Oct/Nov 2016 Issue 01
IN THIS ISSUE
LACE U.P.
hiawatha highlands CAMPUS NEWS
GLSW
Pep Band Parade
Slender Tag Spooky student scavenger hunt EVENTS
NaNoWriMo Participate in National Novel Writing Month for a creative challenge
Enjoying
OPEN MIC NIGHT at the cafe
SPORTS fall fanatics
The New Laker News
Magazine
Understanding Creativity in its true sense June / July 2015 Issue 01
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Sydney Smith LAYOUT EDITORS Kitty Murray, Sydney Smith PHOTOGRAPHERS Mike Barrett, Teresa VanDyke, Connor Reppuhn
COMPASS compass@lssu.edu
WRITERS Connor Reppuhn, Brit Maddrell, Sydney Smith, Ellie Sower, Mike Barrett, Michaela Titus, Justin Taylor, Teresa VanDyke, Adam Magdziak, DJ Smith
lssucompass.me
CONTENTS LACE U.P...........................................................04-05 Bow Hunting Whitetail...............................06-07 Helsinki Chamber Choir.............................08 AKX Teeter-Totter-A-Thon.........................09 Slender Tag.....................................................09 TKE Tub Push.................................................11 Poetry and Art Exhibit.................................12 Lonely Planet.................................................13 Student of the Month..................................14-15 NaNoWriMo....................................................16 Open Mic Night.............................................17
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Issue 01 Oct/Nov 2016
9
18
ATLANTIC SALMON
20
LAKER SPIRIT ERUPTS
28
WOMEN’S TENNIS
36
HAMILTON
Preserving a Great Lakes treasure
SLENDER TAG
Lakers enjoy scavenger hunt game based on popular Internet urban legend Slenderman
Students show their support for the home team
Atlantic Salmon.............................................18 LGBTQA Issues..............................................19 Laker Spirit Erupts........................................20-21 Lakers Dominate MSU.................................22-24 Pink in the Rink..............................................25
Disappointment marks the end of the season
Softball Lives On...........................................26 Lakers v Mavericks.......................................27 Women’s Tennis............................................28-29 Victory for the Cubs.....................................30-31 The Return of MST3K..................................32-35 Hamilton..........................................................36-37
A spotlight shines on the founding fathers of the United States
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Oct/Nov 2016 Issue 01
LACE U.P. By CONNOR REPPUHN Located off Fifth Line East, Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario, 10.7 mi from LSSU Complexity: Effort: Personal Enjoyment:
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Issue 01 Oct/Nov 2016
Hiawatha Highlands is a great destination for hikers, photographers, or
cliff jumpers. Falling roughly at a 45 degree angle and standing tall at about 50 ft (15m), Crystal Falls is a gorgeous medium-sized waterfall. If you can manage the hike, Crystal Falls lays at the heart of Hiawatha Highlands Park. The man-made trails and bridges that lead to the peak of the waterfall were recently reconstructed with new planks for safety reasons. If this throws away the excitement of climbing for you, never fear; the waterfall and rock structure beside it have been left as is for adventurers and climbers. At the top of the falls, a bridge connects Voyageur Trail. This trail and many like it lead for miles into the Hiawatha Highlands Park and are perfect for getting some fresh air nearby. My experience at Hiawatha with a group of three other friends was one for the books. We made
the trip on the first of October and went for one main reason: cliff jumping. The experience was thrilling, to say the least. Jumping into a chilled river in the middle of autumn is all it takes to get the blood pumping. Even though a few of my friends told me it was safe, I first scouted the bottom of the water to ensure no rocks were there; the landing pool was prime for jumping. My friend was the first to jump, and I was sure to follow, shortly after. I will never forget the adrenaline pumping right before jumping off. The rush was short but jolting, almost as much as the temperature of the water. My friends and I took a few photos after drying off and went down various trails before heading back. Hiawatha Highlands and the trails within it are gorgeous in the fall; the area needs capturing from a lens and footprints of exploration to keep the place alive. It is a perfect place to get away from school and take in all that surrounds us.
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Oct/Nov 2016 Issue 01
Bow Hunting
WHITETAIL in the E.U.P. By JUSTIN TAYLOR
B
ow
hunting
for
whitetail deer can be one of the most
overlooked hunting activities for students at Lake Superior State University. I have been bow hunting in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan since I
of the Hunting and Trapping
other bow hunters that
in the UP have their best luck
was 15 years old, and, from
Digest from the Department
hunt the Eastern UP; most
on the islands to the east of
a bow hunter’s perspective, I
of
Resources
students go back home
the Sault. If you can get on
can say hunting for whitetail
for more information on
to their own honey holes
one, or know a friend that
in
Peninsula
hunting whitetail in the
during the weekends to try
has access, I recommend
is challenging, to say the
state of Michigan. Fully
and fill a tag. The land to the
trying to find a way to get
the
Upper
least. The UP has antler point restrictions (APR) on bucks and a no doe kill rule in effect. APRs for the UP are three or more points on one side, and a point must
Natural
A lot of new hunters go all out and then find out they do not like sitting long, cold mornings, or nights, not seeing a deer and not being able to take one.
find some decent hardwoods around that can support my climber, which leads me to my next point about bow hunting in the Eastern UP.
be over one inch. Any buck
understanding and reading
south is very open with little
harvested with less than
this digest can save a lot of
hardwoods. Scrub brush is
With
three points on a side may
trouble and run-ins with the
very common around the
and thick underbrush, it
result in a fine from the
local conservation officer.
Eastern UP and hard to
can be very hard to find a
navigate through. Most of
decent spot to hang a stand.
the successful deer hunters
Scouting is a must in the UP.
DNR (Department of Natural Resources). See page 32 page 6
on board. I have managed to
I have not met too many
limited
hardwoods
which you can find in the
the UP is scouting out a good
string. Most archery shops
digest I first mentioned, as
piece of ground to set up on.
will have a staff member
well. If you can find a good
A lot of the land surrounding
that is more than happy
deer run, which is tough to
the Sault is state land or
to get your bow set up and
do in the Eastern UP, hunt
HAP property. HAP is a
sited in. I would recommend
off that run and not right on
Hunting Access Program;
this over trying the old do-
it. I have scouted for days
it was created to get more
it-yourself method. When
and have yet to find a solid
hunting on private lands
you get all set up and tuned
run, like some in the Lower
in places that have limited
in, practice your butt off,
Peninsula.
public lands. Much of the
shooting from 5 yards out
Eastern UP is HAP property.
to 40 yards, which is a
So now you might be asking
All of the rules for HAP are in
challenging shot.
why I would want to bow
the DRN’s Public Hunting on
hunt in the Eastern UP. My
Private Land digest. I would
Now that I have discussed
answer for you is very simple.
suggest picking one up and
where to hunt and how
Hunting in an area that has a
reading to increase your
to get set up, it is time to
low population of whitetails
odds of tagging a deer this
find the deer. Deer are very
can only make you a better
year.
sparse in the UP, due to
hunter. My reason for that is
bad winters and predator
when deer come in, you are
As you can see, preparation
problems, and are almost
forced to watch their habits
for bow hunting whitetail
like trying to find a ghost. In
and have patience for what
deer in the Eastern UP
general, whitetails are very
might be coming behind
starts months before the
elusive,
creatures.
that doe or small buck. My
season starts. If you have
A mature buck could go
grandpa told me that the
not
hunting
his adult life with possibly
best way to be a better
and would like to, I would
never being seen by hunters.
hunter is go out without a
suggest purchasing a cheap
The nose on a whitetail is
gun, sit, and watch the deer,
bow and cheap equipment.
one of the best out of the
and I believe him, due to his
A lot of new hunters go all
animals in North America,
lifelong
out and then find out they
making bow hunting even
as a deer hunter. I love just
do not like sitting long, cold
more of a challenge to get in
sitting in peace waiting and
mornings, or nights, not
range for a good, clean shot.
