Volume 54, Issue 12
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April 25, 2019
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www.meramecmontage.com
ANNE
ADAMS
MARSHALL An introduction to our new trustee
OLIVER PULCHER ONLINE EDITOR On April 2nd, the election to decide who would hold the Subdistrict 3 seat on the St. Louis Community College Board of trustees was held. Anne Adams Marshall won the seat by a vote of 11,118 to Paula Savarino’s 9,448 votes. After the election was decided, Marshall celebrated with family and friends and finally caught up on the sleep she had been missing during the election. A few days after the election Marshall agreed to an interview with the Montage to introduce herself as a newly-elected representative of St. Louis Community College. Marshall describes herself as a lover of learning. “I have always been a voracious learner. My dad has his master’s in English and he taught at Flo Valley and was tenured from St. Charles Community College. And my mother is a retired adjunct and a retired children’s author,” said Marshall. The new trustee added that her education was cut short due to needing to raise her son and earn a living to support the two of them. However, her liberal arts education does allow her to actively learn about and know about other cultures, so that when she travels, she understands the cultures she experiences. Marshall started at Neiman Marcus in 1984, and has spent thirty-five years with the company. Her son was six months old when she moved back to St. Louis, and when she moved back, healthcare trumped everything else as a mother. This combined with the decline in benefits offered in teaching positions led her to make the decision to stay at Neiman Marcus. However, this didn’t stop her from becoming active in other ways in St. Louis. Marshall said, “When 2016 happened, I felt like I couldn’t sit still. To sit still would be like being complicit. I couldn’t
do it, especially as I started seeing rights stripped.” Marshall helped with a rally where she coordinated with C.A.R.E., a humanitarian organization, in front of Senator Blunt’s office. Marshall and her fellow rally members went to Blunt’s office every day at noon to discuss issues with the Senator’s staff, the ultimate goal of which was to get Senator Blunt to listen. When discussing Marshall’s plans for being in office, her goal was similar to that which she wished of Senator Blunt. When asked what her plans for being in office were, Marshall said, “My plans are to listen. I plan on getting myself acclimated with all the campuses, and I plan on meeting all the staff. I am going on tours of campuses. It will take whatever it takes. Right now all of my days off will be spent on campuses.” When asked what her priorities would be while in office, Marshall said, “My ultimate goal is to see the college grow. How we do that is we take care of our faculty, adjuncts, and students. And we make sure that they have what they need to be successful. With a strong and happy faculty, and with strong and happy adjuncts who like being here, the students will come. You have to care for the people.” Marshall plans to accomplish her goals of listening and caring for faculty and students by being open for contact, as well as setting up listening sessions on campuses where students can come and voice their opinions. She also plans to accomplish her goals on the board of trustees by building coalitions, listening for several board sessions to see how everyone gets along, and by learning through reading, listening, and research. Photos by Syed Ali
Serving the St. Louis Community College - Meramec community since 1964 • ACP Award Recipient
Design by Mikki Philippe
2 NEWS April 25, 2019
Cuddle therapy Touch starvation affects college students TYRA LEESMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Touch starvation, also called “skin hunger,” is the mental and physical manifestation of going long periods without enough physical human contact. According to Lisa Brat, a certified professional cuddler, touch starvation can make one feel depressed, aggressive, irritable, and even sick or flu-y. “Everyone knows these days that babies will die or become really sick if they aren’t touched and held enough in their first weeks of life. But that applies to people, in a way, all through their lives. We have to be connected. We have to feel actual physical connection with other humans every day to feel our best,” said Brat. Cuddlist.com is a website for those who feel they might be touch starved, or those looking to experience professional cuddling. The cuddles are platonic, and the training involved in becoming a certified professional cuddler requires “serious attention” to maintaining professionalism throughout the experience, according to Brat. “We go out of our way to make sure people know we’re professionals so that the experience can be as relaxing as possible. If you have issues with touch and you need to take it slow, and just sit next to someone or hold hands, we do that too,” said Brat. Hugging, one of the many forms of cuddling, releases Oxytocin in the body. Oxytocin is referred to as the “love” hormone, as it is also released during times of intense joy, arousal, breast feeding, childbirth, and orgasm. “I really advocate 21-second hugs because that’s how long it takes to release that Oxytocin. When you have a longer hug and oxytocin is released, it’s good for your immune system, your
stress response, you blood pressure,” said Dr. Stone Kraushaar, psychologist and author of Hug Therapy: A 21Day Journey of Embracing Yourself, Your Life, and Everyone Around You. As long as it’s consensual, even a simple hug is a moment of being “deeply connected with someone and letting them know how you feel about them,” according to Kraushaar. “It’s almost like a meditation. I encourage people to take deeper breaths in through their nose and out through their mouths, slow things down, and really experience that release,” said Kraushaar. College students who wish to experience touch therapy or professional cuddling may web search any of the options available to them including Cuddlist.com, local practices like Dr. Kraushaars, or by joining a cuddle party. “A cuddle party is just a get-together where we all hang out and watch movies, but maybe we have our heads in somebody’s lap. Or maybe we’re sitting with our legs over someone getting a foot rub. Maybe we’re spooning on the floor. For me, since I have a touch of Autism, I don’t like full touch, but I know it’s important, so I sit with one side of my body – just like my arm and maybe my leg – up against someone or a couple. Sometimes I just have someone braid my hair. It’s really relaxing,” said Kelly Burns, Meramec graduate and regular cuddle party attendee. Those who wish to look into becoming a professional cuddler can find resources online for courses and requirements.
