1.21.2015

rawr

1.22.16 Vol. 6 No. 17

page 5

Spring into action

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Wine and wisdom page 10

Dogs days Lyndsie Kiebert | Rawr

horoscopes The Argonaut

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Your work in

Rawr illustration photography mixed media paintings sculptures short fiction poetry non-fiction Rawr is an alternative weekly publication covering art, culture, campus life and entertainment.

We are accepting all forms of art and creativity to be featured inside the publication or on the cover.

Email: arg-arts@uidaho. edu

Aquarius 1/20-2/18 You may still be wondering if you actually turned in that last bit of homework before break … The stars say go back to blissfully napping and worry about it later.

Pisces 2/19-3/20

become a groupie.

Before investing in this semester’s textbooks, it is time to get rid of last semester’s. So, get online and start selling.

Cancer 6/22-7/22

Aries 3/21-4/19 Your heating will soon shut down because of the intense cold weather. Be prepared and light up all of last year’s useless lecture notes for a makeshift fire.

Taurus 4/20-5/20 Now that the Holidays are over, your obsession with Christmas music must come to an end. Find a Gemini friend, and they will happily tell you about their recent obsession with the Biebs.

Gemini 5/21-6/21

Your dreams over the next few nights may be about Justin Bieber. Just remember, young Gemini, this does not mean that you should quit school and

During your “Game of Thrones” binge watching session, the first week of classes has already come and gone — it might be time to go outside and take in some fresh air.

Leo 7/23-8/22 The stars and planets have aligned to bring you good luck, and the “free” car you signed up for in the mall.

Virgo 8/23-9/22 You might be wondering why your luggage is still lost in the airport. Leo has been given all of this week’s luck, so you can take that up with them.

Libra 9/23-10/22 It is great that you have cracked open your laptop to get a headstart on your

1.22.16

Hailey Stewart | Rawr

new semester studies. But, the stars would like to remind you that cat memes in no way correlate with your 400 level Psych class.

Scorpio 10/23-11/21 You will be happy to find out that your mom has scheduled all of your yearly medical appointments before school gets too busy. Go you.

Sagittarius 11/22-12/21 You may be worrying about the food you did not take out of your mini fridge before break. Don’t worry — it will crawl out on its own eventually.

Capricorn 12/22-1/19 With all the holiday cards and wedding invites you have received this winter, you may be feeling very adult lately.

Appreciate the feeling while it lasts.

I won’t write you a love song There’s something uniquely cathartic about sad music. When times get hard, melancholic melodies are there for you. When life is going great, sad songs provide an opportunity to appreciate that good fortune. This applies to relationships too. Whether you’re longterm and committed, in an open relationship or single, sometimes a good anti-love song is just what you need.

catchy, soothing and relatable on every level.

ics, this folk rock band from North Carolina knows how to Rawr deliver the perfect melancholic “Don’t” — Ed Sheeran melody. The Avett Brothers For more Rawr content, visit Speaking of Ed Sheeran, turn Romantic conventions on uiargonaut.com the well-known artist turns their head by denouncing the his own broken love blooming beauty of warmer story into a fast-paced seasons, explaining that not hit single. The song was written even the fair weather or flowers of about Sheeran’s singer-songwriter spring can alleviate a broken heart. ex-girlfriend, Ellie Goulding. While “When I was Your Man” — Bruno certain parts of the situation, like “Love Yourself” — Justin the lovers both being famous muMars sicians, aren’t relatable, Sheeran Bieber While this might seem like just anCorrin Bond captures the highs and lows of other song where some soulful singer is Even if you’re still fuming loving someone and what abrupt Rawr crooning about a lost love, Bruno Mars with residual teenybopper hatred heart break feels like with a more spends less time wallowing and more for Justin Bieber, this is one song up-beat tune. time apologizing. Through his delicate that shouldn’t be dismissed because of its melody and catchy lyrics, the eclectic artist’s track record. The song, which was “Winter in My Heart” — The Avett performer expresses the feelings of repenned by English musician Ed Sheeran, Brothers gret that can result from a relationship explores the process and frustrations of With lilting vocals and longing lyrgone wrong. trying to move on from a past love. It’s

“Good Life” — Francis Dunnery Through a soft melody and touching lyrics, this English musician takes a less conventional anti-love song approach.

