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November 4th, 2021 — Vol. 100, Issue 4
My friend with Autism by EDWARD CLISSOLD guest writer
The editors wanted Loras College students, staff, and faculty to learn more about our students who are on the Autism spectrum. This article is written by Edward Clissold. Edward is a sophomore majoring in media studies. The editors have done very minimal editing to this story (less than with most). Mostly just some minor grammar, spelling, and punctuation. We wanted this to be in Edward’s voice. It was a normal afternoon, I was playing around with my toys when Mom asked me if she could read me a story. I was open to it as we would always read stories. This story, however, was different. The book, “My Friend with Autism” by Beverly Bishop, was from the point of view of a neural typical kid. He talks about how he has a friend with Autism and that he finds some things to be difficult even though they might be easier for other people. However, the autistic friend also liked to do things that normal kids like to do, such as play with toys and join in games. As she read, Mom would pause to ask me questions – mostly about if I thought I was like the autistic kid. I recently asked her about reading me the book that first time. She said that I was very matter of fact as I would just respond with “yes” or “no.” I was four years old and thought nothing of it at the time. It turns out that Mom was trying to connect the autistic kid to me. At the age of four, I was diagnosed with Educational Autism. Although the diagnosis was helpful because it allowed me to get special accommodations, this worried my mom. For a parent, hearing this diagnosis can be difficult. “Their baby has this diagnosis, and you don’t know what the future is going to be like for your kid and it’s very scary,” my mom, Anna, said. Hearing about my diagnosis initially shocked my mom because I don’t think she knew what to do or where to start. Mom said the book not only served as a vehicle to teach me about my condition but also that there are other kids with autism and other people who understand them. Around the same time I was diagnosed, I also started my first day of preschool. At first, it seemed like any other preschool class. But I was in a class with other students who had disabilities. There were extra teachers to give us one-
on-one support and I would also be taken out of class to do speech, physical, and occupational therapy. In kindergarten, Mom enrolled me in Hepzibah House, a program that gave support to families. Mom’s work became busier, so she wasn’t around to pick me up from school. I would continue going to Hepzibah at my elementary school until the end of fifth grade. After kindergarten, Mom decided to enroll me in a different elementary school. This school not only had the same supports, but it was just a half-mile from our house. No bus was needed to take me to school. Throughout my elementary school career, I had the same type of specialed class – one-on-one with therapies. However, I was also enrolled in elective courses with the more mainstream kids. When I was in fourth and fifth grade, some of my academic classes were mainstream as well. I also had to go to my therapies. I didn’t mind speech therapy, but I dreaded O.T. or occupational therapy. The therapist drilled me on everything, from tying my shoes to handwriting. It felt like every time I was in that office, I would hear “YOU’RE WORKING” yelled at me repeatedly. There was one time where I was brought to tears and got sent to the office because I wouldn’t cooperate. While O.T. was something I hated, my mom told me that it helped me a lot. I learned how to tie my shoes so I didn’t have to rely on Velcro. The therapist also worked on how I view myself in space so I’m not nervous when I’m going downstairs. I was also taught how to improve my handwriting. I’m still working on that. When middle school was starting up, I was excited. The new school building had an awesome modern design and I couldn’t wait to experience the new environment. Although I was in some special-ed classes, I was in more mainstream classes. Unfortunately, in seventh grade, I was in a class with other kids who would bully me. One girl even called me the r-word multiple times! My mom told me that they had behavior issues of their own, but all I could think was, how come they picked on me? The class was such a terrible fit for me. I was eventually moved to another mainstream class because of these issues. I was also doing well academically. After my eighth grade graduation, I moved on to high school. I initially wasn’t looking forward to it. Not only would I be moving to a harder academic setting, but it would also have 3,400 students, more than double the student body size of Loras! When my dad dropped me off at the high school, I remember walking up slowly. He offered to come with me, but I refused as I wanted to turn a new page. Even though my walk was slow at first, I picked up the pace once
I saw the upperclassmen mentors forming a tunnel of high fives. I met up with my counselor, and we split into small groups each led by a mentor. From there, high school was exciting. I started to join clubs and some of my classes were interesting as well. When I graduated from high school, I didn’t immediately go to college. I went to a program run through the high school that was meant to g i v e k i d s on t h e spectrum knowledge on how to live on their own. I even took classes at my community college. Initially, I was worried about this program because I was worried that people would think less of me if I had to take a year off before I went to college. While I was there, I met people who were on the spectrum, and they remain some of my closest friends to this day. When it came time for college, I was more anxious than ever. During the last weeks of summer, all I could think about was how strange it would be living in a dorm and sharing a public bathroom. It didn’t help that it was during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. After my mom left, I went to my engaging differences class. Since then, I have become more confident in myself. I met a lot of friends and I often visit with them. Although I am still a bit shy, I am at least less nervous about myself. Throughout my school career, I learned a few things about myself. I reflected on the kid from that book Mom read to me, and I realized that I have a lot more in common with the friend (the character who was also on the spectrum) than I initially thought. I may not have a lot of sensory issues, but I do need some assistance when it comes to learning new concepts or activities. Even though some things can be frustrating for me, I can see that, as the book says, I do “many things very well,” just like the autistic friend in the book. I think it’s important for professors and students to see what autistic students may need help with, but, more importantly, also what they like and what they’re good at.
Mask up, Duhawks! by AVERY WICKERSHAM executive copy editor
It’s been nearly two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the world is still experiencing the horrors of the virus. While everyone believes that we are on the decline, some places are still experiencing rises in cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. Dubuque’s statistics, as of Oct. 27, are as follows: 370 new cases (a rise of 113 new cases from the previous week) and 1,180 positive cases. In terms of age groups, 35 percent of children ages 0-17 have positive COVID-19 tests, while 11 percent of college-aged and adults ages 18-29 have positive COVID-19 tests (Dubuque County Iowa) These statistics may not be as glaring as they used to be, but the problem is the rising positivity rate. The CDC has dubbed Dubuque county as a “high transmission” area, and our current positivity rate is 17.43 percent as of Nov 2. This statistic is updated every day, and is up about three percent from the Oct. 27 positivity rate. As it stands right now, the Loras College campus has a temporary mask mandate in place: masks need to be worn inside, whether students or guests. This means in all classes and buildings; in the dorms, masks need to be work in the
halls and common spaces per the campus-wide emails sent out every week. While it is frustrating to deal with a temporary mask mandate, it’s necessary considering the rising positivity rate. It’s currently cold and flu season on top of the COVID-19 pandemic, so the school is trying to keep cold, flu, and COVID-19 cases to a minimum. According to Tammi Marti, one of the nurs es in the Health Center, our immune systems are lower than usual because of the events of the past couple of years. As Marti discussed with me yesterday, vaccines are a great way to lower the positivity rate. Only about 60 percent of the campus has reported their vaccine, and that number is always changing. Science is continuing to develop around the vaccines and the pandemic in general, and there are many different sources available if anyone has any questions.
