Keene State College is now welcoming international scholars to study on campus.

International Genocide Scholar Hikmet Karcic is an coming from the University of Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He said he is currently auditing four Holocaust and genocide studies (HGS) classes that will allow him to compare other mass atrocities to the one he specializes in: the Bosnian genocide.

Karcic said, “I have always been interested in the history of Bosniaks [Bosnian Muslims]. Unfortunately, a large part of our Bosnian history is also related to persecution, forced migration and mass atrocities of Bosniaks.”

Jake Paquin / Photo Editor

Like other students taking HGS courses at Keene State College, Karcic wishes to broaden his knowledge about these events in history and apply what he learns to the genocides he studies. “I am interested in learning a comparative aspect of other genocides and the Holocaust,” he said.

Each fellow will have a semester to live on campus with a meal plan and office space, and will study alongside other college students. Not only that, but Karcic also has the opportunity to share his expertise with students by giving guest lectures in a number of classes. “I have been invited so far to be a guest lecturer at around half a dozen different classes and I will also take part in other activities at the Center,” he said.

KSC sophomore Ashley Arnold said that the HGS classes she has taken have forced her to take a deeper look into the darker side of humanity. “It’s made me reflect on the politics and motivation behind genocides and what countries have and haven’t done to aid them. I’ve learned a lot of valuable lessons from taking those classes,” she said.

KSC is one of the few colleges in the United States that offers the Holocaust and genocide studies major. Karcic added that he plans to take advantage of the unique amount of resources on genocide studies KSC offers in the Cohen Center. “It has a rich library which I plan to extensively use,” he said.

KSC sophomore Karli Sou said she has also taken HGS classes, even though they stray from her major. “People have the opportunity to take HGS classes as an elective outside their major. The great thing is that if you’re writing a paper for your class, they have so much material in the library you can use. I think more people should take advantage of that,” she said.

KSC senior and HGS major Elizabeth Coleman said she recommends other students to take a HGS class to shine light on topics that get overlooked in history class. “For example, I think it’s so important for students to learn more about the Native American genocide in the U.S. because we forget about it and the people we oppress to this day,” she said.

Coleman also explained how the Global Fellowship Program is beneficial to the HGS department. “I think accepting international scholars is more than helpful to the program; I think it’s integral,” Coleman said. “The international scholar program helps us as students realize, a little more firsthand, the realities of what we are learning about and trying to prevent. They can also help us learn some of the same events from a different perspective.”

Thanks to the Global Fellowship Program, more people can take advantage of the HGS program at Keene State College.

In the fall semester of 2018, Patricia Fernanda Perez Valdes will be coming from Santiago, Chile, where she works at the Museum of Memory and Human Rights.

Hikmet Karcic said he advised future fellows to engage in the Keene community while they are here. “They will have a unique opportunity to learn from the best and to use that knowledge in their future research. Engage in the community work [and] try to give back as much as possible,” he said.

Katie Jensen can be contacted at kjensen@kscequinox.com

Due to the college’s tight budget and the number of vacant rooms available in other dorms, it was decided that closing Carle Hall would be the most cost-efficient decision.

Along with the decision to close Carle Hall, Monadnock was chosen to remain open as a first-year dorm, some of Holloway Hall’s rooms were turned back into triples and the Living Learning Commons (LLC) is booked to full capacity.

The Associate Dean of Students and Director of Residential Life Kent Drake-Deese said the size of the first-year class was the reasoning behind closing Carle Hall.

He said after first-year students were assigned residence halls, there were 49 additional students not placed. Those students could have been placed in Carle Hall, but Drake-Deese said the KSC President’s Cabinet decided that was not an efficient use of resources.

Jake Paquin / Photo Editor

“The options were to place those 49 students in Carle Hall, which has a capacity of over 300 students, or triple some rooms in Holloway,” Drake-Deese stated. “We also could have added the 133 students in Monadnock to the 49 additional students and put them in Carle Hall which would have closed Monadnock,” he added.

However, Drake-Deese said this would leave Carle Hall with only a 60 percent occupancy rate, which, he said, is not worth the cost of keeping it open.

The President’s Cabinet also concluded that closing Carle Hall and booking the other buildings to full capacity would be the fiscally responsible thing to do.

However, he claims that this decision does not have to do with the college’s budget. “Operating in a fiscally responsible manner is always very high on our agenda, so I would not say that this decision was driven by the budget for this particular year.”

First-year residents in the LLC and Holloway have shared their experiences living in those fully-booked dorms.

