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Marquette biologists and mathematicians are using baker’s yeast to understand the early stages of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzehimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Dr. Anita Manogaran, an assistant professor of biological sciences, and her lab are studying the impact of basic cell biology on neurodegeneration. By understanding what goes on in a single cell, Manogaran’s lab was able to gain insight into the bigger picture of neurodegenerative diseases. Many neurodegenerative diseases involve misfolded proteins, or molecules sticking together and making shapes they aren’t supposed to. The lab used bakers yeast to observe how certain proteins misfold in individual cells.

“We are doing something unorthodox by studying proteins in baker’s yeast,” Manogaran said. “We are able to get a lot of information really fast when we use baker’s yeast.”

The lab utilized 4-D live cell imaging to observe how the proteins misfold in the cell in order to learn more about these early stages of formation.

Brett Wisniewski, a research technician in Manogaran’s lab, believes that using yeast and other simple organisms will always be an excellent starting point for understanding the most complex human diseases.

Neurodegenerative diseases are common in older patients, but this new discovery by Manogaran’s lab found proteins associated with these diseases misfold in the brain years before symptoms occur. Manogaran hopes this discovery can lead to future progress to help control and cure these diseases.

“It would be rewarding to see other groups use our work to inform their experiments on more complex organisms and eventually influence therapies for neurodegenerative diseases in humans,” Wisniewski said.

Neurodegenerative diseases affect millions of people worldwide, with Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease being the most common.

“I think that it is special that the Marquette science community is being innovative in understanding the early stages of neurodegenerative diseases,” Hannah Seeman, a sophomore in the College of Communication said. “I value the scientists that are making strides to aid those predisposed to Alzheimer’s disease since it runs in my family.”

The authors of this study include Jaya Sharma, a post-doctoral student in Manogaran’s lab. Additional researchers on the project include Stephen J. Merrill, a professor of mathematics, statistics and computer science; Emily Paulson, a graduate student in mathematics, statistics and computer science; and Joanna O. Obaoye, an undergraduate biology student.

The highs, lows of Marvel’s complicated comic book evolution

Catherine Wallin/Staff

It’s no secret that films based on Marvel Comics characters are dominating the box office. One could go to the UA Berkeley 7, watch X-23 wreck shop in “Logan” and then walk up the street to buy a comic about her at Fantastic Comics. According to the shop’s events manager Juliette Capra, many people did just that, as the release of “Logan” saw an increased interest in the characters featured in the film.

According to Capra though, moviegoers who become interested in comics through the films don’t tend to just stick with the characters who drew them in. In this sense, the films serve as a gateway drug into the larger world of comic books, rather than direct advertisements for the characters in them. Of course, not everyone who sees “Logan” will buy a copy of “Old Man Logan” immediately after. Even so, the broad appeal of the films have allowed a new wave of comic book readers to emerge.

“One of the things I’ve noticed is, the films have allowed audiences who didn’t feel welcome in comics spaces to start reading,” Capra said. “There are a lot of women, people of color and queer folks who say, ‘I can go to the movies. That’s not a gate-kept space.’ ” She jokingly stated, “We can take their money at the comic book store also.”

This new market of comic book readers is large enough to have changed the landscape of the comic industry. Marvel’s recent “All-New, All-Different” branding diversified the Marvel Universe. At the moment, Tony Stark is (sort of) dead, and the Iron Man mantle (or rather, Ironheart) has passed onto the 15-year-old Riri Wiliams. Similarly, women and POC fill the boots of Marvel’s most iconic characters such as Captain America, Wolverine, Hulk, Spider-Man, Thor and Ms. Marvel.

Unfortunately, there has been resistance to Marvel’s push for a diverse roster of heroes. Recently, Marvel’s vice president, in association with conclusions from store retailers, suggested that decreased sales could be linked to its new characters. Whether or not Marvel’s diversity and its drop in sales are correlated (they’re not), there are many who have embraced the publisher’s nonwhite or female characters.

Marvel recently released a new title focusing on America Chavez, a reality-hopping Latinx LGBTQ+ teenager, and it was received particularly well by Berkeley’s comic book readers. “A queer Latina kicking ass and leading her own title — no one would have thought it would do particularly well, or that it would sustain,” Capra said. “But it’s only been one issue, and we sold out. It has something to do with communities who have not necessarily felt welcome in comic shops feeling welcome in a theater. I’m grateful to the movies for that.”

