The Vessel | December 2017

December 2017

Volume 5 Issue 4

One MOre DOwn Max Mickey Still in the Game

SeaSOn Of GivinG

Opportunities in Sioux Falls this Season

far frOM HOMe

USF Students Pursue their Dreams

A print publication of USF student media.

Contents 4

Season of Giving

Opportunities to Give Back in Sioux Falls this Season.

6 7 8 10 11 14 15

Coo’s Line Is it Anyway USF Improvisation

4

6

A member of Service Core volunteers at the Humane Society.

Photo courtesy of Ellie Herman

Improv (2017). Photo courtesy of Ellie Herman

7

USF Football v. Augie (2016).

Photo courtesy of Leah Husemoen.

8

Cougar Football

A Successful Season Comes to an End

One More Down

10

Max Mickey Still in the Game

Far From Home

USF Students Pursue Dreams

All I want For Christmas is...

Photo courtesy of Madison Rimmer.

Max Mickey | 2016 Season.

Photo courtesy of Dave Eggen

11

Comfort, Joy, & Holiday Cookies

In the Political Arena

Trump and the Russia Investigation

Masterpieces, Disasterpieces, and Lightsabers.

New Movies to See During Break

Note From The Editor The magazine is titled The Vessel because, much like a ship, it is our job to report and deliver campus news to the students, faculty, staff, and alumni of the University.

The cover photo featuring running back Max Mickey was taken by USF senior, Adria Botella i Moreno.

Unless stated, photos are courtesy of Editor, Yuharelly Comparan or are taken from a copyright free website.

Magazine submissions can be emailed to: vessel.usiouxfalls@gmail.com. Visit usfvessel.com and follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest campus news.

Any opinions presented in the magazine are not a reflection of The Vessel magazine, the Media Department, or the University; they belong to only the writer.

Christmas is Monday, December 25th; have a wonderful holiday break and a happy new year!

Whitney Fryer, Print & Website Editor whitney.fryer@usiouxfalls.edu

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We Want You. The USF Vessel is looking for its next Editors. The application is open to all students regardless of academic discipline.

As an editor for the Vessel, you will be working with writers and photographers to capture the essence of USF in each month’s magazine. Strong organizational and communication skills are essential to success. Writing and design skills are strongly preferred.

Submit resumes and cover letters to vessel.usiouxfalls@gmail.com

Applications due Feb.10th, 2018

Senior Spotlights Congratulations to the Media Studies students graduating in December.

Amy Elston

What will you miss most about USF after you graduate?

I’ll tell you one thing I won’t miss--late nights and crying during finals week.

Advice for incoming freshman?

Best advice I was given was to not get a job during freshman year, or even for the first semester. Take as much time off as you can to establish yourself in a new environment.

Freshman year is TOUGH.

Hometown: Windom, M.N Major: Criminal justice & Media Studies (Journalism)

What are your plans after graduation?

Who says I have plans?

JEFFREY HARMAN

What will you miss most about USF after you graduate?

The people. I have met some life-long friends at USF, for sure. Going to school out of state and then being on the [football] team allows you to meet people from all over the country.

What was your favorite class?

Radio Lab for sure, even though it is only a one credit course. I got a chance to have a radio show with my friend Tucker Stout. I had a great time and prior to my show, I never thought about going into radio.

What are your plans after graduation?

Work and provide the best life I can for my family.

CASEY KELDERMAN

Hometown: Redland, C.A Major: Media Studies (Multi-Media Production)

What is your best memory at USF? Hosting my own radio show on campus. The Midnight Hour, as it is called, was something I looked forward to hosting every Sunday night. The show gave me an outlet to talk about my favorite music, movies, and other entertainment news.

What is one learning experience you will take with you?

Do not be afraid to try something new. It might not work the first time, but if you keep working at it, it can only get better.

Hometown: Rock Valley, I.A Major: Media Studies (Multi-Media Production)

What are your plans after graduation?

Work full-time and continue to look for a position in the field of video production.

