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Low cost LLC servicesSee page 4
Poetry contest resultsSee page 8 & 9
Cubs vs. CardinalsSee page 10
LLC welcomes a newsoftball coach
See page 14
FRONT: Kayla Henry. BACK LEFT to RIGHT: Tiffany Berglund, Jasmine Peters, Samantha Smith, Marlana Dyer.
Lake Land College - mattoon, Ill.
Vol. 10; Issue 7April 2011
Navigator News
Ap
ril E
vent
s }}}}01 - Navigator News on stands02 - Baseball at LLC at 12 p.m. Softball at Harrisburg, IL at 12 p.m.05 - Baseball at Olney at 1 p.m. Softball at LLC at 2 p.m.06 - Health Fair 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Field House07 - Red Cross Blood Drive sponsored by SGA 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in WH081 – Baseball at LLC at 1:30 p.m. Softball at LLC at 2 p.m.09 - Baseball at Centralia, IL 12 p.m. Softball at LLC at 12 p.m.10 - Softball at Peoria, IL TBA12 - Baseball at Harrisburg, IL at 1:30 p.m. Softball at Belleville, IL 2 p.m.13 - Distracted Driving with Sergeant William Emery, Safety Education Offi cer for the Illinois State Police at 11 a.m. in the Theater – Baseball at LLC at 5:30 p.m.14 - Baseball at LLC at 1:30 p.m. Softball at Mt. Carmel, IL at 2 p.m.16 - Baseball at Mt. Carmel, IL at 12 p.m. Softball at LLC at 12 p.m.18-22 - Spring Break – No Day or Evening Classes, College offi ces open April 18-20.18 - Softball at LLC at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.19 - Baseball at LLC at 1:30 p.m.21 - Baseball at LLC at 1:30 p.m.22 - Softball at Ina, IL 12 p.m.23 - Baseball at Robinson, IL at 12 p.m.28 - Baseball at LLC at 1:30 p.m. 30 - Baseball at Belleville, IL at 12 p.m.
LLC Annual Health FairApril 6 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Field House
Free healthy snacks - Giveaways including t-shirts, gift cards, gift baskets, & gift certifi catesVendors: Addus Healthcare, Air Evac, American Cancer Society, American Red Cross, Autism Program Central East Alcoholism & Drug Council, Charleston Rehab & Healthcare Center, Coles County Community Health Center, Coles County Health Department, Community Blood Services of Illinois, Crisis Pregnancy Center, Cumberland Associates, Department of Health Education EIU, East Central IL Breast & Cervical Cancer Program, Effi ngham Health Center, Candoffi Chiropractic, Health Alliance, HOPE of East Central Illinois, Illinois State Police, Lake Land College B-GLADD Club, Lake Land College Cosmetology, Lake Land College Health Services, Lake Land College Stu-dents Creating Change, Lutherans for Life, Mary Kay Cosmetics, New Vision, Pavilion, Sexual Assault Counseling & Information Service, Mattoon Healthcare & Rehabilitation, Mid-IL Big Brothers Big Sisters, U of I Extension, Soyland Access to Independent Living (SAIL), & Villas of Holly Brook of Shelbyville.
Campus - 03
Lindsey ProbstManaging Editor
Megan E. HammondCampus & Features Editor
Mark W. JensenNews & Opinion Editor
Libby MarshallSports & Entertainment Editor
Brittany McQueenLayout & Design Editor
Nikki DavidsonPhoto & Web Editor
The Navigator News is a monthly publica-
tion produced by the students, for the students
of Lake Land College.
The Navigator News serves to inform, en-
tertain and enlighten the student community on
topics of social importance.
The Navigator News respects every
individual’s freedom of speech and serves
as an open forum for the students of Lake
Land College.
The opinion in the works of the Navigator
News do not represent the view of advertisers,
Lake Land College or its employees.
Editorial comments, unless accompanied
by the author’s name, are refl ective of the
opinions of the majority of the Navigator News
Editorial Board.
Submissions to the Navigator News
should be typed and include the name and
telephone number of the author. The Navigator
News reserves the right to edit letters, articles
and commentaries.
Harry ReynoldsCopy Editor
Staff WritersAlyson Alde
Brandie HeitcampChardonnay LatchStephen Osterday Jr.
Delane Young
Faculty ContributorsLisa Shumard-Shelton
AdviserBen Ragle
Production CoordinatorDave Earp, LLC Print Shop
Cover photo taken byNikki Davidson
Contact us...Telephone: 217-234-5269
or 1-800-252-4121 ext. 5269
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.navigatornews.org
By Lisa Shumard-Shelton
LLC Faculty
Here’s a question that matters:
“What bugs you about Lake Land
College?”
Late last fall, Lake Land College
unveiled an innovative new program
called the “Bug List.” The goal of the
program was to spark innovation
and enhance the LLC experience
for students.
The Bug
List Web
site asked participants to
share their “bugs,” or is-
sues about the college, as
well as possible solutions.
Some bugs were easily
“exterminated,” while others
could be long term projects.
While the Bug List Web site is
closed, college offi cials hope to make
it a permanent feature in the fall.
This way, said college President Scott
Lensink, when someone has a bug,
that person can go directly to the site
and quickly report the issue.
“We may not be able to fi x every-
thing, but we will seriously look at
your bugs and search for innovative
solutions and ideas,” Lensink said.
Lensink shared some examples of
bugs reported and exterminated, or
addressed through the bug list.
Summary of Bug: There is nowhere
quiet to study or do homework
Vice President for Academic Ser-
vices James Hull: The Learning Re-
source Center renovation took this
need into account. At the request
of students, LLC made sure the new
LRC included quiet study rooms. The
Student Government Association is
working to inform students of all that
is available to them on the second
fl oor of the LRC.
Summary of Bug: There needs to
be some form of public transporta-
tion between the Kluthe Center and
other locations, to the Main Cam-
pus.
Vice President for
Student Ser-
vices Tina
Stovall: During fall semes-
ter, we distributed a docu-
ment to students identifying
transportation available in
Coles County. We also posted
a transportation needs survey for
Rides Mass Transit on our Web site
to identify student interest in public
transportation. That survey is lo-
cated at www.lakelandcollege.edu/
current
Summary of Bug: It takes too
much for Financial Aid to process
paperwork
Vice President for Student Services
Tina Stovall: To improve services to
students, the Financial Aid Offi ce has
implemented several initiatives this
year, including FAFSA Fridays where
students can attend group sessions
to receive assistance in completing fi -
nancial aid applications; IRIS access
to fi nancial aid award information
that identifi es documents a student
might be missing, and allows the
student to print the forms online.
Innovation and improvementsbuzzing forward with Bug List
rticipants to
ugs,” or is-
e college, as
le solutions.
were easily
,” while others
Vice P
v
Stovall: During
ter, we distribu
ment to studen
transportation
Coles County. W
a transportation nee
By Megan E. Hammond
Campus & Features Editor
Construction is not a rare thing
around LLC, as it always seems
something is being repaired. The
administration had to face the fact
in the last several years that our be-
loved school is getting old, and in
desperate need of renovations. The
Learning Resource Center was the
latest building to receive a revamp,
but it certainly will not be the last.