watching for deer in the UP.
seeing a deer and not being
Therefore, the most popular
The pay-off with harvesting
able to take one. Bows can
method of hunting is from
a mature UP whitetail is a
range anywhere from a
a tree stand. I use a climber
great accomplishment that
few dollars at a garage sale
that was relatively cheap, as
not even the most seasoned
to well over a thousand. I
far as climber prices go for
hunters in Michigan can say
would recommend buying
hunting in the UP. Hunting
they have done. So, get out
an old one from a friend or
over bait is a very good way
there and get after it. Put
family that they no longer
to see deer. Does come in to
your time in and the reward
use. Along with the bow,
feed at the bait pile and the
will be a priceless memory
also come with consumable
bucks follow. Baiting also
that will last a lifetime.
products such as arrows,
has its rules and regulations,
tried
bow
Issue 01
broadheads, and a new
Oct/Nov 2016
Much of what hunting is in
smart
accomplishments
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Oct/Nov 2016 Issue 01
Campus NEWS
Helsinki Chamber Choir performs new Opera By MICHAELA TITUS
On October 4, 2016, the Helsinki Chamber Choir performed at Lake Superior State University. They are the only professional chamber choir in Finland, and they specialize in contemporary choral music performance. The performance consisted of a collection of classical Finnish songs, and a newly commissioned opera entitled, State of the Union. State of the Union premiered in Marquette at Northern Michigan Univerpage 8
sity on September 29. It was written by American librettist, Scott Diel, and Juilliard-trained composer, Eugene Birman, on Rabbit Island, a small island in Lake Superior, that hosts a residency program for artists. Hitting at a length of only forty minutes, the revolutionary opera, part opera seria, part satire, condemns us all for mistreating the environment in seven separate movements where four characters meet and interact: the environment, the rich, the middle class, and the poor. The main
themes discussed are environmental crisis, economic inequality, and the ignorance of society. The opera takes a deeper look at how we, as a society in modern times, interact with our environment and the world around us. It is a wake up call and a call to action. If we do not start working toward the preservation of our planet, soon we will not have one to live on. We have mistreated it and abused it. It is high time we take care of our planet the way it has taken care of us.
By ELLIE SOWER
It was a rainy weekend downtown Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan for the 28th annual Alpha Kappa Chi Teeter-Totter-A-Thon, but that did not deter the 11 active sisters and 6 current pledges from keeping the teeter totter going for 48 hours straight. They all took turns teeter-tottering for 8 to 12 hours to keep the enthusiasm pumping.
“I had an amazing time at teeter-totter with my sisters and it was incredible seeing alumni as well,” said sophomore, Erica France, when asked about her experience. “I love being apart of AKX because nothing bests having sisters and friends for life to experience this crazy journey with.”
The goal was to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis research, a genetic lung disease that affects over 30,000 Americans today, and has no cure, as well as to support our local Diane Peppler Resource Center, a shelter for domestic violence victims. The girls, with the help of alumni sisters, raised close to $3,000.
Issue 01 Oct/Nov 2016
AKX Teeter-Totter-A-Thon
“Teeter totter is not just an awesome way to raise money for Diane Peppler, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and epilepsy, but an amazing way to bond with the sisters and alumni,” said AKX sister, Sarah Matthews. “Being a part of Alhpa Kappa Chi has brought me some amazing girls that will always have my back and to me that is something that I will be forever indebted to them for that.”
SLENDER TAG By TERESA VANDYKE
On Friday, October 21st, the Honors Students here at Lake Superior State University took part in their annual game of Slender Tag. Students who took part in the game were also rewarded with fresh apple cider and homemade cookies to snack on between rounds. Throughout the years, it has been usual for there to be one winner out of the multiple rounds played, and this year was no exception.
Internet legend Slenderman
Starting off the night, Honors Students met in East Ontario Hall to sign their wavers, go over rules of Slender Tag, and receive their bracelets. Slender tag is best described as a game of tag combined with a scavenger hunt. Eight papers were hidden around campus that contained tabs with their corresponding numbers on them for the students to pull off to prove they found that paper. As students were running around finding each paper, one person in a white
mask was the “Slender Man,” chasing everyone around campus. If the “Slender Man” tagged someone, they had to rip off their bracelet and stop searching for papers to chase other students and tag them. Each round ended when everyone had been tagged, or when someone was able to find all eight papers and bring the tabs back to East Ontario Hall. The Honors Students went through about six rounds of Slender Tag and as usual, there was only one winner at the end of the night. After a night full of running and screaming across campus, students were able to come back to East Ontario Hall and enjoy hanging out by playing a game of cards. When asked about her first experience with Slender Tag, Honors Student, Alyssa Geer, replied with, “Slender Tag was so much fun. I’m so glad that I got out of the house to play a game and enjoy my friends.” page 9
Oct/Nov 2016 Issue 01
Pep band takes up marching for GLSW By MIKE BARRETT During Great Lake State Weekend, the LSSU Pep Band chose to add a bit of excitement to the annual Laker Line-up Campus Parade. By marching in the parade from the Arts Center, through campus to the Norris Center, the Pep Band generated some excitement with renditions of Kansas’, “Carry On My Wayward Son,” and Michael Jackson’s, “Thriller.” The decision to march started when Susan Fitzpatrick, Director of Alumni Relations, asked if the Pep Band would be interested in joining the parade. Pep Band President, Bailey LeBeau, then asked the band of their thoughts, and the ensemble agreed to go for it.
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“We were approached over the summer by Susan Fitzpatrick...to see if we would be interested in becoming part of the Home-
coming Celebrations,” said LeBeau. “Once I was able to talk to the band and see if they were interested it became an exciting goal that we worked on preparing for during the several weeks leading up the parade.” The parade started at 4:30pm on Saturday of GLSW, with the Pep Band leading the way through campus. Following behind the band was the Fisheries and Wildlife Club, as well as Seamore, his past iterations, and Foghorn in a truck bed complete with a foghorn. Departing the Arts Center parking lot, the parade travelled in front of the Cisler Center, along the sidewalk in front of the Center for Applied Sciences, turning right to head towards Crawford Hall, before turning right again to go in front of Brady Hall. After passing Brady, the parade crossed W. East-
Seamore leads the charge
A parade through campus
erday Avenue, and proceeded along the diagonal sidewalk to the Norris Center to the end point in front of one of the main entrances. “The weather unfortunately was not the best when we were marching so not many people were able to join in the festivities,” said LeBeau, concerning the light drizzle coming down during the duration of the parade. “A few members of the administration mentioned that we sounded really
great,” she added. On whether or not the band would march anymore this year, LeBeau commented it was not likely. “Maybe in the Homecoming Parade next year. We are always looking for more ways to get involved and play on campus so we will continue to explore new opportunities as they come up.” For those interested in joining the pep band, or looking for more information, LeBeau can be contacted at blebeau@lssu.edu.
By ADAM MAGDZIAK
Issue 01 Oct/Nov 2016
TKE Tub Push If your friends were going to push a tub 165 miles, would you do it, too? If you were TKE, you most certainly would.
The band plays on
It was that special time of year again for Lake Superior State University’s Tau Kappa Epsilon chapter to have their annual tub push from October 7-9th. It was as simple as going to Marquette, spending the night, and the entire weekend, pushing a tub non-stop across Michigan’s eastern Upper Peninsula. All of which included the infamous Seney Stretch: a straight, flat, 25 mile stretch between Seney and Shingleton.
LSSU’s Pep Band poses for the camera
A tradition started back in 1990, the tub push was created as a spin-off of pushing events that other Greek organizations were involved in. Over the years, the causes have shifted from organizations like the Special Olympics to the Alzheimer’s Association. Now, it is St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s turn for TKE charity. Over $1,100 has been donated through the month of October to St. Jude.
