In October of this year, Vice President of Finance and Planning Jay Kahn sent an email out to KSC faculty and professors. In it Kahn stated that factors such as lowered enrollment and fewer sales in the campus bookstore have led to the resolution that spending will need to be cut by two percent. Or, in other words, 2.5 million dollars.

Dean of Arts and Humanities Andy Harris said this spending reduction for the whole college is more than the two percent primarily mentioned by Kahn.

“That [spending reduction] is in the amount of about two percent of our college operating budget, but it’s bigger than two percent in practical terms because a lot of the costs can’t be cut…there are many things you can’t cut any percentage of- full time faculty and staff-and so we’re left with a higher percentage of everything that’s left,” Harris said.

Harris sent an email to his department faculty and staff. He said that, while the issue is school-wide, the situation is worse for arts and humanities.

“We want to run the classes that we need for the students that we have, but we have a lot less students [so] we cannot run as many classes and that’s been the primary way we’ve met this challenge up till now,” he said.

In person Kahn reiterated this, saying that, “while this might affect faculty, what the budget cut is really about is looking at which classes are being filled and which ones aren’t which will lead to some being cut.”

Photo illustration / Jake Coughlin / Administrative Executive Editor

“It’s clear some of our basic entry level classes, we don’t need as many, so that rightsizing has been taking place since last May,” Kahn said.

Kahn continued and said that it really depends on the evaluation of the dean in each department.

He said, “[They] make sure we have the right number of courses for the number of students we have enrolled, not the number we have projected twelve months ago, which would leave us with more courses than we would need.”

Kahn also said there are other elements to where money is spent as well.

“It depends, does the equipment break down, are there new faculty that come on board that require additional support items, [are there] conference expenses for professional development? These expenses vary from year to year,” he said.

Kahn continued, “In this year when we can see that there are fewer incoming students, that is having an impact on revenue…so it’s not like anybody has made budget cuts, it’s a team effort, college-wide effort to look and see where savings can occur and to identity that early, not wait till the end of the year.”

He did say, however, that this cut in budget will have no affect on student tuition. “[There have been] no changes in any of the charges the college has been authorized,” Kahn said.

However there will be increases in the fees. Interim Associate Vice President for Finance and Planning Martha Landry, who will be taking over for Kahn for the time being after he retires, said there will between a two and five percent increase in the fees presented to students. “This includes the meal-plan, athletic complex, art facilities, health resources, everything but Res-life,” Landry said.

KSC junior Jordan Lawrence said she’s always aware of costs being raised. “I pay for everything on my own so if tuition or books were to be raised, it would be tough, not just on me, but on a lot of my peers,” she said.

Lawrence said a way we could help encourage enrollment would be to coordinate with the community outside campus and do something together. She said it’s ridiculous how much we’ve been judged for the Pumpkinfest riots that occurred last year. “Yeah it was crazy, [but] it was one year…I mean we’re not bad kids,” Lawrence said.

KSC junior Melissa Fraser said she finds it sad how bad a mark pumpkinfest left on the school’s reputation. “And not just when it happened, but in the long term we’re still paying for it, which is unfair,” she said.

She said she thinks that’s a primary reason why enrollment’s lower since some potential student’s parents might fear sending their kids here. Fraser said, “I mean it was…one day and I feel like it doesn’t reflect the whole school but I feel like that’s all parents think about when they send their kids here and they’re afraid that’s going to happen again and their kids going to get hurt coming here.”

Junior Joe Sansone said he finds it strange that we’re constructing new buildings when enrollment is down. “Maybe put it more towards teaching the kids who are already here,” he said.  Sansone said we should be aware of where our money is going and that we should, “Spend our money more wisely.”

Harris said the long term goal of having more buildings is effective for the college. “Before this year we had a lot of students forced to live in triples; that is not a healthy way to live a college experience,” Harris said.

Some groups have taken matters into their own hands.

