Senior mathematics major and minor in statistics and computer science Brooke Hatanaka is one of  two KSC students who attended The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Conference for Undergraduate Women in Mathematics (NCUWM) this past weekend.

The conference was Friday, Feb. 3 through Sunday, Feb. 4 and Hatanaka presented her poster presentation on Saturday.

“My poster is called ‘Characterization of Pythagorean Triples in the Root 2 Field Extension of the Rational Numbers.’ Essentially, it is about characterizing pythagorean triples in the root 2 field extension of the rational numbers by comparing them with pythagorean triples in the integers,” Hatanaka said. 

Tim Smith / Photo Editor

She continued, “Since all pythagorean triples in the integers can be generated and characterized by one formula, we hope to generate and characterize all pythagorean triples in the root 2 field extension of the rational numbers. I have discovered some results so far, but I have not yet characterized all of the triples in the field. I will continue to work on this research this spring and my next step will involve applications of the three formulas for generating pythagorean triples (found on my poster) in matrix form.”

Senior mathematics major and physics minor Katie Marinoff also attended the conference with Hatanaka.

Marinoff said the purpose of the conference is to encourage undergraduate woman to share their work and show them the different options available after graduation.

“I originally submitted my presentation as an oral presentation, but they received a lot of submissions for that, so I resubmitted it for the poster section, which they accepted,” Marinoff said

Hatanaka and Marinoff’s professor Dr. Caitlyn Parmelee invited them to the conference.

Recently, Dr. Caitlyn Parmelee graduated with her PhD from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and has worked both and presented at the conference. Parmelee has been attending almost every year she attended UNL, according to Hatanaka.

“I have been doing research with my professor, Dr. [Vincent] Ferlini, since my sophomore year at Keene. However, I have only presented my research at the Academic Excellence Conference here at Keene State for the past two years. So, Dr. Parmelee spoke with Dr. Ferlini, asking him to recommend students for her to invite and he suggested that she invite me,” Hatanaka said.

Hatanaka said she hopes to gain more experience and presentation skills from attending the conference.

“Since I’m presenting a poster, I could get asked a question by anyone at any time, so it’ll keep me on my toes for sure and force me to think further into my research,” Hatanaka said.

The conference also has workshops every year, and Hatanaka said this year’s workshop is focused on graduate school.

Hatanaka said, “When applying for the conference, I got to pick and choose which workshops about graduate school that I wanted to attend that would benefit me the most.

I think that these workshops will give me clarity about graduate school and answer any questions that I may have about applying and preparing.”

Dr. Caitlyn Parmelee, Assistant Professor of Mathematics here at Keene State attended NCUWM as an undergraduate student and presented in the conference while attending.

Parmelee said the conference played a large role in her decision to go to graduate school.

“Seeing other undergraduate women in mathematics presenting their own research was really inspiring and I learned a lot about what kinds of careers used mathematics. I applied to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for graduate school because of my experience at the conference. During my time as a graduate student at UNL, I continued to be involved in the conference as a volunteer. It is exciting to be going to the conference now as a faculty member,” Parmelee said.

Though Parmelee participated as a student in the conference at one time, this time her role will be being a mentor.

Parmelee said, “I hosted a table during the networking dinner and met many aspiring female mathematicians who wanted to hear about my research in mathematical neuroscience, or why I decided to go to graduate school, or how to get into a R[esearch] E[xperience for] U[ndergraduates.] I have had a lot of wonderful mentors throughout my career and it is really amazing to give back and mentor the next generation. The conference also allows me to reconnect with the faculty and graduate students from my time at UNL.”

Hatanaka plans to take a gap year after graduating from Keene and then attend graduate school. She is planning to take her Graduate Record Examination (GRE) in the spring to further herself in the application process.

“I hope to attend a school that will allow me to get my PhD in Advanced/Applied Abstract Algebra. In addition to searching for graduate schools, I will also be searching and applying for jobs in the mathematical field around New England. Mathematics has kept me so positive because it is such a big field; I know I will find myself doing something I love,” Hatanaka said.

From the conference, Hatanaka hopes to learn more about herself, graduate schools and other mathematicians across the nation.

She hopes to gain new connections and friendships with others who are also passionate about math and aspire to attend graduate school one day.

Hatanaka said she would like to thank her professors Dr. Vincent Ferlini and Dr. Caitlyn Parmelee.

“This conference wouldn’t have been possible without them. I am truly grateful for all they have done for me in preparing me, as well as pushing and encouraging me to take advantage and make the most out of this opportunity,” Hatanaka said.

Marinoff said, “It’s interesting to talk to other people who are studying math to hear what the program is like at their school and what they plan to do with their degree. I enjoy seeing what research other people are doing. I’m also looking forward to seeing [the] University of Nebraska. I’m currently applying to grad[uate] schools, including UNL, so it it will be nice to see the campus. I’m a little nervous about actually giving my presentation since I’ve never given a poster presentation before, but once I’m actually there, I’m sure I’ll feel better.”

