Held on Earth Day, the event explored how environmentalism has shifted from a historically bipartisan issue into a deeply polarized one. Nelson encouraged audience members to write to elected officials and consider environmental positions when voting, arguing that policy decisions today will shape the nation’s environmental future.

The discussion began with the origins of Earth Day, first organized in 1970 by former U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, and examined how environmental awareness has evolved over the past five decades. Early environmental movements drew support across party lines, but modern debates increasingly divide along political and economic perspectives.

The central theme of the talk questioned whether nature holds intrinsic value or only matters when human interests are involved. Nelson pointed to legal frameworks that regulate human behavior even in outer space as evidence that societies recognize the need to protect environments beyond immediate human use.

Environmental justice was also highlighted, including the work of activist Hazel Johnson, whose efforts helped bring national attention to environmental racism and pollution in marginalized communities. Nelson referenced international examples as well, including a poisoning case in Nigeria, to illustrate the global scale of environmental challenges.

The lecture examined U.S. environmental legislation such as the Clean Water Act and debates surrounding air quality, including concerns about ozone depletion and worsening air pollution. Nelson also discussed recent policy controversies, including a Senate vote regarding mining protections in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, and argued that shifting political priorities have affected how the United States presents itself on environmental issues globally.

President Trump was cited as an example of changing federal environmental policy. Nelson referenced Trump’s criticism of environmental initiatives as a “green new scam” and his administration’s use of national security arguments to navigate provisions of the Clean Air Act.

Throughout the event, Nelson emphasized the connection between environmental policy and broader party platforms. He noted that environmental regulation is often viewed by conservatives as burdensome to business and government growth, while liberals have traditionally made environmental protection a core policy priority.

Concluding the session, Nelson urged attendees to stay informed and politically active, warning that scientific expertise is increasingly sidelined in public debate. “We are turning our back on science,” he said, adding that individual civic engagement remains critical to shaping the future of environmental policy.

“We wanted an event for students that was outside and low effort for them,” Eli Kelly, organizer of the event and class of 2024, said. “It’s a high traffic area at a high traffic time, with pretty easy events. We wanted to support pipe band and to just have a fun event.”

The two unscored games were the most played: Maide-leisg (lazy stick) with 30 competitors, and Tug of War came in second with 20. Shot put was also an available game and had 18 participants. Current students and faculty were not the only participants in the games, as the winner, with a throw of 35 feet and 11 inches, was a prospective student on a tour. The most anticipated event of the evening was the Kaber toss, with 7 people, including Dean O. The winner was freshman Ivan Iverson.

Where do you intern and what are your responsibilities?

During my internship, I was responsible for maintaining a cleaned and organized clinical environment by preparing and sanitizing patients’ exam tables and treatment areas. I assisted by gathering and setting up necessary equipment for physical therapy sessions, as well as preparing therapeutic modalities such as hot and ice packs. Additionally, I assisted by helping guide exercise sessions, by reading upcoming exercises, demonstrating proper form, and providing hands on.

What skills or knowledge have you gained from this experience?

I learned how to be flexible and adjust to the changes, whether it was modifying exercises or assisting with different patients... I became more aware of patient handling techniques and the importance of maintaining a safe environment to prevent injury for both patients and the healthcare providers...Overall, this internship helped me build strong communication skills, develop clinical knowledge and skills, become adaptable, and understand the importance of safety and documentation.

Mason Reed - Knox College

Where do you intern and what are your responsibilities?

I intern at Knox College, and I have quite a few responsibilities. Some of which are to wrap athletes, attend games and practices, and help around the room with tasks as assigned and many more

What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges I thought I would face was being a Monmouth college student at Knox but that was never a challenge. The learning curve I experienced with how they run there training room and the equipment they have in it. At Knox college they have student workers who cover the day-to-day tasks which free up the trainers to help more athletes every day. The equipment they have is different than what I was used to here at Monmouth. They also approach rehab differently than we do which has helped me in a tremendous way to find out what I like from both training rooms I’ve worked in.