EDITORS
Tyra Leesman Oliver Pulcher Bri Heaney Lauren Johns Mary Wilson Ashley Biundo Gina Carr Syed Ali Tori Williams Mikki Philippe
Editor-in-Chief Online Editor News Editor Art & Life Editor Opinions Editor Sports Editor Graphics Editor Photo Editor Copy Editor Production Editor
Shannon Philpott-Sanders Faculty Adviser
Graphic by Gina Carr
STAFF
Jacob Politte Staff Writer Noah Porter Schnider Staff Writer
THE MONTAGE
To place an advertisement, contact the advertising manager for rates, sample issues, etc., 314-984-7955. Editorial views expressed or content contained in this publication are not necessaritly the views of St. Louis Community College, the Board of Trustees or the administration. The Montage is a student publication produced seven times per semester at St. Louis Community College - Meramec, 11333 Big Bend Blvd., Kirkwood, Mo., 63122. 314-984-7655. One copy of The Montage is free of charge. Up to 10 additional copies available, $1 each, at the office of The Montage, SC 220. Bulk purchases may be arranged with circulation manager. Editorial policy: All letters should be no longer than 500 words and must include identification as a student or faculty member, phone number and address for verification purposes. Phone numbers and addresses will not be published. All letters are subject to editing for content and length. All letters submitted will be published in print and online.
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NEWS 3 April 25, 2019
Grounding and centering Techniques for calming oneself during panic, PTSD and anxiety attacks TYRA LEESMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Grounding is really just another word for centering oneself and relaxing as a way to get one’s Amygdala to calm down, according to Dr. Vicki Ritts, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology. The Amygdala is the part of the brain that deals with emotion. When someone is experiencing an anxiety attack, panic attack, PTSD attack, or are simply feeling emotionally unbalanced, some doctors recommend practicing grounding techniques to help one control their feelings and actions when it might feel otherwise impossible. “I had my first panic attack when I was 19. I was under a ton of stress and I was driving and just had to pull over, I got so freaked out about everything in my life. I was physically hyperventilating, and I thought maybe I was having a heart attack, but it was just all that worry finally catching up to me. The doctor at the hospital said I could try counting or naming the people in my family or describing my favorite place. The next time it happened, I did that out loud and it helped me remember that I was actually okay, and then I could deal with the stressors,” said Amelia Long, a Meramec student with diagnosed Anxiety. According to Ritts, Anxiety should be professionally treated when it interferes with your daily life and functioning causing much distress, and though grounding might be used in that
treatment, it isn’t the whole solution. Individuals often have issues of anxiety that do not interfere with their everyday function, and do not cause them high levels of distress. This is when grounding might be most beneficial. “There are several (techniques) and they are very individualized--meaning what works for one person might not work for another. Some techniques include focusing on a particular object, perhaps a favorite stone, breathing 5 senses technique--focus your mind on each of your senses individually, work on keeping yourself in the present, meditation, yoga, list 5 positive things in your life, or exercise,” said Ritts. According to Long, people can be creative with their techniques, since they are based in common sense. “I saw a Netflix show where the main character had PTSD and whenever she was feeling overwhelmed, she looked really sick and terrified. But that’s when she started naming the streets where she grew up. If you can remember the streets by your childhood home, I think that would be a pretty good technique for grounding,” said Long. According to Ritts, “The problem is when we are anxious, our anxiety takes over all our thoughts. Always remember that when your anxiety is causing you distress and dysfunction in your daily life it is best to seek treatment.”
