April 2016 Volume 3 Issue 7 | usfcollegeweek.com
contents
2 | COLLEGE MONTHLY
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Visit the Annual Sioux Falls Cinco de Mayo Festival at Falls Park on May 7th.
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Spring into healthy eating with these delicious spring rolls.
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USF’s spring musical, “Bye Bye Birdie” hits the stage April 27th.
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Find the 7 best burritos in Sioux Falls with this quick review guide.
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Celebrate Earth day with the USF Environmental Club.
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! a t s a Cinco de Mayo Tradition e Story by Amy Elston | Photos Courtesy of the Presentation Sisters
This year’s Cinco de Mayo Falls Park Fiesta draws the interest of a wide range of social groups, including USF Spanish students who will volunteer at the event. The Fiesta, which is sponsored b the Presentation Sisters, is an event open to anyone interested in celebrating the Latino culture in Sioux Falls. USF students have a history of volunteering their time by helping set up the event and take down the event. Miranda Cain (’16 ) had the opportunity to help out with the festival two years ago. Cain says, “I didn’t realize how big the Hispanic community was until attending the festival. They are all extremely welcoming and truly genuine to anyone there. Everyone is out there to have a good time, regardless of their culture or the culture of their neighbors. I have never been in an atmosphere where so many different people were together to celebrate just that— being together.”
Pictured: USF Student Shannon Daly
The mission of the Cinco de Mayo festival is to bring together the businesses of Sioux Falls and the civic community to celebrate the culture and heritage of the Hispanics and to help create awareness and to develop a sense of pride and develop pride of the diverse Latino cultures that make up the community.
“Wells Fargo has sponsored the Cinco de Mayo Falls Park Fiesta since its beginning. We want to be part of it because it’s the premier community event celebrating the cultures and traditions of our growing Latino population. Wells Fargo is proud of the diversity of cultures represented in the markets we serve. We can’t wait to celebrate this year’s fiesta!”
-Curt Zaske, Business Banking Manager and Market President for Wells Fargo in Sioux Falls APRIL 2016 | 3
“More generally, students who get involved with the local community develop a greater sense of social justice and are more likely to be engaged citizens after graduation.” Dr. Sarah Sinnot
Dr. Sarah Sinnot, the assistant professor of the Spanish Department says, “It is essential that students participate in activities such as these for a variety of reasons. In the case of the Spanish student, any engagement with the local Hispanic community is an opportunity to increase understanding of the culture that they are studying. Our students are learning Spanish for many reasons, but all of them share in the desire to use another language in order to enhance their ability to serve in the areas of faith and profession. One cannot truly speak another language without understanding the cultures behind it. The Fiesta will kick off at 8 a.m. on May 7th with the Avera Race Against Breast Cancer where race participants are eligible for special drawings. Following the races, the Fiesta will officially start at 11 a.m. where it will be a day for the community that is filled with entertainment, Latino food, art, and children’s activities, making it a fun day for everyone to enjoy. “I think it’s important to recognize the diversity that’s present in our community and also to get more of a flavor and a sense of what those different cultures are,” said Sister Horstman, one of the members of Caminando Juntos. Sister Horstman originally initiated the group here in Sioux Falls. Horstman adds, “The Cinco de Mayo Fiesta is very important to me because it gives us an opportunity to recognize and celebrate, to embrace the various Latino cultures that are part of the Sioux Falls and surrounding communities. It also gives the Latinos an opportunity to share with us the richness of their cultures and values. As new immigrants come to make a home here with us, we need to be welcoming and do whatever we can to help them become part of the fabric of our communities; sharing in their cultures is one way we do that, just as we have done and continue do with German Fest, Irish Fest etc.”
Pictured: Chihuahua Fashion Show
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Brooke Nicholson, Director of Communication and Development for the Presentation Sisters, says, “I met the Presentation Sisters while volunteering for the Cinco de Mayo Fiesta. I volunteered with the fiesta since the beginning and fell in the love with the compassionate culture that the Sisters create. I am now fortunate to get to work for the Sisters. The fiesta is a fun way to come together and celebrate the Latino cultures!”