It’s important for all students and faculty to be respectful of their peers. There is a certain amount of kindness and sacrifice that everyone needs, as we are still trying to protect those who can’t get vaccinated, the high-risk community, and anyone who feels uncomfortable being in close proximity with people out of a mask. I’ve experienced this frustration many times throughout the pandemic, as I am part of the high-risk community, and been told “no” when asking others to put on a mask. If a student asks another student to put on a mask or to pull up a mask, consider that they might have something going on in their life, and choose to be understanding and accepting. Students can ask faculty to talk to anyone without a mask, provided the student has nicely asked someone to put a mask on. Remember, it’s the current rule of our college, and it needs to be respected for all of us to keep fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. If students have any questions, contact Tammi.Marti@ loras.edu for any questions. We are Loras Together, and that includes keeping masks pulled up over our noses and mouths as long as we need to in order to keep our communities safe!
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The Lorian
November 04, 2021
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Holiday season activate! by AVERY WICKERSHAM executive copy editor
Savory, spice, and other food advice by CALASANDRA SPRAY mind and soul editor
Living on one’s own can be difficult. Learning to cook can be even more difficult. With our lives on the go, our kitchens as shared spaces, and a lack of energy after a long day of classes, work, sports, and clubs, it can be hard to cook. Unfortunately, Instant Ramen and cups of Mac-nCheese aren’t always going to cut it. The following are nohassle recipes that are cheap, because let’s face it: we’re all broke, easy, and require no fancy cooking techniques. Toasted Avocado Sandwich: All that’s needed is ten minutes, a cutting board, and a toaster (optional). As a personal favorite, this sandwich is an easy way to get your daily dose of vegetables. First, put the bread in the toaster. I find that a nice dark rye bread or a country cottage bread complements the sandwich nicely. Then, thinly slice half a tomato and half an avocado. When both are sliced and the bread is toasted, layer pre-sliced cheese and the sliced produce on the bread. If looking for something a little fancier, drizzle balsamic vinegar and/or add fresh basil to the sandwich. Sriracha Scrambled Eggs: If one likes spice, this is a great dish to make. An easy ten-minute recipe, sriracha eggs consists of butter, eggs, half-and-half, and sriracha sauce. A good rule of measurement is one tablespoon of half-andhalf and sriracha per two eggs. In a bowl, beat the desired number of eggs with the corresponding amounts of halfand-half and sriracha. This is where it’s ideal to add salt and pepper to taste. Adding the spices here allows them to really settle into the dish and give off their full flavor. Next, set a pan on medium heat and melt a pad of butter so that it coats the bottom. When the pan is warm and the bottom is coated, pour the egg mixture into it and stir occasionally until the eggs are done. When they are done, they should still be soft to the touch but not goopy or runny. Eggs n’ Fries: This dish is similar to eggs and hash, except without all the work of shredding up potatoes. All that’s
needed are frozen French fries, eggs, butter, and salt and pepper. Melt a pat of butter in a pan on medium heat. Once the butter is melted, throw in the fries, making sure to stir them. After roughly three to five minutes, the fries should be browned; this is when one will want to crack in your desired amount of eggs. Pinch in salt and pepper to taste, then continue gentle stirring until the eggs are cooked. This will take about another three minutes. When that’s done, everyone is set to eat. If one wants to add a bit more flavor to the dish, they can always sprinkle shredded cheese over the top for gooey deliciousness. Tuna Casserole: This dish takes a little more time, roughly 45 minutes, but is worth the wait. On the plus side, it’s a dump meal, so there is minimal effort involved. Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then in a nine-by-thirteen baking dish, pour three cups of macaroni; one five-ounce tuna can (drained); and one can of condensed cream soup (mushroom, chicken, or celery all work well). Stir these together and then top with roughly a cup of cheese. When the oven is warm, then pop it in. Perhaps while it cooks, one could do a little studying. After about 25 minutes, the mixture should be bubbly and ready to be topped with a handful of fried onions. It will bake for another five minutes to let the onions get crispy. This is a dish that reheats well, so it’s good to make large batches of it and eat all week. Additionally, if one can master this easy tuna casserole, there are a plethora of casserole recipes that take similar effort and can be found with a quick Google search. As the provider of critical nourishment and energy, food should always be a priority. Hopefully, with these simple meals, everyone will have an easier time keeping themselves fed. If one doesn’t have the energy some nights, Ramen and cups of Mac-n-Cheese are always an option. However, food fuels our minds, which are tirelessly working so that we can achieve our dreams. Thus, we ought to give them the nourishment they deserve. Enjoy cooking!
Bring friends to the table by AVERY WICKERSHAM executive copy editor
Thanksgiving is approaching fast! Soon, families will be gathered around the table or centered in front of the T.V.— however one spends their holiday. Before students go home for the break, try a “Friendsgiving” with the friends made over the semester. Friendsgiving is a simmered-down version of Thanksgiving, and it’s often hard to have one in college because of a lack of access to kitchens. The COVID-19 pandemic has also brought its challenges, but students can find solutions in this article: Instead of traditional Thanksgiving foods, use Friendsgiving as a potluck. Bring all the favorite dishes to the table, whether it’s a bowl of Cheetos, chips and salsa, or brownies from the local store. This allows everyone to contribute, and it’s easier for people to find other foods they like at their Friendsgiving. Decorate common areas (or kitchenettes, depending on the housing) with décor from The Dollar Store. The Dollar
Store is a great option for all holiday decorations in college, and they often have a lot of relevant and cute things. Find a plastic turkey, some fake flowers (they also sell glassware for a vase), and other “autumn” decorations to set up the eating area. Don’t forget to keep masks on in all the common areas unless everyone is eating. If the weather is nice, find a place either on campus or around Dubuque to have a Friendsgiving picnic. Eagle Point Park has picnic benches and beautiful views. Pack up a couple of cars with the aforementioned potluck foods, a blanket or tablecloth, and some silverware, and enjoy the fall weather with great friends and beautiful views. Thanksgiving break is a necessary time for all students. Every semester since the COVID-19 pandemic started has boasted its own set of challenges, but keep pushing forward. If students do participate in any Friendsgiving celebrations, be sure to follow all campus rules, including masks, as well as clean up after the event is done. Have a great holiday season!
The minute Halloween is over, department stores and neighborhoods alike explode into holiday cheer. Red and green décor is everywhere. Mall stores have completed their first phases of holiday floor-sets. Mariah Carey is now heard every other song on the radio. A flip has been switched, and while Thanksgiving is at the end of the month, it is now dubbed “holiday season.” Students still have a lot to do before holiday breaks, but there are a lot of ways to spread a little holiday cheer: Decorate dorms/apartments: As mentioned in the “Friendsgiving” article in this edition, The Dollar Store is a great option to find holiday décor. It has cheap decorations for everyone to enjoy. One idea is to take wrapping paper and ribbon from The Dollar Store and wallpaper dorm and apartment doors to make it look like a present. Another option is to find a small, fake tree at Wal-Mart and decorate it with roommates. Candy canes and ornaments will soon be available (if they aren’t already), so plan a day to decorate the dorms! Hot chocolate and movie nights: Movie nights are a popular college excursion, but this holiday season allows for movie nights to be more of a celebration. Make some hot chocolate, top it with whipped cream and a peppermint stick, and settle down with friends. Pick out some classic holiday movies and enjoy the time with friends. Donate: If students (or their families) have the financial capacity this holiday season, go out and buy a toy or two. Toys For Tots looks for donations every year, so this would be a great way to spread holiday cheer for children who are less fortunate. Donations can also be made for adults, too, at the Salvation Army. Additionally, if students know of other students who seem to be struggling, consider helping them out in any way possible. The holiday season, while definitely commercialized, is a time to reflect and be grateful for those around us. Hold loved ones tight (as much as the COVID-19 regulations allow), and spend some time with the people that matter. The end is in sight, so keep up all of the good work. Happy holidays!