What is your best memory at USF? Being able to watch the football games from the sidelines. #PressPerks

Lashe’ Sharee Tatum

What will you miss most about USF after you graduate?

I will miss this media department and everyone who taught and helped me along this wild journey. I am finally with a school and a department that cares about their students and their success. I was able to be myself and not be treated any differently than the traditional students. I love you guys... xoxo.

What are your plans after graduation?

To find a reporting and/or anchoring job here in Sioux Falls for local TV News.

Hometown: Marion, O.H Major: Media Studies (Journalism)

Opportunities to in Sioux Falls

give back

this season

Story by Jacob VanEngen Photos courtesy of Ellie Herman

The holidays are a great time to get together with family and friends and enjoy the company and camaraderie that being with each other has to offer. Talking with friends that you have not seen in ages and reconnecting with loved ones is just one of many great features that come with the holiday season. However, as important and meaningful it can be to reconnect, it is just as important

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4 | The Vessel

to remember that Jesus’ ministry was more than building relationships. It was one of giving, and the holidays are ripe with opportunities to do just that.

There are many great places in Sioux Falls where students can serve others:

Direct L ine Pra yer a group of individ Center is around uals foc u praying for indiv sed in need iduals of praye r. It is p the simp erhaps les but an e t group on this xcellent opportun list, voluntee ity for ring. Ma rk 11:24 “Therefo tells us, re I tell you you ask fo r in praye , whatever r, believe you have received that it, and it yours.� T will be his is th e verse direct lin for the e p basis of th rayer center and eir ministr the be a volu y. To app ly to nteer pa rtner in go to dir prayer, ectlinesd .org.

St Francis House is an ecumenical emergency shelter and transitional s housing program for the homeles and ip, wsh fello offering hospitality, support to those in need. They are of focused not only on the shelter l wel the but ed, the individuals serv sts, gue the of y being and longevit requiring them to apply for or hold t jobs, attend self-improvemen ls, mea ning eve seminars, attend help with household chores, and . even place money into savings lves invo se hou Volunteering at the ls, packing lunches, serving mea ous vari er oth cleaning and projects. To learn more, visit stfrancishouse.com.

Members of USF Service Core volunteer at the Humane Society (Nov 6).

As you pass by the bellhopesque attendees of the buckets every year, you may not realize that the Salvation Army does more than just collect money from passersby. The Army uses that money to combat things like human trafficking, addiction, homelessness, hunger, and to provide education, disaster relief, and much more. The Sioux Falls location alone does all that while providing worship services, men’s and women’s ministries, music and arts programs, character building programs and transitional housing! With much going on under the rook, the Salvation Army needs quite a few volunteers to keep it all running.

Visit sasiouxfalls.org. to take a closer look at the local ways the Army serves our community and more information on how you can get involved.

Habitat for Humanity seeks to put Gods love into action by building homes, communities, and hope. Normally viewed a nat ional organization that does work overseas, they also have many organizations around the cou ntry focused on local commu nity building including right her e in Sioux Falls. That includes bui lding new houses and doing wo rk on other homes that people may need help with. They also partner with many youth ministries and other ministries around the local area to improve our city and spr ead God’s love. To find out more abo ut local volunteer opportunities for Habitat for Humanity, visit siouxfallshabitat.org.

Ask your church! When looking for ways to give back, often times the easiest and most impactful way to get involved is to do so with your church family. Ask your church if there are any service events that you can participate in, and usually the answer will be “absolutely.” Normally it is no more complicated than a sign-up sheet and making sure you remember the time and place.

There are always ways to serve if you just look around!

Gather a group of friends together and clean up a park.

Ask your neighbors if there is anything that you can do for them this holiday season such as bake, clean, or even pray

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for them, if that is something that you feel comfortable doing. Or if you have another idea that is not on the board, bring it up to your church and offer to help organize the event.

