March 2016

March 18, 2016

Map Grant Update P: 10

Spring Cleaning Hacks P: 26 - 27

Basketball Recap P: 44

Contents

NEWS

Editorial Board

COMMENTARY

Ashley Cady Editor-in-Chief

Letter from the Editor.................................. 3

Side by Side................................................ 28

ashleycady@stfrancis.edu

SAB Events................................................. 4

America: Stop Being so Offended............... 30

Assistant Editor-in-Chief

Primary Update & Results........................... 6

Confessions of an Almost Graduate............32 Sarah Schoenrock

Headlines Around the World....................... 8

Rants & Raves............................................ 33

Map Grant Update.......................................10

The Ryan Report......................................... 34

Scholarship Tips..........................................11

Geek Culture: Hot or Not?...........................35

ENTERTAINMENT Black Animal Syndome................................12

Hannah Tadey hannahtadey@stfrancis.edu Art Director

A Day in the Life...........................................36

PR Specialist sarahschoenrock@stfrancis.edu

Kylie Mason PR Manager Entertainment Editor kyliemason@stfrancis.edu

Katie Nork Photographer Special Section Editor katherinenork@stfrancis.edu

Julie Kitzer

SPORTS

News Editor juliekitzer@stfrancis.edu

Patti Raspolich

“Big A’s” Top 30 Tracks.................................13

Athletic Q&A................................................ 38

Kamari Says.................................................14

Side by Side................................................ 40 Brandon Newberry

Should I See This Movie?............................16

Weird International Sports...........................42

Celeb Crushes.............................................18

Basketball Recap........................................ 44

pattiraspolich@stfrancis.edu

In Memoriam................................................45

SEASONAL USF Encounter’s Spring Pins.................... 20 History of St. Patrick’s Day......................... 22 Earth Day & Earth Hour.............................. 23 Women’s History Month..............................24 Spring Cleaning Hacks............................... 26

Commentary Editor

Sports Editor brandonnewberry@stfrancis.edu

Abigail Blome PR Specialist abigailblome@stfrancis.edu

Staff Writers

Bowling Recap............................................ 47 Abigail Blome

Amber Shibley Andrew McDilda Ashley Montgomery Christian Hoeger Clarice Swanson Elijah Anderson Eric Ruiz Erica Guzman Erin McDonough Hailey Peterbokn Kacey Short Kamari Jordan Liz Venerable Nicholas Pillish Ryan Giachetti Samantha Launius Sara Michalowicz Taylor Foote

Cover photo courtesy of siouxcityjournal.com

Thank you for picking up this issue of the Encounter! As the weather gets warmer I hope to see some issues being read out on the Quad! We have been receiving great feedback on the new look of our print issue and we could not be happier!

Now that you have picked up our beautiful print edition, check out our just as cool online edition at usfencounter.stfrancis.edu for even more exclusive content!

We have some great reading material for you this month. This issue is filled with great articles about spring, but also some articles that I hope will wake up your brains and really make you think.

As always, you can follow the Encounter on Facebook by searching “USF Encounter” and by searching our Twitter handle @usf_encounter.

Any questions, comments, concerns and ideas you have about this issue or future issues may be directed to any member of the Encounter staff at usfencounter@ gmail.com.

Best regards & happy reading,

Ashley Cady

Policies

From the top: Ashley Cady (Editor-in-Chief), Hannah Tadey (Assistant Editor), Sarah Schoenrock (Art Director & PR Specialist), Kylie Mason (PR Manager & Entertainment Editor), Katherine Nork (Photographer & Special Section Editor), Julie Kitzer (News Editor), Patti Raspolich (Commentary Editor), Brandon Newberry (Sports Editor) and Abigail Blome (PR Specialist) Photos originally published by the Editors on their Facebook pages. All rights reserved.

The Encounter is published by the students of the University of St. Francis, 500 Wilcox Street, Joliet, IL 60435.

The newspaper office is located in room S413C of Tower Hall. The Encounter phone number is (815) 740-3816.

As a member of USF campus media, the Encounter strives to produce a publication that stresses quality writing and design.

By reporting on issues which may be sensitive in nature, the Encounter aims to educate, inform and persuade students on topics which affect their lives on and off campus.

Editorial pages provide Encounter staff with opportunities to express thoughtful views on controversial topics.

Letters to the editor represent the opinion of the author and are not necessarily opinions of the Encounter staff.

Publication of letters to the editor is subject to space availability and management discretion. Letters to the editor are also subject to editing.

Letters to the editor or any other submissions may be dropped off at the Encounter office or e-mailed to usfencounter@gmail.com The Encounter is printed by RICOH Services on the campus of the University of St. Francis.

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NEWS

Letter From the Editor

Spring Schedule March

• 28 - Chicago Bulls Bring your friends and head to a Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks basketball game! Tickets are $25 and a bus will depart from the Rec Center at 5 p.m.

• 30 - Karaoke & Game Night Come out to the Abbey at 9 p.m. for board games and karaoke.

April

• 3 - Blue Man Group Have you ever seen Blue Man Group live? Well now is your chance! Tickets are $25 and transportation leaves from the Rec Center at 5:30 p.m.

• 18 - Bamboo Plants Stop by the Uno Lounge from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. to make your own lucky bamboo plant. According to Feng Shui, bamboo is lucky because it contains all elements of the earth: wood, earth, water, fire and metal.

• 19 - Comedian Omid Singh Need to relieve some stress? Head over to the Abbey at 9 p.m. to see comedian Omid Singh.

He is half Indian, half Iranian and has lived in more than a dozen cities across two continents.

This is sure to make for a funny and interesting performance.

• 20 - Movie Night: “Pitch Perfect 2” Aca-awesome! Come out to the Abbey at 9 p.m. to watch one of the most popular movies of our generation.

• 21 - The Filharmonic Remember when you watched “Pitch Perfect 2” yesterday? Well now you can see a piece of it in real life. Come out to the Auditorium at 9 p.m. to see the popular a capella singing group, The Filharmonic. This talented group of six Filipino singers took fourth place during season four of the television show “The Sing-Off” and made a cameo in “Pitch Perfect 2.”

• 22 - Spring Fling Dance It’s time for one last “fling” before the end of the school year. Taking place at Crystal Gardens at Navy Pier, this night of food and dancing will be one you will not want to miss.

• 29 - Free Bowling Hang out with all your friends and enjoy two free games of bowling at Town & Country Lanes on Jefferson Street. Bowling starts at 9:30 p.m.

Commuter room sign up is opening Monday, March 21!

We enjoy every student that is a part of the USF community. That’s why we would like to offer you the opportunity to be a part of life at St. Francis everyday by living on campus for the 2016–17 school year! There will continue to be amazing opportunities for students who live on campus this coming year. Academic resources, class, friends and food are only steps away when you live at St. Francis.

For more information, please visit us at stfrancis.edu/residence-education or contact Mollie Rockafellow at mrockafellow@stfrancis.edu

R E S I D E N C E E D U C AT I O N

Primary UpdaTe & by: Samantha Launius

On November 8, 2016, the USA will vote on a new president. Will they be a Republican or a Democrat? Below are your current Presidential Candidates who are fighting tooth and nail to become the next person in the White House. Candidates are currently seeking votes in primary elections and caucuses. This means that the six men and women running for President are vying for delegations from each state. Those delegations will be held at the given parties national convention and from there, the party’s presidential nominee will be selected.

Candidate:

Party:

Hillary Clinton

Democratic

Listed below are the six presidential candidates, their party, how many delegations and states they have won and what their slogan or tagline is. Overall, Trump is winning the primaries for the Republican Party and Clinton is winning for the Democratic Party. These results are up until the nominations on March 12, 2016: Votes needeed for party nomination: Democratic: 2,383 Republican: 1,237

delegates Won: States won: 1,132

Slogan:

Iowa, Nevada, South Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Louisiana, Mississippi.

“Everyday Americans need a champion. I want to be that champion.” *not official slogan but frequently used as one

Bernie Sanders

Democratic

818

New Hampshire, Colorado, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Vermont, Kansas, Nebraska, Maine, Michigan.

“A political revolution is coming.”

Donald Trump

Republican

661

New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Hawaii, Michigan, Mississipp.

“Make America great again!”

Ted Cruz

Republican

406

Iowa, Alaska, Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Maine, Idaho, Wyoming.

“Reigniting the promise of America.”

John Kasich

Republican

142

Ohio

“Kasich for us”

Hillary Clinton:

She would like to raise the income for Americans and create an affordable health care program for all citizens. Also, she is focusing on trying to prevent gun violence and wants to promote small businesses. On the idea of immigration, she believes that there needs to be a system that will allow immigrants to find the path to citizenship. She is also a strong believer of LGBT and women’s rights.

Bernie Sanders:

Sanders wants to create a program to allow free college and tuition for all students. He wants to have Medicare accessible to everyone and wants to lower prescription drug prices to better fit the needs of the people. Also, he wants a more regulated policy for money in government and wants to eliminate PACs. Additionally, he wants to raise the minimum wage and is a strong supporter of LGBT rights.