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Tactile therapy by ARJA KUMAR staff writer
Does everyone remember the slime trend? The goopy substance went viral circa 2016, and people young and old were obsessed with it. There were YouTube videos, kits sold in stores, and even slime parties hosted by equally slime-crazed mom’s and dad’s. But what was so appealing about slime, and why did people of all ages love sinking their hands into the jiggly stuff, molding and playing with it for hours on end? It comes down to the sensation of touch. The sense of touch is important to understanding the world around us and in making us feel secure. Anything that we touch and that touches us stimulates the brain, and consequently, our thoughts and feelings. Tactile therapy, or touch therapy, is hence a great sensory way to relieve stress or boredom. Besides slime, there are so many different kinds of tactile play that are fun. There’s finger painting, sensory bins (filled with beans, water beads, rice, pom-poms, macaroni, etc.), shaving cream, soap carving, blowing and popping bubbles, chalking the sidewalk, or sculpting with playdough. One can even relax with natural elements like water, sand, dirt, or leaves. Zen gardens, which are mini tabletop landscapes that use rocks, sand, or gravel to imitate the essence of nature, are a popular way to meditate or increase mindfulness. According to BuddhaGroove, it is believed that the art of raking the sand and creating different patterns can help order peace to the wandering mind. Even everyday, ordinary activities like cooking and gardening can be wonderful ways to stimulate the touch senses. Just picking and chopping vegetables for soup, kneading and rolling dough for bread, or tearing
apart fragrant herbs into tiny bits and shreds can have a calming effect on the mind. Making your own pizza or pasta is a favorite and enjoyable example of a recipe that stimulates the sense of touch. Another cool tactile recipe is making dirt cups. Making jiggly pudding, crushing Oreos, and picking through colorful, squishy gummy worms is a fun thing to do and creates an even more fun thing to eat! There are also a great deal of tactile sensory items available to buy online or in stores. Some examples include scented putty, kinetic sand, fidget spinners, fidget cubes, bubble pop molds, animal squeezies, or monkey noodles. One of the best items on the market is Nee Doh, a fascinating color-changing stress ball. According to the Schylling Company, Nee Doh is the groovy glob that will help you mellow out if feeling stressed or on edge. A simple squeeze, squish, pull, or smush will help soothe your soul, blow your mind, and get you feeling groovy fast. I personally love this item and use it all the time to play with for fun. Besides being great for oneself, tactile items also make great gifts for friends, family, or other loved ones. Stimulating the tactile senses is an amusing and effective way to do a kind of self-therapy. The act of touching immediately distracts from whatever is bothering the mind. It does this by drawing one from the realm of mental to physical. One can release mental stress by physically acting it out on things like putty, stress balls, or squeezies, or, one can gain calm from raking sand, popping bubbles, or making an entertaining recipe. So, next time one feels stressed, bored, or restless, try tactile therapy!
The Lorian November 04, 2021
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Cold and flu recovery by CARLY BOENS staff writer
With cold and flu season approaching, it is important to follow the proper prevention steps to avoid coming down with a common cold or a more severe case of the flu. Especially when life and school are demanding, it can be problematic to become sick and not be able to complete daily tasks. Thus, following the proper prevention techniques can be helpful to maintain health. In the case that one does become sick, there are at-home methods to relieve symptoms and potentially lessen the severity of the illness. On the other hand, while it is recommended to go to the doctor if a sickness lasts for more than a couple of days, it is possible to selftreat for minor illnesses. Diet is an important component to both preventing and treating illness, and most of the foods are simple to find and inexpensive. Fruits with vitamin C in them are great at boosting immune health. Oranges, cantaloupe, grapefruit, mango, and papaya are all great providers of vitamin C. Ginger is another immune-boosting food, as it has high antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties. Ginger can be cooked fresh, used dried, or found in teas. Bananas are a good food to eat when sick because they contain fast-acting carbs that help restore electrolytes in the body. When someone is dehydrated from being sick, electrolytes are depleted. Bananas can help replenish that loss and promote recovery. Broths also help rehydrate the body and can supply essential nutrients (Healthline, 2021). Proper rest and stress coping methods are also a way to stay healthy. Getting a full night
of sleep every night and maintaining a sleep schedule is sometimes difficult, but can be a great step towards staying healthy. However, since preventing sickness is not always possible, there are ways to lessen the severity of symptoms. Dehydration, congestion, and a sore throat can be some of the more frustrating symptoms of a cold or flu, but also have several treatment methods for at home. Combatting dehydration can help bring down a fever or loosen congestion with water, juice, broth, and lemon water. On the other hand, caffeine, coffee, and alcohol can worsen dehydration and make symptoms worse. As for a sore throat, gargling warm salt water can relieve the pain. A simple ratio for gargling is to mix half a teaspoon of salt with eight ounces of warm water. It is important to make sure that the water is warm but not hot. Water that is too hot can burn the throat. Additionally, ice chips, throat lozenges, or hard candies can help soothe a sore throat (Mayo Clinic, 2021). Drinking warm liquids can help reduce congestion. Warm teas with honey and lemon juice can be especially helpful to reduce cough as well. Vaporizers can be used at home to help promote breathing. It’s important to make sure that humidifiers and vaporizers are cleaned frequently to prevent bacteria growth and that the water is cleaned every day (Mayo Clinic, 2021). Overall, while getting a cold or the flu is very likely during the cold fall and winter seasons, there are ways to both prevent them and to lessen the symptoms. When sick, using at-home treatment methods can help reduce pain and discomfort and shorten the duration of the illness. However, if a high fever begins to develop or symptoms persist for multiple days, it is best to seek the advice of a doctor.