Sioux Falls is certainly not void of places to volunteer or facets in which to serve. This season, consider finding a way to give back to the community, whether that be by service, donation, or simply prayer. In whatever way you choose to spend your holidays, have a blessed Christmas, and fantastic New Years.

December 2017 | 5

Story & photos courtesy of Ellie Herman

COO'S Line Is It Anyway

Laughter fills the Jones Theatre when the campus club, Improv, gets together every Wednesday night on USF’s campus. Improv participants include students from all different types of majors, all encouraging each other and making one other’s guts bust.

Sophomore History and Secondary Education major Drew Veurink is the co-vice president with junior Micah Abraham. Veurink says that he started to become passionate about Improv after coming with his RA, Max Rysdon, his freshman year.

Improv President Becca Onnen has made sure that all who show up to Improv know what Improv is and makes them feel welcome.

“It’s my go to place if I need to relax, unwind, have a good time, socialize.

It’s really [during Improv] where people really want to be themselves and be creative, and be wacky, and be goofy, and not take a restraint on their silliness, which I think is really fun,” Veurink says.

Onnen describes what happens at Improv along the lines of the TV show, “Who’s Line is it Anyway?” or as playing a bunch of different games.

“There is a structure for what we want the game to look like, and then we give a situation. Then we take that situation and kind of run with it,” Onnen says.

“We have games where it might look like a dating game, where we have completely bizarre characters and one person who to guess who they are.”

With the fact that anything can happen in Improv, Onnen says that it can seem scary, but it’s a really safe environment to be in.

“It doesn’t have to be something that makes 100% sense, because it’s not scripted. You just kind of run with whatever happens,” Onnen says. “If the people around you are supporting you, then if something is completely out of the blue or doesn’t make sense, you kind of weave it into the story.”

6 | The Vessel

Not only does this club get to make others on the nights they meet laugh, but they also have times to perform for an audience.

“When we have an audience, obviously it’s really interactive and we get to do a lot with the audience, which is really fun,” Onnen says.

Veurink says that he has a fun time performing in front of his peers.

“When you’re in Jones Theatre and you’re coming up with this stuff on the fly and you make the crowd laugh, there’s just something about it,” Veurink

?

says. “You are not just saying a joke that a director wrote in a script. You are not acting out a scene that has been premade and acted by a thousand other people before you.”

There is no pressure to be in performances if you show up 9:30pm Wednesday nights in the Jones black box Theatre. If you would like to come to just view the shows, Onnen says that there will be at least one more show you can catch before the end of the semester.

“Sometime before finals we’ll have one that’s Christmas themed. We may have a third show,” Onnen says. “Definitely next semester we will have at least three.

We’ll be around on campus. We’ll get the word out there when we are having our next shows.”

Improv meets Wednesday nights at 9:30PM in the Jones Theatre. To find out more information about the club, you can email Rebecca Onnen at rebecca.onnen@usiouxfalls.edu.

Cougar Football Successful Season Comes to an End Story by Jeff Harman

The Cougar football team was seconds away from clinching its second ever conference championship, until it slipped away.

Entering the last weekend of the regular season the Cougars sat at 8-1, their only blemish a home defeat to Winona State, needing a win to secure a share of the conference championship. Standing in the way was the #1 ranked team in the country, Minnesota State Mankato.

It was a battle between the top ranked offense and top ranked defense in the conference.

With five minutes left in the game, the Cougars had 23-13 lead, a feat not many saw coming. Two touchdown passes from junior quarterback Ian Fieber had the Cougar offense rolling while the defense held Mankato to 150 total yards.

Then things began to go south.

The Cougar defense made a colossal mistake breaking coverage and letting up a 60 yard touchdown pass. The Cougar offense got the ball back and fumbled on the ensuing drive. The defense redeemed itself big time forcing the Mavericks to turn the ball over on downs after a failed fourth down attempt. The Cougar offense sputtered in three plays having to punt the ball back to the Mavericks with under two minutes left.

The stadium fell silent when the Cougars muffed the snap on the punt and gave the Mavericks the ball in the red zone with only a field goal needed to tie the game.