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March 18, 2016

Donald Trump:

Trump believes there needs to be stronger leadership in government. Also, he supports guns and the people’s right to have them. One of his strongest beliefs is to build a wall on the border of Mexico to increase border control and immigration laws. He is against Common Core for the education system. Additionally, he wants to create a larger military.

Ted Cruz:

Cruz believes that we need to restore the Constitution and its principles that it once held. Also, he is a supporter of guns and the rights of people to bear them. He is wanting to secure the border and create a more regulated immigration system. In addition, he is a strong believer of life, marriage, and family between a man and a woman. He is against LGBT rights and marriage.

John Kasich:

Kasich believes in promoting strong family values and ideas. Similarly, he is for the rights of guns and the people’s rights to bear them. While Kasich believes that climate change is real, he does not believe the government should regulate emissions. Additionally, he wants to protect senior citizens and repeal Obamacare.

ILLINOIS

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were the winners in the Illinois Primaries, which took place on March 15, 2016.

Bernie Sanders came in a close second after Clinton on the Democratic ballot with 48.7% against Clinton’s 50.5%.

Trump ended the day with 38.9% of the vote and an 8% lead over Ted Cruz, with Kasich in third and Rubio finishing in fourth.

While Sanders won more Illinois counties than Clinton, Clinton struck big in densely populated areas and was able to achieve a close victory. Clinton and Sanders were each awarded 68 and 64 Illinois delegates, respectively.

Trump held a strong lead in the early stages of results over the other Republican candidates.

Trump kept about 20 points ahead of his fellow candidates until approximately 60% of voting results had been reported and the gap began to close.

While Cruz ultimately became the runner-up in Illinois, Kasich held a strong second place during the early stages of reported results. Trump was awarded 24 Illinois delegates and the rest will be distributed proportionally.

Before results came in, Real Clear Politics showed Trump leading in Illinois by 6.5 points and Clinton leading by 2.3 points. Nationally, polls showed that Trump led by 14.2 points and Clinton lead by 11.4 points.

OTHER March 15 Primaries

Illinois was among five states to vote in primaries on March 15. Missouri, Ohio, Florida and North Carolina voters also made their way to polling places to cast their ballots. Trump scored victories in Florida, Missouri and North Carolina while Kasich won in his home state of Ohio. Clinton swept the board and won all four other states, though some of the wins were very close calls between her and Sanders.

The March 15 primaries were especially important to the GOP as Ohio and Florida are “winner-takes-all” states for the Republican Party; Florida awards 99 delegates and Ohio awards 66.

Marco Rubio has decided to suspend his campaign after losing the Florida primary (his home state) to Trump; Rubio has yet to endorse one of the remaining candidates.

As of March 16, the Republican candidates each have a total delegate count of 621 (Trump), 396 (Cruz), 168 (Rubio) and 138 (Kasich) respectively.

Many of the Democratic primary results were fairly close, with the largest gap being Clinton’s 64.5% against Sanders’ 33.3% in Florida. In Missouri the results (99% reporting) were within 0.2% of each other with Clinton leading. As of March 16, Clinton has 1,094 pledged delegates and 467 superdelegates whereas Sanders has 774 pledged delegates and 26 superdelegates.

#PRIMARYday

Photo courtesy of NYTimes.com

NEWS

Primary Results

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Headlines Around the World

by: Hannah Tadey

FLINT, USA –

“Flint, Michigan Family Uses 151 Bottles of Water per Day”

CHICAGO, USA –

“Donald Trump Blames Sanders Supporters for Chicago Unrest”

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil,

“Penguin Reunites with His Best Human Friend”

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March 18, 2016

NEWS

BERLIN, Germany –

“Germans Turn to Trump-Style Politics in Challenge to Merkel”

BELGRADE, Serbia –

“Serbia Finds US-Bound Guided Missiles on Flight from Beirut”

PYONGYANG, North Korea – “North Korea Claims a Hydrogen Bomb Attached to a Ballistic Missile Would ‘Burn Manhattan to Ashes’”

MAPUTO, Mozambique – “Teen May have Found Piece of MH370”

Photo courtesy of wallconvert.com, cnn.com, dailymail.co.uk & decodedc.com

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MAP Grant

Update by: Taylor Foote

It’s no secret that a college education is expensive. According to the Institute for College Access & Success, seven in ten seniors that graduated in 2014 had student debt. That’s nearly 70% of all graduates. The average amount of debt among those students was just about $29,000. Schools offer all kinds of financial aid to make education more accessible to students, which serves the dual-purpose of lowering the overall amount of debt a student will need to pay back. In addition to financial aid benefits offered by the schools themselves, many states offer their own programs to help students afford their schooling. One such program is Illinois’ Monetary Award Program (MAP), which provides grants to Illinois students attending approved Illinois schools and demonstrating financial need. However, due to the lack of a finalized state budget, 2016-2017 MAP Grant awards have been suspended.

MAP Grants are awarded by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), which state lawmakers created in 1957 to ensure that Illinois students weren’t unable to attend secondary education for financial reasons. MAP Grants, as stated above, are awarded to Illinois students attending Illinois schools that demonstrate financial need based on information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Other considered factors are academic achievement, chosen field of study and military service. The grants do not need to be repaid. MAP is the fourth largest program of its kind nationwide, according to ISAC. The program awards $400 million in grants to approximately 145,000

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March 18, 2016

undergraduates that fit the criteria. Another estimated 160,000 students are eligible, but are unable to receive MAP awards due to a lack of funding.

The number of scholarships and grants made through MAP and other programs and the dollar amount rewarded is determined by annual funding by the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor. It’s already been established that the MAP program does not receive enough funding to satisfy demand, and grants are limited to spring and fall semesters as a result. ISAC is also forced to issue suspensions for applications after a certain date, meaning that all award applications that are received after the deadline are placed in suspension status and will not be awarded. This year’s deadline was March 9.

Currently, the Illinois budget impasse has placed the program in a stalemate.

The Illinois House and Senate passed Senate Bill 2043, a provision that would fund MAP, only to be vetoed by Governor Bruce Rauner. The House and Senate were unable to override the veto.

The University of St. Francis has also been affected by this stalemate. According to Bruce Foote, Executive Director of Financial Aid at USF, 616 students at the university are receiving approximately $2.4 million in funding from the MAP program this year. USF has fronted all of that money, which is supposed to be coming from the state.

“Our local legislators have been very proactive in getting this money released,” Foote said. “USF President Arvid Johnson and I testified at an earli-

er hearing about MAP along with some selected USF MAP recipients. We’ve also had support from USF faculty and staff who have contacted their legislators.

“Every student and their parents, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles should contact their legislators in support of MAP funding. Obviously, since the legislation has been passed, the major stumbling block now is Governor Rauner, and his office should definitely be contacted too,” Foote added.

Brandon Ivins, SGA president and MAP Grant recipient, echoed the sentiment.

“The MAP Grant is, for some people, the only reason they can attend a university like St. Francis. For others, it’s the only reason they can afford college in general,” Ivins said. “Students need to take a larger role in politics to ensure their interests are being heard.”

At the time of writing, Illinois had been without a budget for eight months. The Democratic supermajority legislature and the Republican Governor Rauner were unable to reach a compromise by the July 1, 2015 deadline. Some of Governor Rauner’s budgetary measures would limit prevailing wages (the hourly wage, usual benefits and overtime, paid to the majority of workers, laborers and mechanics within a particular area) and cut down on eligibility for worker’s compensation. He believes that these changes will stimulate economic growth, whereas Democrats believe that they will be damaging to the middle class.

Photo courtesy of isac.org

NEWS

Scholarships: Never Stop Searching Scholarships are everywhere! I know it may be hard to believe especially when there are students constantly talking about how they need to figure out how they are going to cover their tuition bill. In order to find these scholarships, you have to: 1. Look right under your nose, 2. Think outside the box and 3. Try. When saying they are everywhere, that is meant literally. Most people have not taken the time to actually ask about or search for scholarships.

Of course, colleges or universities will have endowed scholarships for their current students. Talking with the financial aid office first to see if there are any scholarships a student could be eligible for is a great start. There are other scholarships that everyone has heard about such as through McDonald’s, Pepsi, the Chamber of Commerce, banks etc. All you have to do is look at the businesses in your neighborhood and ask if they have a scholarship to offer.

I’ve tried to have families ask their loPhoto courtesy of cloudfront.net

cal restaurants to see if they would be able to offer a scholarship. Many families are hesitant to get out of their comfort zone to ask something like that, but I always say, “What’s the worst that can happen? They may say ‘no’ and you’re in the same exact spot you were before asking the question, and you didn’t lose any money doing it.”

There are so many times when I try to let a student know that there is a scholarship available and I think they should try for it. There are usually two questions they ask me, “How much?” and “Do I have to write an essay?” Well first of all, “How much?”

I always ask them if it matters. I’m pretty sure if I pull out a $10 bill and offer it to someone, they will take it without questioning it. So I always encourage students to apply whether it’s for $10,000 or $50, money is money, isn’t it?

There are so many students that decide that they will not write another essay for a scholarship, I’m not sure

by: Eric Ruiz

Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions

why, they don’t have to spend money writing the essay and we have plenty of computers available on campus.