A long road ahead, but in the right direction In this week’s installment of the series on gender and sexuality, I introduce you to a Loras College student who openly identifies as transgender. You may know her on campus as Alyse Nienke Tuttle but she prefers to be referred to as, Embers (based on her fascination with the Phoenix, the mythological bird that rose from the ashes). To say that Embers is a nontraditional Loras student would be an understatement. At 30-years-old, she’s about a decade older than most students. Embers also served as an Army cargo specialist in the war in Afghanistan. And, Embers openly identifies as transgender. Not your typical Duhawk. “How I usually describe transgenderism is, there’s a voice in your head … for me, I’ve had that voice in my head since I was about six or seven years old so I thought there was something wrong with me,” Embers said. “I constantly had this voice in my head that said, ‘Hey, you should be female, you should be female.’ And this continued even after I joined the military.” Embers said that she didn’t think about it as much when she was a soldier in Afghanistan because, in wartime, her mind was focused on simply staying alive. But, shortly after
she returned home, the voice began, once again, nagging in her brain. “I didn’t know that transgender was even a thing,” Embers said. “The only thing I ever heard was transvestite (a man who dresses in women’s clothing).” She said she was talking with a lesbian friend who made her aware of transgenderism. Once she heard the word, she knew that she was transgender, but she did not announce this to many people. She was in the middle of studying to become a Mormon bishop when she decided to live her life openly. She came out to the branch president at her church who said that, while he respected and supported her decision, this would be the end of her pursuit to become a Mormon bishop. Embers said that she still has fond memories of the church but decided to leave. In general, Embers said, coming out is a life-changing experience. When talking about coming out, she often cites a famous Gandhi quote: “Whatever you do in life will be insignificant but it is very important that you do it because you can’t know.” Coming out, she said, feels like a weight lifted. For her, she feels that anxiety is the weight that is lifted and emotion is what lifts that weight. She warns that you will lose friends
and family when you come out but you will also find those who will wholeheartedly accept the real you. “And for those who can’t accept that, give them time and they might change their mind,” Embers said. After coming out, she moved back home but was having trouble with her family over her transgenderism. She decided to leave home and go to school. She was looking for a college in the Dubuque area with a writing program and found Loras to be the only one. “I expected to get a lot of crap for being trans,” Embers said. “I expected teachers to be a little bit more scornful towards me … because it’s a Catholic college. Instead, I found some welcoming people.” Embers, a creative writing major, said her English department advisor, Dr. Susan Stone, has been especially welcoming. But that’s not to say that everything and everyone at Loras has been accepting. One student, she said, made a concerted effort to track her down to discuss transgenderism. She said they ended up having a four-hour discussion in the café one day. Embers said, after that first encounter, they continued having conversations about gender, eventually moving on to politics and religion.
She thought the student had come to an understanding – where he believed being trans was different but not wrong. That is, until last spring. “I got an email from him with a YouTube link,” Embers said. “The link was to a video that essentially said, if I was Christian, Jesus would kill me over my transgenderism.” Embers reported this and has not been very happy with the lackluster response. Embers took a deep breath and sighed. “This is when it actually began to click with me that … Loras says it’s diverse and inclusionary,” she said. “However, I feel as if some of its decisions do not exactly align with what it says.” Loras, she said, is good with recognition and acceptance of its LGBTQ+ students but is not going the extra step and providing educational opportunities when it comes to LGBTQ+ issues. She believes that Loras, like the United States in general, has certainly made progress. “[Loras] has a way to go before it’s going to be diverse – the same with America,” Embers said. “It has a long way to go – but we’re working towards the right direction.”
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The Lorian
Nov. 4, 2021
Voices of Dubuque: A Community by CALASANDRA SPRAY mind & soul editor
This week in our final Voices of Dubuque Mural Project discussion, we will be looking at “Ascending,” a piece done by the talented students of Clarke University, under the supervision of Associate Professor of Art, Jessie Rebik; and “Solidarity,” a commemorative mural designed by local artist Shelby Fry, which was painted by 75+ community members. “Ascending” is a 60-foot by 15-foot mural located at 1671 Central Ave in Dubuque. This painting was done by Clarke students who took the Voices of Dubuque Mural Workshop in the summer of 2018. It features a sunrise behind a series of geometrical mountains. Atop the mountains climbs a series of people, painted in pinks, blues, and yellows. These base people are shown as helping each other to ascend the steep slopes and deep valleys of the rugged terrain.
F eatures Another mural in Dubuque that speaks to viewers about camaraderie is “Solidarity.” Recent years have seen a rise in turmoil regarding racism, classism, sexism, ableism, and many other isms. The nation as a whole has issued a call for a revision of the views and treatment of its citizens of every, race, color, nationality, ability, and sex. In response, Shelby Fry designed “Solidarity.” This 105-foot by 25-foot mural is painted on the East side of the Five Flags Center in downtown Dubuque. It was painted in a remarkable six days with the assistance of 75+ volunteers. The camaraderie established to achieve such a feat shows how much Dubuque residents value the message it shares: a connected, inclusive community. “Solidarity” is a visual work depicting ten fists of varying skin tones, including one with albinism, raised in the air. The effect given is that of representation by all people, no matter racial background. The fists themselves are representative of the Black Lives Matter movement, which has grown rapidly in recent years. Historically, a raised fist has shown solidarity in a plethora of movements, including Industrial Workers of the World, the Spanish Civil War, and the Women’s March. Tattooed across the wrists, the word “solidarity” is spelled out. While many of the letters are simply decorative, some are not. A wheelchair’s wheel creates the “o” and represents physical disabilities. The diversity of college programs in Dubuque are represented in the font of the “L,” a standard varsity font that is used on letterman jackets. Mental wellness is given representation in the mural with a semicolon standing in as the first “i.” A semicolon, particularly one located on the wrist, establishes a community wherein people stand in solidarity in awareness and prevention of suicide, depression, addiction, and other brain health issues. LGBTQIA+ is represented within the mural through the use of a rainbow turned on its side to become the “d.” As many of us did in grade school, the second “i” is dotted with a heart. The heart is a universal symbol of love and compassion, something every diverse community needs. Rounding off the mural, the “y” is a combination of the symbols for male, female, and transgender, in honor of all identifications on the gender spectrum.
Both “Ascending” and “Solidarity” demonstrate the positivity that the murals are intended to bring to the community. All of the murals that have photo by CALASANDRA SPRAY been brought up are vibrant works of creative expression that reinvigorate “Ascending” (pictured above) is the work of Clarke University professor the first city in Iowa. There are nineteen artists and over fifty murals hiding Jessie Rebik and her students. The 60-foot by 25-foot mural is located at in downtown Dubuque. I implore everyone to go and discover some for 1671 Central Ave in downtown Dubuque. themselves. Perhaps one will be able to use my analysis to jump-start their own thoughts about the wonderful art around our city. If the murals are Following traditional color schemes, the mural can be viewed as a series of intriguing, maybe the next time there is a call for painters, one can add their female, male, and non-binary people. Pink is traditionally a feminine color, blue voice to the chorus of artists in Dubuque. has often represented masculinity, and more recently, yellow has entered the playing field as a representation of a non-masculine and non-feminine gender. In this way, the mural makes a statement about people of all genders assisting each other so that everyone can succeed. By making the background a sunrise, the Clarke students are cleverly suggesting that only in ascending together will life become brighter. As college students, I believe many of us can relate to this work of art. I know that there have been times when I would not have succeeded in my post-secondary education if it had not been for the support of my fellow students. Whether it be in sharing notes from a class that someone missed, studying for a test together, pulling your weight on a group project, or offering emotional and moral support during the strenuous period before midterms or finals, each of us can support and encourage one another to the effect of photo by CALASANDRA SPRAY success. The emotional impact of this mural is two-fold. Not only “Solidarity” (pictured above) was designed by artist Shelby Fry and painted by over does it speak of assisting each other in a learning environment, but it 75 Dubuque community members. The mural is an inclusive depiction of all that is a message about life overall. It says that together we can succeed. the city has to offer.
