The Forester, Issue 5
We’re a weekly newsletter for students at Lake Forest College, with new issues coming out every Friday.
Question of the Week
By: Vince Wallace
Every on-campus student at Lake Forest College must decide what meal plan they want to be on. There are three different meal plans the students can choose from. Each plan has a specific number of swipes that can be used for the cafeteria and a certain amount of dollars that can be spent around campus. The three options for students are the unlimited meal swipes with 220 flex dollars, the 15-meal swipe plan with 530 dollars, and the 10-meal swipes with 980 dollars. With the summer approaching for the foresters, I wanted to look at how many flex dollars students have left. Here is what I found.
Katie: 10 Meal plan – $200 left
Katherine: 10 Meal plan – $81 left
Jordan: 10 Meal plan – $700 left
Stone: 10 Meal plan – $0 left
Andy: 10 Meal plan – $50 left
Gianluca: Unlimited Meal plan – $0 left
Tom: 15 Meal plan -- $0 left
The range of flex dollars varies a good amount from student to student. The market area, called Boomers, is one of the spots students can spend their flex. It sells small snacks, drinks, frozen food, and can sell speakers, headphones, game systems, and many other expensive things from time to time.
I asked Stone about his balance, and he said he only spends his flex dollars on food and didn’t make any big purchases from the market area in the student center. Andy bought an Xbox, Katherine bought a speaker, and Tom purchased a pair of wireless headphones. It seemed that most people with low flex dollars made a big purchase. Jordan on the other hand never made any big purchases and ate most of her meals in the café for off campus.
Moon Knight Review: Episode 3
By: Josh Gasca
The episode starts off with Marc Spector interrogating locals about Harrow and Amit’s gravesite. While in combat Steven attest to Marc violent ways in his body, This causes Stephen and Marc to constantly argue over the body and what’s best for it. This fight sequence eventually hints at a 3rd personality within Stephen. After the interrogation doesn’t go the way he wants it too, he needs a new way to find Harrow. Khonshu then comes up with the idea to have a trial with the Egyptian gods and their avatars to accuse Harrow for conspiracy to release Amit from her tomb. This backfires when Harrow manipulates Marc into telling the judges he’s not ok. The judges use this against Marc and Khonshu to invalidate their reasoning behind the trial. With no trial and no lead, Kayla comes back into the picture. She has a lead for Marc after he gets a clue from one of the other avatars that Amits location is in a tomb. They head to an island that has the tomb up for auction and are ambushed by Harrow and his men. During this fight there is a constant struggle for control over Stevens body. After this fight sequence they are in the desert trying to put the destroyed map together, but Marc doesn’t have the knowledge too. So, he puts aside his ego to let steven form the map. The only problem with this is the maps stars are 2000 years old. Khonshu has the idea to move the stars back 2000 years and while doing this he sacrifices himself. This scene was one of the best MCU moments I have scene. The warping of the stars showed the true power behind the God and the power Moon Knight and Khonshu have as one.
Weekly Music Recommendation
By: Delfina Jorgensen
Weekly Music Recommendations
"Pink in the Night" by Mitski - link to song on youtube:
Listening to this song is what I imagine the color combination of green and brown sounding like. I feel that this song has a sad underlying meaning to it, but the transition from slow to upbeat makes it hard to notice. One thing that I love about Mitski is that she is able to say so much with very little words in her songs.
Throwback
"Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds" by The Beatles - link to song on youtube:
Now this is a major throwback to The Beatles but who doesn't like an upbeat and happy sounding song. This is off of the album Sgt. Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band and has a psychedelic feel to it that carries throughout the whole song. One of the ways that The Beatles are able to achieve this is through the panning of the song.
Alternative
"Quiet, The Winter Harbor" by Mazzy Star - link to song on youtube:
A slow soft song that reminds me of Lana Del Rey and carries a mellow vibe. I recommend putting this song on your sleeping playlist because it definitely has a night time melody to it. Fun fact, if you have heard of the song called Fade Into You, the artist that sings that song is the same artist that sings this song.
