“It is a great exercise and activity for physical and mental health,” said Professor Mike Nelson, one of the clubs advisors. “Rock climbing is a fun sport that all sorts of people can do and try. It involves fun sorts of body movements and using your brain to figure out patterns on a wall and how to map your body onto it.”

Freshman Michael Beckett said one reason he likes the club is, “I look really cool doing it.”

“I like climbing the routes because when I first came here that’s something I didn’t know how to do,” said Beckett. “Now it’s like second nature, so it’s kind of an achievement and something my past self wouldn’t of believed I could do.”

Scott Cousins, a climber in the morning classes, says how his favorite part is socializing, “It’s like a big social event, just with people high up.”

Not only is it physically good for you, but rock-climbing can help you build friendships. Jayden Bedsole, a weekly climber, said “I feel like the friends I made through rock-climbing carry over to my life at Monmouth. I’m really glad I met people here because it’s a really fun community to be in.”

The club meets every Tuesday and Thursday night from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Trotter Fitness Center in the Huff.

“STEM Ambassadors is a class that not only fulfills the community engagement requirement for STEM majors, but it also teaches us how to communicate science effectively,” said Mel Bivolarov, a STEM Ambassador. “We are able to design our own STEM outreach to not only engage with the people around us, but to learn how to communicate science to a wide range of audiences.”

Bivolarov was stationed at one telescope providing information about what attendees were looking at through it. During the event, they were able to learn about the names of craters, trenches, and mountains on the moon, the orbital patterns of the planets and the best times to see them, how the telescopes work, and more.

Professor Michael Solontoi had a second telescope set up that had been pointed to observe Saturn. Bivolarov explained that the second telescope has a GPS feature. “You can tell it to find a planetary object for you, and it will move itself into that direction.”

The STEM Ambassadors organize events on campus as part of their community outreach. “We’re trying to get people, especially younger people...interested in science,” Bella Moore, another STEM Ambassador, said. “Because it’s not the boring thing that everyone thinks it is sometimes. There’s fun stuff to do in STEM.”

“I do this because I wholeheartedly believe in well-roundedness,” Bivolarova said. “I was very passionate about this project because it gave me an opportunity to remind people that science isn’t just working in a lab or doing calculations, but it’s observing the world around us and taking an interest in things that are different from us. Science is talking to people, getting creative, and sharing knowledge.”

The first of the many festivities took place on Friday afternoon when SigEp’s new house, which had been completed the semester before, was formally opened to the campus community and dedicated. The ceremony included speeches from Monmouth SigEp alumni William Murschel ’75 and Don McKinley ’50, a founding member of the Illinois Gamma chapter.

Monmouth College President Patricia Draves also spoke at the ceremony, in addition to former and current SigEp Grand Chapter Presidents Brad Nahrstadt ’89 and Dave Calderon.

“Today is about a building, but it is also about something much larger. It is about people, relationships, shared values, and a commitment that has endured for 77 years on the Monmouth College campus.” said President Draves.

“Across higher education, fraternities and sororities are sometimes questioned and have some negative press. When people think of Greek life, they often focus on the challenges rather than the opportunities, but at Monmouth, fraternities are living their values and contributing positively to campus life. They provide something students need now more than ever: community, connection, mentorship, and a sense of belonging.”

To Monmouth SigEp alumnus and former Grand Chapter President Brad Nahrstadt, this was a moment that very literally hit close to home.

“It is my chapter. It is my home chapter”, said Nahrstadt. “And it is really inspiring and exciting to be a part of opening a new facility that is going to allow us to continue to provide a life-changing experience for the gentlemen who join this chapter, who belong to the chapter now, and who will belong to the chapter long after I am gone.”

The festivities continued into the next day, where after the Fighting Scot football team’s win, current brothers, alumni, and other campus community members flocked to the SigEp house to watch six current SigEps shave their heads in the name of cancer research.

In the weeks leading up to homecoming, SigEp partnered with St. Baldrick’s, a non-profit dedicated to raising money for childhood cancer research everywhere.

“We have never done St. Baldrick’s before.”, said Anthony Guppy, SigEp’s philanthropy chair.

“I was only expecting three people, and I would even do it, but then we got six people, and so I thought this would be an excellent opportunity not only for us to raise all this money for [cancer research], but it also gives us good PR.”

