On Saturday, April 11, Keene State College held their 15th annual Academic Excellence Conference, where almost 170 students shared their research to family, friends and faculty.

The Mabel Brown Room and rooms throughout the Putnam Science Center were filled in support of students and their research. Presentations ranged in topics related to almost every academic study offered at the college. Research was shared through the form of oral presentations, performances, workshops, poster presentations and panel discussions.

“I think it’s really important to support student research,” Director of Campus Safety, Amanda Guthorn said. “I’m always really proud of the work that our students do.”

Guthorn commented on behalf of one student’s presentation that she had attended, related to History and Philosophy. Gregory Howard looked at the riots through cops’ perspective, of which Guthorn found very interesting.

On another note, one group presented their research related to Sociology and Environmental Studies.

One of the seniors involved, Shannon Eugent, will be graduating in May with a major in Sociology. She said,

Tim Smith / Photo Editor

“We did a lot of research on ways to redesign Keene city’s Central Square traffic pattern. This is really just a good way for us to get the work that we’ve done over the past year on this project out to the public and kind of show everybody that there is change that can happen to the roundabout, and that it would be a lot more efficient.”

Eugent commented in regards of the negative environmental and social impacts the Central Square roundabout holds now.

Melissa Plumley, an Anthropology major, is another senior who took part in this research project. She noted the good opportunity the Academic Excellence Conference holds for her and her peers as a way to present their research. “It’s a good opportunity to put momentum behind it and to inform the community for social change, since education is really the only way to change, and hopefully we can inspire people to jump on the band wagon,” Plumley said.

As for senior Andrew Markoski, who presented his research project related to his area of study, Political Science, he saw this as a chance to showcase all of the hard work he’s done.

“It allows me to present the culmination of my year-and-a-half work on this paper. It allows me to present to my peers and professors and reflect on everything I’ve learned over the past four years and how it’s developed my education in a very productive way,” Markoski said.

Jordan Crowley can be contacted at jcrowley@kscequinox.com

Night owls and stargazers were rewarded at wee hours of the morning with a total lunar eclipse on Tuesday, April 15.

According to a CNN article, NASA said there are about two lunar eclipses per year in roughly six-month intervals.

Some of them are very noticeable, while others go barely even recognized.

Being that they happen so infrequently, dates in which blood moons are expected to occur should be shared through the media and encouraged to look out for.

It is important for humans not to take these sort of natural occurrences, like blood moons, for granted in order to recognize the beauty of what’s left of this universe

It seems as though there is nothing but violence and horrific natural disasters occurring on Earth today. News channels present more unpleasant updates and less of the significant natural events happening in this day in age.

Unfortunately, as this planet gets older, it’s getting destroyed by factors like the excessive rise in technology, along with an abundance of pollution.

AP Photo

Such elements have put a toll on the places we live in more than we are aware of.

According to a CNN article by Ben Brumfield and Todd Borek, the moon began to change color at about 1:58 a.m. and slid into the Earth’s shadow until it became a blood moon at 3:06 a.m. The total eclipse portion lasted up to 4:24 a.m.

The majority of watchers say the eclipse was barely noticeable. According to the CNN article, “This one is just the first in a series of four consecutive total lunar eclipses. Within a year-and-a-half, North America will be able to see a blood moon a total of four times.”

According to NASA, the three blood moons yet to occur will take place on October 8, 2014, April 4, 2015 and September 28, 2015.

During this event, the full moon passes through the Earth’s amber shadow, resulting in a red-colored moon.

In the event of a blood moon, it is most visible in certain hemispheres rather than others, according to CNN.

NASA said this eclipse was most visible to those in the Earth’s Western hemisphere and in Eastern Australia. NASA has also noted the last total eclipse in 2011 was most visible from East Africa, Europe and Asia.

All who take lunar eclipses into account get to experience the moon’s process during an amazing natural event. You know the universe is working the way it should when things like this happen, so make sure not to miss out on the next lunar eclipse in October.

Jordan Crowley can be contacted at jcrowley@keene-equinox.com

Imagine building a dream home in what you thought to be a perfect location.

Now imagine coming home from work to see a new drilling site, without any say in it, right next to that dream home.

Confusion, anger and disbelief are sure to set in.

Unfortunately, such behavior has occurred frequently in other parts of the country.

Erin D’Aleo / Graphics Editor

Many are completely unaware of what hydraulic fracturing even is.

Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” is the “process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside,” according to BBC World News.

Shalestuff.com posted on their website that oil and gas companies, “drill into the ground to extract natural gas from the shale rock that lays thousands of feet  under the surface.”

