The SpringHillian Volume 107, Issue 3
Thursday, October 25, 2018
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
It’s OK to Discuss Breast Cancer Cassidi Sterrett | Reporter
Millions of women and men are affected by breast cancer every single year. Whether it be a family member or somebody is personally diagnosed with it, breast cancer has made a devastating impact on people’s lives. According to the National Breast Cancer website, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. They state that “one in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.” Once diagnosed, the National Breast Cancer Foundation shares that “Each year it is estimated that over 252,710 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,500 will die.” There is still a chance for survival, and that is what one Spring Hill College professor did. Dr. Meg Cole was diagnosed with breast cancer 3 years ago and is considered a survivor today. She shares that “I was absolutely overwhelmed with the diagnosis. You just look at yourself and say ‘I have cancer,’ then you want it out as soon as possible.” Although Dr. Cole’s cancer was small, it still impacted her life heavily. She said “the radiation was 36 treatments five days a week. I learned a lot about that treatment that I did not know as a nurse. It was very time consuming and exhausting. I was very weak and depressed during the process. This took 2-3 hours daily. Following the treatments, I had mammograms every six months for two years. Now it has been three years I am considered a survivor.” Cole still has to take a pill every day to block her estrogen, but the people that surrounded her were there to help throughout her journey to survival. She
states that “now I know what family and friend support means.” In the past, the support system did not exist. According to CBS “In generations past, women were much more likely to keep a breast cancer diagnosis under wraps. It was spoken about in hushed tones — or not at all. In the 1970s, first lady Betty Ford helped break the taboo by speaking openly about her battle with the disease.” Women were not allowed to openly talk about their breasts. According to USA Today, they state that Julia-Louis Dreyfus said “I remember in the ‘80s when I couldn’t say the word ‘breast’ in a public meeting. If there were men in the audience, I had to say ‘mammary gland.” Unlike any other cancer, the breasts are a sensitive part of the body for women that were not to be talked about. USA Today states that “A woman’s breasts aren’t just visible, they’re symbolic. breasts were a metaphor for not only sexuality but for nurturing.” Today, it is more common to discuss breast cancer in a conversation. CBS shares that “nowadays it’s less common for people to keep a diagnosis private given how prevalent cancer news and treatments are in the media, in everyday conversations and across social media.” Due to a movement in the United States culturally there is more support than hatred and embarrassment when women announce they have breast cancer. Dr. Meg Cole is ecstatic about the shift. She states that “It is great that we are willing to discuss breast cancer.” Cole continues to teach at SHC and keep up to date on breast cancer research.
The SpringHillian October 25, 2018 NEWS 2 SHC’s TEDx Presentations: Deeper Grace Crapps | Contributing Writer Spring Hill College will host its second TEDx presentations in LeBlanc on November 4, 2018. The event was proposed by former Student Government Association (SGA) member Charles Fink ‘17 about two years ago. The organizers and coordinators of this event are members of SHC’s SGA. SGA’s Attorney General Emilee Adams, who is one of the coordinators of this event, stressed that SGA “thinks it is important for Spring Hill to have programming that is intellectually stimulating and that challenges students to look at a topic differently.” This year’s TEDx presentation consists of seven speakers and the showcasing of two videos. The presentation is an
Emilee Adams. | SHC website.
Photo: Spring Hill College website. interactive experience because the audience is given the opportunity to visit with the speakers and discuss the ideas presented to them. Adams says TED talks, “push us to recognize something occurring in our daily lives and look
at them from a different perspective. This is an opportunity to see happen live on our own campus.” This is the only TED event that is happening on the Gulf Coast, making this upcoming opportunity even more unique. The content
of this year’s presentation contains personal and professional development, communication, diversity and the economics and politics of health care. While Adams is excited to hear all of the speakers, she is most looking forward to
Dethra Giles. Adams said, “Her talk is about why we avoid talking about the taboo topics of politics, race, and religion in the workplace. I am looking forward to seeing Dethra’s talk live and being able to connect with her ideas on workplace conversations.” To learn more about the speakers and topics, and to purchase tickets, visit SHC’s website at https://www. shc.edu/news-and-events/ tedx/.
