Evolutionary studies Minor fuses anthropology and various natural sciences to visualize evolutionary history page 3
Preparing BB&T for events page 7
Edition 65, Issue 05 Wednesday, February 26, 2020
thenortherner.com @northernermedia
FRIENDS OF DOROTHY: A SAFE SPACE FOR QUEER MEN AND MASCULINE-ALIGNED PEOPLE ATTRACTED TO MEN
See more on pages 4 and 5 President Ray Archer (left) and vice president Austin Adams (right).
PHOTO BY NATALIE HAMREN/ILLUSTRATION BY ALLIE ROSE
02 Happenings
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
NORTHERNER STAFF
WWW.THENORTHERNER.COM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Natalie Hamren [hamrenn1@mymail.nku.edu] MANAGING EDITOR Josh Kelly [kellyjoshual17@gmail.com] NEWS EDITOR Billy Keeney [keeneyw1@mymail.nku.edu]
WHAT TO DO Check out the hottest campus happenings and can’t-miss events in Greater Cincinnati.
ASST. NEWS EDITOR Rachel Smith [rachelsmithnku@gmail.com] ASST. NEWS EDITOR Noelle Horn [hornn3@mymail.nku.edu] ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Kane Mitten [mittenm1@mymail.nku.edu] ASST. ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Alyssa Weber [alyssamweber22@gmail.com] ASST. ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Corinne Byrne [corinnefaith217@gmail.com] SPORTS EDITOR Sierra Newton [sflnewton@gmail.com] COPY EDITOR Kyle Wade [kwade1371@gmail.com] PHOTO EDITOR Colin Johnson [johnsonphotography6626@gmail.com] VIDEO EDITOR Abby Behrens [behrensm1@mymail.nku.edu] DESIGN EDITOR Billy Keeney [keeneyw1@mymail.nku.edu] ASST. DESIGN EDITOR Noël Waltz [hailee.waltz@gmail.com] WEB EDITOR Sean Gibson [seanpgib@gmail.com] ADVERTISING Samantha Brown [northerneradvertising@gmail.com] SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM Tareza Chiasson [tarezachia@gmail.com] SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM Chrisy Yarbrough [yarbroughc1@mymail.nku.edu] ADVISOR Michele Day [daymi@nku.edu]
.
JOIN US
5 p.m. Mondays in Griffin Hall 204
Visit us in the newsroom: GH 125
ABOUT THE NORTHERNER
Entire content is copyright of The Northerner and may not be reprinted without prior consent. Views expressed do not represent those of the administration, faculty or student body. The Northerner is considered a designated public forum. Student editors have authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval. The Northerner staff respects the right to a free and open dialogue as allowed under the First Amendment.
CONTACT US The Northerner Griffin Hall Rm. 125 Highland Heights, KY 41099 Editor-in-Chief: (859) 572-5732 Advertising: (859) 572-6677
Walcott Covered Bridge, built 1824, about 4 miles north of Brooksville, KY.
27-1 MAR
28
FEB
28
FEB
PHOTO BY BILLY KEENEY
CINCINNATI HOME & GARDEN SHOW | DUKE ENERGY CONVENTION CENTER | $12 | 10 AM Do you dream of being an interior designer in another life? Spend all your time watching House Hunters International on HGTV? Critique your friends’ decor choices when you step into their dorms? (You know who you are!) Head to Duke Energy for a look at the biggest home improvement convention around to jump 100 years into the ‘Garden of the Future,’ get your picture taken in the “Game of Stones”-themed construction and enjoy (if you’re 21+) everyone’s favorite new hard seltzer in the White Claw Garden Lounge. ART AFTER DARK | CINCINNATI ART MUSEUM | FREE | 5 - 9 PM You can finally have your “Night at the Museum” moment, as Cincinnati Art Museum is celebrating an exhibition opening through their monthly Art After Dark event. This month’s event, Harlem Nights, spotlights “Something Over Something Else,” artist Romare Bearden’s Profile Series. Art After Dark includes after hours museum access, live music, food, drinks and tours. CINCINNATI CYCLONES | HERITAGE BANK CENTER | $18 | 7:30 PM In a one night only event, the Cincinnati Cyclones become the Cincinnati Beasts—in honor of Kings Island’s most iconic wooden roller coaster—as they take on the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. The first 3,000 fans to arrive receive bobbleheads, and the special 513 Friday promotion will serve up $5 craft beers, $1 sodas and $3 cheeseburgers to hockey fans all night.
