To raise awareness and help students take their health into their own hands, Keene State College offered flu shot clinics last week where students, faculty and staff were able to receive a flu vaccination without having to leave campus.

Registered Nurse (RN) Deb Starratt, who can be found at the Center for Health and Wellness on the third floor of the Elliot Center, helped run the flu shot clinic last week and spoke up about the importance of staying protected against the flu.

“We want as many people as possible, students, staff and faculty, to get the flu shot because if there’s a flu outbreak on-campus, it could be devastating,” Starratt said.

During the H1N1 outbreak back in 2009, Starratt said that the campus ended up hosting a mass flu clinic and hired extra staff to deal with phone calls, triage and a large volume of ill students.

“We recently received a New Hampshire state alert that [this year’s flu strain] has been found in New Hampshire,” Starratt said.

While she believes the strain has not yet found Cheshire County, Starratt said she thinks it’s only a matter of time before symptoms begin showing up in this community.

Starratt said if the flu reaches the KSC campus, it could spread within a couple days to a week.

Samantha Moore/ Art Director

“Students are especially at risk living in dorms and being in such close quarters,” Starratt explained. “They’re more likely to be at risk for illness spreading really fast.”

Starratt stressed the fact that students can come by the Elliot Center any time, either by appointment or during drop-in hours, to receive a flu vaccination.

The flu shot clinic that took place last week only yielded about 60 students and staff and faculty members on-campus.

Starratt said, “[Students, staff and faculty might] have a fear of needles, or they’ve heard reports in the past that there are alternative medicines that will keep them safe, but really no one’s safe from getting the flu… There’s no way to avoid [it] unless you get vaccinated.”

With that being said, after the initial flu shot, it may take a person’s body three to seven days to develop the proper antibodies to boost a person’s immune system. “So,” Starratt said, “the sooner the better.”

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, flu season can start as early as October and last as late as May, infecting millions of Americans every year.

KSC students in majors like nursing and athletic training are required to get the flu shot every year.

Sophomore nursing student Olivia Thom said she believes prevention is everyone’s first defense against getting sick, and the flu shot definitely helps with that.

“Every year, I do get the flu shot in order to reduce the risk of getting the flu. I already have a very weak immune system,” Thom said. “I try my best to stay up-to-date with my vaccinations to prevent getting sick.”

As a nursing major, Thom stressed the importance of getting her flu shot every year.

Thom explained, “It’s necessary for nursing students to stay up-to-date with their flu shots because we are constantly exposed to everything once we get into clinicals and start working in the field.”

Thom said that her mother, who is a pediatric nurse at Boston Children’s Hospital, noted that new nurses on her floor often find themselves ill in the first two weeks of working because of the combination of different illnesses surrounding them.

KSC junior and athletic training major David Villalobos is also required to get the yearly flu shot.

Villalobos, who doesn’t typically get the flu shot, said that he understands the requirement for his major.

“Being athletic training students, we have to touch a lot of athletes to check their injuries, so it’s important for us that we stay germ-free and don’t spread any bacteria to our patients,” Villalobos explained. “For the sake of our patient [athletes] and ourselves, it’s critical that we constantly wash our hands with soap and water and try to avoid sick people.”

In addition to certain majors staying protected, Villalobos said that he believes all college students should protect themselves from the flu in any way that they can.

“Lots of germs can be spread in college, such as sharing drinks and sexual intercourse, if not protected appropriately, and also, you never know what that person was doing before you gave them a high five or hug when you see them around campus,” Villalobos said. “The flu can spread very easily around campus and you never know when it can happen. Getting the vaccine is the best way to reduce the chances you will get the flu due to seasonal changes and spreading it to others.”

Thom spoke from personal experience when she said getting the flu is no fun.

“It was a pretty terrible experience,” Thom explained. “I had a very high fever, no appetite and constantly felt fatigued. Feeling this way for over a week made me feel extremely anxious because I just wanted to get back in my schedule of working out and hanging out with my friends.”

Villalobos stressed the importance of college students taking care of themselves.

“Just take care of yourselves. Always wash your hands, use tissues when needed [and] know why getting a flu shot is important,” Villalobos explained. “You’re [not only] benefitting your peers, but you’re more importantly benefitting yourself. Nothing is worse than getting sick at college.”

Jill Giambruno can be contacted at jgiambruno@kscequinox.com

Illnesses on the Keene State College campus are spreading like wildfire, and KSC students are speaking up on why they get sick and what they’re trying to do to prevent it.

KSC senior Harley Blodgett said that since she moved off-campus her junior year, the number of times a year she gets sick has gone down tremendously.

“When I was living on-campus, I was getting sick a lot more,” Blodgett said. “I think this was due to the fact that I was around more people in the day and also eating in the [Zorn] Dining Commons [DC]. Using the hand scanner in the DC and not washing my hands before eating definitely was one of the main reasons as to why I was getting sick so often.”

