The North Idaho College Sentinel Vol.65 No.6, Jan 30, 2012

CASINO NIGHT ROLLS INTO THE SUB OARS, ASNIC host night of fun and games | Page 16

NEWS Financial Aid drops us like we’re hot | Page 2 LIFESTYLES NIC’s own weather “Mann” | Page 6

theSentinel ENTERTAINMENT Quench your coffee craving | Page 13

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF NORTH IDAHO COLLEGE

MONDAY | JANUARY 30, 2012

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Volume 65 | Issue 6

CAMPUS Elementary students perform a musical interpretation during the Human Rights Celebration Jan. 13. Gabe Green/Sentinel

VP of instruction resigns from NIC Lee accepts position as president of Northwestern Junior College

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Christina Villagomez Staff Contributor

On top of the world Head coach of women’s basketball Chris Carlson hits the 300 win mark for his career Dec. 30.

Sports Page 10

QUOTABLE

ice President for instruction Jay Lee has announced his intention to resign from NIC last Friday.

Lee tendered his resignation after being chosen as the new president of Colorado Northwestern Junior College.

“Although I am excited to begin the next phase of my career, I’m saddened by the realization that my time at NIC will soon draw to a close,” Lee said.

Lee has worked at NIC since July of 2008, where some of his tasks included managing the college’s accreditation and $20 million budget and taking a crucial role in planning the long-term vision and mission of the college, in addition to overseeing all areas involving instruction.

Lee attributes his time at NIC in positions of leadership as being crucial for preparing him for the position he will soon take.

“I think President Bell has given me several oppor tunities to be in significant leadership roles, and she placed Jay faith in me to get things done,” Lee he said. “Working with the State Board of Idaho and our local board has been an experience that’s also really helped me unders t a n d l e a d e r s h i p r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s b e t t e r. ” President Bell expressed appreciation for Lee’s time at NIC. “I am grateful for the dedication Jay has provided to NIC over the past three-and-a-half years and his sincere commitment to instructional excellence,” she said. “Under Jay’s leadership, NIC has been able to improve processes that have positively impacted both the institution and the students we serve.”

Lee said he had many proud moments while working at NIC, including how the office of instruction was able to handle NIC’s dramatic increases in enrollment, outreach center development, duelcredit enrollment expansion and improvements in eLearning.

Although proud of many accomplishments at NIC, Lee empathized that none of it would have been possible without a large collaborative effort from employees on campus.

“I’ve been really fortunate; there are some really great people here and I’m going to miss working with all of them,” Lee said.

Even so, Lee said he is eager to meet new people at the college of 2,400 students.

“The school I’m going to is smaller than NIC and I think I’m going to enjoy that,” he said. “NIC is a great place, but I don’t know everybody that I should know. At Northwestern I will be able to change that, I look forward to that.”

Lee was one of four candidates for NJC’s presidency who met with Dr. Nancy McCallin, president of the Colorado Community College System. McCallin ultimately selected the new president.

“Jay Lee’s background in community-college leadership, the comments from the college and community, and my time with him make me confident that he will be a strong, effective leader for Northwestern Junior College,” McCallin said. “We are all looking forward to working with him and welcome him to the system and college.”

Lee will assume his new role as president March 12.

“I’m honored to have been chosen to be the next president at Northeastern Junior College,” Lee said.

“I greatly appreciate the faith placed in me by the Colorado Community College System, Dr. McCallin, the employees of NJC and the citizens of Sterling.”

The process of selecting NIC’s new vice president of instruction in a national search will be delayed until a new president is appointed by the board of trustees in mid-April to replace the retiring President Bell. An interim vice president has yet to be selected.

Dreaming of equality NIC hosts Human Rights Celebration for MLK Day Jake Wright Martin Staff Contributor “All men are created equal,” according to the passage from the Declaration of Independence, which was signed 235 years ago. It has been 48 years since the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It is 2012 and equality is still a work in progress.

Fifth-grade students from all the elementary schools in Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls attended two presentations in Boswell Hall Jan. 13, both of them designed to educate children about Martin Luther King Jr.’s great movement and the turbulent times that surrounded it.

According to Tony Stewart, secretary of the board for the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations and former NIC instructor, more than 32,000 fifth-graders have been through this program since 1981. The Task Force opposes discrimination in housing, jobs and public accommodations, works to prevent hate crimes and helps support victims of hate crimes in court. This event is designed to make children aware of the importance of human rights.

“If you start early with young people, they’re more likely, for the rest of their life, to celebrate human rights,” Stewart said.

The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations coordinated The 27th Annual Human Rights Celebration in conjunction with the Coeur d’Alene school districts, North Idaho College and the community.

“It’s a great community effort

and it has a long tradition in Coeur d’Alene,” said Kristin Gorringe, principal of Winton Elementary.

Students were greeted and the “Star-Spangled Banner” was sung by fifth-graders Kaytlyn Harris, Borah Elementary, and Jewel Wolf, West Ridge Elementary. As Harris stepped up to the stage, the auditorium became still.

The lights were turned off; Harris stood in the spotlight and sang.

Students witnessed Seattle’s Living Voices performer Dior Davenport as she narrated a video about the story of a fictional young black woman “Ruby Bridges” in the ’60s and her involvement with the Civil Rights Movement.

The video featured strong images from the time period, including several famous events like when the Freedom Riders bus was bombed.

Throughout the video, Davenport’s narration brimmed with feeling. As her story progressed, an amazing phenomenon occurred, one that most fifth-grade teachers could go their whole career without seeing. The entire auditorium, packed with nearly 1,300 fifth-graders, fell silent as they intently observed Davenport’s performance.

At one point, she described how “Ruby” and her brother were attacked by the police and her brother was almost shot. When the performance ended, Davenport was met with thundering applause.

“It was like ‘Whoa, I’m right there,’” said Tristrin from Prairieview Elementary.

After Davenport’s performance, a group of fifth-grade students from Sky-

way Elementary performed a musical interpretation called, “Don’t Laugh at Me.” The dance featured choreographed performers dressed in elastic body sox. The dance highlighted that when members of a community are different from the rest, they often become the subject of criticism and hate. At the end of the dance, the performers shed their sox, and joined the other kids to show how everyone is the same if people are willing to look past differences.

During the second session, fifthgraders from the Post Falls school district watched the Seltice dance troupe students perform “Dream Collage,” a more up-beat and energetic dance routine akin to competition cheer performances.

“I like the fifth-grade dancing,” said Trevor from West Ridge Elementary.

At the end of both sessions, students were invited to stand and sing “Get on Your Feet” by Gloria Estefan, an inspiring and powerfully moving 1980s pop song.

“The people stand up for what they believe in,” said fifth-grader Isabel Romero from Mullen Trail Elementary.

Third, fourth and fifth graders from Winton and Bryan elementary schools created a handmade collage, which was placed on display as the backdrop for performances during the event. They filled out small “I Have a Dream” cards proclaiming each student’s dream. The cards were later linked together in one massive chain that was draped around the auditorium’s main stage.

I see your true colors shining through: Students in the Seltice Elementary Dance Troupe perform “Dream Collage,” a dance routine. About 1,300 students gathered in Schuler Auditorium for the festivities. Gabe Green/Sentinel

WHERE TO START

“ So, I believe that this is the moment when I birth a greater life truth out of my bitter and resentful writer’s loins. ”

News...........................1

Perspectives Page 4

Sports..........................9

Perspectives............4 Lifestyles.......................6

A&E.........................12 Games..................15 Casino Night................16

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class days left

UNTIL

SPRING

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News tip? Story idea?

Contact Tala Wood

208-769-3388 tkwood@students.nic.edu

Campus News

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monday, January 30, 2012

Joel May, 19, English, Salem, Ore., and Racine Balough, 22, communications, Sedro-Wooley, Wash., clash with self-proclaimed members of the Ku Klux Klan. Gabe Green/Sentinel

Gay-Straight Alliance faces MLK protesters NIC instructor, students, community members counter KKK affiliates Jan. 13 Tala Wood News Editor Self-proclaimed members of the Ku Klux Klan protested a Martin Luther King Jr. presentation on Jan. 13 and were met with counter protesters. The protest occurred on the corner of Northwest Boulevard and Mullan Avenue in front of the Human Rights Education Institute.

“We definitely don’t think [MLK] was anyone to look up to whatsoever,” said Mark Eliseusom, one of the protesters. “I can definitely see what he was trying to do for his people, equal rights and everything.

That’s all well and good, but we also have equal rights.”

The KKK members carried signs that said “Honk if you want Idaho white,” “MLK was a n----- terrorist,” “Wake up white America” and “Segregation not liberal education.”

“We feel that [MLK] is irrelevant to the white community,” said Shaun Winkler, the

Imperial Wizard of the White Knights. “He’s a dead African. We feel that’s someone we shouldn’t honor.”

Eliseusom said he believes Martin Luther King Jr. supported the Communist Party and that “he claimed to be a minister, and there’s evidence of him sleeping with white prostitutes.”

Some people who drove by honked; others showed the protesters their middle fingers.

“We’ve had things thrown at us, we’ve been physically abused and harmed by people, for nothing more than standing up for our rights as American citizens,” Eliseusom said.

NIC art instructor and former HREI director Rachel Dolezal started a counter protest across the street.

“I’m tired of it,” Dolezal said. “I’m tired of it being one-sided. I’m here to support equality and freedom. I’m going to stand for something today.”

Financial aid policy: dropping it like it’s hot

She carried one of her art prints in one hand, with “Malcolm X is my hero” written on the back, and the African-American flag in the other hand.

“If people see a counter protest, it’s an opportunity for people to choose a side,” Dolezal said.

Some NIC students and community members later joined her.

“I feel like it’s good to be out here supporting the community and everybody else,” said Ian Velikoff, 20, business, Boise.

“It’s good to stand together, show them we’re not in favor of what they’re doing.”

Members of the NIC Gay-Straight Alliance also participated in the counterprotest.

“I drove past half an hour ago, and they screamed ‘white power’ at me, and I was offended,” said former GSA President David Glenn, 24, history, Spokane.

GSA members waved a rainbow flag and brought signs that said “I’m not with stupid”

and “Not every person in North Idaho is racist.”

Two employees of the Disability Action Center also joined the counter protest.

“Our movement has to do with the same thing that’s going on here,” said Virgil Edwards, an independent living advocate at the Disability Action Center. “We believe in equality for all folks, whether they’re disabled, whether they’re of color, gender, everything.”

The Disability Action Center describes itself as a philosophy and a movement of people with disabilities who work for selfdetermination, equal opportunities and selfrespect.

“When you have hate, like you see across the street here, all that does is destroy people; all that does is tear humanity apart,” said Patrick Blum, an independent living advocate at the Disability Action Center. “They represent hate, and that’s something we don’t need.”

|ASNIC sponsors blood drive

New system aims to reduce employee work Sarah Munds Assistant News Editor

students signing up for financial aid and not attending classes,” Lee said.

New non-attendance policies dictate that students must be present in one class ew policy changes to NIC’s apof each course their first week in order to plication, attendance and nonremain enrolled in the course. Online stupayment protocols have heralded record lows for mandatory dents must complete an assignment during the first week. drops and payment issues.

“The college incurs burdens of paying The old system regarding payment, application deadline and attendance caused back and tracking down students,” Lee too many fiscal issues for the college. said.

The new attendance policy was a fisWhile many students complain that the new system is confusing, Jay Lee, vice cal move for the college, according to Lee. president for instruction, explained that Last year, NIC was required to pay back the new system has increased efficiency approximately $1 million to the federal for registration and payment operation. government due to this issue.

The last new policy changes the proLee said there are basically three new policy changes that have occurred, cedure for payment on student accounts.

Currently, students have until the second which include an day of classes to pay all-new deadline for semester on their financial aid application, mansemester accounts. dator y non-attenby sarah munds Lee explained dance dr ops and how this helps non-payment drops. in seats dropped since the 23% decrease smooth payment opfall 2011 semester for both The application non-payment and non-attendance eration by reducing deadline was inspired the amount of lastin an attempt to credecrease in mandatory drops minute work for NIC ate a more prepared 11% between fall 2010 and spring 2011 employees. Before, student body. Lee when payment was said that the track in mandatory drops due before the serecord for those who 40% decrease between fall 2011 and spring 2012 mester started, many register on time is students would be much stronger than dropped from classes for those who do not. due to non-payment.

“Those students are not as strong as “Students would suddenly find money candidates as those who register on time,” and we would scramble to get them into Lee said. classes,” Lee said.

As of now, application deadlines are With the new system, students have scheduled for Aug. 12 for fall enrollment two days before payment is required. Aland Dec. 16 for spring, as well as May 25 though this policy was designed to reduce for the summer session. scrambling, some students may still proThe second policy change involves crastinate and wait to pay until mandatory non-attendance drops for stu-

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dents who do not attend any classes the first week of school.

