Originally from Waterloo, Iowa, Dr. Jared Bartels attended a private college in Iowa as an undergraduate before moving to Missouri and then Tennessee, where he pursued graduate degrees. He currently resides in Kansa City, Missouri with his wife and their two children.

After receiving his Ph. D in Educational Psychology from the University of Memphis in 2008, Dr. Bartels worked as a postdoctoral associate in the Center for Learning Innovation at the University of Minnesota Rochester and also taught at several different college before settling in at Peru State College.

Dr. Bartels has taught a wide variety of course throughout his teaching career. “I have taught a range of undergraduate courses including Abnormal Psychology, Theories of Personality, Addiction, Cognitive Psychology, Psychological Tests

and Measurement and Human Growth and Development, which I teach at Peru State. While passionate about teaching, I also appreciate opportunities to mentor student research and have presented with students at numerous regional, national and international conferences,” said Dr. Bartels.

He has also had the chance to be involved in different types of research pertaining to psychology and has his work published. “I have been involved in clinical neuropsychology research examining the psychometric properties of various assessment tools such as the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. This research has been published in various journals including the Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment and Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition, and the International Journal of Neuroscience. My primary research interests, however, are in educational psychology and the teaching of psychology. In education psychology,

my research efforts have been aimed at examining how dispositional avoidance motivation undermines student’s self-regulated learning and performance,” said Dr. Bartels, “My teaching of psychology research interests are in the presentation of classic studies including the Stanford Prison study. This work has resulted in recent publications in Psychology Learning and Teaching and Teaching of Psychology. I have also coauthored a social psychology textbook, Social Psychology for Today’s World.”

As for Dr. Bartels’ interests outside of teaching, they range from being an avid sports fan to traveling around the world. “I follow the Iowa Hawkeyes and Memphis Tigers in college sports and am a St. Louis Cardinals fan as well. I like to travel. I was able to travel to Amsterdam a couple of years ago for a psychology conference and spent a summer teaching classes at a University in Hong Kong a few years before that,” said Dr. Bartels.

www.peru.edu/psctimes | Vol. 94 | Issue 04 | 12/07/2016 | perustatetimes@gmail.com

IndexCampus................2-4Opinion....................6Feature.................6-7Sports...................8-9Entertainment...10-11

CampusRake-A-Thon

SACC sponsors first Rake-A-Thon with Peru community.

PERU STATE TIMESSportsVarley Recieves Award

Lou Varley named AFCA NAIA Assistant Coach of the Year.

EntertainmentMGK in Concert

Machine Gun Kelly performs in Lincoln.

Holiday

TOYDrive

Sponsored by:Hispanic Latino Student

Association, Black Student Union, Kappa Omicron Rho, Peru Disc Golfers Association

and American Red Cross Club

Going until

Decemeber 9

Collection boxes found in various buildings around

campus.

State To Decrease Funding To Colleges

Nebraska’s state budget is falling short of General Fund tax receipt predictions for the 2015-2017 biennium. Due to this shortage, the Nebraska State College System may be taking on mid-year budget cuts for the 2016-17 fiscal year, with no foreseeable funding increase in the next biennium lasting from 2017-19.In a memorandum sent out on October 14, Governor Pete Ricketts discussed the budgeting issue in greater detail. The memorandum was a follow-up from a message earlier in the year asking all involved to “exercise fiscal restraint.” For the 2015-16 fiscal year, Nebraska fell about $95.0 million below the forecasted revenue, with a $25 million shortage in September 2016 alone. Governor Ricketts also addressed an upcoming meeting of the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board or NEFAB to discuss the issue. During its October 28th meeting, NEFAB lowered its revenue projections.In response to both Governor Ricketts’s

memorandum and NEFAB’s meeting, Stan Carpenter, Chancellor of The Nebraska State College System, sent another note to NSCS Colleagues. He remarked that during this “uncertain period in budgeting for the State of Nebraska, and consequently, the Nebraska State College System (NSCS),” there will be many difficult decisions to make. Carpenter’s memorandum also quoted several articles predicting that the 2017-19 biennium will fall short by around $900 million.Carpenter stressed the necessity of planning processes for all three schools in the NSCS; Peru State College, Wayne State College, and Chadron State College. NSCS is expecting increases in operating costs or “core needs,” like salary and benefit increases and utility rate increases. With these unavoidable increases, each school must determine how to cover these costs with a decrease in funding. Carpenter acknowledged that this period would not be easy, but ended his memo on a positive note. He wrote, “As we move into budget reduction planning across the NSCS, we know that our Colleges are powerful and

vibrant and we will weather the changes that are coming. We know that we will continue to meet our core mission by providing an affordable, quality higher education to our students.”Following up, President Dan Hanson sent out a memo specifying Peru State College’s standing at this time. According to the notice, Peru State College has a short-term contingency plan in place to handle budget cuts for this fiscal year. PSC has managed to save some money from unfilled positions on campus, covering a 3% budget cut. Additionally, enrollment exceeded predictions for the Fall 2016 semester, resulting in extra revenue to cover the additional 1% deficit, for the current fiscal year.President Hanson commented that PSC is currently working on ideas for a longer term solution to the 4% budgets cuts that may continue for the next three years. The potential reductions during the 2017-19 biennium will no doubt prove difficult to manage.

Alyssa GrellCOPY EDITOR

New Assistant Professor of PsychologyMarivelle MaganaCONTRIBUTING WRITER

Campus2upComIng events

December 8, 20164:30 PM and 7:30 PM

Magic of Christmas EventBAND ROOM

(FA215)

December 10, 201612:00 PM

Women’s Basketball vs Clarke University

AWAC2:00 PM

Men’s Basketball vs Clarke University

AWAC

December 12, 2016NO CLASSES

Midnight Breakfast

December 13-15, 2016FINALS WEEK

December 16, 2016Winter Break Begins

January 7, 20172:00 PM

Women’s Basketball vs Baker University

AWAC4:00 PM

Men’s Basketball vs Baker University

AWAC

January 9, 2017Classes Resume

January 13, 20178:00 AM - 9:00 Am

Professional Clothing Drive

January 14, 20172:00 PM

Women’s Basketball vs Mount Mercy University

AWAC4:00 PM

Men’s Basketball vs Mount MercyUniversity

AWAC

January 16, 2017CAB

Movie NightTBD

January 28, 20172:00 PM

Women’s Basketball vs Mid-America Nazarene

AWAC4:00 PM

Men’s Basketball vs Mid-America Nazarene

AWAC

www.peru.edu/psctimes | 12/07/2016 | perustatetimes@gmail.com

With autumn on its way out that means that there are cold days and plenty of fallen leaves. The Student Athletic Advisory Council assisted with the fall foliage by hosting a Rake-A-Thon around the city of Peru.

The reason for the Rake-A-Thon is that while the leaves are beautiful, they can be a big problem. Leaves that lie on lawns for too long can kill the grass. Children who play in large piles of leaves can be on the roads which can be a driving hazard. Another driving hazard is that a large pile of leaves on the road can make it difficult for tires to tread and a car can slip.

The Student Athletic Advisory Council (SAAC) does one community service project

per semester, and with its large amount of members and Peru’s massive amount of trees, it seems they were destined for the job of cleaning up the fallen leaves. SAAC consists of nine athletic teams with the goal that they should be “good neighbors.”

It was decided that the athletes would be paired with members they were not familiar with. According to First Lady Elaine Hanson, who helped with the program, “This allowed members of the different sports to get to know one another and work side by side.” A significant amount of work went into the Rake-A-Thon not just for gathering leaves but preparing for the event. Gunnar Orcutt secured trucks and drivers, Christian Sanchez posted the event on the SAAC Facebook

page; Meg Grose tweeted about Rake-a-Thon; Kealy Ensminger created signs that were put on homeowners’ doors, and Samantha Carlson organized SAAC to meet in Peru City Hall. Not to mention that faculty and staff of Peru State and the Good Samaritan Society donated 50 rakes towards the event.

The most difficulty the group had was the actual weather. As many have noticed, it has been a warm autumn. The day that SAAC did the Rake-A-Thon, November 18th, however, it was 37 degrees, there were 20 mph wind gusts, and it was an overall cloudy day. In all, the group raked 25 yards, hauled 36 truckloads of leaves, and filled up 12 trash bags of garbage.