KSC senior Lea Guglielmo and KSC junior Chris Oblon agree with Blodgett’s theory on the DC hand scanners.

Guglielmo said, “I have said this since the day I moved in freshman year, that people were going to get sick from [the hand scanners].”

Oblon added, “I think what causes these [illnesses] are the DC hand print scanner that everyone and their mother uses.”

Oblon believes that this, coupled with students who don’t take care of themselves, is what causes the majority of the illnesses on the KSC campus.

In an effort to combat the spread of germs, the DC offers hand sanitizer machines by the entrance. However, as a community health major, this aggravates Guglielmo.

“I took microbiology as a prerequisite for graduate school and I know how big of an issue antibiotic resistance is becoming,” Guglielmo said.

Guglielmo continued that she can’t really see a way to combat the spread of germs in the DC.

Tim Smith/ Photo editor

Guglielmo said, “Many people get sick from bacteria for example, and then they will scan their hands. And then the people behind them scan theirs, and then people go and touch the tongs to get lettuce or french fries, or they touch the knobs on the cereal and then germs just spread… people eat with their hands, so germs spread fast.”

KSC junior Michaila Carey believes that it’s the close proximity to other students that helps germs spread so fast on campus.

“I am an athletic training student here at KSC, so I am in close proximity and contact with many athletes every day, whether they are healthy or sick. The increased amount of bacteria that I am surrounded by once I get to school explains why I probably get sick more often here as compared to when I am home,” Carey explained.

Carey said that when she is sick, she likes to take medication and drink a lot of fluids to get through the day.

“My favorite thing to do when I am sick is to take a wicked hot shower then wrap up in some blankets and lie down to watch Netflix for as long as I can. I think this helps me get better because it decreases my stress levels, while also focusing all my energy to fighting whatever bacteria or virus is in my body,” Carey said.

Guglielmo said, “I try to drink as much water as possible to flush out any sickness I might get. I also wash my hands often, but avoid using hand sanitizers as much as possible because I know antibiotic resistance is becoming a huge problem. I don’t ever use antibacterial soaps either.”

When Guglielmo is sick, her favorite thing to do is stay in bed.

“I drink a lot of water and talk to my mom. That always makes me feel better. Sleeping definitely helps me. I’m not sure if it makes me get better quicker, but it definitely makes me feel better,” Guglielmo said.

Blodgett said that she feels like she is more susceptible to catching something when she is overtired and makes sure to spend as much time in bed as possible when she’s sick.

Blodgett said, “My favorite thing to do when I’m sick is just lie in bed, watch Netflix and have a low-key day. I think being relaxed allows your body to focus on fighting off whatever you are sick with. Also, you just feel more mentally and physically rested.”

On the other hand, Oblon refuses to let his illnesses stop him.

Oblon said, “When I get sick I normally try to stay as active as possible, drink plenty of liquids and down as much medicine as possible. I cannot afford to get sick for even a day.”

Jill Giambruno can be contacted at jgiambruno@kscequinox.com

Like the generations of Keene State College students who “enter to learn, and go forth to serve,” the orientation program offered by the college is ever changing.

Casey Justice, Director of Transitions and Parent Programs at KSC, believes that each student at KSC should be given an environment where they can be able to grow and thrive. Orientation is the first step to that process.

“I don’t think we can just stay stagnant with the presentations we do on a yearly basis because students change. The incoming first year class –  there’s always something new and something different and we have to put a lot of energy behind that interpretation that they will develop of KSC.”

Justice, who played a big part in executing the orientation programs this year, said, “We want them to feel like this is their home away from home, and that they’re able to feel like they can be successful here.”

KSC’s 2016 orientation consisted of two parts: a June overnight experience on campus and an August Welcome Week.

During the overnight program in June, prospective new students were invite

d to KSC to select their class schedules, look around campus and start to make connections with other first year students.

Families of these students were given the opportunity to get information about the resources that KSC has to offer.

On August 24, 2016 KSC Welcome Week began.

On the first day, new students moved in between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. before they were officially “clapped in” to KSC at 2:45 p.m.

New Student Convocation is an age-old KSC tradition in which new students march down Appian Way while faculty and staff stand on either side, clapping to welcome them.

When students graduate from KSC, they are then “clapped out” by the same faculty and staff when they walk down the Fiske Quad as new alumni.

“This was the first year we invited students’ families to join in the ‘clap in,’ and I think it was really successful,” Justice said. “Students and their families really appreciated seeing that as a send-off.”

The next four days were jam-packed with presentations and activities for new students.

Luke Stergiou / Senior Photographer

According to Justice, every orientation event is carefully thought out.

“These are long days and we know that,” Justice said, “but we wouldn’t be providing all the sessions that we do if we didn’t think that each and every one was important.”

Juliet Karam, a first year at KSC, said that she really enjoyed all aspects of orientation. “There was a really nice flow to the [week in August],” Karam said, “and everyone was so helpful on move-in day.”