Six SigEp brothers took the challenge: Guppy, Rowan Love, Evan Eisfelder, Rayden Peterson, Jonathan Borgman, and chapter President Kent Huth, who got the honor of having his head shaved by SigEp Grand Chapter President Dave Calderon.

Monmouth College chaplain John Huxtable ’04 also volunteered to shave his head. He was also the fundraiser’s top donor with $922 chipped in.

Because the six volunteers raised a total of over $3500, all of them went under the razor on Saturday afternoon. When all was said and done, the final total for the fundraiser was $3,689.

Attendees got to explore, learn, and get involved with the multiple examples of how Classics intersect across different disciplines such as Art, Computer Science, English, Music and Physics.

“Last time we made this was my freshman year, and it’s a lot of fun to put together,” said Logan Serpette, a senior Classics major. Serpette’s table was at had three therapy dogs, a Doberman and two Shetland sheepdogs, for attendees to interact with. “Hecate has always been my favorite deity for as long as I knew about Greek mythology and the leader of dogs…So I made a tie into that for our little activity to bring therapy dogs.”

Freshman Lahna Schroeder participated in a Classics’ SOfIA project this summer which in part learned about cheese & garum, a fermented fish sauce used in the ancient world. “You can’t have classics without the staples of the ancient world,” said Schroeder. She said that the activity was a great way for everyone to see what was eaten and used back in the ancient world. This cheese was the main source of protein and calcium because not everyone had meat on their table.

Another freshman participant in the same SOfIA project showcased their work with ancient Roman concrete in mosaics. “Roman concrete has been around for 2,000 year,” said Michael Beckett, “… it has quicklime as well as pozzolana, which is volcanic ash in it…when the concrete cracks, water seeps in, or comes into contact with dissolved limestone, the concrete creates new concrete that fills those cracks,”

The event reached beyond the college itself with participants such as the Warren County Library, Warren County History Museum, University of Illinois, Knox College, and Augustana College.

“I’m coming back as an alum to the next one,” said Serpette.

From September 24-27, Link attended the Kappa Leadership Academy at Camp Widjiwagan, just outside of Nashville. The retreat focused on leadership development, confidence, and building relationships with fellow Kappas.

“I knew that this trip would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to be able to gain life skills, become a better leader, and surround myself with like-minded people,” Link said.

Throughout the weekend, members discussed the importance of personal values and how those values influence the people around them. For her, those conversations connected closely with the work she does as a member of her chapter’s executive board.

“There are values that each person has that apply to their own lives, and it is important to surround yourselves with people that share these values with you, and understand why your values are important,” said Link. “One of the things that our exec board excels at is the sharing of ideas, and the significance of our shared values within our work as leaders. We find it very important to bring each member of our chapter’s ideas together, so we are able to succeed and have the best possible outcome.”

While leadership development was at the center of this experience, the retreat also allowed participants to connect outside of the formal activities. From learning how to line dance to sitting around a fire with fellow sisters, the opportunities for relationship building were endless.

“This retreat gave me insight on not only how to grow as a leader within my sorority and with the positions I will hold throughout my college experience but also gave me insight on different alumni of Kappa Kappa Gamma and their lives,” Link said.

This experience provided a new perspective on the history of Kappa Kappa Gamma. Monmouth is especially important to this history as the original chapter was founded right here on Monmouth’s campus in 1870. Being a member of the founding chapter allowed Rachel a new perspective on how impactful Monmouth was in the creation of this sisterhood.

“These opportunities are important as student leaders, as they give you opportunities to bring ideas and new perspectives back to your organization,” Link said. “This opportunity gave me a fresh outlook on Kappa, and inspired me to grow as a leader in so many different ways.”

For her, the retreat demonstrated that leadership opportunities within a sorority can extend beyond a college campus, creating connections that continue long after the experience is over.

“It is truly such a great opportunity to be able to go somewhere 500 miles away and still feel right at home with the people that share Kappa with me,” Link said.

While Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to recognize Hispanic and Latino history and culture, for many, it is also about creating a time for Hispanic voices and experiences.

“It has come to me, honestly, just Hispanic people taking up space,” said Karla Ramirez, Raíces president. “Taking up space and making their contribution no matter their boundaries. I think that’s what Hispanic heritage means to me.”

For Monmouth’s Hispanic culture student organization, Raíces, this sentiment is at the heart of its mission. Raíces was created to spread Hispanic culture around campus while also creating a welcoming space for all students.