First-year student Megan Titus is living in the LLC, which she said is “mostly nice.” However, she said, “I don’t think it’s very clean; we have a lot of fire drills and sometimes the showers only give you cold water.”

First-year student Zachary Shroyer is living in Holloway and said he enjoys living there, despite the amount of people that live there. “You don’t really notice how many people are living around you. During quiet hours, it’s typically quiet like it’s supposed to be,” he said.

First-year student Emily Dipietro is also living in Holloway, but in one of the triple rooms. She said, “I love my roommates and we all get along really well. The rooms are built for triples in the first place — if they were only built for doubles, it’d be much harder.”

When asked if booking first-year dorms to full capacity would affect living conditions, Drake-Deese said, “I have no concerns whatsoever about that influencing living conditions in that building.  It is a great building that is designed to provide service and support to the building at 100 percent of capacity. If anything, I feel it will be better, as a full building provides a more vibrant community environment socially and academically.”

Katie Jensen can be contacted at kjensen@kscequinox.com

Earth Day, a national holiday that comes with promises of warmer weather and sunnier days, also brings people a reminder to care for the environment and be cautious of the ways they can impact it.

As the ice and snow melt from this past winter, patches of green start to appear as does discarded trash on the side of our roads. In efforts to keep roadways clean and animals safe from harm, people across the country invest their time, money and effort into various activities that will work to preserve a fresher environment.

At Keene State College (KSC), student organizations such as the Environmental Outing Club and the Campus Ecology, participate in activities year round to clean up the campus and city environment. Campus Ecology states their mission is “to establish environmentally sound practices on campus by promoting leadership, awareness and action.” William Fleeger, the club faculty adviser, could not respond back in time for an interview.

Colton mccracken / Equinox Staff

Last Sunday, April 23, KSC hosted their annual Green Up Keene event, where Keene students and residents participated in picking up litter and trash.

The Coordinator of Student and Community Relations Robin Picard, who helped coordinate the Green Up Keene event, stated nine groups and 51 additional individuals voluntarily participated in the event to clean up the city of Keene. Some student organizations that volunteered this year include the Pre-Med Club, SAC, and Delta Phi Epsilon.

Picard admitted that the constant rescheduling was a problem this year and participation wasn’t up to it’s usual standard. “Usually we have 110 participants and 15 groups volunteering… The rescheduling might have hurt us a bit this year,” she said.

Administrative Assistant Andrea Nowlan for the Keene Public Works Department, stated the total weight of trash collected is not recorded yet, since groups are still sending in information concerning how much trash they collected and the areas they cleaned up in.

According to the data the Public Works Department collected so far, Keene public organizations such as Citizen Keene, Keene Elm City Rotary, the Southeast Keene Neighborhood and Keene Kiwanis club all volunteered in picking up litter throughout the city.

The Public Works Department also reported that among the 51 KSC students that volunteered, they collected 100 pounds of trash.

Tim smith / photo editor

KSC student Sally Densmore said although she couldn’t participate this past weekend for Earth Day, she does little things on a day to day basis to care for the environment. “I recycle, save electricity by turning the lights off, and take quicker showers… just little things anybody can do that makes a big difference,” she said.

Additionally, studies show that over time consumers have been directing their attention to environmentally friendly businesses. In an article by Ethical Consumer they reported, 50 percent of consumers surveyed have avoided products based on a company’s poor reputation for negatively impacting the environment. They state it’s common for businesses to put their environmentally conservative views on display. “It’s more noticeable than ever that organizations large and small have started using their environmental practices as a marketing tool so, from supermarkets to your local coffee shop, there are green claims everywhere,” the article read.

KSC first-year Ashley Arnold, said she noticed that more businesses are displaying their efforts to be eco-friendly. Especially the new Patagonia brand that is trending in the east coast. “I see lots of people wearing their fleeces and jackets. Their ads tell people not to buy things they don’t need to reduce consumption and that they recycle and repair old clothing,” she said. “This probably helps their reputation and makes people feel like their not only buying something, but donating to a good cause,” she added.

Furthermore, the Ethical Consumer reported added, “Boycotts have gone up by 123 [percent] over 2010-2012,” and, “potential customers have been more proactive in ensuring their money goes into the pocket of a seemingly cleaner organisation.”

The Residential Life and Housing office is open for anyone who would like to pick up gloves and a blue trash bag to pick up litter over the week and continue the community’s efforts to make Keene a cleaner and an environmentally responsible place.

