The topic of gun control on campuses is a sensitive subject. The fact that this conversation even needs to take place is disturbing. But, it is an important subject to discuss. There is no easy way to come to an agreement on whether or not teachers should be armed because there are such differing opinions on this topic.

Angelique Inchierca / photo editor

One thing to take into account is the training that should go into making sure whoever has a gun knows how and when to properly use it. Although it may seem smart to give guns to teachers who have previous military experience, this could come with negative side effects. There is no clear way to tell if these teachers, or any teacher for that matter, could experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). As defined by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), PTSD is “a serious, potentially debilitating, condition that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed life-threatening events.” These events include not only war, but natural disasters, the death of a loved one, rape and assault. Granting someone who has gone through a traumatic experience access to a gun might not be the safest alternative to solving this school shooting crisis.

Although if there will be firearms given to campus personnel, there should be serious background checks and mental screenings. Properly pinpointing what certain mental illnesses really are is crucial when it comes to avoiding further tragedies on campuses. Some students were surprised when they found out that Campus Safety Officers at Keene State College do not carry guns. But, it might not be completely necessary for them to carry a firearm. KSC is located just a six minute drive away from the Keene Police Department (KPD). In the case of an emergency, there is always an officer located on or two minutes away from campus.  Because of the close proximity of the police department and police officers, arming teachers is not necessary.

If there were to be firearms allowed on campus, campus safety officers should be the only ones allowed to carry a weapon on them at any time. And if they were granted access to guns, they should go through a rigorous training course to ensure that they know how to properly handle the gun. The idea of having a special unit, separate from campus safety and KPD, might sound like a better idea to some campus members. This group should be a highly skilled, trained, and willing group who actually wants to do their job to protect the campus.

If teachers were allowed to have guns in the classroom, it could be a distraction for students. The thought of there being an accessible firearm in the room could make students feel more unsafe or anxious. Teachers and professors did not sign up to go into combat for their students. Granted, there are some teachers who risked their own lives for the safety of their students, it is not in their job description to wield a weapon. The justification used by people who are pro teachers having guns is the Second Amendment. They bring up that it is their Second Amendment right to own and carry guns. Be that as it may, amendment means make a change or addition. While it was legal at one point in our country’s history to own slaves, the people realized a change needed to take place and they amended that law. It was also illegal to drink alcohol, that law was amended as well. Maybe it is time to make an amendment to other laws that will benefit the safety of our country.

It’s almost time for spring break, and for graduating students, it is also time to apply for jobs. This time of year can be stressful for those seeking employment opportunities for after graduation. Those who feel nervous are not alone. According to The Equinox’s  Staff writer Ashley Arnold’s Student Life article titled, Student’s worries about making money after college, “Seventy percent of Keene State College students stress about money and their future incomes…”

LAURA ROMANIELLO / ART DIRECTOR

It seems like there is so much to worry about after graduation, such as finding a place to live, finding a job and paying your own bills. But KSC students can sleep well at night knowing their school provides them with the resources they need to succeed. The Academic and Career Advising (ACA) office is a resource all students should take advantage of during their time at KSC. According to the ACA’s official website, “Our career advisors assist KSC students and alumni in exploring career options, developing resumes and cover letters, conducting job and internship searches, perfecting interview skills and navigating the graduate school process.”

KSC provides its students with the resources and tools they need to ensure they graduate with a plan for their future. By using these assets, students can put together a professional resume, cover letter and prepare for interviews to land them their dream job. Even though it may take some time to get where you ultimately want to be in your career, do not be discouraged.

When you are first starting out, it is normal to start at the bottom and work your way to your ideal job or title. The reason you come to school is to learn a specific set of skills and study a particular area or subject. Everything you do during your time at KSC will benefit you in the future in one way or another, whether that be getting involved in a student organization or taking a summer class to earn some extra credits, that experience will be beneficial to you. Something soon-to-be graduating students need to keep in mind is that no one got to where they are now without hard work.