When the center was renovated
this year, the fi nal touches on the
geothermal heating system were
applied. The new heating sys-
tem has helped LLC save over
$300,000 in energy costs. More
plans for the heating system in-
clude building additional well
fi elds near the front of the cam-
pus. There are plans for more
wells, as the college needs them,
for situations like expanding
the campus.
Vice President for Business Ser-
vices Ray Rieck, sounding relieved,
said, “We are not going to rip apart
a building this year.” However, the
college’s sustainability program
includes not only the geothermal
heating system, but also using
wind turbines to help lower en-
ergy costs. LLC has been given the
go-ahead to build the fi rst two of
four new, bigger, and better wind
turbines to add to the two
small ones installed
near the West
building, and
actually power one
room within
that building.
When all four
of the tur-
bines are com-
pleted, they will
have the capacity to
power 10 percent o f
the entire campus; that is a
lot of savings for our college.
But, renovations for buildings
are not over. The year 2012 is
planned for renovation of Webb Hall.
The following year Northwest will
get its turn to go under the knife.
Vo-Tech is also in the works to be
renovated and fi nished.
When asked about
th e rumor that LLC
might be getting
another hall, Rieck
sighed, and
smiling sadly,
replied, “That’s
out there, but
it’s been on hold
since 2002.”
Hopefully, the plans
for the new hall come
to fruition in the future.
Lake Land is always changing
for the better. The renovations and
sustainability changes will put LLC
on the map as a green campus.
Always under constructionUpdate on Lake Land facilities er, and better wind
d to the two
stalled
est
d
one
.
m-
ill
city to
percent o f
pus; that is a
Vo-Tech is also in t
renovated
When
the ru
m
ano
s
it’s
si
Hopefu
for the
to fruition in
(continued on page 4)
04 - Campus
By Megan E. Hammond
Campus & Features Editor
Americans spend billions of dol-
lars on beauty products a year, in-
cluding make-up, hair care, dental
treatments, and plastic surgery.
As college students, we are no nov-
ices to the allures of the beauty
industry. Girls have been wearing
make-up since middle school, and
guys fi nally fi gured out which way
they like their hair parted. We are
completely obsessed about our ap-
pearance, and that can defi nitely
be a problem when it comes to
our wallets.
However, Lake Land students
have it all on campus. LLC’s Cosme-
tology program is the hot place to
get your hair styled, with top-of-the-
line products; get your nails done
for less than half the price of regu-
lar salons; and even get a facial with
a hand and arm massage to relieve
stress. While you have got to be pre-
pared to be there a while, depend-
ing on what you are having done, it
is defi nitely worth it for
great service performed
by fellow LLC students;
and a price just right
for a college student’s
pocketbook. Never fear,
the students practicing their tech-
niques on you are supervised by
their teachers. They are careful
in remembering each step in the
process of doing whatever service
you choose.
The Dental Hygiene program
at LLC also offers students ben-
efi ts one cannot afford to pass up.
Dental health is important, but
few college students can afford
dental care without assistance.
The dental hygiene students are
happy to help. They offer teeth
cleaning, impressions,
x-rays and check-ups,
of course. Just those
basic services can save
hundreds of dollars in
dental costs every year.
With the economy still so tight
and gas prices so high, why not
stop into the cosmetology, or
dental hygiene departments
at LLC? With a high fl ow of clients,
the students in those departments
get as much practice as possible,
which helps them in the future
with their careers. So, if it fi ts
into your schedule, getting your
hair done or teeth cleaned at
Lake Land is benefi cial to
your health, your beauty and
your wallet.
Fighting tooth and nail to save moneyLLC’s low cost services
Phot
os b
y N
ikki
Dav
idso
n
Jessica Boyd blow dries Bailey Kroeger’s hair Mary Presley and Michelle Lauter smile for the camera before Presley fi nishes Kassie Darnold inserts a mouthpiece into Chandra Melton’s mouth for x-rays
600 Lincoln AvenueCharleston, Illinois 61920-3099877-581-BEIU
contact the Transfer Relations Office
877-581-2348 or [email protected]
Eastern is serious about our commitment to transfer students – you make up 37 percent of our student population!
Here’s a short list of what Eastern offers:
u.select
U.S. News & World Report
interests.
Get started at iameiu.eiu.edu
my panther profile
The Financial Aid staff has provided
training sessions for other Student Ser-
vices Staff, so that all can help students
understand the process of applying for
fi nancial aid and checking their sta-
tus through IRIS. The Student Services
Leadership Team is working to develop
educational models to help students de-
velop plans on how to pay for college.
Summary of Bug: There needs to be
more classes offered at Kluthe
Vice President for Academic Services
James Hull: LLC has an established
Kluthe Center Advisory Board that is
constantly looking at the needs of Kluthe
students and trying to offer the most fea-
sible mix of classes possible.
These are only a few of the many
bugs exterminated from the Bug List.
Information about the Bug List will be
disseminated to students when it is
again available.
Bug list (continued from page 3)
News - 05
By Mark W. Jensen
News & Opinion Editor
With rising fuel costs, long
driving distances and many
students without a vehicle, fi nd-
ing a way to get to LLC can be a
challenge. Rides Mass Transit,
a well-known provider of pub-
lic transportation in Southern Il-
linois, recently expanded its bus
routes to include the Mattoon,
Charleston, Effi ngham and Toledo/
Greenup areas.
Rides Mass Transit offers riders
a full fi rst month free to and from
LLC. A fee of $50 is applied
for monthly services after the
fi rst free month. “Rides”
operates between the
hours of 8 a.m. to
5 p.m., and
will pick up
riders at
any nearby
d i spa t ch
center lo-
cation. For
more in-
formation
on Rides
Mass Tran-
sit, feel free to call toll free at
1-866-389-7536, or visit its website
at www.ridesmtd.com.
Rides Mass Transit is not the
only option available for students
looking for public transporta-
tion to and from LLC. Dial-A-Ride,
which also offers transportation
to students living in Mattoon or
Charleston, is available at
8 a.m. and 9 a.m., as well as
noon, 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Dial-A-Ride offers rides for $4
each way. Rides must be
scheduled at least a day
in advance. For more information,
call 217-639-5169.
Coles County Shuttle offers rides
for students living in Charleston,
to and from LLC, daily at 7:30 a.m.
and 11:30 a.m., and 4:30 p.m. The
cost is $5 per ride from Charleston
to LLC. Like Dial-A-Ride, students
should call ahead for boarding ar-
rangements. To schedule a ride, call
217-276-7223.
Another, and more pricey, op-
tion available for students in Mat-
toon is Checker Top Cab. It offers
rides at any time of
the day, to and from LLC, at a price
of $10 each way. The number for
Checker Top Cab is 217-234-7474.