Katie Jensen can be contacted at kjensen@kscequinox.com

The Keene State College Student Assembly held their last meeting of the academic year on Tuesday, April 25, where they approved funding requests for six student groups on campus.

For this year, $8,473 was given to student clubs and organizations. For the fiscal year of 2018, $20,470 was given out.

KSC Student Body Treasurer and E-board Member of Student Assembly Casey Matthews said, “We have the money allocated for appeals,enough to approve every group.” She further explained that the Student Assembly should not refrain from granting clubs the funding they need out of fear they will run out of money.

The first group to appeal their budget was The Kronicle Yearbook. They asked for $6,973 for the 2016-17 fiscal year and were approved of this amount. They wanted this money to pay for yearbooks they give to KSC seniors free of charge. The group saved costs last year, which caused their budget to decrease. However, this year, their contract with Jostens, an American company that produce yearbooks and class rings, was more expensive.

The next group was KSC’s radio station WKNH,  which requested $1,500 for new equipment for this year. Most of the money will be used to pay for a new sound board. Their current one dates back to 1971, according to members representing WKNH during the appeal,  and has been having issues with sound and playbacks. The same members claimed getting a board would draw in more listeners and allow them to broadcast with more regularity. They were approved the full $1,500 that was requested.

The KSC Dance Team was the first group during the meeting to request money for the 2017-18 fiscal year. The team requested $11,210 and the Finance Committee recommended they should get $7,110. The KSC Dance Team Manager Emma Ayotte and KSC Dance Team Captain Jessica Leone explained their need for funding to attend UDA Nationals in Orlando, Florida. The bundle package they requested covers the plane tickets, housing and access to the Disney park.

Matthews said, “They [The KSC Dance Team] fundraise 95% more than any other group on campus.” Even if the money they requested got approved, they would have to increase fundraising efforts even more, according to Ayotte and Leone during their appeal. Ayotte said that they must hold three carwash fundraisers over the summer rather than one, like they had done last year, among other fundraising efforts. The Dance Team got $7,110 approved for their budget.

The Global Culture Club requested $2,550 and the Finance Committee recommended $2,100 for their budget. Their current budget is $1,600. The club is comprised of 10 members, half international students and half national students. President of the Global Culture Club explained the extra funding will be used to pay for local and bigger trips. The president of the group justified the request by saying  transfer students remember their experiences from the trips they go on and the friendships they make.

The president of the Global Culture Club also said that these trips strengthen the bond between club members and improve the reputation of KSC. “The experiences they have affects the reputation of Keene State College and our country,” the president of the group said. Currently, each member pays no more than $20 for each trip, local or distant. They got $2,100 approved for their budget.

The KSC Investment Group requested $3,570 for their budget next year. The Finance Committee recommended $2,810. KSC’s Investment Group’s current budget is $1,060. The president of the club explained the extra funding would go towards improving their annual, big trip. The president of the club explained that their trip to Boston this past year was unfulfilling; they could not get into an investment firm and had to settle by visiting a hedge fund. The president of the Investment Group  recommended going to New York would benefit their members even more. “I have family that work in banks in New York,” the president of the club  explained, and it would be easier for them to get into places. The president of the club  explained that he had to pay about $200 out-of-pocket for the trip’s expenses. Currently, the group does not fundraise during the year or ask their members to pay dues for the trip.

Members of the Student Assembly recommended the Investment Group to think about giving members dues to help funding as well.Other members of the Student Assembly added that there is not another group like this on campus and these kids aren’t offered any similar opportunities by the school. The assembly approved $2,810 for their budget.

One of KSC’s community service clubs Common Ground was the last group to appeal their budget.The members representing Common Ground during the appeal requested $11,800 and the Finance Committee recommended $8,450 for the 2018 Fiscal Year. Their budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year is $7,450. The extra funding in budget would be allocated towards a trip where they would do volunteer work with United Way over spring break. Club treasurer and fill-in president Sandra Kayira explained that currently only a selected few are approved to go on the trip, and it is $200 for each group member to attend. The members of Student Assembly justified their request by saying their trip is focused around work and not pleasure. The group was approved the $8,450 they requested.

In addition to appeals for student clubs and organizations, there were three elections that took place. Matthews will be the new treasurer for the e-board; Allie Tolles will be the new Speaker of Assembly; and Nadia Hasan will be the new secretary.

Katie Jensen can be contacted at kjensen@kscequinox.com

Dorothy England can be contacted at dengland@kscequinox.com

Keene State College’s cost of tuition for in-state and out-of-state students is on the rise again. According to the 2016 KSC factbook, the tuition rates are increasing for in-state students by 2 percent and out-of-state students by 3 percent.

