Vol 90 Issue 2 Sept. 26

Ranger

VOLUME 90 | ISSUE 2

AMARILLO COLLEGE’S NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1930

AC meets female needs VOLUME 89 | ISSUE 12

By ISABELLE LINK Staff Reporter

After two years, Amarillo College employees and students say they are celebrating a victory for women. The college has taken a step forward in meeting the needs of female students by piloting a program to supply free feminine hygiene products in the women’s bathrooms after complaints arose over dispensers marked permanently out of order.

“I’m grateful and proud of the folks in administrative that decided that this was good to do,” Sadie Newsome, the digital communications manager, said.

According to Jim Baca, the director of the physical plant, two years ago, college officials installed permanent plastic signs marking the dispensers “Out-of-Order” to avoid constantly repairing them.

“For six years we have been replacing and fixing the doors to the dispensers because people kept tampering or breaking them to get the change out, so we put more work into it then we were getting out of it,” Baca said.

Students and employees said they were angry about the dysfunctional dispensers. “The school is not truly thinking of the female,” Shelby Phillips, a radiology major, said Newsome said she felt that with all the resources the college offers students, the absence of free feminine hygiene products was an oversight.

“It isn’t logical to expect women to truck around campus with blood in their pants. In most cases the student will just go home and that is

one less student we are helping to succeed,” Newsome said.

Kaitlyn Drake, a radiology major, agreed that the broken dispensers sent a message to women. “It’s not fair,” Drake said. “I didn’t ask to have a period. Some women aren’t always prepared and people in poverty can’t help themselves. It really makes no sense.”

While pads and tampons were unavailable on campus, the school still supplied free condoms in the College Union Building. “I feel they’re promoting sex and not the wellbeing of the female,” Vianna Hurte, a nursing major, said.

Statistically, 51 percent of all AC students are female, and out of the 51 percent, 11.4 percent will be on their period at any given time. Most women spend 65 days out of the year dealing with a period.

“A period without the proper supplies is seen as an obstacle for women,” Hilary Hulsey, the Panhandle PBS content manager, said “Yet we supply condoms, which is a choice to use them, while I can’t choose to have or not have my period. It flies in the face of what we stand for as a no-excuse college.”

When “The Ranger” brought the issue to Baca’s attention, he took prompt steps to address it.

“I wasn’t aware it was an issue,” Baca said. “We will get on that immediately and hopefully have them stocked permanently, but at least for one year,” he said.

The day after “The Ranger” contacted Baca, baskets of products appeared in the bathrooms, fully stocked with free items. The out-of-order dispensing machines will be staying in the bathrooms, unused, until further notice.

September 26, 2019 May 2, 2019

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION By JESSIKA FULTON

Struggling to catch z’s Are college students sabatoging their sleep?

By MONICA CHAVARRIA Staff Reporter

Students tend to sacrifice health for their school work, prioritizing grades over proper sleep.

In today’s society it’s seen as the norm; however, the consequences of sleep deprivation are far more menacing than they appear.

“When I’m tired, even if I am active, it feels like I’m not completely present. I can’t put things together in my mind so I don’t even try,” Mariah Rodriguez, a nursing major, said.

A study conducted by the University of New South Wales concluded that moderate sleep loss has impairments similar to those of alcohol intoxication.

After about 17 hours without sleep, performance was

equivalent or worse than a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of 0.05 percent.

After undergoing longer periods without sleep, performance levels reached an equivalent to a BAC of 0.1 percent.

According to the laws in the United States, most states in the nation set their DUI limits at a BAC of 0.08 percent for those over the age of 21.

Going even one day without sleep, therefore, makes it illegal to get behind the steering wheel.

Unfortunately, sleep deprived students aren’t aware of such dangers.

According to the American Psychological Association, experiments on the effects of sleep deprivation have shown that not obtaining enough sleep impairs memory and concentration while increasing stress hormones. Further

research suggests that longterm sleep loss puts people at higher risk of motor vehicle accidents and disease.

Yet, people can’t be blamed for lacking proper sleep, because it’s not a choice most decide to take. “It makes life a little bit harder,” Colton Drown, a mass media major, said. “The struggle of waking up, coming to school, staying up late after work, because I do get off pretty late so I get maybe five to six hours of sleep hours daily. I feel like that is genuinely affecting my performance in school,” he said.

Balancing multiple responsibilities and trying to stay healthy and get adequate sleep can be difficult for people. “Really, it’s just about managing time, but not stressing out too much as well,” Joshua Perez, a nursing major, said.

Business VP resigns Housing vouchers now provided Search begins to fill position Partnership gives all students opportunity for success

By CLAUDIA ZUNIGA Staff Reporter

Amarillo College has partnered with the City of Amarillo and Panhandle Community Services to offer homeless students housing vouchers.

The AC Advocacy and Resource Center met with Panhandle Community Services early this September to train their team on how to help students enter the process of obtaining the voucher.

Students who don’t have a permanent home can come into the Advocacy Center and talk to staff to get the paperwork started.

The team will assist with filling out all of the necessary paperwork and send in the application to Panhandle Community Services.

Jordan Herrera, AC director of social services, said she wants to spread the word about the new program. “If you know

anyone that is struggling, send them to the Advocacy Center,” she said.

“Students shouldn’t have to worry about if they have to sleep in the cold and then go to class the next morning. We want to eliminate the worries and stressors from the life of students,” Herrera said.

Students who don’t have a permanent home can come into the Advocacy Center and talk to staff to get the paperwork started.

Larnce Hicks, a physical therapy assistant major, said he was excited to hear of the new program. “It’s amazing that this school has a resource for every need that a student could face in school,” Hicks said.

“Homelessness is more common than people think, and even college students can be homeless,” he said.

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Herrera said she is enthusiastic about the new partnership. “We have never been in a position to be in direct access with this kind of resource and to get one-onone with the students in this kind of need.”

The Panhandle Community Services website explains how the voucher program works, stating, “The program allows individuals and families to locate and select their own housing and use the voucher to pay for all or part of the rent.

All housing units must pass a housing standard quality inspection prior to anyone moving into a unit. The unit may be an apartment, house or mobile home based on the family’s housing needs.”

Students who are interested in the program should contact Student Services at 806-31-5446 or visit the Student Services Center at the Washington Street Campus, Ware Student Commons, Suite 108. www.acranger.com

By LAUREN EBBEN Senior Reporter

On Sept. 16, Amarillo College officials announced the resignation of Vice President of Business Affairs Steve Smith.

