Recently, debate has arisen in response to the school shooting in Parkland, Fla. regarding whether or not to arm teachers in the case of a crisis situation. President Trump has supported the thought, however there has been severe backlash by democrats and republicans alike.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION by Angelique Inchierca / Photo Editor

In my opinion, giving teachers guns would be an extremely unsafe and risky situation, as well as a waste of government funding and tax dollars. However, I imagine it’s extremely unlikely that congress would vote on this legislation given it’s controversy.

After the Parkland shooting, there was a large outcry for gun control by the general public, and Trump has endorsed the idea of arming a small percentage of school teachers.

In a tweet, the president stated that his intentions are to give “concealed guns to gun adept teachers with military or special training experience.” He goes on to claim that 10-20 percent of teachers are “very gun-adept.” According to a story done by Vox, however, this is untrue.

Only a small amount of teachers have a background in military training, meaning only a miniscule percent of teachers would end up `armed anyways. As a result of this, a student hoping to harm others would obviously know which educators are armed and which aren’t, and therefore would go to areas where an unarmed teacher would be.

In addition, although arming teachers may help in the event of a crisis, the risk of something going wrong on a daily basis is too big to weigh out the benefit of the possibility of assistance in the event of a school shooting.

It is far more likely that there would be an honest mistake or mishap in the classroom if teachers were required to carry firearms within the classroom.

This idea seems to have too many flaws to be worth spending millions of federal dollars arming and training school teachers just for there to be more negative effects than positive ones.

The way I see it, bringing more guns into the school system is not the best way to keep students safe; in fact, I believe it would have the opposite effect.

I personally wouldn’t feel any more or less safe if the professors here were armed, but there is a larger chance of something going wrong on an educator’s side, such as a mistake or a student accessing a teacher’s gun, than the chances of an armed teacher actually having the opportunity to assist in the event of a crisis situation. This seems to me like a waste of federal funding, and an overall flawed piece of legislation.

Although this is a bad idea in my opinion, I’m not particularly worried about these laws taking effect at the federal level. According to an article in the Washington Post, approximately 50 percent of Americans are against the idea of arming school teachers.

Because of this, members of congress would not be attracted to this piece of legislation because so many oppose it, and it may hurt their chances of re-election. In addition, if something were to go wrong regarding an armed teacher, this law would be too traceable, and congress would be blamed.

Consequently, I don’t believe this idea will turn into any direct action by the government. In my opinion, it’s more likely that congress will vote on increasing the firearm sale age or begin strengthening and reinforcing older gun laws.

Zoeann Day can be contacted at zday@kscequinox.com

“You can’t have PTSD, you’ve never been in a combat zone.” “Calm down.” “You’re just stressed.” “We all get a little nervous sometimes.” “Everyone has anxiety.” “You’re really gonna start crying now?” “You can’t have depression, I’ve seen you smile and laugh.” “Chill out.” These are all quotes from Twitter users who have had to deal with demeaning comments regarding their mental illnesses, and they took to the internet to express their frustration. Diagnoses like depression, extreme anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder and so many others are often treated with a certain trivial undertone; however, mental illness is a real issue that millions of Americans deal with, and shouldn’t be taken lightly.

These types of issues are not the same as physical disabilities, however, they can be just as serious. Illnesses like depression and anxiety can range from highly manageable to debilitating. Medication can be prescribed to those who need it, but the problem doesn’t always go away with pills. People who suffer from clinical depression experience symptoms like loss of appetite (which can lead to weight loss), mood swings, inability to fall or stay asleep and  many others. Symptoms can appear to be small, but have the capability to be very serious. In fact, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), 350 million people worldwide suffer from depression alone, discluding other mental illnesses like severe anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, and so many others.

One common misconception is the belief that sicknesses like clinical depression are “all in your head” and they can be solved with simple things like going for a walk or exercising. Although physical exercise is known to minimize symptoms, mental illness is not a temporary emotion but rather a serious illness requiring a diagnosis and medical attention. Things can be done to improve symptoms, but there is no known cure. In our world today, the best thing we can do for those who struggle with these issues is provide them with enough resources to make these conditions manageable. Treating these illnesses seriously and providing mental health care to those who need it are two steps to helping people who struggle with these problems.

