The North Idaho College Sentinel Vol. 70, No. 7 February 27, 2017

LADY CARDS BATTLE WITH WARRIORS

Features Chocolate Affair melts hearts | Page 3 Perspectives Overheard: what do you do? | Page 4 SPORTS Coaching is more than a job| Page 6

Women’s team loses sight of playoffs after loss Page 6

theSentinel

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF NORTH IDAHO COLLEGE

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2017

W W W. N IC S EN TIN EL . C O M

Volume 70 | Issue 7

Cardinals crowned league champions

Sophomore Sam Dowd drives in for a basket against Community Colleges of Spokane. NIC beat Spokane 93-71 on Feb. 18, tying the Cardinals for first in the league. The Cardinals’ most recent win over Walla Walla clinched NWAC East for NIC. Dowd has averaged 17 points and seven rebounds per game in his final season at NIC. See story page 6. Katie Hartwig/Sentinel

NIC’s medical assistant program ranks top in nation Michelle Mills Managing Editor The medical assistant program is a well-kept secret gem at NIC. It is small, but thriving, according to the program director and instructor, Cindy Pavel.

The American Association of Medical Assistants agrees. The medical assistant exam tests three main areas: general knowledge, clinical and administrative.

Pavel had 15 students take the test, and their averages were 80 percent for general knowledge, 83 percent for administrative and 83 percent for clinical, while the national averages were, correspondingly 65, 64 and 67 percent.

“But it’s not just one year that that happened,” Pavel said. “It’s consistent.”

The national exam is different every year. But NIC’s medical assistant students’ ranking is not. Their grades remain consistently above average, according to the American Association of Medical Assistants. In fact, the grade averages for firsttime test takers at NIC are even better than the second-time test takers in the nation.

NIC’s average scale score is 663, which leaves students in the 99th percentile on a scale of one to 640.

And since Pavel’s program is small, that means even one failed test can make a big dent in the grade average, which also

Can you escape in 59 min?

Test your abilities at 59:Escape Adventures Features Page 3

Brittany Tow (left) and Kimmy Wagner (right) test their medical assisting skills on volunteer Halle Hatfield (center). The career is great for parents who want regular hours for being with their kids more. Photo courtesy Chris Pfieffer

QUOTABLE

See MEDICAL | Page 2

“Our job is to help them grow in the game of basketball as well as in the game of life.”

Page 6

WHERE TO START News...........................2

Sports.......................6

Features...................3

Games.....................7

Perspectives..............4

JazzNIC ......... . . . . . 8

class days left

42

UNTILSemeste

ENDS

r

News

Feautres tip? Story idea?

Contact the Sentinel -- sentinel@nic.edu

PAGE 2

WWW.NICSENTINEL.COM

MONDAY, FEB. 27, 2017

The Actors, Vagabonds and Such Club drew students in with their lessons on making oragimi-style elephants out of gray hand towels. Michelle Mills/Sentinel

Club fair returns after snow day postponement Michelle Mills & Nathaniel ately-sized crowd of interested club shoppers with some only Symons Managing Editor & Staff Writer window shopping and enjoying Booths lined the entry to the SUB and trailed into the dining area during the club fair on Feb. 16. They displayed a range of activities and attractions from “pin the heart on the body,” to towel sculptures of elephants.

The tables also bore assortments of candy and buttons scattered around to draw in any students interested in joining a club. There were multiple choices to pick from, though not all clubs were present.

The club fair was initially supposed to take place the week before, on Feb. 9. However, it was cancelled when NIC closed campus due to inclement weather.

The fair bounced back, though, and drew in a moder-

the affair, while others took more serious interest.

“I think it’s a really great idea, honestly,” said Reese Beard, 16, biochemistry major with the Chemistry Club. “It’s nice to see how many clubs there are. I’m glad they do it.”

However, she said the club fair during the spring semester just doesn’t draw in as much of a crowd or as many members as the it does in the fall.

“But it’s a good idea,” she said. “I like to see all the clubs and see what goes on.”

One of the new things going on was the debut of the new Progression Club, a place for students with a passion for positive change. Nick Dorsey, general studies, 20, and Connor Haas, political science and philosophy double major, 20, represented their new club

during the fair.

“We’re pretty much a group of students that are concerned about the most recent political climate,” Haas said. “We want to do grass roots activism in order to combat that.”

They said that they are most interested in topics that fall under progressive values such as environmentalism, human rights and religious tolerance.

They want to take their message off campus too, by getting involved in the community and collaborating with Indivisible North Idaho, which is a larger political group working toward the same goals.

Dorsey said the club fair was great for students looking for any club to join. And he said it was great free advertising for clubs.

Haas said, “It’s a great way to be involved with everyone else on the campus.”

(Right) The Medical Professions Club offered for students to try their hand at pinning the paper heart on the human body sketched on a poster. Michelle Mills/Sentinel

>MEDICAL

means that 100 percent of her students passed the exam.

“But it’s not just about passing the test,” Pavel said.

NIC’s medical assistant program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. And to participate in the Commission, Pavel must publish her results, but instead of only publishing her students’ test scores, Pavel chose to publish employer’s satisfaction, which was 100 percent, as well as student satisfaction with the program, which was also at 100 percent. Pavel said that it is employer and student satisfaction that gives the program just as much credit as the high test scores.