Even if they do not meet one of the eligibility requirements, try for it anyway. There was a scholarship that was going to be giving $1,000 to 15 different students. They had to be a Joliet resident and of a multicultural background. They had to extend the deadline because only 1 student had applied. At the end, only 10 students applied and one of them was from Pilsen, IL, not Joliet and everyone received the $1,000 Scholarship.

Scholarships can be found online, on paper, in financial aid offices, at businesses, restaurants, banks, non-profit organizations, parent’s jobs and student’s jobs. Most of the time we just have to ask. That does not even include those odd scholarships you can find, like for being tall, short, left handed, having red hair, freckles, speaking more than one language etc.

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BEWARE:

Black Animal Syndrome by: Kacey Short

Spring is (almost) in the air, and this means that outdoor pet adoption events will be in full swing in no time.

The fact that millions of cats and dogs reside in shelters each year searching for a forever home is a sad, albeit not surprising fact. What is surprising, however, is that the most unadoptable pets in these shelters have one thing in common—black fur.

Now this may make sense in terms of black cats. Black cats have long been associated with witchcraft, sorcery, black magic and Satanism. Many people steer clear of black cats because they hold the belief that black cats are a source of bad luck and bringing one into their home would bring chaos in as well. Some shelters even ban the adoption of black cats around Halloween for fear of them being used for satanic rituals, occult practices and even crude Halloween decorations.

• The “genericness” of black pets • Negative portrayals of black pets in books, movies and other popular media. (A big, frightening black dog can be seen in “The Hound of the Baskervilles,” the “Harry Potter” series, both movie versions of “The Omen” and even on the common “Beware of Dog” sign.)

Whatever the reason may be, it is safe to say that black dogs and cats have a much harder time being adopted.

Orphaned black animals can spend a majority of their lives sitting in a kennel at the local shelter. This is no life to live for an animal that was born to bring love, loyalty and friendship to its owner. So if you’re thinking of adopting a pet, consider adopting a black dog or cat. Their love and companionship is just as wonderful as an animal of any other color. As someone who has experienced the love of a black animal, I promise that you won’t regret it.

However, it may come as more of a shock to you that there also exists a prejudice against black dogs as well; it is called Black Dog Syndrome, or BDS. Amanda at Petfinder.com has done some of her own research about this interesting syndrome. She said that she has found that BDS may be caused by a combination of: • Size • Unclear facial features • Dimly lit kennels

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March 18, 2016

Photo courtesy of ddmcdc.com

s k c a r T 0 3 Top

1. Rihanna – Work 2. G-Eazy – Me, Myself and I 3. Lukas Graham – 7 Years 4. Fifth Harmony – Work from Home 5. Mike Posner – I Took a Pill in Ibiza 6. DNCE – Cake by the Ocean 7. Sia – Cheap Thrills 8. Zayn – Pillowtalk 9. Flo Rida – My House 10. Zara Larsson & MNEK – Never Forget You 11. DJ Snake - Middle 12. Meghan Trainor - No 13. Twenty One Pilots – Stressed Out 14. Troye Sivan - Youth 15. Duke Dumont – Ocean Drive

16. Alan Walker - Faded 17. Alessia Cara - Here 18. The Chainsmokers - Roses 19. Selena Gomez – Hands to Myself 20. Charlie Puth – One Call Away 21. Daya – Sit Still, Look Pretty 22. Shawn Hook – Sound of Your Heart 23. Daya – Hide Away 24. Robin Schulz - Sugar 25. Thomas Rhett – Die a Happy Man 26. Daya – Sit Still, Look Pretty 27. Justin Bieber – Love Yourself 28. Dillon Francis – Coming Over 29. The Chainsmokers – Don’t Let Me Down 30. Kevin Gates – 2 Phones

Entertainment

r e t n u o c En

“Big A’s”

Paint Night s

at t he Book & Bean Cafe

•

Come in and paint on the last Monday of evey month at 5:30 p.m.*

•

Located inside the Joliet Library Black Road Branch at 3395 Black Rd, Joliet.

•

$20 per person.

•

All supplies you need are provided!

*Must put in a $10 deposit to secure a seat. Bring deposit to Book & Bean Cafe prior to the class. Please call (815) 725-8859 to check for seat availability.

$5

OFF

Cut this coupon out to recieve ei $5.00 off for your paint night seat!

Limited one per person. To be presented on the day of the paint night.

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu 13

140OR LESS CHARACTERS by: Kamari Jordan

@KamariSays

#WOMENSHISTORYMONTH #Formation: Coined by Queen B herself, this term calls for unity, organization and resistance of women. #Slay: To succeed in, conquer or dominate. #Boss: A confident woman who is comfortable in her own skin. #Feminist: A supporter of equal rights for women.

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March 18, 2016

#StephCurryWithTheShot: Coined by Drake. To be exceptional at what you do by comparing yourself to arguably the best shooter of our time. #Jumpman: Another Drake lyric refers to Michael Jordan’s clothing brand logo.

Entertainment

#BASKETBALL:

#Pumpfake: Referring to the basketball term, this is when someone says they will do something they won’t do. #Finesse: In the context of basketball finesse means smooth or with style.

#SPRINGBREAK #SpringBreak: A week off school where college students typically go on vacation, relax or do anything but homework. #SpringCleaning: The big cleaning that takes place after winter ends. #Easter: The holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. Typically features a man dressed in a bunny suit, Easter eggs and great food.

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e

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March 18, 2016

Entertainment

Photos courtesy of newsarama.com, comingsoon.net & movieweb.com

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Celeb Crushes: by: Liz Venerable Every night since October 2015, TeenNick has been airing many of their retired but beloved shows, like “All That.” In addition to TeenNick, Lionsgate announced that they would be working together to produce a new “Power Rangers” feature film, which is set to come out in 2017. Are you feeling nostalgic yet? Well, I am! To help with the nostalgia I have composed a short list of celeb crushes from the past.

The good, the bad and the Shia Labeouf; here are some popular celebs that have disappeared somewhat since the 90s to the early 2000s.

T.J. Mowry played T.J. Henderson on The WB’s “Smart Guy,” voiced Wade on the animated comedy “Kim Possible” and was Teddy, Michelle Tanner’s best friend from “Full House.” He also starred in the Disney channel original movie “Hounded and The Proof Point.” Tahj Mowry was the little brother everybody wanted. He is currently starring as Tucker Dobbs in the ABC Family sitcom “Baby Daddy.” He released a six-song EP in August 2015. Tahj Mowry is 29-years-old, and you can keep up with his life by following him on Instagram @tahj_mowry.

Jason David Frank. Does that name ring any bells? How about Tommy Oliver, the fearless and what some may say is the greatest Power Ranger of all time, having been the Green Ranger, White Ranger and Red Ranger. While Jason David Frank is mostly known for his role as Tommy, he is noted in the mixed martial arts community. He has a 7th degree black belt in Shotokan Karate and is currently fighting in MMA. Jason David Frank is 42-years-old and single. You can find him on his fan Facebook page.

Zetus lapetus! Do you remember this blonde cutie? This super-nova girl played Zenon Kar in “Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century” and in the movie’s two sequels. Maybe you recognize her as Emily from the Disney Channel original movie “Johnny Tsunami.” Kirsten Storms is 31-years-old, married and had her first child in 2014. Since her Disney days, she has played Belle Black on the NBC soap opera “Days of Our Lives” and Maxie Jones on the ABC soap opera “General Hospital.” After being diagnosed with endometriosis in 2011, she left the show. However, after a year off-screen she returned as Maxie.

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Tahj Mowry

Jason David Frank

Kirsten Storms

Speaking of “7th Heaven,” who did not love Simon Camden? David Gallagher left “7th Heaven” to attend University of Southern California during the show’s eighth season, but later appeared in the final two seasons. He has had roles on “Bones,” “The Vampire Diaries” and “CSI: NY.” David Gallagher is 31-yearsold and does voice-overs for the video game series “Kingdom Hearts.”

Beverley Mitchell

This next celeb went from Disney to Indie. Adam Lamberg, a.k.a. Gordo from “Lizzie McGuire,” went off the grid for many years after “Lizzie McGuire” ended in 2004. In fact, Lamberg was so off the grid that at one point in time Google autocorrected his name to Adam Lambert, the famous singer from “American Idol.” After the unofficial “Lizzie McGuire” reunion in 2015, everyone was on the manhunt to find Adam with the hashtag #WheresGordo. Currently, Adam is 31-years-old and works as a Development Associate at the Irish Arts Center in New York City.

This last actress played Ren Stevens from “Even Stevens,” voiced Kim Possible in the animated series “Kim Possible” and acted in numerous ABC Family and Disney Channel original movies like the classic “Cadet Kelly.” Christy Carlson Romano was the poster child for Disney during the late 90s to the early 2000s. Since her Disney days, Romano has been on Broadway and written a novel titled “Grace’s Turn.” Now, Christy is making her directing debut! She has directed a music video for Steph Gold’s “The Sun” and will be directing a holiday film set to be distributed before Christmas 2016. Christy is 31-years-old, married and does the voice-over of Yuffie Kisaragi for “Kingdom Hearts” and “Final Fantasy” in her spare time.