Not only is the yearly tub push for a good cause, but it is also a good bonding experience for everyone who is a part of TKE. If you were stuck on a bus for 40+ hours with a bunch of tired, smelly men, you would probably not be in the best of moods. Not to mention the endless roads, the cold, and the raining at night. However, that was not an issue for the boys of TKE. Brotherhood shined during the push. Words of wisdom were shared, trust was built, bonds were cemented, new friends told jokes, and everyone pulled through together. All of this and more made for an unforgettable experience. Everyone pushing the last few miles into Sault Ste. Marie, while laughter and chatter filled the cool, autumn air, topped off the experience. When it was all over, the question on all the pledges’ minds was, “When is next year’s push?” Exhausting, stinking, sore, and worth it. Those are the words that describe the push. Everyone was a winner in this unique experience that could only be shared in Greek brotherhood. The pledges and actives had a chance to have fun and create bonds. Most importantly, a worthy charity was represented, and got a decent amount of money that it deserved. As long as there is TKE on Lake State’s campus, the tub push will continue to be a tradition. And that means more chances for young men to give and connect. page 11
Oct/Nov 2016 Issue 01
Poetry and Art
EXHIBIT By TERESA VANDYKE
On Thursday, October 13th, students, staff, and the public had the honor of experiencing a sneak peak reading of Julie Barbour’s new and upcoming book, Haunted City, in the Kenneth J. Shouldice Library. Along with this reading done by Julie Barbour herself, the library also had the honor of hosting her sister, Amelia Grace Brooks, and her Watercolor and Mixed-Media art pieces based on select poems from Haunted City. Amelia Grace Brooks designed the covers for Barbour’s previous books, but this was a special circumstance in which they collaborated to create an exhibit of art and poetry to share with the public.
I am happy I can build a world through poetry. Barbour and Amelia worked together on this collaboration, in order to ensure the success they both were seeking. Beginning this process, Barbour sent Amelia a copy of Haunted City, so she could read though it and choose poems to portray through art. Amelia chose about 10 different poems that she felt spoke to her in some way, and began sketches for the art she was envisioning. The art pieces Amelia envisioned, and eventually produced, were not necessarily based off of the poem as a whole, however. Some art pieces were paired with just one word or phrase within a poem. Once Amelia had the sketches finished, she and Barbour went over the sketches and corresponding poems to agree on the final results that were going to be presented. page 12
Haunted City is a book that is completely full of prose poems. This type of poetry allows poets to use imagery and be more philosophical, while feeling like they are more free to write poems without a large criteria. Prose poems do not focus on rhyming, alliteration, or metrical patterns, and instead, focus on what the poem is trying to say in more of a paragraph form. Barbour said in response to a question about her poetry, “I am happy I can build a world through poetry.” She also mentioned the fact that she likes prose poetry because she does not get bored with it. She can change up the poem and make things different. Haunted City is full of poems based on dreams that Barbour has had. The central idea of this book involved a young woman moving to a big city, and her experiences, thoughts, and interactions with a friend and others. Only positive comments were thrown toward Barbour and Amelia Grace Brooks, after hearing the reading and seeing the art gallery, and once Haunted City is finally released, there will be nothing but praise coming from every reader.
Issue 01 Oct/Nov 2016
Lonely Planet crowds the Arts Center
By ELLIE SOWER On September 22nd, 23rd, and 24th, the Lake Superior State Arts Community came together to witness the production of Lonely Planet. Lonely Planet is a two man play written by Steven Dietz. The play sets the characters, Jody, played by senior, Benjamin Briar, and Carl, played by Benjamin Eisenman, in a downtown map store in Philadelphia in the early 1990s, during the height of the AIDS crisis. The story follows the two best friends as they struggle with facing the fact that their friends are dying, and they themselves could be at risk. Carl faces this fact by bringing in a chair from each of his friends’ homes that have passed. He keeps these chairs in Jody’s map store, and soon the store has over 30 chairs representing friends that have passed away. Throughout most of the play, Jody acts as though this crisis is not happening,
in January 2016 and began working on ideas. One of their best ideas was to have the audience sit on the stage, so they felt like they were truly watching the characters lives unfolding from inside the time. During the production, Briar also was showing art in the gallery by the box office and attendees were able to look at his artwork after each night’s performance.
Steven Dietz
until he is forced to accept the fact that he himself could be afflicted with the disease. Lonely Planet was Ben Briar’s senior project and he not only was a main actor, but also did all of the artwork for the set and promotional posters. Ben and Lonely Planet director, Spencer Christensen, chose Lonely Planet
Thursday and Friday night, as well as Saturday afternoon, had great turnouts from the Lake Superior State Community, as well as the local Sault Ste. Marie community. The overall reaction was a very good one, and the play was a wonderful addition to Lake Superior Art’s history. Thank you to all who attended as well as assisted in the production of Lonely Planet. It was greatly appreciated.
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Oct/Nov 2016 Issue 01
Student of the Month I love the UP. My mom’s side of the family is from Escanaba and Crystal Falls area. I like being outside, which is perfect because a lot of the activities that occur around campus are based outdoors. LSSU also has a really great Fisheries and Wildlife program. I like that they have a fish hatchery near campus, which is something unique that not every college has.
Favorite thing to do at Lake State I am majoring in Fisheries and Wildlife, so I would like to work with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. I definitely know that I want to do something outside, like conservation.
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Year:
Freshman
Issue 01 Oct/Nov 2016
Drew Niemiec Major: Fisheries and Wildlife
Hometown: Livonia, Michigan
Favorite Class: Environmental Science. Or Biology with Garvon. That kind of stuff comes easily to me.
Reason for coming to Lake State My favorite thing to do is hang out with the guys (and Sydney) almost every night. We’re constantly together, going hunting and fishing, cooking in the Brady basement, making trips to the pet store, or just going on adventures. I’ve also enjoyed going out to Rudyard to ride horses.
Plans after graduation page 15
Oct/Nov 2016 Issue 01
National Novel Writing Month
is upon us
By SYDNEY SMITH
The start of November sparked the beginning of yet another year of writers coming together to create novels of their own. National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo for short, is an annual, online-based event that challenges writers, young and old, unseasoned and experienced, to write a novel in only thirty days. On November 1st, writers began typing away, encouraged to hit the 50,000 words mark, the minimum word count to be considered an actual novel, on the last day of the month. That means exactly 1,667 words per day.
It is meant to be a month of creativity and exploration, pushing writers to think outside the box and get involved with something bigger than themselves. “My personal experience with NaNoWriMo was absolutely amazing!” said Madison Burns, a student at Colorado State University, who committed herself to writing every day of the month of November in 2015. “Although there were nights of struggling to even put words on the page, I am so excited to start yet another novel this November and practice my writing skills.” For writers who are taking on the challenge this month, Burns was gracious enough to include a few tips and tricks that she learned along the way: 1. Since you might not always have a computer on you, you can type away on the “Notes” app on your phone, or write in a notebook (when you’re supposed to be taking notes during class). 2. Don’t let yourself fall behind—the sooner you let yourself go, the closer you are to not finishing at all. 3. If you don’t know where your story is going, have a chapter about a character’s background or insight into the history of your plot. 4. It’s supposed to be fun—don’t get stressed out! Although there are challenges along the way, its only you against yourself. Take a break if you need it. 5. If you are experiencing writers block, step away for a few minutes: read a book, watch a T.V. show, and/or brainstorm possible plot twists or endings. Do anything to get your mind off of not knowing what to write. 6. Sometimes it’s easier to start in the middle of the story, finish it, and return to the beginning at the end; keep that in mind if you feel stuck or lost while writing your novel.