Pavel said that it is the employer satisfaction ranking that lets future employers know that current and past employers are happy with her students.

“It’s like, everyone who gets out of the program has a job waiting for them,” said Chris Green, Student Success Navigator, ICE Healthcare Partnership, TAACCCT IV Health Professions and Nursing. “And that’s rare these days.”

Green said he likes the medical assistant program because it is short and gets students in a doctor’s office and working with patients soon after completion. And since working with patients is the medical assis-

from page 1

mom,” Pavel said. tant’s primary job, they get to know them Medical assistants work during the well. day so they don’t have night hours and get “You tend to get more time with the home by five or six in the evening. They medical assistant, so you almost get to don’t typically work weekends unless the know your medical assistant more than you office is open on weekends. do your doctor,” Green said.

The program is also a gateway to other It takes 11 months to complete the program with a certification. Students may also medical professional jobs in the healthcare industry such as nursing, patient care, phydecide to go on to get their associates after sician or physician’s assistant. Assistants obtaining the certificate. Medical assistants may also decide that they prefer are paid more than certified the patient record keeping as opnursing assistants, but not “It can posed to the patient care aspect as much as nurses. They of the job. work in tandem with doceither be “It’s kind of the hub for tors, but not independently that launch healthcare professionals,” Green from them. board... or it said. “So you get to this wide A medical assistant works with the patients by can be your spectrum of different experiences, and that can really direct getting their pulse, blood future.” you on where to go, who to see-pressure and temperature. which profession, rather, fits you They also directly relay the best.” patient’s needs before the CHRIS GREEN “So, it can either be that doctor sees them, among Student Success Navigator launch board for further careers, other things. And the job or it can be your future,” he said. outlook is looking up with The program recently received a portion wages ranging from $23,000 to $45,000. of a record-breaking grant to help upgrade Pavel said it makes for a great secand modify the program with cutting edge ond-salary career. It also allows for practitechnology and equipment. tioners to be around when their kids need The $6,438,050, four-year grant eclipses them in the evenings. the $2.97 million grant that NIC received “This tends to be a really good career in 2012 to build the NIC Aerospace Center for somebody, especially like a single

for Excellence, making it the largest grant in NIC’s history. NIC was the only college in Idaho to be awarded funding from the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) competitive grant program, which is co-administered by the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Education.

With help from the grant, NIC can now offer the medical assistant program to students almost anywhere by providing all the necessary classes online. The college has tailored the program to fit the needs of long-distance students by scheduling all the labs for only one day of the week so that students from farther away only have to drive to campus once a week.

“They can go through the whole program, essentially, online,” Green said. “You could live out in Timbuktu and go through the whole program.”

Green said the online program is also completely ADA compliant with video captions for the hearing impaired and PDFs which offer audio readings for the sight impaired. That way any student that desires can complete the program.

“A lot of people that come into the program, they really have a desire to help other people,” Pavel said. “And that’s what medical assisting is all about.”

Former club revives after election; calls for activism Christopher Locke Staff Writer Students for progressive change is back after ten years. The club has been recreated with the help of Connor Haas, now president of the club, and Nick Dorsey, vice president. The club was recently revived in response to the current political administration.

The new club is interested in participating in activism such as the Women’s March that took place during Trump’s inauguration. But the students are not just here to complain about Trump’s election. They want to do something about it.

“We want to educate North Idaho College about progressive values and... beliefs and enact change at the school and in the community,” Haas said.

Haas, who was a member of the Young Democrats club said that he didn’t think there was enough activism in the club, which was one of the reasons he wanted to revive Students for Progressive change.

Haas also wanted to recreate the club so that it is more inclusive than a party affiliated club.

“A big reason why I thought reviving this club was a better alternative to trying to get Young Democrats to be more activist is that this seems to be more inclusive,”

Haas said. “You don’t have to be a democrat to join this club. I don’t want people to feel excluded.”

Student members wanted to create a broader spectrum club with the opportunity for open dialogue, even between people who disagree. The club believes that there is some good from Trump being elected, since the election sparked the idea to revive the club in the first place.

“That is a good thing about the Trump Presidency,” Haas said. “People have really started waking up. It seemed like everyone was kind of asleep at the wheel. Even during Obama’s presidency people were not aware of everything that was going on.”

He said that Trump’s presidency forced everyone to become aware of what was going on in the world.

“Trump and his administration has really opened up everyone’s eyes,” Haas said.

They hope that this awareness will give people a reason to be interested in progressive change.

One of their first big events is attending a Science March that will take place in Spokane on Earth Day. Students for Progressive Change meets every Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. in the Crescent Bay Room in the SUB. All students are welcome to join.

Feautres tip? Story idea?

Contact the Sentinel -- sentinel@nic.edu

PAGE 3

Features WWW.NICSENTINEL.COM

MONDAY, FEB. 27, 2017

Mission possible: 59:Escape Adventures Michelle Mills Managing Editor

A group of people came together in a scene that looked like a real-life version of the board game Clue. But instead of trying to figure out if it was Mrs. Peacock in the dining room with the candlestick, the team was solving riddles, piecing puzzles together and finding elusive clues to recover the great Pink Argyle Diamond that was stolen in a heist by the wily millionaire, Mr. Tate.

