2018aprilfinal

April 2018

VOL 48/ISSUE 07 Pet Contest

Heathers Is it Problematic?

The Bridge is holding it’s

Netflix’s new series is at

Second Annual Cutest Pet Contest. Who will be

already at the forefront of controversy, is it

the winner? Vote Today!

justifiable to watch?

Read More on B6

Read More on 4A

STEPHANIE LARSON

3 Purple Coats

Entertains and Educates

Top: Tracy Cooley portrayed a popular blues singer by the name of Bessie Smith. Smith was one of the most popular female blues singers during the 1920’s and 1930’s. Bottom: Performers show their excitement during a skit when they hear that their characters are finally free from slavery.

Pictured from left to right: Garland Moore, Kennedy Lacey, Heaven Everage and Leah Becoat. Photos by: Krystie Morrison

slarson@lc.edu Lewis & Clark Community College recently hosted local theatre troupe 3 Purple Coats Productions for a musical and theatrical exploration of Black history. The original piece, based on the musical High Cotton, included spirituals from the time of slavery in America, jazz and blues performances, as well as dramatic sketches depicting the Civil Rights Era and other key moments in African-American history.

Leah Becoat was the director, playwright, and producer and also stood in as an actor in several scenes. The main cast, who switched between many different roles in the piece, were Courtney Wilson, Garland Moore, Kennedy Lacey, and Heaven Everage.

Additional performers were featured in solo musical performances.

“High Cotton was about an hour and a half musical revue. And I’ve also created a 15 minute skit for a Dr. Martin Luther King celebration. So I basically pulled some elements from High Cotton as well as the skit honoring civil rights and Dr. King and put them together following a timeline: from slavery to change,” said Becoat.

“We’re here today to celebrate Black History Month. But how many of you know that black history is not limited to one month?” asked Becoat as she took the stage. “If you’re here today that’s your black present. If you look back on yesterday, that’s your black past, and if we move forward toward the future, that is definitely the black future.”

The diverse crowd filling Benjamin Godfrey Memorial Chapel was composed largely of students from local elementary and middle schools. Becoat says she saw this as an opportunity to educate as part of the show.

“One thing that I saw today is that I asked if anyone had ever heard of the Red Summer of 1919 and not one raised their hand. And so for them to just get a snapshot of what took place, that’s what I call ‘edu-tainment’; education and entertainment intertwined.

They got to see a part of history that’s not necessarily in the textbooks,” she said.

The scene concerning the Red Summer of 1919 depicted a veteran of World War I, played by Courtney Wilson, giving a poetic monologue about the racist violence faced by black soldiers returning home. By their extended applause, the audience showed their appreciation for this dramatic depiction of a dark period in history.

Another highlight of the show was a montage depicting famous African-American singers such as Bessie Smith, Lena Horne, and Cab Calloway. The audience also appreciated a skit that blended the story of the Freedom Riders with an actress portraying Rosa Parks singing the civil rights anthem “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around.”

The final song of the show, Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come,” performed

by Garland Moore, was met with a long standing ovation. Becoat was proud of the show’s success. “All of our work is original.

It is just a joy to work with young people and have them step out of their comfort zone and become something or someone they maybe have not even heard of,” she said.

More information about 3 Purple Coats Productions can be found on facebook.com.

War Brides of WWII: Families Altered Forever By War ALEX GENT

agent@lc.edu With immigrant family members often being one or two generations removed, most Americans share similar, but unique stories of how their families came to be in America.

On March 7 attendants were treated to a presentation of the story of the “War Brides” and given a look into the experience of the over 1 million immigrant brides produced as a result of World War II. The hour-long presentation took place in the Ringhausen building on campus and was part of the on-going celebration of Women’s History Month. Thanks to Dr. Kelly Oberneufemann, Lewis and Clark Community College has been hosting speakers for Women’s History Month since March 2005.

This month, as part of a theme following “Lost Connections”, Michele Thomas narrated a PowerPoint presentation explaining some of her experiences as well as the experiences of many others that she has gathered over fortyfive years as part of her work for “The American War Bride Experience”.

With an introductory explanation of how her father had come from Detroit and that she was born in Belgium, arriving in the United States at the age of one year old, Mrs. Thomas told the story of the many women who married the American G.I.s deployed throughout Europe and other continents during WWII.

The presentation helped explain how many couples met at organized social outings and through positions of employment, as many native women found work as secretaries at various bases and posts. In 1945 the War Bride Act was passed allowing brides of American G.I.s to come to America, and eventually gain citizenship.

It seems that just as many of the incoming immigrant brides were not well received in America, neither were the American G.I.s in some places. During the war the British had a saying that “Americans are over-paid, oversexed, and over here”.

There were many stories describing the hardships faced by all those involved. One touching story described American G.I. Dan and his German wife Katrina, who were separated when Dan was forced to leave Katrina and their child behind after his service had ended.

Dan then had to join the crew of a boat headed back for Germany and jumped ship to enter the country illegally and be reunited with his wife and child.

There were many other hardships shared by the War Brides such as rigorous travel stipulations, long, crowded, uncomfortable journeys by boat sometimes taking as many as 18 days to arrive to in-law families they did not know prior, and could not communicate with easily, due to the language barrier. Overcoming emotions of homesickness, and adapting to cultural changes were just a few of the labors of

Michelle Thomas brought in books and other interesting pieces of history with her and set them aside for students to look at before and after the presentation. Photo By: Krystie Morrison love War Brides would undertake for the sake of their husbands and children.

The War Brides are apart of the largest migration of women to the United States of America, but an unfortunate implication of it was that it created over 37,000 illegitimate children who were left behind. There are organizations such as GITrace.com that help try to connect those affected with their birth

parents, but the success of this is limited due to the amount of time that as has passed since WWII. Michele Thomas has been researching and collecting the stories of War Brides for more than forty-five years. If you would like to contact her to give your own experience, or for your own research you may do so at www.usawarbrides. com.

www.thelcbridge.com

Campus News 02 L&C Encourages People to Grow Native! thebridge

ALEX GENT

agent@lc.edu Lewis and Clark Community College hosted the third annual Southwestern Illinois Grow Native! Workshop on the 16th of March in the Hatheway Gallery here on campus. Grow Native! is a native plant marketing and education program of the Missouri Prairie Foundation and helps protect and restore biodiversity by increasing conservation awareness of native plants and their effective use in urban, suburban, and rural developed landscapes. Though it began its work in 2000, Grow Native! was developed in 1999

by Cheryl Riley and Judy Allmon with the support of the Conservation Federation of Missouri.

The workshop began at 7:30AM with juice, coffee, and a hearty breakfast. LC’s president, Dr. Dale Chapman, gave an introductory speech full of information about the history of the college campus, as well as the green projects taking place here, and then extended a warm and accommodating welcome to the attendants and guest speakers.

Jean Ponzi, Green Resources Manager for Earth-Ways Center (a division of the Missouri Botanical Garden), acted as the Master of Ceremonies and introduced the Keynote and guest speakers, the first of which was Guy Sternberg, who she described as “so modest that he left the copies of his book in his car in order to reduce competition with the Grow Native! literature that is for sale”.

