Issue 1, Vol. 67

OUTDOOR PURSUITS EXPEXIENCE

NEWS Summer Theater Program takes final bow | Page 2 PERSPECTIVE Leave Miley Cyrus alone | Page 6

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Weekly mountain biking adventures for students. | Page B10

ENTERTAINMENT “Rigoletto” comes to Boswell| Page 7

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF NORTH IDAHO COLLEGE

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2013

WWW.NIC SENTINEL .C OM

VOLUME 67, ISSUE 1

CAMPUS

Students respond to financial aid Connor Coughlin Staff Writer Amidst the newly-implemented changes to NIC’s financial aid policies that have taken effect this semester, students’ reactions remain divided on the subject of this controversial topic.

“I think it’s a smart idea,” says Esther Dolezal, a music performance major, “Then you don’t spend your financial aid money all at once and you’re encouraged to use it more wisely and to think about it longer.”

Dolezal said neither she nor any of her personal acquaintances have had any issues with the financial aid system and its new imbursement policy this semester.

The new policy changes the disbursement of loans from lump sums into increments given out at the beginning of the semester, as per usual, and then a week after midterm grades are due. The new policy was designed as an effort to curb the rate of NIC students defaulting.

In contrast to the lack of difficulties Dolezal faces, David McKerracher, the President of the NIC Philosophy Club, knows of a large number of students who have been having issues with the policy, especially those who are enrolled in late-start classes.

“I’m doing alright for money so the increments don’t affect me,” said McKerracher, “but I can see how if it affected you, you’re being screwed over. They’re pulling a ‘daddy-move’ and saying ‘we don’t trust you so we’re not going to let you do this.’ We’re all adults here, just because a few people screwed up doesn’t mean you should punish everyone.”

Student default has become an issue in recent years at NIC. The rate has increased to 19.9 percent, well above the national average of 17 percent. If the rate increases to over 30 percent, sanctions can be levied against the college and it could lose its ability to give away financial aid entirely.

“The fact is the economy was down and that’s the reason why you had all these students dropping out and defaulting,” said McKerracher.

“Instead of blaming the economy, NIC is blaming previous students and punishing the new ones.”

Suicide Awareness comes to NIC

UP IN SMOKE

Photo illustration by Christina Villagomez, orginal photography by Beau Valdez/Sentinel

Administrators forced to partially repeal tobacco-free policy due to student resistance Christina Villagomez Webmaster

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IC is no longer an entirely tobacco-free campus.

“There’s a compromise,” said Dean of Students and Director of Health Services Linda Michals. “We’ve created some smoking areas for people to be able to smoke.”

Alex Harris, director of student development, said the large number of students that refused to obey the policy as well as popular demand were the main forces that brought about the change.

Michals said that in terms of getting students to stop smoking, tobacco-free policy was a complete failure.

“In terms of dialogue, no one has come up to me and said ‘I’m not going to honor this,’ but they haven’t had to; their behavior certainly said ‘I’m not going to honor this policy, I’m going to go over here and smoke,’” Michals said.

The reversal has come only two years after the initial tobacco-free campus policy was originally instated.

“There have been many requests, mostly through ASNIC and students, to implement smoking areas, and at the same time through the last two years, we’ve had a lot of complaints about people smoking in the stairwells and nonsmokers having to walk through [smokers sitting

there.]” Harris said. “So after a lot of for everyone else,” Jordan said. discussion at the end of last spring “With all the money that they charge semester the [tobacco taskforce] us, they should at least be able to committee recommended that they take some of that money and create designate smoking areas on the pesmoking areas on all four sides of rimeter of campus.” the campus with shelters because of Harris said the designated areas winter. They take money from me, will have clear signage placed around from my tuition to pay for outdoor them sometime this semester, al- programs, sporting programs, things though ashtray receptacles have al- I don’t personally participate in, so ready been moved from to various why not make it fair?” locations around the edge of campus.

Harris said shelters are unlikely Harris said benches will be pro- to be provided at this time. vided to “Shelters discourage have been talked “The battle for me is s m o k e r s that the main part of the about here since from contobacco-free campus remains gr egating policy was first tobacco free.” on the stairdiscussed,” Harwells and to ris said. “I’ve LINDA MICHALS make the been here 11 Dean of Students smoking years now and areas friendat the time when lier to the students that will use them. we passed [tobacco-free policy] we “Its not about putting people in looked to take the students lead on a space they don’t want to be neces[shelters] if that was something they sarily. It has to be out of the weather, wanted to fund and do, and in all the somewhere where then can clear discussions they shied away from snow out of when it piles up,” Harris shelters.” said.

Harris said it remains a student Guy Jordan, 53, computer infordecision. mation technologies, a on-again,off“I definitely think those things again smoker of 15 years said that are always on the table. If student’s although he appreciates no longer opinion is that they want that or suphaving to stand in poor weather on port it, the committee would definiteRosenberry Drive during his smokly consider that,” Harris said. ing breaks, he would still like to see Michals, however, said she the campus install shelters. would not support building smoking “They make accommodations shelters on campus as part of an on-

going effort to discourage smoking altogether.

“I don’t know that I would personally be in support of having structures. But if the whole decides that, then its not a hill I‘m going to die on,” Michals said. “One of the things I’ve learned from being here so long is that you have to pick your battles.

The battle for me is that the main part of the campus remains tobacco free.”

And in that sense, the policy has been successful.

“I still think overall it [tobacco free campus] works great,” Harris said. “The most complaints we got before we were tobacco free were people standing in the entrances or having three people in front of you on the sidewalk smoking and it getting in your face, all that has all but gone away.”

Michal said that although she estimates less than ten students have sought the free help offered by health services to quit smoking, nonsmoking students not being exposed to carcinogens without their consent is what’s important.

According to the CDC, cigarette smoking kills more than 440,000 Americans each year, with an estimated 49,000 of these deaths from exposure to secondhand smoke.

“It’s a great breath of fresh air for me, no pun intended, to be able to walk from building to building and not be enveloped in cigarette

Alex Rodal Cubillas Staff Writer

See SUICIDE | Page 4

Wrestling giveaway NIC Wrestlers show their heart off the mat with school supply give away.

Sports Page 9

New NIC Cardinal IDs serve the functions of multiple previous cards Haley Kurle Design Assistant NIC has updated Cardinal ID cards this semester to combine the functions of multiple cards from past years. It is mandatory that all members of the NIC community make the switch to the new card system before the end of the month.

The new ID card allows students to access funds, pay for meals and purchase items in Mica Peak Exchange. The card also functions as a security pass to the residence hall and other buildings.

Students will be able to use all of these functions with “Cardinal Cash,” the term for the money

QUOTABLE

In a study done by the Center for Disease Control (CDC ) statistics showed that every day 105 people commit suicide within the United States. It is the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 15 and 25 and everyone at some point in their lives falls into a risk group, yet talking about suicide is still a cultural taboo.

This year to combat the dilemma of suicide, NIC’s Veterans Club held its first Suicide Awareness month event downstairs in the Student Union Building (SUB) to help reduce some of the stigma around the topic and provide some information to the campus community at large.

“Talking about suicide can

stored on an ID card.

Students can access funds by visiting the MyNIC portal and clicking the link labeled “Cardinal Card Get Funds” under the bookmarks tab to register.

“Get Funds,” Cardinal Cash and FLEX meal plans are accessible online. Students and their parents can also add money to the ID cards at any time through the use of a credit card on the website.

The Cardinal Card office has also moved from their previous location upstairs in the Molstead Library to the lobby of the Student Union Building.

The new cards will begin to have other functions at the beginning of

“ But what Robin Thicke is spreading is that it’s okay to ignore that stop sign.”

Perspectives Page 6

second semester.

“The Cardinal Card office plans on incorporating card scanners into campus vending and printing machines by second semester,” said One Card/Housing Agreement Coordinator Marsha Nead.

Another plan in the works is the ability to use the Cardinal Cash off campus in nearby places such as restaurants and athletic facilities.

Cards will also start being used to monitor attendance for various events on campus from NIC events to OARS.

The attendance of this year’s OARS students has been taken with the scanners and will be used again for the fall check ins.

If you have questions, visit the Cardinal Card office in their new location in the Student Union Building.

WHERE TO START News.....................2&3

Sports................9&10

Perspectives..........4-6

Games...................11

Features....................7&8

Treehouse Antics.........12

94 days left

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Campus News

News tip? Story idea?

Contact Thomas Hansen

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

PAGE 2

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2013

Aerospace program takes to the skies The first semester of the aerospace program roars to a start with a building on the way

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Thomas Hansen News Editor

n its first semester of activity NIC’s aerospace program has seen exceeded expectations.

Initially a single section was planned, but that number increased to two sections after a waitlist formed. This pushed their enrollment to 40 students, with 39 of those seats still filled.

The exceeded expectations come at a time when unofficial enrollment numbers show an 11 percent decline in enrollment.

Aerospace and PTE programs experienced a 10 percent increase.

This semester also marks the opening of the building that will house the aerospace program.

The building, located in Hayden, was announced to be in the process of leasing earlier this year.

“All the equipment is still coming together in for the lab, so it will all be coming together in the next couple of weeks,” Patrick O’Halloran, recruiter and placement coordinator, said.

Opening of the building is expected to occur mid-October, with an opening ceremony planned for November.

Within the coming two years the program is expected to instruct students in composites materials fabrication and repair, quality assurance and non-destructive testing, and machining and manufacturing. Currently the composites program is in operation and will offer its first semester curriculum again in the spring.

Certificates in the program are referred to as ‘stackables’,

since students earn a certificate for each semester if program guidelines have been met. This allows students to enter and exit the program as they acquire jobs in the respective industries.

Currently the approval of the machining and manufacturing certificate and the Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) certificate are a work in progress. Machining and manufacturing will teach fabrication techniques, while quality assurance and NDT instructs students how to locate flaws and structural weaknesses and utilize the tools of that trade.

