"Get the monkey off your Back"

Beauty salons are known for having their fair share of crazy stories from clients who spill probably more than they should once they take their spot in the chair. Amy Walp, an Esthetician at Beauty First salon in Springfield said she has heard her more than her fair share of people’s lives that she rather not have had heard. Her philosophy is that when working with the public, its bound to happen that you meet a few crazies along the way.

Amy started her career in cosmetology eight years ago as just a manicurist but soon realized that wasn’t going to pay the bills, so she went back to school to become an Esthetician, which expanded her services to facials, waxing, skin care, etc. Becoming a hairstylist was never on Amy’s radar she said she has “way to much drama in her life as is.” People gripe and complain way too much about their hair and how it looks, which is why she steered away from that aspect of the cosmetology world.

Like teachers, doctors, and other professions cosmetologists have to pass a state board exam before practicing and then also have to eight hours of class every two years to keep their certification. Because Amy is certified as both a nail technician and Esthetician, she has to take a minimum of 16 hours every two years getting recertified.

Surprisingly, Amy’s most popular service at the Beauty First salon is waxing and more specifically men’s back waxes. She said most of the time, wives\significant others call in for their husbands. When they come in, she said it is easy to tell whether they came in on their own accord or by the sheepish expression that their wife\significant other made them.

The service became so popular that her boss posted a sign outside the salon saying “Get the Monkey Off your Back.” Men are a majority of her waxing clientele and when it comes to getting hair removed are “bigger babies than most women.” Amy is also the only esthetician in the county that is willing to give bikini waxes on men.

feature story

It’s a green world right now. Everywhere one turns there is an ad or product labeled as ‘environmentally friendly’ or somehow related protecting or saving the environment. Being green is now a trend in which everyone desires to partake in, whether it is to actually help the environment or simply to follow the trend.
With this current phenomenon of saving the planet with ‘greener’ purchases, the actual practices like recycling that aide the planet the most are ignored. Recycling is an integral part of conserving natural resources and is extremely simple process. It is especially easy here on Wittenberg’s campus, where it is only a matter of placing the object in the correct bin.
On campus there are recycling bins next to every trashcan inside the buildings so students, faculty, and staff simply have to place the put the recyclable item in the blue bin. With such a simple process that takes no more effort than throwing away the item, yet for some reason it isn’t followed but rather bottles and papers are frequently still found in the trash bins.
So while the current trend is to become ‘green’ actual practices that help the earth aren’t followed. Though this problem is easy to spot on a college campus, the mentality is the same everywhere. At the University of Nebraska Medical Center, they claim that 90 percent of the trash thrown away on campus can be recycled. That is a high number but not far off from the average of what most landfill companies estimate around 70 percent of all trash can be recycled.
According to the Green Wittenberg program on campus that initiated the recycling program here beginning in 2008, the amount recycled is extremely low in comparison to amount that can be recycled. In 2008, Wittenberg recycled 8.3 percent and in the 2009 the number increased slightly to 9.5 percent. These figures are produced by the company Waste Management, who picks up the campus trash and recycling.
Wittenberg recycles less than 10 percent of its trash when anywhere from 70-90 percent of the trash can actually be recycled. For some reason there is a road block on Wittenberg’s campus when comes to recycling.
When asked about this road block, Dr. Incorvati a professor at Wittenberg and the catalyst behind the recycling program said, “It may be the teacher in me that wants to trace the issue back to lack of understanding. Some folks probably don't see that there's really a whole lot of significance in putting waste in one bin as opposed to another. ”

Looney Rough Draft

Carl Looney has served his community nearly all his life, starting at the age of 18. Working with the Clark County Sherriff’s Department for 30 years and serving in every department, Looney now holds the position of Chief of Police and Security for Wittenberg University. Though Wittenberg is a small campus with less than 2,000 students, Looney oversees 13 fulltime officers.

The relationship between students and police on campus has been the “us against them” mentality for some time now and is something Looney wants to change. “I don’t want it to be us against them,” he said.

Students are skeptical of police and their intentions when they see them around campus, especially during the later hours, but Looney assured us that their intentions are to simply look out for the students. Officers “aren’t trying to ‘get’ the students but rather find the element that doesn’t belong,” said Looney. That element he specified isn’t just ‘townies’ or local people from Springfield but also students who prey upon other students. According to the Crime Report produced by the police and security office at Wittenberg a majority of crime is committed in dorms in which non- students do not have access.