“One of the reasons, historically, is

See DROP POLICY | Page 3

Ethan Schlussler/Sentinel

Logan Rorabeck, 19, Outdoor Power/Recreational Vehicle Technology, Priest River, gets his blood drawn by an Inland Northwest Blood Center employee during the Jan. 26 ASNIC-sponsored blood drive. The INBC’s Coeur d’Alene center is located at 405 W. Neider Ave. Suite 102. The center’s number is 208-667-5461.

DID YOU KNOW? Crab blood is blue because it contains copper, while human blood is red because it contains iron.

news

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Idaho Capitol gets sticky for rights

the sentinel | 3

CAMPUS SECURITY LOG

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Group works for discrimination protections

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Sarah Munds Assistant News Editor

round the state, proponents for LGBT rights have been sending sticky notes to the state capitol for “Add the Words,” proposed legislation that will extend the Idaho Human Rights Act to gay and transgendered citizens.

These proposed legislation changes would add wording to include discrimination protection for gay and transgendered Idaho citizens.

“Add the Words is about making the workplace equal for ever yone, no matter who you are, what you look like, or who you’re in love with,” said NIC Gay-Straight Alliance president Danni Bain, 22, theater, Coeur d’Alene. “It’s about an equal state for ever yone.”

According to current legislation in Idaho, an employer can fire their workers simply because of sexual orientation. The Add the Words Campaign aims to make this sort of termination illegal.

“It seems unfair to fire someone based on their gender identity or sexual

orientation,” said Kory Richards, 18, Lakeport, Calif., general studies. “It’s rather ridiculous, actually. I mean, [your sexual orientation] doesn’t affect how you work or your job performance.”

The Add the Words Campaign encouraged individuals to send sticky notes to the capitol to show support. Each sticky note displays messages asking representatives to “add the words” in upcoming legislation changes.

“We had a table a couple of months ago with sticky notes,” Bain said. “We actually collected 68 sticky notes total and I sent them to the representatives.”

“A majority of people made sticky notes,” Richards said. “Most said ‘add the words’ or ‘equal rights.’ Some even said ‘no hate.’”

Statewide, various vigils were held on Jan. 28 to raise better awareness for the cause. Coeur d’Alene hosted its own event that Saturday at the Human Rights Education Institute.

“It’ll be nice for protection,” Richards said. “People can’t find such a bigoted way to fire someone because there’s still a lot of hate in Idaho.”

School initiatives promise to lower costs Idaho program gives NIC 5 percent discount Christina Villagomez Staff Contributor

attend a training conference in Boise.

Dorn said the discussions inspired more pre-emptive policies.

He also said another way NIC is tryIC will be getting a 5 pering to tackle liability and safety issues, is cent discount from the Idaho through the formation of the Loss ConCounties Risk Management trol Committee a year ago.

Program, the primary form “We review areas where there’s of property and liability insurance for possibility for injury and trying to get Idaho cities and counties. money to correct it,” explained Dorn.

The discount, given for meeting Risk One project resulting from the Loss Management’s three requirements, will Control Committee that NIC students be approximately $15,000 and is set to can expect to see will be the fixing of unstart in the 2013 fiscal year. even sidewalks the summer of this year.

These requirements include vehicle Replacing handrails around campus is and workplace harassment training as in the process of being proposed as a well as a current personnel policy. health and safety issue to the budget.

The second part of the personnel Campus bathrooms previously found policy is to make sure employees and up to code were later deemed not comvolunteers review the policies and acpliant enough and had to be re-done. knowledge that they’ve seen them.

Workplace harassment training “All this figures into this discount includes having employees attend a that we’re getting,” Dorn said. “This all sexual harassment and a discrimination figures into it, because we’re taking an class. These classes include watching a active role in prevention.” video, followed by discussion and trainEven with recent updates, the coming. mittee continues to find more room for Vehicle training takes about half a improvement. day, and involves employees becomFor example, the bathrooms that ing familiar with were so recently campus vans. re-finished were “We’ve done a lot more They lear n how assessed afterward with that on ‘are we to repor t an and found to have accident, what to following what you want shelves with potendo if they are in an tially dangerous us to do?’” accident, and sharp edges. what forms need Also on the RON DORN to be filled. They committee’s list are Resource Management VP are also asked the “pull-in, pullto provide proof out parking lots” of insurance and a driver’s license. between the Sherman building and the “In the vans it actually amounts to Molstead library that are seen as a hazgoing out, sitting in them and knowing ard to pedestrians due to frequently unhow to use them,” said Vice President safe driving practices taking place there. for Resource Management Ron Dorn.

Dorn said solutions could involve However, Dorn said it was also NIC’s eliminating parking spaces to make ef for t to go the extra mile that also them parallel or eliminate parking there played a factor in getting extra discounts. altogether, a move that could poten“We’ve gotten a lot more involved tially raise protests on an already tightly with Risk Management to make sure we parked campus. have liability forms signed off,” Dorn Dorn said that particular issue is a said. “We really had sexual harassment, long term one and not an immediate pridiscrimination and personnel policy long ority for the committee. before I got here. Vehicle training was “The committee ties in long term something new that we did and that with the discount because it keeps us really dealt with the liability of the vans. in contact with the insurance people,” This fall was the first time we had this Dorn said. “In fact, insurance kind of intensive training and that was a representatives were here at the last result of the conference we went to that meeting that this committee had and said we could help.” they gave a presentation over some of One of the ways NIC tried to tackle the things we were looking at that they safety was by having key administrators could provide us help with.”

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Several drug, alcohol violations in residence hall 1

Dec. 6: Student reported the theft of personal tools from the Hedlund Machine Shop. Report was filed; victim was encouraged to file a police report.

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the last possible moment.

“We had a thousand payments in the last two days,” Financial Aid Director Joseph Bekken said. “In spite of that, a number of people still do not pay their bill.”

For students receiving financial assistance, a financial aid credit is subtracted from the total amount owed. If their financial aid exceeds the amount due for their tuition, the remaining balance is refunded to the student through their Higher One account. This helps reduce the number of people who abuse the

financial aid system.

For those who are still unsure about recent policy changes, Lee said to “start in the offices that do those things.”

The financial aid office and registrar’s office are always ready to answer questions. However, Lee warned students that the last minute is not the best time to seek help, since the busiest time for college faculty is the last two days before payment is due.

Overall, these policy changes were instated to increase efficiency in the chaotic time of registration and payment.

“A lot of work by people went into developing these policies,” Lee said. “It’s going to take time and we are definitely looking to improve the process.”

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Jan. 9: Student reported that his parked vehicle was struck by an unknown vehicle in Parking Lot C. No contact information was provided to the victim.

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Jan. 9: Coeur d’Alene Police and NIC Security were called to the residence hall for drug and alcohol violations. The student was cited for possession of a controlled substance, drug paraphernalia and minor in possession of alcohol.

Dec. 10: NIC Custodial reported that they found damage to a wall inside one of the gym locker rooms. A hole was kicked in the lower wall.

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Dec. 12: NIC faculty reported that someone vandalized assorted classrooms on the second floor of Lee-Kildow Hall. Chairs, tables and assorted items were knocked over or displaced.

No items were missing or damaged.

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Dec. 13: Student was referred to the Dean of Students’ office for disciplinary action, alcohol violation in the residence hall.

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Jan. 26: Coeur d’Alene Police and NIC Security were called to the area of the residence hall parking lot for a found marijuana joint.

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Jan. 26: Coeur d’Alene Police cited students in the residence hall for possession of a controlled substance (marijuana), possession of drug paraphernalia and frequenting the area where a controlled substance is being used.

NIC rejects money, helps sister school NIC gives up $300,000, receives $750,000 Christina Villagomez Staff Contributor

good move,” Browning said.

According to Browning and Vice President of Resource Management Ron Dorn, NIC turned down a potential $300,000 in NIC will also benefit monetarily from the good deed. the governor’s proposed budget in order to “We gave up that money to get what help the College of Western Idaho.

The reason for the move, which includ- they call an Enrollment Equity Adjusted the College of Southern Idaho forfeit- ment,” Dorn said. “In other words, for the ing its equal share of the $1 million bud- increased enrollment we’ll receive extra get proposal, was to boost the substan- dollars. Instead of $300,000, we’ll receive near $750,000. In a way, we tially smaller and younger traded.”

CWI, and enable it to be “We funded along with the other With NIC’s state funding two-year schools in the state. being cut from 45 percent of its came out “It wasn’t as if we had budget to 31 percent, the Enrollahead; we the check and gave it back, ment Equity Adjustment, also didn’t lose called a Work-load Adjustment, it was a long way from reality,” said Mark Browning, anything, in will be extra funding NIC hasn’t NIC’s vice president of comreceived in years, according to my humble Dorn. munications. “We said, ‘We’ll forgo our par t of it to CWI, In addition to the boost in opinion.” and then bring them into the money from the state, NIC was code so ever ything is split not only mentioned, but also between the three of us and praised in Governor Otter’s State RON DORN put that back into the sys- Resource Managment VP of the State address, for an “extem so it elevates everybody.’ traordinary example of collaboWe’re getting [the money], ration.” but just as part of the system, rather than “North Idaho College was mentioned part of an individual cut of something that more than any other institution, by name, we weren’t even guaranteed of getting.” in the state and that’s a very good thing for Browning stressed the fact that the us, because we’re doing such good things governor’s proposed budget was just that, here,” Browning said. “I think the biggest a proposed budget, and has not yet been positive is that we are seen as a leader in agreed with by Idaho’s legislators. the group of the two-year community “Strategically for us, it’s a really colleges in collaboration.”

Briefs Apply for graduation

>DROP POLICY

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Students who plan to participate in the commencement ceremony on May 11 need to apply before Feb. 10. Applications are available at the Registrar’s Office, or online through MyNIC under “Academic Profile.”

Mammograms offered The Women’s Health Services Coach will provide mammography services in front of the SUB on campus Jan. 31 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Patients need an appointment and should be prepared to provide insurance cards and films from previous mammograms if they were not taken at Inland Imaging. Call 877-474-2400 to schedule an appointment.

AIM co-founder to speak Co-founder of the American Indian Movement and civil rights leader Clyde Bellecourt will speak Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. in Schuler Performing Arts Center. The Oyate Drum Group will perform and the NIC American Indian Student Alliance will sing.

It is free and open to the public.

FAFSA information and assistance Financial aid professionals will be available Feb. 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in NIC’s Flexible Learning Center in McLain Hall to provide free information and assistance to students and families applying for financial aid for postsecondary education.

Perspectives

Perspective tip? Story idea?

Contact Devin Heilman

-- dlheilman@students.nic.edu

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EDITORIAL

MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY

Parking woes affect everyone

P

arking has plagued NIC for a long time.

With the massive influx of students in the last few years, it’s only getting worse.

According to NIC’s 2011-2012 Student Handbook, our campus provides 1,740 parking spaces, 233 of which are fee-free. That’s about four times more students than parking spaces. Staff parking has been expanded to accommodate more instructors on campus, but instructors also surely feel the pain of a lack of parking spaces.

This dilemma becomes quite apparent to the late arrivers, who get to campus only minutes before their classes begin and scramble to find a spot.

Sorry guys, you’re not going to find a place to park.

You’re better off walking.

Parking downtown is limited, but not as limited as NIC’s situation. The two-hour parking spots might not be ideal for those of us who are in class all day, but still, we have other options. The Coeur d’Alene Skate Park has an open dirt parking lot. Side roads behind Paul Bunyan and beyond McEuen Field are close by. The Tubbs Hill parking lot is free for two hours and it’s a brief stroll away.

One can reach campus from practically any downtown location in about 10-30 minutes of walking.

Some parking spaces on campus are reserved for people who hold certain positions within the school, such as the ASNIC president and Sentinel editors. In desperation, students pull into our designated parking places, which infuriates those of us who plan to park there. I’ve been late to class on occasion when this happens. Campus Security is only a phone call away. Plus, you’ll have an extremely peeved peer to deal with. Unless you plan on working hundreds of hours laying out a newspaper and devoting your life to the Sentinel, or work your way to the top of student government, don’t park in our spots. We work hard for it and have classes just like you do.

Will NIC build a parking garage? Will students forever have to be clever or timely about transportation to school? Time will tell, but for now, please drive safely, good luck getting to class on time and make everyone’s life easier by parking where you’re supposed to…even if it means walking a bit.

theSentinel Awards

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Editorial Board Devin Heilman Managing Editor Tala Wood News Editor Noura AlfadlAndreasson A&E Editor Eric Rivera Sports Editor Michael Paquin Lifestyles Editor Ethan Schlussler Photo Editor Jantzen Hunsaker Webmaster Joyce Hargrove Copy Editor Eric Pezley Business Manager Geoff Carr Adviser

Contributors Amy Brandt

Kyle Breitenberg Garrett Cabeza Benaiah Cheevers Nick Dimico Katie Eppenstein Micah Gimlin Gabriel Green Jake Wright Martin

he Sentinel welcomes letters to the Editor.