Graphic by Gina Carr
Take a number Meramec hosts listening sessions for new provost BRIANA HEANEY NEWS EDITOR In the search for a new campus provost, Meramec hosted listening sessions to hear what students and faculty have to say. The listening sessions for the new provost for the Meramec and Forest Park campuses were not held in an open forum, but the office was instead open for two days, one four-hour time slot on Thursday April 4 in the Student Center 201, and one two-hour time slot on Tuesday, April 9 in Business Administration 105. “The goal here is to get a candidate picked and approved by the beginning of the fiscal school year,” said Fuller. As the current provost, Carol Lupardus, is leaving to take over as provost on the Wildwood campus. The search committee has asked students and faculty to complete a questionnaire to describe what they are looking for in the new provost. “The ones we look at are all qualified. We are going to find the ones that we think are the most qualified,” said Fuller. After the committee selects a group of applicants, the chancellor and the vice chancellor will interview and pick an applicant to go before the board of trustees, who will be responsible for approving the candidate. “They will actually be the ones to offer the position,” said Fuller in regard to the board of trustees. “After the position is offered, the individual will hopefully accept that position.”
A T
M E R A M E C
The Music Program at Meramec offers courses and ensembles for all students. Classes are available for general education credit and the Associate in Arts degree with a concentration in Music to prepare for transfer into a Bachelor of Music program. ** SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE **
COURSES
MUS 101,102,201,202 MUS 103 MUS 113 MUS 114 MUS 115,116 MUS 121,122,221,222 MUS 128 MUS 130 MUS 138,139,216 MUS 141,142,241,242 MUS 150 MUS 152 MUS 154 MUS 211,212
Music Theory I,II,III,IV Basic Music History of Jazz Music Appreciation Class Voice I,II Class Piano I,II,III,IV History of Rock and Roll Beginning Guitar Jazz Improvisation I,II,III Applied Music (Lessons) I,II,III,IV Fundamentals of Music Technology Audio Engineering Music Recording with ProTools I Music History I,II
Interested in performing in an ensemble? All Meramec students may participate. No audition is required!
ENSEMBLES
Music 131 – Concert Choir* Music 132 – Orchestra Music 134 – Symphonic Band Music 138 – Jazz Improvisation All ensembles hold a seat/part assignment hearing during the first rehearsal. *Members of the Concert Choir may audition for the Chamber Singers.
For more information, contact Music at Meramec Dr. Jerry Myers, Program Coordinator, gmyers34@stlcc.edu, (314) 984-7638
4 ART & LIFE
April 25, 2019
Staff profile:
Martha Dust Cafeteria cashier shares stories of life, love and travel BRI HEANEY NEWS EDITOR
A white plastic foam box filled with food from the hot bar slides along a metal rail, pushed by a student waiting to check out. Upon instruction, the student places it on a scale and is given a price by the cashier Marsha Dust. Marsha is seated in a swivel chair which, on its highest setting, barely puts her at eye level with the cash register. The student pays and gets one last instruction as he gathers his things; to have a good day. The lunch rush has just ended, according to Dust. With her arms crossed she leans back, presses her lips together, and her cerulean eyes began searching the default screen of the computerized cash register. After sitting in silence for a couple seconds, she tilts her head back, shaking some wispy blond strands away from her face, and smirks. “There is some stuff you might not want to know about me,” says Dust. The freckles on her nose bunch up as her whole face tightens around a smile. Her Co-worker shakes his head knowingly and giggles to himself. Dust has made a life for herself here in the Midwest where she was born and raised, where her two daughters where born and raised, and where her grandchildren have done the same. “I’m a Midwesterner,” says Dust. However, she doesn’t believe that her personality has ever really rung true to the Midwestern stereotype.