The 2016 Cinco de Mayo Falls Park Fiesta will be the ninth annual Fiesta, presented by Wells Fargo. Since the start of the Fiesta, the Cinco de Mayo Falls Park Fiesta has served as a benefit for Caminando Juntos, a ministry of the Presentation Sisters. The Caminando Juntos, which means “walking together”, started back in 2002 when the Hispanic population started growing throughout the Midwest. It was initiated by Sister Janet Horstman when she moved her ministry with the Latinos from Omaha, Nebraska to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Caminando Juntos has a mission to help welcome and respond to the needs of newer Latino immigrants as they seek to integrate into a new culture and make a home among us. They are also wanting to create bridges that connect the needs of the people with assistance that can help build for an improved tomorrow. Even today, the Hispanic population continues to grow in Sioux Falls, doubling their population since the early 2000’s. “I know among the Hispanic and Latino populations, they are coming to Sioux Falls and South Dakota because the economy hasn’t hit as hard here as in California, Texas,
! a t sevents
Fie
Saturday May 7th
8am
11am
28th Annual Avera Race Against Breast Cancer Fiesta Opens! 11am - 7pm // Inflatables 11am - 2pm, 3pm - 6pm // Pinatas 12pm - 3pm // Photo Booth 2pm - 4pm // Airbrush by Mary
Florida, New York, places like that,” said Juan Bonilla, president of the Spanish Speaking Community Association of Sioux Falls. “They are moving from those places to look for better job opportunities. And they’re looking for a place where their kids can have a good education.” With the help of the Caminando Juntos, they provide the Latinos with services such as immigration legal services, offering English classes, responding to domestic abuse, education, and being advocates for the newly Hispanics in the area. Over the past thirteen years, the Caminando Juntos has provided services to over thousands of Latinos in the area. The Fiesta is scheduled to take place Saturday, May 7th. The fiesta includes help from fifteen committee members, thirty community partners, over three hundred volunteers, and close to ten thousand attendees. The Sisters encourage everyone in the surrounding Sioux Falls area to participate in this year’s festival and have the chance to experience the culture of the Latino community. The proceeds raised at the festival each year go towards the Caminando Juntos to help benefit their ministry.
11:30am Rumba Tempo, playing songs of Santana
1pm Chihuahua Fashion Show 1:45pm Sandra Rodriguez, Mexican Singer Mariachi Nuevo Guachinango
3pm Hoop the Fair
5pm La Exclusiva Banda Trancazitos 7pm 50/50 Cash Raffle Winner Announced
Pictured: Mariachi band MARCH 2016 | 5
Spicy Shrimp Rolls Ingredients serves 6-7 Veggies 2 cups vegetables (carrots, cabbage, cucumber, avocado) 3/4 cup unseasoned Rice Vinegar + 1 cup water 4-5 Tbsp Honey 1/2 lime, juiced
Rolls 1 block extra firm tofu 1 Tbsp soy sauce 12 spring roll rice papers
1 large bundle cilantro, large stems removed. Sriracha sauce For Serving Leftover vinegar sauce
Directions 1. Prep pickling sauce by combining water, ricevinegar, honey, and lime juice in a jar and stirring to combine. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more honey for sweetness or lime juice for tanginess. Submerge thinly sliced vegetables (excluding avocado) in jar and transfer to fridge to chill. 2. Prepare a station to make the spring rolls. Next, add 2-3 cups of water in a frying pan and bring to a boil and turn off heat. 3. In a small bowl place 24 frozen shrimp and run lukewarm water into the bowl. Continue to run lukewarm water over the shrimp until thawed. 4. Drain vegetables, leave the vinegar sauce in a bowl for dipping later. 5. To make a spring roll, dip the rice paper in hot water for 20 seconds or until soft. Carefully transfer paper to a damp cutting board. Next, place four thawed shrimp, avocado, and pickles vegetables, and sriracha sauce onto rice paper. 6. To fold the roll, tuck in edges and tightly fold over one side and then the opposite to create a compact roll. 7. Continue until 6-7 rolls are made. Serve with leftover vinegar sauce and enjoy!