Entertainment

Do you recall this “7th Heaven” sister? Beverley Mitchell is an actress and country music singer, but she is best known for her role as Lucy Camden on the series “7th Heaven.” After the show, she played Erica Enders in the Disney channel original movie “Right on Track.” Beverley was back in the spotlight in 2011 after playing Katelyn O’Malley, a supporting character, in the television series “The Secret Life of the American Teenager.” Beverley is 35-years-old and married with two kids.

David Gallagher

Adam Lamberg

Christy Carlson Romano Photos courtesy of abcnews.com, hollywood.com, celebbeat.com, complex.com, static.com, zimbio.com, hotflick.net & wikia.net

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s ’ r e t n u o c n E s USF n i P g n i r p S

Nork e i t a K by :

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SPECIAL SECTION SEASONAL ome? h t a s n ese pi account! h t y r to t est Want our Pinter ter n ter/ Follow USF Encou /usfencoun @ m est.co r e t n i ww.p w / / : s p htt Photos courtesy of pinterest.com

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History of

St. Patrick’s Day by: Erin McDonough

Once a year on March 17, the world suddenly takes ill with green-fever. St. Patrick’s Day, or as it is referred to in my house “Lá Fhéile Pádraig,” is a holiday celebrated

by Irish and non-Irish alike. On this festive day, green attire is worn, Guinness is poured and several questionable decisions are made while intoxicated.

The holiday commemorates and honors the life of Saint Patrick, who is considered to be the patron saint of the Emerald Isle, and the arrival of the Christian faith in Ireland. In Ireland, March 17 is considered to be a holy day in which homage is paid to Saint Patrick, or Pádraig, as Irish Gaelic would dictate. Because of the religious nature of the holiday, the lavish celebrations we associate with this holiday are not common throughout the country. In fact, until 1970, laws in Ireland mandated that all pubs remain closed on this religious day in order to pay respects to the individual who brought Christianity to Ireland.

While rooted in a sacred history, St. Patrick’s Day has slowly evolved to be considered a secular holiday that celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish as a whole. Shamrocks, Irish flags, and “Kiss Me I’m Irish!” buttons adorn the clothing of Irish and non-Irish alike.

Parades, parties, and lots of drunken fun is to be had by all. The United States is home to nearly 40 million people of Irish heritage and Guinness flows freely on tap to celebrate the occasion in bars throughout the country.

Even the Golden Arches get into the holiday spirit, selling mint ‘Shamrock Shakes’ throughout February and March.

Around the world, St. Patrick’s Day has gained popularity. In Chicago, the Chicago River is dyed green for the month of March to celebrate the large Irish heritage that has been prevalent in the city since the 1850s. In France, Disney Paris’ Cinderella’s Castle showcases a beautiful emerald green light atop the highest tower of the castle. In Sydney, Australia, the Sydney Opera House is illuminated the same green color; a beacon to all Irish lasses and lads, even if Australia is nearly 10,500 miles away from the motherland.

Whether it’s attending a St. Patrick’s Day Mass or blasting some Dropkick Murphy’s tunes while sipping a Guinness, we hope you had a fun-filled (and safe) St. Patty’s Day!

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Photo courtesy of wordpress.com

SEASONAL

Saving Planet Earth

Celebrate Earth Day and Earth Hour

by: Hailey Peterbok Earth: the only planet that can sustain life. While this may currently be true, humans have been doing their fair share to harm Mother Earth. You may argue that you alone are not doing any harm and changing your ways is “useless,” but that is the furthest from the truth. Not everyone can change their ways quickly, and I, for one, like having all the perks of technology and electricity, but we can all take baby steps by partaking in Earth Day and Earth Hour.

Earth Day started on April 22, 1970 is a day that demonstrates how much we care about the world we live in and try to be conscious of how to help keep it clean. Earth Day has helped many movements like the Environmental Protection Agency, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Protection Program.

If a whole day is too much for you, you can participate in Earth hour, which is March 19 from 8:30-9:30 p.m. It is a well-known hour for turning off the lights, however it is much more than that. It’s the idea of trying to be environmentally friendly and to think of how many of the environment’s resources you are using every day. For that entire hour you are encouraged to be green and do things that do not negatively impact the environment.

So, being a college student how can you help? Many of the suggestions for Earth Day are things like planting trees, and for both Earth Day and Earth Hour, trying to limit your use of natural resources (which we all know wouldn’t be a good excuse to your professor as to why that assignment was not turned in on time). Here are a few quick tips that can easily be done by any stressed out college student.

Photo courtesy of recyclenation.com

1. Hang out with friends.

Hanging out with friends can be a great way to not use technology. Put all of your phones on a table and enjoy each others’ company. If you are feeling extra ambitious go for a walk: no electricity needed for this!

2. Leave the phone at home.

Annoyed with constantly being contacted and need an excuse to not text back that person who is getting on your last nerve? Well here is your escape! Not using your phone saves a lot of electricity because you won’t need to charge it so often.

3. Take a nap.

We all know that we would do it any other day, so why not hit the hay for an hour? You don’t need the lights to sleep so you’re saving electricty and it sounds much more appealing than that term paper.

4. Stay with a friend on campus.

Instead of polluting the Earth with the emissions from your car and having to fill up your gas tank more, opt out and stay with a friend. Win-win!

5. Change your regular light bulbs to LED bulbs.

LED bulbs are more efficient, which leads to lower electricity bills, and can even be longer lasting. So, why not change them?!

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Women’s History Month by: Erica Guzman What do you associate the month of March with?

Green clovers and leprechauns? St. Patrick’s Day? Or the entire week we get off for Spring Break? Well, March is also a month to celebrate the accomplishments of women around the world. Women’s History Month is an annual, global celebration that highlights the contributions that women have made in modern society.

International Women’s Day was first celebrated on March 8, 1911 in Europe. Women’s suffrage was a hot topic at the time, but events like the start of World War I and the Great Depression caused the movement of women’s rights to disappear. To revive the celebration, a week-long event took place in California on March 8, 1978 to honor women’s influences on culture. This event was organized by the school district of Sonoma, California. The celebration consisted of presentations by different schools, a parade which was held in downtown Santa Rosa and hundreds of students participated in a “Real Women” essay contest. The event created a positive response and sparked inspiration for other high schools and organizations to host their own Women’s History Week events.

Once the idea caught on within the communities, President Jimmy Carter declared the week of March 8 National Women’s History Week in 1980. By the following year, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution establishing a national celebration. Fast-forward six years later, the National Women’s History Project successfully petitioned Congress to expand the event to the entire month of March.

Women’s History Month celebrates those that have impacted modern society who, despite their struggles, have created a great example of inspiration and dedication for other young women. One woman who embodied these characteristics was Susan B. Anthony. Anthony, along with Elizabeth Cady Stanton, fought for women’s right to vote. She was also involved in the fight against slavery.

Another exemplary woman was Elizabeth Blackwell.

She was the first American woman to be awarded a medical degree. She attended Geneva College in New York after being rejected by other major medical schools because of her gender. Blackwell later

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founded a women’s medical college to train other women in the medical field.

Current First Lady Michelle Obama is a role model for both men and women of all ages. Michelle Obama works with people to help better serve their communities and neighborhoods. She served as an assistant commissioner of planning and development in Chicago City Hall before becoming the founding executive director of the Chicago Chapter of Public Allies. This program prepares the youth for public service.

Maya Lin is the architect that designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. Although the memorial sparked much controversy, it is now one of the capital’s most visited monuments. Sonia Sotomayor was nominated by President Barack Obama on May 26, 2009 for Supreme Court Justice. The nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in August of that same year, making Sotomayor the first Latina Supreme Court Justice in history.

Malala Yousafzai is an activist for female education and is the youngest Nobel Peace Prize recipient.

Despite being targeted by the Taliban; Malala continues to be an advocate for education. On her 18th birthday, Malala opened a school for Syrian refugee girls in Lebanon. Its expenses were covered by the Malala Fund.

These women did not limit themselves because of their gender. Instead, they became activists, degree holders, lawyers, public servants and political figures. Let’s remember to celebrate those women who confidently took the first step towards success and those women who continue to inspire others using their voices and their minds.

“How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!”

-Maya Angelou

SEASONAL Malala Yousafzai Photo courtesy of nutfreenerd.com

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Spring Cleaning Hacks

by: Ashley Montgomery

Out with the old and in with the new – that’s what spring cleaning is all about. It’s time to reorganize, de-clutter and refocus your life! Studies have shown that thoroughly cleaning your home is not only beneficial to your physical health, but it cleanses your mind as well. So take the time to chase away those dust bunnies, donate unwanted items and reinvent your space.

Ridding yourself of unnecessary clutter will also increase productivity. Check out our tips on simple ways to get started!

Bread Tabs as Cord Labels Those little plastic squares are more than just cat toys. Label and attach them to your cords for easier plugging and unplugging!

Ice Cube Earring Organizer Keep track of your teeny tiny jewels by separating them out into ice cube trays! You’ll have plenty of compartments and they are deep enough so that they won’t get lost or fall out.

Use Pop Tabs for Tiered Hangers Create more space in your closet by hooking pop tabs to each hanger in order to tier them and maximize space.