“I should have been from elsewhere,” said Dust. “New York.” Regional differences are something about which Dust knows a thing or two. Despite her steady life in the Midwest she has seen more of the United States than most, she says. Her husband was a truck driver, and she traveled with him frequently. “Traveling the country with my husband was pretty cool, it’s how I’ve seen a lot of what I’ve seen,” said Dust. “New York was just how you would expect, people hollering out the windows,” said Dust. On that same trip while they were in New Jersey, their truck was literally “ripped off.” “They ripped the whole back door off of it,” said Dust, who shrugged and then began to chuckle, “It was bad cheese. Let ‘em have it. They surely got sick.” Prior to traveling with her husband across the country, as a young woman, she set out to move to California. It was her idea to choose a route that would cut through Las Vegas, Nevada. “Just so I could gamble, even though I wasn’t old enough,” said Dust with a shrug. They did just that. Dust says that the slot machines where everywhere in Vegas, from restaurants to restrooms. “At a diner, I put money into it [slot machine] and a guy screamed at me, “Are you old enough?” Dust told the man, “Well, no. I’m not old enough. What do you got it here for? You don’t have a guard next to it. Yeah, I’m gonna play it!” “I bet if I would have won money though, he would have taken it,” she said. Another student, a customer, walks toward her with a tray in hand, already chewing the food from the hot bar. Dust’s laughter trails off as she brings in her gesturing hands, and leans the chair forward to an upright position. Her crooked smile is still there as she goes through the motions on the touch screen and opens the cash drawer. “It’s double the price if you eat it before you pay,” says Dust as she winks at the patron, handing him back a few dollars and change.
Big 8 (Crozier), Rob Bob (Mecey) and Shedevil (Kelly) after dismembering the body.
A bloody delight ‘Flaming Guns of the Purple Sage’ brings mayhem to Meramec TORI WILLIAMS COPY EDITOR In this play, there are the good guys, the bad guys, and a cowboy code to rule them all. This is the wild west, and this is “Flaming Guns of the Purple Sage”, a play that ran in the Meramec theater from Apr. 17 through 21. The comedy was written by Jane Martin and directed by Keith Oliver. From start to finish, “Flaming Guns…” is an action-packed thrill ride deriving its excitement from death, dismemberment, partial nudity, comedy, and over all, loud noises. “We have gunplay, violence, and then blood, and then a little thing we laugh about, and then more blood, more violence,” said Oliver. The comedic element in this show is crucial because of the intensity of the subject matter. The main character, Big 8 (Rissa Crozier), has a mortgage to pay off or she’ll lose her ranch. Big 8 is a healer for cowboys injured on the rodeo circuit, and her current charge is a hokey cowboy named Rob Bob (Nathan Mecey). Her daughter-in-law, Shedevil (Daphne Kelley) shows up, pursued by a sinister character named Black Dog (Zach Sept), who believes Shedevil has stolen his cocaine money. When Black Dog arrives, he is shot by Rob Bob, but just won’t seem to die. Shirl, Big 8’s sister (Beth Burton), solves this problem by dismembering the body while simultaneously attempting to keep her boyfriend, the deputy (Colin Kelley), from discovering what’s really happening. In the end, the young lovers ride off into the sunset in true Western fashion. Audiences only see the very tip of the
proverbial iceberg in a show. “There’s a whole production going on backstage as well,” said Lexie Godefroid, Assistant Stage Manager and Gun Wrangler. The play includes live gunfire which requires careful precautions. “Ten minutes before the gun is supposed to shoot off, (Lexie) has to call campus police,” said Rachel DeNoyer, Stage Manager. The gunfire effect also gives rise to the necessity of a specially-rigged jacket designed to project blood. “The jacket’s the biggest challenge,” said Godefroid, ”because it’s so unpredictable. And, we can set it up right, and if it gets triggered wrong, it’ll be bad; and if something happened to the jacket beforehand, it’ll be bad; (Black Dog) could just get on stage, and it just doesn’t work.” Effects include a kicked in door, gunshots, blood and lighting. “We go through about 5 gallons of blood,” said Oliver. This poses interesting challenges for the cast as well as the crew. Some of the comedy is derived from the characters attempting to cover up for their indiscretions, excusing the massive amounts of blood as a nosebleed. “The cleanup is a mess,” said DeNoyer. Despite the chaotic technical aspects of the play, it has some heart to it. “I think she does touch on something very interesting about America and our values and this idea of an idealized Western versus maybe the harsh reality of it,” said Oliver. The production is silly, but fun. “I’m having the time of my life, but it’s wack,” said DeNoyer. “Flaming Guns of the Purple Sage” made its mark.