Colin & Hannah. Photo by Gary Bonifer

“I had no idea, I forgot to say yes at first,” McGhee said. The pair met at Monmouth and bonded over their love of performing over the years. Being involved in theatre, chorale, and Greek life are just a few of their similarities.

“I started planning about four months ago. I was so nervous that she figured it out,” Kreipe said.

While this capped off the night, many Broadway hits from shows ranging from West Side Story to Cabaret to Little Shop of Horrors were performed by students and faculty.

Prof. Logan Mayfield sings “Maria” from West Side Story. Ray Shaul performs “Maybe This Time” from Cabaret. Shea Scott and Zoe Nizzia sing “Say No to This” from Hamilton. Photos by Gary Bonifer

Where do you intern and what are your responsibilities?

During my internship, I worked on integrating AI into an existing manufacturing/business system used by the company. Their operations were built around JobBoss, which was outdated and hard to use, and a SQL Server database, so a big part of my role was helping bridge modern AI tools with that existing infrastructure.

How has this internship influenced your goals and career path?

This internship significantly influenced my career goals. It showed me how powerful AI can be when applied to real business problems, and it made me more interested in building practical tools rather than just theoretical projects.

Jake McGarry

Where do you intern and what are your responsibilities?

I intern with Warren Achievement Center, and my responsibilities are to plan and coordinate receptions and product purchases (ex. Outdoor signs).

How has this internship influenced your goals and career path?

Working for a non-profit like Warren Achievement Center has shown me that no matter what career path I take, it should be something that I genuinely enjoy doing and then worry about the money later.

“For me, every month is National Poetry Month.” says English professor David Wright. “But in April, one of the things that a lot of poets do is they try to write or post a poem a day as a way of promoting poetry, so I try to write a poem a day every April.”

When asked where one could find these poems, Professor Wright said: “I’m hiding them. I’ll let them go into the world when they’re ready, okay?”

Junior English major Abby Zayas has always been fond of poetry and came to appreciate the art through the classes she’s taken. “I’ve always known that I wanted to write. That was the career path that I was striving towards.” said Zayas. “I think it’s a collaborative art form that can reveal a lot about yourself, more than you expect it to.”

Zayas’s favorite poem of hers was one she wrote for a class she had with Professor Wright. Wright had tasked the class with writing a poem that acted as a letter to an abstract concept, and Zayas wrote to grief, a poem she says helped her come to terms with the loss of a family member.

“I think it was just a perfect storm,” said Zayas. “We have been doing all this practice with form and this letter type of poem in class already. Then, there was this personal high energy, and the two of those mixed together creating something I was very proud of.”

For aspiring poets and people who just write poetry for fun, Zayas offers the following advice: “Just sit down and do it” and “get out of your own head.”

“I started finding that I wrote some of the best poetry that, I feel that I’ve done, has been not based on an extreme emotion, a moment of high stress, or high excitement. Whatever it happens to be.” said Zayas.

The month concludes on April 30th with “Poem In Your Pocket Day,” where poets write original poems, keep them in their pockets, and read them aloud to anybody throughout the day.

Lucas Kessinger

Where do you intern and what are your responsibilities?

I intern at The Warren Achievement Center, here in Monmouth, where I work with individuals with disabilities (referred to as achievers). My responsibilities include leading movement-based activities, creating games that promote movement and coordination, and changing exercises to fit each individual’s ability level.

How has this internship influenced your goals and career path?

This internship has helped confirm my interest in working in a field that involves helping others improve their quality of life. It has also shown me the importance of being adaptable, having patience, and creating deeper relationships in a professional setting.

Marco Aona

Where do you intern and what are your responsibilities?

I intern at Clear Profits, and I help manage some projects here.

How has this internship influenced your goals and career path?

This was my first experience working in a company here in the USA, so it was nice to get used to how things work here. I am in a very creative setting; it isn’t exactly what I saw myself doing as a career, but after my time here, I am open to working in a company like this after graduating.

All donations will be going to the Recharge Teen Center (RTC) in Monmouth. RTC provides a safe space for local teens to participate in activities and programming that encourage personal growth.