Other service projects that Student Athletic Advisory

Council performs include the food program Auburn Backpack Program, assisting the 5k races, donating items for those in need, and supporting the Good Samaritan Society. The group also facilitates themed events at games which can be appreciated by the entire study body. Student Athletic Advisory Council is to represent the sports of Peru State College by promoting leadership and diversity, have a feeling of citizenship, and to have high academics in its members. The members are chosen by their coaches who feel they embody these characteristics.

Students who are involved in SAAC had this to say about the event, “It is good to give back to the community, I’d do it again. It was a cold, brisk, rewarding experience.”

Rake-A-Thon With SAACChelsea TurekCONTRIBUTING WRITER

As a student at Peru State College, there are multiple opportunities to go on different educational trips, either as part of Student Success Services, College 101, upper division classes, or with a club or organization.

One of the more recent trips that have occurred was Phi Alpha Theta’s trip to Boston over Fall Break. Phi Alpha Theta is the social science club on campus.

Deliberation at the beginning of the year on where students wanted to travel, led the destination of Boston to be picked. Boston was chosen because of its rich history being the hotbed for revolutionary activity during the American Revolutionary War and the site of John Adam’s family.

So on October 14th, at 1:30 a.m., nine Peru State College students and five chaperones, three of which are history professors at Peru State including Dr. Pfeifer, Dr. Davis, and Dr. Crook, loaded their luggage and made the commute to Kansas City for their flight at

5:00 a.m. to Boston.Arriving in Boston near noon,

the group then checked in at their hotel to prepare for the day’s selected destinations. The first visit on this trip was to visit the Liberty Tree site, which commemorates the defiance of the colonists against the Stamp Act and it was a frequent meeting place for the Sons of Liberty.

Next, the group visited the Central Burying Ground and the Boston Harbor area, each relating to the Boston Tea Party. On Saturday, the group then began their day by having a guided tour by 18th-century impersonators which led them to 12 of the 16 historic sites relating to the American Revolution through the downtown Boston area. In the afternoon on Saturday, the group traveled to various locations, some of which were a tour of Bunker Hill, the Paul Revere House, and a tour of the Old North Church.

For the majority of the meals during the trip, all of the restaurants or eateries had historical significance in some aspect. For example, the group stopped off at the Warren Tavern

Saturday night for their meal. This tavern was said to be Paul Revere’s “favorite place,” and that George Washington visited once in 1789.

On Sunday, October 16th, the group traveled to Lexington and Concord, touring different sites related to the beginning of the Revolutionary War such as the Minute Man National Historical Park and walking to the North Bridge and visiting Old Manse, a symbol of both the American Revolution and American Literature.

On Monday, the group traveled to Quincy, MA and visited a variety of locations related to the John Adams family. The list of places visited in Quincy was touring the Adams Historical Park Visitor Center, John Adams’ birth site, John Quincy Adams’ birth site, the Old House at Peace Field and Stone Library.

After a quick stop in Weymouth, MA to visit Abigail Adams’ birth site, the group returned to Boston to view the John Adams Courthouse and tour the Commonwealth Museum, which houses the Declaration of Independence, the

Bill of Rights, the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780, and the copper plate Paul Revere used to engrave his depiction of the Boston Massacre.

Capping off the trip with a visit to Harvard University with a self-guided tour through the Kennedy School of Government and Harvard Square, the group then returned to the hotel. The following morning, the group then departed from Boston for their return flight to Kansas City. Making it back to Peru Tuesday evening before classes commenced Wednesday again.

The trip to Boston for the nine Peru State College students and five chaperones was helped funded through the Student Enhancement Engagement (SEE) Initiative funds allocated from the college. As a group, the Phi Alpha Theta students and advisers would like to thank the administration for their support for this monetary contribution that helped make this trip affordable for students to engage and take part of.

To know more about and get involved in Phi Alpha Theta, contact scrook@peru.edu for more information.

Ryan ChristensenCONTRIBUTING WRITER

Phi Alpha Theta Takes on Boston

Campus 3www.peru.edu/psctimes | 12/07/2016 | perustatetimes@gmail.com

BoBCat talkQuestion: What are you doing for the

December holidays?

“For break I plan on spending a lot of time with my family and workout to get ready for off season football.”Myles HicksCriminal JusticeJunior

“For break I’m going to be spending a lot of time with family celebrating Christmas and working.”Rebecca WilliamsDisease and Human HealthSophomore

“Going home and spending time with my family and working.”Danielle WingertElementary EducationSophomore

“For break I am going home to see my family and go huntung and ice fishing with my brother.”Jimi PinneyCriminal JusticeJunior

This school year, Peru State College has welcomed many new professors. Dr. Jeff Alessandrelli is one of these new additions, as the Assistant Professor of English in Peru’s School of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Alessandrelli grew up in Reno, Nevada, but has lived in multiple places, such as Portland, Oregon; San Francisco, California; Durango, Colorado; and even Cork, Ireland. He dedicates his love of literature and reading to his mother, who read to him every night before bed when he was a child. Today, his favorite authors are Samuel Beckett, David Markson, Sarah Manguso, and Suzanne Buffam.

In middle school, Dr. Alessandrelli began to appreciate poetry. He enjoyed

reading works from the Beat Generation, a post-World War II group of authors who greatly influenced American culture throughout the 1950s. Specifically, Dr. Alessandrelli was fond of poetry by Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and Gregory Corso from the Beat Generation.

“From an early age,” Dr. Alessandrelli states, “I was interested in the way certain bits of language coalesce with other bits of language to form new sounds and images.”

Today, Dr. Alessandrelli has two published collections of poetry. Erik Satie Watusies His Way Into Sound is Dr. Alessandrelli’s first published collection. The book follows Erik Satie, an innovative yet eccentric composer from 19th and 20th Century France, as he shares his love for complex

music through poems that are just as challenging and as fascinating. Dr. Alessandrelli’s second collection titled THIS LAST TIME WILL BE THE FIRST has impressed many poets. Emily Pettit, a professor at Columbia University and an editor for Factory Hollow Press, commented on Alessandrelli’s book saying, “The mind at work in these poems is not little. It is expansive, it is growing, it is looking to love.”

Dr. Alessandrelli claims that the most rewarding part of teaching is being able to influence his students, getting them as interested in literature as he is. He also quotes the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein as part of his mission to teach students: “[t]he limits of my language means the limits of my world.”

When asked about

advice for aspiring writers who plan to publish their works in the future, Dr. Alessandrelli stated that perseverance and dedication are the most important qualities to maintain. A writer should not be deterred by rejection. It does not mean that the writer is not good; it just means the work did not suit the publisher’s purpose.

“Believing in one’s work

and being willing to put in the time to make others believe in it is crucially important for every writer,” says Dr. Alessandrelli.

In his free time, Dr. Alessandrelli likes to take his dog out for walks, listen to vinyl records, go to concerts, and eat Vietnamese food. This summer, Dr. Alessandrelli plans to travel to Iceland for two and a half months to work on a book.

Alessandrelli Joins Arts & SciencesAshley PiemanCOPY EDITOR

Image courtesy of Peru State College

FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE –FALL SEMESTER 2016 Class Meeting Days Exam Period and Date

0800-0915 am MW TR WF

0800 am - 1000 am 0800 am - 1000 am 0800 am - 1000 am

Wednesday Tuesday Wednesday

December 14 December 13 December 14

0800-1045 am F 0800 am - 1000 am Friday December 16 0900-1130 am F 0900 am - 1100 am Friday December 16 0930-1045 am MW

TR WF

1030 am - 1230 pm 0800 am - 1000 am 1030 am - 1230 pm

Wednesday Thursday Wednesday

December 14 December 15 December 14

1100-1215 pm MW 1030 am - 1230 pm Thursday December 15

1230-0145 pm MW TR

0100 pm - 0300 pm 1030 am - 1230 pm

Wednesday Tuesday

December 14 December 13

1230-0315 pm F 1130 am - 0130 pm Friday December 16

0200-0315 pm MW TR WF

0330 pm - 0530 pm 0100 pm - 0300 pm 0330 pm - 0530 pm

Wednesday Tuesday Wednesday

December 14 December 13 December 14

0300-0500 pm F 0300 pm - 0500 pm Friday December 16 0330-0445 pm MW

TR WF

0100 pm - 0300 pm 0330 pm - 0530 pm 0100 pm - 0300 pm

Thursday Tuesday Wednesday

December 15 December 13 December 14

0500-0615 pm MW TR

0330 pm - 0530 pm 0100 pm - 0300 pm

Thursday Friday

December 15 December 16

FINAL EXAMS FOR EVENING CLASSES ARE SCHEDULED FOR 0630 PM ON THE REGULAR CLASS MEETING DAY.