After the curriculum of all four semesters has been approved by the Department of Education, they will compose an AAS in Advanced Manufacturing.

O’Halloran said that the program has received good support from the aerospace industr y.

“It’s due to the Idaho Aerospace Alliance and other key partners that we were able to bring this to reality.”

Over the summer LockheedMartin donated composite materials to the program. The materials donated were obsolete for use within their company.

O’Halloran said that the materials will be helpful to the program.

Murdo Cameron of Cameron Aviation donated use of the H1 Unlimited hydroplane for promotional and practical purposes for several months. It is intended that the craft will be molded and cast for future projects.

These donations coincide with the focus on the Aerospace Composite Technology cer-

The H1 Unlimited hydroplane was displayed at the Williamson Gymnaiusm. The craft was lent to the aerospace program for promotion and casting. Thomas Hansen/Sentinel tificate currently offered. The first semester of the certificate familiarizes students with composite fabrication, assembly, and maintenance, as well as blueprint reading. This certifice is intended to help students pursue entr y-level opportunities in the composite industr y in one semester.

Director of Aerospace and Outreach Kassie Silvas said that there are numerous applications for composite materials, and employers looking for workers.

The program will add a general and air frame maintenance program to allow students to fulfill the requirements to become a cer tified aviation mechanic per Federal Aviation Administration guidelines.

O’Halloran and the Aerospace Center of Excellence have been active in promoting their program. Recently he and the H1 Unlimited hydroplane were present at the Nor th Idaho Fair and Rodeo.

O’Halloran has also coordi-

Summer Theatre goes cold Financial concerns force exeunt all on the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre Haley Kurle Design Editor

DID YOU KNOW?

NIC chooses new dean Dean of General Studies position filled Christina Villagomez Webmaster

U

sually at this time, the performances for the next summer season of the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre would have already been announced, but there aren’t any on the calendar for the 2014 season.

“With both season ticket and individual ticket sales down significantly this year, there is no indication that Coeur d’Alene has an appetite for the type of presentation our organization, in its current form, is consistently able to produce,” CST President Joseph Anderson said.

The non-profit Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre (CST) was voted to be shutdown on Aug. 26 by its board of directors.

At the beginning of August, CST board members were faced with the possibility of permanent closure of their facility due to the debt of $150,000 owed to creditors, one of them being NIC. When voting time came, the committee didn’t have enough cash on hand to pay the acquired debt or the funds to keep the program running another season.

With the possibility of having to shut down from the debt, CST was able to raise $60,000 in a matter of two weeks. The theatre proposed a plan of budgeting and fundraising to raise the rest of the money needed. However, the proposal was rejected by the board.

“Our Board collectively was not willing to continue to solicit individuals and busi-

nated with militar y bases in the region as well as NIC’s Veterans’ Club, in line with the priority ser vice to militar y veterans as a condition of the grant that funded the program.

“We have a priority on service of veterans,” O’Halloran said. “We’re actively seeking that audience as well.”

By 2016 the aerospace program is expected to have reached completion as per the requirements of the grant that funded its creation.

Connor Coughlin/Sentinel

nesses in the Coeur d’Alene community for donations without being able to simultaneously offer a fresh face and revised vision for our organization,” Anderson said.

Since the theatre was unable to stay open, the donations raised have been put towards the debt and will be help in the road toward operating again someday.

One of the major contributions to the financial problems was that ticket sales from this summer’s production were at a new low and weren’t enough

to pay this year’s expenses as well as keep the showing going for next year.

“While we are a non-profit organization, we are not entitled to exist simply because we are passionate about what we provide. We must ser ve the needs of our people in our community. We don’t exist in spite of our audiences, we exist because of and to ser ve our audiences,” Anderson said.

Even though NIC is technically just the landlord for the theatre’s operation, many stu-

dents and staff members have been involved in the summer productions over the 46 years of operation.

The summer theatre program has also brought new people to the campus of NIC. “I think ever ybody involved would tell you that it has been a mutually beneficial relationship over the years,” Vice President of Student Services Graydon Stanley said.

“As an entity of our community, the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre has been something we’re all proud of.”

NIC has chosen a new Dean of General Studies and he said he wants to get to know you.

Larry Briggs, who will be joining NIC after 17 years at Eastern Washington University, said he is issuing an open invitation to students to join him for lunch.

Briggs said he hopes the informal one-on-one lunches will allow him to get to know the campus better and answer any questions students might have for him.

“It is critically important to get feedback from students about their experiences, too,” Briggs said.

Students aren’t the only group Briggs said he hopes to open communication with.

Briggs said he’s planning to immediately start meeting with faculty, staff and administrators to get up to speed with his new role at the college.

“As part of a new and complex organization, I will use several methods to communicate,” Briggs said. “I’m open to suggestions for other ways to communicate.”

Briggs said he also looks forward to working closely with Vice President for Instruction Lita Burns.

“I am excited to have Larry join the NIC Instructional team,” Burns said.

“His experience in higher education and service as a NWCCU site visitor will add depth and breadth to the current Instructional Cabinet.

Briggs was one of the four final candidates for the position that visited NIC to participate in a series of forums conducted by a specially commissioned search team.

“I would particularly like to thank Mike [Mires] and the members of the search committee for the time, thoughtfulness, and thoroughness of the interview process,” Briggs said. “I felt supported and welcomed by everyone I met on campus.”

Tarantula Hawk Wasps are the state insect of New Mexico. Its sting is second only to the Bullet Ant.

www.nicsentinel.com

NEWS

New GOP club formed

the sentinel | 3

Ron Dorn to retire

College Republicans approved by Inter-Club Council April Wood Staff Writer A new club for Republicans has been approved.

On Sept. 19 the first meeting of the College Republicans club will commence.

Luke Kilcup definitely looked like how one would imagine the president of the College Republicans (CR) club to appear, complete with red tie, slacks, and blue dress shir t. He cer tainly fit the image of a young politician. He said he was motivated to star t the CR after collaborating with Raul Labrador, Nor th Idaho’s congressman.

The stand for the CR featured trivia questions, lollipops with the social media links to the club, and a raf fle to win an American flag. Around 15 people

have signed the sheet to join.

Students found that the lollipops tasted like fr uit punch-- and democracy.

Colleges students often have a much higher rate of people voting liberal, even in a fir mly red state like Idaho. Last year, The Sentinel repor ted that of the 184 students polled, 31 percent voted for Obama compared to 27 percent for Romney as that Obama’s popularity has increased from 2008 and is most popular with students 18-25.

Kilcup said the intent of the club is to get young people involved with the political process and to better understand how politics af fects us as a whole. He said it is not a club exclusive to Republicans and he encourages people of dif fering opinions to give

their thoughts. He emphasizes being positive about politics.

A major event planned for Oct. 11 is the mayoral for ums where panels of the club members will ask questions to the prospective mayoral candidates. Kilcup said it is his hope for state representatives to visit the club in the near future. He also mentioned that clubs like the CR look good on resumes. The CR technically is a separate group from the Young Republicans, but they share the same goals.

The club will meet at 7:30 p.m. at the Echo Bay room on Sept. 19. The club has a monthly e-mail newsletter as well weekly updates.

The club has both a Facebook and Twitter page: facebook.com/Nor thIdahoCollegeCRs and @NICsRepublicans respectively.

Enrollment on the plunge Despite regional enrollment drops, NIC’s PTE rises Nicole Tooley Staff Writer NIC and colleges nationwide have experienced a decline in enrollment, though Professional-Technical enrollment continued to stay on the rise.

The decrease in students is estimated to be 11 percent, with drops in full-time, par t-time, and online enrollment. On the other hand, Professional-Technical (PTE) programs which have seen an increase of 10 percent.

“That’s not a huge surprise though either, because most of the job market here responds to professional technical education,” Vice President for Student Ser vices Graydon Stanley said.

“They need welders, they need builders; they need the type of thing we are providing.”

Last fall PTE had nearly 100 fewer students. The waiting lists were longer last fall, but with the multitude of students still waiting to enter PTE classes currently- enrollment is still significantly higher than that of any other program.

“Some of that growth in PTE cer tainly comes from the aviation program,” Stanley said.

The new aerospace program, which recently received a $3 million grant, is expected to open around 520 new jobs by 2015.

Drops in enrollment will not cause a noticeable change for NIC students, but it will af fect staf f since fewer course sections will be of fered.

Vice President for Instruction Lita Burns said that in order to accommodate the enrollment drop, 86 sections have been canceled, decreasing available seats by 1,574 and six sections have been merged, eliminating 127 seats. Twenty-four sections of core class have been added, opening 510 seats while 189 seats have been added to existing sections, upping capacity caps.

This drop of enrollment is both a statewide and nationwide trend.

Region colleges have experienced similar declines. The College of Southern Idaho is 9.2 percent down. Lewis and Clark State University is 4 percent down. University of Idaho is 4-5 percent down. The College of Western Idaho, one of the fastest growing colleges in the nation, is now flat in enrollment.

Spokane community colleges are also down and average of 5 percent.

Enrollment statistics repor ted in this ar ticle are unof ficial.

Of ficial enrollment statistics will be repor ted Oct. 15.

ASNIC selects new senator Senator Israel Nehemiah Musonda replaced following departure Azra Avdagic Staff Writer

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SNIC h as c ho se n a ne w s e nator t o f i l l a vacant p o si t i o n .

“I do n’ t kno w e x a c t l y wha t t o e x p e ct, but e v e r ythi n g is ve r y e x citin g a n d n ew,” said Jo r dann D o l e r, 19, c l i nical s o cial wo r k , w ho was c h o s e n f o llo win g I sr a e l N ehem iah M us o nda ’ s d e c isi on to r e s ign f r o m A S N I C to foc us o n acade mi c s.