This process should not occur in the United States. Instead, the well-being of the people and the environment should be protected.

Numerous environmental risks come with the process of fracking.

Drilling causes contamination of the groundwater and depletion of fresh water that residents in the area frequently drink and bathe in.

It also contaminates the air, transfers gases and hydraulic-fracturing chemicals to the surface and causes surface contamination from spills.

Such dangers can then potentially affect humans’ health.

In the documentary Gasland II, a family was forced out of their dream home due to the mother getting cancer, one of the children’s asthma being affected and the other child getting bloody noses, all because of the contamination from the fracked wells in their area.

The value of their house went down for having these wells, also.

Some states are also trying to reduce fracking actions, and the U.K. has lifted its bans.

According to the Los Angeles Times, “Ohio indefinitely shut down Hilcorp Energy Company’s fracking operation near the Pennsylvania border last month after five earthquakes.”

Ohio has announced “some of the nation’s strictest limits on fracking near faults,” also according to the LA Times.

While drilling companies continue to point out the good in fracking, more and more people are getting sick because of these unwanted drilling techniques.

It’s only a matter of time until fracking will make its way to New Hampshire and surrounding areas.

It’s important for the public to have knowledge about fracking and educate others so there is more awareness about this activity.

Jordan Crowley can be contacted at jcrowley@keene-equinox.com

As repetitive as it is to hear parents, guardians or law enforcers reinforcing the fact that it’s dangerous to text and drive, it’s a very important matter.

Unfortunately, the matter is not taken as seriously as it should be by a lot of drivers which explains these powerful advertisements we see all over media outlets.

With more than 3,000 people killed annually by distracted drivers, according to the United States Department of Transportation’s National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched the first national campaign against distracted driving.

It is essential for drivers to understand the dangers in using mobile devices at the same time as being behind the wheel. The NHTSA’s video proves that texting and driving can be just as dangerous as drinking and driving.

While these drivers are not only putting themselves and their passengers at risk, they are putting everyone else on the road at risk too.

The $8.5 million campaign includes television,  radio and digital advertisements with the theme “U drive. U text. U pay.”

The television advertisement runs for 30 seconds and is designed to shock and scare drivers into changing their behaviors.

The audience gets a visual of possible consequences when texting or talking, rather than putting all their attention into driving.

The video is graphic and disturbing to watch as it shows a realistic situation to the audience.

As the three friends are equally involved in a conversation, it causes distraction for the driver.

The driver proceeds to answer a text message as she drives through a stop sign.

The vehicle is hit from the side by on-coming traffic, causing the car to flip off the road.

The audience is left, not knowing whether the friends survived, but knowing if the driver were paying attention to the road, she most likely wouldn’t have gone through a stop sign and could have been hit.

It’s a sad sight to see three young people be in such a tragic car accident, potentially losing their lives, because the driver felt the need to respond to a text instead of waiting.

According to NHTSA, studies done in California, Texas, Delaware and New York, combined with law enforcers, have caused hand-held phone use to stop by 30 percent.

We can only hope these campaign advertisements help increase drivers knowledge of the dangers that follow distracted driving.

Jordan Crowley can be contacted at jcrowley@keene-equinox.com

While many companies find President Obama’s health-care law helpful when it comes to being provided with contraceptives, a Christian-owned craft supply chain feels differently.

Hobby Lobby has been challenging Obamacare in the Supreme Court in regards to women’s rights.

The company wants to be exempt from a provision that requires companies to cover the cost of all FDA-approved contraceptives in their employees’ health plans.

Perhaps Hobby Lobby should take a different look at the subject. Companies provide health coverage to their employees in order to get medical care.

It is entirely an individual’s decision to do what one wants with the health care his or her company provides.

AP Photo / Ed Andrieski:
Hobby Lobby, a Christian-owned craft store. The spokesperson for Hobby Lobby said the company wants to be exempt from a provision that requires companies to cover the cost of all FDA-approved contraceptives in their employees’ health plans.

Hobby Lobby says certain forms of birth control are not in line with its religious beliefs. Since the company believes they have the right to be exempt from a federal law, there has been quite a bit of outrage about the subject over social media for the past week.

People have posted status like “SHAME on hobby lobby for trying to use religion to deny rights to women,” and, “Will not go to Hobby Lobby ever again due to their views on religion and birth control!!”

According to a Huffington Post article, the Supreme Court is having trouble ruling on the case because it is a religious matter. When it comes to religious beliefs, there tends to be disputes that cause public outrage. There will be a lot of discussion on whether or not companies’ religious beliefs should exempt them from federal law.