Campus4www.peru.edu/psctimes | 12/07/2016 | perustatetimes@gmail.com

School of Education Gains Faculty MemberMarivelle MaganaCONTRIBUTING WRITER

One of the nine new faculty members Peru State College hired this fall, Dr. Shana Walsh was hired as an Assistant Professor of Education and is also an assistant professor of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. Dr. Walsh decided to begin her higher education in New York, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree with a triple major in Policy Studies, Psychology, and Spanish in 2009 at Syracuse University. She then went on to earn her Masters of Education in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation at Delta State University in 2012. She finished up her Ph.D. in Kinesiology, Exercise Nutrition, and Health Promotion earlier this year at Baylor University. While at Baylor, she taught undergraduate courses that included nutrition, stress management, and activity courses. “I loved working with college students, and enjoyed promoting healthy and sustainable lifestyles in each of my courses,” said Dr. Walsh. Dr. Shana Walsh began her career as a high school Spanish teacher with Teach For America in Mississippi, an organization that is fully committed to their belief that all kids have the potential to learn and become future leaders and are devoted to strengthening the movement for educational equality. “I loved teaching, and while

I believed (and still do believe) that foreign language education is important, I was astounded and distracted by the health of my students. The students in my classes were overweight, obese, were being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at incredibly young ages, and simply didn’t feel good from the food they were eating,” explain Dr. Walsh. She continued, “It was a challenge for me to stand in front of my class everyday and teach vocabulary and verb conjunctions when I knew their health was interfering with their learning. I decided then that I could best help communities, like the one where I worked in Mississippi, by studying health and to spend my career making being healthy an achievable goal for all.” Her area of expertise is primarily in health promotion and the adoption of healthy behaviors. Her research interests include obesity, focusing on one’s health and one’s quality of life through physical activity, and decreasing sedentary behavior. While at Peru State, Dr. Walsh hopes to contribute to providing excellent training for our future teachers, teach health-content courses in a meaningful and memorable way, and continue to pursue her research agenda in the field of health promotion. In Dr. Walsh’s free time she enjoys participating in many things, which should not come as a surprise considering how dedicated to the health field she is. “In my free time, I like to do healthy things! I enjoy running,

resistance-training, swimming, hula-hooping, and trying new recipes,” said Dr. Walsh.

Dr. Shana Walsh, Assistant Professor of EducationImage courtesy of Peru State College

Why I Teach:P r o fe s s o r K e n M e i n t s“Never” was my response

when the notion of teaching music was first proposed to me as a career path. Performing and composing were the activities where I found the most joy and that is what I was going to do. It wasn’t until I reluctantly found myself taking an elementary music education course and leading a silly song with some first grade class at Beatty Elementary School that I discovered what teaching is about. For me, it is all about sharing a passion with whoever you can make a connection and see them take a spark or at least begin to comprehend what stirs my passion. It doesn’t take a leap, only a step closer to understanding. Now I teach for the satisfaction of combining all the creative aspects of my musical craft with all of the equally artful aspects of the art of teaching. I enjoy fostering growth—the journey from wherever you are to wherever I can help you go - or even just showing you a path whether or not you take it. For me, teaching now extends beyond the classroom (or

rehearsal room). I feel that teaching is as much advocacy for your passion as it is about transferal of knowledge. Talking to people I meet about music and the arts as a major force in culture and human understanding is a vital extension of what I do as an educator. This involves building relationships, both on a personal level and through the subject matter. This is why I now believe everyone, regardless of their chosen field, needs to consider themselves as an educator in some way in their life.

Image courtesy of Peru State College

New Asst. Professor of Special EducationAlyssa GrellCONTRIBUTING WRITER

Dr. Felicity Balluch began working at Peru State College this year as an Assistant Professor of Special Education, but her passion for Special Education began long before that.

During her childhood, Dr. Balluch watched as her sister grappled with reading and math learning disabilities. It was a frustrating time for all of the people involved, so Dr. Balluch decided to pursue a job where she could help families like her own. She said, “As I grew up and watched her struggle, I became determined to help students and families who were dealing with the same hardships. She graduated from Kansas State University in 2005 with her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and Special Education. Three years later, in 2008, she received her Master of Science degree in Special Education. Just this year, Dr. Balluch obtained her Doctorate in Special Education, with an emphasis on literacy and students at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders. She is also a certified Reading Specialist. Additionally, she has published many peer-reviewed articles on topics from literacy to special education law. During her time as an educator, Dr. Balluch has played many roles.

She worked in an elementary resource room for 11 years, helping children and families in need. She also developed a program to help students struggling with math and reading and worked on her building’s behavior team.

Dr. Balluch has worked with students from kindergarten age to students in college, but she finds it difficult to pick a favorite age group. She loves five-year-olds for their enthusiasm, but she also loves working with college students because often they awe her with how deep they can go into different conversations. No matter the age group, she said, “Knowing that I help to facilitate their growth not only as students but as people, is a great motivator to continue teaching.”

This is a key to how Dr. Balluch has stayed motivated throughout her varied career. Teaching in general and Special Education specifically are known to be tiring with many educators

fizzling out at some point in their career. Dr. Balluch will not let her career stagnate, though. She said, “I refuse to settle and become comfortable in what I do. For students interested in pursuing an education degree, Dr. Balluch encouraged a similar outlook on education, and she also wanted to stress the importance of collaboration. “Your fellow educators, no matter the capacity in which they work, are valuable resources that can change the face of your teaching,” said Dr. Balluch. The most difficult part of being an educator is watching other teachers, unwilling to ask for help. She has found that many teachers completely halt classroom advancement because improvement takes too much work. They abstain from talking to others, often finding that the advice calls for major time and effort. For her, the most rewarding aspect of her job is seeing the significant impact that she can have on the lives of her students. She molds minds and hearts. On the topic, Dr. Balluch said, “Watching my students overcome fear and frustration, extend kindness, and make breakthroughs in their learning is an absolute privilege.” Dr. Balluch’s office can be found in T.J. Majors 203. One can contact Dr. Balluch by email at fballuch@peru.edu or by phone at (402)872-2423.

Image courtesy of Peru State College

opInIon 5www.peru.edu/psctimes | 12/07/2016 | perustatetimes@gmail.com

Stephanie BrazdaCONTRIBUTING WRITER

My First Semester At College

Coming to Peru, the biggest fear I had was getting along with a roommate. As an only child, I never had to share a bedroom or a living space with another peer. I was anxious that I would never get used to sharing space with someone. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case. I adapted rather quickly to my dorm room and my roommate. Other students here on campus gave us freshman advice: “Don’t go home every weekend.” Well, I went against their advice by going home every single weekend, even if it was just for one day. When I would arrive back on campus, I couldn’t wait to get back to my room to get away from my parents. Typically I am attached at the hip when I’m with my parents, but college has given me the chance to be an independent individual, and it has shown quite a bit. However, I was not aware as to how much I would miss my friends back home, despite seeing them every weekend. Two days into the school week and I would get phone calls from my friends asking, “When are you coming back? I haven’t seen you in forever!”

Over the course of this semester, I have noticed quite a few differences between college life and high school life. One significant change is that there aren’t any cliques. Yes, there are clubs around campus, but cliques are different. Walking into the café, I can’t help but notice the lack of groups.

There’s no “popular table” or “jock table,” just a bunch of students sitting down together and getting along. I think the main contributor for this is because when students go off to college, they don’t know anyone which relieves social pressures that we were used to experiencing in high school.

