortality. Much like Romeo and Juliet, the outcome of the novel is known from the onset, yet you fall in love with the characters and your heart bleeds for their story just the same. Many times throughout the novel, I found myself wishing that anyone would step in to intervene. Prayers fell on deaf ears of gods who, as they were shown to be in ancient myths, were reserved, mysterious beings who acted on whims unknown to anyone but themselves. Adapted from the Iliad, Miller brilliantly portrays the bildungsroman of Patroclus and Achilles. A unique twist on an old tale, Achilles’ story is narrated from Patroclus’ perspective. This brings a depth of character to Achilles, a man whom I often saw as the football star: aloof, aggressive, and prone to tantrums. While he does have odd whims and throws tantrums, he is shown to be human with weaknesses and follies. Patroclus sees the innocence in him; the way he wants to run, play games, and make music. Hardened muscle is shown to be made of delicate curves and tender caresses. Achilles’ struggle between being a man and being a hero is
photo by THE-BIBLIOFILE.COM
drawn out in a delicate dance between a warrior and healer in love. This novel is also a jewel in the LGBTQ+ crown. A poetic narrative drives readers to root for lovers whose affection is palpable despite never saying the words “I love you”. A kiss unreturned develops into romantic trysts in the dead of night, which in turn grow into a full-blown romance of which the entirety of the army is aware. While it would be easy to hate Achilles for his actions in the second half of the novel, Patroclus’ growing love for him makes it harder. Instead of being Achilles story, it becomes Patroclus’, how his personality not only led him to heal the physical wounds of men but to be the balm for Achilles’
conscience. When pride stands in the way, it is Patroclus who rights wrongs and holds to his belief in humanity. It is Patroclus who knows the names of every soldier and makes Achilles’ gruff personality palatable to the rest of the army. It is Patroclus who saves women from being victims of rape, and it is Achilles’ power that allows him to do so. The two are a match of balancing scales. It took me so long to get around to reading this novel that I was afraid it would not live up to its hype. Love, war, glory, sacrifice, redemption, and a gut-wrenching ending make this a memorable tale well worth the wait. Five out of five stars.
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Feb. 24, 2022
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The Lorian
Single ladies, I’m not asking you to put your hands up
The Lorian
Feb. 24, 2022
No Type (Catholic Version) by MARY FELLERS executive copy editor
by ALEXIS RIESBERG staff writer
Women, we need to talk. Why is it that when a woman says her relationship status is single, we quickly try to solve the “problem”? We will set her up with friends, flood her with compliments, or just simply say “men are dumb.” Maybe when we hear the word single we think of depressing words like separate, alone, and isolated. These are all synonyms for the dreaded stage of being single.
No, I’m not saying that you shouldn’t be attracted to the man you want to date. You should be. I’m saying: stop throwing men off your list who are 5’10” because you wrote down 6’3”. When you focus too much on a list, you lose sight of what might be right in front of you. While looking in front of you, take a look at yourself. You can’t expect anything if you haven’t put any work into yourself. Be confident in who you are and recognize that you deserve better than flimsy love.
I don’t got no type Catholic boys is the only thing that I like I don’t got no type We all living life Catholic boys is the only thing that I like Praying to Lord that he lead us to the light We all living life We’re bought at a price Praying to Lord that he lead us to the light The Lord gave his life so we spend it how he likes
We tell ourselves so many lies: I’m forever unwanted and unloved. Why haven’t I found someone yet? Isn’t college the time where I am supposed to meet my Prince Charming and get my life figured out? Why are there no good men left?
Don’t waste your time comparing your life to others around you, especially ones you only see through social media. Don’t waste the time of being single either! Learn about who you are, what motivates you, and gain a sense of independence. Don’t allow your relationship status to dictate your life.