D ole r p lay e d f o r N I C ’ s womens s o cce r te am a s a d efen de r las t y e ar, a n d sa i d

she i s v e r y p a ssion ate ab ou t t he sp o r t . A l t hou g h s he is n o t p l a y i n g f o r t he s chool’ s so c c e r t e a m t hi s year, Jord a n st i l l p l a y s on a co- ed so c c e r t e a m t hr ou g h the c i t y ’ s Pa r k s a n d R ecr eation P r o g r a m . J o r d a nn has an o l d e r b r o t he r, Alex D oler, w ho w a s a n A S N I C s en ator w he n he a t t e n d e d N I C a few years ago.

A S N I C Pr e si den t Ben ai a h C he e v e r s sa id he is ver y g l a d t o ha v e D o ler on b oar d . “ J o r d a n n i s a calm an d c o l l e c t e d i n d i v i d u al with t he w i l l i n g n e ss to help

Enrollment at NIC Enrollment: -11%

Photo courtesy of Marketing and Communications

Vice President for Resource Management Ron Dorn will be retiring Jan. 3 after 39 years working in higher education. After his retirement he intends to travel the country to visit his family.

“I’ve always enjoyed it. I’m going to miss it, but it’s time,” Dorn said.

CAMPUS SECURITY LOG

PTE: +10%

3

Local Colleges LCSU: -4%

1

U of I: -4.5%

2

CSI: -9.2% W. Idaho: 0%

Seating Changes

Take a ride on the golf side 1

4

86 Sections Dropped

Aug. 26 - Minor non-injury vehicle collision at the intersection of W. Garden & College Drive.

Sept. 1 - A physical altercation was reported in the residence hall, and is under investigation.

1701 Seats Dropped

2

Sept. 06 - Alcohol-related incident involving students on Rosenberry Drive. Citations issued by police.

24 Sections Added (Core Classes)

699 Seats Added

with whatever n eed s to g et d on e,” Cheevers s aid “T he s tr en g th of her character an d am b ition to s er ve the s tu d en t b od y her e at N I C will car r y her far as an AS N I C s en ator this year.

S he’ s g oin g to b e a vital m em b er of the s tu d en t g over n m en t team .”

For m er s en ator M us on d a had the oppor tu n ity to m eet D oler b efor e his d epar tu r e fr om his pos ition .

“I knew she was the right person to take NIC to the next level for the 2013-2014 y e a r, ” M u s o n d a s a i d . “ I would like to encourage her to know that all she needs to do is just believe in herself and tr ust in her fellow coworkers and great things will be accomplished.”

After finishing classes at NIC, Doler sad she plans to transfer to the University of Oregon, where she sees herself becoming a teacher or pursuing a similar car e e r.

Aug. 28 - Minor non-injur y vehicle collision in the Meyer parking lot.

3

Aug. 29 - An NIC golf car t was stolen from the SUB parking lot and parked at the River Apartments. The Cd’A police are investigating the incident.

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6

Sept. 09 - Vehicle collision in Molstead parking lot.

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Sept. 11 - Vehicle collision in the South LKH parking lot.

Photo courtesy of ASNIC

Israel Nehemiah Musonda was elected Spring 2013. He was re-elected for the fall, but resigned over the summer to focus on academics.

Perspective tip? Story idea?

Contact Devin Heilman

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

PAGE 4

Perspectives WWW.NICSENTINEL.COM

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2013

CAMPUS VOICES

How do you feel about the conflict in Syria?

Erin Lind, 20, Graphic Design, Spokane

“I just know I don’t like people killing eachother and I feel like it should stop. Both sides need to get it together.”

Jessica Brereton, 27, English, Manatu Springs, Colo.

“As much as I hate what’s been done to the people in Syria, I think there should be a better way than just going over there and putting our soldiers in or bombing them. If we go over there and start a war with them, it’s World War III” Brennan Freitas, 21, Biology, Mt. Vernon, Wash

“Obama set out the red line that he would do military action if Syria used chemical weapons.

They trampled the red line. Now he hasn’t really had the resolve; the republicans blocked him. When you put out the red line, you have to be willing to support it.”

Wade Erban, 21, Comp. Science, Priest River

“Are we going to tap on their wrists or do something more serious?

Who knows?”

Azra Avdagic Staff Writer

EDITORIAL

Appearance is always key Judge not, lest ye be judged.

Never judge a book by it’s cover.

It’s not what’s on the outside, but the inside that counts.

All of these are things are lessons ever yone is taught from a young age, however, if 90 percent of communication is nonverbal, can any of that really be true?

The fact of the matter is whether or not it makes us uncomfor table to admit it, ever y day we constantly make snap judgements about the people we encounter.

And that’s ok, because it makes sense.

Appearance is one of the quickest and easiest ways to communicate your values to a stranger. While it’s entirely foolish to judge someone based of f genetically predisposed traits like skin color or facial features, why should you disregard the fact that they look like they haven’t showered in a week?

The way you dress communicates your level of readiness to face the day, sets the tone for the people you will encounter and puts you in a frame for either success or failure.

There isn’t a person alive who feels genuinely ready to win at life when they’re dressed in baggy sweat pants and an old t-shir t with questionable stains.

Your choice also convey’s a cer tain level of respect. Why else would you dress up to visit your signifigant other’s parents or a potential employer? Dressing nicely says you matter enough to me to put in ef for t. I care what you think of me.

When you think of it that way, you realize you are subtly insulting ever y person you meet when you leave the house looking like a rag doll.

Life is a battlefield; don’t forget to leave camp without good armor.

Sexism and the single gamer

Should the gaming industry change the design of female characters?

With the growing demo- battle stilettos and a chain graphic comes a new viewmail bikini covering all the point on how video bits but none of the games present organs. themselves and However, attempts their characters, at thoughtful discusespecially female sion about sexism characters. and video games alSince the video ways leads to heated game industr y has debates which quickbeen a male domily devolves to poo April nated medium flinging in caps lock.

Wood for the most par t, Many argue that characters have the por trayal of been strictly written from a women isn’t problematic man’s viewpoint which has or sexist with a myriad of to led to many color ful and similar rebuttals which I varied male characters. plan to poke holes through Conversely, they have with my woman’s perspecbeen suppor ted by one-ditive and that of longtime mensional and sometimes gamer. sexist female characters My main example will because they have been be of the cur rent most written only by men for popular PC game, League men. of Legends. The roster is The brave and valiant filled with war riors, monhero with his ornate suit of sters, and mages. Amongst armor and beside him his those characters is a fat, lady companion wearing dr unk r uf fian, a blind

monk, a small boy riding while having a lower half a yeti, a lame general who of a snake. limps with a cane, an old They also can’t see to man, a fall in chembattle “ Beside him, his lady without ist cove r e d having companion-wearing in ban a rather battle stilettos and dages orgasmic due to sounding a chain mail bikini chemicr y. covering all the bits but death c a l The male none of the organs.” burns, chara n d acter’s various death APRIL WOOD m o n sounds Staff Writer sters. range The from galm a l e c a s t i s v a r i e d a n d lant agony to constipation, i n c l u d e p l e n t y t h a t a r e but none are par ticularly d a s h i n g a n d c o n v e n t i o n - sexy. ally attractive. HowevI’m not saying it’s bad e r, a l l t h e a d u l t w o m e n to have attractive women are attractive and appear in games, but compare the t o b e i n t h e i r t w e n t i e s . variety of body types of The only female monmen to the women. The old ster, Cassiopeia is a gorman and the gon who retains an attractive feminine appearance See BATTLE BIKINI | Page4

John Boltz Photographer

DID YOU KNOW? The 13th day of the month is slightly more likely to be a Friday than any other day of the week.

www.nicsentinel.com

BLURRING LINES? Is Robin Thicke promoting the rape culture in our society?

“I know you want it” seems to be some of the most common song lyrics pumping through the radio right now. As these lines hit top charts, I wonder if anyone is taking this song for more than just the face value of popularity.

An unrated music video clad with Nicole naked women vacantly walking around Tooley as Robin Thicke, T.I., and Pharell Williams objectify their bodies, “catcall”, and show themselves as superior to the women, is streaming all over YouTube.

But, when a parody version of the song titled “Defined Lines” in which a group of New Zealand Law students switched the gender roles of the song, and changed the lyrics in order to define Robin Thicke’s “blurred lines”, and show the misogyny his song was promoting was posted to YouTube, it was temporarily banned for its “sexually explicit content”.

Robin Thicke tried to justify this song saying “Because all three of us (Pharrell Williams and T.I) are happily married with children, we were like, ‘We’re the perfect guys to make fun of this.”

This song spreads a message that men have the power, and women are here to be their source of entertainment. And if those women aren’t sure if they “want it”, its fine because as men, they know you “want it”. The song repeatedly has lines such as “just let me liberate you”, and “you’re the hottest ***** in this place.”

Women don’t need men to liberate them, nobody needs anybody to liberate them.

We are all capable of speaking out for ourselves and giving ourselves freedom. We don’t need a universal role reversal here; because nobody should be put in the position that Thicke is putting women in. These women are put in the music video as sex obects, even showing a stop sign.

But what Thicke is spreading is that it’s okay to ignore that stop sign.

How many rape victims have there been that were told “I know you want it”? Now after a battle of recovery, they are getting that same sentence thrown at them, again, every time they turn on the radio.

No means no. Those are defined lines. There are no “blurred lines” to consent. A blurred line, after all, is still a line.

A Closer Look Twerking (/twɜrkɪŋ/) is a type of dancing in which the dancer, usually a woman, shakes her hips in an up-and-down bouncing motion, causing the dancer’s buttocks to shake, “wobble” and “jiggle”.

PERSPECTIVES

the sentinel | 5

CROSSING LINES? Is Miley Cyrus out of control, or are we judging her too hard?