His last day with the college is Oct. 10.

According to an email by AC President Russell Lowery-Hart addressed to college staff and faculty, Smith has accepted a job in the private sector with Family Medical Center Services; however, he has agreed to remain on call as the college searches for a new VPBA. “I am genuinely delighted for Steve and his family - this is an opportunity he simply could not pass up,” AC President Russell Lowery-Hart said in the email. “However, the loss to our College of such a transformative leader is huge.”

Smith has been employed at AC since April 2016. His main role was to help the college use its resources responsibly. He has prepared and managed the

STEVE SMITH

college budget and was heavily involved in the master plan process.

Since assuming his position, Smith has also been involved in multiple projects on the Washington Street Campus, including the Palace Coffee shop, the greenhouse project, the renovations to The Burrow and, most recently, renovations to the basement of the WARE building.

The process to find a replacement for Smith has already begun. In the meantime Tiffani Crosley, director of accounting and finance, has agreed to serve as interim VPBA.

Twitter and Instagram: @acranger

Opinion

2 | The Ranger September 26, 2019 September 12, 2019

What are your sleeping habits?

“Chaotic. On some nights I go to sleep at 8 p.m. or 2 a.m. and I have to wake up at 6:20 a.m. regardless,"

CHLOE PUMPHREY Chemistry

“I watch 'Family Guy' before bed,”

CHANDLER BEZNER

Aerospace Engineer

To sleep or not to sleep

Illustration by BAILEA DOOLEY | The Ranger

“I'm a night owl.”

Don't feel guilty about resting your eyes

CANDREA SCOTT

EDITORIAL

Business

“I don’t get a lot of sleep to be completely honest. I stay up late a lot doing homework all the time," MADELYN EATLEY Psychology

Support Soddies OPINION

By TITUS MEDLEY Staff Columnist

Being the new kid on the block can be intimidating. I had never covered a sporting event, let alone one at a new stadium with a new team. New kid syndrome was hitting me hard when I went to the Sod Poodles press box to cover a game for the student newspaper.

“I'm with Amarillo College” seemed to be the only thing that I could say out loud. Luckily, I found an old friend, who helped me get over the jitters. Mike Higgins, a freelance reporter, introduced himself and told me he also wrote for “The Ranger” some 40 years ago. Higgins had been exactly where I was and I found great comfort in that.

The game was an exciting one. Hodgetown is built a little lower than street level, meaning the wind will catch anything hit above the stadium seats. This was a place built for home runs and I saw a lot of them.

The press room had an intensity I had never felt before. The stadium was crowded and smelled like hot dogs and popcorn. Sports have never been my favorite thing, but

As the days spent at school and work linger on, the majority of Americans find themselves longing for when they can finally lie down to sleep. What should be a night of a well-timed sleep, is becoming shorter and shorter for many. We at “The Ranger” know all too well the frustration of unhealthy sleeping and feel that our readers do too.

For members of the student and working-class to be successful, it is crucial to get a healthy amount of sleep every night and to make scheduling sleep a high priority.

But ironically, it is the student and working classes who have some of the highest rates of sleep problems.

The National Sleep Foundation stated that 59 percent of 18 to 29-year-olds describe themselves as “night-owls,” unable to get to sleep at proper times and often having to force themselves awake

there is something magical about . baseball on a beautiful day.

The last time Amarillo had a professional farm team was the Gold Sox in 1982. The Amarillo OPINION Sod Poodles, an affiliate of the San Diego Padres, marks the return

By KADEN BRYANT of baseball to the Panhandle and Staff Columnist brought the construction of a beautiful new stadium along with Since the shooting at Columbine it. Hodgetown, named for Jerry High School April 20, 1999, there Hodge, a local business man who have been more than 230 school matched the city on construction shootings reported on the news costs, sits right at the entrance of and other sources of media. Many downtown and near City Hall. Its so-called experts say violent video big bright red letters illuminate games, TV shows and movies have Buchanan Street at night and contributed to the epidemic of add much needed character to school shootings in America. I have downtown. been told most of my life, “Video The people of Amarillo treated games turn you into a murderer.” the Sod Poodles a lot like Higgins I refuse to believe that the media treated me. We remember the is the only factor prompting these Gold Sox; we remember the heinous events. While the media is Dillas; we have been where not at fault; the mass media can do the Sod Poodles were their more to prevent mass shootings in first season. I hope the support schools. continues. Congratulations to the What I have observed about 2019 Texas League champions.

much earlier. Sleep problems have been proven to cause detrimental issues, such as academic failure, drowsy driving, poor health and even depression.

The consequences of unhealthy sleep are not a recent discovery and have been drilled into our heads since grade school; however, a feeling of disgrace, and oftentimes guilt, still lingers when one feels overly tired from a sleepless night or when their work suffers due to lack of sleep.

In many cultures, such as Japan, daytime napping is often used and encouraged to promote improved work performance. In America, however, there seems to be quite aggressive behavior toward drowsiness in school and work environments.

In contrast, a study done on prioritizing sleep by Masaya Takahashi revealed the need to

modify schedules to account for healthy sleeping, She found that planned naps “are recognized as a promising technique in maintaining job performance and alertness” while also improving cognitive function.

Sacrificing sleep, or feeling guilty for being sleepy, should no longer be an option. It is not worth the happiness and health of the average student or worker to treat sleep as an afterthought and napping as a luxury. Though it may seem like a small detail, these crucial activities are just as important as eating or socializing and should be prioritized if one ever hopes to succeed in achieving their aspirations. A sleepy person is not a lazy one, they are merely being held back from their true potential. Don't feel bad the next time you “just need to rest your eyes for a few minutes.”

Media has responsibility to act

these shootings and the media coverage of them is that some of the shooters commit these crimes as a way to get attention.

One day they are a nobody, the next they are on the front page of newspapers, blogs, Facebook posts and Snapchat stories. Within a week or so, however, the shooters are forgotten by most of the world.

The media will use and exploit these shootings as attention

grabbers for a short while for ratings until the next shooting.

The unfortunate result of all this media coverage is that slowly people stop caring. After you hear about one shooting, there's another shooting, and another, and another, and another. These shootings are influencing today's youth, making them think that this is how the world works and if someone treats you badly then you need to make that person pay.

Finally, it should also be the media's responsibility not to let us forget about these terrible acts of violence, these preventable disasters. If you have the power to take action, you also have the responsibility to act.