Questioning your singleness is normal, but often we become fixated on the whys. Instead of asking yourself why you don’t have a boyfriend, consider whether or not you are even in a stage of life for a relationship. Are you dating to marry or dating because you are bored? Do you have the time to truly get to know someone right now or does your schedule consume you? Are you dealing with a past relationship and need time to heal? Do you know and love yourself without a man or are you trying to fill that gap? Are you the woman you want to be when your future husband comes around? These are tough questions that we have to be honest with ourselves about. If we get into a relationship without thinking, it can become harmful for both parties involved.
If you have any topics or questions on dating, relationships, or sticky situations, DM @thealexisjean and you might just see a response to your anonymous topic or questions
We’re bought with a price I’m just living life The Lord gave his life so we spend it how he likes And I let the Lord tell me (pause) how to live it right I’m just living life And I let the Lord tell me (pause) how to live it right They say marriage is a chore, that it’s such a bore Don’t commit to nothing anymore. I don’t got no type, I don’t got no type But I rise above it cuz I know my Lord And I let the Lord tell me (pause) how to live it right And if you’re not my type then you know you’re out the door What you know about marriage? What you got against love? What you discern when you dating, dawg?
Throughout college, I’ve seen women throw themselves at men to try and gain attention, but then realize all they gained was a false sense of love. Men fake love for sex and women have sex to feel love. I’ll let you in on a secret: you can do better. You don’t need to lower your standard to achieve happiness. In fact, raise it! We all secretly, or not so secretly, have a list in our head of qualities we’d love for our future man to possess. Go beyond physical looks here ladies. Instead, find qualities with meaning like being thoughtful, loving his family, and having passions. These traits last longer than looks.
Hole up, Imma flex. Got something to fix My girl Alexis is popping off We got some saints you can see up in heaven And they praying for the future generation Wanna be up in heaven, heard I was livin’ like a saint
Ceiling Fan
I don’t got no type Catholic boys is the only thing that I like We all living life Praying to Lord that he lead us to the light We’re bought at a price The Lord gave his life so we spend it how he likes
by DR. JAMES POLLOCK professor of English
I’m just living life And I let the Lord tell me (pause) how to live it right
Seen from below, a white five-petal flower; in fact, an artist whose medium is air, who combs it with these pale palette knives, hour
Spend it how he likes, praying every night
on hour, stirring the room, spinning with care
Going to confession, brought me back to life
to keep this slow whirlpool in circulation.
I’ll accept his mercy, ‘til I’m out the fight
It gives you the chills, like an erotic spouse.
We ain’t got a price, (pause) Jesus paid the swipe
If you ramp up the speed of its rotation
They say, “What’s your type?” I say, “I like what I like”
it starts to imagine it could lift the house.
I don’t play around, I just trust the Lord It’s not my type, I’ll show you the door
[originally published in Painted Bride Quarterly, Philadelphia; forthcoming in the book Durable Goods, from Signal Editions/Véhicule Press, Montreal, Canada, in 2022]
I’ve been livin’ life, cuz no one lives twice
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The Lorian February. 24, 2022
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The Inevitable Split of the Republican Party by KEEGAN GODWIN executive editor
The 2024 presidential election is just over two years away. Republican candidates will begin to campaign and fight for the nomination very shortly. Democratic Party leaders will have to decide whether or not to nominate President Joe Biden for the presidency once again. All of these decisions are still up in the air. But if there is one thing that we as Americans can count on, it’s the split of the Republican Party. Former President Donald Trump is currently a top choice for the Republican nomination; he’s a household name, former President, and has a large personality. Two years after losing the 2020 Election to President Biden, Mr. Trump and his supporters have not gone away quietly. Following the Jan 6 insurrection, Mr. Trump and his supporters have been under fire from the Democratic Party, Independents, and even members of the Republican Party. GOP members like Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger have been censored by their own party for their willingness to speak up against the actions on Jan 6. By doing so, these GOP members have broken themselves off of party support and funding – Ms. Cheney has been shunned by the Wyoming GOP and has faced wave after wave of criticism for speaking from her conscience. But now, more Republicans are beginning to speak up against the former President’s actions regarding Jan 6. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, arguably the most powerful Republican senator, spoke out against Mr. Trump. Mr. McConnell spoke to reporters following the GOP censorship of Ms. Cheney by saying “We saw it happen. It was a violent insurrection to try to prevent the peaceful transfer of power after a legitimately certified election, from one administration to the next. That’s what it was.” This was truly out of line for Mr. McConnell as he has been one of the strongest pro-Trump senators during the Trump administration and after Jan 6. Mr. McConnell fought hard against Democrats to acquit Mr. Trump during his impeachment trials. His move falls against party lines as many GOP lawmakers have refused to acknowledge the democratic damages caused by Jan 6. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, however, has rebuked Mr. McConnell’s words. Mr. McCarthy has attacked the Jan 6 panel for ‘attacking’ GOP members who have nothing to do with Jan 6. Mr. McCarthy, who is in the argument with Mr. McConnell for the most powerful Republican, has refused to acknowledge the damage caused by the Jan 6 insurrection. This turmoil within the Republican Party is nearing
its breaking point. The 2022 midterms are approaching. 36 Senate seats are up for grabs and every single seat in the House of Representatives is available. Along with the midterm elections, 36 states have gubernatorial (governor) elections this year. After losing the trifecta to the Democrats, the GOP is looking to regain the House and the Senate. When it comes to the candidates for these elections, however, the biggest issue is not a political policy like the economy, immigration, or crime. The biggest issue is Mr. Trump. Aligning yourself with or against Mr. Trump puts a photo by NAPLES DAILY NEWS target on your back. As a Former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Rick DeSantis shaking Republican, if you align hands at a pro-Trump Rally. The two, close allies, may clash against each with the former President, other in the 2024 Presidential Election. . you will be criticized Being an extremely well-financed individual, Mr. for supporting someone Trump will have the financial backing to make a run for who incited an insurrection against the United States the presidency. And he will. Once the GOP puts their government, among other things. If you align against Mr. candidate forward, Mr. Trump will announce his run for Trump, other GOP members will work their hardest to the White House. And this is where the last domino falls oust you from power or stop you from getting it. and the collapse of the party is imminent. The former President, once claiming to be the In 1912, Teddy Roosevelt lost the GOP nomination to champion of the Republican Party, will be the downfall incumbent President William Howard Taft. Roosevelt of the party. GOP candidates who try not to align with or ran for the presidency under the Bull Moose Party or the against Mr. Trump will eventually be forced to pick a side Progressive Party. This move split the Republican vote in by the media. When it comes to the midterms, this will half. Democratic candidate Woodrow Wilson would win be another domino to fall in the collapse of the party. The 435 electoral votes with only 42% of the popular vote. In GOP may get the results they hope for in the midterms 2024, Mr. Trump will repeat history. He will run his own solely due to the current economic state of the country candidacy against the Democrats and the Republicans. (rising gas prices, rising inflation, among other things). This will lead to a split in the Republican vote in half. However, the Presidential election is different. It is difficult to imagine Mr. Trump not running When it comes to elections regarding the presidency, for office in 2024. With the financial backing of many a united front is required by a party for their success. By powerful elites, including his own personal wealth, he the time the 2024 election arrives, more and more will can make a run for office. The Republican candidate be revealed about Mr. Trump and his actions in regards and Mr. Trump will battle it out while the Democratic to Jan 6. Many within the GOP will see Mr. Trump as an extremely risky option to put forward for the nomination. candidate (it is unclear if the Democratic Party will select Joe Biden again) will simply have to avoid doing It’s unclear who the GOP will put forward. Options could anything completely outrageous to lose support. It will be include Rick DeSantis, Nikki Haley, or Mike Pence. Just interesting to see how the Republican Party will prepare because Mr. Trump will not receive the GOP nomination, for this imminent threat for the 2024 election. history shows that he is not someone to go away quietly.