“It [Raíces] was made for two purposes: for community, for students to find their community away from their home that we share in these roots, but then also, for the spreading of cultural awareness and sharing of cultural diversity,” said Ramirez.

Raíces hopes to continue their mission throughout Hispanic Heritage Month and beyond. They are working to strengthen the sense of community among their members and have community be the center of their events. These events will include a Día de los Muertos event as well as the Piñata y Paletas event that is set to happen during spring finals. These events allow students to learn more about Hispanic culture while also bringing them together.

“Hispanic Heritage Month is a way to share hardships in a way that brings joy. Hispanic culture has a way of taking even the most tragic events and remembering them in a way that’s beautiful.” said Karla

Raíces encourages all students interested in Hispanic culture, not just those of Latino or Hispanic backgrounds, to get involved and join their community.

“I hope everyone knows that they’re welcome, no matter if they have roots in Hispanic culture or not.” said Karla. “There’s always a home for you.”

Claire LaBadie ‘27 was selected as this year’s Monmouth College Lincoln Laureate, an honor recognizing an outstanding senior from each of the four-year degree-granting institutions of higher learning in Illinois. Student Laureates are recognized for their leadership and service and for their excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities.

“It’s been very special because all of the Lincoln Laureates have been people that I’ve really looked up to as leaders,” said LaBadie. “Lillian Hucke was my orientation leader, and she had such a positive impact on me. Same thing with Lea Selquist. She was my accounting tutor and also someone I really looked up to. So, for these people to be someone that I really looked up to and then to get this award, has just been so impactful on me.”

Throughout her time at Monmouth, LaBadie’s list of leadership opportunities has grown. From founding the BEAM club to serving as the president of ASAP to holding a director position in her sorority, Pi Beta Phi, she has continued to make her mark on Monmouth College. Her favorite role, though, is helping freshman students through their first year at Monmouth.

“Out of all of my positions on campus, being a [First-Year] Mentor has been my favorite one,” said Claire. “All of the upperclassmen and people in my life had such a big impact on how I saw Monmouth. Coming in my freshman year and seeing all of these mentors and all of these people that are so involved, that really inspired me and really led to me wanting to be like them.”

For LaBadie, the recognition is also a reflection of all the hard work and dedication she has put into her college experience.

“Winning this award has shown me, well, it’s kind of cheesy, but I can really do anything that I put my mind to. I really value hard work and dedication, and I knew coming into college that I really wanted to get involved,” said Claire.

That involvement has not only allowed LaBadie to take on leadership roles but also build relationships with the people around her. Through her various positions on campus, she has not only found ways to make an impact on Monmouth but also formed relationships that have become very important to her.

“Earning this award has just shown me that people on this campus really notice you; they appreciate when you’re working hard,” said LaBadie. “I got nominations from people who I wasn’t even that close with for this award, which just shows that they really notice you on this campus… Honestly, I learned so much from just being involved, managing my time, and working with people.”

The recognition also gives LaBadie the opportunity to speak at Monmouth’s scholarship competition and commencement ceremony this spring as well as attend a ceremony in October with the other Lincoln Laureates from across Illinois.

After being inspired by the student leaders who came before her, LaBadie will now have the opportunity to stand before the next generation of students as a Lincoln Laureate herself.

In high school, a friend’s mom ran an early intervention autism program at UCLA and invited her to attend a family day; “[I] was very much struck by how autistic people, children, and adults behaved and clearly the way they were interacting with their world was so very different….” As she went on to look for colleges, she shared her curiosity, and colleges suggested psychology; however, that wasn’t where her interest lay: “I don’t want to understand how to help them. I just want to understand, literally, what is going on in their neurons that is different from me…, and realize honestly, how little we know about the human brain in general. So, that was when I kind of got the Neuroscience bug.”

Timmerman explained quantum as “essentially physics at its smallest scales. You’re essentially not only understanding quantum mechanics and kind of the nature of the universe, but over the past few decades, scientists and Engineers have actually started to develop the tools to harness that physics for actual useful applications.” Quantum has been developed for use as sensors that are like GPSs but less hackable and don’t rely on satellites, as well as quantum computers.

“People didn’t really think about quantum technologies outside of a core group of scientists and engineers… now we’re at this place where we are seeing whole countries, whole states making these huge investments in quantum innovation, science and engineering. The state of Illinois has invested like 700 million in it,” said Timmerman.