One of the major problems most college students face today is the massive loan debt they’ll collect upon graduating college, especially if tuition keeps increasing.

In exact costs, tuition will rise from $10,968 to $11,188 for in-state students and from $19,352 to $19,934 for out-of-state students according to the 2016 KSC factbook and KSC website.

Samantha moore / art director

Keene State College junior Lisa Shea, expressed her concern for the rising cost of tuition in the coming years.

“I have so much debt already — it’s not getting any easier,”she said.

Shea also brought up difficulties she’ll have if she wants to continue her education. “I’m especially concerned if I decide to go to graduate school after college, I won’t be able to afford it. I’m already in so much debt, it’s just inhibiting me from continuing my education,” she said.

KSC first-year Nicholas Moungsa had similar feelings. “I feel bad for people applying to college now. It just keeps getting more expensive and people have to be more conscientious of cost nowadays,” he said.

Why the rise

According to the College Factual Website that is aimed at helping high school students choose their best fit college, rising tuitions and cost for living expenses are projected to increase at most colleges.

“Unfortunately, tuition increases are very common…. In the past 10 years tuition has increased 3.5 [percent] per year at all public universities, and 2.4 [percent] at all private universities,” the College Board reported in an article highlighting the tuition trends in higher education.

KSC Interim Vice President for Finance and Planning Dr. Daniel Petree affirmed the Finance and Planning Department is working to keep the cost of a KSC education as affordable as possible. “Every college today finds itself in a similar situation. In order to continue to provide the best possible living and learning environment for our students, we have to struggle with increasing costs of operation. We don’t know what the future trend of our costs of operation will be,” Petree stated in an e-mail.

On their website, the University System of New Hampshire (USNH) board of trustees states they approve the tuition costs annually for the following public colleges: Keene State College, Granite State College, Plymouth State University and the University of New Hampshire.

This means the USNH has to be mindful of what affects these costs as well as KSC being aware themselves.

Other costs to factor in

For example, Dr. Petree shared the college’s difficulty paying for the energy supply.

“We are constantly looking for ways to reduce energy consumption,” he stated, and according to his estimates, “this year we will spend about $100,000 less than we had budgeted.”

However, Dr. Petree explained the KSC financial departments, as well as the USNH, have limited control over the rising costs of operations.

He stated the inflation of college tuition is truly affected by the market. “At the end of the day, we don’t set the price of energy. The market does. If the price goes up, we must pay it.  Every college today finds itself in a similar situation,” he stated.

Too much of a good thing?

The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) is a “private, non-profit economic research organization that studies findings among academics, public policy experts and professionals, recently investigated the steep rise in college tuition from 1987 to current day” according to their website.

By conducting a study on the changes in underlying costs and reforms to the Federal Student Loan Program (FSLP), they’ve discovered the root causes to our increasing tuition trend.

“Changes in the FSLP alone generate a 102 [percent] tuition increase, and changes in the college premium generate a 24 [percent] increase,” the study reported.

In other words, federal aid programs loan a generous amount to students, causing more people to attend college, especially ones out of their typical price range. NBER described how this issue arises from more individuals being offered financial aid, in a theory otherwise known as the Bennett Hypothesis.

This means when more financial aid is granted, tuition is raised under the impression that these financial aid agencies will cover students’ costs associated.

After asking Dr. Petree about the link between the increasing availability of financial aid and the rising costs of tuition, he responded, “The link between financial aid and tuition is more complicated and nuanced.”

Then he explained,“The real cost (adjusted for inflation) of providing a college level education continues to increase.” He explained that the rising cost of tuition results from the rising cost of labor and supplies the school demands.

However, a NBER study concludes that increasing tuition to cover for the rising costs is not effective.

“The college cannot effectively offset this cost by raising revenue from the existing student body because it already engages in substantial rent extraction. Thus, the college must raise revenue from other sources and/or reduce costs,” the study reported.

Currently, Dr. Petree assured that one of KSC’s leading missions in cost reduction is finding another vendor to service the school’s bookstore.

Dr. Petree confirmed, “we have decided to work with Barnes and Noble, effective approximately May 15, 2017.” According to his estimations, after working a full year with Barnes & Noble the school is going to save between $200,000-$300,000.

For more information on how to save money or calculate your college expenses, visit the Student Accounts Office in the Elliot Center.

