The Forester, Issue 2
Welcome to The Forester’s second issue! We’re a weekly newsletter for students at Lake Forest College, with new issues coming out every Friday.
In this issue: talking to students about mask mandates, questions and answers with the new athletic director, a collection of cultural events on bargain, recaps on Forester sports and March Madness, exploring the dreams of students, and more!
Lake Forest College Lifts Mask Mandate
By Mark Rice and Jane Wood
Courtesy of Sergio Bardesi-Texocotitla
As of Monday, March 22nd, Lake Forest College has lifted their mask mandate and students and staff alike have proceeded based on their own opinions.
When asking someone who chooses to wear a mask, and one who chooses not to, I got two strangely similar responses. Henry, a junior at Lake Forest, who does not wear a mask unless required said,
“It’s amazing, being able to see everyone's faces again in public spaces is one of the biggest changes.”
Henry was in favor of the mask mandate being dropped, and as evidenced by the quote, was happy to have a shred of normalcy return to the college.
When interviewing Joey, a sophomore who still wears a mask even after the dropping of the mandate, he said he felt “comfortable” and was fine with the mask mandate being dropped. He went on to say that he goes back and forth between home frequently and would not want to get any of his family members sick.
So, while both Henry and Joey have different stances on masks being worn, their views on the mandate being lifted were fairly similar.
Molli Martini has also decided to maintain her decision to wear a mask.
“I’m used to it, I’m used to hiding my face, the pandemic still isn’t over so I feel like I might as well.”
Similarly, Josseline Manzanares believes that at this point, wearing her mask feels normal and agrees that the pandemic has yet to end.
The fear of another spike hovers over students, as Mellissa Wallace admits,
“I wear my mask because honestly, I feel like if I don’t there will be another spike. I’m just doing my part and keeping everyone safe – there’s still a virus going around.”
Differing opinions are circulating the campus, but as staff and faculty continue to implement their own rules, students continue to discuss and act on their reactions to the lifting of this mandate.
For more information, visit: https://www.lakeforest.edu/about-us/administration/covid-19-information
Q&A with New Athletic Director, Nicki Pieart
By Isa Hinojosa
Via Lake Forest College Athletics
What led you to this position at lake forest?
I have worked in college athletics for about 18 years or so, and I started out in my undergrad wanting to pursue athletic training. As I became more instrumental in the administration of the athletics department, I fell in love with it. I got interested in Lake Forest in particular because of its great reputation, amazing education, and great facilities. It ticked all the boxes for me about places I would want to work and here I am!
What is your favorite thing about LFC?
First, it’s a great staff. What really sets us apart from some of our other competitors is this focus on career. The idea that we can recruit high caliber students to come to Lake Forest, provide them with an exceptional experience both academically, athletically, and community-wise in the time that they’re here, it’s the perfect snapshot of what higher education is.
What does your day-to-day work look like?
Right now, it is just meeting everybody and getting to know everybody in the department and starting dialogue with folks across campus. Cross-campus collaboration is something that I value. Beyond that, it’s getting to know the student athletes and going to the games.
What is your goal as athletic director?
My goal first and foremost is to provide an exceptional student athlete experience. I want the student athletes when they walk out the doors after graduation to look back on the four years that they spent here and really be able to relive everything that was so fruitful.
If you could say anything to all the forester athletes, what would you say?
Enjoy it. COVID has really disrupted the past two years for so many people, staff and students alike. Use the four years in your collegiate experience to learn more about yourself and who you are outside of your athletic identity. Shaping your identity can really be a core part of your four years if you are willing to put yourself in a situation to try.
If you could change one thing about our athletic programs, what would it be?
Getting everybody back in the stands. I think one thing that I'm looking to lean into next year is to really reengage the excitement in the campus community for coming to games and watching the Foresters in action. I think that would be a great component that would really help add to the excitement not only for the athletes but also for the students.
What is one word you would use to describe LFC athletes?
I would say impressive. What I have learned so far from the student athletes that I’ve met is that they are juggling a lot of balls. High academic rigor, lots of expectations around their athletics, studying abroad, doing amazing research projects. It’s certainly impressive that our student athletes are able to achieve at such a high level in so many facets of their college experience.