Shedevil (Kelley) fakes mourning the death of her fiance, Black Dog (Sept). Photos by Syed All
ART & LIFE 5 April 25, 2019
Describe your study habits TYRA LEESMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & SYED ALI PHOTO EDITOR
Evangeline Horne 19
Melanie Luczak 18
Brendan Ranciglio 22
“I don’t have very good study habits. But I do like the reward system. I reward myself with taking a break or calling a friend, sometimes food. I like doing homework with people because I like to have people keeping me accountable. Plus it’s fun.”
“I read through my notes that I took in class, and I’ll maybe unify them into the info that I don’t already know well for the test and read over that. And I always, always look through the study guide if there is one.”
“I don’t really have a lot [of study habits]. I mainly just have to do the homework. Usually, just doing the homework is enough for me to get my stuff done. If I do need to stay back and research something that I don’t understand, I just stay on campus because if I leave campus I’ll get too distracted.”
Saying goodbye to
high tea
Meramec bids farewell to provost Carol Lupardus, English style BRI HEANEY NEWS EDITOR
At the end of the school year, Meramec’s presidential office will be as empty as the used tea cups, stained with lipstick and strewn with tea strings, that are scattered across the white linen tables of room BA105 on April 4. It was Meramec provost, Carol Lupardus’ last high tea.
“I’ll miss the energy of this place.” Carol Lupardus Lupardus began this tradition when she took over as campus provost in 2016, and it is a custom that rings true to her English background. “This is special. It really is special. It’s our last high tea,” said attendee Theresa Smythe from the ACCESS office, as Lupardus laughed and shook her head. Lupardus quickly navigated the conversation away from herself, pulling in different faculty members who had been recognized during this particular high tea session. “We recognized Andrew Smith from Trio for working with the students on African American History Month,” said
Lupardus as she continued. The names of Denise Sparuzza, Jeff Schnieder, Sharon Haults, and Tony Frost, among others, were mentioned in recognition at the tea session. “So much good work is going on, and it gives us a chance to recognize that” said Lupardus whom is moving over to be Wildwood campuses President. It was under the fluorescent lights, with the hum of other conversations taking place that Lupardus looked down and said, “I’ll miss the energy of this place.” She reminisced on her days of stopping by the Art and English departments. “It’s a nice time to chill, take a break and drink some tea,” said Lupardus. “It’s a tense time in the semester.” The tea cup stacks steadily increased as the volume of the chatter decreased, each attendee stopping for one last tea time visit with Lupardus. “I’ll be back for many visits,” said Lupardus, motioning with palms open to her surroundings. “How could I not?” Graphic by Lauren Johns
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Join the Team Meetings every Tuesday at 5PM in SC220-A (Student Center)
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Fall 2019 Transfer Leadership Scholarship Deadline May 1 Exciting opportunity to participate in WebsterLEADS, Webster’s co-curricular leadership development program
JOIN US!
Connect with Webster here at Meramec or Wildwood! • April 30 - 9am-1pm; Business Administration • May 8 - 10am-1pm; Wildwood • May 9 - 9am-1pm; Student Center For more information on transferring: WEBSTER.EDU/TRANSFER Office of Admission 314-246-7800 or 1-800-753-6765 admit@webster.edu
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OPINIONS 7 April 25, 2019
I’m done with politics Life isn’t fair and I’m scared
OLIVER PULCHER ONLINE EDITOR “I’m done with politics. Life isn’t fair and I am scared.” These are the words that define a nationwide mindset of defeatism within our political arena. This is a mindset, that, when this article was proposed, I pretty comfortably shared to be completely honest. Since the 2016 election, reading anything in the news about what is going on in politics can and has been extremely draining. The polarization that has been brought into our political landscape as a result of the
Trump administration is everywhere. Everyday interactions seem to be incredibly orientated around political beliefs, whether on social media or in real life. Given this, it can be fairly easy to want to slip into a state of never discussing politics and simply not caring about the political goings-on of the United States. However, only a select privileged few can truly enjoy and take part in this mindset without personal repercussions. It is insanely easy to opt out of political conversations or to quit watching the nightly news for updates when it doesn’t affect you. It’s so much easier to sit back and watch your country burn around you when you aren’t a person of color, LGBTQIA+, a woman, or literally any other minority. This is the privilege that is so often talked about, and often when it is questioned, it’s as if the very recognition of one’s own privilege magically vanishes. As a white, transgender, bisexual man, I have privilege. I may have intersectional qualities which give me minority status, but this does not change the fact that I am more often listened to and actually heard than my queer counterparts who are also people
of color. This is why I recently reflected on and decided that I would no longer concede myself to this defeatist mindset. Though I already had reasons why I shouldn’t ignore what was going on in this country, I could ignore them in theory because I am
socially more able to do so. Whether you are white, cisgender, male, straight, or anything else in between, we as a people need to openly recognize what privilege we do have and actively use that to combat the injustices going on within our country. No more, “I’m done with politics”, posts on Facebook. It may be the easy route, but until everyone can safely be done with politics, none of us should be.