A Conversation with the New Student Government President of Lake Forest College
By Merle Klemm
In a conversation with the new student government president (that almost didn’t happen because he was so busy), Gabriel Blindauer is late to the interview. Over 15 minutes. But once he arrives, overflowing with apologies, he is there, diving right into a conversation on free laundry, the social grouping on campus, the perks of being the president, and why everyone should be involved in student government. “I just love being on campus and being president is sort of an excuse to show up to an event or try to be active and keep involved” Blindauer explains his motivation to run for student government president. Functioning sort of as a double win situation, presence, and personal contact with the student body is also Blindauer’s strategy to stay in touch with his voters and make sure to know and serve their needs. The close contact he will have with the administration (such as weekly meetings with the dean of students and the college’s president) will then be the place to “directly address what I have been told and what I believe is most important to prioritize and what students tell me” Blindauer says. One of those priorities he already set in his election campaign: Subsidising the laundry service on campus, a promise his voters are eagerly expecting to be fulfilled – “That’s, I think, why most people voted for me” Blindauer notes. Free laundry would certainly be many students’ dream while revitalized furniture in the pod and a curriculum fair at the beginning of the academic year, Blindauer’s two other main goals for his time in office, will certainly be welcomed, but don’t make any student’s heart pound as strongly as the promise of no longer having to pay $3 per a load of clean clothes. At least for those students who don’t go home over the weekends, which is a majority of the student body.
Blindauer demonstrates his awareness of the different social groups on campus and their needs: “I talk to a lot of international students, I talk to a lot of people from different athletic organizations, Greek life, you know different sorts of groups on campus to hear what their cravings are”. Apart from promoting this direct contact, the new president is also a big advocate for the student government itself, encouraging everyone to participate: “I am telling people it is as much work as you wanna make it. I’m not telling you to put your whole life into it if it is not your primary focus, but you really can do good things. And the more people we have in student government, the more things we can work on.” While we are chatting in the student center, dinner ends and many of the people passing us by on their way to the library stop by for a chat with Blindauer who apologizes for not being able to talk right now, as he is being interviewed. He is the new president, and not only is he full of ideas, but he is also pretty damn proud of it.
Gabriel Blindauer, 20 years old, majoring in Politics & Philosophy, minor in public policy.
Lake Forest College’s Relay For Life Event
By Lia Fiffles
On Friday, April 8th, student organizations from Lake Forest College came together to participate in the event known as Relay For Life.
Filled with activities, clever forms of collecting donations, and a gym full of campsites, students spent the night in the Sports and Rec Center from the hours 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Throughout the night money was raised through organizations, and individual donations to be put towards the American Cancer Society.
In total, $20,595 was raised. The fraternity Delta Chi came in first place with the most money raised as a group, coming to a total of $2,022. Swim and Dive succeeded in completing the most laps around the track.
Students got to hang out and complete activities with members from different groups as abnormally loud music was played and bright lights were kept on (all done to keep participants awake until 6 in the morning, of course).
As a reminder of why we relay, at one point during the night the participants gathered to hear stories of why people relay and to complete silent laps around the track in remembrance of those we have lost to cancer.
The event was a success and now that Covid restrictions have been lifted, LFC is looking forward to hosting another Relay For Life event next Spring.
“Antlers” Movie Review
Jenn Arias
Movie theater ticket prices have been on a steady incline for decades. While it is nice to grab a beer, everyone’s favorite buttery treat, and sit in a reclining armchair in front of the big screen, the experience is hardly ideal for college students. HBO Max’s special streaming premier of Searchlight Pictures’ “Antlers” brings the theater to your very own television screen—for a fraction of the price.
“Antlers,” which hit the big screen in late October 2021, stars Jeremy T. Thomas as Lucas Weaver, a young boy living in a small town in Oregon. Sensing trouble at home, his teacher Julia (played by Keri Russell) takes a special interest in his care and resolves to find out what exactly is going on in his home and discover where those cuts and bruises are coming from.