A Place For the Working Man
Understanding the bias against the working middle class in our American society today - and how we can fight that bias by ARJA KUMAR opinion editor
One winter afternoon, my aunt was having a lunch party at her house. We were sitting there for over 5 hours. It was late into the day and I was bored. I looked around the chatty room, where the men drank whiskey and the women stirred margaritas. At this point, I had a brilliant idea. I ran away and escaped to my friend’s house. I crept into the garage, where I moved a thousand cardboard boxes that blocked the way to the side door. Escape! From there, I crossed into the neighbors’ lawns and jolted across the neighborhood. Christmas decorations were shining, hanging from roofs, front doors, and garage gutters. Inflatable snowmen waved. Reindeer automatons jingled. Halfway there, I called my friend and asked if they would like to run away too. Alas, they said, “No, I have to clean the basement.” This was a failed movie moment. Disappointed, I walked back to my aunt’s home in the cold, wearing a red Christmas dress, thin stockings, and glitter shoes that made me overall feel…frozen. I quietly snuck back into the garage, locked the door behind me, stacked the boxes again, and went back into the sea of conversation.
photo by DISSENT MAGAZINE
Later, a party guest would say they stood at the front door and watched my escapade. They even knew which friend’s house I had run off to. “Tsk, tsk,” they said, “why have you run off into disappointment again?” They stirred their whiskey and I sat by the fire, sadly eating a macaroon. I had no choice but to tune into the party’s conversation. Then, I heard the same elusive guest make an interesting remark. “These neighborhoods are full of common people. Our children should avoid getting too close to them.” “It’s so important we teach our kids how to become successful. So they don’t have to live tough lives like this.” Upset, I got up and went by the window to look outside. The ghostlike guest comes up to me again, notices my eyes watching the neighborhood people outside, and says, “Surely, you don’t want to suffer like that?” I wasn’t quite sure what the lunch guest meant. Later, I would realize that the lunch guest was alluding to the topic of social class. According to Lumen Sociology, one’s social class is greatly influenced by the job they work, the education they’ve attained, inherited wealth, earned income, or membership in a specific subculture or social network. Many of the people at the lunch party were upper-middle class, and their concerned conversation about their children and how they didn’t want them to struggle stemmed from the fear of moving down the social ladder. They thought, by being around and interacting with people from a so-called lower social class than them, their own identity would be questioned. And they might run the risk of evolving into less than what they are. Hence, why the eerie guest made disapproving comments to me. I believe that elitist communities that choose to regularly interact and only be friends with one particular social class are foolish. By narrowing one’s options of who is “worthy” to interact with, one clearly disregards our
fundamental shared personhood. One is not their job or education or membership to a specific social network. People are something beyond all these things. It seems like common sense not to discriminate against anyone. Yet, it is a hard fact to practice fully. Naturally, people tend to “subconsciously discriminate,” as they flock to those who are most like them and avoid those who are “different” from them. The working man has the same charm as the middle- or upper-class one. Though they may not have all the fancy bells and whistles, they are impressive in their own way. Unlike many of those from higher social standings, they usually do not need fame, reputation, or even recognition in order to take their next breath. Unfortunately, many also live their whole lives without even being respected. I advocate for the glory of the average working man, as their realness and struggle should be recognized instead of shamed. People who exclude the working man from their daily sphere of living or fail to acknowledge them as someone beyond a passerby, deny themselves the opportunity of connection and diverse viewpoints. They are limiting themselves, the scope of who they are, and who they could be. I believe strongly that we should be friends with all kinds of people. That our parties and gatherings shouldn’t just invite one type of people. That we should see the mailman, movie star, doctor, CEO, cashier, taxi driver, lawyer, plumber, professor, and farmer interacting together instead of so apart. Everybody can teach us something. I believe the richness of life comes from interacting with all types of people, regardless of whatever external factors they are classified by. There is no reason to place limitations on who we interact with, share laughs and smiles with, learn from, or run to when we need to escape.