Katie Jensen can be contacted at kjensen@kscequinox.com 

Lauret Savoy, the author of “Traces: Memory, History, Race, and The American Landscape,” shared her revelations when she uncovered parts of her family legacy and lost memories from United States history.

As part of the Keene Is Reading program, author and professor Savoy was invited to read parts of her book and incorporate a discussion amongst faculty members and students. This year, the program is focused on environmental writing, involving the history of New England communities and exploring the region’s place in a wider context.

Savoy began her speech by asking the crowd two questions: “What keeps you up at night?” and secondly, “What dreams haunt you?” Evidently, Savoy explained that is how she began her journey, trying to dig up the hidden secrets of her past, exploring both her white European ancestry and her African American one.

She struggled to find her place in the world, even to this day, because she couldn’t come to terms with what is home and where is her place in the world. Then, she went onto ponder, “Over time, over history, what do generations of instance mean?” Not only did she ponder her originality and her place in the world, but she called upon others to answer that question for themselves as well.

Tim Smith / Photo Editor

A adventure of self-discovery

Savoy shared her personal journeys through a tough childhood upbringing, traveling to various continents and uncovering hidden documents — even researching the history of American landscapes, ancient burial grounds and the origins of last names. She said she was able to gain an in-depth understanding of why she is here and why certain traditions have come to be.

“All of these journeys grapple with a bigger picture — trying to understand much of the unvoiced past,” she said. This included discovering the beginning of the U.S. – Mexican border and the origin of the United States Capitol.

In an excerpt from her book, Savoy shared a glimpse of her past from a chapter called “Postcards.” As a seven-year-old girl, Savoy walked over to a shop’s postcard rack and observed the beautiful national parks and landscapes with childlike wonder. “She seeks for home beyond California’s coast, to canyons, deserts and mountains,” said Savoy.

Savoy remembered approaching the register and the clerk stared at her with impatience and discontent. With her own money, she paid 60 cents for all six postcards, then brought them back to her shaggy motel room and displayed them on top of her bed, Savoy explained. “That night, while she stared at each postcard…she wondered if each bright place was enough,” said Savoy, quoting her book.

This story subtly hints at some of the issues Savoy struggled with throughout her life: racial disparity, a poor upbringing and a struggle to find her own identity.

Historical impact

During the presentation, Savoy went on to explain the decision to place the White House in current day Washington D.C., wedged between Maryland and Virginia. Public History described the founding of the Nation’s Capitol in generic terms. The Residence Act of 1790 determined that George Washington could choose a place of residence to establish the federal government’s permanent seat, along the Potomac River.

Savoy said the then-president, George Washington, wanted the placement to be in the south — not too far from his slaves and plantations. In those times, many depended upon the labor of their slaves to make a living, especially federal officials who could not be bothered with the brunt of the work.

In her words, she described the U.S. Capitol as always being tied to slavery. “Nearly half of the nation’s slaves, 700,000 souls, were held in bondage in just Virginia and Maryland,” Savoy cited from the Federal Census of 1790.

Getting to know her father

A man from the back of the crowd, who has read Savoy’s book, “Traces,” asked about the significance of finding her father’s box, which hid his old writings and a few novel manuscripts that were never published.

“My father was a very silent man,” she began to explain, “but at the time, I couldn’t understand that.” He died when she was only 16 years old, and long after his death, 10 years ago, she discovered a box with his handwriting on it. “In that box, I found a father I never knew,” she said.

There was a collection of writings, old letters and photographs as old as the 19th century by William Savoy. “My father was a man who dreamed himself a writer, but by the time I was born, he didn’t — he didn’t do anything that seemed to give him joy.” But alas, she discovered her father’s inner desires and internal conflicts by reading his writing; from there, she began to understand the reason for his suppressed nature and almost bitter resentment.

Audience reactions

Some KSC English major students attended Lauret Savoy’s presentation, among other “Keene is Reading” programmed events.

KSC first-year Kiana Wright said she attended the event not knowing what to expect. “At first, I didn’t fully understand what Traces was about, but her speech was really inspiring and it made me look at the world in a new way,” she said.

English professor and program coordinator, William Stroup, said a few in regard to The Keene is Reading program and their theme this year, environmental writing. “I want to introduce authors that haven’t been represented nearly enough in American and world literature,” he said. “Her work spreads across threads of cultural identity, describing their relation with and dislocation with the land. She brings her geological training to each new project.”

The story wrapped up the evening’s event and the audience was left with a call to action: to find the why’s, the how’s and the when’s of our placement in the world in order to find our own identities.