What you missed at SGA Feb. 24 Billy Keeney NEWS EDITOR
A new resolution proposed by Academic Excellence Senator Hannah Miller and Committee Chairman of Academic Affairs Alan Millward endorsing the universal implementation of online academic advisor evaluations had its first reading in SGA’s Monday meeting. Secretary of Public Relations Jessica Archer also gave an update on the All Card redesign. Online advising resolution Miller and Milllward’s resolution calls for the option to have online academic advisor evaluations that will “continue to grant recognition to those who … [advise] students, provide insight into certain areas of advising that could use improvement, affect the compensation of advisors assist the university in proving that it has fulfilled its student learning outcomes and determine the effectiveness of advising strategies in various departments.” According to the resolution, regional competitors—such as Morehead State University, Eastern Kentucky University and Murray State University—have already implemented permanent or temporary optional forms of advisor evaluation and many colleges within NKU already offer optional forms of academic advisor evaluation.
The resolution also suggests that if students are required to complete advisor evaluations, similar to course evaluations, it would resolve concerns from advising about insufficient input from the student body. Additionally, it would produce a “more accurate understanding of an advisor’s performance.” All Card update This Thursday, SGA will be setting up boxes in the Student Union for students to vote on three separate designs for the new All Card, according to Archer. Archer said that in addition to just voting on the All Card redesign, students can also write on the voting ticket about what is stressing them out, what they don’t like about NKU or what assistance they need from SGA. “A. We get a vote and figure out the next All Card and B., we’re getting direct feedback from students that we can take upon ourselves and get some work done,” Archer said.
Student Government Assocation meets at 3:30 p.m. on Monday in SU 104.
Ed 65, Issue 05
News 03
No bones about it: evolutionary studies is skeletons of fun
ILLUSTRATION BY NOELLE HORN
Caitlyn Helton CONTRIBUTOR
The evolutionary studies minor at NKU fuses anthropology and various natural sciences to build a complete picture of the evolutionary history of the world and the creatures inhabiting it. The wide array of courses and unique field trips and opportunities this minor provides make this program shine. Evolutionary studies students can expect to see all manner of sciences in their classes. Students take geology, psychology, biology and anthropology as required courses and can be taken along with philosophy as electives. Some of the more unique elective classes in this 25-credit hour minor include animal learning, evolutionary neuroscience and primate sexuality. Dr. Monica Wakefield serves as the program’s director and professor of the primate sexuality course. According to Wakefield, the class is an in-depth look into the science of human reproduction and mate selection as compared to that of our closest living relatives, the primates. Several of the minor’s courses feature field trips. In the Behavioral Field Methods course, for example, students visit the Cincinnati Zoo once a week to record data and make observations about primates housed by the zoo. Other courses within the minor feature
trips to NKU’s Research and Education Field Station, which offers students a home base to explore and study over 155 acres of wetland and wooded area in Northern Kentucky. As far as careers, Wakefield believes this minor could fit well with a variety of disciplines. Evolutionary studies minors may find their skills put to work in the fields of paleontology, biological anthropology and psychology. Students can also study animal behavior, the fossil record or the evolution of societies and their nuances. “I recommend this minor to anyone who is open-minded and curious about understanding how evolution works,” Dr. Denice Robertson, lecturer in evolutionary studies and biology, said. Wakefield said students with an evolutionary studies minor can cultivate teamwork skills, good research practices and an understanding of scientific ethics useful inside and outside the STEM world. Even students in psychology, forensics or archaeology could benefit from understanding the driving forces behind what makes humans the way they are. Wakefield also pointed out the special importance for nursing or pre-med students to understand the concept of evolution in great detail. In a fast-paced