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Dagger: part IV by SARWAN MOGHAMIS staff writer
I’m sure you have heard more than enough from my daughter. Now it’s time to hear my side. I have been known as Dimitri the Devil, Demon Lord, et cetera. Currently, I am Governor Dimitri Simmons of this corrupt city in this corrupt state of this corrupt planet. From having red skin, dark blue veins, horns on my forehead, flaring nostrils, and smoke leaking from every pour on my body; presently, I’m a pink-skinned man in a suit and tie. Instead of a flaming staff, I now carry a pen and sign documents to “help” move things along in this awful society. Darkness takes new forms over time. There was literal darkness formed by the Creator of Darkness himself. Some monsters sought to destroy all existence such as Kronos, Morrigan, and many more. Now there are civilizations with their own sets of social norms. This so-called civilization is the purest darkness I have ever witnessed. Men, women, and children are killed every day by their own kind. Governments seek control over their people. Puppets that blindly follow political parties who are just as corrupt as the very demons I resurrected from Hell. Law and order, peace and justice, all have lost their meaning. These beings create their own understanding of what is just. “In all my existence, I have never seen so much hatred,” I say to Dagger. “What are we going to do?” she asked. If I have learned anything, it’s that my daughter has a weakness…
emotion. I tried my best to remove that weakness, but it’s still there. “We will save this world,” I claim. “Is it really worth saving?”
The Lorian
Sooyeon Choi’s hot takes
There’s her recklessness speaking again.
by MARK MEDERSON
“I am a god, child. It is my responsibility to rescue the weak. We will tear their “precious” world apart and reveal the darkness. When that’s done, they’ll be so grateful and embrace the new world with open arms.”
faculty advisor
1. NAME Sooyeon Choi 2. DEGREE
“How will it be done?”
Ph.D
“It’s already started. This planet has a core. Using my political authority, I have ordered people to start drilling through it now. It’ll take time, but I assure you that the job will be done.”
3. COLLEGES YOU ATTENDED (ASSOCIATE, BACHELOR’S, MASTER’S, DOCTORAL)
“And my mission?”
4. BIRTHPLACE
Still so obedient. I open my desk drawers and pull out a black bag. I hand her the bag. She opens it and pulls out the two blades that gave her the very name Dagger. Seeing her eyes shine after picking up those blades brings a slight sense of warmth to me.
Seoul, South Korea
“Tell these people who you are,” I say with admiration. She goes off to do her mission. As for me, I will see how things are going down below. I transport myself to where we have starting mining towards the core. It is beautiful, truly it is. This core could destroy everything, yet it could also rebuild. I can’t wait… “AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!”
Ewha Womans Unviersity (B.A., M.A. & Purdue University (Ph.D)
5. CITY WHERE YOU LIVED THE LONGEST Seoul, South Korea 6. WHAT DO YOU TEACH? Marketing Research, Marketing Analytics, Principles of Marketing, Consumer Behavior, & International Marketing
Nov. 4, 2021
My concentration is analyzing consumer behavior and how to apply the knowledge to creating an effective marketing strategy. Marketing Research and Marketing Analytics help us understand how to collect and analyze available data and draw implications from it. Principles of Marketing and Consumer Behavior provide basic knowledge/principles that help to understand a process that marketing professionals go through to create an effective marketing mix and the internal mechanism that consumers utilize in the decision-making process, which is an interesting topic. 8. WHAT WERE SOME OF THE QUALITIES YOU SAW IN YOUR FAVORITE TEACHERS WHEN YOU WERE A STUDENT? Leadership as a mentor as well as a scholar. It was impressive to see their passion for changing a student’s life and providing good guidance to make a student’s life better. 9. WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT BROUGHT YOU COMFORT DURING THE WORST PART OF THE PANDEMIC (E.G., CERTAIN FOODS, MEDIA CONSUMPTION, A NEW PET)? Meeting with friends and colleagues and have a chat with them with good meals and teas. 10. CATS OR DOGS? WHY? Dogs- cute and friendly
7. WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THE TOPIC THAT YOU TEACH?
Suddenly I’m falling in the hole I have built! “Dagger, you traitor!” “Sorry Father, but destroying the world is so… overdone. To command it: that’s my mission… Today Dagger dies as well, but the Demon Sorcerer has risen.”
Scale by DR. JAMES POLLOCK
Joe Biden
professor of English
makes
plans to invite
Actor Ernest
Borgnine to visit White House by JAKE HEELEIN staff writer
This will mark the second attempt the Biden Administration has made in utilizing mainstream figures to promote vaccinations to the younger generation. In a press conference Monday morning, Joe Biden unveiled the White House’s plans to invite actor Ernest Borgnine, 95, to the White House. This step is in conjunction
with what appears to be a continued effort to reach the younger generation about vaccine safety through popular figures. Earlier in the year, the Biden Administration invited Gen-Z musician and actress Olivia Rodrigo to the White House to talk about the safety of vaccinations. The goal: get the younger generation of Americans vaccinated. And while the last event appeared to be a success, Biden is confident that with Borgnine on board, things can only get better. “Nobody knows the younger generation better than Joe Biden. It was Kamala’s idea to bring that Olivia girl in, but what America needs is Ernie,” Biden said from the White House press briefing room.
To many, Ernest Borgnine is best known for playing the titular role of Marty in the film of the same name. However, Millennial and Gen Z audiences may know Borgnine best for his voice work; throughout his life, Borgnine voiced the character Mermaid-Man in “Spongebob Squarepants.” It is unknown at this time whether Joe Biden is aware of this information. Borgnine’s appearance in the White House will mark the largest undertaking of the Biden administration, considering that the elderly actor historically passed away on July 8, 2012. When Biden was asked about Borgnine’s passing, he
stated, “That’s a bunch of malarkey.” When he was later shown news reports confirming Borgnine’s passing, Biden remained hopeful. “Joe Biden wouldn’t be where Joe Biden is today if Joe Biden let impossibility get in the way!” stated President Joe Biden.
To bear what it has to—that is the craft. Also, to measure the force by which the world brings one down. Imagine if it laughed every time its inward dial got whirled, bearing the unbearable; which describes
No date has been set for Borgnine’s visit, but White House officials insist they have contacted mediums to make sure that the ghost of Ernest Borgnine can promote vaccination safety. *This piece is a work of satire. Do not take it seriously.*
how it does justice. It’s a bit uncouth. It lends you gravitas precisely when your scribe’s heart is weighed against the plume of truth.