The LLC website also offers the
option of “Find a Ride,” which al-
lows students interested in starting
a carpool to offer their assistance
to other students in the area. For
those living in Pana, Paris, or any-
where in between, this is a great
option and will make that long
drive, to and from LLC, a little
bit easier.
If those gas prices and that long
drive is getting you down, don’t fret,
there are other options!
Need a ride?You have options!
Photo by Rides Mass Transit D
istrict
“If those gas pric-es and that long drive is getting
you down, donʼt fret, there are other options!”
By Chardonnay Latch
Staff Writer
After recently increasing rates by
$44 million per year, Ameren, in Il-
linois is asking another $111 mil-
lion a year in new rate hikes. These
new rates, if approved, could cost
families up to $100, or more, a year
in combined fees for the delivery
of natural gas and electricity. The
amount of the proposed increase
this time is enough that it could
cover the cost of roughly 21,000
student’s full-time tuition for two
years, or four semesters each.
Ameren makes its profi t by
charging for fuel and power usage,
but also for the delivery of these
necessities. The recently proposed
hikes are in the process of ap-
proval, which will take roughly 11
months to get through the system,
meaning any new rates will take
effect in early 2012. Ameren lead-
ers said they intend to fi le smaller
rate hikes, as often as every 18
months, in order to avoid “a regula-
tory lag,” as they called it. That is
the period of time between fi ling to
increase rates, and actually seeing
the money.
The Citizens Utility Board con-
sumer watchdog group, which often
confronts Ameren on rate-increase
issues, said customers have good
reason to be skeptical about wheth-
er or not the large scale increase is
justifi ed. Ameren pointed out that,
under law, it can collect a 10-per-
cent return on its investment, but
typically receives 8-8.5 percent in-
stead. Ameren also said it deserves
to make more money for the reliable
service it provides.
Ameren noted that paying more
was not something customers
would like. “We are sensitive to the
impact that any service delivery rate
increase may have on our custom-
ers, however, we must have the fi -
nancial ability to provide a safe and
reliable energy delivery system that
will accommodate future economic
growth and development.” said
Craig Nelson, senior vice president
of Ameren Illinois.
If you want to see the effect the
proposed rate increase would have
on your bill for a full year, go to Il-
linoisRateFacts.com to have it esti-
mated, or call 1-800-755-5000.
Another Ameren rate hike
of $50 is applied
services s after the
month. “Rides”
etween the
a.m. to
nd
p
rides at any time e
the day, to and from LLC, at a prii
Just as in the game Monopoly, when
you own all of one color, you can keep
increasing your rates. Ameren
Illinois isnʼt playing games when it says
it plans to do just that.
Phot
o by
Cha
rdon
nay
Latc
h
06 - News
By Mark W. Jensen
News & Opinion Editor
With high unemployment rates
and a poor economy, the number
of workers in a minimum wage
job has greatly increased over the
last couple of years. The rate of
minimum wage in Illinois is $8.25
an hour, but state Sen. Kimberly
Lightford, D-Maywood, is hoping to
change this.
In February, Lightford proposed
SB 1565, which would boost Illinois’
minimum wage by 50 cents, effective
July 1, and gradually increase over
the next several years to $10.03 per
hour. Once peaking at $10.03 per
hour, the minimum wage would be
set to continually adjust for future
infl ation rates. The proposal would
also remove language which states
newly hired employees are subject
to 50 cents less than the current
minimum wage, for their fi rst 90
days on the job.
Proponents of the measure say
the minimum wage is not properly
adjusting for the rising infl ation
rates, and does not equate a livable
wage for low-income families. Sup-
porters declare in order for the buy-
ing power of $8.25 to equal what
the original buying power of $1.68
did in 1968, the minimum wage
would have to be at least $10.03
per hour.
Supporters are pleased with pro-
visions in the bill, which mandates
agricultural and domestic workers,
are subject to receiving at least the
state minimum wage for their ser-
vices. Workers’ rights advocates
also support the measure because
it contains provisions allowing em-
ployees to sue businesses that fail
to meet minimum wage standards,
and allows for workers to collect in-
terest on late payments.
While an increase in the mini-
mum wage would mean more mon-
ey in the pockets of low-income
workers, many Illinois businesses
are skeptical about the impacts of
the proposal. With the recent tax
increases, along with the minimum
wage increase proposal, many cash-
strapped small businesses are look-
ing to scale back.
For many small business-
es and job seekers in the area,
the proposal could potentially
lead to fewer future employment
opportunities, and smaller staffs.
Many skeptics also argue the in-
crease would mean minimum wage
earners nearing a raise, would
be very unlikely to see an in-
crease in pay if the wage increases
to $10.03.
The proposal failed to pass a
committee vote on March 17, but
assembly members have until the
end of the session in May
$10.03 an hour?State Assembly looks to increase the minimum wage
By Lindsey Probst
Managing Editor
As futuristic as it may seem,
the age of taking plans for a
three-dimensional object from
your computer and actually print-
ing it, is upon us. It is simply
called 3-D printing. The concept
of a 3-D printer has been around
for decades, however, advances
and lower prices has driven it to
revolutionary status.
With the right program, you can
construct a three-dimensional de-
sign on your computer - say a chess
piece - and send it to the printer.
The printer will construct
the chess piece, layer by layer,
until complete. The printer prints
layers that are only fractions of
millimeters in order to get the
desired shape. The newest print-
ers use an additive approach,
as opposed to a subtractive carv-
ing away of a material. Injection
cylinders, or syringes, are fi lled
with a more malleable
form of a solid; for
example mol-
ten plastic, or
a powder. And
then, they are
laid out thinly in
the small layers,
bound together
in parts, or en-
tirely, at the end.
The printing time
for a small hand-
held item typically
ranges from one
to three hours,
but is seven to 24
hours for larger, more
intricate designs.
Lake Land instructor Jeni-
fer Muser discussed this innova-
tion with her macroeconomics
class. “This could revolutionize the
way business is done” she said.
“Is that a good thing? Were com-
puters a good thing? Was the
Model T?” Many other economists
predict this
new advance-
ment to be revo-
lutionary. Being able
to mass-produce an object with no
labor and little materials, will
cut production cost of many
companies, and thus, lower the
product of our goods.
The possibility of cus-
tomizing goods is even
attainable now. For
example, there are web-
sites where people can de-
sign their own cell phones,
color, style, and look, and
upload them to be printed.
New inventors can create
affordable prototypes eas-
ily altered if malfunctioning.
Engineers can build planes
out of lighter metals (and
lower production cost) that
will cause less fuel to be con-
sumed. The possibilities are
wide spread.
“3-D Systems launched a new
model, costing less than $10,000,
in May,” reported “The Economist.”
This might seem a little hefty for
personal use, but prices are expect-
ed to be the same as current two-
dimensional printers someday, even
as soon as 2015.