medical field, understanding how to combat issues like antibiotic resistance or diseases that quickly mutate or evolve are extremely important. Students in the medical field also need to have a good knowledge of the human body and its potential ailments. “You really can’t understand a lot of our medical conditions and our health without understanding the how and why they came about through evolution … it’s all based on evolutionary theory,” Wakefield said. While the program started with just one student when Wakefield took over, only about 11 students at any given time have the minor declared. Lindsey Meador was one of the first students to earn the minor and is a graduate of NKU. According to Meador, she would sell grilled cheese sandwiches to raise money for the anthropology labs to acquire or replace materials or casts of bones. She said she and her fellow students had to fight to get more biological anthropology classes added to NKU’s catalog. Meador said these funding struggles, as well as the critical thinking, problemsolving and public speaking skills she picked up from the coursework, have benefited her immensely—even leading her to take a trip to South Africa to study
meerkats. “While I am not in a ‘typical’ anthropological field at the moment, any former anthropology student will tell you that we use what we learned in our studies every day,” Meador said. For students interested in the minor, Wakefield recommends first taking Biological Anthropology, an introductory overview of what anthropology is all about and a minor look at many subjects mentioned above. In addition to providing a first look at the vast array of fields involved in Evolutionary Studies, the course counts for a science and lab general education credit.
For any questions about the evolutionary studies minor, students may contact Dr. Monica Wakefield at wakefieldm2@nku.edu.
IS THERE A MINOR ON CAMPUS YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT? LET US KNOW: @northernermedia
04 Arts & Life
Friends of Dorothy welcomes qu
The group aims to create a community and spac Natalie Hamren EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Ray Archer, undeclared sophomore, was terrified when he first came to NKU as a freshman. He had just socially come out as a transgender man and wanted to be himself, but he didn’t feel like there was an organization available on campus for his identity. He wanted a space for queer men on campus, where any gay man and/or masculine-aligned person attracted to men could be themselves without fear of retaliation. Current organizations exist for LGBTQ+ students, such as Common Ground—a gay/straight alliance group— and the Gender Initiative—a group for transgender and gender non-conforming students—but Archer wanted to create a group to fill the needs of gay men and/ or masculine-aligned people who are attracted to men. Archer then spoke with Director of LGBTQ Programs and Services Bonnie Meyer and began working to create what would become Friends of Dorothy.
he and Adams texted their friend Randy Geers, junior acting major, and asked for ideas. Geers suggested “Friends of Dorothy” as a nod to the 20th century euphemism for asking someone their sexuality without others knowing. The term is also linked with Judy Garland, who many consider a gay icon, as well as her character Dorothy Gale from the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz.” “It ties us to our roots, as well as also making [the group] seem safe for non-out men,” Archer said. Archer wanted the group to have a gener neutral name—such as friends—that wouldn’t exclude or out anyone. Even if someone isn’t out at home, they can find a second home with the group. “It's safe to have a space where they can be like, 'I'm gay.' And we're like, 'So are we, that's cool,” Archer said. “We all are, and if your identity changes later, that's cool too. We're glad to just be here for whenever you need it.”
Creating the group
Goals for the group
In 2018, Lavender Society was created for women and/or feminine-aligned people who are attracted to women. Meyer wanted an organization for queer women on campus due to the lack of women’s centers in the area and the increasing need from students to form such a community. As Lavender Society grew, Meyer said several queer men began asking for their own space to talk about their experiences. Archer asked his friend and sophomore musical theatre major Austin Adams if helping start up a campus group for queer men would be something he was interested in. Adams was excited, and signed on to be the club’s vice president. “[Austin] came back to me the next day and said, 'I've had about 50 people talk to me and say that they're interested.' I said, 'I didn't think that it would take off at all.' I expected it to need a little bit of time to start up,” Archer said. Archer received an outpour of positivity and interest from people about the group. The group’s initial Facebook post received over 1,000 impressions. Several people texted Archer about their excitement, and some alumni were inspired to start an organization of their own.