Over the next four days before classes started, each new student was put into an orientation group of 25-30 students, led by a KSC upperclassman.

“I think that being an orientation leader… well, it’s in the title, they’re leaders on campus,” Justice explained.

“Aside from admissions, which is the first interaction incoming students will have with the college, the orientation leaders become the face of KSC.”

Justice thinks that it’s important for the orientation leaders to know that they’re held at a very high standard. She described the students chosen as “Keene State die-hards who bleed red and white.”

Two such die-hards are Taylor Merritt and Amber Perkins.

Merritt, who is a junior at KSC, said that this was her first experience as an orientation leader. Perkins, a senior, has been an orientation leader for the last three years.

“It’s really a phenomenal experience,” Perkins said of her time as an orientation leader. “It’s changed my life since I’ve come here. It’s the best organization I’ve been a part of on campus.”

Merritt noted that in June the students were all shy and closed off. “Once we got to know each other though, they became very close and very trusting of each other and even the staff,” Merritt said.

“I wish that we had the June session when I was a freshman, but I still think that orientation really helped me,” Merritt explained. “I hope that I was able to help my orientation group students transition to KSC as well as my leader did when I was a freshman.”

Perkins said that the June overnight gives students an introduction to campus before August.

“Coming in June gives students more excitement than nervousness for when they come back in August,” Perkins said. “I feel like they’re more ready to come back. They feel more included on campus.”

Karam said, “June was a preview of [the August] orientation. It was really fun.”

Luke Stergiou / Senior Photographer

During the June orientation, Karam was able to meet many other first year students who she now considers good friends.

Merritt said, “It’s really important that students know they’re not alone and that they have someone to go to.”

Perkins added, “I’ve had students call me and ask ‘Where’s the Elliot Center?’ and others just call and say they need someone to sit with at lunch. For me, it’s really great getting to be there for them.”

Perkins said that she’s still friends with a very large handful of students she led in her first two years of being an orientation group leader.

Karam said that her orientation leader is definitely someone she feels comfortable enough to use as a resource for the rest of her freshman year.

“Orientation is definitely overlooked in the way that it helps students,” Merritt said.

“I feel like I know my way around campus for the most part,” Karam said, in regards to the orientation program.

“I think [KSC staff and orientation leaders] did a really good job setting it all up.”

Of the way that orientation has changed in the last few years, Perkins is definitely impressed.

“This year I had perfect attendance. Every student came to every event,” Perkins said. “That meant a lot to me, and it said a lot about the program and how it has advanced.”

Perkins added, “I feel like finally, everybody wanted to be a part of it. They were positive. Everyone enjoyed themselves.”

As a senior, this was Perkins’ last year as an orientation leader. She said, “I’m really going to miss it.”

While the goal of orientation week is obviously to help out new students, Justice definitely thinks that the orientation group leaders get just as much out of the experience.

“Orientation leaders always say ‘this is a once in a lifetime experience,’” Justice said. “For them to be a part of so many KSC students’ very first experiences at college is a really exciting opportunity and it’s a great resume builder. “There are a lot of life skills that they are able to pull from being an orientation leader.”

Luke Stergiou / Senior Photographer

Justice said, “A huge part of orientation is setting up first years to be successful. It’s about providing them those resources.”

Justice believes that the relationship between orientation group leaders and incoming college first years is a unique one.

“I think it’s really important for new students to feel like they have multiple people on this campus that support them and that care about them, and that they’re able to make as many connections as they’re willing to make,” Justice said.

Jill Giambruno can be contacted at jgiambruno@kscequinox.com.

When it comes to sharing their lives with the rest of the world while throwing comedy and art into the mix, millennials seem to be professionals. Snapchat, a beloved app among young adults, aids in doing just that.

Snapchat allows users to send pictures or videos to friends for ten seconds before they disappear. Users also can include other features, like adding filters to create illusions on pictures and video, or adding pictures to a “story,” which can be viewed for 24 hours before it disappears. Recently, Snapchat also added a news aspect, where users can read articles from CNN, People Magazine, Buzzfeed, National Geographic and others.

Keene State College students spoke up on the importance of Snapchat in their own lives.

Jake Bodah, a KSC senior, said he uses the app every day.

Patrick O’Connor / Equinox Staff

“I think I’m hilarious, and I need to share that comedy with my friends,” Bodah said. “I love the new face filter feature; it steps my comedy game up.”

Emilee Silegy, a KSC senior, said  she uses Snapchat for comedic relief and to stay in touch with friends in Keene, as well as friends she doesn’t go to school with.

“Snapchat is great because it’s instantaneous videos and pictures. I also use it to communicate,” Silegy said. “Friends who don’t go to Keene who’ve never met my boyfriend always joke that they feel like they know him because of my snap stories.”