First movies, now printing goes 3-Dmalleable
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Fitness Center Spring Break Schedule8am to 8pm Monday-Thursday & 8am to 6pm on Friday’s
Features - 07
By Brandie Heitkamp
Staff Writer
Finally, the weather is break-
ing and it is getting warmer. This
means many of us will be able to
pick up our favorite summer hab-
its, like camping, fi shing and riding
four-wheelers. Now, no one wants
to blab about how ATVs are bad and
can kill people. Yes, bad accidents
can happen that can cause serious
damage to both yourself and the
four-wheeler. However, there are
ways you can improve your chances
of staying safe and still have fun.
First of all, don’t go horsing
around if you don’t know the land
you are on. This can cause you to
hit obstacles you may not see, and
fl ip your ATV. Just imagine you are
having a great time riding around
through a fi eld and, wham! You just
hit a dirt mound, or a deep hole in
the ground, and fl ip end over end,
throwing you from the vehicle. This
particular accident is very common,
so make sure to get a good idea of
what’s around before you decide to
go full speed and risk your life.
A second suggestion is to get a
good idea of what your particular
four-wheeler can handle. Not all
ATVs are alike. One might be better
for going through mud and swamp
areas while others might be better
at climbing hills and ditches. If you
have an idea of what your four-
wheeler can do, then you don’t risk
pushing it too far, and causing an
accident. A common accident that
happens with this is the idea of tak-
ing a huge, jacked-up four-wheeler
and wanting to climb a steep hill.
You run a big risk that it will roll
backward on top of you, and that
could cause serious damage be-
cause of its sheer size.
The last suggestion is to have it
maintained annually to make sure
it is up to code and everything is
in tip-top shape. Most towns have
companies that can maintenance
your particular four-wheeler and
make sure all the parts are still in
great working order. This prevents
unexpected parts from breaking
and causing crashing.
No one is saying you can’t
have fun this summer, but no-
body wants to have an accident.
Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how
careful you are, accidents still
happen. So be safe and keep in
mind that having fun is im-
portant in life, but staying
safe while having fun is even
more important.
Don’t fl ip!ATV safety
Photo by Delane Young
By Delane Young
Staff Writer
Brittany Bailey is not your aver-
age student at LLC. Not only is she
on campus full time, she is also vice
president of the college’s Future
Educator’s Association, a part-time
teacher’s assistant, and the mother
of 17-month-old Jude. An average
day for Bailey starts out around
6 a.m. to get ready and “profes-
sional looking” before Jude wakes
up around 7 a.m. After getting him
ready for the babysitter, she heads
to Lake Land for a few classes. By
noon, she is at Pathways, an alter-
native education program, where
she helps teach until 3 p.m.
Finally, now she can go home
and relax, right? Not exactly. Once
home, this is her time to do any er-
rands and chores around the house
while caring for Jude and keeping
him entertained until he goes to bed
around 9 p.m. After all this, she has
to try and take care of any home-
work for the next day before she can
go to bed.
When asked how this busy
schedule affects her life, Bailey said,
“You learn who your real friends
are and that there is more to
life than parties. The lack of
sleep will pay off later when I’m
enjoying the benefi ts of my hard
work now.” The life of being a pro-
fessional and a student is full of
deadlines and rules, while life with a
toddler is completely unpredictable.
“Motherhood needs
some structure, but in
the end, Jude rules the
schedule.” Anyone can
picture the organiza-
tion of a classroom,
but the fun chaos of a
young child is evident
by the amount of toys
scattered on the fl oor
during the interview. She literally
goes from one extreme to the other
throughout the day.
“It’s nice to be able to transition,
but there is no real down time. My
down time from school is Jude, and
vice versa.” However, Bailey isn’t
complaining. “I love my life. Jude
is my life, and school is my accom-
plishment to better this life.” When
she found out she was going to be a
mom, Bailey said, “a different mind-
set kicked in almost overnight be-
cause someone else was going to be
affected.” Between giggles and tickle
fi ghts with her son, she explained,
“It was time to take charge. I wish
I had this motivation when I began
school. Don’t wait for an excuse to
do well in school.”
“Don’t wait for an excuse to do well in school!”Student Feature - Brittany Bailey
Bailey with son, Jude
By Chardonnay Latch
Staff Writer
In 1937, Arthur and Elizabeth
Martin dreamed they would have
the largest fl ower garden in Douglas
County. Arthur Martin, speaking
of the garden he was creating and
the reason he did not charge admis-
sion, said, “It is merely our donation
to your happiness to make us both
forget war, strife, jealousy, death
and destruction.”
Nowadays, owner Steve Maher
has a dream of his own. The many
buildings on the property, including
schoolhouses and shops, are be-
ing restored and revamped; all be-
ing preserved for the years to come,
while keeping the historic value in
each by keep-
ing them as they
were originally.
The many
attractions at
Rockome make
it a great place to
spend the day.
No matter what
your age or in-
terests, there is
sure to be some-
thing just for
you. There are
multiple attrac-
tions, including
a tree house; the
Raggedy Ann
and Andy museum; restaurants
and gift shops; fl ower gardens and
rock formations
Rockome has
been known by
for decades; a
trading post,
and a chicken
that is unde-
feated at tic-
tac-toe. No
matter who
you are, you
are sure to
fi nd a fun-
fi lled day at
this historic
jewel of Illi-
nois.
To accom-
pany these and other attractions,
Rockome also has festivals each
season, including a bluegrass festi-
val coming, prospectively, in June.
Many changes were made recently,
thanks to Steve Maher. He has in-
vested, not just his money, but his
time and heart into Rockome. “He
has a vision, like, Walt Disney,” said
Eric Eray, blacksmith at Rockome.
“I’m glad I’m a part of it. He wants
things done right, the best they can
be, and he makes it happen.”
Rockome Gardens is open Mon-
day-Saturday, from 9 am to 5 pm.
Admission is $10 for adults, $5
for children ages 5 to 12; and chil-
dren 4 and under get in free. If you
would like more information, or di-
rections, visit www.rockome.com,
or, fi nd it on Facebook as Rockome
Gardens Preservation.
Rockome Gardens: Preserving a simpler time
You can be the conductor of a vintage train at Rockome
Photo by Nikki D
avidson
08 - Special Feature
By Megan E. Hammond Campus & Features Editor
The Navigator News isn’t always sta-tistics and facts; we like to get creative too, just like the Lake Land students who participated in the Navigator News poetry contest for National Po-etry Month. Students sent in their poems and three were chosen to be published; and the winners should be honored for their creative endeavors and their bravery for allowing us to see into their poetic souls. Each poem was great, but only one could win fi rst prize. Ladies and gentlemen, here are the winners of the Navigator News Po-etry Contest!