Empty Candles for Storage

Clean out a candle jar by placing it in the freezer for an hour and cracking the wax out with a butter knife. Next, fill it with hair accessories, cotton balls, Q-tips and more!

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Retention rods can hang more than just curtains! Put one under your sink and use it to hang all of your cleaning supplies.

CommanD Hooks for Hot Tools No matter how hard we try to organize our flat irons and hair dryers, they always end up together in a tangled mess. Use command hooks on the inside of cabinets to keep them all separate!

SEASONAL

Retention Rod for Under Sink Storage

Put Gift Cards on a Key Ring De-clutter your purse by gathering up all those loose gift cards, punching a small hole in the corner of each one, and placing them on a key ring.

Car Fresheners on Air Vents Eliminate odors by clipping car fresheners onto your floor vents. This makes a subtle but huge difference – especially if you have pets!

Dish Drying Racks as Cabinet Organizers Maximize the space in your kitchen cabinet by nesting pots and pans and using drying racks to store the lids upright.

Magnet Strip for Bobby Pins Seriously. Where do they all go?! Attach a magnet strip to the inside of a drawer to keep all these pins in once place.

Photos courtesy of pinterest.com & easypeach.com

File Organizer for Sandal Storage Free up shoe rack space by placing all of your flat shoes into these file-organizing bins.

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Side by Side:

For Free Tuition

by: Jonathan Marquardt We all know tuition is high. For me to sit here and write about how high tuition is would be pointless. Expanding the argument, however, is something worthy of note. For outof-state students, a state school costs about $22,000 per year, twice as much as that for in-state schools. Also, private schools average $35,000 a year. At worst, a student will take out $140,000 in loans, and at best, $40,000, assuming they don’t receive outside aid (grants, scholarships). $140,000 on a mortgage can get you a house, comparatively. Student loans have interest rates ranging between 4.3 and 6.9%.

Interest rates on mortgages are less than half, usually being less than 2%. So students are taking out loans that can be as much as a mortgage in principle value, with double or triple the interest to be paid back. Students are being raked over the coals. College degrees do NOT guarantee jobs, but a house guarantees an asset and a place to live. I’m not saying to drop out and buy house, but I am saying that tuition with student loans can very well serve you less than what a house with a mortgage can.

Next in line is room and board. Let’s say room and board is about $4,500 per semester. Let’s also say there are 16 weeks in a semester, plus a few days for moving in/out at the beginning and end of each semester. Do the math, and find that we have about 120 days per semester. Considering those days and the cost of living on campus per semester, a student spends about $37.50 a day, just to sleep and eat. Let’s compare this to the jobs that undergrads typically have available to them. Entry level positions, the jobs most college students have available to them, pay at the very least, the federal minimum wage of 7.25 per hour, and at most, around 12.50 per hour. An eight-hour work day at those wages gives between 58 and 100 dollars per day, before deductions (taxes, benefits, etc.). In percentages, an undergraduate student who lives on campus and has a full-time job will have spent between 38 and 65 percent of their daily earnings, just to live. The bottom of that interval is pretty reasonable, but the upper end is worthy of ridicule.

Most students will be in that range, since entry level positions are likely to pay the lower wage. And it’s incredibly hard to swing a full-time job and being a college student as it is, so those numbers are optimistic at best.

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What’s school without textbooks? Speaking personally, I have a textbook that cost me $150 alone, and an additional $60 for the study guide associated with it. I’ve cross referenced that book with the previous edition’s materials, and the only real difference is the ordering of the homework problems. Oh, and this edition is in color. This whole package is over $200 altogether, while the previous equivalentedition can be found for less than a quarter of the price online. But I couldn’t get away with that equivalent version for the class, because the book in question was required.

So I lost a good chunk of change for some “new” information that wasn’t very new, from the student’s perspective.

This cost is absurd and unnecessary. The textbook industry is profiteering under the guise of giving students the newest and best.

It is now clear to see that the cost of a college education is bloated and illogical. Something definitely needs to be done to make it more affordable.

Commentary

Against Free Tuition

by: Amber Shibley

Have you ever heard the saying “anything worth having isn’t free?” We are always told to work hard for anything that is good in life and that it is always more rewarding if we put in the effort ourselves and work hard for our goals.

Some people, on the other hand, believe that the best things in life are free. They feel that college should be free.

I disagree completely. As someone who has had to work hard to get to this point in my college career (along with the help of scholarships and loans), I believe that when I graduate I will feel much more accomplished because of all the hard work and dedication I put into it than I would have if the whole experience was free.

Oftentimes in life you get what you pay for. If you pay for cheap toilet paper, then you are going to get cheap toilet paper. Therefore, not paying for a college education will devalue the higher education itself. In my opinion, you would be getting less of an education. It would no longer be worth the hard work and students may not take their courses seriously.

I do feel that college could perhaps be made more accessible, but certainly not free. It is shown that those who have a financial barrier between them and getting a college education can receive grants that will already pay for most of their education. One such grant is the Pell Grant. In addition, if a student works hard in high school, he or she may be eligible to receive additional scholarships. Most colleges and universities offer various scholarships that help students afford books, tuition and room and board.

Photos courtesy of fastcompany.net and worldnow.com

Evidence shows that when a student has to pay more for college personally, they do better in school and have a higher chance of graduating. Additionally, it is proven that students that go to public school have far less debt than those that attend private universities, which tend to be smaller anyway. The larger, public schools would be the free option, which means that the government would be giving away something that is already affordable.

“At public colleges (the type we’d likely make free), students from the poorest fourth of the population currently pay no tuition at either two-year or four-year institutions, while also receiving an average of $3,080 and $2,320 respectively to offset some of their annual living expenses. Richer students currently receive much less tuition and living grant benefits.” This means that students are still finding ways to afford college. However, in the richer 2%, 90% of 19-year-olds attend college. As a result, free education would be available to those that can already afford it without any assistance.

While the poorest 2% has about 20% of 19-year-olds that attend a graduate school. However, many of these people do not attend graduate school, instead they chose community college or even a trade school, and others simply head straight to the workforce.

Perhaps instead of giving away a prestigious education for free, it would be beneficial to make it more affordable. Making college accessible to all would help those in need and prove through grades that they deserve a higher education as well.

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AMERICA Needs to Stop Being so Easily

OFFENDED by: Elijah Anderson

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Americans are always looking for ways to one-up one another and prove their dominance. If they feel inferior, they begin to demoralize their peers and even strangers. It is at this point that “offensive” things are said, but in truth, they are just words. The phrase “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” comes to mind, as we are taught this at a young age.

In my opinion, children have the right mindset to handle these words that we consider “offensive.”

Children are constantly learning about the world and, in learning, they hear countless new words and ideas from the adults that surround them.

This helps build character and allows them to shape and mold their own ideas. The only problem with this is that they learn our sensitivity that we have as adults and they grow up thinking that this is how we should be. That is why so many American’s are becoming so easily offended. We believe that if you do not believe what we do, then you are offending the lifestyle we have.

Now I do know that some things are not necessarily easy to overlook, such as someone using the “N-word” to discriminate someone, but not everything has to be offensive to us. We feel privileged, almost to a point where it is too much.

That in itself is a problem because that means that we really do just expect things to go our way or work for us all the time. If you ever have experienced some hardships in life, that is not how it goes. These are a few of the things wrong with us as Americans and I will never say I am not guilty of it as well. However, as a collective society, we need to work on one thing: we need to stop being so easily offended by everything all the time.

“Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and if you think that someone else’s opinion is wrong, then that is again, your opinion.”

Commentary

How easily do we become offended by what happens around us? I would bet that nearly all of us have something that offends us due to family values and morals, but what makes something offensive? It’s the power behind certain words and what emotion we give to them. If I or anyone were to call someone a brown-nose, then they may be offended by the context of what it is used for. However, if you call someone a nerd, it will not be nearly as offensive.

Our opinion is something that we hold close to us and is important. When someone decides that our opinions are invalid or not as important, we are offended again. When it happens, we immediately discredit their opinion and just begin arguments over such tiny and miniscule things.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and if you think that someone else’s opinion is wrong, then that is again, your opinion.

To be offended, you have to have a specific set of ideals and ideas already in your mind and, honestly, you may need to change some of them or open up to new ideas. America is a country that is built on free thinking and expressing our feelings. Over the years, we have changed that and continued to make this a country where you have to watch how you say hello to someone.

Heck, we cannot even say “Merry Christmas” to someone without them thinking that we are pushing religion on them.

Photos courtesy of chicagonow.com & pinimg.com

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t s o Alm Confessions of an ^College Grad by: Ashley Cady

Five Things I Wish I Knew Before Senior Year But… You have to try and step back and let those

younger than you learn the ropes. It makes me feel Save money: I wish someone would have told me how like I am worthless sometimes because I am not doing important saving money was going to be. Yes, I fig- enough, but delegation is a valuable skill that I think ured I would need to, but it sneaks up on you so quick- we all need to learn. ly. Now I have no money to move out or even buy a car.