The wnners of the annual Jog-a-thon, Pi Beta Phi and Phi Delta Theta members: (Left to Right) Kaeley Kent, Zoey Johnson, Claire LaBadie, Ben Ragon, Payton Lamb, and Bronte DeZwart. Photo from Claire LaBadie.

Hosted every year, the Jog-a-Thon raises awareness and funds for a local charity. Beyond fundraising, it also highlights the leadership and values Order of Omega represents.

“The Jog-a-Thon does well because the incentive works; getting chapters to run miles in the spirit of competition,” said Kent Huth, Vice President of Order of Omega. “We’re a ‘Greek Life Family’, sure, but siblings thrive on a little respectful and healthy competition every now and again.”

Donations were collected during the week and used to determine how many miles each fraternity and sorority pair would have to run or walk. Every $5 raised from each pair equaled one mile that had to be run or walked.

Participants cheered each other on and worked together with their team, which created a positive and supportive environment.

By the end of the event, over 130 miles were run. Pi Beta Phi and Phi Delta Theta won, raising a total of $340 and running 68 miles.

“The competition is why Greek Week does so well. We love showing pride for our fraternities and sororities,” said Huth. “The Jog-a-Thon is its own thing; however, it’s also a good warmup to Greek Week next week.”

As Greek Week approaches, the Jog-a-Thon sets the tone for healthy competition and collaboration within the FSL community. Support for the local community will continue as chapters collect more donations for the RTC during Greek Week.

KKG president Alayna Earle recounts having last done the event in 2023 as a freshman and aimed to bring it back because of how popular it was. “The seniors at the time told us that we had been doing it for many, many years. It’s always been a charity event, and a lot of people always like to do it,” said Earle. “It’s been a couple of years without doing Kappa Kickball.”

Aside from the competition aspect, Kappa Kickball also aimed to raise money for the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA). NEDA aims to raise awareness about eating disorders and change the way they are understood and treated. Most importantly, the organization provides support for people struggling with eating disorders and their families.

“Using that competitiveness to create a charity event that also can help fund our philanthropy is just a really great experience, and it’s great for what we do,” said Earle. “We can take that competitive energy and funnel it into something better.”

Molly Shook running bases. Photos by Gary Bonifer.

“I feel pretty good about [the wins], it was a clean sweep,” said sophomore SigEp Evan Reed about his team’s victories. “We locked in, and then we got the W.”

Earle estimates that KKG raised $60 for NEDA through team registration fees, but due to groups that could not make it to the event pitching in generous donations, it is estimated that the grand total of proceeds was upwards of $100.

“Collin Wilson and Mohammad Alsheikh playing a friendly game of Madden”. Photo by Tyce Alumbaugh.

These organizations wanted a chance to potentially get people around campus out of their dorms and bring them together in a time of fun and friendship. Collin Wilson during the event would go on to say, “Getting people out of their rooms can be difficult especially when it’s nearing a really busy time in the school year, and it’s a great thing to be able to put on events like this that can potentially get people involved in ways they might’ve needed just as a stress relief or even they want to meet new people.”

The event was a big step for UBS. As a first-year organization, UBS has made a big impact on Monmouth. Jayden Stovall, Treasurer of UBS, said, “This organization was started this year, and ASAP has been around for quite some time now. Being able to do this collaboration with them makes this special to us because it’s a blessing, and it’s shown us how far we’ve come as an organization just throughout one year.” With both ASAP and UBS coming together with this event, it was very well thought out and very organized, with UBS also providing Pizza and drinks, making this event come full circle into a time where you can be with people who are close, but also would allow you to be introduced to new people. “Knowing ASAP is a student organization that helps plan campus events, so that was obviously a given, but also being friends with a lot of the members of the organization made the connection easier. Their outreach that they have across campus is also huge, which is why we were able to set up an event as big as this.” said Stovall when asked why UBS chose ASAP as a partnering organization. When it comes to the future of UBS, Stovall and the rest of UBS are very optimistic and looking forward to the future. “With the executive board, they are very well established, and have a good head on their shoulders, and they know how to get things done. With this group moving forward, we’ll be able to make a lot of progress. Within the next two to three years, who knows how big we’ll be able to grow this organization! Sky’s the limit.”

Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights was published in 1847 under her male pseudonym Ellis Bell. Brontë and her sisters, Charlotte and Anne, were all eventually published writers, but Emily would not see much fame for her work in her lifetime.

Wuthering Heights is a complicated novel chock full of characters to keep track of as they weave in and out of each other’s stories. It tells the strange tale of Cathy and Heathcliff, star-crossed lovers on the English moors who are separated by class and likely race as well. In fact, this is a point of contention for this year’s film version: the casting of Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as the main characters raised a lot of eyebrows when announced. The issues taken with Robbie were related to maturity: Cathy is notably a young and naive woman, but Robbie is an adult woman and seems far too mature for the type of story demanded by Brontë’s source material. Elordi was the real question mark, though. An important aspect of Brontë’s novel is that Heathcliff is likely not white. He is of a much lower social class than Cathy, but many references are also made to his ethnicity, which the English around them do not know but make guesses towards. It is another separation between him and the other characters that helps spur many of his later decisions, but it is an aspect wholly removed from Fennell’s version. Adaptational changes are going to happen in the process of book-to-film, and expecting a perfect version of a story is unrealistic. However, changes such as this are not to help pacing or character or the visual language of a movie but are choices that fundamentally change the foundation of the story itself.

In terms of fundamental changes, Fennell also went out of her way to note that this is not an adaptation of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights Fennell has extensively explained (in a delightfully disastrous press run) that the quotation marks around the title are there to convey she is actually adapting Wuthering Heights as she read it when she was fourteen. She justifies her decision to take what is a rather searing indictment against upper-class English society and the strange, horrible things they were allowed to get away with doing to people and turn it into a heavily stylized bodice ripper in the same capitalistic glorifying vein as Saltburn, a previous film of Fennell’s.

This is not to say it is bad that the movie is erotic, but rather that it is a fundamental split from the novel. Fennell’s version includes far more sex than Brontë’s novel, and the source material does deal with female freedom and autonomy, with the questions of how much power women have in relationships in this time period. There was ample opportunity to marry these two ideas in her version, but Fennell seemed disinterested in doing so. Cathy and Heathcliff were reduced from interesting, complicated, flawed characters who trekked strange and dark paths, to a pair of attractive, pop-culturally relevant, sexy dolls for Fennell to mash together. Of course, film criticism is a subjective art, but if there is any advice to be had for those who wish to adapt a beloved novel into a film it is that perhaps the novel should matter to the film to some degree; if the names Cathy and Heathcliff, or any other character or the famous setting, can be changed and nothing about your adaptation subsequently changes too, maybe you have not adapted the novel but a strange fantasy version.

Though it seems we find ourselves back at the start. Fennell did warn everyone that she would be adapting the version she had created in her mind, rather than whatever Brontë initially wrote. It begs the question that if someone, who has already gained a loyal audience, as well as financial and critical appreciation, was so desperate to make a specific story and was willing to bend one of the most studied novels in the Western literary canon to her will to do so, then why not simply create an original story?

“I’ve wanted to ensure that the production values of our shows remain consistent with those in previous seasons, while also selecting shows that I know I can bring to fruition on schedule and prioritizing safety,” said Vanessa Campagna, theatre professor and director of this show. “Putnam is a musical that could be presented with as much or as little spectacle as the producing organization can manage. It was a smart choice for us—and I knew our students would excel in the roles.”

The show features Ray Shaul, Edrass Chávez-Alvarado, Hannah McGhee, Ivy Johnson, Maya Blackmon, and Robert Robison as the six spellers, in addition to a broader cast full of both theatre majors and non-majors alike.

Cast working through blocking during rehearsal. Photo by Dawsyn Wilson

Campagna said that the show is easy to stage since it takes place at a spelling bee, where contestants simply have to get up and spell. “What this means is that there’s been time for more FUN in this process than in musicals that required very complicated staging and choreography,” she said, “there’s been freedom to focus on building a community and sense of ensemble, and to exploring character and plot with a great deal of nuance.”