If we look around at the world we live in today we can definitely say times have changed and we ain’t in Kansas anymore.

This change has brought forth a new generation of pop culture, and with this comes new trends that overthrow the old.

The time of classical elegance and Alex conservative attire is no more. Now, Rodalwhenever we switch on the TV Cubillas or get on the Internet we come across sexually explicit images of sexuality and a generation of young Hollywood competing to be more edgy than their fellow celebrities.

Just consider the mother of all strangeness and sexual appeal: Lady Gaga. Replicating the 80’s image of Madonna and Cher, Lady Gaga revolutionized the way pop sensations were seen and began a trend of provocative and odd behavior. In a way she influenced a generation of stars such as Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj and even Miley Cyrus (MiCy for short). This influence has changed the way the media and the rest of the world view rising stars.

I want to focus on a hot topic that has been on everyone’s minds for the last couple weeks: MiCy’s performance at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards aka the VMAs. Most of us have seen MiCy on the Disney channel in years past as the stereotypical wholesome family gal. However her recent transformation from Disney chic to booty poppin’ diva has had the world talking and left many wondering what in the world she was thinking?

If you saw the VMAs then you witnessed the event I am referring to. A recap for those who were not tuned in, MiCy performed her hit song “We Can’t Stop” during the VMAs. The performance started off with dancing teddy bears, scant clothing, sexual gestures with a foam finger, serious tongue action, booty slapping, and twerking. By the end even more clothes were shed . Eventually Rob Thicke joined the act with hit his song “Blurred Lines” and at this point MiCy added to the now controversial performance by grinding, twerking and doing other sexual gestures with Thicke on stage. Catch the recap on YouTube if you’re one of the three people who haven’t seen it.

Many people keep asking what was her deal? What

See MILEY CYRUS | Page 6

PERSPECTIVES

6 | the sentinel

What is a true nerd?

The life of a nerd isn’t exactly what popularity often portrays You know what I don’t understand?

I don’t understand why being a “nerd” is suddenly popular.

To be frank, I think it’s a travesty!

Nick Let’s face it: nerds Marcou aren’t popular! That’s why we’re nerds!

If we were popular, we wouldn’t be designated to the corners at parties, wondering if anyone has seen the latest [insert comic book hero] movie, or better yet, has seen it and is just as willing as we are to discuss why it was horrible!

But no, everyone would rather “geek” out (and I use that term loosely, believe me) about how “cool” the plot twist at the end of The Dark Knight Rises was where it turned out that it was “Robin” helping Batman along the entire time!

That’s like saying it would have been incredibly cool and original to have Bruce Wayne being named “Batman” instead of “Bruce Wayne.”

Names don’t work like that!

Ok, well, I’ve gotten myself a little riled up, clearly. But let’s face it, in normal situations, being a nerd is a handicap, not a benefit.

If I had a nickel for every joke I wanted to make around other people but bit my tongue instead of speaking because no one else would get it, I’d have enough to buy a sterling silver

replica of Agent Orange’s ring.

See, the sad part is, the knowledge about whom Agent Orange is isn’t even that esoteric (esoteric meaning secretive and/or limited to a specific group of people).

If I wanted to be really cruel and confuse as many people as possible here as possible with this, which at this point, I do, I could talk about how the genuinely “nerdy” things that are passed over in favor of crass, intellectually-uninspired (but not aesthetically lacking, I’ll admit that much) blockbusters that think a utilitarian villain counts as a well-written villain.

What about Darkseid? Why hasn’t the Fourth World’s god of evil reached out onto the silver screen to taint the world of Superman and the Justice League with infinte doubt and the Anti-Life Equation?

Whoop, no, can’t do that. Too busy casting Ben Affleck as Batman.

I guess things never truly change. In their younger years, freaks and geeks

are marginalized and mocked by their so-called “peers,” and when they grow up, their ideas and masterworks are gutted by the “cool kids” of Hollywood.

So the next time you deign it appropriate to call yourself a nerd, ask yourself: am I really?

I’m not going to claim that there’s some sort of definitive checklist to determine whether or not you are, because that would be way too easy, but you’ll know if you’re just going along with it as a fad or not.

In short: look into your heart. You know it to be true...or not.

from page 1

fat drunkard aren’t attractive but are very beloved amongst the fan base. I’m not here to turn the pretty ladies into hags, I just believe there needs to be a variety of designs to match the men.

But April, cry the dissenters, there are tons of impossibly buff and perfect men in video games.

That must mean that men are just as sexualized as women and there is no issue. Although most of these men, especially the main characters, are usually not made with the female gaze in mind. Kratos from God of War is amazingly built and perpetually shirtless, but the intention wasn’t “the ladies will dig him” but instead more along “the player will feel awesome playing this total badass.”

Not saying that no woman

from page 5

Organizing counter protests, posting on Facebook, putting them on the news, all these things give weight to a minority opinion that is otherwise entirely pointless.

Even giving them the time of day would be a waste of my otherwise productive Netflix consumption time.

If you truly hate an opinion and you want it to go away, chances are you’re doing it wrong.

Learn to exhibit so much hate that your mind numbs and you no longer bother. Sometimes inaction is a more powerful tool that action, remember that.

The inaccuracy of “Music saved my life” Seek professional help instead of relying on who is behind the music you listen to Anymore, it seems like “Music If you have the opportunity to meet saved my life,” is an overused, inaccuyour idols, tell them how thankful you rate phrase are for what they’ve created.

Music can be such a posiBut going as far as showtive influence on your life in ing a band member what you many ways. It can teach you used to harm yourself or writanything from acceptance to ing an detailed letter explainhow to be a better person. But ing what happened when you saying, “such and such saved almost took your life is not my life,” is a bit of an exaggerathe way to go about dealHaley tion. ing with your issues.

Kurle Music doesn’t have the abilMusicians aren’t ity to save your life, you do. If trained to lead you away music is what you want to focus from self-harm. It isn’t on for the time being, that’s a different okay to put that type of responsibilstory. You were the one to choose to ity on someone not properly qualilook forward to tomorrow. You saved fied to handle it or help you in the your life, not a band member or album. ways that you need.

The people playing through your I’m not saying sharing your headphones are strangers; if you’re story of how you got past a dark going to say anyone saved your life, place is a bad thing, but there’s a look at the people right by your side. point when it becomes uncomfortably inappropriate.

It has also become common for a fan to share every piece of his/her For a band to hear that they’ve story with his/her favorite musicians. helped someone through a rough time is probably something they like I understand wanting to share your experience with the people that created to hear. But seeing or hearing exactly how they helped you through exactly the music you listened to at a low point.

>BATTLE BIKINI

>MILEY CYRUS

Negative opinions are better left unsaid Put away your petitions over (an accident, really!) I and your lucky meme-making believe that, I believe your slippers, because today I’m time is valuable, and by disgoing to offer you the most cussing things that aren’t, you effective solution to making are giving them value. opinions you hate disappear.

The Westboro Baptist Remember that really bad Church is a sparkling exMelaina ample of this. Much like relationship you had in high Bell school? You know the one, a prostitute, they stand, you probably call him “Crazy riddled with diseases, on Carl” or “Tried-to-Kill Me street corners and spread Ken,” when you refer to him at all. the word of our ultimate descent Bad opinions are like bad relationinto Hell. Also like a prostitute, ships. They’re much better left unyou should ignore them. spoken of, preferably dumped in the Their opinion is nothing more bottom of that ditch you buried your than a speck of dirt on an othersister’s rabbit in when you ran it wise clean windowsill.

Monday, september 16, 2013

what you went through can’t be very settling.

Many fans even go as far as showing the members the razors they may have used at one point during a difficult time in their life.

Images of razors and stories of attempted suicide that someone sees on the daily could really affect someone in a haunting way.

Seeking help from someone that isn’t trained puts quite a heavy load on him or her.

Cody Carson of the pop/punk band Set It Off tweeted the ways it affects him.

“To see dried blood on a razor knowing what it was used for. Or being told about it. It’s too much to handle.”

Please, if you’re having any kind of troubles that lead you to self-harm, seek professional help.

If you can talk to strangers who write the music you listen to, you can talk to strangers who know what will make those problems truly disappear.

is she thinking? Doesn’t she know she was an idol to millions of little girls? I cannot answer what her deal is or any of those other questions, but when you live a monitored life where everything you do is being observed by people hiding behind a camera lens waiting for a chance for you to mess up so they can publish it to the world, it can be very easy to mess up. Being observed 24/7 can definitely get to a young person who just wants to be that: a young person.

Imagine trying to go to the mall or a party or practically anywhere and constantly being observed by strangers waiting for you to mess up or do something stupid. Trying to be contained all the time gets to you.

From my perspective, everything we have witnessed MiCy do over the last couple years like shave her head, speak openly about her use of Marijuana and her “indecent exposure,” is her way of liberating herself from all the critiques that are thrown her way. She’s a young woman in her twenties; all she wants to do is have fun Why does MiCy face such scrutiny? If Lady Gaga went out on a crazy night on the town, do you think we would hear about it being talked about everywhere for the next few days?

Would we even be shocked by it? The answer is no. From the start of her career she al-

Haley Kurle Design Assistant n How much does a hipster weigh? An Instagram. n Two skateboarders were spotted reaching speeds of 15mph along the Roseberr y

n I don’t really like watching basketball, I just watch to find out who the next member of the Kardashian family will be. n What does a clock do when it’s hungr y? It goes back four seconds. n A rubber band shooter was confinscated in a math class because it was a weapon of math disruption. n Some people’s noses and feet are built backwards: their feet smell and their noses run. n If Apple made a car, would it have Windows? n What did the pony say when he had a sore throat?

Sorr y, I’m a little horse. n What is Mozart doing right now? Decomposing. n What do you call a bear with no teeth? A gummy bear.

lowed herself the freedom to be crazy and not care what others thought about her. By doing so she liberated herself from the constant attacks of the media.