Forty seconds later, the Mavericks completed a pass in the end zone to take a 27-23 lead --14 points in less than five minutes.

The Cougar sideline, almost in a comatose state, had just watched their conference championship slip away. Not

only that, but the Cougars postseason hopes were placed in the hands of other teams.

The team spent the rest of Veteran’s day nervously watching other games, hoping that the right results would occur.

Luckily for Cougar football the right results did happen, and on Sunday the NCAA selection committee selected them as the #6 seed in Region 4 of the playoffs.

The Cougars were matched up with Midwestern State University out of Wichita Falls, Texas and the Lone Star Conference.

It would not be easy to bounce back after suffering a back breaking loss.

When asked about how the Cougars could do this, Senior safety Joshua Butler said, “We just have to stay focused and finish. Finish every rep at practice so that we know we are prepared against anything that comes our way.”

The Cougars would have the week to prepare for a different team from a conference with a different style of play.

On Friday, morning of November 17, the Cougars loaded up a plane and flew to Wichita Falls. The 65 degree weather paired with the sun was a nice change of pace for the Cougars that had been practicing in below freezing temperatures.

Saturday afternoon, the Cougars received the ball to start the game in front of over 7,000 people. The Cougar offense made a statement early driving the length of the field on the first possession of the game. This possession ended with senior running back Max Mickey scoring a 20 yard touchdown run after being out six weeks with a leg injury. The defense held stout as usual not giving up a single point in the first quarter.

After a field goal from senior Stuart Vanden Heuvel, the offense struck again with Ian Fieber completing a touchdown pass to junior Michael Maxwell.

Riding a 17-0 lead, the Cougar defense sputtered giving up two touchdowns in the last five minutes of the first half, a similar scenario to the last five minutes of the game against Mankato.

In the third quarter, the Mustangs were able to score 10 points gifted good field position while the Cougar offense struggled to get things going.

The fourth quarter was a battle with the defense holding the Mustangs to no points. The Cougar offense had some good drives, one ending with a Vanden Heuvel field goal. A late drive saw the Cougars on the 17 yard line with two minutes left in the game, needing a touchdown to take a late lead.

On 4th and 1, the offense was stuffed at the line of scrimmage by the Mustang defense and turned the ball over on downs. The defense took the field while the Mustangs ran the clock out and began the celebration.

The Cougars, mixed with emotions stood on the field knowing their season was over, and for 21 seniors that their football careers were over.

“We had some opportunities but needed to make just another play or two to pull this one out,” said Head Coach Jon Anderson.

In a year that was supposed to be a “rebuilding” year for the Cougars, they returned to the postseason for the fourth straight year and played the second best defense in the country statistically. This is not to mention that the Cougars were coached by a brand new coaching staff.

The Cougars finish the season at 9-3, setting up the next round of seniors for success.

December 2017 | 7

It’s been almost six weeks since USF running back Max Mickey’s last down.

Playing only five regular season games this year, he scored eight touchdowns and averaged 174.6 rushing yards.

Story by LaShe Tatum Photo by Adria Botella i Moreno

8| The Vessel

“I saw the biggest work load that I’ve ever seen in my entire career this season.

I was getting around 30 carries a game and it was kind of tough to be honest. I liked the challenge and it was a lot of fun but that’s my job,” Mickey says.

During the 2016 football season, Mickey led the nation in yards-percarry at 8.6 and was top five in all other categories. In his career, Mickey has 3,161 all-purpose yards, 429 carries for 2,783 rushing yards and 32 rushing touchdowns. He was never a track star, but he is apparently good at running.

“Since I was eight years old I’ve always been a running back. I was a receiver one time in the eighth grade and that was the only position change that I’ve ever had,” Mickey says.

Mickey says that during week five of practices, his body was beginning to feel the physical effects of being a leader in rushing yards and carries. Then an accident happened that could potentially change his football career forever.