Marinoff wants to get her doctorate in mathematics.

She said she is unsure what field specifically, but is leaning towards number theory, algebra or geometry.

“I think this conference will benefit me by getting to talk to other people who are in the same place I am, that is, graduating soon with a bachelor’s in math and applying to grad[uate] schools. Plus, of course, it’s a pretty good resume booster,” Marinoff said.

Emma Hamilton can be contacted at ehamilton@kscequinox.com

As words of violence prevention echo from the Mabel Brown Room a message was relayed that men will display themselves in a fresh pair of stilettos.

On Tuesday Feb. 7, the Monadnock Violence Prevention (MCVP) group teamed up with Keene State College’s Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) to host their annual kick-off event in the Mabel Brown Room filled with shoe decorating and information about the upcoming walk this spring.

KSC senior Sophia Olsen has a part of the committee this year to organize the event.

Crae Messer / Managing Executive Editor

“Initially, I was only a part of Mentors in Violence Prevention, which I am on our e-board for, and our advisor Forrest Seymour said, ‘Sophia you’re a part of this [committee for Walk-A-Mile] now.’” Olsen said.

According to Olsen, the committee sits down to talk about the event itself and what they can do to promote it, such as the kick-off.

Olsen said the kick-off gets people thinking about the event that is coming in the spring and primarily gets people to remember violence prevention is a legitimate issue that people need to get involved in.

“Decorating shoes has been an annual part of the kick-off along with the shoe contest,” Olsen said.

Olsen has been apart of the Walk-a-Mile event every year she has been at KSC.

Though the committee is new for her, she has enjoyed being apart of the event the past three years.

“Walk-a-Mile in general is a national organization which is to get men to be more involved in violence prevention. Statistically speaking one in four women will experience sexual assault during their time in college,” Olsen said.

She continued,“this is a fun event where men get to wear heels and walk a mile for awareness. A lot of the men come back with blisters or broken heels but it’s like any other kind of marathon and they raise money beforehand so the proceeds can go to a crisis center.”

Olsen said the organizations on campus participate in this event annually.

The Greek Life organizations all participate and have their own teams.

She also said anyone on campus is able to make a team or do the event individually. “Even if you can’t make it to the event, you can still sign up and raise money for the cause,” Olsen said.

Olsen believes violence prevention has been stereotyped as a women’s issue, which is why informative events like this are so important to her.

“I think this is a really great invitation to men,” Olsen said. “It lets them know this is an everyone issue. I think solidarity from either gender is really important. We need men to be involved in this kind of fight.”

Coordinator of Sexual Violence Prevention Forrest Seymour has been advising the event for the 11 years it has been at KSC. “Walk-a-Mile is always in April and the past three years we have held the kick off in February,” Seymour said.

This year Walk-a-Mile will be held on Saturday. April. 22 at 10 a.m.

“It [Walk-a-Mile] functions as a fundraiser for them [MCVP] and typically we raise around $30,000. MCVP is in close connection with KSC and a great resource for not only us but the community,” Seymour said.

Seymour said how the event usually has 300-500 people attend in April.

“Walk-a-Mile is a great way for people who may not be able to donate much of their time to violence prevention but they’re willing to go on a walk on a Saturday morning. I consider it an entry-level activist thing to do. It something fun that draws people in,” Seymour said.

The kick-off event acts as a start to the fundraising season as well, according to Seymour. He said people are able to register for the walk, form a team with their friends and able to start fundraising. It gets people thinking about the event coming up in the spring.

KSC junior Tim Peterson has participated in Walk-a-Mile in the past to help with traffic control.

“It is rewarding and good to know that we are not just doing this for fun, good will come out of this and people will benefit from this. It will help people who don’t necessarily have the power to help themselves,” Peterson said.

Peterson said he believes one of the largest problems violence prevention faces is a lack of awareness. “Walk-a-Mile not only raises awareness but it also raises funds to help fight these problems and both of those are two of the biggest steps forward that we can take towards these problems. Regardless of my gender I think this is fighting problems from two of the hardest sides. This is a big success every year,” Peterson said.

Emma Hamilton can be contacted at ehamilton@kscequinox.com

Recently, a few of the Feminist Collective group members on-campus were able to attend the Women’s Rights Rally in Concord, New Hampshire on January 21. The members rallied for their own rights and those of others after Trump’s inauguration.

Senior Vice President of the group Emma Cole said, “Feminist Collective [FemCo] has been part of KSC for years and came about due to a need for advocacy for women’s rights (including LGBTQ+). We serve to educate the KSC community on feminist issues, as well as create a community for feminists and allies on campus.”

The group is a safe and all-inclusive space for anyone who may be interested in feminism and gender equality, according to Cole.

“We pride ourselves in being a group-based, member-driven community of solidarity, education and outreach. We, as a collective, have weekly meetings to discuss prominent women’s issues and plan events such as our annual March to End Rape Culture and Love Your Body Week,” Cole said.