Frequently Looney spoke of taking a proactive approach to prevent those “elements” from taking advantage of the students. This proactive approach has yielded results according to the Crime Report. Burglaries on campus decreased significantly from 29 crimes in 2006 to 19 in 2008.

The Crime Report also indicated the alcohol infractions are the biggest problem Looney encounters here at Wittenberg. The number of incidents of alcohol infractions has decreased significantly. In 2006 there were 210 infractions and then in 2008 there were a reported 106. The number of cases cut in half in only two years. Whether this is due the proactive approach from Looney or the attitude of the students is unknown but the numbers indicate a change on campus.

High visibility on campus is another approach Looney reported as a contributing factor to the reduced numbers on the crime report. He believes that just being seen on campus is a big deterrent for crime.

Looney doesn’t just consider cruisers patrolling campus as visibility but also wants his officers to mingle with the students. He gives his officers vouchers to eat with the students so that the officers have a chance to see the students in a different light and vice versa.

Classmate Interview

State champ high school soccer player is now trying to find her niche at Wittenberg University. Freshman Hannah Hoffman, once a part of a victorious soccer team in her home state of Maryland is now looking for ways to receive more time on the field. In order to compete for playing time with the Wittenberg Women’s soccer team, she must change positions on the field, a task that few are willing to tackle.
Hannah was the varsity keeper for her high school soccer team, leading them to the state championships fall season of her senior year. Her state championship victory demonstrates her ability as an exceptional keeper. However, joining a collegiate team with another exceptional keeper who is already integrated with the team makes it difficult to receive any playing time with the Lady Tigers. Unsatisfied with simply watching on the sidelines, Hannah decided to make a change.
She is now transitioning from a keeper to a forward. No longer will she be protecting the goal but rather now trying to out smart the defense and put the ball in the net and lead her new teammates into victory. She will now have to put forth a great effort in developing and polishing the skills necessary to compete against girls who have most likely been playing forward their entire lives.
Soccer like with any other varsity sport takes up a large portion of time in ones daily life. When asked about other extra curricular activities she has participated in Hannah said, “soccer is life consuming” which has limited her ability to join a variety of other activities not only in high school but also now in college as well.
But there is hope, because soccer is in off-season, Hannah now has the opportunity to join different clubs around campus. Which is something she expressed great interest with the comment, “ I want to join as many different clubs as I possible can.”
Along with soccer, Hannah is interested in current events and is currently pursuing a Political Science degree from Wittenberg. She is passionate about politics and hopes one day to work in Washington D.C. The city is dear to her heart and she can’t imagine living anywhere else.

Love and its Power~final

Elizabeth Alexander didn't simply stand behind the podium and lecture about the story and history of Martin Luther Kings Jr on Monday but rather reminded us of the legacy he left behind. It wasn't one simply act she told us but rather an on going quest for justice and equality. The fight didn't end with King the day he gave the "I have a dream" speech but rather is still being fought for today she told the audience.

Continuing King's Legacy is something she personally is working towards. Alexander leads by example. Through her writing with many inspiring poems and short stories. Through her teaching of African American studies at several prestigious universities like University of Chicago and currently at Yale University.

With her high esteem in the literary world, she was chosen to present a piece she wrote at the Inauguration of President Obama. "Praise Song for the Day" is a poem that "was only meant for that day" she said but decided that it was appropriate to include in her speech on this special day a year later.

In the poem Alexander asks the question, "What if the mightiest word is love?" The concept of love and what it means was her focus. Love is so much more than a simply I love you or you love me type of love, Alexander explains to the packed church at Wittenberg University.

Speaking with passion, she tells the audience that it is a "kind of love that takes work but moves us into a better day." It is the type of work and courage that makes us demand better because it is deserved.

Inspired by not only King and his words of love but also a great poet by the name of June Jordan, who also asked the question "where is the love?" Growing up reading Jordan's poetry was great inspiration Alexander said. She also referred to Jordan as a "pacifist but a fighter."

This description is obviously fitting for Martin Luther King Jr but also as well as for Elizabeth Alexander. King sought for justice and equality peacefully, during his life, so does Alexander with her poetic words and love.

Fittingly, she finished her speech with her famous poem "Praise Song for the Day." As she concluded the audience rose, giving Alexander a standing ovation.