Stephanie Levenson, the Vice President of Enrollment Management on campus, spoke on the Scots Pledge and what it entails for the 2027 freshman class and those to follow. She explained how the new program will allow students to be awarded financial aid for full tuition, including the requirements to qualify. The incoming students must be Illinois residents and reach a GPA threshold of 3.25 on a 4.00 scale, having a household gross income of $100,000 or less, and they will need to live on campus.

Levenson described the Pledge as “a better way to communicate cost and affordability for Monmouth in ways that families can better understand.” By laying out the qualifications and options for potential students, the process of applying for and receiving financial aid will be more streamlined. “What can we do to uncomplicate a complicated process?” seems to be the foundational question behind the implementation of the Scots Pledge, in the hopes that students will not be intimidated by the initial tuition fee but rather understand there are possibilities to make Monmouth a feasible option.

“To me, the benefit is opening doors to students who may not have otherwise looked at Monmouth,” Levenson explained. The class of 2031 and those to follow will have to keep an eye out in case they qualify for the new Scots Pledge, and what doors will open if they do.

The addition of these new majors reflects the college’s efforts to adapt to the ever-changing workforce. Adding new areas of study allows Monmouth to stay consistent with the wants and the needs of today’s career world.

“Over time, the world has become more complex and more specialized. To fulfill its mission to prepare students to pursue successful careers, Monmouth College must change,” said School of Business Chair Michael Connell.

The new finance major will focus on preparing students to understand financial markets while also giving them the skills necessary to work in the field. The program is designed to deepen students’ knowledge in areas such as financial analysis and wealth management while preparing for careers in finance.

“In the modern economy, an understanding of finance is critical,” Connell said. “It is essential that Monmouth College students be prepared to participate in that process.”

While finance provides students with a pathway into the financial industry, the agribusiness management major is designed with the Monmouth area in mind. Monmouth is in a region where agriculture plays a major role in the local economy. As technology continues to change within the agricultural industry, farmers increasingly rely on business professionals in areas such as management, finance, and data analysis. The agribusiness management major aims to prepare students for these roles within the industry.

The addition of these two majors allows current and incoming students to pursue a more specialized education within the School of Business while continuing to receive a liberal arts education.

She explored topics consisting of economic, environmental and policy changes that were caused due to the farm crisis in the 1980s. As well as the mental strain the farm crisis had on farming families. Many farmers were losing their land or were in serious danger of losing their farms, which ultimately caused extreme stress and fear in many families.

“The losses didn’t just belong to adults. They belonged to entire families: men, women, and children,” Professor Riney-Kehrberg said.

Farms were being lost due to farmers regularly borrowing to maintain their business, farmers being young and in precarious condition, being young and ambitious, and due to being older farmers who had borrowed against the value of their land to bring children into their operations.

“I’ve talked to lots and lots of students whose families are farm families who don’t know much about this,” Professor Riney-Kehrberg said. A reason why it is so important to talk about the Farm Crisis, even forty years later, is due to how many young farmers are unaware of what has happened in the 1980s. Riney-Kehrberg said she wants to keep the awareness of what has happened in the past in discussion so young farmers can understand what has happened and learn from it.

Riney-Kehrberg has spent years researching these topics, having published five books and written 40 articles based around life on the farm, childhood and rural communities and humanity within the Midwest. She was a past president of the Agricultural History Society and past president of the Midwestern History Association.

Starting in 2016 through a gift from Jeanne Gitting Robeson a 1960 alum, The Wiswell-Robeson Lecture’s purpose is to annually feature a speaker from the agriculture community who explores issues, challenges and innovations in the industry.

“Greek Week is so important because it allows both fraternity and sorority life to have a week to compete and celebrate each other,” said Addie Greene, member of Pi Beta Phi.

Members of the Alpha Xi Delta and Sigma Phi Epsilon team, Talon Hunter, Kent Huth, Natalie Morrow, Kaytlynn Taylor, and Lorenzo Ramirez, competing in tug of war. Photo from MC Flickr.

The first event started a week early this year with a community service event at the Jamieson Center. Members from all chapters got together to help clean up and place mulch around the center. Points were awarded for having up to 5 members present.

Greek Week officially kicked off on Monday with a Just Dance event hosted by ASAP. Teams of 4 from each chapter danced their hearts out to not only win Just Dance but also win Greek Week points for their chapter.