Samantha Moore / Art Director

After attending the rally in Concord, the group wanted to continue to advocate. Currently, they are working on the sub-movement of the Boston Women’s March, which is  called 10 actions in 100 days. One of their, “first actions,” will be writing letters to senators about what they are fighting for.

Cole said, “We advocate for women’s rights and try to be as active in our community as possible. We have a solid relationship with Planned Parenthood. Throughout the year, we have turned our focus to more activism-based involvement to try to make a difference in our communities and in our country.”

Senior general club member Sarah Lennon said she got involved with the group her first year at KSC through the Student Involvement Fair. “I love having a community of like-minded women around me to support one another and make a change in the world; I was looking to learn more about feminism and make a difference,” Lennon said.

The group fights for more than just the rights of women. Lennon said, “We are also an intersectional group and believe in fighting for related issues like climate change, human rights, trans rights [and] black lives matter. We are considering taking a trip to D.C. in April for a march to bring awareness about climate change.”

Lennon believes it is important to have a Feminist Collective on campus because it gives young people who identify as or support women a voice on campus, especially during a time where a lot of our rights are being threatened.

Vice president senior Katrina Feraco got involved with FemCo her sophomore year through a friend who had graduated. “Mostly, I wanted to make a difference on-campus and find a way to help achieve gender equality, and I didn’t know where to start on my own, so I thought that the group would help. I went to a meeting early in the year and I instantly felt so welcomed because it was a group of people of various genders and orientations who were there to listen not only to me, but to each other and support one another,” Feraco said.

Over the past couple of years, Feraco has been able to see the group’s progress.

“We never really had a direction or structure; sometimes it would be talks or “lessons” about a relevant women’s issue. Sometimes, it was just hanging out talking about the sexism we saw in the media, on campus or in our personal lives. Now, we are more activism-based and I am over the moon about that,” Feraco said.

Feraco said her and Cole both agree on social justice organizations for the group to work with that relate to FemCo.

Feraco said, “Many students, I’ve noticed, feel as though feminism is over because our mothers and grandmothers revolutionized it, but there are still so many issues related to women’s rights and gender equality that haven’t been solved.”

She continued, “We have made such great strides towards equality but the fight isn’t over, especially not for women of color who regularly deal with racism, impoverished women who regularly deal with classism and financial struggle, transgender women who regularly have to deal with transphobia, gay and same-gender-attracted women who deal with homophobia and anyone who was born with a uterus and vagina who (especially currently) face a lot of judgement and legal restrictions on their own body.”

Feraco said FemCo is a group of great individuals.

“I like that each of our members has a lot to say and that our discussions are productive. I like that we’re making an effort to be as inclusive as possible. I’m proud that we’re making connections in the state of New Hampshire and learning the best way to be advocates for positive change,” Feraco said.

Emma Hamilton can be contacted at ehamilton@kscequinox.com

KSC students who are passionate about activism have recently been working to create their own club on campus.

Senior sociology major and international relations minor Maggie Mason began the Activism Club at Keene State.

“We haven’t done executive board elections yet, but when we do [in the very near future], I plan to run for president. Although there’s a solid group of students working on making this group become an official club, I’ve been leading the majority of it. I brought the idea to the table, organized students I knew would be interested, started a Facebook group and got us together planning events last semester and then got everyone’s opinion for meeting times this semester and set that up,” Mason said.

The group has been pulling together all of the elements to be able to become an official club recognized by the college.

Samantha Moore / Art Director

According to Mason, “We have an official group of people, a constitution for the club and Fred Taylor has agreed to be our adviser. Our next and final step is proposing it to Student Government which we plan to do in the upcoming couple of weeks. I can’t imagine why our proposal would be denied, so I am confident in saying that we will be an official club by the end of the semester.”

Being a sociology major, Mason said there are many things in society that she would like to see change.

“I want a country where my friends of color aren’t oppressed or discriminated against [and] where people in the LGBTQ community are comfortable being themselves without fear of violence or hatred from peers. I want a society and a country that doesn’t deny facts like climate change,” Mason said.

She continued, “I want every community to actually feel like a community, where neighbors know each other and people say, ‘hi’ as they pass each other on the sidewalk. I don’t want there to be fear or hatred among people just because their views differ, and I want everyone to be accepted as they are for who they are.”

Mason plans to make a difference as much as she can.

“Since the inauguration, I have spent time each day calling senators and the White House, making complaints about different things happening. I’m planning on actively voting and participating in politics more than I ever have before. I’m planning on keeping everything peaceful and protesting as much as possible, going to as many events as possible and staying alert of what’s going on around me,” Mason said.

Keene State junior Joseph Stallcop recently was elected as a state representative for New Hampshire. He said Mason is the “fearless leader.” Stallcop is able to be the liaison between the group and the State House.

“I’m going to be keeping people aware with things as soon as I hear them, as well as getting involved when I can,” Stallcop said.