6 | COLLEGE MONTHLY
BYEBYE
BIRDIE
story by Emily Stahl photos by Christin Vander Pol The University of Sioux Falls theater department is preparing a production that embodies pop culture, celebrity obsessions and rock-and-roll. Bye Bye Birdie is a musical set in 1958 in which an adored rock-and-roll star, Conrad Birdie, is drafted into the army. Conrad’s agent, Albert Peterson, and Albert’s girlfriend, Rosie Alvarez, come up with a scheme to showcase Conrad one last time to sell a lot of records. This entails a farewell performance in Ohio; where Conrad will sing his new song “One Last Kiss” and give an actual last kiss to adoring fan Kim MacAfee on live TV. However, things don’t go as smoothly as all had hoped. Director of the University of Sioux Falls theater program, Joe Obermueller, says one reason he chose Bye Bye Birdie is because it has an amusing plot. “It’s this story about pop culture and how we get so obsessed with these people. [Conrad] is not a great guy; he’s just kind of a jerk, and you see that unfold as the story goes on. But, there are so many parallels to that today; just how we obsess over celebrities and make them out to be more than what they are when really great people are right in front of you. Just because they have this celebrity status doesn’t make them any better than anyone else. So, it’s a fun story, there’s lots of great music in it and I think that you can make a lot of parallels to today,” Obermueller says.
This story will play out on a set that looks like an old console TV. Since there are over 40 actors and actresses in this show, Obermueller says the physical scenery aside from this will be sparse, with projections and lighting effects setting the scene for viewers. Obermueller hints that those attending can expect some surprises. “I like to use our space in ways that maybe people haven’t’ seen it used before, so I think some of the design elements, most specifically the lighting design, will achieve that,” Obermueller says. Additionally, the musical uses live music from a large student pit orchestra, which will be in view on stage. Obermueller says, “One thing that I really like to do is incorporate the musicians into the set, and so they will be incorporated into that TV in a cool way.” Another reason Obermueller chose this production is because of the size. He says, “I look for shows that will involve as many people as possible, and so musicals fit that bill really well, because there are usually lots of roles both on stage and off that can be filled.” Aside from having a little over 40 characters, this show also requires many technical positions. These include work on the set, lighting, costumes, and the pit orchestra. All in all, Obermueller estimates over 100 people in the USF community are closely involved in Bye Bye Birdie. Senior Ryan Howe is one of the many members of the cast. This will be Howe’s last theater production with USF, and he says he was surprised when he got called back for a lead role. “I had probably the worst audition I’ve ever had for this and I thought, ‘Ok, well, that’s it. I’m just going to get some chorus role, and that’s fine,’” Howe says. Nonetheless, Howe was called back for the role of Albert Peterson. Although shocked, Howe says he was excited to be cast as Albert, but he expected it would be a demanding task.
“I knew it was going to be a lot of work…It’s definitely been my most challenging role yet. Having to piece together a lot of the character and the singing, and putting that all together in ways that I haven’t had to do…This is the first time I’ve had a role where the singing really matters, so capturing a lot of the emotion in that and making sure the character, and the singing, and all of it is all aligned,” Howe says. Howe explains he is still developing who Albert is, but he thinks of the character as “nervous” and “high-strung”. Howe says, “Conrad Birdie gives him a lot to deal with. I think the audience will find Conrad isn’t quite the saint that Albert and Rosie talk him up to be…Albert also has to deal with Rosie and has to deal with his mother as well, who is…incredibly dramatic and over the top. Albert has a tough job balancing all these interesting characters around him.” Opposite of Howe in grade level and temperament, freshman Madison Rimmer was cast as Albert’s “sidekick”, Rosie Alvarez. “Madison and I have two very different personalities, which makes it challenging and also fun,” Howe says. “I’d say our chemistry so far has been really great.”