Guy Sternberg, a certified arborist and retired landscape architect, worked with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for thirty-two years. He is currently the owner and manager of Starhill Forest Arboretum, which boasts one of the most extensive Oak genus living reference collections in North America.

During Sternberg’s Keynote presentation “Woody Plants and Pollinators”, he thoroughly explained the complex strategy of providing diverse food sources for a variety of pollinators throughout the year.

Designed to help growers think about the importance of what feeds pollinators, and when, it also included many interesting facts, for instance: oaks feed more species of larvae than any other woody plant. The presentation ended with a Q&A session.

A short break followed the presentation of Mr. Sternberg, during which attendants were able to refill refreshments and visit Exhibitors at the workshop. Native Landscape Solutions was one of the many exhibitors in attendance of the workshop.

Image Provided by: L&C Flickr Biologist/Ecological Specialist and Licensed Applicator Melinda Walter Slagle explained when asked what inspired her to get involved with this industry, “I’ve had a life-long passion for nature that was fostered by my high school biology teacher.” Her associate and long time member of the Sierra Club, Tom Ball described similar experiences for his inspiration and advised: “Don’t look for what you want to do; look for where you are needed”.

In addition to visiting the numerous exhibitors, attendants were provided with the opportunity to purchase informational literature from Grow Native! and other contributors, as well as wealth of free knowledge in the form of flyers, pamphlets, resource guides, and even the Missouri Prairie Journal.

The second speaker, Kyle Cheesborough, is the Horticulture Supervisor at Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum.

Having also worked as horticulturist at the Missouri Botanical Garden, Cheesborough specializes in the designing of themed planting beds, consulting on sustainable burial practices, collaboration on burial lot design and care, directing horticulture staff, and regular horticulture maintenance.

In his presentation “Sourcing, Purchasing, and Caring for Woody Plants in the Landscape”, Cheesborough explained how budget, design, layout, function, and availability are just a few of the critical

elements of proper planning. He provided many helpful tips on sourcing like combining project resources, and advice such as remembering vendor etiquette and how to “Access Success” by cataloging work with extensive before and after photographs.

Dr. Lyle Guyon gave a presentation on the “Native Plant Communities at the Confluence Field Station”. With an explanation of the design of the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center, Dr. Guyon demonstrated how the materials and shapes in the landscape are intended to mimic the natural landscape of the surrounding area. Along with a slideshow containing before and after photographs of the grounds and construction process he elaborated on the time and care taken in planning the facility.

Dr. Guyon explained the different types of native plants around the facility and how each is planted with an intended purpose in specific plots. “The grounds are a living laboratory intended for learning” explained Dr. Guyon in closing and invited everyone to NGRREC Neighbor Nights the first Tuesday of every month, as well as a follow up Grow Native! presentation there September 4th.

“A Native Plant Garden for Pollinators” followed a second break, and was presented by Charlie Pitts an amateur naturalist, retired Air Force officer, and systems engineer. He is currently working

with O’Fallon Community Garden which produced 4,200 lbs of donations to the O’fallon Township Food Pantry. The presentation focused on how to make a native pollinator garden with plenty of tips such as: showcasing flowering plants, providing continuous nectar and pollen sources, and choosing species that are more compact and less aggressive. Pitts also provided many examples of native flowering plants, as well as pointing out some of the many local and surrounding providers of those resources.

The next presentation, “Expanding the Backyard Food Web” came from the Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District’s Resource Conservationist, Eleanor Schumacher. She concentrates her studies and professional focus on the synergy of agronomy and ecosystem services. The focus of the presentation was on edible and medicinal plants, and included many pictures and detailed explanations of nutritional and health benefits from remedies such as a jam/spread that could be made from the Illinois’ state flower, the Violet. She concluded by testing the audience on their knowledge of native and non-native plant species.

At 11:00 AM, Jennifer Schamber began the closing Keynote presentation “The Million Pollinator Garden Challenge”. Schamber is currently the General Manager of Greenscape Gardens in St. Louis, Missouri, serving on the board of Western Nursery and Landscape Association, and working as a writer for the Gateway Gardener Magazine. “These people are great people and that is what this workshop is all about, bringing great people together”, Schamber praised. She explained how the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge was created to help register a million public and private gardens and landscapes to support pollinators. The focus of 2018 shifts towards food and function, and widening the audience. With projects like Show Me The Monarch, and The Pollinator Palette, Greenscape Gardens has been doing its part to contribute to the effort by giving away free Milkweed and other pollinator plants.

Jean Ponzi concluded the ceremony by thanking everyone for their attendance and encouraging all to do their part at home and continuing to “Eat, Drink, and Grow Native!” Anyone interested in contributing directly to Grow Native! or to the initiative in general can find a wealth of useful information and resources, as well as dates for upcoming events by visiting www. grownative.org.

2017-2018

Staff List Editor-in-Chief Helen Jarden Associate Editor Brennen Larson Layout Editor Shelby Clayton Ad Manager Ashtyn Britt Webmaster Alex St. Peters Graphic Designer Jason Wallace Writer Alex Gent Photographer Krystie Morrison

Black Student Association Blood Drive Top: One student braces the donation process with a smile on her face while waiting for the worker to find a viable vein.

Middle: Participants for the blood drive were given free pizza after donating blood to replenish their energy.

Bottom Left: A worker for Red Cross double checks to make sure she has everything she needs before starting the donation process.

Writer Lucas Gardner

Bottom Right: Students and members of the public who were able to donate had to stop and make sure they fit the criteria to make a safe donation.

Writer Stephanie Larson

Photos by: Krystie Morrison

Writer Courtney Markos Graphic Designer Zach Howard Cartoonist Tristan Wuellner Writer Keara Harp Advisor Louise Jett ljett@lc.edu

www.thelcbridge.com

03 Campus News thebridge Phi Theta Kappa Hosts Decade Trivia Night Find a Career K. HARP

at the Job Fair

kmharp@lc.edu

On the twenty-third of February, Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society on Lewis and Clark Community College’s campus, hosted a trivia night fundraiser. The theme of the fundraiser was decade trivia; the attendees were encouraged to dress as their favorite decade and decorate their table accordingly.

“We thought it’d be a fun way to raise money,” said co-president of PTK Robyn Scott, “Everyone loves trivia.”

When questioned further on what PTK was, Scott explained that the honor society is a “society that recognizes academic achievement.” Any student with a GPA of 3.5 or higher and at least 12 credit hours at LCCC can join.

Throughout the night, a multitude of interesting trivia facts were learned. For instance, Furby, the robotic, fur covered toy released approximately twenty years ago, is not allowed in the Pentagon as it can record conversations. In addition, M&M stands for Mars and Murrie. Also, the Cookie Monster was originally named Sid before he ate his first cookie.

As the night wore on, judges wandered around to determine the winner for Best Dressed competition. Some people went all out, whereas others claimed, “We’re in the 2018 decade,” like tables eleven, two and four. They were dressed in everyday clothing and adamentally stood by the “Teen Decade” being a legitimate decade for Trivia Night.

As stated by Table eleven, “We are our own decade.” “We’re just pure trivia,” said Table two. Table four participant, Kathy White, was heard to have said, “Winning is our theme!”

Tables that went all out in their decade garb were exuberant in showing off their antiquated items and historical clothing.