Even if the broad appeal of Marvel’s films have precipitated a more inclusive comic universe, it is still wrestling with its connection to the big screen. 20th Century Fox owns the film rights to the Fantastic Four (all but abandoned in Marvel’s comics) and the X-Men, who have taken a backseat to another superpowered species known as the Inhumans. “They’re just mad and throwing a temper tantrum,” said Jessica Balboni, assistant manager at Escapist Comics. She suggests that “until they get the rights back from 20th Century Fox, there won’t be a Fantastic Four book.”

Perhaps more egregious than the loss of legacy characters, such as the Fantastic Four and some X-Men, is Marvel’s recent blatant cash grabs. Last summer, the “Civil War II” comic event was released in conjunction with the “Civil War” film. Unlike the blockbuster, the comic was a critical flop, the latest in a series of poorly received crossover events (a major story arc that typically involves its own limited series and a number of tie-in comics from other titles). According to Balboni, the volume of crossovers has led to event fatigue for many customers because they limit the potential for standalone stories.

For perspective, Marvel released a total of seven crossovers and larger crossover events in 2016, plus one limited series. On the other hand, 2006 only saw two crossover events. Coupled with frustration at three rebrandings (basically reboots) in five years, many customers are less than satisfied with Marvel’s storytelling approach, which is what Balboni attributes to the publisher’s drop in sales, not its diverse heroes. “They’re all just big cash grabs,” she said. “I think they should focus on one big event per year. … Just focus on a really good story with really good art.”

In this sense, the problems facing Marvel reveal a truism that applies to the films and the comics that inspire them. Both mediums need to focus on telling one good story. Marvel’s comics shouldn’t churn out crossover events to make a quick buck but play the long game of telling great stories with the beloved characters it owns.

In fact, Marvel should take a page from one of 2016’s best selling comics: its “Black Panther” series by Ta-Nehisi Coates. The series features POC heroes while being the publisher’s epitome of a creator-driven, story-first effort. Its critical and commercial success should be a clear point of departure for the publisher.

Such a strategy works, as seen with the success of standalone films such as “Logan.” In comics, the perennial bestseller at both Fantastic Comics and Escapist Comics is “Saga,” a series from Image Comics, which is a publisher of independent creators. For those craving a vicious Marvel and DC rivalry (if that’s you, please stop), DC is well into its latest rebranding, DC Rebirth, and its focus on character driven stories has allowed it to become an overwhelming success.

Ultimately though, both comic book films and comic books themselves are here to stay, and while Marvel has its fair share of problems, its new readership is something to celebrate. “If (films) introduce people to the (comics) and allow them to try branching out to different kinds of stories, even outside the big two, not just Marvel and DC, I think that’s perfect,” Capra said. “That’s everything we could want.”

Harrison Tunggal covers film. Contact him at htunggal@dailycal.org.

The Daily Californian

The clothing manufacturer American Apparel closed its Westwood location on Wednesday.

The company, which gained popularity with its “Made in USA – Sweatshop Free” policy, provocative advertising campaigns and simple designs, filed for bankruptcy in 2015. Gildan Activewear, a Canadian wholesale apparel company, acquired American Apparel’s intellectual property and equipment for $88 million in January.

Gildan Activewear did not purchase any of the 110 store locations owned by American Apparel as part of the acquisition.

Lara Vartanian, a second-year economics student, said that the location closing did not come as a surprise to her. She added she thinks would like to see more clothing chains like American Apparel in Westwood, rather than boutiques.

“It is disappointing because it was easy for students (to shop for clothes),” she said. “There aren’t many stores in Westwood, and it would be nice to have more.”

Bri Cougle, a fourth-year marine biology student, said that she did not find American Apparel to be accommodating of a student budget.

“I’m not upset about it (closing) because it was expensive,” Cougle said.

Gildan has already created a wholesale website for American Apparel and is currently selling the brand’s trademark plain jersey T-shirts. According to a post on its website, the company’s next step will be opening an online flagship store this summer.

In his 2008 book, The Big Sort: Why the Clustering of Like-Minded America is Tearing Us Apart, Bill Bishop describes how Americans have been increasingly sorting themselves into geographic groups based on distinct choices in lifestyle and ideology. He argues that such ‘sorting,’ or self-segregation, contributes to political polarization. According to Bishop, “everyone can choose the neighbors (and church and news shows) most compatible with his or her lifestyle and beliefs. And we are living with the consequences of this segregation by way of life: pockets of like-minded citizens that have become so ideologically inbred that we don’t know, can’t understand, and can barely conceive of ‘those people’ who live just a few miles away.” Such segmentation of American society may be unavoidable, and comes with serious repercussions.