Mr. Tate and the Pink Argyle Diamond are only fictional, but the hunt to solve the mysteries to recover the stolen diamond was real. The adventure happens at a special place in Post Falls, Idaho called 59:Escape Adventures, an escape room business which runs off guests’ ability to piece together clues, solve the mystery and escape within 59 minutes, (though they are never locked in the room).

One of the owners and operators of 59:Escape Adventures, Alicia Zaas, acted as the Game Master, the person who interacts with the team through a computer system while they are playing.

Unfortunately, the time ran out just as the team discovered the diamond. But that is not unusual, Zaas said, since escape games only have about a 30 percent success rate nationwide. But she reassured the group that though they ran out of time, they made small victories by solving

difficult clues along the way as they worked together as a team.

NIC students and escapees, Brad and David Ballinger, said they enjoyed their first 59: Escape Adventure experience.

“It was really engaging and fun,” said David Ballinger, 21, computer science major. “I had a good time working with everyone.”

His twin, Brad Ballinger, 21, accounting major, agreed: “I was pleasantly surprised at how fun it actually was and really enjoyed how there were puzzles for basically everybody,” he said.

Zaas, an NIC graduate, said she and her husband, Eric Zaas, first became interested in escape games when their family went to one.

“We were amazed at how we were all able to connect with each other again and we wanted to bring that same fun experience to others,” she said.

The wish to bring that experience to others evolved into them creating 59:Escape Adventures in Post Falls, Idaho.

“After looking at the unique skill set that Eric and I have, we agreed we could contribute so much to this kind of business. We really thought we could do it well. Eric has a special set of engineering and programming skills that less than 1 percent of the U.S. population has,” Zaas said, “That allows him to create the Gen-2 props

and computer systems we need.”

There are currently two escape rooms and two challenges at 59:Escape, with one other in the works.

The rooms are at a Gen-2 level, which Zaas said means that the guests solve puzzles and find clues with the latest interactive technology and automation in the industry.

“It takes their immersive game experience to the next level,” she said.

The design and challenge of the Gen-2 adventure surprised Brad Ballinger, since he said he expected it to get stagnant after the first 20 minutes in the room.

“But the tension kept rising,” he said. “It seemed to invite challenge in progressing ways without making me feel overwhelmed.”

Zaas said she and her husband love creating awesome and challenging games for their guests, and watching the players’ faces fill with surprise during their experience.

“We end up cheering for them because their excitement flows over to our side,” she said. “You can’t help but to celebrate with them. Our games are not scary, but they are pretty intense.

People really get into their game and it’s hard not to be excited for them.”

But escape rooms are not just all fun and games. They also play an important role in building teamwork.

During the time it takes to escape, the players start to bond, and whatever may have separated them starts to fade away as they work together.

“People’s gifts, talents and skills come out to benefit the whole team,” Zaas said. “Everyone has the same goal and drive, so that makes them all equal on the playing field. And because they have this experience in a game play environment, they forget the outside world and the focus is 100 percent on each other.”

The Ballingers experienced this teamwork phenomenon during their 59 minutes working as a team with three other people.

“Other than being forced to work with my twin, (a challenge in its own right,) it demanded communication and multiple perspectives to solve some of the puzzles,” David Ballinger said.

Because of the Zaas family, North Idaho now has the privilege to enjoy a Gen-2 escape room adventure. It is the largest escape room in the Inland Northwest and can have team sizes from two to 15 people.

“They’re truly a unique experience,” she said.

Brad and David Ballinger both agreed that they would like to go back for some more challenges. But Brad Ballinger said he wants to be more prepared for the next time.

“I think I would want to do some kind of puzzles or riddles beforehand to warm my brain up,” he said.

It costs $25 to try to solve one of the two challenges offered at 59:Escape Adventures. And they offer a range of discounts, including a $6 off

Left: Players follow the clues to solve the myestery and escape the (unlocked) room. Above, players are invited to the millionaire, Mr. Tate’s for dinner where they must recover the Pink Argyle Diamond. Photo Courtesy Alicia Zaas

Chocolate Affair boosts downtown businesses Dakota Piver Staff Writer Sherman Street is usually bustling with activity. However, when the street is not flooded with tourists in the summer, the local businesses depend on the community to keep them afloat. How do these small businesses get by during the off-season? The Chocolate Affair held on Feb. 10 provided a way to promote business for the Sherman Street retailers during the slow season.

The event supports not just the small businesses, but it also promoted business for the chocolatiers who entertained for the evening. Musicians also played during the event which was hosted by the Coeur d’Alene Downtown Assocation. “[Coeur d’Alene] is great,” said Shannon McMahan, owner of McHuck’s Huckleberry Chocolate. “I don’t want to leave.” McMahan goes up to the mountains to pick the huckleberries for her chocolate every summer.

The Chocolate Affair is annual event, and this year, tickets completely sold out.

Some of the samples the chocolatiers offered were simple and sweet, like the chocolate-coated huckleberries from McHuck’s Huckleberry Chocolate, while others were intricate and delightful, like the rich chocolates topped with caramelized bacon from Pastry and More.

Chocolatiers also had the chance to win an award for the best chocolate,

which was decided by a judge panel along with votes from attendants. This year, the winner was Shelly Boyd’s chocolates, which were located at All Things Irish.