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Issue 01 Oct/Nov 2016
Open Mic Nights Begin By SYDNEY SMITH Chilled fingers wrapped around mugs that read
“Superior Café” on Portage Avenue on the 20th of October. It was the first of many nights that the Bird’s Eye
Outfitters & Superior Coffee Café has set for Open Mic Night, a now weekly event, held from 7pm-10pm every Thursday. The turnout was not the best, but the talent was there. Garrett Chevrette, a freshman at Lake Superior
Chevrette, when asked about the importance of open mic nights for up-and-coming musicians. “Honestly, playing live is a great way to improve and perfect your skill. You go up and go out there, and you notice what you do wrong, what you can improve on, and what you did great.” Chevrette admits he has much to improve on, but he
is willing to put in the work to get better. He hopes to learn more popular songs in the weeks to come, so he can start taking requests from the crowd.
State University, was the only student musician who performed. Half a dozen other students were there, cheering him on, as he belted out songs by the Foo Fighters, Nirvana, and Korn. Broken guitar picks became the theme of the night as
Chevrette tossed a fellow student a broken one as he was playing onstage, which was answered with coos to have it signed when he was done performing. An older gentleman also accompanied Chevrette as
the night went on, pulling out his credit card to use as a guitar pick when his own snapped. “The Bird’s Eye Outfitters Café had a very relaxed and
laid back atmosphere. Their food and drinks are great, and so are the employees,” said Chevrette. “In fact, I think they were the ones enjoying my songs more than anyone else.” The lack of turn out ended up being advantageous to
Chevrette, who got to perform much longer than he anticipated. All of the employees were egging him on, giving him song suggestions, and recording his songs with their cell phones. “[Open mic nights] give an outlet for unknown artists,
or just people who like to entertain, by providing a structured outlet and attentive audience,” commented
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Oct/Nov 2016 Issue 01
Keeping
Great Lakes’
Atlantic Salmon By DJ SMITH Atlantic salmon are some of the most sought after salmon in the world, especially for their acrobatics and great fights. To insure future generations will be able to experience this same thrill, the Aquatic Research Laboratory (ARL) hatches and releases 20,000 Atlantic salmon into the St. Mary’s river every year, creating a world class fishery for everyone to enjoy. The ARL, at the old Cloverland hydroplant, is run by LSSU students and a few biologists. On October 31st and Nov 1st, students in the Fisheries and Wildlife club were able to help capture salmon so the lab could continue the Atlantic salmon stocking.
page 18
The process to capture these salmon was fairly simple. First, they would string a gill net across a few tubes, and would create a sharp turn in the net at one end so the salmon that would follow the net would run straight into the bend and get caught up. Once a salmon, or sometimes up to three salmon, were caught in the net, they would pull it up and lay the fish on the soft ground. While trying to keep the fish as calm as
Alive
possible, multiple people would work to get the fish out of the net quickly. After the fish was free from the net, it would be measured, weighed, and checked to see if it had any lamprey marks. The fin clipped, indicating the year class of the fish, was also looked at. Depending on the sex, and if it was ready to spawn, the fish would be set into tanks of cold water, and held in place until the fish would give a sign it was ready to be on its own. Unlike other salmon, Atlantics survive after spawning, and must be treated with more care than normal. The fish netting was a great success; everyone was able to handle different sizes of fish, anywhere from 2 to 10 pounds. Some of the hardest parts were watching the giant female Atlantics swim around or under the net. While watching countless females swim by unscathed, the ARL still needs more female Atlantics and will host another netting to try to fill there quote. This netting was a great experience for many members of the F&W club; they were able to care for these fish and experience what they might be doing for a career later in life.
Issue 01
By MICHAELA TITUS October 11, 2016 was the 28th Anniversary of National Coming Out Day. Twenty-eight years ago this past October, 200,000 members and allies of the LGBTQA community participated in the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. They recognized the need for change and employed their most powerful resource in prompting it: their voice. 200,000 people had the courage to shout to the world, “I am gay and I am proud!” For hundreds of years, members of the LGBTQA community have been written off by society as deviants, vagrants, and divergents. Society has marginalized them and largely ignored their existence, with the exception of gaining ground and acceptance in recent years. Due to their unique identities, LGBTQA students are at a higher risk than their fellow students for sexual assault. One of the largest issues facing LGBTQA students today is sexual assault. Studies conducted by the CDC on victimization by sexual orientation have found that the lifetime prevalence of rape, physical violence, and/ or stalking by an intimate partner for homosexual women was 44 percent, 61 percent for bisexual women, 35 percent for heterosexual women, 26 percent for homosexual men, 37 percent for bisexual men, and 29 percent for heterosexual men. If these numbers are not a cry for help, I do not know what is. 48 percent of bisexual women and 28 percent of heterosexual women experienced their first rape between the ages of 11 and 17. The Association of
American Universities released a survey in 2015 that is considered to be one of the largest surveys ever conducted on campus sexual assault among college students. They found that 3 in 5 LGBTQA students have been sexually harassed at school. Of those students, nearly 18 percent reported that these events occurred frequently. If anyone feels like they need someone to talk to, LSSU offers counseling services. If you’re looking for a group of peers to offer support and camaraderie, you can join GLOW, a special interest group that aims to, “educate, advocate, and create a supporting environment for gay, lesbian, bisexual, questioning, transgender, non-binary, and straight allies,” according to their profile on OrgSync. These are both great resources for anyone who is struggling, and if you feel alone or suicidal please reach out to a counselor. To college students who live on campus, campus is our home. It is not just where we go for biology class. It is where we live. Students who live on campuses that do not offer an alternative housing option for LGBTQA youth risk living with intolerant or homophobic roommates, subjecting them to potential danger in their own home. For students who face harassment, sexual assault, and threats based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, feeling safe in their “home” can be difficult. Imagine living in a place where you are not accepted for who you are. Imagine being surrounded by a hostile environment that could
Oct/Nov 2016
LGBTQA Issues on Campus turn volatile at the drop of a hat, with no escape. Imagine having to walk home at night on the same campus where you were sexually assaulted, knowing that your assaulter could be around any corner. This is the reality for many students in the LGBTQA community. Years of prejudice and misinformation have turned their peers into homophobics, potential assailants, and verbal abusers. A student should be able to feel safe in their home. If they cannot, we, as a society, have failed them. Their school, as an institution, has failed them. What can we all do to stand up against homophobia and create a safer environment for our LGBTQA peers? We can start by educating ourselves on the issues facing their community. Ignorance breeds prejudice. Reach out to a member of the community. Offer your support. Lend a hand. Offer a safe space, should they ever be in need of one. According to the Trevor Project, LGB youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than heterosexual youth, and questioning kids are two times more likely to attempt it. Close to half of the young transgender community have considered taking their lives, and a quarter of them report having made a serious attempt at suicide. Set aside the bigotry and the homophobia. Take the time to understand those who are different from you. Take action. You just might save a life.
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Oct/Nov 2016 Issue 01
R KE LA IT IR SP
On October 14, 2016, the Friday of Lake Superior State University’s Great Lake State Weekend, the LSSU Lakers battled it out with the Michigan State University Spartans on ice at the Taffy Abel Arena in Sault Ste. Marie.
The first of two homecoming hockey games started off strong, and only ended stronger.
A half hour before the game, people were pouring in. The entire student section was packed, everyone proudly displaying their Laker pride.
TS UP ER
Faces were painted and hair was dyed. Some wore morph suits, while the less flamboyant simply dressed in their Laker apparel. One student wore a banana outfit, and people exploded in cheers when he received a banana from one of the referees. Another student dressed in a dinosaur costume, and helped taunt the opposing team. Self-proclaimed LSSU heavyweight champion talked a big game about how we were going to win, ending with shouting, “Let’s go Lakers,” gaining cheers and applause from the entire student section. He lead quite a few cheers in attempt to boost spirit, and he definitely succeeded in his efforts.
Around 7:00 pm, kazoos were passed out to the student section, and their noise was the only thing heard for nearly 10 minutes. Even as the game was played, students could still be heard, humming along with their kazoos.
