SANTA OR SCROOGE?
NEWS A new building on campus? | Page 2 PERSPECTIVE Caffienated Cardinal a hidden gem? | Page 5 HOLIDAY CONCERTS: How to be part of the festivity. | Page 6
Find out whether NIC students are ready for this holiday season | Page 8
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF NORTH IDAHO COLLEGE MONDAY DEC. 7, 2015
WWW.NIC SENTINEL .C OM
Volume 69 | Issue 5
Campus trees gone with the wind
Cleanup from the aftermath of last week’s windstorm continues to be present on campus. “We were fortunate that no NIC facilities were impacted by the storm,” Security Supervisor Patrick Murray said. See more on Page 2. Thomas Hansen/Sentinel
Cigarettes may hold the power to prevent college debt Local organization fights to lower tuition costs for Idaho students through new tax
Two jobs. Six classes. Thousands of dollars of debt. This is oh-so true for the majority of Idaho college students. Luckily, a local group is trying to make the burden of college debt a bit lighter. An initiative to lower state college tuition by 22 percent by increasing taxes on cigarettes was officially launched by stoptuitionhikes.com at the end of November. According to Bill Moran, chair of stoptuitionhikes.com, the increase in tuition is not something that the universities just decided to do; they increased costs in order to adapt to the new state budget for higher education that has been continuously decreased, so the universities have to serve more students with less funding. Stoptuitionhikes.com remarks that the tuition rates have gone up 1:1 with the amount of defunding. “[Taxes on tuition] are just taxes on kids who are crazy enough to think they have a chance to get a degree and a better job and a better future,” Moran said. “We have seen in the state, that tuition has tripled since 2000 and we are subsidizing the cigarettes practically, so we can have $4 cigarettes
A basketaball spotlight NIC Cardinal and Columbian native looks to go pro Sports Page 9
and people can die quickly, cheaply and efficiently but heaven forbid they can get a college degree.” Why on cigarettes? Moran said the primary cost driver competing with higher education funding is healthcare costs, primarily preventable cigarette related illness. The state budget for higher education funding was strapped from 14 percent to 8 percent at the correspondent period of this time, health and welfare went from about 14 percent to 22 percent of the budget. “We don’t really know how much damage we have done and the stats in Idaho are scary,” Moran said. Moran said that according to the American Lung Association every pack of cigarette costs the state $15 in health care funds. Idaho taxes cigarettes at 57 cents, meaning other taxpayers have to cover the difference of $14.43 which is why tuition keeps going up. “We send the fewest kids to college out of any state in the nation and the primarily barrier why they don’t go to college is cost,” Moran said. “ We also have kids that they do go to college but they drop out halfway through. Idaho has a higher rate
QUOTABLE
Lizeth Meinguer News Editor
“Take a deep breath and embrace the feeling of nothingness...you survived.”
than other states and they drop out because they cannot afford it. One out of ten kids finish college but they are sitting on about $60,000 debt and then we ask those kids to go buy a house or start a business and how are they going to do it, how would they provide to the economy where they will be in the economy, it doesn’t make sense.” NIC Sociology student Kimbera Cox, 25, said she is uncertain if the increase on taxes will solve the problem and she compared the problem to how Idaho schools used to receive their funding, through timber sales revenue. She said as the timber industry declined, so did funding for education. Similarly, as tobacco sales decrease, tuition funding will also decrease. “I foresee the higher tax as encouraging other smokers to make the switch to alternative forms of tobacco, or quitting entirely,” Cox said. “I’m not aware of how the law works, but given the circumstances I believe that the benefits towards lower tuition will be a short-term fix. The hope would be that the tax ultimately reduces the number of tobacco related illness cases and funding could be appropriated towards education if they are able to reduce the cost of health care.”
WHERE TO START News...........................2 Perspectives............4 Holiday Concerts............6
Perspectives Page 5
Some NIC students are optimistic about the proposal. “I think that raising the tax on cigarettes is a great idea,” Beth Taylor, General Studies, 47, said. “Not only would it help our students but it will also encourage people to quit smoking. The more expensive cigarettes are the less people would be willing to spend. I smoked for many years and since I stopped I can breathe so much easier and do not have to see the doctor quite so often and I also save money there.” “I think it is an interesting idea, I would be for it, but on the same hand I do not smoke.” Lisa Martinez, 21, Business Administration. “I don’t think it is a big deal to raise the cost of cigarettes considering it is a luxury to smoke, not a necessity. Since tobacco related illness appear to be a main cause of the reduction of the Idaho education budget, it seems only fair that the taxes for cigarettes be increased in return.” Moran said they need 47,623 signatures and as of today they have gathered 1,600 since they launched at the end of November. “We expect a lot of student evolvement by signing the petition and helping to gather signatures.” Moran said.
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MONDAY, DEC. 7, 2015
Windstorm causes damage to NIC course Abigail Valentine Staff Writer The enormous windstorm that swept through the Nor thwest on Nov. 17 uprooted seven NIC trees, broke of f several others, and damaged about half of the challenge course. The top was torn from a tree suppor ting par t of the challenge course, collapsing on par t of the course. Director of Student Development Alex Harris said the total damage to the course will cost $14,800 to repair. NIC will call in exper ts to assess what measures will need to be taken and also have a safety inspection. “Our goal is to get it back into working order or better as soon as possible,” Harris said. Oppor tunities may be taken to expand the course, but any details or plans are still speculative. “We’ll at least get it back to where it was,” Harris said. Six trees fell behind the Children’s Center on the afternoon of the storm. Children and employees at the Children’s Center were evacuated to the lower level of the Edminster Student Union Building just prior to the trees The windstorm has caused severe damage to the roof of a house located on Third Street and Rosevelt, Coeur d’Alene. Aislinn Lautenbach/Sentinel. falling. “We were for tunate that no NIC facilities were impacted down. It was pretty bad,” age to the roof and our upblocked the street for days. Hundreds of thousands by the storm,” Security superNursing student Seth Helbling stairs ceiling. Wilcox repor ted Driving the night of the of residents and businesses visor Patrick Murray said. said. several gaping holes in the storm was par ticularly perillost power during the stor m; The majority of tree damLiza Wilcox, NIC English ceiling. ous; the storm caused three even Coeur d’Alene and age occurred after campus instr uctor, who lives on South “It’s a complete mess,” Wil- deaths and numerous injuries Hayden’s traf fic signals were was closed at 4 p.m. that day, Hill, Spokane, said she had a cox said. when trees fell on commuting compromised. though some did occur during par ticularly harrowing experiA tree from a dif ferent vehicles. Some buildings on campus the day. A seventh tree was ence with the storm. neighbor’s yard fell across the “I was in my itty-bitty lost power late in the afteralso uprooted near Winton One of the spr uce trees in street onto their family’s vehicar,” said Andrew Avoux, 19, noon and into the early eveHall. her neighbor’s yard fell over cles, totaling Wilcox’s daughGeneral Studies. “I watched ning. Electricity was fully re“I was in the writing cenand landed on their home’s ter’s new car and damaging a lot of transfor mers blow. It stored sooner than anticipated ter and I heard the trees go roof, causing extensive damher own car. She said the tree was intense. But I’m alive!” by the security staf f.