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The Lorian
February. 24, 2024
O pinion
Challenging Political Traditions by DEVYN SHEA opinion editor
Recently I was a candidate for public office. I live in Platteville, Wisconsin and decided to run for the local school board. I thought it would be a good idea to give voters an opportunity to vote for someone who has recently graduated from the school district. I did not do much campaigning besides displaying yard signs throughout town and get out my message by word of mouth. This election brought a lot of candidates forward. There were nine of us total on the ballot. The top six would make it past the primary and into the general election. I had relatively little name recognition amongst the regular voters in the school board and was up against a number of candidates that have spent years being active in the community and making a name for themselves. All of the candidates were excellent and could bring a lot to the table. My time in the Platteville School District was amazing. Since leaving and looking back, however, there are a few things I would change- which is why I ran for school board. I noticed that math and English scores have been decreasing since 2017. 59% of our students were proficient or advanced in English in 2018, but that has decreased to only 47% now. Math was at 64% proficient or advanced in 2018 and is now 53%. This isn’t just limited to our district, however, as the averages in the state have been decreasing as well. A large part of this is due to COVID-19. The scores were decreasing a little before COVID-19 hit, but it escalated afterwards. Another reason I ran for school board was to help students get college prepared or career ready. Anything to give them more work experience to join the workforce after high school or more opportunities
to get college credit for college. Working with teachers to give them the resources they need to improve ACT and AP scores was also on the top of my agenda. I was also going to look to help improve our math department and find ways to educate our students more when it comes to everyday things such as cooking or finances (there are classes for these, but finding ways to encourage or incentivizing students to take them would help them gain the skills that would help them in life). I have also noticed that since graduating from high school many alumni I know have struggled to find what they want to do in life. The school district, I believe, should be doing more visits to local businesses and trying to help students find their vocation. These were some of the things I wanted to focus on if elected. Sadly, however, I lost the primary by around a percent. I placed seventh out of nine and earned around 222 votes in the school district. I also won my own precinct. Many people that were supporting my campaign were first time voters in a school board election as well. Overall, I was happy to give a brand-new perspective to the school board race. I plan on staying involved in the community, even more so. The important issues do not stop at the school district, because there are other factors that affect the area, some of these issues could also indirectly affect our school district. In Grant County, a large percentage of our community is at or below the poverty line, on top of this, some areas have also struggled to get good broadband/ internet access. I also believe we should be trying to welcome more businesses to the area to help improve our GDP. The Platteville and Grant County community is the best to be apart of. There are a lot of issues to tackle and I look forward over the coming years in helping improve the community to reach its full potential.
photo by TELEGRAPH HERALD
Devyn Shea’s photo for his campaign. Devyn would place 7th in the primary, missing the next step by less than one percent.
We at the Lorian would like to express how proud of Devyn we are for his poltical action. He is a symbol to young Americans to attempt to make the change in the world you wish to see.