Although it may be uncommon for a freshman to get a lead role, Obermueller explains that he doesn’t have any restrictions against it. He says, “If you’re a freshman and you’re right for the role, you’ll get the role, as opposed to bigger schools where you have to wait your turn.” Rimmer says she is thrilled to be cast as the role of Rosie. “It means quite a bit to be able to play a primary role as a freshman… I’m very excited. I’m not nervous, I’m just very happy. Rosie was one of my three dream roles that I have…She is very spitfire. She’s Albert’s lady.” In the story, Rosie helps Albert with his music business, and the character is frustrated with her boyfriend. Rimmer says, “She’s trying to leave him, but she keeps getting pulled back in throughout the whole musical.” As to whether or not this on-again, off-again couple ends up together, readers will have to wait and see for themselves. That’s not the only relationship turmoil this musical has to offer. Junior Jessica Giannantonio is cast as 15-year-old Kim MacAfee, the girl who is chosen to receive a kiss from Conrad Birdie. However, Kim is conflicted with her predicament because she just
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got “pinned,” or started dating a boy named Hugo Peabody. Giannantonio says, “It’s funny because she finds out that she is the lucky girl who gets to kiss Conrad Birdie before he goes off to war, so there’s this whole struggle between just getting pinned to Hugo, and then all of the sudden, ‘Well, I’m gonna go kiss Conrad Birdie.’ So, as you can imagine, Hugo’s not the happiest about that. So, something interesting happens because of that.” Viewers of this musical can expect to see each of the main characters grow and develop throughout the story. Howe says, “It explores Albert and Rosie’s relationship as that progresses in the story, and also Conrad as he in some ways tries to break free from the role that he has as this rock star, and Jessica’s character, as she’s growing up and maturing and previously was attracted to the allure of Conrad and has to figure out how she feels about that as she’s now going steady with Hugo.” However, plenty of the girls portrayed in this musical would be perfectly happy to kiss Conrad Birdie. Howe says, “Conrad Birdie is this rock-and-roll star, the teenage heartthrob. All the girls are screaming about him.”
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over 100 people in the USF community are closely involved in Bye Bye Birdie.
One star-struck character is Helen, played by freshman Shania DeBoer. DeBoer describes her character as a crazy fan girl. She says, “I cling to his leg at one point! He’d be like the Justin Bieber of this time.” Although Helen isn’t a lead role, DeBoer says she keeps busy with this productio n and explains that students will even meet outside of rehearsals to go over their choreography. “You really have to put effort into it to make sure that you know it. It’s a pretty good chunk of your time, but when it’s something you love to do, you don’t even realize it,” she says.
musical is one of those things where you’re kind of living it the entire time, no matter what you have going on. You have to be dedicated to it and you have to be putting in the time outside of rehearsals as well.” Both Giannantonio and Rimmer agree that the time commitment is worth it. “For me, it’s a time of community and people just doing what they love,” Giwnnantonio says. “I love to sing and I love to act, and I’m getting better at dancing, and I’m in this group of people who love to do exactly what I’m doing.”
Although Helen isn’t a lead role, DeBoer says she keeps busy with this production and explains that students will even meet outside of rehearsals to go over their choreography. “You really have to put effort into it to make sure that you know it. It’s a pretty good chunk of your time, but when it’s something you love to do, you don’t even realize it,” she says.
Rimmer says, “It would be really awesome to have students show up to the show to see what we work on all year. Just to be there to support us and be there to see our hard work come to life. I’m very happy with my cast mates, and I have a lot of fun with them, and I’m really proud of all the hard work they’re putting in.”
In fact, many of the cast members hold a busy schedule. Rehearsals began in late February and have been going steady since. Obermueller explains that they have rehearsals about four to five times a week for about three hours, but students only attend the scenes they’re in.
Obermueller says these productions are worth going to because theater can be an entertainment mode that does not detach people from each other, but rather brings them together.
Being a lead role, Howe says he spends “countless hours” on this production. He says, “It’s hard to keep track. People know me as the guy wandering down the hallways humming songs from musicals, and so, in some ways, there’s not a minute that you’re not working on the musical. You’re working on lines, you’re working on, if anything, hanging out with people in the cast, building a better ensemble. A
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“There are so many options for entertainment these days,” Obermueller says. Video games and TV, and all of these things sort of take over what we do, and all of those things can sometimes be isolating. Theater is something where everybody can come together and experience something together. So, you’re watching your peers work their tails off to perform and you’re experiencing that with everybody else, and it’s just a really cool thing to participate in as an audience member.”