Table ten had made tie-dye t-shirts in advance with the slogan “Ain’t Nothing Trivia-l” displayed across the back. “[We have] all 60’s candy, [we] even have the 60’s peace vans!”

The Peace van was a cardboard candy box in the shape of a van.

Table five, a group of librarians from the campus library, went by the name Save Ferris Team and were covered in 80’s movie quotes. “Does Barry Manilow know you raid his wardrobe?” read one sign. “Lake. Big lake,” and “I asked for a car. I got a computer.

How’s that for being born under a bad sign,” were some of the others.

PRESS RELEASE

Photo By: K. Harp The students that sat at Table one were all dressed in 80’s neon colored clothing with shorts over leggings and vividly colored, baggy shirts falling off their shoulders to reveal tank tops underneath. A few of the girls even had scrunchies and headbands in their hair.

Intermissions were littered throughout the trivia rounds. Two fundraiser games were played during those times; participation was voluntary. The first fundraiser was game of chance where the players placed a dollar on their head or rear end to guess whether the coin the announcer flipped would land on heads or tails. A wrong guess would cost a dollar. Sixty dollars were raised from the game.

The second fundraiser was called Dead or Alive. Participants would give a thumbs up or a thumbs down to guess if celebrities were alive or dead. Pam Osley ended up winning, and thirty-three dollars was raised during the duration of the game.

Towards the end of the night, the winners of the Best Table Decorations and the Best Dressed were announced. Table ten, with its 60’s theme, came in first place for table decorations, and Table eight, a table covered

in a tie-dye tablecloth with a lava lamp and an electric guitar, won second.

When asked for their opinion on the announcement, Table ten said, “We accomplished our goal by winning best decor. We knew we were going to win.”

Table eight took a more humble approach and announced, “We came to support the students,” through another person sitting at the table also added “We came for the rootbeer.”

The PTK representatives privately said, “[It was a] really, really, close competition. We had a squabble about it in the back.” Jessica Hall, one of the judges, added, “We should have tied, but no one likes a tie.”

The Best Dressed award went to two of the participants at Table eight, Jen Cline and Peter Hussey; the two had banded together to dress up as Sonny and Cher, with Ms. Cline as Sonny and Mr. Hussey as Cher. They won a gift card to Mickey G’s.

The winner of the trivia portion of the night was Table 6 in first place with 68 points and Table eleven in second place with 67 points.

Everyone that went to trivia night fundraiser had a excellent time and all said they were glad that they had gone.

The Lewis and Clark Community College 2018 Job Fair will be held on Wednesday, April 4, from 9 a.m. to noon in the Riverbend Arena, on the back side of the Godfrey campus.

The Job Fair will be open to students and to the public. There is no charge to attend.

Computers will be available to job seekers so they can access websites and complete applications online.

The employer list is published at www. lc.edu/Career.

“Nearly 100 employers will be looking for applicants so please help us spread the word to anyone looking for a job or to change careers,” said Director of Career and Veteran Services Terry Lane.

If you have questions, please contact Lane at tdlane@lc.edu or at 618.468.5500.

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Entertainment 04

thebridge

So, is the New Heathers Pilot so Very?

ASHTYN BRITT abritt@lc.edu

Well, it’s certainly very problematic. For those of you who don’t know, Paramount decided to create a new television show out of the 1988 cult classic movie and 2015 musical, Heathers. This dark comedy is a tale of Mean Girls with a deadly twist, starring Veronica Sawyer who has been sucked into the world of the three most popular girls in Westerburg, all named Heather. The head queen bee in the red scrunchie, Heather Chandler, is murdered

by Veronica’s new beau JD who then convinces Veronica to help him stage it as a suicide. This events starts a chain reaction of similar murders as we see JD descend into madness and Veronica be strung along for the ride, desperate to get it all to stop. Now, the idea of this sadistic high school story being brought to the current day would be seen as quite a brilliant ideaif it hadn’t flopped as hard as it has.

Unfortunately, our new Heathers are a plus sized woman, a genderqueer person, and a mixed race lesbian being shown to be the bullies running this school. I don’t have enough articles available to me to describe what a poor choice to this! First of all, this wouldn’t ever happen in real life.

These three are minorities who still face constant bigotry in the real world, they would not be popular in real life! It feels as if Paramount missed the entire point of the original message of Heathers. This is shown through the first episode to be seen as how the writers view what stereotypical social justice warriors are. Strike one!

This is shown by Heather Chandler portraying another character, Ram, as an insensitive racist on social media for wearing a shirt supporting a team mascot who is a Native American. While this does say something about how social media has created a society where with the right picture, anyone’s lives can be ruined in a very permanent serious matter, depicting minorities as the villains and the majority regular cisgender white straight teenagers as the heroes is sending a very disturbing message to the audience.

Also, while some of the props around

Image Provided by: paramountnetwork and certain settings, such as Shannen Doherty’s cameo as JD’s mom in a flashback, are admittedly clever nods to the original Heathers, the dialogue is way off. I won’t repeat some phrases since they aren’t appropriate, but it is not how a real teenager would speak. It’s obvious they’re trying to put out new “edgy” phrases as the original Heathers did, but they do not land well at all! They come across as awkward and out of place.

Speaking of awkward and out of place, James Scully has completely butchered the role of JD. He has no sense of Christian Slater’s charm, and has no idea how to play a subtle crazy person. Instead of coming across as oddly charming and swoon-worthy, he makes JD come across more as a stalker. This is a major issue, because then it’s not as horrific of a shock when he tries to kill anyone. Strike two.

Also, spoiler alert, Heather Chandler

doesn’t even die! Are you kidding me? One of the arguably biggest plot points of the entire story doesn’t even really happen!?

Strike three, Paramount! When Heather’s suicide is staged, it’s because JD places a pill in her corn nuts bag which he tells Veronica would make Heather vomit, so they may record and post it online. When Heather seems to have died instead, JD claims he must have accidentally grabbed a bottle of poisonous pills instead, which then makes them manipulate a previous video of Heather and put two emojis as her “suicide note” to post online instead.

I noticed much to my disappointment, this completely erases Veronica’s forgery talent, which in my opinion was a big and unique part of her original character.

So, later on, when Heather wakes up and vomits, it shows the biggest issue of all, JD actually hadn’t meant to kill her!

A JD that isn’t a sociopath? WHAT? NO.

Also, seeing Heather’s delight at seeing her “suicide” gain her a much larger social media following, which will probably lead to her pretending to be suicidal to keep being popular, is utterly sickening.

There are thousands of real people who have very serious issues idealizing suicide and who suffer from depression, and to show this kind of reaction is like a slap in the face to each one of them. Bad move, Paramount!

Do I think you should watch this show?

Only if you’re playing a game to find all the flaws and nonsense in it. I will keep forcing myself along the journey to perhaps give a more elaborate review of the entire season later on, but in the meantime, I beg of you to rewatch the movie and the musical.

They have a better plot, better characters, better acting, and a much better message to portray. Unlike this failed pilot, the movie and musical are so very!

You would be a “Crazyhead” to Not Watch This Netflix Show!

ASHTYN BRITT abritt@lc.edu

Image Provided by: theedgesusu

I didn’t think I’d ever find a show that filled that demon-fighting Buffy-shaped hole in my life, but boy am I glad I was wrong! “Crazyhead” is a show that takes place in current day England, and is as funny as it is dark!