Poems of the peopleThe Navigator News Poetry Contest results
“A Distant Rider”
Across the desert plain persistent,There rides a horseback rider distant.From south to east or west to north,To where and why he’s riding forth,For me, it doesn’t really matter.Regardless all, he’s coming faster,And soon the dry and deadly clatter,From hoof on dust like dull disaster,Will gently rise from far off mutterTo raging storm upon the groundThat mows down any living clutterAnd makes the most repulsive sound.This blurry rider’s drawing near,A bouncing speck so dark it’s queer,Or is it only lonely fearThat makes me think he’s riding here?
-Nathanael Shook
First Place
Special Feature - 09
“All Creation”
Snowfl akes dance and twirl, The rain falls to the ground. The wind cries with a mighty voice, And thunder claps its hands. Water runs constantly, never tiring of its pace,The sun sinks into the west, in order to hide its face. Trees stand with lifted arms, praising the creator, Mountains stand, tall and silent, waiting on Your word. The brook seems to babble, as in another tongue,The willow weeps and sheds her tears from the dawn until the dawn. The clouds gather as a congregation, their faith to be known by all, And the ocean itself shows waves of praise, never neglecting its call.
-Chardonnay Latch
“Family Scars”
I am god in living body formed,With bones and fl esh my soul adorned.On your back are scars cut deepThat send strange dreams whenever you sleep.Our blood runs dark and shines like stars,For these are binding, family scars.I have them too, beneath my skin;They pulse and glow with spidery sin.That is how you’ll know me whenI come for you my Earth-born kin.We’ll fl y away to the land of NeverAnd live there immortal, young, forever.
-Nathanael Shook
Second Place
Third Place
10 - Opinion
By Nikki Davidson
Photo & Web Editor
It seems a majority of Cardinals
fans lack an important sports eth-
ic – sportsmanship. As any other
Cubbie fan does, I proudly wear
my jersey year-round. But, before
I developed a thicker skin, my Chi-
cago-pride smile disappeared sev-
eral times a day, as I was heckled
by Cardinals fans time and time
again.
Of course, almost every fan has
made a wisecrack about their ri-
vals. Roasting and mistreating is
different. I have had to avoid cer-
tain people on the days I was wear-
ing my fan gear because they just
couldn’t let it be.
I even had a pro-
fessor who went
out of his way
more than once
to make examples
in Statistics about
the likelihood of
the Cubs winning
anything, let alone
a World Series.
I was a good
sport and attended the Cardi-
nal Caravan in January to take
pictures. Although they had just
signed a former Cub, Ryan Theriot,
the jokes at the expense of the Cubs
were endless. Didn’t they have suc-
cesses and goals to highlight?
I am unable to give you more ex-
amples about my plight as a Cubs
fan because it has all blurred to-
gether to defend my sanity. This
troubles me.
I was born a Cardinals fan, and
I certainly was a little die-hard fan,
but never would I think to spend a
half hour berating a Cubs fan, let
alone judge someone’s entire char-
acter by their fanship.
Now that I spend hours watching
Cubs games and playing La-Z Boy
coach all spring and summer, I have
to wonder why fans of a “winning
team” would care to belittle their ri-
vals so much. My sister is a major
Cardinals fan, and as competitive
as we are, we have yet to argue over
our baseball teams.
Perhaps, this strife is caused by
living in middle ground between
Chicago and St. Louis, but that
should not affect the level of sports-
manship. End the indecency. I
have a dream my niece will one day
live in a league where she will not
be judged by the team she claims
fanship, but by the content of
her character.
Seeing Redbird
Phot
o by
Cha
rdon
nay
Latc
h
Cubs fan Codaro D. and Cardinals fan Colton H.
By Mark W. Jensen
News & Opinion Editor
We all know that familiar line,
“Save money, live better, Wal-Mart.”
For many people that mantra seems
to ring true. You can do a one-stop
shopping trip, buy basically every-
thing you need all at once,
and be able to save a
little bit of money in the
process. This all sounds
nice and, certainly, very
convenient, but there is
a high cost for “Always
low prices.”
The biggest secret to
Wal-Mart’s success is
in the “Always low pric-
es.” Wal-Mart’s secret
is that they place many popular
items on display for a great price,
but they know once the perception
of the lowest price is set, you will
buy other products in the store,
with the mentality that everything
is bargain. In reality, the vast ma-
jority of store products are actually
higher priced than in many other
competitor venues. You caught the
bait, and they’ve reeled you in.
Another secret to the success of
Wal-Mart is the fact the company
became one of the fi rst major retail-
ers to begin importing most of its
goods from China. During record
high profi ts in the
early 1990s, Wal-
Mart decided to be-
gin importing most of
its goods, due to the
lower cost of Chinese
production. Wal-Mart
decided to undercut
the American labor
force in the midst
of record profi ts, all
in the name of even
more record profi ts. Many of the
very workers, who produced the
goods for Wal-Mart, now work in the
very store that left them jobless and
at a wage much lower than what
they made originally.
Being universally well known and
offering everything in a one-stop
shop has also worked very much
in favor of the retail giant, but this
has come at a signifi cant cost: the
death of Main Street. We see it time
and time again, Wal-Mart comes to
town, Mom & Pop stores can’t make
ends meet, and Wal-Mart no longer
has competition. Everyone looks at
our dying small business communi-
ty with sadness and despair, when-
ever they are on their way to shop
at Wal-Mart.
Next time you need to plan a
shopping trip, think carefully about
where you take your business.
Should you shop at Wal-Mart?
Phot
o by
Mar
k W
. Jen
sen
By Stephen Osterday, Jr.
Staff Writer
Television has changed expo-
nentially in just the past few years.
Remember when we were all little
kids and the shows were actually
worth watching? Well not so much
anymore.
Since “Winnie the Pooh” made its
debut in 1926, it has gone though
a few major changes. The fi rst sig-
nifi cant change was made in 2010
when Christopher Robin was writ-
ten out of the story and replaced by
a 6-year-old named Darby. A new
version of “Winnie the Pooh” has
made its way to your television, and
the new cartoon animals look more
like balloons than 3-D.
Pokémon’s “gotta catch ‘em all”
drives me crazy! The fi rst few sea-
sons were fi ne with the 150 Poké-
mon. Now 14 seasons later, there
are nearly 650. So much for “gotta
catch ‘em all.” The only thing that
show is good for is selling trading
cards, when it used to be about
the kids, and not about making a
profi t.
“Dora the Explorer” and “Go Di-
ego Go,” are perfect examples of
the stupidity in cartoons. These are
two shows claiming to teach chil-
dren the Spanish language, but the
vast majority of the time they speak
English. How do children learn
the Spanish language
by watching a show, all
the time, about trying
to stop an evil fox?
Over the past few
years, “Sesame Street”
has changed as well. Bert
and Ernie no longer live
together because many
homophobic people re-
fuse to realize the
two characters
may actually be
brothers. Sec-
ondly, Oscar the
Grouch is just “Oscar” now; what’s
the deal? And what’s the deal with
Cookie Monster? He’s become “Veg-
gie Monster.” Come on Sesame
Street - really?