Hobby Lobby employees should not be denied benefits on their healthcare. Whether the employees have the same religious beliefs as the owners or not, every one of them are entitled employee benefits.

In addition, it’s hard to imagine a company having the right to force their religious beliefs on employees, not to mention birth control, is covered by health care insurance.

According to the Huffington Post article, in response to a Facebook post indicating a user’s disagreement on the subject, Hobby Lobby responded, “They’re not asking the Court to grant them the permission to do so. They’re asking the Court to respect their personal rights to run their business in line with their deeply held religious convictions.”

Hobby Lobby believes the U.S. government is wrong for providing its employees with health insurance in which they believe violates its owners’ religious beliefs by forcing them to cover the cost of contraception. It is government officials’ decision in the end they will have to follow.

Jordan Crowley can be contacted at jcrowley@keene-equinox.com.

Ever wonder what’s really in a glass of milk? The answer might have you reaching for a cup of an alternative. Believe it or not, puss has been found in cow’s milk.

If that’s not bad enough, it’s also loaded with female hormones since cows are kept almost constantly pregnant on today’s dairy factory farms. Commercial dairies use recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH), which is a synthetic hormone marketed to dairy farmers in order to increase milk production in cows. This natural hormone, rBGH is found in the pituitary glands of all cows. Researchers who have studied rBGH in cows found that more milk is produced when there are elevated levels of hormones.

Most of the farmers using this hormone recognize the profit of it but not the health factors within the cows and for the consumers. The hormone is not permitted in the European Union and Canada, although it has been used in the United States since 1993 when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it, according to cancer.org. The Environmental Protection Agency in the United States has also determined it to be safe to consume.

The approval of rBGH has been a controversial conversation between consumers, scientists and farmers in the United States for years now. Through scientific studies, milk from cows injected with rBGH has been recognized to have health hazards. This milk has higher levels of IGF-1, which is a hormone considered to be a leading risk factor to breast, prostate, colon, lung and other cancers, according to responsibletechnology.org.

For that reason, U.S. dairies have been battling for their right to label their milk as rBGH-free if they do not inject their herds with these hormones.

The main issue is the lack of awareness about the hormone by American citizens. It is then up to the consumer in deciding whether or not to consume such products.

Luckily, for consumers who want to continue drinking milk but without the hormones, there are places that sell rBGH-free milk, otherwise known as organic. One nearby example is Manning Hill Farm in Winchester, New Hampshire.

According to their online page, their milk is produced from their cows only. There are no artificial growth hormones in the milk, nor are the cows fed antibiotics, grass fed only. Hannah Grimes Market Place and the Monadnock Food Co-op both in Keene sell many different options of natural milk.

Jordan Crowley can be contacted at jcrowley@keene-equinox.com

In the growing battle over Genetically Modified Organisms, science is being used as a weapon.

GMOs are plants or animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses or other plants and animals.

The use of genetically modified plants and animals has already become commonplace in today’s society without many people being aware this is happening. The lack of consumer consent in the choice to eat GMO’s has created an ethical dilemma.

Unfortunately, GMO foods are everywhere in the United States and Americans should have more knowledge about what is on grocery market shelves.

From the high fructose corn syrup in our sodas to the soy protein in our energy bars, almost every processed food contains a small quantity of ingredients derived from GMO crops. While many in the food industry are not keen to label products that contain GMOs, they make no attempt to hide or disguise these products, either.

It is also unlikely that many Americans are aware there is a worldwide controversy about the foods that are consumed everyday.

Though Americans seem interested in various topics related to agricultural biotechnology, GMO foods have slipped from the pages of science fiction and onto our plates. These foods remain there, largely unrecognized and unnoticed by those who consume them.

Opinions about the application of biotechnology vary around the world, but the strongest opposition to the technology is concentrated within Europe and many Asian countries. The majority of Europeans believe GMO foods are risky. They find these foods are not useful and they are not encouraged to consume them.

It has been suggested that European rejection of GMO foods is related to fear of the unknown.

Meanwhile, a growing body of evidence connects GMOs with health problems, environmental damage and violation of farmers’ and consumers’ rights.

Most developed nations do not consider GMOs to be safe—there are significant restrictions and bans on the production and sale of GMOs. But Americans are still choosing to continue to sell products that contain GMOs.

Perhaps the U.S. could follow in the footsteps of European countries and ban such food products before matters get worse for the country and future generations.

Jordan Crowley can be contacted at jcrowley@keene-equinox.com