“Crazyhead” is a six-episode series about a girl named Amy who discovers quite an unsettling realization. All these years she thought she was suffering hallucinations, the truth was she can actually see demons, which she learns when she meets Raquel after being attacked at a club.

Raquel explains to the frightened Amy that she is another “Seer,” who can see people who are possessed. Raquel then explains this is why some people seem to randomly snap and commit heinous actions. Because they’re possessed.

Raquel then tells Amy she’s a demon hunter who protects the world from demons on Earth attempting to bring the

apocalypse.

Then Raquel helps train Amy to fight the demons and continuously reassures her she isn’t crazy. This is interesting to watch because it accurately shows how the girls have both had to deal with therapy sessions and how their medication makes them stop seeing the people who are being possessed by demons.

However, things take a turn for the worse when Amy’s best friend Suzanne is possessed. After a lot of debating over what to do, the two then try to exorcise Suzanne. However, the exorcism goes wrong, which leads to some very shocking and unexpected results! The two then discover and then fight to attempt to stop a long-going demon conspiracy, or potentially risk the end of the world!

This series is available currently on Netflix and is absolutely worth the six hours to watch it! So go ahead, grab a fuzzy blanket, pop some popcorn, and have a good time!

Every Day is a Once in a Lifetime Movie ASHTYN BRITT abritt@lc.edu

What if you lived everyday like it was your only day to live? That’s a concept that is shown in the new romantic comedy “Every Day.” This movie stars Angourie Rice as Rhiannon, a young woman who falls in love with A, a person who wakes up as someone else every day.

First meeting Rhiannon in her boyfriend Justin’s body, the two have an obvious connection unlike with anyone else and make an effort to continue their romance.

What is different about this pair is that A is neither technically a boy or a girl, because they can wake up in either body. While Rhiannon has her hesitation about this fact at first, she quickly learns that it isn’t about the body A is in, and about who A is as a person.

This gender-defying appearance of love is inspirational, and definitely refreshing from the original narrative. With representation

from polyamory being mentioned to showing a transman on screen, and A’s answer when asked about their gender identity, it’s all small details that make monumental points. I would watch this movie every day if I could.

There’s also something refreshing about how this movie portrays the love in a more realistic and respectful way than what is usually expected from romantic movies. If you’re looking to take that special someone on a date that will remind you both how beautiful it is to live in a world with love, this would be the first film I would recommend.

What’s best about this movie though, is it emphasizes that it isn’t about being in love with one person forever, but rather to enjoy all love, and to enjoy life and leave marks.

As A says in the movie, what’s beautiful is we learn what makes every person different, and also what makes every person the same. So go make your mark and go see this beautiful movie!

Photo Provided by: AMC Theatres

www.thelcbridge.com

05 Entertainment

thebridge

Netflix’s Everything Sucks Doesn’t Suck ASHTYN BRITT abritt@lc.edu

Netflix 2018 has been on a roll with great original series! Be ready to add “Everything Sucks” to your watch list if you haven’t already, because this is binge-worthy! Warning ahead: this article will contain spoilers. If you don’t want it spoiled, I recommend going and watching the show as soon as possible!

Everything Sucks is a series about a group of kids in the town of Boring, Michigan set in 1996. This group of kids are figuring out their lives as new High School freshmen, and all the confusing parts that go with it.

On paper, it sounds like it’d be no different than an earlier Degrassi, but you’d be wrong. What specifically makes this show so special are the unique characters and their character arcs.

It mostly focuses on Luke O’Neil, a person of color who’s developed a love of directing videos, not unlike his long estranged father who’d left much earlier in his life. He uses his art form of film as a way to connect to the Dad he doesn’t know and it’s interesting to see how he develops a more mature sense of the issues he’s faced with, such as unrequited love and his mother finding a new man in her life.

It also features the previously mentioned unrequited love, Kate Messner, who is my personal favorite. She’s a girl who’s unable to return Luke’s affections due to two major issues: First, she’s a closeted lesbian. Second, she’s in love with the school drama queen Emmaline. Watching Kate struggle with her confusing emotions over other women, and eventually coming to terms with who she is, is one of the most realistic portrayals I’ve ever seen in a show and I love it so much. The acting is superb.

Then there’s Emmaline, who slowly reveals a more vulnerable side to her usual bully-like dramatic behavior once

Photo provided by Netflix she realizes Kate actually cares for her as a person, rather than a possession like Emmaline’s previous boyfriends. Seeing her turn from someone begging for attention to someone more comfortable with who she is was one of the most heartwarming parts of the show.

Then there’s Luke’s mother and Kate’s father, who connect and end up falling in love without their children’s knowledge.

I love their subplot, I found it absolutely refreshing for them to confide in one another of their own insecurities, even as adults, and help each other feel young again.

Then of course, the making of Boring Michigan’s first movie, directed by Luke.

Watching them make the movie was so fun, it will make you feel like you’re making it with them! Watching them watch their

own premiere with pride brings a sense of pride in the viewers as well who’ve watched the progress of this show and its characters. If you haven’t had the pleasure yet of joining this world, I’m begging you please correct this immediately!

Fair warning though, Wonderwall by Oasis may end up stuck in your head for ages afterwards. Have fun, and happy watching!

A New Twist for this Tale As Old As Time ASHTYN BRITT

abritt@lc.edu Do you enjoy a well-known story with an original twist? You may want to consider getting your hands on “As Old As Time: A Twisted Tale!” This book gives a new spin on the Disney story we know and love: What if Belle’s mother had been the one to curse the Beast?

In this tale, it’s separated into a few parts, the first part jumping between the past and the present. In the flashbacks, we see the events of Belle’s mother and father, Rosalind and Maurice, meet and fall in love in a kingdom with quickly growing prejudices against those who practice magic. It’s these past events that set up the moment when the Enchantress curses the prince and turns him into a Beast- at eleven years old.

In the present, the story goes much like

how the Disney movie showed... until Belle accidentally destroys the magic red rose. Now, Belle and the Beast must dig into the past for any hope of finding a new way to break the spell that Belle’s long gone mother had cast ten years before.

The tone of the book goes from Disney to Brothers Grimm quickly, definitely intended for a mature teenage demographic as some more violent elements at introduced into the story.

However, that only makes for a more amazing story for everyone else to enjoy!

This new story provides more mystery, more magic, more of a slow burning connection for Belle and the Beast, and so much more! If you’re a Disney fan looking for a new fix on this tale as old as time, you can get this book through either the library or on Amazon! Trust me, you won’t regret it.

Image Provided by: Shop.Disney

Ready to Travel to a Whole New World?

ASHTYN BRITT

Image Provided by: Shop.Disney

abritt@lc.edu Aladdin has been a beloved Disney classic since 1992, telling the story of a charming poor boy who wins the heart of an Arabian princess with the help of a funny genie. This story however, is not that story. A Whole New World: A Twisted Tale

by Liz Braswell takes the original Disney story to a very new and interesting place, wondering how the story would’ve gone if Aladdin hadn’t ever found the lamp at all. Spoiler alert! This review will contain a few spoilers for the plot, so if you want to avoid that, I recommend you either go request A Whole New World through the library or order it on Amazon! Happy reading!