Six trees fall down on campus and damage the ropes course. Lizeth Meinguer/Sentinel.
A fallen tree in the Fort Sherman Playground is cut and removed. Aislinn Lautenbach/Sentinel.
NIC to relocate Students Services into proposed building Ignite CDA and NIC consider constructing a joint facility
Aislinn Lautenbach Staff Writer T ired of traveling from building to building at NIC? Looking for a place to get all of your student ser vices taken care of? Ignite CDA, an urban renewal agency, is considering a $2.5 million funding request from Nor th Idaho College and two par tner universities, Lewis and Cark State and University of Idaho, that want to build a joint student ser vices facility. NIC Vice President of finance Chris Mar tin recently pitched the idea to Ignite as an investment in education and workforce development. Mar tin said to the CDA Press, “cur rently prospective students are shuf fled from around the Nor th Idaho College campus to the Harbor Center
to the Molstead Librar y to Lee-Kildow Hall to the testing center that is located in por table buildings along River Avenue. To be frank, we’re not making it easy. And sometimes, at places, we’re duplicating ef for ts.” According to the CDA Press, the building is to be called the Nor th Idaho Collaborative Education Facility and will provide students with services such as admissions, financial aid and advising all in one location. In addition to some shared classrooms, lecture and lab facilities inside. The building is expected to be two stories and have 40,000 square feet of floor space according to the CDA Press. Located on the cor ner of Hubbard Avenue and College Drive, the constr uction for the new str ucture is expected to star t not before 2018. “The Collaborative Education Facil-
ity is an investment in education and workforce development, to ensure Coeur d’Alene and the Nor th Idaho region has access to higher education and is creating a qualified workforce to meet the needs of our city and our region today and for our future,” Martin said to the CDA Press. According to NIC and par tnering universities, the anticipated project cost is approximately $9.5 million, and the schools want Ignite to fill, or at least help fill, a funding gap of $2.5 million. Ignite CDA Executive Director, Tony Ber ns said, “Our understanding is that NIC will most likely be the lead par tner on this initiative when it moves for ward, and will lead the effor t for the design and building constr uction.” Ignite CDA is Coeur d’Alene’s urban renewal agency focusing on
economic development and value creation for the community. It has been a strong suppor ter of the Higher Education Campus for years, and has contributed $5.4 million to date for infrastr ucture improvements for the campus area such as new roads, new round a bouts and new traf fic signals at Hubbard and River Avenues. “Ignite CDA views a strong higher education campus as a long-term, strategic economic engine for the community,” Ber ns said. “Constr uction of the proposed Collaborative Education Facility will strengthen the economic engine that is the higher education campus.” According to the CDA Press, the schools have combined their money to commit $2 million for the constr uction. NIC is providing the land and will maintain the facility.
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NEWS
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NIC curriculum under evaluation Aislinn Lautenbach Staff Writer Is your program in or out? NIC’s programs have undergone self-evaluation in the hopes of determining how they meet the mission of the institution. Due to the lack of funding from the state and an unwanted tax increase in the community, NIC has had to brainstorm ways to sustain itself. “It’s time for this institution to think about self evaluation so we better understand where we’re using our resources,” said Vice President for Instr uction, Lita Burns. Bur ns said NIC would continue to grow and thrive by finding resources within itself. The goal is to identify what programs are working and are helping NIC flourish, even programs that need more suppor t will encourage the college to fur ther education for students.
Approximately 70 employees including faculty, staf f and administrators submitted a repor t that outlines the productivity, quality and potential of their programs. “It’s been so inspirational to see people come together to par ticipate,” Burns said. “When we did the call to review 150 programs, I was over whelmed to have 90 people initially wanting to par ticipate.” In 2013 the State Board of Education required four- year institutions to engage in program prioritization, which consisted of evaluations to discover thriving or str uggling programs. NIC evaluations took a look at their own members and analyzed what they’re doing and working toward. Repor ts made by the program instr uctors have been looked over by external evaluators to provide strengths, weaknesses and suggestions for change. After being completed, each repor t received three reviews.
These reviews and repor ts will all be completed by Dec. 18.
How will institutional optimization af fect NIC students? Burns explained that it is still undetermined whether or not programs will be eliminated from the course catalog. Any recommendations made will require fur ther investigation (see timeline.) According to the State Board of Education program’s discontinuation policy, any college in the state that chooses to eliminate any program must follow a specific process. One requirement mandates that students are provided with a “teach out,” which means all students currently enrolled in to a deleted program will have the oppor tunity to finish the program they star ted. This helps preser ve students’ rights. Joe Dunlap, NIC president, spoke at
the board of tr ustees meeting on this subject. “If there are areas that need additional resources, then we will allocate resources based on the repor ts and self evaluations received,” Dunlap said. The mission is to provide education to a diverse group of student and meet all their educational needs. After self evaluation the institution should be more student oriented, helping students be more successful. Burns said institutional optimization is not meant to hur t the college or take away from students’ success, but rather to help better the programs already in place. “It has been a str uggle,” Burns said. “Anytime people think change could occur or something might change in their area, it becomes disconcer ting to them, it’s uncomfor table. There has been fear and some resistance. But, we don’t know what will happen and I can appreciate the uncer tainty.”