Once you graduate, there is no shame in starting low in a company or working small jobs to save money. It is less likely to land an extremely high-paying job fresh out of college, so start off at an entry level position. It is also important not to stand in the way of your own opportunities. You never know where your next job will be located, so keep an open mind. Don’t lock yourself to one specific location when that might not be the most realistic option for your career. Keeping an open mind about your career and where it will take you is vital. Sometimes you have to start off at a small position in a no-name town in order to end up at your dream job in a big city, and there is no shame in that. Apply to a job if it sounds like it would be of interest to you, no matter the location.

Students, whether they are graduating or not, should always be saving money. If an opportunity comes along where you need to move out and fend for yourself, it is a smart idea to have some extra money tucked away so you are not living paycheck to paycheck. It is also important to always be open to meeting new people. You never know how the connections you make now could benefit you in the future; networking is crucial.

It is extremely normal to feel overwhelmed while thinking about graduating and your future. As long as you make sure to put in the time and effort , you will be successful. KSC offers solutions to stressful situations, such as planning for your future, that students should take advantage of.

Whether you land your dream job right out of college or years later, you will find happiness in your career eventually. Being nervous for this next phase in your life is only human. While it is important to take time to accept those nerves, it is more important that you overcome them and realize that you will end up where you are meant to be.

Streamlining. Often times when this word is associated with something it is has a positive connotation.

When something is streamlined, it is altered to become more efficient for whatever task is at hand.

For Keene State College, that task is the application process for the Endowed Scholarships. 

But is it possible for something to be considered too easy? In terms of the new changes to this scholarship, that seems to be the case.

According to the Endowed and Annual Scholarships page on KSC’s website, these scholarships vary “from year to year, based on each individual fund’s market performance… Other funds are awarded via department selections, unsolicited reviews of complete financial aid applications, and appeal requests.”

There is only so much money to offer to the applicants, since it is obviously not an unlimited fund available for the students, so what happens if too many people apply and qualify?

The Financial Aid Office sent an email out on Monday, Feb. 5 making students aware that they could now apply for the Endowment Scholarship.

The kicker of that email was the part where it mentioned that there is no longer an essay requirement.

This change was made in order to make the application process easier; streamline it, if you will.

The appeal of not having to submit an essay for a scholarship was massive among the student body.

The Equinox’s staff member Vincent Moore interviewed Susan Howard, the Interim Director of Financial Aid for his article “Scholarships Revamped”.

According to Howard, 300 students submitted applications within the first few days of it being available.

This number is substantial compared to the amount of students who applied for it in total last year, which was only 500.

Clearly, students are taking advantage of the simple application process now that it is not necessary to write an essay. Moore said, “The current application requires students fill in their name, date of birth, email and KSC identification number.

Students must then check-off applicable criteria, ranging from being a child of a KSC alumnus to participating in community service, before checking off a disclaimer and submitting.”

By making the application process so simple, obviously more students are going to apply.

But how will KSC verify that the boxes students are checking off really apply to them?

There are some people who are definitely more deserving of this scholarship compared to others. For instance, those who dedicated themselves to working hard to maintain scholarships.

By simplifying the application process this much, it almost takes away how special it is to really earn the money from a scholarship.

Suddenly, the motivation to work hard and earn a scholarship is gone because all students need to do is set aside 30 seconds of their day and check a few boxes to apply.

What is the point of having an application process if it seems like anyone can receive it?

Since it is now a requirement during orientation for students to participate in community service, that automatically gives students one box to check off under this scholarship.

Those who actually care about helping others and put in hours of their personal time to do so are suddenly on the same level as those who participated in volunteer work one time.

Without the essay, there is no way to differentiate those who really care and put in effort and those who just applied because it was extremely simple.

Maybe there is a valid way to ensure that students are being honest on their applications, but if there is, KSC has not made that very clear.

The new process seems more like a lottery than a scholarship without an essay to guarantee that this student is telling the truth.

While an easy scholarship application process may seem like a good idea to some, to those with a good work ethic it is unfair.

Students should receive scholarships when they have genuinely put in an effort and not because it seemed like a handout.

Community college, state college, private university or trade school?

Everyone who strives for a higher education must make the choice.

Some students choose community college first, but end up transferring to state colleges.