Also, I have noticed that the staff members here on campus treat us, the students as if we were adults. Back in high school, the teachers would expect us to act like adults, but they would deal with us like children. Here at Peru, the professors and other staff members talk to us as if we’re their coworkers, rather than treating us like annoying brats. Personally, I’m extremely appreciative of that.

Something that I’ve been told time and time again is that I need to stop assuming things. I’ve learned that lesson many times while being here on campus for a few months. At the beginning of the semester, I was trying to get involved by joining clubs. There had been a meeting scheduled for the campus newspaper. I assumed it was some type of club. When I arrived at the meeting I found out it wasn’t a club; it was a job offer. Originally I had planned on joining purely because I enjoy writing, but once I found out I could get paid to do it, I was ready to join. Luckily for me, assuming had been a good thing because finding out I could get paid to write was a happy surprise.

Airport Travel Tips For This WinterIsmael CalvillCONTRIBUTING WRITER

Chelsea MinerCONTRIBUTING WRITER

Everyone has heard of the awful travesties that occur in an airport, and it’s deeply disturbing to all of us that suffer through it. From the monstrous TSA Lines, layovers, expensive snacks, airports so large you need a passenger terminal, to the extremely pushy people. With such an evil presence lurking and preying on unknowing travelers, how do they expect us to survive? Throughout my travels, I have encountered some interesting airports, people, and strategies to survive the onslaught of appalling events. I have decided to share some of these strategies with you to help combat the lurking evils and make your trips a little more enjoyable. It’s an appropriate time for these tips. With holiday season in full swing, the airports will be a madhouse.

It’s a well-known fact that airport food is expensive and nowhere near worth it. I recommend eating a substantial meal approximately two and a half hours before boarding time. This will allow for adequate time to digest and use the restroom prior to arriving at the airport. Trust me, standing in line waiting for TSA with urgent matters is not an ideal situation for anyone. Staying on the topic of preparing for the trip, it is also important to note that most airliners allow one carry on

and one personal item. It is crucial to pack these wisely. Pack some snacks and only essentials such as phone chargers, lip balm, snacks, medicine, etc. Make sure these two items are comfortable and as lightweight as possible. The goal of prep work is to make the trip as stress free as possible; it’s not a good idea to be fumbling around with bulky bags trying to find the gate or get through TSA lines.

Now that the bags are lightly packed with the essentials, it is imperative to wear comfortable shoes and clothing while traveling. Wearing thigh high boots or tightly laced dress shoes will undoubtedly come back to haunt even the most experienced traveler. TSA staff and other passengers are expecting individuals to be ready and get through processing in a haste. Wearing sandals or loose shoes will ensure speedy TSA times.

TSA is a beast in its own right but navigating the convoluted airport is a whole different nightmare all together. Asking the associate working in the front about gate information is a good start in traversing the airport (don’t forget to print off the boarding pass). Typically, these people will give you general directions and leave the rest for your own adventure. There are signs plastered throughout the airport, but I recommend using the signs and continuing to ask the representatives scattered around. Furthermore, it’s

imperative to walk at a brisk pace and find the gate prior to venturing out for the bathroom. Getting settled and establishing a timetable before departure ensures that there are no surprises or mishaps waiting for the weary traveler.

So there you have it, a few helpful tips to help the hapless traveler circumvent the grotesque creature that is the airport. Traveling isn’t all bad, the opportunity to meet interesting people and seeing interesting places makes jumping through the hoops all worth it. Just keep some of these tips in mind and you will be ready for whatever is thrown at you.

Image courtesy of tumblr.com

Tennessee Fires Burn On

In Sevier county of east Tennessee, near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, officials are now considering the possibility that the series of wildfires which began on November 23rd were “likely to be human-caused” in the words of Park Superintendent Cassius Cash. Allegedly, the fire began as sparks from Chimney Tops Trail, which spread over 10 miles in as few as 15 minutes due to 90mph winds. According to most recent tallies, 1,000 homes and businesses have been destroyed leaving at least 53 injured and 13 dead as a result of the fires.

The county is also facing widespread power outages. The outages, along with debris, have made it considerably difficult for search and rescue efforts to effectively scour the area. However, by the evening of Friday, December 2nd, officials hope to have preliminarily searched 90 percent of areas affected by the fires. Additionally, of the bodies that have been recovered, officials are withholding further information until identities can be confirmed. So far, of the 13 identified, it has been determined that 12 died from the flames directly and 1 from a heart attack as a result of the fire. As a result of the death toll’s continued daily climb and other critical factors, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) has declared a level 3 state

of emergency. With so many missing people still left unfound, many, including Gatlinburg Fire Chief Greg Miller, fear that, in Miller’s words, efforts “could be more of a recovery than a rescue.”

In addition to TEMA, the American Red Cross is also working to reunite separated families of people who have been found alive. The Red Cross and other organizations have also worked to temporarily house those who lost their homes as a result of the tragedy.

Tennessee Governor, Bill Haslam, has stated that the tragedy has received support from politicians nationwide, as well as from President Obama. In addition, local celebrity gone country music icon, Dolly Parton, whose theme park is located within the county, has began a fundraiser to raise funds for those affected: the “My People Project.” Despite the devastation that has occurred and continues to occur, efforts to contain the emergency are persistent and ongoing as the full details of the fire’s damages continue to emerge.

Image courtesy of wlos.com

Feature6www.peru.edu/psctimes | 12/07/2016 | perustatetimes@gmail.com

ABOVE: Members of Band during band concertTOP LEFT: Ariason James, and Darren Hasch with

third graders at Brain QuestTOP RIGHT: Chelsea TurekABOVE LEFT: Torea NoelleBOTTOM: Cast of After Orlando

Around

Feature 7www.peru.edu/psctimes | 12/07/2016 | perustatetimes@gmail.com

ABOVE: Justin HoffmanTOP LEFT: Shalissa Hutson and Amelia RothTOP RIGHT: Third graders at Brain QuestMIDDLE: Gina Bittner during Brain QuestBOTTOM LEFT: KT UmlandBOTTOM MIDDLE: Nichole IversenBOTTOM RIGHT: JC McMann

Campus

sports8www.peru.edu/psctimes | 12/07/2016 | perustatetimes@gmail.com

Varley Named AFCA NAIA Assistant Coach of The Year The American Football Coaches Association is proud to announce its 2016 Assistant Coach of the Year winners. One assistant coach from the five divisions of college football has been selected for their dedication to their teams and communities. A total of 76 nominees from Football Bowl Subdivison, Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III and NAIA were nominated in 2016. Peru State assistant coach Lou Varley (Nebraska City) was selected as the NAIA’s top assistant coach having been a

finalist in 2015. Bobcat head football coach and athletic director Steve Schneider commented, “Congratulations to Coach Varley for his service to young men and Peru State College. We all can learn a lot from Lou about his servant style of leadership.” Varley, a nine-year assistant at Peru State, stated, “Pretty humbling. It is an honor to be a part of the Bobcat team. This is something that should be shared by all. As with any recognition, the team and College are the reason we do what we do. The credit goes to everyone who works every day to make Peru State a great place for students.” Each year, staff representatives from NCAA and NAIA football-playing schools are asked to nominate an assistant for consideration. From those nominations, a winner is selected by the AFCA Public Relations Committee. The Assistant Coach of the Year award was first presented in 1997 and was created to honor assistant coaches who excel in community service, commitment to the student-athlete, on-field coaching success and AFCA professional organization involvement. The 2016 honorees are as follows: Football Bowl Subdivision–Dan Brooks, Associate Head Coach/Defensive Tackles, Clemson UniversityFootball Championship Subdivision–Eric Dooley, Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach, Grambling State UniversityDivision II–Mike Aldrich, Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line/Linebackers, Southwest Minnesota State University