Get in touch with us Page Editors VOLUME 90 | SPECIAL EDITION

August 22, 2019

For a complete staff listing, please visit The Ranger online at www.acranger.com therangereditor@gmail.com Twitter @acranger Instagram @acranger Facebook @acrangerpaper

Editor-in-Chief Jillian Johnson Page Two Nathaniel Montoya Page Three Jessika Fulton Page Four Faythe Reeves

Page Five Faythe Reeves Page Six Caylee Hanna Page Seven Isabelle Link Page Eight Shawn McCrea

Student Media exists to serve you — the students. The Ranger is an open forum where you can learn and talk about the things that matter to you. The Ranger staff urges you to get involved by submitting ideas, photos, writing, videos and telling us what you want covered. A public critique and meeting is open to the campus community on Fridays at 10:30 a.m. in PH 214 or you can reach us via email at therangereditor@gmail.com.

The Ranger is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press, College Media Association, Panhandle Press Association, Texas Intercollegiate Press Association and Texas Community College Journalism Association. For a complete staff listing, visit us at acranger.com.

The Ranger is an independent student publication. Material published in The Ranger does not necessarily reflect the views of Amarillo College administrators or employees.

News

The Ranger | 3

September 26, 2019

Students elect SGA representatives

By Waiel Bagh

Staff Reporter

Elections for the 2019 -2020 Amarillo College Student Government Association general representatives took place Sept. 11-12.

More than 50 candidates applied and 31 were elected.

“General members are allowed to vote at SGA meetings, to make motions and to run for office positions once they become available,” Hector Casanova, the SGA President, said.

The SGA is a group of Amarillo College students who are elected by the student body in order to represent the students in all matters across all

AC campuses.

During the two-day voting period, dozens of students gathered around the clock tower waiting to vote. Some of the candidates actively campaigned for the votes of their classmates, but most candidates simply submitted their names.

“We thought to do so because it would really help us with

getting more votes, but also to meet more students, get to know them better and really see what they want from the SGA,” Sewar Ali, a biology major, said.

The newly-elected representatives are Sewar Ali, Sydney Goodson, Jasper Divina, Kitawny Molina, Isabel Arjon, Abigail Parton, Ciarra Thurman, Johnny Guzman, Nahomi

Zamudio, Abraham Morales, Faviola Perez, Jacob Bustos, Mya Engert, Myra Aleman, Edgar Flores, Miguel Flores, Bethany Saldana, Gilbert Melendez, Hope Demery, Zing Lian, Jerika Balfour, Jorge Soriano, Luis Ibarra, Garret Miller, Hope Saldivar, Jose Pedroza, Lexi Schaben, Valeria Garcia, Tania Amaya, Jasmine Delreal and Karalee Tiller.

environment, according to the Jordan Porco Foundation website.

Fresh Check is designed to empower students to identify the warning signs of suicide while teaching them steps they can take while dealing with mental illness and stress.

On Tuesday, Sept. 17, around campus, there were booths with activities all geared toward mental health, creating a fun way to get some of these issues and insecurities out of students’ heads.

In one of the booths, Dennis Sarine, the director of educator preparation and child development, challenged students to write down one insecurity on a piece of paper and then crumple it up and

throw it away.

Students would then take a sticky note and write one positive thing about themselves and place it on a mirror.

“It was kind of shocking that students were having a hard time writing down something positive about themselves, and, as an instructor, I now know that this is something we need to be driving toward,” Sarine Madison Goodman | The Ranger said.

Other AC staff members Mirrors containing positivity from students. assisting with Fresh Check Day campus to every student in need “The staff at Amarillo College is here. We love you and we care.” said they want to encourage of help.

Cassie Montgomery, the Students said they loved the students to seek help if needed.

“You can’t always do it by director of outreach services, activities and the free lunch for yourself and that’s OK - just get also encouraged students to participating. “My favorite booth help,” Kelly Murphy, the veterans take advantage of these services. was the pride chain because “Don’t be a hero. Know and use I got to express myself in a services coordinator, said. creative way,” Abigail Schleis, a She added that AC offers your resources,” Montgomery said, adding, psychology major, said.

10 free counseling sessions on

Freshly checking mental health

By Madison Goodman Staff Reporter

Mental Health Awareness week took place Sept. 16-19 at Amarillo College and one of the highlights of the week was Fresh Check Day. The event featured games free food and resources to help students dealing with mental illness.

Fresh Check Day is a program of the Jordan Porco Foundation aimed to raise awareness of mental health and suicide prevention for college students and their families.

The main goal of a Fresh Check is to get students interacting with each other about mental health in a positive

Tatheana Finney | The Ranger

Students gather around the clock tower to learn about the Constitution.

AC talks Constitution

By Tatheana Finney Staff Reporter Constitution Day is celebrated on the anniversary of when the United States Constitution was signed.

At Amarillo College, officials marked the day Sept. 17 by handing out pamphlets about the Constitution along with red, white and blue doughnuts.

The federal government requires some sort of Constitution Day celebration for all institutions that distribute federal financial aid, such as Pell grants.

“It’s a requirement for us to do an event for students that receive financial aid so we can continue to award aid to students, so we do this educational event every year for so they can receive information on the Constitution,” Kelly Steelman, the director of financial aid, said.

Many students said they had no clue what Constitution Day was about, but said they enjoyed getting a doughnut and a pamphlet that included fun facts and some activities to test their knowledge.

Aaron Faver, a social sciences instructor, said he is glad AC celebrates Constitution Day. “I think it’s a great opportunity for people to get to remember and be educated about the legal document that allows our government to functions and the ideals that it was created around that allow us to live life as Americans,” he said.

During the event, students were also encouraged to get registered to vote in upcoming elections, such as the presidential election Nov. 3, 2020.

“I have never voted and I am 22,” Mikayla Perez, a dental hygiene major, said. Perez also said that she thinks she will go ahead and vote this year since now she is already registered.

Courtesy photo

Blood drive goes mobile

By Tatheana Finney Staff Reporter Students had the opportunity

to help save lives on Amarillo College’s Washington Street Campus with Coffee Memorial partnering up with AC to host a blood drive at least once every semester by the clock tower.

Crucial to the medical field, blood donations are needed, and, in an effort to get more donations, the Coffee Memorial Corporation comes to campus with their mobile blood donation center.

At the blood drive held Sept.

10 and 11, the Coffee Memorial encouraged students to participate.