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Seamore danced along to songs while on the ice, and it was impossible not to join in. Thankfully, no one hesitated.
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“Pep band is in point!” shouted one student. “This is the best they’ve sounded yet!”
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Pep band and Seamore both did a great job at boosting spirit, as well as taunting Michigan State. It was all in good fun, so everyone had a blast when they joined in.
Issue 01 Oct/Nov 2016
5th grader, Ally, sang the Canadian and American anthems, and did a fantastic job at it. Goosebumps could be felt rising as she sang, and many were singing along. At precisely 7:40 pm, the puck dropped and the game started. It did not start quietly, either. Students and faculty alike were cheering, until their voices gave out. It seemed to be a general rule that if you left the game with a voice, you were not cheering loud enough. Either way, it was the best display of team spirit shown in a long time, and LSSU President Tom Pleger agreed, as well. The first period of the game finished 2-1 in the Laker’s favor. In the second period, the Lakers continued to get ahead, ending the period with a score of 3-1. The game finished with a score of 6-1, the Lakers beating the Spartans by a landslide. All in all, it was a great end to a great game, one that no one has stopped talking about, even weeks later.
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Magazine
Understanding Creativity in its true sense June / July 2015 Issue 01
At Right: The Lakers celebrate a goal by J.T. Henke (7) late in the third period against Michigan State. Fourteen different Lakers had goals or assists in the series sweep.
LAKERS DOMINATE MICHIGAN STATE An impressive opening week sweep from the LSSU hockey team By MIKE BARRETT It had been three years since the Lake Superior State Lakers scored six goals in a game. That came to an end on Friday the 14th of October, and it kept getting better. Only a day after, in front of a packed Taffy Abel Arena crowd of nearly 3,500, the Lakers scored four first period goals on their way to a 7-3 victory over Michigan State on Great Lake State Weekend. “The crowd had a huge impact on our game. Huge credit to them and also to our student section,” said Lakers head coach, Damon Whitten. “This is a big year for us, being 50 years, and also a big weekend, with it being Great Lake State Weekend. It was huge for our team to be able to feed off that crowd.” page 22
Lake Superior opened the scoring on a power play goal when freshman, Max Humitz, tipped the puck past Spartan goaltender, John Lethemon, who was making his first career start. The Lakers finished 2 for 4 on the power play Saturday night and 6 for 16 on the weekend. “As you look around the nation, special teams are going to be extremely important,” said Whitten. “I give a lot of credit to [assistant coaches] Rich Metro and Doug Holewa. We spend a lot of time on it, knowing how important it was. I thought our penalty kill was tremendous, and obviously our power play cashed in quite a bit.” Lakers captain, Gus Correale, had two goals in the first period, including a shorthanded goal on a 2 on 2, while
Josh Nenadal was serving a penalty for holding. Correale beat Lethemon by collecting the rebound from a long shot by Diego Cuglietta, and punching it in on the stick side. The Lakers would build a four goal lead going into the locker room after the first period. Lethemon would not return, and was replaced by Ed Minney. Minney was the starting goaltender Friday night, who had been tagged for the six Laker goals that game. The change of netminder seemed to spark Michigan State, as the Spartan offense would finally solve Laker goaltender, Gordie Defiel, with two quick goals partway into the second period to cut the Lakers lead to 4-2.
Magazine
June / July 2015 Issue 01
Understanding Creativity in its true sense
The Lakers would respond three minutes later with a goal from Anthony Nellis. Later in the period, the Lakers would add to their lead when Mitch Hults put a shot over the far shoulder of Minney on the power play. Michigan State would get themselves on the board again late in the second period to spark some momentum going into the locker room. The Lakers defensive corps, however, would continue to frustrate the Spartans, and keep them off the scoreboard the rest of the way. The Spartans would go 0 for 7 on the power play Saturday night to finish 1 for 18 on the weekend. Their best chance for a power play tally on Saturday came in the second when Logan Lambdin drilled a shot on net, only to be denied by a diving glove save by Defiel. LSSU would add one more goal late in the third period when J.T. Henke dug a puck out of the corner that bounced off of Michigan State defenseman, Anthony Scarsella, and goaltender,
Minney, and went in the net. MSU was without assistant captain, Rhett Holland, who received a disqualification Friday night for starting a 3rd period fight with the Laker’s Anthony Nellis. Because of this, the Spartans had five freshmen defensemen in their lineup. “It’s great to have two wins to start the season,” said Whitten on his team’s start. “We don’t have a long exhibition season to set up special teams or establish chemistry, so a lot of credit to our players.” The last time Lake Superior scored 7 goals in a game was January 2nd, 2009, when the Lakers defeated the Robert Morris Colonials, 7-6. The 13 goal weekend was the most productive for the Lakers since November of 2005, when Lake Superior downed former conference foe, Western Michigan, by scores of 10-0 and 3-1.
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Oct/Nov 2016 Issue 01
Laker captain, Gus Correale, brings the puck past the Michigan State bench. Correale had two first period goals, including a shorthanded tally.
Laker defenseman, Owen Headrick, centers the puck after digging it out of the corner. Headrick finished the weekend with a goal and five assists, and was named WCHA coDefensive Player of the Week.
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By MIKE BARRETT
Sometimes, it’s just the way the puck bounces. In a continuation of the very physical play seen on Friday night, the Lake Superior State Lakers fell for the first time this season to the Nanooks of the University of Alaska– Fairbanks. The loss ended the Lakers five game winning streak to start the season. The 5-1-0 start, however, is the best the Lakers have accomplished since the 1995-96 season, which was the last season Lake State qualified for the NCAA Tournament. “It was a good little run for us,” said Lakers head coach, Damon Whitten, on the start his team has had this season. “Special teams became extremely important, and for the first time we wound up on the wrong end of them and that can cost you a hockey game.” For the third straight game, the Lakers found themselves the victims of the first goal. Just like the previous times, Lake Superior was able to dig themselves out of the hole. “We hadn’t really trailed much before this weekend, so it was nice to see that we can come back, chip away and get back into it,” said Whitten. Alaska opened the scoring under four minutes into the game, when Marcus Basara beat Lakers sophomore goaltender, Nick Kossoff, who was making his season debut. Laker freshman defenseman, Collin Saccoman, received a game misconduct for hitting from behind and a five minute major penalty. The Lakers nearly managed to kill off the penalty, until Ross Heidt put one past Kossoff to put the Nanooks up 2-0 with just over 30 seconds left on the penalty. Concerning the loss of Saccoman, Whitten said he felt the defense responded extremely well. “I really liked our D corps, although they did get tired late in the game. [His loss] affects everything though, power play and penalty kill. It did take us a bit to get our power play back under control.” The Lakers would begin to close the gap when Gage Torrel beat Nanooks goaltender, Jesse Jenks, on a rebound from a blistering shot by freshman defenseman, Kris Bindulis, to cut the deficit to 2-1 with just under five minutes to play in the first period.,
Issue 01 Oct/Nov 2016
Lakers split series with Alaska during Pink in the Rink Mitch Hults managed to tie the game less than a minute into the second period, when he beat Jenks over the shoulder and under the crossbar. Despite peppering Jenks, the Lakers were unable to notch a go-ahead goal in that period. Lake Superior held a 28 to 10 shot advantage after two periods. “Jenks was the difference maker tonight,” said Whitten. Jenks had, the previous week, stymied the vaunted offense of the Minnesota State Mavericks in a series split in Fairbanks. With no scoring in the first half of the third period, a pivotal moment in the game came midway through the third, when the Lakers took two penalties in quick succession to put them at a two man disadvantage. They again were only seconds away from killing off the penalty, when Alaska’s Zach Frye put the Nanooks back in the lead with a shot over the shoulder of Kossoff on the short side. Down but not out, the Lakers would storm back when Hults fed a pass to defenseman, Kyle Chatham, who broke away with the puck and was able to give it back to Hults, who was racing up his right side. Hults fired the puck past Jenks on the far side to tie it at three goals apiece, and send the game to overtime. In the waning moments of the third period, Alaska’s Basara would go off for slashing, giving the Lakers a power play going into overtime. In the overtime period, however, the Nanooks came out strong, challenging the Lakers in their own zone. Alaska would successfully kill the penalty, and moments later, Basara would net the game winner as he took a shot that was stopped by a sprawling Kossoff, but trickeled away. Basara tipped the puck in, despite Hults diving in the way in an attempt to stave off defeat. “I think we played better [Saturday] than we did [Friday],” commented Whitten. “Every night, it doesn’t matter who you play or where, you have to play 60 to 65 minutes, 200 feet all over the ice. It’s a tough way to go down.” On the play of his special teams, Whitten said “I’m not overly concerned about our special teams because of how good they’ve been so far, but they did cost us tonight.” Lake State went 1 for 8 on the power play, while UAF went 2 for 7.