Instead of coming out of a relationship with anger or resentment, Francis Dunnery sings about wanting the best for a former love. The song also revolves around a painful truth — that sometimes, regardless of how great both individuals are, relationships just don’t work out.

Corrin Bond can be reached at arg-arts@uidaho.edu or on twitter @CorrBond

Rawr

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Rawr Review

Dawn of disappointment Conceptually, ‘Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice’ isn’t worth the excitement

the problem yet? There’s no chance this Simply put, the filmmakers are throwRawr can be done in two hours. “The Avenging everything into this one movie. The For more Rawr ers” got all the backstory out of the way audience is going to be overloaded. I’m all Reviews, visit and then told a satisfying tale of these for crossovers, but from what I can see, Let me start by saying that I am not a fan of DC uirawrreviews.wordpress.com distant heroes coming together. “Dawn of this movie isn’t doing a crossover right.

Comics. I’ve always been a hardcore Marvel fan. DC Justice” is essentially trying to cram five “The Avengers” was so satisfying characters just don’t excite me the same way Marvel hemovies worth of comic book history into because you knew these characters roes do. I also wasn’t a fan of “Man of Steel,” the one film. beforehand, having seen all the movies that kickoff to the DC Cinematic Universe that got so Yet, no one doubts that this movie will be good. In covered their backstories. When you saw them many comic book fans drooling. fact, comic book fans around the world are convinced team up, it was a payoff. This film is introducSo, I am not looking forward to “Batman v. that this will be one of the greatest films of all time— ing all but three or four characters in their big, Superman: Dawn of Justice.” Or as I like to call despite the fact that comic book fans hated “Spiderepic smack down and that’s not how a story is it, “A Train Wreck Waiting to Happen.” Every Man 3” for introducing three villains in one movie. properly told. comic book fan on Earth is praising this movie, Hypocrisy at its finest.

For “Batman v. Superman” to work, it’s but I am convinced this will be one of the big- Bradley Burgess Rawr Maybe there’s something I’m missing, but “Batman going to have to introduce Batman to a new gest misfires of all time. Why? v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” looks like it’s going to audience, establish him and his moral code, Let’s look at the characters in the film: be one of the greatest failures of any comic book film There’s Bruce Wayne/Batman, his trusted butler Alfred, establish Wonder Woman and her abilities, introever. “Suicide Squad” looks good, though. duce Lex Luthor and make him a genuine threat, Lex Luthor, Wonder Woman, Doomsday, rumored Bradley Burgess continue the story from “Man of Steel,” have big accameos from Robin, Aquaman and Green Lantern, and can be reached at tion scenes with all characters fighting together, set an overly serious senator played by Holly Hunter. And arg-arts@uidaho.edu up for future films in the DC Universe — do you see that’s just the characters that are being introduced.