“The people at Coffee Memorial do a great job of providing incentives for the students as far as giveaways like Cynergy movie passes, Palace gift cards and other

things,” Jenna Welch, the student life specialist, said.

According to the Community Blood Center website, in America alone, 4.5 million people need blood transfusions every year; however, only 37 percent of people are eligible to donate and less than 10 percent donate consistently.

Reasons for not donating range from concerns with cleanliness to fear of needles.

“I feel that it’s unsafe,” Adriana Galindo, a business major, said.

Galindo also said she would donate if she were convinced that it was a clean facility and safe to donate.

Another issue for students is eligibility to donate. “I tried to once, but I was underweight,” Jackey Rodriguez, a graphic design major, said. “They didn’t let me and ever since then I just never tried it again.”

Lack of time between classes

presents an additional issue because the donation process can take up to an hour.

“The biggest issue for students to be able to donate is time because they are going to and from class,” Welch said.

She said they hope to find a way to address the time problem so more students will have the opportunity to save lives.

In addition to saving lives, there are cases where blood donations have helped find cures for disease.

“There are a lot of cases where somebody does get injured and needs a blood transplant to keep functioning,” Anthony Cruz, an aerospace engineering major, said. “But also, there are some cases where there are special types of blood that can heal people with certain diseases like the golden arm case in Australia,” he said.

Campus picks pre-packaged over homemade

By Madison Goodman Staff Reporter

Student clubs are no longer allowed to sell food they have prepared. Amarillo College clubs and organizations used to be allowed to sell hand-cooked food or pre-

pare food for club events and fundraising, but this semester AC officials decided to prohibit this practice.

Jenna Welch, the student life specialist, said the decision was made to ensure the quality of the food and the safety of those on campus who consume it.

This regulation went into effect fall of 2019. Welch added that she believes this is an opportunity for clubs to seek creative fundraising options.

For example, “Clubs could purchase cookies and other items from a bakery and sell them on campus, since they are made by a certified

food establishment. ,” Welch said.

Some student club members said they are concerned about the change.

“This new rule gravely effects our club as most of our profits came from selling food, so the intramural sports club has lost a lot of funds this year because of this rule,” Nazario Maestas, a business major, said.

Other club members said they are excited about the new guidelines.

“We are actually very excited about this new rule as it will challenge us to be more creative in our fundraising efforts,” Sami Landers, a sponsor for Phi Theta Kappa, said.

News

4 | The Ranger September 26, 2019

Sleeping in class causes unrest

By CLIFTON SARTOR Staff Reporter

Students sleep in class for a number of reasons. They may sleep in class due to lack of interest in the subject or the instructor.

Another possibility may be that students have poor sleep habits, which causes them to doze off in class.

Some students say one of the most common reasons their classmates sleep in class is because they are unmotivated.

A general lack of sleep and motivation to do well in school, combined with class subjects that do not hold a student’s attention, can influence the probability that students will sleep in class. The way instructors present information in class can become a factor as well.

“They can stay awake by drinking a lot of coffee. Having activities and playing games also works,” Megan Connell, a general studies major, said.

There are some unique ways that students stay awake in class. One well-known way to keep from nodding off is to sit in front and center of the class.

This way you are in everyone’s

Photo Illustration by JESSIKA FULTON

Overtired student falls asleep at his desk.

view. You are less likely to fall asleep because you know everyone will be watching you.

Some students suggest that when you find yourself drifting off, you should get involved in the discussion. Questions are good because it keeps you attentive.

“Drinking an energy drink before class will help,” Summer Jones, an architecture major, said. “Also drawing can keep someone awake,” Jones added.

Other tips for staying awake include drinking green tea or cold water and splashing cold water on your face.

Top 10 1

Take a walk by excusing yourself to go to the bathroom.

“Sometimes students sleep i n class. They should go to bed early and drink an energy drink before going to class,” Tong Duang, a general studies major, said.

“I remember one teacher who would hold three books over the

desk when someone was sleeping and drop them on the desk,” Duang said.

Sleeping in class may annoy instructors because they realize that it is not in the best interest of the student to miss what is happening in the class.

Some students say, however, if they fall asleep, their professors may to blame. “I think teachers need to be interesting,” Jones said.

Students say a good instructor will introduce variation into the lesson every 10 minutes to regain their attention.

According to John Medina in his book “Brain Pulse,” attention takes a dive approximately 10 minutes into a lesson. Instructors can help students stay alert by keeping them engaged with mentally stimulating activities in a well-lit classroom.

Sometimes students doze off due to medical problems. Some people will occasionally experience days when they feel tired all day long.

There are a number of causes for feeling daytime fatigue, including dietary deficiencies, depression, diabetes, anemia, thyroid problems and sleep disorders, all of which may require medical treatment.

Unplug Before Bed

Healthy

Sleep Habits

By shutting off the world before you sleep, you'll have fewer distractions.

Text by Jessika Fulton Illustrations by Shawn McCrea

2

Set a Schedule for Homework

Finish all work 30 minutes to an hour before bed. By setting a schedule to get assignments done instead of goofing off, you’ll have a little less stress or worry before bed.

5

Avoid

Caffeine or Alcohol

Leave the buzz behind. You can have a little but it’s not healthy for your mental state before bed.

8

Get Moving

Go on a walk, try yoga. Whatever gets you moving! Physical labor not only makes you tired and more likely to fall asleep, but it will lead to a healthier state of mind.

3

Reduce Your Stress & Anxiety

Stress and anxiety lead to a restless state of mind, so try some ways to let that s**t go.

You’ll sleep like a baby. *Check out Page 8 of Vol 91, Issue 1 of The Ranger.

6

Dim the Lights

Bright rooms make it harder to fall asleep. By lying in a dark room, your mind will be more at ease and ready for sleep.

9

Set a Healthy

Work Schedule

After setting up a homework and sleep schedule, have your job work around it.

Your employer should understand that college students are need as much sleep and homework time as possible.

4

Set a Sleep Schedule

Avoid sleeping in. A steady and constant sleep schedule will make things easier when getting ready for the day.

7

Quiet Is Good

Drown out obnoxious or unnecessary noises before bed.

A quiet room is a good room.

10

Get an

On-Campus

Job

Most on-campus jobs will allow you to do any work in your spare time or work around your school schedule.

That will save you some time at home and allow more time for relaxation.

Works Cited

“10 Tips for Better Sleep at College.” EverydayHealth.com, 17 Mar. 2010, www.everydayhealth.com/college-health/10-tips-for-better-sleep-at-college.aspx.