Division III–Scott Kirchoff, Quarterbacks Coach, Bethel (Minn.) UniversityNAIA–Lou Varley, Quarterbacks/Fullbacks Coach, Peru State College Once again, five outstanding assistant coaches have been selected for their dedication, not only to their teams, but to their communities,” said Executive Director Todd Berry. “Often times, the head coach receives much of the credit for his team’s success, but any head coach is only as good as his assistants. Much of an assistant coach’s work is done behind the scenes. It is our pleasure to bring it to the forefront.” The criteria for the award is not limited to on-field coaching ability or the success of the team and players that these assistant coaches work with. Service to the community through charitable work and other volunteer activities, participation in AFCA activities and events, participation in other professional organizations and impact on student-athletes are all taken into account in the selection process. Winners of the Assistant Coach of the Year Award will receive a plaque to commemorate the award. They will be honored at the AFCA Honors Luncheon, Monday, January 9 at the 2017 AFCA Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. The AFCA was founded in 1922 and currently has more than 11,000 members around the world, ranging from the high school level to the professional ranks. According to its constitution, the AFCA was formed, in part, to “maintain the highest possible standards in football and the coaching profession” and to “provide a forum for the discussion and study of all matters pertaining to football and coaching.” The WinnersFootball Bowl SubdivisionDan Brooks, Associate Head Coach/Defensive Tackles, Clemson: Brooks is in his 33rd year as a collegiate coach with the last eight coming at Clemson ... He is a longtime member of the AFCA and has served on AFCA committees for 30 years ... Brooks is very involved with Crosspoint Church and volunteers his time with several different organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club, All In Team Foundation, Meals on Wheels, Wounded Warriors and Paralyzed American Veterans ... He also co-host the Picnic in Pittman fundraiser each year which benefits the Friends of the Great Smokey Mountains ... Brooks has produced 30 NFL draft picks, seven NFL first round selections, three All-Americans, 14 All-Conference selections and one Outland Trophy winner ... He has been a big part of Clemson’s resurgence in his eight seasons on staff with the Tigers going 82-25 during that span with six consecutive seasons of at least 10 wins. Division IIMike Aldrich, Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line/Linebackers, Southwest Minnesota State: Aldrich has spent 22

years coaching college football, with the last two coming at Southwest Minnesota State ... He is very active with the AFCA, serving as the Division II Assistant Coaches Committee Chairman the past four years, and was a member of the Division II All-America Team Selection Committee for three years while he was the head coach at Augustana (S.D.) ... Aldrich currently oversees Southwest Minnesota State’s involvement in a work-a-thon, which is a community clean-up day for the city of Marshall ... He has worked with a number of organiza¬tions in the past, including Habitat for Humanity, Workers on Wheels, Minnesota Adopt-A-Highway and Make-a-Wish ... Aldrich estab¬lished the Tackle Pink initiative for breast cancer awareness, working with Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Edith Sanford BreastCancer Foundation ... He has helped organize team volunteer activities at a local food bank, Missouri River flood clean-up, tornado clean-up and other non-profit local events ... Aldrich organized and led a trip of 16 players to Norway for a cultural trip to work with Norwegian football players at the grass roots level ... In his first season at Southwest Minnesota State in 2015, he helped lead the Mustangs to an 8-3 record, the program’s best record as a Division II school.Division IIIScott Kirchoff, Quarterbacks Coach, Bethel (Minn.): Kirchoff has spent 11 years coaching college football, all at Bethel ... He speaks to various groups on the Bethel campus, including freshman students, “Pursuit of Biblical Manhood,” and many discipleship groups ... He volunteers at FCA football camps and speaks at local FCA huddle groups ... Kirchoff led a group Bethel student-athletes on a mission trip to Slovakia, and leads a group of male student-athletes in “Be Resolute,” which disciples and develops men as leaders ... He is an active member of the AFCA and attends and contributes to various coaching clinics throughout the Minneapolis/St. Paul area ... Kirchoff has coached three of the top six passers in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference history, two MIAC Most Valuable Players and has help lead the Royals to five MIAC titles and five trips to the NCAA Division III playoffs.NAIALou Varley, Quarterbacks/Fullbacks Coach, Peru State: Varley has spent 43 years as a football coach, 35 of those as a high school coach and the last eight as an assistant at Peru State ... He volunteers his time with the Peru First United Methodist Church media booth, participates in the annual Peru city-wide clean-up day and the Brownville Historical Society clean-up and has been a participant in Relay for Life ... Varley has been an active member of the AFCA since 1988 and has been a member of

the Nebraska Coaches Association for 40 years, serving as a sport host for NCA Multi-Sport Clinics ... As a high school coach, Varley led nine of his teams to the Nebraska state playoffs.Additional information about Coach Varley: Earned his bachelor’s in 7-12 math in 1974 from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and later earned a master’s educational administration from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2006. Varley taught and coached in Superior, Friend, Ravenna, and Nebraska City before retiring from high school teaching and coaching and coming to Peru State. Another example of Varley’s dedication is following one of Peru State’s last football games, Varley was observed tutoring one of the football players in math and did so for over another year. Varley has also been published as he discussed the Peru State defensive philosophy in an article entitled “Pressure Defenses.” The article was published is the 2014 issue of the American Football Monthly. In addition, Varley has been a speaker at various football-related events. As part of the nomination, former Bobcats provided some commentary. Mitch Boshart, who now coaches at Cross County HS in Stromsburg, Neb., noted, “”When it comes to Coach Varley, it is hard to put into words exactly how much he helps each athlete grow not only on the field, but also in life. All members of the football team know that Coach Varley possesses a great amount of knowledge of defense and offense, so it is not unusual to have many of the men on the team ask Coach Varley questions about various game strategies. But what Coach Varley does beyond the football field is what does and will continue to have a lasting impact on any football players that come to Peru State. NOTE: Boshart was from Wood River and also was a two-time Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete and was also the NAIA’s A.O. Duer Award winner. One of Varley’s former high school players who eventually became a Bobcat football player, Branden Bender, also shared some comments: “I can’t stress enough that Coach Varley is not only a man of character and integrity, but he is someone who sincerely cares about people. If I had to describe coach in one word, it would be “caring.” From the moment I met Coach in 1988, he has been an influential person in my life. Not only has he helped me in football, but he has helped me to become a better person. He is a stoic example of how to be a mature adult, as well as how to be a good husband and father.” NOTE: Bender became a two time Scholar-Athlete at Peru State and earned all-conference recognition and still resides in Nebraska City.

Article courtesy of Peru Athletics.

Lou Varley. Image courtesy of Peru Athletics.

sports 9www.peru.edu/psctimes | 12/07/2016 | perustatetimes@gmail.com

The women’s basketball team is off to a rocky start for the year as they are only eight games into the 2016-2017 season. Under the leadership of second-year head coach, Chuck Brewer, and second-year assistant coach, Katie Potter, the ladies continue to stride through the season with confidence beaming from each member of the team. In addition to Katie Potter, a former four-year starter on the women’s basketball team, Kendyl Rizea, will join the coaching staff as the graduate assistant reigning from Heart of America Athletic Conference opponent, Graceland University. With only four returners, the Bobcat squad is looking towards the ten newcomers to keep building on a growing program.

For the first time since November 2, 2012, the Bobcats won their season-opening game against the Grace Royals, reigning from Omaha, Nebraska. The ladies had an impressive victory over the visiting team with a score of 77-43. Unfortunately, the only other current win has been against Mount Marty College with a score of 66-59. Despite these great triumphs, the Bobcats have lost six games in a row. Head coach Chuck Brewer’s

former team, the College of St. Mary’s Flames, also defeated the Bobcats in a close game of 87-91. The Bobcats are currently 0-5 against Heart of America Athletic Conference opponents. Most recently, the William Penn University Statesmen defeated the Bobcats by a score of 58-80 in the Al Wheeler Activity Center.

Despite the losses the women’s basketball team has had to face in recent history, the team is stacked full of players ready to steal the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship title when March rolls around. Bobcat Seniors Jackie Robles, a native of Parlier, California, and Deandra Williams from Rosenburg, Texas, are ready to lead this year’s pack to future victories. Joining these seniors are sophomore standouts Kealy Ensminger, Jackie Beaugard, and Kylie Guerue. In addition to these sophomore standouts, there are several newcomers reigning from all over the United States, such as Michigan, California, Nebraska, Hawaii, and South Dakota.