KSC junior Devin Gilson said he uses Snapchat as an alternate route to sharing things on other forms of social media

Gilson said, “I use the app mostly for sharing things I find amusing with a few people rather than posting it on Facebook.”

Students agree that the app, which was released in September 2011, has definitely evolved over the years

“I think it was created to be a fast way to communicate in a way that was more than just text or speaking,” Silegy said. “Snapchat would say where you are, what you’re wearing, who you’re with and how you’re feeling in one second.”

Gilson added, “Snapchat has turned from a pretty fringe thing into something common in most teen and young adult circles, and has turned from a simple friends messaging friends service into a sort of advertising service as well.”

While the app can be used to document events, vacations or even day-to-day life, students have differing opinions on how much Snapchatting is too much.

Bodah said that he is not amused by long Snapchat stories.

“I have a friend who documents his entire day on Snapchat…It gets old really fast,” Bodah explained.

Silegy, however, said she prides herself in her long Snapchat stories.

“I document almost everything. I’m known for having extremely long snapchats showing anything I’m doing,” Silegy said. “It’s funny to go out the next day and look back on the night before.”

Students said they believe that it’s safe to say Snapchat has evolved into something of an art form.

“To me, I’m really open with my life, and Snapchat is an outlet for me to express myself,” Silegy said.

Gilson explained, “Every so often, I’ll get a snap with just the right amount of humor or photographic grace to appear as almost a work of art or comedic gold.”

Jill Giambruno can be contacted at jgiambruno@kscequinox.com

Spring Weekend was finally celebrated on the Keene State College campus, and along with the warm weather came rappers Lupe Fiasco and Kid Ink. The spring concert happened on April 15 and was hosted in the Spaulding Gymnasium on campus.

Kid Ink, who thanked The Equinox for reaching out to interview him, said that he began his rap career in high school at the age of 16 as a producer.

“I was just doing music for fun [in high school], but I took it a little bit more serious when I graduated and had to focus on what I was going to do with my life in the long term,” Kid Ink said.

Colton McCracken / Equinox Staff

After attempting  college classes and finding work after graduating from high school, Kid Ink said that he quickly realized the traditional route wasn’t for him.

Kid Ink said, “I found myself missing work or missing class because I was too busy doing music, so I figured that was something I should just go forward with.”

For Kid Ink, it was important to keep an open mind.

“It’s all about being creative, and maybe not as scheduled as the business mindset,” Kid Ink said. “I think it’s cool to be able to do the business side of things – people should always go to school to do that – but there also needs to be people who focus on the art side of things and stay creative.”

The rapper, who is covered almost head to toe in tattoos, said he started getting inked about the same time he started getting into music, and that the art on his body goes along with his creative mindset.

“I’m from LA [Los Angeles], and it’s just the culture there,” Kid Ink said of his body art. “I can have all these tattoos, but still break the stereotypes that a person might have about me. I get to express myself. I even drew some of these tattoos myself. I worked at a tattoo shop and wanted to be a tattoo artist at one point.”

Kid Ink added, “I love the visual expression of [tattoos]. Someone is able to read me a little bit just by looking at me, but then I’m able to give them something different when we actually talk.”

Colton McCracken / Equinox Staff

When asked what his one piece of advice for KSC students would be, Kid Ink said, “Do what you love.” Kid Ink continued, “When I went to school…the classes I fell in love with were the music ones. Go for what you love, and not for what everyone is telling you to do at the end of the day. That way, when you graduate you get to use your talents and start a life in something you’re passionate about.”

Bryanna Pearson, the Social Activities Council’s concert coordinator and Brittany LaFleur, a general member of the Social Activities Council (SAC), both had the pleasure of meeting Kid Ink before he performed Friday night.

“[Meeting Kid Ink] was surreal. He was such a fabulous guy,” Pearson said. “Very down to earth – loved to talk and an all-around ‘real’ person.”

LaFleur added, “He was very genuine and was so nice.”

Cameron Cummings, a KSC junior, said that he’s glad that the college is able to welcome such amazing musicians to the campus.

Cummings, who attended the concert with a friend, said that they were most excited to see Lupe Fiasco perform.

Cummings, who was able to enjoy the concert from the front row, said, “Lupe is such a huge inspiration and a great lyricist. It was amazing being so close to such an important person who has impacted the world so much.”

Pearson said that she thought the concert was incredibly successful.

Colton McCracken / Equinox Staff

“As long as people have fun, I believe it is always successful no matter what else happens,” Pearson said. “Also the lines [to get into the concert] were our biggest concern due to the fact that they were so bad last year. This year they went fast and had no craziness, which was a big relief.”

LaFleur, who was recently elected to be next year’s publicity coordinator for SAC, said that she was on the security team during the concert.

“I was scanning tickets all night, and it was cool to be able to greet every person that came into the concert,” LaFleur said. “It went really well.”

Though Pearson and LaFleur were both working during the concert, they said they were able to enjoy themselves as well.