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Oct/Nov 2016 Issue 01
Softball at LSSU Lives On By MIKE BARRETT
The Lake Superior State softball team was eliminated as a varsity team at the conclusion of the 42nd season. The sport, however, is still around, having reformed as a club team. Under the leadership of their coach, Linda Bouvet, Assistant Sports Information Director at Lake State, the team has been a success on the field, competing as members of the National Club Softball Association (NCSA.) “We formed the club team after the varsity program was disbanded last spring,” said Bouvet. “This is a great group of girls with a lot of talent, and we wanted to give them an opportunity to compete.” It was very infrequent for the varsity Lakers to host home games. Due to the season being in the spring, most games scheduled to be played in Sault Ste. Marie would ultimately be cancelled due to weather. With a fall season, however, the home games are able to be played before the snow flies. “It is definitely a nice advantage to play at home, though these girls are probably a bit more comfortable playing road games than they are home games because they are so well-traveled,” said Bouvet. “It sure is a lot cheaper to play at home and great for the girls to be able to play in front of their friends.” page 26
The Lakers compete in the Eastern
Division of the Great Lakes Conference. Other members of the division include club teams from Michigan State, Central Michigan, Oakland University, and Grand Valley State. 124 teams compete in the NCSA, including nine in Michigan. Other teams in Michigan play in the Great Lakes Conference-Western Division (Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech) and the Great American Conference-Western Division (Michigan and Eastern Michigan). The team has a solid makeup, with seven former members of the varsity team on the active roster. In the October NCSA poll, the Lakers were ranked 12th in the nation. Bouvet said that she hopes to play some games with Northern Michigan over the winter at the Superior Dome in Marquette. The varsity Lakers regularly participated in games at the Dome in the Finlandia Dome Tournament. “The season runs all year long,” said Bouvet. “The nice thing about the NCSA is we can choose when we play, so most northern schools play some games during both seasons.” The fall session wrapped up on October 30th with three games against Oakland U. The Lakers finished the
fall slate with a record of 11 and 4 (5 and 4 in conference play.) Highly anticipated games against twelfthranked Grand Valley on October 22nd and 23rd had to be postponed due to poor field conditions, and will be made up April 8th. The major highlight of the fall season was a championship at the inaugural Indy Invitational on October 8-9th in Elkhart, Indiana. At the invitational, the Lakers would go 87 for 192 at the plate in a number of high scoring affairs. As a result of their efforts at the invitational, Taylor Steinhelper (OF, UT) and Jenna Killips (P/3B) were named NCSA Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week, respectively. In April, the NCSA Playoffs take place and Bouvet hopes to have her team be a part of them. “My understanding,” commented Bouvet, “is that we have to win our division or receive an at-large bid (like winning the wild card) to qualify for the playoffs.” The spring schedule will be announced at a later date. Participation in the team is open to full time LSSU students. For more information, contact Linda Bouvet at lbouvet@lssu.edu.
20th after split with Mavericks By MIKE BARRETT In a rematch of the first round of last season’s WCHA playoffs, Lake Superior State split their weekend series with a 5-1 win and a 2-1 loss against the Mavericks of Minnesota State University–Mankato. Lake Superior (6-2-0, 4-2-0-0 WCHA) was able to open up a quick two goal lead on the Mavericks in the first game of the series. Josh Nenadal got the Lakers on the board when he redirected a shot from defenseman, Owen Headrick, for his first goal of the year.
The Mavericks, after having a Ryan Schwalbe goal disallowed early in the second period, would eventually open up a two goal advantage courtesy of Jordan Nelson, who beat Defiel while shorthanded, on a feed from Max Coatta. Mankato was able to score a shorthanded goal in both games of the series, with the Friday goal being the only goal that night for the Mavericks. The Lakers finally got their chance to answer midway through the game. J.T. Henke would cut the Lakers deficit in half, on the powerplay, when he received a feed behind the net from Anthony Nellis. Henke then put the puck over the outstretched leg of goaltender, Jason Pawloski. Defenses continued to rule the day, with the final shots in favor of the Mavericks 25 to 20. The game began to take on a much more physical tone late in the second period and into the third.
Less than two minutes later, freshman forward, Brayden Gelsinger, had a pass from Mitch Hults go off his skate and into the net to put LSSU up 2-0. Hults was recently named WCHA Player of the Month for October.
“I always think a Mike Hastings-coached team is very tough to play against,” said Whitten on the style of play. “They play the game hard and when they add in that skill that they have, they become a very difficult matchup.”
Despite Minnesota State cutting into the Laker lead in the second period, the Mavericks were unable to tie things up, as Gage Torrel would put a shot over the shoulder of Mankato goaltender, Cole Huggins. Following his third surrendured goal of the night, coach, Mike Hastings, pulled Huggins in favor of backup goalie, Jason Pawloski.
The Lakers had chances in the third period, but Pawloski was able to turn the Lakers away with the help of his defense to preserve the 2-1 score.
In the third period, Lake Superior would victimize Pawloski as well, with freshman, Max Humitz, getting his fourth goal of the year on an incredible play, in which he slid the puck past the outstretched leg of Pawloski. An empty-net goal from Diego Cuglietta would seal the deal for Lake State en route to a 5-1 victory. The Mavericks (7-3-0, 5-3-0-0 WCHA) came into the weekend ranked 10th in the nation in the U.S. College Hockey Online poll. Minnesota State had split a series the previous weekend against Ferris State, the team that eliminated them from the WCHA playoffs back in March. Following the series, the Mavericks would drop to 11th in the poll. The Lakers, meanwhile, found themselves a ranked team for the first time since January of 2014. The team had received votes in the poll since their opening weekend against Michigan State, but finally garnered enough votes to peg them as the 20th team in the country. In the second game of the series, both teams struggled early and had trouble finding their stride. Mankato, however, looked to be gaining the better of the play in the waning moments of the first period, and would get on the board first on a power play. Mavericks forward, Brad McClure,
Issue 01
Lakers ranked
“Give Mankato credit for establishing a tempo, and winning more 50-50 battles,” commented Whitten. “I thought a bit of a sluggish start for us cost us.”
Oct/Nov 2016
would put a long shot past Laker goalie, Gordie Defiel.