music notes

The hype is merited I’ve come to the unexpected realizaI first heard Twenty One Pilots durtion that I, an avid music lover and ing the spring of 2014 as a senior in collector, have a favorite band, and high school. “Car Radio” began playing that band is TOP. on my Spotify indie radio and Tyler JoWhile I’ve considered a few bands seph’s voice made me stop what I was my “favorite” over the years, doing. He sounded so tortured, what appeals to me most about but the music was the perfect TOP is that it can’t be categobalance of dark and light — comrized in a single genre. In a repletely impassioned. cent Rolling Stone interview, voI was drawn in from that calist Tyler Joseph — half of the moment, but my familiarity with duo also consisting of drummer the band’s overall works didn’t surpass its 2012 album, “Vessel,” Lyndsie Kiebert Josh Dun — said, “It is true that if you hear our music described, it until that fall when a few of my Rawr sounds unappealing.” newfound college friends asked As someone who has attempted to if I’d accompany them to Spokane for a describe the band’s style as indie pop/ TOP concert at the Knitting Factory. punk/alternative/rap/ukulele jams, I After a week of frantically listening couldn’t agree more. This band is bringto both full-length albums released at ing something different to the table, the time on a loop, I went with them, and it doesn’t stop at just style. and it was the best concert I’d ever Lyrically, Joseph is breaking down been to. It was so personal, so intimate barriers in terms of what Top 40 — describing the night wouldn’t do it listeners hear on the radio by singjustice. In the year and months since,

Music’s most eclectic duo has me everything but stressed out

ate people. All they’re doing is ing about heavier topics making music for the sake of — most notably, mental Rawr music, which today seems to illness. Coping with debe novel. pression and anxiety are For more Rawr While this column could recurring themes in TOP’s content, visit easily grow into a fandommusic, and even as its style uiargonaut.com esque rant about how people has morphed and the band need TOP in their lives, I has become more popular, will conclude with this: TOP is makthe messages behind the lyrics have ing a place for itself in the Top 40 not remained steadily meaningful. because it sold out, molded itself to As someone who has struggled with anyone’s expectations or even because anxiety at different points in my life, it fits — anyone would say there’s nothlyrics from not only songs like “Miing else on the radio quite like TOP. graine,” but nearly every other, have This band is making a place for itself spoken to me, and that is part of why in the mainstream because its music TOP’s newly gained stardom has made resonates with the people listening, and me so proud.

I am so excited to see what else Tyler Also, important to note: this band and Josh create as a result of all this made itself. Promoting themselves well-deserved support. door to door in their hometown of CoLyndsie Kiebert lumbus, Ohio, Joseph and Dun played can be reached at in the mall’s food court and built a arg-arts@uidaho.edu fan base from the ground up. These or on Twitter @lyndsie_kiebert guys are people — relatable, passion-

The Argonaut

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1.22.16

A Crumbs recipe Lemon poppy seed cake Ingredients

Directions

n Zest from 2 lemons n 1 cup sugar n 3 eggs n 1 teaspoon vanilla n 1/2 cup milk n 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar n Lemon juice of both lemons (about 4 tablespoons) n 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour n 1/4 teaspoon baking soda n 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder n 1/2 teaspoon salt n 1/2 cup butter n 1 tablespoon poppy seeds n 1 container cream cheese frosting

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit 2. Spray a 9 by 9 cake pan with non-stick spray and set aside 3. Zest lemons and mix zest with sugar in a large bowl. Once combined, stir in eggs and vanilla until smooth 4. In a separate bowl mix milk, vinegar and lemon juice and set aside

5. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt 6. Stir in wet and dry ingredients until combined and the result is a batter 7. Gently fold in the poppy seeds and melted butter then pour batter into sprayed pan and bake 25-35 minutes, or until toothpick comes out of the cake cleanly 8. Let cake cool and then

Lyndsie Kiebert can be reached at crumbs@uidaho.edu Lyndsie Kiebert | Crumbs

A Crumbs recipe Haystack cookies Ingredients n 1 12-ounce bag of butterscotch baking chips n 2 tablespoons smooth peanut butter n 1 5-ounce can of dry Chow Mein noodles

Directions 1. Pour butterscotch chips in microwavable bowl and microwave on high for 1 1/2 minutes or until chips are mostly melted 2. Stir chips and add peanut butter, microwaving for 30 seconds or until mixture is thoroughly melted and combined 3. Pour noodles in large mixing bowl and pour melted

ingredients on top, mixing until noodles are covered 4. Lay out a sheet of wax paper and spoon clumps of the chunky batter into small cookie-sized piles resembling haystacks 5. Let cool for 20 Lyndsie Kiebert can be reached at crumbs@uidaho.edu

Lyndsie Kiebert | Crumbs

Rawr

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Opinion

Spring into involvment Spring semester provides a number of chances for student involvement Although the majority of student involvement and recruitment events occur in the fall, Spring semester is also a great time to get involved. Whether you’re a new student who decided to limit involvement and focus on classes first semester or someone who didn’t enjoy the organizations they signed up for in the fall, the start of a new calendar year is as good a time as any to branch out and explore the many student organizations available on campus.

