February 9th Edition of The Lorian

The Lorian

LADY DU’S CONTINUE TO DOMINATE ON THE COURT

By JAKE SINATRA

The Loras Women’s Basketball team has had a fantastic start to the season for the second year in a row. Following two early losses to Northern Illinois University and Augustana College, the Lady Du’s have settled into a 17-4 record, with a strong 10-2 record in conference.

After following the highlights from their Florida trip on Twitter and Instagram, I was lucky enough to grab an interview with their head coach, Justin Heinzen, as well as Senior Cierra Bachmann and Junior Sami Martin.

Coach Heinzen’s team started the season with an unusual game: a division 1 matchup against Northern Illinois University. This is not a common occurrence. The only way to get into a game like this is to be invited. The final score was an 8861 loss, but this wasn’t important in Coach Heinzen’s eyes.

“You schedule those games not expecting to win a lot of those games, but you want to compete at a pretty high level,” Heinzen said. “I thought this was a team that could probably not just fold and get smashed by a team like that.” The confidence his players earned was not underserved, as they outscored their opponent 38-35 in the second half.

Coach Heinzen also viewed this game as a learning opportunity for their competition later in the year. “What they [NIU] do is expose any mistake that you make,” Heinzen observed. “They pushed our pace.”

Both Sami and Cierra agreed with this statement but had the same positive view of their struggles. When it came to transition plays, the team struggled. “They capitalize on those transition plays every time. If we turned the ball over, they would pick it up sprinting down the court,” Bachmann told me, jokingly following it with, “It was our first game; we were a bit out of shape.”

After playing a team like Northern Illinois, our Lady Du’s saw their toughest competition of the year but also learned how to make in-game adjustments that would help them succeed against teams in the ARC.

One of the deciding factors in a team’s success is player turnover. Graduating an entire starting five all at once can throw a wrench into a team’s success. Luckily for Coach Heinzen, his 19-4 team record last year only graduated one starter and

DUHAWKS SUPPORTING DUHAWKS

By JEREMIAH ALLEN

At Loras college, we strive to be Duhawks supporting Duhawks. We love supporting our sports teams and cheering them on. While watching and supporting our sports teams is an amazing way to support our athletes, it is also essential to understand each athlete as an individual and see their views and purposes from their perspective. This article aims to help the students and staff of Loras College get to know our amazing athletes and allow their voices to be heard.

For this interview, I had the opportunity to talk with Noah Reid. He is a sophomore from Griffith, Indiana, who plays outside back or wing back for our men’s soccer team. Reid is currently majoring in kinesiology and has future goals to go into the healthcare field after he leaves Loras College.

When asked why Reid wanted to attend Loras College, he said, “It was a small Catholic college with a talented soccer team.”

The soccer team has been very important to Reid during his time at Loras. When asked why he enjoys playing on the soccer team, Reid stated, “I enjoy being a part of the brotherhood and being blessed to have that camaraderie with a great

Approaching Graduation

As the spring semester kicks off, the realization that this is my final semester at Loras has set it. I will be taking the traditional route of a college student by graduating in four years. I believe it is my responsibility, as a graduating student, to leave some helpful reminders to younger students here at Loras. Take these tips as much or page 2

Volleyball Starts Season on Fire

By KEEGAN A. GODWIN

The Loras Men’s Volleyball team is off to a strong start this season, as they head into the weekend with a 5-1 record. The team traveled to Ohio for a four-game battle out east.

The Duhawks defeated St. Norbert College, Stevenson University (RV), and Hilbert College. In a grueling four-set battle, Loras would lose their first match of the season to Baldwin Wallace University.

For their excellent trip to Ohio, sophomore outside Corey Mayotte was named CCIW Hitter of the Week for his strong performance. Mayotte had 32 kills in only two

Duhawk Dispatch

By AVA BRADLEY

games in Ohio, with a career-high 18 kills against Baldwin Wallace. Mayotte only played in three of the four games in Ohio, but still totaled 40 kills, 11 digs, six blocks, and two aces over the weekend.

Following their Ohio trip, the Duhawks hosted both Fontbonne University and Marian University for their first home games of the season at the end of January. The team easily defeated both teams with a clean sweep.

With the Duhawks’ strong start, senior setter Joe Horn was named the CCIW Setter/Libero/Defensive

Welcome back to the Duhawk Dispatch! Student Government hopes that you all are having a great start to your semester. We have been working on a few items throughout the break and would like to share some highlights of what we are working on.

Our Executive Team is working on trying to bridge gaps in certain areas for students. One of those areas is carpooling and selling textbooks. There were forums for this on the Life at Loras app, which is no longer in commission and has fizzled out since. We are currently exploring multiple platforms to make this easy for all students to utilize. Once we have a solution, we will send an informative email out to all students. Be sure to watch your Loras email for more information to come.

Student Government is also looking for students to join committees. We have openings on the following committees: Housing, Campus Life, Diversity-EquityInclusion, and Academics. The time commitment is one hour per week. This is a great way to be involved and make an impact in your campus community! If you are interested in joining, please email: Student. Government@loras.edu.

Appointments and Elections are also just around the corner!