Photo Illustration by JESSIKA FULTON

Student takes the opportunity to take a nap before class.

To nap or not to nap, that is the question

By BRIANNA SAUCEDO Staff Reporter

Tired students often turn to napping. Dr. Brandon Moore, a biology professor, said he believes his students have a physiological need to nap. “Biologically in humans, it’s a part of the time when we are cleaning out a lot of the metabolic waste from our brain,” he said.

Moore said taking time to refresh your mind is a good thing, but, according to Khristi McKelvy, the Nursing Resource Center and instructor, the tendency to nap could indicate health problems. “Students who are lacking nutritional supplements or not eating correctly makes them less alert and attentive,” she said.

McKelvy recommends taking a daily multivitamin to help make your mind sharp.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, short napping or “power napping” is a common method used for taking 20 to 30 minutes naps, which provides significant ben-

efits for improved alertness and performance without leaving you feeling groggy. “It kind of resets some people and makes them more productive, that is, if they usually are used to taking naps,” McKelvy said.

Not everyone believes in the benefits of napping. Daniel Morrow, a computer science major, said napping provides short term relief, but eventually ends up hurting his sleep. “There’s a book called ‘Why We Sleep’ by Matthew Walker, who is a professor at Berkeley,” said Morrow. “He says that even though napping might feel better in the short term, your body’s circadian rhythm is changed with that.

You’re just better off with seven to nine hours of sleep.”

Moore said that instead of focusing on the problem of napping, he wants to understand why students are so tired.

“We have two issues, students working late night jobs and students who study late at night.

We need more flexibility and we need to understand student needs a little bit more,” he said.

News

Sleepless students lose learning due to insomnia

The Ranger | 5 September 26, 2019

Badgers discuss the top sheet controversy

By CAYLEE HANNA

By WAEIL BAGH

Staff Reporter

Staff Reporter

Sleep disorders or problems with sleep can deeply affect students’ performance and dedication. Whether it’s school or work, not having enough sleep can be troublesome. A study from the American Psychological Association has shown that millennials are the most stressed out generation, with most of it originating from anxiety or loss of sleep.

Many students do not necessarily suffer from a specific diagnosed disorder, but have sleep-related issues. “I used to have insomnia,” Teagan Rangel, a biology major, said.

“The lack of sleep was really tough and made it hard to focus on things, even simple tasks.”

Alone with insomnia, Rangel suffered from migraines and anxiety. “To cope with it at night, I would just listen to music or draw, hoping it would make me tired enough to fall asleep.”

Insomina also is an issue for Amanda Mckaskle, an English major. “I tend to get no more than a couple hours of sleep a night, but sometimes not any at

Photo Illustration by JESSIKA FULTON

Lauren Ebben, a mass media major, struggles to fall asleep so she distracts herself with technology.

all,” she said. Mckaskle said she has adjusted to going without sleep. “At first it was really difficult, but over time I’ve grown accustomed to it and have learned how to live a normal life with it. I read a lot of books to help the time pass, and to also take my mind off of things,” she said.

Most students that are not diagnosed with any kind of disorder, still find themselves struggling with lack of sleep. “At night I have a hard time falling asleep due to stress and other things like that,” Gudelia Leon, a criminal justice major, said.

“I don’t really have techniques to help with it, but I’ve thought about taking some sleeping pills.

On top of that I usually have to wake up early for school, so throughout the day it really sucks to try and stay on top of things, but not have the energy to do so.”

Sleep experts say overuse of technology, diet, social interactions, financial difficulties and other societal issues can all contribute to sleep problems. Experts say people suffering from insomnia and other sleep-related issues should seek medical help.

Students sound the alarm

By BRIANNA SAUCEDO Staff Reporter

According to the students of Amarillo College, oversleeping may feel like a great idea in the moment; however when trying to succeed in school, oversleeping causes more harm than good. “When I oversleep, I eventually become more tired when I shouldn’t be,” Emory Lowe, a business major, said.

After experiencing the consequences of oversleeping, Jocelyn Salazar, a pre-physical therapy major, said she learned her lesson.

“We were supposed to come back from lunch and I thought a quick nap would work. I was 12 minutes late and when I walked in. The teacher made me take notes in front of the class,” she said.

Vincent Martinez, a psychology major, also said oversleeping made him late for class. “I once dreamt I went through the process of waking up, dressing

Choosing the right bed and bedding can have a major impact on how you perform as a human. Beds and bedding may possibly have a lasting impact on how you function during your daily routine.

“When choosing the right bed, I personally believe that a more comfortable place to sleep allows better sleep which in return gives me the best odds of having a better day,” Erin Stephens, a psychology major, said.

Students say having a comfortable bed gives your body the peace that it needs and helps you so that you don’t have trouble falling asleep at night. Waking up and feeling energized is an important thing for college students to do so they can go to class and stay focused on their learning.

Along with having a comfortable bed, it is important to have enough space on your bed so that your body can be able to remain comfortable, according to www.nectarsleep.com.

“I have a larger bed and it definitely affects my everyday life because of my hip problems,” Madelyn Eatley, a psychology major, said. “Being able to stretch out makes sleeping much more comfortable to me.”

Along with the bed being

an important part of getting sleep, so is the bedding. The top sheet, also known as the flat sheet, has a controversy of its own. People are debating whether a top sheet is important to have included with their bedding or not.

“I do use a top sheet because sometimes you get too hot but you’re still cold so that thin sheet really makes a difference when you’re having that dilemma,” Stephens said.

“So unless you don’t have that issue, then it would probably be not as important to have it.”

Others say that using the top sheet has many benefits.

It is used as a blanket by itself, or used along with a comforter to increase the amount of warmth from the blankets.

“I own a top sheet and I wash it monthly because it protects my mattress,” Leslie Martinez, a criminal justice major, said. “ And the longer my mattress lasts, the less money I have to waste.”

However, some people do not use the top sheet and they don’t see a point in using one.

Eatley is a firm believer that top sheets are pointless and are not necessary. Most millennials don’t even use a top sheet with their bedding, according to www.usatoday. com.

“I don’t have a top sheet because I find it repetitive and uncomfortable. It always just ends up shoved to the bottom of the bed,” Eatley said.

Photo Illustration by JESSIKA FULTON

Creating an alarm on your phone can help you start your day on time.

and being in class about seven times and then I actually woke up and I was running late,” he said.

Some students said they take extra precautions to avoid the mistake of oversleeping.