One of the most basic ways to get involved is to take a look at academic clubs.

The university offers a multitude of different academic clubs, like the American Society of Interior Designer’s Society, which allows design majors to gain professional experience, or the Society of Women Engineers, which allows women to feel empowered in Engineering in a majorly men’s field.

Joining an academic club can be as Alex Brizee simple as emailing your department Rawr or asking a professor within your major about involvement opportunities.

Another great way to get involved is to try out a community service or civic action organization, like Engineers without Borders or the Vandal Volunteers Club.

There are about a dozen community service and civic action clubs at UI that allow students to use their passions as a means of helping others, including Artists Striving to End Poverty, which allows young artist to learn how to use art to help the community.

For those who are interested in joining student organizations that are more community and identity based, there are a number of multicultural and faithbased organizations to choose from.

Embracing cultural diversity is a large part of the university, which is why the university has multiple clubs that are tailored to different cultures. These clubs also encourage members of different ethnicities to learn about other cultures, such as the Brazilian Student Club which allows for anyone that has an interest in Brazil culture.

Student organizations like the African Student Association, The Native American Student Association and the Chinese Students and Scholars Friendship Association also host a variety of events in which students can experience different Chinese and African cultures.

An additional community and identity-based club is the Gender and Sexuality Alliance, which strives to promote a positive and accepting environment for all students.

There are faith-based or spiritual clubs, like Campus Christian Center, Impact Campus Ministries and the

David Black | Rawr

Vandals Catholic Club for students who already belong the Vandal Call of Duty club, which allows fans of the to or are interested in exploring a certain faith. game to play it competitively against one another.

In addition to community or identity Whether you’re craving some recreation, based clubs, there are professional student looking to start practicing a new sport or Rawr organizations aimed to helping students interested in becoming more involved in network and gain professional experience student government, there are so many difFor more Rawr in their field of study. Organizations like ferent ways to get involved. Although joining content, visit the Pre-med club and Pre-law society are a uiargonaut.com a club or applying for a student organizagreat way for students interested in medition position might seem intimidating half cine or law to prepare themselves for their way through the school year, many student professional lives after college. organizations on campus are always looking for new It’s never a bad idea to join a recreational organiza- members. It’s never too late to get started. tion, like the Fencing or Vandal Boxing Club, either.

Alex Brizee Although you may want professional experience in can be reached at clubs, sometimes a little fun is needed. There are more arg-arts@uidaho.edu or Twitter at @alex_brizee than a dozen recreational university clubs, including

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The Argonaut

1.22.16

Events

Up in the air, on the stage MFA student-produced play, “Tightrope” explores the complexity of family traditions Corrin Bond Rawr From a fascination with one of the most dangerous performance professionals in the world and the tradition in which it’s steeped, Megan Fevurly, University of Idaho MFA playwriting candidate and distance learning student, first began crafting the Theatre Department’s upcoming production, ‘Tightrope.’

The Colorado native said she developed the play, which centers around a young professional tightrope walker, or a funambulist, as an assignment for her graduate program in Spring of 2015.

“She is attempting to do this really dangerous walk that her father actually attempted and even died attempting,” Fevurly said. “Or so she thinks, because she’s starting to have these health issues that are making it really hard to keep her focus when she’s on the tightrope.”

Although the play was created as an assignment Fevurly completed a year ago, she said the inspiration for the play came years prior, after she heard the story of a professional funambulist whose family had a history of the craft.