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An Ode to the Cafe page 3

TREC Trip Experience The Challenge of 2024

I did not discover until late last year what a treasure the large room tucked between the second and fourth floors of the ACC (Alumni Campus Center) truly is. Even though I spent my entire first year here, two meals a day, sometimes three. Monday through Friday at 11:00 a.m. sharp, my friends and I made our contribution to the spiraling line outside the Café’s entrance. By 11:05 a.m., we had

Over J-term break, I had the opportunity to participate in a TREC (Think-ReflectEngage-Connect) trip through the Spiritual Life Department. I became interested in the Arizona-Mexico border trip because being from the Midwest, it’s a culture I’ve never experienced before. While in college, we have time and opportunities like

The 2024 presidential election will be one of the most divisive and destructive elections in American history. It is unclear who will be at the forefront of the Republican nomination. Mr. Donald Trump has already announced his candidacy for the presidency. Republicans like Mr. Ron DeSantis and Ms. Nikki Haley are increasingly

February 9. 2023 - Dubuque, IA

photo from DUHAWK ATHLETICS

Sophomore Silvana Scarsella (#11) takes a jump shot against rival University of Dubuque. The Duhawks are 18-4 at this point in the season and are looking to make a statement as they push towards the playoffs.

photo from DUHAWK ATHLETICS

Senior setter Joe Horn (#8) was awarded with the CCIW Setter/ Libero/Defensive Player of the Week for his outstanding play.

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A DUHAWK

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group of guys.”

Noah appeared in 17 games this season and started in two of them. He has also achieved the title of an academic All-Conference athlete.

Future opportunities have been added to his radar to participate in over the next few years. Reid said, “Some opportunities I am looking forward to that Loras has to offer are the study abroad program, being involved with FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students), and gaining experience in the professional world.”

This led to my next question. When asked about his future career aspirations, he stated, “I want to become a nurse.”

If he continues his career goals, Reid would become part of the 14% of male nurses that are currently employed in the United States.

To wrap up, I asked about his favorite memory at Loras College or being on the men’s soccer team. He responded by talking about the previous NCAA tournament in which, “My favorite memory is going to the NCAA tournament and winning against North Central.”

From what I can tell so far, Noah Reid is a hard-working and astounding human being to be

An Ode tO the CAfe

By KARLY WEISS

I did not discover until late last year what a treasure the large room tucked between the second and fourth floors of the ACC (Alumni Campus Center) truly is. Even though I spent my entire first year here, two meals a day, sometimes three.

Monday through Friday at 11:00 a.m. sharp, my friends and I made our contribution to the spiraling line outside the Café’s entrance. By 11:05 a.m., we had claimed our booth in the very center of the room and began stealing seats to make a sixperson booth into a ten- or twelveperson conference table. By 11:10 a.m. we were all seated with our plates full and our eyes wide. And here we would remain until 12:15 p.m. every day. I am not sure how we never grew tired of it. Sure, we could have been doing homework, studying for tests, or calling our moms, but that thought never really crossed my mind.

We were much too busy speaking out of turn, laughing uncontrollably, and always eating our desserts first. School, stresses, and worries never came up. We instead tackled the important stuff like good songs, weekend plans, and embarrassing stories.

This semester, many of my friends and I faced the dilemma of taking a class from 11:00 AM to 12:20 PM or keeping our beloved lunch hour and 15 minutes open. After weeks of mulling over the decision, we decided it was probably in our best interest to graduate on time.

I have been missing my lunch hour and 15 minutes an awful lot this year.

I am thankful for the Café, the fantastic food, and friendly workers. I am appreciative of my mom for loving me and agreeing to buy me a meal plan this year. I am especially grateful to my friends for spending countless hours in the Café with me and for promising to spend many more.

Approaching Graduation: The Final Lap

As the spring semester kicks off, the realization that this is my final semester at Loras has set it. I will be taking the traditional route of a college student by graduating in four years. I believe it is my responsibility, as a graduating student, to leave some helpful reminders to younger students here at Loras. Take these tips as much or as little as you want. But to those who read and accept these tips, I hope they find you well.

Put Yourself Out There

One of the most important things anyone can do at Loras is put yourself out there. College is an amazing place to define who you are as a person. However, the only way to find out who you are is by experiencing everything Loras has to offer. You may find yourself to be uncomfortable at times. Being uncomfortable is okay! Experiencing new things should be uncomfortable at times because, well, you’ve never experienced it before. Go to the CAB events, go to the Loras sporting events, go to everything and anything Loras has to offer. You may not have a group to go with you. That is perfectly fine because it allows you to meet new people. Over my four years, not once have I had students not accept me into a group at a social event. Be an active member of the Loras Community. The benefits will never end and the memories you make will last a lifetime.