If anything she thrives onthe attention.

Stars like Miley Cyrus did not have that freedom at the start of their careers due to her young age and the roles in which she was cast in. Her career confined her to a life in the family friendly spotlight, but it also took away her privacy which has led many young stars to a dark path like Lindsey Lohan, Corey Feldman, Drew Barrymore, Macaulay Culkin and so on.

An even though MiCy is still at the dawn of her career, I feel that the recent openness she has allowed herself and the crazy behavior that has been shocking the world is her way of letting that wholesome image go and breaking free of the stigmas that the Disney Channel brought her. Just like a lot of us who are in college at the beginning of our young adult lives, she wants to experience the world without being scrutinized by everyone for every wrong choice she makes.

Living an open lifestyle with no secrets will eventually stop shocking everyone and it will give her if not the ultimate freedom which we common folk live, a sort of liberation from the constant judgments which are shot her way by disapproving parents and Disney Channel rejects. I would like to tell Miley Cyrus to keep on Livin’ La Vida Loca! Enjoy your youth you

theSentinel Awards

Associated Press Five-Star All-American Newspaper National Pacemaker and Newspaper of the Year Three-Time Robert F. Kennedy Award-Winner Society of Professional Journalists National First-Place General Excellence Award National Hall of Fame National Society of Professional Journalists First-Place Online Idaho Press Club General Excellence Award

Drive.. As they gripped onto the back of a pick up truck. n Justin Bieber attending NIC? A license plate titled, “Bieb,” has been spotted on campus multiple times. n That awkward moment when you buy a bag of air and chips are in it. n If you think nothing is impossible, tr y slamming a revolving door. n Financial tip for broke college students: Always borrow money from a pessimist.

He won’t expect it back. n One time, a Sentinel staff member ate pizza off the streets of Seattle. The pizza was reportedly laying face down n Why does a rapper always carr y an umbrella? Fo’Drizzle.

finds him attractive, but it’s very different from the blatant pandering. There are characters with the female gaze in mind like Snake from Metal Gear and his legendary glutes which are focused upon quite often. However, Snake has a lot more character that extends well beyond his flawless posterior.

The good news is, the gaming industry is beginning to outgrow its Rob Liefeld-esque view of women. The original video game sex symbol, Lara Croft, got a controversial makeover to make her character more human without completely getting rid of her femininity. Fire Emblem has long been a series with a variety of capable women.

From Borderlands 2 comes the fat and very proud Ellie who even takes a jab at the chain mail bikini trend. “That ain’t armor!… it ain’t like the bad guys are gonna be aimin’ for my saucy bits.”

Editorial Board Christina Villagomez Webmaster Thomas Hansen News Editor

Contributors Azra Avdagic Melaina Bell John Boltz Morgen Buck Connor Coughlin

Tyson Juarez Features Editor

Israel Gonzales

Garrett Cabeza Sports Editor

Robby Palmer

Beau Valdez Photo Editor

Jantzen Hunsaker

Bronwyn Riley Alex Rodal-Cubillas Bridget Rogers

Haley Kurle Design Assistant

Leo Schnepf

Rachel Single-Schwall Photo Assistant

Nicole Tooley

Geoff Carr Adviser

Mark Schultz

April Wood Nick Marcou Rebecca Flores

Letters to the Editor Policy

T

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 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.

You can also fill out a form on The Sentinel’s website, nicsentinel.com, that will

Features

Features tip? Story idea?

Contact Tyson Juarez

208-769-3388 lubusamongus16@gmail.com

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PAGE 7

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2013

COMMENTARY

A stroke of genius “The Way Way Back” may be one of the season’s best films

Leo Schnepf n Staff Writer

Mentalist Sean Bott has four audience members join him on stage so that he could attempt to read their minds. Beau Valdez/Sentinel

A night of blown minds, sore sides Two friends take the stage for a night of rib-busting laughter, unexplainable illusions Tyson Juarez Features Editor

After a long summer, ASNIC kicked off the school year with a show that left NIC students with sore sides and blown minds. Nationally praised mentalist Sean Bott and 2013 comedian of the year Adam Grabowski performed at the Schuler Performing Arts Center August 28th and showed how truly puzzling and comedic their talents are.

The two have been long time friends and the mixture of both their styles made for an entertaining show.

“We met and became friends because we both do college shows,” said Grabowski, “this is the first time we have performed together though.”

Opening for Bott, Grabowski created a mixture of sarcastic and observational

comedy that had the audience almost in tears. He used different mediums such as a video making fun of smart phone emoticons and many graphs that poked fun at middle school awkwardness and who the best Mario Cart character is.

Bott took advantage of the crowd that Grabowski had warmed up for him.

“The audience was great,” said Bott, ”Adam (Grabowski) is fantastic and hilarious and people are a lot more willing to play when you have someone to get them on your side.”

Both of the performers interacted with the crowd numerous times throughout the show. Grabowski would poke fun at crowd members.

He also improved jokes after he received answers from the various audience members.

Bott on the other hand relied a lot more on audience participation, not only for

the sake of his act; Bott also wanted audience members to go home with a story to tell.

“I like to give people something physical or footage that they can keep just to remind them of the moments they shared,” said Bott.

Between his sarcastic and raunchy humor, Bott was able to create the illusion that he can read people’s minds and predict the outcomes of certain events. At one point during the show, random audience members were asked to name out specific places and activities during an ad-lib portion of the show. It turned out the Bott had placed a note in his wallet weeks prior to the performance and the content of the letter matched the responses audience members had just made.

The audience was shocked by Bott’s talents that he has apparently been working on for years.

“I started off by breaking into my brother’s room while he was living abroad and found a couple of books on hypnosis and was just fascinated by it,” said Bott, “I’ve been playing around with these things since I was since 12.”

Graboski’s start happened when he was unsure about his future after college.

“I didn’t know what to go to grad school for,” said Grabowski, “I finished the semester early and I was like ‘what am I going to go to grad school for? How about comedy?’ It worked great.”

The two performers left an impression on those who attended. Whether it was a great joke that had them crying with laughter or even an illusion such as bending coins that had the audience in awe, ever yone left with something unforgettable.

High-production opera comes to Schuler “Rigoletto” is a powerful, emotional hit for opera enthusiasts Jantzen Hunsaker Staff Writer Schuler auditorium hosted Opera Coeur d’Alene Friday night for their production of “Rigoletto,” a 19th century Opera of acclaimed composer Giuseppe Verdi.

According to Aaron Nicholson, Artistic Director at Opera CDA, he chose “Rigoletto” for two reasons. The Opera “Rigoletto” is widely accepted as the masterpiece of composer Giuseppe Verdi and nearing the bicentennial of his birth, Nicholson felt that this was a good way to pay homage to a great opera and composer. “It was also easy to cast locally,” Nicholson added. Many of the cast and orchestra are local from the Inland and Pacific Northwest regions.

There was a palpable excitement as the auditorium began to fill with patrons. Nicholson, along with Maestro Andrew Bisantz, held a lecture prior to the show to help explain the plot and how they came up

DID YOU KNOW?

with their interpretation of Verdi’s production. They showed enthusiasm as they walked the audience through the many stages of anger, laughter and grief shown by each individual character.

This is one way that Opera Coeur d’Alene is trying to make opera accessible by everyone and not just the wealthy or retired. While operamerica.org shows the average age of opera patrons as 48, Nate Jolley, President of the Board for Opera CDA, has noticed a change.

Rigoletto (Mark Walters) collapses to his knees during an emotional scene “It seems like opera in the opera. Walters was the lead in the show. Jantzen Hunsaker/Sentinel has been a growing interest among students and younger peo- Street Journal has figured the aver- each subsequent movement the ple. I think it’s great,” said Jolley. He age ticket cost for the Metropolitan applause would get louder and Opera as $174. We had our the yells and whistles increased. was one of the people consistently own slice of opera pie with Raúl By the end of the show the apmanning the ticket table leading up Melo, a celebrated tenor with plause was almost deafening to the event to help students and the Met Opera. Students’ tickets and followed by a standing ovathe community and offer further tion for the cast and director. information for other Opera Coeur started at only $15.

The production was top With such success at pulld’Alene events. notch and lived up being the ing off a large-scale production, Besides the language barriers there may be a great future for being a possible hindrance, money highest-level production as Nicholson had stated. With opera in the Northwest. can also play a factor. The Wall

Nat Faxon and Jim Rash’s directorial debut, “The Way Way Back”, is a charming, if routine, coming of age story set to the sunny backdrop of Cape Cod in the summer.

The story is centered around 14 year-old Duncan, (played by Liam James) as he’s dragged along by his mother (Toni Collette) to Cape Cod to spend the summer with her alphamale boyfriend (Steve Carell) and his snobbish daughter.

Duncan, who is the definition of the awkward 14 year-old male, finds companionship in the whimsically clever Owen (Sam Rockwell), who hires the boy to work for a dysfunctional water park.

No story is complete without the hero falling in love, and this movie is no exception as Duncan finds his first love with the girl next door Susanna.

(AnnaSophia Robb).

Through youthful adventures, family strife, and the ever witty guidance of Owen, Duncan has the summer of his life.

“The Way Way Back” isn’t simply a pretty summer movie to make us laugh and feel good about ourselves.

When you watch the film, you’ll notice there are some serious themes at play.

Faxon and Rash show us a realistic, and sometimes startling, glance into the modern family dynamic.

Every character is three-dimensional.

You’ll might find yourself feeling sorry for Steve Carell’s Trent at times, and you might notice that the alcoholic neighbor, Pam, is by far one of the most mature adults in the entire movie.

This film’s true stroke of genius is in it’s ability to tell the entire story from Duncan’s point of view, which will make you sympathize so strongly with the character that you might end up leaving the cinema feeling five years younger.