Those who submit letters must limit them to 300 words, sign them legibly and provide a home phone number in order to verify authenticity. Some letters may not be printed because of space limitations, or because they: 1) are similar to a number of letters already

DID YOU KNOW?

NIC offers many P.E. classes... so take advantage of it

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weight. We should make time in ith the immense variety our schedules for working out on a of physical education regular basis and form good eating classes that North Idaho habits. This would greatly affect College has to offer, why aren’t everyday American lifestyles. So more students getting involved?

It takes two physical education why hasn’t there been a significant change yet? It’s because credits in order to obof a lack of self-motitain an associate’s devation. Self-motivation gree, but why stop at helps people accomplish those two credits when everyday tasks as well you can take classas long-term goals. It is es like yoga, Tai Chi, essential for students to self-defense, Kenpo have self-motivation to Karate, strength trainget homework done and ing, swimming, carstrive to do well in their diovascular training, classes. The opportucardio-kickboxing, Benaiah Cheevers nity is out there, but not Pilates, step aeroStaff Contributor everyone is grasping bics, volleyball, bowlit. More NIC students ing, basketball, golf, need to take initiative to racquetball and rowing? That’s not even the complete eat healthier and engage in more list of physical education classes! physical activities.

The recreational sports departI don’t want to hear any excuses. Make time in your schedule ment is always looking for students for an extra P.E. class. The op- to sign up to play sports like baspor tunity is at your finger tips. ketball, flag football, dodgeball, volleyball, whiffle ball, paintball, kick It’s a well-known fact that exerball and ultimate frisbee. cising is a key ingredient for sucOutdoor Pursuits is on the lookcess toward a healthy lifestyle. Eating is a basic function of the human out for students and community members to sign up for classes as body that needs to be healthy and well. Outdoor Pursuits runs classes runs right alongside physical fitsuch as skiing/snowboarding, ness. white-water rafting, mountaineerThe Market Grill in the Student Union Building is not the healthiest ing and mountain biking.

We all love our sports don’t we? place to eat, but it’s nice that NIC With the Super Bowl coming up, provides a great restaurant-like cafone might relate sports to being aceteria for students. However, stutive, but it can also mean the exact dents need to start eating healthier opposite. We will all be sitting on as well as exercising more often. the couch and eating our favorite Why are so many Americans food watching the big game. Why just letting themselves flop into not go outside and play a friendly obesity? It’s a well-known fact that family game of football? Or take the majority of Americans are over-

the dog on a walk before the game or maybe afterward, depending on how much you eat?

It’s not just an opinion that a healthy lifestyle will benefit you in the future. It’s a fact. The healthier you are the longer you will live. It’s time to take an active role and decide if you want to live a healthier lifestyle. Don’t make any excuses.

After all, it’s for your own benefit and NIC can help you achieve your fitness goals. Opportunity is calling. Will you take advantage of it?

A Closer Look Physical education through NIC includes courses such as yoga, swimming, strength training, cardiokickboxing, Pilates, Tai Chi, volleyball, basketball, golf, racquetball, bowling and rowing, to name a few. The complete list of P.E. classes can be found on the school’s website at www.nic.edu/ coursedescriptions.

Sarah Munds Carrie Rishsew Julie Salinas Josh Sloniker Angel Tesch Kaye Thornbrugh Christina Villagomez

Letters to the Editor Policy

T

Motivate, lose weight

received on the same subject; 2) are possibly libelous; or 3) are illegible. The Sentinel reserves the right to edit letters. Letters may be mailed to the paper, e-mailed, faxed or brought to Room 203 of the Siebert Building. The Sentinel’s address is 1000 W. Garden Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID, 83814.

Stop stealing Sarah’s stuff!

Hard-earned wages lost, staffer rampages about theft

J

an. 1, 2012: I started the sparkly, glorious New Year with a broken car window and missing debit card, financial aid card, driver’s license, iPod, camera, stereo and purse. Even worse, my favorite chapstick was in that purse.

You broke my cigarette lighter when you ripped out my iPod hookup. Blood poured out of my hands like a metaphorical river of hate as I picked the glass out of my seat and floor mat. You even stole a Christmas card from my car. Fortunately, I had taken the gift out of that card before you got to it. $754.56 is the grand total of cash that I now do not have thanks to your little act of theft. As I make

What did you get? $8.06 an hour, I calculate You got an iPod and a it will take me 93.617 camera, which can be hours to right this defipawned. You also got a cit. Here, I would like pile of canceled cards to add an approximated that are worthless to 13.25 hours that it took you. So why didn’t you me at the bank, DMV just leave those and and various other hellsave me the hassle? ridden government inSo, I believe that this stitutions. If you’d ever Sarah Munds met me, you’d know that Seriously peeved is the moment when I birth a greater life truth I wouldn’t spend 109.867 out of my bitter and rehours of my life doing sentful writer’s loins. Stop breaking anything for anyone else because into cars that are not your own and I’m a selfish, stuck-up asshole.

Thus, I compare this act of theft to a stealing shit that isn’t yours, you pieces of North Idaho redneck Grand Rape of My Time and Energy. Not only did you steal from me, you raped me. Hard. Dick move.

See SARAH’S STUFF | Page 5

The coffee bean is not a bean at all. It’s technically the seed of a cherry-like fruit from a coffee tree.

PERSPECTIVES

www.nicsentinel.com

the sentinel | 5

CAMPUS VOICES

What do you want to see in the Sentinel this semester?

Michael Stephenson ■ 21, gen. studies, Cd’A

Drivers of big trucks have the advantage during heavy snows, as they can park ANYWHERE they want. Eric Rivera/Sentinel

Buckin’ Broncos Tebow, defense spark mid-season surge

I

Those crazy birds!  An NIC student was cited by the Coeur d’Alene Police… for having too much snow on her windshield. She has to pay $72. Wow, imagine that, it snows five feet and people have snow on their cars.  A scavenger hunt was held Saturday in the vicinity of the NIC campus.

Young people could be seen running around snapping pictures and doing other strange things.  To the owner of the dark gray Toyota sedan parked in the parking lot across from Boswell Hall: Someone wrote “poop” on your rear driver’s side door. Hope that didn’t make you have a crappy day.  One NIC student had a laugh when she found that a package that was being delivered to her would be delayed because of a “train derailment.”  Winter weather closed school for two evening sessions and a whole Friday. Unfortunately, it was too snowy outside to drive to the bars.  A girl was seen standing on top of a picnic table surrounded by waterfowl, possibly to not foul up her shoes with byproducts of the fowl’s foul bowels.  See if you can locate this tonguetwister somewhere in the paper: “Performers in sox shed said sox.”  Journalism instructor Geoff Carr used to be an independent music karaoke disc jockey by the name of DJ Do It (come on, do it!).  An unnamed security guard is known to blast classical music from his security vehicle in the wee hours of the morning. Maybe he moonlights as an 18th century composer.  A man gets into a taxi cab in New York City. He asks the driver, "Hey, how do you get to Carnegie Hall?" The driver replies, "With practice!"

What crowbar...?

f you watched a show on back. He wins games running the ESPN a month or two ago, option and with sudden accurate you watched anchors and completions in the fourth-quarter.

People want quarterbacks that analysts commend and question Denver Broncos quar ter- can drop back to pass, stay in the back Tim Tebow’s previous per- pocket with their eyes down field formance on the football field. and deliver an on time and accuG i v e h i m s o m e c r e d i t . rate throw.

Tebow’s style is something Some admired him for his clutch four th-quar ter and over- we’ve never really seen before.

His strong lower time play to overbody allows him to plow come what seemed through defenders, but to be insurmounthe still is a quarterback, able odds of winning, which means he can but then doing it in toss it down field once dramatic fashion. in a while and complete Others acknowlpasses. edged the win, but He likes to roll out questioned the manof the pocket to escape ner in which he won.

Garrett Cabeza pressure or sometimes After all, his Staff Contributor when inside pressure is post-game stat non-existent, look down sheet sometimes field and throw the footresembles what a fifth-grade quarterback’s would ball. What’s the problem with look like at the end of recess. that? Since when is winning not enough to keep people happy?

Completing less than 50 perDon’t give him too much cent of his passes and throwing credit. for 150 yards is not impressive.

Although everybody loves However, analysts failed to him for his kind heart and thinks focus on the most important stat he saved the Denver Broncos this in football: turnovers. season and perhaps for years to Between week seven and come, the Broncos’ defense also week 14 of the NFL season, when stepped it up when Tebow took the Broncos won seven out of the keys to the Broncos offense. eight games, Tebow threw only Led by Pro Bowlers Elvis two interceptions, according to Dumervil, Von Miller, and Champ www.denverbroncos.com. Tebow Bailey, the Denver Broncos detook great care of the ball by fense clamped down on opposing throwing it out-of-bounds and offenses after their sluggish start. running with it when none of his Sacking quarterbacks and stopreceivers were open down-field. ping the run became natural for He led a team that started 1-4 the Broncos as they finished the with Kyle Orton taking the majorseason 8-8 to win the AFC West. ity of the snaps at quarterback With Tebow’s toughness, inand turned it into a legitimate spiring play and that relentless playoff team after defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime in defense, the Broncos are poised to make more noise in the AFC the AFC Wild Card game. next season. Things are looking Critics slam Tebow because up, even in the Mile High City. he is not a conventional quarter-

“After all, his post-game stat sheet sometimes resembles what a fifth-grade quarterback’s would look like at the end of recess.”

>SARAH’S STUFF from page 4

scum. I worked hard for every single item you took from me. My parents didn’t buy that camera. I didn’t get that iPod for my birthday.

That car window didn’t come from a windfall inheritance either.

Rather, I spent evenings with an ice-pick breaking apart piles of frozen horse shit for less than minimum wage so that I could buy myself a car, a camera and an iPod. How did you get these things? You took them. Because an entitlement complex, apparently, is how the algae of the earth operate.

Haters, who obviously have no respect for personal property, will tell me that I shouldn’t have left my expensive personal affects in a car unattended in a church parking lot on New Year’s Eve. Can you blame someone for being murdered because they had a pulse and happened to be in a close proximity to a serial killer? No. Murders happen because of murderers. Theft happens because a low-life tweaker junkie didn’t have enough cash that week to buy another metric ton on meth to keep their habit up.

Also, learn to pop a lock with a coat hanger so the next poor soul doesn’t have to drive around without a driver’s side window for a week in the snow.

“I’d like to see other students, not necessarily on the Sentinel staff, do a piece or story of their own. That way people who are interested in that, but not majoring in it, can have an outlet.”

Catherine Brands ■ 18, pre-med, Post Falls

“In light of elections, I would like to see more of what candidates actually stand for, and not what’s going on in their personal lives. That goes for ASNIC, too.”

Arthur Putnam ■ 20, comp. sci., Bonners Ferry

“What the clubs are doing so we can know about interesting events and groups. ”

Sarah Ravsten ■ 18, psychology, Cataldo

“Interviews with professors.

Maybe you could find the top and lowest-rated professors on websites like ratemyprofessors. com and interview them. ” Donnie Pomerinke ■ 38, psychology, Post Falls

“More art, humanities and theater.

I also love Jonathan Frey and his creative writing class. I’d like to see an interview with him on his philosophies on teaching. ” Diana Dayton ■ 18, gen. studies, Hayden

“More comics.

And maybe big changes on campus, like news on the parking situation. ” Kaye Thornbrugh Staff Contributor

■

Gabe Green Photographer

Lifestyles tip? Story idea?

Contact Michael Paquin

-- Paqman_@yahoo.com

PAGE 6

Lifestyles WWW.NICSENTINEL.COM

MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

NIC’s own weather Mann Part-time instructor forecasts for KREM-2 News Devin Heilman Managing Editor

D

uring a semester in his class, Randy Mann’s physical geography students can expect to learn about volcanoes, tornadoes, hurricanes and earthquakes.

News anchor Chris Nguyen and meteorologist Randy Mann enjoy some comic relief during a live broadcast Jan. 21. That evening, Mann issued a winter storm advisory because of the massive amount of snow and icy conditions. Gabe Green/Sentinel

“Bill was really instrumental in getting seat of our pants,” he said. “Lightning me in there,” Mann said. “I really owe a lot was literally hitting the tower out there. to Bill. He’s a great guy.”

We were getting shut down, then brought Originally, Mann was going to teach a back up. There was no format, I mean, we class on weather and climate. When the just did it. That was really intense.” required amount of students failed to enMann said his weather forecasts are roll, it was decided that the topic should be on target about 80-90 percent of the time. broadened to physical geography.

