Gazettenews for and by students Spring 2015 Issue 2

April 28

Crimi auditorium at Aurora university was filled to max capacity on April 17th, highlighting the end to a successful semester. Honors Convocation kicked off at 2:00 pm on a sunny Friday afternoon, with students from GWC in attendance. A rousing organ performance opened and closed the ceremony, with much applause, hand shakes and speeches in between.

Among the Aurora students, faculty and staff recognized were GWC students, who represented the Wisconsin campus for the first time as part of the Honors Convocation. Jessica Wreidt received an award as outstanding Social Work student, Travis Shipley was honored as The Helen Finch Award winner, and Haylie Lagerhausen joined other AU students in receiving the Golden Ivy Leaf Award. Kiaya Kowalski, while not in attendance, was also mentioned for her GWC Faculty Award.

Light refreshments were available in the foyer upon exit, while faculty, parent and students exchanged friendly conversation and sage advice for future days. The campus was, as per usual, in immaculate condition, and the only possibly negative aspect of the experience was the rush hour traffic on the way home.

GWC Students Recognized At 2015 Convocationby Travis Shipley

Fabien Cousteau Makes a Splash at GWC by Baylee Hoff

Post-Grad Pursuitsby Travis Shipley

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Now that school is going to be over for some of the students here at GWC, it is time to examine the next chapter in our lives, be honest with ourselves, and hopefully live a life that is true to what we believe.

There will be many hardships when choosing this way of life, but a life lived true to oneself, while perhaps more difficult, will be well worth the trouble. Senior Kiaya Kowalski states, “Between my love for writing and my role as a global citizen, I am working very hard to find a full-time position in non-profit marketing. That way I can use the skill I’m most passionate about as I attempt to spread positive change.” For my own part, I hope to combine my love of construction with what I have learned about recreation at GWC to positively contribute to the community.

That positive change is what GWC has instilled in us. It is a vital part of our formative principals. Positive change and a holistic, sustainable approach are our guideposts as we embark on the journey that is the rest of our lives. So go find what you love. Not simply loving what is expected of you, or loving what is convenient, but loving what you are truly and furiously passionate about. Find it. Build your life around it. Go forth and conquer Class of 2015.

On Sunday April 19, Fabien Cousteau, grandson of the legendary Jacque Cousteau, made an appearance at George Williams College to talk about the importance of breaching the language barrier between the environment and everyday life. Held in Seabury, people from the community, various organizations, and students were captivated by his intelligence, passion, and wit.

Growing up in a family that was dedicated to preservation and exploration Fabien was provided with a taste of the ocean from an early age. As a child he fed this curiosity with books such as The Jungle Book, and 50,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and of course being immersed through family vacations. The immersion is in part a large reason why Fabien is a proponent of field education. He stated, “I couldn’t work in an environment where time stood still and died.” From that day forward he has dedicated his life to oceanic research, preservation and exploration.

Ocean and water living space occupy 99% of the planet yet, only about 5% of that has been explored to date. Fabien found that the only way to explore and truly understand something was to get into it. As it turns out people really do care about the ocean, but they don’t connect with documentaries in the same way as they do when they feel a part of something.

He spoke of creating innovative solutions such as Mission 31 to solve this disconnect. As a part of this he spent 10 to 12 hours a day diving and exploring the ocean floor, then reporting to the world through social media. Upon the completion of the mission they had reached 20 billion hits on the videos. People really do care, and thanks to the work of Fabien they can continue to be actively involved in the preservation of our oceans.

At the conclusion of his presentation he ended with a quote of his grandfathers, “People protect what they love, they love what they understand, and they understand what they are taught”.

After the discussion, four students who were nominated had the prestigious privilege to dine with Fabien. The students included Baylee Hoff, Landon Baumgartner, Lily Meyer, and Karolina Skerrett. At the dinner they had the opportunity to ask questions as well as inform Fabien on the campus and the various projects and events that the students are taking on and accomplishing. Lily Meyer said, “It was an amazing experience, every minute of it, and I am so glad I had the opportunity to be a part of it.”

The evening closed with goodbyes and a quick picture to capture an event that definitely made a splash in the lives of many at GWC.