To find out more on Keene is Reading, visit their webpage on the keene.edu website. In order to become a more productive reader, students can read recommended novels from their professors and come to see these authors speak on campus.

Katie Jensen can be contacted at kjensen@kscequinox.com 

In past few months, the bill to ban conversion therapy for minors in New Hampshire has been passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate.

It has both Democrats and Republicans in support, but still must be signed off by Governor Chris Sununu in order to become law. The bill that was amended by the New Hampshire State Representatives refers to conversion therapy as a practice which seeks to change an individual’s sexual orientation through therapeutic treatment.

Under chapter 332-L, it includes that these efforts are to “…change behaviors or gender expressions to eliminate sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same gender.”

In the past, guardians of a minor were allowed to place their LGBTQ child in conversion therapy. This typically consists of counseling on how to think and behave in a “straight” heterosexual manner. Children  were told to contribute in activities that match their gender role; boys were told to take up sports because that is more masculine, and girls were told to dress pretty and participate in activities more feminine.

Samantha Moore / Art Director

The bill proposes that state-licensed counselors would be banned from conducting such therapy on minors.

According to the Human Rights Campaign organization, empirical studies say that minors who undergo this therapy are eight times more likely to commit suicide and three times more likely to abuse drugs in the future.

The American Psychological Association (APA) also came out with a detailed report which concluded, “Results of scientifically valid research indicate that it is unlikely that individuals will be able to reduce same-sex attractions or increase other-sex sexual attractions through SOCE.”

Student responses 

Samuel Whitaker, the student president of KSC Pride — a LGBTQ support group on campus — described conversion therapy as a conceptually flawed practice. “It’s couched in language that wrongfully suggests that people’s orientations are malleable,” he said.

KSC Pride is about recognizing people’s chosen gender identity and respecting their way of life. Every spring, there is a Pride March on the Keene State campus, where members of the group will bring issues into the public’s eye and proudly support people in the LGBTQ community.  As for the topic of conversion therapy, Whitaker said, “I could certainly see someone making a sign about it or creating a rally cry against it.”

However, some New Hampshire Conservative activists view this ban as an unnecessary government intrusion. According to an article by The Union Leader, opponents of the bill say it could infringe religious practices and parental rights.

Others speak out 

In an interview with Manchester Gospel Baptist Church Pastor David Carlson, he said, “The way the bill is written — it’s too broad and could consequently bar people from seeking religious counseling.” These unintended consequences could harm the religious community and limit their right to express ideas that coincide with their beliefs.

“We should be able to preach, express and encourage the word of God; that is what religious freedom is about,” he said.

Keene State College psychology professor Dr. Lawrence Welkowitz is critical of the conservative testimony that conversion therapy does have some positive outcomes.  He remembered Frank Edelblut, New Hampshire’s current Education Commissioner and previous Republican House Representative, testified last spring in opposition to the ban on conversion therapy. “He is clearly being guided by some interest group… he unethically pulled things out of context from the APA report,” said Welkowitz.

Edelblut claims the APA did not conduct their studies correctly and pointed out misinformation and false conclusions. “Individuals who failed to change sexual orientation, …describe their experiences as a significant cause of emotional and spiritual distress and negative self-imaging, just like you would have negative effects if you tried to quit smoking.”

He believes that the APA report selectively focused on the negative without acknowledging other outcomes, such as some patients experiencing a heightened self-esteem or a closer relationship with God.

However, Dr. Welkowitz took the time to read the APA report and saw that on page 42, it revealed that those positive feelings are clouded by depression in the long term.

The APA report stated, “Recent studies document that there are people who perceive that they have benefited from it [conversion therapy].” These benefits include happiness, self-esteem, relief and improved family relationships.

However the report concludes, “Many participants in studies by Beckstead and Morrow (2004) and Shidlo and Schroeder (2002) described experiencing first the positive effects and then experiencing or acknowledging the negative effects later.”

Dr. Welkowitz condemns Republican Edelblut on these grounds and emphasized, “He’s lying. He’s misrepresenting the data and that’s criminal.”

KSC first-year student Nicholas Moungsa shared his opinion on the matter. “It should be banned. I don’t understand how conversion therapy could be a legitimate medical treatment. It’s just completely illogical.”

Another KSC first-year student Taylor Lindquist said, “I acknowledge parental rights and people can do whatever they want… but I don’t understand how people see it’s the right thing to do.”

Governor Chris Sununu was reached out to, but could not be interviewed in time for a comment.

Katie Jensen can be contacted at kjensen@kscequinox.com