The Plaza Shops, which were the starting point for the event, completely filled with locals and tourists alike. There they socialized with friends and family while enjoying the selection of chocolate.

In the main center of the Plaza Shops, a chocolate fountain awaited those entering the event, as well as wine for those who needed to cleanse their palate.

As people finished testing the chocolates in the Plaza Shops, they began to wander down the streets of downtown Coeur d’Alene, stopping by shops along the way. The event promoted visiting every business by raffling a gift for those who were able to visit every single shop.

As a result, many business, including art galleries and clothing stores, gained attention during the evening as people passed through collecting chocolate samples.

To encourage students to help support local business, NIC recently began a program that partners with local businesses to provide discounts for students, faculty and staff. From local ski resorts to coffee shops, these businesses will post a Students Shop Local sticker to let shoppers know that they offer the disPastry and More concocted chocolate treats topped with caramelized bacon for the event. count.

Dakota Piver/Sentinel

Perspectives

Perspective tip? Story idea?

Contact the Sentinel -- sentinel@nic.edu

PAGE 4

WWW.NICSENTINEL.COM

Editorial The Calvin and Hobbes comic strip is a little advanced for younger kids, but Calvin speaks the truth quite blatantly for such a young fictional character.

One particular Calvin truth bomb has to do with education. Those of us who are acquainted with Calvin know that he is not a big fan of school. And that is where this truth comes in to play.

While this is NOT a commentary based on our lovely North Idaho College, it does have to do with the educational system in general.

Calvin brings a melted snowflake for show and tell to his class. Then he says this: “I think we might all learn a lesson from how this utterly unique and exquisite crystal turns into an ordinary, boring molecule of water; just like every other one, when you bring it into the classroom.”

While this is obviously a caricature of how the educational system works, it does hold some truth.

So much bureaucracy provides organizational structure for educational institutes, but it can also stunt some students’ learning. Each individual has such a unique learning ability that it would be a monstrous task for the system to take on.

So those who are more creatively talented or actively inclined must suck it up and endure the classroom, book and pencil version of education. And while that is certainly a valid way to learn for some, it may only be a way to pass a test and move on with life for others.

Mandatory general classes tend to slow down the graduation process and bump up the cost of tuition. And while students should know the basics, does the study have to be so in-depth?

For example, what if our high school classes counted for our general studies. Then students could jump straight into their major-specific studies, cutting off at least a year of tuition and time from their college experience.

What if all academic careers were educationally set up like technical programs? Understandably, colleges want well-rounded students graduating from their instituion.

But do we all have to be quite so well-rounded?

What if careers come from electives and future geniuses graduate without posting on a single discussion forum?

What if, for one day, schools didn’t worry so much about their student’s grades, and worried a little more about their learning experience? Students may stick around a little longer to learn a little more if they enjoy the process and not just the results.

While this method may be too much of a hassle for the nation to pull off as a whole, just think of how amazing it would be if one day, Calvin and everyone like him were excited to go to school because they wanted to learn, not just because they had to.

theSentinel Awards

Editorial Board

Contributors

Associated Press Five-Star All-American Newspaper

Michelle Mills Managing Editor

Caleb Lenox

National Pacemaker and Newspaper of the Year

Katie Hartwig Photo Editor

Three-Time Robert F. Kennedy AwardWinner Society of Professional Journalists National FirstPlace General Excellence Award

Christopher Locke

Rebecca Pratt Multimedia Editor Mackenzie Conner Graphics Editor

Nathaniel Symons

Kaylee Dinkel Social Media Edito Dakota Piver

National Hall of Fame National Society of Professional Journalists First-Place Online

Geoff Carr Adviser

MONDAY, FEB. 27, 2017

Financial Aid changes and repercussions Nathaniel Symons Staff Writer Financial Aid, as well as the system used to sign up for classes, has caused mixed emotions for both the student body as well as the professors who teach their courses.

While financial aid is beneficial and useful for students to be able to afford attending the courses toward their major, new changes in the method of how this aid is disbursed has caused a bit of an uproar. This new system of disbursal is only paying for the credits that actually go toward a student’s major, which is an understandable tactic to tighten the potential loopholes that could be abused. While good intentions motivated the changes, NIC students now find they have fewer choices when it comes to enrolling in classes that financial aid will cover and forces students to pay out of pocket for any courses that are outside of the boundaries of their degree emphasis.

While the new policy streamlines and tells students exactly what they need to do to be able to graduate, it eliminates all of the possibilities to explore potential interests and experiment with what could be the best work field or passion for a student to pursue.

It could be a singular “extra curricular” class that could determine a new career, hobby or whole new perspective that can change a person’s life forever.

How does this change in financial aid affect instructors at the college? Sure, a student should be able to choose a few classes and

experiment, but what does that have to do with those directing the classes?

Due to these changes, the classes have gone through a re-evaluation of sorts to determine which ones are “necessary” to complete a major. With this method, a lot of classes that would have counted toward a physical education or art class have been turned into mental health and wellness, which could lead to a major drop in attendance for some of these more experimental classes. Not only that, but it also restricts attendance of a class to only one to two semesters.

Understandably, some course work should only take two semesters to get done, and granted, they should be that way. However, take into account that some of these “unnecessary” classes can introduce students to a new discipline or skill set.