The results of the Harvard Public Opinion Project’s (HPOP) March poll of young adults (ages 18 to 29) in America may provide new evidence to support Bishop’s claim that we are living in silos. The poll asked respondents whether they had a close relationship with various types of people, and the results demonstrated that “blacks and whites, young Democrats and Republicans, have relationships with very different groups of people.” Most strikingly, the poll found that 75 percent of young Democrats have a relationship with a Hillary Clinton supporter, yet only 39 percent of them have a relationship with a Donald Trump supporter. This finding, that disparate social groups are interacting with a relatively narrow range of people, is possibly due to the geographic sorting that Bishop illustrates. It is clear that individuals are increasingly living within ideological boundaries, as the percentage of voters who live in solidly Democratic or Republican counties rose from 26.8 percent in 1976 to 50 percent in 2012 and then rose again to 60 percent in 2016.

The poll also discovered significant differences in lifestyle choices among young Democrats and Republicans. For instance, 80 percent of young Republicans know someone who is a gun owner while only 49 percent of young Democrats do. It is not a stretch to conclude, as Bishop does, that such variety in whom we know and interact with has powerful implications for our political views. Again, while not necessarily the only causal force, it is at least plausible that geographic sorting is contributing to these differences among Democrats and Republicans. In fact, political scientist Wendy K. Tam Cho studied voter migration data and found that “while it may not be the only factor, partisan sorting is a significant component of destination decisions” for both Republicans and Democrats. This finding is substantiated by evidence that densely-populated regions are becoming more Democratic, and less dense areas are becoming more Republican.

The fact that different groups of people have such varying relationships is significant because, as HPOP determined, these relationships can alter “views toward President Trump’s agenda.” As proof of this point, 63 percent of those with a close relationship to a police officer thought that halting “the ‘anti-police’ atmosphere in America” would improve the country, while only 41 percent of those who are not close to a police officer said the same. While the conclusion that “who you know” affects political views is somewhat intuitive and unsurprising, it does serve as a reminder that making an effort to interact with people who are not like you is beneficial. At a basic level, Democrats should get to know more Trump supporters, and Republicans should get to know more Clinton supporters.

The findings of the HPOP poll are somewhat disturbing, in that they reveal fragmentation among young adult Americans. Unfortunately, our natural inclination to connect with like-minded individuals makes it difficult to limit the self-sorting that the poll and Bishop report. While there may be no way to fully reverse such self-segregation, interaction between individuals with different lifestyles and political beliefs should be encouraged. A sincere attempt to understand people who are different from you is one of the best tools for fighting polarization. As Bishop warned in his book, “heterogeneous communities restrain group excesses; homogeneous communities march toward the extremes.” Ultimately, HPOP’s poll demonstrates that different groups of people often operate in separate social worlds and we therefore must heed Bishop’s warning.

The Longhorns have been dominating at home this season with a 23–7 record.

They entered the match against Louisiana with a home field advantage, but this time, home was at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas. The Longhorns couldn’t find comfort away from UFCU Disch-Falk Field Tuesday night during their 8-1 loss to the Ragin’ Cajuns.

The No. 24 Ragin’ Cajuns came out swinging from the start of the game. They blasted six runs in the second inning, stunning Texas with a 7-0 lead. Texas freshman pitcher Blair Henley couldn’t settle in on the mound and was taken out of the game as a result of giving up five earned runs in just 1.1 innings.

But things didn’t get much brighter for Texas after senior reliever Jon Malmin replaced Henley on the mound. Malmin gave up two runs during the Ragin’ Cajuns’ second-inning rally and couldn’t retire a batter before he was also removed from the game.

Junior infielder Jake McKenzie finally found a way to stop the bleeding by escaping from further damage when he relieved Malmin in the second inning. The right-hander threw 3.2 scoreless innings, while hoping for some run support from the Longhorn offense.

However, McKenzie left the mound before the Longhorns could even score one run. They barely escaped being shut out by Louisiana — sophomore outfielder Tyler Rand was the only Longhorn to bring in a run with an RBI single in the ninth inning. But Rand’s late effort wasn’t enough to spark up a rally for the Longhorns, and the Ragin’ Cajuns clinched the 8-1 blowout victory as a result.