It goes by fast: You think every year goes pretty fast, People won’t shut up: No one will stop asking you, but when you are a senior and you look back at almost “What are you doing after college?” or “How does it four years of your life, it really is in the blink of an eye. feel to be a senior?” It gets really annoying and kind People always told me high school was going to go by of makes you feel like you are slacking, but don’t wor- fast, but it didn’t. Coming to college people told me ry, go at whatever pace is good for you. Block out the the same thing but I didn’t believe them. Do me a fahaters. Just remember that everyone’s path in life is vor, cherish every moment, even the ones you aren’t different. Don’t compare what you are doing to your so proud of. Those moments shape you into the person you are meant to be. Four years is a lot of time to friends, especially if they are in a different major. grow and change, just go with the flow.

It’s going to be hard: Sure, I had previous seniors tell me how hard it was, but I didn’t believe them. It’s not I was going to mention how hard it is to say good-bye just all the school work, it’s the extracurricular activi- to the ones you have grown close to, but I’m not quite ties. Trying to make sure that you leave all the organi- there yet. I don’t think it has hit me yet that in less than zations you are in in good standing so they can thrive two months I will be leaving. I’ll save that sob story for after you are gone. It’s called passion my friends, em- the next issue: my very last issue. brace it.

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Guest layout artist: Ashley Cady

Raves Organization is such a huge part of my life. Between balancing babysitting, classes, an on-campus job, an off-campus job, an internship, homework, the Encounter, Exploring Joliet (USF’s television news broadcast), a workout schedule and whatever else I’m doing, well, I would die without my planner(s).

However, I’m also the type of person who gets sick of planners every few months. I don’t know, but something about getting a new design just gets me so excited! From looking online at the newest designs, tracking the shipping process and running to the mailbox like a seven-year-old girl, all of it excites me. But as you can imagine, ordering new planners all the time was definitely taking a toll on my wallet. But then I discovered something great…Something I now know I couldn’t live without (or should I say, I wouldn’t be as punctual without): Erin Condren Life Planners.

Commentary

&

Rants

by: Hannah Tadey

Friday on the left side of the bind and Friday through Sunday on the right), you can try the vertical layout (good for people who like creating lists or breaking their days up by morning, afternoon and evening), or you can even try the hourly set up. It’s up to you!

EC’s planners are super fun to decorate. I personally have color-coded ink (green is workout, pink is campus-stuff, blue is internship, etc.) so it makes the planner even more colorful. If that isn’t enough, EC has tons of add-ons, including sticky notes, stickers, click-in lists and so much more! It’s really just something you have to look at to understand. But let me tell you: once you get yourself (or guys, once you get your girlfriend) an Erin Condren Life Planner, life will be changed for the better. ~Rave over.~

Erin Condren has been my newest obsession since about December 2015. My good friend Ashley was sitting in the Mac Lab one day with this kick-ass planner and I just went crazy. I needed it! I know half of you are probably reading this thinking “…what…OK…But what’s so special about these planners?” And I’ll tell you!

EC Life Planners can be personalized like nothing else you’ve ever seen. From the planner’s interchangeable covers (!!!) to the way the weeks are set up, it’s all up to you. When you’re ready for a new look, simply purchase a new cover (starting at $10.95) rather than purchasing a whole new planner. You can set up the weeks to be the traditional horizontal layout (where it’s Monday through

Until next time Photo courtesy of katrina-runs.com

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The Ryan Report: Florida Man by: Ryan Giachetti

With Spring Break now over, I thought I should use this issue as an outlet to say how much fun I had going back to my Floridian homeland for break. Every other year of college I had gone home to Orlando for break and visited family, so this year I figured I should have a proper Spring Break. Some of my best friends and I climbed into two cars, drove 15 hours in one go and made it to Panama City Beach: the holy mecca of college Spring Breaks.

There’s something special about spending nine days with your good friends and driving halfway across the country. The freedom of just getting into the car and going was amazing, all while hanging out with good friends and talking about anything that popped in our heads. The trip got a little boring at times, especially in my car with no aux cable for music. We somehow managed to find ways to kill time for 15 hours on the road. Let me just say though that Indiana and Alabama are the “TALLEST” (longest) states I’ve ever driven through, as they took up almost two-thirds of the drive. With no aux cable in my car we resorted to using small speakers to play music, passing the cord around to play anything from 60’s rock to the new J. Cole album. So yeah, it got interesting.

After driving through the night, we arrived at our hotel in PCB around noon and got into our room pretty quick.

If anyone is wondering how a hotel was able to squeeze six college students into a hotel room, well I have two words for you: bunk beds. That’s right, we stayed in bunk beds like the childish eight-year-olds that we really are. The hotel itself was amazing. It had two pools and a jacuzzi that fit 30 people and was located on the beachfront. Once I walked out to the beach, I saw a full-sized basketball court with two volleyball courts adjacent to them,

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with the waves of the Gulf of Mexico crashing down in the background. To say the hotel was great would be understatement.

Spring Break gives opportunities that us college students are not normally given, such as having fun and meeting new people from across the nation. We met students from Michigan, Indiana, Michigan, Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.

There were a lot of people from Michigan. Granted, school was probably the last thing we talked about but it was still nice to meet new people and see all the differences and similarities that we have. Being 21-years-old, it was definitely nice to go out to the hotel bar by the pool and enjoy a drink (or two, or three...) with the sea of people that swarmed PCB for the week.

Of course having a safe place to relax and hang out made Spring Break more fun, so for anyone looking to go to Florida next year for Spring Break (and let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want to go to FL?) it is definitely worth paying a little extra for a nicer hotel. Then you will really experience Spring Break with beautiful beaches and beautiful people everywhere. I can’t state how much fun it was to take some friends from school and show them what the greatest state in the Union (Forida, duh) is all about.

Now being cramped in such a small room for seven daysled to arguments and fights of course, but that’s always to be expected with six people spending 24 hours a day together, and we came out with memories that made the 15-hour drive well worth it.

Overall, Spring Break kicked butt. A lot.

So for those of y’all that didn’t get to see my beautiful homeland, sorry, but maybe y’all can make it down there next year: SB2K17.

hot or not?

by: Kylie Mason

There are always new fads and trends happening in the “nerd culture” world, and I am here to try out these trends and let my readers know if they are truly worth all the hype they are receiving. For this edition of “Nerd Culture: Hot or Not” I will be discussing the widespread hobby of “Cosplay.”

Cosplay is a shortened word for costume play that was originally coined

by Japanese reporter Nov Takahashi in 1984. Contrary to popular belief, cosplay did not originate in Japan.

Takahashi actually created the term when he was in Los Angeles at WorldCon. I always found myself infatuated with the art and hard work people put into cosplay. I follow numerous “cosplayers” on social media, but decided that it is officially time I immerse myself into the cosplay world and try it out for myself!

Let me start off by saying: this was not an easy nor cheap task. For my first cosplay, I decided to try a simpler anime character so I chose Kiki from “Kiki’s Delivery Service.” Her wardrobe consists of a dark purple dress, a broom (because she is a witch), a bright red bow in her hair, reddish flats, an orange messenger bag and dark brown short hair.

Sounds easy enough, right? Wrong.

witch’s broom and how to style Kiki’s hair and makeup. While this sounds simple enough, the research aspect of how to turn an animated character into a person properly was the most difficult. It takes a lot of time to learn new skills and be proud of the work you had just created.

Commentary

Nerd culture:

While this daunting task had frustrated me more than I like to admit, after seeing the final product all of my frustration disappeared. My hard work and research has paid off and I created a pretty good version of the real life Kiki, and I plan to bring Kiki to life this weekend at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2).

So the real question is: is cosplay hot or not? Despite the cost and frustration that is put into even the simplest of costumes, cosplay is most definitely hot. I look forward to creating a more complicated costume for future conventions!

I had bought a dress that looked very similar to Kiki’s and had to use my non-existent sewing skills to make it look even more like Kiki’s dress.

I followed a couple of YouTube tutorials to learn how to properly create a bow that stands in your hair, a Photo courtesy of ytimg.com, likovacs.com and deviantart.com

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A Day in the Life of...

Julie Hohl

How long have you worked at USF? I have worked at USF for six years and Barnes and Noble College Booksellers for 18 years.

What is your favorite and least favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of my job is the passion I have for ordering the USF spirit clothing and merchandising the sales floor.

The least favorite part of my job is inventory. Thank goodness it only happens once a year.

What is your favorite memory working at USF? Actually, I have two. The first one is a time when I was helping a mother and her freshman daughter with her textbooks.

They were so appreciative that I explained our rental program, found used books that she needed and helped them save money. The second is the time the bookstore team helped pack meals for the “Feed My Starving Children” event on campus. It was a great feeling to help the less fortunate.

What other jobs and opportunities led you to USF? I have been working for Barnes & Noble College Booksellers for 18 years. I started out at the University of Chicago Bookstore as the assistant manager, buyer, and store manager.

From Loyola, I came to USF where I have been the store manager for six years.

What is one thing everyone should know about you?

I am the proud mother of two beautiful daughters, Elise

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by: Nicholas Pillish

(18-years-old) and Erin (16-years-old).

What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not working?

I love spending time with my family.

What is the one thing you are passionate about that most people do not know?

You can say that I am a “used book junkie.” I work hard to try and source as many used books as possible for our students – and ultimately help them save money!

What is your favorite kind of spirit wear at USF? Under Armour performance wear has to be my favorite. It is great quality and students love it too… So we sell a lot of it!