On Tuesday, Chapters participated in Captain America’s Field Day Challenges. One fraternity and one sorority teamed up to compete in challenges such as Hulk’s Tug-of-War, Magneto’s Metal Spoon Race, Captain America’s Shield Toss, and the Batmobile Race. The

The highlight of the night was the Batmobile Race, where teams of 12 rolled a table on their backs across the field while a chapter member rode on top of the table. Points were awarded to each chapter duo based on their placement in the individual events. The winner of the night was “The Phi Duo,” consisting of Pi Beta Phi and Phi Delta Theta.

The week continued with the annual Family Feud competition on Wednesday night. 5 members from each chapter competed in a standard game of Family Feud. The two teams with the most rounds won moved on to Quicksilver’s Fast Money.

On Thursday, chapter members were encouraged to attend the Twilight Special Track Meet and cheer on the Monmouth Track and Field team. Points were awarded based on each chapter’s overall attendance.

The philanthropy chosen for this year’s Greek Week was the Recharge Teen Center. Throughout the week, chapters participated in the Penny Wars competition to collect donations for RTC and earn more points for their chapters. The organizations collected a total of $595.55 throughout the week.

An additional ongoing event was the finding of the Hidden Super-Greek Week Directors that were placed on bulletin boards around campus. Each chapter could find its missing Greek Week director for extra points.

Each chapter also painted a banner relating to the superhero theme. The board of judges consisted of Aramark staff members who chose Pi Beta Phi as the winner and secured extra points for their chapter.

Greek Week concluded on Friday night with the Fraternity and Sorority Life Awards Ceremony. Awards are handed out to students and staff who have made a significant impact on Greek Life. The Greek Week Committee also nominates students and chapters that went above and beyond during the week for spirit awards.

The overall Greek Week winner was Pi Beta Phi with a total of 1,720 points. Phi Delta Theta came in second place with 1,670 points, and Zeta Beta Tau came in third with 1,520 points.

Photo of Brownfield presenting on a career in criminal and forensic psychology. Photo from MC Flickr.

The event’s keynote speaker was Dr. Chad Brownfield, a clinical and forensic psychologist operating in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Brownfield spoke on his time and career in criminal and forensic psychology, the importance of pursuing the field, and the steps to his career. He is currently an adjunct professor at St. Ambrose University and serves on the Human Rights Commission for Rock Island.

STEM ambassadors recording their podcast. Left to right, Alayna Earle, Nick Brown, Turner Plumer, and Kailey Cronin. Photo by Dawsyn Wilson.

One group of students from the STEM ambassador course created a podcast, Outside The Lab, this semester. During presentations, they interviewed various students at their table and went around with portable mics. Engineering students created an autonomous golf ball retriever after they surveyed the golf team and learned how long it takes to manually retrieve every loose ball.

In Petra Kuppinger’s Everyday Sustainability course had a table that showcased the various projects from the class. Over eight weeks, students worked on individual projects. “I personally decided to make my own paper using recycled paper that I received from classes. Majority of it coming from Petra’s class herself,” said Allie Glassburn. After a difficult process, Glassburn was able to use her recycled paper to write, draw, and paint.

Last fall, students Cole Pugh, Mathew Bright, and Izzy Seipold built a catapult in the Ancient Technology and Engineering class. The group had to refer to sources and pictures from class to replicate an onager, a Roman-style catapult. “We used two-by-fours, some plywood as a lever arm, and lots of paracord as our main mechanism for the launch of our projectiles,” said Seipold. Bright and Seipold launched ping-pong balls to showcase their catapult’s throwing distance.

Understanding U.S.–Latin American relations, he argued, requires seeing both the historical roots of U.S. involvement and the present-day challenges facing the hemisphere. “Twenty-five percent of the population lives on less than $6.25 a day,” Arrenius said.

The presentation traced the relationship back to the early 19th century and the origins of the James Monroe-era Monroe Doctrine, which declared the Western Hemisphere off limits to European colonization and interference. Arrenius walked the audience through major turning points, including the Mexican–American War, the Spanish–American War, and the Roosevelt Corollary, which justified U.S. intervention in Latin America and led to projects like the Panama Canal.