The loss breaks Texas’ five-game winning streak, dropping the Longhorns’ record to 28–16. The Longhorns have two days off before they travel to Stillwater, Oklahoma for a three-game series with Oklahoma State.

If the last year has proven anything, it is that podcasts are steadily becoming more and more trendy. In 2016, more Americans than ever listened to podcasts and for good reason. They are accessible, convenient to listen to, and given the plethora of available podcasts, there is guaranteed to be a show for everyone. People simply […]

Club Maintenance

The Associated Builders and Contractors requested a name change to “Student Construction Association,” to include the UMaine chapter of the Association of General Contractors. The motion passed.

The UMaine chapter of the Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship, an organization dedicated to outreach and community service, requested preliminary recognition. Their long-term goal is to “reach out to people who need them” and serve Christ in a way consistent with the Bible. Recognition granted.

The Guitar Club came seeking preliminary recognition. Their goal is to bring musicians and interested beginners together and provide a stable learning environment to facilitate everyone’s growth as musicians. The group is distinct from the Acoustic Guitar Club, which has effectively disbanded due to its members having long since graduated, by including electric and bass guitars. Granted.

The Martial Arts Club requested preliminary recognition. Membership costs will be kept close to free and will allow experienced or brand new members to practice and learn. The two club officers have a black belt and a probationary black belt in Kenpo Karate and a hybrid style called Kajukenbo, respectively. Granted.

Club Presentations

The African Student Association thanked the senate for funding their trip to the Harvard African Development Conference. Among the 15 speakers was the 4th President of Ghana, H.E. John Mahama and human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa.

Cheerleading thanked the senate for funding their trip to Nationals, noting some difficulties this year with coaches, as well as “illegal stunts” costing them the win this year.

Dressage reported on their home show last weekend, thanking the senate for funding their biggest show yet.

The Maine Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society reported on their Northeastern Conclave, a gathering of other student chapters, for workshops, keynotes and networking.

The University of Maine Tennis Club reported on their upcoming matches with Bowdoin and UNE, among others, as well as their plans to volunteer on Maine Day and Moving Day.

The Women’s Ultimate Frisbee Team thanked the senate for their support and for helping to fund their trip to sectionals last weekend. The UNH tournament they planned to attend was cancelled due to a snow storm.

Executive Reports

President Kevin Bois reported that the Legal Services contract has been signed and agreed upon. He will be attending a meeting about the construction of the disc golf course that had been put on hold due to weather.

Vice President Jared Dumas reported that the meeting with Dean Dana and the budget meeting last Friday were cancelled. Executive applications for open positions next year will be available in the Memorial Union.

Vice President for Financial Affairs Robert Begin reported $69,774.15 in unallocated funds.

Vice President for Student Organizations Jacob Johnson has been focusing on the growth in the Political Activism committee.

Vice President for Student Entertainment Isaiah Mansour discussed the announcement of the spring concert performers. Free tickets will be personally distributed by members of the senate, saving students a total of $30,000 that would go to online distributors.

Periodic Reports

The Board of Trustees meeting was cancelled, due to a personal matter.

Legal Services has reviewed the entertainment contracts for the Maine Day concert and documentation for study abroad programs.

The Army ROTC’s dodgeball tournament will be held on April 28 and their ball on May 5.

Reports of Standing Committees

Policy and Procedure looked over student government hiring policies and will have their final resolutions before end of year.

The last Services meeting this year will be on May 4, serving as a wrap up to discuss summer plans to be completed before the fall semester.

Reports of Special Committees

The UMS / Student Government Association Conference will be held this Saturday at 3 p.m.

Representative Board Reports

Interfraternity Council is updating their website. Greek Week events will start on Friday at the Orono House of Pizza.

Panhellenic Council is preparing for Whiffle for Wishes on Saturday, April 29, Move Your Phi’T on Sunday, April 23 and Theta-Palooza.

Community Association Reports

The Student Heritage Alliance Council reported on a number of events being held by their constituent organizations: the Asian Student Association’s Taste of Asia event at the Memorial Union on April 22; Hillel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day event at MLK Plaza on April 24; and the Maine Day meal packing will be held on May 3.

The Student Women’s Association reported on their ongoing Beautiful Week events and are considering postponing the Slut Walk to the next day.