“I was just walking in the middle of practice and a defensive end was running by, and as I was resetting my feet, his knee brace clipped my leg. I immediately went down and thought this was the worst charley-horse that I ever had,” Mickey says. “I ran off the field and I was kind of laughing about it because that’s the way it felt.”

“The trainer came over and started to stretch me and put ice on it. After sitting down, even after 30 minutes, I still couldn’t walk. That’s when we realized that I should go to acute care and get checked out,” Mickey says.

After visiting doctors at Avera and anticipating the results of his injury, Mickey says waiting was the hardest part.

“We sat in the room for nearly 30 minutes, and it was the longest wait of my life. The doctor came in and I could tell by the way he looked at me that something wasn’t right,” Mickey says.

“He told me that I had a hairline fracture in my leg and that was literally the last thing I wanted to hear.”

I experience most of my pain, but each day is getting better and I’m still hoping for the opportunity,” Mickey says.

“I really didn’t know what to say I just gave him a look, and then looked at the ground, and I started crying. Straight up.

I’ll never forget that feeling.”

“We’ve had a lot of scouts come through practice and I’ve talked to a number of them, which is a pretty good thing. I guess what they’ve told the coaches is that they treat a fibula injury kind of like an ankle sprain,” Mickey says.

This was Mickey’s first major injury, and he says every day was a physical and emotional struggle not being able to get back on the field.

USF’s running back coach Brandon Johnson-Farrell (“Coach BJ”), has been Mickey’s position coach for the past year, and he reminds Mickey that his mind is what controls his outcomes.

“His mindset is the most important thing. Being positive and optimistic goes along way when you’re hurt. Being negative and in a bad mood only makes the situation feel worse than it already is. You can’t change what happened, so the best thing you can do is try to stay positive about it,” Johnson-Farrell says.

Coach BJ was recently a running back for the Sioux Falls Storm and suffered from injuries himself. Mickey says that out all people, BJ is someone he respects and can always talk to on a personal level because he understands.

“BJ is the man. I love that guy and he’s been a really positive force in this whole thing. He’s told me about his time playing football and how he recovered from injuries and the healing process,” Mickey says. “He’s a really good guy to talk to one on one and he lets me know how I can look toward the future. It’s about taking things day by day and week by week and being able to overcome it.”

It may be hard to always look up when things seem down. Sometimes unhealthy athletes miss professional opportunities.

NFL scouts often look at a player’s height, weight, 40 time, and maybe bench press. But most importantly, what a player can produce.

“That was music to my ears.”

Mickey says that he recently talked to a Colt’s scout, who told him to get healthy and that he’ll see Mickey in the spring, which Mickey says helps him know things are looking up.

Although Mickey says his confidence isn’t where he wants it to be, he assures fans that number 22 does not end here.

He says when he does hit the field again he hopes for “fireworks.”

“I want to feel like the old me. I want to be able to cut and have no pain. That may not be realistic and I understand that, but I just have to fight through it and if that’s the case, then so be it.”

“It’s been a rough six weeks and it’s tough watching week after week and wanting to do something,” Mickey says.

“I just want to play football again.”

Mickey is focusing on getting healthy for his team at USF, but he is the top NFL scouted player at the University of Sioux Falls. Coach BJ says that Mickey definitely has all the tools to make it to the pros.

“It just comes down to finding a team where he fits their system, but he for sure has the talent. I think some team will give him a shot and they will be happily surprised when they see what he can do,” Johnson-Farrell says.

Not being 100 percent healed has left Mickey with some uncertainties, but he says he plans to ride his football journey out as long as he can.

“When I run, the muscle contracts on top of the initial break, and that’s where

December 2017 | 9

Far From Home

USF Students Pursue Dreams

Story by Joee Taylor

College is all about finding yourself. It’s been said, “do what you love, and you will never work a day in your life.”

to act and play on set, or in meetings with my agent and management or producers,” Elston says.

Other students here at USF are currently pursuing their dreams while still working on their degrees.