Infographic by Tanner Sheffield
ASNIC lights the Christmas of NIC families’ children Abigail Valentine Staff Writer With the colorful St. ASNIC Tree of Giving in the Edminster Student Union Building, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas for students’ children. St. ASNIC Tree of Giving is an annual tradition where students can donate gifts to the children of NIC families. This year the event will be held on Dec. 8 from 4-7 p.m., will include dinner for NIC families, a visit from Santa, and Christmas gifts for the children of students. Children will also have an opportunity to take photos with Santa. “It’s been a tradition as long as I know,” ASNIC president Maria Paluzzi said. “I think it helps everyone get in the spirit. And it’s nice to see everyone come together. It’s so beautiful and really nice to be a part of. Of course there are presents, but it’s really about coming together.”
Paluzzi said about 80 children total will participate in the St. ASNIC event, but that the event is not just for the kids; care packages for adults will be available as well, courtesy of Michelle Clarkson, ASNIC senator. “It’s an event for the students and the children,” event organizer Kaitie Scarborough, 19, said. “It’s not a charity event. We want it to be a community event.” Donated gifts will be screened through ASNIC before being given to the children. Students who hadn’t heard of the event before were enthusiastic. “I think it’s a great idea,” Valerie Levasseur, 27, nursing said. Posters have advertised the event since Nov. 23. Food for the dinner was collected through an ASNIC food drive in Nov. and the beginning of Dec. “It’s so cool,” said Madelyn Forthnan, 19, social work. “It’s going to impact someone’s life.” A cardinal Christmas ornament inspires students to particpate in the Tree of Giving. Lily Anderson/Sentinel
NIC Incident Report RES
November 16 - Police and Security were called to the Residence Hall for alcohol of fenses.
RES
November 17 - Windstorm caused tree damage, obstacle course
damage, power outage and the closure of the campuses.
RES
December 03 - Security was called to Boswell Hall for a student conduct issue.
DID YOU KNOW? An acre of Christmas trees provides the daily oxygen requirements of 18 people.
Perspectives
Perspective tip? Story idea? Contact Rachel Anderson 208-769-3388 thejazzyvegan@gmail.com
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Letters to the Editor
EDITORIAL
Terrorism has no religion
A
ccording to the Merriam Webster Dictionar y, the definition of a terrorist is “a person that uses violent acts to frighten people as a way of tr ying to achieve a political goal.” This may come as a surprise to some people, but the words “Islam” or “Muslim” are not included in that definition and are not associated with the term. True, extremists groups claiming to be true followers of Islam have committed heinous crimes but they do not represent the entirety of Muslim people. Just like terrorists claiming to be true followers of Christianity do not represent the entirety of Christian people. After the recent shooting at a Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood by a terrorist claiming to represent the Christian faith, why don’t people make Facebook posts about “death to Christians” like they do with Muslims? Why doesn’t the KKK represent all of Christianity like ISIS seems to represent Islam? In America, white supremacist groups like Christian Identity (which has documented more than 2,000 members) does not seem to concern Americans like Islam does. Do we ignore the 2008 shooting at Knoxville church where a terrorist fired a shotgun at children per forming “Annie Jr.,” killing two and wounding seven, targeting “the church because of its liberal teachings and his belief that all liberals should be killed because they were ruining the countr y.” Do we forget the tragedies such as this year’s massacre at Zion Emmanuel AME Church or the countless school shootings and instead blame Islam for the horrors of terrorism? In a sur vey conducted with the New York Times and the Police Executive Research Forum last year of 382 law enforcement agencies, 74 percent repor ted anti-government extremism as one of the top three terrorist threats in their jurisdiction; only 39 percent listed extremism connected with Al Qaeda and other Islam-associated terrorist groups. Since 9/11, an average of nine American Muslims per year have been involved in an average of six terrorism-related plots, causing a total of 50 fatalities; while right-wing extremists averaged 337 attacks, causing a total of 254 fatalities, according to a study by Arie Perliger, a professor at the United States Militar y Academy’s Combating Terrorism Center. The toll of terrorist attacks in the name of Christianity has increased since the study was released in 2012. As one can see, any person or group can wrongfully use their religion as an excuse to commit a crime and feel justified for it. A terrorist is a person, not a religion. Terrorism has no religion. Muslims condemn terrorism and pray for victims of terrorist attacks just like Christians do. Ayisha Malik, a well-known British journalist and editor, posted on Twitter the night of the Paris attack, “Gunmen were heard shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ but I did the same tonight, in my room, praying for those killed and their families.”
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Riley Hadeen Sports Editor
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Geoff Carr Adviser
Gabriel Theander Abigail Valentine
Come join us Wednesday, Dec. 9 at noon in Seibert 209 for a critique of the paper. We’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas!
Letters to the Editor Policy
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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.