“The Way Way Back” shows us nothing new, but that doesn’t mean that this movie is boring or repetitious.

On the contrary, this movie delivers a timeless, if over-told, coming of age story, made special by a top-notch cast, and a perfectly tuned script.

Sam Rockwell shines in particular, but performances by Liam James and Toni Collette shouldn’t be overlooked either.

This is a movie that all ages can enjoy, and will enjoy for years to come. You can’t go wrong with watching “The Way Way Back.”

Leo Schnepf gives this film a 3.5 out of 5.

Leo Schnepf is a staff 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.

Creepy goth rocker Alice Cooper has a golf handicap of only three. Which is pretty good.

FEATURES

8 | the sentinel

COMMENTARY

Bands to watch Up and coming alt-rappers may be the genres newest stars

Morgen Buck n Staff Writer Watch out NIC, alter native pop band T wenty One Pilots just released their third album titled “Vessel”, and it’s caused quite the uproar.

Formed back in 2009, T yler Joseph and Josh Dun of Columbus Ohio tur ned a dream into reality. The duo released two albums independently before recently being discovered by recording group Fueled by Ramen, where they hit it big.

If alter native pop doesn’t sound like the most interesting to you, don’t be tur ned away.

T wenty One Pilots consists of a unique blend of styles; a refreshment to the music world. One song could have you bobbing your head to the fun beat when suddenly you find yourself mesmerized by the lyrical genius behind a rap solo.

Guns for hands is one of T wenty One Pilots’ most popular songs, it’ll have you feeling free and fun. Now skip to the next song in line and you’re listening to a rap with the most meaningful lyrics you’ve heard in awhile.

In this day and age it’s hard to find a good band that stands behind a message and not just a group of people who are throwing out some meaningless lyrics to a repetitive tune for money.

T wenty One Pilots is creative in more than the ways they go about changing up dif ferent styles in songs.

All of their songs contain a message, weather it be about life, relationships, or just how they’re feeling that day They make it an ar t to keep the listener deep in thought at all times.

In the amount of time that Vessel has been out (Januar y 2013), the group has planned a tour, made headline news for MTV and Billboard,have had two hits;Guns for Hands, and Holding Onto You, and were also nominated as a band to watch at the 2013 MTV VMA’s.

W ith all this rising fame and praise for Vessel, let’s not forget about the bands’ past two albums: Regional at Best, and a self-titled album. The two were the stepping-stones for the band, expressing the ver y raw talent and potential they held for the music industr y.

It doesn’t matter where you star t, as ever y song shows growth and the exciting risks taken to make a dif ferent sound.

As T wenty One Pilots gets bigger and bigger, more people are talking about their unique style and diverse talent. If you haven’t heard about them yet, don’t be shy. Just prepare to be glued to a pair of headphones for quite awhile.

Morgen Buck is a staff writer 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.

>SUICIDE

from page 1

be an emotional mine field for a lot of people,” said Multicultural & Veteran’s Advisor, Curley Lawson.

“It can be frightening, and sometimes people think that if you talk about suicide to someone that’s depressed it can lead totheir suicide, yet none of those things are true.

You can’t lead someone to suicide.”

As the students around the SUB came to the table where suicide information was being distributed, the impact and turn up of students was well received.

“We want to make sure that it’s ok to talk about suicide, particularly in a population on a college campus where most of the people are young adults and it’s a population that has high risk factors for suicide,” Lawson said.

Some of the students that approached the club’s table shared their personal experience with having had contemplated suicide themselves at one point in their live or their survival story as well as experiences they’ve had with a family member or friend.

“We want to make it okay not only to talk about suicide but to identify the high risk factors,” Lawson said.

In the Caucasian population where males complete suicide at a higher rate than females, both still pose a higher risk than any other ethnicities where firearms account for 50 percent of suicide method and suffocation and hanging account for 25 percent and an increas-

Monday, september 16, 2013

ing of eight percentage in recent increasing, an average of 22 veteryears amongst veterans, the Veterans a day commits suicide. ans club decided it was a good time “Suicide is a permanent soluto act and speak out on the matter. tion to a temporary problem,” Said The warning signs of suicide Veterans Club member, Nathan can be and are not limited to negaPeyton “It doesn’t just affect the pertive life events: though not always son doing it, it affects the loved ones an indicator of suicide, negative life around them.” events can increase the risk of suiLawson expressed that there cidal behavior. are several factors that contribute to Other indicators include a hissuicide among veterans some are tory of suicidal attempts, family depression which can be a compohistory, psychiatric illness, chronic nent of post-traumatic stress. Some pain, loss of health or imagined loss people can get really depressed, of health, somesubstance times it’s “We want to make it ok not due to abuse, legal, only to talk about suicide war refinancial, lated injuacademic, but to identify the high risk ries and and relafemale factors.” tionship veterans conflicts, specifiCURLEY LAWSON adjustcally are Veterans Advisor ment difat a ficulties. higher Lawson said that the topic of sui- risk compared to all females. cide is a well-known topic amongst “Sometimes people are taught to veterans and that most people in essentially handle it alone,” Lawson the military have lost someone or said. “Sometimes the warrior culture knows someone that has lost someand mentality gets in the way of one or has had a potential suicide in people asking for and receiving help the unit that they were assigned to. and that can be a challenge for many “We understand as a comveterans.” munity what the impact of that At the Suicide Awareness staloss is, but we also understand in tion, the Veterans Club practiced havthe community that it takes a lot ing an open dialogue about suicide to for someone to get to a point that reduce the possibility of suicide and they’re contemplating suicide,” said to connect people with resources, Lawson. “they’ve gone through a lot such as a suicide information hotline. and they may not know how to get Approaching students were encourhelp or may not know that there are aged to take the suicide hotline numresources for them to talk to.” ber and put it in their cell phone.

In the military there’s a very “If someone is feeling suicidal or high suicide rate for veterans, and a friend or family member contacts

them and they are contemplating suicide or are attempting suicide, scrambling to find the number at that point is not the best time to do that and having that number preprogramed can be helpful,” Lawson said. “I have it preprogrammed in my phone all the time.”

“Suicide awareness needs to be taken more seriously,” said NIC student Jessica Brereton. “It’s still being brushed off, made fun of. It is hard to know when someone is feeling that way and it can happen for several different reasons but no matter what that reason is, it’s still very serious, everybody needs help sometimes, the signs are sometimes really hard to see and all it can take is one person to be there for the individual if they know it or not they can save their life.”

Lawson said that a lot of people feel like they are not prepared to deal with someone that is expressing suicidal behavior or thoughts and that it’s understandable that there can be a willingness to shy away from something like.

“The reality is that if someone reached out to you and they were thinking about suicide and you were to turn them away, you could’ve been the last person that they were willing to talk to.”

Lawson said. “It’s ok not to know what to do, no one has to be a psychologist no one has to be a therapist.”

If you or someone you know are thinking about suicide contact the crisis hotline: 1-800-2738255 or text 838255 all contact is free, real-time and confidential.

Singing in the key of funny Singing comedian Brian O’sullivan presents hilarious parodies, originals Tyson Juarez Features Editor Brian O’Sullivan, like many other comedians, likes to combine comedy with music.

With a guitar in hand and witty lyrics flowing from his mouth, O’Sullivan is able to make his audience hum along and chuckle.

O’Sullivans show on September 10th was held in the lower level of the SUB; a setting that was very intimate between the audience and the performer. The two played off one another as at one point O’Sullivan would break off and have conversations with random audience members and he even asked them to help him write a song.

Most of O’Sullivan’s work consists of parodies and original work. He ranges anywhere from poking fun at Carley Rae Jepson’s “Call Me” with a song called “I’m From the 90’s” and his version of Brittany Spear’s “Womanizer” with a song properly titled “Breathalyzer.”

After the show, O’ Sullivan sat down with the Sentinel to answer a few questions about his career and how he got his start as a comedian.

The Sentinel: When you were growing up what musicians/comedians inspired you to do what you do today?

O’Sullivan: As a kid I liked Weird Al and in college Steven Lynch. Steven Lynch is the reason I learned to play guitar. When I was a kid I used to write parodies and sing them over the original song on my computer. I had no interest in learning an instrument before that.

Sentinel: Being a comedian must be a weird job, but what was your first job?

O’Sullivan: My very first

job was mowing lawns in High School in order to pay for gas, but my first on the record job was working as a comedian at an Improv club. I was an improviser for a short form comedy club in North Carolina. I was the youngest member in the troupe and it was awesome. They taught me what’s not funny and helped me sort of develop my character. If it wasn’t for those guys I wouldn’t be able to do what I do now. Even if I had somehow managed to get where I am now I wouldn’t be at the level I am at. When I first started writing songs they my first test audience; they were brutal and awesome.

Sentinel: What is the writing process like with your songs?

O’Sullivan: It varies.

Sometimes I’ll have an idea song and I’ll put it on the

backburner and let it marinate in my head. I won’t write anything down except the title of the song. I’ll have sticky notes all over my room with song ideas. In other cases when I’m writing parodies, I’m usually listening to the radio and when I realize when I’ve heard a song too many times on the radio I just have to write a parody of it. If I’m hearing a song too much, then everyone is hearing it too much and they know. It’s an easy way to get on the same page with an audience.

Sentinel: What is it about the college atmosphere that keeps you coming back to colleges?

O’Sullivan: For awhile there it was because I was the same age as college kids. I’m 28 now and it still feels like I’m the same age.

I’ve been doing this for four

years now so it feels like I’m a senior in college for being a comedian. My original thinking was that if I can get into the college circuit and get college kids to like me they will stay fans for life.

If they were to see me at a comedy club they would say “hey that guy with the guitar is really funny. Whats his name? I don’t know but this is a good comedy club so let’s come here next week.”

They’ll keep coming back to the comedy club but I may not be there the next week.

So the comedy clubs name gets the recognition whereas when I do college shows I get the recognition.