Howe says he believes theater productions give viewers and cast members the chance to connect and interact. “Theater is such a shared experience. Whether I’m on stage and you’re in the audience, afterwards, we can talk about it, and you can tell me things that I never noticed because I don’t have the same perspective that you do,” Howe says. “That’s just what I love, just hearing the different perspectives from audience members.” Howe says it lifts him up when he knows his peers are there to support him. “That really puts me at ease when you go out there and you know your peers are out there and you hear certain laughs in the audience, it just warms your heart to know, and it gives you that extra little boost of courage and energy to go out there and really give your best because you want to show off to your friends a little bit.” DeBoer mirrors his response. She says, “You get more excited when there are people in the crowd that you know are there specifically to support you, and I think it definitely creates an impact on the performers because if you have that big crowd there, you’re going to want to show them all you’ve got.” DeBoer adds that this musical is worth going to because it’s upbeat and will be great entertainment. “Some of stuff that’s said in there is just super funny, and everybody’s facials and acting is gong to be hilarious, too,” DeBoer says. “We have a lot of amaz-
ing singers, and the leads are going to be absolutely amazing. It’s just going to be a spectacular show with choreography and costumes, and there’s just so much going into it.” Cast members say this musical can relate to and entertain anyone. Howe says that Bye Bye Birdie is a well-written and fun musical to see not just for students, but also for the adult community surrounding USF. “It’s just one of those great American musicals that has a lot of that early 60’s charm to it,” Howe says. “There are a lot of references that will be great for parents and baby boomers that come to see it. I think it’s really a timeless piece.” Rimmer agrees, “It’s a very funny show, there are mature jokes in there that a lot of people are going to get. I think it’s enjoyable for all ages.” All in all, Bye Bye Birdie is expected to entertain all who go watch. Obermueller adds, “It’s big, it’s lively, it borders on a cartoon. It’s a little bigger than life.” The show will run in the Jeschke Fine Arts Center Meredith Auditorium from Wednesday, April 27 to Saturday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m., and on Sunday, May 1 at 2 p.m. A limited number of free tickets will become available to students in advance at Student Development. Regular price is $5 for students and children and $10 for general admission. Tickets are on sale now and a link to purchase them can be found on the University of Sioux Falls website under The Arts tab.
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7 Burritos Everyone In Sioux Falls Should Eat
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Reviews and Photos by Hailey Schmidt
Los Paisanos’ Burrito Supreme ($10.95) Ingredients: Chicken, rice, onions, refried beans with lettuce, tomato, and guacamole on the side Review: While the food here was delicious, we devoted about an hour and 45 minutes from the time we sat down to the time we paid the bill. Plenty of people came in for takeout so that might have been a better option. If you’ve got a couple hours to kill, it’s definitely worth a shot. Price: $$
Giliberto’s Burrito ($6.75)
Ingredients: Adabado, guacamole, pico de gallo, cabbage Review: Giliberto’s is on this list mostly because a.) it’s open 24 hours, b.) its close proximity to campus, and c.) Nick Poppens told me it had to be. These burritos were definitely the most inexpensive and if you’re feeling adventurous, there are TONS of meats to choose from like cheek, tongue, spicy meat, or plain ol’ chicken. It’s convenient and cheap and pretty good. Price: $
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Inca’s Mexican Burrito ($13.95)
Ingredients: Chicken, topped with red sauce, green sauce, and queso blanco, beans and rice on the side. Review: This thing was HUGE. The moment it was set in front of me, I knew I’d be able to eat for days. It was the most expensive burrito on the list, and while it was good, I would never spend $14 on it again. Price: $$$
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Azteca’s Azteca Burrito ($12.25)
Ingredients: Chicken, rice, black beans, topped with green sauce, tomatoes, and avocados Review: This burrito was the most refreshing. Usually, burritos are pretty hardy but because it was topped with avocados, it didn’t seem as heavy. However, that doesn’t mean it was filling. Once again, half of it went home in a to-go box, but at this price, I was excited to have leftovers!. Price: $$$