For those of you still with me, this is the action-packed arabian tale you never knew you needed! Aladdin never finding the lamp for himself changes quite a number of things in the plot, including the relationship between the Genie and Aladdin, as well as princess Jasmine’s place amongst her people. This is not the

story of a street rat being a diamond in the rough, but rather of a princess who has to now lead a rebellion. With the help of Aladdin and his fellow street rats, Jasmine has become the unlikely heroine of the story to take down Jafar, who had now become the most powerful sorcerer in the world. This becomes even more difficult as he gains the support of Agrabah people, giving them endless bread and gold in exchange for their support.

This time, Jafar still wishes for Jasmine’s love, but when the Genie informs him that he can’t grant such a wish, Jafar sets out to break all the rules of magic. It is mentioned in this book that Jafar ultimately wants what every man like him wants… he wants more. Always, always more. Which is exactly what Jasmine, Aladdin, and the other street rats now have to stop. If not, Jafar will be able to make everyone love him, and be able to raise the dead to be his own personal slaves. If you’re looking for a book that’ll intrigue your adventurous side, I highly recommend you pick up this new arabian tale as fast as a flying carpet!

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Pollution Rainforest Recycle Reduce Reuse

Graphic By: Zach Howard

April F l’s Day Do’s and Don'ts DON'T: Use a whoopie cushion on someone in public.

This can be humiliating for some people, especially in public. Even more especially in situations like if the person is around their boss or crush. Humor and humiliation aren't the same thing, keep that in mind!

DO: Use whoopie cushions when in someone's home! If it's just the two of you, it may briefly startle the person you're pranking, but it'll be much easier to laugh off rather than leaving the other person embarrassed.

DON'T: Force a phobia onto a person.

Putting a real tarantula on someone with arachnophobia, or locking someone claustrophobic in a closet, or jumping in out at someone who's Coulrophobic while dressed like a clown isn't funny. It's potentially triggering for the other person, and could also lead to you potentially getting punched in the face. Which, I mean, some might find to be a justified response.

DO: Pretty much anything else. Like. That whoopie cushion at home thing is still a good idea. Clowns suck.

DON'T: Prank Call the police.

This is actually a serious crime that can get you in a boat load of trouble. Plus, it's just a bad idea.

DO: Prank call a close friend.

As long as it's nothing cruel or graphic, prank calling a close friend with something silly could give the other person a good laugh! Make sure to tell them it's you calling after.

DON'T: Give someone any food that could be potentially toxic.

Getting poisoned isn't fun. Trips to the ER aren't fun. Hospital bills are REALLY not fun.

DO: Replace food with other food. Sugar in the salt shaker still works just fine, and won't put anybody in the hospital!

DON'T: Ask someone out or confess your love to them as a joke/fake break up with someone as a joke.

DO: Be a decent human being. Seriously, that's just wrong and humiliating to do that to somebody. Just don't do that.

Playing with someone's emotions is not a practical joke, it's cruel.

Graphic By: Shelby Clayton

Written By: Ashtyn Britt

Graphic By: Zach Howard

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Section B

VOL 48/ISSUE 07 Are Roses Anti-Feminist?

“I recently overheard a conversation that suggested that roses were overrated.”

Three Illinois Laws You Might be Breaking Are there laws you might actually need to worry about? Let’s look at a few in our area.

Read More on 2B

Read More on 4B

Miracle On Ice 2.0: Women’s Team USA Upsets Canada at PyeongChang ALEX ST. PETERS astpeters@lc.edu

Team USA completed another “Miracle On Ice” this Olympics, but instead of being against the communist Soviet Union it was against our friends from the north in Team Canada.

The US Women’s hockey team defeated the reigning Canadian Women’s hockey team 3 to 2 after almost three hours of hockey in a shootout. This is the first time Canada has not won at the Olympics since Women’s hockey was first introduced in 1998. The US has faced Canada in five of the six years and have only won once in 1998. The US would lose to Canada the following year in 2002, then miss the gold medal game in 2006. Then they would suffer two close back to back loses in 2010 and 2014.

The first period of the game almost ended in a scoreless tie, but the US forward Hilary Knight would change that. The US would be first to strike in this game by scoring a late first-period power play goal. The goal would come on the third US power play attempt of the period. US forward Sidney Morin would take a shot on net with 25 seconds remaining in the period for it to be redirected by Knight to give the US a 1-0 lead going into the second.

During the intermission between the first and second period, NBC’s Pierre Mcguire would have a word with US forward Hilary Knight. Knight said, “ Obviously it’s the biggest game of our lives” and she would have no idea that her words would come true later that day.

It wouldn’t take long for the Canadians to answer, however. Canadian forward Blayre Turnbull would rush to puck into the US zone and chop the puck towards the net. Canadian forward Haley Irwin would tip the puck out of mid-air to tie up the game 1-1 only two minutes into the period.

The Canadians would strike again five minutes later to take a 2-1 lead over the Americans. Canadian forward Meghan Agosta would find the captain, MariePhilip Poulin, waiting in the slot. With a falling US goalie, Maddie Rooney, Poulin would fire a shot on net to take the lead.

The game would go scoreless until there was 6:21 left in the third period.

US forward Monique Lamoureux would

USA’s Women’s Hockey Team posing with their gold medals after their victory at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympics. Image Provided by: LA Times

Jocelyne Lamoureux, Team USA’s forward, scores final goal in shootout, USA winning 3-2 and earning an Olympic Golden Medal. Photo by: Sbnation

catch the Canadians on a bad change.

Lamoureux would receive an outlet pass from forward Kelly Pannek to go on a breakaway. She would come in on Canadian goalie, Shannon Szabados, to make a move that froze Szabados in her net. The game would be tied 2-2 to cause an exciting finish to this gold medal game.

After an unsuccessful overtime, this gold medal game would be decided in a shootout. The Canadians would shoot first, but come up short missing the first attempt in the shootout. The Americans, however, would score on a goal by Gigi Marvin to go up 1-0 in the shootout. The Canadians would answer with a goal from Meghan Agosta. The Americans would not score on their next two attempts.

However, the Canadians would score on their fourth attempt on a beautiful goal by Melodie Daoust.

With the gold medal hanging in the balance US forward Amanda Kessel needed to score to help keep the dream alive. Kessel would back Szabados into her net before going top shelf to tie the shootout up 2-2. Both teams would miss on their final attempts of the shootout taking this shootout into sudden death.

Per Olympic rules, teams would swap shooting positions in sudden death.

US forward Jocelyne Lamoureux would be the first shooter in sudden death.

Lamoureux would come in slow to make a beautiful move that would fake out Szabados. Her move was reminiscent of TJ Oshie when he defeated the Russians in a shootout at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.

Down to the last shot in the shootout, Canadian forward Meghan Agosta would come in on US goalie Maddie Rooney.

Rooney would make a huge save on Agosta to finally bring the gold medal back to the US since 1998.

According to Maddie Rooney, she has watched the replay of the save and celebration at least hundred times since the Olympics. Rooney has said, “We’re hoping to be as big an inspiration for the next generation as the last one was for us,” Rooney was only seven months old the last time the US won a gold medal. This win should teach girls all over America that they should never settle for second place and it should help grow the game of women’s hockey in America.