Keene State College Director of Admissions Peg Richmond said one of the reasons this happens might be because the students didn’t originally get into one of the state colleges, so they’ll attend community college to make themselves admissible.

KSC junior Marcus Carson said he went to KSC, then transferred to the University of Rhode Island and then went to a community college to continue his education.

“I kinda picked myself up from there, improved my grades, etc. and then decided to readmit at Keene State College,” Carson said.

Richmond said that students often transfer from community college to state colleges because the highest degree they can get from a community college is an Associate’s degree, but they want a Bachelor’s degree.

Carson said he enjoyed his community college experience, but he wanted to work up to a Bachelor’s degree and then on to a Masters within the sciences.

“That’s very difficult to do in a community college… I also wanted to come back to Keene for the Safety degree,” Carson added.

Richmond said students also may consider community college for financial reasons.

“The community college is much more cost-efficient, so they’ll do a couple of years in the community college and transfer here and the education will cost them a considerable amount less,” Richmond said.

KSC junior Noah Wilder said that although community college is cheaper than state schools, it’s more difficult to have a social life.

“Nobody talks in community college… Since everybody commuted there, they came to class and went home,” said Wilder.

Wilder added, “I wake up, go to class and then I go home and then I go to work. That was pretty much it a lot of time… it was like a 30 minute drive, so it was like an hour in the car each day. And you’re constantly doing school work, homework, so you really don’t see a lot of people.”

Carson said there were more people of different backgrounds at community college.

“It was much more heterogeneous group than at Keene, from what I’ve noticed. At Keene, people are from fairly similar backgrounds, not exactly, but it’s certainly not the variance that you get in community college,” Carson said.

Wilder said, “In one of my classes, I was 18 and everybody was like 30 plus. So, I didn’t like to be in there because they were talking about going to bars and stuff and I was only 18.”

Carson said that having a social life was difficult, but despite that, he enjoyed his community college experience.

He added, “Community college is a great decision; it helps a lot of people figure out where they want to go without spending tens of thousands of dollars.”

Puja Thapa can be contacted at pthapa@kscequinox.com

Pan-Lennon Norkiewicz and Vivian Valengavich

Equinox Staff 

Vivian: “That one time you asked me to put on the theme from Rocky to do your testosterone shot to get hyped up, and I still had to give it to you afterwards. I know it’s sucky but I do it because I still want to see you happy and feeling right, even if I have to stab you with a scary needle every so often.

Alexandria Saurman / Managing Executive Editor

Pan-Lennon: “That one time I gave you all those underwear because I didn’t need them anymore, and miraculously they fit you as well as they fit me. It didn’t help that they looked way cuter on you than they ever did on me.”

Vivian: “That one time I was actually able to give you some clothes because literally only two of my old shirts fit you, being a foot taller than you and substantially smaller otherwise. At least you’re able to wear them, even if just to bed.”

Pan-Lennon: “That one time you were feeling more dysphoric than you had in a while and asked me to help you pick out an outfit, so we sat there for 15 minutes finding you clothes until you had the perfect outfit. You looked so wonderful, gotta get that outfit back out for a special occasion.”

Vivian: “That one time I sat with you into the night reminding you over and over that you’ll always be my man, and no matter what your parents tell you, you’re not the problem. I’d do it a million times more, if I needed to, I just hope I don’t.”

Pan-Lennon: “That one time I helped you with your makeup for a day you were feeling a little extra. Not that you’re not already pretty, but that eyeliner was absolutely gorgeous on you.”

Vivian: “That one time I shopped for binders with you until we found the perfect tank binder for an awesome price. Sorry it’s not the best, but you look so good in it anyhow.”

Pan-Lennon: “That one time I had to remind you to take your meds. And by ‘That one time’ I mean ‘Literally all of last year.’”

Vivian: “That one time I helped you remember what it is to be trans, and that you’re allowed to be my manliest man and still want to wear a dress every so often, or be adorable and also be super handsome. That holds true still my love.”

Pan-Lennon: “That one time I proposed in front of the restaurant we had our first date at, even though everyone thought it was a little early. From that day and to this day I still know I’ve made the right decision, my love.”

Vivian: “That one time I said yes because, even though in the beginning I was so hesitant, I came to realize that there really was no one else for me but you. And nothing could ever change that.”