Don’t be Afraid to Fail

I personally believe that failing is underrated. Now, failing a class is not the type of failure I am talking about. Try your very best not to fail a class. What I am talking about is the failure that comes with your day-to-day life. Sometimes the world will not align with what you had in mind. Maybe you wanted that internship more

By KEEGAN A. GODWIN

than anything in the world. Maybe you thought that someone was the one. Maybe you thought that sport was meant for you. Unfortunately, things do not always work out the way we want. We are dealt blow after blow. But, going back to what I talked about earlier, our failures define us. Let me explain. Everyone is amazing when we win or get what we want. But, who you are after a failure is the true you. Are you someone who can handle failure? Or are you someone who cannot get over the fear of failing? Being able to handle and control yourself after a failure is one of the most important life skills to carry with you. I encourage you to change your view on failure and roll with life’s punches.

Try Not to Complain Life is difficult. We are all aware of this. Being a college student only makes it more difficult for us. When life gets difficult, it is only human to complain. However, I have found that complaining is one of the most useless traits to possess. I used to complain all the time when life got difficult. I learned that by not complaining and getting straight to work, your problems go away a lot faster than complaining about an unfortunate situation. It’s a very simple tip, but one that goes a long way.

Always Try Your Hardest No matter what you are doing, always give it everything you have. Whether it is for a class, for sports, or even in a relationship, always give it your 100%. By not putting all of your efforts into something, you are only hurting yourself, and in some cases, the people around you. You must believe in yourself and your ability to succeed. With that mindset, you are going to see an improvement in

everything you do.

Care About Those Around You

It is easy to get caught up in the college life. Balancing classes and other obligations, you may be struggling to put others’ needs on your radar. Being busy does not excuse you from caring about other people. No one wants to be friends with a selfish person. It’s a little corny, but be the change you want to see in the world. You wouldn’t want someone to be a jerk to you, so never be a jerk to others. Always try your hardest to be a kind person. A bad reputation will follow you around for the rest of your life. Ensure that your reputation is one that leaves a positive impact on those you interact with.

Not all of these tips will be applicable to everyone who reads this. Not all these tips will have an immediate impact on your life. But, take these from someone who has been through four years of experience here at Loras. I have failed, I have complained, and I have slacked off. But I didn’t let that define me. I have put in the work over my time at Loras and I hope that I can make someone’s experience here just a little bit better.

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL STARTING SEASON STRONG

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Player of the Week for having 63 assists over the two-match homestand. He also picked up ten digs over the weekend, allowing the team to run an effective offense to defeat Marian and Fontbonne.

At the end of January, the Duhawks were nationally ranked fourth in attack percentage (.327), seventh in aces per set (2.53), and third in kills per set (12.74).

Loras’s game against Benedictine was scheduled for February 9th but has been postponed due to inclement weather. The game is tentatively rescheduled for Monday, February 13th, but that date is subject to change.

The next game for the Duhawks is scheduled for Saturday, February 11th against Concordia University –Wisconsin at Lillis Court. The game is scheduled for 12 PM.

Women’s BasketBall Rising to the top

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

one first-off-the-bench, leaving a solid core of players to help lead the team this year. “Our core started playing together as sophomores and are seniors now, and adding pieces like Sami helps.” However, Coach Heinzen is not refusing opportunities for other players to show their talent. Every player has played in a minimum of five games, with most of the non-starters playing in the 7-18 game range. He believes that coming in behind a senior takes the pressure off the younger players, knowing that there is consistency in experience on the floor.

I asked Coach Heinzen how he felt about the depth of each position, and his answer was extremely optimistic. “I think our depth has evolved. A few players are playing now that didn’t play earlier in the year and vice versa. Roles have changed as we have gone on. People have settled in and gotten more comfortable, but I don’t think we are done yet. There are a few players right on the fringe of doing that and given the opportunity in the next couple of games could help.”

His hopes for the depth of the program to continue are just as high as his hopes for now. “We have a great first-year class who are going to be awesome for us but don’t have a ton of opportunity right now. Cierra’s production level is at such a high mark that even Cierra at 60% is still an allconference Cierra.” This first-year class is following the same trajectory as the current senior class, and another strong Sophomore core could be seen next year.

As with any sport, outscoring your opponent is the only way to win. With this team, scoring has not been an issue, outscoring their opponents by 16.8 points per game. Even though scoring is important, defense can make scoring that much easier. Coach Heinzen is pleasantly surprised by his team’s defensive production this year, which

he says opens scoring opportunities. “Taking a snapshot from October of what I think our team is going to be, just because we returned so much scoring. But defense has been our calling card, and it has allowed us to gap teams.” It’s like they always say, defense wins championships. Having talented players is not the only key to success. In high school, teams can get away with bad team chemistry by bulldozing their competition. However, collegiate sports provide a much smaller gap in talent; essentially, anybody can beat anybody. Because of this, team chemistry can take a strong team to an elite team. Team building activities are important to Coach Heinzen, but he only stays involved early on. They have a few designated days at the beginning of the fall semester for team building, but after that, it is up to the players.

“The best teams we’ve had have been led by players intimately over the course of the year. More of it is done outside of that one snapshot day. That’s where you build teams; the day-today, not the once-a-month.” Both Martin and Bachmann agreed with this sentiment. “If you see any teammate around campus, it always helps to ask how they are doing,” Martin told me. “You are still going to have your best friends on the court and off the court but making that connection with everyone is for the best.”