These illnesses are serious and should be treated as such, however it’s important to keep in mind that it was only recently that these issues came to light. Mental illnesses have always been around, but it seems like they’ve only recently become a topic of discussion. This means there is still a large amount of people who don’t understand them or how they work. Although these illnesses should be treated seriously, it’s important not to punish those who still don’t understand them. The only way we will move forward as a society is to educate the population of people who struggle to comprehend these issues, being sensitive and attacking those who are confused is not the way to move forward on this issue.

Serious illnesses like these are hard to deal with, and many people struggle with them. Fortunately, Keene State College has several resources available to those who need them. Counselors are available in the health center to talk to those who struggle and the staff and students are kind and accommodating. In the Elliot Center on the third floor, there are resources available to all students who need them; counselors and staff in the health care center work around the clock to provide the best care to the students of KSC. If any student is suffering with symptoms of any mental illness, I strongly recommend seeking the resources available with the counselors in the health center.

Overall, mental illness is a serious issue in our society, and there are lots of misconceptions about the struggles individuals deal with when they are diagnosed with these illnesses. They are just as serious as physical disabilities and resources should be made available to all who struggle.

Zoeann Day can be contacted at zday@kscequinox.com

College classes aren’t exactly a black tie affair; quite the opposite, actually. For most of us, rolling out of bed and heading to our 8 a.m. classes in sweatpants and a sweatshirt is much more appealing than taking extra time out of our sleep schedule to make ourselves look presentable. There isn’t much motivation to “dress up” for class. In fact, sometimes dressing up too much can carry a certain stigma of being a “try hard” on college campuses.

Angelique Inchierca / Photo Editor

However, most would agree that when you look nice, you feel better. So, should we be dressing up for our classes or are sweatpants acceptable?

First of all, being “dressed up” means different things to different people; some feel most presentable in a dress and others prefer basketball shorts and a t-shirt. The problem isn’t exactly regarding what you wear, but rather making an effort to look what you personally feel is your best. Doing this can not only lift your mood and make you feel better, but can also impact your performance in class.

This idea of dressing for success has been around for years, and until recently it’s only been a saying. However, recent studies show that when you feel presentable, you perform better in your daily activities. According to an article in Scientific American by Matthew Hutson, “The clothes you wear can affect your mental and physical performance… A paper in August 2015 in Social Psychological and Personality Science asked subjects to change into formal or casual clothing before cognitive tests. Wearing formal business attire increased abstract thinking — an important aspect of creativity and long-term strategizing. The experiments suggest the effect is related to feelings of power.” Dressing up may take some extra time, but it gives you feelings of tenacity and power, ultimately leading to success.

Dressing nicer to class can not only make you feel more powerful and give you confidence, but can affect your academic performance positively in more ways than one.

When it comes to class presentations, wearing something professional can impact the outcome of your performance drastically; not only would you feel more confident and perform a better presentation, but professors tend to prefer when students dress up for presentations, meaning what you wear can also affect your grade.

Looking professional and presenting with confidence is a good way to impress your professors while also earning you a grade you can be proud of.

In addition, it can help students establish and practice skills for future career paths.

Now, I’m not going to lie, when I wake up for my 8 a.m. class in the morning, I don’t exactly have the motivation to shower, let alone put on nice clothes and makeup.

However, I can say with some certainty that, from now on, I will put more effort into what I wear to classes. If looking nicer means feeling better, and feeling better means doing well in classes, then it may be worth it to get up a little earlier.

Although it takes a little extra time to make ourselves look and feel our most presentable, it may be in our best interest. Maybe next time we take an exam we should switch out our sweatpants for something a little more becoming.