Vivian and Pan-Lennon: “That one time I told you I was there for you, and that one time I told you I’d always be there for you?”

In very aspect of your life, support those who mean something to you. Tell your friend they mean the world to you, tell your significant other you’ll always love them, tell the world that it matters to you. Do something small but kind, think hard about your actions, because in the end it’s not about what you have. It’s who you met and loved along the way.

Pan-Lennon Norloewicz  can be contacted at pnorkiewicz@kscequinox.com

Vivian Valengavich can be contacted at vvalengavich@kscequinox.com

KSC senior Bridgette Lord was arrested by the Keene Police Department on Nov. 10. Lord was allegedly charged with theft by unauthorized taking of more than $1501, according to the City of Keene Police Log on Nov. 10.
An arraignment was scheduled for Nov. 30 at 1 p.m. at Cheshire County Courthouse, but was cancelled because the prosecution and the defense “reached an agreement,” according to a Cheshire Superior Court employee.
The incident is still under investigation by The Equinox.

Olivia Belanger can be contacted at obelanger@kscequinox.com
Jessica Ricard can be contacted at jricard@kscequinox.com

Keene State College offers many opportunities for cultural engagement ‒ whether it is through clubs or study abroad program ‒ but one opportunity that really shines bright is the partnership KSC has with the Little Sisters Fund.

Laura Romaniello / Art Director

The Little Sisters Fund’s mission is to “[help] economically disadvantaged Nepalese girls to become empowered leaders through education, mentoring and community support,” according to their website.

Aside from simply just paying for a Nepalese girl’s education, their goal is also to “contribute to the development of a more equitable, just, and prosperous world.”

Currently there are 2,113 Little Sisters studying far away from their Nepal homes, and KSC is blessed to have two of these intelligent girls as our peers. KSC working with the Little Sisters Fund is extremely beneficial on both ends. It serves as a learning opportunity where we get to see what other cultures are like. We get to break down cultural stereotypes and build friendships.

Engaging with different cultures humbles you. It makes you realize what you do have and what you do not have. In The United States, many of us are very privileged and have no real concept of what it is like to live in a third world country. Girls over here never have to worry about being sold into sex slavery because their family needs money. Over here, we are given the opportunity to get a full education from elementary school through middle school through high school and even through college if we so desire. It is less common for someone not to get an education in the U.S., but in Nepal, many of the girls do not make it past elementary school education. And it is not just Nepal where this happens ‒ it happens in many other third world countries.

The problem is, not many people open their eyes to what it is like to live in a third world country. We would rather not think about it.

It is important to be culturally engaged because it reminds us that things like that do happen in these countries and that we are lucky for the opportunities that we are given over here.

By having the Little Sisters Fund work with KSC, students get to learn more about the Nepalese Culture and it allows the Nepalese girls to learn more about our culture. It allows us to make connections and since many of us have never been to Nepal or may not go there, we have a lot to learn. Global outreach is so important because it creates opportunities for our students here and those who come visit us.

We are happy that KSC really steps out of their bounds and follows their motto as they “go forth to serve.”

This program provides more of an openness on campus. These learning experiences allow you to become more comfortable with other cultures rather than being ignorant (whether it’s intentional or not).

This program along with all the other programs and resources on campus such as the Diversity and Multiculturalism Office, the Office of Multicultural Support, Alternative Break and Study Abroad give KSC students wonderful learning experiences that they can gain now and take into the future with them.

The Little Sisters Fund is just another step in the right direction with making our campus a little more educated.

The Keene State College swim team had an impressive debut to their season on October 21, 2017. The Owls hosted Franklin Pierce University, St. Michael’s College and Colby-Sawyer College, and 14 out of 16 events went to the Owls in their dominant season opener.

Laura Romaniello / Art director

KSC senior Hope Walsh helped lead the Owls to victory, winning both the 1,000 and 500-meter freestyle.

KSC junior Katie Brandeberry helped earn four wins for KSC, winning the 100 backstroke, and the 100 freestyle. Brandeberry also took part in the 400-meter free relay and the 200-meter medley relay.