“The Friday night win is great, and you want to come back and do it again on Saturday. You can look back at last year, where we hadn’t won at Ferris State in a long time or beaten Mankato, but that was last year. We’re a different team now, an improved team, so we’re not going to worry so much about old stats,” said Whitten. “They’ve had our number, but we’re 2-2 against them in the last four games, so hopefully we’re on the better side of flipping that around.” “I thought it was a very good college hockey game,” said Whitten, on the Saturday night game. “It was a good learning experience for us, but disappointing. We want to be great at home and win home ice and we weren’t able to do that tonight.” The Lakers will be on the road for their next three series, in which their ranking will be put to the test. After a trip to WCHA regular season co-champion Michigan Tech, the Lakers will be in Big Rapids to take on WCHA playoff champion Ferris State. Finally, former conference nemesis Michigan will be paid a visit on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving. Lake Superior will return home December 2-3 for a home series against Bowling Green. The Falcons were the preseason favorite to win the WCHA. A rough start, however, has put them in a position needing to make up much lost ground. page 27
Oct/Nov 2016
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Issue 01
Women’s tennis ends falls season with loss to Michigan Tech
The Lakers started off on the right foot by sweeping the doubles portion of the match 3-0. Sophomores, Tara Harvey and Jenay Andrews, opened up with a 8-3 win over the Huskies’ Kwang Suthijindawong and Sandra Cvetanovic. Juniors, Laura Fernandez and Macarena Bielsa, continued the success of the Lakers by prevailing 8-1 over Paola Quintana and Allenca Rolim.
Issue 01 Oct/Nov 2016
In the final tennis match of the 2016 fall season, the lady Lakers dropped their home contest to Michigan Tech 5-4.
The doubles sweep was completed by senior, Laura Roberts, and sophomore, Allison Grandfield, as they topped Vicky Quinde and Natalia Parra, 8-6. The Huskies, however, came back to life during the singles portion. Michigan Tech took the first two singles matches, as Suthijindawong would prevail over doubles opponent, Harvey, by scores of 6-1 and 6-0, and Roberts was downed by Quintana by 6-2 and 7-5 results.
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Lake Superior would get a point in the third singles match when Bielsa topped Cvetanovic to put the Lakers within reach of victory. However, the Huskies’ Quinde, Parra, and Rolim proved too much for Fernandez, Andrews, and Grandfield. The Laker’s Fernandez, in number four singles, was nearly able to propel her team to the match victory by extending the singles to a third set, before falling 6-2, 6-7, and 6-4.
With a 4-8 record and a 3-8 conference record, the Lakers just missed out on the GLIAC Women’s Tennis Tournament, as Hillsdale finished one win ahead of Lake State. The Laker women will return to play on February 18th, when they will travel to Lawrence Tech.
Looking for more sports?
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t is our intention to bring readers information from as many teams at LSSU as possible. This includes varsity, junior varsity and club teams. We intend on making a greater presence at athletic events in the future. While some sports are done for the year, we are
open to doing a retrospective/review of the season. Check out our next edition. Information on club teams, such as schedules, can be difficult
to locate at times. If you are affiliated with a club team and would like to see that team covered in The Compass, please send a schedule to Mike Barrett at mbarrett2@lssu.edu. We will do our best to ensure coverage.
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Oct/Nov 2016 Issue 01
Victory for the Chicago Cubs By CONNOR REPPUHN and SYDNEY SMITH
Ever since the 1945 World Series, the mere mention of a goat has struck a chord with Chicago Cubs fans. The Cubs, one of the most successful baseball teams at that point in time, went into Game 4 at Wrigley Field with a 2-1 game lead against the Detroit Tigers. Anticipation and excitement followed, as well as Greek bar owner, William Sianis, his goat, Murphy, and a curse that would last decades. According to the Billy Goat Tavern, the pair arrived at Wrigley Field, only to be disallowed entrance by P.K Wrigley, the owner of the Cubs, “because the goat [stank].” Taking offense to that, Sianis proclaimed that the Cubs were not going to win anymore. After blowing the lead and the series to the Tigers, Sianis sent a telegram to Wrigley asking, “Who stinks page 30
now?” Their luck never turned back around. The World Series became a hopeless dream, and the motto “wait ‘til next year” began following the team. In 2016, “next year” became “this year.” Hope was alive for every diehard Chicago fan, even when the outlook seemed grim. Starting off the series, the Indians cleaned up the Cubs at Progressive field with a 6-0 victory, making Chicago fans a little uneasy. Nonetheless, the Cubs showed spirit as they returned the
following day to pull off an on-theroad victory to tie the series 1-1. Both Cleveland and Chicago fans realized that this might not be a breeze in either direction, rather a bloodthirsty dogfight. That is, until Cleveland left a footprint in Chicago two days later. Pulling off a mere 1-0 victory in Game 3, and then a 7-1 victory in Game 4, the Cleveland Indians only needed one more victory to call themselves 2016 World Series Champions. Game 5 scored the biggest attendance of the 2016 World Series because every Chicago fan dreamed of a comeback, and every Cleveland fan thirsted for the title — but it would not come easily. After a slow start, the Cubs had a huge 4th inning, scoring three runs that included a solo home run from Kris Bryant. The Indians scored once more at the top of the 6th, but could not pull it off in Chicago for the third time. The
Issue 01
An early lead in baseball can be hard to overcome, which is why Chicago fans were roaring as the Cubs took a 7-0 lead by the end of the 3rd inning. Thoughts of the curse finally being broken coursed through the minds of every baseball fan, as Chicago won Game 6 with a victory of 9-3. On November 2nd, the TVs were set, the radios were tuned, and there was history to be made. Game 7 of the 2016 World Series is considered to be one of the most exciting, nerve-racking, and biggest games in MLB history. Going into the 8th inning, Chicago led the Indians 6-3. With some relief pitchers, all the Cubs had to do to break the curse was hold off two more innings. Unfortunately for them, the Indians were not going down
without a fight. Scoring three runs in the 8th to tie the game, baseball fans across the nation did not know what to expect next. After a 17-minute rain delay, Game 7 went into extra innings. Everything was on the line for these teams. The bandwagoners and die-hards alike
were awaiting the dramatic end of this historic World Series finale. Off a double in the 10th inning, the Cubs scored two runs, taking an 8-6 lead. The Indians knew what had to be done, but they could not quite pull it off. Cleveland scored once more
Oct/Nov 2016
Photo by ARTURO PARDAVILA III series was 3-2 as the teams headed back to Progressive Field.
giving a final breath of hope to their city before three outs were called. 8-7 the final score, Cubs winning in extra innings, overcoming a 3-1 deficit and 108 years of drought. “It was like a heavyweight fight, man, just blow for blow, everybody playing their hearts out,” said the 35 year old, Ben Zobrist, who joined the Cubs as a free agent in the offseason, and was named most valuable player. “The Indians never gave up, either, and I can’t believe we’re finally standing, after 108 years, finally able to hoist the trophy.” The Cubs are already favored to win it all again next year, keeping the core of their young, World Series winning team through at least the 2019 season. Who stinks now? Definitely not the Chicago Cubs.
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Oct/Nov 2016
We’ve got movie sign.
Issue 01
Over fifteen years after hearing the phrase uttered in broadcast for the last time, the 90’s cult classic television show “Mystery Science Theater 3000,” also known as MST3K, is making a comeback. After an aggressive Kickstarter campaign in November and December of 2015 that raised over $5.7 million (over $3 million above the original target amount,) the show will produce fourteen new episodes. It will be hosted on Netflix, with new episodes debuting either in late 2016 or early 2017. MST3K originated as the brainchild of Joel Hodgson, a writer and stand-up comedian from Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Hodgson took a simple premise – making fun of films and television shows – and turned it into what TIME magazine called in 2007 one of the 100 best televison shows of all time. To flesh out the show more, Hodgson extended the premise to involve a janitor named Joel Robinson (played by Hodgson), who is trapped in a spaceship, forced to watch terrible films by his evil scientist captors back on Earth, the eccentric Dr. Clayton Forrester and the timid Dr. Laurence Erhardt (played by fellow comedians Trace Beaulieu and Josh Weinstein). To keep himself from going insane, Joel, along with robots he fashioned from “spare” parts aboard the ship named Crow T. Robot, Tom Servo and Gypsy (voiced by Beaulieu, Weinstein and producer Jim Mallon respectively), lampoons, or “riffs,” the films while sitting in the theater of the spaceship. The mad scientists, who are often referred to as “the mads” for short, are searching for the perfect bad film in an attempt to break the will of the viewer, and use Robinson as their test subject. The show made its premier November 24, 1988 on KTMA-TV23 in Minneapolis. After one season, the show was sold to The Comedy Channel (later Comedy Central), where it eventually gained a national following. Several changes in the cast would occur during the run of the show, including the departure of Weinstein after the first official season (the KTMA season often being referred to as season zero), and Beaulieu after the seventh season. Frank Conniff, who joined the cast in season two as the character TV’s Frank, a replacement for Weinstein’s character, would depart after season six. The biggest loss, however, was the departure of Hodgson midway through season five. Hodgson would be replaced onscreen by Mike Nelson, the head writer of the show, who played the helpless victim named after himself.