This is true for alumna Lindsay Elston.

In 2014, she left the University of Sioux Falls with a Theatre and Communications degree. She moved out to California and is pursuing her dream with in theatre.

Elston just finished filming another pilot/ web series, The Next Best Thing, which will be out in 2018. You can follow this project on Instagram @pistolpicktures for updates.

Over the summer, Madison Rimmer, a USF Junior, went to a musical theatre training program at the Open Jar Institute in New York City. She auditioned for this program during interim at USF. Through this program, the students worked with Broadway directors, met Broadway actors, and saw Broadway shows. Rimmer says that although it was fun, it was also hard work.

Elston has been apart of four different features, short films, and a web series pilot. Not only does Elston act, she also is associate producing a film called The Dunes. It is a thriller with a back story about overcoming addictions. Martin Copping wrote the film after losing his mother to alcoholism about a year ago.

“Los Angeles is a tough city and I am so glad to have had the support and grounding that came with my education at USF,” Elston says.

The advice Elston gives to those pursuing their dreams is to go for it.

“It is so nice to say I’m using my degree every day, whether it is because I get

“When it gets hard, hustle harder. And most importantly, be kind,” Elson says.

“We would train 6 hours a day every day in the studio,” Rimmer says.

Rimmer says that one of her favorite parts of the program was working with Bob Cline, one of the top casting directors in New York City.

“I was thinking that this man is going to be very intimidating. I walked in and he was in casual clothes, he had really shaggy blond hair; he looked like he was a surfer. He was just so calm and had a very calming presence,” Rimmer says.

“It’s an opportunity for college students to get real life experience while working at Disney and then seeing if they want to get into their field,” Giannantonio says.

She was accepted to the program and will go in the Spring of 2018. However, she did go through auditions and is waiting to hear back if she is going to be a Character Performer.

Though she is only a junior, Rimmer says that she knows exactly what she wants in life.

“I was looking at the New York Film Academy because they have an MFA [Masters in Fine Arts] program in musical theatre,” Rimmer says.

Rimmer is not the only current student pursuing big things outside of Sioux Falls. Jessica Giannantonio will soon experience the Disney College program.

“She is one of the biggest reasons I even went to the audition and applied for the college program,” Giannantonio says.

“The fact that I went out and tried it made me happy. That is something I will never give back; I’m so happy I did that. I wouldn’t change it for an instant, Giannantonio says. “I think the worst thing I could have done was saying ‘I really want to do this’ but then being too scared. Then I would have always wondered. Go and try it. If it doesn’t work out, then you’ll know.”

“I think about him every single day; he was so wonderful. He pushed me to do exactly what I needed to do. I’m not ever going to forget him,” Rimmer says.

This Residency would help someone move out there, find an apartment, and find a job. Rimmer says she will either do that or move up there on her own and apply for a masters program.

Krull had done the Disney College program twice before as a character attendant.

Both Rimmer and Giannantonio have advice to other students.

Rimmer says that working with Cline was very significant in her theatre career.

“I’m thinking about applying for the Open Jar Residency so I can go back to the same institute. I’ll stay there for eight weeks this time and they’ll give you a broker and they get you in contact with agents while training you at the same time.

family. But one of her main supporters was friend Allyssa Krull.

“I would say my favorite part was the audition day in Chicago,” Giannantonio says.

She and her mom drove eight hours to the Windy City to be a part of a real casting call.

“The way that it was run too was so wonderful.

They want everyone to have a chance and want everyone to do their best,” Giannantonio says.

“Never have a plan B. Your dream should always be your plan A and that should always be the only plan that you have. You should never have a backup plan.”

Rimmer says. “If you have a backup plan you‘re already doubting yourself so you’re not going to achieve your goals if you don’t believe you can get them.”

Whether you are still contemplating what life after college will look like for you, or have already graduated, these USF students can be an encouragement to chase after big goals.