SHC and Lifelines: What it Means for Students Kayley Robinson | Reporter Spring Hill College has created a new partnership with Lifelines Counseling Services in Mobile, AL. According to SHC’s Title IX Coordinator Patricia Davis, the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) that provided on-campus resources for victims “has evolved into highlighting Lifelines’ resources upon the recommendation of the Wellness Center professionals.” SART now responds through Lifelines Rape Crisis Center, a division of Lifelines Counseling Services. According to Davis, students have both confidential and non-confidential reporting options. If a student wishes for their report to remain confidential, one
should consult Lifelines Counseling Services, the SHC Wellness Center, or a priest. The aforementioned resources are not required to pass on reports of sexual misconduct. All other SHC employees are considered to be “responsible employees” who have a duty to pass on reports of sexual misconduct to the Title IX Coordinator and/or to Student Affairs employees not associated with the Wellness Center. “If a report is made to a responsible employee, the College will attempt to honor a request for confidentiality, but cannot promise that wish will override its duty to act after analyzing potential ability to redress the event for that student, as well as
how confidentiality might affect the safety of all students and the campus as a whole,” said Davis. Students may also choose to make a report directly to law enforcement; however, victims are not required to report to law enforcement in order to receive assistance. If a student wishes to use the new resource of Lifelines in the event of sexual misconduct, the organization offers multiple 24-hour services. If an SHC student contacts Lifelines in the event of a rape crisis, he or she will be directly connected to a trained volunteer advocate. The advocate will walk with the victim step-by-step, even meeting the victim at the hospital immediately
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following the trauma. Assistance through Lifelines is readily available through the 24-hour crisis hotline at (251) 473-7273. Lifelines Counseling Services is looking for Rape Crisis Volunteers. Volunteers are trained
to accompany victims at the hospital immediately following assaults, answer crisis call and participate in community events. Interested SHC students may contact Victim Advocate Katie Ritchie at kritchie@lifelinesmobile.org.
Sign in front of the Lifelines building. | Photo: Kayley Robinson
SHC Student Media Reporters: Jordan Parker, Cassidi Sterrett, Alyssa Miles, Kayley Robinson
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OPINION
Volume 107, Issue 3
Why We Should Vote on November 6
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William Robinson | Contributing Writer
A good portion of the student body of Spring Hill College come to the Hill from different states and different countries. According to SHC’s Office of Institutional Research, 56 percent of students are not Alabama residents. This makes it difficult for us to vote in the state of Alabama and often times this makes us not even vote at all. Midterm elections are coming up November 6th which means that all 435
House of Representatives seats, 35 Senate seats, and 39 state and territories governorships will be decided. In his article, “Millennials approach Baby Boomers as America’s largest generation in the electorate,” Richard Fry states that millennials were actually projected to surpass Baby Boomers in 2017 as the United States’ largest living adult generation. Fry also states, “The Baby Boomer votingeligible population peaked in size at 73 million in 2004. Since the Boomer electorate is declining in size and the Millennial electorate will continue to grow, mainly through immigration and naturalization, it is only a matter of time before Millennials are the largest
generation in the electorate.” Based on statistics from the 2016 presidential election, Millennials have voted collectively below their electoral weight. According to Forbes Magazine, Millennial voting rates have never gone over 50% of the votes. In a National poll of American Millennials, only two-in-ten young adults consider themselves “politically engaged and active.” The problem with our generation’s voting depends heavily on our values as a generation. According to Forbes, “millennials are moved by measures championing persona choice-not society, country or planet. Only half of millennials see themselves as patriotic, and just 19% see themselves as generally
trusting of others, compared to 40% of baby boomers.” Our nation has the potential to become more tolerant as well as giving us an opportunity to advance the American dream in a way our nation has never seen. At the end of the day, U.S. citizens choose to vote or not to vote. However, the right to vote is important and one of our most important rights and responsibilities that we have. An individual can vote to place a person in power who can fix the problems they see. I have talked to many of my friends who do not vote who have said, “Why should I even vote? My vote does not even seem to count.” There are several U.S. elections that have been won and lost by just a
few votes. Richard Nixon, not John F. Kennedy, would have become president of the United States in 1960 if one person from each voting place had voted differently. The vote in the United States Senate was 27-25, and if it would have been a tie Texas would not have been part of the United States in 1845. Absentee voting is an important tool that students from out of state can use to cast their vote for the upcoming election. Absentee voting allows you to vote by mail and this can be done by casting your ballot during your designated early voting period. It is extremely simple and allows you to cast your vote for the America you want.
groped by another student, leading Noah to physically assault him. Both Lee and the school’s principal tell Elle that she was “asking for it” by wearing the skirt. How is it fair that a woman, short skirt or not, can get into trouble for actually being assaulted just based on what she is wearing? Talk about unequal treatment. This is a real “boys will be boys” moment and a great example of how women can be judged harsher than their male counterparts based on the clothing they wear. Noah begins to tell every guy in school not to talk to Elle, or they will “regret it.” Here, it is clear that Noah’s power over Elle gives him the satisfaction of control. When a painting project goes awry, Elle stumbles into the girls’ bathroom to clean up and takes off her shirt before she realizes she’s actually in the boys’ locker room.