In an article published last week concerning the campus group Wir Sind Keene State and their bake sale which raised $125.10 to donate for Syrian refugees, KSC Junior Emma Cote said the group also is doing this to get publicity out for the German Minor, to show what the minor does for the school.

“Everyone’s like it’s a financial issue [or that] we don’t have money for it but at the same time we can come up with some of our own funds [and] we can do great things for the school,”Cote said.

KSC first-year student Julia Hannan said efforts to raise money for the school should be thought out.

“Like more art shows or things like that,” Hannan said.

Vice President Kahn said that the student exhibitions and performances to bring in revenue is a great idea.

“We have presentations each semester and judging from the quality of our students’ work, I would think that has revenue potential,” Kahn said.

He continued, “The college’s strategic plan identifies revenue diversification as an important college wide issue.

Kahn also said he is currently speaking with the student assembly to figure out financial planning for the following year. “And these aren’t necessarily decreases,” Kahn said.

Dorothy can be contacted at denglad@kscequinox.com

In a matter of seconds, your friend grasps above their heart, then falls to ground struggling for air. Then suddenly they are silent. If this were a movie and CPR was performed, it would only take mere minutes to save a person. However, according to the BBC, the truth isn’t always so optimistic. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR, as many know it, has long been used in films as an agonizing yet often restorative mechanism. In reality, the chances of survival are much slimmer depending on response time, age of victim and causes.

That is not to say one should not try to revive an individual in order to buy time before EMTs arrive. According to the BBC, “The idea of CPR is not to start the heart beating again, but to get oxygen into a person’s lungs to prevent brain damage. To restart the heart would usually require an electric shock.”

At Keene State College, while it is not required of professors to have CPR training, some students find that they should.

KSC sophomore and nursing major Jordan Medeiros said she thinks that professors and faculty should be certified.

Tim Smith / Photo Editor

“Because they are the ones that have the responsibility in the classroom. Even on campus, people recognized them as someone they should feel safe with, so if there [was] ever a problem, teachers should be the first one to respond,” Medeiros said.

Medeiros said she was first certified in high school. “It’s pretty essential for all nurses to have CPR certification, and the class itself teaches you more than [CPR]; you learn about other things that don’t necessarily have to do with CPR,” Medeiros said.

KSC first-year Brendan Felix said that, just to be safe, everyone should be CPR trained. He also said it can help calm people down if there is someone available to reassure worried bystanders by performing CPR.

“I’ve experienced [it] myself where someone actually had a heart attack [and] we did CPR [but] sadly they didn’t make it. But the fact that there was someone on the beach there, it was a lot better than if someone hadn’t known [CPR],” Felix said.

KSC alumnus Dan Derohan said that professors are covered under the Good Samaritan law, however there could be issues regardless whether  the school required them all to be CPR certified.

“A professor putting hands on a student could open a can of worms I would assume the school doesn’t want. I personally believe it’s a good idea but with the amount of people in this world that are sue happy, it would never happen,” Derohan said.

Biology Professor Dr. Kenneth Bergman said, “I don’t know what the risk of legal vulnerability is, something might go slightly wrong and you could be sued.”

He said he himself is not certified, but has always thought it would be beneficial to have the training.

“I would guess that most professors are not because there’s been no systematic requirement for it,” Bergman said.

“I suspect that the main reason why (most professors aren’t certified), is just [that] people haven’t given the time [or] taken the time to do it, [they’ve] just been busy. I [myself] don’t have one night typically to give up.”

Derohan, who also worked as a Residential Assistant, said that being aware is key.

“It takes a special type of person to be able to actually perform those tasks. It’s not for everyone and when it comes time to do it let the one who is trained do it. Don’t offer help, don’t get in their way. They will do what they need to do and if they need help they will ask for it.” Derohan said.

“I think RAs that want to know CPR should have the opportunity to learn it free of charge although [in] under pressure situations, I’m not sure all of them could actually handle doing it. I’ve done CPR to keep someone alive, [and] before me…my partner did it for thirty minutes,” Derohan said.