School-to-Prison Pipeline in America
The American education system is flawed. It creates a system of public school students heading straight into the juvenile detention centers or to prison directly after graduation. Is there any way to stop this? Or are we too late? However, the act instituted harsh punishment on schools and districts that had too many behaviorally or academically “troubled” children. This included pulling How can there be an American Dream when parts of some financial aid for districts with low standardized the country only experience nightmares? In the United test scores. The result was the removal of the “troubled” States, an alarmingly high number of students in public students from the school, whether through expulsion or schools are being funneled into juvenile detention putting all the misbehaving kids into one school together, centers during their secondary education or into prison where they subsequently learned nothing and were shortly after graduation. This disturbing fact may catch neglected. My school district had one of these called the us off guard, as many Americans see school as a place to Dream Academy, where an alarmingly minuscule number become a well-educated, functioning member of society. of those students would go on to college or vocational However, this is hardly the case in many inner-city training and often ended up in schools, specifically those that jail, in a gang, or dead. And it are gerrymandered into areas was all done in order to keep test that have high levels of crime, scores up, “earning” the school household abuse and neglect, the money they were entitled to and father absence. This is a in the first place. major issue for the future of Secondly, we have to get rid of America, but we as a society standardized test scores. There is cannot make a change unless no reason that a student should we know what is causing this feel or be told that because they tragic series of events. are falling behind academically, According to the American they are doomed to failure Civil Liberties Union, a nonand should then be shunned profit organization dedicated to from the education system. If defending and preserving the we remove standardized test individual constitutional rights scores, we can relieve pressure of the American citizens, the from the disadvantaged students pipeline starts with inadequate that may want to leave their resources in schools. While this situation but feel as though can often be seen as insufficient there is no hope. And finally, monetary resources, it is even we need to hold politicians more physical. Classrooms accountable for gerrymandering. in inner-city schools are Politicians, specifically in large overcrowded, lack qualified cities, are notorious for this. The teachers, and receive nearly no definition of gerrymandering is funding for special education “to manipulate the boundaries services and psychological of [an electoral constituency] so counselors. Keep in mind, as to favor one party or class.” federal funding for public Essentially, they are forcing schools is set by Congress photo by EDWEEK.COM all impoverished minorities every year. On average, President George W. Bush signing the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002. The Act was an early into one area, so that the same attempt to lift children out of poverty in the education system. Congress sets the funding politicians who put them for primary and secondary there seem like the only answer to salvation, causing education around $79B, which is relatively little in federal the No Child Left Behind Act. Instituted on January 8th, 2002, president George W. Bush put this act into place. It them to never lose power by repeated election. It also funding terms. Even more disappointing, in 2018, the US was later re-solidified by the Obama administration. The makes it easier to control the finances of the ghettos and Federal Government spent $170.4B on Federal Student act was created to attempt to better encourage students impoverished neighborhoods, while seeming like they are Aid. This money helps put students through college. of disadvantaged backgrounds, specifically minority trying to help. If all three of these things cannot be done, How can we push for education equity when 65% of our communities residing in inner-cities, to try harder in then there is no hope for ever making it out of the cycle education funding is going to a system that some kids school, make their way out of poverty, and become we have been in for decades. can’t even get to? It’s not just underfunding; in some “successful” members of American society. schools, teachers pay for their own school supplies and by JAKE SINATRA staff writer
most schools don’t have proper special education services and psychological counseling for students who may be falling behind due to social or family issues. But the US education system is insistent on keeping standardized test scores up and funding for proper education down. After all, the United States government is just a massive business that only cares about cutting costs and producing “results”. There are a few ways we can work to fix this systematic issue in our country (because just yelling about “education reform” does nothing). First of all, we need to remove
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February 24, 2022
The Lorian
S ports
Duhawks Senior Forward Reaches Monumental Milestone
THE
by DAVID GRINTJES staff writer