[originally published in Met Magazine, Manchester, U.K.; forthcoming in the book Durable Goods, from Signal Editions/Véhicule Press, Montreal, Canada, in 2022]
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The Lorian November. 4, 2021
Old music, not bad music by JAKE SINATRA staff writer
The American Culture has always been heavily reliant on the music of the time to form the societal practices of the country. With Bluegrass Jazz in the 1800s and early 1900s, the start of swing in the Roaring 20s, the rise of names like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr., and of course the eras of slow rock, hard rock, hip-hop, old school rap, and new school rap, every standard of entertainment has dictated what the society behaves like. Take Janice Joplin, the epitome of the hippie, heartfelt rock genre at events like Woodstock. Compare it to names like Pitbull who perform at Lala Palooza. The atmosphere of all these events very closely aligned with the performer’s styles. And the great thing about America is that anyone can produce any music they want. However, it seems
like our current culture has decided that any music produced before the past 5 years is suddenly “old”. That is the term I hear when I play early Kanye music, Queen, Outkast; “old”. So what if it is old? Does the current era suddenly decide whether a hit song or band for decades at a time is suddenly unworthy of being listened to? For example, one of my friends is a big fan Panic! at the Disco. She loves their music, but for some reason when I listen to their album A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out, which has two of my all-time favorite songs, she criticizes me. “That is such an old album, play newer stuff.” Yes, the album was released in 2005, but that does not mean the music is bad in itself. And it isn’t just seen with my friend. I see it all over the campus here at Loras. Even songs that were released two years ago are “old”, and I am told to play the new stuff. If a song is good, it is good. End of
story. I have over 1000 songs on my Apple Music account, with the oldest one being performed in 1906, and the newest one having been released in September of 2021. I have a playlist that contains bands from over a 30 year stretch. If a song truly carries musical meaning, then what does the age of the song have to do with the power of it’s message, or the catchiness of its beat? Absolutely nothing. But, we can see it in every aspect of life outside of music as well. People constantly want something “new”. We get a new iPhone released every year, my sister buys a new shirt or pair of jeans every week based on what the current fad is at her high school. I think we as a culture need to go back to enjoying beauty for beauty, and not try to immediately find something new to look at. After all, the most beautiful masterpieces ever created are the ones we still look at for reference.
Tying the knot young: A good or bad idea? by ARJA KUMAR staff writer
The other night I had a dream, or nightmare, that I had been proposed to by an unknown stranger. It was in the middle of a Walgreens potato chip aisle and there was a parade of people in circus clothes. The stranger got down on one knee and pulled out some rusted old ring, and asked me to marry him. I politely and kindly rejected (not because of the ring, but because I had no clue who he was), saying I’m sorry, but I don’t know you at all. The suitor was saddened and retreated out of the Walgreens with the hoard of people. His mom flashed me a snarky, nasty look. Where did this dream come from? And why was I thinking such things at the tender age of 21? I sat down with my daily bowl of cereal and scrolled through Facebook in the morning, scratching my head. Ah, there it was. The subconscious culprit. A flux of matrimonial pictures on social media. Bizarrely, most of these posts were coming from people around the ages of 18-24. Pictures of the surprised face covering a mouth next to a big diamond ring, elegant bridesmaids parties, elaborate wedding decorum, calligraphed invitations, or cinematic engagement trailers. Still I scratch my head thinking, whether I am really aging or whether these people are just really young. Most would think that today’s youngsters do not give much thought to commitments like marriage. Neither should they bother because they are at an age where they supposedly do not have to be serious. Yet, I see quite the opposite. For example, in talk with some of my former high school classmates, they describe why they chose to get married at a young age. Some of the things they said were: “Because I truly love my wife, knew we made a good team, and with me being in the military it would make our lives better to marry early.”“I’m choosing to get married because I don’t think you should wait on what you want. I know I want to marry the person I’m with and know I’m going to marry him so figured to do it sooner rather than later!” “I just knew she was the one. I didn’t want anybody else to take her. It’d rip me to shreds.” “Because I want to spend each day with someone I love rather than dating around people I just like.” Although these points of view can be understood and sympathized with, I think that it is not the best idea to get married young. Tying the knot young is perhaps a bad idea because one does not get the proper chance to solidify their own identity. When I encounter these classmates, they eerily seem different in their identity. No longer do I see spontaneous, childish, playful, people.
The whim has vanished. I see people who have matured too fast, ghostlike copy-cats of their own mothers and fathers. I see a rewind tape of ring on finger, changing baby diapers, golfing in Florida when you’re 80. I feel their limp handshake in the grocery store, vaguely remembering who I am or how we sat shoulder to shoulder in high school math class, making fun of the teacher. Selective amnesia about anything other than hitched life. Their lives become consumed by things like family reunions, baby showers, and fall-themed photo shoots. Where are the Mt. Everest pictures, the ten years of wandering around Paris, the Great American Novels? Surely one can do these while cuffed up, but if we look at the pattern that most people in society follow, is it realistic? Most snuggle into a life comforting and settling. I find this somewhat dooming in a sense. More so, going straight from the parents’ house to married life, one is forever identifying themself as someone’s kid, someone’s spouse, someone’s parent. One might even struggle to know what are their own interests anymore because they become so acclimated to the other person or may even worship the other person, adapting their likes. Knowing who you are on your own is vital before coming into an equal partnership. I think one should work hard at developing oneself before introducing someone else into one’s life. One might risk losing themself, their individuality, freedom, and truth of themself if they commit their whole life to another at such a young age. This goes for dating as well, which I personally do not see a point in. Although under most laws, people are recognized as adults at age 18, University of Rochester Medical Center cites research that shows most people’s brains do not reach full maturity until age 25. So for older teenagers and young adults who hurriedly want to tie the knot with their girlfriends or boyfriends, who they swear is the one — shoo wop dee doobie no. Marriage and nearly any other serious matter in life requires a healthy dose of practicality. Something like it is not all hearts-and-flowers. Besides feeling a great deal of affection for someone, one must also make the rational evaluation of who is fit enough to live with for the rest of their life. That requires transcending beyond the realm of pure emotion and logically thinking if the other person has compatible values, mindsets, and life aims. Though this may seem like a cruel or judgmental thing to do, prudence is necessary in the making of a flourishing life. Not taking the time and wisdom to choose the right person can hinder one’s life and cause a lot of unnecessary suffering, pain, and wasted time. Does this kill the passion or fun of our relations with others? Yes, maybe in a
way. Not saying that one should logicize love. But should just be careful so that they make the right choice and don’t hurt themselves and others. In fact, U.S. Census statistics show a growing upward trend of median age at first marriage. In 2020, the median was at a historic highpoint of 28.1 for females and 30.5 for males. In one way, tying the knot at an older age is a good thing. One allows themself more time to mature as a person, comes to know how to handle life and life problems, gets ample free time to explore the world alone, settle into their career and dreams, and just live life individually. Yet, in one way, getting married young can be a good thing. You grow up with each other, you see each other grow as people, and you give yourself more time to enjoy the bond you have with each other. More so, committing early saves one from all the endless, futile wandering one would likely go through as a bachelor or bachelorette. I see my grandparents as a great example of this. They have been together for 54 years — since my grandpa was 20 and my grandma was 16. In conversation with them, they say the best part of their marriage has been all the time they spent together throughout life, in all sorts of different experiences. Relationships are a serious business and should not be taken lightly. The core of all good relationships is respect. One should be great friends with the other above all else. I think that is the only thing that lasts the test of time. So maybe young people who choose to get married early are growing wiser in relationship ethics. Maybe more are coming to realize that it is not fair or good to toss around people casually, sorting through them like a pile until they are tired of playing that game and want to settle down. Clearly, people are not dollhouse toys, and society’s prevalent casual relationship culture is something that is frightening. Having a strong sense of value and commitment from the beginning is a great good and can only strengthen a relationship as time goes along. We should aim to have strong, longlasting relationships in our life instead of casual toss up after toss up. As philosopher Immanuel Kant once said, “Always treat people as ends in themselves, never as means to an end.” This implies that we should treat all people with respect and love for their inherent value rather than on what they can do for us. All in all, one should get married when they are ready. There is no set timeline to life. Some think the question of matrimony should be avoided until we are of the right age, yet I think that initially wondering about and exploring such kinds of questions is not a bad idea. It gives one ample space and freedom to think and come to a truth about it.