Adams said he wants the group to feel like a community for all gay men and masculine-aligned people on campus because he feels like there’s a split between people in different campus organizations. “There's people who are gay men that are in the theater world or the School of the Arts world, in general,” Adams said. “There's the communication gays and then there's the frat boy gays, and it's like, we're all gay. Can't we all just hang out?” Adams said it can be hard for queer people to reach out to other queer people, and the group will attempt to create a setting where they can do that. Archer said sometimes his identity is targeted when he’s with his friends, intentional or not. The experience can be scary and he wants to create the opposite feeling for people by creating a space where no one will say anything that will hurt or attack them. Whether someone is out or not, Archer wants people to be able to identify and relate with others who have gone through the same experiences. “Sometimes before you can come out, you need someone to show you that it's going to be alright,” Archer said. “Because, for some people, there is that fear of 'When I come out, what's going to happen? What if it's bad?'” “Sometimes it might be. But for some
Friends of Dorothy Archer said he panicked when he realized he didn’t have a name for the group;
people, they just need to see that it's okay to see that other people are living out and it's fine, and that they can be open about their identity. It's just important to have that kind of space and interactions with your own community.” Advisor and Director of LGBTQ Programs and Services Bonnie Meyer wants the group to grow, adding that she will support them in whatever they’re trying to do. Meyer said that whenever a student walks into her office and asks if they can start a new group, the answer is always yes. She said organizations like Lavender Society, the Gender Initiative and now Friends of Dorothy are all student-driven. Being an ally One of the first conversations Meyer had with Archer was about an advisor for the group. She said the conversation would look different if she was in the room, as she is a “queer chick” whose experiences are slightly different. “It's not my space. I don't want to hinder any conversation that would happen or that needs to happen by putting myself in the space,” Meyer said. Meyer is currently looking for an advisor, or co-advisor, whose identity fits the group. She said being an ally is important and something that she talks about often with students. “Allyship is an action—that's something that we do. It's also important that we understand where our place is and where our place isn't, and that we need to be invited into a space,” Meyer said.
Friends of Dorothy is open to gay, bisexual, pansexual, transgender, queer, nonbinary and/or masculine-aligned people, regardless if they’re out. The group meets next on March 3 from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. in SU 109. For more information, visit their social media platforms or contact Ray Archer: archerr1@nku.edu Twitter: friends_nku Instagram: friends_nku Snapchat: friends_nku Email: friendsofdorothynku@gmail.com
Arts & Life 05
ueer men, nonbinary students
ce for gay men and masculine-aligned people
PHOTOS BY NATALIE HAMREN
Ray Archer
Austin Adams
Position: President
Positon: Vice President
Favorite movie: “Silence of the Lambs” or “The Imitation Game”
Favorite movie: “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”
Favorite band: Modern Baseball
Favorite artist: Stephen Sondheim
Favorite food: Black bean burgers
Favorite food: Any breakfast food
Why are you excited about this group?: “At the first meeting, I met so many people that I’d never seen on campus before, but we had the bond of being a part of the same community, so it didn’t feel like we were really strangers.”
What are your goals for the group?: “I’m hoping to allow people in the queer community at NKU to have a space in which they can feel loved, love others and be proud of it.”