Walsh said the Owls were more than ready to get in the pool after a long training season.   She said after training twice a day nearly every day for the past weeks it was time to “show everyone what I can do,” and said the whole team felt the same way.

Walsh said the meet was longer than usual because they had to face more than one school. But she said the team had prepared for the extra length and came out ready which helped them to be successful. Walsh also said this year’s swim team is very close and that everyone is always cheering each other on.

The men’s swim team also had a very successful season opener.

KSC sophomore Kyle Shadeck led the way for the Owl’s, winning three individual events, as well as taking part in the 200 medley relay.

KSC sophomore Eric King also won three events for the Owls, the 50, 100 and the 200 freestyle.

Walsh said part of this year’s success comes from the rigorous training program that the swimmers stick to. She said the Owl’s coaching staff pushes the team, although they are also understanding of the pressure surrounding  student-athletes.  Walsh said Head Coach Chris Woolridge has worked hard this season to make sure the athletes are healthy physically and mentally, so they can perform to their fullest potential.

Walsh also said that herself and the other seniors on the team try to lead the way for the younger swimmers. She said it’s about being a good teammate and leading by example. Walsh said that “we’ve been through it, we know the standard,” and because of that, it is important to help show younger athletes how to be successful.  She also said that the freshman class has been doing particularly well this year, noting that freshman year is the hardest year.

First-year swimmer Kim Theleen said the transition to college sports has been a “very different experience.” Theleen said that the team was very welcoming however, and she is getting used to the rigorous schedule. Theleen said that her first college meet was a fun experience and made easier by the coaching staff. She added that Coach Woolridge helped her relax before her first race and told her that they were “just going to see where she’s at and go from there,” which helped to take some of the pressure off.

Theleen also said that she is not normally a very outgoing person and had a bit of a slow start “getting to know everyone,” but has since gotten acclimated with her new teammates.  She said the new training schedule is very hard compared to what she did in high school but knows that it will pay off.

Theleen said the coaching staff has been working hard to get all the swimmers to their best form. She said she’s been focused on improving her form and getting faster.  Theleen also said that the whole team is looking forward to the meet against Roger-Williams University, which was postponed to January earlier this year.

Unfortunately Coach Chris Woolridge was unavailable to comment on the teams start to the season, but has high praise from his athletes.

Guns are too easy for people to obtain. It’s that simple. No one should have a need for 23 rifles. No one should be sneaking those rifles around. And most importantly, no one should use those rifles to harm innocent human lives.

We at The Equinox are appalled at the recent mass shooting and want a change in our nation’s gun laws and restrictions. This past Sunday, when almost 600 people in Nevada became victims to yet another “deadliest mass shooting in American history,” thoughts and prayers were sent to Las Vegas. However, thoughts and prayers only go so far when the number of mass shootings in America continuously rise.

Within the past few years, we’ve seen the numbers of people killed in shootings get higher and higher, from 26 in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, to 49 in the 2016 Orlando Shooting and to now 59 in the Las Vegas Shooting on Sunday. Yet, no proactive changes have been made to counteract these acts of violence. In fact, no changes have been made at all.

What we find to be a huge problem with this country is that it is almost like we are becoming desensitized to these shootings. It’s as if we have accepted the fate, that we have accepted that one man walking into a concert and injuring upwards of 600 people is unpreventable.

We acknowledge that there are many responsible gun owners who would never imagine carrying out atrocities with their guns. However, there are many weapons that can be obtained easily and be bought legally that carry out mass atrocities like these. Though making stricter gun laws may not prevent every murder or mass shooting that happens, it will certainly make it harder for people to conduct these vicious and tasteless acts.

We feel that overall, we would like to see the nation as a whole make a change on gun laws and restrictions. No matter where someone stands politically or what their views are on guns, we need to make a change to stop mass shootings from being so frequent. We need to continue to focus on these issues daily, rather than discussing changes and forgetting about the issues until another mass atrocity occurs.

There will never be a good time to bring up gun control, but in the midst of tragedies like Las Vegas, changes to our country’s gun laws need to be made. We at The Equinox are asking for any sort of movement from our government. Any response. Really, any change at all will give us hope.