THE
EDITORIAL STAFF executive editor: KEEGAN GODWIN executive copy editor : AVERY WICKERSHAM features editor: MARY FELLERS opinion editor: DEVYN SHEA sports editor: CAMERON ARVIDSON mind and soul editor: CALASANDRA SPRAY assistant copy editor: COLE RABEDEAUX assistant editor: EMERALD BARNES-SEGER advertising: COLIN KLAPPERICH
ABOUT US Circulation: The Lorian is published on a weekly basis, with exceptions of holiday breaks, examination periods and January Term. The newspaper is available in all main academic buildings and residence halls across campus on Thursdays during the afternoon/evening. Editorial Policy: The Lorian is the official student-led, award-winning newspaper of Loras College. The opinions expressed in The Lorian are those of individual authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the students, faculty or administration. The Lorian reserves the right to edit submissions for taste, length and grammar.
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Do you have an opinion on something and want to write a “letter to the editor?” Do you have more questions about an article you read? Corrections or clarifications? A differing opinion about an issue brought up that you want to be heard? We want your input. In every published Lorian, all members of the Loras community are encouraged to write a letter to the editor. We encourage differing opinions, so take the time, and speak your mind. To submit a letter to the editor, please email lorian@loras.edu. Letters should be no more than 300 words in length and include the name and article you are referencing. *Letters may be edited for length and clarity.
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Leave reproductive health out of the law In light of the Texas abortion law, it is important to think about who is actually effected by AVERY WICKERSHAM executive copy editor
The past few years have boasted laws that have affected many different groups across the United States, but Sept. 21, 2021 marked an infamous day that sent America backwards in time. Texas’ abortion law went into effect on Sept. 21, blocking abortions as early as six weeks. It’s fairly common knowledge that many birthers don’t know they’re even pregnant at six weeks. For this article, I want to establish that “birther” is the term to include everyone who is able to give birth to a child: women, members of the transgender community, and members of the non-binary community, to give specifics. Another notable part of the abortion bill is that, according to NPR, “It allows private citizens to bring civil suits against anyone who helps a woman get an abortion, and to collect at least $10,000 in damages if they prevail in court.” This can be perceived as nothing less than a “manhunt,” for lack of a better term. This leads to the ultimate question: where should the line be drawn in laws for reproductive rights? In my opinion, reproductive rights don’t belong in government. I understand the argument and the want for regulation, but many of these views are based on religious purposes. These views often negate scientific facts about birth: when conception starts, what a fetus is, what a baby is—these arguments often go ‘round and around with
accompanying screaming matches. I argue to keep reproductive rights out of the laws, especially in light of the Texas abortion bill. This bill has set a dangerous precedent for the government to control birthing people. In Oklahoma, “Indigenous woman Brittney Poolaw was sentenced to four years in a state prison by Comanche County Courthouse this month for a miscarriage she suffered last year” (Independent). This is taking the photo by CBS AUSTIN Texas abortion ban a step Texas Governor Greg Abbott with supporters and allies after signing the further, as this case reflects controversial abortion bill into law. the government trying cases just like Poolaw’s: more birthers incarcerated for to regulate something that happens to many women something that is nearly impossible to control. within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. A miscarriage Ultimately, keeping such intense regulations of happens when the fetus isn’t developing as fast or on the reproductive rights will maintain a trend of mass invasion same track as others (Mayo Clinic). Prosecutors tried to on the rights of all birthers. As of right now, this legislation blame drugs for the miscarriage, but the coroner noted is setting America’s progress back another 50 years or so. that it wasn’t a reason for her miscarriage. The problem This country has a long way to go before birthers can feel with criminalizing Poolaw’s habits is that every habit by safe from the government about their autonomous bodies. pregnant women can be scrutinized. This can lead to more
What in the world?
A Summary of the major events going on Around the Globe by KEEGAN GODWIN executive editor
-Global Climate Summit The G20, an international organization that consists of 19 countries and the European Union, is meeting in Glasgow, Scotland to discuss climate change, along with other international issues. The G20 met in Rome from October 30-31 to discuss the climate specifically before the COP26 Summit. The meeting in Rome led to countries committing to cooling and containing the world’s global warming temperature below the 34.7 degrees Fahrenheit pre-industrial level. Despite all of those talks, climate activists are upset that there were no firm pledges or actual plans set up by these nations to actually combat global warming. World leaders, however, did acknowledge for the first time ever, that the world needs to be on track by 2050 or consequences would be dire. In order to reach these emission goals, this would require a worldwide transfer to cleaner and more renewable energy sources like electric or solar.
claiming the world was “one minute till midnight”. Prime Minister Johnson was referring to the infamous doomsday clock, a scientific ‘measurement’ of when a man-made catastrophe will strike the world. This week, leaders will look to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions and attempt to cool the Earth’s global warming crisis. -U.S. Build Back Better Bill Update
photo by CNN
President Biden addressing the G20 Summit in Italy at the end of last month.
photo by NDTV
UK PM Boris Johnson giving a speech on the need for action on climate change at the COP26 Summit.
The COP26 began their international meeting on Monday and will continue negotiations for two weeks. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson began the summit with a warning to the world in regards to the climate,
The Build Back Better bill, or the BBB, is President Biden’s plan to “rebuild the middle class”, as defined by the White House. The original BBB bill introduced by the Biden Administration was a $3.5 trillion plan that failed to gain support from Democrats. With the current Senate divided 50-50, both parties require unanimous support from their respective parties to pass partisan legislation. Moderate Democrats, led by Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), failed to give their support to the expensive $3.5 trillion bill, and instead proposed a new bill of roughly $1.5 trillion. After weeks of negotiation between moderate Democrats and Republicans, Democrats have proposed a new $1.75 trillion BBB bill in a compromise with moderate Democrats. While this new proposal is more moderatefriendly, it is still unclear whether moderates, both Democrats and Republicans, will vote in favor of the bill. What’s in the new proposal? The big aspect of this bill is $555 billion pledged towards clean energy and climate investments. $320 billion of that will be used towards tax
credits that would incentivize large corporations to switch to cleaner and safer energy. The next big thing in this bill is child care and preschool. Under this bill, the government would provide universal free pre-school for 3 and 4-yearolds along with a one-year expansion of child tax credits. There are many other aspects that can be viewed by simply looking up ‘What’s in the Build Back Better bill?’ Congress is expected to vote on this bill within the upcoming week. -Texas Abortion Laws Texas, after years of legal disputes, has passed a law that bans abortions when a fetal heartbeat is detected, which is roughly six weeks into pregnancy. However, many women do not detect pregnancy within that time frame, which basically bans abortions altogether in the state of Texas. One of the many reasons this law is controversial is due to the Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade. Roe v. Wade determined that a person has the right to an abortion until at least 24 weeks. The law, which went into effect on September 1st, has finally made its way to the Supreme Court. This law was designed by the Texas legislation to evade review in federal courts. The Supreme Court has not yet made a ruling on the law and it may take time for them to make a decision. It is unclear at this time whether they will determine whether the law is constitutional or not.
photo by THE GUARDIAN/ KENT NISHIMURA/LOS ANGELES
TIMES/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK
Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema are the two most crucial votes for Biden’s Build Back Better agenda.