Senior English major Liesl Miller is proud to be an active participant in this group of students.

She said the individuals promote a sense of equality and group leadership.

“I believe it’s important to have an Activist Club on campus because there are a myriad of different issues students care about and the Activist Club helps turn ideas into concrete goals and events,” Miller said.

Miller said the group organized events last semester focusing on environmental protection, and especially standing with Standing Rock. “We held a few small rallies here in Keene and traveled to a larger rally in Washington D.C. on Human Rights Day, and some of our group members even got the chance to go to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation to protest on the ground. This semester, we’re focusing on getting our club to be official, as well as organizing events for certain causes,” Miller said.

The club started as a positive response to the increase of fear-mongering and division currently in the United States according to Miller. She said she feels people feel lost and scared about the promises the government has made.

“The Activist Club felt the need to take a stand against injustice and hate. I think Keene State College has a great group of students, faculty and alumni that care a lot about education, and the foundation for any movement is being informed,” Miller said.

Miller said she would like to see several changes in our society.

“ I’d like to see the poverty situation in our society addressed, I’d like to see a serious decrease in violence and hate speech against people of color, I’d like to see equal opportunity for all men and women and children [and] I’d like to see our energy system transform into something much more sustainable and less harmful to the environment,” Miller said.

She continued and said, “Overall, I’d like for us to be emboldened by our diversities and tear down the walls that separate us, rather than build them up.”

Mason said she needs to stop stressing about the fact that she can’t save the world, but rather that she can make people smile everyday and that is something she plans to focus on.

“I’m planning on spreading as much love and good vibes as I possibly can. I got really overwhelmed the other day after Trump signed off on a whole lot of things that I don’t agree with. I felt so hopeless, like there was literally nothing I could do and a friend reminded me that I do things every day about the circles of people in my life who I positively impact every day in some way,” Mason said.

The club meets on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. in the Flag Room of the student center and the current members encourage anyone and everyone to go.

Emma Hamilton can be contacted at ehamilton@kscequinox.com

The final countdown until commencement began for seniors last Thursday, Jan. 26 at Waxy O’Connors in Keene. From that date, there were only 100 more nights the seniors would be spending here at Keene State.

Senior class president Noah Macri said he can’t believe how close graduation truly is for him and his class. Macri said he is, “scared to death of graduation, but very ready to get out into the real world.”

He said the night consisted of several bittersweet moments for the class of 2017. “We watched the slideshow and reminisced about the great memories we’ve had here. Even though we are graduating in less than 100 nights, it just means we need to take full advantage of the days we still all have together,” Macri said.

Colton McCracken / Equinox Staff

The 100 nights celebration takes place because of an event during first-year orientation that correlates with it, according to Macri. “During orientation in 2013, we had an event called something along the lines of ‘1300-Something Nights,’ I don’t remember the exact number,” Macri said.

He continued, “The event was commemorating our first night that we would be staying on campus and thus starting the countdown of the nights until graduation. I remember them talking about 100 Nights and I remember thinking that was so far away, and I felt like that day would never come for us, but here we are.”

Macri said he thought that the celebration went surprisingly well since it was planned a little last minute by the class executive board.

“We were very nervous that nobody would show up. This event had never been held at Waxy’s before and we knew this was not people’s first choice of location. In the end though, a lot more people came than we had expected and I really think it was a great night of celebration,” Macri said.

The celebration was an enjoyable time for the class of 2017 to socialize with one another and reminisce about their time at KSC according to Macri. He said the feedback the e-board received was positive and made them feel like it was a success.

Macri said he is in disbelief that his time has almost come to walk across the stage on the Fiske Quad. “These past four years were the best of my life and have truly changed who I am as an individual. I have learned so much here not only thorough my classes, but also through extracurricular activities like Student Government and Orientation. The people I have met here have been some of the most amazing people I have ever known,” Macri said.

He continued, “I truly would not trade my time spent here for anything. The four years flew by so fast and I can’t believe that they are almost over. I wish I knew during my first year or sophomore year how much I would miss those days and how I should have savored every day and every experience I had. Now I get to watch the countdown on the banner in the student center and I get to stress out a little more every day that number gets smaller.”

Senior class Vice President Dominique Vaillancourt said she feels like the celebration brought the class closer. “Whether you were at the celebration we put on or not, people were celebrating wherever they were,” Vaillancourt said.

Colton McCracken / Equinox Staff

Vaillancourt said she enjoyed the senior slideshow that was put together. She said, “My favorite part was watching the slideshow of pictures and having people walk in and be like, ‘Oh wow, look how old that picture is.’”

Vaillancourt said she can’t believe her time at KSC is coming to a close shortly. She said she wishes she could start all over, but is thankful for the opportunities Keene State has provided for her.

Senior class secretary Marissa DePolo was impressed with the large turnout of her fellow classmates. She said, “During the end of the night, a lot of people were singing along and dancing together to the music we had on and that was really nice to see.”

DePolo believes she got the most out of her Keene State experience.