As the season treads on, the Bobcats are looking at a difficult schedule as they proceed with conference play throughout the next couple months. The ladies will have to face MidAmerica Nazarene University, 2015-2016 NAIA National Women’s Basketball Champions, on

January 28, 2017, in the great town of Peru, Nebraska. On February 4, 2017, the Bobcats will host Benedictine University, the 8th ranked team in the nation. Also, the Bobcat basketball squad will face the 19th ranked Central Methodist University on February 15, 2017. Be sure to make a trip down to the Al Wheeler Activity Center this winter to cheer on the Bobcats as they begin their pursuit of the conference championship title in March of 2017.

The Bobcat Men’s Basketball team is looking to build upon the past seasons’ successes as they begin their 2016-2017 season. Under the direction of third-year head coach Eric Behrens, two-year graduate assistant Ben Cruickshank, and first-year assistant coach Matt Crouch, the Bobcats are more than ready for a season full of victories. However, the pressure is on, considering the team made it to the NAIA National Tournament for the first time last season in nearly twenty years. In the 2016-2017 NAIA D1 Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the

Peru State men’s basketball received many votes, putting them just outside of the Top 25 with a ranking of 35th in the nation. At the conclusion of last season, the boys were 21st in the nation following their performance at the national championship.

The bar has been set remarkably high for a brand new team. The only returner this season is Anthony Richardson, a sophomore from Schenectady, New York. The roster is full of talented men reigning from Canada, California, Australia, Nebraska, Illinois, North Carolina, New York, Iowa, Tennessee, and Lithuania. Despite having a whole new team, the boys are doing extremely well in the individual NAIA rankings. Lyle Hexom is currently ranked 2nd in blocks per game and 3rd for total number of blocks. Rashad Brackeen is ranked 12th in total three-point field goals made and 13th in three-point field goals made per game.

The 2016-2017 season is quite a unique one, with only four non-conference games and an impressive twenty-six conference games scheduled. The boys are currently 4-6 on the season. The men started their season off with back-to-back at home losses against Northwestern College and Briar Cliff University. Fortunately, the

first win of the season came against Park University with a score of 75-69 in good ole Peru, Nebraska. The team would claim another successful game against Evangel University at home once again with a score of 86-84. The Bobcats managed to defeat the 2015-2016 NAIA National Championship Runner-Ups, Mid-America Nazarene University, in overtime by a score of 90-83 in Olathe, Kansas. The Bobcats are already proving that they are not a forced to be reckoned with even though the season has just begun.

Unfortunately, the Peru State College, men’s basketball team, was not able to steal a win away from the defending Heart of America Athletic Conference champions on November 28, as they fell to a close score of 81-88 in Peru, Nebraska. The team will continue strong conference play as they head into January against Clarke University, Baker University, Avila University, and Mount Mercy University. Take a trip down to the Al Wheeler Activity Center this winter to watch the men’s basketball team continue the greatest that has been built over the past couple of years. The conference championship is within a mere grasp for the Peru State College men’s basketball team!

Marissa PribnowCONTRIBUTING WRITER

Bobcats Basketball Having Tough Season

(15,084.4) What does this number refer to you may be wondering? This figure is the total amount of miles four current members of the Peru State Men’s Basketball team had to travel for them to land right here in America’s Heartland.

The Peru State Men’s Basketball team is accomplishing more than just raising conference banners, like the one they did following last season’s memorable run, finishing with a remarkable record of 22 wins and 11 losses. They also have positioned themselves to continue that success by adding another

ingredient into the melting pot, and that is the globalization of their basketball brand. Four different counties represent the 2016-2017 team: The United States, Australia, Canada and Lithuania.

Although Peru, Nebraska was likely unfamiliar territory to these players before their arrival, two of the players could tell you a different story. Now, as starting point guard, Marley Biyendolo, who is an avid beachgoer back home in Melbourne, Australia, says a few of his favorite things about Peru are “the people because they are nice and they welcome you with open arms.”

Biyendolo also pointed out he enjoys Peru, the school, specifically, by stating, “I

love the professors; they are kind and willing to help you succeed.” Biyendolo leads the team in assists on the court with 3.25 assists per game. If you happen to see Biyendolo driving around campus, though, you are advised to stay on the sidewalk, as he is still adjusting to driving on the right side of the road here in America. He is used to driving on the left side as they do back in his home in Australia.

Another player who is adjusting nicely to the Peru State College lifestyle is Lithuanian big man, Paulius Sakinis, who averages 2.8 rebounds per game. One thing he enjoys about Peru is that “it is a community; everyone is quite close, and they show support.”

He described an example of this saying, “After a game, I’ll go on campus, and people tell me, ‘Nice game.’” When asked about one thing he misses from home, Sakinis replied, “Food. We eat healthier food, like not fast food, but veggies.”

The Bobcats’ two other international players are guards Matej Delinac of Brampton, Ontario, Canada, who is averaging 16.3 points per game; and Van Merbin of Melbourne, Australia, who is averaging 6.0 points per game. The Bobcats will look to continue building on their season by collecting victories with some international players while hoping to create exposure and enhance recruiting beyond American soil.

Wade NollCONTRIBUTING WRITER

Biyendolo, Sakinis, Delinac, and Merbin’s International Roots

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On Thursday, December 1st, I was fortunate enough to attend the “After Orlando” event in the Peru State College Theatre. The event was a theatrical response to the June 2016 shooting in Orlando, Florida. Omar Mateen walked into The Pulse, a gay nightclub in Florida and opened fire, killing 49 people and wounding 53 others. Mateen’s actions were likely motivated by hatred. Each theatre member expressively read poems, monologues, and other short pieces to show the impact of the event both on the people involved and on members

of the LGBTQ+ community. Prior to the show, the

audience was greeted with a slideshow of pictures from previous theatre events. The show then opened up with an appropriate song, “She Keeps Me Warm” by Mary Lambert. Shalissa Hutson and Amelia Roth sang Lambert’s song in support of the LGBTQ+ community. Then, one by one, each theatre member successfully read poems by some of the survivors affected by the event and some original work.

The poem that stood out to me the most was The Human Traces which was read by Jared Koelizer. This powerful piece was about the event from a first

responder’s perspective. This person had to help “clean up” after the incident, and he wrote about the impact this has on him personally. He talked about how the cellphones of the casualties kept ringing. Friends and family members were on the other end, hoping that their loved one was still alive. The writer desperately wanted to make the ringing stop. But, neither him nor his partner knew what they’d say if they picked up. The writer decided to answer one of the phones. This, unfortunately, gave the person on the other end a second of false hope. The individual then describes the devastation he could hear when the person on the other end realized they’re

not talking to their loved one. The author of The Human Traces also talked about the unpredictability of death. He talked about seeing napkins where people have written down their phone numbers. This was an example of one of the many traces of the lives suddenly lost. These were ordinary people with immediate plans.

The next poem that really stood out to me was Baby Sister, read by Amanda Burk. This piece was written from the perspective of a victim’s loved one. The writer not only had to face the tragic death of her sibling, but also the rejection of her family. On top of being killed for who he was, the victim

continued to be rejected by family members after his death. The victim’s mother didn’t want even want his body buried at their church, because he was a homosexual.

Ethan Fricke’s After America was a powerful reflection on the serious problem we face here in the United States. Even now, in 2016, minorities and members of the LGBTQ+ community are still facing discrimination and sometimes even have to fear for their lives. When I left the theatre, I felt a sense of relief knowing that so many people were displeased with hatred and discrimination and ready to take a stand.

PSC Theatre Performs After Orlando

Released earlier this month, Bruno Mars’ new album, 24K Magic is a tumble down the rabbit hole of nostalgic musical themes and mediocre instrumentation.

The album blasts from the beginning with the title track. “24K Magic” is a joyously funky jam that can get anyone’s hips shaking, borrowing themes from a groovier era. While the lyrics reflect modern concepts like hashtags, the core matter focuses on old school swagger that boosts confidence and makes for a fun, lighthearted song.

Transitioning into the boy band era, Mars follows with “Chunky.” This song is filled with subtext, and while Mars is usually a smooth-talker, this song trended down to the less savory end of the scale of smooth-talk. The track behind

the lyrics feels a bit flat, as well. The beat sounds canned and lacked life.