Express Yourself
By Domingo Claudio
Have you ever liked a song that you were immediately enamored and embarrassed by simultaneously? The words and beat and everything about the song is what you like in music but there's one underlying problem: you would not want to be caught listening to it in a public and social setting. Why do you feel this way? Is music not one of the many forms of expression for both the artist and listener? Yes, it is, so why be embarrassed by the music you like if its sole purpose in life is to express it? I believe you should never be embarrassed by what makes you happy and that includes a multitude of things you like to do including listening to music.
For those who are lonely spectators or passersby’s of those listening to music. Do you ever think “wow, this person sure does listen to Playboi Carti a bunch, I wonder if they’re always in an energetic and vibe-worthy mood? If you do, then I applaud you for actually taking up minor amounts of space in your brain to analyze the person for enjoying their music publicly instead of judging them for having “poor” taste. The main point of this rant is simple to understand. Never be embarrassed by the music you love to listen to daily.
Musically speaking, I believe every listener is intellectually… well intelligent. They took the billions of different songs released from the past to current and crafted an ideal way to express themselves. Music preferences are something you should constantly explore and continue to express even if you feel doubt or pressure from others. Keep on blasting what makes you happy, respectfully of course. Nobody wants to hear a booming bass wake them at 3 a.m.
Weekly Music Recommendations
By Delfina Jorgensen
Indie
“Alewife” by Clairo
A song that can give the listener hope for better things to come. Sometimes you need a song to help you feel your emotions, and this can be your next go to. Also, if you like to look for the deeper meaning in songs, this one's for you.
Throwback
“Pass The Dutchie” by Musical Youth
This song is simple yet very effective. A feel good song that has a groovy beat you can
dance to.
Alternative Rock
“No Surprises” by Radiohead
If you are looking for a song that sounds like a lullaby, but is also hypnotic and chill,“No Surprises” by Radiohead is a solid choice. Fun fact, like a lullaby, this song was sung by my mom to my brother when he was a baby.
Bargain Deals for Cultural Events in Chicago!
Anna Blazkova
Looking for a bit of culture this weekend –maybe a movie or a concert– but you’re also on a budget? I’ve got you covered. Here’s four places in Chicago that offer some pretty sweet discounts to college students:
Gene Siskel Film Center offers $7 discounted tickets for all screenings, as long as you show your student ID when purchasing them at their box office. Go see a movie from their Ukrainian Cinema series or the adaptation of Haruki Murakami’s “Drive My Car” this weekend.
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra has $15 student tickets available for most classical performances – just pick a seat and show your student ID at the door.
Visit the Symphony Center this weekend for a selection of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s work.
The Lyric Opera of Chicago offers $20 student tickets to select musicals, operas, and other events if you sign up for their free NEXT program. This also includes occasional free college nights at the opera. Their upcoming NEXT programming features Giacomo Puccini’s “Tosca” and “Fire Shut Up In My Bones.”
The Steppenwolf Theatre Company has $15 tickets available for most events by using the promo code STUDENT15 – don’t forget to present your student ID at the door! This weekend, watch their performance of “King James.”
Entourage Entertains for Eight Seasons
By Vincent Wallace
The Entourage is a comedy TV show that was created in 2004 and ran for a total of 8 seasons, concluding in 2011. The show is about an up-and-coming actor named Vincent Chase and his four friends moving from Queens, New York to Los Angeles, California. It follows Vincent and his two best friends, Turtle and Eric, his brother, Johnny Chase, and his agent, Ari Gold.
Each character has a real-life person they are based on because the show is loosely based on Mark Wahlberg’s life, the executive producer of the show. Vince is based on Wahlberg, but it is the character of Ari Gold who steals the show. The fan-favorite is incredibly quick, witty, fearless, and provides some good laughs throughout the series. Ari can be very blunt and mean when talking to people below him and as a result, the jokes that he tells can be taken harshly by both the characters in the show and the audience watching.
I personally enjoyed watching all eight seasons as it was quite an easy show to binge-watch. The show does cater to more of a male audience as is told from a male perspective with all the main characters male as well.
Forester’s Sports Recap: March 19-24
By Joshua Gasca
Rough week in the Forest for the springtime teams. Here is the recap for the sporting events that took place this past week for the Foresters.