LaFleur said, “The best part was at the end of the night when I got to see everyone happily leaving the concert. It really showed me what my SAC family and tech crew can pull off.”

Pearson added, “To me, enjoying it is seeing everyone happy. When I can sneak into the gym and see everyone having a good time, that is me enjoying it. I did, however, get to fangirl a bit seeing Kid Ink. I really do enjoy his music, so to see him live and be introduced to him as the concert coordinator was surreal.”

All in all, Pearson said that the spring concert would have been nowhere near as successful without her fellow SAC members.

“I have the most fabulous crew supporting me. The Social Activities Council, from the advisor to the executive board to the general members, they are all such wonderful people that I truly could not do any of this without them,” Pearson said. “A huge thanks to them from the bottom of my heart.”

Jill Giambruno can be contacted at jgiambruno@kscequinox.com.

The prodigious Oscar award show was shadowed by a dark cloud of discrimination this year. In the wake of the Oscar So White controversy, many people, film lovers and Keene State College students alike, think that the nominations for this year’s Oscar weren’t diverse enough.

According to online entertainment publication ScreenCrush, only 14 men and women of color have actually received Oscars for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress in the 88-year run of the notorious award show.

In spite of the controversy, ball gowns and tuxedos made an appearance on televisions across the world and definitely on televisions across the KSC campus during the Oscars this past Sunday, Feb. 28.

Patrick Byrne, sophomore and film production major at KSC, said he watches the Oscars every year, and that he was looking forward to watching them this year.

He said the Oscars So White scandal initially came to his attention fairly recently, but has not impacted his decision to watch the Oscars this year.

Byrne said, “I think that it is shameful that prejudice is affecting something as prestigious as the Oscars because it is an event that many people look forward to. It’s really unfortunate that [the Oscars] are being tainted by discrimination.”

That being said, Byrne said he would have liked to see Michael B. Jordan from “Creed” nominated this year.

Josh Lamb, an exchange student from York, England, who studied film at KSC during the Spring 2015 semester, said that he doesn’t normally watch the Oscars, but the controversy this year definitely grabbed his attention overseas.

Lamb said, “I knew about the Oscar So White scandal because the same thing happened last year and it’s more of a problem this year because nothing seems to have been done to solve the problem.”

In writing an opinions piece on the scandal, Lamb made it clear where he stands on the issue.

“I feel like the Oscars should move to the twenty-first century, and it’s about time black and ethnic voices are heard more in Hollywood,” Lamb said.

Lamb continued, “But it’s not all the awards fault; it’s a problem with Hollywood itself and how it operates.”

In his article, Lamb wrote that actors from “Straight Outta Compton,” “Creed” and “Beasts of No Nation” were seemingly robbed of nominations this year.

Lamb said the solution to the inequality in Hollywood is relatively simple: take away the power that the Oscars hold.

“The best thing that can be done is to ignore the Oscars and take them less seriously than we do. We should know that film is more than just Hollywood and we should support independent film more. Maybe then we might see the change we want,” Lamb said.

Roberto Medina, a KSC senior and double major in film and communications, said that he thinks the Oscar So White scandal has less to do with the talent of actors and more to do with society as a whole.

“As far as roles being selected and given to actors, I think that opportunities to play lead roles in movies is all about networking and who you know,” Medina said, “I think favoritism has a lot to do with it.”

That being said, Medina said that he believes that more minorities have already been chosen for lead roles in the past year, and that things are beginning to look up.

Medina said, “As much as our society has already made leaps and bounds overcoming some diversity, there’s still much work to be done.”

Pam Delisme, KSC senior, said that the Oscar So White scandal came to her attention over social media in the recent weeks.

“I think the discrimination at the Oscars made an impact on me because I’m a person of color and I feel as though there needs to be more representation. I think that some of these nominations could have been given to other actors who are of color,” Delisme said.

Patrick O’Connor / Equinox Staff

Delisme continued, “I think that for many Caucasian people it isn’t a big deal because they see themselves in the media all the time, so for other people of a different race to point that out and make statements about it causes some people to be angry or confused as to why people of color are upset about it.”

Delisme said that she had hoped Abraham Attah as the boy in “Beasts of No Nation” would have been nominated for an Oscar this year.

“I won’t lie, I didn’t watch a great deal of new movies last year, but when it comes to Oscars So White, the controversy comes from people of color being tired of not being represented and not getting enough opportunities in Hollywood,” Delisme said.

Delisme continued, “This goes for Black actors, Asian actors, Hispanic/Latino actors and Native American, as well as others. It’s a very hard to thing to explain to people who are not POC [people of color] because it’s a completely different word for them.”

Delisme explained, “If you live a life where your parents don’t have to tell you that you need to work twice as hard to get half of what a white person gets or where you are not discriminated against because of your race, life to a certain degree is easier. It’s easier because of privilege, whether or not it’s acknowledged.”