Cole Navigato joined a very exclusive club in the Duhawks 61-41 victory over the Luther College Norse. On Wednesday, Feb 9, Navigato, a senior forward, was able to surpass the 1000-point mark when he sank a free throw in the second half of a blowout victory over Luther. “Playing with great shooters like Rowan McGowen, Josh Ruggles, Griff Clark, and so much more, has opened up the floor for me so much making it easier to score the basketball,” Navigato said.” Navigato is now the 45th member of the men’s basketball program to have scored 1000 points. Throughout Navigato’s career, he has been a consistent offensive threat for the Duhawks. “When Cole is out on the floor with us, I feel like no matter what the other team is doing on defense we photos from LORAS ATHLETICS can just throw him the ball anywhere Navigato is just the 45th Duhawk to reach the 1,000 point plateau. and he’ll score it,” said Jake Healy, a of my ankles and strained my oblique. I have missed 4 or 5 junior guard. Since becoming a full-time starter his sophomore season, games from injuries in previous years,” Navigato said. It is also important to note that during the peak of his shooting percentage is 58%. With such a high shooting the Covid-19 pandemic, the Duhawks only played 12 percentage you may think he would have gotten this games. Which is substantially shorter than previous honor earlier in his career. Like most athletes in the world seasons. So Navigato’s thousand points is an even greater of sports injuries take their toll, keeping them out of the accomplishment. Let us hope he continues his scoring run action. during this year’s ARC tournament! “I have missed 3 games this year when I sprained both
MLB, players union open week of meetings but find little has changed in lockout stalemate by CHELSEA JANE washington post
JUPITER, Fla. — The late push to find common ground on a collective bargaining agreement in time to avoid missing regular season games began in a parking lot Monday afternoon. Ten players, among them stars Max Scherzer and Francisco Lindor, circled around Major League Baseball Players Association chief Tony Clark for what looked something like a pregame pep talk. Instead of baseball pants and cleats, they wore jeans and sneakers. Instead of jerseys, they wore polo shirts. Then all at once they marched through the parking lot and into Roger Dean Stadium, the spring training home of the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins — and the site of what both sides have said will be a week’s worth of in-person negotiations. No one is using that stadium for much at the moment, given that a lockout now in its third month has forced the postponement of spring training and at least a week’s worth of Grapefruit and Cactus League games. Colorado Rockies owner Dick Monfort, San Diego Padres owner Ron Fowler and representatives from MLB already had made their way inside. Over the course of five hours Monday afternoon, the sides met face-to-face for about 75 minutes, broke into their own caucuses to discuss rebuttals for a few hours, met again, then separated again, according to people involved, who said the sides addressed a wide range of issues. Players spoke directly to owners in those meetings, according to a person in the room. With spring training delayed and more talks set, MLB will look to avoid a ‘disastrous outcome’ MLB also made a proposal, one the union did not find particularly helpful. Owners upped their commitment to a bonus pool that would reward high-achieving players not yet qualified for arbitration from $15 million to $20 million to be disbursed among 30 top performers. The union’s latest proposal called for that bonus pool to consist of $115 million to be distributed among 150 players. MLB also increased the number of teams it would be willing to include in a draft lottery from three to four,
having argued repeatedly that merely agreeing to a lottery at all, instead of automatically rewarding the worst team with the top pick, represents a concession in itself. The union believes MLB is not moving far enough to prevent annual also-rans from being rewarded with revenue sharing and prime draft picks and has asked that a draft lottery include eight teams. Just as importantly, neither side made any change to its proposal for the competitive balance tax threshold or tax rates — a sticking point that is usually one of the final pieces negotiated in any CBA discussion. MLB was the last side to move on that number, upping its offer to one that sets the threshold at $214 million in 2022 and calls for it to increase to $222 million over the five-year agreement. MLB’s offer also includes a near doubling of the tax rates charged to teams that eclipse those thresholds, which union representatives have maintained must change before a deal can get done. The union’s most recent stated goal for the CBT threshold is $245 million, and MLBPA representatives have altered that proposal in recent weeks. Both sides will soon have to find middle ground there and elsewhere if they hope to avoid missing regular season games, something both have said publicly they do not want to do — while suggesting privately that the other side is secretly plotting to hold out until that happens. Earlier this month, MLB informed the players union that the latest date it believes a deal can get done to start the regular season on time is Feb. 28. The union does not necessarily agree with that, but MLB has more control over the timeline than the players: The lockout is not mandatory, and the owners could lift it at any time. But the owners will not lift the lockout before an agreement is reached, leaving the sides roughly six days before the scheduled start of the regular season topples over the cliff into uncertain oblivion, six days to close gaps that have hardly narrowed in three months. For weeks the sides have been negotiating in fits and starts — a day here, an hour there. Perhaps the most promising part of Monday’s negotiations is that they plan to funnel into the Roger Dean Stadium parking lot again and have more of them Tuesday.
EDITORIAL STAFF
executive editor: KEEGAN GODWIN features editor: MARY FELLERS opinion editor: DEVYN SHEA sports editor: CAMERON ARVIDSON mind and soul editor: CALASANDRA SPRAY assistant editor: GENEVIEVE REED advertising: COLIN KLAPPERICH
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