Finally, is it just me,
or is 3-D way over-
rated? Some mov-
ies, like Avatar,
which depict real-
life characters, are
fi ne, but for animated
fi lms, is it unneces-
sary? Disney seems to
be on a 3-D high with
all of its new mov-
ies. All we can
hope for is the
crash happens
really soon.
Th en & NowHow we’ve destroyed TV
he time they speak
children learn
nguage
ow, all
rying
x?
t few
Street”
well. Bert
onger live
se many
eople re-
the
s
e
-
e
gie Monster. Com
Street - reall
Finall
or is
rate
ies,
whi
life c
fi ne, bu
fi lms,
sary?
be on
all
Photo by California Department of Toxic Substances Control
Opinion - 11
By Mark W. Jensen
News & Opinion Editor
No one saw it coming. With
the upset of the Tunisia govern-
ment in January, protests have
broken throughout the Middle-
Eastern region. Oppressive dicta-
torial regimes have dominated the
landscape, some having been in
power for over 30 years. But, even
the strongest of dictators have
been unable to squash the tides
of discontent.
Many have been surprised at
the speed at which one nation af-
ter another has seen the swell of
the people running into the street,
demanding more freedoms as citi-
zens. Since the fall of the Tunisian
government, we have seen protests
in Egypt (which successfully over-
threw its leader); Yemen, Bahrain;
and most famously, Libya.
The implications of these pro-
tests have already had a signifi -
cant impact on the global econo-
my and, more specifi cally, on the
gas prices in the United States.
However, of lesser news coverage
is what this means for those liv-
ing there, and for the future of
their people.
Imagine living in a nation where
questioning one’s government was
illegal? As we have found out, ques-
tioning the Kaddafi regime leads to
airstrikes, late-night fi ring squads,
people being rounded up and forced
to stay in one place, and being cen-
sored by any means possible so the
world won’t be able to hear their
cries of anguish.
While the Kaddafi regime is ex-
treme in comparison to many of
the other regimes, imagine living
with that kind of fear, and that kind
of oppression?
Under this type of an iron-fi sted
government, extreme economic dis-
parity often occurs; making terrorist
organizations, with their offerings of
good pay and an education, appear
very promising.
While many an American may be
quick to judge their actions and to
label these people as extremists for
even joining a group like that, the
real extremists are the dictatorships
that have forced their citizens into
poverty and silenced their voices.
Sadly, many of these dictatorships
have been aided, due to the support
of the western world, for oil and
trade purposes.
As a new dawn is awakening for
the people of this region, the seas
of change have reached the shore.
With the rug being pulled from un-
der Kaddafi , others are soon to fal-
ter as well. The domino has fallen,
and there is no turning back.
SilencedTh e voice of oppression
Photo CNBC.com
Protestors in Libya
By Alyson Alde
Staff Writer
Alex W. McCune, I’m going to
give you my opinion. Jokes like
“go make me a sandwich” may be
insignifi cant to you, but you aren’t
a female. What you’re doing when
you use these jokes is making
fun of women by belittling them,
which is offensive. This goes to
both males and females degrading
the opposite sex, even by telling a
“harmless” joke.
Poking fun at someone because
of their sex is not acceptable. Pok-
ing fun at someone isn’t accept-
able, period. You said, “If you are
a strong, independent woman, you
shouldn’t care what men say.” I,
myself, am a strong, independent
woman, but you know as well as I
do that not all women are. Women
are gaining more respect in our
society, and these jokes are taking
away our respect.
You also mentioned how there
are bigger problems we need to
focus on. Yes, it is true
women dying from sexism are
more catastrophic than a joke
making fun of a woman, but
in order to stop sexism, we all
have to play our part by
starting small. Sexism can’t be
stopped overnight, but it can be,
eventually. If you, male or fe-
male, tell a degrading joke to-
ward the opposite sex, you are
promoting sexism.
Say what?Reader response to “He said, she said”
Dear girl that was talking on
her cell phone in the Neal Hall
bathroom,
Rosie Romance’s ears are always
open! I heard your cry for advice.
You want to know if you come off as
too clingy, mainly to your boyfriend.
First of all, your obsession with
knowing if you are too clingy may
come from your need to have ap-
proval from
e v e r yone .
A common
p e r s o n
type is a
c o - d e p e n -
dent, and I have a feeling you fi t into
this category, Bathroom Talker.
Being a co-dependent person
means you rely on someone else
to validate you. For example, you
cannot just feel good in a pair of
new jeans; you only feel good when
someone comments you look good
in them.
Co-dependents also do not like
being alone. These are the chicks
who need someone to go to the
bathroom with them, whether their
chosen person has to pee or not.
This becomes a problem in relation-
ships when you refuse to give your
partner any alone-time. Guys need
time to be just with other guys, or
with their video games; whatever.
Not allowing alone-time tells the
other you don’t trust him, be it you
really do, or not.
Many people I would consider
“needers,” are always trying to
help other people, or that’s
the way it appears. They need
to do things for others to make
themselves feel accomplished.
However, many people - and I’d
admit the majority - truly want to
help. So, you have to look at the
things you do for your partner. Did
you accept that movie date with the
nerdy guy in your Economics class
because you feel sorry for him, or
because you are truly interested
in him?
These co-dependent tenden-
cies are innate, and really hard
to reverse, or combat. Mainly, my
suggestion, Bathroom Talker, is
to realize you are this way and to
communicate your needs with
your partner; and to continue dis-
cussing things he (or you) feels are
getting too out of hand. And, may-
be, not check his Facebook wall
every hour.
Best of Luck, and cute shoes,
p
e
A
c oAm I too clingy?
Rosie Romance
Photo rosietheriveter.org
12 - Entertainment
By Libby Marshall
Sports and Entertainment Editor
After three hugely successful
albums, side projects for most
members of the band and a six
-year creative break, The Strokes
is back with its new album
“Angles.” It channels rock of the
1970’s and 80’s and is a departure
from its previous albums.
The Strokes was formed in
1998, and is made up of Julian
Casablancas, lead vocals; Nick
Valensi, guitar; Albert Hammond
Jr., guitar; Nikolai Fraiture, bass;
and Fabrizio Moretti, drums. The
band has enjoyed both critical and
commercial success throughout
its career.
“Angles” is new territory for the
band. Instead of lead singer Cas-
ablancas writing all parts of the
songs, the entire band collaborated
on every song. The difference is evi-
dent, and even though Casablancas’
infl uence can be felt, The Strokes
sound different.
The album is heavily 70’s and
80’s inspired, sounding at times like
a tribute to the eras. “Gratisfaction”
recalls Billy Joel and “Two Kinds of
Happiness” sounds so much like
it was made in the 80’s that you
will be checking to see if this re-
ally is The Strokes not a glitch on
your iPod.
The song most authentic to the
original Strokes sound is “Taken
for a Fool,” which would fi t right
in on its best album, “Is This
It?” Another gem in this confu-
sion is “Under Cover of Darkness.”