MONDAY, DEC. 7, 2015
theSentinel 1000 W. Garden Ave. Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814
THAnks: Nic students serve us well Heartfelt thanks to Jeremiah Brands and the Associated Students of North Idaho College for hosting a free community Thanksgiving Dinner at NIC on Saturday. I invited two homebound, disabled seniors to accompany me to the dinner. The traditional Thanksgiving meal was delicious, and the portions were generous. Everything was provided to those in attendance, including salad, dessert and beverages. My guests thoroughly enjoyed their meals, and the opportunity to socially interact with others. This event bridged the generational gap, bringing seniors, families, students and small children together to enjoy the hospitality provided by NIC students. Perhaps most gratifying was the manner in which everyone was greeted and treated by the many student and staff volunteers. Every student volunteer had a smile and kind word for those entering the Student Union facility, and their eagerness to serve carried through the entire meal. NIC Vice President Mark Browning could be seen assisting the disabled with their trays, and seating. Thank you to the students of NIC for their volunteer service, and to the college staff and administration who supported their efforts. You gave us all something to be thankful for! Thank you! Bob Small, Post Falls
Answer to the Syrian Refugee Crisis If the counter-demonstrations taking place during the recent Holiday Parade in Boise are any indication, the refugee resettlement program both here in Idaho and nationally has been cast as a moral, socio-political conflict between “compassion” and “fear.” This, of course, is nonsense. Those who oppose a “full-steam ahead” approach to resettling Syrian refugees in Idaho and elsewhere in America would hardly make the opposition public knowledge if they were fearful; those who aim to project this image onto opponents ignore the inconvenient truth that opposing anything to do with Islam in hat part of the world these refugees are fleeing can, and does, cost people their lives. We Americans are a compassionate people. Indeed, we have a long history as such and we must conte to always be so. We are a nation of immigrants and refugees whose abundant blessings and contributions to the world have been possible largely because of this very foundation. We are who we are as nation, a people, and as a culture because of our immigrant genes; we all have a little Ellis Island inside us, yet we cannot be a foolish people regardless of how motivated by compassion we may be. The Islamic culture propagated through terrorist jihad across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia at this time in history threatens all of Western Civilization. The proponents of this “culture” are indeed unified in their desire and uncompromising in their commitment to bring about the total and complete annihilation of Western through, culture, ideals, values, beliefs, freedoms, principles, and law. We do not well serve our country, our ancestors, ourselves, or our progeny to bury our collective head in the sands of denial, or wage a divisive ideological war with one another while out self-sworn enemies grow stronger in their ability to wage jihad against America and the West. Individual terrorists and terrorist organizations have been abundantly and repeatedly clear: They who perpetuate these acts of bloodthirsty cowardice on the battlefields and streets of every continent virulently hate and despise the non-Muslim world solely for the reason that we are not like them. The debate over resettling refugees from these nightmarish regions unfortunately boils down to one heart-wrenching either/or choice we as a nation must decide: Either we err on the side of not providing safe sanctuary within our borders to a terrified and desperate people yearning for peace and security, or we err on the side of welcoming onto these shores Islamic terrorists who, collectively and individually, have sworn to destroy us by any means possible. Our vigilance must not focus solely on the current wave of refugees from Syria. It is a cruel reality, regardless of our compassion for those seeking a better life in this country, that we have no choice but to very carefully screen, restrict, and monitor anyone from a predominantly Islamic nation seeking entry into the U.S., or who is already here, as a refugee, immigrant, tourist, or on a visa of any type. We can no longer accept the excuses of a federal government unwilling to secure the vulnerable borders of our nation, and we must not stand helplessly mute as this administration ignores the will of more than 30 state governors and over 50-percent of American citizens calling for a re-examination of the proposed resettlement of tens of thousands of un-vetted refugees from nations hostile to our own. Now is the hour that demands the very best each of us had to offer in the defense and preservation of our American identity, our Western culture and values, our freedom and that of future generations. To hesitate or fail in this duty is not an option. David Scott, a resident of Boise and a member of the Treasure Valley Chapter of Act for America
DID YOU KNOW? On this day 20 years ago the unmanned Galileo spacecraft arrived on Jupiter on its mission to study the planet and its moons.
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PERSPECTIVES
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Coffee that warms your hands and your heart Timothy Gant Staff Writer
The Caffeinated Cardinal opens up at seven in the morning, every weekday, without fail. From the start students eagerly flow in to get their caffeine fix for the day. Every day the specials vary, but it doesn’t matter because you can’t beat a twenty ounce latte for $3.50. Whether you need a coffee or any other drink, stopping by the homey Caffeinated Cardinal will cover all of your needs. Their soups of the day always factors into the delicious category, and disappear quite quickly on cold days. The sandwiches and muffins; homemade every day leave nothing to be desired, especially the egg salad sandwiches. And of course the coffee can’t be beat; seeing as they brew Café Doma coffee. No coffee shops specifically for nerds, or hipsters, or any other group exist on NIC’s campus. Regardless of your social status on campus, whether you be jock, nerd, or campus god, the Caffeinated Cardinal is the go-to coffee shop - everybody comes to the Caffeinated Cardinal, making it a diverse melting pot of students and staff. One of the best features of the Café is Shing. For those who don’t ever stop by the Café; Shing works as the main employee of the Caffeinated Cardinal. If you go there regularly she will easily remember your preferred drink and your name. Shing makes you feel at home even though your home may be located hundreds of miles away. If you’re having a bad day, that would most definitely change after running into her. You can’t leave without a smile on your face. Regardless of how the business of the café or her day proceeds, she will
Remember the beginning of the semester when the Caffienated Cardinal had special deals? The Day of Welcome isn’t the only time you can score a deal, the cafe offers specials on drinks evey week. Thomas Hansen/Sentinel
always find the time to say “hi” to you. Even the regular customers carry about their business in nice way and often stop for a quick chat. They begin by asking you how your day is going or just chat up a conversation with you of something you have in common. Monday, Wednesday and Friday bear the bulk of the business of the week, the majority of students coming through at the top of each hour. Once the rush ends, the occasional stragglers wander in and out of the café leaving the few people that don’t have class to do their homework in peace. The traffic usually peaks at noon, that time of day when next to no classes are in session. Another two staples of the café appear at noon; the home-made soups and sandwiches.
Shing makes both the sandwiches and the soups. The soups vary on a day to day basis. One day the soup is creamy potato the next day it is creamy broccoli. Regardless of the soup, the satisfied customers rate it all about the same; six stars out of five, three thumbs up, a 120%. Not many people actually know about the Caffeinated Cardinal since it inhabits the corner of a student union building on a small community college campus. But for those who do know about it, it parallels their other favorite coffee stops like Jitterz coffee shop and The Dutch Bros. Whether one longs for the comfort of a warm bowl of soup, a delectable egg salad sandwich or an unbeatable
latte the Caffeinated Cardinal makes the list of the places to go. If you haven’t stopped by once in the seven weeks of school so far then you should definitely stop by the Café, sitting quietly in the corner of the Student Union Building. With prices ranging from $1 for just a cup of black coffee to $4.50 for a 20 ounce blueberry smoothie, the prices just can’t be beat at any coffee shop nearby. If you want to do math or type an English paper on why the Caffeinated Cardinal is such a great place, you can do that too. Just pull up a chair, pull out your laptop, get a coffee and start typing. Soon between the melodic tunes of Pandora and the caffeinated buzz of coffee you will be blowing through your homework in no time.