He said he feels we are living in a “cycle of “I enjoy that more because in addition extremes.” He said predicting the weather to weather, you get volcanoes, the formais all about “catching the trend,” but it betion of the Earth,” comes more challenging when un“I always liked the storms he said. “It really covers a wide variexpected patterns when they came in. I ety. So I’m having a occur. thought it was the good time with it.”

“Once in a He said he adwhile, you get coolest thing.” opted some of his some really weird teaching strategies cur ves,” he said. from an astronomy “Those big years, RANDY MANN course he took I mean, you can’t NIC instructor and meteorologist while at San Franforecast more than cisco State. It was taught by the head of 170 inches of snow. We said above normal, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. but that was something else.”

“It was so interesting how he did With Mann’s knowledge and enthuthings,” he said. “I’d watch very carefully. siasm about the subject, becoming an inI try to do a little bit of that when I do my structor was a natural choice. Mann had geography thing.” previously been involved with NIC, speakWhen comparing the workload of being ing about global warming in the Popcorn a TV weatherman to being an instructor, Forum. He soon became acquainted with Mann said it’s like comparing apples and geology/geography instructor Bill oranges.

Richards.

“It depends on the day. When you first start out teaching, it’s a lot of work as you experiment to see what works. Some days at the station you can just sit

back with your feet propped up, but other days when the weather’s hopping, you have snow, thunderstorms, then you’re really busy.”

Along with being an instructor and reporting the weather to TV audiences in the Inland Northwest, Mann and local climatologist Cliff Harris are partners in Harris-Mann Climatology and long-range weather. Mann has been writing articles for www.longrangeweather.com since 1991.

“We have to write articles on a daily basis for our clients,” Mann said. “We have a commodity long-range weather forecasting business. Clients depend on our information to trade commodities. For example, if we see a big freeze coming in Florida, they want to buy in low, freeze hits, commodity prices shoot up, they make money.”

Needless to say, Mann is involved in many things: He writes a weather column for the Spokesman Review, fills in for Harris’ Weather Gems once in a while, compiles the Coeur d’Alene Press weather page on a daily basis and he has been married for more than 20 years.

So what does he do when he’s not doing all this?

“I sleep,” he said with a laugh.

Physical geography 100 will be offered in the summer. It satisfies a lab science credit.

Photo illustration by Michael Paquin and Kaye Thornbrugh

They can also expect an accurate local weather forecast.

Mann, who has been a part-time instructor at NIC since January 2010, is a meteorologist and part-time TV weatherman for KREM-2 News. He has been with KREM-2 about eight years, but he’s been into weather his whole life. One might say he has weather in his “vanes.”

He grew up in Sacramento, a location practically devoid of snow. But that didn’t stop him from being captivated by atmospheric conditions.

“I always liked the storms when they came in. I thought it was the coolest thing.

I just developed that interest,” he said.

“I’ve had it ever since I was a wee one.”

As a kid, he used to keep rain gauges and weather measurements in his backyard.

“Of course, I had no idea the dog was using the rain gauges to enhance the numbers a little bit,” he said with a chuckle.

His path to television began when he was young. When he was 7, his father took him to see a live taping of a Sacramento news show where he experienced a TV news set for the first time.

“It was larger than life to me when I walked in through the door,” he said.

Mann interned with KCRA-TV Sacramento when he was only 14. He finally went on the air when he was asked to fill in for a Tacoma station.

“This is how times have changed,” he said with a smile. “They said, ‘We’ll pay your salary, your flight, your room, your car and your expenses.’ I was up there for my 21st birthday to fill in for three weeks and it was fabulous.”

Mann studied at San Francisco State, University of California Davis and Sacramento State. He graduated in 1988, giving him the title of “meteorologist.” During that time, he’s seen all kinds of crazy weather. One Fourth of July about six or seven years ago, Mann and the crew at KREM-2 had an electrifying experience.

“One evening we were so busy, we were flying by the

DID YOU KNOW? Scientists’ research suggests that the Antarctic ice sheet was formed roughly 40 million years ago.

www.nicsentinel.com

LIFESTYLES

North Dakota draws national interest People from coast to coast make trip to boom-town seeking work Nick Dimico Staff Contributor

“I drove down to Williston with no job and slept in the Wal-Mart parking lot,” said Fr y. “The next day I got the job and began working.”

Things continue to boom in WilAlmost 60 years ago, the discover y liston, N.D., with unemployment rates of oil was made in the small town, which that continue to hover around two pergave it a giant leap for employment. In cent, and at any given time, more than 2004, horizontal drilling began in Wil1,200 job openings are available in the liston which allowed for further drilling Williston area. projects.

North Dakota might be the place to Not only did the breakthrough open look for a lucrative new job, as people jobs in the oil industr y, but it paved the all across the U.S. are scrambling to way for tons of other jobs in the retail, mark their territor y in the town of Wilconstruction and food industries. Busiliston, which used to have a registered ness is exploding and employers are population of around 13,000. The popudesperate for workers with and without lation has jumped to 25,000 in fewer experience. than three years.

According to Fr y, with his experiThe unregistered population is still ence, he landed a six-figure income, and unknown, but according to former NIC gets to work for a month straight then business major and current Williston take a week off to come back home. He construction worker Derrick Fr y, 21, stated that McDonald’s is hiring at $15 “It’s been said to be well over 100,000 in per hour with a $500 sign-on bonus plus a combined population.” full benefits. Competing companies like Fr y had three years of experience in Taco John’s are hiring at a whopping the construction field before he moved $17 per hour. Many positions from entr y to Williston in late September. level to experienced in all types of businesses are ready “It’s extremely crazy with the amount of to be filled. is jobs that were created and the amount of near“Housing impossible to find,” Fr y said. “I people that moved here.” recommend that people join the DERRICK FRY man camps like I Williston construction worker did because if you

live in a man camp your rent is taken care of.”

According to the NY Times, the definition of a man camp is temporar y housing compounds that support enormous male work force that is flooding the region in search of refuge from a stormy economy, and have up to 3,700 residents in each of them.

Families of the workers struggle with long distance relationships.

“It’s difficult having my husband away, said Heather Johnson, NIC Admissions recruiter. “We have a 17 month old baby, and it’s been a constant struggle for her to understand why her daddy is not coming home each night.”

With the husband at work, it leads to more tasks and new routines at home.

“It’s a lonely feeling,” said Johnson.

“With my husband gone I now have to add more responsibilities onto my plate like shoveling snow. It’s hard because you are so used to your old routine that you then have to change it to make it so those tasks get completed.”

Amount of jobs available continue to surprise ever yone.

“It is extremely crazy with the amount of jobs that were created, and amount of people that moved here,” said Fr y. “Who would have ever thought it would all evolve this much just due to oil being found.”

“My goal is to own a house that is paid in full by next year, said Fr y.

Contributing data collected by Ondracek, Witwer, and Bertsch Inc. for expected 2015 statistics

Unhealthy sleep patterns common College-age subjects biologically predisposed to stay awake longer hours Julie Salinas

Staff Contributor

Who ever says they wished they slept in college more? Well, sleeping could be vital in your career as a student, as well as your health.

Dan Scott, a student here at NIC, said “Every other day I go to bed at 1 am and wake up at 7 am. The other days I go to bed at 3 or 4 am and wake up at 1 in the afternoon.” This type of sleeping pattern is known as having an irregular circadian rhythm. A circadian rhythm is the body’s clock and operates in a 24-hour period.

If sleeping patterns frequently change, the body’s circadian rhythm is off which makes sleeping patterns extremely difficult to get back to normal. Kristina Klassen, NIC psychology instructor, stresses that students need to have enough REM sleep. “Without enough REM sleep, you will die within a year” she said.

Social pressures such as partying, staying up late, and taking in substances like drugs or alcohol represses students’ sleep and makes learning and remembering class and lectures extremely hard. It takes 48 hours to process information, and with those obstacles in the way, learning at school is almost impossible.

“Students ages 17-21 can’t fall asleep early physically, your body will not let you.” Klassen said. Unless they had a schedule of waking up early and going to bed early since they were little, it’s almost impossible for students to go to bed early, and also wake up early. As students get older, the time for going to bed gets later, and getting up early for classes gets harder.

Randy Ware, another NIC instructor, encourages his students to create regular sleeping patterns. Students’ health is also a factor with less sleep. Sleep deprivation can interfere with student weight gain, a deficient immune system, and constantly feeling tired which makes school harder.

With energy drinks, pills, and high sugary foods and drinks added with very little sleep, a student’s health is quickly affected. A full night of sleep is the body’s way of restoring itself.

On a students’ list, sleeping isn’t near the top, but it’s almost as vital as the air you breathe and the food you eat. Imagine sleeping like gas in a car. With the most amount of sleep, the tank is full. With little sleep, the car is running on almost empty or empty. The Sleep Foundation encour-

ages that students get around nine and a quarter hours of sleep to do their best, and if you can’t get the full nine hours, try taking a nap sometime during the day. Avoid caffeinated beverages and energy drinks or pills before bed. Avoid working out, taking naps, and watching TV or using your computer before bed as well to help fall asleep faster. Sleeping more and making a schedule will not only make students feel better, but also preform better in school, work, and social lives.

the sentinel | 7

COLLEGE LIFE

Prepare for grind mode again How I avoid biting off more than I can chew

Jake Wright Martin ■ Staff Contributor

W

elcome back people. Back to new classes and old friends, back to late nights and early mornings, back to work, as it were. But it’s a new year and a new semester, a clean slate maybe? I would like to think so.

It’s now the third week of school since winter break. The lethargy of down time has worn down to a sweet memory, and three weeks is all it took to kill off that memory. For some of us it may have had something to do with the extra credits we decided to pile on. For others it might be that we are still getting back up to speed, or getting into the swing again.

The smart ones hit the ground running. They have their act together and I applaud them for their foresight. It is refreshing to feel as if you have your life under control, or at least your class schedule. Oh the things I would do to feel like I have my own act together.

I would like to inquire as to where the line between challenging one’s “Oh the self and biting off more than one things I can chew lies exwould do actly. I would assume it’s a fairly to feel like I fine line, and I have my act have a feeling it together.” tends to change of its own accord througho u t t h e y e a r.

Sadly it’s probably one of those unanswerable questions like what’s really in hotdogs and is there actually a god.

My personal philosophy states that it’s better to avoid getting overloaded because then you don’t learn much of anything, whereas if you maintain a workload that is engaging, yet not difficult to keep up with, then you learn more and understand more deeply the concepts that you’re trying to grasp.

Easier said than done, obviously. Especially when our advisors are breathing down our necks, we try to look at the big picture and see that at the rate we’re going, we’re talking about at least three years to finish a two year degree. I don’t know about you but I know even if I wanted to go to school for the next 10 years, I’m unable to financially support such an endeavor.

So, becoming overloaded it would seem, is inevitable. At some point we have to buckle down and power through the work. We have to deal with the stress and we would all like to emerge on the other side, with our sanity mostly intact and not otherwise addicted to addictive substances.

A certain level of preparedness has to be attained then, before we really hit our hard spot in life. Some would argue that your entire life leading up to said hard spot is all the preparedness that you are capable of getting. I would make the argument that one can live a lifetime and not be ready.

Your life is definitely the most in depth training you will receive. However you have to know how to use your experiences in life to your advantage. A lot of people look at events in their lives in a harsh light especially ones pertaining to stress, pain, or struggle. People don’t like to remember these things.

I recently read an essay called Learning in the Key of Life. By Jon Spayed, which talked about what it should mean to be educated. His writing intrigued me by saying that the whole world is a classroom.

He also talks about a concept he calls fast and slow learning. Fast learning is vocational; it’s training for a specific job. Fast learning will speed you through society.

And you will probly make a lot of money.

Slow learning, involves learning form the world, Learning the arts and humanities.

In the end you gain meaning, understanding, and fulfillment.

Food for thought.

Jake Wright Martin is a writer for The Sentinel. His opinions are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Sentinel. Respond to this column online at nicsentinel.com.

8 | the sentinel

LIFESTYLES

Monday, January 30, 2012

COMMENTARY

Fighting my winter time blues Maximizing daylight, outdoor activites effective

Michael Paquin ■ Lifestyles Editor There’s something about winter that seems to throw people in a funk, and in North Idaho, winter isn’t just a season, it’s a way of life.

Take a memorable morning from a couple years ago for example. I was walking down to my car when I slipped and fell within mere feet of reaching it safely. Luckily my northern upbringing taught me the best way to absorb the impact of the fall is to firmly break it with my spine, so that’s what I did. That’s pure instinct that you just can’t teach. Upon righting myself I pulled open my door-handle to let myself in. It came off in my hand and after that I just kind of stared at it for a while. When I finally got in the car and threw the handle in the backseat, I noticed the interior of my car smelled of what I suspected to be feral cat piss. I had left my passenger side window halfway down and evidently my car had provided a temporary shelter/litter box for a stray cat. Wonderful.