GWC Photo. Pictured in the middle is Fabian Cousteau, and Dr. Richard Boniak on the far right

GWC Photo. Pictured Hayleigh Laugerhausen, Travis Shipley, and Jessie Wreidt

What’s “App”-ening?by Social Entrepreneurship 3000

Responsible Solutionsby Landon Baumgartner

Dessert with Honorsby Kiaya Kowalski

Inflato-what?by Arts, Literature and Inquiry class with a special mention to

Rebekha C. Crockett and Katy Cowan

An Excerpt from: Oh, the Humanitiesby Landon Baumgartner

Behind the Smileby Jermaine Wimpie

Artworkby Jermaine Wimpie

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What’s “App”-ening?by Social Entrepreneurship 3000

Another Beautiful Spring at the Gardenby Landon Baumgartner

Thus far, the spring of 2015 has brought 80 degree temperatures, flurries, rain, and sun all within days of each other. Weather, just one of the many joyous features of Wisconsin living; and yet the persistence of the Research and Education Farm (REF) staff has taken nature’s unpredictable weather head on and dared to begin the planting season. With the farm stand anticipated to open in late May this year, many crops and flora have already been planted outside, with still more being prepared for the outside world in the REF clubhouse.

Tulips and bases of wildflowers have already emerged from the hardened ground, providing the first flicker of color in the garden, each one promising to provide aesthetic value to upcoming summer events on campus. As for vegetables, a variety of peas, arugula, kale, and several varieties of lettuce have been planted thus far outdoors, with still more to come. While in the warmth and safety of the REF clubhouse, tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and root vegetables are also being prepared for sale later into the summer. Soon, these healthy delights will be available to people from throughout the community as the REF produce stand plans to be open for its first summer season of selling.

Whether you’re living and/or working on campus this summer, or simply visiting the area on a weekend, be sure to stop by the Research and Education Farm to get your local organic food fix and visit some friendly farmers.

Students in Social Entrepreneurship 3000 (AKA the junior class) developed two social ventures that they presented at the Research and Project Exhibition. They are also entering their ideas in the Marquette University Good Money Challenge, a competition for ideas that have a social or environmental impact.

Up next “Inflateables”

As the sights, sounds, and smells of spring have arrived once again, members of the GWC Responsible Solutions Club have been especially busy taking advantage of the seasonal transition.

After many weeks of sap collection from maple trees at the Research and Education Farm, a grand total of over four gallons of maple syrup was harvested and boiled down by Responsible Solutions members. Requiring over 100 gallons of sap to make such a modest amount of syrup, handmade syrup is no easy commodity to produce, but many find its pure taste to be well worth it. GWC students had the opportunity to taste this organic natural treat for themselves at the annual finals week “brinner” at the College Inn on April 23rd.

Another annual adventure was enjoyed by multiple club members when Responsible Solutions sponsored a volunteer trip to Milwaukee’s own Growing Power on March 28th. There, volunteers got to experience a morning immersed in the operations of the growing urban farming trend and

the work required to keep the good food revolution growing. Focused on alleviating environmental injustice by providing fresh produce to citizens of urban food deserts, Growing Power is an exemplary model of sustainable agriculture that never fails to teach club members something new every year.

More recently, at the much anticipated Fabien Cousteau lecture, Responsible Solutions members held their annual herb sale in Beasley where community members, staff, and students were able to purchase plants early for the upcoming growing season. Offering cups of organic herbs, including various basils, parsley, and oregano, these small plants brought in substantial funds to support the club’s ventures for the 2015-2016 school year.

On April 21st, club members found themselves amongst one of the biggest challenges of the year, our annual “night without electricity”. Although shortened to an “evening dinner party without electricity,” due to unseasonably cold temperatures, it maintained its reputation as an annual highlight of the spring semester. Many club members participated in an orienteering activity to test their skills with a compass, and everyone made the daring attempt to resist using cell-phones and other electronics, some succeeding better than others.

Regardless, everyone enjoyed an evening around a campfire, indulging in brats, s’more’s, and memorable comradery that only the act of unplugging can bring. Hopefully, such memories, volunteerism, and activism can be shared amongst an even greater group of responsible students in future years, as we continue to find more solutions together.