The show features a unique convention: it incorporates guest spellers, who will be students, not in the production, faculty, and community members. These audience members will be called up to the stage and participate in the bee and will remain there until they are eliminated. This aspect of the musical allows for very direct audience participation and emphasizes the free-wheeling nature of its story and structure..

Also, the show deals with many themes regarding the many misadventures and awkward situations of growing up including overcoming shyness, defying expectations, puberty, the desire to fit in, and the necessity of standing out. “There’s something for everyone, just as the characters themselves ultimately find that a day spent at The Bee turned out to be unexpectedly meaningful,” Campagna said.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee will have shows April 10th and 11th at 7:30 and April 12th at 2:00, all in the Wells Theatre. Tickets can be purchased through the link in the Monmouth Theatre Instagram bio.

Melissa Bivolarov presenting at ACS. Photo by David Wright

The American Chemical Society Conference took students to Atlanta, Georgia. Eight students and three professors participated in the conference, presenting research they have been working on. One student, Alayna Earle, explained that ACS is one of the biggest conferences where chemistry and biochemistry majors can present research. “I learned how to present on a larger scale, but I also got confirmation that I am doing what I am meant to do…that confidence and confirmation that I am doing the right thing.” The trips are made possible by the school and the hard work of advisors like Professor Goach. “If I could do it one hundred times over, I would,” concluded Earle.

At the same time, students in the Physics department were at the APS Global Physics summit. The conference took place in Denver, Colorado, and allowed students like Nataile Morrow to explore and share ideas with other curious minds.

A few students went to the Society for Personality and Social Psychology conference in February. Student Ella D’Ingonito went because she wants to pursue research in her career. “SPSP was crucial to cement my understanding of how psychological research works. I got so much out of the experience….it was so much fun and felt like being home.”

The humanities also got in on the conference action, with members of the classics honors society Eta Sigma Phi going to Missouri. Students in the classics department have been travelling to this conference for some time now, collaborating with Professor Simmons or exploring their own interests when presenting. Calvin Wellman participates for the connections the conference offered. “With it being such a small major, it’s nice to be able to talk to people about my own research, experiences, and passion for classics.” The knowledge gained at these conferences pushes students to dig deeper into their research and gives them confidence about the work they are doing, and the shout-outs by other schools are a bonus. “I always come away from Eta Sigma Phi being much closer to the other Monmouth Classics majors and also the field of classics as a whole.”

On Tuesday, March 10, bagpipers here in Monmouth and around the world celebrated International Bagpipe Day. The holiday founded by The Bagpipe Society in 2012, aims to highlight the diverse history of the instrument and its significance to music today, as well as encourage new players. The day is most known for its tradition of the Great Bagpipe Convergence, where bagpipers around the world record themselves playing their bagpipes at noon and post their performances online.

The origins of the bagpipes trace back to approximately 1000 BC, with the earliest evidence of their existence displayed on Hittite slabs in Anatolia, present-day Turkey. The instrument would not reach Europe until approximately 100 CE and is said to have spread across the continent thanks to the Roman Empire. The bagpipes were not associated with Scotland until the 14th or 15th century CE.

The Monmouth College Pipe Band has been both a college and community staple since 1967. Known for playing “Scotland the Brave”, the pipe band leads the processions at both matriculation and commencement ceremonies, in addition to leading the Fighting Scots football team out to April Zorn Memorial Stadium for home games. A bagpiper also leads the incoming freshman class during the Freshman Walkout, where first years tour the town and get acquainted with local businesses.

“Scots Spirit”statue outside Hewes Library. Photo by Monmouth College

Tyce Alumbaugh, a first-year member of the Monmouth Pipe Band, who credits pipe sergeant Orin Weiss for his involvement said, “I originally wasn’t going to be in the pipe band because my schedule was so busy, and I thought that it would just take up too much time. But then Orin had asked me to join, and I loved it from the start…we’re training to start competitions either this year or next year, which is pretty cool.”