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Puerto Vallarta’s Luis’ Favorito Burrito ($10.95) Ingredients: Chicken, rice, and beans Review: If this burrito is handpicked by Luis, the owner, how could it be bad? It’s big enough to feed a small pack of children so don’t worry about going home hungry. In fact, you’d probably be able to eat one, maybe two, additional meals from the same burrito. The rice and beans are on the inside and its covered in melted cheese and green sauce. YUM. Price: $$
Nikki’s Burrito Express ($8)
Ingredients: b. At Nikki’s, you can garnish your burrito Subwaystyle. As the cooks bring your burrito down the bar, they’ll ask you questions like, “rice and beans?” and “what kind of meat?” You can add only what you like. Not a big fan of tomatoes? No problem. Prefer one pound of pico de gallo? Go for it. Price: $$
Jacky’s Wet Burrito ($10.50)
Ingredients: Carne asada, Christmas style Review: Let’s get real here. I would have made 7 different combinations of Jacky’s Wet Burrito the top 7 burritos in Sioux Falls if I hadn’t placed restrictions myself. It is that good. Imagine this: rice, beans, and your choice of chicken, steak, al pastor, chorizo, shredded beef or chicken, or ground beef stuffed inside a huge flour tortilla smothered in red or green sauce—or both kinds if you want! Price: $$
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Serving the Earth Day Story by Yeeun Yen The University of Sioux Falls Environmental Club is planning several campus events to celebrate Earth Day. The Environmental Club was started about three years ago by Cristina Adams to promote recycling. “It (recycling) is an easy step to become more environmentally friendly and it is a good first step,” Adams says. She says she has always been interested in environmental issues and has learned even more since starting the club.
Club for “Campus Beautification.” They plan to plant flowers and pick up trash to prepare campus for spring. Friday, April 22nd – The Environmental Club will be hosting a Movie Night, where students can view “Small is Beautiful: A Tiny House Documentary” in Z-Hall at 7:00pm.
In addition, there will be a Pop Tab Drive in the beginning of April. This is a fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House, an organization that In addition to managing recycling bins around provides a place to stay for those with a family the campus, the club members collect recycling member in the hospital. “People can turn in items such as cardboard boxes, plastic bags, either pop taps or cans during Earth Week and and packing papers. In addition, they also have we have prizes for the people who give us the visited the recycling plant in Sioux Falls and saw biggest amount.” Adams says. The prizes will be how all of the materials are assorted. Adams says gift cards to local eco-friendly grocery stores or one of their biggest events, Earth Day, is coming restaurants. on April 18th to 22nd, and is titled “Serving the Earth Day” by the group. The main goal of Environmental Club is to keep a strong recycling program on campus. Tuesday, April 19th – Is “ClubFest,” and the Environmental Club is hosting a bonfire, food “We want everybody to know where to recycle. and outside games. “The idea is to get people There is always a recycling bin next to a trash outside in the spring. Earth Week is bringing can,” Adams says. “I think it is important to take awareness to environmental causes, but it is also little steps that you can do. Because you can’t just about enjoying the planet and celebrating say, ‘Oh, I need to save the whole environment’, the great place that we live in,” Adams says. but you can say, ‘I can help USF.’ So if there is trash on the ground, you can pick it up. Also, Thursday, April 21st – The Environmental Club watch how much you print. Don’t print off 20 has prepared “Card Writing Drives” for the pages for the class if you don’t really need it.” custodians, maintenance staff and food service staff. “They are the ones who take care of our Adams adds that being environmentally friendly environment on campus every day, and they are does not need to be taken to an extreme. “We underestimated most of the time. We are going just encourage people to take the small steps to to make sure that they feel they are appreciated be environmentally friendly and from there you and that they know they are thanked for the can grow to do bigger things.” great jobs they do,” Adams says. Also, the Environmental Club is joining with the Gardening
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APRIL 2016 | 15
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