“I make sure to use a mixture of multiple general alarm sounds as well as using music from my playlist as alarms,” Martinez said.

Before thinking about hitting any snooze button, Lowe also said she has some personal methods to prevent oversleeping.

“I try to avoid oversleeping by going to sleep early and trying not to eat before I go to sleep. I use the alarm on my phone and I set about seven of them, all with different ringtones and it usually it works,” she said.

Photo by CAYLEE HANNA

Dreams: debating their meaning, purpose, significance

By COLTON SCHWALK

Staff Reporter

Many cultures across many time periods had their own ideas about what dreams meant. The Egyptians wrote about their dreams regularly in journals, with nightmares being written in red ink. The Native Americans believed that their dreams had even more meaning then the creation of life itself.

Every person has dreams, but not many know the science behind them.

“I don’t really ever remember my dreams, and it’s very rare if I remember a dream all day,” Katherine Zuniga, a general studies major, said.

This happens to be a very common problem with dreams.

According to “The American Journal of Psychiatry,” this is because of the absence of norepi-

nephrine, a hormone produced by the brain, plays a major role in human memory while we are sleeping.

It is also believed that it is difficult to remember dreams simply because more important things happen during the day that cause us to forget about a nonessential dream.

Lane Terry, a physical therapy major, said this is exactly why he writes down his dreams in a journal, just like the ancient Egyptians once did.

“I like to remember those kinds of things,” Terry said. “I think dreams do hold a higher meaning, whether it’s symbolism or something greater than us. I do think they’re trying to tell us something.”

Terry is not alone in this belief. Sigmund Freud, a 19th century neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis, once said, “Dreams are the royal road to

the unconscious,” and that belief is still held today.

Psychoanalysts at Columbia University are leading the nation in studying interpretations of dreams, and hold the hypothesis that discovering the meaning behind certain dreams can help lead to a better state of mental health. This is a contested phenomenon in the scientific community, however, the science behind dreaming is constantly evolving.

Makinze Bartosciewitz is a nursing major, and it doesn’t bother her that she can’t remember most dreams.

“I don’t know why, but it kinda makes it feel more special that they are a one time experience to really have. I can remember snippets of certain dreams, but I really just like to wake up after a good dream and appreciate it for what it was,” Bartosciewitz said.

Photo Illustration by JESSIKA FULTON

Mya Engert, a nursing major, strugggles to contain her nightmares and fantasies.

News

6 | The Ranger September 26, 2019

JOHNNY LAWHON | The Ranger

The aim of the game, Gotcha, is to identify your target and spray them with silly string.

AC incorporates nontraditional fitness

By Colton Schwalk Staff Reporter

On Sept. 18, students took some time away from their studies to play Gotcha, a campus wide game of tag.

Those who participated in this event were given a picture of another participant, as well as a

can of silly string.

The goal of the game was to spray your “target” with the silly string in order to take out their target until there is one person left. “The best part of the game was the chase,” Luke Divina, a drafting major, said, “It was a lot of fun and made me feel like a kid again.”

This is the second year that

AC has hosted this game and there will be another session next semester. The next one will be in the springtime due to the fact that it works better when it is nice outside.

“Everybody had a ball doing it,” Trent Oneal, the intramurals coordinator, said. “It’s always more fun with more participants and we’ll be looking for more

next semester.”

When Larnce Hicks, a physical therapy assistant major, played, he got silly string all over the inside of his car. “I was stressed out the whole day. I didn’t know when it was going to happen, so I was looking over my shoulder for most of the day,” Hicks said.

“Then, as I was walking to the parking lot to get in my car, they

jumped out and got me.”

Chloe McCutchen, an education major, is another student who has participated.

“It was so much fun. I enjoyed the people I got to meet in the process of playing, most of them became my good friends,” McCuthen said.

The winner of Gotcha was Jasper Divina, a drafting major.

Volleyball begins Texas Tech comes to town

By NATHAN PARKS Staff Reporter

Amarillo College will host recurrent volleyball games every second Thursday of each month starting at 11:45 a.m. and ending around 12:30 p.m.

Matches are open to any and all current AC students regardless of skill level or experience.

“I’ve been playing since my little sister started playing, so only about a year, maybe two,” Jasper Divina, a drafting major, said.

Those who wish to participate in the activity only need to venture toward the grassy area between Russell and Ordway Halls. Participants will find the volleyball net and Intramurals Coordinator Trent Oneal, presiding over the competitions.

If inclement weather is present, activities will be relocated to the Carter Fitness Center where proceedings can continue.

The games are informal and require only that any potential competitors show up to play against fellow students.

Students are not required to have prior knowledge or

experience with the sport, all that’s necessary is the will to participate against fellow peers in an exhibition-style game.

Teams are declared as players arrive.

“We could set up the lines and have someone ref and keep track of everything, but that’s not what this is really about,” Oneal said. “It’s just a bunch of people bumping the ball around. They’re just having fun out there.”

Although the setting for the events may at first seem entirely casual, prospective participants shouldn’t expect there to be a lackluster competitive challenge during the games.

“It’s always a positive atmosphere out here, but we stay competitive,” Said Divina.

“I’ve only been playing for a year or so, I just like being competitive out here,” Kitawny Molina, a nursing major, said.

Students seeking to know more information about lawn volleyball or other physical activities like it can seek out Trent Oneal in the basement of the CUB in room 011 to garner more specifics.

Transfer Fair exposed students to university, answered questions

By Cache Goodwin Staff Reporter

On Tuesday, Sept. 10, The Texas Tech Transfer Fair was open to Amarillo College students for four hours.

The fair offered students answers to questions they might have about transferring to Texas Tech.

Each table at the fair featured a specific educational discipline that students might choose, such as electrical engineering, nursing, multimedia and more.

“Texas Tech has 10 different academic colleges, and over 150 majors, so we bring out all 10 of our colleges here, and because Amarillo is going to have a nursing school, we’re also bringing them out here too, because we know that is a pretty popular option for students,” Kelsy James, Tech admissions counselor, said.

“We are trying to advertise

Esports levels up at AC

Gamers get scholarship opportunities

By Jonathan Alonso Staff Reporter

Amarillo College’s esports is growing on campus and even has a meeting room.

As members of the college esports team, students get the chance to play their favorite games, show their skills competitively all while earning scholarships and making friends.

This past January, AC joined the collegiate esports league and began competing against other colleges and universities across the country.