Zoeann Day can be contacted at zday@kscequinox.com

People around the world are constantly coming up with new and innovative ideas regarding sustainability. New ways to go about our day-to-day lives, making our actions more environmentally efficient, are always at our fingertips. Sylvain Boyer, a French graphic designer, has done just that. He has created a way to redesign logos for big companies using less ink, making the printing process of logos more environmentally friendly, as well as financially efficient. Printer cartridges are recyclable, but realistically speaking, most of them are thrown away and end up in landfills across the world.

Laura Romaniello / Art director

If less ink is used by big corporations such as McDonald’s, Nike and Starbucks (all of which Boyer has redesigned logos for), this issue can be decreased significantly, meaning big things for the environment.

Boyer’s idea has the potential to partially solve this issue. His campaign is known as “Eco branding” and it is a sustainable way for companies to use less ink and decrease the footprint they leave on the environment. He has redesigned some of the most famous logos using less ink, which would save companies close to 10-39 percent of ink.

The changes he makes are barely noticeable, but can reportedly make a big difference on a larger scale. He said, “We used the tools of the offset printing industry, which allow us to calculate very precisely the rate of printed surface. Then it’s only mathematics.” Not only does his idea make changes for the environment, but it will also save companies millions of dollars in the long run. According to a story done by CNN, printer ink is one of the most expensive liquids in the world and “it can cost between $13 and $75 per ounce ($1,664 to $9,600 per gallon).” So as you can imagine, decreasing the amount used by big companies for logos will make huge changes financially. Boyer calculated the savings that one company would make, and the results were shocking.

Boyer said, “Last year, Starbucks produced about 670 million paper cups, with its logo printed on each one. We can estimate that a single logo print could cost $0.15 and use 0.06 ml of ink.

Our redesigned logo uses 38 percent less ink, or 0.0228 ml per cup, which could save nearly 4,000 gallons of ink a year. “ After doing the math,  that could equal savings of up to $40 million. If every company, both big and small, used Boyer’s method, millions of dollars could be saved in addition to decreasing the amount of plastic ink cartridges ending up in landfills. Boyer’s method is not the first of its kind to have surfaced. Several individuals, as well as companies, have discovered ways to utilize certain fonts and types of ink in order to decrease the effect printing has on the environment.

One of these, A Dutch company called SPRANQ works with sustainable fonts, and developed an application known as “Ecofont” which can be used by businesses to save up to 50 percent of their ink usage.

In addition, a teenager in 2014 discovered that by switching fonts, the government could save millions through their printing needs. Despite the benefits to this campaign, companies and brands are likely to react to this poorly, given that the essence of the brand is expressed through the logo.

By altering it, companies might be faced with ethical dilemmas when it comes to the morality of the company and what its logo stands for. This could be an issue Boyer’s campaign would have to face; however, in the long run, these changes would make a huge impact on the world we live in. The ground we stand on is one of a kind, it feeds and protects us and we only get one. Doing everything in our power to save the planet we enjoy is an important cause to fight for. Taking care of our home is an obligation everyone has, and Boyer’s campaign is a huge step forward for the environment.

Zoeann Day can be contacted at zday@kscequinox.com

Finals are around the corner which can only mean one thing: stress. Students can get particularly stressed as the end of the semester approaches because of final projects, exams and papers that are introduced to our workload. More and more work is being added to our day to day lives and as a result, stress and anxiety can appear. Luckily, there are ways to combat these overwhelming reactions during this stressful time of year.

Photo Illustration by Colton McCracken

Feelings like stress can lead to issues that no student wants to experience, including low grades, dropped courses, a disruption in education and others. As finals approach, I’m getting more work from my classes as well as final projects and papers. Stress is something that I experience a lot when it comes to school work and grades, and the closer the end of the semester gets, the more stressed I get. Fortunately, Keene State College has a lot of resources for stress management for students. Coordinator of Wellness Education Tiffany Mathews said our school offers plenty of help from The Center for Health and Wellness as well as in each residence hall. Mathews also works in Residence Life, and assured that there is no shortage of help available to any student who needs it.

“In the dorms, each Resident Assistant [RA] is trained to work with students and their stress or anxiety and can help them to access the resources that the school offers them,” Mathews said.