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November 4, 2021 The Lorian
Coach’s Column
Travis Pelton, Baseball by COACH TRAVIS PELTON assistant baseball coach
Being with the Loras College Baseball Program for 5 years now has been something that I would not have thought was possible when I came in as a first-year student. I played my first two years and was a student coach the last two years. This year is something different for myself as I head into my first year as an assistant coach for the baseball team. Being a recent graduate and having to coach a bunch of guys that are similar in age can normally be hard, but these guys do not make it tough for me. With being a student coach for the past two years, the experience has helped show me when I need to step up and when I need to keep quiet. Coach Tebon and Coach Woj have a good system in place to allow me to be myself and help in whatever way that I can. Whether that is going to hit fungoes, throwing batting practice, needing someone to run a drill, or just giving advice to the guys when they need it, Coach Tebon and Coach Woj have trusted me to do whatever I feel is best to help the team get better every day. There are times when I know my limits for when the other primary coaches need to be in charge, and that is something that I have grown to learn over the past few years. The last part about my role that I love to have is the connection with the players. Knowing most of the guys coming into this year, I have a solid relationship and understand what most of the guys are going through. I can connect with the players on a little different level than most of the other coaches because I talk with the guys on a more personal basis. If there is something that is making someone struggle a little bit, I can help with knowing what that person likes and see if there is something that might work better for them. Being a coach with this team is something that I love doing and I feel that this year is going to be a special year for the Duhawks. The energy and excitement that the guys put into the program is something that has lifted this team to get better and better over the last few years. With a bunch of returners coming back, there is a good feeling that this team can make a run this year. After coming in 3rd place in the Conference tournament last year, the guys feel like there is something special with this group to make that extra push. That all comes with the leadership from the 3 fifthyear guys. Having the leadership ability and experience on the diamond is something that is valuable when you play in a highlevel D3 conference that we play in. The experience will not only help themselves but also help all the younger guys get better. With a plethora of first-year guys on the team, the knowledge and experience of the upperclassmen is going to play a big part into the success of the team. Look for the Duhawks to have a solid 2022 season.
No. 9 Duhawks Record Program’s First Undefeated Regular Season
Freshman for ward Lauren Riggle gave the Duhawks a comfortable four-goal lead in the 69th minute as NCAA Division assistant director of athletic communictions Oct. 26, 2021 - Clocking in to the national rankings this week at III assist leader Payton McDonnell continued adding to her total on No. 9 for the second week in a row, the Loras College women’s soccer the year, finding Riggle down field to tuck away her third goal of the team (16-0-1, 8-0-0 A-R-C) closed out American Rivers Conference season and solidify the 4-0 win. play against the Kohawks from Coe College (3-13-1, 2-6-0 A-R-C) As has been the story all season, the Duhawks commanded the Tuesday night as they celebrated Latinx Heritage Night at the Rock game offensively through regulation with 37 total shots in the game, Bowl. The Duhawks cruised to a 4-0 victory to finish the season 18 on net, while holding the Kohawks to just one shot in the game. with a perfect record in conference play and recorded their first-ever Perhats led the night with six shots in the game while Abby Eriksen undefeated regular season in program history. rifled off five. Senior goalkeeper Megan Wick made the start in The first half of net before fellow the game saw the senior Hannah Duhawks only put Mirimanian came one on the board in in the second half in the 38th minute and faced the lone as defender Olivia shot of the game Lansing made for C oe, making her way into the t he e asy s ave to box on a throw in come together for that was taken by a combined clean Brynn Jacobi who sheet. connected with The undefeated Savannah Johnson season comes as a to put a pass in the maj or l and mark box that bounced for the Duhawks, around and ended as the last time a up at Lansing’s feet soccer team at Loras t o put p a s t C o e went undefeated go a l ke ep er Alex was the men’s team Mo nt a l b a n o f o r in 2007, a team in her first goal of the which head coach season to put the Matt Pucci was a photo from LORAS ATHLETICS part of as a studentDuhawks up 1-0 at Along with finishing the season undefeated, Senior Emily Perhats was named ARC the half. athlete. That year, Defensive Player of the Week. Five minutes into the Duhawks made the second half, Emily Perhats notched her fifth goal of the season it to the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament. as Ryleigh O’Brien found her in the box to put the shot home to go The Duhawks’ first-place finish in the A-R-C standings see them ahead by two before O’Brien had her turn a minute later as she and receive a bye in the first round of the A-R-C Tournament and will Perhats traded scoring and assisting with Jacobi joining in on the host the winner of the No. 4 Luther College vs. No. 5 University of play for her second assist of the game, bringing the score to 3-0 after Dubuque game on Wednesday, Nov. 3 at the Rock Bowl. The game 51 minutes of play. is scheduled to kick off at 7:00 PM. by NATHAN CAMERON
Senior swimming spotlight: Jacob Priewe
by COLE RABEDEAUX assistant editor
The swim season has been going on for about a month now, and the swimmers are in the midst of rigorous practices and meets. Currently, the women’s side have a 1-2 record while the men have a record of 2-1. As we approach the midway point of the season, the team will be training to get ready to compete at one of our biggest meets of the year held in Rochester, Minnesota. For the second and last senior spotlight, I will be interviewing senior Jacob Priewe. He is the other senior on the team, as there are no seniors on the women’s side. How long have you been swimming?
I have been swimming all four years here at Loras. I have done club and competitive swimming since I was a kid. What is your preferred event? My preferred event would be the 100 breast or any mid distance free event What is your best time and in what event? My best times were 1:09 in the 100 breast and 5:22 for the 500 free. What are your plans after graduation? My plans after graduation is take a gap year to study for the LSAT and save money for law school and hopefully after that gap year I will be attending law school. We will be having two home meets before
our invitational in Rochester, Minnesota. One, against Simpson College, will be on Friday, Nov. 19. The other meet, against Grinnell College, will be on Nov. 20, which is the following day. They’re both in Graber Hall at the San Jose Pool. I hope to see some of you there to help support the Loras Swim and Dive Team!
The next home swimming event is November 19 @ 6 PM against Simpson! Come to the San Jose Pool to support your swim team!