Friday, April 19

Campus News

Spectrum Alliance Presents: Drag Show
Campus Events, Campus News, Local News, News

Spectrum Alliance Presents: Drag Show

By Grace Gross, Head Culture Editor Photos taken and collect by Grace Gross McKendree University Spectrum Alliance sponsored a drag show at the Hett on Friday, April 8th. This event was open to students, faculty and the general public. There was a very good turnout! Ella Lehman, president of Spectrum Alliance, stated that 130 people attended the drag show.  Ella reached out to Roxxy Malone, the main host of the drag show, a few months ahead of time. “Roxxy put together the rest of the performers from her drag family and they all brought their own music and such, so that part was probably easiest.”  Ella mentioned how the reservation process for the Hett was a bit complicated. “It went smoothly thanks to Liz Crabtree and Julia Hunt.” One of the most difficult parts of...
McKendree on the ‘Gram
Campus News

McKendree on the ‘Gram

By Nat Wilk, Editor in Chief Pictures taken/collected by Nat Wilk McKendree University takes many forms on social media across various platforms, but there are some accounts you might be missing out on. Today, I will be highlighting a few accounts on Instagram that you should be following to keep up to date with McKendree-related news. There’s no excuse now, reader - links are included to each of the pages!  If you’re the type to ignore emails (I know it is not just students who do this) or get overwhelmed by your inbox, consider following these pages to get your information from a different platform.  The following list includes some McKendree Instagram pages that will help keep you informed on the what’s what with McKendree: McK Campus Activities Board: @mck...
Please… Use Protection!
Advice, Campus News

Please… Use Protection!

By Victoria Sananikone, Editor in Chief Photo by Victoria Sananikone How would one begin the complete idiot’s guide to avoiding a pregnancy scare? The answer is simple: wear a condom. Not only are your chances of getting pregnant reduced drastically, you are also protecting yourself from STIs and HIV. Now, what would be the easiest, painless, selfless, most ethical way to avoid contracting COVID-19 or having a Covid scare? The answer is simple: Wear. A. Freaking. Mask. You will have a much lower chance of catching the virus, you’re containing your germs, and you are simply showing respect to those you will come into contact with, whether you are speaking to them directly or passing them on the sidewalk. You thought this article was going to be about sex, huh? Well, sorry to disappoi...
An Academic Excellence Day That Connects The World
Campus Events, Campus News

An Academic Excellence Day That Connects The World

Magdalena Knapp, Editor in Chief Pictures: mckendree.edu Many things have changed over the past few weeks because of the Coronavirus. It has changed the way we used to live, the way students go to school, and the way we interact with other people in our daily life. One thing has not changed: McKendree University's commitment to their students. This year, more than ever, it is important to celebrate the students' accomplishments. Despite the sudden changes, McKendree University will be hosting its annual Academic Excellence Celebration Day, just in a slightly modified way. McKendree University will hold a virtual electronic Academic Excellence Celebration on Thursday, April 23, 2020 and it will be called the "eAEC." Students and faculty members have worked together to create an online web...
She Puts the K in McK
Campus News

She Puts the K in McK

Mikayla Walton, Contributing Writer Featured image: Facebook/ Kaylyn Ruiz Many students here at McKendree know Kaylyn Ruiz as the woman who works while delivering fantastic customer service with a smile in Ames or chatting with students and faculty alike as she helps in 1828. However, you may not actually know her. Kaylyn, or KK for short, is a middle child of four from Belleville, Illinois. She had been working at Mckendree for five years before deciding to attend classes. “I was hired in the 1828 Cafe to be a cashier," Ruiz said. "I never really thought about higher education until I got to Mckendree and was around college students and professors all day.” KK attends classes for a degree in Business Management and is a part-time student here when she isn’t working. Though, when she ...
Presidential Brown Bag
Campus Events, Campus News

Presidential Brown Bag

By Christopher Fernandez, Contributing Writer Four score and seven years ago, we had barely begun to scratch the surface of the long history of McKendree University.  The school that we call home and have come to love over the years has developed from the small McKendree College to the now prosperous McKendree University.  In this time McKendree has seen its fair share of Presidents come and go. While many individuals who held the title of President have helped to shape McKendree into the bustling university that we enjoy today, some have had much more interesting histories and achievements than others. With such a rich and deep history dating back to our origins in 1828, the McKendree University Archives & Museum group put on a Brown Bag to showcase the history of these men.  Justin ...
The Big Mysteries of Financial Aid
Campus News, Local News, News, Opinion

The Big Mysteries of Financial Aid

By Landon Cole, Contributing Writer Like many college students, I fall into a category that can make the financial aid process difficult. The Federal Student Aid office grossly overestimates my family’s contribution to my education when, in reality, I paid out-of-pocket for my associate’s degree from a community college, and I’m relying on loans to pay for my bachelor’s degree. The EFC (estimated family contribution) is calculated using parents’ combined household income to estimate a student’s eligibility for federal direct subsidized and unsubsidized student loans. These EFCs are often tied up in mortgages and car payments and are not accurate estimates of parents’ ability or willingness to pay for their child’s education. In my case, because the Department of Education estimates that my...
When Eating Becomes a Struggle
Advice, Campus News, Opinion

When Eating Becomes a Struggle

By Alec Deyong, Contributing Writer Love it or hate it, Ames dining hall is ground zero for a great deal of the complaints that students lob at McKendree University. Between the variety, the quality, the staff, and the hours, it is hard for a small campus to make everyone happy. For some, however, it goes beyond mere inconvenience. Whether it be by choice or by way of genetic lottery, there are students among us that have varying dietary restrictions—from vegetarians to students with severe allergies. These restrictions can make everyday life for students much more complicated. Taking into account all the factors that stress out the average college student, the last thing anyone wants to add to the concoction is a lack of fuel. One person who is anxious to face this reality is senior Mad...
How Students are Sabotaging One Another at McKendree
Campus News, Opinion

How Students are Sabotaging One Another at McKendree

By Loren Terveer, Contributing Writer You are laying in bed after a long day of classes and activities. Your eyes slowly shut and your mind wanders. You begin to drift into sleep as the warm blankets cocoon you in comfort. Just as your breathing falls into a sleepy rhythmic beat you hear it. SLAM! Your neighbor comes home and slams their front door. THUMP! THUMP! The students who live upstairs begin to move their furniture into a new feng shui. CLICK! The light claws at your eyelids as your roommate comes into the room and switches on the overhead lamps. The distractions pile up, flooding your ears, and the mere idea of sleep eludes you. You are officially awake for the night. For many McKendree students, this situation is too familiar. One of the biggest frustrations in regards to liv...
Campus Connectivity Crisis: Students Take on the McKendree Wi-Fi
Campus News, Local News, News, Opinion

Campus Connectivity Crisis: Students Take on the McKendree Wi-Fi

By Madeline Cade, Contributing Writer In 2016, McKendree gave up cable in order to enhance our Wi-Fi connectivity. Fast forward to 2019 and we have more Wi-Fi problems than before the fix. There seem to be daily complications when completing or turning in online assignments. Ironically, even as I sat writing this piece, there were three times over the course of a few days where I had to stop due to little to no connectivity. I was genuinely interested in hearing what other students had to say about the McKendree Wi-Fi crisis. I first took to my Instagram to get input directly from students. I set up polls on my story to see what the Bearcats thought about the Wi-Fi. I started my survey by asking if they had ever had a problem with the Wi-Fi. I had 293 McKendree students answer this one.  ...