The RAs have training in these issues, but are also a resource within themselves. By helping to form a community within their buildings, they already help students get a step closer to lowering their stress. Along with this, Matthews also said that The Center for Health and Wellness can give students tips to decrease their stress as well. Things like exercise, a better night’s sleep and a healthier diet are all things that can help decrease stress, and The Counseling Center, located on the third floor of KSC’s Elliot Center, can guide students through it all. They even offer access to a nutritionist, who is available to talk to if students feel that a better diet would help them with this stressful time.

KSC has plenty of resources for students when it comes to dealing with anxiety and stress, not only this time of year, but all year round. The Center for Health and Wellness, also located on the third floor of the Elliot Center at KSC, offers an abundance of opportunities for students, including talking to trained counselors about these issues. The Counseling Center specifically is available to help students with stress and anxiety. The center has a team of mental health clinicians available for KSC students who desire assistance with their emotional, personal, social and developmental questions and problems.

These resources can be accessed through the Keene State College website under The Center of Health and Wellness, as well as over the phone.

I’m very grateful that these resources exist and that they are so accessible to us. Stress isn’t something anyone wants, but it is something that can be dealt with, and KSC can be a huge part of helping to do that.

Zoeann Day can be contacted at zday@kscequinox.com

Getting an education in the United States is something not all non-U.S. citizens have the chance to do.

This opportunity was recently given to Nepali students Puja Thapa and Benajil Rai when they were selected through the Little Sisters Fund to study for four years here at Keene State College.

According to Dr. Skye Stephenson, Director of Global Education Office at KSC, the girls were students at a school in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, before they were chosen to study in America. The girls explained that they went through a screening process in order to be chosen for the program, which included writing an essay and interviewing with Len Fleischer, a retired KSC professor who assisted the students in receiving this opportunity. After all of this was done, the two were selected through the Little Sisters Fund from a large pool of candidates to come study here in the United States.

Angelique Inchierca / Equinox Staff

The Little Sisters Fund is a U.S.-based program that has been funded to support education for Nepali women, along with other issues such as child labor, child marriage and human trafficking, since 2007. It provides scholarships to girls like Thapa and Rai to come study abroad in places such as the U.S., Canada, Australia and Japan. The fund has kept the Nepali girls in school so far, and has now given them opportunities for a better future by coming here to study.

The education system in Nepal, according to Rai, is vastly different than what we experience here in America.

“It’s exam-oriented instead of knowledge-oriented, so our grades depend on how well we do on the exams, not class participation, discussion or presentations,” Rai said.

“I never imagined coming here,” Puja Thapa said. “But after getting the chance, it’s been unbelievable.”

For Rai, going abroad and getting a quality education was a dream.

“Many other students have similar dreams, but it’s hard to fulfill,” Rai said. “For me, it’s a big opportunity being here because I can learn and build my capacity.”

Of course, coming here for four full years is probably difficult to do considering they would have to leave their families. The Little Sisters Fund has the funds to send the girls home about once or twice during these four years, but other than that, the girls are living here permanently for their college career.

Both Rai and Thapa both said it was hard for them to leave their families, but once they got here, it was worth it. Rai described it as “a blessing in disguise.” She said that although they miss their families, being here is an amazing opportunity to learn and grow as students.

In addition to the experience Thapa and Rai are getting here, it’s also an experience for KSC to have them as well. Dr. Stephenson said having the girls here will benefit the college in more ways than one.

“Here at Keene State, we’re always looking for new ways to enhance our diversity, and also to try to help make the world a better place, so the fact that we have the opportunity for these two wonderful young women to come from Nepal is an incredible opportunity for us, as well as these women,” Stephenson said.

Stephenson is confident that having Thapa and Rai here will not only enrich their experiences and the diversity on campus, but also put things into perspective for the staff and students.

Being able to receive a quality education in the United States is something that people all over the world dream of, and the opportunities that we receive here aren’t available to people in other countries. Puja Thapa and Benajil Rai are happy to be here, and Keene State is happy to have them.

Zoey Day can be contacted at zday@kscequinox.com