Bachmann thinks it can even translate outside

of social life and into academics. “No matter what your major is, everyone has something to bring. Sami might help me with STEM homework, and I might help her with her homework. It is the same for all the girls on the team.” They both concluded with their appreciation for the strong relationship between Seniors and First-Years, telling me that many of the Seniors are very good friends with First-Year students, boosting team chemistry. As they both attest to, “there is no hierarchy.”

As the Lady Du’s look to make a push to pass up first-place Wartburg in the ARC standings, their relationship with Coach Heinzen will continue to factor into the final result. The players agree that Coach Heinzen is very approachable. They can come to him with flaws they notice on the court and the strengths of their teammates that may have been missed. This mutual respect provides a solid foundation for a program that looks to continue its success for years to come.

photo from DUHAWK ATHLETICS Junior middle Michael Dziewior (#10) celebrates after getting an ace.

photo from DUHAWK ATHLETICS

Junior Sami Martin (#11) takes a jumper over a Spartan defender.

Learning Along the Arizona-Mexico Border

BRINGING HOPE TO THE CHURCH: SEEK23

By BERNADETTE MERCURIO

By MARY FELLERS

Over J-term break, I had the opportunity to participate in a TREC (Think-Reflect-Engage-Connect) trip through the Spiritual Life Department. I became interested in the Arizona-Mexico border trip because being from the Midwest, it’s a culture I’ve never experienced before. While in college, we have time and opportunities like these to see distinct parts of the country and world that might not be available to us once we graduate. I also wanted to learn more about immigration issues. It’s a hot political topic and I found myself avoiding taking a stance because I wasn’t educated enough. Now, I can say I have witnessed these issues firsthand, and I want to share a little of what I experienced.

First, a lot of preparation went into this trip before we began traveling to Arizona-Mexico. We had several pre-departure meetings to prepare for the location, what we would witness, and the service we would provide migrants. I, along with my companions, felt nervous and anxious about what to expect. Thankfully, we were given packets of information about Kino Border Initiative (the Catholic Jesuit organization we partnered with for the trip), watched several videos, and had discussions about what to expect and/or fears we were having. In addition, we also had the option to attend “Spanish Conversation” nights to help us learn a little bit of Spanish. (I wish I had taken advantage of this more).

The trip lasted about a week, and it was one of the most eye-opening, yet emotionally draining, weeks of my life. Disclaimer, I learned that not everyone must have a huge emotional reaction to what they are witnessing. I am not one that always shows my emotions, and it’s been a slower process since I returned home. I also don’t have a personal story of immigration; it hasn’t touched my life as closely as some of my companions. However, this trip was still an emotional experience for me, and my heart has been broken by what I witnessed. My written words can never hold as much meaning or emotion as the experience of being present with migrants at the border. However, I still want to share my experience in hopes that it encourages some of you

The Catholic conference known as SEEK23 hosted by FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) took place from January 2-6, 2023, in St. Louis, Missouri, with about 40 Loras students in attendance. Ruben Botali, Noah Reid, and Morgan Morano shared their experiences. They all attended previous SEEK conferences, with Morgan leading the count at about five conferences under her belt. When asked about similarities between previous conferences, all three noted that the structure stayed the same. Keynotes, impact sessions, Adoration, and mass consistently occurred, however, the content varied from year to year. Also, there were smaller, regional SEEK conferences during the pandemic, making the staggering 17,000 attendees at SEEK23 an impressive number.

to go outside of your comfort zone to educate yourself and support those around us.

The first big takeaway from this trip for me is that it humanized the immigrant’s experience. By talking to migrants at the Kino shelter in Mexico, I learned that most people are fleeing some type of violence, whether it’s family, work, government, or drug cartel related. These people have nowhere else to turn, no other options. Most people are seeking a safe place, somewhere to call home because their original home isn’t safe anymore. Yet, if you asked a migrant about their hometown, they usually talked about it with so much love and longing. They didn’t want to leave, but they had to.

Think about the place where you grew up. You probably have fond memories of the landscape, family, and memories you made there. Migrants at the border are no different. They are people like anybody else, just from a different part of the world, facing situations that a lot of us can only imagine.

Another takeaway from my trip is that applying for legal passage is almost a joke. Did you know that immigration logs are backed up by over 20 years? In different situations, cases from the late ’90s are only just being heard today. Imagine trying to immigrate to America at the age of 30, waiting 20 years... to MAYBE be considered at the age of 50. That’s if your record is completely clean and you have a reliable person here in the US to sponsor you, among other requirements. Some of the barriers to immigration include poverty and criminal histories, situations that many Americans looking for jobs are non-discriminated against when applying for certain positions.

Furthermore, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a law called Title 42 which deals with public health, social welfare, and civil rights was passed by former President Donald Trump. The title is intended to protect the country from the spread of harmful diseases, however, in this case, its extended enforcement is causing more issues for migrants at the border. The policy continues to be renewed which is barring migration of any asylum seekers, or those seeking shelter in a foreign country from

A desire for personal growth and connections also influenced Reid’s decision. “At first, I was getting pestered by FOCUS missionaries,” he said. “Something [inside] told me, ‘You haven’t been on a retreat on a while.’ So finally, I just broke down and was like, ‘Fine. I’ll go.’”