O’Sullivan’s videos and other content can be found on Youtube. com. Visit Facebook for more information on O’Sullivan’s career and up and coming tour dates.

Singing comedian Brian O’Sullivan hangs around after his set to play a few songs. Bronwyn Riley/Sentinel

Upcoming Events Mexican Independence day

NIC 80th Anniversary Dance

Big Money

September 16th

September 18th

September 27th

11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

5:00 p.m. - 9:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Student Union Building

Student Union Building Rear

SUB Lake CDA Room

Sports tip? Story idea?

Contact Garrett Cabeza

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

Sports

PAGE 9

WWW.NICSENTINEL.COM

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2013

COMMENTARY

Seahawks flying into radar Seattle’s strengths fuel expectations

Garrett Cabeza n Sports Editor

North Idaho College wrestlers hand out school supplies at Riverstone near Escape Outdoors Aug. 29 as a part of the “We Care” program. About 400 people showed up to receive the school essentials. Garrett Cabeza/Sentinel

Don’t give up, just give away NIC wrestlers give back to community by handing out school supplies Garrett Cabeza Sports Editor

The defending national champion North Idaho College wrestlers showed their big hearts on the mat last season. They also displayed their big hearts before this season in the community.

The NIC wrestling team handed out free school supplies to local kids at Riverstone near Escape Outdoors Aug. 29.

The wrestlers gave away folders, notebooks, pencils and other school essentials to kids as a part of the “We Care” program.

“It’s really nice,” sophomore wrestler Johnathen Dennis said.

“It always feels good when you’re giving back to the community.”

About 400 people came to

the event as the line stretched around the corner at times.

Head coach Pat Whitcomb said people gathered at 8:30, an hour and one-half before the 10:00 start time of the event.

Whitcomb said they made a total of six runs for school supplies, three Wednesday and three Thursday to keep students’ bags full.

Whitcomb didn’t know exactly what kind of turnout to expect as it is the first year the wrestling program has hosted this event, but figured it would be a good show of people because students are in need of school supplies, people could meet the wrestlers and it’s a new event.

Besides school supplies, the wrestlers also offered people

free pizza and water while they were waiting in line.

Whitcomb said he wanted to give back to the community since the community greatly supports NIC and its wrestling team.

The wrestlers also found enjoyment in helping some of the kids in the area and positively impacting their lives.

Freshman Adrian Cordova said his favorite part of the day was seeing the kids’ faces after he gave them free shirts.

Another wrestler, Kenton Walker, said he was excited to help out with the event and wanted to come as early as possible to assist. But then he remembered he had class so he had to arrive later than he wanted.

Whitcomb said the wrestling

program also sells T-shirts in October to raise breast cancer awareness through the “We Care” program.

On top of that, since 2002, the wrestling program has given away more than 11,000 books to elementary students through the Shirley Parker Reading program. The program was established in partnership with Parker Toyota. It is aimed at promoting early childhood reading.

Whitcomb said that whenever he and his team go to an elementary school to read to first-graders, each student receives a free book.

Whitcomb also gives away books to children in Michigan, where he is from, when recruiting wrestlers.

Former, current players square off Softball alumni game brings older, newer players together in fun battle Robby Palmer Staff Writer The North Idaho College softball team beat the NIC alumni team 3-1 Saturday at Me-

morial Field.

“We were really excited to get back on the field and play against people we knew and haven’t seen in a long time,” said Shay Craig, a member of the

alumni team and current assistant coach of the Cardinals.

It was the 17th time the alumni game has been played and it was definitely a sight to see.

Both teams caught line

drives off the opponents’ bats to halt scoring threats.

Erratic throws was the deciding factor in the game.

“I don’t think we really earned a run,” said NIC head coach Don Don Williams.

In the end, the current players proved to be a little sharper than the former Cardinal players.

“I thought it was a lot of fun,” sophomore Kylene Hatton said. “Hunter (Allen) pitched a good game and Jammie (Madonna) had a clutch hit.”

A Closer Look The NIC softball team will rely on freshmen to fill roles left by last season’s sophomores as 17 of the 21 players listed on this year’s roster are freshmen. Of the 17, eight are from California or Hawaii.

Freshman Hayden Fields slides safely into home Saturday at Memorial Field. Beau Valdez/Sentinel

Is this the year for the Seattle Seahawks?

On paper, it seems like Seattle’s chances of returning to the Super Bowl are not too shabby.

It’s way too early in the season to tell which teams are contenders and pretenders but based on last season’s success and what the Seahawks displayed in Week One against the Carolina Panthers, Seattle could make a deep postseason run.

Last night’s game between Seattle and San Francisco also gave signs of what is to come for the Seahawks (hopefully good things. The Sentinel went to press yesterday so I wasn’t sure if Seattle won or lost at home at the time of writing this column).

Just like any other National Football League (NFL) team, everything starts with the quarterback.

Russell Wilson surpassed everyone’s expectations last season.

I always like a quarterback who can run and throw extremely well, which sounds a little obvious. However, it seems sometimes people overlook quarterbacks who are duel threats and prefer pocket passers who have limited scrambling abilities.

Wilson can take off and run whenever he feels the pocket is collapsing around him and gain decent yardage.

Who isn’t excited about the future of the Seahawks with Wilson leading the offense?

The Seahawks can also hand the ball off to Marshawn Lynch, who seems to gain a few extra yards after contact just about every time he carries the ball.

Lynch can turn offensive line miscues into first downs because he refuses to go down and wears defenses down because of his strength and determination to stay upright.

If Lynch pushes the Beast Mode button before every game, the Seahawks will be tough to handle.

Perhaps what the Seahawks were most known for last season was their defense.

If Seattle can put pressure on opposing quarterbacks with their four defensive linemen, the secondary can take care of the rest. The young secondary can stack up against any other in the league with tall, physical cornerbacks in Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman and versatile safeties in Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor.

The road win last week against the Panthers was comforting. Even though the Seahawks barely beat Carolina last week, it was nice to see Seattle’s defense hold the Panthers to seven points against a quarterback like Cam Newton.

Seattle’s offense didn’t click but I have a feeling they will turn their offense into a well-oiled machine sooner rather than later.

So, will the Seahawks reach the Super Bowl this season?

Maybe.

If they don’t reach their goal this season, Seattle is primed to make a run for the years to come with a young, promising quarterback and a top-notch defense.

The Seahawks look good on paper, now they have to look good on the gridiron.

Garrett Cabeza 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.

DIDYOUKNOW? Softball was first introduced in 1887, but the sport didn’t take on the name “softball” until 1926.

SPORTS

10 | the sentinel

Monday, september 16, 2013

Students moving, thinking on campus Cardinal Scramble gives variety Robby Palmer Staff Writer The first week of school started off with a bang.

NIC students began an amazing race-type scavenger hunt around the college campus on a hot August 29 afternoon.

The event started at NIC’s YapKeehn-Um Beach.

This year’s winning team was the “Kooky Cardinals,” followed by “C-squad” and “Bankai Zenbone,” whom I became a part of just as the competitors lined up to start.

Rushing from the Writing Center all the way to the water treatment facility, the scramble was in their eyes and if you saw these sprinting students, armed with a campus map, headbands and a to-do list, you knew they meant business.

As they moved from knowledge of the campus to the “special challenges,” it got interesting.

Students had to raise a tent using only one arm per competitor, then work together as a team and carefully, but precisely, use their athletic skills. That meant students using their teeth to secure the poles in place while another sunk the pin in the bottom to hold the tent up.

The balance board was another fun event.

Students had to balance a board for five seconds. Having

Two Cardinal Scramble participants paddle toward shore Aug. 29 on Lake Coeur d’Alene. Beau Valdez/Sentinel

only a hodgepodge of random items, they began. Some of the items included a crock-pot, two 2x4s, a pair of purple rollerblades, weights and a hockey stick. Using their problem-solving skills and logic, some only took a minute or so, while others were still scratching their heads.

“You’ll have one hour to complete or you’re gone,” yelled Jon Totten, this year’s scramble officiator.

The rules were simple. It was a foot race. No bikes, skateboards, cars or Segways were allowed.

Each team had to have a smartphone handy.

Using their knowledge and wits, most teams completed the race in less than an hour.

It was a very fun race and hanging out with new students is always a pleasure.

The race was followed by a very tasty barbecue. The smell of hot

dogs and hamburgers were clouding up the afternoon.

We could eat as much brain food as our stomachs could handle.

Some students left for class while others stuck around and played volleyball on the beach.

I learned quite a lot of things about NIC that I never knew.

I encourage every student to be a part of it next year. The more the better. You’ll learn a lot while getting a nice workout.

Then eat a feast with your new friends. What more could you ask for?

Other upcoming student activities include a co-rec. division seven-on-seven flag football league starting today from 3 to 6 Mondays and Wednesdays.

Stand-up paddleboarding is every Wednesday in September at 4 on Lake Coeur d’Alene and rock climbing is every Thursday in September at 4 in Post Falls.

Cards kick, battle at home NIC men’s and women’s soccer teams host Cardinal Classic, earn one win each against Northwest College on third day Garrett Cabeza Sports Editor The North Idaho College men’s and women’s soccer teams competed in the Cardinal Classic Aug. 30 and Sept. 1 at NIC.

Men In the first men’s game of the Cardinal Classic, freshman Rodger Bucknor scored two goals to help the Cardinals to a 3-3 tie against Chemeketa Community College Aug. 30.

“Toward the end, when we were kind of playing catch up, that’s when we really played our soccer,” NIC midfielder Christian Botuli said. “That’s when we dominated.”

After Chemeketa took the lead to make the score 3-2, Botuli kicked the ball into the net off of an Adam Talley pass to tie the game at three with about 17:38 left in the game.

NIC then defeated Northwest

College (Powell, Wyo.) 2-1 Sept. 1.