Still, U.S. involvement remained significant during the Cold War, with military interventions and political influence shaping the region from the 1950s through the 1990s. Arrenius concluded the historical overview with the creation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, emphasizing how economic ties have become a defining feature of modern relations.

Arrenius presenting at the lecture. Photo by Seamus O’Sullivan

Turning to the present, Arrenius discussed the rapidly changing political landscape in Venezuela and the dramatic capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by the U.S. in early 2026. The unprecedented operation shocked the international community and has raised questions about democracy, sovereignty, and the future of the region.

Arrenius noted that while remnants of the previous regime remain influential, there are signs of cautious optimism. “Economists are now more free to express dissent towards the government. Civil liberties are being increased. Hard to say for sure, but I believe the next elections will be free and fair,” he said.

The conversation also touched on the volatility of U.S. relations with Cuba. Arrenius explained how policy has fluctuated depending on which party controls the White House, creating uncertainty in the region. He noted that Cuba has recently experienced massive blackouts after oil shipments from Venezuela were cut off, illustrating how interconnected Latin American economies remain.

Finally, Arrenius addressed the growing global competition shaping the hemisphere. China’s expanding presence in Latin America has become a major concern for U.S. policymakers. For example, China shifting its soybean imports to Argentina during the U.S.–China trade war shows how economic rivalries between major powers ripple across the region.

The presentation closed with a reminder that the story of U.S.–Latin American relations is far from finished. As Arrenius prepares to continue his academic career studying the region, students left the session with a deeper understanding of how history, economics, and geopolitics continue to shape the Americas today.

Arrenius recently studied abroad in Uruguay and plans to pursue a PhD in comparative politics and methods at the University of Maryland with a focus on Latin American politics.

MC Staff celebrating the 10th year of Scots Day of Giving. Photo from MC Flickr.

On April 15, five projects were highlighted: the Monmouth Fund, Fighting Scots Society, Senior Class gift, Loyalty scholarship, and new Marching Band uniforms. “The Draves Double” is a new initiative that encourages donors to support a pair of these causes. The goal was to reach 1,000 donors and at least one donation from every state.

“Scots Day of Giving is...a day when our campus community and alumni from all across the country come together to support students and the programs that shape their experience,” said Hannah Maher, the Vice President for Development and College Relations, “What I love most is the collective impact - how thousands of individual acts of generosity (giving, volunteering, promoting Monmouth) add up to something truly transformational.”

Monmouth Police responded to two different reports of thefts at the Huff Athletic Center over two days, April 8 and 9. Several individuals’ belongings were stolen from locker rooms during late evening practices. “This situation has been incredibly frustrating and upsetting. The items stolen—my volleyball shoes and team bag—were both expensive and recently purchased for the season,” said Zoe Nizzia.

Students soon went to Yik Yak. Anonymous posts questioning their presence and situation. One student posted: “Did the locker rooms get raided or something? Who tf is going into lockers stealing stuff?” Another post raised concerns about potential student IDs stolen to be used to enter residential halls.

After one student pinged their phone location, Knox County Sheriff’s Deputies were able locate a car owned by Smith with a bag containing six phones inside it. Monmouth Police contacted some of the other student victims, who were also able to ping their phones to the car’s location. Security cameras identified a car matching Smith’s vehicle parked on campus. Also, officers identified Smith walking downstairs in the Huff where the locker room is located and ten minutes later entering the parked car leaving campus two minutes after that.

Officers obtained a search warrant and found the stolen items in his car, home, and a safe located in his bedroom. “Inside the safe (were) ten cellphones that were wrapped in a black piece of clothing. The cellphone belonged to the victims of this case. Also, inside the safe (were) IDs, credit cards, SS cards that belonged to our victims,” Investigator J. Kramer wrote in his report.

After police the stolen property was identified, nine cell phones were returned. “I told all students that had credit cards and debit cards stolen to report their cards stolen to their banks and to report any fraudulent activity to Monmouth PD” Officer Boyer said in his written police report.

According to the police report, Smith admitted during an April 14 interview to taking the shoes, wallets, and phones but no cash during the two separate incidents. Upon his release from Knox County Jail, Monmouth police arrested and booked Smith for burglary.

The incident has raised concerns about security measures in the Huff. “This incident raises serious concerns about locker room security. Currently, there appears to be no effective measures in place to prevent unauthorized access. Anyone—whether a student, coach, or outsider—could potentially enter the volleyball and swim locker rooms at any time. This is not only a property issue but also a significant safety concern,” said Nizzia.