The Wilde Stein Alliance for Sexual Diversity were proud to announce that Pride Week was a huge success, especially the drag show. They have edited their by-laws so elections will happen at the end of fall, not the end of spring, to allow more shadowing time. They will be submitting for a name change to “Wilde Stein Queer-Straight Alliance,” to better communicate the organization’s purpose for those unaware. The original name was derived from Oscar Wilde and Gertrude Stein and since the organization was founded in 1973, was meant to allow members to mention it by name in casual conversation without revealing its purpose.

New Business

The Woodsmen’s Team requested $2,300 for propane heating and electricity in Roger F. Taylor Hall, to make the 6 a.m. morning practices five days a week throughout the year more comfortable, as well as conduct equipment maintenance with power tools. Motion passed.

Main Motion

The College Democrats requested $110 to cover preliminary last minute funding for food and fliers for their Earth Festival at the bus loop by the Memorial Union on April 21. Granted.

The Student Government Officers held a brief tabling training lecture about tabling for the Maine Day concert ticket sales, including managing the spreadsheet, the necessary items and contact information and the raffle for the chance to meet with the performers that any member who tables for more than five hours is eligible for.

13 reasons why Greek life is the worst

Michael Drummond/File

Campus fraternity Kappa Alpha Order is one of the many fraternities that is taking steps to address sexual assault, like participating in sexual assault and sexual violence awareness workshops, addressing the issue in chapter meetings and hanging “Stop Sexual Violence” banners on its house.

At some point in our lives we’ve all toyed with the idea of being a part of a sorority or fraternity. After all, everyone says that Greek life is exceedingly fun and provides a ton of networking opportunities (not to mention lifelong friends). And yet even when considering its upsides, we have to admit that there are times when sororities, frats, and their members are the absolute worst. Below are some reasons why:

Reason 1

Hazing is a pretty immature way of testing someone’s dedication to a group. There’s so many stories out there of straight up gross and uncivilized hazing rituals — all you have to do is go on reddit and you’ll see.

Reason 2

Some sorority girls gossip a ridiculous amount. Some of it’s pretty funny, but most of it’s just irrelevant (and sometimes demeaning) chatter.

Reason 3

There are a lot of rules. Following a lot of rules isn’t fun.

Reason 4

There’s not enough alone time. Being with other people 25/7 gets a little tough, especially for more introverted folks.

Reason 5

Sororities and fraternities are often not as diverse as they claim. We’re not necessarily talking about race or religion here (though we very well could be). Rather, it’s the lack of divergent opinions or interests. Groups tend to attract individuals similar to their existing members, creating an echochamber of like opinions. Unpopular opinions and interests get pushed to the wayside, inhibiting the full development of one’s likes and interests.

Reason 6

Douchey frat boys. You knew this was going to be on here.

Reason 7

There’s a certain culture of exclusivity Greek life embodies. Whenever an organization allows its members to select and reject pledges, it allows uncertain students to seek the elevated status that being a member of Greek life provides. College is a time for self-discovery and acceptance of a new social reality which is radically different from that of high school with its rigid social hierarchies. Attempting to recreate those hierarchies in college seems like an ill-fated attempt to seem “cool” and gives both Greek and non-Greek students a false sense of self-worth based on their insider or outsider status.

Reason 8

It’s a large time commitment, with all of those mandatory meetings and socials .

Reason 9

The houses can be gross. This one doesn’t need much more explanation.

Reason 10

Greek life has the effect of shifting one’s focus away from academics. Sororities and fraternities take up a lot of one’s time, time that could be spent on getting that 4.0.

Reason 11

They stymie one’s development into an independent individual. The groupthink common in frats or sororities often results in passivity, since the common opinion of the group overrides your own. How are you to then develop your own voice, a divergent opinion?

Reason 12

It’s expensive. Thus, it excludes poor college students who can’t afford it. This not only has the effect of decreasing diversity, but also perpetuates a non-inclusive dynamic.

Reason 13

Greek life is based on superficiality. The bonds of brotherhood or sisterhood are forged superficially because a pledge is evaluated in a limited time frame based on their social acuity and/or physical appearance. This lays a foundation of a fragile connection based on acceptable personality traits or level of physical attractiveness, and does not lay the foundation for the  profound, deeply impactful social bonds that members of Greek life boast on their Facebook posts.
Greek life certainly has a dark side along with some of its upsides. As a disclaimer, not everything written in this article is true across the board. When we criticize using generalities, we cannot get specific enough to truly depict the problems of something and the nature of those problems. So in any case, peace, love, Clog! 