Responsible Solutions Spring Events Reminiscenceby Landon Baumgartner

GWC Photo. Plants from Cousteau sale

The EcoLocation team, consisting of Nicholas McCarney (team leader), Jacob Flores and Jessica Hernandez, developed an idea for an environmentally oriented mobile application that capitalizes on the ever-growing popularity of social media. By exposing users to different ecological issues in close proximity through an engaging and enjoyable medium, EcoLocation seeks influence on micro scale levels to aid in macro level problems.

The Green Flippers team, consisting of Lily Meyer-Volinek (team leader), Sami Correa and Lexi McNeil, developed a venture related to community transformation and urban development. The service will provide the framework for the transformation of vacant lots into green spaces, building healthier and happier communities. As consultants, Green Flippers will help coordinate with the community, leading them into the process of building green spaces.

Left: EcoLocation logo. Right: Green Flippers logo.

Dessert with Honorsby Kiaya Kowalski

Are You Interested in Contributing to the Newspaper?Send your questions to Dr. Meredith Harvey at mharvey@aurora.edu

On April 16, the campus held its annual Recognition Reception in Mabel Cratty. The evening offered a variety of desserts to the attending students. Though the evening’s many yummy treats were advertised as one of the many reasons to go, the Recognition Reception was a nice way for students to celebrate their peers.

A wide array of awards were given out despite the small ceremony. The event also honored all of the 2015 Student Leadership Participants and the students who attended the Alternative Spring Break. From freshman to seniors, students across all grade levels and majors were awarded. While some were awarded for their academic excellence, others were awarded for the extra bit of effort they bring to campus every day. For instance, Jermaine Wimpie won Student Worker of the Year thanks to his drive and enthusiasm for work, which only compliments his punctuality.

Sophomore, Rebekha C. Crockett, remarked that the event was a nice opportunity to for students to acknowledge the efforts their peers put forth every day. It is a great thing to belong to a campus where the school makes an effort to appreciate and honor their students.

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For the Arts, Literature and Inquiry class, students received an exciting project. During the semester, students have learned about 70’s counterculture, socio-artistic movements and the ways in which communalism and art have influenced (and been influenced by) these events. With this in mind, students have been assigned a final project: build an inflatable, a hallmark of countercultural architecture (or rather anti-architecture) pioneered by an artist-collective called Ant Farm.

Students were split into three groups and charged with designing their own inflatable, writing a manifesto that addressed the meaning behind the design, the current socio-political-technological situation, and communalism. Students will then build their inflatable. The finished inflatables will be displayed on campus on during finals week on Tuesday 28th.

Group Kubikle aka DaBox: DaBoxers designed a cube like inflatable. As the group states in their manifesto, “Mainstream culture compartmentalizes people and ideas, impeding the distribution of knowledge, human potential, and social interaction… Dabox: Kubikle is a sociopolitical statement, a reflection of our boxed society and protest.

The transparency aspect of our inflatable coincides with the open access trend of today’s information and lack of privacy. Everyone’s lives are already constantly fed into the intangible infrastructure of the worldwide web…We are incorporating artistry into everyday reality, inviting people to skew the familiar without venturing into the entirely foreign”

Group The Richards: Designed a bold symbolic inflatable in the shape of a cat and phallus and named their inflatable Project Richard. According to their manifesto “[t]he purpose of Project Richard is to serve as a message that as American citizens we are being screwed on all fronts. These fronts include the social, political, environmental, economical, and spiritual.”

“Project Richard seeks to liberate the human soul and maximize our natural rights. Project Richard… is blind to the sexuality, gender, race, and beliefs

of all individuals to create a representation of what our ideal societal expectations should be.”

Group Astro Dormios: designed an inflatable named the Astro Dormio Bio Dome. The group explains how “Astro Dormio Bio Dome is an inflatable that our group designed with three primary functions and goals in mind. These three goals include reconnecting with the environment that surrounds us, creating a space that is

communally inclusive, and creating something that sparks the imagination of future generations.

This design set is space futuristic. It explores the idea of communalism by creating spaces that work to accommodate a large quantity of people…The name was selected because it encapsulates the mission and vision of the inflatable. Astro was selected because of the close connection we encourage with the environment and more specifically the stars. Dormio is a Latin derivative for the word sleep… Bio is a root word for life. Life is essential whether that be human life or even the organic life around the area that the space incorporates. Together this name means life sleeping under the stars.”