The team will be playing games like Overwatch, Rainbow Six Seige and many more popular titles. Shooters being some of the more exciting gameplay featuring complex team strategy and on-the-spot

thinking to ensure victory.

Many of these tournaments also give students the chance to win prizes in the form of scholarships. Those scholarships are an important motivator for gamers, said Jacob Newgent, a freshman engineering major, and esports member.

“I think the scholarships play a huge role in motivation,” Newgent said. “These players put so much time and effort into the game. It’s nice having the ability to prove your team is the best and get rewarded for the hard work,” he said.

Gamers spend massive amounts of time in these games, Newgent said he’s spent up to 2000 hours on Rainbow Six Seige, so splitting up the rewards as evenly as possible among team members is extremely important.

Esports are just like regular sports. The teams practice after classes and if they win will be recognized for their achievements and their schools get free publicity.

Colton Amerson, a general studies major, said being on the team is similar to his high school wrestling experience.

“Pretty much the way I’m addressing it is having a good mindset and most importantly just have fun,” Amerson said.

AC esports team has a promising future, team members said now that the team has an official meeting place.

The group meets on Mondays at 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. in Parcells Hall 415. For more information about the collegiate esports, send an email to esports@actx. edu or look for Chris George in his office in Byrd, room 34.

our vet school, because we’re going to start vet school in the fall of 2020,” she said.

TTU is a popular college to go to when transferring, but that doesn’t mean that Texas Tech may be right for you if you have certain reasons not to go.

It could be the distance between where the colleges and where you live, it could be that they don’t offer the education that you might want.

It could be due to personal belief, and just not wanting to go because you don’t want to.

“I thought about going to WT, but I heard a lot of, not negative

things, but I just haven’t heard good things about their nursing school, and Texas A&M is too far, so Texas Tech is my next best option,” Jennifer Granthan, a nursing student, said.

The event can even help students who aren’t particularly interested in Texas Tech according to Ernesto Olmos, AC director of advising.

“Whether students know if they want to go to TTU or not, is not the point. These events give students early exposure to start talking transfer,” Olmos said.

“We need students to think about transfer as early as their first semester at AC, so advisors know what program and university they wish to pursue and advise based on that university’s degree plan.”

For more information on upcoming transfer fairs and transfer advising, go to https:// w w w. a c t x . e d u /a d v i s i n g / transfer-information.

Leaders reach out to AC students giving thanks and slices

By Andrew Robinson Staff Reporter

Pizza with Presidents was held at the clock tower on Monday, Sept. 9, and was a way for students to connect with the government at the Amarillo College Washington Street Campus. The meeting started at 11:45 a.m. and those attending got a chance to interact with some of the most important people on campus.

“This was to allow the presidents of Student Government to thank our students, serve them and interact with them,” Dr. Russel Lowery-Hart, the president of AC said, “Anytime we can serve our students and visit with them about their classes and experiences, it makes college better.”

It is always reassuring for a student to know that the student body government really cares about them. This is one of the main reasons why the government is so important.

“This was a good way for the presidents to have the students come together to talk to them,” Parrish Sanders, an engineering major said. “I came because I was mostly curious, but I also wanted to get to know the people who run the college.”

Another advantage of this meeting was of course, the pizza. When there is free food at an important event, the chances of full attendance are very high.

This creates a very welcoming environment.

“I think it is important to offer food for students who may not be able to leave campus and come back,” Lowery-Hart said, “I think it is really important that they see their leaders serving them, caring for them and listening to them.”

It was the SGA and college presidents who worked hard to serve every student who came by. There will be various meetings in the future in order to connect even more with the dynamic student body we have here at AC.

Culture

The Ranger | 7 September 26, 2019

Student Spotlight

By C.J SCOTT Staff Reporter Brandi Cogdill, a theatre major, is “a woman on a mission,” according to Ray Newburg, the theatre program coordinator.

Cogdill is loved by her peers and appreciated for the work she does for her community.

“She is a leader and is hardworking.” Traci Green, a theatre major, said, “She is really involved in theatre and loves doing it,” Green said.

Cogdill has been involved with all the productions the theatre department does and is the president of Delta Psi Omega, the theatre club at AC. “She has performed, designed and has taken on many leadership roles in our department,” Newburg said.

Codgdill’s plans after graduating from AC are to go to West Texas A&M University and major in theatre education in order to become a high school theatre teacher.

“I want to learn as much as I can about teaching theatre,” she said.

Cogdill’s friends describe her as passionate, unique, compassionate and silly.

“When is there not a funny story with Brandi?” Emily Polster, a mass media major, said. “We would be laughing constantly while working on the show ‘Heathers.’ You are always laughing with Brandi,” Polster said.

Polster said Cogdill also knows when it is time to be serious. “My favorite thing about Brandi is that she is

Brandi Cogdill

drama free. With theatre there can be drama, but Brandi is always neutral and mature.”

Cogdill has acted in productions, but this semester she is working as a part of the technical team, or behind the scenes team, with the program’s next production, ‘Dial M for Murder.’ She is the lighting designer and operator.

“Brandi is one of the most passionate people I know,” Polster said. “She is not afraid to try new things.”

Cogdill said one of her goals for this semester is to help design more lights and sets.

Cogdill said the AC theatre program is important to her. “It is like we are all one big happy family,” she said. But theatre is not her only passion. She also enjoys singing and writing and she is a Christian who keeps her faith close to her heart.

“My faith is important to me especially when it comes to my everyday life with friends and family,” she said.

Cogdill said she wants to thank the theatre program for accepting her, and everyone for being good friends. “Brandi is very much loved by everyone in the program and she will be sorely missed after she transfers,” Newburg said.

SIDNEY WEST | The Ranger

The Natural History Museum, located on AC’s Washington Street Campus, displays a variety of animals and insects.

Museum offers glimpse of nature

By C.J SCOTT

Staff Reporter

The Amarillo College Natural History Museum has one of the largest butterfly collections in the United States.

This museum houses the largest butterfly in the world.

The goliath birdwing; the titanic beetle, which is the size of a human hand and walking sticks that are more than a foot long.

The museum was created in 1976 by Richard Howard, an AC biology professor. Howard traveled around the world collecting different species of butterflies to share with his students. This collection grew so large that he created a museum for these butterflies and other specimens.

The museum holds more than just butterflies and beetles.

It has an African animal exhibit, a bird exhibit and a ‘Lion King exhibit.’

Dan Porter, museum curator and biology professor, said he believes that students should widen their knowledge of animals and insects.