However, not all is as it seems. The local Native Americans understand but are unwilling to get involved as Lucas harbors an ancient curse in his attic that must, at all costs, never be released. Enlisting the help of her sheriff brother, Paul (Jesse Plemons), Julia is determined to help save this child who has nowhere else to turn—but into the arms of the darkness, he knows.
Blending legendary folktale into real-life terrors, “Antlers” will have you on the edge of your couch, eyes glued to the incredible gore and practical effects Guillermo Del Toro is notorious for creating. A must-see for any lover of horror and suspense films, this movie will keep you guessing who the real evil is, and what we are willing to sacrifice to be rid of it.
Peaky Blinders Review
by Cameron Lowe
To start off the review, I give peaky blinders a 9 out of 10. Peaky Blinders is a Netflix exclusive show that takes place in Birmingham, England.
The Peaky Blinders are an English gang headed by the Shelby family. Thomas Shelby is the leader of the Peaky Blinders and his main goal is to take over the world.
The only takeaway I have from Peaky Blinders is the amount of violence in the show. I do not have a problem with a little violence yet, the amount of violence in peaky blinders is somewhat disturbing. If you can get over the violence then the show is a great watch!
Insufficient Ramadan Meal Plan
By: Sergio Bardesi-Texocotitla
On Friday, April 1, Ramadan began. “The holy month of Ramadan” requires that able-bodied, healthy Muslims fast (no drinks, food, smoking, and sex) between sunrise and sunset.
Participants are only able to break their fast between sunset and sunrise. As such, our participating-Muslim classmates require dietary accommodations so that they can continue participating with strength and in a rigorous, academic environment.
Zahra Nadeem, a fourth-year neuroscience major, said that in her freshman year, some of her Muslim friends stayed on campus for the Richter Scholar program which aligned with Ramadan.
“We reached out to the Office of Intercultural Relations (OIR) and… they set up the Ramadan meal plan,” Nadeem said.
According to an email from the OIR, this month’s meal plan features breakfast and dinner. The breakfast has two hard-boiled eggs, half a pint of milk, a fruit yogurt cup, a fruit, a granola bar, bottled water and juice. The dinner has halal protein, some vegetables, a “daily starch,” a side salad, dessert, a bottled water and a whole fruit.
Second-year Farhan Masud Ahmed, a physics and chemistry double major, said, “I used to take that food from Boomer’s, but this year I decided not to… mostly because the food provided, at least last year, is not really enough.”
Instead, Ahmed breaks his fast at the dining hall and gets food elsewhere. He said, “I personally feel that it’s [the meals] are not sufficient” because he still has to get through a full day of classes, studying and activities.
Nadeem said, “A lot of people I know are not very satisfied with the meal plan… It’s not a lot of food. It’s not sufficient.”
She continued, “I think the next step to better support Muslim students during Ramadan would be [to] take feedback from students directly.”
Self-care tips for finals week
By Katie Fagan
Finals week is coming fast! While you’re preparing for them, don’t forget to take care of yourself in the meantime. Here are some tips to prevent burnout:
Do something you enjoy for at least 30 minutes every day. For example, watch your favorite show, go for a walk, listen to some music, or talk to a friend.
Make sure you fuel your body. If you don’t have time for a full meal, eat snacks throughout the day. Fruit, trail mix, smoothies, and PB and J are some good go-tos.
Create a schedule for your week and stick to it! Planning can help reduce your stress level.
Get back into your skincare routine.
Try to keep your complaints to a minimum. Be encouraged and encourage the ones around you! You made it this far for a reason.
GET REST. If that means getting off TikTok before bed, then do that. (Speaking from experience…)
Reward yourself with your achievements. (Yes, you deserve that 30-minute scroll through your phone AND that pint of ice cream from The Pod).
Know when to say no. When you have assignments that need to be taken care of, you may have to say “no” when your friends invite you to hang out.
Take a mindfulness break. Take a second to breathe and clear your mind.
And lastly, remember to be kind to yourself and that this is only temporary. You’ll be free from the burden of finals sooner than you think. In almost 2 weeks, it will be summer and you can do whatever your heart desires.
Good luck, Foresters. You can do this!