“I have learned a lot about leadership, friendship, and most importantly, balance. I have grown so much and I owe it all to the experiences that Keene State has given me,” DePolo said.

Emma can be contacted at ehamilton@kscequinox.com

No one noticed until she was 13. Before then, Taylor Merritt was an average teen with a loving family, growing up in Charlestown, Rhode Island.  However, as her friends grew taller, Merritt had reached a permanent height of four feet and two inches.

Merritt, a 20-year-old junior, was diagnosed with Achondroplasia Dwarfism when she was only six-months-old. Her parents and doctors were clueless before she was delivered that she would have this disability. “Everyone was overjoyed with the birth and then the nurses came up to my mom and said, ‘There is something wrong with your daughter, but we don’t know exactly what it is.’ With all the hormones, she started crying, but then another nurse told her, ‘She’s fine, she’s healthy, but there’s just something wrong with her bone structure and we aren’t sure what it is yet,’” Merritt said.

Robert and Tracy Merritt, who are both average height, were only concerned about her health by the time Merritt was diagnosed. She recalls her parents telling her they were okay when a specialist doctor explained Merritt would be shorter, but still able to do everything a person of average height can do, but with accommodations.

Little People of America (LPA) defines dwarfism as, “a medical or genetic condition that usually results in an adult height of 4’10” or shorter, among both men and women, although in some cases a person with a dwarfing condition may be slightly taller than that. The average height of an adult with dwarfism is 4’0, but typical heights range from 2’8 to 4’8.” Merritt said dwarfism isn’t hereditary and is caused by DNA chromosomes. She has a brother, Corey, who is two years younger than her and is average height.

Tim Smith / Photo Editor

Before Keene State, Merritt attended Chariho High School in Charlestown, Rhode Island. “The first few months of ninth grade were tough for me, but I had a really strong friend group back then and people would always tell me, ‘You are a part of the popular crowd,’ so everyone just kind of knew me after those first few months and got over me being short. I never had any negative experiences, like bullying during middle and high school. My schools were very accommodating since I was a kid. They would take me aside and ask if I needed any extra accommodations. I would go in the summertime and just check things, like if everything in the bathroom was okay,” Merritt said.

Merritt has had several jobs, just like any average height person. She has been a cashier at Stop and Shop, the manager for both her high school’s volleyball and wrestling teams, a manager of the beach convenience store called Dusty’s in Rhode Island and at Keene State, she works at the Child Development Center, as a Phonathon Representative and as a Orientation Cluster Leader. She said all of her jobs have been very supportive and understanding. To get to those jobs, Merritt zips around in her black Honda civic, equipped with her pedal extenders making it possible for her to drive and get where she needs to go.

Merritt’s supervisor at KSC’s Child Development Center, Beth Mucci said Merritt is, “professional, responsible, kind, respectful, punctual and a good communicator.”

Mucci said when Taylor first started, an older toddler asked her if she was a child.  “Taylor didn’t hesitate at the question and said, ‘No, I am an adult and a teacher.’  I also said to the child, ‘This is my friend Taylor.’ Since then, no one has asked anything more; they all see her as one of their teachers.”

Mucci continued, “I was worried how Taylor would react to this and I had a chance to talk with her later that day and she was very understanding of the fact that children try to make sense of their world and that they have limited knowledge. She was not defensive or upset.”

While gaining work experience, college was always Merritt’s plan after high school graduation. When deciding schools, she said Keene State was her best pick because of the comprehensive disability services offered by KSC’s Aspire Program. Once Merritt was accepted, Keene State offered her early class selection, residence hall accommodations and just about anything she needed while attending the college.

While experiencing kindness from her high school colleagues, Merritt encountered other reactions at Keene State. Merritt said when she first came to Keene, people would write anonymous negative comments about her on Yik Yak, trying to be funny.

Merritt was on the 2016 Orientation Staff at Keene State. During August orientation, there was a hypnotist for late night entertainment for new students. As an Orientation Leader, Merritt attended the show. The hypnotist kept joking and using the word ‘midget.’ He kept repeating it, to the point where Merritt left the Mabel Brown Room. Later, he approached her and tried to apologize, but it was too late. The damage was already done.

Luke Stergiou / Senior Photographer

LPA defines midget as, “a term used for a proportionate dwarf. However, the term has fallen into disfavor and is considered offensive by most people of short stature. The term dates back to 1865, the height of the ‘freak show’ era, and was generally applied only to short-statured persons who were displayed for public amusement, which is why it is considered so unacceptable today.”

“It sucks going to big events and always having to be cautious and prepared if something like that happens,” said Merritt. “If an insult isn’t something I think I should confront, I just try and brush it off. It’s just one of those things; it has become my everyday life. I have to just let it go. When people really take it too far, like taking pictures or are really doing something ignorant, [that] is when I get defensive.”