One of the professors who has noticed the biggest decrease of attendance from these changes is Paula Phelps, teacher of the bowling classes held at Sunset Bowling Alley. She said she approached the situation originally with expectations that there might be a small dip in attendance in the winter semester until she compared enrollment from last year to this one.

She said it was alarming.

This semester she said she has a headcount of 11 students in one class. The normal attendance for her classes is 48 over the span of two classes, with waitlists of up to 20 people eager to join.

“The thing that most people don’t consider is that bowling is a P.E. class, with mental game like

any other sport,” Phelps said. “But it’s still considered one of the easy P.E. credits.”

Due to this mindset in the evaluation, her class has been changed to a health and wellness class. Students may only receive financial aid to cover the course once, even if students wish to retake it to hone their skills. While the college is planning on offering bowling next semester to at least see how the class goes by means of enrollment, it may be the end of the lane for this class at NIC, as well as the many other classes that have lost too many students to continue to be offered.

The Sentinel is also one of the classes experiencing a large drop in enrollment since non-journalism majors without any remaining electives must pay out of pocket.

The decrease in headcount affects the quality of the paper’s coverage for the student body and local area who pick it up to see what is happening in the college community.

NIC’s Faculty Assembly passed resolutions expressing their desire to disassociate financial aid from degree programs and reinstate block tuition, not only to help themselves but students who need to explore all their options.

I sincerely hope that the problem gets solved so that everyone can benefit from returning back to the way things were. While this newer system has its flaws, it also has its benefits, and if nothing else, perhaps it could come to a happy medium between so that NIC can graduate more students without forcibly narrowing their course options due to Financial Aid.

To respect or not to respect?

Rebecca Pratt Multimedia Editor Evesdropping is rude, we all know that, but sometimes we can’t help but hear what the people around us are talking about.

Sometimes it’s funny, dramatic, or even sad. But what happens when what you overhear is incredibly offensive? You can’t really say anything because you were listening in, but you don’t want to stay silent because it goes against your moral code. I’m going to share some experiences I have had from accidentally overhearing conversations.

We have all been there when that one stranger is in front of you ranting about politics, religion or something else where everyone and their mother thinks they are 100 percent correct. At one point I had the pleasure of over hearing a man going on and on about how much he hated how former President Barack Obama made him so angry because he was “born in Kenya” and not America. The urge I had to verbally slap this man

with actual facts was overwhelming, but because of common social courtesy I kept it to myself.

A similar event happened when a friend of mine was seated in a restaurant and over heard a small dinner party, fueling each other’s fires on how freedom of religion only applied to Christians and Christian faiths. He kept his opinions to himself because it would have been impolite to comment on something that was not directed toward him. It was their private discussion after all.

In the Student Union Building at North Idaho College, I have heard countless opinions from other select groups of people. I have heard racists comments, hate on certain political parties (both Liberal and Conservative) and what I believe to be worst of all, I hear cruel and harsh remarks on women.

I have heard “men” say that women who hang with them owe them at least oral sex. I have heard “what a hag, she didn’t age well” from wrinkly washed up old

men who have no room to talk. I have heard so much negative and poisonous passing thoughts, but allowed them to pass with a heavy heart and crawling skin due to social construct.

From afar it seems clear. Stand up for the victims of this verbal abuse! But the message instilled in us from a young age tells us that we must respect others and respect the societal values that our ancestors formed. We had no choice in them.

I personally have been pondering this conundrum for quite some time now and I think I have officially disregarded such paraxial values in situations such as these.

It will feel make me feel conflicted, but it is worth it. No question. Respect for those being disrespected and disregarded is far more important than respect for those who have none for others.

So pick your poison, do you keep your mouth shut for the sake of respect? Or do you stand up for those around who are being disrespected?

Campus Voices

Would you speak up and break the social norms of politeness if you overheard someone saying something politically incorrect? Why or why not?

Gabe Theander

Come join us Wednesday, Feb. 8 at noon in Siebert 209 for a critique of this edition. All are welcome to attend and provide feedback.

Letters to the Editor Policy

T

he Sentinel welcomes letters to

libelous; or 3) are illegible. The Sentinel

the Editor. Those who submit

reserves the right to edit letters. Letters

letters must limit them to 300 words, sign them legibly and provide a home

may be mailed to the paper, e-mailed, faxed or brought to Room 203 of the

phone number in order to verify

Siebert Building. The Sentinel’s address

authenticity. Some letters may not be

is 1000 W. Garden Ave., Coeur d’Alene,

printed because of space limitations, or because they: 1) are similar to a

ID, 83814.

number of letters already received on the same subject; 2) are possibly

DID YOU KNOW?

“I think yes because I stand up for people a lot. I have a really big heart. I don’t like seeing others or things that I believe in being put down, and it’s generally not okay with me.”

“No, because it’s their opinion and they can think what they want. I’ll think my opinion.”

• Suki Blandwitt, 19, Washington, D.C., Auto Mechanics

• Audrey Seipert,19, Sandy, OR, General Studiesg “It depends on my opinion, but I would probably say something just because it bothers me to hear that kind of stuff. I don’t know, it depends on situation.

Usually, I’d tend to say

“... If someone was blatantly being an *ss like using the N- word inappropriately or something like that yeah I think I would say something.”