Giannantonio says she had a wonderful support system filled with friends and Photos courtesy of Lindsay Elston, Madison Rimmer & Jessica Giannantonio

Grandma’s Sugar Cookies Soft & Chewy Sugar Cookies Serves: Makes about 2 dozen (24).

Recipe courtesy of Angie Fryer*

Title:

Ingredients:

Directions:

•

2 ¼ cups flour

1. Combine flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt; set aside.

•

½ tsp. baking soda

2. In a separate bowl, beat sugar and powdered sugar until fluffy.

•

½ tsp. cream of tartar

3. Add in egg and vanilla; blend together.

•

1 cup of butter (softened)

4. Slowly, pour in dry ingredients, beat until blended.

•

½ cup sugar

5. Cover dough with plastic wrap, refrigerate overnight; do not skip.

•

½ cup powdered sugar

6. Preheat oven to 375°

•

1 large egg

7. Roll dough into 1-inch balls, roll in sugar, sprinkles or both, and flatten with

•

1 tbs. vanilla extract

•

¼ cup sugar or sprinkles

• ¼ cup sugar or sprinkles (coating)

12 | The Vessel

the bottom of a cup (make sure to rub flour on the bottom of the glass first).

8. Bake cookies about 8 minutes. Let cookies cool. *Recipe courtesy of Editor, Whitney Fryer’s grandmother. Photos courtesy of Yuharelly Comparan.

Comfort & Joy Students’ Christmas Traditions Created by Tenley Schwartz

Bethany “No Christmas is ever really the same at my house, but we always watch Elf, because my mom dies laughing every time she watches the scene where he jumps onto the Christmas tree!”

Chenoa

“When I was little, I would wake up early, wake my sister, wake my mom, and all of us would open our presents at once.

I would open my presents slowly so that I was the last one to have presents.”

Kelsey “On Christmas Eve, we go to a night service, and then go get Chinese food. On Christmas Day, we sleep in really late and then open presents around 1:00.”

Steven

“Christmas Story plays on TBS for hours.

We play it from Christmas morning until it stops. My family has it all memorized and can quote the whole thing!”

Marianna “On Christmas Eve, my family watches The Nativity Story. On Christmas morning, we wake up and eat cinnamon rolls, then read the Christmas story from Luke. My dad acts as a Christmas Elf, making sure everyone alternates opening gifts one at a time.”

December 2017 | 13

EDITORIAL

In the Political Arena Written by Whitney Fryer

The U.S. intelligence community made allegations in January that Russia’s intelligence services interfered in the 2016 presidential election to help Donald Trump win. It is thought that during the election, several people directly connected to Trump’s campaign were communicating with Russian operatives and politicians. Here is a quick summary of the ongoing Trump-Russia Investigation.

How did the investigation begin?

In October 2016, a month prior to Election Day, a joint report was released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) stating that Russia was involved with WikiLeaks’ publication of private emails.

These private emails were first leaked in July 2016 and were taken from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) private server. Later, John Podesta’s emails, Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman, were also leaked.

“Russia’s goals were to undermine public faith in the U.S. democratic process, denigrate Secretary Clinton, and harm her electability and potential presidency,” the DHS and ODNI report stated.

Following the report, the Senate and House Intelligence Committees announced they would each investigate Russian interference in the election.

The intelligence agencies then published an assessment on January 6, 2017 that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a cyberattack during the election to hurt Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

FBI Director, James Comey, told

14 | The Vessel

Trump and the Russia Investigation

the House Intelligence Committee that the Department of Justice had authorized the FBI to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Shortly thereafter, President Trump fired Comey, citing recommendations from top officials at the Department of Justice, who were critical of Comey’s handling of the investigation into Clinton’s use of her private email.

Special counsel and former FBI Director, Robert Meuller was brought back to replace Comey. Muller is currently leading the investigation regarding Russian involvement in the election and whether members of Trump’s campaign coordinated with Russian government representatives or operatives. He has been given the authority to prosecute any crimes uncovered during the investigation.