The League Rah Rah long sleeve shirt is a close second. It is so comfy and shouts USF spirit!

Do you have a favorite time of the year to work at USF? Graduation time is my favorite time of the year! It is awesome to have the opportunity to service students throughout their years at USF and share in their excitement at graduation when we distribute their caps and gowns. I know they have worked hard to reach their goals and I am very happy for them!

Have you considered a career in Health Care Administration?

Health Care leaders, managers and administrators work in: hospitals, insurance companies, home health care providers, nursing care facilities, pharmaceutical companies, health departments, regulatory agencies, community-based agencies and more....

BBA Health Care Management

MS in Health Administration

BS in Health Care Leadership

MBA with Concentration

(degree completion)

in Health Administration

MS in Training & Development with Concentration in Health Administration

2015 College of Business & Health Administration Alumni Award: Laura Messineo

Laura Messineo serves as the System Manager TeleHealth Operations at Presence Health. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Leadership from the University of St. Francis in 2011 as well as a Master of Science in Health Administration in 2015. Messineo speaks nationally on a variety of topics and sits on various professional boards.

QUICK FACTS: MEDICAL AND HEALTH CARE MANAGERS

Pay

Percentile

10%

25%

50%

75%

90%

Annual Wage

$55,890

$71,820

$92,810

$120,740

$161,150

Entry-Level Education

Bachelor’s And Master’s Degree

Growth Next 10 Years

23% (Much faster than average)

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2014.

Empowering YOU to Change the World!

LEARN MORE

Dr. Orlando Griego, COBHA Dean / ogriego@stfrancis.edu. / 815-740-3452 / stfrancis.edu/encountercobha

Athletic Q&A:

Women’s Bowling

Lauren Troha What is your major and what is your academic standing?

I am a senior social work major (BSW) and I am graduating with honors as a part of the Phi Alpha National Honor Society.

Why did you choose to bowl for USF specifically?

I decided to come bowl for USF because it was a brand new program and I personally knew coach Talley from high school bowling and thought it was a great opportunity.

Are you in any clubs or organizations on campus?

I am part of University of St. Francis’ first sorority, Alpha Phi. I am also a part of SAAC which is the Student Athlete Advisory Committee.

When did you start bowling?

I have bowled since I was about seven but I started competitively bowling in 8th grade. My junior high school, Homer Junior High, formed a bowing team my 8th grade year and that is really when I started to get into it.

What is the most difficult aspect of bowling?

The most difficult aspect of bowling is mental game. Mental game is something that you have to constantly work for and it doesn’t come easy. Bowling is a mentally draining sport because you have such long days so it is really important to keep a strong mental game but it is not so easy to do.

What is your favorite part about being part of the bowling program at USF? My favorite part of the bowling program here at USF is my teammates from both the men’s and women’s program. I have made some amazing friends being a part of this program and it is awesome to be able to spend so much time with people you consider your best friends.

The women’s team placed third at the Nationals in 2015, what are your team’s goals for the post-season this year?

We had an amazing season last year and I hope to do even better this year. I think all of us on the team are really looking to do well this post-season. Our whole team is extremely talented and we are capable of winning this year, we just have to pull ourselves together and really focus!

What are your plans after your graduate from USF? My plans are to attend graduate school and get my masters in social work (MSW). I haven’t decided where I will be attending yet, I am still making my decision.

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March 18, 2016

by: Sara Michalowicz

Justin Vandenburg

SPORTS

Men’s Bowling

What is your major and what is your academic standing?

I am an elementary education major. I am a junior.

Why did you choose to come to USF? I chose to come to USF for bowling and because the academic prestige was much higher than the first school that I attended.

What made you start bowling?

I have been bowling since I was five. Both of my parents have been bowling for over 20 years together and my dad initially put me into bumper leagues. I have been bowling ever since.

How do you work to improve your game?

I practice multiple days a week outside of practice at my home bowling alley with my dad and others. This helps me focus on certain things that I can work on outside of regular team practices.

Who is your biggest motivator when it comes to bowling?

My dad is my biggest motivator when it comes to bowling ever since I was little.

What is the most difficult aspect of bowling?

The most difficult aspect of bowling is the amount of time that an individual must put in to stay ahead of the game. Practicing all of your spare shooting techniques and practicing all different types of lane play because when going into a tournament you never know when you have to change your game from shot to shot.

What is your favorite part about being on the men’s bowling team here at USF? My favorite part of being on the men’s bowling team is going away for tournaments, spending time with all of the guys and working together to win.

The men’s team bowled their first ever baker 300 game this year in USF history. How did that feel?

It felt amazing. I was so happy that the team had faith in me for throwing the last three strikes to finish out the game. The feeling of excitement after throwing the last shot became so real when I turned around to all of my teammates cheering and coming out on the lane to hug me. That is my favorite memory of being on the bowling team here.

What are your plans after you graduate from USF? My plans after graduating here at USF is to find a job in the teaching business so I can move on and help people better their lives.

Photos courtesy of Dave Laketa & John Patsch

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu 39

Side by Side:

Cubs vs Sox

Pro Cubs

by: Clarice Swanson

The Chicago Cubs are best known for having a curse placed on them that would prevent them from ever winning a World Series again, so it might be hard for some people to understand why a team with something like that hanging over their heads has such a huge fan-base nationwide. The answer is simple: not only do Cubs players never give up, neither do Cubs fans.

1945 when Billy Sianis cursed the team to never win another World Series because he was not allowed to bring his goat into Wrigley Field. The curse has been such a big influence in Cubs history that many have tried to remove the curse multiple times. It’s easy to see that everywhere you look in Chicago Cubs history, there are connections to the traditions we know and love today.

The first and foremost reason why the Cubs are such a great team is, well, the team itself. Anyone who watched baseball in the 2015 season saw the Cubs finish with a 97-65 record and make it to the 2015 National League Championship Series. The individual players’ achievements matched the team’s success as well with starting pitcher Jake Arietta winning the NL Cy Young Award, third baseman Kris Bryant winning Rookie of the Year for the National League and Cubs Manager Joe Maddon winning NL Manger of the Year.

Finally, one of the best parts of being a Cubs fan is you’re never alone. Cubs pride isn’t only strong in Chicago, but across the nation. It doesn’t matter if you’re on the East Coast or West Coast, because anywhere you go across the United States you’ll find baseball fans, and in every pack of baseball fans you’re more than likely to find at least one Cubs fan. Herman Franks, former General Manager of the Cubs, once stated, “Cubs fans are the greatest fans in baseball.” And that statement is really true. Whether they’re in Chicago or halfway across the country, when baseball season rolls around, you can bet that fans will still love the team through all the ups and downs. Just like the players and the legacy, Cubs fans are determined to stick around and make history one day.

The Cubs also have a fantastic history. Fans can find a rich history at Wrigley Field, home of the Cubs, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2014. Wrigley Field traditions include rituals such as raising the blue and white “W” flag when the Cubs win a game and singing the song “Go Cubs Go,” which can be heard all around the park after a Cubs win. The Chicago Cubs even hold tradition in the Billy Goat Curse, which was the curse placed upon the team back in

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March 18, 2016

SPORTS

by: Katie Nork

Pro SOX

Baseball is going to be back in a few weeks, as will the feud between the North Siders and the South Siders.

As many of my friends know, I am a die-hard White Sox fan and will be until I die, but some people just can’t understand why I think the Sox are better than the Cubs. Well, I’m here to tell all of those Cubs fans/ Sox haters why baseball is better on the South Side of town. Here’s a hint: it’s not just because of our helmet full of nachos.

Abreu’s stats were higher than Bryant’s.

I know that my Sox had a less-than-stellar season in 2015 and those North Siders made it to the playoffs (how long had it been?), but if you take a look at the overall franchise record for both teams you will see that the White Sox are coming out on top in this battle. The Sox have a 9,004-8,847 (.504) franchise record while the Cubs have an 8,867-8,741 (.503) record.

2005. Enough said.

Jose Abreu had better stats in every category in 2014 when he won AL Rookie of the Year than Kris Bryant when he won NL Rookie of the Year in 2015. Jose Abreu had a .317 batting average with 176 hits, 36 home runs and 107 runs-batted-in. However, Kris Bryant only had a .275 batting average with 154 hits, 26 home runs and 99 runs-batted-in. I may be a communication major that’s not good with numbers, but I do know that all of Photos courtesy of mlb.com and whitesox.com

Let’s put Chris Sale up against Jake Arrieta. Fan-favorite Chris Sale only walked 42 batters last season while striking out a whopping 274 batters. Jake Arrieta walked 48 batters and only struck out a mere 236 batters last season. While Jake Arrieta finished with a 1.77 ERA compared to Chris Sale’s 3.41, it sounds like we have the ace on the South Side.

The Sox have also won three World Series titles compared to the Cubs two. I can hear the Cubs fans now, “2005 was 11 years ago, quit living in the past,” well at least the Sox have won a World Series in this century.

The last time the Cubs had won a World Series was in 1908! My grandpa, who served in World War II and lived through the Great Depression, wasn’t even alive to see that!