Ordinarily, these would have been the kinds of things I just took in stride, but it all seems to build momentum when you know that on top of everything else, it will be dark by 3:30 p.m.

According to the American Academy of Family physics, about six percent of the population suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder (or S.A.D.---How convenient is that?), but the phenomena gets more common in regions at higher latitudes that see less of the sun. You can’t get much higher in the lower 48 than Coeur d’Alene.

I told a friend of mine how winter can put me in a crappy mood and she recommended a full-spectrum light, which emits 10,000 lux, similar to that of natural daylight.

I found that this, as well as adjusting my sleep schedule to spend the most amount of time in the daylight (you have to wake up at about 7 a.m. ) worked best for me. Going on frequent walks or spending time outside during daylight hours helps a lot too.

This was only what was effective for me though. Everybody has their different methods for dealing with the wintertime blues, but as I pulled away from my house, my bad mood began to dissapate immediately. At least until the rear end of my car slid into the light pole at the end of my driveway.

Michael Paquin is an editor for The Sentinel.

His opinions are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Sentinel. Respond to this column online at nicsentinel.com.

Michael Foley uses students John Adrianu, 14, (top) and Michael Hardy, 16, (bottom) to demonstrate a variation of the choke hold that the rest of the students had been practicing. Foley is trained in various martial arts styles. Ethan Schlussler/Sentinel

Instructor dispenses worldly wisdom Students can benefit from travels, occupations, experiences of Foley Benaiah Cheevers Staff Contributor Crime creates havoc and emotional damage across America, and many people may not be able to defend themselves properly from physical assault. Martial arts have been around for centuries, and Michael Foley is a man who knows all about it.

Foley is a modern language of Korean and a self-defense instructor at North Idaho College. He is from San Antonio, Texas, but he likes to call the world his home. Foley has been all over the world, serving the United States for 32 years in the U.S. Army from 1976 to 2008 with 24 years in the Special Operations Unit and was sent to Japan in 1978, 1979 and 1980.

He was also sent to Thailand in 1978 to learn muay Thai kickboxing.

Foley’s martial arts experience includes: boxing, hwa rang do, jiu-jitsu, koden-kan karate-do, kyokushin, muay Thai, shorinji kenpo, taekwondo and tai chi chuan. He holds a seventh degree black belt with the American Jiu-jitsu Institute, an eighth degree black belt with the Koden-kan Martial Arts Association and a ninth degree black belt in Rocate martial arts.

If you have ever seen the Saturdaymorning TV show from 1995 to 1997, “WMAC Masters”, then you have seen Foley on screen. Foley appeared as Tracy “Tracer” Swedom is the TV show’s second season. His acting career also

someone grabbed me and I spun around took him to Los Angeles in 1989 where and performed a defensive technique on he played roles in films like “Lionheart.” them and it worked! That’s what I want He worked part time for Universal to hear.”

Studios as a stuntman as well, appearSteven Leist, 24, Coeur d’Alene, hising in TV shows like “Miami Vice Action tory major, said that martial arts have Spectacular” and “The Adventures of been part of his life since he was seven Conan.”

Foley was the U.S Army heavyweight years old.

“My dad, sister and I have taken kickboxing champion for nine years. He moved to North Idaho in 2002 and now classes here at the H2HCTC and it’s the best martial arts owns his own school that I have martial arts train“I have a deep love for my been to for alling center called around knowledge Hand To Hand students because I want martial arts,” Combat Training them to learn real martial of Leist said. “All of Center (H2Harts that could save the techniques that CTC) where he we learn work.” teaches Koden their lives.”

Kan mar tial Austin Tanner, arts. Koden Kan 19, Bonners Ferry, is the same ar t general studies, MIKE FOLEY that he teaches said martial arts Martial arts guru to his self-dehave always interfense classes at ested him.

NIC. Koden Kan “I wanted to works all aspects of the student: the soul, learn martial arts so I could learn how to mind and body. defend myself,” Tanner said. “The work American Hand to Hand combat train- out is great too.” ing is also taught by Foley to his classes Jonathan Bryan, 17, Coeur d’Alene, where weapons training and militar y general studies, said Foley’s class has style self-defense are integrated. helped him learn how to defend himself better than other any class he could “I have a deep love for my students because I want them to learn real martial probably ever take.

“I’ve always just wanted to be able arts that could save their lives,” Foley to defend myself like anyone else who said. “I don’t want to hear any stories may need to,” Bryan said. “Koden Kan is about my students getting mugged. I teaching me great techniques. It’s fun.” want my students to come in and say

Sports

Sports tip? Story idea?

Contact Eric Rivera

() - earivera@students.nic.edu

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he AFC faces of f against the NFC. Who will win it all this year? I’m picking the New York Giants over the New England Patriots in a 28-24 victory.

The Patriots are hungr y for another Super Bowl ring, but an even Benaiah Cheevers hungrier Eli Manning Staff Contributor will lead the way in a 2008 Super Bowl rematch that might be one of the greatest Super Bowls in NFL history.

Eli Manning may not be the best quarterback in the NFL, but he has a solid team around him. Osi Umenyiora, Giants defensive end, has nine sacks this season.

The re-match is set, and many probably think that there’s no way the Patriots will let the Giants defeat them for a second time. But the Giants did beat the Pats back in week nine on Nov. 6, 24-20.

Student survival guide to Who, what, where to America’s sport holiday Eric Rivera Sports Editor Ever since the first Super Bowl aired in 1967, the NFL has seen a huge growth in viewers and talent on the field. There have been 45 different victors over the years and many records set on and off the field.

Last year’s Super Bowl had over 110 million viewers, breaking the previous record for most watched program in television history.

On the field, Tom Brady could beat Joe Montana’s record for most playoff victories. He enters the game tied with

Montana at 16 wins. Brady will also tie John Elway for most Super Bowl appearances for his position with five.

The Giants could set a record as the only team to win a Super Bowl with fewer than 10 wins in the regular season. The Giants were 9-7 going into the playoffs.

Super Bowl XLVI could potentially break the record for viewership again, grabbing the attention of one out of every three Americans. Those numbers show that more people are tuning in for the Super Bowl event, whether they are watching the game or just tuning in for the 30-to-60 second commercials that

make a house full of people laugh so hard they cry.

This national sports holiday now has people thinking of new ways to enjoy the Super Bowl experience. Here are a few ideas that students and adults of any age can enjoy.

Going Out Many people would rather share the experience with others and avoid the mess a house party creates. The two biggest sports restaurants close to down-

See SUPER BOWL XLVI | Page 11

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he New York Giants edged the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII 17-14, but I expect the tables to turn this year.

The Patriots offense led by quarterback Tom Brady is too explosive for any team in the NFL to defend.

Garrett Cabeza The offensive linemen Staff Contributor for the Patriots have been known to give Brady plenty of time in the pocket to throw to one of his many talented wide receivers and tight ends.

The main reason the Patriots will hoist the Lombardi trophy is the matchup problem tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski create. Gronkowski set an NFL record this year with 17 touchdown receptions and 1,327 yards, while Hernandez compiled 910 receiving yards and seven touchdowns this season.

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning will keep it close, but I have the Patriots taking the win 30-27.

Reasons people watch the Superbowl

34.6%

26.4% 19% 14.4%

5.6%

For the Game Source: BIGresearch 2011

Don’t watch Infographic by: Eric Rivera

Commercials

Hang out with friends

Halftime Show

All logos are copyright of the NFL 2012

MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

COMMENTARY

Mountains of golden dreams X Games, Olympics passing up perfect area

Eric Rivera ■ Sports Editor When it dumps snow in the mountains, nature brings the Northwest a heavenly playground to exploit. From riding pure white powder drifts to hitting rails and landing high-altitude jumps, skiing and snowboarding offers the outdoor enthusiast a taste at the closest thing to god-like ambrosia.

I’ve been riding since I was 15 and have had a chance to experience almost every mountain in the area. While each mountain has its own special charms, there is one thing that I noticed about our resorts: they each have the potential to be hosting bigger competitions than what they are currently holding every year.

There is no doubt in my mind that Lookout, Silver, Mt. Spokane, or Schweitzer mountains could host the XGames in their present condition. If the mountains all pulled together, Idaho and Washington could host the Winter Olympics one day in the future.

The X-Games are being held for the 11th year in a row at Aspen, Colo. I’ve visited the area before and can say that the town and the surrounding areas are breathtakingly stunning.

It kind of reminds me of Sandpoint with “With that the way the business kind of district was set up.

Some of the big money, wigs fr om ESPN Coeur should take a trip d’Alene to North Idaho for a change. Maybe our could pave area could break the Sherman monopoly Aspen has had on the games.

Avenue in Although I have Olympic yet to ride the face of Buttermilk Mountain gold.” at Aspen, I can imagine that the terrain is equally as enjoyable as Schweitzer’s front or back bowls. With the right kind of preparation, Shaun White might be pulling his signature Double McTwist 1260 off of Idaho snow for a change.

Now I know this concept might be stretching the capacity for our area, but if each mountain could work out a schedule of who gets what event, I think the Winter Olympics could also be staged in our area. We almost always get the snow and we have the area to do it if each mountain was OK with staging certain events.

The drive between most of the mountains is roughly an hour, so if someone wanted to catch the snowboard halfpipe event on Schweitzer and then the ice hockey game at the Spokane Arena, it would only be a short drive that shuttle companies could offer.

There would have to be some things built for the games, like a bobsled course for example, but the amount of money the games brings in has been outrageous.

For the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, a Pricewaterhouse Cooper’s study estimated that $2.5 billion dollars were added to the local economy. It created 45,000 jobs, mostly to build extra venues and homes to house some of the athletes. With that kind of money, Coeur d’Alene could pave Sherman Avenue in Olympic gold.

Either of these competitions have a chance in our area, but I think our area needs to grow a little bit before that happens.

We have the mountains and we have high-caliber athletes that could participate.

We could create the right arena and let the torch be carried from Lookout Pass to Mt. Spokane. We just need the luck of an event scouter to hit the area.

Eric Rivera is an editor for The Sentinel. His opinions are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Sentinel. Respond to this column online at nicsentinel.com.

DID YOU KNOW? Super Bowl XLVI ad space was sold out by Thanksgiving 2011, averaging $3.5 million for 30 seconds.

SPORTS

10 | the sentinel

Monday, january 30, 2012

Cardinals pass through fierce competition Phay, team gearing up for final stretch Benaiah Cheevers Staff Contributor

Keon Lewis gives onlooking College of Southern Idaho a reason to be surprised. The Cardinals won with a 4-point victory against CSI on Jan. 14. Gabe Green/Sentinel

The men’s basketball team has reached the part of the season that really counts.

With a record of 18-4 the team is looking like a strong contender for the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national tournament this March.

Sophomore Petar Joksimovic helped defeat defending NJCAA champion and sixthranked Southern Idaho on Saturday, Jan. 14 by stealing the ball with 24 seconds remaining in the game. The 16th-ranked Cardinals remained on top of the Scenic West Athletic Conference (SWAC) with a 75-71 win.

“I think that everyone in the SWAC is tough,” said head coach Jared Phay. “Obviously CSI is one of those teams. We hit some big shots down the stretch, but if we hadn’t, then CSI could’ve easily beat us tonight.”

NIC (18-4, 4-3 in the SWAC) is trying to remain in good shape heading into the season’s finale.

Southern Idaho (20-2, 6-1 in the SWAC) gained the momentum midway through the first half to build a 37-31 lead at halftime.

Antoine Hosley and Keon Lewis hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put NIC up 71-65 with 1:28 remaining. NIC made five out of seven attempts from behind the 3-point line in the second half. The loss snaps a 14-

game win streak by the Golden Eagles.

Lewis finished with a team-high 18 points. NIC out-rebounded CSI 41-34 during the game.

Kaj Sherman hit seven out of 12 shots from the field scoring 14 points in the game.

“We can’t underestimate anyone,” Sherman said. “We just have to keep playing to our potential. I think our team has the sky as the limit. We just need to keep getting better, which is the ultimate goal.”

Sherman also finished the game with eight rebounds. He said after the game that if the team continues to work together like they did against CSI then they are going to be hard to beat.

“We have started clicking,” Sherman said. “Just like any other team, any other season, there is going to be problems and we have had some diversity. We overcame it, but we still aren’t where we need to be.

We are on the right track though.”

It has been an impressive season so far for the diverse and talented men’s basketball team.

The NJCAA Region 18 tournament begins on March 8 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

NIC has plans to bring the national championship title to Coeur d’Alene for the first time in school history.