Surviving College 101 Finals Edition
Abigail Valentine Staff Writer
yourself at the end of the studying day with things you enjoy doing. 5. When the day arrives, go prepared. Do you have a pencil and at least one spare? An eraser? A calculator if you need one? A few snacks and a water bottle? You can also check out the Finals Survival Kits offered in the SUB from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. from Dec. 14 through 16. And at last, when you have set down your pencil, take a deep breath and embrace the feeling of nothingness. You survived.
Photo illustration by Rachel Anderson.
The final exam approacheth with fell step of doom. But this semester there’s no need to stress too much. With these tips, you’ll be ready to take your punches. 1. Make a schedule for study. Try not to do all your studying at once – spread it out over a bit of time. Spend time each day reviewing your knowledge. Organize your work in order of priority and follow through on your goals – do what you need to do. 2. Break down the study for each course into its constituent parts. For example, if it
will be a cumulative test covering 10 chapters, divide the whole book into manageable sections. Reread your materials and review previous tests. Answer some questions out of the textbook. Figure out what you know and don’t know, and learn what you don’t know. 3. Don’t study through when you should be sleeping. Put simply, sleep is vital for physical and mental health. 4. Manage your anxiety. No test is more stressful than the final. These tests are where students pass or fail many courses, so some healthy stress is normal and even beneficial. But too much stress is debilitating. Listen to calming music. Get some exercise. Reward
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the sentinel | 8
Take a walk through recent holiday performances and festivities at NIC
NIC’s Schuler Performing Arts Center hosted the Nutcracker ballet performed by local dance students and professional dancers with Eugene Ballet Company. Eugene Ballet Company tours all across the Northwest, packing and unpacking equipment, props and costumes to bring the traditional performance to families and fans. Every year the ballet uses new and creative elements, such as this year the puppet (right) had a slew of children dancers come out from under her skirt dressed as bon-bons. Local dancers have practiced since late summer to have the opportunity to dance along side professional dancers from the Eugene Ballet Company. All pictures by Thomas Hansen/The Sentinel
NIC’s Cardinal Chamber Orchestra performed various pieces of music from around the world on November 22, at First Presbyterian Church in Coeur d’Alene. Conductor Gerard Mathes enthusiastically introduced traditional hispanic or Hungarian selections with a story, sometimes translating words or explaining the original composer’s intentions. Selections included lively Mariachi music, violin duets/solos, a dance and a tango song. A few of the songs even included a vocal solo from Bonnie Throckmorton. Elaine Fanning/The Sentinel
NIC hosted its annual “Gathering of the Bands” where students come together from middle and high schools across North Idaho and Eastern Washington to perform and learn together instead of competing. Students performed christmas pieces, including a lively and impressive shortly-rehearsed piece from “The Polar Express.” A rhythm ensemble from Lake City High School called “Stomp” also performed using varying sizes of drums and unconventional items to bang out a catchy beat. This year’s gathering had to be split into two nights of performance, on Novemer 18 and 19, because of the growth in numbers of local bands. Last to perform was the NIC Wind Symphony who mixed things up by performing several pieces from “Star Wars” to continue feeding the hype for the most recent addition coming to theaters this holiday season. Photo courtesy of nic.edu
Features tips? Story idea? Contact Annie Stonebreaker 208-769-3388
ajstonebreaker2@students.nic.edu
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MONDAY, DEC 7, 2015
Artist spotlight: Talent creates a unique home in the community Rachel Anderson Managing Editor
me,” Cosgrove said. “An ar tist looks at their sur roundings to reflect that in their ar twork. I love to play with the human figure and human shapes. I use abstract thinking to inspire me.” Cosgrove dabbles in sculpture, painting and drawing - focusing on the
physical and the sur real. She said that getting involved in the ar ts at school is really helping her hone her craft and find a place for networking and exposure. She also said that the ar t depar tment works as a pipeline between education and lear ning how to become an
munity,” Paige Leslee, 26, Photography, CDA, said. “I think it’s fantastic that ar tists acr oss multiple mePounds of glitter, hundiums (fine ar t, graphic dedreds of lights, boxes of sign, photography, etc) can handmade ar t, a thrift-store come together and collabtree, $1500, and a little faith. orate on multiple pr ojects; That’s what it took to win such as designing a tr ee the NIC Aspiring Ar tists for the upcoming Kootenai Club “Spirit of the Festival” Medical Center’s Fesaward last weekend at tival of T r ees auction the Kootenai Medical and gala. Personally, Center’s Festival of I hope to become inTrees in the CDA Respir ed by the many sor t. fr esh perspectives Club President Shiree of fellow ar tists and Cosgrove led her small peers while having team of twelve into victhe oppor tunity to tor y and even into exisgive back to the comtence. munity.” “Once I lear ned that Cosgr ove and NIC had never of fered a the Aspiring Ar tists club for ar tists before, club said they hope that shocked me,” Costo accomplish a lot grove, 26, Fine Ar ts, Taover the course of coma, Washington, said. this year - specifical“I star ted this club so ly hoping to host a that anyone can come. booth at the annual We’re open to all kinds summer festival, Ar t of designers because on the Gr een. school is a great place to “Ever ything is cr elear n.” ation,” Cosgr ove said. Although the club “Never stop knocking was only recently inducton doors.” ed, they have been ver y The Aspiring Ar tist active on campus; hostClub meets ever y Friing workshops, hosting day at 1 p.m. in the guest speakers and even Cougar Gulch Room holding seminars on downstairs in the how to build a por tfolio SUB. as an ar tist. For more infor maLike the other club tion about the club members, ar t is a huge or about her ar twork, par t of Cosgrove’s life contact sdcosgrove@ - she even gets her two students.nic.edu or young sons involved in her ar t projects. A glimpse into the workspace of an artist that plays with forms and shapes. Photo Courtsey of Shiree Cosgrove check out her website at sdcosgrove.com. “My children inspire
“ I’m prepared. It’s not a very stressful time. We started buying gifts at the beginning of the year.” Matt Lewis, comp. sci., 25
active ar tist, and that the ar t faculty on campus have been helpful r esour ces both for her own personal por tfolio and for the club. “My r easons and hopes for joining the Aspiring Ar tists club have to do with a desir e to be actively involved with the com-