“I heard this story of a real-life tightrope walker and this big walk he was attempting that was super dangerous,” she said. “But his family goes back generations upon generations of tightrope walking and acrobatics and the danger didn’t mean anything to him.”

Fevurly said after hearing the story, she wanted to explore both the danger and the deeply rooted traditions that come with a performance profession like tightrope walking.

“I wanted to examine someone who deals with an extreme sport like that,” Fevurly said. “But it’s not just because they’re extreme, it’s because it’s a legacy.”

Of the many challenges that come from producing a play, Fevurly said one of the trickiest parts so far has been experimenting with how to perform tightroping walking live on a stage.

“Given it’s a university production and fairly low budget, the ways the director and cast and set crew want to convey the tightrope walking is ingenious, I think,” Fevurly said. “There will be a lot of suspension of disbelief and some really cool lighting tricks and set pieces.”

Shea King, a UI MFA directing candidate and “Tightrope” director, said while the lighting and logistics of making a tightrope performance come to life on stage posed a challenge, the real difficulty came with infusing emotion into such a dangerous performance.

From professional performances to teaching young children how to tightrope on a learning line, there are varying degrees of tightroping through the play,

David Lenz rehearses his role as the main character’s grandfather in the play “Tightrope.”

Alex Brizee | Rawr

storytelling occurring at once within the play. and King said the goal of the cast was to emotionally distinguish these situations from one another.

“There are so many things about this play I am so “It was important to me that when we in love with,” King said. “I feel particularly told this story, we had different worlds so close to the characters in both their Rawr built into the show,” King said. “So when positive and negative attributes and that’s they were playing on the kiddie line, it so exciting.”

For more Rawr was totally different emotionally than content, visit “Tightrope” will be performed at 7:30 uiargonaut.com when the main character was performing p.m. on Feb. 3-6 and at 2 p.m. on Feb. 6-7 at professionally.” the Forge Theater. Tickets are free for UI King said one of the elements of the prostudents and $10 general admission. duction he appreciates most is the depth and comCorrin Bond can be reached at plexity of the characters, as well as the many layers of arg-arts@uidaho.edu

Rawr

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A Day in the Life

Philosophy of food A day in the life of faculty member and restaurant manager Bryce Blankenship Austin Maas Rawr Nobody understands the pros and cons of having a busy schedule better than Bryce Blankenship.

The University of Idaho philosophy professor not only holds an instructing position with the university — he also serves as the Front of House Manager of the Nectar Restaurant and Wine Bar in downtown Moscow.

Blankenship began working as a server at Nectar four years ago and has been working as the Front of House manager for two and a half years.

He said his responsibilities at Nectar include managing the daily operations, such as scheduling for the wait-staff, building the wine menu and completing all wine orders for the restaurant.

Blankenship said balancing multiple jobs can be a demanding challenge.

“There are weeks that can be a little tough,” Blankenship said. “The biggest challenge is maintaining non-work friendships and relationships.”

While Blankenship said he values the relationships he has with his co-workers, he also spends a lot of time in the public eye, which can place a strain other personal relationships.

“I’m interested in how their studies are going and Despite the challenge, Blankenship said he ultiI hope to be an encouraging member of faculty, even mately enjoys the work he does, both downtown and if that means just saying hi,” he said. “At the end of on campus.

“If I didn’t feel like it was valuable or it was worth- the day, teachers are also humans and I think sometimes we can have this view of teachers that makes while I wouldn’t do it,” he said. them seem untouchable.”

Blankenship said a teacher’s work makes them a Blankenship said he enjoys sharing the public figure and encountering students Nectar side of his life with students because outside the classroom is unavoidable, espeRawr it shows them that he is just as human as cially in a community like Moscow. they are.