“There are more species of beetles and butterflies that people don’t even see the difference in them.”

This local museum has large bugs, fish and animals such as a moose, bobcat, to even the tiniest household mouse. All dead of course.

There is an exhibit for the blind as well where people can feel fur and the mammals that are in the museum.

There is also a collection of bear skulls, bird skulls and more.

Dr. Richard Hobbs, the biology department chair, said his favorite exhibit is the butterflies. “They come from all over the world,” Hobbs said, “You would have to travel to Dallas to see something like this that we have right here.”

Some of the museum’s specimens are creatures that are not on display anywhere else in the country. Although small in size, this museum holds a large amount of nature for all to see for free.

Some of the animals were caught through hunting or even roadkill. Other specimens were also donated by organizations.

Many of the animals ‘brought back to life’ were worked on by some of Richard Howard’s own students through the art of taxidermy.

“The museum is for kids to have an appreciation of nature,” Porter said, “If we keep everything the way we should, we should be able to have this for our great grandchildren to see.”

The Natural History Museum is located in Ordway Hall.

The museum is open Monday through Thursday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Southern Light Gallery sheds light on old techniques Latest exhibit titled ‘Strangers and Other Relatives’ uses alternative processes and digital imaging

By CLIFTON SARTOR Staff Reporter “The Southern Light Gallery”

at Amarillo College is featuring the still life photographs of Carol A. Sewell, a noted artist and documentary photographer from the Dallas/Fort worth area.

The display will be on exhibit from Aug. 26 to Oct. 2.

Sewell works in alternative processes, digital imaging and large-medium format film.

Her current projects explore memory, family and the environment. Sewell’s project is titled “Strangers and Other Relatives” and uses family photos and ephemera.

According to Sewell, the exhibit explores those halfremembered stories we tell ourselves about the past and family, which illuminate and misinform the present.

“The photos cause me to feel sad because the photos are from a much earlier time and some of the objects arranged with the old photos present a feeling of being sad. The arrangement of the different designs included with the photos are very creative,” Daniela, Macias, a business major, said.

Sewell graduated from the University of Texas with a bachelor’s degree in Latin American Studies. She also completed a master’s degree

in history at Texas Christian University. Her studies included art and photography at TCU, Texas Women’s University and Tarrant County College.

“The featured photos are changed out seven times per year,” said Rene West, curator for the Southern Light Gallery and professor of photography.

Thirty to 40 showcase photos are submitted at different intervals six times within a year’s time. During the summer, the gallery accepts photographs from student applicants only, West, said.

The gallery is small and will accommodate about 10 images at 20 x 20 inches each. It has two walls that are 13.5 linear

inches each.

“At one time the gallery at AC displayed more photos in the com, but since remodeling has taken place, there are not as many photo displays,” Buster Bonjour, Student Help Center coordinator, said.

The Southern Light Gallery was founded by Robert J. Hirsch, in the fall of 1977. Hirsch is a known American artist, curator, educator, historian and author. He is best known for his writing about color, digital imaging and the history of photography. Hirsch became an advocate for photographers who offer a haptic expressionist interpretation of their subject matter.

According to West, the gallery was established so that AC students and the local community will have the opportunity to be exposed to contemporary photography, they might otherwise never see.

The Southern Light Gallery is located on the first floor of the Ware Student Commons at Amarillo College’s Washington Street Campus.

The photography-based gallery has a focus on thematically consistent bodies of work and a wide range of styles and methods. Any requests to submit photos to the gallery must be made by contacting Rene West at (806) 345-5645.

Feature

8 | The Ranger September 26, 2019

Badgers Today,

Leaders Tomorrow Student leaders come together for first ever Badger Summit

By CAYLEE HANNA Staff Reporter

CAYLEE HANNA | The Ranger

Student leaders help each other during a trust exercise during Badger Summit.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 13, student leaders attended a new leadership training called “Badger Summit: Developing the Leader in We” in The Burrow (CUB basement) on the Amarillo College Washington Street Campus.

“At our first Badger Summit, we talked students through several topics: identifying their ‘why’ and goals for their clubs, expectations of what Student Life expects from clubs, leaders and sponsors,” Sami Landers, coordinator of new student programs, said. “We also talked about what clubs, leaders and sponsors can expect from Student Life, what club leaders can expect from their sponsors, finding a

AC students learn new leadership skills during the overnight Badger Getaway at Ceta Canyon.

balance between work, school, life and leading a club, planning effective meetings, recruitment and fundraising.”

Student Life hosted this event to show students that they are valuable to their clubs and that it is important to take initiative when becoming a leader of an organization.

“I chose to participate in this leadership retreat because I wanted to improve on being a leader and now that I am an officer for Embrace I need those leadership skills,” Isabel Arjon, a physical therapy assistant major, said.

Student leaders said they learned many skills and had fun along the way. Arjon said leadership skills are necessary when taking charge of an organization and it is important to understand what you can and cannot do with campus activities and meetings.

JESSIKA FULTON | The Ranger

Badgers get away to learn about leadership

By CAYLEE HANNA Staff Reporter

On Sept. 20 and Sept. 21, students attended the Badger Getaway at Ceta Canyon. This leadership retreat taught students how to recognize who they are and how they should maintain their responsibilities as leaders.

“In this retreat I learned more about myself, leadership and more ways to get involved,” Nahomi Zamudio, a business major, said.

Badger Getaway was a chance for students to learn how to get involved in organizations and students got to interact with other leaders to ensure that they have what it takes to become a leader.

“We talked about how 68 percent of college students aren’t doing anything on campus,” Skip Chisum, the retreat facilitator and adjunct English instructor, said. “I want to see those numbers go down and I want the involvement to go up. So anything I can do my own little part in it - that’s awesome.”

Badger Getaway encouraged students to try new leadership-building exercises and taught them to become more comfortable with their strategies as leaders.

“I loved getting to meet new people and having to step out of my comfort zone,” Zamudio said.

Students also said this retreat taught them how to become a strong leader and how to show their fellow badgers that they can have fun while learning skills.

“I learned how to bring out the leader inside of me and to be a good leader,” Sabrina Pearce, an associate RN major, said. “When you attend this retreat you will learn the potential in you and you will have so much fun in the process.”

Students said Badger Getaway helped them figure out their purpose on campus and showed them they can become the leader that they want to become if they just believe in themselves.

“If other students are unsure or don’t know where they stand in getting involved or organizations, this retreat will definitely help,” Zamudio said.