“I’m pretty prepared, excited mostly, I’ve been saving up to buy gifts. I enjoy the holidays alot. ” Alexus Delacruz, pre-vet, 18
“ Not really prepared... I’m not ready for the semester to be over yet” Zai Lowe, forestry, 18 “Oh God- I’m about as prepared as anyone in college , but I purchased all my presents on Black Friday. ” Steve V. Horn, biology, 36 “I haven’t started the holidays yet, i’m focusing on the finals.” Mariah Chavez, nursing, 37 “ I haven’t done my shopping, but i’ve decorated and I enjoy the holidays. ” Anni Boudro, AS, 16
“ I’ve bought half the gifts I still need to buy, and most of the decorations are up. ” Asa Gray, gen. study, 19
Sports
Sports tip? Story idea? Contact Riley Hadeen
208-769-3388 rhadeen@students.nic.edu
PAGE 9
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Commentary
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MONDAY, DEC. 7, 2015
Cardinals keep it classy
Time to say game over? Annual home tournament brings another year of NIC victories Riley Hadeen/Gabe Theander Sports Writers
Timothy Gant Sports Writer Football and basketball season are in full swing, and with another year come new faces and old favorites. But how many of the old favorites have the first verse of Dan Bern’s song “Cy Young” on their mind: “When Willie Mays was old and tired he was just another player .” There is no doubt that there is an age at which one is too old for professional sports, but the question is - how old is too old? There are several reasons an individual would stop playing sports. Either he is obsolete, not as skilled or just not fit for the physical demands anymore. A great example of all three of these issues is Brett Favre. He played until 2010, retiring at age 41. For a professional football player that is really old. Toward the end of his career though, things started going downhill for him. The Green Bay Packers found a better, younger quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, so Favre moved on to the Minnesota Vikings. He had a decent season with the Vikings, managing to get to the playoffs but in the end the team lost to the Saints by a field goal in overtime, all due to one late interception from Favre, bringing about his retirement. Retiring at 41 is a rarity though. Most people are done playing by 30 in the NFL and 36 in the NBA. Now you may ask “why the age gap?” That has to do with the sport they are participating in. The NBA is a less physical game; nobody’s is getting body checked or dive tackled in basketball, at least not legally. Football players are constantly smashing into each other, which leads to more injuries; injuries that could take a player out for the season, or end their career. There is talk going around that Marshawn Lynch of the Seattle Seahawks may retire. He has been out most of the season with a hamstring injury and he may not come back next year. Thomas Rawls has replaced Marshawn Lynch, and he is good. So even though Marshawn Lynch is only out for the season his career could be over because of his replacement. Peyton Manning’s career is also close to over. He’s 39 years old and he is following the path of Favre. He’s changed teams because Andrew Luck replaced him at the Indianapolis Colts, and it’s happening all over again. Brock Osweiler has now replaced Peyton Manning. Manning’s right arm is shot and his replacement is good, the writings on the wall. For Basketball things are slightly different. Since there are less serious injuries it’s all about the deterioration of the skill and interest. Back in his prime Kobe Bryant lead the Lakers to several Championships, five in total. Recently though, things have been going downhill for the Lakers. Currently they are at the bottom of their conference at only three wins and 16 losses. Kobe’s recent seasons haven’t been too good to him. In his second season with the Lakers in 1997-98 he scored 1,220 points total while in his last three seasons total he has only scored 1,131 points. Kobe Bryant has now been playing for the Lakers for 19 years and he is not in his prime anymore. He is 37 years old and ready to retire after this season. Depending on the sport, your favorite sports star’s times may be coming to an end. Essentially if a player is over 35 then they are probably too old to be playing and it’s only a matter of time until the younger fresher faces replace them.
Timothy Gant is a writer for The Sentinel. His opinions are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Sentinel. Respond to this column online at nicsentinel.com
high,” said NIC sophomore Kyle Guice. “We just want to keep getting better each game It is beginning to look like and we’re undefeated right Cardinal victories will be a tradinow and we just want to keep it tion at the annual Bigfoot-Cardigoing.” nal Classic tournament. The Cardinals finished of f The team has now gone on the tournament with a nailbiter to three-peat their victor y at the 108-100 victor y against Everett local tournament this weekend, Community College. facing several schools throughout The whole team managed to the northwest region. gain notice at various points in The Cardinals kicked off the the tournament, with Rodas and tournament against Whatcom sophomore Brayon Blake putCommunity College where they ting up their usual double digit began a bit slow compared to pre- numbers, alongside red-shir t vious play this year, only putting freshman Sam Dowd banking up 27 points in the first half. several points throughout and The team got into their stride freshman Haywood Ir win also for the second half though, finishclocking in plenty of play time ing 70-57 for the win. and some notable stats. “The game was pretty good,” “It was great for us to see said NIC sophomore Braiain some other guys step up and Angola-Rodas. “We played good hit some shots and play some defense, but we couldn’t shoot big minutes for us,” head coach the ball.” Corey Symons said. The team went on the next The tournament took place night to dominate the game on both Spokane Community against Big Bend Community College and Rolly William’s College, earning a 121-92 viccour ts, dividing the bracket tor y against the Oregon team. Red shirt freshman Sam Dowd sets up the Cardinal offense “The confidence is up pretty until the final championship against Big Bend Community College. Lily Anderson/Sentinel game on Sunday afternoon in the Christianson Gymnasium. Last year the Cardinals were in Spokane for the tournament, so the team was happy to be playing some home ball for a change. “This year we’re playing on our home cour t so it’s a lot better,” said Guice. The team has been on a roll this year, going undefeated for an 11-0 streak so far this season, and Symons is looking to keep things on the right track going into the upcoming conference games. “The season’s going great and we’re of f to a good star t, but we have a lot of work to do to get better,” said Symons. “Our team motto is ‘continuous improvement’, so we just want to make sure we take care of business ever y night. One game at a time.” The first conference tip-of f will begin this weekend against NIC rivals College of Southern Idaho, a matchup that may not be seen again in future seasons, as NIC basketball will be switching to the Nor thwest Athletic Conference next season from the current Scenic Freshman Haywood Irwin prepares to drive during the championship game against Everett CC. HayWest Athletic Conference. wood was awarded Most Valuable Player overall for the tournament. Lily Anderson/Sentinel