Elle opts to dance around provocatively with her shirt off. Elle is neglecting Noah’s power over her and taking control of her own sexuality, but at the same time, she is giving the other boys the satisfaction of having a girl dance all over them in the locker room only to get a rise out of Noah. Violence is a huge part of this film, and Noah is known for getting into brutal fights. Elle even lays down a rule that he can’t fight anymore if he wants them to be together. It’s “kinda just how I’m wired,” he muses, and that’s all there is. Later, Lee briefly worries that Noah hit Elle, a jarring moment in a film marketed as a fluffy rom-com for teens. The fact that Lee automatically assumes that Noah hit Elle is messed up. How is that the first thing that comes to his mind? Well, that’s how Noah has always been; violent,
controlling, and aggressive. While ‘The Kissing Booth’ has all the right ingredients to be a romcom for teens, its troubling treatment of the female body and unrealistic representation of high school hinders its ability to accomplish anything meaningful. This film is extremely popular. As a result, it is difficult to end these harmful stereotypes from being perpetuated when the media allows the younger audience to watch films like this one. Ideas are then created in their head that they should dress and act a certain way to “fit in,” make friends, find their place in society and the cycle continues. As young people and consumers, we need films to call for the industry to challenge the status quo, create change for the next generation and not merely repeat the old and offensive stereotypes.
‘The Kissing Booth’: Unrealistic and Diminishing Taylor Lewis | Contributing Writer
It has been nearly impossible to escape talks of the Netflix Original movie, “The Kissing Booth”. This seemingly high school romcom has underlying tones of sexism and represents relationships in a regressive way. This film aims to give teenagers an idea of how their lives should be. The film fails to criticize the negative aspects that teenagers face and instead almost encourages it. Viewers watch as the leading male roles confront messages encouraging them to disconnect from their emotions, devalue authentic
EDITORIAL POLICY:
friendships, objectify and degrade women, and resolve conflicts through violence. These gender stereotypes create a maze of identity issues boys and young men must navigate to become “real” men. These implications are extremely detrimental, especially in films made for a younger audience. These stereotypes are best exemplified through Noah’s actions, Elle’s reactions and the norms that are being portrayed. Noah, who is the brother of Elle’s best friend, is a “hot”, “popular” football player who has a negative reaction when the boys at school begin to show Elle attention after summer break. On the first day of school, Elle is forced to go to her first day back wearing a short skirt. The moment she walks on campus, she is berated with catcalls from her fellow male students. Elle is
The SpringHillian is published five times each semester from January to April. The views expressed herein do not represent the views of Spring Hill College and are not the views of the faculty, administration, staff or students. They are the views of the individual columnists.
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The SpringHillian publishes guest submissions at the discretion of the student-editor and section editors. Submissions should be less than 300 words, and editors reserve the right to edit the submissions for length and content. Original writings should be mailed or delivered to: Student-editor, The SpringHillian, Communication Arts, Spring Hill College, 4000 Dauphin Street, Mobile, AL 36608. Submissions may also be sent as emailed attachments to: shcmedia@email.shc.edu.
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The SpringHillian
AROUND THE HILL
October 25, 2018
Spring Hill students at Greek Week 2018. | Photo: Alyssa Miles Spring Hill College students enjoying Greek Week 2018. | Photo: Jordan Parker
Spring Hill Students attending a rugby game. | Photo: Samm Brown Panhellenic ladies posing with Greek Week Shirts. | Photo: Jordan Parker
Volleyball team delivers supplies to Hurricane Michael victims. | Photo Courtesy of Volleyball Team
Volume 107, Issue 3
AROUND THE HILL
Sydney Caudill, Gavin Day, Emma Carroll and Jamir Sanchez enjoying Greek Week 2018.
SpringHillCollege SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4 2-6 P.M.