He continued, “If they (RAs) were to be trained in CPR I would want other training along with it such as AED, first aid and epinephrine auto injection. That way they don’t see it as something to brag about but more of an ‘I’m now able to use this in a crisis situation’ type of attitude.”

According to the BBC, “It’s not dangerous to do it to someone who turns out to be conscious after all. If they open their eyes and start pushing you away then you can stop. The greater risk is that people mistake a person’s final gasps for breath as a sign of consciousness and then decide not to do CPR.”

KSC alumna and nurse Kristina McGuirk said she feels more equipped now that she’s been trained and certified for CPR. She said, “It’s easy to get swept up with adrenaline in a situation that requires CPR. [Remember] to stay calm and remember the basics of CPR until more help arrives.”

McGuirk said it’s a task that requires a lot of confidence.

“It’s important to remember that you could be saving someone’s life,” McGuirk said.

CPR classes held will be from January 19 to  March 4 2016, on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Dorothy can be contacted at dengland@kscequinox.com

To save a language they love, student enthusiasts rallied and thrusted posters in the air in protest of the academic hold on the German Minor program. This was held the same day Hillary Clinton came to visit, Friday, October 16. While the numbers for the protest weren’t quite as high as Clinton’s crowd, there was still substantial support.

The group started on the front lawn of the Student Center, playing German music and cheering “Wir Sind (we are) Keene State!” They sported German flags as capes, and adorned red, yellow and black paint on their faces. In addition, many of them wore self-designed t-shirts, as all the money put into the efforts were their own proceeds. As spectators passed by, they were given slips of paper with more information about where to sign a petition to keep the minor available.

“We [already have] over 800 signatures [on our petition] on change.org,” Keene State College Senior Amie Gagnon said.

KSC junior Victoria Tucker said that they want the German minor to be around for future students; that’s what they’re really fighting for.

“Our hope is that this program is long-lasting after we’re gone. It’s so frustrating because all these student are getting an awesome entry into the program and then there’s no way to go on,”Tucker said.

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Walter Zakahi said that the students already enrolled in the German minor will be able to continue their studies until they graduate.

“We didn’t stop it and take it away…we’re doing what we call a ‘teaching out.’ So if you put a program on hold…you have a responsibility and we take that responsibility seriously, that anybody who came in and had declared a German minor before we put it on hold will be able to complete that,” Zakahi said.

Zakahi said that this decision was being debated long before he got here in 2014. He said in 2010, there was a motion to potentially move the German minor over to the History major. Zakahi said that now, in 2015, the funds just aren’t there.

Meghan Marcucci / Equinox Staff

“The important thing to remember is that German will continue to be offered as a language here at KSC [in the basic 100 levels],” Zakahi said.

Gagnon said that even if they keep just the basic 100 levels for German that it won’t be sufficient. “It’s like the one Italian course offered. It’s not enough; it’s not very good for diversity at all,” she said.

Professor of Modern Languages Stephen Hawes said he finds it will be damaging to students if the German Minor is eliminated.

“If they just leave three basic intro to German classes, it’s going to lose interest, and then the numbers will dwindle and that will [lead to] German being taken out of the books,” Hawes said.

Hawes said he finds that cultural diversity is crucial for students; he encourages his own students to even study two languages in addition to already knowing English, saying it will help them in the real world.

“No matter what field you’re getting into, even being proficient in two languages, it’s better for them,” he said. “German [in particular] is very important in the world economy…for design and engineering, German is the language as far as manufacturing,” Hawes said.

Hawes also said the main professor for German, Alison Pantesco, has won recognition and awards for her teaching methods.

“She’s so good at teaching languages that it’s really drummed up a lot of interest in German,” Hawes said.

KSC junior Mikhail Lavrentyev said of the German professors, “[Their enthusiasm] makes you want to learn. It’s no game, even with people who struggle, [Professor Alison Pantesco] supports them and she brings them back to believing in the language. It would be sad to see her go because she’s one of the best teachers I’ve ever had.”

He said he doesn’t understand why, with such passionate professors we put so much money into sports and new buildings, but have to slim down the language options.