Spotlight: Braian Angola-Rodas Riley Hadeen Sports Editor He’s averaging 25 points a game, he has logged 23 steals, he has a 45 percent average on the three-point line and conference play hasn’t even started yet. NIC guard Braian AngolaRodas is looking to have quite the season this year for the Cardinal basketball team. Born and raised in Columbia before migrating his way to the north, Rodas’s talent comes from a long histor y of playing the game. “I started playing basketball when I was nine or ten years old,” Rodas said. “My parents played and they showed me how to play.” Rodas is now in his sophomore season at NIC, and so far is making his last run in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) one that’s sure to be full of some exciting play from him, as his performances haven’t seemed to show any signs of slowing down thus far in the season. Rodas was recently acknowledged by the NJCAA as the athlete of the week after the team’s stellar performance at a tournament in Arizona last month. “It felt great to get the player of the week,” Rodas said. “It felt
like my hard work paid off.” Rodas’ hard work is only just beginning though, as he says that he is hoping to get a bit stronger this year and work on his ball handling over the course of the season. The overall team effort is ever evident in the Cardinal’s play and Rodas did not hesitate attributing his success this year to the team as a whole. “The coaches did a great job of recruiting this year,” Rodas said. “Chemistr y is number one, and the chemistr y with the team is great.” Rolly Williams Court won’t be the only one that we will see Rodas playing on either if things go the way he hopes. “First I want to go Division I and then I definitely want to play pro,” Rodas said. Rodas is currently completing his general studies, but plans to move into international business once he moves on to a four-year institution. Rodas came to Coeur d’Alene last year after playing ball for a bit in Las Vegas and he seems to have found some solace in our city by the lake. “I love Coeur d’Alene and I love the people,” Rodas said. “It’s a good town.”
Braian Angola-Rodas getting in on Kurtis Blow’s favorite sport. Rodas is currently ranked 23rd in the NJCAA. Lily Anderson/Sentinel
DID YOU KNOW? Though the nation hasn’t competed in a Winter Olympics since 1988, the Soviet Union still holds the third most gold medals.
SPORTS
10 | The sentinel
www.nicsentinel.com
Get outside this winter with Outdoor Pursuits “The rewards will be great,” promises club director Gabe Theander Sports Writer As things in the backcountr y are getting colder and colder, things in NIC’s Outdoor Pursuits Center are just heating up. It’s that time of year again. There is a chill in the air and snow is on its way. For five months or more, the outdoors will be transformed into a whole dif ferent type of playground. But it is only available to those who would brave the elements, and in turn, reap the awards. “I really like the sense of solitude of being in the woods in winter,” said Terr y Brinton, the assistant coordinator of NIC’s Outdoor Pursuits center (OP). “Snow has a way of dampening sound, and there’s a peace and solitude to it that’s just amazing.” Brinton, 34, and his team of interns, staf f, and work-study students, have been hard at work prepping for the season. Put away are the kayaks and paddle boards, and out has come the winter gear, in need of waxing and dusting of f. The work is all for a great cause though, because Brinton’s passion is for the outdoors, and considering he has been on skies since he was two, he has a lot to share. OP offers multiple winter spor ts programs, ranging in length from one to five days, and Brinton says they are for anyone. “Pretty much ever ything we do is designed for first timers. I firmly believe that anybody can get outside and enjoy the winter or winter spor ts, whether it be snowshoeing on a groomed trail, or climbing to the top of a peak in the Wallowa’s.” Brinton and the coordinator Jacob Rothrock both will be leading trips and teaching courses this year, the first of
(left to right) Former student Peter Morone, Outdoor Pursuits director Terry Brinton, and former director Jon Totten approach the summit of “The Hourglass” in the Wallowa backcountry. Brinton urges students to join him for winter adventures. Courtesy photo/Outdoor Pursuits
which is an Avalanche Awareness Clinic on December 12th. Also offered will be the Intro to Cross Countr y Skiing, Intro to Snow Shoe Travel, and, brand new this year, Intro to Backcountr y Skiing classes. “If you live in North Idaho, and you don’t get outside in the winter, then you’ll only be outside a ver y
short percentage of the whole year,” said Brinton, laughing. “And you’re really missing out on some amazing recreational opportunities that we have here in the winter.” “I think the physical health benefits of being active as well as the social aspects of snowboarding or skiing is why I would recommend it,” said Garrett Tyre,
an NIC student. “My favorite part is enjoying the outdoors with friends and family as well as the memories which are made.” This year, the folks at OP are encouraging students to get out there and make some memories of their own, and they are readily available for students who want to do so. Not only through classes, but also by offering a pleth-
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ora of rental winter gear at half of the going price. “Fish always taste better when you catch them yourself, and the same goes for skiing,” said Brinton. “When you put forth the effort to walk up a mountain, and stand at the top of that run and look at that blank surface of snow with not a single track on it, the rewards will be great.”
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GAMES
the sentinel | 11
“
”
?”
. .
”
“
Answers from last week’s puzzle. Across: North Carolina, freckles, Detroit Lions, Abe Lincoln, Felix the Cat, Mexico, Three. Down: wishbone, Franklin Roosevelt, Puritans, forks, Superman, Massasott, Susan White, Demeter, Tr yptophan, four.
Horoscopes forthe Holidays
Having a blue Christmas? Haven’t found someone to eat chesnuts by the open fire with? Fear not! Lift your spirits by reading this week’s fortune. Managing editor and full-time psychic Rachel Anderson traded her wizard robe for a red Santa suit and is out of the office. But don’t worry - she found a very wise elf named Jeff Barad from the photography staff to take over while she’s out delivering the Sentinel on her flying reindeer sleigh. ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20 Beware, fellow Aries! The end is not upon you, but it may seem like it. Keep calm and think logically. TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 21 There’s a reason they named a Pokémon after you. Use that strong will of yours to not give in to temptation.