Are the St. Louis Cardinals Ready to Take Back the NL Central?

ALEX ST. PETERS astpeters@lc.edu

As long as can remember the St. Louis Cardinals have always been a dominant force in the National League (NL), or at least one of the top teams. However, in the past two seasons they’ve failed to even make the playoffs.

Since their last world series win in 2011, the Cardinals made the playoffs every year all up until 2016. What happened in 2016 you ask? Their long time rivals, the Chicago Cubs, decided get get good after 108 years of not winning a world series. The Chicago Cubs were dominant in every way in 2016 and the Cardinals saw the full force of that dominance.

The Cardinals missed the playoffs for the first time in five years and then they had to watch as the Chicago Cubs went on to win the World Series. The Cubs were no longer the laughing stock of the MLB and the Cardinals’ reign in the NL was over.

In 2017 the Cubs weren’t as dominant as they were in 2016, but they were still pretty good. The Cardinals however didn’t improve much at all from 2016 to 2017. The Cubs still made the playoffs and the cardinals didn’t, but the cubs didn’t perform as well as they did the year before. It showed that the Cubs weren’t as unstoppable as everyone thought they were. The Cubs were supposed to be a dynasty and win the World Series over and over, just like the Chicago Bulls in the 90s.

Unlike past years, the Cardinals have made moves that I believe will help them compete with the Cubs and other teams in the NL. Missing the playoffs isn’t something Cardinals fans are used to and the management has recognized that the fans won’t have another year of no baseball in October. The moves they made either by trade, signing, or call up were the right moves to help the Cardinals win.

The biggest move by far the Cardinals

Marcell Ozuna of the St. Louis Cardinals, previously of the Miami Marlins.

Image Provided by: Viva El Birdos made in the offseason was acquiring Miami but he’s going to get more playing time than Marlins outfielder, Marcell Ozuna. Ozuna had he would if Piscotty and Grichuk were still a breakout 2017 where he hit for .312 with 37 with the team. Martinez is going to be great home runs, 93 runs, and 124 runs batted in. player for the Cardinals and he needs to play The move gave the Cardinals a for-sure clean- as much as he can. The moves also brought the up guy, a solid left fielder, and it freed up space Cardinals pitching and infield depth that they in the log jam of prospects. In order to get so desperately needed. Most of the Cardinals Ozuna the Cardinals moved top prospects in top prospects are outfielders so adding some Sandy Alcantara, Zac Gallen, and Magneuris infielders was the right choice. The Grichuk Sierra. Since the Cardinals currently have trade also brought the Cardinals their probable a large crop of good young players, giving closer for the season in Dominic Leone. Leone up those three wasn’t has bad as it seems. It has the most saves among all relievers so far in opens up opportunities for other prospects to spring training and he’s posting a 1.08 earned play down the road. runs average. Hopefully, Leone is answer the The Cardinals also traded away fan favorites Cardinals have been looking for in regards to in Stephen Piscotty and Randal Grichuk. Two a closing pitcher. moves that were necessary to free up space on Also the Cardinals have taken advantage the MLB squad for Ozuna and Jose Martinez. of the return of Mike Mikolas to the MLB. Martinez may not be an everyday outfielder, Mikolas has became a star pitcher over the

past three years in the Nippon Professional Baseball league in Japan. Mikolas came in to fill the voids left by the departure of Mike Leake and Lance Lynn. Mikolas will join the veterans Adam Wainwright and Michael Wacha, young star Luke Weaver, and ace Carlos Martinez. I believe that this starting rotation is poised to be a dangerous threat to any team that plays the Cardinals. Carlos Martinez is finally the ace he should be, Luke Weaver has been extremely impressive, Mike Mikolas has improved his game drastically, and if veterans Adam Wainwright and Michael Wacha pitch like they have in the past they’ll be hard to beat.

Along with all of these additions, the Cardinals have also fine-tuned their current players.They should be making Paul DeJong and Tommy Pham everyday starters based on their performance last season. DeJong came out of nowhere last season when the Cardinals needed him most. He was on par to win rookie of the year, but lost out to other players due to the fact he wasn’t with the MLB team all year.

If given the chance to play all season he’ll be one of the top players on the team. Pham also had an amazing 2017. Despite being blind in one eye, Pham was one of the best players offensively and defensively on the Cardinals last season.

I believe that this is the year that the Cardinals will finally compete for not only the top spot in the NL Central, but in the NL. They are finally letting their young players who have been developing in Memphis for years to play at the MLB level. They are also finally going out and getting big name players like Dexter Fowler in 2017 and Marcell Ozuna in 2018. The Cardinals don’t usually spend the money on big name players, but rather get a bunch of somewhat above average players.

I believe this team has potential to make the playoffs, but the real question is how far will they go in the playoffs.

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Opinion 02

Great Scott! It’s National Parkinson’s Awareness Month!

ASHTYN BRITT abritt@lc.edu

Graphic By: Shelby Clayton

Back to the Future has been a wildly beloved trilogy classic from 1985 that still inspires nerds to this day to want their own delorean car.

The series features a young man named Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox, who accidentally travels back in time thirty years earlier in a time machine created by his friend Dr. Emmett Brown and inadvertently caused his parents to not meet. Marty has to get the help of the past Emmett Brown to get his parents together and to find a way back into his own time.

While this comedy is funny and filled with classic one liners, as well as likeable characters and an important message about how anyone can change their future, this trilogy also offers a specific gem who deserves a little extra appreciation this month.

Michael J. Fox has been a wonderful and beloved actor for generations.

Having roles such as in Midnight Madness, Class of 1984, Family Ties, and of course playing the lead of Back to the Future, he’s definitely made quite a cinematic impact!

However, what some people might

not know, is that Michael J Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 1991, and revealed this to the public in 1998. He decided to start a foundation to help research into fighting Parkinson’s Disease and has spent many long years now being an advocate for the cause. I find Michael J. Fox to be a brave and remarkable man for this, and thought he deserved proper recognition for National Parkinson’s Awareness Month.

A great way to honor this month other than rewatching Back to the Future is to please donate to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

Donations can help the development of study around this disease and help allow for there one day to maybe be a cure.

You can donate online at www. michaeljfox.org/ as well as by phone at 1-800-708-7644, or even mail in a donation at Donation Processing The Michael J. Fox Foundation P.O. Box 5014 Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014.

So, if you’re able to, please donate and spread awareness to help fight Parkinson’s Disease! Because together, maybe we all could make a better future for those who are suffering.

An Open Letter to my Father ASHTYN BRITT abritt@lc.edu

Photo Provided by: Ashtyn Britt

Dear Daddy, Even twenty years into my life, and I don’t hesitate to call you Daddy. I’m sure that in ten, or twenty, or even thirty years from now, I will still call you Daddy. I’m sure most people reading this will think I’m about to go off on all the ways you’ve failed me as a parent, or to blame you for why my adulthood has shortcomings. They’re wrong, though.

This isn’t to say we’ve always had a perfect father/daughter dynamic, or even have a perfect father/daughter dynamic now. We’ve always fought, and I think unfortunately we have an odd power to get under each other’s skin easier than anyone else. This isn’t all that we are though, and I know that.