PRICE LeBLANC GRAND HALL BARTER STUDENT CENTER SPRING HILL COLLEGE $10 SHC STUDENTS $15 GENERAL ADMISSION
DEEPER DEEPER
It’s easy to think big-picture. It’s in our nature to simply accept the obvious, to read a newspaper headline and skip the article. We’re all going through the motions, forgetting that the unseen components of life are often the most important. Still, we wonder: what if we remembered? What if we looked deeper? For more information visit SHC.edu/TEDx
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The SpringHillian October 25, 2018 6 LIFESTYLE Dr. Ward wins Alpha Sigma Nu Book Award Cecilia Von Mann | Reporter Dr. Thomas J. Ward, Ph.D, History Department Chair and Professor at Spring Hill College, won one of the four 2018 Alpha Sigma Nu book awards distributed this year for his book, “Out in the Rural: A Mississippi Health Center & Its War on Poverty”. Alpha Sigma Nu (AΣN) is the honor society for Jesuit colleges and universities for students and faculty dedicated to scholarship, loyalty and service. It is considered one of the highest achievements for members of the Jesuit community. Ward is the first representative from Spring Hill College to win an AΣN Book Award for the school. The awards are given out for various topics in a cycle every three years. In 2018, the award was handed out for the category of “The Sciences.” When asked about this recognition by the society, Ward called it a “great honor” and
explained that it was nice to represent Spring Hill, especially since other bigger Jesuit institutions, like Georgetown, have their professors teach fewer classes giving them more opportunities for large research projects, like the one that led to his book. Ward’s second book, “Out in the Rural,” takes place in Mound Bayou, Mississippi and discusses the story of Dr. H. Jack Geiger, often regarded as the “Father of Community Medicine in the U.S.” and the Tufts-Delta Health Center. The center, which celebrated its 50 year anniversary in 2017, was the first rural community health center in America. The center aimed to provide health care to thousands of the poor in the region. Ward explores the foundation of the country’s first community health center, assesses both the social inequality and health care reform at the time, while
also discussing the life of the center’s founder, Dr. Geiger, who worked closely with Ward throughout his writing process, and even authored the forward to the book. Before Ward came onto the project, Geiger and the community had been collecting information in an attempt to tell their story and write this book for over 25 years. As a University of Southern Mississippi graduate and a regarded medical historian, Ward was recommended for the task to write this book by notable historian and winner of the Bancroft prize, Dr. John Dittmer in 2011. From then, Ward explained that writing the book went fairly fast with it being published in December 2016. This sped up process was due to the fact that several key figures in the community and the book were now nearing their eighties and for Ward, the most important thing was to let these people to finally
Dr. Ward with his award-winning book | Photo: Cecilia Von Mann
“see their story told before they were gone”. Although this is the book’s first award, it has received great press and several other honorable mentions, including a
starred review from Publisher’s Weekly. Dr. Ward’s book is available to be purchased both in print in e-book format on Amazon.
Students React to “Tha Carter V” Jordan Parker | Reporter After a much-anticipated album release, Lil Wayne dropped his fifth album, “Tha Carter V”, Sept. 28, 2018, the day after his birthday. In the weeks since, “Tha Carter V” has topped the Billboard 200 chart, while 19 of the 23 songs on the album have taken over the Billboard Streaming Songs top-50 chart. Over the past few years, fans and supporters have eagerly awaited the release of this album. Since it has been years since his most recent album release, fans have expressed curiosity and also excitement for what was to come from the Young Money rapper. SHC Junior, Cade Dernlan, described the anticipation: “Although it does mimic the sound of his old albums, and is both classically punny and predictably braggadocious, its lyrics have taken more of a reflective approach. Though I’m sure it won’t be his final album, it seemed to have more the sense
Jammin’ to tha Carter V. | Photo: Cecilia Von Mann
of a bow at the end of a long-winded performance than his previous albums… I thought it actually lived up to the hype and did well to show that Lil Wayne is still very much so in touch with the current trends in rap/
music.” While the future of Lil Wayne’s career in music is still unknown, this album showcased a new and vulnerable side of him. In a sincere video posted by Lil Wayne clarifying “Tha
Carter V” release date, he also gives a message to his supporters: “With this album, I always give y’all all of me, but with this album, I am giving you more than me.” Not only does this album feature exciting
artists including Kendrick Lamar and the late XXXTentacion, to name a few, he also opens up emotionally to his audience. Beginning with a heartfelt message from his mom, Jacida Carter, to thoughts on life struggles, the New Orleans native opens up through his thoughtful lyrics. SHC Senior, Thomas Gamble, described the intensity of the album: “I mean the first song in the album is a really emotional message from his mom. Then it goes straight to the song “Don’t Cry” that he made with another rapper that was murdered recently… The history behind the album is what also made it more emotional too in that Lil Wayne wanted to release it so badly back in 2013.” Although he initially wanted to release the album in 2013, these years that the album remained in limbo allowed the rapper to create a unique album for his fans.