Aside from a few negative experiences while at college, Merritt said when she arrived her first year, her suitemates were, “awesome.” She said they made her feel just like another person and they didn’t even think about the fact that she has dwarfism. With a grin on her face, she said how her friends get really defensive of her sometimes, even more defensive than she does herself.

Majoring in elementary education and communications, Merritt has dreams of being a first or second grade teacher and not letting her height interfere. “I will always have to prove myself [in the classroom] more than the average person. I guess I always look at myself as having a little bit on me. I’m diverse and schools look for diverse in their education, but I do have people ask me, ‘How do you plan to handle kids that are taller than you?’ I just think I’ll have to make a strong foundation right on that first day. I’m different, but I’m still your peer and you have to respect me just as much as you respect the other guy,” Merritt said.

As Merritt has gotten older, she said offensive things she experiences have become more common and frequent. People began to notice her dwarfism when she started to also look older. “I have to stick up for myself. I have been able to handle and take it more. I’m definitely able to confront people more now than I use to,” Merritt said.

Merritt has been going on a trip called Little People of America [LPA] for all her life. “Honestly, it’s the one week of the year that I feel completely normal,” Merritt said.  The organization has annual conferences every year and it’s a week long in all cities across the United States. They do East Coast, Central and West Coast so everyone can go. Merritt said, “It’s a week that thousands and thousands of little people can be together, share experiences and just kind of hang out to meet people.  We play sports so we’re all equal in that way. There are 12 districts; people kind of compare it to the Hunger Games and New England is district one.”

Some of Merritt’s closest friends are the ones she has met at LPA. “My best friend, who will be my maid of honor in my wedding, I met at LPA. She lives in Texas. The toughest part is that my best friend lives so far, but I have been able to go and travel to see my friends all over. I don’t love them more than my average height friends, but they do understand me at a different level. I call to tell them something happened and they are able to actually understand and respond because they have gone through maybe a similar situation,” Merritt said.

When it comes to clothing, “Taylor has a tailor,” as Merritt giggles explaining. Her tailor is in Rhode Island and Merritt brings clothes she wants to her and she hems them for her. Merritt shops wherever she wants. When she was younger, her mother would hem everything, but for the most part, Merritt only hems her pants and leggings now.

There are several television shows out based around little people. Merritt thinks “Little People Big World” isn’t a bad show. “It’s a reality show about their lives, and all the shows on TLC I have no problem with. When I was little, the show on TLC would make me realize what I was capable of having one day. I’ve always admired those shows. The Little Couple, I think, is adorable,” Merritt said.

Shows such as “Little Women Atlanta” or “Little Women New York” are the ones Merritt is not a big fan of. Those shows are unrealistic and are like the “Housewives of Orange County,” according to Merritt. “People always think I watch all those shows and I really don’t,” Merritt said.

Along with becoming a teacher, another one of Merritt’s life long goals is to have her own big family. “I always joke to my friends that I only want little people children because if I have an average height child, they’re going to be taller than me by the age of five,” Merritt said.

If Merritt were to marry and have children with an average height person, it would be a 50/50 chance of the child being little, she said. Merritt continued explaining if she were to marry another little person with the exact same dwarfism she has, it would be 50 percent chance they would have a child with their dwarfism, 25 percent chance the child would be average height and 25 percent chance it would be double dominance, which means it would carry both their genes of the dwarfism and most likely die right after or shortly after birth.

Merritt’s close friend and roommate Mary D’Orvilliers said she didn’t have any reaction to Merritt being little when she first met her. “I have never seen Taylor as a little person. Although Taylor is the first little person I have ever met, I do not see her in that category. To me, she has always just been Taylor,” D’Orvilliers said.

D’Orvilliers and Merritt became friends through mutual friends last year. D’Orvilliers considers Merritt one of her best friends and she knows she can always turn to Merritt for advice.

“Taylor is very supportive. She always puts others before herself. I have personally experienced that if one of Taylor’s friends is having a bad day, she will go out of her way and surprise them with coffee or their favorite candy to try to cheer them up. Additionally, Taylor is a very hard worker. Taylor has many admirable qualities that make her someone I am lucky to consider as my friend,” D’Orvilliers said.

D’Orvilliers said Merritt doesn’t let anything stand in her way of anything she wants to do. D’Orvilliers is aware that Merritt faces challenges every day that would probably never cross an average height person’s mind, but they don’t let her stop her from achieving her goals.

Mucci said, “I am very inspired by Taylor. The thing that most amazes me is that even though I know she has physical challenges in life, she does not ever focus on these.”

D’Orvilliers said, “she always tries to do something on her own before reaching out and asking for help, which shows her strength and independence. Being friends with Taylor has created an environment in our friend group where if we are in public and see another little person, we wouldn’t stare. To us, Taylor’s height is not a surprising trait as it may be to others.”

Merritt would say her life is different than the average person because of her dwarfism. She finds herself always having to take extra steps to do everything. In her own home, she is unable to reach the cupboards without going to grab her stool and climbing up. There’s extra things she has to think ahead about, such as renting a car. She would have to bring her pedal extenders.