FOCUS missionaries run the show, and Morano revealed that it takes committees a lot of time and energy to execute a SEEK conference. There are multiple committees assigned to specific duties.

“I was a part of the VIP speaker committee,” Morano stated. “It was a blessing to work with speakers and treat them as fellow human persons. […] I just appreciated being able to see them in their humanity.” It did take away from her time spent with the college students though.

So, what made them go back for another SEEK experience?

“I know I don’t create time for God, straight up. Knowing that I would go to a place where my only focus would be God was really attractive,” Botali said, after thinking for a moment.

Speakers seemed to be a highlight, with Fr. Mike Schmitz, Jason Evert, and Fr. Joshua Johnson, just to name a few. “Seeing them that close was just a reminder that they’re also, like, human beings,” Botali said. “[… Fr. Mike Schmitz] was very close to me!”

The attendants mentioned feeling overwhelmed and excited at first.

Their fruitful experiences brought them closer to other people and God, especially during Adoration and confession.

Nonetheless, seemingly mundane moments still held great value. Reid said, “Waiting outside Sugarfire Smokehouse, we ended up starting, like, a flash mob, even getting the workers involved, even getting song requests from them. Just living out that true joy was really cool.”

Ruben mentioned that he walked into the stadium while people sang Gregorian chants. That moment struck his heart because he realized how small he was, and even amid everyone, God still loved him.

The location usually changes, but next year SEEK24 will once again be held in St. Louis, Missouri. Morano says, “I just encourage any student who desires to grow in their faith to check out SEEK and talk to a missionary or a student who has [attended].”

Hopefully these interviews encourage others to learn more about the conference. See you at SEEK24!

THE ODD AFFLICTION OF ROY MCCARTHERS -PART TWO-

By DRYDEN MONTES

A floorboard creaked. Not near enough for a terrible alarm, but down the hall; it was nothing, it had to be nothing. A mouse had scurried in the darkness, or perhaps the wind was shaking the old house. Yes, that had to be so. Another creak. This time right behind the closed door.

No doubt about it, the knob was shaking—a low rattily sound, unnerving in the gloom—and now it turned. The door just groaned open, and the yellow candlelight behind it shot forth in a thin beam; always a candle, the infernal, burning flame! Now it came, the same face, the same, terrifying face. The black dress, the curved cane, the leering, maniacal expression: all the same. The burning, maddened eyes peered into the gloom, and the withered hand tightened upon the black-wood support as the restless gaze fell upon the hated one.

Forward one soft step was taken, and a sharp intake of breath like a hiss whistled through the rotted teeth, as the tongue, brown like liver, curled behind them. There was nothing he could do—not even cry out—as the figure advanced into the room. Another step, silent as a stalking panther, was taken. There was a hoarse sound, like a hideous chuckle, coming from low inside the shriveled throat.

The heart of the victim, which had nearly stopped, now gave a dreadful, beating wrench, which seemed to reverberate in the silent room like a drum. It would not

be long now.

Dust like ash fell from the yellowed flesh as one hand was extended straight forward. The cane, in the other hand, grew into an immense staff, and the curved top formed into a blade.

The black dress was blown as if by an unfelt wind, billowing into a great sable cloak, as the light against which the terrible figure was silhouetted turned red like hellfire.

From the black hood now jeered a skeletal face, bleached white bones, and the fleshless fingers scrabbled at the terrified victim which lay in front of the towering specter. A scream finally rent from the victim’s throat.

The Lorian is proud to continue our publication of Dryden Montes, a student-writer here on campus.

The Lorian has agreed to publish the stories in parts for each edition. We hope you enjoy.

To read the previous edition of the Odd Afflication of Roy McCarthers, please see the November 8, 2022 edition of The Lorian.

photo from NBC NEWS

The U.S. - Mexico border. Shipping containers have been placed along the border to create a wall between the two nations.

How 2024 Will Showcase the Worst of Both Sides

By KEEGAN A. GODWIN

The 2024 presidential election will be one of the most divisive and destructive elections in American history. It is unclear who will be at the forefront of the Republican nomination. Mr. Donald Trump has already announced his candidacy for the presidency. Republicans like Mr. Ron DeSantis and Ms. Nikki Haley are increasingly looking like they will announce their intent to run. Dozens of candidates will come forward, but only a few will put up an actual fight. Trump has already begun criticizing his potential opponents such as Haley and DeSantis to weaken their standings among his supporters.

With Trump’s announcement of his intention to run for office again, the Republican party is put in an uncomfortable position for the party’s immediate future. According to FiveThirtyEight Polls, over 55% of Americans look at Trump unfavorably. Despite these numbers, the polls do not mean anything to the Trump Campaign. Trump is a former president. He is a household name. His financial backing is solid. His followers are willing to do whatever is necessary to get him back into the White House, as seen on January 6th, 2021. Even if the Republican Party does not nominate Trump for the 2024 candidacy, he is still going to put up one of the best fights that a third-party candidate has ever done.