@northernermedia
06 News
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Mental health on college campuses, resources
Elizabeth Cates STAFF REPORTER
Mental health has become a widespread topic across college campuses. About one in four students on college campuses struggle with mental health concerns, according to Director of Student Counseling Services Amy Clark. “That doesn’t mean that they have a mental illness, per se, they just struggle with things like depression, anxiety, past trauma or current trauma,” Clark said. In 2016, 52.7 percent of students said that they felt hopeless and 39.1 percent said that in the past 12 months they felt so depressed that it was difficult to function, according to a survey by the American College Health Association. Dr. Robert Gallagher of the University of Pittsburgh, who annually surveys college counseling center directors, wrote a report that stated over the past 10 years, 90 percent of counseling center directors believe they are “treating an increasing number of students with severe pathology.” The Jed Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting emotional health and preventing suicide
in teenagers and young adults, has deemed the increase as a crisis in college mental health. According to Clark, a new possibility for the NKU community is a mental health advisory group that will consist of faculty, staff and students who discuss what services NKU should offer. Clark said she would especially like to see more education
and awareness regarding suicide prevention. Whittney Darnell, assistant professor of communication studies, has partnered with the Campbell County Drug-Free Alliance to train NKU students how to talk to 200 middle school and high school students about mental health. According to Darnell, the partner-
ILLUSTRATION BY JOSH KELLY
ship hopes to implement the ACT model (Ask, Care, Tell) which teaches how to be aware of mental health concerns among their peers and how to get help. This allows middle school and high school students the opportunity to learn more about mental health before graduating and pursuing their next steps. “If you are feeling distressed, it’s okay to ask for help. Everybody needs to ask for help at some point. I think it’s great that there is more attention to mental health and that we’re making it easier for people to get the resources we need,” Darnell said. Currently, the only program available that is similar to is the ACT model is QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) but it is specifically for suicide. Clark said she would like to see this concept expand to create similar programs that address training for other mental health topics. “I think that it’s important that people are getting more comfortable having those conversations and educating themselves, like people who seek out counseling for mental health aren’t crazy. This is just extra support that a lot of us need,” Clark said.
Mental Health Resources National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) Crisis Textline: Text CONNECT to 741741 Health Counseling and Student Wellness Crisis Line: (859) 572-7777 University Police: Call 911 or (859) 572-7777 National Alliance on Mental Illness Kentucky Crisis Line: (800) 950-NAMI (6264)
Ed 65, Issue 05
Sports 07
Preparing BB&T Arena: the game plan before the game Kaycee Sloan REPORTER
PHOTO BY JOSH KELLY
As March Madness appraoches, fans are packing BB&T Arena. Keeping fans safe is the main concern of security staff at BB&T Arena, according to Erik Jones, guest services and event coordinator. In 2018, NKU was ranked the third safest college campus in the nation, according to the National Council for Home Safety and Security. NKU police officers take pride in that title and want to continue to keep everyone safe. “The most important part about checking the arena besides keeping everyone safe is balance between a safe event and an enjoyable event,” Police Chief John Gaffin said. On game days, you can find several of NKU’s 17 police officers directing traffic, but extra help is needed to make sure everyone stays safe inside the arena. BB&T receives help from the WESS security company in preparation for game days. When walking into BB&T for a game, fans are greeted by WESS security for bag checking and to make sure no one has anything dangerous on them. “Whenever we find something dangerous at the door, we turn it into the head supervisor and they handle it from there,” Rhonda Curd, security staff and supervisor, said. A security supervisor’s main job is to make sure everything stays in order during an event. Normally, men’s games have five supervisors, whereas women’s games have two. Typical game day prep
starts at 3 p.m. and ends at 6 p.m. when the arena’s doors open, according to Jones. Before the fans are allowed to enter the arena, Jones has to unlock the doors and remove the gates to get to the second floor so people can get to their seats. “Game days are different than regular events here because of the student laptops, where they swipe their all-cards to get tickets to the game,” Jones said. “Before the teams walk out, we man the four corners of the court and make sure that if any team player or referee needs any assistance, that we have the proper staff covering them,” Kamika Byrd, security staff member, said. When the game ends, the staff gives fans an hour to hang around before they have to lock up the whole venue. “We give parents, grandparents, fans of the other team an hour because they all like to hang out, but we have to remind them to wrap it up so we can finish our job as well,” Jones said. At the end of the night when the arena has cleared, Jones gives word to release the EMTs, police officers and security workers. “It’s important to be prepared for any event and we try our best to achieve that goal so everyone has fun,” Jones said.
Watch the video to this story at thenortherner.com
#1 WSU v. #2 NKU 24 - 6 14 - 3
RECORD
21 - 8 13 - 4
#1 OFF 82 pg
AVG PTS
#1 DEF 65.3 pg
#1 46.4%
FG%
#4 43.4%
#2 AVG 12 pg
OFF REB
#6 AVG 11.4 pg
#1 AVG 27.9 pg
DEF REB
#6 AVG 25.4 pg
08 Advertisement
Wednesday, February 26, 2020