This fi rst single from the album
is full of the upbeat tempo and
Casablancas’ wail that made The
Strokes famous.
The rest of the album is less
great. “Machu Picchu” has too
much synth and the music over-
powers the lyrics to the point they
are diffi cult to understand. “Metab-
olism” is all right, but reminiscent
of its last album, which was not
well received.
Should The Strokes members
have stayed apart and left their
musical legacy alone? Maybe.
Their musical contemporaries The
White Stripes announced its per-
manent split; the decision was met
with respect. The Strokes chose
to come back and try to recapture
its past.
On the bright side, fans can
catch the band live on its upcom-
ing tour and hear the songs that
made The Strokes legend. Unfortu-
nately, none of those songs will be
from “Angles.”
Th e Strokes returnPhoto by new.thestrokes.com
The Strokes’s new album, “Angles”
Upcoming ReleasesBooks Movies Music Video Games
Photo by Am
azon.com
Photo by barnes&noble.com
BossypantsApril 5
City of Fallen AngelsApril 5
beyondhollywood.com
Your Highness April 8
cinemablend.com
The Greatest Movie Ever Sold - April 22
Photo by idolator.com
“Glee: The Music presents The Warblers” Dalton Academy
Warblers - April 19
Photo by foofi ghters.com
“Wasted Light” Foo Fighters April 12
Photo by gamestop.com
Portal 2 (Xbox 360) April 19
Photo by gamestop.com
Remington Super Slam Hunti ng: Alaska (Wii)
April 5
Entertainment - 13
By Libby Marshall
Sports and Entertainment Editor
In Deborah Harkness’ debut
novel, “A Discovery of Witches,”
historian and witch Diana Bishop
is pulled into the world of witches,
vampires and demons she has de-
nied her entire life.
While Diana is doing research
in Oxford’s library, she requests
a magically bound book, missing
for thousands of years. When she
opens the book, a powerful spell is
broken which gains the attention of
many magical creatures who want
the book.
Diana sends it back, careful not
to involve herself in anything magi-
cal. She has denied her powers
since her parents, two powerful
wizards, were killed. Other witches,
vampires, and demons, stalk Di-
ana and try to get her to reveal the
book’s secrets.
Confl icted about using her pow-
ers, or running away from it all,
she decides to stay when she meets
ancient vampire Matthew Clair-
mont. She is not sure whether to
trust him, or group him with all of
the other creatures demanding she
summon the book again.
Whether she decides to use her
powers or not, Diana will have to
answer to the mysterious Coun-
cil governing all magical crea-
tures. Her simple library request
turns her life from the quiet one
of a scholar, into a dangerous and
magical adventure.
The book starts slowly, with
many scenes of Diana eating break-
fast, or rowing on a river. However,
about a quarter of the way in, the
action picks up and there are no
more breakfast scenes.
Diana is a strong and intelligent
heroine who does not just let things
happen to her. She fi ghts, schemes,
and refuses to let her life be ruled
by anyone, but herself.
Harkness has trouble not repeat-
ing herself when it comes to scenes.
Like the many breakfast scenes,
Matthew and Diana go to yoga
class, drink wine, and ride horses
on several occasions. Interesting
things happen in between these
scenes; wait-
ing for the next
vampire attack,
or threat from an
angry one, can
get tedious.
Another issue
is the constant
historical and
scientifi c refer-
ences not well
explained. Some-
times, it feels like
if you do not pos-
sess advanced
degrees, you are
missing a large
part of the story.
Matthew Clair-
mont is a scien-
tist and he often
talks about his
work. For a vam-
pire, he is rather
boring and tame.
Fans of both
fantasy and ro-
mance will enjoy the book. As long
as you focus on the rich fantasy
world and strong heroine, “A Dis-
covery of Witches” is entertaining
to read.
“A Discovery of Witches”Magical or not?
Photo by deborahharkness.com
By Nikki Davidson
Photo & Web Editor
If you want comedy, “Paul” de-
livers. Starring Nick Frost as Clive
Gollings; Simon Pegg as Graeme
Willy; and an alien named Paul,
with Seth Rogen’s voice; this movie
provides all the elements of a great
fi lm. It is inventive, romantic, hi-
larious, and ends with a shocking
twist.
Clive and Graeme are two ur-
ban nerds from England holiday
road-tripping through the western
United States. They have the time of
their lives at Comic-Con, then head
to Area 51, where they encounter
Paul. Clive wets himself and faints,
while Graeme stands shocked. “You
made him faint!” Graeme shouts at
Paul. “It’s not like I set my phaser
to faint!” Paul countered. Graeme
choked, “You have a phaser?!”
Graeme asked, “You’re not go-
ing to probe us, are you?” Paul lost
it, screaming, “Why does everyone
always assume that? What am I
doing? Am I harvesting farts? How
much can I learn from an ass?!”
After all misgivings about aliens
dissolved, Clive and Graeme de-
cided to “roll the dice” and help
Paul get back to his home planet.
Meanwhile, the government was
hot on their trail, because Paul had
escaped from Area 51. Along their
quest, they kidnap Ruth Buggs
(Kirsten Wiig), and the slight ele-
ment of romance begins as Ruth’s
father pursues the group, trying to
rescue his daughter.
Frost and Pegg wrote the
script. They make an excellent
duo, having co-written hits
“Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot
Fuzz” in the past. Their charac-
ters experience real-life issues,
such as jealousy, and others as-
suming they are gay because
they have amazing chemistry as
friends. They even speak Klignon to
each other.
Paul was a convincing Rogen in
alien form; partly due to the fact
the fi lmmakers used video of Rogen
voicing Paul to digitally engineer
him, just as the makers of Avatar
did with the natives.
As is typical of movies Rogen
stars in, you can expect a few
scenes of government-strength,
joint-passing. Frequent cursing
is also included as Paul teaches a
former Christian how to enhance
her speech with random expletives.
This movie is not recommended for
the morally sensitive.
Paul is not a fart harvester
Photo by movies.ign.com
14 - Sports
By Nikki Davidson
Photo & Web Editor
Forty-three cars on a track speed
over 100 miles, turn left and con-
tinue racing in a counterclockwise
fashion for hours. This is the mini-
malist attitude held by most people
who dislike NASCAR. Fans, on the
other hand, will defend the sport
by highlighting the intense strat-
egy required to win, while admitting
wrecks are pretty cool to watch.
That is, unless a legend dies.
NASCAR is a legitimate sport in
that it takes great endurance by
drivers to withstand G-forces and
temperatures, sometimes over 100
degrees, for hours at a time during
a race. Imagine being at Six Flags
on a hot July day wearing a sweat-
shirt, and riding the Ninja for a cou-
ple of hours.
Team work is a must, and each
race car requires several teams. On
the track, a pit crew changes tires,
refuels and cleans the grill of a car
in a matter of seconds. Each driver
has a spotter who radios informa-
tion about the location of other cars
on the track and offers advice on
drafting. Before the race, a crew of
engineers and mechanics ensure
the race car is fast, safe, aerody-
namic, and fulfi lls all of NASCAR’s
strict requirements. Agents secure
sponsors to pay for the high-dollar
cars, maintenance and employees
required to keep a team.