All in all, Delisme stressed that representation of people of color really matters in modern media.

Delisme offered a solution to the racial controversy. She said, “I think adding more people of color in films is one step, and giving them the credit when it is certainly due.”

Jill Giambruno can be contacted at jgiambruno@kscequinox.com.

At the Office of Multicultural Student Support, located on the second floor of the student center, Keene State College students gather on Tuesdays at noon to talk about sex.

Sex Chats and Aphrodisiacs is a weekly discussion on campus that is open to anyone who would like to stop by. Last week’s topic: contraceptives.

KSC senior Pam Delisme is majoring in health science.

As an intern for Tiffany Mathews, Coordinator for Wellness Education at KSC, Delisme helps to facilitate the meetings every Tuesday.

Delisme said, “I think it’s important [to talk about sex] because some students don’t know about different options when it comes to birth control or even anything about sexuality. I think these chats are important and can help people learn about sexual health in a friendly environment.”

While the meetings are weekly, the crowds they draw tend to be on the smaller side.

George Amaru / Art Director

“I think people get turned off by the description of these chats because it’s about sexual health and anything about sex is considered taboo,” Delisme said, “Coming to these chats doesn’t have to be awkward. It’s just like talking to your friends about it, except you’ll most likely be getting expert advice about some things.”

Delisme, whose high school didn’t have a sex-ed program, said that learning about sex in college is just as important, and that it’s never too late to start that conversation.

“Any KSC student is welcome to come to the chats, even if you aren’t having sex or just are thinking about it. This is information that could really help some people,” Delisme said.

KSC senior Ana Whitehead is a friend of Delisme’s who attended last week’s discussion.

Whitehead, who said that each week’s chat is interesting and fun, explained, “Each week there’s a great topic and it’s a great opportunity to learn about sex in a totally open environment.”

Whitehead added, “I took a Human Sexuality class here at KSC and it was a great class. I learned how important it is for people to get a good education on sex. A lot of schools don’t, and therefor people allow themselves to get in risky situations. I think it’s really important for students to have the opportunity to educate themselves on the topic if they want to.”

Deb Coltey, APRN and Assistant Medical Director at the on campus health center, was a guest speaker at last week’s Sex Chats and Aphrodisiacs discussion on birth control.

“I think it’s really important to open up this conversation because many students are having sex and it’s important for them to be able to talk about it and ask questions, and to have their questions answered,” Coltey explained.

In addition to opening up the conversation, Coltey also stressed the importance of promoting a sex-positive attitude on campus.

Coltey said, “Sex is such a normal human experience for so many people, and it’s something that should be discussed.”

On campus, Coltey said that the health center’s mission is geared toward supporting students in whatever choices they make, and encouraging them to lead healthy lives.

“We are lucky to have a health educator [Mathews] whose job it is to work on these types of things with students,” Coltey said, “As a clinician, I see patients all day. It’s just a small group of students, not everyone on campus. So we try to do our work which is on more of an individual level while [Mathews’s] work as a health educator is for more of the population of students on campus.”

In coming weeks, Coltey hopes that Sex Chats and Aphrodisiacs will gain some popularity on campus and that the attendance will rise.

“I want to see the conversation picking up, and for KSC to become a much more sex-positive campus,” Coltey said.

Jill Giambruno can be contacted at jgiambruno@kscequinox.com

Super Bowl Sunday is a holiday not only observed by the football fanatics of America – social butterflies and commercial-lovers alike also look forward to the American tradition.

Super Bowl 50 is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016.

Keene State College students spoke up about their Super Bowl Sunday plans.

KSC sophomore and Resident Assistant Brittany LaFleur said that she does not consider herself a real football fan.

However, LaFleur said that the rest of the residential life staff is thoroughly invested in football, so she has been getting more acquainted with the sport this past year.

“The social aspect for me this season has just been hanging out with my staff as they watch the game,” LaFleur said, “It’s really funny and amusing to see how much they get into the game. Their excitement actually wore off on me during this past game when the last minute was so intense. Maybe I’ll watch more football next year because of that.”

LaFleur plans on celebrating Super Bowl Sunday by putting on a program for her Pondside  III residents.

George Amaru /Art Director

“At this program there will be lots of food and tons of fun with friends, as we watch the game together,” LaFleur explained.

According to LaFleur, all of the residence halls on campus will be hosting similar programs.

KSC senior Matthew Marrello said that he doesn’t have definitive plans for Super Bowl 50, but the day will probably consist of “pizza, beer and chicken wings.”

Marrello, who said he considers himself a huge football fan, said, “I play fantasy football every year, and try to keep track of all the games.”

Marrello said that he takes pride in not being a Patriots fan, and wears a Baltimore Ravens jersey whenever they play.

“I watch football every week,” Marrello said, “Sometimes if they are important games, I have parties. I’m looking forward to this year’s Super Bowl.”