NIC men’s basketball teams have placed in the national tournament before, taking eighth place in 1980 and fourth place in 1997.

Wrestler finds funds, appreciation in North Student athlete, college, coaches benefit from dismissal of Californian athletic program Garrett Cabeza Staff Contributor When Division I schools run out of scholarship money, junior colleges, like North Idaho College, benefit from picking up the abandoned student athletes.

Just take NIC wrestler Ryan Zumwalt. Last year, Zumwalt wrestled at California State University Fullerton but transferred to NIC after the school terminated the wrestling program.

The Fullerton wrestling program had been struggling financially for about six years. Although the coaches helped raised enough money last year for wrestling, the gymnastics program failed to support itself.

All the sports programs at Fullerton are self-funded except for basketball and the school would cut a program if it lacked funding. Since wrestling and gymnastics were tied together, both programs were terminated.

“So when they got cut, our program got cut,” Zumwalt said. “And the thing that sucked most about it was the gymnastics coach and the wrestling coach were married, so they both lost their jobs.”

This wrestling season Zumwalt suffered three injuries, one of them being a shoulder injury, that forced him to sit out a tournament. Early this season, Zumwalt also tore his lateral cruciate ligament (LCL).

“For about a week, I thought I was going to have surgery, and if I had surgery, I wouldn’t be able to keep wrestling,” Zumwalt said.

He was told later the injury would heal in about five weeks, if he rested it.

“It didn’t heal in five weeks, but it’s feeling pretty solid now,” he said.

His shoulder and ankle injuries are starting to heal as the national tournament in Rochester, Minn. is right around the corner.

“I’m probably the healthiest I’ve been all year right now,” Zumwalt said.

Zumwalt, 20, Spokane Valley, attended University High School, the same school that teammate Jake Mason attended.

He won an individual and team state championship his senior year in the 152pound weight class. Before graduating from University, he broke the school’s individual career win record.

As a freshman, he received a letter from the University of Oregon, but the school cut their wrestling program that same year. California State University Fullerton offered him a scholarship and he chose to enroll there.

Zumwalt felt the difference between high school wrestling and Division I wrestling.

“In college, just about everyone is a state champion or state placer,” Zumwalt said.

“I kind of felt it was like wrestling the state championship every single match in practice.”

The Division I school proved to be more intense than high school wrestling.

“I think we had about 65,000 people, and finding classes and stuff wasn’t very easy,” he said. “Focusing on school was a bit harder, because the beach was right around the corner. It

From north to south and back, Zumwalt’s skill keeps colleges calling. Gabe Green/Sentinel

was hard to be focused in California.”

Zumwalt, ranked second nationally in the 157-pound weight class, is 18-4 this season.

His four losses are all to Division I opponents.

The team is 7-3 after Friday’s win. They lost to five-time National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics national champions

Montana State Northern, last year’s NJCAA champions Clackamas Community College and last year’s third place finisher in Region 18, Highline Community College.

“I think we can probably win [nationals]. It can happen if everyone does what they’re supposed to do.”

Close matches, fighting spirit topple competition Cardinal athletics continue to ride wave of momentum as second round of play begins Aimee Durbidge (below) and Angela Woods (right) fight for control of the court against the College of Southern Idaho in a narrow 67-66 win. Gabe Green and Katelynn Eppenstein/Sentinel

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Eric Rivera ■ Sports Editor

he Lady Cards have been on fire over the last year. Coach Chris Carlson has not only led the ladies to a national win last year, but he recently attained his 300th career win on Dec. 30.

On top of that, this year’s team has remained on top of the Scenic West Athletic Conference (SWAC) despite a 75-78 loss to Snow College in Ephriam, Utah on Jan. 28.

The women are 6-1 in conference play and 17-3 overall.

“I can see how they are interacting and how they are getting along and doing stuff, like right now pulling together when they need to,” Carlson said. “We are on target as far as chemistry goes.”

The Lady Cards have been battling hard with the College of Eastern Utah and Snow College for the top rank in the SWAC since competition started last November.

The narrow home win on Jan. 14 against the College of Southern Idaho (CSI) put the women at the front of the pack and the women have been defending their first place hold ever since.

The Lady Cards’ 67-66 win against CSI boiled down to the last few minutes of gameplay before NIC emerged victorious.

Free throws and fouls ended up being the deciding factor in the match.

Kate Buskey and Korina Baker each had a big night by both posting a 50 percent completion rate on 3-point attempts and 100 percent on free throws. Buskey made three out of six 3-pointers and converted three free throws. Baker made one out of two 3-pointers and converted two free throws.

“They definitely came out hard and they wanted to get us,” said freshman post Danika Johnson, 19. “It was good for us to come back and win a close game like that.”

In the CSI game, NIC was down 39-46 at one point before they came back for the win.

The lead changed nine times during the game.

Although the women are at the top of the conference, Carlson said that the team has narrowly made it through a couple matches.

“I’m afraid to say dominate but we are winning games,” Carlson said. “We have had two 1-point wins in our league and one 3-point win. Those are close games, so we are awfully close to being 2-3 [in conference play]. It’s a tough league.”

The Lady Cards have entered the second round out of three in conference play.

They play CSI on their court Feb. 4 before returning home to play against Colorado Northwestern on Feb. 9 and College of Eastern Utah on Feb. 11.

www.nicsentinel.com

SPORTS

the sentinel | 11

The Emerald City might be home but the sound of Gonzaga is calling for Michael Middlebrooks (left).

With his talent, getting into the NCAA is one challenge Middlebrooks will overcome. Gabe Green/Sentinel

Edrico McGregor (below) doesn’t let his past hamper his future. From playing on a national team in the Bahamas to studying at NIC, he demonstrates anyone can overcome difficulty. Gabe Green/Sentinel

Middlebrooks, McGregor explain why North Idaho is the perfect fit for basketball Benaiah Cheevers ■ Staff Contributor

S

ome athletes have NCAA Division I talent written all over them, and North Idaho College has been the stepping stone for many students in years past.

Michael Middlebrooks, a 6-foot-9 freshman power forward, has helped the team reach an 18-4 record. Middlebrooks is 19 years old, wears number 15 and is pursuing general studies. His hometown is Seattle and he went to Rainier Beach High School.

Middlebrooks said that he wasn’t qualified for NCAA Division I because of his final high school transcripts. NIC ended up being the best school for him.

“The coaches seemed nice,” Middlebrooks said. “I didn’t want to go to a big school right off the bat. I liked the area and the surroundings so that’s what brought me to NIC.” Middlebrooks didn’t start playing basketball until his junior year of high school.

Being from Seattle, Middlebrooks said that basketball in the metropolis is extremely competitive. That environment allowed him to develop his skills quicker than if he was to grow up in a city like Coeur d’Alene.

“When we got together to play in Seattle, we always came at each other pretty hard,” Middlebrooks said. “It was very competitive each night we played.”

Growing up in Seattle was rough for Middlebrooks, since his mother was a single parent of 11 children.

“My mother didn’t have the best of

N

jobs, but she did what she could to provide for us,” Middlebrooks said. “I’m the second-oldest in my family, but also the first to go to college. So I’m trying to be the best role model that I can be for my family.”

Middlebrooks said that his favorite type of music is rap and R&B. Sometimes before a game Middlebrooks said he likes to get pumped up, but most of the time he likes to keep relaxed.

Pregame music is just a small part of Middlebrooks’s game, though. He said he has faith in this year’s team.

“I think we have the pieces, and that we have so much depth that we could win it all,” Middlebrooks said. “We are building better chemistry. I like the guys on my team and we are building a family bond.”

Middlebrooks is being scouted by Gonzaga University. He recently went to a couple games, met head coach Mark Few and had the players show him the locker room.

“I really like Gonzaga and I’m really considering it, but I guess I’m going to go to the best fit for me like how I chose to come to NIC.” “Michael is probably the best defensive player in the conference because of the way he can change the game by blocking shots and rebounding,” said head coach Jared Phay. “When he is not blocking a shot he is probably intimidating other players to maybe not even take a shot, and that is invaluable.”

IC’s men’s basketball team has as McGregor is one of six children in his much talent as it does diversity. family and he is the second youngest. His One student athlete has hopped is- father was a mechanic and his mother lands to hop down the court in Idaho. stayed at home to look after the family.

Edrico McGregor, a 6’8” sophomore McGregor said that the only way for him power forward, has been a key player in to go to college was to get a scholarship. helping the team reach an 18-4 record.

“Basketball wasn’t really my dream, McGregor is 21 years old, wears number but people kept pushing me towards bas20 and is pursuing general studies. ketball and telling me that I could play the He puts the “student” in “student athlete” game,” McGregor said. “So I just decided by achieving a 3.8 GPA for the to try out and I made it onto fall 2011 semester. His homethe Bahamas national team “I used to town is Nassau, which is located after I graduated high school live in the in the Bahamas. He attended and I got to travel to Argenghetto. We tina with the team.”

C.C. Sweeting High School.

McGregor previously atMcGregor said that as a didn’t have tended Meridian Community child he didn’t have much to any video College in Meridian, Miss. He do but roam the streets. spent two years there, but didn’t games or “I used to live in the ghetplay during his first year due to to,” McGregor said. “We much for an injury. McGregor came to didn’t have any video games entertainNIC when Meridian reduced fior much for enter tainment. nancial aid for their athletes.

We couldn’t afford it.” ment.”

McGregor said the main McGregor said he is being reason he left was because he scouted by the University of EDRICO MCGREGOR couldn’t afford to stay.

Iowa, the University of Minsophomore forward McGregor didn’t play organesota, Missouri State and nized basketball until college.

Southern Illinois University.

“I used to go to the park and “Edrico is an explosive just sit down and watch in order to try and athlete and as athletic as anybody is in the learn how to play basketball,” McGregor country,” said coach Phay. “He has great said. “When I came to college the coaches ability to score on the block and I think he started teaching me how to post up, re- rebounds at a very high level, coming up bound and this and that.” with a lot of big time rebounds for us.”

Campus fun for students, athletes Rec. Sports unveils its Spring 2012 schedule, offers flashback to the ‘80s Garrett Cabeza Staff Contributor Paint splashing against a student’s helmet, smashing somebody in the face with a dodge ball, turning the clock back to the ‘80s. Doesn’t this sound like a thrill?

Recreational Sports is hosting sign-ups for many tournaments and events in the lower level of the Student Union Building.

Notable events that are just around the corner are Classic Game Night and paintball.

Classic Game Night will feature ‘80s style dress and games on March 6.

“We thought it would be a good way to get students involved with the program,” Jessica Johanson, coordinator of Recreational Sports, said.

Grow that Mullet, throw on that tracksuit, and pick up a pair of aviator sunglasses while playing games. And ladies, dig through your closets, or perhaps your mother’s, and bring back the shoulder

pads, leg warmers, and fingerless gloves that made the ‘80s one of the most memorable fashion trends.

“I think one of the main games is going to be ultimate soccer,” Tanner Robert, Rec. Sports supervisor and referee, said.

If ultimate soccer is played, it will be in Christianson Gymnasium. It is played with two soccer goals. A player can shoot the ball into the basketball hoop for two points or kick it into the soccer goal for one point.

A player cannot pick the ball up and run with it, but he or she can take about two steps and pass it to a teammate, kick it toward the opponent’s goal, or kick the ball up to him or herself and shoot a basket.

If inflicting paintball welts on opposing teams sounds like a good day, then Rec. Sports invites students to sign up for the two paintball tournaments on April 20 and 30. The time and place of the two tournaments are to be an-

nounced, but they will take place on forest service land.

Other upcoming events include a dodge ball tournament on Feb. 22 and 23, first ever indoor flag football games on April 3 through 5 and a whiffle ball tournament on April 16 and 17. Singles shuffleboard is at noon on Feb. 16, doubles pool noon Feb. 22 and March Madness all day on March 15 and 16 with free food and prizes.

For more information, call the Rec. Sports desk at 208-769-3299, visit www.nic. edu/recsports, or find them on Facebook at NIC Rec. Sports.

>SUPER BOWL XLVI from page 9

town are Crickets and Capones.

For the 21 and older, Capones has the space and the brews to keep most people occupied during the game. With over 41 beers on tap and a liquor license, the avid beer and sports lover can’t go wrong here.

Cricket’s Bar and Grill can offer a group of football fans a relaxed environment with 16 televisions and fresh barbecue.

“Some people want to throw a party and some dont want to clean up the mess afterwards,” said Rico Ciccone, Cricket’s owner.

“I hope that we have a good positive atmosphere and that the game hold up.”

The House Party Who’s up for a pot-luck? We all have different foods that we like. Instead of predicting the likes and dislikes, encourage friends to bring their favorite dish.

Backyard football with the family and friends can be a great activity. Be careful not to be making any trips to the hospital on Super Bowl Sunday.