I can now imagine how you must have felt raising me, seeing as I wasn’t a typical or easy child. I can understand how there were times you would be frustrated with me, or with the situation we’d been forced into without Mom. I get now why it seemed like you were so angry so much of the time. You were probably terrified over me. I’m not a mother yet, and don’t plan on being one for some time, but I

can imagine how scary it would be to love a kid so much and know how many ways the world can hurt that child.

You’re probably still terrified now, hoping I’ll become a functioning adult that can take care of myself and build my own life. Sometimes, people don’t know how to express their fear or love, so it can come across aggressively. I know now without a doubt you do love me, and have stuck by me even when there have been times it was hard for you.

Thank you, Daddy. Thank you for supporting me the best way you know how.

Thank you for taking care of me, even when I’m sure there were times you wish you could’ve stopped. Thank you for doing your best to help me become a person who can take care of myself, and build my own beliefs for my own reasons.

Thank you for still accepting me as your daughter, and for continuing to love me. Even when we fight, or have life get in the way, even though we’re both very far from perfect.

No matter what’s happened, you’re still my father, and you’re the only one I’ll ever have.

I love you.

Love,

Your daughter.

Graphic By: Shelby Clayton

Are Roses Anti-Feminist?

ASHTYN BRITT

abritt@lc.edu I recently overheard a conversation that suggested that roses were overrated. I was rather shocked as I heard the person continue, saying that they were to cliche and useless.

The person even went so far to suggest that to receive them was anti-feminist.

I kept my opinion to myself, but I must say I very strongly disagree with such statements. This last Valentine’s Day, I gladly bought my own bouquet of red roses because I love them so much, and took pride in keeping them alive much longer than one would’ve thought. Maybe it’s because I took great pride in taking care of something else, or maybe because I love their smell or their look, but I truly felt proud of myself for getting these roses.

Roses definitely aren’t anti-feminist, either. Discouraging what a woman likes or scolding her choice to enjoy what she likes is anti-feminist. I didn’t need anybody else to buy my roses, I did it myself because I wanted to. I will love them no matter who buys them for me because I love roses.

They’re not cliche, they’re timeless.

The idea of feminine things being antifeminist is borderline infuriating. If someone opens a door for me, I find it to be polite manners. If I wear a skirt or dress, it’s because I think it’s pretty. If I do my hair or makeup, it’s because I like the way it makes me feel. If you assume I only do it to please the opposite sex, that is anti-feminist. I don’t have to do anything in an effort to impress anybody, I am an adult and can make those kinds of decisions for myself.

Feminism is about equality and choice.

I choose to wear makeup. I choose to dress girly. I choose to enjoy my love of roses, enjoy their scent, and try to care for them the best of my ability. That is my choice and right to do so, because my roses are for me.

Not to please your political agenda.

For those of you who like classic things like roses or having doors opened for you, don’t feel discouraged. You’re allowed to like whatever you like, and that is your right to like it. Enjoy life, because it’s far too short to care about whether or not someone else thinks it’s outdated or not.

Graphic By: Shelby Clayton

03 Opinion

www.thelcbridge.com

Letter toFrom the Editor Phi Theta Kappa Phi Theta Kappa can mean different things to different people. Of course for everyone, it means graduating with honors, but it is actually so much more than that. Honestly, Phi Theta Kappa means a lot more than many people would realize. For me being in PTK means having incredible opportunities to represent my school, get involved in campus events, and make a lot of new friends along the way. In just my first couple of months I’ve been able to do all this and I’m so excited to continue to do these things and more in the coming year.

Representing the school was the first way I got involved in Phi Theta Kappa and getting to do that means so much to me. It started when our advisor, Elizabeth Grant, sent out and email saying she needed a volunteer to represent PTK at the student government meetings. Luckily, I was free during the meeting times and was eagerly looking for a way to get involved in Lewis and Clark’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter. I immediately agreed to go to the meeting and I now get the honor of representing us at all of the student government meetings.

Not only do I represent PTK at these meetings, but also I was able to do this at our very own Discover Day. This gave me the chance to meet new prospective students and tell them one on one what being in Phi Theta Kappa could mean for them. The privilege of representing our chapter will continue for me at our upcoming Springfest and hopefully at many more future events as well. It is without a doubt one of my favorite parts of being an active Phi Theta Kappa member here on campus.

Not only do I get to represent PTK on campus, but I also get special opportunities to participate in campus events as well. One of those events is our April 18th Earth Day event in which our PTK chapter gets to present a poem to those attending. Sometimes the

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involvement goes even further and I get to actually be a part of planning campus events, which I especially love. This is already happening as I am currently working with a PTK officer, Elizabeth Grant, and Dr. Linda Chapman to create an event that seeks to educate all in attendance about opioids and give a voice to those who have been impacted by opioid addiction. This is a special honor for me and I am greatly looking forward to being able to be actively involved in many of the events that take place on the Lewis and Clark campus.

Beyond any type of involvement in events or campus activities, Phi Theta Kappa has meant getting to meet and become friends with some of the most amazing people. For starters, getting to know and work with our incredible advisor, Elizabeth Grant, is such an honor and I have learned so much from her already. I’ve also gotten to know the officers and the members who attend the general meetings and they are all so inspirational. There is a special bond created when a person gets to work side by side with people who are like-minded in their mission and yet so beautifully diverse at the same time. This has certainly been true of the friends I have made so far in Phi Theta Kappa. Gaining camaraderie with a group of strong, smart, motivated individuals is the opportunity of a lifetime and I am so blessed to have that.

I hope through sharing my experience with Phi Theta Kappa and what being a member means to me, it will encourage others to join as well. I’ve only mentioned a few of the benefits, so I hope many will read this and feel compelled to become an active member and find their own unique meaning in PTK. Being involved can take a lot of work, but it is equally a lot of fun. It takes dedication and perseverance, but I promise you that what you get out of it is well worth any effort you put in.

What it Was Like Getting my First Tattoo.

ASHTYN BRITT abritt@lc.edu

I can’t make the following statement any clearer: I love tattoos. I think tattoos are one of the most creative forms of art that currently exists because it is literally art that you get to keep as a part of you for the rest of your life.

I only have one tattoo so far, one on the back of my neck I got as a tribute to my mother, but I plan to get many more.

I have at least seven currently in mind, including their images and where they’d be placed so that they wouldn’t be too visible. I have to plan this way because unfortunately, people get judged for having tattoos as if it somehow means they’re hooligans.

If you hold the belief that only drugaddicted hoodlums have tattoos, I will state this right now: The most successful person I know has four tattoos. My lovely older sister is an executive of a large clothing company with a nice home in Texas with a loving husband and beautiful child. She in part inspired me to get a tattoo of my own along with deciding to build my own sense of bravery. Also, I had always wanted to get a tattoo to honor my mother, who was the first best friend I ever had.

So, a few months ago, I had a spare bit of money to burn and asked my close friend at the time to come with me. She gave me a

big smile and didn’t even hesitate to agree.

I will admit, I’d been worried, but very determined to follow through. I wanted to face my fears, which isn’t something I’m great at.

I picked out exactly what I wanted, made the appointment, and sent the tattoo artist the design I wanted and then spent the next two days convincing myself to not chicken out.