Northwest headed into the half winning 1-0.

The Trappers were down a man for most of the game after one of their players received a red card in the 17th minute.

The Cardinals responded with a goal by Botuli to tie the game.

NIC then took the lead in the 67th minute after Shane Stanley set Talley up for a goal.

“We’ve struggled with our warm up and we’ve kind of started games slow,” NIC head coach Ken Thompson said. “Once we get going, we’re pretty tough.”

Women NIC lost 1-0 to NCAA Division II Northwest Nazarene University Friday in the opening game of the Cardinal Classic.

The NIC schedule listed the game as an exhibition, so the loss did not count against their record.

NIC head coach Dan Hogan

said that Northwest Nazarene played a different system than what his team was used to seeing so his players had to adjust to it.

After some coaching advice, Hogan said his team improved defensively.

After falling to Northwest Nazarene, NIC beat Northwest College 1-0 Sept. 1 in their second and final game of the tournament.

Jaimee Hulst put up the only point of the day with a goal in the first half.

“We definitely had really good passing and we talked more than usual and I think that helped us a lot,” Hulst said.

NIC head coach Dan Hogan said his team “possessed the ball a lot better, especially the first half” than in other games this season and there was “a lot better movement out of our forwards and midfielders.”

Both the men’s and women’s teams hit the road to play Peninsula College (Washington) tomorrow afternoon.

Jake Kraut boots the ball. Rachel Single-Schwall/Sentinel

Meghan Pagano battles for the ball. Rachel Single-Schwall/Sentinel

Students dig deep, pedal hard up mountain Outdoor Pursuits leads group of students up Canfield Mountain for mountain biking thrill Garrett Cabeza Sports Editor

Clinton Green, 19, Chicago, general studies, (left) and Terry Brinton, 32, Coeur d’Alene, resort recreation management and outdoor leadership, work their way up the mountain. Garrett Cabeza/Sentinel

The legs burned, the heart thumped and the sweat poured from all seven mountain biking participants, including myself, who pushed up and coasted down Canfield Mountain Tuesday as a part of North Idaho College’s Outdoor Pursuits.

Patrick O’Neill, 22, Chicago, computer science, said “it was 100 percent harder, 100 percent more dangerous and 100 percent more enjoyable” than he thought it would be.

The journey started at the McLain Hall Outdoor Center at NIC. After loading the bikes into a trailer, we drove to a section of Canfield Mountain, unloaded the bikes and began our trek up one of the trails.

We stopped a handful of times on the ride up the mountain to catch our breath and hydrate as the sun beat down on the trail.

The ride included NIC students with different levels of mountain biking experience.

“I get really thrilled every time I get to take somebody out for their first actual, real mountain bike ride,” Terry Brinton, 32, Coeur d’Alene, resort recreation management and outdoor leadership, said.

“People get really excited. You saw a little bit of that today.”

Brinton said Chance McCormack, an intern for Outdoor Pursuits, organized the mountain bike riding.

Brinton and McCormack led the ride.

After meandering uphill about 1100 feet and taking some advice from Brinton and McCormack,

the descent back down to the van began.

“I’d definitely say if I had a better bike, I probably would have pushed the envelope a little bit more, but for the most part, just trying to keep myself safe on my first one,” Clinton Green, 19, Chicago, general studies, said.

Even though the second half of the ride was down hill, stops were necessary to make sure everybody was present and in one piece.

“Every time we stopped I’d get off and I’d just be shaking, like ‘oh my god,’ I just conquered something,” O’Neill said. “It got me jacked. It was just tons of jumps and close calls and squirly action.

It was a good time.”

Outdoor Pursuits hosts mountain biking every Tuesday in September at 4. Students should meet at the McLain Hall Outdoor Center.

www.nicsentinel.com

GAMES

the sentinel |11

Crossword

Sudoku Puzzle courtesy of mirroreyes.com, provider of daily printable crossword puzzles.

ACROSS 1. Nosed (out) 6. Big party 10. Nile bird 14. New Zealand native 15. Twin sister of Ares 16. List of options 17. Graphic symbols 18. Where a bird lives 19. Jetty 20. Re-beautify 22. Monster 23. Citrus drink 24. Adjust again 26. Be able to spare 30. One who is excessively proper 32. Cirrus or cumulus 33. Rewards 37. Diplomacy 38. Streamlined 39. Rhythm 40. Religious 42. Town square 43. Broadcast 44. Move unsteadily 45. An unidentified aircraft

47. Family 48. Unadulterated 49. Designation 56. Therefore 57. Oversupply 58. Very slow in tempo 59. Brother of Jacob 60. Lean 61. Attempted 62. Focusing glass 63. Sacred 64. Affirmatives

DOWN

1. Arab chieftain 2. Small European freshwater fish 3. Well-behaved 4. Sea eagle 5. Throw out 6. Style 7. Region 8. Enumerate 9. A star-shaped character 10. Something that cannot be done 11. Ecru

12. Unreactive 13. Certain 21. Eccentric 25. S 26. Does something 27. Flutter 28. Central points 29. Offensive 30. Beg 31. Bobbin 33. Color of the sky 34. Tidy 35. Stare 36. Sun 38. Physical energy 41. 3 in Roman numerals 42. Punishment 44. Can 45. An exchange 46. Keyboard instrument 47. Pussycat 48. Rind 50. Hodgepodge 51. Think (over) 52. Container weight 53. Colored part of an eye 54. Curved molding 55. Gestures of assent

Puzzle courtesy of sudokucollection.com

Horoscopes Libra

(Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) After what seems like a never ending struggle, the direction you are headed in will bring success. A new bond will form in the process.

Scorpio

(Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) You’ve been wandering a little lost lately.

Find something positive to focus on before you find yourself tangled and confused.

Sagittarius

(Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) Don’t let an important decision overwhelm you. Take the extra time to consider the different possibilities that are in front of you. Advice from others could be crutial in your decision making.

Capricorn

(Dec 22 - Jan. 19) Your personality will show to be strong this month when you stray from letting your guard down to create a new bond with someone special.

Aquarius

(Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) Your patience will be tested when it seems like close friend disobeys your trust. It will all work out differently than it may seem.

Pisces

(Feb. 19 - March 20) Luck will be on your side this month when a series of opportunities come knocking. It doesn’t seem like much but you will find yourself one step closer to the place you want to be.

Aries

(March 21 - April 19) Emotions run high this month. Avoid conflict by being understanding towards others and not taking your problems out on the innocent. Don’t take much personally.

Taurus

(April 20 - May 20) Your love life will bring you exciting new adventures but be aware of the reality of your emotions. Surprises are headed your way.

Gemini

(May 21 - June 20) Don’t give up quite yet, financial success will come your way after hard work and patience this month. The bolder side of your personality will stand out in a meeting.

Cancer

(June 21 - July 22) Love and luck seem to be brushing upon the path ahead of you, don’t be afraid to take exciting adventures.

Leo

(July 23 - Aug. 22) Be prepared for a great change in your ever y day routine. It may seem over whelming at first but you’ll see the value of change at the end of the day.

Virgo

(Aug 23 - Sept 22) Happiness will overcome you this month in a multitude of ways.

The negative can’t catch up to grasp you now. Avoid getting caught up in small things that won’t matter in the bigger picture.

TREEHOUSE

12 | the sentinel

Monday, september 16, 2013

JBeau Valdez/Sentinel

The man with a million views Former NIC student finds Internet fame with a unique invention Christina Villagomez Webmaster It was high summer when Ethan Schlussler decided to start hauling hand-milled cedar planks 30 feet up a tree with little more than brawn, bravery and a little bit of rope.

Schlussler, an avid climber of all things earthen, rock or tree, he wasn’t afraid of the height, nor would it be the first treehouse he’d ever built.

It would, however be the first time he built a treehouse elevator.

“I didn’t want to do a ladder, I wanted to do something more interesting than a ladder,” Schlussler said.

It would also be the first time he’d ever have one of his YouTube videos reach over a million views.

If you were to browse through Schlussler’s video channel, you’d see evidence of a well-rounded young man.

Each clip chronicles a new adventure: ice-cave building, slacklining (a cousin of tightrope walking, for those not in the know), and unicycling to name a few.

The channel doesn’t show you the wool fedora he crafted himself, or the places he visited the time he went backpacking across Europe, or his brief stint as a clown.

Schlussler’s design makes use of friction to hold the treehouse stable. Gaps between the boards will alow the tree to expand without compromising the foundation. Photo Courtesy of Ethan Schlussler

The channel doesn’t show you the years of experience he has in the construction industry, all the things he’s built with his own two hands. The channel doesn’t show you the uncanny ability he has that allows him to sit down and sketch out the numbers and shapes that are the blueprints to wonderful inventions and innovative designs.

“I’ve been building my own little projects here and there over the years ever since I was old enough to hold a hammer,” Schlussler said.

When you look at Schlussler’s treehouse, there is no element of design that is accidental. He’s thought of every thing from space to allow the tree to grow and custom self-made clamps to bind the foundation together, down to the reasons for why he de-

cided to build his house in a Larch tree.

Although the bicycle elevator he owes his Internet notoriety to wasn’t an original part of the treehouse’s plan, he had originally been planning to feature an elevator in a different incarnation.

“I was thinking of doing a hand crank counter-weighted elevator thing,” Schlussler said. “I was throwing around ideas when my friend said ‘hey, why not try a bicycle.’”

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The elevator is counterbalanced by an old water heater that hangs off the other side of the treehouse.

As of now, it cannot support the weight of anyone over 150 pounds. | The treehouse up 30 feet from the ground has successfully held six people at once. | The base of the treehouse is geometrically composed of triangles. | To keep a natural look, Schlussler opted to only weather proof wood.

Photo Courtesy of Ethan Schlussler

Photo Courtesy of Ethan Schlussler

Photo Courtesy of Beau Valdez