KSC senior Lukas Irizarry said, “I would be doing a disservice to other football fans if I called myself one.”

That being said, Irizarry said that though he doesn’t often watch the sport, he usually finds himself at least moderately entertained when he does.

“I do not watch football religiously or regularly. My philosophy has always been that I would rather ‘do’ than ‘watch.’ The same is true of football,” Irizarry explained, “I can either watch people run around on a field with their friends, or I can grab my friends and go run around on a field. I’d prefer the latter.”

For Super Bowl 50, Irizarry has tentative plans: “I hope to get together with friends and do the usual–subs, drinks, cheering and laughing at the commercials. The Super Bowl serves as a great experience if for nothing else than the sheer length of it. The four and a half hours stretch the millennial attention span hundreds of times past its normal limit.”

Of the social aspect of the games, Irizarry continued, “In an age where everyone has their face perpetually in their phones, the Super Bowl serves as an excellent reminder of the social potential you have with your friends.”

Irizarry added, “I admire people who can keep up with it religiously. It’s impressive to watch them rattle off facts at the drop of a dime. I’ve heard it said that it’s like following any TV show–you just learn the lay of the land after a while.”

Jill Giambruno can be contacted at jgiambruno@kscequinox.com

December is said to be the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year” for those who celebrate Christmas – but what about everyone else? Across America and even on the Keene State College campus, it seems that Christmas is the focus of the month, even with other holidays being celebrated. It seems that even the month-long break students get from school is often referred to as “Christmas Break.” KSC students and faculty spoke up on the matter.

KSC sophomore Maxine Gray said that she celebrates both Hanukkah and Christmas when December comes around. Gray said that she never really noticed one holiday getting more acknowledgement than the other until she came to New Hampshire.

“Originally I’m from New York and there’s a lot of Jewish people there, so I never really noticed one holiday being celebrated more than the other,” Gray said, “There’s definitely more of a build up for Christmas. Now that I’m going to college in New England, I definitely see more of a difference.”

With Christmas decorations lining downtown Main Street, Gray said that Hanukkah does feel a little forgotten.

“There are a lot of Christmas decorations all over town. Everyone’s talking about Christmas and the ‘Christmas Season.’ Chanukah is actually during school this year, and we won’t even be around for Christmas,” Gray said.

Photo illustration / Tim Smith and Jake Coughlin / Photo Editor and Administrative Executive Editor

KSC sophomore Nathaniel Wolf said he celebrates Chanukah and that he doesn’t really appreciate all the hype for Christmas.

“I’m Jewish and I just don’t like how much the Christmas season is shoved down my throat the minute Halloween is over,” Wolf said.

Wolf, who is also the Vice President of Hillel, the Jewish group on campus, said that other than the excess of buildup, he doesn’t really mind the holiday.

“We have freedom of religion in America, but this is still a Christian country. I do think that Hanukkah is underrepresented, just like every other non-Christian holiday,” Wolf said.

Wolf added, “I don’t mind Christmas, but I think it’s overdone. Tone it down a little.”

Gray, on the other hand, said that she doesn’t really mind all of the focus on Christmas.

Gray said, “I think everyone should be able to express whatever religions and holidays they want to and if they feel comfortable putting up decorations, then do that. Keep an open mind, be accepting of everyone’s beliefs.”

In response to the debate of whether the excessive Christmas decorations should be left up or taken down, Gray said the more the merrier.

“I don’t think that Christmas decorations should be taken down, but they should definitely take into consideration the other major holiday that happens this time of year. There’s more than two religions in the world, and I think it would be nice if they were all represented, or at least more than one was represented, with the decorations in public places like the student center and through town.”

Ultimately, Gray said that she loves getting to celebrate two holidays in the winter season.

Sarah Morrison / Equinox Staff

“It’s nice celebrating both. It’s pretty cool getting to experience two different cultures, and, you know, twice the presents,” Gray said.

Coordinator of Multicultural Student Support Annie Clark said that she thinks the holidays are a great time to learn about each other on a more intimate level.

“I think it’s really wonderful when we can learn about each other on this level, and I don’t think anybody should necessarily be intimidated by anybody else’s faith or tradition, whether the holiday is religious or just secular,”Clark said.

Clark, who said she celebrates Christmas, said she finds the holiday season a fascinating time to learn about other people.

“The holidays, no matter which one is celebrated, helps us all connect as human beings and to me, that’s very meaningful,” Clark said.

Clark added, “When I feel like we approach topics of faith with the spirit of educating and appreciating each other and our differences in a way that brings us closer together, I find that to be very valuable. But if it’s a religious based holiday, we need to be sensitive to others who aren’t getting that kind of attention.”

In 2014, the Multicultural Office held a holiday celebration event that focused on five major faiths. Clark explained, “It was run by students who wanted to share their traditions. It was really wonderful.”

This year, the Multicultural Office put on another event that was geared less toward religion, and more toward community.