Thankfully, “Perm” brings back the fabulous funk from the first number. The toe-tapping beat is augmented by organ and whistles. Mars pushes the limits with his vocal energy in this piece, not using a crooning tone, but a rougher sound throughout. Altogether, it is a solid song.

Mars shines again in track four, “That’s What I Like.” Slowing down to a more sultry tempo, Mars uses swoon-worthy harmonies liberally, meshing well with the swooping background instrumentation. This song is still groove-worthy, though does draw the mind to boy bands of the 1990s through its harmonization and syncopated synthesizer track.

“Versace on the Floor” is a slow love ballad straight out of the 1980s. With that particular synthesizer setting that everyone would rather forget,

and one of the most overused percussion tracks, the only things missing from this sappy number are a waterfall flowing gently in the background, and perhaps a cameo from Michael Jackson. While Mars keeps a bit of his regular style in his call-and-response passage near the end, this seems strangely out of touch for Mars.

If you’ve ever wanted to listen to a song that sounds like Christmas even though it’s not (it’s a raunchy love ballad), try listening to “Straight Up & Down.” The a capella choir in the background with the combination of shakers, occasional runs of chimes, and bouncy percussion all contribute to this pleasant feeling. Avoiding listening to the lyrics might convince many people that Santa Claus is getting ready to come down the chimney. But if one does listen to the words, they’re in for quite a different theme.

The next song on 24K Magic, “Calling All My Lovelies,” tells a humorous tale of a man calling all the different girls he’s talking to because he’s depressed that one particular person won’t call him back. Though in the song, the narrator threatens never to answer her again if she doesn’t pick up, the melody tells a different story. Tender and sincere, this player’s days are over because love has come to him.

Buckle up for this next tune because there’s a boy band crosswalk ahead. And it’s not Abbey Road. Bruno Mars must have stolen “Finesse” from retired *NSYNC numbers. While this might be salvaged by different instrumentation, as it is, the link from this song to the 1990s boy bands of yesteryear is far too strong. Mars’ style might be described as “nostalgic,” but this is something that doesn’t need to be brought up.

The last song on the album,

“Too Good To Say Goodbye,” finally redeems Mars. This ballad begging a lover to come back plays on all of Mars’ strengths. It starts simply, his voice accompanied by a piano, a sitar-sounding synth filter, and a simple percussion track. Soon, though, Mars rises out of the despair of saying goodbye, and his hope swells with backup singers and a lush instrumental harmony. It was an excellent choice to end the album with this piece.

Overall, 24K Magic is two or three good songs sandwiching pure mediocrity. Mars’ vintage sound runs too far into the outdated, and he is only redeemed at the end by showing off his large range and impressive vocals in a heartfelt song. While some songs are groovy, and some are plodding, Mars shows again that he is a creative soul, and that creativity does not guarantee greatness.

Music Review: Bruno Mars

Katelyn CoreyCONTRIBUTING WRITER

Amanda BurkeCONTRIBUTING WRITER

11entertaInmentwww.peru.edu/psctimes | 12/07/2016 | perustatetimes@gmail.com

Marisa GomezCONTRIBUTING WRITER

Ryan ChristensenCONTRIBUTING WRITER

Why Traveling Is Essential

Machine Gun Kelly Performs in Lincoln

When someone says the words, “to travel,” what do you think of? Viewing the Roman Colosseum? Walking a portion of the Beijing Wall? Or riding in a jeep through the Australian Outback?

While all of these instances are traveling, only a small percentage of people can afford such excursions. There is so much more to traveling than visiting highly expensive and exotic places. Traveling, as defined by Webster’s dictionary, is “to go on or as if on a trip or tour.” The reason of traveling, besides the obvious reason of being pleasurable and enjoyable, is to expand your experiences with different surroundings, people, ways of thinking, and so on. What this does for the individual is prevent, or significantly mitigate, operating in a close-minded way of thinking. What’s the danger of working in close-mindedness? In addition to being less apt to experience the world outside of regular “spheres” of life, it prevents a major roadblock to considering and analyzing viewpoints that differ from your own.

Alright, so you are now convinced

that the absence of traveling is detrimental to personal growth and experience. What is something that you can do to start traveling?

As hinted at above, traveling does not need to be anything extensive that requires large sums of money, rather the goal is just to see and experience places and people that you have yet to encounter.

For example, a day trip to Indian Cave State Park, Brownville, a walk on the Steamboat Trace Trail, or the town of Peru is all examples of places that you can go. Free materials for ideas about various locations in Southeast Nebraska that can be visited are located in the library entranceway or at the stand near the East entrance of the Student Center.

It’s also important to converse with people you meet on any travels, as this is where you will encounter, if this is a self-guided trip, peoples’ views, some of which may, and are likely to be, dissenting from your own.

Speaking from experience, I traveled to Southwest Nebraska in mid-November for the opening weekend of deer season, and I encountered life-long residents of Chase County having lunch at a gas station. I observed

my grandfather converse with these patrons, and I realized that their topics of conversations and concerns were completely different than my own. Instead of worrying about getting schoolwork done, grades in classes, or finding free time to hang out with friends, these people were talking about how dry the region had been and the current price of corn and beef.

Having instances like this to remind yourself that the world is bigger than you make it is imperative! So go travel and experience the world; it can be eye-opening and exciting at the same time.

If you weren’t in Lincoln, Nebraska on Monday, November 14th, 2016 to see Machine Gun Kelly you missed out on a show for the books. The rapper from Cleveland, Ohio had a sold out show at the Lincoln venue, “The Bourbon”. With doors opening at 7:30 p.m., there was a line around the block and absolutely no parking in sight. MGK is not new to Lincoln, Nebraska, however. He has actually been at The Bourbon once a year for the past few years.

As usual, MGK did not come to Lincoln alone, with him was the former drummer of Scary Kids Scaring Kids and MOD SUN. MOD SUN opened the night with songs such as “My Hippy”, “Shoot Em Down”, and “ Happy As Fu*k”. While most people did not know who MOD SUN was, they had no problem getting into his high energy set and singing along with the repetitive hooks. MOD SUN while hard to watch, with his constant jumping and running around the stage, did not fail to get the crowd ready for MGK.

Even though there was a longer than usual transition time between artists, there wasn’t a single fan moving away from their spot, with the exception of those getting another drink. The energy was high in Bourbon that Monday night and increased with anticipation. The crowd even found ways to get themselves excited, including doing a call and response. The more time that passed the less the crowd could handle it and began to chant, “We Want M.G.K.”

There was a shrill cry across the crowd, when MGK opened with recently released song “Alpha Omega” from his second full length album “General Admission” which also gives way to name of this year’s tour. He followed that by his single, “Sail” a reprise to the song from AWOLNATON. He did many crowd favorites including: “Est. 4 Life”, “ Young Man”, and

“World Series”. Of course, Machine Gun Kelly kept true to his influences when he performed a cover of “All The Small Things” from Blink 182 often referenced in MGK’s lyrics.

Also on this concert’s setlist was his most recent single featuring Camilla Cabello, “Bad Things”. This most recent is currently on repeat on radio and has been performed on “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” and “The Late Night Show with James Corden”. “Bad Things” has already reached #8 for US Hot Rap Songs and #10 US Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs on the Billboard charts.

The most exciting part of the show wasn’t just the music however. The concert had beautiful light design. Each song had a very vivid light scheme, and if the loud music wasn’t enough to make you jump, then bright colors certainly were. The backdrop for the concert included a flag, as part of his Black Flag movement. The flag itself also changed colors with the different songs.

Machine Gun Kelly, while not a hugely well known artist, is still one to keep an eye on. If you missed the Lincoln show he will be in Omaha December 19th at the Sokol Auditorium.

Image courtesy of fanart.tv

Image courtesy of cnbc.com

A Word From Student Senate

RyAnn Cooper-Barton CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Who is Student Senate here at Peru State College? Are they a voice for the students on and off campus? A way to get involved on campus? An excellent leadership opportunity?