Merritt considers herself independent. Merritt said, “I hate relying on others for help. If I go to the grocery store by myself and let’s say there’s something on the top self I need and there’s no one around to come and get it, I will usually leave without it. I would really rather go without.”

Merritt has always had to reach higher to achieve her goals, literally. Without the smile ever leaving her face, Merritt said, “I always have to adjust to my surroundings. People say,  ‘Life doesn’t come down to us, we have to go up to it.’”

Emma Hamilton can be contacted at ehamilton@kscequinox.com

As Keene State and the 2016 orientation staff  just welcomed the class of 2020 with open-arms, the orientation coordinators are now seeking new staff members for next year’s program.

Coordinators junior and communications major Eric Walsh and junior and safety and English major Bailey St. Laurent are looking for qualified candidates who want to get involved and make a positive impact on the incoming first-year students.

Being apart of the orientation staff is a highly respected position at KSC. Being a leader offers the important role of assisting the next group of incoming Owls. It allows students to be someone these first-years will look up to, turn to and respect.

Having the opportunity to be on staff myself this past year changed my experience here at KSC.

I was able to help my group of students make the adjustment to college, and personally knowing I was able to impact them and their transition was enough of a reward itself. Being a role model of the college and representing a place you truly love makes this job not even feel like a job at the end of the day.

After being on orientation staff, I was able to grow as a person, gain new experiences, meet new people and truly have fun.

To apply, please go to http://www.keene.edu/admissions/orientation/ and fill out the application.

Applications are due by Friday, Oct. 21 at 3 p.m. If there are any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact either of the coordinators at orientation@keene.edu.

Did you love your orientation leader or orientation in general? Or have you possibly thought of ways to improve the whole program itself? Take that next step and apply! It’ll be a decision you won’t regret.

Emma Hamilton can be contacted at ehamilton@kscequinox.com

Doctors always seem to remind patients to eat healthy and exercise, but what about the health of our minds?

Without being mentally healthy, individuals are unable to live their lives to the fullest because of the weight of mental health struggles.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention defines mental illness as, “‘Collectively all diagnosable mental disorders’ or ‘health conditions that are characterized by alterations in thinking, mood or behavior (or some combination thereof) associated with distress and/or impaired functioning.’”

The cause of mental illnesses can range from biological to traumatic experiences and mental health problems within a family.

According to the Dubai Pharmacy College Education Center, “Mental health disorders are common in the United States, and each year, approximately one quarter of the population suffers from one or more disorders.”

People tend to ignore their mental health troubles because there is a constant pressure to physically be healthy and achieve the “ideal” perfect body. Obtaining physical health has its benefits, such as preventing heart disease and diabetes, but being mentally fit is something that anyone can do and train for.

Photo illustration by Tim Smith / Photo editor

The Healthline said you can become mentally fit by discontinuing multitasking, being positive with yourself, trying something new, reading more and taking part in various other activities.

Being mentally fit not only has these benefits, but you can also make more money. Who doesn’t like more money?

A study in the American Journal of Psychiatry found people suffering from a serious mental illness earned at least 40 percent less than people with good mental health.

Also, the Huffington Post reported when people ignore their mental health, “studies suggest that people with untreated mental illness, especially in conjunction with other risk factors, may be at increased risk of committing violent crimes or, even more likely, becoming victims themselves. The risk increases substantially when the individual uses drugs or alcohol, has acute symptoms, has less insight into their disease or has poor medication adherence.”

Ultimately, there are no benefits to ignoring your mental well-being.

In the movie “Silver Linings Playbook,” Jennifer Lawrence said, “I don’t think we’re going to stop until we get rid of the stigma for mental conditions. If you have asthma, you take asthma medicine. If you have diabetes, you take diabetes medicine. But as soon as you have to take medication for your mind, there’s such a stigma behind it.”

Psychology Today reported that the U.S. Surgeon General said this stigma Lawrence refers to is possibly the biggest barrier to mental health care. This stigma results in what is known as social distancing, which is when people with mental health struggles feel more isolated from other individuals.

No one enjoys feeling alone in this enormous world we live in, and no one should ever have to experience feeling this way. Everyone has struggles, some more visible than others. Both your physical and mental health are equally as important to being a healthy individual, inside and out; don’t let either be pushed aside.

Emma Hamilton can be contacted at ehamilton@kscequinox.com

Traveling overseas for the first time is an experience like no other.

The Morris-August Honors Program gave me that exact opportunity. At the end of this past spring semester, I had the opportunity to travel abroad to Romania and Poland with six of my classmates, as well as the Assistant Professor of Sociology Dr. Carolyn Keller and Assistant Professor of Sociology for the Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology Department Dr. Niall Moran.

The Honors Program offers a course titled, “Global Engagement,” with the curriculum focused on a specific country or group of countries. At the end of the course, the professor takes their students abroad. The countries vary every spring semester.