Contact Melany Dillon at mdillon@dailycal.org.

The Daily Californian

The Schuster family never saw it coming.

Neither did the community of Grafton, Wisconsin. No one ever thought Tim Schuster, a popular 17-year-old high school senior, known for his ability to make people laugh, would kill himself.

Dec. 10, 2008 started out as a normal day for Tim’s mother, Claire Schuster. She had just arrived home from getting a haircut when her world changed forever.

In a moment she will never forget, Schuster pulled her son’s body from their hot tub, performing CPR until he vomited into her mouth. For a brief second she was flooded with hope that he could be saved, but it was too late.

Doctors tried to revive Tim for 45 minutes before they declared his time of death. As the machines clicked off, signaling the end of Tim’s hard-fought battle with depression, doctors, nurses and family members cried and grieved together over a life gone too soon — and so suddenly. 

“Nothing is more surreal than driving home from the hospital knowing you left your child there and they will never come home again,” Schuster said. She fought back tears.

Although she knew Tim was struggling with anxiety and depression, she never thought he was at risk for suicide.

Photo by Abigail Ng
Claire Schuster holds a picture of her son, Tim.

From the outside he seemed like a typical, healthy teenager. He played football, had a close group of friends and dreamed of attending college. The Schusters were a close family that ate every dinner around the table together. Eleven days before his passing, Tim’s parents gave him a new puppy that he adored.

After noticing Tim withdrawing socially and emotionally from his friends and school, Claire took him to professionals for medication and counseling. She repeatedly encouraged Tim, attempting to convince him that things would get better.

“I did everything I thought you’re supposed to do,” she said. “I never thought I’d lose a child to suicide.”

Now almost 10 years later, a poem titled “You’re Free (Imagine Blue),” surrounded by smiling pictures of Tim sits framed in the Schuster house.

It reads, “Blue was your color / that of the sky / Every time I see it / I wonder why? / Why did you have to go? / Why did you have to go?”

Recognizing prevalent problems

Forty minutes from Grafton High School at 1950 Washington St., it is evident that Claire and Tim’s story is all too common.

In 2016, the Elmbrook School District in Brookfield, Wisconsin, experienced a sudden cluster of five suicides, all unrelated, within a couple months of each other. Two students were high school seniors at Brookfield Central and Brookfield East, respectively, and three were recent graduates. They were the first cases of suicide in the district in almost five years, leading many to ask how and why it was happening there. 

According to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, suicide is the second-leading cause of death among teenagers 15 -19 in Wisconsin, and the state has the 14th-highest rate of suicide in the nation.

As part of efforts by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to monitor health risk behaviors in high school students, Wisconsin participates in the Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Results from the 2013 YBRS showed 25 percent of high school students felt sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks or more in a row in the past 12 months. Another study from the National Alliance for Mental Illness reported 20 percent of youth ages 13-18 live with a mental health condition.

While mental illness, including depression and anxiety, is increasingly common in young adults, a stigma still surrounds the topic and halts important conversation.

“I told Tim to talk to his friends, but he’d just respond, ‘C’mon mom, are you kidding?’ He didn’t want to be seen as crazy or stupid,” Schuster said. “He didn’t want to be seen as crazy or stupid. It was only after the funeral that I found out people in his close circle of friends had also been going to counseling.”

It is required under Wisconsin state law that schools provide suicide prevention and response education as part of their health curriculum, but some think what is mandated is not enough.

Before last year’s suicides and following the state statutes, Elmbrook Schools had only been incorporating suicide education into seventh, eighth and tenth grade health classes. Molly Steinert, a freshman in the College of Business Administration and Brookfield Central High School graduate, said she can remember little to no mental health education in high school.

“Everyone considered health classes such a joke and they were never treated seriously,” she said.

Since then, Elmbrook Schools has launched additional programming to educate community members, teachers, parents and students in hopes of preventing any future deaths. All high school students in the Elmbrook district receive suicide education every year that includes how to spot someone at risk, how to help them and how to find resources. Fredrich said the repeated emphasis will hopefully create an open-minded atmosphere where it is safe to talk about mental health and seek help.    

Milwaukee Public Schools is also on track to increase suicide education. Two years ago, they received the Project AWARE, standing for Advancing Wellness and Resilience Education, grant which includes the Youth Mental Health First Aid program. The grant and program aim to teach faculty how to approach students who experience mental health challenges. So far, 1,200 teachers, or about 50 percent of the faculty at the seven schools where Project AWARE has been implemented, have been trained. The goal is to expand the program to all of MPS.