Alumbaugh also notes the significance of being involved, not just for himself, but for the entire campus community. “You join a community and a family that is unlike any other. Obviously, we are the Fighting Scots, so it gives a sense of tradition that we get to honor our predecessors and honor the title of being a Fighting Scot by being in the band”, said Alumbaugh.

For veteran piper Imogen Schmitz, bagpipes span farther than just her time here at Monmouth.

“I was 18 months old when my uncle got married, and he had a bagpiper at his wedding. I asked my mom what they were, and after she told me, I replied that I wanted to play them,” said Schmitz. “Then I never stopped asking. When I was seven, we found an instructor near my hometown, and the rest is history. For me, bagpipes are a way to preserve tradition here at Monmouth. I’m generally a very lighthearted and humorous person, but once I’m in regalia, ready to march the incoming class in at matriculation, it’s all decorum and duty.  I love it that way, it’s a wonderful thing to be part of a formal practice of classes past that’s surrounded by the community I live in the present.”

The Monmouth College Pipe Band will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2027.

Chorale posing in front of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Photo by Tim Pahel

Chorale president Colin Kreipe had a hand in planning how the chorale would afford to go. To ensure the trip is as affordable as possible, fundraisers were necessary, and Kreipe explained how important that truly was, saying, “80% of planning the tour was the fundraising. No money? No tour.” The executive board did not have to worry only about the funds; Kreipe detailed how they helped conductor Dr. Tim Pahel in finding stops along the way that they thought would be fun and engaging for the group. They also collaborated on tour jobs for students (nurse, venue checker, and program manager are among some of them) to ensure everything ran smoothly and that students were a part of doing so. From there, it was a matter of getting on the road and always continuing to rehearse our music.

The first stop of the chorale was Nashville, Tennessee. This included a visit to the Gaylord Opryland Resort, a sprawling hotel lush with indoor gardens, food, and shops, as well as the famous Opry itself, just a ten-minute walk away. The hotel certainly lived up to the hype, providing a place to explore for a few hours before the road demanded we return and wind our way down to Huntsville, Alabama. Two stops were made along the way; one to a Buc-ee’s, (which was an absolute hit: keep an eye out for your friends in chorale, they may have a few new clothing articles and souvenirs with the cheery beaver on them) and one to see the U.S. Space and Rocket center, tucked away in Huntsville, and marvel at the very real shuttles that dot the landscape around the research centers.

Chorale made a stop in Huntsville to sing. After that, the next concert was in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Accompanied by Dr. Justin Swearinger, in charge of wind activities here on campus, we were able to go to these places thanks to his connections, as he completed his graduate and doctorate degrees at them, respectively. Hattiesburg was in tandem with the Southern Mississippi choir, a group consisting of undergrad and graduate students alike. They watched our concert, and we watched them as they gave a preview of the music, they will be taking to Europe this summer. Junior music education major Kent Huth describes the experience as “phenomenal.” He said, “They’re all so good and committed to the music, every piece shone with a brilliance that I loved sitting and listening to.”

Huth, along with the rest of us, got to speak with these students after the concert and form our own connections to them. In doing so, he questioned them on their rehearsal process and learned it was not terribly different from processes he recalled from high school. No doubt the experience of hearing this choir and speaking to its members motivated many of our own students in their music journeys, regardless of where it takes them going forwards. As a final word on the kind and welcoming people of the Southern Mississippi choir, Huth says, “This choir was top-notch and a very welcome peek into what a truly outstanding choir can sound like.”