Tucker said that she found out that there are different budgets for the buildings and athletics, however she finds it frustrating that KSC President Anne Huot gets paid so much especially when enrollment is down.

“Why are we giving her that much money when we have so fewer students as well, and then we can’t even afford to fund two adjunct professors that run the entire [German] program?” Tucker said.

Gagnon agreed.

“It’s not a big program, so when they argue that it’s financial, it doesn’t make much sense because they wouldn’t be taking much money to run it anyway,” Gagnon said.

Another issue some people are concerned with is how the German minor coincides with the Holocaust and Genocide major.

KSC Senior and Holocaust and Genocide major Dylan Renner said the German Minor doesn’t really affect him personally. However, Renner said he has sympathy for the people who are passionate about the language.

“I feel like getting out there and advocating for it with your voice and your body is much more, it’s heard much more soundly,” Renner said.

Renner said he himself traveled to Poland last semester. Renner said, “Everyone speaks English and everyone speaks their native language. I definitely believe, after seeing how bilingual people are in Europe, it’s kind of distasteful how we [Americans are].”

Chair of the Holocaust and Genocide Studies Department Paul Vincent said the academic hold on the German minor hits him strongly since he already feels there aren’t enough languages offered, which puts the school in a fragile state concerning the education.

“My sense of the liberal arts education at the undergraduate level is something that embraces the idea of foreign languages. If I had my druthers, there would be a full year commitment to a foreign language as part of the ISP program,” Vincent said.

He said his concern is that in many other places in the world, especially in Europe, many people speak English in addition to their home language. Vincent said learning a language is just as essential as learning math and writing, saying that no one is disputing we need to get rid of these curriculums, and that learning a modern language should be just as respected.

“It’s not just learning the language…but you’re learning the culture. It’s not simply finding the final answer, it’s the process of…thinking about what you’re doing that’s so important,” Vincent said.

Some argue it’s a shame if we discontinue the minor since we currently share a culture with Germany.

“Einbeck is our sister city,” Gagnon said.

According to http://www.sister-cities.org/, a sister city is an international relationship between two cities in different countries, that are based on volunteer efforts, as well as persons from municipal government or non-profits. This relationship is to encourage well-being and guidance for each city involved.

“[It] forms this cultural awareness and international connection. We’ve also dedicated our fountain at the gazebo to them,” Gagnon said.

Provost Zakahi said the main reason why the German minor has been put on hold is that there just aren’t the funds to hire someone full-time.

“We’re not to going to assume we’re going to put [money] into places [it’s already] been; we might, [but] what we want is for the modern languages to really go through a planning process and figure out what is the best interest of the future of the department, students and institution,” Zakahi said.

With a public protest and petition clearly underway, some might say the interest has already been shown and it’s asking “sprechen sie deutsch?”  (do you speak German?)

Dorothy can be contacted at dengland@kscequinox.com

Keene State College Associate Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies/American Studies Dr. Patricia Pedrozas finds that there are two very contradictory messages about a woman’s body: it’s okay to be merchandised only if it’s “attractive,” but made to be shamed if it’s not attractive.

“When women are a social object which produces money, breasts become an economical enterprise and I call that an industry,” Pedroza said. She continued, “And if we’re not selling it, we wonder if there is something wrong, something dirty with our bodies; we wonder: are our bodies beautiful?”

Some say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But what if that view is polluted? Some would agree that the media’s perception of people, especially of women, is erroneous in its idealist display.

The group who makes up the ‘Free the Nipple Campaign’ certainly does. This movement is to set the double standard about public topless-ness straight: women should be able to walk around topless anywhere a man can.

“I feel like it should be normal, it should be okay” Nick Swain, a Keene State College student, said.

KSC junior Marissa DePolo said, “I understand it, I support it; I just think it’s a campaign that’s going to take time.”

With the 100-year anniversary of women having the right to vote only five years away, some may argue, it’s about time.