• Justin Young, 18, Los Altos, CA, Outdoor Rec. Leadership

Albert Einstein was offered a presidential seat in Israel. He declined.

• Walker Noe, 21, Phoenix, AZ, Civil Engineering

www.nicsentinel.com

SSDLKJFASDF DVES

the sentinel | 5

Lives of North Idaho College

•Amanda Bardin•20•Livermore, CA• •CAD tech program• What is something that you regret in your life?

“Attempting to kill myself. Ever since first grade I’ve been suffering from depression and post traumatic stress disorder, and three different anxiety disorders. I had a plan that I wasn’t going to live to see my sixteenth birthday and then I moved out from one school that was all negativity, transferred schools and it got a lot better. My sixteenth birthday came and went and I was still here.”

Earn your degree.

Transform your life.

You know you can expect a remarkable education at Whitworth. What may surprise you is the flexibility of hybrid courses through the School of Continuing Studies. By combining convenient online learning with invaluable in-class collaboration, Whitworth’s six-week courses provide an accelerated path to career growth and personal transformation.

Hybrid courses available now. whitworth.edu/hybrid

•Laurali Barnes•19•Sandpoint, ID• •Photography• What is something that you’re proud of?

“One thing that I’m really proud of is learning how to become myself through college. Being able to live life. Also learning photography, which is really cool. Like I want to travel and become a photographer and I’m really proud that I discovered that that’s what I want to do in college. One of my friends takes pictures so we would go do photo shoots and stuff and I tried out his camera. I thought it was really cool so I ended up taking up photography.”

Sports

Features tips? Story idea?

Contact the Sentinel -- sentinel@nic.edu

PAGE 6

WWW.NICSENTINEL.COM

MONDAY, FEB. 27, 2017

Men’s Basketball two time champions

Freshman Markus Golder dunks on Walla Walla on Feb. 25, helping the Cardinals to secure the NWAC East title. Golder had a game high of 29 points. Golder was accompanied by sophomore Sam Dowd in double-doubles. Sophomore Zaequan “Ziggy” Satterthwait added to Cardinal’s bank of points, shootiong 90 percent from the field and 100 percent in free throws. Katie Hartwig/Sentinel

Mackenzie Conner Graphics Editor The NIC men’s basketball team was able to clinch the NWAC East league title after a stunning 88-75 win over Walla Walla Community College on Feb 25.

The men were already assured a spot in the NWAC playoffs, but this final victory served as a sweet icing on the cake for the successful Cardinals.

The Cardinals led the Warriors at the

end of the first half, and despite an aggressive and quick-paced second half, the NIC men held on to lead down the stretch.

Freshman Markus Golder and sophomore Zaequan “Ziggy” Satterthwaite emerged as prominent leaders during the game with 29 points and 13 rebounds and 24 points and 11 rebounds respectively.

Sophomore point guard Sam Dowd led in assists with 10 and contributed 13 additional points.

“It was a tough game. They shoot a

Lady Cards lose out on playoffs The NIC Lady Cardinals were unable to keep hopes of the playoffs alive after they lost to the Lady Warriors from Walla Walla Community College 76-67 Saturday.

Despite several steals and battling back from multiple deficits, the NIC Ladies were unable to pull ahead, effectively losing a spot in the playoffs.

The women will likely finish in the middle of the NWAC East conference after their final game on March 1.

At halftime, the women were trailing by 11, but a convincing halftime talk must have restored the young Cardinals. In the third quarter, the ladies were able to match every point that Walla Walla put on the board. In the fourth quarter the NIC ladies were able to score two more points than the highranking Lady Warriors, but the deficit from the first half was not remedied.

“When we look on the stats sheet, they out rebounded us by a lot, maybe 20 more rebounds, and that was one thing. They might’ve beat us down the court a few times. They’re a pretty experienced team,” head coach Chris Carlson said.

The current team for the Lady Cardinals is predominantly freshman, so while it was the last home game of the season, many familiar faces will likely return next year. This unbalance in the roster, however, has presented as somewhat of a challenge for Carlson this season.

“We’re so young. I liked how we fought back every time, we just never learned how to turn that corner against really good teams and learn how to win games,” Carlson said. “It’s a learned thing, and we have to learn how to do that. That’s probably the biggest struggle with having an all-freshman team.”

In NIC tradition, the last home game of the season was celebrated as Sophomore Night, honoring the students who committed two years to NIC athletics. Charity Marlatt and Shayna Allert were the only two players who will be moving on from NIC women’s basketball.

Mackenzie Conner Graphics Editor

lot of threes, they shot 38 three-pointers tonight and that’s tough if they’re making them. We really scattered them, and we did a job of guarding the three-point line and making them take contested shots,” head coach Corey Symons said.

Amidst the celebration and the ceremonial cutting of the net, Symons and his players will remain focused for the remainder of the season.

“We have one more big game next Wednesday, our last regular season game

at Wenatchee, so we gotta go get that win, we don’t want to drop that one. Then we just gotta come out and stay focused and be ready go for the tournament,” Symons said.

The men will play the final game of the regular season against Wenatchee Valley College at Wenatchee on Mar. 1. The “Sweet 16” round of NWAC Championship will take place on Mar. 9 in Everett, WA. For more information on scores and stats from this season, check out www.nicathletics.com.