The Republican Party is going through an identity crisis. Kevin McCarthy needed fifteen rounds of voting before he became the Speaker of the House. A faction within the party held the position hostage until Mr. McCarthy gave in to their demands. While Mr. McCarthy did obtain the Speaker position, it sent a message of disunity within the Republican Party. The 2022 Midterms broadcasted this disunity at an extreme level. Republicans were challenging other Republicans under unique circumstances – candidates backed by Mr. Trump versus candidates backed by the Republican Party. The division within the party was put on full display for the entire nation to watch. The Democratic Party had the easiest path to sweeping the Midterms: until their problems were also put on national display.

The Democratics are currently struggling with its own identity crisis. President Joe Biden is suffering in the polls. He is currently sitting at a 40% approval rate, according to Reuters. While the polls most likely will not be an issue for Trump, Biden does not have the luxury that Trump has. Biden does not have a strong following as the former president does. In fact, Biden does not even

have the support of his own party, despite being the President of the United States. According to Forbes, only 37% of Democrats want Biden to run for re-election. With his team avoiding questions about re-election, it is difficult for the Democratic Party to focus on the future. The future of the party is in the hands of Biden, who seems to be losing the support of his own allies. As Biden would be 86 years old at the end of a potential second term, the question of his age and mental capabilities are at the forefront of everyone’s mind. The UK Independent found that only 40% of Americans believe Biden has the “mental sharpness it takes to serve effectively as president.”

Unfortunately for the Democrats, Biden’s next-in-line, Vice President Kamala Harris, isn’t a family favorite either. Ms. Harris is the first woman, first African American, and first Asian American to serve as the Vice President of the United States. However, she has done little to establish herself as a potential suitor for the face of the party.

According to the New York Times, many Democrats believe they have lost hope for Harris’s future in Washington D.C.

In the 2022 Midterms, the Democrats had the Republican Party on the ropes – Republicans were divided and faced a crisis between Trump and the party. Despite this path to an easy victory, the Democratic Party failed to unify its own party and sweep the results. The Democrats lack a strong leader who can unify and inspire voters to put themselves as the leading party in the United States. And, to the Democrats’ despair, it does not look like a leader will emerge before 2024.

The 2024 presidential race will feature a divided Republican Party versus a battered Democratic Party. This upcoming race should be an easy victory for the Democrats. But, the midterms were supposed to be an easy victory, as well. Assuming the Democrats continue the path they are on, they will fail to produce an actual leader for their battle against the Republicans. All while Democrats struggle for a leader, the Republican Party will be fighting a war on two fronts. Assuming Trump does not gain the Republican nomination, they will be facing the supporters of Trump and the Democrats. 2024 is destined to be a fight between two parties who have failed to establish their own identities since the 2020 Election.

MusIc You should l Isten to

Throughout 2022, many artists within the music industry made a return to the spotlight. After a hiatus due to the pandemic, The Weeknd, Bad Bunny, Beyoncé, and Kendrick Lamar were among the top artists in 2022 who released new music. After much anticipation, listeners were left with career defining albums well deserving of attention. Many upand-coming artists also made some incredible music in 2022, including JID and Adeem the Artist. Across many different genres we saw some very experimental, genre-bending, and socially aware albums that leave me hoping for even more progress this year. With apologies for being a little belated, here is my run through of some of the best music from 2022 that some of you may have overlooked.

Only one week into the year, popstar The Weeknd released his fifth studio album, “Dawn FM”. This was his much anticipated follow up to his stand-out 2020 album, “After Hours”. Comparably, “Dawn FM” contained dream pop, synth pop, and R&B influences that we have seen on previous records. Songs like “Is There Someone Else?” and “Out of Time” cover the themes of regret and lost love. These similarities can be seen across The Weeknd’s work from the early 2010’s and has become what I expect from him.

With the release of “Un Verano Sin Ti” (“A Summer Without You”), another popstar making an eagerly awaited return was Bad Bunny. While many artists release shorter EP’s, Bad Bunny released a massive 23-track album. With that many tracks, there was an opportunity for a lot of diversity in sounds and genres.

“Un Verano Sin Ti” contained a wide variety of influences including reggaeton, cumbia, and indie pop music. The album spent a whopping 13 weeks atop the U.S. Billboard Hot 200 charts. Much more than some party music, “Un Verano Sin Ti” touched on the gentrification of communities within Puerto Rico. Bad Bunny uses his experiences of growing up in Puerto Rico to create the summer-themed “Después de la Playa” (“After the Beach”) and also the politically charged “El Apagon” (“The Blackout”).

The most popular song internationally came from former unofficial front man of One Direction, Harry Styles. “As It Was” dominated the pop charts, spending 15 weeks at number one and breaking the record for most streams of any one song in a single day on Spotify. Loras College Professor of Music, Dr. Glenn Pohland, said that “As It Was” was his favorite song of

political or governmental violence in their home country. Even from my brief time in the shelter, I can tell you there are many people in this situation or similar.

Finally, the last major standout to me was something I never considered. Have you ever thought about the implications that building a 40-foot tall (seven feet of which are underground), almost 2,000-mile-long wall could have on the environment? I guess I overlooked it while thinking about the people in shelters waiting to immigrate. It is not a natural landmark, so it is impacting the land and the natural migration of animals in that region. Sure, maybe the smaller animals can fit through the spaces in the iron bars; but there is

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By JESSEN WEBER

2022. He said, “It was such a catchy song, and his vocal performance on the song was so good.” Critics agreed, with many calling it the best song of the year.