Auctioneers holding up paddles during auction. Photo by Ruby Poffinbarger.

One major fundraising event is the Quarter Auction, which recently took place on Friday, April 10th. Supported by Professor Lori Walters-Kramer and her Small Group Communication class, the event is their biggest fundraising event, establishing itself as an annual tradition, anticipated by the staff and the community collectively.

At 6 pm on Friday, more than 150 community members gathered to support RTC, including state representative Dan Swanson. Everyone was able to bid on the 99 donations, ranging from coupons for local businesses, t-shirts, and baskets full of candy and games. From Monmouth College, donations were received from Admissions, Tartan Threads, Aramark, and ASAP. Donations were not only from businesses in the Monmouth and Galesburg area. Multiple individuals put together baskets as well. Many of these individuals are repeat supporters of the fundraiser.

The event was incredibly successful, raising funds to further support the hard work done by Recharge staff and continue to give the teens of Monmouth a safe place to go and simply be kids.

Recharge Teen Center can be found on Facebook or Eagle View Community Health System’s website for more information.

Kuppinger began by tracing the region’s complex history, explaining that Ukraine has long existed at the crossroads of empires, cultures, and political systems. From centuries of imperial rule to the Soviet era, the country’s identity and sovereignty have been shaped by outside forces. This historical backdrop, she explained, is essential to understanding modern tensions with Russia.

Kuppinger presenting her lecture. Photo by Seamus O’Sullivan

Kuppinger described how the dissolution of the Soviet Union created new borders, new political identities, and lingering disputes about power and influence. Over time, these unresolved tensions helped set the stage for the current conflict. She emphasized that narratives about the region are often simplified in public discourse, even though the reality is far more complex.

A central theme of the lecture was her clear position that the invasion is unjustified. “This war did not have to happen,” Kuppinger said, stressing that diplomatic and political alternatives existed. She argued that the war represents a violation of sovereignty and international norms, rather than an inevitable clash of civilizations.

The lecture highlighted the human dimension of the war. Beyond military strategy and political rhetoric, Kuppinger urged students to consider the lives disrupted by violence, displacement, and economic hardship. She noted that conflicts of this scale reshape societies for generations, affecting migration patterns, economic stability, and cultural memory.

Another key takeaway from the lecture was the global impact of the war. Kuppinger discussed how the conflict has influenced energy markets, food supply chains, and international alliances. She explained that the war is not only a regional crisis but a global one, with ripple effects felt across Europe, Africa, and beyond.

“The stakes are much larger than territory,” she said. “This is about international order and how conflicts are resolved in the modern world.”

Kuppinger concluded by encouraging students to stay informed and engaged with global affairs. She stressed the importance of critical thinking when consuming news and political narratives, reminding the audience that understanding history and context is essential for evaluating present-day events.

Every year on the first day of March, people across Bulgaria celebrate Baba Marta Day, marking the shift from winter to spring. The celebration originates from the “Grandma Marta” legend about an erratic woman. Although the holiday also signifies the arrival of spring and the burst of color from nature.

People create martenitsas, red and white bracelets or dolls made from yarn, and share them with family and friends. Martenitsas represent health and happiness. When a sign of the beginning of spring is spotted, martenitsas are hung on tree branches, welcoming the upcoming season

Songkran Water Festival - Thailand

Songkran refers to the annual astrological movement of the sun into the Aries constellation, marking the traditional start of the new year. In Thailand, Songkran is a time to reunite with family, honor your elders, ancestors, and sacred Buddha images. It’s also a time to symbolically wash away misfortunes and pray for prosperity in the upcoming year.

Water plays a large role in the festival. Pouring water during Songkran represents cleansing, reverence, and good fortune. People bathe important Buddha images, and splash family and friends. The festival also includes folk plays, music, games, and a feast.

Canadian Tulip Festival - Canada

Celebrated eleven days in May, Canada hosts the largest tulip festival in the world. The festival honors the flower’s beauty and its long-standing history with the country’s capital, Ottawa. 300,000 tulips are planted in Commissioners Park, traveling along Dow Lake.

The festival originated from a gift from the royal family of the Netherlands, who sought refuge in Canada during World War II. Canadian troops played a crucial role in the liberation of the Netherlands. Since 1945, every year the Dutch government has sent tulip bulbs as thanks.