Graphic by Mikki Philippe
Reviewing new music from Billie Eilish Bring in the avocados LAUREN JOHNS ART & LIFE EDITOR Stepping into the limelight after her 2017 release of the hauntingly beautiful, “Ocean Eyes,” Billie Eilish has earned a reputation for redefining Pop. From music videos involving spiders crawling out of her mouth to songs about sleep paralysis, risk-taking has always been second nature. Her debut album, “When we all Fall Asleep, Where do we Go?,” has sold 170,000 copies and is predicted to reach 275,000 sales, consequently placing her second on the charts behind Ariana Grande’s album, “Thank u, Next.” The song that inspired the record, “Bury a Friend,” peaked at #14 on the Hot 100 charts and had 29.1 million streams. This song deserves the recognition, written from the perspective of the monster under h e r b e d ,
doubling as Billie herself (being her own worst enemy). The skin-crawling screeches brought in at integral moments, the sinister harmonies and the effortless portamento (pitch sliding) makes for a compelling track. This song cleverly transitions into an innovative, experimental track named “Ilomilo” that draws inspiration from a video game of the same name where one tries to reunite the main characters “Ilo” and “Milo.” The game concept is evident in the lyrics: “Show me the way home. I can’t lose another life.” A favorite of mine, due to the eerie tremolo vocal effects that successfully paint a picture of two lost lovers dreaming of one another. Billie’s voice
in this track is soft, yet strong, breathy, but not offpitch. The instrumentals toward the end sound like what you’d expect to hear from a vintage music box, adding to the mysterious, surrealistic aspect. Despite both of
these tracks having melancholy vibes, other tracks like “Bad Guy,” are a complete juxtaposition. It’s technically the first track on the album, following “!!!!!!!” where Billie talks about taking out her invisalign (product placement or unique sense of humor?). Bass-heavy tracks, driving beat, tight harmonies and a vocal style that isn’t singing, but isn’t rapping either. The song is a fun and quirky track where Billie taunts her boyfriend, putting on a false persona that makes him think he is in control but in reality she is the real “tough and rough guy.” The chorus and its sadistic tremolo vocals are a stark transition to the playful “duh” and electronic spunk of the post-chorus. In the bridge, however, the song becomes almost unrecognizable with more dubstep beats and a peculiar whispered vocal. Although the song would’ve ended too abruptly without this section, it felt too drastic of a change and the lyrics became overly cliche. “Xanny” was a close second favorite. In each of the verses she sings in a beautiful bright tone with glittering vibrato, despite the dreariness of the lyrics. The bass distortion of the chorus acts as a shock factor, with the intention of simulating a bad trip. Or, emulating the sensation of breathing in a cloud of second hand smoke. She speaks about not needing “Xanny” to be happy and how her friends continually abuse the substance among other drugs, regardless of the consequences. The most effective line is: “bring ashtrays to the table, and that’s about the only thing they share.” This particular lyric section highlights how blind they’ve become, never opening themselves up to life and
to each other. At the song’s closing, her voice grows quiet with fainter harmonies and a couple sighs, possibly alluding to her vulnerability and how hopeless she’s becoming. Aside from the numerous distortion heavy tracks, “When the Party’s Over” is arguably the most unplugged and soulful track (released as a single prior to the album’s debut). With a voice that bursts with vitality and decrescendos without losing strength, the perfectly crafted harmonies lead to a tune that is genuine and raw. In “I Wish you were Gay,” vibrant, clean vocals shimmer under heavy synth that could be pulled back a bit. In addition, the guitar backing in the verses should be incorporated more throughout the remainder of the song. The change in instrumentals lacks a smooth transition in the first chorus but pair effectively with her lovely crescendo in the second. The track has a campy, cozy vibe. The album concludes with a song that samples everything on the album in reverse order, starting with the penultimate track. From a structural standpoint, everything flows nicely, each set of lyrics forming coherent sentences. Billie is adept at creating distinct tracks of skillful lyricism and yet keeping a specified theme throughout the album. No extemporaneous songs. In all, the track paints a hazy scene, putting the listener under a dream-like trance with chill-inducing echo effects proceeding each vocal line. And then, all sound slowly dies, encompassing the meaning of the album as she seemingly falls asleep or passes on. Graphic by Mikki Philippe