As a class we learned about stratification, which are the layers of society based on four elements: social class, gender, ethnicity and religion. Both countries had a huge transition from democracy to a market economy.

The countries we traveled to were vastly different than the United States. Bucharest and Cluj Romania were extremely underdeveloped. The streets were cobblestone and the buildings were evidently outdated. Homelessness was everywhere and took an emotional toll on me at times. Adults were constantly begging for money, and their children would too. These people were everywhere on the streets, and Dr. Keller had warned us before visiting that they would target tourists. The homeless population was much more than I had ever seen before.

In Romania we visited, The Palace of the Parliament, museums, several churches and a small Romanian village. While riding into the small village, we observed people picking mushrooms for food. This amazed my peers and I to see individuals picking food to feed themselves. As Americans we have the tendency to not realize how good we have it. Food is easily accessible to us at grocery stores everywhere.

We rode further into the village in a wagon behind a horse. In the village, we were fed a home cooked meal by a very welcoming family. It was certainly an experience like no other. We sat outside their home at picnic tables that were dressed beautifully with table cloths and hand-painted dinnerware. The family spoke excellent English and we were extremely grateful for their amazing hospitality.

Contributing photo / Emma Hamiltion

In both countries the food was delicious. It was very much like what we have here in the United States, but breakfast was different. It was the first time I have ever eaten cold cut sandwiches for breakfast. They don’t have the same type of breakfast food we do . Polish chocolate is absolutely amazing, along with the obvious: pierogies.  A similarity between the countries is how inexpensive everything was. The exchange rate from the US dollar to their currency at the time we were visiting was very good.

We went from ancient looking Romania, to Warsaw and Krakow, Poland, which  looked like a smaller New York City. The differences between the two were astonishing. The city was busy and incredibly lively with skyscraper buildings.

Much of Poland was destroyed during the war, but it was rebuilt and named, “Old Town” due to how similar it looks to the town before. The architecture is absolutely beautiful. The design and colors of the buildings varied making them interesting to the human eye.

While exploring we visited a Polish Jewish cemetery, which really took an emotional toll given their history in Poland. Several Polish Jewish people lost their lives during the Holocaust.  It was enormous and completely full. The section dedicated to children made my heart tremble. We visited Auschwitz on our last day of traveling. Stepping on the grounds where so many suffered and lost their lives twisted my stomach into knots.

I’m lucky that Keene State gave me the opportunity to participate in the Honors Program.  This is one of the greatest experiences the program has to offer.

Without the class or Dr.Keller, I might never have gone overseas, and now all I want is to go back.

Emma Hamilton can be contacted at ehamiltion@kscequinox.com.

Sticking to the morals you were raised with can be difficult for college students on their own for the first time.

There is a constant pressure to use drugs, drink alcohol or have sex.

First-year Keene State College student and double major in elementary education and English Allie Cardinal said that since being at KSC she has had an easy time sticking to the morals she had coming into college.

“I have friends who have the same morals as I do so it works out well for me,” Cardinal said.

Cardinal said she is not at all okay with drugs, but that drinking is okay as long as people are responsible and sex is fine as long as the individuals are comfortable with it.

“I haven’t really experienced peer pressure here at college because I haven’t hung out with anyone that would do that,” Cardinal said.

Cardinal said that it is important to stick to your personal morals.

Photo Illustration by Tim Smith / Photo Editor

“If you want to go places in life, you have to make sure you know what is right to you,” Cardinal said, ”If you lose your morals you’re losing a part of you. Morals also show the way you were raised and people will respect you for it. If you stick to them in college especially while you’re on your own people will have even more respect for you.”

Sophomore and secondary education major Brittni Zeboski agreed that it is important to stick to your personal morals.

“There have been times throughout my college experience, and certain things that have influenced my morals and clouded my judgment, but you always have to get yourself back on track,” Zeboski said.

Zeboski wouldn’t say that she has been peer pressured, but there are some nights during the weekends when her friends are going out and they have the ability to persuade her into also going.

“I do go out on most weekends because it’s nice to have fun with your friends after a stressful week, but it’s also nice to stay in some weekend nights and watch a movie and order pizza,” Zeboski said.

Zeboski said that it is important to stick to your morals, especially while being young.

“Without morals you’ll end doing things you regret and you’ll be unhappy with yourself,” she said.

Sophomore and double major in Elementary Education and Psychology Molly Dolan said her morals have shifted since being in college.

“I have definitely given into the typical college party scene while at school. I knew I would ‘party’ but I never thought I would be doing it so often,” Dolan said.

While being at college, Dolan said she has experienced peer pressure.

“For example if I don’t go out one night someone might call me ‘lame’ or ‘no fun,’” Dolan said.

Dolan agreed with Cardinal and Zeboski that sticking to your morals is important.

“You are more confident with your decisions. A person should be able to live their life and make decisions in confidence so that there isn’t any questioning regarding their morals,” Dolan said.

Emma Hamilton can be contacted at ehamilton@kcequinox.com