Coaching is more than winning Katie Hartwig Photo Editor NIC’s Men’s basketball coaches Corey Symons, George Swanson and Chris Kemp lead their team to victory Saturday over Walla Walla, putting the North Idaho College Cardinals in first place of their conference and sharing part of the East Region Title.

Coach Symons said their philosophy as coaches is building positive relationships with the players and helping the athletes grow up to become men, good citizens, good husbands and good family men while teaching them about life through the game of basketball. Although the coaches enjoy winning, Symons said not every victory takes place on the court. He said being a coach is about providing an image that reflects on the players.

The coaches have the players best interest at heart in that they also have an open-door policy with the players and make themselves approachable, which Coach Symons aid he believes is an important element to coaching and coaching successfully.

“Our job is to help them grow in the game of basketball as well as in the game of life,” he said.

Expectations for college athletes are high, as they must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA to play basketball with the college and transfer to a four-year college while trying to finish their program in two years. So they must maintain a fulltime academic workload as well as practice 2-3 hours a day, 5-6 days a week. In addition, they must also factor in travel time to different colleges in the region for away games.

Some students come into the team academically struggling, but the coaches do a good job in holding them to a higher standard.

“The coaches motivate us to stick together and we all want to see each other succeed,” said student athlete Dillion Okoro.

Coach Swanson serves as the academic advisor and does much of the recruiting for the team. The coaching staff helps students make the transition from high school to college, which can be a big transition for some young adults.

“There are stiff consequences if athletes are going out and getting in trouble because they represent not only the team and the college but also the community,” Symons said.

Student athlete Kenny Davis concurs.

“The coaches hold us accountable and never let us get content to the point we stop working hard,” he said. “They push us and help us get better.”

Even in the off season the players engage in conditioning and practice up to 20 hours a week. The off season is primarily focused on getting each player physically and mentally stronger. The college hosts camps with 2nd through 9th grade students on Sundays with up to around 50 kids.

Some of the Cardinals do a lot in the community and take time from their own schedule to support some of the younger groups from the camps, which shows the character of this team to be willing to help and support.

Coach Symons said Sam Dowd, who was recently named player of the week, went out to Spokane with some of the other players to show support for a fourth grade basketball team from the youth camp. It’s things like this that show these athlete’s character.

Coach Swanson said the mentorship of these players begins the moment the recruiting process begins.

“We let the parents know the sched-

ule and what’s expected of them as well as the fact that we’ll be a father figure to them in the process,” Swanson said.

Coach Swanson said the athletes can sometimes be exposed to difficult situations, but he and his staff will be truthful with them and have their best interest in mind. For instance, last semester Swanson and another basketball coach Chris Kemp were involved in a car accident on the way to a game that left them seriously injured. Lucky for the team, both coaches are doing well in recovery.

“This situation brought us as a team even closer together,” freshman Zaequan Satterthwaite said.

Some of the players on the basketball team had never played a game with the coaches, but they all showed up to the hospital and showed how much they respected and trusted them. Swanson suffered a broken leg, arm and pelvis while Kemp fractured a vertebrae in his spine and broke his clavicle.

Symons was uninjured but saw the whole thing unfold right before him.

“After about three weeks I told the team that Coach Chris may be back in the second semester and Coach George may be back next year,” he said.

Swanson spent 10 days in the ICU fighting for his lif, so the chance of him coming back or anytime soon were slim to none. The doctor estimated it would take nine months to recover, yet he ended up walking out after 4.5 weeks of treatment.

Kemp and Symons recall that Swanson never had any doubt about not coming back to coach full time and soon, telling the other coaches he would be back by the first game. Sure enough, the doctor amazingly cleared Swanson within two days of the first game.

See COACHES | Page 7

DID YOU KNOW? Basketball became an official Olympic event during the 1936 summer Games in Berlin, Germany.

www.nicsentinel.com

GAMES AND EXTRAS

the sentinel | 7

Fun & Games

>COACHES from page 6 “These guys remember the physical injuries but I remember the whole thing,” Symons said. “After the EMT got there I didn’t think either of them were going to live. On the scene of the accident I thought they were both dead”.

Despite the physical injuries and the circumstances of the incident, the coaches never missed a game. It shows how committed these coaches are to the wellbeing of the team.

“I feel like after the accident happened it brought us closer and we learned a valuable lesson that everyday you should be grateful for what you have because you never know what can happen,” freshman Drew Sheridan said.

Swanson has been coaching basketball for 14 years with this being his third year with NIC, while Kemp is in his first year coaching at NIC and at a college, with his previous work in High School basketball for six years. Symons has been a coach with NIC for 13 years, with this being the third year as head coach and over 18 years coaching experience.

All three coaches have been at every game this season and are completely devoted to coaching and invested in each player. The coaches expressed that each player has potential on the team to play professional basketball, whether it be overseas or bigger colleges. Former NIC student James Webb transferred to Boise State and now plays for the NBA. Several other former NIC students have gone on to play professional basketball overseas.

Each coach expressed their biggest mentors were former coaches who showed them more than

just the game of basketball but becoming a man and discovering what they wanted to do in the future.

Symons said his former coach in college, Bruce Brown, helped shape him into who he is now.