“This year the idea of religion and tradition was sort of replaced with the focus on our own community, building it up, and building our connections with each other. And I think that’s really what the holidays are about – bringing people together,” Clark said.

Clark said that she thinks that while there’s great opportunity to celebrate different cultures and religions during the holiday season, there’s just as great an opportunity to celebrate similarities.

“We’re all here, we’re all at Keene State, we have a community here, let’s build it. Let’s continue to build those shared experiences,” Clark said, “There are a lot of really tough things going on in the world and in our town and on our campus. We need these times to celebrate ourselves.”

Of the winter holidays, Clark said that they have more in common than most people know.

“Hope, peace, community, family and love are themes that are common this time of year, no matter who you ask or what holiday you look at,” Clark said, “When you have those wonderful things that unite you, over and above religion or other traditions, it makes it easy. Just focus on the things that do bring us together.”

Jill can be contacted at jgiambruno@kscequinox.com

With cold weather just around the corner, Keene State College students and squirrels alike are stocking up on food and preparing to hunker down for the long, harsh winter ahead.

In order to avoid packing on weight, some KSC students are changing their eating habits before the Thanksgiving Day feast rolls around, one such regime being the paleo diet.

Lisa Prospert, KSC Program Director for the Health Science Nutrition Option, explained the diet as “an eating philosophy that is based on removing foods that would not be typically found in the diets of a hunter/gatherer.”

Prospert, who is also a registered dietician, went on to explain that the paleo diet may be difficult to follow in today’s society, due to how different our food system is now, as opposed to how it used to be.

“Primarily those eating a paleo diet – based on the philosophy–are eating lots of vegetables, animal proteins, healthy fats, nuts and seeds and whole fruit.  They are not eating any grains, legumes, processed foods, dairy and sugars,” Prospert said.

Cassie Baron/ Equinox Staff

Prospert continued, “Many people think that they are on a paleo diet when they are eating a lot of animal products and eliminating grains and starches, but if your plate isn’t predominantly vegetables, that’s not the healthy version of this diet.”

Prospert stressed that the danger with any diet has as much to do with what is not eaten as it does to do with what is actually eaten.

“If the diet is eaten as intended it is predominantly vegetable based with a moderate protein intake, high in healthy fats and lower carbohydrates which is inherently healthy,” Prospert said, “But if you are going to substitute real brownies for ‘paleo’ brownies then this isn’t the paleo diet. The minute someone substitutes a processed regular food with a process paleo food then the nutrition is not there.”

Bentley Reif, a KSC senior, said he started doing the paleo diet around four and a half years ago when he was graduating high school.

“I started lifting weights, training more and getting in shape for college soccer,” Reif explained.

Reif, who was recruited by the coaches at KSC to play soccer, said he wanted to get in shape before he started college. “I got hooked on the paleo diet. I eat about 80 percent paleo, and have for the last four or five years,” Reif said.

“It’s kind of hard to go home for Thanksgiving break or Christmas break when your parents are baking,” Reif explained. “Obviously, you cheat a bit. It’s good to change it up, but I always go back to paleo as my basis diet.”  Reif explained that he doesn’t get as hungry when he’s eating paleo, it’s as though his body just knows when he needs to eat.

Healthy fats are a good thing to focus on, Reif said of starting the diet. Being a male on a diet definitely comes with stigma, Reif has learned.

“I always get teased about being on a diet. People assume that because I look healthy, I must be in shape. But it’s beyond being just a diet,” Reif said, “It sounds cliché, but it’s definitely a lifestyle.”

To the people who look at Reif and say he doesn’t need to diet, he explained that “looking” fit and “being” fit are two completely different things.

Reif said, “Nutrition affects your insides more than it does your outsides.”

Julia Stone, a KSC sophomore, is just a few weeks into the paleo diet.

She said that she chose the paleo diet over other diets because it would give her the opportunity to develop healthier eating habits.

After Thanksgiving, Stone said that she has been introducing grains and starches back into her diet – in moderation, of course.

Though Stone said that the hardest part is not being able to have toast in the morning or a sandwich for lunch, it’s a relatively easy diet to try while away at school.

“Everything in the [Dining Commons] is already made, so I don’t have to go through the trouble of cooking for myself. I mostly stick to the vegan options and the stir-fry bar,” Stone said.

Stone said that she chose the diet because of how filling it is.

“There’s no pasta allowed, so initially I thought I wouldn’t be as full,” Stone said, “But there’s a lot of protein and that’s filling. It’s nice that I’m not hungry all the time.”

As far as this specific diet goes, Prospert offered some advice, “I think many different eating styles can be healthy and that no one diet is right for everyone. If someone is interested in trying the paleo diet I would encourage them to explore what it will take to do adopt this eating style without eating any processed foods. Remember that if you are going to do this right you’re going to be eating a lot of vegetables.”

Jill Giambruno can be contacted at jgiambruno@kscequinox.com