“Even with how popular of a song it became, it was still enjoyable to listen to time and time again,” Pohland said.

You also simply cannot talk about the best music in 2022 without mentioning Taylor Swift. She released “Midnights” in October, her first new music in nearly two years. Many of the songs on the record were centered around Swift’s experiences with anxiety, insecurities, and selfcriticism. Ten songs on the album made it on the top-10 charts for the Billboard Hot 100, making it the first time that one artist took over the entire list. Songs like “Anti-hero” and “Lavender Haze” went viral on Tik Tok and cemented Swift’s spot as one of the most popular artists of recent years.

Similarly, Beyoncé released the single “Break My Soul” in June, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and gaining even more popularity through Tik Tok. On July 29, she released her seventh studio album, “Renaissance”. It marked her first solo album in over six years and her first foray into house and disco music. The electro sound mixed with psychedelic soul gave listeners something they had never heard from Beyoncé. Excellent writing that paid respect to Black and Queer communities resulted in universal acclaim from fans and critics alike.

2022 marked a big year within the rap community as well. Rumors began in late 2021 that Compton native Kendrick Lamar would be releasing an album, and that became reality in early May. Lamar’s fifth studio album, “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers”, was an immediate success. The minimalist production is similar to his 2015 album, “To Pimp a Butterfly”, with trap and R&B elements reminiscent of his 2017 album, “Damn”. The album’s lyrical themes are centered around selfreflection, addiction, and seeking therapy. “N95’’ was the lead single for the album, and contained some production from his cousin and fellow American rapper, Baby Keem. The song “Auntie Diaries’’ recalls the story of his transgender uncle, and references issues within society regarding acceptance of those in the LGBTQ+ community.

One of the biggest surprises of the year was Atlanta rap star, JID, releasing his incredible third album, “The Forever Story”. Many music critics named it the “best rap album

no way a deer is getting through there. What happens to animals when they cannot get to their home, when they’re barred from the places they are familiar with?

They are forced to adapt, but not every animal can do this. Adaptation takes time, and many animals die because they have nowhere else to turn. We have yet to find out what effect this is having on the environment long term.

I’m getting political, I know. I like to think I’m not such a political person, but if you know me, you know I’m a humanitarian at heart. I like to think I stand up against injustice when I see it. I didn’t even get into the emotional and psychological trauma that these people are facing. Or even my personal experience of being

of the year” on their respective lists. Collaborating with artists like 21 Savage, Lil Wayne, Lil Durk, and Ari Lennox, “The Forever Story” speaks about JID’s upbringing and origin story. This latest album contains bold production and still consists of the smooth wordplay he’s been known for in the past. His constant control of beat and flow switches keeps listeners on their toes, but, in my opinion, isn’t distracting. “Surround Sound” has up-tempo beats with JID effortlessly switching between double entendre and telling stories about growing up in Atlanta. This latest record proves why he is one of the most talented rappers and greatest songwriters within the rap industry, and should make him a household name in no time.

Perhaps the album written with the most heart and conviction in 2022 came from the country music realm, “White Trash Revelry” by Adeem the Artist. A majority of the record depicts the adversities of living as pansexual in the American Deep South, as well as within the country music industry. Their passionate lyrics on top of some sweet melodies and chord progressions really complement each other well. The song “Middle of the Heart” details Adeem’s experience with their father pressuring them to learn how to shoot and kill a deer, as well as the pressure to serve in the military. Adeem questions the pride of killing within our country’s history, and the tradition of many southern families teaching their children how to shoot a gun at a young age. The very vivid and honest lyrics from a unique perspective within country music creates such a special album from Adeem the Artist.

Now that we can reflect on this past year in music, the pop genre definitely stood out. Icons Taylor Swift and Beyoncé made their returns to the music scene, while Harry Styles released one of the most popular songs of the past couple of years. Eight of the top 10 streamed artists of 2022 were within the pop genre. Entering 2023, I expect another year of pop artists taking over the charts, while the rap genre will follow right behind. Artists like Bad Bunny and Adeem the Artist push for progress politically and culturally. Hopefully they will inspire more to do the same in 2023. As we await new releases this year, I suggest you take a dive into some of these albums from this past year. If you haven’t already sampled them, I have a feeling you’ll find something new to enjoy.

the minority in a room where I can’t speak to anyone because I don’t know Spanish. It scared me. Imagine how immigrants must feel in our country... But maybe that’s not my story to tell. However, I knew I needed to say something about this experience.

Perhaps I’ve encouraged others to look deeper into this issue. You may be thinking, “What can I do?” That’s what I was thinking, too. My simple yet not-so-simple answer is to educate yourself, accompany those around you by actively listening to their life experiences, and speak up against injustices, such as harmful policies or racist comments. Maybe even learn a second language. Changing the culture starts with you. What will you do about it?