GEMINI MAY 22 - JUNE 21 You’re walking a fine line. There are pros and cons to each side, so make a decision on which will be better for you. Choose wisely. CANCER JUNE 22 - JULY 22 There’s someone you haven’t talked to in a while. Try to reconnect with them. They’ll probably appreciate it.
Upcoming Local Events Tuesday - 02/10
LEO JULY 23 -AUGUST 21 There may or may not be someone who is secretly admiring you. Ask, and you will receive a truthful answer. VIRGO AUG 22 - SEP 23 You’ve been holding back on something or someone. It’s best to just be honest, even if it hurts you or someone else. LIBRA SEP 24 - OCTOBER 23 Be skeptical, but learn to listen. If you need clarification, ask. If your suspicions are correct, then you may freak out.
‘Coffee Talks’ in the SUB in the Driftwood Bay room. Noon - 1pm
SCORPIO OCT 24 - NOV 22 Your hiss has been worse than your sting recently. It’s time to to walk the talk.
“Jazz is Dead” by Bradd Skubinna in the Boswell Hall Corner Gallery. 10am-4pm
SAGITTARIUS NOV 23 - DEC 22 There are no ordinary moments. You’re on your way to becoming a peaceful warrior. Find your Socrates and let him help you.
• Carriage rides downtown CDA on Dec. 5, 12, and 19
Monday - 02/16 • Phantogram at the Knitting Factory on Dec. 9 • Skating at Riverfont Park Ice Palace
• Mythbusters at the INB Performing Arts Center on Dec. 11
Wednesday - 02/18
LCSC day in the SUB. 9:30 a.m - 12:30
•Christmas Tree Fest at the Davenport through Dec. 13
p.m • LEGO Contest at the Northwest Museum on Dec. 20
Saturday - 02/21
Continuing Gourd Art in the SUB. 10 a.m.
• “White Christmas” at the Spokane Civic Theatre through Dec. • New Year’s Eve Resort Fireworks Show on Dec. 31
CAPRICORN DEC 23 - JAN 20 Now is the time to stand up for yourself. You know what I’m talking about. Those guys who keep bothering you are ready to be dealt with. AQUARIUS JAN 21 - FEB 19 In this cold, you’ll want to make sure you stay warm, but also to just keep swimming, just keep swimming… PISCES FEB 20- MARCH 20 In the last few weeks of this year, you’ll want to make sure that you make good on any recent promises. After New Years, you can go wild if you like.
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(AFTER) LIFE GALLERYOME
the sentinel | 12
PAST COMES TO LIFE
Minimalism and family fill the walls of the Corner Gallery in Rani Robison’s vintage photography exhibit. “I would like the exhibition to spark feelings of nostalgia for their own families and loved ones,” Robison said. Lily Anderson/Sentinel
Michelle Mills Staff Writer This may be your only chance to get a glimpse of the (After) Life and you don’t even have to die first to see it. Photographer Rani Robison, MFA, was inspired to create the (After) Life exhibition from a book called Camera Lucida by Roland Barthe. In both the book and her exhibit, images of family from the past are the content. Her work takes on an inception-like quality as viewers take a step back in time and visit the memories of her family through photography. “I was drawn to working with these images in an artistic way, hoping to learn more about my mother, her family, and my grandfather as a photographer,” said Robison. “I want to celebrate an era of photography that has long since passed [in the exhibit].” The exhibit features vintage-looking photographs that came from Robison’s personal family photo albums, causing viewers to feel as though they took a step back in time. She took her own pictures of the images and then edited them. Images range from a staggered trio of the same image of children in a roller coaster staggered up the wall entitled Ascension to a wall full of smaller images displaying Robison’s mother at differing stages of life. With the images of her mother, Robison includes a quote from the book Camera Lucida, “I studied the little girl and at last rediscovered my mother. The distinctness of her face, the naive attitude of her hands… and finally the expression, which distinguished her…” While Robison’s exhibit peacefully resides within Boswell Hall on NIC campus, Robison herself currently lives out of state. However, she still has ties with Idaho. Besides her family originally being from Twin Falls, she went to the University of Oregon Art Department with current North Idaho College photography instructor, Jessica Raetzke. “Rani was a graduate student, accepted the year before I arrived, at the University of Oregon Art Department. We shared a studio space together for the year we overlapped. I consider her a good friend,” said Raetzke. “Rani’s work has that thing that makes photographically based conceptual artwork accessible and universally understood. We all can relate to some portion of the exhibition. We all have families and histories. In that way, she engages viewers who might not necessarily always respond positively to conceptual art. That can be a ver y difficult thing to do.” The Sentinel recently had the opportunity to discuss the (After) Life exhibit with Robison, the mastermind, herself.
Photos by Rani Robinson. Page design by Lily Anderson.
What inspired you to turn your family’s photographs into a thoughtfully designed exhibition? After my grandparents passed away, family members gathered the images but were not able to really view them due to not having a slide projector. For years, they sat in my mother’sbasement untouched. As a photographer myself, I wanted to explore these images taken bymy grandfather, as well as find a way to work with them artistically.
Did you find a truer sense of self as you sorted through your family’s photography? If so, how? Not so much of myself, but it was a ver y moving experience to sort through the images and discover more about my mother and grandparents before I was born. I felt like I was able to get to know a part of them that I didn’t know personally.
What were your intentions is using blur in your images? These images are really the only artifacts that remain after my grandparents passed away. Images and memor y are so intertwined, and as you know, memories fade over time. I wanted to represent the blurring of memor y visually by blurring the images themselves.
Which is your favorite part of the exhibition? And why? I enjoyed taking the images of my mother through a loupe. I wanted to show photographically what I was seeing each time I looked at a slide on the lightbox. It was also interesting to see my mother and the different characteristics of her smile, gaze, and posture in each image.
How would you like your exhibition to af fect its viewers? I think images - particularly family images - are universal. They carr y with them a sense of nostalgia for the past. I personally take so many images of my own children, desperately tr ying to hold on to those little moments that will never happen again. For others, I would like the exhibition to spark feelings of nostalgia for their own families and loved ones.