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SPORTS
Volume 107, Issue 3
SHC Men’s Soccer | Photo: Seth Laubinger Photography
SHC Men’s Soccer Team is “AWESOME” Blake Flood | Reporter
The Spring Hill College Men’s Soccer team defeated the University of West Florida, 5-4, on Saturday, taking the Badgers into their first postseason since becoming a member of NCAA Division II athletics. Within the first five minutes of the game, sophomore Matthew Moreno scored with an assist from freshman Cyril Giraud. Shortly after, the opposing team scored from a corner kick. It was not until 20 minutes later that junior Alex Lipinski scored with a penalty kick, closing out the first half with Spring Hill in the lead, 2-1. The University of West Florida Argonauts dominated the first 10 minutes of the second half, though, scoring three times. However, the Badgers came back in the remaining time with two more goals by Lipinski and
Moreno. Amidst a tied score, the final few minutes were nail-biting for SHC as the Badger defense prevailed against the forceful UWF offense. Spring Hill goalie Barou Ndaw explained what he was feeling as he blocked several critical shots: “Honestly, I have so much emotion inside of me, I wanted to cry. It was so much pressure because I knew that if they scored, that was the end of it.” Nonetheless, with the score at 4-4, the game went into overtime, making an already intense game even more so. Showcasing their command as a team, the Badgers scored with a goal from 35 yards out by senior Tilman Schober. In regards to his game-winning play, Shoeber said, “I was just super happy. The overtime win felt really good, especially because it was my
last game at the home field.” This historic win sparks excitement for the team as it is the first time they will be playing postseason. For many seniors on the team, this win couldn’t have come at a better time. Tilman Schober can’t be any more thrilled: “I am super excited. This is my fourth season here and for the first time we have the opportunity to go postseason. We have a good chance to go very far.” Among those excited, are of course the fans. Elizabeth Thompson, a spectator rooting for the Badgers Saturday said, “It got nerve-racking towards the end but we all knew that our team would win. I am just ecstatic about the postseason and firmly believe that we have an opportunity to do really well.” Steve Weiczorek, head
SHC honors seniors and their families | Photo: Samm Brown
coach, said, “We have as good a chance as any who qualify. Conference playoff semi-finals and finals are difficult whether you are the favorite or not. I’m very
happy to have qualified already for the semi-final which may give our team a slight advantage over those you have to play in the quarterfinals.”
TOP: Cyril Giraud | BOTTOM: Donte Oliver Photos: Seth Laubinger Photography
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The SpringHillian
HILL YEAH!
October 25, 2018
ON THE SPOT
Kanye’s Presidential Slogan Would Be...
Marquez Williams | Senior “Kanye is already great.”
Monica Moreno | Junior “Running for the United States would be yeezy peasy!”
LaJohn Thomas Jr. | Sophomore “Choose to vote. But vote for me.”
Layne Carlson | Freshman “I want you to love the president like I love me.”
COMIC OF THE WEEK
If you are craving the excitement of an amusement park, you don’t have to drive far. In Foley, only a two hour drive away, you can visit OWA. OWA is a new attraction on the Gulf Coast that boasts the laid back atmosphere of Downtown OWA, great food, and amazing thrill rides in The Park at OWA. Downtown OWA offers great food including a novelty doughnut shop, Hershey’s Ice Cream, and the famed Wahlburgers. You can also find several shops from clothing boutiques to The Pepper Place, where you can find some of the hottest peppers in the world. My personal favorite is Fairhope
Soap Company, where you can buy organic soaps and hygiene products, and even have some custom made. The best part of Downtown OWA is that admission is free! Downtown OWA is a great place to chill out and shop, but since you have already driven two hours, you might as well raise your heart rate. The Park at OWA is where you’ll find 21 amusement park rides. The crowning jewel and my favorite ride is the largest in the park: Rollin’ Thunder. This ride takes passengers on drops and loops at 55.9 miles per hour. Admission to The Park is not free like Downtown OWA, but is well
worth the ticket price. During the Halloween season, OWA offers another attraction to terrify it’s customers. The Town of Terror is a truly horrifying experience. The theme this year is the Circus Asylum. Personally, I am afraid of clowns and did not even make it through the first room of the haunted house, but if you crave a good thrill, you may enjoy this house of nightmares. Whether you want to soar to new heights, grab a burger, or get scared out of your mind, OWA has something for everyone. I will definitely be returning in the near future.
Kanye West political cartoon Designed By Bailey Parrish