“For many, this is their first exposure to the topic,” Melanie Stewart, MPS student performance and improvement director, said. “High schools are finally facing issues that have always been there. We’re now more aware of all things that impact children as they walk in the room.”

Acknowledging community is one of the key factors that influences children, Elmbrook schools turned to the Brookfield neighborhoods to further build an environment that is attentive to the social-emotional aspects of growing up.

“When you’re talking about the development of the whole child, it’s not just one person’s role,” Fredrich said.

Elmbrook Schools, in partnership with NAMI Waukesha, recently began hosting Question, Persuade and Refer sessions to anyone 12 and older. The sessions are designed to teach people about the signs of deteriorating mental health and what to do when they see them.

QPR also provides community members with the opportunity to open up about their own experiences with mental health.

“When people are willing to share their story not only of pain but recovery, it shows that mental illness doesn’t have to be lifelong,” Fredrich said. “There can be a lot of hope and optimism in sharing.”

Since beginning community conversations about mental health, the number of students, families and community members that have reached out for assistance in crisis has increased. Fredrich attributes this uptick to people feeling more comfortable asking for help rather than more people needing help.

When BCHS lost a student to suicide, Steinert took it as an important reminder of the necessity of acceptance and kindness.

“Mental health (issues are) prevalent in a lot of people, but you don’t necessarily see it,” she said. “I think my job is to be as kind to everyone as I can because you never know what other people are going through.”

It’s a mentality that Steinert brought to Marquette, where suicide remains a leading killer.

Whether in high school or college, the feeling of comfort and inclusion can make a difference for someone struggling with suicidal ideation.

“If only (Tim) knew how common clinical depression and anxiety was,” Schuster said. “Education can lighten that load… If only he knew he was not alone.”

Building Resiliency

Before Tim passed away, he would stress and labor tirelessly for hours on a 10-page paper only to earn a C grade.

“Don’t let the paper have power over you. You’re more than your grade point,” Schuster would tell him.

But nothing could change his mind that he was “the dummy” of his friend group. While his peers were comparing ACT scores and college acceptances, Tim was falling farther behind on his schoolwork and deeper into his depression. Schuster told him that taking the GED was an option, but for Tim that was not good enough.

Like many adolescents suffering from depression, Schuster said Tim thought everyone else’s life was perfect except for his. With pressure to go to college, many high school students — not just Tim — easily forget the bigger picture.

At BCHS, Steinert remembers there was an underlying sense of competition that students recognized but rarely acknowledged.

“(Competition) is a double-edged sword. At times it pushes you to do better, but when you’re constantly comparing yourself with others, it can also take a toll on your self-esteem,” she said. “It’s easy to fall on that negative side.”

High school, especially junior and senior year as Steinert recalled, is often filled with stress and anxiety. AP exams, leadership roles, ACT and SAT tests and college decisions add up.

“When you talk to kids, they’ll talk about how stressed they are, about how they’re not taking care of themselves, but when you talk to them about what to take off their plates that’s where they get caught up,” Fredrich said. “When all they’re thinking is ‘gotta get into college, gotta get into college,’ how do you help kids understand that success looks different for everybody?”

Stress is a part of life, and many educators see resilience as the long-term key to suicide prevention. Fredrich and Stewart agreed that teaching resiliency and self-care such as healthy eating, sleeping and exercise habits should be a focus in addition to academics.

“Whatever the child comes across in their life, I hope that we’ve given them the tools to be resilient adults in the community,” Stewart said.

“Our job as educators is to create healthy adults, not just really great looking college applications at 17,” Fredrich said. “It’s not a sprint to graduation. It’s a marathon to a healthy life.”

Ultimately, Schuster said she believes the expectations Tim imposed on himself played a role in his suicide. Aware of how much pressure young adults are under today and inspired by Tim’s passing, she travels to high schools across Wisconsin and organizes guest speakers.

Out of tragedy, she looks for hope.

“I don’t want Timmy’s death to be for nothing,” Schuster said. “If we can save even one family from this nightmare … that’s my wish and my goal, to break the stigma of mental illness.”

This story is part of the Marquette Wire’s “Breaking the Silence” series to increase awareness and start dialogue about suicide in college. Read, watch and listen to more coverage here.

Photo by Anabelle McDonald