Inflato-what?by Arts, Literature and Inquiry class with a special mention to Rebekha C. Crockett and Katy Cowan

GWC Photo. Pictured: Jermaine Wimpie and Cassidy Serafin

GWC Photo. Pictured: Arts, Literature and Inquiry Class

GWC Photo. Pictured: Landon Baumgartner and Karolina Skerrett

Thank You From The

Think local Support GWC

Always hereto help you succeed

See you next fall

-Grown with organic methods-Promotes student learning

FarmstandREF Produce

Check it out for yourself100 N. Lakeshore Drive corner of Highway 67 and

N. Lakeshore Drive

Vegetables available at the end of May

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Newspaper StaffEditors & Designers: Kiaya Kowalski and Dr. Meredith Harvey

Contributing Authors & Artists: Landon Baumgartner, Katy Cowan, Rebekha C. Crockett, Baylee Hoff, Kiaya Kowalski, Travis Shipley, Jermaine Wimpie, Arts, Literature and

Inquiry class, Social Entrepreneurs 3000 class,

Thank you for your contributions.Have a great summer!

Someone stops me to askWhat makes you happyI quickly came up with the common lieI’m Happy because I’m aliveTruthfully, my happiness is a self-imposed magic trick Pulling the eyes of the world away from the true sceneI smile to fit into the picture of “society” Hiding the pain of the little boy who thought he had become a manBehind my smileTells the reason for why my distanceIs constantly growingBehind my smileTells the rest of the storyOf the hole in my heartAnd the rips in my soulSo when asked what makes me happyThe honest truth is the briefest of momentsThe quiet nightsBecause...Behind the smileLies the whole storyThe man that was BR…. O... ….KENThe home that was lostAndThe blood that was drawn

Behind the Smileby Jermaine Wimpie

Artworkby Jermaine Wimpie

An Excerpt from: Oh, the Humanitiesby Landon BaumgartnerHe’s lowered down on the table, the only human in the room, ready to be put under and say goodbye to his leg. A group of medic-bots surround him preparing for the operation. Apple’s latest models of iSurgeons, M.D. robots 00716, 17, and 18 to be exact are on duty tonight, each hardwired and programmed with endless knowledge, maneuvers, and methodical procedures extracted directly from the worldwide web, but knowing nothing of pain, suffering, or loss, not to mention pride. The only other live body in this east wing of the building is a spectator peering through the observation box above the operation room. Just another company programmer, not a medical degree to his name, recording the vital signs of the machines and admiring his innovations at work. The morphine starts kicking in and the patient’s pain weakens, followed by the last image flashing across his eyes of that truck, no driver, just 4 tons of steel coming toward his windshield 30 km/hr too fast…

* * *For the better part of the last 40 years the old man had patrolled the streets of Boston, tracking down the worst filth imaginable, murderers, predators, drug lords, but he never gave a second thought to

the thousand or two tickets and traffic citations he’d written on roadsides and plastered across windshields of cars. Never would he have guessed these machines themselves would be the source of his ultimate demise with no justice to be carried out, nobody held accountable, and nobody to pay. The majority of people believed such experiments in automation were the next chapter in technological progress, spearheaded by local hometown minds from MIT and marketed by Harvard gentlemen and Boston College graduates. Little did they know that responsibility would become obsolete the same day LED lights were built to learn, microchips were built to see, and webcams were built to comprehend.

To read more the conclusion of Landon Baumgartner’s exciting piece of speculative fiction, swing by the Learning Commons and check out the newest edition of Nolos, Aurora University’s Literary Journal. If you have fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, or even art you would like to contribute, keep your eyes open an email calling for submissions in the fall. So far GWC has seen three students grace the pages of Nolos, and we’d love to see even more.

GWC Photo. Pictured students featured in NOLOS: Landon Baumgartener, Rebekha C.

Crockett, and Kiaya Kowalski

Like to write?Want to get published?

Send your questions to Dr. Meredith Harvey at mharvey@aurora.edu

NOLOS, the undergraduate journal of Aurora University, is an opportunity for students to submit their work to twice a year. Three GWC students have already been published in the journal, maybe

you can to!