I hope all the Sox haters enjoy the stats I have given them to support my claim that the Sox are the better baseball team in Chicago. Although I have the stats to back me up right now, we will see who the better team is come October. *cough, cough* Sox.

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu 41

Ostrich Racing 42

March 18, 2016

by: Andrew McDilda

Sports Not Found in the Good Ol’ Land of the Free Being from America, we all get used to seeing the same sports on our TV day in and day out: football, baseball, basketball, hockey and even NASCAR, (if you think NASCAR is a sport, anyway). But these sports seem to be missing some of the unnecessary danger and lamebrain shenanigans that other countries around the world have immersed themselves in.

Perhaps you have heard of the Running of the Bulls? This sport is held in Spain every year, and its main purpose is to give its participants an adrenaline high after pissing off full-grown bulls (which can weigh upwards of 2,000 pounds and have sharp horns). Immediately after provoking said bulls, the participant tests their speed against the nowpissed-off bull in a race to see if they can outrun the four legged, land animal built for running. It must be an awesome sport though, as Chicago held its own first Running of the Bulls back in 2014, according to CBS News. We all know the value of safety here in the states, and obviously wouldn’t participate in anything stupid or dangerous (right…).

So what about some other awesome sports one can find around the world? For those fans of flightless birds, you may want to try ostrich racing. Topendsports.com claims that ostrich racing began in South Africa and, as you may have guessed, is focused around racing ostriches.

“Before the race starts, ostrich jockeys stretch and examine the birds in their pens which are similar to a horse race pen. It’s not uncommon for some of the riders to topple down Photo courtesy of wordpress.com

the ground together with their wagon or if the bird gets too uncomfortable that it tries to wiggle its way out of the jockey’s grip.” Again, like most great things, the United States now also has its own ostrich racing competitions in Virginia City, Nevada, Fairgrounds in New Orleans, Canterbury Park in Minnesota, Ellis Park in Kentucky and Prairie Meadows, Iowa.

Is Running of the Bulls and ostrich racing too physically demanding for you? Why not enjoy some camel wrestling? Top End Sports says on its website, “the annual Camel Wrestling Championship is held in Selcuk, Turkey, and is part of the Selcuk Efes Camel Wrestling Festival. The event is a spectacle that dates back thousands of years, first practiced by Turkic tribes more than 2,400 years ago.” If you are a fan of sports, but don’t want to actually participate in said sports, camel wrestling might be for you! Sit back, relax and watch two camels fight it out…wait…this sounds a lot like dog fighting…

Ok, so you’re not into physically demanding sports, and you are morally against pitting two animals against each other (kudos to you!). Maybe Kaninhop is the sport for you? “Modeled after horse show jumping, a rabbit show jumping or Kaninhop is a competition that involves bunnies bouncing their way around courses that consists of several small jumps of different heights” according to Top End Sports. Competitions for Kaninhop take place across Europe and are actually pretty competitive.

Breeder’s must train an average of eight weeks before a competition in order to make sure that their rabbit

SPORTS

Weird Sports

can jump the highest and clear the most obstacles. Bunnies love jumping, so this sport is morally and ethically ok!

All right, so maybe there is no sport for you… yet. I have one more for you. Have you ever heard of Harry Potter? Oh, of course you have… then why haven’t you signed up for COLLEGE QUIDDITCH? Modeled after the fictional game, players mount broomsticks and play on a hockey rink-sized pitch. A team consists of a minimum of seven players and a maximum of 21. Seven are on the field for each team at any given time; the seven players consist of three chasers, two beaters, one keeper and a seeker (this explanation is for you Muggles). Unlike the Golden Snitch in Harry Potter, the snitch in College Quidditch is a tennis ball placed at the bottom of a yellow long sock which is attached to the snitch runner’s shorts as a tail. The snitch runner is an outside player to both teams and must do everything in their power to avoid losing his or her “snitch.” It’s pretty awesome and collegiate Quidditch is a thing.

Sports will always be an American pastime, and some are more competitive, stupid, ridiculous or thrilling than others. The best of the best however, will be born in other countries and then eventually Americanized so we can claim them as our own.

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu 43

Men & Women’s

Basketball Recap Men’s Recap

by: Brandon Newberry

The 2015-16 season for the USF men’s basketball team featured a little bit of everything: An exhibition game against Notre Dame, the highest national ranking in school history, the best record in school history and a berth to the NAIA DII Men’s Basketball tournament as a No. 1 seed. It was a season to remember for the entire team and coaching staff.

As a whole, the Fighting Saints finished the season scoring an average of 81.3 points per game while holding their opponents to just 69.8 points per game. The Saints shot 48% from the field, 37.7% from the three-point line and 78% from the free throw line on the season.

Senior Ilya Ilyayev led the team with 941 minutes played, 252 rebounds and 664 points. Senior Jens Kennedy added 409 points and 149 rebounds on the season while playing a total of 555 minutes.

The Saints took on York in the opening round of the NAIA Tournament on March 10th and gave it their all before eventually falling to York 87-79.

Despite their untimely exit at the NAIA DII tournament, head coach Ryan Marks was quick to compliment his team on their season as a whole. “The totality of what this team has accomplished makes me tremendously proud as a coach.

The won-loss record indicates that you are a good team, but even more than that was the quality of the basketball and the way that the team embraced one another and who they are as people both on and off the court.”

The Saints finished the season with a 28-4 (.875) record, tying the school record for most wins in a single season and setting a new record for best winning percentage.

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March 18, 2016

Women’s Recap

by: Katie Nork

The USF women’s basketball team finished up a fantastic season at the NAIA National Tournament. Even though the Lady Saints lost a 63-60 heartbreaker to Asbury University in the first round of the national tournament, it didn’t make their season any less memorable.

The team made history this season with a 28-5 record: the best record in school history, averaging 77.5 points per game.

A few individual players stood out this season as well. Junior Charnelle Reed earned First-Team honors while teammate Kamari Jordan earned Second-Team honors on the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference’s (CCAC) 201516 All-CCAC Women’s Basketball Team. Reed made her name known in the CCAC this season. She was the CCAC’s fifth-leading scorer (17.6) and rebounder (7.6), a two-time CCAC Player of the Week, and a NAIA Division II National Player of the Week. Jordan also made her name known in the CCAC this season. She averaged 12.4 points per game, fourth in the CCAC for 3-point field goal percentage (.421) and ranked ninth in the CCAC for 3-point field goals, averaging 2.1 per game. Junior Jordan Giddings claimed the title of NAIA DII Women’s Basketball National Player of the Week back in February. Coach Samantha Quigley was named the Coach of the Year in the CCAC. This was just Coach Quigley’s fourth season at USF, but she led the Lady Saints to their first CCAC regular-season championship since 198889.

There were high points and low points as in every sport, but the good outshined the bad for the Lady Saints. There were many records set and memories made. Overall, it was a season to remember. You made the school proud and gave us something to root for. Congratulations ladies, you deserve it.

Photo courtesy of USF Athletics

In Memoriam

Dick Smith

1932-2016

Coach, Friend, Family, USF Saint. usfencounter.stfrancis.edu 45

USF Career Fair “Unlock Your Future” Friday

April 8, 2016 Fair: 9 A.M.–Noon Pat Sullivan Recreation Center Professional Dress Required

Register stfrancis.edu/careers Questions: Career Success Center 815-740-4295 bkohl@stfrancis.edu

Sponsored By

SPORTS

Bowling to Nationals: Lady Saints Qualify for National Bowling Championship by: Katie Nork The Lady Saints Bowling Team has taken the collegiate bowling world by storm in just three short years. Starting off their inaugural season in the fall of 2013, these ladies have had multiple top-three tournament finishes, a fourthplace sectional finish and a trip to the United Bowling Congress (USBC) Intercollegiate Team Championships in 2015. The 2016 season hasn’t fallen short of the ladies’ expectations either. On March 13 they captured the title at the Intercollegiate Team Sectional Qualifier, giving them an automatic bid to the ITC National Team Championships next month. The Lady Saints’ total pinfall for 64 Baker gamers was 12,049.

If you want to support both the men’s and women’s bowling teams, there is a candlelight bowling fundraiser being held on Saturday, April 9. Tickets are $20 an individual or $40 per couple for three games of bowling, pizza and pop. There will be raffles, silent auctions and more at the event. Contact any of the men’s or women’s bowlers if you are interested in buying tickets; you may also contact head coach Tony Talley at atalley@stfrancis.edu.

Sophomore Nicole Troha also clinched an individual spot at the ITC National Singles Championships with her performance at the Intercollegiate Singles Sectional Qualifier on March 11. Troha was one of four individuals that moved on to the national tournament with her sixgame pinfall of 1,222 and high game of 236. The ITC National Team Championships will be held April 20-23 at Northrock Lanes in Witchita, Kansas.

The Lady Saints have one more tournament before they head to nationals. On April 1-3, the team will travel to Anderson, Indiana to take on top teams in the NAIA at the NAIA Invitational.

Photo courtesy of USF Athletics

usfencounter.stfrancis.edu 47

USF Basketball Cards #22

Landus Anderson #4 Kamari Jordan

#30

#50

Charnelle Reed

Jens Kennedy #30 Jordan

Giddings

Ilya Ilyayev

#44