“It is one of those things that I had to get For more Rawr “I do try as best as possible to keep my used to, but now I embrace it,” he said. “I’ve content, visit uiargonaut.com lives separate though,” Blankenship said. “So pretty much accepted that no matter where I when students come into Nectar, yes I may go or what I do I am going to see students.” teach them or may have taught them, but Not only is the philosophy professor recwhen they’re at Nectar I am not their teacher. They’re ognized around town, but Blankenship said he’s also at Nectar so I’m going to treat them to good service been recognized while traveling across the country. and good food.”

“I was flying back from visiting my family in the Despite the busy schedule and challenges holding Midwest and on my flight there happened to be one two jobs may bring, Blankenship said engaging with current student and one former student,” he said. the Moscow community through his work at the uniRegardless of the difficulty that comes with versity and Nectar has been hugely rewarding. being a public figure, Blankenship said he enjoys “We all care about making a mark, we all care about seeing current and former students because he doing productive work,” Blankenship said. “I feel like believes that not only is everyone connected by the I’ve really been able to cultivate that over the past university, but that each person also contributes to couple years, both at Nectar and in the classroom.” the Moscow community.

Austin Maas Blankenship said whenever he sees students outcan be reached side the classroom he tries to engage with them and at arg-arts@uidaho.edu discuss how their coursework is progressing.

The Argonaut

8

1.22.16

opinion

Nicole Moeckli | Rawr

Fashioning an empire How the figures of the past have influenced fashion’s future Claire Kennell Rawr The clothes we wear and the trends we follow are such a tremendous part of our lives, and yet few people take the time to think about where their preferred style of shoes or favorite shirts came from.

While each up-and-coming fashion trend might seem new and random, the designers often look to the past for inspiration. They say that history repeats itself, and this is particularly true with fashion trends, as specific fashion items make a comeback. Throughout the years, fashion designers have taken inspiration from historical dress of previous centuries. Whether it’s specific textiles, or patterns on the fabric, or the style itself, designers everywhere take inspiration and create a more contemporary version for the runway.

Alexander McQueen was a famous fashion dethe subtle embellishments in clothing items as simple signer known for his wearable art and his designer as shorts and jeans are also often inspired by embelclothing. In many of his fashion lines, he created lishments that were popular among the masses a few an upgrade from historical fashion to hundred years go. contemporary pieces that are known on For example, some headbands that we Rawr the runway as high fashion. In autumn just throw on our head to keep our hair of 2008, McQueen created a line that was out of the way while we’re taking a test For more Rawr inspired by the Directoire Period (1790were inspired by Roman headdress. Strappy content, visit uiargonaut.com 1820) of dresses with a straight skirt and Gladiator sandals have also made a comea square neckline. Similarly, this type of back in recent years, showing just how style is used in every-day life with dresses intertwined history and fashion can be. that become popular in the summertime.

Most people overlook what fashion truly means in Wedding dress designers are also hugely inspired one’s life, but the clothes we wear represent history, by historical fashion, mainly in the Crinoline Period art, expression and inspiration. Not only are fashion (1850-1869) which involved massive skirts that envelop trends a way to better understand history, but, as the woman. The same style is often seen on the red fashion is an expression of the self, it also shows that carpet by celebrities. The most simple of trends in contemporary society and the people who exist today today’s fashion was inspired by history’s fashionable aren’t that different from people who lived centuries norms, such as a single poof strategically placed in before. the skirt of a wedding dress, or even the neckline.

Claire Kennell While most college students roll out of bed and can be reached at slip on a T-shirt, rather than a tuxedo or ball-gown, arg-arts@uidaho.edu

Rawr

Oh boy, a new semester at Obedienc e University.

9

I m gonna make new friends a nd g e t g o o d g r a d e s . . . a nd f i nd a pa r t t i m e j o b . . . and Go to the gym... and Eat all natural kibble...

End of week 2

I think i ll go find a c orner and play dead for awhile

a nd g e t to s l eep b efo r e 1 1 pm . . . a nd h a ve d r ea m s . . .