Dewey’s State of the Union Address

DISNEY’S LIVE-ACTION ‘UP’ PREMIER GOES WRONG, BLAME CHINA FOR INCIDENT

In efforts to not make any new and original movies, Disney quietly unveiled plans to create a liveaction remake of their 2009 hit Up. After revealing the trailer for their upcoming movie Elemental, a movie where fire and water fall in love, Disney CEO Robert Iger said, “We have no ideas left in the tank. We will be releasing a movie in 2024 about a worm’s journey in the dirt. Thank goodness our fans don’t want anything good anymore.”

My Fellow Americans,

As we enter the year of our Lord, two thousand and twenty-three, it is time that we reflect on the previous year and our accomplishments. The Dewey Party has overseen massive successes within our great nation. The challenges we faced in 2022 nearly broke the American spirit. The constant battle of the two-party system pushed our democracy and the will of the people to the brink. However, under the leadership of Dewey himself, our glorious party restored American values and hope to the people.

Under the Dewey Party, America flourished both economically and diplomatically. With the implementation of the Duhawk Dollar as the standard currency, the markets have stabilized worldwide, inflation has calmed down, and the value of the Duhawk Dollar has been recognized across the globe. The acceptance of the DD Currency has caused global markets to bounce back from the COVID Recession.

The Dewey Party has brought prosperity back to our nation, at levels not seen since the 1920s.

Dewey has been hailed for his charming personality and his ability to persuade people. The Dewey Party has spread that influence across the globe, bringing us one step closer to global peace. The Duhawk Nation has taken its place as the leading peace figure on Earth. The United Nations has disbanded, electing to join the Duhawk Nation. What differs from the EU, is that the Duhawk Nation brings all nations together, setting no one apart. The Dewey Party will achieve global peace within the next three years.

As we head into the new year, the Dewey Party will continue its fight for the prosperity of Americans. The people must continue to place their faith in the glorious leader, Dewey. The tide of change has begun. There is no stopping the Purple Wave.

Dewey Today. Dewey Tomorrow.

Dewey Forever. Long Live Dewey.

A.P. BoA rd A nnounces cirriculum for A.P. A fricA n A mericA n studies , only if everyone else is ok Ay With it

On February 1, the A.P. Board announced the curriculum for their new class, African American Studies. The Board removed a hefty toll from its curriculum after dealing with criticism from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. DeSantis said that he would be “very unhappy” if the Board stayed with its original curriculum.

In response to this threat, a spokesperson for the A.P. Board released a statement saying, “We here at the A.P. Board will do literally whatever the Florida Governor wants. He is a very big and scary man and we no longer have the power to decide what we do for ourselves. Please don’t be mad at us.”

The A.P. Board members will be attending “Bullied: Anonymous”

talks once a week for the next three to four months after the incident.

We spoke with some parents in Florida about their reactions to the A.P. Board’s announcement. Janet, a 53-year-old mother of four, said, “I am happy that my kids don’t have to learn about the ‘woke’ history of African American Studies. They don’t need none of that education.

They make sure to watch their Fox News before they go to bed. They are smarter than the A.P. Board.”

The White House has yet to comment on this situation, citing reasons that “Mr. DeSantis is a big meanie and scares the President.”

More on the story as it develops.

The live-action Up premier was scheduled to be released later this summer. Unfortunately, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis unleashed the fury of the Florida National Guard on the Disney headquarters in his everlasting beef with the media company. In the National Guard’s assault, the balloon that was built for the house was accidentally released into the atmosphere. The balloon traveled throughout the evening until it was spotted over Montana’s airspace.

When the balloon was spotted, Disney immediately contacted President Joe Biden and convinced him that the balloon was a Chinese Spy Balloon. “It was actually really easy,” said a spokesman from Disney. “I simply told the President that if he blamed China for the incident, we

would find him a new vice president who would actually be positive for his presidency…that seemed to get the job done.”

The Chinese government was unavailable to comment on the situation, as they were too busy practicing their magic tricks and

making all their protestors disappear. Disney has not publicly commented on the incident since the balloon was shot down. However, they will continue to produce unoriginal movies while simultaneously driving movie franchises, like Marvel and Star Wars, into the ground.

Grammy Awards Appalled Viewership Continues to Decline, Will Host Gladiator Fights in 2024

The Grammy Awards hosted the 65th Ceremony on February 5 this past weekend, where celebrities from across the globe gathered together to honor the best artists of the past year. However, those who attended were shocked to learn that literally no one cared.

While the recipients of the 2023 Grammy Awards gave their moving speeches about how they relate to the common peasants who listen to their music, The Recording Academy, the company that runs the Grammy’s, began plotting for their 2024 ceremony. A spokesman from the Academy spoke with The Lorian and told us, “Literally no one cares about the Grammy

Awards. We are looking at a new direction for next year’s ceremony.” When asked to elaborate on that, the spokesperson stated, “Ancient Rome. Gladiators. All that amazing stuff.”

The Grammy’s, in an effort to regain viewership in upcoming years, will be implementing a new system of deciding a winner for music awards. The top five artists for a category will be placed into an arena where they will hash it out in a battle-to-the-death between the other artists. The survivor will be the winner of the award. The battle will be televised live.

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photo from BLOOMBERG