KSC senior Julia Lagace said, “I mean it starts with us in schools… us teaching people that women’s bodies aren’t anything to be ashamed of.”

Christian mentor for KSC students Deb Eklund said, “Our bodies are beautiful and sacred yet we live in a highly sexualized society that distorts and perverts that beauty and innocence and sweetness.”

KSC’s on-campus club, Feminist Collective (Femco) strives to offer opportunities to remember that beauty and be proud of it.

KSC senior and member of Femco  Meghan Jenks said, “We are dedicated to equality and raising awareness for feminist issues…[with] marches about sexual assault, a love your body week. We’re trying to do more fun events too, like sex toy bingo, which is all about removing that shame about your body and being proud of who you are, your sexuality.”

Femco, which was founded by Dr. Pedroza, meets on Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. in Huntress.

When asked her opinions on the free the nipple campaign, Jenks said she found it absurd that breasts are so sexualized when they’re just another organ on the body.

“It’s not even about going topless, it’s that we don’t want to even acknowledge the existence of nipples at all. [But] they’re there, and they serve a distinct purpose,” Jenks continued.

Breastfeeding.

“Just feed the baby, it shouldn’t be embarrassing,” Dr. Pedroza said. Yet she also acknowledged how many women find it unappealing until they themselves have to experience it.

“The students will face these kind of issues the moment they become pregnant, the moment they have the baby, [the moment] they adjust,” she said.

Heather Lounsbury, an Early Childhood Teacher at the Child Development Center (CDC), said she found this to be true.

“I had a really different perspective [of breastfeeding] before I was breastfeeding myself: I was like well, you don’t need to do it in public and if you’re going to, you should cover up.”

She laughed and said, “If you’ve ever tried to cover up with a 7-month-old

Photo Illustration by Kendall Pope & Jake Coughlin

while breastfeeding, you know that’s pretty much a losing battle. Honestly, it would take me less time and it would be less intrusive if I just feed her and we moved on. It’s drawing more attention to myself by trying to cover her up.”

Eklund said, “Because of our society, it’s not [considered] pure; it should be, but it’s not. People can make rude comments so, for me, it was easier to just cover up. It wasn’t a big deal, and it was good for my babies…because covering up protected them from distraction and noise.”

Another concern is that people should be covering the eyes of our children so as not to see bare breasts. However, others are saying it’s how we as adults react that impact children the most.

KSC sophomore Nathaniel Wolf said, “If people make a big deal of it and say it’s inappropriate, then [children] will agree.”

When asked his opinion on public breastfeeding and it’s correlation to the ‘free the nipple’ campaign, he said, “I see it as even less of an issue. It’s natural; they’re feeding their children.”

There appears to be a segregation between women showing cleavage and women feeding babies.

Dr. Emek Ergun, lecturer for Women’s and Gender Studies, said, “[Breastfeeding] doesn’t contribute to the male gaze. It doesn’t play into the sexualization of the body, so it’s considered inappropriate.”

In other countries, it appears these mindsets are very different from our own.

Dr. Ergun, who travels frequently to Turkey, said that while there are still restrictive regulations, they are different from here.

“It usually doesn’t make much sense to compare…the larger structure that shapes people’s lives is [everywhere]. This isn’t just about gender, it’s about race, ethnicity, religion, class, sexuality,” she said.

However, she did say that, in Turkey, the feminist movement is more elaborate.

“It’s more out there, on the streets, protesting; you constantly see that some feminist activity is going on outside. Here, at least right now, it’s a bit more academic, and you don’t see a protest every other week.”

Dr. Ergun said that in order for this segregation to change we have to keep talking about this issue to find ways to combat the sexist attributes of our patriarchal culture.

“It’s important to change our mindsets,” Ergun said.

Dr. Pedroza, said the more rural you go in Latin America, the more likely you are to see women comfortably breastfeeding in public.

“In this country, it is not allowed and welcomed; in my county it’s allowed and welcomed, it’s a woman’s right. Not everywhere…but there are many places.” She said how it’s not a huge issue like it is here in America.