Nicole Moeckli | Rawr

January Blues

Megan Hall | Rawr

The Colossally Amazing Adventures of Norbert (and Friends) by Samantha Brownell OK, the next ingredient is powdered sugar.

GRAH!

... OK, I’ll put the gremlin in my pocket to keep the mess from spreading everywhere.

I put it on the counter right next to the ...

GRAH!

... I’ll go get more powdered sugar from the pantry.

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The Argonaut

1.22.16

Canine bootcamp friday fiction

Corrin Bond Rawr The rookie just wasn’t ready. He had been training for nearly a month and still, Chief had seen few results. Chief was actually a captain, but they called him Chief. He had been overseeing the base, and its operations, for so many years he could no longer accurately keep count. But in not a single one of those years had he ever trained a recruit so wily, so unresponsive, so destructive and unwilling to learn as the rookie. The young soldier had arrived months ago, right after the base had almost been attacked.

Since then, out of precaution, Chief’s commanders decided to tighten security. Much to Chief’s chagrin, with the additional security came the new recruit.

Under very clear, specific orders from his higher ups, Chief had been instructed to personally train the recruit. The aging captain had hardly any patience for such an incorrigible, agonizingly spirited youth. But orders were orders.

“Alright rookie,” Chief growled under his breath one day after their morning meal. “Today’s the day.”

The young soldier, with bits of breakfast clinging to his mouth, looked eager, albeit thoroughly confused.

“What day, sir?” he asked in the kind of light-hearted tone Chief had no stomach for.

“Today’s the day you stop messing around and finally master the welcome protocol.”

The rookie’s face fell. “No,” he began. “Sir, no, please, not the welcome protocol!”

The Chief had not slept well the night before. A storm had raged outside of the base and each small sound in the night kept him alert and on his toes. He had no sympathy for the recruit.

“We’ve gone over this a million times and you still can’t get it right,” Chief said. “So the only thing we’re doing to do today is practice, practice, practice.”

The rookie groaned. The welcome protocol was hardly of any legitimate importance. It was a routine every soldier in the base had to maintain. At the end of the day, upon the arrival of their higher ups, the soldiers were required to greet their superiors in a disciplined and well-mannered way. Although their primary goal was to defend the base, Chief, after a restless night, was tired and lacked the energy to go over any difficult operations with the rookie. While he didn’t want to engage in any strenuous training, he also didn’t have the desire to stand all day.

“We’re going to practice and you’re going to be fine,” Chief said gruffly. “I won’t make you stand, even.

Just sit here, in position.”

The rookie looked hesitant. “Sit? In position? For how long?”

Chief shrugged. “The entire day. Until the commanders get home. You will sit, quietly, in position, ready to greet them.”

The rookie, exasperated and convinced he wouldn’t make it through an hour let alone the entire day, groaned again. But when Chief sat down, so did he.

Megan Hall | Rawr

excitement, the rookie sat, squirming. The After consecutive hours of sitting, more other commander praised the young dog. sitting than the rookie thought he had ever Rawr The rookie, unscolded and sitting at the done in his life, the commanders finally made door for the first time, beamed at his init back to base safely. Chief had been dozing, For more Rawr content, visit sightful teacher. “Well done, kid,” Chief said while sitting, throughout the day with the uiargonaut.com with a sly sense of pride. The rookie stayed restless rookie by his side. Now, Chief was in place as the older dog got to his feet. alert. He could hear the keys in the lock. He Chief figured the pup, who was still positioned by the could see the shadows against the shudders. front door, was too happy or proud or tired to move, The commanders entered the base. Chief sat, in his but as he trotted into the kitchen, the rookie, a mass usual spot in the entryway of the house, just beyond of fur and paws, went flying past him. the doormat, with his back straight, his dark eyes Chief, with a sense of pride and a hint of delight, shining, but his body rigid. The German shepherd watched the new recruit run excited circles around was used to containing his joy, restraining himself, the commanders’ feet. The rookie had a lot to learn, whenever the commanders came home. No jumping, Chief thought, but he was getting there. The old dog no barking was their policy. Sit, be good. His thick tail sat down in the opening of the kitchen, watching swayed side to side, sweeping the hard wood floor in swift strokes. One of the commanders patted his head. his commanders and the rambunctious flurry of fur wildly jumping up around them. The day’s mission The base was safe and he knew he had done well. had been a success, Chief decided. Tomorrow, training Chief snuck a glance at the rookie. The bright-eyed would commence. puppy, a mass of softness and fur and excitement, Corrin Bond can be reached at quivered almost uncontrollably. He worked to mainarg-arts@uidaho.edu tain the kind of discipline Chief was exhibiting. or on Twitter @CorrBond Rather than jumping up or barking with unbridled