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After seven seasons, Comedy Central cancelled
MST3K, only to have it picked up by the Sci-Fi channel for the last three seasons of its original run. During these seasons, Nelson and the robots would be sent films by a group of new characters, led by the mother of Dr. Forrester, Pearl Forrester (Mary Jo Pehl). She would be aided by the Planet of the Apes-inspired Professor Bobo (Kevin Murphy, who also took over as the voice of Tom Servo after the departure of Weinstein), and the omnipotent alien Brain Guy (Bill Corbett, who became the voice of Crow T. Robot following Beaulieu’s departure).
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Many of the films handled by MST3K were older films that were used as double features at drive-in theaters in the 1950s and 60s. A healthy smattering of films from the 70s and 80s that received wide theatrical releases were also riffed. Many films featured have since gained reputations for being among the worst films ever made, whether for poor acting, dismal effects, inept writing, gaping plot holes, and more.
RET O M
After the end of MST3K, much of the cast and crew found themselves working on projects similar in scope to MST3K. Hodgson, Beaulieu, Pehl, Weinstein, and Conniff worked on Cinematic Titanic, which basically functioned as a live version of MST3K. This show, which made fun mostly of B movies, performed from 2007 until 2013. Perhaps better known is the project undertaken by Nelson, Corbett, and Murphy called RiffTrax, which started in 2006 and continues to produce today. While Cinematic Titanic worked on obscure films, RiffTrax takes shots at newer releases. To avoid licensing issues, RiffTrax issues their performances as commentaries in mp3 format. Viewers can sync the commentary up to the film, which they provide themselves.
The Netflix revival is set to feature Jonah Ray as Jonah Heston, the new host and test subject. Ray will be joined onscreen by Felicia Day and Patton Oswalt, who will play Kinga Forrester (the daugher of Dr. Forrester) and TV’s Son of TV’s, Frank, respectively. Most of the cast members from the original run will also be seen as guests from time to time.
By
Issue 01 Oct/Nov 2016
Hit the button, Frank.
TURN OF MST3K
y MIKE BARRETT
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Oct/Nov 2016 Issue 01
MST3K episodes Manos: the Hands of Fate (1966)
A
hapless family on a car trip in rural Texas takes refuge at a “lodge� that turns out
to be the home of a deadly cult.
Robot Monster (1953)
A
fter invaders from space wipe out most of humanity, a surviving family confronts
their robot nemesis.
Attack of the Giant Leeches (1959)
F
olks begin vanishing near a Florida swamp, and a game warden discovers the culprits
are mutant leeches.
Produced by an El Paso fertilizer salesman who did the whole thing on a bet.
Overdrawn at the Memory Bank (1983)
I
n an dystopian future, a corporate drone discovers a way to project himself into his
a favorite movie.
Monster a Go Go (1965)
A
uthorities launch a search for an irradiated astronaut they believe has returned to
Earth as a giant mutant. Contains possibly the worst ending ever to a movie.
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Mitchell (1975)
A
slovenly cop is determined to bring a mob kingpin to justice. Actor Joe Don Baker was so unhappy with the treatment of this film that he threatened physical violence on the MST3K staff, if he ever met any of them in public.
Issue 01 Oct/Nov 2016
Many episodes of the show are available on YouTube. For those who find the concept enjoyable but have not seen MST3K, here are a few episodes to check out (with descriptions taken from Satellite News at www.mst3kwiki.com) To keep up with the latest on MST3K, visit mst3k.com. For more on RiffTrax, visit rifftrax.com Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964)
D
etermined to bring Christmas to their home planet, Martians kidnap
Santa Claus. Notable episode for introducing the Christmas classic
Pod People (1984)
W
hen some alien eggs hatch, it spells trouble for a pair of poachers,
a vacationing singer and his entourage and an isolated family.
“A Patrick Swayze Christmas.”
The Brain That Wouldn’t Die (1959)
W
hen a doctor’s fiancee is decapitated, he keeps her head alive in his
laboratory and tries to find her a new body.
The Last Chase (1981)
I
n a car-less, gas-less, oppressive future depopulated by a plague, a disgruntled ex-
racecar driver attempts to escape to California with a nerdy kid in tow.
Laserblast (1977)
A
troubled teen finds an alien’s weapon and takes revenge on those who
taunted him. Film critic Leonard Maltin infamously gave it 2 and a
The Final Sacrifice (1990)
S
earching for his long-lost father, a teen runs afoul of a devil-worshiping cult, then
teams up with a beer-guzzling drifter.
half stars out of 4.
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Oct/Nov 2016 Issue 01
Founding Fathers in the Spotlight
By SYDNEY SMITH
But when you’re gone, who remembers your name? Who keeps your flame? The stage came alive with lights, dance, and song at the PrivateBank Theater in Chicago, Illinois on the night of October 15, 2016. There is a reason everyone has been talking about the American musical, Hamilton, thought up and written by the ever-so-talented Lin-Manuel Miranda. All of the hype is backed by countless awards and titles, including 11 trophies at the 70th Annual Tony Awards, one of which being the biggest of them all: Best Musical. The thought-provoking musical, depicting the life and eventual demise of one of the most influential Founding Fathers, Alexander Hamilton, utilizes a mix of humor and creativity that takes a dry subject and makes it soar to insurmountable measures. Miranda has perfectly crafted songs that are uniquely witty to combat the darkness and struggle that the musical also portrays. That balance has been a large key to Miranda’s success. Hamilton takes a new spin on tradition by incorporating rap in the majority of the songs with a cast composed of mainly Hispanics and African Americans. Hip-hop flare is evident in every scene, from arguments to love songs, while actual rap battles take place over cabinet meeting discussions between Thomas Jefferson (Chris De’Sean Lee) and Alexander Hamilton (Miguel Cervantes).
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Although the musical is moving in itself, I am most impressed by the widespread influence it has had. People have gained interest in the history of the Founding Fathers. I doubt very much that I am the only one who looked up more information
on Alexander Hamilton after seeing the musical. History is memorable if it is told as a good story, which Miranda has done seamlessly. Alexander Hamilton underwent a dreary early life, but made a name for himself by advising General George Washington, becoming a major author of the Federalist Papers, and becoming the nation’s first secretary of the treasury. He was killed in a duel with Aaron Burr, who blamed Hamilton for his inability to get elected, and did not have a very friendly relationship with Hamilton. One of the most moving songs on the soundtrack, “Wait For It,” is sung by said Aaron Burr (Joshua Henry). As in all of his songs, Lin-Manuel Miranda writes to not only get the story across, but actually dig deeper into life and the frustration that arose when the men who knew the laws forward and backward could not figure out how life itself could be so ungovernable. Aaron Burr (Joshua Henry) belts out the words, “Death does not discriminate between the sinners and the saints—it takes and it takes and it takes and we keep living anyway.” I highly recommend anyone and everyone to see this musical if the chance arises. Until then, look up the music, or delve into the life of Alexander Hamilton yourself. You may have songs stuck in your head for a couple of days, but you surely will not be disappointed. One word to describe Hamilton: brilliant.
Issue 01 Oct/Nov 2016
Photos of the original Broadway run of Hamilton courtesy of Broadway.com and photographer Joan Marcus
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