“He broke through me in about my junior year of college and invested in my life and helped me get through the academic side of things,” Symons said.

“I now have a master’s degree in Athletic Administration. It would not of been possible without him being a great coach and mentor, and that’s why I do it now.”

Each coach reiterated the fact that they are who they are because of great coaches, and that’s exactly the people they try to be for the athletes now.

Swanson said he tells his athletes “You’re going to be a leader. It’s your choice if you’re going to be a good leader or a bad leader.”

Even though basketball is a game and winning is a big part of it, the coaches talked about some of their best moments in coaching. Oddly enough, most of them did not focus on victories on the court.

“Last year we had a 30-0 season, but years down the road what I remember is the relationships we have developed, spending time with these guys and joking around,” Symons said. “Those are the moments I remember.”

Their victories show that the coaches have a style that works, not only in the game of basketball, but in life.

“The coaches taught me that nothing is ever given to you,” sophomore Jordan Henderson said.

“You have to work for whatever it is you want and it won’t be easy. Control what you can control and do the best you can do with that.”

www.nicsentinel.com

JAZZ NIC

the sentinel | 8

Al Gemberling and Gary Gemberling, two guest performers of the evening, playing trombone and trumpet for a portion of Dan Bukvich’s premiere of “Bopera.” Michelle Mills/Sentinel

North Idaho college’s night at the “Bopera” Dakota Piver Staff Writer As the auditorium became pitch black, everyone in the audience fell into silence and braced themselves for what Dan Bukvich had in store for them this year at Jazz NIC. Then the lights flooded the stage, and instead of being behind a piece of percussion, Bukvich was behind a microphone. As the bass and drums quietly played, members of the audience began to draw their attention to the two people lying on the center-front of the stage.

Bukvich then began to narrate the story of two brother princes, Al-io (played by guest performer Al Gemberling) and Gary-o (played by guest performer Gary Gemberling). The comedic “Bopera” began to play out, starting with the two brothers crying like babies in harmony.

They then rose, and received a trumpet and a trombone to play. Bukvich narrated that they would wander through the village, playing their instruments, then the Gemberling brothers began walking through the aisles in the audience, playing their instruments.

Once they returned to the stage, Bukvich said they did the unthinkable: they broke out plungers and used them on the ends of their trumpet and saxophone to make wahwahs that sounded like the teacher from the

bass and drums, provided a spectacular Peanuts films. evening of jazz music at the annual Jazz The two brothers were then stripped of NIC event on Feb. 7, held in the Schuler their instruments and cast away. To bring Performing Arts Center. They performed them back, Bukvich told the audience they various pieces, ranging from “Critics had to participate by doing what he said. At Choice” to “Route 66.” one point, the audience members were all “It’s always great coming up to NIC,” standing on one leg, hunching over, flapping Bukvich siad. “It’s super fun, and you guys their arms and cawing.

Once the brothers returned to the stage with always take great care of us.”

In the midst of the songs, the ensemble their instruments, they closed out the night threw comewith the songs full band “Every time, I always think, ‘What dic into the mix. accompanying are they going to do next time? How During the song “Four their can they top that?’”

Brothers,” harmothey brought nies.

Leeann Aerlyn-Moore in singers The Audience Member Gary Gemaudience berling, Jon cheered Brownell, on and Max Mendez and Mark Petty. The four took on as the band finished out the night. turns going into solos, except when it would “We always do something crazy,” said Dan come to Petty’s solo. They would prepare to Bukvich, performance guest of the evening go into his solo, then quickly pass over his and long-time University of Idaho music into the next solo. professor. “Usually it involves me playing During one point of the song, they excluded drums on whatever they bring out, so this was like payback because I never know what the newcomer Mark Petty as the other three stood close together and sang, “Three broththey’re going to do.” ers! Three brothers!” The audience laughed The NIC Jazz Ensemble, with all its saxoas Petty tried to push through the three. phones, trumpets, trombones, piano, guitar,

“There was a lot of good musical talent, and I really loved the singing part”, said Danielle Grist, high school student at Post Falls High School. “It was so fun and so interactive.”

Performers were able to display each of their own unique talent during instrument solos in the concert. During “Critics Choice,” each saxophone player in the band got a chance to stand up and perform a solo.

The crowd cheered for every saxophone player, as every single one of them pulled off something unique and technically difficult.

Gary Gemberling also performed some amazing solos, both instrumentally and vocally. His voice flowed throughout the auditorium when he sang “God Bless the Child.” He hit highs and lows that not every singer could, and he didn’t miss a beat.

But then Gemberling took it a step further.

He picked up one horn, and played it with one hand and picked up a second one and played it with his other hand. Then he simultaneously played both horns, each playing two different sets of notes.

“Every time, I always think, ‘What are they going to do next time? How can they top that?,’” said Leeann Aerlyn-Moore, an attendee at the event. She has experienced multiple performances at Jazz NIC events over the years.

“I’ve never been disappointed,” she said.

From left to right, Jon Brownell, Mark Petty, Max Mendez, and Gary Gemberling singing “Four Brothers” together in harmony. Michelle Mills/Sentinel

Left: Dan Bukvich perfoms on the marimba while the jazz band accompanies him. Right: Gary Gemberling playing two different trumpet leads at once during “God Bless the Child/Route 66”. Michelle Mills/Sentinel