Of course, the centerpiece of this southern escapade was New Orleans, Louisiana. We arrived there a few days into the trip. We did have a concert on our first night in the city, but much of the day had been free before that, and we would have the next day off as well. This provided the chance to explore New Orleans at our own paces, a preferred method, according to McKenna Rahn. “Personally, whenever I travel to a new place, I like to explore from the lens of someone who lives there,” she explained. “Being able to explore without a set itinerary allowed me to see New Orleans from this perspective.” The chorale appreciated all this free time because it let us prioritize what we wanted to see most in the city. On the personal end, I most enjoyed getting to float from one place to another, from a beignet breakfast at Cafe Du Monde, listening to exciting street music performed only an arm’s length away, to a beautiful stroll inside the historic St. Louis Cathedral, to the creepy (and grisly) delights of a New Orleans ghost tour. We enjoyed shops and cafes that the French Quarter has to offer, as well as educational stops like the New Orleans Jazz Museum and its many original instruments, including a trumpet played by Louis Armstrong, and the Audubon Zoo, full of sneaky, pale gators, silly flamingos, and curious giraffes.

As Rahn explained, “I find a trip more enjoyable if I can discover things by happenstance rather than having a very structured experience.” In this way, we all got to choose what parts of New Orleans mattered to us the most and make the trip a special one by doing so.

One of Chorale’s many performance stops inside a cathedral along the way. Photo by McKinley Rexroat

The spring break tour allows us to spend a lot of time performing music in a way we do not normally get to; usually, the songs are performed for a concert and then retired, but the tour allows us to do it for audiences even more. The connections between chorale members and the audiences who see them is one of the most beautiful parts, especially on a trip like this that lets us meet another choir and hear about their own adventures. Furthermore, now that we are a couple of days out, I do not think it is hyperbolic to say many members of the group fell in love with the city of New Orleans. A city of rich culture and history was the perfect stop for a group of students on the road to share music. On the subject, Kreipe said, “I’m so thankful to the chorale, the exec board, and Tim for making this a fantastic tour. Going to New Orleans was an experience that will stick with me forever, and even though I’m not there now, I can still feel the soul of the city with me.”

Each character in this book brings something different to the story. The grandma, Lana, is a powerful businesswoman with an outgoing personality. She was diagnosed with cancer and moved in with her daughter, Beth, and granddaughter, Jack. Beth is a levelheaded nurse in their small town. Jack is a 15-year-old kayak guide who becomes a suspect in the murder. All these different personalities and lifestyles clash, but they come together and support one another. Their relationships feel realistic, which makes the characters likable and interesting.

The author, Nina Simon, creates a vivid picture of the small costal town in California where they live. It is important to the plot as the murder was committed on the water channel where Jack works. Lana and Beth’s living environments contrast and add to the differences between the characters.

Although the characters and setting are well thought out, the plotline tends to drag at points. It is very suspenseful, but slow. There are points where the story escalates, but it takes a lot of background and explaining to get there. The murder mystery itself is dramatic and unique. I would recommend this book for those looking for a quick, exciting escape. 4.5/5 stars.

Founded last fall, UBS was created after students noticed an absence of a Black student organization on campus. Although a similar group once existed, it disbanded after its original advisor left.

“We realized we didn’t have one,” said President Layla Rice. “There’s been one previously, but once the advisor left, it never got passed down to someone new.”

Members of UBS from left to right. Jayden Stovall, Brianna Dawson, Layla Rice, Xavier Kemp, Roterria Smith. Photo by Rev. Dr. John Huxtable

This semester, UBS plans to collaborate with as many other student organizations as possible to increase visibility and build connections across campus. In the future, members hope to host a Black student conference like the one they attended this past week.

Group members traveled to Chicago to attend the Black Student Summit hosted by Harold Washington College, where they met students from Black student unions across the city. Monmouth was the only rural school represented, inspiring UBS leaders to host their own conference to bring together both rural and city schools.

“The Black Student Summit gave us an opportunity to connect with Black student unions and other adjacent organizations, as well as share experiences and tips on how to better our organizations on our respective campuses,” said member Rotierra Smith,. “We got to hear from Jitu Brown, a member of the Chicago Board of Education, as well as one of Monmouth’s own alumni, Abrierre Minor.”

For many members, UBS is more than just a club– it provides a sense of belonging. The group was ultimately created to give Black students a space to share their experiences and connect with one another.

“I joined because I needed that space when I arrived at Monmouth, and incoming students deserve to have that space as well,” Smith said.