If there is snow on the ground, try some pregame sledding or a snowball fight to get the party going.

Briefs Wrestling match rescheduled The North Idaho College wrestling match at Yakima Valley Community College that was cancelled due to weather conditions Jan. 18 has been rescheduled. The match will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30 at Yakima Valley Community College.

Catch all Cardinal games online Both home and away conference matchups for North Idaho College men’s and women’s basketball and wrestling will now be webcast live via Meridix.com. To view the NIC athletics schedule for the remainder of the season, visit www.nicathletics. com. Live webcasts will be available at the time of the matchup by clicking on the “Live Webcast” link.

California libero signs to play volleyball at NIC Rosie Robinson, a highly awarded libero from Hemet High School in Hemet, Calif., has signed to play volleyball for North Idaho College in 2012.

Robinson was the team captain for the back-to-back Division IV California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) champion Hemet High Bulldogs the past two years where she was voted first team All-League twice, Defensive Player of the Year twice and Most Valuable Player in the Mountain Pass League in 2012.

She was a member of the well-known 951 Elite Volleyball Club in Southern California and was an All-Tournament player for two consecutive years at the Dan Quam Memorial Tournament. Robinson was recently

voted All-California State second team by the CIF for the 2011-2012 volleyball season.

“I chose NIC because my family roots go back to North Idaho and after meeting the coaching staff and players here, I was impressed with the entire program and that I could contribute to a nationally ranked team and can continue to improve under Coach Kelly,” Robinson said. “I chose volleyball over soccer, because I truly love this game and NIC is one of the best schools for it.”

Prep Star rated Robinson as one of the top liberos for the class of 2012 in Southern California based on her league, leading with 343 digs, 41 serving aces and 30 attack kills.

“It was fun reading all of Rosie’s articles following her through volleyball and soccer, but seeing her in action here at NIC was a lot more fun,” said head volleyball coach Kandice Kelly. “She was even better than

I expected. She is one of the quickest kids I’ve seen in a long time and the team absolutely loved her. She is everything I look for in a libero.”

CDA softball player signs to NIC Coeur d’Alene High School standout softball player Nikki Ragsdale has signed to play softball for North Idaho College in 2012-2013.

Ragsdale is a senior at Coeur d’Alene High School and has played for the Coeur d’Alene Crush for eight years.

“We are excited to have Nikki join our program,” said NIC Head Softball Coach Don Don Williams. “She is an outstanding student-athlete that will represent our program well and personifies what we are all about.”

A&E tip? Story idea?

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MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

COMMENTARY

Knowledge grows when beer flows Trivia night makes for a pleasant bar scene

NOURA A.A. ■ A&E Editor Picture this: You walk into a bar and you’re greeted by the sound of quiet murmuring. You don’t have to dodge any elbows or squeeze past any butts. The path to the bar isn’t crowded with people.

Once you reach the bartender you give him your order in your “inside” voice.

Nobody’s yelling, people aren’t leaning over the bar until their feet practically lift off the floor, no drunks are trying to make your personal bubble their personal dance floor and no one shouting across the bar or in each other’s faces.

Everyone is huddled intently at his or her own table. You take your drink, head over to your friends and chat naturally, without having to shriek or lip read.

This down-tempo bar scene is a description of trivia night at the Moose Lounge. I’ve been actively avoiding trivia nights for the same reason I used to avoid karaoke-I’m bad at it and it makes me feel stupid. But I thought I’d give it a shot and I was rather surprised how much I enjoyed the experience, so much so that I wouldn’t mind having trivia night more than once a week.

From my personal experience as a 23-year-old bar frequenter, “pleasant” is an adjective normally reserved for coffee shops, not Coeur d’Alene’s downtown bars. But the atmosphere in the Moose on Wednesday was just that - refreshingly mellow.

Wednesday night hits that mid-week point where it’s time for a drink, but there are still too many responsibilities to be stumbling home drunk. The Moose Lounge has a lot of live music, which is really great, but sometimes it just gets too loud and too crowded. You’re practically forced to do some sort of bizarre interpretive dance as you wind your way through the narrow passage between the bar, the tables and the patrons.

When I walked in on Wednesday night, everyone was sitting down. I could tell by the silence in the room that people were taking their trivia pretty seriously, but there wasn’t a hint of hostility or “You’re rowdiness in the practically air. I remember forced to do how wild the kids would be when I some sort worked as a camp counselor for Art of bizarre It always interpretive Shop. took some effort dance as you to settle them into wind your ‘classroom’ mode after recess. way through Trivia night the narrow somehow repassage ...” minded me of watching a bunch of rambunctious children who were given paint and paintbrush and could visibly be seen settling their little minds on the task.

Now, I’m not trying to be demeaning with this metaphor. Trivia night is a test of wits. But it’s also a surprisingly soothing antidote for the volatile concoction of adults and booze. Don’t get me wrong, people still get as hammied as much as they would on a Saturday night, but at least they are using their minds as much as their livers.

It makes me wonder if we shouldn’t start incorporating a drinking policy into the classroom. It certainly makes learning more fun.

And you have to ask yourself, when’s the last time you left the bar feeling like you actually learned something?

Noura A.A. is an editor for The Sentinel. Her opinions are her own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Sentinel. Respond to this column online at nicsentinel.com.

The main cast of the rock musical “Rent” rehearses at the Lake City Playhouse. From left: Robby French (Roger), Keyonna Knight (Mimi), Todd Kehne (Mark), Nadine Carr (Maureen), Ben Sheff (Tom), Christina Coty (Joanne), Dustin L. Sorrell (Angel), Robert Garcia (Benjamin). The play received sharp criticism and praise for its divisive content. Jerome Pollos/Coeur d’Alene Press

’ raises money, blood pressure

‘

GSA fundraiser sells tickets, supports controversial Broadway rock musical Noura A.A. A&E Editor

compassion in the face of suffering.

Bain, the performance sound operator, said she had never seen the stage perforTroy Nickerson, the director of the mance of “Rent,” but had been familiar Lake City Playhouse performance of “Rent,” said he wasn’t a fan when the play with the musical for several years. he NIC Gay-Straight Alliance club originally came out because he had lost “Honestly, working on this show has (GSA) sponsored the Jan. 18 perbeen one of the most fulfilling experiences friends to AIDS. formance of “Rent” at the Lake City About 80 men and women auditioned of my life,” Bain said. “Of the three shows Playhouse. The club began selling tickets for a handful of roles in “Rent.” The final I have run sound for ‘Rent’ has been the to the rock musical Dec. 1 in the SUB. decision brings together of some of the most challenging and I have learned a Half the ticket sales went to the Lake City best local talent, including Ben Sheff, a lot.”

Playhouse and the other half toward GSA “Rent” rehearsed for about eight weeks former NIC student. Sheff plays Tom Colclub funds. lins, the young, gay NYU philosophy probefore opening.

Linda Michal, “Last season fessor and anarchist with AIDS. GSA faculty advi- “There are people who said “Rent’s” cast is just as diverse as its when the Playsor and Dean of that if I showed this play house announced characters. The cast included gay people, Students, said the they’d never come back to they were doing straight people, Christians, those of JewGSA sold tickets ‘Rent’ I knew I ish faith and schoolteachers. There are in order to support the Playhouse...” wanted to be a homosexual actors and actresses playing the Lake City Playpart of the produc- straight roles, and straight women and house’s decision tion,” Bain said. men playing gay roles. Robert Garcia, a GEORGE GREEN to produce a play “I loved the mes- Spokane drag queen, plays Benjamin CofLake City Playhouse Artistic Director that has stirred up sage of the show fin III, the straight, yuppie landlord. controversy in the and wanted to do Each night, audience members voluncommunity. whatever I could to help.” teered new names for the support group “I think it [‘Rent’] has got a great mes“Rent” is based on the Puccini classic members of “Rent” based off of commusage,” Michal said. “You actually get to “La Boheme.” “Rent,” which opened in nity members who actually suffered from watch parts of people’s lives and see the 1994, enjoyed a 12-year run on Broadway, HIV/AIDS. experience they’re going through because was adapted into a film and won a Pulitzer “Rent” raised money for the INBA Outof being gay, lesbian or HIV positive. GetPrize and multiple Tony Awards. The proreach scholarships and the North Idaho ting to see the human side breaks down AIDS coalition during its opening night duction has earned hundreds of millions stereotypes.” benefit performance Jan. 12. of dollars and has been produced in 24 Michal worked with AIDS and HIV for GSA raised enough money to fund languages worldwide. Both productions a long time and said she is proud of the planned projects for the rest of the year. resolve to find hope, love, courage and Lake City Playhouse for “taking the heat” for “Rent,” likening the decision to NIC theater instructor Joe Jacoby’s controversial 2011 production of “The Laramie Project.”

The protests that were rumored to take place outside the Lake City Playhouse never materialized, but the Coeur d’Alene Press received numerous letters condemning the production for its explicit portrayal of homosexuality and HIV/ AIDS. One such letter to the editor accused the musical of being a “celebration of sin.”

Out of the eight main characters in “Rent,” four suffer from HIV/AIDS and four are homosexual, bisexual or transgender. The musical also features drug use, poverty, sexually provocative scenes and profanity.

Before the play Wednesday night, and during intermission, GSA sold cupcakes with rainbow icing for $2 and set up a table with educational literature on sexuality. GSA members also displayed a petition for an LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning) safe room, The Ally Center, at NIC. GSA President, Danni Bain, 22, theater, said this is one of her major projects as an ASNIC senator.

George Green, executive artistic director at the Lake City Playhouse, introduced Wednesday’s performance by expressing his gratitude to the audience.

“There are people who said that if I showed this play they’d never come back to the Playhouse,” Green said. “Let’s prove them wrong.”

Bain said every performance has sold GSA vice president James Barker, 18, sells tickets to the production of “Rent” in the Lake City Playhouse during the the club’s fundraiser. Gabe Green/Sentinel out the night before the actual show.

T

DID YOU KNOW? TV’s first toilet was seen on the pilot episode of the comedic sitcom “Leave it to Beaver” in 1957.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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o much coffee, so little time!

Coeur d’Alene’s downtown coffee shops have a lot to offer. We decided to compile the best of each shop so you can tame your caffeine craving.

Whether you want a signature coffee creation, live music, fresh baked goods, a lively atmosphere or just some place to get your work done, there’s a coffee shop just for you!

Story by: Noura A.A. A&E Editor

Beans Food Events Price The family-owned coffee shop Calypsos, ranked first in events because of its unique flair. Every Monday evening, youngsters crowd Calypsos for open-mic night.

Calypsos features free Dream Interpretations Wednesday nights and throughout the rest of the week, Calypsos is a great place to work or study because of their mellow and comfortable atmosphere.

Calypsos gets their beans from countries all over the world, but roasts them right on the premises. The result is an espresso with a lighter, milder flavor. An espresso Doppio (double shot) runs about $2.19 and coffee is entitled to one free refill. There aren’t any specialty drinks or alcoholic beverages, but Calypsos does make a mean Mexican Mocha that tastes great with a dash of Cayenne. Todd, the owner, is even offering a 10 percent coffee discount to anyone who mentions this article.

Many of their baked goods are from Sweetwater Bakery, a local specialty bakery, and the food menu features salads, snacks, sandwiches and breakfast items in the price range of $4-$8.

Food Events Price

We’ve rated three iconic coffee shops, Calypsos, Java, and Bakery by the Lake, in four de�ining categories – price, events, food, and of course, coffee!

Enjoy!

Photos by: Gabe Green.

Assistant Photo Editor

All three coffee shops have great java, BUT Java On Sherman has the best. Java employees take their beans very seriously. This shop recently invested in new equipment, training and coffee. Stumptown Coffee, located in Portland, delivers premium beans and articulated roasting from around the world. Along with the coffee, Java got new technology for their espresso machine, and a new coffee grinder. Also, employees received specialized training from the Stumptown Portland baristas.

An espresso Doppio (double shot) runs about $2.35. Java no longer provides free coffee refills, but they do feature an array of signature drinks. Java’s impossibly thick, rich whip cream is a delightful compliment to every drink. A basic beer and wine menu ranges in price from $3-$7. The food menu is as extensive as the coffee menu, but prices are noticeably higher than both Bakery by the Lake and Calypsos.

Java was a close second to Calypsos in events. Experienced musicians are featured Thursday-Saturday evenings. On Sunday during the day Darin Schaffer performs his unique, classical Hindustani inspired guitar performances throughout the day on Sunday.

Beans

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Beans Food Events Price Bakery by the Lake has some of the best deals on both drinks and food. Dark, rich espresso shots from the Seattle-based, traditional Italian coffee company Caffe Umbria run about $1.80 for a Solo (single shot). Coffee refills are free and bakery specials are featured every day.