Rawr

11

opinion

Confessions of a Metrosexual Personal preferences don’t require the approval of others

I considered this an anomaly, until one day my girlfriend flat out told me my pomade habits were among the reasons as to why she considered me to be one of the most metrosexual people she had ever met.

My hair has a slight greasiness to it. That’s probaBut what does this really mean? If anything, it gives bly the least attractive way to put it, but it’s true. As a insight into the fascinating modern culture behind matter of fact that’s the way I like it. I even spend $20 sexual attraction as well as how society feels the need every month to keep it that way. It’s called poto place labels upon any sort of behavior that made, and every day I spend precious minutes even slightly deviates from the norm. of my early morning meticulously combing it The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines into my hair. I do this because when I don’t, “metrosexual” as “a usually urban male given my hair looks like the fur of a Chernobyl to enhancing his personal appearance by area bear that is suffering from some serious fastidious grooming, beauty treatments and genetic mutation. In short, it looks awful, and fashionable clothes.” it never really seemed very strange to me that While on the surface, the concept of I would take steps to prevent this from being Sam Balas metrosexuality operates under the idea that seen by others, especially by members of the Rawr everyone cares about how they look, beyond opposite sex. And yet, I recently discovered I that, it’s also a way to question the masculinwas committing, in fact, a “metrosexual act”. ity of men who happen to partake in behavThis revelation didn’t occur in a moment, iors that are often associated with femininity. but instead it slowly creeped into my mind until I Why should it be weird for me, as a man, to enjoy began to accept it. The first sign was when I went shopping for clothes? Is it weird to want to impress back home to get my haircut, I asked the barber (who others or care about my appearance? had been cutting my hair for five years) if I could buy Like most labels, branding the “metrosexual” places some pomade from him. That’s when I discovered people into boxes that don’t accurately represent who not only had he run out of the product, but that he they are. also decided to stop restocking the stuff after I went As an Idaho native, I shoot guns, hike in the off to college, as I was one of two people who ever purchased it. woods and play sports just as much as the next guy,

but because I spend fifteen minutes a day picking a coordinated outfit, my masculinity is called into question. While the “metrosexual” label doesn’t personally offend me, it does draw to light a larger societal problem — that people who break stereotypical gender roles need special labels, so everyone knows they don’t quite fit “the mold.”

While the modern era, the era of an over-analytical and judgmental entertainment of “E Entertainment” and “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” has accentuated a culture of caring how other grown adults spend their time, the foundational problem behind labels like “metrosexual” has almost always existed.

People are often made uncomfortable when individuals go against societal standards, but the reality is, all humans are complicated and no one person falls into any one box.

Rather than caring about what people think or labeling others for the things they enjoy, regardless of what gender they identify as, our society should begin working toward accepting those who are different.

Personally, I won’t let the label of “metrosexual” discourage me from doing the things I enjoy. I’ll continue to read fashion blogs, drown myself in pomade and spend my free time watching “Mean Girls,” all you have to do is leave me in peace.

Sam Balas can be reached at arg-arts@uidaho.edu

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