When the time came, they gave me one line with no ink so I’d know how painful or not it would be. The pain was significantly less than I thought it would be, so I held my friend’s hand and faced my fear.

The whole thing took about half an hour to do. I was more proud of myself than I think I’d ever been before by that point. The healing time was only a few weeks. Every time I hear anything about it or get a compliment on it, I feel a strong sense of pride all over again. I wanted something and I made it happen.

For those who are considering getting a tattoo, if you know for a fact and are sure of what you want and have the means to do so, I say go for it! Don’t let anyone else tell you what to do with your body, it is yours and yours alone. Value it as yours, and if that means you want to cover it in art, then that is your right to do so! I know I’ll very much be indulging in my right to more tattoos.

Graphic By: Jason Wallace

WHERE

FRESH & FAST MEET ®

Graphic By: Shelby Clayton

Mattress Store Conspiracy: For Good Sleep or Sleep for Good?

ASHTYN BRITT abritt@lc.edu

Now, I’m usually not one to fall for conspiracy theories, but I can’t help but to pay attention to this one. Have any of you actually bothered to count how many mattress stores you have in the area? Because, when actually counted, there’s a lot. I mean, A LOT a lot.

Yet, every single time I’ve ever been in a mattress store, there’s never any customers. Also, mattresses are typically good for about seven to ten years, so it’s not like people need to change their mattresses often. So, by basic rules of economics, you wouldn’t think you’d need nearly the amount of mattress stores that exist. Especially in one concentrated area!

There are literally areas you can look up on google maps where there will be three stores on the same road. Nobody needs that many mattress stores, especially when they’re always empty!

So, why are there so many mattress

stores? Well, the theory is that mattress stores are the new money laundering scam. Now, at first, it sounds as crazy as every other conspiracy theory. Until you actually think about it.

Mattress stores are almost never on our radars, because we rarely ever need a new mattress, so it makes perfect sense to be able to use a mattress store as a cover for other illegal activities.

Nobody would ever suspect it, or even notice when multiple mattress stores show up in the same town without any customers ever actually in them.

It’s really weird when you actually pay attention to these statements, because they’re true. If the theory is incorrect, I would love to ask all the mattress stores in America to explain exactly how there’s such a high demand for their stores and products.

In the meantime, I’ll be keeping my eye out for any funny business, and try to stop staying up so late on YouTube watching weird conspiracy videos so I can maybe get some sleep again!

WE DELIVER! VISIT JIMMYJOHNS.COM TO FIND A LOCATION NEAR YOU

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Opinion 04

Three Surprising Illinois Laws You Might be Breaking STEPHANIE LARSON

slarson@lc.edu I’d be willing to bet that you’ve shared or laughed at one of the many lists of strange laws that can be found online or in magazines.

For example, did you know that you’re not allowed to wrestle a bear in Oklahoma?

Imagine that! These lists are funny and all, but there’s not much risk that most people would even be tempted to do such a thing. But what about c 1. You can be arrested for vagrancy in Illinois if you do not have a dollar in your possession.

Is it a law?

No. The Illinois Compiled Statutes leaves all laws concerning vagrancy to the municipal governments.

2. You may not hang an air freshener, fuzzy dice, or a parking pass from your rearview mirror in Illinois.

Is it a law?

Yes. This law can be found in Illinois Compiled Statutes (625 ILCS 5/12-503), which states, “No person shall drive a motor vehicle with any objects placed or suspended between the driver and the front windshield, rear window, side wings or side windows immediately adjacent to each side of the driver which materially obstructs the driver’s view.”

Is it enforced?

Yes. This law was never repealed, and is used as a pretext for traffic stops. And because the statute is so vague as to what exactly qualifies as “obstruct[ing] the driver’s view”, police can enforce this law at their discretion.

3. It is illegal to wear saggy pants in Collinsville, Illinois Is it a law?

Yes. A city ordinance passed in 2011 required that all pants worn on public property be “secured at the waist to prevent the pants from falling more than 3 inches below the hips ... causing exposure to the person or the person’s undergarments.” Penalties were a $100 citation and up to 40 hours of community service a first offense, and $300 for each following offence.

Is it enforced?

No. The ordinance was never enforced, due in part to a strongly negative public reaction, and the 2011 law was repealed in September 2017.

So what can an everyday person do to avoid being arrested for one of these strange laws?

Sadly, not much. Remember, ignorance of a law isn’t a valid defence for breaking it. The only thing to do is to read your local laws and ordinances, and to hope for the best from police. Good luck!

Image Provided by: Pixabay.com

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@thelcbridge REMINDER: FALL 2018 TRANSFER LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE: MAY 1 This is an exciting opportunity to participate in WebsterLEADS, Webster’s co-curricular student leadership development program.

For 20 years, WebsterLEADS has engaged students in an on-going application of scholarship and practical leadership experiences that develops a foundation from which they will change the world.

“Through WebsterLEADS, now I’m doing even more with student leadership and I’m meeting some amazing people along the way.”

—Brittany Merchant

Discover why Webster University is known as the global university with campuses on 4 continents and fantastic study abroad opportunities.

VISIT US! While you’re on campus you can also learn about Webster’s exciting academic programs; generous transfer scholarships; how to apply for free; and request free estimated evaluations of your transfer credit!

For more information: WEBSTER.EDU/TRANSFER Office of Admission R EC-3276 CC AD_L&C_180402_4.indd 1

314-246-7800 or 1-800-753-6765 admit@webster.edu 470 E. Lockwood Ave., St. Louis, MO

St. Louis, MO

2/28/18 10:51 AM

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05 Feature

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Photos by: Krystie Morrison

Who is the most influential lady in your life and why?

Jessica Bassett

Taylor Vaughn

Anya Alexis H. Wilkie

Alton, Illinois Music

Brighton, Illinois Music Performance

Cheyenne Myatt

Ian Patton

My mom is the most influential woman in my life because she is always there for me, works hard and is very involved in my life. She works at a school which has made me want to as well.

“My mom and my cousin Shontel. They are both strong women that don’t give up and are always fighting for what they want.

They inspire me to never give up and fight for what I want.”

My mother because she has taught me so much and has always been there for me.

Ruth Graves Wakefield. She is the inventor of chocolate chip cookies and chocolate chip cookies play an important role in my life.

My mom because she was there for me every step of the way.

Bunkerhill, Illinois Elementary Education

Earth Day Quote A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U VW X Y Z 20

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Bunker Hill, Illinois Nursing

Jerseyville, Illinois Meteorology

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By: Tristan Wuellner

Graphic By: Zach Howard

Happy Easter

Happy Easter

Spot the 14 Differences Graphic By: Zach Howard

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The Bridge’s 6

2018

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Cutest P et Contest Cast your vote online at thebridge@lc.edu or on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thelcbridge/

8 Voting ends April 24th

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Pawticipants 1.) Trudie

6.) Buddy

11.) Reese

16.) Fritz

2.) Holly

7.) Pippi

12.) Forrest

17.) Samwell Tarly

3.) Sloane

8.) Branno

13.) Lucy L.

18.) Salem

4.) Charlie

9.) Sparky

14.) Lucy R.

19.) Gannon

5.) Frannie

10.) Miley

15.) Roger

20.) Loki