If you guessed yes to any of these questions, you are right! As a fellow senator, I have served my time with for Senate for around 2 years and this school year will make it my third. I have made so many ties with students, staff, and faculty here and around the state of Nebraska. Being a part of this organization has made me a stronger individual and more aware of issues that are happening around campus. When I say that it has made me a stronger individual, I mean that I have bloomed from where I first started coming into college. I was shy, nervous for whatever there was to come, and very eager to put myself out there. Student Senate helped me so much with learning how to develop outgoing features, not only in Student Senate but also in classes when I give presentations or need to speak out, I have that confidence that wasn’t there when I first arrived on campus. Also with my personal life as well, I have made so many new friends and still going strong by just being involved in Student Senate.

There is a lot more to Student Senate than just from what the average college student sees. We do a lot throughout the year. One of the biggest events that we put together is Homecoming. Student Senate goes through the process of setting everything up, we tackle how to find vehicles for the parade, setting the placements for Homecoming Queen and King along with the other college standings. Another item that we tackle is the Annual Leadership Conference which is between the Sister colleges. The sister colleges are Wayne, Chadron, and of course, Peru State College. We see what the other colleges are tackling and how we can develop accordingly, also other issues that pertain to all the colleges in situations that can make all of us a better team.

Student Senate has been able to accomplish a lot through my time here and of course more is to come. My Freshman year we put the finalizing touches on the Disc Golf course located in Neil Park. This was a very long process but worth it in the end. Another thing that Senate helped overlook was the new renovations that took place last year when they redid the entrance way to the college. The Senator from the previous year got to see what they were going to be doing and it was very exciting. We are looking at different ways to make this college one of the best. By adding different features like this and fellow Student Senators that have the passion and devotion to make a change on and off campus. If you are thinking about getting involved Student Senate is for you!

The Times, the official student newspaper of Peru State College, is published four times per semester by Peru State College students. The Times office is located in

the College Publications Office in Room 126 of the AV Larson Building. The opinions expressed in the Times may not be those of the entire newspaper

staff. The Peru State Times is an independent publication funded by student publication fees. The views expressed in this publication, including the contents of paid advertisements, do not necessarily reflect the views of the administration, faculty or staff of Peru State College. All letters to the editor are welcome, and the writers of those letters need not be students. Letters, cartoons, articles, pictures and any other material submitted to the Times must be signed by individual(s) submitting them and will be published at the discretion of the staff. The Times reserves the right to edit

all letters, articles and other submitted materials for grammar, length, and clarity. The Times also reserves the right to decline the publication of any

materials, including paid advertisements, for any reason.To reach the Times, send material to the Peru State Times through campus mail or to: PSC Times,

Peru State College, P.O. Box 10, Peru, NE 68421 or e-mail us at perustatetimes@gmail.com.

www.peru.edu/psctimes

*indicates staff members that assisted with layout

Editor-in-Chief Layout Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Distribution Manager Faculty Advisor

Ama Bikoko Anna Naber Alyssa Grell Ashley Peiman Ryan Christensen Kristi Nies

Contributing StaffIsmael CalvilloMarisa PribnowMarissa GomezMeghan TyburskiRyan ChristensenChelsea Turek

Katelyn CoreyStephanie BrazdaAmanda BurkChelsea MinerMarivelle MaganaHaevyn Hug

www.peru.edu/psctimes | 12/07/2016 | perustatetimes@gmail.com

I’ve been in a classroom for 18 years. Five of those years were spent at Peru State College studying my double majors of English Education and Psychology. It is odd to be in a class for so long and then having to turn around and teach a class. Next semester I will be student teaching, and then I will graduate from this fine institution. I do love this school so much. The reason I chose Peru State College is that I liked the small campus feel, the campus was beautiful, and most importantly I didn’t want to be seen as a number. I wanted to be recognized as a person at my college. Boy, was I noticed. Due to this school, I’ve gone to Washington D.C. twice. I’ve given a research presentation in St. Louis with people who had their doctorate degrees. I earned an internship through Professor Danny Hayes, Dr. James Nevitt, and Professor Shelly Peterson on a study abroad program to London, Paris, and Amsterdam. Right now I am waiting on feedback from two academic journals who want to publish my work.

Non-academically I was in over ten organizations in my five years at Peru State. These include the Peru State Red Cross Club, Theatre Company, Improvisation Troupe, Ambassador, SSS tutor, PILOT, Cosplay Club, Bobcat Arnis Defense, Psychology Club, PSEA, and of course the Peru State Times. It was a bit much at times, but these were valuable experiences. Due to these organizations, I grew out of my self-conscious high school self and was known for being a student leader. I was able to take a dying club and make it thriving. Some of the skills I picked up, besides leadership, were the abilities to sew and crochet, talk to any number of individuals, and how to properly work out. Happily, in my fourth year at Peru State, I was elected Homecoming Queen. It doesn’t get any cooler than that. Most importantly I made wonderful connections at this institution. My professors assisted me in ways I did not imagine. I met the author of Holes, Louis Sachar and the author of Enrique’s Journey by Sonia Nazario, due to Dr. Bill Clemente. Both Dr. Clemente and Dr. Dan Holtz wrote me letters of recommendation for Alpha Chi without telling me as well something that I do appreciate to this

day. They say that the people you meet in college are going to be your friends for life. This is too true for words. Above all these experiences I was a maid of honor for one of my friends. My friends have helped me when I needed it most like went through my mother’s death a few years ago. They attended my plays, binge watched movies with me and fostered my addiction to tea. I know that I can count on them and I they know they can rely on me. At this college, you can make or break who you are. I chose to be involved and get good grades which gave me a plethora of amazing experiences and to meet such wondrous people whom I can call my friends. I was able to be ready for my student teaching experience and go overseas. I have been at Peru State College for five years, and I wish I could be here for more. I will miss seeing the fall foliage, talking to professors, and being able to have so many free services. Most of all I will miss the people and the gifts they have given me. My advice for all of you is not to throw away your shot because while this school may be small, it was able to make me big.

Chelsea TurekCONTRIBUTING WRITER

Goodbye Peru State College

More Microwavable Recipes In A MugHappy December, Bobcats! There are

only two weeks left in the fall semester. Wowza. Here are a few sweet treats to enjoy while you are studying for finals!

This first recipe is for a blueberry muffin in a mug. It is a great snack for those cold afternoons we’ll be spending hunched over our textbooks. For this recipe, you will need to have these ingredients: three tablespoons of flour, two tablespoons of sugar, one tablespoon of butter, one tablespoon of milk, ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon of baking powder, one egg yolk, and one handful of blueberries. Fresh blueberries taste the best, but frozen blueberries work for this recipe as well. Simply mix all the ingredients together in your mug. If you have a larger mug around 14 ounces, use that one as the muffin tends to rise a bit. When you are mixing everything together, try not to smash the blueberries. You want them sprinkled throughout the

muffin, not just buried and crushed on the bottom. Then microwave the batter for one to two minutes. Start out with just one minute and, if it is not cooked all the way through, put the batter back in for ten to fifteen second bursts. The muffin is done when the top and edges are fluffy

and not wet.Next up, we have a banana bread in

a mug recipe. My favorite food that my grandma bakes is banana bread. While this may not taste like hers, (When do our own recipes ever taste as good as grandma’s recipes?) it is the perfect size

for a sweet breakfast or a nice snack. You will need these ingredients: one large egg, four tablespoons of packed brown sugar, four tablespoons of flour, one tablespoon of flavorless vegetable oil (such as canola oil), ¼ teaspoon baking powder, ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract, and one really ripe banana. I love to use completely brown bananas because they are easy to mash and taste better in the recipe. First mash the banana in your mug. Next whisk in the egg and vegetable oil. Then add the rest of your ingredients. Again, it helps to use a larger mug as the bread will rise. Microwave the batter for about two minutes, adding more time in small bursts. I also like to add chocolate chips to my banana bread to make it sweeter. You can also add walnuts, pecans, or a little cinnamon to give it extra flavor and texture.

Enjoy your blueberry muffins or banana bread during these upcoming weeks. More microwavable meals and snacks in a mug will be back next semester in The Times. Good luck with finals, Bobcats!

Ashley PeimanCOPY EDITOR

Image courtesy of The Diet Chef