Bakery by the Lake also has an extensive beer, wine and champagne menu with beer ranging from $3.50-$6 and wine $5-$8.

As the name suggests, Bakery by the Lake offers an array of delicious baked goods, from breads to pastries.

Salads, sandwiches and an extensive selection of paninis, made fresh each day, range between $4-$7. There are also cheese plates and bread dipping plates to compliment the featured wines.

Bakery by the Lake doesn’t host any events and, as one employee put it, “we are lucky if we even turn the TV on very loud.” Compared to the numerous events and funky local art that lines the walls of Calypsos and Java, Bakery by the Lake is a more conservative coffee shop. Bakery by the Lake may not be the place to go for entertainment, but they do offer an atmosphere free of distraction.

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arts & Entertainment

Monday, january 30, 2012

Reviews

Fifth installment of ‘Elder Scrolls’ series: 5/5 stars

‘Skyrim’ video game said to contain some major glitches, still receives numerous awards, critical praise

Screenshot from “Skyrim;” the game includes mythical characters such as Nords, Mountain Giants, Dragons, Frostbite Spider and Ice Wraiths. Courtesy of Bethesda Softworks LLC

There is no doubt that “Skyrim,” the fifth installment of the “Elder Scrolls” video game series, was as much anticipated as it was in high demand by the time Carrie Rishsew it came out Nov. Staff Contributor 11. “Skyrim,” a fantasy/adventure and role-playing game, was designed by Bethesda, creator of “Oblivion” and “Fall Out 3.”

The plot of “Skyrim’s” revolves around defeating Alduin, a dragon god who is prophesized to destroy the world. The game takes place in the province of Skyrim, upon the continent of Tamriel and the planet of Nirn. Skyrim is the home of the large and hardy men and women called the Nords.

“Skyrim” has earned praise from critics. The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences for the Interactive Achievement Awards nominated “Skyrim” for Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Story, Role-Playing/Massively Multiplayer Game of the Year, Outstanding Innovation in Gaming, Outstanding Achievement in

Game Play Engineering and Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction.

I originally bought “Skyrim” as a present for my boyfriend James, for our six-month anniversary. For a while after we bought it, I thought it was a game for nerds and men of all ages, but lo and behold, I ended up playing it one night out of sheer boredom.

Thanks to that fateful night, I’m hooked.

“Skyrim” is brimming with hundreds of hours of gameplay. It can be as much like your real life as you want it to be, or it can be the opposite. Of course, as in reality, there are limitations. We don’t live in a fictional land that harbors dragons, giants, and trolls (among other things). However, characters can get married to an array of other characters as long as the requirements of each individual are completed. But don’t let your spouse die in the game because you cannot get married again.

“Skyrim” is insanely popular. The midnight release of “Skyrim” at Game Stop, Nov. 11 was ridiculous. The line was really long and it was freezing cold outside. Game Stop employees wouldn’t even let people into the store until around 10:30 p.m. to pay for the game, and then they ushered them back outside to freeze until midnight rolled around. Once midnight came, we still waited outside for another half hour until we

the city of Windhelm for the fifth time. I were able to pick up our game. All together, we spent three and a half hours in line, from could not get this to work no matter what 9:00 p.m. until 12:30 a.m.

I tried. Looking online for help was fruitNow for the glitches, ever y game as less; asking fellow players didn’t help eilarge as “Skyrim” is bound to have some. ther. I finally did get it to work, but only “Skyrim” in particular has after so much grief! So many hilarious glitches far, that’s the only serithat don’t hinder the playous glitch I’ve found. er so much as provide a Overall, “Skyrim” is laugh. The first NPC I acan amazingly fun game quired was named L ydia “Skyrim” became the that anyone can enjoy. and boy was she a funny It’s not just for nerds and second best-selling video one. Every time I turned men as I had originally around she was blundergame, after “Call of Duty: thought. It has such a ing herself into traps, Modern Warfare 3,” vast array of things you getting us caught by encan do. For instance, I emies, and many other when it was released in saw videos of people just things that are too extenNovember. In December, going around and placing sive to convey. She also “Skyrim” was voted The buckets on the heads of liked to talk back to me. various NPCs. You can go However, “Skyrim” Game of the Year at the does have infuriating on main or side quests. prestigious Spike Video glitches that make it alThere are also randomly most impossible to finish Game Awards. generated, miscellaneous some quests. As you progquests that will forever be ress through the game, there. In “Skyrim” there you may find a quest enwill always be something titled “Blood on the Ice,” to do. Put down your located in Windhelm. This quest has so many problems. “Blood on Ice” is sup- other games and pick up “Skyrim” because posed to start automatically once you enter it truly is a five star game.

A Closer Look

Whoever invented morning sex forgot about morning breath Newest NBC sitcom ‘Whitney’ so funny it might ‘crack a rib,’ finds amusement in relationship dilemmas Filmed in front of a live studio audience, NBC’s newest sitcom “Whitney” will have you laughing so hard that you just might crack a rib.

Whitney CumNick Dimico mings is the cenStaff Contributor tral star and executive producer of the NBC multicamera comedy “Whitney.” Cummings’ character is a smart, free-thinking photographer who, as a product of divorce, is happily unmarried to her longtime boyfriend, Alex (Chris D’Elia).

Based in the downtown Chicago area, Whitney and Alex struggle with the feeling of boredom in their relationship.

The couple try to alleviate their fear of boredom by giving each other some time away to work on their own excitement in the recent episode “Private Parts.” Whitney decides to take herself out on a little date, while Alex stays home to relax. Whitney returns to the apartment and is shocked to find Alex “doing the dirty,” or what I like to call “Chuckin’ the Chicken.” Whitney is so taken back by it all that she gives Alex crap about the whole situation and tells her friends Lily (Zoe Lister-Jones) and Roxanne (Rhea Seehorn) “it looked like he was killing someone and liked it.”

Alex feels so awkward that he tells his friend Mark (Dan O’Brian), a police officer and total bachelor, that he got caught, “enjoying his own company.” Whitney continues to make it awkward for Alex when she

Whitney (Whitney Cummings) accidentally catches her long-term boyfriend Alex (Chris D’Elia) pleasuring himself and won’t let him live it down in “Private Parts,” a recent episode of the new NBC comedy “Whitney.” Courtesy of Jordan Althaus/NBC

comes home the next time, and yells from outside the apartment that she is coming in and if he is busy she will come back later.

When there is no response, Whitney asks, “I’m turning the knob, are you turning the knob?” Once she walks in, she finds Alex doing what she thinks is the dirty, except he is only pumping air into his bike tire.

When Lily’s boyfriend Neal (Maulik Pancholy) stops by to grab a tablecloth for a

gathering that evening, he spills the beans about Alex “cleaning his tube.” Alex gets upset with Whitney for telling her friends.

Later that night at the party, Whitney decides to bring some embarrassing things up about herself to make everything better between her and Alex.

At the end of the day, Whitney and Alex grasp that while their relationship might not be flawless, they really do love each other,

and that is what makes everything perfect.

The show is extremely relatable to everyone. Whether it’s a friends or even just a mere romantic affair, we all have relationship struggles. Although it can sometimes be stressful, it’s nice to find the humor in it all. The comedy premiered on NBC Sept. 22 and airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m.

For information about the show go to nbc.com/whitney.

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GAMES

the sentinel | 15

ACROSS 1. Hairless 5. Framework for holding objects 9. The sheath of a pollen sac 14. Food thickener 15. Hairdo 16. Employed 17. Space agency 18. What bald people lack 19. Leave out 20. Speech 22. Dismantles 23. Eavesdrop 24. Small sharp knife 26. Website address 29. Futile 33. Writer/ philosopher JeanJacques ________ (1712-1778) 38. Impresario Crossword courtesy of www.mirroreyes.com, provider of free daily printable crossword puzzles.

39. Sea eagle 40. Combination 8. Divided Asian country 42. Fertilizer ingredient 9. To that 43. Meeting of spiritualists 10. Extremely funny 45. Craftsmen 11. Goddess of discord (Greek mythology) 47. Homes 12. Yield 48. American Sign 13. Sweetened diluted fruit drinks 21. Musical Language composition 49. Result 25. Androids 52. Publish a periodical 27. Adjourn 57. A small cold-water 28. A Tai language silvery �ish 30. Gumbo 60. Lasting 31. Perceived visually 63. Consumer of food 32. Historical periods 64. Vivacity or spirit 33. 20th letter of the Hebrew alphabet 65. A curved shape that 34. Chocolate cookie spans an opening 35. Two-toed sloth 66. Wash in plain water 36. Pointless 67. Not watercolors 37. Fringe-toed lizard 68. Part portayed 41. Undergarment 44. Middles (British 69. Gather spelling) 70. A raised mark on the 46. Latin for “Flanks” skin 50. An upward stroke of a bow (2 words) 71. Pitcher 51. Strange or weird 53. Trap DOWN 54. Asian goat antelope 1. Musical groups 55. Brother of a parent 2. Once more 56. A colorless volatile highly in�lammable 3. Lariat liquid 4. A faint constellation lying 57. Body plasmas near Ursa Major 58. Wound 5. A Hindu demon 59. Sicilian volcano 6. At a distance 61. Rivulet 7. Brittle 62. The larger portion

Crossword

DON’T QUIT YOUR DAY JOB, CAP’N...

CASINO NIGHT

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Casino Night brings a taste of Vegas to NIC Photo by Ethan Schlussler/ Illustration by Devin Heilman

Devin Heilman Managing Editor

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pirits were high, and so were bets, as play money circulated through the SUB basement. Dice rolled, cards were flipped and many high-fives were slapped.

Some of the ASNIC members and OARS (Orientation Advising Registration Services) leaders who organized Thursday’s Casino Night may have been a bit put off by the previous week’s winter school closures, but despite a short postponement, the group pulled it off with Vegas flair.

“We all decided to do a casino night to do something fun and get everyone involved,” said Cassie Wright, 23, Snohomish, Wash., family and consumer studies. Wright volunteered to deal blackjack for the evening.

“I hope people can mingle around and find some new things they want to get involved in, like Student Events or even be an OARS leader, you know, get involved while they’re in college because it’s a lot more fun when you do,” she said.

The games were splayed on authentic-looking green felt gaming tables rented from Fun and Games Casino Equipment Rental Co. Along with blackjack, dice games “4-5-6” and “High-Low” were offered. Yellow, green and magenta bills with denominations up to $1,000 were tossed down as

bets as players cheered each other on and vied for raffle tickets. A spread of munchies and apple cider was set out for everyone to enjoy.

Amanda Behringer, 26, Adrian, Mich., business administration, has been with OARS about a year and a half. She greeted people as they descended the SUB stairs and handed them envelopes filled with $2,000 in “cash.”

“I’m hoping that we get a big turnout and people interested in orientation have fun learning who they go to school with and come to other events,” Behringer said.

“The school offers so many things for people to come to and I don’t think a lot of students recognize that there’s a lot of options out there for them,” she said.

OARS leader Aaron Baldwin, 21, Hayden, business administration and accounting, buzzed around before the event began. He said the organizers had to secure prizes and set up food along with other tasks, but everybody helped out.

“We’re estimating and hoping for 100 kids,” he said. “It’s free for everyone. We’re hoping to attract new students from spring and last fall to help them get to know other kids so they feel like they have a place where they can meet other people.”

Participants exchanged every 100 fun bucks for one raffle ticket. About 20 prizes from businesses such as the Mica

Jamie Kemp, 18, French and political science, Post Falls, places some “money” down on 4-5-6, a dice game that’s all about the odd die out. Ethan Schlussler/Sentinel

Peak Book Exchange, Kohl’s, Jamba Juice, Fred Meyer and Bath and Body Works included NIC gear, a Memorex clock radio, DVDs, gift cards, cozy blankets, iPods and an Amazon Kindle. Numbered cups were set in front of the prizes so people could put their names in to win what they most desired. Winners were contacted after the event.

“This is for fun, and that’s why we’re here,” said Ernie Phillips, owner of Fun and Games. “I’m all fun. I don’t like to work, so this is what we do. And the more people we get, the more fun it is.”

The jovial Phillips, donned in a black dealer’s vest, walked from table to table, keeping play fair and rejuvenating hopes of busted players by slipping them a few fun bucks. Phillips spent 39 years orchestrating Bingo with a nonprofit organization before he bought Fun and Games in 1996. He keeps all the equipment in a special garage at his Spokane home.

When he bought the company, he said he forgot an important part of the setup: something to transfer the games around in.

“I use my wife’s Ford Escort,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.

Information on becoming an OARS leader can be found on NIC’s website under “orientation.” Applications for spring 2012 are available.

Baby needs new shoes: Spencer Smiley-Schultz, Newport, Wash., gets ready to win big on “High-Low.” Odds were tipped in favor of players that night. Ethan Schlussler/Sentinel