With woman’s tennis losing last week to Morningside 6-1, they fall short again to Judson (IL) 6-3 on Saturday, March 19th. There’s no doubt in the forester’s minds that they will turn this losing streak around.
On the other side of the tennis is the men’s team who also fell short, 7-2, against Judson (IL) on Saturday, March 19th.
Men’s Tennis had a chance to redeem themselves the next day on Sunday, March 20th and seized it with a 5-4 win over the Milwaukee School of Engineering’s Raiders.
Woman’s softball were scheduled to have a game on March 23, 2022, but it had to be postponed because of heavy rain in the area. The game will now take place Sunday, April 3rd.
Men’s lacrosse took on Calvin College but lost 13-9 in a 4-point deficit. Scorers on the lake forest men’s team were Trip Gaston, Jack Langworthy, Will Kerber, John Casey, Bode Rubright, and Chas Dean, with a hat trick (3 goals).
Men’s lacrosse had another game later on in the week on Tuesday, but could not come through for the win and ended up losing 19-10 against Benedictine. In this game Bode Rubright had 4 goals.
Women’s lacrosse faced Concordia Chicago and won 11-8. Women’s lacrosse had multiple scorers on this Thursday afternoon with Cass Barbera (1 goal), Ashley Carr (1 goal), Emma Tryder (1 goal), Krissy Kuwahara (2 goals), Savannah Frauhiger (1 goal), Jenna Doctor (2 goals), and Ali Graham with a hat trick (3 goals). Congrats to the women’s lacrosse team, and hopefully they can carry this into Saturday March 26, 2022 where they will face on Carthage.
Till next week, GO FORESTERS!!!
“Street Basketball in Paris - 2” couresty of Geoffrey Froment
March Madness Continues
Cameron Lowe
To recap the early Thursday night games, the Gonzaga Bulldogs lost 74-68 to the victorious Arkansas Razorbacks. The Villanova Wildcats took down the Michigan Wolverines 63-55. The Razorbacks and Wildcats advance to the Elite Eight.
At the time of this writing, duking it out on the court are the Texas Tech Red Raiders versus Duke Blue Devils in one game and Houston Cougars versus Arizona Wildcats.
On Friday, March 25, the following matches will take place at the United Center in downtown Chicago. At 6:30 CDT, the first-seeded Kansas Jayhawks will take on the fourth-seeded Providence Friars. The tenth-seeded Miami Hurricanes and the eleventh-seeded Iowa State Cyclones are expected to play at 9 p.m. The victors from these games will face off on Sunday, March 27.
On the same day, in Philadelphia, Saint Peter’s Peacocks will play the Purdue Boilermakers at 7:10 p.m. and the North Carolina Tar Heels will take on UCLA Bruins at 9:40 p.m.
What Did You Dream Last Night?
By Caden Lindholm
Dreams. They are so much more than just a thought or image inside one’s head.
You don’t normally expect someone to come up to you in the middle of the day and ask, “what were you dreaming of last night?”, but sometimes it can be exciting to tell the people around you where your mind chose to travel the night before.
Cody Lillge, a sophomore at Lake Forest College, responded with an interesting story.
It began with him and a woman spending a night in Vegas, “in a villa of course,” he said. He made it clear that this woman was someone he was taking interest in. They had fun gambling and talking all night long.
He explained, “I remember I scored with her that night, then, of course, every dream ends at the good part.” And that was that.
The next response was from Chris Elliott, a fifth-year here at the College. He explained that he was on vacation in the Bahamas when suddenly he was drugged and kidnapped.
Although he was able to escape, he had to avoid him for the rest of the vacation. After a not-so relaxing trip, Chris was finally kidnapped in an attempt to escape in his car.
“After catching me, he sacrificed me, then proceeded to take over the world… THE END,” he shouted.
The final response was quite entertaining.
He began his dream by walking to an LFC men’s basketball game. When he entered the gym, it was like he had teleported to New Orleans, where the NCAA Championship will be taking place.
He entered the arena with the crowd roaring. He then realized that Lake Forest was playing the Florida Gators in the national championship, and Lake Forest ended up winning the title.
The confetti fell and out came the trophy.
Dreams can be a sense of our reality, our hopes, our fears, and sometimes a cause for confusion. But that’s what makes our brains the most fascinating thing in the world.