8 SPORTS April 25, 2019
Camping and floating Week-long class spends time outdoors ASHLEY BIUNDO SPORTS EDITOR
Camping and Floating is a one credit PE Class than can be taken in either semester. Only being a week long, it is an off-campus class. Camping and Floating Instructor, Colin Maag takes his students to Onondaga Cave State Park in Leesburg, Missouri. He spends a weekend with them, showing students how to camp, float, and survival skills. Student Amanda Vandenhoek said the class looked like the most intriguing and fun class with the bonus of being a weekend trip. Students learn teamwork, Maag says. “They learn safety, safety, and safety,” he said. “We really stress
safety skills and sometimes we taking this class according to Maag. He have very terrible weather and just hopes his students can learn, not just surviving the experience is just a more knowledge, but confidence. “I have people that take this class personal milestone.” with a Student wide range M i k e B e l l a m y “I want to learn more knowlege of skills, ranked says, “I want to and confidence so I can take my beginners kids camping.” as well learn more as people knowledge Mike Bellamy that have a n d a lot of confidence so I can experience under their belt.,” Maag said. “For take my kids camping.” Although students learn safety and the person that already has a lot of teamwork, there are other benefits to required skills, hopefully there is some
Athlete Spotlights ASHLEY BIUNDO SPORTS EDITOR
Graphic by Mikki Philippe
How to be healthy Tips on taking care of one’s body ASHLEY BIUNDO SPORTS EDITOR
1. 2. 3. “What I love about softball is the atmosphere and my teammates. They keep doing it and its exciting, especially when you are down they will always have your back.” -Abby Lavely, Sophomore
new knowledge that they will walk away with that will feel as valuable as well as a beginner.” Maag has high expectations for his students. They can expect learning lowimpact camping skills with a PE class that requires exercise, Maag said. “They can expect to learn proper paddling technique at a good foundation upon which to continue their paddling career,” he said. “They are going to learn how to read the water and use the river to the best advantage. They are going to learn how to get along with other people, and some people that can be a challenge.”
“What I love about baseball is being part of a team and brotherhood that comes with it. The sport, in general, is fun. It’s something that is competitive yet difficult.” -Clayton Stephens, Sophomore Photos by Ashley Biundo
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“[Some ways to stay well] is by simply taking care of yourself. Staying hydrated, eating decently balanced meals, practicing good hygiene, & making sure you’re getting exercise at least a few times a week,” said Nursing Student Alyssa Poss. “I find that setting some time aside for myself to do something that I enjoy or is relaxing helps reduce stress. Another thing that helps me prevent getting stressed out in the first place is by creating a schedule,” said Poss. “Most people tend to get stressed out by deadlines & looking at projects from a bigger perspective, but by creating that schedule, you can break those projects into smaller pieces to do every day to make it more time manageable & help prevent that stress from coming on as strongly.,” said Poss. “Most professionals will recommend that college students should get around 6-8 hours,” said Poss. “Some people, like myself, can do better with less & some people do better with more. Also, oversleeping can play a part in how much sleep you “need” by making you feel like you need to keep sleeping even after you’ve slept your 6-8 hours.” “The best amount of exercise depends on your body type, but most professionals will recommend 3-4 times a week whether it be going to the gym to lift weights or by simply taking a walk,” said Poss.