Heather Lounsbury, from the CDC, said, “Sometimes it takes a big, flashy something to get people to change their perspective, even if it’s something small.”

According to KSC’s policies, as established in 2012, KSC is in agreement with the New Hampshire State law, RSA 132:10-d: Breastfeeding in New Hampshire, and provides locations and flexible adjustments for their breastfeeding faculty.

The CDC also offers a place for comfortable and secure breastfeeding on campus.

In addition, the student handbook clearly reads (with no gender specifics):“Shirts are required inside all nonresident buildings and where decorum suggests such appropriate attire.”

Dorothy England can be contacted at Dengland@kscequinox.com

It’s time to raise a cup and ask for just a little more brew this morning. With Keene State College now offering coffee from local café, Prime Roast, the impact on community outreach is bursting with robust flavor. Known for baking their own coffee beans, Prime Roast will now be offering KSC students and faculty their unique taste.

And many would argue, they’ve got great taste. Josef Quirinale, General Manager for KSC Dining Services, said, “Prime Roast is roasted locally.”

Quirinale continued, “[then it’s] delivered to us shortly after roasting to insure great quality and is part of the effort of Dining Services to provide more local products on campus.”

In addition, Quirinale said that Prime Roast uses only Fair Trade coffee beans.

“Purchasing Fair Trade means that the product guarantees farmers a fair price, and links farmers directly with importers, creating

Emily Mathieu/ Equinox Staff

long-term sustainability. Through Fair Trade, farmers earn better incomes, allowing them to hold on to their land and invest in quality,” said Quirinale.

Ryan Askham, KSC sophomore, said he’s heard and believes “[Prime Roast] has better grounds.” When asked if he drinks more coffee at college or back home, he laughed and said, “it’s definitely different at home where I work a lot, doing physical labor.”

For other KSC students, like Meg MacLellan, the opposite is true. She said, “I drink more coffee at college; it’s great, I love it!”

Keegan Monahan, another KSC student said, “it’s the same.”

Evidently, it appears college kids like their caffeine. Quirinale said “Students drink the majority of the coffee sold at Lloyd’s and the Bean and Bagel”. Bryan Thurston would agree. He mentioned how “there’s [usually] a good line at the Bean and Bagel” said Bryan Thurston, who is a recently hired employee at Lloyd’s.

He said he has worked two years at the DC before transferring to Lloyds. When asked if he believes students drink more here than back home, he said “my instinct is to say yes. There are more reasons for it: getting up early for class, staying up late for homework, or to make up for being out late the night before. He understands the need for caffeine. He said he remembers drinking a lot of coffee before the acidity in it started affecting him too severely. However, he still enjoys the occasional iced coffee, and firmly believes coffee is a healthier alternative to energy drinks such as Monster or Redbull.

You won’t find these energy drinks sold at Bean and Bagel. But, you may hear someone suggest them. Other than Prime roast, more and more students are wanting more local foods. There have been recent requests for the likes of food trucks, more vending machines and even another dining hall. Askham mentioned, “It would be cool if there was a dining hall open 24/7, like a smaller one. Most college kids are up past 11 p.m., and they get hungry.”  Other students said they would be happy to see a food truck on campus.

When asked their opinion, both MacLellan and Monahan appeared excited at the prospect. However, if it doesn’t happen, or at least happen soon, they said they’re both happy with the options available, especially sizzlers.

In order for an inquiry about a new food or drink item to be added to the KSC menu, Quirinale said, “[they] must meet several requirements, including availability, [that it’s] approved, insured and [comes] from a ‘safe’ source.” But don’t let that intimidate your ideas. “All requests are considered” Quirinale mentioned.For now, some find Prime Roast’s fresh and improved coffee to be the buzz around campus. For some, that will be enough of a change, especially since it’s local. In closing, Quirinale said, “The expectation is that the campus community will be happy to support a local business, [which] provides a great product and is socially responsible.”

Dorthoy England can be contacted at dengland@kscequinox.com