In August, Meuller enlisted a grand jury to investigate Russia’s influence. A grand jury is a legal body that investigates potential criminal conduct and determines if criminal charges should be brought.

Most recently, Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and his business associate, Rick Gates, were indicted on charges stemming from the Russia investigation. Manafort resigned in August 2016, before the election.

Charges against the two men included money laundering and conspiracy against the U.S. Both Manafort and

Gates pleaded not guilty.

“From approximately 2006 through at least 2016, Manafort and Gates laundered money through scores of United States and foreign corporations, partnerships and bank accounts,” per the 12-count indictment.

The Office of the Special Counsel also revealed that George Papadopoulos, formerly a foreign policy adviser to Trump’s campaign, had pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in a January 2017 interview about his contact with a Russian professor. Papadopoulos was arrested in July and has been cooperating with investigators ever since.

Trump has dismissed the allegations of collusion with Russia as a “fake story that is demeaning to all of us and most of all demeaning to our country and demeaning to our Constitution” (NPR).

Information courtesy of NPR, CNN and the Huffington Post.

For a time-line of events following the Trump-Russia Investigation scan the QR code or go to nrp.org.

Masterpieces, Disasterpieces, And Lightsabers.

Opinion

Written by Casey Kelderman | Photos courtesy of IMBD.com

The holidays hold different traditions for many people, whether that be opening presents or decorating Christmas trees. One tradition that many overlook is attending the movies. The holidays create a time in which many family members are all home at once, allowing for the family to attend the theater together. Here are five of the must see movies of the 2017 holiday season.

The Disaster Artist | Dec. 8

The Shape of Water | Dec. 8

James Franco stars and directs this film adaptation of the making of “the worst movie ever made,” The Room (2003).

The Disaster Artist includes an all-star cast including Dave Franco, Seth Rogen, Alison Brie, and Zac Efron. The film tells the making of The Room through the eyes of the film’s director, writer, producer, and lead actor Tommy Wiseau. Based on actor Greg Sestero’s book of the same name, The Disaster Artist has received critical acclaim on the film festival scene and looks to make a splash at the 90th Academy Awards.

Forming from a fascination with The Creature from the Black Lagoon, writer/director Guillermo del Toro brings to life his version in this romantic horror fantasy. The film has been praised by critics in its early film festival run, with some going as far to say this film will get a nomination at the Academy Awards. In an industry where the box office is dominated by sequels and films based existing properties, The Shape of Water looks to make an impact with a wholly original idea from one of the most innovative directors of the past 20 years.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi | Dec. 15 After revitalizing the franchise with 2015’s smash hit The Force Awakens, the Star Wars saga returns to theaters to continue the story of the Skywalker family. After discovering Luke Skywalker on a desolate island, Rey must convince her hero to join her on an epic quest to defeat the forces of evil, including Luke’s nephew Kylo Ren. Writer/director Rian Johnson has promised a completely different Star Wars film that we have never seen before, and hopefully one that will satisfy fans of all ages.

Phantom Thread | Dec. 25 The curtain call on one of the most prolific acting careers, Phantom Thread will mark the final performance for three-time Academy Award winner for best lead actor, Daniel Day-Lewis. Day-Lewis’s final performance will see him reunite with his There Will Be Blood director Paul Thomas Anderson. A distinguished dressmaker in 1950’s London has his life interrupted by a determined young woman who becomes his lover. Sure to have its place at next year’s Academy Awards, Phantom Thread is surely a cannot miss final performance from one of the greatest of alltime.

The Post| Dec. 25 The Post marks the sixth collaboration effort between actor Tom Hanks and director Steven Spielberg. The movie marks the first time Hanks and actress Meryl Streep will feature in a film together.

This historical drama tells the story of two journalists, Hanks and Streep, as they leak the Pentagon Papers, documents about the Vietnam War. After the success of Bridge of Spies in 2015, Hanks and Spielberg look for the same critical and commercials success in their latest collaboration. The Post is also the 28th partnership between Spielberg and composer John Williams.

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