Drivers and crew chiefs must
strategize pit stops so maintenance
may be taken care of without losing
their position in the line-up. Ana-
lysts decide proper tire pressure to
handle the temperature and sur-
face of the track, as well as the best
amount of fuel to carry. They don’t
always “top off” the tank, because
fuel is added weight that will slow
down the car.
Another important strategy, im-
plemented in NASCAR, is drafting.
This requires cooperation among ri-
vals as well as teammates. Drafting
aids in fuel economy while boosting
speeds. However, drafting can go
awry; several cars may be damaged
if not done properly.
Sometimes, luck makes all the
difference in a race, and all of the
hard work gets thrown to the side.
Debris on the track could cause a
tire blowout and result in a wreck
that takes several cars off the track
for the remainder of the race. A
driver, leading because the better
drivers took a pit stop, could win
the race under the caution fl ag.
An entire book could be written
about the teamwork, strategy, and
strength required for success in NA-
SCAR. Realize that an overwhelm-
ing amount of hard work and skill
determines the elite.
All they do is turn left , right?Photo by Th eKunk via sports.failblog.org
One of many parodies of NASCAR
By Lindsey Probst
Managing Editor
Members of the Lady Laker soft-
ball team welcomed a new mem-
ber to their dugout. Megan Nelson
joined Kathleen Jacoby as an assis-
tant coach. Nelson was hired on in
January, fairly fresh off her gradu-
ation from Eastern Illinois Univer-
sity.
She majored in secondary sci-
ence education with a concentra-
tion in biology. Megan Nelson is the
daughter of head softball coach Nic
Nelson; both are from Normal.
M. Nelson cannot remember ex-
actly when she fi rst started playing
softball, but it was probably around
the age of 10. From there, her soft-
ball career started to progress. Nel-
son played colligate ball for East-
ern all four years. She was mostly
a middle fi elder, playing shortstop
and second base, but also excelled
in base running.
During her fi fth year as a
Panther, Nelson started her
student teaching through
the Consortium for Overseas
Student Teaching (COST)
program. Having traveled a
lot with her team, she went to
South Africa to learn an en-
tirely different school system.
“I knew it would be a challenge
with it being a different set-
ting and different culture,” said
Nelson. “I defi nitely got what
I bargained for.” South Africa
does not have a large softball
following, but Nelson said she
went to a few cricket games
while there.
Nelson is relatively new
to coaching, but has helped
with a few high school camps
and given individual hitting les-
sons. “I am very fortunate to
have come into a very well-re-
spected and established team,”
said Nelson.
During her short career as an as-
sistant coach, she has noticed sev-
eral similarities between leading a
team and leading a classroom. “I’ve
noticed that different players react
to different coaching styles.” In
addition to helping perfect the
power-hitting the Lady Lakers
are already known for, Nelson
hopes to instill some slap-
hitting and short-game tips to
the team. “I hope to help them
strive for perfection, and not
settle for mediocrity.”
Nelson is impressed by
the focus the program has
on education, and hopes the
team earns Academic All-
American status again. She
predicted the season perfor-
mance of the team to be very
positive, saying, “There is so
much talent, it’s ridiculous.”
The number of available play-
ers is changing due to inju-
ries, but Nelson said there is
plenty of depth and girls who know
the game and are aggressive. “There
is no reason why we should not
take the Conference at this rate,”
predicts Nelson.
Soft ball team adds new assistant coach to roster
Photo by Lake Land College CCS
By Libby Marshall
Sports and Entertainment Editor
In the world of Harry Potter, Quid-
ditch is the favorite sport of witches
and wizards. Now, here in the Mug-
gle (non-magical) world, normal hu-
mans can also play Quidditch.
The wizard version of Quidditch
has players fl ying on brooms, while
playing with balls that can fl y as
well. The positions are chaser, seek-
er, keeper and beater. The positions
and balls are the same in the Mug-
gle version.
The three chasers will throw a
Frisbee, “the Quaffl e,” into one of
the three hoops at the ends of the
fi eld. The hoops are guarded by
the keeper, who stands in front of
them and tries to knock away the
Frisbee.
Quidditch: not just for wizards anymore
(Continued on page 15)
What are you doing for spring break?
“I’ll be playing baseball for the Lake Land Lak-ers.”
-Matt HechtBusiness
“I’m traveling to Gatlin-burg, TN.”
-Tyrell MeansPre-Engineering
“I’ll be busy working at Dairy Queen!”
- Dana MillerBusiness Administration
“I’m going to be at a friend’s house playing video games all week.”
-Kass KerseyLiberal Arts
Photos and Quotes gathered by Megan E. Hammond
Interested in working for The Navigator?If you are a student and will be att ending Lake Land College in the Fall semester, stop by and pick up an applicati on in the Student Life Of-fi ce. All positi ons will be available for interview, positi ons include Cam-pus & Features Editor, Sports & Entertainment Editor, News & Opin-ion Editor, Copy Editor, Layout Editor, Business Editor, and Photo & Web Editor.
The two beaters throw balls,
called Bludgers, at other players to
knock them out of play. Beaters will
sometimes use tennis rackets to hit
the balls at other players.
The last position is the seeker,
whose job is to catch the player,
called the snitch. Instead of a tiny,
fl ying, golden ball, like the one used
in the Harry Potter books; in Muggle
Quidditch, the snitch is a person
wearing a Velcro belt.
Players ride on brooms, though
they cannot fl y. Players must strad-
dle their brooms as they run around
the fi eld. The one player, who does
not ride on a broom, is the snitch.
To add to the spectacle, play-
ers will wear capes and uniforms
to make their game as authentic
as possible. Each position wears a
different color of headband for easy
identifi cation on the fi eld.
Muggle Quidditch began in 2005
at Middlebury College in Vermont,
and by 2007, Quidditch had be-
come intercollegiate. Today, over
400 colleges and 300 high schools
have teams. Most teams are in the
United States; 45 states are repre-
sented.
Every year, the Quidditch World
Cup is held in Dewitt Clinton Park
in Manhattan. Over 10,000 specta-
tors and 40 teams participated in
2010’s Cup. It was covered by over
40 news outlets and raised aware-
ness about the sport.
Quidditch may seem like a sport
for nerds with too much free time,
but it is gaining popularity and re-
spect as a real sport. Players must
run, hit, throw and jump; moves
present in most other sports. Even
though Muggles will never be able
to fl y on brooms or use magic fl ying
balls, we can still play Harry Pot-
ter’s favorite sport.
Quidditch (continued from page 14)
Photo by quickquotes.wordpress.com
/page/3/
Carleton University’s quidditch team
Finish Your 4-Year Degree
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Visit www.smwc.edu/transferCall 800-926-7692
Celebrating 170 Years of Excellence
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