Although the organization is centered around Black students and culture, UBS is open to all students.

“We’re open to all students,” Rice said. “Some people automatically assume you have to be a person of color, but you don’t. We want more students that aren’t Black students, so that we can have different perspectives and backgrounds.”

Fasano discussing nuclear technology during the lecture. Photo by Seamus O’Sullivan

“Current renewables are inefficient, and fossil fuels are devastating the environment,” he said. “This is not your grandfather’s nuclear bomb,” he warned, emphasizing how modern nuclear weapons are far more devastating than the ones used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Fasano explained that, while new, smaller reactors are promising, waste storage remains a key hurdle. Beyond energy, he highlighted the danger posed by today’s nuclear weapons.

“Building a nuclear bomb is not hard. Calculations can be done by a first-year grad student. Getting materials anonymously is the hard part,” he warned, stressing a global vulnerability.

He also noted, “There is a big push to upgrade and improve the weapons we have,” as the U.S. works on a new missile defense system called the “Golden Dome” to intercept fast-moving nuclear missiles up to five times the speed of sound.

People We Meet on Vacation tells the story of Poppy and Alex. They are two best friends with opposite personalities. Poppy is adventurous and free-spirited, while Alex is reserved and meticulous. Every year, the pair goes on a summer vacation together, but they eventually drift apart. The two reconnect and re-live their past vacations when they meet in Barcelona for Alex’s brother’s wedding. Poppy and Alex struggle to decide whether to keep their friendship or become more than friends.

2. The Princess Bride (1987)

The Princess Bride follows Buttercup and Westley as they grow up and fall in love. Buttercup enters an unwanted engagement with Prince Humperdinck when Westley is reported dead. Buttercup gets kidnapped, and Westley is determined to rescue her from her kidnappers against all odds.

3. Bridesmaids (2011)

Anne is down on her luck. Her business closed, she is completely broke and has no love life. Anne’s childhood best friend gets engaged, and she is asked to be the Maid of Honor in the wedding. Anne competes with the other bridesmaids for her best friend’s attention while planning wedding events. She fights mishaps and disasters while finding her own love.

Johnson opened the presentation by describing competing public reactions to President Donald Trump’s former tariff strategy, using the acronyms “TACO,” meaning “Trump chickens out on everything,” and “TSAR,” meaning “Trump sometimes absolutely rocks,” to illustrate sharply divided perceptions of Trump’s negotiation style.

Discussion turned to real-world impacts when a local paper business owner described how tariffs and supply disruptions have strained small businesses. “It is hurting small businesses a great deal,” the attendee said. “I had seven items ordered and we have shortages. The tariffs are real, and they do affect other people.”

The business owner criticized inconsistency in trade policy, saying sudden tariff increases followed by reversals create uncertainty and fail to restore domestic manufacturing. “One day he’ll say I’m putting 40% on, and two weeks later he says he got a deal,” the attendee said. “It’s not bringing the jobs back.”

Professor Mike Nelson introduces Professor Robin Johnson. Photo by Seamus O’Sullivan

Johnson responded by distinguishing between the intent and execution of tariff policy. “I’ll defend the concept… I don’t defend the implementation,” Johnson said. He argued that efforts to address decades of manufacturing decline were overdue but unlikely to produce immediate results.

Johnson also emphasized the consumer trade-offs involved in reshoring production. “We’ve gotten used to this cheap stuff,” he said. “Is the American public willing to spend more for goods made here? I don’t know that we are.”

A question from Mike Nelson broadened the discussion to political and geopolitical consequences, including whether short-term gains from tariffs risk undermining the stability of the postwar international order.

Johnson noted that domestic political divisions complicate policy responses, pointing to a small but influential group of persuadable voters between strongly partisan camps. He also suggested Congress may eventually need to reclaim authority over trade and foreign policy decisions that have increasingly shifted toward executive power.

Audience members further questioned why lawmakers appear reluctant to challenge tariff policies that may harm their own constituents. Johnson argued that fear of primary challenges and pressure from partisan bases often discourages elected officials from publicly opposing trade measures.